Daddy's Princess

Happy Saturday All,

I don't normally post on the weekend, but there's a couple of things to mention...

Before I get started on today's topic, Meb Bryant, the author of Harbinger Of Evil (Amazon Kindle ...also available in print at Amazon  and available on Barnes & Noble Nook) has put out a new one called Monster Spray available on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook.

Now, let me explain the title of today's post:

Father's Day is on Sunday, so I thought I'd take the time to devote this post to my father and to all of us who want to pay tribute to our dads.

My father has always been one of my biggest supporters. He's the one who took me to the park and taught me how to ride a two-wheel bicycle without training wheels. He tutored me in Geometry my Sophomore year when I was struggling to understand what a Theorem was and how in the world all this pertained to real life.

I may have passed up 21 years ago, but Dad still calls me "princess". It doesn't matter I'm a married woman and a mother, I'm still his princess. In fact, all my sisters and I are his princesses.

These days Dad is still a hero of mine. He's a wonderful grandfather, an counselor, guide, and support. He still loves my mother dearly and he has a great relationship with all his sons-in-law.

My hope is that one day our own offspring will have as many wonderful memories of my husband as a father as I do of my own father.

So Happy Father's Day To All!

Friday's Winner

Happy Memorial Day Weekend,

Thank you to everyone who commented on Tess St. John's interview yesterday. Congratulations to Sarah, the winner of yesterday's drawing. Tess will be sending you a copy of her book soon.

Hope Everyone Has A Great Weekend!

Sequel To Friday's Post

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 snacks with movies, but even on a release day I've never had it be so distracting before.

But other than the problems with distracting munching and cell phone lights I really enjoyed the movie a lot.

I'm not sure those who aren't "Twilight" fans will enjoy it...but I think it was fun and really good.

Here's looking forward to June 2010 for "Eclipse"!

Have A Satisfying Saturday!

'Tis The Season For Paranormal

Morning Folks,

Halloween Day seems like the perfect time to announce that I have a book preview video (not great quality, but I'm hoping to either figure out how to fix the problems or have my younger brother who knows about a lot of media stuff might be able to help when he's in town for Christmas).

You see, I don't have a Youtube account (I might end up getting one; but I'm not sure, yet) so I think maybe I'll wait until I have a website to put it up. But once I'm able to work out the kinks I think it's pretty good. The preview is for Surreal.

Other than that I'm working more on Conjure A Man. I worked on Chapter 2 yesterday, but I'm not sure if it's just right or if I went overboard a different direction. I'll have to review it and if necessary, I'll make changes. But I do like Delaney's character better for this, now. I just didn't like having her appear so weak because I know that in all her life she was pretty strong.

I haven't worked on Heartbeats in awhile, but maybe it'll help me figure out Delaney's character even further. I like the idea and story line I have for Conjure A Man, it's just the execution of it is proving more difficult than originally anticipated. But, oh well, some stories are easier to write than others. Just got to keep letting creativity flow and try not to let it bother me that this is a bit more frustrating than writing Surreal.

Speaking of paranormal and spooktacular stories, I've been reading Kim Lenox's So Still The Night. Pretty spooky stuff going on currently. This book is the sequel to Night Falls Darkly; she has another one coming out next year, Darker Than Night it says it supposed to come out April 2010. If you're interested in immortals, good versus evil and romance, these books are definitely worth checking out. So far I think Night Falls Darkly is my favorite (it was pretty creepy having Jack the Ripper involved, but I think So Still The Night is even creepier--I think a friend of mine would really like these, she likes spooky stuff).

In any case, whatever your plans are for today, I wish you well!

Question for the day: What are you currently reading? (something other than your own manuscripts).

Have A Spec-Spook-Tacular Saturday!

Bring On The Internal Editor!

Good Morning All,

Today at the workshop we're working on revisions and this is the day we actually had to have our 3 scenes (from one of our own work) to work on. We haven't started, yet, but will be shortly.

I'm not quite all the way awake, but it's already been fun this morning. If you can get to a Todd Stone Workshop I recommend it! He's really good.

Also, if you can get to a chapter of the RWA for a meeting, go!

Have A Scintillating Saturday!

Saturday Saturday Saturday

Morning All,

I only have time for a short post today because I have to finish breakfast and get in the shower and get dressed. Today is my birthday party (Oct. 15th was my actual birthday, as many of you already know!)

My husband, myself and my son all have to go pick up 3 party trays and the cake, then get over to my parents' house (they're letting us have it there) and set up and decorate before the party starts. So I have a lot to do.

Yesterday I got some writing done on Conjure A Man so that's good.

What's your plans for today?

Have A Splendiferious (Sarah J.'s word that I happen to like) Saturday!

**(Kudos go to Sarah J. today for the great word!)

Retellings Or, The Former Story Is Now...

Good Morning Folks,

Last night (well really after 1 a.m.) I finished reading Judith Ivory's Sleeping Beauty. Pretty interesting work, tying in the fairytale with a story of the author's imagination. Towards the end it really picks up as you find out about a huge betrayal and the hero finally gets the heroine as his bride.

I've read a lot of retellings (and some references to well-known stories). Of course, there's some I like more than others. (I absolutely adore Cameron Dokey's Belle, a retelling of Beauty & The Beast and Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling Of Beauty & The Beast).

Years ago I wrote a retelling of my own. Unfortunately, due to computer glitches (and my own failure to save more of it to diskette) I lost the majority of the story and mourned the loss of a character I had come to love. The story yet remains unpublished and rewritten. I have moved on to telling my own stories. I can think fondly upon the character I had really come to love fondly without feeling mournful. I have other wonderful characters now that need my attention and I will always be grateful to that story for the experience of writing it.

But I still love other authors' retellings.

Older fairy tales brushed up into a different point of view are lots of fun. Most of them take the beloved story and tell it from another angle rather than change the story much. Those are my favorite because often times you get the story from a different character's point of view and the chance to get inside another character's head is exciting.

Another great author on retellings is Gail Carson Levine. I positively loved Ella Enchanted (and I own the movie with Anne Hathway) and several others of hers, including one of her newer ones, Fairest. She takes a story that's well known, gives a different spin on it and adds a lot of her own elements, thus, while you could say the evidence of the original is there, she's taken upon herself to come up with almost a whole new story--or spin on it. I've read almost everything she's published.

So what about you? Do you write (or read) retellings? Were you ever influenced by retellings or stories that are well-known and loved?

Have A Stupendous Saturday!

Some Like It Spooky

Good Afternoon Folks,

I like October because it's my birthday month--also because it's Fall and I like cooler weather. I live in the Southern part of Texas, so we get a lot of heat--for most of the year. So I welcome the cooler weather (don't ask me to move, I ain't moving...but I reserve the right to be glad of the cooler weather and to say that it's too hot to go outside in the summer LOL).

But I'm not into spooky stuff that's often associated with Halloween.

"But wait," you say, "what about the fact that you write paranormal romance? You've got a witch in one of your stories and a vampire, too!"

Yes, this is true. And I have liked Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, too. However, these stories are very different from the usual witch or vampire fare. It's safe too call it Witch-Lite and Diet Vampire.

I doubt anyone consider my characters the embodiment of any story centered around witches, vampires, werewolves, warlocks. Granted my vampires do drink blood, but they don't live in coffins and I don't say much about how or if sunlight affects them (at least not so far in Conjure A Man).

I'm more or less like Bewitched (TV show starring Elizabeth Montgomery). Or Sabrina: The Teenage Witch, starring Melissa Joan Hart. I try to go for the "lighter" side of the spectrum, rather than the spooky side. (Although, not exactly the same, but it's easier to akin it to those TV shows than to any other stories).

So what about you? When you write a type of creature that already has different stories about it, do you go for mainstream, or your own interpretation? How do you differ and how do you match up?

Have A Sensational Saturday!

Saturday In My World

Good Afternoon All,

Last night I took a trip into my female main character, Delaney's world. I'm doing some editing on the pages I already have written and contemplating what's happening next. Got to meet her family all over again (the patronizing cousin, the disapproving mother, the suspicious cousin-in-law, et cetera).

This morning I was doing some reading (The Host by Stephenie Meyer is quite long--over 1,000 pages and I have other books I need to read, too, so I'm multi-tasking). Sci-fi isn't my usual fare, but I was curious about the story. It's a little eerie contemplating the idea of an alien body taking over human bodies. Like I said, not things I normally read. But, not a bad idea to expand one's horizons.

I've also gotten started on reading Secret Life Of A Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks. I've just barely started it, but so far it's fun.

Anybody watching the new CW show, The Vampire Diaries based off of L.J. Smith's books? Sometimes that show gives me the shivers. LOL. I haven't read the books, so I don't know how closely the show is portraying the actual story. In any case, I bet it's exciting to see one's characters come alive.

So what are you plans today? Reading, writing, hanging out with family/friends? Relaxing? Catching up on movie watching?

Either way...

Have A Supremely Super Saturday!

The Feel Of Pages

Good Morning Everybody,

Well, this Saturday morning is a bit overcast, but that's okay since it means it's not blisteringly hot. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather. I'm not a huge fan of snow (although growing up I was) so I'm glad that it doesn't usually snow here, but I do like colder weather. There's something so cozy about adding that extra blanket in the bed or putting on long sleeves, a sweater, jacket or sweatshirt. Tossing a scarf around your neck. It's just one of those warm-your-toes-in-front-of-the-fire feeling.

This brings me to the feel of a book (or manuscript) in one's hands. The smooth texture, the sight of words across the page (blank pages are hard to deal with, as most of you well know!) Reveling in having an adventure in your hands. It's heady stuff.

One of the reasons why I adore bookstores and libraries. All those shelves and shelves covered in books. It's nirvana for a writer because writers are also readers. All the many options, the choices, the selection! Aside from actually having a polished manuscript ready to go (and an acceptance letter from an agent and/or publisher) there's no better feeling for a writer. Obviously there's no way to embody the myriad of emotions a writer feels when his or her work is going to be published (I have yet to achieve that "golden moment" as I call it, but I have hopes to one day).

Until then I settle for enjoying each little accomplishment. A story coming together, a character I've fallen in love with and the excitement of entering a bookstore or a library on any given day. (Especially bookstores! I love being able to purchase a book I want to read).

Okay, maybe I sound a bit obsessive, but honestly, I can't help it. I love books. I love reading books, I love writing books, I love making up characters and meeting others' characters, the whole thing is just where I feel I've found my little niche in the world. (I know, I've overused the word 'love' but oh well LOL).

Granted, I'm blessed to have my son and my husband and family and friends, but outside of that, it's wonderful to know the writing and reading world exists. Open to possibilities, impossibilities and everything in between.

What's your favorite part about holding a book in your hands and/or holding a manuscript in your hands?

Have A Splendid Saturday!

It's Saturday

Morning All,

Well, I did a rather not-so-brilliant thing. I pulled a muscle in my shoulder this morning at 6:30 a.m. Since it was hot in my bedroom, and my shoulder was in pain, I was unable to go back to sleep. I got up and had my husband massage it a little bit and took an Advil. My husband wanted to show me a stretch, but I had been up several times in the night because of our son, so I was tired, hot and sore. So I opted against seeing the stretch since I was falling asleep on my feet. I went to turn down the air conditioner and laid on the floor in my son's room for a bit, since it was closest to the thermostat until I had the energy to go back to my bed.

My shoulder is better. My son slept in so I was able to get more sleep (and be way more awake than I was at 6:30). I'm thinking heating pad today! But at least it's not as bad. I can move my arm and my shoulder, it's just a pulled muscle. I was trying to turn over in the bed and apparently was rough with the muscle.

In any case, Conjure A Man is making progress and my editor (Debbie) answered some questions I had regarding Surreal and I'm thinking of ways of how to improve both mss-es. So it looks like things are moving along. Yay :-)

Yesterday I went up to my high school Alma mater to pick up my son's God sister who's going there. I went to my 11th grade English Teacher's classroom to ask her about if the school ever considered having a unpublished or published author to come speak for Career Day. She said she wasn't sure and told me who talk to. So, we'll see what they say. (I would've LOVED to have seen a novelist, editor, agent, publisher come speak when I was in high school. But when I was there I don't recall seeing any of those choices on the list of possible careers--but hey,that doesn't mean they won't--maybe it never came up). I know that some of the people I've graduated with came back and spoke on Career Day. It was cool--I mean I didn't hear their talks, but I saw pictures.

So, what's on your list for Saturday?

Have A Successful Saturday! (Full of fun, too).

Hooked On A Novel

Good Afternoon Folks!

This posting is coming at you courtesy of Regina's question posted in my comment section under yesterday's post. (Kudos go to Regina for asking the question and helping to inspire this post!) Wow. You people have got to continue writing awesome comments...sometimes I don't know what I'm gonna say on any given day and then...WHAMMO! I read my comments and I think, "Hey! That would be a good post." I'm enternally grateful.

Alright, Regina's question was in regards to some Paranormal novels to read (particularly a series I'm reading now). So here's what I'm gonna do: I'm gonna given a list of some of my favorites and anybody who's interested can choose what you want. No pressure, your choice:

First and foremost my foray into paranormal and fantasy probably started with fairytales. If you haven't got a background for that, just look at any Disney movie like Cinderella, Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid or even others like Enchanted, Ella Enchanted, Ever After. Those movies have all the elements. Also, Grimm's Fairytales and things by Hans Christian Anderson (think The Ugly Duckling, Thumbalina, The Little Mermaid) will help (I mean actually reading the stories, too).

From there I entered the world of Narnia, courtesy of CS Lewis: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of The Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse And His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, The Last Battle. Although, I think The Magician's Nephew was originally supposed to be the first book in the Narnia series.

And then the whole thing just morphed into what it is today. Me bouncing around reading all different ones. So here's a rundown of the adult-version of my hunger for fantasy/paranormal:

Lynn Kurland's novels are good. I like her Time Travel ones. I recommend starting with A Dance Through Time or going to her website to get information on reading order. She's got some good ones out there. That one I mentioned was a fun read (although there's others of hers that were very fun). I haven't read her Nine Kingdoms novels. I pretty much stick to her MacLeod/de Piaget family novels. I've heard the other series are good, though.

Ciara Gold has a Sci-Fi Romance out, with a bit of fantasy thrown in. Actually there's two novels that I know of in this series, she also has other books. I've read Celestial Dragon; it was pretty good. Interesting.

Kerrelyn Sparks' Love At Stake series have characters I've enjoyed. I don't know how people feel about graphic sexual scenes, but I will say the majority of the books aren't that way. I really love Gregori. I think he's hysterical. So far there's not a book that centers around him, yet. Start with How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire, since it's the first one. I really liked that one. So far it's my favorite.

I'm currently reading (and enjoying immensely) Michelle Rowen's Lady & The Vamp. It's funny and fun. Although, it's not the first book in the series, so if you want to read in order, start with Bitten And Smitten. I like Rowen's style.

If you want to know what all the fuss is about regarding The Twilight Saga, check out Stephenie Meyer's Twilight to start with. Those I especially recommend reading in order: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn <---in that order. (I also enjoyed this series. But, like Meyer, herself says, they're not for everyone, so you don't HAVE to enjoy them just because I did).

If anyone wants to chime in, just go ahead and mention good ones in the comment section. I know a lot of people are into F.L Baum's Oz books. I think they're good. Haven't read much of them, but I've looked at them and I can see imagination, fun, action, et cetera. Some of my nieces and nephews and siblings have really loved them.

Gail Carson Levine has some good ones out there. They're mostly for YA/Middle grade readers, but I like them. Ella Enchanted, Fairest and there's some other ones that are out there. She has a nice style.

There's a lot to choose from out there, and I've only posted a few, but some of those I love the most. I do enjoy Kerrelyn Sparks' books because those characters are just fun. She often has some witty dialogue, as well. Ciara Gold was an adventure into a genre I don't read a lot of (Sci-Fi type romance) but her imagination is incredible. How she thought of all that is a glimspe into a writer's mind (She also has some other ones, too...I think some Historical and Time Travel, I haven't read them, yet, though).

In any case, do you have any paranormal/fantasies to add? If you read Sci-Fi, feel free to put in any you liked.

Anyway...happy reading!

Have A Story-Filled Saturday!