To Contest or Not to Contest

Have you ever done something you weren't sure you should? Okay, hit the pause button. That's a bit of a dumb question, because...well, I imagine everyone has leapt into a situation then said, "Oh, crap. What did I just do?" But whatever. Let's just go with it for a minute and ignore the blantant duh factor. Why? I did something a while back that I wasn't convinced I should do.

"Go on," my friend said.

"Oh, I dunno," I replied, uncertain, a little queasy at the thought.

She huffed. "Stop being such a pansy, for heaven's sake, and take a chance!"

All right, granted...my friend doesn't mince words. Or have any patience for vacilators. Normally, I'm the same, but when it came to entering Fury of Fire (my debut novel) in a published authors contest, I have to say, my courage departed for places unknown.

Why? It's hard to say. Perhaps because there are so many talented authors out there writing fabulous stories. Maybe I contracted the bock-bock gene somewhere along the way. All I know is she suggested. I cringed. She shoved, and I folded like a dirty shirt, threw my hands in the air and said "All right!" just to shut her up.

Well as it turns out, she was right. I was...ahem...wrong. And boy, am I ever glad that I was, and that my friend bullied me into taking the leap of faith. She is clearly a much wiser person than I, because...

Fury of Fire (A Dragonfury Novel, book 1) is a double nominee in the NJRW 2012 Golden Leaf contest in the Best Paranormal and Best First Book categories. So completely fabulous! The winners will be announced at the Put Your Heart in a Book Conference on October 12th, and I couldn't be more excited to be counted among such wonderful finalists.

I guess that just goes to show when you take a chance and put yourself out there, good things happen. Clearly, I owe my friend a nice bottle of wine. Oh, and maybe a box of fancy truffles too (which, of course, I will help her eat. Fair's fair, after all).

New Video Interview

At the BEA in June, I had the privilege of sitting down with Morgan Doremus with RT Book Reviews to talk about my Dragonfury Novels. I also got to dish about FURY OF SEDUCTION, the third installemnt in the series due out on November 13th, 2012.

 Here's a sneak peek about what's coming next:

 


I had such a great time chatting with Morgan! And can't wait to share more Dragonfury Novels with you! FURY OF DESIRE (Dragonfury Novel #4) will be out sometime next spring (2013). When I have a cover and a solid release date, I will let you know!

 Thanks for stopping by to check out the interview!

Interview with a Dragon-Shifter

It’s nearly midnight when I reach the antique bookshop where I’m meeting Bastian, commander of the Nightfury dragons. There aren’t any lights on inside, and as I cup my hands to peer through the window an October breeze teases the underbelly of the tattered awning above my head. I glance up. Yup, I’m at the right place. The signage above the wide blue door reads, Periwinkles: a Treasure Trove for the Distinguished Mind. Which is funny because Bastian doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who hangs out at bookstores, never mind one called “Periwinkles”.

But a deal’s a deal, and I’m holding up my end by showing up tonight. On a dead-end street. In the middle of the night. Without back-up.

I know what you’re thinking, but I haven’t lost my mind. Far from it. I’ve been waiting for this meet and greet—been pestering Bastian about it—for a while. But as I knock on the door, I’m having second thoughts. Maybe agreeing to meet him in a less than public place isn’t the smartest move.

I raise my hand and knock anyway.

The door swings inward. Eerie, especially considering there is an empty spot on the other side where a person should be standing. As the old fashioned doorbell tinkles, I get a case of the chills, but cross the threshold. I’m a writer on the trail of a story. No way I’m backing down now.

The door clicks closed behind me, cutting off the soft glow of streetlights. I strain to see in the gloom, searching for the subject of my interview.  A second or two passes before I give up and call out, “Hello?”

“Back here.” The voice is low and deep, rumbling on the scent of musty paper as it drifts between tall bookcases packed to the gills with leather bound books.

Putting my feet in gear, I move past the checkout counter toward the back of the store. As I round the last shelf an overhead light flares, and I get a snapshot of an open area with leather club chairs. A second later, I see Bastian. The instant I do, I’m back to wondering what possessed me to come alone. Cuz, man, he’s enormous, and so flipping hot he oozes sex appeal. . .six and a half-feet of streamlined aggression and hardcore muscle. Dark hair cut military short, he’s handsome without being pretty. Lethal appeal tempered by grace, and 100 percent deadly when he chooses.

Decked out in leather, he’s slouched in one of the chairs, head resting comfortably on the backrest, army boots planted on the coffee table. His shimmering green eyes narrow on me. I get tonguetied. He raises a dark brow.

Bastian:         You wanted the meet and greet, kazmea. You gonna 

                         waste my time, or are you gonna talk?

C.C.:              Sure. (clearing my throat). Right. First things first, then. 

                        Thanks for meeting me.

Bastian:         (he shrugs) You’re a pain in the ass, female. Figured the

                         best way to get you off my case was to agree to meet you.

C.C.:              (Some of my tension eases. He’s just paid me a huge 

                        compliment. Tenaciousness, after all, is a valued trait 

                        among Dragonkind warriors. His eyes spark with 

                        amusement. A good sign, an amused dragon-shifter

                        is better than a pissed off one. I take a seat opposite

                        him in a matching chair.) So, how’s it going?

                        Everything all right?

Bastian:         I’m up to my eyeballs in crap. . .like always. Every night 

                         has FUBARed written all over it.

C.C.:                I heard about the trouble. How’s Myst doing?

Bastian:        Good. Adjusting. My mate is resilient. . .thank God.

                         (silence descends as we both think about how badly Myst 

                         could’ve been hurt if Bastian hadn’t pulled her away

                         from enemy claws in time.) The Razorbacks didn’t do

                         any lasting harm. But another female’s missing. Not

                         good news. Rikar’s on search and rescue, but so 

                         far. . .nada. Which means, I gotta go.

C.C.:              So soon? (I try not to sound disappointed, but fail

                        miserably.) Just a few more questions?

Bastian:         A word to the wise, kazmea. We do this when and

                         where I say. My way, not yours.

C.C.:                Another time, then?

Bastian:         (his lips twitch) Yeah. I’ll even give you the green light

                         with the others.

C.C.:              Really? (I try to be cool about the offer, but honestly?

                        I’m dying to meet the other Nightfury warriors too).

                        When?

Bastian:        (laughs and gets to his feet) Up to them, and only if 

                        they want to.

C.C.:                Kill joy.

Bastian:          Pest.

It’s my turn to laugh. He grins and heads for the back of the store, toward the red glow of the exit sign. As he reaches the reinforced steel door, Bastian glances over his shoulder and tips his chin in my direction.

Bastian:          You’re all right, you know that?

C.C.:                 I try.

Bastian:         (shakes his head) Don’t worry about locking 

                         up, kazmea. Be safe getting home.

I nod, and then he’s gone, leaving me to wonder when I’ll see him next. Soon, I hope. I have so many questions. Chief among them? What the heck does kazmea mean?

Top 5 Attributes Every Sexy Dragon-Shifter Should Have

This post first appeared on the Omnivoracious Book Blog a month ago. But I thought it was so much fun, I decided to share it here on my own blog.

The topic is near and dear to my heart. It's all about the Nightfurys, a sexy group of kick-ass dragon warriors who never say quit. So without further ado, here it is:

Fury of Fire is the debut novel in my Dragonfury series. Think urban fantasy romance with a kick. Start with a pack of dragon shape-shifters, toss in a whole lot of action and fantasy, then cap it off with a steamy romance. Shake. Stir. Find a fancy glass and sit down to enjoy, because the Nightfury warriors will take you for a ride.

Half human, half dragon, and able to change form at will, these guys are a hard-core military unit. At war with a rogue faction of Dragonkind, the Nightfurys are incredibly secretive about their species. They need to be, to remain hidden from humans. Honestly, it was like pulling teeth to get an interview with one of them. But after some serious cajoling, Bastian, commander of the Nightfurys, agreed to give me his take on the five key qualities dragon shape-shifters need to survive. Thank goodness. There’s only so much begging a girl can do!

Top 5 Attributes Every Dragon Shape-Shifter Should Have

1. A wicked amount of lethal. ('Cause you never know when you might need to pull some kick-ass out of your bag of tricks.)

2. Razor-sharp intelligence. (Not only to make quick decisions on the fly, but to catch your brothers in arms cheating at the weekly poker game.)

3. A well-developed sense of humor. (If you can’t laugh at yourself, then you can’t laugh at your fellow warriors. And what fun is that?)

4. Charm. (Why? To score with the females, of course.)

5. Loyalty and honor. (All right, so I’m cheating here. But these two things are considered one and the same in Dragonkind circles, because no warrior ever gets left behind.)

And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed the top 5 as much as I did coming up with them!

Dragon Sighting in Seattle

Extra, extra! Read all about it! Late breaking news. . .

Dragon sighting in Seattle.

Click on the link to read the article written by a dedicated reporter for the Seattle Firebrand who took her life in her hands to break the story.

http://writerspace.com/newsletter/coreenecallahan/news021312-2.html

I hope you get as much out of the exposé as I did.

Enjoy!

Coreene

Happy St-Valentine's Day!

Surprises are one of my favorite things. And this morning, I got a doozie. My husband--thoughtful man that he is!--decorated the kitchen in St-Valentine's Day splendor before he took off for work.

Banners and ribbons and cards now decorate one corner of my little world.

Funny thing, though. It's doesn't seem quite so small this morning. In fact, it felt pretty darned huge as I stumbled into my kitchen looking for my coffee pot and walked into a celebration instead. It made me smile. It lightened my heart. It made me stop in my tracks and appreciate the little things that my husband does for me every day. Because let's face it, having a day to celebrate your love for another is great, but it's more important to love and appreciate them on a regular basis. Not just one day a year.

Sometimes that's hard. Escpecially when your significant other does something that makes you want to pull your hair out. Or kick something. But at those times--because invariably they will come--I try to remember that I do things that drive him crazy too. It's all about give and take, isn't it?

And thank God for that. If we were perfect, after all, life would be pretty darned boring.

What are you doing to celebrate the person you love today?

An Exciting Day

The old adage. . .time flies when you're having fun. . .truly fits today. Time has flown while I've been busy writing. And now, the day has finally arrived! My debut novel in the Dragonfury series, FURY OF FIRE, hits cyberspace and book shelves today.

Very exciting! And, to be honest, a little nerve-wracking as I embark on a new adventure as a published author. But beyond the butterflies in the pit of my stomach, I'm thrilled to introduce you to the half-dragon, half-human warriors portrayed in the book. I hope you enjoy the crazy bunch as much I do writing them.

I have some cool stuff happening over the next couple of weeks (guest blogs, contests, giveaways), so I'll keep you updated both here and on my website

(www.coreenecallahan.com). I've provided a few links below, so please hop on over and join the fun.

The Kindle Blog (February 7)

The Omnivoracious Book Blog (date coming soon)

Hannah Howell's Blog (on February 15th)

A Bookworm's Haven (date coming soon)

I hope you enjoy FURY OF FIRE. And if you have a minute, drop me a line. I'd love hear from you!

All the best,

Coreene

Winter Crush

We're in for a spectacular winter storm. The first half came yesterday. The rest? Yup, it's on the way today, and man, I love it.

All right. I can see everyone raising their brows and throwing a load of What the heck? in my direction. But since there's no way around it, I'll just admit it.

I LOVE WINTER.

And snow. And ice. And the fresh, clean chill of single digits on the thermometer. So, just get it over with and call me crazy (pause here so you can get all head shaking and murmurs of "oh, you poor, poor thing" out of your systems). Feel better now?

Well, all right, then. We're good to go.

My love of winter is more than just about alpine skiing, cool snow gear, and the dip in temperature. It would have to be. Otherwise, I would accept the title of Nutbar gracefully, without so much as a twitch of complaint. So, what's all this craziness about then?

For me, it's about renewal. And play. The ability to start with a clean slate and make something better or different or fun out of it. So yeah, when the snowflakes fall and a blanket of white covers everything, I'm reminded that each day starts fresh, without blemish or fault. That it brings with it its own gifts, and that it's up to each one of us to forget about yesterday and see the beauty and promise in today. Instead of seeing snow, I see the opportunity to make snowangels. Or build a snow fort. The forerunner in the Iditarod with my dog sled team? A sculpter for one of those cool Ice Hotels?

No problem. I'm all over that.

Whatever. It doesn't matter what you imagine, but it's important that you do. . .IMAGINE, DREAM, ESCAPE into a world of your own making. It's part of having fun. Of leaving the every day stressers behind--a super busy schedule, deadlines. . .whatever it means for you--putting it on the back burner if only for a little while to reconnect your with inner child. The one who just wants to play.

You want a stress buster? A healthy New Years resolution? There it is. As simple as that. . .take time to play. Explore. Hold onto yourself--the core of what makes you YOU, and no one else can touch.

Easier said than done, I know. For me, it's about slowing down long enough to play in the snow. What is it about for you?

The Chaos of Christmas

So, it's been crazy busy lately. No surprise there. Christmas is coming, and there are gifts to buy, parties to attend, and decorations to put up.


And I love every second of it.  


Christmas is, after all, my favorite season. This year, though, things are a little different.  Much more frenetic. For the first time in a long while, I'm a working Mom.  So, yeah.  I'm a tad overwhelmed. Ah, right.  Understatement much?  


The balancing act is downright deadly. Especially since I've never done it before.  


Kids. Work. Husband. House.  


It's never ending, and I'm learning on the fly. Which probably isn't the best strategy, but I've been tossed overboard into the ocean. Only one thing left to do. . .swim. Like a madman. Try to avoid the sharks while deploying a plan of attack that needs. . .oh, I don't know. . .maybe 30 hours a day instead of the 24 I've been alloted.  


Bummer, right?  Sure, but there's an upside, too.


My level of efficiency has gone way, way up. No time to mess around. Just go, go, go as I make the most of the time I have. It's time management boot camp. . .on steroids. With my schedule wearing the boot. And while I sometimes get my a** kicked, for the most part I manage to stay one step ahead. Just far enough out in front of the craziness to avoid getting creamed.


Can you relate? Yup, I can hear the Oh, yeahs all the way from here.


The trick, I guess, is to enjoy every second. Regardless. No matter what. Through the madness of every day life. . .all the little failures and big successes. . .the disappointments and triumphs. It's the little things, after all, that bring the most joy. The stolen moments when life slows down just enough for you to see it. For you to enjoy it.


So, take a breathe this holiday season. Spend time with family, friends (heck even the dog will do), but wherever you are--whomever you're with--live in the now. Be present. It's the best gift you can give to another. But, it's an even better one to give to yourself.

FURY OF FIRE: available February 7th, 2012.  

Pre-order your copy today.

Some Great News. . .

All right. I'll admit, I haven't been around for a while. I've been lost outside the Blogosphere, and I have lots of excuses. . .none of which probably interests you <grin!>, so let's move on to more important stuff.

I've been writing like a fiend lately. Nothing new, you say? Well, okay. True. I take Stephan King's advice. . .write a lot, read a lot. . .to heart, which keeps me busy. But, my current book has got me by the horns. Not only am I loving the story, but for the first time EVER I'm working with a publisher.

Whoa. Hold on. . .back up a step there. When did this happen, you ask? Well. . .just this week.

Yes, my friends. I did it. I've signed my first publishing contract--with the help of my agent, the fabulous, forever awesome Christine Whitthohn of the Book Cents Literary Agency--and I'm so flipping excited I can hardly stand myself.

So stayed tuned, the guys in my Nightfury Dragon series are rolling your way. First stop? FURY OF FIRE, the first book in the series (think urban fantasy romance with a kick), launches in February 14th, 2012.  And I can't wait to share the story with you!

And oh, wait. If that wasn't enough? I'll be working with the same publisher writing a paranormal historical series entitled, The Circle of Seven. . .about elite assassins who have deserted from a larger group and are now marked for death because of their quest to save young boys from suffering a similar fate to their own.

So, yeah, talk about excited.  I'm in orbit, circling the planet. Lost in Space.

So come hang out here (or at www.coreenecallahan.com) anytime you like as I ramp up, branch out, and wade into the wonderful world of publishing. There are sure to be lots of adventures along the way.

Baseball. . .Pitch Perfect

I've always liked baseball.  Not for the endless statistics (there are way too many of those in the game), but because it's fun to play.  Like all sports, it takes a lot of hand-eye cordination.  But, that's not the real challenge.  At least, not for me.

It's the thrill of picking up that Louisville slugger, knocking the dirt from my clets and stepping up to the plate.  Possiblity is infinite in the action.  Faith is there too, along for the ride as I wind up, stare down the pitcher, and hope for the perfect pitch.  Feeling the weight of the bat in my hands.  The vibration of the wood in my grip as I connect with the ball.  Sycronized connectivity.  Oh, man. . .there's nothing better.

Now, granted, for each crack of the bat and line drive I propel into the outfield there are times when I hit nothing at all.  A swing and miss.  Sometimes, all you get are ninety mile an hour curve balls and nothing but air.  Those times suck.  Because no matter how good a player you are, it's hard to connect.

But, in the end, that's what keeps me in the game.  The possibility of connection, of cracking one into the stands and hearing the crowd go wild.

Writing is a lot like that, isn't it?  A vortex of pleasure-pain where possibility, faith, and sheer tenacity collide.  And in that moment, if we're lucky the perfect pitch sails our way and. . .wham!  A home run.  But, more often than not, we get a curve ball.  A successful writer accepts each swing and miss.  Picks themselves up out of the dirt, brushes off and gets back in game.  Because maybe. . .just maybe. . .the next fast ball won't have the wrong spin.  Maybe that's the one that gets knocked out of the park.

Possiblity.  It's a beautiful thing.

The Early Bird and all that Jazz

It's check-in day for JuNoWriMo.  And I have to say I've had a great week keeping up with the challenge.  I wasn't sure at first, but now that I'm in up to my chin, I'm okay with the deep end--even with all the craziness of life making waves.

So, how did I stay on track?

I got up earlier every day (as in 4:45 a.m. oh-my-God it's early!).  And surprise, surprise. . .it worked.  Why?  Well, I discovered combining the following makes for a pretty good receipe.

One. . .a still, quiet house.
Two. . .no pitter-pattering of little feet.
Three. . .a dog who lies under my desk and keeps my feet warm (even though he gives me a dirty look when the alarm goes off.  Now, if that isn't true love, nothing is).
Four. . .man, there just isn't anything else to do that freakin' early, so might as well stick with the program.
And five?. . .my muse is a morning person.  Who knew, right?

Okay, enough with the blah-blah-blahing.  Let's get down to it.

My goal is 1000 words a day.  Every day.  And I came in at. . .drum roll, please. . .

8047 words.  Hoorah!  Gold star for me (and some celebratory chocolate. . .naturally).

So, how was your week?  Did you get what you wanted accomplished?

Scared Witless

Umm. . .so, I did something yesterday.  Something either really crazy-stupid or mind-spliting awesome.  I can't decide which, because. . .it scares the crap out of me.

I committed to doing Shallee McArthur's JuNoWriMo (a.ka. June Novel Writing Month. . .check it out at Shallee's blog) challenge for the next month.  Okay, what's the big deal, you ask?  After all, it's good to have goals, right?  Right.  Totally on board there.  Because, hey, I always set goals. . .weekly, monthly, and all that good stuff.  So, my problem here?  I NEVER tell anybody what my goals are, because. . .gulp. . .they might actually hold me to them.

Just thinking about it makes me want to run like a total commitment-phobe.  Which is precisely why I did it.  I don't like being scared, so I've got my toes curled around the edge of the dock and I'm ready to dive in. . .head first.  Man, I hope there aren't any rocks beneath the surface.

So, my goal for the month (taking a big breath here. . give me a minute while I crack some chocolate to kill the panic) is:

1000 words a day.  Minimum.  I want my WIP finished before the end of the month when I head for NYC and the RWA's national conference.

All right.  I said it out loud.  Now, I'm stuck with it, because I know my fellow writers and JuNoWriMo pals will come after me with pitch forks (okay, not really. . .but the image serves as a great motivator) if I don't keep up my end of the bargain.  Thanks guys.  Looking forward to cheering you on this month!

Thank You Never Gets Old

So, I got thanked today by E.J.--a cool guy with a great blog called The Open Vein that I check out regularly.  Which, of course, got me thinking.

Do I say thank you enough?  

I like to think I'm polite, appreciative person.  After all, I always thank people who help me.  Clerks in grocery stores.  Strangers who hold doors open or the elevator when I'm scrambling to get on board before the darn doors close.  The guy making me a latte behind the coffee counter. . .the chocolate Gods for mixing up the goody-good-goodness of peanut M&Ms.

You know the drill.  But, those aren't the 'thank yous' I'm talking about.

The ones I mean are more heart felt. . .and belong to those we care about and love.  The people who stick with us through thick and thin, never mind the circumstance.  But, those are the people who slip through the cracks, aren't they?  We see or talk to them all the time.  Each day blends into the next, and the what do you know?  We forget how much they mean to us because they're always just THERE.  The constant in our lives that we take for granted.

I mean, really.  How often do I say thank you for that?  For the privilege of having them in my life?

Not very often (here's where I hang my head).

So, in honor of E.J. and his awesome initiative, I'm off on a 'thank you' spree.  And I'm gonna nail all my friends and family to my thank you board.  Let them know how much I value and appreciate them.  How much they make me laugh, cheer me up, keep me even and support me just by being who they are. . .which is just plain fabulous.

Oh, before I forget.  Thank You too. . .for stopping by.

Have a great weekend all.

Get in the Game

About the same time each year, soccer invades my life.  So, last night while I watched my middle daughter play her first game of the season--voice going hoarse from cheering and bum going numb in the stands--I noticed something interesting.  They all wanted the ball.

Okay, so nothing new, right?  Kids are kids, after all.  Running in a clump is what they do when playing sports.  Well that, and stealing the ball from their own teammates.

But, that wasn't the interesting part (entertaining, yes, but not my point).  Which is what, you ask?  No one was playing their position.  And you know what?  That left three quarters of the field wide open.  If just one had broken away, shouted for someone to give them the ball and received a pass?  Boom.  That kid would've been long gone down the field.  So far ahead of the pack, no one would've been able to catch her.  Guaranteed goal.

Life's a little like that, isn't it?

We often run in packs.  Feel safer in the numbers.  Like to blend in.  Spend so much time running in the clump, that we forget about the rest of the field.  About what's out there for us if we'd only just stretch our legs and explore the terrain.  But, breaking away is scary.  And hard.  It takes real effort to step away and go exploring.  To be unafraid to make mistakes.

Hmm, yeah. . .mistakes.  No one wants to make them.  But, hey, mistakes help us learn.  And learning is a part of the game.  There isn't an explorer anywhere--past or present--who hasn't encourntered pitfalls, tumbled into situations beyond their control and had to think fast (become creative) to work their way out.

Sure, it's safer in the group. . .where we rarely make mistakes.  Never have to step outside our comfort zone, try news things or push ourselves up the field into the scary 'unknown'.  But, the same old, same old isn't where the action's at.  Success comes when you play your position.  In other words. . .to your strengths, to the rare uniqueness that is You.  No one can achieve in the same the way you can, because there isn't another person alive like You.

I remind myself of this when a new challenge scares me.  Or when an old one suddenly throws up barriers that make me want to run the other way. . .back to the safey of the group.  When that happens, I pop some M&Ms (comfort food is a necessity in the game called Life), tighen up my clets, take a deep breath and push ahead.  There is a solution for every problem I encounter. . .up, over, around, under. . .whatever.  I simply have to be brave to explore the possiblities and find the one that best suits me.

So, be fearless.  Jump into the game and head down the field.  I think you'll be surprised how fast the goal posts arrive when you settle into the position you were made to play.

Nine Rounds and Counting

Okay, so I've been AWOL these last couple of weeks.  Sorry. Sorry. Really sorry, but I have a good excuse. . .honestly.


I got distracted.  Became possessed (in the best possible way, of course).


Yup, that's right.  I've been totally thrown over by my WIP (work in progress in author-speak). The sucker just took over, and is still running my life.  


Hallejuah! I love it when a plan comes together. And my muse shows up with boxing gloves.
  
Getting beat up by her is a pleasure. Really. Because all kinds of cool things start to happen. Exciting stuff that makes me lace up my gloves too and give equal measure as I go round after round with the story in my head. And yeah, you guess it.  I'm taking the beating. . .happily. Being knocked around the creative ring just feels so damn good. Muscles get stretched. Skills are sharpened. Plot kinks suddenly disappear, are ironed out or twist themselves straight.


And that got me thinking.


What's so different right now? Has my life become less busy? No. In fact, it's crazier than ever. So, where is the get-up-and-go coming from. . .my muse? Does she really run the show, decide when to show up and smack the crap out of me? You know, somehow, I don't think so. She's way to fickle for that.  Puncutality isn't her forte, and no matter how much she loves to lay the boots to me, well. . .let's just say, it's always on her terms. 


So, I asked myself. . .what the heck is going on?  


Answer?


I'm showing up. Every day. With such mind-blowing regularity that my muse knows exactly where to find me. And when. The more consistent I am, the more reliable--and faithful--she becomes, because I'm feeding her (extra large cafe au laits, along with all kinds of chocolate goodies. All right, don't look surprised. You know I can't resist mentioning my obsession). Each session trains her to come when I call.  Not when she feels like it.


It's magic.


So, excuse me while I lace up and put my mouth guard in.  The bell is ringing.  Time for another round.

English Teacher Harassed For Being Erotica Author

Awesome video, much?  Not only is the guy a fast talker (which I happen to love), he defends someone who's hobby he doesn't necessily agree with. . .and makes some excellent points along the way.

Well worth the watch.  Enjoy everyone!



Happy Monday everyone!

Wednesday Wordplay

I find driving cathartic. I do a lot of troubleshooting behind the wheel. Something about the open road and the repetition allows my mind to wander a little, explore territory I either hadn't considered or revisit something that's been bothering me for a while.

Plot twists for a story suddenly appear. Problems are mysteriously solved. The what-nots of a character's personality or a sudden insight into their personal history burst forth with an ah-ha! that leaves me wondering why the heck I didn't realize that earlier. A kind of palm to forehead kind of moment, you know?

And call me crazy, but I have full on conversations with myself while the cruise control is up and running.  Some of the best dialogue in my books comes from those talk-to-myself sessions.

But while driving the ten hours to spend time with my family this past week (there and back with a truck full of little kids. . .any wonder I needed a distraction?), I started a new tradition. . .added a fun twist to my driving repertoire.

It's a game I like to call Wordplay.

So, here's how it works.  Pick a word--any word--then come up with a different word for each letter. . .like this. . .

Imagination:

I - ideas
M - magic
A - artistry
G - gutsy
I - ingenuity
N - novel
A - analyze
T - tenacity
I - integrity
O - originality
N - know-how (okay, I cheated on this one!)


So, now you know how I distracted myself on a ten hour trip.  Necessity is, after all, the mother of invention.

Chocolate. . .Need I Say More?

I was told this week I rarely have a post that doesn't include chocolate in it. Okay, I admit it...my name is E.C. and I'm a total chocoholic.

The kick-ass person who noticed this is Tanya Reimer of the Life's Like That blog. So, of course I hopped on over to her place, put my feet up and unwrapped some chocolate only to find that Tanya awarded me the Lovely Blog Award.

So, now I have my chocolate and an award too. How cool is that? Very! Thanks a ton, Tanya.

Now, to pass on the award to a few deserving bloggers I've been following a lot lately.  With the A to Z Challenge going on there are a lot of cool ones out there, and oh, so many who are worthy, but I've got six that I think you'll enjoy too.

Speak Coffee to Me
Queen of Procrastination
All The Worlds Our Page
Adventures That Score
Chris Phillips
Writing By Heart

Hope you enjoy reading these fab bloggers as much as I do.

Now, I'm off to find some chocolate and a good book. As you've probably guessed, both are in ample supply in my house.

Roll with The Beat

I love it when I find something that moves me.  Nothing's better. . .well, except for chocolate ice cream and a pair of really fab shoes, but I'll leave that for another time (maybe for a post entitled Obsessions).


Right now, I'm talking about music. Last month, I rediscovered the band The Script (which I'm still listening to, by the way). This week I tripped into Adele and her new song, Rolling In The Deep.


It's old school.  It's got heart and soul. A real vibe that can't be denied.




Fabulous song, yes?

Man, the beat gets me going. And her jazzy style and wicked cool voice?  Both transport me. . .make me imagine and wonder and dream.

Everyone's journey is a different. What inspires one person doesn't do it for the next.  But then, that's where the magic comes in, right? If we were all inspired in the same ways, we couldn't learn anything from one another.

So, when inspiration pulls into my train station, I like to share it. Sometimes it's an off the rail experience that rolls through in the form of a movie or a really great book. Sometimes it's an every day conversation or a billboard. . .unexciting, but for that one snippet. That special something that sparks my imagination.

As a writer, I live and breathe inspiriation. It's constant discovery. The ah-hah moments that help me unearth a gem. . .the things that move me so I can include them in a story that may, in turn, inspire someone else.

So, I've added music to my list of things to pay attention to. Don't know what took me so long. I've always loved music, but maybe, for the first time I'm actually listening to it on a soul deep level, tapping into the energy to tease out the meaning, which will then allow me to share it with someone else.

In that spirit then, here are a couple of questions for you.  What inspires you? And how do you convey the source in your stories? Does it creep in without you knowing. . .or are you more deliberate than that?