Saturday, February 28, 2009

Working On Blog

I'm working on the blog today and hopefully there will be three columns once I'm done.

I'll be back later to announce the winner for the newsletter sign up.

See ya soon,

Vicki

Friday, February 27, 2009

TGIF - Fun - Newsletter

Friday. The last day of the week for the day job. The one I thought would never get here this week has finally arrived. Woot!!

Remember to sign up for the newsletter on the sidebar. Tomorrow is the drawing for the 'secret prize'.

So, for all us whose brains are tired, or rambles are brewing, but not yet concocted, here's a Friday Fun Quiz. I took it twice, changed one answer and here's what both said:

What's Your Medieval Profession?




You Are a Playwright



You are a highly literate wordsmith. You love both reading and writing.

You are also a natural storyteller. You can turn a mediocre anecdote into a riveting tale.



You find people and all aspects of life fascinating. No topic is off limits for you.

In modern times, you would make a good filmmaker or novelist.







You Are a Jester



You are a natural entertainer. You can get a laugh from the toughest of crowds.

You make friends very easily. You tend to know a lot of popular, rich, and powerful people.


You are also good at playing politics. You know how to get along with many factions without upsetting anyone.

In modern times, you would make a good actor or world leader.


Yep, I'm a writer, but a world leader...hmmm...I'm liking that one. And really doesn't acting and world leading go hand in hand. :)

Okay, Now it's your turn. Take the quiz (twice if you're like me), come back and tell us what your medieval profession is.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Rules of Writing…

My mind started wandering (big surprise) when I wrote a comment on GenReality (side note: if you haven’t gone there it’s a must for published and aspiring authors alike. Each day is a different author, from all genres about this business).

I realized, (like a baseball bat, hitting me over the head) that I write to the rules and not to the story. I’m so caught up in what I can and can’t do that the story starts to become stilted in my head and on paper.

I hear things like this in my head: you can't start two sentences with the same word, pick a better power word, you can't use an 'ing' word to start a sentence, it's an 'ly' word I can't use that, dear god they need to talk, when was the last time you said her/his name. By this time I've spent twenty minutes not writing because I'm worried about the next sentence.

When an idea comes out of nowhere I just write it down with no thought. But God help me if I plot a book - I start at square rule #1 and do not pass go.

Crap, what were the rules again...

I honestly can't remember the last time I wrote without rules. And probably haven’t since years ago when I didn't know any better, and only knew the “basic” do’s and don’ts. (by basic I mean: margins, double space...)

You hear all the time that agents and editors want a fresh new voice. And as V told someone (paraphrasing here) – I am fresh voice, you haven’t read my work. (I love that!!!!) It’s obvious they’re getting these fresh voices with the books that have come out from practical unknowns. So, I started thinking and wondering if these unknowns played by the rules.

Of course an idea has to be fresh, new, maybe even old hat with a new twist, I get that. Really I do. But did the writers themselves do what we, the students of the craft, believe are the rules?

Were the margins 1” all the way around and double spaced, was it written on a napkin or a pad of paper and submitted. Did they have a clue that vampires are passé? These books still made it to the best sellers list. But did they study the craft and follow the rules?

Since joining a writing group I hear over and over, you must know the rules to break the rules. Rules...we don't need no stinking rules. But I digress, as my stubborn side kicks in. Sure we need them, to an extent. But how can your creativity flourish if you can’t spread your wings and think outside of the rules (or box). How can anything be unique or fresh?

I honestly can’t tell you, because now that I know the rules, I don’t know how to write without them – which is another rambling all together.

Do all these rules (and honestly, I don’t know who came up with them), hamper your writing? Do you think if you could just write your story, it would be better?

Let me know, I’m open to debate and opinions – It keeps the mind fresh and open. ;-)

xoxo
LKap


Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Read All About It

Okay, so on the sidebar is a subscribe to VickiLaneNews. Sign up and you’ll be entered into a secret prize drawing on March 1st.

For those of you who have already signed up, you’re entered, so no worries. And thank you.

Then sometime in March (I’m working on it now) you’ll receive the first quarterly newsletter. LKap will have a ramble (or rant), news of upcoming contest, must check out blogs, and more. There’ll even be a contest for those on the newsletter list only. Come on, you know you don’t want to miss that. :)

So, in honor of the first ever VickiLaneNews, tell me what you’d like to see in a quarterly newsletter.

For those who leave a comment and join (or if you leave a comment and have already joined), you’ll be entered twice. :D I know, bribery.

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I Saw My Character at the Greek Festival...X-Posted

Science Guy and I went to a Greek Festival on Saturday and the oddest thing happened. Yes, he bought me some jewelry, but that’s not what’s odd about this.

We’d walked around the booths, sampled a bit of Greek food (very yummy), and had decided to sit outside and people watch for a bit. It was such a beautiful late afternoon, the atmosphere festive, and the area was full of children running around while parents called out to them in Greek. Little side note here: I thought that was totally cool, since I live in Florida to hear the language all around me.

Anyway, there we sat talking about…hmmm…not really sure what we were talking about, although I’m sure it was a great conversation. :) Usually is when we talk as Science Guy is quite shy around others but with me, we talk about all sorts of stuff.
Where was I? Oh yes, sitting outside watching people (sorry, a little rabbit trail there), when this guy comes near us to grabbed some empty chairs and mouths hello to me. I, of course, mouthed back hi. Then I watched him. Height, around 5’11’’. He was dressed in black pants, black boots, black shirt with a design on the back (seeing a theme here?), a black cape (no really, he had a short black cape), and a black beret.

He takes the chairs a short distance from where we were and sat them at table where his friend had sat their plates. Sitting down his left arm lifted in the air very dramatic like and he crossed his legs and laughed. As I continued watching him I felt like I knew him and knew him well. Which was crazy since I’d never met the man in my life.

That’s when it hit me. Yep, it's Tuesday, gotta click here to read the rest. Or you can click on the title.

So, go read the rest, leave your comment there and come back and tell us here what you think.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday, February 23, 2009

Your Blog is Faulous Award - Thank You!!!

First, I have to say major thanks. This is a beautiful award and I’m so excited to receive it. Now, to spread the love as Brandy says.




I received the award from B Renae Reads. Her blog rocks. She is one of the most amazing readers I know. And trust me, if you’re wanting to know something about a book before you read it, check out her blog.

Okay, time for the rules: Write 5 things I am addicted to and then nominate 5 other blogs to pass this award on to!

5 Things I’m addicted to:

1. Books – So this first one is a given. But I really am addict to them and have been for as long as I can remember. I’ve always had a TBR pile
2. Music – Pretty much any type of genre will do. Depending on the scene I’m writing, the music in my headphones could be rock or opera or down home country
3. Acting – Although I don’t really get to do this anymore, but I used to all the time and I love the stage. Now, my characters get to act out their lives on the page
4. Shoes and purses – Had to get both of them in there. I love shoes, all kinds, from heels to flats to flip-flops. Hey each outfit needs its own style of shoes.
5. Jewelry – Really, can a girl every have too much? Fashion jewelry is truly my downfall.

Science Guy – Yep, I’m pretty much addicted to him. He’s my rock! I know, he sort of makes six on my list, but he’s important.

There’s more, but since it was tell five, I followed the rules. Check back on Thursday for LKap’s ramblings on rules. Heehee :)

Now, I’m picking five other blogs to bestow the award too.

1. Houston A.W. Knight - Hawk’s weekly post are thought provoking and fun. I find myself looking forward to Monday mornings to read her post.


2. Romance Bandits - The Romance Bandits are a group of amazing and talented writers. You never know what the daily post may be, but one thing I can guarantee is you’re always happy you went to the blog. Now, if I could just get the rooster. :)


3. Patricia’s Readin-n-Writin - Wow, this is the blog to go to if you want encouragement, and to meet via interviews and book reviews incredible authors.


4. Malicious Intently or MI - To say I’m in awe of this woman is an understatement. She is the wonderful parent of two awesome boys, one of them is autistic. She’s married to her hero. MI puts it on the line, she holds no punches about what she feels or why she feels that way. You know what you see is what you get, and really isn’t that the way it should be? She also is the project manager for a non-profit for Autisms and they do amazing things. How can a woman who is raising her own autistic son have time to help hundreds of other parents whose children have recently been diagnosed, or run a charity event which takes weeks or months to set up and yet her family is still her main goal. Yep, she is amazing.


5. Writers At Play - What can I say about this group of talented writers? You never know what they may blog about, could be a receipt, could be a first call, an interview with an author, editor, or agent, or could just be plain old silly fun in the life of…

Well, there you have it. I can only choose five and there’s so many more on my list. I hope you’ll visit their sites and let them know you found them through this blog. And if you’re on the list, it’s now your turn to select five blogs.

What about you? Who are some of your favorite blogs to visit and why?

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Friday, February 20, 2009

And the Winner is….

Hi it’s LKap, before we announce the winner…

I want to take a minute to thank Shayla Black/Shelley Bradley for stopping by and letting me do this giveaway for Tempt Me With Darkness. I know she’s been busy with a lot of things, and of course deadlines, to keep us readers happy. So a big THANK YOUXOXOXO.

Without further ado **drum roll**

The Winner is: lastnerve

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Please send me your snail mail at LaurieKap at yahoo dot com

You have one week from today or another winner will be chosen

Thank you to everyone who commented and stopped by to say hi, to Shayla, V and myself. Don’t forget to pick up your own copy of Tempt Me With Darkness and live in the world of the Brethren (say hi to Ice for me) LOL :)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Secondary Characters…..What is it about them?

The other day I was reading Watch Me by Shelley Bradley, and I totally fell in love with Alejandro Diaz. Dear Mother Mary, in my mind he is so hot. He has it all, sexy, Latin, can dance, great body, rich and of course bedroom eyes that make you melt. But somewhere along the line I started wondering about the secondary character Del.

Shelley seems to have this affect on me with her first and secondary characters. Take “Ice” for example, from Tempt Me With Darkness. His role is very small but so powerful I will be reading all of the Doomsday Brethren series (which I would do anyway – by the way because I loved TMWD) hoping for bits and pieces of him and all the other boys too, but him most definitely.

Huh, I thought, why is that? Good writing for sure, but there has to be more.

So in my twisted mind I came up with my own theory on why secondary characters become the front runners sometimes.

It’s not right to steal your girlfriends love interest. Yep, it was that simple—common courtesy—even for an imaginary character.

And when you are so involved in a book that character is a part of your life (hence a friend to you). It’s a pat on the back saying “oh you lucky girl, does he have a friend.” And low and behold he does, just flip a few more pages and there he is. Now voila, you’re not cheating on your girlfriend anymore. You have your own boy toy to dream about, even though she might be the lucky stiff that gets the happily ever after with your first choice. Oh well, number two will now be number one for you, and you can’t wait to find out more about them, once you make sure your girlfriend is safe and happy in her own relationship.

Now when Ice gets his own story, I’m only hoping to have more choices to dream about in my own twisted mind.

And just so you know Del has his own story in Sneak Peek. Giving nothing away you need to check it out yourself ;-)

Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win TMWD

Who are your favorite secondary characters?

Hugs,
LKap

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

And Along Came Sadie...X-Posted

I've been working on Annie's book, which is the second in the After Thoughts series. Although it's a series, it is a stand alone and I've written the synopsis. In other words, I know what's supposed to happen in this book. Yet, I'm stuck. Okay, maybe stuck isn't the correct word. It's more like I'm dreading it when I sit down in front of the computer.

When I finished ATB, which is the first in the stand alone series, I took several weeks off writing. We're trying to buy a house, my son moved back in with us, and life in general was in the way. Add to that, my last edits on ATB included a 20,000 word cut. Needless to say, my brain was a tad fried and I needed the break. Just not two weeks. By the time I was ready to write, the habit of writing every day wasn't there. It became very easy to come home from work, fix dinner, and sit with Science Guy watching the TV.

That is until this past week. That's when Sadie appeared.

You can read the rest of this x-posted blog here.

Don't forget LKap has a great giveaway this week. She'll be back on Thursday to tell you more about it. In the meantime, check out yesterday's post by LKap if you missed it.

All comments this week will be included in the drawing.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Monday, February 16, 2009

Shayla Black's Tempt Me With Darkness

For those of you who don’t know who Shelley Bradley or Shayla Black is...shame on you. No, just kidding, because I’m going to introduce you to her. This is also the perfect segue into my own ramblings on Thursday—so don’t forget to come back!

I came to find Shayla Black as a fluke, quite honestly. I was searching for something new to read and I was exploring writing erotica myself (remember you must read the market you are writing) when I came across her book Wicked Ties – from there, as they say, the rest was history.

I don’t have all of the 20+ books she’s written, but I’m working on it. Her paranormal Tempt Me With Darkness was released in August of 2008 and is Book 1 of the Doomsday Brethren Series. You have the chance to win this awesome book here – all you have to do is leave a comment and at the end of the week we will randomly pick a winner – you will SO not regret this. I urge you to check out her sites (www.shaylablack.com and www.doomsdaybrethren.com) and read more about the Brethren…Le’Pant, Le’Pant. :)



Here's the backcover blurb:
He’s an immortal knight hungering for satisfaction. . . .

As soon as Marrok sees Olivia Gray, he’s sure they met in eons past. He’s felt her soft, gentle curves writhing in pleasure beneath his own powerful body. . . Morganna! For centuries, towering Marrok, once the mightiest of King Arthur’s warriors, has endured a terrible curse the witch cast upon him when he spurned the witch.

She’s a modern woman about to discover ancient magic. . . .

Olivia shares a mystical—and irresistible—connection with brooding Marrok. Soon after the sexy warrior appears in her erotic dreams, he abducts her, demanding she uncurse him. Their intense passion is more powerful—and intimate—than either of them has ever known. Olivia may be the key to unlocking the diary that will break Morganna’s hold on his life. But in the wrong hands, the book also holds the power to destroy magickind. As they search for answers, a ruthless wizard returned from exile is building an army of evil. When he discovers Marrok and Olivia have the diary, only their love—with the help of a powerful group of magical Brethren—can save them.

Read the First Chapter and see the trailer here.

Don’t forget to comment for your chance to win Book 1 – Book 2, SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW, and Book 3, POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT, will be released back to back this fall. With more coming, you don’t want to be left out.

Is it obvious I love her writing! If not let me make it clear—I do…so enjoy and let’s talk about it.

LKap

Friday, February 13, 2009

And the Winner is...

Thanks to Vicki for having my visit this week. I've enjoyed sharing my elements quiz with everyone who's taken the quiz and posted their element.

I'm delighted to announce that Brandy W won the signed copy of The Magic Knot! Congratulations, Brandy. I hope you enjoy reading my book.

For anyone who'd like to read a two chapter excerpt, please visit my website. I also have a link on my home page to a 'sexy snippet' of The Magic Knot that Dorchester have up on their website.

Helen

Brandy, major congrats! Please send your snail mail addy to helenscotttaylor2@yahoo.co.uk.

It's been my pleasure to have Helen this week and I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Have a great weekend everyone,

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Reverence for the Written Word

Helen Scott Taylor will be back tomorrow to choose the winner for The Magic Knot.
Now, on to this week's rambling's with LKap. All comments today will be counted in the contest.


I was reading a magazine the other day and realized how I abuse these poor things. I am one of those people who can read a book and you probably couldn’t tell I’d ever cracked it open. Yes, when it comes to books, Anal retentive is an understatement in what you’d call me.

I will not crack the spine, I will not turn down pages, I absolutely hate stickers – which poses a problem when you get them signed and they put the “autographed copy” sticker on them. Those I have learned to deal with (although truthfully it still bothers me). When I get published I will really have to think of something else, I can’t be the only one out there with this problem.

So what is it about a magazine that I can fold, roll, crumble, rip out pages and thoroughly destroy that is different?

Authors are authors right? These people write and some write very well, but I see this as different somehow. Depending on the magazine you read, these things actually cost more than some books. And not to mention they’re in color. I mean really, most books you get the cover only in color.

I never gave this much thought until one day I was reading a magazine and started tearing off the pages one at a time after I read them. Then, I threw them away! Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to throw a book away – I think it would have to be caught in a tornado and practically shredded before I’d do that. And still I’d think about it and hope when it dried out it would be okay.

I grew up in a house that revered the written word. My mother at one time was just like me (or rather I am just like she was—please don’t tell her I’m admitting to this). Now the woman can mutilate a book like nobody’s business – the horror I tell you! Even books I don’t care for, I have a hard time getting rid of.

I don’t have time any longer, but I would never – I mean never - not finish a book once I started it. I was raised knowing someone put a lot of thought into each word. Now of course I understand it even more. But a magazine—not so much.

Still don’t understand why, still tear off the pages as I read them—and throw them away.

Anyone else out there like me? Or do you secretly bend your book pages too?

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Interview with Helen Scott Taylor and You Can Ask Questions Too

I’m so excited to have Helen Scott Taylor in the house today. She’s an amazing author and last year’s American Title winner with Dorchester Publishing. Her world building is great and you’re immediately pulled into Niall O’Connor and Rosenwyn Tremain’s world.

Helen it’s great to have you here. I’ve been waiting for your book to hit the shelves since the first time I read the excerpt on your website. Yes, I said first time, as I’ve re-read it several times.

Me: Needless to say, I’m already a huge fan. Can you tell us how you came up with this idea and what’s coming up next?

Helen: I initially conceived the idea for The Magic Knot to be a contemporary story of identical twin Irish brothers running a pub in Cornwall. When I changed my focus from contemporary romance to paranormal, I wanted to write something a little different from the vampire and shape-shifter stories other authors have done so well. I researched myths and folk law and decided the fairy world provided great scope to develop my own interesting characters and a world a little different to anything else that is available.

I have two male secondary characters that play sizeable roles in The Magic Knot. Michael is the hero’s brother, and Nightshade is a winged vampiric fairy who can’t decide if he is their ally or enemy. I’m hard at work on the sequel due out in December. The Phoenix Charm features Michael as the hero, and the next book I have planned is Nightshade’s story.

Me: You won the American Title with Dorchester. What was the call like? How did you celebrate?

Helen: The day after voting closed, I had an email from the Romantic Times editor who was coordinating the contest to tell me I’d won. By the final round we were down to two entries, so I knew I had a 50:50 chance of winning. But I was still disbelieving when I received the email with the good news. My family took me out for a celebratory dinner, and we had to take a photograph of us celebrating to appear in Romantic Times!

Me: With the release of The Magic Knot and working on the next book, have you found it easier or harder when you sit in front the computer? What has changed for you now that you have deadlines?

Helen: I’ve read other newly published authors say that the first book they wrote after being published was the hardest, because they have greater expectations of themselves. I’m definitely finding this is true. The first hurdle was having my second book accepted for publication, then the worry over whether it is as good as the first book. I’ve not written a sequel before, so I’m learning how to write a stand-alone book that is also a continuation from the first. I’m sure there will be new challenges at every stage in this business. All I can say is getting a book published is most certainly the beginning of the work and not the end.

Me: You run your own business, write, and have kids. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Helen: I don’t have a lot of spare time. I try to have a walk most days, but I’m a fair-weather walker and don’t go out in the cold and rain. Unfortunately, we’ve had our coldest winter for twenty years in the UK. I would like to read more but rarely get time these days. When I have to choose between reading and writing, writing usually wins.

One thing I do enjoy is visiting historic houses. The British National Trust historic houses are open from Easter to October. I like to make time to visit some every year, especially while I’m researching a book. I like to use historic houses as settings in my novels, even though my fantasy worlds are contemporary set. In The Magic Knot, I used a Palladian mansion called Powerscourt, near Enniskerry in Ireland, as the inspiration for the Irish fairy queen’s home. In The Phoenix Charm, much of the action takes place in a medieval castle situated on an island in the middle of a lake in Wales.

Me: Whose journey was harder to write, Niall’s or Rosenwvn? And can I just add I love the line Niall’s soft Irish brogue.

Helen: Niall’s was more difficult. I found him a challenging character to write, as he is so proud and private. He didn’t want anyone poking their nose in his business, not the heroine, or me! Rose was much easier as she is very down to earth and practical.

Me: Did you do your research for Ireland online or have you visited the beautiful land of green?

Helen: I took a special trip to Ireland to research The Magic Knot. My husband and I spent four days visiting the area of the Wicklow Mountains where the Irish fairy troop lives. The weather was bad most of the time. When we drove over the Wicklow Mountains, which is more rightly just an area of high moorland, all we could see was mist. We enjoyed visiting the Palladian mansion, Powerscourt. The gardens and the waterfall in the middle of the lake were beautiful.

Me: Was The Magic Knot your first book, or do you like most of us and have the manuscript graveyard with the dust bunnies?

Helen: The Magic Knot was the third book I wrote. The first was a short contemporary, which helped me learn how to write, but also taught me short contemporary was not my genre. The second ms was a paranormal romance, Passion Beyond Reason, about a parallel world inhabited by demons. This story did very well in contests, winning as many as The Magic Knot. In fact in once contest where both my paranormals finaled, Passion won and beat The Magic Knot into second place. I intend to revise that story and submit it sometime.

Me: For those of us in the pre-published stage, what advice and motivation would give us?

Helen: I don’t think there is any magic formula to getting published. Success is down to hard work and persistence. I took lots of online classes and read many craft books. My husband jokes that I must have put myself through the equivalent of a degree in creative writing. My advice is to learn the craft, write stories, enter contests, and submit your work. It might take one book, or twenty before one is accepted, but eventually it will happen if you persevere. There is an element of luck involved—your story being the right genre on the right editor’s desk at the right time. But if you write enough and send out enough that will eventually be your story.

Me: Did I say I'm so excited you're here??? Cause I am :)Thank you for sharing your a little of your world and your characters world with us. And isn't the cover amazing.


Okay, everyone, now it’s your turn. Leave your questions in the comment section and Helen will be back through out the day to answer them.

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Magic Knot - Helen Scott Taylor's In The House


It is with great pleasure I welcome Helen Scott Taylor to the blog today. This week she’s giving away a copy of The Magic Knot.

The cover is amazing and the book, I’ve been waiting forever to read it. She’s an American Title winner, how cool is that!

Here’s a note from Helen,

In my fairy world featured in The Magic Knot series, each fairy embodies the qualities of one of the elements. The leprechauns and Cornish piskies are Earth elementals, the noble old blood Tuatha Dé Danaan are either Fire, Air or Water. This gives them their powers, strengths, and weaknesses.

Humans embody all four elements, but we each favor one, which manifests in our personality and dictates our moods and emotions.

Find out which element you are! Visit
my website, take my elements quiz then come back and tell us which element you are and if you think it suits you.

Now that you know your element, here’s the back cover blurb.

HE'S A BIKER WITH AN ATTITUDE
What woman wouldn't be attracted to Niall O'Connor's soft Irish brogue and dark good looks? But Rosenwyn Tremain must find her father, and she isn't going to let a sexy, stubborn Irishman and his motorcycle distract her. Rose's intuition tells her he's hiding something, a secret even the cards cannot divine. Her tarot deck always reads true, but how can one man represent both Justice and Betrayal?

SHE'S A WOMAN ON A MISSION
Magic. Niall's body tingles with it when he finds the woman snooping in his room. Rosenwyn might believe she's a no-nonsense accountant, but her essence whispers to him of ancient fairy magic that enslaves even as it seduces. Her heritage could endanger those he'd die to protect, but her powers and her passion, if properly awakened, might be the only thing that can save both their families, vanquish a fairy queen bent on revenge, and fulfill a prophecy that will bind their hearts together with... THE MAGIC KNOT

And you can read the first two chapters here

Okay, you know the drill. Leave your comments to be entered. And yes, if you leave comments each day you’ll be entered for each of them. So what element are you?

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Friday, February 6, 2009

TGIF

Friday is finally here. I wasn't in the office on Monday or Tuesday and still it seemed as if the end of the work week would never show up.

This weekend is writing and more writing. I've talked about house hunting, which although we've found the house, put the offer in, the sellers have accepted said offer, we are now in the waiting process for their bank to approve the offer. All of this, along with That's it. Why he shot up, I don't know. I even wrote it on the paper.

Do you think my hero would tell me? Nope. He just shot up and to make matters worse, he's sitting in a car. Now just so I don't sound like a total crazy writer, he is worried about the heroine. She did just find a very odd box outside her door and he has no clue as to who would leave it with her name scrawled across the top. But really, He shot up?

For now the line is gone and I'm moving on. I figure if Nick will tell me later if he wants too why it was there.

One thing I learned from this is to never walk away from scene in the middle of it. Otherwise when I come back to it, I may not know what was going to happen next and really, it might have been the best thing in the world.

What about you? Do you ever leave a scene for more than a week and come back to it and not remember what was going to happen next?

Oh, and speaking of the word 'next', Helen Scott Taylor will be here next week. She's giving away a copy of her book, answering questions, and there'll be an interview with her as well.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and the words flow.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Thursday, February 5, 2009

LKap's Ramblings

So first off….
We are finally out of Retrograde – YEHAW!!! I’m just sayin’ that was a long 3 weeks. Now we have four months where life is on the upswing – all I can say is it’s about time. That was a rough start to the New Year.

Which is a good segue into why I believe my house should be torched instead of cleaned. Okay, all you insurance adjusters don’t get all crazy on me. I have nowhere else to go and I do love my house, but dang it all…. Cleaning really bites!

Now I’ve raved about my HHB, and I will continue to do so. The man can clean and cooks (and other things that shall remain nameless:)) like no body’s business – when he wants to. But, so the picture is clear in your head, first I must tell you he’s a handyman by trade. He can do it all—just not on his own house (okay I’ll give him a break, it also takes money). Picture a Mechanic with broken down cars in their drive – yeah, you’re seeing my dilemma now. But cleaning still has to happen.

I also have a lot of dogs and a cat – they shed. So I vacuum and mop. I live close to the highway. So I dust. There are also three other humans living in this house. Bathrooms must be cleaned. So guess where that leaves me?

Yep, doing most, if not all, of it. Now if I lived alone I’d have to do it all myself anyway. I get that, really I do. Somewhere in the rational part of my mind I do. But there are things I loathe doing, but guess what…I gotta do them or I’d never have a clean fork in my house.

It’s the daily stuff that really gets me. Doing the dishes – yep I have a dishwasher, but that doesn’t help with the part I really hate—which is putting them away. Doing laundry – easy enough task, right? Sure tell that to the pile of clothes waiting to fall over on top of my dresser. Clean windows – as long as you think dog’s tongues are clean, we’re good.

I tell you my woos, because I used to have a spotless house – when I didn’t work full time and trying to do this writing gig. Ahhhh those were the days—not. Now I’m pursuing a dream I gave up on and right now all I have is a messy house to show for it. But someday….

I’ll have a deadline and I won’t be able to find my computer under the mess. (Just keeping’ it real)

Tell me—what is it you don’t like to do?

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Angie Fox Contest – It’s Even Better than an ARC


Angie Fox is rocking the house and this time she’s giving away an original manuscript to her upcoming release, The Dangerous Book for DEMON SLAYERS.

Her ARC’s aren’t in yet and instead of making us wait, she’s doing a sweet contest on her blog and over at her group blog, Something Wicked.

You can read an excerpt here.

So how can you win this original manuscript? The one Angie’s going to have bound and sent to you? The one that’s even better than winning an ARC?

I’m so glad you asked. All you need to do is go to either (or both for a better chance) and leave a comment. I’m dying to read this book, but I’m not in the contest this time. :) Makes it one more chance for you to win.

So, go leave your comments, read the excerpt, and come back and let me know what you think.

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Romance Bandits Rock - X-Posted

Last week Romance Novel TV hosted a week with The Romance Bandits
Each day, they posted a picture, and four the Bandits gave four different vignette’s of the picture. Then we finished the scene with one line or more. Five days, five different pictures, and each day had four different Bandits.

At the end of each day those four authors picked a winner, (different prizes each day). On Thursday, Hawk was chosen as Honorable Mention and on Friday, I was chosen as an Honorable Mention. Very cool.

Talk about having a blast and reading some amazing endings as well as ALL the Bandits vignette’s. Winning wasn’t the reason for doing it, even though everyone loves to win something. But letting your creative mind go, reading the vignette and then rolling with what came to you was so much fun.

Reading the others was amazing. So much talent and many that we wanted to know the rest of their story.

With so many people commenting (about 200 each day), we read everything from flying grannies to an interrogation room (that no one expected) to a ghost bride who...

Yep, this is x-posted from my Tuesday group blog over at Everybody Needs A Little Romance so go on over and read the rest of the post. :)

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Monday, February 2, 2009

Update on the House

The sellers have accepted our offer. WhooHoo!!! Now we have to wait for their bank to accept the offer and that could take weeks.

Have I ever mentioned I'm not so good at the waiting game? Yeah, not so much. I've already picked out the color paint I want for a couple of the rooms, where I'll place furniture and how my office will be.

I'm throwing out junk, packing up stuff to take to the Salvation Army, and looking around the house we're in now, knowing it'll take tons of boxes to move us. Which lies the other problem. Science Guy has decided to have packers pack us.

Sounds great, right?

Really it is great, BUT I have things I don't want packers to pack or move for that matter. I'm wanting to pack them up now. I can't do that yet. Since we have to wait on the bank to approve (their bank, not ours), then wait for them to set the closing date, it could be...six weeks before we move.

Needless to say all of this is not making my writing flow. I am writing, just not quite as much as I should be. So, tomorrow night, wait scratch that, I have a board meeting tomorrow night, so Tuesday night I'm back to the 'love ya honey, gotta go write' when I come home from work.

Next week Helen Scott Taylor will be here. I'm so excited! I can't wait to read her book.

How about you? How's your week going? Are you writing? Reading?

WW's and PD's,
Vicki