Since It’s Posted in PM, It Must Be True

From Publishers Marketplace: Cathy Pegau's CAUGHT IN AMBER, sci-fi suspense about a former drug addict enlisted to get close to her ex-lover and drug dealer to help save a federal agent's addicted sister, who finds herself falling in love with the sexy agent, and BREATHLESS, to Angela James at Carina Press, for publication in 2013, by Natalie Fischer Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency (World).

(Thanks for the head’s up, Loreth ; )

Yes, I’ve know about the deal for a while now, but hadn’t said anything official until I okayed it with my lovely agent, Natalie. So now we all know.

I’m super excited to be working with Rhonda Helms on these books. She was fantastic with RULEBREAKER, and I know AMBER and BREATHLESS will be in good hands with her whipping guiding things.I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the input of my crit partners Jody Wallace and Sharron McClellan Camaratta and beta readers Melanie and Bella (did I miss anyone?). I thought AMBER would never get good enough to submit, but with patience and excellent revision notes, Natalie made it happen.

Okay! Back to work on BREATHLESS so Rhonda doesn’t hurt me.

Thanks, everyone!

WRITING A SF NOVEL PART 4: THE WRITING PROCESS--Guest author Robert Appleton

How lucky we are! SF author Robert Appleton is here today with the next installment of his five part series AND this is the release day for his newest book, Sparks in the Cosmic Dust from Carina Press!


WRITING A SF NOVEL PART 4: THE WRITING PROCESS

Or Thru the Black Hole

iPod fully charged. Check. Assorted Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, James Horner, Holst and other cosmic composers set to continuous play. Check. Phone off. Check. John Carter of Mars & Dejah Thoris and Luke & Yoda posters nicely lit on the wall. Check. Sisyphean mindset in place. Um, check. Genius in place. I wish. Ideas racing at light speed. CHECK-CHECK-CHECK...

It’s hard to describe the moment-to-moment process of actually writing the book without sounding pretty insane. Sure, I’m using the craft I’ve learned painstakingly over years of storytelling. I can describe to you the structure and the characters and the worldbuilding and how to create tension and emotion. But what I can’t tell you is exactly how I combine all those, moment to moment, to spin the threads uniquely mine.

Without coming across as too goofy, I will say that while anyone with a competent grasp of language can learn the nuts and bolts required to write a novel, you have to take it far beyond that. Not that I’ve mastered this gig yet—I don’t think you ever really do—but what makes a strong piece of storytelling stand out from the crowd is, for me, something that can’t be taught. It’s the moment to moment intuition, the descriptive flights of fancy, the feel for tension and emotion in a given scenario, the insights into human behaviour you’ve picked up over a lifetime. You don’t know for sure they’re going to work on the page but you trust your instincts anyway.

Writing is generating those sparks in cosmic dust and using them to light your way.

You can’t be that intense all the time, of course. Knowing when to step off the gas is just as important in novel writing. You don’t want to exhaust the reader. And the best way to ensure that is to keep the writing smooth and natural: pacing is another intuitive skill, probably the easiest one to get wrong when you’re wrapped up in the grammar mechanics and the plot points and the million other factors jostling for your attention. There comes a point where you have to just glide and let your instincts take over, otherwise you’d be agonising for a year over each chapter.

The hardest scenes for me to write in Sparks in Cosmic Dust were those with group dialogue. It’s like acting all the parts in a play on your own, and each character has to have a unique voice while also driving the story forward. I’m at my best with one on one dialogue—I like generating friction in the backs and forths—but in a five-strong group, it’s harder to settle into a groove. It’s also hard to give each character equal weight. While it’s often necessary to focus on one or two in the scene, you have to at least consider the others’ POV, even if they’re not speaking.

The easiest chapters were, strangely enough, the action scenes. There are quite a few in Sparks, especially in the second half. But I’ve found from past experience that my action scenes flow much better if I write them in one go. The ebb and flow requires continuity, and any time I have to stop-start, I lose that momentum. One extended chase/fight scene ending on the beach of Zopyrus I had to spread over two chapters, but I made sure I got the whole thing done in two days. It also had an emotional climax, which may have ultimately worked better because I was so exhausted. The desperation the characters felt mirrored my own.

I outlined thirty-odd chapters before I wrote Sparks, giving a paragraph for each chapter. That’s always the most critical part of novel writing for me in that the story arcs have to work in condensed form before I even think about embarking on the journey into the black hole. Chapters evolve as I write, but for the most part that initial outline is close to the end product.

It took me three months to write Sparks, and another one to edit it before submission. That’s a pretty quick turnaround, especially the latter part. I think the confidence gained from having written four previous novels allowed me to loosen up and trust my intuition this time. The result is my most ambitious and probably my most consistent SF book yet.

Today is launch day for Sparks in Cosmic Dust! Woohoo! To celebrate, I’m posting a five-part look at the book’s development, from initial concept to book launch. I'm also giving away one SF title from my back catalogue with each segment, ending with a special Sparks giveaway. The winners will be all announced on September 30th on my own blog: http://robertbappleton.blogspot.com

Here’s where you can find the other installments:

Part 1: Concept (Aug 31)—Contact: Infinite Futures Blog
Part 2: Character (Sep 13)—Mercurial Times (my blog)
Part 4: The Writing Process (Sep 23)—Shawn Kupfer’s Blog
Part 5: Publication (Sep 28)—Carina Press Blog

With this fourth installment, I’m giving away one set of The Eleven Hour Fall trilogy ebooks. To enter, either leave a comment here on Cathy’s blog or send me an email at sevenmercury7@aol.com with SPARKS GIVEAWAY FOUR in the subject line. Don’t forget to give your name.

Good luck!

Warm Fuzzy Feeling

During the Rulebreaker Blog Tour I was lucky enough to be a guest on several fabulous blogs. There were several giveaways of the book and I received some lovely responses from winners.

One of those winners, author Misty Simon reviewed Rulebreaker on her blog. Misty told me that while she'd never read F/F before she had been looking for one to try. Having someone new to the genre enjoy your story is a warm fuzzy that writers crave. Okay, maybe that's just me, but I don't think so : )

Anyway, I want to say thanks to Misty and to all the other folks reading my book, perhaps getting a first taste of a new genre. You all make my day!

A Little Quiet Time--Sort Of

Thank you to everyone who popped in to visit the variety of blogs during the last few weeks of the Rulebreaker Blog Tour! I've been getting some great feedback and have had a lot of fun interacting with readers and other writers. Some folks who hadn't read much science fiction romance or F/F fiction have told me how much they enjoyed the story. I can't tell you how fabulous that makes me feel.

So if you've read Rulebreaker, or any other story outside your normal fare, tell me what you thought.

Here, I'll start. I recently read my first M/M, Muffled Drum by fellow Carina Press author Erastes. I'd read snippets of M/M before, but it really wasn't my thing. But Erastes's story touched me. There was such tenderness and heartache. Yes, there were some love scenes, but they were tasteful and poigniant.

I'll probably read more of her work, and perhaps look for other M/M stories of similar sensuality.

In a couple of weeks, I'll have a guest blogger here and there, but for the most part things will be a little quiet as far as all out promoting and touring. Which is good. I'm scheduled to work through the middle of September and have a manuscript to revise, another partial to tweak, and a WiP to flesh out. I'll keep things up to date and let you know how things progress.

In the meanwhile, have fun out there and be kind to each other.

Bella Street's "Kiss Me, I'm Irish"

One of the great things about the internet is hooking up (no, not *that* kind of hooking up) with people who share interests. Writing is no different in that respect, and the beauty of digital publishing is when you find a new author you can immediately download and read their books.

Bella Street and I are members of the same writers' loop. We "met" when I asked about blog tours and we hit it off. Bella is the author of paranormal romances (and a So I Married an Axe Murderer fan, so you know she's cool ;) with a new release out called Kiss Me, I'm Irish.

Here's the blurb:

In 1830, Emily Musgrave is heading to a convent for misbehavior. In modern-day Tennessee, Liam Jackson is playing his Dobro in seedy bars. It's doing nothing for his career and even less for the dark places in his soul.

Pixie mischief can not only change time-lines, it can change hearts. Because sometimes a girl just needs a little magic in her life.

Here's an excerpt:

He stared at her without answering. Emily returned his gaze, realizing this was the first time she'd seen him in full light. His hair was coal black and mussed from sleep. His skin, tan and ruddy, as if he were a field laborer. And his eyes were the intense blue of a milkwort blossom, with a telltale darker ring around the outer edge of the irises. Of course! With a name like Liam she should've realized it sooner. He wasn't a gypsy at all.

He was an Irishman.

That meant this was some form of purgatory. Jem, Donnelly, and Our Lady of the Portal had had their revenge after all.

Crinkles formed at the edges of Liam's eyes. “So you're still holding to the story that you're from another time?”

“I believe I've already made it clear I don't tell falsehoods, Mr...” She bit her lip. “As we have not yet properly been introduced, I'm afraid I am ignorant of your formal title.”

“My last name is Jackson, but you can call me Liam.”

“Well, Mr. Jackson,” she said, lifting her chin, “I am Miss Emily Musgrave recently of Trethwick Hall, Truro, Cornwall, 1813.”

And here are the purchase links:
Amazon link

Smashwords link

Emily is out of her element, but with the help of musicians Liam and his sister Tinker, she gets a quick education about 21st century living. It's a sweet time travel tale set in the South that has fun characters and interesting twists. I enjoyed it quite a bit and look forward to reading more of her work.

Check out Bella's Kiss Me, I'm Irish and bring a little magic into your life.

Rulebreaker Release Date

August 8, 2011 will be a heck of a day here in the Hopefully-Not Frozen North. My F/F SFR Rulebreaker debuts at Carina Press. Here's a blurb:

Liv Braxton, a small-time thief stuck on a backwater planet, takes on the gig of a lifetime filling in as executive assistant at Exeter Mining Company. Her job is to download incriminating files, but Liv finds herself unexpectedly torn when she falls for Zia Talbot, the beautiful and alluring VP she is supposed to betray.

It seems unreal that this story, that ANY story of mine, is going to be published. But there it is. Or will be.

I'm getting up the nerve to contact folks for a blog tour, which should be fun/chaotic. I've never done one before, nor hosted any other person on my blog, so we'll see how it goes.

IRL, I want to have a release party, but other than displaying my cover (which I can't wait to see because Carina puts out some awesome covers!) it's not like I can sign anything. Still, any excuse for a party, right?

August 8 is also the start of Science Camp week. We will have at least two house guests, possibly three, to add to the mix. That'll be fun, but we'll have to keep things family-rated, as two of our guests are under 13.

So there you have it. August 8, 2011. Mark your calendars and stay tuned. I'll post a cover and, hopefully, a blog tour schedule.

Title Me This

A lot of writers have difficulty coming up with titles for their work. You want something that conveys the tone and perhaps the genre, but it should be dynamic, gripping. Different. Because despite the fact that titles aren't copyrighted, do you *really* want to call your book "Gone with the Wind" or "The Bible?" Probably not.

I'm a hit or miss sort of titler. My first foray into fantasy (boy, that sounds kinkier than it is) yielded "The Guardian." Rather generic, in the scheme of things, and at the time I didn't realize that everyone and his/her brother/sister had a book with this title. An Amazon search recently came up with 11,000+ hits. Yeah, that book will be retitled. (After it's revised. It was a first foray and it shows. I still like it well enough, but I'm betting my skills have improved in the years since it was written. Gosh, I *hope* they've improved!)

My next writing/titling project was a trilogy that is still waiting for fantasy romance to take a bigger upswing, and yes, for me to revise the daylights out of it. But the titles rock! The first is "What Price the Crown" (zero hits on Amazon--Yay!), the second, "Once a Princess," (18 hits, mostly for the same book) and the third, "Queen without a Country" (9 hits, all about Queen Mary). Not that the titles alone will get it sold, but they are good titles, if I do say so myself.

My paranormal women's fiction, "Haunted," is another okay title on a particularly favorite story. That one will need less revising (I hope) to let it see the world some day.

My SFR "Bad Girl" was called that for lack of a better idea as I wrote it. The title fit, since the MC is a thief, and I really didn't think much of it as I queried. No one at Carina Press asked about changing the title when they offered for it. But recently, I was once again at Amazon and put it in the search box. 702 hits, including this gem from 1946 . So I contacted my editor and asked about changing the title. She said no one at Carina had suggested a change, but if I wanted to offer some alternates she'd see what the team thought (side note: *love* the idea of having a team : ).

So we brainstormed. And brainstormed some more. Several words kept coming back to me--rules, felon, thief, breaking rules--words that would give a sense of the story, combinations that would hopefully catch a readers attention. Between the two of us, we had six or seven. Kym told me to pick the 3-5 I liked and she'd let me know. As I ran through them again, I was telling my kids about the situation. My youngest piped up, "How about 'Rulebreaker'?"

Huh. How *about* "Rulebreaker?"

I put it in the mix, told Kym my 10 year old suggested it as a "What the heck" idea, let my agent know what was in the works, and waited. Well, the team liked it. My agent was good with it. So now, "Bad Girl" is "Rulebreaker," and I'm thrilled. And I know who to consult when titling my books.

Science New Post...Elsewhere

Kind of a "cheat" post today. I recently joined the Carina Press SF/SFR blog "Contact--Infinite Futures" and I've put up a piece about science news. Pop on over. I have a few things brewing at the moment and will share soon!

Making My Mark

I've been reading up on marketing strategies and branding for authors. With a book coming out in August or so (still on track there, as far as I know) I need to get word out every way I can.

I've taken mini courses, subscribed to marketing groups, looked into what others have done, to glean what may work and what may not. For instance, a Real Live book signing isn't going to do me much good because mine will be an ebook. What would I do? Sign the readers' computer or Kindle screens? That would be annoying. A reading at my local bookstore or library might fly, but again, I wouldn't have much in the way of tangible "goodies" to sell or share. OK, I could do give away items, so that one is still on the maybe list.

One of the things I see as working is a virtual book tour. It sounds like fun and a lot of work, but marketing is work. And if I want my next book published I'd better show some effort in getting word out. So, I've been checking blogs where science fiction romance is reviewed/discussed/revered/mentioned. I've started a list of places I will be asking about blog stops and such. Offering exchanges is important, as in, "I'll have you over this day for your book if you'll have me over that day for mine." It's a lot like arranging playdates in that way : )

One of my stumbling blocks, however, has been my "brand." Everywhere you turn, authors are talking about branding. Branding isn't about that particular book (I've leaned something, anyway), but about the author. What represents *you*? What phrasing/terms show a reader who *you* are and what they can expect from one of your stories? Does your website/blog reflect the tone of your work?

Oy.

So here's my challenge. What catchy line(s) can I use as a brand? What reflects me and my writing? First, I tend to write SF/F/Paranormal stories. Even if I TRY to start off with a non SF/F/P genre it ALWAYS gets some sort of woo-woo treatment. So let's just assume everything I write will have some kind of otherworld feel to it. Second, while I write m/f or f/f romances they aren't erotic or even steamy. I think I have one love scene in each of the books I've written. Maybe two. But while they may be sensual, they aren't graphic. So the "Hot lovin' for long, cold nights (since I'm in the frozen north)" idea won't work. Really. It won't. Lastly, I don't think of my tone as overly dark or light and fluffy. There are some serious situations and places I hope elicit a chuckle or two, but I wouldn't categorize my work at either extreme.

You understand my problem now. I fall in the middle of most scales.

So what's an unbranded author to do? Help me, Obi Wan!

Writing: It's in the Genes

(Nearly late January??? How did that happen? I guess I can still say Happy New Year. I have until the end of the month, don't I? Okay. Good. Happy New Year!)

Unlike some children, both my kids love to write. School assignments that ask for a paragraph get a page or two. A simple question turns into a thesis.

My youngest, who will be 11 this year, has been writing and illustrating stories since kindergarten. We have stacks and stacks of books she made at school. Pages and pages of drawings of characters that live in her head. There are documents on two home computers, a 3-ring binder, and at least two spiral notebooks filled with her squished-together printing. She loves to talk about her stories, loves to brainstorm with me or her sister. There are two writing contests she's preparing to enter in the next couple of months.

My oldest, soon to be 14 (yikes!), caught the writing bug a little later in her young life. Only within the last year or so has she seriously sat down to put a story on the page that wasn't a school assignment. She even attempted the young writers' version of NaNoMo and asked her Language Arts teacher if it could be part of their classwork/extra credit. The teacher was happy my daughter was writing, but the current curriculum was already full. Creative writing on that scale would have to wait. That didn't stop my daughter. She stuck with it, wrote every day, and I believe completed the 20K word requirement. She is also working on at least two Sci Fi stories and does a little fan fiction here and there. For her research paper in L.A., she is writing about what it takes to get published.

Some of our best times together are when we're discussing one of their stories or something about the craft. It's amazing to see where their imaginations go. (Strange places indeed, but not a shock there.) I love it when we're talking about plot or characterization or pacing or what have you and I see in their eyes the sudden dawning of comprehension. That light bulb moment where it all seems to make sense. They get it. They apply what they've learned to their personal writings as well as assignments.

My kids are not athletic. They aren't social butterflies. For the most part, they aren't "joiners" of activities. They are more introverted and tend to observe rather than participate. In other words, they have the makings of writers. No, not the makings. They ARE writers.

Could a writer mom be more happy? I think not.

What a Deal!

I've been sitting on some news for nearly two weeks, waiting until things were more "official." My lovely agent Natalie Fischer posted this, so it looks like we're a go : ) Carina Press made an offer on Bad Girl! Yay!

Excited doesn't describe how I've been feeling for the past twelve days. I simply can't believe it at times. I know the real work has yet to begin (edits will be coming soon), and I'm sure I'll question my sanity for ever starting down this road. But for now, all I can say is WOW!

And a huge thanks to my crit partners Sharron and Jody. Because without them there would be no Bad Girl. Without them encouraging me and kicking my butt, I would have quit writing a long time ago. So thank you my friends! You are the best!

OK, back to the wip so I can show Natalie and Carina I'm more than a one hit wonder ;)

Whiplash

On the very same day I was making arrangements for our furry friend Holly (previous post), I received the best news in my fledgling career. Never have I laughed and cried so much in the same afternoon, the same hour. I got my head on straight enough to send out emails, but mostly spent the weekend mentally exhausted, weepy, and waiting.

One of my emails resulted in an agent asking to see the full manuscript of my science fiction romance Bad Girl. In a couple of days, I received an update from her that she was half way through and really enjoying the story. I couldn't believe it. I dared to hope, because that's what we writers do when we aren't waiting anxiously or, here's a thought, writing. The agent made an offer for representation, and after a few more emails and a lovely conversation (she is so nice!), I am pleased to announce I've signed with Natalie Fischer of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Yay!

The Universe is never short on surprising, seemingly random events, where the stars align and good fortune befalls us on the heels of such sorrow. Usually, and thankfully, such diametric events don't occur at the same time, but I'll take the emotional roller coaster over bland sameness any day. Well, not today. I need to write.

This and That

School starts in just over a week. I'm much happier about it than the kids, though they are anxious to be able to do something other than chores.

BF Sharron arrives Saturday for what's going to be an all too brief visit. We will hike around, go see the glacier, and attend the Fish Prom. Details regarding that later.

Holly is doing well. Finishes with her meds today. I'm trying to get in touch with her regular vet, who has another office in another part of the state, but no luck so far. Hopefully he'll swing by our town soon. It's still a bit weird to see her with only three legs, but she doesn't seem bothered.

Diligently working on revisions of Bad Girl. Patiently waiting CPs' notes so I can resubmit.

Critting some chapters for Melanie. Will get them to you soon!

Mulling the continuation of the current WIP and how to tackle a serious plot hole in a different story. I mean, Mack truck-sized plot hole. Got the characters, got the setting. Logical plot? Not so much. Perhaps it's time to jettison that line of thought and go elsewhere with it.

That's what I'm up to. You?

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

In about ten days, DD#1 and I will be jetting to Europe to join up with her Girl Scout troop for four weeks of tromping the English countryside, scaling Swiss hillsides (not the real mountains. I don't do mountains), and overall fun with Scouts from around the world. With the amount of going back and forth between venues, it was strongly suggested that we pack lightly. The hard part? Figuring out what I absolutely need for a four week trip.

For starters, I am not a clothes hound, so that part is easy. A few of my favorite pairs of pants (though my absolute faves may be too heavy for summer in warmer climates. Might work in Switzerland...hmmmm...), t-shirts, underfrillies, socks. A pair of hikers I love love love, a pair of casual shoes and *maybe* tennies, if I have room. A jacket and some light-weight rain gear, just in case.

I'm also not one for needing lots of product for face or hair. I don't wear makeup, though I'm sure some would say I should : ) My only concession is a bottle of Oil of Olay. I love the stuff, and it reminds me of my grandmother. She kept a bottle of it on her dresser and had lovely skin, so there you go. A tube of cleanser will probably find its way into my ditty bag as well.

As for hair, I recently got a "goo and go" cut, specifically for this trip. Yes, it's short. Very short. But all I have to do is wash it, towel it dry to a degree, goo it and brush it back. Bam. Done. Normally, at home, even when it's short I'd take a hairdryer to it. But I don't want to waste luggage space on a hairdryer.

I won't have my laptop either. Which means (a) no internet, (b) no ebooks, and (c) no access to the manuscripts I'm working on. The lack of internet may be solved by cafes or such along the way, so I might be able to shoot an email to hubby and friends, but I'm not counting on access. I don't have too many ebooks, but they are convenient when I am traveling with the laptop. No reader, either, so I'll have to choose a few paperbacks.

The inability to twiddle with my work might seem like it's much tougher to deal with, but not really. I have 4 weeks to put aside and "forget" one manuscript that is being revised. When I get back, I can see if I like what I've done. As for the WIP, 4 weeks of not going back to what I've already written to tweak or avoid tackling the newest scenes and finish the darn thing is good. I'll have my notebook and several pens. If I find myself with relative quiet time (on planes, trains, or any time 20-odd teenage girls are out of the room) I will write. By hand. The old-fashioned way. Why? Because while I can easily give up my hairdryer for a month, there is no way on this earth I can give up writing.

What are your essentials for a trip?

Mii, My Shelf, and Aye-Yi-Yi: Random Thoughts

I'm supposed to be finishing up the SFR wip I've been working on, but that has been set aside for the time being. I doubt I'll make the July 11 deadline I've set, but the reason isn't laziness or loss of enthusiasm for the project or anything like that. Something else has taken priority, in a good way, so my wip characters are currently in a holding pattern. (Quite literally, actually, as I left off with them kissing and on the verge of taking it to the next level : ) But all is good, if a tad nerve-wracking.

Mii
To balance the mental exercises necessary to accomplish certain goals, and in preparation for a long trip requiring sustained walking and hiking, I've been diligent about my Wii Fit routine. Well, mostly. I've missed a few days here and there. The Mii and I are working hard, but for some reason that dang Simple Test tells me I'm not losing anything. In fact, I've gained 0.2 pounds each of the last two days!! What the--! Grrr. I'm going to chalk it up to increasing muscle mass (yeah, that's it), but at the same time watch the snacking more closely. Not as easy to do when I'm at home, but throwing myself in the aforementioned project will help.

My Shelf
Writers are supposed to read in the genres we write in as well as others so we can get the scope of what's out there, how it's done, and how it probably *shouldn't* be done. I write SF/F or paranormal, so there are many such books on my shelves and a few in my computer. But the last two books I've read are more literary. Out of Eden by Kate Lehrer is about two women in the 1880's, I believe, who head to Kansas to create a place where they can do as they please and live independently. I loved the friendship between the women, complete with protectiveness, jealousies and betrayals. As a literary novel, there is no guarantee of a happy ending, but it was an engaging read.

Margaret Atwood has been one of my favorite authors since I read The Handmaiden's Tale years ago. I'm almost done with her novel Cat's Eye now. It's another book about women's friendships, and while I don't expect a happy ending all around, I can trust Atwood to give me a satisfying one.

Aye-Yi-Yi
DD#1 and I head off for a 3-4 week romp with her Girl Scout troop in less than a month! DD#2 will be spending all that time and more at Grandpa's. DH will be home, tending house and hairy pets. It's ironic that he's been traveling so much for the last few months and the period he will be home the rest of us will be gone. He'll have to remember to pick up the veggies we order every other week. The cats and dogs will focus on him for attention, since their main petters will be gone. I just hope he remembers to feed the fish and the hamster.

Girding the Summer Loins

Tomorrow is the last day of school. The last day to appreciate the mid afternoon quiet of my house. The last day to sit at the computer and pound out thousands--okay, hundreds...tens?--of uninterrupted words. As much as I love not having to get up and get kids off to school, or get ready for work myself, this free-for-all time of year challenges my self discipline and my organizational skills.

I want to stick to a writing regiment and accomplish my one big goal: Get my SFR WIP done before July 11. Yes, specifically that date, because I will be gone for the month following it. I want to get the first draft done, out to my lovely crit partners, and also allow the story to marinate for that time, unseen and untouched. When I return in August, I will be looking at it with fresher eyes. Well, after I get over the jet lag they'll be fresher.

I can do this. My kids are old enough that I don't have to monitor their every move. When I was a kid, we left the house after breakfast, returned for lunch, maybe, went back out, came in for dinner, unless we called to say we were eating at a friend's, then wandered home when the streetlights came on. Daily adventures and evening exhaustion were normal parts of our summers. I may have my kids follow that plan more than a few times. Except for coming home when the streetlights go on. It doesn't get dark here until 11pm in the summer, a wee bit too late for the under 16 set.

Between that, camps, and trips, I should be able to keep them busy enough not to hear the dreaded "B" word: Bored. They know what it means if they utter it in my presence. The "C" word: Chores. Husband will be cutting wood for the coming winter, so there will be LOTS of stacking necessary.

That means, the only one I'll have to closely monitor is myself. I predict more than one mental kick in the butt in my future, but if I can work like a demon until July 11 and get to "The End," it will be worth it. And yes, dear reader, feel free to kick. Accountability to someone other than yourself is a wonderful source of inspiration. The muse does not like having a sore bottom.

What are your plans/goals for the summer?

Expect the (Un)Expected

I mention the weather a lot because, let's face it, living Alaska we get a lot of weather. While March might come in like a lion, most of the Nation is starting to see some signs of spring. Winter-dead grass is beginning to perk up. Tree buds might be unclenching in the warmer, longer days. Birds are beginning to show up again.

Here in the semi-frozen north, we got a taste of spring the last two weeks of February. Yes, February. The temps hovered in the low 40s, there were spurts of heavy rain that melted the mountains of snow (nothing that lasted more than a day) and most of the time a gentle wind ruffled our open coats rather than hurricane-force gusts. It was bliss. It was relief.

It didn't fool any of us.

In the Lower 48, my sister-in-law boasted about changing over her studded tires to her summer treads. Here, we tolerated the load rumble of steel on pavement, perhaps cringed at the damage of a few hundred cars on bare asphalt, but knew better than to think we wouldn't need the traction again soon enough.

And we were right.

The past three days saw the spring-like warmth in the air obliterated in a white-out of a snow system tearing across the region. Friday was the worse, with blowing snow making the five minute drive to work a nightmare of low visibility. (Yes, we had school. I would have been more surprised if they would have cancelled.) As the day progressed, short bouts of sun one minute gave way to raging, sideways snow the next. This went on all weekend, and we have a fresh, foot-high layer of heavy snow to remind us that March doesn't just come in like a lion here. It comes in like a hungry, pissy lion.

As much as we appreciated the reprieve, we know winter isn't over. In fact, chances are good we'll have snow coming and going into April or even May. But maybe, just maybe, we will have a spring as decent as the taste we got in February.

Like most things in life, you should hope for the best but be prepared for the worse. Some might consider that take to be a bit pessimistic. I prefer to think of it as realistic optimism. Sometimes, even if you're prepared for the worst, the unexpected just might turn out to be better than you feared : )

Bad Girl Wins Beacon Contest FF&P Category!

Yay! My futuristic won the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon contest for unpublished manuscripts! I was very excited to get the judges' comments, particularly from the final round judge, Meghan Conrad from Cerridwen Press/Ellora's Cave. Bad Girl has been seen by agents but never by an editor, so waiting to see what she had to say was nerve wracking. But her comments were positive and shed some light on where I could make the story better. And that's really what we're looking for when we enter contests--advice that makes our stories better.

Congrats to fellow FF&P category finalists Eden Glenn with her story, Dragon's Mark, and Mary Karlik with her Izzy's Tale, as well as to all the Beacon contestants and finalists. Thanks to the first round judges who have a lot of entries to read (this contest was for up to 30 pages! 30!), and it's not an easy task. They did a great job explaining what worked and what didn't in my story. More thanks to Ms. Conrad for her comments and suggestions, and for taking the time to explain things as well. And thanks to the First Coast Chapter and its contest coordinator Maria Connor. Contests are part of a chapter's bread and butter. Fees let them continue the work of helping writers of all levels navigate the world we've decided to occupy. Plus, you get read by people who understand you. How cool is that? And coordinating a contest requires more patience and organization I'll ever possess. My hat is off to you, Maria.

Finally, a big thanks to my friends and crit partners, Sharron and Jody. Your comments on the early manuscript helped form Bad Girl, for better or worse : ) Thanks!

Bad Girl Finals in Beacon Contest

Woo hoo! My SFR Bad Girl has finalled in the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Contest for unpublished writers. The final standings will be announced in February. Go here for the complete list of finalists: http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/contest_un.htm/?page_id=152

Many thanks to the chapter and first round judges. Having been a contest judge, I know it's not an easy task.

Best of luck to all the finalists.

What a great way to start the new year : )

Name Game: Color Me Baffled

Sometimes it's difficult to come up with titles for my stories. I've hit upon good ones (a fantasy trilogy in the works: "What Price the Crown," "Once a Princess," "Queen Without a Country" (which has been used, but I didn't know that at the time)). Quite by accident, I must admit. Others are, as my daughter would say, "meh". Serviceable, but nothing that pops. I know a good title is important to both convey the contents of the story and be as memorable as possible without being ridiculous (no more than five words; it should be "active," using some verb form, etc.).

But I don't have the difficulty that others do when it comes to naming things. Consider the folks whose job is to name paint colors.

Recently, my husband and I decided to paint our bedroom. Down at the hardware store, we found that handy book with all those rectangular paint sample cards. An amazing number of colors. But looking closer, the names the company labeled their paints were amusing. Or head-scratchers. Examples? I got them.

First of all, there are many colors named for foods and drinks, and a good number of those are roasted, toasted and baked. A few are raw, but mostly they've been subjected to some kind of heating method. Another popular category is nature. Makes sense. We like a little of the outdoors indoors, where it can be controlled and kept clean with the swipe of a sponge.

Weather/atmospheric conditions get more than a few. There were many raindrops this and windy or breezy that, but my faves are a little more, shall we say, tumultuous.

New Monsoon and Tsunami Night--exciting, I'm sure, but do you want your room color to make you think of potential natural disasters?
City Storm--appropriately a darker gray.
March Ice--kind of brownish, which makes sense.
March Breeze--a lighter shade than March Ice, but still brownish. Not healthy.
Warm Fog--quiet the oxymoron, don't you think?
Dusted Gloam--"gloaming" means twilight, but why the decision to take off the "-ing"? Doesn't "Dusted Gloaming" roll off the tongue easily enough? No, no it doesn't.

A few others I found that had me wondering about the state of mind of the poor paint company employee trying to come up with a new way to describe the thousandth shade of some color:

Limish--really? That's the best you could do?
Martian--yes, it is green. Surprised?
Bluish--see Limish
Novella Blue--what?

But my favorites are the colors that send a message.

Lucky You--a perfect choice for the bedroom, don't you think?
Dawn's Reveal--unless you've had a bad morning after experience.
Bleak--also not a good bedroom choice.
Rapture, Bliss and Rollick--now we're talking.
Super Nova--Yes! Though it's a paler color than I think of when I think of a super nova.
Slumber--well, yes, I would like that too, thank you.
Prudence--sounds a little to stiff and formal. Perhaps a few glasses of wine before bed are in order?
Virtue and Naivete--totally painting my daughters' rooms these colors.

There was one color that would make a killer title for a SFR: Helio Prism. Apparently I'm not the only one who thought that sounded way cool, as it's also part of the title of an album by a band called Beautiful Bloody Fiction, with some paint color-worthy song titles: Waiting for the Smoke to Clear, Burst, and Rose-Colored Specticles.

In the end, Husband and I went with a warm, peachy color called "Sonoma." Neither of us have ever been to Sonoma, but should we go we'd expect to see this shade dominating the landscape. Because the paint company said so.