Gwen Mitchell Fiction

FINALLY!!!

2010-02-24T02:20:00.000-08:00

My new blog isn't exactly "finished" but it's up! Come on over and say hello. And please, update your links. Thanks! ~Gwen

www.gwenmitchell.com

I know, I know . . .

2010-02-08T09:05:00.001-08:00

I'm still running behind. Funeral this weekend, and a mind-blowing 8-hour workshop with Mary Buckham = no website.

This week is the week, though. I can *feel* it.

Coming Soon . . .

2010-01-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

I laid down a very optimistic goal with 1/15 as a launch date.

I will be pushing the official launch back, so come back on the 5th and you will find a brand new shiny blog. :)

TTFN
~Gwen

It's Official . . .

2009-11-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

My blog is on hiatus.

I have been meaning and meaning and meaning to get back here and update you on my progress (for example, 3rd place in the Golden Gateway and 1st Place in the Emerald City Opener, how my conference went, what I'm reading and *loving* right now, etc. etc.).

But it's time to get real. With the Golden Heart deadline looming, work, school, and the swiftly approaching holidays (including 6 birthdays in my family - sheesh!), I don't see when I will have time to do better than I have been.

So . . . I'm officially hanging up this blog until January 15th 2010 - at which point I will launch a WHOLE NEW, improved, and very shiny Wordpress site. And then I'll turn over a new leaf and actually, you know . . . blog about stuff.

So - to anyone out there who is still reading this - thank you. Enjoy your holiday season, and see you next year!

~Gwen

Finalisms and Other Sundries

2009-09-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

*taps dust of microphone*

Phew! It's been a while! And though I've been absent, I haven't been idle. ;)

I'm closing in on my final rewrites for my parnormal romantic suspense novel, Inner Eye. My goal is to have them complete by 9/15 and I should land thereabouts. It will be a *crazy* month and a half for me coming up -- lots of fun stuff!

On to the good news . . .

I'm happy to announce that I'm a finalist in the Golden Gateway's paranormal category again this year (different ms than last year). They haven't announced the finalists on their website yet, but I hear I'm up against some stiff competition. I'm just happy to final. It's good to know that the baby you've spent the better part of a year tearing up and piecing back together doesn't suck. Coming from fanfic roots, I'm a glutton for that reassurance.

And I'm equally ecstatic to announce that the same ms finaled in the Romantic Suspense category of the Emerald City Opener contest. (Okay, maybe slightly more ecstatic, because the prize for this one is PRICELESS.) I get a personal one-on-one appointment with an agent/editor at the 2009 Emerald City Writers' Conference. *squee-gulp*

Yes, that's the same manuscript in two different contests, in two different categories. It is a paranormal romantic suspense, so I've been entering it into whichever category I think fits the specific contest. In my next entry, Inner Eye will be in the Single Title category. What can I say? The story really doesn't want to be pinned down to one narrow genre!

Obviously, since I have an appointment with an agent/editor all lined up, I'll be popping my conference cherry on October 9th. I'm equal parts excited and nervous. I have to get a pitch together, get my hair done, and go shopping! Luckily, the members of the GSRWA have been very welcoming, and I already have a conference buddy.

I'll also be going to hear my mentor/cp Debbie Mumford speak at a Vancouver Writers Mixer on October 3rd. It's starting to feel like this writing thing is actually *happening.* Perhaps the most gratifying moment was one day on a vacation/weekend outing, hubby picked up my Crackberry, looked at the list of emails, and just about choked. "How do you keep track of all that sh*t?" he asks. Truly, sometimes I think my whole family believes I'm just screwing off on the internet all the time. Srsly.

I'm also going to be visiting with mah girls in Atlanta the last weekend of September. I'm sooooo excited! (Except for the flying part, but I have Valium, so I'm covered

My next goal, after all of these social events, is to launch my new website/blog. I'm aiming for October. (I know, I know . . . I've said this before.) In my defense, learning a new coding language ain't no bowl of cherries.

Then I will hit the grindstone hard polishing up Inner Eye and my first novel, Cloak of Deceit. I plan to submit both to the Golden Hearts this year, and to get them going on the query-go-round in early December. I have entered a few other contests, so I may have more good news to share soon *crosses fingers*.

Oh, and I'll definitely post a conference update or two. I've got to get back on this blogging horse . . .

TTFN!!

~Gwen

I'm Alive!

2009-07-13T09:14:00.001-07:00

I thought I should put something up here before it gets too stagnant. There's been a lot going on the past month or so -- I have been a busy little bee, if I do say so myself.

First off, my critique partner Thomma Lyn released her debut novel, Mirror Blue!

*squee* I'm so excited for her - the reviews are starting to come in, and I just know people will love the book as much as I did.

In the same vein, I got to meet the fabulous Debbie Mumford in the flesh yesterday. We had a great lunch, talked shop, and she is even cooler in person! Her novella The Silver Casket is releasing from Freya's Bower on August 18th, and I'm totally in love with her cover art. I had the pleasure of reading an early version of this story and highly reccomend it. :)

I've also joined a start-up critique group, run by Lynette Labelle. She's pulled together a good mix of writers and we even have a name: The Rumored Romantics. I'm excited to get started. I've never been a critique group before and look forward to trying out a different venue. You know we writers are always looking for extra sets of eyes. The more opinions the better, in my mind. I haven't decided which project I'll be throwing at these ladies for starters, but I'm sure it will be a fun learning experience.

On the writing front, I'm at the halfway point with my re-write of Inner Eye. As I get closer to the end, the rewrites will be less extensive, so I'm hoping to have this one wrapped up and shelved in the next few weeks. I've submitted it to 3 contests to sort of test the waters. Then, I just have to polish my query packet and start throwing it at some agents. I'm both excited and nervous. I've put A LOT of work into this book, and if it doesn't find a home, that will be hard to swallow. On the flip side, I know the number one thing that keeps people going in this business is believing in themselves, so I do have hope!

I've done a little bit of reading recently, but not a lot. I think the most surprising was the Vampire Queen duo by Joey W. Hill. I enjoyed the Storywitch's writing so much, I even went and bought one of her early Ellora's Cave titles. The emotional depth, well-woven backstories, and top-notch writing have really made me re-think a lot of my own prejudices against the erotic romance genre (which I didn't even realize I had until I was surprised by how good these books were. *g*).

I'm still working down my list of exciting releases I mentioned in the spring. Devon Monk's 2nd in her Ally Beckstrom series lived up to my excitement. I have yet to read Lover Avenged, though from the sounds of it, BDB fans are pleased.

I've decided to nail myself down with an actual deadline for my new blog/website. Rain or shine, it will launch August 15th, so I've got my work cut out for me. I'll try to ease into the blogoshere between now and then, and spread the word. I have a few ideas for a little launch party. We'll see.

Time to get rolling!

~G

The Blog that Wasn't . . .

2009-05-29T11:26:00.001-07:00

*sigh*

I wish I had a legitimate excuse. Instead, I have a bunch of illegitimate ones, disguised as an update:

1. The idea of composing a review encompassing a four book series is daunting. I read Curse the Dawn, and loved it. Haven't made a peep otherwise.

2. My mom stole my copy of Lover Avenged. (I know!)

3. On the heels of being bookless, I entered into a phase of The Artist's Way known as reading deprivation. This deprivation includes blogs, so even opening google was a downhill slide I just decided to avoid. Consequently, I was very productive that week, and *extended* said deprivation just to see what would happen. (Apparently I reached a balance-point between being productive and being depressed because I couldn't read, so no worries - that's over now. :P )

4. The sun has been shining like mad in Seattle! (Don't tell anyone.)

5. I went to my first RWA meeting, but Ciara put my write-up to shame.

6. Working lots of overtime, but took a fantastic vacation to the coast.

7. I've been working like a madwoman on my new website/blog which will relocate to Wordpress. I'm shooting for the end of June to make the big switch-a-roo. Until then, blog play is more than likely suspended. If I do happen by some time to generate content, I'll probably save it for the new site.

8. RE-WRITES!!!! It's been brought to my attention several times, that the first step of getting anywhere in the publishing business is having a solid product to sell. So, that continues to be my focus. The first third of my current novel is getting a total over-haul and the rest will be hacked, trimmed, and then polished. I'm not sure how long this is going to take me, but I will definitely be having a party when it's finished.

Think that about covers it.

TTFN!
~Gwen

HAPPY HAPPY DAY!

2009-05-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

My thank-the-stars-I'm-so-lucky-to- have-her critique partner Thomma Lyn is celebrating the release of her novel Mirror Blue today, from Black Lyon publishing's Literary Love Story imprint.

I just had to publicly squee.

The eBook is available from Black Lyon today, and the paperback will be available next week.

I plan on doing both a review and an interview in the coming weeks, and Thomma Lyn is on a virtual book tour through June. If you're hunkering for a character-driven story to suck you in and pull on your heartstrings, I *highly* recommend this book.

Here's the blurb:

He’s her first chance at love.
She’s his last.

Free spirit Aphra Porter never thought Isaac Lightfoot would remember
the letter she wrote to him years before. But by some miracle, he does. Now a
successful Web site designer in her thirties, Aphra meets the man whose writing
talents she’s always idolized—an encounter that leaves her spinning. No longer
is Isaac a distant image, but a flesh and blood man who looks at her like no one
has looked at her before.

A critically acclaimed author and Vietnam war hero, Isaac is one tough
bear of a man. Faced with the physical and emotional scars of war, a
relationship with a daunting age difference, and an ex-wife bent on tearing
Aphra from his life, he’s about to learn that leaving the past behind and
building a new life can be the toughest battle of all.

Quick and Dirty

2009-04-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

Update time!

Rewrites are coming along. I've done some major restructuring and have finessed the first 5 chapters into something I'm proud of. I also toiled (and toiled) over a synopsis and now have a full contest submission packet of Inner Eye ready to go. I'm planning on entering it into some contests in May.

Other than that, I've been playing with a lot of graphics stuff, getting ready to make the transition over to wordpress. I've been out of the graphics groove for too long, it is actually a thrill to get back into it. Ideas springing up all over the place. Whether or not I can master php well enough to make them a reality. =D

Oooooh! And I'm going to my first GSRWA meeting this weekend - I'm sooo excited! I was going to go last month, but I was heavy into the final chapters of my WIP and rudimentary hygeine was a challange. (Probably too much information, but still true.)

Other than that, I've been trying to take advantage of every second of sunshine, because around here, you never know when you're going to see it again.

Review: Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

2009-04-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

Author: Nalini Singh (Website, Blog)
Cover Awesomeness: Darren Hopes, George Long, Ron Zinn
Publisher: Berkley
Imprint: Sensation
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 978-0-425-22692-6

Similar Universes: Meljean Brook’s Guardians series, Faith Hunter’s Rogue Mage series
Nit Pick: A New Yorker calling elevators lifts and flashlights torches.
Favorite Quote (p. 325):

“Mortals . . . they burn so bright, but their light goes out too quickly.”

I’m a fan of Ms. Singh’s Psy-Changeling series of paranormal romances. I find her writing very sensual, evocative and character driven. The idea of a realm of vampires and darker things in her hands instantly appealed to me.

In this world, vampires are created by Archangels, and must pay for their immortality with 100 years of servitude. Because the vamps don't always hold up their end, there is also a division of specially trained warriors who hunt down and return the rogues, called the Guild. Elena is a Guild Hunter – the best. She’s hunter-born, giving her a super-sensory advantage over those who are merely trained: she can scent vampires. Raphael is the Archangel of New York. He rules his subordinates with an iron fist. And everybody is subordinate to Raphael. The Cadre of Ten (Archangels) have divided the globe into territories, and New York is his.

The Archangel of New York, p. 21:

“Then drink.” It was an instruction so absolute, she knew he expected instant
obedience. Something snapped inside her.“Or else?”
The wind stopped. Even
the clouds seemed to freeze.
Death whispered in her ear.

The one (really, the only one) thing I found disappointing in this story was the
lack of explanation how this (assumed to be) near future world is now lorded
over by angels. The author gives us this (p. 83):

For all that angels had been a part of mankind’s history since the earliest cave
paintings, they remained shrouded in mystery . . . Some called them the scions
of the gods, others saw them as simply a more advanced species. Only one
thing was certain – they were the rulers of the world, and they knew it.

I have a hard time believing humans simply bowed down to their superiority without putting up a fight. We just don’t have it in us. And if there was a war, or a magical shift, a plague, or an apocalypse mentioned in this book, I don't recall it. But really, once the story swept me away, I didn't care. Even without detailed orations on a false history, Ms. Singh’s rich descriptions and alluring voice make it extremely easy to suspend disbelief. Not to mention her heart-stealing characters and fast-moving plot.

While there are many interesting elements involving the powers and state of being of the angels, this book isn’t the world-building powerhouse that you’d expect in a typical urban fantasy. But there were still plenty of intriguing surprises and twists that kept things interesting. One of my favorite style elements were the short, sinister interjections from the villains point of view, which lent a sense of urgency. And the romance element carries its weight, and then some. From the very beginning, Raphael and Elena have a very shiversome attraction between them, summed up nicely when asks her if she desires his head vamp, Dmitri (p. 68):

“Hell, no. He’s like double-frosted chocolate mud cake. It looks good. You want
to eat the whole thing, but in reality it’s too sickly sweet.” Dmitri’s sensual
nature was suffocating, heavy, a blanket that repelled even as it attracted.
“If he is cake, what am I?” Cruel, sensual lips against her cheek, her jaw.
“Poison,” she whispered. “Beautiful, seductive poison.”

As Raphael and Elena hunt the rogue Archangel together, the romance continues to simmer, and sometimes sizzle. (I need to get my hands on some Archangel dust. Srsly.) They fly all over the city, visiting gruesome crime scenes, tracking their murderer. And somewhere in the middle of it, Raphael decides Elena belongs to him, while Elena fights her attraction to the dangerous ruler of New York with teeth and claws (and bullets).

One of the things handled most deftly in Angels’ Blood was the theme of immortality vs. humanity. Time and again, the difference between the two of them was demonstrated by Raphael’s actions and thoughts. He was probably one of the most convincing immortals I’ve ever read (and, heh, I’ve read a lot.). And yet, he finds himself drawn to this dispensable mortal, and through his attachment to her (and fear of her death) he begins to think and act more like a mortal.

Elena has drawn a line that she will not cross - she won't be anyone's supplicant. She will not worship or be cowed by Raphael, even at the cost of her own life. The strength of her will and her lack of fear at first intrigue the Archangel, and later challenge him in a way he hasn't known before.

Since they are hunting one of his own who has gone mad, Raphael wonders if immortality has tainted him, made him too uncaring, and too inhuman. In this way, Elena saves him. She becomes his check-and-balance. But the author didn't take the easy way out here, as so many do once their tortured immortal has 'met his match'. They both struggle to hold on to who they are while falling in love, and it made for an extremely satisfying (read:angsty) journey on both sides.

The final battle is one that will stay with me for a long time, so I won't spoil it, but I can say the tension and drama ran high throughout this whole book. I devoured it in one sitting. Twice. And I'll read it again. If you like paranormal romance or urban fantasy, I strongly recommend this title, as well as Ms. Singh's Psy-Changeling series.

Final Grade:

The Joys of Manuscript Revision, or, All Good Writing was Written More Than Once

2009-04-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

I swore I would never be that 'type' of writer. And I say that like there are 'types' of writers, which really their aren't - everyone is an individual.

But when I read that a favorite author of mine writes with a process along the lines of, Write it once, keep half of it, write it again, keep 2/3 of it, write it again, keep 3/4 of it, I laughed.

That's waaaaay too inefficient, said Gwen. I'll just write my books once, and do it right the first time. I'll use an outline, and be way more organized....

*cough*

Yeah. Maybe there is something to being a professional at what you do, after all.

I wrote my book once. I even had an outline. And it took me 45K words more than I thought I needed to tell the story. Now I need dig for the gold, and re-write the rest.

But it should be an adventure . . . . And result in a much better finished product. So, I've called in some help - bought some books, and I'll be using those as I sort of experiment with this whole 'rewrite' thing, to see how it works for me.

Because all of us writers are individuals -- even if some laws are universal, like this one:

All good writing was written more than once.

Consider this post a warning for the forthcoming whining.

New Review Schedule

2009-04-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

Since this isn't a revew site, per se, and I could easily spend a great bit of time picking at books from my reading list that hit a nerve, or otherwise leave all nerves undisturbed (equally as bad), I've decided I'm only going to post reviews here of ones I really love. Or really expect to love.

This limits the number, and spreads them out. All my other reviews can be found on Goodreads, though usually in the form of a simple star rating, unless there was something I particularly detested.

So, on the blog, you can look forward to reviews of the following star-studded titles this spring/summer (sidebar forthcoming):

April 15th - Angel's Blood, Nalini Singh
May 5th- Curse the Dawn*, Karen Chance
May 20th - Lover Avenged*, J.R. Ward
May 30th - Dead and Gone*, Charlaine Harris
June 15th - Magic in the Blood*, Devon Monk
June 30th - Magic Strikes*, Ilona Andrews
July 15th - Bone Crossed*, Patricia Briggs
July 30th - City of Souls, Vicki Pettersson
August 15th - Darkness Calls, Marjorie M. Liu
August 30th - Hunting Ground*, Patricia Briggs

Hopefully between now and then I'll get some release dates on some of my other highly-anticipated series, or, if need be, I can fill-in with old favorites. ;-)

*Review will cover series titles up to most current release, unless previously reviewed.

The Sun Found Seattle!

2009-04-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend was glorious! Blue skies, warm temperatures, and the trees started budding overnight. It made me feel sorta like this.

Despite the arrival of spring (Finally! Did I mention we got snow on April 1st?), what did I do all weekend? Pretty much spent the whole thing locked away in the writing cave, as I closed in on the end of my first draft of my second novel, Inner Eye.

My husband has taken to calling me his vampire. And when he did manage to drag me out of the house (baited only by a promise to visit B&N), I realized that's not too far off base. I'm so pale I glow. =P

The good news - 1st draft is DONE!
The bad news - I'm 45K words over budget, so the work is just beginning.

Over the past few weeks, in preparation for the 're-write' phase forthcoming, I have read several great books on the craft. I plan to do a blog post on each of them. And to tie myself down to a new reviewing schedule that I think is much more doable. I also plan to get some more free reads posted, and to start to chronicle my journey through my WIP. Perhaps my experience of what works/what doesn't will be useful to someone.

I'll let this post stand for now as a placeholder: changes are coming. In fact, now that I have a drafted story to work with, the pressure is off of writing for a bit and I'll be putting some effort into a total website/blog re-design and possible move to Wordpress.

Hope the sun is shining down on you too!

Forward Thinking

2009-03-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

I decided, instead of waiting for the sun to show its face, I would do a post on some of the books I'm really looking forward to this spring and summer.

As far as reading goes, this year is gonna rock!

Here's my *squee* TBR line-up:

Angel's Blood (Guild Hunter #1) - Available Now

This one is burning a whole in my backpack as I type this. But, I haven't gotten to it yet. I really enjoyed what I've read of Ms. Singh's Psy-Changeling series, and how could I resist something with angels and vampires?

Lover Avenged (BDB #7) - April 28th

I'm super-excited to learn more about the Sympath sub-culture in J.R. Ward's newest BDB release. Rhev has been begging for his story to be told for a couple of books, now. (Also, I have to wait the least amount of time for this one. I'm little on patience, so that counts for a lot. ;)

Dead and Gone (Sookie #8) - May

Okay, so this has technically been out for a while, but I've been waiting for the paperback, so I'm totally stoked! I started reading the Sooky books when I saw the first ads for True Blood. They've become one of my favorite series, now and I have even resisted spoilers for this one on whether there is any hope for my #1 beau in those books (guess who).

City of Souls (Zodiac Series #4 - Cover not available) - June 30th

I really enjoy this series and have been long-awaiting the next release. I was loaned this by a friend (who had borrowed someone else's) and immediately went out and bought myself a copy. Then went back and bought another to give away. These books are that good. I've posted reviews of the first two in the series, The Scent of Shadows and The Taste of Night, here.

Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss #2) - July 30th

My review of the first book pretty much says it all. All I can add is, if she was just getting warmed up with the series, I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega #2) - August

I'll be reviewing the first book in the series soon, but I can say without a doubt that Ms. Briggs has another winner on her hands. I think I might like this one even better than Mercy . . .

Demon Forged (Guardians #8) - TBA

Meljean is on fire. I don't know why the stupid people at Barnes and Noble keep refusing to stock enough of her books. It infuriates me. But as soon as this one is up on google, you can betcha a$$ I'll be pre-ordering.

Hiding . . .

2009-03-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit since I posted anything.

My thoughts, worthy enough to share, have been rather dark lately. I didn't want to drag you down with me. It must be this dismal winter weather. Or maybe it's just that rewrites = ugh.

This just about sums up my viewpoint of late.

o.o

When real life fails . . .

2009-02-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

Put yourself in a Harlequin romance!

He was a poor, simple boy. She was a wealthy, fiery young lady. Though they were worlds apart, their innocent friendship bloomed into a mutual admiration. Then suddenly Matthais was wrenched from Gwen's life.

Now, years later, he has returned to the Australian Outback society as an influential wealthy tycoon, determined to seek revenge on Gwen's father—and Gwen herself. But she is no longer the spoiled schoolgirl Matthais remembers. She is a brainy young super successful businesswoman of conviction and faith, raising a son on her own. Now Matthais must look deep into his heart. For only in abandoning his thirst for revenge can he finally become the man most worthy of her love.

*happysigh*

Review: Underworld - Rise of the Lycans

2009-02-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

Overall: Not a total waste of $20

Good: The casting. Bill Nighy as always superb, and Michael Sheen holds up well. The girl cast as Sonja also did a great job. Effects, costumes, makeup were well executed.

Okay: The music was ho-hum, and didn't hold any big drama. The acting was mid-range. Mostly, I was disappointed in the scale of the movie. It was supposed to be the beginning of an ancient war, and it really only barely touched on that. The scene in the movie that should have held the most drama (well, 2 of them) fell rather flat.

Not so good: There were no elements added to the story that we didn't already know about. Nothing really revealed, other than the origins of Lucien, which didn't even really make sense. The big war I was holding out for? Never happened.

I think this is the last one of these we'll be seeing, and I'm okay with that. I love the first two enough that I don't want to watch the franchise flounder.

Srsly #2

2009-02-16T22:39:00.000-08:00

This one is for my upstairs neighbor, who for some reason works the oddest hours . . .

I'm thinking you must be a bartender, or a pimp. That would explain the clackety-clack of the hoochie-mama shoes going up the cement stairs outside my bedroom at 2am on weeknights. As well as the weekly perpetual toilet-flushing and barfathon (yeah, that one's fun to wake up to).

Oh, and let's not forget the Sunday morning sex. I don't know how you manage it, but every frickin' weekend you're at it. Do you *have* to bang your flavor of the week BEFORE people (okay, not me, but other people) get up to go to church? You can't wait until the afternoon like the rest of us? I mean, some of us only get to sleep in one day a week, and guess what - it's SUNDAY.

At the very least, show some neighborly consideration and tighten the bolts on your headboard.

And dude - they're faking it. You have no rhythm.

Srsly.

Quaint Quote

2009-02-11T09:59:00.000-08:00

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.
- Dr. Seuss

WAKE UP BRAIN CELLS!!!!

BounceSkipSquee

2009-02-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

My new (although it feels like we've been working together forever) critique partner ThommaLyn got some AWESOME news yesterday! Her novel, Mirror Blue, (which I'm in the process of devouring) is going to be published by Black Lyon, for release next Spring. I'm so super-excited for her that I had to come squee about it over here too.

Congratulations Thomma! You deserve scads of faithful readers and you're on your way!

Dark Side of the Moon

2009-01-24T21:12:00.000-08:00

No, not the Pink Floyd Album. Though . . . if that is the first thing that came to your mind, you're cool in my book.

Today is what we moon-keen folks would term the 'new moon', meaning that the moon is back at the beginning of its cycle (of course 'beginning' is relative, since it depends on when you start counting, but go with me here). It's perfectly aligned between the earth and the sun at the moment, therefore all the sunlight hitting it is, well, reflecting back at the sun and skipping us. So we are looking at the 'dark' side of it. If you were to step outside and look for it, you would find *maybe* a tiny sliver, most likely a spooky sort of ringy silhouette. I love the New Moon. I think most people don't even realize it's happening, but I always feel the moon, even if I don't see it.

The new moon is supposed to be a time of reflection. A rest from the business of life to pause, take a breath, and plan. Maybe to study up or prepare for something. It's a time to break bad cycles and begin new, better ones.

Hence why tonight, I decided to go and post all the things I had *intended* to blog this month so far. I know . . . it's cheating. But I figure the blogger folks wouldn't have given us the backpost feature if it weren't intended for procrastinators like me. Right?

Back Post # 1 - Ch-ch-ch-changes!

2009-01-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

Song of the Moment: Just Dance - Lady GaGa

Today is my dad's birthday. I called him and said, "Happy Birthday - I got you a new president." He said that was the best present he's ever gotten. *g*

I could go on a boring 'yeah, yeah, yeah' rant about everything about the last eight years that has sucked. Or I could write you something inspiring about how this day is the first in a long time that gives me hope, gives me some faith in my generation, and makes me proud to be an American.

But I won't. Instead, I want shine the spotlight on our country's unflappable ability to turn any event into an excuse to sell more useless stuff in the effort to cross-promote, because - hey! - this is America! The nation that brought you Super Bowl commercials, black-Friday, and cereal box toys. For Obama's first day in office, you won't want to miss your opportunity to get a book, cup, Chia pet, or commemorative plate to mark this day in history.

And don't forget . . .

Your official inauguration day Starbux cup insulator. It comes in a stylish, eco-friendly craft brown, with vibrant red and blue print, and boasts a moving quote from FDR, "The only thing to fear is fear itself . . ." to lift up your spirits as your triple skinny americana saturates your bloodstream.

I'm going to sell it on eBay, or whatever its equivalent is, in 50 years. After all, this is America, and though there may be change on the horizon, one thing you can always count on is ample opportunity to make a quick buck off of a faithfully practicing consumer. Heh.

Back Post # 2 - Critiquery

2009-01-17T22:39:00.000-08:00

Song of the Moment: Love Lockdown – Kanye West

Depending on what order you’re reading this in, you may or may not know that I have had a prayer answered in the form of my new critique partner. I haven’t been this ecstatically, frenetically involved in my current work in progress since I outlined it over New Year’s weekend 2007. Since then, I’ve been distracted by submission calls, diverted into a totally unrelated novel, and managed to bury myself in excuses to let the very first ‘book of my heart’ slide by the wayside. No longer!

I’ve set a very optimistic goal to have this one ready to start querying in Mid-to-end-February. And if it doesn’t happen, it will be entirely my own fault. Working with my new crit-partner, I’ve discovered what needs to be done, and plotted my course. Now we’re on to the execution. And, for the time being, I’m juiced! So, let this serve as excuse number one for why I haven’t tackled my goal to blog more this year.

And I know what you’re thinking . . .

See. Nothing slips by me.

Back Post # 3 - The Iron Hunt Review

2009-01-14T23:04:00.000-08:00

From the back cover:

Silver smoke winds around my torso, peeling away from my ribs and back, stealing the dark mist covering my hands and lower extremities…tattoos dissolving into demon flesh, coalescing into small dark bodies. My boys. The only friends I have in this world. Demons.

I am a demon hunter. I am a demon. I am Hunter Kiss.

By day, her tattoos are her armor. By night, they unwind from her body to take on forms of their own. Demons of the flesh, turned into flesh. This is the only family demon hunter Maxine Kiss has ever known. The only way to live—and the very way she’ll die. For one day, her demons will abandon her for her daughter to assure their own survival—leaving Maxine helpless against her enemies

But such is the way of Earth’s last protector—the only one standing between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment—and one man—changes everything...

Well, it's been quite some time since I read this one, so bear with me. Initially, the premise put forth in that first little blip was enough to snag me. And then, of course - hello? - cover awesomeness. Tattoos that become demons . . . sweet. Then there was the fact that I read Ms. Liu's novella 'Minotaur in Stone' in the Hotter Than Hell anthology and was severely impressed. And I'm hard to impress. So, on to the Iron Hunt.

Unlike a few other reviewers I've read, I haven't read the Dirk and Steel series, so I didn't really have any expectations other than for the writing to stand out as it did in the anthology. From that aspect, Ms. Liu does not disappoint. What can I say? I'm a sucker for good writing and she is simply masterful with prose in a way that galls me to the bone with envy. I simply get lost in her words, her imaginative metaphors and the way she can evoke images and emotions like she's plucking heart strings if you let her. This was one of those rare books where I did not skip a word - not a single one, because I had never, ever read anything like it. An example of what I'm talking about, from page 70:

The demon tilted his head, just so, and his body twisted, flowing like the skim of a shark through water. He danced when he moved; on the city street, wrapped in shadows: a kiss on the eyes, a devil's ballet, and only his feet moved, only his cloak had arms; and his hair, rising and flowing as though lost in a storm. I heard thunder, and when his toes sliced spirals in the concrete, I listened to the wind bury winter; and when I tasted his grace, his grace had no name; only, night became something else in his presence, as though darkness had a soul, here, swaying to heartbeats roaring.

Add to this hypnotic prose a story rooted in deep ancient myth, with references that - I'll admit - made me feel under-educated, but left me no less captivated, as well as a crew of characters that were refreshingly UNIQUE and I was a gonner for the day and a half it took me to devour it.

As far as the story goes, it followed no conventions, and that in and of itself is what I value. Much of that is due to the characters. Maxine is a reluctant but tough hero, determined to get some happiness of her gritty life, which she already pretty much knows is scrapped. Her journey takes her into the past (literally) and into other dimensions, where she hits rock-bottom (again, literally) and finds out what she's really made of. Her boyfriend Grant is softspoken and gentle, with a fascinating gift, able to charm those unfortunate souls being fed upon by demon parasites and in some cases even rehabilitate them by playing his pipe. And the boys . . . well, let me just say that I wish I had some of my own. Even though they barely spoke, they were ever-present, and well-loved by the time the story was through. Even Maxine's mother and grandmother managed to capture my attention and curiosity, simply through memories. Not to mention a demon with blades for feet, who you're not sure is good or bad, but he makes the hair on your arm stand up either way; and an intriguing, reluctant immortal protector (with a backstory I simply must find out more about) who makes his first appearance by pushing Maxine in front of a bus. (I know - you'll just have read it to get what I'm saying.)

In the end, it was time and money well-spent. I admire Ms. Lui's ability as a writer and storyteller greatly, and I'll definitely be reading this one again, reading the sequel, and checking out her other books. Four bleeding hearts.

Back Post # 4 - Srsly #1

2009-01-12T23:54:00.000-08:00

So when I was brainstorming for ways to try to keep my blog fresher, I thought I would try to limit myself to rants, because, really - who likes a whiner? But I'm not always a bowl of sunshine, and I figured at least once a week, I would allow myself a bitch post where I could regale some tiny snippet of my life that irked me. And I would name this series of posts exactly what I was thinking during that little snippet: Srsly. (Okay, in some cases it might be: Srsly?, but you get the point.)

Without further ado, here's #1:I work a full time job in downtown Seattle, but two days a week, I hop on a bus in the middle of the day and go to the UW campus at the North end of Lake Washington for class. Now, I'm not complaining. Not by a long shot. This is one of the highlights of my week. I get to break up the day, listen to my iPod on the way, and it's one of the few times a week I take myself out to lunch, because, well . . . the rest of the week I'm glued to my chair and computer screen.

So, there I am, sitting in tunnel, enjoying my custom-stuffed Chipotle burrito, foot-tapping to Pork and Beans and in my own little private 'world away from work'.

Now, when someone is wearing headphones, and making quite an effort not to pay attention to what's going on around them, you'd assume people would leave them alone, right? Apparently this rule does not apply in bus tunnels. Or to crazy people. I hate, repeat HATE, when people make you take your headphones off so they can ask you some inane question. But it happens. Every. Time.

This guy walks up and starts talking at me. And he's a bum. Seattle bum, mind you - wearing a newish Columbia Sportswear jacket and carrying a Venti from Starbux - but a bum none the less. He's dirty, he smells bad, and the bottom half of his considerable and hairy gut is hanging out from the underside of his shirt.

And he's talking at me.

I could ignore him, but for some reason, I just don't have it in me to be *that* rude. So I take out one headphone, and he says, "Can I have that to eat?"

I take out the other headphone and finish chewing before I sputter, "What?"

"Can I have that to eat?" he says again, smacking his lips.

I look down at the burrito in hand, suddenly less appetizing than it was before. But still, it's mine. I've gnawed on it. It has my cooties on it. And this fat, latte-carrying bum is asking for it right out of my hand? It's not like I was about to throw it away!

"Uh . . . I'm eating it," I say. I mean, c'mon - the guy didn't look hungry.

"I hate it when the forks and spoons are mixed," he says conversationally and sits down beside me. The smell, at this point, does in the rest of my appetite. The bus pulls up.

I surrendered the burrito, and hopped onto my getaway, thinking, "I wonder what he would do with a spork?" And watching the fat, happy bum nosh on my lunch, with his probably pilfered latte in the other hand. Whether he was really that crazy or not, I have to admit, his technique worked. I mean, who can say no to that?

Srsly.

What Font Are You?

2009-01-05T23:44:00.000-08:00

Just some internet silliness. You can take the quiz here. What font are you?

Sad, but so true.

Resolved.

2009-01-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time again . . . the time when we reflect on what we've accomplished over the past 365 days and lay down some of our plans for the future. I'm all about accountability, so I'll share mine here, and take a page out of Thomma Lyn's book. Another good post on setting goals for the year can be found here (thanks Debbie!).

Also, if you're interested, I wrote an essay this year titled Building a Goal Pyramid. Which you may or may not find useful. No guarantees, no refunds. =P

Rather than list all the tiny steps I took this year in the general direction of my goals, I'll just list the five most valuable things I discovered and/or did, then move on to goals for 2009.

In 2008:

1. I wrote 1.9 novels, 3 novellas, 2 shorts and a mishmash of flash
for a total of a whopping 250K words. That's half of what I wrote in 2007,
but I think my quality (and the amount of sleep I got) increased
three-fold.

2. I met an amazing number of people who are just as obsessed with this
*cough*hobby*cough* as I am. I've been inspired, consoled, and had a whole
lotta fun. I feel so much less alone than I did at the start of all of
this.

3. I ventured into the publishing world, queried, and entered contests
- some with positive results. I also earned (yes EARNED) my first few
rejections and learned that with practice (and lots of chocolate), getting back
on the horse after those devastating form letters *does* get easier.

4. I have amassed a huge amount of knowledge and resources on the craft
of writing, and on the publishing industry. There are still a great many
mysteries yet to be uncovered, but at least now I know what I'm aiming
for. Much better than diving in blind!

5. I achieved a level of balance I'm comfortable with between my
personal life, and my writing life. This was much harder than it
sounds. Srsly.

Now! . . . On to 2009. Armed with all the tools, weapons and knowledge I so greedily gathered this past year, I plan to:

1. Become more active in the writing organizations I belong to: attend
local meetings, network, enter contests, and *hopefully* go to my first writer's
conference.

2. Break 100 blog posts, including: > 20 book reviews;
> 10 essays; and > 10 flash/short reads.

3. Re-design my website and blog(s) and centralize them in one
location.

4. Submit/query my first novel to at least 10 other spots. (Spots
meaning contests, agents, editors, etc.)

5. Submit my second novel to at least 10 spots.

6. Write 2 more novels. (I have about 5 ideas on the backburner,
and as soon as I finish revisions on novel #2, I will pick one. More info,
and inevitable whining, will follow along soon.)

7. Perpetuate the balance I've found between work, school, real life,
and writing.

8. Find the perfect critique partner. I know you're out
there somewhere . . . I'm waiting for you! (Ad placement to follow.)

Well, there ya go. It's not a concrete goal, but I hope to be more present in the blogosphere too. I wish everyone a fantabulous year . . . on your marks, get set, GO!

Cheers,Gwen

Oi! I'm allergic to blogging!

2008-12-26T13:20:00.001-08:00

Well, not really. But all my excuses are lame. I've just had a serious case of ADD the past month and have been self-medicating with mochas and books. Lots and lots of books.

Oh, and nothing too exciting to report. So, for now, a quick December re-cap and I'll zip off again until I have something worthwhile to share.

1. I'm closing in on the finish of my 2nd novel (Working Title 'Witch Hunt', 'Inner Eye', and 'Zyne Legacy' - take your pick.) This one is about 25% longer than Cloak of Deceit, but allowing myself to meander to the ending is a double-edged sword. I seem to have a problem wrapping things up, picking up all the strands I've laid down and weaving them together. But I willl FINISH it - damn it! And then I will rewrite it.

2. My querying/contest entering has come to a standstill. My own fault, but I'll take another gander at that horse after the new year.

3. I also seem to be allergic to all internet-related activities. Either that, or X-box live has officially trumped me. (The epic battle-o-the-internet-usage continues at my house. Hmph.) FYI though, I have my favorite blogs on my RSS feed and I am with you in spirit. o.O

4. SNOWPOCALYPSE 2008. A little bit of non-rain, and the people here in Seattle forget how to do every-day things . . . like drive. I've been spending 2 hrs on the bus to work each way, and those powderpuff football days come in handy when jokeying for position. I've also become quite adept at flipping pages one-handed while holding onto the 'oh shit' strap.

5. Reading. I lost count, but I have averaged a book every-other-day for the month of December. And I will officially never catch my reviews up to my reading capacity - unless I figure out how to bend time back on itself.

Alas, I will do what I can. I'll only write reviews for books I really love and highly recommend. I'll comment on blogs when I can grab a spare moment at the day job, and I will tackle my husband to the ground and earn my share of the bandwidth so I can post more regularly.

But don't expect any of that until next year.

Congratulation on surviving 2008. And all the best to you and yours!

~Gwen

Review: The Accidental Vampire, by Lynsay Sands

2008-11-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

Lynsay Sands's Argeneau novels are popular among vampire lovers. I felt more than a little cheated. Though, this book was purchased for me, and probably not one I would have picked out for myself. It falls into the 'paranormal-romantic-comedy' slot, and I'm the first one to admit I have a hard time with these.

From the back cover:

Fate gave her fangs . . .

Ever since an accident turned her into a knockout
vamp, Elvi Black's been catching her z's in a coffin, staying out of the sun,
and giving up garlic. She knows there's more to being undead than what she
saw in Dracula, but she can't very well ask her mortal friends about proper
biting etiquette. But when her neighbors placed a personal ad for her in
the local paper, she never imagined she'd meet Victor Argeneau, a vampire who
could have his pick of any woman - dead or alive.

He'll show her how to use them . . .

Rich, powerful, and drop-dead gorgeous, Victor's the perfect man for
a novice neck-biter like Elvi. He's willing to teach her everything he
knows, but he'll have to do it fast. Someone's out to put a stake through
her new vamp life, and only Victor can keep her safe - and satisfied - for all
eternity.

*cough*

Did we miss any cliches there? Nope, I didn't think so. To her credit, Ms. Sands can make even a cliche seem fresh. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud one liners, and the whole premise, though ridiculous, was pulled off in a funny way. Elvi ends up basically hosting a whole group of potentials at her house together, a la The Bachelorette. In fact, I saw many missed opportunities for some ironic situations, but that's okay.

The risk/conflict equates to some anonymous person shooting arrows. And I found the whole idea of how a mate is discovered/known (whether or not you can read their mind) contrived. All of the bachelors put it off until the most convenient moment, which just makes no sense to me. And in the end, the whole thing was just too cutesy for me - up to and including the other members of Elvi's community that decide to turn vamp, and the author wrapping several happy endings into one. Although I was tempted, I didn't quit. The writing was sound enough to hold me, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Two bleeding hearts.

Oh, and I forgot to mention . . .

2008-11-12T08:49:00.001-08:00

My first novel, Cloak of Deceit, took 3rd Place in the FTHRW Golden Gateway contest. You can see the full list of winners here.

I was amazed to final in my very first RWA contest entry, and I'll take third, with pleasure! =P

Planet Procrastination

2008-11-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

I'm over at the Writer's Retreat blog today, discussing how to quit making excuses not to write.

*hums*

I give myself very good advice, though I very seldom follow it . . .

Am I really THAT Predictable?

2008-10-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

So . . .
I'm not completely back in the writing saddle yet, but I'm brushing the horse down and tightening the straps. I've been slowly trying to turn my spare mind-power towards my WIP. And just writing in general. I'm more on the general, universal stuff at the moment. I've gone back and read a lot of my old stuff - just for fun. And in doing so, in a detatched way, I've discovered some sorta funny patterns. I've noticed them before with other writers, but never about myself really. It's funny how the subconscious works, yet not surprising.
Here are a few things that pop up repeatedly in my stories and bear some thematic significance or are otherwise just a common prop:

A rusty old pickup. - I think I've mentioned that my dad has always had one. I guess they must symbolize something to me. *scratches head*

A necklace. - This is a little too easy - a charmed necklace, or a piece of gifted jewelry used as a prop to bring memories to the surface, blah, blah. I'm going to have to expand my reperatoire here.

Car chases and/or accidents. - I think this is because I am afraid of car crashes and hence, really high speeds.

Claustraphobic instances. - I guess to me, being too cramped to move just amps up the panic factor. *shrugs*

Grey eyes. - Do they exist in nature? I can't tell ya. But I in my worlds, grey eyes is a fairly prominent genetic allele. Heh.

Kendo. - I'm sorry, I just think sword-wielding with style (no, I'm not talking about fencing) is hawt.

Rain. - I'm sure you can figure it out. (Hint: Gwen lives in Seattle)

Dreams. - I know it's cliche. *sigh* I have a hard time getting away from dreams though. What are the alternatives? How else do you set up people meeting before they actually meet, or rationalize someone turning down a road they normally wouldn't, or, or . . . *sigh* I know. I know. I know.

Auras. - Almost as bad as the dreams. But . . . I like the idea of using colors to interpret other character's moods. It's quick, and once the audience gets the drift, it's like . . . a shortcut. Right?

What do these things say about me? Is my imagination too limited? I'm too narrow-minded? Or maybe just overly analytical. Hmm... How about you - do you have any commonalities in your writing? Notice them in your reading? Think about it for a minute.

My other question is - is this a *bad* thing - or is it sorta cool? I mean, only people who had read everything I've written would notice. In a way - it would just be between me and them. I'm leaning towards cool . . .

Unwillingly Dammed

2008-10-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

MISSING MY WIP

I'll try to make this post more ponderous and less whiny, but I can't make any guarantees to that effect. As you can probably tell, my blogging has been non-existent lately. That's fitting in right along with all other forms of writing. The honest-to-goodness truth, not an excuse but a reason, is simply this: I haven't had the time.

I'm the sort of person who over-extends herself on a regular basis. Being short on time is something I'm used to. Being under a deadline? No problem. Having lots of work piled up on me? Yeah, that's old hat. Running a website, two and a half blogs and a forum in addition to twittering and poking my nose in various cyber-spaces? Well... yeah.

But somehow, my firm purchase on the actual work of writing (the art of applying but to chair and fingers to keyboard) has slid towards non-existent. I'm chewing through lots of books on the bus ride to and from my new job - but that is really just making my hunkering to write even worse. And here comes the whining...

A lot of writers complain that they sit down and the words won't come. Or that they find themselves shuffling writing to the bottom of their list and making excuses *not* to do it. At the moment, I envy those writers. If I had the time to talk myself out of writing . . . well, I'd be writing. Sadly, my case is something else entirely. The words are there. The ideas are flowing. They are just piling up behind the dam built by my brain in order to let me deal with the more pertinent issue of . . . well, survival. (At the moment.) I have so much work to do, I can't even allow myself to dawdle in my make believe worlds, or to ponder characters or stories, or anything. I'm effectively cut-off from my creative flow. And not by choice. It's like a forced block. And it's frustrating as hell.

It comes down to this: I miss my WIP. I *WANT* to dive into it, to finish the story of the people I've come to care deeply about in the past months. I *WANT* to add in my new ideas, and yes, yes - even to trudge through edits because I know the editing process inside-out now and know that the end-product will be more than worth it. But . . . woe is me . . . I can't do that. Yet.

Soon. Soon, I keep telling myself. I miss all of you guys too - if there is anyone out there still reading this. I'll say the same to you. Soon I will be filling your head with fluff, or maybe even something more substantial, telling your what I've read and what I thought, expanding my reperatoire of writing-issues, finally tackling the projects I've been talking 'bout for months, and generally poking my nose in your business again. Soon.

Signed,
Unwillingly Dammed Writer

Where am I?

2008-10-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Somewhere between the edge of sanity and the end of reason . . .

I'm a total slacker! Bad Gwen! Bad!

*sigh*

But really, my life is still just in a topsy-turvy uproar, and though I've been reading a lot, I haven't had time to write reviews, or commit anything substantial to my WIPs. My current design project is up next Wednesday, and once the dust settles, I'll re-evaluate.

Currently, I'm reading the MacCarrick Brothers trilogy by Kresley Cole. I'm liking it. Not sure if that is opening the door to historicals for me, or simply because I love her voice so much.

Not much happening on the writing front. I'm not at a standstill idea wise, but just haven't logged the keyboard time I need to get them out. I still have lots of feelers out there, which I'm waiting to hear back on. And I'm toying with the idea of entering the Golden Heart.

Thus far . . . I have resisted the Red Bull. I think I may have finally conquered that demon! Woot!

Review: Fallen, by Erin McCarthy

2008-09-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

This book marks Ms. McCarthy's second foray into more serious, 'darker' paranormals, on the theme of the seven deadly sins (cool!). I didn't read the first one (lust), titled My Immortal, but this second title (gluttony/addiction) is a stand alone story.

From the back cover:

New Orleans, 1840s. Sent to watch over the decadent city, the angel Gabriel loses himself in the liquid pleasure of absinthe. So when his mistress, Anne, is murdered—and all evidence points to him— a foggy Gabriel cannot be sure he didn't do it. His penance: to be forever denied love. Should he seek pleasure with a woman, she'll know the depths of despair.

New Orleans, today. Hoping to unlock that unsolved mystery, forensic scientist Sara Michaels, Anne's great-great-granddaughter, meets the ageless, tormented Gabriel. To work together would mean suppressing their mutual attraction—he can't allow himself to touch Sara, for her own sake.

And for Sara, already familiar with the dangers of addiction, Gabriel poses the ultimate threat to her self-control. But can the desire burning between them turn into their salvation—or lead them both to destruction?

So - let's see here: We have a fallen angel, recovering addict piano player-slash-painter who hasn't had sex for eighty years. And a self-conscious young heroine fleeing the tragedies of her past while trying to unlock the mystery of a family curse and related murder. And yes, it was just as angsty as it sounds. I loved it.

Favorite quote:

"Eventually, we'll both lose interest."
"Oh, really?" She had to admit, that infuriated her. "You have it all figured out, don't you?"
"Absolutely." He nodded with confidence.
"They why the hell did you kiss me?" She wasn't sure whether she regretted it or not. It had been a fabulous kiss, and she had been curious what it would be like, but on the other hand, now she knew their chemistry was real, yet he was telling her they couldn't do a damn thing about it.
"Because I'm an idiot."
Which was the male answer to everything. They seemed to think if they just admitted their stupidity, somehow it exempted them from responsibility for it.

Other reviews for this story have consistently had two issues. First, they think it's slow and don't like the internal angsty monologues and expositions. Secondly, they find the ultimate conflict and resolution (i.e. antagonist) too wimpy. I strongly disagree with the first, and only sort of agree with the second. If you try to read this book as an urban fantasy, or anything other than a romance, it won't work. To me, the main antagonist in the story was Gabriel's all-consuming guilt. There is enough of a story and mystery surrounding the death of Sara's ancestor to keep the plot moving along, but this one is truly a character journey. Each of them are hunting for the truth, wanting each other, but unwilling to 'take the plunge'. I enjoyed the depth of both characters, and Ms. McCarthy did a successful job of interchanging viewpoints without confusing or annoying me - a real feat.

Stylistically, I enjoyed the interspersed newspaper clippings and court reportings, which added depth to the story. The tension was great, the angst better. If the climax was anti-climactic, I didn't notice. The ending was supremely satisfying (since the author held over the *actual* love scene until the second to last chapter!). If you want an emotionally engrossing angst-filled romance, this one's for you. Four bleeding hearts.

PS: Extra points for cover awesomeness.

Gosh, Golly, Gee . . .

2008-09-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed I've been MIA. Things were a little rough there for a while. It all started about a month and a half ago when I lost my wallet and I've been floundering since, just trying to keep my head above water. My laptop died, I quit my job, and my cat got diabetes. *sigh*

I'm happy to announce I think that bout of ill luck (hey, I'm all for the universe being in balance - if it means it has to screw with me sometimes, so be it) is officially OVER!

I'm writing this post from my brand spankin' new Macbook (yeah, baby, yeah!). I have a freelance graphic design job to float me for the next month and a half until I find something permanent (and the job prospects are looking up from a few weeks ago). This also means my graphic design business, which I started two years ago, is now officially in business (website to come). AND, to top it all off, I got some really great news on Friday:

Cloak of Deceit, my first completed novel, has finaled in the FTHWA Golden Gateway Contest. My first sub to an RWA contest, and I finaled! It feels like Christmas. I'm ecstatic with them apples. And really, really glad to be back on course.

So . . . I'm back in the saddle and in the mood to celebrate! You got any good news to share? Hit me up! If you don't, I'm gonna look like this . . .

Writing Reference Series #1

2008-09-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

I started a new series of Wiley Wednesday posts on several writing-craft books. The first one, on 'The Elements of Style' by Strunk & White, is posted over here on the Writer's Retreat blog.

Review: Dime Store & Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong

2008-09-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

These two books were loaned to me and recommended by a friend. I hadn't heard of of Kelly Armstrong, which surprised me, because once I looked her up, I saw she was right up my alley. Like authors such as Kim Harrison and CE Murphy, you find her titles in the SciFi/Fantasy section of the bookstore. These two are a pair of titles about witch Paige Winterbourne and her newly-acquired teenage fosterling, Savannah.

Dime Store Magic
Paige is the daughter of the former leader of the American Coven of Witches, but she's a modern, forward-thinking type who apparently has a knack for bucking authority. (I think this may have been established in previous titles in the series.) The Elders of her Coven don't want her around, and it is without their help that Paige must face Savannah's father, Kristoff Nast, a powerful and evil sorcerer (Sorcerers are the enemies of the witches in this series) who wants his daughter for his own purposes. In fact, the only one who is on Paige's side is a pro-bono lawyer willing to go up against the Nast Cabal, Lucas Cortez. Who is . . . also a sorcerer, though one who shirks his own heritage. Since she's got nobody else, Paige reluctantly accepts Lucas' help. A legal battle, romance, a kidnapping, and some seriously freaky magical stuff ensue.

I like the world these books are set in. I received another title, Bitten, from another friend, and have it in my TBR pile. The universe is well developed and Ms. Armstrong does a great job of overlapping her world with the one we live in. I actually appreciate these types of AUs more fully, because as writer I know it is more difficult. It's much easier to write urban fantasy in a world where everyone knows about and accepts the existence of preternatural beings. It cuts out a whole host of explanation.

I thought the characters were engaging too. Paige is strong and witty, and generally handles each new catastrophe with grace, and if not grace, at least an understandable and believable amount of floundering. The exchanges between her and Savannah were very true to form and usually comical. The romance was a very light subtheme here, taking a backseat to the politcal and social, and magical issues. And there were lots of them. From a funeral home of raised zombies (ew!) to a full on poltergeist-type moment at the end. And all of that was uber-cool.

The only problem I had was with the pacing. The book seemed to really drag in some places and be filled with a lot of details that just didn't seem important, other than to serve the author's purpose of showing characters interacting or dropping a few choice details that tied in later. The writing was the type that seemed to feel the need to fill in every minute, listing off the mudanities of life like laundry lists and what to make for dinner, rather than jumping right to the action.

As it was, I thought it was an entertaining, if sometimes slow read. Two Bleeding Hearts.

Industrial Magic
This book follows directly after Dime Store Magic and continues the story of Paige, Savannah, and Lucas. Paige has broken from the American Coven of Witches and the book starts out with her canvassing, pretty much door to door, to get Witches on board with her plan for a new organization. But a series of abductions of teenagers, namely those tied to Cabals, calls Paige away from her mission. She agrees to help Lucas' father, the head of the Cortez Cabal, in the search for the missing kids, and the people responsible.

I didn't have as many issues with this book. The beginning was slow, but once I got into it, I did not put it down. There was a nice mixture of mystery and drama, and more of a bird's eye view into the world. The ending was also a surprise, and the tension held through the end. I'm re-invested in the characters and will be reading at least one more title from this series. I can't strongly recommend it, but the story depth did keep me hooked. Three and a half bleeding hearts for this one.

I. Do. Not. Suck.

2008-08-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Contrary to what the past week or so has indicated, I am not one of those people who frequently just leaves their blog hangin'. I just haven't had anything interesting to say. o.o

A bit stalled on the writing front as I put some things in my life back together (hopefully better than they were when I busted them up, heh).

And then I'll be back. I have LOTS of book reviews to write and we have some exciting news coming up on the Writer's Retreat Blog.

Other than that, I've been doing The Artist's Way workshop with Catherine and I have to say - Julia Cameron rocks my socks off. I want to meet her. And hug her. And generally tell her how I'm only up to Chapter 3 and she's changing my life. Literally. As we speak.

Oh, and I quit my job. *ducks and runs*

Dream Chaser by Sherilyn Kenyon

2008-08-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

From the Back Cover:
Hades doesn’t often give second chances…Xypher has one month on Earth to redeem himself through one good deed or be condemned to eternal torture in Tarturus. But redemption means little to a demigod who only wants vengeance on the one who caused his downfall.Until one day in a cemetery…Simone Dubois is a medical examiner with a real knack for the job. Those who are wrongfully killed appear to her and help her find the evidence the police need to convict their killers. But when a man appears and tells her that she’s more than just a psychic, she’s convinced he’s insane.Now the fate of the world hangs in her hands…It was bad enough when just the dead relied on her. Now’s there’s the seductive Dream-Hunter Xypher who needs Simone’s help in opening a portal to the Atlantean hell realm to fight insatiable demons. The future of mankind is at stake-and so is her life. The only question now is: Who is the bigger threat: the demons out to kill her, or the man who has left her forever changed?

I can sum my feelings about this book up in one word: Blah. Maybe my view is skewed since I wasn't inducted into the Dream Hunter world at it's inception, and everything since has been done again and again and again. Or maybe it's something specific about Ms. Kenyon's writing. I can't be sure until I read something else from the series. Which, I will. Obviously, she's doing something right. But on this one . . . blah. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. A year from now I won't remember it.

First off - it was sparse. I read it in two hours. Usually, that means one of two things - it's either very short for a novel (which it was) or I didn't have to think very hard (which I didn't). In fact, I would venture to say that Ms. Kenyon didn't have to think very hard while writing it either. The vocabulary was exceedingly simple, the themes repeated into monotony, and the characters (yes, all the characters) felt like stock to me. The plot and all the mechanisms used were entirely predictable.

I'll give this series another shot, but with reservations already firmly planted. If you have a recommendation for which book might change my mind, please let me know. 1 Bleeding Heart, because I did finish it.

Review of The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

2008-08-07T10:25:00.001-07:00

I was super excited about picking these books up. I read the prequel novella as soon as it became available on eHarlequin, and posted a review. I could tell Ms. Showalter had a plan, though it was fuzzy through the novella, but I felt confident she'd do it more justice in a full length novel. Part of what got me so juiced, I have to admit, was the covers. They are the pinnacle of beauty when it comes to any book cover I've seen lately. HQN hit the jackpot there. And as we all know, covers go a long way.

Right off the top, I can say that I love the premise. Ms. Showalter says she didn't like the idea of a woman being blamed for all the evil in the world, so she tweaked the old myth and placed the blame for the opening of Pandora's Box on a band of immortal warriors. (Love it!) As a result, each of these warriors was punished by the gods to carry one of the demons from the box around inside of him. Love that too.

I even love Ms. Showalters writing. She clearly has talent, and oodles of creative energy that justify my envy of her blaze to stardom in the ranks of paranormal romance.

Sadly, though, this book just didn't do it for me. Maddox is the keeper of Violence. He was actually the one who killed Pandora, so as an extra punishment, he must die every night, with the assistance of two fellow 'Lords' - those who carry Pain and Death.

Ashlyn Darrow has the gift of clairaudience. She can hear conversations that have taken place at any given time in the place she is. It's overwhelming and has caused her intense suffering her whole life, though she works in a sort of psychic investigative agency and puts her gift to use.

Like I said, I love the ideas. And I can't pinpoint what it is that doesn't quite punch through to me. But I think I can sum it up by saying, the really poignant ideas felt under-done. I hate to use the word 'shallow' because of the negative connotation, but in this case, it really fits.

The story felt more like a caricature of what it could have been. Maddox is the typical brusque, tortured hero who finds his heart softening for the lovely woman clinging to him. Ashlyn finds that only Maddox's presence can give her peace from the voices in her head. And this contrived attraction is stretched out with overwroght tension through most of the book.

Later, we're introduced to more characters and learn more of the backstory and dive into some more world-building.

It could be that I've reached a saturation point from all my reading in the genre, but this book just felt like more of the same, up to and including the hints that each member of the 'brotherhood' of lords will get his happy ending in the coming books. It just didn't ring my bell. I never felt truly connected to the characters, surprised by anything, or deeply moved.

It was entertaining, well-written, and as I've said several times, the series has tremendous potential. I have the next two books at home, and I will be reading them - hoping to see Ms. Showalter find a groove and really knock my socks off.

Two and a half Bleeding Hearts.

13 Things To Take Your Mind Off Submissions

2008-08-06T16:26:00.001-07:00

I have some feelers extended into the sea of writerly opportunity. Nine, to be exact. I’ve decided nine will be my magic number. I will always have nine feelers out there, working for me while I continue to write. They can be queries, submissions, contests, whatever. I just have to keep nine going. If one comes back, I toss another one out there. Simple, right? But I have this horrible habit of fixating on said feelers, and not getting anything done. That simply will NOT work. So, here are 13 things I’ve done to take my mind off of my pending flood of rejection letters enough that I at least feel productive while I wait.

Thirteen Things To Take Your Mind Off Submissions

1. Pick up another WIP. This is the ultimate BEST thing to do in this case. I have set myself up with a daunting quota of 10K words/week and bi-weekly check-ins with a crit partner. I just have to pretend those other stories I’m trying to sell do not exist. It works. Mostly.

2. Chatting, blogging, and now TWITTERING with friends. It’s a hoot.

3. Baking. I don’t know why, but when I get stressed, I cook more. I’ve kept my work well-supplied with cookies and muffins the past few weeks.

4. Actually getting work done. I threw myself at my job for a week. The fact that I now have nothing to do is testament to just how much I should be writing instead of wasting my time there, but c’est la vie. At least I’m caught up.

5. Re-organizing files on computer and backing everything up. I don’t know about you, but when I’m heavy in draft mode, I get sloppy – like, my desktop is invisible sloppy. A lull in your ‘writing press’ is the perfect time to go over everything, file it away neatly, and catalog it so it’s ready to work with at the next phase, whatever that may be.

6. Cleaning desk, filing and re-ordering office. I’ve talked about the importance of having a writing space. I find ‘padding the nest’ while I wait is a comfort, and also feeds into #1.

7. Shopping for mancandy and other inspirational pics. Just file under ‘research’. Heh.

~ INTERMISSION ~

See? What submissions?

8. Reviving an old manuscript. Sometimes I get too stuck in edit/prep mode after sending out subs and queries and I simply cannot find the creative gusto. So, I channel that self-depreciating energy into something useful. We all have that old piece gathering dust in the back of a drawer (or computer file) somewhere. Now’s the perfect time to go back over it, and have it ready to be the next ‘feeler’ if needs be.

9. Reading. When all else fails, read. It always, ALWAYS works for me. Reading reminds me of why I love writing so much in the first place. It gets me excited about stories, characters, and scenarios, also feeding #1.

10. Take a break and do something fun. I often neglect other parts of my life when I have my head down and fingers to keyboard. But every once in a while, you gotta push away from the desk and step away from the computer. It’s summer, it’s lovely outside. I’ve been going to the park with my hubby to play Frisbee. Does wonders.

11. Write something fun, just cuz. When I first started writing, it was merely for the pleasure of it. Sometimes I have to shelf even that daunting WIP and write something off the wall, on a whim, to remind myself of WHY I am putting myself through all this trudgery.

12. Find someone else to root for. This is why it’s so important to have a network of friends who are also writers. We inspire each other, console each other, understand each other. Whenever I’m feeling particularly nerve-wracked or over-stressed about the ‘feelers’, I take a step back and focus on someone else – cheering them on or giving them a boost. Makes me feel better, and spreads the love. Two birds with one stone.

13. When all else fails? Cybercrack. Like this. Or this. Or this.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Eden Hail
Heather
Alice Audrey
Stephanie Sullivan
Janice
Jennifer McKenzie
Nicholas
Eaton Bennett

Rant for August Arrives Early

2008-08-06T11:09:00.001-07:00

I’ve heard a lot of feedback from other authors and readers within the romance genre about the way other people see us from the outside. Heck, there are even uber-popular sites that go ahead and make fun of it. *cough*sidebar*cough*. But I have to say I have never really experienced it first hand.

My husband (bless his heart – he is already out there marketing for me) gets more flack than I do. He receives plenty of taunts from ‘the guys’ about his reading choices, as he makes an effort to keep up with me. His standard reply: “You don’t know what your missing. You should give it a try. You would understand women a lot better.” No, really. Guys - if you read romance, I’m confident this is the best possible response to such testosterone-laden posturing.

I, however don’t usually get harassed. I get the glazed eyes and plastered smiles, and the ‘that’s nice’ from people who just. Don’t. Get it. As a result, I have reverted to a slow-reveal technique, hooking people with the other premises and dynamics of my book before revealing that it stands among the ranks of *gasp* romance.

Alas, in light of the recent RWA, the arrival of my newsletter and the general commaraderie among readers and writers alike permeating the webveins recently, I’m feeling pretty proud to be a part of it. Like I know something a lot of other people don’t. Like they are missing out on something great, and I’m glad I’m not one of those brainwashed drones anymore.

You see, my family is proud of me. They understand they don’t see much of me because I am persuing a passion and trying to turn it into a career ON TOP of working a full-time job and finishing a degree. They already claim me as ‘the author of the family’. (I know – no pressure, huh?) So, the ‘and she’s a WRITER’ always gets tagged onto my introduction. At which point, the acquaintance usually feels obligated to inquire into what sort of writing I do.

This is where it gets tricky.

Usually, my breadcrumb trail goes something along the lines of: popular fiction > novels > paranormal (compare to fantasy) > action/adventure > romance.

But LATELY, I’ve been feeling more and more like I should be proud of the romance part. I should say that first, because whether my stories fit the formula or not, they certainly are about love. I should hold my head high and declare it!

Or at least, that was the high I was on until an acquaintance at a recent social gathering down-shifted from, “That sounds really cool,” to “Oh, no, I don’t waste my time on that smut.”

Excuse me? What gives you the write to assume I write smut? I do not. In fact, most romance authors don’t. Hell, most erotica authors these days have strong, emotionally grounded stories behind the sex. Romance DOES NOT EQUAL smut!!! And that so-called smut that you are so vapidly against? It accounts for almost half of the books that are read in the WORLD. It dominates the bestsellers lists. It makes dreams come true.

So, needless to say . . . I lost that potential future reader. Maybe the slamming my drink on the counter after instabitching and storming away was a bit overdramatic. *sigh*

Now that I've faced the derogatory attitude head-on, I’m on a crusade, or uh . . . officially joining a crusade. As other creative masterminds before me, I will find a way to do my part . . . *cogs start turning*

Review: Dark of the Moon

2008-07-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

My hubby picked this title up at the grocery store for me, as he is want to do when he sees anything that has vampires on the cover or implies it in the title. I had never heard of Susan Krinard, but a google search revealed that she's been very prolific and successful, AND since hubby knew I was scoping Nocturne Bites, he takes credit for this book being from Harlequin, even if he didn't know it at the time.

The premise of this book immediately caught my interest - 1920s reporter in New York investigates murders at the pier and gets sucked into a hidden world she didn't know existed.

The back cover reads:
During the heyday of the Clan, New York’s vampire organization of gangsters and bootleggers, Dorian Black was an enforcer for the notorious boss Raoul Boucher. But when the Clan is shattered by violence and betrayal, Dorian abandons his old ways and is prepared to die for his sins … until he saves the life of a brave and determined woman reporter, Gwen Murphy.

Gwen realizes at once that there is something very unusual about Dorian Black. She’s drawn to the haunted suffering in his eyes as well as to his strength and sexual allure. But he hides secrets that lie dangerously close to the ones she is pursuing for the New York Sentinel. Soon human and vampire must join forces and come to terms with their growing attraction as they battle warring vampire factions and a fanatical cult bent on changing their world forever…

Read an excerpt.

It says "I'm dark, I'm angsty, and Gwen will love me." It really does. And overall, I did. After all - Gwen Murphy - Gwen Mitchell - c'mon - she's got good taste in names! It wasn't what I expected - which, I suppose, is a good thing. If it turned out exactly as I'd expected, I'd probably call it predictable.

Loved the characters. Gwen was the strong, determined career woman, way ahead of her time - someone I could really get behind, with admirable qualities, like her brains and her loyalty to her friends. Dorian was the ultimate tortured hero. And I'd like to emphasize this point. One of the things I appreciated the most about the story was how true Dorian's character rang for me. His progress was slow. Painfully slow. And instead of the typical 'oh, well she loves me and I get sex on a regular basis so I'm fine now' solution to the tortured hero, Ms. Krinard kept it real. Thank you!! His feelings for Gwen are unwanted at first, and even when he realizes that he's in too deep, they complicate things, and in some ways make them worse, not better. It made for great angsty conflict that kept me turning the pages.

I also loved that the story kept me guessing. There were so many 'who done it?' moments where I just wasn't sure who the bad guys were, or what they really wanted. Conflicts abounded - both internal and external. Lots of double-triple-crossing, and each time I thought I had nailed it, she proved me wrong. I pride myself on my ability to guess what's going to happen - so Ms. Krinard gets extra credit for that.

Normally, I'm not in the 'if it doesn't have an HEA, it's not romance' club, but I have to say, I feared for these beloved characters. It started to look very dire indeed and I was worried. Glad to say everything worked out in the end. I enjoyed the writing, and the story was well-paced and entertaining. But I give this one a higher rating, simply because I haven't cared that deeply about characters in a long time. Four Bleeding Hearts.

Good Reads!

2008-07-30T11:44:00.001-07:00

Eden Hail has ebily introduced me to a new online addiction. It's called goodreads.com, and yes, I know, I must be slow because I'm just hearing about it *now*...

Come check me out and friend me if you're on there. If you're not - you should be! I've put up all the TBRs and Favorites I could think of off the top of my head and will use it to keep track of my reviews, which I am going to start putting up with more frequency very soon.

Gwen's Goodreads Page

What is a Bestseller?

2008-07-28T11:07:00.001-07:00

I'm over at the Writer's Retreat Blog today, pondering what it means to be a best-selling author.

Check it out.

Bright Sunshiny Day

2008-07-21T16:19:00.001-07:00

Warning: This post is a bit more twittery than usual. Mayhap because I cashed in my 'treat receipt' and had an extra mocha this afternoon. And yes, I know I should be ashamed, but when I went through my massive editing binge a few weeks ago, I totally fell off the 'caffeine-free' wagon and landed in a pool of Red Bull. What can I say? I'm still paying for it . . .

Srsly, they should make a patch for people like me. Or a support group. But anyway.

*cough*

Oh yeah, I decided to write a no-particular-reason post because, well . . . I feel damn good today. For no particular reason. And it's been a while since I've had one of those days. You know - the ones where nothing gets you down? You hit all green lights, and despite the fact that you have an actual *LIVE* chat with an editor you're hoping to impress in T-minus 40 hours (but who's counting?) you just have a big stupid grin on your face and not a care in the world?

That's me today. The sun is shining, and my boss yelled at someone else for a change. Just thought I'd share, since it's such a rare occurrence.

I leave with my favorite LOLCat of the day and hope the stupid grin is catchy . . .

B&N Privilages Suspended

2008-07-16T09:21:00.001-07:00

Hubby says I can buy no more books until I whittle this pile down some. I have to admit, I have a lot of reading to do, thanks to my birthday last month, and a lack of time since. I'm looking forward to taking a load off from the writing and editing the next couple of weeks and diving into some of these.

Have you read any and enjoyed them? (No spoilers!) Which should I go after first? *rubs hands together gleefully*

Gwen's TBR Pile:

The Firey Cross - Diana Gabaldon
Kushiel's Scion - Jacqueline Carey
Thriller Anthology - E.b. James Patterson
Bitten - Kelley Armstrong
Fangs for the Memories - Kathy Love
Night Pleasures - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris
The Devil You Know - Mike Carey
Rogue - Rachel Vincent
Swimming Without a Net - MaryJanice Davidson
The Accidental Vampire - Lyndsay Sands
The Darkest Pleasure - Gena Showalter
Nightkeepers - Jessica Andersen
Through the Veil - Shiloh Walker
Storm Front - Jim Butcher
Personal Demons - Stacia Kane
Pleasure Unbound - Larissa Ione
Claimed by Shadow - Karen Chance
Full Moon Rising - Keri Arthur

Oh, and not that this will actually stop me from buying more . . . I'll just have to do it sneakily.

The Darkest Fire Review

2008-07-12T10:12:00.001-07:00

As a prequel to her new Lords of the Underworld series, which is completely rolling now (though I've only read the novella and the first book so far), Gena Showalter released this short novella about how the demon lords were trapped in Pandora's box, but the mention of said box and said demon lords is really minor. This is a stand-alone story about the goddess of oppression - Kadence, the gate-keeper of hell - Geryon, and their unlikely romance.

I've read some other reviews of this story, and while I can agree with some of the points made, as a writer who has done both novel-length and novella-length pieces, I have to comment in Ms. Showalter's defense - novellas are hard. Especially if you're a novelist. I think the other readers must have been expecting a novel's worth of story. I found the pacing and the plot to move along as a novella should. It kept me engaged all the way through and was a quick read. The characterizations were good and the setting was painted vividly for me.

The love story developed between the two characters was sweet and endearing, and their coupling, though brief, was very steamy. I did think the ending was a bit anti-climactic, but I took this story as a 'taste' of a new world, so it didn't bother me much. It's the first of Ms. Showalter's work I've read, and I have since read the first book and purchased the others. That said, this one didn't spike my 'wow' meter in any particular way. I give it a solid 3 Bleeding Hearts.

I'm not dead . . . yet.

2008-07-09T12:06:00.001-07:00

Of course just when I thought I would be taking a little time off and getting back in the swing of things, I get some news that turns my plan on its ear.

*NOT* complaining, mind you - it's good news. =D

It just required I drop everything else and give some attention to a project I had sorta shelfed.

You see that revision counter bar down there? *points*

Yeah, that's at umm.... 87,000 words now. o.o

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

*dives back under*

Familiar Fate

2008-06-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

I've finally finished the novella I've been working on the past month-plus. Something so short shouldn't have taken me so long, but more than half the time has been spent revising and cutting it down. To be quite honest, it only took 4 days to draft.

But I'm happy to tell you I finally shaved it down to BELOW word count (it comes in at 14.5/15K), sweat bullets over the blurb, and after a lot of pussy-footing around, nailed myself down to a title.

Introducing my first completed piece of the Zyne Legacy universe . . .

Familiar Fate

Scarlett Edgewood is a fiercely independent Zyne Ward witch, and her shields extend far beyond her metaphysical gifts. After the unexplained death of her parents, she built a fortress around her heart and dedicated her life to completing their work. On her quest for an ancient Divan, a book of legendary power, she traces the origins of a stolen amulet into the thick of the Mayan jungle. She's close. But the forces of destiny have other plans. On the precipice of achieving everything she's always worked for, Scarlett discovers something she never thought she’d desire – a savior, a warrior, and a lover who penetrates all her carefully constructed defenses.

Rook's mission is simple: find the amulet, retrieve the book, return to Khaos. But the half-breed Wielder demon's first assignment to the mortal plane proves more difficult than anticipated. After centuries serving the Legion Army and denying his weaker half, he's not prepared for the powerful emotions associated with assuming human form. With only four days to complete his task or perish, Rook falters when he encounters the Zyne witch who holds the amulet. Scarlett’s beauty and strength disarm him, arousing conflicting desires. Chief among them is a longing so deep he might be willing to sacrifice his mission, his rank, or even his life to quench it.

Ping

2008-06-28T09:26:00.001-07:00

Is it just me, or do people suddenly fall of the radar when summer hits?

It sucks on this end, because I feel like I've spent the last few months sorta shouldering people off, slacking on blogging, letting emails go three or four days without responses . . .

I had a legitimate excuse, mind you, but still. Now I'm freed up for the summer, ready to play and I can hear my own cyber-echo.

Where did everyone go? I know I still have to catch up on your blogs. I know I have crit work to get back to you. I know I've been a passing ship in the night (or day or whatever time it was for you when I was online for that three minutes in May) but c'mon! Are you punishing me, or is the sunshine just umm.... shinier than me?

*checks inbox again*

*sighs*

Graveyard to Garden

2008-06-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

I'm over at the WR blog today, with thoughts on how to turn your manuscript graveyard into a garden.

Quick and Dirty

2008-06-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

I really am trying to be better about my blogosphere participation, but heck - Thursday is just a busy part of the week for me.

So, here's a quick and dirty list of sites I find useful for writing.

1. Behind the Name - any name from almost any culture. You can search by name, language, sex, or meaning.

2. Intertran - a good online translator. Mind you, it's probably best to have a somewhat working understanding of the language before dropping big blocks of auto-translated text into your manuscript.

3. Thesarus.com - I live here. I don't care what Stephen King says.

4. deviantArt - Talk about inspiring. I'll admit it - I feed off of other people's creativity. You can get LOST in there . . .

6. Futureme.org - Not only is this useful for sending yourself reminders and or setting goals for yourself, but some of the stuff people put up there is good author fodder. I mean - it's life's drama. That's what this is about, right?

7. theromantic.com - A collection of famous love letters. *sigh*

8. brainyquote.com - I love quotes - ideas that have been immortalized.

9. poets.org - I usually start here and look for something to detail a google search. The point is that poetry is word-craft in it's highest form. What writer wouldn't want to immerse themselves in that?

10. etymonline.com - This is one of the coolest sites I've found. It's great for creating your own universe terminology based off of root and linked words. Good stuff.

11. Okay, I'll admit it. I rely on Wiki more than I should. But research is not the fun part of writing for me. I usually stay vague enough that Wiki suits, and make the rest up.

What do you mean that's only 11 items on my Thursday Thirteen? Um . . .

Google counts as two.

The Truth is Out . . .

2008-06-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

Gee, I must be stalking Debbie Mumford. *whistles*

You can read my review of her paranormal romance Second Sight over on the Writer's Retreat Blog.

New Release this Week from Wild Child

2008-06-05T11:17:00.001-07:00

Star Stepping: An Anthology of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Tales

Written by Various

Stories Included:

Beneath and Beyond by Debbie Mumford

Archaeologist Erin Carstedter is a no-nonsense kind of gal. If something can't be defined by scientific method, it doesn't exist. Erin's beliefs are about to be tested by a ruin beneath the polar ice cap. What Erin discovers in those icy depths will challenge her thinking...and change the world.

Read excerpt.

That Old Sweet Smell of Deception by Martin Owton

An ancient dragon tempted out to war for the first time in centuries finds the world greatly changed and dragons a rarity. Does an enemy wizard hold the key to saving dragonkind?

Read excerpt.

Fatal Wager by Andy Heizeler

Read excerpt.

A Pixie Story by Joe Miller

Miike awoke to find himself in a strange land. To then find himself surrounded by a whole hoard of pixies, each one with an arrow aimed at his heart, one could hardly guess how things would turn out.

Read excerpt.

The Honorable Lady by Kim Knox

Royal officials are vanishing and Evia-ben-Thiak doesn't intend to be one of them.

As a high-ranking member of the court, she fears for her life. So, she takes the only option open to her. She hides on a boat sailing to her home-island.

However, the boat is not the sanctuary she hoped for. A friend from her childhood, the now-feared sorcerer, Makovik is also onboard. To be seen with him could end her career; have her thrown in the deepest dungeon. But more than that, she finds he has a plan.

And his actions will change her life forever...

Read excerpt.

Wakinyan's Valley by Debbie Mumford

In a post-apocalyptic world, Mark Whitehorse and his friends search for a safe haven where they can raise their families. When they stumble across a hidden valley, they believe their search is over. But the valley is already inhabited. Will the band of survivors find refuge...or something else entirely?

Read excerpt.

Storms of Light and Shadow by Patrice Sarath

Some gifts are better left unopened.

Read excerpt.

Under a Full Moon by Tom Fowler

A weretiger wizard immune to the lunar cycles suddenly finds himself caught in a painful transformation -- one he suspects was caused by someone else. Can he stop it before he becomes a rampaging monster, and can he find the man who did this to him?

Read excerpt.

Casey by Noelle Sterne

An ordinary junior high school boy, Casey suffers the trials of a teenager until one day his life is changed forever.

Read excerpt.

Bastet by R. S. Pyne

Captain Kai Brenhin Righa of the corsair fighting ship Raven is quite happy not being human. The transition came without warning, a blessing from a stowaway with the face of an ancient Earth Goddess and a strange sense of humor. Now Bastet is back and she needs a favor.

Read excerpt.

Nana Genevieve by Julie Nordeen

As science creates robots that behave more and more like humans, how will we know when they cease to be our creations and become self-aware beings of their own? Nana Genevieve knows. And she'll make sure the world understands...if it's the last thing she ever does.

Read excerpt.

The Tie That Binds by Debbie Mumford

Twin brothers Cameron and Kyle McClellan have always shared a psychic bond. Though the adult men lead very different lives, when career military officer Kyle is wounded in Iraq, Cameron's ability to decipher their special link may mean the difference between his brother's life and death.

Read excerpt.

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Book Length: Novel
Price: $5.95
Buy it here.

Sniff or Snort

2008-06-04T18:02:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a fiction writing workshop with A. Catherine Noon through the Writer's Retreat Forum. It's been slow-starting because my slackerific ass has been virtually non-existent online the past month. But, I have been reading. We're on to chapter three: Characters.

Why is this relevant? One of my fleeting thoughts was wondering how to show and not tell things about characters. For some reason, I made the leap to integrating all the senses. And THAT got me thinking . . . what smells might affect a certain character in a certain way? Basically, the idea is that each person has a catalog of smells that have certain meanings to them, that evoke strong memories or emotions.

Here are thirteen scents that get a strong reaction out of me . . .

Thirteen of Gwen's Sniff and Snort Worthy Scents

1. Lilacs.

Where I grew up, there were huge lilac trees everywhere. Not only is this my favorite flower and my favorite floral scent, but it takes me back to age five - lime popsicles and running through the sprinkler.

2. Spaghetti sauce.

Nothing says you're home like walking in the door to the infusion of basil, garlic and tomato . . .

3. That stale smell of the box that has all the holiday decorations in it.

The decorating is my favorite part, so this smell always gets me excited for the holiday season.

4. Ralph Lauren Polo Sport.

Hubby's eau de choice when he first swept me off my feet, still makes my heart flutter. I can hone in on it in a crowd from fifty yards away.

5. Sea air.

The first hint of chilled salt that comes miles before you can actually see the ocean. It just makes me feel free.

6. The great white belly.

I love to nuzzle my cat Oliver's tummy. He smells like popcorn flavored Jelly Bellies. No joke.

7. Banana fragrance of any kind.

If you want to see me gag - bring out a whif of this stuff. When I was little, my mom put this nasty stuff on my fingernails to keep me from chewing them. It was very close to Banana. I gagged and hacked, but I still chewed.

8. Airplanes.

There are two many wrong smells here to mention. Just about any one of them can get my body pumping adrenaline.

9. Cinnabon.

Even if I'm not hungry, this smell can make my mouth water.

10. Patchouli incense.

Not my favorite scent, but it is my mom's, so it's comforting by default.

11. Fresh Mint.

Naturally refreshing and invigorating, but it reminds me of a HUGE garden we had once. I spent the whole summer grazing. Or it also makes me think of Mojitos, which are also good. *grin*

12. Cigarette smoke.

I don't care if it's rude, I hack all over anyone who dares to smoke anywhere near me. I can smell it on breath, clothes, furniture. I have to wash my clothes and shower immediately if I'm anywhere where there's smoke. Just yuck. Srsly.

13. Wood smoke.

Funny, but this has the opposite effect of that *cough*other*cough* kind. I love to camp, or to have a fire blazing for any reason. This smell just makes me want to snuggle up.

What scents do you love/hate and why?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Debbie Mumford
Adelle Laudan
Lia Morgan
Tempest Knight
Nina Pierce
Paige Tyler
Alice Audrey
Word Trix
A. Catherine Noon
Susan Helene Gottfried
Shelley Munro
Unhinged
Ms. Menozzi
Eaton Bennett

Motivation Schmotivation

2008-06-04T17:22:00.001-07:00

I put up a lengthy post of a two-part series on motivation and goals over on the Writer's Retreat Blog today. Check it out here.

And for frick's sake . . . I just realized it's June. *bugeyes*

Did it sneak up on anyone else?

I should be doing something productive right now . . .

2008-05-30T15:10:00.001-07:00

Ever had one of those weeks? You're busy, the time is flying, and yet - you get absolutely nothing done.

Big. Fat. Zero.

Well, okay - that's not exactly through. I've got 18.5K words on a 15K limit novella that's only 90% done. But, I think that qualifies as counter productive. Since now, I have more editing work. I've gone through it twice, and I think . . .

I think I've got too much story for 15K words. But how the heck do I pick a thread of my story to cut out. I love them all! And they make such a pretty pattern. *sigh*

Other than the novella - like I said - nothing doing. Just counting down to the weekend.

Back in the Blog Saddle

2008-05-20T13:56:00.001-07:00

The past two weeks have just been nuts, and it wasn't until I got back from a recent business trip that the 'I'm away from my Blog' post I thought I had left was apparently eaten by Scribefire, along with one for the WRB.

Anyhoo - a quick rundown:

I finished the Sweat with Sven challenge. It was the third round, though the first time for me. I think I could have gotten more out of it if I hadn't had so much on my plate otherwise. I went into it with big plans to be the ultimate cheerleader and fell woefully short of that goal. BUT I did at least complete the challenge - rather early too. From that aspect, it was a good motivator.

My first draft of Cloak of Deceit, is finished and being edited and slowly re-worked and re-written with the assistance of The ABC. I've sent off a submission package to a contest and am planning to possibly enter a few others this summer.

I'm still chugging along (albeit slowly) on my mentorship with the fabulously inspiring Debbie Mumford, whom I'm sure will be a very successful YA author soon, and on my Fiction Writing Workshop with A. Catherine Noon on the Writer's Retreat Forum. I'm not giving either of these as much attention as I would like, but c'est la vie - for now.

My next goal is to tackle a Nocturne Bite submission. I have plans to write and submit at least three possibilities for this. I'm 3K words into the first one and finding it challenging, but am very excited about the premise for the story. It's set in my Zyne Legacy universe - the one from my second novel project, Witch Hunt.

Two more weeks left of school and I can safely say I am completely crazy for thinking I could do all of this at once. I should manage to pull okay grades, but just by the skin of my teeth. I'm looking forward to having the summer off in order to focus on writing and maybe enjoy a bit of leisure time.

I have a stack of book reviews to do, and some already written. I'll be posting them over the next month rather frequently. Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series is one of my new favorites. I breezed through three of them on my trip and liked each one better than the last.

We've hosted a shrunken down version of the Flash Fiction Carnival on the Writer's Retreat Blog. I'm not sure if it is my fault because I didn't actively recruit enough, or if it is a mix-up because of the admin change - but in any event - major kudos to those who submitted - Catherine, Susan and Unhinged. I will have the posts up with a link hopefully tonight.

That is May in a nutshell so far. What have you been up to?

May Flash Fiction Carnival

2008-05-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for the Flash Fiction Carnival theme/instructions for May, you can find them here. Happy Flashing!

Thursday Fly-By

2008-05-08T17:24:00.001-07:00

I tried, I really did - but I'm getting over the mutant flu from hell (yes, again), had a midterm on Monday (which I nailed, btw) and missed 3 days of work a week before THE big trade show, so things are a leetle ... um . . . hectic. Yeah, hectic. That's it.

No Thursday Thirteen for me, unless you want 13 cellular pathways that cancer can affect.

Ah. I didn't think so.

What's everyone else up to?

A Secret in the Cellar

2008-05-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine has a short story published in the Membra Disjecta e-Zine by Drollerie Press.

It's a touching story with a bittersweet ending, and I'm a sucker for those. I can't say too much because I don't want to spoil the secret. Just trust me - it's good!

A Secret in the Cellar

I may be slightly biased, but I think I could take up house inside Eden's imagination and live quite happily there. And she's just getting started.

I Didn't Say It . . .

2008-05-01T10:39:00.001-07:00

But I still think it's true.

I don't know about you guys/gals, but I *LOVE* Google. So much that I've decided to do an 'Ode to Google'. But don't worry - that's not what this is. That will get tossed on my ever-growing WIP pile.

Instead, I'll share something that Google helps me with. I'm a student of philosophy. So, I'm always on the lookout for quotes. You never know when you can use something someone else said to back you up. And, truth be told, there are many billions of people more eloquent than I that have come before - so why not stand on the shoulders of genius, right? Heh.

That's why I love Google. I have 28 Google Notebooks - various collections of things, but one of them is a list of quotes I encounter that strike me. I've dug up thirteen of them for you this week. =)

1. "Chance favors the prepared mind."
~ Louis Pasteur

2. "A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives - of approving of some and disapproving of others."
~ Charles Darwin

3. "Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech."
~ Martin Fraquhar Tupper

4. "A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other."
~ Charles Dickens

5. "The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well."
~ Horace Walpole

6. "There are two kinds of light--the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures."
~ James Thurber

7. "Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric."
~ Bertrand Russell

8. "The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

9. “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
~ Kahlil Gibran

10. "The longest journey of any person is the journey inward."
~ Dag Hammerskjvld

11. "Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives."
~ C.S. Lewis

12. "An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man."
~ Thomas More

13. "Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere."
~ Carl Sagan

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Kathleen Oxley
Shelley Munro
Ms. Menozzi
Gina Ardito
Morgan St. John
Adelle Lauden
Tempest Knight
~Liz~
Tara S. Nichols
Brenda ND
Alice Audrey
Jennifer McKenzie
Jennifer Bianco
Kaige (Impulsive Hearts)
R. G. Alexander
Paige Tyler
A. Catherine Noon
Robin L. Rotham
Unhinged
Eaton Bennett
Dana Belfry
Chloe Devlin
Nicholas
Susan Helene Gottfried
Word Trix

Quest for Balance . . .

2008-04-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

I'm rambling about how to balance writing with your personal life over at the Writer's Retreat Blog today.

Link

Poetry: Take Three

2008-04-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

The City in the Sea
by Edgar Allan Poe

Lo! Death has reared himself a throne
In a strange city lying alone
Far down within the dim West,
Where the good and the bad and the worst and the best
Have gone to their eternal rest.
There shrines and palaces and towers
(Time-eaten towers that tremble not!)
Resemble nothing that is ours.
Around, by lifting winds forgot,
Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters he.

No rays from the holy heaven come down
On the long night-time of that town;
But light from out the lurid sea
Streams up the turrets silently-
Gleams up the pinnacles far and free-
Up domes- up spires- up kingly halls-
Up fanes- up Babylon-like walls-
Up shadowy long-forgotten bowers
Of sculptured ivy and stone flowers-
Up many and many a marvellous shrine
Whose wreathed friezes intertwine
The viol, the violet, and the vine.
Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters lie.
So blend the turrets and shadows there
That all seem pendulous in air,
While from a proud tower in the town
Death looks gigantically down.

There open fanes and gaping graves
Yawn level with the luminous waves;
But not the riches there that lie
In each idol's diamond eye-
Not the gaily-jewelled dead
Tempt the waters from their bed;
For no ripples curl, alas!
Along that wilderness of glass-
No swellings tell that winds may be
Upon some far-off happier sea-
No heavings hint that winds have been
On seas less hideously serene.

But lo, a stir is in the air!
The wave- there is a movement there!
As if the towers had thrust aside,
In slightly sinking, the dull tide-
As if their tops had feebly given
A void within the filmy Heaven.
The waves have now a redder glow-
The hours are breathing faint and low-
And when, amid no earthly moans,
Down, down that town shall settle hence,
Hell, rising from a thousand thrones,
Shall do it reverence.

Poe is pretty much my favorite early American writer. I love his stories, and I love his poems. Part of it is the dark, gothic style. Part of it is something I can't explain. But I chose this poem, mostly because of all of them, it paints such a vivid picture. The imagery amazes me. And with something this long, the meanings/interpretations are many. Every time I read it, I feel like I'm peeling back a new layer, revealing a way to look at it that I never knew before. Hope you enjoyed it too!

Drat!

2008-04-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Despite my best efforts to fly under the radar, I've been tagged again, though I'm blaming Fey for this one.

Here we go, quick and dirty. And by dirty, I don't mean in the good way, so get your mind out of the gutter! Srsly. *sigh*

You're feeling: Like I need a Red Bull in the worst possible way, but I'm not going to give in that easy. I still have to get through tomorrow.

To your left: My living room, complete with two lounging cats and one lounging humanoid of the weekend male variety.

On your mind: Red Bull. I'm rather single-minded by the time I reach this point. That, and the list of other things I must do when I finish this post.

Last meal included: Mom's chinese pepper steak, with a lemon fruit bar for desert. MMmm.

You sometimes find it hard to: Get up on time in the morning. If my body had it's own way with me, I'd sleep 10 hours a night instead of 5.

The weather: A nondescript grey. Could be rainy, could be sunny. I'll wait five minutes. *waits* Hm. Still grey.

Something you have a collection of: Post cards! I love them! Everywhere I go, I buy one and write to myself. I love receiving them too. I also have about 5000 basketball cards that I plan to go through, value, and sell on eBay. Someday. *snort*

A smell that cheers you up: Fresh mint. It's invigorating.

A smell that can ruin your mood: Alcohol on someone's breath. *shudders*

How long since you last shaved: Uh...

Current state of your hair: *snort* It's a custom style. I call it 'Saturday'.

Largest thing on your desk/workspace (not computer): TBR pile.

Your skill with chopsticks: I manage not to look like a fool, but I walk away hungry.

Which section do you head for first in a bookstore: Nowadays, usually the new releases, then the romance section, then the sci-fi/fantasy, then the general fiction. I can't wait until urban fantasy/paranormal has its own section someday, so I won't have to make such a big loop. *lol*

Something you are craving: Red Bull, dammit. Keep rubbing it in, will ya? Okay, and a pedicure.

Your general thoughts on the presidential race: Fey said it best: Is it over yet? When the hell is Bush getting kicked out? is it over yet?

How many times have you been hospitalized this year: Last time I was 'hospitalized', I was 12.

Favourite place to go for a quiet moment: Park up the street from my work. It lets me get worlds away from the workday.

You've always secretly thought you'd be a good: Make-up artist. I thought about it for a while. Still love it. But there are too many other things I want to do.

Something that freaks you out a little: Flying on an airplane. A lot.

Something you have eaten a little too much of lately: Lemon fruit bars from Dreyers. In fact, I think it's time for another one!

You have never: Scuba-dived, bungee-jumped, or sky-dived. And I never will.

You never want to: Ha. Two for one!

The three people I'm tagging: Most of my fellow mischief makers have answered these already, and I will spare the rest of you.

13 of Gwen's April Reads

2008-04-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

I'm betting that more than a few people I know will relate to this. I actually have four 'book lists': to research, to be bought, to be read (the list), to be read (the pile).

Here's a glimpse at April's pile for me.

Gwen's April/May TBR Pile

1. The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova - recommended and loaned by my father in law.

2. Fiction Writing Workshop, Josip Novakovich - for my workshop with Cat on the WR Board.

3. An anthology of thriller short stories, to get my feet wet in that genre.

4. The Fiery Cross, Diana Gabaldon - this is the fifth book in the Outlander series, which I absolutely love. Looking forward to snuggling up with this one over my coming business trip.

5. Moon's Fury, CT Adams and Cathy Clamp - I try to spread my paranormal/urban fantasy genre reading around various publishers. This is Tor/Forge.

6. Kushiel's Scion, Jacqueline Carey - This is the fourth book in a series. I loved the original trilogy and the friends I've recommended it to have gone on to read the later books and recommended them to me, so I'm looking forward to this one too.

7. Dime Store Magic, Kelley Armstrong - A new name in paranormal for me, recommended by a friend who doesn't normally read paranormals. This Canadian author is published in the US through Bantam Books.

~Intermission~

8. Industrial Magic, Kelley Armstrong - I was instructed to read both books. =)

9. Demon Night, Meljean Brook - I went on to the girls a while back how Meljean was my new hero. I hadn't read anything of hers yet, now I have, and I re-certify: she's my hero. Obvioulsy, I cheated and read this one already. Review will be coming.

10. Dream Chaser, Sherrilyn Kenyon - I have been meaning to read something of hers forever. I'm looking forward to checking out this very successful author, published through St. Martin's.

11. Dark of the Moon, Susan Krinard - I am hitting Harlequin titles hard over the next couple of months, this was my first toe in the pond. I read this one too. Review to come.

12. I picked up a pocket version of the Oxford Essential Guide to Writing. I do actually plan to read it. Bits and pieces at a time.

13. Swimming Without a Net, MaryJanice Davidson - I read a story of hers in a recent anthology, and really liked it, so when I spotted this on a fellow bookworm's shelf, I snatched it up. Now, don't go thinking I'm just a clepto who takes books out of people's houses. I traded it for some lasagna.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:
Kathleen Oxley
Shelley Munro
Ms. Menozzi
Gina Ardito
Morgan St. John
Adelle Lauden
Tempest Knight
~Liz~
Tara S. Nichols
Brenda ND
Alice Audrey
Jennifer McKenzie
Jennifer Bianco
Kaige (Impulsive Hearts)
R. G. Alexander
Paige Tyler
A. Catherine Noon
Robin L. Rotham
Unhinged
Eaton Bennett
Dana Belfry
Chloe Devlin
Nicholas
Susan Helene Gottfried
Word Trix

Springtime Musing

2008-04-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

I didn't post up my poem for last Sunday, so I'm doing it today. (Yes, that's really how far behind I am.)

Anyway, this is one of my old-time favorite poems. I really love Robert Frost. I think it's because he doesn't try to do anything complicated. He was one of the first poets I read, and even at nine/ten years old, I could understand.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

By Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

The classical interpretation of this poem is that it is an eloquent metaphor for the rise and fall of mankind. I think it could be seen that way, but mean so many other things too.

It always comes to mind the first time I feel my surrounding emerging from the winter - the first time it 'feels' like spring. It captures that first zing of excitement that races through your blood when you realize the season has changed.

To me, it's also a metaphor for life. Natures first green equates to youth. Youth is golden, new, shining with possibilities. And of course, the inevitable disillusionment that accompanies age and experience, sometimes even giving way to a pessimistic, or 'grieving' attitude towards life. And the poem almost laments how sad it is that we cannot hold on to that 'golden' outlook.

Frost also has a wonderful grasp and conveyance of the 'circle of life' in this poem. He paints a picture of one revolution of the cycle - the first green, then the leafing, then flowering; the dawn giving way to day.

What other meanings do you take away from it?

Thursday Thirteen Play Resumed. (Sorta)

2008-04-17T01:19:00.000-07:00

So, this week, I had planned to do a boring 'to-be-read' pile overview. But instead, you get semi-rant list of excuses. Ten of them are completely true. Three of them are not. You make up your mind which is which. I solemnly swear I won't do this to you again.

Thirteen Reasons Gwen's Been a Lazy Blogger Lately

1. I've gone 11 days straight without caffeine.

2. Last Saturday the weather in Seattle was gorgeous and nothing could keep me inside at the computer.

3. I've put 672 miles on my car in the last 10 days.

4. Every night I must first engage in a barter with my husband for internet minutes, as we only have one connection, and he has to play Xbox Live.

5. If I do not make said husband food, he will not eat.

6. I'm in charge of an annual trade show at my day job and have 16 more working days until I get on a plane for Ohio. I am already nervous about this. Did I mention I hate flying?

7. Due to the lack of caffeine, I had to take up smoking. Now my two daily ten minute breaks, which I would spend blogging, have been overtaken by the need for nicotine.

~Intermission~

8. I blame sexyjack!

9. We just started a series of writing workshops at the Writer's Retreat forum, and getting everyone settled took some special admin attention.

10. My cat has been on a four-day puke-a-thon, leaving me to barely sleep at night, because in addition to flying, I hate the sound of retching, human, animal or otherwise. Srsly.

11. I mean it - I really did give up Red Bull. I hate to admit it, but I'm just lazier without it. *sigh*

12. My husband has taken to traipsing around the house scantily clad. Nothing is more distracting than live eye candy.

13. The processes that control cellular mitotic division, up to and including the protein phosphorilation cascades are complicated.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Shifter Anthology Review

2008-04-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

I try to vary my genre reading, picking up as many different authors from as many different publishers as I can. Anthologies are a great, inexpensive way to get a good sampling of the writing that helps me decide if I want to read more of a particular author's work. And the stories in them are usually just the right length for a bus ride or a lunch break.

I recently finished the anthology from Berkley Sensation - Shifter. These were all new authors and I'll review and rate each story in it.

Mad Dog Love, by Angela Knight

Princess Zerifa Lorezo has escaped a plotting chancelor, hi-jacked a private security system, bought herself a ship and taken off to meet up with her brother and his rebel alliance in secret. Along the way, she purchases werewolf Rance (Mad Dog) Conlan as an extra security measure. But the Mad Dog has his own designs, both for himself, and for Zerifa.

This story was not at all what I expected. It takes place in a futuristic/space environment where the Werewolf, Mad Dog is a member of an alien race. It's not my usual thing, but the way Ms. Knight set it up had me entranced. Her world building blew my mind. It was seamless and totally engrossing. The characters, as well, were refreshingly new and I loved the back-story that she tied in for them. The romance development and the sexual tension did feel a little under-done, more like they were a given, and didn't need to be developed. And the final climax/battle was a tad cliché. Still, the unique world that had been created held things together for me, and I breezed through it. I give it three and a half bleeding hearts.

A Jaguar's Kiss, by Lora Leigh

Natalie Richie is a normal human woman, just wrapping up a divorce and moving to teach Breed children in a high-security environment. Saban Broussard has been assigned to retrieve and protect her. But the first time he sees Natalie, he knows that she is his mate, and with his pheromone-spiked kiss, he sparks a mutual desire between them that doesn't care about their own will.

I was excited to read something by Lora Leigh. Her books have been on my radar for some time, but I've never had the time to start the Breed series. I found that her writing is very good, and her build up of sexual tension, and execution of it are highly skilled. I wasn't too fond of the mechanisms she uses to accomplish this - a kiss that sets off a chemical reaction that can't be denied, an instinct that tells the male he's found his mate. They seem like a shortcut to me, like you don't have to do any work in validating feelings. To make up for this, Ms. Leigh includes the heroine's struggle to come to terms - mostly with the loss of her independence. Still, the main antagonist was the heroine's jealous/crazy ex-husband and her own reservations. And Saban, to me, was your canned tall-dark-handsome-protector hero. The writing was good, but the story came in at a solid three bleeding hearts.

Shifter's Lady, by Allysa Day

Marie is a temple priestess in Atlanta, visiting her brother and his chosen lover on land, in Florida. Ethan is the leader of the local pride of Florida Panthers (Cougars/Pumas). But when an emergency pulls her brother away, and then blocks her portal, Marie is stuck with Ethan as he faces off with an invading pride.

Again, this story takes place in a universe that is already encompassed by several novels. It did stand alone, but I felt at times that certain things were assumed to be known that weren't. I have to say, this was the weakest story in this anthology. I'm sorry, but there has to be one, and this one was it for me. The characters seemed very two dimensional, and the tension between them was well . . . non-existent. Ethan showed promise early on, being one of those charmingly obnoxious and full of himself alpha-males, but he later shifts to the stoic leader and it just didn't work for me. Marie is supposedly a many-centuries old Atlantean, and yet she seemed like a neophite at every turn, even when using her own convenient magical abilities. The main antagonist was a pissed off leader of an invading pride, and the final battle was really just a brawl surrounded by onlookers. This story rated two bleeding hearts, simply for inventiveness, clean writing, and because I enjoyed the shifter element and how it was used.

Sea Crossing, by Virginia Kantra

Emma March has been ruined by the master of the school she used to teach in. It has left her heart-broken and penniless, so she sells herself into indenture to earn passage to America. On the way, her ship sinks. Her life is saved by a seal, and she wakes to find herself on a strange island. Griffin is an ancient being, charged by his king to retrieve a teacher for the pups(children) of his Selkie island home, but he didn't expect to fall in love with her.

My summary does not do this story justice. After the steady degrading of the ones before it, I was pleasantly surprised to find the pearl of this anthology at the end. Ms. Kantra is a beautiful, vivid writer, with a commanding voice. Her characters were richly painted and sympathetic, and their struggles were well-executed and believable. Out of the four stories, this one was the only one to truly jerk on my heartstrings. Also, I found the addition of a Selkie story to take this anthology out of the 'usual' and straight into the interesting. It definitely left me wanting more, and I will be checking out Ms. Kantra's other works. A solid four bleeding hearts.

Thursday Thirteen Play Suspended

2008-04-10T10:03:00.001-07:00

I didn't have enough time/energy to get organized this week. It was the second week of school and a cellular genomics class is kicking my ass already.

The good news - I'm doing really good on the sweat challenge, and am in the final stretch of Cloak. I hit the 71K word marker this morning!!

I'm hoping to wrap up the draft this weekend and shelf that project to tackle my next one.

So, anyway, if you came here in search of a Thursday Thirteen, I give you instead . . .
eye candy.

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This is Mathais. I'm sure he's glad to meet you.

Bell, Book, and Candle

2008-04-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

I decided to give myself a break and try something different for the month of April. Every Sunday this month I will post a snip of verse for you here, in honor of National Poetry Month.

These are technically lyrics*, but you say tomato, I say tomatoe. It's a lovely piece, and I urge you to listen to the song, by Eddie Reader:

Photo by KevLewis

Bell, Book, and Candle

The blue around the morning moon,
The colour of your eyes.
I remember holding you,
Fall through summer skies.
You're everything that I've become, every word I say.
I need a bell, book and candle to keep your ghost away.

White horses on a troubled sea,
Your smile will flash through time.
Up ahead a blackbird's wing,
Your hair will come to mind.
Every night I see your face when I have to pray.
I need a bell, book and candle to keep your ghost away.

Just before the thunder roars,
I sense you next to me.
And as I move through nature,
I know where you will be.
So I must keep myself apart, here is where I'll stay.
With a bell, book and candle to keep your ghost away.

*Chorus removed, verses run together here.

Flash Friday the Third

2008-04-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, and I'm late. I don't know if I'll be able to do this *every* week, but I shall try. Here was our very first picture prompt:

And here is my contribution . . .

Colors

“To your left you will see what is called a painting – an ancient form of art, utilized by humans from pre-history through the late 23rd Earth century. The artist is unknown, but it clearly depicts the first hail of the Alcorian Empire in 2384. The messenger stands with his arms held high, welcoming his kin to their new home. Many believe that this event marked the end of humanity, while Alcorian historians deem it the most important event in our people’s history . . .”

Tasha stared at the vivid swirl of colors before her as the robotic guide’s voice continued down the hallway. “Daddy, how did they do that?” she asked, pulling on her father’s arm and planting her feet.

His whiskers stirred at the question, and he looked down at his inquisitive daughter’s wide black eyes. “They made the colors soft, and then they transferred them onto something hard,” he answered, wrapping a tentacle around her wrist and yanking her forward.

“I’ve never seen those colors,” she said, tilting her head to one side as one of her own tentacles whipped out and coiled about the railing. “Why?”

“Those are colors from above the surface,” he answered gruffly. “Come on.”

“Above the surface?” Tasha wondered aloud, dragged behind her father reluctantly.

“When our people first settled here, the humans lived above, on the ground.”

“What happened to the humans that lived on the ground?” she pursued.

“The ones that did not move underwater with the Alcorians died,” he answered, quickening his stride to catch up with the tour.

“Will I ever see those colors?” Tasha asked, looking back over her shoulder at the painting, now burned into her memory, pasted to the back of her double-eyelids.

Her father stopped and knelt down in front of her. “No, sweetheart, you won’t. Those colors don’t exist anymore. The planet has changed.” He clicked his tongue and lifted her chin when she looked down at the floor between them. “But it’s better this way, don’t you think? We have an endless supply of water. Our people will go on forever, and even the humans have a place to live, here with us.”

Tasha looked down again, and nodded. She remained silent for the rest of the tour. Even though she was very young, she knew that there was more her father wasn’t telling her. She would solve the mystery on her own, she decided. Because she didn’t think it was better at all.

The colors were too beautiful not to be missed.

--422 words

Wheels of Glory, or . . . not.

2008-04-02T23:10:00.001-07:00

I don't know what got me on this track in the first place, but let me take you for a little ride down memory lane.

The first car I remember growing up is a '71 Beetle. His name was Herby. Though ours was a yucky metallic brown, and chipped. I remember I filled in some of the chips with bright red nail polish. *innocent*

2)

My dad has a thing for buying old rusty pick-up trucks dirt cheap and then getting them into a semi-running state. For a while. The first one I remember was ol' Trusty Rusty. Dad had to start him with a screwdriver. But for some reason, even without seatbelts, I always feel safe and warm in one of my Dad's clunky trucks. And in every one of my novel length stories, there is one, at some point.

3)

'65 Sprite - Austen Healey. It was three different shades of cherry red. This picture doesn't really show how small it is. You can lift the rear end off the ground. Though my dad once drove it with a St. Bernard and 3 kids in it. The St. Bernard rode shotgun. We kids crammed into the back.

4)

Ah... the '78 Buick Regal. The first car I ever drove. I learned in that boat, and because of it, I can parallel park anything. It got around my last two years of high school, and was affectionately dubbed the 'pimp-mobile'.

5)

This was the first car I ever bought - a '92 Buick Le Sabre. Mine was the same gold color, minus the ugly wood paneling. I have to say, it was a nice ride. Bucket. Leather. Seats. Her name was Dyna, after her special 'Dynaride' package. But the tranny was smoking when we drove it to the lot to trade in.

6)

When I met him, hubby drove an '88 Jeep Cherokee Loredo. We never did drive it through three feet of mud. But we did flip a bitch over a median once. It looked like this, but it was technically a Je p.

~Intermission~

I ... totaled this one. Nothing to see here - move along, move along.
Not. My. Fault.

10)

So, after I totaled the Corolla, my plan to win the lottery didn't pan out. I dove this POS Jetta. It had a mold issue. Oh, and you had to put it in neutral at every stoplight and rev the engine, or it would die. Fun times.

11)

This is my baby now. Yes, I have the trim package - which seems like a good idea until you realize how many damn curbs there are all over the place. And yes, it's periwinkle blue. I like it that way, and hubby is man enough to handle the remarks about his masculinity.

12)

Oh yeah, for about three weeks, I was the proud owner of a '99 Acura 3.2 TL V6. But we needed cash, so we rolled it over. *sigh* I wish I could have kept that car . . .

13)

Okay, fine. So I didn't really *own* the '07 Mustang. But for a week in San Francisco, it was mine. And that was enough to fuel my fantasy life for another couple years.

13)

Currently drooling over this one. The '08 Highlander Hybrid. It gets the same gas mileage as my Matrix, but it's sooooooo much cooler. I got to drive one of these on a business trip, and when I sell my first novel, I'm gettin' me one!

So... tell me: What's your favorite car you've ever owned?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:
Pretty Life Online
Shelley Munro
Arlene
Ms. Menozzi
Irishcoda
Gina Ardito
Morgan St. John
Adelle Lauden
Tempest Knight
~Liz~
Tara S. Nichols
Brenda ND
Alice Audrey
Jennifer McKenzie
Jennifer Bianco
Kaige (Impulsive Hearts)
R. G. Alexander
Paige Tyler
A. Catherine Noon
Robin L. Rotham
Unhinged
Eaton Bennett
Laura
Dana Belfry
Chloe Devlin
Nicholas
Susan Helene Gottfried
Word Trix
Kathleen Oxley

Seduced by Darkness Review

2008-03-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

I've posted a review for Seduced by Darkness by Delilah Devlin over on the WR Blog.

I gave it two and a half bleeding hearts out of five. Read the review to find out why.

Flash Friday the Second - Ferrety Flash

2008-03-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Over at the WR Forum, we do a picture-prompted 500 word flash activity on a bi-weekly basis and then critique. On the WR Blog, we will share some of these themed pieces, along with other selections every week for Flash Friday.

The picture that inspired this week's collection was chosen by Kat:

And here is my contribution . . .

Ferreted Away

The clacking of Charlene's high heels echoed down the narrow cement hallway as she followed behind the burly institution guard. He ambled, frequently looking over his lump of a shoulder to ogle her. She gave him a saccharine smile every time put an extra flutter in her lashes, which almost had him tripping over his own feet. Distracted was good.

When they'd reached the halfway point, he hunched over and fumbled with the jangling loop of keys on his belt, leering at her. Charlene pulled a small compact mirror out of her gaudy pink shoulder bag, and pretended to check her hair and make-up. The guard didn't notice the tiny red light on the camera at the end of the hall behind them going out. Perfect, she thought, and snapped the compact closed.

"You'll have ten minutes darlin'," he said as he pushed the heavy metal door open for her. "Give 'im a good one."

"Oh, don't worry," Charlene winked, and tapped her fingers on his chest three times, as if she were brushing away crumbs. "I will."

'Samuel', as his nametag said, gave Charlene a crooked, cross-eyed grin as his eyes glassed over with the haze of her dream spell. He was present, but already light-years away. Too easy. She slipped into the visitation room and the door closed behind her.

Another intrusive camera watched from the corner and the scent of pine cleaner assaulted her as she locked eyes with Harold for the first time in months. With a flick of her wrist, that camera too, went out. The love of her life blinked up at her in bewilderment, sallow and scruffy, wrapped in a pristine white straightjacket.

"Harold, it's me!" she said, her voice breaking. A look of shock, and then understanding dawned on his features. She stumbled forward and lunged into his lap, squeezing him tight and covering his face and neck with kisses. She ran her hands down his back and the buckles and straps restraining him slithered loose.

"You shouldn't have come here!" Harold finally choked out before wrapping his arms around Charlene and smothering her with a heated mash of lips.

"Did you really think I would leave you to rot in a drab dump like this?" Charlene scoffed, then stood up.

"Well, no," he chuckled. "So, what's the plan?"

"We walk out," Charlene answered, grinning.

"Simple as that?"

"Well, not precisely," she admitted, drawing a small purple vial from her bag. Before Harold could utter a word in protest, she threw it onto the white tile floor at his feet. It burst, emitting a green vapid cloud that swirled around the figure of Harold, sparkled, and then cleared.

"I'm sorry, darling," Charlene sighed as she scooped up the small ferret that lay curled where Harold had been. "It really was the easiest solution," she added, dropping the squirming bundle into her bag. “You can change back in the car.”

--487 words

Revenge of the Meme Gods

2008-03-26T18:09:00.001-07:00

Here it is in all its resplendent glory - the rest of the 78/26/13 Meme thingamabob. I promised fewer words, so take a rest. I think it speaks for itself . . . Please forgive the silliness. I blame the Red Bull.

Other people who are doing/have done this: Liz, Catherine, Morgan le Fey, Eden, Kat.

1) Three of your favorite movies:

Yes, I'm a nerd. And proud of it.

2) Three kids names:

Hey, it could happen. People name their kids weird things sometimes.

3) Three celeb crushes:

4) Three things you want to do before you die:

A girl can dream, can't she? I didn't say they had to be all at once . . .

5) Three of your favorite musicians:

Extra points if you know who the guy in the middle is.

6) Three physical things about the opposite sex that appeal to you:

7) Three of your favorite hobbies:
Writing, Photoshop, Raising Hell

8) Three of your favorite people you've known in your life:

What? They didn't specify *which* life . . .

9) Three things you really want to do badly right now:

10) Three careers you’re considering/you’ve considered:
professional student, best-selling author, goddess of the underworld

11) Three ways that you are stereotypically a boy:

12) Three ways that you are stereotypically a girl:

13) Three people that I would like to see post this meme:

Andi, Jen, Debbie. Oh, and:

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:
A. Catherine Noon
Kathleen Oxley
Word Trix
Kaige (Impulsive Hearts)
Alice Audrey
Susan Helene Gottfried
Chloe Devlin
Paige Tyler
Eden's Eternal
Shelley Munro
Debbie Mumford
Monica
Adelle Lauden
~Liz~
Jennifer Shirk
Crystal Jordan

Introducing Wiley Wednesdays

2008-03-26T10:06:00.001-07:00

The Writer's Retreat Group has a new blog where we feature flash fiction, and varied posts by our members on a rotating schedule. It's updated regularly, so check it out sometime:

Writer's Retreat Blog

I'm over there today with a 'Wiley Wednesday' post - a weekly commentary on writing craft. My post is about VOICE - or what I've gathered about it so far.

Catching up . . .

2008-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

The date is closing in on a deadline I set for myself to get a query submission out. It's for my current WIP, which is also my sweat project - Cloak of Deception. The drafting is coming along nicely, or was rather, before I got heavy into edits and re-writes for the first three chapters. And then there was the dreaded synopsis . . . dun dun dun!

So, as far as sweating goes - I'm lucky that edits count, because I've written about 200 new words in the last week.

The good news is, those first three chapters and the synopsis have polished up better than I could have hoped for, and it's all thanks to some very special folks: All the girls in the Writer's Retreat Group, who pamper me far more than I deserve; my fantabulous, irreplaceable, priceless, anonymous alpha-beta; and my mom. (How cool is that?) I'll be sending off the packet on March 30th, rain or shine.

And after I send it off? That's when the fun really begins. In order to keep myself busy while I wait, I have a mentorship lined up with the very talented Debbie Mumford, which I'm thrilled about, and a TBR list a mile long that I will *finally* get a chance to sink my teeth into. Not to mention the Sweat Challenge and the rest of my WIP list to keep me occupied.

But, basically - if you haven't heard from me, or don't hear from me until around April - please forgive! I'll be back. You knew you couldn't get rid of me that easily.

Flights of Fantasy

2008-03-23T09:32:00.001-07:00

I am one of the very lucky thirty people who was able to score a mentorship with a real live author through the Romance Divas. It's one of the coolest things they offer through their forum and I am super-duper-excited!! My Diva Mentor is none other than fantasy/paranormal author Debbie Mumford (she also writes YA under the name Deb Logan).

Debbie works by day as a technical writer and has published 2 novels, an anthology and a novella with Freya's Bower, with another two novels on contract. Her dragon series, Sorcha's Heart, Sorcha's Children: Dragon's Choice have received several honors and rave reviews. Debbie has also published several short stories. I'm currently reading her paranormal romance novel, Second Sight, available from Freya's Bower - and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I'll post a review when I'm finished.

In the meantime, I decided to interview my new mentor, and here's what she had to say.

Interview with Debbie Mumford

How long have you been writing, and what is the one thing that keeps you coming back to it?

I started writing with the intention of being published in late-June, 2003. I had no clue what I was doing, but I had an idea and spent the next seven months writing a 100,000 word contemporary fantasy novel. When I start something, I finish it. *lol*

What keeps me coming back? New ideas. New characters with stories to tell, and the knowledge that if I don’t tell them, no one will, because I’m the only one who knows these particular stories.

What are three books you could read over and over, and what is it about them?

I listen to books on tape as I drive to and from the office. I add to my collection when I can, but I have a few that I listen to over and over again. I have the entire Harry Potter series and I’ve listened to it, from beginning to end, quite a few times. I love it for the story, for the world Jo created, but I also enjoy listening to it as a writer. I know the story intimately now, so I’m able to hear things that she’s doing in the plotting and pacing of the book. I remember the “ah-ha” moment when I realized that the whole reason an intricately woven scene had been included in the book was to deliver a single sentence; a single piece of necessary knowledge. Wow! It’s almost like having Jo mentor me *lol*

Plotter, pantster, or in between?

In between, but leaning heavily toward the pantster. I have a rough idea of where my story is going before I start, but discovering the details is a major part of the fun for me! I typically write my first draft very quickly, not allowing myself to go back and fix errors or pick the perfect word. Once the story is out of my head, I turn my editor loose and rearrange scenes, make decisions about plotting and pacing and generally polish the manuscript on a macro level. I avoid getting caught up in line edits until I’m sure the plot flows the was I want it to…no sense wasting time perfecting a scene I’m going to cut!

In your eyes, what's your biggest strength in your writing? Your biggest weakness?

I’m good with characters and emotions, but I have a hard time remembering to place them in a physical surrounding. Setting is NOT my strength. I have to remember to go back through and describe where they are so that my readers can properly experience the scenes.

What's your weirdest writing habit?

Hmmm…I have so many weirdnesses…Probably my most unusual writing habit is my lack of a desk. I have a laptop and a lapboard and that’s my desk. I sit in my recliner, with my feet up and type away. Which is very transportable. When we’re away from home, I can recreate my space very easily.

Drink of choice?
Green tea or chai.
When did you decide that you wanted to make writing a career?

When I wrote that first novel. I sent that puppy out to countless agents and publishers and received an equal number of form-letter rejections. Now I know why, but at the time, I was clueless.

Now, for many people, such universal rejection would’ve buried their desire to write. Not me. I’m a bulldog personality. Tell me I can’t do something and my automatic reaction is, “Watch me!” Does the word “defiant” ring any bells? *snort*

Any choice tidbits of advice to share with people just starting the journey?

Learn to celebrate rejection. You’re going to get a lot of it and if you don’t make your peace with it, it’ll eat you alive. I don’t like being rejected any better than anyone else does, but I accept it as part of the business. They are not rejecting *me*, they are rejecting a specific example of my writing. That’s all.

As to the celebration part…well, rejections are proof positive that you’re doing your part in this business. You can’t garner rejections on a story you haven’t written (unless you’re trying to sell on proposal and that’s another matter); you can’t be rejected if you never submit. If you’re writing and submitting, you’re doing the work of a professional writer. Celebrate your commitment!

Are there any other genres/sub-genres out there you hope to explore, or any boundaries you plan to push?

Science fiction. I’m working my way from fantasy and speculative fiction to science fiction.

If you had to choose only one word to describe your writing, what would it be?

Wonder. Yes. That works on several levels, but you’ll have to discover them for yourself!

Thank you Debbie, for answering my questions, and for volunteering your time and wealth of knowledge to helping me navigate this new world. I'm really looking forward to working with you!

~Gwen

Spring FFC Entry

2008-03-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

For the Flash Fiction Carnival this round, I decided to go with something a little different. This is a vignette of a supporting character in one of my novels. It was written specifically for this assignment, but I'm not sure how it will hold up as a stand-alone piece. I'm okay with that, because I'm glad I wrote it, and if it hadn't have been for this prompt, I probably wouldn't have.

So, here is a short piece with Astrid from Witch Hunt: Inner Eye, for the Spring Equinox.

Ostara, by LustAndDevotion

Illuminated

Astrid wasn’t an Oracle. She’d only studied the basics of divination. And even that was sketchy. Still, she thought, zigzagging her way down the jagged hillside to the beach, it was Ostara – the Spring Equinox. For the briefest of moments, her little part of the earth would be cast in equal parts light and shadow. For the briefest of moments, the energies of the conduit around her would be in perfect balance. If she was lucky, and prepared, she could get a tiny glimpse of the future.

She had the perfect question to ask the universe. She was certain in that fact as she unpacked her bag on the fine gravel. The waves crashed against the sides of the rock cove around her, enclosing her in a bubble of gurgles and whispers. Astrid lit the five candles encircling her and dropped to her knees, folding her robe underneath.

The question was selfless. It wasn’t for her. That’s why she knew she would see the answer. She wanted to know so she could do what was right for Kean. She loved him, and she didn’t want to see him suffer anymore.

Closing her eyes, Astrid invoked her personal circle, and the crashing of the waves beside her seemed more distant. The sky overhead was darkening, still a pinkish hue in the distance, but violet at the edges. She tapped into the conduit and could feel the shifting of the energies around her – each atom re-aligning, as all things do in the cycle of life – coming back to center.

If Briana were ever going to come back to her center, to her home, Astrid needed to know. If there was hope for her two best friends to find love and happiness together, she would do everything in her power to see it happen. She loved Kean. She loved Briana. They loved each other. It was the perfect question – innocent, important, definite. One always had to be careful of the questions they asked. Astrid knew that all too well.

She lowered her head to her chest, focusing on her breathing, on the grounding force of the shore beneath her, and the airy lightness up above. The light, the dark. Balance. She felt the exact instant it happened, as if time stopped. There was no heartbeat, no breath, and no body for a silken moment. She was suspended in between worlds – the now and the never, the substantial and the infinite.

All she needed was the question, but in the place where only spirits dwell, there are no words. Still, Briana was more than a word to her, and so was Kean. They were feelings, and memories. They were hopes, and dreams, parts of her soul. Parts of her soul that had been ripped apart, she realized, when Briana left them. Them.

Briana hadn’t just left Kean. She’d abandoned them both, and left Astrid to nurse Kean’s wounded heart through the aftermath. She was still caring for him, and Briana was off touring the world. Astrid’s question wasn’t selfless at all. She wanted Bri back. She wanted Kean happy. She wanted the three of them together again. She wanted . . . things to be like they were before. She exhaled at last, feeling like she fell back into her own body from miles above the ground. Her shot at a moment of enlightenment had passed. A light spattering of rain peppered Astrid’s upturned face and she blinked her eyes open.

“What? No lightning? No roaring wind?” she asked the sky. One of her candles blew out and Astrid sighed. “Serves me right,” she said under breath as she got up and shuffled about, re-packing her bag. She should have known that she wouldn’t be able to get a clear answer. She wasn’t an Oracle. She’d thought her question was good enough – but now, after the fact, it was silly. It was too close to her heart. She should have just asked Ce-ce to deign it for her.

It started to rain in earnest as she ascended the last curve of the path up the hillside. The froth below her was churning louder with each gust that whistled over the rocks. Astrid gripped her hood over her as she went up the train trestle stairs into the yard. “Screw this,” she muttered as she paused in the back doorway to her house. She looked over her shoulder at the brewing storm, the whitecaps in the straight barely visible past the dusky haze. She shook her head and walked through the door.

If she had learned anything from this experience, it was that she was ready for something to change. As she took off her soaking robe and knelt to build a fire in the woodstove, she reflected that her question was so obviously selfish. She wanted to see Kean whole and happy. She missed Briana. She wanted to be free to find her own happiness, without guilt. She couldn’t be Kean’s security blanket any more. She wanted a life too, free from the saga of Kean’s long lost love. She wanted a love of her own. Yep – selfish, selfish, selfish. She chafed her bare arms, then wrapped herself in the closest blanket and nestled into the sofa. In two blinks of an eye, a little ball of orange fluff and claws found its way into her lap.

Astrid gazed into the crackling flames of her hearth, and stroked her ginger cat’s luxurious fur, wondering, musing, remembering. She laughed to herself when it struck her that she had a lot more than one question when it came to Bri. It had been long enough, hadn’t it? She was coming back? What was she really hiding from?

“Well, hell!” Astrid huffed, and the kitten flounced out of her lap. She would just have to find out the old fashioned way, she decided, reaching for the phone.

Maybe it had been an enlightening evening, after all.

---996 words

Dude . . .

2008-03-19T23:15:00.000-07:00

Kaige from Impulsive Hearts honored me with an Excellent Blog Award today. I really appreciate the shout out, Kaige! *hugs* And I enjoy hers a lot as well, so check it out.

The Rules: By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you agree to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please award at least 10. You deserve this! Feel free to recognize blogs that have already received this award.

I visit the following blogs at least once a week and some of them even more frequently. They are all writing related and all manage to have unique perspectives on the process. Some are just getting started and some have been at it a while. Some are working alone and others pool their experiences.

They’re all Excellent Reads. I would like to pass this wonderful award to the following 10 blogs (in no particular order):

West of Mars	Debbie Mumford
Shelley Munro	Word Trix
Unhinged	Eden's Eternal
Flogging the Quill	A. Catherine Noon
The Redneck Romance Writer	Paperback Writer

Give them all a peek! You won’t regret it.

All About Me-me

2008-03-19T13:32:00.001-07:00

This week's TT is part of a 2 part Meme series that takes one of the questionairs and has you give up lots of info about yourself.

While I really do want everyone in the whole wide world to know what I am wearing right now (no really, I do.), I usually don't like these. However, as revealed previously, when it comes to my friends, I'm a bit of a push-over. So for the next two weeks I will tell you more than you could possibly want to know about my favorite subject: me. *snark*

Other people who are doing/have done this: Liz, Catherine, Morgan le Fey, Eden, Kat

1) Three screen names that you’ve had:
I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that I would be exposing my other, less appropriate internet personalities to public scrutiny.

2) Three things you like about yourself:
Golly. Three? I have to stop at three? Sheesh. *scratches head*
Okay, I got one . . . er . . . three: I laugh easy, loud and often.

3) Three things you don’t like about yourself:
Being perfect is annoying sometimes. *shrugs* What?

4) Three parts of your heritage:
100% Smartass. Really, it's hereditary - I swear!

5) Three things that scare you:
Women who let their children run through the Starbucks parking lot without holding their hand. I almost saw an adorable four-year old get flattened by an Audi this morning. I wanted to get out of my car and smack that woman - not the one driving the Audi - the mother. Srsly.

Oh, and books with flimsy plots. They really do scare me. I cringe, just waiting for them crumble to ash in my hands - which they should. And umm . . . failure. I'm petrified by failure. *shudders*

6) Three of your everyday essentials:
Starbucks + iPod + Laptop = Heaven

7) Three things you are wearing right now:
Two shoes and one sock. Am I wearing another sock, or did I just answer the question verbatim?
The world will never know . . .

8) Three of your favorite songs:
My tastes are too varied to pick a favorite. I'm not being difficult - it's the truth. *sigh* Alright, I might as well reveal *something* . . . 'The Bare Necessities' from The Jungle Book basically plays on a loop in the back of my head. I'm convinced all the answers to life are hidden in that song.

9) Three things you want in a relationship:
Me, another person, and a bottle of wine. What else do you need? *grin*

10) Two truths and a lie:
I never lie.
I eat whole lemons - straight up, no chaser.
I can talk to my cats.

11) Three things you can’t live without:
The usual . . . oxygen, water, internet.

12) Three places you want to go on vacation:
Iceland, Australia, UK. I have badgered friends on two continents into putting me up already. Any takers in Iceland? Anyone? I don't eat much . . .

13) Three things you just can’t do:
I can't believe I just made you read all of that.
I can't believe I'm going to make you suffer through it again next week.
And I can't believe you're STILL reading. Srsly. Don't you have anything better to do?

Tune in next week for more horrendously interesting facts about *me*, which I will attempt to answer only with links and pictures (just because) . . . or face the wrath of the Meme Gods! Muhahahah!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:
Kathleen Oxley
Dana Belfry
Kaige (Impulsive Hearts)
Shelley Munro
Gina Ardito
Adelle Lauden
Ms. Menozzi
~Liz~
Brenda ND
Susan Helene Gottfried
Jennifer Leeland
Alice Audrey
Darla
A. Catherine Noon
Tempest Knight at Midnight Moon Cafe
Unhinged
Paige Tyler
Chloe Devlin
Morgan Le Fey
Debbie Mumford
Stephanie
Nicholas

Shout Out to Liz!

2008-03-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a brief moment to formally welcome Liz to the Writer's Retreat group. It's been a pleasure getting to know her better the past few weeks and I'm excited to have her as an addition. I'm sure her contributions will be great - and her word craft and the depth of emotions behind it always thrills me.

Welcome Liz!

Check out The Elizabethan Collar ~ Liz's new blog.

Home State Lovin'

2008-03-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

I've seen these memes that talk about a place someone has visited, or where they live, and was inspired to pay the Evergreen State and the Emerald city homage. Here are thirteen things you might not know about Seattle and Washington State.

1. It's green. Over half of Washington state is covered with forests. Our forests range from old growth pine, to temperate rain forests, to a mixture of valley deciduous growth. Throughout most of the state, it's green all year, punctuated by pastels in the spring, and golds and auburns in the fall.

2. It's clean. In 2007, 362/365 days in King County (Seattle) had an air quality index of Moderate-Good (298 Good/ 64 Moderate)*. *www.epa.gov It's also a spearhead state on Clean Water, environmental and endangered species protection, and energy conservation. In a 2007 report by Forbes magazine, Washington ranked third in a list of America's 'Greenest' states - behind Vermont and Oregon.

3. It's natural. Our forests and coast provide the perfect habitat for some of the most majestic species to grace this continent.

4. It's smart. In the 2000 Educational Assesment by the US Census Bureau, 62% of people over 25 in Washington had at least some college. And in a report done by Bizjournal.com in 2006, Seattle was ranked the 'Smartest' city in the nation - with 47% of it's inhabitants holding at least a Bachelor's degree. (The national average was 24.4%).

5. *Gwen shamelessly plugs* . . . School Spirit. I has it. The University of Washington, Seattle (my alma mater) has more than ten top-ranking programs, including the #1 rated primary care medical school in the country for thirteen years running*. UW has received more research funding than any other public university every years since 1974 (more than $1 Billion in 2007). Six faculty members have won Nobel prizes since 1989 (5 in Physiology/Medicine).
*ranked by U.S. News & World Report (www.washington.edu)

The Huskies womens volleyball (my FAVORITE) team finally won their first NCAA championship after an undefeated season in 2005. They were the second team to ever sweep the tournament. It was an awesome season, and a documentary about it went on to final in the Billie Awards. Go Dawgs!!

6. It rocks. Seattle has been the birthplace of several popular rock bands, including Dave Matthews Band, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Heart, Soundgarden, Queensryche, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, and let's not forget Mr. Hendrix. (Oh, and Kenny Loggins, and Kenny G - though they're not quite 'rock'.)

7. It writes. Seattle is the home of several well-known published authors, including Jayne Ann Krentz, Terry Brooks, and Tom Robbins.

8. It's cutting edge. Seattle has been the birthplace and hub of several of the nation's leading businesses, including Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon.com, Nintendo, Costco, REI, ATT&T Wireless, Expedia.com, Nordstrom and Starbucks.

9. It's got surf. Seattle is sandwiched between Lake Washington on one side, and the Puget Sound on the other. The San Juan Islands lay just off the Northern tip of the peninsula, and the Pacific Ocean laps against the other side. There are plenty of rivers that weave through the mountains, and many lakes, including glacier-fed Lake Chelan, 3 hours East of Seattle - the third deepest Lake in the US, and 55 miles long.

10. And turf. Living on the Western side of Washington, you find the Cascade Mountains to the East and the Olympics to the West, not to mention the active volcano, Mt. Rainier to the South. Hiking, biking, four-bying, horseback riding, camping and skiing are all within an hour's reach of Seattle.

11. It produces. Washington has a perfect farming environment, whether it's the apples and other fruits that put Washington on the map, our up and coming Columbia Valley wines, or our lavender farms on the penninsula. In the summer, I can buy all local, organic produce from streetside Farmer's Market. We also produce our own chicken, beef and dairy. And we're just a stone's throw away from those Idaho potatoes, and Oregon strawberries. Fresh fish also abounds - from salmon, to crab, to oysters - seafood is a Seattle staple. (Along with coffee, of course - though we don't grow that here. . . I don't think.)

12. Seattle Rain Festival: myth. In a recent ranking of US cities based on annual rainfall, Seattle didn't even make the top ten. Still, our coastal temperate climate does make for a heavy rainy season, and lots of overcast weather. However, for every two days like this . . .

We get one like this . . .

To me, it's worth it. *g*

13. The biggest downside of Seattle, WA? Too many people are discovering the things our state/city has to offer. Crowding and traffic worsen each year, and the cost of living is pretty steep.

So, you will now forget everything I just told you.

As far as you're concerned, Seattle = and a cute movie with Meg Ryan in it.

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Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:
Eden
Kaige (Impulsive Hearts)
Chloe Devlin
Jennifer Leeland
A. Catherine Noon
~Liz~
Debbie Mumford
Eaton Bennett
Morgan le Fey
Word Trix
Tawny Taylor
Verabear
Shelley Munro
Unhinged
Alice Audrey

Keeping Score

2008-03-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is my contribution to the standard March Flash Fiction Carnival. The prompt was LETTERS/NUMBERS. And as broad as it is, I found it a tough one. So I decided to play around with a character voice in my head, who stems from my free ebook, Once Bitten, Twice Charmed.

*****

My job is all about numbers. Sure, you occasionally get to shoot someone, or ride them to the ground, or chase them down the highway. But mostly, it comes down to numbers. It’s funny, because I was never good at math, but here I am. I’m not a physicist, or a Wall Street analyst, or a salesman. I’m a detective. Lieutenant Aidan Peter Sloane, Boston PD, Shield 7956.

Numbers.

I never thought much about them before I worked the beat. Except maybe my bank account. My phone messages. Now numbers keep me up at night, tossing and turning and throwing them around in my head. Until I can’t take it anymore, and I just go back to work, back to the number game.

Take this poor bastard, for example. The number of bullet holes in his chest? Four. The number of drinks he consumed at the bar last night? Ten. The number of people who saw him leave with a petite blonde, most likely a working girl? Three. The number of possible suspects? Two. The blonde, and her boyfriend. And then it goes on. What was the time of death? Approximately 00:06 hours this morning. What was the last call he made? Received? Two missed calls at 23:23, and 23:24 from 564-2389.

The number of days before I solve this case? Two, if I can catch some shut-eye. They were sloppy, rushed, unprepared. A crime of passion. The easiest, and the hardest kind. The number of hours I’ll sleep this week? Maybe nine, if I’m lucky.

So, why would I do it, you wonder? My paycheck ain’t much. $1236.92 every other week. Eighteen more years, and I can retire. That’s 4,500 more days on the job. But the truth is, it’s the only thing I’ve ever been good at, so why give it up? I failed math, but the numbers and I get along just fine.

Except for once. There’s one number I’d like to change if I could. Five days ago, on my seventh anniversary on the force, a girl was murdered. She was my eighth case that week. I gave myself six days to find her murderer. He was smart, and knew what he was doing. But now that’s tomorrow, and I have no investigation. Because the day she died, Monique Sylvan’s body disappeared from the city morgue.

She’s dead. Or, she was dead. I know it. I saw her. I felt her body, cold, and still, and lifeless. I closed her goddamn eyes for her. Someone killed her. I know that too, in my gut. And I’m gonna find the bastard. But it’s going to take more than six days. I don’t care if it takes me another 4,500 days – I’ll keep looking. Because he’s out there somewhere. A murderer, who thinks he’s gotten away with it. And if there’s anything I hate more than this cheap-ass watered-down mud they call coffee, it’s being duped.

The number of cases I've left unsolved? One, for now.

*****

---500 Words

Sweatin'

2008-03-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a week since I started the 70 Days of Sweat challenge. So far, so good. I'm a little over 50K words on my WIP (started at 30K) as of this morning, and hoping to knock out a few more today. And I'm finally ON SCHEDULE. My goal is to have a drafted 80-90K words to query by the end of March, and I think I might actually manage this. I wanted to get more side-projects rolling along the way, and they have fallen by the wayside.

But I'm okay with that. Cloak is my number one focus, and I'm just so happy that it's going smoothly - I can't complain. If I can get it done ahead of schedule, I can make up the time on the others.

I don't know if it's just the sweat challenge, but I do think it helped to get my butt in gear. I was dragging my feet on this, and I would have been trying to pull it together at the last minute.

I technically only need the first three chapters by the end of this month, but I wanted to have the whole thing drafted so I could write a true-to-form synopsis and make sure I hit all the right buttons in those first three chapters. Sven has helped me so far.

Keep it up sweaters!! 68(7?) days to go!!

Telephone Tag

2008-03-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Oxley tagged me for this new meme! *hugs*

Did you ever play the game Telephone when you were a kid? It’s sometimes called Rumor or Gossip. You sit in a circle, the bigger the better.

The ring leader will tell a “secret” to one person. That person turns to the person on their left and whispers it. Each person hears the “secret” on one side and tells it on the other until it goes all the way around the circle. The last person says out loud what they were told, then the ring leader says what everyone started with. Most of the time it isn’t the same thing, and can be quite funny.

Using the power of the Internet, let’s give it a try.

I’m going to write a paragraph. Your job is to make a change. It can be as little as one word or as big as twenty words. You can change names, plot and setting, but don’t change it so much that we can’t tell how it relates to what (Alice) started with. Post your paragraph on your blog with a link to Alice’s post. She will link back to you. Then, pick three people to whom you will “whisper” your modified version. Let them know they are up next. Link to them and to the person who passed it to you (me).

Here is my paragraph for the three people I’m going to tag:

“Jocelyn and Will went up Knob Street to find some privacy in a dark alley. Jocelyn fell down and knocked her crown and asked Will to kiss the pain away. Will was happy to oblige Jocelyn’s innocent desire without further bruising, but his kisses weren’t enough. If he hadn’t already lost his heart to Jocelyn, he would have that night.”

I’m whispering to Rhonda Stapleton, Scarlett Sanderson and Word Trix. You can still play this game even if I didn’t tag you. Anyone can play if you follow the rules. Come back in a month and see what happened to our little rumor.

~*~*~*~*~

The rules for this meme:
1. Change something in the paragraph you received; a minimum of 1 word, a maximum of 20 words.

2. Link to the post at http://aliceaudrey.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/alice-calling/ and leave a comment so we can keep track of what happens to the paragraph. Alice will link back to you.

3. Link to the person who tagged you, preferably to where ever they posted their version of the paragraph.

4. Tag three people you think might enjoy this game. Let them know they’ve been tagged. Link to them.

5. Include these rules in your post.

View Other Participants Here

Have fun!!

~Gwen

Double Take

2008-03-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick blurb on a fellow Diva's new release. It sounds très steamy. Congrats Tawny!

Double Take
by
Tawny Taylor
(BDSM/Menage a trois/Gay)

Fallon dreamed of a dominant lover for years. Giving it all to a man who can master her sexually. What she never imagined was not one, but two dominant lovers, determined to make her wildest sexual dreams a reality. But perfect lips and to-die-for bodies aside, the identities behind her new Masters’ masks aren’t the only secret they’re keeping.

As Fallon is pulled further into the erotic web they weave, she realizes that being submissive to two dominant men isn’t just about the sensations they can rouse in her, but the emotions they unleash.

The biggest surprise is yet to come, the one that can either set her free to share a love and a life she never dreamed possible, or break her heart forever.

Read an excerpt/Buy

Tawny
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wicked-Hot Erotic Fiction

Soundtrack of My Life (Shamelessly Stolen from Gina)

2008-03-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

I've got a lot on my plate at the moment, so I decided to steal a quick idea from Gina and put the TT I had planned on the agenda for next week. Happy Thursday!

If your life were a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

Open your music library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod). Put it on shuffle. Press play. For every section, type the song that's playing. Next section : press the next button. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool. Play it as it comes up.

Gwen's Life

1. Opening Credits: Watermark by Enya (I love this song. It is what I strive for in my life - peaceful, balanced, heartfelt. Cool.)

2. Waking Up: Sonata No. 9 in D Major by Mozart (If I was a morning person - I could see this happening, but it's more like Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata in reality. I sorta slither out of bed.)

3. Falling in Love: One More Night by Phil Collins (Ah! It's so angsty and eighties and sweet! That's totally me in love. I love Phil.)

4. Breaking Up: The Logical Song by Supertramp (Okay - this is getting creepy now.)

5. Life's Okay: What's Going to Happen Tomorrow by Duran Duran ("You've got to believe, it will be alright in the end." Did I mention this is creepy?)

6. Mental Breakdown: Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles (Okay, this is one of my all time favorite songs. The only way I can associate it with a mental breakdown is if it were drug-induced, or this is AFTER the breakdown, or if when I finally lost it, it was in a very happy, free-spirited way. *g*)

7. Flashback: Talkin' Bout a Revolution by Tracy Chapman (It could work. It's a sad song, but it could be a flashback for the more down and out times of my life, I suppose.)

8. Getting Back Together: Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me by Sir Elton John (This totally works! Creepy again.)

9. Wedding: All I Need by Mat Kearney (It's not your typical wedding song, but I like it. It could work. Still romantic, in a way.)

10. Birth of Child: These Dreams by Heart (Can you say 'Epidural'?)

11. Final Battle: Breakfast In Bed by Nicole Kea (Fifty First Dates Soundtrack) (Apparently, my final battle will be pretty easy going - set to steel drum music. =P)

12. Death Scene: Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman by Bryan Adams (Aww... *sniffle*)

13. Ending Credits: Hello, Goodbye by The Beatles (Haha! I love it. It's perfect. There was bound to be two Beatles songs - I have so much of it. But this is the perfect non-sensical go against the grain song to define me.)

Okay, that really was fun, actually. Thanks Gina!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

Leave a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Kaige
Rhonda Stapleton
A. Catherine Noon
Shelley Munro
~Liz~
Tempest Knight at the MMC
Susan Helene Gottfried
Brenda ND
Gina Ardito
Tara S. Nichols
Debbie Mumford
Eden
Kathleen Oxley

Just One of Those Days . . .

2008-03-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

You know - that day where you cry on your way to work, for no particular reason? You forgot your nice homemade lunch on the counter, so your diet is foiled, you're co-worker's are conveniently on vacation or sick, and you are carrying the workload of 3 people. You ever have one of those?

That's today.

My bad mood got worse as my brain came online and my boss's demands piled up, and so did my mental to-do lists.

So what made me feel better? It wasn't surviving the AM without caffeine, or pride at resisting the quick-fix sugar pick-me-up of the breakroom Girl Scout cookies. It wasn't the mid-morning 'Just because I love you' phonecall from my sweetie, or that I managed to stick to my calorie plan, go for my lunchbreak walk, or that the sun was shining in one of those rare but precious crystal-clear Seattle days.

No, what brought me out of my funk was that it was warm enough outside for the soccer league at the park to practice without their shirts on. The eye-candy gods saw fit to smile upon me.

Does that make me vain, or just perverted?

I'm a night-writer, so we'll see yet if the good mood holds enough to be productive, but for now, I'll live through the afternoon.

How was your day?

Get Back On the Horse

2008-03-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

It's been said a hundred different ways, but if you need a pick me up, here's a quote I find inspirational:

Supposing you have tried and failed again and again. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

~ Mary Pickford

Sven Says SWEAT!!!

2008-03-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

GRRRRR! *makes mean muscle-flexing face*

I decided to join some fellow divas in the 70 Days of Sweat Challenge. I was a little wary, but I really think something like this will help kick my butt into gear, so I'm going for it. Also, there's a great supportive group of talented writers there for inspiration.

Click on the link to visit the site, where there's a list of sweaters who'd welcome your encouragement!

Vices and Virtues

2008-02-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

This week, a pending announcement from an ePublisher that shall remain unnamed weighs heavily on my mind. I submitted on January 3rd and have heard NOTHING, though I know other people who have. The waiting is killing me. This has lead to several talks with friends with regards to my lack of patience and that it's something I need to work on.

So, enough whining. I got to thinking 'patience is a virtue' and then . . . gee, I don't have any of that. So . . . here are 6 vices of mine, and seven virtues (as I see them) - just to keep things on an even keel and not spend too much time beating myself up.

Gwen's Vices

1. Impatience.
My mother says that when they were handing out patience, I was around the corner looking for something else to do.

2. Cable TV.
I don't have it, for obvious reasons. When I go to someone's house, if their TV is on, nothing else exists for me.

3. Carbs.
I love them. Flour, corn, rice, potatoes . . . mmmm, potatoes. If it's white, I probably scarf it. Scarf, not eat. I lasted on the South Beach Diet for about six hours, then DH insisted I eat something carbalicious before somebody got hurt.

4. Caffeine.
I used to be a non-caffeine preacher. No, really. That was before I started replacing sleep with writing, and found I needed artificial assistance to function during the day.

5. Barnes and Noble.
It doesn't sound evil, but I'm not allowed to go in that place unchaperoned.

6. Volunteering.
I'm awful with this! It's like my arm and mouth have a minds of their own. Before I even know what someone is asking, I'm offering to help, or to do it for them. Sounds like a good thing - right? Nope. I over-extend myself, get irritable and resentful, and usually end up letting people down.

Gwen's Virtues

7. I'm loyal.
It takes a lot to shake me off once I've glommed onto you. *g*

8. Honesty.
Sometimes this actually gets me into trouble, but I still stick by it, and admire it in others.

9. Hard-working.
I will bust my butt if I'm properly motivated. (Let's not talk about what that means...lol.)

10. I sing with all my heart, at the top of my lungs.
Some people might not agree with this being a virtue, but *LA LA LA*.

11. I'm a good driver.
Not only responsible, but courteous. I believe in car-karma.

12. I'm a very gracious loser.
Even though I'm *cough*competitive*cough*. If you beat me fair and square, I'll give you props.

13. *goes to check inbox*.
Oh . . . you're still here. Sorry. Did I mention impatient?

So... tell me one of your vices, and one of your virtues.
(Don't keep me waiting.)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Leave your TT url in a comment, and I'll link back to you here:

Jennifer Leeland
Puss Reboots
Winter
Alice Audrey
Shelly Munro
Ms. Menozzi
Gina Ardito
Tempest Knight at the Midnight Moon Cafe
Picturing of Life
Rhonda Stapleton
Debbie Mumford
She Became A Butterfly
Paige Tyler
Kaige
WordTrix
J.D. Rydell
Crushedglass
Susan Helene Gottfried
Tasina
Nicholas
Scarlett Sanderson
AJ Chase

The Mask She Wears

2008-02-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

A quick teaser from a fellow Diva. You can visit Jennifer's blog here.
I'm intrigued . . .

In the BDSM lifestyle, Catherine Lanyard is an extreme submissive with serious baggage. For years, she’s avoided her pain and hidden dark secrets. Now, an experienced Dom has broken through her barriers and forced her to face her fear. Sex was always a give and take for Justin Travers. He’d always kept his “lifestyle” practices separate from real life. But when Catherine blurs that boundary, he must decide what he really wants.

BUY IT HERE

Iconic Movie Quotes

2008-02-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

It's that time again. This week, I have a series of quotes that have become everyday turns of phrase, at least to me and my dorky friends. I hope the pictures work this time. They're linked from photobucket, so if they're slow, you might just need to refresh. Happy TT everybody!

Famous Movie Quotes - In order of year.

"I don't drink . . . blood."
- Dracula

“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
- Gone With the Wind

“Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.”
- Casablanca

“I’m walkin’ here!”
-Midnight Cowboy

“Do you feel lucky?”
-Dirty Harry

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
-The Godfather

“You talkin’ to me?”
-Taxi Driver

"May the force be with you."
-Star Wars

“They’re here.”
-Poltergeist

“I’ll be back.”
-Terminator

“You can’t handle the truth!”
-A Few Good Men

“Stupid is as stupid does.”
-Forrest Gump

“Show me the money!”
-Jerry McGuire

Alice Audrey
RG Alexander
Shelly Munro
Christine Morris
Gina Ardito
Tempest Knight at the Midnight Moon Cafe
Renee at Lyrical Press
Claudia from Open Grove
Word Trix
Paige Tyler
Jennifer McKenzie
Savannah Chase
Dana Belfry at A Slice of Orange
Kathleen Oxley
Susan Helene Gottfried

More Diva Love

2008-02-19T12:21:00.001-08:00

Jenna Bayley-Burke has her first release from Samhain - 'Her Cinderella Complex'. I've read an excerpt of this, and it's smokin'! It's on my TBR list, and that's not even my genre. (Cute cover too!). Go and check it out!

She’s got the man—and the wedding—of her dreams. If only love were part of the fantasy.

Heather Tindall is temping as a personal assistant until her dream job as an event planner comes along. Worse, her new boss has a penchant of running off new assistants before lunch. Heather’s not about to let her spotless employment record be ruined by a real estate mogul with an attitude problem, no matter how well he fills out a suit.

At first Curtis can’t believe the nerve of the woman who refuses his order to leave. Six months into their working relationship, her dedication still manages to surprise him. But her best efforts to protect his personal life can’t keep the press from seeing him as anything more than a playboy. Then it dawns on him that the perfect solution is right under his appointment book—Heather.
Swept off her kitten heels, Heather can’t help but accept the proposal of the man with whom she’s fallen in love. She hopes that in time he’ll come to feel something for her.

Curtis is determined not to feel anything, for anyone, ever. He’ll do anything Heather wants—but he’s not going to fall in love with her.

Except that will never do for a girl with a Cinderella Complex…

Read An Excerpt Online

Buy it today from My Bookstore and More

Diva Love

2008-02-19T11:59:00.001-08:00

Fellow Diva Adelle Lauden will be chatting Friday and Saturday this week with Zinnia Hope and M. E. Ellis at Zinnia Hope's yahoo group. Stop by, say hello and find out about what these three authors are up to!

Romance Divas eBook Challenge

2008-02-14T00:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!

The Divas have arranged a special treat for you - FREE eBooks! That's right, a whole bunch of Divas got together and wrote something special for you in celebration of V-day. Visit the Romance Divas website for a complete listing of stories. LINK

Here is my contribution, a contemporary paranormal short (8500 words), heat rating: sensual.

Kelly Lincoln is a society reporter convinced that playboy Forrest Meydenbauer is a murderer. All she has to do is prove it. But when he turns the rules of their game of cat and mouse upside down, Kelly's left to wonder if even her sharply honed instincts could be played false. What is she willing to bargain in order to uncover the truth?

Download Now (Adobe PDF)

If you can't read a PDF, contact me to arrange another file type.

Gwen Mitchell Fiction

FINALLY!!!

I know, I know . . .

Coming Soon . . .

It's Official . . .

Finalisms and Other Sundries

I'm Alive!

The Blog that Wasn't . . .

HAPPY HAPPY DAY!

Quick and Dirty

Review: Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

The Joys of Manuscript Revision, or, All Good Writing was Written More Than Once

New Review Schedule

The Sun Found Seattle!

Forward Thinking

Hiding . . .

When real life fails . . .

Review: Underworld - Rise of the Lycans

Srsly #2

Quaint Quote

*BounceSkipSquee*

Dark Side of the Moon

Back Post # 1 - Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Back Post # 2 - Critiquery

Back Post # 3 - The Iron Hunt Review

Back Post # 4 - Srsly #1

What Font Are You?

Resolved.

Oi! I'm allergic to blogging!

Review: The Accidental Vampire, by Lynsay Sands

Oh, and I forgot to mention . . .

Planet Procrastination

Am I really THAT Predictable?

Unwillingly Dammed

Where am I?

Review: Fallen, by Erin McCarthy

Gosh, Golly, Gee . . .

Writing Reference Series #1

Review: Dime Store & Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong

I. Do. Not. Suck.

Dream Chaser by Sherilyn Kenyon

Review of The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

13 Things To Take Your Mind Off Submissions

Rant for August Arrives Early

Review: Dark of the Moon

Good Reads!

What is a Bestseller?

Bright Sunshiny Day

B&N Privilages Suspended

The Darkest Fire Review

I'm not dead . . . yet.

Familiar Fate

*Ping*

Graveyard to Garden

Quick and Dirty

The Truth is Out . . .

New Release this Week from Wild Child

Star Stepping: An Anthology of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Tales

Sniff or Snort

Motivation Schmotivation

I should be doing something productive right now . . .

Back in the Blog Saddle

May Flash Fiction Carnival

Thursday Fly-By

A Secret in the Cellar

I Didn't Say It . . .

Quest for Balance . . .

Poetry: Take Three

Drat!

13 of Gwen's April Reads

Springtime Musing

Thursday Thirteen Play Resumed. (Sorta)

Shifter Anthology Review

Thursday Thirteen Play Suspended

Bell, Book, and Candle

Flash Friday the Third

Wheels of Glory, or . . . not.

Seduced by Darkness Review

Flash Friday the Second - Ferrety Flash

Revenge of the Meme Gods

BounceSkipSquee

Ping