Cathy Perkins's Blog, page 145

June 4, 2013

New Beginnings

I had to write a business letter this past week that was very difficult. I had the assignment for a few months and kept putting it off but I learned a long time ago procrastinating would not make the requirement go away, just shorten the deadline.


I finally got it done at the eleventh hour. I had decided to keep it short and the tone pleasant.


Hi –


For someone who has started a writing career, starting this message has been somewhat difficult. I almost didn’t write it at all. I thought I would t...

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Published on June 04, 2013 07:00

June 3, 2013

How do you find your books?

I often talk about writing, but today, decided to talk about another obsession…reading.


My reading habits have changed greatly over the years. As a teen, my absolute favorite trip would be to the bookstore, where I would spend hours pouring over back-cover-blurbs, trying to find the just-right read. I was most definitely the loyal reader–meaning if I loved one of your books, I bought every backlist title as well. AND I would find new authors by recommendations of authors I already loved. This...

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Published on June 03, 2013 05:15

May 29, 2013

Rock Star Fantasy For A Day

Most days being a writer is enough of a fantasy existence for me. I mean, spending hours creating at a computer keyboard, trying to keep my muse focused when all she wants to do is play Pocket Frogs, having imaginary people talk back to me, knowing I have a job that, at any moment, could send me running for the emotional haven of cleaning the bathroom? Seriously, this is a dream life! But, once in a while, a person simply has to escape and do something truly unique. Just to break the routine...

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Published on May 29, 2013 21:01

May 28, 2013

Puppies and Hush Puppies



It’s no secret I’m a sucker for a Dachshund. It’s a weakness the local humane society enthusiastically exploits—er—supports (I’m on their doxie sucker call list). Okay, not really, but it sometimes seems that way. I am the owner of five dogs four of which are of the noble Germanic but height-challenged breed. The newest addition to the Denton pack is Charlie Mahoney. At seven months, Charlie Mahoney is a chewing, digging, barking ball of energy although he came to us on May 3 emaciated, cover...

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Published on May 28, 2013 21:05

May 26, 2013

Revise, rewrite … Release!



I’ve never participated in NaNo before. NaNo being National Novel Writing Month –write a novel or at least a big chunk of one in a month. Spew words onto the page without editing? No outline, breadcrumbs or even anidea who dunnit? Uhm, not my writing style.


So what does any of that have to do with a new release?


Everything.


A series of coincidences (of course The Artist’s Way calls it synchronicity; the 60s, serendipity – both are more positive terms, aren’t they?) included a Savvy newsletter, E...

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Published on May 26, 2013 22:00

May 23, 2013

Take the Midnight Train to Paris with Juliette Sobanet!

Today I’m privileged to welcome my dear friend, fellow writer, and intrepid CP Juliette Sobanet to the Muse. A Montlake author of four charming womens’ fiction novels with a French twist, Juliette has agreed to offer us a window into her Parisian-inspired world and her new serialized novelMidnight Train to Paris. It’s truly ooh la la!



Thanks, Sharon! One year ago, my husband and I made the cross-country move from Washington, DC to San Diego. During our first month in the land of sunshine and m...

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Published on May 23, 2013 01:00

May 17, 2013

Authenticity – Dale Mayer

Hi everyone,


It is with great relief to say that I have handed off book 5 of my Psychic Vision series to myeditor (first round with first editor). I am clarifying the editor situation just in case you think the book will be available for sale in the next week or two – because it won’t be ready that quickly. As much as I’d like that, it never seems to work out quite so neatly.


Getting this book to this point is a huge weight off my shoulders. Not only are these books convoluted in plot, but they...

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Published on May 17, 2013 01:00

May 15, 2013

For Love or Money

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Published on May 15, 2013 07:32

May 14, 2013

Gatsby


I went to see Baz Luhrmann’s Gatsby with a friend on Saturday night. The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of my favorite books growing up. I’m not alone. The Great Gatsby is widely considered to be a literary classic and quite possibly ‘The Great American Novel’. The book explores themes of decadence, idealism, social upheaval, and excess in the prosperous early 1920s. The ‘roaring’ twenties as it were.


Courtesy-Warner Bros.


And I don’t care what the critics say about this la...

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Published on May 14, 2013 06:07

May 7, 2013

Dads and Writing

I saw “42″ last week. I saw it mainly for my Dad whom I lost to a heart attack 30+ years ago. One of my strongest memories of him was a very brief conversation we kind of had about the Dodgers.


It was World Series time and my Dad was watching the game with a lot of interest. I don’t remember who the Dodgers’ competition was, but I remember asking him who he was rooting for.


“The Dodgers,” he growled with a nod at the television. He also gave me a look that seemed to say “Who else would I root f...

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Published on May 07, 2013 01:04