Guest Blogger Margaret West

And here we are... back at approximating normal... I'd like to welcome Margaret West as a guest blogger today.  It looks like she's got a little eye candy and so chances are, you are going to find something you like.  She also has some excerpts to give us an idea about here writing, so dig in and enjoy!

 ***

Hi, it’s so nice to be here. Let me tell you a bit about myself first.

I’m an author..of course...but, I’m also a Clairknowing medium, Crystal Therapist, Parapsychologist and a Psychic Development tutor. I live in England and reside in the country, where there really are just cows and sheep milling about outside. I’m a romantic at heart. I married a man who is a true romantic too, so life is good LOL

My publisher is Eternal Press. I’ve got a few publishers for different things, but I intend to stay with EP for my novels for the foreseeable future. They are very author friendly and the other authors are very supportive.. It’s been a long hard road to get published, with many tears and enough rejection letters to paper my toilet, but I’m glad I’ve persevered.

I started my spiritual blog to separate it from my writing, yet now I have paranormal authors popping over to it for information they need for various writing projects LOL so maybe it’s supposed to be linked somehow!

I write Romance and Romance with paranormal elements. I like to try and incorporate my spiritual life into my work where I can. I don’t have huge sex scenes in my books, but there just has to be an element of seduction, otherwise it’s just plain boring!! My latest release, THE HEART OF A WARRIOR is about a Native American called Yuma and a nurse from the UK called Belinda. I based Yuma on about a 20 different characters I’ve seen and met. I have to tell you, I often sat and day dreamed about what he’d look like for real!! In the end I think I fell in love with him a little myself. LOL

Yuma’s culture means because he is a high ranking chief, he has to carry on his blood line. Where does that leave him and Belinda? In a right mess, that’s what. How can she fight traditions that date back hundreds of years. How can Yuma handle a sassy English woman, who is independent and never does as she’s told? Can Belinda put everything she knows behind her and embark on a whole new way of life. It’s a romance that’s fought in every page. You’ll be laughing and crying with this oddly matched pair.

Here is a small taster.

“Are you sure this thing can fly?” Ahiga said, staring out of the planes window dubiously.


Yuma laughed. “Of course, stop panicking; the trip will be an experience for us both.”


“I’m told there are more people in London than on our entire Res,” Ahiga said, buckling up his seat belt.


“I heard that too,” Yuma said, clicking his belt into place. “Can you imagine seeing so many Hogan’s piled in one place?”


Ahiga laughed. “I think it’ll be very crowded. I also think you should’ve tied your hair more modestly, Yuma. Your braids are causing a lot of attention. One woman almost fell over her case when you passed her.”


Yuma’s hand shot up to his braids. Fingering them absently, he’d never admit that he wore them because Belinda liked it this way. Her opinion mattered to him. It was important she saw the man she fell in love with and not a man who blended in with all the others. He was out of his environment. The outsider. He didn’t much like the
feeling as they taxied down the runway, Yuma sighed when he saw Ahiga grip the arms of his chair. “Now we’ll see if the plane can hold our weight,” Yuma teased.


“It had better. Otherwise Aponi will scatter your bones on the runway if you kill her fiancé.”


****


Ahiga grabbed his holdall from the revolving carousel of assorted luggage. He shivered as a cold draught blew in from behind it. “It’s colder than hell outside. We should’ve brought thicker jackets,” Ahiga complained.


Yuma pulled his bag from the carousel. The airport was huge and he was beginning to think the stories about the amount of people in London were true. “We need to go outside and get a black taxi. Harry said they are just outside the main doors.” Ahiga’s smile almost split his face in two. “I’ve always wanted to see inside one of them.”


“Don’t get too used to it,” Yuma laughed. “It costs a lot of money to travel in such luxury.”


“I’m not really good with the currency here. So if you don’t mind I’ll leave the money side of things to you.”


“And you think I understand it any better?” Yuma replied. As they walked through customs and towards the main door, Yuma was aware of the stir he and Ahiga were causing. Dressed in shiny cowboy boots, denims and a shirt, he thought they would blend in, but it was having the opposite effect. Maybe Ahiga was right, his shoulder length hair and coloured braids seemed to be causing too much attention. It was becoming embarrassing.

My next release is a short coffee break read called Two faces One Life. It’s based loosely on someone I know who fought for many years to overcome her disabilities and become a strong and empowered woman. Ted and Sarah meet by complete accident in a park. Both have devastating injuries. While Ted had learned to deal with his, Sarah believes her life is over and wants to die.

This has been called an inspirational romance. I’ll leave you to decide. I’m giving away a free autographed copy of this book. Everyone who comments will go into a draw for it. So please, do let me know what you think.

Here is an excerpt.

“How old are you?” Ted interrupted her thoughts.


“Eighteen,” she replied. “Why?”


“Because you sound…how can I put this? Well…you sound old before your time. As though you’ve all the worries of the world were balancing on your shoulders.”


“I don’t know what you mean,” Sarah snapped defensively. She couldn’t let him know about her burns. What if he got up and left? He was the first person, apart from her parents, who didn’t judge her on looks alone.


“Yes you do. Look, I know what it’s like to feel frightened and alone. Okay, we don’t know each other that well, but I’m always on this bench if you ever need a friendly ear. I’d like to think of you as a friend.”


Sarah felt her heart jump at the thought. “I could do with a friend right now.” She was surprised how much she was enjoying Ted’s company. “My friends don’t come and visit anymore.”


“Why? Is that why you were crying?”


“I wasn’t crying,” Sarah lied.


Ted sighed. “Okay, if you won’t tell me what’s wrong, tell me why you cringe back in the seat every time someone passes us.”


Sarah turned sharply and examined Ted’s face. She couldn’t see his eyes behind those dark glasses, but he must be blind. Why else would he have the white stick beside him? “How do you know that?”


“I’m blind, Sarah, not stupid. I can practically hear you squirming. My blindness isn’t a disease; you can’t catch it. You don’t need to feel uncomfortable.”


“Oh, no, I’m not bothered about that,” she protested. “It’s me… I mean, well, people stare at me. It makes me feel awkward.”


Ted moved to face her and fumbled for her hand until he found it buried in her lap. His face held a questioning smile, as he held it tightly.


“Okay. Now we’ve sorted out that, tell me why you sat next to me. This is a big park. There are plenty of other benches.”


Sarah was mortified. How could she say she sat beside him because he was blind? “Please don’t ask me,” she begged.

You buy these hereAmazon

View the trailers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0JPoQwM8ok The heart of a warrior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIm9H3lV61k&feature=channel Two faces One life


Well, thank you all for popping by. You can find me at
www.margaret-west.com
Writers Blog. http://Margaret-paranormalromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
Spiritual Blog. http://magsx.blogspot.com/
Facebook & Twitter: mwest

Dark Tart/Light Tart

Y'all have heard me grumble about my crabby hubby from time to time, yeah? You know he can be difficult? I had a big giant reminder this week as to WHY such a light hearted, happy-go-lucky gal as myself might choose such a person as a partner... let me e'splain...

Dark and Mysterious Leanings

I've mentioned before that though I am drawn a little like Barbie's flat-chested little sister, I prefer to think of myself as more of a Vixen, a Wench, a... yes, I'll say it, a TART. I don't CARE that I don't look the part, I crave sexy, naughty and shocking as part of my identity. I will NOT behave, and I refuse to let YOU without doing my darndest to make sure you know this other way is more fun. So there.

I even like a little DRAMA, though I prefer the variety that can be put on and taken off over the kind that sort of buries you.  Because over all, I'm relatively HAPPY, and like to stay that way...

Mistreating the Nice Guy

Since I don't look the part though (the Vixen-Tart), I have periodically attracted NICE guys. And here is where we get to my reminder...

I didn't really have a 'boy friend' in high school, per se—oh there were BOYS, and I went on dates, and there were the normal hanky-panky things, but the things that were emotionally serious, were NOT exclusive or monogamous. See, I was typically drawn to the BAD BOYS who didn't go in for that sort of thing.

Get to college and I met a very cute, very NICE boy who was interested in more, and it was a time when I was sort of craving something more committed. And it took, and we spent all our time together, and it was really pretty wonderful until my dark corners started demanding attention.  I'd learned some of my naughty lessons from those bad boys, and had internalized them...

Turns out if the PARTNER I choose isn't dark and dangerous, maybe I will make up for the fact. I wasn't very nice in the end... not admirable or worthy of someone who deserved to be treated better. That craving for drama? Oh yeah... I can create it.

I've mentioned I'm a collector, yes? If a person is ever in my life they are FOREVER in my life (including all of you--you know that, right?)—and it's true. At my wedding I had four exes of assorted seriousness. But until this week, this nice boy from college was the exception. He'd cut me off (and deservedly so). But this week, just when I was so irritated with Mr. Darkness, I got a friend request on facebook for the nice guy... reminding me conclusively why I NEEDED to be married to someone DARK. Because otherwise it would be me.



The Sane One

In my marriage there have been some lousy times (and some wonderful ones, but it is the lousy ones I'm writing about, as they are more pertinent to my point—yes, there's a point). I have sometimes wanted to fall apart—wanted to melt down or have fits. But you see, in a family, somebody has to be the SANE one. I've noticed, reading other people's blogs—hearing other people's stories, that SOMETIMES that sanity role falls on the kids and my heart goes out to those people—it isn't fair and is too heavy a burden. Thus far though, in my own life, I've managed to be the sane one.  Had I MARRIED the sane one, I might be the nut (or more likely the drunk)--whatever the case... it falls to me to create the BALANCE.



The Writing Outlet

I LOVE this idea in literature... sane people who suddenly have the leeway to fall apart... people who might otherwise fall apart but the situation demands they hold it together for a while... situational sanity interests me greatly.  As does the balance in a family... the character holding it together while things fall apart around her.

I also like that writing now affords me a channel for my darkness. I didn't used to have this on the same level (in fact with the college boyfriend I quit writing, as he wanted to READ everything and was very disturbed when the darkness showed), so I had to make up for it in LIFE, but NOW, I can just write the darkness. Not sure my hubby has gotten the message yet--that he no longer needs to be my darkness and can just be happy and nice now, but I see moments of sanity, so hopefully he will get there...

Taking Control!

Erm... Sort of.

It's funny how EVERYTHING is going along fine or EVERYTHING stinks, innit? [excuse me—I may borrow a little Taff here and there, as my friend Tara seems to be radiating...]   I mean for a while it's all hunky dory, then suddenly the will power is SHOT and you aren't writing, you aren't eating right, you aren't organized... sorry if I'm projecting here, but to me it seems like life is either relatively IN control, or TOTALLY out of control.

I blogged earlier this week about the 'funk'... a general malaise that was affecting my writing and my mood... well I think it ALSO was affecting the EATING, though last Saturday I pulled THOSE reins in (a full four days before pulling in the writing reins)... and you know what?

THE TART IS IN CONTROL AGAIN!

This week I remembered some things about doing what I need to do. The first is that, corporate giant or not, Nike has something with Just Do It. Just write. Just exercise. Just eat write. Just SKIP the whiny baby feel sorry for myself snacking... Just DO IT.

And it worked.

The writing pulled me out of the funk, and the eating right edged me off the plateau... no not a REAL plateau, because I was there because of not doing what I needed to, but I'd been there for pretty much six weeks. THIS WEEK, my highest weight was my weigh in last week. Before this, I had dropped below that, but only for a day at a time. Now it's solid. Weigh in this morning was only down half a pound, but DOWN, and this is the highest since last Saturday, so I think it is a fluky UP instead of a 'didn't really lose'--if you know what I mean.


Logline Contest

And so... as I stumbled around yesterday, I ran across this logline contest for a novel at the Time Guardian Blog...

Nathan Bransford, Quinetessential Boy Toy of the Agent world... okay, so he is probably also a utility model, but he's so darned CUTE... has suggested ALL OF US need to have three hooks in the form of ONE SENTENCE, ONE PARAGRAPH and TWO PARAGRAPH versions, so if we ever have an agent's undivided attention (say in the elevator), we are ready to pitch. Bryan (blog author and contest head) suggests the one sentence is ALSO what you want for when people ask about your BOOK—MOST are only asking to be polite, but it is STILL a chance to reel them in--if you're quick about it. So in one sentence, how would you describe your book? It's a handy exercise, so I thought I'd play.

I should probably give credit where due here, too. I ran across Bryan through Roland, who also has a GREAT blog... for all that full disclosure stuff... but anyway... I thought I'd give a shot at my sentence (we are allowed up to five because then we can get feedback on what works and doesn't).

So... if I might ask you to check out MY options and the other entrant options, and give some OPINIONS (I KNOW you have tons of THOSE)... Now these are off the cuff—not polished or worked on... just me trying to think of the different ways I start off describing my book... but feedback HELPS! You know how hard it is for me to get to the point!

1)Legacy begins with a young boy witnessing his father's murder and a young girl escaping her mother's drug dealer, and goes on to show what happens when children are left holding the explosive pieces of their parents' legacies.

2)It's about three families connected through a circle of thieves who are stealing art from Romania and selling it on the black market in the U.S.

3)It's about four kids: a runaway who is escaping an addicted mom and a trio whose mother was abducted and father murdered; they realize their families have always been entangled as they help each other stay safe.

4)Legacy is about what happens to children when they are left holding the explosive pieces of their parents' lives.

5)Legacy is about art thieves, runaways, drug addiction, and abduction, but mostly it is about what happens to children when they are left holding the explosive pieces of their parents' lives.

So there we have them... off the cuff a little, but my starting place, so worth the exercise, I think...


And THIS JUST IN

I've got a list of NINE (in addition to the Burrow who will be about that) wanting to participate in BuNoWriMo in June... let me know if you're in so I can makes sure you get all the info you need to join us! Writing a BOOK in June! WAHOO! (then you have all summer to polish for the September Query rush, because I hear MANY agents are just plain unavailable in July and August anyway, yeah? So what better timing?!

Schrödinger's Cat

I told you I'd been thinking about Schrödinger's Cat. I wasn't lying—I wouldn't lie to you! It's actually a sort of apt application, too, though FIRST: SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

I've drawn the winner from the giveaway last week and I'd like to congratualate Alica (Fire & Ice)! The light and journal are on their way!


And back to the story of the day...  erm... in a minute...

I think another explanation for my stress lately is the uncertainty of what the next few months will hold. It is this or that, and I won't know until I know... Let me e'splain...

To start off... feeling much better now... Why?

I have Powered Through

The Tart is in STREAM ROLLER form! Obstacles BAHAHA! You're NOTHING! Waiting? POO! I have all the time in the world! Editing? PISH! You don't scare me! I am WRITING!

I think I have all of you to thank for returning my attitude, and this Cracker song, my favorite of theirs, says it fairly perfectly:

I See The Light by Cracker

I'd really like to see you now
In your father's combat boots
I'd really like to be with you
'Cause we could be so dark


It was only for the grace of you
That I got this attitude
I'll show you my gratitude
When I make it through


I see the light at the end of the tunnel now
(I see the light)
Someone please tell me it's not a train
(Train, I see the light)
I see the light at the end of the tunnel now
(I see the light)
No time to speak, no time to explain


Sometimes I imagine you lying in your bed
Sometimes do you imagine too?
Do you sometimes lust
For the grace that others have inside?


The simple peace they make with life
They feel love like some summer's night
Well, I want it too

chorus chorus, blah blah blah (it doesn't really say chorus chorus blah blah blah, you know... it has more words, but they are mostly words already there... *deadpans*)

I love the idea of lusting for the grace that others have inside, the simple peace they make of life. Isn't that a lovely idea? It's like a big sexy Buddha or something.

And in case you're wondering what kind of twist I've gone around, I am practicing SELF TALK. So there... getting all philosophical and stuff... But the way I figure it, you guys REALLY helped pull me up day before yesterday.

Side Assistance

I've also been First Reading my way through some stuff for friends of mine and LOVE the process. When I do that, I become more objective in MY stuff. I notice things that aren't quite right—things about pacing or tension that I have a hard time spotting in my oh-so-familiar manuscripts, but coming back after the more objective read gives me distance.

I also also (yes, two alsos) took Jan's advice... hmmm... how to distinguish the Jans.... both Canadian, both tarts in their way... though I suppose only the one is OFFICIALLY a tart... Maybe I should go with province... Nova Scotia Jan wrote herself a letter of edits to make in the future... THAT allows you to stop worrying about it NOW because you won't forget (or stress about forgetting)... I adopted it and wrote... okay, so my version was more like a list... but it DID help to write it down... release the tension of this 'at some future date' editing project.

So where is the damn cat?

It's coming. You see, I have a PLAN! (a plan you say? I see some of you running away screaming. I know there are some pantsers out there, but I can't abide by pants. I need a PLAN) [never mind that I rarely follow said plan; it still makes me feel better to make one]


THE PLAN

1)  I have two ideas looming, but you KNOW my theory about stewing, yes? The ideas need to stew before they are properly fermented (because who wants to tell a sober tale, ne?) BUT writing SCENES before they are fully fermented actually HELPS this process. I am okay with the fact that these scenes are never recognizable in the final project. They still help me get to know my characters. So until I hear about the cozy (the answer of which is my Cat), I am writing SCENES.

2)  When I HEAR about the Cozy Gig, I reach the point where I know whether the cat is ALIVE (I get the gig) or dead (I don't get the gig). (see how it fits? I won't know whether it's alive or dead until... I find out. Until then, both the alive and the dead exist and I have to plan for them! *snort *)
*   If I GET the gig, I then write the cozy
*   If I DON'T get the gig, I then EDIT LEGACY until June 1

3)  (We're still on Schrodinger's cat—two versions, equally real (or unreal). Because until you know, you never know, eh?) But on BOTH FORKS, as of JUNE 1, the Burrow is doing a NoWriMo (BuNoWriMo)--and you are WELCOME to join us. Our reasoning is that November is a baddish month for anyone educationally affiliated (which is about half of my group if you count students, teachers and other academics)
*   So if I GET the gig, I am going to madly write the book I am SUPPOSED to be writing
*   If I DON'T get the gig, I am going to write the ghost story that is currently stewing.

4)  In JULY I edit. No matter what. The Cozy or Legacy. Then, whichever one goes to FIRST readers, and we get back to being cats.
*   In presence of Cozy, Legacy will be 2nd editing project.
*   In absence of Cozy, Deniability will be 2nd editing project.

5)August I get reader feedback and finalize whichever one is the next polished work for a September send out.

Probably that is as far as I oughta plan...

Stranger than Fiction

So I was power walking this morning, thinking about Schrodinger's Cat (I'm serious—come back tomorrow if you don't believe me). I get about ¾ of a mile from home and hear this 'crack!' or maybe it was a 'pop!' but hearing it over Greenday means it wasn't like... you know, a branch snapping or something, so I take out one head phone and listen. I hear it again. If I were a betting woman, which I'm not really—I prefer sure things-- I would have pegged it as a b-b gun or caps like my kids get for the 4th of July. I am alert though, because when I lived in Portland one morning, I actually saw someone shoot a gun—same time of morning from down the block, just like this seemed to be. That was LOUDER and I actually SAW the orange flash as it fired (I went around the block that time too).

You see BOTH TIMES I had to get PAST the spot of the action... anyway... caps seemed like teenagers, so I started up the block. I see a person—but from clear down the block, right? Then I hear yelling... okay, equation changes. I am brave enough to walk by a teen throwing caps, no matter how inappropriate at 5 a.m. I am NOT brave enough to walk into the middle of a confrontation. I turned around and went another block over.

I get up the block and see someone walking. He's banging a stick on the ground (or so it looks from a distance) and then he starts talking, so I slow down. I'm in shadow a little from the trees. I turn off my music and watch, and he goes past the street I'm on, so I keep walking. He gets maybe 20 feet up the street as I am approaching and a car comes along. He starts cracking what I now realize is a WHIP, yelling 'get out of my face!'  (sadly, nothing like THIS man)

The car (not apparently realizing this guy is INSANE) slows, but keeps coming, so the guy steps in front of the car and WHIPS IT. “Get out of my FACE!”

I scuttle quickly, but try to be as quiet and subtle as I can, across the street and HURRY up the next. The car, I see, pulls over (hopefully calling 9-1-1, because I don't HAVE a phone) and the guy back-tracks. He yells up the street I'm on, “get out of my face!” but by that point I am almost to the next block (very short blocks at this point, so I don't feel SAFE, but when I cross the next street I crest a hill, so will be out of vision, plus it's a slightly BUSIER street (though busy at 5 a.m. in Ann Arbor is relative) but I figure putting some distance and obstacles between me and this nut is a GOOD idea.

Now what would make a person behave this way? In my mind there are two answers, possibly working in conjunction. Schizophrenia or drugs. I know it's Delusional Thursday, but people who aren't ACTUALLY insane wait for a reasonable hour to begin their shenanigans. And to reassure you, I had NOT yet begun my delusions for the day.


But you know what? I did some character plotting (and wrote a prologue) last night for a story (read:  novel) I've been thinking about... and I HAVE a schizophrenic person in it... I am going to FREAKING USE the scene I just experienced! Ha! So THERE! Take that, crazy person who scared the crap out of me! You will make me famous! (okay, so maybe now the delusions have begun).

That said, y'all were RIGHT that writing would help pull me out of my funk. And the diaspora of looking at a true LUNATIC makes the nut I'm married to seem relatively harmless by comparison. HIS only delusions are the things he thinks I ought to be doing that I don't care to do. He is also behaving better though, too, so that helps.

Prologue is only 4 pages, but it feels good to have the set up going. My MC is a little chatty, which might be a challenge, as this will be my first book told from first person (she's making me). I think it will be fun to write though. I DO need to do some research on... you know... nuts... (hopefully I don't have to experience them all—not sure I want to deal with THAT, but universal forces can be strange that way).

Pay It Forward

Erm... but let me whine a bit first. *shifty* You may or may not have noticed, but I've been in a bit of a funk and nobody needs a Funk-Tart. It is multi-tiered and every level throws in its own noise.

First, I just returned from traveling, which throws my routine off. I dived RIGHT into edits that had to be turned around quickly for the cozy audition, so there was no real mental REGROUP. Then we get to the big stuff.

Last Thursday I was in a fair amount of pain (throat), was achy, possibly even fevered, and I had the kind of sinus thing going on that gives you a headache and slow drip (as opposed to plugging me up). I stayed home from work Friday, proceeding to sleep 12 hours, which knocked out the sore throat and aches, but the head stuff stayed (and the work pile mounted).

Then Saturday my husband's midlife crisis flared (he's been having this since he was around 27, mind you-but it comes and goes). When it's bad though, it's bad. He is smoking again, and I think experiencing a self-loathing that comes with FAILURE (never mind that they TELL YOU quitting takes practice, and in 22 years this is only the second time I've seen him try)--He was successful for 3 months and was feeling a lot of improvements. All shot. *sigh * I've asked exactly twice when he plans to try again, but acts like every time I see him I have nagged.

Oh, nobody does self-loathing quite like my husband can. It's a lovely 'give it back' kind of thing... not good after my illness, too busy, been gone thing.

THEN, I just realized part of the problem is I'm in EDITING mode, rather than WRITING. If I am writing, then every day I have an escape for a good 90 minutes into whatever story I am writing. When I am editing, I am stuck in the present. Have I expressed how I hate reality? Even my BLOGGING is in reality... partly because of being behind, so I missed a bunch (especially the prep time needed for several blogfests)... it's been sort of a dry week, with yesterday veering dangerously near the precipice of nasty...



But a few really great things have passed me this week, and I thought I'd share them with you.

First: Y'all know there is NOTHING better than Monty Python, right? And nothing CAMPIER than Star Trek, and this little number uses Monty Python to make Star Trek even sillier, and it makes me HAPPY!

Star Trek Meets Monty Python


Second: This fit my mood pretty darned perfectly because it is one of those CUTE, then so terrible that it's hysterical things (compliments of B. Miller that I found it)

How a fish almost destroyed my childhood


And finally, and this is probably my favorite: PAY IT FORWARD (also compliments of my buddy B.)

This Pay it Forward was a beautiful post by B. Miller about doing the right thing, and a CHALLENGE to all of us to Pay it Forward... do something nice NOT because you expect something back, but because if we all do, the world ends up nicer and ALL of us have more nice things happen... or so I look at this cosmic karma thing. I tweeted, I shared... but I also took it to my favorite people on the planet (yes, even before my children some days)--the Burrow.

We have a project in the works now, our July feature for our website: www.the-burrow.org. You see, about every other month we do a 'feature' where we all work together and create a project. Most reveal themselves slowly, inviting people to come back as the month progresses. In June, we are doing Alphabet Drabbles, largely in thanks to arleebird April Blogging A to Z idea.

Drabbles, for the uninitiated, are 'stories' in exactly 100 words. Mine are typically more slice of life or philosophy than story, because you know how hard it is for me to get to the point—STILL, it is a challenge of word economy and grammatical creativity sometimes. So in July, we are going to Pay it Forward. B. has even agreed to guest Drabble with us! (we're so excited!)

Adding to this, Kierah Reilly—a new twin of sorts (she and I are sharing geography if not timing) tagged me with her Pay it Forward Post in which she asked her followers to follow three people (me included!)--Her blog is GREAT, and I would LOVE it if you would return the favor, but I ALSO wanted to Pay it Forward.

I am doing two sets of three, because I have a couple long time friends who are relatively newer (or getting back to) blogging who I REALLY think you should follow. All of them are people I know because of Harry Potter... there are SO MANY of those...


Artistically Amy: Amy just finished her Master's Degree (MEd, I think), and is a TALENTED photographer. She is no slouch as a writer, so her blog is a fun mix of pictures and prose (typically prose about the pictures she's taken.
Awkward Book Girl: Bridge is a TALENTED young writer—she writes an emotional punch like nobody's business, and is brand new to blogging—her reflections thus far have been very sweet and entertaining.
And Bronx Tales and Inner Musings: Chary is one of my Burrow sisters, and her essays about her life and family often move me to tears. It's funny, of my fellow Burrowers, Chary is geographically closest, but she grew up in the Bronx, and so her life experiences are as opposite as this Idaho girl can find, yet they speak to me on every level. She's also got a special skill at writing really spicy stuff, if you'd help me talk her into it.


And THEN, I also wanted to recommend three blogs from people I've known far less long—blogs I love, people who've been incredibly supportive with comments.

Alex Cavanaugh 
Ella's Edge:
Alliterative Allomorph:



So, fine friends... go check these guys out... follow them if you will... and Pay if Forward!

Race Relations

Sometimes I feel compelled to dive into it—I'm not sure if it is a self-destructive streak, but the honest answer is... I don't get it and I'd love to have some intelligent feedback. So here we have a mini-rant, with a real life question... Please read patiently, as I fumble a little and don't want you to take away something different than I mean.

My kids' elementary school had some press while I was gone. I had no clue until I got back, but when I heard my husband's version of details, it didn't surprise me overly much... you see, there was a scientist of some sort (possibly an astronaut) visiting the area, and a 'lunch bunch' was invited on this special field trip and nobody else got to go... fine... bonded group who has had an investment... I'm okay with that... but the fact of the matter is the scientist was Black and ONLY KIDS WHO WERE BLACK got to go (it is completely beyond me that this lunch bunch would be only black—this is NOT a segregated school, and only about 20% of the kids are black—I suspect they are an economically disadvantaged group and lunch bunch is a euphemism for a little extra school help—but the OTHER kids in this group did NOT get to go). My issue here is such a hard one to articulate, because I am a SERIOUS advocate for the fact that society has wronged MANY groups of people for a LONG time and we have some making up to do—I am an advocate of affirmative action and believe the supreme court got it WRONG when they said race couldn't be considered—a case at the University where I WORK, so I am VERY familiar.

But I ALSO am a social psychologist who knows if the selection criteria is strictly racial you open the doors to criticism of ALL SORTS, and among elementary school students who don't really understand the full social implications of history, all THEY GET is one group gets to do something and THEY don't. It creates a huge division—a chip on the shoulders of the excluded. These poor kids were 'booed' on returning from this field trip that was supposed to be a special treat. THAT is not the legacy you want from an 'opportunity'--resentment from classmates? No thanks.


Some Situational History

Now this is the principal who was VERY willing to paint my (blond, blue eyed) son a BULLY when another kid LIED about him. This principal is, I think, too ready to SEE racism in a place I just am not willing to buy it is happening. As fourth graders the fact that my son and his friends used the term gang for their 'gang of friends' HE too to mean... you know... GANG... holy CRAP, this is Ann Arbor, Michigan. REALITY NEVER COMES HERE. Among these kids with highly educated parents, it is JUST A FREAKING WORD. Both my kids have friends from several racial groups, and at the moment BOTH have black best friends (my son's has been for years the same boy, so I don't see it changing). The principal, when accusing my son, actually seemed surprised to hear this FRIEND was the group 'leader' (being a charismatic guy) but happens to also LIKE everyone, so he is not the one to ever exclude anyone. It is perhaps my son's status as this boy's best friend that caused the jealousy that led to the lies... My POINT though, is I think if my son had brown skin, the principal would have cut him a break. I think the principal WANTED to see Sam as the bad guy—real easy—tall, handsome, good-looking kid... but he is a kid who NEVER lies and is almost always nice and considerate (and a straight A student). Yes, he has a low tolerance for jackasses, but we think we've finally taught him to hold his tongue on the topic, and he only EVER said, 'you're annoying, go away'--nothing ruder. (something that when most of US were kids was the correction needed to change behavior of said annoying child)

I KNOW as a GROUP we need to ensure institutional racism doesn't happen (or rather, STOPS happening, because it's REAL)—I am SO FOR THAT I can't even get it across—sheesh-I study HEALTH disparities for a LIVING, but I feel like this INDIVIDUAL is going too far with INDIVIDUALS to counter stuff. Well I guess he got busted.

And on some level, it is too bad. It sounds like it was a good opportunity, but it also sounds like it could have been handled SO MUCH better—ALL the lunch bunch included... or maybe all the FREE LUNCH kids, then let others 'pay' to go, if they could and wanted to.

I GET wanting role models for Black kids—successful scientists are a fabulous form of that, but if you are trying to convince me that white kids don't need to see successful black role models, you don't get it. I really HOPE that isn't how they see it (though I suspect maybe the principal misses this point). Instead what they saw was a black principal offering only black kids this special trip. The lesson ALL these kids need is ANYONE can do ANYTHING. I grew up in the Stephen Hawking era, and if a quadriplegic man can do the things he did, THAT is inspirational... not that this other stuff isn't—it is... I'm just saying you don't have to be LIKE somebody to be inspired, and to get the message ANYBODY CAN achieve high standards.

So there we are... mini-rant over. What is the answer? How do we balance giving kids from disadvantaged homes a leg up without creating resentment from other kids? How do we both acknowledge our miserable racial history and move past it at the same time. I KNOW the playing field has not been leveled—it may NEVER be, but... in a place with little racism, should the rules be different than in places where it is rampant? Was this principal RIGHT and I am missing it because he mistreated my son?

Anyone out there address race in your writing? I would LOVE to hear about that. I try to not be completely white with my cast, but my familiarity... ability to be authentic, requires that be diversity that includes whites, as I just don't think I could accurately portray the interactions without reflecting my own experiences, which have always included a white person...

So maybe we should end with a nice, diverse group hug...

And on a completely different note: thirty years ago today Mt. St. Helen's blew... 

 [<--this is a before and after shot] 

they'd been saying it was going to and watching it for quite a while, so THAT wasn't terribly surprising. What WAS surprising was the direction of the wind and the warning that Moscow, Idaho, some 200 miles due east, was going to get some ash falling... and did we. School was canceled for the rest of the year. We had to wear masks for a while, and it was the STRANGEST stuff—so incredibly soft to run fingers over. I have a few pieces of pottery that have been glazed with ash and they're beautiful, but it was very surreal to have it get dark in the middle of the day and have that strange stuff falling from the sky. I guess compared to what Iceland is doing to Europe it's not so much, though I would argue the primary difference is in population density—the entire state of Idaho has maybe as many people as Cardiff... In fact it is so SPARSELY populated, that if you walk in the deep woods by the lake where my grandparents used to have a cabin, you can STILL kick up ash from under the fern leaves because nobody else has been there in the last 30 years.

So there you have it...

Guest Author James C. Wallace II

Hello, fine friends!  And welcome to my 300th post... seems like they ought to give me some sort of present for that, doesn't it?  Ah well...  I will have to go with enjoying a guest author, which is a fine present.  James seems to have everything well in hand, so I will turn it over to him!

Welcome, James!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In celebration of the 154th birthday of Lyman Frank Baum, Royal Historian of Oz and author of

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,
The Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma is proud to present
Volume 2 of the Royal Magician of Oz Trilogy:
Shadow Demon of Oz.

Front & Back Cover Art by Dennis Anfuso

Authored by James C. Wallace II, who was proclaimed by Her Majesty and Royal Sovereign of Oz, Princess Ozma as the Royal Liaison, Shadow Demon of Oz is the continuing story of Jamie Diggs, great-grandson of the original Wizard of Oz and his journey to become the Royal Magician of Oz.

It was in the early month of Spring when the old humpback trunk of O.Z. Diggs, the original Wizard of Oz was opened by his great grandson, Jamie Diggs,
revealing a magical heritage lurking within.Following in the footsteps of his great grandfather, a young boy named Jamie pursued the ways of magic and soon found himself transported to the magical Land of Oz where, alongside Dorothy, he faced his greatest fears and the fearsome
Army of Trees in defense of the Tin Woodman.Now the young magician is called to return to the Land of Oz to take his place as the new
Royal Magician of Princess Ozma; Ruler and Sovereign of Oz.
And for his first Royal Command, Princess Ozma sends her Royal Magician and his best friend Buddy off to battle the Evil Shadow Demon and save the Hyups of Mount Munch.

Shadow Demon of Oz is available through Scientia Est Vox Press at:

https://www.createspace.com/3443392


Royal Magician of Oz Trilogy
Volume One: Magician of Oz
Front & Back Cover Art by Dennis Anfuso

New characters and creatures abound in the old Land of Oz while many of the old characters we know and love make their appearance in this newest tale of fantasy, adventure, truth and friendship in a familiar,
yet not so familiar world of Oz.
There's the Leader of the Sycamores, the Gnarled Scrub Oak,
the Flowering Plum tree and the Council of Trees.All of these magical and strange characters prove quite the challenge for
a young magician who finds himself in a strange and wonderful land.

Of course, we also get to meet Dorothy and Ozma, Glinda and the Tin Woodman, as well as Toto, Bungle the Glass Cat, Billina the Hen and numerous other beloved characters from
L. Frank Baum's original tale of wonder and magic.

Magician of Oz is available through Scientia Est Vox Press at:

http://www.amazon.com/Magician-Oz-James-C-Wallace/dp/0578023539/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246224375&sr=8-1

Who is the Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma?

James C. Wallace II, originally a native of West Virginia, currently lives in Terre Haute, Indiana with his wife Amanda. They have been married more than 26 years, with a herd of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. His background covers nearly 26 years in children's education, including experience working for the world's largest children's museum; The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, where he was the Planetarium Educator for SpaceQuest Planetarium. In addition to children's books about Oz, he is recognized by NASA as a leading developer of web-based educational games, educational exhibit design, curriculum development and implementation. In addition, he is involved in the DiscoverHover program, which is an educational program developing and utilizing hovercraft in a unique and fun way. He now serves as the Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma, Sovereign Ruler of Oz and endeavors to fulfill her royal command to tell the tale of her newest Royal Magician to the children of the Great Outside.

James C. Wallace II; Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma can be found at:

Facebook: James C. Wallace II
or
Facebook: Magician of Oz

Twitter id: magicianofoz

email: magicianofoz@hotmail.com

Front & Back Cover Art for Magician of Oz & Shadow Demon of Oz
courtesy of Dennis Anfuso.

More information about the artist can be found at:

http://dennisanfuso.com/

Logo Art for Shadow Demon of Oz by
The Good Witch of Haute
Suzi Overton

More information about the artist can be found at:

Facebook: Suzi Overton

All content courtesy of Scientia Est Vox Press; 2010

Dieting in Hell

[For those of you new, Saturday is typically my fitness day--the other days are more about writing or silliness, but Saturday I am trying to document weight loss/fitness progress--started January 2]

You know what I've discovered? IT (dieting in hell) ISN'T POSSIBLE!

Man, I had a hell of a week.

Saturday I intentionally splurged... old friend... all that. (this you know).

I spent Sunday in the airport because my plane that was supposed to leave at 9:50 was BROKEN and the plane at 12:40 was FULL so I didn't get out until 4:20. I sat in an airport bar all day because frankly, airport CHILDREN do not suit me. I sat at a table with my laptop and first a diet coke, then a Bloody Mary... finally a SNACK (onion rings... bad choice, but I was badly pouting). Then I went to see if I could get on that 12:40... waiting about an hour for the final word and went BACK to the bar... Tavern ale... and another... chef salad, and yet ANOTHER ale. Can you SEE the calories add up? (in my defense, it is the best airport ale I've found aside from Red Hook ESB, but that, I only see west of the Rockies). The computer battery was dead by this point (the return after trying to get on the plane), so that was what I had (along with reading a story by a friend, which I enjoyed, but infringed not at ALL on my pout-infested drinking... I mean seriously--It was MOTHER'S day and I was STUCK in a bloody airport!)

So then, after long pouting, I get on my plane and find myself in... first class? Eeek gads! I'm not sure I'd ever ridden in first class before (I know I've never paid for it). First class has snacks and cocktails... which are free, and this cheapskate can HARDLY say no to FREE.

So that was two days shot.

The next few were technically okay... except the mind set... I wonder how much my brain depends on weekend rejuvenation and sleep to convince me to do the right thing... I think it must be substantial. Things that have not been tempting for MONTHS suddenly WERE... potato chips and cheeze its from the cupboard, suddenly hugely irresistable. Lunch plans left me starving...

Then Wednesday night I FELT it... Illness falling.

[Not me.  I very rarely resort to drugs, no matter how lousy I feel, but she looks like I felt.]---->

I woke up Thursday morning unable to breath. My throat hurt INSANELY, my nose was leaking CRAP down my throat, and the bite guard I sleep with conspired against my cold—disallowing the THROAT THING that would have kept me BREATHING..---ack, how miserable! So I didn't sleep well.

I worked Thursday, in spite of misery, and the difficulties of keeping a brain running when I feel like crap are monumental... pouting inspires bad eating URGH!

I guess the moral of the story is sometimes it just seems TOO HARD and the best we can do is dust ourselves off and move forward from there. I guess FORTUNATELY, feeling like crap, though it makes me want BAD stuff, is a bit of an appetite dampener, so volume is down, balancing things a little

<--- [also not me, but of the before/after pics I found, this is the closest to the starting and achievable figures, though her arms are more petite than mine would ever be.]

My weigh in this morning was the same as three weeks ago, which FORTUNATELY was the low point (the two weeks in between being UP a little from that... so I am still sitting at a 40 pound loss... and it is time to move forward. Time to stop pointing, and put my ducks in a row. I'd LIKE to lose another 10 by my birthday (June 23—about 5 weeks). And I THINK, after having the scale barely budge for six weeks, that I am in a good position to make that happen. That puts me at my high school graduation weight (still 20 pounds too heavy, but hey) for swimsuit season... and YES swimsuit season matters because my neighbor has a pool, so I spend a fair amount of TIME in one, never mind that nobody but she and her partner, occasionally his kids, and my family, see me. I still hate feeling I am getting tan lines from belly fat rolls (something that kept me in a long top the last two summers—but I'm a dedicated nudist—y'all know that... I want this pesky possibility GONE!)

I measured today—should have been last Saturday, but didn't take the tape measure... hips and butt are both down another inch! *and there was much rejoicing*--that is seven inches off my wide derriere!

I'm glad about that... as with the scale not budging, a little motivation definitely helps.

Chimera Critiques CONFLUENCE

Sorry I am a few hours late today. I am fighting a bad cold and took a sick day to sleep in! (which helped immensely)

I mentioned last week that I had won this, and I was THRILLED. CONFLUENCE has had a dozen or so readers and I've gotten GREAT feedback from ALL of them. Everyone who has read has helped me improve the manuscript. I even had someone who NEVER read it, Colleen Gleason—my first 'real author' friend I made through a 'connection' instead of this slower network process (she is friends with my neighbor) give me improving words. “I hate to sound negative, but nobody is going to read something that is over 200,000 works,” leading to the largest Adverbectomy in the history of time (more than 40K just from THAT... another 20K out for plot pieces I grudgingly removed).

And over my rounds of querying (3 so far) I went from no nibbles (out of 7) to 1 nibble (out of 14) to 3 nibbles (out of 11)--one of those LAST for 75 pages—so real interest. But no takers. It was time for drastic action.

THAT is when I stumbled upon a question at an author blog: what would you rather win? Query advice, first chapter advice, lunch with an agent, or... not remembering what choice 4 was... might have been something more tangible like a writing book or something... and I signed up for 'first chapter advice.' My query could use some work, but it seems to me it's gotten some peeks. I think my PROBLEM is my opening chapter.

Callie, at Chimera Critiques contacted me, said she'd seen that was what I was interested in, and let me know they were getting a service going to help authors and were having giveaways about once a month—she encouraged me to submit, so I DID! I think, because they are just getting going, and I was early in submittants..., but I 'WON' and I got the critiques: 3 of them!

The critiques all begin with an intro of some sort, some brief, some longer, and then END with the summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the chapter. WITHIN there are comments... tons of them, things like “This is a good dramatic last line, but I'm not sure who is talking or what they are talking about, so it loses impact.”--

Unanimously, they didn't like the very first 'teaser'--me trying to be clever with set up from behind the scenes—the decision makers who are DOING this rotten stuff to the family. They liked what it hinted at, but wanted it to be more explicit, which in my mind would give away too much of the book... I am thinking I will just dump it.

There is also too much 'set up'--the reader isn't quite sucked in because I am establishing relationships and building character, then just as they start to pull in, I change scene... That was me being too clever by half, I think...I was trying to leave them wanting MORE, but apparently, 'bore, suck in, abandon' is not a clever strategy.

Now this 'too much set up' is something I had already suspected—that as a chapter 1, I just have too much time invested getting to know characters. Some of it can just be cut, some can be woven in later, but I definitely have to work on arrangement.

Another thing I heard: My parents aren't very sympathetic (seems there might be a deeper meaning here *shifty*)...I think PART of this is all the cutting I've had to do—making the book shorter, I cut some 'sweet moments' because they weren't related to the plot... mom has a mini-breakdown at a later point, and I'd REALLY like readers to CARE before that happens... Mac on the other hand, I want to GROW in how sympathetic he is—starting somewhat selfish and career oriented, then REALIZING what his family means to him... And I think this is the first time I've exactly articulated that, so maybe it is progress. I need to leave in reasons Trish would BE with him if he seems unsympathetic... I definitely don't want her to be a 'trampled upon spouse' (at least not of her own free will)... it's tricky, and I am seeing how taking some deliberation here could definitely help me strengthen the interest readers have in following forward.

And then the darned PLOT... with the PoV changes—it seems to be hard to grasp... possibly because I have some strong subplots, that at the beginning, get a fair amount of time because they are part of the set-ups (like Jessie being forced to move with her dad, which then follows through her adjustment)

And then there are my transitions between scenes... rough, disorienting... So what I need to do with those words saved from cutting the 'set up' is smooth these transitions. I will try to avoid the clever, “meanwhile, back at the ranch”... my other books with alternate PoV by chapter, or with Deniability, half a chapter. All the rest have only two, but this one has 4 PoVs. I am SERIOUSLY considering rewriting it from all Jessie (with maybe an occasional Hannah)--I like Trish's breakdown, but I think that can be observed... what CAN'T is the manipulation Mac and Trish are both receiving at the hands of their coworkers and colleagues, but I could probably manage that with some overhearing, some dinner conversations—maybe twist around the rumors Jessie hears at school--or write it more as a mystery Jessie unravels.

Jessie was universally popular. I've known she was my strongest character all along—her voice came most easily. She is the one most disrupted through the move that sets events in motion. I'm not sure yet—it is a BIG rewrite... it is a rewrite that MIGHT even make this a YA book if I make the motivation of the villains less complicated (though then I'd have to shorten yet again—I think 90K would be pushing the limits, and right now I'm at nearly 140K). Then again, cutting 2 PoVs might do just that...

Whatever the case, I have work to do.

I find this process was helpful in several ways—when I see three professionals point out the SAME piece as problematic, I KNOW it is a problem. But at least there is some suggestion of how to address it, and I believe them. They were very clear what was unclear, versus what they just weren't buying: how teens talk, for instance... I happen to HAVE teens, but I've decided how teens talk is regional. I love having feedback that is both broad, and has all these specific points... I can decide which problems to address just by cutting out whole sections (or approaching from a totally different direction) and which I want to deal with one issue at a time to improve (or occasionally, ignore).

Having these from three people, I figure I fall into “only one points out=preference” but if more do... well I need to think about it.

I also loved that they pointed out the strengths—the lines they really liked with why they worked. The character actions that really gave a feel for personality—VERY helpful. (even got a compliment on my lack of adverbs and clean writing, so thanks, Colleen!)  And thank you especially to Callie, Erica and Zellie at Chimera Critiques!  They have another selection coming up, so if you have a first chapter that you aren't sure how to get right--maybe you've given it a couple goes, and it just isn't GOING--I strongly recommend you give these ladies a chance.

I am mid-process in a critique for a friend of mine, and I DEFINITELY want to keep all this in mind, so I can be as helpful as possible.

So I am back to the drawing board with this (eventually--after POSSIBLY the cozy, then LEGACY) but I feel like I have now thought about it on a much different level, and I think I can streamline the plot, and strengthen the book, so THANK YOU!


And YESTERDAY I had a giveaway with my blog, but comments were low, so if you want to have a chance to win a journal and booklight, go to YESTERDAY's post and see the instructions (easy, just a comment, but on yesterdays, and then a tweet, link or facebook share for this blog or the Virtual Book tour)--be sure to let me know to be in the drawing.

Welcome Lloyd Kaneko

You are the World's LUCKIEST blog-readers... you know WHY? Bk Marketing (the sponsor of this blog tour) has sponsored a PRIZE for a randomly selected commenter on today's blog... PLUS, my GUEST is putting all commenters on his TOUR into a pot to win something from HIS book marketing (at least a book, but he talked about sweetening the pot)--so YOU have two chances to WIN stuff! (details on the BK prize at the bottom. At the MOMENT, I am thrilled to welcome Lloyd Kaneko

A Little About Me

I was born on April 11, 1951 in a quaint hospital in the Boyle Heights District of East Los Angeles but eventually spent most of my youth in the suburbs of Los Angeles in the city of Monterey Park, just nine miles east of downtown.

I attended Montebello High school where I was first exposed to creative writing and, perhaps, were I was inspired to become a writer during my sophomore year. After graduating high school, I enrolled a community college as an engineering major but had a terrible time with mathematics. So, when I transferred to California State University, Long Beach, I changed my major. In 1974, I received my bachelor of arts degree in Creative Writing, but spent most of my professional career as a technical writer in computer systems training and human resources development.

While at Cal State, I attended screenwriting classes offered by the Writers Guild of America, West.

Immediately upon graduation from college, I started a screenplay project, got writer’s block and it shelved for over 30 years. My beginnings as a writer was that of a journalist writing for special trade newspapers and travelling the country to special events. While still occasionally writing as a journalist, my technical writing skills became more in demand in industry. Eventually, I was laid off later in my career and unemployed for over four years. While health issues started to pile up, I developed a case of chronic renal failure and was placed on long-term disability. Essentially, this put me into retirement at a very young age, but allowed my creative writing opportunities to come into fruition.

I tried to resume writing the screenplay which had been collecting dust for over 30 years, but it led to a dead-end. Then, I decided to write the novel in earnest. I’d have to admit, recent historical issues and events heavily influenced the story. Much of it just didn’t exist or happen over 30 years ago – especially the stuff that dealt with politics and international relations.

After completing the book, I followed the traditional path of seeking a literary agent and a mainstream publisher. But after a while, this led to another dead-end. I decided to take the self-publishing route beginning by publishing electronically through Smashwords in September 2009. In March 2010, the book was released as a trade paperback through Wordclay.

During my most recent experiences, I have judged screenplays for the Honolulu International Film Festival, Mexico International Film Festival, Canadian International Film Fesival, and the Las Vegas International Film Festival.

About Kami Jin

Kami Jin is a tale of two worlds according to the diary of A. Gordon Sakata II of the 23rd Century. Gordon records an era of despair and misery on Earth as life in the Republic of North America includes a jobless rate of 95%. People are homeless: poverty and starvation is global and governments around the world are ineffective in solving the crisis. Corporations have taken over governments, taken away the basic rights of citizens such as freedom of speech and expression and have replaced many people with droids and robots. Citizens of nations who once lived comfortably in homes, now struggle to survive in streets lined with cardboard condos. When war breaks out, Earth finally meets its doom, but through the miracle of time travel, it is given a second chance. Gordon is saved and taken to a utopian planet mirroring Earth’s orbit. There, inhabitants are treated equally: poverty, homelessness and starvation are non-existent, and everyone is paid $25-million annually in universal life credits by the Universe, regardless of social status. The quality of health care and education is next to none. Inhabitants’ brains are so advanced that they travel by merely willing themselves to their destination, rather than using conventional vehicles, yet, they do not manufacture any weapons of any kind. The world is one planet, one nation. Gordon vows to right a sinking ship – at least provide hope for the disadvantaged of the world. He returns to Earth to fulfill his life’s promise.

How I got there?

Wasn’t easy! My path to publishing wasn’t exactly straight and narrow!

As I mentioned before, I started out going through what I thought was the traditional route. That is, seeking out and working with a literary agency. I had a rough time at first. I sent inquiry letters out and received a lot of rejections. Then I answered an advertisement on the internet from an agency which looked legitimate. So I entered into a one-year contract with the understanding that I would have my manuscript either edited by their service or that I would seek editing on my own. I opted for the later since it was the less expensive route.

I though the agent was doing a good job. They referred me to a publisher whom I later found out had a relationship with the literary agency. When I conducted a further background investigation into the agency and their affiliates, to say the least, the results of my research were not very satisfying. Not only was the agency under investigation by a state attorney general’s office, but they were also suspected of unethical practices. The publishing company was not a traditional publisher that offered an advance. No, they offered a subsidy publishing package because they felt the book suitable enough for their other publishing line. And, my portion of the investment was rather sizeable. During this process, I have been approached by several subsidy publishing houses. And they’ve run the entire spectrum. Essentially, it was very little in terms of author’s royalties, and more in terms of startup and investment costs.

After a year, I quietly let the contract expire after giving the agency a 30-day notice that I was not intending to renewing the contract agreement. This is when my entrepreneurial skills as a small business owner kicked in. I started to take on the role of agent myself.

First I wrote inquiry letters to more reputable literary agencies, but I gave them a time limit. After that time, I decided to self-publish the book. For exposure, I came across Smashwords where I was able to publish the book electronically for free. This would at least be a jump start for the book’s exposure. My only mistake was, I didn’t actively market the book myself. Sales were dismal.

My next step was to publish the book as a trade paperback. My original intent was to do this within a couple of months after publishing the e-book. I looked at Wordclay, which was recommended by Smashwords, and had uploaded my manuscript to them in September 2009 when I was approached by anther publisher that expressed interest in the book. I put that edition on hold and waited for over 6 months for a reply. I received neither a follow-up reply nor a rejection. So after deciding that the publisher was no longer interested in the book, I decided to proceed with the book through Wordclay in March 2010. I proofed the book once again and noted more things to fix. So I uploaded a new corrected manuscript to them assuming that the corrected version was going to be used as the “official” edition. After I uploaded my manuscript, I immediately placed an order for 11 copies for myself.

In April, when I received my copies, I noted that the changes that I had made to the book were not included in the book. I looked at the date of the book and September 2009 appeared – not March 2010, the most recent edition. Too late, however, books had been released to Amazon and Barnes and Noble with the September 2009 date. Wordclay never bothered to check with me which version was correct. They just went ahead and used the earlier version.

So after I brought this to their attention, they were willing to make the changes to the book. And since there were additional changes to be made, a small galley correction fee had to be paid – by me. So, one word of advice if you are thinking about self-publishing – make sure your manuscript is in pristine condition before submitting your book for publication. This will save a lot of headaches down the road.

My second advice – don’t respond to ads by literary agencies over the internet. Do your homework diligently. Seek out and work only with reputable agencies and publishers. Use common sense business practices and get recommendations and referrals. Join writers groups in your area.

Do you have any upcoming events?

If you are in the San Francisco area on Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13, stop by Bastet’s Kindle at 1501 Irving Street (located between 16th Ave. and 17th Ave), San Francisco, CA 94122. I will be speaking and signing books at this unique, eclectic shop. Store hours on the weekend are from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call (415) 731-2723.

Where may we find you at?

People may find me at my website at www.lloydkaneko.com
I am also hosting an art contest there where participants can win prizes based on voter popularity. The contest runs through July 31.

Artists can join me on my networking site at www.creativeartistskettle.ning.com. I invite artists of all types (illustrators, singers, performing artists, screenwriters, etc.) to join us there. I also have a sister blog to that where people can follow my showcase at www.creativeartists.blogspot.com.

Are you on Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace?

I guess you might say, I’m all over the internet:

I invite people to join my fan page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lloyd-Kaneko/130991574450

or become my friend at:
www.facebook.com/lloyd.kaneko

I’m also on Twitter as:
www.twitter.com/kamijin1951

And, I cannot forget MySpace at:
www.myspace.com/lkaneko

Also, I’m also at the following other places:
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lkaneko
Plaxo: http://www.plaxo.com
Digg:  http://www.digg.com/users/kamijin1951
Bebo: http://www.bebo.com/LloydK161
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/people/46050752@N08/
Book Marketing Network: http://www.boookmarket.ning.com/profile/Lloydkaneko
Authors Supporting Authors: http://www.authorsnetworking.ning.com/profile/LloydKaneko
Storylink: http://www.storylink.com/9445

And finally, not to forget about where to find my book:
The paperback edition may be purchased through Wordclay at:
http://www.wordclay.com/BookStore/BookStoreBookDetails.aspx?bookid=54402

The e-book edition may be purchased through Smashwords at:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/4075

The book is also available through:
www.Amazon.com
www.BarnesandNoble.com

and other international online outlets.

And About Those PRIZES...

The ONE will be awarded from Lloyd at the end of his tour and EVERYONE who comments goes into the pool.

The OTHER will be awarded to one of TODAY'S commenters if you could PLEASE also Tweet, Facebook share, or link on your blog EITHER about this post, my blog, or the blog book tour, and it totally on the honor system—I trust you. Just mention in the comment what you've done and you're IN.  And what writer geek WOULDN'T love a journal and reading/writing light?!  (for those dreams you have to get down NOW, eh?)


See... I TOLD YOU you were lucky!

Please Welcome Jo Davis

Y'all know how I can lose touch with reality? And how I can forget days of the week? And how tomorrow is Delusional Thursday? And how I was on business last weekend and so never got my weekend sleep catch up? Well all of those things have conspired so that I was SURE that tomorrow was both the 12th and the 13th. Don't ask. What it MEANS is, I almost fell down on the job with my guest author schedule (EEEK!) But for YOU it's a bonus—today has two blogs. If you are here for the Naked Vampire/Reminiscing thing, it is one blog down. If you are here for the GUEST AUTHOR thing (and I really hope you are) then this is the right place. It is MY deep hope, that you will stay for both... Oh, I know... lotsa reading, but worth it, eh?

So sanity disclaimer aside (and possibly Internal Conflict Day Blamed--will get back to you on that), please join me in welcoming Jo Davis and her book Domestics to the Tart stop on her blog book tour!

Character Reflection

Domestics chronicles a woman’s struggle from someone who let’s things happen to someone who makes things happen. Sarah becomes an assassin for hire, doing away with men who are eerily similar to the man who victimized her. In this way, she is repeatedly getting her revenge, taking back her life. But, Sarah tends to go a little overboard and, well, it doesn’t end well.

They say that each writer puts a little of themselves into their characters. I guess Sarah does have a little of me in her. I took charge of my writing career. After years of waiting for the big break to happen to me. I’ve struck out with my books, on the Domestic Seduction Tour with Omegia Keeys , with the Authors Supporting Authors Virtual Tour and numerous guest blogs, interviews and appearances. In this way, I am taking back my career. But, just like Sarah, I tend to go a little overboard. (Maybe the almost daily Facebook updates about this book tour are a little much.)

To all of you writers out there, can you find the little piece of yourself in your characters? It doesn’t have to be a main character like Sarah. Just pick one of them. You may be surprised at what you find out about yourself, and how much “you” that is invested into your own writing.

Domestics is available where books are sold online. Pick up a copy signed by the author at www.bylinesbyjo.com.
For more information on the Domestics Seduction Tour visit www.domesticseduction.webs.com .