Abandoned Projects

Abandoned projects was one of the photo prompts for the September Instagram challenge I'm attempting this month.

This one is from a series I started to write about a matriarchal society governed by women with varying degrees of extra sensory perception and the men who guard against their many and varied enemies. The partial first draft was probably one of the very first things I attempted to write. Back in the days when I was deciding whether to write paranormal romance or romantic suspense. I still adore the concept so this one is not so much abandoned as shelved and will possibly be reworked.

I started a vampire story too. Unfortunately I no longer have the partial first draft as it disappeared when my computer crashed. I quite liked the main characters. However my interest in vampires has waned.

Then there's the dystopian idea I started jotting down notes on. It takes place after a radical viral infection like SARS ravages the world in present time but in an alternate reality. There are many things I still love about this idea and it will be reworked someday. I'm still pulled by the concept, mood, and tone of this one. So once again, not so much discarded as not ready to tackle the hugeness of this project.

I have a female vigilante character demanding a story of her own. Actually, a series of her own. Very dark concept. Not sure I'll ever be ready for this one...

The problem is not a shortage of ideas! It's time and knowing the right project to choose. I remember listening to a Tim McGraw interview years ago during the height of his popularity and he mused on the fact he wasn't the most talented singer out there but his strength was in being able to pick the right song.

Many writers can work on more than one project at once, but I haven't quite mastered that ability yet. And right now my head is full of the project I'm working on and have been working on FOREVER. Here's to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

How about you? Any projects you've abandoned? Shelved? And current project giving you fits?

Post-Publication Malaise

I've talked about this on my own blog before.  There's this thing where, after I publish a book, a fall into a malaise.  I don't have the urge to write.  Or edit.  Or market. 

I know I should be doing all of the above.  I have a good start on Djinn 4.  Then again, I also have a good start on the next SCIU book and the next Dennis Haggarty Mystery.  I'm also working on editing a book I wrote a long time ago that I still love and would like to see out there in the world. 

But every time I think about sitting down to write, suddenly I have other things to do.  Hell, I washed all the windows on the sun porch yesterday morning, then dusted everything in there, then swept everything.  I would've washed the walls but I was getting tired.  And once it was night - which is my usual time for writing - I was all like ready for bed and junk.  Bleh.

Not sure what the solution is.  I'll probably make myself some firm deadline and then I'll have to get off my malaisical buns.  (Malaisical is so totally a word... Okay, I just made it up, but it's a word now.) 

What about you, Killer Friends?  How to you feel when you complete a big project?  Ready to put everything aside or raring to start something new?

The Last Weekend of Summer

As sad as I am to bid goodbye to summer, I happy to embrace all things fall related. In this next of the woods you better get out there and enjoy the colours because before you know it, the leaves are on the ground. One cold, hard frost and it's all over but the raking.

My writing sabbatical is also coming to an end. This Monday morning it's butt in chair, hands on keyboard, typing away madly. So we decided to end summer with a weekend away and off we went to Saskatoon.

We love visiting this city. It's only two and half hours away and there are lots of things to do. There's isn't a prettier place then downtown Saskatoon by the river.

This was the route of my Saturday morning walk. It was also the route of our Saturday evening walk! The river flows to the left and historical buildings line the right of Spadina Crescent East.  

Saskatoon is also known as the City of Bridges. Seven bridges span the South Saskatchewan River. If you sign up for my newsletter you receive a free short story I wrote that is set at one of the more extra special hotels on this stretch called The Bessborough, or the Bess. A bonafide prairie castle!

My very amateur picture taking skills do not do the back view justice. Here it is from the front view courtesy of the hotel website.

But that was the weekend. Now it's back to work on Mike and Grace's story. What are your Monday plans?

Forgetful?

Let's face it.  My memory sucks.  Not surprising really, since I got thunked on the head years ago, but it's kind of annoying.  For instance, my husband now has to keep track of my doctor's appointments because I forgot the one in May.  He also has a checklist for me when I leave the house - 'got your phone? got your checkbook? got the grocery list?' - because at one time or another I've forgotten these things.  (For the record, he's not annoying.  The fact that I have to rely on someone else to remember stuff for me is annoying.)

I routinely forget to take my eyeglasses with me when I know damn well I'll have to read something out there in the world.  And my arms seriously need to be about a foot longer to be able to see the tiny print on packaging.  What I need is a second pair - one for reading here at home, one for out and about.

I have lists and sticky notes and all sorts of memory boosters to help.  But I have to remember to use them, which sometimes becomes a problem all its own.  When I remember stuff, I try to write it down.  If I'm out and about, I'll even write on my hands - you know, if there's no paper around.  (Which works unless I forget and wash my hands before I transfer the hand note to paper.)

Being me, though, which is kind of 'out of touch with other humans', I wonder how much of it is me and whether other people have the same problems.  Maybe it's just age.  So I'm gonna put it out there in Killer Friend land. 

Do you forget stuff?  Any tips and tricks you have for remembering things?

My Office Makeover

I'm spending the morning in my office. Not decluttering. Not cleaning. Not painting. But to work. And also because my feet hurt, so sitting is good. But that's a whole other I walked a half marathon yesterday kind of post.

My office was in serious need. Over the years it had become a catchall kind of place. A collection of things that I didn't know what to do with and couldn't throw away. Not until I was ready, at least. Both my kids are now in the their twenties. One of them is engaged to be married. It was time to let go of all the kiddie stuff and memorabilia. Not all of it! I did keep some things. Keeping in mind that no one is going to want all this stuff. Later on. After we...you know. Many years from now.

Still it's time for the next stage. So, let the photo version of an episode of hoarders being.

BEFORE

AFTER

Decluttered. Sorted. Painted. New desk. My grandmother's buffet. We have an updated something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue version.

There is still art to go on the wall and a shelf to be hung in the closet but otherwise - voila!! It's complete! I can't wait to get back to writing.

How about you? Undertaken any makeovers lately?

Late, But I've Got a Good Reason

Heh.  Hi, Killer Friends!

Sorry, I'm late!  But I spent most of the day finishing the final polishes to Up Wish Creek so it would be ready to release.  And Amazon did me a huge favor by sending that sucker right through.  Their usual twelve hour publication window got shortened to less than 4.  Yay!

So, here it is... ready for you to snag at the super-low, new release price of 99 cents....

Up Wish Creek

For Jo Mayweather, genie life is far from perfect, but it was finally beginning to settle down after the incident where she accidentally glassed over part of the Florida Panhandle.  Her enemies have been quiet.  The Djinn Council has left her alone.  Her traitorous ex-lover has disappeared.  Finally, she has time to figure out who’s behind the conspiracy to ruin her life.  But setting her feet on that trail means discovering things from her past she’d rather not know, facing her parents in their newest incarnations, and getting a mission from the gods that she’s not sure she can complete.  All in a day’s work, right?  Sometimes Jo wishes she had a different occupation.  Too bad wishes don’t work that way.

The first two books in the Once Upon a Djinn series are 99 cents each right now, too - Wish in One Hand (Book 1) and In Deep Wish (Book 2).  So, if you want to give the series a whirl, the whole darn thing will only cost you $2.97 right now. 

National Read A Book Day

Apparently it's National Read A Book Day! Every day should be Read A Book Day in my opinion. Also, it's not to be confused with National Book Day or World Book Day as those fall on different days. Still...it's got 'read' and 'book' in the title.

And it just so happens I have a book on sale for 99 cents right this very minute. Until September 16th, in fact. (Also, the US pricing! In Canada it's actually $1.30)

Kate Logan needs a safe haven, a place to start over after her modeling career disintegrates in scandal. But her hometown of Aspen Lake isn’t the sanctuary she hoped. Her vow of a low-key life is disrupted by a break-in and other strange happenings at her boutique. As the chair of Aspen Lake’s Gothic Revival Festival, she’s also drawn the ire of a religious fanatic. Kate is up to her stilettos in drama and intrigue including one sexy carpenter who’s determined to get in her way.

New to town, Seth Stone is seeking inspiration and solitude to concentrate on his art. Short on funds, he agrees to take on a second job restoring the damage to Kate’s Closet. Trouble erupts along with the desire to get to know Kate better. When he’s used as a pawn in a smear campaign against his gorgeous boss Seth fights back. But now the whole town is watching. Including the man determined to further his own agenda. Time is running out with nowhere to hide.

* AMAZON * KOBO * BARNES AND NOBLE * THE WILD ROSE PRESS * iBOOKS *

* ALL ROMANCE eBOOKS *

EXCERPT:

His eyes flashed. Kate didn’t imagine it. Didn’t think either. She simply reacted, leaning in with the certainty he’d meet her halfway. Instead, he withdrew a fraction of an inch. Not far but undoubtedly a retreat.

Oh, God.

“I...” Kate closed her eyes in horror. Or denial. But no, it was happening. She knew this because she opened her eyes and he was still there. Close enough to smell the sweat of humiliation pooling out of her pores. He was staring at her in ear shattering silence. With nowhere to go, she stood up. Wiped her hands down the side of her skirt.

Pull it together, Kate.

She refused to gasp out an apology like a fish. “I shouldn’t have done that. I crossed a line. I’m sorry.”

“Kate.” He got to his feet. “It’s not that I don’t want to—”

“No need to explain.” Please, do not explain. “It won’t happen again.” So, so, so not happening again. “I promise.”

Why was he moving in closer? He smoothed a knuckle over her cheek. Her skin tingled in response, proving humiliation didn’t kill desire. It was merely trampled and ready to rear its ugly head again. Then he shoved his hands in his pockets. “It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you. I’m just not in a position to right now.”

“You’re involved with someone.” Relief washed through her. It wasn’t that she was a horrible person. He had a good reason. One she could live with. “I understand.”

He shook his head. “I moved here with the intention of concentrating on my art. I can’t afford to get involved with anyone right now. No matter how beautiful or appealing. You don’t seem like the sex and forget it type. And that’s all I have in me right now.”

Wasn’t that the story of her life? Men wanting to have sex with her but not interested in getting to know the real her? All they saw was the face.

She knew how to deal with men like that. She froze them out. “Well, thank you for being honest with me.”

Really, it was for the best. Did she want him to get to know the neurotic, insecure woman she’d become in the last six years? Did she want this beautiful man to see the real her? She should back away. Put more than two feet of distance between them.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Then ask me to stay and I will.”

“No, you’re not wrong.” Kate looked away. Too tempted by far to risk being carefree enough to sleep with him. To kiss him goodbye afterwards. To work with him the next day like nothing had happened. Wished she didn’t believe in consequences. Or guilt.

“I should go.” He ran a hand over the stumble forming along his jawline before retrieving his shirt. At the door, with his back to her, he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She nodded, but he didn’t see it. He was out the door. His boot treads fading as he jogged down the stairs.

Then silence.

The kind that stretched to fill the four corners of a room. A quiet that left little doubt you were utterly and completely alone.

Happy National Read a Book Day, my friends! I'm off to put the final coat of paint on my office wall and then it's time to put my new desk together. What are you're Tuesday plans?