Writing is a Journey...

Some of My Favorite Things

2009-01-19T16:53:00.002-07:00

As I travel around for my "day job" as a travel writer, I often find items that really appeal to me, so I'm in a habit of writing down brands and looking them up when I get home. I have a list of some of my favorites:

For the perfect bed, visit Frette. For a more affordable option, try Home Goods.

For the perfect table, try Global Table. They have great bowls, candles, plates and glassware you can use every day.

For the perfect table for special occasions, visit Juliska. (This is one of my favorites)

For those who want the perfect modern home, check out CB2.

For the perfect offerings in home decor, you'll like Pierre Deux.

For perfect green items, 3r Living is fabulous.

Finally, for perfect body items, many in great travel sizes, check out EO Products.

It's always fun to find things in life that make you smile.

Change

2009-01-18T19:02:00.001-07:00

Found this great quote from Maya Angelou:

If you don't like something, CHANGE IT;
If you can't change it, CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE!

What a simple yet powerful message.

Routine Maintenance Schedule for the Writing Life

2009-01-17T23:25:00.003-07:00

I have discovered the greatest little book. Be sure to pick up a copy of The Pocket Muse: Ideas & Inspirations for Writing by Monica Wood. This book has great ways to start your mind thinking when the muse is hiding. There are great little anecdotes to go along with the inspiration.

One of my favorite finds is the list entitled "Routine Maintenance Schedule for the Writing Life". Here's what Wood suggests:

Once a week: Skip to the next part of whatever you're working on, no matter how stuck you feel.

Once a month: Write all day without talking to anybody.

Every three months: Send something out for publication, just to keep your hand in.

Every six months: Clean your workshops: Pitch obsolete files, lumpen drafts, rejection slips, leaky pens, old mail. Clear away the dross, and you'll be able to think more clearly.

Once a year: Take a chunk of time, whatever you can afford -- three full days, minimum -- and go someplace where your writing will not be disturbed except for eating and sleeping.

What lovely maintenance items. We make maintenance checklists for our vehicles, but not our lives. This is an eye-opener for me. I think I'm at the "every six months" spot and need to clear away the dross.

Perhaps my favorite is her parting quote: Don't forget to be grateful that you love words.

New Year's Writing Resolutions

2009-01-15T18:41:00.002-07:00

I prefer to call my New Year's Resolutions "Goals". Somehow it feels more like something to work toward. With that in mind, I made several goals for the new year.

The first is this blog. I plan to blog more. Information about my writing, my novels, my travels, about me on this crazy writing journey. So, be sure to check back for more insight into my writing world.

Another goal is that I'll finish my new novel, SABOTAGED, by April 15th. Just the crappy first draft. I have until July to finish the edits on it and have it ready to start submitting.

I also plan to register for the RWA National Conference to be held in Washington, DC in July.

I have to stay organized and focused to accomplish these goals along with the freelance writing I do. (Check out my freelance website at http://www.thotinfo.com). That's perhaps the most important goal of all.

What goals do you have for the new year?

Desert Rose Award Recipient

2008-10-30T10:42:00.003-07:00

It's been a long time since I posted. It's been a year of writing, writing, writing -- both nonfiction and fiction. I'm completely rewriting the end (last 100 pages) of my suspense novel. The writing is all finished, now I'm doing revisions. I plan to have the finished manuscript out to Agent Jessica Faust, who requested the full book, by Thanksgiving at the latest.

In the meantime, I was awarded the highest honor awarded by my local RWA chapter, The Desert Rose Award. The inscription reads:

In appreciation for outstanding'

contributions toward furthering

the growth of the Romance Writers

of America, Phoenix Chapter,

giving unselfishly of her time

and knowledge to fellow members,

and her continuing encouragement

in helping them achieve the

realization of their dreams

I'm honored to have been given such a reward. My chapter has done so much for me and I've learned so very much in the few years I've been a part of these wonderful, talented writers. Thanks to all of YOU for making this a reality.

Now, back to Logan and Samantha.

When Characters Get in Your Head

2008-05-31T17:25:00.002-07:00

I'm going through revisions right now for Shattered. I love my story. I've created this world for "my guys". Each book is about a different member of an elite team of Navy SEALs. But these men are real for me. They have hearts and souls. They have strengths and weaknesses. I was so into the head of my hero earlier today that I felt his pain. I wanted to cry for him. I wiped away tears by the end of the scene.

When I create characters, I create a visual of where my characters live, what types of cars they drive, the clothes they wear, the schools they attended, where they spent their 16th birthdays.

Knowing so much about another person, even if he/she is fictitious, makes that person real. Not only for my readers (hopefully) but for me as well. I have conversations with them. Sometimes I live vicariously through them. I almost always love them or hate them. The emotion is strong. And if it's not strong, I know the story's not right.

For example, Maggie. Maggie won't leave me alone. I tried telling her story in another manuscript, but it never quite worked for me. I received accolades for the story. I received praise (from editors/agents) about the strength of my writing. But something was missing.

It was Maggie. I've finally found Maggie. She is, for the first time, real to me. She's a little like she was when I first created her, but only in little ways. Maggie is supposed to "star" in book 4 of my series, although she will play a part in book 2. (the next book) I love her, though. She won't leave me alone. She may end up "starring" in book 3 instead.

Maggie is a gypsy. She's fun and vibrant. She does what feels right to her. She's not one to be tied down. She loves to ride a horse bareback down the beach at sunset. She loves to run through the fields barefoot. She loves breezy dresses and letting her red hair fly free. She laughs a lot. She has a favorite saying: "Let the horses run wild and the wind blow free." She's modeled after and dedicated to my cousin (Leslie) who died in a car accident at the young age of 22. I grieved her loss as I would the loss of a sister. I grieved the loss of her spirit. I realized when I thought of Maggie, I thought of Leslie. Every time. I couldn't deny it and had to let her come to life. Like my cousin, Maggie is a free spirit. She can't be tamed. But she also has flaws. She yearns for depth. She yearns for roots. She wants others to take her seriously. She yearns to throw away the secrets of her past. She wants to be accepted.

I love when characters come to life. It's why I write. To tell the stories about people--people who aren't real but who touch the lives of very real people and them smile or cry or laugh, even if for just a little while.

Spending Time with Other Writers Motivates Me

2008-04-11T10:06:00.003-07:00

This past weekend was the Desert Dreams Writers' Conference here in Arizona. I was the coordinator for the conference, so it was a different experience for me from the typical conference. I ran the entire time and had people say my name and call for help more times than you can imagine. But in the midst of all that, I still came away motivated and captivated and energized.

Friday night started with Sherrilyn Kenyon's keynote speech. I don't read a lot of her books, but as a person, she is one of the kindest, most sincere people I've ever met. Her story is incredible. She is so motivational. My husband turned to me and said that if I came away with anything from this conference, it should be her message that you just have to keep writing. I also love her comment about what she's called "soul-sucking demons" that challenge her writing (aka her critique partners). I laughed at my two critique partners sitting next to me. They DO keep me honest but sometimes I want to throw up my hands at them. Of course, I always go back and really listen to what they say and I am absolutely convinced that I wouldn't be where I am without the girls.

The entire weekend was like that. Moments of encouragement and motivation. Speaking with an editor or agent who was actually excited by my projects. Listening to other authors who've published, or who've just gotten agents or just made their first sale. It lets me know that, despite the fierceness of this business, you can keep on keeping on and you might just make it. I absolutely believe in my writing -- most of the time -- and that's what will see me through the madness.

Now, the hard part. I'm in the midst of serious edits on my manuscript. The story is finished (YAY!) but I need to make it "more". I have to make sure the layers are there, that the pacing is right, that my characters have arcs. I need to make this a "big" novel. One that will make a reader say "Yes" when she picks up the book and reads the first paragraph. I need my readers to know my characters and feel their world. So, back to edits with a renewed sense of reason and conviction.

The Moments in Your Life that Define You

2008-03-03T22:09:00.002-07:00

I am not sure who authored this, but it really touched me.

There are moments in your life that make you and set the course of who you're going to be. Sometimes they're little, subtle moments. Sometimes, they're big moments you never saw coming. No one asks for their life to change, but it does. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are.

When was that moment for you? Who are you?

I LOVE My Characters

2008-03-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

I'm finishing up my current novel, Shattered. I really thought I just had a few more pages to go. My goal was to have that last little bit complete by today. I haven't made it. But it's not because I haven't been writing. I've written a lot and written every day for the past month (well, except one day and I wrote 21 pages the next day, so I feel okay about that). No, it's because my characters changed the story.

Don't get me wrong. I think what they've done is a good thing. The story is "bigger", richer, has far more depth. But I want to be finished with this story. Not because I don't like it. No, I love it. I love my Navy SEALs. The guys are real for me. In fact, while this is Logan's story (Logan Kitchner, risk taker, has a need for speed, fearless, inflexible, The Chief, from Wyoming), during the past 50 pages or so, Quinn is really speaking to me (Lt. Quinn Pierce, loyal, honorable, The Warrior from Nashville). Quinn's the hero in my next book, Sabotaged, so I guess it's good that he's in the story more than ever.

It's always a thrill when the characters really start living. Of course, now I have to go back and do some serious edits, but that's okay. Now I know them and I know what they'd do in every situation. Some days I get so frustrated writing, but for the most part I love what I do. Besides that, there's never been a time (not for long anyway) when I didn't write. It's just part of who I am. But it's really nice when it flows really well.

When Worlds Collide

2008-02-27T20:38:00.002-07:00

I write. All the time. I write fiction and I write nonfiction. In a lot of ways, they are two separate worlds. But every now and then, those worlds collide. When it happens, it's always great.

Here are some examples:

In my travels as a travel writer, I've been fortunate enough to visit some great places. Two of those -- the Costa Brava in Spain and the beautiful town of Antibes in the South of France -- appear in my current novel, Shattered.

Recently, I was touring the Bondurant Racing School here in Phoenix (and got to ride in one of the Corvettes going 100 mph around the track - WOW). I discovered while I was there that the school also trains Navy SEALs. Cool. The current novels I'm writing, including Shattered, are about an elite SEAL team operating in Europe and the Middle East. Knowing that those guys, whom the instructor says "have no fear", train at the Racing School is a great piece of research that I wouldn't have known had it not been for my freelance writing.

One of the biggest things I've seen is how the different writing styles impact each other. I find that my nonfiction writing is better because of my fiction writing. I use more description, my writing flows a little more than it used to before I started writing fiction. Sometimes, though, I have to watch it with my fiction -- one of my critique partners says I have to hold back the travel writer Susan so that I don't slip in a travelogue as my characters narrowly escape some fate worse than death and stop to admire the vistas. Thank goodness for the editing process and for great critique partners.

SDSU Writers Conference

2008-01-25T00:32:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow (well, today now since it's after midnight) I'm heading off with two of my critique partners for the annual writers' conference hosted by San Diego State University. Out of all the conferences I've attended, the SDSU writers conference has been one of my favorites. I'm really excited about this conference. I'm actually one of the room monitors, so the only workshops I'll hear are the ones that take place in "my" room, but I'm still really anticipating the workshops. It doesn't really matter which workshops I monitor, I know I'll be able to take something away from every speaker.

In addition to the workshops, there's a Friday night mixer at which I'll have a chance to meet some of the editors and agents who'll be at the conference. Then, on Saturday, I have a 10-minute appointment with Hillary Rubin Teeman, an editor at St. Martin's Press. She did an advance read of the first 10 pages of my current manuscript (Shattered), so I'm looking forward to hearing her input. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping she'll want to see more of my work.

My goal at the conference is to absorb as much as I can from those around me and to get at least 3 requests for my manuscript. It will be great fun to have Stacey and Shelley there with me. Several other writers from the local Desert Rose chapter (of RWA) are also going to be at the conference, so it should be a great weekend.

Here's hoping for great new beginnings...

What I'm Reading Now...

2008-01-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

I love to read. For me, it goes hand-in-hand with loving to write. I sometimes find myself so wrapped up in a book that I use the time I should be writing to read. Well, that's where I am right now. I started reading all of Mariah Stewart's books. I LOVE her books about the FBI team under the direction of John Mancini. I love the Shields family of agents. Mia is one tough agent in a family of brothers and male cousins -- and she holds her own among those mighty Shields men. Annie is a phenomenal character as the FBI profiler. Mara is a gutsy gal who marries into the Shields clan. Anyway, I haven't found any of her heroes and heroines yet that I don't really enjoy.

I read one of the later books a while back and then realized I was in the middle of the "series". So, I went back, found all of the books, and have been steadily reading them one at a time. Right now, I'm nearly finished reading Dark Truth. I can't wait to finish it. I'm down to the last 100 pages and it's packed with adventure and intrigue.

If you want a great, heart stopping suspense with just enough romance, pick up one of Mariah Stewart's books. You won't be disappointed.

Thought for the Day

2008-01-08T17:17:00.001-07:00

I'm better than I used to be, but I am the ultimate worrier. I worry about everything. I worry about what other people think. I worry that I might say something to hurt others' feelings. I worry that my son has to work hard. I worry that my son and daughter-in-law won't get the house they're hoping for this spring. I worry about my darling grandchildren who are all sick right now. I worry about my husband and all the crazy hours he works. I worry about my parents (even though they now live just down the street and I see them every day). I worry that my sister searches still for that place to call home. I worry that I won't meet my deadlines. I worry that...I spend too much time worrying.

That wonderful husband of mine sent me the perfect "thought for the day":

"The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work." -- Robert Frost

Time to quit worrying and, well, work... The blank pages await.

A New Year --Time for Renewal

2008-01-08T17:07:00.000-07:00

I spent the past few months in a funk. I realized recently that I had to give myself a swift kick and get my career back on track. While my travel writing took off, my suspense writing suffered. Or so I thought. Then I realized that I probably needed this time. I did a lot of plotting. I've created an entire world in which the heroes and heroines of my next six books live. I know my characters inside and out. Yes, I'm serious plotter and I have notebooks on "my guys" as I call my Navy SEAL team that will star in my next six books. So, it was actually time well spent.

But I also realized a very big weakness. I must be very careful not to let it stymie my growth as a writer. I tend to pour all of my energies into a single thing. No, I don't just do one thing. I am, after all, a Gemini. I tend to do everything at once. But I pick one thing and focus on that. I all but obsess about that one thing, at the expense of everything else.

So, I have a new plan and thus far, 8 days into the new year, it's working. I purchased a calendar that has hourly appointments. I literally schedule time in the day for everything. It's working really well. I schedule time to work on Shattered, my current WIP, and I've written close to 50 pages the last 8 days. I schedule time to work on my nonfiction (the paying work for right now) and I currently have 8 assignments, so I have to make sure that work gets done. I even scheduled time to work on my blogs, my My Space page (yes, I finally have one) and my websites. I think that will be the my focus for the near future: ORGANIZE and FOCUS ON MY GOALS.

Happy 2008 everyone!

Register for Desert Dreams Writers Conference

2007-12-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great writing conference with solid educational programming and plenty of face time with editors and agents? Then register now for the Desert Dreams Conference, scheduled for April 4-6, 2008 at the San Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona.

Speakers include Sherrilyn Kenyon, Carly Philips, Mary Jo Putney, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Cheyenne McCray, Jennifer Ashley, Lori Wilde, Brenda Novak, CJ Lyons, Jade Lee, Brenda Joyce and more...

Editor/Agents attending include Leah Hultenschmidt of Dorchester, Toni Plummer of St. Martin's, Joanna Raisanen of Harlequin, Rachel Vater of Lowenstein-Yost, Bob Mecoy of Creative Book Services, Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency, Jessica Faust of Bookends, Inc., and Michelle Grajkowski of Three Seas Literary Agency.

For more information check out Desert Rose RWA.

Destiny and Writing

2007-12-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't spent a lot of time writing the last few months. Life has presented some unusual challenges and I've not made writing a priority. The last month, however, I have been writing. I've plotted 6 novels. I've rewritten the beginning of a novel that I originally wrote months ago. I've written new pages in a voice far different from the voice of past work. I think it's stronger this time. I hope so. Surely, I've learned something in all this time.

So why have I suddenly found my voice and started writing again? Why are the stories that I worried were dead for a while coming back like a movie running non-stop in my head? I think it's destiny. From "1001 Meditations" I found this entry:

Communicating with a future self can calm the anxieties we experience in the face of the unknown. Close your eyes and imagine that standing before you is an eighty-year-old, who looks strangely like you. Encouraged by the reassuring look in their eyes, you introduce yourself. They tell you that they are the embodiment of your destiny. You converse with them, asking for advice about your life's direction. After the conversation your future self hugs you, whispering words of encouragement into your ear before slipping into the distance. Comforted by their words, you walk forward into your future with greater confidence and trust.

I have pushed the fear behind me. It's time to walk forward into my future with confidence and trust. And I can't wait to introduce you to my new characters...

Life Changes So Fast

2007-12-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

It's been months since I've written. I've found myself traveling all over the country, I spent time in London and I have a new granddaughter and daughter-in-law. My son married his long-time girlfriend just yesterday. They have a beautiful little girl, Zoe Elizabeth, who joined her two brother -- Nathan (almost 3) and John (15 months) at home. It's so much fun to be a grandmother.

We will celebrate our Christmas together tomorrow. It will be different for me, not having my son with me on Christmas Day. But it's magical that his family has grown and they are all so happy. I have to count my blessings.

In the midst of all this, I am still writing. I had a few months where I didn't work on my novels. I was busy with my travel writing (check out my new blog at http://www.travelwithsusan.blogspot.com/) and things were just crazy. But those stories were in my head. And the characters wouldn't leave me alone. I'm back at work on book one in my 6-book SEAL series. No, I do not want to be another Suzanne Brockmann. No one can write like she writes. But, I have my SEAL team, I know my guys, I have a rich history for every one of them and I can't wait to see where they take me.

Happy Holidays everyone and happy writing.

Our Journeys

2007-05-23T16:13:00.000-07:00

The journeys we make in our lives -- both literally and figuratively -- help define who we are and how we live our lives. My "day job" is a travel writer. I know, it sounds romantic and exciting. It can be fun, and I do see some great places, but it's also hard work. It's completely different traveling for work than for pleasure. Which brings me to those journeys. What journeys do we make that change our lives?

I've done a lot of traveling lately. I was in Lexington, KY during the Kentucky Derby. No, I didn't see the race, but I saw a lot of horses and watched the Derby on a TV in the hotel bar. It was pretty amazing watching an entire town celebrate a horse race and come to a stand still to watch the race. I grew up with horses and my first love affair was with horses. I didn't realize until this trip how very much I miss horses. The thoroughbreds are gorgeous. The beautiful guy shown here is Cigar. A former champion show horse, considered the top horse of the decade in the 1990s, he is now at the Kentucky Horse Park. He definitely knows he's important. Horses have a soul like no other animal and this guy has a mighty arrogant soul. It was so much fun to watch little girls' faces as he pranced around the ring. I came home remembering what it felt like to be a child again. How exciting every moment was and how just feeling a horse nuzzle against my neck could make everything right with the world. That was definitely a journey for me in many different ways.

Last week I went to Rosemary Beach, Florida. This lovely beach town in Florida's panhandle was a wonderful place to let the cobwebs float away. The picture at left shows the gorgeous white sands of Rosemary Beach. I loved the smell of the sea and the gentle breezes blowing in off the water. I worked all day, but it somehow seemed lighter and easier knowing the water was just a block away. That was more than just a work trip for me, as well. It was a journey back to what matters most to me. I missed my husband. I was working in this incredible place, met a couple of people I believe will become long-term friends, but all I wanted was to spend the day ambling along the sandy shore with the man I love. He's been with me for over 27 years and I still hate to leave him for even a day. I also realized that my life's journey isn't complete without my writing. I longed to sit and write and it's been a while since I've wanted to sit and write. It's been a tough time for me lately as far as writing goes. But I wanted to tell those stories again more than I've wanted to in a long time. Another journey that definitely led me far beyond the Florida coast.

I am leaving tomorrow for Mexico. This one's just for pleasure and I'll spend the Memorial Day weekend with my family. It's the first vacation I've taken with my two beautiful grandsons. I'm looking forward to showing them the wonders of the beach at our family home on Baja's Sea of Cortez shore. After that, I'm off to Fredericksburg, Texas for yet another working trip. I won't have my family on that one, but I will have my characters -- or my people as my critique partner calls them. When we have those stories in our heads, are we ever really alone? That gives another whole angle to my journeys.

As you take off for the holiday weekend, or for that business trip, or to see the family, ask yourself what the journey really means for you. Where do your travels take you? How far can your imagination take you? What is it you want to experience as you set out on your journey?

As Lillian Smith said: "I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within."

What Do I Name My Characters?

2007-05-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

One of the problems we writers have is what to name characters. Sometimes I just know my main characters' names. Other times it's a struggle. I really have trouble at times with secondary characters' names. You want to make sure the name fits the character. For example, you wouldn't want to name a big, burly motorcyle guy Timmy. So, how do you find names for your characters?

A quick exercise for today is brainstorming names. Take a piece of paper and write the alphabet down the left side, then divide the rest of the paper lengthwise into two columns. In the first column write the first name that pops in your mind for each letter and then write the image or thought that pops into your mind about each name in the far right column. You'll be amazed how many times you'll refer back to this.

Oh, and those pesky last names? Try the phone book. It's amazing what you'll come up with. And try not to use the same beginning initial for both first and last names or for two first names. (Don't name the hero Michael and the heroine Martha or don't use the last name Montgomery with either of them.) It helps the reader keep the characters straight.

Good luck!

Renewing Your Spirit & Dreaming Wild Dreams

2007-04-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I wrote. I lost my focus. I haven't been able to think about writing. I sit down and stare at a blank screen. I've barely been able to write a page a day, which is unusual for me. I simply forgot the joy of writing. The drive to get my stories on paper and to share them with someone else. I woke up this morning and realized that my life is not complete unless I write. I want to publish novels. I want to make people say "wow" and to want to turn the next page. I want to be the one who takes people away to places far different from their daily lives. I want to write.

Ray Bradbury said, "If you write a hundred stories and they're all bad, that doesn't mean you've failed. You only fail if you stop writing." Failure is not an option. Just keep writing. Don't let that inner editor, or inner critic, or even the nay-sayers in the world, keep you from charging forward. Just write.

In that vain, I've decided to create a writing challenge every few days. Things you can think about to keep you going, to help you dream, to help you write. I'll put each one under a different heading, so keep looking for them. Feel free to post your answers.

Your challenge for today (Courtesy of Idea Catcher, 1995 from Story Press):

In my wildest dreams I never imagined anything like this could happen to me...

Give Them Wings

2007-03-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things in life is to be a parent. It's also one of the most rewarding -- at least most of the time. I thought by the time my son turned 23 (which is next month) that I'd be done parenting. I was so wrong. I think the parenting is just harder now than it was when he was 13 or 3.

Why is parenting difficult? Because, despite our best intentions, we have expectations. I always said I wouldn't. I just wanted my child to be the best at whatever he chose. Yeah right. How many of us don't hope that our children will do better than we've done, will have more opportunities than we've had, will make "better" choices than we've made. Tied up in all of that are those expectations. When our children then grow up to lead lives so unlike what we'd envisioned for them, we find ourselves up against a wall. I love my son more than I love any other human on this planet. It always amazes me that he can't see what I see and make the decisions I would make were I in his shoes. I usually realize my mistake at some point and back off, but I still find myself sitting there wondering why I can't direct his every move. But, then again, did I ever direct his every move? Didn't he have a personality all his own from the very beginning? I'm seeing now why there were so many frustrating moments when he was 3...and 13...and 23. If he'd only seen life the way I wanted him to see it... Yeah, life would be pretty boring.

So, right now, I'm stuck on my novel. These darned characters are NOT behaving. They're acting "out of character". They just aren't doing what I want them to do. I told Samantha (my heroine) she couldn't say that. I warned Logan (my hero) that he needed to change his approach. Why won't they listen to me? Like my son, my characters are just intent on creating their own lives. It doesn't matter how hard I try to mold them and make them behave the way I want them to behave, they go in the opposite direction, intent on challenging my position of authority.

When I feel frustrated with my life and the choices my son makes and the direction he's going that is nowhere close to the direction I'd hoped he would go, I turn to my writing. I can escape into my characters. Characters who listen to me, who want to do things just because I tell them they should, who grow up to be just what I want them to become...

...Now I'm convinced. It's all my son's fault. He's the one who told my heroine what to do and how to get under my skin. He's the one who convinced my hero to do just the opposite of what he was supposed to do. I feel ever so much better. It's all my son's fault.

Writing Inspiration

2007-01-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a weekend at the San Diego State University Writers Conference. What a wonderful, inspiring, productive weekend. I was absolutely blown away by all the wonderful workshops, the incredible access to editors, agents, and authors. I felt like a sponge soaking up the immense body of knowledge present at the conference. I had some great consultations, met some wonderful editors and agents in the publishing world, and learned so much. But one of the best parts of the trip was the inspiration. Agent Loretta Barrett said that "we are a room full of book-loving misfits" and encouraged each of us to pursue the gifts we have. She was also a realist and discussed the many benefits of technology in the publishing industry and reminded us that "up to the day of publication it's pure art; after that, it's business." I returned so motivated to write and with excellent feedback on ways to make my story stronger.

The other fantastic thing about the weekend is that I spent it with two of my critique partners. The three of us had an incredible time. We huddled in the evenings reviewing our pitches and making them stronger, going over the gems we picked up during the day, and congratulating each other on the positive reactions each of us had to our manuscripts. It was a weekend to remember and I am very fortunate to have such great support in this journey toward publishing that first novel.

I strongly encourage each of you to find that support system. Don't let nay-sayers bring you down. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Find a writers' group. Find a critique partner. Attend conferences. This is your dream, but more than that, it's your career. Be willing to invest in it and don't let people stop you or discourage you. Each step you take along the way helps you learn and grow.

Good luck on YOUR journey!

Shouting Yes...

2007-01-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted. The holidays came and went in a whirl of activity. I so enjoyed spending Christmas Day with my family and my two grandsons (21 months and 4 months) were a special blessing. It was fun watching my own son open presents at two. But it's extra special when that two year old is your grandson.

Since the holidays, I've been writing, hard at work on my newest WIP, Shattered. There are always ups and downs in this crazy business. You'll be flying high, then you receive a rejection or harsh criticism and you really have to step back and remember why you write. You have to remember the dream and be willing to take every challenge to reach that dream.

I found a lovely poem called "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. The author weaves beautiful words of inspiration. Here's my favorite line:

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

If you want to check out the entire poem, you can view it on the author's website at http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/.

So, how about you? Are you ready to shout YES?

Trust That Good Will Come

2006-12-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

I hope that you are all having a wonderful holiday season. I can't believe it's the end of the year already. Time just seems to speed up each year. Today is my wedding anniversary. I've been married for 27 years. Yes, I was a child bride. I was only 16 when I married my wonderful husband and we beat the odds by still being together all of this time. I knew the moment I met him I'd be with him forever. This is not a goofy line in a story, the honest truth -- the first time he touched me, on our very first date when I was 15 and he'd just turned 18, I felt this wild tingle run through my body. It was a physical sensation. I went home and wrote in my journal that night that I'd just met the man I'd spend the rest of my life with. Today, 27 years later with a 22-year-old son and two grandsons, we still enjoy holding hands when we walk, we finish each others' sentences, we love spending time together, have worked together in the same office for years (these days he goes to a corporate job so we aren't together all day long) and are more comfortable together than alone.

How do we do it? I think most of it is that we're soul mates. We were just meant to be together. It's a lot of hard work sometimes. And we always dream together.

Now, for the topic today. Trust that good will come. Wow. That's the tough one for me. I agonize over everything. My husband, my critique partners, my family...they all tell me to trust. Why is that so hard? I'm reading this great book, More Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie. It's designed to give you a daily meditation. I can't read one a day, though. I've just started reading it because it inspires me so much. The first day, January 1st, is "Trust That Good Will Come." She says that we tend to live in fear and anxiety, obsessing that things won't work out. Yep, that's me. She then goes on to say that you need to accept, relax, breathe, let go, trust yourself, your God, and the universe to "manifest the best possible destiny when the time is right for you."

That's my goal this year. Accept. Relax. Breathe. Let Go. Trust Myself.

Trust in yourself as you move to the end of 2006 and into a wonderful, prosperous, and most of all peaceful 2007.

If You Want Your Dreams to Come True, Don't Oversleep

2006-12-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, I had no idea it had been almost a month since I last posted. I left off in November and suddenly, it's winter. No, this picture is NOT Arizona. But, I do miss snow this time of year. I'm from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It's a ski resort town in the far northwest corner of Colorado. I tell people I moved to Arizona because I got cold. That is the honest truth. I was cold. I really love the weather here in Arizona (loving November through May is why I tolerate July and August), but snow for the holidays would be really nice.

Anyway, life took off on its own the last few weeks. First, I had to finish up Chasing Maggie, get it through my critique partners and make one final set of changes. There was a visit to my niece's 4th birthday in Tucson. Angelina Patricia Cruz is my husband's baby sister's daughter and absolutely adorable. She's the youngest granddaughter in the family (just two years older than my grandson) and spoiled rotten by all of us. Bill and I rented a nearby hotel room, hung out with the family during the day, enjoyed a quiet evening alone. Ahhh. It was a wonderful beginning to the holiday season. We had Thanksgiving, which was nice and quiet for us. It was a great weekend to decorate for the holidays and to get started on some shopping.

I picked up pictures of my two beautiful grandsons the day after Thanksgiving. Aren't my boys adorable?

We started off December with a fantastic party at my friend Stacey's house. She and her husband Eddie hosted the annual party for Desert Rose. She's a delightful hostess and DR members are simply the best. We had so much fun. It always serves as such a great reminder to me of just how lucky I am. Life is full of blessings -- we just get so carried away by living that we forget to live and count those blessings.

That's this month's theme for me. Count my blessings. Dream big dreams. Rejoice in the beauty around me. Don't sweat the small stuff. As you can see from my title, though, it really does matter how you pursue your dreams. You have to MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE. They aren't just going to happen for you. We must be in charge of our own destiny.

To help make my dream come true this month I finished the final final edits on Chasing Maggie. I won't touch it again until (not if) an editor or agent wants me to make changes. I sent off the requested full. I submitted it to the Golden Heart contest. I have two more queries finished and ready to go out this week. I finished outlining the next 5 novels. I've completed the detailed outline and character sketches for the next book. Oh, and I'm organizing my office. Those housekeeping things really are important -- you can't pursue your dream if you can't remember where you filed it.

So, that's what I woke up and did this week. How about you? What dreams do you want to make come true?

I Finished!

2006-11-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished my revisions on Chasing Maggie. I've integrated everything the agent mentioned, all the changes I needed to do fix the plot holes and I'm so excited. It's with my critique partners now. They'll go through it and I plan to get it emailed out next week. I'm very excited and just wanted to share. It's one more step toward my goal to find an agent and develop a career as a novelist.

Today is a special day for my parents. It's their 49th anniversary. Isn't that an awesome accomplishment? I asked mom today if she ever imagined, when she turned and walked out of the reception with her new husband all of the twists and turns and exciting changes life has brought to them. I think we all forget that at times. Life is unpredictable. Sometimes we're in a spot where we wonder why we're having so many challenges. We end up feeling sorry for ourselves, questioning why life is so difficult, wondering if life is just one huge practical joke. We shouldn't. I know that's easy to say, but if we think about it, every success, every step, every failure, every lesson learned brings us to the place we are today. If one thing had changed in our lives, how would today be different? Sometimes we have that "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence" syndrome. But would it be better? Would you be a person you can face in the mirror each morning?

At the same time, what if you really do want a change in your life? It's not too late. It's never too late. Remember that every action, every step you take, every decision impacts your life in some way. If there are things you don't like, take that first step to change it. You never know what your life will be like tomorrow because of the things you do today. As you make those changes, one more important thing to remember: you don't live in a vacuum. Every decision, every choice, every action you take impacts someone else. Are the choices you're making the ones that will take you where you want to go? You'll never be able to forecast the outcome, but you can sure work hard on making choices you can live with.

Have a great day and keep those choices in mind every time something stops you for a moment and you have the split second chance change the outcome for yourself and those around you.

Dreaming and Believing

2006-11-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

Some days just feel difficult. Do you ever have days where you wonder why you're doing what you're doing? Why do you write? I felt that way today. For the past few days, in fact. If you read my older blog posts, you'll know I've been working through edits. These should go fast. They aren't.

I'm a fast writer and I have been writing, but it seems I keep having to go back and rewrite. The agent who requested the full manuscript had some great revision suggestions for me. I made those changes and they were, in my opinion, powerful. But they also changed things throughout the story. Now, I've rewritten three ending scenes three times. Things that needed to happen at the end didn't happen. I rewrote with those things into the final scenes. Well, rewrite number two showed that the ending was okay, but I didn't have enough sprinkled throughout the book to make the ending realistic. So, I'm almost finished the third revision. I hope this time is the magic time. They say the third time's the charm. I sure hope so. I need to finish this manuscript and move on to the next one.

So, I was trying to think about what makes some days more difficult than others. I think the days that are hard are when I lose sight of my dreams and forget to focus on my goals. I let everyone else pull me in other directions. I'm afraid to tell people I just need to write. I care so deeply about others, I enjoy giving, but I try to be everything to everyone. And I lose myself in the process.

And NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BELIEVING IN YOUR DREAMS. So, today, I ran in circles, I babysat my grandson this morning, I did get in some writing although not enough, then I voted (did you all vote? I don't care how or for which side, but you should vote), and then I ran errands for my in-laws all afternoon. I get home and I'm just tired. I didn't do anything for ME. So then I remember those dreams. All those things I wish for myself. Why can't I remember them when I say "Of course I'll do that"?

When I sat back down at my desk, I looked at the three quotes I have taped to the bottom of my monitor and I remembered that it has to be ME who keeps my dreams alive -- and that they're worth keeping alive. I'd like to share my three very special quotes with you. I hope they remind you to believe in your dreams.

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. -- Pamela Starr

If you have a dream, you have everything. If you have everything and no dream, then everything means nothing. -- Unknown

When you need a friend, a wish will extend a hand. When you are sad, a wish will help you smile. When you are wandering, a wish will lead you home. --Unknown

Here's to dreams and believing in the possibility of each one and the beauty of them all.

Still Working Through Edits

2006-11-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have a problem I never thought I'd have. I've done my edits and was hoping to send my novel out this week. It's too long. I'm supposed to be at 400 pages. I'm at 450. Yikes. Now I'm trying to cut some scenes that I don't think are critical to the plot and then weave in some of the ideas/feelings back into other areas, in a much more brief format. It's agonizing.

I just picked up the last book in Nora Roberts' new trilogy. This one is the story of Cian, the vampire and Moira the Queen of Geall. I love this series. The third book is entitle Valley of Silence and I really am having a hard time doing my own writing and not reading it.

Writing is an interesting field. In some professions, there's a lot of jealousy. I'm sure it exists in the writing world, but personally I find other writers and their successes so inspiring and usually you feel this when you go to an RWA conference. There's a real feeling of wanting to help those who haven't made it as they step up the ladder of success. That's really important to me. My local chapter, Desert Rose, is a perfect example. Every day it seems someone else has sold. In this month's Romantic Times Book reviews alone, there are so many DR authors represented. Let me see if I can remember them all (and my apologies to anyone I forget): Jennifer Ashley, Calista Fox, Mackenzie McKade, Vijaya Schartz, Eden Robins, Cheyenne McCray, Brit Blaise, Isabella Clayton, Tina Gerow. We've heard of sales this week from Carrie Weaver (to Superromance) and a 3-book deal from Tor for Jordan Summers. I am so inspired by these authors. If you want to see an impressive list of published authors in one chapter, check out the Desert Rose website (www.desertroserwa.org). What an awesome group.

My husband brought me a quote the other day that I want to share before I get back to my edits. It's fro Dr. Samuel Johnson:

Sir, he who would earn his bread writing books must have the assurance of a duke, the wit of a courtier, and the guts of a burglar.

Enjoy the day and keep on reading and writing!

Research Trip to Mexico

2006-10-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a delightful week in Baja California Sur. We spent the time in Cabo Pulmo where my brother-in-law has a house. It's a small village about 90 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas. Unlike the big city and luxury resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Pulmo was a perfect retreat for a week. And it was great research for Chasing Maggie.

Chasing Maggie takes place, in large part, on the Baja peninsula. The exciting conclusion to the book takes place in the southern tip of Baja. It was great inspiration for the ending that I'm rewriting. Mostly, it was warm, relaxing, gentle breezes, ocean the temperature of bath water, gorgeous reefs (it's on a national preserve), delicious seafood, pristine beaches. My husband, his two brothers and their spouses, his two sisters and spouse, my husband and myself spent the week together. The only kids there were one sister-in-law's 9-year-old granddaughter and the other sister-in-law's 4-year-old daughter. They were great about entertaining each other and it was just enough to make it fun to hear the kids running around the beach and playing on the patio. I slept in the hammock, finished the next book in Nora Roberts' new trilogy (Dance of the Gods), started another novel (by Kay Hooper), wrote and just daydreamed.

I really think that vacations are balm for the soul. It recharges. It gives you a chance to rethink your life. It gives you a chance to realize what things are important. I know it gave me that chance. That this was a setting for my novel just made it all the better.

The photo at the top shows the view from the back of the house. It looks out over the foliage and toward the distant mountains. The terrain is rough, but greener than normal because of the hurricanes. There was quite a bit of damage from the hurricane in August, but the people are rebuilding. Some buildings disappeared completely. Others had a lot of damage. Still others were virtually untouched. Nature is an amazing and powerful force. The people in Baja are an amazing people who are determined to rebuild their communities without the same worldwide focus there is on many natural disasters.

The photo at the right shows the view from my brother-in-laws upper deck. It's gorgeous, the breeze blows through in the afternoons, and the only sound is the ebb and flow of the water. Now this is a place I can write.

We spent one day in this little cove called Iguana Beach and another day we went by boat to a gorgeous spot called Mermaid Beach. It's isolated, remote, crystal clear still water and one of the most relaxing places I've been in a long time. I played in the water with my nieces, some of us snorkeled, my husband and his brother went scuba diving. The water was so clear that even standing in the surf you could see fish of all colors swimming around your feet. It made me realize that life is so much more than deadlines and obligations and demands from all sides. Those are a part of life, but they shouldn't consume life. The photo above shows Iguana Beach.

Writers' Retreat Helped Clear the Mind

2006-10-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a Writers' Retreat in the quaint little mining town of Jerome on a mountainside in Arizona. About 2 hours from Phoenix, Jerome's like stepping back in time. For 3 years now, we've had a Haunted Retreat in October and go to a haunted hotel. We write, we brainstorm, we discuss our plots, we talk about our dreams, we try to find ghosts in the haunted hotel, we do a little shopping, and we just have fun. It was wonderful this year. We stayed at the Grand Hotel -- it's high on a mountainside and used to be the hospital in this town of 400 (it was home to over 15,000 during its mining haydays). I think there were about 15 of us. We had a beautiful sun porch on the 3rd floor, enclosed with glass on 3 sides, French doors on each wall that let the breeze in, and views across the Verde Valley for miles and miles around.

It was a very relaxing time. I wrote 35 pages of new material just on Saturday. That's a lot of inspiration. We were standing outside on Saturday night, looking out across this immense valley and the mountains beyond and the moon rose in all of its glory. It was like a burning orb on the horizon. What an incredible sight. You forget how small you are until you see something like that.

The most important thing about the retreat was the friendship and sharing with others who understand what it means to struggle as a writer. We had time to clear the mind and refresh ourselves. It was an incredible chance to just reconnect with my muse.

A wonderful quote that shows how important it is to clear the mind is from author Miryam Williamson: "With the ability to empty the mind comes the ability to focus it."

Focus your mind and find your path to grasp those dreams.

Finding Your Writing Center

2006-10-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

Finding time for writing is something that many writers struggle with on a daily basis. I know I do. There are so many things that pull you away from writing, especially at this point where I haven't sold and I don't have firm deadlines -- just self-imposed ones. I have magazine articles to write to help me pay the bills. In my "real life" I'm a travel writer. I cover luxury destinations, luxury travel, and gourmet food. I've made the choice to eliminate all the low-paying jobs I was doing in my desperation to just "bring in some money." My dream is to be a fiction author, published, with multi-book contracts. That's not going to happen when I waste time writing articles that end up paying me very little. So, I've made one giant step. Now, I just have to learn to not answer the phone, to stay off email, not to surf the Web, to say no to babysitting my grandson at times when I should be working, to cleaning house during my "work day".

With that in mind, I've really been focusing on my writing as a job. Regular office hours, even if the office is just right upstairs. I clean my desk off each day just as I used to do in the corporate world. I'm organizing my files so I don't waste time looking for information. I'm trying to schedule my day so that I work on my "paying" jobs in the morning, then set a number of pages I must write or edit each day before I can get up from the computer. It's working for the most part.

I found something inspirational in a book that I'd like to share with you. First, there's a story behind the book. Every holiday season, my local writers' group (Desert Rose chapter of RWA in Phoenix) has a party and we exchange gifts in a white elephant exchange. Some are funny, some helpful, some just plain bizarre. I picked a present this year that was this little book by Jennifer Lawler, Dojo Wisdom for Writers. I've really not had time to read it and just picked it up the other day and found it so inspiring. I really recommend it for anyone who writes. I started it at this time where I'm trying to find the courage to pursue my dream of writing at a dedication level I've not done in the past.

Here's a little quote from chapter 3, "Respect the centerline"

In the martial arts, the centerline is the source of your power--your base or your center...For writers, respecting the centerline means keeping your writing and your self-esteem safe. You need to protect your writing in a conscious way. That means finding time for it and not letting other problems or demands take you away from it. It means believing in yourself even when other people have a negative opinion of you or your writing...Remember that the term "centerline" derives from the idea of "center." If writing is indeed your center, it must be protected and nurtured at all costs.

Take that as inspiration and protect your dreams and nurture them at all costs. Keep dreaming and believing...

Being a Grandma

2006-09-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

On February 5, 2005, I became a Grandma. I wasn't ready to be a grandma at 42, but it is fun because I can actually do things with my sweet little Nathan. (Of course my son never hesitated to remind me I was the same age he was when his son was born. Children. ) Nathan is the light of my life.

Then, on Friday, September 22 at 10:20 p.m. I became a grandma again. John came into the world at 9 lbs and is very sweet. Rather than the light hair of his brother, he has very dark hair. He does have deep blue eyes just like his brother and his father. I wasn't ready for my family to grow so fast, but obviously I'm not in control. :-)

Isn't it amazing while you're busy doing and working and running through life that it just whizzes past you. It's hard sometimes to stop and smell the roses, but I've made a promise to myself to do just that. Slow down, enjoy the days, make life an exciting adventure and write the books that inspire me.

Speaking of books. I woke up at 3 a.m. with a great scene to tie together all the edits in my manuscript. I've promised my critique partners that all the updates will be ready by Tuesday night and everything ready to send to the agent by Wednesday, October 4th. I think I'm running a day or two behind on getting everything to my critique partners. I'll owe them tons of chocolate for getting this all reviewed and helping me get it ready to go out. Look out girls, chocolate is on the way.

My thought for the day:

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all. -- Emily Dickinson

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Time to Work

2006-09-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Everyone always thinks working from home is great. Most of the time it is. But it's really hard for most people to understand that I'm not sitting at home with nothing to do. I'm working. People call me for all kinds of reasons when I'm home writing. I have a really hard time telling people that I can't talk -- I'm at work. I wouldn't be chatting over something non-consequential if I went to an office in a high-rise somewhere every day.

But, the flip side of it is that I don't take it the same way as if I had an outside job. I have a hard time staying in my chair and working. I get up to do a load of laundry. Then I realize there are dishes in the sink, so I do those. Then there are things sitting around out of place so I put those away. Pretty soon, my day is over and I've done no writing all day long. I can't complain about others not taking my work serious enough if I can't take it serious.

So, how to solve the dilemma. First off, I need to keep those goals and dreams in focus. Then, put back side in chair and write. I need to go at this just like I would any other career. I need a regular schedule. Work starts promptly at 9 a.m. I am up and dressed, just as I would be for any job. I work all day and don't stop to do laundry, buy groceries, or chat on the phone. Those are for weekends and after work. I don't check email every 30 minutes. Instead, I set a time for communication and use that to answer phone calls, emails, etc.

The pleasure of working at home is that if I feel like it I can take the laptop to the pool and sit under the umbrella. I can go out to the patio, prop my legs up and work on my edits. But I have to be writing. I'm making a promise to myself that I will begin to think of myself as a business woman again. I used to work in the corporate world. I don't now. But I have to take this career every bit as serious -- if not more so -- than I did those other positions working for someone else. I'm in control this time. I don't want to waste that.

There is no easy method of learning difficult things. The method is to close the door, give out that you are not at home, and work. -- Joseph Marie De Maistre

It is the same for writing. Close the door and work. I'm all for closing doors lately. I have work to do.

Sad News on My Partial

2006-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that I received word back from Lucienne Diver of Spectrum Literary Agency that she isn't interested in my manuscript. Bummer. But, I'll keep moving on. I only have a bit left to edit before I can send it out to Caren Johnson. So, I was sad for a few minutes, then back to it. I keep reminding myself that most of the biggest names in fiction received a gazillion rejections before they were published. That's supposed to help. Oh well, have to keep those goals and priorities in mind...

Goals and Priorities

2006-09-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about goals and priorities. It's been hard trying to decide where I want to go, where I need to go, what I feel obligated to do, and how everything fits together. There was an article in the August RWR (Romance Writers Report) that was about creating a goal for your writing "business." I'd never really thought about that before. If I didn't know where I was going, how was I ever going to get there?

So, I worked on creating a business plan. It wasn't as easy as it sounded. I finally came up with this mission statement:

I want to write fast-paced women's fiction with vivid settings, compelling characters, and elements of mystery and suspense.

And this vision statement:

I want to be a recognized author of women's fiction whose characters, settings and voice transport readers from their world to my imaginary world.

So, everything I do has to support those goals. Of course, there's still family. Family is important to me. But, I have to realize that I can be supportive of my family, involved in their lives, but I don't need to run their lives. It's a bad habit -- I have one of those controlling/taking personalities. Mostly, it's a Lanier trait. We all have very strong personalities. It helps more often than it hinders, but man it can sure get in the way sometimes.

I do a lot of volunteer work for Desert Rose, my local Phoenix RWA chapter (www.desertroserwa.org) and I'm having to step back from that. I love that chapter, though, and it's so hard not to want to step up and do whatever because the chapter and the wonderful members have given so much to me. I feel like I owe Desert Rose members SO much. I'm also active in several online chapters. My very first RWA chapter was From The Heart Romance Writers (www.fthrw.com). Although I served on the board for several years and was VP until this year, I had to step back there as well. I was doing so many other things that I found I wasn't writing. I'll still give. I owe those two chapters so much, but I have to do it within a context of my career.

I also write magazine articles as a freelancer (check those out at www.thotinfo.com/articles.html). I do that to help pay the bills, but I also love it. It's so cool to get paid to do what you love. Plus, since I mostly do luxury travel writing, I get to go to some great spots. I recently went to Catalina Island with my mom and my sister Catherine. That was the first time in a long long time I've taken a vacation and didn't do just a little bit of travel writing on the trip. The picture on the right is of my sister and me waiting on the ferry over to Catalina. My sister Catherine is the thin one with the dark hair on the right.

But, I have had some great travel writing trips, too. I spent 10 days in the South of France last year and I fell in love. You know that place you see and you KNOW without a doubt you were meant to be there? I've been looking my entire life and I found it in Old Town Antibes on the Mediterranean coast. Figures I'd find "my" place and it would be in France. A picture of the streets in Old Town is on the left.

Anyway, I have to learn to juggle these things. Schedule myself so I can do the writing I need to do to meet my deadlines and get that check to pay the bills plus do the novel writing that I want as my career. Not just to write a book. I want a career in fiction writing. (You should have seen my 10 years goals. Big dreams. But, at least I have a goal now. And my 18 month goals were detailed and much more practical .)

I want to end with a quote by Mark Victor Hansen about our goals and dreams:

You control your future, your destiny. What you think about comes about. By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of become the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands--your own.

Empowering, isn't it? I'm going to start controlling the one thing I haven't been controlling -- my future as a fiction author. Starting right now. Back to the edits...

Characters Come Alive

2006-09-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

I know, I promised more about my family, but the photos are on my desktop and I'm using my laptop, so I'll do that later. I've been editing again today. I really need to get these edits finished. I'm just having one problem. As I make the changes to my secondary characters, I've had one particular character take off. She is insisting on a story of her own. I had one planned, but it wasn't outlined and I had no feel for her. Now, her story is just begging to be told. Chasing Maggie is about Maggie Holden, an investigative reporter in Phoenix and David Thorne, a former DEA agent. The character giving me problems is David's estranged sister, Katherine (Katie) Thorne who's a defense attorney in California. She is just butting heads something fierce with David's former boss, Special Agent in Charge Antonio (Tony) Ruiz. I'm already working on another novel after Chasing Maggie, though, so Katie is just going to have to wait a while.

Speaking of characters, do you like Nora Roberts? I know, I can hear some groans. People either love her work or hate it. Hey, a LOT of people love her. She sells 23 books every minute. How can we argue with readers? Personally, I love the way she develops characters. Do you realize that in any book she writes, you KNOW the main character within the first 5 pages at most. You are invested in them. I'm currently reading her newest release, Morrigan's Cross. I love it. Just the prologue had me feeling the pain and the agony of the characters. By the first few pages of the book, I was totally invested in the characters.

I don't want to write "like" anyone else, but I do study the professionals and see what makes their books stand out. I love the characters. I need to care about them and understand them right away. I want to create characters like that. I also love to create settings that are almost another character in my book. I'm thrilled with the way my edits on Chasing Maggie are going and that's due in part to the way my characters are coming alive for me. I hope I'll be able to share that story with readers one of these days. Keeping on keeping on...

Things I Love

2006-09-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

Do you ever stop and think about the things that mean the most to you? I do that a lot lately. I've had a particularly difficult year -- years -- and sometimes it all gets a bit overwhelming. I've had deaths in the family, cancer in the family, legal troubles in the family, divorce in the family, and the list continues. But through it all, I've tried to keep perspective on the good things. It's darned hard at times and I thank goodness for my writing to keep me focused. If it weren't for the words I put on the page, I'm sure I'd be totally loony at this point.

Today I've thought about those good things. My best friend in my whole life is my husband Bill. We were married when I was 16. I don't suggest that for everyone, but it is my true romance. We were meant to be together from the moment we met. And it's approaching 27 years (in December). Here's my lovely husband with our cocker spaniel, Lizzie. She also makes me happy when she rests under my desk on my feet while I write.

Another happiness in my life -- or two more good things -- are my son and grandson. My son Patrick is an only child. And yes, even at 22 he's definitely still an only child. I love him dearly. Maybe too much. He's a good kid who's given me fits at times, but he's very smart and can really do anything he sets his mind to. He has a 19 month old son. My grandson Nathan is the light of my life. I don't know what I did before he came into my life. He looks up at me with this smile and big blue eyes and I melt. He's very funny with a great sense of humor. Let me share them as well.

Tomorrow I'll share some more of my family. Right now, duty calls. I have to run errands and then get back to these edits. Have a GREAT day.

Trudging Through Edits

2006-09-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

I really love writing. It's a great career. I get to work on my schedule, in my jammies if I want, and weave the stories in my head. But I hate rewrites. I was lucky enough to final in the Daphne (see prior post) and get that full request, but now I'm trying to go through the manuscript (yep, all 400 pages of it) and make sure it's a good solid manuscript before I send it out. Caren Johnson had some great advice on my secondary characters, so I'm trying to work through those. Anyway, I'm almost finished. I plan to have it out the door by middle of next week.

When I start writing a new novel, I create a collage. I get photos of the setting -- where the story takes place -- as well as characters, symbols of major points/attributes, etc., even words that seem to fit in with the overall theme of the book. This is my collage for Chasing Maggie. I love Maggie. She's a tough girl who really has deep wounds that need healing.

Speaking of healing. At RWA National Conference in Reno last year (2005) Jayne Anne Krentz spoke about finding the core story. Then in the August 2006 issue of RWR Julie Rowe wrote a great article on "Identifying Your Core Story" based on Jayne's speech. I discovered something significant about my writing. My core story is HEALING. I writing healing stories. My characters, to quote Julie Rowe, "begin wounded and must allow themselves to heal. This requires trust. When that trust is returned, the wound heals and the character emerges as a new whole person at the end." That's the core of each novel I write. Chasing Maggie is a great example. Maggie Holden and David Thorne are both wounded souls. You can read more about David and Maggie and their story on my website at http://www.susanlanier.com.

I'd better get back to it. More later...

Here I Am

2006-09-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

I've finally arrived. In the world of blogging that is. As usual, I've procrastinated -- setting up a blog, updating my website and, most importantly, finalizing the edits and rewrites of my suspense novel Chasing Maggie.

The full of Chasing Maggie has been requested by Caren Johnson of Firebrand Literary Agency as a result of placing 3rd in the unpublished single title category of Kiss of Death's 2006 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. I'm thrilled by the final and I'm even more thrilled by the requested full. I'm trying to use the feedback I received to really make my manuscript sizzle and leave readers on the edge of their seats. I've been madly reworking the dreaded "sagging middle" and should have it ready to go by the end of this week. Keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted.

Welcome to my Blog!

2005-10-01T01:21:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about starting a blog for a while. So, here it is. I feel like my writing has come so far over the past few years, but I have so much more to learn. The journey is just beginning. I invite you to come along with me as I navigate this crazy world of publishing.