Blog is on Hiatus

I mean sheesh! It's been 2 years!

I won't bore you with the sordid details. Suffice it to say I am currently on a personal and professional hiatus. I hope to return to storytelling soon. After all, I have previously published books I'd like to revise and re-publish at some point and lots of unfinished work. I just can't get that creative spark working right now with things as they are. Maybe some day...

If you came here for eBook or Print formatting, I no longer provide those services. If you have recommended me in the past, I appreciate your support and for thinking of me. It just doesn't pay enough for all the effort. (which is not to say I won't consider it for some of my closest pals and you know who you are *winkwink*)

I've been passing the time immersing myself in the Witcher series of books, The Witcher games, and Skyrim. Nothing like fantasy to escape life's roadblocks and curve balls.

Eyes Open, Walk with the Shadows.

Holding Pattern

A slight change to the release date for Ride a Cock Horse. It has been moved back to May 25. I'm okay with that especially since it gives me a little time to focus on some other manuscripts. It is interesting how I can know what I want to write until I sit down to write it. In a bit of a writing funk this weekend.


This week I attended a development offsite for my "day job" (in quotes because sometimes that day job involves working at night). We were given the opportunity to create a collage that best represented an area of focus that we would like to develop.

I really like the way mine turned out despite the fact that it looks sparse.  The first 45 minutes of my time was spent staring off at the Presidio cemetery and 20 minutes looking out at the Golden Gate Bridge.

I found several images in the assortment of magazines at our disposal. The common theme to mine revolved around creative freedom and realizing my potential. Synchronicity. Letting go. Following my dreams. Of course there is also the requisite eating healthy image but that goes without saying.

All in all it was a lovely day.

The Valentine Post

If you can't be with the one you love on Valentine's Day, I would most definitely settle for the man on the left. Michael David Barre. He has been making quite the splash on Facebook as of late. With those muscles, that look, the scruff - he makes my heart erratically hammer in my chest. And a few other things I won't mention here.

I have said it before and I will say it again. He is a dead ringer for Tate, my main character in one of my works in progress. Athletic and drop dead gorgeous. Except for the eyes (details, details). Why someone hasn't snapped this guy for a cover is beyond my comprehension. 

Forget flowers. Forget chocolates. Just give me this guy and a big, comfy bed. Please.

Not So Deep Thoughts

It was around 70 degrees today, absolutely gorgeous afternoon and too nice to stay cooped up in the house but I have a lot of things going on. As of a few days ago, my pre-edits are done and my cover art form submitted. I am on pins and needles in anticipation of what it will look like. Every small step closer makes me giddy. I have a tentative release date of April 14th so mark your calendars folks. In case I haven't mentioned it a thousand times, the title is Ride a Cock Horse and it will be published by Breathless Press.

I spent a little Christmas money on some books I have wanted to read. Currently reading A Facebook Affair by Tara Chevrestt. So far I am really loving it. If I can manage to stay awake a bit longer, I should have it finished tonight.

I have been making some major changes to Sweet Spot. I expected to have it done (first draft) before the end of 2011 but set it aside to write my nursery rhyme. When I picked it up again, I realized some things just didn't work for me anymore. I cut a character and tweaked the conflict a bit. It makes more work for me to patch the holes from those changes but the final product will be worth it. My feeling is that, while this is fiction, it needs to be believable. If I couldn't get past some of it, I can't expect a reader to either. So distance in this case was a good thing.

I also have two other manuscripts in the works that came out of nowhere. Outlining these so I keep on the road although I did write a chapter for one of them. I am a pantser (pantster?) by nature and that seems to get me in trouble about two thirds of the way through. Therefore, I am outlining. Planning. A first for me.

That is pretty much it for the week. I will be posting more soon (including a blurb of my upcoming book)  so stay tuned.

They Call it a Draft for a Reason

I needed something to jump start my writing so I re-read Chapter 1. Never NEVER do that again! It is, in a word, horrible. At one point I had to ask myself what the heck I was thinking when I wrote it. Fortunately it can be salvaged. However, I am going to press on. It is July 31st. I want to be at the halfway mark of this draft. *not going to happen* I know it is rough and it should be. That is what the editing process is about right?

I had something else I was going to talk about today but I am off my game at the moment. Totally knocked off my axis. We will return to our regular broadcasting soon.

FYI today is J.K. Rowling's birthday. I would send some chocolate frogs but my owl has not returned.

Am going to sleep for real this time.

Have Notebook, Will Travel

My muse tends to become very vocal at the most inopportune moments. The last time this happened I made what ended as a failed attempt at dictating my thoughts while driving. You would laugh uncontrollably if you saw the resulting text. A wise person reminded me that there is such a thing as paper and pencil. This time, as I head out to the parents' house to box up some things, I have my notebook in hand. Okay it is on the passenger seat but you know what I mean.

I am so glad. I was struck with inspiration (fortunately I was not driving) and made copious notes, not on my current work-in-progress but rather on a fresh story. This time I will try something different - like outline and plot prior to writing. Yes, this is me trying to apply some organizational skills to the mix.

I am not going to distract my work on this one with a word count goal just yet. I think once it is outlined I will have a better sense of what it will take. I also do not want to take away from my other passions and projects. There is, after all, only so much time in the day.