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.

Show me yours

There are few things in life that make you stop and admire incredible creativity, like The Gregory Brothers who wrote a song using clips from a local new report of a robbery. Not only is this song a hit on YouTube.com, the woman in the video, Diana, is a local legend now.

I dare you to listen and NOT tap your feet.



The beauty of the internet is that its open for people to express their creativity in ways conventional means just don't allow. The Gregory Brothers have already received accolades for other such music videos. Its clear that this was just a fun little hobby that turned into a money making mechanism and that is what dreams are made of--creating something that you love enough to sell. And yes, there's a market if you're good at something and willing to sell it. Its no different in writing.

Books are simply an author's imagination open to the masses. Stories don't just write themselves, they're conceived by someone who then fleshes them out until they're complete. Good writers maintain a balance between conflict and resolution. If its a really good book, there are elements of character development, interesting plot, and eloquent prose. Much like the story heard in the "Backin Up" song in the video, you're told a story that intrigues you enough that you will want to keep it in your collection and then tell your friends.

Happy New Year!

A new year has come and there are many things to look forward to. First, my husband and I are in the process of relocating to Texas. Second, I've given myself a goal of finishing two books this year--Between the Lines and the second installment to the Beacon series. Third, World of Warcraft Cataclysm raiding with the guild will begin next weekend.

Out of all three, the most exciting are my writing goals. I am currently working with a web designer to get a website up, expect to attend literary/agent conferences, and continue pursuing an agent I hope to find soon. There are a number of excellent agents I would love to work with. So, I'm hopeful as I continue to query them. And given the feedback I've received on my works so far I'm confident I'll find one soon.

I'm reading a wonderful book currently, The Shortest Distance Between You And A Published Book by Susan Page. It is a brilliant guide to help author's to understand the business side of publishing, from writing, book titles, character development to contracts, agent fees, and royalties. I find myself already reconsidering new titles for several novels I've written.

Now if only I had more hours in a day! Time management? Maybe a New Years resolution for next year. :p

Fa-la-la-la AHHHHHHH!

Christmas crept up on me and I didn't even know it!

Okay, maybe I did know it was coming. Maybe I got obsessed with World of Warcraft a bit. Maybe Santa's little elves put Bailey's in my coffee to make sure I wasn't paying attention. Yeah, that's more like it!

I found that with the yuletide season came an avalanche of things I had to get done. First off, I'm preparing for a major move. We're leaving California. Not sure where we'll land, but I'm excited about the change. Since our expectations are to set roots in a smaller community, I look forward to getting involved with the community unlike it is here in So. Cal. I'm very excited.

I haven't gotten too much writing in this month, what with World of Warcraft: Cataclysm out this month, but I finally got my website designed and ready for the developer. I'm very eager to see how it all turns out.

I have a New Year's resolution this year. I'm going to finish two books next year. Yeah, its a tall order, but one I can easily fulfill. I want to finish Between the Lines and The Wolf Witch. Both should be fairly easy to conceptualize, since 90% of it is done. This will probably mean less time in WoW, but it'll be well worth it.

Turkeys, werewolves, and publishing

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I find myself giving thanks to the many hands that went into the technologies we have today (i.e., computers, software developers and publishers, and turkeys). Yes, you read that right, turkeys. Why, you might be asking. Its simple really. Turkeys remind me that capitalism works.

Without capitalism, turkeys would have become extinct along with bison and other animals. By taking ownership (through property rights) we've been able to not only save turkeys, but the iconic bison still roam somewhat free in large ranches specifically designed to maintain and foster these remarkable creatures. Before, when they truly roamed free, they were hunted until only approx. 2,000 head were left in the world. Some smart cattle ranchers saw an opportunity to save the animals through a profit motive. Today, ranchers across the west raise bison, like the Jayjak family.

Today, much of the American lifestyle is attributed to individual entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity and put in the effort to make it work. My hats off to you all, as well as my deepest thanks. Because its dreamers like you who make reality as good as the imagination.

That leads me to another front. Publishing.

I'm still awaiting word from yet another agent. Its tough waiting it out, because I'm eager to find someone who will represent me. But I can imagine how difficult it must be for agents and editors who scour through pages and pages of unsolicited requests to find something golden. I know I'm not the only writer out there with potential, so it is a difficult thing to pick and choose among the throngs of voices. I just hope my voice resonates with someone very soon.

What has me all excited is the release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. I'm especially excited because this expansion features my favorite paranormal creature, the werewolf. After all, The Shaman's Beacon is about werewolves. Naturally, I'll be rolling a worgen. Now if only they were cowboys too.


Initially I wasn't going to write a paranormal novel, because I feel its being done ad nauseam. That changed after I read Sarah McCarty's, Running Wild. Although she isn't a well known author, her books are a combination of erotica meets adventure. I love her Hell's Eight series, so when I picked up Running Wild I expected something good and she delivered. The premise is not outstanding, but the writing and scenes are well done. So I found myself wondering what my werewolf story would be if I did write one. One thing led to another and Linda Menendez came to be. Then came Clayton McIntyre. It took me about three months to write that novel. Its the fastest project I've written to date, and the most exciting. In fact, I'm so excited about it, I want to share some of it with you.

Here's a little sample of what's in my current book:

“Linda sat in a corner on a stool, the only available seat in the room. At least she had some food in the way of a peanut butter cookie, which was the size of a small pizza. Milk would have been good right about then. The damn stuff was beginning to stick to the roof of her mouth.

Most of the cookie remained on the napkin on her lap. Clayton moseyed on over and gestured to the cookie. “You going to eat that?”

“I was going to save it to feed a small village in Africa,” she quipped.

He chuckled, took the cookie, and in a couple of bites it was gone.

Damn it! She wanted that cookie. Just because she didn’t have a mouth the size of Montana didn’t mean she wasn’t going to eat it. She pouted as she looked down at the crumbs on the napkin and nibbled on them. “Cookie thief.”

His eyes glittered with laughter. “I asked.”

“Uh-huh.” Booger. “I’m going to the kitchen and see if there’s anything for that small village in Africa…in my stomach.” Everyone turned to look at her. So much for reticence. Okay, maybe she did have a temper. But the man ate her cookie!

“Can you get me something too?” He didn’t just ask all sweet and nice, did he? Yep, he did, looking as innocent as the honey-bunny he was.

If all eyes weren’t on her she’d have pinched his nipple again. “Uh-huh.” She grumbled on the way to the kitchen, passing pink versions of the Hulk who tipped their cowboy hats and handed out ‘howdy-dos’ without a single inflection in their voices. They were all a sober bunch, including the women, but neighborly too. The humans weren’t so big and nasty. In fact, most of them seemed to enjoy the excitement. Some were talking about their emergency preparations with enthusiastic pride, while others discussed who they reached on their ham radios from allying packs and what information they gathered. The children—or were they cubs?—played war games wearing Fatigues. Tiny Velveteen Rabbits were apparently over the top for werewolves. No doubt it was like idolizing lunch. Speaking of lunch… Her stomach rumbled again.”


Be sure and let me know what you think by commenting to this post.

A birthday and several rejections later...

I'm now a whopping #@!$& years old as of Halloween and have queried a number of agents who all respectfully declined. But I am still not fazed and will continue to poke the literary world with my work. I'm just that tenacious. [Add bright smile here]

I have done some writing in my new project that I'm calling Between The Lines. No werewolves. No fantasy worlds outside our own. Just a regular cattle rancher who meets a woman stranded on the side of the road who falls in love over the course of several years through letters they write to one another. Problem is, she's about to marry another and he's just realized she is his soul mate. Lots of twists and turns, but eventually this odd couple manages to work things out, but even the future isn't sunshine and ponies. And poor Wayne Ayres is about to learn what love really means when he has to make a choice between saving his wife or their unborn daughter.

As far as the moving front, Clint and I are still working on getting situated in Texas. I really look forward to moving there and already have a fellow guild mate interested in getting together should we move near the Houston area. I'm crossing fingers, toes, and eyes on this one.