It is a small world after all!

As many of you know, I am a part of a wonderful writing group, rubbing cyber elbows with very talented writers. The down side to cyber elbow rubbing is that you may never meet the owners of said elbows. They live in Michigan, or Texas, Arizona and so on. You can imagine my excitement when I learned that one of the group members lives only a few miles away from me! Yeah! Her name is Lori as well.... so my excitement gained some momentum! 


Finally the day came for a long awaited coffee date. I had read a portion of her book Here All Alone, and was anxious to meet her personally. I had every reason to believe she would prove to be an exceptional lady. She did not disappoint, (and really, with her name being Lori, how could she?) We hit it off marvelously, laughed talked and it felt like we'd known each other for years.


It's really interesting to me to explore how other writers have gotten published, marketed and most of all how they get their support and linked in with a network. Along with my on-line author friends, I think having some face time with other writers is greatly needed. Aside from Lori, I have recently met another author that is just as excited to share ideas and support as well. 


Remember when just a few moments ago I mentioned it seemed like Lori and I had known each other for years? Well, it turns out we have. It seems like another life ago. We had met professionally and had done a couple of things socially and then life got in the way as it often does and we lost contact. I remember liking her immensely back then, and I'm happy to still like her as much now.


It surely is a small world. Sometimes it's fun to find out just how small.


That's all for now,
Till next time,
Lori~ 

The Waiting

Hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait. A watched pot never boils. Be careful what you wish for.
Sound familiar? Turns out these are only half right. Sometimes, I hurry up and I'm late (most always!). A watched pot may not boil right away, but if you let it get hot enough, science proves that it will in fact boil. Finally, most of my wishes, really don't come true, so why be careful? Right?

In general, I am an impatient person. I want it all right now! Years ago, a supervisor advised me to stop and smell the roses. Slow down, enjoy your life, blah, blah, blah. I probably should have listened to her closer. To this day I struggle with trusting the process much less allowing it to happen. This flub applies not only to my professional life such as writing, working etc, but my personal life as well. I want the house to just be magically clean without wasting my time to mop, vacuum or do laundry. I want to be able to be the perfect wife without putting too much effort in it! You get the picture.

I've waited two years to get back to work, praying every day for a job. NOT having a job, though, allowed for me to write a book and get started a few new projects too. Now, I want to see my work in book form like yesterday! Instead, I have to remind myself it's a process and if I did get my wish, it would probably be a disaster.

Currently, I'm waiting to hear about the second job I've interviewed for, which I would really like to have. I keep checking my proverbial pots known as my e-mail and my cell phone to make sure I haven't missed any important messages. It's kind of funny, how in the literal sense, those sayings are really laughable, but broken down, very wise and true. One last thing, you can't rush a good thing.... I guess while I'm not rushing God's plan and process, I can get busy and sit back, enjoy some coffee and be grateful.

Just sayin'
Till next time,

Lori

Sleep! I need Sleep!!

As I've mentioned a couple of times, my imagination can sometimes get a little carried away. I think it's genetic (thanks, mom). My short styles story group is talking about doing a Christmas themed  compilation book! Exciting, I know. The thing is, last night, every time I would convince myself it was really time to get some sleep, another fantastic storyline would come to mind! Which was great, sleeplessness aside. (Amazing to me is that none of these ideas involved murder!) The only real problem (other than how tired I am right now), was that although my mind was wide awake, my body was comatose, therefor, writing these great ideas down proved to be problematic.

What I need is a little gadget attached to my cranium, that basically takes notes for me. Driving, have a great idea... BAM! Note taken! Trying really hard to sleep..... BAM! No problem! How cool would that be? Those times when I'm pretending to listen to my husband, when in fact I'm laying out dialogue in my mind..... you guessed it! I think it would take multi-tsking to a whole other level, really.

Fortunately, my sleepless addled brain did manage to retain a couple of ideas that I think will prove to be promising. Never in a million years did I imagine I would be linked to such a great group of writers and creative minds. What has been a hobby my whole life seems to be morphing into something tangible and fantastic. As I look back on the two years I've been unemployed, I must say it was a blessing, I know I would not have taken the time to really take my writing seriously. I've even put to words a children's story my mom used to tell me, and even better, she's helping to write it!

Now that a new job is just weeks away, I will need to come up with creative time management to keep up with all of the writing projects I've got going on. So, if you see my husband looking thin and begging for food, please reassure him that once the writing is done, you're sure I'll start cooking again.

Till my next brainstorm,
Lori

Idea overload (how many is too many?)

So, I'm driving to Roseburg from Gladstone today (about 2.5 hours give or take), and you would not believe the new story ideas that kept popping up! Well, I suppose you could, particularly since you all are mostly writers. Unfortunately, I was driving so I couldn't jot down these ideas that were coming at me like a hailstorm. Of course, because my memory capacity is that of a gnat's, there weren't many that stuck around either. Sigh.

I have four projects that I'm working on right now, it's not like I really need another story to write about; but these were good ideas! I had the multiple story lines and characters all lined up for at least three of them. Really, though, how many ideas, projects, stories etc. should a writer have at once? How long before your brain just runs out of idea space?

I caught myself laughing at the twists my morbid mind would take in this whole process. Every scenario resulted in murder, mayhem and chaos. Road rage, body dumps in the forest, farm equipment murders..... even 'Duckicide'. (There were so many crazy Duck fans on the road it was hard not to imagine something gruesome happening to them all. Really, they were asking for it!)

I wrote earlier about the cross genred author, and I think I'd like to have a story that didn't involve tragedy and dereliction, but somehow, my mind always comes back to that. I like romance, I like happy endings and I like to laugh. I do incorporate all of the above into my work, but it's definitely secondary to mutilation, torture, blood and guts. (My English teachers would have been very concerned.)

So, tell me if you think my pe-occupation with death and dying is weird, I want to avoid a genre type-cast, so please throw me a bone and help a girl out! Now, I must jot down some notes about some really killer story ideas!

Till next time.
Lori~

Cat Nap

My cats are so great. So much so, in fact, they have a significant place in For the Helpless. Husbands, kids and parents are great too, don't get me wrong. I've even worked them into my story lines. My cats, however, are reflected as they are in real life..... bed hogs, cry babies and wonderful snugglers. I had to change the names of my other characters to protect the innocent. Taz and Angel appear as-is in all of their glory.

I don't know if other authors include their pets in their writing, maybe it's weird, but here's the thing: The majority of the time I was writing, one or both would be stretched out on my legs, lying beside me, their head on my knee, and at times, offering to do some some of the typing for me. Obviously, they wanted to be involved and a part of things. In fact, as I write this, they take turns on my lap, periodically chasing each other off and taking possession for their turn.

I knew that my main character's life wouldn't be the same if she didn't have cats. (I love dogs too, but most fictional crime fighters have dogs. It's a bit over-done.) She needed a little soft and fluffy in her life. Plus, I think cats are great judges of character. I use this in the story line to add a different perspective about some of the people in Kelly Lowe's life.

I'd be interested in knowing what some of you think about pets as key characters. If you have a pet, how would you portray them in a story? Taz and Angel will probably be by Kelly's side in future writings. I may need some ideas for other projects too, though. Toss me some ideas, and I might just use it in one of my future books!

Time to give the kitties some love, they're feeling a little ignored.

Till next time,
Lori ~

The Cross-Genred Author

In my mind there are at least a dozen story lines fighting for space at any given time. Some are humorous, some romantic or suspenseful. There are those that involve fanciful fantasy with giants and dragons, or murder and mystery. With so many genres to choose from, how can I pick just one?

There is the old saying that goes something like this, 'good at many, great at none'. Or something like that anyhow. I know of a number of authors that are cross-genred. I must admit, for some of them, that saying is true, others, like John Grisham or Nora Roberts, they could write a nursery rhyme and it would be a best seller.

Obviously, having yet to have published any material, I am not sure what genre I am best at. I aspire to be great at several at least. One, however comes naturally- crime, murder and mayhem. Possibly because my imagination runs wild whenever I am out hiking or bike riding. Or possibly because I've watched too many  episodes of crime drama on CBS.

I've leaned towards mystery and crime in my first project and am about to write a children's book based on a childhood story my mom used to tell me. There are a few futuristic sci-fi's spinning around this noggin of mine and a good old fashioned good vs. evil story I started many years ago. I hope you'll help me find my niche. I also hope I can be great at many!

Here's to the Cross-Genred writer in all of us.... not to be confused with the cross gendered version.

Till next time ~ Lori

I've been told to blog.....

As a writer, one would assume I would jump at the chance to write. Which, normally, I would. Blogging, however is a little different. It's instantaneous; out there for everyone to read almost immediately. I must confess, that reality is a little daunting. I can't help but ask, "Why would anyone want to read a blog about me?" My answer is this- they wouldn't. So, I vow to make this blog not about myself as much as it is about my imagination. My stories. My  projects. The important and interesting stuff.
It has been suggested that I start a blog, get my name out there and network a bit. My first finished project, a kick butt crime thriller is being edited, and with any luck, my baby will be in black and white with a shiny new cover soon.
Even now, after having finished the writing and endless re-writes, I have butterflies in my stomach as I wait to hear thoughts on my writing from someone I've never met.
Will she see the characters as I intended? Can she visualize the Pacific Northwest as I've described it through out the book?
I can describe the feeling I have best by using this example; watching my daughter ride the bus off to school for the first time. I'm anxious and excited, but a little nervous and sad. Will her teachers understand her quirky sense of humor, will she behave like a little angel, or get herself sent to the principal's office on the first day?
Then there's the letting go. This child of mine has started a new chapter and I must admit, it was and is hard to put her in someone else's hands.
So, nearly two years of hard work and many, many words, has been passed on.
Welcome to my life of words.....
Lori