C.J. Galaway's Blog, page 9

Coming Home and My first Appearance as an Author

It's weird being back in my hometown and not being at home.  Since my mom passed there really isn't a home for me anymore.  So I sit at the motel I've started using on a regular basis and wonder what Saturday will be like.  It is my very first book signing and I am more than a little nervous.  I promise I will go into more detail after it is over, but for right now I'm trying to stay positive. 


The books are safely at the bookstore, where they will go on sale tomorrow and also be available the day of the signing. 


The book signing in case you don't remember is at Bradley's Book Outlet in the Uniontown Mall in Uniontown, PA Saturday January 25th from 2-4 PM.


I look forward to seeing you there, and discussing books with you.


C.J.

First Steps towards the Signing

As promised, I am discussing the process of my first book signing with you.  This is a new, terrifying, and exciting experience for me.  I'm not used to contacting people form the media and have found that I am more shy than I thought at first.

I already posted a blog with the link to my first article in today's Tribune Review.  I have some other leads that I'm waiting patiently to hear replies from.

Sadly, there is one I thought would be more supportive that seems to be ignoring me completely.

But let's dwell on the positive, shall we?

After all, not everyone is going to like you and to expect that is foolish and unrealistic.



As the clock ticks down to the signing, things that are mend to be are rolling smoothly into place, and the things that are not...well they have stopped moving or never started moving at all.


Such is life.

Tribune Review Article

Here is the link to an awesome article written by Kaylie Harper.


http://triblive.com/mobile/5416941-96/galaway-bite-marks


It's an excellent article, and was my first serious interview with the media.  Kaylie made me feel very comfortable and put me at ease.  It made the process so much easier (for me anyway).

Hopefully you enjoy the piece as much as I did.

Holiday Aftermath or What to do when Christmas is over?

Another Christmas has come and gone once again.  Did you get all that you had hoped for or were there things left on your wish list?  Was time well-spent with loved ones and family?  Were you unable to be with family this year?  Or was it a chore best done and over with?

Whatever question best suits your situation, the day is done and behind us, leaving the question...

What now?

New Year's Eve is coming, but it's almost a week away.  The world has returned to a state of almost normal, and some of us have returned to the grind of the job while others find themselves with too much time on their hands.

For me, I'm starting the process of getting ready for my very first book signing with its own set of questions and fears.  To help with those fears, I will be sharing the process as it unfolds with you here.

Stay tuned to find out the first step...

The paperback is out!

As of 8:59 PM last  night, the paperback was available for sale.  It will soon be available for sale on Amazon but right now you can get your copy by clicking the link below.


https://www.createspace.com/4492378

Writer's Block and the Daily Fight

 "I used Grammarly to grammar check this post, because it is the best cure for writer's block!"





                                                        
                                                
Seriously, it is...I kid you not.
                                             
There have been times I have been so stuck on a point that I wanted to bash my head off a table.
                                                   
Instead, I work on taking what I have written with pen and paper and typing it into my computer. checking the spelling and grammar as I go.  This look gives me a chance to take time to re-read what I have done and also make any changes to the story as I go.

                                                                         
And I always seem to fix the problem I was hopelessly stuck on.
                                                                  
Give it a try...you never know until you do.

Stalled Dreams

What do you do when it feels like your dreams are stalled and might never come true?

                                                             
I wish I knew because I'm there right now...
                                                                       
                                                                         
Having said that, I get that good things come to those who wait, that things take time...yadda yadda, blah, blah, blah.  When I hear things like that it sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher in my head. 
                                                                          
But this time it feels like I'm spinning my wheels and no one in sight with the means to help me out.
                                                 
                                                    
So I have put the machine in park and am trying to find a way out of this rut.  I am not giving up.

The 13th Hour

As the clock struck the 6th hour
The light began to fade
A chill settled upon the land
And the faintest whisper
Was heard upon the wind
                                             
As the clock struck the 9th hour
Darkness descended upon the land
The souls within their graves stirred
As an eerie voice whispered
"Not yet but soon"
                                      
As the clock struck the 12th hour
Silence settled like a heavy blanket upon the land
A lone figure walked the streets
His red eyes glowed in the moonlight
As he awaited the next strike of the clock
                                                         
As the clock struck the 13th hour
A great shout was heard throughout the land
"Arise!  Our time has come!"
The shouts and cries of the undead filled the air
As from every corner they came
To kneel at the feet of The Overlord

Stephanie

“It’s Stephanie, call me.”  I replay the message again to make sure I had heard it correctly.  Just hearing her voice again after all this time makes my heart pound faster.  My fingers tremble as I pick up the phone and dial.
            “Hello?”  The sound of her husky voice makes me smile.
            “You rang?”
            “Yeah, I need money.  When are you going to pay me?”
            “Pay you?” 
            “The five hundred for the plane ticket I bought for you.”
            “Is-is that the only reason you called?”
            “Yes.”
            “Oh…okay.”  My heart sinks as I say the words.  
            “Well?  When am I going to see my money?”
            “I’ll see what I can do Stephanie.  I’ll need time to get it.  I just don’t have it right now.”  Taking a deep breath I change the subject.  “How’s school going?”
            “It’s going better.  How’s it going for you?”
            “It’s……...going, I guess.”
            “It doesn’t sound like it.”   Stephanie must think it’s college that has me upset, so I let her keep on thinking it.  I suffer through a few more minutes of stilted conversation and say good-bye.  I sink into the chair in front of my computer and just stare at the blank screen in front of me.   I don’t understand her anymore.  She’s not the Stephanie I fell so head over heels in love with.  Maybe she never existed except in my own little fantasy world where relationships like ours aren’t treated like a carnival sideshow attraction.  My mind goes back to the day that I first met Stephanie face-to-face.  The day I jumped into the rabbit-hole feet first and never looked back…
********
            “Are you sure you want me to stay and wait with you?”  Darlene, my best friend, asks me.  Her light blue eyes gaze steadily at me.
            “Yes if you don’t mind.  I’m a little afraid to meet this woman by myself.”  I laugh.  “What if she’s just looking to satisfy a curiosity?  Or worse yet, a psychopath?”
            “I’m new to this too.  No one ever said I’d be helping my best friend look for Miss Right.”
            “You have a level head when it comes to romance, I don’t.”    I sit and play with my coffee cup.  “You’re married and have a child.  To me that’s stability.”
            “Yes but how’s that going to help you in this situation?  Men I can help you with, but not other women.”
            “I trust your opinion.  You’re brutally honest with me when no one else is.  I need that.”
            “That’s because everyone else is afraid to be blunt with the big bad female truck driver.  You don’t scare me.”  Just then a vision from my dreams walked into my reality.
            “Hi, which one of you is CJ?”  She asks, looking at both of us.
            “I’m CJ, you must be Stephanie.”  I quickly get to my feet.  “This is my best friend Darlene.”  They greet each other pleasantly as Darlene gets up.
            “I’ve got to get home before my child decides to do something destructive.  It was nice meeting you Stephanie.”  She gives me a hug and whispers in my ear to call her, no matter how late.
            “Won’t you have a seat?”
            “Thanks.”  She sits and I can’t help but notice her eyes.  The color is a deep blue with a ring of black around the outer edge, absolutely gorgeous.
            “So, can I get you a cup of coffee?”  She nods and I flag down a waitress for a fresh cup.
            “You’re really a truck driver?”  She asks, smiling at me.  “I’ve always been fascinated by the big rigs.”
            “Yes, I’ve been doing it for a long time now.”  I laugh, finishing my coffee.  “Would you like to see my truck?  It’s parked in my driveway and I don’t live far from here.”
“I’d like that.   Can I follow you in my car?”  She asks, getting up.
“Sure, where are you parked?”
            “In the back of the coffee shop.”
            “So am I.  Lead the way.”  I follow her out into the parking lot, admiring the view as I go.  She’s about the same height I am, give or take an inch.  But the rest of her is pure femme beauty.  From the long, brown hair to the graceful way she walks it’s pure poetry in motion.
            “By the way, you lied in your description of yourself.”  Stephanie calls over her shoulder as she stops at her car.
            “I did?  How?”
            “You’re not stocky, you’re muscular, and it looks really good on you.”  She turns and playfully kisses me.  “Actually it makes you look very sexy.”  I just smile because her kiss has left me tongue-tied.  “Where’s your car?”
            “Actually it’s the black pick-up right next to yours.  I’ll back out and you can follow me.”  She nods and I get into my Ford Ranger and back out of my stall.  Looking into my rear-view mirror I see her following me and smile.  Maybe this time I’ve finally found someone to share my life with…
********
            A wet tongue on my face and two paws on my shoulders bring me back to reality.  Nikita, my Chow-Chow, looks into my face with a puzzled expression on hers.
            “I’m sorry girl, just spending some time in the past.  Do you need to go outside?”  She barks twice in response, which means yes.  I grab my jacket and her leash.  Nikita looks up at me with her tongue hanging out while I fasten the leash to her collar.
            We’re going back on the road soon, I promise.  As soon as spring semester is over.”  Her reply is to wag her short, curled tail.   “Let’s go for a walk.”  She barks again as we leave the house.  My mind drifts back to the reason Stephanie had called me.  She wanted me to fly with her to see her brother over Thanksgiving and I didn’t want to go…
********
            “It won’t be that bad, you’ll see.  I just don’t want to go by myself.”  Stephanie looks up at me with those gorgeous eyes of hers.  “I need you with me.”
            “All right, I’ll go.”  She covers my face with kisses.  I pull her closer to me and hold her tightly.  “I’d do anything to make you happy.”
            The flight to Salem is a pleasant one, which is good since flying terrifies me.  At the airport Stephanie decides to rent a car so she can show me her hometown.  We drive past her high school and some of her favorite hang outs from that time in her life.
            “I hope you’ll like my brother David.  He can be a bit old-fashioned at times, but is really a nice guy.”  Stephanie says, glancing briefly at me.  This is the most she’s ever told me about David beyond his name.
            “You did tell him you were bringing me along?  I don’t want to be dropping in unexpected.”
            “Yes, I did.  I even told him your name and mentioned that we’re living together.”  She reaches over and tousles my hair.  “I just didn’t tell him if you’re housebroken or not.”
            “Thanks, even Nikita would be offended by that remark.”  I grumble, trying my best to sound upset by it.  She just leans over and kisses me on the cheek.
            “David will love you almost as much as I do.”  She pulls into the driveway of a beautiful old colonial home.  “Are you ready for this?”
            “No choice now.”  I joke as we get out of the car.  The front door opens and an older male version of Stephanie steps out and picks her up in a bear hug.
            “Sis!  It’s good to see you!”  I just watch as they hug and talk briefly.  Stephanie turns and holds a hand out to me.  I smile and grasp it tightly.
            “David, this is CJ.”
            “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”  I hold out my other hand and he slowly shakes it.
            “It-it’s nice to meet you too.”  He stammers, looking at his sister in confusion.  “I thought you were bringing your boyfriend from the way you talked.”
            “I told you I was bringing CJ, whom I love very much.  She’s my girlfriend.”  Stephanie quietly answers him.  We start to follow him into the house and I hold her back.
            “He thought you were bringing your boyfriend?  He had no clue you’re a lesbian?”  I look at her, my head still spinning.  “This might not have been the best time to tell him.”
            “It’ll be all right, I promise.”  Stephanie puts her arms around my neck and kisses me.  “Once he sees how much I love you, he’ll have to accept it.  Come on, let’s go inside.”  Oh boy is this going to be a fun holiday…
********
After taking Nikita back home I go to the bank and get approved on the spot for a personal loan.  I guess I’m still doing anything I can to make her happy…
********
  I walk into her apartment and look around.  It’s the first time I’ve been inside.  It’s small, but clean and well kept.  Stephanie motions to a chair and I sit down.
            “I was able to get the money for you.”  I set the envelope on the table between us.  “I still don’t understand why you left after we came home from that trip.”
            “We fought the whole time we were at my brother’s.  Isn’t that reason enough?”
Stephanie scowls, still standing.  “Maybe I realized it was wrong to fall in love with you.”
            “Wait a minute, you fought.  I didn’t, at least not with you.”
            “No, but you did enough of it with David to make up for it.”
            “What was I supposed to do, just sit there and let him attack you like that?  I love you!”  Getting to my feet I walk over to her.  “You are the most important person in my life.  No one hurts you in front of me and gets away with it.”  I tilt her chin up so she’s looking at me.  It’s then I see the tears running down her face.  “There is nothing wrong with how we feel about each other.  All I want to do is spend the rest of my life making you happy.  I can’t stop or change how I feel about you.  Turning Nikita into a cat would be easier than trying to stop my love for you.”
            “You-you said love, not loved.  Does that mean you still love me?”  Stephanie whispers.
            “Yes, I still love you.  But I’m not going to play games or do anything to hurt you.  If we’re together it has to be what you want.”  Letting go of her chin I gently wipe the tears from her face.
            “I can’t think clearly right now.”  Stephanie admits, trembling.   “I need time to think.”
            “I won’t pressure you, but I’m going back out on the road for the summer in two weeks.  I’d like an answer by then.”  I kiss her on the forehead and leave…
********
            Everything’s in my rig ready to go and I’ve just finished talking with couple that rents my home for the summer.  Nikita’s already in her seat, anxious to get started so after taking one last look around I walk toward my rig.
            “Hey Driver, going my way?”  Looking toward the road I see Stephanie walking toward me.
            “Depends.  Where are you planning on going?”  I ask, fighting the rising lump in my throat.
            “I’m listening to my heart, like I should’ve done a long time ago.”  She stops in front of me.  “I love you CJ.  I want us to spend the rest of our lives together.  Can we please start over?”  A wave of emotion floods me as I hold her. 
            “Always Stephanie.  Always.”  I open the truck door for her to get in.  “You’re going to have to kick Nikita out of the jump seat.”  She climbs in and so do I.  Gunning the engine to life I pull out into the street, ready to start a new chapter with the woman of my dreams.
 
 
 
 
 

Doubts

What do you do when doubts creep into your mind?  You know that little nagging voice that says...
What are you doing writing?
No one wants to read it.
No one will buy it.
All you will do is make a fool of yourself.

                                                               
So what do you do when those and other questions start like a menacing whisper in  your ear?
                                                               
                                                                  
Do what I do, ignore them and keep writing!
                                                                      
                                                                     
Now, I haven't always followed that advice, I must admit.  But I am finding that if I write, those voices tend to get quieter and quieter until they slowly fade away...
                                                                          
                                                                                 
                                                                                   
                                                                                      
Ignore the doubts and KEEP WRITING!