Black Friday

Today is Black Friday, so named because years ago business claimed that the day after Thanksgiving was the day the were "back in the black". Sales are up that day and throughout Christmas most years. People camp out at the mall or show up at 2 am for stores opening at 4. All just to get a good deal.

I did this one year with an ex sister-in-law. I worked nights at a local hospital as a clerk, but promised to go with her shopping as soon as I got off work. We hit the malls and a few of the smaller stores. Mainly I just helped her gather what she was looking for because at the time I was broke. I hated it. I don't like fighting crowds and I was already so tired from being up all night at work. And I swore I'd never do it again.

This promise to myself was more firmly rooted when I took a job at Wal-Mart during the Christmas season and had to work the day after Thanksgiving. It was even more painful to be on the opposite side of the check-out line that day. Fights, stabbings, muggings, all happening inside the store as well as out. It's amazing how grown women can become so animalistic over a Barbie doll or a Playstation. Personally I don't think a sale of any kind is worth all that hassle. But then, I'm not the normal woman who just loves to shop either.

To My BFF!!

Today is the perfect day for me to walk down memory lane. My best friend turns 40 today. She's only 2 months older than I am (and of course I remind her of that every year) so today I put her picture in the paper. Nothing too horrible and the picture did include me, too.

We've known each other for 35 years. Now that's a lot of memory lane. We've been there for each other during every moment, both good and bad. She held my hand when my first love broke my heart. She was there when my children were born and when I divorced my first husband. She tried to talk me out of my second marriage (definitely should have listened to that one) and she helped dry my tears when I had to face the most horrible time of my life.

There has been love, laughter and tears in our friendship, but not once have we ever drifted apart. She's the rock I stand on when I need solid ground and I will always be grateful that she's in my life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAMMY!!!!

WoooHooo!

I'm up to 10,000 words on A Knight's Peace. I can't believe I've gotten that far. Most of it's crap and probably will be edited out later, but OMG! I'm moving along like crazy!!!

I've also finished a short story for the Writer's Digest Short Short Story Contest. The guidelines are 1500 words or less and I've got 1470. I like it, but it took quite a while to get those 1470 words like I wanted them. I'm pretty sure I won't win, but maybe I'll at least get to final. I'm excited about this one. The last one I entered wasn't even considered a short story. It's more of a memory. So, wish me luck!!!

I'm Back!

I've been away for awhile dealing with family stuff. But now I'm back and ready to get going again. Tuesday is my random day so let's be random.

My son came home from Iraq for a 2 week visit and my daughter-in-law and grand-daughter moved back to Nashville. I'm so excited to have them back with me. JAM left yesterday to go back to Iraq to finish his tour but I still have KAM and CDM to keep me company.

It was lonely at their new apt last night so KAM and CDM came back to the house and spent the evening with us. I'm glad she feels comfortable with our family and I'm glad she wants to be here with us. It's going to be great having them in our lives.

My best friend turns 40 this month and then I follow after her in a couple more months. When I was a teenager this age seemed so much older to me. Now I realize that I'm not getting older, I'm getting better. At least in some areas. I still have a few issues to work on with my weight and exercising that I didn't have to bother with when I was younger, but other than that, my life is finally going like I've wanted it to for years.

My kids are growing up and for the most part they'll be able to handle anything that comes their way as adults. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and who I love dearly. And I still have a job (even if I don't know how long it will last). So, all in all, I'm just plain thankful for everything in my life!!

Romance Divas Workshop

Election Day

The big day is here. Today will make history no matter who wins. We will either have a black president or a female vice president. I voted this morning because I tend to put things off until the last minute. My husband voted in the early voting. My kids are finally able to vote and I can just hope they choose to utilize that right. But no matter what happens, today will make history.

Great Trip

It's been a great week. I flew to San Antonio and had a great time at CDM's birthday party. There were lots of people, cake, a clown, a pinata and lots of gifts for her 1st birthday. She's totally adorable and absolutely the cutest kid on earth. LOL

On Monday we got in the car and drove from San Antonio to Nashville, TN; about 1000 miles. We had to stop over in AR to sleep because we just couldn't bring ourselves to drive any longer. We got home Tuesday evening and went to bed early. I was exhausted!

And Surprise! Surprise! Yesterday afternoon JAM came home from Iraq for his 2 week leave. I'm so excited. I've got the entire family here and I'm loving every minute of it. And we're going to have another small party for CDM on Saturday for those here who couldn't be in San Antonio for the big party. It's gonna be great.

I'm Off

To San Antonio tomorrow morning. I can't wait. I love to fly and I made sure to get a window seat. And I get to see KAM and CDM. We're going down to the Riverwalk and check out all the shops and I really want to see the Alamo, too. This will be the first trip I've every taken on my own and I'm a little nervous, but excited at the same time. And when we get back here on Monday JAM should be in from Iraq or at least very close. I'll have a houseful again and I can't wait!!

Reflections

Ok. Fast Draft is over. I didn't write as much as I was supposed to, but I at least wrote something and I'm farther along now than I was. So, all in all, it was a good experience. NaNoWriMo is next month and I think I'll participate in that, too. With all this "help" surely I'll be able to get finished with a first draft by the end of the year. That's my goal.

On another note, my middle child turned 18 yesterday. I'm feeling a bit nostalgic and I'm feeling a bit blue, but I know it's time to let go, at least a little bit. I can't let go completely, of course, becuase he's still my baby and always will be. But he's growing up, just like the oldest did, and just like the youngest is going to do when she turns 18 next year. I'm beginning to feel the empty next syndrome thing even though they haven't moved out yet. But I know I'll be fine and so will they.

JAM, the oldest, is coming home from Iraq for a 2 week visit next week. And I'm going to San Antonio this weekend for his daughter's 1st birthday and to bring my daughter-in-law & grand daughter back here to stay. I'm so excited. I can't wait to get my hands on CDM. She's growing up so fast, just like her father, uncle & aunt did, and I want to experience as much of her life as I can. I know eventually they'll be stationed somewhere else and I won't get to see them so this little bit of time will be all I have. At least until one of the other kids gives me grandkids (which I hope is a long time coming, mind you!).

I may be feeling a little blue, but at the same time I'm looking forward to just being me again. For so long I've been "mom". I'll still be "mom" of course and now I'll also be "mammaw" but to be just me will be a welcome change. I won't be making decisions based on what the kids need or want. I'll finally be able to base a decision on what I want for a change. So, maybe empty nest won't be as bad as I thought.

Fast Draft

I'm taking a class over at RWA Online called Fast Draft given by Candace Haven. The idea is to write the first draft of your novel in 14 days by doing whatever is necessary to make time to write. Usually you'll do 20 pages per day for a total of 280 pages by the end of the 2 weeks. That's a solid first draft for any stand alone novel.

According to the rules you can't whine about not having time or this got in the way and I couldn't make my goal today. And You can't go back and edit what you've written; you simply keep going and leave everything, even inconsistencies alone. That's the hardest part for me. But for the past 2 days I've been doing it.

I did 5 pages the first day and 18 the next. Not quite my goal, but much more than I've ever done before. And I'm so excited about it. I might actually finish a manuscript. I can't wait until I type THE END!!

Fantasy Romance Workshop

Please join us at Romance Divas THIS WEEKEND!Friday October 10th and Saturday October 11th, we will be joined by some huge names in fantasy and fantasy-romance for a workshop on what the difference really is between the two genres.

Weekend Warrior

I love Army Wives. And I totally love General Michael Holden who is the base commander played by Brian McNamara. He's great to look at but the thing that makes him shine is who he is and how he presents himself. Now that's the stuff of romance novels.

Writing Update

Well, it's that time again. Time to update the writing I haven't been working on. Well, actually I'm researching still (always) and I'm working on the characters since I don't feel that I know them as well as I should. And I'm also working on a short story for a contest that's due in December. Too bad all the research books I'm reading don't have the magic formula for actually doing the writing and keeping my butt in the chair until I'm finished. Maybe I'll try the Fast Draft workshop that's starting next week online.

Time Flies By

I’ve been feeling very nostalgic in the past year. Perhaps it’s that I’m turning 40 on my next birthday or perhaps it’s because I just miss “the good old days”, but I think about my past a lot. There are a lot of things I wish I’d done different. I wish I’d gone to college like I spent my entire childhood looking forward to. But I chose to get married and give up college to be with my husband. As it turns out the only thing good about that decision was my kids. They are the one thing in my life that I’m glad I have. No matter what happens they will always be the light of my life.
They’re growing up now and I feel the empty nest syndrome coming on full force. JAM is already married with a 1 yr old daughter for me to spoil. JWM will turn 18 in three weeks and will surely choose to move out not long after. And baby HNM will soon be 17. The time flies by so quickly and when you look back you can’t see where on earth it went. I miss being the center of their world, but at least I know they will always be the center of mine.

Tigress by the Tail

Lance is a Wizard. He’s not a great wizard, but he’s all right. Descended from a long line of wizards, his brothers taunt him for being slow to learn. And as the youngest, it’s his due course to accept such teasing. Life is good, and normal. For a wizard that is.

Cassie is a Shifter. A tigress to be exact. Raised by her father after her mother’s death she’s as well adjusted as any shifter can be, and still live in the human world, hiding who and what she is.

Bliss comes to a screeching halt the night Satanists kidnap Cassie and her best friend to use as sacrifices to bring forth their Dark Lord. When Cassie literally collides into Lance, she begs him to help them escape their captors, despite the dangers. The couple work together to save the life of Cassie’s friend, only to discover a shocking passion driving them closer together at a time when both should be devastated. But when Lance overhears Cassie’s father threaten his life, he heads for the hills. Cassie follows, determined to clear up the confusion. But evil is still afoot and Cassie is taken by a secret government organization dedicated to the eradication of all things magick. Is Lance willing to put his life on the line for a woman he believes is out to kill him? Especially when he realizes the organization that’s taken her, is the one he works for?

Unlike the worlds most shapeshifter authors envision in books, the beast that reigns in today's city streets are the kind which walk on two legs 24/7. They aren't half man and half "beast" but instead are all man.

Humans rule this world and Tigers, Lions, and all the other big cats must share their limited space. They have no choice. The end result, often, is a cat who's been used, abused, neglected and often destroyed due to our ignorance and negligence. It is up to organizations like Big Cat Rescue to pick up the pieces, and that's where you and I come in.

For the month of October, Teresa D'Amario will donate 40% of all author proceeds for Tigress by the Tail to Big Cat Rescue. Help these wonderful, powerful and sleek animals.

So what exactly is Big Cat Rescue? Big Cat rescue is one of the few organizations within the continental United States which takes in cats from a variety of sources - zoos, retired performers, abandoned pets, or even abused animals from other organizations. This video does a great job of "telling it like it is".

And how will our donation be used? I felt it was best to simply include the statement from their website:

Florida law requires that all charities soliciting donations disclose their registration number and the percentage of your donation that goes to the cause and the amount that goes to the solicitor. Our registration number is CH-11409 and non-program expenses are funded from tour income, so 100% of your donations go directly to save the cats. We are a 501 c 3 charity as determined by the IRS Federal ID#59-3330495. Our 990s are available online at GuideStar.org with a complete breakdown of how your donations are spent.

Wow! 100% of our donation goes to the care of the cats. You can't get better than that, can you?For the month of October, 2008, helping these awesome creatures can't be any easier! Buy a copy of Tigress By the Tail from any number of book stores including Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. Let's give back a little and For the cat's sakes, Let's MAKE A DIFFERENCE!And for your viewing pleasure, let's take a look at what these great beasts look like when happy and healthy. This video was compiled by Berith, a young 17 yr old girl in Europe who is also concerned about these beautiful creatures.

NEW RELEASE!!!!

Beauty and the BeastsbyAva Rose Johnson

They don't just want her for the full moon...they want her forever

For centuries the Kingdom of Drayzlake has been divided between the humans and the wolves. But when a wolf crosses the Divide and bites the humans’ princess, all hell breaks loose. With wolven blood now running in her veins, Princess Abigail is forced to mate with a wolf every full moon. What she doesn’t realize is that she is mating with two wolves rather than one. Caine and Stavros are identical twins and soon-to-be Alphas of their pack. And they’re tired of taking turns.
So on one moonlit night after another vigorous mating session, Abigail finds herself kidnapped to the wolves’ quarters. Trapped in their fort she can’t deny the two beasts who desire her so, and locked between their powerful bodies she can hardly remember her own name. But it soon becomes clear that these sexual games are as dangerous as they are delicious. Because Caine and Stavros don’t just want her for the full moon…
Read an Excerpt/Buy

Internet vs Writer

Surfing the internet and writing do not mix. No matter how hard I try when I sit down at my computer, which just happens to be hooked up to the internet, nothing gets written because I 'm so busy surfing. And not for research purposes. There are so many different games to play or maybe I'll just google myself. But NOTHING GETS WRITTEN. I am way too easily distracted. So see my previous post where I've written a letter of apology to my manuscript. I wonder what would happen if I googled....?

Writing Prompt

Most of us set a New Year's resolution that this was going to be the year we finished our manuscript, but once again, we neglected it. Write an apology letter to your manuscript explaining what happened and how you plan to make it up to the manuscript by December 31.

Dear “A Knight’s Peace”,

Here it is the middle of October and I still have not finished with you. I know I promised I would be done this year, but so many things have happened that I just haven’t been able to get around to it.

The laundry always needed washing when I started that first sentence. And God forbid the floors needed mopping before I opened that research book. I’ve also noticed that each time I took you and the laptop to the park there were so many interesting people to watch that I just couldn’t concentrate on you. I am so sorry for neglecting you.

But I swear I’m going to get you finished. I have about 2 months left. Surely I can write 100,000 words by then.

I really do want to finish you,
Charlotte

Farewell

We lost a great man today. Paul Newman passed away at the age of 83. So, in honor of him, and since it's Weekend Warrior day here on My Writer's Attic, here are a couple of pics of Paul. A great actor, an awesome entrepreneur, and a Good Man!


Beautiful Blue Eyes



Man, he's hot!!

I Want to be an Historical Romance Novel Heroine

Why? Because they very seldom bathe and still smell like roses (or at least they never smell sweaty or horsey or unwashed). They never shave their legs but when the hero runs his hands up their thighs he doesn't notice how long the hair has gotten. And they never brush their teeth yet the hero doesn't complain about bad breath.

When you read (or write) an historical romance novel it's naturally focused on the relationship between the hero and heroine. Of course most writers research pretty much every aspect of the time period they're writing about which includes the daily habits of people. For instance, in the 14th century, where my current WIP is set, most people did not bathe every day and sometimes not even once a month, yet I would never dwell on this in my novel. It would detract from the essence of the story. And, let's face it, no one wants to read about a hero who smells like an unwashed horse and a heroine who has six inch leg hair and breath so foul a dog would turn away.

So, if you ask me, an Historical Romance Novel Heroine is the way to go. You get the most romantic guy on earth and he loves you even though the hair on your legs is longer than the hair on his head and he thinks your kisses are sweet as honey even though you have a snaggle tooth smile. What more could a girl ask for?