Deep In The Heart of Texas

Tomorrow around this time I'll be near to Flagstaff, which will be the place we rest before heading to the Grand Canoyon the following day. After that we head deep in the heart of Texas to Austin.

I'll be armed with a camera, a Droid to post occasionally on Twitter, and a pen and notepad.

This trip gives me an opportunity to learn more about life in the Lone Star State. I look forward to meeting new people, going to new places, and learning a bit of history.

So, hang onto your cowboy hats. Its time to hit the trail and blaze into new territory--Our first family vacation.

Texas Trip

You'd think I'd be ready...but noooo...I'm not. I am stressed. I am overwhelmed. I am tired. BUT, I am excited too.

Yeah, I'm just a freak that way.

"It's a quest..."


Warning: Language

A Vampire's Guide To Surviving Werewolf Attacks

I found this little gem after a vicious were attack the other night. Although I survived with only minor scratches, I realized there were certain precautions I ignored that I'd like to share in this video. With were attacks on the rise, it is in your best interest to take the time to watch this insightful and educational piece to help you avoid severe injury in the case of a werewolf attack.

Disclaimer: Note that these instructions are for vampires and do not demonstrate viable alternatives for humanoids. Thus, one must proceed with caution when facing down a werewolf to ensure safety. Silver is highly recommended.

Ep. 32: Postmortem - A Vampire's Guide to Surviving…

Query Revision No. Bazillion...

So, I keep writing, rewriting, editing, revising. tweaking, and otherwise reinventing my query letter for The Shaman's Beacon. Its a labor of arduous love, but it does have its rewards. As I do more research in the elusive and illustrious business of writing very succinct synopsis for query letters, I see where I can improve on my overall writing.

My problem is two-fold: 1) I work in marketing, which by default leads to slurs of gratuitous adjectives; and 2) I write tomes. Even my e-mails can get long-winded. My shortest novel to date is my current one, with less than 140,000 words. I consider that a personal feat. Now I've revised yet another query in the hopes of getting to the point. I think I'm close, but only a successful contract will prove the effort was worthwhile.

Rewriting the synopsis...

I recently rewrote a synopsis after additional research. This is what I came up with...

"The story is set in the small town of Lander, Wyoming which boasts a natural wonder as remarkable as the size of the secret werewolf pack that spans most of the state. Sure the natural wonder is something to see, but Linda Menendez is on the lookout for wolves. When they start finding her she realizes something is different about these wolves. There is far too much behind those feral eyes to be anything but intelligent. And the cowboy she meets at Lupine Lodge only reaffirms something isn’t right. Clayton McIntyre’s gray eyes aren’t just feral they’re the same color as those of a wolf her father captured on camera years ago near the very same town. Eventually she figures out they are one and the same. That’s when things get hairy..."

There's more to it than that, but this is just the intro.

I found that reading other similar paranormal romance novel hooks there was a common theme of action or drama, which helped me determine what to focus on first. Honestly, writing an elevator speech version of my novel is as easy as pulling teeth, and almost as painful. I can only hope it gets easier over time.

On a side note, all the feedback on the newest book has been very positive. Looks like I'm building a fan base among my friends already. LOL

Faster than a speeding gyration...

I'm currently making a few sketches of a device that my protagonist, Linda, will use in my latest novel. The device is supposed to transport a vial of murky liquid vital to the survival of mankind on Earth. Linda is in way over her head.