Letters to the Future Blogfest!

The lovely and talented Kristin Rae at her blog Kristin Creative has decided to host a fun blogfest in celebration of her 300 Followers! (although now she's over 300 and growing so go join the bandwagon if you haven't already!) :-)

What's this blogfest all about? Well, on Wednesday, May 25th, (TODAY) write a letter to your future self and post it on your blog. Fun, huh? So without further ado, here's mine:

Dear Future Self:

Hello. How 'bout that ride in? I guess that's why they call it Sin City.
Self, I hope you don’t have Alzheimer’s and can remember what movie that’s from. It’s okay if you don’t. But man, that’s a real bummer if that’s the case because you would be chuckling.

I should know. I’m you.

Anyway, there is so much I want to say to you. First and foremost, you're welcome. I really keep up with the sunscreen ritual and the p90x workouts so I am sure that you look fantastic for your age and all your girlfriends are completely jealous.

Also, did you write that “BIG” book you kept saying you were going to write? You better have. And if you’re reading this letter now and haven’t done so, get on it. NOW. You’re not getting any younger. (Although I’m sure you look it) :)

Maybe your tastes have changed but right now you’re a sucker for Lisa Kleypas contemporary romance novels, Michael Kors shoes, are into the color purple, and will eat anything that has chipotle or cilantro in it. Thought you’d want to know that.

Also, go easy on the kiddo. You may be having issues with her since she’s a teenager, but right now she tells you she loves you and that you’re the best mommy in the world almost every day. Remember that before you ground her from now to eternity.

That’s all I wanted to say. That and congratulations on being nominated for that RITA award. I knew that all my hard work I'm doing now would pay off for you in the future.

With Love Always,
Old Self


Don't forget to check out Kristin's blog and read the other blogfest posts!

PS. What is going on with blogger now? I can't comment on anyone's posts!!! Grrr....

Social Networking: Beyond just Marketing

This week I finally got around to reading this month’s RW Report put out by the RWA. One article by Dyanne Davis in particular drew my attention since it cited “some quick tips to refill your creative well”. (Another reason I took off from blogging last week wasn’t to just write, but to refill the well and read too. But I digress…)

In the article she discussed ways to seek out inspiration and one of the ways was by using your social network. She told of an author who throws out questions on Facebook when he’s working on scenes he needs help with. For example: What would you do if you found your man in bed with another man?

I thought that was interesting—and a great way to be social and use social networking to help you as a writer. It kind of reminds me of that Hilary Clinton book title It Takes a Village. I think a lot of writers find it takes a village to write a book sometimes! We constantly bounce ideas off our spouses or significant others, our critique partners, and sometimes friends or family. But Social Networking opens up your feedback even more. You’ll never please everybody but you can get an idea of what the majority of people think out there.

1) Maybe you have a few ideas for a title for your book. Throw it out on Facebook or Twitter or your blog and see most people think would make them buy the book.
2) Are you stuck with a scene or need some inspiration? Do what the writer above did and pose a question on Facebook to get a different take on the situation. Maybe you’ll end up looking at the scene in a different light.
3) Having trouble naming your characters? Host a blog contest or throw it out on Twitter. I saw an author have her hero’s name narrowed down to three. She posted them on Twitter and got feedback on what most readers preferred and her hero was finally named.
4) Need inspiration to keep your butt in the chair and your fingers on that keyboard? Tweet about your writing progress or ask some writers to participate in a writing challenge. I’ve seen some authors say on Twitter that they’re going to do a little writing sprint and would anyone like to join them. They each write for an hour and then they post how much they’ve each written when the time is up. What a great way to drum up some motivation to write and finish up your story!
5) Are you your own worst enemy when it comes to finishing your book? Set up goals and blog or tweet about them. (That’s what I do. The shame factor really works well in keeping me accountable):-)

See? Writers don’t have to picture themselves as a lonely island. It’s like that song from High School Musical “We’re all in this together…” People are out there just waiting to help us write that book.

We just have to ask.:)

How about you? Do you work alone or do you have people you bounce ideas off of? Have you ever used social networking to get help with your writing?

Time for an Unplug

I'm taking a little break this week from blogging.

I want to finish my WIP by the end of this month and my Internet has been acting weird, so this seems like a perfect time. :-)

I should be around on Twitter and Facebook. (WiFi and writing progress allowing, of course.)

Wish me luck and see ya next week!

Is Myspace Dead Space?

Hello? Myspace?

I know that social media experts say you're not dead, but you seem to be gravely ill or at least...
maybe in a two year coma?

Poor Myspace.

I've really tried to send time there. (Ok, I lasted three minutes--tops!)
It's just so hard to maneuver around. And I feel so removed from everyone since all I see are feeds from other social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, which is kind of ironic. :)

No, I won't delete my site. Not sure why. Maybe because I remember when Myspace was cool and fun. Or maybe because I'm thinking there will be some Facebook meltdown with all it's new rules (go HERE for new contest information).

Am I the only one feeling this way or am I missing the boat on something advantageous?
So some thoughtful questions for you this Friday are:

Do you Myspace?
And if so, when was the last time you logged in there?

inquiring minds--ok, my mind wants to know. :-)

Three's a Crowd? Children in Romance Novels

Hope all you moms out there had a great Mother's day! (I did) Mine started with sleeping in, lovely homemade gifts from the kiddo, then a brunch with my mom and family, then I read all afternoon, then the hubby cooked me dinner.

It doesn't get better than that!

Anyhew, last week I was at a writer's forum and they were discussing children in romance novels. (Maybe Mother's Day prompted this. I'm not sure.)

But considering, um, I write romance novels, I couldn't help but join in on the discussion. And I learned something that surprised me.

Not a lot of readers (at the forum, anyway) enjoy seeing children in romance novels. In fact, I think I was the only one who said they liked seeing children in them.

*Gasp*

What is it? Too close to reality?
Actually, yes. Most felt children or a child or a baby took away from the actual romance, the "fantasy", and was too real world for them.

Considering two of my soon-to-be three published romances have a child or children in them, I don't find that the case. :-) And apparently Harlequin's family style and/or secret baby romances do quite well too. Unless I'm the only one reading them, and I know that can't be.



But here's why I think a child or children can be a nice addition to a romance novel:

1) a child is a great vehicle to show character growth in one or two of your main characters. Your character may have started out a selfish playboy but now that he learns he has a family, he can change and be a responsible father by the end.

2) a child is a great vehicle for comic relief. I know my kiddo says the funniest things--and some of the things she's said or even the situations she's gotten herself into, I've used in my books.

3)a child can provide "likeability" for your character. Maybe your main character isn't the nicest person on the planet, but she/he can show a different side and have a different heart around a child. Very likeable.

4) a child can add great internal or external conflict for a character. Your main character doesn't have just he/she to worry about now, they have the child to consider in their quest for their goal. Conflict!

I happen to be a real sucker for children in books--maybe more so now that I'm a mom myself. But as long as there is balance and the child doesn't control the story, a child can really add some nice depth to a story.

What about you? Do you read romance? Do you like children in romance novels or books in general?

2 4 6 8, Who Do We Appreciate?

It was Teacher Appreciation Week this past week!


Yep, and to show how much I appreciate my kiddo’s teachers I made a homemade chocolate chip cheesecake for a luncheon we had for them at the school. I even cut some flowers from my—er, my neighbor’s-- lilac bush, so my kiddo could bring them in for her teacher too. (I’m really thoughtful that way)

So yes, I really do appreciate my kiddo’s teachers. They weren’t getting store-bought cheesecake from me! In fact, I appreciate ALL teachers.

But, uh, that being said…

When I was working as a pharmacist I never had Pharmacist Appreciation Week. Although someone did just tell me we have an appreciation DAY. (Jan. 12) Huh. None of the patients I saw seemed to know that. I would have even settled for a short Thank You note from a customer thanking me for working 14 hours a day with no lunch or dinner breaks (and barely a bathroom break), dispensing the correct medication, and not killing them.

I’m sure it was on their “to do” list somewhere.

So let me just say now…

You’re welcome. And I’m really glad you’re not dead.

And what about authors too? (Can’t forget them)

Do they get an Appreciation Week thanking them for all the hours upon hours that they spend crammed up against some computer somewhere, unshowered and in yoga pants muttering to themselves just so we the reader can get a few hours of entertainment?

No. Apparently authors only get a DAY for that too. (Nov 1st)

The list could on.

This has all made me think long and hard about people I've taken for granted.

So allow me to now hold high on a pedestal and appreciate some people who might have been overlooked in my life. After all, everyone deserves a little recognition:

Thank you to everyone who has has ever worked with me and my slight case of self-diagnosed OCD. I know. You know. Thank you.

Thank you to my thyroid surgeon. He could have given me one nasty Frankenstein scar right across the throat. Instead, I have a little bitty one that only I notice. (in certain lights)

Thank you to Tony Horton of P90x. Thanks to Mr. Bring It I actually look forward to exercising and most days I actually do "bring it".

Thank you to the garbage men in my area. You always manage to keep my trashcans tightly together after emptying them. Wow. That little extra yard effort is so very appreciated.

Thank you to every waitress or waiter who has ever served us while we were eating with my father-in-law. He can be tough and a jokester too. You deserve every penny of that tip we give you.

And lastly, since Mother’s Day is in a few days, I can’t forget to appreciate Mom.
Thanks for giving me life and putting up with me (especially during those trying teenage years!) and when I forget to call.



If you're a mother, have a Happy Mother's Day!



Did you know it was Teacher Appreciation Week? Anyone else you want to appreciate?

A to Z Blog Challenge: Z is for...

I'm late. I know. But I am finishing this blog challenge.

Thanks so much to all my new followers and for everyone involved in this challenge! It was long but fun, and I really enjoyed meeting so many new people!

Anyhew, Z is for: Zoboomafoo!

Ha! You're probably thinking zoboomawhat?

Zoboomafoo was actually a PBS children's television show.
It used to one of my kiddo's favorite shows. (I liked it too)
Every week you'd learn about some new animal--and most of them were pretty funky.

I remember once when the kiddo was in preschool, she took a field trip to the zoo. I was one of the mommy chaperones and walked around with her and a bunch of her friends plus some other moms too.

Well, my kiddo looks nonchalantly in one of the pens and says, "Oh, look Mommy, a capybara."

I laugh when I think of the other mom's face when she heard that. I mean what four year old can identify a capybara?
What forty year old can identify a capybara? LOL

Anyhew, the mom looks at me and asks, "Um, can your daughter read?"

I was like, "Nope, she just watches Zoboomafoo." :-)

I think the show still might be on reruns now. At least, I hope so. There should be more educational and FUN shows like that on today.

Have you ever heard of Zoboomafoo? What is your favorite children's educational TV show?