Archive for the ‘family’ Category

You Know You Love Me… XoXo

Friday, June 12th, 2009

I make no qualms about the fact that I’m a corny fangirl. I’m not ashamed of it. In fact, I get giddy when I find other fangirls like myself who I can gab with about favorite books, or shows, or characters. But one show which I started watching for a reason other than great storyline, great characters, or a trustworthy rec is Gossip Girl. My friends had talked about it a bit (around the time the Twilight movie was being cast and Chase Crawford‘s name was floating around the Twilight boards as the perfect Edward) but I had no real interest in watching it. Just wasn’t my cup of tea. Like with reading, I hardly have an interest in contemporary fiction. I don’t even really watch contemporary dramas on tv. I can do comedies… but that’s a whole different ballgame.

And then I started catching the photographs, or episode stills to be more precise. And my geeky fashion loving little heart started to pound. I wanted- nay- needed to watch this show if only to satisfy my love for all things preppy and couture. And it has never disappointed. There’s something for everyone. A little boho chic for the Serena lovers. Updated Jackie-O prep for us Blair lovers. And of course edgy rock in the form of Jenny Humphrey. How could you go wrong? I eventually came to love the characters (Blair + Chuck= onscreen magic!) but I still say that given the money I would be all over some of those fashion styles.

I was given the chance to test that theory. Ha ha. A dangerous situation, if you ask me. You see, my little sister had her prom tonight. And she generously asked me to help her choose her look for the evening. My sister is a really modern gal. She has a great body and is very bold. She can wear anything and tends to lean toward urban chic. I took her in the exact opposite direction. I made her my own little upper east sider with some Brooklyn flair, ala Little J. This was the final result:

Ignore the messy house, ok? I have a baby who makes me nutty and won’t let me put him down or he’ll cry. Ha ha. Anyway, doesn’t she look FAB!?? I was very proud of my finished product. She looked GORGEOUS. Elegant, edgy, and youthful. The theme of the party is masquerade. She didn’t actually wear the mask, but dude, I couldn’t help reenacting the GG eppy “Handmaiden’s Tale”, hence the mask. ha ha. So yea, that was my stint as fashion editor. It was fun.

In more everyday news, I’m proud to announce that I actually finished the first chapter of my high fantasy YA novel! I’m amazingly psyched about this novel, it’s a weird mix of fairytales with a Romeo and Juliet undertone. I think it’s going to be one of my favorites that I’ve ever written. I also wrote about half a scene for my fantasy sequel Zerah… I really can’t wait for the first book to be released. I love these characters more than I could say. This was that book of the heart people talked about for me. I’ve had it in mind since my first year of college. And it went through many, many incarnations before it took on a life of its own and found its voice. So although my progress is slow… at least its progress. :) I may even post a little snippet or a fave line soon, in order to get myself pumped. Look out for that!

Here’s a song I’ve been using in my writing quite a bit lately. Enjoy it. And Happy Friday!

Posted in family, fangirl, friday, life, masquerade, working on wip | No Comments »

I'll Admit

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

I haven’t been a very good blogger. The days are all kind of bleeding into each other lately. But thank you to those of you who keep checking in!!!! :) I lurve you guys.

Despite my silence, I’ve been busy with a handful of things. For starters, this weekend I got to stay with my amazing, spectacular grandmother whom I adore. She always makes me feel so warm and fuzzy when she’s around. All we do is laugh and tell stories. She made me the most delicious banana pancakes you can imagine with fresh fruit on Sunday morning. Hubby devoured them with a pleased smile on his face. In an attempt to thank her I gave her a pedicure. Her toes looked brilliant in that ice mauve berry color! I showed off my baby registry and she ran off to TJ Maxx to buy little one a ton of wayyy adorable clothes and socks. I came into the room to find them there on Saturday evening. I got pretty choked up to say the least.

Saturday afternoon, while my grandmother worked, (and shopped, obviously, ha ha) hubby and I spent time in upstate New York attending an aunt’s wedding. What a BEAUTIFUL occassion!

That was the wedding gazebo. We sat in folding chairs on either side of the walkway. As you can see, it was held outside by a lake, and although it was about negative thirty degrees (exaggeration, but I swear, it was cold), the bride looked radiant and flawless. It was a very sweet ceremony where they wrote their own vows. They then treated us to appetizers (calamari, yum!!) in a pitched tent with heaters, and then moved us upstairs into the ballroom for the reception. What a great time. We danced and ate and laughed and it was just fun all around.

Definitely a well needed respite from real life.

On the writing front, I have my fantasy story out on a submission run. I’m anxiously waiting to hear back. In an effort to keep myself busy, I started plotting out the sequel to said story. I already have at least the first 5 chpts written, but it’s missing scenes and it’s still in first draft form, so it’s a work in progress. I plotted about a little less than halfway. So far, so good.

Then, as usual, I got sidetracked by my crazy muse. She started talking to me and what resulted was the first scene/opening of a YA fantasy story. *shakes head* That is now ALSO in my WIP folder.  Though I’m going to try and restrain from getting writer’s high and focus on my current projects which are further along. I have a futuristic romance that’s at the climax and being sorely neglected, poor baby.

Despite my good intentions however, I got an email today from my editor with a decent chunk of edits. Nothing too overwhelming, but it will be time consuming. So, the other books get pushed to the side while I work on this one.

*breathes deep* Phew. And that’s what I’ve been up to. Insane, isn’t it? I’m actually breathless just thinking about it. Not to mention the fact that my signing is in a little over a week! *squee* I’m so nervous and excited! Signing real books! Having conversations with readers! How wild!  Still don’t have an outfit. *bites nails* I have to get on that.

Posted in author promotion, blogging, editing, family, life, wip on pause | 1 Comment »

The Explanation

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

I have so much to say that I actually have no idea where to begin.

For starters, I humbly beg your forgiveness for my extended (and unexcused) absence. Well, let me rephrase that. It IS excused, you guys just don’t know why. I’m here to explain.

I’ve been dreadfully absent from the blog-o-sphere because I am now about a week short of being 4 months pregnant. I had to take a leave of absence from work because I’m really feeling the strain. It was a tough first trimester and it shows no signs of getting better. I spend most of my days sleeping and vegging.  I can’t be online for extended periods of time due to very uncomfortable stomach pains and sudden gag attacks. *ew to that visual, huh?*

While on personally diagnosed bedrest, I’ve kept up with the goings on of the bookworld. I’ve read blogs but done little commenting. I’m stunned about Stephenie Meyer’s choice to hold off on Midnight Sun when the first chapter proved to be the best writing she’d done to date.

*Personal note: the pressure and bad press of Breaking Dawn may have gotten to her, but she must know how devoted her fans are. How much they love her despite the flaws in her latest book. Midnight Sun was looking to be the best book of the entire series, possibly better than Twilight in it’s edginess and sex appeal. Now, I think she finally broke down and decided the money didn’t matter and she couldn’t bring herself to stay in that world. Poor Miss Meyer. With fame come certain responsibilities.*

I’ve also developed a list of books I want to read. One in particular, Faefever, by Karen Marie Moning is coming out in September. I feel like ‘ve been waiting for it for FOREVER. Now, without my work salary, the possibility of getting it seems slim to none, which has me all bummed out. The little pleasures in life are over already and baby isn’t even born yet. Oy.

But there is good news. I finally got the cover for my print book with Freya’s Bower…

…and a release date! SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2008. The two story print book will include Cinematic Royalty, and a new story only to be seen in print, Dark Hollywood Nights.

Blurb: Alexis Grant’s only job is to keep the prestigious Winmont Hotel running smoothly while her cousin, Charles Witmore, enjoys his honeymoon. The only problem: things begin to fall apart the moment he leaves. The pompous Chase Branton, who’s determined to get access to one of her off limits celebrity clients, doesn’t help. Can she keep it together long enough to earn a managerial position of her own, or will a high profile death cause all of her dreams to shatter?

From what I understand it will be available on Amazon.com, but it can also be ordered into your local Barnes and Noble store, which to me is like, beyond words. I’m so thrilled.

I have a set of edits for a new contemporary paranormal/scifi type story with FB, but it’s so insanely difficult to concentrate most days. I’m trying to remind myself thatI have to focus on my health and get some rest and it’ll get done when it gets done. But… well… that’s a lot easier said than done. I can be such a workaholic sometimes.

So that’s what’s been up with me. It’ll explain why I disappear from time to time. But I’m here, on the fringes, watching, learning, missing all of you. I’ve tried to comment on your blogs when I can. Know that I’m still thinking about all of you!!

Posted in author support, beautiful covers, cinematic royalty, family, freyas bower | 6 Comments »

This Is Just the Prologue

Monday, May 12th, 2008

And here it is. Another Monday. Hard to believe another week’s gone by. Time seems to be flying doesn’t it? I had the pleasure of a three day weekend. Having Mondays off is strange. Mostly because it always feels like Sundays. But then Sundays feels like Saturdays, which makes Saturdays feel weird. HA HA.

I will say, however, that it would be great if every Monday started my week off the way this one did. Despite the odd weather, I was out of the house most of the day, which made my plan to tidy up and get my self straightened out difficult. I don’t regret a minute of it though.

For starters, I went out to Ikea this morning to have breakfast with my family. My adopted mother, sisters, and brother, (who took me in about 3 years ago when my real family moved away), are some of my very favorite people in the world. We actually are so close at this point that people have mistaken the dad of the family for my dad (which always cracks us all up!). We always have a million fun stories to tell and we laugh for hours. That in itself made getting up early worth it. But then, we decided to hit up the movies. Nothing like a Monday matinee to take the windy day blues away.

Finally saw Iron Man. I’ll admit, I loved it. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I’ve never been a huge Robert Downey Jr. fan, but he won me over with his slick wit. And the chemistry between him and Paltrow was surprisingly electric. Her character, though cooky, was so much fun to watch. If you’ve been on the fence about checking it out, do so! You’ll be pleasantly surprised. But, be sure to stay til after the credits roll. ;) They threw in a 20 second surprise.

While the day is drawing to an end (already? no!), I’m doing what I promised myself I would. Putting away laundry, cleaning the bathroom, sweeping and mopping the kitchen. The stuff I tend to neglect during the week because of work and writing. And since I was away most of the weekend with the hubby at the grandmother’s abode, I’ve decided I gotta get it done before my official workweek begins bright and early tomorrow at 7am!

In writing news, I am past the climax in the contemporary sci-fi short story/novella I’m re-writing. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with it just yet, but I have a little plan up my sleeve. We’ll see what happens when I’m finished.  I also have to get back to my futuristic/scifi romance. I’ve been very neglectful of it. I have like 6 chapters worth of edit to transpose to the computer document, a few scenes to rewrite/add in, and the rest of it to finish. I stopped smack dab in the middle of the climax. What can I say? I have performance anxiety. LOL

Hope you’ve all had a great weekend and a stupendous Monday.

Posted in family, monday | 1 Comment »