Jamie DeBree's Blog, page 32
November 23, 2012
Reading/Writing Wrap: Nov. 23, 2012
It's Black Friday here in the U.S., which means so many people are
out shopping that the retail accounting books will be "in the black" for
the year by the time the day's over. Consumerism at it's best and/or
worst as people actually tend to get hurt and/or *killed* today while
shopping.
Needless to say, I barely shop in physical stores on a normal day -
you couldn't pay me to set foot in a store today. Online shopping is
the best thing that ever happened to me as far as getting more "stuff"
is concerned. And even my husband was shopping on Amazon yesterday,
finishing up his Christmas gift list with online sales.
In any case, I'm at work this morning while you're reading this,
but I've been given the afternoon off so yay for that! I'll be spending
most of the afternoon doing final mark-ups to stories I want to buy for
my next anthology, but hopefully I'll be able to get those done quickly
enough to put some more time in on my NaNo draft. *crosses fingers*
Speaking of which, if you want to see what Kat and David have been up to this week, here are the latest installments:
Installment 9
Installment 10
Installment 11
There's also a new chapter of The Handyman's Harem Girl up at the Fantasy Ranch blog:
Chapter 19
And for fans of my horror alter-ego, a new chapter of Jack at the Alex Westhaven blog:
Chapter 6
This week I finished up a few books I was reading - Blasphemy by Douglas Preston - also my recommended read, Rocky Mountain Angel
by Vivian Arend (look for that on my blog soon!), and I finally
finished the short story collection by Michelle Davidson Argyle - True Colors and Other Short Stories (excellent literary fare to savor if you need a bit of a break, though many of the stories are bittersweet).
Next up on the reading roster, Split Second by Catherine Coulter, He Could Have Coped with Dragons by Dean Wesley Smith and Beautiful Sorrows by Mercedes M. Yardley. Yes, my Goodreads shelves are out of date again. I'll put it on the to-do list in December.
So that's my week. As you enter the holiday hustle & bustle, don't forget to take time to read...
out shopping that the retail accounting books will be "in the black" for
the year by the time the day's over. Consumerism at it's best and/or
worst as people actually tend to get hurt and/or *killed* today while
shopping.
Needless to say, I barely shop in physical stores on a normal day -
you couldn't pay me to set foot in a store today. Online shopping is
the best thing that ever happened to me as far as getting more "stuff"
is concerned. And even my husband was shopping on Amazon yesterday,
finishing up his Christmas gift list with online sales.
In any case, I'm at work this morning while you're reading this,
but I've been given the afternoon off so yay for that! I'll be spending
most of the afternoon doing final mark-ups to stories I want to buy for
my next anthology, but hopefully I'll be able to get those done quickly
enough to put some more time in on my NaNo draft. *crosses fingers*
Speaking of which, if you want to see what Kat and David have been up to this week, here are the latest installments:
Installment 9
Installment 10
Installment 11
There's also a new chapter of The Handyman's Harem Girl up at the Fantasy Ranch blog:
Chapter 19
And for fans of my horror alter-ego, a new chapter of Jack at the Alex Westhaven blog:
Chapter 6
This week I finished up a few books I was reading - Blasphemy by Douglas Preston - also my recommended read, Rocky Mountain Angel
by Vivian Arend (look for that on my blog soon!), and I finally
finished the short story collection by Michelle Davidson Argyle - True Colors and Other Short Stories (excellent literary fare to savor if you need a bit of a break, though many of the stories are bittersweet).
Next up on the reading roster, Split Second by Catherine Coulter, He Could Have Coped with Dragons by Dean Wesley Smith and Beautiful Sorrows by Mercedes M. Yardley. Yes, my Goodreads shelves are out of date again. I'll put it on the to-do list in December.
So that's my week. As you enter the holiday hustle & bustle, don't forget to take time to read...
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
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November 21, 2012
Recommended Read: Blasphemy by Douglas Preston
[image error]
It's taken me a long time to work my way through this
paperback...mainly because I've largely relegated my paperback reading
to my nightstand, and while I *try* to go to bed by midnight when hubby
is still up reading, I don't often get there until after he's asleep and
it's too late to turn a lamp on to read. And when I do manage reading
time in bed, it's generally only a chapter or two - which really draws
out a normal length paperback.
I know, excuses, excuses.
Regardless, I did really enjoy this book (I can't think of a
Preston book I've been disappointed with, honestly). It was a bit
disconcerting that the main character's name is Wyman Ford, and he's
referred to as "Ford" most of the time in the book, because I now have a
creative acquaintance who goes by the name Ford Forkum (if you haven't
already checked him out, do so, now - he's funny, philosophical, and
incredibly talented). So naturally I thought of him for a few seconds
every time I picked up this book to read another chapter.
In any case, the book is centered around a huge super-collider in
the Nevada desert and the team of scientists who are basically searching
for the beginning of life. And they find it, sort of, though while
they're in the scientific "bubble", much of the world at large is
questioning the project at a religious, moral and ethical level.
Overall, while there were some slow spots, it was an interesting
premise to explore and I really didn't see the extreme escalation that
ended up coming at the end. It was very well done, and I couldn't really
turn the pages fast enough to avoid a few very blurry days at work the
deeper I got into it. But again, I'd expect no less from Preston. And
no, I don't know him and have never spoken to him. I hear he's not much
of a people person - which is terribly shocking for a writer, eh?
In any case, if you're looking for a good thriller with plenty of twists and turns and layers of complexity, grab a copy of Blasphemy. It's a good read - probably even better if you can devote more time at one sitting to it than I did...
It's taken me a long time to work my way through this
paperback...mainly because I've largely relegated my paperback reading
to my nightstand, and while I *try* to go to bed by midnight when hubby
is still up reading, I don't often get there until after he's asleep and
it's too late to turn a lamp on to read. And when I do manage reading
time in bed, it's generally only a chapter or two - which really draws
out a normal length paperback.
I know, excuses, excuses.
Regardless, I did really enjoy this book (I can't think of a
Preston book I've been disappointed with, honestly). It was a bit
disconcerting that the main character's name is Wyman Ford, and he's
referred to as "Ford" most of the time in the book, because I now have a
creative acquaintance who goes by the name Ford Forkum (if you haven't
already checked him out, do so, now - he's funny, philosophical, and
incredibly talented). So naturally I thought of him for a few seconds
every time I picked up this book to read another chapter.
In any case, the book is centered around a huge super-collider in
the Nevada desert and the team of scientists who are basically searching
for the beginning of life. And they find it, sort of, though while
they're in the scientific "bubble", much of the world at large is
questioning the project at a religious, moral and ethical level.
Overall, while there were some slow spots, it was an interesting
premise to explore and I really didn't see the extreme escalation that
ended up coming at the end. It was very well done, and I couldn't really
turn the pages fast enough to avoid a few very blurry days at work the
deeper I got into it. But again, I'd expect no less from Preston. And
no, I don't know him and have never spoken to him. I hear he's not much
of a people person - which is terribly shocking for a writer, eh?
In any case, if you're looking for a good thriller with plenty of twists and turns and layers of complexity, grab a copy of Blasphemy. It's a good read - probably even better if you can devote more time at one sitting to it than I did...
I'm not a
professional reviewer, I don't accept offerings direct from writers or
publishing houses (so don't email asking me to review your book - that's an
excellent way to ensure I never read it), and there's a very good chance
I know the authors of over half the books I'll recommend, so my opinion
is likely biased on any given day. This is just me telling you about a
great book I recently read. Nothing more, nothing less.
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 19, 2012
On Reflection, Over-Reaching & Pumpkin Pie Vodka...
Prompt 'o the Week: A professor rebuffs a student's unwanted
advances, enlisting the help of a colleague until one night when she
receives some information about both men that changes everything...
It's
getting to that time of year when I start thinking about how I've done
over the past year, where I wanted to be now and where I actually am. It
has it's pros and cons - it's good to reflect on where you've been to
decide where you want to go next. But it also causes enough cognitive
dissonance that it often puts me in a less than stellar mood until I get
everything worked out in my head.
So what do I
think so hard about, you ask? A lot of stuff, really. But the thing
driving me most nuts at the moment is a severe lack of self-discipline
(willpower, motivation - whatever you want to call it), caused by my
tendency to want to do too much. Then I try, and end up doing less than I
could have if I'd set more realistic goals.
It's annoying, to say the least.
Needless
to say, this puts me in a rather reflective mindset wherein I try to
figure out how to fix the problem. And that means making hard decisions
I'd rather not make. Which always sucks.
But, I'll get over it. I always do, somehow. And next year will be better for it.
In
any case, I've discovered Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie Vodka as a bright (if a
little woozy) spot in my fall season. I've recently tried a few recipes
found on the Pinnacle FB page, and so far, very yummy. If you're a flavored vodka/mixed drink fan, I'd recommend you check that page out...
As
far as the writing goes, I'm way, way behind on my NaNo draft, but
still writing along. And I'm keeping up with the other two serials as
well. At this point, I highly doubt I'll hit 50k by November 30th, but
you never know, really. I'm enjoying the story so far, and I have a
tie-in idea for one of my pen name projects, so I'll keep at it
regardless.
So what's going on this week?
Well, aside from the normal Thanksgiving feast on Thursday (and watch
for my "Food in Fiction" post on the #Amwriting site), here's my list:
- Two serial scenes- As much NaNo drafting as I can handle- Final read-through & markups on anthology submissions- Sweet potatoes & pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner- Two workouts
A short list this week, but one I should be able to cross everything off of, which will be a nice change.
Here's to a fun holiday week for my US friends, and just a fun week in general for everyone else!
advances, enlisting the help of a colleague until one night when she
receives some information about both men that changes everything...
It's
getting to that time of year when I start thinking about how I've done
over the past year, where I wanted to be now and where I actually am. It
has it's pros and cons - it's good to reflect on where you've been to
decide where you want to go next. But it also causes enough cognitive
dissonance that it often puts me in a less than stellar mood until I get
everything worked out in my head.
So what do I
think so hard about, you ask? A lot of stuff, really. But the thing
driving me most nuts at the moment is a severe lack of self-discipline
(willpower, motivation - whatever you want to call it), caused by my
tendency to want to do too much. Then I try, and end up doing less than I
could have if I'd set more realistic goals.
It's annoying, to say the least.
Needless
to say, this puts me in a rather reflective mindset wherein I try to
figure out how to fix the problem. And that means making hard decisions
I'd rather not make. Which always sucks.
But, I'll get over it. I always do, somehow. And next year will be better for it.
In
any case, I've discovered Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie Vodka as a bright (if a
little woozy) spot in my fall season. I've recently tried a few recipes
found on the Pinnacle FB page, and so far, very yummy. If you're a flavored vodka/mixed drink fan, I'd recommend you check that page out...
As
far as the writing goes, I'm way, way behind on my NaNo draft, but
still writing along. And I'm keeping up with the other two serials as
well. At this point, I highly doubt I'll hit 50k by November 30th, but
you never know, really. I'm enjoying the story so far, and I have a
tie-in idea for one of my pen name projects, so I'll keep at it
regardless.
So what's going on this week?
Well, aside from the normal Thanksgiving feast on Thursday (and watch
for my "Food in Fiction" post on the #Amwriting site), here's my list:
- Two serial scenes- As much NaNo drafting as I can handle- Final read-through & markups on anthology submissions- Sweet potatoes & pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner- Two workouts
A short list this week, but one I should be able to cross everything off of, which will be a nice change.
Here's to a fun holiday week for my US friends, and just a fun week in general for everyone else!
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 16, 2012
Reading & Writing Wrap-Up: 11/16/12
How was your week? Good, I hope. Mine was...productive, and filled
with research on snorkeling, coral reefs, coastal lagoons and rip
currents. And a little marine life thrown in for good measure.
All the research is for the novel I'm currently working on for my NaNo draft, not-so-aptly titled On Her Terms . If you want to see what I've written this week, it's up on The Drafting Desk:
Installment 6
Installment 7
Installment 8
There's also a new chapter of The Handyman's Harem Girl up at the Fantasy Ranch blog:
Chapter 18
And for fans of my horror alter-ego, a new chapter of Jack at the Alex Westhaven blog:
Chapter 5
I'm actually thinking of meshing the end of this particular horror
short with my NaNo draft - if it works, I think I just might have
something kind of fun on my hands to play with next year as far as these
two genres are concerned. Stay tuned...
I've been a total slacker on my other blogs lately. I've decided to shutter Routinely Yours,
to focus more on writing. The fate of my nail art blog is up in the air
as well...I'm just not sure I have any interest in keeping it up any
longer (much like my tea blog). Obligation isn't a good reason to do
anything, really...and yet, I do have trouble letting things like that
go, because I still enjoy them. Just maybe not enough to work at it.
As for what I've been reading lately: I just finished a really fabulous short story by Dean Wesley Smith called On Top of the Dead, but I also recommend a great contemporary romance trilogy for this week's Recommended Read(s):
Suddenly Sexy, Simply Sexy & Sinfully Sexy by Linda Francis Lee
Up next on my kindle I'm flipping between more shorts from DWS, and
trying to finish up a few of the books that have been in my "current
reads" file for far too long now (just because I never quite got back to
them...several story collections/anthologies, but a few novels as
well). Why all the shorts? Well, I actually really like reading short
fiction (groovy for lunch breaks especially), but I love writing it too.
So I'm hoping that some of the awesome from these other authors rubs
off on me while I'm reading, and improves my own writing. Win-win!
In print, I'm still working my way through Blasphemy by
Douglas Preston. My slow slog through it should in no way be construed
as a commentary on the book - I'm enjoying it greatly. It's just that
it's on my nightstand, and I often don't go to bed until my hubby's fast
asleep. It would be better for both me and Preston if I got to bed
earlier...
This weekend I'm also reading/marking up a handful of short/flash
story submissions for the next BSB anthology, and very much looking
forward to that.
And that's my week in a not-so-small nutshell. How did yours go? Read or write anything fun?
with research on snorkeling, coral reefs, coastal lagoons and rip
currents. And a little marine life thrown in for good measure.
All the research is for the novel I'm currently working on for my NaNo draft, not-so-aptly titled On Her Terms . If you want to see what I've written this week, it's up on The Drafting Desk:
Installment 6
Installment 7
Installment 8
There's also a new chapter of The Handyman's Harem Girl up at the Fantasy Ranch blog:
Chapter 18
And for fans of my horror alter-ego, a new chapter of Jack at the Alex Westhaven blog:
Chapter 5
I'm actually thinking of meshing the end of this particular horror
short with my NaNo draft - if it works, I think I just might have
something kind of fun on my hands to play with next year as far as these
two genres are concerned. Stay tuned...
I've been a total slacker on my other blogs lately. I've decided to shutter Routinely Yours,
to focus more on writing. The fate of my nail art blog is up in the air
as well...I'm just not sure I have any interest in keeping it up any
longer (much like my tea blog). Obligation isn't a good reason to do
anything, really...and yet, I do have trouble letting things like that
go, because I still enjoy them. Just maybe not enough to work at it.
As for what I've been reading lately: I just finished a really fabulous short story by Dean Wesley Smith called On Top of the Dead, but I also recommend a great contemporary romance trilogy for this week's Recommended Read(s):
Suddenly Sexy, Simply Sexy & Sinfully Sexy by Linda Francis Lee
Up next on my kindle I'm flipping between more shorts from DWS, and
trying to finish up a few of the books that have been in my "current
reads" file for far too long now (just because I never quite got back to
them...several story collections/anthologies, but a few novels as
well). Why all the shorts? Well, I actually really like reading short
fiction (groovy for lunch breaks especially), but I love writing it too.
So I'm hoping that some of the awesome from these other authors rubs
off on me while I'm reading, and improves my own writing. Win-win!
In print, I'm still working my way through Blasphemy by
Douglas Preston. My slow slog through it should in no way be construed
as a commentary on the book - I'm enjoying it greatly. It's just that
it's on my nightstand, and I often don't go to bed until my hubby's fast
asleep. It would be better for both me and Preston if I got to bed
earlier...
This weekend I'm also reading/marking up a handful of short/flash
story submissions for the next BSB anthology, and very much looking
forward to that.
And that's my week in a not-so-small nutshell. How did yours go? Read or write anything fun?
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 14, 2012
Recommended Read(s): "Sexy Trilogy" by Linda Francis Lee
I bought the first book by clicking through a Facebook sidebar ad -
not something that happens often. It was all downhill from there.
[image error] [image error] [image error]
The stories are simple, but the characters and emotions are
anything but, and that's why I love contemporary romance. Don't even ask
me to pick a favorite - I bought "Suddenly Sexy" first, and then I
*needed* to read "Simply Sexy", and by then, I couldn't not read
"Sinfully Sexy", because this trilogy is the story of three very close
but very different friends who stay together...I'm not really sure how,
with as different as their personalities are. But somehow they all
complement, challenge and ground each other without serious damage when
things go awry.
The men...well. I mean, we are talking romance novels here, so of
*course* the men are hot and completely irresistible. The thing is, all
three of these women are doing their level best *to resist* for varied
reasons (good ones, in my opinion), and yet breaking down those walls is
the best thing that could ever happen for both them and their men.
These books are *not* just the same story written
three times. Each character is emotionally complex and needing something
different, and the way they get it is unique to their situation -
sometimes heartrendingly so. All three stories are stand-alone, but I
think you'll want to read the others once you read one. I highly
recommend you grab one next time you're in the mood for a great
contemporary romance.
More information and buy links are all at Linda's site - I see she has a few other books out that may end up in my TBR pile as well!
not something that happens often. It was all downhill from there.
[image error] [image error] [image error]
The stories are simple, but the characters and emotions are
anything but, and that's why I love contemporary romance. Don't even ask
me to pick a favorite - I bought "Suddenly Sexy" first, and then I
*needed* to read "Simply Sexy", and by then, I couldn't not read
"Sinfully Sexy", because this trilogy is the story of three very close
but very different friends who stay together...I'm not really sure how,
with as different as their personalities are. But somehow they all
complement, challenge and ground each other without serious damage when
things go awry.
The men...well. I mean, we are talking romance novels here, so of
*course* the men are hot and completely irresistible. The thing is, all
three of these women are doing their level best *to resist* for varied
reasons (good ones, in my opinion), and yet breaking down those walls is
the best thing that could ever happen for both them and their men.
These books are *not* just the same story written
three times. Each character is emotionally complex and needing something
different, and the way they get it is unique to their situation -
sometimes heartrendingly so. All three stories are stand-alone, but I
think you'll want to read the others once you read one. I highly
recommend you grab one next time you're in the mood for a great
contemporary romance.
More information and buy links are all at Linda's site - I see she has a few other books out that may end up in my TBR pile as well!
I'm not a
professional reviewer, I don't accept offerings direct from writers or
publishing houses (so don't email asking me to review your book - that's an
excellent way to ensure I never read it), and there's a very good chance
I know the authors of over half the books I'll recommend, so my opinion
is likely biased on any given day. This is just me telling you about a
great book I recently read. Nothing more, nothing less.
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 12, 2012
On Snorkeling, Snow & Obsessive Licking...
Prompt 'o the Week: A man brings a dog to an emergency
vet late at night after he hits the animal with his car. The vet agrees
to treat the animal, but notices the man is very nervous and distracted,
as if something other than the accident is causing him stress...
Last week was incredibly productive - and fun too, for the most part. I
got the two serial stories I wanted to finish done, which will leave me
some nice blocks of time this week to work on my NaNo draft. I did get
some work done on it last week, but kept having to stop and research.
Yes, I know NaNo is for "just writing", but I really don't like
revisions & editing, so win or lose, I'm not going to leave out
details easily googled as I go just for the sake of going more quickly.
Newbie writers can and *should* do that (because frankly, when you're
new, you really need to just finish something, and going through a few
gnarly revisions is just going to teach you that much more about
writing). But I've finished quite a few stories now, so my focus is more
on getting as much right the first time around as possible, so I can
avoid the gnarly revisions myself.
What
was I googling, you ask? Well, believe it or not, I've never been
snorkeling outside a swimming pool (I live in Montana - just finding
open water here that isn't moving at the speed of light or glacially
cold is a challenge). And Katherine, my heroine, is going snorkeling in
the ocean. Sort of, anyways (you can catch up with her on The Drafting Desk,
if you're interested). So I needed to know whether it was okay to take
painkillers first (for David, our supposed hero), and
how snorkeling tours work in general - stuff like how many people are
normally in a group, how they get out to where they're snorkeling, what
kind of safety instructions there are, how long they last...etc. So now
if I ever do go somewhere and snorkel, I'll be ready!
Meanwhile,
we got our first real snowfall of the season here, and it was a doozy.
Several inches late last week that are still on the ground, surprisingly
enough. And *cold*! But I'm not complaining much. The single-digit
temps I can do without, but snow? I love snow. I love winter, honestly -
because I have a good reason to stay inside and do housework and write.
It's not that I mind the other seasons necessarily, but I could never
live in a temperate climate. Too much work to feel like I need to be
outside doing stuff all the time!
Lucy,
our German Shepherd mix loves the snow too - she likes to play in it,
and will stay out until her feet freeze if I let her. Mica, our
Anatolian Shepherd mix does *not* like the cold - poor guy. He only has a
single coat rather than the double coat more common on big dogs around
here (and Anatolians too, so I'm not sure how he ended up with the short
end of that gene pool - boxer, maybe?). He's going to need a coat this
winter - better get the crochet hooks out! He's also going to need a
shrug, I think - something to cover both his front legs and go around
his shoulders. But that's due to the obsessive/compulsive licking
behavior he's picked up somewhere. It's really sad, actually - he licks
at his joints (mainly the two front elbow joints) until they're raw and
sometimes bleeding. I've been reading a lot about it, and unfortunately,
it's an extremely difficult issue to fix, because it *is* a true
compulsion. But we have to work on it, because if it goes on long
enough, it can create very serious skin and health issues.
So
that's what's been going on around here lately. And you thought the
obsessive licking was going to be something quite different, didn't you?
Sorry to disappoint...
As
for this week, I see much writing in my future. I've also decided to
give the Cozi calendar another chance, since they now have notifications
and widgets for android. If it works the way I'd like it to, I'll have
all my calendar stuff, daily task lists, meal plans and shopping lists
in the *same place* rather than using several different programs/apps to
do the same thing. Here's crossing my fingers...
Here's what's on the weekly list:
- Two serial scenes- 2k words average on the NaNo draft per day (yikes!) - First read-through of winter anthology submissions- Crochet a test shrug for Mica- Add laundry to my nightly routines- Start working out again, even if just at home- Transfer all calendar items/lists/etc to Cozi program- Update web sites as time permits - Send out party invitations I didn't get done last week
And that's it - a shorter list this week, which is good.
Here's to federal holidays (I'm home today!), and many, many words waiting to be written...
vet late at night after he hits the animal with his car. The vet agrees
to treat the animal, but notices the man is very nervous and distracted,
as if something other than the accident is causing him stress...
Last week was incredibly productive - and fun too, for the most part. I
got the two serial stories I wanted to finish done, which will leave me
some nice blocks of time this week to work on my NaNo draft. I did get
some work done on it last week, but kept having to stop and research.
Yes, I know NaNo is for "just writing", but I really don't like
revisions & editing, so win or lose, I'm not going to leave out
details easily googled as I go just for the sake of going more quickly.
Newbie writers can and *should* do that (because frankly, when you're
new, you really need to just finish something, and going through a few
gnarly revisions is just going to teach you that much more about
writing). But I've finished quite a few stories now, so my focus is more
on getting as much right the first time around as possible, so I can
avoid the gnarly revisions myself.
What
was I googling, you ask? Well, believe it or not, I've never been
snorkeling outside a swimming pool (I live in Montana - just finding
open water here that isn't moving at the speed of light or glacially
cold is a challenge). And Katherine, my heroine, is going snorkeling in
the ocean. Sort of, anyways (you can catch up with her on The Drafting Desk,
if you're interested). So I needed to know whether it was okay to take
painkillers first (for David, our supposed hero), and
how snorkeling tours work in general - stuff like how many people are
normally in a group, how they get out to where they're snorkeling, what
kind of safety instructions there are, how long they last...etc. So now
if I ever do go somewhere and snorkel, I'll be ready!
Meanwhile,
we got our first real snowfall of the season here, and it was a doozy.
Several inches late last week that are still on the ground, surprisingly
enough. And *cold*! But I'm not complaining much. The single-digit
temps I can do without, but snow? I love snow. I love winter, honestly -
because I have a good reason to stay inside and do housework and write.
It's not that I mind the other seasons necessarily, but I could never
live in a temperate climate. Too much work to feel like I need to be
outside doing stuff all the time!
Lucy,
our German Shepherd mix loves the snow too - she likes to play in it,
and will stay out until her feet freeze if I let her. Mica, our
Anatolian Shepherd mix does *not* like the cold - poor guy. He only has a
single coat rather than the double coat more common on big dogs around
here (and Anatolians too, so I'm not sure how he ended up with the short
end of that gene pool - boxer, maybe?). He's going to need a coat this
winter - better get the crochet hooks out! He's also going to need a
shrug, I think - something to cover both his front legs and go around
his shoulders. But that's due to the obsessive/compulsive licking
behavior he's picked up somewhere. It's really sad, actually - he licks
at his joints (mainly the two front elbow joints) until they're raw and
sometimes bleeding. I've been reading a lot about it, and unfortunately,
it's an extremely difficult issue to fix, because it *is* a true
compulsion. But we have to work on it, because if it goes on long
enough, it can create very serious skin and health issues.
So
that's what's been going on around here lately. And you thought the
obsessive licking was going to be something quite different, didn't you?
Sorry to disappoint...
As
for this week, I see much writing in my future. I've also decided to
give the Cozi calendar another chance, since they now have notifications
and widgets for android. If it works the way I'd like it to, I'll have
all my calendar stuff, daily task lists, meal plans and shopping lists
in the *same place* rather than using several different programs/apps to
do the same thing. Here's crossing my fingers...
Here's what's on the weekly list:
- Two serial scenes- 2k words average on the NaNo draft per day (yikes!) - First read-through of winter anthology submissions- Crochet a test shrug for Mica- Add laundry to my nightly routines- Start working out again, even if just at home- Transfer all calendar items/lists/etc to Cozi program- Update web sites as time permits - Send out party invitations I didn't get done last week
And that's it - a shorter list this week, which is good.
Here's to federal holidays (I'm home today!), and many, many words waiting to be written...
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 7, 2012
Serial Story: Fit to be Chai-ed, Ch. 14 (Final)
New chapters posted every Wednesday in draft form.
Previous Chapters
Fit to be Chai-ed
Chapter 14 (Final)
When Erik kissed her, Anna froze. She wasn’t sure what to do. Sliding her hands up the front of his chest, she considered skipping dinner. Whether this was really happening or she was just dreaming, bed seemed like a far better option than a room full of accountants.
When his hand slid lightly over her ribs, a slight twinge of pain should have warned her. Then he pulled her close, and the sharp burning shock that racketed through her rib cage was enough to tell her two things: she was definitely not dreaming, and no matter how badly she wanted it, she wouldn’t be sleeping with anyone tonight. No matter how good looking he was.
It wasn’t fair. After everything she’d been through, she deserved this, dammit. Deserved him.
“Broken rib,” she said, noting the concern on his face as she blinked back tears and braced herself on the door jamb. He’d backed off as soon as she cried out and despite the dull ache that remained, she missed his heat.
“I’m sorry. I’m not...I mean, it wasn’t--”
He held up a hand and smiled patiently. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for - I should have remembered. Are you okay now? Do you need to sit down? Painkillers? What can I do?”
She shook her head. “I think I’m okay, but thanks. I’ll just need to be careful tonight, is all. Are you sure you still want to go? I may not be the best company, I’m afraid.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, holding up his arm. “Shall we?”
Anna nodded, brushing the moisture from her cheeks and then locking the door before taking his arm. He helped her into his truck and she was surprised at how easy he was to talk to while they drove to the convention center.
The dinner went by far more quickly than Anna expected. Erik was charming and witty even as he nursed a beer bottle rather than a champagne glass, and by the end of the evening Anna was the envy of every woman he’d come in contact with, and maybe even a few of the men.
As he drove her back home, she felt an all-too-familiar longing welling up in her soul. Would he want to see her again? Past experience said no, but this felt different. She felt...hopeful.
“You’re quiet,” he said as he pulled his truck into her driveway and cut the engine. “Tired? How do your ribs feel?”
She smiled. “A little tired, I guess. My ribs are fine, thanks. I was just...thinking, is all.”
“Dangerous pastime,” he commented, sliding off the seat. He opened her door and held out a hand, helping her onto the pavement. “Anything you care to share in those thoughts of yours?”
She shrugged. “Just how much fun I had tonight, is all. You’re very good with people.”
He walked her to the door, taking the keys from her to fit them in the lock.
“Part of my job description,” he said, pushing the door open and handing her keys back. “Working undercover means having to get along with anyone I need to. So I guess you could call it a survival skill.”
She nodded. “I can see where that would be handy.” Stepping over the threshold, she swallowed the lump in her throat and prayed her voice wouldn’t break. “Would you...um...like to come in for a bit?”
She tried not to hold her breath, thankful when he didn’t make her wait long.
“Sure,” he said, following her into the entryway and closing the door behind him. “I was hoping you’d ask.”
“Really?” The question popped out before Anna could stop it, and earned a cocky grin from her guest. “I mean--”
He held up a hand and she shut her mouth as he closed the gap between them.
“Really.” Reaching out, he cupped the side of her face in one hand. “Dinner was fun, but I’ve been wanting to do this again all night.” He kissed her, his lips soft and enticing as he explored her mouth. She opened for him, tasting, nibbling in return. It was a heady experience, and she wanted to weep when he gently pulled away.
“I should go,” he said, though his eyes told her he’d rather stay. “But just for tonight.” He paused to think for a moment. “Would you like to go to breakfast with me tomorrow? Or I could just bring it here. I don’t know what you like, but--”
Anna laughed, her heart soaring at the thought that he wanted to see her again so soon.
Her!
“Anything is fine, really,” she finally answered. Then a thought occurred to her and she fidgeted for a few moments trying to decide what to do about it. There was no way around looking desperate if she asked for what she wanted, but maybe, just maybe he wanted the same thing.
“You’re going to think this is crazy, but would you want to...I mean, I know my ribs are sore, and you’re in pain too, I just had this idea that maybe you’d stay anyways and we could just watch a movie. Or something. I have a cozy couch...”
Her cheeks burned and she knew they were fire-engine red once she finally spit it out.
Erik nodded, his expression serious. “Yeah. I think I’d like that. A lot, actually.” He turned away and threw the deadbolt on her front door. When he turned back, he kissed her again and while her face remained hot, the stress slipped off her shoulders.
She took his hand and pulled him toward the living room. “Let me show you the couch, and we can pick out something to watch.”
“Okay,” he said, squeezing her fingers with a chuckle. “But I have to warn you, I’ve never been on a couch more comfortable than mine. I’m picky when it comes to sofas.”
“Is that so?” She gave him a teasing look over her shoulder. “Are you going to storm out if my couch doesn’t pass muster?”
He thought for a second before shaking his head. “Nope. But I might insist you try mine tomorrow night.”
She sat on the royal blue brushed suede cushions, tugging him down beside her.
“I think you’re going to like this one just fine,” she said with a grin, moving in to place a gentle kiss on the side of his neck.
He laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and carefully pulling her close. “You know, I think you’re right?”
Previous Chapters
Fit to be Chai-ed
Chapter 14 (Final)
When Erik kissed her, Anna froze. She wasn’t sure what to do. Sliding her hands up the front of his chest, she considered skipping dinner. Whether this was really happening or she was just dreaming, bed seemed like a far better option than a room full of accountants.
When his hand slid lightly over her ribs, a slight twinge of pain should have warned her. Then he pulled her close, and the sharp burning shock that racketed through her rib cage was enough to tell her two things: she was definitely not dreaming, and no matter how badly she wanted it, she wouldn’t be sleeping with anyone tonight. No matter how good looking he was.
It wasn’t fair. After everything she’d been through, she deserved this, dammit. Deserved him.
“Broken rib,” she said, noting the concern on his face as she blinked back tears and braced herself on the door jamb. He’d backed off as soon as she cried out and despite the dull ache that remained, she missed his heat.
“I’m sorry. I’m not...I mean, it wasn’t--”
He held up a hand and smiled patiently. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for - I should have remembered. Are you okay now? Do you need to sit down? Painkillers? What can I do?”
She shook her head. “I think I’m okay, but thanks. I’ll just need to be careful tonight, is all. Are you sure you still want to go? I may not be the best company, I’m afraid.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, holding up his arm. “Shall we?”
Anna nodded, brushing the moisture from her cheeks and then locking the door before taking his arm. He helped her into his truck and she was surprised at how easy he was to talk to while they drove to the convention center.
The dinner went by far more quickly than Anna expected. Erik was charming and witty even as he nursed a beer bottle rather than a champagne glass, and by the end of the evening Anna was the envy of every woman he’d come in contact with, and maybe even a few of the men.
As he drove her back home, she felt an all-too-familiar longing welling up in her soul. Would he want to see her again? Past experience said no, but this felt different. She felt...hopeful.
“You’re quiet,” he said as he pulled his truck into her driveway and cut the engine. “Tired? How do your ribs feel?”
She smiled. “A little tired, I guess. My ribs are fine, thanks. I was just...thinking, is all.”
“Dangerous pastime,” he commented, sliding off the seat. He opened her door and held out a hand, helping her onto the pavement. “Anything you care to share in those thoughts of yours?”
She shrugged. “Just how much fun I had tonight, is all. You’re very good with people.”
He walked her to the door, taking the keys from her to fit them in the lock.
“Part of my job description,” he said, pushing the door open and handing her keys back. “Working undercover means having to get along with anyone I need to. So I guess you could call it a survival skill.”
She nodded. “I can see where that would be handy.” Stepping over the threshold, she swallowed the lump in her throat and prayed her voice wouldn’t break. “Would you...um...like to come in for a bit?”
She tried not to hold her breath, thankful when he didn’t make her wait long.
“Sure,” he said, following her into the entryway and closing the door behind him. “I was hoping you’d ask.”
“Really?” The question popped out before Anna could stop it, and earned a cocky grin from her guest. “I mean--”
He held up a hand and she shut her mouth as he closed the gap between them.
“Really.” Reaching out, he cupped the side of her face in one hand. “Dinner was fun, but I’ve been wanting to do this again all night.” He kissed her, his lips soft and enticing as he explored her mouth. She opened for him, tasting, nibbling in return. It was a heady experience, and she wanted to weep when he gently pulled away.
“I should go,” he said, though his eyes told her he’d rather stay. “But just for tonight.” He paused to think for a moment. “Would you like to go to breakfast with me tomorrow? Or I could just bring it here. I don’t know what you like, but--”
Anna laughed, her heart soaring at the thought that he wanted to see her again so soon.
Her!
“Anything is fine, really,” she finally answered. Then a thought occurred to her and she fidgeted for a few moments trying to decide what to do about it. There was no way around looking desperate if she asked for what she wanted, but maybe, just maybe he wanted the same thing.
“You’re going to think this is crazy, but would you want to...I mean, I know my ribs are sore, and you’re in pain too, I just had this idea that maybe you’d stay anyways and we could just watch a movie. Or something. I have a cozy couch...”
Her cheeks burned and she knew they were fire-engine red once she finally spit it out.
Erik nodded, his expression serious. “Yeah. I think I’d like that. A lot, actually.” He turned away and threw the deadbolt on her front door. When he turned back, he kissed her again and while her face remained hot, the stress slipped off her shoulders.
She took his hand and pulled him toward the living room. “Let me show you the couch, and we can pick out something to watch.”
“Okay,” he said, squeezing her fingers with a chuckle. “But I have to warn you, I’ve never been on a couch more comfortable than mine. I’m picky when it comes to sofas.”
“Is that so?” She gave him a teasing look over her shoulder. “Are you going to storm out if my couch doesn’t pass muster?”
He thought for a second before shaking his head. “Nope. But I might insist you try mine tomorrow night.”
She sat on the royal blue brushed suede cushions, tugging him down beside her.
“I think you’re going to like this one just fine,” she said with a grin, moving in to place a gentle kiss on the side of his neck.
He laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and carefully pulling her close. “You know, I think you’re right?”
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 6, 2012
Juggling Multiple Projects - Prioritize!
We interrupt this normally non-post day for a special discussion on
juggling project priorities as a writer. It's going to be long, I
apologize, but it's difficult explaining a process like this concisely.
After I posted my to-do list yesterday, a writer-buddy asked on twitter
how I knew where to start when the projects I'm juggling this week all
seem to be of equal importance. I thought it was worth a blog post
(because there's no way to really explain something like that on
Twitter...
To review, here's what I've got going on as far as writing goes this week:
- Serial chapter for The Handyman's Harem Girl
- Finish two other serials
- Serial chapter for horror short
- Keep working on the NaNo draft, however slowly
Most
of the time, I prioritize by deadline. So, serial scenes are worked on
in the order they're due every week. The posting schedule is set, so I
have a solid schedule to meet. They are:
Tuesday: The Handyman's Harem Girl (rom. suspense)
Weds: Fit to be Chai'ed (rom. suspense)
Thurs: Erotica serial
Friday: Horror serial
I
work on each scene/chapter the day before it's due, so Monday I work on
THHG, Tuesday on FTBC, Weds the erotica serial and Thurs the horror
serial. Anything extra (anthology stories, auxiliary projects) just have
to work in wherever I have extra time (normally Friday/Saturday
nights).
I was fully planning on having three
of these serial stories done before November, so the majority of my time
could go toward the NaNo draft, but last month was so crazy I got a few
weeks behind. Hence my issue this week of working hard to finish what I
should have finished earlier, so I can play catch up with the NaNo
draft.
As far as prioritizing this week goes, I
need to put the projects closest to being finished first, with
allowances for normal serial deadlines, and then work on my NaNo draft
around those other projects. Fit to be Chai'ed and the erotica serial
were the closest to being done, with both needing one-two more scenes.
Since I knew vaguely how I wanted FTBC to end (and wasn't so sure with
the erotica story), and the deadline for that is Weds, I decided to work
on that first.
I spent several hours Sunday
working on it, and then another hour last night, and got it finished. My
decision to do that pushed back today's serial chapter, but I knew I
had today off from the day job, so I'd be able to write that this
morning (and I did). So now I'm down one serial, and one normal serial
chapter. The next hard deadlines I have to meet are the Thursday erotica
serial, and Friday's serial chapter - and the erotica serial should
take just a few hours to finish. But I am *way* behind on the NaNo draft
(I have nearly 1000 words and I should have 10k by now), so I've chosen
to devote a few hours to that this afternoon (free time!), and then
I'll spend at least an hour this afternoon, and an hour this evening
working on the erotica serial. If I get it finished, that will be
*awesome*, but if not, I'll have time tomorrow night after work to
finish it off.
Thursday night I'll write a
short scene (500 words or so) for the horror serial, which I'm sure I
can't finish this week with everything else going on. And then Friday,
Saturday and Sunday I'll work extra hours on the NaNo draft - not
expecting to get caught up just yet, but I should be able to make some
good strides in that general direction. Next week, all the time that
would have gone towards those other two serials will be open for the
NaNo draft.
So when I'm prioritizing projects, I take these variables into account before I decide what to work on first:
- Deadline
- Estimated time to complete either the next section, or to finish the project
-
Amount of available information in my head about where the story is
going. I'm a pantser, but a lot of times the "next step" gets more clear
the further I write - so if it comes down to close deadlines and nearly
equal scenes needed to finish, I'll work on the project that I have a
better idea of where it's going, because that takes less time than
having to just blindly follow the characters until the story reveals
itself. Once the story I know more about is done, that nearly always
"unlocks" the other story in my brain to where it's easier to see what
happens next.
I know I write around 500-800
words per 30-45 minutes, so while it *always* takes me more words and
time to finish a story than I think it will, I can generally estimate
which stories will take longer in relation to other stories for
finishing time. Given enough time before the deadlines, I'll pick the
story I know I can finish faster to work on first.
And that's how I decided which order to work on my writing projects this week. It ended up being:
1.
Finish Fit to be Chai'ed (second closest deadline, but closest to being
finished and most information available to finish with)
2.
Scene for THHG (first deadline, ongoing serial that must be posted by
the deadline, takes 30 minutes to write a 600 word scene, extra time off
from day job on due date)
3. Work on NaNo
Draft for a few hours (longest deadline, but most behind, and I know
where it's going for the next thousand words or more, plus a nice
"break" from the serials I've been writing for weeks already).
4.
Finish erotica serial (third deadline, need to get it off my plate to
open up time for NaNo draft so will require extra words/time this week,
have a vague idea of how it will end up)
5. More work on NaNo draft (still new enough to be sort of a "palate cleanser" between serial stories)
6.
Horror serial scene (last hard deadline for the week, know I can't
finish it so just needs 30-45 minutes to continue it and hit deadline
for the readers)
7. NaNo weekend (again,
longest deadline, farthest behind, no clue where it will end up, but
need word count to meet eventual deadline).
Next
week will be easier - because I'll just have the two serials and my
NaNo draft to work on. So it will probably end up something like this:
Monday: Scene for THHG (deadline Tues - I have Monday off from the day job - Veteran's Day)
Tuesday/Weds: NaNo draft work
Thurs: Scene for horror serial (deadline Fri)
Fri/Sat: NaNo draft work
Unless
I get a brainstorm on the horror short, in which case I'll do that
scene earlier. I generally work best right up against deadlines though.
Always have. That's why none of my college papers were ever written
until the night before they were due.
As for
the rest of my to-do list...writing takes priority over pretty much
anything, but I can't write for more than an hour or two at a time (my
brain gets fried) without a break. So the "other stuff" fits into all
the time I'm not writing - and I prioritize it both by deadline, and by
what I feel is most important (a subjective measure, to be sure, but the
only one we all have).
Now I'm headed to the post office to mail books before I sit down and get back to making good writing use of my day off...
juggling project priorities as a writer. It's going to be long, I
apologize, but it's difficult explaining a process like this concisely.
After I posted my to-do list yesterday, a writer-buddy asked on twitter
how I knew where to start when the projects I'm juggling this week all
seem to be of equal importance. I thought it was worth a blog post
(because there's no way to really explain something like that on
Twitter...
To review, here's what I've got going on as far as writing goes this week:
- Serial chapter for The Handyman's Harem Girl
- Finish two other serials
- Serial chapter for horror short
- Keep working on the NaNo draft, however slowly
Most
of the time, I prioritize by deadline. So, serial scenes are worked on
in the order they're due every week. The posting schedule is set, so I
have a solid schedule to meet. They are:
Tuesday: The Handyman's Harem Girl (rom. suspense)
Weds: Fit to be Chai'ed (rom. suspense)
Thurs: Erotica serial
Friday: Horror serial
I
work on each scene/chapter the day before it's due, so Monday I work on
THHG, Tuesday on FTBC, Weds the erotica serial and Thurs the horror
serial. Anything extra (anthology stories, auxiliary projects) just have
to work in wherever I have extra time (normally Friday/Saturday
nights).
I was fully planning on having three
of these serial stories done before November, so the majority of my time
could go toward the NaNo draft, but last month was so crazy I got a few
weeks behind. Hence my issue this week of working hard to finish what I
should have finished earlier, so I can play catch up with the NaNo
draft.
As far as prioritizing this week goes, I
need to put the projects closest to being finished first, with
allowances for normal serial deadlines, and then work on my NaNo draft
around those other projects. Fit to be Chai'ed and the erotica serial
were the closest to being done, with both needing one-two more scenes.
Since I knew vaguely how I wanted FTBC to end (and wasn't so sure with
the erotica story), and the deadline for that is Weds, I decided to work
on that first.
I spent several hours Sunday
working on it, and then another hour last night, and got it finished. My
decision to do that pushed back today's serial chapter, but I knew I
had today off from the day job, so I'd be able to write that this
morning (and I did). So now I'm down one serial, and one normal serial
chapter. The next hard deadlines I have to meet are the Thursday erotica
serial, and Friday's serial chapter - and the erotica serial should
take just a few hours to finish. But I am *way* behind on the NaNo draft
(I have nearly 1000 words and I should have 10k by now), so I've chosen
to devote a few hours to that this afternoon (free time!), and then
I'll spend at least an hour this afternoon, and an hour this evening
working on the erotica serial. If I get it finished, that will be
*awesome*, but if not, I'll have time tomorrow night after work to
finish it off.
Thursday night I'll write a
short scene (500 words or so) for the horror serial, which I'm sure I
can't finish this week with everything else going on. And then Friday,
Saturday and Sunday I'll work extra hours on the NaNo draft - not
expecting to get caught up just yet, but I should be able to make some
good strides in that general direction. Next week, all the time that
would have gone towards those other two serials will be open for the
NaNo draft.
So when I'm prioritizing projects, I take these variables into account before I decide what to work on first:
- Deadline
- Estimated time to complete either the next section, or to finish the project
-
Amount of available information in my head about where the story is
going. I'm a pantser, but a lot of times the "next step" gets more clear
the further I write - so if it comes down to close deadlines and nearly
equal scenes needed to finish, I'll work on the project that I have a
better idea of where it's going, because that takes less time than
having to just blindly follow the characters until the story reveals
itself. Once the story I know more about is done, that nearly always
"unlocks" the other story in my brain to where it's easier to see what
happens next.
I know I write around 500-800
words per 30-45 minutes, so while it *always* takes me more words and
time to finish a story than I think it will, I can generally estimate
which stories will take longer in relation to other stories for
finishing time. Given enough time before the deadlines, I'll pick the
story I know I can finish faster to work on first.
And that's how I decided which order to work on my writing projects this week. It ended up being:
1.
Finish Fit to be Chai'ed (second closest deadline, but closest to being
finished and most information available to finish with)
2.
Scene for THHG (first deadline, ongoing serial that must be posted by
the deadline, takes 30 minutes to write a 600 word scene, extra time off
from day job on due date)
3. Work on NaNo
Draft for a few hours (longest deadline, but most behind, and I know
where it's going for the next thousand words or more, plus a nice
"break" from the serials I've been writing for weeks already).
4.
Finish erotica serial (third deadline, need to get it off my plate to
open up time for NaNo draft so will require extra words/time this week,
have a vague idea of how it will end up)
5. More work on NaNo draft (still new enough to be sort of a "palate cleanser" between serial stories)
6.
Horror serial scene (last hard deadline for the week, know I can't
finish it so just needs 30-45 minutes to continue it and hit deadline
for the readers)
7. NaNo weekend (again,
longest deadline, farthest behind, no clue where it will end up, but
need word count to meet eventual deadline).
Next
week will be easier - because I'll just have the two serials and my
NaNo draft to work on. So it will probably end up something like this:
Monday: Scene for THHG (deadline Tues - I have Monday off from the day job - Veteran's Day)
Tuesday/Weds: NaNo draft work
Thurs: Scene for horror serial (deadline Fri)
Fri/Sat: NaNo draft work
Unless
I get a brainstorm on the horror short, in which case I'll do that
scene earlier. I generally work best right up against deadlines though.
Always have. That's why none of my college papers were ever written
until the night before they were due.
As for
the rest of my to-do list...writing takes priority over pretty much
anything, but I can't write for more than an hour or two at a time (my
brain gets fried) without a break. So the "other stuff" fits into all
the time I'm not writing - and I prioritize it both by deadline, and by
what I feel is most important (a subjective measure, to be sure, but the
only one we all have).
Now I'm headed to the post office to mail books before I sit down and get back to making good writing use of my day off...
Enjoy
this post? Support your author:
Romantic Suspense
| Erotic Romance | Suspense/Thriller
| Flash Fiction | Non-Fiction
**Please
note - If this is your first time posting, your comment
will be moderated. Once you have been approved, future comments will post automatically.
November 5, 2012
On Falling Back, Organization & Story Bottlenecks...
Prompt 'o the Week: When an old woman with no
family left dies, she leaves the keys to her safety deposit box with two
people who live across the world from each other. In order to get the
inheritance she wants them to have, they must meet and open the box
together...
Check out this cute story based on an earlier prompt at Doggedly in Rome, by Murphy!
I adore the November time change. I get an extra hour of sleep,
which leaves me far more able to face the day job for the first few days
after, and I'm also a night person, which means the earlier it gets
dark, the earlier I wake up. No, I'm not a vampire (though aside from
the whole blood drinking thing, it does hold a certain appeal...). But I
always operate better on standard time, even after the time change has
passed - and I never feel fully rested during DST. So this is my time of
year. Hooray!
I've mentioned (ad nauseam) that October was an incredibly
difficult and stressful month around here. I won't belabor the details
more than I already have, but as of this weekend, we're back to
"normal", and I couldn't be happier. I've never done well with change
and a lack of routine, but I think it's gotten worse the older I get.
Needless to say, I'd planned to spend most of the weekend writing, but
instead I spent the majority just getting the house back in order,
reorganizing things (like mail, cupboards and the budget) that had
gotten way out of hand, and making a plan to deal with the rest over the
next week.
I have to say, it feels good. Really, really good.
There's still one more change to go through. My husband is starting
a new job Tuesday that will be slightly different hours, different
(less) holidays, less money and no more car-pooling - which is a bummer
since we've been driving to work together for at least as long as we've
been married (maybe a little longer). But it will also be far less
stress and far fewer hours for him, which will be a worthwhile trade
off, methinks. Or I hope it will, anyways.
Overall though, we're back to normal. Actually, we're now in
"hyper-routine" mode as we try to (re?) housebreak the newest canine
member of our family. This means that pretty much everything in our
house happens on a strict schedule designed to help Mica to learn and
remember that the backyard, and not my dining room, is where he needs to
"go". Crate training, careful supervision when he's not in the crate
and set times for eating and going out all seem to be working, thank
goodness. But it's a process, and one made vastly easier with a pretty
strict daily routine.
Ironic that I adopted a 5 yr old dog specifically so I didn't have
to do much in the way of basic training, eh? Ah, that Murphy. He's got a
sense of humor to go with that sadism he's famous for...
Writing is another thing that benefits from a set routine (for me,
anyways), though my writing routine has been haphazard at best lately.
The long vacation was a bad idea (well, there were extenuating
circumstances too) in terms of discipline, and now I'm struggling to get
back into my nightly writing "groove". It doesn't help that I decided
to participate in National Novel Writing Month,
but still have outstanding serial stories running that should have been
finished last month (you know, when I took that vacation). So at the
moment, I'm falling way behind on my NaNo word count in hopes of
finishing at least two serial stories as quickly as possible so I can
break the bottleneck I have going at the moment and give the new draft
my nearly complete attention for the rest of the month. December will be
a serious revision/editing month for me. I should have lots of new
stuff ready to publish next year though...
That reminds me - this Friday is the last day to submit stories for the December
So what's on tap for this week? Let's see:
- Serial chapter for The Handyman's Harem Girl
- Finish two other serials
- Serial chapter for horror short
- Keep working on the NaNo draft, however slowly
- Mail out prize books for the Goodreads anthology contest
- Rework my "after work/dinner" routine (ie, stop being lazy)
- Finish uploading the latest horror short
- Update BSB site, start updating/reorganizing my author sites
- Send out invitations for the Wild Tree party I'm having in two weeks
- Set out minimal fall decor (wasn't going to this year, but since I'm having people over...)
We'll see how far I get, but it should be a pretty good week, I think.
Here's to structure & the mundane - my two favorite things at the moment.
family left dies, she leaves the keys to her safety deposit box with two
people who live across the world from each other. In order to get the
inheritance she wants them to have, they must meet and open the box
together...
Check out this cute story based on an earlier prompt at Doggedly in Rome, by Murphy!
I adore the November time change. I get an extra hour of sleep,
which leaves me far more able to face the day job for the first few days
after, and I'm also a night person, which means the earlier it gets
dark, the earlier I wake up. No, I'm not a vampire (though aside from
the whole blood drinking thing, it does hold a certain appeal...). But I
always operate better on standard time, even after the time change has
passed - and I never feel fully rested during DST. So this is my time of
year. Hooray!
I've mentioned (ad nauseam) that October was an incredibly
difficult and stressful month around here. I won't belabor the details
more than I already have, but as of this weekend, we're back to
"normal", and I couldn't be happier. I've never done well with change
and a lack of routine, but I think it's gotten worse the older I get.
Needless to say, I'd planned to spend most of the weekend writing, but
instead I spent the majority just getting the house back in order,
reorganizing things (like mail, cupboards and the budget) that had
gotten way out of hand, and making a plan to deal with the rest over the
next week.
I have to say, it feels good. Really, really good.
There's still one more change to go through. My husband is starting
a new job Tuesday that will be slightly different hours, different
(less) holidays, less money and no more car-pooling - which is a bummer
since we've been driving to work together for at least as long as we've
been married (maybe a little longer). But it will also be far less
stress and far fewer hours for him, which will be a worthwhile trade
off, methinks. Or I hope it will, anyways.
Overall though, we're back to normal. Actually, we're now in
"hyper-routine" mode as we try to (re?) housebreak the newest canine
member of our family. This means that pretty much everything in our
house happens on a strict schedule designed to help Mica to learn and
remember that the backyard, and not my dining room, is where he needs to
"go". Crate training, careful supervision when he's not in the crate
and set times for eating and going out all seem to be working, thank
goodness. But it's a process, and one made vastly easier with a pretty
strict daily routine.
Ironic that I adopted a 5 yr old dog specifically so I didn't have
to do much in the way of basic training, eh? Ah, that Murphy. He's got a
sense of humor to go with that sadism he's famous for...
Writing is another thing that benefits from a set routine (for me,
anyways), though my writing routine has been haphazard at best lately.
The long vacation was a bad idea (well, there were extenuating
circumstances too) in terms of discipline, and now I'm struggling to get
back into my nightly writing "groove". It doesn't help that I decided
to participate in National Novel Writing Month,
but still have outstanding serial stories running that should have been
finished last month (you know, when I took that vacation). So at the
moment, I'm falling way behind on my NaNo word count in hopes of
finishing at least two serial stories as quickly as possible so I can
break the bottleneck I have going at the moment and give the new draft
my nearly complete attention for the rest of the month. December will be
a serious revision/editing month for me. I should have lots of new
stuff ready to publish next year though...
That reminds me - this Friday is the last day to submit stories for the December
So what's on tap for this week? Let's see:
- Serial chapter for The Handyman's Harem Girl
- Finish two other serials
- Serial chapter for horror short
- Keep working on the NaNo draft, however slowly
- Mail out prize books for the Goodreads anthology contest
- Rework my "after work/dinner" routine (ie, stop being lazy)
- Finish uploading the latest horror short
- Update BSB site, start updating/reorganizing my author sites
- Send out invitations for the Wild Tree party I'm having in two weeks
- Set out minimal fall decor (wasn't going to this year, but since I'm having people over...)
We'll see how far I get, but it should be a pretty good week, I think.
Here's to structure & the mundane - my two favorite things at the moment.
October 31, 2012
Serial Story: Fit to be Chai-ed, Ch. 13
New chapters posted every Wednesday in draft form.
Previous Chapters
Fit to be Chai-ed
Chapter 13
Erik walked slowly up the path to Anna’s door, checking his watch one more time. It was early, or it would be if he remembered the invitation correctly. He should have called, but he was afraid Anna would be embarrassed or try to let him off the hook.
A hook he’d decided he didn’t particularly want off of.
As he reached out to press the doorbell, the door opened. Wrapped in a conservative navy dress and matching pumps, Anna froze the second she saw him. He couldn’t quite decide if the expression on her face was shock, horror or both, but he merely smiled at her.
“I guess I’m right on time,” he said, taking the time to look her up and down. “You’re beautiful, Anna. Ready to go?” He held out his arm and waited, half-wishing he knew what was going on in that head of hers, and half-glad he didn’t.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her brows drawn together. “When I didn’t hear...I mean, I thought since--”
“We had an agreement, right?” He moved closer, taking in the way her fingers tensed around the silver clutch she held. Leaning down closer to her face, he noted the hitch in her breathing, but she didn’t pull back.
“Honestly, I kind of thought we had a connection,” he said quietly. “I know you kind of got the worse end of this deal, but I’d still like to take you to your dinner, if you’ll let me. See where things go from there. Unless you’d rather go somewhere else...”
She shook her head, swallowing hard before she finally spoke.
“No, I need to attend, I’m just surprised to see you is all. I went to the hospital to thank you, and they said you’d left two days before and I didn’t hear from you...” The words came out in a jumble, and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink as she looked away.
It was the cutest thing Erik thought he’d ever seen. Women were usually throwing themselves at him, especially the bad-boy personal he often had to use. To see Anna all flustered and unsure of herself was a welcome boost to the ego.
Wishing he’d called earlier, he tucked a finger under her chin and turned her face back to his. “I’m sorry I didn’t call - I should have. I never considered you’d think I was going back on our deal, but I never even considered it. I’ve actually been looking forward to this all week.”
Before she could protest, he pressed his lips to hers, softly at first and then slightly harder when she didn’t object. She tentatively kissed him back, giving him a taste of what might be in store for him later. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close but let go immediately when she cried out.
Previous Chapters
Fit to be Chai-ed
Chapter 13
Erik walked slowly up the path to Anna’s door, checking his watch one more time. It was early, or it would be if he remembered the invitation correctly. He should have called, but he was afraid Anna would be embarrassed or try to let him off the hook.
A hook he’d decided he didn’t particularly want off of.
As he reached out to press the doorbell, the door opened. Wrapped in a conservative navy dress and matching pumps, Anna froze the second she saw him. He couldn’t quite decide if the expression on her face was shock, horror or both, but he merely smiled at her.
“I guess I’m right on time,” he said, taking the time to look her up and down. “You’re beautiful, Anna. Ready to go?” He held out his arm and waited, half-wishing he knew what was going on in that head of hers, and half-glad he didn’t.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her brows drawn together. “When I didn’t hear...I mean, I thought since--”
“We had an agreement, right?” He moved closer, taking in the way her fingers tensed around the silver clutch she held. Leaning down closer to her face, he noted the hitch in her breathing, but she didn’t pull back.
“Honestly, I kind of thought we had a connection,” he said quietly. “I know you kind of got the worse end of this deal, but I’d still like to take you to your dinner, if you’ll let me. See where things go from there. Unless you’d rather go somewhere else...”
She shook her head, swallowing hard before she finally spoke.
“No, I need to attend, I’m just surprised to see you is all. I went to the hospital to thank you, and they said you’d left two days before and I didn’t hear from you...” The words came out in a jumble, and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink as she looked away.
It was the cutest thing Erik thought he’d ever seen. Women were usually throwing themselves at him, especially the bad-boy personal he often had to use. To see Anna all flustered and unsure of herself was a welcome boost to the ego.
Wishing he’d called earlier, he tucked a finger under her chin and turned her face back to his. “I’m sorry I didn’t call - I should have. I never considered you’d think I was going back on our deal, but I never even considered it. I’ve actually been looking forward to this all week.”
Before she could protest, he pressed his lips to hers, softly at first and then slightly harder when she didn’t object. She tentatively kissed him back, giving him a taste of what might be in store for him later. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close but let go immediately when she cried out.
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