Writing and Motherhood

It's been too long since my last post. Life has been wonderful and busy. Last year we became licensed foster parents, and have been enjoying our foster infant for the past 7+ months. The addition of an infant has blessed us with baby belly laughs and sweet coos, along with sleepless nights and a serious decrease in writing time. Thankfully I'm getting back into a writing schedule, but it's been a long time in coming.

Being a writing mom requires flexibility. Lots and lots of flexibility. And caffeine. Becoming a foster mom has been the single most challenging thing I've ever done (or asked my family to do). It's also been one of the most rewarding. It's taught me a lot about patience. Something I'm always in short supply of. It's also taught me the value and necessity of daily--sometimes hourly-- self care.

Writing and reading are an important part of my self care. I need to write every day, and for the better part of the last year, that's meant writing in a journal. Nothing intended for publication, but rather an outlet for the tangled words pulled out of my too-full brain. I've plotted books, and written a few pages in books I plan to finish this year. But for the most part, my creative productivity has been severely lacking. I've had to shelve a lot of guilt over that.

I've been quite the productive mom, however, and my family is thankful. I have a deep sense of satisfaction over that. Now my creative side is begging for more time, and I'm making it happen. I watch other writing moms and marvel at how they seem to effortlessly balance everything. I doubt it's truly effortless, but they're so good at what they do, it's inspiring to see.

There's an art to knowing when and how to devote your time to the important things. After a few more snuggles with my kids, I'm putting my pen to paper.

Writing Friends

I've been quiet on the blog front for a while because I've been busy running after kids, teaching, volunteering, and trying to fit sleep in between. I'm firmly back in my writing cave and can't wait to reconnect with my writing family and lovely readers.

But first, a shameless plug--If you haven't heard, Stone Cold Revenge, the second book in my Set in Stone series, is available for Kindle and Nook now. *whistles, cheers*

Okay, now for the meat of my post. I love my writing friends. They're an amazingly talented group of brilliant, witty, awesome folks who are the icing on the cake of this writing career. They include other writers, bloggers/reviewers, and dedicated readers. I love them all!

Nobody quite understands the quirks, challenges, and dramatic highs and lows of writing like someone in the business. And nothing fires me up quite like a fast-paced brainstorming session or the exchange of book recommendations. Hey, someone has to share this book addiction with me! Thankfully, I'm in good company. *winks*

I'll soon be featuring some of my favorite writing friends on the blog, so you can get to know them. I have no doubt you'll love their stories as much as I do!

Cheers to an amazing week!

Ready For Fall

I hope you enjoyed a fabulous Labor Day weekend. For me, that means fall is (un)officially here, and I couldn't be happier. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my lazy and sometimes crazy summer days to the fullest. But fall has always been my favorite season.

I love when the air turns brisk (we get 4 distinct seasons here), and I have to dig out my favorite jacket. When the leaves turn colors, it's absolutely gorgeous. It also means celebrating my favorite holiday with Halloween costume planning and pumpkin carving parties. Let's not forget sending the kids back to school because by this point, we're ALL ready to get back into a routine.

Of course, that first means tackling the mountain of laundry that never seems to get caught up in the summer months. I also spend a lot more time baking, which is also helpful when I need to brainstorm.
Tinkering in the kitchen is one of my hobbies, born out of necessity and a genuine enjoyment for throwing ingredients together. The return of cooler weather means hot drinks (stove top cocoa anyone?), homemade soups that simmer all afternoon, and baked goods that make the house smell divine--pumpkin pie, muffins and chocolate peanut butter cups are all family favorites.

I'm not sure what it is, but the autumn months kick my productivity into high gear. I pull out recipes, craft projects, home projects, and ramp up my writing. Motivation isn't a problem, but extra hours in the day would be welcome. *grins*

Here's to a lovely and productive fall for all of us! I'd love to know, what's your favorite thing about fall?

How Time Flies

I can't believe I haven't posted for so long. As they say, time flies when you're having fun. Or busy working, whichever the case may be. I wanted to jump in and update everyone on what I'm doing, and upcoming giveaways.

I've been working hard on a gargoyle YA I'm so excited about. I don't have a title yet, but I'm toying with the idea of doing a title contest and giveaway. I hope you love Dev as much as I do. I have a number of projects in the works, and shortly after my gargoyle YA releases, I'll be finishing a YA ghost story. I tried writing it as a straight paranormal romance, but it needed a YA twist before it really started to flow. What's better than a haunted mansion with a tragic love story, one begging to be rewritten? TIME WILL TELL will be out in October--perfect for some Halloween fun. And goodies! I'll be doing fun giveaways in honor of my favorite holiday, so stay tuned...

Ghosts and gargoyles, what could be better? I'll also be doing something fun with a great group of paranormal writers. We have all sorts of treats and mischief planned for you. *rubs hands with glee*

I've managed to sneak in some reading time, too. I'm currently in love with Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it!  What great books have you read this summer? Next on my list is Deborah Harkness' Shadow of Night. It's a fabulous series with witches, vampires, and delicious heaps of history. It satisfies the paranormal/history/romance lover all in one book.

I hope you're all enjoying a lovely summer! Stay tuned, stay cool and keep reading.

Conference Recap

I'm still recovering from a great weekend in Scottsdale. And by recovering, I mean letting my brain recharge. What a gorgeous place! The sunshine and warm temps lifted my mood (especially since I left gray, gloomy weather and returned to gray, gloomy weather).

So, the highlights of the conference...

I presented a workshop with one of my favorite people in the whole world, Amber Scott. We co-authored MUSE FOOD, and our workshop was all about keeping your muse happy and well-fed. We handed out muse "snacks", and one of the participants created the cutest Play-doh bunny while we spoke.

Do you like our aprons?

I also made new writing friends, which is always a treat. No one understands crazy...er...I mean writing, like another writer. And these women all balance their writing careers, motherhood, and a million other things successfully. Chatting with them was inspiring, uplifting, hilarious and fun.

One of my favorite things about conferences is that you can literally bump into your favorite author or dream agent. I had the chance to have breakfast with a funny editor I'd love to work with down the road. *fingers crossed* She also recommended a few books, and hey, anyone who enables my reading habit is a friend for life.

I also got to chat a little with Brenda Novak. Talk about gracious! I met her before at the Emerald City Writer's Conference two years ago, and was struck by her awesome personality then. She takes the time to talk to her fans and is such a sweetheart (not to mention a talented writer). She's on my auto-buy list forever.

Last but not least, I've got a hundred ideas floating around in my brain. It'll take me a while to sort them out and put pen to paper, but it's like a creative rebirth. I'm heading in a new (not different, just new) direction, and I can't wait to see where it leads.

Happy International Children's Book Day!

Thanks to the power of Twitter, I learned today is International Children's Book Day. I'm marking the calendar and plan to make this an annual event in our house. I love children's books. I spent most of my weekend reading a stack I borrowed from the elementary/middle school library I volunteer at, including:

INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher (an upper MG steam punk/fantasy)
LILY'S GHOSTS by Laura Ruby (a MG ghost story with a touch of humor)
DEEP, DARK AND DANGEROUS by Mary Downing Hahn (a well-written, delightfully unnerving ghost story)

The cold I'm fighting was added incentive, but I planned to plow through a stack of books for spring break anyway.

Lifelong readers can all tell you about their most memorable childhood books--mine range from solving mysteries with Nancy Drew to smiling with the lyrical Dr. Seuss to learning life lessons with the beautifully written and illustrated Serendipity Books by Stephen Cosgrove & Robin James. Many of us are still reading children's books today. Maybe it's because we never tire of the adventures. Or maybe we want to always stay in touch with our inner child and ability to play. It's mostly sure because we love a well-told story.

The magic of books is that it can be all of those things and more. I hope you all celebrate your love of reading and this special day. Read a children's book, new or old. Read to a child. Visit a library. Pick up a popular book (Hunger Games anyone?) or try one with a beautiful cover. Grab a picture book, middle grade or young adult. Better yet, ask a child for a recommendation. The kids I work with at the library always have great suggestions (and even better imaginations).

I'm starting MAGYK by Angie Sage today. What are you going to be reading?

Teaser Trailer

I have a minute of awesomeness to share with you. The lovely, talented, super amazing Rachel Firasek has agreed to do a book trailer for the Set in Stone series. Everybody happy dance with me! While I anxiously await my new covers (hooray!), she surprised me with this teaser trailer:

http://youtu.be/DXz-XxfZrOs

Have I mentioned she's amazing? Oh, and she's also a writer. Her phoenix series is a must read. A word of caution--your e-reader will definitely start smoking because her books are steamy hot. *winks* Learn more about Rachel and her books here.

Life has been crazy for me lately, and I apologize for my infrequent posts. My lovely mother-in-law lost a long, valiant battle with cancer, and I've been spending much needed time with family. It's amazing how life's transitions cause you to re-evaluate your life and get your priorities straight. At the time, the speed bumps in life are unwelcome. Horrible even. They can also be bittersweet blessings in disguise. My mother-in-law had a creative outlet in quilting. Her talent with color was unique and surprising. She wasn't shy about using color, and the results worked beautifully time and again. I hope to find and harness that kind of talent with my writing this year, with her quilts hanging around me for inspiration.

Rachel's creative talent was one of the first things I found waiting in my in-box when I rejoined the real world. What a gift! I hope you enjoyed it, and I can hardly wait to share the series trailer soon.

I highly recommend you go and enjoy something creative today (including the trailer!) :-)

Jess

Villain Love

I love bad boys. Not the leather-wearing, chain-smoking kind of bad guys, but rather true villains. I think they deserve a little reader love. They bring much-needed tension to a story, and they're fascinating characters. But it's more than that. They bring stories to life in a way a hunky hero or sassy heroine never could. Their nefarious deeds and unpredictable actions make for great reading, but I want to know why they do what they do.

As a writer, I want to crawl into their heads. It's not always a comfortable place to be, but everyone--and I mean everyone--has a story. It gives us an idea of what motivates them, or what made them nasty in the first place. And every character's story shapes the story you find in the pages of your favorite book, for better or worse. I feel sympathy for some of the villains in my favorite stories. I don't excuse their terrible behavior, but without it, the story wouldn't necessarily have resonated with me.

Take Stryker from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. The guy has done some heinous things. But when you read his story, you can't help but soften toward him (at least I did). Ms. Kenyon always does a masterful job balancing the good and evil in a character. Stryker chooses to go the evil route more often than not, but his intentions are validated through his story.

Or what about V'Lane from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series? I can't totally hate him, and not because he's gorgeous (in case you haven't read the series, I won't give away any spoilers).

Then you have a character like Voldemort. It's hard to drum up any sympathy for someone who orchestrated so many terrible acts of evil. Yet without him, Harry Potter would have gone nowhere. His potential may have been unrealized. Dumbledore would have died an inglorious death, and we would have never known Snape--who was almost easier to hate--was a good guy all along.

I don't believe any character, real or imagined, is 100% good or evil. Granted, we don't all have homicidal tendencies. But I call BS on the people who claim to have the best of intentions all day, every day. We're flawed. Villains are more flawed, sometimes terribly so. Those flaws are what give our heroes and heroines an opportunity to grow. Not unlike the nasty characters we encounter in our everyday lives.

Villains play an important role in fiction. They're an essential half of the all-important good vs. evil equation. They give us a reason to root for the good guy. When they're defeated, they give us hope that maybe, just maybe, we can defeat the negativity in our own lives. For that reason alone, I have to give them credit. I'll always root for the good guy, but a small part of me will do the same for the bad guy. Because hey, that's what makes for a great book. ;-)

Who's your favorite villain?

The Lure of YA

It's official. I'm hooked on YA books. This is a big deal because a) my book budget is already stretched to the max, and b) I made the mistake of thinking about my brutal teenage years and believed reading about more teen angst would irritate me. May I say I've been happily proven wrong on that erroroneous assumption. As for the other, well, like any good book addict, I make it work. *grins*

I finally (yes, FINALLY) started The Hunger Games. I can't remember the last time I was sucked into a story so fast. I devoured the first book in a few hours and rushed out to get the second. I love the message Suzanne Collins is conveying, and the authenticity of her characters and world-building. Pure awesomeness.
I also recently read Fateful by Claudia Gray and Supernaturally by Kiersten White--both awesome paranormal reads with very different tones, but equally engaging. I enjoyed them for the same reason I've avoided them for so long--the teen perspective. It's so different from what I'm used to reading. The problems aren't less dramatic or painful, but teen characters approach these issues differently. Apparently I'm old enough to now appreciate the youthful ideals and melodrama in a way I couldn't when I was experiencing it as a teen. (feel free to insert an old joke here)

The best part is knowing I can share these books with my oldest daughter in a couple of years. We already read middle grade books and discuss them. Being able to talk to her about the issues YA writers present in their books is a golden opportunity to introduce difficult topics in a way I might have struggled to otherwise (thank you YA writers!) Ah, the power of books...

So here's my dilemma. I need recommendations so I can delve deeper into the world of YA. I have no idea what to try next, but I know that die hard YA fans can point me in the right direction. I'd love to know--what is the best YA book or series you've read and why?

Life is like a batch of edits

Edits. Revisions. Torture. Call it what you will, but they hit every writer with a different, yet powerful emotion--terror, sorrow, anxiety... I know a number of authors in various stages of the revision process, and a big, key theme is stress. Stress to meet the deadline, stress to do the edits right, stress to change something in their beloved story. It's this last one I secretly love.

Have I mentioned I'm a glutton for punishment?

Writers are attached to their stories and characters for good reason. We've lived with them in our heads for weeks, months or years. When the book goes to print, the attachment has waned for some, and strengthened for others. And each of these books went through an arduous editing process. Cherished scenes hit the cutting room floor. Characters we adored had names changed. And *gasp* we may have even had to add more. More! To an already perfect (in our eyes) story!

Life is exactly the same way. We cut out the junk that doesn't work. Toxic people, horrible jobs, extra weight, and our jeans from 10 years ago. We might not go so far as to change our names, but we change our hairstyles, our weekly dinner meals and our cars to name a few. And we're always adding--to our social circle, closet, pantry, credit card debt...the list goes on.

So why do authors resist the editing process so much? We experience this constant revising each and every day. I can't answer for everyone, but my initial reaction is to take a deep breath and ignore that inner voice that screams at me to panic. I know my editors--lovely ladies, each and every one of them--are asking for changes that make the story better. They expect more from me, believing I can deliver it.

Life is no different!

When you're open to change, the process, while at times painful, can alter the end result in the most amazing ways. I can't promise you'll win a personality or beauty contest, but I can assure you of one thing--you'll have to revise again. And again. And again. And just when you think you'll duct tape the entire head of the next person who dares ask you about the editing process and...ahem...what I mean is, just when you think you're done, you'll realize you're not. You can always improve on some area of your life. The trick is to know when you've hit that point where you're proud to display your latest efforts for the entire world to see.

It's not about perfection. It's about knowing when to improve things, or when you're at the best you can be. Embrace the opportunities to revise the areas of your life that could use a little polish. You and I both know you can deliver that. And don't be afraid of the process. Editing can be fun, I promise.

You Might Be A Paranormal Junkie If...

Those of us who read paranormal romances know what the rest of the world doesn't--supernatural hotties just have that charisma, that element of danger, that sexy aura that can pull us into a story faster than anything else. I recently took stock of my book shelves and noticed they were filled with as many supernatural protagonists as there are creative minds in the writing world. Am I addicted? Possibly. Are you? If you answer Yes to any of the following, you might be too...

You might be a paranormal junkie if...

• You can't handle your husband's Chia Pet-like back hair, but drool over the sexy were in your latest urban fantasy read.
• You keel over at the first sign of a needle, but would think nothing of offering your neck to a vampire hottie.
• The thought of ghosts freaks you out, but if they all looked like Patrick Swayze in GHOST, you'd create your own ghost hunting group.
• You secretly wish the cop who just gave you a speeding ticket would turn into a shifter and take you away to give you his mate mark.
• You know who I'm talking about when I say, "Sam and Dean."
• You go to flea markets and rub every cheap, grubby bottle hoping to nab your very own dijinn.
• You join your local Bigfoot Research group with the hopes of catching a werewolf mid-change.  
• You're convinced the gorgeous guy you made eye contact with at the coffee shop this morning was actually reading your mind because he's psychic and fated for you. 
• You get into a physical altercation with your best friend because she has the nerve to think your book boyfriend belongs to her.

This is by no means a complete list. And if you answered yes to most of them, you need to know one thing--you're in good company. All I can say is thank you to the muses of the many authors who make these heroes so real to us. I'll continue to give them all the shelf space they deserve. ;)

If you have any criteria to add, I'd love to hear it!

All About Gargoyles

Recently my poor husband was put in the awkward position of explaining gargoyles to his grandmother. She has a copy of STONE COLD SEDUCTION, and it's safe to say she's never read a book in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre. EVER. Like I said, it was awkward.

I thought I should probably come up with a short tutorial on gargoyles to clear up any confusion on the topic. This information will also come in handy if you ever have a philosophical debate about supernatural creatures.

Gargoyles are made out of stone. Yes, that means everywhere and no, it doesn't limit their movement. (If that sounds impossible, let me point out that vampires are dead and somehow they don't rot.) However, they're not stone all the time. Like shifters, they can change at will. When they're emotions run high and their control slips, you might also get a glimpse of a rock hard hottie. Just don't piss them off.

Gargoyles can fly and baby, it's all about the wingspan. From a functional standpoint, their wings have to support their weight. But let's be honest, we're not interested in functional, are we? Heck no. Size matters. The bigger the wingspan, the better the gargoyle is. At protecting. Their wings are weapons and means of transportation. They might also be erogenous zones, but you'll have to find that out for yourself. Ahem.

Gargoyles aren't all ugly. Quite the opposite. Michelangelo knew if you're going to carve a form into stone, you've got to carve perfection. Need proof? Meet Jax...

Gargoyles have feelings too. This one is important. They might be made out of stone, but their emotions are real. Maybe you have one in your garden, or you've seen one peering from the eaves of a Gothic-style building. Those guys are protection their space and do they ever get credit? Nope. Whether they look like a garden ghoul or Jax, they all deserve a little love.

Gargoyles fight for the good guys. People think they're evil, but they were created to guard against evil. Independent studies have proven the hideous faces gargoyles make repel evil spirits 5 times better than the leading...er...I mean, they can be ugly because it scares the hell out of evil.

The bottom line is that gargoyles rock (pun intended). They can be ugly or sexy, but they're all protectors. The next time you see one, you should definitely give him a hug. If you're lucky, he'll show you his wings. *winks*

So go forth and hug a gargoyle. Trust me, he'll thank you.

My Book Boyfriend Giveaway

It's GIVEAWAY time!

I'm participating in a blog hop and offering you a chance to win an e-book of my latest release, Stone Cold Seduction. Check out the details below:

My Book Boyfriend Giveaway Hop Hosted is by Reading Between the Wines Book Club & As the Pages Turn Giveaway. The hop will run from 12:01 AM February 1st through to 11:59 PM February 5th, 2012.

What better way to celebrate the month of LOVE then with your favorite book boyfriend? Whether you have a valentine or not, the swoon worthy heroes we find in romances can’t be matched anyway! So why not put on those naughty underwear and curl up with one of these steamy reads this year instead? Make you Valentine’s Day perfect by joining the My Book Boyfriend Giveaway Hop where fellow bloggers offer you the chance to win some of their favorite book boyfriends!

So here's the deal: To enter, leave a comment below and tell me about your book boyfriend. Which sexy hero made your pulse race long after you read the last page? Don't forget to leave your email! For me, no hero compares to Acheron, the gorgeous, tortured hero with his own book in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. *fans self* Her heroes are all well-written, but Ash is something else.

Want an extra chances to win? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and the blog and let me know in your comment (no more than 4 entries per person).
Contest is open to international entries.

 Check out these other blogs for more amazing giveaways:

Symptoms of Crazy

I've posted about being crazy before, and now that 2012 has finally arrived, I'd like to revisit the topic. It's no secret that many people think I'm crazy. That judgement used to bother me a lot, but it wasn't just the label that irritated me. It was the assumption that I was the crazy one. I think many of these people are far crazier than I could ever be. I've seen a number of alarming symptoms they all share. So here's my public service announcement for the month. You know you're crazy if...

• You refuse to chase, waddle, run, dance or skip after your dreams. Never growing (in any direction) is plain crazy. It's important to note that everyone's dreams are different. Sometimes wildly different. If your dream is to raise alpacas or start a mushroom growing company (the legitimate kind), I say go for it. With no hint of sarcasm or disbelief. Dreams are original and wonderful. Don't let them go to waste.

• You ignore the voices in your head. It's not crazy to hear them. It's crazy to ignore them. Mine give me the best ideas on a daily--sometimes hourly--basis. Call them your muse posse, your little buddies, or whatever. These voices can be the spark of genius if you only let them.

• You go along with the crowd. Yeah, you might be cute, but that still makes you a sheep.

 

Resist the urge to be one of many, and focus on being one in a million. (Hint--that's all you baby!)

It's okay if people think you're crazy as long as you have none of the above symptoms. Do what you love and be true to yourself. You'd be crazy not to.

2012--New Year or Apocalypse?

Christmas has barely ended and I'm ready to hit the ground running toward the new year. I can hardly wait for 2012 to start. I won't bore you with yet another New Year's resolution post. I'd rather talk about the 2012 apocalypse. First let me say I think the end of the world theory is BS. Yes, I know, the Mayan calendar ends, a ginormous explosion obliterating Earth? Or maybe we'll experience a Rapture-like occurrence? Or not. (On a quick side note, if that did happen, can I hand-pick a few who should poof out of existence?)

All joking aside, I do think there are a few things we do need to prepare ourselves for (no Mayan calendar required):

1) Reality show takeovers. Laugh if you must, but this is a serious--and potentially deadly--issue. Zombies don't have anything on reality show stars. Their brain-eating abilities are wasted on the folks who will humiliate themselves to prove they desperately want to win money or have their 15 minutes of fame. Prepare yourself by watching anything but these shows. I'm begging you. Take up knitting. Or baking. Or anything that averts your eyes and saves your mind from deteriorating into sludge.

2) Elections. If you cringed just reading the word, you're in good company. If you like to debate politics, you are at the wrong blog. I don't live in a bunker, but during campaign time, I want to. Frankly, I don't want to hear any politician tell me what they will do. I'd rather they not talk and just do it. *snicker* Okay, I know that's as likely as reality stars disappearing overnight. Prepare yourself by ignoring the incessant, useless campaign commercials (unless you want to make it part of a drinking game). But please do remember to vote.

3) Resolution Rebound. Have you heard of this one? It's the moment you realize your New Year's resolutions have fizzled out, and you console yourself by shopping, eating, napping, eating, weeping, eating, or some other activity that ultimately makes you feel worse. Prepare yourself by setting small, manageable goals. Better yet, don't set a specific goal, but instead plan to have a fabulous year no matter what comes your way. That's right, I'm talking fun, fun, and more fun.

4) Same old, same old. This one scares me the most. Whatever you do, no matter the situation, please don't resign yourself to another year of the same old existence. This includes staying in a job you hate, putting effort into a relationship that hurts you, or moving through your waking hours on auto-pilot (you know, that mindless daze that enables us to do the bare minimum with absolutely no joy). Prepare yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone. Do something out of the ordinary--drink chai tea instead of the double latte, drive a new route home, apply for your dream job, take a cooking class--anything that catches your fancy. The idea is to add depth and breadth to your life with no regard for the end of the world doom and gloom.

Make it one helluva a year, baby! Cheers for a fabulous 2012!
Jess

Holiday Favorites

Happy Holidays! I hope you're all enjoying the hustle and bustle of the season, and also the winding down of 2011. I love this time of year. I love gift giving, hot drinks, warm blankets, happy kids on Christmas morning, and preparing for the new and exciting year to come. It seems everyone has traditions that are near and dear to their heart, and I'm no exception. Here are a few of my seasonal favorites:

1) Christmas shows. I record them all. Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Polar Express, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...I could go on and on. I'd love to say I record them for my kids, but the sad truth is that I'm far more excited to watch them. Okay, my husband makes me watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation every year so he can recite every line, but it's still entertaining.

2) Hot chocolate. I drink this year round, but this time of year is different. Nothing beats nestling into a comfy chair or couch with a steamy mug of chocolaty awesomeness.

3) Wrapping presents. I know, this sounds weird. Many people find wrapping to be a chore, but it's a relaxing task for my creative side. I love curling ribbons, making elaborate bows, and packaging odd-shaped items. Yes, I need help. *grins*

4) Don't hate me for this one but...I love holiday music. Nobody--and I mean nobody--can sing holiday classics like Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. I could listen to those guys sing White Christmas all day long.

5) The smell of the season. Christmas trees, candy canes, holiday baking, all of those scents that create the warm, fuzzy feeling of comfort. Bliss.

What are some of your favorite things about the holiday season?

Best wishes for you and yours for a fabulous holiday!

Great Minds

I'm finally recovered from my time at the Emerald City Writer's Conference in Bellevue, WA. Nothing beats a weekend with writers. I can talk to them about my everyday writing life, and they don't think I'm crazy for having conversations with multiple personalities--*cough* I mean characters--in my head. The thing I love about the ECWC is that it's a big conference with hundreds of attendees from all over the U.S., and a few other countries. So cool!

My head is still whirling. Don't get me wrong. I love it. Love. It. But sorting through the hundreds of ideas and million-dollar snippets of advice takes a lot of brain power. I had grand plans to get to as many workshops as I could. I ended up spending more time talking to writers. Some published, some not. Some were NY Times Bestsellers, some were book bloggers. All were fabulous. Below is a picture of me with Amber Scott--She's a best-selling author,my co-author for Muse Food, and also co-presenter for our workshops. She's one of the most creative women I know! Her Halloween costume was a zombie Audrey Hepburn. I was a last minute fortune teller (you can't compete with Audrey Hepburn in any form).

Have you ever experienced a collective of creative minds? It's truly awesome. I'm biased, but I think romance writers are some of the most brilliant, generous people around. They share their knowledge without hesitation. They support each other unfailingly. And they're wicked smart. I met authors who are also attorneys, doctors, marketing executives, librarians and moms. All ages and walks of life.


We come together because we share a love of reading and writing. We also want to realize our dreams. And wow are these folks talented story tellers. I came home with a bag full of books and a TBR (to be read) list of many more to buy. I hope Santa's feeling generous this year.

I was able to spend time with some of my fellow Entangled Publishing authors, and also meet one of my writing heroes: Sherrilyn Kenyon. People, she's a rock star in my genre! I had an embarrassing fan girl moment, and she was so gracious. She's one of the coolest women I've met in this business (which is saying a lot judging by the women I know).

Sigh...now it's time for me to get back to work. I have a third and final book to finish. And thanks to the conference, I have at least three more ideas I can't wait to get started on...

Book Reviewers

I have to send a shout out to book bloggers/reviewers. I recently wrapped up the first leg of my blog tour for my latest series. It was a whirlwind of an experience, but one I learned a lot from and thoroughly enjoyed. I had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and here's what I learned:

1) These reviewers are serious about what they do and it shows. Their sites are well done, professional, and reader friendly. Don't visit their sites unless you want your TBR pile to grow exponentially. Yeah, they're that good.

2) They're honest. Every writer wants a great review. But I appreciate the negative ones just as much as the great ones because they're honest. Reviewers have to write a fair review, and it might not always be what an author wants to hear. However, these sites are geared toward readers, not writers. It's not an easy task, and I have to give them props for it.

3) They're gracious and fun. The few I did interviews with were a blast. They all asked at least one question that made me laugh, or made me think hard. The guest posts were fun because I was forced to be creative in a different way than I'm used to. All of them had amazing followers that were a joy to interact with. It's not easy to build a community like that, but they have.

4) They rock. They offer their time to read and review books. I imagine it can occasionally be thankless. As a writer, I appreciate the reviews--good, bad or ugly. I've seen writers rant and rave online about a bad review. So unprofessional, by the way. But a review is an opinion. How can you argue with that? They've donated their time, which we all know is a precious commodity.

These amazing reviewers read multiple books per week. Whether they love them or hate them, I can appreciate the time they took out of their busy lives to make those reviews available to potential readers. They help build relationships between readers and authors, and that's priceless (from an author's AND reader's perspective). So I offer my heartfelt thanks to book bloggers everywhere, and especially the bloggers who were generous enough to review my book and host me at their blog (in no particular order):

• Bad Ass Book Reviews
• Paperback Dolls        
• Parajunkee
• One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
• Book Boost
• Romance Junkies
• Inside of a Dog
• Fresh Fiction
• Bewitched Bookworms
• The Qwillery
• Fang-tastic Books
• Other Worlds of Romance
• Heather Book Savvy Babe
• Night Owl Romance
• Literary Escapism
• Happily Ever After Reads
• Louisa Bacio
• Love To Read For Fun
• For What It's Worth
• All Things Urban Fantasy
• Sizzling Hot Books
• A Bookworm's Haven

Read on, my friends.

Bring on the Banned Books

Happy Banned Books Week! It's a fun week to celebrate. Hundreds of books are challenged every year. The people who challenge these books crack me up and piss me off. By challenging books, they only bring more exposure to them. And they also show how narrow-minded, controlling, scared, and... Okay, I'll stop there, but you get my point.

The American Library Association has a page devoted to Banned Books Week. Check it out here. You can see frequently challenged books sorted by year or decade. I'm sure you'll be as shocked as I was to see some of your favorites on the list.

I'm going to try to read one banned book a week through the end of the year. Every one of those books was created from blood, sweat, and tears. The writers poured a part of their souls into those words, and for someone to challenge their right to be on the shelf is beyond my comprehension. The only thing you or I can do is read the books. Savor the words. If the book could be considered inflammatory, be thankful. That writer had the nerve to write from the heart and say what needed to be said. When you're done, recommend the book to friends.

For me, this issue has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It has everything to do with the right to read whatever the hell I want to. Every reader has a different experience when reading a book. You might hate it, I might love it. How dare someone try to take that literary adventure away from another?

I'll step off my soap box now, but I implore you to read a banned book. Know that the story contained in those pages was powerful enough to scare someone into challenging it. You deserve the chance to experience that for yourself.

What's your favorite banned book?

The Death of My Routine

The day starts as any other. Get the kids off to school and hubby off to work. Write out a lengthy to-do list while juggling football practice and homework, with the hopes of actually getting it all done. Eat dinner, then herd the kids to the bath. Don't forget to schedule doctor's appointments and oops...I'll get to the yard work tomorrow. It's a regular routine. One repeated every week day. On the weekends, subtract school and appointments, and add football games, more chores, and family events. It's only one variation of a day in the life of a busy adult. I'm sure many of you can relate. We all have our busy days, our seemingly never-ending activities.

They quickly become routines, and even typing that word makes me cringe. For me, it's not the busy days that are awful. It's not the day that ends when the kids are in bed, the cleaning is done, the animals are fed, and the house is quiet. Although I do collapse into bed, exhausted.

Even that's not too bad.

The worst day I can imagine is unspectacular because it's routine. It's the day my needs fall by the wayside. No, I don't mean my desire for a pedicure and a vacation. I'm talking about the day I don't follow my passion and feed my soul. It's the day I made excuses and complained about a lack of time because I had so many tasks to do. I didn't make time to challenge myself and acknowledge the extraordinary chaos in my head (otherwise known as my creativity and muse).

My regular routine makes it easy for that nightmare of a day to come to fruition--the day my pen stays on the desk, untouched. My characters are forced to the back of my mind while I cook dinner and play chauffeur. I'm so focused on the inconsequential every day tasks--yes, I group dishes, laundry and such in this category--I forget what I love. The words sit idle and my story remains untold because I'm operating on auto-pilot.

I know better. I occasionally coach people to do the exact opposite of what I'm guilty of. It's all too easy to become stuck in a rut. We simply exist, go through the motions. I'd rather reach too high, fall hard, pick myself up, then eventually achieve. I want to learn, explore, taste, dance and try every creative endeavor that interests me. Especially writing. Dishes and laundry? Not so much.

I've been working hard to create ample time to write and be creative. It's not easy. I'm a mom first. My family's well-being is important to me. Yet so is mine. It's a constant battle to balance it all. Thankfully, I love a good challenge. I'm happy to go to war with my routine. It's great practice for my world domination plans, which have also been sitting on the back burner for too long... *grins*

What do you to get out of a rut?