Monday Mayhem – Auld Lang Syne edition
Hard to believe that another year has passed, but here we are, two days from 2014. It seems trite to say it flew by, but in my case, a good chunk of it did. I spent a good portion of 2013 in airports and hotels. The new and increasing duties of the day job really cut into my energy and creativity this year, but I’ve come to terms with that. I may not write as much as quickly as I did a couple of years ago, but I like to think my writing has grown and improved.
2013 has been a year of change, growth and evolution in personal and professional lives, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for hanging in there with me. I would never have had the chutzpah to chase this dream without your encouragement, and I wouldn’t have the strength to endure those ups and downs without your continued support.
You are made of awesome.
So here are my final five for 2013. Cheers and have a safe and happy new year!
What I’ve been working on: Mainly, I’ve been just trying to get through the holidays. But just for fun, I started plotting, planning, and brainstorming a new set of books that revolve around a family that owns a small Chicago tavern. Maggie will probably end up stealing it, but what can you do? Saucy wench is stealing all my thunder lately.
What’s running around in the back of my mind: I really need to finish Containment. It’s still there, but December has been kind of an emotional month. Hard to motivate myself to write something so heavy at the moment.
What I’ve accomplished: Um…I finished revisions on a story I plan to submit in 2014. Oh, and Miss Maggie Wells may have a trick or two up her sleeve for this week.
What new goal I’m chasing: I plan to get back in the writing groove in January. Back to the 1k a day goal. That seemed to work for me. 🙂
What I saw: Everything that makes life sweet
Monday Mayhem – Butterfingers Edition
What I’ve been working on: Christmas baking. I’ve made another mountain of Chex mix, Oreo balls, and the dough for my mother’s favorite cookies, Chocolate Shots.
What’s running around in the back of my mind: Plans, plans, and more plans. Christmas. Post-Christmas. Writing.
What I’ve accomplished:
What new goal I’m chasing: Just trying to kick back and enjoy the holidays. I’ll chase goals next year, I promise.
What I saw: The rootin’ tootin’est cowpoke in the West
What’s on your holiday to-do list?
Here’s the recipe for my mommy’s favorites: Chocolate Shots
Monday Mayhem – Fiction becomes fact
Write what you know. That’s one of the first pieces of writing advice an author hears, and there’s a reason it rings true. If we write what we know, chances are we’ll connect with a reader who has had a similar experience.
A couple of months ago, I was sitting in a doctor’s waiting room reading a Kristan Higgins’ book and bawling my eyeballs out when the heroine’s beloved dog passed away.
Yesterday, I spent the day bawling my eyeballs out after saying goodbye to my beloved Beauregard.
I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t write about this anytime soon. Hug and kiss your puppies, kitties, buns and other furry friends and tell them it’s from me.
Monday Mayhem – Holy crap! It’s December!
Okay, okay. Yes, I knew it was coming, but…yikes! I really need to get on the ball.
What I’ve been working on: Containment. I added another almost 8k this week. Go me!
What’s running around in the back of my mind: Christmas is coming. I really should do something about….something.
What I’ve accomplished: NaNoWriMo! I passed the 50k mark on Friday, making this my 5th year in a row as a NaNo winner!
What new goal I’m chasing: I’m continuing on with Containment, but December is my month of catch up and plan ahead, so I won’t be setting any lofty word count goals. I have a number of projects on the go at the moment. Going to whittle away at each one.
What I saw: A goal achieved
What’s new with you? Did you know it was December already? Why didn’t you tell me?
New release!
The final installment in the Hot Nights in St. Blaise series is now available!
Download Daring Miss December today and complete the set!
Monday Mayhem – Hello, old friend.
Containment! I’m deviating from my usual post to tell you that I am writing Containment!
While I’m not even half way done with the first draft, it seems to be flowing this time. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I’d cross mine, but then I couldn’t type.
It’s the last week of NaNoWriMo and I’m a day or so behind. That means I’ll be sprinting for the finish. But I’m just so damn happy that this book seems to be happening. *knocks wood* Want a taste?
****
“I love you. You know I love you….”
Shel stared at his mouth transfixed. She’d kissed that mouth thousands of times. Even when he was stuffed up and snotty, when he had god-awful coffee breath, or worse, onions for lunch, she’d still kissed him. He was hers. At least, she thought he was. Until this afternoon, she thought his lopsided smile worked only for her. That was why she’d listened and believed when he said he loved her.
She’d obviously been a fool.
“I swear, it meant nothing.”
He wagged his head, trying to back up his platitudes with exaggerated denial, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from his mouth. It wouldn’t stop moving, no matter how much she wished it would.
“I never meant for this to happen.”
She watched as each word formed, fascinated by the exaggerated push and pull of lips, teeth, and tongue. Each denial wrapped around a moment and stretched it into a lifetime. Her lifetime. The lifetime she vowed to spend with him.
“I’d take it all back if I could.”
His vehemence slowed the instant replay of their life together to a snail’s crawl, warping and distorting the soundtrack of good times and bad until they were indistinguishable from one another. The sluggishness of her reactions pissed her off. The life they led had little space for slow-mo sequences. She was a mother. A wife. A friend. An artist. A woman in control. At least, she thought she was until about five minutes ago.
Shel blinked at last. She should have slapped him by now. If she had any balls at all, she’d have hauled off and punched him square in that lying, cheating mouth. She could push him out the door and tell him to never come back.
Or better yet, she’d bolt.
A sizzle of illicit thrill chased down her spine. She could. She should take off and leave him here to deal with the mess he’d made of their lives. He would deal with the endless rounds of appointments and disappointments. He could wait and wonder and question every choice he’d made over the last ten years of his life.
****
Yes, this book is going there. Containment will deal with the sticky wicket of infidelity. That’s why it’s been such a bear to tackle. So, yeah. There it is.
Remember, this is wholly unedited first draft. Things can change radically between now and final revisions. It’s also a good bet there will be markedly fewer commas later.
Keep praying to the writing gods for me! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!
Monday Mayhem – Snapshot
This week I am celebrating the release of my short story, Snapshot, in the premier issue of Fictionvale e-zine. Here are the first five lines:
I never told anyone I was the girl in the picture. There wasn’t any point. The kiss didn’t mean anything at all. He was just a fella cast adrift in the big city at a time when everyone wanted to hold their loved ones close. I was just the girl who was close at hand.
Snapshot was inspired by Alfred Eisenstaedt’s iconic “V-J Day in Times Square” photograph.
Want to read more? Buy a copy of Fictionvale episode 1: Enter Fictionvale here or at Amazon!
Happy Monday everyone!
Monday Mayhem – Throwback Edition
What I’ve been working on: I finished the first draft on Going Deep! Yay! Finally.
What’s running around in the back of my mind: It was a crazy busy week with work and travel and family and catching up with old friends. The front of my mind is too tired to deal with the back of my mind.
What I’ve accomplished: I’m on track (ish) for NaNo. I typed my two favorite words on the last page of Going Deep.
What new goal I’m chasing: I’m diving back into Containment in hopes of finding new inspiration. Wish me luck!
What I saw: Friends too fabulous to be called ‘old’ no matter how many years have passed.
Special bonus! Here are the LAST five lines from the first draft of Going Deep:
Brooke drew back, ready to give him hell, but the sweet smile he wore grabbed her by the heart and squeezed. The indignation she should have felt was drowned in a hot rush of love. Brilliant or not, he was undoubtedly the dumbest man she knew when it came to women. A fact that made him all the more appealing in a twisted sort of way. Damn, she was in too deep.
Last, but certainly not least:
It’s Veteran’s Day here in the states. I’d like to say a special thank you to all the men and women who have served. We greatly appreciate you and the sacrifices you have made for our country. God bless.
Monday Mayhem – Here we go NaNo!
What I’ve been working on: I’m still working on the marine biologist story. The darn thing just keeps going and I want to see where it ends up without my interference.
What’s running around in the back of my mind: Holy crap November is busy! There’s work and writing and laundry and travel and birthdays. Not to mention Thanksgiving and the DSRA book signing. Sheesh! I think we need to spread this month out a bit. We’re four days in and I’m exhausted.
What I’ve accomplished: I’m doing NaNoWriMo again this year. Because I am crazy. And because it’s my fifth year and I don’t want to break the streak. So far I’m on track. I consider that an accomplishment. Check with me on day 20.
What new goal I’m chasing: 50,000 words in 30 days!
What I saw: The inside of many, many conference rooms. And a sweet pea in a pod.
