One of my favorite readers, Amanda Urquhart from Down Under – does that mean I’m Up Over? Back on topic. Amanda recently posted that she was looking forward to spring which means – yeah – I’m moving into fall, which brings on a cool word like autumnal, the wearing of sweaters and my new blue jean jacket. I also have my collection of boots lined up. I’m ready! What else is going on?
Read MoreMusings
Inspiration and Music
This weekend, The Red Pen and I attended a Vertical Horizon concert. It took place in a Chicago club The Wire, and even though the crowd was small, the performers were big. They performed like they were playing for a house of tens of thousands.
Read MoreInspiration and Muse
The other day, my little sister asked me a question that has been asked before: Where does all this stuff come from? She was on the other end of a phone conversation and not standing next to me in my office. Had she been in my office, I would have assumed she meant the castoff bits and bobs that needed to be filed, notes, and lots and lots of papers. Where all these had accumulated from, who knows? But once my inner paranoid housekeeper was quieted, I realized she was talking about where I got my book ideas from. I had an easy answer: my imagination! Okay, but what fuels this imagination? That’s… a bit more complicated.
Read MoreUpdates and Weather
“Now that you’ve launched The Old House, the 16th novel of PEEPs, what are you going to do?”
Well, I’m not going to Walt Disney World. Been there. I’m actually finishing the first draft of the 17th novel. I’m a bit worried because I don’t have a title yet. I’m expecting my Cin Fin-Lathen novel Unforgiveable Cin: An Opera in Three Acts back from the editor with lots of corrections for me to do. Also, I’ve bought myself, yet again, another pair of boots.
Read MoreLasciare Andare (Letting Go)
I’ve just finished writing Unforgivable Cin: An Opera in Three Acts. I had written a first, second and third draft of this mystery book before I felt it was ready to send to my new editor yesterday afternoon. I’m using two editors now, so I can get quality books to you readers sooner, one for the Haunted Series and one for the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries. The Red Pen is nearing the end of her edit of the 16th Haunted Series novel The Old House, and I expect to release it in a few weeks. One would think that this author would be dancing around… Wrong. Why? Because I have trouble letting go.
Read MoreDo You Believe?
Do you believe in ghosts? is a frequently asked question. Most people do. Some will tell you why with a detailed description of the event that convinced them. It will be told with as much enthusiasm as warranted by the event. But others won’t. Why? It’s because the haunt is private. These kinds of haunts are exactly as labeled, private. I’ve experienced my fair share of paranormal events. One touched me so deeply that I will only tell a select few. It isn’t that I doubt the legitimacy of the event, it’s because it affected me in such a personal way that I’d rather keep it private.
Read MoreNo ereaders have been harmed in the making of this blog post...much.
Why you can’t put an ebook in the freezer
It’s interesting to try to write an update without spoilers, but I’m going to give it a try. Last Saturday I finished the first draft of The Old House. Much to my surprise, it came in pre-edit at the largest word count I’ve written in a single book. I suspect there may be an overabundance of words like perhaps, several toos that should be two, and a put-the-book-in-the-freezer Joey moment. Why the freezer? Because that’s what happens when I stay true to the characters.
Read MoreTut Ain't Common
Tut came to us via aircraft. He was contained on a large piece of rolled up papyrus. The beautifully crafted artist’s rendition of King Tutankhamun’s death mask was bought as a souvenir by my husband after he had toured the great pyramids. I was so pleased with the beautiful colors and level of artistry that we made plans to have it framed and hung on the wall of our living room when we could afford it. In the meanwhile, he lay on top of the table in the formal dining room.
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