Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

BEYOND THE PRINTED PAGE!

A couple days ago my granddaughter mentioned she wanted to own a bookstore when she becomes an adult. I asked her what kind of books she wanted to have in her store, and she said print books. 

I find it ironic I'm a pioneer in the e-book industry at my age, and two generations younger still think of books as printed. 

And I'm also wondering what's next for books. Since the iPad has come on the market, I've been eagerly wanting to learn how to put together digital books with interactive photos and links to cool info as well as audio and video. This fits so well with my love of graphic design. 

I'm now researching the "how to" and came across this short video demonstration of an interactive book. <http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_matas.html> This demonstration wowed me and overwhelmed me at the same time. 

The cover is a spinning globe. You swipe your finger across the screen to browse through chapters. You pinch with two fingers to open pictures to access interactive maps, or informative video with sound. You can blow on wind turbine and it starts to spin. 

This company who demonstrated this video is developing software for publishers to publish books like this. They have a team on the West Coast working with a team on the East Coast. 

I have only me--at least right now. So while I'm waiting for the software to be available at an affordable price, I'm exploring the feasibility of something a little less grand, though more complex than comic books.

And maybe my granddaughter will agree to sell these books in her bookstore--while she's also making a fortune selling rare print books. :)

By the way, the graphic above is from the web site of the NW Book Festival in Portland, which will be held July 27 this year. If you're in the Portland area that day (a week from Saturday), stop by the Pioneer Courthouse Square and check out the many authors who will be there. You can find more information at the NW Book Fest web site <http://www.nwbookfestival.com/>.

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

A Highland Miracle

Highland Miracle part of a May Day Anthology will be released as a single in a couple of days. This was a fun anthology to be a part of. Three great friends and writers wrote novellas that were linked as a time machine brought characters backward then forward in time. 

Genene thanks for the beautiful covers on all of the novellas.

Highland Miracle is a sweet romance with a touch of fantasy. The dancing lights at the top of the cover are will o' the wisps. They are phantom marsh lights that are seen after dark over swampy ground. They are known to beckon travelers from their path. 

Adair and Erin of wee folk also appear in the story as lovable matchmakers. 

Sean travels in a time machine that looks like a gigantic red fire hydrant to meet his one true love Raegan. This excerpt begins when he steps into the bazar machine while walking home through Central Park in New York City.

Excerpt:

Who the devil am I supposed to be trusting? There isn't anyone around. I'm the sole person in Central Park. But he leaned forward, inching his way closer to the portal of the crazy machine. He'd be pure loco if he stepped inside but Bandit seemed fine. The dog had disappeared a couple of times into the darkness only to return again, sit down and bark at him.

I can do this.

He stood half in and half out, inhaled deeply then stepped inside. Behind him the door clanged shut. He jumped out of his skin at the realization he might be trapped.

The quiet was eerie then suddenly lights began to blink and something hummed. It was as if the machine had sprung to life. His nerves sizzled and terror crawled down his spine. He searched the room for the dog.

Bandit sat on a chair in front of a panel of buttons and blinking lights. It appeared the dog meant to drive this contraption. But drive it where?

Oh, to his one true love, to his soul mate and a miracle. Sean let out a loud roaring laugh.

Praying it wasn't too late, Sean turned to leave. But the door was shut tight, and he couldn't find another way out.  Banging on the door did not make it open. He ran his hands up and down his arms in hopes of warding off the deathly chill seeming to take over his body as well his senses.

Bandit jumped from his perch and sauntered to the wall where he pulled down a handle and dog food poured into a bowl.

Well, at least the dog wouldn't starve.

"Please sit down and fasten your seat belt."

Sean jumped and looked around for the source of the voice. His heart raced as if it was going to run right out of his body.

"We are getting ready for take off. Please sit down and fasten your seat belt," the voice repeated.

A big red arrow pointed to a seat and there appeared to be a belt of sorts dangling from the chair. Hell, what's a seatbelt?

Feeling no real threat, Sean did as the voice commanded. He found the chair comfortable and the seatbelt acceptable. He wondered what it was for but soon found out as his body was savagely thrust back against the chair and air whizzed from his lungs. He hoped Bandit had found a comfortable place where he was safe. At the moment he couldn't check because he was pretty sure his eyelids were plastered to his eyeballs.

Suddenly, he gasped for air, realizing he'd been holding his breath. The ride was smoother now less intense. He felt as if he were floating in air. His stomach churned and dizziness engulfed him.

More golden dust floated around him. He was sure he heard a soft female voice telling him not to be afraid.

Motion stopped. He felt an eerie sense of deja[CY1]  vu, a feeling of coming home then a trembling in his legs he couldn't control.

Bandit jumped and barked then the door slid open.  Sean swallowed the lump in his throat and wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. For what seemed like an eternity, he stood, staring at the opening and the green grass. Had he gone anywhere?

"Okay, it's time to act like the brave firefighter you always thought you were. Go find out what's out there." He whistled through his teeth then inhaled a long deep breath for courage. A silent, swift prayer rattled in his brain.

Slowly, and he hoped cautiously, he strode to the open door and peered outside. Bandit dashed to freedom.

"Bandit! Come here." He didn't think that dog ever obeyed a command. "Bandit, you don't know what's out there." Central Park he hoped.

Sean strode a few yards from the machine and peered around him. He saw rolling hills, a river and the most breath taking scenery he'd ever encountered. When he looked to his left, a beautiful and very huge lake rested among the hills.

"This isn't Central Park, Bandit."

---

 [CY1]

READ IT AGAIN, SAM

Do you ever read through old manuscripts or books that have been previously published?

I've been doing that as part of my promotion efforts for LEGACY REBORN, the last book of my Halo Legacy Series. I'm going through all nine books to pull excerpts for my blog, remind me of the main points of the stories so I can put photos with them, and for expanded character bios. 

Fortunately, these stories aren't so old that I cringe when reading them. No head-hopping or lack of motivation, thank goodness!

Reading these stories again also generates new ideas of how to package and promote them. It's been interesting. 

And I still like these characters--that's a good thing!

How about you? What have you learned by reading manuscripts or books you wrote several years ago? Can you see a huge improvement in your writing? Are there nice surprises? Embarrassing ones?

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We're starting on the second half of the year and we want to hear from you! If you've been tracking your progress since January, how did you do? Tell us about your plans for the rest of the year.

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

WHAT CHARACTER WOULD YOU BE?

Marly O'Shea in PICTURE PERFECT LEGACY

A popular question in blog interviews is to ask an author what character from their book they would like to be. 

I can think of a number of reasons to be one character or another. Usually because the character is younger, slimmer, prettier, richer or more courageous than I am. 

One reason I would NOT want to be any of my characters is because of the conflict they face. In fiction, more conflict keeps the reader turning pages. In real life, conflict is exhausting. I'd much rather be serene and peaceful. :)

I've finished writing my Halo Legacy Series books, and am re-reading these books to plan promotion and write copy for marketing of this series. I'm also seeing some deeper philosophical issues that weren't so obvious when writing the books. 

The second book of the series, LEGACY OF ANGELS, is about forgiveness, but also about moving forward even though past issues aren't completely resolved. LIVING THE LEGACY brings together a jaded police sniper and a sheltered small town woman. The obvious conflict is what you don't know can be dangerous. However, this book also delves into communication in relationships and honesty. Collin cherishes his wife's innocence, but not being clear about the dangers of his job allows one of his enemies to get close enough to harm Beth and their unborn child. 

And so it goes throughout the series. It's been interesting to discover deeper conflicts--and other reasons NOT to be my characters!

How about you? What character in one of your own books, or a book or movie would you like to be--or not--and why?

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

The Mckenna Clan

Wow, coming up with ideas for blog posts is mind boggling. This week I'm celebrating my new cover for the second book in the McKenna Clan series. Catching Meara, published in March was the first and featured Jace McKenna. Catching Meara is an introduction into the McKenna Clan--Clan Chatton. The real series begins with Sweet Sexy Sadie. Brody McKenna is a shapeshifter who falls in love with Anthropologist Sadie Monroe.

Sweet Sexy Sadie will be released August 20, 2010 by Rogue Phoenix Press.

The antagonist is an Amazonian Devil, a Chullachaqui. This demon takes on the shape of a family member or loved one and lures them into the jungle. In Sadies, case he tries to lure into the desert of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

The McKenna Clan sailed from Scotland to America in the early 18eo's, settling in Texas. From there they spread throughout the southwestern states.


Jace McKenna, a profiler for the FBI, is the hero of Catching Meara. Meara Thorton is a technical analyst for the FBI.

The third book, Sweet Misbehavin will feature Carr McKenna.

This has been so much fun. Not  someone who has written contemporary, I've found that not having to worry about terms that weren't used in the a certain time period quite refreshing.

DO WE BECOME WHAT WE WRITE?

I've read a number of times that romance readers/writers make love with their partners a lot more than women who don't read romances. Coincidence or something more?

Do comedy writers have more fun? Tell more jokes? Laugh more often?

How about writers who explore the darker side of humanity or fantasy? Do they look under their beds at night or make sure closet doors are securely closed?

Or do I have it backward? Do writers who make love more often write sexy stories? Do funny writers carry their humor into their writing? Do those who wonder about demons gravitate toward darker writing? 

I wonder about this because I have caught myself recently thinking about worst case scenarios in real life and commented this is because of my writer's mind and the dramatic stories I tend to write. I've heard the advice a number of times to think of what would be the worst thing possible to happen to our characters and then write that into our stories. Other advice is to ratchet up the tension or raise the stakes. But I certainly don't want any of these things happening in my real life. 

How about you? Does the story you are writing influence your real life emotions? 

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

Believe

I really need this today, so I'm sharing, in case some of you need this, too.

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

Today's Moment of Zen

For reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, I've missed my last few blog posts. My apologies. I'll post the next entry in the web design series soon.

In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures to ease you into your weekend. They're from a recent trip to the always beautiful Carmel, California. Enjoy!

The first picture was taken along Highway 1, somewhere between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur.

The next picture was taken on the shoreline walking path between Monterey and Pacific Grove.

Weekly Progress Check-In

Welcome to the Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers weekly progress check-in.

We want to hear from you!

Did you meet your writing goals last week?  What do you plan to accomplish this week?

ON BEING A RECOVERING WORKAHOLIC

It's Thursday. My day to blog and my mind is on vacation--at least it's trying to be. :)

Some of you may have noticed I'm slowing down. Scaling back. Relaxing more and trying to remember to breathe deeply. 

This is a challenge for me, and I've decided I'm a recovering workaholic who keeps falling off the wagon.

I was born with an extra responsibility gene. My mother tells me I was "helping" her with dishes by the age of three. She dragged over a couple chairs for me to stand on so I could reach the sink and rinse dishes. 

By the time I was twelve, I was babysitting, fixing meals and cleaning the house while my mom worked, and driving the pick-up while my dad and brothers loaded hay bales on it. 

From there I worked in local restaurants, then for the state for over thirty years, then started my own businesses, including writing and rescuing doggies. 

I've lived decades where my worth was measured by how hard I worked, no matter what personal traumas I went through. I rarely took vacations--unless they involved working at something different--yet I never felt I was doing enough. 

I've finally realized how crazy that is and I'm trying to invent a life I've not experienced. 

I'm starting with baby steps. I sat on my back deck this morning with a cup of orange juice and enjoyed the rain. Obviously I'm an Oregonian if rain makes me happy--though it's a covered deck so I wasn't getting wet. :)

I've been reclaiming my yard from several years of neglect and love the dirt therapy. (The picture is my cleaned up narrow side yard, which I have not let most people see for quite some time.) I'm also planting my version of a garden, which means putting things in pots so I can take them with the doggies and me when we move to the farm. 

And I'm trying not to feel too guilty for this late post. And I have edits to finish on a story. 

Some of this may not sound like I'm slowing down but substituting one task for another. However, I'm doing things at a slower pace, saying no sometimes, and taking breaks to simply enjoy. As I said, I'm taking baby steps during this workaholic recovery stage.

How do the rest of you keep your workaholic tendencies under control? Or do you let them have free rein?