Thursday Threesomes

Okay, yes. I cheated, but I really wanted to introduce you to this gentleman.

A fellow writer who wrote a screenplay then spent more hours in front of his computer to make it a novel. He had a story to tell, and he wasn't about to let logistics stand in his way.

Three things about Grand Central Publishing author

JEFF RIVERA

Tell us the basic storyline of Forever My Lady?

It's my first novel and I really wrote this from my heart. It tells the story of a teenager who feels like he has absolutely no body in the world until he mets a girl named Jennifer who is the one person who not only loves him just the way he is but promises never to leave his side. Then, one thing leads to another, Dio ends up in prison boot camp and promises her he'll marry her when he gets out. He's making all these changes in his life for her then he finds out from a friend that she has plans to marry someone else.

Why were you so passionate about telling that story in particular?

I felt it was a story that needed to be told, not one we see every day and it was one that I could relate to so I knew other people had to be able to relate to also.

Forever My Lady has been getting quite a bit of buzz even when it was self-published. Did you have any idea it would be so well-received?

No, I was scared that no body would like it actually but when I started getting great reviews from regular people then I knew it had struck a chord. Then the reviews from the pros came in and then that cemented things for me. I think as a writer you can feel a little insecure sometimes about whether people are "getting you" and it's nice to know when people are.

~*~

Come back tomorrow to read the heart pounding[those are my words] excerpt from his new release, Forever My Lady.

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"The water is so rapid and the bed of the river so rocky, that going by water appeared impractical; and the mountains so amazingly high, steep and rocky, that it seemed impossible to go along the river by land."

- Lewis and Clark journal entry, August 24, 1805.

Oars.com featured this picture and quote on their homepage.

What a beautiful setting. Our country is beautiful. It encompasses more than just the people in it. [i'm going to sound tree-hugery] It makes me a little sad to see so much of our history forgotten and destroyed. That's all. :) Have a wonderful end of the week.

Tasty Tuesday

It's my family's favorite recipe for chili.

I used to hate chili, so this one was perfect because it didn't include beans!

Now, I add beans as well. :)

One pound of ground beef browned in a quarter cup of Italian dressing.

Drained.

Add to pot:

Meat

1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes

1 can of French onion soup with beef stock [found with a Campbell's label]

1 can of water

2 cans of diced chili peppers

3 tablespoons of chili powder

*1 can of black olives

*1 can of beans, kidney or black, drain and rinse before adding.

Simmer for a good while. LMAO. The longer it simmers, the hotter it'll be...and I do mean spicy.

This recipe comes from the Marlboro cookbook.

From the days my hubby and I smoked...and thought we could afford the good stuff.

Now we don't smoke at all, but DAMN, they sure know how to cook over there at the Marlboro ranch. Keep warm this winter! Make some chili.

Monday Goals

My thoughts are pretty scattered right now.
I'm revising my way through Chapter 8 and waiting on crits for Chapters 2 and 3.
I'm making a list for layering when this revision is complete...

Did you know London was in a floodplain? No? Me either. I learned that this week...and must make a few minor adjustments because of it. couple of key scenes at the beginning... :P

Speaking of layering, does anyone else do this?
This ms took me by surprise from its creation and I've found myself doing draft upon draft of layering. A few times, the changes have been large enough to not finish one draft, but to return to the beginning to begin the new layer from there. I'm trying to decide if this is at all efficient. Perhaps the fact that I'm not on a deadline is key. I just keep working to make the story fuller, better.

How about you? Do you layer?

A new Venture

Join me this week!
I'm beginning a new phase in blogging.

Goalpost Mondays -- Keep up with me and my journey to publication.

Tasty Tuesday -- stop in and let me share my favorite recipes with you.

Wordless Wednesday -- yes, even I need a break, but I can share with you anyway.

Thursday Threesome -- This day will be filled with surprises as I come up with any number of threesomes to share with you... will it be states? laws? actors? singers? books?

Fiction Friday -- New authors, my own work, something that I've read...fiction is a world of wonder waiting to be discovered.

Fiction Friday -- Poetry

Roses are Red.

Violets are Blue.

.....Just kidding. I really stink at poetry, unless it's in narrative form and reads more like a novel.

~*~

Louisianne

Poem of the Day from Poetry.com

I've seen the rain, more leak than I got pot

When the sugar cane can't drink another drop

When the bayou barge don't need to use the lock

I've seen the rain in Louisianne, I've seen the rain

I've seen the sun make gumbo in the bay

Too hot to fly, so the ducks decide to stay

Make my Yvonne say, no bon temp roule

I've seen the sun in Louisianne, I've seen the sun

I've seen the cold, won't let my big pot boil

But that's OK, my hanging meat won't spoil

The old crawfish, he's way down in the soil

I've seen the cold in Louisianne, I've seen the cold

I've seen the wind bring cypress to their knees

Make my perouge land way up in the tree

It's blowing hard in Camp Chu-du-chawee

I've seen the wind in Louisianne, I've seen the wind

Edward Theriot

~*~

This is a random pick, but I have to say, I like it. I'm not big into poetry, but this one has great imagery. I can see what Edward is talking about...and that makes me happy. :) Great weekend ALL!

Fiction Friday -- 1000 words

By the time Thaddeus arrived home, rain pounded the car roof in accompaniment to the pounding in his head. How, in God's name, he'd gotten strapped into taking care of blonde, on-the-run Katie Hansen was completely beyond his comprehension, but the message from his mother was quite clear. He was going to be stuck with the girl—woman, damn it—who made him dream of things that shouldn't be.

She was probably in his house right now, wreaking havoc on...something.

At eight years old, she had pulled every one of his paintings from his portfolio—okay, not a portfolio, but a very important senior year art thesis for his advanced placement class in high school.

God, he sounded like a pretentious prick. Ten years his junior, she couldn't have known to check the kitchen table for water before laying them out to admire.

He braked to a stop in front of his brownstone and glared at the beat up old Chevy—her truck in his parking spot. He'd won that spot in the neighborhood association lottery. He sighed, closed his eyes for a moment, put his practical sedan back into drive and pulled around the corner to the parking garage. This day just wouldn't end.

Rounding the corner back to his street on foot, he took the steps to his front door two at a time. He stopped short at the open door and frowned. “Hello?”

He pushed the door open. It creaked like the eighty-year-old fixture it was. “Katie?”

His voice bounced from the hardwood floors and paneled walls. She was supposed to be here. Glancing up the stairs, he rested his hand on the pineapple-shaped newel cap and stood still.

A soft rumbling snore came from the study. Crossing the hallway, he quietly pushed the sliding door into the wall. Despite keeping his distance, he had noticed her new height, the supple curves...the smart mouth. Her length barely fit the brown leather couch and bare feet poked out from beneath the fleece blanket. Not small feet, but pretty, with painted pink toes. His stomach clenched as the unwanted feelings of desire hit him hard.

“Hey,” she said.

His eyes flew to her wary gaze. He jack-knifed away from the door jamb and came to her side. “What the hell happened to your face?”

She touched the bruising that ran from her hairline to the lobe of her ear. And winced. “Jack ran to me and we bonked heads.”

“A two-year-old. Your nephew?”

Her laugh filled the room, successfully cutting the air from his lungs.

“We had our little run in at the playground.” She sat up and ran her hands nervously over her wrinkled slacks. She wouldn't meet his gaze. “Um, your mom insisted I come over, and I just didn't have the heart to resist.”

“Well, you left the door open.” He turned to the dry sink where he stored his liquor. He pulled a tumbler from the rack on the wall, poured himself some scotch and turned to her. Squelching lust might take a shot or two.

“What?” Her blank stare cut through his sympathy, reminding him that she just might still be an irresponsible girl.

“The front door was open when I got home.”

Her face paled as she scooted past him into the foyer. “Are you sure?” She swung the door open and looked out. “No. I wouldn't do that.” When her hands shook, he knew something was seriously wrong, knew, in an instant, that the bruising on her face hadn't come from playing with a two-year-old. He set down the empty tumbler.

“Have you been upstairs? Or back to the kitchen?” She ran a hand through her hair. “I'll check upstairs. You do the kitchen.”

He grabbed her arm—tone, lean muscle under his hand shocked him.

She didn't seem to notice his stupor and clasped him with both hands, one on his arm and the other at his waist. “After we look around, I'll go. You don't want me here anyway.”

He cleared his throat and loosened his tongue. Every muscle in his body tense. “You wanna tell me what you're running from?”

She backed up as if slapped. “No,” she said flatly. “I'm a big girl now, and I take care of myself.”

He had noticed. He pulled her close and noticed again. “Maybe my mother is right. You should stay here.”

She sputtered with tight lips, determination emanating from every pore. God, those lips. They were close enough to kiss.

She reared back. “Don't even think about it, Thaddeus Magree.” Katie's face flushed, her lips parted.

He was struck by a realization. “You still have a crush on me.”

Her eyes widened, and she snorted. “You are so full of yourself.”

With little show of his normal finesse, he melded their lips together. She made a sound of protest. He didn't even have to lower his head to have her. They fit together perfectly from head to toe. The girl she'd been yesterday was now his fantasy woman come true as she relaxed into his embrace.

He would be forty in five years, and she was just barely out of college.

It didn't seem to matter anymore. They'd played long enough, and he was through being a slave to his past. He wanted her, wanted the woman she'd become.

“Thaddeus.” Her throaty, desperate cry tipped his scales. He took the opening she'd given him and tasted her, tasted burgundy and fire. Her arms came around his neck.

He backed her into the wall, crushing every inch of her to him. She tipped her head back. His lips moved to her jaw and down the smooth slope of her neck. He should have known it would be like this. A burning ache in his soul to be the one—the one to protect her, to love her.

“Well, isn't this sweet.” A deep voice from behind him slammed into his libido.

He caught the startled look in Katie's eyes. “Oh crap.”

The lovers, the dreamers, and me

No. This isn't a blog post about Kermit the Frog.

It's a hyperlink to Kate Karyus Quinn's blog. Her blog made me laugh today...
and we all should laugh. So PLEASE go visit her blog.

I swear this isn't a crazy plug of some sort...no chain mail...
It's just a really fun story.

:)

And remember, Have Confidence!

Monday Night Goalposts

Just a quickie, cuz I'm feeling a little behind... ;)

Oh wow. I just went in search of my last Goalpost...is was THREE weeks ago!
Last[three weeks ago] Goalpost:
1) Finish Chapter one revisions, again. No problem. -- I was in the midst of a layering revision, into chapter four when I was interrupted by the critiques, sooo I'm trying to remember exactly what it was I was layering in. Maybe I'll remember. -- No such luck. That's okay. If you've kept up over the last couple of weeks, you'd know that I'm through with crazy critiquing. Overwhelmed and not appreciating my own writing style, I almost ruined a fine sample of manuscript by over-changing it. If you're a writer, you've heard of what happens when you do one too many revisions...

2) Do a critique or two. -- I've done several in the past couple of weeks...and i'll continue doing them. They keep my skills sharp. ;-)

3) Finish reading The Road and Natural Born Charmer. -- Both DONE! and very satisfying. My review for Natural Born Charmer is over at www.girlsonbooks.com.

An exciting thing happened to me this week. I joined Passionate Critters. I had been desperately seeking a smaller critique group that I could invest my time in...and have others invest their time in me, and getting to know me. After this last critique fiasco, I knew I needed people who I could know on a more personal level than say...anonymous. I'm very hopeful about this group. I've been there only a day, but already I feel like one of the girls.

This week in GOALPOSTS:
1)Finish a few critiques and finish a beta read I started this past weekend--i'm really enjoying myself on this one!

2)Do final precrit revisions for chapter 3,4,5.... just keep working, basically.

3) Read Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief.
~I was so mad when I got to the doctor's office today and didn't have this book with me... A lost opportunity, for sure. :(

Fiction Friday -- Crushed

Found a word challenge on the Harlequin Forums. 1000 words.

5) The key scene in an "adolescence crush to adult"theme romance where the older hero sees the heroine as a woman for thefirst time and not as the little brat who used to follow him aroundyears ago.

This is what I have so far....

By the time Thadeus arrived home, rain poured from the sky. The pounding on the car roof matched the pounding of his headache. How in God's name he'd gotten strapped into taking care of little, blonde Katie Hansen was completely beyond his comprehension. But the message on his blackberry from his mother definitely confirmed his worst nightmare.

Katie Hansen was probably in his house right now, wreaking havoc on...something. He couldn't get out of his mind the way she'd pulled every one of his paintings from his portfolio—okay, it hadn't been a portfolio, but it had been a very important senior year art thesis for his advanced placement class.

Now he sounded like a prick.

She'd been eight, ten years his junior. She couldn't have known to check the kitchen table for water before laying them all out to admire.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Reasons to Visit The Girls on Books

1. Reviews Galore! Romance, Sci-fi, Chick Lit...

2. on Mondays

3. Contests -- sponsored monthly by each Girl

4. on Wednesdays

5. A good cause -- This month we're PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

6. on Fridays

7. More Reviews--Historical, Literary, Paranormal...

8. on Sundays

9. Book Promotion Opportunities -- Got a book coming out? We want to know about it! Contact us.

10. Martinis are on the House!

or or

or

or

11. Not to mention the half,

12. Prizes EVERY Month!

13. REVIEWS up the wazoo -- Comedies, Western, Young Adult...

We are women who love books. Find out why at the Newest Review site online!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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The Colors on our Screen

This morning I logged in and found my blog so dark I couldn't read the words in my header. I was completely freaked out...and thought, Oh no! What happened to my beautiful blog!!! Then I IMed a friend and said, HELP! What's wrong....

Then I breathed for a minute and sat back...and noticed that everything on the screen seemed darker. So I fixed my monitor menu for brightness and wah-lah! I could see again!!! As a matter of fact, I made it a tad lighter than it had been before...and I like it.

So, here's the kicker. What does it look like on your computer screen? I've sat with an IM buddy discussing images online, colors and whatnot...and it's possible we're not even seeing the same thing. WEIRD, I tell you. So what do you see?

I see a pretty countryish blue-gray with pretty-in-pink borders.

Going Pink in October

When life strikes a blow.

The strong are remembered

and Life is celebrated.

Join us this month in our effort to spread the word about

Breast Cancer Research.

The winner of our monthly contest will recieve Avon's Breast Cancer Awareness Tennis Bracelet.

and water bottle

Join The Girls On Books in reading Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief...

for what better way is there to celebrate women than with jewels?

Visit and comment for a double chance to win! That's right, two winners this month.

Have a great October! Don't forget to celebrate LIFE!

FANTASTIC BOOKS

Please join us at Romance Divas

THIS WEEKEND!

Friday October 10th and Saturday October 11th, we will be joined by some huge names in fantasy and fantasy-romance for a workshop on what the difference really is between the two genres.



Yikes, the blogger cut the image off...so if you can't read the names...Divas will be hosting the workshop with Piers Anthony, Catherine Asaro, Gail Dayton, Robin D. Owens, Michelle Sagara, Maria V. Snyder, and heather Osborne, TOR editor.
Whoot!!! it'll be AWESOME!

Best of all?
It's FREE! Just register and login!

What is Handsome?

Manuscript:
He straightened, and she noticed for the first time that he was in uniform—the soft blues complimented his eyes. The straight crisp lines contained order. And in his shiny black shoes, he was so handsome.

Critiquer:
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT SHINY BLACK SHOES MADE A MAN HANDSOME. PERHAPS I'LL GIVE MINE A BUFF.

Well, I'm going to make this clear.
Today, there is a tendency to dress down.
I've been to weddings where attendees are wearing jeans and t-shirts.
At graduations, students have been known to go nude under their robes...

So I say, YES. Polished shoes are handsome.
Care for how you look is handsome.
It doesn't matter how big your ears are...how far apart your eyes sit...or if you have a middle age pouch in front. If you care for how you look, you will appear confident and attractive.

The shoes matter.

And looking like Cary Grant doesn't hurt either. LOL