Hey, Scrooge!

Forgive me Blogger.com for I have sinned. It has been two months since my last blog post. This is ridiculous. Why can't I remember to blog more often? I need to do some hail marys and pay penance, I guess. In any case, I'm baaaaaack!
I'm entering into Scrooge phase. I am not a fan of the holidays. I like Thanksgiving--and New Year's Eve and Day are OK but I am not a fan of Christmas. It is too commercialized and I am not religious so that aspect doesn't appeal to me either. I hate the whole process of decorating a friggin' tree and shopping and wrapping presents. It just isn't my thing. But when you have kids (and now grandkids) you have to suck it up and deal. So I am trying. There is one cool thing about December though: my birthday! I'm a 12-12-12 gal! Yeehaw!!!! And, of course, this December is really special because according to the Mayans (or one of those peoples), the world is going to end on 12-21-12! YEEHAW! Seriously????? Sometimes I wake up wondering if the flippin' world didn't already end and someone just forgot to tell me.
My book should be out by my birthday. The Gypsy Thief is closer than ever to coming into the world. I just hope it happens before the 21st or I'm screwed. I will have spent six months in my bedroom writing Gypsy and its two sequels for nothing. I guess that isn't so bad though. Writing is a helluva a great way to pass the time.
I've seen Breaking Dawn Part Two twice now and am about to see it again this week for the third time. I never get enough of that stuff. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I have a girl crush on Stephenie Meyer. So sue me. Sorry. I'm feeling a little feisty. It's the whole holiday thing that's making me a little nutty (cue sarcastic comments from various family members here).
I have successfully rambled about nothing for five minutes now. But before I go, I have a favor to ask. I will speak up so the people in the back of the room can hear me:
IF ANYONE IS ACTUALLY READING THIS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY LEAVING A MESSAGE HERE OR ON FACEBOOK.
Thanks. If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to see it fall, did it make a sound?
OF COURSE. JUST BECAUSE NO ONE IS LISTENING IT DOESN'T MEAN I AM NOT SPEAKING.
OK. I'm fine now. May the force be with me. And remember: You are not allowed to drop out of a game that you're not actually playing yet...so persevere. Don't give up. Don't quit before you've even set foot on the field. As my mother used to say: "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck a seed."
Laters, baby...

Go for it!

 

 

I am so anxious for The Gypsy Thief to be born--to come into the world. I started writing it in January of this year and six months later I had three books. I never intended to write a trilogy--it just happened that way. I'm ready to introduce this romantic story of a magical necklace, a prince, a gypsy and the girl they both love to readers. And that thought is compelling me to talk about something important in this post.
I used to be an entertainment snob. I wouldn't watch a movie or read a book if it took place before 1960 (the year of my birth) because I assumed it would be BORING. I have never cared for history or the past--too haunting most of the time. I also turned my nose up at science fiction, paranormal, explicit material, young adult (after I grew up) and basically, anything that wasn't contemporary romance or travel narrative.
My friend Dana encouraged me to check out Jane Austen books and movies and so I did. I trusted her judgment. And I loved it all (OK, maybe not Persuasion, but I tried!).
My friend Jessica turned me on to Twilight (vampires and werewolves?? You're kidding, right?) and young adult fiction. Now I am a werewolf girl and diehard Twilight fan (I went to Forks on vacation this summer...need I say more?). She talked me into reading The Hunger Games trilogy and the Fallen series and I in turn talked her into reading the Hush Hush series (which I never would have given a thought to if I didn't know Jessica). I talked her into reading my favorite book of the year so far, My Life Next Door--and it's a young adult novel. Jessica loved it, too. I read that book a couple of months ago and the characters are still with me. I'm sure they're still with Jessica, too.
I said all of the above to say this: Don't be a book snob! Read everything! And if the world is talking and buzzing about Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight and The Hunger Games and so much more, READ IT. Don't say..."Oh, no thanks, it's not my thing." You're making your world a very narrow and closed off space in which to dwell. Be engaged in what the world is reading and listening to and watching. Read erotica! Read non-fiction. Listen to a little country music and some alternative. If I hadn't given alternative music a chance I never would have discovered my favorite band in the world: Muse. See a movie you wouldn't normally see. You might be surprised. I went to see a random movie last week called The Cold Light of Day and boy, am I glad I did. I loved it!
So...maybe you're not a young adult anymore (technically, for legal purposes, I'm not) but that doesn't mean you can't read young adult novels. Go for it! Don't narrow your world. Don't be a snob. Jump on the bandwagon. Read Fifty Shades of Grey. Fifty million people can't be wrong! read The Hunger Games. Read Gone Girl. Read Twilight. And, please, please, please...when it comes into the world in the next couple of weeks, read The Gypsy Thief. You'll thank me later.
Adios for now!

Melancholia

I keep saying I'm going to blog more often but then I forget. That's not good. But here I am again. I'm in a bit of a melancholy mood today. Have you ever had the feeling that you're not in control of your circumstances? That your freedom is constrained by outside forces? And what's more, everyone in the world knows something that you don't...like, they know the secret to happiness and you want--more than anything--to be in on it, too? That's where I'm at today. Got a good old case of the blues. I'm free but I'm not. I've got that restless feeling--that classic Sagittarius feeling--of needing and wanting to spread my proverbial wings and move westward. My spirit is restless.
I spent some time studying a map today. I have always loved maps--my whole life I have been fascinated by them. And today I carefully studied my AAA atlas of California (and a peek into Orgeon). I want to live on the west coast and something about northern California is calling to me. I want to live near the ocean in a small town. I'd like a fresh start. I considered Rhode Island--I do love that state--but the only drawback is winter. I want to avoid winter as much as possible. Everybody who knows me knows I don't like to be cold. Cold hurts. I love heat and warmth and the sun. And I love the ocean. My oldest son lives in San Francisco and he loves it there. It would be cool to be closer to him. Plus, I think he misses his mom a little though he might not admit it--haha.
I think once The Gypsy Thief is born and enters the world, I'll feel better. This holding pattern I'm in is making me crazy. I'm supposed to see my novel for the first time next week in the form of an actual book which I can hold in my hands. I will probably fall apart a little when I see it the first time--you know the feeling--when you hold your baby that first time. You can't believe he'/she's finally here. I'm so anxious to get Gypsy out into the world. I'm hoping the universe will help make it a success so I can make my living as a writer. I must keep the faith.
I've been listening to Taylor Swift's Speak Now album a lot lately. I know she has a new album coming out this fall but I don't see how it can top Speak Now. It is a truly amazing album. Every song is a winner but one in particular really cuts me to the bone. It's called "Long Live" and it really resonates with me as if she knew my history and my future and wrote a song about it. Thanks, Taylor, for an amazing song. Why was it never released as a single? It is truly Grammy-worthy.
One more thing...you know how we all have that 'one that got away?' Well, mine got away 33 years ago and I still miss him to this day. Sadly he passed away 10 years ago. I hope wherever he is, he checks on me from time to time like I checked on him (without his knowing) at least once a year for 23 years. I dreamt about him--again--last night. It was bittersweet. So many wrong turns and mistakes and yet, for the three years we had together, so much good to draw upon. It may sound pathetic, but at the age of 51 (and 33 years in), I guess it's my destiny to never get over him. I've never loved another since.
OK. I should end on a high note and try to get out of this maudlin state I'm in. I'm going to get myself a glass of lemonade and find a good book to read. That always makes me happy. So, until next time, folks!
Laters, baby...

Books, Books, Books!!!

As I await the finalized cover of my book, The Gypsy Thief, I've been reading for pleasure. I started writing a new novel (three chapters done so far) but I stopped briefly to re-edit Gypsy as it goes into the printing process next week. All of the interior design elements will be inserted (the scene change logo and the decorative logo at the start of each chapter as well as the two hand-written love letters that appear near the end). So I've been reading some amazing books and I want to share them with you all now.
I just read the Fallen series by Lauran Kate. So good and I recommend them highly.
I'm currently reading the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick and book one is blowing me away-- I am OBSESSED.
I went to Barnes and Noble and purchased two books by Megan Hart: Deeper and Tempted. I think they are Fifty Shades-esque judging by the back cover text - whoa, baby!!!
And I want to remind everyone to read On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves. AMAZING!
Also, if you've never read The Alchemist by Paul Coelho, you simply must. Every human on earth should be required to read it by law.
OK. I shall dash and get back to reading Hush, Hush. SO GOOD.
Oh, and I'm waiting anxiously for the mail to come--I ordered 28 books from Amazon (OK - 19 of them aren't for me--they're being sent to my sister in Tennecrazysee). Can't wait to see if any come today!!! By the way, I used my Amazon points and my total for 28 books was only $19.06! YES!!!!
Happy reading!!!!!!!!

Pacific NW

So, it took using a different computer to realize there's nothing wrong with my blog. It's my computer that's all jacked up--imagine that. I'm hoping that I will be able to read your comments finally!
Tom and I had a great week in the Pacific NW. Our first day was spent checking out downtown Seattle, which looks totally Star Wars-ish when approaching it from the south. I got a parking ticket my first day ($40) because I couldn't figure out the parking machine. I thought I had paid for two hours and five minutes but it turned out to be two minutes and five seconds. Dang!
Day two we drove up to the Olympic Peninsula. Talk about breath-taking vistas! I've never seen such American beauty. Crescent Lake is unreal--so beautiful! We arrived in Forks, home of Bella and the vampires and spent two nights there. We took the Twilight tour and saw where all the characters live. Early one morning I went to the high school and walked the track. We saw an elk! We went to the sporting goods store where Bella works and the restaurant she frequents with her dad. We also went to La Push where Jacob lives. LOVED IT. The beaches are stunning. We saw pelicans!
We took the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island and visited the Naval Air Station there. Tom loved that. We also visited the naval base at Bremerton and visited the picturesque town of Port Orchard, home of the prolific author Debbie Macomber. I could live in that town. Tom thought it would be the perfect place for someone in the Witness Protection Program to live.
We returned to the Seattle area and spent another day sightseeing and went up in the Space Needle. Saw where Christian Grey calls home--Fifty Shades, baby! We spent a day checking out the town where Twin Peaks was set, even having cherry pie and a damned fine cup of coffee in the Twin Peaks Diner (and I don't even like cherry pie!). We then headed to the town where Northern Exposure was set--so awesome. It was perfect until I got another ticket: for speeding this time at the exorbitant cost of $411.
Our last day we drove up Mount Rainier. It took forever to get there but it was worth the drive. Tom got out and made snowballs which was so weird considering it was in the 70s, temp-wise. The drive coming down the mountain was FRIGHTENING and I had a mini melt-down which Tom had to calm. But we survived and all in all, had a fantastic time!
So, I shall close here...watch this space for the unveiling of my book cover for The Gypsy Thief!

Forks, Here I Come!

OK...so Tom and I are off to Forks, Washington, bright and early tomorrow morning. I've been embarrassing the poor child all over town telling people we're going to Twilight country to hunt for vampires and werewolves. He prefers that I say we're going to Seattle (which we are). It sounds more fun to say it my way! I even dyed my hair jet black and am wearing pale make-up so I can blend in with the vampires!!!!I look total goth but no worries, folks...it's just a stage I'm going through like my 'Il Divo' stage a few years ago and my 'I Want to be an Olympic Ice Skater' stage a few years before that and my 'I Want to be a Flight Attendant' stage and my 'I Want to be a Nurse' stage (I was eight at the time). Other stages of my life have included--but are not limited to:
I Want to be a Russian Linguist (too hard)
I Want to Move to Maine (still seems like a nice concept)
I Want to be a Spanish Teacher (I still want this one)
I Want to be an English as Foreign Language Teacher (I still want this one, too)
I Want to be a Stock Car Racer (I was 12 at the time - too scary anyway)
I Want to be a Celebrated Chef (That's so last year)
I Want to be a Broadway Star ( Can't sing opera but, boy, if I could...sigh...)
I Want to be the One Who Solves the Jimmy Hoffa Case (It's only a matter of time)
I Want to be George Clooney's Second Ex-Wife (Cuz Hollywood marriages just don't last)
I Want to be the One Who Cures Tom Cruise of His Mental Illness So I Can Have My Tom Back (Because, deep in my heart, I still care...he just needs some of Brooke Shields' left-over meds)

I'm sure there are other things I've wanted to be over the years (I wanted to be a police officer for five minutes after I got out of the Marines but then I remembered why I was happy to be a civilian again and I got over that fast) but for now, all I want is to be a writer...so that's what I shall do...

Laters, baby!

The Gypsy Thief: Coming in Sept. 2012

It's been more than a month since I rambled! But I have something to ramble about today!
The first volume of my young adult trilogy will be published in September. The trilogy has been named "The Talisman Trilogy" and the first book is called "The Gypsy Thief." Here is a short teaser:

The day high school senior Laura Calder picks up a golden disk from the ground she unwittingly begins a fateful journey that catapults her into a web of deceit and revenge pitting two European royal families against one another. Though she falls for a handsome British prince, it is her love for a mysterious Portuguese gypsy that threatens all she holds dear—and with an evil duke hell-bent on carrying out a vendetta set in motion more than 300 years ago, Laura must make a heart-breaking sacrifice to save the people she loves even as she tries to decipher the golden disk’s mysterious messages.

I'm probably going to start my own website and I guess I will have to learn how to use my Twitter account now! Ha! When the time comes I will let you all know how to purchase your copy of "The Gypsy Thief." It will be available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Booksamillion.com and other online retailers. It will be both electronic (on your Kindle or Nook) or you can purchase an actual paperback copy. It's pretty long so I hope you'll feel like you're getting your money's worth (ha!). I think it will be more than 400 pages long when it's all said and done.

The other two volumes are complete but they have not been copy edited yet. They will be released six months apart. I hope I can get all of my friends and family and acquaintances, former co-workers, enemies, lovers and haters, pets, police officers, kings, queens and former classmates to purchase a book when it is released in September. I will be relying on word-of-mouth to get my baby noticed. I have big plans for "The Gypsy Thief." I want to see it on the big screen starring Austin Butler (Andrew), Diego Boneta (Miguel), AnnaSophia Robb (Laura), Christopher Egan (Tristan) and the delightfully delicious Colin Firth (The Duke of Easton). So help a sister out, please! Details to come!