New Year's Resolutions

Well, it's that time of the year yet again. Time to resolve what I will do in 2008. Some years I invest more determination in goals, and some years I don't bother to set any. This year, I am making a list of things I want to accomplish before year end. I've just begun, so I'm sure it will get longer.

Diet - Yeah. It's always on there but has yet to actually happen.
Exercise - Again. Always there...

And my muse has a very long list...lol. I won't bore you with all the details, but suffice it to say she intends to finish everything that is a WIP right now. Oh yeah, and she wants an agent. *sigh* I'd better rest up cause 2008 is going to be a great year! I'll get a better list together and post it later. *grin*

So, what are you resolving?

Christmas Songs

Okay, so what are your favorite Christmas songs?

I tend to hear the same ones every year, but never tire of them. From the serious slower songs like Silent Night to the hilarious ones like My Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer.

I find myself humming Jingle Bells and Rudolph quite a bit during the work day.

How about you?

Seasonal Depression

Okay everyone. I have decided to get serious for a moment and discuss something that lurks around this time of the year. Seasonal depression.

I am doing this blog only because I have lost two people very close to me to suicide; and both of those people took their lives in the last part of December. I'm not going to get weepy, or lecture. I merely want to give people a list of symptoms to look for in your friends and loved ones.

I am not an expert, not am I going to pretend to be. So, if you feel I missed something then by all means post a comment and add it. Together maybe we can help someone that is suffering from this.

Symptoms that most people have: (Some of them, if not all)
1. Depressed Mood
2. Loss of interest in activities they normally find enjoyable
3. Loss of energy; fatigue
4. Feeling of hopelessness or worthlessness
5. Poor concentration
6. Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

The above symptoms are found in many different types of depression, and I strongly encourage anyone to seek professional medical advice if they are something you experience. Seasonal depression reoccurs during specific seasons, and returns each year. Since this is winter, I am only going to list the symptoms common to season affective disorder (SAD):
1. Sleeping more than usual
2. Weight gain
3. Craving for sugar, starchy food, or alcohol
4. Conflicts with other people
5. Heaviness of arms or legs

All of this information is easily locatable on a variety of internet resources. I used emedicinehealth.com.

Please take the time out of your hectic day to pay special attention to your friends, family and loved ones this time of the year. Be there without them having to ask, because I can tell you from personal experience few will.

In today's busy world, it is so easy to overlook those around you. Please do not do that. There are so many factors that feed this insidious problem, but there is help. Do not be afraid to talk to someone or seek assistance.

Hugs to everyone,

Cara

Discovering Forgotten Treasures

Well, I took it upon myself to dust the other day. Those who know me know that I rarely do this task; housekeeping is so not my favorite thing to do. Anyway, it was amazing to me to find all of the books I had on my bookshelves.

Like every other avid reader, there are tons of them. I usually don't keep books around though. I always find a new home for them after I have read them, unless they are from a favorite author.

But, I still managed to find books I had no idea I had. I don't even remember reading them, yet I must have at some point. Some of these were historicals, some contemporary. I guess I have a new TBR pile going now...lol. The authors aren't ones I am familiar with, so I don't know my default whether they are keepers or not.

Has this ever happened to you?

Holiday Cooking

Today's blog is all about the sweet treats I love during the Christmas season. Nothing seems to ring in the holiday better than a great piece of fudge or my grandmother's divinity.

I'm actually going to bite the bullet this year and attempt to make some myself. Now, this may not scare many of you. But those that know me are aware of the fact that I am not a baker at heart.

I couldn't use a thermometer in the kitchen in my life depended on it. I certainly do not know how to do that thing with the ball of stuff in the water to see if it's ready. You know what I mean, right?

See? I'm baking illiterate. Now, I know there are easier recipes out there. I'm sure I'll break down and use one of them. But I truly detest this inept side of myself. I like to be as well rounded as possible, and my inability to function with serious baking has got to go.

I also don't want to forget the way things were. I want to be able to do things the way they were done before the microwave, and before the easy bake creations I love so much. It's tradition, and at this time of the year I want that.

So, if you see a hoard of firemen headed down the highway and you're in my neck of the woods you know it's me. Burning the fudge.

Chat Tonight

I'll be over at RWAOnline tonight chatting about Warrior's Paradise. Linnea Sinclair will be there to talk about her latest release, The Down Home Zombie Blues.

The Live Chat begins at 9:00 EST in RWAOnline's Chat room. I hope to see you there.

www.rwaonlinechapter.org/chat.htm

All you need to do is type a name (whatever you want to use) in Username and hit Login.

Tis The Season To Experiment.....

Okay. Minds out of the gutters. I'm talking about food here people...lol.

I tried something different today. Plain, cultured, organic yogurt. Guess what? I hated it. Yep, that should come as much of a surprise. I happen to like my flavor, thank you very much. I will just stick with my Key Lime Pie yogurt with some granola mixed in and be a happy camper.

But it did make me think. I tend to get stuck in ruts when it comes to my food choices. I eat the same things again and again. It's sometimes hard to pull myself up out of that rut I'm in. But I'm really pretty happy there.

Some people I work with were shocked that I didn't realize The Cheesecake Factory had more than cheesecake. And they were astounded to discover I have never had a Philly Cheesesteak.

Well, I'm in Texas. I don't plan to try one down here. I think I'll wait until I'm a little closer to homebase for that last one.

What about you? Have you tried anything different? Is there anything you refuse to try?

Come Chat with Me Tuesday Dec 4th.

Mark your calendars. I will be in the RRT Chat room getting grilled, as will the phenominally talented Linnea Sinclair.

I will be talking about Warrior's Paradise, and Linnea will be talking about her latest release, The Down Home Zombie Blues.

It's going to be a blast, and you never know what will happen.

www.romrevtoday.com
9:oo P.M. EST
Tuesday, December 4th
Click on RRT Chat on the left side of the screen.

Christmas Shopping Dilemna

What do you buy for the person that has everything? Well, my uncle is exactly like that. He has what he wants, and if he needs anything else I certainly can't see what it is. He has no hobbies to speak of, so that isn't an option.

I used to think shirts were always good. I mean, who wouldn't like more shirts? But years worth of shirts sit unused in his closet. *Sigh* It's just an impossible task.

So, is there anyone on your shopping list that is simly impossible to buy for? What do you get them?

Interesting Things On Your Computer/Laptop

I noticed something this morning. If anyone who didn't know me ever looked through my laptop's files, they would probably get the wrong impression.

Most of my WIP isn't titled in the beginning stages. So, to keep everything straight and organized I use the heroine's first name.

And my folder labeled research is an eclectic mix of information on a variety of subjects.

I guess that the files on a computer can tell you a lot about the person. Mine is filled with ebooks. Tons of them. And my writing of course.

So, what is on your computer that might confuse someone?

Warrior's Paradise Releases Today

Warrior's Paradise
Genre: Fantasy Paranormal
Length: Novel
Avaliable Now From Loose Id
Blurb:

Shana came to Paradise to play, but that's not why she stays. Shana borrowed her adoptive sister's talisman to fulfill her sexual desires in Paradise. She didn't expect to find herself restrained and at the mercy of the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen. All he wants is her complete surrender -- and the one thing she can't give him: the identity of her sister.

Lucian, one of the mightiest warriors of Mysk, will do whatever he must to get Shana to submit -- in every way. The more she resists, the more determined he becomes, only her surrender is not enough. Now he finds his duty fueled by hunger to have her for his own.

Shana's more than willing to give herself, but there's the small matter of her loyalties. She can only stay in Paradise as a warrior's mate. And to become Lucian's mate, she will need to pass two terrible ordeals that lead her through her darkest sexual fantasies and beyond.

Excerpt: Click
Purchase: Click

Year-End Resolution Analysis

Well, I hesitate to say this because I am so not ready for it. But, the end of the year is almost upon us. I know, it's painful to hear, isn't it?

One of the things I always like to do is take a look at what I wanted to accomplish during the year, and what I managed to do. It may not be resolutions made on New Year's Day, but I always have a mental list of things I wanted to do before the next year rolled around.

Diet. Uh yeah. That's a four letter word and I didn't do too well with it this year. But, there is always next year, and I haven't gained. So, for me, that is good enough.

Socialize more. I realize that sound strange, but I tend to stay in the same circles. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I know that it limits me. I knew going into this year that I needed to become more social, and get to know more people. This has been tough for me, but I think I have accomplished this. I have met so many wonderful people online through the various groups I belong to. I intend to continue this goal through each year, because you can never have too many friends.

Make my day job less of a priority. I have always been the type of person that focused too heavily on my career. I never quite learned how to not take it home with me, and my worries or needs from there tended to bleed over into my personal life. This year, I have done a much better job not letting that happen. I have my writing to thank for that, because it IS my priority now.

So, how has your year been for you? Anything you still want to accomplish before Dec 31st?

Have a great day!

Table For One, Please

As a single woman, I have adapted to the idea of eating out alone. I typically choose to dine with friends, but that sometimes is not possible. When it isn't, I always make sure I have my defense mechanisms with me: a book, a notepad, anything to make me look busy.

This weekend, I found myself in the position of eating breakfast alone. While driving to my family's house, I decided to stop in and grab a bite to eat. I decided it was time to brave the lonely table without my defense system in place. What would happen?

I went into the local IHOP. It was fairly crowded. The first "oops" moment occurred when the waitress tried to seat me with the stranger that came in behind me.

I guess that they aren't really used to placing people at tables by themselves. I must have committed a social faux pax by doing so, because they sat me in a section all by myself. I guess they thought that would make me less aware of the fact that I was eating alone. Yep, putting me in a room totally alone really keeps me from thinking about it...lol. Thanks a bunch.

My meal was pleasant, and the waiter was great. I did notice one thing that was humorous. I expected to be uncomfortable in the situation because it isn't something I do all the time. I normally have a book to read, or something to keep my mind off of the fact that I am alone in public. I didn't have a problem with it.

But the waiter sure did. He spent most of his time chatting with me, mostly about subjects I knew absolutely nothing about. I thought it was his nature, but could see him in the other section. He made no attempt to do the same thing with his other tables.

So, my lesson for this weekend: I can eat out by myself without an arm full of defense mechanisms and actually enjoy the meal.

Have a great week everyone!

The Power of A Woman

This is too humorous to share. My dear grandmother is 93, and she lives with my uncle. He has been busy lately working. Now, I will premise this by saying my uncle really does not need to work. He's just addicted to it.

My grandmother wanted to go to the grocery store yesterday. It's a 20 mile trip, and usually takes some time. My uncle informed her they weren't going to be able to go until Thurday, and that's only if he had time.

Hehe. Oh yes. The power of a woman. She told him, "We'll see about that."

So this is how the day went:

Breakfast:

Uncle: What's for breakfast?
Grandmother: You get an egg. It's the last one. I get to cook it, give it to you and starve because we have nothing else in the house to eat.

(Notice guilt trip #1?)

Pre-Lunch:
Uncle: Mother, can we have tuna sandwiches for lunch?
Grandmother: We have mayonnaise. We don't have egg, remember? We also don't have tuna, pickles or bread.

Now before I get to the lunch, I have to tell you one thing. There is only one thing my uncle hates more than anything -- chicken. It comes from eating too much of it growing up.

Lunch:
Grandmother: I'm afraid the only thing I could find in the house to fix was chicken. I hope you don't mind because we'll be having it the rest of the week.
Uncle: We'll leave at 1:00 for the store.

Oh I wish I had been there. God bless my grandmother. She truly shows that a woman has the power.

My mother shared this with me this afternoon and I still can't stop laughing.

Have a great night everyone!

What A Productive Morning

I love my cats for not knowing the difference between a work week and the weekend. They always wake me up at the same time, regardless of the day.

Thanks to them I have gotten 25 pages written this morning! Two paws up to the felines around the world for their wonderful internal clocks.

When The Day Job Becomes Annoying

I'm starting to hate my day job. I've always been a diligent worker and devoted to my job, but as I find myself delving into my writing more and more I find myself becoming easily annoyed with the work that drives me away.

It's early in the morning here right now and I should be getting in my car right now to drive to work. But my internal muse is sulking and pitching a fit. She hates sitting there in that cube, working with numbers and spreadsheets all day. She detests having to answer the same questions over, and over and over again.

But I tell her we need to do it. So she tortures me all day coming up with creative lines of dialogue I couldn't possibly remember.

I hate that I find myself getting distracted and not liking work. That isn't me, but I can't seem to stop it.

How do you deal with it?

Promo: A Rose of Any Colour: Male Dom

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RWA Online Chat Tomorrow Night

Hey Everyone!It's that time again! Time for our new releases chat at RWA Online!

Join us on Tuesday, October 30th from 9pm to 10pm EST to chat with our featured authors that have new releases for the month of November! We'll be chatting with the lovely Linnea Sinclair and the charming Cara Carnes!

They'll be talking about their releases for the month of November, and giving away prizes! Linnea will be chatting about THE DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES set to be released on November 27th. Cara will be chatting about her upcoming release with Loose Id, WARRIOR'S PARADISE.

We also have some great doorprizes being offered! Linnea will be offering three doorprizes! One doorprize will be a rain cheque for a signed copy of THE DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES--winner will recieve their copy when the book is released. She'll also be offering two copies of calendars for 2008 featuring THE DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES book cover art! So, don't miss out!

We'll see you there!

http://www.rwaonlinechapter.org/chat.htm

The Things You See Sometimes

Oh the fun of living in the city. I say this with sarcasm, by the way. This morning I was working on my writing and one of my cats was diligently making as much noise as she could playing with the blinds of the window behind me. Eventually the muse had enough of the noise so I got up to move her from the window.

Right outside of this window is a fence that partitions my place from the one next door. But their land is slightly elevated, so from this window it is unfortunately easy to see into the yard next door. Even when you really aren't trying to do so.

Apparently my neighbors next door decided to try voyerism this morning because they were having sex right there in the backyard against a tree. It took me a second to realize what I was seeing.

I think they really need a higher fence. And I certainly won't be opening those blinds for a long time:)

Taking The Power Back

The other day I had my fortune told. It was part of a charity silent auction we did at work, and my bid was one of the winners.

I went into it a bit skeptical because I had never had something like that done before. But the man that did it was very interesting. He was a licensed psychic counselor. I found the experience to be very interesting and enlightening.

The whole reading was very positive, and he spent a lot of time talking about how wonderful my recent decision was. It was meant to be, he said. Now I had not said anything at all to him about anything. So when he mentioned writing, I'm sure my eyes got a bit big. But I was told I am finally forging down the path that I should have been on.

That's nice to know. I wish they'd help guide me toward the ending of my wips....lol.

So I was told that I needed to take my power back. Someone has been taking my power from me when I wasn't looking. My power chakra is apparently partially blocked as well. He told me one way to begin cleansing this chakra was through positive affirmations.

Overall it was a very good experience. I also find myself wanting to go to a second psychic reader and have him/her read me. You know I want verification. A test of sorts.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention this little morsel of info. He told me I had a spirit in my house. He said spirit and I immediately thought of my liquor. But apparently he's talking about the bump in the night sort of spirit.

I so did not need to know about that spirit.

So, in the spirit of positive affirmations, I challenge everyone to post one good thing about yourself.

I'll begin: I am very creative.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Those Elusive Ideas

The past few nights I've had dreams that I actually woke up remembering. For a few seconds. I know; this isn't a strange concept for most. But for me, it is. I typically do not recall my dreams.

The annoying part is that I leap out of bed practically shouting, "Eureka! That's a perfect book!" By the time I get something to write it down on, the entire thing is gone. Why must the muse tease me this way?

I have tried the notebook by the bed with a pen. I wake up and the pen isn't there anymore. One of my two cats managed to drag it away at some point in the night.

So, here is a question for anyone reading this: Do you have any tricks you do to remember what you dream?

I can't help but find it amusing that those dreams and thoughts you wish would go away never do, yet the ones you want the most seem to vanish in literally the blink of an eye.

Have a great day everyone!

I Just Got My Cover - Warrior's Paradise

WARRIOR'S PARADISE

by Cara Carnes

Cover by: Christine Clavel

Release date November 2007

ISBN: 978-1-59632-570-8

Publisher: Loose Id

Blurb:

When Shana decided to fulfill her darkest fantasies, she didn't expect to find herself restrained and at the mercy of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. All he wanted was the one thing she couldn't give him: the way she came to know of Paradise. Forced to choose between protecting her sister's identity and having the hottest sex she could ever imagine, Shana finds herself in a world she never believed existed. As passions ignite in her, Shana must choose between loyalty and duty.

Lucian, the mightiest of the warriors of Mysk, fully intends to do everything he must to get Shana to submit to his insistent demands. Suddenly he finds his duty fueled by a hunger to claim his prisoner for himself. She came to play in paradise, and he fully intends to give her more than she could have possibly imagined. As the bonds of trust and passion ignite and surround Shana and Lucian, the hardest test of all will determine their destiny. Can Shana trust herself and her warrior enough to allow herself to explore the darkest of sexual fantasies in order to remain in Paradise?

Fridays: Why I Love The "To Do List Day"

Fridays are wonderful. I love them for a variety of reasons, but one of the most surprising one is how much I love writing up a list of "Things To Do" for the weekend.

The monotony of the day job during the week tends to suck out a lot of my energy and enthusiasm because I delve 100% of my energy into it. Needless to say, that doesn't leave as much gusto in my energy tank as I'd like to accomplish things during the week.

Sure, I have my bursts of energy where I find myself up until 1:00 a.m. pounding out my latest idea. But that is not regular by any means. So I rely on the weekends to get everything accomplished I want to. Whatever I haven't gotten around to with my writing during the week, I look forward to completing during the weekend.

So, as the slate is wiped clean and another weekend is coming around the corner, I have a mighty long list of things to do. Don't you wish weekends were 3 days long instead of 2?

What is on your list of things to do?

Obsidian Mirror by Tawny Taylor

Cover art by Sahara Kelly

Genre(s): Paranormal, BDSM

Theme(s): Ménage, Witches, Wizards & Magic

Length: Novella

Price: $3.49

Once a year, for one magical night, they come. They take. They dominate. And then they return to their world behind the glass. Warriors from another dimension, seeking relief from their carnal hunger. But when the time is right, they must help their hostess accept her true mate, the one man who will heal her wounds and make her whole.Skylar Morissey is perfectly content to have her once-a-year carnal visit from her dominant warriors. She can have twenty-four glorious hours of no-strings, kinky sex with not one but two gorgeous hunks. What girl wouldn't love that? Sure, there are those women who might like something more stable -- more grounded in the real world -- but not this girl, nope. She has her reasons for not getting into anything too complicated, very compelling ones. Until her very real neighbor, Trace Blackshaw, makes an unexpected appearance, and a few demands of his own.Trace and Skylar share a dark past, one that has stained their souls and scarred their hearts. Skylar would rather forget. Trace cannot let it go. Nor will he let Skylar go, now that he’s found her.In the end, it will be Skylar’s choice. Submission to the one man who shares a soul-deep bond with her, or hide from the pain and content herself with one night a year with two dominant lovers…from the obsidian mirror.

Read an EXCERPT

Click to BUY

Falling

Don't you love the feeling of falling in love? The giddy, happy feeling that seems to slip inside of your soul and bury itself there, deep down. The rush of pure adrenaline you get when you see them. There's nothing quite like it.

I've always fallen in love with the characters in my writing. Shouldn't we always? My current WIP is no exception. Pure joy fills me when I open up the story and begin to write it.

So, who have you fallen for lately? Which one do you remember the most fondly?

The Brave One

I went to the movies last night with a friend and saw "The Brave One."

Wow. I thought this was one of the most thought provoking movies I have seen all year. Jodie Foster did a phenominal job portraying her character. I've heard all the criticism about it being unrealistic and the ending being even more absurd. All I have to say to those people is: Get Over It!

This movie is addressing deep rooted instincts. I left the theater asking myself if there was anything I wouldn't do to avenge a loved one. I've never believed in the "Eye for an eye" type of justice, but I do believe now that there are situations that would be justified.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

An Awesome Start to the Weekend

Have you ever noticed it's the little things in life that put a smile on your face faster than anything?

I have. I went to my publisher's website last night to peruse all the wonderful books available. After all, the best way to unwind is with a good book. Well, I was going through the website's Coming Soon section. Warrior's Paradise is listed!!

Yay! There is no cover and no blurb, but just seeing the title and my name there makes me feel legitimate somehow:)

That is an awesome way to start the weekend! My inner muse is beaming and ready to write even more.

Have a great weekend everyone:)

Broken Promises

My grandfather taught me one very valuable thing: your word is your bond. It is what you will be held to the most. You say only what you mean, and you do what you say. That simple.

I have noticed an overwhelming number of people growing lax with this. When did our word become "if I happened to get around to it." No. It isn't negotiable. Sorry. If you say you are going to do something, then freaking do it already. No excuses. No buts. Just freaking do it already.

And no, this has nothing at all to do with writing, or anyone in writing. Even though I do believe it poignant enough to span across any situation. I spent most of the weekend working on something for my other job, sacrificing my valuable writing time to do so. Why? Because I said I would. Why did I say I would? Because someone said they needed it because they were going to use it this weekend.

Guess what happened? I spent wakeless hours Friday night, all day Saturday and most of Sunday morning working hard on a project to get it to this person by noon. Only to discover today that she didn't even bother to open the file.

Arg.

I was raised to believe that your word was your most valuable asset. This asset depreciates as you fail to follow through with what you promise. 100 years ago it would destroy you. In today's society, it doesn't even appear to be a glitch on the radar of reality.

I guess all I have to say on this subject is this: The next time you give your word or promise to do something please remember that those two small words are the most critically uttered words. "I promise." or "I will." Do not neglect the age old meaning and significance of these words because one day it will turn and bite you when you least expect it.

Weekend Plans

I am editing and find that I actually love it. I am pouting just a bit that I have to work overtime this weekend, but there are plenty of hours in the weekend to get it all done:)

I have been diligently constructing a way to get all of you to meet and fall in love with the characters of Warrior's Paradise before its release. I think I finally have come up with something feasible. So, I hope to get that rolled out very shortly since it will be released at the end of November.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

To The Moron

So I came home from work today to find my sliding glass door open. It was just a little bit, but that is the second time in 3 days that this has happened. The security bar behind the door kept it from getting opened any farther. So either:

1. My cats are trying to run away and have managed to morph into beings with hands to open said door.
2. Someone is trying to get in.

I refuse to have an overactive imagination about this, so we'll just pretend it never happened. It doesn't help that my cats keep hissing at said door like they see something out there. It's dark. I can't see. They can.

It is clear you are determined to get in. All I can do right now is come up with a list of the reasons not to break into my place:

1. One of my cats has serious territory issues. You don't want to mess with her and her turf.
2. I have nothing of value except the laptop I am typing on right now. If you think I'll give this puppy up without a serious fight, yeah, you you don't know me very well.
3. I can scream really loud.
4. If #3 doesn't scare you, it should because #4: 2 cops live above me.
5. I may have a yellow streak a mile wide running down my back, but nowhere on there am I afraid of a guy with a gun. I grew up in Texas. You do the math.

Now that I've listed the reasons not to break in, here is a list of things that you need to do if you do break in: (Hey, anyone coming in here is given a chore. Deal with it.)

1. Remember the cat from #1. Try and trim her claws for me, okay?
2. For the love of all that is holy, change the lightbulb in the hallway for me. I'm too short and will not climb up that step ladder for any amount of money. The bulbs are in the closet.
3. While you're rumaging in said closet, feel free to go ahead and organize it a bit for me.
4. Vacuum. I have 2 cats and I hate that chore.
5. Cook something for dinner. Nothing too bizarre. And don't ask where anything is because I have no freaking clue. That's why I'm telling you to cook. Easy on the salt. I retain water easily.
6. Be a dear and re-alphabetize my books for me. There are only a few hundred. Oh yeah, I'm a bit picky about it too. So please make sure to sort by genre, then alphabetically, okay?
7. Take out the trash. The dumpster closest is always full, so you get to treck up the huge hill.
8. Bring a camera with you. Take a picture of whatever you steal and leave it on the table. I'll need it for the cops and the insurance company. While you're at it, take a pic of yourself too. Fingerprint dust makes such a mess.
9. Feel free to use my phone to call someone to set up bail. And your family if you want. I have unlimited long distance.
10. I'd take advantage of #9 if I were you and you decide to hang around until I get home. Because I am seriously hormonal right now and stressed. PMS and stress with my personality won't bode well for you.

Is is really still worth it to you? Quite frankly, I don't see why you want to get in so freaking bad.

Labor Day Goal

Time is flying by at a rapid pace.

As we delve into yet another Labor Day weekend, I find myself simply stunned by how many books there are in my TBR pile. I have always prided myself in not allowing this pile to mound up. I am a writer, but I am also an avid reader. So, where did all of these books come from?

I sat in the middle of my living room floor last night sorting through this pile. My goal? To figure out how and when I got so far behind.

Believe it or not, it isn't even really because of Nationals. I just honestly haven't read that much of what I have bought. So my goal for Labor Day is to read. I'm going to sit back, open a wonderful book and let my muse have a day off by enjoying the hard and talented work of other creative souls.

May you find the bottom of your own TBR pile soon:)

Happy Labor Day

The Battle Begins

Well ladies, it is that time yet again. And this year appears to be heading to an all new level.

What am I talking about? The cricket invasion. These pesky hopping and chirping creatures of the night have plagued many of my nightmares, beginning my first year away from home in college.

I am terrified of bugs, but primarily the hopping and flying variety. Does anyone warn poor Cara about these disgusting and terrifying cricket invasions when she goes away to college? Oh no. She wakes up one morning and walks to campus and crunches her way to classes with tears of fear streaming down her face. Thousands of these vile creatures line the sidewalks, invade unsuspecting trash cans and generally bring chaos to people like me.

Then Cara goes to work and is asked to take out the trash. That trip resulted in a panic attack of epic proportions when hundreds of the vile creatures hopped up at me when I lifted the trash can lid.

Well, that was a few years ago. But the battle continues every year. The rains this year have compounded the problem, so they are back in force. And they all must die.

So, last night I was sleeping peacefully when I heard the sound no cat owner wants to hear. That tell tale catterwall noise. It is like a fire alarm going off for me. One of my cats, Myska, has discovered an invader. No matter the time of day, it must die.

Most cats would love to spend some time playing with the hopping creatures. But not Myska. Unfortunately I must confess my terror of these bugs has crept into her psyche.

A cricket had found its way into my domain.

That's right. How dare it defile my abode with its presense. It hopped. I jumped. Myska cried. It hopped again. I yelled at it. Myska hissed. It chirped, as if mocking me with laughter.

Oh hell no. I don't speak cricket, but I knew it was calling in reinforcements.

So, it had to die. I just had to gain the nerve to do the deed.

Then again, maybe I didn't. My newest edition to the family, Squeakers (I didn't name her people) woke up and wandered in half asleep. She calmly walked up to it, sniffed it and squished it with her paw.

Praise to the mighty warrioress!

Now if I can only teach her to flush it down the toilet, I can sleep of a night.

My Computer Decided To Teach Me A Lesson

Well, I decided yesterday to invest in a piece of writing software that I saw someone recommend. I ordered it, and they were kind enough to e-mail a downloadable file link so that I wouldn't have to wait for the CD.

What does impatient Cara do? She happily clicks on the link and downloads the file. Guess what happens? Yep, my whole laptop goes caput. Finit. No more.

Now, this is where the confession comes into play. I can't remember the last time I backed up my writing files completely. To say I freaked is putting it mildly. To make it even better, the customer service department of said company isn't around to help.

The good thing is the laptop is up and running once again. So here are the lessons I learned from this experience:

1. Back up everything. I had quite a few of my completed works saved to other devices in one form or another, but nothing in one compact spot. I know. Feel free to say it. I'm an idiot.

2. Dell rocks! They helped me even though it really wasn't their problem.

3. Automatic system backups that I'm too tech challenged to know exist are amazing. There are a few things in the world that need to remain mysteries. This is one of those things. I may not have backed my files up, but my laptop is apparently smarter than me.

4. Patience is a virtue. Now I'm not about to test my luck with that $150 software program and try and download it to my laptop when the CD arrives, but perhaps it actually works. Maybe the uninstall file isn't corrupt and maybe it won't delete all of the registry keys or whatever it deleted. But I'm not about to test my luck.

I'm chalking this up to a very good lesson learned and thanking the magic elves in my laptop and the wizards at Dell for saving my proverbial ass.

Have a good night everyone. And don't forget to back it up.

Good or Bad... It's In

Well, I am physically sick to my stomach now.

I have submitted my Brava novella contest. I was tempted to wait for a bit, mull it over, tweak her and there. My muse had other ideas.

Muse: "It's ready. Push the freaking button already."
Me: "Let's let it sit for a couple of days, read it over and then send it."
Muse: "Bah. It's ready. I know, you don't know anything."
Me: "We're waiting."
Muse: "Hah!"
Me: "Two days. That's it."
Muse: (pushes the button.) "Too late. You'll thank me later. You may have time to mull it over, but I have way too much to do for that. Trust your first instincts. Now get back to the book I was working on or so help me I'll enter another contest just to make you sick."

It's official. She's certifiable. But it is in:)

(And I swear I am sane. The voices tells me so.)

My fortune cookie

My best friend and I ate chinese food last night. And my fortune cookie said:

An investment made will reap benefits beyond your dreams.

Okay, clearly the makers of said cookie have no idea how wild my dreams can get. Really. So, I have made a list of the investments I will make for said cookie:

1. $1 for a lottery ticket (hey it's sitting at $171 million right now... talk about a huge return)

That's as far as the list got. I couldn't think of anything to top it. Can you?

What Would You Take?

It's raining again. Yep, yet again Texas is getting covered in water. So, in case this trend continues and I need to build a boat I was thinking about what I should take with me. Space will be limited, so other than clothes and the essentials, what would you take on the boat?

For me, I guess I'll be bringing my cats. They don't care for water too much and even though they really irk me at times, I love them to pieces. Other than that:

1. My laptop (of course)
2. A book
3. Caffeine (because you really don't want to see me with it)
4. A life preserver (because as a single gal, I will happily haul in a gorgeous guy if he happens to need it)
5. My box of Thomas Kinkade jigsaw puzzles that have been gathering dust.

Now, I'm sure that there are a lot of things that I'd think of that would trump these, but you have to answer from the top of your head.

What 5 things would you bring with you. (And your family, essentials, and pets are already on).

So How Do You Overcome The Sex Scene Shyness

Have you ever written a scene, set it aside for a couple of days, and returned to say, "There's no way I could ever look anyone in the eye if I knew they read that!"

What can I say? My muse is truly inspired right now and ready to push that envelope...lol.

But, I am still relatively new at this and am curious how all of you overcame the shy side of yourselves when it came to knowing someone was reading sex scenes you wrote?

The Perfect Day Job

Okay, I think the fates have found amusement with me. Everytime my muse is geared up to write, my day job suddenly gets extremely busy and demands more of my time.

Not only are we busy, we are short staff to cover it. I'm known at my job for being able to multi-task and juggle anything and everything thrown at me. But, they seem shocked that I'm starting to throw it back at them.

No overtime pay and long hours just doesn't sound like the "perfect day job." I believe in hard work, and began working as soon as I was old enough to be legal...lol.

Thus, my question... Is there such a thing as a writer friendly day job? Do any of you have a career or profession that would fit the bill? Obviously, something in the publishing industry would be on that list. Aside from that?

Give The Muse A Challenge....

Okay, my muse is officially crazy. I mean, certifiably so. She apparently thrives on challenges that I personally deem impossible.

I went to bed last night knowing that today was the first day of the 20 page challenge. With visions of page after page of white space staring back at me after a long day at work, I tried to sleep. But my muse had different ideas.

So, she had me up at 3 this morning. Yep, as in a.m. And what praytell did she want to do at that time? Outline an entirely different sci-fi book. Yeah, like she doesn't already have enough stuff to do. So, we now have yet another idea piled up complete with outline by the way. The pantser muse actually decided to do an outline and character profiles.

Now if I can get her away from her new baby long enough, I really want to work on what I need to get done first. For today, she gets free reign I suppose.

I'm just hoping 3 a.m. won't become her favorite time to work...hehe.

Giving The Muse A Kick In the Pants and A Pat On The Back

Lately I have read quite a few author's blogs about their muse. I now know officially that I love my muse because she doesn't give me nearly as much grief as she apparently could.

So, I dedicate this blog entry to her. I don't know her name, and quite frankly sometimes I think she's a guy. But that's another entry entirely.

Beginning tomorrow I have entered into a Romance Diva challenge where I am pushing my muse to pump out 20 pages of material a day. I know she can do it, and this will be her pat on the back because I'm showing my confidence in her up front. But, it's also a kick in the pants to clear some of these WIPs off of the pile.

So here is the official list of things my muse and I will be working on for the challenge:
1. Rework of Warrior's Fire - the second book in the series (with all fingers crossed)
2. Brava novella contest entry (just because we like being in the middle of things just like everyone else).
3. Fantasy Weekend
4. The Market
5. The Untitled WIP (I know, that is really, really sad. It really is a good book that deserves a title.)

So, what are you working on?

SUITE SEVENTEEN - Portia Da Costa

Acting purely on instinct, I coil my arms around him. I can't believe this is happening and I can't believe what I'm doing. This new, different, impatient me takes the initiative and presses her tongue against his lips, demanding entrance.

He laughs, the sound deep and rough in his chest, and he admits me. Then a second later, it's like he throws a switch and he takes total control.

When vibrant, forty-something widow Annie Conroy espies her new neighbours Maria Lewis and Robert Stone having kinky sex in their back garden, she decides it’s time that she too woke up and smelt the erotic roses. And where better to begin her daring adventures than the luxurious Waverley Grange Country Hotel, and its hidden den of iniquity, the chintz-clad but wickedly pervy Suite Seventeen?

Under the stern but playful eye of exotic master Valentino, Annie quickly discovers the shocking hidden depths of her own sensuality, and surrenders herself body and soul to his outrageous games of power. But when the Waverley’s entire future hangs in the balance, and Annie has the means to help save it, dare she gamble on going one step further… and giving her heart to the mysterious man who’s come to control her?

"...this deliciously seductive story... is hard to put down" ~ Romantic Times, Four and a Half Stars, Sept 07

'Suite Seventeen contains all Portia's trademark treats from the arousing narrative, a wicked blend of deviant episodes, and an undercurrent of pragmatic and poignant romance.' ~ Ashley Lister, Erotica Readers and Writers Association

'I am grinning from ear to ear having savoured every last dripping word...' ~ Ann, poet and blogger

'a cheeky and very lovely read' ~ Madelynne Ellis, bestselling author of A Gentleman's Wager

ISBN 0352341092

Published by Black Lace in June 2007 [UK] and August 2007 [US]

Read an excerpt at PortiaDaCosta.com [NB. excerpt is NC17 and suitable for adults only.]

Suite Seventeen is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

WILD IN THE COUNTRY - Portia Da CostaPublished by TOTAL-E-BOUND - a contemporary super length novel

Available from 6th August 2007

Blurb

There's something in the air...

Flora Swain is a newcomer to the village of Marwick Magna, renowned for the inspiration it provides to painters and poets. Impetuous and strong-minded, Flora is no artist – yet. But there are creative urges within her, she is convinced, and she has come to the country to give them life.

The strange thing is that Flora’s urges turn out to be almost entirely sensual. Is it the undoubted physical allure of her new neighbour, Declan McKenna, that’s driving her wild? Or the explicitly sexual messages which appear daily in her post? Or could it be that country life has revealed to her an insatiable, highly erotic new self?

Read an Excerpt

Available now from TOTAL-E-BOUND

Making Assumptions

Okay, I debated on whether to blog about this or not. But, I am taking the plunge and doing it anyway.

While my best friend and I were out running around this weekend, one of my pet peeves got tested. We were sitting as a traffic light when a homeless man walks up to my car and proceeds to yell at me.

Now let me explain that this man was screaming and one step away from opening the door to my car. I had done literally nothing but happen to be there. I am always the first one to help whenever I can, but this weekend was not the weekend for me helping anyone.

Thus the blog on making assumptions. An assumption was made by him that I was stuck up and deserved to go to hell because I wouldn't give him any money. I have no money. Zip. Zero. I don't even have a car right now since some lovely person decided to ram me off the road and total mine. But I'm not going to rant about that fiasco.

So, I guess the point of this little story is to not make assumptions based on what you perceive.

And if the gorgeous guy in the white truck that was behind me and stood up for me and my friend happens to read this....lol. Okay, that is really a long shot. But seriously, that man gets the grand prize in being a gentleman.

“Go Between” by Dayna Hart

Coming August 14th from Samhain Publications

Between two races that hate each other, at the doorway between two worlds, can Claire find the strength to be the emissary they all need?

Book One of The Curtain Torn series.

Halfway through her twenties, her divorce, and a bottle of rye, Claire opens her birthday present—a “pressed fairy” book.

One of the fairies is neither pressed, nor a picture. He’s the sinfully sexy Dell, who’s been trapped inside the book for twenty years. The moment Claire frees him, goblins attack her house. Dell and Claire’s only option is to use a “Between”—a rift between their worlds—to escape into the land of Fae.

There, Claire discovers the elven queen, Eliane, has a mission for her—one that has her keeping secrets from Dell. And ousting the goblins from her home is only the start.

Read An Excerpt Online

Devil's Pearl By Dawn Halliday

After a year of pursuit, Sir Devlin Vaughn has finally found the beautiful woman who made him the laughingstock of London society. Now he intends to keep her as his permanent sex slave, whether she comes willingly or not.Julia Beaumont escaped Devlin in an attempt to become a legitimate lady. Her plan backfired, leaving her reputation in tatters. Now Devlin holds her in his thrall once again. Can she free herself, or will he enslave her for life?Read an ExcerptBuy Now From Ellora's Cave

The Glamazons

Okay, The Glamazons have made it to the finals of America's Got Talent.

I know. I don't really watch this show. It was just on. But these girls came on and owned the stage. I saw them when they were in the initial stage, and their uniqueness and talent have carried them to the finals.

Four plus sized women with amazing talent that aren't afraid to strut their stuff. Some may find their clothing choice to be a bit offensive, but I am all for it.

I cannot possible do these ladies justice trying to convey their unique diva style. So here is their website. Take a look for yourself. If only I had half that confidence. If we all did, the world would be a far better place.

http://www.glamazongirls.com/index.html

Never Forget Your Childhood Goals

While browsing the news on MSN today, i stumbled across a touching story about Walter Hart. At the age of 88, he received his Eagle Scout rank yesterday in Fort Myers, Florida.

Now, he had earned this honor long ago, but it got put on hold when he served out country for 2 years during World War II. While cleaning out some of his belongings recently, he apparently discovered the documentation showing that he had earned the ranking. So, he contact the Boy Scouts of America.

Here's the link to the full story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20015574/

This struck a chord with me. It reminded me that we should always remember those dreams that we had as children. Because as adults, we can either learn from them or fulfill our inner child's secret desire and obtain it.

So, I am going to try and remember all of those dreams and wishes I had when I was a child. Of course, I had the usual ones: marry Prince Charming and move to a huge castle, sprout wings and fly like a bird, and quite a few other silly ones. But, none of those are obtainable. But, we all have that secret wish we had as a child that still remains unfulfilled.

For me, I think that wish was probably fitting in. I didn't want to stand out from the crowd, I simply wanted to fit. I didn't want to be singled out for how smart I was, or how different. I just wanted to be accepted for who I was and for my own unique voice. No judgment and no criticism. No unrealistic expectations.

So I will remember that childhood wish, and all the reasons why it was important to me. Because, in reality, I believe that was one of the cornerstones of what made me who I am today.

I end this post with this message for anyone reading: don't be afraid to remember the things you wanted as a child and weren't able to obtain. Because just like Walter Hart, it may show up when you least expect it.

Missing The Way Things Were

Well, today was filled with everything I didn't expect to have to do today.

I woke up looking like I had spent the night having some rough fun that I didn't remember...lol. I was bruised from my neck to my waist. But so far I have been pleasantly surprised that the pain isn't nearly as bad as everyone warned me it would be. I guess I have a higher tolerance for it than I expected.

First on the agenda? Getting the rental car. I'm now in a Toyata Camry. It's a nice car, but the color is going to take a bit of getting used to. I've always found my personal preferences steering more towards darker colors, or neutral at the least. But they only had the one color. A nice aqua blue of sorts.

On a hopeful note...my insurance company is already on the case of the uninsured so to speak. They are going to be taking a look at the car on Monday.

Speaking of which my best friend and I drove out to the wreck yard today so that I could retrieve some stuff out of the trunk. Yes, at this point I must confess that a lot of the books I obtained from Nationals hadn't quite made it into my house yet. I had only taken the ones I purchased and had autographed in.

I took some pictures of my poor car. It was a sight to see for sure. I do have to say one thing. I was always under the impression that Hyundais weren't the best cars. I have to say though that based on my experience Friday, they are amazingly resilient. Even the officers and EMS workers were commenting on how well built that car had been.

The most amusing part of the day came when the claims adjuster contacted me to get my officially recorded statement. I was a bit amused when he asked me not one question, but 2 about how the pole was doing. He actually asked me twice how the pole was doing before he even asked how I was doing. Somehow I don't think he found humor in my reply, which was along the lines of, "Unfortunately, I couldn't get the pole to fit into the EMS to get it taken to the ER. It refused medical treatment on site, and refused to give me its contact information."

I know. A bit of a smart ass. But that is just me at times, and the question seemed to be a bit out of line in my opinion. I know he's just doing his job, but some of those questions were just a bit surprising to be asked.

I'm off to make nice with one my cats. She's taking all of this a bit personally. She likes to sleep on my chest, and was a but upset when she was vacated from her perch on numerous occassions last night. I'm just not sure how to deal with her though. She was abused before I got her, and so she really doesn't take too well to changes. I tried to get her to sleep beside me, but now she's hiding under my bed and refuses to come out.

All In A Day's Misadventure

Well, I learned a valuable lesson today: never think you're day couldn't possibly get any worse than it already is.

I left work early today because I just couldn't deal with any more of the craziness without screaming. So what could possibly make my day worse? Well, some uninsured motorist decided it would be fun to side swipe me and shove my car head first into a telephone pole going 30 mph.

Now, at this point I learned two other things:

1. My muse just refuses to ever stop thinking about the next great story. I had never been in an accident before. I am covered over with gorgeous EMS workers, fire fighters, policemen. Yes, ladies nothing but men in uniform all around me. I hurt like hell, totally freaked out, my car is totalled. But what is the first thing uttered by me? Well, my muse decided that since I was too stunned to speak she would apparently. I looked at one of the sweetest, cutest guys there and said, "You'd make an excellent character for one of my books."
I'm sure they all got a kick out of that one. But, they told me once I felt better to stop by the station if I wanted to do research...he he.

2. This was the most powerful lesson of all. Friends are amazing. I'd rather lose all my earthy possessions than ever lose one of my friends. They were on the scene before I even realized what had really happened. They never left my side, and took over everything. They dealt with the police, the tow truck company, my insurance company and the nosy busy bodies. But the most inspiring thing they did? They dealt with my mother. I love my mom to pieces, but she freaks when something happens to one of her children. She is, to put it nicely, someone who requires a lot of special care and attention.
Yes, I'm 34. But I'm still her child. She calls at the same time every day and worries if I don't answer. They spent a lot of time on the phone with her while I was at the hospital getting checked out, and constantly reassured her over and over and over again that everything was okay. They had the patience of saints, and dealt with her in a manner I wouldn't have been able to even on a good day.

Oh yeah, and pain pills are amazing things.

Have a safe weekend everyone, and remember to be greatful for your friends.

70 Days To Sweat Challenge Update

Okay, I must admit that I didn't get nearly as much done on my writing as I had intended while at nationals. I went with good intentions, but got hardly anything done. But, I did manage 3,000 words. So, I am a bit behind. But I will be catching up soon.

With that said, my first nationals experience couldn't have been better. I got the chance to meet a lot of awesome people. It's always wonderful to put faces with names, and get an opportunity to meet those you chat with online. It's even better than they are so incredibly friendly.

Cara