JL Campbell coordinated the fantastic Getting to Know You Blogfest for the romantic suspense group from Rachael Harrie's Platform-Building Crusade. Wow, that was a mouthful. (For some reason my blog hasn't been wanting me to post badges/photos on the sidebar. It took a week of continual trying to get the last one up.)
Since it's in the middle of NaNo, J.L. kept it short - but maybe not so sweet, since, yanno, it's romantic suspense. Or maybe the romantic part makes it sweet. You decide.
Thanks again, for heading this up J.L. It's much appreciated!
1. Name two romantic suspense authors who inspire you.
I'm not sure Nora Roberts wouldn't be in many romantic suspense readers'/writers' top five at least? She's definitely in my top 2. But, the author who most inspired me--I'm not sure his work was ever put under a genre umbrella? Sydney Sheldon. I read my first Sheldon novel (Rage of Angels) around 13 and I promptly devoured the rest (starting in order).
2. How did you start writing in your genre?
This is kinda a hard one for me. I don't know. I sat down and it came out. I do actually write in multiple genres, but they all lean heavily towards romance. The two I've consciously gone into trying to avoid romance still turned out as romance. It was meant to be, how romantic (sorry).
3. You've landed a meeting with your dream agent. Write a one-paragraph pitch to sell your novel to him/her.
Brainy Kasia Taylor is determined to focus on college, not guys, in order to get into the FBI and track down her long-missing parents. When up-and-coming rocker Jake won't take no for an answer, and Kasia can't help but fall for his intelligence and easy-going nature, she learns he has family secrets that link to her murky past and the human trafficking trade. Secrets that lead her straight into the hands of the man who may have murdered her parents.
4. Sabotage or accident - which would you put your female lead through, and why?
I guess I'm an extra special kind of mean. I put her through both. An accident in the first book, sabotage in the sequel. Why? I like to see how much I can make my characters suffer, but still manage to come back from. I heart tension.
5. Plotter or panster - who are you?
Panster. I write purely linearly and have found out the hard way (twice now) that trying to plot screws everything up in a big way for me, and writing chunks then trying to bridge them together, is even worse. So I get the idea for a story in my head and I sit down and let the characters dictate where we go from there - but we always go from front to back.
Make sure to click the link above and check out the others! Thank you. :)
Friday
Guest Blogger
I am thrilled to have Anne Gallagher from Piedmont Writer here today - as hard as it was to talk her into it. She's iffy on that whole self-promotion thing. I understand, really. But in this business, you gotta do it. We waffled about which way to go: guest post, interview, review. I knew what I wanted.
I've long admired Anne's honesty on her own blog. She's forthcoming about her life, her feelings, her writing, and The Biz. She's funny, too. So when I asked her to do a guest post about her decision to self publish, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. What she sent was exactly what I'd expected - no, not word for word, but the honesty inside of it. And the helpfulness.
Then, of course, I had to email her back to remind her she mentioned not one word about her actual book - for, yanno, the promotion part. I told you all she hated it.
Anne was my 2nd follower, and never failed to comment when nobody else was even reading my messes. I wish her all the best in her self-publishing endeavor!
Why I Chose to Self-Publish
Your book is written. It’s been revised and edited to within an inch of its life. Blood, sweat and tears have been dripped all over the manuscript. You write an outstanding query. You send the query out to every agent who reps your genre and then some. Your beta readers, critique partners, and your mother are waiting with their breath held.
But what happens if you can’t find an agent? If you get rejected time and again? What do you do when the agents say your writing is fantastic, but she just won’t be able to sell it because you’re writing for a niche market? What do you do when the agent says your book would be easier to sell as a category romance? What do you say when you’re told she’d wished you’d queried her two months ago, she just sold three books just like yours but now the editor is full up.
After 50+ rejections each on three different books, I’d had enough of feeling let down, sad, angry, confused. My beta readers LOVED my books. My critique partners RAVED over my books. My queries were killer. Now some of you may say, “I know people who had over 100 rejections.” Yeah, I do too. But you know what, there are only so many agents who represent historical romantic fiction. And only so many who will take it on without vampires or werewolves or zombies.
I write single-title Regency romances without sex. There are no heaving bosoms, no washboard abs, no trysts in moonlit gardens. I do not write category romance, nor do I want to. I do not write sex, not because I can’t, but because most of the time, the sex doesn’t need to be there. My books are about finding lasting love, not a roll in the hay. They are emotional, character-driven novels where love is the goal. People are people, whether in 1810 or 2010. Our basic human need for love and affection doesn’t change.
So I decided to take the bull by the horns and dip my toes into the waters of self-publishing. The most important reason being –
BECAUSE I COULD.
Yes, I knew it was going to be hard, but so what. What in life isn’t hard these days? I had a successful business as a professional chef and private caterer for over 25 years before I started writing full-time. Let me tell you how hard it is to clean up at 1am after doing a wedding for 300 people. Publishing to Kindle has been a cakewalk in comparison. And I got to do it while still wearing my pajamas.
Yes, I will admit, I had a lot of trepidation in setting out to do this. I knew nothing about formatting, html codes, dpi resolution, or how to go about any of it. But you know what – I made myself learn. The same way I made myself learn the correct form of ‘who’ and ‘whom’. The correct usage for a semicolon. The difference between using good and bad adverbs. With the help of some, very, very smart people I may add, I did learn how to format, and upload, and find the right html codes. I made mistakes, big and small. But that’s part of everything.
As a creative artist, I self-published because I wanted my voice to be heard. Yeah, I’ll admit, I’m vain. (Why do you think they used to call it vanity publishing?) I wanted to share my stories with the world. What is all that hard work for, if the book only sits on my hard drive waiting for an agent that may never bite? What was the point of writing book after book after book if no one is going to read them? What did I have to lose?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
It didn’t cost me anything but time. I found all my covers in public domain. A very good friend put them together for me. I formatted the book myself (with again I might add, some very, very smart people). I had five (super smart) people go through the manuscript with a fine-tooth comb looking for obvious typo’s and punctuation problems because I couldn’t afford a professional editor. (Who really can these days?)
I didn’t self-publish for the money. There’s some, I won’t kid you, but not enough for me to make a living on it right now. I think, perhaps in time I might enjoy a nice week at Disney with The Monster, but that’s a long way off.
I write my books because I enjoy them. I write what I want to read. I write because I have a voice and want it to be heard.
I self-published because I write in a niche market and didn’t want to change my style to fit into another. I kind of sort of did it as well, to maybe, impress an agent enough to offer me representation one day. I self-published, because I wanted other people in the world to get as much enjoyment out of my books as I do.
I self-published because I could.
THE LADY'S FATE
Lady Violet Flowers has only one Season to find a husband. Raised in the Queen’s household, Violet is elevated in rank, yet overlooked by society for having no dowry. Violet is petrified she’ll bring disgrace to her mother’s name in not making a good match, if any.
The widowed Marquess of Haverlane needs to find the perfect nanny for his beloved daughter, Jane. Fortunate for Haverlane, when the very plump, but very pretty Lady Violet rescues Jane from almost drowning, the solution to his problem stands before him. Ensconced at his country estate, Haverlane and Violet’s only means of communication is through correspondence, which leads to an amiable affection.
Unwilling to think of Violet as more than a nanny, a surprising Christmas kiss compels Haverlane to look at her in a whole new light, and she at him. However, Parliamentary demands made upon his time keep them both a safe distance from temptation.
As the Season begins, an old flame emerges from Haverlane’s past and attempts to rekindle that fire. Violet is bereft and knows things cannot remain as they are. She accepts an offer for her hand, even though Haverlane is the only one she wants. By the time Haverlane realizes Violet is the woman he has been waiting for, not only for himself, but for his daughter as well, it may be too late. Haverlane must now do what Violet has dreaded most – bring scandal to her mother’s house to try to win her back.
Review for THE LADY'S FATE
I felt like I was reading one of the classics. Gallagher has done her research and The Lady's fate reads just as if it were written back in Austen's day. But she gives us a new set of characters to examine, and even though they're playing by the same set of Regency rules, the plot takes fresh, unpredictable turns.
The relationship between Violet and Haverlane takes time to develop, but their electricity is immediate, even before things get physical. Patience is rewarded with some of the steamiest kisses I've ever read---you know, the kind where you go back to read them again...and again, just to make sure you didn't miss anything. I think the attraction's even more intriguing because up until the very end, it's unclear if/how it can progress.
The characters are all well-defined and interesting, even those who are infuriating. My favorite is Lady Olivia in all her obstinate, noble, cane-thumping glory. I finished this book knowing I'd like to spend more time with them, so I look forward to more from this author---particularly in the "Reluctant Grooms" series.
THE LADY'S FATE available on Amazon for $2.99. (links in green)
I've long admired Anne's honesty on her own blog. She's forthcoming about her life, her feelings, her writing, and The Biz. She's funny, too. So when I asked her to do a guest post about her decision to self publish, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. What she sent was exactly what I'd expected - no, not word for word, but the honesty inside of it. And the helpfulness.
Then, of course, I had to email her back to remind her she mentioned not one word about her actual book - for, yanno, the promotion part. I told you all she hated it.
Anne was my 2nd follower, and never failed to comment when nobody else was even reading my messes. I wish her all the best in her self-publishing endeavor!
Why I Chose to Self-Publish
Your book is written. It’s been revised and edited to within an inch of its life. Blood, sweat and tears have been dripped all over the manuscript. You write an outstanding query. You send the query out to every agent who reps your genre and then some. Your beta readers, critique partners, and your mother are waiting with their breath held.
But what happens if you can’t find an agent? If you get rejected time and again? What do you do when the agents say your writing is fantastic, but she just won’t be able to sell it because you’re writing for a niche market? What do you do when the agent says your book would be easier to sell as a category romance? What do you say when you’re told she’d wished you’d queried her two months ago, she just sold three books just like yours but now the editor is full up.
After 50+ rejections each on three different books, I’d had enough of feeling let down, sad, angry, confused. My beta readers LOVED my books. My critique partners RAVED over my books. My queries were killer. Now some of you may say, “I know people who had over 100 rejections.” Yeah, I do too. But you know what, there are only so many agents who represent historical romantic fiction. And only so many who will take it on without vampires or werewolves or zombies.
I write single-title Regency romances without sex. There are no heaving bosoms, no washboard abs, no trysts in moonlit gardens. I do not write category romance, nor do I want to. I do not write sex, not because I can’t, but because most of the time, the sex doesn’t need to be there. My books are about finding lasting love, not a roll in the hay. They are emotional, character-driven novels where love is the goal. People are people, whether in 1810 or 2010. Our basic human need for love and affection doesn’t change.
So I decided to take the bull by the horns and dip my toes into the waters of self-publishing. The most important reason being –
BECAUSE I COULD.
Yes, I knew it was going to be hard, but so what. What in life isn’t hard these days? I had a successful business as a professional chef and private caterer for over 25 years before I started writing full-time. Let me tell you how hard it is to clean up at 1am after doing a wedding for 300 people. Publishing to Kindle has been a cakewalk in comparison. And I got to do it while still wearing my pajamas.
Yes, I will admit, I had a lot of trepidation in setting out to do this. I knew nothing about formatting, html codes, dpi resolution, or how to go about any of it. But you know what – I made myself learn. The same way I made myself learn the correct form of ‘who’ and ‘whom’. The correct usage for a semicolon. The difference between using good and bad adverbs. With the help of some, very, very smart people I may add, I did learn how to format, and upload, and find the right html codes. I made mistakes, big and small. But that’s part of everything.
As a creative artist, I self-published because I wanted my voice to be heard. Yeah, I’ll admit, I’m vain. (Why do you think they used to call it vanity publishing?) I wanted to share my stories with the world. What is all that hard work for, if the book only sits on my hard drive waiting for an agent that may never bite? What was the point of writing book after book after book if no one is going to read them? What did I have to lose?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
It didn’t cost me anything but time. I found all my covers in public domain. A very good friend put them together for me. I formatted the book myself (with again I might add, some very, very smart people). I had five (super smart) people go through the manuscript with a fine-tooth comb looking for obvious typo’s and punctuation problems because I couldn’t afford a professional editor. (Who really can these days?)
I didn’t self-publish for the money. There’s some, I won’t kid you, but not enough for me to make a living on it right now. I think, perhaps in time I might enjoy a nice week at Disney with The Monster, but that’s a long way off.
I write my books because I enjoy them. I write what I want to read. I write because I have a voice and want it to be heard.
I self-published because I write in a niche market and didn’t want to change my style to fit into another. I kind of sort of did it as well, to maybe, impress an agent enough to offer me representation one day. I self-published, because I wanted other people in the world to get as much enjoyment out of my books as I do.
I self-published because I could.
THE LADY'S FATE
Lady Violet Flowers has only one Season to find a husband. Raised in the Queen’s household, Violet is elevated in rank, yet overlooked by society for having no dowry. Violet is petrified she’ll bring disgrace to her mother’s name in not making a good match, if any.
The widowed Marquess of Haverlane needs to find the perfect nanny for his beloved daughter, Jane. Fortunate for Haverlane, when the very plump, but very pretty Lady Violet rescues Jane from almost drowning, the solution to his problem stands before him. Ensconced at his country estate, Haverlane and Violet’s only means of communication is through correspondence, which leads to an amiable affection.
Unwilling to think of Violet as more than a nanny, a surprising Christmas kiss compels Haverlane to look at her in a whole new light, and she at him. However, Parliamentary demands made upon his time keep them both a safe distance from temptation.
As the Season begins, an old flame emerges from Haverlane’s past and attempts to rekindle that fire. Violet is bereft and knows things cannot remain as they are. She accepts an offer for her hand, even though Haverlane is the only one she wants. By the time Haverlane realizes Violet is the woman he has been waiting for, not only for himself, but for his daughter as well, it may be too late. Haverlane must now do what Violet has dreaded most – bring scandal to her mother’s house to try to win her back.
Review for THE LADY'S FATE
I felt like I was reading one of the classics. Gallagher has done her research and The Lady's fate reads just as if it were written back in Austen's day. But she gives us a new set of characters to examine, and even though they're playing by the same set of Regency rules, the plot takes fresh, unpredictable turns.
The relationship between Violet and Haverlane takes time to develop, but their electricity is immediate, even before things get physical. Patience is rewarded with some of the steamiest kisses I've ever read---you know, the kind where you go back to read them again...and again, just to make sure you didn't miss anything. I think the attraction's even more intriguing because up until the very end, it's unclear if/how it can progress.
The characters are all well-defined and interesting, even those who are infuriating. My favorite is Lady Olivia in all her obstinate, noble, cane-thumping glory. I finished this book knowing I'd like to spend more time with them, so I look forward to more from this author---particularly in the "Reluctant Grooms" series.
THE LADY'S FATE available on Amazon for $2.99. (links in green)
Monday
Shifting
I don't usually do any sort of review on my blog. There's a few reasons. One being I'm terrible at it. Also, I feel like if I'm close with someone, I may be a little biased, or even feel pressured to give it a little better review than I normally would have. The biggest reason is probably that I'm afraid I won't like it, and I don't want to put that out there.
That said, you all can be assured that if I do discuss a book (clarifying that I've read it), it was fantastic.
Two weeks ago I won SHIFTING, by Bethany Wiggins, on Angela Felsted's blog. I was bored the Saturday after it arrived and late in the afternoon decided I'd sneak away and start it. I finished it at 2AM.Could not put it down.
I've "seen" Bethany around the blogosphere over the past few years, but we never really crossed direct paths. I hadn't realized she'd recently released a book (late Sept.). Boy, am I glad she did.
SHIFTING blurb:
After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal. Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target.
Full of romance, mysticism, and intrigue, this dark take on Navajo legend will haunt readers to the final page.
My (not so well-written) review:
I preface by saying, I'm not a big YA reader. I rarely read paranormal - and when I have it's been King or Koontz for the most part. Very different stuff.
The pacing is very good. I can't recall skimming anything - always a good sign. Even so, a little less than mid-way through I remember wondering what it was that was keeping me riveted. Nothing *catastrophic* had happened. Lot's of culminating events - but no one Big Thing. I still can't put my finger on it, but whatever it was, it worked - well.
Maggie Mae is a phenomenal character; her overall arc in this story, amazing. We see her go from inwardly scared, but oh-so resilient, to facing up to her fears and becoming an adult. In the beginning (from the opening scene!) we see that she's cut herself off from people. By the end, she has developed multilevel-ed relationships with many other characters in the book. All of which are masterfully written so as not to seem contrived in any way. Her relationship with Bridger (yum) has its own terrific arc.
(I'm highly character driven, so this book was like ice cream for me in that aspect. Nom.nom.nom.)
I'm a voracious reader, and there are very few book I rate at 5 stars - even 4 is pushing it with me. This one is a 4.7. - due to a couple remaining questions I had with one or two things that took place. And, if I weren't a writer, I'd have given it 7 out of 5 stars - I know my fellow writers get that. ;-) If you are a fan of paranormal, you'll love this book. If you aren't a fan of paranormal, chances are you'll still love it.
I saw a review on Amazon from someone (who said they didn't care for Twilight) that said something along the lines of if you didn't like Twilight, you'll love this book. If you did like Twilight, you'll really, really love this book. I thought that summed it up pretty darn well.
That said, you all can be assured that if I do discuss a book (clarifying that I've read it), it was fantastic.
Two weeks ago I won SHIFTING, by Bethany Wiggins, on Angela Felsted's blog. I was bored the Saturday after it arrived and late in the afternoon decided I'd sneak away and start it. I finished it at 2AM.Could not put it down.
I've "seen" Bethany around the blogosphere over the past few years, but we never really crossed direct paths. I hadn't realized she'd recently released a book (late Sept.). Boy, am I glad she did.
SHIFTING blurb:
After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal. Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target.
Full of romance, mysticism, and intrigue, this dark take on Navajo legend will haunt readers to the final page.
My (not so well-written) review:
I preface by saying, I'm not a big YA reader. I rarely read paranormal - and when I have it's been King or Koontz for the most part. Very different stuff.
The pacing is very good. I can't recall skimming anything - always a good sign. Even so, a little less than mid-way through I remember wondering what it was that was keeping me riveted. Nothing *catastrophic* had happened. Lot's of culminating events - but no one Big Thing. I still can't put my finger on it, but whatever it was, it worked - well.
Maggie Mae is a phenomenal character; her overall arc in this story, amazing. We see her go from inwardly scared, but oh-so resilient, to facing up to her fears and becoming an adult. In the beginning (from the opening scene!) we see that she's cut herself off from people. By the end, she has developed multilevel-ed relationships with many other characters in the book. All of which are masterfully written so as not to seem contrived in any way. Her relationship with Bridger (yum) has its own terrific arc.
(I'm highly character driven, so this book was like ice cream for me in that aspect. Nom.nom.nom.)
I'm a voracious reader, and there are very few book I rate at 5 stars - even 4 is pushing it with me. This one is a 4.7. - due to a couple remaining questions I had with one or two things that took place. And, if I weren't a writer, I'd have given it 7 out of 5 stars - I know my fellow writers get that. ;-) If you are a fan of paranormal, you'll love this book. If you aren't a fan of paranormal, chances are you'll still love it.
I saw a review on Amazon from someone (who said they didn't care for Twilight) that said something along the lines of if you didn't like Twilight, you'll love this book. If you did like Twilight, you'll really, really love this book. I thought that summed it up pretty darn well.
Tuesday
A Sad Day for Indy
Sorry, all. The vast majority of you won't understand a lot of this post, I fear, but I need to get this out.
This week IndyRacer Dan Wheldon was involved in an on-the-track accident and passed away.
I've mentioned before that I grew up involved with auto racing. I can recall multitudes of accidents on the track. Some that looked horrific - rolling, hood-to-trunk flipping, being crunched between the wall and another car - but in almost every single one, the driver climbed through the window and walked to the infield. I remember, too, the day someone died. G. was a long-time family friend.
For a large place, filled with hundreds of people and loud cars, there was an eerie silence as everyone watched him being put into the helicopter and then his crumpled car being hoisted onto the flatbed and taken to his pit garage. In a moment of horrendous irony, the man that 'teched' (inspected and approved the car to race) the car was the man G. crashed with. It was later found that the bolts in the floor pan were rusted and he was crushed on impact when his seat came loose and he hit the wheel at well over 100mph - or the wheel hit him; the dark green car was almost literally a ball after the wreck. It should never have passed inspection. I'll spare the very gruesome details that I wish I'd never heard.Yeah, they are far worse than what I just wrote there.
Still, I can't come close to imagining what Dan's friends and family were feeling. His wife was there, and my aches for her and their two young sons.
What's really hit me hard is something that happened before the race, and also what's happening now.
Very shortly before this race, my husband was talking with a friend of his, who I won't name, but he is highly involved in the sport, and someone close to Friend was *in* that race. They were discussing how dangerous it's becoming with the crazy speeds - specifically at that track (Vegas). Many of the drivers are even having reactions to the G-forces these cars are putting off. Seriously! Does anyone out there think it's a safe thing to have someone driving a car that goes upwards of 200mph to feel "off", even if only for a few seconds.
(Friend did not say this next stuff - it's purely me.) The powers that be are concerned about winning and making [more] money. This is not a game, people are dying. There needs to be more restrictions set on the car, whether it be weight or speed, and much harsher penalties for the teams who feel pressured to "cheat" the restrictions to give their boss a win.
That was the before, now the after.
Drivers are coming out, in the press, Twitter, etc., to talk about their safety concerns. And you know what? They are getting flack for it. People who call themselves fans are not understanding what these guys are saying and they are bombarding them. A well-known NASCAR racer voiced a few things in his Twitter and got slayed by ignorant "fans." Ashley Judd, whose husband, Dario Franchitti, was driving that day - and was openly crying when the news of Dan's passing reached the track -. had some really harsh and mean-spirited things directed at her Twitter feed after she made comments that people misconstrued. Granted, those people probably don't realize there's been so much talk about the safety issues of late, but the woman lost a friend. And what she said was heartfelt and meaningful.
If the drivers can't advocate for their safety and the safety of their friends, then who will?
Despite all the competition and on-the-track-feuding, racing is a seriously tight-knit family. They are ALL hurting right now. My heart goes out to every one of them.
This week IndyRacer Dan Wheldon was involved in an on-the-track accident and passed away.
I've mentioned before that I grew up involved with auto racing. I can recall multitudes of accidents on the track. Some that looked horrific - rolling, hood-to-trunk flipping, being crunched between the wall and another car - but in almost every single one, the driver climbed through the window and walked to the infield. I remember, too, the day someone died. G. was a long-time family friend.
For a large place, filled with hundreds of people and loud cars, there was an eerie silence as everyone watched him being put into the helicopter and then his crumpled car being hoisted onto the flatbed and taken to his pit garage. In a moment of horrendous irony, the man that 'teched' (inspected and approved the car to race) the car was the man G. crashed with. It was later found that the bolts in the floor pan were rusted and he was crushed on impact when his seat came loose and he hit the wheel at well over 100mph - or the wheel hit him; the dark green car was almost literally a ball after the wreck. It should never have passed inspection. I'll spare the very gruesome details that I wish I'd never heard.Yeah, they are far worse than what I just wrote there.
Still, I can't come close to imagining what Dan's friends and family were feeling. His wife was there, and my aches for her and their two young sons.
What's really hit me hard is something that happened before the race, and also what's happening now.
Very shortly before this race, my husband was talking with a friend of his, who I won't name, but he is highly involved in the sport, and someone close to Friend was *in* that race. They were discussing how dangerous it's becoming with the crazy speeds - specifically at that track (Vegas). Many of the drivers are even having reactions to the G-forces these cars are putting off. Seriously! Does anyone out there think it's a safe thing to have someone driving a car that goes upwards of 200mph to feel "off", even if only for a few seconds.
(Friend did not say this next stuff - it's purely me.) The powers that be are concerned about winning and making [more] money. This is not a game, people are dying. There needs to be more restrictions set on the car, whether it be weight or speed, and much harsher penalties for the teams who feel pressured to "cheat" the restrictions to give their boss a win.
That was the before, now the after.
Drivers are coming out, in the press, Twitter, etc., to talk about their safety concerns. And you know what? They are getting flack for it. People who call themselves fans are not understanding what these guys are saying and they are bombarding them. A well-known NASCAR racer voiced a few things in his Twitter and got slayed by ignorant "fans." Ashley Judd, whose husband, Dario Franchitti, was driving that day - and was openly crying when the news of Dan's passing reached the track -. had some really harsh and mean-spirited things directed at her Twitter feed after she made comments that people misconstrued. Granted, those people probably don't realize there's been so much talk about the safety issues of late, but the woman lost a friend. And what she said was heartfelt and meaningful.
If the drivers can't advocate for their safety and the safety of their friends, then who will?
Despite all the competition and on-the-track-feuding, racing is a seriously tight-knit family. They are ALL hurting right now. My heart goes out to every one of them.
Thursday
Exercise
Hullo my pretties...
I was internetless for a few days (grr!) but I am stopping by for another quickie. This month's exercise in the Books and Writers Forum is a great one. It has also exploded! We ususally have about 10 participants, and I think we're pushing 30. Hard to keep up.
The October Exercise comes from the uber-talented author, and former agent, Barbara Rogan:Your challenge this time is simple to state, but fiendishly difficult to execute. In 500 words or less, make me cry.
I only made it to 246 before I had to stop.
**
Those little fists should be waving, grasping my fingers, but they are tied down so you can’t loosen the needles and wires. The smallest contact overstimulates your too-thin flesh but you can’t cry out with that tube down your throat, feeding you, the mask covering that beautiful face, pumping precious air into those underdeveloped lungs.
It took so long before you moved, cried. Before you lived.
Machines blink and beep to let me know you’re still alive, and fighting. I’d worried for months at the long-term effect the drugs could have on you if you needed them. Now, I can only think about how lucky I am they are available to you.
Your strength is all that gives me mine as I watch you struggle to claim each gulp of air, your sunken chest heaving with the effort it takes. I lay my palm over your head, the only comfort I can offer. My body aches to hold you, but it will be two more days before I can gently ease you into my arms and let you know I’m your mommy, that you will be okay. Ten minutes at a time is all I will have those first weeks, until you can regulate your own body temperature without the heat lamps. I'll use it to assure you I will protect you and nurture you, comfort, teach, and love you for the rest of my life.
The two days until I feel your skin against mine will be the longest of my life.
**
Due to missing work, and having 2 days to make up another 15 hours (I work online), I will not be back to commenting until next week.
Have a great weekend everyone.
I was internetless for a few days (grr!) but I am stopping by for another quickie. This month's exercise in the Books and Writers Forum is a great one. It has also exploded! We ususally have about 10 participants, and I think we're pushing 30. Hard to keep up.
The October Exercise comes from the uber-talented author, and former agent, Barbara Rogan:Your challenge this time is simple to state, but fiendishly difficult to execute. In 500 words or less, make me cry.
I only made it to 246 before I had to stop.
**
Those little fists should be waving, grasping my fingers, but they are tied down so you can’t loosen the needles and wires. The smallest contact overstimulates your too-thin flesh but you can’t cry out with that tube down your throat, feeding you, the mask covering that beautiful face, pumping precious air into those underdeveloped lungs.
It took so long before you moved, cried. Before you lived.
Machines blink and beep to let me know you’re still alive, and fighting. I’d worried for months at the long-term effect the drugs could have on you if you needed them. Now, I can only think about how lucky I am they are available to you.
Your strength is all that gives me mine as I watch you struggle to claim each gulp of air, your sunken chest heaving with the effort it takes. I lay my palm over your head, the only comfort I can offer. My body aches to hold you, but it will be two more days before I can gently ease you into my arms and let you know I’m your mommy, that you will be okay. Ten minutes at a time is all I will have those first weeks, until you can regulate your own body temperature without the heat lamps. I'll use it to assure you I will protect you and nurture you, comfort, teach, and love you for the rest of my life.
The two days until I feel your skin against mine will be the longest of my life.
**
Due to missing work, and having 2 days to make up another 15 hours (I work online), I will not be back to commenting until next week.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Ground Control to Major Tom
...can you hear me Major Tom?
About a week ago author, and former agent, Nathan Bransford posed a question: Should agents respond to all queries? (There's some great links in there, too.)
My initial response was, of course! Then I got to thinking. Is it really that important to have the polite little form rejection in my mailbox. Hrmm. No, I guess not really.
Let's face it, agents are busy. As long as the agent is actually reading the query, I'm really okay with silence on the other end - as a means of, thanks but no thanks.
However...(you didn't see that coming? Really?)
I don't send my queries willy-nilly. I research each agent I come across before even thinking about adding them to my Query List. They need to, first and foremost, rep my genre. Hopefully genres, since I write in a few. I also look through their client lists and read excerpts, and sometimes buy the books, from writing styles/voices/stories that may be similar to mine. Of course, not too similar - what agent would want to try and sell a book they've already sold, yanno? I find interviews with the agent and study up. Fresh interviews are best since sometimes the agent has changed tastes/genres, etc, but not yet updated the blog/website. There are a few other things I research, too (who me, a stalker? Nah. *pulls ballcap lower*)
Each query letter I write takes a good half an hour (maybe it's the 20 minutes I take to convince myself to hit send...) while I make sure that I let the agent know why I think they might be a good fit for my book.So, sure, agents are busy, but I use a lot of my time on queries as well.
In the end, I'm still fine with the non-responders, but what I'd love to see from them is at least an auto-generated email response to let me know that the query hit their inbox. Otherwise I might sit and stew on whether they actually got it or it hit their spam folder, or flew into outer space. (Wait, did I forget to mention I'm neurotic? Oh. Well, there it is. I am.) I hate not knowing if my hard-written query actually got to its destination.
How 'bout you? Do you need that rejection letter in your inbox, or do you move on without ever thinking about the old queries you sent? (Okay, I've picked myself off the floor, and my sides ache a little from the hysterics. The dogs also think I'm crazy. But, they've never met another writer. Possibly they think I'm the only hot-mess-neurotic writer.)
About a week ago author, and former agent, Nathan Bransford posed a question: Should agents respond to all queries? (There's some great links in there, too.)
My initial response was, of course! Then I got to thinking. Is it really that important to have the polite little form rejection in my mailbox. Hrmm. No, I guess not really.
Let's face it, agents are busy. As long as the agent is actually reading the query, I'm really okay with silence on the other end - as a means of, thanks but no thanks.
However...(you didn't see that coming? Really?)
I don't send my queries willy-nilly. I research each agent I come across before even thinking about adding them to my Query List. They need to, first and foremost, rep my genre. Hopefully genres, since I write in a few. I also look through their client lists and read excerpts, and sometimes buy the books, from writing styles/voices/stories that may be similar to mine. Of course, not too similar - what agent would want to try and sell a book they've already sold, yanno? I find interviews with the agent and study up. Fresh interviews are best since sometimes the agent has changed tastes/genres, etc, but not yet updated the blog/website. There are a few other things I research, too (who me, a stalker? Nah. *pulls ballcap lower*)
Each query letter I write takes a good half an hour (maybe it's the 20 minutes I take to convince myself to hit send...) while I make sure that I let the agent know why I think they might be a good fit for my book.So, sure, agents are busy, but I use a lot of my time on queries as well.
In the end, I'm still fine with the non-responders, but what I'd love to see from them is at least an auto-generated email response to let me know that the query hit their inbox. Otherwise I might sit and stew on whether they actually got it or it hit their spam folder, or flew into outer space. (Wait, did I forget to mention I'm neurotic? Oh. Well, there it is. I am.) I hate not knowing if my hard-written query actually got to its destination.
How 'bout you? Do you need that rejection letter in your inbox, or do you move on without ever thinking about the old queries you sent? (Okay, I've picked myself off the floor, and my sides ache a little from the hysterics. The dogs also think I'm crazy. But, they've never met another writer. Possibly they think I'm the only hot-mess-neurotic writer.)
Monday
Versatile Blogger
I received the Versatile Blogger award from three! awesome fellow bloggy-writers. Thanks to Cheryl, Dawn Allen and Kristina Fugate. I appreciate you thinking of me, ladies. <3 Now, everyone go check them out. They are all cool in their own ways, and very different - versatile, if you will. ;-)
For this one, I have to share 7 random facts about myself and then present it to 15 other bloggers.I'm not much of a rule follower, and it's late - 12:15 to be exact, so I'm going to cheat. If you haven't received this one yet, and want it, snatch it up by all means!
So, um, 7 facts about me. I'm pretty Plain Jane, ya'll.
1. Grew up in Boca Raton, FL, yet I have no plastic, or surgically rearranged, parts on my body. Amazing, I know. I can't think of a friend from there who hasn't had something "fixed". Bunches of them while we were still in high school. Admittedly, though, if I weren't such a chicken there is one thing I'd have done.
2. Moved to NC 7 years ago, mostly to avoid the plastic-drenched air. ;-)
3. I love cars. Fast, hot cars. I grew up at the race track, where my step-dad and mother both raced Porsches.
4. My parents used to go away to races for long weekends all the time, leaving my favorite Porsche behind. I drove it everywhere--starting at age 14. I even let my friends drive it. How lucky am I that nobody--including me!--ever crashed that sucker?
5. I wanted to be a singer when I grew up.
6. If I could've had any job, besides singer, I would have been a pro-hockey scout.
7. I have the best, and coolest, kids in the world. Boy/girl twins who are just amazing little people.
Okay, that's 7. Very random, just like me.
I working on rewriting/editing my first WiP. All about race cars. And serious romance at the track. Hot cars, hot guys. Can't go wrong, right?
What are you all up to out there?
For this one, I have to share 7 random facts about myself and then present it to 15 other bloggers.I'm not much of a rule follower, and it's late - 12:15 to be exact, so I'm going to cheat. If you haven't received this one yet, and want it, snatch it up by all means!
So, um, 7 facts about me. I'm pretty Plain Jane, ya'll.
1. Grew up in Boca Raton, FL, yet I have no plastic, or surgically rearranged, parts on my body. Amazing, I know. I can't think of a friend from there who hasn't had something "fixed". Bunches of them while we were still in high school. Admittedly, though, if I weren't such a chicken there is one thing I'd have done.
2. Moved to NC 7 years ago, mostly to avoid the plastic-drenched air. ;-)
3. I love cars. Fast, hot cars. I grew up at the race track, where my step-dad and mother both raced Porsches.
4. My parents used to go away to races for long weekends all the time, leaving my favorite Porsche behind. I drove it everywhere--starting at age 14. I even let my friends drive it. How lucky am I that nobody--including me!--ever crashed that sucker?
5. I wanted to be a singer when I grew up.
6. If I could've had any job, besides singer, I would have been a pro-hockey scout.
7. I have the best, and coolest, kids in the world. Boy/girl twins who are just amazing little people.
Okay, that's 7. Very random, just like me.
I working on rewriting/editing my first WiP. All about race cars. And serious romance at the track. Hot cars, hot guys. Can't go wrong, right?
What are you all up to out there?
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