On Characters

Frida is one of my all-time favorite movies.




In it, there is a scene where Diego Rivera

is painting a mural for the Rockefellers. In the mural, he paints Vladimir Lenin. Rockefeller is offended.

Rivera tells him that the character became Lenin of his own accord. Rivera is fired and the mural destroyed.

That scene, and that line in particular, really strike the writer in me. As a writer, I can completely relate to Diego Rivera (which is amazing since I think it's the only time he and I can relate! LOL). I know what it's like to have a character just morph into someone or something that you don't expect. Outside people may not understand. They think we have full control over these people we've created. Do we really? Quite personally, I think not.

All of the women in Loving Her just became who they are. I did not have them planned out. I had a basic understanding of who they were, but it wasn't until their stories unfolded that I really knew them. For example, I NEVER expected Stephania to have the confrontation or history that she did. She of all the women was my greatest surprise. Her story just kind of happened. Just like Lenin just kind of came on to Diego Rivera's mural.




In Imperfect, Paul was really supposed to only be an after-thought. I had no idea he would play the role in Carol's stort that he did. Again, it just kind of happened.

For me, writing is fluid. It should just happen - like life. So, when I write, I have basic ideas of plot, characters, etc. But I let my muse really do all the work. My hands are nothing more than a mere vessel to type out my muse's words. Part of that includes the characters. I just let their words and stories happen. They "speak" to me, and I put their words on the screen or paper. I like that, though. I am just surprised by my stories as I write them as you are when you read them!

To me, all art is fluid. Every paint stroke and every word is intentional, yet they may not be planned initially. We write what we write because we know we need to, though we may not yet know why. Another example is I had NO idea why I made Candace pregnant in Imperfect. But the purpose comes out in Impeccable. I knew that it had to happen when the idea came to me, I simply didn't understand the purpose or meaning. But doesn't that also happen to us in day-to-day living? That's reality, that's life.




That's also people. We get to know them as time (or the book) goes on. Sometimes these people are put in places or situations neither us nor they would ever imagine and their response is...unexpected. They just react with their gut response, just like we would. And that fluidity - that gut reponse - makes for great characters and great stories.

So yes, written characters - as well as painted people - can and do take on lives and personalities all their own. When that happens, whether they are a good character or a bad one, it is one of the gifts that the art of writing gives to both writers and readers.

Happy reading and writing! ;)

Guest Author Chastity Bush

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today, we have a guest author with us. My internet friend and all around good gal, Chastity Bush is joining us!

Chastity Bush is the author of several romance novels known for their spicy romance, suspense and humorous edge. She’s completely addicted to Dexter and True Blood, and she loves to spend time with her husband and their two daughters.

Take it away, Chastity! :)

Thanks for having me here today!
I’ve been doing so many guest blog spots recently, I was worried I’d run out of things to talk about, then I was offered a new contract for my contemporary romance/suspense, The Stranger Next Door!

This book took me the longest to write out of all of my books. While I love the idea of mysteries, detectives, PI’s and mob bosses, I had no idea where to begin.


Thank goodness for Google, right? :)


I like being able to say that I write across all genres. While paranormal is my forte, and I currently have more paranormals available than any other genre, I also have one historical/western Tumbleweeds, a contemporary novella coming in April, and was just offered a contract for another contemporary suspense/mystery, Guarding Eden. Of course I’ll write many more paranormals in the near future, I know that isn’t what everyone is interested in, and would love if I had something available to suit everyone’s reading needs.


Enough about me! I hope you have a chance to check out my work, and if you do, I hope you really enjoy it. I love to hear from readers, so feel free to contact me. All of my links are listed below.
Thanks again for having me here today!

Please enjoy the (Unedited) blurb for The Stranger Next Door, coming soon from Liquid Silver Books!

The last thing Officer Tess McCoy expected was to meet her sexy new neighbor wearing nothing but his birthday suit, but since her partner’s death nearly six weeks ago, nothing seemed to go the way she planned.
Despite his incredibly good looks, Tess needs to keep her distance from the sexy stranger. The last thing she needs is another complication in her life, and the man living across the street looks like he could be a very big, very sexy, complication.

But her life takes a startling turn when Jack rescues her from would-be kidnappers in the dead of night. Now, she needs Jack’s help in order to stay safe, find out who wants her, and why.

Sparks fly high as things between them heat up, and Tess can only wonder if she’ll escape the one’s attempting to kill her, only to fall victim to Jack’s killer charm.


Links for Chastity Bush
http://www.chastitybush.weebly.com
http://chastitybush.blogspot.com
chastitybush@yahoo.com
facebook.com/chastitybush
twitter.com/chastitybush

She loves to hear from her readers and personally answers all email she receives. Send questions or comments to Chastity at: chastitybush@yahoo.com.
Find Chastity at: http://chastitybush.blogspot.com, facebook.com/chastitybush, and twitter.com/chastitybush.

What it Means to be a Writer

Happy Thursday, everyone!



Today, I want to discuss what it means to be a writer.



When you introduce yourself as a writer, you get a myriad of responses. Most people are incredibly curious and intrigued. Some people assume that you don't want a real job, are living the easy life, etc. You will also get a lot of people who tell you that they want to write a book, too. The problem is: most people you encounter have no idea what it takes.

The reality is, we are hard-working, dedicated people. We write because it has been a passion of our for however long. Our passion does not pay us the millions that we'd all love to see. It takes time, dedication and focus.

To be a writer, you need to be able to write. However you do this doesn't matter. But you need to be able to write distraction-free as much as you can. It's not always easy, and it's often rather anti-social, but that is what we need to do.

You also need to be objective enough to edit and re-vamp your work. You don't submit a first draft to a publisher.



You also need to be persistent in pursuing publication. Query letters and submissions take a lot of work and attention to detail as each publisher requires something different.




Once you've been published, it takes a lot of time and dedication to promote your work, acquire readers, etc. You need to connect with readers on-line and in person. You have to get your name out there and constantly expand your circle so that people you might not ordinarily know will be able to get your book in their hands.

And while you're doing all of this promotional work, you should be back at the beginning and writing all over again. A good writer never stops creating and growing.

The truth of the matter is, when I was writing and only writing (I do have a day job as a licensed veterinary technician, but took a few years off due to medical issues. I'm back at that again, too) I worked far more than 40 hours a week. I would be up and at it at 7 am and go until 7, 8, even 9 o'clock in the evening. There was one day I wrote 10,000 words, but it took me over 10 hours to write that day. I have to be self-disciplined, focused and steadfast in my work. If I'm not, I am failing myself, my publisher and my readers.



Writing has been my passion since childhood. I wouldn't want it any other way. Yes, it takes a lot of time, energy and dedication. I've always known that. I have to be realistic. I have to do what it takes if I want to be more than just a writer - to be a good writer.

This week at the animal hospital, I will have somewhere between 50 and 60 hours. I have a short story I'm working on. I have this blog and I have all of my promotional work. I also have a wife and family. But this is the life that has chosen me. I don't think anyone in their right mind would choose this, it's something within us that chooses us to do this and be this way. And that's ok. We get it done and we love it. It takes a lot to be a writer, and that is what makes it great! :)

Happy reading!

Getting Personal With My Readers

Happy Thursday, everyone! :)

If you're my friend on Facebook, you know a lot about me.

You know where I am with my wedding planning.

You know when the pizza has arrived to our house for dinner.

You even know when I have a migraine.

Though this may not seem important or relevent to selling books, I have found that it does in fact help.




You see, you are all involved in my life. I post polls about things relating to my wedding. I post pictures of our puppies. You see that I am human. I am approachable.

Am I a reclusive writer? Absolutely! However, I have also let all of my readers in to my life. And I have shown them that as reclusive as I may be, I am not completely anti-social.

I think it's important for readers to be able to connect with writers. If I want you to read my books, why not let you know the person behind the words.

Would you trust a doctor more if you never met them?

Or would you trust them if they spent time with you, talking with you and working with you?

I would hope it would be the latter.






Personally, I believe the same applies to us writers.





If you see just how much I love my dogs, you might just want to read my stories where pets are an integral part of the story.

If you can relate to my wedding madness, you will more likely be able to relate to my characters who are either like me, or are going through wedding madness of their own.

Do I apologize for posting my personal information? Not really. I have connected with readers from across the country,and even across the globe. I hope that I can (or perhaps I already have) connect(-ed) with you! Come get to know me! You might just want to read my books, too! ;)

Happy reading! :)

The Summer of Butterflies

Recently, something came up that reminded me of a dark time in my life. During that time, most of Impeccable was written.



After that time, though, something remarkable happened. My "Summer of Butterflies" happened.

After the discussion about that dark time in my life, I felt the need to revisit the Summer of Butterflies. I began to share it with others too, hoping to bring a little light and inspiration to their days.




Today, I share it with you.

This piece was featured in the 2011 Nature's Gift Anthology by Vanilla Heart Publishing.

Happy reading! ;)

The summer of 2010 was my first summer in North Country. A born and bred city girl, I now found myself living in a county where the bovine population significantly out-numbered the human population.
I would be inclined to say it was an ordinary summer, and it was, save for one giant gift from Mother Nature: butterflies. Monarch butterflies, to be precise.
I‘ll never forget watching my partner come in with a plant saying that she had something to show us. On a milk weed leaf was a large black and yellow caterpillar. The kind of caterpillar that turns into a beautiful monarch butterfly. We gathered a jar, placed the milk weed and a moist paper towel in it. Then we let the caterpillar do his caterpillar business. Our four year old watched him day after day in his ―changing room.‖ Our entire family was filled with excitement watching and waiting to see this miraculous transformation. Ten days later, a big, beautiful monarch butterfly stretched his wings and was ready to take flight.
Just a day or two after the first butterfly hatched, my mother-in-law acquired yet another caterpillar! Just as we had done with the first, we got this new little guy all settled into his new jar home and we once again found ourselves waiting and watching for butterfly number two. He hatched two weeks later, and our little girl was fortunate enough to watch him flutter away towards the horse pasture into the light blue summer sky.
Butterflies are amazing little creatures, you see. Prior to cocooning, the caterpillar eats as much as it can (they apparently love milk weed). When you notice they stop eating, you know the time is soon. They‘ll find a spot and begin to dangle themselves upside down. For us, it seemed they like to make their cocoons at night for
we would see an upside-down caterpillar one day and a little green cocoon the next morning. While these incredible insects are in their ―changing rooms,‖ they basically eat themselves to near death. I don‘t quite know or understand this phenomenon, but they leave just a few cells remaining to regenerate and to create this entirely new body as a butterfly. The process takes anywhere from ten days to two weeks, and then they break out of the cocoon and are ready to face the world in their new suit.
While butterfly number two was changing, the greatest of my butterfly gifts arrived. We were unloading our air compressor from the truck when I noticed there was another monarch caterpillar. This one was hanging upside-down on the back part of the compressor. From that moment on, I watched diligently over that new butterfly. I didn‘t want anything to happen to this precious life hanging on my compressor. This little guy didn‘t realize he had picked a very noisy and shaky home. So I always watched over him when the machine was in use. Plus, unbeknownst to him, he was cocooning on our machine during the biggest show of the chainsaw carving season. Poor little bug was trying to change on a machine that was being used frequently. I‘d talk to him every time I needed to use the air compressor, and I would check on him after every use. I would breathe a sigh of relief when I saw that he was still hanging tough. I named him John Wayne, because he was such a tough little guy. On his third day in a cocoon, the rain down poured on us. We received over seven inches of rain that day. Thankfully, though, my partner made sure that she placed John Wayne under the safety of her carving tent so that the little guy wouldn‘t get washed away.
After that show, we used the air compressor at home, but we finally stopped using it all together because he was due to hatch very soon. I was so excited to see this little one make it. He really had the odds stacked against him, but he seemed to be flourishing despite his choice of home.
On day twelve of John Wayne‘s cocooning, my partner and I were on location, working on a large carving. It was an exceptionally hot day that day. We were trying to stay as cool as we could. We were keeping ourselves hydrated and even misting ourselves with water so we wouldn‘t over-heat while we were carving. As we were working, one little butterfly flew all around me and wouldn‘t leave me alone. Then, amazingly enough, it landed on me. Not just for a moment, but several moments. Several moments turned into several minutes as the butterfly made himself quite comfortable on my arm. So comfortable, in fact, that it began drinking moisture from my arm! It was amazing to watch. While he quenched his thirst, the butterfly and I studied each other. I looked at his pencil-thin legs with little black hairs. His eyes were a deep, dark red and resembled those of a fly. His tongue was a thin, long black apparatus that lightly tickled me. He was freckled with innumerable white spots. His bright orange wings rested closed while he drank. He cocked his head to look at me. I can only imagine what I must have looked like to him! That was a wonderful once in a life-time experience.
Days thirteen and fourteen came and went and John Wayne still hadn‘t hatched. I was concerned, but his cocoon was still bright and looked healthy. Perhaps
John was simply a late bloomer. I knew that nature knew what she was doing, so I took comfort in her perfection.
I was away all day on day fifteen, so I was unable to check on the little guy. As much as I had wanted to watch him hatch and take flight, I was sure he already had and I was quite content.
On day sixteen, my partner and I went to check on our air compressor friend. My heart sank as we approached. He didn‘t look good. The cocoon was thin and the color was starting to turn dark. The more we looked, the more it appeared that John Wayne hadn‘t made it. When a cocoon turns black, it indicates that the butterfly has died inside. Whether it had gotten too cold one night or what, we weren‘t sure. What we sure of was that the little caterpillar, in whom I had put so much faith and hope, was never going to fly.
I cried for the little man. I had such high hopes for him. He seemed so strong and determined to live. If any caterpillar deserved the chance to live as a butterfly, it was John Wayne.
The next day, I moped around and asked my partner if we could bury John Wayne. It seemed silly to bury a butterfly, but this little guy had touched my heart and I wanted to do something special to honor him. I remembered the butterfly that drank from my arm and I resolved myself to that being a great gift from nature to help balance out my loss from John. Nature is balance. Life is cyclical. All of the seasons balance each other. The moon balances the ebb and flow of the ocean. Within nature, we find perfect harmony and perfect balance. So, it only stood to reason that nature would gift me an experience like that in order to balance out the death of John Wayne.
Day eighteen started out like any other. I was still sad over the loss of John Wayne. I was trying to determine the best place to bury the little man. I had just pulled up to my parking space when my partner called me.
―Hey Laur?‖
―Hey. What‘s up?‖
―You‘re not going to believe this. I was going into the barn by the shelves and this monarch butterfly slowly flew in front of me and over my head. Then, I went to check the shelves and John Wayne‘s cocoon was empty.‖
I was floored. How could this happen? How could this be? His cocoon was thin and black! John Wayne‘s re-birth as a butterfly defied the odds and defied all reason. However it was that this miracle came to be, I cried tears of joy and the giant smile on my face could not be erased. Nature gifts us miracles in all sizes, and John Wayne was one of those miracles. I later saw his empty cocoon. I still couldn‘t believe it even when I saw it, but he did indeed hatch. I‘m sorry I wasn‘t able to witness his first flight, but I know that he flew around my partner to thank her for taking such good care of him. I still miss his company, but am ecstatic over his existence!
John Wayne was my greatest gift from nature. My miraculous monarch.