My Harlequin editor has e-mailed me to say that I need to trim forty (yes, FORTY—do not adjust your screens) pages from my October book, Tender Secrets, on account of the new, reduced, word count. Oh, sure, I knew about the new word count, but I foolishly assumed it applied to books turned in after March. No dice. That’s what I get for assuming things, I suppose. And me, a former lawyer. You’d think I’d know better than assuming anything.

*Hanging head in shame*

And do you want to know the worst thing? Do you? Huh? I’d already trimmed and slashed about forty pages to get the book down to the old word count. Where’m I gonna find ANOTHER forty pages to trim? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Pray for me, okay?

So now I’m sharpening my knives and getting ready to kill my babies, which is what Stephen King calls it when you have to go in and get rid of all the extraneous, though beloved, stuff in your book. It’s for the greater good, right?

And I’m thinking maybe I can turn this lemon into some lemonade. I think maybe I’ll add a members-only page to my site for readers to see all the stuff that doesn’t make the final cut. That could be good.

This snafu has got me thinking, writers … what’s the most painful edit you’ve ever made? Do tell so I don’t feel like the only one out here suffering in the wilderness.

Today I’d like to post a witty blog about the writer’s life, something thought-provoking and, hopefully, enlightening, but I don’t have time for any of that on account of my tight reading schedule. No, I’m not, ah, reading my stack of books for the RITA contest. I’m re-reading (for the dozenth time, I think) The Other Boleyn Girl in preparation for the movie adaptation, which comes out on February 29^th.

I love this book. LOVE it. I remember the first time I saw that cover and that title in a bookstore and stopped dead in my tracks. A novel about the Boleyns and Henry VIII? He of the six wives, two of them beheaded? My fascination with them is a leftover from my elementary-school-days obsession with all things royal and violent. In one history lesson you get love, hate, betrayal, violent death, and beautiful costumes. What could be better?

So I bought the book and disappeared into the world so brilliantly created by Philippa Gregory. For hours at a time I would immerse myself in the life of the book’s heroine, Mary Boleyn, and the intrigues, hypocrisies and betrayals of court life. The book is so powerful, so interesting, so evocative that I would look up and blink at my living room, or wherever I happened to be reading at the time, surprised that I was not, in fact, at the palace with the court.

Needless to say, I have high hopes for this movie. Natalie Portman is Anne, and since I loved her as another Queen—Padme Amidala in the second Star Wars trilogy, of course—I feel confident she can handle this role. Scarlett Johansson seems plausible as Mary Boleyn, and, as for Eric Bana as Henry VIII, well, let’s just say I think that was a brilliant casting move. I can’t wait to see the visual re-creation of these characters that I’ve spent so much time with. What will the castles look like? The gowns? The block? I’m counting the days…

So the producers of this movie had better not mess it up. That’s all I’m saying.

Anyone else out there anxious to see this movie?

Today I’m blogging about my love for chocolate over at Access Romance. If you stop by and leave a comment, you’ll get a chance to win a gift card to one of my favorite candy stores, Cincinnati’s The Fawn Confectionery.

If you’ll be in the Cincinnati area this Saturday, February 9th, please join me at the Reader’s Appreciation Day Signing at the Streets of West Chester Barnes & Noble. I’ll be there from 1-3 p.m. signing Sweeter than Revenge. Several other local romance authors, including Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster, and Anne Stuart will also be signing their latest books. Lots of fun will be had by all, so I hope to see you there!