Inspiration

Some of my family and friends have asked me where I get my ideas. What inspires me?

After a few minutes of acting silly, blushing and fumbling my words, I eventually say "I don't know." Sure I know, but this writing thing is still new and wrapping my head around the fact that I am one, still eludes me.

The answer to their question is everything. Anything.

I took a walk yesterday around the lake in our subdivision, enjoying the weird winter weather and everything around me could be a new story. Maybe not an entire story, but a scene of one. For example, maybe a girl drowns in the lake and someone taking a walk, like me, happens upon the body. Boom, a mystery to solve.

Or two people, walking hand and hand stop at bench. Her hair blows across her face sticking into the gloss she's slicked across her lips. The biting sting of the wind is only challenged by the sun's heat as she looks up to the sky, pulling in the courage to grab this boy and kiss him. Sure, it's not a story line but it makes for good stuff in a story.

Now, I'll ask you. What inspires you?

If you're feeling blocked, I say step away from your day-to-day life for a minute. Take a walk. Go to the mall and watch people. Read a book. Anything and everything can be your next story.

Good luck!

Book Nibbles

Because of the blog hop, last weeks Book Nibble was deleted. However, if you follow my Facebook page or my Twitter account, you'll see I gave mad props to my friend and fellow author, Margaret Ethridge's Paramour.

Now that we're back on track, this week we're featuring Rebuild My World by Cheryl Norman.

Category: Fiction, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary
Blurb:
More than anything, Taylor Drake wants her life back. She’s returned to her family home, suffering from the agoraphobia that has plagued her since she was brutally attacked in her apartment. Once a confident and successful photographer, she now cowers behind closed doors with a loaded pistol. She fears her attacker will find her and finish the job.
The last assignment chief deputy Adam Gillespie wants is to babysit the spoiled celebrity Taylor. He blames her father for his family’s financial ruin; and her brother, Wil Drake, is the incumbent candidate for Foster County sheriff, Adam’s dream job. Wil is out of town, though, so Adam can’t afford to let anything happen to the sheriff’s sister. Complications arise when someone murders the man he arrests for stalking her.

Where you can get your copy for $3.99.

About the author: Cheryl Norman wrote her first mystery at the age of 13. She earned a BA in English at Georgia State University. After a career in telecommunications, she returned to fiction writing and won the 2003 EPPIE award for her contemporary romance, Last Resort. Her debut with Medallion Press, Restore My Heart, led to a mention in Publisher's Weekly as one of ten new romance authors to watch. Running Scared, a romantic suspense set in Jacksonville, Florida and Washington D.C., received a Perfect 10 from Romance Reviews Today. Reviewer Harriet Klausner calls her writing “Mindful of Linda Howard...” Her latest romantic suspense novel for Medallion is Reclaim My Life, and Cheryl has two novellas in the anthology Romance on Route 66. Rebuild My World, published by Turquoise Morning Press, is the sequel to Reclaim My Life.

Winner!

Congratulations Mary! 

*throws confetti*

You are now the proud owner of Men in Uniform. Thank you so much for those who participated and joined my blog. For my first time doing a hop, I had a great time.
Stay tuned for more writer, book and musings news.

It's here!

Because of the blog hop (which thank you for participating) this news might come a little late but trust. Never forgotten.

After much waiting and pacing and stalking, my cover is here!  Thank you so much to KJ for her hard work and dedication to Honey Creek.

What do I think of it? I love it. I want to hold it, pet and love it forever. I hope you do as well!

I'd love to hear what you think.  Soon, I'll post a snippet to wet your taste buds!  Until then, please join me as I stare constantly as this cover!

MY COVER!

I can't even believe I'm saying those words!

Random Acts of Kindness Hop

I'm feeling like a giving frog and have joined my first hop!  I'm totally excited to be included with this impressive list of blogs.

My prize is an autographed copy of Men in Uniform. Why? First, it's family friendly. Second, what's a better way to talk about random acts of kindness then mentioning those that serve our country.

To enter, leave a comment and mention this hop somewhere else, such as Twitter, Google+ or Facebook. New members are always welcome. While you're at it, check out the other blogs participating. There are some awesome prizes out there.
Random Acts of Kindness Participants

Special thank you to I am a Reader Not a Writer and Read for Your Future for sponsoring this hop.

Not get hopping!

Geek Out!

I recently wrote an email to a friend of mine freaking out about deadlines and manuscripts and galleys.
Oh my!
Her response was "a year ago we would've killed for a deadline from our editor". And she was right. A year ago, we only dreamed of saying words like my editor just emailed me and said my manuscript is due to her 2 months earlier than planned. Or, hey my editor just sent me my galley. Better yet, my publisher emailed me my front cover art work (she hasn't but I'm just sayin').
Oh my gosh you guys. I can't even believe I'm able to speak these words now.
I'm totally geeking out with my freak out!
For those of you still working the grind and trying to make those dreams come true I say keep on keepin' on. It will happen. Have faith and soon we can all be sittin' around talkin' shop and lovin' it!
Thanks!

Love and Book Nibbles!

To get you in the mood, here is a wonderful anthology for those who love love!  Be Mine, Valentine

A dozen

short stories of love…just as good as roses. Maybe even better! This short story collection celebrates love—young love and old, mended love, secret love, and love enduring. Twelve talented writers share stories to touch your heart and soul.

Amazon buy link.

Here are the list of authors included:

Krista Ames -

http://www.kristaames.com

Suzanne Barrett -

http://www.suzannebarrett.com

Elizabeth Chalkley -

http://www.elizabethchalkley.com/

Marissa Dobson -

http://www.marissadobson.com

Janet Eaves -

http://www.janeteaves.com

Jennifer Johnson -

http://www.booksbyjenniferjohnson.com

Margaret Ethridge -

http://www.margaretethridge.com

Amy Le Blanc -

http://amyleblancwrites.blogspot.com

Tracy March -

http://www.tracymarch.com

Nancy Naigle -

http://www.nancynaigle.com

Cat Shaffer -

http://www.catshaffer.com

Bobbye Terry -http://bobbyeterry.blogspot.com/

But the story I want to focus on today is Love Takes The Cake by Krista Ames.

First off how can you not like a story when on the first page a guys says, “Well no time like the present,” he mumbled as he pushed away from the curb. “She probably hates me so what do I have to lose?”

I love it when a guy knows he's wrong!

This story was just the right amount of sweet. Short stories are always over too soon but Ames did a great job of tying up the loose ends and made me love Josh and Annie.  Check out this book!

I'm Over at Creek

Today, you can catch me and Suzanne Lilly talking about Cinder, by Marissa Meyer over at The Creek.

We are both lovers of YA and discovered after much chatting on Twitter that we were about to read the same book. Come check us out today and Friday.  Let us know if we've inspired a new book purchase.  Or if you've read Cinder, what did you think?  Are you into fairy tale retelling?

Do you eat while you write?

I've been asked if I listen to music while I write.  Yes.  I have a friend who's like no, she needs it so quiet she can hear herself think.  Me?  I don't even wanna know what is sounds like when I think.  My husband swears he can smell smoke.

But as I'm sitting here, trying to finish my latest YA, I have this weird need to have food around me.  For example, right this very second I have an empty cheese stick wrapper (still chewing), a bag of pistachios and a tall class of iced green tea.  Earlier, I had a handful of peanut butter M&Ms and a cup of coffee.

I don't think it's the type of food but food, or snacks, in general.

But I don't think I'd behave the same way if I were writing at a coffee shop.  Sure, I'd need a cup of coffee, but I think that's all I'd need. (And honestly, I'd bring my own but I don't think they'd let me just sit and write without buying anything.)

I think it's because I'm home and my mind is struggling to finish this MS and I'm giving myself reasons to step away.  Yes, I want to finish.  I've wanted to finish like weeks ago.  But here I am still chugging along and I only have a few thousand more words to go.  I guess eating beats doing the laundry.

But all of this brings up a good point.  Do you need food when you write?  Is there something you have to nosh on or drink to write?  I'd love to hear from you.  Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Book Nibbles

I know, I'm late.  But you have no idea...never mind. 

Up this week on Book Nibbles, I'm very excited to have on Purrfect Voyage by Ruth J. Hartman.

Blurb:

Kitty Carter is used to getting into strange situations when she chases her cat, Arthur. But this latest escapade is just too much! When Arthur chases a mouse at the marina while she's doing research for her book, she follows him down the dock and onto a yacht. Not entirely her plan, since she falls down some stairs and hits her head, and wakes to find herself out to sea. And she and Arthur aren’t the only ones on board!

Here's where you can check the book out on Amazon.

My two cents:  I have not read this book but it is on my list.  The author was asked to describe Purrfect Voyage and she said it was a sweet, funny, contemporary romance.  Well, that's right up my alley.

Some of you may not know but Ruth and I were in a book together.  Men in Uniform.  Yep, so we have this kinship.  You may also not know that Ruth is a dental hygienist and loves cats.  No?  Yes!  And she finds her inspirations from what she knows and you can't argue with that logic!

Check out Purrfect Voyage and let me know what you think.