The Silver Platter ♣

If the world were truly intended to be given on such a platter, life would be so much simpler don’t you think? Alas, this is not what life is about. very recently, as in say the past few days, I was reminded yet again how many people expect the silver platter. It’s a shame really.

No one appreciates the niceties anymore. It’s all about what someone can give them and for how little. God forbid they have to wait for it, and fear the wrath that will surely befall you as a result of unappreciated goodwill gestures.

I grew up being taught that you work and earn what you are given. You appreciate the times when you get, what my mom likes to call, life’s little bonuses. Everything truly is so much sweeter when you appreciate what comes your way.

Romantic Bites

 

Come check out Romantic Bites, where I, along with three very groovy dolls, review books old and new. With the varied tastes on the site, you are bound to find something you like or don’t like, or maybe haven’t even ventured to read yet.

Or, for giggles and grins, just come by and watch us make fools of our selves as we trudge through the endless amounts of books out there… Or participate in our monthly contests. Each month one of the dolls will hold a contest, but for details you have to check in….

I will however spill a little secret… July we are giving away a gift card to celebrate our new venture. So stop by for details.

Niche? I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Niche…

Here I am again, on the verge of a break through. Undoubtedly I’m driving some of you nuts, but alas… what am I other than fickle? There are so many genres and subgenres out there. At times, I feel like Linda Blair—pea soup anyone?

So after some soul searching, book reading, and several deep discussions with those who know me best (or maybe I only thought they did), and a few who know my writing—a consensus has been reached. Now, if I were to divulge the results of the consensus, some of you might be surprised to find my “representative” on your doorstep waiting to silence you. No it’s not romantic suspense—guess again.

So I post a little query today…

How do or did you find your niche? Or are you still searching? I know this is subject matter, surely covered here before, but I need repetition before it sticks. So divulge, spill the beans, and humor me.

Wordle- a Fun Distraction

Well, when one is in need of a break, what better way to play than a distraction that involves your writing? Thanks to my dear friend Bria, I came across this little gem and plugged in a little paragraph from my current WIP that I am struggling to cut.

Check out Wordle and see what you can come up with. I have now vowed that I will do this with each manuscript… just for fun.

 

Enjoy! And have a great weekend!

Under the Weather…

And yet I am still determined to cut 6k from my current work in progress. The rewrite to ensure the flow remains true to the story is agonizingly slow when the sinus headache refuses to subside, but here I sit knocking out a few pages as a bare minimum daily. Sooner or later MG will be asking me where my new stuff is, and I will be remiss to tell her that I am moving at a snail’s pace. Sigh. All I can say is thank god she understands.

My mind still goes a mile a minute—even in a Nyquil induced haze. Some ideas here and some for the other story I had begun when I decided to put this story to rest. Funny how such things can come back and beg to be worked on when you least expect it. Anyhow, two weeks have passed and I really wish this cold would move on. The nagging cough or ever present tickle in my throat threatens to drive me to the brink of sanity every second.

If I could simply put the writing to rest while I got over this dreadfulness, I would, however, the muse will not quiet and I am determined to persevere. How do you handle the under the weather blues when you can’t beckon even the slightest respite from inspiration?

 

 

This is Who I Am….

Ok, so I stole this idea from Ally who stole it from Rachel…..don’t know if it was stolen before that… but there you have it.

Here’s what you do…

Type your answers to the following questions into Flickr search.

1. What’s your first name?

2. What’s your favorite food, right now?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. What is your favorite drink?

7. What is your dream vacation?

8. What is your favorite dessert?

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. What is one word that describes you?

12. What is your Flickr name?

Pick one pic from the first page of results and paste its URL into the proper place at Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker (you’ll see once you get there).

Feel like expressing yourself in pictures… give it a shot. It is fun to browse the pictures if nothing else.

Credit for the fab photos —-

1. Memories, 2. Spaghetti in Tomato Cream Sauce, 3. Picture 037, 4. Jade, 5. ASDFGHJKL;, 6. Make Mine a Frosty One, 7. Moon over Bunratty Castle, 8. Untitled, 9. Day 108 - Cyberpunk librarian, 10. the kiss, 11. Leo, 12. M & J

Can’t Miss This!

Since I am under the weather this week and my brain is totally fogged by meds, I will not be subjecting you to the atrocities of my writing. That being said…. the loverly Ms Dayna Hart has a new book out with a cover that is worth the money alone! So is the story so you won’t be disappointed.

                                 

A cult of sex faeries start taking men hostage…including Claire’s boyfriend.

Book Two of the Curtain Torn Series

When Myrna Terrence’s husband is abducted from her dream by fairies, she asks Claire for help. Claire investigates and discovers other married men of Four Corners have been kidnapped. Men who share enough similarities to suggest the kidnappings may be related.

She learns the abductions are the work of The Aeval, a cult of sex faeries whose mission is to ensure women are pleasured by their husbands. Dell decides he and Claire should go under cover—under the covers. By pretending to be a married couple who are having trouble in bed, they hope to lure The Aeval to them.

The plan works almost too well. They don’t have to fake the chemistry between them, nor the resulting frustration when they stop themselves from going too far. The Aeval take the bait, and Claire must confront a goddess, the truth, and her fears about Dell in an effort to save his life.

But if she succeeds, those same truths may be what sends him out of her life forever.

Warning: this title contains the following: hot nekkid men with wings, regular nudity, and prolonged sexual tension followed—finally—by explicit sex. And the faeries who punish husbands for not “pleasing” their wives are entirely fictional (sorry!).

Excerpt available…here

And you can buy it…here

I’ve Never Laughed So Hard!!!

Okay, I know I am supposed to be writing, but I needed a breather. So I did what I usually do when that happens…. I surfed youtube. Do not ask me how I found this video, but it was well worth it. I have never laughed so hard for 6 minutes in my entire life. Really it was because I could remember doing many of these dances at one time or another. Admit it, you do too and drunkeness does not give you deniability. Hope you enjoy!

Help or Hinderance?

When I get stuck, or feel like my writing has fallen flat, I tend to turn to reading. I know there are some writers out there that find reading in the genre they write in, hinders them while in the middle of a project. For me, it is not a simple yes or no. Often, taking time to “study” my preferred genre can elicit ideas for me, push me forward, and leave me feeling refreshed and excited about my story.

Another thing I often utilize while writing is playlists. I love having music in the background when I am writing, a soundtrack if you will, for the characters I am writing. My current WIP’s has a soundtrack full of songs by the likes of Nickleback, Staind, Lifehouse, Breaking Benjamin…I think you get the idea.

That being said, I do have to admit, there are times when I am probably better not relying on these to help me, because I tend to get wrapped up in what I am reading or listening to and forget about writing. So what works for you? Do you have little quirks or things that help urge you on when inspiration is lacking? How do you coax your inner muse out of hiding?

Random Mentor Update…

Okay, so I am all out of sorts this week. I am a day off on everything because of the holiday, and I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that it is Wednesday already. But this is not what I am here to dish about today. No—today I thought I would give you an update as to the progress of the fabulous mentorship I am receiving at the hands of the lovely and always whip ready Diva MG. (She would probably attest, but alas I am the one with the welts )

It is not as bad as all that. However, I must say that her tutelage and humorous remarks are rubbing off. As much as I hated forcing myself through Cowboy Up, I did, and my writing is the better for it. (Although I am sure you cannot often tell by reading my blog.) I have started a new story. One I am more passionate about. And needless to say, the fact it is a paranormal definitely aides the passion. I love paranormal. Always have. If there are fangs or a nice furry wolf hidden in the depths of Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome, all the more appealing in my opinion.

The point? I know I had one. Oh, sorry. The mentor program is going swimmingly for me. I am renewing my love of writing, though it is taking me longer to write. Yet the results are well worth the time it takes me. I am finding my voice, and it feels oh so fab!

 

MJ