The Art of Writing

Someone recently told me how lucky I was to be a writer. After all, what could be easier than working in my jammies and not really working. HA, if this person hadn't been a VIP to someone important to me I would have stood up and walked away at the very least.
Here's a hint for those not in the know. Writing is hard work, very hard work. It takes dedication, perseverance and commitment. Not to mention talent and very thick skin. Bad reviews, scalding rejections all take their tolls, but a writer keeps true to themselves and their characters.
It's not so much the need to get published though there is that, but it's almost a compulsion to write out the stories in their heads. The twists and turns of each plot take over our minds and lives until we have no choice, but to commit the tale to paper. To give it life and watch it grow.
Working from home isn't easy. There are tons of distractions with family, friends and strangers all dropping by, calling or making their presence known one way or another. Most don't understand or don't want to understand that work is really work and you can't just walk away to go shopping or out to lunch. 'You can do it later'. Yeah, because free time just falls from trees in a writer's world.
With so many other things going on in our lives, sitting down at the computer takes a concentrated effort. Yes, there are many other things I'd rather do on a sunny Spring day, but I make myself sit there and write about whatever storyline is going on in my head.
It all boils down to this if I don't write I don't get paid. The end. Like everyone else on the planet I have bills. In order to pay these bills I need income. My income just happens to come from one of the greatest jobs in the world, writing. So I write to give life to my characters and to pay those pesky bills.
Next time you think the writer's life is simple and easy try this. Go to your computer, sit down and write something. Not anything big, maybe just a thousand words. How long did it take? Does the story flow? Do your characters have dimension? Will readers be able to identify with them? Will they love the hero and cheer for the heroine?
If you answered no to any of these questions, tough luck, you need to start over. Now doesn't that suck?
Welcome to the easy world of being a writer.

New Blog, New Topic & Same old me

Either I've seen the light or just got tired of hearing friends tell me how old & tired MySpace is. So here I am with a new blog and a new look. This will change as I get better at playing with layouts, fonts and such. Give me enough time and who knows where I'll end up.

To play catch up for those of you not following me in ghetto land:

Club Botticelli series: The first book, Ordering Olivia, will be released sometime in August. Enticing Emma, the sequel, will follow a month or so later. Beguiling Briley is in the hands of my Total E-Bound Editor. I'll let you know what I know when I know it. Teasing Trinity is in baby steps right now. Only a page or two written, but so far she's already bleeding people with her sharp tongue.

The amazing Desiree Holt and I are one again teaming up to write together. This time we're tackling a family trilogy. Very hot, very steamy and very fun to write. If you haven't caught it before, our steamy V-Day offering, Seductive Illusions, is up for sale at Ellora's Cave. Our next release, Kidnapping The Groom, will be available on April 30. It's our take on female power and never piss a good woman off.

Right now I knee deep in my own project, Wishes, Kisses, & Corpses. Is it wrong to have so much fun torturing my characters?I mean really, the hero is all set to take it home & I throw in every obstacle I can think of. Just because it's fun...for me at least. I want to see how much torture a man can take before his head starts spinning and nasty pea soup spit out of his mouth.

Brenna Zinn and I are also have a very good time poking at the characters in our collaborated work. She'd never had a writing partner before...probably never will again after me! I love my work and I'm so good at it, too.

Hmmm, New Orleans was amazing. The perfect time of year to go when the humidity doesn't kill you just stepping outside. I bought too much junk for the kiddos, ate too many times at Cafe Dumond. I met great people, spent time with one of my favorite's, Desiree Holt and in general ran around like a fool. 

As I said before, to those of you who asked, Vegas is a blur. Can't remember a thing. Guess what happens there, really stays there, huh? 

So anyway, welcome to the new blog. Please stop calling me ghetto girl behind my back now that I've changed blogs. Comment away I can handle it  :)