Annette Mori's Blog, page 44

My Warped Brain…

Okay I admit it, I have a warped brain. In my defense, the little dream fairies are almost entirely responsible. I’ve already confessed in previous blogs and other author spotlights or grills that a few of my stories originate from a vivid dreams, but my latest dream is definitely the most bizarre one yet.

Since my life is in complete chaos right now as my wife and I prepare to sell our house, my writing and editing projects are mounting, and my day job is in turmoil, I’ve decided to give myself a break by doing an easy blog this week.

I’m going to let everyone in to what is undoubtedly a glimmer of that warped brain of mine with my latest work in progress that for now I’ve titled, The Termination. Here’s a short blurb, but don’t accuse me, blame the dream fairies. Imagine a world where terminations from a job, literally meant terminating a human being…

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Sawyer sat quietly in the metal chair. She wasn’t afraid of dying, but she was disappointed that she hadn’t been able to follow through on her plans to get Lyric more involved with the mission of her rebel group. They needed an HR executive on their team and Lyric was perfect for the job. She had the right personality to make a difference and she knew Lyric was sympathetic to the cause.

Unfortunately, it was the end of the line for her and there wasn’t much Lyric could do about it at this point. She wondered if it had all been worth it. She decided it had. The baby lived and she could take that comforting thought with her to the other side. Dr. Smith knew the baby was undocumented. He was another sympathizer, but when confronted, he hadn’t been willing to accept the consequences. She couldn’t really blame him. He could do more good by touting his ignorance as he continued to save people that the hospital would otherwise turn away. There were far more workers willing to ignore the law than anyone suspected. The group’s rebel network was growing.

Vernetta looked nervous as her eyes shifted around the room never quite landing on Sawyer. She felt sorry for her. They always asked her to perform the termination because she was skilled at ensuring the injection did not cause any unnecessary pain. Vernetta was a sympathizer as well, but kept her role in the group well hidden. Sawyer needed to ensure that no one blew her cover.

She only had a few minutes with Vernetta before Sharlie and Lyric arrived for the final dispensation.

“Vernetta, look at me,” Sawyer directed.

“Oh, God, Sawyer, I don’t know if things are going to work out, there’s rumors that we’re compromised and if Sharlie stays in the room, I don’t know if I can do this,” Vernetta lamented.

“You have to. We need you here continuing to work behind the scenes. I’m expendable. You’re not,” Sawyer insisted.

The creak of the door interrupted Sawyer and she looked at Sharlie’s guilty expression and Lyric who appeared confused.

“Vernetta, why are you here? I’m not sure giving Sawyer her flu shot right now is entirely appropriate. Besides, you’re not the employee health nurse.”

“Flu shot? What are you talking about? I’m here to administer the lethal injection.”

“I’m sorry. I thought I just heard you say lethal injection.” Lyric chuckled. “Boy I really need to get the wax out of my ears. It sounded like you’re some kind of death penalty executioner. I had a fall earlier and things aren’t firing quite right for me.”

“I suppose that’s a pretty good description of what they always ask me to do,” Vernetta answered. The disgust in her voice was nearly palatable.

Lyric turned her head and looked at Sharlie. She immediately looked away and Sawyer saw Lyric’s penetrating gaze land on her. “She’s not kidding is she?”

Sharlie looked up and shook her head. Her expression was a mixture of confusion and compassion. “Vernetta administers most of the lethal injections after a termination hearing. I don’t usually stay. I don’t have the stomach for it.”

Sharlie turned and nearly ran out of the room.

“Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on, but there is no way I’m going to authorize a lethal injection. Vernetta, you go back to your unit and let me talk with Sawyer,” Lyric directed.

“You can’t, Lyric, they’ll find out and then you’ll be terminated,” Sawyer pleaded.

“Lyric, we don’t much time. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but the arrangements are the same as always. The morgue driver is part of the network. She’ll help us again,” Vernetta turned her gaze to Sawyer. “All we need to do is get a stretcher and transport you out of here. We can get Dr. Smith to verify that I administered the injection and you expired without complication. He owes you and he’s done this before for us. Lyric, you’ll verify that I did my job. You mentioned the last time that you thought Sharlie might be suspicious, but she’d never report us. Is that still true?”

“Honestly, I don’t know anything right now. This is like one big nightmare, but I’ll do whatever I need to do. We are getting out of here—alive. I have a place that I can take Sawyer. I might need a doctor to check out my head, because nothing makes sense to me right now. It’s possible I have a fracture in my arm as well, however, I think that’s the least of our worries. I’m in, and you can explain everything to me later,” Lyric offered.

“I don’t think it’s wise for you to get personally involved,” Vernetta warned.

“I’m taking Sawyer to my cabin in the woods and that’s final. I just need to get a few things at my house first. Do you think you can drive my car and meet us at there? It’s the only Prius in the management parking lot. The address is 608 Oak Drive.” Lyric dug into her coat pocket, retrieved a set of keys and tossed them to Vernetta.

“Okay, we don’t have time to argue. I’ll get the stretcher.” Vernetta spun on her heels and exited.

Lyric looked dazed, but Sawyer was too surprised at the turn of events to say anything.

If you’re interested in digging deeper into my warped brain, feel free to get my stories and if you e-mail me questions, I promise to answer promptly.

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I Volunteer My Heart & My Brain

While attending an outstanding leadership training, this saying stuck in my head, “You can buy my hands and my back, but I volunteer my heart and my brain.” I was reminded of this saying yesterday as I struggled with wondering what contribution I’ll end up making in the new organization forming as a result of an affiliation with a much larger healthcare entity, that is led by its for profit arm. Throughout my career, I have always worked for a non-profit or government hospital because the mission to serve the community came before profit. I’m conflicted about working for an organization that may have profit as its number one goal. Of course, when I worked for a Catholic hospital, Sister Catherine always said, “No margin, no mission,” but money was never their primary focus.

 

Employee engagement is so dependent upon feeling that your work is worthwhile, you have a purpose, and you make a difference. As I reflect on these three things, I’ve come to the realization that money does not motivate me at all. Instead, I am motivated by purpose, worthwhile work and making a difference.

 

As I shift to the latter part of my career, it is sad to say that right now I almost feel as though I add more to the Universe with my stories. Over the last several months a greater number of positive messages have come my way in e-mails, private messages and reviews on my books…unfortunately far more than on my work that pays the bills. All of this leads to a decision that my wife and I are not taking lightly. It may be time to devote more energy into what has been feeding my soul lately—writing. I am seriously considering retirement much earlier than the original three year timeframe and the most important added benefit is finally living with my wife full-time. Living apart during the week sucks!

I still can’t believe I managed to have four novels published in my debut year while continuing to work full-time. I don’t know if retirement will result in a greater number of books, or if I’ll spend more time honing my craft and hopefully produce increasingly polished and engaging works. I guess time will tell.

All I can say is….readers, I volunteer my heart and my brain. You will never have to buy that! Now of course, if you do wish to buy my books….go right ahead!

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Love is in the Air…

 

Romance writers should be able to think creatively about Valentine’s Day and offer an over the top romantic experience for their one and only. Dang. I fall extremely short on this expectation.

My wife, on the other hand, is wonderful at this. Every year she sends me the most beautiful box of chocolates. I’ve done the same for her on a few previous Valentine’s Days. This year she asked me not to, probably because I end up eating hers as well as mine (except for the ones I don’t like).

A co-worker of mine joked, “Life is too short for cheap chocolate.” I had to use that in a book and here is the excerpt for what I hope will be an upcoming novel titled, The Review.

Jasmine glanced at her watch and noted the time. In thirty minutes, she would be face to face with the object of her desire. She’d probably say something stupid and the rest of the day would be awkward.

Jasmine wracked her brain to come up with a clever greeting. She glanced over to her neighbor and her gaydar pinged loudly. She could tell that someone had neatly pressed his shirt and styled his hair perfectly in that messy, but controlled way that many gay men always insisted on achieving. He had those prissy mannerisms that screamed persnickety. Since no one else was around to give her solid advice, she tapped the young man on the shoulder. She didn’t know why of all people she’d want his opinion, but she was desperate.

He smiled at her and pulled out his plugs. “You still look scared. Do you need a distraction or something?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Only if we learn each other’s names first, because I don’t talk to just anybody on an airplane. Preston at your service.” Preston held out his hand and Jasmine tentatively shook it.

“Jasmine,” she replied.

“Okay, shoot since it appears as though our conversation has distracted you from your previous panic attack.” Preston grinned.

“What would you say to a woman you’re about to spend the weekend with, that you’re secretly in love or lust with, but she doesn’t really think about you in the same way and you were only invited because you won a contest. I need a good line or something. She’s a writer, so words matter you know,” she blurted out.

“Oh girlfriend, take a breath.” Preston narrowed his eyes. “You’re serious,” he declared. Jasmine nodded.

“Wow is she famous or something?” Preston asked.

“Um…yeah kinda, I guess, but in a limited, sub-culture kind of way. You know, lesbians might know her, but you wouldn’t. Her name is Silver Lining,” Jasmine clarified.

“Nice name. I suppose it’s a pen name. Anyway, I suppose that makes sense since you said it was a woman and I’m guessing you’re gay. So is she hot?”

“Definitely.”

“You going for respect or I want to jump your bones?” Preston asked.

“Well, we kinda have an internet friendship. We’ve been corresponding for five years now,” Jasmine explained.

“That’s a long time to have that kind of friendship and you said this was a contest or something. Are you sure about that? I mean, contests don’t usually entail spending the whole weekend with a celebrity. Maybe she wants something and the contest was just a ruse.”

Jasmine scrunched up her face. “Do you think that’s possible?”

“You ever met her in person before?”

“Yes once. It was five years ago.”

“So she got a good look at you, right?” he asked.

Jasmine nodded.

“Yeah I definitely think it’s possible. Look, you’re drop dead gorgeous and if I wasn’t gay myself, I probably would have tried to hit on you. I think it’s a fair assumption that she might hunger for you as much as you’re lusting after her.”

Jasmine blushed. “Hmmm. I suppose it’s possible she rigged the contest. I’m a beta reader for her and she knew it was a likely outcome that I’d be the first one to post a review once she’d tossed out that challenge. I still need some advice on how to greet her. I’m about ready to piss my pants here. How can I dazzle this woman right from the start?”

“If you’ve been friends for five years now, how come you haven’t tried to hook up before now?”

“She was happily married.”

“Was?”

“Her wife died three years ago and she hasn’t really come out of hibernation until now.” “Hmmm…that puts a whole new spin on things,” Preston stated. 

“Oh God, I am so pathetic. I’m asking a complete stranger about how to go about impressing a woman I’ve only met once, who still mourns her dead wife and lives two thousand miles away in some tiny town in Washington,” Jasmine blurted.

“Again, breathe. I’m not a complete stranger now. Girlfriend, now that you know my first name we’ll be besties for life. Okay, listen closely cause I’m giving up my best stuff here. Greet her with a hug and hang on just a few seconds longer than normal. Hand her the expensive chocolate and say, life is too short for cheap chocolate.”

“What? I don’t have any chocolate and that’s the best you got? Won’t that life’s too short thingy remind her of her wife? I don’t want to make her any more melancholy than she already is, and trust me she’s not the same woman I met five years ago. I think a part of her died with her wife.”

Preston slapped his hand across his chest. “Oh that is so sad and tragic. Don’t worry about the chocolate. I was supposed to bring my boyfriend back some Christopher Elbow Artisanal chocolate. They make it right there in Kansas City, Missouri.” He waved his hand. “Anyway, he’s getting a little pudgy, so he definitely doesn’t need any chocolate. You’ve just given me a great excuse for why I’m not bringing any back for him and I won’t have to say anything about his expanding waistline. He’s a little sensitive about that.”

“That’s awful nice of you to offer, but are you sure about that line. It’s kind of odd. You got anything else in your arsenal?”

Have I mentioned how much I love chocolate?

If I was a poet instead of a writer, I would pen a beautiful sonnet for my wife, but I’m not even close to poetic with my writing. I have an unconventional, colloquial, and sometimes humorous writing style. I don’t create beautiful prose like some of my colleagues. Of course, I dedicate every book to my wife, but somehow that doesn’t seem enough for what she has to put up with.

Over the years, I’ve always told her to buy whatever she wants…within reason. A new iPhone…done. A new iPad…done. A new Apple PowerBook…done. Are you sensing a theme here? We own Apple stock. A new Tesla…um…no! However, these kinds of gifts are not original.

I love my wife to pieces and I suppose the best thing I could give to her for Valentine’s Day is my undivided attention…no writing…no messing around on Facebook…no editing…a computer free weekend. So that’s what I’ve decided to do. I guess I’ll chat with all of you after the weekend.

As my gift to you, I would like to give away two FREE e-books. Please post a comment here or on my Facebook page telling me three things: 1) In a sentence or less what does love mean to you; 2) Your e-mail address; 3) Preferred e-book format. My wife will pick the winner. If you already have all four of my books, then I’ll do an IOU for my upcoming novel, The Ultimate Betrayal coming out in June. Happy Valentine’s Day!

If you want to read a love story over the Valentine’s Day weekend, take your pick – all of my books have a love story embedded within.

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Vampire Pussy…Cat

For those of you who enjoyed Love Forever, Live Forever….I hope you enjoy the free short story meant to continue with Nicky, Annie, Cass and the rest of the cast of characters in my debut novel.  Soon I’ll post the next installment called Nicky’s Christmas miracle.

Vampire Kitty final

Three Strikes You’re Dead…

The other day I had another vivid dream that I was the Human Resource Director at some faceless, nameless organization. We were in the final stage in our corrective action process – termination. However, in my dream termination literally meant termination – we were about to execute the poor slob because she’d reached the final stage. In this nightmare (because at this point it could no longer be categorized as a dream), I ran outside and turned into a hot mess (remember that term from the last blog). I was crying hysterically, stating that, “I cannot do this.” In the dream of course it fell outside the realm of my value system (duh, ya think). A colleague came out to find out what was wrong because in her mind this was business as usual.

So where did this horrific dream come from? Lately I’ve been having some lively discussions with a well-respected colleague of mine about our corrective action policy, practices, and overall philosophy. In the final analysis after much dialogue, we were really saying the same thing.

On occasion, we use a process called a Performance Improvement Plan, but this has typically been a separate and distinct step from our four-step corrective action process. I wanted to understand why. In my mind, the whole purpose of progressive discipline (that’s the terminology most widely recognized in my profession) is to help the employee improve their performance or alter their behavior for the benefit of all in the organization.

I was arguing, rather vehemently, that this process should never be punitive or have the feel of punishment. My colleague reminded me that’s the way the employees view it, regardless of how we package it. They view the whole process as punitive and why wouldn’t they when we call it progressive discipline. Discipline suggests punishment and not the good kind for all you readers who went straight to the gutter and tend to read, shall we say, the more edgy romance.

When we also use words like pre-termination proceeding or terminating an employee, it’s no wonder they view the process so negatively. Termination is another very harsh word.

I’ve tried to change the language in our policy and even went so far as to propose a whole different concept with new terminology using terms like, verbal counseling, performance improvement plan and self-assessment leave to replace verbal warning, written warning and suspension. As a side note I’ve always wondered about suspension – I imagine us suspending an employee from a tall building. Shudder. I also changed termination to involuntary separation from employment.

I suppose one could argue this is just semantics and management’s veiled attempts to re-package something unpleasant, but I’ve learned words matter, especially when there is pure intent behind them.

Now here’s the interesting part…when I presented this kinder, gentler way of thinking to the Union, they were suspicious and immediately rejected the proposal. Since at the time this was not a hill I was willing to die on (again with the death terminology), we withdrew the new concept.

I suppose this goes to show that the devil you know is preferred to the unknown and that deeply ingrained is the notion of, “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Another lesson learned is that leaders have a lot of work to do to build those bridges of trust and it isn’t easy, no matter how pure your motives are.

Perhaps I am idealistic, but I’d like to hope that my profession eliminates words like discipline and termination because I’d rather not wear the label of executioner. It’s bad enough that everyone thinks of me as Catbert, that evil HR Director.

The only people I kill are in my books and trust me, every one of them deserves it. If you’d like to check out who I kill and why, the links are below in this shameless promotion!

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Getting Things Done

Today, I arranged and attended a training session called Getting Things Done. I’d described this to my co-workers as a time management training on steroids. I was looking forward to learning some tips and tricks so I can be more productive, considering there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks on my long to do list. By the way…to do lists are very passé now.

Lists are still very much in vogue. In fact, they now recommend more lists, not less. They just don’t call them to do lists anymore, they’ve evolved into something much greater. I’m supposed to empty my cluttered mind and put it all down on paper or in an electronic device every week. After I record all the various random thoughts in my head, I need to place them into categories…lots and lots of different categories.

To Do: Eat, Sleep, Totally freak out at midnight.

E-mail has its own special rules and categories. There’s the e-mails I can take care of in two minutes or less and the Nike logo comes to mind-Just Do It. There’s the e-mails that require more than one action. The speaker called those projects. There’s the items that go in the trash. I love those. There’s the items we can delegate, defer, and ponder for a later date (I’m paraphrasing now). The items we can’t take care of in two minutes or less we need to put on a completely new set of lists to outline next actions. By now, my head is spinning because I don’t make lists on anything, not even in my weapons of mass distraction (another new term for all our electronic devices-iPhone, iPad, iWatch).

While talking to a an exceptionally organized colleague who knows exactly what her next steps (actions) will be for everything, and described herself as a linear thinker, I knew I was in trouble. I am the opposite of a linear thinker. Random thoughts pop in my head all the time. I tackle projects haphazardly. I don’t even know who done it, until I write it.

I’m fascinated with technology so there was a small part of me that was excited when the speaker told us to pick a tool to organize our life. I promptly downloaded a note app. I was proud of myself. I thought, I could do this because I get to use my new iWatch.

Time will tell whether I’ll be able to follow the tips and tricks suggested. I do agree with David Allen, the founder of this training, that, “the mind is for having ideas and not holding them.” I plan to record my book ideas into my new iWatch app. When I wake up (in the middle of the night) with the entire dialogue for the next scene in my book whirling around in my head, I’ll record a note in the notes app.

If you want a front row seat into my cluttered mind…go ahead and click on the links below to check out my books.

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Left or Right?

In my previous blog, I confessed to a serious shortcoming. I am chronically directionally challenged. My disorder is so severe that if my instinct tells me to take a left, the correct direction is to the right. Eventually after too many years of doing the same thing and getting lost EVERY SINGLE TIME, I started doing the exact opposite of what that little voice told me. All of this occurred before those handy dandy GPS gadgets were available in cars.

 

The first opportunity I had to purchase a GPS for my car, I did it. I forked out the extra four thousand dollars when I purchased my 2003 Toyota Prius and was darned glad I did. Not too many years later, I discovered you could purchase a GPS specifically for bicycles. As an avid cyclist, I had to have that doohickey.

Of course now we have smartphones equipped with map apps and specific turn-by-turn instructions, just like my handy dandy GPS. Finally, I have all the tools I need to get from point A to point B without turning into a hot mess. I love that term. I just learned it from a colleague who described someone blubbering away because apparently we were so mean in union negotiations. That, however, is a whole other story.

Anyway, I promised to share my story about getting lost on Whidbey Island before I had all that wonderful technology at my fingertips. I’d moved to the island in 1993 and my house looked out on the main road, HWY 20. The highway cut through the island and was a direct route to the hospital I worked at.

The turn off to my house was a road named Ft. Nugent road. Ft. Nugent intersected with another road that was spitting distance from my house. This road was Swantown road. I’m sure you are wondering what this background information has to do with getting lost. I have a very good reason to share how germane this is to the story because it will reveal how utterly pathetic I am. Hang on because the story just gets better and better.

One morning I am making my daily trek on the main highway and there is a major accident cutting off my only known path to work. The police force a detour and I get horribly lost. I’m driving around for twenty minutes before I come across a road (Swantown) that is vaguely familiar to me. I say to myself, “Hmmm, that’s looks familiar.” I still don’t know where I am and continue to follow Swantown traveling from the opposite direction that I’ve normally gone every single day to get to my house. Finally, I manage to drive by the Safeway and now I know how to get back to my house because I can manage to find my way to and from the Safeway.

Ironically, when I first approached the intersection of Swantown and Ft Nugent road, I wasn’t able to decipher where I was because I’d traveled there from a different angle. I only knew that it was vaguely familiar to me. This may seem completely outrageous and you are all probably saying, “Annette, you are just making that shit up to make this blog entertaining.” I swear this is the honest to God truth.

I proceed to go back to my house and tell my partner that she has to drive me to work because I can’t find my way. After laughing for ten minutes, she agrees to take me. She knows all the back roads and does not share my affliction.

I finally arrive at work (an hour late) and my staff laugh for another ten minutes, and then ask the infamous question, “It’s an island. How could you possibly get lost?”

“Yeah, it’s an island which means the water is on both sides, how can anyone possibly navigate that?” I fire back with just a little bit of attitude.

One of my staff interjects, “Don’t you know the difference between North, South, East and West?”

In all seriousness I state, “No, I do not. It’s not like I have a compass mounted on my dashboard and I wish people would stop giving directions like head North about two miles…it’s hard enough for me to grasp when I should turn left versus right.” At this point, I am huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf.

I still have to discern between my right and my left when Priscilla, that’s the voice of my GPS, gives a vocal command and thank God she doesn’t tell me to turn West on 42nd street…

If you are directionally challenged like me and can’t seem to find your way to my books, let me help you out. Ain’t technology grand? Click on one of the links below and I know you’ll find everything you need! Happy traveling!

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I Have No Flippin Idea…

Here’s a question that comes up on occasion: What tools do you use as a writer? People have asked if I use something like Scrivener, Evernote, or even a notebook to create outlines or character sketches. I always answer with complete seriousness, I use my laptop. I don’t make outlines or use any tools and I’ve never taken a creative writing class.

I’m sure the reaction from other more organized and accomplished authors is complete horror at my fly by the seat of my pants approach.

I believe the root of this lies in my basic personality. For those who enjoy learning more about me in these blogs, I’ve taken the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and I am off the charts on every dimension. There is zero balance in my personality.

If you’re familiar with the Myers Briggs, it’s not really a personality indicator, but rather a preference indicator. Preference denotes what is more comfortable for a person. An analogy I like to use when I’ve facilitated workshops on the topic is the difference between someone who is left-handed, right-handed, or ambidextrous. I’m right handed and thus I am more comfortable using my dominant hand to write with, but that doesn’t mean that my left hand is useless. Additionally, if something were to happen to my right hand, I could adapt and begin using my left hand more frequently. In fact, the injury might force me to use my left hand. Individuals who are balanced are ambidextrous. They are equally comfortable with their right or left hand.

Every single time I’ve taken the test, I am a strong INFP. It’s no surprise I’m an I for introvert (painfully shy); N for intuitive (creative artsy fartsy type); F for feeler (sappy romantic); P for procrastinator. Okay I’m kidding on the P, it doesn’t really stand for procrastinator, it stands for perceiver.

Perceivers prefer the journey or processes versus the final end product or decision. It’s that strong perceiver in me that causes the fly by the seat of my pants approach and subsequently I have no flippin idea where any of my stories will go.

Recently, my mentor complimented me because she read my latest story and had no idea who the bay guy was. She guessed wrong and sent unwarranted accolades my way. I say unwarranted because as I was writing the story, I had no idea myself who I would pen as the culprit until the very end when I wrote the scene.

A perceiver collects data and information from everyone around them before making a decision and it can be a painfully slow process. On the other hand, perceivers are impulsive and spontaneous.

Certainly it’s not a surprise that I’m an intuitive because generally we are the artists, writers, and creators of the world. We are the kind of people who see the big picture more readily, but don’t generally focus on facts or details. I’m one of those people who get lost going to my best friend’s house who I’ve been to hundreds of time before. I also forget where I’ve parked my car. We are the consummate absent-minded professors. Someone needs to remind me to tell the story of when I got lost on Whidbey Island where I lived for eleven years because an accident took away my route to work. It’s hilarious. I refer to myself as directionally challenged. I once had to call a friend to help me navigate myself home from Seattle. At the time, I was nearly in tears. It was not a pretty picture.

When you combine the intuitive with the perceiver, you get a person who can tell a good yarn, but has the tendency to ramble and leave out all the finer details. I often need help with the plot and keeping the details straight because I honestly can’t remember what I’ve written in the previous chapter. I re-read my drafts all the time so I don’t contradict myself later in the story.

I teach that every personality has strengths and weaknesses. I suppose that when people ask where I come up with those wild ideas, that’s a derivative of the strengths of an intuitive. On the other hand, I have to work twice as hard to create the rich details. I’m still working on that.

About a month ago, I threw in the towel and acknowledged how helpful it was to develop a separate character sketch document. I hate to admit this, but I only created the document because I needed to keep separate the five cats in the story, not the main characters. If not for the cats, someone would have had to drag me into using this tool kicking and screaming all the way. My fellow author, Jen Silver, swears by Scrivener. I think I’ll pass for now. Sometimes I like not knowing where the story will go and claiming that, I have no flippin idea.

What I do know is that I’ve had an absolute blast telling those yarns not knowing how they will end until I write that very last scene.

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I Got Nothing…

Normally during the course of the week, an idea or topic regarding what to blog about will pop into my pseudo creative head. Unfortunately, this week, no matter what I tried, I couldn’t come up with an idea. Nothing, nada, zip, zilch entered my sphere.

So…that’s what I’m going to talk about—nothing. I suppose what I am experiencing is a form of writer’s block. As annoying as it is to wake up in the middle of the night with a brainstorm on a new direction with your characters, never going down inspiration lane is far worse.

Some of you might remember a TV show called, Seinfeld. The show was wildly popular and lasted nine seasons. This was a TV show about nothing. Now some might argue that the show had to be about something. There was one episode where in a tongue in cheek manner the show had George Costanza pitch an idea for a TV show about nothing to Jerry Seinfeld. The dialogue was hysterical and had George saying the show would have people talking, no story, just talking. He’d convinced Jerry that it would work.

Remembering that episode got me thinking that although I usually have a topic, all of my blogs might fit neatly into that category—just bumping along with free flowing crap plastered across the page.

I’ll bet all of you thought I couldn’t really pull off a blog about nothing, but really think about it, isn’t that what a lot of us do every day. I know I spend most of my day talking about absolutely nothing.

When I looked up, nothing, in Wikipedia, it states, “nothing, denotes things lacking important, interest, value, relevance, or significance.” Yep I talk about nothing all day long by this definition.

Now of course my books are not about nothing. They have a bona fide story. So in contrast, if you read my blogs and find them remotely entertaining…well…reading about something has to be better than reading about nothing. The links below will get you to books that have something….

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Resolutions…Smesolutions (Yes I Know This Is Not A Word)

Every year I am asked about my New Year’s resolutions and I always shock people when I tell them I don’t have any. Of course, like most everyone else I have plenty of things I need to change about myself, but that isn’t why people are perplexed. The shock probably originates from the perception that others have about me. My close friends and family are familiar with a deeply ingrained value I hold regarding the need to constantly learn and grow. It would seem that the New Year is the perfect time to set those growth goals, but not for me and I’m not alone in this.

Only 48% of Americans usually write New Year’s resolutions, with an additional 17% who report they infrequently join this group. I’m among the 38% who never make resolutions because quite honestly only a pitiful 8% are successful.

Since Google is my best friend I looked up the above statistics and also wanted to research the top ten resolutions. What was interesting to me is how many I’ve achieved in my life without making any New Year’s promises to myself or others. Here’s the top ten because I know inquiring minds want to know…

1

Lose Weight



2

Getting Organized



3

Spend Less, Save More



4

Enjoy Life to the Fullest



5

Staying Fit and Healthy



6

Learn Something Exciting



7

Quit Smoking



8

Help Others in Their Dreams



9

Fall in Love



10

Spend More Time with Family

For me, change has always come about when the timing was right in my life. I quit smoking at age twenty (number 7). One day I was looking at myself in the mirror and I didn’t like what I saw. I was overweight, out of shape, and my life was heading in the wrong direction. I didn’t just smoke cigarettes, my weed (marijuana) intake was daily and increasing at an alarming rate. It was time to make a change. I stopped smoking, cut down on my drinking, and starting running. The side benefit was number 1 above on the list. I lost a lot of weight.

Now imagine if I’d said to myself, “Well shoot it’s only April, I’ve got eight more months to eat, drink, and smoke like a chimney.” Hooray for all that additional time to continue down that very  unhealthy, destructive path.

I submitted my very first novel July of 2014 (number 6-learn something new). Once again, imagine if I’d said to Affinity when they set up that first Skype chat to talk about my manuscript, “Nah, I can’t accept your help, Erin, until January 1st. I think I’ll just pass on learning from you, but thanks for the generous offer to mentor me.”

I met my wife in August of 2003. I’m giggling right now imagining her reaction to me stating, “I’m sorry can we just hold off on falling in love (number 9) until New Year’s so I can fulfill my next resolution. I promise it’ll be worth the wait.” Wink wink. Talk about a buzzkill.

Are you seeing a pattern here? Change and growth happen when the timing is right and the need fairies are so loud that you can’t help listening to them as they whisper in your ears. Change is not on a maintenance schedule.

I’ve successfully managed six of the top ten resolutions in my lifetime and have my eye on a couple of them for the next year, but I won’t be definitively declaring them on New Year’s day. I’ll know when the time is right and will probably do a follow-up blog to share my progress.

If you are one of those individuals who does enjoy making resolutions, more power to you-no judgment here. I hope you are in the 8%, especially if one of your resolutions is to take more time for pleasure reading and you happen to include my books on your wish list!

I’d like to do a quick review of my year because it was life changing for me as I published my first book in 2015. Instead of posting all the reviews for every book that was published last year, I randomly picked one for each book.

Year In Review

Live Forever, Love Forever was published in April and slow to catch on, but picked up a few more readers after Asset Management came out.

The words that come to mind are funny, sexy, heartbreaking, brilliant, page turning. I loved Nicky, Lisa and Sara. I loved their story and it will stay with me. Live forever, love forever starts off very entertaining. Nicky’s voice is unique, true and full of life. Some lol moments, great dialogue. I read it during my nightshift and got really mad when people interrupted my reading. I had to find out if they are going to do it already and how. And what is the problem with Sara? The suspense was killing me. This story foreshadows great disaster and the promise is kept! Carolaid

Asset Management is still my best selling novel and currently has 21 five star reviews. It was released on August 1st.

This is the third book by Ms. Mori I’ve read. And the third completely different style of writing employed, making it so delightful – showing the breadth of her abilities as a writer! The first chapter sets up a trio of women as operatives in an organization whose purpose is yet to be totally discovered. The beginning of the second chapter, however, one of the main characters, Toni, runs across a character she’s interacted with in the first chapter, and gives her a ‘wink’; such a *powerful* word used here, a word which sets off a cat and mouse game. A game you have absolutely no idea the magnitude of which at this point in the book. What a wonderful wordsmith Ms. Mori is! More than once you are led down the lilac path, believing you know you know what lies ahead, only to learn that you know absolutely nothing, and are about to be educated in a completely different set of circumstances. What makes this book perfect for me, is that Ms. Mori manages to weave in romances between more than one set of women, in different set of circumstances. I can’t say more than that without giving away what you will have to read for yourself, but she does so exquisitely! And I do so adore loving romances, I freely admit. Once again, Annette, Well Done You!!!! Bravo!!! Another must read, no surprise here!                        HollyAnn Weaver

Out of This World was a test for Affinity as the first Kindle Unlimited book for the publishers. Readers noted the laugh out loud moments and lunchgate was born. Reviews are positive with 14 five star reviews and 2 four star reviews.

When I found out that Annette had not been writing for years and she did not have this long list of books that she has written I was shocked but then I now know that I have a front-page seat to watch the growth of this amazing author who is destined to be “Out of This World”. Mabel is a woman who personifies feelings and insecurities that I think everyone has felt at some time in their life—insecure, closeted, torn between right and wrong and then there is Sydney who you think is everything Mabel isn’t but deep down she is exactly the same…then a beautiful woman by the name of Celeste walks into their lives and they are forever changed. Celeste has the ability to make you slow down and see our worlds through her “eyes” as she learns and teaches these two woman what the meaning of love is. Out of this World has love, loss, good over evil, passion and humor and this wonderful story teller Annette Mori managed to bring all this into this one book for us to enjoy!                 Cheryll Jones

Locked Inside has now been out for one month and most of the readers say it is my best novel. I agree. The reviews have been very positive with 13 five stars reviews and 1 four star review.

The mark of a truly good story is that it is capable of invoking emotion well after the last chapter is finished. It must have been very difficult to put into words what it’s like to wake up and find out you missed the last 6 years of your life, that you can’t move or even speak. Belinda’s tale of recovery after a 6 year coma is truly the stuff of inspiration and we are allowed to follow along in her arduous and amazing rehabilitation. A tremendous amount of talent and polish went into writing this story and the friendship and love affair between Belinda and Carly was oh so sweet. I would love to see this story re-released in an expanded version with more dialogue between Belinda and Carly especially when Belinda regains her speech and the ability to walk. What a wonderful story. I definitely put this one near the top of my favorites in this genre.          Cathie

I wasn’t tracking the top 100 ratings when my first novel came out, but I met my personal goal with Asset Management, Out of This World, and now Locked Inside when they remained in the top 100 for Lesbian Romance in the first month of their release. Asset Management remains in the number 7 spot for the Top Rated Lesbian Romance.

All in all, it’s been a fabulous year for me and I want to give credit where credit is due. Affinity is a wonderful publisher. Nancy is the best cover artist out there. Erin was a dream come true as my mentor. The most credit goes to all the readers who gave me a chance and took the time to write those great reviews. My sincere thanks to all of you.

Happy New Year and happy reading!

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