Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Let's get into character



Ever wonder why we like to dress up for Halloween? Could it be the same reason we create memorable characters? I used to love "becoming someone or something else" for a day. It was like the old me didn't exist and I could forget all my inibitions and act differently than normal and it would be okay.


I think that's why we create some of the characters that we invent. Because they can literally get away with murder. They can act brave, silly or stupid and if we do a good job, the audience will love them anyway, because the reader has intimate knowledge on why the characters act a certain way. As humans, folks often have to read us at face value. They don't understand the "backstory" that make us so unique.


Well, we could probably debate this all day, but since it's halloween, I'll move forward. LOL


I thought it might be fun to find some past Halloween pics of DH and I, so here are a few:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
The first costume party we went to, we got a prize for "best couple" for our portrayal of Popeye and Olive Oil. Batman and Robin came two years later and was based on the old style TV show. Friends and us went as the Wizard of Oz characters one year and that was a blast. DH dressed as Captain Hook and I went as Peter Pan once. I don't know how he did it, but he walked around on that peg for hours with his leg bent and taped. We were much younger then. Of course, we've done the hippy costume and various others. We both enjoy going to Good Will store and resale shops to find our costumes and then we kinda put them together. Too fun!!!

Murphy's Law #12

12. Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first.

Source

Ah, the great and illustrious "Murphy", whomever he may be. Don'tcha just want to rip out his...*ahem*. Never mind.

I sometimes wish I had a magical book-writing wand. Some of my friends think I own one already. :P But let me tell you, this year in particular has been HELL on me. Why? Well, this gawd-awful thing called "Real Life" keeps getting in the way of my overactive imagination, killing my inner child. Why? WHY, I say?!?

One thing after another has hit me this year, to refinancing the domicile, having work done on said domicile, to going on a kick-ass two week vacation to Disney World (which took a LOT of planning ACK!), personal issues, creative issues, family visiting, compounded by a sad, sad case of the BLAHS.

You see, I've had a crazy personal life this year, and it's taken a toll on my writing. For the first time ever, I was late on a deadline, which acted like a domino effect, making me late on subsequent deadlines, and not just for one publisher. I'm *still* feeling the effects of THAT fiasco, and the pressure is ON. Why does life have to suck right when you're finding success in what you do?

For the first time in my career, I'm actually feeling like an author, I'm churning out books, I've got fans, I've got plans, I know what I want to write, who I want to submit to, and still, I'm plagued with the BLAHS. What is UP with that? Perhaps I'm a little depressed with not getting as much writing done as I have in the past. I've been focusing more of my energy to other things, like my family, and that is a GOOD thing. Nothing wrong with that. But when I sit at my computer, I don't *feel* like writing. Nothing comes. And if I force myself, it's just crap. Or at least, I think it is.

I think to myself maybe I need a break, but then, I remember all those days I wasted when I missed my deadline. I rested THEN. It's just so dang hard. I've got so many jobs. I'm a wife/mother, schoolteacher, maid, cook, CFO, errand runner, & author.

I need to go on a writing vacation is what I need. A week in a hotel with nothing but my laptop, wi-fi, and a stack of delivered pizzas. For ONCE, I want to be that secluded writer in the woods... Wouldn't that be nice? *sigh*



~~Becka
http://www.RebeccaGoings.com

Monday, October 29, 2007

It’s Monday already?




The weekend just flew by. This week is Halloween! My favorite holiday. But of course I don’t have to wait, I’m, a morbidly disturbed individual everyday LOL I got the coolest presents this weekend.

At our church we do a secret sister thing. The one who has my name is far too generous, but I’m not complaining! This weekend I got two gift bags. One held a green face witch, a pumpkin shaped cake pan, and two ceramic pumpkins. The above pictured clock is another one of my gifts I received from her this weekend. I LOVE IT!!! When you plug it in the columns light up and there are silver confetti sparkles in the columns that move like a snow globe. It’s so AWESOME!

Have to head off. Business calls. There won’t be any writing tips for the next couple of weeks. I’ve been plowed down and have to get this all done. See you soon!

Huggles,
Donica

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Scariest experience you've had


Scared Stiff


Everyone has that moment when fear has struck them. We've examined our lives and found the events that truly terrified us.

Ciara
1. When my son had pneumonia and spent a week in the hospital. He was 7 at the time.

2. When the undertow tried to carry me out to sea during a high school choir outing.

3. When I had to sing a solo in front of an audience.

4. When I got broad-sided by a van when I was driving the Honda. Luckily no one was hurt

Becka

5. I saw a ghost when I was 12/13 years old. I don’t like to talk about it much, but I don’t think I saw a “ghost”, because I’m not sure I believe that souls can be trapped on earth (doesn’t jive with my belief in religiosity) But when I think of what I probably DID see, it freaks me out even more.

6. Playing on a Ouija Board as a youngster and only getting the SAME person every time. I do believe these things “work” and are not your friend pushing the indicator thingy. We decided to test it and ask it silent questions, and every time, it would answer correctly. And it would get PISSED when we asked if it was a demon talking to us. I never played on one ever again.

7. When we went camping one year, my 2 y/o daughter was walking behind my DH, carrying some gear. He turned on the path to our site, but she didn’t see him turn. She kept on walking. He didn’t know she was gone until I asked, “Where’s Hannah?” He and our friend went to go look for her… She ended up at the end of a dock with no life jacket on and had climbed down a precarious bridge to get there. My heart still palpitates at that one.

Donica
8. My son was born with a strawberry, a mass of blood vessels on the top of his skull. The doctor warned us any injury to that area could well cause my baby to bleed to death. I was terrified for him every minute of the day. He was about 4 when we were at a friends house. He and his little buddy were running around the house and suddenly I heard a scream. I went running in. My baby had tripped and fallen into the corner of the television set. Blood was everywhere. I panicked, grabbed him up and flew to the hospital. They spent hours watching him. Said that head wounds always bleed a lot (Lord did this one!) He didn’t hit the strawberry, thank God! It eventually grew over and no harm done.

9. I was at work one night and all the time we were there, I kept feeling apprehensive. Something was wrong. I could feel it. As we were locking up there was a car with a couple of men it sitting in front of the store. They weren’t friends of mine or the girl that worked with me. I stood at the front door watching them and had her standing by the phone waiting for my word. They pulled off and I realized they had been waiting for someone at the ATM. Still the bad feeling was bad. My Dh picked me up so we could go to a Christmas party. The closer we got to the friend’s house the worse my feeling got. I knew something bad was going to happen. I made Dh drive extra careful on the long dark winding roads. We made the safe and sound but the bad feeling almost made me throw up. He dragged me downstairs to get a drink and relax. He kept telling me it was nothing. I couldn’t stand the feeling I was so sick with nerves. Then I heard it. My daighter screaming in agony, kids shouting in terror. I bolted up the steps. My daughter had fallen through a glass top coffee table. She was sliced pretty good. I trioed to get to her and the guys kept pushing me away. I was an EMT and I knew what to do but they wouldn’t let me near her because of how freaked out I was. Her cuts were mostly superficial with only a couple of small scars.

10. My friend and I were walking in the woods when we were kids. We kept hearing something moving behind us. We were convinced it was my cousin and one of his friends so we were pretending to be scared. AS we walked out of the tree line, not 50 feet below us was a big brown bear. The horse in the pasture reared up. Lesa and I took off running. I had never jumped clean over a gate before that day. I’ve never done it since.

Phyllis

11. When I thought my daughter and her husband took my grandbaby and traveled several states away. I didn’t think I’d see my daughter and grandbaby again.

12. Getting married!! (heehee)

13. Being high on a mountain and looking straight down…. (I’m afraid of heights)

So, what is your most terrifying moment?





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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The "Under the Bed" Book



Those of us that write probably all have one. That skeleton in the closet that should not be allowed out of the coffin.

Mine is not buried deep enough. I actually keep the darn thing above my computer on a shelf. Every once in a while, I even think about it. I can barely recall the plot, let alone the title, but I'll never forget the pain and joy of writing it. Tonight, curiosity could not be denied. I had to look. So - I pulled it down just so I could discover the title.

Designs of Fate.

Not a bad title, but clearly not a title for a historical western. I wrote it when I was twenty, thirty years ago, on an electric typewriter. Talk about an editing nightmare. Ack. I used a lot of correction tape. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I keep thinking I'll rewrite it just for the heck of it. Someday, but not anytime soon. While I don't remember the plot, I do remember thinking it was horrid. LOL. Lot's of backstory and telling and a plot that wasn't all that unique.

I actually submitted it to Avon and received my first rejection. Wow, what a surprise. A rejection? Not really knowing much about how the real world works, I took that rejection personally. Remember, I was only twenty. And I didn't write my next book until 2001, twenty three years later. I still enjoyed drafting first chapters and have a ton of them stored away, but just couldn't bring myself to write another full.

Until one of my friends discovered the numerous first chapters I'd begun and encouraged me to try again. The rest is history.

It might be interesting to discover how many "under the bed" books get rewritten and then published. Hmmmm. Curious minds want to know. LOL.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

First Reader Review

I'm soaring! I just received my first reader review and it was wonderful! Check it out:

Callye’s Justice, my first Donica Covey read, sucked me in from page one. One moment I was sitting casually in front of my computer and the next, bam… I was right in the action. And it wouldn’t let me go. The tight writing paired with vivid imagery demanded that I read to the end.

Not recommended for one chapter a night readers. Once you start Callye’s Justice, you’ll have to finish this novel.

Kimber Chin
Love in Business
http://www.businessromance.com/
Breach Of Trust... May 2008

WOOHOOO!!!

Thanks Kimber, you made my day!
Huggles,
Donica

Monday, October 22, 2007

Finding where you belong



Before we get into this weeks post I just wanted to briefly say Happy Anniversary to my hubby. He done good this year (Yes that WAS intentional) Instead of going out to dinner he brought me KFC (I didn’t want to go out) and my gift? The PERFECT copy of Mozart’s Requiem! Not just any copy but the RIGHT one! Isn’t he amazing?? Not sure how he knew the EXACT copy—but he did it, bless him! He’s earned A WHOLE LOTTA POINTS (am I the only one who heard Pete Puma in there?)

I said we’d look at beginnings this week. I goofed. I reread my previous posts and discovered I’d already covered openings. See entry for September 17th. I don’t want to repeat material just yet so I’m going to go with something else.

Finding your voice:

I’m not talking soprano, alto, tenor etc. Your writing voice is what I mean. The genre where you are best suited for. I found that the genre that suits my voice chose me. I’ve written fantasy, paranormal, comedy, inspirational, and suspense. I love them all but I’m suited for suspense. I want to attempt a horror—I’ll admit it, I’ve already written one that I’m waiting for crits by the Mavens before I decide on a publisher to submit to.

So how do you find your voice? Good question. Write how you talk. Write what you’re passionate about. What kind of movies do you enjoy? What kind of books do you read? What music do you listen to? When you’re writing, does the story seem to write itself?

I knew where I belonged by the comfort level I had in the books. The way I could let myself go and be swept up in the story. I was happiest when I was shoving people off buildings, shooting them, or sending them running, terrified in the night. My interest was held longer and my focus stronger on writing the suspense.

It honestly isn’t that hard. Just write what you know.

Have a great day!
Huggles
Donica

Friday, October 19, 2007

I'm mailing a partial to an agent today!




I'm so excited. Irene Goodman (agent) has requested the first three chapters of my American historical romance, Spanish Eyes. I've polished this partial so much is shines! You need sunglasses, it's so polished. heeheee My hero is an Antonio Banderas lookalike. Here is the blurb. Wish me luck with this agent!! I sooooo want this!


In a world when women must fight for every right, suffragette Rebecca Wakefield is determined to become a Pinkerton Detective. Her plan? Capturing the notorious thief, Anton Carerra; a man known as much for his womanizing as he is for his brilliant criminal mind.

Lady's man, Anton Carrera is smitten with Rebecca from the very beginning. He wants nothing more than to seduce the stiff Miss Wakefield, until he learns she is investigating him for a crime he didn't commit. She is innocent and naive; convinced he is the villain her superiors have painted him. But her over-zealous determination places both of them in danger and he is forced to play the honorable rogue.

Sweeping her away to Padre Island off the coast of Spain seemed like a clever idea at the time. But how can he protect them both from his own uncle's murderous games when Anton's heart falls victim to a woman as full of independence as she is desire...

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Incognito


Favorite Costumes


Everyone wants to be someone or something else at some point in life. Halloween gives people the chance to do that for a few hours. There are some choices that are made and we wonder WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING????? And I know we've all seen the ones who look like their in costume all year round. We'd like to set the record straight: Magic Mavens have NEVER dressed in odd, strange or goofy costumes. (What? Pinocchio? Me?) We'll let our readers decide for themselves...

Jami:
1. DH and I make an awesome Popeye and Olive Oil
2. Raggedy Ann
3. DH and I also made a great Captain Hook and Peter Pan combo, DH even made a peg leg and walked around all evening with his leg taped up over a piece of wood. Way cool.

Becka

4. My friends and I were way too old to go out, but that never stopped us. I threw together a “costume” of one of my father’s smoking jackets, a pair of sunglasses, and my German Shepherd and went as a blind person. That was fun.
5. I remember going as a demon one year, complete with sparkly red tail that you could pose. I had a cape and horns, too. Kind of like a vampire demon. LOL I got honorable mention in the costume contest at my Brownies get-together party.
6. I went to school once in my PJ’s for Halloween. I’m not sure what the costume was supposed to be, but it was fun. Kinda freaky, tho, like going to school nekkid in one of those horrid dreams…

Donica
7. Raggedy Ann
8. One of the cast from Rocky Horror Picture Show. (There’s enough that I could draw on that for a couple of years. And I did.)
9. Gun slinger with a REAL hipholster.
10. Biker Babe

Marie
11. Cinderella
12. Fairy
13. Witch




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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Final Edits are DONE!


Before I get to the meat of my post, the Magic Mavens will be chatting tonight at the Romance Studio from 9:00 EST until about 10:00 EST. Come and join us please.

Whoop! Final edits for Eliza's Copper Penny are complete. Well, almost completely complete. I still have to read the ARC once that's sent to me, but you can understand how excited I am to have the main edits done.

I worried a lot over this one, mainly because I knew I wanted to rewrite the ending, but those rewrites really didn't take much time at all.

Okay, just for grins, here's the blurb:

When Texas Ranger Copper Reeves goes on the hunt for a suspected murderer, he finds more than he bargains for in the form of schoolmarm, Eliza Woodpen. Copper has a mission, but his efforts are impeded by two young boys who mistake him for a deer.

Eliza has been hiding from a past she'd rather forget, but a chance newspaper article promises discovery from a powerful foe. Salvation comes when two of her students bring a wounded man to her home. Can she open her door and her heart to the man who can unlock secrets she’s held for three long years?

So, Come visit my website for a chance to enter my contest and to read the first chapter. Now, if I can only get my February release polished to my satisfaction and if I can finish writing the last 15,000 words for my June release, I'd be set for a while.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

No Rest for the Wicked



No, I don't *necessarily* classify myself as "wicked"... :P But I don't have any rest. At all. This entire year, I've been bouncing from project to project like a chicken with my head cut off. Let's see if this makes you dizzy...

B*E*A*S*T* OF BURDEN was edited and released

WatROSE was edited (8 times ACK!) and released

WatJEWEL was edited and released

WatFLAME was finished, edited, and released.

PROMISE ME FOREVER was finished, edited, and released.

Print galley for WatROSE was edited, print released

Print galley for WatJEWEL was edited.

HEARTS UNBOUND was edited. (releases November 6th)

HIGH NOON was written and edited (releases November 13th)

Contracted for The Vampire Oracle:TOMB (must be completed by December 31st.)

Contracted for The Orphan Train Series: ONCE A DREAMER (Must be completed by the end of the year)

NATURE OF THE B*E*A*S*T* was written.

KINDRED was contracted.

And on top of all this is promotion!! ACK! It makes for a seriously stressful "work environment". I hear authors tell me all the time to "Shut up, look where you are! Look how many books you have!" and I'm thinking, I can't even vent my frustration to you? *sob*

Phyllis says she calls authors who open their big mouths and suddenly get saddled with writing a new book out of the blue by their publisher "pulling a Becka". That would be funny if--it weren't so damned true. This past week, I asked Sable from Cobblestone Press what the procedure was for reserving cover art (because they have artists and photographers who have art available you can choose from if you so desire). I liked one particular picture and wanted to know how to go about it, because the book wasn't contracted yet.

She writes me back and basically says, "The pic has been reserved, and it's our policy to hold them for just a couple of months, so get that book written, missy!"

But...but...I was just.... ACK!!!

So add RIDE THE LIGHTNING to the above list as another book I gotta finish before the end of the year. lol Thankfully, this book is a short story, not even novella length, so hopefully I can bang it out in no time. But still...

Can I get ANY down time here, folks? *sigh*

~~Becka (who wants you to consider first before you think *I wish I had her problems* that I only have three whisps of hair left on my head, a three-foot-deep trench around my house from nervous pacing, and bloodied fingers from my endless, endless typing...)

http://www.RebeccaGoings.com

Monday, October 15, 2007

Writing tips

It’s always so hard for me to come up with blog topics. I want to keep them writing related and if I can plug my books (Callye’s Justice) so much the better. Sometimes promoting your book (Callye’s Justice) is a difficult thing. You know the story is amazing. You know you want it to sell but you only want to reveal so much. In television commercials they are able to subliminally suggest their products (Callye’s Justice) without making people want to cringe when they read your blog or website. How to do a subliminal advertisement (Callye’s Justice) since you can’t hear the post? I suppose I’ll have to think (Callye’s Justice) of something else to write about.

Actually, the above was just written to help me wake up. Mondays suck…a couple of weeks ago I told you I’d decided to post some writing tips for you. I also asked to hear your opinions. No one posted a thing. I get so frustrated doing all this blogging and no one reads it. How frustrating! But I guess as an author I should be used to talking to myself. So I’ll write a few more tips and maybe someone will actually see it.

I’ve read so many articles about writing. Can I be a writer? How do I begin? Where do I find my story line? How do I develop the characters? Who do I submit to? Ebook or print? Questions whirl in a kaleidoscope of psychedelic colors sucking you down until you’re afraid. Very afraid. Take a step back and breath. I’ll try to answer those questions with basic answers:

Can I be a writer: Sure! Anyone can. See there is a difference between a writer and an author. Writers sit down and just let themselves go--okay that’s an author too. An author is someone who has sadistic tendencies. We are gluttons for punishment. There is the research for that great American novel. (And I don’t care who you are there is always some research involved.)

After we’ve written that great American novel we then write a letter to the editors that be in a publishing house and wait (im)patiently for a response that can be heart breaking. A Dear Author letter can crush even the strongest of spirits. Still you persevere constantly writing letters, sending them to the next place, and the next place and the next, ad nauseum. It then hits hard, maybe my great American novel sucks metal and spits nails. What do I do now? Write another book and try again. Remember Stephen King, Margaret Mitchell, George Orwell and JK Rawling ALL got rejection letters. Think of those nasty letters as battle scars.

Next week we look at beginnings.

Hope to see you there!
Huggles,
Donica

Friday, October 12, 2007

Doubter's land




I've been published for a little over three years with electronic companies. I have published 15 stories during this time, but I have started many others. On my PC right now, I have 30+ stories still waiting to be finished. One of my stories I have started to submit to agents (since Aug). Since then, I've received six requests, and three rejections. The latest request came from one of my favorite author's agents. Needless to say, I'm very excited about this one, yet scared at the same time. I really want this agent!

So two nights ago, I sit down at my PC, bring up my partial (which is what agent requested), and read through it again. I've only read through this 100 times. hahaha Anyway, I started doubting myself. AUGH! That's NOT good. I started thinking that maybe my first three chapters weren't good enough. There's a lot of sexual tension, there's action, there's the beginning of a mystery...but I doubt myself. Hopefully I can get past this quickly.

Do any of you writers doubt yourself? How about readers? Do you ever doubt the next book that comes out from one of your favorite authors is going to be terrible? Or do you just expect their books to be good?

~Phyllis~

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Get into the swing of things


How we celebrate


Halloween. Its a great time of the year. We celebrate in different ways so we thought we'd share our idea of what a great Halloween celebration is:

Jami:
1. Party! We used to host a really big party, but now we only do it once every two- three years
2. Carve pumpkins
3. Dress up and scare the neighborhood kids

Becka
4. I go to the party stores to buy my kids costumes
5. I dress up my kids in these super sweet costumes
6. We go to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins (hay rides and corn mazes are the shizzy!)

Donica
What’s not to LOVE about Halloween? My ABSOLUTE favorite time of the year!
7. Shop and buy all kinds of new and wonderful Halloween decorations
8. Make up Halloween Carols and then sing them as loud as I can while shopping. Mom gets SOO embaressed
9. Decorate the house

Marie
10. Big pig-out at work
11. Dress up, costume contest at work
12. Jack-O-Lantern contest at work
13. Go trick-or-treating with grandkids




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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Idiosyncrasies





First: Before I get into the meat of this post, I'd like to take a moment to announce my contest winner. (I should have done this last week, but homecoming got in the way. LOL) I planned on choosing one winner from those that commented on my posts for the month of September, but ya know what? I had so much fun reading all those comments that I'm gonna send each person who commented to my posts in September a set of stationary. So if the following will e-mail me at ciara_gold@yahoo.com with a snail mail, I'll get those out to you; Heidi, Taryn, Vicki, Gin Glynn, Lara, and Christyjan.


So - now let's get into the heart of the discussion. Idiosyncrasies. Wow, gotta love that word. I was trying to think about what I might comment on and of course I was in bed at the time. Then it dawned on me that my current heroine was lacking an idiosyncrasy, that one off characteristic unique only to her. We all have one small something that no one else shares. Oh, well, me might share the same odd tick, but the reason behind that tick would set us apart from the others.


Point in case, my first hubbies odd way of brushing his teeth. Most folks squeeze the toothpaste onto their brushes, then scrub away. Not this guy. He'd squeeze the tube, bite off a hunk of toothpaste and then brush. Why? You know, I never thought to ask him and no I'm wondering too.


Here's one of my own idiosyncrasies. My first year at Girl Scout Camp, we spent the night in a cabin with our bedrolls. They had overhead fans, but it was soooo hot, I decided to sleep without my sheet. I woke up with the sensation that a million ants were crawling on my body. I think the fan must have stirred the fine hairs on my body. I snatched up my sheet and huddled beneath, frightened for dear life. I was, after all, only seven. To this day, I can't sleep without covers no matter how hot it is.


The actual habit if sleeping with a blanket is not so unique, but the reason behind it has to be a one of a kind. I think our characters could use similar idiosyncracies, habits with interesting causes. It's the little things that make our characters pop off the page.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

IT'S HERE!!!

The wait is over! Callye's Justice is available right now! Hop on over to Samhain and get your copy of Callye's Justice NOW!~ and get your copy today!

Huggles!
Donica

It's My Birthday!



Anyone up for some beefcake?? LOL I'm actually excited to be 33 this year. I know a lot of people who grumble and moan about their birthdays, but I'm happy about getting older. Sure, you might not have the years of your youth any more, but to be honest, I'm kinda glad. I was a moron as a kid. lol I mean, not literally, but just that now I'm older, I have a bit more life experience, and I wouldn't necessarily WANT to be a teenager again, or even in my early 20's.

I like the fact that my kids are older, able to do more things that babies cannot do, of course, I might eat my words when they start to leave the nest... *sniffle*

You can't "grow old" with someone unless you actually get older, so in that way, I don't fear or hate getting older. One of these days, I want to be a grandma. I want to visit my kids and their families. I have four children. Imagine the kids my kids are gonna have and what kind of massive holiday get-togethers we're going to have in years to come! I can't wait! Both DH and I did NOT have big families growing up. I'm looking forward to a table-ful of kids and grandkids on Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to a truckload of gifties under the Christmas tree (as if there isn't already. lol)

Not to mention the longer I live, the more books I'll write, and that's ALWAYS a good thing, right?

I went out to my deck this morning and watched the sun rise with my oldest daughter. It was beautiful, the sky was painted in golds and oranges. And one thought kept running through my head. "God's loving-kindnesses are new every morning". What a great verse to live by. Each day is a new beginning, a new chance to do good, a new and wonderful gift, as no one is promised tomorrow. So I will enjoy life day by day and look forward to getting older.

And so, in closing, I want to share with you why *I* support my troops! WOOHOO!! This guy can protect and defend my liberties any time he wants to! (And so can his friend pictured in the truck's mirror *snort*) :P


~~Becka

http://www.RebeccaGoings.com

Monday, October 08, 2007

Almost here


Tomorrow is the big day. Callye's Justice will be tossed into the cold cruel world. Nausea assails me. Nerves jangle me. Sleep illudes me. Terror fills me. Self-doubt consumes me. I'm giddy to the point of irritation.

So why put yourself through this? You ask. the answer is simple. I'm a masochist. I live for the thrill of finding out if I'm going to be a have the next best seller published or if I am laughed out of the publishing world.

I face these feelings with each and every release. Prior to the date The waves of the above list emotions wash over me. Then for the next few weeks panic drives me onto the computer surfing every review site to learn if the book is a hit or miss. Each of my other books that have been reviewed all received high marks. Should I be conifdent this is going to be the case? Would that confidence appear to be cocky?

Someone please slap me before I go into major melt down.

There's a small voice that says Knock it off! Callye's going to be a rocketing book! You're going to thrill people. Enthrall them with a world of suspense, intrigue, and the world will love the Gateway Guardians team. Maybe the voice is right...it seems to be getting a little louder--ohg wait, that's Becka yelling at me :P HEHEHEHEH

She's also yelling a reminder to join her birthday bash so come on in all week long. You'll find edits and excerpts and prizes galore! So come on down you'll have a guaranteed blast of a time.

Huggles,
Donica

Friday, October 05, 2007

Show me, don't tell me!





While thinking of what to write, I tried to sort through my jumble of thoughts and I remembered a time when I went to church early. I sat in my car in the shade and enjoyed the warm weather. The light breeze fanned my cheeks, and the leaves on the tress waved with the wind as birds flew from one branch to the other. I closed my eyes and was content even when the hum of cars and trucks passed through the church’s parking lot. When families descended from their vehicles, cheerful chatter floated through the air and quick laugher accompanied, causing me to smile. The morning was very peaceful, and relaxed me considerably.

Then I realized…if I wrote down everything I heard and saw (just like I did), I would be showing you. Could you see most of what I did without actually being there? Did I SHOW you through words what I saw? There is a difference between showing and telling. I’m sure a lot of you authors will be able to explain this better than I can, but I’ll give it a whirl.

From what I’ve learned, there are a few phrases that point to telling. Example: She walked outside and looked at the tree and saw a flock of birds perched on the branches and heard their morning song. The ‘telling’ phrases in this sentence are she looked, saw, and heard. Instead of telling me what she saw, just show me. Example: She walked outside and breathed in the fresh morning’s air. A flock of birds perched in the tree, chirping a cheerful tune. So maybe that wasn’t the greatest example, but it did SHOW you what was going on instead of telling.

Watch out of those telling words: he/she saw, he/she heard, he/she felt. Felt is a big one I see used all the time. Example: She felt the raindrops on her face. Take out ‘felt’ and rewrite the sentence. Example: Raindrops fell on her face when she stepped outside on the back porch as a gust of wind hit her head on. Once again, probably not the best example you’ll find, but it gets the point across.

This month when you’re writing, try to watch for those telling phrases, and make it a goal to SHOW your story, instead.


~Phyllis~

Thursday, October 04, 2007

It's getting spooky time!

Our Favorite Halloween Candy


Candy is dandy any time of the year but there's something about candy at Halloween time that makes you feel like a kid again. We decided to share what makes our sweet tooth go "ah!"

Jami:
1. Anything chocolate
2. Corn candies
3. Licorice

Becka
4. Tootsie Roll Pops – A staple of Halloween candy
5. Reese’s – always got giddy when I saw these in the bag. Ate them first.
6. Snickers – lubs the Snickers.

Donica
7. Reeses PB cups
8. M&Ms
9. Candy Corn/Harvest mix

Marie
10. Bite size Snickers
11. Bite size Hershey bars
12. Blow Pops
13. Hard Butterscotch candy





Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Writing Cave




Well, it's not a new topic, but I do think it's fun to visit everyone's writing cave, so I thought I'd spend this Wednesday sharing with you my little spot of heaven.

This past Christmas, my DH revamped our bedroom so I could have a better place to write. He'd special that way. I do love that man. Anyway, we put in new carpet, then turned my desk area around to create a walled-off section of the room. He put a backing board on the desk so it almost looks like a wall.
Next, he built a ton of shelves. I have one shelf that acts as a border along the top of the wall and several other shelves surround my desk. Yep, now all my keeper romances have their own spot.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThis picture shows one shelf above me cave. THere's actually another shelf above that one. All in all, this corner is my favorite spot in the house. Well, it runs neck and neck with our backyard patio, but that's a blog for another day.


Tell me about your cave. I'd love to hear about it.



BECKA'S BIRTHDAY BASH!



I hope to see you there! It's gonna be GREAT. You do NOT want to miss out on all the goodies next week! To join my author loop, merely click on the invitation! :D

~~Becka

http://www.RebeccaGoings.com

Monday, October 01, 2007

What to blog...

I'm having a rough day. Its been a long two weeks. I've exploded and done a rant on my personal blog so if your interested in my political views hop on over.

Last Saturday I lost an aunt. She was my great aunt. She'd had a severe stroke and passed away. Then I learned a second great aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer and she is gravely ill. My uncle had back surgery, my grandfather is slated to have surgery, another great aunt died this past Friday, an aunt scheduled for surgery due to a car accident that has screwed up her spine. I feel so overwhelmed. Lost. Depressed. I know my great aunts were much older, in their mid and late 80s. I knew there would come a time for them to pass on. But so closely?

What a downer I am, huh? I'm just tired. I'm angry about the illegal alien debate--hence the political blog post--I'm angry at the children who were in state funded care for medical problems having their funds cut and in a case completely removed--(Thanks to our illustrious governor may he be removed from office quickly) Compound all this with insomnia, loss of loved ones, worry for family health issues, my writing is nonexistant. And now I'm whining to the ones who I appreciate the most--our readers.

I ask your forgiveness in this personal rant but I feel better having released it all. I will try and be normal--well as normal as I can be--next time. The T13 is coming up, those are good entertainment, right?

Huggles,
Donica