Pirate Rules

January 23, 2008 Uncategorized

Unedited excerpt…

Boldly, she climbed onto a padded bar stool close to where she’d last seen the rugged pirate. She scanned the crowd with eager interest, hoping to catch another glimpse of the smoldering hottie. Aware her odds of success decreased in direct ratio to the rogue’s hunk factor, she optimistically searched for her dream man anyway.

Why not try for the best?

But, her screening of the bodies crowding the bar confirmed the bad news, no loose hunky pirate. Everyone seemed paired off already. No one’s fault but hers for letting Smiley’s intimidation keep her from playing Treasure Hunt game earlier. Her rumbling stomach reminded her she missed out on the crab feed too.

A rapidly moving waitress disappeared into the crowd with a full tray of gaily-colored cocktails with lime wedges, cherries, and miniature umbrellas. The pretty drinks made Zara thirsty as well as hungry.

“What’s your pleasure, Miss?” the bartender asked with a friendly smile.

“What kind of drinks were in those hurricane glasses over there?” She waved toward the decorated cocktails.

“Those are Caribbean Cruises, Miss. They’re very popular with the ladies.”

Zara hesitated for a bare second. “I’ll have one of those, please.”

“Do you want to run a tab? Or–.”

While she was considering her options, the smoldering hottie she noticed earlier wedged in next to her, claiming a previously nonexistent space. Then he gave her a thorough going over from her well-groomed hair to her cute sandals.

Apparently, she’d passed inspection because he tipped his head toward her in a brief nod of approval.

“Add it to my bill and bring us a plate of coconut shrimp too, and another Long John Silver, thanks, pal.” The intriguing pirate placed his order with an engagingly crooked grin.

“Thank you,” she said, swiveling toward her benefactor.

A seductive pair of dark eyes met hers, making the lively bar scene fade into oblivion.

This close, the man intoxicated her senses. He was so near a faint trace of bleach from his shirt mingled with scents of sandalwood and clean man. The heat emanating from all those hard muscles warmed her skin.

She tried to swallow, but found her mouth suddenly too dry.

The bartender placed her pastel drink neatly in front of her and she leaned in for a fortifying sip.

Casually, she checked out the hunk through lowered lashes. Like Smiley, the man with the sinful voice was dressed as a pirate. But on him, the costume worked. Her smile spread a little wider with relief as she realized the costume meant he had to work for the cruise line.
Maybe, he was one of the cooks, since she was positive she hadn’t seen him on deck. She would have remembered.

A good head taller than her lanky five eight frame, and much broader, he made her feel positively dainty–a novel but pleasing experience. His open-necked white shirt framed a nicely rippled chest with a good sprinkling of curling black hair. Well-worn pants disappeared into supple leather boots. His waist was bound by a faded red silk wrap, complete with a wickedly authentic looking knife, tucked into the fabric. Dark curls swirled to his shoulders, providing the perfect frame for heartbreaker-eyes and the devil’s own mouth. At least one day’s growth of beard darkened his jaw. A rap-star sized diamond winked from his left ear.


“Razor Brinks,” he said, holding out a hand.

She accepted the offer to shake, darn near forgetting who she was as his warm grip engulfed her.

“Zara Sterling,” she managed to say her name. Then, because her tongue was faster than her brain, she asked. “What kind of name is Razor Brinks?”

“Mine, Sweetheart,” he drawled, taking her hand and brushing a thrilling kiss across her knuckles, and then rubbing the spot that continued tingling long after his mouth had departed.

Geeky writer-ness

January 20, 2008 Uncategorized

Yesterday, I didn’t write. A non-writing day is a novelty for me. But I’m resting my over-worked head for a few days before finishing up the Instant Seduction entry. So what did I do with all those hours I usually write?

Read. What else? It is cold and wet outside. I’m re-reading Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. If you’ve never read it, you’re missing a wonderful book. It’s about writing and life and is wise and funny.

I also read a few chapters of friend’s first draft and loved that too. He put the links to his first chapters on the web.

http://garymurning.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/saturday-at-rest/

Then to round out my reading I opened up Linda Winfree’s What Mattered Most

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/what-mattered-most

I’m not done with the book yet. However, I am hooked. To the extent that I hesitate buying another of her titles, what if it’s not as good?

When I googled myself, yeah I know but it’s good clean geeky fun, I found Dangerous Surrender is now available at Fictionwise.

http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook54549.htm?cache

It’s classified as an erotica, I’ve decided I’m okay with that designation. It is however, an erotic suspense, there is violence in addition to sex and graphic language.

Ramblings

January 19, 2008 Uncategorized

I’ve been polishing and submitting for a couple of weeks now–not done either. I have the current project to wrap up tonight, and then the entry for Harlequin’s Instant Seduction contest.

Yeah, I do know it’s likely a pointless exercise. But I do not regard writing good stories as a waste of time whether or not they find instant favor with a particular editor on any given day. Besides, this is the third time I’ve entered a Harlequin contest, maybe I’ve learned something!

Anyway, my mind is crumbling from trying to hold too many different story strands in too short a period of time.

I find myself sitting and staring blankly as happens when I’m in overload mode. I ponder the time difference between Seattle and Paris. Going, I think I lose eight hours and returning I gain the same amount of time. Sometimes I can’t think of single word of French other times French is only the language in my head–not a lot of help if you’re trying to write in English.

Then I wonder about other things, like why so many of my favorite writers are in Texas. Not all of course, waving to my California friends, and there are some lovely writers right here in the Pacific Northwest. But there is something about Texas . . . .

Back to inserting just a tiny bit more of my heroine’s past into the current story.

Packing problems

January 17, 2008 Uncategorized

So I’m going to France and Germany next month and I’m worried about a couple of conflicting problems–lifting my bag and having enough good books. Yes, I did succumb to the lure of ipod and a few audio titles–all marvelously light weight. But what if the battery goes or I simply get tired of having those ear bud things in all the time?

I figure two print books (paperback of course) are the ideal solution. But which two? The ideal choice is thoroughly entertaining but not a keeper. This rules out anything from the re-read shelves and gives me carte blanche to purchase a couple of new books. However, it is no help narrowing down the titles.

Any recommendations?

Writng and Real Life

January 15, 2008 Uncategorized

One of the things that continually surprises me is how quickly time disappears when I’m not writing. Hush! I can hear all those virtual gasps. It’s true–I do take a day off now and then. In fact, the balance between work and play is something I’m trying to fine tune.

In an effort to become a more reasonable person, an important goal for the self-employed, when I thought about this year’s writing goals I tried for moderation. This was the first time the goal setting process included estimates for research, revision, polishing, and plotting. It’s not that I haven’t done all of those things–I’ve just never allow any time for them. This year I did.

The downside is no new projects for me this year. And it’s only January!

The good news is: five projects will be ready to market this year. There’ll be time for those all important editorial revisions, in depth research, polishing, and my personal favorite–plotting. To say nothing of the soul enriching benefits of a reasonably clean house, mowed yard, healthy meals, dog walks, and reading time.

I’ll keep you posted on how well my new reasonable life plan works.

Just for fun I looked up last year’s goals.

Current year’s goals

1) Study characterization to add depth to the story’s cast
2) Three submissions
3) In roads in the TBR shelves

Seemed like a lot at the time!

Here’s how it went:

1) Study characterization–you betcha (but studying is never done)
2) Six submissions–(one sale, one still pending, some great feedback)
3) Made serious progress with the TBR shelves (I’m allowed to buy new books)

Life in the secret garden

Life in the secret garden

One of pale pink hellabores that reside in the east border.  All of the hellabores, save the Corsicans, are unnamed seedlings.  They’re lovely plants and I’ve allowed them to cavort and cross-breed with no regard for propriety whatsoever.

Settings

January 12, 2008 Uncategorized

A friend asked about where a particular book of mine was set. The question made me think about settings. I love choosing a setting, researching the area, and picking the details that enrich the story. In fact, setting can be a distraction for me. There’s a fine line between enough to keep the reader grounded and an enhanced mood for the tale and my getting lost in an unrealized story world.

There’s always a story running in my head. That’s what got me into the writing business. But there’s a world of difference between the stories in my mind and the ones on paper. For one thing, and you’re just going to have to trust me on this, the tales inside are brilliant. Truly, the characters are vivid, lovable, so real that you ache for them. The plots are flawless. The dialogue sings. And the settings? Perfect, authentic, moody–like the best movie you’ve ever seen. Getting this perfection on paper? Impossible. Never gonna happen. All I aim for is to get closer.

Part of the problem is translating the lavish feast of all the senses that exists in my imagination into words. The rest of the problem is me and my blind spots, weaknesses, and less than masterful command of storytelling tools. Topped off by the frustration caused by the gap between the vision and the book one paper.

Storytelling is part magic, sometimes the incantations work better than others. But once hooked on the practice, the writer must continue.

Balance

January 8, 2008 Uncategorized

Got goals setting covered. Now for what I do need, a balance between work and play. Why? Because without balance even passion becomes dissipated.

I need time for: reading good books, listening to music, playing with the puppy, exercising, socializing, creating beauty, laughing, cleaning, organizing, and obsessing to my nerdy little heart’s content. Quite literally.

Having a single track mind, I’ve found that I can only live in one story world at a time. In short, I’m not capable of creating a new story, plotting another, and revising a third. Bummer. I thought that would be a real efficient use of time. Maybe it would, for for a more compartmentalized brain, but not for me.

Reality is a good thing to connect with now and then. With all this in mind, I’m still aiming for six submissions again this year. Some of them are ready to go (two), some are darn close (two), and some aren’t (two) but hey its only January. If I got ahead of the game, one more (novella) would be great.

Now comes the really ambitious part, I’d like to have three releases this year. I’m not in charge of releases. All I can do is write the best stories I’m capable of and submit them. There are lots of writers and few publishers–logistics alone disctate most manuscripts must be rejected.

Better get busy on my end. Two of those submissions are happening this month!

Goal Setting

January 7, 2008 Uncategorized

Over the weekend I went to a goal setting workshop. Now this is like an alcoholic joining a wine tasting. There’s nothing I need less than a discussion about formulating and achieving goals. But just like a man with nineteen watches doesn’t need a twentieth watch, it is a good bet if he has that many watches then he lusts after at least one more. Thus it is with me attending a goal setting workshop.

Here’s are the items that resonated with me:

Writing your goals down makes them more likely to be achieved. Check.

Connecting with your passion(s) keeps you motivated. Check

Luck is when opportunity meets preparation. Check

Don’t ask why–ask how. Check

Use your fears to expand your boundaries. Check

Use envy to learn about your desires. Check

The class was intended for writers, but the same principles apply to any kind of achievement.

Watching

January 6, 2008 Uncategorized

I was thinking about football and that I really don’t care to watch it. Why? Because I like to participate more than I like to watch. There’s no chance of that happening with professional football. Perhaps, if I worked for an owner or was related to one of the players then I’d have enough invested to make the outcome interesting.

There are always exceptions to my rules. I’ve been working on a story involving voyeurism and exhibitionism and rule breaking. In my limited experience, men like watching–a strip tease for example. While women enjoying performing more than watching.

But I’m only one person. I’d to love your thoughts on watching versus performing. Do you have a preference? Are both exciting? Neither?