Reading Limbo.....

This time of year is a swirling vortex of absolute craziness in my day job. For me that bright rainbow lights at the end of a tinsel strewn tunnel is that that I have a few days off over the New Year. A few days to relax, hang out in my jammies and read. Sounds wonderful huh?

BUT... I am currently stuck in release limbo. There aren't any scheduled releases by my favourite authors right now and I really, really, need some suggestions. My current favourite series are
Deborah Cook's Dragons (Kiss of Fate)
Angela Knight's Mageverse (Master Of Swords) and
Nalini Singh's Psi/Changelings (Mine To Possess) In brackets are my favorite books, so far, from each series.

I have on many occasions tried to read one of these books and analyze what it is that I enjoy about them. Use my interest in the story to learn more about the craft. As soon as I figure it out I'll let you know. LOL Every time I start reading one I get sucked into the story again and forget that there was another reason for reading it in the first place.

I need some ideas, what's a good book to read? Do you have a favourite series? e-book or paperback I'm good with either.
Did you just write an awesome book? Let me know, I love finding new favourite authors. Leave your suggestions in the comments, please.

Peering out of my writing cave...

No this isn't really my cave, but it I had a writing cave this is where I would want to write. (This is a picture of the Guilin caves in China. Pretty huh?)

HooWhee I didn't realized how much time had passed since I posted in here. December is always a busy month for everyone, including myself. They are calling for the 'white stuff' tonight but I'm hoping it will warm up and melt it all away tomorrow. I'm really not really for snow. *shiver*

I'm at work on my next book. It's not part of the Believing series. These characters kept hollering at me demanding their turn. How could I say No? As soon as their story is told I'll get back to the third Believing Is... book.

Believing Is Trusting was release on the 5th. I'm so excited that Hazel and Bach are out there. It's still a bit surreal for me. (I'm really a published author? Really?)

I'm going to be part of an Author Spotlight on Melodee Aaron's website for the week of January 4th. Should be really cool I can't wait! There is a chat on the 9th planned so be sure to pop over and say Hi! I'll give you more details the closer we get. I want to come up with a fun contest for that week as well, something a bit different.

For now, I'm heading back into the cave to see what my pirates have gotten up to while I was in the real world. But before I leave....

I have promo goodies!! They just arrived in the mail today. If you are interested in a postcard and magnate then email me and I'll pop it into the mail for you!

Let's start the week with a contest!

I've been hiding away in my writing cave for the last couple weeks, (more about that later. ;-)) But I thought I'd start this week with getting everyone to help me celebrate the December 4th release of my newest book, Believing Is Trusting!

All you have to do is find the answer to this question:

Where did I discover Bach's last name?

(Hint)

Email your answer to corinnedaviesATrocketmailDOTcom. Type 'RELEASE CONTEST' in the subject line. I'll accept entries until 12:00am on December 4th.

2 winners will be drawn from all the entries and they will receive a copy of my first book, Believing Is Seeing.

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter and be automatically entered into my draws. http://www.corinnedavies.com/contest.html

Lest We Forget

In honour of all those who have, and those who continue to serve.

My Gran
My Grampy
My Grampa

A surprise waiting in my INBOX

Another exciting moment! My cover for Believing Is Trusting arrived yesterday. Jinger Heaston has done a yummy job. Since Bacchus is the hero for this story, the grape vines are perfect and I love the bright lime green...or should I say green grape. As for the couple, damn I hope my story comes across half as hot as the three of them!



(I think I'm going to take a good look at those vines and see if I can figure out what vitis viniferia they are. I'm thinking viognier, but that's my day job talking.)

A week in review

So my word count for this week isn't as good as I hoped. I started off well, which I think has saved me a lot of discouragement. My day job robbed me of most of my writing time this week but as of now I am almost commitment free. I have one short article on sustainable farming to write and then I am free. Free to write on what I want to write on and not what I have to write on. It's a nice feeling.

I'm very lucky. For the most part I love my day job, and I love being an Author. Who else can say that they have two jobs they enjoy?

Everyone once in a while I have to remind myself that, because it's very easy to get pulled into the miserable vortex of store gossip and corporation complaints.

This coming week I am aiming to regain my lost words, as you might have noticed I have not been keeping up with my Monday Muse Challenge. That is going to change as I am going to use the challenge to keep my NaNo word count going. I'll post as I go but what arrives on the blog, may not make it to the final draft.

AND WE'RE OFF!!

Big day today! National Novel Writing Month has launched at 12:01 this morning. I was in a bit of a rush to finish my edits for Believing Is Trusting in time. I didn't want to start the month already behind. That is never a good thing. But those have been sent off and will be awaiting my editor when she arrives in her office tomorrow morning.

Currently I am stitting at 1,457. Not a bad start, I would like to get a couple hundred more words in there before I go to sleep tonight. Tomorrow is my day off so if I can get a couple K buffer, that will be nice as well. *G*

Mark this date in your calendar!

This Friday, October 30th I will be at Savannah Chase's 3 Annual Halloween Bash!

It's an all day event but I won't be there until early evening.
(after I get the savages fed. Yes, I do cook occasionally.)

Join the group now, that way when Friday arrives you don't miss out on anything!



I love this video invitation a friend of Savannah's created. I reminds me of the beginning of the scooby-doo cartoons.

See you there!

English 102

The time has come again for a grammar lesson... (aka my biggest mistake on my latest book edits)

The Comma Splice

A comma splice is the use of a comma to join (splice) two independent clauses, where the clauses are not connected by a coordinating conjunction such as "and".

She gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away, the feelings were too raw, too intense

There are a few ways to correct it. Simply removing the comma is the wrong way! ;) There are a couple correct options.

Change the comma to another punctuation mark:
She gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away; the feelings were too raw, too intense.
She gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away - the feelings were too raw, too intense.

Write the two clauses as two separate sentences:
She gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away. The feelings were too raw, too intense.

Insert a coordinating conjunction following the comma:
She gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away, but the feelings were too raw, too intense.
She gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away, because the feelings were too raw, too intense.


Make one clause dependent on the other:

Because the feelings were too raw, too intense, she gripped his wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away.

As the feelings were too raw, too intense, she pulled away.

Use a semicolon or dash and a conjunctive adverb:

Apparently, there are times when a comma splice isn't an error. (They couldn't make it easy, could they?) Clock HERE or HERE for the difference.

As for my publisher, they don't like them. So, I'm simply going to get rid of them all and not argue the point. Much easier that way, and I can concentrate on my other mistakes.

(edited to add)

I almost forgot about this one! How do kids learn these days with out School House Rock on Saturday mornings? Since I'm working on comma splices, this is a good time to brush up on my conjunctions....

Hanging out with Raina

I'm hanging out at Raina James' Blog today, talking about my favourtie time of year!

Come on over and say HI

Contest News

I'm involved in a super fun contest for the month of October with some AMAZING authors. Participation is very easy! All you have to do it visit each of the author websites listed below. Somewhere on their website or blog, you'll find this hidden symbol:


(Note: The image on this page doesn't count.)

Keep a list of where you found them, and in one (1) email send your answers to corinnedavies @ rocketmail.com. Be certain to type Halloween Trick or Treat in the subject box.

The contest is open from 12:01 am on October 1st to 11:59 pm on October 31st, 2009. Entries with all the correct answers will be entered into a drawing. One (1) prize will be awarded per winner.

The names of the winners will be listed on the site of all participating authors. Each winner will be contacted by the individual author of the given prize.

Participating authors & prizes:

Marissa Alwin
~A print copy of Sapphire Sizzle
Mechele Armstrong
~A $10 Loose Id Gift Certificate
Phyllis Campbell
~A copy of Spanish Eyes
Savannah Chase
~An author goodie promo bag and a bath set
Kris Cook
~An autographed copy of Strip Search by Shayla Black
Corinne Davies
~Edible Lust Caramel Massage Oil and candle
Raina James
~A download of Sinful and a $5 Amazon gift card
Melissa Lopez
~A print copy of True Blue Love
Mary Martinez
~An electronic version of Chick Magnet
Jane Leopold Quinn
~PDF download of one of her books, winner's choice
Tonya Ramagos
~An ebook copy of Convince Me
Regan Taylor
~A personalized New Year's tarot reading

Good Luck!

It's almost that time of year again!

We are 29 days away from the start of National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNoWriMo. If you have never attempted this, I throw the gauntlet at your feet.

The challenge is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Sound easy? Sound impossible? It's both. ;-) What I can tell you is when you get to the 31st and you have accomplished what you set out to do. There is no feeling like it. As soon as the clock ticks into Nov 1st you will start waiting anxiously for next year.

I'll be there.

Vote Now!

My story "Believing is Seeing" was reviewed by Whipped Cream this week and is up for Best Book honour this weekend !!! How incredible is that?!

Voting runs from Saturday, 9/26, through Sunday, 9/27. You can find the information here starting Saturday:

Click Here To Vote


Thank you!

Monday Muse Challenge

Better late then never right?

Remember when I said being silly isn't just welcomed, it's encouraged? I thought I would remind you *G* Guess which movie is my daughter's favourite as of late...

As a recap, this was written for Marissa's Mondayish Muse Challenge #5&6.
MMMC #5
Use this bit of dialogue."Yes, and that's when she broke the plate over his head!"
MMMC#6
Setting- A Magic Forest, Character- A Talking Dog, Plot- A Character Gets Lost.

~~~

“R’all ‘ave you row. Rye can rind rim.”

Officer Chuck Realism lowered his gaze to the dog who sat at his feet. The shaggy tail wagged against the dirt path, scattering the fallen leaves. He needed to get some sleep because there is no way his life had turned into Saturday morning cartoon. He did not just hear that dog talk.

He rubbed his forehead with the heel of his hand and then tried to remember what he’s been saying before his brain took a nosedive into surreal.

“Miss Daphne, you believe your husband,” he flipped back a page in his notebook, “Frederick, has amnesia and has wandered off and gotten lost?”

“Rye ‘ave rood rose.” The big dog pressed up against his leg and began sniffing the ground around him. Chuck continued to ignore the canine and hoped that he could finish up this statement quickly. He needed obviously needed sleep and a lot of it.

“And this blow was caused by an intruder.”

“No, it was my friend Velma did it.” She snapped her gum and twirled a piece of hair around her finger.

“Velma is the intruder?”

“No Velma heard the intruder as well. She came down to the kitchen to investigate.”

“This was at the same time as your husband.”

“Yes and that’s when she broke the plate over his head.” She pointed to the shattered porcelain on the floor. “She really felt terrible and came to wake me up but by the time we got back down here Fred was gone.”

“Rye can roo rit.”

He glanced back down at the dog, if he didn’t know better, he would have sword the dog nodded at him. Daphne reached down and scruffed the back of her dog’s neck. “You’re a good boy.” The animal leaned against her leg obviously enjoying the attention.

Chuck replaced his notebook in his pocket and collected his hat from the table next to him. “All right, but you realize that there has been a lot of strange things going on here in the Magic Forest condos. I’ll make sure I file a report and talk to your friend, Velma.”

~~~

Challenge #7...Bring Your Own Book.
Starter: Begin your scene with the first sentence of a book or magazine article you are reading.
3 words to be included: Trophy, Coincidence, Splinter

My First Review!!!

Woke up to a lovely surprise today, Believing Is Seeing received it's first review!! I'm so excited, it's like release day all over again.


Holly from Whipped Cream gave it 5 cherries!!!



This is what she said...

"Amaryllis Bitonu has come back to be with the only person who has ever really cared for her: her granny Flora Daniel who took her in and raised her when her addict mother died. Granny Flora is sick and dying, and Amy is angry with herself for staying away so long. Ever since she was little, Granny Flora told Amy tales of the Greek Gods and Goddesses, but they aren’t real, right? They are just stories to tell a young girl to stir her imagination.

All too soon, Granny Flora is gone, and Amy is heartbroken. She cries in the arms of what she thinks is a kind, and quite handsome, hospital worker. This handsome hunk is actually Thanatos, the God of Death, come to escort Granny Flora on. He realizes that Amy is the lost love of Hypnos, the God of Sleep. They also realize that if Zeus finds out she lives, he will do whatever it takes to destroy her again. Amy doesn’t believe that the Greek Gods were ever real, and believes that Than and Nos are two extremely gorgeous hunks with a bit of a mental problem. And until she believes that the Gods are real, then they have no chance of winning her to their side.

Believing Is Seeing is a wonderful twist on the Greek mythology that I grew up reading. The character development in this book is wonderful, and the gradual realization that Than and Nos love her, Amy, not just an ideal that she may have been at one time is fantastic.

I love Greek mythology, and the research that Ms Davies has done is masterful. I love it when Amy’s best friend DeeDee makes these two strong men promise to play fair; DeeDee is actually Aphrodite you see, and she wants them to woo Amy properly. The sex is, of course, way beyond volcanic. One of the hottest scenes is the one between Than and Nos, with Amy watching surreptitiously from the hall when she goes to wake them one morning.

Can Than and Nos convince Amy to believe, before Zeus succeeds? Can Amy accept two men into her life and her heart? And just what is DeeDee going to do with that leash and collar she put on Zeus? For answers to these questions, and many more, read Believing is Seeing. It is a wonderful, sexy and totally off the wall adventure in reading fun."

Monday has been delayed.

Life has been a challenge of trudging through the proverbial swamp,and I'm up to my ass in alligators. Yikes!


I know, I missed my Monday Muse. I'll combine #5 & #6 for next Monday. For those of you interested in playing along. Please feel free to post your challenge response in the comments. For next week here is the Marissa's Monday Muse Challenge #6

Setting- A Magic Forest
Character- A Talking Dog
Plot- A Character Gets Lost.

I do have some incredibly good news!!

SIREN HAS CONTRACTED BELIEVING IS TRUSTING!!!

How awesome is that!! Is is slated to be released later this winter. I'm so damn excited I could loose my mind!! Yes, Bacchus, Olympus' original party animal is about to meet his match. Hazel is a single mom who works in a library and has no time for wild and crazy. I can't wait! *BG*

There is only 5 days left before my next NEWSLETTER and the announcement of this month's winner. Be sure to sign up and be automatically entered in all my draws.

Vote now! Pretty please!

Mechele Armstrong is a very talented writer and a good friend. Her newest book "Another Night, Another Dream" is up for book of the week at Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews.

Give her your vote! Click HERE

Monday Muse Challenge #4

Marissa's Monday Muse Challenge #4

Create a story about a date.
Setting- by a roaring fire
Starter- The sticky feel of
3 words- Nibble, Tickle, Contagious

~~~~

“I thought the six digits meant a location, not a date.” Dr Georgina Netrom peaked over the granite edge of the embankment. In front of her lay A ROARING sea of FIRE for as far as she could see. The heat flowed off it in waves as it undulated angrily. Ducking down below the rock edge provided some relief from the oppressive temperature. She pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead where THE STICKY FEEL OF blood still remained on her skin. What she had seen today would remain in her memory…well, for as long as she had to live.

“What did you think I meant when I showed you the map?”

She glared at the man who inhabited the lower bowels of the museum where she worked. He was like a CONTAGIOUS disease, so easy to catch but impossible to get rid of. “That map is almost a thousand years old.”

“So?” He crouched there and NIBBLED on the side of his thumbnail.

“I thought you were joking!” Did he really expect her to believe what had been written on it? They needed to get out of here. The sulfur in the air TICKLED the back of her throat making her want to cough.

“I don’t know how much clearer I could make it for you.” He unwrapped the ancient map and jabbed a finger against it “It says quite clearly, ‘090709 HERE BE DRAGONS.’”
~~~~

As soon as I hear what Challenge #5 is I'll post it here. Feel free to add your own contributions in the comments. (As always, all writing is owned by the person who wrote it.)
(eta...)

Challenge #5

Use this bit of diaglogue.

"Yes, and that's when she broke the plate over his head!"

English 101

Currently, I'm working through the sequel to BIS. It's times like this, when I wish I hadn't bagged so many English classes to go play pool. I'd like to go back in time and smack that arrogant teenager. LOL

When I have to teach myself proper English, I decided I'd post about it. Therefore, it will be easier to find next time, *G* and perhaps save someone else the headache. My current dilemma is Than vs Then and this is what I found...

Than is a conjunction used in comparisons:

Tom is smarter than Bill.

This is more important than you might think.

Is she taller than you?

Yes, she is taller than I.

Technically, you should use the subject pronoun after than (e.g., I), as opposed to the object pronoun (me). However, English speakers commonly use the object pronoun.


Then has numerous meanings.

1. At that point in time

I wasn't ready then.

Will you be home at noon? I'll call you then.

2. Next, afterward

I went to the store, and then to the bank

Do your homework and then go to bed

3. In addition, also, on top of that

He told me he was leaving, and then that I owed him money

It cost $5,000, and then there's tax too

4. In that case, therefore (often with "if")

If you want to go, then you'll have to finish your homework.

I'm hungry!
Then you should eat.


The Bottom Line

Than is used only in comparisons, so if you're comparing something use than. If not, then you have to use then.

Back to work...

Monday Muse Challenge

The Monday Muse Challenge is a creative writing exercise started by my friend, Mari.

I'm a little behind so I figured I'd work the first 3 challenges into one post and then continue on a weekly basis from there. Everyone is welcome to give it a try and feel free to add it to the comments section. Anything posted for the Challenge is the property of the poster. Only Positive comments too- this is not for critique or review- it's for fun. Silliness is more then welcomed, it's encouraged.

Challenge #1

desultory \DES-uhl-tor-ee\, adjective:
1. Jumping or passing from one thing or subject to another without order or
rational connection; disconnected; aimless.
2. By the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject.
3. Coming disconnectedly or occurring haphazardly; random.
4. Disappointing in performance or progress.
Desultory comes from Latin desultorius, from desultor, "a leaper," from the past
participle of desilire, "to leap down," from de-, "down from" + salire, "to
leap."

Challenge #2
Setting- A planet far away.
Character- A Pilot
Plot- A character breaks something.

Challenge #3

stultify \STUHL-tuh-fahy\, verb:
1. To render useless or ineffectual; cripple.
2. To cause to appear stupid, inconsistent, or ridiculous.
3. Law To allege or prove insane and so not legally responsible.
Stultify is from Late Latin stultificâre, "to make foolish."

~~~

Dar planned out the ship’s trajectory on the scan-screen built into the desk. The star system that surrounded this planet showed a number of military groups. He would have to outmaneuver them all in order to make it
to his destination.

“Your efficiency in locating me was unexpected.”

He glanced up at the woman who currently examined the collection of phallic souvenirs that resided on the shelf across the room. Her voice had the unmistakable arrogance of royalty. Handcuffed, as she was, her back straight, her demeanor that of someone who allowed him to capture her.

“That was your mistake.” She wasn’t the dim-witted princess he had been lead to believe. Her DESULTORY path through four star systems was proof of that. If anyone else had been following her, she would have lost them.

“I adequately covered my tracks for any dirtsucking tracker. So, what are you?”

If he answered that question honestly, it would STULIFY his entire
mission.

“Apparently, better then you.”

She spun around on one heel, but unable to balance herself properly her shoulder bumped hard against the shelf. “Ouch!” The outburst was punctuated by the jagged sound of terrian crystal shattering.

“Was that an important piece?”

“According to legend, breaking it renders the owner impotent.” Any over educated noble would have known that. She was a plethora of contradictions. This trait, especially in a female, was a dangerous lure to his kind.

“Then I must apologize for ruining your future conquests.”

“Don’t bother. It’s not mine.”


~~~

Okay get your writing caps on. Here is your challenge for next Monday!

CHALLENGE #4

Create a story about a date.

Setting- by a roaring fire
Starter- The sticky feel of
3 words- Nibble, Tickle, Contagious

Get ready, Get set, GO!!!!!

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

Believing is Seeing was released this morning!

After all the time I put into writing about Amy, Than and Nos, I can't believe their day is here. Everything is Happily Ever After with them, but I think Bacchus and I need to have a bit of a talk...... *BG*

Come on in!!

This Friday is going to be EXCITING!!!

I'll be launching the first edition of my monthly Newsletter. Be sure to sign up to find out what is in my basket for this month's contest. Everyone on the mailing list will be placed on my cauldron and a winner picked from that.

There is something else UBERSPECIAL happening on that day! So special that I can't wait to scream it across the universe. But I'm going to make you come back to find out what it is...

Look What I Got Today!!!!!

It's my very first! COMING SOON......



This lovely cover was designed by Jinger Heaston I'm so bloody excited, I've been hyper all day. LOL Now I want to quit my day job and write full time. Bills? What bills? Who cares about bills? I have a book cover and it rocks.

Planning

This book is going to be written a bit differently then my previous ones. I'm planning it. While that might not see very momentous to some, for me it's downright scary. I'm used to sitting down and writing, flying by the seat of my pants and creating as I go. Starting out, I don't know my characters other then having a vague notion. They fill in the details as I go.

This style of story is again different from what I have attempted before, and I need to know certain things before I start. It's all about the details. I'm jumping right into the middle of a catalyst as the book opens. Which means I have to know all their ambitions and desires and personalities as I start. Not to mention the details of the world they live in.

This is my first attempt at world building....kind of. It's more like an alternate universe, set in the 1800's. Which means my nose is in a lot of history books and I have to decide which facts I want to keep and which I want to get rid of. Hopefully, this means any historical facts I might muck up, I can pretend I meant to.

I did it!

I finished my plethora of edits today. Tomorrow I'll ship it back to my editor and then start seriously playing with my steampunk story.

It's amazing how much I learn every time I go through my story bit by bit. First and foremost I learned I'm a 'was' whore. Don't laugh, I'm way too promiscuious with that word. I won't even tell you how many were in my ms. It's too embarrassing. Hopefully my next ms won't be as bad and then the one after will be almost perfect.

I can dream.

Songs that inspire me #6

I know I'm semi cheating...only semi because I have an excuse. I'm up to my eyebrows with edits for BIS. *G* I have a generous deadline but would rather get it done ASAF'nP. The sooner I get it done, the sooner I can play with my pirates.

Enjoy! I had forgotten about this song until I heard it on a late-nite infommertial. it's really beautiful and in a way describes what we do, when we write, what we write.

Songs that inspire me #5

It's been ages since I threw in one of these. (January to be exact.) So here is one I have been listening to over and over lately.



One day I'll figure out what draws me to different songs, but for now I hope you enjoy.

C'est Fini!

Poseidon's Tear was finished today. WHOOP WHOOP!

Okay the 1st/2nd draft was finished today. I still want to read it over and see if I missed anything before submitting it next week. If accepted, I'd like to get a release date as soon after BIS as possible.

I really like how this story turned out. Bach (Bacchus) and Hazel didn't make it easy on me but I think that translated into a better story. *fingers crossed* that all comes across when it's submitted. Considering I was writing about Bacchus, I couldn't help but put in little wine flavour here and there. Bach's last name is Krasato. Which is an indigenous grape variety in Greece. Specifically in the regionThessalia, which starts at the base of Mount Olympos. Also when ever Bach smells something, his comparisons are commonly used wine characteristics. I wanted to work some fun in but not have it overwhelm or take over.

This was perfect timing because I got the edits back for BIS this afternoon. I also learned the hard way that you should never open editor edits, unless you plan on working on them immediately. It took me forever to get back to finish PT because my brain kept floating back into the familiar waters of BIS. I have some tightening to do with that one and grammar to fix. Starting tomorrow. ;-)

The final stretch!

There were a few moments when I though I'd never get here. Less then 10K to go to meet my goal and 4 days to do it in. As long as I have a very prolific weekend, then it shouldn't be a problem. I have a crisis to wrap up, and if memory serves, a hole just before the big bang. Tidy it all up, flesh out a few areas and I think I may pass the 50K by the time I want to submit. Need to factor in a couple days to write a synopsis and a submission letter. I find them difficult, so I'll allowing lots of time.

What you might ask is my plans when I'm done. I already have a big treat picked out.

Nalini Singh's Branded By Fire
Alyssa Day's Altantis Unmasked

They are both due to be released on the 7th, but are already in my local bookstore. It's killing me knowing that they are there but I WILL NOT go buy them until PT is finished. I know myself, If I buy them I'll read them. I have no willpower in the face of shapeshifters and mythological warriors.

I'm also planning on treating myself to some really amazing yarn from Germany that has a very Gothic feel to it. Should be perfect inspiration while I am plotting out my steampunk story.

Getting back on track...

I'm back to making progress on my book,(working title)Poseidon's Tear. It's a relief because I hit a wall about a week ago, combined with general life stuff that knocked me back a bit.

Turns out it wasn't such a bad thing. I haven't made great strides in my word count, BUT that is mostly because I deleted a couple rather large sections. They just weren't working and didn't add anything of value to the story. Scene has no value? = Chuck it!. It seems to flow better now, I think. The potential corner I was writing myself into, so far I've managed to side-step.

I already know I'm going to miss my goal for July 1 but with any luck I will get it all done shortly after.

I hope!

From under a mountain

I've been a bad, bad, bad, writer. I haven't done any in days. So much for my grand plan for this month, my perfectly scheduled goals. All shot to shite by real life.

Life has kinda dumbed on me the past couple days, My shifts have been up and down from day to night. Which is the most difficult, because I find that I write better in the evenings. Probably, because I have trained my brain to work best once the kids have settled down to bed. 'Yea' on my brain being trained but 'Boo' for having to work during my prime time. Toss in a kidlet with an ear infection and the looming possibility of a strike at my work...

My creativity has gone into hiding, and I really need it back. STAT!

ETA: Ever have a coincidence that was a little too coincidental? After I finished moaning here I did some blog surfing. Over at Alive and Knitting Claire posted about feeling overwhelmed and to remember to look at things from a different perspective. Beauty Timing. I needed to hear that.


If there is a silver lining. Kidlet is feeling much better today, and if we do go on strike...I'll have a lot more time to write. I wonder if I can knit on a picket line?

I'll let you in on a secret...

I'm a hugh MMA (mixed martial arts) fan. I've been watching TUF for a few seasons and really enjoyed this one. There is something about seeing a bunch of ALPHA males getting all sweaty and rolling around on the ground that, I admit I enjoy... A LOT.

Oh Clay. You might have lost your fight tonight but your still one of my favourite fighters. I already have you picked as my inspiration for one of my Hero's. My husband was the first to say that he is certain this man is a born Gladiator, a thousand years too late. I couldn't agree more, he is never knocked out and can take a punch like I've never seen. He is perfect Hero material to me.;o)

So far so good.

**knock on wood**

Words are flowing. Neurons are sparking or bouncing or what ever they do on the right side of my brain. My goal is to get a supa good first draft done by the end of the month. If I can do that, then I should be good to submit by mid-month. I figured out a bit of a trick. I stop writing when I still have an idea where I want to go in the scene. That way when I start again tomorrow I can finish today's thought and then I'm warmed up to continue on.


I have homework to do for my publisher, get my website updated, and I'd like to squeeze in some knitting time somewhere
LOL I'll knit at work.

Deadlines work

I have always worked better when I was on a deadline. In school I was the one up until the early hours of the morning finishing an essay due the next day. The projects I did last minute always came out better then the ones I spent lots of time on.

Currently I am working on the sequel to BIS, tentatively titled Poseidon's Tear. Had a bit of a rocky start, I was trying to clean up what I had written before and then decided that most of it was shite and I needed to come at this from a different angle. That has made all the difference. It put me back ALOT, but I'm much happier with how it's working out. If it's accepted, I would like to get this release a quickly after BIS as possible; But this means that I have to get this finished and submitted before the middle of July.

Nothing like planning a tight schedule right off the bat. LOL

Hopefully, history will prove true and dancing on a panicky edge will help the right side of my brain spark into overdrive.

I got my contract today!!

OK, It's official **supabigcheeseysmile**




Believing Is Seeing will be published through Siren Publishing. I'll let you know the exact publishing date as soon as it's confirmed.

I am so excited and terrified all at the same time. Not to mention the amount of work I have to do before now and then. As well, as I'm working hard on fixing the mess I made of Bacchus' story.

I'll try my best not to forget to post here, even if it's to rant about how the party animal isn't doing what I want him too. LOL I have a date I want to submit his manuscript so I can hopefully have his book out not too long after Thanatos and Hypnos. I always work better when I have a set deadline, and this will hopefully help me train myself to plan ahead.

I got myself a large calendar and I'm going to write in it what I have to have done on which days. I'll write in there reminders to post here as well. Also I have to allow myself time to knit because I find that knitting helps me to relax my brain and get my alpha waves flowing.

Wish me luck! ;o)

I might have news......

But, I'm not positive,

But, I just got a phone call that totally caught me off guard and made me want to run around the house screaming.

But, I don't want to say for certain, yet.

Stay close, because as soon as I calm down, I might make more sense.

I want to do that .....

I feel better then I did when I wrote the last post. Thank you to everyone who grabbed me by the back of the shirt and hauled me back up. I appreciate it. I'm still waiting to hear from the new publisher but it's only been a couple weeks so I'm practicing being patient. Oh boy am I practicing, this is so not easy. LOL

Learned something very interesting today...maybe I should back up for a moment. For myself I have noticed that occasionally something will catch my attention and imagination. It's usually a subject I don't know anything about, and normally never think of but then BAM! It's there and I really want to fit it into one of my books.

Today at my tasting for work we had a supplier meeting (as usual) but instead of talking about how this winery made their wine, she spoke about the crop management. bare with me I swear it's going to get interesting....

In particular, how they handle the birds in in the vineyards. Birds are a real PITA for winemakers, because they peck at the grapes and make a mess which encourages rot and flies and other pests. I'll spare you anymore details...or save it for another day if you want to write about wine and viticulture. *G*

What I am getting to is she brought in her Harris Hawk. Yes, HAWK. Beautiful bird who is a wonderful deterrent for the small birdies. She hunts him in the vineyards. His name is Amadeus.She spent the time telling us a bit about falconry and how she cares for her bird, training, their temperament, etc. It was fascinating. I loved it and now I want to work it into one of my stories. I had no real idea about keeping hunting birds, other then they did it a lot in the middle ages and thorough history.
It was really cool and now I have a first hand source of information and research.

I wonder if they would have kept hunting birds on a ship? Better question...Why was there a hunting bird on my ship. Since this is steampunk...is it a real bird or mechanical one? Oh the possibilities..I think this is why I love writing. *BG*

**The picture is of a Harris Hawk but this is not Amadeus.

Am I really a writer?

I really haven't gotten much done lately, could give you all the regular excuses 40 hour work week, kids, husband, a knitting obsession, regular life, but there are lots of people dealing with all that and they still manage to get the words out. I guess lately I've been wondering if this is all just a silly dream and I should pack it in.

A published author said to be recently that 'true writers are compelled to write everyday.' Is was also said in a rather superior tone of voice that I took personally. I don't know why I let her bother me so much. Ok, cool, so she writes everyday and treats it like a job. Well good for her and she should because it is her job. Or I'm just feeling guilty for not doing what I want to do. Dreaming about it but not putting forth the effort to obtain it.

I'm compelled to write everyday..... I just don't get to do it. Sometimes it's because of my own procrastination and other times it's because of outside responsibilities. It's not like I don't think of my stories. They are in my brain 24/7. I have three in the forefront of my brain for the last couple months and when I can I work on them, but it's not enough. I find that I am mentally running through the same scenes because I need to write more and further the story.

It's dark and rainy outside as I type this and I'm sure it has an affect on my melancholy mood. I resubmitted BIS to the editor who had a few suggestions to me but after almost 3 months she still has not replied back. I've sent 2 quick notes in a 'hi remember me' style but again nothing. So I took that as a rejection and submitted the story to somewhere else. Now, I wait again.....

I'm know I'm all whiney today, I'll get over it. The house is quiet, the kids at school, my knitting is far enough away that I can't reach it. One more swallow of coffee and I'm going to get some writing done. At the very least I'll work on the plot lines. Maybe that will help?

The hard question is what to work on? I have Steampunk pirates, Miami ghosts, Celtic treasure hunters or BIS sequel. Damn that's 4! I'm running out of room in my poor little brain.

I didn't realize I was in a rut...

In my day job I often talk people into trying something new. People with come into the store looking for their favourite wine, the same one they buy every-single-time they come in. I enjoy encouraging them to try a new varietal or a different country. It's always a good thing to broaden your horizons.

Applying that mindset to books up to this point, never dawned on me. Yea, I know "DUH!" I buy books like my customers buy wine. I go to the same area, look for the same style, same flavour, usually by the same authors. It was my girlfriend Rozsika, (I so love her name) who talked me into trying something new. Actually it was a phone call with her insisting that I HAD to read this book.

She was right. The book is THE DISAPPEARED by Kim Echlin

Okay so there are some spoilers in here but the story isn't written in complete cronicalogical order, you know what happens to them early in the book.

It is a romance, but there is so much more to it. It is set in both Montreal, Canada and Phenom Phen, Cambodia. Sounds exotic but the time frame is just after the genocide that happened in Cambodia in the 70's. There isn't any graphic violence, but the emotional punch is vibrant. The entire book is written like a memory, a women remembering what happened 30years ago. The way it's written it's like watching a dream, some parts are so vibrant that you can almost feel as if you are there, then others that are muted by hazy edges.

I got to meet Kim Echlin last night. It was great being able to talk about her book and learn some of the background behind the story. She was in Cambodia about 8 years ago and was able to tell us about the beauty of the country and the wounds inflicted during that horrific time the Cambodian people are still trying to heal.

How she used classic archetypes and was influenced by different mythologies. Anne and Serey's love was doomed to end tragedy. That alone would have stopped me from reading the book, I like my happily-ever-afters . I'm glad Rose convinced me to read it. I didn't feel cheated by the end, although it will take me a bit more time to figure out why. This is a story that has stayed with me long after I finished the last page. There is closure, although not how you would expect. Maybe it's because I feel like Anne is writing her story down because it has taken her 30 years to come to terms with the events. As if this is her final good-bye to Serey?

On a more technical side...

There are no quotation marks and the entire story is a plethora of dialogue tags. Dialogue tags! There, out in the open, on the printed page mocking me! LOL It works though because it makes her writing feel like you are watching a memory and are not directly involved in what is happening. The odd time I would loose track of who was speaking but not so often that it drove me nuts.

So be brave! Go out and pick a book you normally wouldn't read and give it a try. If you need any wine suggestions to go along with it I can help with that. *G* Let me know in the comments what books stayed with you long after you read them.

It's a 'What if?' kind of day

What if Scotland had won?

What if William Wallace had managed to escape the English? Would he be remembered as well as he is now if he hadn't been martyred?

What if things had not gone so downhill in 1329 with the death of Robert Bruce? If Robert had lived longer and his son David was a stronger man?

Would kilts be much more accepted? (oh how I wish it was so)

If the English monarchy was a Scottish monarchy...would the system of Dukes, Barons, Earls still exist? OR would their be a hierarchy of Clans and their Lairds?

Would we all drink scotch instead of tea?

How would that have affected Wales?

I wonder what else would be different? Got any ideas? Please write them in the comments I'd love to see what everyone can come up with.

Always write it down!

I don't know how many times I have been given an amazing idea, character trait, plot twist and instead of running for a pen, I've thought 'Many this is so cool. I'll never forget it.' And then promptly done just that. Nothing is worse then sitting down and realizing what ever bit of brilliance had been floating around in my grey matter has now been reabsorbed and is gone.

Worse thing is I seem to get my best idea while driving long distances. Much harder to write things down while navigating highway traffic at 10 clicks over the speed limit.

Last night I'm laying in bed and my brain sparks. Now I was just about asleep and obviously the alpha waves kicked into high gear, but I was comfortable. It was the last night of march break. I had to be up early today to get the girls to school and then get everything prepared to go bck to work. I didn't want to get up and find a pen. I just wanted to sleep.

The longer I lay there, the more ideas came to me. Then things got really interesting when my mental pictures started taking a very steampunk edge to it all. Still I lay there only now I'm flipping from side to side, blankets on, blankets off. I got up, staggered intot he kitchen and found a pen. Stratched down the basics and then crawled back into bed...and still sleep elluded me. It seems that my subconsious is tired of all my self recriminations over forgetting things and now it is refusing me any sleep until I move my butt. I lay there thinking of more ideas and a couple plot angles, and got up again and added them to the list. By this point it is after 2am and I'm starting to consider the possibility that I might not sleep at all and maybe I should just get up and start writing this story.

Then I fell asleeep. LOL

This morning, I remember it all. Everything I thought of last night and I'm sure it's because I went through the motions of writing it down. Thankfully, because I'd really be beating myself up if I had forgotten any of this and really aren't Mondays bad enough already?

It doesn't matter if you are single or involved. Today is the day to feel the love. It's not what you buy, it's what you DO that counts.
Take a chance, let someone know that you care.
Smile at a cute stranger.
Dream.
Go buy a trashy romance and treat yourself to your favourite chocolates and have a nice long soak in the tub.
What ever you do, have fun.

Just playing with words

A shiver danced along her spine, as she padded across the kitchen floor. Was it from the cold tile against her bare feet, or from the man asleep on the sofa? Good question.

Four years has passed since the last time she saw him. A brief glimpse in the life of some, a life time for her. Two lifetimes to be exact. Two different women in two different towns. The only thing in common was that they both always looked over their shoulders and never left a forwarding address.

Regardless of all her precautions fate had stepped in and crossed their paths. Destiny be damned she was not going to be that person again. If an empty shell could be described as anything but female.

Mindless of her actions she went through her morning ritual, for some it was coffee. For her, earl grey. She flipped open the tin with her thumbs and scooped out the dried leaves letting them fall into the pot.

Placing the tin on the counter, the morning sun against a shiny object just inside. She reached in and dug through the crispy mass, pulling out a small cylinder. It’s pointed end glinting in the morning sun.

The warm rays lost their luster as she grasped the bullet, Cradled in her hand. Digging down she unearthed five more siblings. A faint memory of one of her past lives pressed against her egging her to plant more ammunition just in case. But those days were gone.

She didn’t want to live like that anymore. Arriving one day to the next hiding ammunition anywhere, everywhere.

She wasn’t a killer anymore…unless she could remember where she hid the gun.



Don't know who either of them are. I have no idea where this is going but thought it would be fun to post it. Just a bit of rambling to get the right side of my brain fermenting.

Life just keeps on..keeping on and song #4

I know I have been very silent lately. I blame the cold. My poor fingers are so cold they hardly move on the keyboard. Not my best excuse, but I guess it will have to do for now. ;o)

I have been dividing my time between writing and knitting. I'm in the middle of a couple really fun projects knitting wise and that cuts into my keyboard time. Until I can figure out how to knit and write at the same time... now if I could type with my toes or knit with them then that would be something.

The edits on BIS continue. I have the first few chapters out to a frind to reread. I think I am just too close to it because I'm sure that something isn't flowing right but damn if I can see what it is. My goal is to get this resubmitted before Valentines day and then move on to the next one.

I also want to get a couple short stories worked up for Pink Chair and a couple free reads for my web site. Just as soon as I finish the next row....

I'll leave you with a Song That Inspires Me #4. "The Ride of the Valkyries" from Die Walkure. My mum must have had this on an album or 8 track when I was growing up because I distinctly remember laying on the living room floor visualizing valkyries leaping from mountin top to mountain top.

Habits

Writing is a habit. Everyone knows that...but what you might not know is it is a very easy habit to break. Not on purpose but December is such a crazy month that it was easier to make excuses then just sitting down and getting the work done.

Now it's January and I can feel how creatively out of shape I am. I was massively charged after coming off Nano, now I'm so disappointed in myself for letting it all slide like this.

Best thing is to try to get back into a habit. Not the 2 G's that I was aimin gfor in November but to at least get the file opened and read it over. Do some edits on one and new writing on another.

I've got to get these muscles back into shape!