My Life in My Writing

Do you know what it's like to walk through snow that's deeper than say your waist? Have you ever gone snowshoeing through the woods? Do you know what it's like to live 'off the grid'?

I do.

If you've paid any attention to my FB posts, you should know that - I'm a cat person - and - I love winter. I especially love my life out here in the middle of absolutely nowhere.

If you've ever read any of my books where there's some scene involving winter, these scenes are drawn from my real life. Of course, I take some liberties with it. That doesn't make it any less accurate.

These wilderness scenes aren't all winter, but winter scenes are by far my favorite. Half-Breed is, because of all this, my favorite book. Have you read it yet?

It's been a long time since I've read any of my published books. I'm always tempted to give them a tweak when I do.

Half-Breed is the second book of a planned collection of three. The first one has been republished under the new title of Crown of Steel. The two books are very different. Their only connection is the world, and the rules governing that world. All that's left is the third one, but I'm still at a loss. All suggestions would be welcome.

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My Life and My Writing

My life interferes with my writing frequently. I work summers from mid May or so to mid September or so, give or take a week or two on either end. My hours aren't too bad, but I get no weekends. Believe me, it doesn't take long for me to get very tired - tired enough to just not feel like writing. Along with that is the desire to do other things associated with the business of writing, like advertising my books and socializing with my fans, both of which takes a chunk out of my sales. Also getting in my way is my slow internet, which has made it impossible for my husband and I to be online at the same time. This is something we'll fix one of these days, but it just can't be done yet.

At the end of my summer, it's kind of hard to get back into the groove. It was made even harder because I didn't have anything new to work on. I keep telling myself that I still have three books completed and in need of editing, but every time I get one out and start working on it, something interrupts me and I'm on a different track. Mood and motivation are lacking, and I just can't seem to reclaim it. Those three books need a lot of attention and concentration, and it seems like every time I try, something happens to break my concentration. The TV is like four feet in front of me, and my husband thinks I need it on as soon as the generator is running. Some series or movie I happen to like makes it hard to protest.

Back in the day, I'd write and write, one story after another, the length made no difference. It was a new story written to satisfy my desire to read a new book - I'd run out, you see, and bookstores are very far away. Then came the chance to publish and I finished my last book. That was back in '08. Then came internet and the distractions abounded. Publishing suddenly became easy, I had the books already written, and I've become a very good writer. I spent time pulling my published books back under my own wings and republishing them, which necessitated me finding my own cover artists, and figuring a way to earn enough money to pay them. As all this added up, I seemed to slow down.

Lately, I decided to write a new book, and I think that is the key to my slump. It would seem a new story, now nearly finished, just might be what I needed to do. I've been more motivated to write than I have been in a long time. Now all I need to do is come up with enough money for a cover. It's been a long time since I've sold a book through my website - the proceeds of which go into my PayPal account, which is what I use to buy my covers.

Publishing and covers aren't the only distraction I've been working on. I'm trying to get my books on regular bookshelves, and to that end, I've purchased my own ISBN numbers - I'm just scared to take that step. No one will explain to me sufficiently how that will work. I mean, if some store wants to order hundreds of copies of my books, I can't afford that.

One distraction after another - this path or that path - even this and my other blogs - it all gets in the way of finishing my new book. I'll be able to afford a cover soon. Keep an eye peeled for a new book one day soon. Any ideas for my next book? Happy writing to all you writers out there, and happy reading to all you readers out there.

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I Had a Dream

I did. Once upon a time I had a dream. I so wanted to inherit the ranch and run a riding academy for city kids. Long story short, my brother got the ranch and I joined the army.

I still think about that dream though, even though there is no chance it will ever happen now. So recently that dream found it's way onto my computer screen, and currently that document is over 200 pages long.

There were a few changes though. I took your average family - loving parents, two boys, and a girl in that order (not like my family). The parents were totally involved in the horsing world, and their primary income came from boarding horses. They also bred horses, and offered a couple stallions for stud services. They made a pretty good living that way.

Suddenly, when the girl turned 15, a horrible accident happened which took both parents away. Since the oldest brother was old enough, he inherited the business and the property, as well as raising his sister. He, however, had no interest in the business, and so it slipped away, leaving empty barns. The sister, who was like her parents, very passionate about horses, couldn't spot the changes through her depression. It wasn't until talk of selling off property crossed the table two years later that she woke up.

In looking around, she realized how the place of her dreams had slipped into a run-down dump with only three customers keeping their horses there. The office was a den of dust and spiderwebs. After these eye-opening discoveries, she discovered that her brothers had been selling off things for a while now; all her mother's treasured paintings were all gone. Gone to buy drugs, she discovered. Thus begins her journey of being totally pissed at her brothers. But thus also begins her journey to emancipation and power of attorney.

In her efforts to figure out what she could do about the business, she went to talk to her parents' banker. It was there that she learned about her second brother's many stints in detox. After her meeting there, she went to the police station to learn more. It had all been a carefully hidden secret until now.

Due to a fortuitous chain of events, the family lawyer also became involved and she got her wish. Of course, her brothers being arrested for possession, and possibly selling, kind of sealed the deal for her.

Now you might think this would be the end of the story, but it wasn't. Her brothers' involvement with drugs meant they were involved with dealers, and dealers don't like being ripped off. So with her brothers off to serve a stint in jail, said dealers came after her. They wanted their money. Herein is the guts of the story.

At the moment, they are just learning who has put out a contract on her head, and the current price is well more than the initial missing funds, mostly because of the fact that it was discovered that she happened to be a natural crack shot with her mom's 357 pistol.

I'm having fun with this story. My little girl is kicking some serious ass and she has acquired quite a reputation in darker circles. This is where I am now. What will happen later, only time will tell. If you have a suggestion for a cover, I'm all ears. I might have to go with a painting for this one though. Your thoughts?

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