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My First Series
When I was younger the first series I ever picked up was Nancy Drew. I remember being in the library and seeing a row of yellow spines. Curious, I picked one up and looked at the title. It was Nancy Drew and the Scarlet Slipper mystery. I checked it out and in one sitting became a fan and fell in love with reading.
Over the years I’ve collected the books one by one. A few years ago it became a sort of once a month ritual between me and my father to go to Barnes and Noble and search out what I still hadn’t gotten. That’s how I discovered other authors and fell in love with reading all over again. Now that I’m older I realized something while spring cleaning; I don’t have enough shelf room or room period for all the books, after much thought I decided to donate the series. The decision brought tears to my eyes. Not because I was sad about giving away the books, it was the memories that arose from my decision.
And now some other child can pick up the books and hopefully, like me, fall in love with a series and find their love of reading.
What was the first series you fell in love with?
What books are you reading now?
A bit of news:
I’ve signed two contracts, one is for Family Heirlooms 2: In Her Fantasies (Due out Oct 15th at Changeling Press) and the second is for the first book in a new series with Etopia Press (opening next year).
I’ll be at the Authors After Dark Convention from Sept. 16th-Sept. 19th.
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From the lurking Cyn
I’ve had a setback of sorts recently with going back to the day job. I hadn’t realized the stress and the demands it’d take from me- emotionally nor physically. What’s worse, I really hadn’t thought it’d affect me. How silly was that? But I’m struggling with coming back to myself and getting back to my peoples (yes, you know who you are). Part of me is ashamed at how work has really pulled me down while the other part of me asks why I thought it’d be easy. Hard to fight with yourself, but hey, I do try. therapist says it’s part and parcel of the process of reintegrating myself into the daily world. But at the same time- the writing world- the world I truly love had to be the one put to the side for a while until I could get back my equilibrium. Not easy. Not simple, especially with the issues that have come up since going back to work.
If only writing paid as much as the day job and had good health insurance. Then I could quit my evil day job and be free. *sighs* But instead I struggle with bad migraines, stress hitting me hard and a body that struggles with dealing physically with what has to be- me working, exercising, and getting rest only when I spend some time reading and working on my magick. So bear with me a while longer. I never thought that I’d fall this far so quick, but I’ve not given up– not yet. I will survive and I will be strong and come back better than ever. It’s just going to take me longer than I thought it would.
www.cynnara.com- Cynful delights for your sensesPopularity: 6% [?]
It’s Okay…
One of the biggest problems I have is being too stubborn sometimes. To not admit defeat and keep trying even when I know there is no solution. When I’m sick I push, trying to write even if I feel like crap because I feel guilty for needing the rest and wanting to get the word count up regardless of how I feel. I don’t tell myself it’s okay to stop and rest. I don’t give myself permission to relax and rest or even take a break. Pushing past your limits can be exhilarating, you feel like you’ve beat something, accomplished something but if the price is your health it’s not good, not at all. Sometimes we do have to stop and give ourselves permission to say, “Okay, time to rest. You won’t do anyone any good if you keep pushing yourself.”
I tend to do this when I feel myself in the middle of the down episode. I’ll try to ignore the signs/triggers to push past it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But in the end it doesn’t help because I need the downtime, even if I hate it. A break, a bit or rest, even taking an hour to play for a bit helps. The same can be said about the way I sometimes approach things. I take on too much, don’t depend on anyone and then have myself to blame when things blow up. It’s okay to lean on your friends. If they leave you because you needed them, they weren’t your friends. But if they want to help let them. It’s okay to put down the burden for a bit and not be strong. It’s okay to take a rest and it’s okay lean on someone else for a change let someone else take care of you.
It’s a hard lesson, one we forget. It’s okay to not be Atlas all the time, our health depends on it. It’s also okay to be scared and it’s okay to change, to grow. I’ve been reading this book called Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner and it’s been very enlightening to say the least. I’ve been examining my own actions and interactions, understanding myself. With those examinations, pokes and prods comes some harsh truths but in the end I’ve learned to accept it, take what I know and grow from it. The one lesson I’ve learned, is, and say it with me, it’s okay. LOL
I finished HH3. I just sent it off to be read and looked over before I send it in officially. I managed to get it up to 34k+ in word count. Now I’ve got one spin off series I’m contemplating, one story set in a sci-fi world that I’d love to write and a new series that began to form when I started writing Van’s story. Van is from Sex and Chocolate: Chocolate Bliss. The writer’s block is over. It feels good writing again. *Big Grin*
Se
Popularity: 6% [?]
Cyn’s Slightly Amokking Post
I sit here at the computer, pillow against my tummy, and wondering how much amokking I can do almost 3 weeks post-op. Though I can walk for about 15-20 minutes and do some arm weight-lifting, there are some things that still give me trouble– such as sitting for any length of time over 3-4 hours. The swelly belly gets to me with the pressure in front. So I can only do so much and after my doctor’s news, I took time to process it, now I need to go wild a bit– thankful that though I was close to having cancer– they got to me before it got to that point. Read more »
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Finding the muse…
…cause, you know. He’s a tricksy little buggar who likes to hide. Often.
My muse has been absent recently. It’s a combination of stuff. Depression, moving home, taking too much on at once. Pick one. All have combined to have a bit of a disasterous effect on my writing. It’s been a little like pulling teeth recently.
So, how to get the muse back? Well, looking at pics of hot guys always helps. For me anyway. Good music, inspirational images. Playing in photoshop. All tend to kick start my creative drive. And, bizarrely, when I’m struggling with writing…more writing. With a friend. I’m serious. I’ve made some very good freinds since I started writing and, ladies, you’re amazing. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I’ve also got some friends who I write with that I’ve known for years. One of them, a guy close enough that I consider him my brother, has been just great recently. I’d like to thank him for putting up with incoherent rants, and panicked conversations that start with ‘Ugh, this isn’t working’. Bless him, I made him sit down and read romantic erotica, as well as write. He knows who he is, so, yeah…if I haven’t said it enough already. Thank you.
So, long story short. If you lost your muse (no Mi, I haven’t got your’s. Mine has a totally different tattoo on his ass 
) then grab a friend and try writing something together. You never know, it may just work for you too!
Popularity: 10% [?]
What genre am I in anyway?
I found myself completely frozen on all my stories. I counted them. I have over 50 stories started. 50.
Then I am joking around with some Changeling Press peeps and WHAM-I got an idea! I’m up to 10k on it, but there’s one problem. As I am writing I keep trying to change the genre. (LOL-I am pathethic) That’s right. The heroine keeps trying to have psychic powers and I don’t want her to have them.
As I write this blog, I remember my own advice to other authors in this situation is to go with the flow. Your muse wants what it wants and you can’t change that.
Since I’m so stubborn, I’m sure I’ll keep telling mine to shut up. I’m now very curious to see if I can finally finish something and break this nasty writer’s block that’s held me in its tight fisted grip for a two years.
Wish me luck!
~Michelle
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Why chocolate is necessary to life
I tried to think of a post that was funny and exciting, then I realized that with my surgery 3 days away, I’m very unexciting. More importantly, chocolate is no longer on my food list for the next however many days. I ask myself- “Does the doctor realize the danger he’s putting people’s lives in by forcing me to give up chocolate for this long?” Mind you, I love my doc. I think he’s great. But this might be the time when he and I come to the disagreement in the road. Chocolate is a necessity. He says I get to have caffeine via soda–but I tell him it’s NOT the same. Caffeine is good– but chocolate is divine. Read more »
www.cynnara.com- Cynful delights for your sensesPopularity: 10% [?]
Memories and a prayer of blessing
Today, Dawn Brancheau is being buried by her family in Chicago. This weekend, the first whale shows were restarted in Orlando, Florida. The unusual part of it– her memorial is at St. Rita’s, a place I know well having gone there for family memorials since I was a child. Read more »
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Questions for Readers/Authors
I’m working on my next Last Call Europe book Dog Sled at the moment, after that it’s back to the Hades Helmet world and beyond that Tartan and *holds head* soooo many project. I still have to write the next Pixie book (there’s like 5 books in the series) anyway but something tugged at my mind now that the LRC Awards are over. Promo and the impact on authors in contests and sales.
I have questions for you wonderful, lovely, patient readers. Answer a few questions and you could win a mini cooler bag of goodies and books that I got at the Authors After Dark Con and chocolate!
So here goes:
1) How much promo is too much? Example: Seeing an author’s name and promo for the same book every day on every loop you belong to -vs- Seeing an author’s name once and promo for certain time period.
2) How do you hear about info about your fav author(s)? Website? Newsletter? Publisher site? Yahoo group? Facebook? My Space? Ning? Twitter?
3) How do you connect with your fav author(s)? On a blog? Website? Yahoo/Google Groupe? Facebook? My Space? Twitter?
4) Do you vote when your author is up for an award or best book? (If voting is allowed)
5) Do reviews sway whether or not you’ll buy a book?
6) If an author wins an award, does that make you want to check them out if you haven’t already done so?
7) Do you read reviews? What if the review was from a big name author?
8 ) Does a publisher’s reputation make you want to buy books from them?
9) How much does cover art play into you checking out a new author? How much does bad cover art pique your curiosity about a book? Does bad cover art cause you to turn away from the book? Do you prefer photo cover art or digital (Daz, Poser, etc.)?
10) Coupons: Do you love them? Use them or would you prefer a discount in the first week of sales?
11) Do you check out publisher days on Yahoo Loops? Do you attended publisher chats?
12) Do you wait to buy a book when it’s on sale?
13) Do you enter contests hoping to win books? Do you read the books you win?
14) Authors: Promo companies love em or hate em or are indifferent?
15) Do you enjoy “cyber signings”? Public “live” signings?
16) Do you follow, or paticipate in/with, blog tours?
Popularity: 13% [?]
Who’s got the Heroines?
For a minute there you gasped then reread the title and realized the play on words, didn’t you? Lately, I’ve been finding myself reading some YA books and enjoying the characterizations there over some of the adult books I’ve read lately. Then I turn on my TV on demand to catch up on back episodes of Numb3rs and I find a heroine that just tickles my senses and gets my mind thinking. Rubies with a Glock Which brings me to my post on Amoketeers- heroines. Read more »
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