Kianna Alexander's Blog, page 6
January 9, 2015
Grinding It Out
At the end of year I took some much needed time off. It was wonderful to relax, spend time with my family, walk the neighborhood and enjoy quiet moments of solitude. Now the holidays are past, school has begun again and I have client obligations, in addition to the aggressive publication schedule I've set for myself. Getting back into the groove hasn't been easy. The past few days it's been a struggle to plant my butt in my chair and write.
Today's attempt was particularly pathetic. It reminded me of an especially ugly professional basketball game I saw recently. Both teams committed turnovers, took ill-advised shots, allowed the opposing team second and third shot opportunities and went scoreless for long stretches. Eventually one team got it together, tightened up their defense and found the offense needed to win the game.
Sometimes writing is like that.
Our cast of characters misbehave, refusing to follow the script. Our minds refuse to cooperate. We're not motivated to write. We'd rather be checking email or reading a book. Our bodies rebel. The chair is uncomfortable. Our lower backs ache. We're suddenly hungry. Again.
But we push through. Make adjustments. Refocus. Call on the support of friends. We do whatever it takes to make it through and eventually get the win.
Writing isn't always pretty. It's hard work, and sometimes it feels like all that hard work may never pay off. But if we put our heads down and grind it out, we can make it through. Even when it's not pretty.
We finish a page, then a chapter and eventually make it to the end of the book.
For me, there are few things more beautiful than that. So I'm putting my head down and working through the ugly moments and grinding it out.
Is there a project that you are working on (or should be working on) where you need to grind it out?
December 9, 2014
My favorite Christmas love story: My mom and dad
Her + Him = ME! Imagine your fiancé going off to war and then getting a call from the Red Cross about him having a violent wound. This was the second time that he'd been injured in this war zone. Fear. Wondering if your future together will happen. He comes home in December and you get married in a small house in the country on Christmas Eve. Nearly 50 years later, you two are still together. This is the story of my parents.
My mother met the man of her dreams when his cousin asked him to give him a ride to her house. The cousin was sweet on my mother, but when she and my dad locked eyes, that was all she wrote. My grandmother warned his cousin about bringing a handsome man along when he came courting, as they called it back in the day. See, my dad's cousin didn't have a car and in my dad's cousin's mind he thought my aunt would've been a better match for my daddy. The problem was, his heart was taken by my mother's smile.
So the next time my daddy's car pulled into my grandmother's drive way, he was alone and there to see his future wife.
Christmas has always been about love to me. Been about watching my parents celebrate years of togetherness. And as my sister, my brother and I got older, it became about celebrating their love and the love of their grandchildren. And a Charlie Brown looking Christmas tree that my dad used to complain about being in the way of TV. A man has to watch football after all.
It takes a hell of a woman to have her wedding day on the eve of one of the most celebrated holidays ever. Well, what can I say, my mama is one of a kind!
Happy Holidays!
December 5, 2014
Ho, Ho, Ho! What did you call me?
Did you get all of your holiday shopping done? I'm taking it easy this year. I have a real aversion to big crowds. To be honest, and you all might as well clutch your pearls now, I'm not a big shopper to begin with. If I'm in a store shopping for anything it's because I really need that item. I'm not a browser. Not a big window shopper, which is funny because I love looking at things to buy online. The day after Thanksgiving, I did what I always do, which is sit in my office, watch Christmas movies, preferably a cheesy ABC Family holiday romance, and I fill out my Christmas cards. There is nothing like handwriting sentiments to people who mean a lot to you. My mother used to do it when I was a kid. I still do it. It's a nice, personal touch to let someone know that you're thinking about them this holiday season.
Although I am grateful for everything I've gotten this year, and I have grand plans for 2015, I have already experienced a terrible loss. My friend and BDSM mentor, Mistress Dama de Noche, passed away unexpectedly this past Thanksgiving. Her slave into called me before I could enjoy the day with my family to share the news. I was devastated. This is a woman who not only opened up her home and Lifestyle to me, she supported me a great deal in my writing and promotional endeavors. She and her slave attended almost all of my local book signing events. When Yvette Hines and I held our "Wrapped Up" event last year, she happily participated. I am going to miss my friend. Fortunately her legacy will live on. She wrote a book on BDSM called The ABC's of BDSM.
So this holiday season, I'm going to celebrate. I'll celebrate the people I have lost this year. I'll celebrate the accomplishments I've made in my professional career. I'll celebrate the health and well-being of my family and friends. And I'll celebrate you all, the readers. Whether you're complimenting my work or giving me some hard truth, I appreciate all of it.
Hug your family and friends. Be kind to everyone.
Stay sexy,
BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com
November 20, 2014
And the Name That Series Winners are...
First, the winner of my giveaway drawing is ShortySmithBigMa! Please contact me at http://www.reeseryan.com/contact/ to claim your prize of Hot Christmas Nights or a $5 gift card, your choice of Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
Now for the title of my new series: Hot Carolina Nights. This choice is based on a mashup of suggestions by two commenters. Alicia suggested Steamy Carolina Nights and Keicia White suggested Cool Carolina Days and Hot Nights. The name feels apropos since I'm a Hot M.A.M.A. Land author, and given the book I chose to give away. ;-)Thank you, ladies!
Both Alicia and Keicia are invited to be Beta Readers for the first book in the series, which is slated to be ready for beta readers in early February. I will also thank them both in the acknowledgements section of that book.
All winners should contact me here to claim their prizes. And if you want to be among the first to hear about my Hot Carolina Nights series, as it progresses, be sure to join my mailing list here .
Thank you, dear readers! You're absolutely amazing.
Hugs!
November 19, 2014
Kissing the Captain @ EReader News Today
Hey, Y'all,
Kianna here. Just wanted to ket you all know I'm featured at ENT tiday! Please take a look at the post, which has four other cheap and free books you might enjoy. Click THE LINK BELOW to see the post. I encourage you to like, share, all that good stuff.
http://ereadernewstoday.com/bargain-and-free-books-for-11-19-14/6750739/
Have a great day :)
-Kianna
November 18, 2014
Name That Series -- Hot Holiday Giveaway Days
I'm super excited about this series because for more than a year, I knew I wanted to go indie. A friend, who is a successful indie author, suggested that I be prepared to release at least three books in a short period of time, before going indie. Preferably a series.The task felt monumental, especially since I hadn't completed a project since my last published novel.
Several months later, I still hadn't settled on a series. When a new idea came to me for a New Year's Day-themed novella, rather than adding to the chaos inside my head, it helped me pull it all together. I'd been wanting to write about a fictional small town in North Carolina. The New Year's Day story fit perfectly. And that's when it hit me...with a few adjustments, several of my works-in-progress would also fit into this small town series.When I sat down to plot out this series; everything fell into place. In less than two hours, I'd planned out a series of eight books--six novels and two novellas--from current works in progress or ideas from my story ideas notebook. The only completely new story, will be the New Year's novella.
Voila! I have my series.
The title for each book came to me easily. However, I would love your help naming the series. The fictional town is New Soundhaven, North Carolina. Here are the ideas I've had for series names:
New SoundhavenHome to CarolinaLove & Other Seaside AdventuresCoastal CarolinaGone to CarolinaCarolina on My Mind
Post your favorite(s) in the comments below. Don't like any of these? Offer your recommendation instead.
As a special thank you, and as part of the Hot M.A.M.A. Land Holiday Giveaway Days, I will randomly select one commenter to win a copy of the Hot Christmas Nights anthology featuring stories by Farrah Rochon, Tera Little and Velvet Carter (or a $5 Amazon/Barnes and Noble/iTunes Gift Card). If I choose your series name, you'll get the chance to be a Beta Reader for the first book in the series, which should be ready early next year, and I'll thank you in the acknowledgments. Lastly, all commenters will be entered into our grand prize drawing.
You've got 48 hours to enter. I look forward to hearing your ideas. Good luck!
Couple on beach photo courtesy of Ryan G. Smith.
November 14, 2014
Changes, Holidays & The Spirit of Giving...Who in the...
Who in the world came up with the changing of time? Am I the only one out of sorts due to Daylight Savings Time? Losing an hour out of my world has put one heck of a spin on what I do and how much I'm doing. Am I alone in this mode or just another of many trying to work it out?Now that Halloween has breezed by and Thanksgiving is on the cusp of arrival (although Christmas has taken a front seat since November 1) what are you planning? Will there be a big family gathering or just the immediate crew of loved ones this year? Black Friday seems to be the latest buzz for the best sales but is it really? That's another subject for another time.
Let's get to the real deal of this last quarter of 2014: The Spirit of Giving. You have many organizations in need, from churches to the Salvation Army that request the need of giving. Do you take time out of your busy world to contribute to the well-being of others? Something as simple as cleaning out your closet and giving your clothes to the homeless can be an enlightening experience. Spending time at a homeless shelter, reading to children that aren't doing well, adopting an angel or mentoring a child that may not have the best guidance can be rewarding in itself. It's important to do well, but essential to give back also.
Now that I've purged my knowledge upon you, mark your calendar today to join the HOT MAMA'S online for the Hot Holiday Giveways! Please click on the link below to join us:
https://www.facebook.com/events/392647054217268/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular
Stay warm and stay lost in a book! --Loretta
November 11, 2014
My 9 Favorite Books of All Time
First off, let me wish all the veterans out there a very Happy Veteran's Day. I'm married to a veteran, and am also the daughter, granddaughter, and niece of several fine veterans, so I know firsthand the tradition of honor, valor, and service you all represent. My hat's off to you all!
Can you believe it's already halfway through November? 2014 seems to have flown by. I've done more traveling, more writing, more marketing, more studying the craft than I've ever done before- maybe that's why the year seemed to go by in a blur. Here are just a few of the places I've been this year( I've added pictures, in the case I could find any):
Richmond, VA for the premiere of Iris Bolling's The Heart TV Series
New Orleans, LA for Romance Slam Jam
Winston-Salem, NC for the Women and Girl's Project Spring Fling
Lillington, NC @ Harnett County Library
Lake Beuna Vista, FLA for AC Authur's Season of Shifters event @ Walt Disney World
Greensboro, NC for the Book Clubs United event
And I still have at least two more events before the year is out. It's been an exciting year, and I've truly enjoyed meeting so many of my readers face to face. I'm really looking forward to meeting even more of you, and seeing some of you again, in 2015!
Now to the good stuff: my top 9 favorite books of all time. This list was hard to make, since I love reading so much, but here goes nothing. Because I love you and want you to be happy, I'm linking to these books on Amazon so you can check them out, if you so choose. (You'll have to page through the widget to see them all.) Keep in mind that I'm multifaceted: a mother and wife, a writer and a history nerd, and my list reflects the truth of who I am :)
Amazon.com Widgets
That's all for now. It will be a minute before my turn to post comes around again, so let me go ahead and wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season. Be sure to come back this Friday, November 14 when Loretta will kick of our Hot MAMA Land Hot Holiday Giveaway Days celebration- you don't want to miss it!
October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween: Scary sexy
I'm coming to you as Superblack Girl today. Afro wig, black fist pick, leather boots and all.It's Halloween — a day when you can be the character and don't have to create them. Although, I will be doing that later.
As I think about all the zombies, ghouls and goblins that will be roaming around when the sun goes down, I was wondering what's sexy about being scared?
I'm over the vampires, but at least they had the Jedi mind trick think they could do and hundreds of years of sexual experience. But don't zombies fall apart?
She touched his limp penis and when he felt the heat from her fingers, his dick fell of. . .
Ok, maybe it doesn't work like that. Can you imagine Jason Voorhees from the Friday The 13th movies actually getting some?
"Oh, Jason," she moaned as she ground against him. "I want to see you. Take off the mask."
He grunted. "Please," she begged, reaching to for the hockey mask.
Jason grabbed his chain saw and she dropped her hand. Well, actually, he cut it off.
I'm good with that. I don't like to be scared. I don't think scary things are sexy. And how much candy can we eat in out tight costumes? Yeah, because unless you want to be old scary witch, most women's costumes are borderline hoochie mama gear. But it's just once a year. So, Happy Halloween!
Super Blackgirl out!
It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas
Heat up the winter nights with this trio of sexy, festive stories.
A Promise For The Holiday Donna Hill
Devastated by her divorce, Cara Holiday vowed never to be vulnerable again. Now she's a wildly successful real estate broker, and wildly lonely. Restaurateur Mitch Davis has had his eye on her, but can't break the ice--until he cooks up a scheme to hire her. Soon Cara is enjoying his company--and secretly drawing out the process of selling his house. When their deceptions collide, will their blossoming relationship make it to the holidays?
A Sexy Christmas Carol Zuri Day
After years of travel working for a pop diva, Carol Robbins has moved back to Detroit in time for the holidays. She's bought a home and bonded with her family. As for romance, she's got no prospects--until she attends a VIP party and makes a surprising love connection. Soon she's torn between her old "big life," her hopes for the future--and one man who may give her the greatest gift of all. . .
Christmas Surprise Cheris Hodges
Tired of coming second to her wealthy husband's career, Lola Yvonne Joseph is sending him a very special gift this year: divorce papers. Then she's leaving Miami for the kind of wintery white Christmas she's always wanted. She definitely does not expect Jonathan to track her down, whisk her away, and do everything possible to win her back. If he succeeds, Lola has one more surprise in store for him. . .
October 28, 2014
Ain't Nobody Got Time For That!
For those of you who follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bridget.midway) know that I post whatever book I'm reading. I had made a determination a few years ago that in order to be a good writer -- which as writers, we all strive to be -- I had to be a good reader. "Huh? What? Come again." Yes, that's right, folks. In order to pump out the best fiction for you all, writers have to read, too.
No one crinkles their noses or shakes their heads when a Realtor says that he/she needs to attend a real estate conference to learn about changes in the market and how to adapt. No one bats an eye if a nurse, doctor or dentist attends a medical re-certification session for their job. So why would it seem strange that in order for a writer to improve their craft, he/she will have to read?
So what do I read? Everything. But what I've been trying to do is read a book on writing fiction, then a fiction book of my choice. Reading the how-to book is a no-brainer. I learn about plotting, setting, description, point of view, characterization, conflict, and more. All of it helps me when I'm writing a story. If I don't keep you all engaged, then I haven't done my job. The last book I read was The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante.The book reminded me so much of the creative writing classes I took in high school and grad school. In between each lesson in the book, a short, fictional work appeared. So after a section on writing something with great descriptions, you got a piece by Raymond Carver. Talk about a lesson in fiction!
So after reading something like that, I read something fun. I can't just immerse myself in creative writing books all the time. I have to see how other authors write. Believe it or not, it does help. I also learn from every author I read. Some authors are masters at description or pacing or conflict. I'll read something and think, "Okay, I need to learn how to do that in my work." Even if the work doesn't get 4 and 5 star ratings or gets great reviews, I still learn something from it. I haven't encountered a book where the story didn't keep me engaged. Have I come across books with misspelled words? Sure. Have I come across books with missing or misused punctuation? All the time. If I an author can get me through that for me to get into the story, they've done their jobs.
What am I reading now? At the moment, I'm reading "Four Hard S.W.A.T.S" by Marteeka Karland. Last year, author Yvette Hines and I put on a BDSM conference to announce the release of our Decadent Series titles, Red Hots and Licorice Whips. The attendees were a mix of authors, readers, and people in the Lifestyle. After our event, an author sent me her latest release, saying that she wrote the book because she was inspired by what she heard and saw at our event. That makes me happy. It's great when an author can get inspired by something you do.
With that in mind, I have to go! I've already been inspired so I need to get writing. Hope you all dig it.
Stay sexy,
BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com
