I think asking a writer where her ideas for a story come from is a very easy question but what about where does your writing come from? Did you always know you wanted to write?
I have to say, I always knew I would eventually be a writer. When I say writer, I mean I would always write stories down. Very happily, Fated Mates found a publishing home at Secret Cravings Publishing. In my head, I am constantly coming up with stories. It never stops. Some might say, I am alway dreaming with my head in the clouds. They might be right because I am always dreaming. Sometimes, its the characters that come to me first. Dragon, my lead character in Fated Mates came out of one of my "daydreams" fully developed. All of a sudden he was there. It took me a long time to finally put his story down on paper. Other times, the stories come to me and I have to flesh them out. Fated Mates was always conceived to be the first in a series. The universe is vast and there are many stories out there. So I would have to say that Dragon actually pushed me to "become" a writer. He wouldn't leave me alone. I guess he really wanted his story told. It was like a nagging and the only way to stop was to write it down. If you get what I mean. I am happiest when I'm writing. The only bad thing is that I am not a fast writer. I strike when the moment hits me. I am hoping to get myself into a schedule now that work has calmed down for a bit. To ensure I get quality writing time in, I am going to start to leave for work a little earlier. I can then shut myself in my office and do some writing before school starts. I've been trying it out for the last few days and it seems to be working. At home, I get distracted all the time.
Another tidbit about myself is that whenever I hear music, I create dance in my head. Sounds crazy but it's true. Music to me means dancing. I danced for over twenty years and spent one year with the Festival Ballet of Rhode Island. I would have continued but unfortunately I don't have a ballerina's body. The director at the time pulled me over and told me I was a beautiful dancer but would never make it beyond just being "good" because my body was more suited for the Foxy Lady not the Festival Ballet. The Foxy is the local "famous" strip club in the city. Mind you, this was about twenty years ago when my body was in top form, not bloated from years of medications. It was the end of my dancing career but it doesn't change the fact that dancing, like writing comes from my soul. Things that come from the soul can never be removed, they are essential like breathing.
I'm off to get ready to go to work. Tell me why you write.
Peace out,
MRD
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Congratulations
I would like to send out a great big, stand up and shout to the sky congratulations to Linda Kage. Her book Hot Commodity is a finalist for an EPIC award. With all the hard work you put into the craft of writing, this honor is well deserved!!!!
On my own writing note, Fated Mates is going to be released on third party sites such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe, and Bookstrand. Let's keep our fingers crossed for tons and tons of sales!!!!
Peace out,
MRD
On my own writing note, Fated Mates is going to be released on third party sites such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe, and Bookstrand. Let's keep our fingers crossed for tons and tons of sales!!!!
Peace out,
MRD
Friday, September 23, 2011
Weekend plans
Today I have a day off from work. It is a professional day in my district and by some stroke of the fates, I neither have to take any or give any today. I am extremely happy about this. Can I have a whoo-hoo for a long weekend? Even if I hadn't been working my ass off, I still would be happy.
This weekend I NEED to finish Irish Rising, I have so many other stories rattling around in my head but I'm one of those people that really needs to finish one project before I start another. It doesn't help that I am a slow writer. I just have about three chapters left before it is finished. So I hope this is a realistic goal.
One goal that has to be completed is the cleaning of the house. I have neglected the housework so much that I would throw myself in front of the door if anyone wanted to come it. It truly is that crazy right now. So the minute I stop typing, I'm going to get started. I should be done in a few hours and then I'm left to writing all weekend.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Peace out,
MRD
This weekend I NEED to finish Irish Rising, I have so many other stories rattling around in my head but I'm one of those people that really needs to finish one project before I start another. It doesn't help that I am a slow writer. I just have about three chapters left before it is finished. So I hope this is a realistic goal.
One goal that has to be completed is the cleaning of the house. I have neglected the housework so much that I would throw myself in front of the door if anyone wanted to come it. It truly is that crazy right now. So the minute I stop typing, I'm going to get started. I should be done in a few hours and then I'm left to writing all weekend.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Peace out,
MRD
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Promo, promo, promo
Now that Fated Mates has been released on my publishers website, my editors advice to me is promo, promo, promo. So here is what I have done so far:
I have this little blog. It is little, if I ever break twenty followers I might faint.
I have advertised on every loop I'm on.
I am constantly mentioning the release on my Facebook page.
I have guest blogs and interviews for next month around the time of the original release date.
The lovely Amber Skyze and Linda Kage have taken pity on this new author and featured my book on their blogs. They have also very graciously purchased the story. I thank the two of your for the support from the bottom of my heart.
The question is, what do I do next? Next week, the book will be released on third party sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe, and... you get the picture. What else do you do to promo your work.
Peace Out,
MRD
I have this little blog. It is little, if I ever break twenty followers I might faint.
I have advertised on every loop I'm on.
I am constantly mentioning the release on my Facebook page.
I have guest blogs and interviews for next month around the time of the original release date.
The lovely Amber Skyze and Linda Kage have taken pity on this new author and featured my book on their blogs. They have also very graciously purchased the story. I thank the two of your for the support from the bottom of my heart.
The question is, what do I do next? Next week, the book will be released on third party sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe, and... you get the picture. What else do you do to promo your work.
Peace Out,
MRD
Monday, September 19, 2011
Release Day is Here!!!
My publishers pushed up my release date, SO IT IS TODAY!!!!!! Leave a comment and have a chance to win your very own copy of Fated Mates!!!!!
Book Blurb: We know that we are no longer alone in the universe. Descendants of Earthly ancestors have returned to find the other halves of themselves, their destined mates.
Dragon, a scarred Serralian warrior drawn to the planet of his ancestors, never believed the Goddess had a mate for him but no matter what he believes, he’s unable to resist the pull of the planet deep within in soul.
Liz, a curvy teacher who escaped an abusive marriage three years earlier is afraid to take another chance on love. Tired of being a
bystander in her own love life, she participates in an ancient ritual to identify Serralian mates. Taking that chance changes her life forever. Can these two people overcome their pasts to become each other’s true Fated Mates?
EXCERPT:
Dragon leaned back in his office chair gazing unseeingly out the vid-window down at Earth from where the cruiser orbited the planet. His brow furrowed in concentration with the problem at hand.
“Uh…hum,” uttered from behind him trying to get his attention.
The gentleman should know from experience, he did things in his own time and only when truly ready.
“Uh…hum…” again sounded from behind him.
“Sergeant, trust me. It’s not within your best interest to rush me in my decision on this matter.”
“Sorry, Sir!”
Properly chastised, Dragon, confident he would not be disturbed again until he thought through every option, let his eye gaze back to the blue planet below. Ever since first orbit, life hadn’t been the same on his ship. Everyone had been edgy, including him. Expecting, hoping, and praying to be mated to someone on the planet below, everyone except him. He had lost faith in the dream a long time ago. Now he had to deal with a situation he never thought would happen under his command.
He adjusted the eye patch he wore over his left eye, a souvenir he received as a POW, before he slowly turned his chair around and pierced the man in front of him with a steely gaze.
“The only reason you are not in the detention center, Sergeant, is because we are friends. Explain to me why you disobeyed ship rules and left this vessel without authorization. Explain to me how a lifelong military man purposely neglects his duties. I need my Sergeant at Arms to explain it to me because as your commanding officer, I am ready to throw you in a cell, start dismissal procedures, and have your ass on the first transport back to Serralia.”
For the first time during his lecture, he saw his friend blanch at the mention of being shipped home.
Sergeant Tarlon simply raised his hand to display the vivid, red scrolling mating mark imprinted across his hand.
Dragon whistled through his teeth and leaned back in his chair resting both hands behind his head. “When? How?”
“Four days ago, the Goddess blessed me.” Tarlon bravely looked his commanding officer and friend straight in the eye. “Excuse my bluntness, Sir, but being unmated yourself, you have no idea what I was going though, being on this ship, knowing my mate waited down on the planet below me. Nothing could have stopped me, not our friendship, and definitely not my duty as an officer.”
Dragon’s face hardened and his un-patched eye turned as cold as the wind whipping across the ice plains on the North Pole of Serralia.
“Do you intend to soften me by insults and bringing attention to my lack of a mate?” Dragon sprang from his chair and stalked in front of him. Tarlon’s eyes immediately went to the floor in a show of respect. He took a deep breath and looked his friend in the eye. His unintentional insult struck deep, to go through life unmated was a fate worse than death to his people.
“I beseech you and the Goddess for my unintentional insult, my friend.” Tarlon placed a hand on Dragon’s shoulder. “I just pointed out you have no personal experience with the yearning call of the first mating.”
“That might be so.” Dragon gritted out, shaking off the hand on his shoulder and going to stand in front of the window again. “What I do know are the rules of this ship. You are to report immediately to the detention center for seven days or until I decide what to do with you!”
“But Sir,” gasped Tarlon protesting. “You cannot separate me from my mate. It would be a torture we both could not tolerate.”
Dragon sighed. He knew his punishment didn’t match the crime. It went against the very beliefs of his culture to separate Fated Mates even for a moment. Everything changed when Tarlon had shown him his mark.
“I am in quite the awkward position, my friend. Your infraction must not go unpunished, but I cannot separate you from your mate. What I can offer you is a compromise. Spend the day portion of your sentence in the detention center catching up on the backlog of paperwork, which seems to have piled up. The night portion of your sentence, you are in the custody of your mate.” Dragon glanced back and caught the brief look of relief crossing Tarlon’s face and something long dead inside hurt until he squelched it.
“You are dismissed. Please report to the detention center to start serving your sentence.”
“My mate and I thank you, Dragon. We shall say an extra prayer to the Goddess in your name.”
Dragon reached up and adjusted his eye patch. “Not necessary. The Goddess has long forgotten my name.”
“Regardless, a prayer will be said,” Tarlon whispered as he turned to leave the room.
“Tarlon…”
“Yes?” He paused at the door and looked back at the lonely man standing in front of the window.
“The yearning call,” Dragon whispered reverently. “Is it as all-consuming as people speak of?” Dragon reached his hand out as if to touch the blue planet in his window, but dropped it so quickly Tarlon probably thought he imagined the action.
“More.” With the powerful word hanging in the air, the door closed behind him.
Book Blurb: We know that we are no longer alone in the universe. Descendants of Earthly ancestors have returned to find the other halves of themselves, their destined mates.
Dragon, a scarred Serralian warrior drawn to the planet of his ancestors, never believed the Goddess had a mate for him but no matter what he believes, he’s unable to resist the pull of the planet deep within in soul.
Liz, a curvy teacher who escaped an abusive marriage three years earlier is afraid to take another chance on love. Tired of being a
bystander in her own love life, she participates in an ancient ritual to identify Serralian mates. Taking that chance changes her life forever. Can these two people overcome their pasts to become each other’s true Fated Mates?
EXCERPT:
Dragon leaned back in his office chair gazing unseeingly out the vid-window down at Earth from where the cruiser orbited the planet. His brow furrowed in concentration with the problem at hand.
“Uh…hum,” uttered from behind him trying to get his attention.
The gentleman should know from experience, he did things in his own time and only when truly ready.
“Uh…hum…” again sounded from behind him.
“Sergeant, trust me. It’s not within your best interest to rush me in my decision on this matter.”
“Sorry, Sir!”
Properly chastised, Dragon, confident he would not be disturbed again until he thought through every option, let his eye gaze back to the blue planet below. Ever since first orbit, life hadn’t been the same on his ship. Everyone had been edgy, including him. Expecting, hoping, and praying to be mated to someone on the planet below, everyone except him. He had lost faith in the dream a long time ago. Now he had to deal with a situation he never thought would happen under his command.
He adjusted the eye patch he wore over his left eye, a souvenir he received as a POW, before he slowly turned his chair around and pierced the man in front of him with a steely gaze.
“The only reason you are not in the detention center, Sergeant, is because we are friends. Explain to me why you disobeyed ship rules and left this vessel without authorization. Explain to me how a lifelong military man purposely neglects his duties. I need my Sergeant at Arms to explain it to me because as your commanding officer, I am ready to throw you in a cell, start dismissal procedures, and have your ass on the first transport back to Serralia.”
For the first time during his lecture, he saw his friend blanch at the mention of being shipped home.
Sergeant Tarlon simply raised his hand to display the vivid, red scrolling mating mark imprinted across his hand.
Dragon whistled through his teeth and leaned back in his chair resting both hands behind his head. “When? How?”
“Four days ago, the Goddess blessed me.” Tarlon bravely looked his commanding officer and friend straight in the eye. “Excuse my bluntness, Sir, but being unmated yourself, you have no idea what I was going though, being on this ship, knowing my mate waited down on the planet below me. Nothing could have stopped me, not our friendship, and definitely not my duty as an officer.”
Dragon’s face hardened and his un-patched eye turned as cold as the wind whipping across the ice plains on the North Pole of Serralia.
“Do you intend to soften me by insults and bringing attention to my lack of a mate?” Dragon sprang from his chair and stalked in front of him. Tarlon’s eyes immediately went to the floor in a show of respect. He took a deep breath and looked his friend in the eye. His unintentional insult struck deep, to go through life unmated was a fate worse than death to his people.
“I beseech you and the Goddess for my unintentional insult, my friend.” Tarlon placed a hand on Dragon’s shoulder. “I just pointed out you have no personal experience with the yearning call of the first mating.”
“That might be so.” Dragon gritted out, shaking off the hand on his shoulder and going to stand in front of the window again. “What I do know are the rules of this ship. You are to report immediately to the detention center for seven days or until I decide what to do with you!”
“But Sir,” gasped Tarlon protesting. “You cannot separate me from my mate. It would be a torture we both could not tolerate.”
Dragon sighed. He knew his punishment didn’t match the crime. It went against the very beliefs of his culture to separate Fated Mates even for a moment. Everything changed when Tarlon had shown him his mark.
“I am in quite the awkward position, my friend. Your infraction must not go unpunished, but I cannot separate you from your mate. What I can offer you is a compromise. Spend the day portion of your sentence in the detention center catching up on the backlog of paperwork, which seems to have piled up. The night portion of your sentence, you are in the custody of your mate.” Dragon glanced back and caught the brief look of relief crossing Tarlon’s face and something long dead inside hurt until he squelched it.
“You are dismissed. Please report to the detention center to start serving your sentence.”
“My mate and I thank you, Dragon. We shall say an extra prayer to the Goddess in your name.”
Dragon reached up and adjusted his eye patch. “Not necessary. The Goddess has long forgotten my name.”
“Regardless, a prayer will be said,” Tarlon whispered as he turned to leave the room.
“Tarlon…”
“Yes?” He paused at the door and looked back at the lonely man standing in front of the window.
“The yearning call,” Dragon whispered reverently. “Is it as all-consuming as people speak of?” Dragon reached his hand out as if to touch the blue planet in his window, but dropped it so quickly Tarlon probably thought he imagined the action.
“More.” With the powerful word hanging in the air, the door closed behind him.
Monday, September 12, 2011
A little perplexed
Friday evening I received my almost final proof in my inbox. There were a few things I needed to change. I switched point of view a few times in various scenes, which were extremely easy fixes. I turned them into dialogue. See, I'm learning the craft! The last final comment with the story although has me perplexed in a big way. Dragon has thrown Liz over his shoulder and he is stalking to the bathroom to take a shower together, end of scene. The editor wants me to put "a bit more dialogue" at the end. I honestly have stared at this one scene all weekend long not know what dialogue would fit there. I don't want to sound like the total newbie that I am but I might have to e-mail her and ask her what she has in mind because I am stumped!
I had a little "writer anxiety" over the weekend. Here I am doing all of this work. I wrote a story, done revisions, edits, and now final edits. Now, I am asking myself is what if no one buys my book? I understand Fated Mates won't make me rich but what if no one likes it but me? These are just thoughts running through my head. It will probably get worse as the month passes by and we are closer to the release date.
Peace out,
MRD
I had a little "writer anxiety" over the weekend. Here I am doing all of this work. I wrote a story, done revisions, edits, and now final edits. Now, I am asking myself is what if no one buys my book? I understand Fated Mates won't make me rich but what if no one likes it but me? These are just thoughts running through my head. It will probably get worse as the month passes by and we are closer to the release date.
Peace out,
MRD
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
I am not a good juggler!
I have to say since school started I haven't written a single word.I am not a good juggler. Lately, all of my time has been taken up with work. Who says that teachers have an easy job. Yesterday, I left my house at 6am and came home at 4. I was so tired I picked up Burger King which was not a good idea because I need to lose weight. I gained 20 pounds this year because of some medication I was on. My concession was that I bought a veggie burger. Good Choice? Just lie to me!!! After I inhaled my food because I didn't have time to eat during the day, I started working again until 9 when I purposefully put it away to go to bed. I could have continued working but I was beat. I still am! So I am sooooo feeling guilty about not writing one word in my WIP for a week. I want to but am just so exhausted from work.
How does someone hold a full-time job, manage a house, and have a writing career? Is it even possible? If it is, give me the words of wisdom because all of my juggling balls are on the floor!
Peace out,
MRD
How does someone hold a full-time job, manage a house, and have a writing career? Is it even possible? If it is, give me the words of wisdom because all of my juggling balls are on the floor!
Peace out,
MRD
Monday, September 5, 2011
Happy Labor Day
Hi all,
I hope all of you are enjoying a long and restful Labor Day Weekend. My house has almost recovered from being without power for days and days, all except the kitchen. To be honest, my kitchen is always the last room to recover from anything, basically from life. The is because I despise doing dishes. When I say despise, I don't even think it's a strong enough word for how I feel about dishes. Every other type of housework, I actually find theraputic. I don't mind cleaning the bathroom, dusting, vacuuming, and even the litter box but there is something about dishes. The last apartment we had before the house, I picked solely because it had a dishwasher. It is one of my dreams to own another dishwasher again. Sounds simple but I assure you it's not. My house doesn't have a dishwasher, so there would be construction involved in getting one, cutting the cabinets, putting in new water and electrical lines. Also due to the size of the kitchen, I would need a small dishwasher and not a normal size one. You would think the smaller version would cost less than the bigger version but au contraire my friends, it costs about double. You see it is special. So I still wait. Ho hum..
Isn't it like this with anything that you don't like to do? Putting something off, until it just HAS to be done. Do you ever get that way with your writing? Does it come to a total stop if things aren't going the way you have planned? Sometimes a break brings clarity and rejuvination, sometimes it's needed for sanity. Don't feel sorry for the breaks, they are there for reasons!
Peace out,
MRD
I hope all of you are enjoying a long and restful Labor Day Weekend. My house has almost recovered from being without power for days and days, all except the kitchen. To be honest, my kitchen is always the last room to recover from anything, basically from life. The is because I despise doing dishes. When I say despise, I don't even think it's a strong enough word for how I feel about dishes. Every other type of housework, I actually find theraputic. I don't mind cleaning the bathroom, dusting, vacuuming, and even the litter box but there is something about dishes. The last apartment we had before the house, I picked solely because it had a dishwasher. It is one of my dreams to own another dishwasher again. Sounds simple but I assure you it's not. My house doesn't have a dishwasher, so there would be construction involved in getting one, cutting the cabinets, putting in new water and electrical lines. Also due to the size of the kitchen, I would need a small dishwasher and not a normal size one. You would think the smaller version would cost less than the bigger version but au contraire my friends, it costs about double. You see it is special. So I still wait. Ho hum..
Isn't it like this with anything that you don't like to do? Putting something off, until it just HAS to be done. Do you ever get that way with your writing? Does it come to a total stop if things aren't going the way you have planned? Sometimes a break brings clarity and rejuvination, sometimes it's needed for sanity. Don't feel sorry for the breaks, they are there for reasons!
Peace out,
MRD
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