Emma Sanders

It's Been a Long Time...

2010-02-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

Wanna know what's going on in my life? Read my latest interview here:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3098-Houston-Romance-Novels-Examiner~y2010m2d9-Emma-Sanders-Solves-the-Mystery-of-Love-and-Romance

Is Grammar Really All It’s Cracked Up To Be?

2009-10-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

I appreciate grammar. I do. But my brain usually short-circuits if I have to filter through a bunch of colons, commas, and semi-colons to get to the true grit of the story.

My 81 year old grandmother is writing a story. She pitched it to me. I wish I could become an agent, because I’d buy it without even reading it, just by what she described to me. It’s like Nicholas Sparks vs. Catherine Anderson (and I wish I could explain my own book in such a way). Plus, imagine an 81 year old romance author! She’s got the mind, she’s got the experience, she’s got the charm! I believe in her! And I think an 81 year old romance author could charm the socks off most unbelievers.

I hope she finishes it. She’s one of my inspirations because she’s always WANTED to write, but never sat down and finished (along with my mom, who died before she had the chance). So I decided to actually finish one or two or three while I had the chance. And I hope she will, too.
Back to my point. She read this “how-to” book (not sure the title), that explained the importance of grammar and all the things you MUST do (i.e. don’t rewrite your story too much! (What? That requires another post)) It explained the importance of grammar. So her first sentence, which was actually really interesting but had three descriptive actions, were each separated by a proper semi-colon. Which was very intrusive to me, as a reader.

So my point of this blog post is...don’t apply every “how-to” to your own writing. Because maybe we’re all guilty of disrespecting grammar, but let’s face it: The world is changing, our attention spans are suffering a shortage in this action-infused world, and writing with too many proper punctuations is intrusive.

And you don’t have to be right all the time.

Why I Don't Like Horror...

2009-10-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's Halloween month. I call it the Halloween month because it seems like Halloween lasts throughout the whole month of October. Every time you turn on the TV, a scary movie is playing. Now, when I was young I liked horror as much as the next person. I loved to wrap myself in my boyfriend's arms and let him protect me from all the pets who were buried and came back to life. (Pet Semetary, couldn't watch that again now!)

I'm sitting here at the computer and all I can hear is the show my husband is watching. Just the music and the words that I try to tune out. I don't ask what it is. I don't want to know. But it bothers me, and I hate that it bothers me but I can't help that it bothers me. I tried to remember growing up watching NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and I suddenly remembered that's the last horror movie I ever watched!

So why do I hate horror? Well, it's because my mom died on October 26. Imagine seeing skeletons and ghosts everywhere you look (I was 15 years old, so no longer into trick or' treating, but still...) It was bothersome. We had her funeral a few days before Halloween. It was just eerie. It's been awhile now, so it's hard to explain, but it's also hard to block out those memories when you're walking down the street and see everyone celebrating death. That's how I saw it at the time. I remember many times walking down the street with my mom, and some of the people here went all out with their decorations. She loved it! Thought it was so cooll! I can't reemember trick or' treating without my mom because she's the one who always took my sister and me.

Even now, years later, I hate even hearing a horror movie noise.

So, that's why I yell at hubby to turn down the television when a horror movie is on. Just brings back too many memories...

a Bookmarked Blog

2009-09-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

It's not every day I see a Blog I want to add to my favorites so I'll remember it. I'm busy, and I don't have a lot of time to read blogs (it'd be easier if I didn't have to sit down at my desk and read, but I could read it while I was waiting in line, at the red light, at the Dr.'s office, etc.etc).

However, I just came across this Blog by accident:

http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/

and I've got to say, this Blog interested me. First of all, he works in the sales department of a trade publisher (so he must know what he's talking about ) and next of all, he's interesting!

He suggests that all authors blog. I'm trying. I'm really trying...

Scheduling

2009-09-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a schedule that was supposed to have me blogging this morning. Though I've been doing great with my writing schedule, I wanted to also start blogging again once a week.

But this morning I got up and worked on my story. And I won't let anything (blogging, emails, myspace, or computer games) get in the way of my writing. The only thing that has to get in the way of my writing is my real job. I like to eat!

Now I'm out of time because I have to get ready for work. I'd much rather stay home and work on my story. One day, I will. :)))) For now, here's a hope that I will continue with my schedule. Here's a start.

Going to Nationals!

2009-05-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

The RWA National Conference, July 15-18, in Washington DC! It’s a huge deal for me and I can’t tell you how excited I am.

I submitted an application for a scholarship, and my story won! This is the first time I've been to Nationals!

Did I mention how excited I am?

So, because I’m a little crazy (or OCD?) about certain things, I’ve ordered 2 trip books about DC. Just reading about it is fun, though I’ll enjoy experiencing everything there is to experience. It’s not that I have to have everything planned, but I like to have an idea of what to expect.

D.C. ... it’s not a top State of states I had on my list to visit, but I’m ultra excited now. I hear there are so many things to do, and seeing our nation’s capital will be something I will never forget.

Did I mention I hate flying?

I'd definitely rather drive, but since we own a business, we hate to close it up for a week, and the trip would take longer. We have to budget, too, and turns out it is cheaper to fly, at least for now. I have the vacation time at work, but when you own your own business...well, it makes things difficult. But I'm leaving it up to hubby, who is going with me.

Turns out he already knows his way around DC. At least, that's what he told me. (He likes to play his video game, Fallout 3, LOL, based in DC)

Would You Say I'm a Fan?

2009-05-17T16:29:00.001-07:00

Hubby and I were cleaning out a kitchen cabinet and came across a bunch of coffee canisters we had saved. We saved them because they make great canisters for grease, his screws, nails, etc, but we didn't realize we had so many!

We have storage room again...

No...I'm in no way advertising Folgers (actually I prefer the Organic Coffee Company, but they are hard to find and ultra expensive for a couple who drinks coffee like hubby and I do). However, Folgers should give me a discount for advertising, don't you think? :)))

We attemped half decaf once, as you can see, but that didn't make the cut for me. I like my coffee STRONG.

BOOKS

2009-05-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

I love them! I can’t get enough of them! Every time I tell myself I’ll stop buying them, I’ll do okay for awhile, then go crazy and buy a bunch at once. I have storage boxes full of them and if I had the space, I would set them on shelves and have a library room I could walk into and have them surround me.

Maybe I should have been a librarian? Unfortunately in my small town, the library isn’t that great and doesn’t carry as many books as I would like. The librarian has been there going on thirty years or so and will retire in probably in another thirty or more.

That’s okay. I can still browse the bookstore, the online stores, the library, and when all else fails I can come home and enjoy the ones I have shelved. It’s always fun to go through boxes of books. Some of them I browse through but never read and some of them I read more than once.

Should I feel guilty that I am not contributing to a greener earth by having all these books?

I love all genres, just like I love all genres of music. Sometimes I love to curl up with a good romance, mystery or thriller and other times I need an inspiration self-help to see me through a daunting week. I don’t know what it is about the written word, but I’ll read cereal boxes if that’s all there is. And trying to catch the meaning of lyrics excite me.

Books. Words. Language. Poems. Lyrics. Novels. It all excites me. I like to stay open to and read others’ ideas, though I will always keep my own.

Art...such as books, music, dance, paintings, movies (etc etc)...is a universal language. Maybe that's why it's so intriquing?

Goal, Motivation and Conflict

2009-02-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

GMC. You know the term. Every main character (hero/heroine) must have one in your story to make their actions ring true. Even if your character doesn't understand why she wants what she wants, your reader will want to know, so YOU must know. Ah, so what does a character do when conflict gets in her way? Push through that conflict so that the character can have a happy ending. (Of course, you don't want it to be too easy, and boring, so the reader stops reading).

As I contemplate my character's GMC, I'm also contemplating mine:

GOAL: finish ms

MOTIVATION: to be published (and because I love to write!)

CONFLICT: life, full time job, business partnership with husband (I do the financials and tax season is upon us)

HOW TO OVERCOME: make a schedule and stick to it

***

GOAL: to attend the DARA conference

MOTIVATION: to meet other authors and have a chance to pitch my novel

CONFLICT: money (I have a tooth problem that is going to cost $1000!)

HOW TO OVERCOME: save, make extra money, get loan or don't go

***

GOAL: to get my website back up and running

MOTIVATION: because all authors should have one

CONFLICT: lack of knowledge

HOW TO OVERCOME: learn all I can and get help where needed

***

I've had my head down in editing my current WIP and in plotting my new novel. You probably won't hear from me except sporadically for now, but I am going to try to get back into a routine. Still, my writing is most important and so things like blogging are put on the back burner. :)

A Writer's Symbol

2009-01-12T12:25:00.001-08:00

A few years ago, with the advent of new ebook and print on demand publishers, I published 2 novels within months of each other, fulfilling my dream of publication. But fame didn’t prevail, and the stress of publicity along with self-promotion got the better of me. I overextended myself mentally, physically and financially as I continued to work full time, start a new business with my husband, and try to pursue my dream of writing. An emotionally draining job left (and still leaves) little energy to continue writing when it seemed my writing career wasn’t going to take off. Plus, I felt I had to keep my writing a secret from my boss and thus separate from my life. This made it hard to keep it a part of my life at all. I was discouraged with my publisher and the publishing world in general and thought about giving up many times. I prayed and ranted to God, wondering why He would put this dream in my heart if I was never going to be successful. Mere publication wasn’t, IMO, success. I wanted more.

I finished my third novel, yet couldn’t seem to get it published. I once envisioned this wonderful booksigning event where I would feature a moose, which was a huge symbol in my book, and I told myself if I ever published this story, I would have to find me a stuffed moose to put with my book. I already had the image of this moose pictured in my head and how I would take him along with me on my booksignings. This stuffed moose was almost like a character in my book.

After a year of having my third story written and about 40 rejections later (I wasn’t ready to submit to my current publisher yet), and many months of on again, off again writing, I was ready to give up, or at least “give myself a break without beating myself up”. I cancelled my website (I was having problems with the webhost anyway) and I thought about doing away with everything related to my writing.

One day during my lunch break, I went to a gift shop with a (non-writing) friend of mine and there, sitting on the shelf, was the moose—almost exactly as I had pictured him in my story and in my dreams. Just one moose, for sale, amongst many other items. I didn’t buy him, but kept looking and thinking about him. I told my husband about him because it was so close to Christmas I thought if my husband bought him, fine, but if not, then it wasn’t meant to be.

The next morning, I was reading my “writer’s devotional” (Julia Cameron’s FINDING WATER). It was the very last chapter and, I thought, my last hurrah with writing for awhile. If I decided to take it up again, fine, but it wouldn’t be that important to me. I had way too many other things to worry about and I was just one person. Whether or not I published another book was obviously not going to make an impact on anyone else, so why should I let it impact me?

In this “devotional”, Julia spoke of a writer’s symbol. She explained why it was so important to have something that means something to you and your writing (whether it’s a bracelet, necklace, etc). I knew then that I had to go back and get that moose. It was like a symbol to me, calling out to me. I knew it when I saw it, yet I kept trying to ignore it and push it out of my mind. When I went back to the store, the owner’s little girl said, ‘finally someone is buying that moose. He has been staring at me all this time.” This was affirmation that this moose was my sign.

If I hadn’t read that little chapter the very next day, I may have ignored that moose (though I hadn’t been able to get it out of my mind since I saw it the day before). Reading that chapter was like I had been sucker-punched. If I ignored that message, then I had no one to blame but myself.

With renewed vigor and zest (and thanks to Margie Lawson’s DEFEATING SELF DEFEATING BEHAVIORS), I am revamping my third novel and waiting for the right time. Now all I hear about is how bad the economy is and how hard it is for unknown writers. Yet, I still write, but I write with a lot more energy and enthusiasm now. My moose sits along beside me as I work on my story (now a series), watching over me even as I sleep. He is my writer’s symbol, a reminder that I am heading down the right path no matter how difficult the journey.

The Twelve Tales of Christmas

2008-12-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a nice gift for yourself or someone else, I highly recommend THE TWELVE TALES OF CHRISTMAS by my dear friend, Miranda Koerner. I'm not biased because she's my friend! I had the joy of reading these stories and I loved them all! Filled with short stories that will warm your heart, make you smile and even bring tears to your eyes, it gives me that magical, whimsical Christmasy feeling I love so much. It's also full of good stories to read to the special people in your life, because you will want others to enjoy it, too. Click on the title to go to the order page.

Water For Elephants

2008-11-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've posted a book review, but this was one of those I felt deserved my attention. I didn't expect to like it. Too much hype. I hate hype and will usually avoid books or movies with too much hype (okay, except the Pirates movies, superhero movies and...I could go on). Still, I normally read thrillers, suspense, and romance and normally avoid hype, though not always. You can't publish enough romantic suspense for my taste. This was none of those.

I confess that I decided to read WATER FOR ELEPHANTS because of an article in the Poets and Writers magazine by Sara Gruen's agent and because I thought reading outside my normal genre might help inspire me.

I was not disappointed. I started it on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and only read for the hour and a half long trip it took to get to my destination. Then I read it going home that Friday (didn't get a chance during the Thanksgiving holiday) and I couldn't put it down, even after the drive. (Thank goodness I was only a passenger, huh?) All in all, it took me 2 days.

There was something about the writing that just drew me in to the story, as if I was actually reading the man's account of his time at the circus. Even when he was brought back into his present reality (a 90 year old man in a nursing home remembering his time in the circus during the great depression) I didn't feel like I was being jerked out of the story.

The characters were real, even written from a first POV. Actually, they were made more real in that way. I was disappointed to finish it, because now I feel I have nothing to read. You know how it is when you're finished with a good story and nothing seems to compare. I'll have to let it sit in my brain for a few days before I can get into another one.

So if you love to read and haven't yet read this one, I highly recommend it. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen.

Black Friday

2008-11-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

With all the ads promising sales galore, Black Friday seems to be an event many shoppers don't want to miss.

Except me.

I've done done it, though I have thought about experiencing it just once. Still, I haven't seen that there are any deals worth the fuss of getting up that early and missing out on the time I'm usually spending with family. Besides, I caught the early sales before the holidays, so my Christmas shopping is taken care of and I got a good deal on things. It's not like the Black Friday sales are saving me 50% off the video game my hubby wants, and I found 50% off many wonderful things at Hobby Lobby before Thanksgiving, and I didn't have to fight the crowds.

What's your favorite part of the day after Thanksgiving? For me, it's spending time with family and eating leftovers. We play games, watch football, and visit. Then I go home and put up my Christmas tree!!!

13 Reaons to Be Grateful

2008-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

As we sit around the meal table with our family and wonderful food, let’s not forget all the reasons we should be thankful. Here’s 13 reasons I am grateful.

1. I’m grateful I’m able to feast like this with people who love me.
2. I’m grateful for my family.
3. I’m grateful for my life.
4. I’m grateful for a husband who loves, cherishes and understands me.
5. I’m grateful for my friends.
6. I’m grateful for my creativity.
7. I’m grateful for the things I take for granted.
8. I’m grateful for a beautiful flower growing wildly on the side of the road.
9. I’m grateful for my pets.
10. I’m grateful for my health.
11. I’m grateful to be able to follow my dream.
12. I’m grateful to own a successful business.
13. I’m grateful this world isn’t all about me.

Thursday 13: 13 Things My Cat Likes to Get Into

2008-11-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

No, these pictures aren't staged. She really does just climb in and make herself comfortable. Here are 13 pics of what she likes to get into; later, I'll share what she likes to get on.

How to Craft an Album with absolutely no sewing!

2008-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

With Christmas just around the corner and the economy the way it is, there is nothing more special than creating a gift for a loved one. I enjoy creating this for myself, but it makes a great gift too! They are so easy and a lot of fun. You can make a journal, a photo album, a binder notebook, or a business card album, just to name a few.

First, find the album you want. A binder notebook, an uncovered photo album or, in this situation, I used a business card album. This also works with notebook journals.

Figure out your theme. There are cheap fabrics and left over fabrics you can use, or maybe you have your own stash somewhere. For this theme, because it is a business card album that I place business cards in, thus sharing information with others, I used a pendant that, to me, looked like the earth. I used jewelry pieces that say "wish", "believe", "inspire", "share" and "create". For another photo album (see below), I used red beaded fringe, red fabric, and lady accessories such as shoes, a hat and a handbag. Choosing a theme is the funnest part, and your options are endless.

I could go crazy at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or any other craft store. You can use iron on transfers or glue your own accessories from wood, jewwels, or anything. If you can sew, you have even more options! (Unfortunately, I don't/can't sew).

The materials you need will vary. A low-heat glue gun works best. Find fabric you like and some decorative accessories, like iron on patches and trims. You also need some kind of poster board (I use thick stock paper) for the inside of your album.

Measure the fabric around the album and cut to where you have a half inch to an inch of spare fabric.

Glue the fabric using a low heat glue gun.

Trim any excess pieces.

Measure, cut, and glue any trim pieces, fringe or ribbon you want to use around the album.

Take a piece of poster board or stock paper and measure the inside of the album. Cut the poster board so you will have just enough space to cover the inside, without it overlapping the outside.

Measure, cut and glue your fabric around the poster board. One side doesn't need fabric, since it will be face down on the inside of your album.

With your low heat glue gun, glue your covering to the inside of your album. This goes on top of your trim work, so as to cover the fringe or ribbon you used.

Adorn the outside with decorative pieces.

Admire your finished work.

Here are other albums I've done. They aren't perfect by any means, but they were fun, and that's the beauty of art.

About my love of reading and writing...

2008-11-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

As a reader, I’m looking for a story that makes me fall in love. As a writer I’m looking to reveal tension that grows until readers can’t wait another second to see what happens but hates the thought it’ll be over soon if they do keep reading. I write what I enjoy reading-romance, tension, profound characters, and suspense- and I write with a sense of purpose: to entertain, to make a reader feel emotions they didn’t know they were capable of feeling for a mere story, and to so enchant the reader that they will trust any new book that follows with my name.

Creativity in any form is a constant work in progress. As a writer, you must continue learning. Some writers say they don't read beause they don't want to be accused of taking over someone else's voice or stealing their idea. I say how sad. Reading helps me grow. I believe we are all individuals, and thus what we write will be unique.

2008-11-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my friend, Duckie, I have been awarded this:

Now, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the award, but what I dislike is picking 5 people to award it to next. That's the tough one. I have writing friends and colleagues, but how do I choose 5 out of the ones I do know?

So, because I don't always like to follow rules and I thrive on being "different", I'm not going to link to anyone else. With the holidays fast approaching, I know it's a tough time for those I would choose to link to. Instead, I'm going to rave on the person who sent me this award. Duckie is an amazing woman. If you haven't read her blog, you don't know what you're missing. I find myself envious at times of the things she comes up with. I wish had that much creativity and mind sparks. She posts funny pictures of her animals, different short stories everyone can follow, and other fun things almost every day! I don't know how she does it! As her blog becomes more and more popular, I know she's going to fulfill her dream soon, and I'm very excited for her.

Because I was curious about the blog featured on this award, I visited it (aren't links like this a great way to find new blogs?). What I saw there broke my heart, because it turns out one of her blogging friends has gone missing. I pray for this woman and her family.

13 Ways to Feel Happier

2008-11-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

1. Find yourself a hobby you are passionate about and stick with it. Even if you can’t do it everyday or every week, if this hobby gives you pleasure, try to do it when you have extra time, or make extra time for it.

2. Create something, even if you don’t feel like you’re a creator. Color a picture, paint by number, or hum a song in your head. Start that scrapbook you’ve always wanted to start or cut out pictures in a magazine and collage. There’s nothing more fulfilling than creating.

3. Make memories. I’ll never forget building Barbie houses with a cardboard box and making glue out of flour with my mother. Those are the kind of memories to leave with your children, and yourself.

4. Exercise. Exercise stimulates endorphins, exercise puts you in a good spirit. Exercise has so many benefits that there are millions of books written about it. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t take time to exercise daily. Even a small walk around the block would do wonderful things for your emotional, as well as physical, well being.

5. Chew gum. Smack. Blow bubbles. Who cares if it’s annoying? Chewing has been proven to release endorphins, which is better than taking a happy pill. There’s nothing better than chewing a big wad of bubble gum and then popping it all over your face. Give it a try!

6. Breathe. I know you’ve heard it lots of times, and you probably say you already do it. After all, if you weren’t breathing, you wouldn’t be here, right? Well, that’s right, but breathing can do so much more for you than keep you alive. Exhaling releases wastes and toxins out of your body, while inhaling carries more oxygen, which is vital to your body’s function and carries more energy to your cells. It isn’t always easy to take slow deep breaths every single part of the day, but try to at least a few times a day throughout the day. Think about your breathing and it can become a habit. Make your breathing a more important part of your life.

7. Find a confidante. Talk about your frustrations with someone you can trust. Be careful, though, that this doesn’t get out of hand. I’ve vented frustrations out on people I thought were trustworthy and would understand, only to have them turn on me. Be sure you can trust this person not only to hold your confidence, but also to understand that your venting doesn’t make you any less of a person.

8. Accept each person as an individual. No one is going to be perfect, and no one is going to be what you want or expect them to be. Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t cast judgments on others, when you yourself do things to irritate them. We will all irritate each other at one time or another. When this happens, instead of becoming angry or resentful, distance yourself from this individual but let them know you still love them.

9. Take time to get to know yourself. You’ve heard it before, but this time I really mean it. Really get to know yourself and what makes you angry. Next time, you may be better prepared when something happens to make you angry and you’ll be better able to deal with your feelings.

10. Pet a furry animal.

11. Sing loudly to your favorite song in the privacy of your own home (or in public if you want).

12. Dance with a mop if you don’t have a partner.

13. Remember that joy is ultimately up to you. You are in control of how you feel. Nobody else can make you happy, even if the man that sent you those roses made you happy at that instant. You can choose to be angry or you can choose to be happy. You can choose to react to a situation badly, or you can choose to react to a situation with self-control. Don’t let your emotions control you. You have to learn to control your emotions.

The Beauty of Art

2008-11-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

You don't have to have a Masters
or be a graduate of Julliards.
Art comes in all shapes and sizes
and some may even be awkward.

You may not be able to draw a straight line,
and you may not be able to hold a note.
Your art may only be a seed of an idea
or it may only be something you promote.

But that's the beauty of art, you see
even if you don't sing or paint.
Art is around us everywhere
and our world was created to create.

Happy Veteran's Day to All!

2008-11-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dear soldiers,

Thank you.

Love,

Emma

Believing Mirrors

2008-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share you riches, but to reveal to him his own.” Benjamin Disraeli

If you are a writer or creator of any kind and you’ve never read Julia Cameron, you don’t know what you’re missing. Currently, I am reading FINDING WATER, and it has been helping me find my way again. Earlier I spoke of losing my way and dealing with depression. Julia’s book (I feel like I’m on a first name basis with her because her books are so personal) has helped me in several ways. 1) Morning pages—write every morning. I used to get up and stretch my body. Now I get up and stretch my mind. 2) The issues she has dealt with are issues I have or I am dealing with, and I realize I’m not alone. 3) Her writing is beautiful.

In FINDING WATER, Julia talks about Believing Mirrors and how important they are to a writer, or to any artist. If we didn’t have this type of encouragement, where would we be? Unfortunately, some encouraging friends are good when things are going well for you or them, but Believing Mirrors are supportive through the good and the bad times. They support and even encourage your dreams, even if they don’t understand or agree with them. They help you focus on the positive and never ever let you give up. They will never ever tell you your dream is crazy but will support it no matter what. They will believe in YOU and that YOU can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. They understand things take work, but will continue to encourage you through your work. Above all, a Believing Mirror will encourage you to do better than the average but they DO NOT merely blow smoke up your you-know-what. They support and encourage you, but also tell you (if they’ve read your work) what could be better, what needs to be changed or what you’re doing wrong. They’re not afraid to speak their mind because they trust your relationship and know that you will not get angry at the truth, and vice versa.

I have Believing Mirrors in many of my friends (Miranda, Jennifer, Nina, to name a few!) But I also have friends who know I’m a writer, but don’t really support me or let me cry on them when I need them. Whether they don’t realize how important it is or just don’t care, I feel I can’t go to them for conversation about certain topics. That’s fine. I have discovered who not to bother though it’s sad, because I am always supportive. I’ve also noticed that my best Believing Mirrors are writers themselves. It seems like the most supportive people in the world are writers, doesn’t it? Maybe that’s because we realize how difficult it is to do it all alone, even though writing is probably one of the most solitary positions you’ll find. We also realize that, if we just keep trucking along, we’ll get somewhere.

So this post about Believing Mirrors is a shout out to my Believing Mirrors as a Big Thank You! Many of us may call it a support group, or just a really good friend or even a critique partner, but I like how Julia refers to it as a Believing Mirror. We can’t have Believing Mirrors without mirroring that faith. We have to be one in turn. Are you a Believing Mirror for others?

I killed off a character today...

2008-11-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

At first, I didn’t like the character, but as I wrote more about him and realized his vulnerabilities, I started to feel a kinship toward him and felt bad about killing him. Though I tried to think of ways to save him, I had to kill him to advance my story.

He isn’t a main character, nor is he the main villain, so it was time for him to go, and killing him was the only way. I always hate watching movies where I get to know the character and then they kill him. I don’t want reality in my fantasy world! In my world, the good characters are supposed to live forever and the villains are the ones who die! Unfortunately, even in fiction, that isn’t always the case. I guess time will tell what happens to the villain. Right now, I have to watch my back. He may pop up at any moment...

Writing…My Antidepressant

2008-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been reading a couple of books from Eric Maisel, who is a creativity coach and psychologist. Recently I came across an article in RWA’s Romance Writers Report by Eric Maisel that talks about what I’ve been reading…creativity and depression. It’s something I’ve been dealing with a lot lately.
I’ve always blamed it on my job. Oh, if only I could just quit my job and write whenever I wanted. I wouldn’t get tired at the desk job, sitting at the computer, entering monotonous data into the system. I could focus on my story whenever I wanted and wouldn’t be too drained to write when I came home from work. I had (and still have) a romantic ideal of what my life could be like if only I made enough money writing and could quit my job.
With that notion in my head, I became even more depressed. I can’t quit my job and write. I may never be able to quit my job and write. I may have to steal (make) time whenever I can to pursue my passion and not let my full time job affect my creativity. I became even more discouraged. I wanted to write, but didn’t have the energy. My job drained me, I couldn’t deal with my boss another day, I couldn’t find another job that wouldn’t require me to commute up to 60 miles one way. What was the point in writing? Never mind the fact that I love it. Writing is like an anti-depressant and is truly the only thing that makes me feel better at the end of the day. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, and that is what Eric in his books discusses. Even if nobody ever reads my stories, I’ve created. Creative people are more prone to depression because their life has to feel meaningful. For awhile, I lost my meaning. I published two books, but my life was still the same. It took a lot of work, I hated my job, and things didn’t change. If anything, I had to work harder. I had two books published, what would happen if I didn’t publish anymore? I had to work to get my name out there, talk to people about getting my books on the shelf, set up my own booksignings when I barely had the time to write, much less sit in a bookstore where the only person who comes to your signing is a friend.
There was always some kind of discouragement along the way. If you believe in God, then you can believe Satan was after me. After all, he doesn’t want us to succeed at anything. And boy, did I have plenty of discouragement. My internet at home had its ups and downs (the joys of living out of the city limits of what is already a small town). Health issues arose (that weren’t that big of a deal unless you already have a full plate). A hail storm, family issues, other financial problems. Lightning struck my home and I lost my computer (thank God for back ups). Just when I decided to start blogging again, I lost my internet for a while. Starting a new business while I continued to work my full time job and the downtimes the business had, with growing financial problems. Whew, how in the world was I going to balance everything?
A friend likened my life to pie. I have certain sections that I must take care of and at the moment, I wasn’t. Hand over some of these issues. Let my husband take care of the business side while I take care of the home side. What?!? My husband can run the business, but even he doesn’t want to run the finances. I have to take care of things.
Hubby asked me if I was going to use these experiences in my story. What?!? I want to forget these experiences, not use them. No, but my heroine has her own full plate and is able to deal with it. She’ll deal with it better than I ever did.
It got easier along the way. We’ve been in business for a year and though it’s not enough for me to be able to quit my job and write full time, we’ve accomplished something and I’ve realized a few things. I want to write. I will write because I love it and for no other reason. Nothing, not even my own inner critic (telling me I didn’t go to college, what right do I have, blah blah blah), can stop me.
I lost my way for awhile, but I found it again. Writing is the only anti-depressant I need!

Basket in the Sun...

2008-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

13 Reasons NaBloPoMo is so difficult...

2008-11-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

1. Full time job
2. Business to tend to
3. Writing to tend to
4. No ideas
5. Too tired
6. Where’s the motivation?
7. Is NaBloPoMo over yet?
8. How does one blog everyday?
9. How does one come up with ideas to blog?
10. My brain doesn’t function after work if I go directly to the computer again
11. Exercise is more important
12. I haven’t relaxed with a glass of wine yet
13. I need food

Happy Birthday!

2008-11-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

My niece turns 7 years old today!

Election Day...

2008-11-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to get into what I think of the candidates, and I'm sure we won't find out who our next president will be for days. All I can say is, I hope what America gets will be best for her (and a hell of a lot better than the last one).

Starting a New Business in Shady Times

2008-11-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

How to Succeed in a Failing Economy

Most people would have told my husband and I that it wasn’t a good time to start our new business, but we wouldn’t have listened. Is there truly ever a good time to start a new business in corporate America if you don’t have the right people on your side? Because we started with next to no money and loans galore, we have learned a lot from our mistakes, and we've been in business for one year now! Because there have been so many lay-offs and the ecomony is so scary, here are a few ideas to help you if you're thinking of going down that road.

Use What You Have
With times as they are and no end in site, many people are hanging on to jobs they are either unhappy with, or they have lost their job and have no where to go. My husband had worked in the collision repair industry for ages, so he had plenty of body shop tools. What he didn’t have, he knew someone who was willing to sell a tool. There are some things we had to do without, but we had to watch our money closely and do without a few things. If you decide to start a new business from scratch and have nothing to work with, your costs go up exponentially.

Do It Alone
Do you really need an employee to micromanage, or can you do it yourself? Having employees may articulate that you are successful, but if you are able to do everything on your own, you cut your costs by doing so. Let's face it: Small Business are Taxed, Taxed, Taxed! Not only do you have to pay the employee, you have to pay taxes and insurance on them and worker's compensation. Even if you start to thrive and have to say no to people because you can’t do it all yourself, give yourself time to grow before hiring someone else. Start small, even if you have to turn away potential customers. There is such a thing as thriving too quickly.

Have the Right Tools
Even if it’s just you, tracking your finances is important. I found that Quick Books Pro was the best way to do this, but if you can keep your own spreadsheet, more power to you.

Overhead
Let’s face it. Most businesses fail for lack of capital. It’s important to keep overhead costs to a minimum. Do the cleaning yourself. Have your spouse or kids help with something. Maybe your children’s friends will want to help. Advertising gets expensive, so try to depend on word of mouth.

Location
If you’re good at what you do, location shouldn’t matter, but it does help.

Advertising
Again, if you can do most of this yourself, then by all means, do. We spent a fortune on radio ads, and it didn’t help at all, but we've learned from our mistakes. A good placed ad in the newspaper might help, but be sure you don’t pay for it without knowing exactly what you’re getting. By far, joining the Chamber of Commerce is your best advertising option, but be sure to take all they have to offer. Vistaprint or any of the other online printing services makes great business cards for cheap, and National Pen offers good deals, too. Watch them for those deals, and you may get a lot for next to nothing.

Take Care of Your Costumers
They are the ones keeping you in business. Send them a thank you card, a Christmas card, a birthday card. Anything to make them remember you and to show your appreciation. Go out of your way to make yourself stand out from your competition.

Take Time
If you’re doing everything yourself, you have to take the time to research, learn, enter you financials, make phone calls, make records, and other necessary tasks of running a business. My husband runs the business end, I run the financial end. I try to set aside Saturday mornings, as I drink a cup of coffee, to enter our checkbook into Quickbooks and pay the upcoming bills such as rent and utilities. Because our business is so small, we only use a CPA at the end of the year.

Balance
Though running a business requires time, be sure to take time for yourself as well! I don’t let this business take over what I am really passionate about: writing. Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses and count your blessings. We’re not making it rich (how can you in corporate America?) but my husband isn’t spending gas to commute everyday to work. We've made it a year, and they say a year is your hardest yet. Already we have grown, and that is something to be proud of.

Daylight Savings Time Ends!

2008-11-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

The weather in Texas is cooler, the foliage is turning brown (not too colorful in these parts), and the sun sets a little sooner everyday. Now it's time to turn the clock back, so it'll be dark when I leave and dark when I get home. It's funny, though, that I get more writing done in these months than any other time. I guess because I can't go outside in the evening, and there's really not much else to do BUT write.

The pumpkins are out and it feels like autumn now. Thanksgiving will be here soon and before you know it, Christmas. Have you started your shopping? I haven't!

National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo)

2008-11-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

I’m committing myself (and should be committed) to posting one entry a day in November for National Blog Posting Month. Since I’m not ready to join National Novel Writing Month and because my blog has been seriously lacking in material, I’m going to attempt to write in a month that is probably the most difficult month, what with the holidays coming up.

The goal of NaBloPoMo is to post every day for the month of November. There are forums out there and websites where you can check in and post how you’re doing, but I’m going to have enough troubles actually posting to my blog, much less posting to another. We’ll see how that goes. For now, stay tuned with me. Let’s see if I have enough material (and time) for an everyday post. And let me know how I’m doing!

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

While organizing pictures, I found a few pictures from many years ago where my sister and I dressed up in my mother's costumes. She always went to these cool Halloween parties where we weren't invited, but she always let us share in the fun of her costumes!

I'm probably about 9 here! I'm the one on the right. That's my sis as Scarlet on the left.

And here's my mom on the right!

13 of My Favorite Characters

2008-10-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everyone! Because it's Halloween, I thought it would be fun to list my 13 favorite characters, though it doesn't mean they're my favorite costume dress-up characters. In fiction, these characters were made real with their personalites and background. And I just love their attitudes! These are the tpe of characters who will live on forever. Characters I can watch over and over again and not grow bored. Do you see any similarities? Who are your favorites?

(These are in no specific order)

1. Captain Jack Sparrow
2. Jason Bourne
3. Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman
4. Peter Parker, AKA Spiderman
5. Clark Kent, AKA Superman
6. Scarlet O’Hara
7. Will Turner
8. Puss N’Boots
9. Iron-Man
10. Elizabeth Swann
11. Wolverine
12. Lightning McQueen
13. Bridget Jones

Less than a week to vote!

2008-10-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

No, not for the presidential election, but for my book trailer, ONE WRONG MOVE.

VOTE HERE!

13 Reasons to Embrace Your Creativity

2008-10-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

1. I’m not a painter or a poet
2. though I like to pain and write poems.
3. My paint-by-numbers won’t get me in a gallery
4. and you won’t hear my songs on the radio.
5. But art is a process,
6. and creativity comes in all shapes and sizes.
7. It’s the initial idea,
8. the enjoyment of doing
9. that really counts.
10. Life is an art and art is life,
11. so embrace your art, your creativity, and your ideas.
12. Embrace your personality
13. and continue to grow!

13 Ways to Procrastinate

2008-10-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

A writer's life truly is never dull. There's nothing worse than having the idea but not being able to project those ideas onto a page. Here's 13 things to do instead.

1. Check your email
2. Check your second email.
3. Check your myspace page.
4. Check your phone to make sure you don't have any missed calls or texts.
5. Rummage through the refrigerator when you don't there's nothing in there to eat.
6. Stare at the computer screen in hopes that the words will just type themselves.
7. Check your email again. Maybe someone replied to your earlier message.
8. Watch videos on Youtube.
9. Nibble on a piece of cheese.
10. Text hubby.
11. Post a blog about procrastinating.
12. Walk through the house. It seems like you forgot to do something early.

And finally...

13. Turn on your Ipod to drown out the rest of the noise and just WRITE!

What I did on my day off...

2008-10-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Stayed in my PJs
Got some good writing done on my current work-in-progress
Said a prayer of thanks
Organized my computer
Changed some of my pictures to icons to make it less boring
Got lost in my pictures
Checked my myspace page, which I haven’t done in ages
Checked email a couple of times (what a waste!)
Brushed my teeth after lunch
Still have half a day left to play...

Ahhh.....aren’t holidays wonderful?

Please Vote!

2008-10-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Please vote for ONE WRONG MOVE in the New Covey Trailer Awards.

I'd post it here, but unfortunately due to a lightning strike burnning out my computer and the fact I'm still trying to filter though everything, I can't find a copy of my trailer except what I posted online. But it's there on their site.

BLANK PAGES

2008-10-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

1. Staring at a blank page
2. and not having the words to fill it.
3. The blank page staring back, taunting you.
4. These ideas fill your head
5. but you can’t form the words.
6. You throw your hands up in despair,
7. ready to give up.
8. But then, an inkling, at the most inopportune time.
9. You may be in the shower, at work, or driving,
10. where writing isn’t an option.
11. You have a voice recorder, a cell phone, or a small notepad,
12. and you know you must write it down before you forget.
13. And now the page isn’t so blank.

My excuse for not doing laundry...

2008-09-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

13 Thoughts on the Government and the Current Events (and why do they think the American Public is Stupid?)

2008-09-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

I usually try to keep politics, current events, government and religion out of my blog, but it’s time for me to rant. Many won’t agree with me. If anyone actually sees this rant, I expect a lot of backlash. So be it. I’m entitled to my own opinion and though I should probably keep it to myself, I just don’t want to right now. If I’m not correct on some of these facts, I apologize, but most of this is what I have heard on national television (so blame them, not me) and some of it is what I know from experience and observation.

1. AIG agreed to pay a severance package of $25 million to the previous CEO who has only been there since June. He declined to take it (for obvious reasons), but if they agreed to pay him this type of severance package, how much salary or severance packages have they paid in the past to their CEOs, CFOs, and other higher ups? Ooh, here’s an idea: stop paying higher ups an exorbitant salary and maybe you won't fail, which means we won’t have to bail you out against our will.

Seriously, most banks and corporations pay their higher up employees in the millions of dollars, offering bonuses even when they don’t deserve it. There are many corporate scandals who charge their customers an exorbitant fee, yet use their meetings as a vacation, hire escort services, etc. If you don’t believe me, I have a few in mind that I would rather not mention but do your research (or email me). Just one example of why we shouldn’t give tax breaks to these large companies and why these large companies shouldn’t be charging us loads of money and paying their higher ups in the millions of dollars.

2. Any company that makes over a certain amount of money should reimburse their customers their fees. I know these higher ups will not agree, but stop being selfish a moment and realize the importance of your actions on America as a whole. Money truly is the root of all evil and you reap what you sow. Even if you don’t believe in God, you should believe that what you put into this world will come back out to you. Instead of charging your customers $10 a month or 19% interest, charge half that. You may have to make less, but we little people have learned to budget and compensate in a year of our lives with half of what you make in a month.

3. If you serve in Congress even for only two years, your insurance is paid for life. Where do you think that comes from? Our tax dollars. Ooh, here’s an idea: once you retire or lose your government job, you lose your benefits, too, like the rest of the American people.

4. Why is any government official allowed to own stock? I believe that no government official who has the authority to make a decision should have any vested interest in stock. (Yes, that means you, President Bush). Seriously, they are making decisions based on the American people’s welfare and well-being. Don’t you think they are going to favor something that may affect the company they own stock in, or disfavor the competitors? Why should President Bush or half of the congress care how high oil is when they are making millions off the stock? Again, I know of a school district whose superintendent and the school board voting on using business for certain things that they had a vested interest in. Don’t you think the government is doing the same thing?

5. We produce wheat more than any other country. We have to ship this wheat (using fuel) to other countries. Uh, here’s an idea: charge more to ship the wheat if they are going to charge so much for the oil. But I won’t get started on an oil rant.

6. Here’s an idea: let the stock market crash. Let the rich people suffer. America was built from small business. The stock market didn’t exist from the beginning of time and companies still grew. Sure, Google may not be as huge as it is today, but America was built from small. Yes, we should grow, to an extent, but to to the extent where we become stupid and lazy. Let the small businesses run America again. Let mom and pop stores and hometown banks rule.

7. If rich people and the government really wanted to see the economy get better, why don’t they stop donating money to corporations and instead donate money to individuals who really need help? I know of several hurricane victims (even from Katrina and Rita not to mention the new Ike and Gustav we had recently) who could really use the money. Small business who are struggling could sure use the money. Seriously, if those who made in the millions contributed $100,000 to 10 people, they would only be out $1 million dollars (and could receive a tax break this way) and 10 new people would start spending money again. If 10 people donated $100,000 to 10 people, that’s $10 million dollars that new people have to spend. What do you think those millionaires are doing with it? Sure, they’re spending, but they’re also investing, spending on certain items or brands. 1000 people would their money on different things, and thus give the economy and businesses a chance to grow and thrive again. Let’s face it, the less we spend, the more we’re contributing to the decline of the economy. Sure, you don’t always know who you’re donating to, but that’s a chance everyone has to take. With a little research, it wouldn’t be hard. (Or make it into a lottery of sorts where individuals have a chance of winning once—of course, then you have to trust the people running the lottery, and how can you trust anyone these days.)

8. McCain was supposed to meet with David Letterman last night, but cancelled because he had to suspend his campaign because of the economic crisis. (Look it up if you think I’m making it up.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E However, he was found in New York (same place David Letterman is in) talking to Katie Couric. Uh, if he’s lying about this, what else is he lying about? How is he going to run America during a crisis when he cancels his campaign because of a crisis? (watch the whole thing) I never trusted the guy anyway. How do we know he was a war hero? Where's the proof?

9. No one should make money in a war-torn country. They did it in Vietnam, they’re doing it now. When we’re at war, the government nor any company should make money in the middle of the war. I won’t go into it more, but that’s just my opinion.

10. Ooh, here’s an idea: don’t allow Exxon to have a profit in the millions. Don’t allow insurance companies to have a profit in the billions of dollars. Any profit should go back to the American people by paying on our National Debt so our taxes can be decreased. Tax the big companies and not the little people. Stop giving the big companies tax breaks. It’s ridiculous.

11. Why do medical companies profit so much on their medicine and charge so much for medicine the people have to have? If a generic brand can be made by half, why is it the higher end medicine so exorbitant? It’s not my fault I have to have insulin. Don’t punish me. People are paying so much for gasoline and medical costs that we can’t buy anything else.

12. Insurance controls everything. They control what a certain individual is going to get paid (doctors, auto body repair men, etc etc) yet when you have something happen to your home or vehicle or body part, they only pay a certain amount and you have to fight even to get that. They try to tell you where to take your car (that's because they make deals with auto body shops who charge less labor rates to the insurance companies but the basic rate to individuals who don't have the insurance). Let’s look at how much profit these insurance companies have. Again, a profit over a certain amount should be reimbursed to its customers and insurance should not tell us what to do with it or where to go.

13. Believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear. This includes my little rant here. In reality, it’s little o’ me and little o’ you. There’s not a lot we can do to change the world. However, I can do small things. I can shop at my local grocery store or meat market instead of going to Wal-Mart. I can buy my clothes at a local store and bank at my hometown bank. I can drive my used, beat up car and hope it makes it to my next destination or I can walk. I can buy someone’s meal who needs it more than I do. I can support the little dog, even if it inconveniences me a little.

Thursday 13: I Deserve a Pampering

2008-09-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Life has been so hectic for me lately. I literally feel like I have stuck my finger in an electrical socket and it won't let me go. I'm buzzing around with some electrical charge, my head is spinning and won't seem to stop, yet I can't stop for one moment and actually concentrate on anything. For this reason, here's a list of 13 treats and treatments I'd really love to have. And if anyone wants to treat me to something, my birthday is in January! LOL :)

1. foot, ankle and calf massage

2. scalp massage

3. back massage

4. full body mud wrap treatment-or any body wrap treatment would work

5. facial

6. an evening with chocolate and wine with no worries that it's going directly to my stomach

7. an evening sitting in a jacuzzi with bubbles surrounding me and peace and quiet (absolutely no music or chatter!)

8. a nice, comfy pillow to lay my head with a warm, fuzzy blanket

9. a cucumber eye treatment

10. a weekend in the mountains, log cabin, nice warm fire, and the whole nine yards

11. deluxe pedicure

12. about three months off from work so I can unwind and reevaluate

13. right now, I would be happy with some tylenol and a dark room :)

Have a great Thursday, everyone (and the rest of Wednesday)!

Thursday 13: My Life's Mission Statement

2008-09-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

1. To cultivate creativity.
2. To develop a life-long learning habit.
3. To be green and growing
4. and ready to learn new things.
5. To love like I will never lose.
6. To help others improve.
7. To be there for others who may not know they need me.
8. To keep myself healthy and emotionally whole.
9. To never take life for granted.
10. and to put others before myself.
11. But above all, God is number one.
12. because I owe my life to His Son.
13. And I strive to be good, though never perfect.

13 Fave Songs on MP3 that I love to write to

2008-09-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

When I'm working on my novel, I like to have music playing. These are 13 of my fave songs that really get my creative juices flowing, especially for my current WIP because they just fit the mood:

1. Oh Well (by Left Out)
2. Dani California (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
3. Orange Crush (REM)
4. Sweet Child O'Mine (Guns N' Roses)
5. Edge of Seventeen (Stevie Nicks)
6. Mine (Left Out)
7. Behind Blue Eyes (The Who)
8. What Goes Around (Justin Timberlake)
9. Angel Eyes (Jeff Healy)
10. I Love It Loud (KISS)
11. Wake Up Call (Maroon 5)
12. Life Is Beautiful (Sixx AM)
13. Life is a Highway (Tom Petty)

Thirteen Things I Keep in My Purse

2008-09-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

1. Wallet
2. Personal checkbook
3. Debit card
3. Lipstick
4. Chapstick
5. Comb
6. Pen
7. Mirror
8. Blood sugar machine
9. Glucose tabs (for low blood sugar)
10. Cell phone
11. MP 3 player
12. Business checkbook and deposit slips
13. Small notepad

Just when I think...

2008-09-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

things are starting to be okay, something else happens to muck it up. I had a thunderstorm at my house on Friday evening and, even though I turned everything off, lightning managed to strike nearby and it fried several outlets, my television, computer, and other electronic necessities. I had plans to blog, but since I don't have a computer or internet at home at the moment, I'll try to sneak in somewhere when I can.

This is a good reminder to everyone to BACK UP YOUR STUFF--EVERYDAY! I usually send it to my flash drive, but it's been a while. Though most of my things are backed up, I may be missing some things. I'm hoping it's only the power supply on the computer, but have to wait for insurance to do their "examining" and "adjusting" and everything before I can even get started on what I need to get started on.

I know my problems can't compare to what's going on in the hurricane ravaged cities and I'm thankful the lightning didn't catch anything on fire.

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Brothers I Adore

2008-08-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

Isn’t the relationship between brothers special? Well, maybe that’s my romantic side talking, but brotherly love is truly awesome and since my current work-in-progress regards the story of two brothers, I thought it would be fun to blog on my very first Thursday 13 topic about brothers! So here’s a list of 13 brothers I adore. (Yes, I'm little early, but I have to post when I can.) These brothers may be real or they may be characters in a movie or television show. They may not even necessarily be famous. Can you guess which brothers are real, which are based on movies and or television shows, and which ones are famous? Can you guess what they do?

Sam and Dean

The Jonas Brothers

Daniel and Michael

Luke, Owen and Andrew Wilson

Ben and Casey Affleck

The Wayans Brothers

Blues Brothers

Coen Brothers

The Baldwin Brothers

Farrelly Brothers

Frasier and Niles

Eddie and Alex Van Halen

My dad and his brother Emmett. Sorry, couldn’t find photo for this one.

It Never Fails...

2008-08-15T06:44:00.001-07:00

I spend a ton of money on a cat bed, and Riley still chooses my suitcase.

As soon as Riley leaves, Calypso is on it.

Sandra Brown

2008-08-14T13:03:00.001-07:00

Though I've never met her, Sandra Brown seems like such a charming lady. She's got that Texas drawl and Southern charm. Oh to have a cup of tea with her and chit chat about writing would be a dream come true. Of course, I'd fumble with words because I'd be so awestruck.

I now have my copy of Smoke Screen, and it is absolutely gorgeous! The book is phenomenal even before opening the pages because the cover is amazing. After opening the pages…well, I get sucked in like I do every Sandra Brown novel!

Seriously, I can't explain the cover. It's silky, like papyrus, but not thick and the colors...the texture...the entire design is breathtaking.

I'm going on a trip this weekend, and it'll take 4 long hours just to get there. Dear hubby is driving, which means I get to settle back, relax, and read Smoke Screen! I should have it read by the weekend. Thank God reading in the car doesn't make me sick!

I respect Sandra Brown and love her writing because she puts out one a year, and I always look forward to the end of the summer because of her book release. She doesn't rush, she doesn't have ghostwriters and she doesn't try to go with the trend of say, oh-I better-write- in-this-genre-because-that's-what-is-popular. Her thrillers have romances, though not always we're going-to-be-together-forever romances. Still, they are always happy endings.

And her books always make me happy, because I love her way with words.

Mark Your Calendars!

2008-08-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

My Adventures

2008-08-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

August has been a good month for me so far. I started the weekend having lunch (and pie!) with a Miranda whom I email all the time but rarely get to see. If you visit her blog, you'll see the fun we had! Yesterday I learned that I was one of the winners of SMOKE SCREEN, Sandra Brown's upcoming book. She is my favorite author of all time! I pre-ordered her book, of course, but now I'll have a special one! (Of course, her books are all special to me.) I blogged about her a few years back when I was blogging about the greatest influences in my writing life. Besides my mom, she was mentioned, so I look forward to receiving the book. (And check out her contest page if you want a chance to win!)

I'm also the Texas ARF Author of the Month. That stands for Texas Authors' of Romantic Fiction. And...it looks like Texas might get some rain. I'm looking forward to that!

(More exciting things going on, but that's my little secret for now!)

Step Brothers

2008-07-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

No, it doesn't open until this Friday, but I had the privelege of watching it last night in a special screening. If I had the choice, I wouldn't have picked STEP BROTHERS as the movie I would have watched in a theater, but my friend had tickets given to her from her job and she invited me. I don't get a chance to spend a lot of time with my friend (whom I've known since the 2nd grade), so I was excited about this evening. Plus, it was at the ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE. I've never been there, but I've heard a lot about it, and it met or exceeded my expectations. It was worth it just for that experience.

The movie is what you would expect from Will Farrell and John C. Reilly. Corny, funny, crude. The girl that exited the theater was asked her opinion on it from a reviewer, and she said it was the most awful movie she'd seen. I know some people would probably be offended, but I say you should know what to expect, considering the actors, the screenwriter, the producer. (Hint: Will FarrelL!)

It was crack up funny, even better because I was sitting in an awesome theater with my friend and drinking wine and eating pizza. Come on! What could be better that movies, wine and pizza???

Sandra Brown talks about movies...

2008-07-22T09:22:00.001-07:00

My all-time favorite author, SANDRA BROWN, is at http://goodbadandunread.com/2008/07/22/sandra-brown-talks-movies-and-books/#comment-67360 today, blogging about movies and books. Stop in for your chance to win her upcoming release, SMOKE SCREEN.

Oh...what a dream come true. To win an autographed copy of Sandra Brown's novel!

Don't Forget!

2008-07-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Wild Rose Press wants you to have a SONY eReader!

All this summer (June 11 – August 31), every time you purchase a title by any of these sponsoring authors (see list below), you will be eligible to enter our drawing to win a SONY eReader. The drawing will be held on Tuesday evening, September 2, 2008 at our weekly chat (9:00 p.m. eastern). (You do not need to be present in the chat room to win).
When you purchase any title from these authors simply email your order number to:
SONYREADER@thewildrosepress.com

FREE READS DO NOT COUNT AS PURCHASES. Make sure you have a current email address and/or include your contact information so we can find you if you win.
You may enter as many times this summer as you wish. If you purchase more than one title in the same order, feel free to send two emails and include the order twice. We will verify that you did indeed purchase more than one title.
The following are the sponsoring authors for this wonderful contest. Please look for their author information on our web site and enjoy some fabulous reads this summer from these participating authors. If you click on the author's name it will take you directly to their books on our site.
Donna L. Bolk
Allie Boniface
Linda Carroll-Bradd
Laurel Bradley
Rachel Brimble
Charlotte Chalmers
Elaine Cantrell
Pam Champagne
Christine Columbus
Sandra Cormier
Cheryl Cornell
Amy Corwin
Sharon Cullen
Donna Dalton
K.M. Daughters
Debbie Doggett
CarolAnn Erhardt
Valerie Everhart
Samantha Gentry
Cindy Green
Kathleen Grieve
Larry Hammersley
Stacy Dawn
Sharon Horton
Tara Nina
Anna Kathryn Lanier
Marly Mathews
Nicole McCaffrey
Donna Michaels
Stacey Joy Netzel
AnneMarie Novark
Cindy Spencer Pape
PL Parker
Katie Reus
Jane Richardson
Donna Marie Rogers
Pam Roller
Emma Sanders
Kathleen Scott
Carol A. Spradling
Debra St. John
Lily Stone
Browyn Storm
Leanne Tyler
Brenda Weaver
Nita Wick
Teri Wilson

For information about the Sony eReader click here
For questions on this contest, please contact LisaDawn MacDonald at
lisadawn@thewildrosepress.com

or Rhonda Penders at rpenders@thewildrosepress.com

Please put the words SONY eReader contest question in your subject line.
Good luck!
*No purchase necessary to win the SONY eReader. If you do not purchase a title, you may enter the contest by mailing a post card to The Wild Rose Press, Sony eReader Contest, P.O. Box 708, Adams Basin, NY 14410. Please include your name, email and contact information. In addition, you must write down three titles from any of the participating authors. Postcard entrants will be added to the names of email entrants and a winning entry will be drawn on September 2, 2008.

August Rush

2008-07-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

August Rush was an amazing movie, despite some of the credibility issues. Because the movie was so deep, it was easy to look over some of those issues (such as Julliard taking a child without calling the police and reporting him as missing or as a runaway).

It was better than I expected and brought out emotions that just made me want to cry, jump for joy, and every emotion in between. Plus, the music was amazing. It's a movie I would like to own.

(Yes, I keep saying amazing, but that's truly what the movie was. How else can I describe it?)

Music is an amazing art, however I feel a lot of people try to drain out everything around them with music instead of letting it empower them. I went to the river one morning, and before long there were a whole slew of people with their radios turned up as if we all wanted to hear their tunes. As much as I love music, sometimes it drains me. I thought of the movie and the child, who walked around the world listening to the melody of the earth and letting it empower him and his calling.

The wind whipping through the trees, the birds and their chirping, the water as it flowed down the rocks and to the other side. People's voices and intonations. Once they turned on their radio at the river, I couldn't hear or appreciate any of those sounds.

I used to fuss at my husband because we'd take the boat (when we had one) out on the lake and he always wanted the music on. "My ears ring when there's silence," he would say. My argument was "of course your ears rings, because you're always trying to have noise around you." Why not enjoy the music that nature offers? Why not let nature empower you, instead of drowning it out every chance you get? Then, when you do hear a good song, you can enjoy it that much more.

There are days when I can't write with music. I need silence. But then there are time when I can't get going without music. If you look up music in the dictionary, it calls it an art form consisting of sound and silence. Pleasing and harmonious to the ears. I love how that kid in August Rush found the music in everything he did, and once he picked up a musical instrument he was just amazing, because it came from the inside of him.

So...let's do something fun. If you are listening to music, turn it off. Listen to the sounds around you. Does it conjure up any emotions, any memories, or make you feel a certain way? Use that in your writing (or you painting, or in whatever it is you do). And tell me what you hear.

I hear the whir of the air conditioning, the soft murmur of the television in the next room, and the tap tap tapping of my keys as I'm writing. Every now and again, the computer will prattle. But as I let those noises connect with me, they seem to communicate with each other, and it makes me feel peaceful.

8 Things I Love About Summer

2008-07-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm back and I'm going to try to stick to my previous blog schedule. Of course, I can't promise anything, but I want to get back into blogging and what better way than to do it on the Top 8 of '08 day!

Here's the top things I LURVE about Summertime!

1. Barbecues

2. Swimming

3. Sunshades

4. Camping

5. Watermelon

6. Pina Coladas

7. Summer showers

8. Vacations

Six Random Things...

2008-07-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

I've actually done this before, but I was tagged by my dear friend, THE DUCK, so I've decided to try to come up with some new things about me. However, I'm not going to play by the rules this time. I'm not going to tag anybody new, since I did it a few months ago. So, here's 6 random things you may or may not know (or care to know, LOL) about me:

1. My ear lobe piercings are uneven. When I wear certain earrings, it's more noticeable. One side is lower than the other.

2. I have a lot of freckles.

3. I have a lot of ideas but not near enough time or energy to follow through with them. I love to learn new things, but if something doesn't interest me, I won't even try to learn. If it does interest me, I'll put in 110%. I also get bored easily.

4. I've always wanted to learn to play the drums.

5. I'm moody. Some days I'm very cheerful and extroverted, other days I just want to be left alone. I also have a propensity for negativity and have to fight it on a daily basis.

6. I love to travel but hate to fly. I actually have a slight anxiety disorder when the plane is about to take off. Otherwise, I'm usually not an anxious person.

Don't leave me out!

2008-06-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

A painting, a word, a song...art speaks to us and makes us feel things in a way that nothing else can. Music is a universal language. If you only speak English but hear a song in Spanish, it can still affect you. The blend of instruments with voice is a powerful device that can flip a switch inside of us.

When I'm depressed, music cheers me up better than any happy pill. I'll turn up the music and dance around the house as I'm cleaning. It pushes me to finish that last rep or that last mile on the treadmill. But it can also lock you into that depression if you listen to a sad song. Some say music makes you kill (sorry but I think if you're going to do that, you don't need music to make you).

My art is with words, but I've often wished I could make music. Music is an art that is more widely accepted, and appreciated. I don't know anyone who doesn't sing to the radio and karaoke is a huge thing for a reason, though I do know people who don't really listen to music. It can annoy and exasperate, gratify and entertain. It speaks to us on a deep level. Looking at a painting can bring these feelings out, but there's just something about music. I turn on my mp3 player when I'm writing and there is always a song that matches the emotion I need for the particular scene I'm working on.

Good singers use their emotion. Guitarists or drummers or pianist or fiddlers etc etc use their emotion but put it into the instrument they are playing. When I play RockBand, I feel, for a little while, that I am helping to create that song. Even though it isn't a real instrument, I have a lot of fun tapping on the drumset and drumming up a powerful feeling within me. Being a part of something, creating a song. That game is as close as I'll ever get since I don't play a musical instrument. I can match and hold a note, but I'll never be good enough to actually do anything other than sing to the radio.

Music is like writing in that each author has a voice. I can recognize any song from certain bands that I have come to love just by their voice and their style. Today I want to give a shout out to LEFT OUT. A friend I've known since 2nd grade is married to the singer/guitarist, so I'm highly supportive of them and love their stuff. I just got their next album (before it was released!!!!) and am happily drinking my coffee and listening to it. I don't have the album cover to post, but the one above is from their last album, which is just as good. And if you don't know how good, well here's a video of my book trailer with their song, RUST.

http://youtube.com/emmasanders
(Well, for some reason I can't find my saved version on my computer. Argh!)

Happy Anniversary!

2008-06-25T07:46:00.001-07:00

Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings. Anais Nin

Today, my husband and I celebrate fourteen years of marriage. We are just in love now as we were those many years ago, even if we do have problems. With so many relationships failing (much of my family's have fallen apart), I'm going to write what I think is important to keep a relationship alive.

Love is just like any other part of our life. We can't skip work all the time and expect to keep our job. We can't not exercise and expect to stay fit. We can't abandon our friendships and expect to stay friends. Why should marriages be any different? Yet so many people treat them as if they are different. As if they're supposed to last without any work. So many people don't put the work involved to keep a marriage alive, yet after a divorce you have to work even harder. It doesn't make sense.

Why do people fall out of love with the person they once cherished? Why do they feel the grass is greener elsewhere? Those cute habits become annoying, those moments become something you have to do.

Personally, I think it's because they let it. They stop trying. They feel unloved themselves because maybe their spouse isn't putting even 100%, much less 50%. Here are just few tips that I feel will help:

1. RESPECT. Without respect, you can't stay in love. Or at least you won't feel like you're in love half the time. What did you once respect about your spouse? Can you find it again? Also, you have to be respectful. Bringing up a fault of your spouse in front of people is disrespectful. Arguing with him in front of others is disrespectful. You don't have to make it everyone else's business. Argue in private. You don't always have to be right.

2. TRUST. You can only trust by being truthful, yet sometimes it doesn't matter how truthful you are if others aren't. Even little white lies are hurtful. Honesty with yourself and others is always the best policy.

3. FUN. Have fun. Be silly. Laugh and play. You don't have a act like a grown up all the time. Laugh at your spouse's jokes even if they aren't funny. Eventually, you'll probably find them funny. Show your spouse you still find him/her charming.

4. TIME. Spend quality time together, but also allow your spouse his/her time. My husband has his hobbies and I have mine, and we both respect each others. We also have hobbies we enjoy together. He'll do things for me he doesn't necessarily want to do because he loves me, and vice versa. This is also respect.

5. TALK. Tell him/her how much you appreciate him. Tell him/her when you are proud. Praise him/her in front of others (though not all the time, that gets old, too).

6. CHERISH your partner.

7. CHANGE. Don't expect your partner to change. You be the one to make the changes. Most of the time, he/she will follow and be willing to make changes in order for things to work out.

8. SURPRISE each other! Your man likes them just as much as you do!

And here are a couple of things NOT to do:

9. DON'T EXPECT. High expectations will always disappoint. Your partner can't read your mind. You have to tell him without throwing out accusations.

10. DON'T TAKE without giving and don't take each other for granted.

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.- Captain Corelli's Mandolin. "Love is the beauty of the soul."--St. Augustine

Being in love is wonderful. You can be together forever and still have that "in love" feeling. Happy Anniversary, honey!!!

Be excited!

2008-06-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

"Think excitement, talk excitement, act out excitement, and you are bound to become an excited person. Life will take on a new zest, deeper interest and greater meaning. You can think, talk and act yourself into dullness or into monotony or into unhappiness. By the same process you can build up inspiration, excitement and surging depth of joy." - Norman Vincent Peale

Sony eReader

2008-06-12T04:33:00.000-07:00

Sony eReader Giveaway!

The Wild Rose Press wants you to have a SONY eReader!

All this summer (June 11 – August 31), every time you purchase a title by any of these sponsoring authors (see list below), you will be eligible to enter our drawing to win a SONY eReader. The drawing will be held on Tuesday evening, September 2, 2008 at our weekly chat (9:00 p.m. eastern). (You do not need to be present in the chat room to win).

When you purchase any title from these authors simply email your order number to: SONYREADER@thewildrosepress.com
. Make sure you have a current email address and/or include your contact information so we can find you if you win.

You may enter as many times this summer as you wish. If you purchase more than one title in the same order, feel free to send two emails and include the order twice. We will verify that you did indeed purchase more than one title.

The following are the sponsoring authors for this wonderful contest. Please look for their author information on our web site and enjoy some fabulous reads this summer from these participating authors:

Roni Adams

Jules Bennett

Donna Bolk

Laurel Bradley

Rachel Brimble

Pam Champagne

Christine Columbus

Sandra Cormier

SharonCullen

Donna Dalton

K.M. Daughters

Debbie Doggett

CarolAnn Erhardt

Valerie Everhart

Cindy Green

Kathleen Grieve

Larry Hammersley

Stacy Dawn

Sharon Horton

Tara Haff

Anna Kathryn Lanier

Kat Mancos

Marly Mathews

Nicole McCaffrey

Devin McKee

Sandy Wichersham McWhorter

Donna Michaels

Stacey Joy Netzel

AnneMarie Novark

Amy Corwin

Cindy Pape

PL Parker

Katie Reus

Jane Richardson

Deborah Rittle

Jennifer Robins

Donna Marie Rogers

Emma Sanders

Robin Shope

Misty Simon

Carol Spradling

Lily Stone

Browyn Storm

Beth Trissel

Leanne Tyler

Brenda Weaver

Nita Wick

Teri Wilson

For information about the Sony eReader click here

For questions on this contest, please contact LisaDawn MacDonald at lisadawn@thewildrosepress.com
, or Martha K at Martha@thewildrosepress.com
, or Rhonda Penders at rpenders@thewildrosepress.com
. Please put the words SONY eReader contest question in your subject line.

Good luck!

*No purchase necessary to win the SONY eReader. If you do not purchase a title, you may enter the contest by mailing a post card to The Wild Rose Press, Sony eReader Contest, P.O. Box 708, Adams Basin, NY 14410. Please include your name, email and contact information. In addition, you must write down three titles from any of the participating authors. Postcard entrants will be added to the names of email entrants and a winning entry will be drawn on September 2, 2008.

No Country for Old Men

2008-06-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my blogging hiatus has taken a hiatus and I'm skipping over my tentative blogging schedule (which I haven't stuck to) to do an early movie review.

After a hard weekend of working, my hubby and I cooked dinner and sat down to relax and watch NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. I didn't expect to like this movie, but I was quickly enthralled. Twenty or so minutes before the movie ended, that enthrallment turned to disgust, anger and disappointment.

If you haven't seen the movie but want to, please stop reading. This is a spoiler.

The writers got lazy or something. Here's a tip on what not to do when writing. Don't make almost the entire movie about one particular person and the events of his life. Everything is okay and then the sheriff comes on scene and the guy is dead. DEAD! We don't see his POV, we don't see what happened. Suddenly, he's dead. Later, the same thing happens to his wife. We're pretty sure it's going to happen and she's going go die. At least we see her POV for a brief moment. Then, the killer is walking out the door, which leads us to believe she is dead.

It cuts to the sheriff. Now I'm already zoning out at this time. I'm already pretty upset. How many authors pour blood sweat and tears into their manuscripts and do everything they should do, yet still get rejected? And this movie won Oscars!!!! They skipped the most important events and just made us piece it together ourselves. Unbelievable!

Some writers think that not tidying up their story at the end will make it special. It doesn't. It makes it disappointing!!!!!

They could have done so much more with this movie. It had such potential. Yes, it was about the sheriff and the villain, but it was also about the character who found the money...Llewelyn. It's like the writers, directors and producers (the highly acclaimed Coen brothers!) thought we--the viewers--weren't important enough that we would care what happened to Llewelyn. I expected him to die. Yes, I like happy endings and get upset when it's not a happy ending, but I don't expect happy endings in the movies I watch (especially now, because it seems like there are less happy endings in movies these days). This movie made me feel cheated because it skipped over the most important events. All of a sudden, the character we have grown close to is dead. We walk up upon him and he is dead. We have been involved in his life but weren't involved in this part. It's like the writers didn't know what to do. So hey, let's kill him, show the guys getting away in a pickup truck, and then the sheriff pulls up and finds him dead.

Sigh.

If you want to know how best to make a viewer (or reader) feel cheated, watch NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.

If you're in the area...

2008-06-01T10:43:00.001-07:00

...be sure to stop by Boomerang Books and meet a fabulous line up of authors (including me!) Readings, give-aways, trivia hunts AND...BROWNIES!!! Who can resist brownies?

I can't wait!

League City is near Houston and the luscious beaches of Galveston, TX! Brownies AND beaches! Ahh...I doubt I'll make it to the beach but I can dream, can't I?

By the way, in case you haven't heard of the Texas Authors of Romance Fiction, we are a fun and diverse group. Romantic suspense, erotica, paranormal and historical authors, to name a few.

Blogging Hiatus

2008-05-30T04:01:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy that I haven't been blogging, so I thought it was fair to let my readers (if there are any) know that I probably won't be blogging for awhile. I just have too much to do, and keeping up with the blog is one more stress I can't deal with right now.

I would blog about the stress and excitements of getting our business moved, but I haven't had a lot of time to even think about that. Well, actually I have had some thoughts. Corporate America makes it more difficult than ever to own a small, two-person operation business. It's sad, really, because that's how America started out. It's like we've forgotten our roots and now money is what drives most people. The more people there are, the more rules we have to follow. Don't get me wrong, rules are a good thing, but huge corporations have the money and the manpower that they can break rules easier or slip past them and make their own.

Collision repair shops are probably one of the most difficult businesses, IMO, because it deals with paint, thinners, and pollution problems. You have to make sure you're up to code on everything. Not enough capital is the reason most start-up businesses fail, but you can use all your capital just making sure you are up to code and have all the permits you need.

Because we are small, with a minute amount of capital, my husband and I along with his partner (my dad) are trying to do the majority of things (the move, changing over everything, the cleaning, etc) by ourselves. Because I work full time (and not with this business) and I have to write or else, I have to look at other things to drop. Writing is my anti-depressant, and I've actually been doing a lot of it lately. I guess the stress of everything has pushed me to write write write, so I'm going to take a blogging break. It's not like I was blogging much anyway, LOL.

I will be back and I'm going to try to do my Top 8 of '08, my Spotlights, etc. I just can't stick to my schedule right now and can't say when I'll be here, but you can always find me out and about somewhere on the internet.

Spotlight on: M.G. Braden

2008-05-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

Tell me about yourself. Do you write under a particular genre, or several?

I write Contemporary - usually just straight contemporary, but I do have a paranormal coming out on August 1st and right now I'm working on a ST that will have action/adventure elements.

How long have you been writing?

I've been writing since high school. I started my first romance when I was in Grade 10. It was going to be for HQ. I still have those pages - typewritten, no less. I described my heroine's outfit in great detail - especially her peach suede suite and strappy sandals! LOL It was very typical of what I was reading in romances at that time.

Where do you get your inspiration?

As with most writers, I'm sure, it is often from people or situations I am familiar with or sometimes I think "what if..."

Do you have a writing routine?

When I have a book due I write every night as soon as the house is quiet. I usually go into a chat room with some other writers and we do writing challenges where we write as much as we can in 20 minutes. It really motivates me. I need to do that even when I don't have a book due and it's something I struggle with. I'm much better with a deadline. It forces me to write.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer?

Just actually doing the writing. Sitting down and writing without being distracted by the internet, email, my kids, life, etc. Because (when not on contract - which I've only been lucky enough to have twice before the actual book was completed) I'm only accountable to myself and it is much easier to just do other things, especially with all of my other obligations.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

I have a huge imagination and I like seeing that take shape, instead of it just swirling around and driving me batty. It takes it out of my head and on to paper where I hope, someday, someone will read and enjoy it.

What do you dislike about writing?

I'm not sure there's anything I actually dislike about writing. Although, I guess I could say not knowing where I'm going and being afraid that I have nothing left to say and an entire book of blank pages looming before me.

What do you enjoy in your spare time? Do you have any collections? Hobbies?

I have three kids between the ages of 2 and 8, so I don't have a lot of spare time LOL. But, I do sing on the Worship Team and volunteer at our church. It helps keep me grounded. Singing has always helped to relax me.

What’s your favorite color?

Blue

If you could drive any vehicle, with money as no object, what would it be?

A Hummer - yes, I know, not practical, not good for the environment, there really isn't as much room as one would think... I don't care. I want one. For all sorts of reasons. ;-)

What’s your favorite genre to read?

Romantic Suspense

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with other writers?

Find yourself a good support group and a good critique partner. Both are invaluable. You need the writing support group as a place to go to where people understand what you're doing and why. You need the critique partner because you should always have someone objective read your work. Husbands/wives, family members aren't usually objective. You need to find a critique partner that actually works for you and it may take some time to find the right person. I was lucky and got mine on the first try. It was a fluke and we write completely different genres, but that has worked for us.

What is your biggest writing annoyance, i.e. too much noise, not enough light, or can you write just about anywhere?

I can't have my kids running around me when I write. I get too caught up in what they are doing instead of what I should be doing. Most other things I can tune out.

Who is your biggest supporter? How does he/she support you?

My husband. He believes I can do or be anything I want. He completely believes I have it in me to write a bestseller - if I could only channel that on to my pages! He cleans up after dinner and puts the kids to bed so I can deal with the business of writing.

What’s your favorite food?

Salmon

What's the one book you'd love to write but could never publish?

Hmm, I'm not sure. I hope that all the books I write will be published. At this point I don't think there's a story in my head that I need to write, but that I don't want to actually have published.

How do you plan your characters (charts, off the flow, etc.?) How do you organize your books?

I'm a pantser so I don't plan anything. I just write.

Do you have any pet peeves? How about when it comes to novels?

Who doesn't? LOL How about driver's who cut you off and then avoid your eyes as you drive by them later, because then they can pretend they didn't actually "see" that you were there? Yeah. OK, buddy.

When it comes to novels all I have to say is... Please don't head-hop. It's really annoying. And yes, I know some of the great writer's in our genre do it, but that doesn't mean it's a good way to write. Some of those authors tell a tale so well that you are sucked in despite the head-hopping. If you write that well, more power to you. If you don't, then learn to write in one POV per scene - it's harder, but it's well worth it.

If you had to pick a vegetable most resembling your personality, what veggie would you pick and why?

A pumpkin, because it's got a hard shell with many different lumps and bumps and a soft gooey middle. Honestly? I've never thought about this before, so hopefully this answer works! LOL

What’s your dream vacation?

Somewhere with a turquoise blue ocean, soft as silk sand beaches, swim-up bars at the pool, lots of sunshine, my dh and a stack of books beside me and my kids off enjoying the kids club for the day.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on a single title romance with action/adventure elements with a feisty heroine who makes me smile and a slightly mysterious hero who I think is rather hot. My hopes are that this book would be the first in a series.

What are your future plans?

I'd like to find an agent this year and then hopefully can write at least two full-length books a year, as well as a few shorter ones. My comfort zone is in writing novellas, but I need to stretch that in order to get a NYC contract. That's what I hope the next couple of years brings for me.

Besides writing and without limitations, what is your dream career?

In the dream world I'd be a singer, but in the real world the other career I'd like would be to be an OB/GYN nurse.

Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?

I love making people feel emotions with my words. If I've made you laugh or cry, or even just smile, then I've done what I set out to do. If I can take you away from your real world while you are reading my book, so that you didn't notice the passing of time, then I'd be very happy.

Would you like to share an excerpt of your work?

Sure... here's an excerpt from my upcoming book Vampire Oracle: Harmony coming out August 1, 2008 with Cobblestone Press:

She couldn’t stop looking at it. The way it twinkled in the sunlight, or under any light for that matter. She lifted her hand again, trying to catch the reflections in the diamond. She laughed aloud, giddy with happiness. They’d spent the last hour talking, but it still distracted her.

“So I guess that means you like it?” Marc Brodeur quirked one brow, his lips pursed in amusement.

“As a matter of fact, I don’t like it.” Kara Staten twirled about, trying to catch the sunlight in her ring one more time. She stopped in front of Marc and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love it!”

She gazed up into Marc’s blue eyes and was sure she saw forever written there. Finally. I have my forever. Tugging his head down, she arched her neck to touch her lips to his. She put everything she had into that kiss. Everything she felt. She didn’t care that they were standing in the middle of the town’s central park. Didn’t care if people were watching. All she cared about was the sizzle that shocked her every time they kissed, every time they touched. It was no different now, as the moment his lips touched hers a spark shot through her system—like having pins and needles zing through her body, but better. Kara swore she could feel an actual buzz at her hip.

Wait, a buzz? She groaned, and pushed back from Marc. “My cell is ringing. Damn, I missed it.”

Marc looked confused. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“I know. I had it on vibrate. What I thought was the thrill of your embrace turned out to be my cell phone ringing.”

Thanks, M.G.!

M.G. BRADEN'S WEBSITE
M.G. BRADEN'S BLOG

Revision Hell

2008-05-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's what I'm in right now. It's hell because let's face it, when you've read the same story a dozen times, you get to the point where you just don't want to do it again. You overlook things. Deep inside, I know there are things I need to change, but it takes my wonderful critique partners to finally convince me.

Take the setting. I love how authors make the setting like a character and certain authors do it very well. However, just because I love to write it doesn't mean a reader is going to love to read it.

I thought writing was supposed to get easier, not harder. It's so hard because I want to be writing, but I have to go to work, so all I can think about when I'm at work is how much I would like to be home writing and when I get home to write, I'm so tired. Finding a happy balance is so difficult, especially when you're close to the end of the story but you have to start over.

My critique partner--thanks Miranda!--likened my story to this:

"It's kinda set up like a chick on a treadmill right now. Lots of action--introspective thinking--why am I fat?. Then--holy s***, someone put a chocolate cake a few feet from the fat girl."

ROFL.

She's not being cruel, she's being honest, and I'm grateful for that. I know she's right, and now I have to fix it.

Cause and Effect. Cause and Effect. Cause and Effect. That mantra keeps going over and over in my mind.

I've done everything in this story that you shouldn't do: too much description, too many characters, too many subplots and everything is explained in the last chapter. It's like I had to write something so horrible before I could make it good. Why oh why didn't I listen to my instincts in the first place?

Running and Growing a Business

2008-05-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Many of you may remember when I mentioned my husband and I were starting a small business, yet I continue to work full time AND pursue my writing. It's a small business that we have operated out of a shop on the property we own about 5 miles out of the city limits, so we depend on a lot of word of mouth and advertising. We've wanted to lease something in town, and that opportunity has come up.

It's scary and exciting, all at the same time. We're either going to fail miserably or succeed well enough to survive. I don't think we're going to fail, but it's going to be stressful for awhile. I don't make enough money writing to help us out through the slow spells, and I darn sure don't make enough in my full time job. Moving the business we have is going to be like starting over again. We have to have initial deposits to get things running, transfers done to certain accounts (phone, internet and other normal business expenses), plus add more overhead costs.

It's been a dream of ours for a long time. My husband has commuted (the shortest distance was 45 miles one way) for years. He can no longer commute. It's either succeed at our business, or sell everything and move.

Who would have ever thought I'd be a business woman? I can't believe it's happening, I'm not sure it's going to happen, and I've been praying a lot about this. All I can do is hand it over to God and trust that He is going to provide...

So far, He has. :)

Get started now!

2008-05-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today." - Nolan Bushnell

I hate to use my dear hubby as an example, but I have to. He has ideas that blow my mind sometimes, but he doesn't do anything with them. He has personal goals, but he's always too busy (or too tired after being too busy) to pursue them.

Don't get me wrong, he does pursue his goals. He's running a business, and right now he thinks about writing a screenplay but doesn't have the time. Of course, it isn't his passion like writing is my passion. He'd like to do it...someday, but there are things in his life much more important. (More important than writing? Yikes!)

How many of us give up because the outcome isn't right now? How many of us are simply too tired after a day of work (I am, all the time), too busy with things we have to do instead of things we want to do?

It can take years for something to develop (it takes 9 months for a baby to develop in a woman's womb, then another 18 years for them to develop just enough to graduate. Ah, but do we ever develop to our full potential?)

I am the biggest procrastinator ever. Even if I make lists, I'll learn to ignore those things on the list I don't want to do just yet. So how in the world am I going to offer advice on how to get started and stay motivated?

Well, as Nolan Bushnell says in the above quote...Just Do It! Start Now!

And that is this months writing tip.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

I have a purpose!

2008-05-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

My good friend, the Blonde Duck from aduckinherpond.blogspot.com has given me an award! The Blogging with Purpose Award! (What was she thinking, LOL! She must have me confused with someone else!)

Seriously though, I appreciate this duck more than I can say, and I know her blog deserved this award, because it is cute, charming and oh so funny! So now I get to hand off the award to 5 bloggers who have not received the award yet, and I'm very excited. There are so many good blogs out there, it's hard to choose just 5!

The rules are:

1. Nominate 5 blogs which haven't had this award before

2. each of the blogs must have a purpose

3. the nominated blogs must make a link back to this page

4. the logo from the award must be put on their blog and it must link back to this blog!

(okay, I didn't do that part, but I do have a link on my blog back to the nominator!)

1. www.rvromance.com
Because I love reading about where she is, where she's going, and seeing the pictures she posted of her trips! She travels the world in an RV with her husband and writes romance. What could be better?

2. karadunn.com/romanceblog/
She is an interesting person, you never know what you might find on her blog, and I don't know where I'd be without her!

3. www.katiereus.blogspot.com/
I love reading about her newest ventures, and she writes sexy romantic suspense! My favorite!

4. carolannerhardt.blogspot.com/
I met Carol Ann when we had our novels published with The Wild Rose Press at virtually the same time. She has interesting people, facts and motivation on her blog, so it's definitely worth receiving a purpose award. (And I'm still trying to figure out how she did those great picture things on her blog!)

5. jenniferleeland.wordpress.com/
Jennifer is always cracking me up and she's always doing the cutest things on her blog! Plus, she writes from the heart.

So congratulations to the 5 bloggers who gained this notable award!

Goals, Motivation, and Conflict

2008-05-02T10:39:00.001-07:00

I made a blogging schedule but have not been sticking with it...My days are filled with work, my evenings are filled with recovering from my stressful day and finding time and energy to write.

Which brings me to the topic of my discussion today...GMC. Goals, Motivation, and Conflict. Those are the 3 things every character in your story must have. What do they want, why do they want it, and why can't they have it? It sounds simple, doesn't it?

Books have been written about it, it's been blogged about more than anything I'm sure. It's one of those things you know your character needs.

What about us? When it comes to ourselves, it's sometimes hard to figure out our GMC.

Goal: To write

Motivation: I love writing and building characters and their stories

Conflict: Time and energy

Yep, it's as simple, and complicated, as that.

My problem is I usually know what my goals are, but conflict gets in the way and I lack motivation. It's easy to forget or overlook what motivates me, especially when things get hectic and it's easier to relax on the couch with a glass of wine and a good movie.

Take blogging. I want to stick to a schedule, but time really does get in the way and it's hard to find motivation when you don't have a lot of readers on your blog. Well, it's hard to get readers when you don't blog!

Because today is my Top 8 of 8 if I go by my blogging schedule, I'm going to list 8 ways you can find motivation.

1. Keep a gratitude journal and write about what you're grateful for. Remember the small things we often overlook.
2. Pray.
3. Hang a picture of an inspiring person, place or event, or something that reminds you of what you want and why. Remind yourself why you want to reach this goal, and renew your vigor with that knowledge.
5. Assign yourself a personal mantra and say it everyday. I will I will I will.
6. Believe in yourself.
7. Reward yourself.
8. Penalize yourself. That's right. It's in direct contrast to what I said about rewarding yourself. I find that if I want something and I have the means (like if I want a piece of chocolate or a new pair of shoes), I'll usually buy it. I work for a living after all, why not? Yet sometimes that attitude makes it hard for us, because if we always get what we want, we don't have any reason to work harder at what we want. Parents penalize their children if they do something wrong, why shouldn't we penalize ourselves? When I first got on the insulin pump years ago, I had to be very strict about what I ate and what I did for a good month. I rewarded myself at the end of the month with an ice cream blizzard, knowing that if I did what I was supposed to do, I would enjoy that ice cream. It was rare for me to have Dairy Queen blizzards, so it was motivation for me to do what I needed to do. If I had a blizzard every time I was hungry for one (which I didn't back when I didn't have an insulin pump), I wouldn't have cared because I would have known I'd have one anyway. Just one example!

How do you motivate yourself?

Spotlight on: Brenda Novak

2008-04-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Excerpt: TRUST ME by Brenda Novak

The muscles between Skye Kellerman’s shoulder blades tensed as she heard the tires of a car in her gravel drive. It was a cold morning in early January, not dark, but a thick blanket of fog made her feel completely isolated. Cut-off from the rest of the world.

Vulnerable...

Hurrying to the antique secretary she’d inherited, along with the house, when her mother passed away a year earlier, she selected her Kel-Tec P3AT semi-automatic handgun over her Sig P232--because it was lighter, thinner and easier to conceal--and carried it with her as she ran to get a T-shirt from her bedroom. She wanted to cover the swath of cleavage and stomach revealed by the jog bra and Lycra shorts she wore while working out.

A car door slammed and footsteps approached the house. Heavy footsteps. The footsteps of a man.

Pulling on a baggy T-shirt that said, “The Last Stand: Where Victims Fight Back,” she went to peek through the wooden shutters of her front windows, then the peephole she’d drilled in the door. But the fog was too thick, the morning shadows too murky to make out more than a large, dark shape coming toward her.

Shit.

The metallic taste of fear rose in her throat, soured her stomach. This was probably just someone who was lost and in need of directions. Sherman Island had only 175 residents and sat in the heart of the Sacramento River Delta. Few outsiders were familiar with the sloughs, natural waterways, drawbridges and levees that made the wetlands so unique. But she would no longer assume that strangers were safe. Not since she’d been startled awake in the middle of the night by a man wearing a hood and wielding a knife.

Burke was now in prison--thank God--but because of The Last Stand, the victim’s charity she’d started with good friends Sheridan Cole and Jasmine Stratford two years ago, she’d made a lot of enemies. This could easily be Tamara Lind’s husband, a wife-beater who blamed Skye for Tamara’s recent desertion. Last week, he’d threatened to bomb The Last Stand. Or it could be Kevin Sheppard. Kevin had appeared at their offices after a flurry of newspaper articles praising TLS for financially backing an investigator who uncovered new evidence on a high-profile murder. Kevin had wanted to help out as a volunteer, but Skye turned him away when a background check revealed accusations of stalking, at which point he’d grown unreasonably angry and stormed out. No one had seen him since.

The doorbell sounded, followed almost immediately by a sharp rap.

She imagined turning off the alarm and opening the door the amount allowed by the chain only to have it kicked wide--and felt her palm begin to sweat on the butt of her gun. Calm down.

She was a damn good aim. But nerves could wreak havoc on the best marksman in the world. So she wouldn’t open the door. She’d pretend to be gone and hope he’d go on his way.

Holding her breath, she pressed her spine more firmly to the wall, wondering what the students from her various shooting classes would think if they could see her now--sweating and shaking over a little fog and an unexpected visitor. Most viewed her as indestructible when she had a gun in her hand. They acted like their own guns made them invincible, too. But they didn’t understand what it was really like in a desperate stand-off, didn’t fully grasp the fact that a woman could own a million firearms and still be vulnerable--unless she was prepared to pull the trigger.

Was she willing to kill Kevin Sheppard? Or Tamara’s estranged husband?

If she had to...

She hadn’t made a move or a sound, but her visitor didn’t seem to be buying that she wasn’t at home. He rang the doorbell again. Knocked. Then his body blocked the window as he tried to see in.

“Skye? Skye, are you in there? It’s me, Detective Willis.”

Slowly exhaling, she consciously released the pressure of her fingers on the gun. David... She wasn’t in mortal danger. But knowing he was standing on her front step certainly didn’t slow her heart rate.

“Your car’s in the drive,” he yelled. “You gonna answer?”

Taking another steadying breath, she flipped the safety on her gun, dropped it into the pocket of her coat, which hung on the hall tree by the door, and dashed a hand across her moist upper lip.

“Skye?” he called again.

“Coming.” After unarming the alarm system, she slid the chain aside, turned the deadbolt, and opened the door.

He was wearing a green shirt and tie and looked good--too good. His tie was a little dressy for his shirt, but his style was as unique as it was appealing. Sort of James Dean “cool” mixed with Johnny Depp “different.” Briefly, she remembered the time, nearly a year ago, that he’d brushed his lips against hers, then kissed her more deeply, pressing her up against the wall in a moment when their volatile attraction overcame reason and good sense.

“Hi.” She smiled, hoping to appear unaffected, but their relationship was too complex to take any encounter in stride. Especially an unexpected encounter. “What brings you out to the delta?”

His manner suggested this wasn’t a social call. She almost wondered if he’d forgotten the night he’d come by to help her move and they’d nearly made love. “I need to talk to you. Can I come in for a minute?”

He was being so formal, so aloof. And he hadn’t called. He’d shown up at her door. What was going on?

Stepping aside, she beckoned him past her, telling herself there was no reason for the knots in her stomach. The worst was behind her. No matter what happened from here she would never have to go through the same hell again. And that was all that mattered. “Can I get you a cup of green tea?”

“Green tea?” he echoed, arching a dark eyebrow.

“Sorry. I don’t have any coffee. I don’t drink it anymore.”

“I’ll pass on the tea. I’m afraid my body wouldn’t know what to do with something that healthy.” His light green eyes seemed to take in every detail of her face and figure, which made her far too aware of him. But he didn’t give away whether or not he liked what he saw. He kept whatever he was thinking locked behind an implacable expression. And a second later, he turned his attention to his surroundings.

For the first time in a long while Skye saw the inside of her house from someone else’s perspective. In the living room, she’d removed her mother’s dated “for company” couch, the walnut veneer side tables, the curio cabinets and vases filled with silk flowers--given them all to Brenna and JoAnna, her two stepsisters, who lived in Los Angeles near their father--and replaced them with free weights, an exercise bike, a treadmill, an aerobics step and a mat for Yoga. Only a slice of kitchen could be seen from their vantage point, but that slice showed the small in-door garden where she grew herbs and wheat grass.

“Wow, I like what you’ve done to the place,” he said.

His sardonic smile let her know he didn’t consider it an improvement. She knew it’d only serve as further proof that her past was taking control of her life, which was something they’d argued about the last time they’d talked.

“Thanks. Seemed a pity to waste so much space.”

“Forever practical.”

She hadn’t been practical at all. Until the early morning hours of July 11^th nearly four years ago, she’d classified breaking a freshly manicured nail as a catastrophe. “Having to stab a rapist can change a person.”

The muscle that twitched in his jaw revealed his displeasure. Evidently, she’d just reminded him of the purpose of his visit--if the scar on her cheek had ever let him forget it in the first place.

“Maybe you should sit down,” he said.

“Why would I need to do that?”

He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “I have bad news.”

You and your ex-wife have reconciled for good? She cringed at her thoughts, knowing, if it were true, she should be happy. David’s eight-year-old son deserved the kind of family David was so determined to give him.

“I’m fine where I am.” When she stubbornly lifted her chin, the line of his mouth softened. “What’s the matter?” she asked. “Can’t you find any evidence that it was Burke who killed those other women?”

“No. Not yet.”

The grudging sound of those words told her that failure ate at him. David didn’t like losing. Somehow it had become personal with Burke, more than just a job to David. But she still couldn’t help being disappointed. She’d been praying he’d finally prove Burke every bit as evil as she claimed. She didn’t care what Burke’s lawyers argued at his trial--that it had been his first offense; that he had no history of violence; that his wife, the person who knew him best, swore he’d never even raised his voice to her; that he was a highly-functioning, church-going, productive part of the community. Skye had been there that night. She’d felt his deadly intent.

“Have you changed your mind?” she asked. “Do you think it was someone else?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “No. It’s him. Same pattern of behavior, similar victims. The shoe imprint we found at one of the scenes fits his size feet, which were uncommonly small for a man.”

“That’s not enough?”

“There were no discerning characteristics, other than size, we could point to in order to bring charges.”

“I take it no more bodies have been found.”

“Nothing similar to the other three.”

So why was he here? Worried that Willis’ determination was waning, she grabbed his arm--and felt him tense the moment she touched him. She couldn’t tell if that was because he resented the contact or welcomed it, but she couldn’t lose her only police support. Everyone else on the force resented The Last Stand because of the publicity it brought to unsolved or mishandled cases. “It’s not too late,” she told him. “We’ve got time. We have to figure out a way to keep Burke behind bars.”

Visibly wincing, he pulled away, and that was when the real terror set in. “What?” she said. “He’s not out, right? He’s still in prison. They gave him eight to ten. You said that would most likely mean eight.”

“I’m sorry, Skye,” he muttered between clenched teeth.

She couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t slow her pulse. “What are you saying?”

“They’re letting him go next week.”

INTERVIEW WITH BRENDA NOVAK

I’m intrigued by what you have done to benefit diabetes research, most importantly the diabetes auction you hold every year since 2005. Can you tell me a little about that?

When my son was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes six years ago, he was only five years old. I knew enough about diabetes to understand that he would require constant care, but I was shocked and dismayed to learn of the many serious side-effects he'd likely face in his lifetime. It made me want to fight back, but I had five small children at home and back-to-back deadlines. I didn't know where I'd find the time, so I decided there would be a time and a place later in life.

Then I went to a silent auction for his elementary school a couple of years later and while I was talking to one of the committee members who'd gone to so much work to put on the event about the dismal turn-out, I realized there had to be a better way to raise money than to try and get everyone to come to one physical place all at the same time. It hit me that I had already established a great deal of traffic at my web site, traffic I could utilize to make a difference to my son and others like him. From that, the idea of an on-line auction was born. That first year I only raised $35,000, but it was enough to tell me that the idea could work. The next year, we nearly double the original amount; the third year we more than doubled the second year. The growth has been phenomenal--and has me very excited for Year 4.

How did your life change when your son was first diagnosed?

It definitely made me aware of how many people were facing the same challenges we were. Diabetes affects the lives of millions--those who have it, and those who love them and care for them. Yet I believe it's a solvable problem. I want to see a cure in my lifetime so no other has to worry about her son the way I worry about mine.

Diabetes affects every aspect of life, every minute of every day. There's no reprieve. I haven't been able to sleep through the night in the six years my son has had diabetes, and we've had a couple of very close calls.

Have you noticed a difference now in the advancements in healthcare in dealing with diabetes?

Yes, there have been many, and I'm so grateful for this. Every time my son is tempted to complain about having to take yet another shot (or insert his pump), I tell him how thankful I am that he has the needles and insulin to help keep him well.

There are many exciting things on the horizon. One of them is an artificial pancreas that will both monitor blood sugars and adjust automatically. This would be a great blessing. If you think about how many time a healthy pancreas adjusts a body's glucose levels--then compare that to trying to take over manually, as in the case of a diabetic, and you can see why side effects become a problem. There's no way to manually adjust as often as a healthy pancreas would do. This would replace that function with a closer approximation and keep diabetics healthy longer.

Can you tell me a little about some of your auction items this year?

We have some amazing stuff this year. Author Jane Porter has donated a trip to Hawaii, including airfare, accommodations, surf lessons--even spending money. Quilts by Icia has donated three handmade quilts, all of them signed by numerous NYTimes Bestselling authors. Susan Wiggs has donated a weekend stay in her lovely guest house on Bainbridge Island. K.M. Daughters has donated an Amazon Kindle. Carly Phillips has donated an I-Pod Nano with a gift certificate for plenty of downloads. Rogers Jewelry has donated a $1700 diamond bracelet. Margie Lawson has donated an amazing vacation package that includes her husband and their private plane. The list goes on and on. We have over 1100 items, many of which you can't find anywhere else (like a chance to have lunch with Catherine Coulter, Diana Gabaldon, Ripley Pearson, Jayne Ann Krentz, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward, and others). For aspiring writers, we also have evaluations by some of the most powerful agents and editors in publishing.

How can one participate?

One can either donate an item for me to put on the auction block or bid on the items that others have donated, or both. One can also help publicize the auction by telling family and friends and encouraging them to participate.

Tell me a little about your writing career. What got you started in writing? Was it something you’ve always wanted to do?

I'd never aspired to being a novelist. I caught my daycare provider drugging my children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day while I worked as a loan officer. Once I found the medicine in my baby's bottle and realized what had been going on, my trust was destroyed. I could no longer leave them, but needed to figure out some way to help support the family. I was reading a great book at the time and decided that I'd try my hand at writing. Fortunately, it panned out for me!

Did you choose to write romantic suspense or did it choose you? What made you decide to write in this genre?

I've always been fascinated by deviant behavior and why people act as they do. Romantic suspense is sort of a natural outcropping of that, I suppose. I was writing straight contemporary but found more and more suspense leaking into my stories. So I finally decided to follow my muse.

Do you write in any other genres besides romantic suspense?

Yes, I still write straight contemporary romance for Harlequin's Superromance line--the longest, most mainstream of the series lines.

Do you stick to a writing routine?

For the most part, I do. I have a large family, so I have to be flexible, but I definitely treat it as a job and work the entire time my kids are in school.

Do you believe in writer’s block? If so, how do you tackle it?

I think writer's block stems from letting your internal critic take over. When you're trying to write the "perfect" sentence of a story before a word even hits the page, you lock up. I overcome it by giving myself permission to write something lousy. Then I edit the heck out of it until I feel it's good. :-) Occasionally I'll get stumped in a story and not know where I want it to go. That can stifle the productivity for a while, but it's something that I work out of my continuing to write through it.

What’s the hardest part about writing? The easiest?

The hardest part is the fact that you can never please everyone. The easiest is rolling out of bed and pulling on a pair of sweats for work clothes--and having no commute.

Is there a story that you wrote long ago that is still unpublished?

Yes, I have a completed historical. My first book was a historical, and I planned to follow that up, but then HarperCollins bought Avon and my editor was fired (this is called being orphaned). Avon didn't pick me up, so it was particularly fortunate that I'd already sold a contemporary story to Harlequin. Everything I've written since then has been for the contemporary market.

What were some of the hardest moments you faced as an aspiring writer?

At the same time that I caught my daycare provider drugging my children and felt I could no longer leave them in anyone else's care, my husband's business started to struggle. He had 30 homes in various stages of construction--all pre-sold--but the real estate market in Sacramento fell apart, and all the appraisals started coming in below our cost. We were taking a financial bloodbath, losing our business, our home, everything and yet I was depending on being able to sell a book to save us. Probably not the most practical approach--but it did save my sanity, because I loved doing what I was doing.

How long did it take for you to initially get published? Is it easier now?

It took me about five years to teach myself the craft, do the research for my first novel (which was set in Victorian England) and finish that first manuscript. I sold it a year or so after finishing it.

What's the one book you'd love to write but could never publish?

Hmm...I'm not sure. I have a historical series I'd like to write, and that might be a hard sell, but I think any story is publishable--as long as it's riveting enough.

Are you also a reader? If so, what’s your favorite type of genre to read?

I love straight historical.

What invades on your writing time?

E-mail! LOL

What interests you? What are your hobbies? Collections?

I love to spend time with my husband and kids. I love sports and exercise, traveling, reading, shopping. I collect autographed books because I do signings with so many talented authors, which provides a great opportunity to expand such a collection.

Career wise, what would you be doing if you weren’t writing?

I'm not sure--probably helping my entrepreneur husband run his business.

Do you plot?

Nope, I'm a pantser. If I know what's going to happen next in my book, I'm too bored to write it. LOL

Do you consider yourself an organized person?

Definitely. It's the only way to keep my head above water while writing 3-4 books a year, running my charity auction and caring for my large family.

What’s your favorite color?

Periwinkle

What’s your favorite food?

Thai yellow curry.

Do you have any pet peeves in writing?

Not really.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? What about published writers?

One word: Believe.

Tip of the Month: Dime Words

2008-04-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you have to rewrite your manuscript when you thought you’d never have to look at it again until an agent or editor got their hands on it and told you what to do. No matter how many rereads you do, sometimes you have to do one more. Sometimes even one more is not enough.

That’s why it’s great to have a critique partner (CP). You may read it so many times, you see nothing anymore. Nothing makes sense, but it all makes sense. Nothing catches your eye. You may try to change things that others have told you to change when they haven’t even seen your manuscript. Look on the internet and find how many authors list frequently used verbs, such as walk, and their replacements.

I received a good piece of advice from my CP. Use dime words, not dollar words.

Sometimes, a word doesn’t feel right, but you go ahead and use it because you’re afraid of using the same word over and over. Go with your intuition. And as Stephen King says, “Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is wrong.”

Remember, though, to use strong verbs and not adverbs. Walked may not always fit. If he walked easily, he may have ambled, strolled, or sauntered, for instance.

In the end, we are all different and we all like different things. I, for instance, like imagery. Not forever and ever, but I do like imagery and a character’s introspection to know what’s going on in their heads. The important thing is to intersperse these with action. Action can also be dialogue (which, if you think about it, is action, because the characters are doing something). Action is what keeps the pages turning, and that is ultimately an author's objective.

Movie Review: Enchanted

2008-04-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, if you haven't seen the movie, you may not want to read the following post about the new movie, Enchanted with Patrick Dempsey, Amy Adams, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon. With that cast of characters, what's not to like? Add a cute little chipmunk that makes you crack up when you least expect it, and you've got what makes Disney movies so fantastic.

At first thought, I was worried about my niece watching it. After all, what if kids grow up to believe in happily-ever-afters because of a silly movie, or book or...??? I never thought that until a friend said that about herself, and now it makes me wonder. The happily-ever-after ended in a way that the princess hadn't originally intended, which was good but which also bothered me because of what my niece would think. Her mother has been divorced and is with another man, and this was in the back of my mind during the movie because I don't like to think that she might think you can just give up on the guy you originally thought you loved because you realized you love someone else now. How do you explain that to a six-year old who is saying "I thought she was with the prince?" It's hard to explain to her that they only knew each other for a day and didn't really love each other. In real life, I think couples give up way too early in life. Instead of trying to make it work, they split up, then they have to try even harder as a single person! It makes no sense! I realize there are reasons, but not all of them make sense if you really think about it. You can fall out of love if you stop trying, if you don't do anything together but bitch and moan, if you don't have a relationship anymore and do fun things you enjoy together and separately. But you can stay in love just as easily (that should be saved for another post, huh?) I'm just saying...sometimes I fear there are those couples who don't even try anymore, and it's sad. Don't get me wrong...I also know there are those relationships (or people) that cannot be saved or aren't worth saving and there are some things in a relationship that should never be tolerated.

Back to the movie...the prince and princess didn't even know each other, so of course they weren't in love and it all turned out great. I liked it enough to buy it (and I only buy movies I'll watch again, but I'm a sucker for romance!)

Top 8 of '08

2008-04-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

Before I post my monthly Top 8 of '08, I want to dance at some wonderful news I read today. Sandra Brown is my favorite author. Though I love many many authors, if anyone has ever read my blog they know that Sandra Brown holds a special place in my heart. I love her writing style and her stories! So today when I heard she cut a film deal for THE WITNESS, my heart soared with excitement!

Sandra Brown doesn't usually cut film deals (actually, this is her first that I know of) because, as she said, she has a voice (the voice I love!) that her readers have come to expect and, as we all know, you never know what to expect from a movie. But I'm so excited! I will always be a fan, no matter if the movie turns out bad, but THE WITNESS was one of the first books of her that made me fall in love with her and with romantic suspense.

You can read the news post here.

Now, for the Top 8 of '08, here's a list of my top 8 favorite fruits, herbs and/or veggies to plant (or eat) in the spring. Be sure to share yours, too!
1. Tomatoes
2. Cucumber
3. Peppers
4. Watermelon
5. Squash
6. Corn
7. Cantaloupe
8. Cilantro

Diabetes

2008-04-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it's already April. I spent the weekend planting my garden, but I still have lots to do outside. With work, writing and life, it's hard to get everything done that you want to do. Are there things you've been putting off because of time constraints? When is it a good time to realize you may never get it done and to stop beating yourself up over it?

I have a lot of fun things planned this month. Okay, one thing actually planned, but I hope to have fun, too. BRENDA NOVAK is going to be spotlighted on my blog this month, so be sure to check back (tentative date is April 17). The exciting thing about Brenda Novak's interview is her work in diabetes. Her son was diagnosed, and she has raised money and awareness through her online diabetes auction every since since 2005. Well known authors, agents, publishers and many others make donations. For writers, you can bid on a 24 hour critique. People have donated gift baskets, vacations, purses, jewelry, once in a lifetime experiences, and many more! Not only are you supporting a good cause and raising money, but you're getting something out of it, too!

On a personal note, I have had Type I Diabetes for 23 years. I've had problems but I am mostly complication free, so it's very possible to stay healthy if you take care of yourself! I also think there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about the disease. I cringe when I heard the media talk about being overweight causing diabetes. Yes, it can, and it's a good reason to take care of yourself, but there are other factors. I hate hearing that eating sugar and drinking beer caused someone to have diabetes. I was a skinny child. Growing up, I was never sick. My one vice was tea with sugar, but I didn't pig out on sugar all the time and I didn't cause my pancreas to work overtime and suddenly fail. (You wouldn't believe some of the comments I've heard). There was no one in my family with diabetes and we'd never suspect I'd end up with it. Unfortunately, I got sick and from there, my whole life changed.

Diabetes affects a lot of people, but it isn't a disease where we should be scorned for having it, and a lot of the negativity I hear in the media makes people hide in shame. Like it's okay to be a child with it, because that means something just didn't work right, but as an adult with diabetes, you must have done something to cause it. THAT IS NOT EXACTLY THE CASE. I was a child once. I was diagnosed as a child and it will never change. Unless there's a cure in my lifetime, it's something I have to think about every time I wake up (is my blood sugar okay?) every time I go to bed (will I have low blood sugar in my sleep?), every time I get in the car (will I make it to my destination without my blood sugar getting low?) Every food choice I make revolves around my diabetes. Actually, my life revolves around it. It has to, if I want to remain complication free.

I don't mean to be snarky, but I've been through so many positive and negative aspects of the disease that I wanted to express them both. I'm almost scared to call it a disease because of some people's opinion that "it isn't a disease and I don't appreciate having that label put on me." (Yep, I've heard that one before, too). Well, guess what? Define disease. Diabetes fits that description. It can be controlled, but not cured.

I want people to realize how much diabetes affects our nation and how, little by little, we can make a difference. When I was first diagnosed, sugar was out of the question. I took four shots a day. Now, I can eat sugar as long as I take the correct dosage of insulin, which is now taken with my insulin pump. I knew a woman who never told anyone she was a diabetic, and she suffered in silence (which isn't always a good idea, when you lose your ability to make judgments and you may have to rely on someone else). She was also bitter about it, claiming she'd never see a cure in her lifetime. Well, there may not be a cure, but there are always new advances and things that make dealing with it easier.

Everyone at my work knows. It's important for them to know, because if I require medical attention or start acting funny at work (which I have!), they need to be aware.

I am proud of what Brenda Novak has done for diabetes. If you haven't heard of this auction, check it out! It's amazing how many people have contributed. Be sure to visit my auction item! A basket full of relaxation...lavender scented soaps, lotions and body washes along with a Spa Comforts herbal hug (I have one of these and it's great, especially f you work at a desk all day).

Spotlight on: JUDITH ROCHELLE

2008-03-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Judith Rochelle is a lovely lady whom I've had the pleasure of meeting at a conference last year. She is one of those genuinely nice authors who cares about people and always makes them feel so special. I am often amazed (and a little envious) at her ability to write and produce good stories so often. And the careers she's had in her life! What a fascinating life she's led! She agreed to answer some of my questions and is my spotlight author of the month. And isn't that cover HOT!?! I love the dark and the blues...

Tell me about yourself. 
My husband an I are both retired and live in the Texas Hill Country which we love. He’s a sixth generation Texan. We have a blended family of children and grandchildren, and of all the careers I’ve had, this is the most exciting. Even tops managing rock and roll bands! The entire family is a huge support system for me, and our kids are my best press agents. I feel truly blessed. When I’m not writing I read, read, read. Watch football six months out of the year. And play golf on a semi-regular basis. We also visit wineries and collect Texas wines. With all our kids out on their own, and with their own families, we are busy raising three kittens.
I read on your website that you’ve been writing for two years.  You have a lot of novels available now.  Were they works you had previously completed?  

A lot of them are from ideas I had jotted down over the years, snippets that came to me. Sometimes I have one line stuck in my head and build a story around it. Sometimes I start a story and a series falls out of my head. I write about eight hours a day when I’m working. I still have a lot of  partially completed manuscripts that I started and then got distracted. I finish one and pull out another. And then I have a whole list of what you might call “long blurbs” of other ideas for the future.
 
How long does it take you to complete a novel? 
It takes me about four weeks to do the first draft, then another two months to polish it and run it back and forth to my critique partners. But I’m usually working on two or three at a time.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everyplace. One plot came from a line on an episode of CSI. Another was based on a person I know. I’m an obsessed newspaper clipper-anything that catches my eye I stuff in a folder. I’m working on one that came from a letter to the editor in our local paper! LOL. I love to watch and listen to people and play what if. My head is always busy!
 

Do you have a writing routine?
Sort of. I spend two hours every morning answering email and doing promotion work. Then I break for breakfast and time with my husband. Then I write until 6:00 or so (but I always break for Jeopardy!) When I have a deadline I write constantly. I’m an obsessed football nut but this fall I sat in front of the television with my laptop every Saturday and Sunday trying to finish three manuscripts. I try not to write at night or on the weekends – that’s special time with my husband.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer?
Getting my name out and getting known by readers. The market gets bigger all the time so we’re all fighting for the mass of readers.  Also, not getting discouraged when I get a rejection.

What do you enjoy most about writing?
Everything-creating the plot, building my characters, finishing the book. And hearing from my readers.

What do you dislike about writing?
That’s easy---editing! I’d rather swallow tacks!

What do you enjoy in your spare time?  Do you have any collections?  Hobbies?
I read, read, read. I love books. Also we collect Texas wines and I collect statues of cats. All sizes.

What’s your favorite color?
Blue. It’s everywhere in my life.

If you could drive any vehicle, with money as no object, what would it be?
Easy. A Ferrari Testarossa.

What’s your favorite genre to read?

Romantic suspense. When I first started to write I thought I’d write straight mystery with a little romance. Burt after looking at the same threee chapters for three months I happened to read CRY NO MORE by Linda Howard both my reading and writing habits changed. I was off to the races. Now I read every r/s I can get my hands on.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with other writers?
Don’t ever give up. Success is out there waiting for you. And…find a good critique group.

What is your biggest writing annoyance, i.e. too much noise, not enough light, or can you write just about anywhere?
I can write just about anywhere. I’m used to blocking things out.

Who is your biggest supporter?  My husband, hands down. How does he/she support you? He encourages me to write, gives me the freedom to be myself, brags about me to anyone who will listen and gives me advice only when I ask for it. 

What’s your favorite food? It’s a tossup between pizza and Chinese.

What's the one book you'd love to write but could never publish? 
Oh, wow. The story of my life, I guess!

How do you plan your characters (charts, off the flow, etc.?) How do you organize your books?
Oh, lordy. Disorganization is my middle name. I don’t plan anything. I carry a book around with me and make notes in it all the time, write things down as they come to me. I visualize my characters and make notes on them, usually the hero first. Then I visualize their situation and write a one page synopsis (oh, that dreaded word). But that’s as organized as I get. I am much better at doing my research, though. I spend a lot of time getting information on places and organizations.

Do you have any pet peeves?  
You’ll laugh-people who crunch ice!
How about when it comes to novels?
Authors who kill off the hero or heroine. Or splits them up.  I think it’s a disservice to the reader.

If you had to pick a vegetable most resembling your personality, what veggie would you pick and why?
Rutabaga. Because it’s just there!

What’s your dream vacation?
A week in Hawaii and a week in Greece with an unlimited budget.

What are you working on now?
The sequel to REDEMPTION, called LAST RIDE ON THE MERRY GO ROUND and the third book in my Phoenix Agency series. And another one that’s coming together slowly.

What are your future plans?
To keep on writing, writing, writing. I love what I’m doing. Creating a story for people to read and enjoy gives me enormous pleasure.

Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
I love them all. They are the ones I write for.
Would you like to share an excerpt of your work?
 
Absolutely.  Following is the blurb of ONE HOT TEXAS NIGHT, and then an excerpt.

Tate Donovan was sure The Yellow Rose ranch would be his when his father died. After all, he’d grown up there and it was his legacy.  But Abby Culhane was King’s stepdaughter for many years and held a place in the old man’s heart right up to the end. When King leaves her one fourth of the ranch and Tate’s grandparents’ home, Tate is shocked. Then he sees the grown-up Abby and can’t decide whether he wants to fight her over the will or take her to bed. The entire town of White Tail, Texas rolls up its sleeves and sits back to watch the fireworks.
 
HERE'S AN EXCERPT OF ONE HOT TEXAS NIGHT:

“This is crazy. Nuts!”

Tate Donovan was pacing the carpet in Ryan Cutter’s law office, thumbs hooked in the pants pockets of his expensive western-cut suit. His feet in custom-tooled boots wore a path from the large window to the wall and back again. “I can’t believe the old man would do this.”

“He did it,” Ryan assured him in a calm voice. “And it’s all legal. Abby gets one quarter interest in the Yellow Rose and all of Sycamore Grove.”

“That’s my goddamn ranch,” Tate shouted, stopping in front of the attorney’s desk, jaw grim, eyes flashing fire.

“And now I believe also mine.”

Abby Culhane sat in one of the comfortable leather chairs in front of Ryan’s desk, outwardly projecting a picture of serenity in her emerald silk dress, diamond earrings winking in the light slanting in through the windows. But she was far from peaceful. Inwardly seething, she twisted the antique ruby ring on her finger round and round in endless circles.

The day had been very long. She was tired and irritable, and the last place she wanted to be was tiny White Tail, Texas, a place she’d literally run from ten years earlier. Her flight from New York had left early that morning, then there was the three hour drive from San Antonio because she’d missed the last commuter plane to Mesquite, the closest town to White Tail. She was still wondering where in the hell she was going to sleep tonight. As far as she could remember, there was no motel in White Tail.

The ten years she had lived at the great Donovan ranch were one long, unpleasant memory, mostly due to Tate making her life miserable every waking moment. Her only respite had been the four years he’d been away at college. When her mother and Tate’s father divorced, Janet Culhane had dragged Abby off to New York and that had been that.

Now she just wanted to get this done and get out of here. But Tate Donovan got her back up, just like he always had. Like the night of her senior prom, a moment in her life that still made her want to jump under the covers and pull them over her head.

“I think you can consider me a part owner,” she went on. It gave her great pleasure to see how angry he was. Payback, she thought smugly.

“Not for long, sister.” Tate whirled on her, his fists clenched. “That ranch belongs to me—along with Sycamore Grove— and there’s no way I’m letting you get one greedy finger on either of them. Your mother walked out on my father. You don’t deserve one inch of land or one damn penny.”

“Tate, why don’t you sit down for a minute.” She could tell Ryan made his voice as reasonable as he could. “We have a lot of details to iron out here, and maybe we can all come to some kind of understanding.”

Abby recalled that Ryan was only a few years older than Tate, but they obviously had grown to know each other well, since Ryan had become the Donovan attorney.

She looked carefully at Tate. Was he still the arrogant muscle head she’d known ten years ago? His body was still lean but even more muscular, more defined. His black hair still had the same, silky look to it, and thick lashes still framed electric blue eyes. His face had more lines grooved in it, and the dimple in his left cheek was more pronounced. Today his body radiated a fine tension.

What she wasn’t prepared for was his commanding presence that dominated the room, and the waves of sexuality that rolled off him like ocean breakers. Little pinpoints of electricity stabbed at her body, which she squashed with great effort. She was in the middle of a war here. She didn’t need to be entertaining erotic fantasies about the enemy.

I'm back from Florida!

2008-03-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

I've been back for several days now, but I've been so tired and busy that I haven't had time to update my blog. (I hope no one has noticed my blog schedule was ignored this month, LOL.)

The wedding was beautiful, truly one of the most memorable I've ever been to (and not because it was my aunt's wedding because honestly I hated that she and my uncle divorced and that she was even remarrying). Her new husband truly loves her, I could tell by the look in his eyes. You should have seen it...it was just amazing the way he looked at her.

Her wedding planner made everything flow smoothly. The catered food was to die for and she had a punch fountain with coffee set up in the corner and an open bar. My grandmother (her mother) turned 80 in December and we celebrated with a party, which she couldn't attend, so during the reception she got her mom to sit in the middle of the dance floor and sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" to her.

She was married to a very long time to my uncle, but some things don't work out as we know. She was married by the justice of the peace the first time, so this was the wedding of her dreams and it was awesome.

As far as my trip...well, that's a story almost worth publishing, but I'm not sure what to call it. How to Survive a Bad Vacation maybe? The plane ride was harrowing, we got lost on the way to my aunt's house once we finally got our rental car, we get to my aunt's house to find out our hotel rooms were given away and they were busily finding us more at the last minute, I lost my blood sugar machine and other medication (which I'm sure someone stole from the beach bathroom) and the IHop next to the hotel we were staying at, which made everything worthwhile, closed down for repairs the 2nd day we were there because they had a kitchen fire.

Whew. But it was fun and I got to see a different part of the world, which is always cool!

Now...can you believe this woman is 80 years old?

I'm planning a wedding!

2008-03-02T11:30:00.001-08:00

No, it’s not mine. It’s my characters. I haven’t planned a wedding in fourteen years, and my wedding dress was second-hand. Beautiful but yes, second-hand. I was young and had no money or credit (and neither did my parents.) But wow…planning my character’s wedding had me drooling over wedding dresses and I’m thinking…how about a renewal of vows?

Okay, okay, I guess I should wait a few more years. Maybe. But hey, next year will be our fifteenth anniversary! When is the best time to renew your vows? Twenty years? Twenty five? Never? My husband says we’ve already been married and what’s the point of renewing our vows? He hates a crowd and doesn’t like the attention that a renewal of vows would bring. I do too, really, but our wedding was simple and small, which I’ve always believed is best because why spend a fortune on a wedding. I’d rather spend a fortune on a honeymoon.

But still…the deep part of my girliness craves that awesome wedding with that breathtaking wedding gown with the smell of roses and sunflowers and lilacs and…well, whatever type of flowers we use embracing me. The giddiness of finding the perfect invitations, the luxury of clothing yourself in extravagant lace and taffeta.

And speaking of weddings…my aunt is getting married this weekend! So I’m off to see her wedding in Florida (my first time in Florida) and I’m loaded with my cameras, film and SD cards. After all, pictures for the memories are the most important item to bring, right? What can you not leave home without?

With planning a character’s wedding and the anticipation of my aunt’s, no wonder I’m thinking about it!

“Cause… I said”

2008-03-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

I want to welcome my guest blogger and the winner of my contest, Nina Pierce. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Nina! It's all yours! *hands floor over to Nina*.

What a nice surprise to win one of your contests, Emma. Thanks for the invite, I’d be happy to take over your blog for a couple of days. *elbows way through crowd to front of line* Ah, much better. I’m always happy to talk about myself and my books.

I’m Nina Pierce, new to the publishing world. My debut novel “The Healer’s Garden” (direct link: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/thehealersgarden.htm) was a December molten erotic release from Liquid Silver Books. It’s a suspense story that takes place in an alternative future.

A world left after the devastating plague of the twenty-first century nearly wiped out the male population and significantly decreased the female population. A place where woman have evolved and developed the talents of prophesying, telepathy, telekinesis, and the greatest gift of all—healing.

In this female dominated society, continuing the human population is of utmost importance. The virus that decimated humans has also rendered male sperm incapable of surviving artificial insemination and cloning has yet to be perfected. The government has enslaved acceptable males and decreed that woman must mate with them and birth two infants before the age of thirty.

It’s at the government breeding facility known as the Garden of Serenity that gifted healer Jahara Hriznek meets the mating instructor Brenimyn and so begins their tumultuous relationship.

Brenimyn believes the time is now to rise up and restore social equality for all. He is searching for the one woman prophesied to be his mate and partner in the battle against the government and believes Jahara is that woman. But can Brenimyn convince Jahara to trust her heart and follow him? And will that love be enough to unite them in a coup against the government and bring about a new world order?

I love this couple... love that Brenimyn is willing to risk his life to stand up for something he believes in and fight for the woman he loves.

I was born in the 60’s, but I am not a child of the 60’s. That was an era when men and women laid down in front of bulldozers or carried picket signs or stood up against the government on court hall steps. I’ve never stepped up in public and fought for a cause I believed in. I’m opinionated and not too shy to express myself, but have never gone to jail to prove a point. I greatly admire people who have stepped out of their comfort zone and stood up for a cause.

I love to hear stories of people with that much bravery. Have you taken a stand? Or would you like to? Tell me about it. I’ll be here all day!

(website) http://www.ninapierce.com

(blog) http://www.karadunn.com/romanceblog

(The Healer’s Book Trailer on YouTube) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZFsFlfmuc8

Interesting Tidbits

2008-02-26T04:30:00.000-08:00

Want to know even more about me? Visit http://mandyroth.com/blog/

Here's some more info about me:

I love coffee. I only drink 2-3 cups a day (except on weekends, where I'll drink much more), but I've been trying to cut back to only weekends for certain reasons. I've been drinking less for the past few months, skipping days, etc, and it has made me realize that my life has gone to H-E-double hockey sticks since I've cut down. Do I feel better? Absolutely not. My attitude isn't the same if I don't have my coffee. It's worse. :) So, I'm drinking it again, just trying to drink less (and no, don't even mention decaffeinated! It doesn't work for me!) It's not like coffee is horrible for us. I've always thought it was good for you even before the "experts" said it was. And why rob ourselves of every enjoyment? I can't eat chocolate everyday (well, I could, but the consequences would be much worse than my coffee), so why rob myself of the one thing I enjoy?

Speaking of enjoying things, I wanted to point you over to The Blonde Duck's Blog today. She blogged about what would happen if she was a dog. It made me smile and realize that we miss out on so many things because we're trying to be mature, responsible adults. I've jumped in mud puddles with my niece, but it's been awhile. It's easy to get "stuck in a rut" and have tunnel vision when you're pursuing a goal. Stop and smell the roses! Take time to enjoy something you normally don't take time for. You might be looked upon as a little strange if you put your nose in a water sprinkler, but do something different! Oh yeah, this is a reminder to myself, too.

Share an interesting fact about you! This month's contest is...just comment something about you and I'll draw a name at the end of the week. Anyone who comments until March 1 will be entered to win. What do you win? Well, since I can't always give something away, this time you will earn a spot from me on my blog for a day. If you're a published author, you can share your excerpt, your book cover, blurb and/or a book trailer (if I can figure out how to post the dang trailers). If you're a reader, you can blog whatever you want for a day on my blog. Yep, nothing fancy by any means, but it's a contest! Can't wait to see what happens!

Alvin and the Chipmunks

2008-02-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

Today, I took my six year old niece to the movie theater for the first time. I think she's gone with her school before, but this is the first time she's been with me. (Her mom isn't a big movie theater buff, but me...I love movies!)

She begged me and begged me to go. We were going to take her to a park and roam around, have a picnic. I gave her a choice, and she picked Alvin. I'm glad she did!

We got a box of popcorn and drinks, and when it started she looked at me, smiled, and said "I can't wait!" Then she said, "I love you." This meant a lot to her, and it made me remember my first time at the theater with my dad. It was the same small-town theater that I went to when I was her age! They shut it down for awhile, but then reopened it to play movies (usually older movies, as you can see), and they have live events.

I was so impressed with the movie, even more happy to be sitting beside my niece! They sang the song that I remember as a child. I owned the record when records were the big thing. It made my heart swell.

I haven't seen very good reviews of the film, but I thought it was nice! It's a good kids movie, and it brought back memories of my childhood.

We came home and danced around the house, colored, and ate dinner. Now it's time for a book...

An Interview with Coffee Time Romance!

2008-02-21T10:06:00.001-08:00

Tell me a little about yourselves.

Karen: Well I am very out going and love to talk and I have a love for books and respect for authors. I believe family values are very important. What else can I say “I’m a dreamer”.

KarenneLyn: I am one of those people that just goes and goes and goes. The main thing in my life is my family, but I love reading and learning new things as well as meeting new people. I enjoy being able to meet wonderful and creative people when I click on the computer. It is like another world…all at my finger tips!

Tell me more about Coffee Time Romance & More.

Well we started up ‘officially’ in the summer of 2004. Before that, it was just 2 Yahoo groups where we chatted with authors and asked questions and shared book release information. Just a fun thing that grew and evolved. In 2004, we made the plunge and purchased the URL name (www.coffeetimeromance.com) and we were off and running. Then as we learned and learned and learned and learned… mistakes are a great way to learn...snicker… we started doing more. Little by little it turned into what we have today.

Do you consider Coffee Time Romance & More your full time job?

Karen: Full time oh yes . When Coffee Time Romance started I was putting in 18 hours a day. I could not sleep because of new ideas popping in my head. I was very lucky when I meet KarenneLyn. I don’t think she knew what she was getting into. But she said the “magic word” and we became very good friends. I would have to say Coffee Time Romance is our lover.

KarenneLyn: You know, I don’t really consider it a job. I know that sounds silly, but I love working with authors and readers. So to me, this is fun. Yes, it is a business and I do work (hard); but I love what I do so much and the people I get to meet and work with that I do not consider it a job. My kids and family are my full time job. It is a job and so I guess I am lucky enough to love my full time job.

Do you also write? (If so, what genre?)

Karen: Yes I do write when I can sneak in time and the genre is paranormal.

KarenneLyn: I wish…the only thing I write is Thank you notes and eMails!

What’s your favorite genre to read?

Karen: Now this is a hard question for me. I read all genres from romance to crime to how to books.

KarenneLyn: Historical. That is my favorite. I love the balls, dresses, scandals, and mannerisms. I love the different time era where I can escape into a world that changes from page to page and author to author. I like reading about a time when they had cooks, nannies, and women dressed up every day (looks at my jeans and hair..sigh) and went to balls and were asked to dance. Awwww…the good old days. I can literally get swept away in a historical book and emerge from it, look around, and wonder where I am

What’s your dream vacation?

Karen: Well KarenneLyn and I have discussed this and we want to go to Hawaii and sit on the beach with a margarita to drink. We would have straw hats and sunglasses to watch the men run up and down the beach. We would have room service and get body massages. Oh no phones or computers allowed.

KarenneLyn: My dream vacation would be in a hotel with 24 hour room service. Complete control of the remote control, no telephone, and someone to rub my feet on command!

Both very nice sounding vacations! Can I come along? If money was no object, what kind of vehicle would you drive?

Karen: Believe it not a VW doodle-bug with a convertible top. The color would be black. With my dark shades on and hair blowing in the wind.

KarenneLyn: I wouldn’t. I would have someone driving for me (wink)

Who or what inspires you?

Karen: This is an easy question my husband and KarenneLyn. My dad was my best friend who would sit for hours talking with me about authors and Coffee Time Romance.

KarenneLyn: My kids. I watch them look at the world in a way I never thought of. They inspire me to be a better person and to always continue learning and doing things that I think are right. I hope that when I grow up, I want to be just like them.

What’s your favorite color?

Karen: I have four favorite colors blue, green, yellow and black.

KarenneLyn: Purple

Do you usually attend the major writers’ conferences, like RT and RWA National?

Karen: Yes we attend conferences. KarenneLyn and I have both been to RWA and I have gone to RT.

KarenneLyn: Yes, I was lucky enough to attend an RWA in Reno a couple of years ago with our review coordinator, Brenda. I think I was walking around with my eyes bulging and drooling. I got to meet some really wonderful authors and some amazing people.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Karen: Coffee Time Romance better and bigger on the net and our new magazine The Brass Spectacle out everywhere.

KarenneLyn: Older and fatter! LOL

What’s your favorite type of coffee?

Karen: I have two favorite coffees Star Bucks and Folgers. I drink coffee all day. I don’t know where I would be without my coffee.

KarenneLyn: Whatever is hot and in my hand at the time.

What’s your favorite food?

Karen: I’m a food lover but if I need to pick one it would be popcorn.

KarenneLyn: I love to cook and eat. I like to try new recipes and new things that I read about or seen on the Food Network. So my favorite food changes on a weekly basis. If I had to pick one thing I would probably pick barbeque pork ribs. Yum!

Do you have any pet peeves in novels?

Karen: I like a strong male. I cannot stand the weak and whiney males. The female has to be able to stand up to him and not run around crying boo-hoo.

KarenneLyn: I love strong character development. I like to be able to immerse myself in story and learn to love/hate the characters. So if I have a book that starts off building the character and doesn’t do a good job or the character instantly changes and I can’t figure out why…drives me crazy.

What do you enjoy in your free time? Do you have any hobbies? Collections?

Karen: Free time? What is that? I like to read and watch movies. I have a Hamilton plate collection from Disney to Gone with the Wind. I love to walk on the beach, and go to the mountains. I enjoy the serenity of the country and believe that life should not be hurried.

KarenneLyn: I love to garden. My favorite thing to receive is seed catalogs in the mail. I will drop whatever I am doing and start thumbing through it and making notes in the margins and highlighting what I am going to purchase for the next season. I also love to knit, crochet, and sew. You will always see a blanket or sweater started and sitting around my house somewhere. As for collecting things, Nope because then I would have to dust it!

Do you consider yourself an organized person?

Karen: I have my own way of “organized disarray”. KarenneLyn is very organized and helps keep me in line.

KarenneLyn: I am a list maker type of person. I have lists for daily, weekly and monthly and yes..a yearly list. I like things in their place and things done the way they should be…according to me (grin). My life is very organized and always has been. My mother used to tell me that I was the only child she ever knew that had her Barbie dolls and accessories in order and neat. This probably bugged my mom because she was just the opposite. Don’t ask me how that happened! LOL

If you absolutely hated a book and wanted to throw it across the room, yet you also wanted to spare the author’s feelings, what would you do?

Karen: I have never came across a book I have hated. I believe each author has a story to tell. While I’m reading I allow myself to be in the characters place. Not ever book is going to be happy ever after or have characters that tickle our fancy. I’m a firm believer in “to each his own”.

KarenneLyn: Hmmm, you know I don’t know. I have not found one that inspired me to total hate mode. I love authors who are creative with their characters, story line, and imagery. So I can always find something about the book that I like. If I actually did run across one that I really hated….I don’t know what I would do. I would hate to hurt someone’s feelings. Good thing I don’t do any reviewing!

How many other reviewers does Coffee Time Romance have? Do you know them personally or just by online?

Right now we have 35 members on our coffee crew. We have reviewers, editing staff, coordinators, moderators, and interviewers. We are so very lucky. Yes we have met some of our staff at some of the RWA and RT events. We have a wonderful, creative and lively group of talented people who we are able to chat with on a daily basis. We are proud to be associated with this fine group of people.

Your weekly I’m Digging questions seem well thought out. Are you the one who comes up with those? What’s your inspiration?

KarenneLyn: The Weekly I’m Diggin’ (Questions that are not located in our forums) well unfortunately (wink) those come from my sick and twisted little brain. I do have a lot of wonderful people who I get to chat with and email with that give me ideas or suggestions. That is always wonderful (waves to Tara) But mainly those ideas come from my head based on things I see or things I read or hear in chats or events. Sometimes it is based on the books that I have read and things that pop in my mind while I am reading. Then I just ask. I LOVE to see authors and/or readers post their opinions on these questions.

We do have a monthly I’m Diggin (In the Hot Seat) which are interview questions for authors that goes out to people on our mailing list. Those are from Karen.

Are you a creative person (such as music, writing, crafting, cooking, etc.)?

Karen: I help teach children’s choir and I love to write, in the craft part I like to arrange flowers and paint. I like to use the pottery wheel and feel the clay in my hands. Maybe I’m still in childhood with the mud. Cooking is blah---I cannot bake a cake but make a good pecan pie. I like to help my husband with the yard work, for example last year I planted eight black tulips. Nobody told me that the point of the bulb was not the ground breaker! Yes I planted them upside down, I guess the people in China got to see my tulips. I never give up I’ll be out there this spring with my gloves, straw hat and tulip bulbs marked with an arrow.

KarenneLyn: I have played the piano since I was 6 years old. I play in choirs, orchestra, and church. I taught the children’s choir for years..man that was hard work. I had about 70 kids from the ages of 4-12. Whew! Don’t do that anymore! Like I said earlier, I do love to knit, crochet, sew, and cook. Love to try a new recipe at least 2-3 times a month. I also love to find out how to do things. Like working on the internet. I get to play with building web sites, figuring out how to do those neat little things that make a web site stand out. It can be frustrating but infinitely rewarding. I think back to what Coffee Time Romance’s web site looked like in 2004 and look at it today and I still get a strong sense of pride and achievement! I try to learn something new every year. You know how some people make personal resolutions for the year? Well, every year instead of making the resolutions…that I am not going to keep…I assign myself the task of learning something new. One year it was bread making, one year it was crocheting, and one year (more like 2 years) it was knitting, and one year it was learning to build a blog. Then I do research and find the books and utilize my local library and just keep at it all year long until I have it down or at least understandable. Then I find more help on the internet to figure out the rest. Isn’t the internet wonderful!

Can you choose a favorite book of all time, or do you have too many?

Karen: I would have to say A Knight In Shinning Armor by Jude Deveraux will always be in the back of my mind. This author made cry and laugh at the same time. This story had a different twist and caught me by surprise.

KarenneLyn: WOW! There are so many I just can’t even imagine putting them down to one. I am an eclectic reader. I love William Shakespeare and some of the older classics all the way to the new. I do have a shelf of ‘stand by’ books…as I call them. I read these books when I am restless or want a book to read between purchases or releases. So, I am going to tell you what is on this shelf! Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens, Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy, Zinnia by Jayne Castle, Dark Hunger by Christine Feehan, Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster..and a bunch more (large shelf)

Do you own a lot of books? What does your office look like?

Karen: Yes I do own a lot of books my office is full of them and half of my husband’s barn. My office is a dream. I have a large desk with a computer; fax machine and copier and printer. I have a large calendar and a shelf full of pencils and pens. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard. I have filing cabinets. The color of my office is soft beige I have my college diploma on my wall for business and computers. I have a Coffee cup clock and all types of pictures.

KarenneLyn: My office is neat as a pin. Yes, part of that organized thing. I have all of my notes and future information in a big huge 3 ring binder (drools and pets my binder) I love this thing. Couldn’t function or start my day without my beautiful binder. Do I own a lot of books..hmmm (looks at my husband and hopes he doesn’t see me typing this) oh YEAH! And my library grows all of the time. I love books! I have boxes and boxes filled with books. Of course, they are separated by genre (wink). So I can find them of course (grin) I do change out and box up books and put them in another room so that I can make room for more books. This is how I justify getting more books. Now this is the part my husband hasn’t quite caught onto yet. I look at my shelves and go…hmmm, there is still room so I can get another book. And then I walk away. (evil grin)

LOL, great idea. And you sound so organized! Can you come organize my shelves? How long have you been reading?

Karen: Ohh, you are trying to get my age. Forever and a day.

KarenneLyn: Since right after I could walk. So that would make it ..ummm a couple of years. Yes, that is my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

How do you choose which books to review?

We really have no set way to make a choice between one or the other. We review all books possible within a timely manner. We do look at the preferences of the reviewers and the list of books available the week we are handing the books out for review. Then we match up a book to a reviewer. Our review coordinator, Brenda, works very hard to make sure that we can match up the genre with a reviewer who enjoys that genre. This helps to ensure honest reviews but gives the book a good chance because the reviewer likes the genre.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions. It was so much fun to learn more about the ladies of Coffee Time!

Hold Fast!

2008-02-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

I'm late for sending out love for Valentine's Day and I'm early for this month's Tip/Tehnique, but my internet at home has been down and my life has been hectic. Not near as hectic as those whose lost their livelihood or their life these past days because of the gunman in Illinois. My heart goes out to them. It's times like these that should make us grateful for all we have, because our life can change in an instant. I'm sending prayers to those families who lost loved ones and to those whose life will be different from henceforth.

Today, my mother would have turned 50 years old. I'm the age she was when she died. It's tough, and I have to use mind control and postive thinking for fear I'll fall to the same fate... cancer so young.

My tip/technique for this month is to HOLD FAST. Just like my novel, HOLDING FAST, we have to hold fast to our lives, to our dreams, to our families. Let go of the negative feelings that try to overtake us. They're like weeds and will overtake our thriving if we let them!

In HOLDING FAST, Caitlyn and Wesley had a lot of things to hold fast to. They had to let go of their past and embrace their future, a future they didn't know anything about, of course. We must all do the same!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

We're All in This Together

2008-02-09T07:23:00.001-08:00

"We're all in this together-by ourselves." Lily Tomlin

This quote is so true when it comes to writing. Authors should understand this more than anything. The most important thing we as writers should do is support each other. Competition shouldn't even be in our vocabulary. Sure, we compete for first place, we want to be at the top of the bestseller's list, we want to win that contest we entered. But we should always be supportive of one another, even if we don't like each other.

I feel so alone at times in my writing. No one understands but others who write. I'm so thankful for my writing buddies. I hear of others who go through this same thing. There's a community out there for you. People who will support you. Sometimes you just have to find the right one.

Since today is tip/technique day and I'm writing this at the spur of the moment because I didn't come prepared, I also want to mention something I've learned about myself. A few weeks ago, I thought I'd never be able to write again. I just couldn't. Ideas were few and far between, the plot was...nonexistent. Should I give up? Be proud of what I've accomplished but realize it's not for me? It's easy to get depressed when this happens. I think many writers go through this. I hope to remember next time it happens that it is temporary, and I will get over it. Next time, I will allow myself a break and not force it. Now I'm back exactly where I need to be...writing! That's all I want to do, but unfortunately there are other things I have to do (like work for a living.)

Oh, and another tip...and WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE. Not what you think someone else might. It has to interest you in order for you to make it interesting to other readers.

Okay, well I'm keeping it short today because it's Saturday, hubby is cooking breakfast, then we have some things to take care of. Have a great weekend!

What about me?

2008-02-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

“Writing is long periods of thinking and short periods of writing.” Ernest Hemingway

Okay, now I don’t’ feel so bad. If Ernest Hemingway thought about writing more than he wrote, I might be okay.

I’m thinking about my story. I write down notes here and there. I even have my first three major chapters written now, with scenes that I’ll piece together soon.

I never did like jigsaw puzzles.

But that’s what I do with my writing. I write scenes. I might write the fourth to the last scene or the second scene in chapter ten before I ever write scene one. I organize them pretty well in my computer (my computer is better organized than my actual office), then I piece them together later.

I’m fighting writing right now. When I’m at work, I think think think. When I’m at home, I can’t write. I think it’s some kind of mental block then I have going. The weekends are better writing times for me lately (which never used to be the case). I know my work affects me more than I’ll admit. When I do admit it, I realize there’s nothing much I can do about it. In my small town, unless I want to commute, I have to tough it up and deal with the issues. And I will. I always have before.

And, because I can’t make a post completely about me, I’m here to promo someone’s work who I don’t know. I found out about her from reading a fellow writer's blog. She’s battling cancer, so she’s having a hard time promoting. As we know, promo is hard hard hard! I know I didn’t do enough of it when my books were first released. I had no idea what I was doing, and I was so overwhelmed with everything and with work that I didn’t do such a good job. And my books, which were both complete by the time The Wild Rose Press contracted them, came out within several months of each other. I recommend waiting a while, because it was overwhelming to publish two within close time frames, to say the least.

Anyway, I know how hard it was for me, so I want to share Patry Francis with you.

Synopsis of The Liar's Diary, by Patry Francis.

What would you do if your best friend was murdered-and your teenaged son was accused of the crime? How far would you go to protect him? How many lies would you tell? Would you dare to admit the darkest truths—even to yourself?

Jeanne Cross is an ordinary suburban wife and mother with a seemingly "perfect" life when Ali Mather arrives on the scene, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts. Almost against her will, Jeanne is drawn to this powerfully seductive woman, a fascination that soon begins to infect Jeanne's husband as well as their teenaged son, Jamie.

Though their friendship seems unlikely and even dangerous to their mutual acquaintances, Ali and Jeanne are connected by deep emotional needs, vulnerabilities and long-held secrets that Ali has been privately recording in her diary.

The diary also holds the key to something darker. Though she can't prove it, Ali is convinced someone has been entering her house when she is not at home-and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali's soul.

When Ali is found murdered, there are many suspects; but the evidence against Jamie Cross is overwhelming. Jeanne's personal probing leads her to the question none of us would ever want to face. What comes first: our loyalty to family—or the truth?"

The Liar’s Diary.

I don’t know anything about this book or this author, but I know it sounds fascinating, and I wish Patry Francis the best!

I have a winner!

2008-02-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

Katie Reus!

My husband, who is my contest coordinator, drew your name. You won! Email your address to me at emmasanders@emmasanders.com and I'll get your LOVEly prize package to you.

8 Romance Novels I'd Want on a Desert Island

2008-02-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

Since it’s the month of love and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I thought I’d share the 8 romance novels I’d want with me on a desert island. These are in no particular order. Also, I thought it’d be fun to share the 8 movies I’d like, providing this desert island had a television!

And, because I missed last month’s contest, I’m going to have my first contest of the year right now! Share your top 8 novels AND/OR 8 movies, and I’ll enter you to win. On Wednesday, February 7, I’ll post the winner, so that I can get your prize to you hopefully in time for Valentine’s Day! What is it? Ooh-la-la, I’m not saying, but it’s LOVEly and borders around the LOVE theme.

8 ROMANCE NOVELS I’D WANT WITH MY ON A DESERT ISLAND:

1. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
2. A Rose In Winter by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
3. Fat Tuesday, by Sandra Brown
4. The Villa, by Nora Roberts
5. One Wrong Move, by ME! (how could I go to a desert island without my babies?)
6. Holding Fast, by ME!
7. Come Love a Stranger, by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
8. The Bible (yes, it’s romance!)

8 MOVIES I’D WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN:

1. Top Gun
2. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
4. Spiderman
5. Batman Begins
6. Ten Things I Hate About You
7. Shrek 2
8. Cars

Wow, that was hard, because I realized there are a lot of movies I enjoy and could watch a million times. I'm excited about the new Rambo movie, because I love the old Rambo films (but I haven't seen it yet). If the old Superman films from Christopher Reeves came on, you could bet I'd watch it (turns out one of them was on last night). And it was hard to leave Bridget Jone's Diary out of my list. :((

So there you have it...let me hear yours. Choose novels, movies, or post both! The winner will be chosen on Wednesday!

I've been interviewed!

2008-01-29T04:08:00.000-08:00

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/

What's going on?

2008-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

Well, I never posted a contest for the week, and I apologize. I'm still getting my new blog calendar situated, and this week has been terrible. This weekend, I'm taking off. Join me next week, where I post 8 romance novels I would want with me on a desert island. And post yours!

And in case you haven't seen my new book trailer for One Wrong Move, check it out here.

Spotlight on: The Blonde Duck

2008-01-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

Miranda Koerner is a witty, charming and entertaining writer whom I have the privilege of knowing. Known as The Blonde Duck on her blog, she writes women's fiction with romantic elements. As yet unpublished, I know one day someone will see the talent she has, for she is truly an original.

If you don't believe me, just visit her glug…uh, I mean, her blog.

Miranda, tell us a little about yourself.

I am a women's fiction and young adult fiction author who is certifiably nuts. I live in San Antonio with my husband. Currently, I work as a magazine editor and spend my days sneaking in time to write my novels and nagging my husband for white Chihuahuas. I desperately want puppies and torture myself by going to a pet store once a month to smell hot puppy breath. I dance three or four times a day, am obsessed with peanut butter and have a fascination with sweets and waffles.

Tell us a little about your work.

I tend to write women's fiction stories with strong female leads in zany situations. I aim to inspire and enchant readers. For instance, my novel The Dog's Tale is about a couple falling in love from a dog's perspective.

My goal is to write humorous stories that make people laugh. I think when women become wives and mothers and employees that they lose the silly part of themselves. I get so tired of women's fiction that's depressing and saturated with emotional crap. It's always about a single mother or woman who's had a dreadful life and how she's on a journey to find a better life, only at the end she's achieved "a level of contentment." It makes me want to gouge my eye out with a spoon and fling it at people. Where's the joy? The frivolity?

Essentially, I want to make women happy. I want to make them smile, laugh and forget about their demonic mother-in-law, their kids and their evil bosses. My stories let women indulge. For instance, I might write a story about a single mother. However, the single woman in my book would wake up one day to see rabbits wherever she goes--in her house, at work, at school...everywhere! Being a deeply religious and neurotic woman, she takes all the rabbits as a sign from God she has to give her child a sibling. She sets off on a frenzied search to find a suitable mate. Chaos and hilarity ensue.

Would you like to share an excerpt of you work?

Sure! This is actually a post from my blog that is quite popular with my Invisible Friends who read my blog. Readers can find it under the September archives at www.aduckinherpond.blogspot.com

"Hot Puppy Breath"

My fate as a dog owner has been sealed. Forget the Yorkies, the masses of terriers, the golden retrievers. Forget the German Shepards, the Siberian Huskies and the cocker spaniels.

I have fallen in love with the Chihuahua. As soon as that tiny white puppy was placed into my arms and I looked into his tiny brown eyes, I was hooked. Finished, finito, done. Never to venture out into the world of dabbling dog breeds again. While I still have a list of dogs I'd love to own, my first puppy purchase has been decided--the Chihuahua.

It all started at work yesterday when everyone was fluttering around in high spirits because of a going-away breakfast we were having for one of the employees. Their arms filled with cinnamon rolls, strudels, muffins and fruit, the cynical journalists were on a sugar high and actually pleasant for once. One of the new girls brought up her dog and asked about local dog parks, and that lead me to my most favorite subject besides food: puppies. As I babbled away about my love for puppies, she interrupted me.

"There's a store over on The Road that sells puppies," she informed me as I clasped my hands in delight. "You can take them out and play with them and hold them. And on weekends, they have adoption days."
While my liberal colleagues began to all try to one-up each other on how many dogs they'd rescued and whose dogs had the most problems, therefore making it the most compassionate rescue, I was too busy looking up the puppy store. When I found the website, I squealed in excitement. For the rest of the day, adrenaline pumped through my veins. The only thing I could think or speak was, "Puppiespuppiespuppiespuppiespuppiespuppiespuppiespuppies."

Puppies consumed my thoughts for the entire day. As Libby and I perused cuteoverload.com, I dreamed of what kind of puppies I might pet. I fantasized about their delicate skin, their soft fur, their tiny little tongues. I couldn't wait to feel a squirming mass of fluff in my arms and the delicious heat of puppy breath on my cheek. I desperately needed to hold a puppy. Ever the causal one, I informed Ben of this on the way home.

"BABY!" I screeched into the phone. "There's a store on the Road and they have PUPPPIES! And you can pet them and hold them and love them and snuggle them and cuddle them and oh my God they have puppies! Puppies puppies puppies puppies puppies! Do you know how long it's been since I've seen a puppy? Do you? I need a puppy! I need hot puppy breath on my face, kisses on my nose! I need to pet a furry fuzzball!"

Ben, to his credit, wisely stayed silent.

As soon as I got home, I demanded that we go to the puppy store (again, and immediately). Scarfing down dinner (I do have my priorities) I bounced impatiently until we got in the car to drive over there. The drive seemed to take an eternity, with Ben taking an extraordinary long time to dawdle with unnecessary things like stopping at red lights and trying to find a parking space. Rushing into the store, I stared in horror at the mass of chaos before me. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who wanted to pet a puppy. I was going to have to tackle twenty children and their idiotic parents to pet a puppy. Obviously, I was the most important person here. Priorities, people.

Flinging myself against the plastic cage windows, I ignored the tentacles of doubt curling in my tummy. Several puppies looked sad as they stared out of their wire and plastic prisons. Several were asleep. Several were energetically bouncing around and eager to come out and play. I scanned the windows, noting poodles, labs, shiz tzus, an abundant amount of Yorkies...but where were the Chihuahuas? They had promised me a Chihuahua.

"There he is!" Ben pointed to a tiny white Chihuahua nestled in a little girl's arms. "Why don't you ask her if you want to pet it?"

"I'll wait," I demurred, eyeing the little twit who was holding the only Chihuahua in the store. I am ashamed to say visions of tackling her or ripping the puppy out of her arms did occur to me. Instead, I distracted myself by cooing at a Alaskan snow dogs and envying his beautiful blue eyes.

"Look, honey!" Ben cried, knocking an elbow into my side. "The keeper's got the dog now! Go ask if you can hold it!" I made a beeline for the keeper, who handed over the tiny dog. And that's when it happened.

As soon as she handed me the tiny white Chihuahua, I felt a sense of peace come over me. The dog, no bigger than my palm, looked up at me adoringly. I held him to my chest, right underneath my collarbone, and he immediately snuggled into me. As I looked down at him in awe, his tiny head swiveled around and looked up at me.

"Hi baby," I cooed, ignoring the chaos swirling around me. "You're just as sweet as you can be, aren't you?"

The dog delicately reached up and licked my lips, once, twice, three times. Satisfied, he burrowed into my clasped hands and promptly fell asleep. As I stroked his tiny back, shivering as he sighed in happiness, I knew at that moment there was no other dog for me. This tiny creature had just cemented my fate to a lifetime of tiny Napoleonic dogs who would be forever mistaken by my father as an overgrown rat.

While my childhood dog of a Pug would always be dear to my heart (and I'll own one, don't worry about that) and my dream of a cocker spaniel like in Lady of the Tramp may never be realized, I knew that Chihuahuas would be prancing in my life and heart for many years. While Princess and Rascal have brought me great joy, love and delight, this minute canine stole my heart as no dog ever has as he lay breathing softly against it.

I suppose it only appropriate to thank the original white Chihuahua who won us over, Ace the Chihuahua. For although I had to give back the tiny sleeping dog, I know that I at least have one every time I go to Shreveport. Until then, I'll continue to ignore the now hollow feeling on my chest, and the lack of warm puppy breath against my cheek.

It won't be long until I have two Chihuahuas of my own.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? How long have you been writing?

I was always writing and illustrating books when I was a little kid. When I was in fourth grade, I scribbled cheesy stories in journals and told everyone I was going to be a writer and illustrator when I grew up. I even wrote plays for my seventh grade theater class that my teacher (bless her heart) had other students perform. As far as genres go, I've written everything. I've been through a bad poetry phase, a bad songwriting phase and a bad short story phase. I hit my stride when I received a lot of encouragement from a collage professor. She helped shape my writing and gave me the confidence to pursue becoming a published author.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer?

Having a zillion ideas and marketing plans and no access to a publishing company or agent. (Hint, hint.)

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Honestly, it's something I have to do. When I was in high school and college, I only wrote sporadically. My husband encouraged me to take me more seriously. I found the more I wrote, the calmer and happier I was. I can only go about a day without writing now. Otherwise, I snarl and cry and gripe at people until they plop me in front of a laptop with a jar of peanut butter and evacuate the premises. I'm so addicted to it I scribble dozens of ideas on scraps of paper and post-it notes wherever I am, even while driving. I haven't hit anyone. Yet.

What do you dislike most about writing?

Editing. I despise editing. Yet I work as an editor. Have I mentioned I enjoy torturing myself?

I also get really frustrated about the process of becoming published. I've talked to authors who have had dozens of books published and still struggle with getting their ideas published. Just because you win awards or sell millions of copies doesn't guarantee your next idea will make it. Whether you're in journalism or the book publishing business, it seems like writers will forever struggle to get their stories heard.

Do you have a writing schedule?

I write early in the mornings twice a week before I work out and for about two hours early Sunday morning. I also write at work during my lunch hour on my laptop two to four times a week. If my husband is distracted with some kind of gadget, I can sometimes get stuff done in the evening.

What do you enjoy in your spare time? What are your hobbies? Collections?

I'm a huge bookworm. If there's something sitting in front of me, I read it, even if it's a car magazine. I love getting new books and ignoring my husband for days at a time while I devour him. Strangely, he's not as excited as I am when that occurs. I'm also a fanatic about working out and love taking walks outdoors. Recently, my husband and I have really gotten into cooking on the weekends. I'm not a food snob though. We make things like homemade oatmeal cookies, fresh baked bread, meatballs....I love meatballs. And hamburgers. And Chicken Fried Steak. And Apple Pie. And Peanut Butter Pie......

I have a tiny obsession with food.

Are you a reader as well as a writer? What do you enjoy reading?

I like reading all sorts of things. My favorite authors are Madeline L'Engle, Bruce Coville, Roald Dahl and Emma Sanders. I like reading children's literature, particularly YA, romantic suspense novels, mysteries (I love the Elizabeth Peters Egypt series) and women's fiction novels.

I despise reading very dark, depressing or violent novels. I'm all about sunshine, puppies and happy endings.

What is one piece of advice you'd like to share with other writers?

Given that I'm not a published novelists, my advice is for those seeking to write magazine or newspaper pieces. If you're at all interested in writing for magazines/ newspapers/ journals, you should do three things:
1) Know the magazine and it's style
2) Know how to write in the style the publication requires. News stories are written very differently then feature pieces and magazine pieces are completely different than newspaper features.
3) Be professional, but be persist ant. Unless someone threatens to call security on you, always look for a way to get your work into the paper. Just be polite and charming.
4) Don't ever tell an editor you're a Republican. Even if you're the most brilliant Republican in the world, they'll brand you. All Republicans in journalism learn to hide their opinions to themselves.
5) Be polite and courteous. Don't call an editor up and argue with them about a story if they say it's not what they're looking for. They won't appreciate it and they'll never work with you again.

Do you have a writing necessity, i.e. do you have to have music in the background, candles burning, or can you write just about anywhere?

If I had a candle burning, I'd knock it over and burn down the house. The only real things I require are music and a room by myself. I can't write with people hovering around or talking. Some people can work with the TV on, I can't.

What is your biggest writing annoyance, i.e. too much noise, not enough light, or can you write just about anywhere?

Usually, it's people talking. If I've been writing for awhile, I'm pretty good at tuning them out. But if I'm trying to start or struggling, it's really distracting.

Where do you get your inspiration? Ideas?

To quote Madeline L'Engle, " . "When I wake up in the morning, I find it hard not to trip over them." I tend to get a "brilliant idea" and jot it down. Whichever idea is calling to me the most, I write. While writing, the plot twists and changes so much it hardly looks like my original idea. It is a better idea.

Who is your biggest supporter? How does he/she support you?

My husband. Anyone who can listen to my dozen "brilliant ideas" a day patiently without wanting to choke me is a saint. Additionally, he has supported and encouraged my writing from day one, even when I wasn't working to pursue it.

My family is also incredibly supportive and encouraging. I'm very lucky. I also have two great friends that I'm constantly bouncing ideas off of who help me a lot.

Do you have any pet peeves? How about when it comes to novels?

I can't stand it when people try to steal my food. I also despise tackiness. It really irritates me. There's a difference between funny and tacky.

When it comes to novels, I can't stand it when women throw in raunchy sex jokes or references to be quirky. A lot of the times, it's more weird than funny. I'll grant you that sometimes it can be hilarious. To be honest, I've got some funny romantic scenes in The Dog's Tale. But I've read some stuff where I just want to bash my head in, such as genitals being used as murder weapons. I'll admit I'm pretty reserved, but even I don't want to read a penis joke on page two. Gross.

If money were no object, what kind of vehicle would you drive?

1) A pink pick up truck with leopard seats and high gas mileage

2) A pink Jetta with leopard print seats

If you had to pick a vegetable most resembling your personality, what veggie would you pick and why?

Until I got older, I never liked vegetables much. Now I just cover them in ketchup so they're tolerable. I'd have to pick a fruit. I'd say an apple. It's sweet, reliable and can add flavor to a variety of foods.

What is your favorite food?

Bacon Cheeseburger with apple or peanut butter pie. Don't ask me to share.

What is your favorite color?

Pink, because it's cute and cheerful!

Besides your blog, is there any other way readers/writers/agents can get in touch with you?

My E-mail at mirkoerner@gmail.com. I accept all agent offers, book deals, pies and Chihuahuas.

I've Been Tagged...

2008-01-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

My friend and fellow author, Carol An Erhardt, tagged me for a game of tell-us-stuff-we-didn't-know...

The rules are:
List seven things about yourself

Link to the person who tagged you (see above)

Tag seven new victims, er, friends.

So here's a list of seven things about me:

1. I love the color red, though I don't own many things with red and don't usually like to wear it.
2. I got married exactly one month after graduating high school.
3. My favorite place to read is in the bathtub.
4. I'm usually shy and introverted, but gravitate towards extroverts.
5. I've had Type I Diabetes since I was 9 years old.
6. I once let my friend almost talk me into jumping out of a perfectly good airplane (parachuting) and, even though I said no way, I still think about doing it from time to time.
7. I've started projects and not finished them, and I won't apply myself to accomplish something unless I feel passionate about it.

Here are my 7 tag friends! I can't wait to see what they have to say.

1. Miranda-The Blonde Duck
2. Stacy Dawn
3. Nina Pierce
4. Diana Castilleja
5. Allie Boniface
6. Candice Gilmer
7. Six Until Me

Kiss of Midnight, by Lara Adrian

2008-01-09T05:22:00.000-08:00

Today is Movie Review Day, only I’m changing it to Movie/Book Review. (Hey, it’s my rules, I can change them.) I am currently reading a book that deserves to be raved about. It has everything I love in a book. It is intense, character-driven over an exciting plot, and full of imagery that makes me feel like I’m a part of it.

It’s a paranormal. I haven’t read a paranormal in years. When vampires first started coming out, I read a few and liked them okay, but haven’t picked up another since. I’m just not fond of paranormal. I prefer human beings. How in the world can someone fall in love with a vampire and think he’s sexy? Or a werewolf or some kind of human changing animal or a…

Well, Lara Adrian has changed my mind.

On her website, Lara Adrian says: "Why vampires? Vampires as heroes in romantic fiction speak to the most basic instincts we know. (Fear and desire). They are the ultimate bad boy, and who among us can resist that kind of allure?"

KISS OF MIDNIGHT is awesome. She weaves a tale through intense POV, imagery that makes me feel like my own teeth are stretching and blood is filling my mouth. His castle is very real to me. I can see myself walking through it, I can understand it. The characters’ goals, motivation and conflict are logical. Though the hero, Lucan, is a vampire, he seems very human. And the hero/heroine don't fall in love by the third chapter. Lust, maybe, but they aren't in love yet, which is a good thing.

I love imagery, and she uses it well. She makes me feel like I’m right there, watching it all play out. Her writing style is what I love about certain romantic suspense. Intense, explicit, exciting, non-stop action and romance all rolled into one, and and oh, how she pervades my senses with her voice!

KISS OF MIDNIGHT is a series, and I’ll definitely be reading the others!

Top 8 of '08: Things to Accomplish This Year

2008-01-06T11:12:00.000-08:00

After looking back over the year, I determined I accomplished a lot more than I first suspected. I'm making goals, planning a better schedule, and praying I'll stick with it. I have a beautiful Disney desk calendar with appointments already written in (t's a work in progress), so I'm ready to tackle the new year!

Here are just 8 things I hope to do this year:

1. Go to at least one writing conference
2. Enter at least one writing contest
3. Take at least one cooking class
4. Take at least one craft class
5. Finish my 90K+ novel
6. Take a real vacation
7. Visit a spa for a day
8. Tell my boss I’m a writer and gain more support

Resolutions? New Traditions.

2008-01-03T17:37:00.000-08:00

In 2008, I’m starting a new blog tradition. I always like to wait until January fully starts before I get going on the New Year. I can’t start thinking about my upcoming plans on January 1 because I’m still trying to get into the swing of things. I can’t even think about goals until a week after January 1. (I’m doing okay, though, it’s only January 3rd and I have goals for the upcoming year.)

Resolutions? Nah, not me. It seems too…clear-cut and unbendable. Your goals, ideas and inspirations change throughout the year. Resolutions are like those characters you create without an eraser. Even if you end up not liking your character, you might feel like you have to stick with him. Well, guess what? You don’t have to! Just like you don’t have to stick with your goals if they change. Though we must be tenacious in pursuing our ambitions, such as writing, our goals have to grow and change as we do.

Well, I guess I do have one resolution this year stacked upon a whole lot of goals. I resolve to keep to a blogging schedule and I hope to gain interest and new readers. And just so you know what my tentative and hopeful blogging schedule is for the upcoming year, here it is below:

The first Thursday of the month, I will blog about me. The goings-on in my life, news, pictures, whatever. It may be simple, it may be contemplative. It may be later in the evening (like now), but today is the first day of my new and, hopefully, improved blog.

The first Sunday of the month, I will post my TOP EIGHT. Since it’s 2008, I will blog/list 8 certain things and many of them revolve around the theme of the month. (This month, it’s 8 things I want to do this year. Next month, since it’s Valentine’s Day, it will revolve around romance and will be 8 romance novels I would want on a desert island).

The second Wednesday of the month, I will post a movie review. What I thought of it. Since I love movies, and I think watching movies help authors gain knowledge of story, character and technique, I will post my thoughts and hope to hear yours!

The second Saturday of the month, I will blog about a tip/technique. It may be about writing, it may be about exercise, crafting, tips to improve memory, stretches, etc. It’s a Tip and Technique about having a simpler life. (Hey, these tips may help me, too, LOL!)

The third Thursday of the month, I will blog about a specific person. It may be an author promo, it may be an interview, it may be a review or it may be an un-published author or even a reader. But whatever it is, the focus will be on one specific person.

The fourth Tuesday of the month, I will have a contest. It may be a simple contest, such as send me your email, it may be a writing assignment, an exercise, or whatever my mind comes up with. But whatever it is, I plan for it to be fun! Now, since money IS an object and postage can get expensive, I can’t promise that it’s always going to be a huge prize. But I hope to make it fun and worthwhile for readers.

See how I am with my resolutions? Nothing is set in stone. But this is my plan for my blog for the upcoming year, which is better than I have been! I haven’t been blogging much at all, and my goal is to gain readers and stick to a schedule. (Because lately, schedules and routines have seriously been lacking in my area).

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

Tips to Making a Gingerbread House

2007-12-17T16:45:00.000-08:00

Step 1: Buy a kit with precut gingerbread pieces, icing, and candy.

Step 2: Read directions (or, as 6 year old Kaley would say, "destructions").

Step 3: Decorate pieces.

Step 4: Piece pieces together (it's even better when hubby helps).

Step 5: Watch pieces to make sure they don't get all eaten.

Step 6: Have fun.

Step 7: A finished gingerbread house.