Lisa Phillips's Blog, page 7

Let's Make A Deal...

I learned at an early age life is all about trade-offs. If I wanted to play with my friends, I had to take my bratty little brother with me, if I wanted straight blond hair like Marsha Brady, I had to lay my head on the ironing board and let my older cousin iron it, which was the only way we had to do so back when you wanted straight hair like Marsha Brady's if you had curly hair like mine. It just got worse from there... By the time I was a teen I knew exactly how many sit-ups I had to trade for a one pound bag of M&M's. I won't even mention how much wheeling and dealing had to go on in sixteen years of marriage.

But, I've got an eight year old who is well on his way to putting Monte Hall to shame. (If you don't know who Monte Hall is, chances are good you never ironed your hair to look like Marsha Brady either)

I always announce to my sons, clearly and firmly, when I will be writing. I even go so far as to post a sign on the door that states: UNLESS YOU ARE BLEEDING AND/OR ON FIRE, DO NOT DISTURB! I diligently ignore the twelve year old crawling into the room on his hands and knees swearing he is weak from hunger, because I heard him in the kitchen arm wrestling his brother for the last piece of the large pizza I ordered less than an hour ago. And when I hear the eight year old screaming at the top of his lungs that his brother is killing him, I assure myself it isn't so because the twelve year old wouldn't risk being grounded from the PS3...even for the satisfaction of being an only child.

But, I know it's coming.

And sure enough, at a particularly pivotal moment in the story, the eight year old enters the room... He has the face of an angel, with big brown eyes and pale blond hair, and he bats those long eyelashes he got from his father, because Lord knows he did not get them from me, and he says, "Mama, can't you spend just a little time with me?"

Ten minutes later he skips out of the room having secured yet another deal in the constant bartering that defines my sanity. My hero and heroine get to get busy, and the eight year old gets chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast in the morning and a trip to Dollywood.

I am so going to send that kid to law school!

Sneak Peek...

You can take a peek at the last novel in the Everlasting Trilogy at http://lisa-phillips.com/sneak-peek/

The Second Time Around...

I remember when I announced I was pregnant with my second child. My mother lovingly patted my belly and said, "Don't worry, honey. The second time around is always easier." I thought, well it would have to be! During my first pregnancy I developed everything from maternal diabetes to toxemia, and my doctor threatened to wire my mouth shut if I gained one more ounce. Apparently gaining eighty-five pounds during pregnancy isn't healthy, but I figured I'm going to get fat anyway, so why not eat that entire chocolate cake? I had to admit, the second pregnancy was easier as far as knowing what to expect, and how to better deal with the emotional ups and downs...outside of reminding my husband he could just forget it because that's how I got into that condition to begin with. But, the fears and excitement and woes and wonders were all just as remarkable the second time around as they were the first.

I recently found the same to be true in my writing career. There is a reason many writers refer to their novels as their baby. It starts to feel that way after months of labor, and then finally after all that hard work there is this creation...that nobody else in the world will talk about as much as your mother. I released my second novel, Knight Everlasting, a couple of weeks ago. It was another labor of love. And thankfully I found the second time around to be no less terrifying, exciting, woeful, and wondrous than the first time around. And I've decided no matter how many times I'm blessed enough to experience them, there are some things in life that should always be worth eating an entire chocolate cake!

Happy Halloween!

East Tennessee is a beautiful place any time of the year, but October in the Smoky Mountains is a spectacular sight to behold. Millions flock to see the fall colors as we locals happily bid farewell to another sultry, southern summer to finally welcome clear, crisp days and SEC football. Add to all this breathtaking beauty the ghost stories and spooky lore that have haunted these hills for generations, and a lover of the paranormal could ask for no more.

I have such fond memories of trick-or-treating with my cousins until we dragged home pillowcases bulging with candy, and my grandmother telling me the story of the golden arm while I listened with terrified delight. And my mother, brother, and I still look forward to our annual horror movie marathons once the cool nights of autumn settle in.

Tomorrow, I'm going to remind my little goblins to take a minute to admire those mountains lit up with red, gold, and orange right outside our backdoor. I'm going to tell them the story of the golden arm, and get their pillowcases ready for the candy they'll haul home. And I'll hope the sugar rush wears off before midnight so my mother, brother, and I can stay awake until the last teenage girl screams bloody murder. But, most of all I will be grateful for living in the midst of such beauty, and sharing it with those I love as we carry on beloved family traditions.

Wishing you all a safe, happy Halloween!

Lisa