Nearly Done . . . Almost

I finished chapter 22 of my second book, Healing the Heart last night. I have to admit it is the best thing I've written yet. I'm nearing the end of this book with only three more chapters to go, so am feeling a bit melancholy. Even though I have another book to start for the final one in the series, it's going to be hard to put this one to bed. It is full of so much emotion and hardship that I've had to experience my own emotions in order to get into the character's head. I just hope I was able to convey feelings that my readers will be able to understand.

I'm also excited about the process of enlisting an agent to represent me in the big wide world of publishing. I received a rejection letter from the last agent I submitted my manuscript to, but she was very generous with her praise and referred me to a colleague of hers. This is a good sign. An agent would never refer a writer to another agent unless she believed her writing was good enough to be published. It was a huge burst to my ego and confidence level.

So, on I plod to the end of this book, hoping I don't kill off the heroine or do something stupid like have her fall in love with the heroes cousin. Hmmmm, perhaps I should think this one through. Now you will have to buy book three to find out how it all ends.

First Snow of the Season

Okay, it was only October, the first week no less, and it had to go and drop that nasty white stuff all over the place. Thank goodness my inlaws from New Mexico weren't here to see this. They hate snow and it is one of the main reasons they don't move here. They'd been here for my husbands 50th birthday just a few days before. Whew!

We also have a brother-in-law that hates snow and he is moving here in a year or so with my husbands sister. Let's hope they don't check out this blog...LOL

The leaves aren't even off the trees yet. What's up with that?????

Yep, that is my car. Good thing the tires are black or it would have been invisible.

The Best Visiting Teacher Ever

With our kitchen torn to pieces it is difficult to cook a meal. Lucky us, we own a restaurant. However, even we get tired of eating there, so when my Visiting Teacher and friend, Becky, called last night and offered to bring in dinner, I caved.

About 6:30 she showed up with a crock pot full of "Taco Soup". I'd never had it before and was a little skeptical, but followed her instructions on how to serve it and was pleasantly surprised. YUMMMMYYYY!! I will get the recipe from her as soon as I can and post it for everyone to try.

Thanks Becky! YOU ROCK!!!!!!

P.S. She is also a writer. Makes being her friend even better.

UGH! What more can I say?

As if we didn't have enough problems with water everywhere, this morning proved that if something can go wrong, it will. Our septic backed up into our shower, tub, sinks, toilets and washer. Gives a whole new meaning to having a crappy day. All the towels that we used to wipe up the water heater mess had been washed, dried, folded and put away. Now they sit in the tub and are sopping wet and gross.

Got on the phone to Roto Rooter. YIPPEE! They came to my rescue.



Do kinda wish we could have had the TAPS team out here, though. The light next to my bed keeps coming on in the middle of the night by itself. Maybe we have a ghost. NOT funny.

What's In a Name?

I'm rethinking the titles of my three book series. They were as follows:

"Taming the Heart"
"Healing the Heart"
"Deceiving the Heart"

However, I've decided to call the collection of novels: "The Tiger Heart" Series and have changed their titles to:

"Kindred Spirits"
"Broken Spirits"
"Rescued Spirits"

I think this better describes what each book is about and also ties the three books together. I know if I ever get them published that the names may be changed, but at least I have a good working title for each book and am happy with them.

Here is an small axerpt from "Broken Spirits".

I stepped closer to where I’d heard the sound and there he was. He was completely transformed, far more horrifying than I’d remembered. Even his facial features were slightly mutated. He was in pain.
I put my hand to my mouth and gasped. “Octavion, what have they done to you.” I stepped closer, but he came at me, his teeth reflecting the light that was in the room. He took in a deep breath and the fire in his eyes intensified. He pulled against the chains with so much force, one of them snapped, sending rock and mortar flying into the air.
“You’re . . . bleeding, Kira.” This time he looked at me and smiled—a sinister expression across his face. He lowered his head, arched his back and sprang at me. I jumped back and took off running toward the stairs. Luka appeared in front of me, also transformed from the smell of my blood. He grabbed me around the waist and yanked me out of the room. I closed my eyes and screamed. The violence of traveling with him was terrifying and painful. I’d heard Octavion say he rarely traveled through a structure because it caused discomfort. Extreme pain was a better description.
When we finally arrived, Luka threw me to the ground and disappeared. I was somewhere in the village. I was in the dark and I was alone. I barely had the strength to pull myself up and stand. There were no lights on in the windows and no sounds. I backed up against the wall of one of the houses, wrapped my arms around my torso and began to shake.
“Kira?” I heard a whisper. “Is that you?” A small figure appeared in front of me. “Ussay.” I leaped into her arms and began to sob. “He’s chained up. They chained him up.”
“I know,” she whispered. “Come with me Kira. We must be very quiet.” She led me to a doorway that opened up into a small room. A single candle was burning in the far corner where an older woman was sitting in a chair. “This is my mother, Narrisa.”
She pulled me into the center of the room and motioned for me to sit on the edge of the bed. The entire house was one room and it was small. The only two windows in the entire structure were on either side of the door. They were covered with a thick black cloth. There was a small fireplace opposite the only bed, but there was no fire. It was black and cold.
“Why is it so dark?” I asked.
“Shh, whisper, Kira. They will feed soon and we don’t want to attract them.”

Writing Like a Mad Woman

I feel bad that I have been neglecting my blog lately, but I do have a few excuses.

1) My husband's 50th birthday was last week and I threw him a surprise party. What a chore. We held it at our restaurant and the best part, besides him not finding out, was that his dad and step-mom came from New Mexico to see him. He hadn't seen them for almost eight years, so it was great seeing the look on his face and a room full of tears. His sister also came from Oregon with her husband, which was just as wonderful. Fortunately we get to see them more often.

2) I've been writing like a mad woman. I am 65,000 words into my second young adult novel, "Healing the Heart". I estimate another six or seven chapters and I will be ready to start the major rewrites and editing. I still haven't heard from the agent that expressed interest in representing me, but its only been a few weeks. Hopefully, no news, is good news. I don't know exactly what the process is, but invision her in a board room full of other agents pitching me as a 'good risk'.

3) Okay, this one is the least important of all . . . I'm just plain lazy. Most of the time I can't think of anything to write. I go to work and come home, that is about it. Nothing major going on in my life and I'm a boring person. I'm not a big political person and I don't feel the need to express myself on every issue that headlines the local newspaper, so . . . in other words, I keep my head in the sand most of the time. Guess I should pull it out once in a while, right?

Well, those are my excuses. Take them or leave them. Perhaps I should have another contest soon.