Review Tour Jan. 3-9

Hey everyone! I’m doing a review tour at My Addiction is Reading Jan. 3-9. There will be reviews of MISTLETOE MEDIUM, the third in the Lottie Baldwin Mystery series. Also we’ll have contests and lots of fun. Here’s the link:

https://sites.google.com/a/myaddictionisreading.com/2016-tours/elizabeth-delisi

Hope to see you there January 3-9. Contests for those who visit each stop and comment, and extra entries available for sharing!

Win 30 Crime Novels!

Thirty mystery and crime writers have gotten together to offer you a holiday contest: a chance to win 30 Crime Novels. Yes, 30! Included is my novel MISTLETOE MEDIUM, 3rd in the Lottie Baldwin Mystery series of cozy, paranormal mysteries. All you need to do is go here to enter the contest: a Rafflecopter giveaway Three lucky winners will win all 30 titles. Drawing ends at midnight on New Year’s Day. The winners will be announced on Jan. 2nd, 2016. If you share this giveaway on Twitter or Pinterest, your name goes in twice. If you share on FB, your names goes in three times. You must share inside the rafflecopter to take advantage of this. Happy holidays, and best of luck!

Two of My Courses Available For Registration at WDU

I'll be teaching two courses starting soon for Writer's Digest University. Here's the info:

WRITING THE ROMANCE NOVEL: Do you yearn to write a romantic story? If so, you need to know what sets romance writing apart from other types of fiction.

This course explores why romance is the same, yet different. Some essential components of romance are unique to the genre, while some romance requirements are identical to those of any good fiction story. Neither Stephen King nor Tom Clancy could sit down and write a romance unless he first familiarized himself with the specific factors that create a successful romance.

This workshop will help you to understand those specific factors that make up the specialized world of romantic fiction.

The instructor for the 10/29/2015 starting workshop is Elizabeth Delisi.

Go here to sign up: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-romance-novel

* * *

CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION: Are you a beginner writer? Do you want to put pen to paper but have a case of writer’s block? Learn creative writing techniques to launch your writing and transform your ideas into your next story.

When you take this online workshop, you’ll explore creative writing topics and learn how descriptive writing can breathe life into your characters, setting, and plot with Rebecca McClanahan’s Word Painting. Stretch your imagination, develop your creative writing skills, and express your creativity
 with this writing workshop.

The instructor for the 10/22/2015 workshop is Elizabeth Delisi.

Go here to sign up: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/creativity-expression


Hope to see you there!

MISTLETOE MEDIUM Now Available for Pre-Order!

MISTLETOE MEDIUM, #3 in the Lottie Baldwin Mystery series, is now available for pre-order at a special price: $.99! Once it's released in November, the price returns to normal. So now's the time to get your copy at a bargain! http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Delisi_Elizabeth/mistletoe-medium.htm

No sooner does psychic Lottie Baldwin pull up stakes and move to Cheyenne, North Dakota, than she finds herself up to her neck in a series of mysterious robberies. Can Lottie and the handsome new man in her life, deputy sheriff Harlan Erikson, solve the crime spree before Lottie becomes the next victim?

Excerpt: 
Lottie Baldwin glanced in her rearview mirror and frowned. Why hadn’t her tarot cards foreseen this? Red flashing lights reflected from the revolving dome atop a sheriff’s car, trailing directly behind her. After driving four hundred miles, the final hundred with the afternoon sun glaring in her eyes, the last thing she needed was a speeding ticket. She eased off the accelerator and pulled into the breakdown lane of the small, two-lane highway.

The sheriff’s car stopped behind her and a tall, muscular man in a black uniform got out. Lottie watched him in the mirror, absentmindedly patting her tousled blond curls into place, fascinated by the lithe way he moved. She’d never been interested in the law-and-order type, but this man might be the one who could change her mind. She opened her window, letting in the unseasonably mild early-December air.

He leaned down and removed his sunglasses. “May I see your license and registration, please?”

“Of course, Sheriff,” Lottie said, smiling briefly to bring her dimples into view as she read his badge—Lake County, North Dakota Sheriff’s Department. He was even more gorgeous up close, with dark blue eyes and broad shoulders that strained the top buttons of his shirt. The setting sun tinged his blond hair coppery-gold, and a light breeze brought the subtle scent of his spicy aftershave to her nostrils. His proximity made her light-headed. “What’s the problem? Was I speeding?” she asked innocently as she rummaged in the bottom of her purse for her driver’s license.

“You were going sixty-eight in a fifty-five zone, ma’am,” he said, accepting her license and registration.

“I’m sorry, Sheriff. I’ve been on the road since six this morning. I guess I was anxious for the trip to be over.” She smiled again, more intimately this time.

“Lottie Baldwin,” he read from her driver’s license. “Blond hair, gray eyes. From New York?”

“Not anymore.” She shook her head. “I’m moving to Cheyenne and I’m so sorry to make such a poor first impression on the local law enforcement. Can we start over?” She extended her hand.

The officer studied her for a minute then grasped her hand in his. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am. My name is Harlan Erikson. I’m a deputy sheriff here and, as lovely as you are, I’m afraid I’m going to have to write you a ticket.”

As their hands touched, tingles shot up Lottie’s arm. Lovely, was she? The man had good taste! “You just do what you have to do,” she purred. “I respect a man who does his job.” She made no move to withdraw her hand, letting it lie trustingly in his.

* * *

Enjoy!

OBSERVANT ORACLE is out!

OBSERVANT ORACLE, a short Lottie Baldwin Mystery story, is now available for purchase! I hope you’ll check out Lottie’s latest adventures with Harlan, and her tarot cards.

Blurb:

Who murdered the Cheyenne State University student? Was it a crime of opportunity or of passion? Can deputy sheriff Harlan Erikson solve the case? More importantly, can he keep his fiancée, impulsive psychic Lottie Baldwin, from getting impatient and snooping on her own?

* * *

Visit Tirgearr Publishing here: http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Delisi_Elizabeth/observant-oracle.htm to order your copy today. Enjoy!

TROUBLED SPIRITS is available now!

My paranormal novella, TROUBLED SPIRITS, is available now from Amber Quill Press. Here’s the synopsis:

When widow Laura St. Clair loses her eight-year-old son to a rare disease, she’s lost everything and has no desire to live without him. Desperate, she tries to reach the spirit of her son with a Ouija board she finds in his room amongst his favorite toys.

Laura is stunned when she actually makes contact with something. But what is it...a friendly spirit, or an evil one? Can the mysterious entity truly bring her news of her son? And if so, what will it expect from her in return?

***

To find out more, or to get your own copy, here’s the place:

http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/2247-Troubled-Spirits.aspx

Please check it out, and enjoy!

If you feel so inclined, I'd love to have you visit the following links and vote for my covers. You don't have to register, and you can vote once a day.

http://ratebookcover.com/a-port-in-the-storm/

http://ratebookcover.com/the-midnight-zone/

http://ratebookcover.com/since-all-is-passing/

http://ratebookcover.com/fatal-fortune/

http://ratebookcover.com/lady-of-the-two-lands/

http://ratebookcover.com/practical-passion/

http://ratebookcover.com/observant-oracle/

Whether you vote or not, have fun looking at my gorgeous covers.

Thanks!

Fifty Percent Off Sale at Amber Quill Press

For those who like sales, here's an Independence Day sale you won't want to miss! All e-books at Amber Quill Press that aren't already discounted, are 50% off all week.

Thus you can buy a copy of my books PRACTICAL PASSION or LADY OF THE TWO LANDS for 50% off. And my book SINCE ALL IS PASSING is already discounted to 99 cents!

As if that weren't enough, my new short story, A PORT IN THE STORM, a contemporary romance, is **FREE.** Yup, you read that right, free.

To check out my books, go here: http://www.amberquill.com/store/m/28-Elizabeth-Delisi.aspx and see if something takes your fancy!

Guest Author Kim Cox

Please help me welcome guest blogger, author Kim Cox. Kim’s book, GET OUT OR DIE, is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, etc. Here’s the blurb:

Since the news of her first case, Lana Malloy's Private Investigating/Mediator business is booming. At one pro-bono job, Lana helps a widow communicate with her late husband and learns of a frightening new ability she wasn't aware she possessed--an ability that could give the spirit the upper hand if she's not careful.

Lana struggles for control when she encounters the angry ghost who doesn't want to leave, and who doesn't want the occupants of the house to stay. Will Lana be able to control the situation, or will the ghost sense he can overtake her? Does she have other abilities she can rely on to save her?

Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer?

I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with my husband, who is a chainsaw artist. We have three dogs, two Westies (West Highland White Terriers): Scooter (Male) and Harley (Female), and one Yorkie/Maltese mix: Candi (also Female). I have two sons and two grandsons.

I think many things have inspired my writing, from my dad always telling his stories when I was a child, to my love of reading in my late teens to early twenties. Whatever I'm doing, there are circumstances, what-ifs and characters popping into my head, vying for my attention. Writing is an outlet for my odd and sometimes morbid imagination.

Tell us what GET OUT OR DIE is about?

GET OUT OR DIE is the second novella in the LANA MALLOY PARANORMAL MYSTERY series. Lana Malloy is a psychic private investigator who is on a mission to help the dearly departed, even when they don’t realize they need help.

In the first novella, HAUNTED HEARTS, Lana sets out to solve her first case—the twenty-year old cold-case and double murder of her great aunt and her great aunt’s fiancé. If she succeeds, they’ll spend eternity together; if she can’t, they’ll be stuck as Haunted Hearts. With the help of the ghosts and a new love interest, she is able to find the murderer.

In GET OUT OR DIE, the success of Lana’s first case has spread throughout the local Charleston area and her business is booming. At one pro-bono job, Lana helps a widow communicate with her late husband where she learns of a frightening new ability—an ability that could give the spirit the upper hand if she’s not careful.

Soon after, she encounters an angry ghost who doesn’t want to leave, and who doesn’t want the new occupants of the house to stay. Will Lana be able to control the situation, or will the ghost sense he can overtake her? And if that isn’t stressful enough, Tony is pressuring her to set a wedding date. Will she marry Tony, or will this dangerous case make the decision unnecessary? Will other abilities surface to save her?

Find out with the release of GET OUT OR DIE on July 1st.

There will be four more books in this series: The Wedding Crasher (September 2015), Christmas Cruise (November 2015 tentative release date), Demi's Serial Case and Haunted by Her Past (both are planned for a 2016 release, starting in May).

If you were casting the movie version of GET OUT OR DIE who would you choose for the leading roles?

I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately.

For Lana Malloy, I would choose Angie Harmon - Detective Jane Rizzoli from Rizzoli & Ilse television. I also have a picture of Madolyn Smith Osborne (as she appeared on Urban Cowboy, portraying the other woman with John Travolta) is on my characterization notes for her.

For Tony Calabria, I would choose a young Andy Garcia.

For Great Aunt Lucy (plays a small part in this book) – a younger Betty White. Lucy has a recurring role in the books.

For Ellie Ramsey – younger Sally Field.

For Dan Ramsey – young Ryan O'Neal.

For Adam Kelley – Patrick Dempsey (one of my favorite actors).

For Dave, the accountant – I see a comedian, perhaps Jim Gaffigan, although overweight with beard and mustache.

For Demi Lancaster (Lana's best friend and police detective) - Gabrielle Union. Demi Lancaster is a recurring character.

Are you an outliner or do you write by the seat of your pants?

I'm a little of both. I started out as a seat of my pants writer, but as I've gotten older, I have a hard time remember the simplest things such as eye or hair color. Plus, I'm a visual person, so images help me see what they look like.

Generally, I start with an idea of the story and the characters and I write two to three chapters, sometimes more. Then I go back and map it out by writing a little about each chapter or a synopsis, and I do a Characterization sheet where I list appearance (along with photos), traits and characteristics, and family and background. I also research things that I need for the book such as location, medical information, psychic information, ghosts, serial killers, etc.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

I've always been a type of Jane of All Trades, Master of None. I've held jobs as a textile worker in different capacities (knitter, spinner, quality control, dye house tech, sewing machine operator, scheduler and production planner), a waitress, a cashier at a convenience store and fast food restaurant, maid, and my very first job was in an ice cream parlor. I've taken courses in cosmetology, nursing, accounting, teaching, medical office, office systems, and web technologies. I would have to say I would be either a teacher or a technology geek in a field such as Web Design. I need some type of creative outlet. I can't see myself as doing one thing forever, but can do multiple things at once. Right now, I dabble in Web Design and I create cover art for my books. I have created the four completed covers for the LANA MALLOY PARANORMAL MYSTERY series.

Tell us about a hidden talent you have that most people don’t know about?

I guess my hidden talent is being able to adjust, adapt and learn any job set before me. I catch on easily.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Lemon pepper chicken wings or pizza. Oh, and strawberry ice cream if it has bits of strawberry in it. I also love spaghetti and lasagna, almost anything Italian.

What’s your favorite non-writer-related website?

I can't think of any off the top of my head, but probably somewhere to shop. I hate shopping and do as much as I can online.

To find out more about Kim Cox and her book, visit these links:

Kim Cox Author's Site

Two blogs: Kim's Musings (includes book reviews) & Kim's Author Support Page (page dedicated to supporting other authors, some original posts and some reblogged)

Find Kim at the following Social Sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Goodreads

Pinterest

Linkedin

Also, please join my Newsletter and be the first to find out about Kim's new releases, giveaways, and prizes.

OBSERVANT ORACLE Now Available for Pre-Order

OBSERVANT ORACLE, a short Lottie Baldwin mystery story, is available now for pre-order: http://tirgearrpublishing.com/…/Delisi…/observant-oracle.htm Reserve your copy now!

Observant Oracle By Elizabeth Delisi

Who murdered the Cheyenne State University student? Can deputy sheriff Harlan Erikson solve the case quickly enough to keep his fiancée, impulsive psychic Lottie Baldwin, from snooping on her own?

Guest Blogger: David O’Brien

Please help me welcome guest blogger, author David J. O'Brien. David’s new book, The Ecology of Lonesomeness is available from Tirgearr Publishing.

Here’s the blurb:

Kaleb Schwartz isn't interested in the Loch Ness Monster. He'd enough cryptobiological speculation about Bigfoot while studying the Pacific Northwest forests. He's in Scotland's Great Glen to investigate aquatic food webs and nutrients cycles; if he proves there's no food for any creature bigger than a pike, then so much the better.

Jessie McPherson has returned to Loch Ness after finishing university in London, hoping to avoid the obsession with its dark waters she had when younger and first discovered lonesomeness. She knows any relationship with a scientist studying the lake is a bad idea, but something about Kaleb makes her throw caution to the depths.

When Kaleb discovers Jessie's lonesomeness refers not just to the solitude of the loch, he's faced with an ecological problem of monstrous proportions. Can he find a way to satisfy both the man and the scientist inside himself, and do the right thing?

Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer?

Well I was born and raised in the suburbs of Dubin, Ireland, and studied science in UCD. I have a degree in Environmental Biology and a PhD in Zoology. I studied deer, one of my favourite animals. I still dabble in deer management, but for money I mostly teach. I met a girl during my doctorate who was on her Erasmus year in UCD, and I went to Madrid when I was finished instead of going off to continue academia. I found I liked teaching and teach science and English now in Pamplona, where we've ended up.

I started writing poetry when I was a teenager. I was given a little notebook and I just started scribbling in it - an addiction to stationary started me off, I suppose!

I always liked reading, but I didn't write any stories until I was around sixteen. One of them was very long, and I kept expanding it. Over the course of a few years it became my first novel, Leaving the Pack. I think my style of writing is better suited to novels than to stories. I can condense ideas in poems, but once I have a character or two, it takes me a lot of time to really get to who they are, and it seems a waste to just give them a story when so many deserve a novel.

Tell us what The Ecology of Lonesomeness is about?

It's about the urge to find wonder in our natural world, to rewild our environment with the animals and forests that they should have, and would have if it weren't for people killing and cutting them. It's also about the need to find companionship and love, and taking chances on relationships which might seem doomed when only viewed logically, with the head rather than the heart. The balance between keeping secrets and revealing ourselves to loved ones, and trusting someone with secrets is also a theme, and how much we are willing to sacrifice of our own life-plans and ambitions in order to hold on to love.

If you were casting the movie version of The Ecology of Lonesomeness, who would you choose for the leading roles?

I wish I knew more of these young actors and actresses that are in their twenties. If Kelly McDonald were still in her twenties, she'd be perfect as Jessie. In fact, I thought of Kelly McDonald's voice when I wrote Jessie's dialogue. Carey Mulligan has got the right looks - with black curly hair, if she could pull off the accent,.

As for Kaleb, well, Nicholas Hoult would be around the right age and build - blue eyes, tousled dirty-blonde hair.

Are you an outliner or do you write by the seat of your pants?

I try to be an outliner, but I tend to write scenes as they pop into my head and then try to stitch them together later. Most of it fits into the general outline of beginning middle and end that I have in my head, but often the middle is a swamp of quicksand and mush that I have to whack my way through with a machete before it makes sense. A few scenes never fit, like jigsaw pieces that belong to a different puzzle and are in the wrong box. So they get put away into the slush file. Then I make pieces that do actually fit properly instead.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

I think I'd be a teacher with lots of free time to go hiking and do more gardening. But really, I can't imagine myself not writing something, especially poetry, which I still (have to) do.

Tell us about a hidden talent you have that most people don’t know about?

I don't know if it is a talent, but I'm a good listener and, just like my characters in this novel, I can keep a secret, forever.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Comfort, as in after a long night, would be diet coke and macdonald's quarterpounder and fries. It's a left-over from my youth, when I worked in a restaurant for a summer at the age of sixteen. I hardly ever eat there now, except when I am in Ireland on holiday. In Spain the food options are much better. As a diabetic, I have too much guilt to really enjoy the Ben and Jerry's ice cream that would be nicer...

What’s your favorite non-writer-related website?

I really like Upworthy.com. It gives snippets and links to videos that the traditional media usually ignore regarding social justice and science and other more quirky stuff. The idea is that it spreads links to stuff that was uploaded to the Internet to edify us, for a good reason. I have it on my Facebook feed and I often share the stories.

To find out more about David and his book, visit these links:

Tirgearr Author Page: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/OBrien_David/index.htm

Website: https://davidjmobrien.wordpress.com/

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/David-J.-OBrien/e/B00M60M6Y0

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidJMOBrien

Practical Passion

Check out my post about PRACTICAL PASSION, my spicy romance that's available now:
http://aqpauthors.blogspot.com/

You'll find an excerpt, and a little about how I came up with the characters.

I hope you enjoy it!

Writing the Romance Novel Workshop

Do you yearn to write a romance? If so, you need to know what sets romances apart from other types of fiction. The "Writing the Romance Novel" workshop from Writer's Digest University explores the specific factors that make up the specialized world of romance. I teach this course, and have a session about to begin.

The workshop consists of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. You will:

*    Learn how the hero of an action novel differs from the hero of a romance
*    Master the tricky business of putting your hero and heroine together and keeping them together-yet-apart until the story's close
*    Create the sexual tension that will have your readers turning the pages late into the night
*    Discover what conventions must be followed and what rules can be broken for readers to embrace your work

My next session begins on May 28. For more information, or to sign up for my course, go here:

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-romance-novel

Hope to see you there!

PRACTICAL PASSION Now Available

Come check out my latest from Amber Quill Press, PRACTICAL PASSION.
http://www.amberquill.com/sto…/p/2188-Practical-Passion.aspx

Here’s the blurb:

Julie Preston worked hard raising her younger sister Emily after their parents died, and creating a career. She gave up simple pleasures like love and relationships. So when a friend drags her to a singles bar, Julie’s ready for anything. She meets a gorgeous guy and they spend several passionate hours together. There’s real chemistry there, but Julie regretfully sticks to her promise: a one-night stand, no strings.

When Julie hires a tutor to help Emily pass English, she’s shocked to find he’s the man from the bar. Seeing him in her house makes it hard to keep her hands off him, but he isn’t looking for a long-term relationship since he’s a singles bar patron. Right?

How many miles can Julie jog before she gives in and jumps him?

Available now from Amber Quill Press in their Amber Heat imprint: http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/2188-Practical-Passion.aspx 

I hope you’ll check it out!

Sale!!!

LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, my time-travel romance set in ancient Egypt, is on sale for 99 cents for the next couple of weeks. Now’s your chance to snag a copy! Go here for more info:

http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/136-Lady-Of-The-Two-Lands.aspx

A-Z Reflections Post

This year is my very first time doing the A-Z Blog Challenge. It’s been a true challenge to come up with a blog topic for each letter of the alphabet, then write something for the chosen topic. I’m proud of myself that I didn’t miss a letter!

What did I get out of it? I stretched my mind, I pulled out my hair, I blogged on a regular basis, I connected with some lovely people who visited my blog, and met others through visiting their blogs.

Also, I find the regular writing of anything, any topic, helps to firm up my previous more random schedule. I hope it will allow me to do lots more writing.

Wish me luck!

Z is for Zilch

In trying to find something to write about for Z, the final entry in this year’s A-Z Blog Challenge, I came across lots of interesting words. I was amazed to find there were lots more “common” words than I expected, given my experience two days ago with X. ;-)

What surprised me the most was the several words meaning “Nothing” that started with Z. For instance, there’s “Zero,” “Zip,” and “Zilch.”

Zero is an easy one as it expresses the concept of “Nothing” in mathematical language.

Zip is a little more difficult to determine why it means “Nothing.” Zip can mean fasten a zipper…which is named for the sound it makes when closing it. Zip can mean fast, which also implies a zipping sound as the fast creature dashes past. Zip can also mean Zest (another Z word), zipping up your world.

The origin of “zip” meaning “zero” is unknown, but probably first used around 1900. How it came to represent such a different thing from the definitions above is a mystery.

Zero and Zip are used in this scene in The Three Amigos, one of my favorite movies:

As an aside, if you’ve never seen “The Three Amigos,” do yourself a favor and watch it. It’ll keep you laughing out loud for the entire movie. One of my top ten favorites!

Okay, back to Z. The words Zip and Zero are all well and good, but there’s a more colorful synonym for “Nothing”: Zilch.

I love the sound of that word. It sounds like something Tim Curry would say.

I remember the first time I heard the word Zilch. It was the title of a song on the Monkees’ album, Headquarters. Check it out here:

So the next time you find yourself tempted to use one of those Z words, don’t go for the boring ones. Use Zilch, say it like Tim Curry, and amaze your friends!

Y is for Yarn

Finding a “Y” word was simple. I love to knit, and crochet, so what else could Y be but Yarn?

If you read my entry for “Q,” you’ll already have some idea of the wild things yarn can be made from. Different fibers have different qualities: soft, scratchy, smooth, fuzzy, brightly dyed, natural color, thick, thin, bumpy, warm, cool, hand wash only, machine wash. Those are off the top of my head; I’m sure there are more.

In order to choose the proper yarn, you need to choose your project first. You can make almost anything, including sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, baby clothes, stuffed animals, shawls, mittens, socks, cowls, fingerless mitts, iPod or Kindle covers, afghans. If you can imagine it, you can knit it!

Well, almost anything. Anyone remember Lurch, from the Addams Family? He loved to play the harpsichord. On one episode, the harpsichord was taken away for some reason. Morticia tried to distract him by teaching him how to knit. She said, “Lurch what would you like to knit first?” Lurch said, “A harpsichord.” No, I don’t think you could knit THAT.

If you’re lucky enough to be a knitter, you know how seductive a new skein of yarn, new needles, or a new pattern can be. Here are a few of my finished projects.

For anyone who does knit or crochet, if you haven’t already, go to www.ravelry.com  and sign up. You’ll have access to patterns, forums, designers, yarns, books…it’s knitting nirvana. Look me up as delisi . See you there!

X is for Xerus

There aren’t many words that start with X. Lots of words SOUND like they start with X, but really, they start with EX. Nevertheless, I’m determined to find an X word!

Unfortunately, a lot of them are things like this:

Xylan, noun.

1. the pentosan occurring in woody tissue that hydrolyzes to xylose: used as a source of furfural.

Got that? <eye roll>

So my first consideration is that the X word start with X, not EX, and the second consideration is that the word be understandable by the average person.

The third consideration was to avoid the most common X words, like xylophone.

Finally, I came across something that fit my “rules,” that made me pause and then do a Google search. The new X word had the biggest cuteness factor of any X word, and the only one I’d want to see in person!

Xerus:

An African ground squirrel of the genus Xerus, having spiny fur, very short ears, and a long tail, and including the species X. rutilus of northeastern Africa and X. erythropus of western and central Africa.

Sooooo cute! So that’s my new X word, Xerus.

You all can go with Xylan if you want; just don’t expect me to explain the definition to you.

W is for Write, Write, Write

Many people imagine the life of a writer is glamorous, well paid, and easy. Reality is pretty far from these ideas.

Glamorous? Well, maybe if I sat down to the computer every morning wearing a ball gown. Or if people mobbed me when I went out, clamoring for my autograph. But I don’t see that happening any time soon. I will say, though, that one of the bank clerks knows me by name when I walk in. Hey, that’s something, right?

As to being well paid…perhaps if I were Stephen King. But for me, an average royalty check is between $3-7. Might buy me a cup of coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. Maybe a donut, too! Hah.

What I want to know is, why does the bank clerk know my name? Are they all laughing at my teeny checks when I’m not listening?

As for being easy: show of hands here. When you were in high school and your teacher said, “I want you to write a paper,” how many of you jumped up and down in excitement? Hands? Anyone?

That’s what I thought. Writing is hard work. First, you have to have a topic (for non-fiction) or a plot line (for fiction). You need to do research and figure out how you want things to progress.

Next, you sit down with your idea and start writing. In addition to using your creativity until your brain starts smoking, you also need to have excellent spelling and grammar skills. It used to be a publisher would shepherd a writer along, fixing mistakes and problems. Now, there are a million would-be writers for every editor. (Do you like my 100% accurate figures?) So your manuscript has to be as perfect as possible BEFORE you turn it in.

Once you’re done with a first draft, you go through it word by word and fix what you did wrong, close holes in the plot, make sure there is continuity (like, is your hero called Dave in chapter one and Dan in chapter two?) When you think it’s perfect, you go through it again. Or, if you’re lucky enough to have a first reader or critique partner, you redo it based on the suggestions of your writing buddy.

Next comes researching the markets, finding out which publishers would be a good fit for your manuscript. Once you’ve chosen the most appropriate ones, you find out their submission  requirements and submit your manuscript.

Then you wait. And wait. And wait. Fortunately, in this electronic age, you don’t wait as long as with the snail mail era. But every day seems like an eternity.

If you’re accepted, you go through more editing, cover art, checking the proof, then getting the final book in your hot little hands. I confess, THIS part is really fun!

Then comes marketing. I’m not a social animal…most writers aren’t. So marketing can be agonizing, but it must be done. I actually did several book signings, and while they are stressful, it’s also interesting to see who wants to read what you write.

And then, before you know it, it’s time to start all over again with the next book.

Are we having fun yet?

V is for Vase

When you see a floral arrangement, what do you see? What catches your attention? No doubt it’s the color of the flowers, the size of the flowers, the scent of the flowers.

Not the vase.

And how many times have you heard someone say “lips like a rose” or “as simple as a daisy” or “heavenly scent of a gardenia”?

But nothing about the vase.

Let’s think about it, though. How  would you create that lovely display, if not with the vase? How long would the flowers last without the water-filled vase? How would the flowers manage to stand upright and beautiful without the vase?

Like a loving parent, the vase cradles the flowers, holding them up, nourishing them, allowing them to enjoy every last minute of their beauty. The vase exists without the flowers, but the flowers don’t last long without the vase.

Why then would you be the flower?

I’ll be the vase. :-)