I Love Me Some Friday!

I love Fridays - a holdover from when I worked a job outside the home.  Today, I've got errands this afternoon, so I'm trying to work as much this morning as I can.  I'm working on a as yet untitled Nocturne, which has two people who first appeared in The Lost Wolf's Destiny (out in September).

Some books are more difficult to write than others.  There are books where I can't get the beginning right and I agonize over that first chapter, rewriting it over and over.  This book is not one of those.

I'm about 30 pages in.  As a caveat, I have to state that I fell in love with the hero of this story when he first appeared in The Lost Wolf's Destiny.  So much so, I had to rewrite the last third of that book because Kane took over for Lucas, who was the actual hero of that story. 

Now I'm writing his story!  And the heroine's (whose name I won't reveal as it would be a spoiler on TLWD.)  It's a story of healing and a man learning how to be gentle.  It is, of course, a story about love with a pinch of danger thrown in, but this story is close to my heart.  Very. 

I hope to soon have the cover for TLWD as other authors in Facebook are getting their September covers.  I'll post it here, as soon as I do.  Meanwhile, I'm truly enjoying writing this story.  And... (drum roll please) I'm using a bit of Scrivener, the writing software that's plagued me for a good eight or nine months.  I'm particularly enjoying the corkboard feature, where you can write a brief bit about each scene and "pin" it on a corkboard, then move it around as needed.  I'm finding it inspiring, for whatever reason.

If it works....  LOL!

Guest Blog - Welcome Jerrie Alexander!!

Today, welcome Jerrie Alexander, one of the most interesting people I know. 

She's a chapter mate in my local Romance Writing Chapter,  North Texas Romance Writers.

Welcome, Jerrie.

 

 

First, thank you Karen for having me as your guest.

1. What would you name the autobiography of your life?    Wanderings of a Fractured Mind. I almost used that name for my blog. It's a good description of me. :)

2. Favorite vacation?   The Riu Palace Resort in Negril, Jamaica. My daughter, granddaughter, and I went a couple of years ago. The food was fabulous, the snorkeling unbelievable, and the water was so clear I could see my feet standing in chest high water. A tiny pink fish fell in love with my daughter's colorful swimsuit. It followed her every where she went, swimming in and out between her legs.

3. Favorite Quote?  Hmm. That's a tough one. Maybe...Do unto to others what you would have done unto you. I really think that's a simple solution to a lot of problems.

4. Favorite smells?  You're going to think I'm nuts! A puppies breath.....love that. And the smell of a sweaty horse right after a good workout.

5. What do you keep in the trunk of your car?  Aside from the spare and jack, you'll find stadium seats and lawn chairs that fold up like umbrellas. Our granddaughter plays volleyball and we stay ready to go watch!

6. If you were reincarnated as an animal what would it be?  This dog curled up in the chair behind me. Abandoned and near death, we found him in our back yard unable to lift his head. The vet said he'd been on the road a while and had been bitten by a bigger dog. Since he weighed in at nine pounds, it didn't take much to be bigger. We didn't have a pet at the time, so I don't say we saved him. He saved us. He's healthy and a whopping eleven pounds. I can truly say that a rescue dog knows who stepped up and gave them a home. They're the best!

7. Favorite ice cream?  Blue Bell Chocolate Covered Cherry! OMG! It's the best, but they only bring it out from time to time. Makes me want to buy a freezer just so I can stock pile it.

8. If you could have starred in any movie previously made what would it be?  Any movie with Gerard Butler. *sigh* Okay, maybe not. I think I would have loved to play the boss in The Devil Wears Prada. That role had to be fun.

 9. Where were you born and where did you grow up?   Born in Coleman, Texas. Grew up in Fort Worth. Attended North Side High and love going to reunions. We have one every few years!

Now we've finished the lighthearted, ice breaking stuff.  So, for all of my readers who may not be familiar with your work, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your books?     I write romantic suspense. The Green-Eyed Doll my debut novel released December 2012. The Last Execution releases June 7th this year. Someone To Watch Over Me is a 32K word short story that should come out midsummer.

In your opinion, what ingredients are needed to make up a good love story?   I try to connect the characters through their emotions. Love at first sight happens but for my hero and heroine they first have to experience the ups and downs of life. Sure, they may fall in lust at first sight, but by the end of the book, they have to have earned their happy ending through conflicts and danger.

Tell us a little about your process. Do you start with an idea? A character? What is the easiest part of writing for you? What’s the hardest?    Hard question for me. Starting is the hardest part. After I finish a book, I go through a weird process of fearing I'll never have another original idea for a story. I'll dig around the internet, read FBI profiler cases, run through different scenarios in my head using the 'what if' method. Once I have a premise I'll develop my characters. The easiest part is dialogue. I enjoy developing a different persona for each character and switching back and forth.

Name one book you read in the last 6 months that has left a lasting impression and why?   I hate to admit it but until recently I read very few paranormal books. A few weeks back, my daughter plopped a stack of books in front of me and said, "Read." Which is why I can't give you one title. I devoured J.R. Ward's The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I have been missing some great stories by not branching out and trying new books.

Let’s talk about your newest release:  What's the  title?  The Last Execution. When's it coming out?    My publisher released it early for Kindle owners to purchase now. The official date is June 7th, 2013 for all venues.  

Buy it here!     

If you had to summarize the book for the readers here  ....

Please tell us about the characters in your book.  Homicide detective Leigh McBride's first assignment with the FBI brings her face-to-face with a past she's tried hard to forget. And when her temporary partner, a cynical ex-marine, lights a fire in her she thought long-extinguished, her darkest secret is threatened.

     Scarred both physically and emotionally, Special Agent J. T. Noble is a man of few words. He prefers to keep people at a distance—until he meets Leigh. He's attracted to her strength and drawn in by her secrecy. But in their line of work, secrets can be deadly.

What scene did you have most fun writing? why? (please share the scene)  J. T. Noble knows nothing about children and when he's questioned by Leigh's son, it's a bonding moment I enjoyed writing. Here's the scene:

       Ethan turned his head sideways as he studied J.T.’s face. Wide eyed, the boy pointed at the scar with his index finger. J.T. wasn’t surprised. The kid was probably curious.

            “How’d you get that?”

            “A piece of shrapnel—” He paused and considered Ethan’s age. “I was in the war. A bomb went off and a piece of metal smacked me in the face.”

            “Does it hurt?”

            “Not anymore.” J.T. marveled at the innocence in Ethan’s eyes.

            “Can I touch it?”

            “I guess so.” J.T. breathed in and waited. Ethan hesitated, leaning closer.

            “I’m not supposed to talk about your scar.”

            “Who said?”

            “Mama.”

            “It’s okay. I won’t tell.”

            J.T. turned his head to the side. No one had outright asked to touch the constant reminder of a day when his best friend caught the worst of an IUD. Hell, people shied away from his right side. Except Leigh, she looked him square in the face. He lay still while Ethan poked a finger into the scar a couple of times. After a few seconds of investigation, the kid cupped the scar with his small hand and patted lightly. The oddest thing happened to J.T.’s heart. It swelled inside his chest and then clenched.

            “Mama said you were a brave soldier.”

            Alien emotions swirled through J.T. and an unexplained urge to hug Ethan put a weird lump in J.T.’s throat. Unable to cope or understand, his mind raced for an idea, anything to end the moment.

Nice!  Thank you! 

Who would who cast in the role of hero and heroine if your book was optioned for a movie?

     When I wrote the book I used pictures of Gerard Butler at age thirty-two and Nichole Kidman at thirty as my models.  I can't imagine anyone else in those roles, so I'd have to defer to Hollywood and pray they could do my characters justice.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned for 2013?

     The short story, Someone To Watch Over Me, should be out mid to late summer. I'm hoping Hell or High Water, book one the Lost and Found, Inc series will also be released this year.

 

 

 Where can readers get in touch with you?   Social media links:

My website

My blog

Twitter

 

Facebook

 

Goodreads

 

Pinterest

 

Thank you so much, Jerrie!  We've enjoyed visiting with you today.

 

Spring

I love spring.  Here is Texas, it's lamentably short.  But so far, it's not super hot, it's just nice.  We're WAY short on rain, so we need more of that, but I'm missing my lake lot and camping there.  We haven't been for several reason, but mostly due to Katniss my foster dog not getting along with Macadoo. 

Yesterday, I sat outside and wrote in my outdoor office. 

 

I admired the flowering plant I received for Mother's Day.

 

 

 

 

And my foster dog Katniss frolicked and played while I worked.

 

 

 





 All in all, even though I barely wrote 1000 words, I'd call it a good day!  Today, I'll do better.

Monday, Oh My.

Yes, it's Monday.  And yes, I remembered to visit my little blog!  Before I get started, I'm answering some questions over at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com/    Please visit and check it out!

Now, yesterday was Mother's Day.  I got up at 5:15 and got ready, and then Lonnie and I headed to Mesquite at 7:15 to meet my Mom for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel.  (It takes me longer to get ready because of the dogs that have to separated and let out and fed etc.) 

My darling husband got me pink roses.  So pretty !

Here's my mom at Breakfast.  Doesn't she look happy?

After breakfast, we came home and let the dogs out.  Then my daughter came over and we went to Lone Star Park to watch the horse races.  None of us had ever been.  Here's my beautiful daughter with the racing program.

And my husband, wearing his Burgers for Boxers T-shirt.

And then moi, with my SPF55 on, enjoying a beautiful spring day.

And last but not least, here are the delicious Shari's Berries my daughter gave me for Mother's Day (along with an Amazon gift card!)

We finished the day off with a meal at BJ's Brewhouse.  What a great day!

How Time Flies

Wow.  Hello there.  It certainly has been AWHILE! 

My mom had a birthday on May 2 and my two brothers and I took her to lunch at Joe's Crab Shack (her choice).  Then we went back to her house and had cake.

May 3 was my birthday.  My daughter took a personal day off from her job and we went to IHOP for breakfast.  Then to the Grapevine Mills Outlet Mall to shop, shop, and shop some more.  We had sushi in Southlake, and shopped even more there.  We ended the day with dinner at Cristina's Fine Mexican Food along with some top shelf margarita!  Ole!

I had a wonderful day.

This weekend was Legacy Boxer Rescue's annual picnic for the volunteers.  I got up at 6 am and made baked beans in the crockpot.  Then, we ended up not going (husband suddenly decided he didn't want to go), so I met one of the other volunteers so she could take my baked beans.  I guess I could have gone by myself, but I didn't think of it at the time.  (Slow on the uptake, sigh)

On Sunday, everything was lovely - doing chores such as laundry and bathing the dogs (I washed all four of them!)  Until that afternoon, when we decided to go sit in the backyard and have a beer.  Somehow, Katniss (my foster) and Macadoo (my personal) got into a fight.  End result, trip to the emergency vet, Mac needed stitches in his ear, and our wallet was $719 lighter.

So now it's total separation.  Katniss stays in her crate or in the downstairs bathroom.  She goes out by herself and no longer is allowed to play with her bestie, Libby (my other personal).  Mac is wearing an e-collar (cone collar) and is on pain pills and antibiotics.  It's a bit of work for me, but I don't mind as it keeps the peace.  Both my husband and I still want to help Katniss and enable her to be healthy enough to find her forever home.

So that sums up the time since I've been gone.  Oh, and I got the final page proofs for my October book, so I'm working on them.  And still working on the newest Nocturne. 

TTYL!

Healthy And Good

Last night I made stir-fry.  While I love eating this when I'm out, I rarely cook it for some reason, even though I have an electric wok.  That may soon change, because this was delicious.  And easy.

First, I marinated 1 pound of chicken tenders in soy sauce, ginger, and garlic for 15 minutes.

While that was marinating in the fridge, next I chopped up broccoli, 4 green onions, 1 red bell pepper, and mushrooms.  Sprayed the wok with Pam, and cooked the veggies for 5 minutes.  Then I transferred that to a bowl and got the chicken.

Again I sprayed the wok and began cooking the chicken.  That took another 4 minutes.  When I was certain it was done, I poured the veggies back in and also the remainder of the marinade and added 1 tablespoon sesame seeds.  After 2-3 minutes, it was done.
. 

I'd made two cups of brown rice to go with it. And this was delicious - and low cal

Monday Musings

I'm working away on my new book and - gasp - loving it so far.  This worries me, for a myrid of reasons.  But for now, I'm going to go with it.  I have the bonus of knowing these characters from my September 2013 book - they first appeared there, and now they get their own story. 

It's hot here - too hot - like 86.  But a cold front is coming and on Thursday - my birthday - it will only be 66 for a high.  Which is perfect weather, as far as I'm concerned. 

In 2004 on this day, we had to help our beloved Border Collie Sir Cody cross the Rainbow Bridge.  He was born June 9, 1988, so he was nearly 16.  He could barely stand and no amount of Rimadyl helped his arthritus pain.  He'd chewed through his elbow all the way to the bone twice.  We'd had it surgically repaired.  But it got to where he couldn't get up and couldn't stand or hardly walk.  It broke my heart seeing him like that.  He was the smartest dog I've ever had the priviledge to love, and full of energy.  He could leap into the air and catch a frisbee or a ball, and he got his CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) title six months after we started showing obedience.  His scores were high enough that we got invited to the Gaines Regional Semi-finals and I was the reason he didn't advance further, not him.  I made the mistake of petting him to congratulate him, too much of a novice to realize that was against the rules, so we were disqualified. 

I have an entire VCR tape of him showing - performing.  True to his Border Collie breed, he was happiest when he had a job to do.  When he was happy, his plume of a tail curved over his back.  He shed like a beast - no amount of brushing could stop it.  He had a penchant for mud and messes and a mischievious nature.  I miss him, even now, nearly ten years later. 

Here is my favorite saying about dogs - and it's true.  I've seen him a few times, in the shadowy darkness of the middle of the night, lurking outside my bedroom door. 

If you bury him in this spot, he will come to you when you call - come to
you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down well-remembered paths,
and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they
shall not growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he belongs there. People
may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall,
who hear no whimper, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at
them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is
well worth the knowing. The one best place to bury a dog is in the heart of
the master.


From the Portland Oregonian, Sept. 11, 1925.
By Ben Hur Lampman