I'ze a Working Woman Now

Actually I've always been a working woman because I firmly adhere to the saying "All mothers are working mothers." Even after my nest emptied out, I had housework, some of the yardwork and my responsiblities here at the Playground and at my RWA chapter. Several years ago I spent two years as a listserv moderator at the national level for RWA. I wrote short stories and taught an online class on that topic. And for the past year, I've been a volunteer facilitator for a divorce recovery group as well as an officer on the board.

Well now I have a real job (like scrubbing toilets is unreal). Get this -- I work as an administrative assistant for the legal firm that represented me during my divorce. Ain't that a kick?

It all happened very quickly -- like less than a week. On a Friday afternoon I learned they were hiring an admin assistant. On Monday I called for an interview and emailed my resume. On Wednesday I interviewed and on Thursday they offered me the job. I'd have started the following Monday but I already had a vacation planned, and they were very understanding. I went back and looked at the letter of resignation from my last real job, and my last day there was exactly 15 years before the day of my interview. Surreal, huh?

I'm still in the learning curve stage of things and everyone's been so helpful when I ask repeatedly how to operate the copy machine or where the Such-and-Such file is. I work half-days -- in the afternoon -- which is just fine with me because I don't have to roll out at the crack of dawn and fight the morning rush. I just have to fight the afternoon traffic, but I'm learning alternative routes home. And learning to plan ahead for dinner and have a snack around 3:30 so my stomach isn't digesting itself as I sit in traffic on the way home.

In a couple weeks, though, I'll work full days while the receptionist is out for a week. I'll have to answer that phone with a bazillion blinky red lights. And try to remember what client goes with which attorney. And do my other work too while I figure out the gazillion blinky red lights.

The job has been good in many respects. My self-esteem took a big hit during the divorce. Being offered this job was a great "atta girl." Another good part is now I'll have money for the RWA conference next summer (provided I can take a week off) without feeling like I'm spending my retirement or won't be able to pay my rent.

Oddly enough, both of the books I've written so far have heroines who are attorneys. Who'd have ever thought I'd end up working for a law firm?

Tell me about your job.

To Boldly Go Where PM Has Never Gone Before

Some things are as reliable as the sun rising every morning. Then there are things you never expect, like me suddenly going over to the dark side and developing an interest in vampire romance.

While you are picking yourselves up off the floor and/or laughing hysterically, let me explain. Several years ago I wrote a scene about a TV reporter who receives a DVD from her ex-husband. She views the DVD and on it he alludes to having information that would destroy her career. And he's going to turn it over to her competition if she doesn't find it first. Then she watches as he puts a gun to his head and blows his brains out. The scene was for an online contest and went nowhere.

Great opening for a romantic suspense, but as you may or may not know, plotting is not a strong point of mine. And a good romantic suspense requires as many twists and turns as an unpaved, one-lane mountain road.

After reading Smarty Pants's submission for the new Nocturne Bites line, I remembered the scene and wondered if it might be re-written with some sort of woo-woo element. I was thinking maybe the hero or heroine could be psychic. Then I ran the idea past a friend who emailed me back and said "...how about once she composes herself, she realizes that her ex's little brain splattering is just for show, because the secret he holds--the secret that's both terrorized her and kept her alive--is that he can't die. He's either a demon or a vampire or an immortal or something evil. Maybe she is a vampire or shapeshifter or witch or something."

My first reaction was not only no, but hell no. But the idea just wouldn't go away and the more I thought about it, I realized it might could work. The only problem is that I know squat about anything to do with vampires. Last winter I read two Christmas vamp novellas and shuddered at every mention of blood. Beyond that, I knew nothing.

So I've been immersing myself into all things vampire. Well, maybe not ALL things, but some things. I read a vamp romance by Caridad Pineiro from the Silhouette Nocturne line and now I'm reading one of Kerrelyn Sparks's single titles. I watched an MSNBC special from a few years ago about a teenage vampire cult that murdered a couple in Florida (nothing valuable there) and Sunday afternoon I drooled over Hugh Jackman as Van Helsing (which I call "Frankenstein and Dracula meet James Bond and Indiana Jones).

I've done research online and learned that while there are some things that most vamp romances have in common, there are basically no rules. I can create my own world and as long as I explain it well and have things make sense, I can be in charge and run things my way. Oh, if the real world were only that way.

Vampires have appeared in books and movies for a long time. We've had Dracula on the silver screen for ages and in various incarnations. Kids have Sesame Street's Count to help them learn numbers (One bat hanging in the steeple. One bat flies in through the door. That makes two bats in my belfry, but wait. There's more. Two bats hanging... well, you get the picture).






There's even been a cereal named for a vampire.






And where there's a vampire, there's a vampire slayer such as Buffy. I never watched the show but PC has offered her Buffy DVD collection. Despite PC's warnings, I tried to watch the Buffy movie and promptly fell asleep. It's no longer using up space on my Tivo. My Tivo "To Do" list includes a History channel special on vampires and "Queen of the Damned" as well as something else I can't remember at the moment. And I have a couple more vampire romances to read.
I'm beginning to get a feel for my hero and heroine, and have some ideas for the villain (Mr. SplatterBrains). But there's more that I don't know. Isn't this guy superbly hawt for a hero?

So my question to you is, if you're a fan of vampire romance, what are your favorite story elements? Do you like the vamp to have all the traditional weaknesses, or are you willing to compromise on some for the sake of the story?

What are some of your favorite parts of vampire mythos? Do you think the hero and heroine have to both be mortal or immortal by the end of the book for them to have a HEA? Can a woman live happily ever after knowing her husband will live for centuries after she's gone? Or knowing she'll turn into an old crone while he still looks like Mr. Hawt Guy above?

What's your favorite vampire romance and movie? These are research questions, you know. I have a good excuse to pile up on the couch with a fuzzy blanket and read or watch a movie.

I know -- I'm just full of questions, but I'm trying to build a world here and well... it's hard work. Help me build it.

P.S. The Spoil Me Silly contest is still open. Be sure to enter!