Cupcakes -- Good to the last Crumb

There is nothing better than starting your day with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. In searching through my photos to find something that might make you smile, I found this. Our family had gathered to celebrate a grandson's birthday at the park. One of our grandsons found the best way to eat a cupcake is to just dive right in.

Enjoy!!



I wish you many smiles and much laughter today! It's happy, it's healthy, and calorie free! Indulge.

Thanks for stopping by.

Muse Therapy - D. D. Scott Style

I'm so pleased to have D. D. Scott join me today on my blog. D. D. Scott’s romantic comedies are all about sexy, sassy, smart, career-driven women and the men who complete them. They're a bit chick lit with a gone-country twist. She’s agented, and her series BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS - think Sex and The City meets Urban Cowboy - is under consideration by several NY publishers.

She writes stories with big hearts and a bunch of sass. Once a small town newspaper crime reporter and now a HarperCollins Publishing Returns Center Executive Assistant, she's learned great fiction comes from the street as well as which jacket covers meet early deaths.

She's a member of Indiana RWA as well as RWA's Chick Lit Writers of the World Chapter and ScriptScene RWA. She's been featured in both Indiana RWA's and ScriptScene's chapter newsletters and been a guest blogger on Romance Writers on the Journey. She is linked to on Romancing the Blog and also has an active blog of her own on her website at www.DDScott.com.

Currently, she's driving her darling hubby nuts waiting to hear whether or not she'll be providing Muse Therapy for the 2010 RT BookLovers' Convention in Columbus OH and for RWR in an article-based Muse Therapy series. (Update: Woot! Just got notified she was accepted to teach at RT Convention!!!)

For updates on her books, her sexy, sassy, smart neurotic writer’s life blog, and for a schedule of future muse therapy sessions, visit her website www.DDScott.com. While there, sign-up for her mailing list for chances to win fabulous tchotchkes.

Are you all settled down and ready for a therapy session? Well, get comfortable and I'll turn to blog reins over to D. D. Scott!

****************

Welcome to a mini blog bit of Muse Therapy – D. D. Scott style – where it’s all about injecting life into tired and/or stressed out muses.
First, a huge thank you to Carol Ann and her Inside The Writer’s Mind for inviting me to do a mini Muse Therapy Session!
I take it many of you may need a writer’s go-to-gal for your muse “disorders”. Bravo! Me too...and I’m the “therapist”! LOL!
Being Queen or King of your creative domain may require “therapy” – Muse Therapy that is!
Congratulations, though, on being at the top of the writing game. No denial. No shame. You’re in the writing business for fun, fortune and fame. Right?
Okay. Okay. At least that ideal looks and sounds fabulous on our screens. LOL!
As a Muse “Therapist”, I give writer’s fun and fabulous tools to analyze their muses’ funks, rein in their creative divas and up their page counts.
Together, we discover what makes your muses tick. What ticks them off. And what makes them dance like nobody's watching.

So if your muse is in need of a tune-up, grab a comfy couch or chair and put up your feet. You're in the right therapy session. You’ll have a terrific time conquering your creative divas and taking back the crown of your personal Muse-ville kingdom. It’s soooo good to be Queen (or King) of your creative domain.
But how do you know if you’ve been dethroned? And how do you take back your creative sovereignty? Here are a few clues. You know you need Muse Therapy When...
1. Your muses aren’t ticking. They’re ticked off.
2. Your muses are in a funk saying “up yours” instead of upping your page counts.
3. Even great sex or a new pair of shoes can’t rein in your creative divas.
4. The following sessions sound appealing:
** Unleashing Your Inner Sybil
** Writing Bi-Polar: I Suck vs. I'm a Genius
** What Do You Mean I'm Neurotic? No, I'm Not. Well, Not Exactly. But Okay...There Are Times When. Like You Need To Know That. Anyway, I Was Thinking, My Jeep Is Red
** Rorschach For Writers: I See Dead Lines
** Stimulants: When Coffee, Chocolate, and Martinis Aren't Enough
5. Your word witches are on their way to publishing Oz but the Yellow Brick Road they’re bootscootin’ on...well...the damn thing never ends!
6. Everyone says your writing is a waste of time, a “hobby” that will never “pay-off”.
7. You feel the urge, however, to tell everyone in reason six to (I’m thinking of a phrase that starts with a 4-letter-word and ends with a ‘you’, ‘off’ or ‘me’).

Here’s the scoop...the secret to upping your page count isn’t done by hurling nasty insults at your muses. Oh no. You’ve got to wine and dine those divas. Whether it’s with coffee, chocolate, fabulous finds in some chic boutique, or with what I call Muse Therapy Trips, it’s all about pampering those chicks and chucks ‘til you get out of them exactly what you want...and then some.
Let’s begin by exploring your word witches’ inner divas. Note I said “divas” plural, not singular. You may have tuned-in to the creative energies swirling in your head, but have you noticed and perhaps worried a bit because there are multiple voices shouting between your ears?
Just like Carrie Bradshaw of SEX AND THE CITY would welcome a new, potential leading man into her life with a seductive “Hello, Lover”, we’ll be seducing our new, potential leading characters to join us on our pages by saying “Hello, Sybil”.
Sybil? As in:
***Multiple personality disorder/Dissociative identity disorder, as in the character played by Sally Field in the 1976 movie which won Field an Emmy?
***Sybil, of thirteen different personalities?
***Diagnosis of a condition in which a single person exhibits multiple distinct personalities, each with its own, unique behaviors perceiving and interacting with the world around them?
YES!!! That Sybil!
Take a look at this definition from www.mentalhelp.net (yes...I’m not in denial that as writers, we need mental help...LOL!):
“Those with a personality disorder possess several distinct psychological features including disturbances in self-image; inability to have successful interpersonal relationships; inappropriate range of emotion, ways of perceiving themselves, others, and the world; and difficulty possessing proper impulse control. These disturbances come together to create a pervasive pattern of behavior and inner experience that is quite different from the norms of the individual’s culture and that often tend to be expressed in behaviors that appear more dramatic than what society considers usual. Therefore, those with a personality disorder experience conflicts with other people and vice-versa. There are ten different types of personality disorders that exist, which all have various emphases. Antisocial. Avoidant. Borderline. Dependent. Histrionic. Narcissistic. Obsessive-Compulsive. Paranoid. Schizoid. Schizotypal...For more information on each of these Personality Disorders, as well as other mental health topics, visit www.mentalhelp.net. Cause mental health matters...”

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re darn right it matters!!! Could we not substitute (Those with a need or desire to be a published writer) for (Those with a personality disorder)? LOL! I mean come on...I personally exhibit at least half of the traits in that definition! How about you?! And just ask my DH...my mental health (and his for putting up with me) matters!!!
So how do we as writers/creative Sybils take stock of all the voices/characters talking to us?
My solution? Collaging: A WIP of Your WIP
How many of you collage now? If you do...terrific! If you don’t...perhaps give it try. Let’s see if we can make this technique work for corralling your muses OR make it work better (if you’re already using it).
Visual arts always trip my muses’ triggers. Interesting though, I didn’t think of applying the collage technique to my writing process ‘til I stumbled on Jennifer Crusie’s 2003 RWR article “Picture This: Collage as Prewriting & Inspiration”. You can find the article at www.jennycrusie.com/for-writers/essays/.
Like Crusie, I panic when I’m starting a new book – but, for me, it’s a good kind of panic. I make good on the challenge of creating my next book by finding the images, words and phrases that send my muses into hyper-drive production mode.
RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and author of over 75 books in the contemporary romance genre -- including BLAME IT ON PARIS and numerous bestsellers in over 20 languages around the world - Jennifer Greene aka Alison Hart says she doesn’t have an “artistic bone” so she’s “not looking to set-up anything fancy or gorgeous the way Jennifer Crusie does.” But before she starts a book, she “sits down with a heap of old magazines” and then “just plays.”
She picks out a house for her hero and heroine. Key room decors for each. Giving herself a visual of how her characters live, the colors they live with and how that works for their characters. Anything she’d have trouble remembering later, she gets a kind of “snapshot” of. She explained further:
“I find that something that slows us down is often filling in the details as we write...so if I have the book in mind, when I’m doing this collage – creation, I can pick up details right then. A picture of the heroine’s ‘mom and dad’. A treasure of hers. Something that typifies what her childhood was like, a picture from where she grew up.”
Jennifer puts all this on a corkboard then takes it down and “tosses it” after the book’s done. (Note: I keep my collages. I think Crusie does too.) Jennifer, however, doesn’t collage for every book, “but especially if (she’s) coming into a tough writing stretch, (she) finds it helps push the muse into gear.”
To understand my characters, I’ve got to first “see” them and their world. How do I do that? I’m a Magazine Ho! My mailman hates me! LOL! But while he’s stewing, my story is brewing thanks to the glossy-packaged images he stuffs to damn near shreds into my mailbox.
As I’m cutting, tearing and pasting these images to a foam core board, my muses are busy making sense of and connecting these fabulous fragments.
But here’s the thing. Somewhere between the collage for my last two manuscripts, my muses got overwhelmed. We’re talking complete sensory overload! Yes, they had every conceivable image they needed for my story, but they were at a loss as to how the hell sooooo many pieces fit together.
I stopped right there and put down the glue! What exactly did I have so far?
Well...I’d collaged a tad about my hero and heroine’s characterization and my Music City setting and my opening story question/hook “How can you build and run a celebrity empire with a baby on the way and paparazzi snapping away at your every success, misstep and dark secret revealed?”.
That’s it! That’s all I had on that board. Basically chapter one and two and part of three. I wasn’t overwhelmed. My mind wasn’t cluttered with fabulous, sparkling crap. My muses were relaxed and happy.
I actually heard their voices whisper between my ears “Okay, Sybil, pick out the images to finish chapter three, then show us your choices and inspirational pieces for chapter four, now we’ll help you get from one set of images to the next. We’ll use your collage as a WIP of your WIP.”
After listening to my muse squad (as you can imagine, listening isn’t one of my former strengths), I made myself a gin and tonic. Vermouth and voices. My kind of Muse Therapy! LOL! I chose my next chapter’s images as my muses instructed. I let the multiple personalities manifesting themselves with gusto in my mind show me the behaviors that would create my story plot and get my characters off their butts and benches. I unleashed my inner Sybil.
Now it’s your turn! Collage your way to your inner Sybil. Unleash the magic of your creative divas.
Get out your scissors, magazines and glue and be nice to your mailman!
You now know what makes your muses tick and what ticks them off. You’re indulging their word-producing whims.
But what if the feisty glam girls of your next bestseller are still pouting? What if they’re demanding you dig deeper to uncover their inner conflicts, make them work-it harder for your characters?
Perhaps you suffer from a few of the muse “disorders” I previously listed in the sessions that may sound appealing to you.
If any of the above has you written all over them, don’t worry. You’re among many creative goddesses battling the same devils...regardless whether or not we’re wearing Prada.
Throughout my Muse Therapy sessions, we explore each of these disorders. We divulge each disorder’s preferred behavioral manifestations then discover fabulous tricks to banish them from our writing kingdoms.
I hope to see you “in therapy” either during my online class sessions or live workshops. Check my website www.DDScott.com for dates and locations.
‘Til then...keep your muses happy. Pamper them silly. They’ll be glad you did and so will you.

Sexy, Sassy, Smart Muse Therapy Wishes --- D. D. Scott
http://www.DDScott.com
http://twitter.com/ddscottromcom

P.S. If you post a comment and join my website mailing list and/or follow me on Twitter, you’ll be eligible to win a fabulous Muse Therapy treat!

Happiness is "I Cried..."

Earlier this week, one of my favorite out of town directors, came into my office to say hi. I love chatting with her. She has a little girl, a beautiful little girl, and many funny, sweet, and endearing stories to tell. Well, that and photos. However, this time, she popped in for a different reason. She had finally had a few spare minutes to read JOSHUA'S HOPE.

"I loved it!" She sat in a chair across from my desk and clasped her hands. "I cried for little Joshua. If it had been anyone else who wrote the book, I wouldn't have continued reading, because it tugged at my heartstrings so deeply. But, I knew that you would make it have a happy ending. I loved it. I really did. And, I wanted you to know how much it touched me."

Now, what's not to love about that?

If you haven't read JOSHUA'S HOPE, you can find more info on my website.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you find something to love today!

In An Envelope of Treasures

When my mother moved in with us, she brought a bag of cards which had been given to my father over the years. Some from her, some from me or my children. I found letters written by the kids and they were so adorable.

One that really made me smile was a letter from my son. He had asked, "Do you like riddles?" He proceeded to write the riddle and off to the left side he drew a picture. The picture depicted the answer.

What is red and can walk through walls? The picture was a red ghost...a sunburned ghost?

The one that stumped me was: Why did the elephant sit on the marshmallow? He had drawn a cup with a spoon sticking out and all I could think was it had something to do with hot chocolate.

If anyone reading this knows the answer, please post it! I'd love to know.

Hope you have many reasons to smile today, and be sure and share that smile with others. How can you feel sad with a smile on your face?

Thanks for stopping by!

Central Ohio Fiction Writers Present Readers and Writers Holiday Conference

What an exhausting weekend! The conference was a huge success!! Many authors and readers gathered together at the Holiday Inn in Worthington for the annual Readers and Writers Holiday Conference.

The evening began with a "come as you are" reception, followed by a book signing hosted by Barnes and Noble with local authors meeting, mingling, and autographing books.

Donna MacMeans, recipient of the Golden Heart Award for her debut novel, THE EDUCATION OF MRS. BRIMLEY, gave a workshop "Analyzing Your Way to a Bestseller" following the book signing. A CPA by day, Donna employed her analytical skills on everything from dialogue to market trends to assist her along the journey toward becoming a published author. In the workshop, she disclosed meaningful and generally humorous observations accumulated in her research.

Saturday, the conference began with our editors and agents telling a little about themselves and their houses: Stephany Evans, President of FinePrint Literary Agency; Elaine Spencer, Subrights Manager/Agent for The Knight Agency; Lori Graham, Senior Editor for The Wild Rose Press; Lindsey Faber, Editor for Samhain Publishing.

Roxanne St. Claire, Keynote Speaker, gave a humorous and inspirational speech which ended with everyone in the room wiping a tear.

After lunch, Roxanne and all the agents/editors formed a panel to interact with the attendees on "What's Hot and What's Not in Romance."

The group presented an award to Annette Fitzgerald, The Book Exchange, in Port Clinton, Ohio, for Bookseller of the Year. Karin Shah received a first sale pen for her debut novel, Starjacked, published by Samhain.

The afternoon had a choice of two separate workshops. Leanna Renee Hieber presented "Direct Your Book" using theater techniques to write the next blockbuster; and J.C. Wilder and Jules Bennett presented "Build a Hero."

Raffle baskets winners were announced amid cheers and excited shouts of joy. Among the items won were a Dell Notebook, a $100 Amazon gift certificate, and a free admission to RT Convention.

Everyone left with a happy glow and a determination to finish the next manuscript.

What's Not to Love About Books?

Ten Things I Love About Romance Books

1. They keep you company when you are alone.

2. They transport you to another world.

3. They look pretty on your bookshelf.

4. They make great gifts.

5. They can be enjoyed over and over again.

6. They can make you smile, cry, and fall in love.

7. Somce can scare the britches off you.

8. They are fun to trade and share.

9. They have a happy ending.

10. The big ones can squish spiders!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiling is Healthy...

How can you keep from smiling when you see this picture?


My mother is a cat person...like mother, like daughter. *grin* She chose to leave her beloved cats behind when she moved in with us because they were older cats and she feared they wouldn't make the trip. I worried about her leaving them behind, and she had a lot of moments when she teared up and I'm sure she cried in private. But, our three cats have given her a lot of happiness. They've adopted her and now they spend more time with her than with us. Templeton waits patiently on her walker for her to "give him a ride" each day.

I hope I've given you a smile with my picture today. Thanks for stopping by!

In July, I attended the RWA National Conference in Washington, D.C. Being my very first national conference, I didn't quite know what to expect. No one could have prepared me for the experience!

I thumbed through the conference program with my mouth wide open reading about all the fantastic workshops! How could I attend all of them? Or even all of the ones I really wanted to absorb? Honestly, I can't even tell you how many times I changed my mind. I fell asleep the night before, tossing and turning, and mentally making more changes. **sigh**

What can I say? I went to back to back workshops and at the end of the day headed to my room with everything spinning around in my head. I took notes...but I'm not good at it.

On my long drive home, I couldn't remember much of anything, and even worried that the whole experience had been too intense and not worth the expenditure, especially since I wasn't pitching anything.

Before I left though, I stopped at the recording table and ordered the full set of conference tapes. They arrived just a week ago. Three cd's full of so many workshops it would take me a month to listen to all of them! I put in the first disk and chose a workshop which sounded good, one I hadn't attended. Without the distraction of sitting in a room full of people, and with a tired mind, the workshop fueled my creativity. I am looking forward to learning more about the craft and tools to help my problem areas through the various workshops in the comfort and quiet of my own office.

In future, even if I do attend Nationals, I won't stress about attending so many workshops. Instead I will enjoy the experience knowing I can bring all the workshops home with me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fall Contest - My Cup Runneth Over

A group of White Rose Publishing authors, myself included, have decided to hold a contest to give away free books. The contest began on Saturday, September 12 and runs through Saturday, October 31st. Each week we'll be giving away a free book and everyone who enters has a chance to win. At the end of the contest, all entrants will be entered into the Grand Prize drawing for a lot more books and more.

Check it out at our White Roses in Bloom blog.

I'm proud to be a White Rose Publishing author. Our books are full of heart, wonderful characters, adventure, suspense, and coping with real life situations. All the books offered are sure to please readers who love character based romance.

Check us out!

Writing in Circles

I have known writers who work on one manuscript for years. They write, edit, revise, edit, revise, edit...a neverending cycle.

Sadly, most first manuscripts never get published. Writing is a learning process...a continual learning process. In order to improve the craft, a writer must write new material--each and every day.

Don't get caught up in perfection. Nothing is ever perfect. All you can do is your very best. Make sure you have no plot holes. Rewrite passive sentences to make them active. Use deep POV when possible. Check for spelling errors. Once you have done all this, then it is time to submit...and write the next book.

Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Scavenger Hunt for Free Books

Do you like to read? Want to win free books and more? Check out the White Roses in Bloom blog on Saturday for full details.

Sixteen authors, including me, will be hiding a beautiful mug somewhere on our blog or website. We'll give you the list of sites. All you have to do is find the different colored mugs and submit your answers to be included in the drawing for free prizes. Check out the details on Saturday, September 12, at White Roses in Bloom.

I've been so busy over the past week or so that I hadn't written any new pages for my manuscript. Yesterday, I entered the fictional world of my characters. What a blessing! It's amazing how I lose all track of time and place when I walk in my characters shoes. This transformation is rewarding. Nothing makes me more sure that I was meant to write than moments like this.

Thanks for stopping by!

Headaches

Today is a bad day with the headache. Yesterday it started again and it hasn't really let up yet. I'll be glad to find out next Monday what the CT scan shows. I'm pretty sure it's just sinus infection, one that won't let go. I hate drugs, but at this point, I'd be happy to receive something to give me relief. The headaches aren't constant. Instead they come and go, come and go. Sometimes behind my eyes, sometimes at the base of my skull, sometimes on top of my head, but never across my forehead. Weird, huh?

Maybe stress is causing it.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by!

Spontaneous...That's My Family

What a spectacular weekend. I took Friday off work which gave me a nice long four day weekend. Saturday our son planned to get married in our yard, so I wanted a little time to prepare. Imagine my surprise to get a phone call from my brother telling me he was on the way to our house and would arrive before I got off work!! I haven't seen my brother in nearly five years. He was in Indianapolis with the race car crew and they told him to take the rental car and come visit since we were only 3 hours away. Woo hoo!!

I love my brother soooo much. We're like the true yin and yang. He's so much fun, keeps everyone laughing and is one of the most patient and loving people in my life. He's overcome a lot and is my hero.

We had a wonderful time visiting and running around looking for a Harley Davidson shirt from the area. Yeah, he's a bike man, but trust me...he's just a little bitty guy. I tease him all the time about being a little pipsqueak. I think his biker friends call him buzzard bait. LOL!

Saturday the wedding was set to take place at 12:30 pm in our back yard. While we were setting up the reception at the church, we decided to have the wedding at the church in the gorgeous prayer garden. Good thing it was only family. We made some quick phone calls. At 12:25 one daughter and her hubby still hadn't shown up and they were not answering their cell phones. So, my brother and I headed back to my house and...yep, they were waiting in the back yard wondering why no one had shown up yet. LOL! We got back to the church and were getting ready to move the wedding party to the garden when another family member from out of town that we hadn't known was coming actually found us at the church! He'd been to our house, too. Yep, we have a very crazy family and we operate on spontaneity!

The wedding was beautiful, and I know have a wonderful new daughter-in-law. My brother headed back to Indianapolis at 8PM on Saturday evening.










My Brother and Me

When All IWant to Do is Go Back To Sleep...

...but I have to get moving and go to work, there is only one thing for me to do. Read my horoscope. My horoscope for today:

New ideas are coming your way today -- maybe too many of them! It's a really good time to take a break from your preconceptions and see if you can get a jump on the next big thing.

I sure hope this applies to my writing, not my job, although I am ready to move one. Just four more months.

Thanks for stopping by!

Right-Left Challenged, But What Does This Mean?

I admit I am "right-left" challenged. If someone tells me to turn left or look left, I will turn right or look right...and vice versa. I don't know why. I DO know which is my left side and which is my right side. There's just a disconnect in my brain when it hears these words.

I've taken various tests and I have what they call a balanced brain, meaning I'm not left brained, or right brained, but smack dab in the middle. Could this have something to do with my problem? Maybe, maybe not. I prefer to think that when this happens, I'm usually driving and busy having a conversation with whomever is in the passenger seat...thus I'm distracted.

BUT, what does this mean?

My friend bought these fabulous footies. They are lace with pretty elastic and come in nude, black, and various colors. I loved them when I saw them and just had to buy a pair, because she said they stay on your feet without sliding down! The first day I wore mine, the heels slipped into my shoes. Annoying. No matter how high I stretched them above the heel of my shoes, they kept riding down until I was walking on them. Ugh!

I tried a different pair the next day. One stayed on my right foot, the other slipped down. Hmmm. So I switched the footies on my feet. Guess what? Now the one on my left foot slipped down. What??

I looked them over very carefully. Hmm. Seems I had put the one footie on backwards...or what I thought was backwards. See, one side seemed to allow more room for the toes. Wrong. That end was for the heels. Now I wear my footies with great joy. No longer do they slip down.

So, what is this disconnect in my brain?

Thanks for stopping by!

Painting Rocks

Several years ago, I had a fun hobby painting rocks. I really enjoyed looking at the hand sized rocks and visualizing an animal within. Then with a few brush strokes, I brought the rocks to life. When I retire, I'm going to take up this hobby again.

When Your Story Starts In the Wrong Moment....

When I started writing seriously, I took a myriad of online classes to learn "the right way" to write. I soon learned that every teacher had a different idea of do's and don'ts. Confusing? Very.

My head got wrapped around all the things I should and should not do, and I allowed my creativity to be stifled. So, I backed away from classes after a year or so and just wrote. I learned to use what worked for me and forgot the rest. Eventually, I became aware of certain no-no's as I wrote--like action before reaction, floating body parts (which I still think work in certain situations), starting and ending chapters and scenes with a hook, and beginning your story in the middle of action.

I started many stories right smack dab in the middle of some suspenseful scene, but the manuscripts didn't come to fruition. Hmmm. So, maybe I had misunderstood the "start in the middle of action." The all important first sentence and first chapter needs to grab your reader and make them care and want to learn more. Does that mean your character has to be immediately entrenched in angst? Well, sure, but maybe the serial killer isn't attacking her in the first paragraph. Instead, it might be better to start with foreshadowing. Show little things that pull your readers in with anticipation of "something is about to happen."

My latest manuscript has been in the works for way too long and I just couldn't seem to fix it. Then I realized I had started in the wrong moment of time. I needed to show my characters in their normal world first. A long time ago, a very dear writer friend told me this. I had forgotten that piece of wise advice. Remember the old fairy tales? "Once upon a time...."

If you are having a struggle with your manuscript, maybe you have started in the wrong moment of time. Have you shown your characters in their normal world before you plunged them into the problem?

I'm now writing chapters to precede what I've already got established. Works for me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Brainstorming Fun

After attending a fun session at Central Ohio Fiction Writer's meeting two weeks ago, I decided to purchase a deck of Tarot cards to use for brainstorming plot points. I chose a deck by Paulina Cassidy titled Paulina Tarot. The cards are feminine in appearance and full of visionary details. I'm not a believer in fortune telling, so that's not why I purchased them.

This morning I decided to pull three cards which would show what each of three characters would be doing next. I don't read the book that tells what the cards are really supposed to mean. Nope. I just look at the pictures and come up with ideas that might work. So...

The first card was for my hero and it was the Eight of Wands. This picture shows a lady holding eight spears as she seems to be floating toward something with a smile on her face. Two butterflies are following her. I determined that my hero would have to go after my heroine who is getting herself into trouble.

The second card is strength. This card was for my heroine. She is placing her hands inside the mouth of a lion with wings and they are joined by a necklace of flowers. So, I know my heroine is going to have to be strong as she tempts the villain with friendship to learn more about him.

It was fun, and I'm sure it'll be even more fun and create lots of ideas as I start to let my mind go into full creative mode.

Thanks for stopping by.

Pronoun Confusion with Unnamed Characters

I write a lot of books where the "villain" is unnamed. The threat is shown by allowing glimpses of this character's thoughts or interactions with other people. Since the villain isn't named, I must be very careful with pronouns.

Currently I'm reading a book where two unnamed characters are interacting. One paragraph at the beginning has left me stumped. I've read it three times and still I'm unclear which character is which. So, this has totally pulled me out of the story.

How does a writer deal with this situation? If you have two unknown characters of the same gender, give each of them a distinct name or voice. And keep the scene in one pov. Clearly start out with the pov character's thoughts or words. Here's an example from my wip:

****
When his cell phone rang, the man grabbed it from his pocket. Leaves rustled and he jerked his head sideways. A squirrel ran halfway up the tree trunk several feet away. Heart pounding, he answered. “Hello?”

“You got the kid?” The smoke damaged voice left no question as to the caller’s identity.

“Yeah, but I can’t keep her for long. It’s too dangerous.” He heard a deprecating laugh.

“For you, maybe. But, not as dangerous as if you’re lying. We need that baby.”

“I have her. Where do you want to meet?” This would be the last time. Never again would money drive the need to get involved with this scumbag. Taking a baby so close to home had been a big mistake, but he couldn’t undo it now.

“Soon. I’ll be in touch. In the meantime, make sure nothing happens to the little princess.”

His hands shook as he shoved his cell phone back into his pocket. He dabbed his forehead with his handkerchief.

****

Remember, although you know who each character is, your reader doesn't.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bats?

This morning I'm sitting in my chair and gazing out the window. Days are getting shorter. The morning sun is eluding the sky. No birds on the wires. A slight wind blowing, moving the leaves of the rose bushes, the leaves in the tree. Everything is in deep shadow with only a hint of gray light.

Whoosh. Whoosh! I stare at the fast flying objects. Not birds. Bats. It's the first time I've seen bats in my neighborhood. Only two. They have disappeared into a tree, perhaps across the street, perhaps in the top of my tree. Back to their roost to pass the day. No more movements. All is still. The morning awaits awakening.

I hope to see them again tomorrow. My morning view is amazing. I await tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

What Does A Writer's Desk Look Like?

My writer's desk is a piled up stash of magazines, printouts of important emails, camera, flash drives, pens, stapler, receipts, three-hole punch, tissues, calendar, plastic bag of crocheted crosses, nail polish, 2 calculators, cd's, tube of arthritis cream, speakers, small cat figurine, the last teddy bear my dad gave me, pics of the family, a jar of hard candy, my telephone, an empty glass...and probably a lot more buried and unseen. How does my desk get this cluttered?

Tonight I must clean it off. I can't write with all the clutter surrounding me. Time for an overhaul. Once I had a tiny desk. I thought the reason it got cluttered was due to the size. So, I bought a bigger desk. And now it looks just as cluttered as the small one. I might be tempted to get another bigger than the bigger desk, but I know it wouldn't fit.

This morning, my mind feels just as cluttered as my desk. Way too many scenes fluttering around. If only I could stay home and clear my desk and write these scenes...but, my day job is calling.

************

Time to announce the winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Certificate.

And the winner is--Carol Thompson.

Carol watch your email for a certificate coming your way later today. Congratulations!

Check my website in September for a new and fun contest!

Thanks for stopping by!

Foot, Electronic Device...Spider

Okay, so I bought one of those electronic spider repellent thingies. Supposedly you plug it into the wall and spiders be-gone. Since I do not like spiders...make that I am terrified of spiders...I bought one. It's plugged into the wall in the hallway of the lower level of my bi-level home (right outside the bathroom that I use). It's been in the wall now for a couple of months.

So far, I've had hundreds of tiny newly hatched spiders invade my bathroom sink. Now, these were so small that without my glasses they looked like specks of pepper. Those I managed to kill by washing them all down the drain...over a period of several days.

I also killed one of those spindly spider, kind of like a granddaddy long legs, that made a web in the corner of the bathroom. No, make that two.

I also killed a small spider lurking in the corner behind my toilet bowl cleaner thingie.

Hmm, so does it work or not? At least no huge big black hairy spiders have appeared.

However, this morning I walked downstairs to find a rather large brownish weird spider waiting for me...right in front of the electronic spider device. I stopped and stared, daring it to charge me. It stood ground on the battlefield.

I stared, it stared. No one moved. Not wanting it to hear, I formed a silent battle plan. I am sooooo much bigger than you, ugly guy. My foot is so huge it can squash you into nothingness. Yeah, I know you can move fast, maybe even run up my leg before I can squash you. But, I'm mightier! I can do this. Ready? One, two, three! I move one inch closer. Spider doesn't. I move another inch closer. Spider holds his ground. I lift my foot and produce a huge intimidating shadow over the beast. Spider is not intimidated.

Wham! My foot meets the target. I press, I wiggle, I prevail! Spider is dead. Spider didn't even try to get away. Why? Did that electronic thingie render it paralyzed or something?

Sigh. I will never know. But if I remove the thingie, bigger beasts may come forth.

By the way, I woke hubby to clean off the battlefield. I don't do dead bodies.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

This summer has been filled with some memorable moments.

The first really memorable moment happened on May 23, when my grandon married his lovely bride in Blacklick Park. The day was bittersweet in many ways. This would be a "good" memory.

The morning after the wedding, my hubby, my daughter and son-in-law and I traveled to southern Illinois to move my mother. She's now living with us and what a blessing to be able to take some burdens from her shoulders. Seeing her house the way it had deteriorated was one of the "ugly" memories, and saying goodbye to all the years there was a "bad" memory.


Attending my first RWA conference was definitely a "good" memory. The landscaping around the D.C. hotel was breathtaking.

Attending the literacy booksigning at the conference was beyond description. I've never seen such a vast array of authors!

Visiting with the grandchildren was another really "good" memory. Gosh, they grow so fast, but they bring so many smiles with their antics.


A day spent at Deer Creek with hubby was another "good" memory. I had a great time writing on my book while hubby fished.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Writing Career, by Diane Craver

Today, I'm delighted to turn my blog over to one of my favorite authors, Diane Craver. Diane has a new book coming out titled, "Whitney in Charge." I'm excited to hear more about the book and about Diane. So, please help me make Diane welcome. Feel free to leave a comment, ask a question, or just say hi and let her know you stopped by.

A Writing Career

Juggling a writing career with my family is definitely full of highs and lows. When I'm absorbed in writing a new story, or spending hours promoting my published books, I feel guilt in not spending time with my family. I feel like I'm spreading myself too thin with trying to cope with many different things at the same time.

I'm not alone. I've heard many authors complain how they don't have time to write because of all the marketing that's necessary. When a new writer receives the first contract, he or she is elated, but soon marketing the book becomes a reality. Spending time doing yahoo chats, author interviews, book signings, contests, mailing promo items, writing blog posts, and advertising takes time away from writing. Many times I have to confess that I feel like quitting, but then I'll get a positive book review or a reader contacts me and says how much they loved one of my books. Fortunately, this always seems to happen on one of my down days, and it boosts my spirit to knowing I must continue writing.

My husband is retired now so that makes it harder at times to write. He thinks I'm on the computer too much, and doesn't understand how much time I need to devote to actual writing, editing and promoting. He doesn't like to read and never reads books! Except mine, of course. I was impressed that he took time to read them and shared what he liked about each one. It was interesting to get his perspective as a nonreader. When I worked recently at a temporary job in Cincinnati, it was completely different. He was glad to see me receiving a regular paycheck for the hours I worked. As a writer, the financial gain isn't equal to the time I put in, so I can fully understand his feelings. The truth is I'm not a best-selling author. My royalty checks are not in the big digits but I appreciate receiving them. After all, my books are marketed by reputable, small publishers. And it does take time to build a huge readership.

We were blessed with six children. Although four are adults with their own lives, two of our daughters with special needs are living at home. I spend a lot of time taking care of them, meeting the demands of frequent doctor appointments and many other issues. But they are worth every minute of it.

It's funny when someone says something like this to me, "I wish I could sit around and write instead of doing my job." Of course, I don't mention the lows of a writing career because I want to continue their myth of the carefree life of a published author. LOL Let's face it, writers want to appear glamorous. And staying in my pajamas in the morning to write at my laptop might not be the image the speaker has in mind, but it's one of the benefits in writing for a career.

Another definite high in writing is escaping to a wonderful fictional world with characters becoming real to me. While I wrote Whitney in Charge, I enjoyed being part of the three sisters' lives as they had fun exploring their business options. But most of all, I liked writing about Whitney falling in love again.

I must continue to manage a writing career with my home life because I can't seem to shut my mind off to possible future story lines. Character dialogue keeps popping in my mind. Any kind of occurrence seems to stimulate my writing processes in anticipating the outcome if I put a different spin it. And I realize my what if would make a fantastic story.

Yes, I'm cursed and blessed at the same time to be a writer. And now you know, the real life behind Author Diane Craver!

Blurb: TV producer Whitney Benson is tired of her older sisters’ attempts to fix her up with every single male they meet. Shannon and Regan cross the line when they arrange for her to go skydiving with the simple excuse that more guys like to float in the air than women.

Whitney meets two eligible bachelors, Jack and Ben, who constantly battle for her affection. Which one will she choose? Both men make Whitney realize, even a heart shattered by her husband’s death, can once again be made whole.

But did she have to fall off a cliff to learn that?

Cats and Flower Gardens...Oh, My!!

My office is on the lower floor of our bi-level, which puts it half way underground. Thus, my windows are at ground level. Outside my windows is a beautiful flower garden. I love the colors and all the lovely bees and butterflies.

So do our outdoor cats. Even though hubby put some large chunk mulch around the plants, the cats continue to use this garden as...gasp...a litter box. As you can guess, my view is ruined when the windows are open. We've tried multiple things to discourage them, but none have worked.

I suppose, I'll have to take my laptop out to the deck to work today.

If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Be sure to stop by my blog on Monday. I'll have a guest blogger, Diane Craver! She's one of my favorite authors, and people. Talk about a woman of strength and values! I'm thrilled to host her and learn more about her newest release. I hope you'll visit and leave her a comment, so she'll know you stopped by.

Thanks for stopping by!

What? A Plot Whisperer?

You've heard of The Horse Whisperer, and if you watch television, you've probably heard of The Dog Whisperer as well. Today, I'd like to introduce you to
The Plot Whisperer. This blog is maintained by Martha Alderson, plot consultant and author. The posts are full of inspiration, and helpful plotting tips and strategies.

I subscribe to this blog and read it faithfully. It is one of 2009 Writer's Digest 101 best websites. Check it out. I know you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for stopping by!

Eeew...That Was Scary!

Sometimes I frighten myself when my mind starts picturing deep, dark, villains. I wonder why it's so easy to identify with characters who are twisted. Once I made myself cry in writing the background for the villain in Hit and Run. His childhood was so horrid, so terrifying, that it really upset me. I could identify with him and I knew why he did what he did.

Villains come easy to me, but the hero and heroine aren't as easy to dream up. Their motivation needs to be strong. Their goals drive the story. So, why can't I identify with them as easily as the villain?

I'm a writer. I live in my imagination a lot of the time. But when I'm there, sometimes I frighten myself.

The book I'm working on now has a villain I can identify with. I wake up sometimes knowing he's breathing somewhere inside my brain. Eeew, that's scary!

Thanks for stopping by!

Is it...Real????

I had a wonderful time in Port Clinton at The Book Exchange this Saturday. Annette Fitzgerald, owner of the bookstore, is so gracious to the authors who come in to do signings. The store is uniquely set up with lots of nooks and crannies crammed with books of every genre, both new and used. Her entire family is part of the venture. Her children made sure I had everything I needed, always checking to see if I needed something to drink or eat.

Whenever I do a signing, I always take my breathing cat (purchased from Hallmark). She is a tabby cat, curled up sleeping. Batteries make her breathe. So, people will walk by, look, decide it isn't real...and then see it breathe! Funny the different reactions. But, Annette's youngest daughter fell in love with my cat. She would stand and talk to me all the time petting the cat as if it was real. What a soft heart this young lady has.

If you ever get to Port Clinton, don't miss a chance to stop by The Book Exchange!

Thanks for stopping by!

Labor Day...Wedding Day...Egads, What's a Gal to Do?

My son is getting married on September 5th. Guess where? In our yard! We talked about having it in the back yard and then later changed it to the front yard. Now, at this point, I'm thinking we might have around 40 people. In order to pull this off, all the guests will be standing in our yard. One thing I've refused to do is spend money to rent chairs for a 10 minute service (especially since this is a third marriage for both of them). Here are the problems I foresee:

Birds--I love them, but what if a bird drops something unwanted onto a guest?

Squirrels--They're cute. Hubby hates them. What if they drop something unwanted, like a prize nut, on a guest?

Cats--Yes, known as the crazy cat lady, we have thirteen semi-feral cats to care for. They like to know what's happening. And, worse, they like to use our flower beds for their litter box. What if one drops something "stinky" just before the wedding?

Spiders--I see the webs along the bricks lining the flower garden. Creepy, I tell ya. I do not do spiders. What if one decides to pop out suddenly and I scream during a crucial part of the wedding?

Rain--What do we do in case of rain? My house does not have a room big enough to house a wedding with 40 guests.


Oh, I could go on and on, but I do have to go to work.

Two Satchels Full!!

One thing you get plenty of at RWA Nationals is free books. I brought home two big satchels full! I sorted them between the subgenres I don't read and those I do. The biggest portion will go to my chapter. What is the problem you ask?

Um, with all this great reading material, how do I put down the books and put my hands on the keyboard to write my own?

I love to read. I always have. I love getting close to the ending and just wanting to hurry and find out what happens, and not really wanting the book to end because it was so engrossing.

How about you? Are you a reader? How do you feel about coming to "the end?"

By the way, have you checked out my contest on my website for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Amazon? Time's running out! It doesn't cost a thing to enter.

Thanks for stopping by!

Doom, Despair, and Agony on Me...

Deep dark depression, excessive misery...

I remember those words from a skit on the Hee Haw television show. A rather funny segment where they sat on a porch and sang funny lines about the tragedies in their lives. There are a lot of people who live their lives this way. They talk about all the bad things that happen to them, worry excessively about the bad things that will happen tomorrow and the next day. And no matter what suggestions you give, they are shot down with reasons that won't work. How easy to get caught up in that negativity and become depressed yourself!

Last night I picked up a booklet I received from Guideposts. The title is "Expect a Miracle--Make a Miracle Happen". I realized how true this is. Miracles occur every day. They may not be as spectacular as the Red Sea parting, but they exist! We just have to open our eyes to see them.

Expect a miracle--make a miracle happen. What a wonderful motto to live by.

Thanks for stopping by!

WPCR Port Clinton Radio Interviews Carol Ann Erhardt

I forgot to tell my blog readers about my radio interview at 10am today with Joan Bryden at Port Clinton Radio. You can go to the website to listen live at 10AM or check the Archives and find the link for Food for Thought for today sometime after 2PM EST. I'll be reading excerpts from three of my books, talking about writing, my upcoming book signing and lots more!

Link to live streaming and archives by clicking here!

The Sky Has Fallen!!

I'm sitting her looking through my window and I can barely see the house across the street. This is the thickest fog that ever settled in my neighborhood. I've driven through heavy fog, but never walked in it. So, I'm looking forward to something new this morning.

What I'd like to do is stay home and write. There's something so mysterious about fog. Things beyond your eyesight that could conjure up frightening scenarios. This to me is reminiscent of Stephen King's "The Mist." I could write about something happy. A woman hurrying to catch a bus runs into a handsome stranger and it's love at first sight. Or I could write a children's story about a little kitten who gets separated from her mommy and goes on an adventure with other animals to find her way back home. There are so many possiblities!

Too bad I have to go to the dreaded day job and sit in a windowless office which stifles my creativity.

Thanks for stopping by!

Having a Fat Day...

I must start listening to my hypnotherapy CD. I've slipped and now I crave Mexican food, burgers, sweets, and...I love food. I love food, but I let it control me instead of the other way around. Promising myself that I will get back on track. Writing it down helps to seal it into my mental to do list.

Not looking forward to sitting in a five hour meeting with senior managers today. The room we meet in is long and narrow, with an 18 foot oval table, 16 high back leather chairs, and hot! Imagine all that male testosterone sinking into the leather. The smell is atrocious. Not a good combination and me with a sinus headache to boot.

I just can't wait until the day I can walk away from the dreaded day job. Hey! That will help with my food fetish, too. We won't be able to go out to eat very often if I'm not bringing in the extra paycheck. Now if I can only convince hubby of that...

Thanks for stopping by!

I've Loved You Longer...

Last night I called my brother to wish him a happy birthday, um, anniversary. He's been having anniversaries of his birthday since he turned 39!

Our conversations usually go something like this:

My brother: "No matter how old I get, you'll always be older."

Me: "Maybe, but I have more hair than you."

"Yeah, but you're older than me."

"I might be older, but I don't have as many wrinkles."

"That's because you don't laugh as much as me."

"You're stepping on my last nerve."

"Then I must be doing something right."

"I have to go. Just wanted to wish you a happy anniversary of your birthday. I love you."

"I've loved you longer. I've loved you my whole life."

"I loved you when you were cooking in the oven."

"I loved you back then and couldn't wait to get out and kiss my older sister. So, I've always loved you longer and I'll never be as OLD as you."

**sigh** Why do I even try?

Thanks for stopping by!

Sometimes I Scare Myself...

Driving alone back home from Nationals, I didn't turn on the radio or play any CDs. Just me, the hum of the tires on the road, and characters and scenes playing through my mind. Kind of scary, huh?

Not for a writer. In fact, I plotted an entire book from opening scene to end. What an experience!

Interviewers often ask if I need certain music or sounds to "set the mood" when I write. Actually, I brainstorm best in complete silence. Well, no interruptions anyway. I need some "white noise" to keep the ordinary sounds from intruding. Usually I play a Creative Minds cd at home, but that's when I'm actually writing. I find I do my best brainstorming when I'm in the car. for instance, the story I wrote for Cup of Comfort came to me when I was driving on my lunch hour.

I guess the next time I get "stuck," I'll have to get in my car and drive around.

Thursday, I'll be interviewing with Joan Bryden with Port Clinton Radio host for "Food for Thought". August 1st, I'll be attending a booksigning at The Book Exchange in Port Clinton, and the authors are being promoted by the local radio station. The interview will air on Friday. I'm very nervous! The book I'll be signing is JOSHUA'S HOPE, so if you are in the area, stop by and see me! I'll be giving away hand crocheted cross bookmarks with each book purchase. HOpe to see some familiar faces there. It should be fun as there is a car and truck show benefit for cancer going on at the same time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Goodbye D.C.!

Thursday, July 16

I started out the morning by running into friends from my local RWA chapter in line to get a bite to eat and coffee prior to the Keynote Speaker opening session. Suddenly, I didn't feel alone! You can't imagine being in the midst of a huge hotel (which was previously three hotels) with over 2,000 romance writers and seeing no familiar faces! I love people watching, but come one!

Janet Evanovich gave the opening speech. After the RWA President introduced her, she hobbled onto the stage with a (in her words) Herman Munster boot. Her explanation: She fell stepping off a stage at a booksigning event and broke her ankle. Then, to top it off, two days prior to the speech, she lost her glasses! Her speech wasn't really a speech, but a question and answer session. The mc handed her a stack of questions and somehow she managed to read them, without her glasses. Her answers were witty, humorous, heart-tugging, and inspirational. Talk about a family business! Her husband is her business manager, her daughter is her web mistress, and her son is also involved. She writes until 3pm and then stops. Many nights her daugher and son in law come over and they have dinner together to talk business. I love my kids, but I don't think I would want to live that way.

After the opening session, I went to the "goody" room where I gathered up several books for the chapter. The crowd was pretty huge so even though I heard the room was filled with different and new material each day, I didn't go back again.

I came back to the room for a brief time and dropped off the books and then headed back to the ballroom for the luncheon with Linda Howard giving an inspirational talk. The food was pretty good and the staff very quick to serve thousands of people. We sat eight to a table and one waiter for each table. Our meal consisted of a greek salad, chicken parmesan and a sinfully delicious chocolate dessert. Linda Howard was hilarious. She should have been a comedian. Honest! She began by telling us about all the nuts in her family and describing them in such a way that everyone doubled over with laughter. If you ever see her, ask her to tell about her uncle, her aunt, and the tractor, wheelchair and bunge cord. I'm not going to spoil it by telling you here. You have to hear her do it in person! I left full and very relaxed after all the laughing.

I spent the afternoon workshops. The first one was "What Not to Write." I didn't get much craft wise that I didn't already know, but Eloisa James gave a humorous approach. The next workshop was by my all time favorite romantic suspense author, Brenda Novak. She gave fantastic examples of the way to invoke emotion into the sotry. The title of the workshop was "Emotion: the Heart of the Novel." She used examples from her novels, one of which will be released next month, but the publisher had released some early copies (with a cover which will be revised). Of course, I had to leave the workshop and head to the bookstore on site to get my copy! Then I went back to my room for a regroup. I changed into comfortable slacks and met some friends at a restaurant in the hotel for dinner. Decided to treat myself to a New York Strip steak! Yummy!

The rest is history. I came to the room, spent 45 minutes talking to hubby and mom and then collapsed in bed. I was asleep before ten.

Friday, July 17

Slept in and didn't get up until 7:00. Headed down to the deli for a ham, cheese and egg croussant and orange juice. I decided to skip workshops and opted to go to the Harlequin and Pocket book signings instead. The publishers invite some of their authors to sign books to give away to the RWA participants! Wow!! I filled up my bag and headed back to the room with all the Harlequin books and then went back and did the same for the Pocket books. I introduced myself to Roxanne St. Claire, who is going to be our keynote speaker at our COFW conference in September. Went back to room and dumped books! I have no idea how I'm going to get all these books out of my room and into my trunk! Guess I'll have to tip the bell boy a big bunch!

I ran into some friends and chatted for a while and then headed off to an 11am workshop: "Under Their Skin and Straight to the Heart:Creating Emotion with Significant Detail." Interesting and helped to show how to use details properly. The workshop very well followed what the description said. I enjoyed it and picked up a few tips. That, for me, is always a measure of a good use of time.

Next stop was lunch with Marcia James and writers who had attended a workshop I copresented with Marcia. It was fun to put faces to names. One lady brought her husband with her so that was fun, too! Our lunch speaker was Eloisa James. She shared a lot of inspiration about how to use examples from our real lives in our books to truly capture the emotions we have gone through. Lunch was delicious, but I was getting a bit tired of eating chicken.

After lunch, I headed off for more workshops. The first was "Face Off: The Many Faces of Suspense." I really thought it would be a better workshop, with each presenter giving a short speech, but instead the coordinator asked questions of a four person panel. I did gather a bit of information, but I sure was getting sleepy. Could have been the ibuprofen or too much chicken!

Next workshop, I ran into Laurie Kingery, my friend who I'd had dessert with on Tuesday night. The workshop was titled "The Threaded Synopsis." I really need help with writing a synopsis. I wasn't sure what to expect. The presenter provided a unique tool, which can be created easily in Excel, to track your chapters and the actions in the scenes. By continuing to fill in the information as you go along and make changes, it gives a great tool for writing the synopsis when you are finished. Also, it gives a snapshot to make it easy to do edits. Great workshop. I began to wake up a little.

One more workshop to go. I chose"What Came First, the Plot or the Character? The Yn and Yang of Creating Great Characters within Great Plots." This workshop was pretty good at cementing plot and characterization. I'd always thought characters were the most important part of the story, but these two authors showed how one drives the other and how important it is to weave them together. Though I was getting sleepy again, I enjoyed it and gathered a few tips to help.

I left the workshop with a sense of relief. It was over for me. I stopped and purchased a roast beef sandwich and tomato basil soup and brought it to my room. After eating, I felt a bit revived and decided to do some writing.

Saturday, July 18

Today, many of my friends will be enjoying workshops, sight-seeing, and later enjoying getting dressed in evening gowns for the gala awards banquet. Me...I'll be driving back to Columbus, Ohio. Goodbye, D.C.!

Thanks for stopping by!

Checking in from D.C.

For those who are following my D.C. RWA Conference journey, I promise to post later tonight.

Yesterday was an intensely full day and I was too pooped to blog. Heading out for Day Four now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Books and People Everywhere!!!

What fun! My day started at 5:30 am today. I spent time writing before getting ready to head down to the Leadership Retreat. The attendees of the retreat received a very nice manicure and grooming set and a thumb drive with Harlequin books to read! When I reached for my free gift I noticed it had a maroon dot on it, so I thought maybe it was for something special...namely not me. So I took the one next to it without the dot. Geesh, smack me upside the head with a big sausage! The person who had that gift won a Sony e-Reader!!!! Not a good way to start my day. : (

The retreat was a day filled with governance information, how to's, IRS regulations, and a nice lunch with a presentation by Heart of Dixie Romance Writers. I actually got to see Linda Howard up close and personal!

The literacy booksigning at 5:30 was beyond description. Five hundred authors and a bazillion more readers all crammed into one room! Luckily the authors were lined up alphabetically, making it easier to get to the ones I wanted to see. I really wish I hadn't been too tired to stand in Debbie Macomber's long line.

After leaving the literacy booksigning with three new purchased books, I met with fellow COFW member, Kris Branch, for dinner. We ran into Rhonda Penders, co-owner of The Wild Rose Press coming off the escalator. She recommended a little pub across the street from the hotel for good food at reasonable prices. Great recommendation!

Now I'm back in my room, tired, and wishing I had the energy to type up all the stuff I gleaned from the meeting today.

Tomorrow's events begin at 9am! So, it's off to bed for me.

Looking forward to posting pictures of the literacy booksigning. It's so interesting to see a sea of heads. LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello D.C.!!

I drove to Washington D.C. yesterday for the RWA National Convention. What a beautiful drive! I love the trees and hills of West Virginia. The entire trip gave me fabulous scenery to enjoy. I'm grateful for purchasing the Garmin GPS, which brought me all the way without my having to watch for routes. Love it! The only weird thing is Garmin told me to turn left on Woodley NW, take the next first left and I had arrived at destination. Not true! I found my little Camry dwarfed by huge apartmen buildings on each side. That's when my heart started pounding. How in the world would I find my hotel? I must have put in the wrong address! I don't know how I wound up back on Woodley NW again, but headed in the opposite direction. I went across Connecticut Avenue to the opposite side and there was the hotel! The good Lord watched out for me.

First adventure was to wait for the concierge to help me load my luggage on a rack and turn my car over to Valet attendant. The concierge then stood holding my receipt until I handed him a tip. I knew it was coming, but he was so obvious! How much do you tip for a 50 foot walk into the hotel? I handed him a $5 and he gave me my red receipt.

I went to the registration desk where the clerk happily entered my name and took my ID and credit card. Then she told me the hotel had overbooked for that night and they would happily put me into another hotel and pay for the room. I could come back the next day and check in at the Marriott. She must have seen the total panic in my expression as I shook my head and said, "No, no." She smiled and said she did have a room with one queen bed that was ready. I accepted. "The room is available for your entire stay with us." Well, that was nice. I didn't want to change rooms or hotels! I couldn't believe it when I was assigned a first floor room. With 2,000 romance writers, getting an elevator would have been a nightmare!

The bellhop brought me to my room along with all the luggage, including a case of water which I'd purchased back in Columbus. Imagine my surprise to see a refrigerator in the room! Yay! Cold water for me.

After letting hubby know I'd arrived safely, I ventured out and checked out the huge hotel! Had a sandwich and came back to get my camera. The grounds surrounding the hotel are beautiful. I forgot to bring my camera usb cord so I can't post pictures until I return home. Anyway, I took some pictures of the landscaping and headed back to my room. I ran into a fellow author, Laurie Kingery, who writes for Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historicals. We had a nice chat over some food and I retired to my room for the night.

Hooked up my laptop and logged on. I found a google alert and when I followed the link I found that Sarita Leone had posted an interview with me. I thought it was scheduled for the 21st, so I was surprised. Anyway, if you check it out and leave a comment, you might be the winner of a free ebook copy of my latest release, JOSHUA'S HOPE.

http://saritaleonepages.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-carol-ann-erhardt.html

Thanks for stopping by!

Washington D.C., Here I come!

I'm leaving in 45 minutes for RWA National in Washington, D.C. It is my first experience with the Nationals. Looking forward to seeing writing friends and making new ones! The hotel is huge and gorgeous. I'm looking forward to not having the responsibilities of my day job, but I'll miss my family.

The next few days this blog will contain my experiences, so I hopw you will take the journey with me.

Since I'll be driving, I'm going to soak up all the beautiful scenery. I love the trees and hills in West Virginia and Maryland. But not looking forward to battling any of the semis along the Turnpike.

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What If It Isn't A Bad Hair Day...But Just Bad Hair?

If I were a man, I could shave my head and not worry. People would adore my shiny skull. Hey, it would go well with my hoop earrings, and maybe I could get one of those nose rings, too! Of course, it would mean having to shave every day. That would be a downfall. What if I cut my head in the process? They should make bandaids with bling. I mean, a bright, shiny gem would hide the blood and also show that I am a female.

But, since I don't have the guts to shave my head, I must deal with what God gave me. Hair. Hair that doesn't know what I want it to do. I've tried curly perms, loose perms, straight, color, short locks, medium locks, and long locks. Doesn't matter. It all looks the same...boring!!

For the past couple of days, I've used a large brush to blow dry. Result: hair that looks like it has never seen a conditioner...ever! Straw!!

Before, I used a smaller brush. Takes a long time and hair may not look like straw, but it looks as if it's never been styled. A mess of nothing.

I've tried letting it dry au naturale and it looks like I just got out of bed and forgot to comb it.

What's a gal to do?

I'm heading (pun intended) to a new hairdresser on Saturday. I don't know what to tell her to do with my hair. I want a style. A style that's me! What if me is nothing but a boring mess of (gasp) straw!

Maybe I should color my hair. When I did, it sure was easier to style. It had body and shine. Since I've let it go natural, it is so baby fine and uncontrollable that I can't do a thing with it. (Yeah, cliche intended).

I'm going to spend the day stressing over what to tell the hairdresser. Short? or Trim? I'm frightened. Very frightened...

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What I Learned From My Mother...

...in the last 30 days. Warning - Not recommended for hypochondriacs! Please read with a sense of humor!


1. Never lift a sofa while your husband works on the sofa legs. Causes total destruction of leg muscles--FOREVER!

2. Never take an antibiotic. Causes your system to split in half. One half will be healthy, the other will have serious defects--FOREVER!!

3. Never use a piece of exercise equipment that has moving bars for the arms. Causes a severe outbreak of Shingles! -- ALWAYS!!

4. Never take an osteoporosis medication. Causes your bones to turn black--FOREVER!!!

5. Never take a generic antacid tablet. Causes your bowels to become defective--FOREVER!!!!

This is how my mother has reached the age of 85 with all these conditions. I haven't yet learned what caused her heart valve to malfunction. When I do, I will add it to the list of warnings.

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Doctors, Self-Diagnosis, and When Not to Listen

For the past week I've had pain in my jaw from where I had the shots from the dentist. This is not common. Usually in a day or two the pain recedes. The pain has been intermittent, worse in the morning. Yesterday my ear on that side began to ache. I had a headache and pains shooting up the side of my skull above the ear. At times it felt as if I were on an airplane and my ears needed to pop. Afraid to go out of town and get sick, I gave up when hubby insisted I see the doctor. Not wanting to miss work I went to an Urgent Care facility.

My experience with the doctor: He looked in both ears and said he saw no infection. Without looking further or asking any other questions, he said the problem was most likely caused by allergies. He said he would give me two prescriptions, Biaxin as an antibiotic and a steroid pack. That's it. He left, sent the nurse back in with the prescriptions and I was dismissed.

Do you see a problem with this? I sure do!

I know I have allergies and I could feel my sinuses clogged, but no infection seemed to be plaguing me. Just the weird pain.

I know I have a problem with TMJ. The left side of my jaw pops when I open wide. So, I came home and forced my mouth to open wide. It hurt. I continued until I heard it pop. I moved my jaw a bit open and closed and from side to side. Before going to bed I took ibuprofen.

This morning my jaw hurt really bad again. I did the same thing with my jaw and now the pain has lessened. I still have aching in my jaw/ear but I believe ibuprofen will help. I've researched TMJ and I'm sure that's the real problem. TMJ can cause headache and stomach upset. I've had both recently.

I am not going to fill the prescriptions given by the doctor. I will take Mucinex for the congestion and allergies and ibuprofen for the pain in my ear. Then I'll call the dentist and have them look at my mouth. After all, the pain started after that brutal session.

Bottom line, it pays to do self diagnosis and do it BEFORE going to see the doctor. With the insurance companies and their policies, doctors are running people in and out of their offices in a constant stream, and writing prescriptions without doing any diagnosis. Please be cautious. After all, it is your body...and your money.

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Write the Ending...

I've heard other writers suggest writing the ending before you actually reach that point. That troubles me. Since I am a "seat of the pants" writer, I have no idea how the story is going to actually end! I want to be surprised...I think. But, I have gotten stuck in manuscripts with no idea of who the villain is or how to conclude the story. So, what does that tell me? Should I write the ending?

When I begin writing a new story, I always have an idea of who my characters are, the main plot, conflict and how I believe the story will end. How I get there is the surprising part. My characters lead me into new situations and exciting adventures along the way.

I suppose writing the ending wouldn't be a problem. But I just can't do it. Why? Because as I venture along in the story, I get to know my characters much better. I feel their emotions and it becomes easier to show them in action, building always to the climax. So, even if that elusive villain doesn't show himself or herself until the final pages, the stakes will be so high that the climax will explode with emotions and action. Writing the climax is when I'm embedded so deeply into the story that I can't be torn from the keyboard.

I suppose I do write the ending...in my head. But I could never capture it on paper until I reach...The End.

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Happy Fourth of July to My Friends in USA

Enjoy the long weekend! I have to work today, but I'm off on Monday. So looking forward to a nice long weekend.

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In the Dentist's Chair...

On Tuesday, I had to go to the dentist because my tooth broke while I was eating salad. I didn't bite the fork...just a mouth full of lettuce and dressing when suddenly, I felt something hard. Grossed me out when I saw part of a tooth, until I realized it was mine!

Okay, so I go to the dentist knowing that I will need to have a crown. That means lots of sitting and waiting, so I took along my "Fire in Fiction" by Donald Maass so I could spend the time learning how to fire up my manuscript. The doctor came in and looked at the tooth while her assistant prepped the torture instruments.

Next, she applied the nasty tasting pre-numbing solution. I saw her lean closer to read the cover of my book. She asked, "Oh, you are a writer?"

"Yes," said I. (Wondering if I will get something good out of this visit to include in my writing)

"That's interesting." Then she lifted the needle large enough to put a bull elephant to sleep in less than 3 seconds. She rammed it into my mouth and I tried not to jump. Since I was so good, she decided to twist it upward and try again. I did jump a little, hoping she would be satisfied and take the needle away. But, noooo, she jabbed it into my lower gum next. I hate needles!

Then, blessedly, she was finished. Whew. She raised my chair so I could read my book and told me she'd be back in a few minutes to see how I was progressing. Okay, I guess that means to see if I was getting numb. So, I proceeded to read and try to forget what would be coming next. (shudder)

About five minutes later the dentist appeared again with a smile bordering on that of Garfield about to squash Odie. All teeth. You know what I mean? She asked how I was doing. I told her I could feel tingling along my chin now. Wrong answer.

"I'm just going to give you a little bit more, baby girl." (Baby girl??? Now, I'm starting to get scared. Really scared.) So she gets a needle, which has grown in size, and shoots me up a little more.

A little more time reading and the walking smile returns.

Then, the drilling began. Oh, how I hate that sound! The dentist proceeded to stretch my mouth to an unnatural width, and her assistant stuck a fire hose into the opposite side of my mouth to siphen out the overflow (or to hide the blood?). I hear them chatting happily, while I'm verging on a migraine headache. Pain throbbing in my temples, while the drilling continues. I'm praying they finish soon. Not going to happen.

Next, they put a rubber thing between my teeth and tell me to bite down. That is supposed to keep my mouth just right for the drilling to continue. But, the doctor is having a problem getting to one side of my tooth. So, they change sides! Now the dentist is on my left and with a happy grin, says, "Ah, this is much better!"

They talk about how great I'm doing. How do they know? They have no idea I'd like to club both of them and shove the drill down their throats! Now I can smell something burning. And taste burnt residue in my mouth. Oh, please, I pray, haven't they reached my stomach yet?

Finally, they finish. Both are happily praising the wonderful job they did. The rubber thing is removed from my mouth and two Garfield faces look at me. "You're such a good patient."

I try to smile, know I'm smiling lopsided, and say, "Actually, I'm just preparing my fists to slug both of you."

Laughter. They think I'm kidding.

"Our patient is a writer," says the dentist. "Maybe we'll wind up in her next book."

I reply, "Oh, don't worry. You will. Both of you. I will kill you both. It's legal you know!"

More laughter.

Then they squirt a ton of mushy cold clay down my throat and tell me to bite down.

Have you ever heard a dentist rave about making a wonderful impression? Have you ever seen what those impressions look like? I have. My dentist showed me. She was so happy with the way it turned out. She explained everything, like "See this? This is where your gum is...and this is...oh, this is just so beautiful!" It looks like blue and orange brass knuckles to me.

After one more impression, the assistant finally seats the temporary crown and I'm free to go...after I pay $300 for the first half of the expense of having a permanent crown made.

Sigh...so much pain for so much money.

Then I have to go back to work. My throat is numb, my bottom lip is numb, my tongue is numb, the whole left side of my face is numb. I looked at myself and tried to smile. Nearly screamed. What a scary thing to behold! So, I stopped and bought myself a chocolate Frosty for lunch. I mean, what else could I eat? I closed my office door because I didn't want anyone to see how much trouble I had trying to slurp that ice cream off the spoon seated in the right side of my mouth. Then I looked down and saw a nice chocolate drip on my blouse. Thank goodness for Tide to Go. I cleaned that spot and then proceeded to eat again. Looked down and found another drip on my blouse. Cleaned that. Grabbed my little mirror and looked at myself. A big blog of chocolate was sitting on my chin. And I didn't even feel it!

A couple of hours later, I could speak with some clarity. Boss called me in. We chatted about a report and when I got up to leave he said, "Do you have any idea how you sound when you talk?" Then, this high faluting president said, "blubba, blub, blub, blubba!" My face must have shown my shock. Then he said, "Just kidding."

Oh, not funny. He will also be killed off in my novel.

Thanks for stopping by!

I Need Help...I Am A Perfectionist!

I admit that I am a perfectionist. I don't know if I can ever be cured.

Being a perfectionist keeps me from sleeping. Problems crawl around in my head like little parasites and won't leave me alone.

What am I to do?

I took the test on Discovery Health on Perfectionism. Click here to take the test: http://discoveryhealth.queendom.com/perfectionism_abridged_access.html

Their description of Perfectionism is below, followed by my score and what it means.

About Perfectionism
Perfectionism can be a healthy quality that drives a person to try his/her best and to make the effort to excel. Some people, however, take the strive for perfection too far...and there is a price to pay. Extreme perfectionists are forever dissatisfied; they can never fulfill their own expectations so, in their own eyes, they are always failures. Chronic perfectionism is driven by deep-seated feelings of inferiority and self-hate, and by nature it reinforces a negative self-image. Performing tasks or fulfilling goals becomes intimidating and unpleasant, since the perfectionist knows deep down that the finished product will never meet his/her expectations. So the perfectionist might have problems with procrastination. Perfectionism, then, can become a double-edged sword - the perfectionist is driven by a desire to succeed, as well as a fear of failure which leaves him/her paralyzed.

In all realms, striving for excellence can be beneficial and lead to a fulfilling professional and personal life. Accepting nothing less than excellence, on the other hand, can be emotionally scarring.




Results of Your Perfectionism Test

Perfectionism

Your score = 63




What does your score mean?
According to this test, you have some perfectionist tendencies that may be making you unnecessarily unhappy. You sometimes set high standards that are difficult to meet; either you impose those expectations on yourself, others, or a combination of the two. You may even think that others expect you to be perfect. While a desire to do your very best and strive to reach your full potential can bring you personal fulfillment, you have to learn when good is 'good enough'. It's important that you strengthen your ability to distinguish between reasonable aspirations and unrealistic demands. When you set unattainable objectives, you are being cruel to yourself and denying yourself the rewards and self-acceptance that you deserve.