Cherie Noel's Blog, page 23

...And the Winner IS:

Michelle!! Congratulations to you, Michelle. You should have already received your copy of The Faery Tree. :) Enjoy!

Thursday Think Tank:The Art of Balance

I've been thinking a lot about balance lately. 
It's a commodity we all need, and those you see displaying mastery of balance in their lives often make it look so very easy to achieve.


A pretty fairytale, but for most of us about as realistic as suddenly being able to hold poses like the one these boys are rocking so hard. 


So what are we to do then? I can't speak for everyone, but I can tell you a little about my struggles, stumbles, and successes in the ongoing quest to bring balance into my life. 


My kidlet is what some would call challenging. Hah. Those poor fools don't live with her. She is exhausting, frustrating, brilliant, inspiring and perfect just as she is. Oh, and she happens to have bi-polar disorder. Every day she makes me proud. Every day she tests the very limits of my patience. And every single day she gives me the gift of herself. I'm not sure she realizes how much good she brings into my world... it's hard for her to hear the good things I say. Any chastisement hits straight home, a rocket fueled arrow to her heart. It's a soul shredding job some days, being her mum. Some days it's the greatest high in the world. Most days it's both all mashed up into a complicated pile of manure with the best smelling roses in the world growing out of it.


I wouldn't change being her mum for the world. 


I am more than just a mum though. I'm a woman. I'm an author, a publisher, a friend, a sister, and a hundred other things. So my writing schedule is a little odd. I write around when she needs me. I sleep when I get the chance, and every day I try to be a better mum by being a better me. Today that means working from the time she left for school until she comes home. Tomorrow it may mean putting my writing aside for a few hours and helping her play in the dirt, or clean her room. It may mean being strict or it may mean being lenient. I have to take that on a case by case basis. 


My brother Vic, pictured above with the kidlet, sometimes despairs of me. Well, not exactly, but I do get up on his last nerve with spurs on when I let the kiddo speak rudely. Vic doesn't roll like that. And really, neither do I. But sometimes, the best the child can do is tell me that she's trying... and tell me in a rude tone. 


I can't begin to imagine how difficult her world is, where she's faced daily with the knowledge that no matter what she does her condition will color every aspect of her life. I'm not happy she has to deal with this. I am supremely grateful that I don't have such a difficult path to walk. I think she and my brother Vic are both much stronger than I. For me, loving them and being there for them is all in a day's work/play for me.

I'm a bit of a clown, and that's okay for me. I don't always write enough, and I don't always spend enough time taking care of my family. I forget things. I overextend. And I get up every day and do it all again. I do my level best to be a little more balanced in what I ask of myself every day. The world is a shifty old place though, and I have to keep adjusting. So I take it day by day, and case by case. 


And I remind myself to approach everyday like this: Family first. Do what I love. Prioritize, cause there is no fecking way I can get to it all, and the ass-chewings sure to come my way for the balls I fail to keep up in the air. 


Eh, it's okay. I learned in the Army that ass grows back in about eight seconds. And really, I have a lot of ass to begin with. I'll be alright while I'm out here practicing my balancing act. :)


Tell me how you keep your balance, or how you get it back when you lose it. 


I read Stephani Hecht or JP Bowie or Megan Derr. They are my comfort reads, and always put me right back in balance. 

Happy Release Day~~The Faery Tree

Today is release day for the first book in The Tonawanda Faery Tales series, and I wanted to be sure to give a wee little shout out about it. Because I love this story. The characters are... well, not to sound crazed or anything, but they're kinda my pals.

Especially Thomas, that adorkable nut. If you guess why, whether you get it right or not, I'll enter your name in the contest twice.

Leave a comment here within the next twenty-four hours, along with a contact email and I'll enter you in a little giveaway to win a free copy of The Faery Tree, or if you've already purchased it, I'll substitute with the next book in the series which is due out at the end of next month.

Lator, Gators. I'm off to watch a funny film with my kidlet. :)

Work in Progress Wednesday: More from Incongruent Angel

Travis cracked open his eyes. He was really starting to worry about Aaron. He usually made fun of Taylor for suggesting that everyone needed therapy, but Travis couldn’t help feeling in this particular case the sentiment would be right on the money. He squeezed his eyes shut. God, what had happened to make Aaron so sure he was at fault for Timothy’s death? He let out a shaky breath. He just needed to get home and get some decent rest. Then he’d be in some kind of shape to tackle this. Right now all he could think about was the soft press of Aaron’s lips against his face. He wanted to feel that again.Watching the front door of the little pharmacy, Travis wondered how Aaron even knew this place was still open when he hadn’t lived around here for years. The Morris’s lived over Noe Valley. Aaron had lived here with his folks before they sold their little electronics company to a bigger company for a lot of money.  After that they’d moved to a beautiful home up in Sea Cliff, and bragged a lot about how they lived right down the street from Robin Williams. Timothy had once said to Travis that it was funny how that stupid symbol of their status was so much more important to them than the well being of their only child. Right afterward he’d shrugged, dismissing the matter and going on to ask if Travis wanted to come hang out with Aaron and him. Travis, of course, said yes. He hadn’t thought of that conversation in a long time. The glint of sun against the front door caught his attention. Aaron strolled out of the pharmacy, the late morning sun gilding his face. Travis rolled his eyes. He really needed to stop thinking of Aaron in the angel costume Wasserstein had dressed him in. Sheesh. He was too broken to do anything about the images that quickly followed the first glorious one of Aaron in the damp, skimpy white outfit he’d worn for the shoot. Aaron glanced up. Their eyes caught, and then Aaron’s whole face lit up. The smile that flashed across his face was incandescent. Travis hadn’t seen one like it on Aaron’s face for years. Oh, he smiled for the cameras, and often grinned for the fans, but nothing like this. This smile came straight from his heart, and seemed to lead straight to Travis’s. He gulped in a huge lungful of air as an answering smile stretched his mouth wide. Reaching up, Travis pushed the hair off his forehead. Aaron reached the truck, glancing away long enough to unlock the driver side door and pull it open. Then his eyes were back on Travis. “Hey.”Travis grinned wearily, inexplicably pleased to see Aaron, the silver tongued rouge of the entire Bay Area music scene rendered speechless by his presence. “Hey, yourself, goofball. Did they say how long it’s gonna take. I really wanna get to bed.”A second after the words left his mouth Travis realized they sounded like a teasing come-on. “Oh, hey, I didn’t mean—but only because I’m too sore—I. Shit.” As Travis watched, Aaron’s eyes crinkled up at the corners. “I know, T. Mr. Winthrop said he can have everything ready in about twenty minutes. If you wanna catch a nap, you can use my—”Travis slithered down into a prone position. “Your lap makes a nice pillow.” A jaw popping yawn ended anything else Travis intended to say. He hummed low in his throat as his head settled into Aaron’s lap. Yeah. This place right here, exactly here was where he was supposed to be. Travis rubbed his cheek along Aaron’s thigh, a mutter of contentment escaping him. Aaron’s hand settled in his hair, stoking slowly from his forehead toward the back of his head. Travis let go, drifting into the softly red and orange place behind his eyelids where sleep met him every night. 

Tuesday Triumph: It's a Rooster & Pig Publishing Thing

Is proud to present a new offering...
in addition to bestselling Author Vicktor Alexander, tomorrow we'll be able to offer you a new book by *drum roll please* Yes, you guessed it, moi.
And babies, I am thrilled. Just got done with the edits and formatting and oh yeah, oh yeah... this lovely cover... so, I'm off to make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. See you in the funny papers... oh, and of course, over on the Rooster and Pig Website and ARe, of course...

Monday means...

I have a lot to do... work, work, play, play...
Two days left to work on Incongruent Angel and then I'm on to the next project.
I'd be funnier, but I'm low on caffeine this morning. Once I get up to speed there, I shall be deep in writerlandia and not coming up for air til around 2:45... if you're still here then, perhaps we can chat.

Oh, and did you go read the LiAW shorts yet? There's a zillion (hyperbole) good ones. Get thee there and read. Here's a linky dinky: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/121724 go. Megan Derr's wowed me yesterday.

Ciao!

Friday: Flash postponed in favor of Advocacy

I don't have much to say today. Except this: go to this link. http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/163141/ny1-exclusive--school-prohibits-fifth-grader-from-giving-speech-on-same-sex-marriage
Watch the video and read the article. And then if, like me, you feel it's wrong that this bright 5th grader's voice was muted because of other's perceptions of proper and improper--despite the fact the boy's speech is all about civil rights, and not at all about sex ed.--then go to this link and sign my petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/united-states-president-invite-kameron-slade-to-the-white-house-to-give-his-speech?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

And have a super Friday.

Tuesday's Tease

A Little More Incongruent Angel...
Travis eyed the empty doorway in bewilderment. The fuck? One second Aaron was breathing him in like he was the answer to an oncoming oxygen shortage and the next he was being watched by the crazy assed bass player like Aaron really was a lost angel and Travis was the latest incarnation of the Anti-Christ. Travis drew in a deep breath, counting to forty-seven. He didn’t have the patience to count to a hundred, and if Aaron ever pushed him that far he’d give serious consideration to quitting the band altogether. Even though Travis loved the band, he loved Aaron more. If he had to pick one of the two he felt no hesitation about which choice he’d make. If Aaron cooperated they might have a fighting chance at being together. Travis bit into the meaty flesh on the inside of his bottom lip. He was gambling all his dreams on Aaron’s sincerity in wanting this, and his ability to change. Travis shrugged. Well, wherever the notes fell, man, that’s the melody they’d get. He didn’t have a choice in taking this shitty chance… if he tried to pack those damn saddle-bags one more time, he was pretty sure his damn heart would just stop beating entirely. Lying back against his pillow, Travis contemplated what he could do if everything blew up in his face. He snorted. “I could join the circus I guess.” A laugh at the door drew his gaze down from the ceiling. “Waste of a great guitar man. They only have those teensy toy guitars at the circus.”  The orderly from yesterday stood just inside the doorway. Travis wracked his brain for the guy’s name… shit. He’d never heard anyone call the guy by name. “What’s your name, man?”The kid blushed. “I’m Jeremy. I—I’m sorry. I thought you got it yesterday. Hey, if you don’t remember me I can take off—”“No, no, wait. Did you bring the tape?” Travis really wanted to hear this kid’s voice belting out one of Liquid Sin’s songs. Jeremy had something, a sweetly innocent rasp that would float perfectly on the layered sound Sin created with a crazy mix of traditional and non-traditional instrumentation. And if he could craft his own lyrics as well he’d be worth his weight in platinum. “I downloaded some songs onto a data stick in MP3 format. I figured that would probably work.” Jeremy smiled, his head tipping down a little as he glanced up through his lashes at Travis. “Yeah, man, that’ll be great.” Holy platinum-plated shit. The kid was adorkable. Shy and nervous… Travis hoped like hell his singing voice lived up to the promises his speaking voice made, because with that nervous newbie vibe and Hottie McHotpants look he had going added to the sultry look Aaron and Rafi brought and his own boy next door look… they’d hit every demographic in existence. “We’ll listen to it as soon as we get home. You got a card or something to go with it so we can give you a call once we give it a listen?”Jeremy reached into the front pocket of the battered silver messenger bag he had slung over one shoulder. “Um, yeah, sure. I had my friend Liz help me make some up on this freebie deal and…” He bit his lip, a tide of red sweeping up his face. “I mean, yeah. Here you go.”He reached out to hand Travis the data-stick and the card. Travis caught his wrist. “Hey. How old are you, man? No offense or nothing, but you look hella young. I just wanna be sure if we like your singing voice the lawyers know what kinda contract to draw up.”Jeremy’s brown eyes got huge in his face, and he jerked back quickly, rubbing his wrist. “I—eighteen. I’m eighteen.” He kept rubbing his hand and wrist as he backed toward the door. Travis raised both eyebrows. Oooookay. Somebody didn’t like to be touched. That was fine. “Alrighty then. We’ll give you a call tomorrow.” Jeremy nodded. He started to pivot toward the hallway, stopped and looked sideways at Travis. “Thanks. I love the band. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

Monday, Mania and doing the Dance

Yeah, so I thought you'd like a little something to kickstart your Monday. I've just finished the first draft of The Faery Tree, book one of The Tonawanda Faery Tales, the series I'm writing with Vicktor Alexander *may his star continue to rise*... and I'm jumping right into the remodeling of Incongruent Angel to expand it into a full length novel. Not a lot of time to chat, but I'll whet your desire for these books with another peek at the fabulous covers. :)

 Incongruent Angel will be the first of a series centering around the band Travis and Aaron play in, Liquid Sin. I really thought the title was luscious! And Vicktor has given me an equally luscious cover to match!

I love Aaron, Travis, and Travis's whole crazy family. Must go write more about them!
Happy, happy sigh. This cover for The Faery Tree is absolutely perfect. Let the Snoopy dancing commence.

A little Something Every Writer Should Know: The In Between by Kris Jacen

You may or may not know who Kris Jacen is. You've seen her work though, even if you don't know her name. She's a muse, a goddess, a mother, the holder of an EDJ and the kick-ass Exec. Editor over at MLR Press.

The woman is a powerhouse.

I managed to persuade her (okay, I bribed with views of multiple hotties and a cool ass place to break her fast one day) to write a bit about something that plagues many a new and not so new writer, and robs far too many of us of far too many amazing stories.

The dreaded revise and resubmit letter.

Many see we regret to inform you and flee for the hills screaming and whimpering, fearing that they are merely being told politely that they, and their writing suck. Babies, it just ain't so... and Kris, the all powerful Smut Fairy and muse to many is just the one to tell us why. So, without further pandering or posturing from moi, here's Kris...

****


The In Between

With all the editing and formatting I do, I've gotten so far behind in my pleasure reading it's not funny. BUT I finally gave up and started listening to audiobooks for a few of the books that I so want to read but don't really have the time to read. Right now I'm listening to JR Ward's LOVER REBORN (I’m a huge fangrrl) and the main male character has lost his shellan (mate) and she's in the In Between—didn't go to their version of Heaven (The Fade) or Hell (Dhund); it's different for everyone and can be a desolate place.  Now you're probably wondering where I'm going with this reference or thinking I've lost my mind (which is a possibility). Most authors at one point in their career go to THEIR version of the In Between. Yes, they do. When? When they see a revise and resub letter. They're so focused on "they didn't say yes" that they miss that "THEY DIDN'T SAY NO". That's right, they completely miss the entire letter.

Most publishing houses have three types of letters that they'll send to an author that has submitted a manuscript to them:

· Yes – here's a contract; we might want some edits and you'll work with an editor but we want it

· No – sorry but this just doesn't fit our needs at this time but thank you (and if the letter is from ManLoveRomance/Passion in Print/Featherweight there will be editorial feedback on your story – just FYI)

· Revise/resub – and this is the one that throws authors to their In Between; the house liked the bones of the story but wants to see: a) that you're willing to work on your story with them; b) that what the house thinks of as major changes are acceptable to you and that you'll change them; c) you've got the determination to work with an editor in a back and forth to put out the strongest book that you can

The whole point of a revise and resub and what most authors don't see when they read a revise/resub is that the house really wants to work with you but thinks the manuscript needs more work before it can go into edits. A house is not going to take the time to give you point-by-point feedback if they don't want you to do it and send it back to them.

The In Between for authors really isn't that bad a place – it just means that the editor wants you to do a bit more work before they send you and "yes, here's your contract" letter.
****I know of what I speak (er, spoke?) as I was in receipt of a revise/resub letter from MLR... I nearly tossed it into my etrash until a wise writer friend told me it didn't mean no... it meant we'd like to but can't unless you change a few things. That story ended up being the first thing I ever published as a professional writer. 
Thank you Kris Jacen, and Mlr Press for taking a chance on me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 
You can find more about the amazing Kris over at Mlr Press. You'll be looking at The Talent, which surely applies to Kris, and while you're there take a moment to poke around and find out a bit about the authors and artists listed there.