Kristina Knight - Aspiring Romance Author

Sometimes You Just Need To Read

2012-01-24T09:48:00.001-05:00

I've been feeling a little...overworked, lately. Not because I actually *am* overworked - oh the joys that will bring. And I'm so not kidding. I dream of days when I have fiction deadlines to meet and I'm trying to squeeze out more time to work on my stories. Seriously. Dream of it. But still I've been feeling drained and overworked and generally blechy.

So over the weekend I took some 'me' time. With the family right down the hall. Buried my nose in a book or three and just read. Yeah, I broke to play with the kiddo, make meals (or at least call in the orders) and talk to my husband. But mostly, I read. I escaped into some of my favorite authors. Journeyed into a few happily ever afters with some great characters.

And my mood changed. Yeah, I'm still feeling a little stressed because, in addition to the fiction and non-fiction I'm now a fitness instructor (deep water running and water aerobics at our Y) two nights each week. But I realized halfway through the second book that I hadn't been reading. Yeah, I'd skimmed a few articles and looked at some pictures in magazines, but I hadn't sat down with any books since...well, before Christmas.

For me writing - whether nonfiction or fiction - is tied in to reading. When I'm reading it makes me a better writer. I see connections between characters and plot that I don't always see when I'm so focused on writing that I'm not taking the time to read and enjoy other stories.

Do you find that to be true?

Going Back...To My Own Piece of Hollywood

2012-01-19T07:00:00.022-05:00

So last spring I made my first foray into Los Angeles. Before that I'd only ever been as far west as Nevada. It was a really quick trip smashed into our Vegas/Anniversary get-away. But it was perfect. Sure we were in a luxury bus for four-ish hours as our driver (literally) sped us to L.A. Sure, I thought one or twelve of those drivers might actually cause an accident that might kill me. But it was still breathtakingly fun. Went to the Hollywood sign, wandered all over Rodeo Drive and Melrose, saw Santa Monica Pier...all the touristy things you want to do.

And then I realized we have a little bit of Hollywood right here in Ohio - in the form of a prison. The Mansfield Reformatory to be exact - the real-life prison where Shawshank Redemption, scenes from Tango & Cash and Air Force One were shot. Just after the Hollywood trip, we headed down there for a murder-mystery night with some friends. We all joked about going to prison to have some fun before we actually drove through the gates...but driving through? Yeah, that made it a little more serious. Of course, we still joked about it. As you do.

Unlike many other prisons, the Mansfield Reformatory doesn't have cells facing one another; if you're in a cell, you're facing a rock wall. No windows. The exterior, barbed-wire-topped walls have been torn down, paint is peeling from the bars, and no prisoners have been inside the walls since the 1990s. And yet there is still a feeling of lonliness and loss inside. Solemnity that even the silliness of the murder-mystery (there were a lot of jokers in the crowd) just couldn't cut through. I can't imagine what it would be like for actual prisoners. Which brings me to books and atmosphere, which is a part of setting. The part of setting that I usually don't get right right away. My books are mostly fun and a lot flirty, but there still needs to be an atmospheric undertone...just like the undertone of the prison was still there on our fun date night.

In fact, we had so much fun, we're doing that night over (with a different murder-mystery!) in a few weeks...and I'm sure the jokes will be just as seriously funny.

Another thing that really caught my attention - and had me reaching for my notebook and pen often - were the non-prison events held there. They host weddings, receptions, ghost hunting, haunted houses...the list goes on. And I thought, what an interesting kind of place to set a romance novel - not my usual contemporary books, but something different. I've had about twenty ideas hit me since that night, and now that we're going back those ideas are cropping up again. Yes, I'm making notes. Most will probably remain ideas, but I'm hoping that one might be something more....

What about you? Where do you get your ideas?

Pumpkin Spice Tea & Author Liz Flaherty!

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hiya, my friends! It's a busy month here - we've got a ton of authors stopping by to talk books and publishing. I'm really excited about today's guest - not that I'm less excited about any other guests, mind you! - because she's a good friend of mine. I first met Liz Flaherty in a critique group a couple of years ago. She intimidated. Totally. She wrote such clear scenes and with such emotion and her grammar! I have issues with grammar, not because I don't know the rules but because of my years in journalism (when you write for TV you put commas in weird places...and that habit is hard to break!), so I just knew she cringed when she read my muckety-mucked up drafts... But I learned that she is generous, a tough critiquer and because of her my own writing is much stronger. So, without further ado (or any more making Liz blush) here she is to answer 5 simple questions!

Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?

“Aspire” being the focal point word of that question, right? I used to have a process, or actually a schedule, because all my time was so filled—everybody can relate to that, right?—that I had to have a schedule or I wouldn’t get anything done. Even though time’s still filled in retirement, the scheduling is up to me (and it’s lots more fun that way, believe me). However, I am a creature of routine, so I still need the aforementioned schedule and haven’t established it yet. So, I guess I could have just said no, I don’t have one and yes, I do so aspire. (I know, I know, I could have just said that in the first place.)

When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

A motel for a weekend, and I write in the dining area by the lobby all motels seem to have. I have no idea why that is so productive for me, but it is. We’re going to Florida in a few weeks and that’s one reason I’m so looking forward to the trip.

What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

I almost always listen to oldies (mostly 1960s), and the influence is subliminal if it’s there. I never realized how much the Eagles had to do with ONE MORE SUMMER until it was actually published, but the truth is, I’m not sure I could have written it without them.

Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows – what's your beverage of choice?

All of the above. Right now, I’m stuck on pumpkin-spice tea, very hot. When I couldn’t find it here without driving 40 miles to the closest Cracker Barrel, I ordered six boxes from Amazon. Yum!

Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?

I wrote it with a different ending.

Buy the Book: Carina Press, Barnes & Noble Amazon

I'd love to have you visit my website http://lizflaherty.com or http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com/ where I hang out with some of my best writer friends.

Blurb: Grace has taken care of her widowed father her entire adult life and the ornery old goat has finally died. She has no job, no skills and very little money, and has heard her father's prediction that no decent man would ever want her so often she accepts it as fact.

But she does have a big old house on Lawyers Row in Peacock, Tennessee. She opens a rooming house and quickly gathers a motley crew of tenants - Promise, Grace's best friend since kindergarten, who's fighting cancer; Maxie, an aging soap opera actress who hasn't lost her flair for the dramatic; Jonah, a sweet gullible old man with a crush on Maxie.

And Dillon, Grace's brother's best friend, who stood her up on the night of her senior prom and has regretted it ever since. Dillon rents Grace's guest house for the summer and hopes to make up for lost time and past hurts - but first, he'll have to convince Grace that she's worth loving...

5 Questions with Debut Author Calisa Rhose!

2012-01-16T07:00:00.003-05:00

I first met author Calisa Rhose lurking around the boards at eHarlequin; I thought she was a hoot - plus she wrote a good cowboy story. As you guys may or may not remember, I have a serious soft spot for cowboys - the historical and the contemporary. And I was thrilled when, just a few months ago, she told me her debut novel (not with a cowboy, sadly) was coming out from The Wild Rose Press. That book, called Home, is now out and it's fabulous. See the cover below? Isn't that fabulously vintage? LOVE IT! So, I just had to have Calisa come by to talk writing - and her new book! On with the interview!

Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?

Nope and nope. I write as I can on whatever needs my attention the most for edits, deadline or just whichever one calls to me at any given time. How do I finish anything you ask? When I need to finish, that project is the one I work on most steady.

When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

In warmer weather I ride or just groom my horse, or read. In colder months I watch tv or read books I’ve been dying to enjoy. No matter the season I love spending time with my kids and grandkids as much as I can.

What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

Right now I’m ‘watching’ House. By watching, I mean one eyeo n the show and one on the laptop. But yes, listening to music influences my writing. Not the words, but my moods as I write.

Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows – what's your beverage of choice?

Coffee. Though I try to keep Dr. Pepper stocked and in summer I enjoy tea. Winter I may be found curled with a good book and marshmallowy hot chocolate on occasion.

Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?

Hm that was a year ago! *goes researching outtakes* Well, there really isn’t anything from HOME. No outtakes, no drastic edits. It was a very tightly written story from beginning to end. The only thing I can remember was in a scene when Poppy and Sam are walking and she notices what movie was playing. I originally had Gone With the Wind in it, but didn’t want one that old running so I researched a movie that released in the same month as HOME takes place (August).

About the Book:

What could a gypsy and a Vietnam veteran have in common?

Silvertown’s outcast, Poppy Tippen, has loved football hero Sam “The Force” Callahan forever. But he never seemed to know she was alive. Now he’s home from the war and she suddenly finds herself comforting him from the demons of “that damn war.” Is his attention merely an escape from the haunting nightmares? Or does she hold the interest of the only man she’s ever truly loved?

Sam Callahan’s only solace from the war nightmares wrecking his life comes in the unlikely form of a gypsy girl with stigmas of her own. He’s known Poppy his entire life, but there’s something different about her now. Something special he desperately wants to hold on to. Can he convince her she’s the only thing he needs to put the past behind him?

HOME is available now at The Wild Rose Press and on Amazon.

Small-town country girl Calisa Rhose lives in a semi-remote area of Oklahoma with her husband, five dogs, one cat and one horse. All of her three daughters and their families live within throwing distance. She’s a member of RWA and the local chapter OKRWA. She intends to nurture and continue to grow as an author with the help of her family and supporters.

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com

On twitter @Calisa_Rhose and Facebook @Calisa Rhose

She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at calisa.rhose@gmail.com

Welcome Author Susan Carlisle!

2012-01-12T07:00:00.004-05:00

GIVEAWAY WINNER: the random number giveaway has drawn....and Cathy Shouse is the winner of Susan's book! cathy, look for an email from Susan...

Hello, All! So, my author interview series continues this week - today we have Harlequin Medical author Susan Carlisle! I first 'met' Susan through the Heartbeat RWA Chapter - she's a funny lady and so genuinely warm that I just had to like her right away. And her writing! Wow! If you're a fan of heart-stopping medical heroes and heroines, you have to read her books! They are simply fab!! On with the interview - and don't forget to comment because Susan's giving away a copy of her latest release to one commenter!

Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?

I sort of have a writing process and also aspire to have one, or better one anyway. I write the book through and then go back and edit. I find it much harder to put fresh words on a page. I actually really enjoy the editing process and usually go through the manuscript a couple of times.

When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

I go to my mother’s place on the lake. I go there a number of times a year with some writer friends. There I leave the kitchen, dirty clothes and people’s needs behind. I can get a lot of work done in a short amount of time at the lake. I also go to the library and out on my deck.

What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

Since it is Christmas time, I have carols on all the time. I don’t usually listen to music while I’m writing. I prefer quiet. Maybe if I listened to Rock and Roll I might write faster. I may give it a try.

Coffee, tea, hot cocoa w/extra marshmallows – what’s your beverage of choice?

I’m a Southern ice tea person for breakfast, lunch and dinner and anytime in between. Sweet tea with lemon. I’m real partial to McDonald’s. I also love to attend an Afternoon Tea whenever I travel and on special occasions.

Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn’t make it in “between the covers.’

I don’t know of anything in particular that didn’t make it between the covers. But one interesting aspect about this book is that it has a young boy in it that needs a heart transplant. I know about that issue first hand because my youngest son had a heart transplant 20 years ago. He is now 22. My heroine’s emotional reactions are spot on, and a couple of times they were difficult for me to write.
I can imagine, Susan! Wow, what a great story, thanks for sharing!!

In celebration of my release day, I’m giving away a copy of Heart Surgeon, Hero…Surgeon? to one lucky commenter.

Discovering her tiny son desperately needs a new heart terrifies Hannah Quinn – especially when she realizes ex-flame Scott McIntyre is the skilled surgeon in charge of the transplant. Entrusting her baby to Scott’s miracle-working hands is one thing, but whether Hannah’s own heart will survive Scott’s devastating charm intact is quite another…

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? Jan.12, 2012 e-book ---Feb. 2012

Buy the book: eHarlequin Amazon Barnes & Noble

5 Questions with Author Julia Devlin!!

2012-01-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Hi, everyone! So the next couple of weeks are very exciting here at KristiKnight.Blogspot.com - because we have a full slate of guest authors stopping by to chat about books, writing and a guilty pleasure or two! We're going to start this week off with author Julia Devlin - who writes truly hawt romance! You can find out more about Julia by visiting her website or following her on Twitter (she's a hoot!)...okay, read on for my 5 Questions with Julia Devlin!

Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?
My writing process is first and foremost to write every single day I can (sometimes life does get in the way). I’m definitely more of a pantser, but with longer books that can lead to big problems and unnecessary re-writing. And if there’s one thing I hate it’s re-writing. So to indulge my free spirited pantser side, so I wing it for shorter work. For longer work, I complete a character bio that addresses challenges, obstacles, and character development over the course of the story and then a very brief plot outline. I find this helps me stay on track, forces me to deal with any nagging unanswered questions, and minimizes those tantalizing little tangents. For writing itself, I write and edit at the same time. I free flow write a scene, let it sit, then edit the next day. When the story is complete I then do a final polishing edit. I know lots of writers write the whole story first, but for me I find that editing while I’m still in that headspace of what I envisioned for the scene works better. Plus I have a short attention span, once I’m done, I’m done!

When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?
Hmmm… this is a tough question. My first step is to really try and pinpoint what is bugging me. I’ll brain storm with critique partners, print out the chapter and read it on the page. When I’m really stuck I force myself to step away. Then I do something monotonous like clean my kitchen or fold the laundry. For some reason this always does the trick. I think the mundane tasks lets my sub-conscious mind work through its issues and come up with a solution without me trying to control the process.

What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?
This is a boring answer but I’m not that much of a music person. I have an eclectic mix of songs ranging from golden oldies, to country, to hip hop that I’ll listen to when I want to get energized. I also listen to a tons of audio books. But I don’t feel like they impact my writing other than inspiring me by listening to great writers and perking me up on a dull day.

Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows – what's your beverage of choice?
Coffee. Strong and black and plenty of it!

Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?
In The Burn List Abby gives her neighbor Lukas a very racy to-do list that included going to a sex club. In my original story concept Lukas and Abby went to the sex club and participated in a variety of debauchery including some group sex. However, when I added a scene where Lukas is attempting to convince Abby that she’s his type, he was very clear that he was in a NO SHARING mood and I realized that going to a sex club wasn’t right for this couple. Instead, it became part of Luke and Abby’s black moment.

Blurb: After spending her thirtieth birthday with her parents, straight-as-an-arrow Abby Simmons drowns her sorrows in a bottle of tequila and a splash of margarita mix. All she wants is a little excitement, one chance to go wild before she settles back into her regularly scheduled life. Fueled by liquid courage, Abby sets out to give herself the perfect gift—her bad-boy neighbor, firefighter Lukas Marlow.

Sure, Lukas likes intoxicated girls looking to turn their fantasies into reality as much as the next guy, but this is sweet little Abby. Definitely on the do-not-touch list. Determined to save her from embarrassment, he sends her away with an order to sleep it off and a promise to fulfill her desires in the sober light of day. Confident he’s scared her away for good, nothing could have shocked him more than an email from Abby the next morning, outlining her sexual to-do list.

Turns out his quiet neighbor isn’t such a good girl after all, and Lukas has no other choice but to make her burn....

Publisher’s Note: Previously published elsewhere, but has been revised and expanded for Ellora’s Cave.

Excerpt

Home on her thirtieth birthday by seven thirty. How wild. How crazy.

How sad.

There’d been nothing special about the day. Nothing to distinguish it from any other boring day of her life. Well, unless she counted the piece of double-chocolate fudge cake she’d devoured.

Normally she didn’t let herself have dessert.

Abby Simmons slammed the door to her Honda Civic and started the depressing trek to her front door. What had happened to her? Where was the exciting life she’d dreamed about? So far, she hadn’t done one exciting thing in her whole miserable life.

Weary, she sighed. It was official. She was throwing herself a nice little pity party and intended to enjoy every minute of it.

“Hey, Abby.” Neighbor Lukas Marlow’s gorgeous head shot up over the bushes separating their houses.

She jumped and let out a screech, dropping her work bag on the sidewalk. “Don’t scare me like that!”

From behind the shrubs that separated his house from hers, he rose like a Greek god to his full six-four.

She gulped. Of course he was shirtless. Toned muscles, probably honed by hours in the gym to stay in shape for all his heroic rescues as a firefighter, gleamed in the fading evening sun.

The deep dimple on his left cheek creased when he smiled. “Sorry about that. How’s the birthday girl?”

She wanted to snarl. Instead, she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

Why was he so freakin’ unbelievably good-looking? With his stupid chiseled jaw, full mouth, thick dark brown hair and hypnotic matching eyes, he was the poster child for tall, dark and dangerous. The big jerk.

He’d lived next door for a year, and it had taken her six months of run-ins before she could talk to him without stammering like an idiot. Even now, she practically salivated every time she saw him. It was humiliating!

Not that he suffered from the same affliction. Nope. Not even a little bit. Quiet, reliable little Abby was the best-friend sidekick, never the object of desire. Lukas treated her with nothing but respect. The bastard.

That dimple still on full display, he winked. “How was dinner with your parents?”

She wrinkled her nose. What was there to say about dinner with the folks? Other than singing “Happy Birthday” they’d spent the rest of the time dealing with her big sister’s latest drama. Eden always stole the show.

And like the good girl Abby was, she sat quietly, nursing her one glass of wine and thinking she’d rather be curled up on her couch watching TV. “No big deal.”

Those dark brown eyes sparkled with good-natured friendliness. “So, the big three-o… You stopping home before heading out on the town for a wild night?”

Ha! Her wild nights consisted of watching The Daily Show followed by The Colbert Report in bed before drifting off to sleep. “Nope, I have to work tomorrow.”

A grin Lukas probably reserved for returning lost kittens to their elderly owners flashed across his stupid gorgeous face. “Saving your celebrating for the weekend, huh?”

Revealing her boring weekend plans of going to a movie with her best friend Jane to the man whose weekends probably consisted of nonstop sex romps with a couple of orgies thrown in for good measure was not on the to-do list. The last thing she needed was his pity on Sunday as he pushed his latest glamour girl out the door.

With considerable sarcasm, she said, “You know me, one party after another.”

He ran his hands over his washboard stomach, wiping away the dirt that clung to his perfect body. Hell, if she got to touch that, she’d cling too. She scowled.

“Good for you, but remember what I told you,” he said, completely missing her scorn.

Annoyed…and getting crankier by the minute, she parroted back his favorite line. “Yeah, yeah… Stay away from guys like you.”

“Good girl.” Lukas was a whole three years older than her, and therefore had taken it upon himself to act like her much older, much wiser brother.

It made her want to jab him with a sharp object. Maybe then he’d pay attention.

When he’d moved to the quiet tree-lined street, nestled on the outskirts of Chicago, she’d known he’d never give her more than a passing glance. The treatment she received was exactly the treatment she expected from a man like Lukas. If she were Eden, it’d be a different story. But Abby knew her place and expected nothing different.

Still, the knowledge grated.

“Sure,” she said, wanting to get away from this miserable conversation. She turned, starting back up her front walk.

“Happy birthday, Abby,” he called.

She waved over her shoulder, wishing she could flip him off without looking like a lunatic. In ballet flats that looked fashionable on other women but sensible on her, she bounded up the stairs two at time, desperate for the comfort of her house. Moments later, she’d shut out the outside world and slumped against the cherry wood front door.

This sucked.

At fifteen, she used to lie on her bed and dream of the day she’d be free. She’d dreamed of traveling to exotic lands, going to fantastic parties where some mysterious, powerful man would sweep her away. Obviously she’d spent too much time sneaking her mother’s Harlequins.

Now, fifteen years later, she was a bored, dissatisfied thirty-year-old accountant who’d never really done anything remotely interesting. What had happened to that girl who’d craved adventure? She threw her purse on the foyer table, kicked off her shoes and padded into the living room.

Unable to help herself, she walked to the big picture window, watching as Lukas attacked his bushes with a hedger. Those heavily muscled biceps bunching under the exertion, gleaming with sweat. He was to die for.

She hated him.

Sick of her own pathetic thoughts, she turned away from the window and stomped into the kitchen, yanking open the refrigerator. She reached for a bottle of water only to freeze when a bottle of ready-made margarita mix she’d forgotten caught her eye.

She stared at it. A good stiff drink, that’s what she needed. She nibbled her bottom lip. Did she really want to drink alone on her birthday?

What the hell. She was damn tired of feeling sorry for herself.

She pulled out the bottle, grabbed the tequila hidden in her top cabinet and a glass with ice. She filled the tumbler half full of alcohol and splashed some of the margarita mix in to take out the bite.

She’d have her own freakin’ party.

Buy the Book: Ellora's Cave or Amazon

5 Questions with Author Cassandra Carr!

2011-12-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've been following author Cassandra Carr on Twitter for a few months now, and I'm thrilled to welcome her to the blog today! Cassandra is funny, shares great information and has these amazing, can't-put-down books. Please join me in welcoming her to the blog - now on with the interview!

Kristina: Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?

Cassandra: *snort* I aspire to have a writing process. I have a three-year-old I stay home with, so it's pretty difficult to have a process. Really, though, I'm a pantser, and when I sit down to write, I can just kind of go, so I don't think a process is as important to me as some others.

Kristina: When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

Cassandra: When I can leave the house (and my child) to write, I do. I usually go to Panera (screen facing the wall, preferably), or to the cafe section of our local grocery store. I also sometimes get a fruity martini if I'm at home. One martini loosens me up, two or three make me silly.

Kristina: What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

Cassandra: I don't listen to music while I write. I know, I know, it makes me boring. But here's the thing - I love my music. If I listened to it while I wrote I wouldn't be able to concentrate as well. Oh, and by the way - what am I listening to right now? My husband is watching Spaceballs. Yes, this is the life I lead.

Kristina: Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows – what's your beverage of choice?

Cassandra: I don't drink coffee (yes, others have suggested I turn in my writer certificate for this), tea is okay every now and then. Hot cocoa is yummy, but what am I *completely* addicted to? Pepsi. I loooovvveeee my Pepsi. (inserting a Kristina comment here: we *must* be related - I'm a total Pepsi addict!)

Kristina: Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?

Cassandra: Oh gosh...I don't tend to have too much "left over". I'm a pretty lean writer. I will say that I changed the hero's name. His original name just wasn't working for me.

Cassandra's latest release is 'Caught', out with LooseId now. Here's the blurb:

When Callie returns to her hometown for the holidays, she comes face to face with her old lover and Dominant Jack. She left him three years ago, believing he could never be the happily-ever-after man she needed. Yet Jack still wants her and she finds herself wanting to submit to him again.

As Jack and Callie explore their Dominant/submissive relationship, Callie gets drawn deep into Jack’s world all over again. For his part, Jack can’t seem to forget how she nearly ruined him when she took off without even saying good-bye all those years ago, but he’s afraid his baser needs will destroy Callie.

Can Callie give Jack another chance to prove he can be what she needs? Can Jack overcome his own fears and claim Callie forever?

'Caught' released December 6th you can buy the book from LooseID or Amazon by clicking the links.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-20T08:46:00.000-05:00

The week leading up to Christmas has officially gotten the best of me. So, before I'm completely and totally overrun, a quick post to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa and the very best in 2012!

I'll be back to regular posting in 2012, and next week have an author interview or two to post here - so check back! And enjoy some extra time with your families this week, okay?

A Very Special Day

2011-12-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

So, I usually talk about writing or books or publishing in some way on this blog. But today I'm changing it up a bit. Because today is a very special day for our family: It's the 2 year anniversary of the day we adopted our daughter, Shelby. That's us, in our first 'official' Christmas card, to the left. Our adoption isn't any more special or unusual than any other adoption story, but for us it was a long time coming.

We adopted through the Foster Care system, not because we're gluttons for punishment, but because after weighing the options of international, domestic, private-domestic and on and on we realized there was one more option - one too many people don't opt for: foster care. On any given day there are more than 100,000 children in the Foster Care system in the US who are eligible for adoption. And over 75% of them will never be adopted. They'll never have a forever family to help them re-build from whatever tragedy took away their biological family. Going in to it, we knew our chances of adopting an infant were nearly zero, the chances of adopting a toddler were slim and likely we'd be matched with an 'older child' - someone school aged. We also knew there would probably be 'issues' - physical, emotional, health - but we also knew that every child deserves a chance at a normal family life. We wanted to be that family.

So, eyes wide open, we took the Foster-to-Adopt classes and heard more than we ever wanted to know about abuse and neglect and the children in the system. We 'passed' and settled in to wait. It was a short wait. About a month after we were certified we got The Call - there was a newborn waiting at the hospital and were we interested. Like I imagine I will when I get The Publishing Call, I stuttered all over myself, made sign-language-like motions at my husband that he had no way of interpreting and said, "Mm-hmm, yeah, okay. When?"

Four hours later, a tiny little life was place in my arms and she fit. Perfectly. From the moment I met her - blechy hospital smells and all - she was mine. Luckily the husband felt that way, too. She was born addicted to crack, with marijuana and alcohol in her system and she tremored constantly - late at night those little shakes became full-on DTs that adults have when they're trying to break a habit. My heart broke a little every night for the six weeks she fought the drugs in her system.

In all it took 18 months for our adoption to be finalized, but she was with us for every long day and month of that time...When the judge asked us to raise our hands and pledge to do our best for her, she reached up and placed her hands over ours. I think that means we all made that pledge...So, on this second anniversary of our adoption, I wanted to share a little of it with you...and give you all one small job: if you have a little one - even a grown up little one - in your life, give thanks today...and then snuggle him or her into a big bear hug. Okay?

It's The Little Things...

2011-12-13T08:46:00.000-05:00

For the past three years - ever since we moved into the new house - I've been lugging my computer back to my husband's office when I needed to print. Granted, that wasn't all that often because the publishing world has changed. Instead of printing queries and synopsis' and then mailing, most of my submissions could be emailed. Still, about twice each week I'd either load up my flash drive or lug the laptop back, plug it in and print what needed to be printed.

All that changed on Sunday - when I got an early Christmas present: a new, wireless printer...and it's right there on my desk! I'm so geekily excited about the printer it's not even funny. It's a big model - scanner, photo printer, regular printer...no extra cords on my desk because, yeah, wireless. It's black and gleaming because there's not a single scratch on it. It has a little blue light that flashes at me while it works; it also hums. I like to think that flash is a wink and that hum means it likes me, too.

Do you get excited by office equipment? Please tell me I'm not alone here...

How Do You Focus?

2011-12-08T07:00:00.003-05:00

Being still and doing nothing are two very different things ~~ Mr. Han, Karate Kid (2010 version)

Your focus needs more focus ~~ Mr. Han, Karate Kid (2010 version)

A few weekends ago, my husband and I had a movie marathon - including the new Karate Kid flick. Five movies, two (and a half) days. How'd we do it with a toddler? Grandma (known in our fam as Nan) did a sleep over. Grandmother's, Nanny's, MeMaw's, etc. are wonderful things, but that isn't the point of this post. The point is noise.

In my every day life, I have a lot of noise. A 3-year-old will do that to you naturally, but it isn't just the kiddo. I have non-fiction projects and deadlines, self-imposed deadlines for my fiction writing, I have a critique group, I take workshops, I read (for pleasure and for work), I get an average of 200 emails/day, I have a busy husband, a radio show 2 nights/week, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping and the list goes on.

I should just cut some things out? I'd like to, but everything on my list is a Must Do. Not preparing for my radio show means no more show. No workshops means no learning. Not answering emails? Well, I'd be out of a job. Ignoring my critique group? Not gonna happen. Dropping the nonfiction? Uh-uh. Dropping the fiction? Tried. Can't. So I've learned to focus and be still.

First, focus. I can get through a list of 70 emails (even replying) in under a half-hour most days because I prioritized my inboxes. Things that can wait, wait. I do the simple first and come around for a second go-round if I don't clear the box. When I'm in the middle of a workshop, I've found I can use 15-20 minute 'breaks' to deal.

How do I do it? It all started with a kitchen timer. Email piling up? I set the timer for 30 minutes and deal with it. Haven't dealt with a workshop class? Set the time for 20 minutes and dive in. For those 20 or 30 minutes, I don't look at new mail, I don't click off the workshop page/email/chat. I focus on the task at hand. The first few days that timer annoyed me to death. Two years into timing things and I find I can focus totally into a small project and have it finished before the ringing bell.

Which brings me to the first quote above: Being still is not the same as doing nothing. In the midst of the noise - even the work-related noise - we all need to take time for ourselves or we'll lose focus. On everything. Finding ways to be still? I can't tell you how to do that. I've found several things that help me - I take a mid-afternoon break to play video games, I go for walks and sometimes I just drop everything to play with the kiddo. That's the best 'being still' I've found.

What methods have you found that help you find your focus? How do you take time for yourself in the middle of a hectic day?

Author Interview: Jerri Drennen & Her Man Flint!

2011-12-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

Hi, there, everyone! Time for another installment of my "5 Questions With..." blogterview series! Please help me welcome author Jerri Drennen to the blog. Jerri is a multi-published author, and has re-released one of her backlist titles, "Her Man Flint" as an indie author! I read the book a couple of years ago (loved it!) and am so excited it available again. Please help me welcome Jerri to the blog!

About Jerri:
Jerri Drennen is an award-winning published author of romance suspense and contemporary romance. She has four books available at Samhain Publishing and one currently at Loose-ID. She was born in Omaha, NE, then raised on a farm in a small town in Minnesota where she acquired her love of storytelling. After meeting her husband, she relocated to his hometown in Missouri where they now live with their son and daughter, an ivory lab, and their newest addition, a spitfire tabby kitten.

And now...on with the Q&A!

Kristina: Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?

Jerri: I really don't think I have a writing process. Before my daughter and granddaughter came back to live with us, I used to write right after my kids were off to school. Now, I write when I can.

Kristina: When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

Jerri: Well, lately nowhere. I haven't been writing. See, answer above. (hey, blog readers, have any advice for Jerri? Leave her a comment in the comments section!)

Kristina: What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

Jerri: I don't generally listen to music while I write, but maybe I will now to block out distractions.

Kristina: Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows – what's your beverage of choice?

Jerri: Coffee--black and strong but don't tell my stomach doctor this. He'd be shaking his head at me.

Kristina: Tell us one interesting/funny/weird thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?

Jerri: I wrote this story a while ago so I really can't remember if there was anything that didn't make the book. It's pretty wild and crazy, so I doubt it.

Kristina: Tell us about Her Man Flint...
Jerri: It's not your typical romantic suspense, it got a lot of humor. But it's about two ex-lovers who are forced to work together to exonerate one of a murder they didn't commit.

About 'Her Man Flint':

If James Bond and Cleopatra Jones had a daughter, Adriana Kent would kick her ass.

Everything Adriana knows about being a top-notch, undercover agent she's learned from her partner, Flint Morgan, in and out of the sheets. That is, until he's caught between those same bed linens with another woman. Heartbroken, Adriana refuses to forgive him. But when 'the other woman' is found dead in Flint's apartment, she steps up to prove his innocence--he might be a womanizer, but he's no killer.

As Adriana closes in on a suspect, she's kidnapped and sent overseas to a sadistic prince who collects women like priceless pieces of art. Now this tough as nails agent finds herself playing the helpless courtesan to a man hell-bent on breaking her spirit. Flint arrives in the nick of time, dressed as a harem girl, fighting off randy guards and surly camels to rescue Adriana so they can fly back to the states to find a way to exonerate him for murder.

Excerpt--Her Man Flint

Her phone rang, sending her heart thumping. She picked it up. "Did you forget something?" Adriana assumed it was Mike again.
"Yeah, you wouldn't happen to have found that pair of trick handcuffs we experimented with, would you?" Adriana's heart sped up at the sound of Flint's deep, sexy voice. "And who is this?" she asked. "Jared? Frank?" Let him think she'd used them on more than one occasion, with someone other than him.
He growled. "You know darn well who this is."
Adriana smiled. Was that jealousy she heard in his tone? "Is that you, Flint?"
"Yes. So, do you have them or not. I have a date tonight and they might come in handy."
She snorted. "I think I left them at Mike's last night. Let me call him and see." She sounded cool and collected, but on the inside her heart wrenched at the thought of him in yet another woman's arms.
"Forget it. I'll think of something else creative. Of course you know that about me, don't you? Remember the night of the blackout and the flashlight?"
Adriana felt a rush of heat wash over her body at the memory.
"Yes, I remember. Do you remember the morning I found you in bed with Lindsey?" She tried to sound matter-of-fact.
"Yeah. What a night I had."
Adriana's chest tightened to almost painful proportions. "What do you want, Flint?"
"Can't a guy call his partner?" he asked innocently.
"I have a date. I have to go." Adriana held back the emotion clogging her throat. She didn't need this.
"I'm sorry, Adriana." The phone went dead.
Great. Now he says he's sorry. What did he mean? Sorry for what? Sorry he broke my heart? Sorry for what he said, or just sorry that I'd caught him in the act?
What did it really matter? Sorry or not, their relationship would never be the same—she'd never be the same.

Buy The Book:
"Her Man Flint" is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

What Motivates You?

2011-12-01T08:18:00.000-05:00

It's a bright, sunshiney Thursday morning here on the North Coast...and yet the temperature is still hanging in the 40s. Doesn't seem like sunshiney weather from the temperature gauge and yet the sun shines. I guess it's motivated.

Every morning after a sleepover, bebe follows Holly (in-laws older dog) around the house, hoping she will play a little bit. Every morning Holly avoids bebe until she gets distracted by some other playtime options. I guess they're both motivated.

Each day I open my WIP folder, open the current chapter and work. Some days I get totally new words, some days only some revision and some days a little bit of both. But even on days when I don't feel like it I open that document and get to work. What motivates me?

Honestly, some days nothing motivates me. I don't want to write, I don't feel like writing and I wonder if by writing I'm actually doing myself - and the WIP - a disservice. And then I remember what Nora once said: You can deal with crap on a page but you can't do anything with a blank page.

On those days that I don't feel like writing, editing or plotting, I chant those words like a mantra because she was (and still is) right. If I waited for inspiration to strike or for The Muse to be ready, I'd never finish a scene, finish a chapter or finish a book. So I can't wait, I have to be motivated. I'll ask again: What motivates me?

Actually, I have an answer to that: It's my goal sheet. Every January I start a new goal sheet. I has goals for each month, quarter, 6-month mark and year. This past year my goals were to write 4 books and revise another. My goals got a little off-track because of a sagging middle issue, but I'm actually not that far off. I revised and sent in Book 1 and Book 2, I've nearly finished the first in a series (I think 3) novellas and am plotting the second. I'm feeling pretty good about that. You know what kept me motivated through that sagging middle and reaching November a full book-and-a-half off my goal? The goal itself.

I'm just the teensiest bit competitive, especially against myself. I don't like to set goals and not meet them - although that does happen - so I set goals at the beginning of the year and I revisit those goals throughout the year. When that sagging middle problem hit? I revised my goals for the next 6 weeks so I could concentrate on the middle and not beat myself up over not making more progress with another project.

I love setting goals but I love even more the ability to adjust goals when the time comes...it helps keep me on track. How about you? Are you a goal setter? How do you deal with missed goals or setting new goals in the middle of a session?

Holiday Hangover?

2011-11-29T07:00:00.002-05:00

It seems like just a week ago I was in Anticipation Mode. Excited about cooking the big turkey dinner. Excited about seeing the whole family. Excited about trimming the tree. Oh, wait, that was just a week ago. Now, a week later, I'm knee-deep in the holiday mess and wishing (maybe just a little) that things would slow down.

No, I'm not wishing Christmas was over and done-with. I'm not looking forward to weeks of bone-chillingly cold weather or snow up to my elbows (okay, maybe *one* of those snowfalls and then...it can warm up). I call this Holiday Hangover and I know the cause: I'm out of my routine.

As much as I enjoy the holidays, the parties, the family-seeing, the cooking and baking and decorating...all that time cuts in to my schedule. My time. Like most of you, I'm a busy, working mom. The fact that I work at home only compounds that because the bebe doesn't really understand that my desk is a work zone. She's beginning to respect my work time/space, but really? She's three. So it's a lot of constant interruptions and everything takes longer. So those moments I usually use to get some words on paper - yanno nap times, 10 minutes when she's focused on Mickey Mouse or a game or a book - those moments are taken up writing cards, planning holiday dinners, buying a present, getting ready for a party or for another flock of holiday guests to arrive. Don't get me wrong, I love all those things. Really and truly. But having those extra things take up all my time? Don't love that.

How am I coping? By using the time I still have. My pre-school mornings are NOT going to the holiday madness. Those moments - and I had two hours of it Monday - are being closely watched and hoarded by me. I had my phone for an emergency, but I locked it away. Turned off my data plan and just wrote while I was snuggled into my favorite booth, with the madness going on around me. Annoyed customers talking about things that didn't go right, annoyed employees who didn't want to be at work on a post-holiday Monday...I heard it all. And I gloried in the fact that, for 120 minutes I didn't have to worry about buying another gift or addressing another card or planning another meal. For those minutes I was just Kristina, writing away...and loving it.

How do you cope with the holiday madness?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

I don't have a real post today, except to say I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone. And I hope you're spending the day with the people you love the most! Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Staying Grounded

2011-11-22T08:54:00.008-05:00

I have no idea what this thing to the left is supposed to be...maybe a whale? But for someone out there, it's the cutest thing ever.

We all have them. Favorite books or movies, pictures or music. Things that help us define what is perfect about a thought or idea; most people consider books to be touchstones. I also like to think of touchstones as things which set our world back on its axis after a gruelling day (or month or year), as a piece of myself that I find along the journey. Thanks to a song or movie or book or picture, I find a little piece of myself that I didn't know was missing.

You know what's really funny? I've been finding these pieces of myself for as long as I can remember. You'd think I'd be a full person by now!

I started thinking of touchstones as I was cleaning off my desk last week. Many of my touchstones are stored right here. There is a picture of a dawn thunderstorm over the Grand Canyon. My iPod is never far away and is filled with favorite songs past and present - yeah, even a few of those goofy one-hit-wonders are there. There is a Coca-Cola can-shaped puzzle with about four pieces missing. I should throw the thing away, but I find that when I'm stuck I can pick it up, roll it around a little and find an answer. That kind of free therapy is a must have in my life as a writer!

Even a few of my keeper-shelf books have made a permanent residence on my desk. There is a ragged copy of Snow Bride by Margery Hilton (the first Harlequin Presents book I ever read), a picture book of lost-and-found treasure stories and a leather-bound edition of Byron's poems that I rescued from a library fire sale. It is falling apart, the leather is cracked and faded. I'm not particularly fond of Byron's poems (I know, sacriledge) but there is a love-note-dedication written in the front for 'Midge' from 'Thompson' that I adore.

These are just a few of the things that help set my world right when things aren't going well..and when things are swimming along? They help me remember that I am a truly blessed girl.

Do you have a touchstone (or three)? Do you keep it close or hidden away to pull out when it's really needed?

Nothing Beats The Feeling...

2011-11-15T07:00:00.015-05:00

...of a hard copy of your work in your hot, little hands. Since it's the official "I Love To Write Day" I thought I'd share...

As most of you know, I'm a freelance writer by day. Mostly I write business-based articles, but I also query and submit parenting/family/education articles to magazines and such, too. And recently one of those family-focused pieces was accepted for publication. It's a holiday-themed essay on adoption - featuring none other than the cutest bebe I've ever adopted. LOL

I was nervous about this piece, though, because it was something very close to my heart. I wrote about the miscarriages we experienced prior to looking at adoption. The rocky road we had to our happily-ever-after adoption story. My faith - and the shaking it took along the path. So, very, very nervous. When the editor of the magazine replied just over a day after I sent that article in on query, I was certain it was a No. And thrilled that it was a Yes-With-Very-Small-Edits.

On Saturday my author copies arrived and I ripped into that package like a 5-year-old on Christmas morning. And grinned like a maniac while I stared and stared at the cover. And then cried a little when I saw the article and the pictures I'd chosen of our journey to be included. Nothing beats that feeling. And I can't wait to have that feeling focused on my fiction writing career in addition to my non-fiction career. This feeling of accomplishment, of I Did It, of hard work...is definitely my favorite writing feeling. At least today.

What is your favorite writing feeling?

5 Questions with Debut Author Donna Shields!

2011-11-10T07:00:00.011-05:00

Hi, there, everyone! Time for another installment of my "5 Questions With..." blogterview series! Please help me welcome debut author Donna Shields to the blog. Donna's first published novel, The Swan Cove Murders, officiall released on November 9.

I've known Donna for a few years now, and her stuff is absolutely fabulous...so read on to learn a little more about her, the book and her writing process.

Kristina: Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?

Donna: LOL, not really. Some days I write by the seat of my pants and other days I want to plot and it actually works! When I’m done with the first rough draft, then I send it off to my critique partners to chop apart.

Kristina: When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

Donna: Either I shove my nose in a book to go far far away or go for a drive. It’s funny how a drive will produce all kinds of ideas. Like I’m too busy concentrating on the road and ideas pop up.

Kristina: What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

Donna: Right now, I'm not listening to anything. But, usually it's country and it has a huge impact on my writing. Especially in a scene where my hero and heroine want to tear each other apart or when they are ready to make up. Country songs tell some significant stories that I can relate to my writing.
Kristina: Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows – what's your beverage of choice?

Donna: The angel side of me loves coffee. The devil side is all about a rum and coke!

Kristina: Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?

Donna: Nicholas and Lena’s bickering back and forth at the beginning of the story is much milder now than in my rough draft. Nicholas kept calling her psychotic instead of psychic in various different ways. But my critting partners were right. He was coming off as a total donkey's butt.

And, release info: Include book blurb/excerpt, author bio, release dates and where we can buy:

Blurb:

As if the violent murder of Lena Dixon's fiancé hadn't been bad enough, now his brother, Nicholas Hunter, is court ordered to live with her for the next thirty days. And to top it off, the murderer's ghost is asserting his innocence and refuses to leave until Lena and Nicholas prove it.

The skeptic in Nicholas believes Lena has lost her mind until he witnesses some unexplainable events and is forced to believe in her psychic abilities and his heart’s desire.

As their sexual chemistry heats up, so do their guilt levels. Can they make their newfound relationship work, or will it be too late when the real killer comes calling for her?

Excerpt:

The door slowly opened, and she slid through the slim opening. The purple smudges under her beautiful hazel eyes spoke volumes to him, crushing his heart. Be strong.

“What do you want? The sheriff already delivered the papers.” The glare radiating from her hazel eyes spoke of wanting to set him on fire, burning him alive. She’d been crying.

“I know.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, you also know Earl left me the house.”

“A small technicality which will be fixed the day after tomorrow in court.”

She sighed. “Then what do you want today of all days?”

“I would like to get into my attic.” When she didn’t answer, he smiled. “Please.”

Suspicion crept into the fiery gaze. “Why should I let you?”

“I have a key. I can come and go anytime I please.” Vixen. “I thought I’d be nice and ask, before forcing my way in.”

“You certainly aren’t winning me over.”

He put his hands together as if in prayer. “Please. I just need the trunk.” His and Earl’s trunk. After the funeral, Lena had insisted Nicholas take the treasure trove with him, but the memories inside had been too much to handle at the time.

Her swollen eyes softened a little. “Well...” She pushed open the door and waved him in.

He made his way through the foyer, pausing when he spotted the family photos hanging on the wall. “I see you haven’t changed anything.” He hadn’t been inside the house since Earl’s death.

“Why would I?”

His eyes caught the flower arrangement on the side table near the staircase along with the card sticking up in the middle. “Secret admirer?”

Her face flushed. “How about none of your business? Do you want time with the trunk or what?”

Bio: Donna Shields grew up on romance and scary stories. With her love for suspense and the slightly unusual, she enjoys tying these elements together to create stories full of love, danger, and the paranormal.

She lives in the beautiful upstate of South Carolina with her husband, her children, and some great haunts. She's a mom, a 'gramma', a wife, a friend, an avid reader and writer. When she’s not occupied with all that, she loves traveling to Playa del Carmen and Jamaica.

The Swan Cover Murders releases November 9, 2011 from DonnaShields.com

Baby Steps...

2011-11-08T07:00:00.003-05:00

The day my 2 1/2 year old skipped off to school - pre-school - I was in shock. One the one hand, she had a huge vocabulary, knew letters and numbers and could spell (but not yet write) her name. She was definitely ready.

Mom? Not so much. When she took her first toddling steps, I knew the day would come and yet when it arrived I was a little more worked up than I thought I would be. And yet I knew it was what was best for her, so while I had that first mommy-letting-go moment it also felt like she was finally taking a few steps on her own.

Kind of like a writer-letting-go moment.

I've been working toward fiction publication for five years now. I've let go of more manuscripts than I care to count because they weren't working. I've let go of 6 to send them off to agents and publishers. Those were toddling steps. So far this year I've sent off 2 novels, which are under consideration and am working on a trilogy of novellas for another publisher. You know what? It's still hard - not as hard as sending the kiddo off to pre-school (and she's now in her second semester) - but I'm confident.

Once they are let go? I'm learning to accept that I have no control of what happens outside my office. That is a solid step for me. At that point all I can do is work on the next book and then the next and the next.

Baby steps. Just like the kiddo first struggling to stand and then to take a toddling step. I've been taking toddling steps long enough. This year, those toddling steps are going to be more confident.

Have you taken any toddling or letting go steps this year? Share your tips for surviving in the comments below:

Do You NaNo?

2011-11-01T08:52:00.000-04:00

Today is November 1 and writers around the world have broken out their computers, AlphaSmarts, iPads, pens and paper with one goal in mind: write a book in one month. 50,000 words in 30 days. Marriages and friendships will be tested. Chocolate and alcohol will be consumed. Some amazing - and not so amazing - turns of phrase will be written down.

I don't NaNo. Well, okay, I suppose I technically do, but...I don't. I didn't visit the NaNo site. I didn't sign up for the challenge. I don't have a badge that I'll proudly wave the first week and that will, after that, threaten my psyche as I fall way behind in word count. I think that is precisely why I don't NaNo. I like challenges,I like to push myself. I have and will again write a 50,000 word book in a month. But just finishing that book doesn't mean it's ready to meet the world...it needs polishing and revising and basic proof-reading. And I know the premise of NaNo is to turn off the Infernal Editor and get the words down on paper - not have a saleable manuscript started and finished in 30 days. But that's the way my mind works: NaNo (for me) isn't just about turning off the editor and writing, it's about having a publishable book on paper within a month. And this year, that is not going to happen. Which means The Guilts will attack and I'll freeze and then I won't meet the basic goal - which is to write.

So I'm not NaNoing this year. Kind of. I am going to cheer on my friend Margie, and we're going to have some goals we're meeting. I am going to write every day and I am shooting to finish my current WIP this month. If you're NaNoing here's my advice: set your goals and then divide those goals into daily, achieveable steps. And be accountable to someone, report in. Nothing feels better than meeting a small goal. Nothing!

So while I don't have a badge, I do have a big goal this month...do you?

Everyone Needs A Little Revenge...

2011-10-27T08:46:00.000-04:00

Meet Emily Thorne (played by Emily Van Camp). She beautiful, smart...and a little peeved. One of my favorite new shows this TV season is "Revenge" on ABC.

About the show: Emily Thorne is new to the Hamptons. She's met some of her wealthy neighbors, has made a few new friends and seemingly blends into the town. But something is a little odd about a young girl living in a wealthy town all on her own, and the truth is that Emily isn't exactly new to the neighborhood. In fact, this was once her old neighborhood, until something bad happened that ruined her family and their reputation. Now Emily is back, and she's returned to right some of those wrongs in the best way she knows how – with a vengeance.

What I Like: Revenge is a universal motivator. We've all wanted revenge at some point in our lives - whether on a bad ex-boyfriend, a frienemy or an entire town, like Emily here. Revenge can be as simple as keying a car (not that I've ever done that) or an intricate as sabotaging someone's job (nope, haven't done that, either). But we've all wanted (or needed) revenge at some point in our lives...so Emily's quest is understandable. I also like that she's using her brain to ruin these people. She's not just hiring a hit man to take everyone out.

What I've learned: Well, in one episode Emily took down a hedge fund manager. I'm seeing a lot of Hamptons scenery. But, really, what I've learned is more about internal conflict. Because we know from the outset what her external goals/conflicts are: she hates everyone, she wants to ruin the people who ruined her life. But she's finding friends along the way. She's re-connected with a childhood friend, she's relying on a new friend and she's falling in love with one of her pawns - the son of the people who are behind all of her pain.

It's kind of a lesson in romance writing: how can she fall for this person who is part of the ruination of her life?

Have any television shows caught your attention this fall? What are you 'learning' from them?

Rainy Days, Go Away!

2011-10-25T08:07:00.000-04:00

There's a song that my mom used to hum, back when I thought she made up all the tunes in her head, that goes something like 'rainy days and mondays always get me down'. Now, mom was - and is - one of the most optimistic people I know, which can be kind of aggravating when it is a rainy Monday and I am down. And yet, all that optimism has helped to make me the person I am today. Case in point....

As I'm writing this blog, it's a rainy, Monday. Actually it's been an incredibly rainy fall season, with our version of several monsoons, raging creeks and streams and high water levels around the lake.

I'm not down, like Joey in the picture over there...I haven't lost my best friend. I actually have a pretty awesome chance right in front of me if I can just get through the hard work first. I'd really like to curl up with a book and a blankie in my favorite chair. Instead I'm here at my computer working on book revisions. One of my least-favorite parts of this writing journey I'm on.

I like the beginnings of books. The fun, write-whatever-comes-out beginning where I'm getting to know my characters and discovering new things about the setting and figuring out the plot. This revision stuff, where I read the same page over about 20 times figuring out where to move two little words? So not fun. And it's a rainy Monday so why shouldn't I be staring out the window like Joey in the picture above?

I shouldn't because that isn't my job. Going all maudlin because I'm at a point in my book where I can make it better? Just because it's a rainy day? That isn't the kind of kid my mom raised and it's not the kind of parent I want to be to my kid. Plus, although I'm a little intimidated, I'm really excited about this book and these revisions. It's my favorite story - to date - and I think it has a lot of potential...if I can just dig that potential out.

So, on this rainy day, I'm channeling my optimistic mom and I'm doing the work.

What I Watched: Ides of March

2011-10-13T12:41:00.000-04:00

So last night the DH and I hit the theatre for date night. What we saw: Ides of March. Why? Hello! George Clooney and Ryan Gosling on one screen for two hours? I'm not gonna miss that. Grade: B-

Here's the scoop on the film: During the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, an up-and-coming campaign press secretary (Steven, Ryan Gosling, yummy!) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's (Morris, George Clooney, yummy!) shot at the presidency.

I loved the political intrigue, the insider machinations of what it takes - in Hollywoodland - to win a presidential election. I loved the picture it painted of politicians as having idealistic goals and yet being way too human and flawed. Because aren't we all? I also loved the twist at the end and the journey Steven took and the decisions he had to make along the way. He's the hero but he does very unheroic things.

What I didn't like: Hi, it's October and this movie is set in March. I know, a silly thing but it bugged me. Not enough to down-grade the movie, but enough to make me blog about it. Second point: I really don't like that it's titled "Ides of March" which, to me as a reader and writer, screams that the Leader (Morris in the movie, Cesar in history) is going to go down. Badly. And - spoiler alert - he doesn't. He makes a bad choice. He does something he's sworn throughout the movie he wouldn't do...and yet we're left to believe that as he goes about the campaign, he's the winner. In literary history, the Ides of March was the downfall - and death - of Cesar. So that part...feels off. The only tie-in to the title and movie is that they're counting down to a vote on March 15th....which, yeah, is a semi-literal translation of the title. But it just doens't fit to me. So, that did downgrade it for me.

What I learned: titles matter. I didn't watch any previews of the flick prior to buying a ticket last night. Didn't read or watch any reviews. I knew who was in it, I knew I liked both actors and so I went. I was expected a Cesar-type re-telling or at least some Cesar-esque moments. None were there and for me that was a big disappointment. If it had a different title, I'd have still gone to see it and likely my score - if the title actually matched the film's tenents - would have been higher. So, as I'm coming up with working titles for my two new WIPs, I have this in mind...and I'm trying to find something that truly fits.

What have you learned from a movie/television show lately?

Just A Little Swim

2011-10-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

We started bebe in swimming lessons at 10 months; not as early as some, but early for her since she didn't even hit 10 pounds until well past her first birthday. Being a water baby (okay, tub baby) from birth and all she loved every minute and we've continued with lessons - at the Y and at our backyard pool. This summer she turned 3 and we gave up the life jacket and graduated to water wings or a bubble only - and wow, is she progressing. Kicking those legs and 'digging' with her hands, keeping her body in the float position and spitting out water and holding her breath. All. Over. The. Pool. She gets in and she's one side to the other over and over for 5 or 10 minutes. Then she plays with her noodle to rest for 30 seconds and is right back, 'swimming laps'. Try to put her in a tube and she yells, "No! I need swiiiiiiiim, please!" It's really just too cute.

One of our early 'exercises' entailed flipping her onto her back and pulling her around by her ankles, allowing the life jacket to support her head. She thought it was hilarious when I stop pulling and she kept floating along with the current created in the pool; she was devasted to learn water wings and bubbles don't work the same way. Back to my point.

I love that she loves swimming so much. I hope that love stays with her. I've always loved swimming. Have never been especially good at it, but I love cutting through the water, pushing my body and playing around.

I feel the same way about writing. I love cutting through the dark places before I begin a book to figure out goals, motivations and conflicts. I love pushing my brain to work hard at upping the stakes throughout the books. And I love that I can experience everything from sky-diving to deep sea fishing through my characters. When I'm really brave I experience them personally, too. But I'm not often a daredevil.

So this summer while I've been teaching bebe to swim, I've been renewing my interest and love in swimming, too. And finding parallels for that love throughout my life. I love writing. Couldn't give it up if I tried. Even on days when I feel like I have ten pound weights at my ankles and I'm swimming against the current, I want to keep pushing. Keep sending queries to agents and editors. Keep working on that story that calls to my heart.

Because sooner or later that current is going to change and instead of swimming agianst the current, that current is going to carry me to a new place just like the pool current carries bebe around.

That place is my name on the cover of a book. Until I get there, I'll just keep swimming along. How about you?

Finding Your Passion...

2011-10-06T10:44:00.001-04:00

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on." Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement address delivered on June 12, 2005.

I had another post planned for today, but when news broke that Steve Jobs had passed, I decided to post something a little bit different. No, I'm not a complete techie - I like my Apple toys, though - and no I'm not a complete Apple junkie...although, again, I do like my toys. My iPod holds more playlists than I can count, my iPad has completely changed my writing productivity - and make it a lot easier to 'show up' for work from anywhere. And yet I'm still a PC girl...those MacBooks are calling me, though, I'm telling you.

What I've always admired about Steve Jobs, though, is the quote (and many others like it) above. Because, although he was just a media figure to me, I always felt he lived it. He loved what he did. He believed in his products and he kept innovating them to make them better - and by better I mean not just to sell a few new items but to actually change how we used and engaged with those things.

The quote above, though, is a little different. It isn't just about working hard and doing something different. It is about finding yourself in your work. Finding your passion. And taking that passion on a life-long journey.

Writing (and reading, too) has always been my passion. I didn't mind writing 20 page papers in college, didn't mind the endless book reports in junior high and high school. I loved my first radio and TV news jobs because...I got to write. About people and interesting places and fun happenings...and even the sadness of life. But I got to write about it. After a few years of covering murder and mayhem, though, I started to burn out. It was harder to visit my fictional places because it became harder to separate fact from fiction. At that point I was writing romantic suspense.

Around 2006 I tried something a little bit different - I tossed the latest suspense novel into a file when I couldn't write a page after 10 or so days. I opened a new file and just let my imagination free. The book isn't and will not be published - at least not in its current state - but I call it my Passion book. It was the first book I wrote that was pure romance - boy meets girl, angst ensues but not dead bodies. The only thing in jeopardy were their hearts.

I wrote that book in about eight weeks. And started another soon after. The writers block was lifted...I had found my passion within my passion.

I'm still writing non-fiction - non murder-and-mayhem non-fiction - but my real passion was then and still is fiction writing. I love creating new worlds, exploring emotions and meeting new *people*. Sure, I create those people but each one surprises me by something he or she says or does at least once in each book.

Have you found your passion? And what are you doing with that passion?

Just Believe

2011-10-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

I finally got my fall decorations out over the weekend and our house looks suitably harvest-ready. My favorite treat jar - a little pumpkin man whose head holds candy - and a few candle holders shaped like jack-o-lanterns and witches hats and even a new wall hanging are up and inviting fall into our home. I love fall, despite the rainy weather and the fact that soon we'll have snow up to our eaves.

After I decorated, though, my husband pointed out that something didn't quite fit. It's a block board with two snowmen and reads 'just believe'. He thought it was too early to be thinking about snow. Little did he realize, it's been out on the shelf in my office for...well, since I bought it. I've never been able to put it away and I think it's because, for me, it isn't just about believing in snow (or snow days, as kids do).

It's about believing in me.

Where I have the decoration placed, I can see it while I'm writing, revising, editing...or crying because a story isn't working well. It reminds me that my stories need to be believable - no acting outside character just because I need something to happen - and it reminds me that I have to believe - in my characters, in myself, in hard work and determination.

When I'm actually envisioning my books finished and ready to submit, when I'm envisioning myself with that first contract in-hand, I'm altogether more productive...and my little believing snowmen help me focus.

Do you have something on your desk that keeps you focused?

You Have To Know What You Want

2011-09-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I googled for 'hot shoes'. A million and one pictures of trendy stillettos popped up...and one pair of shoes that would melt an eskimo's igloo. They were really, really hot shoes. Had I not known I was actually looking for the trendy shoes, I could've soooo gotten lost in those ugly, warm-toes shoes. But I knew what I wanted.

You know that old saying, 'those who want can't all have'? No? I'd never heard it until a few years ago when I started dating my now-husband. It was a phrase his grandmother said. A lot. It went along with whatever whining was going on in her house that day. Whine too much? You didn't get a kind shoulder and a little cheese...you got a 'those who want can't all have'.

But I found it funny, in a ha-ha mixed with huh kind of way. Because my own grandmother listened to us whine and gave us hugs...and, you know, grandmothered us. Not so, the DH's grandma. She was more of the 'buck up' grandma, the you got knocked down? Well, do something about it. She kind of scared me. But the more I thought about her phrase the more I wondered if I was setting myself up for success or more whining. Did I really know what I wanted? And was I willing to put in the work to get it done? That is when I started really developing my plans for what I wanted out of life - not just a murky image of a girl at a typewriter, but my face on a book jacket.

It's the same with search engines. Someone, somewhere is googling for 'hot shoes' and failing miserably because they haven't looked past that first page of trendy shoe results...

Do you know what you want?

The Idea Fairy Exploded

2011-09-27T08:51:00.000-04:00

This past weekend the idea fairy exploded all over Central Michigan. It was my RWA chapter's annual brainstorming retreat. Two days of writing, plotting, brainstorming...and a lot of laughter. And a few inappropriate jokes...which were brought up many, many times.

There was even a bat-catching net, and no that isn't a metaphor for anything.

I think we brainstormed somewhere around 25 stories for 15 or so authors over the weekend.

It's funny where the ideas come from in a situation like that, and it's a kind of situation I try to re-create when I'm alone and trying to get the bones of a story down. Of course, it's not nearly as fun. I think that is what I take away from these events - that although I need to be alone with my thoughts to write, I also need that connection with other writers, with friends, with family. The ability to talk to someone else about my story and have that person understand where I'm coming from and what I'm trying to do. My non-writer friends try, but some of my ideas don't have quiiiiite the same reaction. And that's okay.

If you didn't get much writing done and you were in our general vicinity, I'm sorry the idea fairy was too busy keeping us in line to visit you. This was my second brainstorming and it definitely lived up to Year 1 hype, which is funny because, up until my first retreat, I always thought I brainstormed best on my own.

What is your favorite way to brainstorm stories? Do you have a go-to group of people you share with before sitting down to write?

The Things We Do For Love...

2011-09-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

I'm a lucky woman. My husband follows me around malls, the grocery store, the book store...he even waits in the Man Chair while I'm trying on clothes every season. So I think it's only fair that every now and again I throw him a bone.

No, this is not a post about weird sexual stuff. This is a post about the things we do for love. Okay, sometimes sexual stuff is included, but this is not one of those posts, get your minds out of the gutter, mmmkay?

When we first started dating, my then-new-boyfriend cooked for me. Steaks on the grill, mashed potatoes, green beans (although he abstained...he swore he was allergic to veggies), rice...he went all out. Didn't let me help. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven because I didn't cook. I was okay with a jar of spaghetti sauce or boring eggs and toast but, at that point, it didn't get much better than that. We had a few more dates and one Sunday he decided to cook again.

He pulled out a strange looking contraption, grabbed a few slices of bread, some cheese and ham slices and proceeded to stack them up inside and then shut the lid. I had no clue what was going on so I read the directions. I learned that this magical being was a fried sandwich maker which doubled as an oh-so-cool dessert maker. In addition to sandwiches, you could shove in a slice of bread, a can of apple pie filling and you'd have instant apple pie. I had no clue that things like this existed but as a non-chef, I decided to withhold my judgment.

The sandwiches were actually good. The instant apple pie tasted like a$$. (I actually tried the apple pie thing on my own because at this point, in addition to being allergic to veggies, I learned that my future husband was also allergic to fruits. It's a family illness, he got it from his father.) Unfortunately, the sandwich maker was not a good traveller and somewhere between our move to Kansas City and Nebraska it broke.

Oh, the sorrow in our house when he plugged in the magic maker and it didn't heat up. Me? I figure I can do the same thing in a regular fry pan, but apparently 'regular' grilled cheese doesn't compare for my husband. For the next few years he looked valiantly for a new sandwich maker, but no luck.

This week, wandering through WalMart, he grabbed my arm and nearly ripped it out of the socket. He jumped up and down and pointed and got all drooly because....Rival has started making fried sandwich makers! And our WalMart carries them! And they only cost $6! Oh, can we get one! (not a typo, he didn't ask and yes, those exclamation points are needed because that is how he was talking! And he got bebe excited! And she pointed and she jabbered and 'please mommyd' me!)

The thing I did for love? Before he could come down from his magic sandwich maker high, I put one in our cart and then added a second...just in case. Yesterday he made me a grilled cheese in his new sandwich maker. It tasted exactly like a grilled chees from the stove, but I played along with his 'mmmmms' and 'ahhhs' and 'these are so much betters'.

Life is good again in our house. At least until we destroy two more sandwich makers...

What's the...oddest thing you've done for love?

Time-Shifted and Old Favorites

2011-09-20T07:00:00.001-04:00

So the fall television season is debuting - for real - this week. Last week, a few shows tried for an early hit, but this week is when the networks pull out the big guns. The new Charlie's Angels? Looks interesting and it's on my list to watch. NCIS? Always a perrennial fave of mine. Modern Family? Parenthood? Yep and Yep. Revenge? Looks like an interesting take so I'm all for it.

No, I won't be watching all of these shows live. In fact, I probably will watch very few premieres during the actual airing this week. For the most part we're time-shifted viewers - we record on our DVR and watch when we get around to it. Makes for fun rainy days, sick days...or whenever work is slow for the DH and I. That rarely happens, but we try to make the most of it.

As we were setting up the DVR to start Recording Season, though, I realized that while I'm geared up for a few new shows, most of my list are old favorites: Parenthood, Mod-Fam, NCIS. They're comfortable to me. I know what to expect. I know what I'm going to get. Kind of like my reading lists. I try out, on average, 20 new-to-me authors each year, but when I need a tried-and-true get-away I always go back to my favorites: Nora, Jayne, Karin...the list goes on. And I love it when a new author goes from new to go-to.

Life may be a box of chocolates, and I do enjoy not knowing what's coming next...but with my entertainment, I like knowing a little about what's coming. I like knowing that Jack and Rena will figure out their problems and will live happily ever after. It's the best part of being a romance novel fan and writer. The journeys are always different, but the path is so familiar that it's easy to get lost, forget day to day problems and step into the river and just get swept away with the current.

Are there any new television shows you're looking forward to getting lost in this year? Or will you stick with old favorites?

Found On My Desk...

2011-09-15T09:08:00.000-04:00

Ask anyone who really, truly knows me, and they will tell you I'm a mess. Not in my personal or professional life, but in general. I've been known to forget about laundry that has actually gone through the washing machine for a couple days. I hate going through the mail. I have, currently in progress, seven books that I'm reading; all of them are stacked up on a side table. I grab what I fancy.

My desk is the same way. It's actually divided into two halves – one half with my sewing quilting stuff (it's a large desk!) and the other for my writing. The sewing side? Always put together and everything in its place. Cutters, thread and bobbins in cubbies, sewing machine folded under, cutting mats stacked neatly. It works for me. The writing side? Full on clutter-fixer's nightmare. I have a stack of magazines to one side, a marked-up calendar sideways over the top. File folders and notebooks standing between my funky-chicken pen holder and what is left of a set of bear bookends. Computer, iHome, coffee mug with yet more pens, a few pictures. Scared yet? And two special things (okay more than two, but two that I'm blogging about today): a Boyd's bear with a laptop and a stress ball with orange-feather-fly-away hair.

I keep the Boyd's bear on my desk to help me remember to BIC HOK (butt in chair, hands on keyboard). I can be easily distracted from my plans. The DH lovingly calls it SBS (Squirrel Brain Syndrome): Oh, my plan is to submit an 80,000 word romantic comedy to Publisher X, oh, but that shiny new idea about Victorian vamps in gunfights with Western cowboys and gunfighters? That could be so much fun! So those shiny new ideas don't kill my plans and keep me from finishing anything ever again, I keep the bear on my desk…because the bear is always BIC HOKing.

The stress ball? Well, it's a stress reliever, but it's also an idea finder. I can't tell you the number of times I've picked through the fly-away feather hair searching for something…and found it. So it stays on my messy desk filled with random paperclips, eye drops and a weird white cord – a cord that attaches to nothing, that I don't know what it does and yet I can't get rid of it.

The thing is, my organized disorganization works for me. When my desk is perfectly clear and uncluttered, I find myself staring at the vast expanse as if the words will magically appear. In the clutter, I don't need to look around because the words are already coming. What about you?

Lessons Learned from Torn Ligaments

2011-09-13T08:31:00.000-04:00

For the past week I've been hobbling around our house - and town - and getting strange looks from people. Most probably think I should be on crutches, and...well, it's a question, for certain. But I have a reason why I'm not and I'll explain in a second. This hobbling is the result of me. I was playing around with bebe in our pool when my ankle caught on the ladder and whammo! The weak ankle that plagued me through high school volleyball struck. A couple of almost-torn ligaments later and my ankle was the size of a grapefruit and very, very stiff. It still isn't bending, but there's no pain. But this isn't just a post about my silly accident it's a post about what I learned (again) from the experience.

1) Pain is fleeting - the first day, lots of pain. I couldn't put much pressure on the ankle at all. It's the same with anything - that first band-aid rip is pure pain...but it doesn't last. Get a rejection? It's painful, but there are things you can learn from it and, in the end, those things make us stronger people and writers.

2) You have to work through it - no matter what. It isn't easy being a hobbled-up-mommy, but I still have to work at it. bebe doesn't understand why I can't roll around on the floor with her right now, why Daddy is spending more time doing things I used to do or why she isn't getting quite as much attention - even when we explain. So we're working through that. Same with writing - you work through revisions, rejections and eventually you find a shining moment that makes it worth the wait.

3) Nothing lasts forever. In a writing (working, whatever) funk? It won't last forever, but like #2 you have to work through it. You have to get off the couch and walk to the kitchen to get a drink at some point; you may not feel like it, but you do it. Same with writing, life, work. You may resist doing something, but you do it...

4) Crutches don't always help. By Day 2 of The Sprain, as my husband calls it, I was hobbling around on my own. No crutches, no holding on to him. Slowly but surely. Day 3 I baked with bebe and it was awesome. We made banana bread, thanks to a fab recipe hint from the wonderful Shirley Jump, and it really helped the kiddo see what was going on with Mommy's ankle. That experience brought back to me why I resisted the crutches. I didn't really need them - would they help me move faster? Yes, but using them wasn't a necessity. At some point you have to throw out the crutches and move along on your own.

I'm still hobbling around - ligaments take a while to heal - but things are moving along and today is my first day back in the water for a deep water therapy run. The ankle is down or orange-sized (from grapefruit). And I'm back in my routine - just taking it a little bit differently.

Author Q&A: Stephanie Ingram!!

2011-09-08T09:02:00.000-04:00

Here we go with another 5 Questions. Today's guest: Stephanie Ingram, whose book, "The World Between" releases today! Welcome, Stephanie!

Do you have (or do you aspire to have!) a writing process?

I would love to be more organized and have a writing process but right now, it’s a little hazy. This is my first finished novel and it’s been a learning process on many levels. One of those has been figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t. Some of this I will take with me into the next novel such as brainstorming and outlining before I sit down to write a single word. I’ve written volumes but have historically never finished what I started until I finally took the time to sketch out the beginning, middle, and end so that I had a focus to keep me moving to ‘the end’. I’m sure as I continue to write and learn, this process will evolve.

When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

Anywhere that involves getting up and away from the keyboard. The more the task takes me away from the story, the better it will help clear my head. A walk with the kids, making dinner, folding laundry… any of those help.

What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

I love listening to music while writing because it helps to focus emotions but what I listen to always varies with what I’m writing. As I wrote The Between World, the band Muse became my newest best friend but the novel actually started with a sampling of REM and Travis. Sometimes I will catch a song on the radio and return to it later on YouTube to recapture the feeling, even if it isn’t necessarily a song I’d otherwise like or listen to. Sometimes it’s good just to have a bit of background noise even when I’m not really paying attention.

Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows – what's your beverage of choice?

Nine times out of ten, you’ll find me with a glass of water. It’s what I go to first thing in the morning and it keeps me going through the day. Of course, I do enjoy a glass of red wine during quiet, evening writing sessions or even a rum and coke. Sometimes those passages are the most fun to re-read the next morning. haha

Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?

Many years ago, I had a horrible and extremely detailed dream about a plane crash in Pittsburgh. Most of the dream took place inside the plane as I sat amongst the passengers with a strange companion next to me. I don’t remember much about him other than the fact that he was tall, shadowed, and would lean in close when he talked to me. He told me that all of the people on this plane would die but I would be okay. I was terrified but for some reason I knew that he was right.

The next morning I told my dream to my family and anyone that would listen and I’m glad that I did or else no one would have believed me. That day, a plane of the same airline crashed as it approached the Pittsburgh airport. Many of the details matched my dream (and maybe more that we’ll never know). There were no survivors.

It shook me up a lot and stuck with me, especially the feelings that I had from the strange person that sat next to me on the plane. He didn’t feel ‘human’. He inspired in many ways the characters that I created from worlds that exist in conjunction with our own. I had planned on Nina having a similar experience as I had but in the end, it didn’t quite fit with the story I wanted to tell and dreams don’t carry the dramatic impact that I needed so I dropped it.

That dream still bothers me to this day.

About the Book:
Nina Strident was content to continue a successful position in insurance sales until a near fatal car accident changed everything. Although she finds love with her handsome rescuer, their romance comes with a price and there are dire consequences for upsetting the delicate balance between his world and hers.

As Nina recovers, she slowly unravels the mystery of her family’s past and discovers that not everything is as it seems in this world or the next. The alluring stranger from her dreams is real and he’s returned to take the life that he fought so hard to save.

Will Nina accept the secrets her family keeps or will the conspiracy between worlds threaten to destroy them all?

Available now from Amazon or Smashwords:

http://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Stephanie-Ingram/dp/1461159571/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315089532&sr=1-2

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85178

What's Your Fortune?

2011-09-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

We've been on a little bit of a Chinese food kick lately. I'm not sure why. I'm not even sure when the kick started, probably last spring. When we normally would've gone out for Chinese or the Japanese Steak House once or twice, we've probably been about five times. I know, not exactly earth-shaking, but still...it's a lot for us.

PS, don't the fortune cookies to the left look ultra-yummy? Yeah, I think so, too.

Anyhow, back to my point, and I swear I have one. I'm a fortune collector, so when an interesting fortune pops out of my cookie, I keep it. All of my cookies since our little kick started have been...of the interesting sort. Here are a few examples: Everything good will now come your way (this was the first one, if memory serves); Things are turning for the bright side (this was the most recent); In great attempts it is glorious even to fail (somewhere in the middle).

Now, I'm not one to think a fortune in the cookie means my life is about to be sweetness and light. I do believe in karma, but I'm also a believer that if you put in the work, you will reap the rewards. I've put a lot of work into my career - I've put in hours and hours writing, revising, writing more, reading craft books, reading published novels in my specific genre, the list goes on. I've done the work. I still have work to do...even if these fortunes are a portent of good things to come, I'll still be doing the work. I can't just stop.

Are you a karma believer? Or a do-the-work person? A little of both?

Don't Look Down

2011-08-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

The image to your left is called WindSeeker - it's the new ride at Cedar Point, our local amusement park. 301 feet straight up in the air, it's the third highest point in the park after Dragster (420 feet, the upside-down-U ride on the right side of the picture), Millenium Force (310 feet, the blue coaster to the way left side) and more than 60 feet higher than Power Tower (the white tower just left of the WindSeeker). All summer I've wanted to ride that ride, but having a 3 year old means we do (mostly) what she wants. And she's just not tall enough for a big ride like this one.

But on Sunday, when the park opened later than usual, only a couple of her rides were open, and since we had the DH's mom with us, we decided to take the plunge. So to speak. WindSeeker doesn't plunge, it takes you straight up, spins you around a few times and then brings you back down. No shooting up or down, no plunging. Very gentle.

As long as you're not looking down. Look down and you realize just how high above the beach and Lake Erie you are, now small all the people below look - even the ones riding the Ferris Wheel nearby. That's when it hits you: you can seriously do some damage if the seat belt gave away or if a really strong gust of wind came along or...well, just about anything. And a few of those thoughts did make it into my brain.

But the overwhelming thought as I was soaring along in my swing-chair-thingy was...I remember this topsy-turvy feeling, the lightness of my stomach, the wondering if I'd ever step onto land again. I've felt it a lot. I felt it when the DH and I were first dating, when I finished my first book, when I met bebe (3 year old) for the first time. I still get that feeling with DH surprises me with something, when I finish a book or - like I'm doing this week - when I'm starting a totally new project.

I'm a little afraid of this project. It isn't going to be easy to write, but I think it will be fun. I have no idea if I'll do the characters in my head justice, if my CPs will like it or, when it's ready to submit, if an editor will love it enough to buy it. But I think it has that potential. So, just like on Sunday, I'm not looking down. I'm going to enjoy the ride of this manuscript, every mind-blowing, hair-raising moment of it.

Do you find new books a little intimidating? Or does the rush of totally blank pages invigorate you?

Guess I'm Still A Kid...

2011-08-25T12:42:00.000-04:00

So I was lamenting on Tuesday that summer is nearly over and I haven't done a lot of my yearly favorites...well, last night, I did something kind of new - or at least that I haven't done in quite a few years. I went to a rock concert. The husband's favorite band, like ever, is Def Leppard. His birthday was Tuesday and I managed to wrangle tickets for the Def Leppard/Heart concert last night. I was more excited to see Heart, but I have to say it was Def Leppard who blew me away.

Yeah, I remember their 80's anthems like Pour Some Sugar On Me and Rock Rock Til You Drop, but those songs were always a kind of 'filler' when I was a kid. I was more of a pop-music girl. Give me some Madonna was my theme. But now I'm a Def Leppard convert. I'd never hear 'Two Steps Behind' - an oh-my-god love song if ever I've heard one. And 'Love Bites'? Sure it's got a heavy guitar rock underpinning, but it's true. Love does bite from time to time - in both good ways and bad ways.

And Joe Elliott? In the midst of the 50,000 people there, it was like he was singing to each and every one of us alone. The man has got some pipes. Ann Wilson from Heart? Ditto. Her vocal range is astounding - despite the drunken waaaaay tone deaf back-up-vocalists sitting behind us.

What I really took away from the night, other than a renewed love for all things 80's music, though, is that you have to keep moving forward. You have to keep doing what you're doing. Def's drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in an car crash back in the 80's. He's still drumming. The band lost guitarist Steve Clark in the 90's, but didn't stop playing their music. Ann was told in not-so-nice ways that she didn't fit the rock goddess profile because of her size...yet she's still singing and rocking out better than some barbie-doll pop stars we all know.

The bands may not intend their message to be 'never give up', but that is what I took away from the Mirrorball tour. From Def's new single Undefeated (go look it up, great song!) to Ann and Nancy's anthems Never and What About Love. I'm not giving up - not on my writing dream, not on my radio show, not on anything important to me.

Do you have a favorite band from your childhood/teen years? Why does their music still speak to you?

10 Guilty Pleasures Or...Summer's Winding Down

2011-08-23T06:55:00.015-04:00

Don't these cupcakes make you want to be baaad? Yeah, me, too.

We all have them. Little, pleasurable moments that make us feel guilty. Some we do often, some are once a year things...but when I looked at my calendar yesterday and realized that Labor Day - and the end of summer - are only a couple weeks away, I realized that I'd missed out on some of my favorite summertime guilty pleasures. WAAAH!

So, I'm making this list to remind me of the things I accomplished and the things that are Still To Do this summer...I going to try to fit a lot in to the next couple weeks.

10. Watermelon, sweet corn fresh from the field and lots of BBQing. Okay, this one isn't really a guilty pleasure, it's a rite of summer, and yet I always feel like I'm getting away with something when these things are on the menu!

9. Going on a sandal-fest shopping spree and buying 5 new pairs...even though last seasons are still okay. This year, only allowed myself 3, but still.

8. Watching at least one new action-filled, plotless 'blockbuster' film. This year, it was "Fast Five" and I know some of the acting was horrid and that the plot/writing wasn't tight. But I'm not sorry I indulged in that one.

7. Creating a list of my favorite summer time hits...and then playing it over and over and over...and telling the kiddo that all the other songs have disappeared.

6. Top Gun. I can't really explain this one. Maybe it's because the movie came out in the summer? But I can't watch Maverick and Goose and Charlie and Ice-Man any time other than summer...and this summer, I didn't get to indulge. Yet. Still have a couple weeks before Labor Day...it could still happen!

5. Reality TV fixes. Big Brother, dancing/talent competition...those Teen Moms on MTV. But the only one I kept up with this year was So You Think You Can Dance...and then only because of the DVR.

4. Reading a book a day. Some are old faves, most are new, but I read a LOT during the summer, no matter what my work load is.

3. Double fudge brownies, hot from the oven with homemade vanilla ice cream melting over the top. Sigh, haven't had these yet. Thinking Labor Day Weekend may be my treat weekend!

2. Stopping the ice cream man when he putters down our street in his oh-so-happy musical vehicle. I always get a fudgecicle.

1. Skipping work just because...and lying on the beach/in the pool instead. I actually did indulge in this one. Okay, prolly too many times.

So, 'fess up. What are your favorite summertime guilty pleasures? And, did you indulge this year? Do you plan to?

Author Q&A: Wendy Burke!

2011-08-18T07:00:00.004-04:00

So, I'm launching a new Author Q&A segment on the blog, in which an author with a new release answers 5 simple (mostly!) questions and talks about their new release. And, to launch the series, I've got the fantabulous Wendy Burke here today! Wendy is going to tell us a bit about her latest short for Decadent Publishing called The One He Chose (and PS: is that a pretty cover or what?). Plus, Wendy is going to give a copy of the book away to one lucky commenter.

So, without further ado, here are my 5 Questions with Wendy Burke!

Do you have (or do you aspire to have!)a writing process?

Wendy: I don't really have a process. I like to brainstorm and that usually is helped along by a beer or two, or three... I'm a pantster all the way - an outline would most likely kill me! Travel helps my writing 'process' or 'inspires' me. But to actually sit down and say, "Every morning at 530AM I will write 500 words..." That's not gonna happen!

Characters pretty much 'come to me,' and when they do, they start 'telling their story.' That could be my 'process' of sorts.

And, no, I don't aspire to have a process, I think it would make me feel as if I'm 'obligated' to do something. I write for the fun of it, for my own entertainment. I'm just very fortunate someone saw in my little 'hobby' some talent worth publishing.

When the writing gets tough, where do you get going?

Wendy: I usually start with a bologna sandwich---that always seems to shake something loose! Sending what I'm finding most difficult at the time to a critique partner is a good help. And, just walking away and letting the 'people in my head' alone, that helps as they usually come back with a story line or solution I couldn't have come up with on my own... (Uh, BEER helps too--- there's a pattern here, isn't there!)

What are you listening to right now and does your listening choice influence your writing?

Wendy: The TV is usually in the background. I write, for the most part, while watching a ballgame or movie with my huz. When I'm on a deadline, or truly NEED to get something done, I go into another room, but most likely with said ballgame or movie on!

WHAT I'm listening to doesn't influence my writing, but a song can influence a story. I have a whole novel in the works based on 'How We Get From Saying Love You" by Russell Crowe and The Ordinary Fear of God.

Coffee, tea, soda, hot cocoa w/ extra marshmallows - what's your beverage of choice?

Wendy: While I'm writing or in general? :) Depends on time of day and season! Regardless, a little of all of the above, with additions like Frangelico, Bailey's etc.

Tell us one interesting thing about this book or its characters that didn't make in 'between the covers'?

Wendy: If I did that, you'd know what's going on in the next book in this 1Night Stand series! You'll have to read 'Accidentally Beautiful' by Deanna Wadsworth to find out if my characters end up with more than just a 1 Night stand!

BLURB: A year after losing her beloved husband, Grace Witzler learns he left a special surprise for her. A fabulous getaway in the beautiful Canadian Rockies that includes a date with a mystery man arranged through Madame Eve's 1NightStand dating service. She's shocked and intrigued...what was Ben thinking?

Grace's date is charming, handsome and about to find out whether the woman of his dreams will return his affection. He's waited forever, but he's ready to risk it all on a 1NightStand.

All About Wendy:

Wendy Burke is a displaced Cheesehead, proud to have been born and bred in Wisconsin. She was a migrant worker for years in the radio business, until she landed in Ohio and refused to leave. When she isn’t writing for pleasure and publication, she is a TV newsroom assignment manager – a great job for her as she gets to tell people where to go and what to do! She shares her clean, yet perpetually dusty, house with her chef husband and two spoiled rotten cats. (One of who takes great delight in harfing up a hairball on Wendy’s pillow at 3AM.)

Decadent Publishing has been a godsend for her as she can finally stop talking to the people in her head and allow them to speak for themselves!

P.S. You can follow Wendy's musing on life and books and whatever else catches her fancy here.

You can purchase The One He Chose at Decadent Publishing here or at Amazon here.

My Day Job Versus My Passion

2011-08-16T07:00:00.004-04:00

Before any of you try to strangle me because I do work from home and I'm a full-time writer, let me just say that successfully melding non-fiction and fiction is difficult on the easiest days and downright brain-melting on the difficult days. But I'm not here to whine about those difficulties. Today I'm talking about how I make the two work - together.

First a little description: by day I'm a business-writing freelancer, focused on online marketing, brand building and most things social media. By night (or maybe the afternoon), I write smexy books - contemporary romances, set around the world and filled with all things glittery. In real life, I'm probably and little more business-minded than jet-set minded. I like wearing track pants 90% of the time, but really do enjoy the 10% of time I spend all dressed up and made up. Most likely because I only have to do it 10% of the time. Back to the subject at hand.

To meld my two worlds into one cohesive unit, I use three basic steps.

1) Divide my time. This is true whether you have a day-job outside the home or if your a top-tier published author. You have to divide your time between 'to-do' lists. If you spend 12 hours on Twitter and Facebook and no time on your job - lawyering, writing, sales-clerking, whatever - your boss is going to be unhappy. So, while the coffee is still perking and I'm still a bit bleary-eyed, I tackle run-of-the-mill email, Tweeting/Facebooking and checking my calendar. Over coffee (or Pepsi, for those of us who like our caffeine ice-cold) and breakfast, it's on to replying to emails, writing blog posts/blog post ideas, scheduling social media updates (HootSuite and Ping.FM are wonderful investments of your time) and general drudge work. Post-breakfast, it's time to write articles, interview subjects, polish articles. Lunch. And then, if I'm slammed, it's more non-fiction or, if I'm lucky, it's time for fiction. I use naptime, evenings and after-bedtime, early mornings to focus on fiction because those times aren't interrupted by the constant (and insistent!) needs of my 3-year-old.

2) Focus, focus, focus. I have a toddler and a husband (who is also self-employed) and a house to run, lunches/dinners to make, laundry to do. Just like everyone else. Some days I literally work in 10 minute stretches between playing games with the 3-year-old, running to the potty with the 3-year-old and feeding the 3-year-old. On those days, I set a timer - she understands this method! - and for those minutes, I focus on the task at hand. I don't open the Internet, I refuse to listen to the humming of my smartphone telling me I have new mail or a reply to my blog or a comment on Facebook/Twitter. I focus on the task at hand - the non-fiction, the fiction, whatever.

3) I schedule a little 'me' time. When I'm slammed with non-fiction, it tends to take over my life. Because it pays the bills, it must be a priority. But even on days when all I write are press releases or marketing articles, I include 'me' time - 30 minutes with a favorite author, some time playing Wii or Kinect, Angry Birds is a great stress reliever..and every day I schedule at least an hour in my fiction worlds. I've found over time that fiction writing is my favorite kind of 'me' time - it's the time when I escape the drudgery of housework, the sometimes-painful parenting moments, and all of the pulls on my time. In my fiction world, everything goes according to plan because I'm in control. There aren't doctors appointments, no days when the kiddo needs more of my time.

I have three great passions in my life: my husband, my daughter, my fiction. Some days they all get the priority they deserve, but only because I've found a way to make my work life fit in with the balance of the whole life.

How do you do it?

When I Feel Frustrated

2011-08-11T07:00:00.009-04:00

Some days, fiction writing is an effort in frustration. I think a WIP is going along wonderfully and - WHAMMO! I've written myself into a corner. I think I have the internal conflicts of my hero and heroine down pat and - BLAM! Turns out the internals I *thought* I'd given were modified (sometimes very loosely disguised) external conflicts. The days when writing fiction is a breeze are amazingly wonderful and, thankfully, they outnumber the bad days. If I can get the basics down on paper/computer screen, I've found the rest is easy enough to fix. Okay, maybe easy is too light a word. It's doable. Revisions are definitely doable. So, I thought I'd share a bit of my process, lovingly called Frustration Killer.

A few of my friends read when they're frustrated. For me, this doesn't work. I may enjoy the book, but my subconscious focuses on how bad a situation my book is in rather than working on the issue. So reading is more a treat for me - a I Met My Goal, Finished The Book, Have No Deadlines Currently kind of reward system.

Angry Birds is my latest weapon of choice. A bad internal conflict? Smack that thing with a mad yellow bird. Write myself into a corner? Pull the slingshot back on the chicken bomb and a hole magically appears in the corner. A hero who refuses to act heroically? So far, the one who did fell mightily to the black-bird-bomb, and the heroine who refused to show up until her hair was perfect and her make-up to die for? A triple-blue-bird-bomb scared her into submission. Sure, I'm being a bit cavalier, but try out Angry Birds the next time your WIP (or significant other, children, in-laws) mistreat you. You will soooo see the beauty!

I've also been known to box the computer players on Wii Sports or Kinect Sports into submission on occasion. From time to time, I haul myself out to Sheldon's Folly, a local marsh area, and walk until I'm ready to drop. Shopping has a similar effect, but then I also spend money and that begins a whole other conundrum.

Are you seeing how my brain works? I get frustrated and some kind of athletic-ish antidote is needed. Preferably a destruction-minded athletic event. For me, things get a bit more clear when I'm slugging away at an imaginary opponent. If I can coerce the DH into joining me, so I have an actual opponent swinging at the screen, even better.

Video games aside, I've found that I just have to do the work. As painful as it is to gut a scene that is beautifully written but going nowhere is, it must be done. So close your eyes, grab that red pen and slash it. Trying 'keeping' the scene in a 'Keeper' file - and then use it as a teaser on your blog when your newly succinct book gets published. Or just for you to look back on and sigh. You never know, that scene or idea might not fit the MS in which it was written, but it might be exactly what another book needs.

How do you beat frustration into submission?

If I Were a Television Producer

2011-08-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

As many of you know, if my other life I was a television producer. Television news, but still, a producer. I sat in on an uncountable number of meetings in which focus groups told us what to put on-air, where management stressed over the number of viewers watching our newscasts vs. our top competitors, where our news director insisted people were stupid and our job was to tell them what to think. The list goes on. The one thing in common: a hatred of taking risks.

The fall TV season is just around the corner. Have you noticed the new promos on-air? I've seen a few new show promos that look promising, but the stuff I'm really interested in are the coming-back promos. I can't wait to see what the writers/producers have in store for Gibbs and the NCIS team, I really want to know how Castle gets wrapped up (just let them have sex already!!) and what crazy antics the Modern Family crew get into. And Parenthood...I really want to see Crosby fix his life and I wonder what will happen with Adam & Company and I think it's about time Amber started to grow up...but I digress.

The shows above, by the way, are my favorites of the moment because they take chances, they don't go with the obvious public-will-love-it action. Risks in writing make me happy. So, if I were a television producer, I would take those risks - I would put Tony and Ziva (NCIS) into a bedroom and not let them out until their sexual frustration was over. Because that would bring all sorts of new conflict into the show. I would push Amber (Parenthood) to be the person she would be in real-life - instead of repeating her mother's mistakes, make her painfully aware of them and willing to do anything NOT to repeat them. I'd have Crosby and Jasmine get drunk and married in Vegas and have to deal with the effects of his engagement-affair, house-buying insanity so that she can't just run away.

Those are just a few risks I'd take if I were in television. Which brings me to the risks I'm willing to take as a romance writer. As scary as the freak-you-out headlines about Borders closing and Amazon moving into publishing and the ups-and-downs (in general)of publishing. And you know what? As scary as things are right now, I don't think they're more scary than they were fifty or so years ago. I think people still want to read good books, and I think some publishers have lost sight of that fact (if you don't believe me read Snooki's book or the upcoming tome from Casey Anthony). But the new publishers who have come into the space? Or who are becoming the road-makers of digital publishing? I think they've realized that a good book written by an unknown is better than a bad book written by a pseudo-celebrity. At least that is my hope.

The risks I'm willing to take: 1) Write the best book I can, even if it doesn't fit into a pre-conceived notion of 'what sells'. 2) Create characters that jump off the page and into the reader's life. 3) Make a concerted effort not to hash-and-rehash some past segment of a character's life, move on and keep the tension building. 4) Keep working, every day.

What risks will you take?

Is It A Mess of Priorities?

2011-07-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

The football lockout is over. Shouts of excitement could be heard all over our house when the news was announced Monday - the DH, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law...even me. A little tiny whoop of joy because football is...well, it's football. Fun to watch, mostly exciting, doesn't require that I use a bunch of braincells to understand what's going on.

At the same time a louder wail was heard. From me, anyway. Because Borders is closing. The big yellow and black signs were broken out over the weekend, letting all and sundry know the big liquidation is on. I love bookstores, not just Borders, and I wondered how we could end the book lockout. E-readers are supposed to be bringing more people back to books...but then if bookstores are closing, are people really reading more?

I took bebe in for perhaps the last time the other day. We sat in the children's section and read through a few books. She picked out her favorites and we read some more. I strolled through the romance and mystery sections and picked up a couple of titles. And all the time I wondered how many more times I would get to do this. And how could she understand the value of a book when she doesn't get to go into a store and browse and pick up the one calling her name?

And I wondered for a second if our priorities weren't a little bit messed up. Because we'll sit for hours watching multi-millionaires play with a brown leather ball, but we don't want to spend more than $0.99 on a book that will feed our imaginations for years to come.

I love my Kindle, but browsing through the online bookstore isn't the same. Sure, I spend about the same amount of time, but it's different when I'm can't pick up a book. Flip through a few pages and just feel the weight of it in my hands. Yet I can flip through 20 channels of football on any given Sunday and watch different people do exactly the same things - run with a ball, score a touchdown, kick, yell.

Is it weird that I'm correlating these two things?

...Like An Old Friend

2011-07-21T08:46:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we took bebe (the 3 Year Old) to see the new Winnie the Pooh movie. She's been excited about it since about April when they started promoing it on the Disney Channel. I'd read the reviews but I was still a little nervous - I mean the old Pooh movie was an old friend. It was comforting and had a lot of memories tied up in it. What if they totally ruined the new Pooh movie? What if the characters weren't the same?

I didn't need to be worried. The new producers created a new movie with that old feel - Pool, Kanga, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Roo, Rabbit and Tigger were the cuddly people they'd always been. Christopher Robin was the same ready-for-school kid with the overactive imagination. Even the narrator sounded familiar. It was as if they found an old episode from the original movie. Very satisfying.

That's what I like about the romance genre in general - whether it's my own books or the books of favorite authors. Each time I read, an old friend comes along - I remember what it was like to soar through the air, to walk among the clouds and be so filled with passion the whole world turned hazy. And I remember what it felt like to return to earth with a thud, to think it was too hard, that it just couldn't work. And then something changes, as it has to in real life and in fiction, someone bends, someone realizes that opening to love is actually making him (or her) stronger than they could be along.

So satisfying. So, even though Winnie and the Crew have nothing to do with romance, as I was watching and feeling comforted and loving the new journey they were on, I felt that old familiar feeling that I feel every time I crack open a new book - or open my own WIP folder.

What do you love about romance?

The Ifs and Whens of Social Promoting

2011-07-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

AKA: Just when do I start building my platform and promoting my book?

What right do I have to post about the promotion of a book when I haven't sold a book? I'm a reporter in real life, so I have a few contacts ... and when I come across something useful I like to pass it on.

So, without further ado, a few tips for promoting online.

First, timing is everything! I don't just mean 2 months or 2 weeks before a book release, I mean specific times of day. A new survey from Cambridge University found that the word 'book' is Twittered most in the evenings. In fact, researchers found that 'book' out-Twittered 'movie' during the evening time period. That is a lot of tweeting and you don't want to get lost. Yes, you need to tweet in the evening because people are online, but don't forget about mid-day - lunchtime, morning coffee break time, afternoon break times...You need to engage your followers throughout the day. And don't just tweet your release - start a conversation, talk to other authors, talk to readers. That way they knew there is more to you than your book. You can read all about the survey here.

Second, I like to tweet all sorts of things: I re-tweet interesting blog posts (from readers, authors, agents, editors), fun facts (about the books, about me, about random stuff I'm thinking about), silly/exciting/fun/weird moments in TV shows and movies, music...you name it.

Finally, in Twitter, keep it short and sweet. If you're tweeting about your next release, there isn't room for much more than the book title, author name and the release date. But, you can create a hashtag (#yourbookname) so all your tweets about it are 'together' and expand a little - include favorite lines, new coverart, etc. And keep the updates coming. Update your own blog (if you have one) regularly and consider posting 'cutting room floor' scenes or other snippets... blog with friends who are releasing around the time you are and invest a little time in researching review and author blogs to see which blogs might give your book a slightly higher profile.

The Good Parts

2011-07-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

My favorite part of "The Princess Bride" - book, not movie - is the introduction. The part where the author goes on for pages and pages about how bad the first book was and how confusing that was as a kid because he didn't know his dad was 'only reading the good parts'. I've often wished there was some kind of master list of the good parts of books. Wouldn't that be something? Then, rather than reading 50 pages of what it felt like to be at sea, we could just read about the actual fight with "Moby Dick".

As most of your know, I'm also part of a group blog called WordWranglers. This week at WordWranglers we're talking about wall-bangers - the books that you begin and, for one reason or another, wind up hating. Throwing at the wall. My post on wall-bangers can be read here.

But, that post got me thinking about the parts of books I really, really like. No, not the sex parts, I knew you were thinking that since I write and primarily read romance. Actually, the sex scenes can get boring. The Good Parts, those parts that make my eyes roll back in my, drool dripping from the corner of my mouth. The parts of books that make me totally, really, horrible jealous and embarrassed that I attempt to write anything at all.

So, what are the Good Parts to me? Unlike the sections that were included in Goldman's "Princess Bride", most of my swoon-worthy scenes are emotional in nature, not action-y. Don't get me wrong, I love a good gun battle, sword fight or cliff-hanging moment. But when authors get the emotion right, I just cry. Happiness, sadness, excitement...jealousy. You name it.

Here's my example: In the movie version, after Westley is determined dead by pirates, the narrator says: Buttercup took to her room and didn't come out for days.

And the book version: "At first her parents tried to lure her, but she would not have it. They took to leaving food outside her room...There was never noise inside, no wailing, no bitter sounds. And when at last she came out, her eyes were dry. ...The woman who emerged was a trifle thinner, a great deal wiser...This one understood the nature of pain, and beneath the glory of her features, there was character, and a sure knowledge of suffering.

"You're all right?" her mother asked.

"Yes." There was a very long pause. "But I must never love again."

I know, I abbreviated - this is a blog, not a book. But isn't that so much...more that that line in the movie? So, what are your favorite parts of books?

River of Denial?

2011-06-15T14:37:00.002-04:00

I was once told there were Three P's that lead to being a published author: being Patient, being Persistent and being Primal. I think what that person was trying to tell me is that 1) becoming a published author wouldn't happen overnight (Be Patient) that 2) I would have to try and try and try again (Be Persistent) and that 3) I have to have a thirst and hunger to write (Be Primal) -- writing has to 'own me' to some extent.

Now I don't much like being owned by anything, but I agreed with the theory then and I do now...but I'm going to add 2 more 'musts' to my Getting Published list.
Earlier this week Julia Glass (The Widower's Tale) chatted about what she thinks it takes to 'make it' as a writer. Her take? Persistence is important, but determination and maybe a smidgen of denial are just as important. I think I agree.

Here's why.

Being persistent is good, but sending the same book with no changes to 100 different publishers isn't going to get the job done. As we are persistent in sending submissions, querying agents and writing good books, we also have to be determined - and that, to me, means more than sending our writing 'out there'. It means we have to improve, we have to study our craft and we have to study our own writing. We have to be determined with each word, each chapter, each book and each submission to be 1) better than we were before and 2) better than any other books on that editor's or agent's desk at that moment. Determined. I like it.

And denial? Well, it ain't just a river in Egypt...hasn't been for a long time. The fact is writing is tough; a million people out there want to be writers. Just like you and I do. Some of them are naturally more talented, have more contacts in the industry or have luck (right book-right editor-right moment) on their side. We could let that hinder us, stop us from sending out that partial...or we could implement just a little bit of denial. 'No one else is mailing in a submission today...No one has written My Book...No one knows XYZ subject like me'. Denial. Learn it. Live it.

And keep writing!

The Beauty Of A Thinking Chair

2011-06-15T14:36:00.000-04:00

This isn't precisely a writing post, but then it isn't not a writing post either. Clear as mud? As I was finishing up a non-fiction writing assignment yesterday I realized I hadn't heard from the bebe in about 15 minutes. If she was under 2 or over 3 I wouldn't have worried but as she's in the midst of 2 (and all that entails) I did worry. No sound from bebe=T R O U B L E usually. She's so mischievious and doesn't intend to do anything wrong but the things she thinks up!! You other moms out there soooo know what I'm sayin' right? Okay, back to the blog.

I call out, 'bebe, what's going on?' No response. Really worried now, I leave my desk and make the rounds. No bebe in her bedroom, no bebe in our bedroom, no bebe in husband's office. No one to be found in kitchen or laundry room (a relief sort of). Check family room and there she is! In our leather lounge chair that very faintly resembles the 'thinking chair' from Blue's Clues. She'd been about 50 feet from me!

'hey, why didn't you answer me?' 'i shinking, mommy.' Oh, so sorry to intrude. I sat down with her, cuddled her into my lap and asked what she was thinking about. 'i not knowing,' she says, and garbled a little bit. Then she says, 'and i having fun.' I have no idea what that exactly means but I'm betting I'll find out sometime today!

bebe and I sat and cuddled for a bit and thought about things together and read a couple of books and then thought about things some more. About 45 minutes later she turns to me and says, 'i like shinking wishoes, mommy, but i'm playing now.' And she flopped back onto the floor and headed for her dollhouse.

Now, I'm not normally a philosophical kind of girl, but that 45 minute break from 'work' to play with the kiddo? Totally turned on a light for the new WIP - which I will hopefully be starting today - regarding the conflict for my heroine. Plus, I got to cuddle with bebe a little and I know these days won't last much longer. So, all in all, I learned the beauty of the Thinking Chair today: sometimes it helps you take a break to play...and sometimes that break is exactly what you need to break through a problem.

P.S. The lovely and talented Jackie Ashenden has a cool blog post...how much do I want IT (being published)? So much my teeth hurt...so I'm going to curl up in my Thinking Chair to work on those conflicts.

I Love A Hero With...Sand Between His Toes!

2011-06-15T14:26:00.002-04:00

The wonderful ladies of CBC Romantics presents our first blogfest on heroes. Why we are thankful for certain hero 'types', and why certain heroes always show up in our books! Thank you for stopping by my blog on sandy heroes, and for more fun just click on the names at the bottom of my blog...you'll find many more talented writers - and more yummy heroes! Without further ado...my blog -- Why I Love a Hero With Sand In Their...Toes!

And in his hair. Catching the sunlight on his shoulders. Defining his chest. It's a sickness. sigh. A beautiful sickness, and it goes back to my teenage years. Nope, I wasn't raised on the beaches of California or Florida. I was a mid-western girl who hated the muddy sand at the lake and burned just thinking about the sun.

That changed during the summers, though. For two weeks during the summer we would visit my great-grandmother on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As I hit my teen years collecting shells from the golden sand took a backseat to blatantly panting after the surfer boys, staring at them down the pier or holding my breath while they surfed the deep waters.

You know what's funny? Those waves are nothing like the waves in California, Hawaii or Indonesia...and yet I would've bought the Golden Gate Bridge from any of those boys had they tried to sell it to me. I can only imagine what would've happened if I'd seen them surfing Pipe. But that is another blog.

Why did I love those surfer boys? Definitely because of their bodies - those wet suits don't hide anything - but also because they seemed so apart from everyone and such a huge part of the water itself. I listened to them talk about protecting the beach, water and wildlife from pollution, encroachment and global warming before those things were buzzwords that everyone was supposed to care about. I watched them slide through the waves as if they were a solid mass. I saw them mystified that everyone else was leaving the beach when a storm raged into the area. They wore $5 flip-flops to $100 dinners and usually looked better doing it than the rich boys wearing Calvin Klein.

Those boys probably don't remember even a glimpse of me from those days, but I see each of them when I'm writing...because I can't stop writing about men who care so deeply about the environment, who are separate from the crowd, who know there is more to life than work but who know how to work when the time comes.

What I find really sad, though, is that surfers are portrayed in movies and television shows as either druggies/burn-outs (Spiccoli, anyone?) or super-macho-idiots (Warchild, Bodhi, etc. from Point Break). When, from my experience, they are simply loners. They like people, but they'd rather be doing their own thing than running with some crowd. I like that, too.

I know, I know, there is more to life than a beach...so if a hero-in-the-sand doesn't float your boat, check out the other hero posts in this blogfest -- the links are below. What will you find? Cowboys, feds, doctors, rakes, vampires and - always! - an alpha male or three!

People-Watching Extravaganza!

2011-06-15T14:24:00.001-04:00

Over the weekend, my girls and I (MIL, aunt, cousins) headed out to a ginormous craft show in Columbus. We go every year while our guys watch football and talk like manly men. This year I left bebe with the husband - she's way too small for this show - so I hope the manly man talk was restrained just a squidge. Anyhow, every year we go. Every year we buy trinkets and cute holiday stuff. Every year I watch the people and run into at least three booth corners.

Here are a few interesting people I saw for the first time:

* A young goth girl working a knitting booth and creating the prettiest scarves - in pastels!

* A young dad struggling with a double stroller while his wife ooh'd and ahh'd over painted sleds.

* A chocolatier who, honestly, didn't speak English and communicated almost entirely by hand signals.

* 2 8-ish year old girls happily making paper in a booth while the booth workers looked on in horror at the mess.

* A pair of 50-ish ladies, geared up in gold lame, complaining that there was too much jewelry and too many people. Meanwhile their Coach bags were bopping toddlers in the head and they clinked when they walked because of their Mr. T necklaces.

* 40-something lady asking a snack-stand worker if the chicken fingers were free-range organic...confused snack-stand worker trying to figure out why free-range organic matters when the fingers were deep fried.

It's a lot of fun, but seriously, this particular craft show is so crowded that it makes people watching fun. You have your 90-year-old grandmas looking for 'just one more thing' for great-grandchild A, your new moms struggling through the crowd with strollers and baby seats, your 8-10 year old girls tagging along after mom and looking for something suitable for her elderly aunt. You get the picture.

And someday, one or more of these characters will make their entrance into my fiction world. Bwa-ha-ha! What did you see people-watching this weekend?

Know When to Hold 'Em...

2011-06-15T14:21:00.002-04:00

I'm easily entertained. Things like poker tournaments and the lottery fascinate me. First, there is the obvious chance of getting something for nothing. Who doesn't want to make $1,000,000+ for a buck? On a whim Christmas Eve, my DH grabbed a handful of scratchers - and won $500. And neither of us has bought a ticket since then. I'm sure he or I will at some point, but our lotto fix has been taken care of for now.

And yet, I gamble all the time. In 2005 I quit my job as a television news producer to begin freelance writing full-time. That is when I started taking my fiction writing seriously, too. A cross-country move and an adoption later, I'm still taking myself seriously. Still pushing forward. Still gambling on myself.

The best part? I'm doing well. I have an ongoing contract for freelance work, I've sold pieces to several big magazines. Fiction-wise, I still don't have That Contract. But I've submitted work on my own and received amazing feedback that has helped me improve. I've completed 5 novels and have more in the works. I'm shopping around for an agent and am sending in a requested full this week.

Will 2011 be the year I get The Call? I honestly don't know...but I'm going to keep gambling on myself.

What about you? Will you join me in this gambling life?

Of Cowboys and Keeper Lists..

2011-06-15T14:20:00.001-04:00

I'll readily admit that I used to worship at the Louis L'Amour altar a couple times a month (thanks in part to my older brother). I loved those alpha guys, standing up for the little guy...and their strong women backing them up and sometimes leading the way. In college I got hooked on Diana Palmer's Long Tall Texans (Calhoun, Justin and Tyler to be specific). Ahhhhhh...

Oh! Sorry, I was blogging wasn't I? Okay, refocusing. Those books were a nice comtemporary alternative to true Westerns, which I still love but don't read often. It's been fun to see the resurgence of historical romances set in the West. I love a good Regency Rake, but cowboys are just so... Ahhhh...

Okay, refocused. Again. As I was avoiding research for the new wip cleaning the house, I saw my dog-eared copy of Long, Tall Texans, which made me think of those great L'Amour books and the new Westerns I've seen on bookshelves lately. I think I might pick one up.

What's on your keeper list? Are all of the books there sure to bring a smile to your face just by looking at the cover? There to take you to a simpler time, maybe when you were curled up in bed, too sick for school and too bored to stare at the ceiling for another minute?

Potty Training and Writing and Goals, Oh My!

2011-06-01T21:25:00.000-04:00

We're potting training at the Knight Casa. A little early according to some, but bebe is ready at 2 1/2 so we figured why not?

First step? We bought a potty seat and put her in pull-ups rather than actual diapers. No change. She went, she told us after - or not at all. We'd change, reminding her that her 'job' was to keep her pull-ups - and the shapes that fade away when wet or dirty - dry. We started over like this for days on end with no actual 'training' going on. We would go on the potty about 20 minutes after eating/drinking/snacking.

Didn't matter.

We took action. No more pull-ups. Big girl pants. AND rewards for going on the potty.

I washed a lot of clothes. She went on the potty AND in her pants. Didn't matter.
Then I got a great idea: I reward myself for meeting my writing goals with chocolate, a big calendar where I mark up days, a nice meal out. She was already getting the sweets reward, but what about some other type of system.

I made a poopy chart. Divided into days and weeks. Every time she kept her pants dry and went in the potty, she would get a sticker. She loved it. So much more than just getting a few M&Ms. That was 4 weeks ago - we're still in pull-ups for the majority of our days. But she's going in the potty more regularly and she she's using the potty at school (a huge step for her)...and she's telling us at the point she has to go. Unfortunately that point is stil rightnextto the point when it actually comes out. But we're working on it.

Just like I'm still working on meeting my writing goals, she is working on meeting her 'big girl' goals. How about you? How are your writing (or life) goals coming in 2011?

My new podcast is all about goal-setting (or re-setting in some cases). Check it out on my front page. And let's start a little goal encouragement area in the comment section - share your goal and reward system...so we can all learn from each other!

The Power of Positive Thinking

2011-06-01T14:33:00.000-04:00

ve been thinking a lot about positive thinking lately. Taking the good and bad from critiques from the WIP and making them work for me rather than letting only the bad weigh me down. It isn't that I'm ignoring the bad stuff - believe me, I'm not! - I'm just trying to look at it all as an overall positive thing.

Which got me thinking about a poem our volleyball coach put up in the locker room my sophomore year (he actually only used the first and second stanzas)...but it fits with what I've been doing, positive-thinking-wise...so I thought I'd share. Only I'll share the whole thing, not just a couple lines. Enjoy!!

               If You Think You're Beaten

               If you think you're beaten, you are,
               If you think you dare not, you don't.
               If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
               It's almost certain, you won't.
               If you think you're losing, you've lost.
               For out in the world we find -
               Success begins with a person's will,
               It's all in the state of mind.

               If you think you're outclassed, you are,
               You've got to think high to rise.
               You have to stay with it,
               In order to win the prize.

               Life's battles don't always go,
               To the one with the better plan.
               For more often than not, you will win,
               If only you think you can.

So, who's with me on this positive thinking thing? How do you stay positive when you seem to only get negative feedback?

New Digs for the Blog!!!

2009-11-18T16:45:00.000-05:00

Update: I've got a new blog home, update your links and information as this one is officially shutting down. Here is the new blog link: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com/blog or just click here to copy it from the URL.

Hey everyone, did you think I forgot about you? Nope, I did not, but fun things have been happening here at KristinaKnightAuthor, not the least of which is new writing! Yes, this summer I've been hard at work sunbathing writing fiction.

Why refocused? Well, because over the past year Personal Life - in the form of an adoption and the on-going adoption-related stress and turmoil of going through the State System - has taken all of my energy and Professional Life has fallen by the wayside. But, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting much, much stronger and a lot of the stress is easing up. And that has opened up the worlds living in my head...and they need an outlet. So, writing has begun again. Crazy how that works, isn't it?

In addition to that, the website has undergone an overhaul which not includes this handy-dandy, new, I'm In Charge blog. Yep! I control everything from the fonts to the color scheme to the pictures and the category types. Let me tell you, this is fun! I'll still be posting here for a few weeks, until everyone gets used to coming to the main blog. And I'll pull over a few 'Best of' posts from the old blog before completely shutting it down. But, update your links to the new blog.

What can you expect from the new blog? More of the same - I'll be talking about the romance industry, publishing, contests, writing ... and chronicling my journey to publication...so give me a little cheese with the whine from time to time..and Enjoy!!!

All of this to say, I'm back, I'm writing and I'm having a ball - again!

Deep Breath - and JUMP!!

2009-10-05T14:42:00.002-04:00

As I was checking email this morning a new message arrived - from an editor with Mills & Boon. A few weeks ago I sent them a partial manuscript (three chapters) and they like it enough that they're asking for the full! Read the rest of this post here.

And don't forget, this section of the blog will be shutting down soon - so update those links to the new blog address which is: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com/blog.

How Weird - and Nice, too!!

2009-09-30T12:22:00.003-04:00

So I'm geeking around the internet and find out that my blog has been nominated and accepted as one of the Top 100 Romance Writing blogs by The Daily Reviewer. Nice! And a little bit strange...but I'll settle on nice!

And, I'm blogging over at WordWranglers about influencers in our lives ... stop by and check it out!

Finally, don't forget, I'll be moving the entire blog to my new site - www.kristinaknightauthor.com/blog - very soon so update your links...and thanks for stopping by!!

Remembering Patrick Swayze

2009-09-15T11:26:00.003-04:00

I was going to delay the beginning of my blog series on Alpha Male Romance Heros this week after hearing about the death of Patrick Swayze. Why? Because I'd planned to use his roles in films such as Red Dawn, The Outsiders, Roadhouse and even Ghost as examples of the Alpha Male - Chief persona exemplified in our novels. So I was going to hold off and not start the series. And then I thought about it some more and decided to plunge on. Because remembering the roles in which Patrick touched our lives is a good way to remember the man, too.

Read the rest of this post here and remember, this blog will be shutting down soon so up date your links to the new blog: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com/blog.

This Is Why I Love My Industry...

2009-08-03T14:55:00.004-04:00

I love writing romance. I love reading romance. I love the escapist quality (although I find that in all genres, really), I love the settings, I love the love-conquers-all theme. I'm just feeling the love, I suppose.

That was really brought home to me over the weekend when I attended a book signing at The Book Exchange in Port Clinton, a nearby town. Attending (amongst others) were Tori Carrington, Shiloh Walker and Mandy M. Roth. It was a fun event - the authors were approachable, they chatted and took pictures and were just generally having fun. With readers, with book store employees, with one another. I sampled Tony's baklava (ooooh, bahhhhhkalavaaaaaa), learned that Mandy lives very close to me and that Shiloh was recovering from a week at a couple of amusement parks. It was a fun atmosphere, and isn't that what a book signing (or any appearance) should be? Yeah, I think so, too!

A couple weeks ago I was at another book signing - literary authors and a few non-fiction authors thrown in. Totally. Different. Atmosphere. And, I was ashamed to be an aspiring author because of the actions of a few authors there. They were horrible to their fans. Flat out mean, judgmental and argumentative with people who bought their books. Were the fans out of line? I don't think so. The 'offensive' comment from one fan was (seriously), "I love this series. Are you planning to write any more?" And the author may as well have taken the poor guy to the woodshed. He yelled - seriously, yelled! - that whether he chose to continue with the series or not was his choice and no 'ignorant reader' was going to force him to do anything. Uh, overreact much?

Which brings me to my point. Romance authors are approachable. They're normal people with fun senses of humor who are lucky enough to do something they love and get paid for it. I'm proud to be an aspiring romance author. I'm proud to be a writer and I'm so glad that the men and women (at least those I've met) already published in the genre are approachable, friendly and generally nice to the people who cut their paychecks - the fans. Let us all remember that the fans of romance are the people who keep us in pens, ink and paper!

To E-Book or Not To E-Book...

2009-06-29T14:14:00.003-04:00

Nope, this isn't a post about whether or not to go after an e-book publisher for my next novel. This is a post about which e-book reader is right for me because (gasp) I'm taking the plunge! Yep, I've hemed and hawed. I've considered and reconsidered and finally decided it's time to buy an e-book reader. Now I just have to figure out which one.

Why now? Because I have only so much space in my home for physical books and because e-books are quickly taking over the universe. One report from marketing firm In-Stat reports that e-book sales will reach $13 billion by 2013. That's a lot of books ... and that also means some titles will probably only be available in e-book format so...I'm jumping in.

I've done my research and I like both Sony's e-book reader and I like Amazon's Kindle/Kindle2. My question is for those of you with e-book readers - what version do you have and why did you choose that particular version? What makes it different/better than the other readers out there?

Monday Means A Goal...

2009-06-15T12:32:00.001-04:00

Do you have a goal?

I've been a little lax on posting my goals on the blog lately, but I have been making them and trying to meet them. Have finished the first WIP and am now revising and editing, have hit a stopping point on the second and need to figure a few things out. But, with family in town for the week, I'm not certain of my progress in either. So, one with the goals:

get through 3 chapters (editing) and figure out my problem point in WIP #2.

How about you?

My First Podcast!

2009-06-03T15:41:00.002-04:00

It's up and live!

As my webmaster and I were brainstorming ways to keep the content fresh on the main site (obviously, the blog's content is refresed every few days) we decided that a podcast was one option. So, we came up with a plan, recorded a simple Q&A session to get started and - it's live! You can listen to the podcast here on the main website.

For the initial 'cast I covered some basics - like organizations, places to find legit publishers, where ideas come from. In future months, we'll cover subjects like character building, world building, archtypes, submissions hints...and the list goes on.

If you have an idea you'd like to see covered in a podcast, or if you're an author who would like to be a guest on the podcast to promote a new release, contact me and we'll set something up!

Changes and More Changes...

2009-06-01T15:07:00.002-04:00

So sorry to go MIA on you guys the last week and a half or so. We've had lots of changes here at Writer Central (AKA, Kristi's Desk). Namely that I've decided that I had too much on my plate and I'm cutting back. Not on the fiction, but on the non-fiction! I'm still going to be writing for a few publications, but as lessening the time spent so that I can focus on fiction a bit more.

Why? Because I've been running myself ragged trying to get everything in..and something had to give, so I gave up on a little nonfiction work. Why, again? Because, although I love, love, love freelance writing, fiction has my whole heart. Romance fiction, in particular, and to focus on it, to give it the attention it needs I need more time. And since I have no magical powers to make each day last 28 hours, something had to give.

So, I have a new writing schedule and I'm launching a new feature on the website later this week...more about that tomorrow!

A Post from Vay-Cay!!

2009-05-18T11:43:00.002-04:00

Just a quick drive-by post to say Hi and I'm still here! Have been on the road since last week and will be back at my desk on Thursday. You know what? I MISS WRITING! Seriously! I'm missing the nonfiction, I'm reallllly missing the fiction ... I just miss writing. So I've carved out a bit of time today and tomorrow to work on the WIP and ignore the family. hehehehe!

In the mean time, wanted to pass this along: a new writer's blog called Romance University. They have a ton of good info and a fun contest going so stop by. The blog launched today! Here's a bit from their press release:

RU Ready? Romance University blog will launch May 18, 2009.

Romance University’s three weekly topics include:

Monday – Crafting Your Career

Wednesday – Anatomy of the Male Mind

Friday – Chaos Theory of Writing

RU’s purpose is to:

Empower Writers. Entertain Readers. Understand Men.

Don’t miss our upcoming visiting professors: Lori Foster, Jessica Inclán, Donald Maass, Brenda Novak, Alicia Rasley, Christie Ridgway, Blake Snyder, Theresa Stevens, Leslie Wainger, and several men who will share the male perspective on romance, love and sex.

Stop by Monday to chat with Brenda Novak, who will head the class with details about her road to becoming a New York Times bestselling author. Leave a comment and your name will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate and a tote full of goodies.

Thursday Thirteen!

2009-05-13T23:33:00.004-04:00

Header by Samulli

I should probably be sleeping. Seriously. Sleeping. But we're headed out for a little vacation and I can't make my mind slow down enough to actually sleep. That and Criminal Minds was thought provoking tonight. I know, network television, who'd've thought?

So, here I am, thinking up topics for this week's Thursday Thirteen. Which leads me to an interesting topic...

Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen Topics I Discarded....

1. 13 Graduation Don't's - because there are waaay more than 13!
2. 13 Good Shows on Network Television - there aren't. I counted.
3. 13 Nicknames That Shouldn't Be Given
4. 13 Reasons I Didn't Write This Week (because I did write, I did!)
5. 13 Things You Don't Want To Hear At 1:00 AM
6. 13 Things You Should Never Forget to Pack
7. 13 Reasons Not To Worry About Selling The Book (here's just one)
8. 13 Reasons I Will Never _ ___ ___ (this is a family friendly blog ... I can't print that)
9. 13 Reasons My Car Won't Start (hopefully the mechanic tells me the real reason tomorrow)
10. 13 Books I Couldn't Put Down (think I'll do this one next week)
11. The 13 'Worst' First Jobs
12. 13 Funniest Things Seen People-Watching
13. 13 Reasons to give "Free Radio" a try - there's only one: It. Is. Hilarious.

Disappearing Posts...

2009-05-11T08:09:00.001-04:00

Blogger burped sometime over the weekend ... and I lost Friday's check-in post. So I'll post her that I exceeded my goals last week! By 500 words each, not bad if I do say so myself. :)

Goals for this week: Get to the end! Both manuscripts have about three more chapters to go, so probably 6,000 words each (Yikes!) but part of the week we'll be on the road, which means writing in the car so I think I can do it!

What are your goals for the week?

Mid-Week Check-In...

2009-05-06T20:35:00.002-04:00

Not bad progress so far. Just over 1000 words on WIP #1 and #2. So I'm feeling good that I'll make my goal this week. Not bad, especially, considering I have a looooot of nonfiction on my plate - have completed three interviews (now for the write-up), queried 2 new articles and done the usual soap opera stuff. Some days it seems like I live at the computer, and no that isn't a complaint. I love being a freelance writer, I love working on my books and I'm so looking forward to being published - hopefully very soon! :)

A few good links to pass along --

Jessica over at BookEnds is talking about submissions and the economy

Donna Alward, romance novelist, is talking about the on-so-dreaded Conflict

and Editor Brenda Chin is talking about author/editor relationships over on the Blaze Authors blog

...All Rolled Into One!

2009-05-04T12:58:00.002-04:00

Just realizes that not only did I miss Thursday Thirteen last week, but I missed my first Friday Check In and I'm late with Monday goals. You guessed it, life is hectic around here! We're getting ready for a quickie trip Out West for a graduation, have some stuff percolating on the kid front (no, that would not be "I'm Pregnant" news) and I'm trying to get a couple of contest subscriptions out the door. Excuses, I know, but blogging had to get pushed back a little bit.

Anywho!

Friday Check In -- not bad, actually. No, I didn't meet my intended word count but I was close - over 2,000 words on WIP #1 and just under 1,500 words on WIP #2...which means I will easily hit the Black Moment and the midpoint, respectively, this week. Yay!

Monday Goals -- 2,000 words on WIP #1 and 2,000 words on WIP #2.

How about you?

Monday Goal Setting ...

2009-04-27T06:49:00.001-04:00

yawn .... it's early Monday morning so no time like the present: time for some goals!

I'm really moving fast on both wips and making notes for a third. Am aiming to hit the midpoint on WIP1 and the black moment on WIP2 -- that would bee about 3k words on WIP1 and 4K words on WIP2. Lofty goals? Yep! But what's a goal without a little sweat involved, right?

What are your goals for the week?

Finally Friday -- A Check In!

2009-04-24T12:56:00.005-04:00

Hey Gang! Who's still writing? Yep, me, too and I actually made quite a bit of progress this week. The CPs will be reaping the rewards of that soon (bwa-ha-ha-ha)! But that got me thinking about goals and goal-setting, a topic I blog about here from time to time. For the longest time I thought I had to have a schedule and to some extent I do, but in the past year I've found that having a goal is a much better option for me. When I have a goal (a completed ms in six weeks, a partial revised and edited in two weeks, etc.) I actually don't dread opening the dreaded ms documents. And sometimes when I'm simply working the schedule that is exactly how I feel - dread.

Oh, no, I have to write because it's scheduled ... that type of thing.

Anyway, now that I'm working on a goal basis, I thought I'd start posting my goals each Monday and then report in each Friday. Yeah, I didn't post a goal on Monday of this week, that will start next week. I will report in, though, that I hit 3 chapters as of this AM - a minor feat if you could see my calendar! So I'm happy with that. How about you guys? Are you writing according to schedule? According to goals? And how is that working for you?

And for your reading pleasure, some good links found while surfing this week ...

How long should you query? This agent answers the question...

Brenda Coulter (love, love, love her!) is talking punctuation...

and (this is an oldie but a goodie)... Agent Kristin talks websites and content here...

Happy Friday!!!

Thursday Thirteen -- All About Love...

2009-04-23T01:30:00.002-04:00

Thursday Thirteen .....
All About Love

So last week the T-13 crew suggested a wedding topic ... a fairly simple task. But then again, thirteen of our favorite wedding memories is kind of easy, right? We plan these days and hopefully they go off without a hitch. Sometimes with a glitch or three. It's after the wedding that things can get a little harder, so I thought I'd expand on last week's topic (and keep the romance going) by listing Thirteen Things Love Is....

1. ... a walk at twilight, just to enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass
2. ... playing footsie under the breakfast table...10 years after saying 'I Do'
3. ... sitting on the couch and sharing the popcorn bowl on movie night
4. ... him cooking dinner because I'm on deadline
5. ... making fun of the same stupid commercials on Super Bowl Sunday
6. ... watching the 500 weeks of football prior to SBS, and not complaining about it
7. ... grocery shopping at midnight because we forget there was no food in the house
8. ... setting aside a special date night every week
9. ... an unexpected card, just because
10. ... putting up with my craziness and not complaining (much) ... and vice versa
11. ... shared memories that still make us laugh and cry
12. ... being slow to speak but fast to listen (corny but true)
13. ... knowing that 'what if' is right in front of me

Are You Feeling The Love?

2009-04-17T17:19:00.002-04:00

Came across this today as I was surfing around and thought I had to share because it's ... what else? All about love!

Love makes us seek what is good; love makes us better persons. It is love tht prompts men and women t marry and form a family, to have children. It is love that prompts others to embrace the religious life or become priests. Love makes you reach out to others in need, whoever they are, wherever they are. Every genuine human love is a reflection of the Love that is God himself...

Pope John Paul II, Central Park, New York, October 7, 1995

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend with your loved ones ...

Thursday 13 - All About Weddings!

2009-04-16T07:59:00.002-04:00

Haven't done one of these in a while, but I just had to join in when I saw there was a prompt about (what else?) weddings. Weddings, to me, represent the ultimate in a couple's romance. It's the culmination of the love they share, after all. So, in honor of that:

Thirteen Things I Loved (About My Wedding)

1. the date. We were married in late March, which is perfect for spring. Lots of beautiful flowers were popping up all around the church and the reception hall. Of course, we didn't account for one thing: Mother Nature ... and we also had a 10 minute hail storm as things were getting going!

2. I planned it. Every minute. From the flowers to the food, the DH and I chose things we loved.

3. The best man had no pants. Seriously, the tux company forgot them. Luckily, there was a runner available to deliver so we didn't have a dude in boxers walking down the aisle!

4. My nieces (the flower girls) did their jobs perfectly ... at least once we were done with the practice rounds!

5. My dress ... cap sleeves and lots of beading on the bodice, a peek-a-boo neckline. Beautiful!

6. The colors - hunter green and burgandy. I chose the colors without thinking about the church but my colors were a perfect match with their decor and the rock wall behind the podium was a great backdrop.

7. Everyone we loved was there.

8. It was small. I never wanted 15 bridesmaids or a 10 flowergirls so we each had one attendant, the flower girls and ring bearer and called it good.

9. The reception - BBQ. Let me say that again - great, Southern style BBQ. Yum!!! Too bad I couldn't eat in my gown ...

10. The mess Gerba made at the reception ... which was blamed on Andrew. Ha!!

11. The music. The DH and I chose songs close to our hearts for the ceremony and the first four dances. That topped off the night.

12. Tossing the bouquet - right into my 'never gonna get married' friend. You guessed it, she was headed down the aisle in just a couple of months!

13. Dancing with my brother ... just like when we were babies.

Wow! How Long Was I Gone?

2009-04-14T15:12:00.002-04:00

Am I a bad blogger or what? I'm so sorry, guys, for not posting here in over a month. I swear the blog isn't dead and neither is my writing career. Things have just been majorly crazy since that last week in February. Here's the rundown:

1) we made an offer on a house
2) we were countered and countered back
3) we got the house (yay!)
4) we started packing, wound up hiring movers and did all of the transfer gobbledygook that goes along with moving
5) had a partial manuscript accepted and the full requested
6) got to work on revisions asked for based on the partial ... the full is almost out the door
7) have some family issues related to adoption going on throughout
8) more family issues (can't talk about 'em yet, but hopefully we'll have answers soon and then I can share)
9) mold was found in the new house and an entire wall had to come down (2 days before move-in)
10) mold issue fixed, new wall up and now we're moved in

wow! All of that and the usual daily work, life ... and I was swamped.

In other news, my brilliant webmaster and I are revamping a bit of the website. Moving a few things around and adding some content. I have some really exciting things that I'm working on that I hope you'll all love. Won't go into the details yet as everything isn't hashed out... but as soon as I have all of the details, you know I'll spill!

And ... I'm Out!

2009-02-24T15:10:00.002-05:00

Just a quick drive-by post to say, "Bummer!"

I didn't make it through to the last round of Karin's First Line Contest. Bummer! But there are some really good lines still in it ... so go check 'em out!

Back in a bit with a real post ... but for now, I'm out the door!

One More Round!

2009-01-28T07:03:00.000-05:00

In my not-so-random surfing today, I jogged over to Karin's blog - and found out I've made it through another round! Yep, another round closer. Of the 100 entries, there are just over 30 now and all of them are really, really good. Head over there to check them out!

A Progress Update ...

2009-01-21T20:26:00.002-05:00

So...we're about half way through January -- are you sticking to your resolutions and goals? So far so good over this direction. A requested partial is out the door (crossing those fingers), both wips are moving along quite well (am at the black moment in 1, just past half-way in the other) and the research into the mystery series is nearly done. What's better? I actually think I'll find a home rather quickly for the mystery series. Yay!

Oh! And I'm still hanging in over at Karin Tabke's First Line Contest. All in all, I'm happy with my progress this month!

Still Holding On...

2009-01-13T15:59:00.001-05:00

Man, I can't believe we're nearly at the halfway point of January. Where has the time gone? On the bright side, I've made time to write every day and I'm getting back into the routine ... on the dimmer side, I haven't written as much as I would like. I'm almost to the black moment in the steamy contemporary, but I'm still working on the first three chapters of the mystery. Slow going but at least it's going, right?!?

Oh! And I'm still hanging in over at Karin's First Line contest! Yay! Go over and check out all the great first lines -- there are some doozies!

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-25T10:12:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays to you and yours ...
May the days be filled with love, laughter and happiness!!!

A Contest Hunting We Will Go ...

2008-12-18T21:06:00.003-05:00

The contest is super fun (I got Jack Colton ... you know I lurve him!) and I have it on good authority that the book is egggggsellent! Can't wait for the release.

An Interview With Jill Larson!

2008-12-03T13:16:00.004-05:00

I had the chance to chat with Jill Larson (Opal Cortlandt from All My Children) this week. You can read the article here. Jill has two new movies out which sound really funny ... they're doing the film festival circuits right now and have limited release around the US ... so go check 'em out!

Happy Turkey Day, Turkeys!

2008-11-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

I was channeling the seen-only-in reruns 70's for a second there. Seriously, though, I hope my U.S. readers have a blessed holiday weekend, spent with family and friends... Enjoy every minute!

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Two New Interviews...

2008-11-17T09:47:00.002-05:00

you guys know that as part of my writing job that I get to interview soap opera actors from time to time ... I recently had the chance to chat with Eileen Fulton (who plays Lisa on As The World Turns) and Laura Koffman (who plays Rebecca on All My Children). Thought I'd pass along those links ...

Eileen is a hoot! We talked about her role on the show and her upcoming Christmas Cabaret in NYC. You can read that HERE.

Laura was lovely to speak to...we talked about different ways to 'Go Green' ... and her new role on AMC. You can read that HERE.

Is It Time To Hang It Up?

2008-11-12T06:18:00.000-05:00

I've been reading on the blogs - both writers, agents and editors - that The End (of Publishing) is near. With the economic crisis spreading throughout the world, many are citing the end of publishing as we know it. There are layoffs at publishing houses and bookstores and many publishers are expected to not make it through.

Then I ran across this article over at GalleyCat. It doesn't say things aren't going to change but rather that going on about the financial crisis, the idea that people don't read and on and on ... it reminds us of what Margaret Mitchell did. "Gone With The Wind" survived - and thrived, even - in the midst of the Great Depression. People didn't stop reading then; they won't stop reading now. In fact, books may become an even higher seller (at least that is my opinion) because of the expense of the traditional "dinner and a movie" date/girl's night out trends.

I don't know what will happen with publishing and I don't have a crystal ball. I have felt a bit of the economic crunch, though, and it hasn't cut back on my book buying habit. On average I buy 3 books each month; last month I bought four and this month I have four already (and 2 more in transit). So, although I do worry that the economic crisis may hamper my road to becoming a published author, I don't think it will kill my dream. I may have to work a bit harder and a bit longer...but it will still happen.

Do you have any thoughts on the financial crisis and books? Have you cut back on book buying?

Talking Best Books ...

2008-11-10T20:59:00.005-05:00

So, Publisher's Weekly just released their "Best Books of 2008" list ... Which got me thinking about what makes a great book for me - as a writer and as a reader. I read across the Romance and Mystery genres, so it isn't 'just' romance or a familiar author.

More than anything else, it is character. A great heroine, an amazing hero; together they, of course, create a rip-roaring ride. That, of course, is a very general and simplistic view, but really, it's just about character for me. I want to read about real women with real problems and real friends who help them get to the bottom of things; I don't want a damsel in distress who needs a big, strong man to rescue her from the big, bad wolf because she was wearing 5-inch platform heels as she ran down a cobbled street. Give me a break! I want to read about a hero would could blow Dirty Harry and Charles Bronson out of the water, but who also knows that the best moments in life are the quiet times spent with the one you love. So that is what I try to write ... and sometimes it works and sometimes it falls flat. But it's always a fun ride!

What about you? What makes a good book - as a reader and as a writer?

Here are the Mass Market titles in the group:

Mass Market
No One Heard Her Scream
Jordan Dane (Avon)
Dane crafts this debut murder mystery with tight plotting and smooth prose, and adds a few sparks to create a story that appeals to mainstream thriller readers as well as romantic suspense fans.
The Face
Angela Hunt (Mira)
Compelling characterization drives this enthralling tale of second chances and new beginnings, centered on the struggles of a young woman born without a face.
Deadly Deceptions
Linda Lael Miller (HQN)
Miller's second Cave Creek supernatural mystery is packed full of plot twists and smart romance, painting crime-solver Mojo Sheepshanks as much more than just another quirky psychic.
Heart of the Wolf
Terry Spear (Sourcebooks/Casablanca)
A werewolf woman defies the alpha male of her pack in this supernatural romance, with chemistry that crackles off the page and a richly depicted pack dynamic.
Private Arrangements
Sherry Thomas (Bantam)
Deft plotting and sparkling characterization mark this superior debut historical romance, wherein an English lord agrees to grant his wife a divorce if she produces an heir within a year.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T21:05:00.002-04:00

Wishing you all fun tricks, fabulous treats ... and no ghosties lurking in the corner!

Two Interviews and an Author Q&A...

2008-10-30T20:04:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to pass a long a couple of links and a bit of news! I recently had the chance to chat with Laura Koffman, an actress who debuted on All My Children this week ... Laura was a fun person to chat with and the first half of our chat is up at Soaps.com. If you'd like to take a look, click here.

Also, I mentioned earlier this week and my first author Q&A is coming up ... and I wanted to let you guys know that Jeff Rivera (you can visit his website here) is our special guest! Jeff was kind enough to chat with me this week; his debut novel, Forever My Lady, just released from Warner Books/Grand Central Publishing. The Q&A will be up at the end of the week ... so stop by and chat!

Austin Peck Interview --- We Interrupt This Romance Writing Blog...

2008-10-20T11:12:00.003-04:00

just for a second... thought I'd pass along that I had the chance to chat with Austin Peck (Brad from As The World Turns) last week for the freelance gig ... and that article is up here. Go check it out! Austin is hilarious and I really wish I were going on the Cruise!!!

Okay, back to regular business. :)

Another Reason To Write The Best Book...

2008-10-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

By "the best book", I mean the best book you can write. Don't compare your books to another author's or try to emulate another author...write the best book you can write. Why? Because of this article from Galley Cat, which talks about the ordering process for all books - by best-selling authors and newbies. Know what I found out? All book orders begin at zero; which means your book, especially your first book, must stand out from the crowd, have a high concept and great writing. Read the article and lets talk about making our writing stand out -- what stands out to you in the books of your favorite authors and in the books of newbie authors you've just picked up? And how can you do what those authors did to improve your own writing?

Long Time, No Blog ...

2008-07-22T23:00:00.005-04:00

Well, guys, the DH and I are back from vacation and a slight interruption (that is actually still going on) ... I can't talk about the interruption just yet but it'll hit the blog sooner (I hope) rather than later. For now, we'll just say it's good news and we're incredibly happy about it.

What did we do over the vaca? Hit the islands (the lake islands, not like the Bahamas islands), geeked around the house a little bit and just generally enjoyed our own company with no work-related interruptions. Yay!

I did get a bit of writing done, although most of the work consists of snippets I logged into my spiral notebook and not actual chapters. Still, I'm happy with the fleshing out I got done, the new start on an old story that won't let go of me and the character sketches I finished for a new hero (and his brother who may also be a hero!). Which I guess means I did the working vacation thing yet again. I really don't mind working vacations - as long as the work doesn't involve an office!

What about you guys? Do you find yourself taking working vacations? Or is it easy for you to shut off the characters in your mind and relax without writing?

Just Random Non-Writing Stuff...

2008-06-18T20:46:00.006-04:00

It's been quite a while since I updated you guys on life in general from here in the Great North. Here's what's going on:

(this blank space means nada...nuttin'...zippo goin' on)

Ha!!! Well, that's summer for you. Seriously, though, I'm still writing up a storm - that last 70 Days challenge really helped me get back on track so between fiction and nonfiction, I'm writing upwards of 7 hours each day and still getting in my 1,000 words. A novel concept, I know, but I'm so very excited (for myself) that I haven't allowed "life" to get in the way of the life I want.

Okay, what else. Oh! We grabbed the last copy of Wii Fit a little over a week ago and it is awesome! I love this game! When we first bought the Wii, I lurrrved Wii Sports...the Wii Fit game continues this on - there are balance games, aerobic exercises, strength training exercises and my favorite - Yoga! The best part? You actually DO all the exercises...you can't fake your way through it. Nice!

Finally, a friend sent me this meme...I'm not tagging but it's a fun game, so give it a whirl! Take the letters from your name, match them up to the chart to figure out your Japanese name.

Me? I'm "Meshikiarichiki" ... I'm not even sure how to pronounce that...and passing Kindergarten? Wouldn't have happened if I had to learn to spell that! C'mon, guys, join in ... what's your name?

Sweating Over ... For Now!

2008-05-01T22:43:00.004-04:00

Two bits of news ... First:

My new website is up and running and I really like the look. All that's missing is a few actual book covers, which I'm hoping to have in the very near future. Go take a look. I wanted it to be clean and crisp but still be a little bit informal...you know, comfortable. I think it accomplishes all those things. I love the color scheme, the different elements and the layout. Kudos to the designer (and husband) who pulled it all together. You took my random ideas and pulled it all together beautifully ... I couldn't have asked for more!

Second:
I think there may be a couple of days left to the actual challenge (I'm a little confused on my dates ... and I'm too lazy to leave my comfy chair just to look at my office calendar) but I'm done! I can't believe I actually did it. I completed the 70 Days of Sweat challenge this time and (gasp!) I met my goals! I finished the book. It's over. Done. Except for the revising, the editing and the oh-my-god-what-was-i-thinking moments. But for now, all I feel is happy that I actually met my goal of a finished book. I even have a little extra credit - two more story ideas fleshed out and ready to go. For the next little bit, I'm editing/revising and I'll also be free-writing. So, while 70 Days of Sweat is over I know I'm not done sweating.

What I'm most proud of is that I did write every day that I told myself I would. I did take a couple days off but they were planned for (I worked ahead or caught up, depending on the actual day)...and I had a hiccup in the middle but I managed to catch myself up by working a little overtime. That probably makes me an against-the-rules finisher, but I'm still very proud of what I accomplished.

My full word count is 72,327. Whew!

The next challenge? Just to keep writing. Every. Day.

How about you? Did you/will you finish? Are you meeting your goals? Will you keep the momentum going forward?

Which Hero Are You? I'm Claire!

2008-04-23T21:35:00.000-04:00

Yep, it's time for a quiz... this is a fun one - you can determine which superhero you are! I took it and the results are in ... I'm Claire the Cheerleader. My tagline - I'm not just a popular girl. I may not understand my superpowers but I know my place is to help other people. Geez, that kind of makes me sound like a selfless angel doesn't it? I had no idea... :)

Take the quiz here.

Writing By Computer...

2008-04-21T08:55:00.004-04:00

...and not in a good way. Did any of you see the article in the NYTimes about Philip Parker? If not, read it here. Cliff's Notes Version: He's written 200,000 books, most are research books such as "The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Acne Rosacea" which retails for $24.95. The kicker is that he lets a computer do most of the work. Parker has developed computer algorithms which collect information available to the public on the Internet and then turns that information into the finished book products. I say products because apparently there aren't many actual sentences in the books - there is a title page, a table of contents and lots of graphics. One reviewer wrote on Amazon that the book he purchased was generic and basically not much more than what he would have found by querying a search engine.

Why do I mention this? Because Parker's next algorithm is (apparently) for romance novels. Yep, he's going to add romance author to his credentials as a research author.

I'd like to say that this if funny, but actually I find it appalling. First, what he's publishing in the research field is appalling. Selling what consumers think is an actual book with information which could help them and the consumer learning when they open the book that it is not much more than a search engine query is horrifying. People who want and need information about a health problem don't need search engine results, they need actual advice and information written by medical professionals.
Second, to think that a novel could be written (any genre novel, not just romance) by querying search engines and compiling the resulting information is hubris. I'm not worried about this from a financial standpoint. Readers will quickly catch on that what they bought isn't really a novel, but what this industry doesn't need, and by industry I mean the writing industry as a whole and not just the romance genre, is more sludge for readers to wade through.

Just A Monday Check-In ...

2008-04-07T09:36:00.004-04:00

Who has a busy week ahead? (yeah, me too)

Who is entering at least one contest in the next month or so? (yep, I'm there)

Who thinks they're going to need a dumptruck filled with Advil by Friday? (yeah, pretty sure that's a go, too)

Who's going to write anyway? (YEP, me too)

I'm stuck at about the half-way point in the 70 Days of Sweat challenge - I know where I'm going, just need to carve out about 2 more hours in my 24-hour-day to get some actual writing done! How are you guys doing?

Not Writing Related ...

2008-04-03T09:13:00.003-04:00

but I still have to share because my little home-improvement project (fixing a gouge in the wall after the DH and the treadmill had a run in) was a huge success! I'm not sure how it happened because I never move the treadmill but when the DH put the walking tread down the other day it hit the wall and gouged a leetle, tiny hole in it about 1/2 inch by 3 inches. I was complaining about my fix-it skills to my father-in-law and he told me to try DAP. It's a product he's used forever, said it was quick and didn't require a lot of know-how either (good for me!). So I used it and I love it. Seriously, if you have some nail holes in your wall or a small knicks, use it. It goes on pink (nice so you can see where things are going!) and then dries to a slightly off-cream color. You'll have to do a little sanding and a little painting after your done - 15 minutes is all it took my project to dry - and, voila, a brand new wall. :)

And on the writing front, I'm closing in on 28K words this morning for the 70 Days of Sweat challenge. A little behind schedule (thanks to some extracurricular activities over Spring Break) but I'm still really excited about my progress. How are you doing - callenge-wise or non-challenge-wise?

12 Days In ...

2008-03-12T15:53:00.003-04:00

to the latest 70 Days of Sweat challenge. I'm not sure exactly what is different this time around, but I am reacting to the extra writing, ignoring television and putting away the books much better this time. Oh, I still find ways to chip away at my writing time, but staying focused on the goal of 1000 words each day and working to or a little bit beyond that point is easier. When I did the challenge last fall but about 2 weeks in it was easy to put the writing away or ignore it altogether by telling myself I'd do more "tomorrow". What's the saying - tomorrow never comes. Well, it didn't last month. I know as the 70 days goes on I'll have challenges (I'm working through 3 scheduling conflicts right now) and I know there will be days when I just flat-out don't wanna do it.

But I have hope that this time I've really found a better balance so those procrastination stumbling blocks won't completely kill me.

If you're "sweating" how are you guys doing? And if you're not, how are you doing at holding down a job and real life and writing?

Out of the Silent Zone...

2008-03-10T20:06:00.003-04:00

I'm finally coming out of a self-imposed blogging silence. Didja miss me? Why the silence? To be honest I've been struggling and trying to find the balance fiction-wise so that I have time but yet I'm not wasting time. Make sense? So a lot of the time from February 4 until now has been spent trying out a few different options. A lot more of the time has been spent actually implementing a schedule. And finally a little bit of the time has been spent getting ready for a writing marathon.

That's right, I'm sweating again! And so far, so good. In the fall I signed up for the 70 Days of Sweat challenge but life quickly became out of control and so did my writing ... this time has a different feel and, honestly, I feel like I'm actually doing good work. I'm closing in very quickly on the 10,000 word mark (just a few words off of my 1,000 word/day goal for the challenge). I'll admit that some days I'm over 1,000 and some days I'm under but those changes are planned for; when I know I'm not going to have any or very little fiction time, I work ahead the prior day...or I work overtime the next day.

What I've figured out through my silence and schedule building and the first 10 days of sweating is that I can do this. I can balance nonfiction and fiction. I can balance home and work (even with a husband who's now working from home, too!). And I can do all of this without getting stressed out. Epiphany!!!

As I blog tonight, I'm wrapping up for the day with 3 nonfiction article written, the remainder of plotting for the current wip is done and I wrote 1225 new words today. Could I write more? Yes, for either nonfiction or fiction. Will I? Probably not, because as much as I know I could squeeze out another 500 or so words, the work would suffer. Plus, I don't want to burn out. I'm still finding that balance between work and overwork...you'd think after nearly 3 years of being a freelance writer I'd have all this worked out, but I don't. I'm getting there but I'm not there yet.

Monday, Monday!!

2008-02-04T11:16:00.000-05:00

I actually haven't been this excited for a Monday in a long time. Why? Well because some things on the personal front are moving steadily forward (and I think I'll be able to tell you about 'em soon!!!) and because I made a decision between last Wednesday and today: fiction is my passion and I have to set aside more time for it.

Don't get me wrong, I love being a freelance writer. I love interviewing subjects, writing articles on every subject under the moon and getting paid for it. Truly I do. But nonfiction writing, while it is very energizing and I love, isn't my passion. My passion is fiction writing...and I've been spending too little time on it as of late. As of about the last six months, if y'all want the truth. I've been in a rut, I guess you'd say, in which I would start a wip (and be really excited about it) but then get bogged down in nonfiction stuff and put it on the back-burner until I'd lost that vibe. Now this is nobody's fault; it's just my anal-retentive personality coming out. I'm really good at focusing...sometimes too much so.

So as I was slogging through an interview last Wednesday and hating every second of it, I might add, I made a decision. Yes, nonfiction is paying the bills and so it has to have some priority...but it doesn't have to be The Priority. I can do other things to free up time (the DH is great about picking up the slack around the house so we won't even go there) - I can do 1 less article/interview each week; I can cut out non-essential stuff like watching reruns on television at night (for once I'm THANKING!!! the writer's strike!), I don't have to go to lunch with the girlfriends three times each week...Now I'm not saying I'm going to become a hermit, but there are a lot of time-wasters in my day that I've just allowed to be time-wasters.

So, starting today, time wasting is out and writing is back in.

Thursday Thirteen, Edition #10

2008-01-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

Thirteen Things I Love about the WIP

1. The hero. I readily admit that hero's are my weakness, and no two are ever the same. This one is shortish and very much an indoor-type (a change for me).
2. He reads the classics but quotes action movies.
3. He knows he's lost his heart to the heroine, he's completely freaked about it but he isn't wimpy.
4. The heroine. She's way smarter than I am - and she isn't afraid to show it!
5. She has bad habits - that make me crazy as a writer because sometimes she just doesn't want to "talk" to me.
6. She asked the hero to grab her phone out of her bag, he pulled out a tampon and she didn't bat an eye.
7. The setting - Texas in spring. LOVE IT!!
8. The supporting cast...I pulled a lot of them from my life growing up in small town America. It's been fun revisiting my memories and adding a little bit of an edge to those days.
9. I can totally escape when I'm writing them. Don't think about time, don't get distracted and even when it's been a day or two since I've written, I'm right back with them in an instant.
10. That it's different. For a long while I was writing hard/dark romantic suspense. This has a bit of suspense but it isn't dark; that is a nice change for me.
11. The hero is a photographer, which means I got to research a favorite hobby of mine.
12. The picture on my dry-erase board are filled with Texas landscapes and famous places...that alone is inspiring for this girl!
13. I just passed the half-way point! The end is in sight!!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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I'm Just Randomly Being Random Today...

2008-01-05T15:36:00.001-05:00

doing a little writing (just ripped up 2 chapters and made them better. yay!), heading in to the quilting cave in a bit, made chili (yum!) and pretty soon I'm gonna have to yell at the DH to take the dogs out. I know, I could just take 'em out myself, but...

Anyway, I'm also doing a little surfing and lookey what I found over at Kate's place...

Mamma Mia, That'sa Spicy Kristi Knight!

Generated by the Advertising Slogan Generator, for all your slogan needs. Get more kristi knight slogans.

This one's the silliest one... I also got "Have you forgotten how Kristi Knight tastes" ... uh, okay... and "wow! I could have had a Kristi Knight" and "There's first love, then there's Kristi Knight love" ... and... Yeah, I could go on and on.