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Posted by Debora on Nov 25, 2008 in
Holidays,
Life I remember being a kid and waking up to Christmas music on Thanksgiving morning. Food being prepared in the kitchen, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. The chill in the air and for a kid - the sheer delight in knowing Santa was not far behind!
My dad worked on Thanksgiving. 40 years ago, still a young dad, he worked the holiday for that coverted double-time holiday pay and I remember counting the minutes till my dad came walking through the door around 2 in the afternoon.
My job was always to break the fresh bread into pieces for the homemade stuffing (something my daughter does now) while my mom melted the butter, sauteed the onions and celery and added all those seasonings that would become my favorite part of dinner - STUFFING.
The turkey would make it in the oven and the company would start to arrive. Though most of those people that I see in my holiday memories are gone, I can remember them vividly. My aunts perfume and the bags of goodies and groceries she would unload from my uncles car. My uncle handing out money. My grandparents eager to wrap us in hugs and warm kisses. The corny jokes, the football, the food and most of all the love that seeped into every corner and crevice of my heart.
Thanksgiving is more than just a huge meal where we sit down and stuff more food than anyone should feel comfortable consuming into our stomachs - it’s about just what that word implies - Giving Thanks.
I’m thankful for my past. I’m hopeful for my future. The saying that you can’t see where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been - has great meaning to me.
No my life hasn’t been perfect - really can anyone say their life has been or is? We’ve all made mistakes, done and said things we regret and we’ve had those moments that will forever shine brightly in our memories. This is the day to shine. To celebrate all the good, all the bad and all the ways we’ve all grown - day after day, year after year - becoming better people.
Take it slow. Inhale the scents, take the time to laugh and toast to love, happiness and hope. Because wherever you are, whoever you’re with - no one knows what time holds. Life is about the small moments, the memories you make now to take with you into the future. One day I hope to have a granddaughter breaking bread for stuffing, my kids will be grown, hosting family dinners of their own. What will their memories be? Will they remember the music, the smells of roasting turkey or our family’s tradition of watching “Christmas Vacation” when the last of the food has found a place in the refrigerator?
So my wish for all my family, friends, and the best critters on the planet, is for hope and enough of everything they could want! For memories to fill a lifetime. For love to overflow.
Okay, okay, I wish us all the big publishing contracts we can handle! (I can dream, right?)
Tags: Thanksgiving
Posted by Debora on Sep 24, 2008 in
Research,
Writing Let me start this post by saying how much I love my local RWA. Not only do we have some terrific members, we have some awesome programs!
Last weekend I attended our monthly meeting barely able to contain my excitement. You see, we had scheduled a talk from our local paranormal team of investigators!
The group came in dressed in matching black t-shirts and set up their equipment - yes, if you’ve seen the TV show - “The Ghost Hunters” - it was all there. The digital recorders, the FLIR cameras, the K2 meter, all the cool ghost hunting equipment known to man.
As the group went through their presentation, teaching us the difference between apparitions, shadow figures and demons - we learned that the very best ghost hunting equipment is what nature gave each and every one of us. All your senses!
The team ran through many of our local legends and either debunked them, showed some evidence to support some possible oddities, or confirmred they could find no basis in fact. They played EVPs that had me jumping out of my chair and showed images they’ve caught that were truly amazing.
For the believers and the non-believers in the audience, there was something for everyone to either confirm their beliefs or just enough fodder to give their next story some accurate paranormal depictions. If you ever get the chance to talk to a paranormal team from your area, I would definitely recommend it! 
If you don’t have a local group - check out my local groups website and get the lowdown on how they do things. You just might find something interesting along the way!
So, are you a believer or a non-believer in the paranormal?
Tags: The paranormal
Posted by Debora on Sep 5, 2008 in
Writing First, I love this time of year - the stores are filled with writing gadgets and gizmos. Pads, pens and pencils all in different colors, various shapes and syles to entice me to plunk down some cash. But when it comes to actually using those items to write? Nope. I don’t use them. Instead you’ll find me at the computer tapping the keyboard or on my Palm tapping at my wireless keyboard attachment.
Maybe this is the reason when faced with actually having to write something with pen or pencil my handwriting is barely legible. Like chickenscratch. Okay, maybe worse. In fact I so seldom even sign my name anymore that I’m afraid if they ask me sign my kids out of school or something and check it against my license (that was signed years ago) they’d lock me up for fraud!
So, I’ve decided that this year is going to be different (much to my husbands delight - only his expectations don’t involve pencils and pens ) - Anyway, I’m actually planning to write with all the funky pens I bought this year!
It’s time to limber up those finger muscles and watch the words flow across the paper, watch my penmanship take shape and improve (a girl can hope, right?)
Has the computer become your main writing tool or do you still sit down, chew on the pencil and write your thoughts out longhand? What’s your style?
Posted by Debora on Aug 2, 2008 in
Publishing,
Uncategorized Here’s your chance to voice your opinions - and we all have opinons on this topic, don’t we?
Abby from Blade Publishing has put the question to all would-be authors sending their submissions to Blade for consideration.
Here’s the link: Blade Blog
Why not go over and read her ideas and post your comments…As for me, I’d like the details so I can strengthen my writing and get contract next time around. How about you?
Tags: Rejections
Posted by Debora on Jul 29, 2008 in
Writing The Romance Divas annual Not Going to Conference Conference will make you feel a bit less deprived! Amazing workshops, a star-studded guest list and awesome giveaways, all on the Diva forum! Don’t miss it!
Here’s a bit of a schedule update for the Q&As and Workshops…
Wednesday, July 30
Paula Guran, Editor, Juno Books
Q&A on Creating Kick a** Heroines
Laurie Rauch, Editor, Samhain Publishing
Workshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)*
Thursday July 31
Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary
Q&A on Inspirational Romance Stories and the Inspy Market
Sandra Schwab, Historical Romance Author
Workshop on Historical Accuracy and Anachronisms
Friday, August 1
Yolanda Sfetsos, Author of Guarded by Stone
Q&A on Paranormal and Urban Fantasy World Building
Katie MacIver, KatieDidDesign
Workshop on Website Design and Color Selection
Saturday, August 2
Joey W. Hill, Erotica Author
Workshop on Plotting Erotica and Erotic Romance
Rhonda Stapleton, Editor and Author
Workshop on Style and Voice
Excited yet?
How about if I list some door prizes?
- What Gwen said” mug donated by Gwen Hayes
- 3-chapter critique of a YA by Simon Pulse author Rhonda Stapleton
- 3-chapter critique of a YA, chick lit, or rom com by Golden Heart Finalist Amanda Brice
- An ebook of your choice from Nell Dixon’s backlist
- An ebook of either Second Sight (paranormal romance) or Dragons’ Choice (fantasy romance - dragon-shifters) from Debbie Mumford
- Ten dollar Amazon gift certificate from Jodi Henley
- Lush stuff from Seeley deBorn
- e-book copy of Chasing Shadows from Erin Richards
- Paperback copy of Iron Horse Rider OR Smiling Eyes from Adelle Laudan
- Book thongs from Angeleque Ford
- 3 chapter critique from Sela Carsen
- winner’s choice of ebook copy of “Not Quite Dead” or “Heart of the Sea” by Sela Carsen
- e-book copy of HEATWAVE by Eden Bradley
- e-book copy of BREAKING SKYE by Eden Bradley
- a box of goodies, trade and paperbacks, bath products candles, etc… All for a fun and relaxing home spa day treat. courtesy of The Midnight Moon Cafe
- 1 download each of Natasha Moore’s Samhain books, The Ride of Her LIfe and The Passion-Minded Professor
- a copy of “Painted Soul” by Mary Quast
- e-book copy of HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
- e-book copy of PAR FOR THE COURSE by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
- e-book copy of FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Wild Rose Press
- e-book copy of NIGHT OF INSPIRATION by Jenna Allen - Phaze
- e-book copy of ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen - Phaze
- $10 gc to Amazon from Kendal Corbitt
- ebook Vampire Oracle: Harmony by MG Braden
- Ebook ARC, Art of Sensuality by Jax Cassidy
Plus a lovely bar of wonderful Chagrin Valley hand made soap, Caramel Pralines jar candle, handmade jewelry, Tarot readings, a Lush box for European Divas/Dudes, a $10 fictionwise gc and much more!
Posted by Debora on Jun 3, 2008 in
Bragging Rights 
I am thrilled to announce my debut novella is now available from Blade Publishing!
Read an excerpt
Buy the book
A broken freezer in her old-fashioned ice cream parlor isn’t the only reason things are heating up in The Kandy Shoppe. Jason’s been waiting for his second chance with Kandy for years while she’s been hiding behind her frozen assets. A little melting ice cream, a lot of red-hot desire and dessert may take on a whole new meaning.
5 Cups Review from CoffeeTimeRomance!
The Kandy Shoppe is one of the best erotic romances I have ever read! A beautiful love story as well as one hot read, I highly recommend The Kandy Shoppe to one and all!
~Regina CoffeeTimeRomance Reviews (Read the full review here!)
Posted by Debora on Mar 25, 2008 in
Bragging Rights My first erotic romance - a novella - sold to Blade Publishing! THE KANDY SHOPPE will be a debut release for this brand new E-Publisher on June 1st.
Yes, I’m happy dancing in my kitchen, emailing everyone I know and posting to every yahoo group I belong to. I’m tucking my business cards in my purse and in my pockets and handing them out to increase the traffic on my website. My acceptance letter was the biggest boost to my ego I’ve had in a long time and I’m not ashamed to say I teared up. To know someone else loved my story and was excited enough about it to want to put it in print (besides my beloved crit group, of course - who assured me time and time again that “this one was THE ONE that would sell”) - was a feeling I’ll never forget.
Nervous you ask? It’s a brand new publisher? A brand new E-publisher! Are you nuts?
Unless you’ve been under a rock this past year, you know the industry has witnessed the crash and burn of several new e-pubs on the scene, as well as a few that people thought would be around for years to come. Many authors have their books and rights tied up in limboland through no fault of their own. I feel for each and every one of them. Yes, I’m nervous.
I bet the Wright brothers were nervous too when they told everyone they could fly. People that first invested all their money in Xerox, Coke, and Yahoo - all took chances with their futures. Isn’t that what makes life the ride it is? Wouldn’t it be downright boring if everyone only stuck with the tried and true? Someone always has to be first, someone has to the one to blaze the trail.
At the end of the day, I’m a romance writer - a believer in love, faith, destiny and above all - dreams! I’ve dreamed of seeing my name in print and I agree entrusting my novella to a brand new E-Pub is taking a chance with my name and my work. But after some careful thought, I decided that being a debut author and experiencing a “grand opening” had more positives than negatives. I’m proudly taking the leap of faith.
So, before jumping on the doubt wagon (and it’s okay if you do, I understand) why not take a look at my publisher’s site - take a look at the first gorgeous cover to go up - take a minute to read the publisher’s goal and ideals. Then, come by on June 1st for our big grand opening, and though I can’t be specific, there are some GREAT promos planned!
I’m off to continue my happy dancing!
