It seems most appropriate that I end the Furniture Fun series with Boo, as her name and sweet personality go with the lighter side of Halloween weekend!
She came to us three years ago (in October) with a track name of "Sweet Crunch", but she didn't care for any variation of that name and her ears (when happy) resembled the ponytails of the human girl named "Boo" from Disney's Monsters, Inc. She seemed to prefer it and she's been our Boo ever since!
Boo was a foster greyhound who quickly
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Spooky Elements For Paranormal Romance Novels
In honor of Halloween (in just a few days - Woot!) I thought I'd focus on one of the classic, and trickier elements of paranormal romance: Ghosts!
Ghosts are so very versatile in storytelling. There's everything from A Christmas Carol to Poltergeist to Ghost. (pardon me a moment while I sigh over Patrick Swayze) Which means ghosts lend themselves to all sorts of characterizations for paranormal romance writers.
Ghosts can be spooky tragic, spooky sexy, or spooky sidekick elements in
Ghosts are so very versatile in storytelling. There's everything from A Christmas Carol to Poltergeist to Ghost. (pardon me a moment while I sigh over Patrick Swayze) Which means ghosts lend themselves to all sorts of characterizations for paranormal romance writers.
Ghosts can be spooky tragic, spooky sexy, or spooky sidekick elements in
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
World Building For Paranormal Romance Novels Requires Depth
It's that time of life when our oldest child needs to visit colleges and decide which campuses and degrees fit her plan. It's like world building for the real world rather than a paranormal romance novel (and I suppose that makes it more important).
To all who wonder if college visits are worth the time (and/or money) my answer is yes!!!
She was looking at a college that dealt in her (quite specific) major and on paper, it was heaven. Lovely area, recently renovated facilities and labs,
To all who wonder if college visits are worth the time (and/or money) my answer is yes!!!
She was looking at a college that dealt in her (quite specific) major and on paper, it was heaven. Lovely area, recently renovated facilities and labs,
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Furniture Fun With Adopted Greyhounds Part Two
Last week I shared a glimpse of life with Bandit, our adopted greyhound puppy. He turns two next month, but greys don't usually settle and mature until sometime after two...I'll let you know when it happens to Bandit.
But that 'maturity' factor brings me right to Brody!
At nine, Brody's our eldest adopted greyhound. We adopted him when he was about two and a half. He had an embarrassingly short career, we assume it's because he runs better with a tennis ball in his mouth, and still
But that 'maturity' factor brings me right to Brody!
At nine, Brody's our eldest adopted greyhound. We adopted him when he was about two and a half. He had an embarrassingly short career, we assume it's because he runs better with a tennis ball in his mouth, and still
Thursday, October 21, 2010
World Building With Bits and Pieces Of A Life
Lately I've been cleaning out my grandmother's desk. It's an old drop front secretary style with a hutch and niches and cubbies and even a secret drawer or two. Of all the remnants of her life, this is the one piece of furniture she insisted I take.
It was a hassle I didn't relish, finding a mover to haul it from California to the Carolinas, and I admit I considered ignoring her final wishes. But there it was, in a will with only six key points: the desk was to come to me.
So like a good
It was a hassle I didn't relish, finding a mover to haul it from California to the Carolinas, and I admit I considered ignoring her final wishes. But there it was, in a will with only six key points: the desk was to come to me.
So like a good
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Inversion Tables And Other Alpha Female Observations
The recent visit with the neurosurgeon didn't offer the positive answers or hope I'd been looking for. It took me several days, many tears, tissues and margaritas to get over myself. I mean really, who wants to be told the ideal, workable solution is over a decade away? I wanted to see light at the end of this bleak tunnel, not learn that the tunnel is a whole lot longer than my patience.
Although as an alpha female sort of person, patience was never my long suit. Anyway...
Many
Although as an alpha female sort of person, patience was never my long suit. Anyway...
Many
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Furniture Fun With Adopted Greyhounds Part One
When my husband and I talked about getting married, we covered the basics of priorities and life choices. Two careers? Yes. Kids? Yes. Plural and eventually. Dogs? Yes. Cats? Yes, mainly because I already had a cat (one that thought it was a dog). Since pets were the more immediate negotiating point, we reviewed the 'rules'.
Dogs on the furniture? Of course!
We were both raised in homes where dogs shared couches and sometimes beds (depending on the sleeping habit of the dog). Which
Dogs on the furniture? Of course!
We were both raised in homes where dogs shared couches and sometimes beds (depending on the sleeping habit of the dog). Which
Thursday, October 14, 2010
More Musical World Building For Paranormal Romance Novels
Last week I mentioned how listening to Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman by Bryan Adams changed the mood of a scene I was working on, but I didn't really elaborate on how precisely the music 'moved' me.
So to answer those questions for those of you who asked:
It wasn't just the words or pace of the song, though I believe paranormal romance writers can learn a great deal on pacing a story by studying the pacing of entertainment media other than books (like movies, games, etc. More
So to answer those questions for those of you who asked:
It wasn't just the words or pace of the song, though I believe paranormal romance writers can learn a great deal on pacing a story by studying the pacing of entertainment media other than books (like movies, games, etc. More
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Paranormal Romance Novels Abound
It's October and E.J. Stevens is at it again with a month of giveaway treats for readers of all things paranormal! Visit From The Shadows and register for the Halloween Monster Giveaway! Here's a peek at the fun:
All through the month of October, you can visit From the Shadows for guest authors and interviews, and then enter to win books, eBooks and prize packages from some of the best paranormal authors in the industry. It's such an honor to have my own Shadows of Justice novels
All through the month of October, you can visit From the Shadows for guest authors and interviews, and then enter to win books, eBooks and prize packages from some of the best paranormal authors in the industry. It's such an honor to have my own Shadows of Justice novels
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Our Adopted Greyhounds Like Routine
We have a routine at our house. Several actually. In every day, there's Brody's routine, Boo's pattern, and Bandit's quirks. (just in case this is your first visit, no, we didn't plan the 'b' name theme). The adopted greyhound routines are liberally sprinkled with the antics of the cats. Simply put, our lives are 'interactive' - just as life should be.
The greyhounds and cats know Mom's routine is to get up, do some funky stuff called yoga, feed everyone breakfast, and take the boys to a
The greyhounds and cats know Mom's routine is to get up, do some funky stuff called yoga, feed everyone breakfast, and take the boys to a
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Octoberfest For This Alpha Female Author
If you visit here often, you're probably aware that I consider myself the alpha female of my domain. And you've probably heard I've been dealing with a back injury, patiently going through physical therapy and rather impatiently waiting for a solution. (although I've rediscovered the medicinal benefits of margaritas so it hasn't all been hell).
So when I finally got bumped up to a neurosurgeon, this alpha female was so very hopeful a positive resolution was in sight.
Because I'm one of
So when I finally got bumped up to a neurosurgeon, this alpha female was so very hopeful a positive resolution was in sight.
Because I'm one of
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Musical World Building For Paranormal Romance Novels
Recently, I re-discovered the joy of world building through music. I do most of the writing for my paranormal romance novels in the relative quiet of a house full of playful finches and napping dogs and cats. I usually only employ music (and Reese's Pieces) during the editing phase.
Lots of authors use music as a soundtrack for their writing process, but I embrace the quiet. Unless I'm writing somewhere like the car dealership (while waiting on service) or the school parking lot (while
Lots of authors use music as a soundtrack for their writing process, but I embrace the quiet. Unless I'm writing somewhere like the car dealership (while waiting on service) or the school parking lot (while
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Adopted Greyhounds Have Squeaker Envy
The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but that doesn't bother my adopted greys, who prefer to convert our every greening effort in the backyard into a more appropriate dirt track.
No, what turns our adopted greyhounds green with envy is the idea that the squeaker is better in the toy they don't have.
Silly? Maybe to you, a mere human with thumbs and a sense of hearing that is proof the squeakers are perfectly equal. But to our greys, particularly Bandit the Puppy and
No, what turns our adopted greyhounds green with envy is the idea that the squeaker is better in the toy they don't have.
Silly? Maybe to you, a mere human with thumbs and a sense of hearing that is proof the squeakers are perfectly equal. But to our greys, particularly Bandit the Puppy and
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)