My Adventures

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

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...

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!

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

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

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...

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!

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!

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!

"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

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 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 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Martha K at Martha@thewildrosepress.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Rhonda Penders at rpenders@thewildrosepress.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 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

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...

...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

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

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

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

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!

"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!

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

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?