Perspective

About five years ago I played softball. My position was catcher. Now, it had been years (30) since I had played, but I knew how the game was played. And I loved to play. Besides, I worked out. Or so I thought.

Needless to say, the day after the first game, I could barely walk. Getting in and out of the car was torturous and I had to use my hands to lift my legs inside.

My husband laughed at me.

Fast forward to this past weekend.

My husband walked 12 miles on Sunday (that's not a typo). When he returned from his walk, we went to dinner. After dinner, we went back to the truck. He struggled to get into the vehicle, using his hand to lift his leg, then grabbing onto the steering wheel to haul his ass into the truck.

I laughed at him.

Guess it's all in the perspective.

Or…payback's a bitch!

Page 77, Line 7, Next 7 Lines

I've sort of been tagged for this (Jennette Marie Powell listed my blog in her April 5th blog). Taking my current WIP, I'm to go to page 77 (I'm using GHOSTLY LIAISON because I'm only on page 5 of ALIEN DESIRES), find line 7 and then post the next 7 lines (or sentences or paragraphs). Now, if it's the lucky SEVEN meme, why not go to page 7. Just saying...

Anyway, I'm using lines as they showed up on my word document (just in case you wonder why there are more than seven here).

            She would never be okay. "I'm fine. But I'm not in the mood to pick colors right now. Do you mind taking me home?"

            "No, of course not. Let me make sure he's left, though. I'll be right back."

            While Rob was gone, she pulled nearly every paint sample from the display. Maybe she should brace her insanity and let Charlie pick the color. Better than dwelling on her friend's death.

* * *

            Rob pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. This was not the way he had envisioned the day. He pictured having dinner with her. Laughing with her. Kissing her.

I'm never sure what posting these little tidbits are supposed to do. Go to page 66, 77, 99. Why? Is it just a way to get you to post SOMETHING? Oh well... Hopefully you enjoyed this, even though I'm sure you don't know what's going on. How could you? It's only 7 lines!

Writing AND Editing!

I started Book #5. No, I’m not finished editing Book #4.

Ahhh, but I can’t edit at work. However, I can write there. Shhhhh.

Scenes are starting to pop into my head and take over my brain. I have to start focusing in the shower once again or the “daydreams” will take over and the next thing I know, I’m late!

But man oh man, it feels soooo good to start a new story. It feels soooo good to have new scenes in my head.

Right now, the tentative title to Book #5 is ALIEN DESIRES. I had first thought I’d call it TALL, DARK, AND ALIEN, but that title wasn’t doing it for me. ALIEN DESIRES is kind of a play on words. My alien has never experienced desire, and he’s an alien, so that would also make the desires alien to him. Maybe it’s stupid, but it’s working for me.

Titles used to be so hard for me, but now, not so much. And writing while I'm editing – unheard of! Does this mean I’m becoming more experienced? Gosh, I hope so!

What Kind of Writer Are You?

This question has nothing to do with plotters versus pantsers. It has to do with spontaneity. And maybe it’s not about writing at all, but about thinking of what to write.

When you write an e-mail at work, do you struggle to find the right words or put down whatever comes to mind and then hit send? I find if I do the latter, I usually don’t get the answer I was looking for (or I say something I didn’t intend). I’ll read and re-read my e-mails before I hit send – and then still find a mistake afterward (very frustrating).

It will take me at least an hour to prepare an e-mail to a friend (and it doesn’t have to be lengthy). I was just as bad when I actually hand-wrote letters to my pen pals (back before personal computers), so nothing got written until it was clear in my mind. Writing something interesting is hard, especially when life is basically boring (well, mine was anyway).

That’s probably why I thought I could never write. No idea came easy and writing papers in school was pure torture (especially the ones requiring research – yeah, you’ll never see me writing historical romance).

I’ve been in workshops where I’ve been required to write about my characters, or jot down a quick pitch of my book, or just write when given a prompt. I couldn’t do any of those. And it wasn’t because I can’t – because I can. I just can’t do spur of the moment. I don’t think that fast.

I’m glad I finished writing a book before I took any workshops. That experience alone told me I could write. Those classes would have probably shot me down quicker than anything if I didn’t have the knowledge beforehand.

Once the idea has hit me and stuck, the words will flow. But getting that idea is the time consumer for me. That, and making sure I have the right words.

In other news… I got a nice surprise on Monday. One of those agents I pitched to at the FF&P conference had read my first three chapters and wanted the rest of my book. When I first saw the e-mail, I assumed it was another reject (because, let’s face it, we writers get more of those than anything, right?). I promptly sent him the manuscript. Maybe nothing will come of it, but it’s nice to know I hooked someone I don’t know enough to want to read more!

Pictures and Other Stuff

It was a cold, cold weekend! And, of course, we had tickets to the Dragons (Class A team for the Cincinnati Reds) for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, we all wore our winter coats. Forty degree weather and baseball really don't go together well.

And while it was cold, at least the weekend was also productive. I've passed the half-way point in editing Ghostly Liaison, so that makes me happy. I'm really surprising myself at how well my first draft has gone. I haven't found too many places where I screwed up – shocker! I just hope people like the story. I'll find out soon enough, I guess.

I had promised some pictures from RT and here they are. I didn't take all that many. Most of my pictures are of JR Ward (I really enjoyed her panel) and the lines I stood in (JR Ward and the Book Fair). Exciting, huh?

This picture above (if you click on it, it should get bigger) was taken at the Samhain western party. I got lucky and won two books here. Maybe one day I'll actually read them (when you come away from a convention with 34 books, and you haven't finished the 52 books you got from the one two years earlier, well, you do the math!).

Here's the line for the JR Ward panel. I was kind of in the middle. If they were smart, they would have put her into an bigger room (or at least a room where a line didn't create traffic problems!).

This was from the JR Ward panel. Yep, she has a body guard! The other woman up there was the other author, but I don't read her work, so I don't remember her name. Bad me, I know!

The picture above was inside the Book Fair. I beleive there were 16 rows of tables. Lots of authors and lots of people there wanting books and autographs.

And lastly, my picture with JR Ward. She signed my daughter's book.

I had fun and I may go back next year instead of attending RWA Nationals. I have time to decide, though.

So, what do you all think of the changes Blogger made? I'm not so sure I like them. Besides, what was wrong with the way it was before? I knew where everything was. And that calendar? Who makes a calendar Mon-Sun? I mean, really!! Can you tell I'm a person who doesn't like change all that much? This from a person who was used to the military moving her whenever! Oh well...

Have a good Monday!



Another Query - Aack!

Queries. They’re a bitch, aren’t they?

I swear it was easier writing the book then trying to convey 90,000 words into three short paragraphs. Which might not have been so bad if my book didn’t cross multiple genres.

It’s paranormal. It’s a romance. It’s suspenseful. I want so show them all.

I need a hook. I need to show conflict. Argh, argh, and more argh!

So, here I am again, with a query I need critiqued. If you want to comment – great (I value all criticism). If not, no biggie. I understand. I’m horrible when it comes to giving my opinion, too!

Maybe that’s why I find it so hard to ask for opinions!

Okay, so here goes nothing…

GHOSTLY LIAISON is a paranormal romance of 92,000 words.

After recovering from an accident and coma, Bridget Quigley is sure she’s going crazy, at least that’s her theory when she sees people appear and disappear in a blink of an eye. But when she accepts the house-sitting job for Rob Gentry, the hunky best man from her cousin’s wedding, she discovers she’s not going insane. She just sees ghosts and one in particular – Rob’s sister, Charlie.

Stuck in a world that can’t see or hear her, Charlie’s ecstatic when Bridget can and begs the woman to help her move on. Her murder was staged as a suicide, but Bridget won’t go to the authorities without proof and Charlie doesn’t have any. She suggests asking her brother.

Bridget secretly gleans information from Rob, only to find herself falling in love with the guy. What’s worse, he cares for her, too. But a relationship isn’t in the cards for her. Besides the whole ghost-seeing thing, the accident left her disfigured and unworthy. While her heart and head struggle for dominance, she gathers the proof she needs to help Charlie, and becomes the killer’s next target.

So, does it make sense? Can you tell what the book is about? Is there something majorly lacking? If this is the type of book you like to read, would you open the book?

Even if you don’t want to give an opinion, I thank you for reading this far!

Motivation

Writer conventions (or conferences) always get me invigorated to write. Not that I need much prodding in that department, but it does motivate me more. So, why is it after a convention I can’t seem to find any time to do what I’m so itching to do?

It never fails! I come home and laundry, mail, bills, whatever, are waiting for me. I feel like I need a week to recover from the few days I was gone. And of course, my project sits there, patiently waiting for my return.

Then again, it hasn't been all work that's kept me from writing. On Monday, my son and I watched "Bye Bye Birdie" (he'd never seen it and the movie was in my stack of "to be watched"). Then last night my daughter and I went to the theatre ($5 Tuesdays) to see "Cabin in the Woods" (Is there such a thing as Comedy-Horror? Or would that be Horror-Comedy? Or maybe I should just say Joss Whedon! Yeah, I liked the movie).

Then there's my reading. I so desperately want to read "Lover Reborn" but I don't DARE start it until after I finish with my edits. Those Black Dagger Brotherhood books caused me all sorts of problems during the first draft, I don't need it to interfere with the editing, too. And how did they interfere? Well, let's just say I became consumed by those stories. So I'll consider reading the next book a reward when I finish my edits. Now if that's not motivation, I don't know what is!

I'm Back and I'm Bushed!

Conventions are exhausting. Why is that do you suppose? The hours? The travel? It certainly couldn't be the panels/workshops – it's not like there's heavy lifting involved!

Even though I am tired, I did have a good time. Well, as good a time as I could away from my hubby. I like going to the panels, but the nighttime parties are really not my thing. I went for the food (when it was provided), and some goodies (i.e. books – came away with lots of those), but for the most part, I'm not a party person.

I think my roommate had the right idea – volunteer. Then you have an EXCUSE not to attend the parties!

But really, I do see me volunteering if I go next year. You can only attend so many panels before they get repetitive and volunteering gives you plenty of opportunities to meet people.

I was able to pitch MY SUNNY VAMPIRE to a couple of small presses and got a request for the first three chapters. So, I'm now on Plan B with my vampire stories. If Plan B fails, then it's on to Plan C.

Plan C is self-publishing. I attended plenty of panels/workshops regarding self-publishing just to get as much information as I can. I really hope I don't have to go that route, but if that's the only way to get my vampire stories out there, then that's what I'll do.

So, what was my favorite part of the Romantic Times Convention? Seeing JR Ward! Her panel was awesome and I was lucky enough to get one of the 200 wrist bands to get her autograph on my daughter's copy of "Lover Reborn" as well as a picture with her – which I have yet to download (hey – gotta save something for another blog!).

Incommunicado

That’s most likely what I’ll be this week, not that I’ve been all that chatty lately!

I leave for Chicago (and the Romantic Times Convention) tomorrow evening. I checked the hotel website (not the best at giving information – I think they mean to be vague) and while they have Internet, it doesn’t say if it costs or not (so it probably does). Why does it seem like the big hotels don’t have free wi-fi SOMEWHERE in the hotel? All the little ones do! I don’t mind going into the lobby or open area, just somewhere I can quickly check my e-mail without paying by the minute.

Maybe there’s a McDonalds close by.

I’ll try and take lots of pictures while I’m there. I always have good intentions, then usually come away with very little!

While in Chicago, I’ll most likely miss the first two playoff games between the Penguins and Flyers. They play on Wednesday and Friday. This series looks to be a bloodbath! Fights, fights, and more fights! I’ll just have to settle with getting the scores on my cell phone (I finally got smart and signed up for that through ESPN).

I’m looking forward to my trip, just not the inconveniences of travel (lack of Internet, forgetting things, and then coming home to laundry!). But I have actually started packing (gasp) and will finish that up tonight (since I’m leaving straight after work tomorrow).

So…if you don’t hear from me until next week, at least I have a good reason!

Why fly when you can stand on the roof?

What do you suppose they were up to?

I'm off today and this is what I found on my neighbor's house from my return trip from Bob Evans (and breakfast with the hubby). They were squaking up a storm, too.

So of course I couldn't resist and had to take their picture. Then, of course, I had to post it here. How else will I get another post in this week!

Yes, I'm a cheater. Have a nice Easter Weekend!

Third Place

What do you know? I came in THIRD on one of the brackets games I entered. It’s a shocker, I’ll tell you that. No big money (only $14), but that’s not why I played. I just wanted to see if my guesses were better than everyone else’s. Came pretty darn close. Only two others guessed better than me (one of those two  happens to be my husband – he always seems to beat me!).

Granted, I wouldn’t have cared if I came in last if OSU was in the final game, though. I was rooting for them all the way (even though I had Kentucky win in my bracket). Almost didn’t want to watch the game last night because of their loss, but decided to turn it on at the last minute. I just muted the sound (the announcers are kind of annoying) so I could edit. Yep, that’s right – I multi-tasked!

I didn’t stay up to watch the end, though. Those games start too darn late. Yeah, I know why they start late, doesn’t mean I gotta like it.

This Friday we attend our first Dragons game of the season. So far it looks like it might be a decent night out for April (clear and a bit cool). I still have hockey on the brain (the Penguins are in the playoffs!), but I enjoy baseball, too. I hope the Dragons have a good season.