Is there anything better than waking, first thing in the morning, and seeing a fresh blanket of snow on the ground? The tiny flakes form a coat around bare trees, and the ice fairies have been painting on the windows. A fresh cup of hot coffee and silence are the perfect compliment to such a morning.
Unfortunately, I also have to go out into that snow. I would love nothing more than to sit inside all day and admire the beauty and gifts of mother nature, but the kids have to go to school. So, I grudgingly tug on my boots and trudge through inches of snow to start the car and warm it up. Such is the price to live in beauty. When I was growing up, I couldn't wait to get out of here. In all honesty, however, Taos is the best place to be if you are even remotely creative. An artist colony by tradition, we are very supportive of creative minds from all genres of media. It's refreshing really, and I couldn't be in a better place. The energy here just nourishes creativity, and I thank the spirits that I am so lucky. Enjoy this lovely weather and all the gifts of nature. Soon, there will be another Bubbles adve
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I don't know about anyone else, but I love a holiday where the entire point is to eat as much as possible and then take the world's longest nap.
In the grand tradition of things, I am currently cooking up a storm in my house. Luckily, I am smarter than the average bear, and I made the spiced pumpkin mousse and the dough for the rolls last night. One less thing for me to worry about. Now, with the turkey in the oven making my house smell like heaven, I figured I would sit down with you, my lovely readers, and answer a few email questions. Tina from Chicago asked why I choose to bring Bubbles back to New Mexico. I know, at the end of The Witch's Revenge, I eluded to the next book being set overseas, however, I believe that we have more than enough creepy tales around here to fill an entire series, and I mean to do so. Bringing Bubbles back was a strategic move on my part, and frankly, I feel it was smart. This is a tale that, while well known and repeated in my area, not a whole lot of people know about. The tale of Llorona is a rich and cultured one, and I wanted to expand Bubbles' range, and show a new side to him. I promise, the wait is well worth it. Devon from San Diego has written to ask me if there will be a sequel to One Stone. No, Devon, I do not think there will be. That story has been told. I will more than likely continue to write on the subject matter, but I feel that Breanna's story has come to an end. However, the subject of abuse and the empowerment of the survivors is a focus of mine, so I am sure that I will always write on this subject matter, to one degree or another. If you liked One Stone, Just Another Bored Housewife will knock your socks off. I am thankful today for all the blessings I have been given. My writing ability, my tenacity, and of course my family. But most of all, I am grateful for you all, Dear Readers, since without you, I would never have the readers to write for. Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and Blessed Be. The thermometer drops, and the clouds come out to play with the mountains in my little town. A light autumn breeze make the pinion trees stir, and I am reminded why I am the luckiest woman alive. I have three healthy children, a supportive family, and I get to do what I love and live from it.
A friend once told me, if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. This is a literal truth. I am lucky enough to write. Like any other profession, there are the frustrations, the days you just want to take a sledgehammer to your computer, the prose doesn't come out just right. But then, there are days when the words fly onto the page, the image is conjured just right, and you soar with your manuscript and know that you have created something truly beautiful, or profound, or thought-provoking. THAT is why I do this. That is why I suffer through the writer's block, the hours of research, the days when I don't even want to look at my computer, let alone touch it. I write because when I do, something inside me swells, and I am real. On the page, I exist. To a non-writer, or a casual reader, these words do not make any sense. But for those of us who have been called to this profession, we know all too well what these words mean. Stay warm out there, my dear readers. Curl up with some hot chocolate and a good book. Enjoy life for what it is, and may you truly be happy every day of your life. Blessed Be Yes, the dreaded writer's block. That horrible, awful feeling of staring at a blank page. You have the story, you even know where you want it to go and how you want it to end. The problem is getting it there.
As a writer, I find myself facing this terrifying foe all too often. My story line is solid, but I just can't find the words to express what I want to say. The more I try to force it, the bigger the block becomes until, soon, I can't write anything at all. For those of us who need to write, this is a horrifying scenario indeed. Our life's blood is literally tied into our ability to jot down our thoughts and dreams, and when we cannot, life seems somewhat dull in comparison. The fact that we cannot make the words pour out brings our very nature to a standstill. If you find yourself in this situation, do what I do. WALK AWAY. Put the manuscript down and just leave it for a bit. I know it is hard, and the writer in your is compelled to sit and try to bring it out, but the fact is, anything you try to write will sound forced and dull. When I come back to my manuscript, hours or days later, I am always able to find that spring of creativity welling up within me and bursting through. It is not an easy life being a writer. Nor is it nearly as glamorous as everyone seems to think. If you want to make it in this business, you have to know when to push and when to sit back. When I was a child, my brother gave me an analogy that to this day rings true. He had a tangle in some thread, and I was trying to help him work it out. He said to me, "Never pull. Like a relationship, if you pull, it will break." Funnily enough, this doesn't just apply to relationships, but to many areas of our lives. So, I will not pull. I will just work through my knot until the tangle is released. As the sun rises over majestic Taos Mountain, the inspiration runs through my veins and I just cannot stop myself from typing.
I am halfway through the first draft of Just Another Bored Housewife, and Red Willow is coming along. The more I research on this rich folktale, the more I realize how much work I really have to do on it. Each and every day, new details emerge, or I realize I have to explain yet another aspect of my culture. It is a challenge, one I took on with pride. One of the most difficult aspects of being a writer is knowing where to begin. So, you have your storyline set in your head, maybe you have even designed a character or two. You have plotted out where you want to go, what you want to say and the message you want to get across. The problem now is writing it. I am a pretty picky reader. If my author doesn't grab me within the first two pages, I don't bother. Harsh, I know, but it is what it is. While it is great to have a solid story, if you don't make it exciting, no one will read it. As if writing were not a stress filled profession enough as it is, we get to add this little bit of pressure to the whole bit. A good beginning should send chills through the reader. It should make you think, and itch to turn the page. Keeping that energy through the whole book is difficult, but not impossible, and once you get that beginning, there is often no stopping you. It is amazing what a few little words will do for you. So, I sit here, with my cup of coffee, my cigarette, and my sunrise. Hoping and praying that the spirit of inspiratio Yeah, I never could get the hang of the stardate thing. Darn you, Captain Kirk!!!
As the thermometer drops, I have noticed a spike in emails. Many simply want to say how much you all have enjoyed my books so far, or lovely words of encouragement. In fact, I am thinking of putting a new page on the site, and devoting it to the fans so I can put up some of your thoughts for all the world to see. Mwa ha ha ha ha. Now, let's handle a few questions. Jim from Wisconsin wants to know how I came up with the character of Bubbles. Well, Jim, about eight years ago, I was presented with a lovely gift from a friend. This gift was a teeny tiny gray tabby kitten. My goodness he was gorgeous, and so sweet. Very lovable. As he grew, he became known as "fat boy" in my family, as a result of his rather hefty weight. I was in college at the time, and we were asked to write a short story. As I was reading Barbra Michaels at the time, I hit upon the idea of making a cat the lead character. When I began writing, his personality just took over, and I ended up having to turn in another short story for the class, and my work became The Witch's Revenge. I couldn't see a cat talking and thinking as humans do. To me, they come across as sophisticated, aloof and elegant. I wanted to reflect that. I also wanted to reflect the typical spoiled house cats and his fall from grace. I have to say, while it was alot of work bringing Bubbles to life, it was also alot of fun. Tina from Los Angeles has asked how I began writing One Stone. To be honest Tina, One Stone started with two little words. "That Click". Even if you have never been in the same room with a handgun, when you hear that noise, you know, instinctively, what it is. You know it means something bad can happen. You know that it is something to be afraid of. I had to come up with a plot line to go along with the prologue. I had to imagine what could get a woman so worked up, so tired of everything, that she would resort to such things. I am pretty proud of that. See, a story doesn't always start with a plot, or an idea. Sometimes, it starts with a word. I have thought up many good titles to books, and began building the plot around that. You never know. Keep up the great questions everyone. I am thoroughly enjoying them. Blessed Be! It is incredible how you prepare for so long for a holiday, and in a short 24 hours, it is over and time to prepare for the next one.
In light of this, it is time for me to put even more work into my research on Red Willow. I am in the best possible place to do so right now, my home town of Taos, NM. There are so many experts on the subject that I can interview, not to mention the rich culture and heritage of the region that I will portray in the book. Just Another Bored Housewife is coming along, albeit slowly. I will keep everyone posted. I have received your emails, and I will answer all of your |