Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Wednesday 7-28-10

I'm feeling a little down in the dumps. Just about every writer I know is in Orlando for the Romance Writers of American National Conference. I usually go - in fact in the last ten years I've only missed two - one in San Francisco in 2008 and this one.

I sooo wish I was there though. It's both an energy boost and a drain - over 2000 writers all talking shop, editors from every major Romance publisher, and literary agents. I always get to visit with my agent as well as my editor and Harlequin puts on an outrageously fun party (with an open bar!)

I feel sooo left out. But I'm a big girl - I'll get over it. Plus I have line edits and a book to write. And the Evil Day Job. From where I haven't had a vacation since LAST years RWA Conference. Sigh.

Today's pic - the Norwegian Sun, from a cruise I took with my husband back in 2006 (also the last time the two of us took a week off from the EDJ!)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tuesday 7-27-10

I'm writing again. Random stuff, out of sequence. Writing down whatever scenes occur to me. My hero is very strong in this story, but I don't have a good feel for my heroine yet. She's still a shadowy figure, though I know she's a strong woman, courageous and loyal. But I don't know all her secrets yet. I'll discover them as I write this story.

This part of writing is both fun and scary. Sometimes it feels like I'm playing with scenes. Other times I'm wondering if I've lost my mind.

Here's my pic of the day

Monday, July 26, 2010

Monday July 26, 2010

Monday has rolled around yet again, as it does. I didn't write this weekend. I intended to, but errands and family fun got in the way. I did go see an excellent movie - Inception - which always inspires me.

So today, I'm back to writing on the next Romantic Suspense book. While technically it's not a Cordasic Legacy book (more of a stand-alone), I'm on my third start, twenty five pages in. I do this, start over again and again until I'm happy with the direction the book is taking.

And this morning, I realized something about the hero, something that wasn't in the synopsis I sent in for approval. Something huge and dark and absolutely perfect. I'm happily writing it now (or was, until I stopped to do this blog).

When the writing is going well, I'm a happy person.

Here's the random picture of the day. He loves to swim!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Friday 7-23-10

Does anyone read this blog? I used to get stats from my old website blog, telling me how many visits a day. I still get stats, but either it isn't working right, or everyone is staying away (or can't find this) because the last two weeks the stats showed zero visits. That's right. Big Fat 0.

So, could you do me a big favor? Send me an email at KWhiddon1@aol.com with the word BLOG in the subject line. Just to let me know you've visited?

I'd really appreciate that.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Wednesday 7-2-10

I'm going to sin tonight. Planned in advance, as husband told me about it as far back as Sunday. Have spent all week anticipating my sin, even as I lament in advance the effects on my body, if not my soul. Nah. Not the soul part, at least. Maybe on my waistline.

Tonight is burger night. Our every-two-month occurence and one I relish and refuse to give up. I even tried to tell my personal trainer about it, but unfortunately she had my on the treadmill running a quarter mile at 7mph and I couldn't talk. Hell, I could barely breathe.

So anyway, despite the negative results on the scale, I'm going to have a burger. With fries. A nice big, juicy, Chili's burger, like the one pictured below.



This is such an event with my family that my grown daughter is driving over to come have the meal with us. We only get beef burgers every two months, after all. (We sometimes allow ourselves turkey burgers in between, but rarely).

So wish me luck. I'm skipping the gym and going to Chili's!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Tuesday 7-20-10

So I've been slacking - it's been a week since I posted here. Mea culpa, please forgive me. Life gets in the way sometimes.

It's been hot here and I haven't been feeling too chipper. The heat zaps the life right out of me. I went to the doctor yesterday, got some meds, and hopefully will be back to normal soon.

I took this picture of this lovely flower from my backyard. It's a Passion flower.



I am working though. On both my next Silhouette Romantic Suspense and another book, an uncontracted one that I hope develops into something I can sell. Plus the day job is going strong too. And we camp and swim and I'm still working out with my personal trainer, so life is full and good. Despite the heat, I'm happy and I know I can hang in there until fall. Of course here in Texas, it stays hot into October. Sigh.

Better get back to it.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Tuesday, 7-13-10

There's a bunch of stuff I wanted to blog about, so I've got to decide which to go with. Or maybe I'll do a rambling post of numerous things. Let's see. We'll start with...

Working out. Some of you might remember from my old blog, but I've got a personal trainer for the next six months (twice a week). My body isn't too thrilled with this, though my blood pressure is waaay better and I've lost weight. In between the training sessions, I go to the gym and do 30 minutes of cardio. I've been doing elliptical on 12 for one mile, and then treadmill alternating jogging and walking (at 4mp and 5mp with a 2% incline). But my lower back, left leg and knee, are hurting and I sort of think it might be the elliptical. We'll try just doing the treadmill and maybe exercise bike and see how that goes.

Writing - as sometimes happens, while I'm working on a contracted book, I got tons of ideas for non-contracted books. Usually, I just jot them down and file them and go on. This time, I think I'll work on a book on the side. Time permitting, that is. I'll have to do my word count for the SRS first each day, then whatever time I have left over, I can work on the spec book. I'll do three chapters and a synopsis if it works out and see what my agent thinks.

Oh, I got the new book cover for my October release, PROFILE OF SEDUCTION. Here it is.


Nice yes? I think the guy sort of looks like Brad Paisley.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Monday 7-12-10

Monday's are sneaky. They sure have a way of catching me unaware, despite knowing they're lurking around the corner.

What a nice weekend. I had a "me" day on Saturday and got a massage, then a pedicure, then indulged in a tiny bit of shopping, then went out to eat at Olive Garden, and finally, went to see Eclipse. And yes, I did do some writing in between all that.

Sunday was hot and sunny and we swam. I love my pool time. I also did laundry and dusted and trimmed up a plant in the backyard, and cooked supper, but swimming was kind of the highlight of my Sunday.

Now it's the work week again and I have a new SRS to write, so I'd better get to it.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

7-8-10

A New Day

I have this quote taped over my computer monitor = "Amateurs wait for inspiration. The rest of us just get up and go to work. Chuck Close"

How true is that?

A lot of people have misconceptions about writers. I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me if I just write when "the mood strikes me" or I "get inspired". I wish. (or maybe I don't.)

The reality is this. Writing is a job. A wonderful, often angst-filled job, but one nevertheless. We have contracts and deadlines and if we want to have a prayer in meeting our obligations, we have to plant our behind in the chair every single day and write.

And by write, I don't mean "churn out pages", which is another statement often made to me. As in "I guess you need to go churn out those pages." Hmmph.

Oh, Oh, here's another one. "Why can't you just do what Stephenie Meyer did and dream a book?" Hey, let me tell you, I wish I could. I wish it were that simple. Believe me, even if Stephenie Meyer dreamt a scene from her mega successful series, a hell of a lot of work went into plotting and writing the scenes. And I mean A LOT. If you doubt me, try writing down one of your dreams. See how coherent that is and you'll get what I mean.

I've also been asked when I'm going to write a "real book." As if the books I write are what, fake book? Believe me, a lot of work goes into writing the category romance books I write. Plotting and character development and finding the write word and the perfect scene... you get the idea.

I love my books. I'm proud of them. And while writing them is real, honest to goodness, work, it's work I wouldn't trade for any other. Sometimes a book comes out and wins awards or gets a 4.5 Star, Top Pick in Romantic Times Magazine. Other times it comes out quietly, without a lot of fanfare, but then the readers send me emails and letters and I know it made an impact, a difference. I'm grateful for that. It means a lot to me.

Speaking of writing, I'd better get back to it.

Here's my picture of the day! Things that make me happy - My favorite restaurant in San Antonio, on the Riverwalk.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

7-6-10

Passion, Drama, and Creativity.

I listen to a lot of music. All kinds, from Country to Hip-Hop/Rap to Rock. My I-Tunes library is pretty good sized, and I continually add to it.

What got me started on this topic is creativity. I was thinking about what kind of things fuel my muse and music is definitely one of them. Many of my books were written with various theme songs - Keith Urban, Amy Lee, Pink, Eminem, Nickleback, Sugarland. The latest Eminem song LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE is what got me thinking.

First off, whether or not you like Rap, Eminem is, in my opinion, an amazing songwriter and artist. This latest song featuring Rhianna is (in my interpretation) about a man who justifies every violent act he does in the name of love. He even has the woman sing that she loves the way he lies and she likes pain and taunts him to go ahead and watch her burn. Because that's how men like that think.

The first time I heard this song, I cried. Just about every time I listen to it, I cry again. But I tell you what, it makes you think. I was in a relationship like this - I think a lot of people have been at some point in their life. Maybe not the abusive part, but the volatile, nose to nose, screaming and yelling and crazy drama. Awful, yes, but true to life. Listen to this song. Go ahead. I challenge you. I especially like the part we Eminem sings "it won't happen again, I promise. Next time I'll hit the wall. No, wait, there won't be a next time, i swear. I tell you I'm sorry, I apologize, even though I know I'm lying." Not the exact words, but close enough to get the drift.

Every day we hear stories about some man that burns his house down with his wife or girlfriend inside or shoots her. It always breaks my heart, having been in this type of situation. This song breaks my heart for another reason. Because Eminem GETS IT. Exactly. And I don't get the sense that he actually BELIEVES it, just that he's been there and now he can step back and take a look and sees how crazy it is.

Long, rambling post, I know. To get back on track, this kind of thing fuels my creativity. Because it's so freaking creative on the artist's part. And this song, this song is destined for some book not yet written. Thanks for that, Eminem.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

7-6-2010


I'm back. I promised I'd continue to blog and I want to thank those of you who emailed me saying you love the new website but will miss my blog. You don't have to miss anything. I'm still going to be blogging here.

So the 4th of July is over. My mom made a comment the other day that she associates watermelon with the 4th. I started thinking about it and I associate corn on the cob. Someone else said hamburgers.

What food do you think of when you think 4th of July?

We had a nice time at the lake. I read a whole lot. Fished some, went out in the boat, drank some beer, cooked salmon and pork chops (on separate nights) on the grill. Hung out with my dear husband. Came home on the last day to swim, cook hamburgers on the grill, and hang out with our daughter. Fun times.

Now it's over. The long weekend. I had to get up at 5am and it's 9 am now and I'm still not prepared. I have to face the day. The ordinary day. As do most of you, I'm sure.

The above picture I took at dusk on this past Independence Day, as we were sitting outside waiting for the fireworks to start over the lake.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Brand Spankin' New

Wow! Look at this, why don't you? A brand new website, complete with a new look. I'm excited!

Unfortunately, I believe all my old blogs posts and the archives, are gone. The good news is that I'll be continuing to blog here, just like before.

And those of you who signed up for a newsletter - please do so again here. Due to various issues, that newsletter never got started, though I'm hoping it will now. Finally, right?

Please visit the site and check everything out. I'm so happy to see you here!