 Thursday, December 28, 2006 Do you do New Years Resolutions? I try not to, if I can help it. Especially the "I will go to the gym three times a week" and "I will lose 40lbs this year" kind of resolutions. First of all, I know I'm not going to the gym, so there's no point in making myself feel bad about it. Second, I lose weight by eating less not by making resolutions to eat less! No resolution has ever kept a single ounce of chocolate out of my mouth. There's just too much pressure involved in "Resolutions" as far as I'm concerned, and I give myself more than enough pressure already. So no more resolutions for me. What I do like to do this time of year is write down a few goals--which may or may not get accomplished, but I'm not to giving myself any sort of a guilt trip if they don't. (That's the one and only resolution from a previous year that I do still try to keep--"I will not place any unnecessary guilt trips on my own shoulders". This one is only slightly less difficult to keep than "I will go to the gym three times a week"). So here are some of my writing related goals for 2007: 1--write more :) 2--have fun when writing (this is very very important) 3--don't take myself too seriously (this is also extremely important) 4--watch Pinky and the Brain cartoons whenever I'm having trouble with either goal 2 or 3 5--celebrate every single little success 6--remind myself daily how lucky I am to be able to do something I love to do this much 7--thank the Universe on a regular basis for my lovely family, my excellent friends, my good health, and the existance of chocolate and wine. Okay, this last one isn't really writing related, but it is an important one :) So does anyone else have any goals or perhaps even (gasp!) resolutions for 2007? Care to share them? Then we'll know what we will (or maybe what we won't) be doing in the New Year. :) Happy Holidays, everyone! May your New Year bring you joy, good health, happiness, success (however you define it) and love. Isabo www.isabokelly.com 
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 After I made my way through a morning of some assembly required, (which my father, as he sat back and enjoyed the role of grandpa, assured me with today’s technology is not as harrowing as when he had to assemble Santa’s gifts.) Not to mention the time I spent untwisting millions of twisties, squeezing scissors through hundreds of plastic ties and unscrewing Phillips head screws for the batteries to be inserted. I must admit Scrooge and I almost had a lot in common. Especially when I noticed my 5 year old daughter had not immersed herself in playing with the toys I just freed from their packaging but was sneaking off with the scraps of wrapping paper. I took a deep breath and large sip of the eggnog my hubby handed me and went on with getting the rest of the day’s festivities ready. About a half hour later she returned where the living room, where her older brothers were zoned out listening to the new downloads on their Ipods, and along with Hubby and Grandpa were watching football on TV. Laughing, my husband came into the kitchen and pulled my mother and I away from dinner preparations. She was reaching into a large gift bag and pulling out haphazardly wrapped gifts. Then traveled the room giving them to us, A smile beamed and lit her whole face as she did so and was enough to lift anyone’s spirits. Inside the paper were things she had gathered from her room to give to her family. The more she gave the happier she got. The plastic ring she got from a coin machine, while I was dragging her from store to store, and the hug and “I love you, Mommy” that came along with it will always be priceless to me. My daughter had discovered the joy of giving. Not finding the perfect gift, which perhaps the search for drives us all to the brink of insanity. But the joy you get letting others know they are important to you and you love them. May the Hope, joy and love of the season fill you now and throughout the new year Mari of Marissa Alwin Http://www.marissaalwin.com/
Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Religions expressed in cultures interest me. I was an anthropology major long ago and far away, and observing how the sacred is expressed says a lot about a culture, about a person, about a mood. It doesn't matter that a holiday may be self-originating, because all holidays, in one way or another, are self-originating. Some people feel Christmas or Hanukkah more deeply than others, while Easter or Passover, say, resounds more in the psyche of someone else. And for writers, how we write about the expression of the sacred makes a big difference too. In THE SLEEPER AWAKES, my Cerridwen Press book coming out in April 2007, I devised a firesleeper festival, in which the souls of the departed metaphorically visit their beloved living. Many cultures that we know of have something like it. Mexican culture has it in the form of the Day of the Dead, for instance. At the culmination of the firesleeper festival, however, I depict the dead literally visiting their living loved ones. At this time of year, we have Christmas, Hanukkah, the winter solstice, Kwaanza, the New Year. What do they mean to us and how do we express it, either in our writing or in ourselves? However you do, best wishes to you and yours during these hallowed days. Eilis Flynn THE SLEEPER AWAKES, April 2007 FESTIVAL OF STARS, May 2007
Tuesday, December 19, 2006 It's funny how certain events can cause a perspective shift in one's life. I had just this kind of thing happen to me last weekend. I volunteered my children and myself to work at one of the mall kiosks as part of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree project. I wanted to do it for me, but I also wanted my children to do it, so that maybe, just maybe, they would see just how fortunate they are. Well, the day came, we arrived and were put to work immediately. The transformation in my kids was almost immediate. They started reading the Angel tags (the tags describing what needy children, toddlers, babies, and even newborns wish for the holidays), and they had to confirm with me again and again that, yes, some kids just needed these items because their parents couldn't afford to buy them for them. All of sudden, my children grew serious (at least for a while), stepped up, and responsibly helped out. I think, I hope their view of life expanded for the better that day, even if just a little. I know mine did. In two ways. The first was watching how generous people were. How folks took an Angel tag and walked through the mall shopping and buying toys, games, and clothes for complete strangers. And they did this out of the goodness of their hearts, not for any gain or recognition. And as one after another, after another returned, items to donate in hand, a renewed sense of hope lit inside me. Getting so caught up in the day to day, miracles like this sometimes are overlooked, and hope and faith in the world gets underestimated. The second paradigm shift arose when a mother and her two children approached the donating table, and asked how they could go about participating in the program. At first I thought she meant she wanted to donate, but as a sad and weary expression crossed her face, and she told me she wanted her two daughters to get on the list to receive angel presents I finally understood. I got the person in charge of the project, because I didn't know how to handle that side of things, and she told the woman that the signup deadline had already passed. The crestfallen expression on those two little girls' faces was heart breatking. The woman in charge talked more with that mother. I'm not sure what was said, but I hope in my heart she was able to get that family some sort of aid. I looked over at my own children at that point, and said a prayer of thanks. I was reminded, in that moment, just how lucky I am. I'm not sure what this has to do with my writing, other than to remind me how lucky I am to do what I love to do, and to continue to have hope and faith not only in my own life, but in the rest of the world. Until we talk again on January 9th and January 23rd, I wish you all a wonderfully joyous holiday and a safe and Happy New Year. Hugs, Eden www.edenrobins.com
Sunday, December 17, 2006 I have to apologize to you all. I was supposed to be here yesterday, but I got hold of a bad batch of Lunar apples and, well, let's just say it wasn't pretty. So, anyway, here I am, a day late and a credit short, as usual. But just 'cause I can't afford the air I breathe, I'm not going to crib for that low-life, Lucky. I do have my integrity. Yeah, it would be nice to be out from under his fardling fat thumb, but since that's never going to happen, I'll pay off the debt my way. Anyway, living here in the moon isn't all bad. The scenery can't be beat. Okay, it's mostly gray dust and rock, but you put that against the black backdrop of space with that blue and white marble of Earth spinning in the background and it's pretty spectacular. The habitats are dug into the rock so all you see on the surface are the bubbles that cover them. It's safer to dig them in than to build them up so we went down. One thing you cannot be if you live here is claustrophobic. Yeah, the bubbles aren't crowded - we have to be careful how much air and water we use - but the close quarters can get to some people. But not me. I love it. I was born here on the moon and given the choice, I'd never live anywhere else. But then, nobody else would have me. I'm the daughter of Porters and a Prime mutant. Yeah, I know, I look human, but I'm different and so are most of my friends. You'll have to wait till March to find out how different. And whether or not that rich Techie, Jake, and I ever get together. I'm not gonna tell you. But I can tell you this, we do have our fun. I'll talk to you more between now and then. And next time, I may even make it on the right day.
Thursday, December 14, 2006 I made another writer friend laugh when I referred to the story as paranormal-ish. But I'm not quiet sure what else to call it. There's mysterious and magical things going on in the background, and my heroine, Paige Rogers, wants to explain all those mysteries as the result of her best friend's helpful meddling. Except that the "Viola must have done it" explanation stretches a little thin when too many unusual things occur. And then Paige is just glad the mysterious happenings...happened. :) But these days, when people talk about "paranormal" they think of vampires, were-creatures, urban fantasy, ghosts, psychics, that kind of thing. I don't have any of those in my story. I just have a little mystery and magic. And a very determined fluffy white cat. :) So it is a little bit paranormal (paranormal-ish). Maybe a bit fantasy? What do readers think? What do you consider "paranormal"? When you hear the term "fantasy romance" what kind of story do you think of? My Cerridwen Book THIEF'S DESIRE is most definitely a fantasy romance. The sequel, DESTINY'S SEDUCTION--when it's released--is also clearly a fantasy romance. But what about CHRISTMAS HELP HER? Fantasy or paranormal? If anyone can help me define the story I'd love some opinions. It can be hard to tell people what your story is about if you can't give it some sort of vague genre tag (or tags as most of us mix our genres). Or do I just continue to call it paranormal-ish and leave it to the readers to enjoy the story for what it is--no matter what you might call it? I kind of like paranormal-ish anyway. I think we should make that a new genre tag :) Happy Reading! Isabo CHRISTMAS HELP HER out NOW from Ellora's Cave THIEF'S DESIRE Cerridwen Press MARSHALL'S GUARD Cerridwen Press www.isabokelly.com
Sunday, December 10, 2006  I love to write. I think it’s a good quality to have as a writer. I write because I enjoy doing it. But I also want to be successful. I want people to line up to buy my books, to talk about my latest release over the morning paper, to throw costumed parties in books stores at midnight while booksellers wheel boxes and boxes of my book to the registers in perpetration for the magical hour of 12:01 am. I want to be read by hundreds, thousands, millions, billions....mmmwwaaahahahaha. ::ehem:: Excuse me.Anyway... So what happens if the book of my heart, the book "they" say every writer should write, is also the book “they” say will never sell? If it will never sell how will my (potential) legions of fans become enraptured with my work? How will my dreams come true? Maybe I shouldn’t write “the book of my heart” and instead write the book that has a better chance at achieving my dreams. Okay, that sounds like a plan.... Problem....what kind of book, exactly, will achieve my dreams? What genre, what plot line, what characters? Wizard boy works, but it’s been done. Smart mouthed, over sexed, tough as nails vampire slayers are hot right now, but will they be in a year or two (the soonest my dream book could be released)? Who knows, right? Right. So how did those authors do it? They must’ve known exactly what would work, what would catapult them to the top of the New York Times list and send throngs of people galloping to the bookstores on release day. They must’ve written the book of their dreams instead of their heart, right? Wrong. The common thread running through every wildly successful book and/or series is this... “They said it would never sell.” Laurell K. Hamilton says she lost track of the number of agents, editors and publishers that told her what she wanted to write didn't have an audience, would never be successful. J.K. Rowlings was rejected by twelve different publishing houses. Dr. Seuss was told his books were too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling. “They” were wrong. WRONG!! These authors and hundreds more like them didn’t write the book of their dreams, the book they thought would hit all the best sellers lists. They wrote the book of their heart and made it the book of their dreams as well. Now does that mean every time an author is told their book won’t sell it means they’ve got a blockbuster on their hands? Uh, no. But if it’s something they believe in, if it is truly the book of their heart, there’s no reason it can’t also be the book of their dreams. Everyone’s looking for the next book to make them say, “Ah...why didn’t I think of that?” And everyone thinks they’ll know what it is when they see it. No one ever does. So what’s the secret? Write the book of your heart, make it the book of your dreams and don’t give up until you find someone who agrees with you. See you on the best sellers list!! Happy Holidays! ~Paige :) Paige Cuccaro http://www.paigecuccaro.com QUEEN OF HEARTS, A romantic comedy, Cerridwen Press~ 4 stars RT Magazine a.w.a. ~*~ Alison Paige~*~ http://www.alisonpaige.net I, ROBOT VALENTINE, Coming to Ellora's Cave Feb 7 2007
Wednesday, December 06, 2006 My writers group does a "topic of the week" in which one question is posed and we are invited to submit our take on the subject. This week's topic was about goals and deadlines--and this is the time of year, more than others, in which having goals and deadlines is important. And of course this made me consider my own approach to the subject. For the month of December, I decided to finish revising a work I've been trying to finish the entire year. I'm almost done now -- in fact, my goal is finishing the book, and writing the synopsis, by the end of the year (which is the deadline). Since I work with deadlines every day, I thought I would be immune to the procrastination syndrome, but it turns out I'm not; I should have finished this revision back in July! Why didn't I? I kept finding other things to do -- all of them needed to be done, but I could have done them another time, too. Meanwhile, I kept thinking about the work to be revised. I kept thinking there was a missing factor, something that was eluding me. What wasn't I perceiving? It took nearly half a year, but I finally figured it out. (Hey, I never said I was a quick thinker!) Now that I've pinpointed what's missing, the revision's going quickly, and I'm confident that I will be done well before the end of the year. So my procrastination had a point. I don't like not making my goals and blowing my deadlines, but in this case, it helped me form a better story. Eilis Flynn THE SLEEPER AWAKES, on sale April 2007 FESTIVAL OF STARS, on sale May 2007
Tuesday, December 05, 2006 In the meantime, please don’t forget to join me for the chats I have scheduled this month to celebrate the December 14th release of the second book in my AFTER SUNDOWN series, SALVATION. I’ll be chatting about this dragon tale as well as giving away some goodies on the following dates: ROMANCE JUNKIES: December 12, 13, 14 (still organizing that date due to a mix up-please check the site in a day or two) at 9-10 PM EST. THE ROMANCE STUDIO: December 17th 9 PM EST WRITERSPACE: December 20th 9 PM EST I hope to see you at one of these gatherings. Until we chat again on December 19th, I wish everyone a relaxing December, or at least one that’s not too hectic! (smile) Hugs, Eden www.ederobins.com
Saturday, December 02, 2006 And that's okay. We can't expect to be perfect. It's not possible. Plus there are differences between houses. One publisher might require "old school" grammar with commas everywhere, while another might be from the newer school where they don't use as many. One might like scene dividers in the center, another to the left, another just a space. So no matter what we do, there will always be something to fix. But somehow fixing for publication isn't a problem. Once you've sold that first story, making the changes becomes less of a hassle because you know it's going to be published. My two stories are so different - one is a quest fantasy, the second is a futuristic romance. One is set in a medieval world, the second on the moon. The first is about a young woman with incredible powers she doesn't know how to control, the second is about an older woman who knows all about control - hers and others. "Akashan'te" - the fantasy - comes out Feb. 22. "Prime Time" - the science fiction - comes out March 22. I loved writing both books and can't wait to see them published. I have that feeling that little kids get before Christmas. I know there are presents coming and I can't wait to unwrap them. Are they perfect? I doubt it. Even books published by the "Big Boys" in New York come through with errors. But with my editor's help, my books are considered done and ready to go. And I'm happy with that. Vicky Burkholder http://www.scootersbooks.com
Friday, December 01, 2006 1. The smell of my baby nephew. 2. Listening to my baby weave tall tales. 3. Listening to my youngest daughter read to me. 4. My dh when he’s being wicked. 5. Listening to eldest son Nick tell jokes. 6. Seeing a movie with my daughter Megs. 7. Spending time with good friends. 8. Ice cream 9. Hearing my dad call me peach. 10. My comfort reads. Instead of tagging 10 people, I’ll just say I hope you do it because it’s a fun meme and a nice way to think about things that please you. Until later~ Rissa http://marissaalwin.com/
Cerridwen Press Authors There’s something about the Holiday season that seems to draw Bah-Humbuggers out of the woodwork. And the Grumpy Guses who put down romance are no exception. A successful romance author-friend recently had dinner with a family acquaintance and his wife, and the man (a doctor) asked her as he always does whether she’s still writing “those smutty little books.” When my friend mentioned this on a writers’ loop, she was inundated with great suggestions for creative come-backs the next time the man utters his patronizing put-down. Why such an enthusiastic response? Because there’s hardly a romance writer – or reader, for that matter – who hasn’t heard the genre being slammed. In two days, my critique partner will be featured in an article on the front page of our local paper’s Arts section. This is a wonderful breakthrough, since the book critic doing the article disdains popular fiction and once went so far as to ridicule the touching dedication page in a new release by a New York Times bestselling romance author. Why is he doing this article on a debut romantic suspense author? In part because the female editor in charge of the Arts section wants to feature more popular fiction authors. Does that mean this book critic will read more popular fiction? Probably not. Does this mean he might not slip in an anti-romance dig or two? We have to wait and see. The Romance Writers of America’s Web site has detailed data on the impressive demographics of romance readers, as well as the amazing sales statistics for romantic fiction. For example, did you know that 6.46 million Americans – 42% of whom have a college degree or higher – read at least one romance last year? That 22% of romance readers are men? And that half of all paperbacks sold in the U.S. are romances? Having a few of these statistics on the tip of your tongue will help shut-down the romance-bashers. However, I have to admit I prefer the old adage – Living well is the best revenge. Studies show that women who read romances feel more empowered and more positive. They also have more sex. ;-) Who wouldn’t want to be a romance reader? Still, the next time someone dismisses my feel-good books, I might use a suggestion made to my friend with the disagreeable doctor acquaintance: Smile and tell the offending person, “If you don’t know the difference between smut and romance, I feel sorry for your spouse.” ;-)
|
~~Recent Posts~~
Sea Captain's Ghost and More!!
~~Authors Blogging~~
~~Archives~~ ~~More Blogs~~
The Romance Studio
~~Credits~~
Powered By Blogger
|
