The Forest Path

Transition

2007-04-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

I've been building a new blog, trying to leave this one behind. I may still post here, but my main blog, especially for my writing is here

Thanks for visiting me!

All The Little Details

2007-04-27T11:34:00.001-07:00

I’ve been working on what was supposed to be an 8K word short story. Currently I’m up to just a tad over 14k and still going strong. Currently I’m aiming for 25K. I realized, though, that since I started this story sometime around Halloween, I’ve forgotten important aspects of the story, like the name of the town they live in and even the color of my hero and heroine’s eyes.

One thing I’ve always wanted to do when writing, or planning a story, was to get a three ring binder and fill it with all the important details, pictures of my characters (quite often I use models for my characters, generally actors, sometimes models). At times I do this and keep the info in files on my computer, but I’m really wanting to do this in a binder this time. Anyone else do this? How do other writers keep track of this information and keep it within easy reach? Quite often I work on three different computers and while I have a “memory stick” I don’t always have it with me.

I was just curious to find out the methods of my fellow authors to keep track of all the little details.

Its still cold and rainy here in NH. The kids have been on vacation this week, and have been going stir crazy, not really getting out until I’m home from work. And my husband has pneumonia so its been a tough week.
Next week will be better. I hope.

Sweet Forever Update

2007-04-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Well, Sweet Forever is now available for purchase! Samhain has been working out the bugs. Its still not listed at the regular site, but it can be found here. I’m very relieved!

I’ve also been poking around my files again, looking for my next big project. So many to chose from. I know, I know, I go through this way too much. Find something and stick with it. But I’m so fickle. I’m back to wanting to do something different, something that isn’t category romance.

But first things first. That Kind of Magic needs to be finished!

Progress over at Samhain

2007-04-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

Samhain Publishing is getting there. They’ve been working with the bookstore to get yesterday’s releases (I’m not the only one who’s book was supposed to be released yesterday) up and running. Currently, Sweet Forever is linked to the bookstore, but when you click on the link it says product not found. I’m really hoping it’ll be fixed this morning.

Thanks to everyone who’s been giving me a shout out on their blog. You don’t know how much I appreciate it!!!!

The good news is that I was able to finish the galley proofreading of Finally Home last night and get everything emailed back to my editors. Now I can concentrate on other things, like continuing work on That Kind Of Magic, editing some short stories to post on my website and promoting Sweet Forever. I can see how this could be a full time job!

It figures

2007-04-24T14:47:00.001-07:00

Okay, I guess we have to be patient (gnawing my fingers off) There have been some technical difficulties and Sweet Forever hasn't shown up yet.

PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP! IT'LL BE THERE!
Thanks to everyone who's put out the word about Sweet Forever's release. You guys are awesome!!! Hugs to everyone!!!

IT'S THE 24TH!!!!!!

2007-04-24T03:02:00.001-07:00

It's finally arrived! April 24th and Sweet Forever will be released today from Samhain Publishing .

I was all set to do some promo work last night to prepare but wouldn't you know it.... the internet went down. Go figure. But I got some other things done. I hope to be done with the galley today then I can dedicate myself to promos and such.

Its an absolutely fabulous day here in New Hampshire and even though its only 6am I have the windows open so we can get some nice morning air in. Could I ask for more?

Enjoy the day and don't forget to check out Sweet Forever over at Samhain!

Tomorrow Is The Big Day!

2007-04-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

Well, tomorrow is THE BIG DAY!!!! Sweet Forever is being released by Samhain Publishing! Can I get any more excited? Well, maybe when I sell my first copy, but right now I can’t believe that I’m actually here, ready to be a published author. I used Professional Writer with my friends who quickly corrected me. Author.

I’m still working hard on Finally Home, going over the galley for any boo-boos that slipped past us in all the editing. What a process that is! But seriously, this process has definitely made me a better writer. I’ve seen things I really like and things I really don’t like. I’ve discovered words that I lean on way too much. I always thought I was the Queen of That, but I’ve also found out I’m the Queen of Little as well. And Pleasant too. I’ve made myself a little list of words I need to look for when I’m done with my manuscript BEFORE I submit it anywhere. What an experience this has been. I’m so glad that I’ve gone through it.

The marketing part still is overwhelming to me. There’s so much that I should’ve already done and so much that I intend to do (as soon as I finish going through the Finally Home galley). But I’ve never been much of a sales or marketing person, so this is definitely unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory for me. Be patient, I’ll figure it out maybe by the time Where One Road Leads comes out in August.

In the mean time I’m making very good progress with That Kind of Magic (yeah! I found a title!). I hope to have that done by mid summer (if not sooner) and looking for a good home. Then onto something else. Maybe something new, maybe something I’ve got stored away in my files.

The weather in New Hampshire is absolutely glorious! Who’d have thought that a week ago we were being flooded. There are still roads that are closed in the area, but today is going to be nearly 80 degrees and the sun is shining. This is the first day I’ve been able to wear short sleeves and go out without a jacket. God love spring!

It's Official!

2007-04-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm officially a professional writer! I got my check from Samhain Publishing for Sweet Forever! How exciting is that!!!

What I want to do with it is to set up a real website but I'm very sad to say that I'm forseeing a huge car repair bill coming up soon and, well, I need my car more than I need a real website. I'll just continue to tweak the one I have.

Still, its a pretty wonderful feeling to receive money for something I love to do so much!

I have a gazillion things to do today before I can concentrate on proof reading the galley for Finally Home. Time's a ticking.....

The Next Step

2007-04-19T15:20:00.001-07:00

Well, now that I've gotten the majority of the edits done, I'm faced with proof reading the galley copy of Finally Home. Wow oh wow! This is becoming more and more real to me. And honestly, it hasn't been an easy road. But I know it'll be well worth it. My baby, Finally Home, which I started at the age of 16, will soon be out in print and I'll be able to hold it in my own hands. How tremendous is that!

Another lesson learned-- I HAVE to get my own website. The freebie I have on Geocities showed me its limitations last night as I was trying to work on it. Its good for now, but I need something I can do whatever I want with.So, as long as the kids are good to me, for the next 2 hours I'm going to be going over my galley with a fine toothed comb. My eyes hurt already!!

So, Thats Why

2007-04-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

I've discovered today, as I've been working away at making my website a better place, just WHY I need my own webpage, one that isn't free and laden with limitations. It kicked me out. Yes, thats right, I exceeded the data transfer time/limit and it kicked me out.

How rude! I have no idea how long I've been kicked out for. My website is temporarily unavailable. I'm sure this is a clever ploy on their part to get us to upgrade to a paid for site. Which I need to do. Yesterday. I'm being published in less than a week and I really wanted to have a purty website to go along with my book.

So as soon as my next paycheck comes in I'm going to get myself a real website with a real domain name. Then I'll make my husband set it up for me.

It actually was a fairly dry day here in southwestern New Hampshire. My kids have been out of school for the past 3 days. There are several towns in our school district and some of the areas are cut off because of the flooding so no buses can get through. I have it on good authority that school will be open tomorrow. Which is good because the little dears are getting stir crazy and driving me bonkers.

The ironic thing is that they're on April vacation next week.

Go figure.

The Water Recedes

2007-04-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

Well, last night we got our back yard back. But its still messy out there and roads are still closed in various areas and school is closed again, much to my husband's disdain. We took a walk downtown yesterday and took pictures of the river. There are houses that have the water right up to the foundation. Lots of calls for help because of water in the basement.

But we remained safe and sound. We didn't even lose electricity which is a good thing because I spent almost the entire evening working on my website . I'm considering posting some free reads, short stories that I have in my files. There are still things I need to figure out and improve upon and don't even TALK about this blog. Well, no you can. I wish I was html savvy but there are some things that just aren't meant to be. I've figured out some of the basics, but how the heck do you put all the goodies in the right margin? I never seem to be able to figure it out.

As I was trying to get to sleep last night my mind was writing my latest "short" story which could turn into a novella at least. I have mixed feelings about this. I come up with some great ideas, but lots of it gets lost in translation, when it comes time to put it down on "paper". I should keep my Alphasmart next to my bed to capture all these thoughts. But then that would make going to bed pointless.

Its snowing like crazy here. Will it ever end? Its hard to imagine that by the weekend we'll be in the 60's with sunny weather!

The River Ate My Yard!

2007-04-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I can safely say that I've never seen the river in our back yard this high before, even after the horrible flooding NH had a year and a half or so ago. I currently have no back yard. Luckily there's a good hill that goes from the back yard up to the house and I doubt it'll reach the top of that. Roads are shut down everywhere, my work closed early, my husband couldn't even get to work, and the electricity went out downtown.

Ah spring.

We have another few rainy days ahead of us to boot. Can things get worse? I hope not. But we're prepared.

All my editing is done. I'm very pleased about that. I'm sure I'll have some more work to do but for the moment I can breathe easier. Except for that marketing thing. I have to get going on that. I just don't know where to start!! I'm not a salesperson so this is going to be hard. I should borrow someone from the marketing dept of my company for advice. In the meantime I've got lots of published authors who are giving me tips.

And away I go to check some of those tips off. So, until tomorrow... unless we get swept away during the night.

Not so fast....

2007-04-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I could breathe for a moment I got Finally Home back for the final edits which I have to do within 48 hours. My 48 hours is up today.

Luckily I was given a day off from work today and I should have no problem making that deadline.

Then maybe I can breathe for a moment.

I've been looking into hosting space and domain names so I can get me a real grownup like website instead of the Geocities site I have now (you know, the free kind). I just about signed up for one, but I'm in a money pinch right now... my car has been in the garage for over a week and I'm scared about the bill. So I held off and instead want to figure out how to revamp this blog and make it real purty. The problem is that I'm pretty computer illiterate. I needed help just to figure out how to get photos posted here. When it comes to putting links up in the margins, well forget it.

So, the marketing phase will begin very soon. Like tomorrow maybe. And maybe, if this horrible storm we're expecting tomorrow, doesn't knock out electricity, I'll try to get my DH to help me.

Really, I'm Not A Slacker

2007-04-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I'm not. I've been busy busy busy juggling edits for both Sweet Forever (which is done done done!!!) and Finally Home, which isn't so done, but the first round of edits is finished, so I can breathe a quick sigh of relief before taking a mental look at whats next. I know that I'm going to have lots more work with FH and soon. I can say that its out in June and think thats months and months away, but it really isn't. Its right around the corner.

On my plate is marketing for SF. I have no idea how to even begin. I'm not a good salesperson but I have to come up with something good. A newsletter? My own yahoo group? I have plans on getting a new website. My current site is fine for now, though it needs serious updating. I'm going to bat my eyelashes at my husband and see if he'll do that work for me since he's much better at it.

I'm also looking for my next project. I'm thinking of going with something I've already started....wait, I've discussed this before. Same ole same ole.... I'll think of something. But I need to get something finished and submitted. I don't want to go through a dry spell, but seriously, I do not want to have to deal with two books coming out at once. Thats a bit to stressful, balancing the editing.

Its a sleety snowy yucky day here in New Hampshire. I don't think we're going to get a spring this year. Just sleet, sleet and more sleet. It isn't even pretty.

Off I go to do something that I need to do.. .like look over my manuscripts to find THE perfect one!

Two Two...Two Edits At Once

2007-03-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I knew it was going to happen. Right when I get into one set of edits my other editor sends me back Sweet Forever for round 2. Since SF has a release date of less than a month that has first priority. So far the edits are going smoothly.

As soon as the edits on both stories are done I have to face the inevitable task of MARKETING *shudder*. I have to find some cool ideas. This is definitely NOT my strong area. But it must be done.

Its 10pm and I must get back to my edits. I have to get SF back by Tuesday.

Did I Mention How Much I Hate Editing

2007-03-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

I'm going through the "ly" words. I never realized how often I use them. And how difficult it is to replace them. I'm working at a snail's pace due to the fact that my DH has a big project due for school next week.

I need to lock myself in a room for the next two weeks and work on nothing but these edits. For some reason they're a lot more difficult than the edits for Sweet Forever. My editor has already gone through and made changes/suggestions. You'd think it would be easier. Maybe the problem is in the formating and such. I want to type something in blue font... it comes out red. What is wrong with me???

*clunk*

Clashing of Priorities

2007-03-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

My daughter brought home a social studies project to work on yesterday. She has to build a model of a historical village. She's chosen Plymouth Plantation. She has about a week and a half to complete this and can not do it in class.

Two days ago I received my manuscript back from my editor to go through all the edits, which I'd like to get done asap since I have just a month and a few days until Sweet Forever will be released and I KNOW I'll have work to do on that as well.

I also know that my daughter will need help with her model. And help on her other homework. And of course I have to drive all over creation tomorrow to do pick up and drop offs. And grocery shopping. And work.

How does one prioritize all this and fit it all into a specific number of hours and still have time for a decent nights sleep?

At least wrestling is done for the year......

Back to editing

2007-03-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

Finally Home came back to me today for me to go over the edits that have been made on it. I have to go over them, so its back to work. I don't mind so much, I'm actually looking forward to seeing what suggestions my editor has made.

Of course I have a new story brewing in my mind. Well, the bare bones of a story, but a story none the less. But I really want to work on my Dreamer's Sea as well. I have prompts to do, characters to develop! I've taken enough of a break.

But first, must do my edits.

I'm so excited to see this book in print!

Working Saturdays

2007-03-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday is the one day of the week that I have to put in a full 8+ hours in the office. Generally I don't mind working Saturdays, though I'd rather spend it with the family. At least on Saturdays I'm more or less the boss of the place, its quiet with only about 5 of us in here, and I'm just doing data entry. On my breaks I like to get some writing done. Its a great arrangement!

I sit in a very secluded area of the office, which I love. On occasion, though, my coworker, who generally doesn't work Saturdays, comes into cover for someone else. She sits right next to me. She's a sweetheart, but she chats and chats and chats! During the week thats okay, but when I want to concentrate on writing, its not so great.

Winter has given us another wallop. There has to be well over a foot of snow out there. What the....? I want spring to be here. I want that 70 degree weather we had the other day back and back for good.

guess I better move south.

On The Mend

2007-03-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I think we're all better now, with the exception of a few coughs and runny noses. Ugh, that was about 3 weeks that I'll never get back.

The good news is, as I look out my window, spring is on its way. The temps are way up around 50 and the snow is melting. Yeah!! I'm so excited.

I've gotten about 2 pages of my new wip written. Its been a chore with sick kids, but at least its something. I still have lots of other things to do around the house, but I'll get to it sometime.

Now I'm off to do some brainstorming.

One Sick Puppy

2007-03-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

I tell ya, it'll never ever end! If its not one kid sick, its another.... or my husband, or me, or any other combination that you can think of! I'm just tired of it and I'm ready for the nice weather so these cold bugs bug off. I've been deathly ill since Monday. Well, not deathly, but close to deathly. And my daughter is much the same.

But the good news is that we got our new bed and its the most comfy bed I've ever slept in. If only I could've gotten a full night sleep without waking every 10 minutes to cough.

No, I haven't written a single word in any wip.

Maybe tomorrow.

Finally Home

2007-02-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

Coming June 2007 from Whiskey Creek Press

Despite their rocky past, Torie Barron and Alex Carmichael’s identical goals drive them into a headlong collision over a horse farm they both covet until a family tragedy puts and end to Torie’s dreams. As her life is swept down an unexpected and difficult path, she turns to the man who has been so infuriating yet intriguing. The same man who stomped her heart into the ground when they were teens. Will Alex be her savior or the one who stands in the way of all she’s ever wanted?

Sweet Forever

2007-02-19T16:16:00.000-08:00

Coming in late April 2007 from Samhain Publishing

When Hayden Merrick travels to meet her grand mother for the first time, she doesn’t expect to find the father she believes abandoned her or a man who could prove to be the love of her life.

For Ben Winslow there hadn’t been much time for romance in his life, or the right woman to interest him until Hayden arrived at his neighbor’s home. As soon as he meets her, Ben believes that Hayden could be the woman he’s always hoped for, but he has to convince her that life could be just as sweet on the prairie than the coast.

Hayden’s plans to return to her home are put on hold as she struggles with a difficult decision. Pursue a life on the South Dakota prairie or return to the one she’s loved at the edge of the ocean? Ben hopes that he can give her the best of both worlds.

Not Much of a Vacation

2007-02-19T03:37:00.000-08:00

Last week when I finished my editing and emailed it off to my editor I came right here and posted a nice long blog entry. And it was immediately sucked into the vast coldness of cyber space. I just didn’t have the heart or energy to repost. So I took the week off. Sort of.

My week has been full of sick kids, running around and our first major snow storm in over a year. Okay, so we only got under a foot and a half, but it was plenty to satisfy me. Now it can go away and let spring in. Well, maybe not until after my daughter’s Special O winter games. They kinda need the snow for that.

Yes, the first go-round of editing is done. There was a lot to be done and I hope that my editor will be satisfied with it. I haven’t heard back from her, but I’m sure she’s a busy lady and I’m not top of her list. That’s okay. I’ve been using this week to recover (take care of sick kids) and think through some other story ideas. I haven’t written a word though. But I have thought of the wip that I did during Nano and came up with some ideas for it. Well, basically all I’d be doing would be to use the title and the setting. Everything else would be different.

I’ve decided to stay home today. I’ve been up with my son since about 3:30am, and I’m beat. And I have some house cleaning to do. My husband and I have decided to spend a huge part of our tax return on a new bed. We’re hoping to have it by Friday, but I have to do some straightening up so we can get the old one out and the new one in.
So, off I go to get the first bunch of kids on the bus.

Red.... oh, so much red!!

2007-02-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

I'm still deep within edits and I swear I see more red words than black words. I'll have a completely different story when I'm through with this, I think. Wouldn't that be funny!

I ask myself, as I make the changes needed "how did I miss this the gajillion other times I went through the edits??" Just crazy!

I'm thinking of taking an American Idol break. But theres oh so much more to do and time is drawing to an end. I want to have it sent in by Sunday.

Wish me luck.

And sanity!

Deleting Words

2007-02-05T17:39:00.000-08:00

I've been busy with edits on Sweet Forever for the past 2 days now. The first thing I've started doing is deleting "garbage" words. Boy, I think I must have deleted 200 'just's from this story, and maybe about 100 'so's and many many 'that' 'then' and 'really's.

But in doing so I've come to realize that for everyone that I can delete with no regret at all, there are two that I just can't bare to part with. I mean, these words were created for a reason, weren't they? Don't they have ANY place within our manuscripts? I find that I just can't part with all of them. I hope my editor will be kind with me when she sees them laced throughout the story.

I have so much more to go, but its getting late and my concentration and common sense went to bed about 15 minutes ago. I guess I'll just finish going through my "could"s and call it a night.

Reality Check

2007-02-03T18:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, first of all, I know I only managed to post twice this week. I shouldn't make promises to do something when I don't have one evening where I'm completely at home. Last week was filled with kids activities and laundry. So this is actually the first time I've had a chance to sneak into my blog and post. It's nearly 930pm and I'm baking cookies. And I've been up since 5am and all I want to do is hit the sofa.

Now for the reality check.... maybe I should say sur -reality check. First of all, Sweet Forever has made it to the Coming Soon pages of Samhain Publishing complete with cover. Just needs the blurb and my author information page. But its there and thats a step. Then I found the email that I was dreading and looking forward to. The email from my editor with the copy of SF so I can do the first round of editing. I have 9 days to get it done. Yeh, I'm nervous! What the heck is a hard tab and how do I know if my document has them? What is reveal formatting? These are the little things I need to know. And tracking changes? I hope I'm doing that right.

By the time I'm done with this I'm sure I'll be an expert and the next two manuscripts won't be as scary.

Well, lets hope anyway.

And thanks to all the ladies with their hair color recommendations. I'm thinking of getting my hair cut first, then color it. I'm going to wash that gray right out of my hair....... Oh, I'm dating myself, aren't I?

Rest tonite, editing tomorrow.

Plucking Gray Hairs

2007-01-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

I've plucked 4 out of my head in the past 2 days. Nasty little things, I'm not ready for them. Guess I need to get out and get some hair dye.

Well, I didn't get any writing done yesterday during practice after all. I was busy talking to the coach's wife. But I got some done, so the day wasn't a total waste-unlike today which is filled with errands and other headaches.

So, one of the stories that I have to work on is called Going Going Gone. The jist is that Isobel Fiore, who was once an overweight wall flower is returning to her hometown a confident and curvy woman who has built herself a successful clothing design company. While home she attends the town's annual charity fireman auction, which 'sells' bachelor firemen to the highest bidder. No one recognizes Isobel and she decides to 'pretend' she's a friend from out of town. When one of the fireman comes up for bidding she recognizes him as one of the golden boys of her high school days, someone who didn't know she existed. Feeling rather bold, Isobel bids on him, intending to put him to hard manual labor fixing up her mother's house, and thinks that maybe a little payback is in order. She flirts with him and he's definitely interested. Problem is that she starts to fall for him, and he starts falling too. She has to decide whether to tell him who she really is, and when Eli finds out he wonders if he can forgive her and let himself love her.

Or something like that.

Hey, its a work in progress.

Time to high tail it out of here.

A New Week

2007-01-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

And I promise to do a new blog entry every day. Or at least I'll try.

So, the writing front. Last Monday as I was watching (and cringing at times) my son's wrestling practice I got an idea for a short story. Luckily I had a scrap of paper that I could write on. As soon as I started one of the coach's daughters came up to me. Think Little Cindy Lou Who and you'll get the idea of this little girl.

"What are you writing?"

Um, a letter...... (I'm horrible)

"Why?"

Because.....

"My brother is thirsty." (the previous week I gave her a dollar for a drink, now she'll be asking me every week).

So, I didn't get much done, but the seed is firmly planted and tonite I plan on bringing a pad of paper instead of just a sheet of paper. Maybe I'll be left alone, but my hopes aren't high.

I haven't been doing a great deal of writing, but making some progress on one of my stories. In the meantime I've been working with a cover artist for "Sweet Forever". I was spoiled by my fantabulous WCP cover artist, so this is a bit harder, but we're working it out and I think I'll be satisfied with the end results.

So, though I have things to do this evening I'll try to get more done on my goddess story, as long as I'm not seduced by Going Going Gone. But if I am, is that such a bad thing??

Nothing New

2007-01-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

I've been going over some of the wips that I have going and they're doing absolutely nothing for me. I guess thats why I put them aside in the first place. The problem is that I can't seem to come up with any new and wonderful ideas for a different wip. I feel dried up. I know thats not true and I'll think of something, but for the moment I'm empty.

So, now what? How does one come up with something fresh?

A Good Romance Is Hard To Find

2007-01-09T15:19:00.000-08:00

I mean one of those romances that make you want cry, that make your heart really go pitty pat and make your toes curl. I just got done watching one of my all time favorite toe-curlers, Pride and Prejudice-the Keira Knightly version. I love the Colin Firth version, but I can only watch that when I have an entire day or two at my disposal. The newer version is just as good and I gotta say, the actor who plays Mr Darcy is just.... well.... I want him. Well, maybe not HIM, but Mr Darcy.

Movies like that are wonderful inspiration to write. I think my muse is still floating on cloud nine right now. But as much as its an inspiration I have to wonder how in the world can I match that chemistry? Its certainly a marvelously high goal to aim for.

So, as soon as I can get myself settled for the evening, I'm going to whip out a wip and see if I can work some magic between my hero and heroine.

My Muse Came Home

2007-01-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

Finally! I think its because the pressure here at work is finally lifting a bit. Over the holidays we had a regime change on the local level. It should be for the better though I was sad to see the old fearless leader go, I like the new fearless leader. And we're starting to catch up with the work load, there's no more overtime and I don't have to bring work home with me anymore. My afternoons are freeeee!

So, I was making my goals for 2007. On the top of the list (at least until I have to face editing of Sweet Forever) was to finish my Branwen story. No biggie, its not going to be a full length unless it wants to be. But as soon as I had that figured out A BOLT OF CREATIVE LIGHTNING HIT ME IN THE FOREHEAD I think it was my muse coming back from her Christmas break. I have a time travel that I put on the "shelf" just before Nano. It was on my list of "TTD" this year, but nooooo, muse wouldn't have that. Oh no. After I cleaned the scorch mark off my forehead I thought about my new idea. I had written a promptlet that really really liked but really really didn't fit into the scheme of contemporary romance. Think more of along the lines of everyone is dropping dead of some horrid sickness. Yeh, really romantic. Well, I've figured out that I can use that in my time travel. My fingers are just itching to get to the file where that prompt is so I can write it in to my story.

But what the heck..... why does my muse have to come in and just rearrange all my plans?? Just like my husband and kids.

I'm just glad she's back though. I was getting askeered.

This is a Test....

2007-01-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Because apparently my blog is offline.

Thats just not acceptable.

Working from Home

2006-12-28T02:14:00.000-08:00

I've been set up so I can work at home. Not that I can sit here and work 8 hours a day from the comfort of my couch, but I can bring work home after I leave the office and do it here. Its a mixed blessing. I need the overtime, but this week everyone (but me) is on vacation and when I get home they're demanding my attention.

Plus it takes away all my writing time. I haven't written a thing in about 3 weeks, though I have been thinking about wips and ideas. Not about the wip I should be working on, but other things. Damn fickle brain.

Christmas has come and gone. Yeah!!!! We made it through without breaking the bank... barely. Now I can start saving for next year.

Yeh, Yeh, I'm Here.....

2006-12-20T02:43:00.000-08:00

I know its been a long time since I've blogged. I've been so busy and when I'm not busy I've been comatose. I have too much going on and about to add more to the pile. Today I'm bringing in my laptop to work and having our company's software loaded (I hope)so I can bring work home with me. And I'm giving up one of my days off this weekend to go into the office to try to catch up on the plethora of orders we have to enter.

Writing? Whats that?? I don't think I've written in a week. I've thought a lot about writing, generally when I can't be writing. I want to get back to it, but now it looks like its not going to happen for another few weeks.

And I can't even enjoy my vacation. I'll be too busy working.

Slackin

2006-12-12T02:17:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a lot of it when it comes to my writing and my blog. This time of year is just too busy. Make it stop. We at work have been ordered to put in at least 8 hours of overtime per week in. Nope, sorry, can't fit it into my schedule unless I want to leave my kids by themselves for a few hours a day. Or bring them with me. umm-no.

And I've discovered that I make a lousy soccer mom. Well, no one plays soccer, but everyone is involved in activities, as of last night, and juggling everyone's schedule is going to be like doing algebra. I think I have the evening off today, but I could be wrong. If I do I'm going to dedicate it to writing. I really want to get my not-so-short story finished.

As much as I like Christmas, I just wish it would come faster so life would return to "normal". Wishful thinking, I know.

C-C-Cold

2006-12-08T02:45:00.000-08:00

I guess winter has arrived a week early. I woke up this morning to snow on the ground. Not a great deal, but its there. And it won't even hit 30 degrees today. I'm so not ready for this!!

I'm making some progress on my short story. At what point does a short story stop becoming short? I'm to about 10k and have plenty more to go. Initially it wasn't supposed to go over 8k, but I was enjoying it so much that I had to keep it going. I know it won't be long enough to be considered full length, but I'm sure there are markets out there that'll want a shorter-than-novella length story.

Of course this time of year is somewhat distracting, and there's lots coming up next week that'll keep me out of the house and away from my computer. After the holidays things'll get back to normal.

For now have to deal with the weather.

Prompts

2006-12-06T02:29:00.000-08:00

Are they important?

When I have nothing else going on I love to work on writing prompts, but I wonder how useful they are. Okay, they come in handy when I'm writing a scene that may work with a wip I'm working on, but if they don't? Should they drag me away from a wip in another direction? There's a prompt in one of my groups and I could make it work for a wip that I have in the wings.

Or I could just concentrate on the short story I've been working on.

Or I could just do housework.

Its so cold!!!!! I'm ready for spring!!!!

Points To Ponder... And Other Meandering Thoughts

2006-12-03T18:27:00.000-08:00

All right... show of hands... who would buy a pregnancy test kit from The Dollar Store?

I was at the Dollar Store the other night picking up some Christmas decorations for my office. There's plenty I'd pay a dollar for. A jug of Hawaiian Punch. A Christmas tie, a coffee mug, a book mark. Even a pair of sunglasses and a sewing kit or a can opener.

But a home pregnancy test kit? For a dollar? I guess that would come in handy after buying the box of condoms at the Dollar Store.

No, I'm kidding-I have no idea if they sell condoms there.

I've been listening to a lot of music at work since I've been drowning in the data entry pool at work. My mp3 player plays 111 songs so I tend to hear the same songs over and over again. As a writer, I tend to think of possible story lines for the songs. One song on my playlist is "Copacobana". Is there any sort of copyrights on characters in songs because I came up with a storyline that involves Lola after she's old and drunk and sitting at the bar, faded feathers in her hair...yada yada.. but I don't know if I can do that legally.

Since I hit my 50k for Nano I've been taking a bit of a break. I've been looking over some wips to see where I should go next. I'm still unsure. I think by tomorrow I'll be able to get back into writing. Had to get various birthdays and other occasions out of the way. My youngest turned 7 today. Wow. I feel old. And my anniversary is next week. 11 years. Truly amazing.

So, now I'm off to bed so I can face another tedious week at work. I'm so ready for the holidays to be over so the work load will lighten up some.

And to anyone who is going to call a company to place an order.... remember it's Christmas, or the holidays. Be nice to the person on the other end of the line. I know that its stressful out there, but remember they're human too, and really do have feelings.

I Made It Through The Wilderness...

2006-11-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

Somehow I made it throoough oo ooo.

Yes, I hit the mark. 50,000 big ones. For me, Nano is done for another year.

And I look back on the month and wonder what I have to show for it. A story I don't really like? Or the satisfaction that I could push through it and get the words out.

I'm considering taking a break, but then again, I have other wips that I've been looking forward to getting back to.

Maybe I'll just give myself one evening off.

Wonder of Wonders....

2006-11-27T18:32:00.000-08:00

This time last week I doubted my chances at finishing this Nano challenge. Tonight I'm only 2563 words away from finishing.

Now, I'm still not happy with the story. I'm sure that as soon as I'm done with it I'll drop it like a hot potato and run far far away from it. It'll sit in a folder for a good long time before I decide if there's any hope for it whatsoever. Who knows, maybe I can make it into a short story instead. Don't know. I'm just glad that I'm this close to meeting the goal.

Knock on wood......

Meanwhile, I'm revisiting some of the other wips that are waiting patiently for me. These that are truly worthy of my attention.

Or maybe I'll just take a break and concentrate on getting Christmas out of the way.

Nah, I won't be able to but my writing aside.

Current word count is 47437.

Yeah!!!!!

The Last Week

2006-11-25T17:08:00.000-08:00

We're just about to the finish line. I'm over 41k right now, and if I really push myself I'll get through this.... barely. It sure isn't as easy as last years...not tha last years was easy. I can't say that this is a complete loss, but its going to need A LOT of help to make it marketable.

I have a feeling I'm going to have to fast forward a bit in the story just to get my word count. We'll see.

A Little Headway

2006-11-23T05:48:00.000-08:00

I pushed myself yesterday and I'm sure I'll pay the price today, but I wrote over 3k yesterday despite the fact that I worked "late" and had to run errands afterwards. Of course I was up til after 1am.

I'm glad to say I'm over 37k now. I just wrote another 1000+ words this morning. Don't know how much I'll get done the rest of the day, but I hope that I'll get soemthing done after the turkey festivities are over.

Last night I had a surprise visit from a friend from out of town. I was a little mortified because I wasn't expecting her and the house was not exactly neat and tidy (when is it ever?). But we chatted and she plans on coming back tomorrow for a longer visit. So I have some time to get things straightened up. (which takes away from my writing time)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!!!!

Have to leave for the House Of Three Big Dogs soon. NOT looking forward to dealing with them!

So, here I am

2006-11-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

After a particularly disasterous and nonproductive week, I'm attempting to get myself back in the game and play catch up. I seriously have my doubts about being able to finish this challenge this year. I'm working my way up to 33k which is about 7k short of where I wanted to be.... at least. This week was a total waste. After #1 Son was sick with the stomach flu on Friday he so sweetly passed it along to me and my DH and both my DDs. Now we've pretty much recovered, but it took a toll on a lot of things.

So, off I go to try to do what I can for this rather pathetic story. I shan't give up though!!

Do Or Die Time

2006-11-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

I figure if I don't hit the half way mark today I'm doomed. I'm nearly there, have over 22k done, but I'm not wild about this story. Not even close. Not that I don't think there could be hope for it with a major infusion of emotion and description at editing time. Hell, I did it with WORL, but right now I'm just very unexcited over the whole thing. My characters have done things without consulting me and now I have to deal with a new character I wasn't planning on.

So, the age old question.... Do I continue on writing something I'm not thrilled about and hope that someday we'll fall in love or do I put it on the shelf and forget Nano and do something that has a chance.

What to do what to do.......

Bare Bones

2006-11-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, so my story doesn't suck as much as I thought it did (but I may change my mind tomorrow)it just lacks a lot of flesh. And as I thought about it, when I was at the mercy of my mundane job, if I can write a bare bones story with 50K words then flesh it out after Nano is over then I may have like a 75K story. Well, I'd take 65K.

But I guess the good thing is that I'm pushing through the hard parts instead of skipping ahead or taking the whole document, highlighting and hitting the delete button.

I'm currently up to 18394 words. I plan to do at least a few more hundred words before bedtime. If I can hit 19000 words then I'll pat myself on the back.

Of course I would prefer to hit 20K.

My Story

2006-11-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

SSSUUUUCCCKKKKSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so bored with it! Nothing is happening. My hero and heroine have decided that neither is interested in any romantic entanglement, my ghost has put in several appearances, so to speak, my heroine is about to discover that she's preggers, and I've thrown in a pet cockatoo. BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING!!!

Maybe its because I'm too tired to make my brain work.

I have to go and look at some of the suggestions I've received to breath life into this rotting corpse of a wip.

Current word count is 16921. Only 33079 to go!!!!

Yipp

eeeee.

Falling Behind...

2006-11-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I thought I'd be up to around 20k by now, but I've had some non-writing days. I pushed today but still didn't get as far as I had wanted.

One problem is that the story is boring me to tears. I wish I had gone with the sequel to my other story instead, or maybe the fantasy. I'm trying to push some things to happening and praying that I can salvage this. I hate the idea of wasting a month's worth of writing.

So, here's the stats....

Current Total-15175, Remaining Words-34825, Avg Words Per Day-1514

Got to get my butt going. Get excited about this project again.

End of Day Five

2006-11-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

Well, not the best day, but I beat the daily average, so I'm content. Things'll get better tomorrow when the schedule get back to "normal"

Still, here are the totals...

Current Total-12406,Words Left-37594, Average Words Per Day-1504

Tomorrow I hope to hit 4000.

Yesterday...Day Four

2006-11-05T03:15:00.000-08:00

Didn't get a chance to post. But it was a pretty lousy day, writing wise. Only 930 words. But I broke the 10000 mark, so thats okay. Wish I had gotten a chance to do more. Oh well, a new week awaits.

Current Word Total-10118, Words Left-39882, Avg Words Per Day-1534

Day Three Over

2006-11-03T18:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I could write some more, but I'm run down and I think the sofa sounds like a good place for me.

I hit my goal again today, my personal goal, not my average words per day. I highly doubt that tomorrow or Sunday will be as productive, but I could be wrong (and I hope I am in this case).

Anyway, here is the stats....

CURRENT WORD COUNT-9188, REMAINING WORDS-40812, AVG WORDS PER DAY-1512

Daily Goal Met

2006-11-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

Well, its after 11pm and I hit the mark for the day. I still think it sounds a bit disjointed, but thats okay. Write now, Edit later. If I can write 50K I'm sure it'll be something I can work with.

CURRENT WORD COUNT-6087, REMAINING WORDS-43913, AVERAGE WORDS PER DAY-1568

So, if I can keep putting in 3000 words a day I'll be in such good shape.

Not Such An Auspicious Beginning

2006-11-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm 4589 words into my story and I'm not loving it. But I'm going to keep pushing through. It will get better. It doesn't help that I'm having a mondo huge headache which makes it hard to concentrate. But I'm determined to hit at least 6000k before I go to bed tonite.

IT SHALL BE DONE!!!!

I'll give a final word count before bed.

Quittin Time

2006-11-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

Well, its time to go to bed. Its about 10:30 and my eyes are watering from yawning too much.

It wasn't a horrendous day. I beat my goal for the day, which was good seeing how I had a few errands to do, and I worked til 4pm. If I can do the same amount each day I'll be in good shape. I'm not loving the story, but thats okay, I'll get past it. My hero nad heroine have met and he's going to think she's crazy. Poor woman. But thats okay. I'm pretty confident that this story will work just fine.

WORD TOTAL-3023/WORDS LEFT-46977/AVG PER DAY-1620

LET THE INSANITY BEGIN!!!

2006-11-01T04:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I didn't stay up til midnight to start writing. I really should've, I stayed up til 11:30. What was another half an hour. But I figured I'd be falling asleep at my desk at work today if I had.

but I did start writing at 5am and in one hour I almost made it to the 1000 word mark.

As of this first day of November, I have to write an average of 1667 words a day. I hope to blow that mark away, but its going to take lots of hard work. I'm not super pleased with my beginning, but thats okay, I have time after Dec 1st to fix it. The thing is to get the story down.

Which I'm going to do right now, since I'm far far behind some of my writing cohorts (Go Maria!!!!!) who started at midnight.

737 words to go to meet my daily goal.

Hee Hee

2006-10-31T11:32:00.000-08:00

I won the prize for scariest costume.

It was all in the makeup and cobwebs....

Last Day of Freedom

2006-10-31T08:03:00.000-08:00

So tomorrow it begins.

I'd love to know, how many Nanoers will stay up late and start writing at 12:00 midnight on Nov. 1st. I'm tempted. Maybe take a nap and then wake up and do a few hours of writing. Just to see if I can do it.

Just to get a word count in early early in the day.

Of course then I'll be useless for the rest of the day.

Well, its Halloween. We've got good food and a costume and cubby decorating contest going on. I wasnt' going to dress up. Getting the kids ready for Halloween is enough, but I managed to pull something off. I'm covered with cobwebs and gray makeup. Yah, dead data entry clerk. Well, maybe I'll get something. I deserve it after draping myself with these annoying cobwebs.

Just want to get through the day so I CAN START WRITING!!!

So Not Ready...

2006-10-30T03:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I am, chomping at the bit to get this Nano started (thinking Pink right now), but I have more to do over the next few days that I'm praying it doesn't overflow into Nov. 1st. Got laundry to do... drivers license to renew by the 2nd, layaway to pick up.... my son's room to clean (he's only 6, he needs help).

But at least the majority of the housework is out of the way and I don't have to worry about that too much.

I need to do some other things for prep, but that is stuff that can be done in the evening.

Yesterday we were going to go to my father in laws for lunch but his entire town lost power in the wind and rain we had all weekend, so instead we spent the morning cleaning the place.

Okay, off I go to work. Another early morning.

What Have I Done?

2006-10-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

Found this on my friend Nancy's blog. :)

All you have to do is copy and paste then highlight in bold the things you have done:

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
9. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111.Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Nano Prepwork continues...

2006-10-27T03:41:00.000-07:00

Well, the planning continues. I have tons and tons of notes and switches and changes in family dynamics. I guess this is the time to do that. I've changed the thorn in Gideon's side from being his aunt to being his sister.... possibly a twin sister? And his grandfather may be Gideon's father instead. Maybe they won't be building ships, maybe they will have a resort, but a resort that has basically shut down and Gideon wants to revive it and keep it in the family but sis wants to sell it to a huge hotel company. They could butt heads over that.

So many things revovling in my head. I need to keep my notebook with me at all times to jot these things down.

Its Friday. Everyone have a spectabulous day! Nor'easter is on its way.

New Nano New Computer

2006-10-25T02:58:00.000-07:00

My husband just got his new computer yesterday and was up til about 4:30am setting it up and setting up my "new" computer. We shifted computers so the kids have my old one and I get my husband's old one, which is a vast improvement over my old one. I now have a Dell instead of a mutt. Its a few years old but thats okay, its a lot younger than the other one and it much more spacious. And it has a flat screen monitor. So I'm rarin to go to use it and fill it with my creativity. I plan on using it a lot more for my Nano than my laptop.

Now if I could just get a television in the room so I can watch my news in the morning while typing. NOOOOO!! I don't need the distraction. And thats why I have the laptop.

So, I finished Gideon's character sketch. Another regular guy from a previously wealthy family. He builds sailboats. I'm afraid that its sounding suspiciously like another book I've read (written in 1949) so I'm still playing with his issues. But I have a week

A WEEK!!!!!!!

I'm feeling faint.....

Rethinking Ryan

2006-10-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

First of all I think I'm going to rename him Gideon. I love that name and I've never used it before.

I had thought that I'd make him the owner of a resort. Okay, not a huge luxurious place, but a nice laid back summer hotel. But then I thought, Ben and Hayden in Sweet Forever were both in the hotel/resort/guest ranch biz. I really want to bring some secondary characters into the story, so I thought up Edmund Harriman. He's Gideon's grandfather and was one of the big men in town. Used to own a shipbuilding business, lives in a huge old mansion on a hill overlooking the ocean. His wife was killed in a boating accident and ole' Edmund blamed himself, gave up on the shipyard and basically became a hermit in the mansion. Gideon's cousins want Granddad to turn the place into a resort (okay, had to have the resort here somewhere). Gideon doesn't want the place to be sold. He wants to revive the shipyard. He builds sailboats and such to make a living.

Thats the jist of the idea.

But I still have a week to change my mind.

My Hero

2006-10-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

I've pretty much figured out my Nano heroine but I have very little clue on who my hero is. Okay, model picked out-check, his role in heroine's life-sorta check, career-so not check. I don't have a clue right now. He lives in a small coastal town in Maine. I don't want him to be a lobsterman or fisherman. I don't want him to be a cop, got a story with a cop. I was thinking that he owns a resort in the town. That would give him some free time during the winter months to be a caretaker for some of the summer homes in the town. Thats my best idea right now. I really have to do his character sketch soon.

I haven't done much of anything with writing the last few days. Too much family activity. Tomorrow everything should return to normal and it'll give me a week or so to get everything in order for Nano. Yeah!!!!!!!!

And I'm going to get a better computer soon. My husband is upgrading his puter so I'm getting his "old" computer which is a lot nicer than my current desktop. I can't wait, but got to get some stuff organized to make a home for my current desktop which'll go to the kids.

I can't wait to play with it. And just in time for Nov. 1st.

Baa Humbug

2006-10-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took the day off work and took the kids and my husband to the Keene Pumpkin Festival. We brought our 2 pumpkins to help out. It was a fun day. A bit cold but it was sunny. A very good crowd was there. We stayed til just after 5pm and on our way back we were commenting on how many people didn't bring pumpkins with them to try to break the current Guinesss Book of World Record record that Keene has always held. They were hoping for 30000. When we got on the road home we were shocked to see the line of cars waiting to get in. It stretched a good 4 miles, bumper to bumper. Even when we got to our own town there was a huge line of cars heading in that direction. I've never seen that much traffic, so we're guessing that the majority of them were heading to Keene.

On the news it was announced that we only got just over 24K and Boston took the record with 30k. Poo. If every person who came to the festival brought one pumpkin we wouldve kept the record.

There's always next year......

Dreamer's Sea

2006-10-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

So, here's my newest Nano project idea.....

D-Dreamers Sea-Sarah has inherited her maiden aunts cottage on the Maine coast. Timing couldn’t be better. Her marriage is in shambles and she needs the escape that the small town offers so she can rebuild her confidence and her heart. It seems that Sarah’s aunt is reaching out to her from the otherside to help the healing along.

I belong to a writing group that occasionally does exercises (not often enough, I'm afraid). One exercise is to take every letter of the alphabet and come up with a title and then a blurb for it. I've found it to be really fun and stretches the mind, and I've come up with some definite wip possibilities, such as the above idea.

Of course it needs to be majorly fleshed out.

Sarah is in her early 30's. All she ever wanted to do was to be a writer (sound familiar). When she was in college she fell in love with one of her professors, Dr. Maxwell Eagan. He was charming, brilliant, handsome and when she graduated they started dating...yada yada. Well, he moved up in the academic world and they got married and he wanted her to be his assistant, housewife instead of pursuing her own dreams.

Finally, after nearly ten years of being his wife and slipping further and further into the background of his life and dealing with the fact that he doesn't care about her position, her dreams or anything beyond his life at the university, she decides to move out. She's inherited a cottage on the coast of Maine from her maiden aunt. She goes up to get her life going, to write, plan her divorce and rebuild her old dreams.

When she gets there she finds she's not alone in the cottage. Apparently the spirit of her aunt is still around but it doesn't take long for Sarah to get used to her. But her aunt seems to be trying to play matchmaker, something that Sarah isn't interested in, even though her aunt's "choice" is local Ryan Westwood. Ryan is handsome, sweet, concerned for Sarah's welfare but also has no desire to be hooked up by a spirit.

Things get harder for Sarah when she discovers that she's pregnant. Maxwell has made it clear that children are out of the question so Sarah isn't sure whether she should even try to include him in the baby's life after the baby's arrival.

Throughout her pregnancy up in the cottage, Sarah becomes a member of the community and Ryan steps up to help her out. Despite their best laid plans, they both feel the attraction rising between them. They don't act too much on it, although they may share a kiss or two, but there's a definite longing between them that they're fighting.

Sarah is ready to give birth any day and the weather is bad. During a storm she starts having contractions. She can't drive herself, the electricity and phones are out but Aunt reaches out to Ryan and he comes to Sarah's aid. She's having complications but Ryan manages to get her to the hospital. Nearly losing her jolts him into the realization that he loves her and wants to be a part of her life and her babies.

Though the divorce is final I'm sure I'll have to drag Maxwell back into it. Maybe he'll come visit the baby (maybe baby will be a preemie) and Sarah and he'll offer to take them back, not out of love but out of duty, and she'll tell him to take a hike.

Anywho, thats the basics to this story. It may make 50,000 words. It won't be steamy in any shape or form, which is what I want, but I'll have to build on the tension. Maybe at the end I'll give Sarah and Ryan a nookie scene-or maybe not.

So, maybe it'll be an okay thing to put the other story on the back burner for awhile. :) I'm feeling better.

Writing Sequels

2006-10-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

My writing group has been sharing ideas we have for the upcoming Nano challenge. I gave a brief blurb about my story and have been getting lots of support. Then I got an email that made me slam on my brakes. My writing buddy commented about how people really liked sequels ESPECIALLY IF THEY REALLY LIKE THE FIRST BOOK.

Well, the first book hasn't even been released yet, so how the heck do I know if people like it. What if it tanks? Who's going to buy a sequel to a book of they hate the first one?

I really don't want to waste a month of writing on something that may never be a viable product. I think it'll be a good story, but not if the base crumbles.

So, I'm basically going back to my big bag of ideas to see if I have any others in there that I can do instead of this one. This one can keep until next year after Finally Home has been on the market for awhile.

Well, I'd rather figure this out now instead of on November 4th.

Too Many Words

2006-10-13T07:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm still working on my short and I've discovered that I'm already over the maximum word count for the line I'm aiming it for, which only wants 5000-8000 words. And I have a good bit more to go before this baby is done. So I guess I'll just have to look for a different place for it. I don't think I'll be able to edit it down enough to meet their requirments. Dern.

Nano is looming and I think I'm all set as far as details go. Everything else, I'm sure, will fall into place as I go. Man, I make it sound so easy! It sure isn't. I've no doubt I'll discover the pitfalls along the way. But there'll be plenty of time for editing after November is gone. Until then all I have to worry about is getting the words down.

I Shouldn't Gripe

2006-10-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

Over the past two days of being on the dreaded phones I've been able to write an entire scene for my short story AND do some research on my Nano project. The phones were really quiet. So, had I been doing the data entry I wouldn't have gotten any of that done. So I shouldn't gripe about it. Well, until the phones start getting busy with Christmas Shoppers. In the afternoon I was taken off the phones and went back onto data entry. I cast longing glances at my notebook.

Now I've got to work on a stee-mah scene for my short (yah, I know, I said I wasn't going to do that, but I'm aiming it for WCP Torrid line and well, they're stee-mah. Won't be going there with my nano project.

Not going to get much done tonite though. Its open house at my son's school and when I get home its WEDNESDAY TV NIGHT!!! We got America's Next Top Model, we got Dancing With the Stars result show, we got Jericho, we got Lost, we got Ghost Hunters, we got Project Runway and we got The Nine. OKAY TV SCHEDULING PEOPLE, HOW BOUT MOVING SOME OF THESE SHOWS TO A DIFFERENT NIGHT! Thank goodness for tivo.

Time to drag my son out of bed and face the sink of dishes. Ugh

Lord, Save Me From School Fundraisers

2006-10-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

Its getting to be ridiculous. First, last month my stepdaughter brought her school fundraiser packet over. Fine, I bought something. Then it was my son's turn, along with school pictures, then my daughter's school pics, and her fundraiser. And then my stepdaughter brings YET ANOTHER school fundraiser over! 2 in 2 months??? This is nuts. I know that soon I'll have to deal with the first Girl Scout fundraiser. Oh, and then there was my daughter's school trip to Maine that hit us within the first week of school.

Does it ever end?? I mean, we have to deal with all the school shopping, getting kids their clothes, shoes, pens, paper etc.... I'm not rich, not even close, but I feel obliged to buy something from my kids and I just pray that my bank account can handle it all.

Off to work I go. To a dreaded day of phone calls. I hate the phones. With a passion.

Oh well. Such is life. I knew that when I signed on to this job I'd have to answer phones (kind of like joining the Army and knowing that there is a possibility that I'd see combat.... after all, its in the job description.)

The Research Continues...

2006-10-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

So, I think I've picked out my hero model for my Nano challenge. Paul Walker fits into Daniel's character as I have him described in Finally Home. Sorry Paul, you'll have to have brown eyes, though. I think. (I need to go back and find all the Daniel scenes. Please someone tell me there's an easy way to do that!!). I've also been looking at some Competitive Trail Riding websites, but I don't know how much I'm really going to use that in the story. My heroine used to participate, but no longer. I'm sure I'll have to know something, but not everything. Still, its good to have the info.

I tried to start a blog specifically for this story, but I bombed at it (it didn't like me) so maybe I'll start one elsewhere.

Or maybe not.

Rotten day at work. I've been taken off data entry because they "need the coverage on the phones". But the phones have been dead today and there's SOOO much data entry piling up that its sickening. What kind of sense does this make??????? None at all.

I just want to go home. Now.

Oh, yeh, I forgot....

2006-10-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated my homepage in ages. I hope I can find a few minutes tomorrow and get going on it. Maybe a page on upcoming stories, or a 'whats new' page. I honestly don't know what I can post as far as blurbs go for the two stories that Samhain will be publishing. Finally Home has a blurb on the cover, so thats all set.

I was also looking into getting my own domain name etc. Maybe for my Christmas present to myself. I want a more professional look. I'd like to do as much as I can by myself (with my husband's help-he knows more than I do).

I was doing some outlining on my NaNo story and have a few more ideas. Been coming up with names. And I know why Casey (my heroine) goes to NYC and accepts the job as the nanny with the people in NH. She's being paid very well and she needs the money to help with her brother's medical expenses because she feels she's to blame for his physical state.

Okay, I'm sure nanny's don't make tons of money, but, well, she can't be a high priced call girl. And money is no object to the woman who hired her.

I'll think of other reasons, but thats what I have so far.

Lost was awesome. I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad that its back on!!! Still more mysteries. And Sawyer, yet again, cracked me up, trying to figure out the whole system to get fed.... and ends up with a "bear bisquit" and a pile of kibble. But, oh, the look on his face when he saw Kate.... *sigh*

Off to bed I go.

Its Coming Along

2006-10-04T03:34:00.000-07:00

Plotting that is.... for NaNoWriMo. I'm so excited! I've been brainstorming and trying to figure things out and I'm praying that this'll all come together and I'll have a marketable manuscript.

One of the first things I do is pick out my character models. This story is going to be a sequel to Finally Home, due out in June of 2007, so I'm using one of my secondary characters as the hero in the story. I haven't found a model for him yet, though I do have a general idea of what he looks like.

My heroine will be new to the cast of characters. I think I've decided on a Katie Holmes kinda gal, young looking, sweet, trying to be something she really isn't while hiding away from what she used to be (not that Katie Holmes is trying to be something she really isnt...)

Gist of her situation... she was a nationally known competitive endurance rider (competitive trail riding) who was involved in a horrific accident that changed her life. Now she's afraid of riding and had to move her life in a different direction. A nanny. The irony, she's hired by the mother of a horsewoman and her husband to care for their daughter. (should be interesting... said mother completely alienated her daughter in the first book. The nanny is a sort of peace offering).

Its up to my hero to figure out who she is, what happened to her and get her involved with horses again.... after trying to convince the baby's mom that she's crazy to have a horse-hating nanny on a horse farm.

Should be interesting.

More later.....

Copy Cat?

2006-10-03T02:51:00.000-07:00

Last night, as I was trying to get to bed I was, instead, thinking of my Nano project, getting those nerves jumping. Can I really take this story idea to 50k? So I began to think about my characters, my heroine in particular. First of all, I'm planning on writing a sequel to a story that is going to be published by WCP. The hero is a nice guy, my heroine's (in Finally Home) best friend. I don't think I'm going to have a tough time with him.

But the heroine. Who is she? Where is she from? She's not from the little town that my story is set in, she's not from their "world". I know what she did before she came to the town, she'd been a competitive trail rider (its another horse story, folks). I'm also considering having her being a Sioux from South Dakota originally.

Then I thought, maybe that wouldn't be a good idea. First of all, I have another story set in SD, (though this one is set only in NH and none of my characters in the other story were Native American) and I have a writing friend who is writing a story who's characters are Lakota. Would that be copying? The stories aren't going to be one bit alike, just to set that straight. I want my heroine to be different from the women I usually write about.

I just don't want to be called a copy cat.

Well, I'll think on it some more.. I still have about 28 days to go.....

Lions and Bigfoots and Bears..... Oh My

2006-09-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

No, this isn't some kind of strange Wizard of Oz.

Today my husband, son and I decided to go tramping in the woods. They wanted to go hunting and I brought along the metal detector because there are several cellar holes in the woods around my father in laws house.

Okay, when I first moved to New Hampshire when I was 11 we lived on 12 acres of woods. I was in heaven. I spent more time playing out in the woods than anything else, until I got my horse). I wasn't afraid of anything out there and never saw anything out there that would make me worry about my safety. I loooooved the woods.

I don't know when it happened. Maybe it was right around the time I saw the mountain lion trotting across the road. I started getting a bit nervous about what lurked in the woods. Then of course I hear about the stories of black bears in the yard, coyotes, fisher cats, bobcats and of course.... the dreaded mountain lion.

It didn't help that last night I watched a show on bigfoot.

So, there we are, walking in the woods. The guys have their guns.... full of bird shot, which would do no more than annoy an attacking animal. I considered the metal detector as a weapon, or maybe the little forked thingie that I was carrying to dig in the dirt. Would that be a good weapon? Yeah... riiiiight.

And then, as we left the road we were on (4-wheeler path is more like it), I started thinking of the Blair Witch Project. Oh man!! Would I ever enjoy a walk in the woods again??????

Then we found a cellar hole, right out there in the middle of the woods. Got the metal detector going, started digging, finding broken china, the metal lid to something, a latch for somethingoruther, nails and bunches of broken bricks. Thoughts of bear, lions, bigfoot and witches went right out the window. I started remembering how my friends and I had done this when we were young and found about 100 clay marbles (which I sold for about 75.00) and how I used to want to be an archaeologist growing up. I thought about the people who used to live there, when there was a house where now there was just an overgrown pile of rocks, bricks, rusted cans and broken china. What had happened to the house? Why did they leave the china behind? Where did they go after leaving that home. What kind of people were they?

We walked on, found a spot, a cave of sorts, that the town, long ago, used to store dead bodies before burial. Pretty freaky. And we found another cellar hole on the walk home.

I remembered how much I loved walking out in the woods, looking for things to discover. We talked about coming back out, starting early in the morning, spending more time investigating and looking for more goodies.

And next time we'll at least carry something with a little more power than birdshot.

Jumping From One WIP To Another

2006-09-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

Well, this morning before I dragged myself out of bed (actually stayed in bed til nearly 8am) I thought of a short story I'd written a while ago and wondered if it would be suited for a certain line. When I got up I checked the writing guidelines and then realized that I have another wip in progress (put down a while ago) that would work for another of their lines.

Whats a poor writer to do! I have the current one I'm working on (got 6 pages handwritten while waiting on laundry this afternoon). I really want to continue it, but I only have a little over a month left before Nano starts and I have to put it aside anyway. So I could either get what I can done on it during that time, or pick up one of these short stories and possibly finish and submit it within that time.

What to do what to do. I hate going from one wip to another (though I do it all the time). I want to get one done then start on another.... nice and neat and orderly.

Chya... as if.

Putting Me Out Of My Misery

2006-09-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

This morning I took a few to check my email before work (something I don't do so often anymore) and what should be waiting for me but an email from "My" editor (well the editor I'm working with on Sweet Forever).

Finally, after nearly 3 months (which is normal I guess, but still tends to drag) I don't have to wait for an answer on whether or not she wants Where One Road Leads.

She likey!!!!!

So she sent me a contract along with her email. Oh yeah Oh yeah Uh-huh Uh-huh!

I'm so psyched!

My mother and sister brought over a bottle of champagne this afternoon (along with a carton of OJ because Jim prefers mimosas)

I'm pretty proud that this was my Nano project from last year. Puts the pressure on for this year, though. but thats okay. I've got my game on and I know what I'm going to write so I'm all set for this November BRING IT ON!! Because at the moment I have nothing else to offer an editor.

Got to stop my muse from her little football touchdown dance and get back to my current wip.

The Case Of The Disappearing Muse

2006-09-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Subtitled-Muses Gone Wild

Yesterday when I was at work my muse was crazy busy filling me with ideas for my current wip (well, I'm only really at the plotting stages right now). Couldn't get her off my shoulder. This is a good thing, to a point. I can't just stop what I'm doing at work to write down my thoughts except at my designated break time.

I was hoping that she'd be just as full of good ideas today as she was yesterday, but she's not around. Hello! Here Musey Musey Musey!!!

So, why do muses disappear just when you need them the most? She's as fickle as I am apparently, but I don't like my creativity being toyed with.

And now my daughter is setting up the table so she and I can do crafts and puzzles. I need more hours in the day cuz i need to do laundry, make banana bread, make lunch and I'd hope, find my missing muse.

Inspiration

2006-09-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a bunch of it lately, especially on some of the new tv shows coming out. I'm talking about the relationships between the hero and heroine (or main male/female characters). Yeh, I watch too much tv, but I have my favorite shows that I have to watch. I don't watch tv when there's nothing on. There are 3 new shows that I'm drawing on, Eureka, Three Moons Over Milford and Men In Trees. Each of these have a couple who aren't together but you know that they want to be. Oh, and the Office too (Jim and Pam). The best part of the whole thing is the tension between them. You're cheering them on because you want them to be together, but you know that once that happens the show will lose something.

There's been a lot of talk on this relating to writing. I've been questioning some of my wips where the heroine and hero get too hot and heavy too soon. Its expected from a lot of the lines that I aim for. Well, I don't want to anymore. Its the tension that I want to build on. Okay, if they have sex in the last 3rd of the book so be it, but by chapter 2? No, lets not go there.

So, now that I'm figuring this out I have to apply it. So what if people want erotica. I don't want to write it.

So there.

Now I have to have some more inspiration.

So What Am I Doing?

2006-09-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

Something I never expected I'd do and am actually quite amazed and a little bewildered.

I've been thinking that my muse has jumped ship, been traded to a better team, went to find herself...whatever. She hasn't been spending much time with me. Not like I'm demanding (yet... but just wait til November). So I did a writing exercise and I really really like it! The only problem is that if I continue on with it its going to be some kind of suspense type books which I just don't do. Talk about venturing far far far out of my comfort zone (finding my muse along the way).

I can go two ways with this one. Make it a basic suspense or add a little extra and make it a sci fi suspense.. maybe a little time travel.

So (less than 2 months before Nano) I need to sit down with a notebook and figure out just what type of insanity I'm suffering from to make me even want to take on something like this.

If I didn't like the exercise I did so much I'd never even consider something like this.

I'm definitely certifiable.

BTW Eureka fans, what did you think of the show last night? I felt bad for Jack in the end. He's such a hottie. I can't believe he's so young! Just slightly older than my DH, who is a heck of a lot younger than me.

Okay, back to work. I've got me some plotting to do. AND I PROMISE THAT IN THE HEIGHT OF DANGER MY HEROINE WON'T GET THE URGE TO JUMP THE HERO. On the contrary, I may not even "go there" in this book. But I promise lots of that good tension.

If this wip gets off the ground. :)

Falling In and Out of Love

2006-09-11T02:52:00.000-07:00

Maybe its just me. I love that moment, your eyes find each other across the room, you meet, that starry eyed googly feeling begins somewhere between your heart and the pit of your stomach. After getting to know each other a bit the first stirring of love begins. You have wonderful plans for the future, the possibilities are endless and you have that golden glow of love all around you.

Then as time progresses things don't seem as rosy and lovey dovey as they did in the beginning. Things slowly begin to get dull and you spend less and less time together. You may even start thinking of others. It gets harder and harder to come up with reasons why you should stay in this relationship. Sure, you remember what brought you there, have fond memories of that first moment, and the few moments after that held you in the arms of romance, but you just can't recapture them, no matter how hard you try. Finally, you just can't pretend anymore. You have to let them go. Its bitterweet, but it must be done. After all, you know that you'll fall in love again. Maybe next time it'll last. Someday you're bound to meet the right one. It has to happen.

I've been looking back at all the wips I have in my folders, those wonderful awesome stories that I thought were "The One" but who fizzled out of me prematurely. Poor Eli and Isobel, Mac and Iona, Lydia and Kyle. Maybe Juliana and Aidan will suffer the same fate. Or maybe, just maybe I'll be able to reclaim the fire that each of these stories lit in me once upon a time. I'd hate to think that they're gone, never to return.

But I have to look forward, to the new love that may be waiting just around the corner.

Swingin To And Fro

2006-09-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well, just when I get settled into a wip I get ideas on another one and I go back to that one while the thoughts are fresh. The one I'm "on" now is the one that is on my "Most Wanted To Write" list, right up there at #1. But its a huge undertaking, a fantasy.

So, do I stick with that one, or the one that I was revising before? And come November I'm going to have to put both aside for my Nano project.

Oh, what to do what to do...

Its such a beautiful day here in SW New Hampshire. And I'm stuck in the office all day. Not fair. tomorrow I have to pack up my #2 daughter for her trip to Maine. I have to write a bunch of letters for her. Okay, have to do these in advance because if I mail them they probably wouldnt' reach her in time.

But my lunch break is over and I have too much to do. So its time to quit playing and get back to the grindstone. Or something like that.

Will It Never End?

2006-09-07T04:22:00.000-07:00

I'm already getting tired of being on the run. I don't think I've spent an afternoon/evening at home without having to run out to do school/shopping/errands or some other activity in about 2 weeks. It doesn't bode well for my writing when I can't settle into a good flow. I know that it'll settle down eventually. Last night it was the middle school open house, tonite its dinner with my mom. Tomorrow? I'll be driving all over southern NH, dropping my oldest off with her stepmom and then heading to the other half of the state to pick up my stepmother (don't get me started, but it would be so nice to have them meet us half way, but noooo, that never happens). I don't see myself home until probably nearly 7pm. Saturday have to work all day, Sunday its a trip to Sams Club then have to do the pick up/drop off once more

Whats the outlook for Monday? Actually pretty good. Daughter #2 will be off for environmental camp. It may actually be quiet. *knock on wood*

Because I really need to get going on my writing. Oh, and house cleaning. *sigh*

I know...

2006-09-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

its only early September but I'm already thinking about what the heck I'm going to do for Nano this year. I have an idea, a sequel to Finally Home (to be released by Whiskey Creek Press next year). So I have just under 2 months to plot it out. It is fair to plot things out, right? Just can't start the actual writing, right? I guess that would be better than waiting til the last minute to figure out what I want to write, even though it worked out great for last years Nano.

Sad day with the loss of Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin. He'll be missed. So much life but at least he died doing what he loved.

I haven't been doing much writing lately, too much going on, getting kids settled in school and activities, relocating myself at work (now I'm in the boonies and I'm feeling like the Maytag repairman). Maybe this week will be calmer. Can always hope.

Time to do more dishes. Seem to have a lot more dirty dishes lately. I hate that.

My Daughter

2006-08-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

Well, got through all the open houses and freshman orientations today. Phew. I even filled out all the paperwork needed. I wish they could just use the same paperwork I filled out last year. Nothing has changed.

My daughter is sitting at the desktop computer and I'm on the laptop. We're both writing. I'm so pleased that she is because she has a wonderful imagination. Of course she reads what she has to me every few paragraphs. Its a tad distracting, but I'm not going to complain.

Okay, there was no point to this post. Just a space filler.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

2006-08-29T03:40:00.000-07:00

Ah yes, the kids go back to school tomorrow.

My favorite commercial is the Staples commercial where the Dad is going through Staples getting the kids their school supplies and he's dancing and joyful and his kids are following behind, dragging their feet, heads down, looking miserable. Hehehe. But actually my kids are looking forward to going back. It means new schools for two of my kids as one moves on to high school (yikes) and one to middle school. And my youngest is still in elementary. How the heck am I supposed to keep track of this?

Well, its been over 2 months and still no word on Where One Road Leads. Yah, I'm trying not to think about it, but it hard not to do.

Time to get child #1 ready for her freshman orientation. I remember my freshman orientation. Joy.

Not.

More on the POV thingie and jumping in too soon

2006-08-26T03:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I took care of some of the POV stuff in my first chapter and I'm working on chapter two. Now I'm faced with another question. Alright, I always intended this story to be spicey. I wrote it with a Blaze kinda publisher in mind. But at the opening of chapter two my H & h are already embarking on the DEED. Is that too soon, even for a Blaze kinda book? I've been thinking about what I can add to delay this plunge even for a coupla chapters. See, it was originally a novella so things had to run a little faster. Not that I'm personally uncomfortable with them charging full speed ahead, but I'm thinking what's marketable.

Or am I just thinking too much and not writing enough.

On other fronts, while its Saturday and I have my long workday ahead of me there've been some changes at the office. Internet surfing has been banned *gulp* and I don't know if I can even sneak in some writing. Its all work work work. Our eeevil CEO quit (or thats the story thats circulating-I think he may have been asked to quit), we have an acting president who is just as tough and who's in the office daily as opposed to the infrequent appearances by the former pres. And the owner of the company, the big kahuna, will be in on Monday. Don't know what that will mean. We've only seen him once and he didn't even say hello to us peons. Now maybe he'll deal with us.

So, don't know what the day will hold. Will bring my memory stick with me just in case, but I doubt I'll get any writing done.

The POV thing

2006-08-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

I'm ready to start giving up on breaking up scenes for the POV thing. I've been trying to put astriks between the changes in POV but that is beginning to look awkward and I think it chops things up more than it has to. I really really try not to head hop and I think I do a pretty good job of it, but there are times, like with my current wip that I find myself going from one head to another a little too frequently. I honestly don't think it's confusing, but it wouldn't be for me, now would it.

My instincts tell me to just go with what is naturally flowing and worry about it later. If others think that it needs to be fixed than I can fix it. But I don't want to stunt my baby's growth right now.

So I'm going to pull a Nora and write the way the story is coming to me and be damned if its not right.

hehehe.

At least I'm writing.

Oh what a sad sad teen I was

2006-08-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

Pathetic, in fact.

I found my old journal. I began it in 1981 when I was about 15 years old or so. Oh. My. God. Was I really that pathetic???? And fickle. Well, that I can believe. I was in love with just about every cute guy in my school, but dating no one. If anyone remembers the show "Square Pegs" (where Sarah Jessica Parker got her start), or perhaps Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion. Yah, that was me.

Where in the world... no, why in the world did I ever think I could be a cheerleader??? LOL Yah, I can laugh about it now. And get a little sad about it because I dont want my kids to feel the way I felt then. Not that my childhood was that bad, really, but this journal is so angst sodden that I could wring it out.

There has to be a story in this somewhere... some Judy Blume-ish kind of book.

Sometimes I wish I could go back and do it all over again, knowing what I know now, and make different choices. I wonder where I'd be now.

Yah, I could definitely write a story, starring me. hehehehe.

But I'd give myself a fabulous, purely fictional ending.

When Good Ideas Go Bad

2006-08-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

I thought I had a Eureka! moment the other day! I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with a great plot for the 3rd part of my current wip. The first two siblings had good, emotional stories to tell, but the third and final one really didn't have much of anything interest, no real conflict.

The stories deal with blackmarket adoptions and I finally came up with a great reason why this guys "parents" went to those extremes to adopt him. Then I thought, hmmm... mom could go away and pretend to be pregnant and then come back with the baby who everyone would assume was hers.

But as I was plotting it out I had an "Oh Sh**" moment.

The "baby" is 3 years old when he's adopted. Explain that!

So, its back to square one.

What is Seamus's big emotional story???????? Besides his inability to make any sort of a commitment.

Borrowing

2006-08-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

Oops. I'm doing my rewrites of my novella which I'm going to turn into a full length (some how) and I've come to my first kissy scene and I realize that I lent it out to another manuscript, one that is going to be published by Samhain. So dern it, now I have to come up with another good kissy scene. Okay, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just have to be in the right mood for it.

At least I got some writing done today, which is good. Now I have to do some more... and some plotting for part 3 of the book.

Okay, this is a short post. Its late and I have to be outa here early in the a.m. So much for sleeping in on my one day off.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2006-08-11T03:32:00.000-07:00

Its official. At work I'm moving from the call center to the mail center. Well, thats just down the hall to the "big" room. I get my wish of not having to deal with customers on the phone (the mean customers) and will just have to do data entry. Yippeeee. But that means kissing the bonus program goodbye. Thats for phone reps only.

Anyhue, lately I've been spending too much time reading blogs and other things. Particularly about the situation at RWA (which I'm not a member of), the ruckus caused by a letter concerning how romance should be defined. I'm not going to get into it other than to say... yikes. And read a newspaper article about a convention down in Daytona for romance writers and readers. Double yikes. The articles writer was obviously not a fan and offended quite a few people.

But all this is distracting me from my writing. I've turned back to my rewrites on my novella. It's just over 25K and I want to make it a full length, I'm just not sure how. How can I possibly add another 35+K words to this story??? One way would be to combine all the stories (this is the first in a trilogy) into one long story. Or I could pl-pl-plot it out and see if I could add some more to it. But more than double it?? That would be tricky.

Never the less, must get working on it. Its not going to do anything by just sitting on my memory stick.

No word from Samhain. In the next week or so.... for sure.

Crispy Critters

2006-08-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when I went to work my DH took the kids and went to my parents house to do some painting while they're out of town. About an hour into my morning I get a message from my son (who's six) saying that there's been an accident and to call right away. When DH was climbing onto the roof to start the painting, the ladder gave way and he and it and the grill and a table all went crash boom bang. So, even though he didn't want an ambulance or anything I had to leave work and head over to find him on his back on the deck. He was pretty beat up, cuts and abrasions all over his legs and arm, his back hurt, his shoulders hurt, but he didn't want to go to the hospital.

After resting for a long time to determine he didn't have anything majorly wrong, and cleaning up the cuts and scrapes (ugh) he decided to push on with the painting. I went out to help him. It was a beautiful day, weatherwise but now we have quite the sunburn-especially him. It was a rough night. Painting got done at 9pm and then we had to go home and get dinner.

He hasn't been off the sofa since he woke up. He's definitely feeling the effects of the fall, but it would've been much worse if it had been my dad coming down like that. Small miracles.

I just hope I won't get spoken to about not going back to work. I didn't feel comfy about leaving him alone.

Today is a day of rest. As if we could do anything else. even I'm tired and sore.

This and That

2006-08-04T04:07:00.000-07:00

TGIF. Well, for me it should be TGIS because I have a full day of work ahead of me tomorrow. Ugh. I wish there were a way to work part time, but with the cost of living going up (including our rent next month) I have no choice but to sacrafice my weekends.

The van will be coming home. It was a screw. I'm paying over 100.00 because of a loose screw. I should be grateful. I AM grateful, I was expecting so much more! But thats a mighty big bill for one itty bitty screw. Of course most of it was towing fees.

I did a follow up with "my" editor about the manuscript I submitted in June. At least she got it and said that she's going to try to get to it in the next week or so. Well, I'm just glad she got it.

As far as my writing is going, I'm at a stand still, again not happy with the wip I started again. Maybe what I really need to do is start something completely new. It just kills me that I have so many wips that have lots of potential. I just have to get back into them.

The heat doesn't help, of course. We have pretty much no a/c at work and the office is filled with fans. Big help they are. It was about 90 in the office on Wednesday. In Maine it was a state law that offices couldn't remain open if it was that hot. Apparently that law doesn't exist in NH.

Well, off to do dishes. And to brainstorm.

Self Induced Torture

2006-07-31T04:23:00.000-07:00

Who said that climbing a mountain is fun? Okay, so it can be if you're in shape, but let me tell ya, I'm far far from being in any kind of shape that resembles healthy. But the DH, 2 kids and I climbed a (small)mountain yesterday. It was beautiful in spots, and pure heck in other spots. My shoes need to be tossed into a shredder and my clothes burned. But, as tough as it was, I did it, reached the top and walked back down. My legs still ache, but its better than having just sat home doing nothing on my one day off.

Its supposed to be an extremely hot week here in NH. Wednesday we could get into triple digits. Ugh. I can't wait til October!!!

Today I must get some much needed boring chores done, but after that I'm determined to get settled down and get some writing done. Unless I fall asleep first.

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Character Occupations

2006-07-27T03:44:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to figure out just what my hero in my (latest-sort of) wip does for a living. Currently he's a fifth grade teacher. Hey, my heros are usually regular joes. I tossed around the idea of making him a cop. But I already have a cop in my last manuscript. Then I got to thinking... is it alright to go with the same occupation for my characters? I tend to go with artists a lot. My heroine in Sweet Forever is an artist and innkeeper. My hero in Storm Within (my novella) is an artist. In my current wip (tentatively titled The Staying Kind) the heroine is, yah, you guessed it... an artist. My heros have been fireman and a cop (I looooove a man in uniform *drool*), a rancher and a lawyer/senator to be. So a fifth grade teacher would be okay, but I'd like for him to be in a position to help her with her problems, which include trying to find out if her husband and daughter actually did die in a boating accident two years previous.

Okay, time to get ready for work. I'll mull this around and try to come up with some conclusion.

Sometimes TV can be a good thing...

2006-07-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

As I was beginning to slip into that tv induced coma last night I started watching a movie that I have to admit that I really like- Baby Boom. I came in mid-way through when she was settling into her little Vermont town. It inspired me into picking up a wip that I had started some time back, set in a little NH town that is a lot like the one in the movie.

Okay, okay, so its not so good for the rewrites I was trying to do on the novella, but this is better than not writing at all, I guess.

I love setting my stories in small towns. With a very few exceptions, my stories are all in small New England towns. I like the feel of them.

So, off I go to get back to my notes. I still have no idea where I'm going with it.

I ask you... what else can go wrong?

2006-07-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm home from a long dull day at work.... trying to get some writing done and ACTUALLY making some headway, when I get a phone call from my mom. My daughter (who is 15) is no where to be found. She goes there after school 2 days a week. *sigh* My mom, who has back problems and didn't want to try hiking around to look for her, says maybe I should drive over. Good idea. So I gather the kids and head out for the 20 minute drive to my parent's house. When I'm nearly there I get the call that my daughter has just turned up. She'd been taking a walk. (My daughter, tho 15 has DS, so taking walks alone isn't the best idea). So I show up, have a chit chat with my daughter, gather everyone together and head home. I get a few hundred yards up the road and guess what.... my van from hell dies. Thank goodness it didn't do that halfway home. So get the parental units on the phone... my Dad calls a tow truck, my mom comes and gathers the kids and takes them home. Nearly an hour later the tow truck comes and my mom takes me home.

So, this could be it for the Van O' Death. I dont' want to sink anymore money into it's rotting corpse (can you tell that I really like my van??) I just can't afford a car payment right now and livng with one vehicle is a challenge.

So, now I have to face my writing. Or I can just slip into a television induced coma.... hmmmmm.....

Out of Sync

2006-07-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

Well, here I sit at work. In the mood to write. Ideas flowing.

And I have to enter orders.

What a waste of a day.

Why can't I be in this kind of mood when I have the time and chance to write? Instead most of that time my creativity has dried up and useless. I guess I could push myself to get the job done and go back later and try to add some life to the story. Isn't anything better than nothing? I heard that somewhere.

So I'll have to remember that next time I'm staring blankly at whatever I'm working on and being tempted away by some surfing.

Dont doooo iiittttt!!!!!!!

Just Not Happenin

2006-07-20T03:01:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to write something the last few days but nothing is happening thats any good. I've completely given up on July Nano. I think I ended up with about 4000 words on a new wip but I just don't want to go any further on it. I'm revisiting (re-re-revisiting) an old novella I wrote with the intention of re-re-rewriting it and lengthening it. I have some scenes, mostly love scenes that I'll have to rewrite because I borrowed them for other manuscripts (anyone else do that?) but its a good story and the first in a possible trilogy.

So, with something in my sights it should be easy, right? Now if my muse would come back and give me a hand I could produce the masterpiece I know I have inside me.

Oh, and still haven't heard back about my submission of Where One Road Leads. Ho hum...

Need Batteries Recharged

2006-07-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

I haven't written at all this week. What a waste, but I'm just too stressed right now. Work is a hassle as our big boss becomes more and more of an *bllllleeeeepppp* and makes our lives more and more difficult. Today we had a staff meeting. Not a good one. More work expected from us, and no benefits to it. No thank you from the 'big boss', nothing. He won't even talk to us. And I found out that a coworker has been very resentful of the work I've been doing because it means that everyone else has to 'pick up the slack' for the phone calls I'm not taking. She didn't say word one to me after the meeting. Of course our manager said 'don't be mad at Ceri for being off the phones. She's learning what she needs to know to cover for the assistant manager if need be'. Great. So that puts me in the other camp as far as my coworkers are concerned. Life isn't going to get easier anytime soon. I'm expecting to see a few resignations coming in soon. But its not my problem. I understand everyone's frustration, I feel it too, but I have to worry about me and my family's needs, not the feelings of my coworkers who think we have to make some kind of stand against the big boss. Talk about spitting into the wind.

But I need to put it past me and get my mind back onto my writing. If I can settle on a wip. I've got a couple projects to work on, so its not like I'd be staring at a blank screen.

What to do........