Tag Archives: authors

RWA Romance Writers of America Conference

Around the world writers are preparing to attend the RWA conference. This will be my first year attending. I had send my 2008/09 manuscript, Dragon’s Mark, into three contests this year. I finaled in the Beacon unpublished hosted by the First Coast Romance Writers chapter and in The Winter Rose hosted by the Yellow Rose of Texas RWA Chapter. I also entered the national Golden Heart as sponsored by RWA.

I didn’t final in the Golden Heart. But I have two friends who did make that final cut into the top three of their categories. Lena Diaz and Gayle Sharp. Both excellent manuscripts. Gayle is in contemporary and Lena’s is in suspense I believe. So, of the eight finalists I am pulling for those two.

A man even wrote a romance and made the final cut so it is an equal opportunity contest.

This being my first RWA conference I’ll try to post my unique perspective as the week unfolds. So buckle your seat belt and take the ride with me.

I have RWA travel buttons for sale at the Conference. It is going to be my “thing” to be able to talk to people I might normally be too shy to talk to. JR Ward where are you love?…”Have your purchased your RWA travel button?” Ah Sherrilyn Kenyon? “No button…I can fix you right up.” OH and there you are Lora Leigh. “Have you seen these lovely travel buttons. I think you need one..”

Now isn’t that conversation much better than gasping fish face and a squeaked, squawked…”Do you know who you are?”

So if you are going to be at the RWA conference.. I am your travel button HO. They are $2.00 each on location. Charlie said she was wearing one for a conference and at the air port was able to identify other travelers and connect on a shared cab. So there you go, testimonial.

Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe

Today I introduce some of my inspirations for heroines. My friends will know that I have been searching for my heroine voice lately. A Female who is powerful…yes…… maybe kick ass to an extent…… but still vulnerable. I did an interview with her a few weeks back. She is shall we say….incubating..emerging um…developing. I like her. She does scare me a little bit. But, I am coming to love her very much. she is very complex and easily misunderstood.

Her archtype, if you are interested, seems to be the masculine, lost soul. She has dimensions of warrior in some incantations, another male arch, with the female Crusader. In other incantations she is nurturer/healer. The process to find her has been intensely painful in ways I can never describe on paper. But those of you are are true friends and love me know the pain her birth has caused me. Enough of that.

However, I am such a visual innovative personality. Here are some visual inspirations for my girl. No, she really doesn’t have a name yet. My female muse is the best I can announce at the moment. *laughs sadly*
Tell me what you think.

I wanted tough ‘take no nonsense’ but vunerable.

She should be appealing in ways that all women would find relate-able.

Oh and did I mention.. It probably goes without saying for those of you who know me.

She MUST MUST MUST be sexy.

But I do want a bit of kick ass

Fantasy Man er. Monday

Have you missed my Fantasy Men? I sure have. So this week I got a little wrapped up with these guys and didn’t let them out of bed until it was er…Tuesday.. Enjoy

Of course I meant to share… I really did…. but my hands were so busy exploring this Monday’s candidates that well…. I just got occupied and lost track of time.

But some of you have come to me and made it clear that I wasn’t holding up my end of the week by keeping all the Fantasy Men in my bedroom.. That I needed to be more civic minded and start sharing again.. Too many Monday’s had passed without me letting the boys come out to play.

So I promise to reform.. to try harder to keep my hands off the goods and to share my toys with friends without being so damn selfish…

*sigh* Well I will try harder. There’s always next Monday.

Come here boys.. Since it IS TUESDAY and all.

Fantasy Man Monday

Another week rolls around. My friend Maria is my inspiration for this weeks Fantasy Man. She didn’t like my squeaky clean boys from last week.. So, here this week is for you Maria… Let’s take a look at some some Fantasy Men that might not minding getting a little dirty in the cause of fun.

Here are the men who clearly don’t make any apologies for their zest for living.

Those sexy men with an edge that you want to scratch all your itchy places against.

Or perhaps find out if the hay smells just as sweet on the other side of the field.

Whoo… Makes you just want to see stars doesn’t it???


And see where that itch will lead…

Let’s hear it for the naughty boys of Monday..

Enjoy!

Fantasy Man Monday

Man chicca’s The world has almost stopped revolving… I missed Fantasy Man Monday last Week… Can’t have that happening. I’ll just close my right eye and make the left one see enough to do this post.

I’ve been exploring a rough patch lately..with eye issues, major work crunchs, school is out of control…Dang…time for Male Art.

What do you think of candidate Number 1? Art Worthy…

Candidate Number 2…Can’t resist a man in a Kilt? Tell me about it?

Candidate Number 3… I’m feeing the need for a bath coming on…

Feed the Muse

I have been having a very interesting experience while I’ve dealt with pressures at work on the day job, grad school crap, surgeries number 3 of 4 or 5, Corneal Dystrophy with ulcerated corneal abrasion in one eye..My grown daughter returned to husband returning from diployment. Just a whole storm of events that have shaken up the fabric of my personal universe. I haven’t written on my work in progress for a month because of above mentioned excuses.

I know it is more than that. I love the work..but something was bothering me about my writing. My critique partner helped me identify the problem and I think I have a handle on fixing it. But there was a deeper problem in my whole bag of tricks.

I have a strong male pov voice in my writing. I think my heroines pale in comparison. One agent in a gentle rejection commented that my heroine is that ordinary girl next door that is more a prop than real charcter. Okay yes..it stings…but I can’t hate the truth.

I accepted that You know what. Being female doesn’t just give me a free ticket on female pov voice. Damn who would have though it. So being pro-active…I set out to find my female muse. I had to look long and hard for her. She was not easy to pry out of my unconscious mind.

However, she has arrived. I don’t know what is in store for her in the future but I am hopeful. See what you think of her. She has a name but has asked me to keep it quiet for now. She believes names have power and isn’t interested in sharing hers.

She is damaged, some think her shattered even. She fills up the room with her presence just by walking into it. I didn’t plan on that…it just happened. She is funny as hell in a dry ironic sort of way. She has male character arch types combining the Lost Soul and the Bad boy a splash of warrior. Blended with the female crusader. She is vunerable but if you see it she might knife you.

She has very feminine internal thoughts but her dialogue and through processes are very masculine. That is to say…The female content of her thoughts is structured in a masculine organizational pattern. Action/reaction problem/solution. Yet, she is seeking, acceptance, belonging, her place in the universe and a fix for her brokenness.. Although she will never admit to that. Well, I guess I am telling you all this because I’m a little nervous you you meeting her for the first time. I often don’t know what will happen with her. But enough telling…Showing would be in order.

****

“Eden is all talk, talk, talk.” I look around bored with the whole introduction. “She means well but good lord does the female ever shut up.”

“All and all I am getting used to the working relationship with her. I like that she brings me puzzles and lets me solve them. I like telling her what to do. I told her if she quit listening I’m packin it outta here– So far so good.”

“Okay, I’m the monkey on display in her blog today. What do you people want? I’m not giving you a whole back story monologue of what makes me tick.” *tapping my finger to my temple* “I am not so much into that whole touchie feelie, so why do you say that? crap.”

“Shit happens. Often to the best of people on a good day to the worst of people. Karma, she is a bitch and doesn’t take prisoners last time I noticed.”

*I hear Eden again…*

“Oh dear god she is jabbering at me again.”

EDEN: Tell them …

ME to EDEN: Yeah..”I am talking to your freaky friends. Okay. Now sit there and listen while I get thru this the best I can. I told you about poking at me before. Back story is back story. Take notes if you have to but…just shut it. I didn’t want to be paraded out here like your trick pony but you wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Frankly she black mailed me into this. She won’t let me go do what I want to do until I do what she wants me to do. Yeah this symbiotic relationship is a bitch. I’m working on that angle too.”

**thinking. ** ~I have to admit though, I came to her because Eden is a warrior..not unlike myself. She doesn’t know it. She just hasn’t had the right kind of training. Maybe there is something I can to to help straighten her out. Frankly her life is a mess, but she might be worth the effort.~**

“Okay. So I was born in the 1500’s give or take. I fight for a cause. No hell no, I’m not going to yammer on about the frickin cause That was so not part of this deal. Besides if you knew about the battle ahead you’d be in the thick of it and I’d have to deal with you’re security as well. Not a poison I would pick on a good day.”

*I glare at Eden as I hear her unspoken questions rolling in her mind..Keeps her shut up.*

TO EDEN: “Hey I have a big hairy ass mexican spider that I can just as well turn loose in your study as the big guys…Zip it.” * I Motion with my fingers across my lips for her to zip lips*

“Alright Eden, cripes sakes this is it and I am outtie. Here is the down low for your damn eharmony add between me and your people.”

“I play pool… it is an exercise in control and strategy. I drink tequila or corona with lime. Although I won’t turn down a honey brown when I’m feeling introspective. Yada. Yada. Yada. I like knives and sweet guns. Sig is my recent fav. I work security. I have a lot of experience in the entertainment field organizing and protecting talent.”

~I can see your thoughts even though I don’t want to, and shit sometimes….most of the time, I really don’t want to. The multiple voices in my head, when others thoughts intrude, is enough to drive me insane.~

“No I’m not getting you an autograph from Pink. She lets me play drums with her sometimes for kicks. I respect her privacy. Don’t ask again.”

~That feeling your emotions, seeing your thoughts. It’s just part of the ongoing struggle I have to control my urges.~ *I brush my hand against my leather clad thigh.*

“I don’t like walks on the fu*kin beach and gettin caught in the rain is a real downer. Call 1-800 fu*k-you for a date. Okay is that enough 411 for you Eden??
*****
I steel my thoughts so she doesn’t get any indication of my intensions to help her find her happily ever after. I fear the big spider almost as much as her weapons.

She jumps off the couch and heads for the door. I know it was asking a lot of her to share these things about herself. She is as prickly as a cactus. Some think she is unnecessarily violent. I want to tell her to be safe in her journey and the battles she must fight. I want to ask her if she will be back but I feel so damn needy to have to ask her.

*****

~Damn, yammering female.~

Yes I’ll be back. You keep the fridge stocked with beer, tequila in the cabinet and fix me an occasional rare steak.

*sigh* ~Who else is going to straighten out the fu*kin mess you call a life.~

Latrz Eden.

Fantasy Man Monday

Hi everyone. Personal drama aside. Today is a day to remember Soliders who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their homeland and the freedom we enjoy. My xhusb brother in law is Army. My Son In Law a Marine. My father was an Army Ranger WWII. My Uncle Army WWII, My Grandfather Army WWI and WWI

Thank you to our Men and Women serving in the armed forces.

However, there is just something about a man in uniform…or out of it.

Got to love a man that can do pushups all day long….

Prepared with all he needs in his back pack for sleep overs

Fantasy Man Monday

Thoughts on edification. This week I’ve thought alot about fantasy men in a three dimensional world. While eye candy is wonderful. Our romance heroes become larger than life because of their interaction with heroines we love. They edify each other, becoming more through each other’s eyes. Drawing on an energy of sexual tension that mimics the Tango, they push and pull us to unparalleled heights of palm sweating, heart banging, dry throat, on an erotic roller coaster ride.

So this week my Fantasy Men in the arms of the women that complete them and some times vice versa. Enjoy.

Kiernan and Isobeau from Dragon’s Soul.

Kiernan and Isobeau

Adam and ? from Dragon’s Song (2011)

Peter and Raynia and Chase (Amethyst Desire Novella)

Enjoy one of my new favorite video’s Enigma Principles of Lust.

Fantasy Man Monday

Ah, a new week.

I’m a single girl. Perhaps girl is a misnomer. I’m the single female. Yerrrooowww. I’ll embrace my inner cougar this week. I enjoy the occasional fantasy.

This weekend my 16 year old son’s friend spent some time with us. No, not going there too creapy…don’t jump the gun on me, you’ll get to the wrong punch line. He asked me if I knew…Caleb so and so. I immediately thought of my romance hero character and had to admit I didn’t know this young man’s verson of Caleb. Yet, the name facinates me.

The kid continued, “He’s my cousin and he’s a really nice guy and he’s single…..”

I got the distinct impression a blind date was on the horizon. I’m not sure how I feel being fixed up by my son’s best friend??? with his cousin? Is there some motivation for this bounty of generosity?

“So, how old is *oooohh* Caleb?”

The answer was a stunner. “Oh, I dunno something like 21 to 40, you’d really like him.” Delivered with the nonchalance only a 16 year old boy can have.

When I could breath again I laughed in my mind. Okkaaaayyyy. Age really is irrelevant at a certain juncture. Funny how when you are a mom you can be totally wicked cracked up inside your head and like totally cool outside on your face.

I’m not Stacey’s mom so I have to change the lyrics. “My son’s mom has got it going on. oh oh oh” Something like that huha?

So in honor of the ….Oh I dunno 21 to 40 Fantasy man, this week I have to give equal time to the younger Fantasy Man to counter balance last weeks…ah, hmm more experienced specimens.

David Boreanaz From Bones. What is not to love?

Oh and I signed up on Team Jacob a long long time ago. Yeah, Yeah so you think it’s creepy. Can you say F.A.N.T.A.S.Y.

I have to give equal billing for the Kick A$$ Fae Folk.

And who is this guy… isn’t he just as cute as a button? Okay scratch that along with anyone under 75 years old calling me Ma’am.

My first fantasy hearth throb was a pirate in the Carribean. He had lion golden eyes and central american/jamacian like accent. I’ve forgotten kissing a lot of past flames but I will NEVER forget kissing him in the cool rain, standing on deck of a fleet ship cutting through the aqua blue waters of the Carribean. In my memory he may have favored one of my favorite action hero pirates. While Johnny Depp was nothing short of shear genius as Jack Sparrow.

It was this one who made my heart swell and beat faster to have him kiss Elizabeth at the end.

Who is your younger man heart throb? Who wants to makes you say….If you call me Ma’am I will cut out your tongue…little boy? *Can you tell I’ve been working on a Kick A$$ heroine this week. Sorry.*

Tell us who makes you pulse pound? Share that inner fantasy man.

Fantasy Man Monday

This Monday we are taking a brief look at fantasy men over 40. I’ve picked a few choice samples. There were so many to pick from. Here is a taste of my favorites.

Mark Harmon

Ah Viggo Mortgensen

And the never contested,

Sean Connery….

Who is your Sexiest Man over 40? Share with us.

My friend, Danica (Fantasy Man Friday creator) likes

Harrison Ford

and Sting