Steps of a Dancewriter

We need one -- a vacation, that is. It's not a good time to take off to Cancun. Or anywhere for that matter at the moment, so we went to Thanksgiving Point, a beautiful destination spot 20 minutes away.

This place proves what you can do to acres of barren land if you have bazillions of dollars like Alan Ashton.

Secret Garden

Tulips were everywhere. The park was peaceful and energizing.

 

 

Last week, Jennifer and I drove to Las Vegas to meet with Kimmie, a reader I became aquainted with via My Space. Kimmie is from New Zealand and had traveled with her dad to Vegas for a gaming convention, so we arranged to meet. She loves my books and it was a treat hanging out with her

We shopped, got lost in the maze of shops, had dinner with her delightful father and hung out until waaay late for this mother/author!! Kimmie and Jennifer hit it off wonderfully -- the two managed to fend off encroaching weirdos as we all walked along the Strip back to Bally's after dinner.

My, has Las Vegas changed.

They say it's family friendly??? What family??? Pornographic images are everywhere. Not my family, thank you very much. I had to resist the inclination to cover Jennifer and Kimmie's eyes with my hands!! ( Leaving my own uncovered YIKES )

That said, seeing Kimmie - MEETING HER - is something I will never forget and was the memorable part of the trip.

If distance makes the heart grow fonder, our hearts are VERY fond of Kimmie in New Zealand!
 

Dancing With the Stars CONTEST begins TONIGHT!! Enter to win by posting your guess of which star will be sent home each week. Winner gets my newest release from the dance/romance series: SAVAGE Join the fun!

 Every story is your brain child, and you love them all or you wouldn't take the time to go through growing pains and help them to adulthood. 

When I'm asked, "Which is your favorite?" I say, "A mother can't have favorites--that wouldn't be fair!"

I have to admit, my current WIP is so thoroughly enjoyable to write each day that this mother might change her stance on favortism--at least where my fiction is concerned.

For the first time I am stepping into a paranormal element. Some fantasy. It's been libertating to start doing something, stop myself, then say, "Wait! I can do that!"

I've retitled the project, and am getting used to the feel of it now. Like renaming a child. For nine months before our last child was born we all called him Joshua. Then he was born. He wasn't Joshua. For two days we sat in the hospital staring at him trying to figure out WHO he was. It takes getting used to when you change a title but I think the new one fits just right.

If you're an author, do you have favorites? have you changed you titles?

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 "I can't control what my characters do! They just do it!" 

I hear this all the time. I've said it. As a writer I understand this predicament. I can't control what my children do, but do I let them do whatever they want? No. They live within the boundaries I create. Boundaries I feel responsible for and committed to.

Anyone who creates something others will see has a responsibility to consider the domino effect of their work. Ever seen a movie that was so disgusting and gory the images are with you to this day? Ever read a book so disturbing you couldn't stop thinking about it and the essence left you feeling mucky and dark inside?

Contrast this with something unforgettable and uplifting-something with absolutely nothing objectionable in it. ( like The Sound of Music for instance )  When was the last time that kind of entertainment was in your life? 

It seems so much of what we're presented in the way of entertainment be it books, film or music, is getting bolder, louder, sexier, harsher,grosser --  you get my drift. Our senses are becoming dull.

I find that I can watch an old film or read an old "classic" and actually be bored. A sad thing to say.

Where will bold, loud, sexy, violent, gross creating end? Take a look at what you create from the core of where it comes --  you -- and consider guiding your characters and their situations from birth. Maybe we'll start a new trend, something we aren't ashamed or embarrassed about handing to our children.

"Mommy wrote this. But you can't read it, it's too violent, has too much swearing and there's sex in it."

 ?

 

Last night, my daughter and I were shopping in a clothing store. At the checkout was a woman. Behind her sat a young man in a wheelchair, wheeling back and forth. I was talking to my daughter when I felt a hand grab mine. I turned and this young man ( in his late 20's ) was looking earnestly into my face. He struggled for words. My heart went out to him. Having a handicapped daughter, I wasn't afraid, nor did I feel uncomfortable with him reaching out to me. We had a static conversation because his words came out that way. We introduced ourselves. I told him I wrote books and we talked about that and the books he liked, as well as what my daughter was up to. All the while, I was absolutely taken by the light coming from him. His pure spirit  radiated. My heart both sung and tore for him. Having a child with a handicap has taught me so many things of which I'm grateful for: lack of fear being around other handicapped people being one of the greatest lessons learned. As I've dealt with my own tumultous feelings for the condition of the handicapped, I have been forced into deep thought, pondering WHY? This is the gospel according to Katherine of course, but I believe some of God's choicest spirits come to earth with the blessing of a handicap for protection. Some of Life's greatest snares have no hold on these individuals and how lucky for them! Sure, you could argue that they don't get to experience some of Life's greatest joys as well but that is short-sighted. I believe in an eternal life, Earth life being just a small part of the whole. So I don't shed any more tears over my handicapped daughter's earthly condition. Other opportunities will be hers eventually because God is fair and loves each one of us equally. 

The mother of this young man quickly whisked him away and my daughter and I left feeling sober. We talked about the chance meeting and why it had taken place. My current WIP has a guardian angel in the story, and I found my image of my main character meshing with the light in this young man's face. I couldn't stop thinking about him or our meeting.

Nothing in this life is wasted or accidental. I'm not sure why this young man was shopping at this store at the same time we were, but I am so thankful he reached out to us! I am left counting my blessings that my daughter's condition has enabled me to see, first hand, the sweet spirits residing in these disabled bodies. 

Please reach out to the handicapped! They have so much to offer.

 Anyone who knows me knows my obession with New York City. It began back when I was nine, visiting my cousin Cheryl, also nine. She had my dream life: Penthouse apartment, private school complete with cutsey uniforms, fine dining, super fine shopping, concrete  and architecture instead of grass and bugs. Yeah, that's what I wanted. I pretty much coveted her life through my teens.

So it's no suprise that I try to get to New York as often as possible. We used to go every other year. It's been two since I was last there--Joe and I met his parents and had a ball showing them around. I met my then-agent, Nadia Cornier. I was so enthused about writing, about the industry in general. I walked along "publisher's row", dreamy-eyed as I stared up at the publishing houses where my manuscripts SAT. Yes, SAT. LOL. Erm, obviously things have changed in THAT arena.

Now, we're taking our youngest child, Aaron, who hasn't had the travel excperience our other children have had with us. I'm really REALLY excited to show him around: Empire Sate Building, subway system ( he's a train addict ), Central Park, FAO Schwartz, the museums and Canal Street where I intend to do my usual plane-load of shopping for "designer" bags. ( I pack and extra suitcase for the haul )

Sigh. Gyros on the street. 

Can't wait.

If you've been and want to tell me your fav place to see, share it. I'm always adding to my list of "must sees"...

So I sold my Mini ( sniff, sniff ) and we parted ways. Now, I have a new fun car -- this Liberty. The switch was a necessity, as we live on a mountain and everyone knows Mini's can't drive in snow. As luck would have it, we had a MASSIVE snow storm the day after I brought her home, so I got to break her in. What a champ! Like a cruise ship I cut through four feet of freshly fallen snow in my son's elementary school parking lot!!! AWESOME!! So...here's to a new, fun experience with the Jeep!

DS has been home two weeks now. For the most part, it's been pretty good. He learned some great things on the ranch: hard work the most valuable. We scurried around and changed as much of the environment as we could -- some of that helped, some doesn't seem to have made a difference. Honestly? I guess I expected too much. I wanted a completely reformed child. I got a son who learned a good work ethic whilst in the trenches with a bunch of other juvie delinqents who traded secrets with him. Secrets he's now trying to figure out, test and see if the covert information works or not. That's the problem with the system once you're in it: the folks you are with are just as off base as the ones the courts are trying to get you to stay away from!

SIGH.

Hearing DS talk about his experiences at the ranch and his thought process during this period has been enlightening these last few days since his return. Sobriety has given him the chance to stand back and look at his past choices and analyze them, see the domino effect they had on so many people in his life as well as what those choices did to his mind, body and spirit. Hearing him talk about those things is like talking to a middle aged man. He's still a seventeen year old in many ways--especially emotionally--but he's had some major life experiences so far. He's very astounded at his own behaviors. And I have to admit, so am I. When he shares truths about the way he was, I feel like I'm listening to an audio excerpt from Law and Order, or Criminal Intent.

He's grown in many ways. I'm very pleased for him in this regard. It's nice having him home here again. He's learned some new habits that I hope he'll choose to keep for the rest of his life as they will bring him satisfaction.

During his process of using, he lost most of his friends. This is the hardest part. He understands why they slowly left him behind -- for their own safety. As a mother, I wouldn't have wanted myh child around him either, yet my other 2 DS's were. The loss of friends is difficult for him and I hope he can find new ones before the temptation to hang with old users ( who were not classified as friends, but users to him ) becomes too great.

This integral link of friendship is what binds all of us and for some making friends is not easy. My prayers have shifted now, in hopes that this link is strong and that the hand of fellowship is extended to him by some new people somewhere and that he will be brave enough to take it.

Thanks to those of you who have listened to my open heart on this subject, and have been my friend. I've felt your support,caring and concern, and love.

DS comes home this Saturday!! We hope that the many changes we have made to his living environment, his coming schedule, etc. will enable him to choose to remain clean. We hope.

To buy a book?

How powerful an image is. What does this picture say? What would the title be? What genre ?( need I ask ) I doubt you'd find this book in the sewing section for instance: The Art of Fine Kilt Making. No.

Would you hide this cover deep in your stack of other books?

Just curious.



Cover art is as fascinating as what's written on the pages in between. Generally, I like a book that says something about what's inside--so I have an added perspective BEFORE I spend money and buy the book. This image, like so many that are blatant ( and, yes, I remember posting possible book cover images here and thanks, Newport2Newport for telling me one was just to, well, blatant )on bookshelves now and not just in the Romance section.

So, would you buy a book with Mr. Kilt on it? Even if the title was A MAN IN A KILT ( yes there is a book with that title, tho this is not the cover image ) Or some other title?

Or does this image speak a language you don't hear, are trying not to listen to or just plain don't understand?

I don't have one of Amazon's new fancy-schmancy devices, but I've got Dancing With His Heart on Kindle!!! YAY!! {{ Doing the happy dance }}

Outside my front door this morning!

This coming from me...a person who spends every free second writing. Parenthood demands I take a temporary break right now: readying our home for DS's return in 4 weeks. Changing things around. Breaking down 'triggers'. Though I wake up with purpose, the computers are like magnets and I find myself drawn to them. Then I stand staring at them, yearning. But yearning with an empty mind in that, creative juices simply are not flowing. It's as if, on a cellular level, creativity has shut off. And creativity has been replaced by necessity to do what I have to do.

Weird.

But I'm going with it.

DH and DS on our last visit.