Jennifer Bianco

Blog Moved

2006-11-05T20:52:00.000-05:00

I have officially moved my blog from Blogger to Wordpress.
The new address is: http://jenniferbianco.com/wordpress/

And if you have the desire for a little pain, click my link to be bitten, at Monster Games. Catch you over on the dark side.

Romance Divas

2006-07-31T19:15:00.000-04:00

Romance Divas
Author of the Month : Gemma Halliday – Contests workshop from the Golden Heart winner
Aug 5-7: Paranormal Event with Carrie Vaughn, LA Banks, CT Adams/Cathy Clamp, Gena Showalter, and Kelley Armstrong.
Aug 11 Jessica Faust: Bookends-inc agent in the Chatroom. 9 Eastern
August 8-18 :: Getting To Know The Voices in Your Head Workshop with Jo Ann Ferguson/Jocelyn Kelley
Aug 18 :: Theresa Meyers: PR/Promo in the Chatroom.
August 25 :: Ann Christopher, Patricia Sargeant, Maureen Smith and Sophia Shaw Multi-cultural Authors Chat

Jadyn Case

2006-07-27T18:30:00.000-04:00

My favorite part of writing is the creating process, the brainstorming. I love when things click and a flood of new ideas rush to the surface of my consciousness. This is where I am right now. While working on Outrage, I could not get Jadyn Case out of my mind.

I originally created her as a pen name for my erotic romance writing. I fell in love with who is she and what she stands for, as well as her name. After some time, I realized I did not care for a lot of the erotic romance I was reading and could not (would not) write stories where sex was the main motivator. I am not a prude and adore sex and the kinkier side of sexuality, but I just kept reading boring, unbelievable crap...not all but most. Hopefully I was just very unlucky in what I picked up.

So, thoroughly disgusted, I chose to ignore the callings of ER but didn't want to lose my girl. Jadyn suddenly became the heroine in her own series. A clinical psychologist by day, erotic romance author (couldn't get rid of it completely) by night, she helps the police (sexy homicide Detective, Linc Wallace) solve cases of murder and deceit.

She has her own blog, which are considered to be her private diaries, and a website (coming soon), as well as a myspace page. I hope she becomes the success she already is in my heart for all of you.

Keep On Keeping On...

2006-07-17T21:47:00.000-04:00

It's been longer than I wish. Life seems to just get away from you at times.
On the writing front... When the 1st rolled in and I told myself to start writing Hunted, I simply could not. There had not been enough distance from outline to first (second?) draft. So instead I started outlining another story that I got stuck on last Spring.

This one, is very special to my heart. It involves the struggles some women experience in a male dominated world, women who have yet to find their voice, their strength. Women who are subjugated through emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Coming from a family (and friends) filled with dysfunction, as so many of us do, I saw, sometimes firsthand, intelligent women dumbing themselves down for the ego of a man. The fear and acceptance of physical abuse destroys self-esteem and continues down the line.

Growing up in these environments often lead to low self-worth, and although one sex isn't more important then the other, females have many more disadvantages than males throughout life. Males rarely walk down a street in fear of being overpowered or sexually assaulted. Males are patted on the back when being assertive and not called bitches, and males are cheered on or labeled as players when they sleep around, not whores.

Shall I step off my soapbox now?
Maybe just for a bit. :)

MYSpace

2006-06-29T23:47:00.000-04:00

Under the influence of my peers, the Divas, I signed up for a MySpace account and entered their addictive world. The more I find (avatars, glitter, pics, dodas) the more I want to add, but I need to stop or soon enough it will resemble a child's page.

See what I mean! But now that I know I can add all the glitter I want to my blog...well, take out the sunglasses.
All in all though, I'm glad I set the page up and look forward to making more friends.

www.myspace.com/jenniferbianco

Website is Live

2006-06-27T16:25:00.000-04:00

Well finally, right? I've only had the domain for a little less than a year.

Creating the site was a great deal of fun, uploading it was another issue. Actually once I received an answer on one question, it was pretty easy too.

You know how frustrating it is to have just enough knowledge to get by but not enough for it to make absolute sense? LOL Exactly! I can only hope as time goes on it will become more clear. I didn't even know what html tags were a year and a half ago.

Then I realized (at least I think) that I signed up for the wrong hosting account. I go through godaddy.com and chose the account with windows rather than linux. I signed up for windows because I was...well...clueless. Then after uploading the site I discovered two things: 1. my contact form needs to be formatted with cgi-bin, which I would have through Linux, not Windows, and 2. for WordPress I need to have php. Yeah, makes no sense to me either, but it meant I needed to change from Windows to Linux. Thank goodness it was just a matter of clicking one little button on godaddy's site. Whew!

So, take a look: My Site

I still have to get the contact page in order then figure out WordPress (eye roll).

Well now it's time to work on another personna.

istockphoto.com

2006-06-22T15:49:00.000-04:00

I have been searching for affordable graphics to add to my website and blog for a year. I have searched through Google, Creative Commons, asked around... I couldn't find anything and wasn't speaking to the right people.

Well yesterday, the photo Gods were looking down on me. I discovered istockphoto. It has royalty-free photos of excellent quality, not just a bunch of silly clip art. Membership is free and each photo is purchased by credits, running between 1-5 credits per pic. Each credit costs $1 and are bundled $10, $25 and up.

As you can see from the heading of my blog, I found some exceptional photographs and am busy putting my website together. I hope to have it up and running next month. It's about time. I only purchased by domain name last September. ;)

If you'd like to earn 3 free credits from istockphoto, send me your full name and email address and I'll refer you.

Outline Is Complete...again!

2006-06-18T22:30:00.000-04:00

Well boys and girls...my outline revisions are complete!

It was actually more than just revisions, and there are a few things I need to still research, like how FDA approval is obtained and the specifics of a disorder, but I am DONE! And two weeks early. So I'm going to celebrate by reading a book and working on some other things.

Let's not forget the synopsis contest going on over at Romance Divas. I plan to judge entries this time too. So I plan to celebrate with work, but it's fun work. LOL

I am stoked!

Creative Process

2006-06-16T19:03:00.000-04:00

From what I've read, plotting is viewed as a process that once you get to the writing all the creativity is gone, or the creativity is stifled because the scenes have already been planned. But what those non-plotters don't realize is that plotting is the creative process.

Brainstorming is my favorite part of writing. The adrenaline rush of creating a new world, new people, new plots is thrilling, to say the least. It has dawned on me, while working through my outline, that this process is also very lively. As I write each scene, ideas spring forward, new interesting twists and logical conclusions. I was afraid outlining would squeeze every creative drop out of writing but this is not so.

Now, when I actually begin to write the novel, yes I'll know what direction I'm going in but that is a plus for me. I like knowing where I am going before I start. I'm sure this greatly corresponds with not being a spontaneous person in my life either. I like order and structure. It's comforting and safe. I've lived in a world that was chaotic and unorganized. I didn't like it.

Plotting for me is as electric as riding my the seat of your pants is for pansters. So I'm glad to be making these discoveries.

Scenes

2006-06-11T15:11:00.000-04:00

When asked how much a writer writes in a given day, a lot of authors give number of pages or words. I am aiming for scenes. It's how I outline, so it only makes sense to make my goals around scenes. Right now, that goal is a scene a day, no matter how long or short it is. My focus has been on tightening my scenes and making them the best they can, even before I start writing. I keep reminding myself not to get so caught up in the outline, but I am learning so much. It's ironic. When I first started this journey, a year ago, I printed some articles/materials from Romance Divas and saved them on my harddrive. Yesterday, I discovered them. Some were on scenes and sequels and at the time I saved them, a lot of it went right over my mind. I understood the words and the concept but was not ready to incorporate it into my work.

I don't know if other writers learned in stages. I seemed to start with characters, who they are, their GMC, etc. Plots are easy for me, so that wasn't an issue and neither was settings. Descriptions I dealt with for a while then realized that my writing isn't going to sound poetic, purple, or melodic. I write gritty suspense and the reason those metaphoric, melodic expressions don't reach my work is because the authors I love, the genre itself, don't write that way and doesn't call for it. That revelation took a long while but was definitely worth it.

So now I am on scenes, making them work, getting rid of those that don't, tightening the structure... It is very interesting stuff that I didn't even believe was logical or necessary at first. Now I am enthralled and looking forward to learning more and putting it all to use.

Synopsis Complete!

2006-06-07T21:47:00.000-04:00

I am finished and just sent it in for the contest on Romance Divas. It was such a rush to complete it but more so to actual understand what I was doing. LOL It may be junk, but I really enjoyed writing it.

So now I am back to my outline and finding that I am momentarily struggling with what to do next. I can tweak what I already have, but to me it is still not tight. So, I'm going to revamp my outline template and work from there, but the idea of adding all that information after copy and pasting what I already did is daunting. I'll take it one step at a time though, cause in the end I will be happier.

Ok, off to start! :-D

Praise for Lisa Gardner's Lectures

2006-06-07T00:11:00.000-04:00

I spent the evening going through Lisa Gardner's Lectures on synopsis writing. What a relief!
Not only is it not boring (my eyes tend to glaze over when reading long passages on the monitor...ok, in print too), it is clear, concise and informative. Of course the fact that it's geared for a romantic suspense author is beyond perfect. I've read a couple of other guidelines and they didn't fit (and my eyes glazed over).

Writing mainstream suspense isn't the same as more romance oriented genres, so the elements aren't the same. With mainstream suspense the villain is just as important as the hero and heroine. The story can not be told without him or her. And since my stories lean toward suspense, they are plot oriented and not character/emotion. Another factor that was different between Lisa's syno help and others.

So I completed a two-page synopsis that I still need to tweak tomorrow, but I love my beginning and am quite proud since three days ago I wanted to chuck my laptop out the window. ;) So thanks to Lisa!!! Now, I really can't wait to get her book and read it.

Banana Cream Pie

2006-06-04T20:28:00.000-04:00

I am a chocoholic through and through, but the grocery store I frequent serves a rather disgusting chocolate cream pie. Something about the pudding, it's not chocolatey enough. So when they are on sale and I'm in the mood, I get banana instead.

It is lip-smacking good, soooo good. The shortbread crust has a simple crunch to it, must be sugar. The banana pudding is smooth, cold, and just the right banana taste. Now, I'm not thrilled about fruit slices in my foods, and the layer between the pudding and the crust is fresh banana, but there are only a few, maybe one or two per slice. Then there's the whipped cream topping that is firm and not too sweet, which seals the deliciousness in. And with a cold glass of milk...OMG!!! ;)

Yes, I know this has nothing to do with writing, but this pie deserves to be mentioned, deserves to be praised. So tomorrow I will talk about Jack, Angela, my outline, the synopsis, the syno contest on RD... Today, is all about the pie!!!

Synopsis Almost

2006-06-02T22:16:00.000-04:00

I am 90% done with the first draft of my syno, but it is already three pages and I know I left out some important stuff. It was another stressful, interrupted day.

My daughter was sick for four days. She was quarantined to her room and it wasn't until her release that I realized how quiet those days had been. It's not because she is loud (well, sometimes she is), but because when free, she and her brother become crazed. The running, arguing, whining, playing, laughing, debating...

Tomorrow is going to be another rainy, gray day, just how I love them. After some errands in the morning, perhaps I can finish this thing and even revise it. After that is completed, I must return to The Writer's Journey and my outline.

A Day of...

2006-06-01T19:38:00.000-04:00

Well I completed my hero's GMC last night and expected a productive day today.

Not! :)

I spent most of the day picking out books from the Mystery Guild Book Club. It literally took me all day...well with the constant interruptions and the site's inability to keep my choices in my cart long enough. The humidity is unbelievable, and I do not do well in any temperature over 70 degrees. Grumpy is a mild description.

So, I ended up convincing myself that spending $23 on 7 books is not only fun but educational...research. Normally I stick to paperbacks because they are cheaper and I prefer them, but I hate waiting for my fav authors to go to soft. I haven't read anything by my favorites in some time, so I ordered:

* Velocity by Dean Koontz

* Mary, Mary by James Patterson (love Alex Cross)

* Alone by Lisa Gardner (new author for me)

* In The Dark Of The Night by John Saul (released in July)

* Vanished by Karen Robards (another new author but it sounds delish)

* Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag (my favorite RS author so far)

* All Night Long by Jayne Anne Krentz (another new)

I just finished this, and now I am too tired to do any writing. I attempted to start the syno last night but it was so horrible. I'm hoping it will start to flow as I get into it. I also hope for a day without distractions or children calling my name, a day with no humidity and silence in the world. Since I won't get most of those, guess I better be prepared to sit downstairs tomorrow, put on the headset and sweat, while everyone around me needs vies for my attention. A nice cool cave sounds great right about now!

Synopsis

2006-05-31T18:48:00.000-04:00

Romance Divas is getting ready to host another We All Win contest, to its members. This time around is about creating a two page syno. They just finished the Query contest, which I missed. I'm eager about this one, since they are so necessary. I have never written an official one before though, so this should be interesting.

I've been working with Jack and Angela on and off for almost a year, so I feel like I know them very well. I've realized, though, that Jack's internal GMC is pretty lacking. I'm going to work on that tonight. Plan to start the syno tomorrow, and I believe the entry is due between tomorrow and the 11th.

Divas give the best feedback, so I will definitely be learning something! :)

Trilogy

2006-05-29T15:42:00.000-04:00

The other day I was browsing past different author sites and found Jennifer McKenzie. She's another Diva and someone I have grown to admire. I don't know her or her writing but I feel that we connected due to our passion for romantic suspense. Her website is similar to mine, but she has this fabulous notion to include a blurb from her work, rather than the "coming soon" message. Being the gracious person she is, she didn't mind my following suit.

Yesterday, I spent a good part of the day creating a blurb for my current WIP, Hunted. I've had the idea to have this be the first of a trilogy, with some vague ideas of the next two books. Creating their plots was interestingly fun and easy. I guess already knowing who Jack and Angela are, and knowing where they end up at the end of Hunted, made it simpler. I had a few surprises, like adding a child (not theirs, someone else's) to the second story, as well as a different kind of killer.

I'm also hoping to take a rare approach to portraying the killer in book three. Hope to not be getting too ahead of myself, but I'm really proud of what I've accomplished thus far. Now back, to my outline for book one. I am such a stickler for organization and thrilled to have finally found my niche.

Don't forget to visit my site and tell me what you think of my trilogy. ;)

Organization

2006-05-29T15:22:00.000-04:00

Today was a day to switch from Mozilla's Thunderbird (email program) back to Outlook. I've had problems with Outlook crashing in the past, and Thunderbird is great, but I missed some of Outlook's features. I love the ability to color code my incoming mail, so I know exactly which account it goes to or comes from. It also gives me the luxury of having different signatures and to send my email from any account. Nothing like writing an email to grandma with your pen name and not knowing if she recognizes it. :)

I forgot Outlook had the area for Tasks, which I took full advantage of. I've made deadlines for various writing endeavors, and number one on the list is to remember to blog. Even if it's mundane or silly. Now, if I could just organize my filing cabinets or the stacks of papers all over my room. ;) That would be an accomplishment!

Outline Complete!

2006-05-03T17:27:00.000-04:00

Last Fall, Romance Divas held a workshop called Fast Draft. I participated and completed a 39,000 word story. It was meant to be around 100K. LOL I put it aside, thoroughly disgusted with what I created and wanting to attack something new. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to pull it out and downloaded it into the software I use, WriteWay. I divided it up by scene and began creating a light outline. It needs so much work.

I saw how much I've learned in the past seven months. Wow! What was 39K of just the heroine's viewpoint is now fleshed out. Well I finished today and printed out the 25 pages. There is still work to do on it. I don't plan on starting/editing/adding to the actual ms until the outline is what I want it to be. I've realized that reworking the outline is much easier than reworking the entire ms.

I'm going to go over it quickly again now, just thought of something to add. Then I will take some time to work on something else before editing it again. I'm so pleased to be finished, but it isn't exactly how I want it yet. Part of the problem is I have no life experience with being a police detective on the run for my life. ;) Or any part of that. It may be a bit easier if I knew how to run an investigation. Thank goodness for research and helpful officers, but it's not the same thing.

Bad Blogger

2006-04-15T12:01:00.000-04:00

Ok, I just don't really like blogging, I believe.

In general it is fine, but I have trouble finding topics I wish to discuss. It may have something to do with the fact that I am normally a very private person. If this was a private journal, in a book, I would pour my heart out, but it's not and my life is filled with so much more than just writing. When I created the blog, I told myself I would only discuss my writing, nothing personal or in any other section of my life. Unforutnately, my writing life is stagnant. I'm not comfortable discussing every little plot change or word written, plus it would be so boring, and I'm not pubbed yet so there isn't much news.

On the other hand, I do like the idea of blogging. I adore journaling. It is therapeutic, soothing. So maybe one day I will become comfortable. Hopefully soon! In the meantime, I will blog when the mood strikes and hope anyone following is sympathetic. ;)

Villains

2006-03-17T12:27:00.000-05:00

Allison Brennan's workshop has me doing a lot of thinking of villains, which is a great thing considering I write RS. I have to admit, though, that in the past, over the years, my focus has been on the heroine's journey and the hero's, no so much the villain's. I would establish why the villain kills but not in depth and therefore, not give my villain his/her own voice. Without this voice he becomes one-dimensional, and no one remembers or wants to read a one-dimensional character.

So I am now prepared to know my villain as much as I do my hero and heroine. I plan to read more about true criminals and their motivations. Yes, a gruesome task, even for someone who loves to plan murders. ;) I am actually looking forward to the lessons. I crave to write a villain so compelling that he/she is one you won't forget.

Allison Brennan

2006-03-12T15:02:00.000-05:00

Allison Brennan, NY Times Bestselling author for The Prey and The Hunt, will be gracing Romance Divas with her presence starting tomorrow, March 13. She will be doing a 5-day workshop titled: The Romantic Suspense Triangle: Hero, Heroine, Villain. I can't wait. I'm so thrilled. Partly because I arranged the workshop and the chat she will be giving on Saturday, the 18th. Yes, as Romance Divas' Suspense Liaison, I've been a busy little girl. :)

I purchased the above two books, then she sent me an autographed copy of her latest, The Kill, which I will read and write a review for RD. If you aren't a member of RD, and why wouldn't you be, then join immediately so you can experience in this phenomenal event. Membership is free, which is a crime in itself considering all the wonderful things membership entails: workshops and chats given by all the romance authors you know and love, publishing guidelines, contests, a fortitude of writers (pubbed and on the way) with a vast amount of knowledge and experience, and the greatest group of Divas and Diva Dudes...just to name a few.

If you aren't familiar with Allison Brennan then visit her amazing website, allisonbrennan.com LOVE her trailers! You can also visit her blog at murdershewrites.com

So come join us! It's sure to be a great, informative time!

To Plot or Not To Plot...

2006-02-28T12:57:00.000-05:00

Is that the question?

It has been for me for some time.
Being a writer of mysteries and suspenses for years, I always believed that plotting was necessary. For years, I would start novels, brainstorm til my heart's content, plot the darn thing, then if I wrote the first chapter I would be lucky.

Eventually, I wondered if plotting was the death of my writing. After speaking with other authors who do not plot, I decided to try that route. It is effective in itself. Creating a story based solely on the characters and how they intermingle is great but it doesn't cut it for a mystery or suspense. So much is easily left out and the idea of taking a 60K story and adding clues, red herrings, and everthing else that was missed is rather taxing. I have one sitting on my harddrive now that ended up almost 40K. I was planning, in my mind, for it to come out at 100K. LOL Those revisions are being put off until I am bored one day.

So I decided, with the advice of Diva Laura (my mentor) and Diva Jenna, to go back and reconsider my outlook on plotting. So I read First Draft in 30 Days, by Karen Wiesner, and am quite excited about trying it. I plan to start tomorrow, how appropriate with it being the first of the month :), and seeing how it goes.
I'll let you know! ;)

First Love in Writing

2006-02-07T19:20:00.000-05:00

Most writers fell in love with creating characters and controlling their worlds as children. They usually reach a time in their life when they decide to actively pursue their writing with passion and determination to become published. At that time they may already know the genre they wish to write in or have a better voice for. Others learn this upon trial and error.

I am one of the fortunate ones who know what they love. Suspense and mysteries have spoke to me as a small child. I started with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. Trying to guess who the villain was is still high on my list of priorities for a great novel. Not necessary but loved. Years later on moved on to Mary Higgins Clark, Jonathan Kellerman, Tami Hoag, Patricia Cornwell and James Patterson. Yes, I also love Dean Koontz and John Saul, but something about suspense mixed with mystery is ever so appealing.

Other than paranormal, I couldn't imgaine writing or loving anything else. I light up when discussing murder or the villain's motives. The more devious and sociopathic a motive the better. I have a sick, twisted mind, and I love it. :)

Jennifer

2006-02-07T00:06:00.000-05:00

Mentor Program

2006-01-25T22:43:00.000-05:00

The Mentor Program has begun at Romance Divas!

It is a three-month program that matches up an apprentice (inexperienced writer) with a mentor (experienced or published writer) to work together on the apprentice's writing. It started last week and so far has been amazing. I've been teamed up with Laura. She is a wonderful author who is being published (Tantaliser is being released in March), and she is another suspense lover, who knows how to kill.

So far, she has critiqued the first chapter of my WIP, Passionate Outrage. Her comments were constructive and encouraging. I am really glad I joined this program.

This experience has made me a lot more confident with my writing, and the program is not even half way through. :)

Here is a small excerpt from the first chapter (a rough draft):

WARNING: Explicit

Chapter One

The streetlamp’s soft glow peeked through the mini blinds, into the small bedroom. The house was quiet, except for their racing hearts.

Holding an index finger to pursed lips, he winked. "Sshh! We don’t want to wake anyone."

Her teal eyes widened. His reflection caught in their liquid. A moan shuddered through her body. Was she anticipating their moment as much as he was?

He lowered his gaze and smiled. Her tits heaved under the thin tank.

How he had fantasized about their special time together.

Leaning to the side, he yanked the covers from her barely clad body and nodded. The pink cotton bikinis were no match for him. Their combined heat could melt them.

He grabbed her thighs. The smooth skin felt like butter. He had been appreciating her curves for several weeks. That, however, was the first time he kneaded her tender flesh, molded it to his delight.

His teeth dug deep into her thigh, causing his lover to wiggle. He licked then kissed the reddened area, then rubbed his chin against her mound. The scent of pheromones excited him, causing his dick to stiffen. It ached to be freed, and he obliged.

Knowing their moments of passion may be interrupted by housemates, he only unzippered the denim fabric, pulling himself out. Reaching into his back pocket, the wrapper gave way easily between his teeth. The latex fit his cock like a virgin, but innocence was not his turn on. It was the game of cat and mouse that ignited him.

With a flick of the wrist, the pink fabric tore and slid to the mattress. A narrow patch of red hairs covered her hole. She was one of those women who went in for wax treatments, who preferred to look like prepubescent girls. He scoffed, then grinned. It was the exact reason he was there, why he chose her. They both deserved this night.

Quickly, he pushed into her. He hated the barrier, wanted to feel, but knew the importance of safety. His eyelids quivered at the warmth of her pussy. The scent of their arousal filled him, and he closed his eyes as he rocked back and forth.

Lowering himself, his lips brushed against her tank. Pushing it up revealed her small tits. He pinched the left nipple, causing yet another moan to escape her. He replaced his finger with his mouth, suckling the tiny peak.

His groin tightened as pleasure coursed within. He grabbed her shoulders, holding on and intensifying the long awaited rush. Stretching toward her ear, he whispered, "Come on, fuck me. Tell me how much you like it. Do you like this?"

His thumbs caressed her throat, drawing circles. Each circle grew smaller with each thrust.

"How about this?" He raised his torso and slapped each tit. With no response, he sulked, wondering how much she enjoyed those moments of pain. He afflicted pain again, this time with an open palm to her cheek.

Her eyes flew wide, eliciting the sensations he so desired.

He grinned, feeling his climax closing in. He grabbed a hold of her neck again, massaging.

Faster and faster!

It had been a while since he felt that magnitude of hunger, hadn’t expected the orgasm to be so imminent or powerful.

Harder and harder!

He held on as the coaster climbed its steel mountain, wishing he could stay suspended before that inevitable, and all too fast, drop.

Her eyes were closed. Had she cum too?

Not that it mattered. Her enjoyment was not his desire. He meant to hurt, to humiliate, to punish.

He smiled at the soft pink bruises around her neck. Just enough pressure to induce unconsciousness but not enough to kill. No, not just yet.

He lifted from the bed and pulled three plastic bags from a duffle bag. Careful to place one baggie directly under him, he deposited the condom and sealed its contents.

Never an ounce of evidence. That was the way he had remained undetected all these years. He had studied the books and listened intently to the experts.

He opened the second baggie and pulled out an object. He placed it on the bed then stuffed its replacement into the third bag.

Placing all items into his duffle, he heard her stir. This was the moment he craved. He pounced back onto the bed as her eyes opened.

Could she see the look in his eye? Sense her end was near? Too bad the ski mask hid his smile.

Creating a gloved fist, he struck her temple. The duct tape subdued her screams. He grabbed her neck, applying more force this time.

Her eyes bugged. She yanked on the tape that bound her arms to the headboard. It didn’t give. Her legs kicked, and she arched her back, but his weight didn’t give her much leeway.

He held on tight.

Her eyes closed.

Her thrashing lessened.

To feel her essence slip away was the most thrilling part of the game.

A final gasp escaped her throat. It was the melodic chord of a symphony. The one he always waited for. The one which made him tingle.

He laid an ear to her chest. Even through the thick material he could hear it.

Silence!

His mission was complete.

Stepping from the bed, he surveyed the room and smiled at her lifeless body. How he loved wrought iron headboards. They served him well.

Aside from obvious combat, she appeared to be sleeping. Her arms thrown above her head, with long strands of bright auburn hair tousled on the silk pillow. Her milky white complexion cast an eerie glow in the darkened room. The slab of dark gray tape hid her beautiful full lips. Bright red marks assaulted her fragile neck.

He would never forget the plea in her eyes; it was always the same. They would do anything, give him anything, as long as he didn’t take the one thing they valued most.

Their lives!

Were they thinking about their lives when spewing that bullshit about women’s rights, equal pay, and empowerment? He thought not. But as soon as a man showed some muscle, they backed down, regretted their former words and actions.

By then it was too late.

Another bitch put in her place!

Happy New Year

2006-01-02T14:02:00.000-05:00

Sally Paranormal Workshop just did a workshop, for December, on Tarot. It was informative and very exciting. I've only been a member for three months but so far every workshop has been thrilling and productive. It'a amazing what positive thinking and imagining can do. ;) They offer a new workshop every month.

The Mentor Program, at Romance Divas, is about to start in a couple of weeks. It is a three-month, intensive program that matches an apprentice with a mentor and works on the apprentice's writing. I signed up as an apprentice and am excited about the possible outcome. I've decided to work on the novel I wrote for Fast Draft, several months ago, Fleeing Hearts. It is a very rough draft, with holes and much needed work, at almost 40,000 words. My goal is for it to be a 100,000 polished peice, worthy of publication.

Are you the intuitive type? Can you feel what is around you?
I've always felt my intuitive abilities were fair. I also know that I haven't tried to develop them and probably ignored them more times than I should. When I remember to listen to my instincts, I always make the right decision. For the past two months I have felt changes brewing. Little things have materialized to confirm my feelings. And although change can be initially scary or uncomfortable, I am patiently waiting with open arms. I will embrace these changes with a smile.

Every step I have taken (as well as those involved) for the past five years has brought me to where I am now, even the uncomfortable ones. And I am thrilled to see what this new year brings!

Santa Claus

2005-12-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

He is so good to us this year. :)

Christmas is my favorite time of year, mostly because of my two beautiful children. I celebrate it because of the magic in their eyes due to Santa. I mean how can you not get excited about the jolly ole man in the red suit who just happens to always know what you want most for Christmas. He's always smiling, fat, filled with cookies and cocoa, lives in the North Pole and hangs around with elves who make toys.

So not only will Santa be good to my babies but to me as well. Rumor has it that I am getting a couple of things as well. ;) I believe it will be a book (GMC) and Alphie (an Alphasmart). I don't know who is more excited, them or me.

We live out of state from my family, so the day is spent playing. I don't have to entertain or cook big meals. I pretty much spend the day on the living room floor, with the kids, each doing our own thing and watching each other. I'm a little more excited this year because I was able to get them all they wanted. Well maybe not everything, LOL, but the most important.

My son, who is 4, is counting down. Every morning he shouts out, "It's only 18 days till Christmas!" He never misses a beat and corrects me when I have it mixed up.

In Too Deep, by Tina Wainscott

2005-11-19T14:12:00.000-05:00

Another book review for Romance Divas, In Too Deep, is a romantic suspense that is heavy on the suspense and light on the romance. Being a huge mainstream suspense fan, it was a fabulous read. The heroine, Winslow Talbot, is sassy, independent, and determined. Her drive for the truth was impressive. The hero, Alex Diaz, was delicious, and I walked away craving Cuban black beans and rice and roast pork. The villain had me screaming at the book, wishing I could whisper to our heroine. Always one step ahead, I was quite glad when he met his demise. A truly satisfying read!

So check out my review and then pick up the book. :)

'Haunted Love Alley', by SL Carpenter and Sahara Kelly

2005-11-17T22:14:00.000-05:00

I reviewed this wonderful erotic e-book, published by Ellora's Cave, for Romance Divas.

I loved it for the paranormal elements and the characters. I am so used to reading romances, even erotic ones, where the hero presses his hardness against her ripened flesh. Not in this tale! The hero has a cock and the heroine a pussy and boy to they meet.

I received an email of thanks from the authors, which entailed how they would be adding a snippet of my review onto their sites. I am very thrilled!

So, go read my review ( I was quite proud of it), then go to Ellora's Cave and purchase 'Haunted Love Alley'. If you like the supernatural, the Louisiana bayou, and hot steamy sex, then you MUST read this book.

Need Professional Help

2005-11-13T13:58:00.000-05:00

Not talking about the psychiatric kind, but I don't think that would hurt either. ;)

I couldn't stand the last header I created, mostly because it was too in-your-face, but also because it was so bright and the RD gals said it was fun. Not exactly the look I was going for, but I'm very grateful for the feedback. My tone is dark, mysterious, twisted. At the very least I want my sites to have a look that tells what my tone and writing is.

I decided to get rid of the color and change my fonts and placement. It's not a huge difference but it's doable for the time being. I also realized there is no way in hell I can create the website I see in my mind. I don't have the knowledge or experience and, since the true professionals are out of my price range, I may end up having to purchase a template until I can afford otherwise. I guess trying to establish my own "look" as an aspiring author isn't as necessary as a published one.

All-in-all, I am still very glad for all the hard work my brother did and for one of his beautiful creations.

My Brother

2005-11-12T18:05:00.000-05:00

I have two brothers, Jason and Justin. The youngest, Justin, is an incredible artist and with an eye for detail that amazes me. His vision is unique and I must brag. I asked him to create a picture for my site (still under construction). He drew then inked and colored (something about colored pencils that appear like paint) the above. Isn't it brillant?

My mother says it reminds her of a cemetery that she and Justin visited when they lived in England (over 14 years ago). She said it was old and a lot of the land was upturned, the stones were falling over, and although it didn't appeal to others, they found it to be ideal. Quite unlike the immaculate cemeteries here in the States but it had a charm and thrill to it. It sounds creepy and perfect!

Justin's dream is to produce his art and eventually be paid for it. He's already received some business and I hope he succeeds.
Best of luck Justin!
xoxoxo

It's All About Me!

2005-11-11T19:29:00.000-05:00

Nabbed from Barb!

1. First name? Jennifer a.k.a. Jenn
2. Were you named after anyone? An actress, Jennifer Jones
3. Do you wish on stars? Yes
4. When did you cry last? I can't recall, which is unusal for me. Probably at some TV show.
5. Do you like your handwriting? I adore it! In high school, I'd spend History class perfecting it.
6. What is your favorite lunch meat? Turkey breast
7. What is your birth date? May 11th
8. What is your most embarrassing CD? Dream, It Was All A Dream -- I like one song.
9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? Absolutely! I'm the most loyal and trustworthy person I know. Plus I can cook really well.
10. Do you have a journal? You're reading it.
11. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Oh yeah!
13. Would you bungee jump? Maybe if I didn't have children.
14. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No
15. Do you think that you are strong? Mentally and emotionally, yes. Physically, I don't know. I was a scaredy-cat as a kid.
16. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Friendly's Orange and Vanilla Swirl (I think that's the name)
17. Shoe Size? 10
18. Red or pink? Pink
19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I bite my nails.
20. Who do you miss most? No one.
21. Do you want everyone you send this to, to answer? This is on my blog. I nabbed it from Barb, who was interested in seeing who took it. :-)
22. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? I'm not wearing pants or shoes.
23. What are you listening to right now? Law & Order is on my TV, a cartoon is playing on the TV in my kid's room and they are arguing downstairs.
24. Last thing you ate? Fig Newtons
25. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Just one? Green
26. What is the weather like right now? Cold and I'm loving it.
27. Last person you talked to on the phone? My fiance
28. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Arms, intelligence, and respect.
29. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Barb is great.
30. Favorite Drink? Chocolate Milk
31. Favorite sport? Sex
32. Hair Color? Dark brown. Everyone thinks it's black.
33. Eye color? Light Brown
34. Do you wear contacts? No
35. Favorite Food? Shrimp
36. Last movie you watched? Can't remember. Unless it comes on TV, I'm not a big movie fan.
37. Favorite day of the year? Christmas Eve
38. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? Scary endings
39. Summer or Fall? Fall, I wish summer didn't exist.
40. Hugs OR Kisses? Kisses
41. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? A true Hot Fudge Sundae
42. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? Hmm...
43. Who Is Least Likely To Respond? Hmm...
44. What Books Are You Reading? None
45. What is on your mouse pad? I don't use one. I have a laptop.
46. What Did You Watch Last Night? Alias and Missing
48. Favorite Sounds? Falling rain
47. Favorite Smell? Egyptian Musk
50. Favorite animal? I'm not a big animal fan. I like cats and the bigger variety are so beautiful, jaguars, lions, panthers, etc.
51. Where is the farthest you have been from home? Northern England
52. Do you have a special talent? In varying degrees: cooking, story-telling, listening, acting.

New Forum

2005-11-09T18:35:00.000-05:00

Romance Divas is implementing a new message forum as of Saturday, November 12th.
We are all pretty excited.

So register and we a part of our celebration.
But that isn't the only reason to join.
RD is full of so much compassion, information, and sexy fun.

So make sure you check us out. We truly are the greatest place for romance writers!

Her Last Words, by Kallysten

2005-11-05T18:04:00.000-05:00

Linden Bay Romance released an erotic e-book by Kallysten called 'Her Last Words'. I recently did a review on it for Romance Divas. The review is up and you need to check it out.

Vampires have never been my "thing", except for Buffy and Angel, of course. :)
This story captured me from the beginning. By midpoint I was a bit tired of the past and present scenes, but by time I got to the end I was wishing for more.

It is a wonderful tale of longing and desire.

Paranormal Liaison

2005-11-04T16:51:00.000-05:00

I love getting new titles, LOL.

I agreed to be the Paranormal Liaison for Romance Divas. It will involve setting up Chats and Workshops for RD with paranormal romance authors. I am excited about this opportunity, meeting and talking with all those fabulous authors, and getting my name out there.

So if you are a published paranormal romance author, get ready because you may be getting an email from me soon.

No-No to NaNo

2005-11-03T16:42:00.000-05:00

I decided not to participate in NaNo this year. I started and realized I didn't want to write this story so quickly. The fast writing can be great but it wasn't for me this month. I felt so relieved after making the decision, and then I came down with a wicked cold, so I'm very glad. I have been able to get in several more reviews for Romance Divas, and now I will be able to devote the next two months to a contest. After I get pass this stickin' cold!

NaNoWriMo

2005-10-25T10:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know its been forever since I last posted. There are times I actually resent having to write in my blog, which is silly since no one is forcing me. Having a blog was my idea. There are times, though, that I just want to ignore it. Unfortunately some latent form of guilt takes over and I find myself hitting my head against the keyboard, searching for something witty and new to say. I certainly don't want to bother you with the dribble of my existence.

Today, however, I find myself excited about NaNo approaching. Last year, I joined a week late with absolutely no idea. What I produced was chicken scrap but I was so proud to have won. This year I am preparing. I have a solid idea and started an outline. Last week we had a brainstorming chat at Romance Divas, and there is another tonight, 9:30 EST in RD's Chat Room. We had a great time and produced some wonderful ideas.

I've been using SuperNoteCard, on the recommendation of Lynn Daniels, to outline my writings. It is an electronic form of index cards and so helpful. I have developed 54 scenes, roughly broken into 37 chapters. I'm pretty certain the chapter amount will change. I have the rest of today to fill in those scenes. A lot I just named: climax, black moment, resolution, etc. Then I plan on informing my neighbor, the one who likes to call all day long, of NaNo and that if I don't answer the phone it's because I'm busy. She's pretty sensitive so she may take offense but that is her problem.

So, I'm off to outline and hopefully I'll blog again before the end of the month. ;)

The End!

2005-10-04T12:27:00.000-04:00

Well my ms for the FD workshop is complete. I finished it today. I am very thrilled!
And trying not to think about all the work that is still ahead. ;)

I thoroughly enjoyed this process and learned that I need to write a lot every day in order to not drop things. I will continue to use the FD process for all future works, several already swarming around in my brain.

Being not great with description yet, my ms is mostly action and dialogue. I will need to go back and fine tune what is there, add a lot, and still do some light research. It's currently 208 pages, with an actual wordcount of about 40,000. Not a great deal but there were moments where I wrote more of a detailed outline than actual prose.

It has been an amazing experience though!

Thank you Candace Havens! :)

Day Ten

2005-09-28T18:56:00.000-04:00

Candace Haven's workshop, Fast Draft, at Romance Divas is still going strong.

Today is Day Ten and everyone is producing so much more than ordinarily. I've noticed that this week is so much different than last. The first week I was pumped. I churned out 20, sometimes 20+, pages a day. It was empowering. My fingers were flying across the keyboard, and things I hadn't thought of were becoming a part of the plot. Some events startled and thrilled me, giving more dimension to a character.

Then the second week came and something changed. Although I still love my story, my enthusiasm for crunching out 20 pages a day has fizzled. It's become pulling teeth and have written less than 20 pages three times this week. I'm coming closer to the end. I feel like there should be more to it. Perhaps when I add all those layers, it will flesh it out and give it more length.

I don't think I need to add more. I already have the main crime they are investigating, their romance, and a sub-plot. It definitely needs to be fleshed out. It's very hard to see what you have when there are so many holes, and you aren't "allowed" to go back and read it. LOL

But all-in-all, I am thrilled to be doing this. I've written 181 pages, much more than I would ever have completed in ten days before. And being a plotter, this has helped me to see that plotting may not be as necessary as I once thought.

Day Two

2005-09-21T09:01:00.000-04:00

Well, it is the morning of Day Two. I have been up for two hours and am on page 58. That feels great! It is going so much better than I thought it would. Yesterday, my concerns were that I was thinking too much. Trying to find the perfect word or wonder what came next. I think I wasn't listening to my characters well enough. I wasn't writing down everything I saw because I was too enthralled with "getting it right".

I decided I would try my hand, this morning, at not worrying about what I am typing and to just get down everything that flew into my mind. I must say it was a heck of lot faster completing the first ten pages. I wrote an extra 6 pages yesterday, so today I have the option to stop at page 60 (20 for each day) or to get a full 20 in today and stopping at 66. We'll see how I feel and how the day progresses. I would love to go to 70, but I don't want to push it either. I'm still so tired.

When I did NaNoWriMo last year, I plugged away at 50,000 in a story that had no direction and it showed. I didn't know what I was talking about half the time and the characters did mundane things like eating dinner and taking a shower. Half of it had no purpose, did not move the story forward. It was a great experience and it may have helped me in this workshop. When I am creating now is great. Ok, the writing may be crap at this stage, but it is usable crap. :)

I honestly don't know how many words this story will create. How can you? I am not trying to write something that will fit in a particular place, a particular publisher, so I have the freedom of seeing where the characters take me. And speaking of characters...

My H/H are Angela and Jack. They are homicide detectives who find themselves framed for murder. I have wanted to write a story about a couple "on the run" for the longest time but didn't want to use the contrite motives of running from the mob, so I put it off. The other night, I was watching my favorite cop show, Law & Order SVU. It was a rerun from last season and I wasn't paying much attention but when I did tune it, Olivia and Elliot were needing to clear their names from some case it which they were framed.

Their is not one ounce of romance in that show or in their relationship, but I want every couple I like to "get together". Since Elliot's separation from his wife, Kathy, I have watched their closeness and wish for something more. I know in a show like L&O it will never happen, but a girl can dream! :)

So watching this brought back my "on the run" ideas, thus creating Running Desire. (Don't laugh, it's a working title.) Jack is a third-generation cop, divorced, no children, and has a temper. I didn't realize, consciously, until I watched SVU's season premiere that Elliot has a temper too. Angela is nothing like Olivia though. She is more sensitive and after the prologue, when she terrorized by a serial killer, she is questioning her desire to continue her career.

These partners have been together for 6 years and know each other better than most married couples. It's obvious to everyone, but them, that they are in love. They, of course, will learn/realize this as well. The funny thing for me is that I know Jack better than Angela. Jack is the imaginary guy I daydreamed about as a teen. You know the one that would come and rescue and protect me. Yeah, I was disillusioned. He may not be exactly the same but the name, appearance and the fact that he would give his life for his woman, are the same.

Angela is a new character. I am still feeling my way around her. Right now she is a bit to sullen, to afraid to be a cop, IMO. She will evolve, but I may have to go back and tweak how she handles things. I'll see at the end how she turns out. I don't want to reinvent her just to discover this is who she is and I've ruined the story with any changes. The thing I love most about their relationship is how close of friends they are. Not in the sharing secrets kinda way but in the "I have your back, will protect you" kinda way. There has always been something very sexy about policemen to me. It is NOT the uniform but the authoritative manner in which they are. YUM!!! ;)

Fast Draft with Candace Haven

2005-09-20T09:40:00.000-04:00

Candace Haven, author of Charmed and Dangerous, is The Author of The Month at Romance Divas. She is offering a workshop following her approach of Fast Draft, novel writing in two weeks. Yesterday was Day One, but there is still time to sign up. Membership to Romance Divas is free, as is the workshop, so what are you waiting for?

The concept, minus the fabulous tips, is to write 20 pages a day. Can you believe it? My heart sank when I first read it. I recall the despair during the month of NaNoWriMo, last year. Surely, I could not complete 20 pages in one day and ever have it be worth something? Well, as it turns out I did. And it doesn't matter how dreadful it may be because it's only a first draft. So, I'm on page 21 now and can't make until I hit that point where this feels like a piece of cake.

Last night, or rather this morning, I lied down and could not turn off the voices in my head. It was 2:30 AM, yet I was still thinking of Angela and Jack, and what other information could Gary give them? I awoke at 7 AM and have been up since. Needless to say I may get a little cranky later today. Alright A LOT cranky. My damn summer schedule still has me going to sleep late and waking up late. I've been determined to change that. Hopefully today's lack of sleep will help.

Along with the workshop, I started a Yahoo Group for writers. The workshop was the original inspiration but I also loved the idea of having it as a daily source of encouragement. Writing Team provides support, encouragement, and that ever gentle (unless more is needed) nudge to writers. I'd love to keep it going after this workshop is over, with daily messages of support, and at any time it is needed. There are many more workshops to come at RD.

All writers are welcome, whether you belong to RD or not, no matter what genre. There is a button, to join, further down on the side bar, or go to it's home page by clicking here: Writing Team.

Now I am off. Angela is taking her bath and about to get a surprise visit. The night is only about to get started for her. Stay tuned...

Dark Desires, by Eve Silver

2005-09-16T12:38:00.000-04:00

My review for Dark Desires, by Eve Silver, is up at Romance Divas.

Make sure you check it out. It was a fascinating read. A wonderful historical Gothic, filled with suspense and romance.

It took me back to a time when Whitechapel, England was terrorized by Jack the Ripper. Although this book had nothing to do with that elusive evilness, there were similarities. I am not very well versed in the particulars of that deadly time in history, but my mother was extremely attracted to it, thus I know some.

My mother became obsessed with England when I was about 10 years old. I ended up living there two different times, once for 6 weeks and the second for 6 months, due to this fascination. My youngest brother lived there for the first 6 years of his life. It would have been a greater experience if I had a decision in the move.

So go to RD, read my wonderful review, and then read the others as well. Then pick up a copy of Eve Silver's new book, when it's released in November. You won't be disappointed! :)

Blogging Denial

2005-09-08T19:52:00.000-04:00

I have been in blogging denial lately. Not because I don't want to be here, but because I have been so busy in my personal life. My writing has progressed very slowly, but things should pick up next week.

I am currently working on my paranormal novel, Ignited Passions, and am in the middle of Chapter One. Also I have started a romance for Woman's World and completed but need to edit and revise a mystery for Woman's World.

I have put them ahead of the novel, perhaps because they are shorter. I hope to have them done by the end of the month.

Wish me luck! ;)

New Position

2005-08-31T10:48:00.000-04:00

I am so thrilled!!!

I applied for and received the position of Editorial Assistant at Romance Divas. This means a great deal to me.

1. I have the ability of being a part of such a great site, RD, and tag along on their journey to stardom. :)

2. The knowledge I will gain, through practice, is priceless.

3. Having something else to add to the resume of an unpublished writer is also huge.

This is a wonderful experience, and I thank the RD for the opportunity. :)

Of course, now I feel like everything I write, from my posts on their forum to this blog, will be scrutinized. LOL

Website & WIP

2005-08-19T11:09:00.000-04:00

I have spent the past week working on plotting my WIP and some writing. I'm putting my romantic suspense on hold and concentrating on the paranormal. I'm really enjoying it. It reminds me of an old-fashioned ghost story. I'll need to work hard on not having it clique. I have also been working on my website. I decided to begin ahead of schedule. I'm still looking into some content issues, but I hope to have it up and running by the end of September. Now, I am going on less that five hours of sleep, so until the next time... :)

Book Reviewer

2005-08-10T12:06:00.000-04:00

I am now an official book reviewer for Romance Divas.
I am so thrilled. :)

This is so beneficial in many ways. I get to help a wonderful site like Romance Divas and give back to them, after receiving so much worthwhile advice and meeting some great people. The ability to aid other writers, by giving feedback to their work, makes me smile. Then, of course, there are the perks of reading material in the field I love, learning from others, adding to my resume, and the occasional free book too. :)

I completed my first review yesterday, and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of a book that sounds right up my alley.

Thank you, Romance Divas, for giving me such a wonderful opportunity.

The Auction is Live!

2005-08-08T22:04:00.000-04:00

From Lani Diane Rich:

As many of you know, author Marianne Mancusi (A CONNECTICUT FASHIONISTA IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT) returned home from the RWA national conference to discover that she had no home - it and all her belongings had burned to the ground while she was in Reno. While we're grateful that neither Marianne nor her dog were hurt, the loss of everything she owned - including childhood photos and mementos, things she can never replace - was simply devastating. Now there's a single girl in Boston who needs absolutely everything, so the girls here at Literary Chicks (http://www.literarychicks.com) are circling the wagons, and the writing community has come out like gangbusters to show their support by helping us set up this AMAZING auction to benefit Marianne.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmariannefirefund

Items include signed books from...

Jennifer Crusie
Mary Jo Putney
Alesia Holliday
Michelle Cunnah
Lani Diane Rich
Dierdre Martin
Melissa Senate
Toni Blake
Gena Showalter
Lori Avocato
Joshilyn Jackson
And many, many more...

Also, critiques (NOT submissions, but who doesn't want to get their name in front of these people?) from...

Chris Keeslar, Sr. Editor, Dorchester
The Knight Agency
Stephanie Kip Rostan, agent, Levine-Greenberg
Beth de Guzman, Editorial Director - Mass Market, Warner Books
Kelly Harms, former Avon editor, now an agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency
Brianna St. James, editor for Ellora's Cave and Cerridwen Press
Steve Axelrod - agent representing authors Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Alesia Holliday and more top hitters
And many more...

Not to mention critiques from authors...

Jenny Crusie
Alesia Holliday
Michelle Cunnah
Lani Diane Rich
Karen Rose
Lori Avocato
Joshilyn Jackson
Natalie Collins
And more...

Anyone who would like to donate to Marianne independently of the auction can find out how to do so at http://www.literarychicks.com.

This could quite easily be among the best opportunity this year for aspiring writers to get their name in front of big hitters, and it's definitely a great opportunity for readers to get signed books from their faves. So if you can promote, we'll really appreciate it, and if you can't but would like to forward this e-mail to people you think might be interested, that would be fantastic.

Thanks so much for your time. We appreciate you beyond the telling of it.

J Lani

Killer Fiction

2005-08-07T20:58:00.000-04:00

I just finished a book today, How To Write Killer Fiction, by Carolyn Wheat.

The book is broken into two sections, the funhouse of mystery and the roller coaster of suspense. Originally, when I first read the book last year, I read the mystery section because I love surprise endings. Yesterday I decided to read the suspense section because that is where I am in my writing right now.

Although some of the information I already knew, such as short sentences, a lot of it was new information and very useful. The structure of the various arcs and the scenes was very interesting too. I valued all this because my scenes tend to lean more toward introspection than action.

How To write Killer Fiction definitely showed me ways to overcome this. I highly recommend it! :)

From One To Three

2005-07-30T17:04:00.000-04:00

I have been rearranging this specific story, Going Home, for over a month. It was one thing after another. Part of me always wonders if it's just another way to procrastinate but most of the changes were important. I ended up with a plot that was complex and filled with twists, turns and a whole lot of conflict.

Thursday night I got this vivid idea for yet another story and was excited about creating this new idea but also didn't want to abandon the first. Then yesterday I realized that Going Home was too complex and could easily be made into two separate plots. So that is what I did!

I have three ideas (not to mention the novella and the short-short story I finished the rough draft of but still need an ending. With all of this though, I am very happy. It makes sense now. I don't have the middles thought out in two of them so I set up a binder, with sections for each, and will jot notes in the appropriate areas at will, but I will start outlining one tonight. :)

Paranormal & Suspense

2005-07-27T20:07:00.000-04:00

Have you ever tried to write for a favorite genre and then wondered if you could?

Since I was a child I loved all things spooky and mysterious. My first adult novel, not including Harlequins, was Whisper, by Dean Koontz. It opened my eyes and I remember spending countless hours at the library searching the shelves for everything Koontz, Saul, a bit of King many others that weren't as "famous". I was hooked. My mother and aunt had already taken me to see The Exorcist, when I was 10 (scared the hell out of me), and had been watching scary movies and shows since before that age. Most things didn't scare me beyond the movie, except for The exorcist, Crowhaven's Farm and The Reincarnation of Peter Proud.

I also loved mysteries and the aspect of trying to figure out the puzzle. My first taste was Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes. I also read every Miss Marple/Agatha Christie book the store held and eventually got into Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, Tami Hoag, Patricia Cornwell, Robin Cooke, John Grisham and others. I love most crime dramas and "can not" come up with a plot that doesn't involve a mystery of some sorts.

I also believe in most things supernatural, which definitely helps my love for it, and although I have never actually committed a murder, I have devised one or two in my mind. ;)

So with that background, I have discovered that although I have an amazingly easy time creating a suspense plot, I have great difficulties with the paranormal. I think my problem is that I'm too literal and hung up on things being factual. With the paranormal there is a larger venue to make-believe. It's almost as if the child within is hiding and won't come out to play and I am left with the adult.

The adult is great and all :) but I want to be able to create scenarios with creatures and magic with the same ease I do murders and motives. Any suggestions?

I would love to hear from others!

Writing Goodies & More

2005-07-26T10:48:00.000-04:00

I spent last night going through writing freeware; downloading, testing and analyzing; and had a blast. I tried out yWriter2, WriteItNow3, and Rough Draft.

RD is the least complex, similar to Word without all the bells and whistles.

yWriter2 is interesting with its ability to create scenes per chapter and move them around afterwards, with ease. There is an area to create outlines and set timelines for drafts. Definitely worth taking a look and giving a try.

WriteItNow3 seemed to have the most I was looking for but, unlike the others, it is not free. There is a free demo but you are unable to save anything and to unlock and register costs $30. Not very steep compared to other writing software, but this writer is tired of wasting money on things that look good one moment and shortly turn to dust-collecting.

It has all the abilities yWriter2 has and more. The reason I preferred it was due to the slightly more detailed character area, the ability to take notes, and track submissions. It has all you needed in one handy place, whereas I didn't find a note area in yWriter2 and I also downloaded a separate submission tracking software, Sonar.

None of these programs will write for you but it is ironic that I was planning on outlining my plot a bit more and not really wanting to deal with index cards and trying to figure out a way to do it all electronically, and then poof! the ladies on RomanceDivas led me to the freeware.

So I will play a little more this morning. There is something to say about pen and paper though. I love the physical act of writing, seeing my penmanship on the paper has always had a soothing, comforting effect on me, like going home. I usually do a lot of my preliminary creating on paper, especially trying to figure out character names. It is quicker to use the keyboard though.

If I loved to type, which I don't, then writing my stories on paper and transferring them to my hard drive would be ideal, but I can't fathom typing it all up after the fact. I'm afraid I would say, "F it!" and ever send the darn thing off. I've even told myself that it would be a great way to edit, but I knew that was a lie. Then I think of all the times when I just want to rearrange the contents of a paragraph and it would drive me crazy to have a bunch of arrows on the page.

So I sigh and concede. It has also dawned on me that I have "redesigned" my hero and heroine, in this particular story Going Home, three times now. I am not dismayed or thrilled with this, but it has shown me something. Obviously the original time I didn't have something right. Perhaps the characters didn't mesh right or the plot, I don't recall. The second time I only wanted to reverse their careers which resulted in them obtaining new names and the hero's identity changed.

This time, I am changing the hero's family and background, giving him more to deal with, more skeletons in his closet. Before he was too "perfect". I guess what has "amazed" me is that with each change I have not "thrown in the towel" and simply stated that I could not do it. Those may have been the actions I would have taken six months ago.

Although it isn't completely meshed out yet, I feel a fondness, perhaps a love, for these people. There is something about Renna that is so vulnerable but also very determined. I can connect to that. Cristian is, now, troubled and dark but sexy and definitely a good-guy, or so I think. :)

I watched last night's episode of The Closer. I can't figure out exactly what it is about that show that I have fallen for but something wildly attracts me. Jon Tenney is sexy and he and Kyra look good together, although I can't help but think about how she is married to Kevin Bacon, in all the kissing scenes.

So, now I am off to my "world" and hopefully will get to write about some kissing as well today. ;)

Blogging Rut

2005-07-23T11:50:00.000-04:00

Have you ever simply not felt like writing? That is where I am right now but not in regards to my novel but this blog. :) I am uninspired to blog, LOL. My novel is coming along so very slowly. It feels like it's dragging and I have asked myself, "Where is the action?"

I am hoping to get to a place where the story comes alive, takes on a life of its own, and then in edit mode I can scrap and move around a lot that has already been written. Ahhh! So I wait and write and wait. Normally, at this point, I would tell myself that it isn't working because of the plot or the characters and work on something else, eventually giving up on it. This time I don't want to do that though. I put a lot of energy into my main couple and I truly believe in them. With Renna and Cristian's pasts, a lot of angst has been produced. I know angst well and I can feel it vividly and perhaps that is my problem right now. I need action because the angst is bringing the story "down". Unfortunately I have experienced very little action (and I'm not talking that kind). ;)

So, I am having a hard time creating the action. I am in Chapter Four and although she has met and had scenes with the hero three times now, it's not enough. I have already thought of ways to tighten up the first four chapters but I am afraid that if I go back and tinker that I may get trapped and not continue. I keep hearing the advice of others to just go forward and edit later on. I will write more later today and see where it leads me. Hopefully I can get over this hurdle quickly.

The other thing I did a bit differently this time is that I did not outline at all, and that may be what is killing me. I know the gist of the plot: girl meets boy, people are killed, girl is threatened, boy tries to save girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl are opposed to falling in love, girl saves self, and boy and girl live happily-ever-after. But it's the details that I didn't work out and sometimes I open Word and stare at the words or the blank page and think, "What next?"

Ok, so perhaps I had a little more to blog about than previously thought, :) and now I am interested in seeing what I write today.

Second Day

2005-07-14T08:59:00.000-04:00

This was my second day witht he time management workshop, over at Romance Divas, and this time I had my wake up call and actually had two uninterrupted hours of writing time. I got 5 pages completed and I am very proud but very tired. If I thought I would still be able to get to sleep rather early tonight then I would take a nap right now.

So Renna and Cris have met and there were sparks and I believe they are going to kiss in the next scene. Of course her ex-boyfriend's murdered body was just found and she is still married, so that might put a damper on their budding sexual desires...

Well, I am going to reconsider that nap.
Ciao!

Time Management

2005-07-13T12:40:00.000-04:00

I have never been really good at this practice. I can create a schedule rather easily but sticking to it is another story. I am always full of excuses and empty promises. I spend way too many hours online or watching TV. When a workshop at Romance Divas began, for this very topic, I jumped at the chance. Of course I forgot about it the first day of the "challenge" (LOL, perhaps I should also take a memory workshop) but quickly got into the swing of things. Today I set out to write for 2 hours/3 pages and have accomplished it. I don't know if I did the 3 pages in 2 hours, with all my interruptions, but I completed the pages and I am proud. It would have been much easier to go back to sleep and say I'll make it up later. Perhaps I would have made it up but how many times/days would I say that before I stopped "making it up" and before it became a habit to NOT stick to my schedule. I once read that it takes a few weeks to set new habits but only two days to break them. I also had to change who my hero and heroine are again. The second revision wasn't working but this one seems to click. Isn't three a magical number? ;) So, tomorrow, or later today, Renna and Cris are going to meet and I hope there are sparks. We'll see! They better behave or it's off with their heads.

A Long Week

2005-07-06T16:25:00.000-04:00

I decided to revise the characters in my story with Ren and Casey. I no longer wanted my heroine to be a police detective and switched their professions. Then I ran into the problem that suddenly their names and appearances didn't fit anymore, nor did their internal goals and attitudes. It took me almost a week to just find suitable names. It wasn't so much that Ren and Casey were fighting to remain but that the new couple couldn't be named because I wasn't as familiar with them.

Finally last night I was able to to pinpoint the details and Julia and Diego were born. I am thrilled about this and now need to start writing. Of course with all these changes I also ended up changing who the victims are and now it is even better. It is more personal and definitely hits the heroine in a way that would have me frightened. This is what I want to write about. I'm sure Ren and Casey will find a new home some day. :)

Romance is Everywhere

2005-06-28T15:51:00.000-04:00

Do you see romance everywhere?
I am a huge TV junkie and I prefer crime dramas, but even these, sometimes hardened, shows usually leave me believing romance is in the air.

Third Watch: I immensely enjoyed this show and was quite disappointed when it was canceled. As much of an ass Bosco appeared to be in the beginning, he turned around. I sometimes saw a spark between him and Faith (or perhaps I just wanted to ;) ), and when they divorced Faith and her husband, I thought for sure they would develop a romance between the partners. Of course with the canceling that didn't happen, but I wondered if they would have went there.

Law & Order SVU: This is definitely not a show about romance between the characters, unless it is a minute here and there between Olivia and her current squeeze or Elliot and his blonde family. I miss the eps where he and his wife split up but since I discovered this I have to wonder if there is a possibility between these partners. Probably not but a girl can dream! :)

The Closer: I love this new drama on TNT. I also love Kyra Sedgwick. Now there is definitely romance between her and the FBI agent in the works. That is hard not to miss and I can't wait to see it.

I'm sure there is more but these are the ones I've been thinking about lately. LOL
I am a sucker for a dangerous, romantic adventure. ;)

Busy, busy, busy!

2005-06-27T20:41:00.000-04:00

I have been so busy lately and unable to post or get any writing done.
But I am back now and plan to be active.
I need to rework my characters and give them new careers.
Well this will be short. I just wanted to mention that I am not gone and will be back. :)

Introvert

2005-06-21T18:31:00.000-04:00

Not being a summer person, I will be glad come tomorrow as the days start to get shorter. :)
As I grow more comfortable in my own skin, I realize just how much I love myself and how great I am. Being an introvert has made the task of being secure ever so much harder. Our society is geared toward extroverts; "Just Do It", cell phones, PDAs, everything to support the get up and go lifestyle. It has also depicted introverts as lazy and anti-social. Nothing can be further from the truth.

The differences between introverts and extroverts are their temperament. While extroverts need lively, animated conversations and environments in order to recharge their batteries, an introvert needs a more calm, soothing, solo time in order to recharge. Introverts still have friends and love gathering with them. An example would be: an extrovert's party would involve a room full of people standing and participating in idle chit chat, while drinking and eating hors d'oeuvres, and an introvert's party would involve a small group of friends, at their home, having a dinner party with thought provoking conversation. Of course these aren't examples set in stone but you get the gist.

So society is geared to extroverts and unless you know the true differences it is easy to believe you are lazy, anti-social or unworthy if you can't handle a full calendar. I now know that I need to plan my days according to the things I have to do or events I would like to participate in and not overload my schedule. It is perfectly ok if I decline offers and I have no reason to feel guilty. I have noticed that those who are of the opposite temperament do not readily understand the other. But that is ok. I no longer need validation from anyone other than myself.

So the summer is officially here and today was the last day of school in these parts, and I am already looking forward for summer to end and Fall to come. It's not easy being a person who hates any weather over 68 degrees, especially when everyone around me is ecstatic when the temperature reaches over 80. So as I sit in my office, keyboarding away, while the rest of the world is outside in the heat, and for the first time I can't help but feel lucky. Lucky that I know who I am and am not afraid to be different.

Actually, I love being different and not a part of the herd. ;)

Love this Look

2005-06-20T22:37:00.000-04:00

I love this template, the colors and the graphic. My only problem is that I can't see it in Firefox. That royally bugs me considering I recently downloaded Firefox and prefer it to IE. Well, I guess I will use Firefox, view my blog in IE, hope no one else has any problems and eventually one day I will change it again. One day I will have one created just for me. :D

I haven't had a productive day writing wise; I spent too much time on the blog, outside with my kids and procrastinating about starting dinner. Hopefully tomorrow will be different. :) I also don't have much to say, so I will call it a night.

Well, I made some changes and now it is viewable in Firefox. Now I definitely need to take myself to bed. Nite!

Planning The Impossible?

2005-06-19T21:39:00.000-04:00

I got this crazy idea to enter the Siren contest, but I don't have anything written yet. LOL

So I have one month to write a story from 15,000 to 120,000 words, plus edit and polish it and get it ready. Can I do it? Perhaps not but I figure the worse case scenario is that I have a story to eventually send elsewhere. Luckily I already have a plot in mind, so I better get crackin'.

Wish me luck! :)

New Look

2005-06-19T19:13:00.000-04:00

I am in the process of updating the look of my blog, so if you see it go wonky over the next day or two, that is why. :)
Trying to find a template that fits my personality has not been easy.

Dreams

2005-06-16T10:46:00.000-04:00

Dreams are so mystifying to many people. What do they mean? Where do they come from? Are they just a part of our subconscious or do they have precognitive aspects? I do my best dreaming early in the morning, right before I wake up. Perhaps I feel that way because those are the only dreams I recall upon waking. :) I only dream in color and this morning's dream is still so fresh and bizarre that I had to share.

My kids were outside playing and I was inside with an older man that I knew, but do not in reality. A knock at the back door produced a group of teens who were selling sweets for a dollar. One girl was holding cookies, sugar with orange, white, pink, green and yellow sprinkles and chocolate chip. She said I would get 20 for $1. I said sure hold on and went to my purse. I remember opening my purse and wallet and taking out a dollar then headed back to the door and all but one of the girls were gone. The one said they went home to make a new batch and would be back soon. I thought fine and started talking to the remainding girl.

A bit later all the teens came up through my basement, as if they had been cooking down there. They were holding a tray of brownies and proceeded to sit at my table eating them. One girl gave me three brownies for my money and I put them away for later. I told them all they had to leave and they did so relunctantly. I called my kids in for dinner and suddenly my mom and was there but the older man was not. I opened the basement door to see if anyone was still down there and it was black, the light was off. I closed the door.

A bit later, I noticed a shadow pass by under the basement door, as if there was light from a window down there and someone walked pass it. I knew someone was in the basement and I got a glimpse of a dark-haired woman (don't ask me how). I told my mom that I was finding a weapon and going down. That when she heard me call "Mom" that was her cue to call 911. She agreed. I went searching for a weapon and first found my daughter's purple plastic bat. Suddenly my fiance appeared and said the bat wouldn't be strong enough. I found a poker from my suddenly appearing fireplace, in my kitchen and opened the basement door.

As I took a step forward, a man, who was up in the ceiling like a bat, flipped down and came at me. I took the poker, which turned into a metal nail file, and lunged toward him. I stabbed him and learned he was a little man. I held him down with the knife and called to my mother. She stood there frozen, so with one hand holding the knife down I had to cross arms and reach for the phone. I dialed 9111 by mistake and heard some operator tell me I had dialed the wrong number.

I kept digging the nail file in deeper and in different spots so it would keep the small man still. I dialed 911 and a man, who sounded like he was broadcasting the news, asked if this was Miss Bianco. I said, "Yes. I am in the process of stabbing a man to death so do you think you can manage to send the police to..." And I rattled off my actual address. Then I woke up.

I know where some of the events came from, things I saw, read and thought about shortly before bed, but it was so vivid and so bizarre, it amazes me. Unfortunately none of it I will put into a story, LOL.
;)

Fictional Town

2005-06-11T18:20:00.000-04:00

I am so excited about starting this project. Something about creating a town based solely on my specifications is very appealing. So far I've listed the types of establishments I want in the town, have a working name of it and a genreal idea of the landscape. I will give details and a name to each store, neighborhood and non-residentail structure then graph it on grid paper. When completed this town will be located in either MA or NY. The two states I know best.

This locale will serve as the backdrop for a lot of my paranormal plots so it may have to be a big town, LOL. It will be called Rosewood. I researched the name and discovered Rosewood, FL and the tradegy that occured there years ago. How awful for all those people to have been driven out of their homes and killed. The memories of terror the survivors have must be unbearable. The evil that is in the souls of many is unspeakable. How does someone have that much hatred, ignorance, and fear to want to hurt and kill another himan being?

I know what it feels like to hate and to hurt. Feelings of anger can be very intense. Being raised as a "good girl", anger was never something that was allowed to be felt. It had to be hidden and avoided. That didn't mean it was though. It festered within and now as an adult who has learned that all emotions are valid, finding a way to express it that is healthy and doesn't consume is difficult, insightful and freeing. But with all the amger and hurt I never wanted to actually kill anyone, well at least not in reality. ;)

So where was I? Oh yes, Rosewood, NY or Rosewood, MA? Either way, I have a place where families want to raise their children, professionals want to earn a living, the elderly want to live in peace, children play and teenagers want to escape from. Sounds like your town, huh?
Do you go out at night and walk in the woods? How about a midnight stroll through your neighborhood? Do you really know what is out there after dark? And I'm not just talking about the evil that is in man's soul...

Is there magick in your town? Ghosts? Of course, right? How about witches, demons and werewovles? Of course not, you are probably thinking. But do you really know? What about that house that everyone thinks is haunted? Why is it that you hate going into the basement at night? Do you still check under your bed or in your closet before going to sleep? Do the blankets still protect you from what is out there?

Have you ever wondered if that breeze you felt along your neck was truly a draft from the window or perhaps the caress of a spirit? What about the barking and howling late at night? Do you really have that many dogs in your neighborhood? And are all those deaths -- the ones on the news, in your town, in the next town -- really caused by man or some other kind of evil?

Dark Erotica

2005-06-10T14:28:00.000-04:00

How often does one blogger praise another?
Well this writer has just asked Morgan hawke, owner of Dark Erotica, if I may link to her blog. (I don't like to assume, some people get prickly.) Of course she was her gracious self and agreed.
I am thrilled to have her blog listed because it was her insight, as well as some posts of hers on ERWA's email list, that made me start taking my writing more seriously. I owe her a lot.

So yes, I am praising Morgan Hawke and Dark Erotica. Definitely read what she writes. It's amazing. ;)

Blogging and Other Things

2005-06-09T23:10:00.000-04:00

I spent most of my afternoon looking for another template for this blog. I cam up with nothing I loved. I want exactly what I have, the black background and the sidebar, but I want more space in the entry area. My sidebar and posts are too close and I am not an HTML guru. I would rather have two sidebars, a left and a right. So if anyone comes across this please let me know. :)

I also downloaded two Mozilla products: Firefox as a browser window and Thunderbird for email. I heard they are better than Microsoft's IE and Outlook Express so I figure what the heck. I love new systems to play around with. So far they are fine. Very simple with no bells and whistles. I like bells and whistles. I like colors and images and emoticons. They have the standard. I will miss the ability to color code incoming messages through Outlook. I have several email accounts and coding them made it easier to see which account they belonged under. Something else to get use to. I downloaded Eudora the other day but I wasn't fond of it. The headers at the top of each email were annoying, as well, as some other little things. I uninstalled it a few days later.

As you can probably guess I got no writing done today, and I am now hard-pressed against my characterization goal (see calendar). I still may be able to complete it all by the end of tomorrow. I got tagged today, from another blogger, Gina. :) I chose not to tag anyone else simply because I don't know a lot of other bloggers yet. I am sure most, if not all, of the Romance Divas members have been tagged at one time or another. So I apologize for not participating and keeping the ball rolling. Perhaps another time, LOL.

I need to get some non-writing related work completed in the morning but then I want to spend the rest of the day working on my characters. I want to get to the writing already but don't want to start too soon and get stuck midway. Well, it's time to call it a night. My eyes are slowly shutting.
Sweet dreams everyone! :)

Dancing

2005-06-08T11:07:00.000-04:00

Tonight I caught a glimpse of some actors, on TV, dancing with some very sexy moves. It made me start thinking about the body and how one can use it to be seductive. The curves of a woman's body, the softness and the sensuality of swaying hips. Everyone has their personal tastes. I find a voluptuous, rounder, soft body to be sexier than firm and hard, in a woman. In a man I prefer firm and hard. ;)

So, my thoughts have been wandering but I keep coming back to the vision of hips swaying then leaning forward. She leans into him. His body holds her weight while leaning back. Their hips rock in unison. Her eyes, fringed by heavy lashes, stare up into his. She glances down at his mouth, hoping their lips will meet. She pushes him away then reaches out toward him. He grabs her hand, pulling her close. Their chests rise and fall rapidly...

With these images in mind, I decided to make one of my characters a dancer. Savannah Grayson. Light auburn hair, blue-green eyes, fair complexion, tall and svelte.

Too bad she is dead in the first chapter.

Romance or Not?

2005-06-07T21:45:00.000-04:00

There has been so much controversy lately between the discussions of pornography sites, one day, involuntarily using a domain extension of xxx, and the discussions going on at RWA, involving not, possibly, allowing author and publisher sites linking to them that contain sexually explicit language and graphics.

These conversations have brought up the issue of what is a romance? Some argue that romances do not and should not contain sexually graphic scenes. That erotic scenes automatically label them erotica and not romantica. Others say there is a definite difference between erotica and romantica, or erotic romances. I happen to agree with the latter group.

Erotica is a plot with all different types of intimacy: gratuitous, same sex, multiple partners, adultery, BDSM, etc. Erotic romances involve intimacy between a man and a woman (although I don't believe that should be a condition) who are falling in love. They are moving forward in their relationship the same way many individuals do in reality. Of course, there still are couples who remain chaste until marriage but many do not, and the wondrous relationships that form are based on mutual attraction, love, respect, friendship and yes...sex.

There is nothing dirty or shameful for two people to enjoy each other's company, so why is it so shameful for them to do that on the pages of a novel? Everyone has their preference, the kind of plot that will stays with them after they put the book down. Some prefer the innocent, sweet stories; some prefer the more intense, but never sexually-detailed plots; and others prefer the sensory details necessary to embark on that joyous ride of discovery, passion, and fulfillment. All of these couples fall in love and end up happily-ever-after.

In my book, that equals romance.

Changes

2005-06-06T19:36:00.000-04:00

Ah! There was a small storm here and the humidity has gone down. I am definitely not a fan of summer. The sky is gray and the clouds are thick. A slight breeze mixes with the fan, creating a calming atmosphere in the room, and all I can think about is change. The seasons change, our circumstances change, even our opinions and desires change.

Change has always been something that was exciting to me but scary all the same. Change is also what allows us to grow and become more knowledgeable and mature people...and writers. ;) This weekend I learned that making changes to my writing and myself as a writer does not alter my abilities but makes me a stronger author. Some may have noticed changes I have made to this blog and my profile, others may not.

Characters need to change as well. Without progression, a character stays stale and why do we even want to read about them?

Will Ren get her inner most desire? Will she be able to avenge her mother's death?
Will she learn who stole her mother from her young life?
Will Casey discover who savagely murdered his ex-girlfriend?
Will either of them find a mate who can handle their careers, their hours, or their pasts?

93% Humidity

2005-06-05T12:24:00.000-04:00

The past couple of days have been typical mid-summer weather here, and since I have been unable to get my air conditioners in they have not been conducive to doing much other than lounging around. Tomorrow should be better, according to NBC's nightly Storm Weather Watch, but I do plan to force myself to get closer to Ren and Casey today.

Character Sheet

2005-06-01T23:13:00.000-04:00

My routine has been to thoroughly know my characters before I begin any outline or start writing. Without this knowledge, I find it so much harder to write, to know their motivations and therefore, to accurately depict their story. I always write a narrative on each character and then fill out a chart, I created, of pertinent data. Above the chart I paste a photo that I find from various sites online. After discussing this with several ladies on Romance Divas, and sharing information, I decided to forgo the photos this time and to lengthen my chart.

I spent a couple of hours, tonight, preparing a new Character Sheet. What was once just several lines is now three pages long (double-spaced). :) I thought of everything that could possibly have affected a character's life, without going overboard. I hope! :) Although I now have the daunting task of filling one out for each of my characters, I am very proud of it. Most of the information will never be used but it will enable me to truly know each person. To allow each character to have it's own experiences and own voice.

I've broken it down into four sections: personal, physical, family/childhood and GMC/emotional. There are spaces for data from name, birth date, occupation, hair color and eye color to the car he/she drives, their fondest memory, their dreams as a child and their first kiss. Oooh, I just remembered a couple more things to add: secrets, verbal expressions and mannerisms.
Back to the drawing board.

My Hero

2005-05-30T23:42:00.000-04:00

Lately sleep is something that has been eluding me. Some nights I toss and turn for an hour or more. On those restless nights, should I say mornings, I realized the easiest way to clear my mind from daily life issues, is to think of my plot. This particular night I envisioned my heroine. What should I name her? How about Elisabeth? I love that name but it doesn't really fit the practical, assertive, kick-ass homicide detective. I decided on Ren.

Then I thought of the hero. The name I heard, in that peaceful place between wake and sleep, was Donovan. In the first chapter, Ren is at a murder scene. She has psychometric abilities and while holding an object belonging to the victim, she has a vision of a man standing in the apartment. She sees his reflection through the victim's full-length, bedroom mirror. He has shoulder length, sandy blonde hair. That is my hero.

The following morning, I took out my baby name books and decided Donovan would be the perfect last name, and his first would be Casey. Sometimes my best ideas are delivered during that quiet time. Now, the couple that I first created are becoming more than just faceless, nameless, individuals with a reason to have sex and fall in love. They are beginning to stand on their own; they are telling me who they are and not vice versa.

So Casey Donovan has become the kind of hero I usually never create. From his looks to his secrets, he is different for me and I love it. Can you fall in love with a character? Ok, not really love but perhaps lust? :) One of the reasons he is so appealing is because he is not cookie-cutter Mr. Right. In the past, a lot of my heroes were responsible, determined, considerate and caring, as well as, moody, assertive and quiet. That can make for a boring protagonist. Casey possesses some of those qualities but his uniqueness is what has me excited about this WIP, and the ironic thing is that Ren is the POV. :)

Sex is Necessary?

2005-05-29T22:08:00.000-04:00

Writing was always fun and entertaining. Scaring my younger brother with ghost stories late at night, when we were suppose to be asleep. Creating goofy characters and plots and giggling with my children. Always being the only one in the crowd who could repeat an event in chronological order, without, "Oh, wait, let me back up. Before this..."
So what happened? I became serious about the craft and decided to learn and improve, then suddenly the fun factor wasn't quite so fun. I learned two very important things:

1. Sex is necessary!!!
Well, of course, was my first thought, suddenly thinking of my fiance and counting the minutes until he got out of work.

Um...where was I?

Oh, right...sex is necessary in erotic romance. Two characters simply getting a little action is nice but if it doesn't drive the plot then it isn't necessary. Driving the plot? Why the heck do two people NEED to have sex?

I spent a couple of weeks with a insurmountable headache trying to figure this out. Writing paranormal fiction should have made the plotting easier but there was this block in my brain. Something stopping the creative juices. I struggled, practically forcing ideas. Pages of my notebook were filled with pure garbage. I asked for suggestions from the RomaceDivas and the members of ERWA. I began to wonder if this genre was "right" for me. Maybe I should return to my first love of romantic suspense. Then suddenly it came to me. Just a flash and all my nail-biting was over.

Succubus!

Well, at least for the first WIP! Soon I figured various other creatures and events that would contribute to sex being necessary and the tension left and clarity arrived. Ahhh!!!

2. Writing is hard!!!

Creating makes me feel alive and giddy. Editing, sentence structure, grammar, tempo, dialogue tags, "show don't tell", premise, concept, voice... Luckily as I plan and outline my plot I don't have to worry about them just yet. I will enjoy my creativity, allow my muse to take over, and when it comes time for the hard part...well, another day, another post.

Welcome!

2005-05-28T21:16:00.000-04:00

Lying on the cushioned lid of my wooden toy box, I stared at the ceiling, thinking about what Mommy was cooking for dinner. Strong, familiar scents of tomato sauce wafted through the small studio apartment. I grinned, hoping it was spaghetti. The indoor lighting masked the growing darkness outside. I allowed my left arm to dangle between the toy chest and the cool, smooth wall.

Suddenly a hand grasped mine and squeezed!

Unfortunately Mommy didn't believe (or didn't want to scare me by acknowledging) that there was a spirit in our home.

Four years later, at the age of eight, I began creating my own stories. By the time I was fourteen, not only were my Barbies having sex (yes, I secretly still played with Barbies), but I was reading Harlequin, Dean Koontz and John Saul. Accidentally ordering a book titled, Goodbye Jeanette, by Harold Robbins, (I thought it was going to be a murder mystery) I learned what an orgasm was, that spankings could be pleasurable and some girls enjoyed being dominated.

My best friend and I spent Junior High dealing with tarot cards, witchcraft, Ouija boards, numerology, and astrology. We wished to be psychic and spent countless hours, on public transportation, concentrating on the backs of stranger's heads, willing them to turn and look at us. It usually worked. Was it our natural ability at telekinesis or the stranger's sense of being...um...stalked?

Always knowing I wanted to be a writer, it should have been obvious that paranormal romantica would be my ultimate genre. It was not. I wrote my first piece of erotica 11 years ago, for friends. It was fun and hot, and I was able to excite and amaze.

It was powerful! I was powerful!

Please join me on my journey of becoming published and my growth as a writer and a woman.
I hope it will be a hair-raising and pulse-racing ride.

All my love,
Jenn :)