change the word

hbd baby sister!

2013-05-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

On May 18, 24 years ago, I became a big sister. Sarah's birth was one of the happiest moments in my life. Though I have few memories of my life before her -- I was not even three at the time -- I do recall how badly I wanted a little sister.

Who could blame me? With two older brothers, I needed someone to help me level the playing field.

In that time, my sister has become more than family. She's my best friend. And so, today, I wanted to dedicate a blog post to her to celebrate the 24 years of my life she's made better by existing.

Her whole life, Sarah has known how to humor me. Whether it was being my pupil when I wanted to be the teacher when we played school or joining me in hosting an annual bad sweater party, she's been my constant wing girl.

And at the same time, she is very much the same person, who knows how to put me in my place. Like when I would get too bossy being the teacher and she'd refuse to do my assignments, or when she reminds me that my plans of making a volcano cake for our end of the world themed sweater party might be a little too much for a bar setting.

She's also my biggest supporter. When I need a beta reader, someone to bounce ideas off or just someone to vent to about a problem I'm having with a WIP, she's the first person I call. She constantly gives me support.

We've made a lot of great memories together.

The photo above is the Facebook banner I made for my personal page. (We take our sister-ship and our FB seriously). It features 24 of my favorite sister photos. I shared it here for all of you to see. We have so many great moments from throughout our life it was tough to settle on only 24. It was a fun taking a few moments to look back.

Happy birthday, Sarah! Thank you for being in my life.

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beach reads 2013

2013-05-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last week I hosted my first Chick Lit Chat on Twitter. Thank you to everyone who participated in the chat and made it a success.

We had a great discussion about this year's beach reads. While we veered off track a little when the subject of the summer's movies came up (damn you Leo DiCaprio and your controversial casting as Jay Gatsby), I came away from the chat with a list of books I'm longing to read.

Here are five reads I am excited to dig into this summer:

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

A romantic and suspenseful tale about two women whose destiny is bound across the years

On the eve of World War II, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.

More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit; she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.

Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family and emotions. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.

She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled...they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy.

Her first year away is turning out to be near perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated passion will change everything.

Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely

Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.

Delerium by Lauren Oliver

They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever.

And I've always believed them.

Until now.

Now everything has changed.

Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love.

We were also excited when Lauren Blakely and Sarah Jio stopped by our chat. They even shared their must reads for summer 2013.

Now that I've shared a few of mine, I'm curious: What books are you taking with you to the beach (or woods/plains/city)?

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postcards from hollywood and beyond

2013-05-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that my sister and I were off to a magical place called Hollywood. I promised to share some highlights from our adventure, so here we go...

We spent four days -- plus one of travel (boo) -- visiting a friend in the West Hollywood area. In addition to eating a lot (and I mean a LOT) of great food, making new acquaintances and catching up with a bestie, we managed to sneak in plenty of sightseeing.

Though we only had a rental car for two days, we covered a lot of territory. We checked at the Warner Brothers and Universal Studios areas. We saw the Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, Walk of Fame and other tourist hotspots. We drove through Beverley Hills, Bel Air, Burbank, Brentwood and the Hollywood Hills. We visited beaches in Santa Monica and Malibu. And we saw a lot.

Here are a few images I snapped during our time away:

Visiting my friend's office and checking out a couple of recent editions.

Paying homage to our father's favorite filmmaker.

Appreciating the fact that RPattz has bigger feet than me,
after realizing how little most celebrities seem to be.

Sarah and I stop for lunch at the Santa Monica Pier.

A chance celebrity sighting of Lauren Graham, promoting her
new release at the Barnes & Noble in the Grove.

Leaving my mark on Malibu.

On the flight to L.A., I read and reviewed The Elite by Kiera Cass. It was a much stronger story than the first story, and it made for a great -- if somewhat page-turning/nerve-wracking -- read for the flight. You can check out that review here.

Also during our time away, I snuck in some time researching and writing for my current projects. I'm pleased to report I finished writing my holiday novelette (due out in November 2013 -- more details later) and made some edits to Book No. 2.

The best part of the whole trip was spending some quality time with my little sister. She's becoming an awesome young woman, and our time together reminded me of just how lucky I am to have her in my life. I also enjoyed watching her become better acquainted with one of my best friends. I left L.A. feeling truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

Now that I've gushed on my adventures, I want to hear all about your upcoming trips. Where are you headed this summer and what will you do?

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interview with the author of 'nobody's damsel'

2013-05-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: I'm pleased to once again welcome EM Tippetts, the author of Someone Else's Fairy Tale (read an excerpt here and my review here) and Nobody's Damsel (read an excerpt here and my review here) to the blog.

Change the Word: What was your inspiration for writing this book?

EM Tippetts: I'd already written one book with these characters and loved them. I had fans who loved them too, so that was my inspiration, to find an excuse to spend more time with Jason and Chloe and figure out a plot structure that would allow me to do it again and again. Because book one was a romance, I needed to shift the plot structure in order for it to be repeatable without being stupid. If I'd kept the books pure romance, Jason and Chloe would need to have the rockiest marriage ever and the end of each book would be beyond predictable, so Nobody's Damsel is a police procedural for the main plot, and the romance issues are the B plot. Because criminal investigations are the kind of thing that repeat over and over with different outcomes, this will enable me to expand the Fairytale franchise into an ongoing series.

CTW: Were there any surprises that came up while writing it?

EMT: I corresponded with a forensic scientist while I figured out the plot and many times I'd have an idea for a twist, email her, and find out that the twist wasn't really possible. While I do take some liberties with how forensic scientists interact with the police, I try to keep the science and investigation procedures as accurate as possible. That's just a personal preference of mine. I always dislike books that don't even try for some modicum of accuracy.

CTW: What was the biggest challenge you faced writing this story?

EMT: Creating that plot structure. I've never written a mystery or a police procedural before so this was all new, but now that I've done it once, I think it'll be much easier to do again (famous last words...)

CTW: Do you share any characteristics with your MC? If so, which ones?

EMT: Randomly, we have scars in the same places. Actually, that was probably just my subconscious at work. Chloe survived a homicide attempt and has bullet wound scars in her right shoulder (I've got a little scarring on my left shoulder from where an IV was implanted when I was a child), stomach (I've got a surgical incision scar on mine) and left shin (where I used to have a scar from where I fell climbing the stairs of a bus, but it has since faded. It was very visible for decades, though.) She was also the same age I was when nearly killed, only she was shot by her brother and I was in a car accident. We were both eleven.

CTW: Who would be your ideal hero to save you if you were a damsel in distress?

EMT: Myself, because that's whom I want to be able to count on. Not that I mind anyone riding out to my rescue. If someone wants to help, I'll take it, but my ideal would be becoming so super-capable that nobody could ever put me in distress. I know it's unrealistic, but a lot of ideals are.

CTW: What is the best piece of advice you have received as a writer?

EMT: The day it's not your fault is the day your career is over. "It" refers to whatever you're complaining about as the reason why you don't have the success you want. Gaining as much control of your career as possible is the name of the game.

CTW: What is your favorite book of all time?

EMT: Here I'll be a boring religious person: The Bible. It's the one I read the most. As for fiction books, there are just too many to name.

CTW: What literary character do you have the biggest crush on?

EMT: None really. Even in my own romances, I put myself in the guy's position and try to think out how and why he's attracted to my main character. There has to be chemistry and they both have to be desirable, but I get to that via an intellectual route as much as an emotional one. When I was a kid, I had a crush on Luke Skywalker, though. Loved him. Now I see the movies and note that I'm nearly twice his age. Oh well...

CTW: What's next for you and your writing career?

EMT: I am currently working on a new adult romance called Love in Darkness, and then I will write the next installment of the Fairytale franchise. The working title is: The Hunt for the Big Bad Wolf.

CTW: Anything else you would like to share?

EMT: Just my thanks for the opportunity to be featured on your site. I very much appreciate it!

Check out an excerpt of Nobody's Damsel here and my review of it here. Check out an excerpt of Someone Else's Fairytale here, my review here and an interview with the author here. Also, return tomorrow to read a new interview with the author.

**Everyone who leaves a comment on E.M.’s tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Nobody's Damsel before May 20 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**

About the Author

E.M. Tippetts grew up in New Mexico and now lives in London, where she raises two boisterous toddlers, designs jewelry, and writes novels. A former attorney, she used to specialize in real estate and estate planning, specifically literary estate planning. She currently has five novels out, Time & Eternity, Paint Me True, Someone Else's Fairytale, Castles on the Sand, and Nobody's Damsel (Fairytale 2).

Connect with the Author

www.emtippetts.com

twitter.com/emtippetts

www.facebook.com/emtippetts

www.goodreads.com/author/show/1470927.Emily_Mah_Tippetts

www.amazon.com/E.M.-Tippetts/e/B001JP3ZRK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_7?qid=1363303467&sr=8-7

Buy the Book

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Nobodys-Damsel-Someone-Fairytale-ebook/dp/B00AWYHX22/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366669814&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nobodys-damsel-em-tippetts/1114069654?ean=9781481147637

Kobo:

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Nobodys-Damsel/book-RA97XdXRV0iimGgEI5zQAg/page1.html?s=pb2YYCnRV0aYXHiq7xC6ow&r=1

Receive Change the Word's latest updates in your Inbox. Subscribe by entering your information under "Follow by email" in the sidebar. Follow me on Twitter @lmchap or "Like" Change the Word on Facebook.

book review: nobody's damsel

2013-05-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Let me start this review of EM Tippetts' Nobody's Damsel with a little bit of a story.

I read this book in March when, after getting so caught up in book one in the series, I decided to keep reading right along and finished book two that same night. Okay, technically it was early Monday morning, but you catch my drift. And after that, I wrote a beautiful book review fully expressing my love for this book. My review was witty. I quoted songs. Embedded videos. I did everything a person riding on the high of a great read followed by a night of no sleeping would do.

If I was Francis Ford Coppola, this review would've been my The Godfather. Actually, given the number of songs featured, calling it Vincente Minnelli's An American in Paris is probably more accurate, but you catch my drift. This review was spectacular.

"Good job, Laura," I thought to myself. "You have one whole book review for the month of May done well in advance. You rule. Now go make yourself some coffee and take a shower."

Then last week, while checking on that Oscar-worthy review and preparing to update it with the necessary links and information, I somehow managed to delete that whole post. Fortunately, I was just back from my vacation, otherwise I would've probably had a coronary. Instead, I took a moment to breathe -- and vent my frustration on Twitter -- and I set out to deal with the problem. I toyed with scratching the whole review and making a finger painting of how this story made me feel. Ultimately, I decided the logistics of procuring finger paints, a good scanner and any artistic talent were far more troublesome than writing this new, undoubtedly more tame and less lengthy post.

Fortunately, I remember the gist of my lead, so you'll get a taste of the awesomeness that was my original review. After that, I'm going rogue.

The words to best sum up Nobody's Damsel, the sequel to EM Tippetts' Someone Else's Fairytale, came to me in the form of song. It goes something like this:

Oh we've got trouble my friends.
Right there in Albuquerque.
With a capital T,
And that rhymes with P,
Which stands for Paparazzi.

Does it make your blood boil? Well I should say.

That's right, my friends. I just went all The Music Man up in this book review. But wait, I'm not done. Because the paparazzi played such a huge role (for bad, worse and then slightly redeemable), I had Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" in my head for the next few days after finishing this read. (Instead of messing with embedding, I'll give you the link here to watch the video at your leisure. See, this was a high quality book review.)

Here's what you need to know about this book. Since we last saw Jason and Chloe, both of their careers have transformed. Jason is having the chance to be a little pickier with his roles and Chloe has graduated from grad school and landed a job with the Albuquerque Police Department in forensics. The down side: their marriage is under intense media scrutiny, with cameras following them constantly as people wait to watch one of them slip.

Jason commits a bit of a career faux pas early in the story, which means he -- and his marriage -- under greater scrutiny. Throw in a clingy ex from his past (who openly wants him back!), and he and Chloe are in trouble.

As for Chloe, her first big case hits a little too close to home. As she and her team race against the clock to find a kidnapped girl, she must face demons from her past and new ones. A troubled marriage, a problematic case and baggage from her past reminds Chloe of the reality that happy ever afters are never guaranteed no matter how in control of your life you try to be.

A major shift in content from book one, this story falls more along the lines of a crime procedural than a romantic comedy. While the love story takes a necessary backseat in this book, it was still strong and enjoyable to read. The tension between Chloe and Jason was a perfect blend of sexy and painful to keep it interesting. After investing a lot in their future during book one, it was good to see them have to work at building their relationship and future together. Their love story avoided being boring without crossing too many lines.

As for the main point of the story... The crime in question was one that evoked plenty of emotion and intrigue. Less of a "whodunit" and more of a "how do we pin down the person who did this and find the girl" my mind was constantly engaged in trying to figure out how Chloe and her team would save the day. I don't know if the lack of sleep made me even more emotional than usual, but I definitely teared up at several moments in this story as Chloe tackled the many issues she faced.

It was great to see supporting characters from the first book reappear in this one. At the same time, Chloe's new job creates an opportunity to add new characters. Each of them brings something to the table, and I look forward to seeing what cases they handle in the next books.

Oh, and what the heck. After that hype of finger painting my review, I went ahead and threw together a picture of one of my favorite scenes from the book. I can't give you any context without spoiling the story, but I can tell you that by the time I colored it, I didn't exactly remember Jason and Chloe's eye or hair color, so I improvised. I'm also pretty certain Jason makes enough money as an actor his TV doesn't require rabbit ears, but I was setting a scene, people.

With that, I give you "Laura's Favorite Scene from Nobody's Damsel."


Laura's Favorite Scene from 'Nobody's Damsel.' Media: crayon and scratch paper. May 2013.

I know. I have clearly missed my calling in life. I should become an artist. I also recognize that I have officially gone nuts. I blame society. And jet lag.

With that, I hope Tippetts continues to write stories about Chloe and Jason, because I want to know what comes next. Just don't put them through too much? Please?

Fans of book one -- or people looking for something more along the lines of a thriller laced with love -- will find this an appealing and worthy read.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Check out an excerpt of Nobody's Damsel here and Someone Else's Fairytale here, my review here and an interview with the author here. Also, return tomorrow to read a new interview with the author.

**Everyone who leaves a comment on E.M.’s tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Nobody's Damsel before May 20 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**

About the Author

www.emtippetts.com

twitter.com/emtippetts

www.facebook.com/emtippetts

www.goodreads.com/author/show/1470927.Emily_Mah_Tippetts

www.amazon.com/E.M.-Tippetts/e/B001JP3ZRK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_7?qid=1363303467&sr=8-7

Buy the Book

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Nobodys-Damsel-Someone-Fairytale-ebook/dp/B00AWYHX22/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366669814&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nobodys-damsel-em-tippetts/1114069654?ean=9781481147637

Kobo:

excerpt of 'nobody's damsel'

2013-05-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: I have a review of E.M. Tippetts' Nobody's Damsel coming up next, but first, here's an excerpt of the sequel to Someone Else's Fairytale. Check out an excerpt of that book here, my review here and an interview with the author here.

When I emerged from the van, I found myself face to face with a woman who definitely did not belong inside the roadblock. Her stance was shy and tentative, one knee bent, hands behind her back. Further down the street another front door was open and another silhouette watched us. Understanding dawned. She’d come from her house, so hadn’t been herded away in Miguel’s sweep. Her blond hair with dark roots was swept up in a casual ponytail and she wore jeans and a t-shirt with a picture of a teddy bear on the front.

“Can I just ask you what it’s like?” the woman asked.

A broad question if there ever was one. “I’m really sorry. I’ve got to get back to work.”

The woman followed me across the street like an eager puppy. “Wow, the media’s right about you. You’re a total snob.”

Not what I needed. I tried to make nice. “Sorry, I’m under some stress right now-”

“Because you’re going to get a divorce?”

My terse refusal to engage her would only fuel these rumors, but I wasn’t sure I could feign the relaxed happiness required to dispel them. I took a moment to remember Jason’s unreserved smile as he lay in the back of his car, waving at me, amused at how we couldn’t even be seen together for two seconds on a random street on the West Side without attracting a crowd. I remembered the way he always turned his full attention to me when I walked into the room, his gentle, caring touch, even if it was just a squeeze of my hand in passing.

“I’m not getting a divorce,” I said. “I’m stressed because this is a nasty crime scene and I’m not good with those.” It was the best excuse at hand.

The woman’s expression melted into one of sympathy. “Oh, right, of course. Because you were almost killed.”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

“So why do this job? I mean, it’s not like you have to work.”

“Some things are more important than money.”

“What’s it like to go to bed with him?”

I wished I had the same control over my features that Jason had over his, but I didn’t. I knew I let my flash of indignant outrage show. When I’d gotten engaged to Jason, I was still so inexperienced that questions about our sex life just bounced off me. We didn’t have a sex life yet, but Jason had embarked on a campaign to make ours a good one, and he did that by teasing me mercilessly. On the red carpet he’d lean down as if to whisper in my ear and nibble my skin instead. Whenever we had even so much as a second alone, he’d kiss me hungrily and break it off so I always wanted more. Soon I was biting my lip to keep from trembling every time he so much as ran a finger across the back of my neck, and when we’d reached our wedding night, I’d all but hauled him into the bedroom. Even then, he was a tease, making me wait, taking control, and looking down at me with such intensity that I’d had to close my eyes at points just to endure it.

Ever since, questions about our love life bothered me. I wanted all of it to myself; that’s what everyone else seemed to get, but for Jason’s fans, these questions weren’t the least bit off limits. They watched his movies and therefore each felt entitled to a piece of him.

“Miss Chloe, there you are.” Detective Baca leaned out the front door. “I need you-”

“Answer one question. Just one, okay?” said the woman.

“Ma’am,” said the detective. “Move along now.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I do need to get back to work.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, he can do better.”

I watched her storm back across the street with a mix of relief and annoyance. Relief because she was finally gone, annoyance because simple etiquette didn’t seem to apply to the famous. I didn’t understand why people assumed that if you had your face in the papers, you wouldn’t mind people hurling insults at you at the drop of a hat. It was as if fame made me not a real person, but a media construct, like the fictional characters Jason played.

“You just ignore her,” said Detective Baca. “She’s got no business here.”

The woman met up with the other woman who’d been watching from her doorway. They stood in the middle of the street and spoke in indignant tones, casting sharp glances in my direction.

Check back soon for my review!

**Everyone who leaves a comment on E.M.’s tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Nobody's Damsel before May 20 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**

About the Book
Chloe has finished her masters degree and taken a job as a forensic scientist back in her home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, only the press will not leave her alone. They follow her to crime scenes and report on her every move, eager to show that her marriage to Hollywood A-lister, Jason Vanderholt, is on the brink of collapse. Millions of fans who dream of their own celebrity romance with him want this more than anything. This scrutiny comes at a particularly bad time as Chloe's first case is a crime against a child roughly the same age that Chloe was when she survived a homicide attempt.

Now that she sees the case from an adult's perspective, she realizes it's much harder than she ever dreamed. It's even worse for Jason, who is two steps removed from the crime. He must watch and try to support his wife as she battles with past demons and tries to keep up with a nameless suspect who evades identification and capture. Never has Jason been more frustrated with his job, its frivolities, and its lack of connection to the real world. When he storms off the set of his latest movie, the press goes wild with conjecture. Perhaps he never was anything more than a pretty face after all.

Together, Chloe and Jason must find their way past all the popping flashbulbs and through the dark maze of the criminal investigation to discover whether they can balance their professional goals with the demands of a celebrity marriage. The odds are entirely against them.

About the Author

www.emtippetts.com

twitter.com/emtippetts

www.facebook.com/emtippetts

www.goodreads.com/author/show/1470927.Emily_Mah_Tippetts

www.amazon.com/E.M.-Tippetts/e/B001JP3ZRK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_7?qid=1363303467&sr=8-7

Buy the Book

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Nobodys-Damsel-Someone-Fairytale-ebook/dp/B00AWYHX22/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1366669814&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nobodys-damsel-em-tippetts/1114069654?ean=9781481147637

Kobo:

interview and excerpt from 'how do you spell love?'

2013-05-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: I'm pleased to welcome Zanna Mackenzie to the blog, today, to share an interview with one of the characters from her latest release How Do You Spell Love? You can also check out an excerpt at the bottom of this post.

Today we’re chatting with Alex, a character in Zanna Mackenzie’s novel How Do You Spell Love? So Alex, tell us a bit about yourself…

Er, OK, I’m an architect and development site project manager currently working in Yorkshire.

Do you have a woman in your life?

I have several.

Oh, right. So you’re ‘that’ guy are you? Dating several women at once?

No. Far from it. I’m not dating any of them. In fact, I’m kind of sworn off dating at the moment for reasons which I’d prefer not to go into too much. Let’s just say it’s probably best to give myself time to sort some stuff out first in my head. Complications, the past, you know how it is.

Fair enough. So, who are these women in your life then?

Well, one of them is the building development’s interior designer Sally, we work together. The other is Kat, she delivers sandwiches to the site that I manage and she drives a pink van with ‘A Bit of Crumpet On The Road’ emblazoned down the side. That’s the name of the deli delivery company she works for but she gets no end of hassle because of it. The first time she arrived at the development I had to warn the lads to behave.

(Note to those not in the UK - For those out there who don’t know English slang, a crumpet is a kind of toasted cake in the UK but it is also slang for a sexy woman

Why was that?

Well, you know, pretty woman, building site, a load of builders and a van with that on the side, I didn’t want the guys winding her up. Also, it took long enough to get someone to bring food to the site because it’s so controversial and all the locals fought against it, so if we upset Kat we’ll probably all end up starving!

And when you decide to date again do you think you might be tempted to date Sally or Kat?

Sally has asked me out but I’ve tried to make my excuses. Kat is great, we have fun, most days we end up eating lunch together. She’s pretty, very down to earth, natural, great company. I think she’s a bit reluctant to get involved though, not sure why, maybe she has some issues to resolve as well as me. So, maybe things might develop with Kat but we’ll have to wait and see I guess.

Thanks Alex!

About the Book

Make A Wish…

Kat can’t help wishing there was more to life than this. What happened to her dream job? What happened with Nathan?

Summer is wondering where her life is going too… battling the developers of a controversial housing estate and working out why boyfriend Rob is increasingly distant.

When the developers win the battle and move into town everyone’s life is turned upside down.

Kat meets building site project manager Alex. She enjoys his company far too much, even though he’s on the town’s most hated list.

Summer meets Tom who has plenty of relationship troubles of his own, so things could get really complicated.

Soon everyone is keeping secrets, lives change and hearts are broken. Is everything falling apart, or does life just work in mysterious ways…

Buy the Book

*Crooked Cat Publishing

http://www.crookedcatbooks.com/

*Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Do-You-Spell-Love/dp/1908910771/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361800360&sr=8-2

*Amazon USA

http://www.amazon.com/How-Do-You-Spell-Love/dp/1908910771/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361800417&sr=1-3&keywords=zanna+mackenzie

Excerpt

Kat pushed the last of the cottage cheese and shrimp sandwiches into the cool box and slammed the van door shut. As if her life wasn’t enough of a disaster zone as it was – no money, lousy job, losing Nathan, having to move back home to live with her parents – now this had to go and happen. Plus, of course, it didn’t help that today she was feeling shattered after spending half the night chanting some ridiculous protection spell in the middle of the allotments with Summer.

Cringing as a van full of builders stopped at the nearby traffic lights, Kat braced herself for the inevitable. After the standard-issue wolf whistles had drifted across from their van, next came the leered, “Wouldn’t argue with that, love!” as one of them nodded towards her sparkling clean van, parked neatly at the curb. The words “A Bit of Crumpet on the Road” emblazoned down the side in deep purple, glittery lettering. Not for the first time Kat cursed her boss Janice for calling her bakery-cum-deli that name.

Kat sighed, well it certainly drew comments from the public and from their customers, not always welcome ones, but as Janice was always keen to point out, any kind of publicity and attention was, in her eyes, good publicity and attention.

Pulling her navy and white striped apron more tightly around her T-shirt and shorts, Kat ignored the builders and climbed into her van to begin that morning’s deliveries. As she indicated to pull out into the busy street in Luisborough, she mulled over the bad news – that she was to add the controversial Netherton Meadows housing development to her daily sandwich round.

Netherton Meadows. Yippee. If Summer found out, she’d surely be ostracised for fraternising with the environmental enemy. This was a development that pretty much everyone in Luisborough had fought against for getting on towards a year. It had been the focus of STW campaigns. It went against everything that Kat believed in environmental-wise. Everyone hated the Netherton Meadows developers. Except, it seemed, Janice, who was perfectly happy to, in her words, ‘supply yummy builders with yummy sandwiches.’

Lost in thought, Kat just managed to spot the approaching traffic lights had turned to red and hastily slammed a foot on the brake. The van lurched to a halt and several boxes of crisps and one of the cool boxes in the back tipped over. Damn. It was shaping up to be one of those days.

Two hours later Kat had visited all her usual drops, was extremely hot and bothered, and could put off going to Netherton Meadows no longer.

Driving through the assorted vans, machinery and portacabins Kat parked next to a building marked as being the Site Office and hit the button on the dashboard. Tinkling chimes filled the air as Kat climbed from the driver’s seat and made to open the back doors of the vehicle. It was embarrassing enough that the van had the company name in large lettering along its side but, just to make sure that it received maximum exposure – and achieved maximum embarrassment – Janice had had some irritating chimes fitted to the vehicle too. Kat was under strict instructions to sound the chimes when she called at all of the sites where people came out to the van; such as they were about to at Netherton Meadows.

A man came down the steps of the office with a grin on his face and walked towards her. “Hi, you must be Kat.” He wedged a clipboard under his left arm and offered a hand to shake. “I’m Alex. Project manager for the site.”

“Hi,” mumbled Kat, spotting a group of hard-hat-clad builders advancing towards her with hungry expressions on their faces.

“Right, lads,” Alex turned towards the men. “This is Kat and she’s very kindly agreed to venture onto this site to bring you all your lunch. Don’t give her any hassle, OK?”

The men laughed and then nodded. “Sure, Alex. You’re the boss.”

Fifteen minutes later it seemed that all of the team at the development had made their sandwich, crisp and drink selections and sloped off to devour them in the sunshine. Only one of the builders, a portly man who must have been twenty years Kat’s senior, had pushed the boundaries a little, despite Alex’s earlier warning. As he’d selected a smoked salmon and cream cheese roll – a choice that had surprised Kat somewhat, having pegged him as a ham and cheese kind of guy – he’d asked Kat if she’d fancy joining him for a drink sometime. She’d politely declined his offer, saying that she had a boyfriend. No need to tell him that, technically, she and Nathan were no longer an item. No need to tell him why either.

About the Author

Zanna Mackenzie lives in the UK with her husband, 4 dogs, a vegetable patch that’s home to far too many weeds and an ever expanding library of books waiting to be read.

Being a freelance writer and editor of business publications is her ‘day job’ but, at every opportunity, she can be found scribbling down notes on scenes for whatever novel she’s working on. She loves it when the characters in her novels take on minds of their own and start deviating from the original plot!

Formerly a travel agent and therapist (she has qualifications in clinical aromatherapy, crystal healing, naturopathic nutrition and herbalism) she loves walking the dogs and gardening – that’s when she’s not writing or reading!

Zanna has written two novels, The Love Programme (Astraea Press) and How Do You Spell Love? (Crooked Cat Publishing) and both were published in early 2013.

Connect with Zanna

Find out more about Zanna at:

www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk

www.zannamackenzie.co.uk

Twitter: @ZannaMacKenzie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/zanna. mackenzie

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10703273-zanna-mackenzie

Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zanna-Mackenzie/e/B00BKY1A18/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

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hostess with the mostest (ish)

2013-05-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

I'm vain enough to believe you faithful readers are on the edges of your seats to hear all about my recent trip to Los Angeles. Well, this isn't that post, but never fear. It's coming. Tomorrow.

But today I'm excited to share something else with you.

Now can I get a drumroll? (ba dum baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa) Or better yet a club beat? (mm chhh mmm chhh mmm chhh) Yes, that works. Now for the announcement.

Tonight I am making my debut as a hostess of Chick Lit Chat.

For those of you who don't know, CLC meets virtually on Twitter every Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern/ 7 p.m. Central. Using #chicklitchat authors and readers of women's literature connect with each other to dish on a topic. It's a great way to get the latest news on the industry a fab networking opportunity.

I'm deeply honored and excited to be asked to join the team. I look forward to leading interesting -- or at least fun -- discussions every six weeks or so.

This week, our discussion will be the beach reads of 2013. We'll talk about recent and upcoming releases that would be great to pack along for your summer vacations, wherever they might be.

Please consider this your invitation to join us, tonight. Join us at 8 Eastern on Twitter using #chicklitchat. Feel free to follow me @lmchap.

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swanky digs

2013-05-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: During my travels the past few years, I had the opportunity to visit various booked-related hot spots. Originally posted on my now-defunct blog, Lit Adventures, this is one of my Literary Adventures. Enjoy.

Look how swanky that hotel entrance is? Can't you just
imagine Christian Grey tossing his car keys to a deliriously
happy valet in the middle of the night before taking Ana
into a luxury suite to make sweet, passionate love all
night and again after breakfast? Yeah. Me, too.

Before visiting Seattle, thoughts of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel made me weak in the knees remembering the sexy interludes between Christian Grey and Ana Steele during E L James Fifty Shades Darker.

Fans will recall, Christian and Ana flee Escala, his luxury apartment in the middle of the night after a close call with a stalking suicidal ex-sub to stay at the swanky hotel in downtown Seattle. There, the two proceed to do what they do best: get sexy. It's also the first of many times they "make love" in the books, but because that phrase makes me seriously uncomfortable, I try to push that part out of my thoughts.

While in Seattle, I decided to check out a few of the Fifty sites, and after seeing the Fairmont Olympic, my thoughts went in a different direction. Namely: Why the hell did Taylor put Christian and Ana in a hotel a few blocks away from where they lived?

It's a five-minute walk from Escala and the hotel, which I was appreciative of as someone who had parked her car for the day to explore, but as a normal person I can't help but think it was a waste. A waste of time, driving north on I-5 to lose the ex-sub. A waste of money to pay a valet to park your car, when it's so close. And a waste of hiding, unless you subscribe to the "hiding in plain sight" rule of thumbs.

I know Christian makes a bunch of dough, but he also hates waste, and that seems wasteful. But I suppose he values Ana's safety more, so who am I to judge. And frankly, what's wrong with me that I have spent so much of my time, and this blog post, analyzing this?

Maybe all of the other hotels in Seattle were booked. Ana didn't bring this up with Taylor or Christian, so I guess we'll never know. Taylor is nothing if not a pro, so who am I to judge him?

All that aside, staying at the Fairmont Olympic was definitely out of my price range at more than $300 a night for a room, but making a quick walk by was worth the time. Like Escala, it is mere blocks away from Pike Place Market, a must visit if you are in Seattle. It, along with the other buildings in the downtown area, isn't hard on the eyes.

During my walk, I passed through a nice little park and even saw what must be the offices for AllRecipes.com. On another trip, maybe they'll let me stop by so I can thank the staff for their hard work keeping me fed (and blogging for Reading in the Kitchen).

After checking out the Fairmont Olympic website, it's clearly a nice place to stay and might be worth the dough if you have it to spend, like Mr. Grey. But, if you're an aspiring author like me, I'd suggest staying across Lake Washington in one of the suburbs and driving into town early and walking by.

And, after looking at the website and drooling in envy, I can understand why Mr. Taylor booked his boss a room there. I'm sure he would get no complaints from the super picky Mr. Grey. I know I wouldn't be whining about having to take sanctuary there for a night.

Who knows? Maybe I'll become the next E L James, and I'll be able to take out a Cascade-suite like room for myself?

Book Reviews
Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades Darker
Fifty Shades Freed

Reading in the Kitchen Recipes
Pan-Seared Pacific Cod with Asparagus Dipped in Hollandaise Sauce and Sauteed Potatoes from Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker
Ana's Spanish Omelet from Fifty Shades Darker
Poached Salmon and Sour Cream Dip Salad from Fifty Shades Darker
Christian's Birthday Cake from Fifty Shades Darker
Carrick Grey's Lemondrop Martini from Fifty Shades Darker

Related Links
City of Seattle
Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Pike Place Market
Port of Seattle
Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau

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book review: the elite

2013-05-06T07:35:00.001-05:00

Kiera Cass produces a solid sequel and exceeded expectations in The Elite, her follow-up to The Selection.

Quick disclaimer... I wrote this review on my iPhone, because I'm currently on vacation. Please forgive the lack of formatting and any typos. I'll come back and fix them later. I am also essentially sharing the discussion points written in an email to friends, so the style is perhaps a little different.

Now, on to the review...

In Book Two, we find America developing deeper feelings for Prince Maxon now that she has made it to what is essentially the semi-finals of the "Who Wants to Marry a Tyrannical Prince?" reality show she's joined. Even as her feelings grow stronger, they're put in greater jeopardy as the plot thickens.

With rebel attacks and nationwide discontent still raging, and competition amongst the girls building, America continues to find herself torn between returning to a simpler life with the boy she always loved or taking a chance on a future she never imagined.

America is a much more likable character in Book Two. She seems more considerate of others -- excluding the two men vying for her attention. She's also much less annoying. I actually felt badly for her at times rather than being annoyed like in the first book.

In this story I actually better understood her romantic conflict. By this point Aspen and Maxon have gone to extreme lengths to win her affections.

In some ways Aspen has become more understanding of her conflict. He also represents a steady choice for America. They have a shared history. She wouldn't have to change as much if she was his wife. Still, you often have to chuck the easy route and take a greater risk to yield a better reward (I'm obviously still Team Maxon). She won't get quite the same thrill out of life with a man who doesn't challenge her more.

At this point, Maxon isn't as sure of a bet as he seemed after book one and the novelette. While I still like him, he is much more flawed and his feelings less secured. This makes him a more interesting and dynamic character. It also makes him less of a perfect hero.

I can understand his conflict though, too. For him, Kriss would be a steadier option. America is more of a risk. Celeste is also more mindless fun. After Book Two it's clear America has competition for his heart. She needs to step up her game.

Based on each of their actions, the stories each has left unsaid and particularly their parting words at the end, I honestly don't know how they'll end up together. It will not be as easy as it first seemed. I find myself wanting to see them find each other in the end. I just don't know how they'll overcome the challenges and live happily ever after. They've both kind of been dicks.

What surprised me most about America's increased maturity -- though she has plenty of room to grow -- is that I actually think she could be a good princess and queen. She does seem to care about others. She has good ideas. And she is brave.

But... She still acts rashly and without thought. I love her proposal for the country's future, but her reasons for sharing them were insincere and selfish. She also fell short in her defense of them. The girl needs better follow through in general.

Even if she and Maxon end up together, I question if she'll actually become queen. The king wouldn't like it, but more importantly, I think the monarchy must fall. I wouldn't be surprised to see the king (and queen) assassinated or exiled in book three. If this doesn't happen, all of this brief mention of rebellion will be for nothing.

I liked the increased rebel action, but it's still underdeveloped, which is a shame. It seems a LOT will have to happen in the next book to resolve all of these conflicts. I question how it will happen or if there is time to do it cohesively. But, Kiera Cass impressed me with this installment, and I hope she'll do it again in the next round. (At least I hope.)

I'm more excited for the final installment than I was for this one.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

reading on the go

2013-05-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: During my travels the past few years, I had the opportunity to visit various booked-related hot spots. I also make a habit of reading along the way. Originally posted on my now-defunct blog, Lit Adventures, this is one of my Literary Adventures. In honor of my current Hollywood adventure, I thought I'd share this oldie but goodie. Enjoy.

Reading Nora Roberts' Blood Brothers at Denver International Airport.

Flying to a destination may save time and energy, but my favorite part about it is the chance to read. While someone else gets me from Point A to Point B (or C or D), I can disappear into another world courtesy of my favorite authors.

Since the invention of eReaders, reading on the run has become easier. You can carry a whole library with you in a small package.

Depending on my mood and my read, I still like to take at least one physical book with me. Unlike an eReader, it can be used during takeoff and landing.

I make it a rule to never pack more than two paperbacks on flights. Though I love them, I cannot fill my carryon with nothing but books.

Fortunately, every airport sells books in case I finish both books. Which happens.

I also enjoy scanning what my fellow passengers in airplanes and airports are reading. There is always a good mix -- biographies, thrillers, romance and such. I find creeping on others books is a great opportunity to build my own "to-read" list.

On this trip, I am reading a few books in my "to-review" pile.

What are your favorite travel reads?

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video recap - april 2013

2013-05-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

Time for another video digest... Enjoy!

If you listen closely, you can hear my guest host chiming in well before she makes her appearance on screen. I'm assuming she wasn't impressed by my lack of blogging last month, which is why she makes her displeasure so well known that early on.

With that -- thanks for checking in this month, and I'll bring back plenty of good stories from California!

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here we come, hollywood

2013-05-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Me visiting the Hollywood sign on my last trip to L.A.

As previously mentioned, I'm heading west to Los Angeles on Saturday for a few days. We'll actually be based in West Hollywood, but that's basically the same thing, right?

My little sister and I are spending five days -- well, four if you factor in the travel -- hopefully soaking up some sun (though the forecast calls for rain). At the very least, we can count on making memories. After a crazy April (Camp NaNoWriMo, major announcements at work, a symposium and a weekend trip to Denver), I can think of nothing better than a few days relaxing down south.

This will be my third visit to the City of Angels, but my sister's first. I'm excited to share a slice of California with my sister.

Already, there are a couple of musts on my list:

See the ocean. I make it a practice to wade in seawater whenever I can, but this time it's especially important, because my sister has never been to the Pacific Ocean. I shared the Atlantic (OK, the Gulf of Mexico) with her when she visited me in Houston (I know, I know. I forget that I lived there for a while, too), but this is the real live, no doubt-about-it ocean.
Check out the Hollywood sign. One of my besties lives in L.A., and the last time I visited we went up to the Hollywood sign and it was worth the trip. Not only do you see the landmark up close, but you get an excellent view of L.A. and you get to check out the Hollywood Hills on your drive up.
Eat avocados every day. OK, this one is purely selfish and for me, but it's going to happen. I still dream of retiring to an avocado and lime farm.
Have a celebrity sighting. Based on the fact that this has happened every time I've been to L.A., I guess I just figure this is a given. While we might not get to party it up with them, I hope Sarah gets a chance to spy one so she has a fun story to tell her friends when she gets back.
Sip on margaritas and eat burritos on Cinco de Mayo. I do this every year, and I'm not going to let vacation break me from the streak.
Go dancing with the bestie. This is going to happen. Obvi.
Read a book just because.

Hopefully, I come back rejuvenated and ready to work. If this trip is anything like my last one, it'll be great inspiration and writing fuel. I'll be sure to share any big real life stories that come out of it.

With that, I'm slipping off my boots (Really, Nebraska? You had to go and snow again?) in exchange for some sassy sandals, and I'm heading to L.A. Here's hoping this vacation is as inspiring as my last mini-break.

Do any of you have some must-dos for Sarah and I while we're on our California adventure?

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letter from camp - 5/1/13

2013-05-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I didn't quite get the s'more finished, but I
at least got the marshmallow in the flame.

Dear friends,

Up until last weekend, I was ahead of my daily writing goal of about 1,300 words, which would ultimately have resulted in me reaching my overall goal of 40,000 words.

I knew this goal was ambitious when I set it. I realized I had plenty of other distractions going on in April. Spring Game one weekend. Three-day trip to Colorado another. The museum's biennial conference for another series of days.

But I set my goals high regardless, and I fell short. As of midnight, I was at 35,486 words between my two writing projects -- a novel and novelette.

It was inevitable. My writing groove had to hit a bump in the road.

Though I managed some of the distractions well enough, by the time I reached the four days of conference activities, I was mentally and emotionally spent. I should have realized how difficult it would be to generate some word count while working 12-hour days for several in a row.

I'm not making excuses -- I should have planned better -- but I am glad to know that, based on my daily averages, I probably would've reached 40,000 words if I'd kept working through those days. And I'm even prouder that I came back to write about 4,000 words in the few days after my five-day writing hiatus last week/weekend. Usually, I give up. But I kept plugging away.

So what's next for my writing?

I need to keep going. That's for sure. I didn't do as much reading this month, which helped me keep my focus on my stories, and that's something I may need to keep in mind going forward. I also need to finish writing each of these projects. The novelette has 2,000-4,000 more words to go, while the novel probably has 60,000 more. That sounds like a lot, but it's a heck of a lot less than saying 10,000-12,000 or 85,000-90,000 words to write.

But I should also prioritize.

My first focus will be to finish the novelette in May. I'll also do line edits on Book No. 1, and a series of content edits on Book No. 2. If time permits, I'll continue work on Book No. 3, but I won't fall to pieces of that doesn't happen.

I'd like to do another big push on writing this book in June with hopes of starting another story during Camp NaNoWriMo session two in July. But, I'll gladly keep working on the end of this story at that time if I must. Because if I've learned anything this month, it's that consistency pays off, and flexibility is crucial. I've known both of those facts before, but I came to truly understand it this month.

Thanks for following this journey with me. And now that it's May, how about we get back to some of our regularly scheduled events.

XOXO
Laura

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interview with the author of 'transplanting holly oakwood'

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: I'm pleased to welcome Di Jones, author of Transplanting Holly Oakwood (check out my review here and an excerpt here), to Change the Word as part of her Chick Lit Plus blog tour. Thanks for joining us, today.

Change the Word: What was the inspiration for this book?
Di Jones: I’d always wanted to write a book, but never knew what to write about. Ten years ago when I was living in Los Angeles I was quite lonely and I’d send these really long emails home. About five years ago I found them, and it occurred to me I could use some parts of them as incidents in a novel So I started writing Transplanting Holly Oakwood, intending it to be this intellectual look at the differences between two English speaking cities, one London and the other LA. It didn’t quite turn out that way, but instead took in a life of its own. My protagonist Holly might be a bit ditsy, but she’s also strong-minded, and she wanted to tell her story her way.

CTW: What characteristics do you share with your MC?
DJ: Holly and I both:
· Suffer frequent romantic and hairdressing disasters
· Speak before we think
· Love Auckland, London, and LA
· Adore Nine West shoes, chocolate, wine, and men in uniform
· Can’t abide dishonesty, bitchiness, or cruelty
· Like to think we’re sophisticated, but have a naïve streak.

Apart from that, we’re nothing alike.

CTW: What was the biggest challenge you faced writing this book? 
DJ: The biggest challenge was getting it finished. It took a couple of years, because I kept stopping and starting all the time. I think I had more elapsed time than actual writing time. I’ve always been a bad procrastinator, and apparently I’m not alone. There are tons of articles on the Internet about writers and procrastination. I read most of them while I was procrastinating with my writing.

CTW: How did you overcome this challenge? 
DJ: I’m not sure I have completely overcome it. My second book Meeting Miss Mollie was a bit easier because I knew I could complete one, and I definitely did that one faster. But I still sit down to write and instead surf the web, Tweet, check Facebook, pin a couple of pics onto Pinterest. My third book is coming along faster than the second, but discipline is not my strong suit. I tell myself that if I was lucky enough to be able to give away the day job and become a full-time writer, things would be different. We’ll see.

CTW: What was the biggest lesson you have taken away from the writing and publishing process? 
DJ: The biggest lesson is to stay true to yourself, and what you want to write. Of course you have to be committed to learning the craft, but developing your own style and voice are critical. You also have to realize that no matter how happy you are with your work, and how much others like it, there will be some who hate it too. You have to move beyond that, and continue to write what you love.

CTW: What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring author?
DJ: Writing is a craft, and unless you are exceptionally gifted, you’ll need to consider your first few years as an apprenticeship. It takes a lot of time , and unless you can afford to give up your day job and write full-time, you’ll need to make a few sacrifices with your leisure time. So my advice is to stay focused and develop perseverance.

CTW: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three books would you take with you?
DJ: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis; Roget’s Thesaurus; and a very large blank notebook with hundreds of pages. I’d need a couple of packs of pencils and a pencil sharpener too!

CTW: What is one thing you have to have with you to write? 
DJ: A clear, still, focused mind.

CTW: What's up next for you and your writing career?
DJ: I’m working on my third book, Taking the Lead: Adventures of a Hollywood Dog Walker. This book is the prequel to Transplanting Holly Oakwood. Here’s a short blurb:

Tessa Taylor leaves her home in Washington DC to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. But Tinseltown is tough, and the road to stardom isn’t as straightforward as she hopes it will be. Tessa has to compromise to make ends meet as she pursues the dream, and work is hard to come by in Hollywood. She tries one job after another, and they all end in disaster. Until one day she finds the perfect job – and the perfect group of new friends.

I’ll be spending the rest of this year finishing this book and also thinking about the next, which I’ll probably start writing in November. I have a couple of book ideas in mind, so will have a decision to make as to which to go with.

CTW: Anything else you would like to share?
CJ: I’d like to take my writing to the next level, and I’ve recently had an approach from a literary agent. I’m in discussions with them, and can’t say too much because it’s early days, but I’m hoping they’ll be representing me and helping me develop myself as a writer. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

CTW: Fingers crossed. Thanks for stopping by and best of luck on your next writing adventures.

About the Author
I was born in Liverpool, England to parents who had a strong sense of adventure and moved many times. I’ve lived in Canada, the United States, England and New Zealand. I’ve worked in a variety of jobs ranging from envelope stuffer to bakery assistant, librarian to trade development executive, but none of my jobs were as much fun as the one that allowed me to write and get paid for it. That was a few years ago, and each year it’s become more and more apparent what I want to do is write full time, a dream that first occurred to me at seventeen.

I write chick lit – light hearted and humorous stories for and about women who value their families, their friendships, their careers, their independence, who have a sense of adventure, and who live and love with passion.

Like my characters, I love my family and friends, beautiful shoes, anything sparkly, the ‘occasional’ drink, parties, and a good belly laugh. I’m addicted to shopping, chocolate, bubble bath and anything else that smells nice, and the sort of tv programmes you’d never publicly admit to watching.

I live in a lovingly renovated home overlooking Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour, with my trusted friends Bronson Boxer and Dolce Dane. They keep me fit and exercised, scare the burglars away, sit loyally by my side throughout my late night writing sessions, and hang on my every word when I read final drafts aloud. They truly are my biggest fans, and I theirs!

I love my life, but not so much that there’s not room to live a load of other lives, through the hearts and minds of my characters, all of whom I adore, and some of whom I’m fortunate enough to call friend.

Connect with Di
http://www.dijoneswrites.com
http://www.amazon.com/Transplanting-Holly-Oakwood-ebook/dp/B008AFPGII/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
http://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Miss-Mollie-ebook/dp/B00BA8T03O/ref=pd_sim_b_1

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book review: transplanting holly oakwood

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

After serious heartbreak, a woman makes a new life in a new country in Di Jones' Transplanting Holly Oakwood.

Holly Oakwood's life is in shambles. Not only does she find her best friend shagging her boyfriend, but she's having problems at her job as well. When that culminates in her leaving the job, Holly finds herself at a crossroads. After landing a dream job in Los Angeles, Holly is ready to take on a new challenge on a new adventure in a new place.

But there's trouble in paradise. For this Brit, life in L.A. proves to be a lot skinnier -- and more plastic -- than she bargained for. Add in that the dream job isn't quite what she had in mind and the difficulty making friends in a new place, and Holly realizes she may have made a huge mistake.

Holly's struggles are very real and understandable. Whether you've been jilted by a lover or friend, had to work for the boss from Hell or have found yourself totally and completely alone, you can relate to what she is going through. She has flaws. She has good characteristics. She makes mistakes. She tries to overcome them. She sometimes makes a disaster of it. She's a solid chick lit character.

While I enjoyed reading about her trials and attempts to overcome them, I have to admit that sometimes it was painful. At times, things seemed so bad or embarrassing I found myself cringing for poor Holly.

The story also features plenty of other intriguing characters, who each have an opportunity to shed light on their end of the story.

I'm headed to L.A. myself next weekend, so it was fun to read about another woman's adventures in the land of stars -- even if her experiences weren't always as sunny as one might hope.

Thanks to Di for giving me an opportunity to read this story. I look forward to having you on the blog, tomorrow, for an interview.

Rating: 4 of 5

About the Author
I was born in Liverpool, England to parents who had a strong sense of adventure and moved many times. I’ve lived in Canada, the United States, England and New Zealand. I’ve worked in a variety of jobs ranging from envelope stuffer to bakery assistant, librarian to trade development executive, but none of my jobs were as much fun as the one that allowed me to write and get paid for it. That was a few years ago, and each year it’s become more and more apparent what I want to do is write full time, a dream that first occurred to me at seventeen.

I write chick lit – light hearted and humorous stories for and about women who value their families, their friendships, their careers, their independence, who have a sense of adventure, and who live and love with passion.

Like my characters, I love my family and friends, beautiful shoes, anything sparkly, the ‘occasional’ drink, parties, and a good belly laugh. I’m addicted to shopping, chocolate, bubble bath and anything else that smells nice, and the sort of tv programmes you’d never publicly admit to watching.

I live in a lovingly renovated home overlooking Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour, with my trusted friends Bronson Boxer and Dolce Dane. They keep me fit and exercised, scare the burglars away, sit loyally by my side throughout my late night writing sessions, and hang on my every word when I read final drafts aloud. They truly are my biggest fans, and I theirs!

I love my life, but not so much that there’s not room to live a load of other lives, through the hearts and minds of my characters, all of whom I adore, and some of whom I’m fortunate enough to call friend.

Connect with Di
http://www.dijoneswrites.com
http://www.amazon.com/Transplanting-Holly-Oakwood-ebook/dp/B008AFPGII/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
http://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Miss-Mollie-ebook/dp/B00BA8T03O/ref=pd_sim_b_1

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excerpt of 'transplanting holly oakwood'

2013-04-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: Check out this excerpt of Di Jones' Transplanting Holly Oakwood. I'll post my review of this fab read later this morning. Enjoy!

Holly sat in the middle of a privet hedge outside her best friend’s apartment, planning her murder. She’d been there for an hour, her limbs bent like paperclips. She rubbed her arms where the hedge had scratched her and twisted to see a spider dangling beside her. Why hadn’t she worn long sleeves for heaven’s sake? She shifted, crouched back on her heels and peered up at the darkening sky. The air was dank and chilly and the smell of privet pungent in her nostrils. This vigil wasn’t the smartest thing she’d ever done, but she had to find out if her suspicions were correct.

A car pulled up. She sank back into the hedge, holding her breath and watching as a familiar figure crossed the road, strode down the path whistling, and let himself into the building.

Her breath came out in a rush. Her fingers tightened around the branch above her and it snapped, throwing her off balance. She rolled onto the ground and pressed her face to the grass, trying not to sob. Tom was supposed to be in New York, not here in Maida Vale.

She needed to be sure. After thirty minutes she clambered out, certain Tom wasn’t coming back. Cautiously she surveyed her surroundings, her breath whistling between her teeth. She shook out the kinks in her cramped limbs and through a haze of pain, disbelief and anger, reached the front door of the building.

What was Sonia’s security code? She knew it, of course she knew it – the exchange of security codes was as natural to their friendship as the secrets they shared. Her fingers fumbled on the cool smooth metal but eventually they remembered the pattern, and the door clicked open. She pushed it wide and stumbled into the foyer.

She couldn’t wait for the lift and ran up the stairs without pausing. Outside her friend’s door she wavered. Would her perfect life change irrevocably if she knocked? She thought of her less than happy single days before she met Tom. But she had to know, had to be sure. She raised her hand, then tapped on the door.

No answer. She knocked again.

“Who’s there?”

She opened her mouth to tell Sonia it was her, but as the words of greeting bubbled in her throat, she clenched her teeth, deciding it was better to retain the element of surprise. Her hand hovered above the polished wood of the door, then she brought her knuckles down on the unyielding surface and rapped again.

“Who’s there?”

A key scraped in the lock, the door opened, and Sonia stood in front of her. She’d never seen her friend look more beautiful. Her hair was dishevelled and her skin radiant and glowing, burnished with a fine mist of perspiration. Her eyes were soft and warm, but a split second later they widened in alarm.

“Holly.” Sonia’s fingers fluttered to her mouth, then down to the silk of her robe, which she tried to tighten around her. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Thought I’d drop round and see what you’re up to.” She struggled to keep her voice light, but could hear the edge of panic creeping into it. “Fancy a drink at the wine bar down the road?”

Sonia leant against the door. “It’s not convenient right now.”

“I’ll only come in for a minute then.”

“No.”

Sonia’s refusal sharpened Holly’s resolve. She twisted with speed and grace, and in one fluid movement lined her shoulder to the door and threw her seventy five kilos against it. It yielded and she slid her foot behind it, levering Sonia off balance.

“Stop,” said Sonia, in a voice as sharp as new scissors. “You can’t barge in here.” Her perfume hung between them; exotic, heavy and insidious.

Again, be sure to check back soon for my review of Transplanting Holly Oakwood and tomorrow for my interview with Di.

About the Author
I was born in Liverpool, England to parents who had a strong sense of adventure and moved many times. I’ve lived in Canada, the United States, England and New Zealand. I’ve worked in a variety of jobs ranging from envelope stuffer to bakery assistant, librarian to trade development executive, but none of my jobs were as much fun as the one that allowed me to write and get paid for it. That was a few years ago, and each year it’s become more and more apparent what I want to do is write full time, a dream that first occurred to me at seventeen.

I write chick lit – light hearted and humorous stories for and about women who value their families, their friendships, their careers, their independence, who have a sense of adventure, and who live and love with passion.

Like my characters, I love my family and friends, beautiful shoes, anything sparkly, the ‘occasional’ drink, parties, and a good belly laugh. I’m addicted to shopping, chocolate, bubble bath and anything else that smells nice, and the sort of tv programmes you’d never publicly admit to watching.

I live in a lovingly renovated home overlooking Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour, with my trusted friends Bronson Boxer and Dolce Dane. They keep me fit and exercised, scare the burglars away, sit loyally by my side throughout my late night writing sessions, and hang on my every word when I read final drafts aloud. They truly are my biggest fans, and I theirs!

I love my life, but not so much that there’s not room to live a load of other lives, through the hearts and minds of my characters, all of whom I adore, and some of whom I’m fortunate enough to call friend.

Connect with Di
http://www.dijoneswrites.com
http://www.amazon.com/Transplanting-Holly-Oakwood-ebook/dp/B008AFPGII/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
http://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Miss-Mollie-ebook/dp/B00BA8T03O/ref=pd_sim_b_1

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wbn 2013

2013-04-25T07:31:00.002-05:00

Tuesday night, I shared 20 copies of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood with one of our local community centers as part of World Book Night. They have youth and adult reading programs aimed at promoting literacy in Lincoln. I couldn't think of a better home for those books than a program committed to WBN's mission of providing books to light or non-readers.

This year's WBN approach was different than the one I took last year. You can read about last year's adventures here, but basically, I walked around Downtown Lincoln -- specifically the bar district -- with my little sister and shared our copies of John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany.

I'm not sure which approach is best.

The one I took last year was great, because I had a chance to interact with people one-on-one and engage in conversations about reading. But, in the time since sharing those books, I've had many of those people say the book is still sitting on their shelf waiting to be read. That's a little disappointing, but also understandable. You can't change a person's behavior from non-reader to reader magically. It takes a willingness on their part.

This year's approach undoubtedly took less time, which made me feel a little guilty. Initially, I planned to divide the books up amongst several local organizations needing books. I did some research, placed a few calls to find out how to go about donating and if they were even interested. When I spoke with the reading program organizer, and he explained what they would do with those books, I knew this was the perfect home for them.

I'm thrilled to know that because of the dedicated team and volunteers at this center, those 20 copies of The Handmaid's Tale will be read by at least 20 people who are determined to become readers.

Did anyone else participate in WBN this year? Which books did you give away? This year's list was pretty darn impressive -- I loved so many of the books on the list.

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send my regards to hogwarts

2013-04-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

A magical photo opp. And look, it's labeled so all of your
Facebook friends won't wonder why you're standing
in front of a cart attached to a wall for no apparent
reason! Plus, it's easier to find that way.

Let's cross the pond to jolly old England for today's Lit Adventure.

Harry Potter fans have the chance to pretend they are on the way to Hogwarts when they are in London's King Cross Station.

Visiting is easy. You go partway between platforms 9 and 10 -- 3/4 of the way to be exact -- and the powers that be have attached a shopping cart to the wall so you can pretend you're going through the wall to Hogwarts.

The station itself looks kind of cool, too.
At least it did when I went. They've done
some renovations.

Now for a couple quick facts about King's Cross Station:

More than 40 million people pass through King's Cross Station annually. That's a lot, but makes sense when you factor in just how big London is and how well connected rail is throughout Europe.
King Cross is presently a construction zone of sorts. The first phase completed with the opening of the new western departures concourse in March 2012. The final stage will be the removal of the 1973 extension and the restoration of the original facade. Passengers will depart the station through the front onto a new public square.

Something to keep in mind: The real King's Cross Station was not used for filming the Harry Potter movies. The exterior -- and interior -- look different than they do in the movies, but Hollywood always takes liberties with the books, am I right?

There's not much more to it then that, but it is a fun photo if you are in the area. Plus, I found the station easy to navigate, which was great when my classmates and I found ourselves departing town.

See look, there's me at Platform 9 and 3/4
five years ago when I was in England.
See how young and pudgy I look?
I'm still pudgy, but we're working on it.
At least I look happy.

Related Links
Cauldron Cakes Recipe from Reading in the Kitchen
King's Cross Station Station
Greater London Authority Visit London

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interview with the author of 'reckless abandon'

2013-04-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger's Note: Today, I'm pleased to welcome author Jenn Flynn-Shon, on tour with her novella, Reckless Abandon (read my review here). Thanks so much for stopping by.

Change the Word: What was the inspiration for this story?
Jenn Flynn-Shon: One day I was chatting with my husband about what would happen if he was suddenly missing when I came home from doing something mundane like grocery shopping. I felt like I’d been smacked with the idea stick and dove right into the devious side of my personality to start piecing together what kind of a guy goes missing and just how far his wife might go to try to hunt him down and bring him home. Especially when the only person she can trust to help her is her very first love.

CTW: How did writing a second book differ from writing the debut?
JFS: On so many levels! I felt more disciplined in my writing this time around and had a solid idea of exactly how I wanted the story to open and close as well as many of the twists and turns that would happen along the way. With the first, Ripple the Twine, I was focused on love and friendship, how different types of people can build their own version of family and navigate the perils of life and love in a big city like Boston. The story spanned a longer period of time but focused on only one geographic place. With Reckless Abandon I knew it had to be much tighter regarding timeframe of the characters so it was more challenging to maintain the frenetic pace throughout especially because they criss-cross the country to multiple locations. Plus the relationships in the second one were going to be a lot messier, a lot more complicated, so I had to flesh out who they really were as well as what they purported to be through their dialogue. The biggest challenge though was that the genres were vastly different. In Chick-Lit I could get into my character’s head and have her spin a little, with Romantic Suspense the spin had to be firmly rooted in the background. The reader had to know it was there without anyone telling them.

CTW: What lessons did you learn from book one that you were able to apply to this story?
JFS: I’d say the greatest lesson I learned was how to write a more captivating opening scene. With Sara in Ripple I like that she was out doing her morning routine by herself because it fit the character in many ways. But it was somewhat slower getting to know everyone and their motivations. In Reckless I dropped Shaw right into the drama without describing a moment of her day-to-day that came just before it. Nothing about her life was ever going to be day-to-day again, it wouldn’t have worked with Shaw the way it did for Sara.

CTW: What is one trait you share with your character?
JFS: There are several things that Shaw and I have in common but her low blood sugar crashes stick out as a character trait I can identify with most. I know how it feels to get that way after not eating for a long time and it can be debilitating. Plus I like that it sets up one of the first moments between Shaw and JJ where JJ stops being so bitter and shows her he cares.

CTW: What most surprised you writing this book?
JFS: Probably that I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought I might be writing scenes where people were murdered. I mean it wasn’t my favorite thing to write but it’s real. Life is real and messy and sometimes people get killed. I think that’s why I liked the twist of Suspense as opposed to Chick-Lit. In Chick-Lit there can be death too but it rarely turns out to be murder. I was happy to find I had that edge inside me.

CTW: If you were stranded on a desert island and could take one book with you (and no eReaders, because your battery would die), what book would that be and why?
JFS: Well I’d have to say The Idiots Guide to Getting Off a Deserted Island but I don’t think it’s been written yet so I’d settle for The Ultimate Survival Manual, because I could say Shakespeare or Weiner but neither of those people are going to tell me how to spear a boar or avoid a smoke monster.

CTW: Do you belong to any writing groups? How do they benefit your writing?
JFS: I do! The Scottsdale Society of Women Writers is a group I’ve been actively involved with since fall of 2011 and I love the energy those women have. Mingling with other writers is great for character building and just knowing that I’m not the only one out here working by clicking keys alone in my house all day. There have been some great presenters there and I’ve learned about some amazing conferences I attended last year that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the inside track on. This year I joined the Arizona Authors Association and plan to get more involved with their workshops and meetings as the year goes on.

CTW: What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received?
JFS: I had two teachers in High School who were some of the earliest champions of my work and both offered the same piece of excellent advice – publish. For any Writer who might be serious about pursuing it as a full time career like I am there really is no better advice on Earth. We can flex our creative muscles writing and writing all day long and while that’s great for the creative side it does nothing for the need to put it out there. Publish. On a blog, a letter to the editor, a novel, a series, memoir, an article, well-constructed tweets. It doesn’t matter how or what just do it. Being able to write is a gift and it deserves to be shared with the world.

CTW: What's up next for you and your writing?
JFS: I’m slowly trying to get back into writing again after some health stuff sidelined me this past fall and winter. Posting on a couple different blogs I have is proving cathartic as well as helping me improve my prose and voice again. By late spring I hope to have both an expanded book of poetry fully edited and available for sale, as well as a solid first draft to the sequel to Reckless Abandon and the scribblings for the third in that series.

CTW: Any final thoughts?
JFS: Just one – thanks so much for letting me take over your space for the day, Laura! I appreciate the thoughtful questions and room to answer them! Happy writing and reading

About the Author
Hi, my name is Jenn Flynn-Shon and I’m the Author of two books (Ripple the Twine, Reckless Abandon), a Chapbook (Trying for the Moon), multiple Zines, and Randomness and Lunacy (a digital-journal blog).

I’ve been writing since age eleven and began penning fiction by age thirteen. My first publication was a poem published under a pen name in Bop Magazine in 1989. Since then I’ve had articles and interviews published online and in print.

I’m a two-time winning participant in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) (2009, 2010), an active member of the Scottsdale Society of Women Writers and Arizona Authors Association.

When I make time to relax I love to hang out with my husband at our home in Phoenix, AZ, explore the country on road trips, watch my Boston sports teams, share laughs with friends and family, and read everything from blogs to novels. I make a point to write daily, and I’m a shameless self-promoter.

Connect with Jenn and Buy the BookBlog - http://randomnessandlunacy.blogspot.com/
Writesy - http://writesy.blogspot.com/
Ripple the Twine - http://www.lulu.com/shop/jenn-flynn-shon/ripple-the-twine/paperback/product-20117696.html
"Reckless Abandon" - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YWT2RW
Amazon - http://amazon.com/author/jennshon
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/jennshon
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JennFlynnShon
Twitter - http://twitter.com/jennshon

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book review: reckless abandon

2013-04-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

A woman's life changes drastically and forever when she must enlist the help of her ex to find her missing husband in Jenn Flynn-Shon's novella, Reckless Abandon.

Shaw McLeary returns from a trip to the grocery store to find her house in tatters, her valuables stolen and her husband missing. When she overhears the responding officer being shot, she goes on the run. In her desperation, she turns to the one person she could always trust, and the first person she loved, JJ Anderson. A private investigator, JJ is still hurting from Shaw's abandonment years earlier.

Though reluctant to get involved, JJ can't resist helping Shaw -- especially with her life in danger. Their search for answers takes them from Arizona to New York. Along the way, they must sift through clues about Shaw's husband while also addressing the old feelings from their past that neither seems capable of forgetting.

Shaw makes a solid narrator for this story. Even though she comes with plenty of flaws -- namely her desire to stick by her husband, who has been a bit of a dick in recent history, even before fleeing -- she also approaches the story with the mind of a writer. That means, she's able to question developments, look for details and make plenty of conjectures.

Her ex, JJ, was a great character, and I instantly felt an attachment to him. He was apparently responsible and steady enough to put in his 20 years of police service and invest his experience and pay in a future career as a PI. Though a bit frosty at first, he's really quite sweet. I had a swoonable moment every time he showed how much he worried about Shaw's well-being and was able to put aside his hurt feelings to help her.

Because I liked them so much, I wanted to know why these two kids weren't able to figure it out earlier. I was thrilled to see them uncover some of their issues from the past even as they solved their current problems.

Throwing Shaw and JJ together and then sending them on the run made for plenty of tense moments. Adding in their history provided even more.

Fast-paced and intriguing, this book kept me turning page after page. As we're headed into vacation season, this would be a great book to take along if you're looking for a sexy mystery to keep you busy on a plane ride or drive.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

About the Author
Hi, my name is Jenn Flynn-Shon and I’m the Author of two books (Ripple the Twine, Reckless Abandon), a Chapbook (Trying for the Moon), multiple Zines, and Randomness and Lunacy (a digital-journal blog).

I’ve been writing since age eleven and began penning fiction by age thirteen. My first publication was a poem published under a pen name in Bop Magazine in 1989. Since then I’ve had articles and interviews published online and in print.

I’m a two-time winning participant in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) (2009, 2010), an active member of the Scottsdale Society of Women Writers and Arizona Authors Association.

When I make time to relax I love to hang out with my husband at our home in Phoenix, AZ, explore the country on road trips, watch my Boston sports teams, share laughs with friends and family, and read everything from blogs to novels. I make a point to write daily, and I’m a shameless self-promoter.

Connect with Jenn and Buy the BookBlog - http://randomnessandlunacy.blogspot.com/
Writesy - http://writesy.blogspot.com/
Ripple the Twine - http://www.lulu.com/shop/jenn-flynn-shon/ripple-the-twine/paperback/product-20117696.html
"Reckless Abandon" - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YWT2RW
Amazon - http://amazon.com/author/jennshon
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/jennshon
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JennFlynnShon
Twitter - http://twitter.com/jennshon

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letter from camp - 4/20/13

2013-04-20T09:29:00.001-05:00

I'm a classy dame, which means I've selected only the finest of
chocolate for this s'more I'm a'makin' this month. It's gonna be delish.

Dear friends,

It's 4/20, y'all, and you know what that means... That's right, only 10 more days of Camp NaNoWriMo! (Hahahaha... oh puns...)

If you read my earlier posts this week then you'll know I had a fantastic time in Colorado visiting one of my friends. Even though my Monday night flight home was canceled, and my weekend jaunt became more stressful, I still found ample time to write.

I'm currently working on two stories that are contributing to my word count. One is a novel and the other is a 10,000-word novelette. You can read my post about it (here), but basically while I was in Colorado I was uber inspired to write this story that I needed to work on this summer, and I decided to put it to paper while it was still fresh in my mind.

I'm loving this story and have had so much fun writing it. I'm finding that my success with this story is inspiring me to work on other stories as well, which is great.

I've managed to stay far enough ahead that I can take off one or two days of writing each week. Which was nice. Because last night, after an emotionally draining week, it was nice to take an evening off and relax knowing my story would still be here when I opened the document next.

As of today I have 26,061 -- which means I need to write 600 words, today, to stay on track. That's a good place to be.

XOXO
Laura

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when inspiration strikes

2013-04-18T07:24:00.001-05:00

It doesn't happen often that I'm struck with inspiration when I can actually do something about it. But fortunately for me, that's happened the past couple of weeks.

After clearing my schedule for Camp NaNoWriMo, I find myself excited to write, willing to write and able to write.

When I say I have the time and ability to work on my writing, what I mean is I've told myself it's OK to be late posting book reviews this month and I've given myself that brain power to do it. I still don't necessarily have more time in a day than before -- I guess except for subtracting the time it takes to read two or three books in a week.

But I'm still struck with the inspiration to write at moments in my day when writing isn't on my agenda. It can be when I'm in a car (driving or as a passenger), sitting at my desk or spending time with a friend or family member.

This month, instead of saying, "Oh, I'll come back to it later," I've tried a new approach. I've stopped whatever I was doing to jot down a note or even write a few lines of dialogue while the idea is fresh in my mind. I'll make a note in my iPhone or write it on a notepad. Then, as soon as I have time to commit to opening up the word document for my story, I do.

And the writing process goes so much more smoothly. And I find myself better able to focus on what I was supposed to be doing at that time if I can just settle the issue of my story. It's a big win for me.

The only downside of this writing freedom is that my pile of books to review is getting bigger. But I'll get to them. If I made a commitment, I'll find a way to fulfill it. You just might not see many more book reviews until May. And, OK, my pile of dirty laundry is also getting bigger, my house is becoming messier and I have a few other little commitments that need taken care of this weekend.

But I'll find the time. I've only just realized the value of making time for my writing, too, and I love it.

Now that I've finished this rambling post, I'm going to write a few more paragraphs before I dry my hair.

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go cougars

2013-04-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

When Ana Steele first sets eyes on Christian Grey in E L James Fifty Shades of Grey, she is a senior English major at Washington Statue University Vancouver, weeks away from graduation.

On a recent trip to Portland, I decided to cross the Columbia River to check out what the school was all about. Located off Interstate-5, where -- let's face it -- everything in that book seems to be close proximity to, WSUV is about 15 minutes from Portland.

I visited on a Sunday morning in August, so needless to say there was not a lot of activity to see. This was probably for the best. I don't want to seem like a creeper when I'm off on my travels, after all, and I never like disturbing the natural flow of events when I visit any place. But at that time of day and year the university looked beautiful.

If you're like me and enjoy checking out various college campuses, this one is worth the stop. With plenty of trees, mountains and walking trails to surround it, I hope the students who attend can appreciate their good fortune in living somewhere so pretty.

I was surprised by how new everything seemed. Then, I did some research and realized the university itself was established in 1983, and the campus opened in 1996. That explained a few things.

Some quick facts about WSUV from the school's website:

Enrollment: 2,980 students; 2,357 full-time
Female: 55 percent, Male: 45 percent
More than 140 fulltime, Ph.D. faculty
351-acre campus
10 miles north of the Columbia River
13 buildings

Related Sources:
City of Vancouver
City of Portland
Washington State University Vancouver

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a delightful detour

2013-04-15T09:48:00.000-05:00

Near Frisco, Colo.

Greetings from Colorado!

I'm on the third and final day of a short visit to spend time with one of my friends.

On Saturday we did a little shopping, and I made a pilgrimage to IKEA. While I was disappointed not to find a slipcover for my couch, I did pick-up some cheap and cute picture frames and a new laptop thing, which will hopefully prevent me from getting carpel tunnel.

I also bought a small rug -- I know, I'm nuts, but it'll really tie my whole room together -- some new flip-flops for when Mother Nature gets it together and stops sending snow our way and a few other odds and ins. I think I should be able to fit most of it in my luggage, but I spied a post office not far from here just in case.

Yesterday, we made the drive to Breckenridge. This was my first time seeing a mountain ski town, and it was everything I imagined and ridiculously adorable.

As an added perk, we were stuck in traffic on the drive up, and my imagination got to working, and I came up with the opening scene for a holiday-themed novelette I'll release later this year. By the time we made it to Breckenridge -- and after I ate breakfast and had a couple of coffees -- everywhere I look I found more inspiration for this story.

Here's a couple of photos of some inspiring views:

I took a couple dozen more, because everywhere I looked I saw my story.

Thankfully, my friend is a fellow writer and a great sounding board, so she didn't get too annoyed when every five minutes I randomly said, "What do you think about...?" or "Wouldn't this be the perfect spot for...?"

Working away during a short stop in the drive.

She also didn't hold it against me when I started jotting down notes or writing parts of a scene in my iPhone. God bless her.

By the time we arrived back in Denver for the evening, I had my two main characters developed, an outline of the story and the first scene written and a healthy start on the rest.

Before taking this lovely detour into a story I'm absolutely loving, I was still managing to hit my daily word count goals for my Camp NaNoWriMo book. Though I've had to put that story on hold for a couple of days to write this 10K-work beauty while it's fresh on my mind, I figure it all goes towards my word count. This is also the most excited I have been about writing in a while, and I can only imagine how it will carryover into my other works.

With that, I'm going to get off the interwebs and get back to writing! Talk to you later.

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