Since I don’t have anything prolific to spout this lovely hump day, I thought I’d take a moment to simply say thank you to the Mermaids and all our friends. Writing can be a solitary effort, despite the plethora of social media. But once in a while, it’s wonderful to trek to a beautiful wooded retreat, nestled quietly on an edge of a lake and enjoy good food and laughter with other writer friends. It’s that extra pick me that is sometimes sorely needed. As I wallowed in a tempest of silly conversation, thoughtful reflection and giddy laughter, I realized the preciousness of those moments. At a time when we don’t know if a sick individual will put a bullet in our back as we head to work, it’s wonderful to take that time to smell the pages. And it’s best done with wonderful friends. Thank you Mermaids… and friends.
Category Archives: mermaids
My Summer Reading Log
Trying to keep my kids reading throughout the summer is like pulling teeth and performing a root canal. Not so for me. My favorite part of summer at the pool is reading. The only time my body comes into contact with the water is to hang on the ladder for ten seconds when I get too hot. Then it’s right back to the book.
My kids had to fill out their reading logs and keep track of the books they read, so I decided to do the same. So many times someone will ask what books I’ve read recently, and I draw a complete blank. It’s not that I didn’t like the book. It’s that I read too many of them to keep track.
Without further ado, here is my reading log:
1. BOUND by Erica O’Rourke
2. THE FARM by Emily McKay
3. GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers
4. PUSHING THE LIMITS by Katie McGarry
5. MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick
6. DEATH, DOOM, AND DETENTION by Darynda Jones
7. CRACKED UP TO BE by Courtney Summers
8. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
9. PAPER TOWNS by John Green
10. AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES by John Green
11. LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green
12. THE BEST MAN by Kristan Higgins
13. FOREVER AND A DAY by Jill Shalvis
14. SHADOW IN THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
15. THE CELESTINE PROPHECY by James Redfield
16. VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE by Paulo Coehlo
17. AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED by Khaled Hosseini
18. IT HAD TO BE YOU by Jill Shalvis
19. CRAZY LITTLE THING by Tracy Brogan
20. YOUTH IN REVOLT by C.D. Payne
21. THE TORTILLA CURTAIN by T.C. Boyle
I love books. Clearly. But I do have to say that I loved every single book I read this summer. I loved them for all different reasons. Some I read for escape. Some I read to better understand a culture or social position. Some I read just for the romance. When I looked at my reading log, it occurred to me that the books I like to read the most are the books that I tend to write—Young Adult. It’s a genre that’s not really a genre. It’s a group of books caught in between the cracks of so many types of books. Most of the ones I read this summer are straight contemporaries, but some paranormals entered my log. The first five books on the list were all RITA-nominated YAs, but Darynda Jones followed close on their heels. ☺ I always have to read her latest.
Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins sit together on my shelf, friends both in my bookcase as well as real life. Their romances make my heart feel lighter. They make me laugh. They make me cry. But, more important is the laughter and those family and friendship connections.
Just when I feel happy, I decide to read Khaled Hosseini, who makes me cry in a way that hurts my heart. His stories don’t tug at my heartstrings. They pull them so hard that I feel drawn and quartered by the end. But I love his books so much. They take me to countries that I’ve never been, but I feel that I have. When I put down his books, I feel like I’ve known every character intimately.
After reading THE FAULT IN OUR STARS in the spring, I decided to buy John Green’s hardback collection, and I wasn’t disappointed. During our vacation, my daughters, husband and I traded John Green around like a bong at a hippie commune. If hippies actually smoked bongs. Not really sure about that as I’m not really acquainted with either hippies or bongs. I would say our John Green Marathon was successful since we all liked the books.
Several of the books were recommended by my nephew Heidar, who always gives me the best books during the summer. His recommendations were books that I probably wouldn’t have picked up on my own: SHADOW IN THE WIND, THE CELESTINE PROPHECY, VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE, YOUTH IN REVOLT, and THE TORTILLA CURTAIN. And I loved these books. Every year we go to California, I hit him up for his recommendations because I want to read out of my comfort zone.
Tracy Brogan’s book was funny and light-hearted but touching in the family relationships and the zany characters. I predict big, BIG things for Ms. Brogan. ☺
And of course, I’m probably going to get yelled at when I admit that—before this summer—I had never read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. What the hell took me so long? I think it’s because I’ve always been a bit of a rebel. If you WANT me to do something, don’t tell me I have to. As I always lumped Harper Lee’s classic into the “mandatory reading” category, I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. I’m so, so happy that I decided to cave to conformity. What a book! Now I understand why people read it again, and again and AGAIN.
Just writing this quick write-up about the books I read this summer makes me excited about reading—and hopefully writing—again. If I could ever touch someone else’s life through my writing like these authors have done for me I would consider myself a success. It’s a rare gift indeed to change someone’s perspective about illegal immigration colliding with middle-class values (like THE TORTILLA CURTAIN) or doing the right thing in the face of prejudice (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD).
But, for me, it’s about teens. It’s about showing them that they aren’t alone—no matter their situation. Whether they’re struggling with that crazy hierarchy of popularity or identity crisis in any form, they need to know that they aren’t alone.
Isn’t that why we all read? To alleviate loneliness? To make our hearts feel? To know we aren’t alone?
Those are the reasons why I started reading when I was a kid and never stopped. My grandmother once said to me when I was four and bored: “When you learn to read, a whole new world will open for you. And you’ll never be lonely again.”
What books have you read lately that lifted your heart, changed your perspective or you loved for a different reason?
If you haven’t read any books lately (for shame!), what is on the top of your TBR pile?
Why I Love Dracula: A Writer’s Muse
I woke up this morning and was thinking – what should I blog about today? The view on the lake outside my window as the sun touches the treetops, or the sound of the birds singing in the early morning, their songs never as sparkly as in the first hours of a new day. Then a thought struck me and I knew exactly what I had to write about, what I was bursting to write about…
Why I love Dracula so darn much!
Note – this is not a question. It is a statement of absolute fact and here are the Top 11 Reasons Dracula is the Best Vampire Ever!
- The struggle between control and lack of control is epic.
- Passion on a stick (or fangs).
- Fangs (creepy, but somehow, sexy).
- Sex appeal (bad boy, the ultimate bad boy, maybe the first bad boy).
- Sidekicks (the odd man who carried around his coffin).
- Burning to ashes in daylight (any vampire story that lets this bit of mythology go? Well, forget about it. Just not a true Dracula-esque vampire – even Whedon kept this bit).
- A kiss so deep and loving – it leaves a physical wound (yeah, baby…)
- The hypnotic eyes (sigh)
- The stake through the heart that kills him (and yes, this is another part of vampire/Dracula mythology I love!)…
- The fact that Dracula will never die – his story always makes a comeback (click here for new CBS show this fall:)…
- He’s dead, but lives! (and its not a metaphor).
Today, I am being specific about Dracula and not other vampires I fell in love with over the years like Barnabas Collins, Mick St. John, Angel, Spike…none could fill Dracula’s cape in my heart and mind (except for angel and spike:)…
Okay, I’ve got to stay focused. I was talking about Dracula. I blame it on old movies and youthful sexual awakenings that I would never have described as such when I was staring at black and white TV late at night watching Frank Langella, Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee ( not in that order, fans)…do their vampire thing.
My love of and obsession with Dracula was his power over the minds of others. Yes, that’s what attracted me the most. Not that he was the living dead. That didn’t work for me, even as a child. It was his ability to control others, and then his struggle when his emotions got in the way of that control. A tortured hero (trope alert!) and then some!
So today, I am saluting the vampires (actors) who have embodied Dracula on the screen (and yeah, I know Alex doesn’t belong, but he’s so pretty as Mick St. John). I just hope that Mr. Rhys Meyer’s new show will present another mesmerizing Prince of Darkness for (me:) and a new generation to enjoy.
And in case you were wondering, yes, I was working on my vampire WIP last night:).
Have a great Tuesday, and don’t hesitate to take a moment and share one of your pop culture obsessions, please!
Back to Work
As you read this I’m embarking on an exciting journey… I’m returning to the workforce. Today is my first day at my new day job.
After years of staying at home with my children, volunteering at school or helping out with a field trip at the drop of a dime, and writing, always writing, today I’m returning to the land of the gainfully employed. It was a tough decision but one that’s been in the works for a long time. Now that my oldest is driving, my youngest is in high school and all those fun college bills are a heartbeat away—it seemed like the right time.
I kind of remember what it was like to collect a steady paycheck and receive a W-2 at the end of the year, but it’s been awhile, and I’ll be honest, I’m a little terrified. I’m not sure if that is fear for myself, or for the unsuspecting folks I’ll be working with. After all, these are relatively normal straight-laced business suit wearing people who probably don’t have strangers stopping mid-chew to stare when they realize you and your lunch date are casually discussing how to kill someone and dispose of the body over enchiladas. And yes, I have had this happen. Hahahahaha… you should have seen the looks we got.
I know it’s overly optimistic, but my goal is to get through the first week without doing anything too embarrassing. I wore slacks today so I think I’m safe from the old tucking your dress into the back of your pantyhose thing, but who knows if I’ll make it through the day without referring to any fictional characters as if they were real people. I just hope I can hide my fictional addiction long enough for my colleagues to get to know me… then maybe they won’t feel the need to whip out a straight jacket when some of my more creative personality traits surface. 🙂
If you have any suggestions as to how I can blend in to the workplace with normal, non-writerly type people this week please share. I’m looking for all the help I can get!
Tell Me the Ending Already
I was thinking about the upcoming TV season the other day and how many questions are about to be answered. Seems like almost every show ended their season with a huge cliffhanger. Then we are forced to wait alllllll summer to find out what’s going to happen.
You know what? I think I’m over cliffhangers.
Everyone knows I’m one impatient girl. But this goes beyond my lack of patience. While cliffhangers may bring an amazing amount of suspense and conflict to the story, they also leave the viewer with a lack of closure and finality. Continue reading
Where are the Mermaids?
Even Mermaids have to take a little vacation now and then. While we’re off enjoying sparkly waters and drinks with umbrellas, never fear. We’ll be back on Tuesday, September 3. Happy end of summer to all of our fabulous readers!
While we’re basking in the sand and salt water, please enjoy Kerri-Mermaid’s recent wall art purchase. She thinks it sums everything up nicely….
Risk Takers: What Romance Authors Do for Love…
This morning I decided to follow-up a week of amazing posts at the Waterworld Mermaid blog with a post about taking risks. Yep. You know who you are – you jump off the deep end of the pool blindfolded, you sky dive, you climb mountains, you run marathons, you raise kids, you quit your job to write full time (and haven’t sold a book) – okay that last one is crazy, but she sounds a lot like me:)…
So here’s my list of risks that romance authors take for the love of writing books!
- I took a sabbatical from my full-time gig and for the next few months, I am a full-time writer ! And no, I haven’t signed a contract with a publisher (or plan on self-publishing), but hey, I have faith that if I focus good things will come from this decision. I am fortunate. I can afford (kind of) to take the time away from my EDJ (Evil Day Job, which isn’t evil at all), but I can’t afford to do it for as long as I’d like – forever (risk). But now I have two books with completion dates set in stone (I have no excuses) and another book I want to write so badly I dream about it! But still, taking a sabbatical to write romance books is a risk!
- I am in love. Yes, his name is Ray. Yes, he is a character in my book, Chasing Damn. Yes, Ray is also the first name of one of my ex-lovers (one of my favorites) and what in the hell was I thinking?!! Memory lane is a risk!
- I moved out of the city to the country – okay, not so much country (see photos). There are no cows, pigs or horses (on my block at least), but the quiet, the calm, the solitude…I could lose my mind out here and no one would know. So far, though, I love it. So moving to the country with geese and lakes and sunrises to die for – risk! (why? what if I stare out the windows for the next four months and don’t finish the books!)…Gah! Moving to the country is a risk!
- I have author friends who have six books due in the next year. I love them dearly, and hope I am able to be in that situation one day (soon, please:)…but the risk for me – not my author friends – would be confidence. The dreaded question would plague me – can I do this? Which takes me back to my sabbatical and the reason I made the decision to write for four months – so far – its harder than it sounded. Risk: Getting to do what you love to do is a risk!
- Why do stories have plots? Can’t they be streams of consciousness that readers buy just because the character is clever and witty and tragic whenever they choose to be? Why do books have to have plots!!!???? Okay, I am a plotter (double risk) and these damn WIPs have plots that have to be authentic (and yeah, in contemporary romantic suspense I can’t just add vampire mythology to replace plot, gah!). So another risk – writing books with plots (and having to do research!). Plotting is a risk!
- I like taking online courses and entering contests. Both keep me focused because of the deadlines. I’ve been existing on deadlines my entire professional career. It has been my motivation for all things work related. To me, writing is art and passion, and all that good stuff, but it’s also WORK! Dare I say, a job. Therefore, to help me stay on task I take craft classes and enter contests. However, the other side of that coin is feedback from fellow students and/or judges. Lately, I’ve been fortunate on the contest front, feedback from the contests I’ve entered has been good, critical but good. As a contest veteran I don’t take everything to heart, but when you see the same comments or a certain remark that rings true – you go with it. But now and then you get a comment or feedback and you’re like – searching for these people, looking through their websites, basically stalking them (without telling them) because how could they say that about my story! Retaliation is a risk! No, I meant to say Contests and online Classes can be a risk…
- Many if not most of the visitors to this blog are writers, and we love to write. As my ex-lover (mentioned in bullet point 1) used to say – time spent shows how much you care about a person because as humans time is all we have to offer, etc…(and the reason we aren’t together now has a lot to do with time:)…but as writers, we spend hours, weeks, months, years, writing, thinking about writing, researching writing, taking classes on writing, judging contests, entering contests, selling books, talking about writing, writing…with that much time spent, you know we love it. And yeah, it is a risk. But who cares. It’s what we love to do! Even if the book has to have a freaking plot.
Hey, gang, what have you risked for love? Yikes, if that’s too heavy just say hi! We’re taking a break (Waterworld Mermaids blog) for a week beginning Monday. End of summer. Need to refuel and map out the game plan for the Fall. So comment below! We always enjoy hearing from you!
(See photos of the view from my writer’s office):
Learning to Keep Your Balance
Did you ever have a moment where a challenge you’ve known of for a long time seemed seemed to suddenly, magically resolve?
My lovely, talented, rapscallion son, Skitch, graduated from college two years ago. He needed five years to complete his studies in engineering. I was happy to give him that extra year – he chose a very affordable state school and I had (at the time) sufficient funds to help out. We were thrilled when he was ready to fly the coop, get a job and spread his wings.
But the graduation gift… what to give this only son, who spread himself among so many interests and passions? He suggested, and hubby liked the idea of, an electric violin. But the best electric violins cost many thousands of dollars. They need accessories, expensive ones. We don’t know anything (much) (nothing) about electric violins. And even Skitch wasn’t sure which one he might want. Or how much he would use it. Did an elementary school viola career equal (merit) the cost of such an expensive instrument?
Plus, the family was now short on cash (thank you, recession). Our dearest son didn’t press, and the idea was dropped. His father fretted from time to time, feeling we were being ungenerous. A graduation gift is customary. We’d let it slide. Were we good parents? Over and over, I assured him that we were, our son loved us unconditionally, and a gift would eventually be discovered, procured and delivered. And we would forget all about it again for several months.
Last month, I exited CVS with my usual mix of necessary (toilet paper) and unnecessary (lipstick) items. New York, for once, was enjoying a perfect blend of sunshine and mild weather. I glanced left and, as usual, and saw the rows of bikes outside the village bike shop. Bikes. Surely, after all this time… Could it be so easy?
My request was simple: bike for 25-year old man. Needs more than a sidewalk cruiser, but not that $2000 cliff jumper over there. No tricks, or challenging courses, no big drops. Young man in question still gets crazy ideas, so it needs to be able to take a beating. And he still lives in a college town, so any lock or cable needs to be able to survive that caliber of thief.
Forty minutes later, I was texting my son with questions and sending photos. Two weeks after that, we arrived at his apartment with a bike, carrier, helmet, tire pump and (most important) a gnarly cable lock. Since then, he’s gone riding several times a week, hoping to build up enough mileage to cycle-commute to work and back.
Happy boy, happy and relieved father, brilliant mom. Thus, the saga of “what do we get Skitch for graduation?” closes.
Which brings me to the real topic today: how many grand plans for our writing have we made that go unattended? How many minor disappointments do we harbor? In some ways we allow ourselves to construct these disappointments, all on our own, simply by allowing the time or opportunity to slip past. Okay, circumstance occassionally visits them upon us and we watch, helpless, as all our lovely plans are shattered. The editor or agent request gone stale. The rejection that continues to sting and fester. The rewrite that goes so badly we give up – and can’t forgive ourselves, even when we know it was for the best. Or, the story that’s dry, parched, neglected and, sadly, left alone (thank you, dearest husband for that addition). Sometimes we allow ourselves a little moan but, mostly, we let ourselves “live poor.”
In Skitch’s case, the lack of knowledge, compounded by lack of money bred the lack of gift – a kind of “living poor” that wouldn’t let go. We don’t have the money for a violin. We don’t know how to buy a violin. Hubby let this fester and I tried, very hard, not to absorb his disappointment as my own. I had to believe that one day we would be able to solve the problem.
Enter Bikeway! I do have the money for a bike, Skitch already knows how to ride a bike, I can afford a bike! Once I had the Smaller Gift idea it happened. I even used my new “live with the money you have” mantra and paid cash. Well, debit card, but it really was “cash.” My bank account knows the truth…
Having gone through this now, I want to bring this lesson to my writing. Enough disappointment with what I have not accomplished. More celebrating the tiny steps. The finished (begun) paragraphs, pages, outlines, scrawled notes, gathered ideas.
This journey as a writer is a process of discovery all its own. The more I know about my writing, the more I try (and fail), the better I know myself. How can I mine this newly realized (lesson) (discovery) knowledge of “small victories” and use it to conquer “living poor?”
What would you do with this discovery?
The Perfect Moment
When I was little, I used to wish I could bottle up perfect moments in my life, so that I could take them out later and relive them. Back then, I pictured a row of glass bottles, similar to the kind you throw in the water with a message inside, capturing the best times of my life. These days, we have much more sophisticated technologies — all sorts of cameras, videos, even holograms — but they still wouldn’t fulfill my childhood wish.
I didn’t want a representation of the moment, after all. I wanted the moment itself, complete with feelings and thoughts and physical sensations.
This was the first reason I started writing. I would scribble for hours in my spiral notebooks, attempting to record (and therefore keep for always) every moment of my middle school experience. Not that said time was particularly happy, much less perfect. But everything at that age was so new and precious and emotional, I couldn’t bear the thought of letting any moment slip away and disappear forever.
The moments I want to keep now are fewer and far between. But that doesn’t make them any less precious.
I experienced one just the other day.
The sky was that calm, pure blue, where the few clouds unfurled like lingering wisps of cotton. Plump raspberries peeked out behind leaves, hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. And my children ran up and down the rows of bushes, white buckets clattering around their knees, yelling, “Mama! Come quick! I found the biggest, juiciest berry ever!”
My heart felt content. Peaceful. Everything was right in my world.
So right, in fact, that I didn’t think to take any photographs of that moment in the raspberry fields. But that’s okay. I’ve never needed a pictorial representation in order to remember.
What perfect moments have you experienced recently? Please share! I’d love to hear all about them!
My European Experience
I made it to Germany on Friday, August 2!
After a seven hour flight from Baltimore to Frankfurt, Germany I was met by my husband at the early hour of 1020 (Germany time) which was six hours ahead of my normal time. Though I did manage to get a couple of winks in on the overnight flight, I was exhausted during the drive from Frankfurt to Landstuhl which is approximately an hour and a half drive south. Believe it or not, I slept on and off while my husband drove about 120mph on the Autobahn! ( And that was in the slow lane!)
We arrived at the wonderful Hotel Rosenhof in which he’d been staying in for a week already and I was greeted warmly by the owner, Sue, Andy and Oscar, the dog and general greeting and security presence. A lovely European style bed (close to the floor, memory foam-type mattress with a duvet cover nearly had me asleep again before dinner. But hubby had me unload my luggage, took me on the tour of the quaint town of Landstuhl, got me hooked up with a cell phone that I can use here in Europe, and then we returned for dinner at the hotel.
Now, here is my real issue lately, I was recently (as in three weeks ago) diagnosed with Celiac Disease which, though more and more common, I’m still getting used to. I have been instructed to go on a strict Gluten-Free diet for the rest of my life to heal and prevent more issues in the near future. This means no wheat, barley, rye or other wheat forms of foods. The one good thing, I was never really a bread and pasta person (I know–weird) but it’s amazing how many foods are made with wheat gluten or prepared around wheat gluten. I have to be very careful in not cross contamination also.
But I’ve also noticed how many things I’ve eaten in the past ARE gluten-free all ready. (Cheese Curls!!!) So I’m not too worse for wear. Also, eating whole foods like, meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables is very satisfying and easy to do. Especially here. The menu and morning buffet is a wonderful variety of meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and creamy
yogurts. I’m learning I can fill up just as much on them as I could eating waffles/pancakes and pastries. So, Friday night I had a wonderful steak cooked to perfection with garlic butter and pesto sauce and pan seared potatoes.
My hubby had a large beer–but since I couldn’t have beer (hops/wheat) I opted for a drink (I’ll have to get the name again) but it was a combination of wine/champagne fresh mint and a hint of lemon. We sat out on the patio and enjoyed the night as it cooled down to a comfortable 83 degrees. I felt mellow by my second glass finished off with a wonderful sorbet and fresh fruit dessert. Ahhh, what a life!!
Went in to shower and get ready for bed but the brisk exfoliation of the free-flowing shower rejuvenated my senses enough to enjoy the evening with hubby’s friends and co-workers. They had been kind enough to think of me on their trip to a chocolatier’s to pick me up gluten-free dark, stone-ground chocolate which is delicious!! (Yes, I’ve been savoring it in pieces–but I did share.) They also introduced me to a wonderful appertif of fig vodka! I am not a vodka drinker in general but we toast the end of the night with a shot that you SIP–it’s so smooth and refreshing.
Needless to say, I slept well my first night in Germany! 🙂
Day 2
I awoke on Saturday morning refreshed and ready to go exploring! After an amazing breakfast of fried egg, sliced meats, creamy brie, fresh fruit and yogurt I was ready for anything! Hubby and I drove up to Burg Frankenstein (Castle Frankenstein) which was the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein. It was actually the ‘ruins’ but it was so beautiful and quite a way up in the hillside. From the top turret we could see all the way from Darmsted to Frankfurt. I could only imagine how the soldiers of old could see the enemy coming for miles before they even got close to the base of the hill. (The pictures above are from Burg Frankenstein.) We viewed a wedding there (which we were informed there are many) and enjoyed a light lunch at the restaurant over-looking the Hessan valley.
We also explored the countryside, the small villages which in this region are loaded with vineyards and wineries and Castle Starkenburg (see home page picture) which was a bit of a hike but so worth it (the view was spectacular). It was built in 1060’s and is now partial ruins and part youth hostel.
So far, I’m really enjoying myself (I don’t know how I couldn’t) but when the hubby works, so will I. Most of my day (while he is working) is spent writing, catching up on my reading and blogging about my experiences every few days.
I hope you join me in sharing the fun and excitement as I explore ancient cities, castles and lore. Make sure you stop in and view my photos page to see new photos as they are uploaded. I would love to hear from you all!
I’m having trouble posting pictures so please, go to the site listed below to see the photos we’ve taken recently!