Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 138

Wednesday Worthy & Wing Slayer Hunter Update

For everyone asking about the next Wing Slayer Hunters book–first I want to thank you guys! You care enough to ask and that really means everything to me! But the truth is, due to a variety of circumstances, I’m behind. I really hate that I’m disappointing fans who have been waiting so patiently. Life got seriously chaotic this year, however things are much better now. My hope is to release Primal Magic (Eli and Savi’s book) in 2017.  I would love to get Fallen Magic (Ram and Ginny’s story) out in 2017 too, but I can’t promise that just yet.

Thank you all for understanding. I love the Wing Slayer Hunter books and want very much to keep writing them!

Now onto Wednesday Worthy. Here’s today’s candidate:

Image of hot and shirtless male body in jeans

So what do you think, is he worthy?

Weekend Roundup and Romantic Gestures

And I did it–I finished the rewrite for Savaged Dreams and I’m editing it now! I have a lot of clean up work to do, but I should be able to send it off to my editor for round two of edits by Friday. I’m so happy about that! My weekend was mostly work and cleaning, but it’s worth it! Today I’m taking a break for a routine dentist appointment, then I’ll go right back to working on editing the manuscript. It’s hard for me judge if I made the book better or not at this point, but I know I put my heart into trying!

So last night while Wizard and I were we were eating dinner, I mentioned that I was tired but I still needed to write a blog for tomorrow (which is today when you read this). Keep this in mind, it comes into play in a minute  At that point, the conversation switched to talking about flowers because the flowers my publisher sent me last week are on the table. Wizard commented that one or two of the blooms are starting droop.

For some reason, that set me off and I blurted out, “You know that big romantic gesture in movies and books when the girl comes in the house (or condo or apartment) and finds a trail of rose petals? That flowery path inevitably leads up the stairs to the bed covered in more soft velvety petals?”

“Uh, yeah,” he says, probably wondering how I jumped to that.

I’m on a roll at this point. “Well I hate it. I mean someone has to clean up all those rose petals. And you know it’s the woman who will have to do it. The guy will roll over and go to sleep. I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I’d have to get up and clean up the mess. How is that romantic?”

Wizard’s a little wide-eyed at this point. “I never thought of that.”

“Well I have.” Totally on my soapbox now, I’m go on, “And that’s not all. You know that scene where the guy sweeps an arm across a desk or counter, sending everything on the surface clattering to the ground? Who cleans that up? I’ll tell you who–the woman! I’m not going to be in the mood if I know I have to clean up a mess!”

Wizard is laughing by then. “I’ve never done either of those things.”

No he hasn’t. But he’s done some incredibly romantic-to-me things that others might not think of as romantic. Like these three things I think of often:

–Before I was published, and we were living on a shoestring budget, my computer died. That night, Wizard pulled out the credit card we never used (it was for emergencies) and bought me a new computer. And he spent the evening helping me set it up.

–The time he our washing machine died, and we bought a new one. That’s common sense–we had three boys so that’s not that romantic. But he picked it up after work one Wednesday night and installed it after dinner–doing it just so I wouldn’t be inconvenienced with three young boys by having to wait until the weekend. When I thanked him for doing that when I knew he was tired, he smiled and said, “I’m your husband. This is what I do.” Maybe it’s not romantic to some, but it’s everything to me.

–The day after I’d been taking care of my sick mom all day and came home to the smell of chocolate cake. Wizard was standing in the kitchen next to a plain, unfrosted chocolate cake cooling on the stove. He was beaming because he knew I was exhausted, worried sick and thought it would make me feel better. That was a priceless cake I will never forget.

Those are the kinds of romantic gestures that have stayed with me for years and years.

And last night? After my rant, Wizard looked at me and said, “You just found your blog for tomorrow–all about how you don’t find those standard movie and book romantic gestures all that romantic.” Then he did the dishes. Which is soooo is also a super sexy, romantic gesture in my world!

So how was your weekend, and what gestures do you find romantic…or not?

 

Happy Friday!

Best part of my week: The Baby Bargain hit the USA TODAY list which is an awesome surprise! Entangled (my publisher) sent me this lovely flowers:

Frustrating part of my week: Revising the end of Savaged Dreams. I had it all plotted out but the emotional part isn’t quite there so I’m working with it over and over. And Wizard has to listen to me ramble on and on about it. He end up looking a little like this:

And then he came up with a solution that looks like this.

I know, genius, right? LOLOL!!

With a dose of chocolate-caramel flavored luck, I’ll finish revising it tonight. Then I need several days to clean it all up before sending it off to my editor. We won’t even talk about how anxious I am about that!

So how about you? What’s the best part of your weekend? And the frustrating part?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Wednesday Worthy

It’s Wednesday and you know what that means! It’s Hump Day and time to evaluate our Hunk Candidate.

Do you think he’s worthy?

Weekend Roundup & Cliches

There was a weekend? I worked for most of it. I’m getting through my most troublesome part of the revision and pretty danged happy about that. I just stopped to dash off this blog.

Now let’s see if I have enough brain cells to articulate something I’m thinking about: Clichés.  Here’s a truth a lot of writers (me included!) don’t want to admit.

Clichés work.

Seriously.

They work when they are handled right.

I started listening to an audio version of a NYT bestselling author’s latest book. It’s getting rave reviews, and her rankings on books sales are awesome–so good, I easily think it’ll hit all the lists next week. I’m only two chapters into the story, but this baby is bursting with clichéd scenes for a romance.

Rich, powerful hero, check.

Struggling heroine, check.

Hero only wants a one night stand, check

Heroine demands a real relationship, check

Exhausted hero persuades heroine to have sex, then falls asleep waiting or her, check.

They sleep together that night with no sex, check.

Heroine has a gay friend who makes guy jealous at rich society party, check.

Hero sweeps heroine up in his arms at same party and whisks her away to his lair (uh bedroom) check.

Heroine ultimately refuses sex, she’s going to make him prove he wants more, check.

And we’re only a couple freaking chapters in! I’m telling you guys, this book is exploding with so many clichés, they are oozing in rivers down my arms as I listen. Half of me is actually laughing in my head, like…ROTFLMAO. But..

BUT…

Another part of me is captivated. Like…I’ll keep listening. I’ll drag my chocolate inspired ass to the gym this morning just to hear what happens next. Why???

Well clichés work…when they are in the hands of the right author. And this author? She can write a story. Even when my editorial brain is picking it apart, actually clutching her belly and roaring with laughter at yet another romance cliche, another part of me needs to know what happens to these characters. Why is the hero so damaged? Will the heroine with her abusive past find love with such a damaged man? And there’re the subtleties beneath the clichés. Another man (not the gay friend) is lurking deep in the shadows of this tale, and his story is not a cliché at all, making him stand out. Why’s he there? Is this going to be a torn between two lovers story? Or something else… And there’s a dark theme of past abuse crouched low and tense, waiting to spring.

I suspect this story is not going to be a typical romance, but starting off with all these cliches gives the reader a scene of safety and trust in the book and author. Clichés work because they are familiar. We know what it means when a man tucks a strand of a woman’s hair behind her ear–it’s intimate and caring. Wizard often pulls a strand of my hair off my cheek, but no other man touches me that way. It would set off my creep radar if they did. Clichés can be shortcuts at times, little familiar bread crumbs leading us into the real story.

And okay, this author uses a LOT of those cliché bread crumbs but she’s sprinkled in all these other fresh crumbs; great characters, beautiful writing, subtleties brewing beneath the surface that brush the staleness off those overused clichés and make me hold my breath as I listen wondering what twist is coming.

In the hands of the right author, clichés can work.

And that’s my deep and rambling thoughts this weekend, Otherwise, I’m buried in my revisions and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

How was your weekend?

 

Friday Five

Another week just zoomed by! So lets play Friday Five–I’ll tell you all five random things about my week:

The Baby Bargain is on sale for 99¢! I’m really happy to see that Entangled put it on sale, and it’s really taking off. Last night, it even got this coveted Best Seller tag on Amazon (see cover on the left with bright orange #1 Best Seller below it):
I miss Bailey. This isn’t a surprise, and we’re all doing fine, but we sure miss that little guy! It’s getting much easier to talk about him now and reminisce about all our special memories with him. Wizard misses him too and made a huge folder of all our pictures. It’s a big folder, LOL! I shared the file with CPA Boy, who looked at them all and emailed me with, “He was very happy!  Gee you and Dad spoiled him in a lot of those pictures!” That made me laugh Here’s one of my last pictures of our Bailey kicking back in the sun:
My book, Savaged Dreams!! Guys I getting into it again! This revision is so far behind, but I’m working my butt off now. It’s never goes as fast as I want because I’m trying to make it the best I can, and I’m never, ever satisfied. I’m just about 2/3s into the revision, going through the usual obsession and worry, never sure if I’m hitting or missing the mark, but it feels so good to be back in the groove!
The novella Savaged Surrender is waiting for revisions and I’m have a time crunch on that. So…pressure…but again, at least I want to write so it’s all good!
Wizard and I went to see the movie BAD MOMS yesterday. It’s totally bad in the most hilarious way–if you like humor that is often crude with dose of exaggerated truth, then I recommend the movie. Both of us laughed and had a good time.

Okay that’s my Friday Five, now it’s your turn! Tell me any five random things you feel like sharing. I want to hear!

Wednesday Worthy (& Another Stupid Jen Moment)

True Story.

Yesterday I was bragging to Wizard about all I got done. It went something like this: “I got up at 5:15 to work, then we went grocery shopping, put all the groceries away, found my missing hair brush (don’t ask, even I can’t figure it out why I put it where I did), made a personalized cyber birthday card for my sister-in-law, cleared some email and…” I help up an addressed and stamped thank you card, “I’m taking this card for your mom out to the mailbox right now. It’s barely 9:30 in the morning!”

Then I turned and walked straight into a wall.

Same wall that’s been in our house for 20 years.

I can’t make this stuff up.

Wizard was honest-to-God trying NOT to laugh while choking on the words, “Are you okay? Man that’s gonna bruise your arm and shoulder.”

Sigh…I’m perfectly fine, my neck just twinges the tiniest bit and I probably won’t even bruise. But seriously, that wall moved and ruined my moment of triumph!

So today’s Wednesday Worth Candidate is a rerun in honor of the fact that I really want to punch that wall.

What do you think, is he worthy? And are you laughing at me too?

Weekend Roundup

I had a good weekend finishing up my embarrassingly long birthday celebration Saturday CPA Boy, his wife (Special K) and their niece and nephew came out for marathon swimming and cupcakes. I shared this on one of my FB pages, but I’m going to be it here too. Special K’s amazing niece made this fresh flower arrangement for me:

They are so gorgeous! And so is Trisha (pictured on the left)  I was so touched and impressed.

Sunday I worked, but took a break to see Youngest Son, his girlfriend and Roxy (their dog). And with that all the celebrating is done! Now I just have to stop eating crap and I’m hitting the gym today.

I’m really excited to tell you guy that I have covers for the Savaged Trilogy! I met with my cover designer at RWA Conference in San Diego, and we discussed all three covers, plus a logo for the band and series. I just got the final versions on Friday and I’m thrilled! (So is Wizard who somehow got involved in the process and loves the covers, especially the one for the first book, Savaged Dreams). I can’t share them yet, I have to finish this revision and get everything back on track. But I’m finally moving along!

It’s a relief to have so many other things cleared up so I can work again. I’ll keep you all updated.

Now it’s your turn, how was your weekend?

Happy Friday!

I have a true reason to be happy! This isn’t books news, but it’s part of why I got so behind–yesterday I got the medical all clear on a serious situation that’s been going on for almost two months. It took a couple hours of testing yesterday but they finally determined I’m clear and fine. Wizard and I are both extremely grateful and happy. When we got home after finishing the tests and getting the news, Wizard opened a bottle of our “special” wine to celebrate. We never drink that wine (because it’s expensive and we’re cheap), so I knew he was relieved

After a couple tough months (especially losing Bailey), August is looking up. Honestly it feels like dark clouds that have been hanging over us for a while now are breaking up. Or maybe that’s the wine talking, LOL!

So now it’s your turn. What makes you happy today or this week?

Wednesday Worthy

I don’t know how life got so busy writing time so scarce and frustrating! It’ll slow down next week to a normal pace. In the meantime we have this guy because I’m feeling artistic…

What? Come on a male torso on a black background is totally artistic

So what do you think? Is this guy worthy?