Good Morning All, Well, normally in the part of Texas I live you don't hear sleigh bells unless someone is shaking them, but a girl can dream, right? This is a fabulous time of year for me. I LOVE Christmas. I love the music, the lights, the sights, the smells, the readings at Church, the Church getting decorated, Christmas books, shows, Christmas Trees--I love it all. I even have a wreath for the door this year that I have to get hung up. Our tree is up and pretty much ready to be decorated, so I figure tonight when my husband gets home he can get the Christmas box down from the attic and I'll decorate while he and my son are out (so that the breakable decorations don't get flung everywhere by my very curious, but not exactly the most gentle of hands, son). He'll love that when he gets home and sees all the decorations (my son loves lights and things like that). Today I'm buckling down and going to really work on Conjure A Man --not just pretend to, really work on...

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Ours is actually going to be fairly low key. We might go over to a friends' house for a little while. Other than that--we have a meal planned and are going to get out Christmas decorations. I plan on subjecting my husband to Christmas music on and off from tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day) until New Year's LOL Have A Wonderful Holiday!

Hi Folks, Today is a "take it easy" day due to the fact that yesterday afternoon my son developed an ear infection. He's on antibiotics and is doing much, much better...however, I'm sleep deprived and haven't felt great because of allergy problems probably a touch of asthma. I'm going to the doc's office today to see if I'm doing everything I should be doing and if there's anything else I need to do. Needless to say, I've been taking it very easy today. Good news is, I'm reading Christie Craig's Gotcha! It's pretty good. As to everything else, I'm tired after a bad night (my son decided to wake up about 3 times) and then he never did go back to sleep after waking early this morning (no nap so far) and I'm going to have to get ready to go to the doc's office so no chance of a nap for awhile. But, you know...we all have good days and bad days whether in writing or our real lives, so we just have to do the best we can. I h...

Afternoon Folks, I thought we'd do a post to dispel some of the myths people seem to have about writers. I'll put the ones that first come to mind then y'all can chime in. Myth: Writing is a great way to make a lot of money. I'm not sure exactly how this one matriculated. Probably in the wake of some of the big best sellers (i.e. Stephen King, Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer, JK Rowling, and the like) but most of the time writers put in more money for their writing than they do get out of it. Generally a writer doesn't make a ton of money unless somehow his/her book is a blockbuster hit and blasts through what the author owes in the advance (which is paid back to publishers through royalties). Most writers I've met and talked to are not millionaires. I'm not saying it can't happen, I'm saying it's not one of those things that's automatic. Myth: Writing Is Easy Anybody Can Do It. Okay, granted this isn't entirely a myth, but it's not ent...

Hey Folks, Normally I haven't been posting on Saturdays, but I'm making this one exception. First off, if you haven't, get to Friday's post please do so...Elizabeth Pina made an appearance in the comment section :-) Shout out to Elizabeth! Second of all, I mentioned I was going to see The Twilight Saga: New Moon and I did. Let's just say: AWE-some! The wolves totally rocked. The pacing is slow--but with very good reason--Bella pretty much clams up when Edward leaves (no I'm not really giving anything away here, most people know that happens). The Volturi just kicked butt--majorly impressed with Michael Sheen as Aro. He EMBODIED that character. Few things were changed--which makes sense, but totally didn't take away from the movie. Very very close to the book itself. I won't go into depth on my rants about the viewers (cell phone lights, and loud munching) maybe people had an emergency and needed the cell phone on...I don't know and I do like snack...

Morning All, It's Friday! Although, for me, that doesn't mean break from work since I stay home with my son and my husband is working on Saturday and Sunday (although only 1/2 day on Sunday and part of the day on Saturday). But it's still really cool...why? Because it's November 20, 2009! So, what's so important about that? Before I get into the "fang" part of it (like that's not a major hint LOL) there's something else I really want to bring up. Today is the day that Elizabeth Pina's E-book gets released! It's called Learning To Let Go . She told me she also wants to release it on CD so people can read it on their computers. Especially for the folks that have yet to get a e-reader in the first place LOL. I don't know where it's being sold, so you might have to go to her website to find out. Although, I'm not sure if she has anything but the publisher's name up. But today is the release date for that e-book. The book is C...

Evening Folks, Sorry about not posting today. I haven't felt very well today. Had a bad headache (is better than it was, by the way) but I also had some dizziness. It would seem my hypoglycemia decided to act up today. I'm doing better, but I'm taking it very easy. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be much better. Hope everybody else is doing well. Have A Thrilling Rest Of Your Thursday!

Morning All, The title for today's post is a play on a song called " Yay Toast!" (I don't know where to find it, but it's a funny song). But more than that it's because in the last month I've been to Barnes & Noble twice. TWICE! Yay ! Okay, so I didn't get myself anything...but I did browse through several books that look interesting (and one that got reprinted I was excited to see that because I really liked it). Last night I was doing some Christmas shopping (I finally got started a few days ago. Last year I was already Christmas shopping in October! You see, I have 13 nieces and nephews--and we all keep adding to that number, so I have to make sure I start early enough so I can find out what they're all into and shop accordingly). In my family--since there's so many of us (including spouses) we are now given a name of a family member to buy for with a price limit. One of my sisters has a program that takes names and matches them (it...

Morning Folks, Do you find yourself wondering how an author writes his or her synopsis? Do you sit there and think "Wow, this synopsis is so cool, I wish I could do that!" (Incidentally that line of thinking ties into Stephanie's post about Writer's Guilt ) Next year the chapter I'm joining of RWA is planning to have a published author from the group talk about synopsises, so until I have more to add regarding that, I'm just gonna go by what I DO know. I touched on this a little bit in talking about Todd Stone's BIC ( Book On An Index Card). (I like this idea because it helps you organize things to write the synopsis). But it's not just about summarizing the story in a short paragraph, it's also about making your story sound so exciting that a reader just HAS to pick it up and examine it further...then read it. Speaking from the point of view of a reader AND writer I can't help feeling that it's not about saying too little or too much, but...

Morning All, Well, it's Monday again and I'm reminded of that song by the Bangles: "Just Another Manic Monday". Kinda the story of my mornings LOL. Let's face it, we all have dreams as writers. And I'm not just talking about having a Best Seller published, or even having the aplomb of fans all over the place, but I'm talking about some of the more personal dreams. Like getting to meet certain authors/people. Or getting to do something you've never done before. Or getting through a chapter that is particularly difficult to write. Some of my dreams: Well, aside from finishing a couple more books I'm writing and reading several other books out there... I'd like to meet Laura Childs. I've communicated with her through emails and never have met her face to face. I'd also get her to sign at least one of her books I have. (Yes, I'd have to restrain myself from gushing about how much I love her characters in the Tea Shop Mysteries ). I wou...

Morning Folks, Earlier this week I talked about dealing with writer's block and dancing around the room to help shake down creativity (something I have yet to try, but I think that might be next on my list. I don't think I'll be doing the hula, but I've got some country music, and a kid who will laugh at me--which is fine. I like making people laugh--as long as it's not ridicule). But another tactic which I haven't addressed very much is this: a side project. Now some side projects become a main project, and sometimes they're there just to keep a writer writing. Currently that's what my side project is doing. Side projects don't have the same pressures that main ones do. Generally they're things an author thinks that maybe they might send off in a query, but other times they're just something that an author was inspired to write and it's keeping them from going completely blocked. My side project is a Christmas story. I love Christmas--in...

Morning Folks, Almost done with my coffee, which means I'm almost awake LOL. Okay, the sunshine returned yesterday (or was it the day before?) But I've been getting over some kind of a bug, so I haven't been out much. (I'm feeling much better, by the way). I promise today isn't about hula dancing. Nope, I'm talking characters not just sitting around. Just sitting around means they aren't passionate, action filled, expressive beings. It means they're stagnant and nothing is happening. You have to move the story along, so you don't want them just sitting there. You want them flying into a rage because their best friend betrayed them (or stole their significant other) or pleading for their lives or their heart beating wildly as they experience their first kiss with the person they're to end up having a relationship with. In short, you want them to be animated, breathing, living and lively. They can't be couch potatoes (yes, TV has some great ...

Good Morning All, Our fellow blogger (and follower of this blog and literally a "fellow" or as us Southerners say, "fella"), Bane, wrote something about emotion on his post yesterday. (Incidentally enough, he gets a shout out for that post, it was entertaining and informative. I liked it!) Todd Stone says put your hero/heroine in danger. This increases the suspense, emotion and overall encouraging your readers to care about your characters. Of course, depending on your genre this can mean different things: Mysteries it could be that your sleuthing hero/heroine finds themselves finding out someone closest to them is the bad guy. I remember one time when I was reading one of Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mystery book ( the first one in the series , this was the first time I had read any of her work) I thought maybe Delaine Dish was the one who committed the crime, but she was innocent. (By the way, if you like "cozies" her books are awesome. She's also in...

Howdy All, My original post for today I decided to do away with and go with this idea instead. WARNING: It's a pep-talk/encouragement post, all who do NOT want to be encouraged read no further. (Although, I suspect we all want encouragement at one time or another, so keep reading). Okay, here's the scenario: You're sitting at your computer staring at the blinking cursor of a blank screen and your mind says "AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" This goes on for about 1/2 an hour. You can see the seconds, the minutes, the hours going by...still nothing. "Oy vay!" you think, "I'm supposed to be writing for five hours and it's been almost two and I still have nothing!" WHY ARE YOU STARING AT THE CLOCK???!!! The clock isn't your friend when you're struggling with writer's block. It's not even your muse. It's working against you. It's a conspiracy to make you think you can't get anything done. I'm telling you: I...

Morning Folks, Wow. It's actually overcast today. Maybe it'll do more than sprinkle (which was yesterday) and actually rain. I don't really mind because maybe this means the cold front's on it's way. A big shout-out goes to Marsha today! Got to meet the Queen of the Friday Flashbacks on Saturday at the NWHRWA meeting. Pretty cool and she fit right in (knew she would). I apologize for her feeling she was back in high school and late for class. Wasn't intentional, but hey, I can't help that there was an accident and made her late! LOL . Be sure to go over to Marsha's Musings to check out her Friday Flashback posts. They rock my socks! :-) I'm sorry for no weekend posts, but I think I'm going to give them up (at least for now) mostly because my weekends have been quite busy lately and also because my in-laws are in town and they'll probably come over at least once or twice for the next couple of weeks until they go home. I got ZERO writing don...

Morning All, Once again a clear beautiful day! I can hardly believe all week long it's been like this, but hey, that's pretty awesome (although there's talk in the weather news that rain might be coming). I think I'll chant: COOLER TEMPERATURES! COOLER TEMPERATURES! Hee hee . Not that 70's are so bad, that's actually pretty good, just that I love cold weather (not enough to live where snow is deep but enough that I like to bundle up and at night cuddle up under layers of warm blankets). But really, the weather's been nice. Georgette Heyer (died in 1971) wrote both mystery and romance. I haven't read her mysteries, but as far as I'm concerned, her romance writing was great. If you haven't read These Old Shades , even one of my brothers-in-law liked that one. (Pretty much both me and most of my sisters have read and loved this one). One of my sisters who's incredibly observant and noticed that in one part of this story where it's meant t...

Howdy-Hey Folks, Okay that a little bit of a cheesy opening, but every so often, I have to be cheesy. It's part of my charm. More sunshiney clear sky lovely days! But I know it's going to be in the 70's. May I whine that it's not any cooler than that? Please? I'll be your best friend. Okay, all kidding aside (obviously coffee and sleep deprivation kicking in--okay maybe sleep deprivation isn't really the excuse, but coffee kicking in) Todd Stone said to put your people in danger to make your book more of a page turner. This doesn't mean that if you're writing in a genre that believes in happily-ever-afters (e.g. Romance) that you make it impossible for some form of happily-ever-after to happen. What he means is throw everything you can reasonably throw at your characters to make that ending even better. This might mean put more tension between your characters (in Romance you can have the two that are supposed to end up together hate each other for a long...

Morning Folks, Yet another lovely day in my neck of the woods, although, going by the weather report it's supposed to get up into the latter 70's...darn. Was hoping it would stay chilly like my house is in the morning! I talked to my cousin's husband yesterday and he said up north it was in the 30's and 40's. Lucky ducks (okay I don't need the waist-high snow, but I'll take the colder weather) LOL . Yesterday I was working on Chapter 3 of Conjure A Man and right in the middle of an argument between Delaney and Pierre I took a break. I told a friend of mine "Yep, I left them right in the middle of an argument." That means when I go back (or went back) I have an exciting part to start right off on--a place for my creativity to immediately wake up and get to work. I heard about this method from either a published author or a book (I can't remember exactly where) but in any case it says to stop right at an exciting part (when choosing a place to s...

Morning Folks, Well another beautiful Fall Day (yay for pretty sunshine and cooler temperatures!) Yes, I will cheer on the cooler weather all Fall and Winter if it means I don't have to wear shorts during the Christmas 12 days (and earlier and through January). I think we writers need a slogan on button that says "I have a pen and I'm not afraid to use it!" Hmmm...I wonder what kind of questions we'd get about that? Maybe we could also have our own coffee from all the major coffee manufacturers (do they realize how many writers drink coffee?) They could have "The Write Stuff" or "Write Bold" or "Write Italian Roast" Okay...maybe the coffee is already hitting me and I need to back off the sugar. But still...it seems like novelty coffee would be fun. What do you think? In along the same lines as the title of this post (which, don't ask me how I thought of it, just all of a sudden it occurred to me and I liked the sound of it) Lately...

Evenin' All, Well, I have to say I'm thrilled and honored. J.J. Gave me a gift--a blog award! See... So thank you so much J.J.! Too sweet. Well according to the rules I have to say 7 things about me y'all don't know...if I accidently mention something I've already said, then I'm sorry: 1. For something cliche: my favorite colors are purple and green...every now and again I like blue, pink or red (but I have to be in the right mood). 2. I used to take horseback riding lessons (like when I was 12-16ish). I learned how to ride bareback, English and Western. I did some jumping. I never did Drassage, but one of my sisters did. 3. I'm allergic to turkey--no really I am (weird, I know, but eating it makes me sick). 4. My husband and I were once a part of the same singles' site (before we were dating), but that's not how we met. 5. I was a note passer in high school. But I refused to cheat. 6. When my younger brother said "Fa-shizzle" for the firs...

Good Morning Folks, First off I want to send congratulations to Stephanie. She just got a contract from an agent. You can go to her blog and wish her congrats. YAY FOR STEPHANIE! (She gets a major shout-out today). Today is another pretty day. Clear, blue sky, and chilly in the house LOL. Yesterday we couldn't find our TV remote. My husband must have found it this morning because when my son and I got up there it was right in front of the TV (and it wasn't there last night). Yay! (My husband also gets a shout-out). My uncle had a scan and found out there's cancer activity in his brain, so prayers and thoughts for his remission from that would be much appreciated. (Thank you). Last night I worked on chapter 2 of Conjure A Man , smoothing down some rough edges that were bothering me. I think it's getting better. I'm beginning to understand more of what I want in there and Delaney's character. When I first wrote it I felt like she was kinda weak, but wasn't su...

Happy November Everybody! The skies are clear, the sun is shining, it was freezing in our house because we didn't put on the heat last night, although it's supposed to be in the 70's today, but cooler weather, yay! Hope those who are supposed to remembered to set back their clocks (remember: "spring forward, fall back!") We did, when we got up this morning. Today is All Saints' Day for Catholics (remembering women and men who exemplified following Christ's words and having a close relationship with the Lord). We went to Mass last night for the vigil. Today is also when celebrating my dad's birthday since we couldn't on his actual day. So spending time at him and my mom's house today. As to writing, not sure how much I'm going to get done due to all the other things I have to do today (still gotta decorate the cake--Dad had me make a carrot cake, thank you, Joanne Fluke for the wonderful Carrot Cake recipe in Carrot Cake Murder- -not a hard ...