Tattoos

This post reminds me of a former co-worker that once stated, "I would never get a tattoo. My body is a temple." My reply, "So is mine, and I choose to decorate it."

I laughed when I saw this picture and immediately thought of my boys. I'm a tattooed Momma, though most never see them unless I am in a bathing suit or tank top. It's not that I hide them on purpose, I just got them for me so the need to "share" them is not as great as the addiction of getting them.

I have a close friend who is finally getting her tattoo covered and added too; it's beautiful and so elegant...if that is a word to use with tattooing! I have six, one of which is my first son's name on my arm. In lieu of my youngest son asking "Where's my name?" I have plans to get his added. Unfortunately to do so would mean re-doing my first son's name so it is not faded next to the second one. So much goes into planning and prepping before actually getting a tattoo for me!

One suggestion my husband came up with is covering the one on my back with a larger piece consisting of a Momma Bear and two Baby Bears surrounded by flowers that extend from my lower back and up one side. I'm fairly artistic so I could draw up a general idea for the tattoo artist to embellish. It's just the thought of getting one that will take hours if not days of sitting to complete. I'll come up with a solution, but not until I'm at my goal weight in another 3 weeks. That way I will be happy to post the after pictures sporting my newest "decoration".

A "Novel" Idea

In the midst of editing my soon to be complete manuscript I had a novel idea...make it into a series! I was pretty sure of myself when I started this book. Pretty sure I could finish it on time, pretty sure I knew what I wanted the ending to be, and pretty sure I'd have time to actually write it. Ha! Now that I've basically completed the major portion of it I'm having second thoughts about keeping it a single title. I really think it's good enough to be a series. Even if the characters are so pronounced that they deserve a second book, is it wise to shoot for more than one before it's even been submitted/accepted?

I love the characters and their wit, the setting, and the overall humor is too much to keep in one book. I crack up when I go over my notes to make sure I hit the two main characters' conflict. What if the story is meant to go on?

So my big question is this: How do you know if your book should be single title or if it should be part of a series?

Writing Goals for 2009

I am a member of the best RWA chapter on the planet, Space Coast Authors of Romance. The group is full of fantastic writers and fun new friends. One of the things that has become tradition is making a list of goals for the following year and sending them to one of our successful chapter members to hold. At the end of the year, our annual Christmas party, we recap those goals to see how many we achieved--not to mention, we receive a neat little prize for accomplishing at least one of them.

My writing goals for 2009 are:

1. make my list of goals and submit them! (done)
2. enter at least 3 writing contests (1 down, 2 to go!)
3. complete my current WIP by March (ahead of schedule on this one!)
4. submit my manuscript
5. judge a contest
6. become PRO if not PAN qualified
7. finish my office (writing in the nursery is getting old)
8. make writing time a priority
9. ask for help when i don't know what to do next with my writing
10. accomplish ALL of these goals!

I'm off to a good start and will keep these posted as a list on my sidebar for a constant reminder of my goals. Do you write? If so what are your goals for 2009?

First Page Review

I've posted the first page of the first chapter of my book BACK HOME. It's a paranormal romance with a hint of suspense and a lot of humor. Read it, review it, rip it apart, or rave about it. Comment when you're done to let me know if I've got you hooked or if I need more bait to reel you in! I'm very excited about this book in whole so any tidbits now will only make it better. THANKS!

CLICK HERE TO READ IT!

In The Moment

I'm living in the moment! You know, that moment where your current WIP takes a turn for the better? The kind of moment that fuses two ideas into one. My moment is about to reach the end. No, not the end, but THE END! As in I am one scene away from finishing!!!

It all started on Friday, and short of a brief paintball hiatus yesterday I have been nonstop rearranging, adding to, and deleting. The Romantic suspense with paranormal element has been turned into a Romantic Paradramedy...is there such a genre? It's funnier now, and quicker, more intense on the romance, obvious paranormal element from the first page (problem in my last Deep Dish), and not as long as I had expected originally. It works.

I plan on polishing the last scene then editing the rest of this week. I may reach my goal yet of having a submission and reply by my birthday!

Here's to all of you working "in the moment", whatever moment that may be for you!

Any Ideas?

How often are you side tracked with daily life and you forget to write down that idea for the next chapter, or remember to set aside time to organize those ideas so you can meet deadlines? I'm in that "side tracked" moment and can't remember my last thought for the next stage of my book. It was really fantastic and made perfect sense when I thought of it, but doesn't seem so fantastic after I wrote it down. So now I'm scheduling time to get organized. I have two contests I want to enter and need to remember the crucial statement or action or whatever it was that made the idea so great.

What do you do to get those flash of genius? Any ideas?

Dark Star Discovery: NOVEL FRAGMENT V

Dark Star Discovery: NOVEL FRAGMENT V

Diet Update: The Hubster

So far so good; down 1-1/2 in my midsection and the legs are dress appropriate now since I'm back to running. LOL, amazing what a little exercise will do. According to my body type (E), I am the lucky one of the types to be able to eat more of the foods most people have to stay away from. The hubster is a C and has to stay away from red meat...he turned into a lion yesterday when I walked out with my steak. Not a pretty sight. He has healed nicely since our scuffle over the food, but we'll see how the weigh-in affects him tomorrow.

Oh yeah, the hubster jumped on board to lose a few pounds when he saw me dressed up for girls night and his friends commented "huh, you're looking good, Sis." My response? "Yeah, I know." That's all it took for him to get interested. I love him. I think I'll eat my meals while he's not around though--just to give him a fighting chance!

6WBMO

No, the title is not a serial number, license plate, or Internet code. It's the beginning of me quitting. Does that make sense? Well, let me explain...short version, I promise!

April 16, 2007 I was a size 8, weighed 145 lbs, and ran 3-4 times a week. I found out I was pregnant on this day. Fast-forward to today. I now have two fantastic sons; one that recently left me with a souvenir-belly fat and bad eating habits. I am now weighing 165 lbs and comfortably in a size 12. I've dropped 3 lbs (non-fluctuating!) in two days and will continue to "drop it like it's hot" as my oldest son would say. I'm quitting my weight just as I quit smoking.

A very old friend from way back when has had great success on the 6WBMO (6 Week Body Makeover). See, it's one of those complex simplicities. You eat, often and healthy, then you exercises. It's complex because you have to find your body type in order to customize your new eating style. It's simple because after the first day of going over the eating and exercising for your body type you know what to do for the rest of your life. You eat, you exercise, you lose weight.

I'm not counting points or weighing in for all the world to see. I'm not running back and forth to the gym and waiting on my food to arrive for the week. I'm not knocking those diets as they may work for some. This is what works for me. I'm not even hungry now because I never stop eating. It kind of reminds me of my younger days when I could eat all the time and never gain a pound...except now I'm eating all the time and losing the pounds!

So long story short, I'm quitting my weight.

Next Chapter

Happy Monday! Not really, but I'm in a good mood so I'll tolerate today's Monday. I've reached chapter 18 in my book and I'm still on a roll. I have a ton of editing to do, but I'm really happy that I'll meet my deadline. Short of my day job taking over my spare time (knock on wood!) I should beat my deadline by a week!

I'm off to a great start for 2009 and I'm hoping my good karma will rub off on all of you to GET WRITING! Keep your goals out there for everyone to see. This has kept me motivated when I see people after a couple of weeks who ask, "how's your writing?" and I answer, "Fantastic!" We all have readers who care and want more. It's the first step in reaching the goal and the last step in procrastinating...write something today.

Write!

New Garden Gnome

I have a thing for cute garden gnomes. I found this one hanging out this morning: