Can't Catch Me!

Happy Friday All,

I'm trying to catch up with some things, including editing and reading. (making progress on editing, but it does take time. I've got a couple of books on my list yet to read).

I'm trying not to neglect the blog, and so far I haven't been too neglectful of it, so that's good.

Got some cool plans for the blog coming up:

Christie Craig's interview is set to be posted in June. You can check out Christie's blog here. And no I'm not telling anything about that just yet! You'll have to wait.

I've got another author's interview in the works. I won't go into details of who or when, since I don't have the when figured out, just the who. So, for right now those details are a surprise.

So all those things are coming up.

Next on the list to read: Darker Than Night by Kim Lenox (Number 3 in Shadow Guards Series). Check out Kim's blog here.

Kim Lenox autographed my copy of Night Falls Darkly, which is the first book in that series (this happened last year in September). Very cool :-)

The series is good...has suspense, romance, paranormal, historical setting. Very imaginative books.

Hope you enjoy your weekend :-)

Have A Fabulous Friday!

What Would You Ask?

Happy Thursday Folks,

Instead of my usual Thursday updates, I thought I'd do something a little different:

If you could interview one of your favorite authors what are some of the questions you'd ask?

What would you want to know most about the inner workings of their minds?


Have A Thoughtful Thursday!

The Highs And Lows

Happy Wednesday Folks,

As writers we all know there's good and bad in life just as there's good days and bad days with writing.

Some days things just flow and editing goes smoothly. Sometimes it doesn't.

Same with a writer's life.

Highs this week: Reading Debbie Macomber's Midnight Sons Volume 2
Getting some editing done
Actually exercising (at some point) instead of just talking about it

Lows this week: dealing with illness (virus, nothing too dramatic, just annoying--but getting over it so that's a medium low and a medium high)
getting lab work done

But you know...if you ask any author, they'll tell you...there's highs and lows for everyone. That's part of why writers support writers. We understand there's real life and writing life. Those things don't always jive well, but when they do it's awesome and when they don't it can be rough.

That's one of the things I love about this industry. There's so many of us willing to encourage one another. Soak up that encouragement and pass it on :-)

Have A Wonderful Wednesday!

Writers' Addictions

Happy Monday Folks,

Okay...this whole conversation I had with a friend of mine about coffee and types of coffee got me thinking about coffee and other things we writers rely on to keep us going.

Chocolate's one of my addictions (and yes, I thank Godiva Chocolatiers for coming up with the Cappuccino Truffle).

Some writers prefer tea, but a good chunk of the writers I know love their coffee.

I don't drink a lot of coffee, but I do rely on my morning coffee to put that extra "spring in my step" so to speak.

What about other addictions? Like bookstores or office supplies?

Can a writer go into a bookstore or an office supply store and not find at least one thing they want/need?

I can see it in my head: "Oh look there's coffee scented pens, I must have some!"

I tell people all the time that bookstores are one of my toy stores. When I was younger I could spend hours just staring at titles and looking through the various selections (I still can, by the way).

There's this huge bookstore in my hometown that's a converted movie theater. I remember every time I've walked into that bookstore I just took a deep breath and any stress, any thing on my mind just melted away. I was in my own personal version of heaven. (I haven't been there in awhile, but I can guarentee that the next time I go, I'll walk in and memories will flood me and I'll have to go on my little exploration trips again).

So perhaps, like bookstores (and office supply stores), that's what coffee also is for us writers. We take in that first breath...the aroma, the comforting scent that tells us that soon we will have the caffeine we need to charge through those edits and come up with ninety different ideas (okay maybe 90 is an exaggeration, but stay with me). Who knows? Could end up being because of that cup of coffee.

Anyway...what are some of your addictions? What helps you "feed" your writing self?

Have A Marvelous Monday!

Drama, Drama, Drama

Happy Friday Everyone,

You know all that tension you feel because one thing or another is happening in your life? Or maybe it just seems like drama happens all around you and it just gets annoying?

You, as a writer, can use that drama and all that tension to create suspense in your stories. Use that energy you feel towards upping the tension, spicing up the plot line and just vamping your story to high level "What's-gonna-happen-next?"

Sometimes drama can be avoided and other times it just rears up when least expected. But if we let it go wasted, we miss an opportunity.

Sure, you might not be able to sit down and use all that feeling right at the moment that you're in the middle of it, but somehow get it out in your writing. Your characters too comfortable? Use those feelings to put them in uncomfortable positions. Have the characters who are in love have a big fight--or create the "black moment". Have danger strike. There's all kinds of options.

But don't waste your emotions. Sometimes authors use what they're feeling to help liven up their stories. If it's not quite right you can always change it later.

Have A Fabulous Friday!

News Break

Happy Thursday One & All,

I haven't a lot to report on this news go-around. I've ordered my copy (and its shipped) of Kim Lenox's Darker Than Night.

I'm still working on the first round of edits. I've got about 150-something pages left of the first round, then I can start the other editing of the manuscript and hopefully have it cleaned up by early October. (In time for the NWHRWA's annual Conference...I hope to go!)

I plan on getting (and reading) Lynn Kurland's April 26, 2010 released book, One Enchanted Evening.

So far, there's not much else to report. I've been kind of "under a rock" because of reading and editing.

Have A Terrific Thursday!

Do Writers Have To Be Graceful?

Happy Wednesday All,

Tuesday afternoon I wasn't paying attention and tripped over the ottoman on my way to my computer desk. I rammed my left foot into it, stubbing my 3 middle toes on my left foot. It hurt big time. I had to ice them down and try not to walk too much. In the evening they were better, but still...

...it's made me wonder...do writers have to be graceful and able to avoid obstacles and stubbed toes and such? Because if we have to be perfectly graceful on our feet, I'm in trouble.

You see, I'm a klutz. Not all the time, mind you, but every so often, I have myself a klutzy moment. Some are worse than others (like in high school when I tripped over a tree stump) and some aren't so bad.

But seriously...if we're supposed to be perfectly balanced, then what am I going to do? Most of the time I do all right, but I can be a klutz and I know other writers who are klutzy, too.

So, are you a klutz or perfectly graceful on your feet that you put a ballet dancer to shame?

Have A Winsome Wednesday!