FREE Online Conference!

For all my writer pals out there, I must tell you about a free online writers conference going on right now! It's on a blog, a very innovative idea, and runs from today all the way through the week for the next 7 days. What a deal! There's something for everyone there, and a new set of workshops and panels go up every day. I'll be speaking on the mainstream author panel on Tuesday if you'd like to drop by and say hi. To attend the conference, go here. To see the line-up for the whole week, go here.

For Love Or Money

I now have a cover for my novella that's due out from The Wild Rose Press in September as an ebook. I'll provide the link for buying it once it's up on the WRP website. I know this photo is different from the one I'd posted on the blog earlier this month, but it works almost as well. I prefer the fall photo, but it didn't work out the way I'd wanted so this is a compromise. The photo is still of the Deschutes River in Drake Park, Bend, Oregon, but it's a summer shot taken by yours truly instead of my professional photographer friend.


Here's another really pretty photo of the park. It was a beautiful day for taking pictures.

Grammar lessons

Courtesy of The Perry Bible Fellowship

You're only as old as you feel

Yesterday my husband and I rode our bikes to his mother's house to water her plants while she's out of town. I, of course, brought a book along to read while he did all the work. Hey, she's his mom (though I love her, too). While he waters, I sit on the front porch in my mom-in-law's comfy lounge chair, totally absorbed in Vicki Pettersson's Scent of Shadows, and am distracted by the neighbor washing his car.

Now, there's nothing unusual about a guy washing his car on a warm Saturday afternoon, but I happen to know this man is in his nineties. Not only is it surprising to see him with a bucket and sponge as he scrubs invisible dirt off his blue SUV, the fact that he still drives blows me away. He's slow and methodical in his task, bent like a bow, his steps an audible shuffle as he moves in slow motion from one side of the car to the other. He picks up the hose and meticulously sprays the rear window, then slowly towels it dry. He shuffles back to the house and minutes later returns with a fresh bucket of soapy water to continue his chore.

I was mesmerized. I knew I could get back to the book (which is mesmerizing in a completely different way), but I had to witness this elderly man's energy and dedication to his task. And I had to think about what makes us considered old or young, which made me think of my own mark on the half-century scale.

I just turned fifty a couple of weeks ago, and I gotta tell you I don't feel a whole lot different from when I was thirty. People say: "You don't look fifty." Well, what's fifty supposed to look like? I watch this neighbor and think, what's ninety supposed to look like? I look at my mom-in-law, who goes to fitness classes five days a week, and wonder what's seventy-four supposed to look like?

After a certain number of years, let's say twenty-five, I think we each age differently. You can attribute it to lifestyle, or to genes, but it's likely a combo of both. And attitude. Personally, I enjoy doing active things and perhaps that shows on my body, so that could be why I don't look my age (I still don't know what looking fifty means). I have no wrinkles or cellulite… yet. I'm into pop culture, love MTV and VH1, watch popular TV shows, try to stick with the current fashions (though lots of my old stuff is coming back into vogue, which cracks me up), and I admit to enjoying the company of young people because they talk about things that interest me. Maybe all these things combine to affect my outward appearance. I really don't know.

But what I do know is that if a ninety-year-old man can wash his car in his driveway with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, he's who I want to be when I grow up. Age is relative. I can ride my unicycle, lift weights and kick box, and if I'm lucky, I'll be in as good a shape as he is in forty more years. It's comforting to know I still have many wonderful years left ahead of me.

Same old, same old... or not?

I participated in a discussion recently at Urban Fantasy Fans, and someone brought up their opinion that so many--perhaps too many--female focused UF books are centered around a powerful kickass heroine whose main focus in the story, or series, is to grow her supernatural powers and/or abilities to kick badass.

There were a number of great responses, by some who agree and some who don't, but my thoughts are that any time you see a lot of similar concepts appearing as popular among readers, I have to wonder if the authors are responsible for the trend? Or is it the publishers.

You occasionally hear readers complain that authors write too much of this, or too much of that, but I honestly believe there are writers out there writing a wide variety of stories that may never make it into print. And not necessarily because the book falls below publishable standards, though that may be so. I'm guessing many of these stories break new ground, offer new concepts, new story lines, and let's face it. That's gotta be scary for a company that makes its profits from literature. Does it make sense for publishers to take a risk on something not tried and true? I think so. But I'm an author.

If you don't try, you can't fail. That goes for writers as well as publishers. A lot of us write outside the box, but by the same token we can write so far outside that it's difficult to tell what the box is. Still, I'm certain there are hundreds of fantastic stories written by unknown authors that won't get published as quickly as they deserve. It will take a maverick acquisitions editor to take that chance. I hesitate to bring up the headline-making series of the past few weeks, but Harry Potter is an excellent case in point. It took a risk-taking agent and a risk-taking publisher to unveil a goldmine. Doesn't it make you wonder what other treasures are out there waiting to be discovered? Could it be yours?

A rejection by any other name is still a... rejection

A couple of weeks ago I received a rejection via email for a paranormal mystery set in Hawaii that I'd submitted to a rather prestigious small press. When the editor first read the partial, he told me they never consider paranormal but would make an exception due to what he read in my synopsis. He asked for the whole manuscript. That was this spring. Unfortunately, the publisher's first readers didn't care much for the book. Loved the beginning, but the rest...

Well, suffice to say it didn't meet their standards. And that's fine. It was a long shot because this press publishes books that lean more toward the literary, and my stuff is totally commercial. Some might describe it as "cinematic." This publisher used the words "television reruns." Ouch.

Now I'm seriously considering repurposing the story as a YA. It wouldn't be that difficult to do, and perhaps the theme would appeal more to young people anyway. It'’s a reunion story about close friends who rekindle a torn friendship after one of them dies. Each character has a psychic gift, and there's a mystery involved. I'd have to change the ages of the characters as well as a few other details, but the result would be something like Nancy Drew meets Medium. What do you think?

But this project goes on the backburner for right now. I need to get my UF in shape, especially before the Colorado Gold conference in September.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of my rejected manuscript "Reunion in Paradise" you can find it here. It's the next story after the first few paragraphs of "Chalice" (which, by the way, has been retitled "Cursed." But that's for another blog. Stay tuned.)

The reader who made my day

I'm truly blessed with wonderful readers who don't hesitate to let me know they love my book. I can't express how special that is. Someone called me on the phone a couple of days ago to gush about how much she loves my book, which made my heart swell and my face hurt from smiling so much. This is what makes being an author so worthwhile.

I'm always asked, "So how's the book doing? How are sales?" To which I have no answer. I mean, it's published with a small press that has very, very limited distribution, so no matter how wonderful people think the book is, those unaware of its existence will never get to read it.

Is the book available at Borders and Barnes and Noble? No. Why not? Because my publisher is not a member of their small press program. So why don't I have a book signing at a bookstore? Because bookstores don't understand that just because a distributor shows zero copies in stock, that doesn't mean it's out of print. Desert Guardian is a print-on-demand book so there is no inventory. Try to explain that to a bookseller. Which I do, when I have the chance.

What's really unfortunate is that POD (print on demand) books are misconceived as vanity press books because it's often how vanity presses produce their books. What's misunderstood is that POD is a process, not a category of publisher. Until those in the publishing industry acknowledge the difference, those of us with legitimately published books through legitimate publishers will be considered lesser authors than those who are published with one of the 7 major publishing houses in NY. Terribly frustrating.

But those of us who have read excellent books by authors published by a small press know better. And we hope the readers of our books will spread the word.

Saturday in Bend, Oregon

Ahhhh. Time to relax before jumping into the bottomless work pool again. I'm going to give myself a couple of hours leisure time on this balmy Saturday here in Bend to sit in my sky chair (hammock for one), listen to the fountain on my front porch, and just breathe. The air is so fresh and clean here. I'm very lucky to live where I do.

So sorry to have missed so many blogging days! Ugh. My intention when I started this blog was to post something every day, no matter how minimal. My bad. So I'll post several times today to make up for it. Does that work? Or is that cheating.

Check out this photo of my fountain. Now imagine ponderosa pine trees waving in a warm breeze, a terrain of prehistoric lava rock sprouting rabbit's brush and juniper, a porch railing of peeled pine bordered by flowering geraniums, and hanging baskets of fragrant petunias and fushia. Thanks for stopping by.

For Love Or Money

I just saw galleys today of my September 07 novella, For Love Or Money. It's a romantic suspense that's part of The Wild Rose Press's innovative series, Legacy of the Celtic Brooch. My story is the ninth in the series, and was a lot of fun to write. WRP selected one author in each of their lines to write a novella that features the same Celtic brooch, and there will be thirteen stories in all. These novellas are shorter than usual at only 20,000 words or less, so if you're looking for a quick, fast-paced read, this romantic series is just right for you. The stories will only be available as ebooks, and each one costs just three bucks. A real bargain.

My story is set in Bend, so I'm hoping for a lot of local readers. But I'll take readers from everywhere. 8^) I'll let you all know as soon as the novella is available.

Thanks for your support!

I'm so BUMMED!

It's a sad, sad day when you learn that one of your absolute most favorite television shows in the whole world won't be returning next season. AAAARGH! Especially since I hardly watch TV anymore, what with everything being cheesy gameshows and reality show dork fests. The news is out that the fabulous Dresden Files television show, the series based on Jim Butcher's most excellent books of the same name, got a thumbs down from the Sci Fi network. What a bunch of ninnies. They wouldn't know a good show if it bit 'em in the ass, but TV is a bottom-line business. Apparently, they didn't get enough viewers to satisfy their advertisers and make airing the show worth their while.

Another show in danger of being canceled is Lifetime's Blood Ties based on the books by Tanya Huff. I don't care much for the books, but I love the show. Coincidentally, it was on at the same time as the Dresden Files, so I'd download the shows from iTunes and watch them on my laptop later. Wouldn't it be ironic if one show ended up cancelling out the other and vice versa because they competed for the same viewers? Yep, network ninnies all around. How hard is it to pay attention to what viewers are watching and try to accommodate them by choosing a time slot that pleases everyone?

Speaking of good TV shows, since the best are now off the air, I've discovered many of them are on DVD and I can rent them from Netflix. Or if I discover a show I like that's been on for a while, I can catch up by renting the DVDs. My husband and I are having a great time catching up with The Dead Zone by watching a backlog of episodes. I think we're in season 5 now.

Sigh. I'm probably better off just reading books. The story images I play in my mind will never go off the air.

A whole new point of view

I'm rewriting most of my urban fantasy novel, and retitling it as well. I need to change the setting, which in essence changes most of the plot. I've rewritten my synopsis, and now that I'm reworking the story, I'm considering changing the point of view. It will be a whole new book by the time I'm done and I'm excited about it.

It's not like I haven't written first person before. I have four completed novels, two of which are written in first person, and both of those are mysteries. My UF is half mystery, half paranormal/fantasy, so it feels natural to write it this way. For my other first-person manuscripts, I enjoyed the freedom of going deep inside myself, keeping it real and bonding with my character to experience something like a symbiotic relationship with her. In fact, I often found myself reverting to first person while writing the third-person version of my UF. I should have taken the hint then.

I've heard some readers say they won't read a book that's written in first person, and I can't understand why. It's a great way to get inside the story and be up close and personal with the character telling it. Personally, I like a story told either way, as long as it's not told from an omniscient viewpoint. Too distancing, IMO. Makes me feel like I'm reading the newspaper.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Okay, I know this is goofy, and it's a really bad picture, but I just had to share. While I was in Seattle last weekend, I met up with a friend I haven't seen in 40 years. We grew up together in LA and our mothers were best friends. I insisted we get our picture taken in one of those photo booths in the arcade at the Pike Street Market.

Will gave me the VIP tour of Seattle, took me to the Space Needle, Pike Street Market, the Locks, we watched the salmon swimming up stream, and he and his wife treated me to a lovely seafood dinner. It was so much fun! We had 40 years to catch up with each other, and it's amazing to me how friendships endure the test of time. Even after school, marriage, kids, jobs, we're still the same people we were when we were kids, just older and wiser. Will is quite a character. He just may turn up in one of my books some day. 8^)

Not enough hours in the day...

...to do everything we need to do, and want to do. For those of you who don't know me well, I run my own graphic design business and business is very good these days. Too good. I keep track of everything on a dry-erase board and when I updated it yesterday, I counted 16 separate projects. A few of them have multiple projects within projects. And I didn't count the freebies I do, mostly for RMFW. So I think I have time to write? You betcha!

Writing for me is kind of like eating and sleeping. It's necessary for survival. I'm sure a lot of you fellow-writers feel the same way. In fact, last night I had a dream, or not exactly a dream, it was more like a vision. It's hard to describe, but when I woke up this morning, I realized a box of kittens would be in this book I'm writing. I can't imagine how that will fit into the plot of a dark UF story, but my mind is open. I'm thinking it might be one of those things that add balance to the story, or those kittens aren't especially cuddly. That's a distinct possibility. Hmm...

A friend I met at the PNWA conference blogged about some of the workshops while they were in session, and if you'd like to know more, pay Nathan a visit.

The Werewolf Next Door

I wish I could take credit for this title, but it belongs to Richelle Meade, who gave an urban fantasy workshop at PNWA's conference last weekend. This was the one workshop I wanted to attend more than any other, but as luck would have it, my agent appointment was at around the same time. I still got to sit through the first 30 minutes, which were great. She was assisted by newcomer UF author Caitlin Kittredge, whose NIGHTLIFE is due out in March of 2008.

The biggest question at least half the room had was: What the heck is Urban Fantasy? So there was some discussion about who the authors are in this genre and what are the titles of their books. Wikipedia has a really good definition, though it could use some expansion, if anyone is inclined.

Two new items of interest I learned that I hadn't thought much about is that the "urban" part of urban fantasy is practically required, though there are probably some exceptions. It's the city setting that gives the genre its gritty, edgy tone as the real and surreal coexist either in secret, or in your face. Depends on how the author builds his or her story's world. The other interesting point was that most UF's are written in first person. I've read both ways, but it's true that the more mystery-oriented ones (my particular favorite) follow a similar structure to the classic PI novel.

I'm also excited to report that the City of Bend (where I live in Oregon) has a new book store. Woo-hoo! This is big news here. We've got a B&N, 2 rag-tag used book stores, a tiny downtown store that seems to be mostly regional books, and a comic book store. The next closest chain bookstore is 135 miles away in Eugene. So I'm ecstatic to have a regular, general interest, independently owned book store in my neighborhood. Yesterday I bought 3 of the books I would have had to order from Amazon because B&N didn't have them. I can hardly wait to cuddle up with Melissa Marr's WICKED LOVELY and both of Vicki Pettersen's Zodiak books. Life is good.