Tag Archives: Beginning Writers

Fantasy Man Monday

Hey Peeps

Yeah. I know..Don’t rush me I still have 45 minutes till Monday is over. Fantasy Man Monday will happen. I came home from the RWA conference with what is being—–in circles, lovingly called Conference Crud… cough, hack, sneeze, snot nose, seal barking, toe curling side aching gagging cough… Acts like bronchitis and needs antibiotics, cold and flu elixer, tylenol, shower inhalers, vicks, cough drops.

So we need an exciting Fantasy Man Monday to make life worth living through…hummm who would that be? Who is it for you? My friend keeps mentioning Gerard Butler so here you go for Fantasy Man ….sniff sniff….Monday

OH Random Thought… In Phantom of the Opera—- I always thought the Phantom was the hero and cried cause he didn’t get his happily after.

Oh he is such a serious bad boy

And yet a quirky mischievousness

Yes…He has it going on— for almost any look in almost any time period.

Yes… I think he is a wonderful Fantasy Man Monday candidate

What do you think Ladies? Does he drive the sniffles and cough away?

Are you ready to give into his hotness storming the castle… or will you make it a long siege? Perhaps hold him captive for the duration?

Is life worth living one more week fighting the conference crud or whatever is plaguing you my dears?

Fantasy Man Monday

RWA Conference was a lot of fun. I had the opportunity to meet face book friends. I met a few authors whose work I’ve loved for years. I got inspired by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts, Jane Ann Krentz, Yes, I want to swim in the pool not just watch life go by.

Jessica Anderson, remember to use the book under your wrist to ease the strain of signing 500 personal autographs.

I carried water at the literary signing. I got to breath the same air as Sherrilyn Kenyon. Diana Love remembered me from a workshop last year. I’ll never forget Meg Cabot and what a gracious lady she is.

Yeah for my friend Valerie who got a quote for her book from her idol. Life is all good.

I can go on and on name dropping today. But fact remains that I am a little seed trying hard to germinate while they are hugeass honkin tall perpetual sunflowers.

So… lets look for some particularly inspiring Fantasy Men today to celebrate with.

When you think of two thousand romance authors in one location and the collective expanse of their sum total of published and works in progress and infinite diversity of men represented and fantasized about.

Suzanne Brockman’s books were even the source of a research grant issued by RWA. How cool is that?

Men with dark hair, light hair, thick hair, sparse hair.

Men with buff muscles, lean muscles, tight muscles, heavy muscles.

I mean can you imagine how many men made it to the fantasy minds of 2000 women over the course of say an even 20 year career?

The task is really daunting to say the least. I may end up fantasy challenged just from the exhaustion of considering the variety of men that might bring into play.

Then there was the bare handful of romance writing men at the conference. I think they’ve figured out a good thing when they see it.

Oh Dear that was NOT meant to be suggestive at all…bare, handful…. oh my… I can’t get out of this any easier.

And what about the alternative romances provided by the Rainbow Chapter? I might need to investigate that avenue as well.

I can see there will be fodder for many many more Fantasy Man Monday’s to come. Oh my, now I’ve traveled down that path there is no hope for me. Fantasy Man Monday’s to cum…come… oh goodness… I just have to end it now.

Have a happy week everyone…And smile….makes people know you’ve been up to something naughty…like looking at Fantasy Man Monday.

Fantasy Man Monday

Here we are floating on Monday once more. I hope you will enjoy my fantasy man today.. Can he make you stop singing “Monday Monday, can’t stand that day”? or “Just another manic Monday”? I have a friend who suggests I find and cultivate my music tastes in THIS CENTURY. *Here is sticking out my tongue at you baby*
It is what it is.

I am living in packing hell. Yes tomorrow we leave for the RWA conference in beautiful Orlando Florida. It will be my first National Romance Writers Conference. I already know from the mountain of clothes on my bed I have packed too much. But I NEED things. Dresses slacks for a professional look, casual clothes for fun, club clothes *Who the hell even knows what one would wear out to a club anymore. I am sure I will not find any of those in my closet* Work out clothes and yes my brown string bikini.

That doesn’t even start the whole litany of grief over shoes. My best comfortable pair are hitting the skids in a fast and furious way. I need comfortable shoes so I’m taking them worn nub heels and all.

Then jewelry, make up, personal items, like that big shopping bag of pens, sticky note pads, note cards and my printed WIP that I really want to work on. Will I work on it? I DON’T know but I have to take it.

My diet coke vice is in the car along with some various grocery items, chai tea, apple cider. I’m bringing the paper goods for our community meals with the group on the budget plan.

It will be fun, exhausting, re-energizing. I want to meet the agents representing my friends. Not in a creepy stalker kinda way just social. I don’t think I am ready to pitch yet. But I want to meet people and be social.

So lets see what we can find for some Alpha Social Men today. Men with skills and good assets in their portfolio.

Does your fantasy man have a sprinkling of hair on his chest?

What is that wonderful groove across the male pelvis called?

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