Lessee…more efforts to be positive…

My favorite little nuthatch ate out of my hand again yesterday!! He’s such a beautiful, brave little thing! And I know people who think it’s silly to be so thrilled by that, but I don’t care! I’m thrilled!

And last night I heard the peepers for the first time this year! For those who don’t know, they’re little tiny frogs who hatch at the first sign of spring–and sing their little hearts out. The songs sound like nothing so much as little chimes, or hundreds of baby chicks. It’s like they’re bursting with the joy of just being alive. And yes–it thrills me!

And there you have your nature lesson for the day, lol.
And just to make up for being so gosh-darn wholesome—there’s this:

I WILL SURVIVE

At first I was afraid, I was petrified.
When you said you had 10 inches, Lord I almost died!
But I’d spent so many years just waiting for a man that long,
That I grew strong,
And I knew that I could take you on …
(more…)

Since I’m being a little sluggish about getting back to my writing…

The good news keeps on coming!
SELA CARSON just sold a manuscript to SAMHAIN PUBLISHING.
Congratulations, Sela!!

I’d also like to thank Robin Lee from Romantic Times Publishing, and Maura from Coffeetime Romance for graciously reviewing my latest, LET’S PRETEND, and being so kind.

I went to see The Libertine recently.
I confess—I’m a fairly big Johnny Depp fan.
(So what’s not to like?)

I admire his acting ability. I love the fact that he doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously. And that, after the ‘teen-idol’ trap that devours so many, he actually grew up and pursued his craft.

HOWEVER—–

If you haven’t, and you’re thinking of seeing The Libertine because Johnny is just one fine-looking man (and he is), I would suggest you leave after the short but rousing speech he delivers in the prologue.
Appearance-wise, it’s downhill from then on.

Promises were made at the beginning of the movie by Johnny’s character to the audience—that men would envy him, and women would want him. But neither would LIKE him. And I was SO looking forward to that!
It didn’t happen. Instead, we find the character on the edge of the downswing in his life. We’re TOLD what a ladies’ man he’s been, but not shown. The film is shot in a sort of grainy-gauzy mode, the direction is not the best, and there isn’t a single nice person to be found anywhere.
Do NOT see this movie if you’re already depressed, or looking for romance. It ain’t happenin’ there.

The thing that intrigues me, though, is Johnny himself.
It’s been said that he is a character actor in a leading man’s body.
Quite true.
But Johnny has a…what would you call it?…penchant for going out of his way to make himself as unattractive as possible in his films. It’s one thing to not rely on your looks, but quite another to deliberately mar them. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why he took the part. Looking back on several of his films, I can see the trend; but it really came to a head in this one.

Still, I’m looking forward to Captain Jack.

Johnny, if you’re reading this—you don’t have to mess yourself up for your roles. I promise you, all of us are seeing beyond your good looks to the fine actor on the screen before us.
Uh-huh.

“I’ve got one kid sick, one fighting in school, a dog at the vet being de-skunked, and an unconscious husband who just finished working a thirty-hour shift. So I may not make my quota, but I’m gonna give it a try…”

“The migraine meds are finally kicking in. I can’t stand the light of the computer screen yet, but I think I can handle paper and pen…”

“Diagnosis? Walking pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus infection. But anyway— I just got a great idea for a plot twist in the ninth chapter…”

“The house full of relatives has had me going 24-7. But tonight everyone’s going to a movie. That leaves me a good two hours of writing time!”

Each one of these paraphrased comments has been e-mailed to me at one time or another from a writing buddy. (And yes, I confess, one of them is mine). At the time, they didn’t even seem unusual to me. I just applauded the person and wished them luck with their progress.
It was only when I had one of my step-back-and-take-a-look-at-the-world days that I suddenly realized…
Writers are out of their freaking minds.

A writer will write. No matter what the circumstances, the cost, or the other considerations. They will find a way. They will use computers, crayons, laptops, menus, pads, napkins, etch-a-sketch, tablecloths, or clay tablets if necessary. They have been known to neglect family, obligations, jobs, lovers, the rest of the world if they have to.
But they will write.

Why?

I know people who write just because they discovered they can. And people who write as a form of therapy. I know people who’ve written since they were children. It was their forever-dream. Some people write because they have stories gnawing at their insides, and they just have to get them out. I even know people who write because they think it’ll make them rich. (well, nobody ever said writers were sensible…)
But they will write.

I’m one of those sick people who had the forever dream.
When I was eight I called my first publisher.
I made up my own super-hero comic books, wrote about pirates, had two men stranded on the moon before I was ten.
Later in life, I terrorized my sister’s kids with horror stories about a caramel-iced cake. (yes, I’m warped, but that’s another story…)

And I can’t seem to break the habit.

What is it that drives us this way?

Why do you write?

Ever since a buddy of mine at work discovered I’m writing e-books, she’s been volunteering to come on board as my business manager. Yes, my BM. We have NOT discussed the other connotations of those particular initials, however.

Girlfriend is not without certain skills, mind you. She can handle a keyboard pretty well–and she can multitask like nobody’s business–use five telephones at a time. ‘Tis true. I’ve seen it.

So recently we had a little talk…

Buddy: So, how’s our writing going?
Me: ‘Our’ writing?
Buddy: Yeah. I mean, we are gonna be business partners and all, right?
Me: Um…cough…well, actually, I think I’d need an actual business first…
Buddy: I think it’s time for another erotic book from us. Preferably paranormal.
Me: Really? Why? You didn’t like the last one, the romance I wrote?
Buddy: Oh, it was very good. Very. That guy was VERY sexy. It’s just that the first two books you put out were the eroticas, and they were really…well, really…
Me: Yes?
Buddy: Hot. Really hot!! I mean, I took them to BED with me, and read the good parts to my boyfriend. Hardly had to lift a finger, know what I mean?
Me: ‘The GOOD parts’??!
Buddy: You know what I’m talkin’ about. Like that scene where he has the girl up against the tree. Damn!
Me: Yeah, well actually, there was a lot more to that scene, and—
Buddy: And that’s another thing. I’ve had to stop in the middle of reading your books once in a while to go look up a word or two in my dictionary.
Me: (Blink. Blink.) I’m sorry? (blink, blink)
Buddy: S’alright. Just don’t let it happen again. So what d’ya say? You’ve already done werewolves. How about a steamy Vampire story? Like, they have these tight, rock-hard asses, and they really prefer women who are a few pounds overweight, and they need to suck your blood to get a hard-on, but once they get the hard-on it just lasts and lasts and lasts…

Me: Sigh…

There seems to be yet another disturbance in the force, lol!

A very pleasant one…one we’ve seen quite a lot of lately.

MAJOR CONGRATULATIONS to both Stephanie and Larissa on even more sales! Wooo-hoooo!!!

Also wishing everyone a happy First Day of Spring (I know it’s out there somewhere).
And a Happy Birthday to my kittles, Boo and Mischa.
Tuna for everybody!!

“So—how about that interview?”

I calmly tasted my B&B, peering over the shot glass at my handsome host. True, I knew I was being buttered up. The free drinks, the secluded corner of the exclusive hotel lobby, the cozy wood-burning stove…I knew how smooth Brant, the hero of my latest e-book Let’s Pretend could be. But his boyish eagerness was nothing short of contagious.

And the black knit shirt stretched skin-tight across the solid pecs didn’t hurt his cause one bit. “Interview? What interview?”

“Aw, c’mon, Raine. You’ve done an interview with just about every hero you’ve created.” He tossed back an impressive draught of Southern Comfort. I’d nearly forgotten how well he handled his whisky. “You wouldn’t really leave me out in the cold, wouldja?”

“Look,” I said firmly. “You guys expect a little too much, y’know? I gave you life, made you flesh and blood. Introduced you to a great woman, created a story for you, got you laid, and arranged a happily ever after. And after all that—you still want to be INTERVIEWED?!”

“Hmmm,” he nodded thoughtfully. “Does sound sorta selfish, doesn’t it? Okay, how about this…how about I interview YOU instead?”

Whoa. Now THIS was a very special hero! I snuggled into the soft cushions of the emerald-colored wing chair, grinning happily. “Alright. Bring it.”

(more…)