The Shaman's Beacon On Sale!

Red Sage Publishing is selling The Shaman's Beacon at a 25% discount. Check it out here.


The Shaman's Beacon book trailer.

Also, I'm very proud to announce my involvement in a project with Christie Craig for her book trailer for Murder, Mayhem and Mama available through Barnes and Noble (for Nook). Watch the video below and be sure to post your thoughts and "Like" it if you, well, liked it.


Murder, Mayhem and Mama, by Christie Craig, book trailer.

New Publishing Dates

Life has been a hectic, as I'm sure it has been for you too, and the holidays are upon us so I'm pushing the release date for Feral Nature January 20th and Dawn of Justice March 20th.

Be sure to check back in January and take advantage of the $.99 ebook sale on By Virtues' Design available now through Amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook) and Smashwords (all other formats).

You can find other great works of fiction from authors in my area right here, from the Northwest Houston Romance Writers of America.

Big Announcement Coming!

Big news coming this week, one that includes a project I've been working on for a while. Another involves the next installment in The Judge Chronicles and where that's headed.

For now, pull up a chair and enjoy a nice cold one in a red Solo cup.

Spreading Some Holiday Cheer

Happy holidays, everyone!

I love this time of year when everyone is smiling and wishing one another well. I get to see family and friends at parties and get-togethers. And to be honest, that is what makes Christmas wonderful. Presents are nice, and certainly the fact someone took the time to think of me and buy something is sweet, but its the person behind the gift that brings warmth to my heart. So in the spirit of giving and sharing, I've cut the price of my e-book, By Virtues' Design, to only .99 cents for the entire month of December. I hope the story sparks your imagination and encourages you to make your dreams come true.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

It'll take a day or two for Amazon to reflect that price, but you can get it now for .99 cents at Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

Quitting Cold Turkey and Sinking

I hope you've had your fill of tryptophan and gluten inducing comas. I sure have. I'm ready for the peppermint mochas, pfeffernusse, and eggnog. But I'm about ready to quit something cold turkey.

I don't mean writing or sales. I don't mean dieting. I don't even mean chocolate. What I'm talking about is quitting the excuses. I'm going to become a quitter and tell my resistance to take a hike. Instead of burning daylight on other things, I will be dedicating nine hours a day to writing. All other activities will be taking a backseat. You'd think this was a given, but it isn't. I'm learning first-hand what Kristine Rusch warned me about in The Business Rusch. She recommends not answering the phone, turning off the internet, telling family and friends they are not to disturb you during your "working hours" and close myself off from the rest of the world. Sounds easy right? Nope, it ain't. In fact, it's hard. But one thing I am really good at and that is being tenacious. Thank goodness.

And as far as sinking, that'll be the price of By Virtues' Design, which will be going on sale for the month of December. I'll be posting more about it in the coming days.

Feral Nature is coming along and I'm already coming up with some ideas on special effects for another secret After Effects project I'm working on for another author. I've also started on my book trailer as well. I'm very excited about it.

By Virtues' Design: Now Available In Paperback

I'm pleased to announce that By Virtues' Design is now available in paperback. You can purchase it through Amazon's CreateSpace store (eventually, the title will be available via Amazon's main site). You can still purchase ebook versions of the novel for your Kindle, Nook, and other devices.

As part of the paperback launch, there is a new book trailer. Be sure to watch it in 1080p (high definition).




The Judge Chronicles series trailer can be seen below.



For more information about the book and the series, along with other titles, be sure to visit www.rosabrand.com.

Things You'll Learn Reading By Virtues' Design

WARNING: Random LOLCats can lead to wheezing and hysterical laughter. 

If that didn't make you laugh, maybe this will.



And now for something completely different...

I was invited to talk a bit about my latest book, By Virtues' Design, at Killer Fiction. Here are a few things you'll learn when you read the book:

1. Girls beware! Dream men have a nasty habit of leaving their mark on you.

2. Never cross the protective ward into the land of serfdom, otherwise known as the kitchen.

3. While visiting Los Angeles, be prepared for an hour commute to the restaurant down the block.

There are three more listed in the blog post that you can read here.

World of Wordcraft: Proof Readers Are Essential

I just had to post this here, because never were truer words said--Proof readers are essential.

Kathleen Yoshida, my editor, and I recently discussed this very topic after reading a number of books written by big name authors like Nicholas Sparks, Stephen King, etc. One would think that publishing houses for these authors would be particularly careful with grammar and punctuation given the amount of money invested in these books. But, these mistakes happen often enough that I wonder what is going on. If these were indie published authors, I could accept the mistakes to a certain degree. But from big names? Um...why?

Take a read here.

Author Spotlight: Teri Thackston

I'm honored to introduce to you all the brilliant author to Border Heat, Teri Thackston. She took some time out of her busy schedule to tell me a bit about her novel. Without further adieu...

Welcome Teri

Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog. I’ve been writing stories since I learned to spell, with a serious notion from about age eleven that I wanted to become a published writer. I just love the idea of creating stories…if those stories are romantic, all the better! Of course, it took quite a while to actually become a published writer, beginning with a few short stories from the True Confessions group of magazines, then a story in Woman’s World, and finally my first novel sale to Ellora’s Cave/Blush. That first novel publication was a long time coming, but well worth the wait.

My latest book, Border Heat, is a thriller with romantic elements, inspired by the illegal drug trade along the Texas border that our country has been enduring lately. I also pulled in the element of wildfires that have so decimated Texas—and other parts of the South—during this year’s terrible drought.

Murderous drug runners, a wildfire in the Texas desert and the President's runaway daughter…Game Warden Shannon Walker didn't sign up for any of this. Add the arrival of Tucker Daye—a sexy Secret Service Agent that Shannon used to date—unexpected betrayal and a desperate escape into the desert, and the border becomes hotter than Shannon can handle.

Here’s a short excerpt from the book

She strode right up to him and, with one hand on her hip, she jabbed the index finger of her other hand into his breastbone. “Let’s get one thing straight, Tucker Daye. I am in charge of this facility and this Wildlife Management Area. You and those other spies are welcome to help me and Sgt. Sanchez guard the prisoner, but we call the shots. Got it?”

Tucker lifted one eyebrow and resisted the impulse to push her finger away. Actually, his stronger impulse was to wrap his free hand around her wrist and haul her up close for a searing kiss on those pretty pink lips. They were entirely too tight for his taste and a long wet kiss would soften them up. He knew that about her, too.

But with the memory of Loretta apparently still fresh in Shannon’s mind, the odds on a long, wet kiss were about as low as his odds of riding a rocket to the moon. Not that it mattered. He’d made his choice on that score last February.

Besides that there were two teenage girls eavesdropping on their conversation. So instead of reacting the way he wanted, he relaxed his body and smiled at Shannon. “We’re not spies, sweetheart. We’re Secret Service agents. And I think we might know a little more about handling this situation than a couple of game wardens do.”

Her lips thinned more. “For your information, sweetheart, Texas game wardens probably receive more rigorous law enforcement training than you do.” The tip of her index finger pressed harder into his chest. “While you and your friends are here, you’ll do what I tell you.”

He cocked his head to once side. “I’ve missed you, Shannon,” he murmured, aware that the two teens had grown almost stone still. He lowered his voice a bit more. “Don’t tell me you haven’t missed me, too.”

BORDER HEAT is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Smashwords.com. 

I hang out at my website www.terithackston.com as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Now Available: By Virtues' Design

By Virtues' Design, 1st book in The Judge Chronicles

Enter a world where wizards battle against necromantic forces in a fight to save mankind from total annihilation. Where a mighty ruler leads his people against the hordes that would weaken the Empire, even as his council plots his ruin from within. Where one woman can change the very fabric of time and space into something beyond imagining. Enter this world where nothing will ever be the same.


Read an excerpt here now.

Summary

A civil engineer meets a magic-wielding emperor from another world in her dreams and not only discovers that he is real, but that he stands at the center of a plot by a necromantic sociopath that threatens to destroy him and her sanity.

Synopsis
The Empire will fall. Jacob Murak, Emperor of Alinia and keeper of all magic, knows this and there is little he can do but watch and wait. There seems no hope for his people as they are systematically killed in a war meant to weaken his resolve as much as it is to weaken his forces. This is made worse by the magic he must use to fight the enemy, which traps him under the weight of guilt that leaves women battered and him bitter. The twinkling angels in the night sky do not weep for him. They have witnessed his shame. As punishment they send him one of their own, a woman from another world who knows no magic except the inventions she weaves in her mind. This beautiful engineer isn’t afraid to explore his nightmares and face the demon within him. This only deepens his sadness, even as it intensifies his desire for her. He must have her, but the cost will be great.

Maria can’t believe she’s fallen in love with a man she met in her dreams. Dream men are supposed to stay where they belong, in her head. She is a civil engineer, not a woman prone to flights of fancy, but there is something peculiar about these dreams, something a little too real. Then again maybe her mother is right. Maybe this dream man is just her subconscious trying to help her heal from the wounds of a nasty divorce. But things start to happen—marks appear on her body, the car keys go missing, and then there is a visitor who says he knows about the dreams and where to find her otherworldly lover. Could this be real? Dare she believe? It will take a miracle to be with Jacob, not to mention a whole lot of magic.

NOW AVAILABLE AT ONLINE RETAILERS
Order By Virtues' Design: Amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook) or Smashwords (All). Paperback copies will go on sale November 1st, 2011.

Additional information on this and other titles can always be found on my website here. 

Time To Make The Switch?

Today, on Amazon's front page, is a letter from the Founder, Jeff Bezos. "There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less," Bezos states. "Both approaches can work. We are firmly in the second camp." He goes on to introduce their new Kindle products at a much lower price, including one for $79.

Many people who once refused to go to a device for their literature have slowly come around. My husband has made the switch, despite his persistent assertions to the contrary. Not only did he take over my Sony eReader, which is now collecting dust due to software issues (don't even getting me started on that!), he has taken over my Nook Color. It is the same one he bought for me for my "everything" gift (e.g., Christmas, birthday, anniversary, Valentines, just because, etc.). Gotta love men who buys their girl a gadget only to abscond with it. I LOVE YOU, CLINT!

I'm so excited about this, because it means more people will be exposed to other literature not found at your local B&N or big box super-store. Some have argued that these other ebooks do not have the same quality writing/edits one would get from a legacy published novel (a novel published through one of the big houses from New York). That is actually a fallacy. First off, you will find READERS, not critics, providing feedback on titles to help you, the customer, decide whether to buy the book or not. Also, many of these books are priced way below those found at "brick and mortar" storefronts. I suggest giving a few of these author's a try, including Jennifer Bray-Weber's romance novel involving pirates, Blood and Treasure, and Tea Trelawny's vampire-biker paranormal romance/erotic novel, Start Your Engines. There are a lot of other authors I could feature here, all of whom are equally talented writers, but it would get overwhelming and my little digits would require vats of Bengay. Not pretty.

In conclusion, there are many reasons to make the switch to an e-reader. Amazon has just made it a little easier for us by coming out with products at fantastic prices.

RM Brand Self Help Series

Book Trailers (Part 2): The Script

Now that you’ve written the book, got your artist working on the cover, you want to create a book trailer. Rather than go into the “why” part, I’m just going to dive right in.

A book trailer ought to entice your audience to read your book. Much like a movie trailer, you want to focus only on the main characters and plot.

Watch Movie Trailers

Although there are a few good book trailers out there, movie trailers still do a better job of enticing people into theatres. And since your aim is to hook readers to buy your book, this is one place to start. Go to your favorite movie trailers website (I use http://trailers.apple.com/) and start watching trailers to stories similar to yours or that have similar themes. While you’re watching them, look for how text is presented or words were used, jot down a few notes as you go (remember, you can always stop or repeated video as you go).  Afterwards, make a list of movies you love and watch their trailers (you can Google the movie title and find the trailer that way). Again, jot down what you liked most from that trailer. While you’re doing all of this, keep your skill set in mind. Don’t expect to do feature film if you’re not even familiar with PowerPoint. If you like specific special effects, you will most likely find a how-to on the web if you take the time to search for it. I mostly used Video Copilot’s tutorials for most of my effects. Since I am writing this for individuals with experience in After Effects or similar software, I won’t go into what you need to learn as it has a very high learning curve. As I’ve mentioned before, I suggest you head over to Andrew Kramer’s website here to learn more if you are interested.

Warning: Do not be tempted to start buying images yet! First work out the script, then buy the images. Otherwise you will waste money on images, sounds or movie segments you won’t use. In a later post I will tell you where to find images at a reasonable price, along with music, audio and video segments.

1. Dialogue or Twists

It helps to narrow down pieces of dialogue or twists in the story that can either be added as text, sound bites and/or images during the trailer.  

2. In The Beginning…

How do you want to begin your trailer? This is the introduction to the story. Did you want to start off with a question, a phrase, quote, or maybe a thought-provoking image that swells with a chord of music? You’re setting things up, so you want to make sure to show the audience the subject of the story. I struggled with this, so I watched a few trailers and found the one that I really liked, I Am Number Four.

3. Hit Them Where It Counts

The middle of your trailer should consist of narrative (either text or audio*) that tells the audience was is going to happen. It would be the “what is” part of the Duarte formula, with you working up towards the “would could be.” Use images, text and music to build tension towards the big finale. Remember, this is a teaser to hook the audience. So use enough information to whet their appetite without giving everything away.

*You can add audio narratives with Sonokinetic’s TrailerVoice. My next trailer for By Virtues’ Design will include it.  

4. End With A Bang

Some have suggested ending your trailer with a cliff hanger, with everything else leading up to that cliffhanger. I’ve done something similar with The Shaman’s Beacon. The theme of your story should give you some inspiration. The music at this point ought to end with a dramatic end (a drum-hit or crash or even heart beat or flat-line sound).

5. Where and When To Buy

Make sure to put a few seconds (10 ought to be enough) to display where to purchase the book. It should include a website as well. When you are ready to upload the video to YouTube of Vimeo, you can add URLs to the description as well.

6. Storyboard the Trailer

There are plenty of templates out there to help you storyboard your script. I created my own with 3x5 cards with a simple concept and related phrase. I then taped it to my hallway wall, which got no lack of commentary from my peanut gallery loving family. You don’t have to tape it to a wall, but I prefer to see it in quasi action. Hence the wall. Plus, it’s easier to picture the movie if its spread all before you.

Be prepared to write, rewrite, and get stuck. It took me forever to do my trailer because I was doing everything from scratch, including the special effects. I now buy my templates from Videohive. This lets me focus on the script and less on the special effects.

Optional: Splash

I added a splash to the beginning of my video for Red Sage Publishing, along with an introduction to the author. You don’t have to have this, but I did it as a courtesy to Red Sage Publishing.

On my next installment, I'll go over the Storyboard process, how to conceptualize an idea into a graphic, text or music. 

Other Resources on Book Trailers

http://leannareneebooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/leannas-do-it-yourself-guide-to-book.html

http://katenoble.com/blog/2011/05/how-to-make-a-book-trailer-for-5/

I Did It My Way

"Brick and mortar" bookstores have been a recent phenomenon. I remember going to “Mom and Pop” book stores to purchase novels. The shift was pretty significant when B&N came on the scene, followed by Borders. You can see how it changed our culture in You've Got Mail so eloquently (BTW, if you haven't seen that movie, get up off of that thang and see it!). Books became hip along with signature coffee. And boy do I love my Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Although these bookstores seems to have been an institution for quite some time, I remember when it wasn't and going to the library was the best way to get a lot of good books.

Now we have ebooks.

As demand grows for more and more devices for portability so has the demand for ebooks increased exponentially. The devices make it possible to carry an entire library of books in your purse. AND you can change the font size to suit your reading comfort. AND you can buy excellent novels for a fraction of the price you’d pay for a physical book. It has revolutionized the way we read everything, enough that this time it is a paradigm shift. The reason being now authors can sell their books directly to customers without the middleman. That means higher revenue for the author, but that isn’t simply because of the rate of return. That has more to do with the fact ebooks NEVER become out-of-print.

Real estate at “brick and mortar” bookstores is limited, but not so at retailers like Amazon, Smashwords and even B&N.com (through PubIt). As an author’s book list grows, so does his exposure. The more books out in publication, the greater the exposure. That’s not to say one should publish a million novels. Quality is still going to win over quantity, and that’s the truth. What makes this a perfect opportunity for an up and coming author like me is I can establish my own career free of the gatekeepers who have controlled the market for so long, allowing you, the customer, open access to any type of novel you wish to buy. We now have a freer market to publish and read literature than we ever have before. And that’s good for everybody.

Coming soon to an Amazon, B&N and Smashword Store Near You!

Just when you thought you had enough of me, I'm right back at you with another release. That's right, yours truly is coming out with a new book titled By Virtues' Design on October 15, 2011. It's the first book in a series that will range from romantic fantasy to epic fantasy. I have written the first three books and already the feedback has been good.

More information to come!

For now, just enjoy the cover art created by Phat Puppy Art.

RM Brand Self Help Series

Book Trailers (Part 1)
Book trailers have become more pervasive than ever before. Where only NY Best Selling authors got this treatment, the average person can now create their very own book trailers using software like Microsoft Live Movie Maker or even Adobe After Effects. What you use will depend entirely on your proficiency with these resources, but before you open up your Windows Movie Maker and slap some photos together with whizbang transitions, put yourself in your audiences’ shoes and ask what you would want to see. If you’re the author of the book you’re turning into a trailer, then you’re already a natural storyteller. However, this medium is not the same as a novel. Movies engage all the senses except smell (And thank god for that, especially if the book is about refuse!), so you have to approach the story like a presenter. Not a screen writer or an author, but a presenter. The reason for that is presenters bring ideas in a succinct, to the point format that moves an audience into action.

There are fantastic resources out there to help people present stories in a meaningful way. One such resource comes from Nancy Duarte in Resonate. However, I will refrain from getting into the logistics. For the purpose of this blog post, what I want you to keep in mind is that your role as presenter isn’t what you might think. It’s easy to think that as presenters we’re the star telling the story. But that’s not true. The answer lies in the Force…well, maybe not that force, but in the story that redefined science fiction as we know it—Star Wars.

“…We’re not Luke Skywalker, in reality we’re Yoda.” --Nancy Duarte

That’s right. You’re not the star, but the mentor. See how Yoda shows Luke how to lift his fighter plane, tries to help him understand his own strength. Although you won't have to get your audience to lift air planes, you will need to help them resonate with the story by diving into their psyche until they get it. You’re there to help the audience see the challenge and entice them to be part of the journey, to see how the hero overcomes seeming insurmountable odds and cheer when he triumphs. You will need to use your entire arsenal of tools, including:

• Script 
• Storyboards 
• Images 
• Video 
• Music 
• Voice Overs* 

* This is optional


So put on your Yoda ears and start channeling the Force, or whatever you use to get the creative juices flowing. On next week’s post we’re going over scripts, what’s in them, how to create them, and how to build tension.

Some Homework 

Read Tips On Writing A Trailer Script here.

In The Meantime 
Check out this wonderful blog interview by Chris Brogan who sat down with Nancy Duarte to discuss her work. Trust me, its worth watching and she gives you a free sample of her work! Gotta love free stuff.

The Shaman's Beacon

Buy now at Red Sage Publishing

Yee-haw!
Announcing the release of The Shaman's Beacon, now on sale at Red Sage Publishing, available in ebook format for all electronic devices.

What's Inside
A high-heeled workaholic meets a cowboy while on vacation in Wyoming and learns that not only is her new boyfriend hairy behind the ears, he’s being hunted by werewolf trappers bent on turning him into a designer handbag and her into an accessory.

The Story Behind The Story
Clayton McIntyre was the answer to a burning question, “What would a loving and nurturing werewolf be like?” Male werewolves are generally violent, aggressive, and severe. Clayton is the antithesis of the stereotypical werewolf. Sure, he can be a mean hombre when provoked, but his good nature and gentle manner heals even the deepest wounds of the heart. That’s precisely what Linda needs. 

As a pack shaman, Clayton gets all the perks of being an alpha without the worries that come with it. That gives him the freedom to practice his craft unabated. He doesn’t limit his treatments to weres only. He reaches out to all with a level of humanity rarely seen in humans or immortals. That’s because he sees the best in people, especially the woman he loves. Things don’t generally faze him, except when Linda decides to take on the pack’s enemies. That brings out the wolf, which leads him to hurt her worse than anything anyone has ever done. It’ll take more than shamanic healing to get her to forgive him and even more to forgive himself. This book is about the healing power of love and what it takes inside each of us to find it.

Book Description
Linda Menendez vacations to Lander, Wyoming and meets Clayton McIntyre, a Texas cowboy who insists he’s a werewolf. He’s a shaman too, complete with a talisman. She ain’t buying it, until that woo-woo turns into whoa-whoa when she sees a wolf being skinned alive. And not just any old wolf, a werewolf. Despite the implications of that, she won’t sit idly by while their corpses are dumped around the small town in Wyoming she’s fallen in love with. She’ll fight back no matter what it takes, but Clayton doesn’t like that one bit. He’ll hog tie her to keep her safe. But then who will keep him safe? 

Clayton recognizes his true mate, Linda, the moment they meet. The picture she carries around is him in wolf form, though she refuses to believe it. He mates with her, bonding her to him, and takes her on a shamanic journey to help her accept who she is and the truth about him. But Linda is one very stubborn woman, especially when she decides to take on the pack’s enemies, including a militia led by a fanatic half-blood intent on skinning weres into extinction. No matter how much Clayton tries to convince her that she can trust him, the woman keeps putting herself in harm’s way. If he can’t get her to slow down she’ll end up in the scrap pile right along with him.

Have A Taste
Linda applied more raspberry lip gloss.

“Why you putting that junk on?” Clayton waited for her to catch up and put his arm around her.

She dropped the lip gloss back into her purse and snapped it closed. “Think of it as a deterrent.” After they crossed the side entrance a strong waft of dung hit her. She grimaced.

Her date, however, wasn’t fazed. He led her past several rodeo crews and asked, “You hinting that I’m a bad kisser?”

“God no!” That was a little louder than she was going for, enough to get the attention of some cowboys working with a bull. She leaned closer to Clayton. “You’re the reason mothers warn their daughters about men.”

He chuckled and took her hand.

Clayton led her past a group of men who were preparing a bareback bronc rigging on a palomino while the rider was securing his gripping glove before his ride. They stopped and the men shook his hand one by one. He introduced her to them as ‘my girl from Los Angeles.’ They all offered her a warm greeting. Clayton might as well have announced she was his wife the way they were so happy for him, as though she signified some important event in his life. They seemed to know something she didn’t and it was disconcerting.

An older Native American woman with a chambray button shirt called out his name from another chute. He turned and that brilliant smile spread over his face when he saw who it was. She gestured to Linda and spread her hands inquiringly. He drew Linda close to him and shouted, ‘my girl.’ Damn, he sounded so happy and proud.

Linda’s felt her cheeks flush when a few people turned to look at her. She elbowed him, which felt like hitting a brick wall.

Clayton bent down and gave her a kiss that nearly knocked her feet out from under her. 

The lip gloss was an absolute failure.

Want To Talk About It?

I'm all over the place, me, my shelf, and likes. I do occasionally enjoy a tweet and for you couch potatoes out there, I do have a boob-tube channel. So don't be shy! Let's chew the fat with Bubba for a while.


All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any portion of the work mentioned above from The Shaman's Beacon in any form whatsoever in any country whatsoever is forbidden.

Creating A Book Trailer: Introduction

Some of you might be wondering how I put my latest book trailer together. I work as a graphic artist in a civil engineering company, mostly doing layout and some minor special effects. So I have intermediate knowledge on Adobe products, enough to do color correction, enhancements, and illustrations. This made it much easier to learn other Adobe software, specifically Premier and After Effects.

I was first introduced to After Effects when I began making machinima videos like Edge of Remorse (still my favorite of all time), which led me to seek out tutorials on creating special effects. I found Video Copilot (VC) on the net and was wow'd (yes, pun intended) by their professional tutorials. I began acquiring their products over time, but eventually the day job took over my life and I had to put my dream of becoming the greatest machinima designer in the world  on hold.

Several years later, I realized I needed to create a book trailer for my upcoming releases. So I went back to VC's web site where I absorbed as much knowledge as I could. Eventually, I created the book trailer you see for The Shaman's Beacon. I still wish I could spend more time on it, but that wouldn't be practical. I'm no After Effects expert by any means, but I tried in my most limited way came up with a script, storyboard, and ultimately compiled the images and scenes until I could put it all together in Adobe Premier, where I added sound effects and a few additional musical tracks.

I can't teach you everything I've learned for the past five years, but you can learn them yourself at Andrew Kramer's website, which I highly recommend. His products are so popular they have been used in Star Trek, Transformers 3, music videos, and even in Terry Goodkind's promo materials (book trailers, etc.).

Below I've compiled some awesome samples and/or behind the scene documentaries to whet your appetite.

The following video is an excellent behind the scenes look at how VC put their Demon Orb product video together, including how they created the special effects. Great stuff!




After using VC's products for years and learning from his many tutorials I still have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. BUT, I know enough to be dangerous. If you haven't already, be sure to watch The Shaman's Beacon book trailer here.

There are many throughout the entertainment industry who use VC's products, including the folks that put together Terry Goodkind's latest book trailer, The Omen Machine. Take a look and those of you who are familiar with Andrew's work will see and hear it below.



Below includes music from VC's Pro Scores. Optical Flares was most likely used as well. Trapcode Particular was also used (the little floating particles) which add a very nice effect.



The big thing here is to try, try and retry until you get what you want. There are countless tutorials out there and you can even buy pre-made templates for After Effects (like from CreativeLabs). You do have to have After Effects, but once you do the sky is the limit. That's the hard part--What do you put in your trailer?

My next post will go over script writing and storyboarding.

The Books, the Web, and All Things In Between

I've got a few things to share with you all. First, I've finalized my book trailer. Take a look and be sure to "Like" the video if you enjoyed it.

The novel is due for release September 1, 2011. You can pre-order the book now here.



I also launched my new web site The Hen House. There you'll find what's coming and some quirky things about me. It's a work in progress and no doubt will grow as more books are published.

I'm currently working on the next novel, By Virtues' Design, that is due for release October 15, 2011. The book cover is done, which I will post soon.

AAAAAHHHHHH-dvertising

I have worked in marketing for over twenty years and I can tell you sometimes the hardest part is coming up with an idea that is fresh, out of the box, and downright fun. This little commercial has it all. Take a look. I guarantee you'll laugh.


Dirt Devil-The Exorcist from MrPrice2U on Vimeo.

Change Your World

I have been so fortunate to work with individuals who look out of the box for solutions and ideas that not only work in a professional environment, but are tools to change your life.

Below is a video from Nancy Duarte, the author of Slide:ology and Resonate, who presents her structure that some of the greatest communicators and persuaders employ to convey their ideas in a moving way. She explains why Martin Luther King's speech was so moving, how Steve Jobs can enthrall an audience.

Take a look for yourself and let me know what you think.



Nancy Duarte's talk at TEDx East from Duarte Design on Vimeo.

The Sink Will Guarantee A Rise

The Shaman's Beacon takes the protagonist, Linda, to this wonderous place. This clip only gives you a hint of the gorgeous landscape surrounding the spot. Pine, aspen, craggy rocks, and Bighorn Sheep are but a few things you'll encounter should you venture there. I highly recommend it. Not only is it a beautiful place, it is almost spiritual in nature.

Book Trailer Madness

Here's a little video I've been working on that will be included in my book trailer. Its the Red Sage Introduction using elements and tutorial info from Video Copilot. Can I just say Andrew Kramer rocks? Well, he does. Be sure to check out his site here.

Let me know what you think. BTW, I mixed the music too. Yeah, I'm just that good. :p

So You Want To Write A Book

Writers more and more are turning to “vanity” publishing in order to get their work out there. There are several problems with that, which all can be boiled down to quality, or better said the lack thereof.

Let’s face it, we all have egos. We all think we’re pretty damn good at what we do and when we hear criticism or rejection we get defensive, including yours truly. If you let it get to you that’s going to be a problem if you want to be a successful writer. Yeah, I’ve heard the “I’ve got a thick skin” smack that holds as much water as a Dixie cup on the Titanic. Need proof? Simply send your work to a number of agents (not all at once, mind you as most don’t accept simultaneous submissions) and wait for their response. I guarantee you that when you read their bland form rejections again and again and again you’ll see a pattern here. That’s right, you’re work doesn’t cut it.

There are many factors that involve their decision. It could be a formatting issue. Agents generally require specific things in each submission, but most people don’t even bother to do their homework by checking the agent’s web site to find out what the agent wants to see. It could be grammatical errors in your query and/or synopsis. Nothing turns an agent off faster than grammatical errors. Why? Because the public hates them too. It also could be timing, where the market is saturated with the genre of your book or it’s on a decline. Oh sure, these are all legitimate reasons to reject your work. But the reason they send you that bland reply most often than not is because your work needs work.

After several rejections you turn to self-publishing (aka. vanity publishing). Hey, if Amanda Hockings can do it, so can you. Right? Actually, there's more to being an author than just writing a book. That's a fact. You spend a good portion of your time doing other things related to writing, but don't despair. Sometimes the other stuff can be just as much fun.

We all want our novel to shine, but in order to do that you have to spend some time researching and getting into the business side. Without this knowledge you can make fatal mistakes that turn your best seller to your best stinker. Things to consider are:

1. Sales data on genre. If it ain’t selling it ain’t selling. That means you could have something great on your hands, but if the market isn’t buying you’ll have a tough time selling it until the trends change. If you’re patient, great. If you’re not, try reading what’s hot and see if that genre is something you want to write in. However, and please read this very carefully, do NOT write something for the sake of it. If you’re not feeling the story (i.e., getting into the heads of the characters down to their dark little secrets) then forget about it. Stick with what you want to do. Who knows, you could prove everyone wrong by writing the best novel in that genre that’s ever been published.
2. Know your genre (even if it’s mainstream). There are specific things readers expect from their favorite genres and if you don’t deliver them they are most likely not going to buy the next book. In some cases you might even get a negative review. And trust me, readers do read these. I know. I do. In fact, that’s the first place I start, because I do not trust people to be honest about the work. Check association web sites (like Romance Writers for America or Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America) to get the latest scoop. These are fantastic resources for writers, and given that many have advice on writing, it behooves you to check them out.
3. Editor, for reals! Don’t have your family and friends do your editing for you. If you have to hire someone do it. You want someone who does this for a living in one capacity or another, preferably either someone who works in the publishing industry or has experience editing large documents and has a passion for reading (before you hire someone make sure to check Writer’s Beware for hacks and con artists). If the editor reads in your genre, even better. They will be able to give you insight on what’s working and not working in your manuscript, which can be vital to turning a story into a best seller. Remember, these are people who read a lot and know what’s out there. Keep your trap shut and listen. It doesn’t mean you have to do everything they suggest, you’re simply ingesting information. Who knows, it just might be exactly what you need to hear, even if they tell you “This stinks!” If they do tell you your work stinks have them quantify exactly what they didn’t like about it (i.e., grammar, plot, lack of character development, etc.).
4. Read. Seriously. Read until your brain is mush. Include blogs like Joe Konrath’s A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing and Eric’s Pimp My Novel. Joe is a prolific e-book author. Eric works in the publishing industry in marketing (he’s the guy who helps you sell your books, like imaging, branding yourself, etc.). Both have different takes on the industry, but their sage advice is valuable for all sides of publishing. If you’re publishing ebooks or heading into the traditional legacy house publishing both will provide you statistics on market trends, the health on book distributors like the big box bookstores, and tips and tricks to get you published. Eric goes into ebook sales, so its worth a look. There's also this fabulous blog entry from Nathan Bransford that goes into revenues and current trends. Very informative stuff.
5. Thou Shalt Not Criticize the Critic. Don’t go Howett on a critic. The worst thing you can ever do is argue with one. It’s not even advisable to argue over someone else’s work. Read #3 if you don’t get it, particularly the part about keeping your trap shut and listening. Critics take their free time to read your work and then offer their insight on what they liked and what they didn’t like. You can learn a lot about your work even through scathing critiques. You just have to chill out and process what they’re saying. And don’t chalk it up as “that’s their opinion.” Yeah, an opinion from someone who reads a lot and knows a thing or two. Countering a critic can lead to spectacular rejection by the public, even those who haven’t picked up your book. That’s what Howett is about. An author not only posted repeated arguments against the critic and his visitors, she resorted to throwing the “F” bomb. Do you know what happened to her ratings on Amazon? Yep, it tanked. People posted reviews of her work who blatantly declared they hadn’t read it simply because of her reaction to a critic. Bad form on the author’s part. Period.
6. Get Up Off of That Thang. Well, figuratively speaking. You want to be out there, in the public, and with all the social networking opportunities this is a great time to start publishing your polished work. Some great advice on this comes from Joe again, What Works: Promo for Ebooks. He goes into the nitty gritty about electronic and self-publishing. The man is brilliant and successful. One more thing I would include that he hasn’t, and that is getting involved in your local association. I’m a member of the Northwest Houston chapter of Romance Writers of America and I can tell you they’re a wonderful group of people. In just two visits, I learned about voodoo from an actual voodoo priestess (Ms. Ava Kay Jones) and how to dig up bones of your character (a lecture on the intricacies of introspection to determine character style, personality, and weaknesses). Plus, I’m surrounded by brilliant artists from all walks of publishing and their advice is like mana to my starving writer's soul. Getting out there gives you presence and that presence can have a positive effect on your writing and publishing, without a doubt.

The last thing I will tell you, but will not add to my list because it goes without saying, is to write. Take Amanda Hockings advice. Don’t get distracted. Sit down and write. When the other stuff starts to creep in, don’t get up off that chair. Focus and keep working on that chapter until you’re in the zone. If you have to, find a place where you’re alone. Tell your family and friends that you are working and not to disturb you. Remember, you’re investing time without pay for future rewards, which means you are working, on a job. It is your job to write and you’re the boss. If you have to, use Amanda’s trick or put a large picture of you shaking your finger at yourself or shut your door and don’t open it until you’ve written a chapter. That type of discipline is necessary. Trust me, it never gets easier. Something will always try to creep into your mind. The difference is you’ll learn to recognize it and have the appropriate arsenal to contend with it.

And above all, remember you can do it. The difference between an unpublished author and a published one is tenacity. NEVER give up on your dream.

Just a little taste...

The Shaman's Beacon is due for release sometime this summer. I'll post the hard date once I find out what it is. It will be available in electronic format only through Red Sage Publishing, a wonderful resource for some of the best romantic and/or erotic fiction on the market. They publish a number of New York best selling authors and have a wide range of stories from the paranormal to contemporary romance. I suggest you give them a try, if you already haven't.

For those of you new to my hen house, The Shaman's Beacon is a story about a high-heeled workaholic who meets a cowboy while on vacation in Wyoming and learns that not only is her new boyfriend hairy behind the ears, he's also hunted by werewolf trappers bent on turning him into a designer handbag and her into an accessory.

The story is set in Lander, Wyoming, a lovely town located at the foot of the majestic Wind River Mountains. Its a wonderful place for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and mountaineering. Its also the quintessential small town with its quaint shops and cafes along Main Street, while still boasting fine restaurants to satisfy any palate. And the people are as good natured as I portrayed in the book. Lander and the regions surrounding it are rich with history, from South Pass City to Fort Washakie, you'll find yourself transported back in time as you visit landmarks describing life in the old Wild West. Yeah, I really like it there. :p

Linda is the primary voice of this story, told in third person. She's witty, strong, independent, but she doesn't like change. That's why she's been working for the same employer since she graduated college and puts up with a boss who thinks lap dances should be part of her job description. She's also practical and isn't inclined to believe in metaphysical explanations for anything. To her, everything has a real, logical explanation. That's why she isn't ready to jump on the furry bandwagon when she learns the guy she's been dating is a werewolf. It takes a lot of patience and understanding on Clayton's part to help her see that believing in werewolves is only a start to believing in something far more precious. If she wants real happiness, she must learn to believe in herself and in turn learn to believe in the power of love.

Here's a little teaser of the front cover, designed by a brilliant artist named Bree. I was floored when I saw the end product and can't be more proud of putting my name on that artwork. It conveys the spirit and essence of the story.

Home on the range...

Can't say the skies aren't cloudy all day. Since arriving, limping mind you, to The Woodlands there's been considerable rain. We've settled down in our humble abode and have been plugging along with our jobs and WoWing...until last Friday.

My editor contacted me with the edits to my manuscript and so I feverishly worked throughout the weekend into Monday and finally completing my edits on Tuesday evening. My boss was sweet enough to give me a few days off to get it done (yes, she is the best!) and I sent the edits back to the editor.

I received the cover art for my book that same day and let me tell ya, I went giddy squealing like a little girl. I remember when I was writing the story that I could almost feel the book in my hands. To see the artist work, to read my name on the cover, and hear the publisher's happy reactions to my story...its so validating and amazing.

I'm proud of myself, because this wasn't an easy task. Writing is not easy, but it is so rewarding. This is my passion and for it to be appreciated by friends and readers is humbling.

So on to the next project. I am working on a proposal for another book in another series. My goal is to get that completed in the next day or so and submit by Friday. Whew. So much to do. So little time. lol

Saying Goodbye

Today I said my last goodbye to a dear friend I work with at the civil engineering firm. As Clint and I drove away from her home I felt a wave of emotion, one of many I've been experiencing but that I couldn't fully grasp until then. I'm not just leaving associates or friends behind. I'm leaving a part of me behind.

I've lived in California most of my life. I was born here, in Glendale to be exact. I love this state for its diverse culture, the arts, the way of life, and especially the people. I may have my contentions about the political scene, I have for many years, but the memories I've made here were with some of the most endearing individuals a person could meet. I have laughed with them, triumphed with them, fought with them, and cried with them. I see their faces shining in the gallery of my life as scepters who reminded me that life is such a wondrous experience, only fully appreciated with good company. They shared a part of themselves with me and for this I am grateful. I will make new friends and those friends will touch me with their unique spirits just as my friends have here. But years down the road when I have laughed with these new friends, triumphed with them, fought with them, and cried with them, I won't forget the people here and how precious each person is to me. I will give thanks that I was blessed to walk by their side.

I love you. I always have, even in the hard times. I always will. I won't be gone. I'll just be somewhere else. No matter where our journeys take us you will always be in my heart.

So goodbye California...goodbye my dear friends.

Purge and surge

The purging process in moving can be both a cathartic and painful experience. Its wonderful to clean out the clutter, but my back...well, that's the pain part.

As Clint and I near our exodus to Texas, cats and company, I'm left to wonder what I'll miss most about California other than the weather. I'll miss my associates who are more my friends than coworkers. I'll miss going to the beach when ever the mood strikes. I'll miss the sunsets, the Starbucks at every corner, and Portos. Oh god...Portos! And most of all I'll miss my friends.

There are many things I won't miss, which are too many to list here, but suffice it to say I bid them all good riddance. Texas is not only a complete change in landscape, but a much welcomed change in lifestyle. Long have I wished for a slower pace, an opportunity to just chew the fat with Buba, and the chance to look up into the night's sky and actually see more than a dozen stars. I want a place to call more than a home. I want to call it my community.

I don't know if Clint and I will settle for good in The Woodlands, but its a good place to start. Its beautiful and picturesque. It has excellent marks for education. The housing is reasonable. And best of all I can take my time and just enjoy my day. Yes, I'll be commuting. Yes, I'll have to deal with the humidity and heat. Yes, I'll need to adjust how I approach people and business. Yes, I'll have to change my attitude. All of this is what I need. It isn't easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

So I bid California adieu and thank you for all the truly golden memories I've had, but don't worry. I won't let the door hit me on the way out. I'll simply remember what you used to be and what you could have been. I'll remember you for the fun, the joy, and the love I've experienced here.

Now, if you see a pair of Scions whipping by its just Clint and I. We're on a mission to go forth into a new life. Well, more like surge into it. Hey, you would too if you had two cats whining at you for over 1,500 miles.

A South African in snow

El Paso, Texas. Its supposed to be one of the hottest places on Earth. Its a desert...with rocks and dirt.

Yesterday morning someone left the freezer door open, because it was -10 degrees when I got up at the hotel in El Paso. Last time I experienced that kind of freezing conditions was in Wyoming. I never dreamt I'd experience it in Texas. It was so cold I swear hell froze over too and getting the car warmed up for 13+ hours of travel to California was hell in and of itself. That water I left in the cupholder? Frozen.

My husband, the wonderful South African that he is, had never seen a snowflake. He stared at one on the passanger window for a long time, going into a detailed synposis of the size, color and consistency of each flake. Once he was done, he proceeded to pick up a handful of snow and inspect each flake. Without gloves on.

Later that morning, he pumped the gas into the car. One shivering look from him and I knew he was living a personal hell. His hands were red and numb. Those big brown eyes were wide open. I tried to explain that the weather wasn't that bad. I've been in -20 degree weather before. THAT is bad. He didn't care. The only thing Clint cared about was thawing and it wasn't happening fast enough. Let me tell ya, that cold seemed to slip into your bones and freeze them solid. I could see it in his face. It was one circle of frigid hell, because the car heater couldn't keep up.

Eventually, we made it back home and collapsed in our beds.

The next morning, we got up and headed outside for some McDonald's McBreakfast. Clint stepped outside wearing shorts and a t-shirt. It was 45 degrees outside. I told him to put a jacket on. He laughed and said, "This isn't cold. This is balmy!"

And that my friends is how to get a South African to acclimate to frigid temperatures.

Just around the river bend...

I love the song Just Around The River Bend from Disney's Pocahontas animated movie. I too have felt that there was so much more to experience in life if I but took the bend in the road. There might be opportunities otherwise unknown or untried if I didn't go. The thing is I knew that it was up to me to try and the only way I would ever make my dreams come true is if I never gave up.

I've seen much in the course of my life, very much like the river described in the movie. Some of those river bends were calm and others wild. The thing that kept me going was knowing the next bend might be the one I've been searching for. I came upon that bend today.

As some of you might know I am moving to Texas. Its a new adventure, to say the least. Even so, I am about to embark on an even greater adventure as a published author.

I have been given an offer by a publishing house I love. I'm so excited by this venture I can't stop grinning. The house is one of the leading e-publishing houses for romantic titles. And thanks to a bend about fifteen years ago that led me into the marketing industry, I will be able to promote my book with publishing experts who know the trends and best practices for getting the word out.

There are many more bends in the river to come, but for now I think I'll just sit in the canoe and relish this one here.

By Virtues' Design

That is the working title to the first book in my romantic fantasy series, The Judge. I think I've edited this novel at least a dozen times and still I find little things to change. I've recently changed the ending, which I was going to keep as a cliff-hanger. However, I decided that a positive resolution was needed for this particular novel. The novels to follow will act as a continual story without the happily ever after endings traditionally seen. They will have resolution, but Maria won't always get her man. Instead, she will have to make the best out of her circumstances even though every possible obstacle is thrown in her path. She's a fighter and fighters never quit.

Here's an excerpt from the first novel where Maria is about to experience a close encounter of an albondigas kind.

“Your soup is getting cold.”

“¡Ay, Mami! I am trying to get some work done.” Maria plopped down on the chair in the dining room and put her napkin on her lap. At least she got through most of the work and only needed to add a small section in the feasibility study before Chela and friends arrived to help prepare and write out the addresses on all the wedding invitations.

Her mother jabbed a finger into her arm. “You’re always trying to get work done. I made this albondigas soup for you and I even put the extra broth in as you like it.”

Maria looked at her primly dressed mother and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Gracias, Mami. You’re the best.” Her mother really took good care of her, making her soup so she could finish up her work in time.

Maria rested her napkin on her black trousers and picked off a piece of lint from her stretchy lacy top, the one her mother insisted she buy because it accentuated her ‘assets.’ She looked up at her mother when she realized she hadn’t moved. “Yes?”

Her mother leaned closer. “I’m your mother. Of course I’m the best.” She thrust a finger towards the bowl “Now eat before it gets cold again!” She then spun around and marched back into the kitchen.

Maria chuckled at her mother’s antics as she picked up her spoon and started to dip it into the soup.

A face wavered over the surface.

The spoon fell to the floor with a clatter.

Her mother took one look at her and rushed over. “What’s wrong with the soup?” She looked into the bowl and screamed. In her native Spanish tongue, she made the sign of the cross and followed it with a succession of choice ethnic curses. “Como…!” 

“I think the question is ‘who’ is that, Mami.”

“Who is it?” Her mother screeched.

It was impossible, but there he was. Dear god, there he was! “It’s Jacob.”

“Jacob?” Her mother shrieked.

“Uh-huh.”

“And who are the men and that lady standing around him?”

“I don’t know.” Maria bit her lower lip in a wide smile as she gazed at him.

He smiled back and turned to her mother.

“Oh!” Maria jumped up out of her seat as her mother screamed, clutching Maria’s sleeve.

Her mother made a squeal of fear as she craned her neck to look into the bowl again, only to scream once more.

Jacob turned back to Maria.

He was really looking at her? This kind of stuff couldn’t be made up. It had to be real. “He found a way to do it.”

“To do what?” Her mother squeaked.

“He found a way to communicate back and forth between our worlds.” She couldn’t look away from him. “He’s so perfect, isn’t he, Mami?”

“I don’t know. I’m still trying to find out how he got into my soup.”

“Look at him, Mami. It’s him. It’s really him.” Maria waved her fingers at him and he waved back. The others behind him also waved.

This sent her mother screaming again and running back.

Maria covered her mouth as she laughed exuberantly. “He actually did it.”

The image began to fade.

“No! Please, not yet.” Maria shook her head as she went closer to the bowl.

Jacob blew a kiss to her and she blew one back to him just as the image disappeared, leaving only a bowl of boiling albondigas soup.

Maria waited, but his image didn’t return.

She turned to her mother who still had her hands over her mouth in shock. “He’s real, Mami. Jacob…he’s…real.”

Her mother stared at her for a time and then finally shot to the phone. “I need to call Alberto. He’s got the name of a good therapist. Maybe he can take the two of us at the same time.”

Maria took the phone from her mother’s hand. “You saw what I saw.”

“I don’t know what I saw,” her mother countered. “Maybe it’s brujeria. I don’t know.”

“Witchcraft isn’t real.”

“Then you try to explain how the man in your dreams is suddenly showing up in my soup!”

“It could be that he used…” No, she couldn’t finish that sentence. Telling her mother Jacob used magic would make her call a psychologist and a psychiatrist. “He just simply found a way for us to communicate. He promised me he would find a way for me to stay in touch with you when I go to his world.”

“Mija! Do you even hear yourself when you say such things? You’ve taken this fantasy thing too far. It’s one thing to daydream, but an entirely different thing to believe it.” Her mother grabbed her arms. “Don’t you see you’re not well? You need to see a doctor, find out why you’re having these dreams and now hallucinations.”

“Might I remind you that you saw it too?”

Her mother shook her head as she let her go. “I don’t know what I saw. I can’t believe it. It’s too crazy. Maybe I’ve been listening to you talk about him so much that now it’s affecting me. I’m very stressed with the wedding, and…”

“Mami, you can try to deny it all you like, but you saw it too. I’m not crazy. It’s real. Now I know for certain. I can plan.”

“Plan for what? You’re not leaving me!” Her mother backed away. “You’re not going just when I’m about to become happy. How could you do this to me? I’m your mother! You don’t abandon your mother.”

“I’m not abandoning you and I’m not gone yet.” Maria stepped closer to her mother, but her mother went further back.

Before she could say another word, her mother went to her bowl, brought it to the sink and dumped it down the drain. With a jerk of her wrist, she flipped the garbage disposal on and ran water over it.

“There, now it’s gone. I must have put something bad in there that made us hallucinate. Or maybe its mold. The house is old.” Her mother started looking around, as though expecting to find the culprit along the walls.

Maria turned the disposal off. “Mami.” Her mother didn’t look at her, so she turned her around to face her. “I’m not abandoning you. You’re getting married to Gabino and I don’t think you’re abandoning me. You’re about to start a new life with a wonderful man. We’re not always going to live together, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see each other.”

“We better see each other and not just in albondigas soup!”

Maria saw the fear in her mother’s eyes. “The soup isn’t what’s upsetting you. It’s the fact I met someone. And even if he were close by, you’re afraid you and I won’t see each other often after you get married. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Her mother crossed her arms. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy. Very happy. And I’d be happy too if you met a normal man. But yes, things won’t be the same.”

Aha! Maria thought. “I love you. That will never change. And no matter what happens, I’m still your daughter and I’ll be there for you.”

“I know. I’m just worried, especially considering all this talk about Jacob and going to other worlds. I love the time we spend together and I’m going to miss it.”

“Me too, but that’s the beauty of memories. We can relive those as many times as we want.”

Her mother cocked her head at Maria. “You know we’re crazy for what we saw?”

“I’ll believe what I want, you believe what you want,” Maria playfully jibbed.

Her mother gave her a dry expression. “That is a tired argument.”

“Just quoting you.” Maria giggled.

“Uh-huh.” Her mother picked up the contents of the pot and dumped it down the drain with the rest of the other soup.

“Hey! I’m hungry and you’re getting rid of dinner.”

“You better believe I am. I don’t want to see another man looking at me while I eat his face.”

Maria laughed. “You never know. You might like it.”

Her mother let out an exaggerated sigh, struggling to keep herself from laughing. “That is not funny.”

“Yeah it is.”

“No, it isn’t.” Her mother made her way into the living room for her purse, which meant they were going out for dinner.

Maria grabbed her purse too. “Yes, it is…”

“Hey, what about your work?”

“It can wait.”

“Oh, now it can wait,” her mother grumbled as she yanked the door open.

They got into the car and started down the street. 

“Don’t talk about this soup incident with Gabino,” Her mother said as she made a left turn. “I don’t want him to think we’re crazy.”

“I’ve only told you and Liz about Jacob. No one else. People at the office suspect I’ve met someone, but I’m not talking about it.”

“Good. It’s none of their business.”

They arrived at the Mexican restaurant and were seated right away. The waiter came with a basket of tortilla chips and salsa and asked for their orders. Her mother got her usual shredded beef taco and cheese enchilada, with a side of pico salad.

“And for you, Miss?” The waiter asked Maria.

She looked up at him with a wide grin. “I’ll have a big bowl of your albondigas soup with extra broth.”

“¡Ay Maria, por Dios!”

Blazing Saddles

Saturday is the day. Twenty-five hours of solid driving, which totals to 1,555 miles from our doorstep to Mom's new home.

Life is about to get interesting.

Once we return, its three more weeks of packing and then its our turn to head over there. Two days of driving...with two cats. God save me.

But, it'll all be worth it once we're there.

We've been vying for a quiet life, less hustle and more 'ahhhh'. The Woodlands offers a natural woodland with excellent views, schools, community atmosphere and shopping. Its exactly what we've been looking for to settle down and raise a family.

I sent my paranormal romance manuscript to an editor for consideration. That was about a week ago. I hope I hear something positive by the time I get back home.

Escape the Slush Pile--MJ Davidson

I have been reading a fabulous book by MaryJanice Davidson published in ebook format only entitled Escaping The Slush Pile.

MaryJanice provides example query letters along with the back story for each, the response and outcome. She goes into detail, outlining why this worked and what didn't. There are pearls of wisdom seldom seen in such books, which has ignited my passion for writing once again. Thank you, MaryJanice!!!

Among the many nuggets I found, one I'm eager to start is attending meetings at the local Romance Writers of America chapter in Houston. This will have to wait until Clint and I move to The Woodlands in Texas, but already I'm chomping at the bit to have the opportunity to meet fellow writers who love the genre as much as I do. I've heard they don't support ebook publishing, but given the way the market is going, they might have to concede to its success soon. Some are reporting ebook sales into the 300% in December and January, which makes sense when you consider how many people received e-readers during the holidays.

Getting back to MaryJanice's book, perhaps the best parts of her book are the queries and synopsis examples. Its hard, really hard to write both. Believe me, I've been doing it for ten years and still I get stuck. Her examples get the creative juices flowing--doesn't that sound yummy--enough that I wrote a one page synopsis in the middle of the night after reading her book.

There are many good resources out there to help authors hone their craft, and Escape The Slush Pile makes an excellent addition to the list.