Wanted: Critical, Nitpicky, Analytical, Readers!

I am having fun sharing the first chapter with people!!! I am asking for feedback and most have been very cooperative and wonderful!

I am willing... for a few of you who are interested... I would like to send out the first chapter for feedback. Edit, fix storyline for me... etc. I am interested in making it perfect. Do not tell me that it just doesn't bring you in, explain why, or what you would like to see. I am only sharing with serious people who are willing to help me perfect this. This is my future livelihood, please be terribly objective. :D

Okay! waiting for people to ask!

*EXCITED!!!!*

(Disclaimer: If I am not positive you will help me, or think you will only give me praise, or fear fraud, chapter will be refused for you.)

Have a great day!

......................

Holidays and colds have been keeping me from posting as much as I would like to. I beg your forgiveness for those of you clamoring for more. I shall do my best to satiate your thirst. ;)

The protagonists from my first book have been speaking to me again. I have started the third book in the series involving the Jewel. Joshua and Julia are now dancing across white pages and splattering their story with fantastic finesse. -Despite the from/form typos etc., of my very eager fingers. ;)

What a lovely way to start a day!

..............

Warm Arizona memories

Mormon Arizona Temple

I received this picture in my email. The caption was "The amazing the things that remind me of you".

What a wonderful compliment that I could be thought of in the same sphere as Temples and Christmas lights.

This picture is warm, and familiar for me. All through my youth I remember visiting the Arizona temple. Christmas was no exception and the lights and decorations around the visitors center were always my favorite. Hot chocolate sometimes followed on those exceptionally cold nights, but I mostly remembered the friends and family I had nearby. They truly warmed me more than steaming mugs of froth. The feeling, it seems, was mutual. I miss them all very much.

Thank you for reminders of Christmas past my friend. This was a lovely trip down memory lane and I cherish our times together. Happy New Year, and may you have fun creating many more pleasant memories.

Luvs and hugs to all my friends. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to meet all of you. Each of you are a jewel to me. Thank you for being you.

...................

An author's update

FG
BG Loading..

500x282	31K
611x345	22K
815x459	34K
1087x613	55K
1449x817	88K
1932x1089	132K

*Sighs dramatically*

There are far too many ways to write, and when every different agent has their own opinion about how something should be done, it just means more work for us writers.

Im not new to auditioning. Between dance and choir professionally, and band and drama in HS, I have seen and done many auditions. Butterflies are not new and I enjoy the thrill of the performance.

However, I always knew what the person I was auditioning for expected. Poise, grace, fluidity, balance, flexibility, stamina, clarity, and professionalism revolved universally in these worlds.

Querying for prospective agents has absolutely nothing in common with another.

Some prefer a 'blurb only please'; a six sentence teaser for the book you are submitting. Others want that in a query letter that petitions them for their services. While others still want both plus the synopsis, sample chapters, and autobiography as well. This gets more frustrating when the synopsis are preferred in different lengths; one page, two pages, three pages, five pages, ten pages, and even twenty. I now have six synopsis that I pull out and reedit often. It doesn't help that each agent has their own idea of the perfect font for these.

I have even done a few styling changes in by actual novel. Different ways to state things, and how to use proper grammar. Possessive plural proper nouns (say that five time fast!) are quite the annoyance to me! Each agent thinks they know which is right, and many discard a book if it isn't their preferred way. JK Rawlings for Harry Potter got a lot of this. Her Brit way is helps my eyes and looks proper, but a lot of Yanks here want the lesser styling. Book gets edited again....

I do understand the different genres they adore. As in dance and song, there are a multitude of styles that span far and wide. I only query those that I can fit my books into. Though, it can fit into eight or nine of these genres, so I have eighteen different blurbs that I send out. Each one is detailed for the genre of the specific agent I am querying. If adventure, I play up that part. If they prefer romance, the blurb explains that part. Paranormal? Yes, my first book is very diversified. That helps incredibly with the plot, I've found. ;) Much more interesting!

Stephanie Meyers' book is a paranormal romance in an urban fantasy world. See that? Four different genres for Twilight.

My book is similar...

Mmmm...

I regress to say 'similar' as I am quite opposed to vampires, but I have the paranormal romance in a different fantasy world. This will probably be my only romance series as the middle grade fiction I am also writing is much more paranormal adventure. I am diverse! It helps to find more agents and finally get that *first one* published. I am very excited for that to happen.

Aside from making money on the short stories and contests I enter I can't wait to be a novelist. Author for now, Novelist... in progress.

Lots of work ahead of me. *tackles it* I will make this work. Even if I have to rewrite a few books. I am fiercely determined!

Wish me luck! (I am going to need it! *changes font for the eighth time today*)

Sigh. I love writing!

....................

Merry CHRISTmas my friends.
May the love and peace you feel this time of year follow you throughout the rest of your lives.

Allow me to vent once again.

It pains me terribly that Christmas has become commercialized.

Presents, decorations, and fancy meals have become more important than the man who it has been in celebration of.

I am very jealous of the Jews this time of year. Hanukkah is such a peculiar name it makes the holiday unique and special, and thus unadoptable for the gentiles. It remains a holiday to remember the miracle of the eight days of oil and nothing more. Perhaps if Christmas had a more unpronounceable name it would remain the sentimental holiday it was meant to be.

Two thousand and nine years ago, a man named Jesus Christ was born to a virgin woman by the name of Mary. This man, sired by God himself by a miracle only He could perform, grew up to be the most important man for the whole human race. He then gave the ultimate sacrifice and suffered for every one of our sins with great and unbearable pains. Jesus did this because he loves us, and knows us all personally.

It may be hard to imagine that this is how it was, but you must admit that the man, if not the son of God, DID actually exist. There are accounts many places besides the accounts of devote Christians. History can no longer deny the existence of such a wonderful man and he is in many cultures that still thrive in the middle east. He lived, he taught people how to be good, and he cared about people. These are FACTS that are not made up.

Such a wonderful reason to celebrate someone-their good good works-, I am sad that my day of worship for him is being taken away from me.

Commercialism has stolen my sacred day and turned it into a day of idols where gifts are worshiped more than the man it's meant to honor. It disgusts me when people say xmas and refuse to let me worship my Savior on my own precious holiday. If you want a present day, please have the creativity to go get your own. New years sounds like a fun day, and we already get it off anyway. Celebrate the new year with new things, but please let me have my day with my Savior. The Jews have theirs, please give me mine back.

I am thankful that the Jews still have theirs. And Kwanza is hopefully another name that will help their day stay personal for those who celebrate it. Now Maulana Karenga had the right idea in 1966. She at least had creativity. Presents for her culture and a day just for her and her people; no stealing and making others forfeit centuries of worship. I like her.

Thus I propose...

For us Christians needing to have that day of worship preserved; I suggest that we take a day back for our Savior. A day to remember him and all he did for us. No presents or lists of gratuitous things to salivate over. Just carols and love and a remembrance of all that he did for us.

I happen to know Christ's actual day of birth. This may sound strange, but prophets walk the earth again and angels still communicate with us. Joseph Smith was one such prophet, and he was told by one of these angels that Jesus's birthday was on April 6.

I propose that all Christians who read this help me celebrate the man whom this season was claimed for. We can drag out Christmas carols and pass out cookies to dear friends and serenade them with Christ's taught love in our hearts on this other day as well. Perhaps if this works, we can do it again in August... just for the fun of it. This will certainly spread love throughout the year to those who forget the meaning of Christmas for the other 364 days. Truly, I keep it with me always, but I know that many who claim to also have a rough year.

A little light humor, but wouldn't it really be nice to capture the special feeling we feel this time of year and release it on the unsuspecting public en masse throughout the year? Haha, I chuckle as I picture the faces that will, at first be wary, but then bloom into the smiles I'm trying to see there. People need to take life lighter....

Sometimes it is hard to be the light happy person people see all the time. I don't have someone like me to bring me out of my funks. Though if I can bring someone else out of theirs, it does make me feel great. I am thankful for the teachings of the Savior to help me remember that we can all be here for each other.

I will always be here for you. I listen even better than I write. I love you all, and may the reason of this precious season warm your hearts this chilly winter time and all year.

God Bless and Hugs and Loves and happy wishes.

..................

What do you have on top of the Christmas tree?

Some people prefer the star to sit up there. Whether it's a reminder of the sun that appeared when Christ was born, or something that draws your attention to the heavens where He dwells, or even if it is just a pretty accent to the emerald green of the tree, the vast majority choose this lovely gem to sit atop their winter expression of life for the holidays.

If you are not a star person, you may choose the less popular, but still beautiful, angel to smile down on you from her lofty perch. Whether dressed in feathers, long taffeta, or even deep red velvet and faux fur, she speaks to you and that is why she sits there. Perhaps she is the reminder of the angel proclaiming the coming of her Lord and Savior in splendorous song. Perhaps you merely feel safe that she is protecting you tree or home. But something about having a face makes you feel warm inside.

Some people have handmade crafts that complete their tree. Spindles pointing heavenward, bells that ring joyously, doves that coo when you trip the motion sensor, even wrapped gifts have been seen as the piece de resistance. These always have special meaning to those displaying them.

Those of us who share this holiday enjoy that there is always something similar that we have to carry in our hearts at this time of year. Indeed we may not celebrate it for the same reason, but most of us remember that love was the real meaning behind our happy smiles and gift-giving.

And that knowledge will forever draw us together in harmony.

Happy Christmas!

...............

I don't want to be the rockstar. I don't want to be the adoring fans, I don't want to be the paparazzi posting their scandals on the front page.

I have been blessed with a life to live. I am so glad I get to choose how to spend it. I see people in the limelight, in the after light, and in the dark. None of those look like fun.

Adventure lies out there, but if you are too concerned about what the people around you think, or are doing, life will pass you by. So many things to focus on I would hate to miss what was important because I was trying to be what I thought everyone wanted me to be.

I figured this out in high school. I was a little dense before then.

Once I embraced who I was I really found myself. People are very often drawn to me. Some will never let go. I will forever be their life preserver in this dreary world, and have been told this many times over. I wish I could wave a magic wand for everybody, but will do what I can with the pixie dust to keep them all afloat.

I am a little exuberant with people and very open with my feelings. It is who I am. I am a dreamer and have high goals and lots of wishes. I know I will attain a few of these in my life and work to make them real. Not many people I know even care about the future and it is sad that many have stopped dreaming.

I would hate that. To have no excitement or hope in my future seems unbearable and unlivable. No wonder they are unhappy.

I think of myself as a happy person. Whether it is because too many around me are unhappy, or because I have a warped view of the world, I am not complaining. I like life and all the possibilities it offers.

And there are always endless possibilities for those who seek them.

....................

Eeney Meenie Miney Moe.

Let me begin by saying I know how busy you are. I am tickled pink, grateful, and very happy that so many of you make it to my blog. Thank you.

That being said, I have another favor to ask.

These are a few 'blurbs' or 'queries' that get sent along with a petitioning letter to various agents. Each one speaks about different things that happen in the book. Each one is meant to make you want to read it to find out more.

I would like you to let me know which one does the best job of drawing you in. I realize that the genre may not be your particular favorite as there are so many wonderful ones out there, but for what it is are any of these better than it's cousin?

The genre is paranormal romance. That means lots of magical adventure and a few people fall in love too.

I can't wait to hear what you have to say. The best argument for any blurb in particular will be sent to the next agent. A contest! So let's find out who's going to win!

ONE:

Seventeen-year-old Julia is a nonhuman; she just doesn’t know it yet. When she finally does figure this out, it’s suddenly too late. Luckily Julia’s no damsel. That’s a good thing because she just fell for the wrong guy. Literally when she finds out he’s not even the same species.

Against his desire she’s suddenly plunged into his world. At least she's not a nonhuman anymore... no, now she's an inhuman –and completely in love with the forbidden creature. Can she still save herself after forfeiting all the magic she could have had with the ‘right’ guy?

(Bad thing about this one is that it ends in a question. Agents hate that, though we still find questions on the back of other books.)

TWO:

Julia is a nonhuman. She just doesn’t know it yet. When she finally does figure this out it’s too late. Luckily Julia is also no damsel. That’s a double good thing when she falls for the wrong guy; in more ways than one when she finds out he’s not even human.

Suddenly weird things start happening and memories get erased. Too bad he can’t erase her feelings for him too. But Julia’s heart is stubborn and won’t switch to the man picked out for her in the prophecy.

Luckily, accidents happen.

THREE:

Julia doesn’t need much to be happy. Making her cousin Carey’s day seems to be more than enough for her. So when her cousin wins an all expense paid cruise to Alaska it becomes Julia’s mission to make sure Carey has the best time ever. Shopping, elegant dining, singles’ activities, and fabulous pampering spas become her cousin’s itinerary.

Julia didn’t plan on falling in love. He fights her for his own reasons and her heart gets crushed with every memory wipe he bestows on her. Her heart remains true, but he remains stubborn saying it is for her own good. Luckily accidents happen. She only had to die to remember the last time and now she's not giving him up again.

FOUR:

Julia is a nonhuman. She just doesn’t know it yet.

A seemingly harmless cruise starts out with all the accommodations promised in the brochures. So it was a shock when the body count started rising. In the middle of the ocean, the mysterious illness quarantines the people infected to their cabins, but it’s too late for Julia’s cousin, Carey.

As Carey lay dying, the ship’s reclusive royal wanders in with a medicine man technique promising to help her cousin’s severe pain. The result leaves Carey feeling better, and Julia head over heals for the man who saved her. Too bad he’s not good for her. By the time she figures that out, she’s no longer a nonhuman. No, now she’s an inhuman and in possession of all the knowledge that comes with being one. For better or for worse.

FIVE:

Julia loves to spoil her cousin. The cruise she wins for her seems like the perfect opportunity to do just that. Until the death toll rises and weird things start happening. Now the reclusive royal that suddenly shows up everywhere Julia goes is the perfect person to suspect. Too bad Julia’s too far in love with him to care.

Or maybe it’s because she forgot to care. Once she realizes her memory is being tampered with, the questions start spewing. And again, it just doesn’t seem to matter… until he rejects her because he believes he’s not good enough for her. Now she’s up to do some serious convincing. Luckily accidents happen-for better or for worse- and she thinks she found a way to get him to see the lights-both of them.

SIX:

Julia is a nonhuman. She just doesn’t know it yet. When she finally does figure this out it’s too late. Luckily Julia is also no damsel. That’s a double good thing when she falls for the wrong guy; in more ways than one when she finds out he’s not even human.

Suddenly weird things start happening, mysterious illnesses break out, and memories get erased. Too bad he can’t erase her feelings for him too, because Julia’s heart is stubborn and won’t switch to the man picked out for her in the moldy old prophecy. Luckily accidents happen with new powers, and Julia wouldn’t have it any other way.


Let me know which is your favorite!

.....................

It's going to be a chilly winter

Remember when global warming meant that was why it was so hot? Well now it also explains why it is so cold.

Confused?

I haven't even started yet.

Last winter my area had the coldest season in about twenty-one years. Ice storms happened more than people could count and power was lost on a daily basis. But why was it so cold?

We were not that far from the sun. In our orbital rotation, there had been years not too long ago that we had reached a further pull and those winters were normal. Why was this one so much worse than they?

Because of global warming.

You say 'huh?'. Warming makes you... colder?

The polar ice caps have finally melted enough for the cooler waters to migrate far enough to affect us. Not only will NYC be under water within the next fifty years, but the temperature is dropping world-wide in drastic and very serious degrees. Plummeting people.

There is no more hope that we can correct this on time and scientists have determined that we ARE causing the next ice age. This is a fact already set in motion, it cannot be changed.

However...

They do believe that they can minimize the impact the severe weather has in store for us... if, IF we start changing our lifestyles now.

Repeat that: NOW.

There would have to be windmills everywhere, all cars would have to be electric. Houses would use solar panels and make as much of their own electricity as possible. Water would be monitored better and systems would be set up to harvest and collect it yourself. Chemicals would be abolished and the seventh generation products would be all we'd need. Paper wouldn't exist and all books would be on Nooks or the like. Schools would be completely electronic. Plastic would be used sparingly and cotton would replace much of the hospital's sanitary needs, being boiled when finished instead of thrown away.

If, and I say this very lightly, if we were to accomplish this in the next year we would still be facing severe changes in weather patterns.

I know that mankind will survive the ice age. We certainly came through all right before. And the atmosphere would be dramatically cleansed when the pollutants were solidified and sent back to the ground they were unearthed from. Imagine no smog and being able to inhale without assistance in places like Hong Kong and LA. A miracle to be sure.

But how many of us would we lose?

Hundreds?

We should be so lucky.

The population will decrease by close to ninety two percent. That is over five billion souls.

How callous is it that some of you believe this is a good thing? Right Scrooge? 'Decrease the surplus populations' and all that?

Sigh.

An ice age would be good and bad. I am sad that it is we, mankind, that did this. The planet that gave us life is being wadded into a giant paper wad and being thrown away. What right have we to do such a thing?

Rights or not, it is happening. Those of you who care, I hope you make it. The end of the world comes in hundreds and thousands of disguises. This is just one of the many that make mankind take a step back and pause for a bit. Don't pause too long. There are many things you can do to lesson the impact individually. I've listed them above. Check out a few 'green' sites to get some more ideas. All this is 'google-able'.

Well this was fun. If you get snow in a bizarre place this year, say Arizona's Phoenix Valley, I promise I won't say I told you so... if I remember that I promised! lol

Otherwise, enjoy snuggling under those blankets while you can. Apparently sometime in your lifetime it will be more than snuggling, but life and death huddling.

Let's hope not. For everyone's sake. But it is hard to deny firm statistics. I'm breaking out the snowsuits. The snow is already too deep for this time of year up here. The statistics are adding up.

..................

Many think that writing a book is easy. You have ideas, they get written down, and voila! You have a wonderful new book that will sell in hundreds of stores everywhere.

I never thought this, but I was a bit in lala land when I started. I wasn't sure I could produce a whole novel for one thing. That is a lot of work, and I've never taken my hand at writing anything longer than the short twenty-line poems in junior high, and the awful short stories in High school for assignments. A novel was a challenge. One I was eager to take a hand at.

Truth be told, I thought I'd fail like so many countless others before me. In research before I even started writing, I found out that only .001% of the people who decide to write a book actually finish one. Intimidating odds, so I didn't get my hopes up.

I did however, start a story about a girl and her aunt. Funny, but that is where I began. I knew I wanted a race of magical beings to be in it, and I knew that I wanted this girl to be my main protagonist. The story was written very differently than most. I knew what a summary was, but I was having more fun coming up with things for my characters to do as I walked with them.

Eventually scenes were rearranged, and for convenience's sake, the aunt became a loved cousin. I was surprised that this made much more sense with the characters' relationship. Someone closer to her age was wanted, and the whole 'guardian thing' needed more... 'holes' for lack of a better word. I like holes when they make sense.

I now have a full novel. I have almost two. I say almost because while the second is finished, it is not yet 'finished'. I have ideas about scene changing already and will be going back through it when I have the time.

I am also writing two completely different novels in a younger genre. I am busy busy!

I am pleasantly pleased to find that writing is so much fun for me. I wish I was better at all the fundamentals like grammar and sentence structure. But I AM a good story-teller and I am hoping that will carry me through to at least an editor. In the meantime, Microsoft Word does those little green things to help me with the basics. ;)

Querying a talented agent is next. I have been for a few months now. They prefer exclusive rights to the material and I try to respect that by only sending out one at a time. They take about six to ten weeks to answer. Except one mercifully. I had a rejection in twelve minutes. He likes adventure, but the literary fiction part was a little heavy for him. Opposite of what I got from a woman. She said that the literary fiction part was divine and light, but the adventure was a little to graphic for the romance. I reminded her about Twilight. Yeah, she didn't like that one either, lol.

There is an agent out there that will like mine though. It is NOT Twilight. It is... well very different, but the relationship ends up leading to a lot of problems... I'm sure that sounds familiar in every romance novel! ;)

True love conquers all and in the end there is hope that all that is set before the protagonist will be attainable. Not as easily as if she had done it the preferred way, but she isn't adverse to a little hard work either. At least her choice to love whom she chose is making any hard work involved much more bearable.

A writer I have become. I submit short stories to several contests and websites now. I have won almost all contests and am earning money and small publications. I am an author! Not on the scale I will be when I publish any one of the novels, but it is a start. And I can't be too mad that I am earning money. :D

If any of you want to write, I suggest you look into the publication processes. It is grueling and daunting, and I assure you, not for the faint of heart. If you think you have something that will make it through all that, please, I encourage you to go ahead. It is a wonderful feeling to have someone say they like your work enough to pay you for it.

A short peek into my occupation... I hope you liked it. Thanks to all my readers and even followers. You all rock so much! Post comments and ask me questions. I want to know what you would like to see me blog about on here. I accept requests and respond to most of them. Reading them is my favorite!

Luvs and hugs and have a great day.

....................