Reconnect

Wow! I finally reconnected with my computer. It went on shutdown. Too soon?  Seriously, I apologize about the prolonged silence. I have been busy working on a manuscript and sometimes I'll admit I get buried in the make believe world and forget to connect with the real one. Anyhow I am hoping to get back on track and reconnect. I'd like to know what some of you are reading right now. I'm making out my newest must-read list and would love some input. 

Hard at work

I've spent the last week knee deep in research for the manuscript I'm currently working on.  I think I've learned more about Southern Plantations than I'd ever dreamed I would.  This morning when I was scrolling twitter, I came across this link to a podcast Neil Gaiman was on.  Listened and loved it!  I hope you enjoy!  Go to www.slate.com or go to link on I posted on twitter.

Behind The Wings

I am so ecstatic!  Finally after weeks of chaos and a flurry of activity, I am getting an opportunity to slow down and concentrate on finish Book #1 in The Fairy Godmother series that I've been working on.  I have high hopes for this new series since it was inspired by a wonderful group of women, the girls from my Dirty Book Club.  The DBC was started as a way for women to connect and talk about whatever they happened to be reading at the time and morphed into some of the strongest friendships I have.  The Fairy Godmother series I would describe as modern day romance meets paranormal with a dash of espionage.  Confused yet?  I will have more about Behind the Wings, Book #1 in the Fairy Godmother Guild series at a later date.  Keep an eye out!  Also don't forget to visit me on facebook or twitter! 

A day of inspiration

Every time I attend an authors group meeting or conference I find myself leaving feeling revitalized. It's as if by surrounding myself by a roomful of creative people my creative think tank gets refueled.  This past Saturday I attended a Sisters in Crime presentation with guest speaker, Kim Jacobs. She is a n author/founder of Turquoise Morning Press.  She was there with her publisher hat on to help us authors close the gap between author and publisher. It was very informative and being an author herself, she is well versed on each role.  I want to thank her for her time and thank all of the authors I got to reconnect with on Saturday.  I can't wait until next time.

Social media

Okay, so I thought I would join the rest of the 21st century and move into social media.  Argh! Nobody told me I needed a degree to maneuver through the murky seas of social media!  I have decided to do the only thing I can think of and ask the experts for help...my kids.  Ha! Seriously I have been trying to get my authors Facebook page up and running so hopefully soon I will be able to add the link here. In the meantime I am adding my twitter link,so please keep in touch.  I am cutting today's post short today due to an exciting presentation I am going to on publishing.  

After a sweet reprieve...

...I am finally back! I took a short hiatus to spend some time with the family.  We just returned from a tantalizing sweet vacation in Hershey,PA and even though we had a blast, I can gladly say I'm thrilled to be home.  I experienced something I thought I never would in my life.  My nine year old daughter said to me a couple of days into the trip, "Mom, I can't eat another bite of chocolate!"  It was amazing, the born chocoholic had finally had enough!  Sweet victory!  So that I completely didn't ruin my kids teeth for the rest of their lives, once our sweet tooth had been satisfied we took a trip to historical Gettysburg.  Since its the 150th anniversary of the battle there were tons of stuff to see.  All in all very inspiring.  I took truck loads of pictures that I will post over the next week or so.  I'd hate to bombard everyone with all of them at once.  I desperately needed this trip, I came home feeling revitalized and ready to buckle down and write.  If anyone has any interesting summer plans I'd love to hear about them.  Happy Fourth of July!

Starting the week out right

I came to a decision that since I have started to keep my mind mentally active with my writing that I really need to make an effort not to forget my body as well.  That being said, I started my week off yesterday with a 1.5 run/walk.  My goal is that I will have a good excuse to go shopping for new clothes come the end of the summer.  A good friend of mine is getting married in August and I would love to be able to fit into a smaller size.  Not that size matters, I just want to be a better, healthier me.  As far as my writing goes I have been really bad this week about making time for it.  However, I set my alarm earlier today to give myself a little extra time this morning.  Hopefully, that will set me in the writer's frame of mind.  By the way, I have come up with a boardgame that I am finalizing character cards on.  I am taking suggestions for any character ideas.  The setting is a K-8 school with the players being various students in the school.  If anyone has a funny character idea let me know.

Turning my home into a writer's retreat

I was extremely excited to receive my copy of RWR (Romance Writer's Report) magazine in the mail on Friday.  I was flipping through soaking up the advice and news of the genre when I came across an extremely attractive article about creating your own writer's retreat at home.  It was filled with suggestions and tips on how to turn an ordinary space at home into a warm, welcoming writer's retreat.  The best part was that it told how to do it with minimal amount of expenditure.  I have been kicking around the idea of "setting up shop" somewhere permanently in our house, but it seems that each corner is spoken for.  So today I decided to stake my claim on a section of our library and create my sanctuary.  I shouldn't have to purchase any furniture (Yeah!) so that will save money and what more inspiring of a location can you have other than your own personal library filled with your favorite treasures.  I will make sure to post pics when I have finished.  I'm off to write about Native American shifters and serial killers, wish me luck!

Feeling the inspiration

On the occasion when I find myself feeling less than inspired, I have to go in search of inspiration.  Last time I found such inspiration in a cool little story telling game called Once Upon A Time by Atlas Games.  The web link telling more about this game can be found at http://www.atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG1007.php   It kind of reminds you of those choose your own adventure books from when we were younger.  The premise of the game is as follows; each player is dealt five cards that could include character's, events, places, or aspects plus one happily ever (or never) after card.  The goal is to start telling a story and eventually use all of your cards arriving to your desired ending.  The trick is that the other players can interrupt you at certain times taking over as the storyteller, therefore letting your neatly laid out story go awry.  The key is that no matter what the story must make sense.  It is an awesome think on your feet writing exercise and it really makes you pull out the stops on your wealthy imagination.  The best part is it really does get the creative juices flowing.  I give the creators a thumbs up, I'm not sure how old the target audience is supposed to be, but I can say a group of thirty-some year old kids had fun with it.  Any way now that my mini muse has surfaced it's back to the grindstone.  Please if anyone else knows of some cool and fun writing exercises/activities shoot the info or link my way.  I am always looking for new things to try.

Reved up about writing

I have to confess, I am totally psyched about writing my next book.  I had originally intended to write número dos in my Native American shifter series but I keep thinking getting ideas that pertain to the romantic suspense I have outlined.  Every time I get an idea I jot it down.  A fellow novelist I know (who also happens to be a psychic) would say my writing "spirit" is telling me something.  She could be right.  I have decided to let my Writers spirit win our battle of the wills and plunge forward with it.  May the ideas flow like beer at a keg party!

Abbey Road on the River

I am going to have to swerve off the author's track and tell everyone about the most amazing time I had this weekend.  My son's boys out troop volunteers at Abbey Road on the River every year and we have the most amazing time! We get to meet all the bands that come in from all over the world.  I was privileged enough to meet bands from Puerto Rico, London, Liverpool, Scottland...everywhere! It was awesome! I feel so creatively charged right now from being around so many artist that it should carry me through a few books.  I hope if you are in the area you can stop by!

New day, new post...

As an up and coming author I am always looking for inspiration for my writing.  You never know when or where your illusive muse will strike.  It could be in a restaurant while you are people watching, at the red light while you wonder what song the chic next to you is singing, or even in a basement full of friends laughing about the past week's nuiances.  I mention the last because I was in that very same scenario last night and as I was sitting around the table listening to the various conversations going on around me when my muse hit.  She snuck up on me and inspiration for my next book was born.  She's a sneaky little scamp, my muse.  I still anxiously await news regarding book #1 The Stranger's Kiss, but have kept the writing mill going with the first draft of Book #2 Dreamer's Touch and have continued to work on my paranormal suspence/romance (no title as of yet).  I would love to hear about some of the funniest places or things you've been doing when your own muse has struck.  Can't wait to hear!