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Posted by Moira on Jan 24, 2012 in
Life,
Writing When I was little, I like so many others, dreamed of being many things. It started with wanting to be a princess, then the dream changed and was made of a little more realistic stuff. I wanted to be an artist. As in let me draw you a picture. Maybe a painter or graphic artist. I also wanted to be a marine biologist.
I didn't achieve those dreams. Well not entirely. I'm not a marine biologist, though my fascination with the ocean and marine life is still alive and well. I do consider myself an artist though. Instead painting on canvas with oils and skilled brush strokes, I create art by painting a picture with words. If I do it well enough, you as the reader will feel as though the story comes alive for you. Like you are actually right there with the characters every step of their journey.
I consider this dream to be an everlasting work in progress. Each time I sit down and open my manuscript, it is an opportunity to grow and perfect my piece of art. I want to learn from the authors I admire and aspire to be like. My critique partners each serve as my teachers (though they may not realize it). They share their strengths through their feedback, they encourage me to see the beauty in what I've created, and most importantly… they keep me positive, grounded, and somewhat focused on the larger picture. And of course my own personal tidbit of advice… listen and don't be afraid to pursue opportunities that fall into your lap.
Once you decide on that dream, the one you can't live without achieving, you want to immerse yourself in the pursuit of it. You want to surround yourself with people who can help you along your journey. So do tell, what do you want to be when you grow up and what little tips and tricks do you have to share about your journey to success?
Moira spends her daytime hours as a typical 9-5 slave chasing the almighty dollar, and raising twin zombie sons. During her evening hours, she can often be found steeped in homework, watching an episode of the Walking Dead, or penning her latest novel. She is an author of urban fantasy with a romance kicker, a woman with a penchant for men in kilts, lover of shoes, and connoisseur of Guinness! In other words...Moira is a complete mess.
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Tags: Dreams, Life, Moira Keith, Writing
Posted by Bethanne Strasser on Dec 29, 2011 in
Life Every year I get excited about the New Year. I want to get things done and start something new. This year's no different. 
2011 wasn't my best year yet, but I did get lots done.
I wrote and edited.
I submitted something…. yet at this point, I can't even remember what that was [maybe it's just a figment of my imagination].
I moved. I settled–mostly.
I am ready for the New Year.
Come on in and tell me what your New Year looks like to you.
Have a Happy One!!
May God Bless it with the satisfaction of success.
Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.
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Tags: New Year Resolution, success, Writing
Posted by Clarissa Yip on Dec 18, 2011 in
Christmas,
Holidays,
Writing Here’s a teaser to Cole and Maddy for all those who have read Snowy Encounters and who are curious as to if Maddy’s crazy ideas ever work.
Last Snowy Encounter
By
Clarissa Yip
“Just one time, I swear.”
Cole eyed his wife warily. As much as he loved her, the crazy ideas she came up with drove him nuts. If she wasn’t the hottest decorator in town and didn’t belong to him, he would have quickly turned tail and ran. But then, that wouldn’t be very manly of him. He glanced down the steep slope. They stood at the top of Death’s Peak. It was their spot—the one spot she’d run to when she wasn’t happy, but also the one place she’d wreaked havoc on him. He’d ended up in an ambulance, after the many times she’d accidentally tripped him down the hill.
He sighed. “Can’t we just do this at home?”
Maddy settled her hands on her hips and glared at him. “No.”
Cole pulled her into his arms and hid his irritation. “You remember what happened last time we tried this.”
She gazed at the night sky. “There are no trees above our heads this time. No snow will fall on us. Put up the tent and let’s do it.”
It as in fulfilling her fantasy to make love outdoors.
“Let’s just go back to the house where it’s warm and I’ll build us a fire.”
She shook her head and pouted. “This is my Christmas wish. I want to do it here.”
Damn. The lip. She knew he couldn’t resist her pout. Shoving a hand through his hair, he looked around. “What if someone shows up?”
Maddy snorted. “Everyone is home celebrating Christmas. Besides, we did our family duties already.” Her eyebrow lifted. “What? Are you chicken?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’m just worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’m pregnant, not disabled.” She patted her slightly rounded belly.
He bit his inner cheek. The bigger her stomach grew, the stronger those hormones struck. Trudging over to their belongings, he started to assemble the tent. Last time they’d tried this, snow had fallen from the branches and covered their naked bodies. Lovemaking suspended.
Who would have thought his spunky wife had such fantasies?
Once the tent was set up, he made sure the portable heater was on and lantern lit, before holding the flap open and turning to Maddy. “Done. Get in.”
Maddy hopped up off the tree stump and grinned. “About time!” She took two steps and slid backward. Cole quickly closed the distance, but not before she’d already fallen. At least the ground was fluffy with a fresh layer of snow. She glared at him, and he tried to keep from laughing. But mirth struck him as he clutched his stomach. Falling was natural to Maddy.
“The baby!” Maddy gripped her belly. Cole stopped and instantly went to her side.
“Are you okay?” He squatted down. She gave a soft moan. Fear and guilt instantly grasped him around the throat. “Is it the baby? Maddy, answer me.”
She peeped at him with a grimace. He cursed. He should have watched her more carefully, and here he was laughing at her. What type of man did that make him? He swallowed hard when she kept her head bowed. Four months into her pregnancy, he shouldn’t have allowed her to talk him into bringing her out here. Just as he started to slip his arms under her knees and around her shoulders, Maddy mushed snow into his face.
He froze then sputtered as he jumped up, spitting the cold out of his mouth. Settling his hands on his hips, he towered over her, glaring. She sat gripping her sides, giggling. Damn wench. “That wasn’t funny.”
“That’s what you get for laughing!” She held out a hand and he pulled her up.
“You could have been hurt. The baby could have been hurt.”
“Then you shouldn’t laugh at me every time I fall.” Maddy huffed.
“Then stop falling.”
“It’s your fault. You know how clumsy I seem to get around you. It probably wouldn’t matter even if we’re dating or ninety years old.”
Cole grinned. She did have a tendency to be klutzy around him. Only him. And it’d better stay that way for a very long time. Brushing the snow off her back, his hand lingered over her butt. He loved touching her ass. He wasn’t much of a butt man, but Maddy’s cute bottom always drew his attention, especially when she wore her black stiletto boots and sashayed around him like….
He swung her up into his arms and strode to the tent. “Let’s do it.”
Maddy yanked the hair at his nape, and he grunted. “Now, you’re being vulgar.”
“You wanted to make love out here.”
“I said in the snow.”
“You’re crazy, woman. It’s the tent or nothing.”
She pouted.
“Stop that. You know I’d give you anything, but no way am I going to risk getting you sick.”
With a sigh, she brushed her lips against his jaw as he allowed her to slide down the length of him. “I know.”
He cupped her bottom, pulling her close against his groin. No matter how many times they’d made love, he’d never get enough of her. Keeping an arm around her waist, he lifted the flap of the tent. “Get in and show me your goods.”
Maddy giggled. She bent and started to maneuver into their temporary sleeping quarters. He gave her butt two pats before she disappeared inside. Sticking his head in, he frowned. The space was smaller than he anticipated. He should have grabbed the bigger tent from the lodge, but in their haste, he’d taken whatever was available. All thoughts fled as Maddie smiled seductively and slowly released the buttons on her coat.
Inch by inch, silky pale skin was revealed along with her black satin camisole. She shrugged off her jacket and slipped out of her jeans then sat demurely in her top and panties. She crooked one finger at him, and he was lost. Quickly shedding his oversized coat, he crawled into the tight space. His head hit the roof, but he managed to get his coat off.
Maddy helped him with his shirt. His elbow struck a metal bar. He ignored it and kissed her the moment he got his shirt off. Her fingers attacked his belt and unbuttoned his jeans as he searched for the hem of her camisole. Softness met his palms, and he slid his hand under, lovingly patting her stomach before closing over her breasts.
“Get these off. I want to see you.” Maddy tugged insistently at his jeans. He sat and she climbed over him, settling her legs on either side of his thighs as he tried to push his boxers and jeans off. She dug her fingers in his hair and continued to kiss him. He loved the taste of her—fruity and sweet. Her strawberry scent wrapped around him, drugging him as always.
Once he kicked his clothes away, he settled his hands on her hips and worked the satin top over her skin. They parted for a split second when he’d pulled her camisole off and threw it over his shoulder.
Maddy tugged at his hair, rocking against him as he kneaded her breasts, weighing them, loving them. They’d grown larger with pregnancy. The areolas were darker in color. He loved the little changes in her body as she blossomed with their child. Five more months and they would finally welcome their baby into the world. He was going to love Five Oaks as much as his parents did.
Bending down to sample her sweetness, Cole caressed her stomach before closing his mouth over her nipple. Maddy moaned and drew him closer, rocking against his groin. She tugged at his hair as he laved circles around the erect bud.
“I love when you do that,” she murmured.
He bit her gently, then kissed the spot and moved to her other breast. His hands slid over her hips to cup her butt, holding her flushed against him. The friction added to his desire. His head swam with each motion, each sensation. Frustrated with the satin barrier between them, he gave a quick tug, and the flimsy panties fell apart.
Maddy grinned and then gripped the sides of his face, kissing him. His tongue twirled with hers, her sweetness easily seducing his senses. Sliding from under her, he maneuvered her onto her back. He bumped his head on the top metal bar of the tent. Frowning and aggravated with their tight quarters, he settled himself between her legs. His eyes raked over her beauty and his annoyance slipped away. Her glow wrapped around him like a warm blanket, and he jerked her against him.
Nibbling along her jawline, he moved lower, trailing his lips across the smooth expanse of her chest. Maddy whimpered as his fingers found her. Wet and hot. She lifted herself on her elbows and peered at him with hooded eyes. The desire in her gaze flickered heat throughout his body. Control slipped the moment her tongue ran across her bottom lip.
Tugging her legs to hug his waist, he rubbed against her cleft. Her arms circled his shoulders, knees pressing into his sides. He leaned in to kiss her, but Maddy pushed at him. He frowned.
“Fire!” Maddy wriggled under him.
He held her tighter and tried to kiss her, but she gave him a shove. He didn’t budge. No way was she backing out now. It was her idea to make love out here. “Baby, you are hot. That won’t ever change.”
“No, fire!” She pointed to the corner.
Cole whipped around. Damn. Smoke rose from Maddy’s camisole. It had landed on top of the heater. His head hitting the roof of the tent, he grabbed his jacket and started to beat the blasted thing. Cursing aloud, he glanced at his wife to see her laughing, clutching her own coat to her chest.
Once the heater was off and the destroyed satin tossed aside, he settled back in defeat, bumping his head against the metal bar holding up the tent. Maddy slid her arms into her coat and grappled around for her jeans.
“You’re right. We should go home.”
He sighed. Lovemaking suspended. Again. He just couldn’t win.
Maddy leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips. “I know. My crazy idea. But I’ll make it up to you.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“When we get home,” she quickly added.
Stifling the urge to growl, he reached for his clothes.
“Next time, we’ll grab the larger tent, so you fit, big guy.”
He smiled. She said “next time.”
Hope wasn’t lost.
Snowy Encounters Available at Decadent Publishing!
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Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, A Passionate Christmas, Christmas, Clarissa Yip, Decadent Publishing, Writing
Posted by Bethanne Strasser on May 21, 2011 in
Life I’m having a contest over on my own blog, Romance in Writing. Come on over and tell me a Love Story. I want to hear how you met your sweetheart. Were you friends first? Or did you fall madly in love and learn that friendship is what makes it last?
I’m going to draw one lucky winner of a GOODIE BAG from those who post a comment.
Have a great week!
Enjoy the spring.
~Penny/Bethanne
Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.
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Tags: Books, contest, Friendship, Love, Prizes, Writing
Posted by Jennifer on Feb 9, 2011 in
Challenges,
Goals,
Writing 
HI, all! Jennifer here!
Well, I'm happy to report that I'm doing great on my Book in 3 Month Challenge! Granted I had a wee bit of a head start, but so far I have a good chunk of my manuscript written–35% to be exact. 
You might not know it, but I'm remaining calm and collected about this. Thus, the "logical and calm" word count meter below.
Checking in with my critique partners and posting our daily word total has really kept me from slacking. (Somewhat, anyway) I find when I'm writing, it helps to take small breaks every 30 or 40 minutes, where I quickly check Twitter or email, throw a load of laundry on, or make myself a cup of tea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As far as P90x goes, I can't believe this is week FIVE already. I am definitely noticing a difference in what I can do now from when I first started (which wasn't much) LOL
The Yoga X was my most dreaded routine. Not because it took up an HOUR AND A HALF of my time but because I found it the most impossible, ridiculous exercise routine on the workout plan. And now I can say that after all this time…
I finally did a session on Saturday and actually enjoyed it. I know. Weirdo-rama. But I bought a yoga block on Amazon and that really helped a lot with some of the moves.
Just like in my writing, where I'm checking in and comparing goals, I'm checking in with my hubby on the P90x plan as well. It really helps to have someone doing it with you because whenever I'm tempted to just skip a day, I have him giving me a look and guilting me into doing it. (The hubby is much more goal oriented than I am) So I'm grateful to have someone else suffering with me. LOL
Accountability. That's the key word that's really really me reach my goals this year. And so far, so good.
Do you need that extra "push" like I do? How do you reach your goals?
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Georgie on His Mind--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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Tags: goals, Jennifer Shirk, work in progress, Writing
Posted by Bethanne Strasser on Nov 22, 2010 in
Challenges,
Goals,
Writing It's that time of year again…
New Year's coming and changes are inevitable. My husband is leaving for a long time. [
Oh crap. I just got a little teary-eyed.] I want to get ready for something NEW–new experiences, new emotions to deal with, new schedules… more time to myself, more time for my work. But I need to clear my desk of any current projects.
So I've come up with Pre-Goal Goals… New Year's Resolution Resolutions.
With two novellas, both rejected by two different publishers, I'm going to finish some revisions and edits first, then attend that Swingers party with them and send them both off to the other publisher… ha!
GOAL: January 31st, complete revisions and edits and submit
If I can get those submissions out the window, my new year looks good for the next big project. I've been putting off starting another single title. Gun shy, if you will. The last one I did went through agent submissions and failed, not miserably, just in the normal, this-is-life kind of way. 
But I do need to get off my hesitation and have another go of it.
No matter how many novellas I sell, I'll never find myself on display at B&N if I don't write a full-length, Single Title novel and submit it.
Would love to hear how you're getting ready for the New Year. Or do you sit back and wait for the new year, using the new year as a chance to clean house? Tell me everything!
Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.
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Tags: Resolutions, revisions and edits, Romance, Writing
Posted by Bethanne Strasser on Oct 14, 2010 in
Life,
Writing My youngest son came into our bedroom not too long ago and asked my husband this question. My husband looked at me with his somewhat amused and secret smile and answered, "Yes. I do."
"Who is it?" Our youngest demanded.
"It's your mom."
The kid laughed, hysterically! And I had to laugh with him as if we had some secret joke between us.
…but I swear, I did NOT put him up to that question! haha.
We–as humans–use labels A LOT. My son is going through this labeling stage. Everyone is a man or a boy, woman or girl. I suppose he'll get to a point when his labels will include what people do or how they relate to him.
I got to thinking that these labels can be so important to our writing.
I read a sample of work last week in which a female character had a boy's name. No biggie. I love the masculine and feminine contrast–Sam, Georgie [btw, i'm not talking about your book, Jennifer!], Frankie, Danny, Jackie. Unfortunately, this particular choice in names was harder to swallow.
Like, Tyler or Matt or Rocky….
I had to reread a portion of the story right off the bat, because I had gotten confused.
So, tell me. What rules do you follow for labeling? How much do you expect your reader to swallow when it comes to originality?
Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.
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Tags: Labels, Names, Originality, Penny Dune, Writing
