C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 224

February 6, 2011

Mason's Paranormal-Scope

I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets. I do however; have practical advice for those of you that might encounter paranormal of some sort.


The week ahead for:


Aries

So you are being chased by hungry zombies this week. You are way out ahead and you could probably sweet talk your way out of this.


Taurus

Threads of your being are connected to the universe. You are simpatico with the feelings of others. Help heal others where you can.


Gemini

You sexy devil, you are keeping the hell fires burning. Yummy.


Cancer

If you can be like Apollo and hold onto the reins of your emotions this week will prove fruitful.


Leo

You are in a tube race down lava rapids, but all your fellow minions have fallen behind. Hold on. It's going to be a bumpy ride.


Virgo

Put Pandora back in the box. This isn't time for the confessional.


Libra

Are you tied up in a vampire's dungeon? Surrendering might get you some of what you want. Refusing might make things burst into flames.


Scorpio

Finding hungry fiends to chase you is a great way to get back into your cardio routine.


Sagittarius

Evil master mind its game time. There is good to squashed and evil to be fooled.


Capricorn

The wise Elves around you can help you see with greater clarity.


Aquarius

Reignite the flames that burns you from within.


Pisces

There are shadows surrounding you this week. Fine the light within that will obliterate this darkness.


Mason

a.c.Mason

Darkness ♀♂ Desires

www.acmason.com



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Published on February 06, 2011 21:00

February 5, 2011

Author Interview: Nichelle Gregory

I'm pleased to welcome Nichelle Gregory to the blog with her new book Lovin' Leela. You can find Nichelle at her blog, Simply Sexy Stories, and on Facebook and Twitter.


Welcome to Nights of Passion, Nichelle. What started you writing romance?


I've always been an avid reader of the genre. My parents used to harass me for spending my free time engrossed in a romance novel. They would have preferred I was into mysteries. :-)


How did you develop your craft?


I believe my love for reading has helped hone my craft. I've been reading romance and erotic romance novels since high school. Seriously, you'll never find me without a book in my hand. I learned from the books I've read and enjoyed what works. The pace, the flow, the chemistry between the heroine and hero are what determine a great story. I strive to give erotic romance readers what they want.


What makes a great heroine?


She needs to be a little bit sassy, totally loveable, vulnerable and relatable to the reader. I believe readers seek out at least one trait in the heroine that they recognize in themselves or that they want to see in themselves.


What's sexy?


A real laugh, kissable lips, confidence, and a hard…body. :-)


What makes you laugh?


I love to laugh! Just hearing someone really, really laughing will make me laugh too.


Do you ever incorporate real people or events into your stories?


I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Just kidding. Ummm…what was the question?


Heh, heh, heh! We'll let you slip out of that one. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?


Precariously, it's tough balancing it all, but my love for the craft makes me find a way.


What's the most common mistake people make about you?


I'm a good girl. ;-)


What ambitions do you have ahead of you?


More published books! Ultimately, I want to grow as a writer, keep honing my writing and spreading my wings in the publishing


world.


Always a great goal. What's the best advice you ever received?


Forget about what anyone thinks and be you. (Thank you, for the advice…you know who YOU are.)


If money were no object, what would be your ideal vacation?


Kauai Absolutely beautiful.


What's next for you?


A nice glass of Riesling. :-)


Hee! Best way to end an interview.


Thanks for having me on, Ms. Kempe! :-)


Excerpt:


Sam. No one else could be at her door without being buzzed up.


"Leela, it's Sam," he called from the other side.


She put her dinner down and smoothed her sundress as she got up and went to the door. With a deep breath, she opened it. "Hey, Sam." She sounded casual, but her heart was pounding wildly as her eyes locked with Sam's.


He was wearing a pair of loose jeans and a white t-shirt. The cotton hugged his muscled biceps and visible pecs. He looked relaxed and devastatingly sexy.

"Hey, Leela, how are you?"


The strap to her sundress slipped from her shoulder, and she pulled it up aware that his eyes never left her face. "I'm good…you?"

"It's Friday, so I'm good." He moved one of his hands from behind his back, producing a small white box. "This is for you. I'm afraid I ate all the spaghetti and meatballs."

Leela raised an arched eyebrow. "I didn't think you were really serious about that."


"I never joke about spaghetti and meatballs."


She smiled, loving the dimples on his face as he returned a grin.


"I brought you something." He held out the small gift.


"What's this?" Leela took the box from him.


"Banana bread."


She looked up at him. "You didn't!"


"I did. And for the record, when I say something, I'm always serious unless I say otherwise."


She watched him shove his hands into his pockets, tightening the pull of fabric across the zipper of his pants. Zings of awareness skitter along her spine. "Well, thank you. This was so thoughtful. Would you like to come in and have a slice with

me?"


Sam grinned, making the dimples dip deep on his handsome face. "I'm not into banana bread, but I would like to come in, yes." Her stomach somersaulted as they stared at one another for a few seconds. The strap on her dress slipped again, and this time Sam's eyes slid to her bare shoulder. Leela swallowed, surprised again by the wave of desire rushing over her. He was being flirtatious and her response now would set the tone between them.


"Leela?" Sam asked. "Second guessing your initial desire?"


Could he sense the sudden wild craving she had for him?


She squeezed the box of banana bread and released a slow breath. "Look, Sam, I really do appreciate the banana bread but I…" Her voice faltered as his fingers brushed her skin to pull the loose strap back into place.


"You're afraid," he finished, placing one hand on the side of her door. He was gorgeous and arrogant!


She snorted. "Afraid? What are you talking about? I don't even know you.


That's the point." Leela folded her arms across her chest, looking around him to see another neighbour coming towards them.


Sam nodded slowly, then shook his head. "But we're not strangers, Leela. You've been in my home, we've shared my amazing pasta and a bottle of wine. So, that's not what you're afraid of."


"So, what am I afraid of?" she asked staring into the warm coffee depths of his eyes.


A split second before he reached for her, Leela knew he would show her what she feared.


Lovin' Leela is available now with Total E-Bound!



Filed under: Author Interviews, C. Margery Kempe, contemporary romance, erotic romance, Writer's Life, Writing Topics
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Published on February 05, 2011 21:00

February 3, 2011

Contest & Interview with Jaclyn Sinkewicz, Glass Beads Artist

It's getting near to Valentine's Day, and we thought it would be fun to give everyone the chance to win a special prize. Nights of Passion is excited to have with us today Fire Glass Beads artist Jaclyn Sinkewicz.


Welcome, Jaclyn. Please, tell us what inspired you to become a glass artist.


I was inspired in my teens to melt glass. I was on vacation, on a remote island in the West Antilles, and the wife of a doctor on the island had a little glass shop. She sat in her little shop all day, and melted and melted. For the entire vacation I walked up the concrete street into the tiny town, and stood in her shop watching her and playing with all her beads!!! It was just amazing to me. Her name is Jobean Chambers. I have a few of her beads from back then. I was in her shop so much she finally asked me if I wanted to sit and make a bead. Y E S ! That was it! I washed her windows, and cleaned her home studio for the opportunity to make just a few more beads. I was hooked! Honestly I was young, and thought she was the only one in the world who did this cool melty thing!! A few years later my mother found me a starter kit, It had a supply list and websites in it for information (I never even though of googling it 12 years ago!!!). I found out that thousands of people do this thing called "Lampworking" go figure. I talk with many of them online on a daily basis. They have taught me so much!


What kind of items have you made out of glass?


Beads, beads and more beads! The shapes and colors differ, and there are literally endless possibilities! I make a few other things in glass as well, and use the beads I make to make other things. I love making bottle stoppers! They are just fun. They are big and chunky, and neat! Other than beads and bead sets, I make necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, pens, appetizer knives and forks, pens, buttons, beads that fit those fancy European charm bracelets, keychains, Christmas ornaments, rings, thumb tacks, charms, zipper pulls, fan pulls, poison bottles, miniature hand blown vessels and bottles, antique keys wrapped in glass… wow I have made other funky cool items before as well, and I am always up for a challenge if you have an idea! Hey didn't I just make you a lightning bolt, Sue?? That was a first for me :)

Sue's Lightning Bolt:
A bead set:
Romantic earrings:
My Artfire shop: www.artfire.com/users/FireGlassBeads


What process do you use?


The process I use to melt glass involves a stick of glass, a metal rod coated in clay, and fire. I melt the glass and wrap it around the metal rod. I can control the viscosity of the glass by adjusting the heat of the flame. I can add and layer color, create dots and patterns, add thin strings of glass by basically painting it on however I want. Some colors don't play well with others, but for the most part, I'm not going to blow anything up! (Just kidding!! I take A LOT of safety measures when playing with fire!) When I am happy with my bead design it goes into the kiln to cool slowly. If it does not, it will break. The clay does not stick to the metal, so when the bead is cool you can get it off. Then the clay is drilled out of the bead hole, and it is cleaned. Ta-da!


What do you find to be the most challenging about glass art?


For me the most challenging part of glass is the most fun part! Chemistry!!! I know I am a dork, but I am proud of it! Different glasses contain different elements to create different colors. Blue has cobalt, or copper sometimes. Yellow, sulfur, red, gold (its expensive) among others. Then there is a whole line of glass that has lot of silver in it. ($100 bucks a pound! Yikes!..it's amazing I'm going to go broke buying it ALL…lol) Glass is a liquid at all times, the particles are always moving, but when you get it dripping hot, the molecules move faster, and the heat speeds up the reactions, and the colors can create bubbles, or think black lines, or just look yuck and boil. Some do not really like to even be in the same bead with out cracking to bits. Silver glass is another whole world of troubles! Some you have to change the chemistry of the flame on the torch to bring the metals to the surface to achieve a mirrored shine. Just getting the colors out of it is a lot of trial and error. This is the challenge I like.


Where can someone find your pieces for sale?


Right now I have some of my work online on Artfire. Photography is one of my downfalls. I like to see it as 'you will always get a better product than what you see' theory :) . I am working on this. I also have items in an art gallery called "Flights of Fancy" in Stafford Springs CT, and I do craft and art shows through out the year. There is a list of shows I have done in the past, and upcoming shows are listed as I book them on my blog. Custom work can always be requested via e-mail, Artfire, Betterfly. or my blog. (I ship internationally)

All these links are on my blog www.FireGlassBeads.blogspot.com

Artfire: artfire.com/users/FireGlassBeads

Blog: www.FireGlassBeads.blogspot.com

Betterfly: http://betterfly.com/profile.php?user=Jaci-2


You also teach courses. Please, tell us how you learned your art.


I have never taken a course and have only had about 1 hour of personal instruction. I have read a book or two, and read hundreds of pages of online commentary, tips and tutorials. Everything I have leaned is then brought to the torch and put through pure trial and error. I have been lampworking for more than 10 years. I take pride in emerging myself into my work. Over the years I have combined my notes from the torch, and my experiences with the flame, to create a class on how to melt glass and make beads. I teach beginner lampworking, and intermediate classes. Classes are one on one and cover basic safety, how to light the torch, how to make a simple bead, a few simple shapes, dots, and manipulation of the glass, annealing and cleaning your beads. As you learn to control the glass, more advanced techniques are introduced in the end of the beginners classes and in intermediate level classes. Classes are listed in my Artfire shop.  
Betterfly: http://betterfly.com/profile.php?user=Jaci-2

Artfire: artfire.com/users/FireGlassBeads


Now for the contest. It ends on Saturday, Feb. 5th at midnight EST. To enter, visit Jaclyn's site  artfire.com/users/FireGlassBeads and name one of the pieces she has made in the Nights of Passion comment box.  Only one person can win.  The prize is a red glass heart on a black cord necklace made especially for this contest on Nights of Passion.  Only US Residents are eligible to enter this contest. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck, everyone.


Thank you, Jaclyn, for visiting Nights of Passion!


–Susan Hanniford Crowley



Filed under: contest, Fire Glass Beads Artists, Interview, romance, What inspires you?
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Published on February 03, 2011 21:00

February 2, 2011

Nights of Passion is thrilled to have Paranormal Romantic Suspense author the gracious Darynda Jones.

Thank you for joining us. I had the pleasure of meeting Darynda Jones this summer in Orlando at RWA Nationals.


Here's the inside goods on Darynda:


Winner of the 2009 Golden Heart® for Best Paranormal Romance for her manuscript FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, Darynda was born spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. After the Golden Heart final, she pimped herself as best she could, landed an amazing agent and sold to St. Martin's Press in a three-book deal. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, aka the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.


Welcome Darynda! Thank you for letting me interview you. 


Thank YOU! It was so nice to meet you this summer. 


Give the readers a crash course in all that is you.


Well, I'm a Leo. I like long walks on the beach and coming up with seemingly unexplainable ways to murder people. I've had serious ADD issues since I was a child. I love coffee and would probably OD on chocolate if I bought enough at any given time.


What was the first story you ever wrote and what was the premise?


The first manuscript I wrote and almost finished was a post-apocalyptic story about a group of teens who bore a remarkable resemblance to the members of Van Halen and were trying to escape the tunnels of a huge government fallout facility decades after World War III had destroyed the surface of the earth. It was a science fiction version of The Warriors and destined to be a classic.


Did you always want to write romance?


Everything I have ever written, everything, has had romance in it. Like in First Grave, it may not be the focal point of the story, but it is a HUGE chunk of it. I feel romance is imperative, for me anyway. It makes everything better, more important. Think of movies like Die Hard, The Terminator, Spiderman. Even rough and tough action movies need a little romance in them. I just love it!


What is your all time favorite love story and why (Movie or book)?


Wow, this is way too hard. I love with a passion Julia Quinn's THE DUKE AND I and Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's THE WOLF AND THE DOVE. (I know, I keep dating myself.) And what about JR Ward's DARK LOVER and Judith MacNaught's WHITNEY, MY LOVE? There are just so many and I am such an eclectic reader. 


What is the strangest event that has influenced your work?


My brother, Quentin. He's very strange. He says things that have a way of working their way into my books. It's crazy. Oh, but you want an event. 


Okay, well, this will be a weird and morbid one and probably way too much information, but maybe the odd thing that happened to me after my father died. I was six when he passed away and it wasn't long afterward that I started writing stories. I mean really writing. Before, I'd tell stories and make up little plays, but after his passing, I became immersed. I'm sure it was escapism for me, but it's so strange how much it affected everything about me and shaped my imagination. Oddly enough, every story I wrote for the first few years of my life was about a girl whose father had died. Hmmmm… Surely there's some Freud in there somewhere. 


What's the one thing you've wanted to share about yourself, but the topic never comes up? 


My deep love of chocolate. Wait, no, that actually comes up quite often. Perhaps the fact that I have the most beautiful sons ever. They are so amazing, but I'm biased.  \


I'd like to do a speed round of one to two word answers. Ready, go! 


What is your favorite:


Color? Orange 


Song? Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult (LOL)


City? Albuquerque


Character? Simon from Julia Quinn's THE DUKE AND I


Cemetery? Any of the ones in New Orleans. (Above ground tombs. Very cool!)  


Thank you that was fun.


If you could meet one of your own characters, which one would you pick and why?


My heroine in the Grave series, Charley Davidson. She is so sassy and sarcastic but has a truly compassionate spirit. I really love her. 


Please, tell us about First Grave on the Right from St. Martin's Press


Excerpt: 


Chapter One


Better to see dead than be dead.


-Charlotte Jean Davidson, Grim Reaper


I'd been having the same dream for the past month-the one where a dark stranger materialized out of smoke and shadows to play doctor with me. I was starting to wonder if repetitive exposure to nightly hallucinations resulting in earth-shattering climaxes could have any long-term side effects. Death via extreme pleasure was a serious concern. The prospect led to the following dilemma: Do I seek help or buy drinks all around? 


This night was no exception. I was having a killer dream that featured a set of capable hands, a hot mouth, and a creative employment of lederhosen when two external forces tried to lure me out of it. I did my darnedest to resist, but they were fairly persistent external forces. First, a frosty chill crept up my ankle, the icy caress jolting me out of my red- hot dream. I shivered and kicked out, unwilling to acknowledge the summons, then tucked my leg into the thick folds of my Bugs Bunny comforter.


Second, a soft but persistent melody played in the periphery of my consciousness like a familiar song I couldn't quite place. After a moment, I realized it was the cricketlike chime of my new phone.  


With a heavy sigh, I pried open my eyes just enough to focus on the numbers glowing atop my nightstand. It was 4:34 a.m. What kind of sadist called another human being at 4:34 in the morning? 


A throat cleared at the foot of my bed. I turned my attention to the dead guy standing there, then lowered my lids and asked in a gravelly voice, "Can you get that?"  


He hesitated. "Um, the phone?" 


"Mmm."  


"Well, I'm kind of-" 


"Nevermind." I reached for the phone and grimaced as a jolt of pain ripped through me, reminding me I'd been beaten senseless the night before.


Dead Guy cleared his throat again.


"Hello," I croaked.


It was my uncle Bob. He bombarded me with words, of all things, apparently clueless to the fact that predawn hours rendered me incapable of coherent thought. I concentrated super duper hard on concentrating and made out three salient phrases: busy night, two homicides, ass down  here. I even managed a reply, something resembling, "What twirly nugget are you from?"


He sighed, clearly annoyed, then hung up.


I hung up back, pressing a button on my new phone that either disconnected the call or speed-dialed the Chinese takeout around the corner. Then I tried to sit up. Similar to the coherent- thought problem, this was easier said than done. While I normally weighed around 125 . . . ish, for some unexplainable reason, between the hours of partially awake and fully awake, I weighed a solid 470.


After a brief, beached whale-like struggle, I gave up. The quart of Chunky Monkey I ate after getting my ass kicked had probably been a bad idea.


In too much pain to stretch, I let a lengthy yawn overtake me instead, winced at the soreness shooting through my jaw, then looked back at Dead Guy. He was blurry. Not because he was dead, but because it was 4:34 a.m. And I'd recently had my ass kicked. 


"Hi," he said nervously. He had a wrinkled suit, round- rimmed glasses, and mussed hair that made him look part young-wizard-we- all- know-and-love and part mad scientist. He also had two bullet holes on the side of his head with blood streaking down his right temple and cheek. None of these details were a problem. The problem resided in the fact that he was in my bedroom. In the wee hours of dawn. Standing over me like a dead Peeping Tom.


I eyed him with my infamous death stare, second only to my infamous fluster stare, and got a response immediately.


"Sorry, sorry," he said, stumbling over his words, "didn't mean to frighten you."


Did I look frightened? Clearly my death stare needed work.


Ignoring him, I inched out of bed. I had on a Scorpions hockey jersey I'd snatched off a goalie and a pair of plaid boxers-same team, different position. Chihuahuas, tequila, and strip poker. A night that is forever etched at the top of my Things I'll Never Do Again list.


With teeth clenched in agony, I dragged all 470 throbbing pounds toward the kitchen and, more important, the coffeepot. Caffeine would chisel the pounds off, and I'd be back to my normal weight in no time.


Because my apartment was roughly the size of a Cheez-It, it didn't take me long to feel my way to the kitchen in the dark. Dead Guy followed me. They always follow me. I could only pray this one would keep his mouth shut long enough for the caffeine to kick in, but alas, no such luck.


 I'd barely pressed the on button when he started in.


"Um, yeah," he said from the doorway, "it's just that I was murdered yesterday, and I was told you were the one to see."


 What's favorite scene? 


In one scene, Charley is basically undercover, trying to get a bad guy to confess. I love this scene because her inner thoughts just ramble and are so at odds with what is going on around her. While she is trying to play the damsel in distress, she is thinking about what a jerk the guy is and how he clearly tans too much, etc. It's just fun.


What's on the horizon for you?


Well, book two in this series, SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT, comes out in August and three, THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD, in Feb of 2012, but I also have a young adult series coming out in April of 2012, the first of which is titled GRIMSIGHT.


Darynda, I've had a wonderful time interviewing you. I wish you the best. We hope you'll come back again.


Thank you so much for having me!!!


First Grave on the Right is available HERE NOW from St. Martin's Press.


Learn more about Darynda:


Authors website: www.darynda.com


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darynda.jones.official


Twitter: http://twitter.com/Darynda


And now for the CONTEST:


1 lucky winner will receive a pint copy of First Grave on the Right, eligible worldwide, deadline Feb, 7th 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Contest is void where prohibited by law. To be entered write the word Grave in your comment.



Filed under: Darynda Jones, FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, St. Martin's Press
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Published on February 02, 2011 21:00

February 1, 2011

How Serious are You About Writing?

I've been writing for a bit over two years now and recently realized that writing is serious business. Don't get me wrong, I have always talked about making writing a career and dedicating time to it. I have researched agents, publishers and various stages in the process of publishing a book. I've two manuscripts (which I've delegated back to the rewrite stage), several rejected queries and an immense memory bank of ideas. But despite my obvious efforts as a writer, I've come to the realization that I haven't truly treated writing as a serious business.


Truth be told, I'm not sure I would have changed anything these last couple years. I've learned so much and with the passing time, I feel I am able to improve my craft. But at this point I have reached a crossroads. I, like many writers, have a day job that pays the bills. I am good at this job and I enjoy it but it is not my passion. Problem is I won't be writing as my career unless I am able to write faster, write more, write better and study the craft. And yet, I can't find more time to write without pushing around other things in my life.  Less time going out, watching movies, reading books. Maybe waking up earlier…bottom line, there needs to be more hours in a day.


Now that I've realized that, it's made me really want to prioritize things in my life a bit more. I consider agents and ask myself if I would even represent myself. Right now, my habits aren't making me a money maker. If I want to go the agent route, I need to make the change. I know I've said this before but for once I feel like I truly, truly get it. Writing is my passion but in order to make it my job I need to treat it as such. I need to be serious.


So overall, this week I've become more self-aware in not just the goals I set but also how I set them. I realize that changes need to be made to attain my dream of telling stories. I don't mind it taking time as I really want quality material out there when I do get published, but I also need to be working towards that goal in a more active manner. And what about you all. Do you take writing seriously? Are you prioritizing what you need to in order to meet your goals?



Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life, Writing Topics
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Published on February 01, 2011 21:00

January 31, 2011

The Winter From Hell

Yeah, I know-winter and hell. One hot. One cold.


So sue me. Of course, being a struggling starving author you won't get much.


Anyway, this has, so far and from all future indications will continue to be, one of the worst winters I can recall.


For those of us in New England not only have we suffered through near subzero temperatures but snowfall that is, or soon will, break the record. As far as the rest of the country, I'm guessing you haven't fared much better.


In the complex where I live we had so much snow in the last two storms that both two lane roads were reduced to one lane each. This, of course, would make it difficult if not impossible for emergency vehicles to get in. Much less turn around. The people that manage the complex have had a dump truck and bucket loader working from sunup to sundown clearing the roads for the past four days.


For the past few years we've been lucky in regards to the snow but not the temperatures. Sure we got dumped on by the white stuff but not to the extent of this year, which also includes the post Christmas storm.


The cold we experienced in January this year equals the freezing we had in February last year. That doesn't bode well for this month. Does it?


But the cold and snow isn't the only thing that's made this 'the winter from hell'.


A few weeks ago my collie, Kebi, got sick. Not eating. Not drinking. Just lying around lethargic. Even getting him to go out was hard. So off to the vet. Turned out he had a stomach virus. He's getting back to his old self. When I say old, I mean old. I've had him in my life for about ten (10) years. Which is somewhere in the vicinity of seventy (70) human years.


Now when he goes out I can tell he's feeling more like himself. Seems he likes to lie down and roll around in the snow.


Of course having Sparkie, the cat, around hasn't hurt. At times it's helped. Which was why I'd gotten him in the first place. A playmate for Kebi.


Okay, so you're saying to yourself-Why is this the winter from hell for him? The snow and cold aside, his collie is getting better and has a playmate.


It's because of the other thing I live for-writing. Not the blog because that's a different writing. More on the creative side. I'm talking about the sequel to Target Identified. Target Acquired. I can't get and stay focused.


I've done one short story, part of which you read last week. Writing the story took twice as long as it should have. And there's a March deadline to get it in to the contest organizers. But at least it's finished. Now I have to get motivation to edit the story.


Then there is another contest I plan entering. Max word count-5,000. I've been looking at the first two sentences for the past week and half. Can't get past it. At least the deadline for this one is April. April=warmth. So I should finish in time.


Some people live to eat. I eat to live. Starbucks coffee-live for. But I live to write.


Now you see why this is the 'winter from hell'. At least for me.


How has your writing suffered this winter? Or has it been productive for you?


Inquiring minds, which are a terrible thing to waste, want to know.


Now on a different note, probably a Hi-C and not the juice either, here's the tour schedule for my dear friend Mary Martinez. At each stop, she'll be talking about unique and interesting topics for pubbed and unpubbed writers.


Blog tour Schedule


The tour will be set up like an interview, one blog, one question.


January 31, 2011- Kick off Day one:


Liz Lipperman – Mysteries and Margaritas http://www.mysteriesandmargaritasblogspot.com/


February 1, 2011 – Day Two:


Phyllis Campbell Blog http://phylliscampbell.blogspot.com/


February 2, 2011 – Day three:


Regan Taylor's World http://regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com/


February 3, 2011 – Day Four:


Amy Durham ~ writer and book-lover http://amy-durham.blogspot.com/


February 4, 2011 – Day Five:


Marie-Claude Bourque – Muse Tracks http://musetracks.wordpress.com/


February 7, 2011 – Day Six:


Lesli Muir Lytle – Writers Block Buster http://www.writersblockbuster.blogspot.com/


February 8, 2011 – Day Seven:


Nights of Passion Blog http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/


February 9, 2011 – Day Eight


Coffee, Books and a blog with Mary Martinez http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/


February 10, 2011 – Day Nine:


Lindsay Downs – Murders and Mysteries http://murdersandmysteries.wordpress.com/


February 11, 2011 – Day Ten:


Mary's Garden http://marysbooksblogger.blogspot.com/



Filed under: Chat Announcement, contest, Lindsay Downs, What inspires you?
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Published on January 31, 2011 21:00

January 30, 2011

Mason's Paranormal-Scope .

I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets. I do however; have practical advice for those of you that might encounter paranormal of some sort.


The week ahead for:


Aries

Life isn't all about the finish line. If you don't slowdown Apollo's chariot will run you over.


Taurus

Ride the Milky Way this week. Don't try and be the captain of the ship.


Gemini

A new cosmic connection form the week listen with more than your mind…


Cancer

There is still some post-apocalyptic sorting out to be done. Don't feel bad about staying in.


Leo

You need to put energy into the universal karma bowl. It has sent a lot your way it's your turn to give back.


Virgo

It's not up to you to give anyone some cosmic V-8 juice. Do your own thing. It's okay. You are okay.


Libra

You are in the Jedi knight zone.


Scorpio

You might feel like climbing a hill and talking to a burning bush, but you need to extend your hand to those closer to you.


Sagittarius

Buckle up your about to go to outer space.


Capricorn

Movement is the name of the game you need to be ready to reach for the stars.


Aquarius

There is a black hole sucking up your time you need your mentor to help you refocus.


Pisces

Images are being sent to you through your link to the other side. Be open to them.


Mason

a.c.Mason

Darkness ♀♂ Desires

www.acmason.com



Filed under: a.c. Mason, Mason's Paranormal-Scope
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Published on January 30, 2011 21:00

January 29, 2011

Impatience

The life of the writer is a lot of waiting. I know, I know — a lot of it is writing, too. But waiting is a big part.


First there's waiting for time to write. Most writers don't write full time; they have to work other jobs and so there's always time spent thinking with agony of the precious writing time ahead, but not there yet. Counting the hours, minutes, seconds until you can be the puppet master of your domain and create. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the patience to deal with people who do not understand your madness. They don't understand your need to stop in the middle of a conversation to write down a great idea for your work in progress, or why you might stare off into space during a meeting because you're working out an innovation in your plot.


When you get home, it seems the waiting might be over as you sit at your table or desk to start writing (assuming you don't have a family to mind and household tasks to attend to first). But then it's the more agonizing waiting: the story is there in your head — some of it fuzzy, some of it crystal clear — but it takes so long to get the words from your head to the page. Even on those days where the words flow like magic from your fingers it's not as fast as you can think, or even as fast as you can read.


It's so frustrating!


Even when you finish the story, then there's the most excruciating waiting of all: you send it off to your publisher — or the one that you hope will be your publisher. Just because you've been published by a particular house before doesn't mean they'll necessarily publish the next thing you write (although of course you hope so). The distinct advantage of the new electronic publishers is that they tend (so far) to have a shorter turn around time than traditional print publishers — not to mention the ease of electronic submissions.


If you're wise, you won't just sit around waiting, however. On to the next story! In the end that's the only way to deal with the impatience of the writing life: just write more!



Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, First Page, Kit Marlowe, What inspires you?, Writer's Life, Writing Topics
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Published on January 29, 2011 21:00

January 28, 2011

Online Pajama Party

Welcome. Everything is set. The living room is let up with large pillows and blankets. There's a warm fire in the fireplace. We have a lot to eat and drink.


A lot has happened and is going to happen. I have a contest for my newsletter subscribers that ends on the 31st. If you want in on that, email me at onlyladyknight(at)yahoo(dot)com. Put Newsletter in the subject line and I'll send the newsletter with the directions for the contest.


I've been shoveling snow all week and I am exhausted. So lounging around in my pajamas is a lot of fun. I have about 3 feet of snow in my yard. That's cumulated snow. I got almost 2 feet this week. Did you get snow? How much did you get?


I was interviewed by The Embraced, and that interview will be at their blog on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The address is http://theembraced.blogspot.com/


I'm wearing my purple slippers for this occasion. I have my toy dragon too.


So what kind of slippers are you wearing to the Online Pajama Party?


Vampire Max comes into the room. "I'm wearing my dark brown Icelandic sheepskin slippers. Very warm. Why aren't you asking what people are wearing for pajamas?"


I laugh. Leave it to a vampire to raise that question. Ah, my kitten (9 months old) Bella has joined the party.  She actually has gold eyes.


Okay, everyone, please, tell us what you're wearing to the party. Remember we are a PG rated blog. Thanks.


–Susan



Filed under: romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, vampires
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Published on January 28, 2011 21:00

Lady Smut

C. Margery Kempe
Lady Smut is a blog for intelligent women who like to read smut. On this blog we talk about our writing, the erotic romance industry, masculinity, femininity, sexuality, and whatever makes our pulses ...more
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