Friday, Sep 12 2008
Uncategorized 9:31 pm
Hard work pays off Sunday, Dec 7 2008
Uncategorized 11:56 pm
Tis the season – to be busy! With so many projects on the go its hard to keep things organized and on track. However, when you’ve got the motivation it can be a rewarding experience. Recently I began writing a western novel that I had hoped to get published via a New York publisher. I’ve revised that idea – not because its hard, or an out of touch idea but simply because at this stage in my career I don’t feel confident enough to win an agent over to my talents.
Having said that, I don’t think my writing is poor quality – I wouldn’t get published if it didn’t hold up to industry standards. No, I simply have come to the conclusion that the smaller publishing houses are a good experience and will help me create my name before I launch into a larger market so to speak.
If you get the chance, I highly recommmend you read the book The Career Novelist by Donald Maass. It’s an excellent read and it will help you figure out where you want to go. Having a plan for your career is invaluable and necessary. You wouldn’t start a business without a game plan, and your writing career is the same.
As an author you’re making a product to sell to the consumer. It’s a business plain and simple. Does it keep a person busy? For sure. Edits, rewrites, research, all take up time that you, the owner/author, must manage. I don’t believe that it should consume every waking minute but a good five hours a day shouldn’t be unheard of.
Am I guilty of spending more than that on the computer? Yes, I’m afraid so. What do I have to show for it. Three contracts ( The last came in yesterday for a full length western), my novella has been released, and the production on Master’s Mistress – my Viking romance – has begun. That however is a tale for another day. I’m learning how to manage my time, how to juggle being a full time mother, wife, employee for another company, business owner – I do my own craft thing – and writer with a bit more finesse.
Its not always easy but it is rewarding. When I hear back from a fan that my work has touched them, that they’ve enjoyed what I’ve written I’m grateful that I’ve been able to do that. I’m touched that as an author, my work is an inspiration to others. Busy – yes, insane – probably…regretting it? Not for a moment.
Interview with Holly Walker, star of upcoming Novella Sunday, Sep 14 2008
Uncategorized 11:44 pm
Welcome, today’s guest is Holly Walker, the heroine of Christmas For The Cowboy due out Dec. 08 through Blade publishing.
Hello Mrs. Walker, its a pleasure to have you with us today.
Holly: “The pleasure’s all mine. I’m glad to be here.”
Interview with Holly Walker
You’ve been involved with rodeo in some capacity all your life, what got you hooked on rodeo?
HW: I started riding when I was six, my grandfather got me started. I competed in 4-H for two years before I got the competitive bug. By the time I was nine years old I’d been touring the show circuit. When I went to the local rodeo and horse show my friend dragged me with her to watch the cowboys. After watching the speed of the barrel racers, the skill, the horses I began to think I’d like to do that. When I was ten I signed up for my first rodeo and never looked back. You could say the cowboys got me hooked.
Do you ever wish you’d done anything other than the rodeo?
HW: I’ve done a lot of different things. I’ve done rodeo, shown, you name it I’ve done it. But I’ve also got a lot of other skills that most people who see my buckles don’t know about. I’m a qualified seamstress; in fact I run my own sewing shop from the ranch. I run a bed and breakfast, and maintain the ranch by myself because Ty’s constantly away from home.
When did you meet Ty?
HW: I met him at the local rodeo the second year I was Pro Rodeo. I’d seen him before then, I knew the name, the family – you don’t walk in the rodeo world more than a day and not hear about the Walkers but a formal meeting didn’t come until I was a teenager.
What was it about Ty that’s kept you with him so long?
HW: His love. We were kids trying to live in an adult world and by the time we realized what was happening we’d already gone too far. Things haven’t been the greatest for a couple of years but I love him too much to just abandon him without trying to save our marriage.
How has the rodeo affected your marriage with Ty on the circuit 50 weeks out of the year and you at home?
HW: It’s put a strain where there wasn’t one. I love Ty and I know he loves me. But no marriage can survive weeks, months of separation without some connection. I don’t regret giving up the rodeo; I just wish that Ty would realize that he’s more than the rodeo. Doubts, lonely nights, fears, they’ve created a gap between us. He’s young, sexy as hell and there are a lot of temptations out there that no man in his right mind would be blind to – I just try to support him and enjoy the moments when he’s at home.
What made you come up with the Christmas Getaways?
HW: The rode is full of temptations and buckle bunnies who would be only to happy to crawl into bed with a winner. For me the Christmas Getaway is my way of giving Ty a chance to explore his fantasies, his desires for sex outside of marriage and still be faithful.
What’s different about this year’s getaway?
HW: A few things. An unexpected, unplanned pregnancy for one. I’m excited about the baby but I’m scared to. I don’t want to raise a child alone; I want to have my husband with me. This year that may not happen. When he learns of the baby, he may not choose us. When this week is over, our lives have to go back to some semblance of normalcy, and I’m not prepared to have an absentee father and husband any longer.
Thank you Holly, for sitting down with us today. Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your first child.
HW: Thanks so much for having me. Merry Christmas.
Back in the Saddle so to speak! Saturday, Aug 16 2008
Writers Block 1:11 am
It seems so unusual to have nothing to say – to write – when you’ve got that dreaded curse of writers block. Still, many suffer it, work their way through it. For some of us its as simple as our brains agreeing to work.
You’re probably laughing at that statement but it’s the truth. I’m extremely prolific – I’ve always got two or three things on the go and for me to have nothing – is uncomfortable. We had guests, as I’ve mentioned, they stayed for two weeks and I didn’t write a single word. Thought it was because I wasn’t on the computer -but it wasn’t that. My brain – and my muse – had decided that I had enough on my plate. I was, admittedly, stressing a bit about the edits for my Christmas novella, about my company, family problems, and then work. For me my writers block wasn’t about not having anything to say – it was simply my brain’s way of telling me to relax, to become stress free.
So, now where I am? Well I’m elbows deep in writing again. Pumping out two chapters a day, except for yesterday when I did two and a half, researching Spain and Australia circa 1850’s, looking up names from 9th century Ireland for my next Viking Saga book (Which doesn’t really have a viking in it other than as a secondary character), doing interviews, planning a book reading for September, scheduling photo shoots, and taking care of two boys besides my own. Busy? Mmm maybe, but at least when I sit down to work on my books there’s something flowing. My fingers are typing away faster than my eyes can read and I’m once again comfortable in my skin.
It may seem strange, unusual, or just plain odd but I found that if I let my ‘inner writer’ have free reign not only am I typing out quantity but quality. So for everyone whose having one of those days that nothing seems to want to flow, where you’re constantly second guessing yourself and your writing, have faith. Your muse, creative juices, or what ever you call ’em will kick back in and when they do you’ll be back into the full swing of writing.
Until then, take a moment to breathe, to wallow in the experiences that you’re going through. To contemplate what you want and how you can get it. Until next time, have a great day and a great weekend!
An Upcoming Contest Tuesday, Jul 15 2008
5967620 and Uncategorized 10:10 pm
Gina Ardito is holding a contest. Check it out on her blog for all the details!
Help A Redhead Out! Win a Free E-Book!
http://ginaardito.blogspot.com/2008/07/announcing-help-redhead-out-contest.html
THE BONDS OF MATRI-MONEY available now
A LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN available now
Promoting Awareness about The Wild Horses in US Thursday, Jul 10 2008
Uncategorized BLM, Rescue, Wild Horses 12:07 am
Normally, I’d be promoing and author or editor or publisher or talking about my journey through publication but today I thought I’d touch on something else. As everyone is aware, I’m a member of several fan fiction groups. One of which is dedicated to writing about a television western that was on in the late 80’s early 90’s (An episode was actually interrupted when they announced the first gulf war).
Recently they announced they were hosting a blogathon to raise funds and awareness for a worthwhile organization. Wild Horse Rescue Assoc. has recently come into another 120 head of mustangs. (I’ve enclosed a link at the bottom of this blog to take you to the sites) and its a startling, and rather saddening predicament.
Humanity is not kind. For thousands of years, human beings have been the alpha preditor, and even now when we’ve become ‘civilized’ we still maintain that. To know that animals that have run wild for centuries are now a problem saddens me. Europeans brought the horse back to North America, and from those few Spanish horses the Mustang was born.
Tough, hardy, quick minded, these animals are a vital part of American history and yet, they are rounded up by the thousands and taken to stockyards where they await their fate.
For some it’s an adoption into a loving home where they are cared for and respected. For others their fate is to be humanly put down. I read an article recently about wild horses and the budgeting programs that are run by the federal governement which means that because of a legal loophole they can legally put them down.
For more information you can follow the following links and see news coverage and several organizations that are trying to change this scenerio.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/08/20080708kpnx-mustangs.html
http://tyrblogathon.livejournal.com/
http://www.wildhorserescue.org/
http://www.equinerescue.info/links.html
Feel free to comment or voice your opinion. While there are facts within this, some of it is strictly my opinion.
Submission Call For Blade Saturday, Jul 5 2008
Submission Calls Submission Calls 10:11 pm
PAWS For Thought Submission Call
Do you find it hard to resist a man or woman who loves animals? If so then keep reading. We are looking for stories where the hero or heroine is some how involved in the daily care or rescue of animals. We are open to any story ideas, from a fireman whose popularity exceeds no other when it comes to cat rescue, to a vet who takes care of un-identified paranormal creatures. Stories should be between 30,000 and 35,000 words.
There is no requirement of heat level nor does there have to be a happily ever after. If you write young adult and have a story in mind then we would love to read it. Young Adult acceptances will go on our sister site, Midnight Press, which is currently under development.
The first PAWS For Thought novels will be published in the first part of 2009, so in order to be considered for one of the debut releases, submissions should be received no later than November 1, 2008. Once royalties are paid the remainder will go to charity, unless of course the author chooses to donate his/her royalty as well. That will be up to the individual authors.
We are very excited about this new charity project and working with Michael to create a safe haven for the animals they rescue.
*Permission to forward granted*
An Interview I did Saturday, Jul 5 2008
Uncategorized 9:11 pm
This is the guest interview I did in May on Deadly Vixens blog. Feel free to check it out and leave a comment. An update on it – the novel that I offered and excerpt from has been contracted and is due out in March of 2009.
http://deadlyvixens.blogspot.com/2008/05/our-visit-with-patricia-bates.html
Fan Fiction A Mod’s tale Tuesday, Jul 1 2008
Uncategorized 12:02 am
KellyAnn Bessa AKA Devil Doll (DD) has a BS in Management from Cardinal Stritch University, and currently works as a human resources consultant for an investment firm. She has been in fandom for nearly ten years as a writer, mailing list owner, community moderator, and webmaster.
In addition to running several archives, she hosts and maintains websites for a number of fan fiction writers. One of her first childhood crushes was Batman, and she still works several hours a week at her local comic book store, and participates in the online feminist comic fan community. In the few hours a day she isn’t online, she rides her horse, does yoga, and overloads her DVR with cheesy TV shows (even though she always falls asleep while watching them).
One of those fandoms is X-Men. She currently runs the Wolverine and Rogue Fanfiction Archive (WRFA), where I personally have over a hundred of my stories posted, as well as several Yahoo groups, a LiveJournal, and not to mention her work with the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW).
She’s an incredible woman who has managed to create a place for the fan fic author to post their work. Devil Doll has for the past couple of years also provided a home for the Reader’s Choice Awards on her WRFA archive. She’s won, with no surprise, The Best Mod category twice and is understandably proud of her accomplishments.
I personally have submitted works to her for a four or five years now and have gotten a sense of what she looks for as a moderator. Tough but fair, DD as we call her, is one of the most level headed mods out there. She’s answered my questions, given advice freely, and hasn’t treated me with disrespect. When I created the Reader’s Choice Awards I have to admit and I’m sure she’d agree that the first year was a minor disaster. What had started off as a chance to see if the interest was there snowballed. This year however, DD came back with some awesome suggestions, tips, and rules that I never even thought of.
For us mere writers, having a moderator like her is a great bonus. She’s allowed me and others to develop skills and to give and get feedback that is constructive without demeaning. Personally, I firmly believe that anyone who does what she does deserves an award. I don’t think I could handle all the bad attitudes people have when they don’t get what they want.
To find out more about Devil Doll, see the upcoming July issue of the newsletter. She’s talking openly and candidly about herself and her work with the OTW. Until next time, happy writing.
An Upcoming Workshop on Writing Erotica Sunday, Jun 29 2008
5967620 10:06 pm
Am I hot or not? Erotic Romance VS. Erotica. Q&A with Liquid Silver Acquiring Editor, Tina Burns.
Featuring:
Tina Burns
All day July 12th at Romance Divas
How do you know if you’ve crossed into the Erotica zone? Get a professional’s opinion. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register. The workshop will be in the “Steamy” section of the forum which requires permission from the admin. Details are HERE.
Patriciabates's Weblog 