Digging Out of Distraction

Blog Party: Celebrating Wendy Marcus's U.S. E-Book Release of ONCE A GOOD GIRL

2012-02-01T08:51:00.000-06:00

I've got a special guest visiting the Veranda and she's running an experiment. She and the Physicist need to chat!! But even tho' she's experimenting, Wendy S. Marcus is still pretty gosh darn cool. I love this one!!

Welcome Wendy!!

Hi Christine! Happy February 1^st!

And right back at you!! Wow, I am so glad you are here to celebrate the release of your e-book here in the U.S.A. Your Number 2 book looks amazing!!

Thank you so much for hosting this impromptu blog party to kick off the release of the U.S. e-book edition of my second Harlequin Medical Romance, Once a Good Girl… And since we’re partying, a hoot and a holler to you in celebration of your triple final in the 2012 Linda Howard Award of Excellence Contest!

Thank you, Wendy. I'm still floored by the Triple Final. :-)

Although you can’t see me, I am holding up one of my finest crystal glasses – which happens to contain a mimosa (heavy on the champagne) - in your honor. And now I’m taking a sip! Yum! (Any excuse to justify a cocktail before noon!)

This is why we are such good friends :-) Sipping with you :-)

Where were we? Oh, right. The e-book release of Once a Good Girl… and my experiment. You see, even though I write for Harlequin, their Medical Romance line is not slated for retail sale here in the U.S. which means you won’t find my book on store shelves or in Harlequin’s print advertising in the U.S.

That makes me feel very sad, Wendy. The Harlequin Mills & Boon Medical Line is wonderful. I've read Melanie Milburne's THE MAN WITH THE LOCKED AWAY HEART and Sharon Archer's THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGE and your debut book WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN'T ENOUGH. And they are all wonderful, diverse stories. I wish more of our U.S.A. Readers could find them on them shelves!!!

Exactly! Therefore, promotion is up to me. With my first book I did a thirty stop blog tour – which almost did me in – to bring myself and my new book to the attention of readers. With my second book I wanted to try something different.

Here’s where you and your wonderful blog visitors come in! Today, February 1^st, with everyone who reads this post’s help, I hope to spread the word for an all-out Purchase Push for Once a Good Girl… for Nook and Kindle. If someone plans to buy it, or is considering buying it, would they please make their purchase today? February 1^st.

I'm first in the line!! Why are you running this experiment?

Why? Because I’d like to test my theory that if I can get one day of heavier than usual sales it will push my book onto one of the Amazon or Barnes and Noble bestseller lists, thus bringing it to the attention of readers who may not have considered reading a Harlequin Medical Romance before, thus creating increased awareness and, hopefully, increased sales.

What a fabulous idea!!

Now this may not work at all. But if it does, wouldn’t that be great? And for all you new and aspiring authors out there, wouldn’t this be good information for you to know when it comes time to market and promote your books? So what do you say? Will you help spread the word? Will you give Once a Good Girl… a try? Today? February 1^st? You can read an excerpt here: http://wendysmarcus.com/excerpt-once-a-good-girl/

You can purchase the U.S. edition of Once a Good Girl… here:

For Kindle: http://amzn.to/zPulvr For Nook: http://bit.ly/rx0PT5 Paperback: http://bit.ly/uHpj5W

Links for the UK and Aus/NZ editions can be found on my website: http://WendySMarcus.com where, if you visit at the end of the week, I’ll have the results of this experiment posted on my personal blog.

Thank you so much for your help! It is very much appreciated!

One of today’s visitors who shares where they’ve linked to this post in the comments section, will win a $10.00 (U.S. currency) U.S. Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card.

Wow, thanks for the giveaway and I hope you get lots of sales. Can anyone say GRAY'S ANATOMY?

Break Out the Bubbly and the Dark Chocolate: Celebrating Cathy Perkin's Debut Novel THE PROFESSOR

2012-01-30T06:25:00.001-06:00

Author Cathy Perkins

I'm delighted to welcome author Cathy Perkins to the Veranda to celebrate her debut novel THE PROFESSOR published by Carina Press. Cathy and I have an interesting history and I can't wait for you to learn how and where we met. She's not just a wonderful writer, I consider her one of my first out of the area writing friends. I wish her every success and I can't wait for you to read all about her journey to publication!! So let's pop the cork and pour some champagne and enjoy the story.

*Pop*Pour*Sip*

Hi Cathy, welcome to the Veranda. I know we've talked about this before, but tell my readers about your writing journey. How did you decide to be a writer?

While I’ve had a life-long love affair with reading, I didn’t start writing until about five years ago. This probably isn’t how most people start, but I had a lengthy consulting job in a city about 90 miles away. I’d listen to music and daydream during the commute. Pretty soon the day dream had dialogue and I thought, hmm, this is turning into a good story. That particular book lives in a box under the bed, but I was hooked on writing, creating worlds and characters. Christine and I met right after I finished The Professor – we both had to count backward on our fingers, with moves and when the kids graduated high school as touchstones – at the fall 2007 writing retreat sponsored by the Lowcountry RWA.I learned so much at that Masterclass, I came home and joined a critique group, hoping to learn more. These writers encouraged me to join RWA and enter a few contests, including the Golden Heart. The Professor won those contests and was a Golden Heart finalist, but I kept hearing ‘romantic suspense is dead’ so I really didn’t try to sell the book. Instead, I put the story away and kept writing. About this time last year, I pulled the story out and thought, I love these characters and I want to share them with a wider audience. Carina Press made an offer and I’m thrilled to say the novel released last week, on January 23.

I remember all our long walks along the beach, Cathy. We had lovely long chats about writing. What is your favorite genre to write?

I’ve always loved mysteries and suspense—figuring out the who-dun-it puzzle, delighting when the author keeps me guessing or on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. When I started writing, my stories and characters had secrets, obstacles and a race to uncover the villain. I’m going to slide a second “favorite” part in here—bringing the characters to life, figuring out what makes them tick and throwing the challenges of the plot and relationship at them, is so much fun. It’s probably the best part of writing.

While my book is listed as romantic suspense, it’s really more suspense than romance. Just like thrillers can be anything from an action adventure to an intensely psychological nail-biter, the romantic suspense spectrum covers everything from steamy relationship-focused stories to ones like The Professor, where the relationship is a subplot rather than the focus of the story.

I know of many Romantic Suspense authors who are moving into the mystery/thriller genres and are doing quite well as their readers follow them. I think it's a great fit for your story. When you write your stories are you a plotter or do you follow the muse?

My stories grow out of day dreams, the snippet of an idea, a what-if. For example, my husband and I were hiking in a game refuge near our house. While pushing through dense undergrowth beside the Snake River, I glanced over my shoulder and said, “Wouldn’t this be a great place to find a body?” The amateur sleuth story grew from that What-if.

Once an idea takes hold, the plot and character evolve together. But I’m a plotter, so the first thing I do when I think the idea has possibilities is sketch an outline of the plot. That outline grows and evolves as my characters’ personalities and motivations flesh out. Things that of course they’d do, add layers or subplots as the story unfolds.

I wish I was a true plotter. It would make life so much easier at the computer. After you're finished plotting and writing, how do you relax?

Most weekends we head up to the mountains – I’ve shared a few stories about the wild life, er wildlife, at the Blame It On The Muse blog. Depending on the weather, we may work on the property or head out for hiking or skiing, but 5 PM usually finds us kicked back with a glass of terrific Washington wine.

I bet the mountains are reenergizing and inspiring. What a great way to refresh yourself after working so hard. What are you working on now?

I'm working on two very different manuscripts right now. One is a dark, financial mystery with the premise: how far will you go for those you love? The mystery revolves around the heroine's father - did he kill to save the company he loves or is he really trying to protect both his family and employees? It's currently out under consideration; think positive thoughts!

We will! Crossing all appendages!!

I'm polishing a light amateur sleuth mystery about a small town CPA—houses, handbags or companies, she knows how to make a deal. When a friend's body turns up beside the Snake River, she has to dodge a vengeful detective - her ex-fiancé - while staying one step ahead of a murderer. It was a blast to write and fun relief after the intensity of the darker ones. I might publish this series under the pen name Cathy Ann Stewart Hamilton, because when a woman’s initials are CASH, how can she not get involved in finance?At this stage, I feel blessed to have so many opportunities. Ultimately I want to write a story that readers enjoy.

Your projects sound so interesting. I love the way your mind works. CASH is a great way to think about your future pseudonym!! How did you celebrate the “call?”

I missed The Call! I was working out of town with my day job, came home and found Angela James’ voice mail, saying she’d read The Professor and wanted to talk to me about it. I met my critique partner for lunch – I’m not sure that café will welcome us back – and we decided she wouldn’t call to turn me down. Later that afternoon, I got an email extending the offer and setting up a time to talk.

Fabulous Cover!!

I'm so glad she called and you received a contract. What a fun story!! It's been a few years since we walked along the beach, but look where you are now! What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Never give up! The road to publication can take all sorts of twists and turns. Whether an agent or editor will want your story can involve timing and other project they’re working on, as much as the merits of your story. Add in individual likes and hot-buttons and you just have to keep working and submitting. If it’s rejected, remember it’s business, not personal.

The second piece of advice is, keep learning. I’ve sat next to multi-published, NY Times best-selling authors and watched them take notes in a conference class. Sometimes it’s a new concept and sometimes a speaker hits me between the eyes with exactly the question or idea that I needed to pull a scene together!

There are so many new avenues for authors – traditional and small presses, digital first, and self-publishing. I’ll leave you with some advice Angela James offered at the Emerald City Conference – just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Her point was, make sure whatever you send out is ready, polished and your best work.

Cathy, that is excellent advice. I shall take it to heart. And I love it when I see top selling authors taking notes during the workshops that I attend. James Scott Bell says one should never stop learning the craft. Thanks so much for visiting the Veranda and sharing your writing journey.

Cathy Perkins can be reached via the following ways:

website: www.cperkinswrites.com

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cperkinswrites

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CathyPerkinsAuthor

You can order THE PROFESSOR from these sites:

Amazon-- THE PROFESSOR.

Barnes & Noble -- here.

Carina Press -- here.

A Retro Blog While I Remain BICHOK--Remembering Why I Started

2012-01-27T00:01:00.005-06:00

I wrote this blog November 17, 2008--it was my Dad's birthday. I wonder what he'd say to me if he knew how far I've come as a writer and person as I pursue this career.

Today is my dad's birthday. He would have turned 81 today had he not passed away 6 years ago. Losing dad was tough as he was the only parent I had who truly loved me. And he influenced me tremendously. From him I developed a love of reading--he was my library connection. When I exhausted all the books at our small town's library, I raided his bookshelves and found The Hobbit (4th grade), John Steinback and more. From him I learned to be curious and creative and focused on the task at hand.

When I was a child I wanted to be many things: a vet, a movie star (what self respecting girl wouldn't want fame???), and a journalist. I always wrote. Journals, poems, fantasy stories and more. I was fated to write. Yet, due to the "other parent" my life took many strange turns. As one fellow writer said to me, "life hijacked me."

Big time.

I was on my own at 16, working as a waitress, and a highschool drop out. Writing for a living was not an option although I never stopped dreaming.

Fast forward to 2002. Married, college educated, a mother, a friend, and still a dreamer. Dad was very ill. My husband, daughter and I traveled North to see him one more time. During that visit, he needed closure. A way to say goodbye and a way to say he was sorry. Part of that regret was due to his failure to protect me from an abusive parent. A parent who didn't want me to succeed, who wanted me to lose my zest for life, who wanted to derail every dream I had as impossible.

I'll never forget when he turned to me, regret in his eyes, and said it was "too late for me to be a writer." At the time, I believed him. I had laid my dream to rest and was pursuing the idea of becoming a personal life coach. Heck, I am an enthusiastic person and I've encouraged so many people in achieving their dreams, I figured why not get paid for it? I absolved him of his own guilt and said it was okay. I was okay. And I really was doing great.

But the dream that had been dormant resurrected on that day. And a few months later, I trotted out an old half started manuscript, and I finished it! I sent it off in a query and fantastically, got a request. No. The story doesn't end with a published novel. No. The first book I wrote is not that great and will never be published. However, it will never be forgotten. It is the first book I wrote. I proved to myself it was not too late for me to write. And since that first book churned out of me, I have written two other books.

On Dad's birthday, I wish I could say to him that it's not too late. That I am a writer. And I will, with a lot of luck and hard work, be published one day.

And here I am working hard and still pushing for the dream to become a reality. It's not too late. Ever.

Never give up. Never surrender!!

Tonks is In the House

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-06:00

Please play with me. Or pet me. Or cuddle me.

While I feverishly prepare my entries for the Linda Howard Award of Excellence FINAL judges, Tonks has graciously offered to takeover and write some tips for leading a mini life of kitten crime and getting away with it. Take it away Tonks.

Meow, chirrup, purr... she doesn't know it, but I'm sitting on Christine's dining room table. I have put my pitty pat paw prints all over it, but... oh crap... here she comes. Quick, I am putting on my cutest kitten face.

Purrhup... rubbing my soft head against her hand... yup... Christine is a sucker for the cute I-want-to-cuddle pose. Ah, she's so easy to train. Right, she's picked me up and put me on the floor. She admonishes me in that sing-song voice which only makes me want to bounce right up on the table... and yup, do it again....

Timer beeped! Timer beeped! Timer beeped!!! Here comes Christine--she looks tired. She's getting tea... I jump up. Meow? Want some love? Purr purr purr. How can she possibly resist me?

If I keep searching I will find the treats.

Treat? Want a treat? Treat Tonks? She asks. I am on the counter but she's still giving me a treat. Life is good!! Man did I hit the jackpot when I got adopted by this family.

I bounce over, act cute, and not just one treat, but FOUR!! Yes, I am gifted like everyone else in this family (even the Teen's cat Mischief is too smart for her own good). Yummy.

Oh man, timer beeped and she's... she's... going back into her office to write. Maybe if I sneak in and attack the printer she'll toss me some rolled up paper and play with me....

Bye!!!

Break Out the Bubbly & Dark Chocolate--Celebrating New Release: THE EDGER

2012-01-23T00:01:00.001-06:00

Author Marilyn Baron

Hi Everyone:

I have a special treat today. Former Petit Fours & Hot Tamales sister Marilyn Baron has released her first full length novel, THE EDGER. Marilyn first visited the Veranda when she debuted her her first novel. You can read her interview here. Marilyn is a wonderful writer and I had the privilege of reading the first 25 pages of this novel when we were in an author critique group at the Georgia Romance Writers of America meeting. I am thrilled to see this novel debut.

What is really cool about this novel is Marilyn Baron and her sister Sharon Goldman wrote THE EDGER together. Talent flows through this family's arteries!!!

Marilyn is taking over my blog today and answering all your questions about the book, her creative process and what it is like to write as part of a team with one's sister. I hope Sharon pops in as well.

While Marilyn and Sharon host my blog, I'll be writing my tushie off because I have a Triple set of contest finals to prep for the Linda Howard Award of Excellence Contemporary Series Long and Short final judges (yikes!!). I am SO GRATEFUL Marilyn offered to host a mini takeover!!

Author Sharon Goldman

THE EDGER is set in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Here's the blurb:

THE EDGER is a humorous women’s fiction about landscape artist Alexandra Newborn’s shocking reunion with her college art professor, Nick Anselmo—once a celebrated Italian artist, now a homeless lawn man—which sows the seeds for murder, mystery and romance.

In gratitude for food, art materials and company, Nick, or The Edger, as Alex comes to think of him, drops off a new sketch in front of Alex’s house every week when he comes to do her lawn. Nick’s provocative artwork is the key to revealing a dangerous liaison between Alex’s husband, Mark, and Bitsy Diamond, owner of the gallery where Alex dreams of having a one-woman show. When a deadly hurricane takes a dangerous turn the night of the show opening, Mark’s body washes up behind Bitsy’s beach house, leaving readers to wonder whodunit?

Marilyn Baron is the Georgia author of the humorous supernatural angel trilogy, A Choir of Angels, Follow an Angel and The Stand-in Bridegroom http://www.twbpress.com/achoirofangels.html. Sharon Goldman is an award-winning artist who lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Visit Sharon at www.sgoldmanart.com.

THE EDGER ISBN 978-1- 4659-7621-5 is available at Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006Y3P12Y#_

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123376

Barnes & Noble Nook Books http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-edger-marilyn-baron/1108321593?ean=2940013703957&itm=1&usri=the+edger+marilyn+baron

Who I Was Is Part of Who I Am and Who I Will Become

2012-01-20T06:37:00.000-06:00

I have a saying to get through the bad days and moments which was "It is what it is." And that's all well and good because it means I accept the circumstances for what they are and quit fighting. But that's not enough for me. I realized this week that I'm better off saying "It will become what it will become--I will become who I become."

Then I realized that the past, mine in particular, has uniquely shaped me for the career I want to claim. My writing career is largely shaped by what I've overcome, learned, and will continue to learn. I used to think if only I had not been sent on wild and crazy detours due to life, the circumstances I had to escape, and the education I had to delay.

Not anymore. I may not have an advanced university degree with all sorts of letters behind it, but I have something of equal or even greater value. I have a PhD in overcoming obstacles. Big ones for me, not so big for others.

And I'm so grateful for the lessons and emotions and experiences I've had because they shape the characters of my stories. And for kicks and giggles I've included my three favorite shots from eons ago. I feel they show all my sides and I just love the dress.

Here is a quick rundown:

*born in the Netherlands to two people who survived Japanese Concentration camps in the 1940s. Neither of them were equipped to parent but they did the best they could.
*Canadian National Science Fair 3rd Place at 13 with project about Pattern Recognition
*figure skater for 8 years, alto sax player/second chair
*grew up in Northern mining town & experienced daily bouts of bullying because I "used big words"
*semi-photographic memory, advanced reader, IQ high but never revealed to me by parents due their own feelings of inadequacy
*"bad girl" in high school long before I did anything "bad"
*smoker, back of the bleachers party girl, skipped school and forged my teachers' signatures on attendance sheets
*ran a mini-crime ring in forging teacher's names for other "bad" kids--got caught
*spent 10th grade English in VPs office due to arguing a test question with teacher and winning my point
*on my own at 16 due to difficult home life
*high school dropout
*worked in daycare, arena concession stand to make ends meet
*worked in diner
*waitress, gas jockey, maid
*drove without a license
*ice fished, snowmobiled, cross country skied
*got my GED, learned how to sign for deaf/blind people in hope of going to college for free as interpreter
*lived in Northern Manitoba, Winnipeg, Vancouver

Taken at the top of the Sears Tower in Vancouver. So serious.

*dated dangerous men, nice men, French men, Russian men, firemen, policemen, concert promoters, musicians and poets
*wrote poetry, loads and loads of it
*once wanted to be a foreign journalist
*once wanted to marry the Man from Atlantis--wrote an entire series about it long before fan fiction existed on the Internet
*read John Steinback, the Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings when I was in the 4th grade, reread them all later
*read Ginsberg, Kerouac and wished I'd been born in time to be a Beatnik
*kissed a French boy along the banks of the Seine when I was 13
*kissed a Physicist along the banks of the Seine when I was 30
*married young, grew up with the Physicist, made a beautiful baby
*traveled to Europe, ridden the Fast Train, been weighed on a witch's scale and deemed not a witch
*the Teen and the Physicist believe I am strangely psychic--my dreams are often prophetic
*I fly in my dreams. I want to fly in reality.
*I'm terrified of fire, drowning, death
*I almost drowned on my first anniversary--the Physicist saved me
*I was threatened by a bully with a lighter in the 9th grade. She wanted to burn my hair off my head. She had accomplices. I kicked her and ran away. She grew up and had a terrible life. I grew up and have a great life. Bad Karma is a bitch.
*I almost died 3 times due to anaphylaxis
*I never wear a watch, but I have an uncanny awareness of time.
*the Physicist married me before I had a college degree. He didn't know I could cook, but I can and I do it well.

I love this shot. Very dreamy/

*I graduated with a 4.0 Summa Cum Laude Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education at the top of the Dean's list.
*I never taught.
*I've worked in radio and television
*I was a part-time model--I was the Sunshine Girl of West Vancouver
*I have camped in the Redwood forest and in the Dordogne
*when I make up my mind to do something, I just do it. If it becomes boring or routine I stop.
*writing is the only thing that doesn't bore me
*my paternal grandfather was a biologist for the World Health Organization as well as a practicing doctor
*I got an A in pre-med genetics. Only 2 people got As
*I have an uncanny ability to diagnose diseases and illnesses
*I'm more serious than people think I am
*I'm more playful than people think I am
*I don't trust easily, but I am very trustworthy. If you tell me to keep a secret, I will. There are secrets I will die keeping
*I believe in many truths. My main belief is do unto others as you would have done unto you. I have broken this rule as a young woman. And I've seen others break it now. I wait for karma to act.
*I know what it is like to lose someone you love
*I live here in the now, but I am not afraid to sift through the past for there is where real emotion, raw gritty emotion exists, the kind that can strengthen my stories and my characters
*I play to win. Failure is NOT an option.

I like how playful and free I look here. It's how I feel today.

*If someone tries to stop me from winning out of spite, I will draw back, coil in my den, and wait to strike
*never mistake my desire to be kind as a weakness--never
*I was once a dreamy, intellectual little girl who read big books and said big words because the mind was valued in our home
*I was almost drowned in snow banks for being that little intellectual girl. I know what it is like to feel cold snow melting on your skin while you're desperately gasping for air and there is no one, no one to help you.
*A boy in the second grade used to chase me and punch me in the stomach daily. I put my book underneath my jacket and he punched me and broke his hand.
*I learned to be a "dumb blonde"
*When I was in university, if you came up to me after a test, I could give you all the questions on the test verbatim as well as my answers.
*I worked as a night aide for a lady with Parkinsons disease. She told me her love story every time I came to sit with her. When I got engaged, she gave me her silver gravy boat which she had received for her wedding over 50 years earlier. I still have that gravy boat.
*I'm a dreamer, but I'm practical and serious. I believe in myself, but I also believe only hard work and tenacity will get me to where I want to go. But I WILL BECOME WHAT I WILL BECOME!!

If I, a person who started with so little could come so far and find such joy and a wealth of opportunities, then I'm proof that anyone with a little luck, some tenacity and brains, can succeed.

Follow your hearts, mine your pasts, become who you will become.

Celebrating Life and All it Brings

2012-01-19T00:01:00.021-06:00

It's officially my birthday!! Woohoo. I'm glad to be here. To be able to walk through another day and celebrate all it has to offer me. It's a gift. It's truly a gift to be healthy, active, energized and renewed. Last year was a bit of a struggle. Health was iffy, tornadoes whirled through my current state and area, my darling Dowager Feline Clancy left us, I got bad news about a dear friend, and I struggled with my creative joy and my desire to write. But then it was also a great year in that we were spared major tornado damage, my health improved due to diet and exercise and a great doctor, my daughter and her drama troupe conspired to bring me a new fur baby and now we are owned by Catadora Tonks, and I fought the demons of despair and doubt and won the battles daily, weekly, monthly.

So much to celebrate.

During the last few days I've been in reflection and review and realignment of my life and my priorities. I've rediscovered old poems written by a young woman with no true sense of self but with creative courage. I've reawakened my spirituality and my heart to so much more than clamoring for publication. I want to grow in my craft, become a stronger and more refined writer. I want so much more to flow through my writing and into the world.

Now I want to share my reflection or tribute to myself today. Not out of pride, but out of hope. Hope for more of myself and hope for all of my friends and writing colleagues. I hope we all find a way to live life fully and in the moment and receive true joy, harmony, happiness.

Christine

Mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, writer, dreamer, motivated, wildly impatient, driven, loyal, curious, student, traveler, explorer, spiritual, emotional, romantic, seeker, comedian, creative, gourmet cook, winery lover, hostess, cat lover, expressive, temperamental, volatile, survivor, generous, loving, believer, social butterfly, fiercely independent.

I am all these things and more. On Friday I'll share bits and pieces of why I am who I am.

Decorating Diva on a Roll

2012-01-18T00:01:00.003-06:00

I spent a lot of time shopping and planning my changes for the media room. There are still things that need to be added so stay tuned, but I'd like to share the changes. First of all, the room just sort of was plunked together when we moved here 3.5 years ago. I had junk and fake plants in the first dormer window. There was no purpose to the area.

After I tore down Christmas, I also went into the first dormer window and hauled out everything I'd stuck there just "because." Then I evaluated the space. It's too small to put a chair, but it's too big to ignore. The room is used primarily by my Teen's drama group and friends to relax, sleepover, be chill. We use it as a family to watch movies and play games on the Wii. Darling Tonks likes to fly through the air and I'm terrified she'll fly over the knee wall so there is no furniture there. And because the room is used for large group sleepovers, I like to keep the back area modular.

What to do? I decided to get tons of pillows, floor pillows and fun pillows with new colors to cheer up the room and provide teens and grown ups alike (I see writers retreating there *grin*) where they can relax, move freely and enjoy the space.

Phase 1 of the plan was to hang framed record albums in dormer 1, rearrange other artwork, and order the quotes which will be applied next week. Phase 2 of the plan is to get some cool metal artwork that reflects movies and music and decorate the rest of dormer 1 and dormer 2 and round out the room. I'm also getting 4 folding black metal chairs which can be used with the decoupaged black table when the teens/us need to use it for a table but they can be hidden in the attic storage space when not needed.

Here's some pictures of Phase 1:

Big floor pillows to pull and use around the room

The Physicist's framed record albums on the wall.

Another view of the dormer area. We might add storage ottoman cubes to the area later.

New fun decorator pills on the couches. Can be used/mixed and matched with the floor pillows. Cubes are from target and very flexible.

More detail We took our Disney hand drawn pictures and lined up. They were originally separated into different areas.

We celebrated 25 years at Disney World.

Album details.

More album details.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of the media room's first phase of redecorating. The only thing I won't do is paint it. Too time consuming and expensive if I pay someone else to do it. So I'm using artwork and wall quotes to break up the monotony of the builder tan special color--is that khaki or mushroom?

Have you got any decorating stories you'd like to share with me? I'd love to hear about your highs and lows in decorating. And don't forget to tune in tomorrow for my special birthday celebration. I can't wait!!

The Universe Speaks

2012-01-16T00:01:00.012-06:00

Last weekend I had an icky kind of a Saturday/Sunday. Afterward I gave myself permission to "rebel" against my writing and just decorate the house, read other people's books and manuscripts, judge a contest, and hang out with friends.

The household and my non-writing friends benefitted from my mini-rebellion. I managed to get all kinds of fun things done for my media room and the living room. I got inspired by looking at baubles and trinkets and artwork. I read cool quotes which I ordered as vinyl applications for my media room. By Saturday my well was full again.

I could feel myself easing back to the office, to my writing, to my daily grinding out of words and thoughts and emotions and actions. I was in a strange kind of a re-organization mood. First up? I had to get a new weight/measurement diary going. My old one was full and the last several weigh-ins/measurements had been done on sticky index post-its.

Never one to waste paper, I scrounged my writing office for a small journal to keep track of these measurements. I came across one which I had started as a 1000 things to be grateful for (stopped at 125, but I will add more) which also had quotes in it, randomly written jottings from the ART OF WAR FOR WRITERS by James Scott Bell.

"Every moment spent whining about your writing career is a moment of creative energy lost... turn grousing into energy by writing!"

A clear reminder that whining about my writing and how slow the business side churns won't accomplish anything but valuable time wasted which could be used to be creative. Last week I couldn't face the computer. I channeled my energy into decorating the house because I could see a a tangible result. I got one. Now I know what the universe expects of me. Quit worrying about the end game, just play it.

After that epiphany, I went into my office with a dust rag and furniture polish. I dusted all my pretty bookshelves from top-to-bottom till they gleamed. I threw away old papers and contemplated my writing. I looked at one shelf and opened my prayer jar--a small gift with scripture on it--in it was one slip of paper with "That my books will one day be published" written in 2005. Yup, 2005. That slip of paper has been there for 7 years.

I refolded the paper, put it back inside the jar. Then in a frenzy of faith, I wrote out other prayers about my writing and my friends' writing and their dreams. Now the jar is full. Full of hope, faith, belief. Belief that one day my little slip of paper will be drawn out of that jar and a little hallelujah dance will occur because the prayer is answered.

When I looked at the order of books on the shelves, I discovered that I'd not put the writing books FRONT AND CENTER. They were on lower shelves, parenting books were on the top shelf, fiction books in the middle. The few writing craft and inspiration books I had were hidden behind pictures and doodads. Was I really taking my writing seriously? Really? Down deep at the gut level, at the subconscious emotional level where the mind works in wild and mysterious ways, I had not put the writing first.

I was clinging to old jobs or ways of thinking. I had how to parent and raise an optimistic child books front and center, but that job--while not finished--is clearly transitioning. I had my fun reading books in the center--yes they are pivotal to becoming a better writer, but they aren't about the business or craft per say.

I rearranged the shelves to reflect the changes and transitions in my life. The writing and craft books are front and center. I can see them and reach them easily.

The gorgeous picture of my daughter when she was 5 years old and precocious has moved to the top shelf because she is inspiration. That I--someone who had no strong foundation in life for parenthood--could raise a smart and beautiful and talented child to become a dreamer, an optimist, and an adventuring young woman is a rare gift.

She's proof that if I try hard enough, keep working on the weak and gray areas of this muddy mothering job, and persist in becoming as good an example of how to live and treat others that I can succeed. (Not that I did this alone--the Physicist has had a hand in all this but I like to think I was smart in choosing the best man for the future fathering job I had planned for him LOL).

As I rearranged books, I came across a tiny blue gem that my dear CP and friend Sharon Wray sent to me last year as a gift. I think it was for my birthday so it's fitting that I come across it during my "birthday week." As always, I had put it into my shelf with the good intention of reading it when I had time and promptly forgot. But the Universe leads me to find things when I need them most. I picked up this tiny book GIFT FROM THE SEA by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (50th addition) and turned the pages to read.

Here's a quote that stirred my soul:

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach--waiting for a gift from the sea."

Now that needed to be read yesterday. Not sooner, not later. But yesterday. Because today I am moving forward with a new direction. A new plan. A new spirit. I will probably never be the most patient person in the world (ask my CPs, the Physicist, the Teen--they'll readily concur), but I can always remind myself that I can't make it happen any faster by being anxious.

And this leads me to my final quotes. Quotes which will go into the media room after they arrive.

“Around here, we don’t look backwards for very long… we keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things because we’re curious… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Walt Disney

I'm back. I'm ready to surge ahead. I'm moving forward with gusto and curiosity and faith. The universe has spoken to me and the message is loud and clear. Has the universe been speaking to you? Do you listen? What has it said?

Smile and the World Smiles with You

2012-01-13T00:00:00.001-06:00

I've had an admittedly weird and tough week. I tend to go through these every 3-4 months. January is pretty much a guaranteed month of mehness. It's cold. It's dark. It's gloomy. All the hype of Christmas is put up and the expectations of the new year become insurmountable mountains to climb. How can I possibly get all these goals met? Why have I set the bar so high? Why do I continue to do this to myself?

It's like university all over again. I'd see the syllabus at the beginning of the semester and panic. How could I knock an A out of the park with this load of work? I'd procrastinate in fear of not being perfect. Then the fire would light in the form of a due date and I'd manage to squeak out the assignments.

I finished the degree with a 4.0 Summa Cum Laude and top of the Dean's List. Guess my technique worked for me.

So here I am in a mood, unable to concentrate on my writing goals other than judging and reading other people's writing or reading about writing knowing I have a lot of writing to do to keep the momentum going. And what am I doing? I'm redecorating my media room, shopping for pretty baubles, avoiding my writing. Pretty typical mid-January for me!

So today I'm shopping and having fun with a friend. I'm waiting for information that could help me with my queries, and I'm thinking about my writing. I've decided to surrender to this weird state of inertia and share what makes me smile during this lunar phase of my life.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

1. Tonks. That kitten has woven her way into my heart and is a joy. She makes us laugh with her antics and her naughty kittenish manners. She's sweet and cuddly or she's wild and crazy.

2. My writing friends. We laugh. We bring each other up and we manage to make light of this zany writing world. I could not survive being an unpubbed writer if it weren't for them.

3. My non-writing friends. They show me there is more to the world than writing and help me find a happy heart by doing other non-writerly things like shopping and cooking and gossiping and just being.

4. Walt Disney. I love him. I love his story. I love his vision. I am putting Disney quotes in my media room. He's an amazing and inspirational man who understood that adults are just children all grown up. We still want to play and laugh and sing.

5. Bright colors. I don't have many in the house right now. Taking down Christmas evaporated the cheer. I have a really cool ottoman with fabulous bright stripes. I am shopping for stuff that will pull those colors out of the ottoman and pop them in the rest of the family room which is a tan shade and I thought I loved it when I bought the house, but I don't--too cheap to redo so shopping I go.

6. Reading. I love to read fiction and non-fiction. I go to books and magazines when I am blue. I'm reading a lot this week!!

7. Zumba and Pilates. I know exercise isn't always supposed to make one smile, but the ladies in my classes are fun and I always leave the class in a better frame of mind than when I entered it. I love my classes.

8. Long walks and talks with good friends. I miss my friend in VA. She and I would go for long "jabber walks" and solve all the world's problems in an hour and a half. We'd laugh, we'd vent, we'd laugh again. I need another friend who loves to take long walks and is able to take them with me!

9. Cooking. Cooking wonderful food and being in the kitchen is a creative and soulful outlet for me.

10. Entertaining. I love sitting around the dining room table with fun people and interesting people. The food is less important than the conversation.

So I'm doing the things that make me smile this week because I can't move past my inertia. It's okay. By Saturday/Sunday I'll be ready to hit the ground running again. But for this week and really during this gloomy month, I need to bring sunny events into my life or I won't be able to write well.

What makes you smile? Are you having a blue month? Is January a tough month for you?

By the way, my birthday is in January. The 19th. I'll be celebrating my birthday all week (it's a family tradition). I can't wait to break out the champagne and the dark chocolate and have some fun. You're all invited to share my birthday week starting January 16th. I'll post an extra blog on the 19th to celebrate.

Happy writing and happy living. Smile!

Scrapbook Mistake? Just Put a Sticker on It!

2012-01-11T07:31:00.000-06:00

I just had a lovely surprise visit from one of the Teen's friends and her mother this week. It was totally spontaneous and fun and surreal. The Teen and her friend had a blast reconnecting and talking about college options. The mom and I had a great time revisiting our days as school volunteers and fellow scrapbookers.

I used to be a big time scrapbooker before I became a full time writer. It was a wonderful creative outlet and I enjoyed designing the pages and documenting our family's history. I have LOADS of scrapbooks. Are they perfect? Nope. But when people look through them they love the way I've pulled the pages together. I do, too. They are fun to look at and read.

My friend and I laughed about how different we were in our scrapbooking world compared to our day-to-day world. She's a spontaneous and by-the-seat-of-her-pants roll with it woman whereas I am an organized, everything-must-be-in-its-place and in order kind of woman. Yet when sat down to scrapbook together we were the polar opposite personalities.

And we were so surprised! She carefully planned her pages, measured everything twice, made sure all the pictures were aligned just so and very meticulously plotted her pages. By the end of a 3 hour scrapbooking session she might come away with 1, maybe 2, completed pages.

Me? I'd have 5 or 6 pages done. Why? Because I would go into the work with a basic plan, then happily select my beautiful accent papers and stickers and notions and go, go, go. She was so surprised by my complete lack of desire for perfection. I just cut pictures and paper, placed the sticky tape on, threw in the photos and notions with joyful abandon. I'd blithely say to her if it was little off center I'd just throw a sticker on it or add another notion to embellish the page and "hide" the imperfection.

Her visit this week reminded me that I'm pretty much that way in all my creative endeavors. When I don't worry about being perfect, I have fun and I end up with a fairly decent product that is pleasing to the eye, mind, spirit.

Hmmm, can you guess what my writing process is like? Wonder what my friend's would be like? Yup, I'm a planner, pantser, fixer. She'd be an outliner, plotter, editor on the go.

What is the worst thing I can do to my writing process? Try to be perfect. I need to go with the flow knowing that as long as I have a basic plan about what I need to do and where I need to go I will get there. And I'll actually enjoy the process because I know that if something isn't quite right I can always go back and add a sticker.

Have you ever scrapbooked? What's your creative process? Do you have any other hobbies that mirror the way you write?

Resolved to Battle the Demons of Fear & Doubt

2012-01-09T07:44:00.000-06:00

Usually when I say I will embrace positivity and all things light and wonderful a serious case of doubt, fear and anxiety follows. Despite knowing that the universe will challenge my resolve, I continue to state my desire to be positive and conquer the beast.

Why? Why do I risk this battle? This battle which will call into question my belief in myself and my drive and my hopes and my dreams?

I wish I had the answer, but I don't. I just know that I do enter into these battles almost as right of passage. It's as if I must call into question my resolve to succeed in order to prove to myself that I will not let the dark days kill my passion for writing and crafting books.

The Physicist has wisely learned to nod and say nothing when I wage these wars. I will be honest here: I'm not quiet about it. My CPs have learned to let me rant a bit and nod their heads then say it is the nature of the beast. My beast, my achilles heel is my impatience.

I am not patient. I like answers, results, follow through information in a timely manner. That being said, the flip side of this is that I provide all the above in a timely manner. I am fast, efficient, organized, driven, reliable, committed to giving my best. So if you hire me, you'll get a great worker. Or writer (hello? publishing world? can you hear me now?). Give me a deadline and I will meet it barring death or major catastrophe.

Trust me on this. I won't let you down.

But the writing world doesn't operate on Christine Time. It operates on a time wheel which I have yet to understand. I don't like this time wheel. It's maddening to me. And waiting. Oh, the endless waiting and waiting and waiting drives me insane.

Over the weekend--after embracing positivity--I had a huge meltdown over it. By Sunday I was ready to QUIT. Yes. QUIT. Seven plus years--four of them extremely high paced--of shooting for the stars, the moon, the sun. Countless dollars spent on conferences, contests, classes, workshops, membership dues, travel, proper clothing, paper, pens, office equipment, gas, hotels, postage. Hours upon hours slaving over stories that might never be read.

It all seemed like a grand waste of my time on Sunday. I ranted about my frustration. My beasts of fear and doubt raging through me and out of me in great bursts. I rebelled. I began shopping on-line. I went to stores and looked at pillows. I did anything BUT the writing.

The Physicist just nodded. He didn't try to fix it (good man that Physicist). The CPs just texted me with little one liners and LOLs and gentle reminders about how I can't control anything but the writing and submitting. And then I came to meet myself in the mirror of all my angst and anger and anxiety.

And I said to myself, OK, you've hit the lowest point. Now what? Well, there's nothing else for me folks.

I have to write. I can't not write. I want to win. I will find a new way to achieve my goals while continuing to work on the manuscripts. I will surround myself with positive, loving, understanding people who GET ME and MY DREAMS. I will not give up despite my weaknesses as a person and a writer.

I do embrace positivity. I also embrace the fact that sometimes I will need more than my own will to get through the dark days. I will need my friends and my support system in place.

Surround yourself with people who support you. Don't just embrace positivity. Embrace people who can be positive FOR YOU.

2012 Professional Goals & Top 5 Priority List

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-06:00

At last I am posting my new goals for the 2012 year. Yes, I put in "get an agent" and "get a publishing contract" which might create a bit of controversy because I have no control over these goals other than trying to get them. But I know it will happen and I want the satisfaction of being able to write DONE after each of these goals.

First up, my Top 5 Professional Priority List. This list helps me say YES to the areas of work that will forward my career and they remind me to say NO to the areas of work which will not forward my career. I review this list every quarter and recharge it as necessary. I also have a Personal Top 5 Priority List which I abide by as well.

Top 5 Career Priority List for 2012/1^st Quarter (January through March)

1. Write every day with emphasis my revisions.

2. Build a website and have it up by March 31^st.

3. Professional development through querying, submitting materials, entering contests, learning technology, building brand name, ongoing craft classes.

4. Coordinate and execute a critique partner meeting in February with Pam and Sia in Atlanta.

5. Attend chapter meetings which further my professional writing career and give me the tools to succeed as a PUBLISHED writer.

My personal affirmation to guide me throughout the year as I reach for the stars is:

I enjoy being organized, positive and determined to succeed as I focus on pursuing my professional writing career, personal, and family life goals.

Writing Goals for 2012

*clean and organize office to get ready for the new year

*brainstorm 3 new category books with CPs in February

*write 2 new category books

*revise 4^th, 5^th, 6^th books

*send requested materials to agents by February 1st

*query Mills & Boon with 4^th and 5^th books

*get head out of sand and ask Mills & Boon about the R&R’s status by January 31st

*Build web site by end of first quarter of the year/March 31^st

*Continue revising 1^st book for fun

*Enter 4 contests at a minimum with at least 3 manuscripts at all done including the Golden Heart with at least 2 manuscripts

*Attend the RWA National Conference in Anaheim

*Attend Moonlight & Magnolias

*Pitch at both conferences

*build name bible of all names I've used in my books

*maintain personal blog

*continue building my brand name via social media, web page, professional presence in writing world

*get an Agent

*get a publishing contract

*continue building professional mentor relationships

*continue to streamline writing and business of writing with proper schedule

*Review digital and e-publishers for submissions

*take at least two master classes in craft

*judge at least two writing contests

*set Top 5 Priority List and review every quarter

*read for fun

*continue to analyze published books in my genre

*continue learning and growing in my craft with online courses and craft books

*attend chapter meetings which aid in my professional development and in my goal for achieving publication

*build my new critique partnerships

*be courageous, strong, and focused in pursuing my dreams and goals

I'm so excited about the goals and the direction of my writing. I can't wait to start checking them off as DONE!

A Circle of Support

2012-01-04T00:01:00.000-06:00

Every year I sit down and I rebuild my goals based on a book I read six years ago, LIFE MAKEOVER, by Cheryl Richardson. You can read about my process here and here. I have a professional and personal list of goals and priorities to help guide and shape my daily life. This map is a guide, one I can veer from if necessary, but it helps me remain focused regardless of how many potholes and bumps I encounter along the way.

On Monday I posted my 2011 Writing Goals and shared which ones I had accomplished and afterward I received some lovely comments from dear readers and fellow bloggers. Ellen, Katherine, Karen G, Stephanie Jones AKA Alicia Pace, Angela Blount (blogging as Red Peril). I appreciate their kind words about how I influence them as writers, but I'm not accomplishing all my goals in a void where only I spur myself on.

I lean on others during the dark days. The days when I wonder if I am wasting my time. The days when life interferes in big ways. The days when life picks at me in small ways. I would not be where I am today as a writer without Sharon Wray, Karen Johnston, Pam Montovani, M.V. Freeman, Sia Huff, my Goal in a Month x 4 online group -- with a shout out to Amy Atwell for forming this amazing circle of friends--my professional mentors, and generous authors like Lynn Raye Harris.

There are larger circles surrounding me which give me professional support. My local writing chapters in Alabama and Georgia provide a wealth of information about this crazy industry. The Romance Writers of America organization undergirds my writing world. I appreciate the lessons I've learned from countless others throughout the years during conferences or in virtual classrooms which have been made possible by the RWA.

One day I hope to give back to the larger writing world as a published author. I hope to provide true mentorship and encouragement and pay it forward. Meanwhile, I continue to do my best as a hardworking, unpublished writer to motivate and in some way inspire others to reach for the stars. For in reaching for the stars you will soar.

On Friday I'm posting my professional goals for 2012. I know that no matter life brings I can be confident of one thing: my circle of support will not allow me to give up. Last year the core of that circle uplifted me and held me to my standards despite my health issues, my daughter's mono case, the April 27 tornado cells blowing through Alabama, the loss of my beloved Dowager Feline Clancy, the disappointments, the countless hours driving to colleges with my daughter, and the sad news about a dear family friend's terminal illness.

So you see the greatest gift you can give yourself as you prepare to tackle the year and reach your goals is to give yourself a strong circle of positive and supportive people who want to see you WIN and who will help you pick yourself up and dust off the dirt whenever life sticks a boulder in your path.

If not for the encouragement of others, I would not be where I am today as a writer. And these others, these wonderful women who believe in me and my dream, won't let me walk away from my desires.

Encircle yourself with dream makers.

Reflect & Review 2011

2012-01-02T00:01:00.001-06:00

I always have a new goal list for the year. But before I write my new goals for the year, I reflect on the prior year's goals. Below are my 2011 goals and the results of my goal setting.

Writing Goals for 2011

*clean and organize office to get ready for the new year DONE
*Finish discovering 4 book series and characters DONE
*Write 5th book 1st Draft and Revise DONE
*Start work on 6th book in 4 book series/Discover/Draft/Revise -- NOT DONE--I had an R&R in February 2011 so I had to stop all I was doing to focus on that task.*Query 10 agents a month NOT DONE--there aren't ten agents a month for me to query as a category series writer, but I do have 2 requests and a lead on one other one.
*Revise 4th book full and resend to agent--NOT DONE due to R&R from Mills & Boon
*enter 4 contests at a minimum with at least 3 manuscripts at all times including the GH--DONE and entered 4 MS in the GH. Finaled in the Fab 5 and got editor request
*Attend Moonlight & Magnolias--DONE
*Attend RWA National Conference--DONE
*Pitch at both conferences--DONE 
*Revise 1st book for fun--STILL REVISING FOR FUN
*build name bible of all names I've used in my books--STILL WORKING ON IT
*maintain personal and guest blogs--DONE
*continue learning about WordPress--GAVE UP
*build my brand name via social media, newsletters and workshop--DONE and continuing to work on it
*work on retreat idea with Kelle Riley--NOT DONE due to personal life happenings
*get an Agent--NOT DONE
*get a publishing contract--NOT DONE BUT SUPER CLOSE
*find a professional mentor--DONE and continuing to reach out to professionals in my genre.
*streamline writing and business of writing with proper schedule--DONE
*Review digital and e-publishers for submissions--STILL WORKING ON IT
*take at least two master classes in craft--DONE
*judge at least two writing contests--DONE
*set Top 5 Priority List and review every quarter--DONE
*coordinate online workshops for HOD--DONE and now they are canceled so I'M FREE
*read for fun--DONE AND STILL WORKING ON IT
*continue learning and growing in my craft with online courses and craft books.--DONE AND CONTINUING
*attend at least 2 chapter meetings per quarter--DONE
*finish WE ARE NOT ALONE--DONE
*send in one article per month to my HOD newsletter editor--NOT DONE
*be courageous, strong, and focused in pursuing my dreams and goals.--DONE AND CONTINUING TO DO PURSUE MY DREAMS AND GOALS

I'm proud of all I've accomplished. It feels good and affirms my belief that if you write it down you will succeed. So now I build a new list!!

How did you do this year? Did you have a good year or did life derail you? Did you fight against life's derailments and soldier on? Share your goal meeting strategies with me on the veranda today :-)

Be A Healthy Writer in 2012

2011-12-30T08:18:00.000-06:00

I've been working really hard to lose weight I'd gained as a result of a Thyroid malfunction. It hasn't been easy and many of my readers have watched me slowly lose the weight over the course of 6 months. In addition to losing 19 pounds with 11 pounds to shed, I've also increased my fitness levels. I have worked out hard and the results are showing in a firmer and more toned body.

As a writer I am very sedentary because it requires sitting in front of a computer screen, whimpering on occasion, and writing in a fixed position. Sometimes I don't want to leave my fictional world to go to the gym because I'm so involved in the story I'm crafting. Sometimes I am unable to leave my writing to take a full hour or more to workout because I have a deadline to meet. Sometimes I don't want to workout just because I'm feeling lazy. But I do. The greatest challenge for me is when I have a deadline.

No. I am not published yet, but I have deadlines. I enter contests to put myself into that position. I hold myself accountable and treat myself as a published writer because once I am published I will have to meet deadlines all the time. There is no time like the present to hone the skill of meeting a professional deadline.

But I must take care of myself. Here are my strategies for protecting myself from a widening derriere and writer's bloat in 2012 particularly when I am in deadline mode.

*Go to the gym and vary my workouts. I attend Zumba and Pilates classes as well as use the weight machines.
*When in Deadline Mode, force myself to get up every hour and move for 15 minutes. This can be stretching, dancing in front of the TV to a music channel, or doing Max Capacity. You can access Max Capacity here.
*Walk. I've discussed this with a writing buddy. We plan on alternating houses every week and writing together. We'll set the timer for 60 minutes, then when it beeps we will walk for fifteen. We'll talk while we walk.
*Get the Fitbit. You can learn more about the Fitbit here. I plan to walk 10,000 steps a day. This will hold me accountable to remaining fit and strong.
*Pay myself a quarter for every workout. A healthy writer is a strong writer. This all contributes to my writing fund which pays for writing activities.
*Look for unique ways to ramp up my fitness levels by doing Wii Dance Programs and attending different classes which challenge my strength and flexibility.
*Feed my body healthy foods so I can increase my health and brain power.

What are your plans for staying strong and healthy in 2012? Do you have any tips for me? I'd love to learn all about it!

Facebook and Current Status

2011-12-28T06:57:00.000-06:00

I'm working a bit today. I have been working for about an hour a day except for Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Boxing Day. I'm not writing a lot as I am in revise mode, but a little every day will prepare me to write faster and smarter when the new year begins.

I'm excited about the new year. 2012 has tons of possibilities. I've got a lot to catch up on from 2011, a new goal list to make and a brand new critique partner to add to my cadre of critique people. It's small, but I am excited about the level of their writing, the commitment they've made to writing, and the way their work will help me achieve my goals, too.

I've got a few "housekeeping" details to take care of as well.

Here is one. I have a Facebook Fan page and I'm trying to drive up the numbers of "likes" I have on it. If you click here, you can check it out and "like" me.

I also have to go back on my dreaded diet. No more Twinkie Tiramasu for me. I'm working out, but the food intake is not balanced by the exercise. A bit of a weight gain. Nothing substantial, but I can't go backwards. Stay tuned and stay with me in 2012 when I start posting my healthy recipes and diet/exercise adventures. I've got roughly 10-12 pounds left to lose and then the maintenance. I'm on Weight Watchers Online and will ramp up my use of the tools in 2012.

There are a lot of loose ends to tie in the personal department. Teen is checking out colleges, I've got an overflowing in-box. And the house needs some handyman touchups. The good news is I have a wonderful clean floor thanks to my new MINT floor sweeper and mopper. This tiny robot really does do a good job. It's worth every penny. If it could vacuum it would be perfect.

I hope you're all having a wonderful holiday with your friends and family. On Friday I will check in and share my goals with you for 2012 as well as review my 2011 goals. And if you haven't got a Top Five Priority list, I will walk you through the steps.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Boxing Day and Gift Review

2011-12-26T07:04:00.000-06:00

Well I had a fantastic Christmas Day. I was thrilled with all my presents. I got everything I asked for and more. I don't ask for a lot, but they came through in spades this year. The Physicist and the Teen gave me a MINT floor cleaner which I have wanted ever since I saw my friend's MINT to it's cleaning tasks. I can't wait to use it today to see how it cleans. Then I got Sirius Radio for my car and I am super happy with that, too. I am getting it installed this week. I also got tons of Bath & Body Works lotions, shower gels, body butters and fragrance spray in my current favorite scent, White Citrus. They gave me cool gloves which allow you to text while wearing them! Santa brought me fun mints, hand cream, thisis and thatises. All fun.

I'm also really thrilled with the surprise the Physicist and the Teen concocted for me. I got a headshot session to set up in 2012. This makes me happy on all kinds of levels. I wanted to set one up for the new year just in case, maybe, one day, in the near future I actually need a decent back cover shot. And that they believe in my dream enough to give this gift means the world and more to me. I'm super super super happy and excited about this gift.

The best gift I received was time spent with my family. We chilled out, we went to see a fantastic movie, we cooked a lovely meal, we watched a fun television show series on DVD. Simple things. Simple pleasure. Simple life. But a life I cherish.

I hope your day was equally as bright and merry!

Health and Happiness through the Holidays

2011-12-23T08:05:00.000-06:00

Holidays can be more stressful than any other time of the year. Expectations rise. Disappointments occur. Illusions flop. And with all the added stress, some people turn to food to fill the empty hole in their hearts. Even if one isn't sad or stress throughout the holiday season, there are a lot of temptations out there calling our names. Fattening meals, sugary treats, succulent and savory treats.

Over-indulgence is almost expected. Cheered on. Dieting? Through the holidays? Not so much. So what is a person to do if she is on a diet and trying to lose weight for health reasons? Give up? Cave in? Gain a bit?

Maybe. But this girl isn't giving up or caving in. She's seeing results so she's not willing to see that scale go up. That would stress this girl out.

My solution to the holiday temptations? Balance.

I'm not denying myself a slice or two of my favorite cheeses nor am I eating a frozen low cal meal for Christmas dinner. I've got two heavy meals planned for this week. One is a Disney Themed meal which will have some pretty high calorie dishes including Twinkie Tiramasu. I can't wait to make it and to taste it. I've also got my favorite pot roast planned for this evening along with a dreamy chocolate lava cake for dessert. I've decided to make Oreo Truffles with my daughter as well as our favorite Chocolate Sambucca cookies. They're tradition.

I don't want to lose weight right now. But maintaining the number is important. First weapon against gaining is working out. I've been to the gym every day or out walking for at least half an hour. I'm adding additional time to the gym next week to offset the calories. I'm also weighing every day to make sure that the scale remains in balance. Frankly, I've worked too hard to lose this weight. I don't want to lose it again and again and again. I also am eating very healthy and low cal foods during my other meals. Same low cal breakfast and lunch and dinners with large salads.

And best of all, my family is on board with this plan. It helps. A lot!!

I'm doing my best to remain on track during the holiday season. What are you doing to keep on track?

A Clean Shave -- What's in Your Shower Stall?

2011-12-21T07:35:00.000-06:00

On Saturday I gouged my poor leg with a new razor blade. I've used this brand for a lot of years and I loved it, but now they have all these extra skin smoothers built into their shaver which increase the likelihood of my getting nicked and cut. Since I got the new "embrace" shaver I have had 1 major gouge and 5 or more minor nicks. Those nicks BLEED a lot! And they are a pain to deal with when I'm trying to get ready for the day. Any rate, someone suggested I go back to using the original cartridges by my brand's company. I thought GREAT I will. But when I went to the store to buy them, they were not there. The company no longer makes them. Then I thought, well I'll just get another brand's shaver. No luck. They all have this ridiculous goop built into them and I am not using them again. I ended up coming home with 3 disposable shavers. But I'm determined to find one that doesn't have the goop on it and to get a more permanent shaver in the shower.

Why did they change their shaver methodology? Why? I am on a mission to find a new razor blade which I can use in my shower. One without the stupid goop on it. I like my skin just the way it is. Anyone have a suggestion for me? What's in your shower stall?

Ah, Statistics & Triumphs

2011-12-19T00:01:00.000-06:00

I've been on a diet program to lose weight since the end of July. The weight gain wasn't really my fault--thyroid went wonko on me--but I sure did want to lose it once we adjusted the medication dosages. I can tell you it is mighty frustrating to have to lose the same 20 pounds 3 times in 3 years due to thyroid issues, but I am determined to beat this once and for all. I talked to my doctor and said I was declaring war on the thyroid. As soon as the scale stops cooperating and going up, we are testing my levels ASAP. No more "waiting" or "blaming myself" then "hiding from the scale because it is so darned frustrating!"

Nope. Nada. Nix.

I have worked very hard to lose this weight. I go to the gym 3-5 times a week, I walk and do other exercises when I can't make it to the gym, and I have actively followed the Weight Watcher's Points Plus program. The weight hasn't slid off my bones quickly, but it is coming off. I have a way to go before I will be satisfied, but for now I am thrilled with the results.

Yes. Yup. Uh Huh. I am going to brag about the losses and share my stats.

Since the end of July I have lost the following amounts:

19 pounds!!
5.5 inches off my waist
3.5 inches off my hips
1 inch off my thighs (they were already tiny and as small as they were when I weighed 20 pounds LESS than my current weight)
0 off my arm (I work out regularly. Arm is normal sized)
7 inches off my navel circumference
3 inches off the bust line

I am so happy! I can fit into all my old jeans comfortably and my energy levels are much higher. Now when I work out I don't see the "fat person" in the mirror. I see my old self. A reasonably fit and healthy woman who takes care of herself. I feel like taking on the world and I am so happy my doctor is on board with my battle plan.

I am sharing this with you because if you are over 40, female, and noticing changes in your ability to fight the weight, I know you might not be to blame. Your thyroid might be the cause.

In my case, I have Hashimoto Disease. Hashimoto Disease, the most common autoimmune thyroid problem, is not something you can fight by yourself. So if you feel you are battling these symptoms, then run to your doctor and establish a battle plan for yourself. If you are over 40, your TSH levels should NOT go above 2 or 3. Trust me!! If your doctor is the old school doctor who thinks you should just eat one less cookie and you'll lose weight when that number is over a 3 and you're over 40 years old, then run to another doctor who will listen and work with you.

Other things to consider when trying to stave off the weight and keep the thyroid function good are to avoid white carbs and exercise regularly. Even if you only walk for 30 minutes a day, you'll notice a change in your energy levels.

This isn't about being high school skinny or a size 0 (which is very unhealthy for women going through the change -- a little fat is good). This is about being in good shape and feeling good about yourself as you age.

I'm determined to live well into my old age as a strong, fit, vibrant woman. Are you?

What Happens Next? Why does it Matter? Lessons to Think About

2011-12-16T07:24:00.000-06:00

I live in a fictional world where the main question is often "What happens next?" What are the characters doing, where are they doing it, and why are they doing it and does what they are doing matter to them and to the story?

What happens next? Sometimes I don't know. Sometimes I think I know. Sometimes I fool myself about knowing which leads to many revisions. I believe this is because I haven't sat down with my characters and discussed why they are doing what they are doing next. What drives the characters drives the story forward.

More than anything in the past year I have learned that if I play Goddess of My Manuscript, my characters rebel. This means slowing down, looking at what I've written and asking is this really what they are doing next? How do I know for sure? Well, I don't. I just have to write it out, mull it, look at it again, and play with the story until the manuscript gels.

And even then I know that someone will come along a poke holes into what I believe has been the solution all along. First it will be critique partners. Second it will be contest judges. Third it will be editors and agents. And I know I will have to write again. And again. And again.

BUT I do know one thing--I must first write the story as I see it unfold from beginning to end before I make monumental changes to it. I must first revise it at least once before I start sending it out to my critique partners. I need to discover my story before I let other people tell me what the story should be about and mess up my relationship with my characters.

Oh, I can brainstorm. I can call up a CP and tell them I have an idea about a scene in the current WIP and what do you think? They might agree or disagree, but it's called bouncing ideas off someone to see if the ideas can work. There's not point in writing something if it won't work.

I have to be in my characters' heads. I have to think with their thoughts. I have to react as they would react. And I have to do all of this on blank pages by filling them with words. Words I have written to the best of my ability.

So here are my basic rules for writing:

1. Write the first draft for YOU and the CHARACTERS. Don't let anyone TOUCH your story or CRITIQUE IT without knowing it well enough.

2. Brainstorming is a good thing. Bounce ideas off people to see if they will gel with the story regardless of where you are in the process. They'll either be affirmed or not. BUT ultimately, it is YOUR STORY so you must decide how to fix it in the end.

3. Be prepared to MAKE CHANGES after you have completed your manuscript.

4. Even when you think you're finished--even if it you are published and have an editor--be prepared to make MORE CHANGES.

5. In romances CHARACTERS TRUMP EVERYTHING. Write them well, make them jump off the page and YOU WILL GET INTEREST. And then guess what?

6. Be prepared to make changes to YOUR CHARACTERS based on editorial and agent input.

7. Stay with your story and think about it every day so you can be open to the revelations your characters send you when you are in the shower, in the bath, driving long distances, sitting through boring meetings, putting on makeup, cleaning floors. Trust me. If you stay with your story every day, you will find ideas popping into your head at odd times.

8. Judges comments are to be taken with a grain of salt. They are NOT THE FINAL WORD. They CAN BE WRONG. They CAN BE RIGHT. But ultimately, the reason you enter a contest is to get to the FINAL JUDGE--an editor or an agent. I personally have incorporated GOOD COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS into my writing, but NEVER UNTIL I GIVE IT THOUGHT AND TIME.

9. Editors and agents send revise and resubmit letters. It is up to you to decide if they are right about their suggestions. If you decide to Revise and Resubmit, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THEY SAY EITHER. They are giving you suggestions based on their instinct and knowledge. BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS UP TO YOUR CHARACTERS TO MOLD THE STORY.

10. Trust YOUR INSTINCTS. Trust YOURSELF. Trust YOUR CHARACTERS.

So this is what I have learned. I hope it helps. Happy Writing!

Counting in Life

2011-12-14T07:46:00.000-06:00

We're counting all kinds of things in the Glover Household.

Tonks is counting sleeps till she has her Cone of Shame removed and her stitches taken out. Total left for Tonks before she is liberated is 5 Sleeps. Darling Teen is counting sleeps till school lets out. Total sleeps till she is liberated is 6 Sleeps. I am counting sleeps till the Physicist returns from Germany. Total sleeps till she's hugging her hubby is 6 sleeps. We're all counting sleeps till Santa shows up. Total sleeps till we unwrap the day is 11.

I'm counting calories and watching the scale numbers. I've lost 19 pounds and hope to lose 1 more pound before the Physicist returns from Germany. Darling Teen is counting calories as well. She's losing weight, too.

There are a lot of things to do on my lists before Christmas arrives. Lots of counting and checking off the accomplishments. Personal tasks left to accomplish before Christmas are cleaning house, shopping for the holidays, wrapping presents, sending Christmas cards, making our family calendar, making a photo book for a family member, meeting with friends to exchange gifts and spend time together. On the work front I am counting contest entries, writing blogs, story boarding a current WIP, and making decisions about my future as a writer.

There's a lot of counting. But the most important thing I've learned is that when I am down and out and feeling overwhelmed because the Physicist has been out of the country for 15 days and counting that I count on my friends to pull me up and out of the doldrums.

Who do you count on?

Christmas Survival Guide

2011-12-12T08:14:00.000-06:00

I've been a single parent during most of the Christmas season due to darling Physicist being away for massive work in Germany. The teen is fairly self-sufficient, but there are problems that rise up and must be dealt with on an regular basis. It's tough to be a girl in this world and she's not always happy with herself or her looks despite all that I've done to encourage her to be focused on her brains, her talents, her compassionate heart. But of all times for the Physicist to be gone, this one is the hardest. I feel for the military families out there who have loved ones deployed and in dangerous zones. They have it far worse. But pain is, as they say, relative. So how have I survived these past few weeks when I have no family here and I am new to the area--fairly new as I've been here 3 years but it's hard to find new friends.

Here's what I've done to survive a Christmas season without hubby by my side:

*arranged for lots of fun day things to do with my few friends. I've been to Historic Decatur and Historic Albany for a tour and a lovely lunch with a writing friend.
*My weekends are planned for me. I had a great time in Florence on the 2nd as I watched my daughter perform in her theater department's one act play competition. Her cast won Best in Show and is going to Chattanooga, TN in the new year to participate in the Southeast Regional Theater/Trumbauer Competition. Best of all, I got to share this happiness with a new friend and her daughter.
*Another weekend was planned via my writing chapter's Christmas party on the 10th. It was during the day and it was nice to see the people I have missed spending time with due to so many obligations and commitments. The food was nice, too.
*I ordered almost all the Christmas presents from Amazon.com. Easy peasy lemon squeasy. I'm wrapping as they arrive. Darling Daughter helped order her dad's presents one night. We sat in the Master Bedroom with Tonks (who is confined to the MBR suite area due to her spaying surgery) and had fun ordering presents.
*I have been working out regularly and taking care of my body. With the Physicist out of town for three weeks, I haven't had to cook much so we're living on Weight Watcher's frozen meals, rotisserie chicken and bananas. I've lost 2.5 pounds since he left on the 30th. I'm happy to announce I've lost a total of 18 pounds!! I am almost at my first major goal -- 10% of the way to my final number. I have 12 more pounds to go to reach my happy number.
*I had my cat spayed during the time he was away. It's easier to stay in the MBR Suite without having to worry about keeping the Physicist company.
*I've scaled back my usual Christmas running around and baking agenda. I made the cards on iPhoto and ordered them with only a four sentence letter inside. I haven't worried about the building of our usual Calendar which we give away and I'm not worrying about the photo book I will make for my mother. I haven't baked or made homemade goodies for the neighborhood, either. This is my year to relax and not do it all.
*I haven't cleaned the house. I just keep up with day to day maintenance.
*I am enjoying my writing and my reading time.

So that's how I am surviving the holiday season without my hubby. How do you survive?

Yesterday's News

2011-12-07T07:39:00.000-06:00

Tonks got spayed on Monday. We have to use special kitty litter until she is healed--for two weeks. Yesterday's News is recycled newspaper shaped into pellets. Tonks doesn't care for this new litter at all, but she has used it. However, before she figured out that it was a place for her toilet habits, she thought it was either food or a toy. Either way, it wasn't fun seeing it flung about the crate I tried to keep her "quiet and still" in and the bathroom where it all got moved to minus the crate.

The crate didn't help. Sigh.

Ever try to keep a 4 month old curious kitten "still and quiet?" Yah, oxymoron for sure.

So Yesterday's News is working, I've got my baby girl kitty back in the house. All is not "still and quiet" like a Christmas noel, but spaying one's kitten or puppy is the right thing to do if you are a responsible pet owner.

So what's your Yesterday's News?

Airing Dirty Laundry

2011-12-05T08:51:00.000-06:00

I've been BICHOK for several days to get ready for the Golden Heart contest run by the Romance Writers of America. I have no idea how any of my entries will do--that's luck of the draw with judging. Not every entry finals but that doesn't mean the entry wasn't excellent. The entries that do final deserve to be there, but this contest is as much a golden lottery to me as a real lottery. So many elements have to be in place. I almost finaled last year, but the statistics weighed against me. This year I stacked the deck with 4 and I hope one might make it through the golden gauntlet. I'll write more about that later--in my letter to all the judges--but I'm happy to say that I am pleased with my growth as a writer and the entries. They're solid contenders and have done well in the past.

Moving on--I took a mini break from ALL writing for a few days. I hung out with a friend and went to the Huntsville Museum of Art. It was lovely. I had a great lunch, viewed some amazing exhibits, and deepened my relationship with a new friend. I also went to the state theater competition to watch my daughter's school drama team perform their one act play--so funny-- and they placed BEST IN SHOW and are going to the regional competition in March 2012 in Chattanooga. I'm looking forward to that trip.

So now I'm sort of back in the chair. I have a few stories to polish, one to really polish, and more to do during the month of December. I am not going to push as hard and work as many hours as I usually do, but I am going to work. At least 100 words a day on the weekends and 2-3 hours of writing during the week.

Meanwhile, I promised to air some dirty laundry on today's blog. Here we go:

1. I am nice to everyone I meet, but I don't like everyone I'm nice to. I've just learned to be nice and keep my opinion private and my attitude in public squeaky clean.

2. Sometimes I want to throw in the towel *cliche alert* and just be a mom, a wife, a friend, a sister. I hate that I am working for quarters and I hate that I am always waiting for someone to determine my fate. It's tough. Really tough. But I don't give up because my stubborn side is stronger than my impatient side. So I'm stubborn.

3. The difference between me and a published author is one phone call or email. I put in the same amount of time and the same effort. I think I am a decent writer and if I had an editor to back me, I'd become a better writer overnight. I respond well to direction. I know plenty of published authors who remember being on my side of the fence and who don't think they're better than me as a person because one day the phone rang and they got a contract. I know of a few, a minority, who do think they can treat me differently because they're published and I'm not. And they are not nice about it at all. Of course, I'm nice to everyone I meet. Even them. *evil grin* Any rate, I am a career writer, not a hobbyist. I take this writing gig very seriously. Ask my friends who want to see me or talk to me when I am in full writing mode. They miss me.

4. I am sad that my husband is out of town for 3 weeks during the holiday season. However, I am not sad that I don't have to cook meals for him. I am living on weight watchers frozen meals for lunch and dinner unless I go out with a friend. I am on a diet. This is good. I lost a pound and a half since he's been gone. Yay!

5. I like my wine. I don't limit myself to one chaste glass or two if I'm feeling wild. I drink however much I please whenever I like after a certain time and if I am in a nice restaurant for lunch I'll *gasp* order a glass of wine to go with my meal. I believe it is the only vice I have left to dump and I'm not dumping it.

6. Being alone has its benefits.

7. I know a lot of people but I don't have many close friends. The friends I have are all super high quality people.

8. I don't like to waste my time with idle chit chat unless I'm with people I don't really know very well. Then I am the Queen of Idle Chit Chat.

9. I am very loyal but if someone betrays me I will sever the relationship. I don't hold grudges, but I won't let anyone stomp all over me or use my vulnerability against me.

10. I am a strong person who has had to fight hard for every thing she's gotten in life, but I don't believe I deserve what I have received. I believe I got lucky and that my God is very good to me. And deep down I am just as scared and vulnerable as the person sitting next to me.

So that's my dirty laundry. What's yours?

Thanksgiving Week Break

2011-11-21T08:19:00.000-06:00

It's Thanksgiving week and I have much to be grateful for--my health, my family, my ongoing pursuit of my goals.

I'm taking this week off to finish writing my fourth Golden Heart entry, prepare for Thanksgiving feasting, and decorate for the Christmas holiday.

I'm planning lots of adventures during the month of December. Travel to fun places, another trip to a Tennessee winery, pampering myself after a hard two months of writing, writing and MORE writing. I'm so excited to start posting about these adventures next week.

The last Golden Heart entry must go out by the 30th--overnight mail. I'm not sure how good it will be, but it ups my chances for two of my other entries which I think are strong. I enter the Golden Heart because it is a great way to push out a new story and a great way to force myself to write a synopsis. Finaling is a bonus that I would love to happen -- who wouldn't want to be in that golden circle? But to be honest, I'm more interested in generating stories that will sell one day.

Everyone who finals deserves to be there. Everyone who doesn't final should not believe that they didn't deserve to be there. I've read a lot of wonderful entries as a judge and many did not final. So there you have it--one entry must have many kind judges who read the story without prejudice and malice and are receptive to the story.

This is subjective.

But I digress. I'm back in my writing dungeon and I'm working hard. See you all in December!!

Happy Thanksiving :-)

Retro Blog--Happy Birthday to My Dad

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. He passed away in 2002 after a battle against cholesterol disease which stripped his body of good veins and weakened his heart. He had a joie de vivre that I believe he passed on to my brother and me. I remember his attitude about life. Enjoy it!

Here is the blog I wrote about my dad on his birthday a year ago.

I hope you enjoy reading it again.

Cheers Dad! May your glass always be full and may your paintings inspire the angels.

BICHOK & Body Moving--I'm Just Not that Interesting

2011-11-16T00:01:00.007-06:00

I've been in contest prep land for over a month. I entered two different contests with four different manuscripts in each contest. I am not sure if I'll final, but I always like to enter contests because they give me deadlines. And if I do final, I have a positive affirmation about my writing. If I final in the Golden Heart then I have a fun networking time to look forward to, but I'm not going to count on the Golden Heart. I am putting together kick a$$ partials and querying them long before those results are in. I want a contract. I want to draw attention to my name and prove to my favorite publishing house that while I am waiting to hear from them about my revise and resubmit, I have been busy writing new books for them.

So once the Golden Heart entries are out, I am putting together submission packages and query packages. I have lots and lots to do. This is my life. I know I'm supposed to be interesting in this blog and write about stuff that will draw in readers for my future publications, but the truth is my life is not so interesting right now. I'm BICHOK all the time and even my new kitten thinks I'm boring. She'll get used to it. I do take breaks and play with her.

But a writer can't be BICHOK all the time. BICHOK stands for BUTT IN CHAIR HANDS ON KEYS. This is usually the case. I'm a motivated and dedicated writer. I put in 3-4 hours or more per day to this career that is currently rewarding me with my own quarters. For every hour I write, I get a quarter. I also get a quarter for every deadline met and for every contest entry sent out. I am busy busy busy. Made over $30 last week!! Woot.

But if I'm not BICHOK I am taking care of myself. I made a decision to take care of my body and lose weight despite the fact that my thyroid is acting up all the time. (I have lost the same poundage 3 times now and I had hormonal help gaining it--not fun but that's the way my cookie crumbles). I tried the 4 Hour Body diet. Fail. Epic fail. I had thyroid checked. It was wonko so went on better medication and tried another diet. Weight Watchers. Doing well on it. I have stopped counting points every day, but I have slowly lost 14 pounds since mid-July. I wish I could lose it without trying but that's not possible. In addition to dieting I have been going to the gym. A lot. I have worked out hard. I attend Zumba classes, I do a weight workout, and I do cardio machines. I also go for long walks. I even worked out with my friend when I went to DC. I ate what I wanted to eat, but I didn't gain any significant weight. What I did gain was lost as soon as I got home.

Right now I've hit another plateau, but I am determined to drop at least another 10 pounds. Wish me luck. It's Thanksgiving and cold weather season. A season where I'd rather eat and stay home and warm and cosy by my computer but I will prevail. I'm just like a lot of women who run households and empires. This is my life. Writing, working out, dieting, worrying, cooking, being a mom, being a kitty mom, being a wife.

I'm not that interesting. I just have a dream and a goal and hope that one day I will be published. Ask my kitten, Catadora Tonks. I'm just that lady who sits all day except when she takes a break to play with her kitty or go to the gym or buy groceries or cook a meal.

I'm an ordinary woman with a normal everyday life and my concerns are the same as other women in my age group. I have to diet and exercise. I have to go to the doctor and get all kinds of stupid tests that are not fun or pleasant because of my age, I have a graduating teen and she's great, but a lot of pressure is cooking. I'm an unpublished writer who wants to be published and believes one day it will happen about as often as she believes it won't happen. There are no guarantees.

I just write. That's what I love to do. I hope one day my books will be published and that they will interest my readers. In the meantime, I hope to stay relatively healthy and normal sized so I don't look weird at the book signings.

What's your life like?

Think You've Got No Time? Think Again.

2011-11-14T00:01:00.003-06:00

I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say "I'd write a book if only I had the time."

Hmmm. No time? Let me tell you something. If you have thirty minutes a day then you have time. What? You don't have thirty minutes? You're super busy? Hmmmmmmmmmm.... I bet you have a half an hour of time that is just wasted.

Think about it. Do you really use every minute of your day productively? Write down every meaningless task you do and how often you do it and for how long. Dillydallying on the computer? Internet Squirrels to chase? Answering emails first? Volunteering your time versus using your time to write? Answering the phone even if it isn't an emergency?

Okay, here's my story. A lot of people ask me how I do it all and keep it straight. My first answer is "I don't do it all." Check my bathrooms out as well as my floors. House is not spotless and it never will be spotless. I also don't work in what we writers call a Dreaded Day Job. Lots of published authors work DDJs or DNJ's and they have deadlines to meet. So not using my time during the day wisely is just wrong.

Oh, I could use it differently. I could have an immaculate house. I could have tons of social activities during the day to attend. I could volunteer ALL my hours away. I could shop and decorate on a dime. I could have other hobbies. I... well... I don't do it all. If I want to be a career writer, then I have to prioritize. So a perfect house which is perfectly decorated and pursuing all sorts of hobbies just aren't on my agenda.

Housework? I ask for help and if I don't get it, then the house goes to Defcom 102 and we all have to pitch in to clean because no one in my house likes it to get too dirty. Social life? Here I have virtually none--which is a problem because I am very social, BUT I digress. Here's the deal. I like to spend time with people who don't write, too. So I make sure that my evenings are clear. I don't write as much on the weekends, but then I don't have a pesky DDJ/DDN so I am lucky.

And here's another secret. I am scandalously unmoved by the ringing phone. Yes, it's true. I DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE. This is my biggest defense against time sucks. DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE UNLESS IT IS THE SCHOOL, THE HOSPITAL, THE DOCTOR--NOT FOR ANYONE DURING YOUR ALLOTTED WRITING TIME. That includes calls from neighbors who are wondering where you are or friends who want to gab and gab and gab. This doesn't mean that I never talk on the phone, I just plan my phone time around my writing schedule.

I don't answer the phone during my writing time unless it is my daughter's school calling, her, or my hubby. They are the important people. Well, hubby is often sent to voice mail and then I check it during my break (yup--MY BREAK) and see if it is important. Same goes for friends--unless it is a friend in another country--I will answer because of the time difference. But usually I just let the answering machine pick it up--in my case it's voice mail AND I have a phone voice announce out loud WHO IS CALLING so I know when to let it go to voice mail. I don't even have to get out of my chair to check the caller ID.

Cool right?

I do volunteer, but very sporadically. I help with my daughter's theater group and do some things with my local writing chapters. But I have even backed off the writing volunteer stuff because my daughter is graduating in 2012 and I want to have time with her. Plus senior year is just insane and there are a lot of holes to plug before the big graduation day.

Time is precious. And I spend time with people who are precious to me. So here's another secret: I don't let things like other people's expectations or the phone or the Internet own me. I am in charge of those things. I own my response. I own my time. I own my writing time.

YOUR WRITING TIME: OWN IT OR YOU WILL HAVE BLOWN IT.

Okay. Want one more secret? Use "downtime" productively. For instance, today I had to color my hair (I don't go to the salon unless I'm getting a cut or highlights or both. And that's rare these days). Roots were rearing and I needed to get my blonde going on before I forced my minions AKA my daughter and husband to help me clean this behemoth of a house. No point in sparkling up the bathroom if I throw dye down the sink.

So what's a girl to do while she waits for her blonde to set? Thirty minutes is a long time. Here's what I did while my hair cooked to it's "natural" blonde again.

*tidied up the living room
*cleaned the guest bathroom (company coming tonight for dinner)
*cleaned the kitty litter (must talk to the minions about this--not my turn but it smelled bad)
*loaded the dishwasher
*checked my voicemail
*called my husband to ask for info for the school
*called the school and gave the person info asked for in the voicemail
*emptied the garbage
*played with Tonks
*wiped out my sink so Tonks wouldn't lick errant hair dye particles

That's what I accomplished during the time my hair was becoming blonde again. Thirty minutes is a lot of time. You can write half a page in thirty minutes. You can work on getting the synopsis for your Golden Heart ready for thirty minutes.

Or you can write a blog about time and prep it for the following week so you have time to keep moving forward on your Golden Heart entry--which is exactly what I just did.

How do you spend your free time? Do you own your time? Or does time own you?

Happy Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T00:01:00.000-06:00

We are able to write and blog and tweet and be because of those who serve. In honor of them I am posting these pictures taken during my visit to Washington, DC.

Washington Monument

Korean Memorial--real people's pictures.

Ghost like sculptures with a wreath from the Koreans.

Lincoln Memorial.

Petra at the Lincoln Memorial.

Vietnam Memorial. Very moving. The only one where there were too many names to hand carve.

WWII Memorial.

Gorgeous fountain and war eagles and states in the background.

Women who serve in the field and home side.

Many sacrifices made and losses incurred.

The White House.

A Day in the Life of "Women"

2011-11-09T00:01:00.003-06:00

I'm a woman. But there comes with the term "woman" certain expectations, health issues, life issues. As they do for men, but men are more "compartmentalized." And women are well... we're quilts of this and that of life.

I'm writing this like patchwork quilt pieces because that is how my life is and how many of my female friends' lives are as we move about our daily lives. We are mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, workers, writers, movers, shakers, widows, orphans, caregivers, volunteers. We are bold, brave, beautiful, beyond intelligent, beyond courageous, beyond stressed, beyond all that is sent to us.

I am one woman. One girl. One daughter. One sister. One mother. One wife. One experience.

I am one woman.

Today as one woman I had a mammogram. Today as one woman I heard my daughter freak about a test score that ultimately won't matter. Today as one woman I was one mother. Today as one woman I talked to another mother who made me feel good about my motherhood. Just words. Just reassurances. Just a "we're not alone" talk. Today as one woman I learned I was not alone.

I read about other mothers. Other sisters. Other girls. Other wives. Other experiences. You can read about them, too.

Mary Lenaburg has a wonderful memoir about her life as a mom, wife, sister, friend. She's publishing her memoir about her life with her beautiful daughter in her blog Passionate Perseverance. It's real. It's honest. It's gritty. Read it. You'll be moved. Krista Phillips writes about One Woman's Dream. Her story will move you because she is also real, honest, gritty. Neither Mary nor Krista sugarcoat the truth with Pollyanna-isms. Read about these women. Read about their lives. Read about how they are "Women."

You, if you are a woman, are not alone. You don't have to pretend a strength all the time. You don't have to pretend a peace of all knowledge all the time. You don't have to be perfect and "on" all the time. You just have to be real. Be honest. Be truthful. Be a woman.

Today I lived my life as a woman. I woke up my teen. I made lunch. I fed the kitties. I wrote. I drove to the Wellness Center. I saw pictures painted about Pink Ribbon runs. I had a mammogram. I bared my body to another woman. I drove around afterward and completed meaningless, yet vital, woman errands. You know the kind of errands I'm talking about if you're a woman.

Today I lived my life as a woman. I saw clouds float across the Alabama clear blue skies. I saw traffic slow to a crawl. I made dinner. I ate with my family. I was a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a woman.

I was a woman who knows how much and how little so much means dependent upon where I am as a woman.

Where were you today?

Break Out the Bubbly & Dark Chocolate--Celebrating Anne Gallagher's Debut Novel THE LADY'S FATE

2011-11-07T06:50:00.000-06:00

I'm delighted to introduce you to a dear cyber world friend and debut author Anne Gallagher. I met her through her fantastic blog called THE PIEDMONT WRITER. She's a Regency and Women's Fiction writer. I am thrilled to announce that she's taken her work and independently published her story. This is fast becoming a new way to achieve one's dreams and goals. I asked Anne to share her experiences as a writer and as an indie author with us today. I hope you enjoy meeting her and learning about her writing life and publishing experiences. *Pop* Heres' to Anne!

Welcome Anne, I'm so glad you could come visit the Veranda today. How did you end up becoming a writer?

Truthfully, I’ve always written, since I was a teenager. But it was always sporadic. I’d find some time, scribble a few thousand words, and let it go again. I was in the restaurant industry all my life, but after my daughter turned three and we moved down to North Carolina, the economy collapsed and I couldn’t find a job to save my soul. I had to “do” something, so a serious writing career was born.

I remember dabbling in writing when I was a teenager. Funny how life brings us back to our dreams! What is your favorite genre to write?

I love historicals, Regency in particular, but I also like dabbling in women’s fiction. It lets my mind unwind after doing so much research.

I love reading historical and Regency novels, but writing them does take a lot of research. When you write are you a plotter or do you follow the muse?

I outline in my pants, as it were. I let the muse take me where he wants to go until around page 100. Then I find I really need to detail chapters so I can find the end.

After all that hard work of plotting and meandering through the pages, how do you relax after a writing day?

I don’t actually relax August through May – during the school months. My daughter takes up a lot of time, naturally. My serious relaxation occurs over the summer. I tend not to write as much, I read a lot more, I lay around the pool.

I remember the lazy pool days with my daughter. Enjoy and treasure them. When you are reading, what are your favorite genres? Who are your favorite authors?

Tough questions. I’ll basically read anything as long as it’s not scary or gory. Favorite authors: Barbara Kingsolver, Anita Shreve, Dan Brown, Lisa Kleypas, Jo Beverly, Peter Mayle, Dominic Dunne. Oh yeah, and Jane Austen.

Classic authors and fabulous writers. What is your current project?

I'm finishing up THE DUKE’S DIVORCE and THE LADY’S MASQUERADE. I always have to work on two at the same time.

I admire you for working two at a time. I can revise and fix other books when I am writing, but writing two new books? Not capable. Do you have any new releases?

I’m hoping to get the aforementioned out before Christmas. At least one of them anyway. And REMEMBERING YOU (contemporary women’s fiction) should be released within the next few weeks.

Yay! I'll be looking for them. Where do you get your ideas for your stories?

The historical series started with a chat in an English garden and morphed from there. My women’s fiction always comes from somewhere in my real life.

Yes, nothing is sacred in real life for me either. What is the most difficult part about writing for you?

I would have to say revisions after my critique partners have had a go through the manuscript. I tend to balk at their suggestions, but I usually realize after a time, they’re right.

Ah, revisions. They can be tough because they mean cutting our "little darlings." How long were you trying to get published before you decided to self-publish?

Two and a half years. Three books, lots of rejections, but quite a few requests as well.

Wow, that's tough. What were your greatest challenges in preparing the book for publication?

Formatting for sure, was the hardest. I’m not computer literate and had no clue Word could do so much. Up until about 3 years ago, I was still writing on a typewriter. You can imagine what that was like. And not wanting to “break” my computer, I just opened the document and typed. I had no idea I could set my own margins, paragraph indents, line spacing, and so forth. Talk about a Luddite.

Oh, the formatting would be tough for me, too. What advice would you give writers considering independent publishing?

Think about the marketing. I know most of us writers are introverts and shy away from publicity, but it needs to be done. Even if you end up with a traditional publisher, there will always be marketing that you will need to do on your own. Get a firm grip on that before you even upload. It will make your life a lot easier to have a plan in place before you go “live”.

That's a wonderful tip for all writers and future published authors. Are you still querying agents and publishing houses?

Not now. I do have another women’s fiction that I will query when it’s finished. Having an agent has always been a goal of mine, it’s just been set to the side for the nonce.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Keep on writing. Find partners, readers, exchange work. Read writing manuals, write some more. Learn how to take criticism, learn how to revise, learn how to edit. Write some more. Bad writing can only get better with practice. You don’t write a bestseller right out of the gate. It takes lots and lots of practice.

"Bad writing can only get better with practice" is a very good bit of advice. What encouragement can you give writers who face rejection?

Don’t take it to heart. This business is very subjective. Agents, editors, and publishers know what they like, just like readers. Just because they reject you, doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. It could mean one of a thousand other things that have nothing to do with your book. And keep on writing. Keep on trying.

What encouragement can you give writers who wish to self-publish?

Make sure the book is the absolute best it can possibly be. Take advantage of your critique partners and beta readers. Find others who don’t write in your genre to give it a look as well. Copy edit, line edit, make sure it’s perfect before even attempting to publish independently You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Excellent advice. What is the most surprising thing you discovered after you began marketing your book?

That people do really want you to succeed. I’ve been so humbled in the last couple of weeks by all the warm well wishes. It brings tears to my eyes.

Thank you Anne for sharing your story. I'm very excited about your future publications. Here is a blurb from THE LADY'S FATE which is available on Smashwords and Amazon.

Gorgeous Cover!!

Lady Violet Flowers has only one Season to find a husband. Raised in the Queen’s household, Violet is elevated in rank, yet overlooked by society for having no dowry. Violet is petrified she’ll bring disgrace to her mother’s name in not making a good match, if any.

The widowed Marquess of Haverlane needs to find the perfect nanny for his beloved daughter, Jane. Fortunate for Haverlane, when the very plump, but very pretty Lady Violet rescues Jane from almost drowning, the solution to his problem stands before him. Ensconced at his country estate, Haverlane and Violet’s only means of communication is through correspondence, which leads to an amiable affection.

Also available by Anne Gallagher

Unwilling to think of Violet as more than a nanny, a surprising Christmas kiss compels Haverlane to look at her in a whole new light, and she at him. However, Parliamentary demands made upon his time keep them both a safe distance from temptation.

Catadora Tonks and Her Purrfect Day

2011-11-04T00:01:00.003-05:00

Cat in a Box

Well, I wasn't going to get another fur baby, but famous last words. As many of my followers know, along with my friends, after two months of mourning the DFC, I caved to the lure of a sweet baby who was bound for the pound. I couldn't say no to this kitten. And honestly? I am so glad I said yes. Catadora Tonks has brought life and laughter and love into our home.

She is a light, creamy orange kitten with no white. She is completely buff and and has perfect markings. She is tiny. Super tiny. The vet said she has a baby personality. She is "sweet & adorable all the time." That pretty much sums up Tonks. She is MY baby, but she plays with and purrs with and cuddles with anyone who wants to hold her and be with her.

She is beyond cute. And beyond funny. Here are some highlights of Catadora Tonks during her perfect day:

Tonks with her favorite toy.

*cat mommy wakes up. Tonks is ready to play. Tonks bounces all over the bed, like Tigger, bop bop bop from mound to moving hand under the blankets. Oh, what a fun and amazing toy is this bed with humans in it.

*time to eat. bop bop bop to the kitty litter and food bowls in the humans' master bedroom bathroom. Oh joy!!

*bounce to the kitchen, investigate the spigots, get some water sprayed on her fur to get off counter, bounce to another place, play with orange mouse-like toy

*cat mommy is boring. She is in front of the computer in her office, typing. Tonks must investigate. She chews the corner of the laptop, bounces to the cords. Shoot more water to dissuade. She plays under special cat toy, she bounces to the printer area and hides in the paper. Chews more cords. Gets squirted. She jumps on chair and sleeps.

*Whew, what a tough morning. Time to watch cat mommy exercise. Oh, nibbling her nose and chin and hair while cat mommy tries to do push ups is fun. Oh, reverse squats mean legs to chase. More FUN!

*eat, watch cat mommy take a shower, lick cat mommy's feet when she steps out of the shower (just in case she missed a spot), then try to jump on the bathroom counter to check out what cat mommy is doing while she gets ready for her day. Mommy helps. Check spigot. Lick the sink. Yuck. Jump into cat bed, groom self and watch cat mommy blow dry her hair and put on makeup. We are getting ready together.

*sleep

*chase Mischief and ask her to play. Get hissed at. Run and hide. Try again.

*cat mommy boring again. More computer stuff. Lay on mommy's lap. Sleep and purr (really loud). Snuggle. Bring toy to play with during mommy's break. Ask for water. Ask for food. Sleep again.

*everyone's home. Chase Mischief again. Get hissed at. Run away. Do it all again. Act naughty. Get sprayed. Go lay with Cat Daddy on his recliner. Take a nap with him.

*chase Mischief, eat, play around, be silly. Meowyawn. Time for bed. Lay next to cat mommy. Sleep till hungry. Start purring really loud. Nibble on mommy's nose. Mommy carries Tonks to the food and water. Eat. Drink. Go back to bed. Sleep. Nibble mommy's nose two more times. Mommy puts hands in front of her face. Alarm! Time to get up!! Time to get playing all over again.

Wouldn't you think you hit the jackpot if you were Tonks?

Endings Mirror Beginnings--The Dowager Feline Clancy's Last Lesson

2011-11-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

I am finally able to write about my beloved Dowager Feline Clancy. I didn't think I could share how much she meant to me, but I can now that I have time and perspective. One thing I have learned about writing is that my books always have endings that mirror the beginnings. They end happily and they reflect the growth of the main characters.

As hard as it was to say goodbye to my DFC, I feel our goodbye did reflect the growth of our own characters over the past 19 years. She did grow up with me. She watched me become a mother, a writer, a fully actualized woman. I watched her become a loyal, sweet, feisty fighter who gave the best of herself to our family despite the many changes in our lives. Our ending mirrored our beginning. We started with love and we ended with love. And I believe in my heart that we will see each other again just across the Rainbow Bridge.

First of all, Clancy was a kitten. Sweet, loud, small, a bit of a pee pee cat, but always sweet. She was a true Tourtie and had a bit of a squeamish personality, but we all loved her. We got her when she was 7 weeks old. She was loud and she was feisty. My husband heard her first. So she was eager to be picked. And we did. After we picked her, she became quiet.

Oh, she was quietly naughty. She pee'd in inappropriate places, she was silly, and she was inordinately jealous of my daughter after she was born. Eventually, DFC made her peace with my daughter and all her friends. She was also inordinately good at adjusting. Dowager Feline Clancy was my faithful companion. She was my comfort through 3 miscarriages--a constant purring reminder that life does go on despite my immense grief. She was my happy hour buddy--she got me every day at 5P and sat on my lap, and she was so much my writer cat. Every day Clancy would come to me and sit quietly while I worked. She'd watch my words cross the screen, her paws on the laptop and her eyes moving left to right with each new line being laid down. My sweet muse.

And she was silent. Never meowed unless hurt or hungry or thirsty. She just purred. A lot. This cat was very happy and content with us.

We moved 3 times with Clancy. She put up with TN, VA and AL. She tolerated my daughter. She grew to have a grudging respect for my daughter's cat Mischief. She played with Mischief even in her old age. Every night she'd come to bed and sleep on the pillow above my head. She was a shadow, a feline sister, a gentle spirit.

I loved her. And when she first came down with illness I was in denial. She was strong. Stalwart. And still quiet. But renal failure had hit her. Soon she was very noisy. First for me, second for food, third for water. Eventually her life ebbed away. Still, we hung on. Clancy was my baby. I wanted her to show me when she was ready, but I wanted to hold on to her for as long as possible. I couldn't bear the idea of her dying. And I think I cried myself through every other loss I'd had through the years again and again. I shed so many tears that my soul became a parched wasteland. Then she dropped to such a low weight and she was so sad and she had no desire to be with us because she hurt. But still she had her feisty self: she'd fool me into believing she had more time with the jump to the chair in the sun on the veranda, the purr in my arms, the sweet nature that made her mine.

And oh it was so hard.

Finally, she was unable to be herself. She was unable to be a cat with us. She was unable to be a part of our family. And I had to make the hard decision. The decision that still brings tears to my eyes. After years of silence, I had to hear her cry. Had to hear her beg. Had to hear her ask me to let her go. And my god it was the hardest plea to hear. I didn't want to hear it. I wanted to bring my Clancy back. My sweet DFC. But I couldn't.

So we three, The Physicist and the Teen and I went to the vet. We had to say our goodbye. I don't know how I could say it without my family with me. I don't know how I could have survived this goodbye without them by my side. My darling DFC, her paws on my shoulders and my head to her forehead. My words to her. For her faithful companionship. For her love. For her gift of being with me through the greatest years of my life. We had our sweet goodbye. A sad and yet proper goodbye for she was my good and faithful companion.

My darling DFC taught me how to love. She taught me how to live. She taught me how to say goodbye. She taught me how to love again.

For Clancy. My kitten, my cat, my DFC. May we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge. May you watch my words cross the screen again. And may your capacity to love help me in all my endeavors.

Halloween Memories from Tot to Teen

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is the last year my darling Teen will be home for Halloween. Oh, the memories we've made through the years. The costumes, the school parties, the candy, the parade of tots becoming children and walking into teen shoes. Now those teens are becoming young adults and walking away to university or to college or to wars.

But we all celebrate Halloween in our own ways as adults, too. First by attending parties and acting ridiculous and then by becoming parents and reliving our youth. Plus there's always the ready excuse to eat the candy that doesn't get given away. I'm trying to remember the costumes over the years--and the events.

Here are some highlights:

*First Halloween-a month a bit old. I think I dressed her up in a ladybug costume.
*2nd Halloween-13 months old and she was Nala with whiskers and ears. I got her pajamas that we used as a costume. She slept in them for a long time.
*A parade of Disney princesses for the next few years. Her first, and her daddy's first, pumpkin carving experience at 3 years old. Oh, I still have the photos of them carving the faces while outside on the driveway. So adorable. Such love in Daddy's eyes and such patience, too.
*Most funny princess was when she was Belle in her gold ball gown. I drew eyebrows on her face because she had such blonde hair you couldn't see her brows. Looked hilarious.
*butterfly wings and a painted face in 2nd grade
*Hershey's Kiss-twice
*A bride to a short groom with her 10th grade friend. Found her dress at the thrift store and paid $20 for it.
*Parties-Girl Scout parties, school parties, home parties, friend parties
*walking around the block with her daddy while I gave away the candy at home
*More carving pumpkins, elaborate detailed pumpkins which we lit up every year
*Jeremy-her tiny pumpkin that she refused to throw away long after Halloween ended.
*Jeremy becomes a tradition
*Halloween movies, mazes, haunted houses
*She giving away candy to the little ones and getting gooey about how cute they are
*Me getting all gooey about how much my darling Teen has grown up.

Halloween*Kids*Memories

What are your favorite Halloween Memories?

DC Memorials

2011-10-28T05:54:00.000-05:00

I have had a great time with my friend Petra during my trip to DC. We've eaten at amazing restaurants, gone on winery tours, visited the Shenandoah Mountains, and toured the Memorials in DC. All of my adventures would not be happening had it not been for the brave men and women who serve my country and who served my country in the past. It is beyond moving to see people at the Korean, Vietnam, WWII Memorials taking rubbings, leaving letters, posing with their loved ones as a memorial to their own families. Martin Luther King's Memorial also moved me in that it displayed how we also have had to fight within our own borders to give all people their rights. Are we there yet? No. But we have definitely come a very long way. Imagine seeing the Martin Luther King Memorial juxtaposed next to the Lincoln Memorial and next to the Roosevelt Memorial.

As I read the quotes on the memorials I realized that those words ring true today. I realized that what made my nation strong once still rings true today. I realized that after each and every war, whether on foreign soil or here at home, our nations leaders abhorred war, wanted peace, and wanted no more conflict.

Though conflicts still exist, though our nation faces so many trials, though we have no idea what tomorrow will bring, I cling to Roosevelt's words, Martin Luther King's words, the words of those who thanked us, the words our children will say tomorrow.

Freedom isn't free...

Why I Love Northern Virginia--A Picture Blog

2011-10-26T00:01:00.012-05:00

Me and Petra at Hillsboro Vineyard in Northern VA.

I'm back in DC visiting my dear friend and celebrating her milestone birthday. I lived in the Northern Virginia area for over 9 years. I love the vineyards, the museums, the variety, the restaurants, the zany political atmosphere, the monuments... I believe this is the best place I've ever lived and I've lived in a few pretty amazing places. I came here to do all things my friend and I used to do over the course of a year IN A WEEK.

First day? We visited a local wine store and had a FREE wine tasting. We walked in gorgeous Vienna, VA and had a lovely dinner at a fun restaurant called DOGFISH. Seriously great food at great prices. Mucho thanks and XXOOs to my friend's hubby who treated me. Second day? Well, pictures tell it all. Wineries, food, chilling. Can't beat this area for fun stuff to do for young and old alike.

Here is my slide show of all my fun in Hillsboro, VA and the surrounding countryside.

Confessions of a Wannabe Published Author on Petit Fours & Hot Tamales

2011-10-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm blogging over at Petit Fours & Hot Tamales today. Come on over and say hi.

Post It or Forget It--My Reminder Wall

2011-10-21T07:45:00.000-05:00

I have a very good memory, but I am also very visual and need concrete reminders about what to do as a writer, mother, friend, wife. If I don't see it, I often don't do it. My CINC House (Commander in Chief of Household) notes are pretty typical. I have a fridge with a grocery list, an in-box where all my important daily papers go, 3 binders holding household info, medical info (ugh), and Darling Teen info which I maintain. I also have a calendar with all our important appointments which hangs on the fridge. And finally I have my weekly to-do list in a spiral notebook which has my writing tasks and my CINC House tasks written down. This works for me. Sometimes things slip through the cracks (like my Darling Teen's Spanish 2 final but that's fixed now--I hope), but that's life. And honestly, sometimes I just ignore the task--it keeps moving to the next page and the next week till I get sick of writing it down.

My writing world had different kinds of notes. I'm a Post-it note girl and an Index Card Girl. I am so into my Post-its that when I am a published author that is what I'm going to giveaway as a promotional item. I got a Post-it stack from author Sharon Archer when I won her book THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGE. I love them. They have her name and her information on the top left corner and a beautiful photo indicating her genre--Medical Romance. Can you guess what the picture is? If you do, I'll send you a gift card from Starbucks. Not only are Sharon's Post-its appreciated, I also appreciated reading her book. She's a wonderful writer with a great eye for detail, an excellent melodic voice, and compelling characters.

The wall behind my laptop is covered with reminders, inspiration, and craft information. Right now the following notes are on my wall:

*Golden Heart entries with two checks to indicate payment for the first two entries (I have four to enter and want to spread the financial pain).
*Character Reaction Order of Events: 1-physical, 2-thought, 3-dialogue, 4-purposeful action. BE VIVID. This is my quick & dirty cheat sheet for writing visceral, deep, and detailed character reactions.
*Motivation sentence (cause), Reaction Sentence (effect). Thank you James Scott Bell for that Q&D
*MP (midpoint) has to have a Moment of Grace. Hero/Heroine aware of moral premise.
*Recap Due for GIAMx4 (Goal in a Month) December 13th.
*Suzanne Johnson Interview Questions for March 2012 (debut author!!)
*Audience: who reads is very important. The world is waiting for me to get it right. LEARN PERSIST BE SERIOUS. COMMIT MASTER AND KEEP LEARNING. CHAMPION YOUR WRITING! BE A WARRIOR WRITER!
*Jennifer Greene: "Conflict is what the main character CAN'T walk away from..."
*12 Stages of Intimacy (won't detail that here LOL)
*WRITE THE BOOK YOU WANT TO READ
*Straight Contemporary Authors to read--Robin Kaye, Melanie Milbourne, Melinda Curtis--recommendations from Margie Lawson (who is an awesome teacher)
*My Yahoo email address and login password
*Dates for my final two Petit Fours & Hot Tamales blogs (Yikes, one is due to be posted tomorrow)
*Enid Blyton (I read her books when I was a kid and I keep meaning to hunt them down)
*Query Tracker login and user name
*blogger username/login
*Disney ID (I can dream of going again and again and again)
*my RWA #
*Tami Cowden's FROM LUST TO LOVE worksheet
*Michael Hauge's 6 Stage Plot Structure Worksheet
*Latest blurb for next book I'm writing THE MAVERICK'S RED HOT REUNION
*An email about editing and agents
*a quote from Donald Maass
*word count for a Golden Heart entry and a note to check spelling is same throughout document of a character's last name.
*an index card with notes about what to seek and destroy in ALL my manuscripts. Words like after, were, saw, was, etc. Checking transitions, modifiers, etc. (not that I always succeed).

On days when I am blue, I open my closet door and I read the Things That Make Me Smile list. On days when I feel like a hack who will never see her books get published, I open my closet door and read my list of accomplishments (which are not exclusive to writing). And on days when I feel uninspired, I open my closet door and look at my Hugh Jackman poster.

What's on your wall?

Life in Revision & Introducing Catadora Tonks

2011-10-19T07:36:00.000-05:00

Well I've been absent and missing in action in my cyber world for about 3 weeks. I occasionally have posted on the blog, but there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. Why? Two reasons. One is that I have new fur baby. I didn't think we'd adopt another kitten after I had to say goodbye to my beloved Dowager Feline Clancy, but on September 24th my daughter told me that a kitten born 7 weeks earlier was headed for the pound. She was one of 7 born to a stray cat. The people who'd taken in the stray and kittens couldn't keep them all and had found homes for 4 kittens. I had ONE day to make up my mind. I couldn't even go see her because I had a scheduled event I couldn't miss.

I sent Darling Teen in my place. The kitten was at a school friend's sister's apartment. She called me to tell me about the tiny fur baby and I said, "Bring her home to me." They drove home with this kitten in her friend's lap, a big cup of dry cat food and that was about it. I had 5 women at my house for a Ladies Night and I left them as soon as I heard the garage door opening. There she was, the tiniest little bit of cream puff fluff and scared as could be after a traumatic car ride. I took her into my arms and it was instant. The connection, the love, and the trust she had for me was immediate. So for her first night with us she stayed in my arms, was loved on, had a bed and litter box set up in our master bedroom suite and was welcomed home.

I called the vet immediately and scheduled an appointment for the following Monday. We spent a great deal of time keeping her separated from the Darling Teen's cat Mischief. Mischief is 10 and not the best tempered cat plus we didn't want either cat to get an illness before my kitty went to the vet. Still no name at this point. We spent a full two days batting around ideas. All were shot down. Finally we zeroed in on a Harry Potter themed name. But the kitten was female. Not a lot of cat sounding names in the female characters. We hemmed and hawed. We played around with Le Fleur's name. That didn't work. Finally we had an idea. Nymphadora Tonks, Lupin's wife and just a great character stood out. We ended up transforming the name to reflect our little feline. Catadora Tonks, Tonks for short, had a name.

In the weeks following our adoption of our itty bit of fluff, I've attended the Moonlight & Magnolias conference, revised three chapters for an agent request, wrote a brand new first chapter for the Mills & Boon New Voices contest only to miss the deadline due to my inability to subtract (grrr), and revised four manuscripts beginnings for the Linda Howard Award of Excellence contest. As soon as I finished the contest entries, I began preparing my Golden Heart entries. I will enter 4 manuscripts this year--including the new one which is not finished yet. First up, I worked on the synopsis for the TYCOON because that story is completely different due to the revise and resubmit for Mills & Boon. Ugh. Dreaded synopsis revealed a bit of a plot/story issue. Fortunately, I don't have to "fix" that yet. I revised the first 50 pages of TYCOON, tweaking it and strengthening it for the contest. I have two more to work on before I head out to D.C. on Saturday.

Basically I am in revision and contest hell, but it's all worth it because it is making me push the envelope. And when I am not busy writing and trying to keep up with the household stuff and my family, I am playing with my brand new sweetheart. Catadora Tonks is a delight and a joy. Always sweet, good natured and a cuddle bug. She loves to play so when I take a break from my writing, I get on the floor and get her chasing after feathers on sticks and balls with bells in them.

Life is busy, I am tired. Catadora Tonks wants to play.

I am happy. Busy, but happy. There are a lot of good things in store for me and my family. I want to enjoy my daughter this year--her last year of school before she graduates. I want to enjoy my new kitten. I want to enjoy my new friends. And I want to enjoy working hard to build my writing career. I want to expand time, find a million and one ways to do it all, but that's just not possible. This time of year is always crammed full of stuff to do--as a family and as a writer. Sometimes things have to go by the wayside.

What do you put on the wayside when life gets hectic? Can you really do it all? If you can, tell me how.

Break Out the Bubbly & Dark Chocolate--Celebrating Carla Swafford's Debut Novel CIRCLE OF DESIRE

2011-10-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

Fabulous Cover!

I am delighted to have a very special writing sister on the blog today. I met Carla Swafford 3 years ago at a Southern Magic Romance Writer's meeting. Carla's always been active in the group, a wonderful mentor, a contest coordinator for the Linda Howard Award of Excellence, our web mistress, and and and... she just helps all the time. She's a wonderful writer and a great friend, so I'm excited to announce that she's got her first book release coming out this week! CIRCLE OF DESIRE. And after reading her 4 1/2 star book review in Romance Times, I bet she'll have lots of books releasing in the future. A fabulous debut for a fabulous writer! *PoP* PouR* *Cheers!*

Welcome to the Veranda, Carla. Thanks so much, Christine, for the invitation to talk about my debut book, CIRCLE OF DESIRE.

I'm honored to have you here, Carla. Tell me, are you a plotter or do you follow the muse?

I wish I was a plotter. Maybe most who write by the seat of their pants feel that way. Though I do have to mention, when I reach the halfway mark in any of my books, I’ll often write out parts of what Blake Snyder (SAVE THE CAT) called his Beat Sheet. It’s fifteen “beats” to a story. For example: Opening Image, Theme Stated, Set-up, Catalyst, etc. Plus I use Michael Hauge’s Six Stage Plot Structure and Christopher Vogler’s THE WRITER’S JOURNEY to flesh out what I’ve written. This also pushes me to finish my book.

I have all three books in my writing shelf. Love to use them. Great reminder to dust off my craft books, Carla. When does your new book release and where can we find it?

My debut book, CIRCLE OF DESIRE, will be out October 18 by HarperCollins, Avon Impulse. It’ll be in e-format and later in paperback through print-on-demand. You can find it at Amazon and on-line at Barnes and Noble. Here’s the blurb for it.

As the top assassin at The Circle, a shadowy group of mercenaries, Olivia St. Vincent can hunt down anyone. She's been trained since she was a teenager to kill without feeling, to interact with men without love. But when she's kidnapped by the enigmatic leader of a rival organization, she learns she's been lied to for years. She never worked for the good guys.
Collin Ryker believes the sultry woman he's abducted knows more than she's telling about The Circle and its plans for complete domination. Over time, as they work together, Olivia's tenacity and vulnerability captivate him. But if he isn't careful, Collin will fall into the biggest trap of all: caring for a woman who can betray him to his greatest enemy.

Oh, this book sounds so thrilling, dark, and sexy. I can't wait to read it! What is your current project?

I’m actually writing the second book in the series, CIRCLE OF DANGER. It’s due out the first half of 2012. Like a lot of readers, I love to find out what happens to supporting characters from a previous book. This will be the story of Collin’s brother.

I love reading books in a series. Visiting my "people" again. Where do you get your ideas for your stories?

Oh, everywhere. From newspaper articles, TV shows, and my favorite way, from songs. I’ve written two books (unpublished) that were based on songs: THE PREACHER’S SON is from LeAnn Rimes’s “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way.” I loved the beginning and ending of the song in particular. It goes “Got a date a week from Friday with the preacher’s son. Everybody says he’s crazy.” And it ends, “Got a date a week from Friday with the preacher's son. Everybody says I’m crazy.” Love it!

The other one was A SHERIFF TO CALL HER OWN and it was based on an Eric Clapton classic, I Shot The Sheriff. The heroine shoots the sheriff in a fit of rage. Thankfully it was only a nick, and he’s very understanding. It was so much fun to write. Maybe one day they’ll be published.

When it comes to CIRCLE OF DESIRE, it came from my love for the TV series from the 90s, Le Femme Nikita. The characters in the series had so many layers, and the show was so sexy even when no one was naked.

I hope your other books get published, too, Carla. How long were you trying to get published before you got the “call?”

I’ve been a member of RWA since 1993, but my usual answer is nine years. Let me explain. Though I received my first rejection in 1992, I waited ten years before trying again. Like a lot of writers, family obligations and a day job got in the way. Then in 2002 after several more rejections, I turned to my local RWA chapter, Southern Magic, to find out what I was doing wrong. I quickly realized I had so much to learn about writing and the industry. Everyone should go to those meetings. You’ll hear what editors are looking for, which agents to avoid, how to pitch your manuscript, and so much more. There’s a wealth of information given out that you can never learn on your own.

I completely agree about the romance chapters being crucial to getting ahead in this business. My writing soared after I joined RWA. Attending the meetings is vital to developing craft, networking, and making friends who "get us." Tell me, was the “call” an actual phone conversation or an email or a snail mail?

The initial contact was by email. A few minutes after five in the afternoon, I was about to leave work to go to a hair appointment. Since I wouldn’t be home until late, I decided to check my email. I noticed one of the subject lines read, “Out of the Shadows” (later changed to CIRCLE OF DESIRE). At first, I thought it was something to do with one of the writing contests I’d entered. I swear it took me a minute or so before I realized what I was reading. Avon Impulse wanted my book, and the editor wanted to call me if it was convenient. CONVENIENT? Heck, yes! It was so exciting. I rate it up there with holding my children for the first time. Not higher, but pretty close to equal. My kids might read this. :-)

Well, our books are like our babies, aren't they? So wonderful to see all your hard work rewarded! What advice would you give aspiring writers?

I have lots of advice as I had aspired for years. So my top five: 1) Don’t give up; 2) Keep it simple; 3) Learn everything you can; 4) Be polite to everyone; 5) Follow your heart; 6) Pass it forward (help others to become published even when you’re not). Karma can play a role in getting you published.

Yes, helping others and being polite are so important. And I'd add another one, remember to say "thank you" to those who've helped along the way. Which I know you do! What encouragement can you give writers who face rejection?

Anything worth having is hard to attain. Of course, there is always that author friend who had their first book published. They’re the exception and not the rule. Overall, if we want something bad enough, we’ll keep working, keep trying something new and keep improving on our craft. That rejection can mean many things. It may have nothing to do with your writing. The editor may have just bought a story with the same basic plot line. Or she may not like stories with witches or heroines with pets. Editors and agents rarely have time to give you details. If you continue to get rejections for one story, write another and start sending that one out after you finished and have it critiqued.

Excellent advice. What is the most surprising thing you discovered after you received the call?

That everyone won’t bow down and kiss my feet. I just don’t understand it. LOL!

This is why I love you, Carla. You're make me laugh and I'm so happy for you!! Congratulations again on your wonderful debut release CIRCLE OF DESIRE!

You can find Carla at the following addresses online. I know she'd love to hear from you. Meanwhile join the excitement all week with Carla. She has a blog tour that starts today and ends on October 25th. On the 25^th she’ll draw names from all the commenters for 4 prizes. $25 Amazon gift certificate from Avon Impulse. And 3 $10 gift cards to Barnes and Noble. One prize per winner. I know I'll be following her all week. :-)

www.carlaswafford.com

http://carlaswafford.blogspot.com

Twitter: @carlaswafford

www.goodreads.com/carlaswafford

http://www.facebook.com/CarlaSwaffordAuthor

Do the Math--Or Lose Your Chances

2011-10-10T13:24:00.000-05:00

I've been missing in action for a while. That's because I've been working on a submission for an agent and pulling together my Mills & Boon New Voices entry. I got both tasks done in record time. I'm proud of myself, but guess what folks? I am lousy at dealing with time change numbers. I missed the deadline because I thought it was midnight their time (UK).

Won't lie. I am sad. I cried. I don't cry very often, but I was so very proud of the work and the story. What to do? I considered posting it here, but that would be silly. I want to query the editors and see if they'll take my story from the slush pile.

Meanwhile, I'm cooked and golden like a goose for the rest of the day. I think I shall pour an early glass of wine and have a tiny pity party.

Tomorrow I write again.

Breaking through Stereotypes and Labeling

2011-09-28T08:14:00.000-05:00

As a writer, I try to break through stereotypes and labels. I don't want to write about cookie cutter people because the world is filled with snowflakes of people. We're individuals. Sure, we might look for like minded people to play with, but life is so much more interesting when we step out of our comfort zones and get to know people from all walks of life. I don't lump people into a box and say that is who they are, I try to get to know them based on their character, their ideas, their passions.

That is how I've raised my daughter. Yesterday she came home with a taste of being labeled and she was angry. Very angry. She is a theater/drama student. She loves performing and has participated in many musicals, plays, Improvs and choir performances. Performing is as natural to her as writing is to me. She eats, lives, breathes theater and the arts. Her peers come from all walks of life and are also very talented individuals. Yet, the 2011 Yearbook treated them as a stereotypical bunch of shy, scared kids and they had to share a page with the choir kids.

Homecoming got 2 or 3 spreads. Sports? Don't get me started on the bias of PRO sports in this area. And the worst part? She felt like they were portrayed as geeks and losers, not winners. And my kid is no loser. She is in the top 50 of her 800 2012 class. She is not afraid to embrace the challenge and the thrill waiting for her after she graduates. She's is one of tomorrow's leaders. So are many of her peers.

I was offended. As was her father. The sports, homecoming, snow days received better attention. I thought long and hard about it, discussed the situation with my daughter, and finally decided to contact the yearbook teacher about this inadequate coverage. Below is an edited version of my letter.

September 28, 2011

Dear XX:

My daughter is a XX High School Theater Advanced Production student. She is part of an outstanding group of approximately 300 young people at XX High School who are as dedicated to honing their craft on the stage as a football player is dedicated to winning the Homecoming game. However, unlike an athlete at XX HS, her theater and choir groups were given very little space in the 2011 Yearbook.

This lack of attention disappointed us, but we were more offended by the journalist’s portrayal of this diverse, multi-talented squad of actors and singers. She relied on stereotypes to describe the group by using words like “shy, crawling out of their comfort zones, breaking out of their shells” with an emphasis on overcoming “stage fright.” She also didn’t go out of her own “comfort zone” to discover the wide variety of students involved in the technical aspects of theater or the top student acting body in Mr. XX's Advanced Theater Production class.

Ms. XX, as a theater parent I can assure that I haven’t met many shy, retiring, scared kids who are only able to crawl out of their shells through theater arts. Just as a football player must overcome game day jitters, an actor or singer has to fight nerves to play a role on stage or sing a solo. I’m positive football players don’t want to be thought of as Jocks with no brains as is so often portrayed in the movies. I know my outgoing, bright and talented daughter doesn’t want to be labeled as a shy kid with theater as her only refuge.

Nor do her peers.

We’d like to believe the journalist did not intend to offend the theater/choir students with her portrayal. We know the Yearbook staff can do a better job for this diverse, talented class. In 2010, the choir and theater departments received individual spreads. In addition, the 2010 Yearbook did not use stereotypes to write the spreads. That journalist had an intimate understanding about the theater/choir programs because she participated in them.

Ms. XX, we sincerely hope that the 2012 Class of Theater and Choir students receive individual, honest, and fair spreads that showcase their diversity, talents and dedication to honing their craft and giving winning performances.

Have you ever had to break through a stereotype or a label? How did the label make you feel? What would you say to a person who labeled your child, your child's peers negatively?

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen's Mother

2011-09-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm confessing my motherhood sins over at the Petit Fours & Hot Tamales today. Come read all about it here.

Contests and Deadlines Oh My!

2011-09-19T07:02:00.000-05:00

I love writing contests. They force me to sit in the chair and get the job done. I've entered two different contests to push my *shiny* in front of the computer and get my manuscripts polished.

Four manuscripts are entered in the prestigious Linda Howard Award of Excellence contest. I'm polishing two of them and fine tuning the other two. I entered the Linda Howard Award of Excellence because Southern Magic is committed to excellence in first round and final round judging. I expect solid feedback and fairness from this contest that I can use to fine tune my WIPs for future submissions. I believe there is still time to enter the contest. If you're on the fence or worried about the costs, offer to judge the contest and get a $5 discount on your entry!!

I'm also officially entered in the Mills & Boon New Voices Contest. I haven't submitted my entry because I'm still polishing my chapter, but I've got the blurbs ready and a short one posted on the Mills & Boon Website. I'm super excited about the story. Last year I entered the contest with another story and I had so much fun. Even though I didn't win the Mills & Boon contest in 2010, I ended up writing a brand new story and it's placed 2nd in the 2011 FAB FIVE contest and has been requested. So I feel like I won by entering the contest.

This is why I enter contests folks. Yes, it's great to win or to final, but the reason I enter is to discover a new story, give myself deadlines, force myself to sit in the chair and see if my new ideas are going in the right direction.

But I am also careful about which contests I enter. There are some that don't match my writing style. Others may not have judges in the final round who fit my targeted line. Or I may have had a bad experience with the contest and have decided to put my money somewhere else. I usually enter 5-6 contests a year. I keep track of the finals/wins/placing and whether or not the final judge requested my material as a result of the contest. My spreadsheet helps me determine where to put my contest money.

For fun I am going to keep you posted on the Mills & Boon contest with little additional blurbs and bits of the story.

Here is my Mills & Boon short blurb for THE MAVERICK'S RED HOT REUNION:

Maverick Zach Tanner returns home to rebuild his dying friend’s resort, but he doesn't count on the woman he once loved to handle the construction contract. Now he's determined to satisfy his craving for Kennedy Gibson without losing his heart.

Here is my longer version which gives a bigger picture about the story:

Corporate Maverick Zach Tanner returns to North Carolina to rebuild his dying friend’s resort. He’s got the money, the power and the will to transform Sweetbriar Springs into a premier spa for the glamorous, but he doesn’t count on the woman he once loved and lost to handle the construction contract.

Construction company owner Kennedy Gibson is eager to bring her best friend’s last wish to life, but when she realizes Zach is her new boss she’s terrified he’ll learn the truth about their breakup. She denies the attraction sizzling between them and works with the one man she vowed never to hurt again.

Zach thought he’d buried his desire for Kennedy five years ago, but he’s still drawn to her. He’s determined to seduce her and satisfy his craving for her until the project is completed to get Kennedy out of his system.

Kennedy yields to Zach but protects her heart. When their friend dies, the barriers to their emotional union drop and they turn to each other for comfort. But Kennedy’s secret threatens to destroy their red hot reunion. Only the power of love can heal the wounds of their past and give them the future they deserve.

I love the longer version, but the trick to writing and submitting is to learn how to carve away the words to get to the heart of the story. I'll use both these versions to create different elements for my new story. I can build a synopsis out of version 2. I can build a query letter out of the 1st and 2nd versions. I can build a story out of a sentence if necessary.

This is why I write. I write to discover stories about two lost people who find each other and discover home. Love matters. Romance isn't dead. And I love Romance!

Do you enter contests? If not, what's holding you back? Tell me why you love or don't love contests.

Writers, Artists, & Doctors

2011-09-14T08:08:00.000-05:00

Well I missed Monday and I'm sorry. Life is just too insane right now. Between revisions, the teen, the house, the revisions, the craft, the .... the .... well, that's just how it is this week. I have to make my writing and my family life a priority, but I don't want to miss out on my cyber world either.

So hi!!

On Saturday I went to a wonderful all day workshop hosted by the Heart of Dixie at the Huntsville Library. I learned how to dress, how to behave, how to market, how to write a review and how to be excited about this industry from two fabulous editors from Romantic Times Magazine. This is an industry magazine that spotlights published authors and gives awesome book reviews in all sub-genres of the romance writing world.

Many thanks to Morgan Doremus and Stephanie Klose for taking the time to teach us this Saturday. I hope to see them again at an RT Convention when I am a published author. Additional thanks to Morgan for taking so many headshots of all the published and unpublished authors after the workshop. She was so kind and very enthusiastic. I felt like a published Mills & Boon author when she showed me the digital shot she thought was the best.

On Sunday I went to see the wonderful Cirque du Soleil show Dralion with my darling teen. Wow!!! Amazing show. We had seats center stage, but super high. We had a great view of the entire ground stage and the aerial stage. These performers are all artists with amazing strength, grace, humor, and agility. I highly recommend this show!! When it was over, we turned to each other and said, "What? It's over?" We were mesmerized by the constant feats of agility and theatrics. Truly, the eyes were never bored.

Monday arrived and with it the revisions. Sigh. This book is causing me all kinds of problems. But they are the good kind. I've just passed the "I'm a hack" stage and into the "if I work at it I might get a decent bit of prose written." Meanwhile, I've entered 4 manuscripts in the Linda Howard Award of Excellence contest and I'm prepping a chapter for the Mills & Boon New Voices contest. I love to add tension to my writing life, really. I do.

Today I'm off to the allergy doctor to get all kinds of testing done. I'm a little nervous, but also very excited to find out what else is causing me issues. I suffer from shellfish and insect allergies. I hate the food allergy worse than the bug allergy. I have found it difficult to eat outside of the home and there is a stigma attached to food allergies. I don't think people take food allergies seriously. And I've had to endure many unappetizing meals in restaurants I didn't want to eat in because they didn't properly separate shellfish from the other foods just so my companions could eat what THEY wanted to eat. My nervousness comes from the fear of the itchiness. I instantly go into high alert whenever I suspect an insect bite or reaction to food. My adrenaline pumps like mad, my fight and flight system kicks into high gear, and I panic. I have to talk myself out of reacting, calm myself down with deep breaths, and tell myself I'll be okay. Yes, I have an epi pen and Benadryl. So I know I can save myself if necessary.

But I am still very afraid.

After the allergy tests, I am heading home to tackle the dreaded revisions again. They take top priority after the kid and the king of the house. So I'll be backing off the blogging a bit. Popping in once a week to say hi and to share my life with you. Maybe more than once if I get some spare time.

How was your weekend? What do you do in your spare time? And do you have allergies, too? Share with me and let's chat.

Rainy Days, Reviews & Revisions

2011-09-07T07:43:00.000-05:00

I'm in full on revision mode. This book was a lot of fun to write and finish, but now the real work begins. Everyone has their own process and mine is that I have to write the story to figure out the story. Weird, I know, but I've learned to embrace this process and own it. I am writing cleaner first draft now, but much of what I throw down on the page is like an outline with complete sentences. Revision is taking the big picture, cracking it apart, restructuring pieces, omitting pieces, and building new pieces to create a stronger picture.

Revision is hard work. And it doesn't brook interruptions well. I'm eager to get the first half of the story nailed down. That means a little lighter blogging schedule and whole lot more writing real stories.

Meanwhile, life is busy. And it's rainy. We've had three days of rain and colder weather blow through Northern Alabama. This means football season, dressing in fun clothes, and tucking under blankets to read. I also kept up with the other blogs I'm contributing to during this month.

You can read about my adventures with going blonde on the Petit Fours & Hot Tamales Blog here. And if you want to know my take on suffering and how to respond to it, head over to the Romance Magicians and read about it here. Stay and play awhile. My sister bloggers have great blogs, too.

Monday was a super rainy and blustery day. The teen and I stayed home and read all day. I read Kerrelyn Sparks THE VAMPIRE AND THE VIRGIN from start to finish. It was a great, fun read and just the pick up I needed. I think you'll enjoy her books and her fun family of Vampires. Check her website out here. Right now I am reading Lexi George's book DEMON HUNTING IN DIXIE. Her characters are colorful, well-drawn out, and down right sizzling. Great book and great debut author. You can read about Lexi George's first time publication adventures on my Celebration blog here.

This week I have not written as much as I would like, but I have taken care of a teen, run the household by myself, taken the car into the dealership to replace the battery at Woody Andersen Ford, and continued taking care of myself. I've also emailed good friends, talked to my darling hubby via Skype and caught up with my dear sister friend via Skype as well. The time differences mean stopping my writing to talk, but sometimes real people are more important than fictional people.

I'm taking a break till next week Monday so I can get my revisions rolling. Plus I have a darling husband to welcome home after a long business trip so I'll want to spend time with him, too. So I'll see you next week.

Have a great writing week!!

I'm Blogging Over at Romance Magicians Today

2011-09-05T06:13:00.001-05:00

How do you respond to suffering?

Read my take on it over at Romance Magicians.

HEART OF DIXIE ONLINE WORKSHOP: Designed to Sell-How to Enhance Your Writing's Curb Appeal

2011-09-02T06:59:00.000-05:00

The Heart of Dixie chapter of RWA presents the online workshop:

Designed to Sell: How to Enhance Your Writing’s Curb Appeal

Instructors: The Grammar Divas

September 6-20, 2011

Cost: $20

FMI: www.heartofdixie.org

Description: In today’s buyer’s market, anything you can do to enhance your manuscript’s appeal puts you one step ahead of everyone else trying to sell. By taking a look at your writing with a fresh eye, you’ll discover ways to make the most of your writing’s appearance, readability, and impact. The Grammar Divas share episodes of popular writing improvement shows such as Dream Words, This Old Sentence, Extreme Makeover: Paragraph Edition, Trading Spaces, Fun Shui, and Designed to Sell. You leave the workshop with decorating ideas, remodeling projects, and prose improvements that can make your manuscript appealing to a potential buyer… an editor!

Bio:

Annie Oortman... Grammar wasn't Annie Oortman's first love (actually, it was a cute boy in her second-grade class named Henry Talley) or even her second (avoiding barn work). However, after getting an A for content but an F for readability on a third-grade book report, she learned having great ideas was one thing, communicating them well on paper another.

Annie became a disciple of the church of Proper Grammar and card-carrying member of The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar (www.spogg.org). Nowadays, she diagrams sentences for fun (yes, for fun), corrects her children when they say "I did good on the test" (I did well.), and argues with fellow grammar devotees on the acceptability of ending a sentence with a preposition (don't do it).

BTW, Annie is hoping to see her name on the cover of a fiction novel soon... very soon. (And, if you’re wondering, Henry Talley never even noticed Annie as he had a mad crush on blonde-haired, blue-eyed Libby Boxler.)

Darlene Buchholz... Darlene fell in love in the first grade with a boy named Neil. He shared his crackers and milk at recess after someone took her snack and never got caught. She’s loved romance and intrigue ever since. By the third grade, she discovered Nancy Drew mysteries and developed a great passion for perky heroines who drove convertibles (proof they were in charge of their own lives). She wrote her own one-hundred-page mysteries, giving the heroine a much better hero than wimpy Ned Nickerson, who seemed more fashion accessory than hero. What woman wouldn’t prefer a cowboy or a cop named…well, Neil, of course? Darlene never thought of grammar as a challenge. It was, instead, a tool to help her express the ideas she felt passionate about. She served as a peer mentor in junior high and high school. Becoming a high school English teacher was a natural for Darlene. She loved sharing ideas expressed in great literature and exposition. Now, family raised, Darlene has decided to write stories again. She writes romantic suspense, and sometimes her heroines drive trucks rather than convertibles. Her heroes are still cowboys and cops. She hopes to publish soon.

Toddlers, No Tiaras, & Vegas Resolutions

2011-08-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

I went to Vegas for my niece's wedding. She was married at Mandalay Bay. Gorgeous wedding. Gorgeous bride. Gorgeous family. I was honored to be part of the party and to stay at the special house she and family had rented in Vegas. Even better, this trip came after kind of a sad week for me. I had sort of gone down... down .... d o w n. And I don't often go down and stay there.

Just couldn't get back up. Every morning was a start with tears, with sorrow, with blues. And that's JUST NOT ME!! But I had good reason and I am glad I processed and grieved. BUT I needed a change of heart of mind of scene.

Enter Vegas!!

Vegas is NOT what I expected. It is like Disney World and NYC and New Orleans combined into one insane package of partying kids, gamblers, ne'er do wells, wedding peeps, old peeps, young peeps, and noise. A lot of noise.

I'm glad my niece selected a place AWAY from the strip. A mansion with more rooms and special appointments than I could possibly describe today. Later. Pictures. I promise. For today let me say that for me, this weekend in Vegas brought me out of my sad and into my glad. Why? Why Vegas?

Well first of all I met a lot of new people. Young people, older people, and a toddler. The toddler is my great nephew. He's full of life. At the beginning of his journey. Filled with joy. Filled with full big blue eyed wonder at all that is around him. Filled with chubby fisted control of all the people in his life to do his bidding because he is just that cute and wonderful.

Want to get out of the doldrums? Spend time with a great little toddler boy who is eager to take on the world. Watch him. Hold him. Listen to him learn. Just be. Play in the water with him. Watch him be proud. Watch him laugh. Watch him take in all of the adventure with baby blue eyed wonder.

You'll see the world in a new way through the eyes of a toddler.

Second I got to help be part of decorating for a wedding. Hanging tulle, silver stars, purple ribbon. Creating bows, cutting flowers, shopping, making plans, helping all. There's nothing like being part of a wedding. Really. I got to watch two great people begin their journey. I got to watch people celebrate that joining. All of them. I loved being part of the new beginnings.

You'll see the world in a new way through the love of a young couple.

Third I got to see the results of life. Good ones and bad ones. Young people angry. Old people happy. Young people making vows. Others breaking them. Dancing. Swimming. Teasing. It all happened. I got to hear secrets. Secrets I know I'll keep. Secrets that will blend into my writing but will always be disguised.

Oh, the fun. Remember the hope. And always believe in the love.

Love exists. Love persists. Love never dies.

That's my carry away from Vegas.

Love never dies.

So my Vegas Resolutions?

1. Pretend I'm a toddler and seeing the world for the first time.
2. Remember to dance no matter how old I am until I can dance no more.
3. Fill vases with fresh cut flowers.
4. Celebrate life and gamble on love.
5. Remember that love never dies.

Viva Las Vegas!

I'm Confessing my Blonde Mistakes on Petit Fours & Hot Tamales

2011-08-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

I'm confessing my hair color mistakes in my ongoing journey to become and stay a blonde. You can read about it on the Petit Fours & Hot Tamales blog.

Hope I see you there.

Meet My Frenemy: The Scale -- at THE HEALTHY WRITER blog Today

2011-08-24T06:51:00.000-05:00

I'm telling stories about my frenemy, THE SCALE, over at THE HEALTHY WRITER blog today. Come share you stories with me and tell me about your relationship with this fickle friend.

See you there!

Meet My Frenemy: The Scale!!

:-)

Look Out Vegas, Here I Come!

2011-08-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

I've got a fabulous week planned. One filled with adventure, promise, love and joy. The adventure is my solo trip to Las Vegas on Thursday, the 25th. I'm always a bit nervous before I fly, well a lot nervous, but once I'm on my way I relax. This will be my second time to Las Vegas. I drove through it years ago without stopping. I'll be gone for 3 nights. And that means I'll be taking a break from the blog for the rest of the week. I will be on The Healthy Writer Blog on Wednesday, August 24th. Hope to see you there as I will be sharing a story about a relationship with my frenemy, the scale. Meanwhile, I have revising to do, packing, and coordinating a teen on the horizon. All my free time is going to those things.

I'm glad to have a holiday. I love breaks. This break is special because my niece is getting married at Mandalay Bay on Saturday. So that's the love part of my week. Their vows are also the promise part of my big week. I love watching people find each other and discover home. I love writing about that experience. And it is my privilege to participate in my niece and future nephew-in-law's wedding.

The joy will be in the gathering of family. My brother, SIL, another niece, my nephew and my future nephew-in-law's parents will be in Las Vegas as well. I can't wait to see my family again. We are so spread out that it's rare for us to spend time in the same room. They're flying to Vegas from Canada. I'm coming in from Alabama. Talk about a spread of folks! We're staying in a 9-bedroom house. Can't wait to see it!

The bonus about all of this is I get to confirm my research for another book while I am in Vegas. I have several scenes set in this locale and now I can take pictures and absorb the atmosphere. Who knows? I might even take some quarters and play the slots!

When I get back into town, I'll share all my adventures with you. So stay tuned!!

Smiles!!

Necessary Chores I'd Love to Quit Performing

2011-08-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday I blogged about daily habits I wish I could give up. Don't worry. I won't stop washing my hair, bathing regularly, or brushing/flossing my teeth. They're necessary, important daily tasks. I might skip shaving my legs on occasion, but that's usually during the winter when I wear pants.

I promised I'd share the chores I'd love to designate to another person, eliminate altogether, so I could have more time to do my favorite thing: write.

Here they are (and this list is never complete):

1. Cleaning bathrooms. I don't mind dumping bleach in the toilets and swishing them out. But I loathe the shower stall. It's the bane of my existence. We have hard water here, really really really hard water. It makes my skin crawl, my hair dry, and my shower super hard to clean. I have to use so many chemicals to get the stall and door shiny new-looking that I fear for my lungs when I'm in there. I even have a crazy electric bathroom brush that is supposed to get the grime off with less effort. This maybe knocks 5 minutes off my time in the stall. It takes me over an hour to get it to federal standards of cleanliness.

2. Grocery shopping. I don't mind cooking or coming up with recipes for our new diet. I love that part of the household duties that I perform. But it takes forever for me to get the grocery shopping done. And I don't even bring five hundred coupons with me! First I have to make a list. Fine, that's on the fridge and ongoing. Then I check the sales. I gather my reusable bags (actually they're in the car), then off to the store I go. I have no problem finding the basics, but what takes forever is finding great produce. I am picky. And for some reason there isn't great produce in this part of Alabama. I can't tell you how many strawberries, apples, bags of salad etc., I've thrown away a day or two after purchase! It's frustrating. Any rate, I also read the labels. Make sure that the product doesn't have too much sodium, falls into proper point range for the Weight Watchers' diet we're on. If I go on a long, replenish the pantry/fridge shopping expedition, my total round trip to the store and home to unload the multiple bags is over an hour. If I gripe about the prices going up, Darling Hubby sticks his foot in it when he suggests going to another store that's much further away. Nope. Ain't going to do it. That increases my time away from my favorite task: writing.

3. Laundry. It's like stringing beads on a necklace with no knot at the end of the rope. I finish 3 loads of laundry and there's already a new pile building. I do laundry 1x per week. If the article of clothing that my family members want to get washed is not in the hamper, forget it. That person will have to wait another week for that article of clothing to be cleaned. And here's a good one. Darling Husband asked me to separate his NYLON black undies from his COTTON black undies/like sort them when I'm putting them away because he's decided to use up even more precious closet shelf space for a second basket of black underwear. Uh, no. Not going to do that sir. Really. Feel the material, make a choice.

4. Calling insurance companies and tracking all medical documents. Hurry up and wait in line and listen to a voice tell you, one that sounds eerily like ALL the call speeches I hear, please listen to the menu carefully because it's changed but really, the choices offered are never the one I need. I often scream that I want to talk to a person. The voice says, "I"m sorry I don't recognize that option. Please try again." Multiple pushes of the "0" button will lead me to an actual, live human. Once I was so frustrated, I had two calls going. One on my cell phone, one on my home phone. I kept both parties (the insurer and the lab wanting my money when the insurer should pay) on the line and made them HOLD for information. That one turned out very well. I won my case. And I saved my family $236 that we were charged because someone in the lab made a "2" look like a "V." I kid you not. This is a true story.

5. Waiting for service people to come to my house to fix something, spray something, or deliver something. Seriously, what is this 4 hour window of time all about? I have to choose a time between 8-12 or between 1-5PM. I usually choose the afternoons because I want to go to Zumba in the morning and I want get writing done, too. I know the service people don't know how long it will take to fix, deliver, or spray stuff on another call so that's fair. I just don't like being forced to hang around the house for 4 hour stretches waiting for service to arrive. It's hard to concentrate. I usually get lost in Twitterville. If it weren't for the #1k1hr hashtag, I'd never accomplish anything on "waiting for service people days."

So that's my list. What's your list?

I'd Have More Time If I Eliminated these Daily Habits

2011-08-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'd like to increase my writing time, but I'm hamhocked (just love that word) by daily habits and obligations. They're necessary. I know they are important. And I won't stop doing them, but to be honest if I could just push a button, wave a wand, swallow a pill to end my commitment to these daily habits, I'd be thrilled.

Here they are:

1. Showering and/or bathing. More time committed if washing hair as well. Seriously. This is a huge daily commitment. I just wish there was a presto button I could push to make myself clean. Instantly clean and coiffed. But no. There is not. I must bath regularly.

2. Shaving my legs. I have to shave my legs every day. I've heard about the sugaring/waxing methods, but I am too impatient to wait for the darned hairs to grow long enough to endure those methods of removing hair. So if I'm in the shower, I'm shaving my legs.

3. Blow drying and styling my hair. I cheat on this one a lot. But I do spend a lot of time getting my hair to behave. It has a mind of its own. I'm currently growing it out just so I don't have to spend as much time styling it. The only benefit of this activity is that I get ideas for my books. I confess to stealing my Darling Teen's Chi to straighten my hair just to generate a story line fix.

4. Applying makeup. I don't always apply makeup. But 99% of the time I do because I believe in putting my best face forward. If I look good, I will feel good. And as Grandma Glover once said, "You never know who might come by to visit." Not wearing makeup is like inviting unexpected visitors. I know this is true. It has happened.

5. Brushing my teeth and flossing. I don't really mind brushing my teeth, but flossing? Oh, I dread the flossing. It seems like the older I get, the more remedial attention I attract from the dental hygienist. Seriously? I floss every day, but every six months I get to learn a NEW way to to floss my teeth. The latest involves cutting off the circulation of my middle finger, using my index finger and thumb to have complete control over the WET FLOSS, and not looking in the mirror when I floss so I don't get confused. Really? Really????? I hate it, but I persist. I am convinced that flossing teeth is like styling hair. Leave it to the professionals!!

There are other habits, chores that I perform on a regular basis that I'd like to eliminate if I could... I'll share them with you on Friday.

What daily habits do you wish you could quit so you'd have more time to do the things you love?

Promo Party for This and That

2011-08-15T07:47:00.000-05:00

I've got a lot of great blog sisters and writing friends. One of them is going to have a debut novel release. She's a sister blogger at Petit Fours & Hot Tamales. I hope you go visit her website open house and enter to win one of her fabulous prizes. And if you're an author, I hope you want to play and share the fun that week with a fabulous writer and my friend.

Read Below:

I'm have an open house for my new website www.SusanCarlisle.com ( find
invitation below) during the week of August 29-September 2. I will be blogging
all day/every day during the week creating a party atmosphere.
I'm inviting authors to "bring" house warming gifts- their books, baskets, any
kind of promotional items they would like to give away -during that week. I will
in turn give them to lucky commenters and promote you and your books on my site.
Make sense?
I would also like to have at least one guest published author blog for each of
the days. The blog would need to be short and directed toward readers. If you
would be interested please let me know.
If you have any questions or suggestions you can contact me at
susan.carlisle@ymail.com

Please feel free to forward the invitation to anyone and everyone. I would
appreciate a shout out on your website, Facebook and twitter if you would. The
more readers that come by the more fun it will be for everybody.
I hope this will be a fun event for readers and authors alike.

Susan

You are invited to an

Open House

To celebrate Susan Carlisle's new web home

www.SusanCarlisle.com

August 29 - September 2

Books, Gifts and Guest Authors daily

One lucky reader will receive a Kindle

A few of the gift baskets being given away:

Afternoon Tea and a Read Have Books will Travel

Garden Goodies and a Book Beach and a Book

Book and a Bath Bonjour Reads

Fireside Reads Quiet Escape

Bag of Books Vera Bradley Bag & Books to Go

Romance from Georgia First Aid for the Heart

and many more prizes!

There's still time to sign up for the Heart of Dixie Online Workshop FAT FREE WRITING with the fabulous Grammar Divas. The class starts on August 17th.

Fat Free Writing or How to Avoid Wordiness in the Editing Stage

Grammar Divas

August 17-31

Cost: $20

To get more information or sign up for the class, go to www.heartofdixie.org

I'm playing at the Healthy Writer blog August 24th. I hope to see you there. Meanwhile, have fun reading the blogs before I go over and learn how writers get themselves into shape. You can read the blog at here.

And I'll be popping into Petit Fours & Hot Tamales on August 29th to confess more sins of the writer. Hope to see you there! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy my sister blogger Maxine Davis's blog ONE TANK TRIPS.

I've got a busy week planned. Lots of writing. I'll be blogging on Wednesday and Friday. This week I'm "winging it" and letting the muse amuse me with whatever pops into my head.

And when I'm not in cyber world, you know you'll find me here at home writing my stories and trying to improve my craft.

Happy Writing!

Things that Make My Ears Steam

2011-08-12T05:18:00.000-05:00

There are lots of things that make me mad. Things like cruelty to animals, parents not taking care of the their children, child abuse, social injustice. They are important things to be made about because they impact all of us in big ways. There's more but those top the list.

There areother things, bugs in my life, that make my ears steam, too. Theft. Vandalism. Littering. Lack of respect for personal property and space is wrong. Ask an author who has had a book pirated. Theft of their written word is wrong. And so is the lifting of a blog post and reposting it without the author's permission

That's what happened to me. I wrote a funny, cute post about how our underwear tastes change for my group blog PETIT FOURS & HOT TAMALES. You can read that post here. If you have read the post, you'll know there was nothing scandalous or titillating in the words. Well, nothing that is unless you find Spanx and Days of the Week panties fit either of those categories.

Me? Not so much.

But some trolling spambot looking for general posts, probably computer driven software, found my post and reposted it without my permission on a very disgusting website--a PORN site!! Now at first glance I was mildly amused. I mean really, Spanx and this site don't belong together. The women on this site won't need to wear Spanx for many years. And they certainly do not wear them now. Who knows? Maybe they might like to read a nice romance. Just because they've chosen to do a job that I personally find degrading to women doesn't mean they aren't potential readers, right?

But then, the more I got to think about it, the angrier I got because this site is using my innocent words to trick people, men and women, to go to their site expecting to read a funny post written by a PETIT FOURS & HOT TAMALES blog author. When they get there, they find my post and their product. Their product may not be illegal, but I sure as heck do not want to be associated with that site. I don't want my words used to get them customers.

What could I do? I posted comments all over the site in which I demanded that they remove my post. Last time I checked, the comments were awaiting moderation. I really don't have legal recourse. I'm sure that over time this too shall pass, but I'm still mad. I feel violated. And I don't like that feeling at all.

Do I regret writing my post? No. I wrote a funny post and gave everyone a chuckle. That was my intent. I would write it again. I just wish this site hadn't taken my post and made it part of something ugly. And that makes my ears steam. It also makes me want to censor myself. And I don't like that feeling because I didn't do anything wrong. The site that stole my words is at fault for violating me.

Have you ever had anything like this happen to you?