Archive for writing
Nothing Happening….
Here’s the cover for Stealing Life (click on the title for some excerpts).
Anne did another wonderful job with bringing my guys to life.
Not much going on around here. It’s rainy and cold which sucks. I did a little writing on Magpie & Snake story. Have no real idea where that one’s going…lol. Just know that Magpie’s voice is pretty strong in my head at the moment. He’s a bit of a talker.
Hope you have a great day.
Not much going on around here. It’s rainy and cold which sucks. I did a little writing on Magpie & Snake story. Have no real idea where that one’s going…lol. Just know that Magpie’s voice is pretty strong in my head at the moment. He’s a bit of a talker.
Hope you have a great day.
Monday Interview
Hey everyone…Hope you had a great weekend. I did, all things considered.
Stop over to Nicole’s blog and see the interview she did with me. Some great questions and she also posted excerpts from No Going Home, Here Be Dragons and Stealing Life. We’re running a contest as well. Post a comment and get in a drawing for either one of my books…or a book of your choice from either Loose-Id or Liquid Silver.
Didn’t get much writing done over the weekend. Got caught up in some other stuff.
Oh Yvonne, Magpie & Snake is an urban fantasy I started last year sometime. I took a look at it the other day and got inspired to write some more on it. It’s a lot of fun to work on because Magpie is quite an interesting character.
Well, I hope everyone has a great Monday and remember to stop by Nicole’s blog to say hi.
Wet Sunday
Went and saw Mark Walhberg’s newest movie, Shooter, yesterday. It was pretty good. Lots of action and that’s the type of movie I like. Also, it has Mark in it. So hot. Here’s a pic from his younger days when he was the cover boy for Calvin Klein.Not much writing has been done the past two days…though I did turn in my short story, Understanding Forgiveness, but since I just realized that the true deadline for the anthology isn’t until May, I’m way ahead of where I thought I was…lol.
Been working on Tony’s story, The Vanguard and Magpie&Snake, but I got distracted by a new idea and had to work on that one as well.
I’m hoping to get some work done today, but not sure what’s been planned for us. Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.
Week’s half over..
Hey everyone. It’s getting cold here again. Just when I thought spring was here to stay. Oh well…Stop by SiN and check out my cover for Stealing Life. Anne did another awesome job. There’s a couple excerpts posted there as well.
I did some writing yesterday. I’m at 18k on Home to Stay, but I’ve changed the title…lol. Figures. I’m thinking it’s going to be called Home of his Own. It suits the story better than the original title.
I added another 1k to Magpie and Snake’s story. I was glancing through it on Monday. Inspiration hit and I had to do some work on it. With three stories going at once, it’ll be interesting to see which one I actually end up finishing first. Though more than likely, it’ll be Tony’s story.
Have a great day.
Blood Diamond
Watched Blood Diamond the other night. It’s certainly makes you think. The diamond companies weren’t happy with this movie because it makes them look bad, but not only that, it really makes you think about how lightly humans seem to take life.
Got a ton of writing done on Home to Stay. I’m at 16k so far and I’m not done with what I’ve handwritten, but I’m getting close. After that, it’ll be all new stuff..lol.
I also started writing the opening scenes for the Christmas story I’d like to have out this year featuring Les, Randy and the guys from Tony’s story. I got the opening scene for Dreaming of Dragons which will be Mordred and George’s story, but didn’t get a chance to write it down yet. That’s next after the final editing of Understanding Forgiveness.
Oh and the cover for Stealing Life is awesome. When I get the final okay from the powers-that-be at LSB, I’ll post it for you. It’s gorgeous, hot and sexy. Anne did a wonderful job of protraying the boys. 🙂
Hope everyone has a marvelous Monday.
Lyrics
I was listening to Linkin Park’s Meteora last night and I finally really listened to the lyrics in this song.
“Breaking The Habit”
“Breaking The Habit”
Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I’m picking me apart again
You all assume
I’m safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again
[Bridge:]
I don’t want to be the one
The battles always choose
‘Cause inside I realize
That I’m the one confused
[Chorus:]
I don’t know what’s worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don’t know why I instigate
And say what I don’t mean
I don’t know how I got this way
I know it’s not alright
So I’m breaking the habit
I’m breaking the habit
Tonight
Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no options left again
[Bridge:]
I dont want to be the one
The battles always choose
‘Cause inside I realize
That I’m the one confused
[Chorus:]
I don’t know what’s worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don’t know why I instigate
And say what I don’t mean
I don’t know how I got this wayI’ll never be alright
So, I’m breaking the habit
I’m breaking the habit
Tonight
[Bridge:]
I’ll paint it on the walls
‘Cause I’m the one at fault
I’ll never fight again
And this is how it ends
[Chorus:]
I don’t know what’s worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some clarityto show you what I mean
I don’t know how I got this way
I’ll never be alright
So, I’m breaking the habit
I’m breaking the habit
I’m breaking the habit
Tonight
There’s just something about the line…’I don’t want to be the one the battles always chose…’ It touched me at a level inside…because I’m sure we’ve all felt that way like all the battles just seem to search us out and no matter how hard we try, we just can’t get away from the hard times.
Have you ever heard a song and have the lyrics hit you in such a way that it could be the theme song for your life?
Music is an important part of my life. The best stuff I write is written while listening to music. Maybe the actual music part helps the creative process.
Hope your Saturday is filled with all kinds of music.
There’s just something about the line…’I don’t want to be the one the battles always chose…’ It touched me at a level inside…because I’m sure we’ve all felt that way like all the battles just seem to search us out and no matter how hard we try, we just can’t get away from the hard times.
Have you ever heard a song and have the lyrics hit you in such a way that it could be the theme song for your life?
Music is an important part of my life. The best stuff I write is written while listening to music. Maybe the actual music part helps the creative process.
Hope your Saturday is filled with all kinds of music.
Story Ideas
Lisa C. asked me yesterday about where I come up with my story ideas. The very simple answer is life. I know. It’s the answer most authors will tell you. But it’s true. If you’re a writer and your mind is open enough, you can find a story in everything…even something as plain and simple as an empty diet Coke can lying in the street. There’s a person behind that can and a reason why he left it in the street instead of throwing it away or recycling it.
For No Going Home, I wanted to combine two of my favorite sports, show jumping and rodeo. I wondered how would a man (Les) react after being injured in a riding accident and no longer able to perform at what he loved most? Could another man (Randy) find the courage to step away from his less than perfect life to accept love and support from such a man? Along with a few other questions, I created their story.
Here Be Dragons started with a simple question. What if snakes returned to Ireland? That question morphed into a different one. What if they weren’t snakes? What if they were dragons? Throw in a geeky herpetologist, a sexy scientist/spy, a gorgeous elf and a legendary knight, you have all the components for an interesting urban fantasy.
So, I find inspiration from every thought and dream I might have. It might start with an object like in Stealing Life or a single scene like Angel’s Evolution. I have a series of stories I’m slowly working on that was inspired by a single lyric from a Bon Jovi song.
The Vanguard was inspired by the Sacred Band of Thebes. I loved the concept of lovers fighting together in a military unit. Who do you fight the hardest for? The one you love. I took the idea, threw in some magic and romance, creating Rathian and Stakel, plus all the men in Rathian’s command.
I hope you’ve found this post interesting. Have a great day.
Seduce my mind and you can have my body.
Find my soul and I’m yours forever.
-Anonymous
For No Going Home, I wanted to combine two of my favorite sports, show jumping and rodeo. I wondered how would a man (Les) react after being injured in a riding accident and no longer able to perform at what he loved most? Could another man (Randy) find the courage to step away from his less than perfect life to accept love and support from such a man? Along with a few other questions, I created their story.
Here Be Dragons started with a simple question. What if snakes returned to Ireland? That question morphed into a different one. What if they weren’t snakes? What if they were dragons? Throw in a geeky herpetologist, a sexy scientist/spy, a gorgeous elf and a legendary knight, you have all the components for an interesting urban fantasy.
So, I find inspiration from every thought and dream I might have. It might start with an object like in Stealing Life or a single scene like Angel’s Evolution. I have a series of stories I’m slowly working on that was inspired by a single lyric from a Bon Jovi song.
The Vanguard was inspired by the Sacred Band of Thebes. I loved the concept of lovers fighting together in a military unit. Who do you fight the hardest for? The one you love. I took the idea, threw in some magic and romance, creating Rathian and Stakel, plus all the men in Rathian’s command.
I hope you’ve found this post interesting. Have a great day.
Seduce my mind and you can have my body.
Find my soul and I’m yours forever.
-Anonymous
Useless Trivia
Here’s some facts about the Slinky.
• Betty James, CEO of James Industries and widow of Slinky inventor Richard James, named the famous toy. She scanned the dictionary for ideas and knew she’d found the perfect name with “Slinky,” which is Swedish and means stealthy, sleek, sinuous.
• Betty James, CEO of James Industries and widow of Slinky inventor Richard James, named the famous toy. She scanned the dictionary for ideas and knew she’d found the perfect name with “Slinky,” which is Swedish and means stealthy, sleek, sinuous.
• Some very innovative uses have been found for the Slinky. It has been used in pecan-picking devices in Texas and Alabama; on lighting fixtures in Harrah’s Casino in Las Vegas because of the unusual shadows it casts; and as table decorations, drapery holders, bird repellers, mail holders, therapeutic devices, wave motion coils, gutter protectors, and in numerous other ways. During the war in Vietnam, soldiers found that when draped over tree branches, the metal Slinky was an excellent makeshift radio antenna. Also, the Slinky sometimes is prescribed by physical therapists for coordination development.
• The amount of wire used since 1943 to make Slinkys could wrap around the Earth 126 times.
• Fifty years after its invention, the Slinky sells for only about twice the one dollar it originally cost.
What does this have to do with writing? Nothing at all. I was doing research for my day job and came across these interesting little facts. So I thought I’d share them with you. Nice of me, huh?
Just so you know I did finish Understanding Forgiveness yesterday. I’ve heard back from two of cps. Just waiting on the third…who is really busy…lol. So as soon as I get those comments back, I’ll be writing up the synopsis and sending it to my contact person. Woo-hoo! One more story down and tons more to write. 🙂
Hope everyone has a great day. It’s snowing here, so I’m not sure how great my day will be.
It’s almost done
Here’s a rather intriguing pic of Jonathan Rhys Meyers. I think he might as well have taken the pants off for all that they don’t show..lol.
Understanding Forgiveness isn’t quite finished yet, but I’m determined for it to be done and in my cps’ hands by no later than this afternoon. It needs to be finished by the end of next week anyway. So this will hopefully give me time to fix any problems they have with it. (which might be a lot because I’m having issues with this story)
The good news is once it’s done and sent to my cps, I’ll be working on Tony’s story almost exclusively. The only other story I’ll work on at the same time is The Vanguard to ensure I have posts for all of you.
Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. May the sun shine where you are.
Wacky Wednesday
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and voiced an opinion about what story I should use for my next blog story. It worked out so well, I think I’ll be letting y’all vote every time I need a new story for you to read. 🙂
Tomorrow will see the posting of the first scene of The Vanguard. I hope you enjoy it.
Cathy, you asked me about Tony’s story. Funny you mention it. I did some more work on it last night. Not sure how much I’ve actually gotten done. Have to type most of it in and that’s on the agenda for tomorrow. Tonight is reserved for finishing up Understanding Forgiveness. I did realize though that I have to re-write the entire beginning of Tony’s story. And I’m getting the tunnel vision I need to work on it pretty much exclusively because I really want to write a Christmas story featuring Les, Randy and everyone you’ve met or are going to meet in Tony’s story as well. The Christmas story doesn’t really need to be done until August or September, but I’d like to get it finished early.
I did some work on UF last night. I thought I was close to the end, but now I’ve figured out I need at least one more chapter to finish it the right way. After that, it heads out to my critique partners and they get to tell me all the terrible things I’ve done wrong. 🙂
Tomorrow will see the posting of the first scene of The Vanguard. I hope you enjoy it.
Cathy, you asked me about Tony’s story. Funny you mention it. I did some more work on it last night. Not sure how much I’ve actually gotten done. Have to type most of it in and that’s on the agenda for tomorrow. Tonight is reserved for finishing up Understanding Forgiveness. I did realize though that I have to re-write the entire beginning of Tony’s story. And I’m getting the tunnel vision I need to work on it pretty much exclusively because I really want to write a Christmas story featuring Les, Randy and everyone you’ve met or are going to meet in Tony’s story as well. The Christmas story doesn’t really need to be done until August or September, but I’d like to get it finished early.
I did some work on UF last night. I thought I was close to the end, but now I’ve figured out I need at least one more chapter to finish it the right way. After that, it heads out to my critique partners and they get to tell me all the terrible things I’ve done wrong. 🙂
Hope you all have a wacky and wonderful Wednesday.
