Want to purchase autographed copies of my books?

Hello all!

Happy Saturday!

I was trolling the waters over at eBay this morning and I found a seller selling my book Dream in Color.  And they were selling it for quite a bit of buckage, if you ask me.

So I thought about it.  Then I thought about it a bit more, and I realized that I, too, could sell my books on eBay...and sell autographed copies! And I could sell the books for less than the guy on eBay.

So, if you'd like an autographed copy of Dream in Color or of Lies in Chance...or both...click here!  My listings are for AUTOGRAPHED COPIES, and I've put my website on the listing, so there won't be any confusion.

Buy me on eBay!

Happy reading!

Who's your muse?

Good  afternoon my friends!

So Emma and the gang at Accredited Online Colleges once again shared with me a fairly brilliant blog about muses.  You can read the whole thing here or you can scroll down.


The 10 Most Famous Muses of All Time



The Greeks attributed their creative and intellectual pursuits (largely the liberal arts) to the influence of nine goddesses. All daughters of Zeus, they bestowed gifts of inspiration and innovation to mortals they deemed worthy. Over millennia, the concept of muse remained largely intact, but swelled to encompass something far more ephemeral than divine. Whether they pique songs, poems, art, films, a combination of many or another product entirely, muses will continue to exist so long as humanity turns towards itself for ideas and insight. Far, far more than these 10 have given, are giving and will give someone else the tools needed to forge self-expression. Unfortunately, not all of them attain quite the same level of acclaim — or, as the case may be, notoriety.



Alice Liddell

Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, more than likely penned his classic fantasy Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland after befriending the Liddell kids. Speculation about the true nature of Alice’s relationship with Carroll abounds — no evidence pointing towards anything sexual or romantic exists, but that doesn’t stop historians and literature buffs from raising such questions. The celebrated author and his muse’s family parted ways thanks to an ill-advised courtship with the governess (or eldest daughter!), but not after he penned some of the most beloved children’s stories of all time. In addition, he also used the little girl as a model for photography forays. Alice’s legacy has gone on to spawn a plethora of parodies, movies, video games, art and plenty of other adaptations, although the famous character and the very real child do not overlap completely.



Gala Dali

Born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, the strikingly beautiful Gala Dali is best known as surrealist superstar Salvador Dali’s wife and model. She famously left her husband, painter Paul Eluard, for the youthful Spaniard and remained a major player in his life until her 1982 death. Many times, he credited her with saving his life, as he oftentimes feared dying young and succumbing to overwhelming insanity. Gala served as Dali’s model for most of his career; although she also took on both muse and benefactor roles for plenty of other creative types as well — usually painters and musicians, including Jeff Fenholt. Because the artist himself allegedly encouraged his wife’s extramarital activities for fetish reasons, he certainly didn’t mind sharing her passion and beauty! Even individuals without any real interest in surrealism or even art have still probably caught a glimpse of Gala somewhere.



The Dark Lady

Whether or not William Shakespeare based his mysterious, lusty character on an actual woman or created a pastiche continuously sparks debate amongst the literati. Some think she might be Emilia Lanier. Others say Mary Fitton. And a few even think it could very well be both or neither. About the only thing anyone knows for certain is that she possessed seductively dark hair and eyes. The Bard dedicated sonnets 127 through 152 to this closely-guarded figure, oftentimes juxtaposing her with a comparatively more innocent Fair Youth. What makes this cycle so notable is how overtly sexual they read, particularly when compared to the more romantic and spiritually-minded poems preceding and succeeding them.



Yoko Ono

This widely-recognized activist and avant-garde artist and musician probably elicits as much controversy as she does inspiration. Most notably, Yoko Ono acted as John Lennon’s personal muse after he attended one of her exhibitions. She handed him a card simply reading, "Breathe," and the Beatle immediately felt compelled to abandon his wife and young son. Many of the band’s later songs either outright reference ("The Ballad of John and Yoko") or allude to ("Julia") Ono, and the pair released their own albums while Lennon continued rocking with the Fab Four. Beyond that, she encouraged him to take up human rights and peace causes — though how exactly staying in bed for an entire week was expected to end the Vietnam War is quite the mystery. Whether or not Ono directly contributed to the Beatles breaking up remains firmly in the realm of "he said-she said" bickering, anecdotes and individual opinions. Regardless of one’s views, though, she certainly fits the description of a creative muse.



Edie Sedgwick

Dubbed an "It Girl," "Youthquaker" and 1965′s "Girl of the Year," Edie Sedgwick’s bubbly social butterfly persona landed her straight in the presence of such luminaries as Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground and more. Tragically plagued with an eating disorder and addiction issues, she launched her muse career at The Factory, where she modeled and acted for the artists and filmmakers involved — and Warhol in particular. At least two Dylan songs off the legendary Blonde on Blonde ("Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat" and "Just Like a Woman") came about because of their baffling relationship, and The Velvet Underground composed "Femme Fatale" in her honor. Patti Smith wrote a poem about Sedgwick, even naming it after her. And it just stretches on from there. While more notable for her influence on Warhol and Dylan, this fascinating figure left quite an impression on almost an entire generation of creative movers and shakers.



Frida Kahlo

"I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best," one of Mexico’s most beloved artists once quipped. Although her tumultuous, frequently adulterous marriage to fellow painter Diego Rivera frequently sent him scrambling towards the canvas as well, Frida Kahlo most notably acted as her own muse. She despised the "surrealist" label, but her deeply personal work certainly reflected many of its and magic realism’s tenets. Focusing mainly on self-portraiture, Kahlo channeled her most intimate pain and pride into her vivid, visceral paintings. Other artists obviously threw plenty of themselves into their own work, but not nearly at the same level as this incredible, veritably immortal woman.



Beatrice Portinari

Italian epic poet Dante Alighieri figuratively walked through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven for his beloved. The Divine Comedy features Beatrice Portinari as the author’s guide through the last book of Purgatorio and the entirety of Paridisio, replacing the pagan Virgil. The real Portinari’s life was far less charmed than her literary counterpart’s, however. Born into a Florentine banker family, she only met Dante twice, though he pined for almost an entire decade between encounters. Portinari died at age 24, only a few years after marrying Simone dei Bardi, but continued charming the poet throughout his existence. And it wasn’t just The Divine Comedy upholding her memory, either. The collection La Vita Nuova bursts completely under Dante’s love — even after he himself had married and sired children.



Pattie Boyd

While not a household name in the vein of Yoko Ono, Pattie Boyd definitely played a significant role in shaping music history. One of the most infamous love triangles of all time centered right on her, after all. She married Beatle George Harrison in 1966 and Eric Clapton in 1979, inspiring the both of them to pen some of their most famous tracks. Allegedly, Clapton’s "Layla," "Wonderful Tonight" and "Bell Bottom Blues" as well as Harrison’s "Isn’t It a Pity," "Something," "For You Blue" and "I Need You" all contain some very personal allusions to the model and photographer. Even outside the romantic craziness realm, Boyd created something of a fashionable splash. No less than Twiggy herself cited her as a major influence!



John Nettleship

Given the muses’ Greek roots, it makes perfect sense that most would tend to associate the concept with women. But one of the most iconic fictional characters of the past decade either would have never existed (or at least existed in an entirely different state) without one chemistry teacher’s harshness. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling based Hogwarts potions master Severus Snape on her grim instructor John Nettleship at Chepstow Comprehensive School. His wife eventually brought the apparently obvious similarities to his attention, cycling through shock and concern before eventually (if a bit grudgingly) accepting the immortalization. Most people can’t brag that Alan Rickman sort-of played them in one of the most popular, beloved book AND film franchises of all time, after all.



Someone so vain, he probably thinks this song is about him

David Geffen, James Taylor, Warren Beatty, David Bowie, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, David Cassidy, Mick Jagger and a plethora of other men have all been speculated as the true identity of chanteuse Carly Simon’s most famous tune. Only the singer herself and NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol — who won the privilege (and a private performance) in a charity auction — know, and they prefer staying coy. Simon frequently claims the song’s central character is really a composite of three different people, though Ebersol states the individual in question has an E, A and R in his name. Honestly, the fact that people still clamor to know despite the 1972 release date means the muse should remain obscured. Telling everyone now would just stop the publicity train from a-chuggin’.



 
So now my friends, who is your muse?  You all know very well who mine was for Dream in Color and while my muse for Lies in Chance might not be as obvious, I still have a very, very clear picture that kept me going when writer's block threatened.  So...who is your muse?
 
 
Figure that out and then go forth and write!

Juggling writing and big changes in your real life.

Good morning!

So today is the final day for me at my job.  Next week I start a 3rd shift job working in a completely different industry.  On the surface it might seem like I've lost my mind, but this is a positive change for me and for my family I promise you.

What is going to be interesting is how I adjust my schedule.  How do I balance work, family, writing, and sleep when my work time is when the rest of the world is sleeping?  And where do I find time to write now that I'll be working a job where sitting and writing fiction for hours on end is definitely NOT acceptable?

Well, my friends, I've plotted out a plan that schedules my days fairly rigidly.  I know I won't always stick to the plan, but I also know that the old adage "failing to plan is planning to fail" is all too true. So I've got a road map of how my days are going to go and hopefully, fingers crossed, I will have the discipline to train myself for this new, far more rigorous life.

But I'm not alone.  This is a very uncertain world we live in and people change jobs all the time.  More and more of us are working non traditional schedules.  when I was a kid, I knew one family whose father worked third shift and I always thought it was odd how we had to be very quiet in the house during the day.  Now, looking at my friends, I see more and more of them working nights, weekends, holidays, whatever they need to do to make their lives work.  And, in so many of those cases, those same people are very motivated writers and authors.

A job change can be traumatic, we all know that.  But as writers, a new job means new experiences, and new characters to meet and write about.  A new schedule means new opportunities to find that "magic" time when the words flow easily.  For me, writing at work hasn't been that great in the last several months because the words haven't been there.  A change in jobs might be the jolt my creativity needs.

So take heart my friends.  There are 24 hours in a day and no matter how you arrange them I am confident I...and everyone else, will find the time to do exactly what we need to do.

Now...go buy a copy of Dream in Color and then go forth and WRITE!

And the winner is...

Kelly J.!  Kelly J wins a copy of "Dream in Color" for reading and posting on my 200th blog.

Keep reading my friends!  Who knows what sort of prizes I'll give away next time!

Now go forth and write!

Havta vs. Wanta

Good afternoon all!

Well, the holiday season is full upon us.  No matter what you celebrate in the month of December, the next couple of weeks are going to be insane.  Say it with me:  If I can just live until January, I'll be okay.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Why do we get so caught up in making the holidays so frantic?  Tradition, I suppose.  I can only comment on Christmas because that's what I celebrate, but you can apply this to any celebration you honor in your lives.  (Although, I'm starting to wonder if the Winter Solstice folks have the right idea.  Their winter celebrations seem so peaceful.)

November and December tend to be months for "HAVTA" instead of "WANTA"  especially for the new or unpublished writer.  Every other month, real life makes it hard to carve out time in a day to write something coherent, but throw the holidays in with all their good time fun stuff, and unless you are blessed to be a FULL TIME WRITER, there isn't much time left in your craft.  Someday I will invent the 27 hour day and we will all have that extra time we do desperately need!

Last night was the perfect example for me.  I wanted to open up my flash drive and write something new, or, better yet, work on formatting my second novel so that I can actually publish it on Amazon this calendar year yet.  (Yeah, that's probably NOT going to happen!)  However, since my assistant at work was MIA, and since I work for an online retail store, and since it was Cyber Monday and Tuesday and everything was insane, I had a whole list of "HAVTAs" and not a lot of time for my "WANTAs." 

No worries, says I, I'll do it when I get home. 

Well, except my at home WANTA list included getting to Gold's, where I have not been in a couple weeks.  Hey, between all the HAVTA's on my November list and the fact that I've been sick with some mystery virus for two weeks, the gym  moved down the list.  So add one more WANTA, and the add roughly four more HAVTAs.  (Havta go to the store, havta go to kohl's and get new pants for the Boy, havta pick up the Girl after Future City practice, havta make dinner for the rare night when everyone is in the same place at 6 pm, but not BEFORE 6 pm and NOT AFTER 6:30 because then BOY and HUBBY havta go to work and choir practice.)

By the time "Biggest Loser" rolled around, I was exhausted.  Oh sure, I did manage to get a short work out in, and dinner made, and dishes done, and laundry started, and stuff on my office desk sorted.  But there was no writing done.  No formatting.  Nothing on my writing "WANTA" list.

It's hard, I know, for those of us who have not quite emerged from our basements as full fledged authors. Hey, even with a book to my name  (AND HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOUR COPY OF DREAM IN COLOR?) I am still not supporting myself and my family with my writing YET, which means everything else in my real life moves up the list. 

Many of my writers friends just completely NANO WRIMO in November.  I'm not sure what that means, but I do know that it involves writers, in the month of November, to frantically pour words onto the page.  The word count goals are very high and I applaud everyone who did it.  I think I even cut down on my blogging posts in November! 

For many NANO is a great kick start to a writing habit.  For others, it's a crash and burn that just adds to the feelings of failure we all have as writers.  It's just one more thing that we pile on ourselves, we as yet unheard of writers, that crushes our will to live...

Okay, I'm being a little melodramatic.  Still, real life gets in the way, doesn't it?  I can't tell you how many seminars I've attended that have addressed just that. 

So my friends, let me ease your mind.  Don't feel overwhelmed this holiday season.  Get your HAVTA list completed. (And you know what?  Even if you don't get it all done, so what?  Will anyone...well, other than my MOTHER...remember whether or not your bathroom was perfectly cleaned or your floors were mopped in December?)  For those of you writing, your story will still be there in January.  For those of you marketing, it's okay to slack a little.  Agents and Editors do.  For those of you formatting your books for e-publishing, guess what?  The Internet isn't going anywhere, at least not in January. (There would have been something about it by now.)

In short, your WANTA list will still be there at the end of the holidays, and you will be able to face it with a clear mind.

Don't let the feeling of failure this holiday season overwhelm you.  You are NOT a failure if you don't write a novel this month.  You are NOT a failure if you don't get Christmas cards out, either.  (Oh, for those of you who are on my card list...that might be a little hint to you!)  You are NOT a failure if you don't make a six course meal for thirty plus have a perfectly decorated house with stuff you made yourself!  (Curse you Martha Stewart!)

Keep a notebook close by, of course, in case a moment of inspiration hits.  But if you do not sit down for a writing/marketing session, don't beat yourself up!

You are not a failure.

You are a writer trying to keep it together during the holidays.

Curse you Winona Ryder!

Good morning!


Those who know me know that I have to have the TV on when I fall asleep. All you sleep experts, go ahead and scold me, but my brain simply will not shut down without the white noise of the TV going on. Since I don't have a cable connection in my bedroom, I use DVD movies to lull me into some sort of sleep.


The movies I use to fall asleep to are very specific. They have to have low key speech, no music, and I have to have seen them many times.


I have a list I won't bore you with, but one that's found its way into my DVD player a lot lately has been the Winona Ryder version of "Little Women." Granted, there's a bit of music playing at the beginning, but by the time I'm seriously drifting off, there's no music, it's just talking.It's perfect.


Except for one very small thing. There's a scene in Little Women where Ryder's character, Jo March, is reading her latest story to her sisters. It's a wild fantasy complete with a cliffhanger. After she reads the chapter, her sisters applaud and Beth, played by Claire Danes, says, "I never know what to write." To which Jo responds, "The first rule of writing is never write what you know."

This is the quote that rolls around and around and around in my brain all night long.


Every writer has taken at least one creative writing course. And in that course, every write has been told, "Write what you know." And every single writer has obediently bowed their heads, and given up writing for a good long time because really...who wants to read a story about a suburban woman raising kids and working a job she hates?

(Actually, I have that very story in my brain right now, but the suburban mom turns into a mass murderer, blaming her online persona for the deaths of those around her who piss her off. It's a dark, dark comedy really. Well, it makes me laugh.)


The problem with what Jo March says, never write what you know, is that every writer wants to believe that. We all want to write about some fantastic fantasy place we've never been. The problem is, the story doesn't sound good then. My daughter who at 13 has written more than I had at twice her age, has never been to Italy, but that's not stopping her from writing a story set in Italy. The difference is that she's doing exhaustive research on the country, the language, everything.


Obviously, when it comes to fiction, there's a huge element of "making it up." Believe me, I've met enough romance authors to know that not a single one of them knows a rakish duke personally. Research is the key to fiction, always. The best authors can create their own reality based on research. The best historical romances are written by the authors who know their history and are willing to create a story within that history.
So it's the eternal question. Do you write what you know, or what you make up? My mother would tell you that my best writing is when I just talk about my own life. Well, that may be amusing on a certain level, but that's not that writing that tugs at my heart. The stories about my childhood, about my foibles as a mother, those can make you laugh. But as a writer, I want more than that for myself and for my readers. I have a world of stories in my brain!



If you read "Dream in Color," there's no mistaking my thumbprint on everything. The story is set in the Upper Midwest, a part of the country I've lived in my whole life. Yes, I worked in one of those offices like Ramona does. Yes, I've spent hours online with fan groups, ignoring my own real life in the process. But then there's the fiction. I've never, regardless of what my family might say, gone on the road in search of the love of an aging rock star! (I did drive to Nashville a couple of years ago to see Rick Springfield, but I brought hubby along, so I don't think that counts!)



So curse you Winona Ryder! Curse you for telling me to never write what I know! Curse you for reminding me that it's a balancing act we writers have to do, the one between writing something so vivid the reader can touch and see it and writing something that whisks the reader to a foreign place and time. Curse you for making me ache to break the "write what you know" mantra!

Maybe I need to get a cable hook up in my bedroom. I don't have this kind of reaction to late night episodes of "Friends."

Adjusting our plans and dreams...

Good afternoon all!


So The Boy has always been a good student. Honestly, the kid is bright. Suddenly, last semester, his grades started slipping big time. Now granted, he's in the advanced college classes. And he's never been one to stretch himself, especially if he doesn't like the teacher.

Still, the kid is really, really smart. And we could not figure out why his grades were sliding. Yes, we asked all the big questions, sex, drugs, alcohol...and then we realized something:

The kid loves music. He's buried himself deep in the music world.

I'm not talking about how I buried myself in marching band and piano practice. No, The Boy is full on a music person and since we live so close to Milwaukee, which is a music town, don't be fooled by the beer consumption, he's been able to attend a lot of concerts. A LOT OF CONCERTS.

He told me the other day that he really didn't want to go to college, but that he'd probably have to since we demanded it. This was a big change from a year ago when he said he was going because he couldn't wait to have the dorm experience. Now, at 17, he's far more independent. The battles we've had with him aren't about picking his socks or eating his vegetables, because he does neither. The battles we've had lately have been more along the lines of our view that he needs permission to do certain things and his view that he's perfectly capable of doing them, that informing us should be enough.

I'm telling you all this because it's been an eye opener for me. My boy, the one I was certain was going to get an academic scholarship to a Big 10 school, may not even go to a traditional college. And, after a long time of thinking and praying about it, I realize that it's okay. His dreams are not the problem. I'm the one who had to adjust my dreams for him.

He's a good kid. He doesn't do the sex or drugs or alcohol thing. He keeps curfew. (He chafes under it, but he keeps it.) His grades, while not spectacular, are at a level that most parents would be pleased with. And he's managed his schedule for a couple of years now with minimal help from us. He doesn't often ask for money, and when he does, he offers to work it off with chores. But his whole goal is not extracurricular stuff at school. It's going to concerts at the Rave in Milwaukee.

There's a point here, believe me. As writers, we have the same problems with our characters, don't we? We're writing along, figuring our characters are going one way and they simply won't go that way. We sit there and stare at the blank page or screen and wonder why the characters won't behave. It's not the characters' fault. It's the writer's problem.

We as writers have to let our characters talk to us. Better yet, we as writers have to listen when our characters speak. I had a completely different ending in mind for "Dream in Color." But Ramona, dear Ramona, stomped and yelled and howled in my head until I couldn't ignore her, and now, today, the book is better for it.

I'm currently sitting on a major writer's block. I have two characters that like each other so much, they simply refuse to sit still for any back story. This one may just turn into erotica yet! :) I realized, after about ten false starts, that I have to sit down, and be quiet, and let my characters talk to me.

Maybe my son won't find the cure for cancer. Maybe instead, he helps write or produce the song that brings this world peace. I guess I'm going to be okay with that.

And maybe my characters don't want a deep, meaningful backstory. Maybe they just want sex.

I guess I'm going to have to work it out somehow, right?

Here's a little shameless promotion for ya!

Good morning!

So I recently launched a website (See link at the right). Thing is...if you launch a website and now on looks at it, does it make a sound?

Granted, this is a very basic, simple site (Sort of like Wonder Bread and me!) still, as I work on it, I'd like to know that someone out in cyberspace cares enough to take a look!

Soooooooo, here's a bit of shameless promotion!

Under "Contact me" I have two emails. One, my close friends will recognize as my long time email. The other one is to a yahoo account I maintain for writing purposes.

In the tradition of radio call in contests, I'm giving the tenth person to email me at the YAHOO email address a free, Autographed copy of "Dream in Color!"

Is that shameless or what? LOL!

So, hit the link on the right, take a look the website (It won't take long, it's not that complicated of a site!) and then email me at the yahoo address!

Emailer number 10 wins!

Meanwhile...I'm a month away from seeing Rick Springfield in Milwaukee. Those of you going...I'll see you at the Friday night show! Wanna get buy an autographed copy at the show? Drop me an email, we can meet over burgers and cosmos before the concert! (I'll be the middle aged white woman in the Rick T-shirt! LOL!)