Tag Archives: authors

Fantasy Man Monday

Posted on March 15, 2010 | 5 comments

Monday needs a boost to start the week.

How about this Fantasy Man Monday candidate. How do you like your heroes. Clean shaven? Scruffy? With a mysterious bad boy edge?

I have grown up around cowboys and rough workmen. I’ve seen a lot of things I might not have wanted to. The standing joke of crack attack didn’t put me in mind of anything I wanted to see.

However, this cowboy puts a whole different twist on that old stereotype. And so model Alexandre Carneiro gets my vote for Fantasy Man Monday

I think it is hysterical that my FB friend Danica Avet chose a cowboy for her fantasy man this past Friday. I’d already programmed this blog with my cowboy choice. Great minds work alike.

And I have to ask my writer friend who is hip deep in her cowboy romance WIP. Which Cowboy do you like best? Send me your inspiration for your cowboy hero.

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Tagged authors, Beginning Writers, creative writing, Eden Glenn, journey in writing, romance, writing craft

My SIL A Real Romance Hero

Posted on March 13, 2010 | 3 comments

My SIL and Daughter before Sky Diving last fall prior to his leaving for a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Last October, the time came when he was called up for his turn to serve in the desert.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100312/ids_photos_wl/r1357697028.jpg/

He had this photo enlarged and made into a canvas print. He sent it to her for their anniversary. They’ve missed all their first’s this year. First Thanksgiving, First Christmas, First Anniversary.

Finally, he returns from Afghanistan in roughtly eight more Monday’s –give or take, based on any changes the Marine’s may make. He made the Yahoo News letting off steam in the tire rolling contest.

My first thought was that the tire would roll much easier the other way. My daughter explained that evidently the point is flipping it over and over. My SIL is a big guy so that tire is a monster.

My daughter is anxious for him to return home safe. We all are. He adores Caylen and treats her like a queen. He’s a man among men and so my hero for this Sunday, and most any day, is My Son In Law, Robert Gallini, Alpha Marine. A real romance hero.

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Tagged Afghanistan, authors, Beginning Writers, creative writing, Eden Glenn, journey in writing, Marines, Military, new writers, Novel, Robert Gallini, writers, writing, writing craft

Miss Piggy — the Original Kick A$$ Heroine

Posted on March 12, 2010 | Comments Off

Live, Love, Laugh.

Celebrate with me! Cheers to an end to Toxic Friday.

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Tagged authors, Beginning Writers, creative writing, Eden Glenn, journey in writing, new writers, romance, writing, writing craft

Feeling Good

Posted on March 11, 2010 | 2 comments

I went to the gym last night, straight from work. Usually I’m there at lunch time but when all else fails I truck over there after work. I had new tunes on the ipod and a work out plan. I’ve been back at the gym now a full 10 days after being released from my last surgical recovery time. So I’m in my groove. Gym time for me is thinking time. I get into my routine and think big thoughts…. writing thoughts.

I approached my gym time last night leaving the building with a spring in my step. I had labored for four days getting all the side stories out of my head and onto paper and I was ready to think think think about my current WIP that I’m 10,000 words into. A work I plotted with my C.P.

I must digress for a moment. I’m fairly inspirational/intuitive for a creative personality type. Little things can set me off. Last month I picked up a piece of jewelry and POW an erotic novella type story hit me that broke out of last year’s WIP. I mean it is eerie, touch the object and its like the psychic hot line plugs in– characters, situation etc cascade into my brain, the voices, dialogue. I know, it’s a blessing/it’s a curse.

Okay so, my mind is clear of all those side stories that have possessed me like little demons gnawing at my writing time on this year’s WIP. I’m in my sapphire blue bug ready to pull out of the parking lot. I’m feeling good. Something across the highway in the feed store parking lot caught my eye. I look over there and two romance heroes are stepping off their Harley touring bikes, side by side. Whoa momma can you say not- from-around-here, baby.

Then it started again. The voice in my head. I have to smile and groan. Yes, I do this at the same time. One more reason people around me think I’m just a little bit off in the head. (Except my writing buddies of course…they hear the voices too.)

My gym time last night was spent listening to those voices telling me about Steve and Dylan. I have a starting GMC, a heroine and her GMC, I don’t know her name yet. I don’t have the suspense GMC yet. I know someone wants to hurt her because they locked her in the steam room. She likes to run. She runs from everything, her past, her emotions, her interest in Steve and Dylan. She might like to run but they ARE going to catch her. The WIP will have to wait one more day.

GI Joe is next to me on the elliptical. He’s in pain. But his biceps and calves didn’t get that way because he’s a happy couch potato. Humm I’ll bet Steve has arms like that. His hair is like that too. By now I’m sure GI Joe guy thinks I’m nuts cause I’m smiling and rowing. That is if he thinks anything at all. He may be focused on his own pain…and demons.

So I’m on the rowing machine listening to my favboy singing my new theme song and realizing how true.

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Tagged authors, Beginning Writers, creative writing, Eden Glenn, journey in writing, new writers, Novel, romance, writers, writing, writing craft

Fantasy Man Monday

Posted on March 8, 2010 | 3 comments

My FB friend Danica Avet has gotten me hooked on her Fantasy Man Friday’s. http://www.danicaavet.wordpress.com

I need uplifting on Mondays in order to count down to Friday.

So, here’s my take for Fantasy Man Monday.

Doesn’t he just inspire a steamy Werewolf paranormal?

(Jared Prudoff, model)

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Tagged authors, Beginning Writers, Cancer survivor; Writing Craft;, creative writing, Eden Glenn, journey in writing, paranormal, romance, writing craft

Write the D@$! Manuscript Challenge

Posted on March 2, 2010 | Comments Off

The FCRW (First Coast Romance Writers) sponsor a contest for members of the chapter each year. It’s called Write the D@$! Manuscript Challenge. Members are encouraged to just write the D@$! Manuscript. We try to do fun things along the way to help keep participants encouraged.

So often the more we as writers know the less we are able to do. We fill our time with all kinds of things. After the basic rudiments of living, family, home, job, we find other time suckers to keep from writing the D@$! Manuscript. . . my space, face book, twitter, email, research, BLOGGING. oh my. And frankly we let the Internal Editor from He(( shut us down way to often.

So the Write the D@$! Manuscript challenge is an opportunity to take the time to make writing your priority again. Rather than the psychological suicide of NaMoWriMo in 30 days, our version gives you an entire year…ok ten months technically, to write a complete story arch accomplishing at least 40,000 words to a finish, the end.

We aren’t even so tough to expect the WIP to be finished and edited, polished and pretty.

So if you’re not convinced that this is a great activity for your writing group, here is what I got out of the D@$! Manuscript challenge of 2009. I wrote my WIP Dragon’s Mark. I finished the entire book in draft form between Feb and early October, some 100,000 words of the beast.

I had time to edit the first 30 pages and enter the Beacon Unpublished contest. I edited a little more and entered the Golden Heart. Edited a little more and entered the Winter Rose. Now a year later the work is finished, edited and polished pretty and I am beginning to Query and search for Agented Representation.

The entry in the Beacon 2009 won second place. Still waiting to hear from the others.

The point is I wrote the D@$! Manuscript. Didn’t matter that I didn’t win the grand prize drawing. I wrote.

So, now I am beginning the D@$! Manuscript Challenge 2010. I’m sitting here immersed in social networking and blogging. I haven’t started work on my manuscript entry. However, I know I have to have a word count for our meeting in two weeks to report with the other Challenge Participants. I sure don’t want to be standing there saying well I haven’t really started yet…. So, I’m going to get busy and Write the D@$! Manuscript.

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Tagged authors, Beacon Unpublished, Beginning Writers, creative writing, D@$! Manuscript Challenge, Eden Glenn, FCRW First Coast Romance Writers, Golden Heart, journey in writing, literacy, new writers, Novel, romance, RWA Romance Writers of America, Story, Winter Rose, writers, writing, Writing contests, writing craft, Writing Workshops

Dragon’s Mark 2009 Beacon Unpub – 2nd Place Finish

Posted on February 22, 2010 | 5 comments

Okay kiddies, Results are in as the title of this blog outs, Dragon’s Mark came in Second to Bad Girl. Congrats to Bad Girl author for her win. Those of you who have followed this blog know we struck up a conversation cheering each other on to the finish. When I said I was hoping for a one two finish I was more thinking me one, you two?? **grin** Next time babe’ lol.

One of my judges shared that if she picked up a book and found that it had a me’nage theme she would put it down. What can I say? This is not the book for you. I have two heroes and one heroine. There’s no cliff hanger on how this is going to turn out. At least she/he didn’t say she/he would throw it at the wall.

No judge bashing here. For the most part judges work very hard to make their comments relevant and educational. And in all fairness, just because our tastes in literature differ she/he had some important helpful things to say in her specific comments.

So Yeah, Dragon’s Mark 2nd Place. First contest for this book. Second contest for me. I’ve put this piece two more contests with more up to date edited versions. We’ll see how it goes!

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Tagged authors, Beginning Writers, Cancer survivor; Writing Craft;, creative writing, Eden Glenn, journey in writing, new writers, Novel, paranormal, romance, Story, writers, writing, Writing contests, writing craft

The Beacon Contest Calls to Me.

Posted on October 4, 2009 | 7 comments

Like the Aztec gold on “Pirates of the Carribean”. The Beacon contest calls to me. It is sponsored by my home chapter of Romance Writers of America, the First Coast Romance Writers. http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/

I entered the contest the first time last year and had a ball. My writing sucked big time and the judges let me know that in the kindest, most constructive way imaginable. Don’t look at me like that, I’m serious!

The contest organizers did a great job of selecting and training judges to score fairly and say meaningful things, picking their battles and not overwhelming this rookie writer with EVERYTHING that SUCKED about my writing. They managed to do a wonderful job of focusing on what SUCKED the most, concentrating on the GRAND SUCK of the contest piece if you will. Their positive comments gave me hope and their realistic suggestions of how I could suck less were an inspiration that guided my self education this past year. Truthfully, I really don’t think they said sucked even once.

A few weeks ago, I went back and looked at the piece I submitted last year, to help me think about preparing for this year. I had to laugh. Were the judges BLIND. OMG they gave me a FOUR for THAT? Did they think it was freaking CHRISTMAS? I wouldn’t have given that a two!

Now another year has passed. I have a new Work in Progress that I have just finished the draft on. I’ve polished the first 30 pages as much as I possibly can given my level of expertise, or in moments, my lack there of.

There is good and bad with that. Every other day the WIP is utter brilliance, the likes of which rival . . . well everyone, anyone you would ever want to rival.

I am so ready to submit this new baby in the contest.

Which means, every other day from brilliance/dazzling/ wow I’m so Cool, my WIP is utter bull cookies, cracker, chips. . . Can this woman write a grocery list? She probably dictates her shopping needs into her phone! well you get the idea.

I’m so not ready to submit this new baby in the contest.

Hope springs eternal. Wouldn’t it be cool to finale or. . . squeeee!!! WIN?

Despair is forever. Wouldn’t it be cool to get comments that aren’t embarrassing, even if the embarrassing ones are actually true.

Each fledgling manuscript leaves my hands a hatchling baby trying to spread its wings and become a soaring eagle instead of a dirt bag suckyopolis with lousy conflict, unbelievable plot, flat one dimensional characters, and confusing meaningless dialog that drops a goose egg in the cosmic karma of the universe.

*big sigh*

I’m not leaving my day job anytime soon. 100_1178

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Tagged authors, Beginning Writers, creative writing, Eden Glenn, journey in writing, new writers, Novel, romance, Story, writing, Writing contests, writing craft

Novel Discussions: A Workshop for Writers

Posted on March 5, 2009 | 1 comment

I attended Novel Discussions: A Workshop for Writers as part of the Jacksonville Library Much Ado About Books celebration on Friday February 27th. The day began with Anne LeClaire (NYT Best Selling Author/ Listening Below the Noise) speaking with the group about ‘Story: Building It’s Foundation’. I can’t possibly give a moment by moment report of the entire day in this blog. You just had to be there. If I ever have the blessing of attending more of her classes or workshops I will jump on board, nuff said. Carla Neggers (NYT Best Selling Author / Betrayals) continued as the next speaker teaching ‘Plot, Character and Pace: The Three Essentials’. How can anyone possibly wrap those three essentials into a twenty to thirty minute presentation? She did a great job of nailing the basics, tight and concise. While still sharing her witty perspective on the creative process. I have notes highlighting absolutely golden nuggets that will help me improve areas in my writing.

A bonus lunch time panel discussion of Writing into the Next Century was well attended.

The afternoon sessions began with a question and answer session by David Baldacci ( NYT Best Selling Author/The Whole Truth) and continued with a wrap up by Steve Berry (NYT Best Selling Author / The Charlemagne Pursuit) going over ‘Eight Rules of Writing’ which I believe we expanded to a nice round ten before the afternoon closed. These guys packed the one two punch for the afternoon to be a total knock out. Ok, awful pun, but what more can I say. I was thrilled with the quality of the presentations and wealth of information I gathered that will improve my writing. Four New York Best Selling Authors, prolific writers, facinating people and the entire thing was FREE. The event was sponsored by the Jacksonville Library and local businesses.

Over the next few months I’m going to share on this blog some of the insights I gained attending this workshop. Did you get to attend this event? What were your impressions of the day? Let’s talk about it

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Tagged Ann LeClaire, authors, Beginning Writers, Carla Neggers, David Baldacci, Jacksonville Library, Much Ado About Books, Novel Discussions, Steve Berry, writing craft, Writing Workshops