1. Thursday afternoon, someone backed into the driver's side of the Explorer while I was parked downtown.
2. In this case, "backed into" is a euphamism for "drove-like-Shoe-Carnival-was-offering-a-buy-1-get-3-free-on-all-pairs-of-stilettos".
2. Thankfully, that person was honorable enough to come find me and we filled out an accident report and all that joyousness.
3. Also thankfully, while the door is mangled enough that it won't seal when it's closed, the car is driveable.
4. We hear back on Monday from our insurance company as to rentals and body shops.
5. My in-laws came to town for a brief visit on their way to see other family members in South Carolina.
6. As they rarely see our kids and are thus unfamiliar with the particular joys of raising 3 boys, we subjected them to the seventh level of hell that is Chuck E. Cheese on a Saturday night.
7. Found a new band I really like - Submersed.
8. Their current single, "Price of Fame", is one of those songs that grabbed me the first time I heard it and just gets better each time I listen.
9. Paul might relinquish the van when he gets his new car next week.
10. Then again, Juan Pedro loves cruising in the 9-4 so he may not.
11. My hubby has a birthday cake, four cakes for a decorating demonstration at the Southern Women's Show, a wedding cake, and a groom's cake to work on this week.
12. While I long ago got over even a hint of craving for cake, it does make the house smell nice.
13. I discovered that there are people who go to school to learn how to analyze deer poop.
14. I don't recall that being an option at Pepperdine.
15. I have to get my head shot done and sent off to RWA by Tuesday. Yikes.
16. I also need to polish up Alexa and re-write most of the last two chapters wherein I gave away too much information and then send it off to Katy.
17. Then I get the unmitigated joy of writing a synopsis.
18. I'd rather scrape wallpaper or pet a goat.
19. Okay, I'm lying about the goat.
20. You have to watch out for goats.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Jane Austen, You're Not
I write paranormal fiction. The kind that come out in paperback until you have a proven track record warranting a hardback book. The kind that are featured on grocery store shelves.
I do not write books that are likely to be chosen for Oprah's next book of the month.
My stories are the kind that keep you up at night, promising yourself that you will put down the book after just one more chapter until it's 2 a.m. and your eyes are crossing. My stories are fast-paced, entertaining rides that unashamedly make no attempt to dissect and discuss the state of mankind today, solve world hunger, or peel back the layers of society to reveal the blight and beauty beneath.
This is because I write paranormal fiction. I do not write literary fiction. I barely read literary fiction. I have some on my shelves, I've enjoyed it and admired it, but it doesn't speak to my heart the way paranormal does.
I am open about what I write. Most of the reactions I receive are positive - ranging from avid interest to those who don't read my genre but are supportive of the fact that I write. One reaction, however, raises my blood pressure just a little.
I have a friend or two who smile a bit condescendingly over my work and tell me that they only like to read "literature". By this, I discovered upon further questioning, they meant works reminiscent of the classics, such as Jane Austen and Mary Shelley.
They wanted something...well...literary and they are convinced nothing worthy of being called literature comes in paperback on a grocery store shelf.
I disagree.
In her day, Jane Austen was a paperback romance writer. It is only distance and historical perspective on the value of her literary contribution that have ensconced her firmly in the annals of Penguin Classics (which are still, incidentally, available in paperback).
Mary Shelley arguably wrote the first paranormal novel. She wrote in a day when women writers were shunned and many were forced to use male psuedonymns to get published at all. Frankenstein is a work of astounding, entertaining genius but it is, at its heart, a paranormal novel rife with the kind of suspense that keeps the reader up for just one more chapter.
My point is this: today's paperback writer's are next century's literary classics. Only time and perspective will tell which authors endure to become a Penguin Classic. I don't mind at all if a reader prefers literary fiction to romance or paranormal. I do mind when someone is ignorant enough to compare today's romance and paranormal writers with yesterday's romance and paranormal writers and find us lacking because we use current idioms, settings, and situations.
I will not accept anyone implying that I am not a "true" author because I write stories that entertain. I will not meekly stand in a corner of the literary world because I write the kind of books that are found on grocery store shelves. I stand proudly beside a host of authors, past and present, who took the characters and ideas clamoring in their heads, used the talent and discipline at their disposal, and forged a work of literature that kept some reader somewhere burning the midnight oil to read just one more chapter.
I do not write books that are likely to be chosen for Oprah's next book of the month.
My stories are the kind that keep you up at night, promising yourself that you will put down the book after just one more chapter until it's 2 a.m. and your eyes are crossing. My stories are fast-paced, entertaining rides that unashamedly make no attempt to dissect and discuss the state of mankind today, solve world hunger, or peel back the layers of society to reveal the blight and beauty beneath.
This is because I write paranormal fiction. I do not write literary fiction. I barely read literary fiction. I have some on my shelves, I've enjoyed it and admired it, but it doesn't speak to my heart the way paranormal does.
I am open about what I write. Most of the reactions I receive are positive - ranging from avid interest to those who don't read my genre but are supportive of the fact that I write. One reaction, however, raises my blood pressure just a little.
I have a friend or two who smile a bit condescendingly over my work and tell me that they only like to read "literature". By this, I discovered upon further questioning, they meant works reminiscent of the classics, such as Jane Austen and Mary Shelley.
They wanted something...well...literary and they are convinced nothing worthy of being called literature comes in paperback on a grocery store shelf.
I disagree.
In her day, Jane Austen was a paperback romance writer. It is only distance and historical perspective on the value of her literary contribution that have ensconced her firmly in the annals of Penguin Classics (which are still, incidentally, available in paperback).
Mary Shelley arguably wrote the first paranormal novel. She wrote in a day when women writers were shunned and many were forced to use male psuedonymns to get published at all. Frankenstein is a work of astounding, entertaining genius but it is, at its heart, a paranormal novel rife with the kind of suspense that keeps the reader up for just one more chapter.
My point is this: today's paperback writer's are next century's literary classics. Only time and perspective will tell which authors endure to become a Penguin Classic. I don't mind at all if a reader prefers literary fiction to romance or paranormal. I do mind when someone is ignorant enough to compare today's romance and paranormal writers with yesterday's romance and paranormal writers and find us lacking because we use current idioms, settings, and situations.
I will not accept anyone implying that I am not a "true" author because I write stories that entertain. I will not meekly stand in a corner of the literary world because I write the kind of books that are found on grocery store shelves. I stand proudly beside a host of authors, past and present, who took the characters and ideas clamoring in their heads, used the talent and discipline at their disposal, and forged a work of literature that kept some reader somewhere burning the midnight oil to read just one more chapter.
Quote of the Week
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
- Anonymous
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Mid-Week Madness
1. I am excited about the series of posts on writing. It's a fun challenge for myself and seems to be grabbing the interest of several readers, which is always nice.
2. The yeast rolls at Logan's are of the devil.
3. Paul has been driving my sexy '94 Dodge Caravan (yes, the one Juan Pedro nabbed for his night on the town) for about three weeks now while his car was on the fritz.
4. Now he's decided to sell his car and buy a car that used to be an undercover cop car. (Who knew he'd be drawn to that?!)
5. Last night I told him I really wanted to drive an undercover cop car and I wanted to use it for three weeks in payment of him using my van.
6. Naturally, he balked at the idea, perfectly reasonable though it was.
7. He said he'd let me drive his car sometimes. Translation: You can drive it while I'm in the passenger seat making sure you don't do anything stupid like, oh I don't know, flash the lights and make people pull over left and right just so you can get to work on time.
8. Right. Like I made sure he was driving my van under constant supervision.
9. No deal.
10. I explained that this was how he could repay my generosity in loaning him my 9-4.
11. He couldn't argue the point so we began negotiations.
12. He wanted to drive the car for a little while, to savor its newness, and then loan it to me for a few days.
13. Did I tell him I'd like to drive my van for a little while longer to savor its, umm, unique character before loaning it?
14. No I did not.
15. He argued that three weeks was too long.
16. Who has been stuck at home these past three weeks with no vehicle during the day?
17. Me.
18. Still, I was generous enough to amend my offer to two weeks instead of three.
19. He said three days.
20. I said one week, final offer.
21. The agony on his face was easy to read. Buy a new car, one that still looks like an undercover cop car, and immediately loan it to C.J. and continue to drive the 9-4? Untenable. Unless one factors in the fact that Paul thinks he owes me for my generosity.
22. He agreed.
23. I then had the pleasure of yelling "April Fools!!!" and watching the mingled relief and irritation cross his face.
24. Mostly relief.
25. There are two lessons to be learned from this:
1. I do not expect "payment" for a gift freely given.
2. Do not play poker with me for I am skilled in the art of The Bluff.
2. The yeast rolls at Logan's are of the devil.
3. Paul has been driving my sexy '94 Dodge Caravan (yes, the one Juan Pedro nabbed for his night on the town) for about three weeks now while his car was on the fritz.
4. Now he's decided to sell his car and buy a car that used to be an undercover cop car. (Who knew he'd be drawn to that?!)
5. Last night I told him I really wanted to drive an undercover cop car and I wanted to use it for three weeks in payment of him using my van.
6. Naturally, he balked at the idea, perfectly reasonable though it was.
7. He said he'd let me drive his car sometimes. Translation: You can drive it while I'm in the passenger seat making sure you don't do anything stupid like, oh I don't know, flash the lights and make people pull over left and right just so you can get to work on time.
8. Right. Like I made sure he was driving my van under constant supervision.
9. No deal.
10. I explained that this was how he could repay my generosity in loaning him my 9-4.
11. He couldn't argue the point so we began negotiations.
12. He wanted to drive the car for a little while, to savor its newness, and then loan it to me for a few days.
13. Did I tell him I'd like to drive my van for a little while longer to savor its, umm, unique character before loaning it?
14. No I did not.
15. He argued that three weeks was too long.
16. Who has been stuck at home these past three weeks with no vehicle during the day?
17. Me.
18. Still, I was generous enough to amend my offer to two weeks instead of three.
19. He said three days.
20. I said one week, final offer.
21. The agony on his face was easy to read. Buy a new car, one that still looks like an undercover cop car, and immediately loan it to C.J. and continue to drive the 9-4? Untenable. Unless one factors in the fact that Paul thinks he owes me for my generosity.
22. He agreed.
23. I then had the pleasure of yelling "April Fools!!!" and watching the mingled relief and irritation cross his face.
24. Mostly relief.
25. There are two lessons to be learned from this:
1. I do not expect "payment" for a gift freely given.
2. Do not play poker with me for I am skilled in the art of The Bluff.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Add Your 2 Cents
I've started the series of posts on the writing process and have some ideas of my own on what the series will cover but some comments on my first post caused me to add to my list. =)
So...here's the list I'm currently working from. If you have another topic you'd like covered, please suggest it!
*Writing an attention-grabbing first chapter
*Setting
*Characters
*Voice
*Dialogue
*Pacing
*Outlines vs. Seat of the Pants
*Queries
*Synopsis
*Writing a series
*The submission process
So...here's the list I'm currently working from. If you have another topic you'd like covered, please suggest it!
*Writing an attention-grabbing first chapter
*Setting
*Characters
*Voice
*Dialogue
*Pacing
*Outlines vs. Seat of the Pants
*Queries
*Synopsis
*Writing a series
*The submission process
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