Monday, May 26, 2008

Cinderwriter Moons Van Full of Chaperones!

Yes, you read the title correctly!  After chaperoning my daughter's second grade field trip to Chinatown, a mini-van full of moms dropped me off at the end of the alley behind my house.  As I took off jogging down the road, my pants dropped off my body and fell to my ankles.  I am not making this up.  As I unsuccessfully tried to snatch them back up, I turned around to see if the van was still parked behind me.  To my absolute horror it had not moved!  Praying that the passengers in the van or the people walking in the alley could not see me, I backed up and hid behind an enormous community mail box and remedied the situation.  I was completely mortified.  Thank God I was wearing my plain, boring chocolate brown Body By Victoria underwear, and not the Victoria's Secret undies that say "Sexy" across the bottom! Dear Lord.   I promptly snuck into the back of the house and called my husband to tell him the tale.  Here is the dialog:


Carl:  Hysterical laughing for many long agonizing minutes


Cinderwriter: Large sigh.


Carl: "Well, at least it did not happen in front of the bus while the entire second grade watched"


Cinderwriter: "Can we move tomorrow?"


Carl: More laughter


Cinderwriter: mumbling  "No sex for you for a year."


Carl: Stops laughing.


I can just hear the whispers of rumors now: "Major Wooten's wife was streaking through officer housing!".  By next week it will be: "Major's wife does a strip tease in full daylight for van of  lesbian stay at home mothers!"


Next Field Trip I will shoot for a Wet T-Shirt Contest among the Chaperones.  

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Oh, please organize my stuff!

I entered my first contest last week.  It was the Golden Claddagh sponsored by the Celtic Hearts RWA online chapter, of which I am a mostly lurking member.     It was quite a rush, pushing the send button.  It was not as terrifying as when I pushed send to e-mail my first query.    Looking back on the last couple of weeks, I realize the contest taught me quite a bit.  

Organizing your drafts, is one of the most important lessons I learned.  As a beginning writer, I never realized how confused you could get over one small manuscript.   Internal Dialog: Ok which one of these versions had the steamy bathtub scene, and which one had the underwater lovemaking session?  Oh, crap!  Did I delete the sword fight?!

I purchased a writing software program months ago called Scrivener, but had not used much of it since.   It places note cards on a cork board with scene details, and then when you click a card, you can type in the scene.  When it comes time to send in a sample of your work, you just pick your scenes and copy them into a virtual binder and export it as a text file, word file, or whatever you need.  All your scenes are still intact, you just pick and choose what you want to put in your manuscript and where you want to put it.  This allows easy rearrangement with only a little revision on transition. I highly recommend it if you own a MAC.  If you are a PC user, there may be a good counterpart out there.  

This week I plan to move all my scenes out of Word and Pages and into Scrivener.  Don't ask me why I am using two programs, I have no idea.  Newbies mistake I guess.  Once all my scenes are in place, I could become a contest junkie!  It is so exciting to have the prospect of having my work read by an editor instead of sitting in a slush pile.   Happy Writing! 

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

My First Contest

What I am reading: I'd tell you I love you, but then I would have to kill you.  by Ally Carter
What I am working on: HFB

Accomplishments for the week: Well, last monday I sent in my first query for my children's book, Gramma's Lake House, but I have not heard anything back yet.  I check the e-mail several times a day, but there is nothing there.  I know they are so busy and realistically it will take several months to hear anything.

This week I am working on my very first contest entry.  I paid for entry into The Golden Heart, thinking Hey - I will be done!  WRONG!  I was not nearly done, and I was rewarded with a very polite disqualification letter.  When I read that letter it was a very humbling moment.  I am not sure what I was thinking, attempting NaNoWrMo and Golden Heart while my hubby was TDY (Temporary duty.) He was gone for four weeks, came home for three, and then was gone for 10 weeks.   

I digress.   Here I  am getting ready for my first contest entry. I am entering HFB, but I have several different beginnings, so I am toying with which one I will eventually go with.   Funny, but I think one of my beginnings may actually morph into another story.  I will have to see how the first one finishes. The contest is the Golden Claddagh and it is sponsored by the Celtic Hearts RWA online chapter.  I am a member, a lurking one at best.  The judge in the final round of the historical division iEsi Sogah  of Avon/Harper Collins, so being chosen as a finalist is a must!  I would love to someday be an Avon Lady!  The finalist will be notified around July 1st. 

I will let you know how it goes.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

I finally jumped in!

What I am reading:  My Sailing instruction Book for my Sailing class.
What I am working on: His Father's Bride


Well, It is official!    I have queried an agent with a query letter and full manuscript according to their guidelines.   This was for the my Children's picture book Grandma's Lake House.   I sent it out tonight, and I am so nervous.  I guess the waiting will be be worst part, waiting to see what happens.  

Next on  my goal list is the Golden Claddaugh Contest from Celtic Hearts online RWA chapter.  I joined this January and although I mostly lurk, I am enjoying the topics of conversation.   Lucily for me the Contest deadline was extened a week, so I am going to rewrite, as I hate the begining of my story.  I have three different beginnings actually, with three different personifications of my heroine.  #1  The nurturer who is facing the kind, #2 the waif who is seeking an annulment, #3 The crusader seeking justice.  #3 is my favorite, but it does not fit as well with my GMC. Goal, Motivation, Conflict.    I will keep you updated on where this goes.  

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Sunday Procrastination

What I am working on: I should be writing, or eating breakfast even, but I am vegging on the computer while Annika plays Lego Star Wars on the Wii.   

What I am reading: The Thrall's Tale

So, I found another fun little quiz....What kind of Muppet are you?

You Are Kermit
Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.
You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.
Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green.
Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

Getting inside Cinderwriter's Head

What I am working on: Query for Gramma's Lake House

What I am reading:  The Thrall's Tale by Judith Lindbergh.  I am also reading it in Norsk.  My cousin Lasse is translating it into Norwegian as we read it together.  


A Meme for Today

I found this at Alyson's Blog, and she picked it up from Macy's blog. There are many good new questions here. 


Tag, you are it!


You're feeling: Crabby, hot, and fat.

To your left: Hickam Kukini newspaper checkbook, phone, and a book on calories.

On your mind: getting all the yucky tasks done so I can get back to writing. 

Last meal included: Rootbeer and Pizza Hut personal pan pepperoni pizza - total YUCK, I hate fast food, but my daughter had a Book-It reading award she wanted to share with me.  When a seven year old shares, you do not turn down the generosity! 

You sometimes find it hard to: get all the things I want to get done during the day.  I am the queen of procrastination! 

The weather: Warm, 76 degrees, light trade-winds.

Something you have a collection of: Books & DVD's.

A smell that cheers you up: Gold Canyon Candles - especially Cobbler on the Porch scent!

A smell that can ruin your mood: Burning Pine Cones, Doritoes, dirty litter box, dead rats - ewe ewe ewe! And yes, Doritoes fit in that category with dead rats!! 

How long since you last shaved: No clue..I wax.

The current state of your hair: messy, very long and scraggly.

The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): Dictionary.

Your skill with chopsticks: excellent. 

Which section you head for first in a bookstore: Children's section and then to romance and the featured selections table.

Something you’re craving: a long juice fast, and long trail run.  I was supposed to do the tantalus today, but my buddies backed out last night and so I wimped out today.  I am really mad at myself for doing that. 

Your general thoughts on the presidential race:   I want the defender of the constitution and American Liberties for president, I want....RON PAUL!


How many times have you been hospitalized this year: none.

Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: snorkeling or diving, or anything in the water.

You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: Photographer - If I had some training.

Something that freaks you out a little: Sexual Deviants. 

Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: Calories.

You have never:
 gone to jail.

You never want to: Hurt someone I love. 

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Query Query Query

I am sending in my first query this week.  I am pretty nervous.  You can say that you are a writer for years but to actually put your work, your baby, part of who you are, out in the world to be judged, can be frightening. The person who reviews your work does not know you, is not your friend, and does not love you. The most terrifying prospect is that this person will tell you the truth.  To never submit is to never have to face the possibility that you really suck as a writer.  

One of my Affairs of the Pen writing friends gave me a kick in the butt this week to submit my children's picture book story to an agent she knows.  I have a query, but it is not very creative and the submission guidelines request a creative query.  When your book is only 79 words long, how creative can you get?  My goal is to have my query ready to send out by tomorrow night.  I will send it to my hubby and a few friends to review before I send it off.  

I wrote Gramma's Lake house years ago, originally as a poem. When my children were small, I changed it into a picture book format for my daughters.  Every summer they spent a few weeks at my Grandmother's lake cottage from the ages of two until my Grandmother passed away last year.   Annika loves the book, but Bryn says that it is boring.  Bryn did add "maybe little kids would like it".  

I will let you know when I send it off, and I will also let you know if I get a response. 

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Cinderwriter is back! 'Ano 'ai ke aloha e!







Helehele mai kakou e

I wish you all were with me on this beautiful day in paradise.  I am lamenting my imminent departure from the land of Aloha. 

There will be claw marks left on the tarmac at Honolulu International Airport as they drag me kicking and screaming on to that plane in November.   Other than my grandparent's lake home in New Hampshire, there has been no other place on this earth that has let me feel at home.   Over the past six weeks I was able to immerse myself in all the old and new of this beautiful Island Nation of Hawai'i. 

Here are some shots from my recent trips to Hawai'i (the Big Island), Molokini, Lana'i, and Maui.  We will return to Maui and Lana'i, I hope as our trip was cut short due to a round of the flu.  Could have been from all the Vog from  Kilauea . 

Click on the Photos to see them without my blog's velum finish.  Photo #1 Honu on the black sand beach at Punalu'u. We snorkeled here in the thermoclimes.  It was so cold, and so hot! There were so many turtles you had to just hold still so you did not bump into them.  We called it turtle soup! #2. The latest lava flow and growing point of the island of Hawai'i.  #3. Annika standing at the edge of the Waipi'o Valley. #4 Annika and Bryn exploring an old lava tube that emptied out of the side of a cliff 80 feet above lava boulders! eek! #5 Ko'olina Cove Beach, back here on O'ahu.  More Photos to come.  And, of course a blog on writing!    


Sunday, March 23, 2008

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Cinderwriter on Vacation

How to dump salt water on your sister's head.......My Loving Offspring! 

Hello my Adoring Fans...all eight of you!   Cinderwriter has put away her quill and broom and will be sparse in blogging over the next few weeks.  My Hubby's family is in town for almost six weeks, so I do not have much time to be at the computer.  I hope you are all writing brilliant passages in your WIP and I will chat with you after the last guest leaves!   Aloha
Cinderwriter

Saturday, February 23, 2008

A Pirate's Life for Me!

In the 1980's pirate historical romances were quite the rage. Then someone killed them! Argh!  With the success of Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series, I am sure we are to see many pirate historicals return to the shelves in the next few months.  Which makes me wonder, can I can put a modern girl on an 18th century pirate ship?  I have seen time travel romance done dozens of times in medieval Scotland, why not in the Caribbean?  And why not a girl who has nothing to loose and nowhere to go? One whose heart has been broken and lost forever?  This is what I am working on now.  Ian and Isobell have been set aside.  After two years of wandering in circles with them, I am ready to move on.  Maybe they will decide to stop lounging about in my head and actually do something with their lives.  Until then, I am moving forward.  

Dread Pirate JM

Your Pirate Name Is...
Mad Hairy Legs

Basil for me......mmmm I do smell good

You Are Basil
You are quite popular and loved by post people.
You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive.
You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good.

The first time I took this test I was cilantro, but so was Alyson. Since She did the test first, I figured I better try again so not to be a copy cat! :o)

Monday, February 18, 2008

Dreaming of Conference...can I fit it in?

What I am reading: Breaking Point by Susan Brockman
What I am working on:  New Contemporary 

I have waisted my writing hour this morning by day dreaming about RWA conference.  I desperately want to go this year, and I may get to go still, but this is a fast and furious six months I have ahead of me.   In about 10 days we will learn of my hubby's promotion status and then we have a few short weeks to research possible jobs, talk to the different commanders who are needing personnel, and get our assignment preference worksheet in to the chain of command.   After that....we wait.  Sometimes you are sent to a place or type of job you requested, sometimes you are not.  In June or July we should receive what is called a Rip Sheet, these are preliminary orders telling us where we may be going.  In late August or early September we will get our final orders with the actual assignment.  As soon as we have orders we can set up the movers and make arrangements to out-process from the base.  It is much more involved than just packing up to go.  The time from when you receive the orders until the Report No Later Date (the date the military member must sign in to the new job) can be the most stressful and most fun time for a military family.   

Now imagine squeezing into this timeline: a Memorial for my Grandfather in Florida,  two high school 20th reunions, time needed to prep my mother's lake house to be used as a rental,  and a 5 week visit from 7 members of my husband's family, and the RWA conference.  Whew!  Oh, and did I mention that other than the in-law visit, all of these activities are on the mainland?  Remember that I live  in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Can I make 5 trips to the mainland in 4 months?  Plus my hubby wants to squeeze in trips to each of the Hawaiian Islands before we leave.  Oh My. 

OK, now I have waisted Friday's blog by rambling and whining.  It will all work out, I just need to figure out how to arrange the pieces of the puzzle.   BTW- In-laws arrive Tuesday.  Wish me luck.  A 5 day visit is fun, but 5 weeks?

JM

P.S.  In case you are curious, our top choices for the move are: Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and Australia.  (Greece, Turkey, England, and Spain are also high on the list.) 

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free...aren't I

You Are 67% American
Most times you are proud to be an American.
Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe
Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home.
You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Films that Shape My Writing Voice

What I am reading: Poison Study by Maria Snyder
Word Count for today: 504

I am a bit behind on Macy's Challenge, I thought I would do double the writing, but I spent three hours moving my AOTP Blogs over here to Cinderwriter. If you want to read my whole blogging history, it is quite profound, just go to the Archives at the bottom of the page. One of the AOTP members would like to use the AOTP name for her personal blog, so I packed up and moved out. I can't wait to see what she does with her own blog, I am sure it will be fantastic.

I believe that film, as well as books, leave a imprint on our psyche and shape our mores and world views. This also shapes our voice and our writing. A while back several of us at AOTP jotted down our favorite movies to see how this defined ourselves. Here are my choices:

20 favorite Movies:

  1. Braveheart
  2. The Brother's Grimm
  3. King Aurthur
  4. Phantom of the Opera
  5. Pirates of the Caribbean - Curse of the Black Pearl
  6. Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Ma's Chest
  7. Ever After
  8. A Knight's Tale
  9. Titanic
  10. Stardust
  11. Nanny McPhee
  12. Love Actually
  13. Ella Enchanted
  14. Shakespeare in Love
  15. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  17. Casanova
  18. Emma
  19. Clueless (same story)
  20. Bridget Jones' Diary
Hmm...Is Cinderwriter living in a Fairytale?



BTW- I noticed how many of my favorites included Heath Ledger - he will be greatly missed, by not only his family but all his adoring fans, including myself. Rest peacefully our dear thespian. You will remain in my heart for a very long time.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

How the heck did this get published?!?!?!

I am reading a book right now which is driving me CRAZY. I will not divulge the author or title, as I would never publicly humiliate another author. All I will leave you with is the genre and the reasons why I HATE this book.

1. Genre: It is a historical romance.

2. Reasons to throw it against the wall: I usually finish a book in one to two days, unless it is very heady - then I can give it at least a week. Well, after three weeks I am only half way through. I fall asleep reading. I get so bored that I day dream whilst reading. I get so frustrated with the characters, I throw it across the room. The main conflict was resolved by then end of Chapter 3. The Hero and Heroine Happily married each other and have a relationship so sweet, they make the "Waltons" look like serial killers. She head-hops so much I am forced to reread passages to figure out what the hell is going on. POV has even switched mid paragraph! And the worst crime is her "info dumps". I LOVE HISTORY, but when you give me 50 years worth in one character's two page dialog and expect me to believe this is casual conversation, it will not work for me. This is oft repeated offense in this book.

So, "Why," do you ask, "are you still reading it?". Good Question. Because this writer has published over thirty books. Because millions of her books are in print. Because I want to find out what she is doing right, what has made her so successful. Perhaps her readers have not read anyone else. I will let you know if something changes, for now I am headed back to doldrums between the covers.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

101 Things in 1001 Days!

I am not sure if you heard of the 101 things in 1001 days challenge, but C. Alyson Love blogged about it several weeks ago.  I was definitely up for this challenge.  Now, not everything had to do with writing, I did not have 101 writing goals,  So I have listed them all here on my sidebar. I will post dates when each item is completed.  Check it out and see how much you can accomplish in 1001 days!  Some of my goals seem pretty simplistic, but I have a need to be close to home right now, so they are pretty earthy and domestic.  Some may be considered down right boring, but I am happy with them.  

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Macy's Challenge

What  I am reading:  Border Lord's Bride by Bertrice Small
What I am working on:  HFB
Word Count for Today: 0 - but I moved my whole manuscript into Scrivener

Macy at Random Ravings has challenged everyone to a 500 words a day challenge.  I have accepted.  If I am ever going to make it to Nationals I need a finished product.  So, to get my butt back in the swing of things I have accepted her Challenge.  I will post my results here.  She is putting up more details this weekend, so it should be interesting and fun.  I have to have a goal and a pace in mind, or I just meander during my writing time.   So we start tomorrow I presume. I will be ready to go.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Newest Clan member!

Wow!  Where did the past two weeks go to?  I certainly was not using the time for writing.  I have committed to blogging once a day, except Sunday)  on any of my three blogs. (This one, AOTP, and my Run Dirty Girl blog)  Since two are about writing, I really hope I do not run out of things to say!  If nothing else, they will be short.  Not that the two other people who read this blog would mind, but I need to keep with the spirit of "Brevity is the soul of wit".  Hmmm... it's not "Rambling is the soul of wit"?  

How about you?  Were you writing.  I finally came up with a weekly schedule for myself and I sat down to write today, but my computer desk was such a mess, I spent three hours cleaning it off instead of writing.  Damn.  Then I found my RWA renewal and that lead me to my RWA file which contained two flyers for on-line RWA memberships; Celtic Hearts and Hearts through History.  I contemplated joining one or the other over the past year.  Today I joined both.  So now I am a member of three chapters.   As the newest "Clan member"  I do not want to embarrass myself by never finishing HFB.   Well, I guess I better get back to writing before I become a on-line chapter stalker!  

Hopefully, I will have more news and profound insight later this week!
Yours Affectionately,
Cinderwriter

Thursday, January 10, 2008

A Quiz to go with Yesterday's Discussion

I know I said that yesterday's post was the final word, but Alyson Love posted this quiz on her Blog, and I gave it a try. I think the results are pretty accurate, and funny...who should I vote for....well, the Libertarian Ron Paul of course! There was a "Should you vote for Ron Paul" quiz, but someone took it down.

Your Political Profile:
Overall: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Defense and Crime: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Rambling about the War, the Military, Life in the USA

My father once told me to NEVER discuss religion or politics with my friends, or they would not be my friends anymore. This is a sad and true piece of advise that I should have followed throughout the years. Being a stubborn big-mouth, I did not heed such sage words. For some reason tonight, I will not heed them again. This is the only time you will hear me voice these thoughts.

In 1988, the first presidential election I was eligible to vote for, I created quite a stink being the only person in my dormitory who was NOT voting for Dukakis. You see, I was pretty brainwashed back then. My parents were huge Reagan fans, especially after he rescued the hostages. If you add in the fact that my Dad was a Vietnam vet with severe PTSD, who hates the democrats for the brain fuck they gave to everyone of those poor kids who came out of there dead or alive, or who never came home at all, you can imagine the strangeness of a 18 year old girl at a very liberal NY college wearing "BUSH for pres" buttons.

Since leaving the middle class republican nest, I have found my views wavering back and forth between the democrats and the republicans. For quite a long time I called myself an independent. I would vote strictly the issues. But what I have learned in the past almost 20 years is that these issues do not seem to matter once someone is in office. Or, if they do matter, not much gets accomplished during an administration anyway...except to create scandal and havoc. Quiet frustrating.

For a long time I wondered if I just did not belong here anymore. America was not the country that my ancestors help to build. Where in the world could I go to find a land to be free of tyranny and free of bureaucracy? I began to search in earnest after 9/11, even going so far as to subscribe to a on-line magazine called Escape From America. Quite a bold move for a military wife who also happens to be the daughter of an Army officer, sister of a Marine officer, the granddaughter of a retired Air Force Officer and Retired Army Officer. Not to mention seven of my retired military uncles and many ancestors who have fought in many American conflicts since the Revolutionary War. Was I becoming a traitor, or could I not recognized my country anymore through the government walls surrounding our basic civil liberties? Have we sacrificed millions of lives over the past 232 years for naught?

Then, several days ago, while my daughters and I were watching a movie about children who were living in America during WWII, my heart began to change back to that of it's original form: The Patriot. The children in the film worked hard on their victory gardens. They collected scrap metal on weekends, instead of playing baseball. Whole families gave up holiday cooking and baking so the troops could have the precious sugar and butter. Everyone pitched in to ensure Victory and a safe return of the troops. My daughters turned to me at the end of the film and with very confused looks on their faces and said "But Mommy...I thought America was war now? People don't do any of those things now." "No, they do not, do they?" My children have seen their dad go, our neighbors go, and even their precious Aunt go (twice), and they held their breath waiting for safe returns. While other parents were fighting over Nintendo Wiis for their kids, our friends, neighbors, and family members were trying to stay alive just to get home to the kids. I told them "America is not at war, we are at war. The military is at war."

This morning I sat down with my hubby's December copy of Men's Health and nearly choked on my coffee when I read this brilliant young man's statement: "Contrary to what our president keeps telling us, we're not a country at war. Less that 1 percent of this country is at war. Our military is at war. Our military families are at war. Everyone else is shopping and watching American Idol." Lt. Paul Riekhoff, USARMY, founder of the non-profit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Quoted from Men's Heath Magazine December 2007.

Amen, Lt. Reikhoff. Could you read my mind?

In the coming year you will have many things to weigh in your decision on weather or not to vote, who to vote for, and how you want to shape the future of our country. Whatever decision you make, whoever you decide to vote for, I ask you to please keep our servicemen in your hearts. Please remember that they signed up to defend our nation from all enemies, foreign or domestic - not to be the guardians of oil fields. Remember the families left behind. Especially those of our enlisted troops, who are living off WIC and food stamps while their spouses are dodging roadside bombs, mortars, and bullets. Lets bring our precious brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, and friends HOME!!!!!

With love and respect to each American who can read this with an open heart and mind,

Yours,
Jacqueline

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Honestly...I did not cheat on this!!! But the truth is in the Quiz! :o)

You Should Be a Romance Novelist

You see the world as it should be, and this goes double for all matters of the heart.
You can find the romance in any situation, and you would make a talented romance story writer...
And while you may be a traditional romantic, you're just as likely to be drawn to quirky or dark love stories.
As long as it deals with infatuation, heartbreak, and soulmates - you could write it.

Back of the Book Blurb

Ok, I better come up with an original blogging idea here pretty soon! Today's Blog is again courtesy of Macy O'Neal, whose friend challenged her to write a "Back of the Book Blurb" for her writing career five years from now. Macy, in turn, challenged her readers to do the same thing.

So, short and sweet, here it is. Oh- BTW- I was not in the mood to brag about my romances, but was feeling much more YA today, so that is what I went with. I plan on using Ann Kimberly for another pen name for YA or Regency, so that is where that came from.

Three-time Newberry Award winning YA writer Ann Kimberly, who also writes Best-Selling Historical Romance as Jacqueline McDermott, has delighted us again with the first of her Middle School trilogy Gulf Breezes. The Times declared it “Funny and Agonizing, bringing us all back to that horrendous period of life, this time making us smile, remembering that it was not all bad”.

Although she used to profess to her Mother that she would: never marry, live alone in a cabin in the woods with a dog and write novels; she now makes her home in Colorado Springs with her husband of 20 years, two angsty teenage daughters, and two cats. Well, at least she is writing. You can read more about her and her books at www.cinderwriter.com (not really my website YET)

Happy Writing everyone....oh, still working on those 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days



Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Which Jane Austin Heroine am I?

Another one of Macy's Cute Quizes - I agree with it completely, except for the singing.  To quote an old dear friend  "You can't carry a tune in a bucket!"

:: M A R I A N N E ::

You are Marianne Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are impulsive, romantic, impatient, and perhaps a little to vocal in your honesty. You enjoy romantic poetry and novels, and play the pianoforte beautifully. To boot, your singing voice is captivating. You feel deeply, and love passionately.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Who is your Delicious Hero?





The barbaric heathen stood over her, one lean muscled leg on each side of her barely covered hips. Ariel shuddered as her gaze wandered over the lean hips covered by his belted tunic, upward to his broad chest, and across to the beautiful carved dragon coils wrapped around his arms. Arms so powerful they could certainly break a man in two. The golden coils could not be outdone by his beautiful golden locks, which framed his devastatingly handsome face. A hearty laugh broke her concentration and she quickly averted her eyes, but only for a moment. If he knew what she was thinking, then this was her was her chance to be bold and turn the tables to her favor. She slowly raised her eyes to meet his, offering the beautiful man a challenge that no man could refuse...........

When creating the perfect tantalizing hero for your heroine, do you use a “role model”? Someone from your own life, perhaps someone you admire from afar, or do you write from pure desire and fantasy? My Heros have always come from people I have known in my own life. At first I could not think of a better way to create characters. I already know who they are, and I know how they will behave in certain situations. I know their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Since it is my story I can exaggerate a bit and change things here and there. Or can I?

In my current story I have patterned my hero after my super hunky hubby. This being said, he is greatly flattered up to a point. That point being when we start to understand our Hero’s flaws and conflicts. Then it unwittingly and unfortunately becomes quite personal. “But, I would never do that”.....To which the correct answer is “Oh, it is just fiction!” ah-hum, make sure your crossed fingers are well hidden. He likes that he is the hero, but he is a little dismayed as to why I have changed him from a ultra-running Italian-American to a brawny Scotsman with a heavy burr. “Writing for the masses, remember Sweetie?” I say stroking his chest while attempting to stroke his ego.

Perhaps it would be easier to choose a friend or a relative? A relative would not work very well as a hero, unless of course incest is acceptable in your family. Just Kidding! It would not work for me, as I am too visual and I don’t want to see my brother, cousin, father, uncle-twice-removed in any kind of intimate romantic moment. For a single gal, the friend or past boyfriend Hero may be the perfect model. For an old married gal like myself, you are just opening up a can of man-eating worms, with very sharp teeth.

Picture this, you are sharing your first real love scene of the story with your significant other who has volunteered to be an unbiased proofreader. He begins to shift in his chair, then his face turns a slight blush, the pages are starting to crimp from his tight hold, and the red pen is flying all over the page. “How could I have made that many grammatical errors?”, you think to yourself. Then, the Icing on the cake, the insecure blow-up: “Is this about ______?” (You fill in the blank). You know what the correct answer is, don’t you? “I had you in mind when I wrote all the good parts, honey. All the bad parts are just a figment of my imagination.” (Most especially the really, really bad parts!)

Perhaps I can get him to wear a kilt.

Starting a New Year with New Goals

What I am reading today: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
What I am working on:  His Father's Bride

OK, yes, I stole that Beginning from Macy O'Neal's Blog,  but it is a great idea, and I hope she does not mind.    

OK, it is 11:33 p.m. and I am breaking one of my biggest goals: To be abed by 9 p.m. every night.  I guess I should rework that goal.   (Why do I always tell you the time....Maybe you will forgive the mindless ramble if you know how late it is?)

I started this year with the typical New Years Resolutions:  Eat Less, Exercise More, Drink less wine, have more sex...on and on.  But Reading Alyson Love's New Years Blog at Affairs of the Pen, brought me to a screeching Halt.  You have to check out the lists she has made of Challenges for you.  I picked the 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days.

 I like this because I do not have the pressure of a year, and I am not forcing myself to give anything up.  Which, by the way, usually backlashes into a session of pigging out on a horde of recess peanut butter valentines hearts that I have hid in my pajama drawer.  Purchased, of course, 32 minutes after completing my new years resolution list.  I do not like to think that I am weak....more like...I am a REBEL! hahaha.  Sneaking into the house with my bag of bootleg candy, feeling the rush of adrenaline from possibly getting caught, and the pride of successfully hiding my stash.  I digress.

Listing specific accomplishments on a three year timeline is perfect for the procrastinating pressure hater writing this blog.   I have only come up with 33 things, but I am sure I will have the list complete in a few days.  While you are waiting to see what brilliant things I come up with, start your own list.  

Happy Writing

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Your Toes Should Be White

A little funky and a little fresh, you're constantly evolving your flirting style.

Your ideal guy: A witty brainiac with hottie potential

Stay away from: Overly dorky guys who become obsessed with you