I've been interviewed!

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/

What's going on?

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

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 As yet unpublished, I know one day someone will see the talent she has, for she is truly an original.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...

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

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

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.

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!

Tips to Making a Gingerbread House

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.

Confronting Your Fear of Success

I’ve been doing a lot of self-contemplation and self-discovery lately, because I’ve been in a bad spot in my writing career. After a much needed pep talk from family and friends, I have determined that I must confront my fears.

The fear of success.

What, exactly, is the fear of success?

If you Google “Fear of Success”, you’ll come up with a long list of websites that mention the problem. I found the following information on http://www.coping.org/growth/success.htm:

• Fear that you will accomplish all that you set out to, but that you still won't be happy, content, or satisfied once you reach your goal.
• Belief that you are undeserving of all the good things and recognition that come your way as a result of your accomplishments and successes.
• Opposite of fear of failure, in that fear of failure is the fear of making mistakes and losing approval. Fear of success is the fear of accomplishment and being recognized and honored.
• Lack of belief in your own ability to sustain your progress, and the accomplishments you have achieved in your life.
• Fear that your accomplishments can self-destruct at anytime.
• Belief that no matter how much you are able to achieve or accomplish, it will never be enough to sustain success.
• Belief that there are others out there who are better than you, who will replace or displace you if you do not maintain your performance record.
• Belief that success is an end in itself; yet that end is not enough to sustain your interest and/or commitment.
• Fear that once you have achieved the goals you have worked diligently for, the motivation to continue will fade.
• Fear that you will find no happiness in your accomplishments; that you will be perpetually dissatisfied with life.

Again, the website I mentioned has a list of other things, as well, and I see a lot of myself in those points.

Fear of success can truly harm your writing career if you let it, or whatever area of life that fear is working on. You feel you have to work harder, that people won’t accept you, that things will change, your status in life will change, or that people will start to expect too much from you. Or maybe you feel that if you succeed at one thing (say a book), then you have to really work at making the next one even better.

Let’s say you want to lose weight. Some people will be proud of us, but others (come on, you know who they are) will antagonize you for your efforts.

As cited on the above mentioned website, you lead yourself to believe you’re going to have to work hard, hard, hard for the rest of your life to keep that success going, and wonder if the effort is worth it. You convince yourself nobody likes a winner and is out to shoot the head man. Everyone supports the underdog but finds fault with the successful.

I used to believe I feared failure. No one wants to fail, after all. But fear of success is just as potent, because with the fear of success comes the fear that you might fail once you succeed.

So how do you confront those fears? How do you get past them? How do you stop letting fears get in the way of your dreams?

http://www.coping.org/growth/success.htm suggests the following:

• Learn to reinforce yourself for the hard work, effort, and sacrifices you've made to achieve success
• Honestly appraise your level of achievement, success, and accomplishment
• Accept yourself as being healthy, "together,'' happy, successful, prosperous, and accomplished
• Don’t give yourself any excuses for being unsuccessful
• Give others in your life permission to give you honest, open, candid feedback when they see you self-destructing or backsliding
• Monitor your level of commitment and motivation to reach your goals
• Visualize your life when you are successful
• Give others credit, recognition, and support for their personal achievements, successes, and accomplishments
• Honest, open, realistic self-talk encourages you to work your hardest to achieve the goals you have set for yourself
• Accept the compliments and recognition of others with an open heart and mind

If you’re interested in reading more, the website I mentioned has steps to face to overcome your fears, and if you Google “Fear of Success” you get lots of helpful information.

As with all aspects of life, success has positive and negative side-effects. I think facing those potential problems can help you deal with facing your fears. The articles I’ve read tell you to ask yourself “What will happen if I succeed?” and embrace the positive and negative aspects. Then, ask yourself “What will happen if I don’t succeed?” Well, more than likely, you’ll life will still change. That’s life, isn’t it?

Another fear of mine is that I wonder if that’s really what I’m supposed to do with my life. Do we really have a set destiny or future that we are supposed to follow? If I sit around and wait and wonder what that future will be, will I ever succeed? No, because I’m sitting here wondering and waiting for a sign, when in fact the sign could be right in front of me.

Another fear of mine is in my job. The one other than writing. The one that pays my bills and allows me time to write. I fear how others will see me at even trying to accomplish something, and how others will see me once they see me as successful. It’s silly, isn’t it? When I really think about it, it is silly. I know there are some (and I know who they are) who will snub me and my goals, but that’s okay. That’s their problem, not mine!

Whether it’s the fact you need to lose weight, or a new job, or finishing your book, or quit smoking…whatever it is, do you let the fear of success weigh down your accomplishments? Do you let any type of fear inhibit what you set out to do?

I do! And it’s time I confront those fears.!

Crazy Life and the Holidays

I've been meaning to post since Thanksgiving, but life has been crazy for me. Work is insane since we took off 2.5 work days amounting to 4.5 with the weekend. Leaving early on Wednesday and not coming back until Monday, then I had Tuesday off for a doctor appointment. I'm still playing catch up because crime doesn't stop, even with the holidays. Actually, it seems worse this time of year.

Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? I haven't. I haven't done anything except placed a holiday mat by the door. I plan on doing it all today, and dear hubby has promised to help. I have a lot of my holiday shopping done, but not all of it.

This evening is the town's Christmas parade. I'm going to try to go. I have a gingerbread house mix I plan on making soon with my 6-year old niece. We might try to get together next week and do that. Should be fun. I've always wanted to do it, but never have. I was going to try to go on a wine tasting holiday tour, but didn't buy tickets ahead of time. :( And there's still the trail of lights I can't miss.

The weather has been sullen. Very cloudy, foggy, and misty. I love the snow, but I live in Texas, so there is no snow. I look outside my window and see murky skies and dead grass where I dream of seeing bright sunshine and white snow (it's beautiful!) But if I look across the way at my pond, I see beautiful ducks and some type of crane. So there's always beauty, even in what first appears ugly. And now is the time to light some candles and put on some Christmas music. And who knows, maybe this evening after the parade, I'll drink some Pennsylvania Dutch Eggnog (the best) and finish my decorations.

So...are you getting everything done for the holidays? What do you still have left to do? We have 3 weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Just when I thought there was nothing left

Some days I am incredibly insightful and creative. Other days I'm like a deflated balloon and I couldn't come up with something creative if it hit me over the head.

I dread those uncreative moments, especially when they last awhile.

I've been battling with myself over my writing. These funny little things that pop up, brainstorms you have to have with yourself until you get things right. It's worse when you can't brainstorm because you can't think of one thing. Not one.

This has been going on for...well, ever since I completed my last novel (which I haven't talked about yet because it is in limbo, and so I don't like to talk about it). I also finished a novella about a month or two ago. In 1-2 months, yes 1-2 months, I have not been writing much!!!

I hate to admit it, because I was worried I had nothing left. I think it's a worry many writers have, but I seriously thought my career was over. Until I realized I had to give myself a break. I remember going through this same thing last year, and I was in the middle of my story then. This time, I'm at the beginning.

I read that Nora Roberts writes everyday, no matter what, because "you can't edit a blank page". She doesn't believe in writer's block and believes that a writer is going to write. So imagine the pressure I've been feeling because I can't seem to write.

So...here's what I did.

I gave myself a break. I just completed and submitted my third 100K novel, I finished and submitted a 40K novella. I have every right to take a break. To feel emotionally exhausted. To feel like every word has been detracted from my body. So once I finally realized this, I accepted that I just needed a break. Then I did other creative things, like created a character sketch for my characters.

I had a character sketch already, but I didn't care about my characters. I didn't care about my story and had no idea. But once I gave myself that break and realized I deserved it, everything was better and I actually wanted to work on the story. This sketch is very cool, almost a poster board type sketch only it's on my computer (I printed it to hang on my wall), with pictures and facts about the character. Maybe I'll show it to you one day, but for now I have to keep it to myself. It is a WIP, after all, and I never talk about my WIP.

So...just when I thought the well was dried up, water burst forth, and I've written some fantastic scenes this evening. Ones I am so proud of!

Oh, and I realized that just because a certain author does it a certain way, no matter how successful she is, doesn't mean we are all that way! We have to do things that work for us. What worked for me is finally telling myself that I deserve a break and will get back on track. It didn't take long to get back on track once I came to this realization on my own (doesn't matter how many people told me to take a break beforehand). I only hope I stay on track for awhile...

Emotions in Characters and Pet Peeves

I used to think I didn’t have a pet peeve when it came to reading. I dislike books that don't catch my interest right away, for whatever reason, but I'm fairly easy to please.

I’ve since discovered maybe I'm not so easy to please.

There are so many ways to draw a reader into a story. My favorite? Show me how the character is feeling by revealing—through his thoughts and senses—how he is feeling. The weather, usually very overplayed, if done right can be a great revelation of emotion. There are moments when a scene requires a slight nudge to show me the character, another when I need to be banged on the hand with the information.

I was reading a book from one of my favorite authors, (NYT bestseller, but I'm not saying who) and I can't make make it past the first chapter. Why? I wanted to know how the character was feeling, but every other sentence told me. Yes, in highly emotional scenes it is good to super empower the sensations and thoughts of the character, but readers can’t stand to read in a super empowered state at every sentence. (At least, I can’t).

Another pet peeve? Thoughts. I hate italics. If I am in that character’s head, I do not need italics. It jars me and jerks me out of where I want to be—in the character’s head. Some editors believe that a character’s thought must be italicized. I believe in going deep into the character’s POV. Everything the character sees, touches, experiences is what I experience. His thoughts are my thoughts. If the grass looks purple to him…well, you catch my drift. But I don't like italics. It's just my personal preference, and I know others will disagree, but this book has italics on every page. I'm not kidding. More than once, sometimes, and it makes me want to throw the book across the room.

What’s your pet peeve?

Keep Moving Forward

I love movies, but rarely blog about them. I could blog movie reviews all day long and tell you what I liked and disliked about them, but the movie I watched last night deserves commenting on.

I had just come home from my aunt and uncle's, where I spent the weekend. Hubby and I decided to relax with a movie and a pizza, because it had been an eventful and tiring weekend. We watched Meet the Robinsons.

The movie had its good moments and it's "let's get this on with it" moments, but the overall theme of the movie is what touched me. Lately, I've been in a bad place mentally. Writing can be such a stressful and lonely occupation. Challenging. Frustrating. Demanding. Add in an exhausting full time job, and you have days when you just want to give up. It's easy to follow your negative stream of consciousness when self-doubt reins stronger than the joy of writing.

My aunt must have known the frustration I was feeling, because she said something I know, but something I needed to hear from someone who loves me for me (besides my husband...because sometimes, well, I think he's just trying to make me feel better). "Not many people get to realize their dreams," she said. "You have, and you should be proud of that." Other things were said about my job, but you get the point.

Back to the movie, Meet the Robinsons...about a kid who is ready to give up on his dreams until he sees the future he'll have if he "Keeps Moving Forward" (the mantra of the movie). Of course, he has the opportunity to fix the bad things that happen and everything ends up happily ever after.

We don't have the opportunity to see our future, but can you see how many opportunities we have to throw our future away? What if the next rejection kills my hopes and I never pick up a pen again? What if I let my job stress overwhelm me so much that I decide writing isn't a future I am able to pursue?

What if J.K. Rowling stopped at her third Harry Potter book?

If you give up your dreams, you give up a part of yourself. Sure, you'll have a different future, but think of the future Lewis would have had in Meet The Robinsons as opposed to the one he did have, because he KEPT MOVING FORWARD!

I believe that God sometimes uses people and things to tell us something, and while part of me wonders why He would support my dream of writing romantic suspense (I'm not out saving the world), the other part of me realizes the good that can come of it. I grew up reading romance, and each book I've read, each author, has touched me deeply, though I never knew and probably will never know them personally. My mom, who would have been the biggest support post of all, is no longer here to pursue her dreams, but I know she would offer wisdom if she could. So with that in mind, I'm ready to KEEP MOVING FORWARD!


On another note...I wanted to wish our veterans a HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY. I wish I could personally thank each and every one of them for what they've done for our country.

Recently, I did some research on the Vietnam War. I just completed a novella targeting the Vietnam era (patiently waiting to hear back from my publisher) and how it affected the relationship between a man and a woman, and I bought a couple of books from true Vietnam vets who spoke of their experiences. While all war is catastrophic and changes the lives of many, I learned how Vietnam was different. Those men went to a foreign country with little training and came back after a year with little to no support. They didn't have a fanfare waiting for them, and sometimes their families didn't even recognize them. They were supposed to get a job or go back to work with no debriefing when they returned home. It was hard to know who their enemy was, even after they returned home.

Many of them experienced outbursts of rage and still have nightmares to this day. They were trained to kill, dehumanize, and hate, then come back home and return to a normal life.

What is normal? To them, everything had changed and they'd miss out on what should have been the most important part of their life. Many of them right out of high school and most of them young, they saw more death and destruction than most people could possibly imagine, and many of them never came home. Most people gave up believing in the war and many didn't believe in or support the soldiers anymore.

No matter how you feel about war, if you know a Vet, or anyone who is in the military, give them a hug and shout out your appreciation. We all know what they do isn't easy, but I hope they know how much we love and appreciate them.

Following The Muse

I want to do what I want to do! I want to write what I want to write!

But my muse won’t let me.

For those of you who don’t believe in a muse, I’m here to disagree, but I’m not going to try to explain what I think it is. I have no way of knowing. Something internal, some creative aspect of ourselves that seems to know exactly what we should say, do, think or write. Some kind of internal dialogue with ourselves. I can even liken it to a spirit. If you believe in the Holy Spirit, I think the muse is something like that. And when you tap into that muse, when you are “one” with that muse, everything seems so perfect for awhile.

But man, it’s hard to stay there. I always try to run ahead, and leave my muse behind. Then when I stop and wait for the muse to catch up, I look around waiting and wondering what happened to it, but it’s lost. There are other times when I lag behind. My foot gets wrapped with twigs and briars as I run through a forest of ideas, and I trip and fall, calling out for the muse to wait for me.

I’ve lost the muse.

Okay, so it isn’t quite like that, but the muse is a wonderful, terrifying part of most writers’ life, and it seems to want me to write a story I didn’t think I was ready for.

The bad thing about the muse is if I try to force a story without its support, it usually sucks. Eventually the muse may come around if I keep forcing it, but I’m not happy with my work if I don’t have the muse’s support. The good thing about the muse is if it’s there, everything flows perfectly. It’s like something else is inside me, writing.

The worst part is if the muse if there, clapping me on and chocking me full of ideas, and I’m ignoring it. I’m doing everything but writing. I’m tuning it out, pushing it away, telling it to leave me alone.

Writing in my blog instead of writing what my muse is urging me to do.

Why, oh why, would a writer do such a thing?

Professionally Creative

I think we pulled off "professionally creative". Minus the eye patch and head piece. Actually, I did have the head piece, but it was "professionally creative". I guess I should have taken a "before" picture.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween, with lots of treats!

Happy Halloween!

I'm looking forward to Wednesday. A friend and I are taking her daughter and my niece out trick-or-treating, and are getting together to eat chili and hot dogs beforehand. My job doesn't usually allow us to dress up, but we are doing so this year professionally and only adding the other non-professional stuff later. I'll share pictures sometime after, so check back.

Halloween is not something I used to enjoy. As a diabetic, it's almost torture, but by the time I was diagnosed, I had grown out of wanting to do it and now that I have an insulin pump, it's much easier to enjoy those treats! Then, when my mom died only five days before (Oct. 26), I couldn't stand the ghosts, goblins, and skeletons. But now I enjoy it again, and it's been a tradition of mine to go with my niece.

Also, as a reminder, my short Halloween story, HOPE, LOVE AND TREATS is still available from The Wild Rose Press. The story came out this time last year, but you can still enjoy it. I pride myself on it being a romance you can read to your children, like my mom did for me.

What's your Halloween tradition? Your Halloween fears? Your favorite Halloween treats? (Anything with chocolate!)

RWA Magazine and Day Jobs

I just love the articles in the Romance Writers Report, the monthly magazine of the RWA. That magazine alone makes membership in the RWA worth it. They have great tip, advice and articles by other members.

There was an article about quitting your day job, and while that won't happen for me for awhile because it's just not feasible (for many reasons), I realized I am not the only one who has suffered.

I thought I was losing my mind. My mind has been exhausted, I have little time and energy to follow my dream, I blamed it on anything but my job (my health, my other pursuits, etc.) I blamed it on my diabetes, thinking that diabetes was just affecting my mind. I am reassured to realize that other people have been through the same thing. Emotional exhaustion is a tough one to beat. I'd rather be physically exhausted and I used to argue with my husband about it. Physical exhaustion makes me feel like I've done something constructive. Makes me feel like my body has accomplished something, and I can give it rest by taking a nice warm bath and drinking a glass of wine.

But how do you get over emotional exhaustion?

Sometimes you just have to "let go, and let be". A lot like physical exhaustion, you just have to give your body and mind a break. Veg out in front of the TV. Take a warm bath. Spend time with friends. Laugh.

But what about everyday? What if you suffer from an intense job that wreaks havoc on your writing? Then what?

Oh, if only I had all the answers. Scheduling is important, but it's also important to give yourself down time. Don't stay too long in that down time, though. That's my problem. If you get in that down time and won't get out of it. Also, deep breathing exercises help me. If I sit down to write but the scene won't form, deep breathing and "imagination meditation" helps. (I should do it more often, instead of forcing words out). That's where I breathe slowly and deeply and focus on my scene, imagining what's happening but not writing it down. If you fear you'll forget, use a tape recorder. I carry around a digital voice recorder, and it has saved me several times.

I spend a lot of time in front of the computer because of my job, so sometimes I have to bring out the ole pen and notebook. There's something about that method that breaks me out of the doldrums and gives fresh meaning to "writing".

Lunch breaks are a good time to use that notebook and just write. I'll pack my lunch and go to the park. A good hour of this will really put steam in my writing, and this time of year is a beautiful time to do that.

And weekends. They've gotten away from me a lot lately, but a good weekend with nothing to do but write has been a life savior to me many times. It means you have to say no to people sometimes, and PUT WRITING FIRST!

Seriously, sometimes when writing, my mind will be so exhausted that I have to ask my husband “what’s that word that means…” That, my friends, has been scary since it’s been happening more often than not. But since I can’t quit my day job, those are a few techniques I use to cope. I’d love to hear yours!

Hot Burns and Mustard

Hot Burns and Mustard

Yep, I said it right. Hot burns, not hot dogs. I found a cure, or at least a home remedy that works for burns!

Last night I was cleaning my cast iron skillet. I’d left it in the sink too long, and you know how iron skillets can get rusty with water. I put it on the stove to dry, turned it off, did a few other things, poured some oil in it and, thinking it was cool, I stuck my right three fingers in the skillet to smooth out the oil.

YOOOUCCH! It was still hot, and my three fingers puffed with the pain. I have no idea what I was thinking, obviously I wasn’t thinking. I should have used a towel of course, or something. I shouldn’t have used anything at all, probably.

I ran it under water for just a minute, used ice, tried lavender oil because I always heard that would help (it didn’t), then stuck it in a cup of cold water for a long time. Nothing helped. It really hurt. I tried to take my mind off it, even watched an hour and a half movie putting my fingers in water off and on, but nothing worked.

Then my hubby says he thinks he remembers reading that mustard is supposed to help. At this point, I’m ready to try anything, and I'm big into home remedies. After all, I’ve tried this burn spray relief several times, the ice cold water, the trying to get my mind off it. Nothing worked. So I poured some mustard in a small bowl and stuck my fingers in it. If nothing else, it felt really good because it was nice and cool.

I am amazed! Downright amazed at what happened. I left it in there a couple of minutes, and afterwards didn’t have to use anything again. It’s been a day, and the puffiness that started to appear is now almost gone. You can see dry spots and the whiteness of the burn. (And the yellow under my fingernails because of the mustard, LOL).

Next time I burn myself, I know what to do. Run it under some cool water, then stick it in mustard! Seriously, I was amazed at the results and highly recommend mustard for burns.