Faster Than You Think

In a perfect world, the phrase "faster than you think" would mean the speed at which I can write a novel. Unfortunately, this is not the case. My writing speed might best be compared to the speed of a turtle. The passage of years is what happens "faster than you think." In late summer 2013 I learned that my first Bad Luck Cat mystery would be published in September 2015. I couldn't believe I'd have to wait over two years to see BLACK CAT CROSSING in print, but a writer friend told me not to worry, that it would be here before I knew it. She was right. The pub date is already less than a year away. Now I'm more concerned about writing book two in the series because it's set to be published nine months after the first.



On an evening when my husband was out of town several years ago I decided to pull out my photo albums. I was alone (except for my cat) in a quiet house and enjoying a trip down memory lane when Kenny Chesney's song "Don't Blink" came on the radio. It was a rather new song at the time, and I'm a Chesney fan so I paid attention to the words. While viewing pictures of my parents in their younger days and my nieces and nephews as babies, "Don't Blink" set off a stream of tears.






I had a similar feeling this morning when looking at pictures from my niece's wedding this past weekend. The song "Don't Blink" has been running an endless loop in my head all day. I compared the wedding day picture of my two nieces to their pictures as small children. I must have blinked because they are now beautiful young women, one new bride and one soon to become a new mom.

Today the children in my life are grandchildren, and I know they will grow up just as rapidly. I try to take advantage of time with them and to soak up their joy, especially as the holiday season approaches. I often have opportunities to babysit and almost always say "yes" even if it means that I won't get any chapters written that weekend. Because, in the end, what's most important? If you run into me, you may wonder about my wide-eyed stare. No, I didn't have Botox. I'm just trying not to blink.

Best start putting first things first. Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand you can't flip it over and start again. Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth. Don't blink...


Mystery author Kay Finch is currently writing her new Bad Luck Cat Mystery series set in the Texas Hill Country to be published by Berkley beginning in 2015. Her Klutter Killer mystery, Relative Chaos, features a professional organizer who finds a dead body in a hoarder's garage. Kay lives in a Houston, Texas suburb with her husband, two rescue dogs and a cat. Visit her web site at www.kayfinch.com.



 

Getting to Know Us...an Interview with Sierra Donovan

Interviewed by Jayne Ormerod

Yes, we all have bios on this website, but there is so much MORE to know about our Classic and Cozy bloggers.  So the 2nd Friday of each month is dedicated to getting to know us better.  This month I'd like to introduce you to Sierra Donovan, a sweet romance writer. And what's exciting for me is that I walked into my local Barnes and Noble a week or so ago and saw her latest release right there on the end cap!  Titled, "No Christmas Like the Present" you'll want to rush out and get it for your holiday reading pleasure...but wait, read the interview first!    

1. Okay, inquiring minds want to know…why a writer? Certainly not for the fame and fortune…or maybe it is?

Heh heh! Well, I'm still hoping for fame and fortune … but mostly, I just love words, and I love using them to make characters exist. And in the romance genre, there's the pleasure of making their dreams come true.

2. When did you first put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to create your classic and cozy characters?

In fourth grade, I was writing my own “script” for the old gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows. I had people screaming and fainting and falling in love on every page. Wish I could see it now!

3. Do you have a set writing schedule?

I still have a part-time job and a family, so it's A) when I can and B) when I can motivate myself. My self-discipline is … inconsistent.

4. Is there a certain routine, food/drink, or location that summons forth the muses for you?

Starbucks is my “office” away from home. It doesn't have the distractions of home, and although I know I could go online there, I pretend I can't, so I don't. (I'm considering claiming my iced tea receipts on my next tax return. But I know better than to claim Starbucks as a dependent.)

5. What do you do when not writing?

Watch movies with my husband and son. Drink tea and listen to music with my daughter. Pet and scold our two dogs. And read as much as I can!

6. I imagine you’ve been reading all of your life (all great writers have.)  What was your favorite book as a child?

Just one? I read Heidi repeatedly, as well as a little-known sequel, Heidi's Children. Later on, there were the gothic romances based on that soap I mentioned before, Dark Shadows. And there was another gothic author, Virginia Coffman, who I totally fell in love with. She wrote engaging stories with a nice smattering of humor – she may have introduced me to the idea of a writer having a “voice.”

7. Do you re-read books? If so, which one have you re-read the most?

Not much these days, because I don't have time to read as many books as I'd like to the first time! But as a teen, I read Virginia Coffman's “Lucifer Cove” series repeatedly. It involved an exclusive resort just outside of San Francisco, run by this unassuming-but-handsome man who was … uh … the devil. I did have a bent for dark-ish fantasy, didn't I?

8. But there is more to life than reading, writing (and arithmetic)…what is your most memorable adventure in your life?

<<I think this is the point where Barbara Walters would ask you if you were a tree, what kind would you be, but I’ll skip that and throw a softball…>>

My 21-year (and counting) marriage to my husband.

9. If you were on American Idol, what song would you sing to WOW! the judges?

Nothing showy. Either a '70s ballad like Elton John's “Your Song” … or if I got brave, maybe a Frank Sinatra-type standard – but done very simply!

10. Last question…movie rights…who will play your two main characters when Hollywood comes knocking on your door?

My hero is Fred, Scrooge's nephew from “A Christmas Carol,” brought to life, so Hugh Jackman would be great! My heroine? I'm thinking Jenna Fischer from “The Office.” 

You can read more about Sierra on her website: http://www.sierradonovan.com/about-us.php

And be sure and look for this the next time you visit Barnes and Noble:

Horoscopes Can Help Your Characters

I'm not a horoscope fanatic, but during my birthday month I tend to check it more often. I don't seek out complicated astrology charts, a certified astrologer, or gaze at the stars. I'm more than satisfied reading my daily horoscope in the newspaper. The sun sign forecasts in the newspaper are only the tip of the complicated process. To come up with a daily forecast astrologers look at the relationship of the planets and their cycles to your sun sign.

Astrology and Your Characters

Astrology is a way to discover more about your characters. Are they direct or do they avoid love and romance? A horoscope for your characters can help you determine their strengths and weaknesses, it can give you an idea of how their day will go, or who might cross their path.

A Water Sign and a Fire Sign 

In Chocolate Secrets, my heroine is a horoscope junkie. The hero, a practical NYC firefighter doesn't believe the stars and planets determine his life. He's a self proclaimed asparagus. Her quirky habit and his logic put them on opposite ends of the universe. To complicate things she's a water sign and he's a fire sign. Can complete opposites overcome their differences?

Endless Resources

Finding the answers to your characters personality dilemmas is easy. Most of my info comes from an assortment of little books I buy at the supermarket checkout counter. Sometimes I'll create a complex personality who crosses over between signs. The possibilities are endless.

 

Once you create horoscopes for your characters, you'll have an ongoing sketch of their relationship potential, their job and health, and what they need to learn and experience.

Inquiring (Author) Minds Want To Know

by Jean C. Gordon

I doing something a little different this month ─ a reader survey. While the other Classic and Cozy authors and I love to share our stories with readers, we also like to sell our books.☺ And that means we have to promote them. So, I'd like you to tell us what might entice you to buy a book.

What's in it for you? Anyone who answers in the comments and includes an email address will receive a Smashword coupon for a free Kindle, Nook, or Kobo copy of the first book I wrote, Bachelor Father.

Let's get started. Have you ever bought a book because of:

1. A bookmark promoting the book?
2. Bling from the author ─ a pen, sticky notes, candy, refrigerator magnet, coffee cup, trip to the  Bahamas?
3. A book signing?
4. A launch party on Facebook.
5. A Goodreads giveaway?
6. Another online author giveaway?
7. A book excerpt at the back of another book?
8. An excerpt online?
9. Reviews?
10. An author newsletter or postcard?
11. A Tweet?
12. A Facebook post?
13. An author interview?
14. A character interview?
15. A mention in a blog?

Speaking of which, my sweet romance Candy Kisses is a $1.99 Kindle deal through Friday, November 14.

In the appealing, adorable Candy Kisses by Jean C. Gordon,
Candy Price is burdened with a community of brothers who all think they know what's best for her--and she'd love to prove them wrong, but first she needs to figure out what the right choice is. Stuck in Albany for the summer with only her landlord, the very handsome and cheerful Mike Wheeler, she decides to take on a challenge: She's going to find Mike a new girlfriend and, in the meantime, they can share pointers on the dating scene. Candy is about to find out what love is all about, but first she has to learn how to stand up to the boss who takes advantage of her all the time and learn to let other people help her. Candy Kisses is an upbeat romance about two good people who need to make that love connection. ─ BookPage

A Man Without Mirth

By

Sandra Wilkins

 I’ve been thinking about a quote from Henry Ward Beecher, “A man without mirth is like a wagon without springs.  He is jolted disagreeably by every pebble in the road.”  Isn’t that the truth?  Do you have those kinds of people in your life?  I certainly do.  Nothing is good enough for them.  It’s either too hot or too cold, too soft or too hard.  Nothing can be just right.  Happiness seems to elude them. 

            To me, a life of mirth is more than cracking jokes or poking fun of yourself or others all the time.  After all, who wants to be around a person that can’t be taken seriously?  Life isn’t a laugh-fest.  People have to work, bills need to be paid and tragedies occur. 

            Personally, I don’t think either extreme of humanity is healthy or fun to be around.  But, seeing the bright side of things, giving others the benefit of the doubt, not assuming everyone else is out to get you and helping those who are less fortunate make the road of life more comfortable for everyone involved. 

            So, who’s with me?  Who wants to travel life’s bumpy byways with a smile on your face and a song in your heart?  To get us started, let me tell you a joke about two cannibals and a clown—naw, never mind, that one is liable to make you groan instead…I hope you can find some merriment in today.

 Sandra Wilkins is busy writing another series while home educating her two daughters.  Ada’s Heart, Rose’s Hope and Gwen’s Honor are her first three published wholesome historical romances.  Go to www.sandrawilkins.com to find out more about her and her books.  

Things I Wish my Momma had Taught Me, Thanksgiving Edition

by Jayne Ormerod

     

Ohio Thanksgiving circa 1970

     There comes a time when a woman must start hosting her own Thanksgiving celebrations. For a woman who marries a military man and moves 3,000 miles away from family, these days come at a tender age of 22. Had I had any inkling that I would have to prepare Thanksgiving feasts entirely on my own, my childhood holidays would have been better spent hanging out in the kitchen learning the tricks of preparing a flawless holiday meal instead of curling up in an over-sized arm chair with my nose buried in the latest Nancy Drew mystery.  As a result, I’ve had to learn a lot of Turkey Day lessons the hard way.

          So in the spirit of the season, today I’m offering to a Top Five List of Things I Wish My Mother had Taught Me about Preparing (and Enjoying) a Thanksgiving Feast:

5)           Don’t rely on Aunt Alma’s vague directions for turkey preparation.  Find out the basic ingredients then Google a recipe that has exact measurements.  For instance, should that dear aunt tell you to “rub a little sage” on the turkey before roasting, a quick Internet Search would help translate “a little” to a teaspoon, and not an entire half-ounce jar.  Speaking from experience, rubbing said half-ounce jar gives the white meat of the turkey an off-putting green tinge and results in gravy that looks like pea soup.  And the taste is rather off-putting, too!  No calling for pizza back-up on Thanksgiving, either…

4)    Think carefully before organizing (or participating in) a potluck feast.  Most military spouses I’ve met wage a subtle (yet vicious) culinary competition at all potlucks, especially holiday ones.  They’ll want to bring their most favorite family side dish, and often bring it in their Great-Great-Granny’s casserole dish that predates The Great War.  Yes, it makes for great presentation, and also great conversation, not to mention a tie to Thanksgivings past.  However, many people will be handling said dish, some of whom had more than their share of Lower Cape Codders (our holiday libation of cranberry juice and rum), which invariably results in the dish—and the memories—slipping out of fumbling hands and smashing to smithereens on the tile floor.  Proper etiquette requires the hostess offer to pay to replace it, which can put a huge dent in (or entirely wipe out) the Christmas budget that year. 

3)    Be certain that the turkey preparations are done away from curious eyes, especially those of boys in the stage when they are particularly aware of bodily functions (ages 3 and up).  Experience has shown that when a young lad sees the stuffing going into--and them coming out of--the part of the turkey that goes over the fence last, it can cause lasting emotional scars that preclude him from ever eating stuffing again (and he’s 27 years old now.) 

2)    Pre-Thanksgiving check lists should not only include food items, but also essential culinary tools  There is nothing worse than preparing to baste the turkey, only to find that your husband has purloined the baster for his automobile oil-siphoning needs in the garage--a fact he may not fess up to for years.  And any good cook knows that when you need a turkey baster, you need it right that second—no time to run to the nearest grocery store—if it’s even opened. 

1)    If there is a dog (especially a big one) loose in the house, don’t leave the steaming turkey unattended while the family is gathered, heads bowed and eyes closed, for the blessing. The same may be said for a cat. Although the consequences aren’t quite as dour, as rarely can a 7-pound cat drag a 20-pound turkey through the doggie door and out into the backyard.

Gobble ‘til you Wobble! 

Happy Thanksgiving

A Walk on the Cliff

I recently made a trip to Massachusetts to visit family. Both of my sisters and two of my three brothers live in the greater Boston area. Until her death two years ago, my mother lived there as well. For years now I’ve made an annual trek to Massachusetts. It used to be mainly to visit my mother, but it was always an occasion to see most of the rest of my siblings as well.

Part of the cliff walk

 While I was there my sister and I took a trip to visit Newport, Rhode Island, one-time playground of the very rich who fled New York’s summer heat for cool breezes, lush beaches, and glorious estates. On a previous visit we’d toured The Breakers, summer home of the Vanderbilts. It’s a gawk-worthy place, a virtual palace for the wealthiest of the wealthy of late nineteenth century New York.

Rear view of The Breakers

On this trip, though, we decided to walk the cliff-walk, which winds along the cliff just above Easton Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. On the shore side the path cuts through the back yards of many of the most extravagant mansions of the Gilded Age, including The Breakers, Rosecliff, commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899, The Elms, summer home of coal baron Julius Edward Berwind, and Marble House, a sumptuous home built by another scion of the Vanderbilts.



A rougher part of the cliff walk

But just as impressive as the astonishing mansions that back onto the cliff is the natural beauty of the setting. We were fortunate to have a glorious September day for our walk, and the view out over the water was marvelous. We didn’t make it the whole two and a half mile distance since we knew we’d have to hike back and the day was getting warmer, but we got well over halfway.

Other Newport mansions

It’s not all easy walking. The first three quarters of a mile or so is relatively level and easy going. Beyond that, though, there are sections of stairs, some uneven ground, and even a section where you have to pick your way across rocks. Parts of the cliff were damaged by Hurricane Sandy a couple of years ago and had to be rebuilt.

And then there was an unexpected and interesting discovery: Love Locks. Maybe you’ve heard of them, but neither my sister nor I had. So we were completely mystified when we came to a section of fence decorated with at least a hundred padlocks in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Most had initials painted on them.

I had to look it up when I got him to find out about Love Locks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_lock), which has apparently been a European phenomenon for some time.  According to the Wikipedia article, “Typically the sweethearts' names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolise unbreakable love.” In some places the locks have become a nuisance, but Newport doesn’t seem to be discouraging it.

I admit that I find the symbolism of the gesture pretty captivating!


Note: I have to add that I’ve just had my first new novel release in a couple of years this past week. The Detective’s Dilemma is a short romantic suspense novel published in paperback and ebook by Kensington’s Lyrical Press imprint.
If you’re willing to do an honest review of the book in exchange for a free copy, email me at karen@kmccullough.com.
The Detective’s Dilemma is a short romantic suspense novel published in paperback and ebook by Kensington’s Lyrical Press imprint.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Detectives-Dilemma-Karen-McCullough-ebook/dp/B00OA9WFQY/
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-detectives-dilemma-karen-mccullough/1120500707?ean=9781616506520
Kensington: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/31106

Blurb: Although Sarah Anne Martin admits to pulling the trigger, she swears someone forced her to kill her lover. Homicide detective Jay Christianson is skeptical, but enough ambiguous evidence exists to make her story plausible. If he gives her enough freedom, she’ll either incriminate herself or draw out the real killers. But, having been burned before, Jay doesn’t trust his own protective instincts…and his growing attraction to Sarah only complicates matters. With desire burning between them, their relationship could ultimately be doomed since Sarah will be arrested for murder if they can’t find the real killer.