Heather’s Ramblings

Writing isn’t always easy. I admit, I’ve had a major road block that I’ve been dealing with the last few years, and the last several months have been the hardest yet. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to keep real life from interfering with the writing. My real life got in the way in a major way, but we’re well on our way to correcting that, or at least toning it down some.

So, how does a normal writing day for me go? Well, I guess that would depend on one’s definition of normal. I don’t think I’ve had a normal writing day in more than a year now, but it does seem as though I recall what one was like. :p

I usually dream my stories that I’m working on. It’s how I work out some little detail that might be giving me trouble during the day. It’s a way to flesh out scenes and really make them pop. When I wake up, the first thing I do is check email, because well, I’m obsessed with checking it. It’s like a really bad addiction that I can’t seem to break. Oh well, at least it’s not hurting anything. Then I spend about an hour trying to wake up, if it doesn’t work, I lay down for a nap (sad, ain’t it) and think on the story I should be writing on.

When I get back up, I hook up my stereo speakers and get my play list going, sometimes rather loudly. It helps to block out distractions and sometimes to help set the mood, depending on the scene I’m working on.

I open my book file and scroll to wherever I need to be in it, and reread a bit to get back to the spot where I stopped. Then, hopefully the words will begin flowing again. I do take breaks for checking email or blogs or whatever else gets my attention, then I go back into writing. Sometimes I have to stop to look something up…which sometimes leads into a major distraction, especially when I cannot find what I’m looking for like the other day. I was 2 paragraphs into the chapter, needed some info, and didn’t get another word written, because I just couldn’t find the answer. Don’t you hate when that happens?

Normal scenes generally flow rather quickly for me. Sex scenes tend to take 2-3 times longer to write, though don’t ask me why. Maybe I think too hard on it. *shrugs*

And that’s a typical day for me when it comes to writing. Of course, there are those days when I write, write, write, and write–get lots done with little distractions. I love those days, but haven’t had one in a year and a half now. I keep hoping that one day, those times will return. Until then, at least I’m writing, even if I am slower than I was before.

It seems like it’s been raining forever here. I swear it has rained at least once a week since 2008 began. Today, I’m not sure if it’s depressing or the dampness and chill are making me ache from head to toe–and I do ache very much badly.

I don’t know for sure why the rain is bugging me so much. It’s not like I make a habit of going OUTSIDE…but I do know it makes for one very muddy pack of dogs. *shakes head* A long haired dog, rain, and mud don’t exactly mix well with floors and furniture. Oh well, we shall survive.

I guess I’ll just sit here, kicked back in my recliner and work on edits and a new paranormal romance I started last week. I have the music going, the dogs in the other room so I don’t get wet, muddy kisses, and my laptop sitting here in front of me.

I just hope it all dries up soon and gives us at least a few days break before it opens up and pours again. It’s a thought anyhow.

Take care.

I’m all for a good sarcastic remark when it’s called for. In fact, I’m quite good at tossing out the sarcastic remarks in my day to day life. It’s fun. It’s part of my personality and who I am.

Do I write a lot of sarcastic remarks? I try not to. Why? Because in text, sarcasm is often lost in translation. What is obviously sarcastic to me, won’t be to someone else who reads the words. That’s why when writing sarcasm into a book, I make sure to clarify that the remark was meant in a sarcastic fashion. One cannot assume that just because the words were written with sarcastic intent that they’ll be taken that way.

As I’ve read on another blog, own your words. I couldn’t agree with those three little words more. If you are willing to write them, then be willing to admit that you did. If you used them wrongly, then fess up to that as well. If you don’t admit to what you wrote and the intent behind them, then don’t expect others to understand your meaning.

I don’t rely on others to tell me what someone else meant by something he/she wrote or said. I look only to the person who said or wrote them to explain it to me if it is unclear. Only the author or speaker knows what was going through his or her mind at the time the words were used.

So, in the right situation, sarcasm can be your friend, just as it can be your biggest enemy if used carelessly and without proper thought.

Just my .02 cents on the matter.

I must say that the last year or so in the epublishing world and online world has been rather…interesting. I’ve lost count on how many publishers have closed–two of which I had had connections to, and I’ve also lost count on the number of scandals exposed. Honestly, the numbers just might reduce me to tears, but that’s just me. I’m the sensitive type–more so lately than ever before.

I must say, however, that this year’s scandals thus far take the cake. Plagiarism by a major author, inaction and then action by major publisher(s), epublishers going down in blazes of not so glory, and authors behaving badly in a whole new way.

I’ve been quiet on all of this. Not because I haven’t had an opinion, because trust me, I have opinions. My health is bad…could be worse, but it’s still not so good. I’ve had to take time away from blogging and writing and being the online presence that I was (Yes, I know, it wasn’t much of an online presence to begin with) in order to focus on me and how to combat those health issues. I’ll never be well, but I can NOT let these problems own me. Anyhow, I figured now was as good a time as any to come out of hiding and pour my opinions on the page.

Plagiarism = bad. ‘nough said. I really don’t think this needs any further elaboration. It is wrong to take another person’s words and pass them off as your own. If you do, it will eventually come out and so you’d best be prepared to face the consequences.

Epublishers closing - not involved in this year’s string of closures, so no real comment on them. I don’t know the story, only what I’ve read on other blogs. It’s sad to see more publishers closing and more authors left without a home for their work, but life goes on. There are other fish out there and more opportunities to be had. I wish all the authors luck.

Authors behaving badly. This one makes me mad and makes me sad at the same time. As a reader, I’m appalled by the behavior and, well, the same goes as an author, too. I’ve had several OMG! WTF? moments this year over the behavior of other authors, but the one that disturbs me the most is the report of an author actually stalking a reader for giving her book a 3 star review. It wasn’t even a bad review. Well, not really. I’ve seen bad ones, and trust me, that one was quite nice in the way it was worded and she even said she had liked the previous book. What does the reader get in return? Threats not only to her but to her family–HER KIDS. There’s just no excuse for that. It’s wrong on so many levels that a simple, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” won’t even begin to cover it.

Reviews. They can make an author smile or dance around the room all giddy like. They can also reduce an author to tears. There will be good reviews, just as there will be bad ones. It’s part of the game. When you write a book and put it out there for the world to read, there will be those who do not like your words. It’s life. It’s to be expected. Suck it up already. Crying over spilt milk doesn’t make the spill go away. Bitching, threatening, screaming, and having a tantrum only serve to make the bitcher (is that even a word?) look bad and put that person on the DO NOT BUY list, which is where no author wants to be. Readers are to be cherished. I’m not saying bow down to their every whim or write a book JUST for them (you can’t please them all and what one likes, another will hate). What I am saying is not to berate them for not liking something.

I really hate seeing “Did we read the same book?” comments. Yes, I’m sure you probably did read the same book, but you interpreted it differently. It struck different chords with you, and that’s okay. It’s part of what makes us human–different. We’re not all going to like the same things. It’s a fact of life. If you obsess over every little difference of opinion, you’ve got your work cut out for you. If you go after a reader with both barrels blazing, odds are you’ll lose a lot of otherwise loyal readers in the process. And yes, a loyal reader is allowed to not like all your books. Example? I love author X. I have all of author X’s books. Do I love all of author X’s books? No. Some of them just didn’t speak to me like the others or had little things that annoyed me in them. Will I stop reading author X because of this? Not in the least. IF author X acted like an ass and stalked a reader for not liking on of her books, you better believe that I’d stop reading her.

Bullying in any way, shape, or form is bad. As a kid I was bullied EVERY DAY at school by one girl. To this day, I cannot stand her, even though I haven’t seen her in years. What did I do? I took it, because that was my nature. I’m not a confrontational kind of person. I’m quiet and shy…painfully shy. Honest, I am. It’s a character flaw, I guess you’d say. But, I’m no longer that school girl. I’m a whole other person now. I finally realized I was too old to let this crap get to me any longer. So I now defend myself when needed. I have to stop letting every little thing bother me…and that’s not just in writing, but in every aspect of life. I’m still painfully shy, don’t think that will ever change, but I am a bit more outspoken than before–at least in text. However, when I get a bad review, I don’t go hunt down the reviewer.

Books are not babies. This is a tough one to get the hang of and learn. When we first start writing, those books are our everything. We’ve poured heart and soul and countless hours into shaping that story into the shining gem we believe it to be. We preen over it and are so proud. Then that first critical review comes out and it’s like a shot in the heart. What? Not like my baby. MY BABY! How dare you! It’s like having a stranger walk up to you in the store and say your kid is ugly. It’s just unthinkable. But wait. It’s just a book. Not a baby. No one said your kid was ugly. All that was said was that your WORDS didn’t move the reader. That’s okay. It’s not a reflection against you personally. (I won’t get into the occasional personal rant review, that’s a whole ‘nother ballgame there)

Yes, we pour emotion and hard work and countless hours into writing a book. I adore all my characters that I create. I enjoy crafting each story, but once it’s through edits and out for public consumption, it’s not my baby anymore. It’s open to criticism and that’s a fact I have to live with. Yes, I sometimes wonder why a reviewer felt a certain way, but I don’t email her questioning her every statement. Some reviews can be helpful, some not so much. But that’s part of the game as well.

Anyhow, I suppose I’ve rambled on for long enough. Hopefully, I made my point. If not, leave a comment and ask. I’m sure I can come up with more to ramble on about on the subject(s).

that you’d never guess.

1. I prefer even numbers to odd. I got lucky in that I ended up with 2 girls followed by 2 boys when I had my kids. I just like things to be in a matched set. Always have.

2. Growing up, I had cats galore. Now I’m allergic to them and have dogs.

3. I love to write sci-fi, but I’ve never read straight Sci-fi (except one Star Trek book) and only read a couple of romantic sci-fi books. But give me a good sci-fi movie and I’m there.

4. I am super, extremely, and oh so painfully shy. Talking or even thinking about talking to someone I don’t personally know throws me into an anxiety attack.

5. My fave books of all time, that I read and reread as Angel for Hire by Justine Davis and Winter Soldier by Diana Palmer. Though I will reread just about any Diana Palmer, that one seems to be my favorite.

6. French bread will be my downfall. I could eat the whole loaf if left to my own devices. No self control there whatsoever. It doesn’t matter if it’s plain or toasted with pizza sauce. If it’s in front of me, it’ll be gone in no time.

7. My first “book” was about a set of lockers that turned into a fire monster after an experiment went wrong for GT class. My second “book” was a fanfic regarding people I went to school with and the members of the band New Kids on the Block…no, I’m not kidding. How did the book end? They made me mad and I killed everyone off. Revenge is so sweet sometimes. Before those wonderful, beautiful writing debuts I would spend hours entertaining my younger cousins with the tales I’d spin for their amusement.

8. I’m married to a Damn Yankee. Northern born, southern raised. I like to tease him about the southern twang he’s been picking up, because it’s getting more pronounced all the time. (in fact, 2 out of 3 husbands were/are Damn Yankees)

9. I sometimes write poetry, but I have to be a certain frame of mind for it, and I’m not in it very often.

10. I’m a closet country music listener. Growing up, I was the rock-n-roller of the family. HATED country, but over the last few years, there have been a few country artists to capture my attention. Out of all the concerts I’ve ever been to, only one was a country show.

I am ever so slowly working on making my come back from a very difficult several months. Writing has taken a major backseat to just surviving from day to day. But the creative juices are beginning to flow once more as are the words out onto the pages. You have no idea how happy this makes me. I had feared I was finished whenit came to the writing world.

So, I’m here to ask a favor. What subject matter would you like to see covered in a romance novel? Paranormal or Sci-fi, doesn’t matter which. There’s no promise I’ll use the ideas given, but who knows, it just might be what’s needed to spark the creativity back into full swing. Once I finish the current project I’m buried up to my eyeballs in, I plan on tackling something new and am in need of a new challenge. So, let the new suggestions commence.

You can just leave a comment here or go to my website http://heather-holland.com and contact me through there.

**Note** My heather@mystikgaurdians.com email is no longer in use due to a severe spam attack (like 800 of the SAME EMAILs in just a few minutes time) so I had to delete it to remove the problem. My email through http://heather-holland.com still works.

It’s been raining…a lot. Thus far, 2008 has been very wet. My dogs are unhappy. If I was an outside person, I’d be unhappy about it, too. Normally, I don’t care one way or the other if it rains–but right now, I’m sick of it and frustrated as hell. Why? Because our phone line is crap. It rains, the phone goes out. We’ve tried to get the phone company to fix it before, and they sort of did, but this time it has gone TOO FAR. I’ve been Internet deprived. All day yesterday, the modem SAID it was connected until I flipped the laptop open and hit IE…then it immediately began to flash red. I was pretty red, too, with anger.

Hubby finally called the phone company. They are sending someone out to check it out, but it could be a week or more before they get here. (insert my screams of agony and pain) At least they have offered us a credit to the Internet bill if the connection issues persist. The phone is currently so full of static that you can’t hear a thing on it, not even the dial tone. Pathetic to the extreme.

Writing? Well, I’d like to say it’s going great, but sadly, it isn’t. I manage a little here and there, but it’s sporadic at best. I’m doing the best that I can…there are just days when it seems like that isn’t enough. Maybe the funk will pass…I hope it passes. I miss writing.

Hopefully, the weather will clear up. The phone guy will show up soon. And I’ll be back into the swing of things. Note I did say hopefully. I won’t hold my breath on any of it, though.

Slowly, but most assuredly, the writing bug is creeping back into my life. I’ve been on hiatus (of sorts) for the last six months, though not entirely by choice. I’m going to take it slow. I’m not forcing the stories out or the edits to get done. Slow and steady. I fear getting burnt out, which could have been part of the problem this time–though I believe poor health to be the biggest cause of my forced break.

I currently have two projects going, though one gets priority over the other. Many hugs and thanks and kudos to my wonderful editor for being so understanding while I’ve struggled these last few months. There truly are no words for the gratitude I feel for that. Also many thanks to friends, fellow authors, and wonderful readers for their words of encouragement. But I’m getting off topic here. As I was saying, I have two projects in my mind at the moment. Only the two, but I’m more than okay with that. The first, I have to get done because I owe it to that wonderful editor I previously mentioned, and the other is a paranormal. Both are strong in my mind at the moment, and I’ve made remarkable progress on the one project over the last few days. Yes, it was only a few pages, but when you aren’t writing anything at all, a few pages is like reaching the moon.

What’s after those two are done? I honestly don’t know and I’m not going to worry about it until I get there. One day at a time, one (okay no more than two) book(s) at a time. I have to come to terms with the way my life is and cut back on the amount of things I attempt to do.

What does this mean for the Hunters for Hire series? Not a thing. I have been and will continue to send out the series bible upon request. I answer any question I am capable of answering and ask others if it’s something I don’t know. I spent a year of my life on that project and I don’t intend to walk away from it just because my immune system is so blasted wonky all the time. (and yes, wonky is my new word of choice lately, LOL).

Anyhow, as soon as I get it, I’ll make an announcement about the release of Dagger’s Blade, my (hopefully first) Hunters for Hire book. I’m working as fast as I can and still do the story justice.

Take care, happy writing and reading,

Heather

PS, it’s 3am and I didn’t reread this before hitting publish, so if there are any errors present, please excuse.

Okay, anyone who’s paid any attention to the things I ramble about knows that I love me some good video games. I’m a total World of WarCraft addict (finally up to level 68 with my main character), and we own nearly every system ever created–even if some no longer work. I have 2 original Nintendos, a Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, 2 Nintendo Game Cubes, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, 2 Gameboy Advance, the retro Nintendo (new release of the original Nintendo), Sega, Sega GameGear, Sega 32X, Sega CD, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Atari (original, not one of these new release ones), PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable (PSP), Xbox, Xbox 360 (that we’ve only had a few weeks). We tried the Nintendo Wii, but I wasn’t impressed with it and we sold it to my ex for my son. *snicker* That whole have to use two controllers (one per hand) at the same time, made me motion sick, drove me crazy, and made it difficult for my youngest to play.

So, hubby surprised me with a PlayStation 3 to replace the sold Wii. We had it less than a week when it DIED!!!!! Thank goodness it didn’t have one of the $60 games stuck in it when it kicked the bucket. Hubby called Sony yesterday, they are shipping us a box and shipping instructions so we can send it back to them, and in return they will send us a BRAND NEW ONE.

During the few days that it worked, all I can say is WOW! The graphics on this baby are totally awesome, and the DVD abilities are rather impressive as well. I have a list of games that I want for it, after we downloaded free demos to play and check them out with (my only complaint was the demos were far, far, far too short to get a really good feel for the games). All in all, other than the premature death, it appears to be one fantastic system.

As for the Xbox 360, I’m thoroughly impressed with it as well. Hubby rented Devil May Cry 4 for me. OMG, Nero and Dante totally rocked. In case no ones knows, Devil May Cry is often a game I forget to mention, and yet total love. Dante is an awesome hero. He can be rude and crude, but he’s also noble, loyal, and always does what’s right. He’s a half demon/half human hero, that loves to rock and kick ass. Now, what could really be better than that? Anyhow, back to the renting of the game. I have 5 days to beat this game…a game I’ve never before played or seen. I tinkered with it some the first few days, just to get a feel for it, plus we have the new Lego Star Wars Complete Saga that I have to let the kids play some as well (at least they could play it until the PlayStation died–oh dang, I just realized, there went my game saves when the thing killed over, damn it!!!!!!!) Anyhow, I sat down on Monday, it was due back Tuesday, and played ALL DAMNED DAY, but I beat it. Played through 20 levels that day, and loved every minute of it. Dante and Nero are also very inspiring hero material for a book, I must say.

And with that, my rambling for the day is over. Take from it what you will. See ya on the flip side.

Heather

Just thought I’d take a moment to let everyone know that I am still kicking. This flu season has been a bit rough on me. I think I’ve had it twice now, and the respiratory infections are killer. For now, at least, I seem to finally be on the mend, but the last few months have been really hard. I’ve been keeping myself busy with non-writing related activities, but I think the urge to write is slowly coming back. I’ve been struggling with it lately, but that’s always the case when my health takes a nosedive.

For those wondering, the Hunters for Hire series is alive and well and yes, the publisher is still accepting submissions for it. For more information on that, check out the Call for Submissions page at Ellora’s Cave. Be forewarned, though, the series bible is what we like to refer to as the “Monster” file. It’s 222pages in length (a book unto itself) and over 1MB in size. It contains information on 20something planetary systems and nearly 200 planets, so be prepared for a bit of reading if you request it. Just giving a fair warning in advanced on the sheer size of the file. I know it can be intimidating (trust me, I know) but it’s really pretty basic. And a big Kudos to my pal TJ for setting up the formatting on that thing. It was driving me batty.

So, what story is beginning to stir and swirl around in my head? Well, Alexis. Yes, I know–been there, done that, but she’s been whispering to me. I’ve been planning (okay, so I have started it already) to revamp, so to speak, Vampire’s Cross. Make it longer (I can hear the party starting now) and weave in a few new plot points. Why would I want to rewrite a book that was previously released? To make it better, and to launch myself back in the Mystik Guardians series. Nico and Forest has been flirting with the very edges of my mind lately, and Malachi is still begging for a story. So, I know I said I was giving up the writing, but I also said I could come back at any time. I’m not back yet. I’m still struggling to complete something I’ve got in the works, so it may be a bit yet before I jump back in with both feet. But the desire is returning, which is a good sign at least.

It sucks to want to write, to dream about all these wonderful characters, and yet be unable to focus enough to get the words down onto the pages. It takes a toll on a person, both body and mind, to be in a state such as this, but I’m working on it. My husband has been a really big help. He’s standing behind me, encouraging me in whatever it is I decide to do, even as he complains about the current “project” taking over the house. What can I say, when I decide to do something, I do it. LOL Be it notebooks or thread or a combination of the two spread all over the house, knowing he’s got my back really helps to keep me going.

Well, I’ve just realized that my “quick” update is turning into a book. I guess I’d better call it quits before I get off on yet another subject to ramble about.

Take care and happy reading and/or writing to everyone,

Heather

What makes a writer? I guess the answer depends upon who you ask. I am a writer, a teller of stories and have been for as long as I can remember. I’ve been writing with publication in mind for just about 6 years now. The need to spin a story and pour it out onto the page is in the blood, a big part of me, but sometimes, we have to make choices that are best for us.

I’ve been silent for the last couple of months for various reasons. The wintry months are always the hardest on me because so many more viruses seem to be running rampant, and unfortunately, I tend to catch them all.  So there have been more bad days than good ones lately. But I’m a survivor and am still breathing, so that’s a plus.

Anyhow, back to those choices that I was talking about. After seeing a doctor and hearing words I didn’t really care too much for, it became apparent that it was time to make some decisions on what I was going to do. The stress of being ill so much and having to get books done was getting to be too much. So, until further notice, Hunters for Hire: Dagger’s Blade will be my last new release. In the meantime, I’ve found other venues with which to keep myself busy throughout the day. I’m improving other skills and creating new things. I feel less stressed, which has helped a great deal.

Stepping away from writing wasn’t an easy decision to make by any means, but at this time, I really feel it’s for the best. I thank all the wonderful readers for standing by me and encouraging me while I’ve struggled the last few years. Sadly, my health won’t improve, will most likely only get worse, but I’m a fighter and refuse to give up easily.

I’ve put off making this announcement because I wasn’t quite sure how to word it, how to explain what’s going on. Just keep in mind that this decision wasn’t made lightly or on a whim. My husband and I have put a great deal of thought into it, and this is the path we think is right at this point in time. However, I’m not saying that I’m giving it up forever. If/When a story decides it needs to be told, I will tell it…probably just at a much slower pace than before. I’ve found my typing has slowed lately, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad one.

I will still be lurking about online. I’ve got other non-writing things that keep me busy both online and off, and for now, I’m determined to keep them completely separate. Remember, I’m always just an email away. The websites will remain up and my email accounts active.

Take care,

Heather

As I sit here in the dark with the TV on for background noise, my thoughts are scattered. The dogs are curled up beside me, and the covers are piled on so high I can barely move from the weight. Two fans blow and the sound of the heater is a low rumbling roar. I have things to do, things that need to be done, and yet I cannot find the energy or the will to do them. I’ve got that winter time funk and can’t seem to shake it, though I did manage to get some work done–and some is far better than none. Was it enough? Not by far, but I do what I can, when I can.

I’m tired. So so tired. No matter how much I sleep, it just doesn’t seem enough. I know, this funk will eventually pass, but in the meantime, it’s the pits. It seems a vicious cycle. Each contributing factor making the other worse. There are times when it feels as though it’ll never end. There are times when you pray for it to stop.

Okay, I’m rambling and probably not making a lick of sense to anyone. I just needed to get it out. A blog probably isn’t the best place for it, but I know I can’t be the only person out there that feels like this. I sit, I stare, and sadly my mind doesn’t always work as it normally does. I can always get lost in thought–or rather I could always get lost in thought until recently. I would blame getting old for the majority of my issues, but truth be told, I’m not that old–yet. Unlucky? Perhaps. It’s the hand life dealt me…some times are better than others. This is one of those bad times. Doesn’t it always seem darkest just before the dawn? With luck, dawn will soon arrive because I’m getting rather annoyed at all the darkness.

Chin up. Whenever it does decide to end, the “down” time will be all the sweeter.

Heather

Work piles up. Ideas are stalled. Nothing goes as it should and seems to be on autopilot.

I hate this time of year, and this year seems to be extra bad. I cannot shake the icks. I guess it’s finally time to face the fact that my immune system SUCKS. My luck would be nonexistent if it wasn’t for the overwhelming amount of bad luck I seem to possess.

What’s this all about? I’m sick. I’m hurting. And I’m whiny. Bad combination, I know. As if being ill isn’t enough, yesterday I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder…which in turn pinched a nerve and due to other health issues, I’m riding solo on this one. No pain killers. Can we say OW! In time, it shall pass…but until then, I’d like to just plain pass out and forget all of this. I have work to do, that isn’t getting done, and I’m so tired it’s beyond words. So, that’s why I’ve not been blogging much lately. I just don’t feel up to it.

What does this mean? Well, since I’ll probably be sick into the new year…yes, for that long, really. This means my responses to email may be a bit slow, since I’ve not been checking it as obsessively as I usually do. It means writing is at a snail’s crawl–whenever I feel like actually pounding out some words, and then it’s a hit or miss on if it even makes sense outside my befuddled little mind right now. Right now, I’m more focused on continuing to breath–which can be quite laborious at times. Hopefully, it will decide to move on to its next victim sooner rather than later, because this ick has already overstayed its welcome.

So, happy healing thoughts. I think I could use them. I’ll be back to blogging as soon as I can. The mind must clear a bit first…and some projects that are on hold must be completed ASAP. My husband said if my health was better, I’d get a whole lot more done. Well duh! Of course I would. There are so many characters in my head just screaming to get out. Life sucks…but I shall survive and look out world when I do, because I plan to get a lot of things finished up that have been put on hold for far too long.

Take care…

the rambling author,

Heather

Hell of a start to the week. What do you do with a screaming five year old? Well, almost six year old? Sent home from school, hubby picked him up on his lunch break, and he’s now in his room, in his bed, screaming the top of his head off. It’s infuriating and frustrating and there’s pretty much NOTHING I can do, except try to ignore it. Operative word there being try. But I am sticking to my guns. No toys and no TV…just him in bed for the rest of the day because that’s how I was told to handle the situation.

However, this means my plans to work on something today is totally shot. Cannot get in the “romance writing zone” with a screaming child in house. I have no idea how I will ever survive the summer when it gets here, since I’m not used to him being here through the day. It will take some major adjustment on my part.

Why is he screaming? Well, ain’t that the question of the hour? My youngest is a severe ADHD case…medication required every day just to be able to tolerate him. He’s also got several other problems that no one seems to be able to pinpoint just yet. If he had been my first–he’d have been my one and only, that is for sure.

Don’t get me wrong. He has such potential and can be the sweetest kid you’ve ever seen…but in the blink of an eye, the demon comes out and he’s hell on two legs. He’s very smart–very, very smart, but he’s a lot of brainpower trapped in a little body that has major trouble communicating, which leads to frustration, which leads to the aforementioned screaming fits. It can get quite embarrassing to take him out in public, as we learned last Friday when he threw the mother of all fits in the middle of a store. Just another reason I opt not to go out in public most days.

So, what’s a mother to do? I’m frustrated beyond belief, as I’m sure he probably is as well. Yes, he has some wonderful therapists working with him, but I still don’t know what to do with him most times. He’s an enigma we haven’t even scratched the surface on figuring out yet. We do timers and rewards for good behavior. We do major time outs when necessary and lectures. At the moment, it seems to be a battle of the wills. His is strong, but by golly, mine is much stronger. I love my son, immensely, but boy does he ever get on my nerves. There just seems to be a lot more questions than answers at this point, and as I previously stated, I’m frustrated…I’m tired. He’s a full time job when he’s here. But what’s so bad is that I KNOW he can be a good kid…but since school started, OY!

Okay, so that had very little if anything to do with writing, but it’s where I stand today. It feels like I’m beating my head against the wall at times. It causes pain and isn’t good for much else. I feel lost and helpless at times. Caught in the middle of a swirling vortex of confusion and frustration. Will it ever end? Probably not, but I can at least hope that it’ll get better.

Silence is golden…so what’s the absence of it considered?

Heather

Is it good? Or is it bad?

I guess it depends on which side of the fence you are standing on. What makes a controversy? Anything can, to be honest about it. Any time you have two opposing ideas, you basically have a controversy.

Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Who are we to decide? That’s the real question. No one person is more right than another except in his/her own mind. It’s just the way things work. Can’t please everyone. Can’t always agree. It’s life. There comes a point where we have to agree to disagree. Everyone’s moral compass points in a different direction. If we were all the same, liked the same things, life would get pretty boring in a hurry. It’s not my place, or anyone else’s, to tell anyone what to think, do, feel, or say among other things. It’s a personal choice. Believe what you want. No one has a right to belittle you or take away that freedom. You were born with a freedom of choice. Take pleasure in it and don’t let anyone get you down because of it.

What’s this all about? Just a bunch of questions that are circling around in my head. Just my personal viewpoint on a bunch of different things. I’m big enough to admit that I don’t always see eye to eye with others when it comes to certain subjects…but I’m also big enough to admit that though I think I’m right–I’m only right so far as my viewpoint is concerned. Again I say, it’s just part of life and what makes us all individual.

Heather

Yep, apparently my holiday blogging was one big miss, but I had a good excuse. Between not being home and being extremely ill, I think not blogging can be excused. I fear Christmas won’t be any better.

So how did my holiday week(end) go? Hubby cooked a big dinner and I was too sick to eat it. But hey, at least I lost weight, which was a good thing. I’ve got to look for silver linings where I can find them. At least I felt a little better for my b-day, though I’m not 100% over it yet. *sigh*

What did I get for my b-day? Movies…movies that I love. I got six titles for my PSP, since playing games on it makes me motion sick most of the time. What movies did I get? My all time favorite HELLBOY. I can now watch HB anywhere, anytime. I’m beyond thrilled. Resident Evil 1 & 2, Underworld, The Dark Crystal, and The Labyrinth. The thing plays amazingly clear pictures and though it might be small, it’s still really nice to be able to watch a movie on the go without any large scale equipment or laptop in tow. The PSP will fit into my purse which makes it even more awesome. This will come in very handy if I ever get to go to the beach–because it’ll be a long road trip.

Writing goals for the week. Write as much as I can on my Dagger’s Blade edits/rewrites. I’ve taken the last couple of weeks just to get the changes straight in my head…and now that I’ve got a direction and the holiday is over, it’s time to buckle down and get it done. I hope to be done before Christmas gets here.

What’s after that? I prefer not to think about it at this time so as not to overwhelm myself.

Heather

The next several days look to be super busy ones, so blogging will be hit and miss. Most likely, it’ll be more miss than hit, but I will be back once things slow back down.

Anyhow, just in case I don’t make it onto the blog tomorrow, I’ll say it now.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Now that that is out of my system, on to other news.

Edits/rewrites on Hunters for Hire: Dagger’s Blade. I’ve been asked for “More Ceyx” which is a delightful variation of the “more sex” motto I keep hearing whispers about over at EC. Truthfully, until this book, I’ve not been told to add more sex. Of course, in this case it’s more Ceyx–one of the characters–and not more sex, I’m not explaining this one since you should know what sex is. :p lol I simply love typing more Ceyx. It makes me smile. I admit that I cracked up when I read it in my editor’s note to me about the edits.

Anyway, I seem to be making some progress with the edits. Writing new scenes, tweaking old ones and thus far I’m happy with the way it’s going. My CP on the project says it’s looking good, so that’s a definite plus as well. Still no idea how long it’ll take me, but I’m working on it as fast as I can. I have to take time to lay back, close my eyes, and let the story unfold in greater detail in my head–work out new kinks that developed due to the expanding and twisting. There’s definitely an art to it, and since I’m not much of a plotter, I do what I can to make it the best it can be.

And with that, guess I’d better get back to it. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday season. Catch you on the flip side.

Heather

Well, from the look of the first review, the Hunters for Hire have kicked off with a really big bang. LA Day’s Savage got a stellar review in which the reviewer said she just couldn’t rate it high enough. If you haven’t yet picked up Savage, run on over to Ellora’s Cave and grab yourself a copy because it’s a totally hot and fantastic read. My only problem with it, girlfriend, it was too short. lol But if a story being “too short” is the biggest problem with a book, then you’ve got to be doing something right. I’m so happy this was the launch story for the Hunters for Hire series.

The next book up in the series is Danger on Xy-One by Vicky E. Burkholder. Sadly, I’ve not gotten a sneak peak at this one, so I can’t tease you with it. It’s due out in January 2008 (almost exactly one year after the series’ initial inception) and I’m sure it’ll be great, so go grab a copy of it as soon as it’s available.

Then, I don’t know which book is next since the other two (that I know of) that are contracted don’t yet have release dates. I’m “updating” Dagger’s Blade since the world was fleshed out more since I originally wrote the book. It’ll take a little time, but it’ll be worth it in the end since it’ll be a longer book. It’s just one of the perils of trying to write a book while creating an entire galaxy at the same time. I’m not complaining one bit, just informing the public. As soon as the “updating” is complete and I get a release date, I’ll be sure to post about it.

And speaking of contracted works and my not knowing about them, if you are writing a story for the Hunters for Hire and get a contract, please let me know so I can start shouting out about it. I may be coordinating author, but I’m last to know on just about everything of real importance (example: contracts, release dates, etc) so it’s up to the authors to fill me in on what’s going on.

And with that, I’d better jump off here. I’ve got work waiting on me.

Heather

Oh, Turkey Day is almost upon us. Normally, I look forward to the time with family and friends–people I don’t get to see very often, but this year, I’ve been banned from going for my “own good.” Is it sad that I know it’s better if I don’t go and yet still want to go? Yeah, I’ll be sick…but I will probably be sick anyhow. Last year didn’t go over well, though, so maybe I shouldn’t go. I’m still trying to decide. :p

Black Friday is just a few days away. Anyone have their store hit list and shopping lists already made out? This year, I can’t go. Hubby would strangle me if I ever LOOKED like I was trying to go. Oh well, I can just make my list and hope he or my little sister can get whatever is on it for me. It sucks to be so limited, but it’s life and I shall survive.

And then Saturday is the day…the day another year of my life comes to a close and a new one begins. Oh joy on that one. No, seriously, I’m a bit excited about it being my birthday and yet I can’t get too excited about getting older. I think I’ll just continue to count backward like I started a couple years ago, and as soon as I hit 21 again, I’ll go back up, then back down again and so forth. *grin* It’s better than facing reality at times. Right?

I need to be writing today, but the bug won’t release me from its nasty grip. *sigh* And the hubby and child will be home soon. Where did the time go? Oh yeah, unexpected guest ate up part of the time, though I’m not complaining. I babbled like an idiot, but that’s nothing new or unusual. It’s also a prime example of why I prefer text to actual speaking…at least then I can think about what I’m saying and read it before letting it be seen by one and all.

I’m rambling and I know it. But my anxiety level is high and I can’t seem to help myself. I think it’s time I go stare at that book I need to be working on for a while.

Toodles!

Heather

Taking it easy. It’s flu and cold season, and I think I’ve got one or the other or both. So, it’s a lazy day in bed while the hubby caters to me.

He’s just informed me that we got another egg from the chickens. That’s our fifth one. WOOHOO Good to see that investment finally paying off. :p

And with that, I’m going to lay back down. Sorry I’m not so talkative today, but my head just isn’t in it. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Heather