I'm Back in the Saddle Again

So as some of you may or may not have noticed I was gone for a brief while, taking a mini SM reprieve.  And while on my reprieve was also lucky enough to have the chance to spend an eventful and jammed packed LONG weekend with the parentals.  So at this stage, I’m still somewhat in recovery mode from said extended weekend.  But am feeling pretty great and will be fully back into the swing of things by no later than tomorrow morning.  So don’t worry, there will be a new post coming soon (that is for those of you who were in fact curious about my brief drop off & who enjoy reading the gibberish I tend to write).

But yes, a it was great weekend, where not only was I allowed to be a spoiled child again, but was also off cooking duty, and was able to enjoy lots and lots of really good food that I didn't cook.  ALL fried of course (this is the South & it is my family), and so I’m sure I gained at least 10 pounds over the weekend.  But on top of the great food and entertainment, a good friend also celebrated a birthday, which is always kind of amazing and fun.  And to cap it all off I got to watch my baby brother play in the Texas HS All Star football game at the glitzy Cowboy Stadium and THEY WON! Which totally rocked my face off and made for a VERY suitable end to a fantastic weekend.

So, in celebration of my return and to give myself a much needed boost to go into August with the OOMPH that I so desperately need.  I dedicate this song to all my fellow writer peeps & hope this gets your blood pumping and fingers flying across the keyboard and/or that pen whisking across that paper!

Okay, so this may not be the most writing inspiring material & I may be SEVERELY aging myself here, BUT I still LOVE THIS SONG!!! :D

Bananarama - “Cruel Summer”

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

Top 10 Ways To Survive During a Heat Wave

This has definitely been a summer for the records.  Well, not literal records (thank goodness), we’ve actually had worse.  Now you would think since I’ve lived my whole life with these kinds of conditions that I would be used to breathing air that feels like inhaling fire.  But you would be WRONG! And what’s worse is that this weather tends to lead to a serious case of the crabbies, and boy let me tell ya, my husband just LOOOOOVES those days.   

And I’m not even talking about the massive explosion that's occurred in my sweat glands with these hotter-than-the-surface-of-the-sun temperatures.  Ugh! Its absolutely disgusting…cold showers have become a definite MUST these days.  But seriously, when I say "crabbies" I’m talking MOOD SWINGS that surpass anything my typical PMS day could throw at me.  I'm talking about irritability, headaches, fatigue, nausea, bi-polar ups-and-downs…it’s like my husband has to live with a walking PMS nightmare for an entire season.

So I present to you BLAIRE’S…

Top 10 Ways To Survive During a Heat Wave

#10 – Christmas Music (Yes. Christmas music…it’s like December in July! :D)

 #9 – Breyer’s All Natural Pure Fruit Popsicles

 #8 – Fully functioning A/C unit (CANNOT live without my A/C.)

 #7 – My Kindle (fully loaded with all my favorite titles)

 #6 – My favorite Summer Wear: Summer Dresses (Love SOMA!!!)

 #5 – Take in a GREAT summer movie! :D

 #4 – BOTTLED WATER!!!

 #3 – A cool hangout place AWAY from the casa. Mine: B&N

 #2 – Game nights with friends!

And finally….

 #1 – Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…. Get the heck out of Dodge! Take a vacation, go some place nice and cool. Preferably where temperatures aren’t fry-you-alive hot, maybe a mountain resort, or a beach where you have large quantities and bodies of refreshingly cool water! 

Just try and avoid, if you can, becoming some BIG irritable sweat gland. (Hint: No one likes those.)  Okay, so I know this isn’t exactly a profound list, but alas, neither is my life. 

So how do you find & keep your HAPPY PLACE during a heat wave?

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

JK Rowling: The fringe benefits of failure

Click the image for JK Rowlings Commencement Speech

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

In a recent article published in The New Yorker titled “A Woman’s Place” a question was posed that completely stopped me in my tracks and had me searching for answers. 

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Now for the rare few in life, this is a question that they embrace as a daily call to action.  But so often for the rest of us, when we wake each morning and make plans, set goals or take on the really important decisions such as should I attend college, what college should I attend, what career path should I take? It’s often with these sorts of premeditated questions that some of us also set limits for our lives.  Limits that tell us that there is only so far we can go and only so much success we can achieve in our lives.  And so we give ourselves permission to set “standard” expectations, which later soothes our conscience when we meet these expectations and then allows us to reasonably argue the case that “Hey, at least I’m doing something.” 

And I will readily admit that I have been guilty of hiding behind this frame of thought, often approaching a new idea with the pre-determined mindset that I would rather set my standards low, than push myself and risk having the burden of a failure on my conscience.

But if you were to completely remove the “fear factor” out of the equation, where would you be?  How far could you go if you approached each day ready to take on the world with a mindset absent of fear?  What would your future, what would your world look like with that frame of possibility?

In her commencement address to the 2011 graduating class of Barnard College, Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg offered these words for thought.  

Sheryl Sandberg - Facebook COO

“We try at Facebook to keep all of our employees thinking big all day.  We have these posters in red we put around the walls.  One says, “Fortune favors the bold.”  Another says, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”  That question echoes Barnard alum Anna Quindlen, who said that she majored in unafraid.  Don’t let your fears overwhelm your desire.  Let the barriers you face—and there will be barriers—be external, not internal.  Fortune does favor the bold, and I promise that you will never know what you’re capable of unless you try.”

So…what would YOU do if you weren’t afraid?

Happy Writing & Happy Reading! 

My FIRST Blog Interview!!!

I've FINALLY done it peeps! I'm now almost-kinda-maybe-sorta official. Squeeeeee! The talented and delightful Chelsea Fine, author of the amazing debut novel SOPHIE & CARTER, asked me if I'd be interested in doing a blog interview. And me being...well ME, my first instinctive reaction was to race to my bed and hide beneath the covers until the world forgot I was sucking back more than the average size bear worth of oxygen.

Is she crazy? Me? Interview? WTH do I have to say?!!

But then it hit me...I have plenty to say and then some. I don't just write for my own personal amusement (though some of the things I have written could be a definite top runner in the pee-yew awards & give some critic a good laugh during their lavotory reads).  I write because I'm a tad narcissistic and want the world to love the stories and characters I create in a crazed obsessively unnatural way, the way I do. Please love me?! Is that too much too ask? (I'm kidding, of course.)

I write because...WHY NOT?! I love what I do & I love to write. 

And you can learn more about what I do and my writing by checking out my interview now up on Chelsea Fine's blog! :) YAY! And if you can, please let me know what you think? I'll love you always. :D

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

AUTHOR ALERT: Chelsea Fine

So I love to share. Why? Because I'm a caring sharing fool that's why!  And with that being said, I couldn’t resist doing another AUTHOR ALERT post in order to introduce you all to a new “stalker” buddy of mine.  EVERYONE, I’d like you to meet Chelsea Fine.  

YAY! Isn't she just gorgeous?! And that hair...I mean, really? So unfair. *Sigh* So not only does she have fabulous hair, she's also sweet and an awesome up-and-coming YA romance & paranormal fiction writer.

Chelsea’s debut novel “Sophie & Carter” is already out & available on Amazon. (And I just love this cover!)

Here’s a back cover caption of SOPHIE & CARTER…

“Next-door neighbors Sophie Hartman and Carter Jax grow up witnessing the shameful secrets of each of their families and, amidst the heartache, form an unspoken bond of friendship.  But events during their senior year of high school will change both of them forever.  As their lives unravel, Sophie and Carter rely on one another for strength, encouragement and hope…and begin to realize their feelings for each other might just be deeper than friendship….”

Want more? Here’s a two chapter teaser to really wet your appetite...CLICK HERE!

I found SOPHIE & CARTER to be a sweet and touching bit of literary delight that I literally couldn't put down! GO GET IT! I'm really looking forward to reading more of this chica's future work.  (YOU ROCK MY FACE OFF CHELSEA!!!) If you want to know more go check out her site http://chelseafine.blogspot.com/.

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

I'm No Stalker Snob

After some extensively deep thought, and serious contemplation over the last five minutes I’ve come to the conclusion that stalkers, or rather the term stalker, has seriously gotten a bum rep.

And I’m not referring to those dinky-Rodeo-Drive-weirdo Bradgelina stalker's; I’m referring to all my SM/Writer/Aspiring Writer/Uber Reader stalker compadres. YES, YOU!

Personally, I think it takes real gumption and guts to put yourself out there as a writer.  Especially with so many vultures out there looking for the next thing to sink their poisonous/non-constructive opinions into, making it a pretty scary venture at times.  Which is why it seems only natural that there be the opposite force of that.   People who can and are willing to encourage and praise you for being the brave person you are, and do something that most people lack the courage to do.  To take on the risk of rejection, to lay it all on the line, all while hoping and wondering whether you’ll be accepted for who you are and the work you produce. Totally not an easy thing to do.  But the fact is, rejection and criticism are both as much a part of this process as the happier side of it, which is usually what the masses get to see.   

But the risks don't simply lay with just the writer, it can also lay with those who simply show their admiration for others, often without knowing whether that admiration will be returned in kind.  In most cases a pretty thankless position.  “Stalking” is often not a 50/50 give and take situation, more often than not it's just one sided.  And so to those of you who support & encourage with no guarantee of a returned gesture...I salute you & thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

As writers it is such a MAJOR thing (especially for me) to receive those encouraging words or that boost of support from someone who simply cares and wants to share in your experience (I really love that).  And I love meeting and learning about new authors & aspiring writers, because not only are so many of you just FREAKING AWESOME but for me there’s usually a special kind of connection that is somehow made, a bond, that I believe can often translate into possible friendship.  And I love making new friends!   

And so I'll confess...I'm being partly selfish when I take an interest when someone I’m stalking or a friend of mine realizes their dream of being published, or finding an agent or signing that first book deal, because it gives me that much more hope to follow through and pursue my own. 

So, I will gladly stalk and welcome fellow stalkers, with the hopes of offering (directly or indirectly) as much encouragement to others as most of you have so generously offered to me. 

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!

Speechless. Talented young artist from Yangon, Myanmar.

A Little Bit Of My Life Philosophy

I wouldn’t call myself a hard-line sort of person. Now don’t get me wrong, I have my convictions like most people.  Things that I believe in, things and/or people in my life that I could go as far as to say I’d be willing to give up my life for.  But I’m also a person who is open to listening, hearing and getting to the truth of the matter.

I think the fact that we’re here…sleeping, eating, walking around, screaming, laughing, scratching, and yapping about who knows what, and expelling random bodily sounds and smells at will, is thoroughly amazing.  I love life and I store great value in all living things.  

But before I can get to the meat of the matter and let you into my little world; I first need to introduce you to one of my ALL TIME favorite artists.  Now I may or may not have mentioned this in the past but I am a HUGE Seal fan. Why? You may ask...because he's BRILLIANT!! That's why.  And he expresses my views so well on writing, life, love and other shenanigans on this crazy planet of ours, in this song.  Love it. SO ENJOY! 

Seal "Get It Together" 

 (Sorry, video wouldn't post in the blog, but the link works!)

Happy Writing & Happy Reading!!!

My Kurt Vonnegut Challenge - Part 2

So after taking in suggestions (thanks to everyone who participated) for my Vonnegut challenge, I will be reading “Mother Night”. 

Here’s a brief summary.

Mother Night is a daring challenge to our moral sense. American Howard W. Campbell, Jr., a spy during World War II, is now on trial in Israel as a Nazi war criminal. But is he really guilty? In this brilliant book rife with true gallows humor, Vonnegut turns black and white into a chilling shade of gray with a verdict that will haunt us all.

Now I will say that I am a little apprehensive, just because this is one of my husband’s favorites and if I don’t finish the last page feeling “enlightened” I have a feeling he’s going to be sorely disappointed by the results of this little project.  So for his sake lets just hope all goes well.  Wish my luck!

"Mother Night" was also made into a movie back in 1996, so I couldn’t resist posting the trailer.

Happy Reading!

A Tribute To The Unwritten Novel

As writers, it’s often a safe assumption to make that yes, we’re a bit of an odd breed.  And more often than not we're the up-in-the-clouds person you see sitting on a park bench somewhere talking to themselves just before laughing out loud at some private joke we've just told ourselves. *Points to self* Yes, guilty as charged.  So when I admit that I find it very difficult to express to others (mostly non-writers) what it really means to me to write or to get lost in the pages of a gripping story, I mean it…I can’t explain it. So don’t ask.

But more importantly than my inability to effectively express basic thoughts and emotions, I think it’s very important that my unwritten novel(s) know and not fear for the future of their creation.  And to know that I look forward to their arrival and the process of developing and writing them into full completion before being presented to the world.  

So this, my unwritten novel(s), is to you…

Dear Unwritten Novel,

I know this may seem premature or somewhat odd.  Okay, really odd!  But I’m hoping, when you’re finally here and I am holding you in my hands, staring lovingly into the black font of your front title page, smelling your sweet-sweet new book smell…this will all make a little more sense.

But for now, you are still simply a flutter of thought, the hint of a whispered idea in my mind’s ear just waiting for me to start you.  So just know, that I know you know I know you’re there…buried deep, deep, real deep in the subconscious of my mind somewhere.  And that you’ll be there patiently waiting for the day when I will finally dig you out and begin to form and mold you into what you were truly meant to be…the greatest of GREAT stories. And meant to be shared with my lovely readers.  So fear not my unwritten novel(s), your conception will be very carefully planned, well thought out and thoroughly documented onto my snazzy 4G USB drive.  

And even though I haven’t met you yet, in my mind, you’re already as good as mine and as well as written.  And I intend to love and nurture your creation into being as carefully as I would any baby that I’d personally give birth to myself.  Okay, maybe not exactly like that, but VERY close.  So until the day I can feel your warm hardcover weight in my hands, and see your sharply printed pages focused in my vision straight off the postman's delivery truck, I’ll wait, and I'll dream of all the numerous possibilities that you could be.

Your Loving Author,
Blaire

P.S. – This one’s for you!

 Michael Buble "Haven't met you yet"

AUTHOR ALERT: Cat Clarke

I just had to share the mini-adventure I had this morning.

Wiling away my morning I happened to stumble across a very interesting author. Her name, Cat Clarke. Okay, so first off, I love her name.  So clearly, the only smart thing for me to do was actually check out her site and learn a bit about this new mystery writer.  And upon arrival to her site, the first thing that stands out to me is this brilliant, eye-catching book cover. 

HELLO! She's a redhead. Love redheads! (Why? I don't know. So don't ask.)

Absolutely gorgeous! Who wouldn't love this cover?! Seriously. Tell me who?  

But beyond just being completely intrigued by the lovely cover I was also thoroughly drawn in by the plot.  Here's a little taste of ENTANGLED...

The same questions whirl round and round in my head:

What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?

17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with
table,pens and paper - and no clue how she got here.

As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unraveling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?

Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is
she here?

A story of dangerous secrets, intense friendship and electrifying attraction.

I know. Awesomeness.

So in all my excitement to get my hands on this book, I immediately popped over to Amazon thinking to order a copy on my Kindle, seeing as I have patience the size of a speck on a dust particle.  But alas, when I searched her book it was to only discover that Cat's book hasn't actually been published in the states yet. What?! Ugh. So being that I am part ninja with a self-confessed obsessive nature, I reached out to Cat to find out how I could get my hands on a copy. And I was actually lucky enough to make contact with said author on twitter, @cat_clarke, and was able to ask her about the publication of her book in the US.  Unfortunately, I was sadly informed that her book was not yet available in the states.  So, per Ms. Clarke's suggestion I popped over to The Book Depository to discover that its also currently unavailable at their venue.  The final outcome (after all that) is that I will have to wait (and we all know how patient I am) for her book to become available to be shipped here to the states. *Sigh*

But despite my failed efforts to purchase ENTANGLED, I still think it was a successful morning because 1) meeting and finding new writers is always a positive in my book & because 2) this book STILL looks & sounds AMAZING! 

So, if you haven't already tried out the links in the post, pop over to Cat's site www.catclarke.com and take a looksy.  

Happy reading all!

My Kurt Vonnegut Challenge

As most of you know I'm not only a YA fiction writer, I'm also a YA fiction reader.  My hubby on the other hand is a big non-fiction reader and if and when the mood strikes him to read anything of fiction, it’s usually something of the sci-fi genre.  But ever since college he's been a huge Kurt Vonnegut fan, but over the last year he's been on a serious Vonnegut kick, reading book after book written by the renowned Mr. Vonnegut. And so what's led me to write this post, is the somewhat galled astonishment my husband has expressed toward me at the fact that I've never read anything written by Vonnegut.

And being that I've always thought of myself as an open minded sort of reader, and after years of pressing from my husband, I've decided to take on my husband's Vonnegut challenge and read one of his works.  And as luck would have it, our personal library is filled with Vonnegut books (thanks to my hubby's collector sensibility).  But an idea I had to help make this challenge a little more interesting is that I've decided to allow all of you, my readers, to help me decide which book to read first. (Plus, I'm really awful at making decisions.)  So to all you Vonnegut fans and readers I'm especially interested in hearing from you.

Here are the titles I have to choose from in my hubby's Vonnegut Collection.

1. A Man Without A Country

2. Armageddon In Retrospect

3. Timequake

4. Breakfast of Champions

5. Cat's Cradle

6. Player Piano

7. Deadeye Dick

8. God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian

9. Slaughterhouse-Five

10. The Sirens of Titan

11. Welcome to the Monkey House

12. Mother Night

So tell me, what do you suggest?  Post your vote in the comment section below or you can tweet me your vote to @BlaireKensley.  I'll do a special post Saturday, July 2nd, revealing which book the voters decided I should read for my Vonnegut Challenge.  

YAY! This should be fun. Right?

THE CREED - Character Inspiration (Part 3)

A continuation of the THE CREED - Character Inspiration, Part 1 and Part 2.

So I'm one of those odd writers who really needs to give a face to my characters while I'm writing.  Usually I search magazines or the internet for the face that I feel best represents the image my brain can't quite visualize on its own, but faces I feel best fit my characters as I write.  For me it adds depth to my writing experience as well as helps to really bring my characters to life in my mind.  Had a little change up from an earlier post for Ava, but I'm very happy with the changes. So with that being said, meet the Cormac Sisters....Ava & Sam! (Gorgeous!)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as "Ava Cormac"

&

Zoe Kravitz as "Samantha 'Sam' Cormac"







Do you get paid to do this? Um...

Dear Reader,

That is a very interesting and easy question to answer. No.

Sincerely,
Blaire

Okay, maybe I'm being a little snarky.  And in all honestly, I can completely understand how for some people--especially the person asking me this question--it must seem crazy for someone to put so much time and energy into something that guarantees no serious financial benefit or the promise of being published in the end.  While most writers will (probably) admit, yes, it would be AWESOME, even beyond AWESOME, to be published by some major publishing house with a super-stacked contract deal with all the bells and whistles...writing is also a positive outlet (at least for me).  A semi-insane outlet meant to keep me sane by helping me focus some of the random and not-so-random thoughts and ideas that are constantly bang around my head, and are more than likely causing irreparable neuro-damage.

For me, writing and reading are two passions that I indulge in happily because 1) I LOVE writing and 2) I LOVE reading.  Simple, I know. Yet no less true.  Now why I love these things?  I’m not exactly sure of the science of it all, only that it makes me stupid-crazy-happy when I do them.  Along with the added perk of a rockin' community of people that I’m able to interact with on a daily basis, as we share our ups and downs in pursuing our shared obsession for writing and reading.

And because I'm sure we're all familiar with the writing clichés that often get butchered like a bottle blonde in a horror film, I’ll save you the trite repetition and simply say this...If there's something you've dreamt of or have always wanted to do? Do it. Period. 

Happy Reading!

Time to Rock 'n' Roll

The evil green-eyed monster has definitely been lurking in the shadows of late. But I tell you now dear readers...I shall NOT be defeated by this traitorous writer undertaker nor will I go down without a fight.

BRING IT ON YOU EVIL WRITER'S BLOCK!

That's write people! I'm here to take on the world, while the world is here to...well, probably just ignore me until its ready to acknowledge me (whenever that'll be). But I'm here and I'm feeling pretty fan-freakin-tastic and surprisingly very energized after what I can only describe as an odd but very reflective Tuesday.  I ended up being sent home early from work, and not for reasons you think, but due to the A/C unit in the entire building being completely on the fritz and apparently on strike.  Talk about HOT!  So four hours later after pulling out of my rin-tin-tin covered parking space I found myself back at home and not really in the mood to do anything productive so instead found myself watching sappy chick-flicks.

So now, after two great movies (which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way) I'm feeling pumped, rejuvenated and ready to kick the crap out of this story.  Let's do this!

Writer Warrior on the war path! And being that I'm in such an EPIC mood and love posting videos at random, I leave you with these INSPIRING WORDS. Seriously, if I had James Earls Jones proclaiming these words to me each time I sat down to write/edit/or revise, I'm (almost) positive I would be kicking writer's block butt and taking publisher houses' names daily. Boom.

Happy Reading!

Happy Father's Day!!!

I wanted to send a special Happy Father's Day out to all you fathers out there. And to send an even more special Happy Father's Day wish to my own dad (aka. Diddy). Being a father, I can only imagine, is probably a tough gig to take on, whether you're a veteran in the game or a new father or about to become a new father. And as the years pass and more and more of my friends become parents it’s clear that there is something special in taking on the responsibility of another life.

Growing up, I have to admit, I feel like I really was one of the lucky ones to have had both my mom and dad in the home throughout my childhood. And to have experienced a pretty happy, typical childhood with your standard sibling rivalries and other childhood shenanigans (that our parents still don't know about...well...they may have a clue now). But I always felt secure in the fact that I knew we would always be taken care of and loved, no matter how many times we "accidentally" set the yard on fire. (Sorry, M & D!).

But my dad was, and still remains to be, one of the hardest working men that I love, admire and deeply respect. Raised simple, and one of nine children, in a small Texas town on a country farm (where I too was briefly raised shortly after entering this world).  He always strove to be a man of his word, of good standing and of honor.  And a man who felt a strong desire to instill those same values in his own children, along with a solid sense of morals and a hard work ethic that I still live by to this day and hope to pass on to my children someday. But more often then not he taught these principles by simply letting his actions lead and speak for themselves, working hard to prove that he was more than just a man who talked, but that he was a man who sought to practice what he preached.

Though at times when it seemed he was too tough or just seemed to push us when it felt like we couldn't go any further...its only in looking back that I realize how very powerful an impact he had not only on my life but the lives of so many others around him. Even now he has a way of seeing the world that sometimes leaves me speechless. He's a simple man who had a simple plan...and he achieved all the dreams he set for himself (and still strives to make and conquer more). He was a hard working God-fearing man, a dedicated father, a provider who welcomed all, a successful business man, and a husband to the quirky God-fearing woman he'd always dreamed of spending his life and raising his children with.  A true success story in my eyes.

He taught me that even though there are no guarantees in life and that life is sometimes simply hard (which he will tell you from experience). He also believed that there is no shame in failing if you truly tried and gave it your best. Because often when one door seems to be closing, its only because another one is ready to be opened.

BOTH my parents have always been two of my biggest supporters and fans in this journey of mine to achieve my life goals and dreams. Always there with a word of encouragement, I know that no matter what happens, they will still be there rooting for me through whatever adventure I take on next. So with that being said...love you mama! And Diddy, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!  Thank you for all you've done and sacrificed for me over the years and wish I could be there to celebrate this day with you!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Thank goodness it's Friday! TGIF!!!

Yes people, it’s just been one of those days.  But I’m glad to say its almost over, and I have a whole weekend ahead of me with nothing planned but to maybe take in a movie, and have a nice big Saturday breakfast after sleeping in ridiculously late (which more or less means waking up at 7 AM instead of 5:30 or 6). Ugh. It’s like a disease, this waking up so ridiculously early.

But any who…

This post is more or less to wish everyone a HAPPY FRIDAY and a GREAT WEEKEND!!!  And if you haven’t already, go to your local bookstores and pickup up a copy of one of the fabulous new novels I wrote a fabulous post about earlier this week. ;-)

Oops! Now I did almost forget...there is one SUPER highlight in this weekend that I wanted to boast about.  The ultra fabulous Lauren Kate, author of the exciting FALLEN SERIES, will be having a book signing tonight at the Southlake Town Square's B&N in Southlake, TX @ 7 PM.  She is promoting Book #3 of her series, PASSION.  So if you're in the area, and have some time and are in search of a fabulous new series to read, then I suggest you pop on over and say “hello” to the iridescent Lauren Kate. 

 

Well, that’s about all I have.  I’m pooped.  But if I can manage to scrounge up the energy, or better yet, find my mojo (which I'm sure I lost somewhere in my sofa's cushions last night), then I’ll hopefully get a real post up sometime over the weekend.  But until then stay classy readers and keep it clean!

Happy Reading!

PS - Here's a little something to get you rockin' into your weekend!  LOVE IT!!!

Natasha Bedingfield "Strip Me"

What was I thinking?!!!

Ever get the feeling that you've possibly bitten off more than you could chew? Or experienced one of those “D'oh!" moments?

Yeah, me neither.

But if I had had one of these moments I think I’d probably be doing a bit of what I’m doing now, which is wondering if I may have taken on a project that was far too much for me to handle.  I sometimes wonder about this as I sit before my computer, the cursor blinking tauntingly back at me waiting for me to give it the old typer-action.  But this morning, while I made my usual 30 mile commute to work, I couldn’t help dwelling on something that's been niggling at the back of my mind for a while, but until now have managed to keep it suppressed.  

Have I really taken on a story that’s out of my league and beyond my level of ability? I mean seriously, who do I think I am?

But no sooner did these hateful thoughts enter my mind that I quickly recalled these small yet poignant words…OH, SHUT UP!!! THIS IS MY STORY AND I CAN TELL IT IF I DARN WELL WANT TO!

And then magically, I started to feel much better. 

I know as writers we often suffer what I like to call chronic-I-suck-and-my-writing-is-crap meltdowns, but please, before you do anything hasty or drastic just cool the jets.  Take a break, grab some coffee, exercise, do anything just don't hack into your work or make any sort of life changing decision while in this crazy whacked out mood.  I’m sure a great many brilliant stories have been lost to the green-eyed meltdown monster over the centuries but remember that fear of failure and doubt is actually just a real part of this crazy process.  So when you’re feeling down, just know that you’re not alone and are in fact in very good company. :-)

WRITER WARRIORS!!! YOU WILL BE CONQUERORS!!!

A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Though I’ll admit this has been one of the toughest editing processes I’ve ever had, re-writes are actually coming along a lot better than expected at this point.  And I’m thinking, surprisingly enough, that I may just finish my edits before my deadline.  Which would be such a load off.   So as long as my characters keep behaving and not get any crazy ideas to deviate too much from my original draft then I imagine things will continue to flow smoothly along, causing me (more importantly) the least amount of pain and discomfort.  YAY!

At present things are starting to intensify quite a bit in round three of my editing.  I feel as if the story is actually starting to take me along for the ride more than the other way around.  But I’m really excited to finally be close enough to finishing this round of edits to be thinking about finally getting my manuscript into the hands of a few well trusted peeps for some much needed feedback.   I’m still incredibly nervous about the whole having others read my work, which is kind of a ridiculous feeling to have as a writer, but to me this is the equivalent of an actor or performer who suffers stage fright right before the big performance.  (It happens people!)  And while it does nearly scare the you-know-what out of me, I think I'm finally ready to take my writing to that next level.  After all, if not to take it to the next level, than what am I doing this for?

So I'll continue to tinker along, and of course keep you as informed as possible along the way, but until next time I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!  And if you get the chance to stop by your local bookstore, you should pop in to pickup a few of these great reads!  Happy Reading!

“Starcrossed” by Josephine Angelini

 

“Passion” by Lauren Kate 

(Book 3 in the FALLEN series)

“Imaginary Girls” by Nova Ren Suma

"Hourglass" by Myra McEntire