When I'm Not Writing...

After a particularly harsh period in my writing journey, I decided that I needed some time off. Last week, I didn’t write at all. Not a single word. And it taught me a few things about myself:

1. I used to have a lot more time on my hands. Once upon a time, I wasn’t writing, or thinking about writing and I had an incredible amount of empty time. Returning to that this week felt weird, and sometimes I wandered around the house trying to determine what to do with myself.

2. I can only read, and watch television, so much. I’ve drifted through an entire season of CSI, a couple of movies, and an episode of Castle. I also devoured 5 books, but finally got bored with that too.

3. Depression is, well, depressing, and boredom doesn’t help. I’m used to having so much on my To Do list that I’m overwhelmed. This week, I deliberately didn’t keep a list and didn’t agree to do anything. Hell, I didn’t even clean the house until I got so tired of watching television that I had to have SOMETHING to do (voluntarily washing dishes tells you how truly desperate I was…).

4. When I’m bored, I organize. There have been a couple of times in my life when I’ve been incapacitated for a week or more while recuperating, and usually found myself dreaming up ways to reorganize or redecorate my house. This week, in an effort to feel productive, I spent time organizing materials for the raffle baskets for the upcoming HOD Luncheon, redid my daily planner, and cleaned out files on my computer.

5. No matter how much you might wish it, the characters in your head just NEVER SHUT UP! And this is the crux of the matter. I almost wish they would be quiet, so I’d have an excuse not to write anymore. But they won’t. I hope that is a sign I’m a real writer and that with time and hard work I can reconnect with my creativity on a level that is fulfilling and productive.

I haven’t started writing again yet. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, or maybe next week. Right now, I’m simply playing with the characters in my head, just like I did the first time my very own characters showed up. Not characters from someone else’s books, but my own. And I’m also trying to accustom myself to the idea that I’m about to start a book for which I have no avenues for submission, no ideas what will happen to it when I’m done. It’s scary, intriguing, and necessary. Here’s hoping I learn whatever lesson the universe is trying to teach me. ;)

So tell me, what immersion tactic do you choose when you are “avoiding”? Television? Reading (usually my diversion of choice, but for some reason wasn’t working for me this week)? Scrubbing grout?

Angel

Coming Soon!
On Friday, April 23, author Cara Summers makes a visit to the Playground!

How Do I Get There From Here?

This past weekend, we had our monthly chapter meeting at the local mental health center. (Yeah, I know...) No therapy, actually. We attended a workshop on labyrinths. They have one built there that is used theraputically. She discussed how some people use a mantra as they walk and how some leave items representative of their burdens in the center to walk out free. At our workshop we also talked about how we could use it for creativity. Some great ideas come while we're in the shower or driving our car. Walking the labyrinth is supposed to be a similar situation. The experience, good, bad or indifferent, is supposed to be like a metaphor for life. How you approach the labyrinth will be a lot like how you approach everything. I had no idea how true this would be until we walked out there to give it a try.

The one at the center looks like this. In reality, it was actually smaller than I anticipated. Just one person wide. There's only one way in and one way out. There was a whole group of us, so a big bunch of them headed straight in. I did not. I didn't want all those people ruining my zen experience. They might represent the 'noise' in my life, but I was willing to hang back until I could walk freely most of the time. Angel and her sister did the same. Instigator and PM jumped right in, no problem.

Personally, I found walking the labyrinth to be a challenge to focus. I chanted a mantra to myself with each step, but it was hard. There were still people coming out as I went in, so I had to step aside a few times. No one was directly ahead of me, but they were all around. I had to force myself to just stare at the ground immediately in front of me. When I reached the center, I sat, let go of my burden and stayed long enough that when I left, I was alone and free on my path. All this says a lot about my life and my writing. Here's what I learned:

1 - If you don't pay attention to where you're going, you'll get off track.
2 - I don't need to worry about what everyone else around me is doing.
3 - I am allergic to grass, yet I walked it barefoot as recommended. Most of the time, my feet were irritatingly itchy and distracting. Just like the rest of my life when I'm trying to write.
4 - Looking over at the center (my goal) and who's already reached it is not helpful.
5 - Its a long and ridiculously winding journey, but I'll never get there if I stop. I might be close, but there's no close in publishing. The only way to get there is to focus on where I am and keep taking one step after the other. That's the only way to make progress.
6 - Achieving your goal is just the beginning of the journey. You've still got a long way to go from there.

Others had good insights. PM found herself stuck in traffic and couldn't move as quickly as she wanted to because of other people. She'd think she was close to being done, then found she still had a long way to go. She ended up hurting herself while trying to accomodate others. Says more than you would ever believe about her life journey, but she learned that you just have to put one foot in front of the other because sometimes any progress is progress. PC said she realized that sometimes you do stuff, even though you don’t fully understand why, and eventually the understanding will come. Instigator learned she doesn't like having a path set out for her. She preferred walking on the stone barriers instead of the grass.

Watching the others walk was certainly educational. I saw some people practically race through it and others jump over to another row in an attempt to get done faster. (Something that could seriously backfire depending on where you are. You could set yourself backward just by being impatient. Another lesson.) What's the point of rushing through it, I ask? I heard a few of them say they realized that they have to work at their own speed, even if its different from everyone else, and without the restrictions of a pre-set course. Pantsters. :)

I heard someone else say that they were surrounded by people, yet utterly alone. Wow. Some people got frustrated and quit. Other people were a distraction to some, but welcome noise to others. Some reached their goal and walked straight out, skipping the winding path to the end. Patience is apparently not a virtue of a writer. Angel mentioned that she saw the others 'cheating' and really wanted to, but couldn't make herself bend the rules and stayed on path. Who knew you could learn so much about people just from watching them walk on grass?

Here's the five of us, having reached the center and achieved our goal! :)

Have you ever walked a labyrinth? What did you get out of it?

SP

How Important Are They Really?

I am currently stuck in title land. This is where I search for the perfect word and/or phrase to describe my book. It's sorta like naming your child. Actually, it's harder than naming your child. With my girls I picked out a name that both Zilla and I liked and when the girls popped out it just seemed to fit. It was perfect. With a title the problem is the book is already there, fully formed, and nothing seems quite right.

I suppose there is the possibility that I'm trying to hard - that I want it to be perfect and sometimes things just aren't. There's also the distinct possibility that I suck at titles. They're tricky things. Sometimes I get to keep the title I turn the book in under. Sometimes I get to have some input on what we change it to. And sometimes my editor tells me what my title's going to be. While I like the input, I'll admit that if I'm struggling I'm usually okay with them telling me what it's going to be. There are smarter people than I in the marketing department and they know what they're doing. I'd be stupid not to let them do their jobs. Their goal and mine are the same - sell my book.

But this does bring me to my original question. How important are titles. Really? I mean do you buy a book just because it has a fantabulous title? I might pick a book up because of a title but ultimately the back cover copy has to grab my attention before I'll buy.

So do you pick up a book in the store based on a title? Is there a title that sticks out in your mind? Something that was funny or evocative? One you really remember even after the fact? If you're a writer, do you have a favorite title? Have you ever gotten to keep your titles or does your publisher always choose them for you?

Instigator

Character Counts

How many times have you read a novel, forgotten the plot but remembered a great character? Maven Linda presented a program at our RWA meeting recently about characterization and she told us it's all about the characters and not about the plot. Create a hero and heroine the reader will fall in love with. Make the reader care about what happens to them. Once you've done that, the rest will fall into place.

Last Saturday was my birthday. Last Saturday also marked the passing of actress Dixie Carter. She created one of the most iconic Southern characters ever to appear on television, and I am sad to say good-bye to Julia Sugarbaker.

Designing Women aired from 1986 to 1993 and portrayed the lives of four women who co-owned an interior design firm in Atlanta. Julia and Suzanne Sugarbaker were complete opposites. Julia, the older sister, was elegant, eloquent, intellectual and outspoken. Suzanne, the younger sister, was also outspoken, but usually only as it related to her self-centeredness. She was also a former Miss Georgia World and never let you forget it.

Julia and Suzanne were always at odds but had formed Sugarbaker Designs together. Julia managed the firm and Suzanne was the major financial backer. Her money came from her numerous ex-husbands. Mary Jo Shively, a designer and divorced mother of two, and office manager Charlene Frazier, single, naive and a big fan of the tabloids, rounded out the company's roster. In the early seasons, Anthony Bouvier appeared from time to time to do the heavy lifting, but his role was expanded and he became a regular and a partner in the firm. One other character appeared with regularity -- Bernice Clifton, an absent-minded resident of a senior citizens' home who was a friend of the Sugarbaker sisters' mother.

While the show was a comedy, it was also tackled controversial subjects like AIDS, racism, homosexuality, females in the clergy, society's attitudes toward overweight people and spouse abuse.

Back to Dixie Carter for a moment. She was a native of our neighboring state of Tennessee, graduated from Memphis State and was first runner up in the 1959 Miss Tennessee pageant. She did theater in Memphis and then moved to New York City where she appeared on stage and later in daytime dramas. Roles on several TV series eventually led to Designing Women, and recently she appeared on the popular Desperate Housewives in a role that earned her an Emmy award.

Maven Linda told us that one of the secrets to creating memorable characters was to let them go off on tangents. This is where you get to the heart of the character and make them real.

Julia Sugarbaker often went off on tangents. Her famous monologues could move you to tears or blister asphalt. Sometimes she was chastising Mary Jo for considering using an inheritance to buy breast implants. Charlene was frequently reprimanded for reading gossip rags on company time and Anthony's "unfortunate incarceration" for a robbery he did not commit was mentioned from time to time. Frequently, she was taking her sister to task for her shallowness or for bringing her pet pig Noel to the office.

Dixie's character was liberal with left-of-center views, and because she did not share those views, she made a deal with the show's producers that allowed her to sing in an episode for every speech she disagreed with.

I will leave you with this clip from the show. For all their head-butting, Julia was very protective of her friends and especially her sister. It's been said this clip is Julia's most famous tirade. It's certainly my favorite.

After you watch it, let us know if you were a fan of Designing Women. Who was your favorite character? What was your favorite moment on the show? Do you miss it as much as I do?




Rest in Peace, Dixie Carter. Heaven just got another angel.

It's like Christmas... In Hell

Well, we’re in the new house. Barely. Everything is still in boxes, which makes it so much fun to try to find anything. I’m sure you all can relate… :-)

And, of course, when it rains it pours. Since I’m having trouble finding anything, of course this is the time when I need to be able to find stuff.

The luncheon is coming up, so Angel needs books for the raffle baskets. Let’s see, my books are in which box? And where are my “Autographed Copy” stickers? A sharpie to sign them with?

On Wednesday, Instigator and I are going to be on TV talking about romance and some of our chapter’s upcoming events. Um, where are my red shoes? My nail file? (My nails look like crap from opening boxes…)

On Thursday, Insti and I (and Lynn and Maven LJ) speak at the Alabama Library Association meeting. I need bookmarks! My little rolly cart to haul the folders into the meeting! And, oh, crap, I still need to write my remarks.

Then, at the end of the month, Lynn and I go to the Romantic Times convention for the first time. This trip involves costumes! Promo items! Cute outfits with matching jewelry! I know where none of these things are, of course.

Then there’s the luncheon… with the added bonus of another workshop the very next day. If I can manage to put together one decent outfit – including shoes and accessories – do you think anyone would notice if I just wore that for everything?

And Nationals is right around the corner. Please tell me we’ll be settled in by July.

Sigh.

As I sort through box after box, I find myself swearing I’ll never move again. Ever. It’s a good thing I like this house. And I do. Really. I have my own office – which is fabulous, even if it is currently a mess. We have so much more space than we used to. I can actually have guests spend the night without them having to either crash on the couch or in AC’s room with the gerbils. (Or I will, at least, once I get furniture for that room…) I’m looking forward to painting the walls and stripping the wallpaper and buying new curtains and making this a home. (Once I find the box with the painting supplies in it…)

So another sigh. But a happy one this time.

It’s funny that Angel blogged yesterday about trying to be Superwoman. I’m not attempting that right now. And I don't think anyone expects me to. While it’s nice to not have that kind of pressure, I’m not sure I like the Survival Mode trade-off of camping indoors and playing “what’s in this box?”

So, if *you* had to guess, what would the box containing bookmarks and other writing promo be labeled as? Because it sure ain’t labeled BOOKMARKS AND WRITING PROMO…

Will You Still Call Me Super(wo)man?

For a long time, I’ve done my darndest to be Superwoman. In addition to writing and trying to publish, I’m also a mother of 2 with a part-time resume writing business, a wife, a daughter, a friend and sister, and active member of my local writing chapter. I’m also a perfectionist in some areas, while I let others slide (like housekeeping and I’ll admit to letting my children watch too much television). I’ve tried to do it all, often suffering from burnout and stress.

Unfortunately, I suffer from a medical condition that is heavily influenced by the amount of stress in my life. Until I started researching my condition I didn’t realize how important the concept of “stress relief” was to me. This is not good, because I have a very difficult time getting outside of the stress in my life and doing anything about it. And while others seem to take the bumps and bruises of life in stride, I tend to take it all to heart and overreact to each and every one (I admit it, Drama Queen gets her nature honestly!). This may not be readily evident to those who aren’t close to me, because I react internally rather than causing a scene, but the women in my life are used to talking me off the ledge on a regular basis (I’m ashamed to admit).

I don’t know if the fact that I’m finally looking at my physical issues with some degree of realism, or if my slide into the last half of my 30th decade is influencing my thinking, but I’m approaching acceptance over the fact that I can’t do it all. I’m not a super mom (even though Little Man likes to pretend he’s Batman). I’m not physically or emotionally capable of doing it all. Because when I attempt to do so, the important things fall through the cracks, pushed aside by everything else with a deadline.

What brought all this self-reflection on, you ask. Well, quite a few things, actually. I won’t bore you with the details. But interacting with the women in my life has taught me that I’m not the only one in this situation. So many of us try to be everything to everyone, because that’s just what women do. We feel guilt when we ask someone to help us or try to delegate a task to someone else. For instance, even though I know that teaching my children to take care of themselves is good for them in the long run, a small part of me insists I should baby them for just a little longer (it isn’t winning, but the little voice is still there). Even though I know there are 4 people who dirty up this house and we should all work to keep it clean, it doesn’t occur to me to ask for help. Sad, but true. Clients call insisting they need something done Right Now, and I find myself cramming more into a day than I can reasonably handle, simply because I feel like I SHOULD.

So today, I simply wanted to share with you my own struggles. Being a writer is a part of who I am, not just some hobby I ‘do’. Oftentimes I feel that the ‘writer’ part of me is submerged beneath the demands of my life and my own demands upon myself. Writers are people too. :) In my books, I often portray heroines who “come into their own”, who find their place in the world and learn the true strength that lies within them. Many days, I don’t feel nearly as strong. I’m not Superwoman. I’m just me.

Do you struggle with “Superwoman Syndrome”? How do you combat it?

Angel

Free Book Friday - Suspense Edition

Okay, this month, we're showcasing two great suspense titles on my giveaway shelf. I have to say that some of my favorite books have been suspense. Not always romantic suspense, but suspense, definitely. I think I've read every Mary Higgins Clark book ever written up through about 2000. I went on a bender in college and wiped out all the copies at the used bookstore. I've read my share of Agatha Christie and when I get bored, there's nothing better than an episode of Murder She Wrote or a Perry Mason movie.

No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane

Burdened by Grief, She Hunts a Killer

They never found her sister's body, but Detective Rebecca Montgomery knows her murderer is still out there. In the five months since Danielle went missing, there have been two more brutal abductions. A savage menace stalks the women of San Antonio, and the relentless detective will do anything to find him.

And a Seductive Stranger Shadows Her Every Move

But her latest case--the discovery of a young woman's remains inside the wall of a burned-down theater--plunges Rebecca from her grief into a brand-new nightmare. She soon meets handsome, mysterious Diego Galvan at the crime scene, and his shadowy connections will lead to her first break in both cases. But when Rebecca submits to his considerable powers of seduction, she will leave herself vulnerable to a merciless killer . . . and when he attacks, no one will hear her scream.

The Inquisitor by Gayle Wilson

An expert in the art of killing

The serial murderer dubbed the Inquisitor has already killed over a dozen women in various cities, and the authorities haven't a clue to his identity. He is organized, methodical and certain to kill again. And now he's set his sights on Birmingham psychologist Jenna Kincaid.

Convinced that the Inquisitor killed his only sister, ex-army Ranger Sean Murphy has been hunting for him with one thing in mind: revenge. If his instincts are right, Jenn Kincaid will lead him to his prey.

But Jenna has gotten to Sean in a way that no one has in a very long time. And now he's desperate to keep her safe -- because the madman is taking a terrifying pleasure in the game unfolding. And if the killer wins, it's Jenn who will pay the ultimate price . . .

To enter, be sure to include the comment "Danger is my cup of tea."
SP

Tomorrow is also our Playground Monitor's birthday. Happy Birthday PM!

Theater Thursday

Some of you might not know this about me, but I am a drama queen. And no, I do not mean that in the sense of Angel's child or my own melodramatic five year old. I started doing community theater when I was ten and continued right up until shortly after I got married. I loved it! I met lots of people, got over my fear of public speaking and gradually advanced in my roles until I was playing female leads. I went so far as taking on the role of president for one of our local community theater groups. I even started college on a drama scholarship (we won't talk about why I didn't graduate on the drama scholarship).

Zilla got into the act as well. In fact, during one of the last plays I did we played love interests. We had just gotten engaged and I had a habit of putting my hand on his rear whenever we stood together. The director go so tired of telling me not to do that on stage! It was kind of funny...and embarrassing. But it was so fun to share that experience with him.

So what does this have to do with Theater Thursday? Well, for one I thought it might be fun to actually talk about theater. And for another I've been fighting back the urge to audition for months. I haven't done a show in years. I miss it. The problem is that it takes over your life for at least two months. I just don't have the time.

But I feel the itch. I've even started looking at getting Baby Girl involved. I got my start at our local children's theater and I honestly think Baby Girl would love it (and fit right in. Have I mentioned the time I caught her practicing her expressions in the mirror at 3?) The problem is, if I don't have the time to be at practice late into the night three days a week for the next two months then I really don't have the time to take her either.

So I've been suppressing the urge. I'm just not sure how much longer I can do it. Oh well, I will be able to get my fix when I take the girls to a local show. One of our high schools will be staging Beauty and the Beast in the next couple weeks. I hope they love it...and I don't come away from the show grasping for the paper and looking for auditions.

Have you ever done theater? Were you the green bean in the kindergarten school play? Or do you just love to be an audience member?

Instigator

P.S. I'll be blogging today over at the Blaze Author's blog talking about our guinea pig infestation. Stop by and say hi! :-)

Walkabout Wednesday -- What to do when the mill closes

Let’s start with a little ancient history.

I grew up in the piedmont section of North Carolina, in a small town called Concord. The town, and many of the surrounding ones, was dotted with textile mills, and many of my family members, including my late father, worked in those mills. My father worked in one of the hosiery mills, and during my early years, he helped manufacture women’s full-fashioned stockings – the ones with seams up the back. When seamless hosiery became the rage, that mill closed, and Daddy had to find work in another mill. Not to brag or anything, but we always considered ourselves a cut above the cotton mill folks. Cotton mill workers emerged from work with lint in their hair. But there’s no lint on nylon. ;-)

These mills were the bread and butter of the local economy, and the largest was Cannon Mills, home of Cannon product sheets and towels. Cannon wasn’t just one mill; it was a collection of operations spread around the county and at one point was the world’s largest producer of textile products, employing 15,000 people.

Fast forward many years, factor in the death of the founding members of the Cannon family, the purchase of the company by a big-time investor and its subsequent sale to another company, an unfortunate run-in with Walmart, and a once a thriving industry closed its doors overnight in July 2003, becoming the single largest permanent layoff in the history of North Carolina. 7650 people became unemployed. In some cases, three generations of a single family lost their jobs. Factoid: Dale Earnhardt, the late, great NASCAR driver, grew up in the next town over from me and was born nineteen days after me in the same hospital.


In 2005, Plant 1 of Cannon Mills was demolished. It covered an area the size of the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Over the next year and a half, remaining buildings of Cannon Mills were demolished by implosion. Over 1,200,000 square feet of building space was destroyed, making it the third largest building implosion in the history of the United States.

Huntsville, Alabama, the town where I live, was part of the textile trail that ran from New England down the eastern seaboard, the trail that included my hometown.

Lowe Mill opened in 1901 as Huntsville’s eighth textile mill and produced yarn, gingham and shirts. Six years later it merged with another manufacturing company, and in 1931, Lowe Manufacturing declared bankruptcy in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Two years later, in 1933, the mill reopened but was involved in a tension-filled strike a year later. The mill was sold again a few years later, the Lowe Corporation was dissolved and the mill was turned into a warehouse.

In 1945, during the waning days of World War II, the facility became a shoe factory and by the late 1960’s it produced most of the boots worn by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam. But like many other mills before it, Genesco Shoes closed in 1978 and the building was purchased and once again became a warehouse.

In the years since, Huntsville’s other mills have been destroyed, either by demolition or fire. But Lowe Mill survived thanks to a group of historians, businessmen and philanthropists. Lowe Mill Village, which includes a collection of houses generally rented to mill employees, escaped the wrecking ball thanks to these people, and over the last decade, the building has been restored and revitalized into Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment, a collection of diverse artisans and businesses devoted to the free expression of the arts.

Lowe Mill includes private studios and art galleries featuring works in a variety of mediums, shops such as Karma Rags and Fred Bread, and the Flying Monkey Arts Center. A decaying textile mill now teems with activity and life.

I was introduced to Lowe Mill back in February when several girlfriends invited me to attend a performance of The Vagina Monologues with them. Since then, I discovered that a church friend has an art studio there and I’ve been back several times to explore what Lowe Mill has to offer. The first time I visited the Saturday Artists’ Market, I felt as if I’d been transported back to the 1960’s. Of course, conventional wisdom says if you remember the 60’s, you weren’t really there. ;-)

If you live in this area and have not visited Lowe Mill, I encourage you to do so. It’s a unique experience. If you’re somewhere else, click to their website and check it out. In another part of town, the Merrimack Mill was demolished, but the old Company Store building has been turned into Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center, and the mill homes surrounding it are on the National Register of Historic Places. As a matter of fact, one of our RWA chaptermates, Debra Webb, has been restoring a home in Merrimack Village for the past several years.

Do you have anything like this in your area? It may not be in an old textile mill, but you might be surprised at what’s happened to an old school or retail facility.

Tasteful Tuesday -- Thank-you notes

I keep seeing folks talk about Gratitude like it’s part of a 12-Step program to better mental health. I don’t disagree. Nothing helps overcome the “I’ll-go-eat-some-worms” or “my-life-just-sucks” feelings like a quick run-down of all the things you have to be grateful for. Your family, your health, the blooms on the African Violet you were sure you’d killed last winter. If you look around, you’ll see there’s usually something in your life you can be grateful for. Something you’d want to give thanks for having.

Oprah used to talk about Gratitude Journals, where you write down five things each day that you’re thankful for. Can it help you find some inner peace or happiness? I don’t know, because I’ve never taken the time to do it. Mainly because I’m behind on my thank-you notes, and if I’m going to take the time to write down what I’m grateful for, I should damn well be thanking the person responsible in a written format.

Yes, today’s Tasteful Tuesday is about Thank-You notes.

Every etiquette maven, from Miss Manners to my own Miss Behavior, lectures about the importance of Thank-You notes. You can also put my mom in that group. ~grin~ The importance of Thank-You notes was instilled in me from a very young age, usually through threats of either not getting to play with said gift until I wrote the note or the possibility that I would not receive more presents from the giver unless proper notes were sent.

I will confess: these are the same threats I use with AC.

(I can guarantee there’s at least one person reading this who is thinking, “Um, PC owes me a Thank-You note. Pot, meet Kettle.” I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll get on that ASAP.)

Thank-You notes don’t have to be fancy or long, but they do have a few standards. I won’t lecture anyone here, but if you need a refresher in the writing of thank-yous, there’s a great article here.

My favorite tale to tell on my mom and her thank-you note crusade dates back to my high school graduation. Like most graduates, many of my gifts were money stuffed in cards. My mom’s youngest brother sent money as well. Now my uncle is only eleven years older, and as directed by my mom for years, I was trying to personalize each thank you note to the giver (but there are only so many ways to say “thanks for your generosity” when you’re seventeen years old.). But Fred’s note was easy to write, because I told him exactly what I did with the money: I bought tickets to the Aerosmith concert. (The Pump tour, for you Aerosmith fans.)

Mom was horrified, but I knew Uncle Fred would be very pleased to know I’d attended said concert. He would think it was an excellent use of the funds, and would possibly be disappointed he couldn’t go as well. I got great seats and the concert ROCKED! (My only regret is my date. He was a waste of a concert ticket.)

And I was right. My uncle was happy to learn I’d used his gift for such a great event. (I used money from another gift to buy a t-shirt while I was there, but I didn’t tell the sender of that gift I used the money for that. That person probably wanted me to buy college textbooks or something equally boring or proper, so I let them think I did. Everyone was happy.)

So, are you behind on your thank-you notes? Ever had to figure out the proper wording to thank someone for the tackiest gift you immediately gave to Goodwill? Have you received any “interesting” thank yous? Or, have you started wondering why the thank you note has become a rare thing (and can you still name the people who didn’t send you a thank-you note for that wedding present you sent five years ago)?

PC

P.S. Congratulations to Kathy, Julie Miller's winner from last Thursday. Please forward me your snail mail address so we can get your copy of Takedown out to you. instigator@writingplayground.com

MOANday-Sam Worthington

Today I'm celebrating good news on my tax returns, warmer weather, and 8 more weeks until the kids are home for the summer (may it simply crawl by...) with a hot weather hunk!

This month’s hottie has garnered lots of notoriety as a modern, ancient, and futuristic warrior in movies like the most recent Terminator, Avatar, and the newly released Clash of the Titans. I SO hope to see this movie in theaters, though I’m not holding out much hope that I’ll find time to go. Still, I can post him here for our viewing pleasure… I mean, inspiration. ;)




What guy doesn’t look better wet?



Even all nasty from fighting, he's still hot, hot, hot!



May this month's hottie spark visions of hot summer days and hunky heroes for all!

Enjoy!
Angel

April Website News!

Lots going on this month on the Playground. I've interviewed this year's guest speaker for our local chapter's Romance Readers' Luncheon, historical and contemporary romance author Julia London!

http://www.writingplayground.com/sandbox.html

Instigator teaches us about revisions in school this month in You Thought You Were Done?.

http://www.writingplayground.com/school.html#done

I've reviewed erotic author Beth Kery's new book, Release. Check out this new-to-me author.

http://www.writingplayground.com/school.html#release

This is the last month in Smarty Pants's Spring Fling contest, so if you haven't entered, don't forget to do that!

http://www.writingplayground.com/contest.html

The Playfriends will be appearing at Heart of Dixie's 13th annual Romance Readers Luncheon (guest speaker Julia London) in Huntsville, AL, on May 15th! Deadline for registration for this wonderful gathering of romance readers and writers is May 1st. Y'all join us!

www.heartofdixie.org

We hope you are all enjoying spring in your little corner of the world. My Bradford pear trees have started blooming and we had the lawn mowed for the first time already. No more snow! Yay! :)

Until next month,
Angel

An Easter Without Sugar

Last year this time, I was blogging about my adoration of Easter candy. Peeps, Cadbury Creme Eggs, Robin's Eggs, Marshmellow Eggs, Reeces Peanut Butter Eggs... you name it, I'm there. LOOOOVEEE Easter Candy.

And that is why, this year, I'm mildly depressed. I started with a personal trainer about two weeks ago. For purposes of anonymity (and alliteration) I'll be calling her Wendy the Wicked on the blog. I prepaid 7 months of sessions, so I'm certain there will be a great many more blogs about the wackiness that ensues when Wendy the Wicked comes after me with that damned medicine ball.

Anyway, along with the training was a diet she recommended. No beef, no pork, no sugar. I'm limited to one potato a day (which can be french fries!) but I can have unlimited fruit, vegetables and whole wheat products. No beef, no pork has been easy enough. There's a couple things I'll miss, but I'm not much of a meat eater anyway. But the sugar.... oh, the sugar!

To prepare myself, I went to the store and scoured the shelves for my sugar free options. Russell Stovers and Hershey both make quite a few types of candy. I got a couple little bags, some SF chocolate chips to make my own cookies if I need to (I didn't even know they made these), SF creamcicles and some Murray's cookies. Normally I wouldn't bring home bags of candy, cookies and ice cream, but its not like I can pop over to the vending machine and get it, so I have to have stuff on hand to avert diet disaster. Doing okay so far. I don't mind the taste and you can't eat a lot of it cause it will make you sick. Instant portion control.

My only problem is Easter. Despite how much I've looked, they just don't make much in the way of sugar free Easter candy. Even Russell Stover's doesn't make a SF Bunny or coconut egg or anything. I haven't done a bunch of internet searching, just perusing the stores so far. My only shining discovery has been finding Sugar Free Peeps at Walmart. The idea of a marshmellow rolled in sugar that is sugar free boggles my mind. I have no idea what it is I'll actually be eating, but my choices are limited, so there is my Easter indulgence.

I can't say that I won't break down and have a Cadbury egg before Monday rolls around, but I'm trying to be good. Any of you guys have diets colliding with your holiday plans? Seen any sugar free Easter candy in your neck of the woods?

SP

Guest Blogger - Julie Miller

Julie Miller has long been a friend to the Playground. She's a fantastic writer, a generous person and someone we're very happy to count as a friend. Please show her a warm April welcome!

RT Does Series Romance Right

Ha! Tricked you. You thought I’d be blogging about April Fool’s Day today. I figured most bloggers on the web would be, so I opted for something different. I’m just one of those out-in-left field kind of gals.

Happy spring! Besides the thankful end (fingers crossed!) to all the snow and cold of our long winter in Nebraska, did you know that spring is also the time for the Romantic Times Convention?

That’s right, the magazine/website that profiles authors and publishers, and reviews so many wonderful books every month also hosts an annual Book Lovers’ Convention. This year it’s being held in Columbus, Ohio at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from April 28-May 2. I call RT a “schmoozefest.” It’s a great opportunity for readers to meet with their favorite authors, to network with readers and librarians and booksellers and authors and publishing professionals, to pick up LOTS of books (many of them free!) and other goodies from authors and publishers, for aspiring authors to get some one-on-one advice from established authors and attend several invaluable sessions led by authors and industry professionals, to meet some gorgeous cover models, and to have a boat load of fun! Whew!

This year, in particular, I had the honor of being selected to captain the Series Romance panels at the convention. That means lining up some of your favorite Series Romance authors to speak at not one, but two, different workshops. I’ve also arranged for Harlequin/Silhouette/Kimani/Spice to give away free books to workshop attendees—and we’ll have a stellar bag of books, goodies and prizes to give away to one lucky winner at each workshop. This is a win-win event for everyone who comes to RT (have you registered yet? If not, check out all the details at http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=39f9fb57-5ebc-49a4-b572-a2316b792e98). Free books? Great prizes? Your favorite authors? Some so new, their books haven’t been released yet. Plus, reader favorites and NYT and USA Today bestselling authors. They ALL write Series Romance. And they’ll be at the convention to meet with you.

RT is doing an amazing job of promoting Series Romance this year. Check their website, flyers and magazine. And check out the great reviews Series romance books are getting now. Series Romance books are no longer just those books that your great aunt Fifi read. They’re comfort reads. Thrilling reads. Emotional reads. Complete reads. They aren’t just a stepping-stone to writing single title books. They make bestseller lists. Single title authors are looking to break in to Series Romance. In fact, they’re the biggest, most consistently-selling section of the romance market during these tough economic times. RT even features at least one Series romance cover on the Top Pick! page of their magazine now.

My workshop authors will be on hand to answer questions about their books, the lines they write for, and more. If you’re a writer, we’ll be talking about tips and tricks for breaking into the series romance market, and about how you can have a career writing series romance. So come and pick our brains (gently, if you don’t mind). If you’re a reader, this is your chance to ask about favorite characters or tell us about story trends you’d like to see (or would like to see go away ;))

And if registering for the convention is out of the question for your time or pocketbook, how about coming by the hotel to attend one of the two great author booksignings—one for ebook and independent publishers on Friday evening, and another huge signing on Saturday of the conference featuring the print (and Series Romance!) authors in attendance. You may bring your own books to have them signed (be sure to register them when you enter) or purchase the latest release by your favorite author.

Now, let me rattle off the names of the Series Romance authors who’ll be at RT on the Series Romance panels with me. Brenda Jackson. Debra Webb. The Playground’s own Problem Child, Kimberly Lang. Lisa Childs. Anne Calhoun (a brand-new Spice Briefs author with 3 upcoming releases!). Delores Fossen. Ann Voss Peterson. Kimberly Kaye Terry. Nina Bruhns. Donna Hill. Lynn Raye Harris. And yours truly, of course.

Sounds pretty diverse and exciting to me. I hope we can see lots of readers there. I’m not schlepping all these books and prizes on the plane for nothing . Hope to see you at RT. If you’re there, be sure to introduce yourself and say hi. If you’re a reader, I just might have a book for you!

So, tell me what you love about Series Romance. What are your favorite lines? Authors? What would you like to see more of/less of in Series Romance books?

If you haven’t read a Series Romance in a while (and especially if you’re a big fan!), I hope you’ll pick up a copy of my April release from Harlequin Intrigue, TAKEDOWN. It’s everything you love about romantic suspense packed into a neat package that you can read fairly quickly. And then move on to your next Series Romance novel!

I’ll give away a copy of TAKEDOWN to one lucky poster today.

Happy Reading,

Julie Miller

www.juliemiller.org

PM + SP + I x $ = OMG!

Last Saturday was a gorgeous day. It was a little windy but the sun was shining and I did not want to sit in my apartment and stare at four walls, especially since the walls in the living room have no art work on them and the only furniture is a futon, a storage ottoman, a TV stand, a small end table and two floor lamps.

I emailed the Playfriends and asked if they wanted to have a Saturday field trip to LOOK at furniture and help me decide on a sofa and chair for my living room should I ever get the money to buy it. Angel and PC were unavailable, but Smarty Pants and Instigator agreed to join me. We met first for lunch and solved the world's problems over steak and shrimp (well, most of them) and then headed to the furniture store whose website I've been perusing for over six months now. SP and Instigator rode together in SP's car and I drove my car since the two of them had other plans after the look-fest.

I had printed out pictures of some art work I have to go over this future sofa and had also painted part of the piece of paper with my wall color so we'd have a point of reference. The store had three sleeper sofas I was interested in from the standpoint of style and color options. They also had a few chairs I thought might work both with the sofas and fit in the available space. One that I'd really liked on the website, though, had been removed from the site, so I'd tossed the picture of it before I left home.

My living room faces east and only gets morning sun, so I knew I didn't want anything too dark. But it couldn't be too light or it would fade into the wall. So armed with those caveats, Smarty Pants, Instigator and I began looking at the sofas and fabric swatches. After we'd been looking for a bit, my favorite sales associate, Lisa, returned from lunch and joined the party. Lisa helped me buy my table and chairs and my bedroom furniture last fall.

I thought I wanted some sort of dark beige sofa and a chair with some red. Well! By the time everyone had finished mixing and matching swatches, I'd fallen in love with a moss green sofa in a fabric that's rather like a wide-wale corduroy. It looks like this (only it won't have the psychedelic cushions because with this particular sofa I can get the cushions in any fabric I want).



I'm still not sure how I made the leap from beige to moss green, but I love it! And won't these pictures look great over it (they'll be side by side instead of one atop the other).



Now remember that this was just a window shopping trip. I don't have money allocated for furniture yet, but I wanted to be prepared for when that money comes in. And four heads are better than one when deciding on furniture and fabrics, especially when one of those heads is mine.

So imagine my surprise when Smarty Pants spots the recliner I'd admired on the website months before.

"It's been discontinued and I only have that one floor model left," Lisa said.

"And it's 25% off!" Smarty Pants exclaimed.

So look what's now sitting in my living room waiting to be joined by the sofa. Nice, isn't it? I just love a great bargain.



And the really fun part was getting it home. I asked how much it would cost to have it delivered because that chair ain't gonna fit in the back of a Honda Accord. Lisa asked if I didn't know someone with a truck or SUV and while I was scouring my brain to think of someone, Instigator piped up and said, "Uh, I do, only it's parked back at the restaurant." A few minutes later, they'd retrieved the SUV, had the chair loaded in the back with the help of another sales associate, Cleveland, and we were caravaning to my apartment. By the time I got the door unlocked, my two able assistants had unloaded the chair and were at my front door.

Aren't good friends wonderful?

Have you ever had your plans take a completely different turn?

P.S. Look at how my plants have grown in a week!

Day lilies beside my patio



Mixed color coleus



Sweet basil

What is it and why do I own it?

In case I haven’t whined here excessively about it, I move on Saturday.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m excited about the new house. It’s a lot bigger than the one we are currently in and I’ll have a bigger kitchen, my very own office, and a hot tub on the back porch. It’s in a great neighborhood, with a lovely yard, and did I mention I’ll have my own office?

I’m just not loving the whole moving thing. Right now, it’s the packing I hate, but next week I’ll be cursing the unpacking.

Of course, the sheer amount of stuff we seem to own is quite surprising. I’ve made multiple trips to the local thrift shop, dropping off everything from baby stuff (um, AC is 8 now, I think it’s safe to get rid of it) to books and clothes I haven’t worn in a decade. (And now that I’ve gotten rid of those clothes, they’ll be back in style in six months…)

But the kitchen cabinets have been the worst. I found boxes and cans in the very back of the very top shelf that expired during Bush’s first term. And when canned goods are expired, you know they’ve been up there a while... And then I’m forced to ask myself why I bought a can of olives in the first place when no one in this house likes olives.

But my most amusing discovery in the cupboards was a small blue box that I didn’t recognize the name brand. So I read the box and discover it’s something called “pectin” and that it expired in 2006. Further reading of the box provided the info that pectin is used in the canning process.

Now, how many problems do you see in that paragraph? ~grin~ First off, pectin is used to keep things from going bad. Dear dog, how long has that been up there if the thing that keeps stuff from expiring has expired?

The even bigger question you should be asking is what is such a thing doing in my cupboard to begin with? Y’all know me. Would “Avid Canner and Jelly-Maker” be the first adjective you’d use to describe me? Or even the 45th? Honestly, I think I helped my aunts and grandmother make jam once, back when I was AC’s age. Why the hell do I even own pectin? Does it have another purpose that would explain the purchase?

So, the comment tail is open for the purpose of speculating why I had a box of pectin in my cupboard. Alternatively, you can make me feel better by telling me what’s the strangest thing you’ve found in your cupboards…

PC

Do You Have a Friends List?

I’m taking a class at the moment that explains the mysteries and usefulness of social media outlets for the writer. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Yahoo… you name it, they’ve covered it. I can’t believe the overload, I mean wealth, of information.

I came to the world of social media kicking and screaming. All the other Playfriends had Facebook accounts far earlier than I did. I just didn’t want to do it, because I simply didn’t have more time in my day for anything else. Plus, I don't like taking the time to learn new programs. Now, I’m addicted to my Facebook account. But I’ve found that I don’t spend nearly as much time on it as some folks. I open it about 4 times a day, read status updates, and only post 1 of my own about once per day. Usually writing related. Personally, I don’t think anything else I do is that interesting. And I’ve never been good at “social chatter”, so I feel like anything I post along those lines sounds stilted, although I enjoy reading other people’s posts about their everyday lives.

After reading all the class information, I’m really glad I don’t Twitter. Although now I understand the language better, which is important because some author’s have their Twitter posts also show up on Facebook. Before, I’d always tried to decipher the language and symbols, trying to understand who said what and what it was about. Confusing. Makes more sense now, but I’m still not tempted to jump in. Although, I kept all the info in case that ever changes.

To me, the most interesting part has been some author Q&A’s where they talked about why and how author’s use these outlets to keep in touch with readers. As a whole, they agreed that if your feed looks like one long commercial, your readers will lose interest really quick. I think that’s an important point. Yes, I enjoy hearing about author’s new releases, but more than that, I’m learning about the author as a person (no matter how personal/professional their posts). You get the flavor of their conversation, and want to know more (or in some cases, less – and I have defriended a few people after reading their posts). It has also built name recognition. I’ll be looking through books and think, I recognize that name. Where do I know that author from? Facebook! I’m more likely to pick up the book and read the back cover blurb if the author’s name strikes a chord with me.

So tell me, do you Facebook, Twitter, MySpace??? Which do you like best? What do you find most interesting and/or useful about social media outlets?

Angel

Coming Soon!
Author Julie Miller joins us on Thursday, April 1st!!!

Upcoming Appearance by WP Authors!

Our very own Kimberly Lang and Kira Sinclair will be helping hostess this event, along with our beloved Mavens Linda Howard, Linda Winstead Jones, and Beverly Barton!! Y'all come join us!


Heart of Dixie RWA, the north Alabama chapter, is proud to announce New York Times bestselling historical and contemporary romance author Julia London will be their featured speaker for the annual Romance Readers’ Luncheon, a special event celebrating romance and literacy in the north Alabama community. Registration is now open for the 13th Annual Heart of Dixie event, held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL, on May 15, 2010, from 11am until 3pm.

Special guest author Julia London will be the keynote speaker, host a table, and sign books at this year's event. Attendees will enjoy a delicious lunch and stimulating conversation with fellow romance readers and favorite romance authors including Linda Howard, Beverly Barton, Linda Winstead Jones, Rhonda Nelson, Lynn Raye Harris, Kimberly Lang, and Debra Webb.

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than 20 romantic fiction novels, including the popular Desperate Debutante and Scandalous historical romance series and the contemporary romance Summer of Two Wishes. Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a four-time finalist for the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction.

HOD's Annual Luncheon also includes door prizes and celebrations. A book fair and autograph session with the attending authors following the luncheon is open and free to the public at 2pm. Profits from the book fair are donated to a local literacy charity.

Join us as we celebrate romance! Registration is $25 and must be received by May 1st. Seating is limited, so register today. More information and registration forms can be found at www.heartofdixie.org or call 256-828-2065.

Look, Ma! No wires!

I like to think that I'm fairly techno savvy. I am Smarty Pants, after all. Its sorta my job. But the one area I bow to another is in the computer realm of my home. That is DB's domain and I don't touch it. He's the one that upgrades memory, installs software patches and keeps our systems running ship shape. I could do it if I really wanted to, but I don't and he likes it, so there.

The one thing we just hadn't gotten going yet was wireless internet. Not that we weren't prepared. We bought a router with wireless capability back in 2006 when almost no one had it yet. I bought the wireless adapter card for my computer. We even had it up and running at one point in 2008. Problem was the service was spotty and kept disconnecting, so we disconnected it.

So we let it go. For like 2 more years. DB insisted that keeping my computer tower in the desk cabinet was limiting the connection. I insisted that our equipment was just old and that if we bought a new wireless router, we'd have a better connection. Much bickering ensues, no progress made. Then, last year, I got an iPhone and we switched over to AT&T service for our home phone and internet. They provided us with a new DSL modem. Stuff worked. It was fine. At home, this wireless network kept popping up on my iPhone to connect via WiFi. I figured it was the neighbors. Then, about a week ago, I threw a tiny hissy fit. Everyone had WiFi. Our idiot neighbor next door had it. Certainly WE could figure this out! I told him I didn't care what I had to buy, I wanted it working.

DB fiddled and cussed and adjusted and googled. And then, wonder of wonders, we had WiFi. Turns out we'd had it ever since we upgraded to AT&T - our new DSL modem had wireless built in and we never knew it. The network that kept popping up on my iPhone was MINE! All we had to do was adjust some of our computer settings, figure out what passcode to use and we were on. The computer, the laptop, my phone... even the Wii. DB is currently googling what kind of access port to buy so we can get our Blu Ray and DVRs online too. Anyone got a recommendation since I'm the last human on the planet to have this stuff setup?

So, I am proud to announce that DB and I have finally made it out of the stone age. The 100 foot ethernet cable no longer runs down my upstairs hallway to my office. My iPhone allows me to play Scrabble with Instigator more efficiently than ever. And maybe someday soon, I'll even be able to stream Netflix or watch shows OnDemand. Hot damn.

Where do you fall in the technological food chain? Have you fallen in love with OnDemand tv or playing on your gaming console with people across the country? Or are you still dependent on the free WiFi at the Books a Million?
SP

Doing This Alone...Or Not

I've been working on revisions for a new project over the last few weeks. Several people have read the proposal and I've gotten some great suggestions from my first readers, the editor who's working with me and my amazing agent. Seriously, without them this book wouldn't be nearly as good as I hope that it is.

But this has also prompted a recent conversation about the process. And my inability to see some of the problems that these people have spotted. How is it that I can read someone else's book and know exactly what's missing but I can't see it in my own?

To make matters worse, in several instances they've pointed out things that should have been obvious to me. Things that made so much sense I felt like smacking myself for missing them. I think sometimes I get too close to the words and can't see the details that make up the big picture.

Yes, I realize that's why I ask these people to read. My editor has said a couple times that if I got it perfect every time then she'd be out of a job. I don't want that. I rather like her. :-) I know that every story I write could be stronger and I appreciate that there are so many people out there willing to help me make it the best that it can be.

Sometimes I worry that I couldn't do this on my own. Actually, I know I couldn't do this on my own. So many think of writing as a solitary pursuit. I'm here to say there's no way. Without each and every person who helps me along the way I know that I'd fail.

Anyone else ever felt this way?

Instigator

P.S. Anita is PM's winner from yesterday. Please email her at playgroundmonitor@writingplayground to claim your prize.