THE DOLLHOUSE.

First of all, thanks so much to all of you who bid on the LarissaFund auction to help Larissa Ione and also for the Romance Designs prize packs to benefit other victims of Hurricane Katrina. Your bids and donations were greatly appreciated!

In other news, I accidentally sprained my wrist rather badly this week. So, needless to say, I'm having a difficult time typing...still have a clunky bandage rapped around my wrist for support.

Anyway, aside from spraining my wrist this week, one of the things I did was to buy a dollhouse kit. I've always wanted one of these, and since the one I wanted, the San Franciscan, was manufactured by Duracraft, which company went out of business this year, I decided I had better buy one while there was still one to be bought.

This is (hopefully!) what it will look like when finished:


As you can see, it's a beautiful Victorian Painted Lady.

Right now, however, it's in dozens of pieces, which my husband, John, and I carefully counted, measured, and marked last night, to be certain the kit was complete and not missing any parts.

This morning, while I was asleep, John glued the base together to make a start, and this evening, we plan to begin construction on the shell itself.

John was amused because I already know who is going to live in the house and what her story is. He said I was putting the cart before the horse, since the house isn't even built yet. I only smiled and replied, "I'm a writer. I always know my characters and their stories before I ever start putting anything down on paper. Why should my dollhouse be any different?"

He realized, then, that a dollhouse is really just an imaginary world, much like those I create in my novels. So I think this is going to be a fun project! I'll let you know how it goes.

Read: The Dollhouse - Part 3.
Read The Dollhouse - Part 2.

THE AFTERMATH.

As most of you probably know, numerous efforts are being undertaken within the romance genre to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The auction to help Larissa Ione is now under way. Find out more about it and how to donate/bid at Romaid.

Romance Designs is hosting a charity fundraiser to benefit the Red Cross. Find out how to donate/bid for the prize packs here.

Among other things, many authors have donated autographed books to both these causes, as well as to additional efforts. So if you've always wanted an autographed book from a particular author (or have family and/or friends who have), be sure to check the lists to see what's available!

HURRICANE KATRINA.

Like the rest of America, my husband, John, and I have been watching the news, shocked and horrified to see all the destruction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. So far, everyone I know in the affected areas is safe, and I'm extremely glad of that. But some, like Larissa Ione, have lost everything.

Larissa's critique partners (Alison Kent, Emma Gads, and Stephanie Tyler) and the blogging group at Writeminded (Sharon Long, Amy Knupp, and Jan Kenny) have started a relief fund for Larissa and will be auctioning off manuscript critiques and autographed books (including a dozen from yours truly), as well as other miscellaneous items. To find out how you can donate, bid on critiques, books, etc., or otherwise contribute, please visit Romaid. At this time, the auction is expected to go live the second week in September. I hope you'll bid generously!

My friend and colleague Jennifer Blake, who lives in Louisiana, is currently posting daily entries about how Hurricane Katrina has affected her region of the state. Her reports are alternately heartwrenching and chilling.

I know I don't need to say any more. The television coverage and eyewitness accounts speak for themselves. This is a terrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the devastation.