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I'M MOVING~
Today's post is just a quick note (like the White Rabbit--hurry, hurry) to say that this is the LAST POST here on "OverBoard." Though two of my Darcy Cavanaugh mysteries remain on the shelves (and online), I'll be concentrating on my new medical drama series for Tyndale House Publishing, with a first book deadline of August 1st.
Please pop on over to my new Blogger journal, RX: Charisma, and read all about this new series. It's going to be a grand new adventure and I'm hoping you'll climb onboard.
Happy sailing to you, always!
Love,
Candy
NEWS & NEW PATH ~ Okay, it's been 5 whole days and I'm going crazy keeping the news quiet . . . and from pinching myself over and over.
So, Psssst: I've been offered a NEW CONTRACT, for a BRAND NEW publishing path, and I'm REALLY excited about it! (Eyes glittering here):
I'm going to be writing a three-book inspirational romance series for a large Christian publishing house--something I've dreamed about since my words first appeared in print.
You'll recall, from my website bio, this first work was an inspirational essay chosen as one of the 101 stories in Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, and I've felt a strong pull toward that genre ever since. In fact, I was writing an inspirational manuscript when--out of the blue--"Port Mortem" (as Dressed to Keel was once known) garnered unexpected interest by the chicklit market. Then before I knew it, I was setting sail as a mystery author. Loved every minute, of course--hey, my research involved cruising--but after
MAI TAI TO MURDER left port, I was drawn to inspirational writing again. A need to write books that--beyond laughs, adventure and escape--will speak more to the heart. So (covertly) I began to write "The Healer's Heart," a romance set in the fast-paced setting of emergency medicine (think "Grey's Anatomy," "ER," "House"), and envisioned a continuing series set in my native California, from Gold Country to the Pacific coast, to the breathtaking San Francisco skyline. Adventures that offer readers a pulse-punding glimpse into the worlds of medicine and rescue services, and into the relationships, hopes and challenges of those heroic men and women--nurses, doctors, firefighters, law enforcement. There will be action, humor, tears, conflict, and the whole gamut of human emotions--with a positive message of enduring hope. And filled with characters you'll care about, want to follow into each new book . . . . that's this author's hope, anyway!
So, it's been nearly a year that I've been working toward this goal, and my agent is ironing out the details, and I won't be more specific just yet . . . but it's happening, folks!
Stay tuned for details on WHAT, WHERE, WHEN. I promise to keep you informed on the progress of my exciting new publishing path.
Meanwhile, I'm writing, writing, writing . . . working on a new website, putting together a new blog, busy, busy, busy. And happy.
Stay tuned!
Oh, Darcy and Marie? They're here, kicking back in my office, and reminding me that my comic voice will never be squelched . . . promising to dance the limbo on my desk if I get too serious or mushy.
Telling me that-- even though drydocked-- they're here to support me. And wish me godspeed.
That's what good friends are for.
I am in the third week of THE ARTIST’S WAY. This 12-week study, developed a decade ago by author, playwright, actress, and screenwriter Julia Cameron, offers a renewed sense of creativity to “blocked artists.” It is, in a word, THERAPY. Intense, a little strange, as self-indulgent as chocolate (actually, the facilitator brought some), maddening (an assignment to give up reading for a week?! Are you serious?! ), scary, and inspiring all at the same time. The goal: to nurture your Artist Child, fill the creative well, and squelch your Internal Censor. To do all of this, the Artist’s Way uses two basic tools: Morning Pages and Artist's Dates.
Morning Pages are 3-handwritten pages that must be done first thing in the morning, free-flow, unedited, just spewing out random thoughts. You never re-read them; you never let anyone else read them. The purpose of the pages is to clear clutter, get rid of the whiny, petty, angry junk that stands between you and your creativity. This is done every single day, no excuses.
Artist's Dates, on the other hand, are treats you give yourself. A block of time once a week that is set aside basically for play. Just you, alone, doing something you wouldn’t ordinarily do, the sillier the better. Like: make a sandcastle, pet a lizard, buy balloons, go ice-skating, take a belly dancing lesson, go to a toy store, go skydiving, visit an aquarium--you get the picture.
The idea is that the Morning Pages get the inhibiting stuff OUT, and the Artists Dates bring creativity IN. It sounds simple, but I’m finding that it isn’t--especially the Artists Dates.
Being an adult pre-disposes us to taking care of the “should” list at the expense of nurturing our creative selves. Juggling writing deadlines, the day-job, and family commitments drains that creative well right down to bottom. We could be spittin’ sand at any given moment.
I’ve taken myself on two dates so far, simple stuff: I played visitor in my little artsy Texas town; popped into a nature store that I was always too rushed to explore, and bought myself a peacock feather. I’d forgotten how amazing those are. Then I stopped into a bakery and treated myself to a thickly frosted Mardi Gras sugar cookie--which I ate while sitting on a swing in a sunny park. Just me, the cookie, the feather, the swing and the sun. No "shoulds" allowed.
Yesterday’s date took me to a nursery with 11 greenhouses, including: masses of herbs, lemon trees pungent with blossoms, an miniature African Violet hothouse, a cactus Quonset hut, and an orchid room that was staggering in its beauty. When I left, my hands smelled like rosemary and sage, and my senses were on overload.
Next week I’m taking myself to a rodeo arena. Maybe I’ll dust off those old red boots.
How about you--when was the last time to you took yourself on a date?
DARCY'S NEW DUDS~ It's official, we've got a new cover for the digital edition (e-book) of DRESSED TO KEEL. My talented webmistress, Josephine Piraneo at GLASS SLIPPER WEB DESIGN, took my suggested elements (nautical, touch of danger, glitz and fun) and came up with this great image. I love the cocktail with both Darcy's signature paper umbrella, and the new added skull and crossbones swizzle stick--gives the whole thing a trendy Captain Jack Sparrow pirate feel, don't you think? Plus, she added the great sparkly charm bracelet (very hot nowadays) featuring anchors and skulls. Darcy loves sparkle. She gets that from, well . . . moi.
So the next step is to get this cover--and the text for DRESSED TO KEEL--uploaded to the Amazon Kindle Bookstore. So that all those thousands of folks who got a Kindle Reader for Christmas, can download the book. Then we'll offer it as a traditional e-book (coming right to your computer without the necessity of a wireless reader gizmo). That way, all the readers who have just recently discovered the DARCY CAVANAUGH CRUISE MYSTERY SERIES can jump onboard the debut sailing by reading this first book! Don't ya love innovation?
Many thanks to the talented Jo Piraneo, and let's raise a toast (skull swizzle stick and all) to Darcy's new duds!
IMAGE ANGST~ The New Year (though laden with new, exciting possibilities) is not without some intial BUMPS in this wacky road of publication. The photo (or lack thereof) above, is what Amazon uses when there is no cover art to display for a book. Usually, this ghostly apparition is the direct result of copyright and licensing restrictions. It's not that the book didn't once have a cover on it--most authors will recognize the importance of having a cover for their books. Enormous importance. That old "you can't judge a book by its cover" cliche, is ridiculous. Most readers are attracted to a book BECAUSE of its cover. So, losing the rights to a book cover is a sad thing. Why am I bringing this up?
DRESSED TO KEEL is now naked. Because my publisher has decided not to reprint the book and all copies have been sold out of their warehouse, they have (kindly) returned the book rights to me. But not the cover rights, because they don't own them--the (fabulous) artwork is licensed by an independent artist. And, realistically, this author can't afford the purchase price of those rights.
Which wouldn't be a big deal, except that I want to offer DRESSED TO KEEL as an e-book, via Amazon Kindle and other sources. With two other Darcy Cavanaugh mysteries still available in print (Aye Do or Die and Mai Tai to Murder), it makes sense that new readers want to get their hands on the debut book in this series. So now I have an electronic file, ready to upload, but . . . NO COVER. What to do, what to do?
My husband (bless him) came up with the solution--can't believe I didn't think of it myself:
Have my very talented web designer, create a new cover for the DRESSED TO KEEL!
So we're doing that, as we speak. Tossing around ideas, getting a feel for what would be simple, give the "flavor" of the book, and be eye-catching. And affordable, of course.
I'm excited to see what she comes up with. And I'm even more excited about getting DRESSED TO KEEL sailing again, as an e-book.
If you haven't heard about Amazon's new Kindle wireless reading device (with 90, 000 books ready to download at the touch of a finger!), check it out by clicking here.
And stay tuned for the unveiling of Darcy's new book cover.
Jeez, this is kind of like hitting Nordstrom's for that great new outfit.
Happy New Year everyone!!
You guessed it: I made the wreath. I CRAFTED it.
Why?
Good question.
The simple answer is that I saw a similar one at the Liberty Bar & Cafe in San Antonio. A century-old establishment skewed at an alarming Pisa-esque angle. Which means that if you set your purse on the floor it could keep on slidin' til it comes to rest under the spurs of that good lookin' cowboy at the end of the bar. The menu, however, is darned-straight fabulous. I had the duck salad.
I had the cactus growing in my back yard.
I had all those wooden shish-kebob thingies gathering dust in my kitchen drawer.
And (most significantly) I had the luxury of TIME.
Because (and here’s the real answer to the question “why”):
I’m between writing contracts.
Mai Tai to Murder has been successfully launched, and I have a new series proposal under serious consideration by several publishing houses. Very exciting. But, still, it’s strange for an author to be in a limbo-land without deadlines. Though I love the heady sense of anticipation and new options (cue the West Side Story showtune, "Something's Coming" . . .) I find that my natural creative juices need to be satisfied. I MUST be CRAFTING something. Anything (obviously). I've always been that way. And over the years, this itchy need has spawned a vast number of strange things: felt fabric mice dressed in Camelot costumes, a gingerbread re-creation of my hospital emergency department (complete with Santa OD'd on brownies) , Edward Scissorhand-like topiaries, cookies shaped into smiling armadillos, that great carrot cake for a quarterhorse's 16th birthday party . . . . okay, I’ll stop before I scare the bejeebers out of you.
My curiosity stirred, I posed the question to my fellow Midnight Ink authors and found that we have quite the creative bunch. Click here to see how the InkSpot group responded.
And, oh yeah, is it just me, or do my cactus buds look a LOT like pimento-stuffed green olives?
I've created a hanging prickly LoneStar Martini.
Well then: Cheers and happy holidays, everyone!
TURKEY DAY~ We're winding down from a long Thanksgiving weekend that was made fabulous by a visit from our dearest friends--California buddies who retired just east of us to Arkansas--during which we hiked, country danced, drank wine, laughed . . . and talked non-stop until the wee hours every night . . . priceless! On Turkey Day, we barbecued our 15 pound bird (with an Internet-snatched basting recipe that included fresh rosemary, orange peel and balsamic vinegar) and added (South Beach friendly) sides of fresh green beans, whole wheat, sausage and pear stuffing, cranberry chutney, and (outstanding!) Sweet Potato, Ginger and Jalapeno casserole. We did not want for food, trust me. Or warm and lively conversation. Some of it evolved around the way that our lives are now passing at . . .
WARP SPEED~ Is it just us, or does life seem to gallop by faster than you can haul back on the reins? Today I ran off my annual Christmas letter (yes, I'm one of "those" folks), and when I proofed it, I was astounded at the dizzying number of events (both wonderful and tragic) that swept us in 2007. Texas weather that included ice storms and flood, visits from nature's creatures (frogs, snakes, and furry folks) friends and family, the loss of BOTH my parents, the launch of TWO Darcy mysteries, a whirlwind book tour to both coasts, a cruise that took down the Nile and up aboard a camel, and much, much more. But that was just one year, a small slice of life. What was even more staggering, was our wonderment (spurred by a couple of glasses of California chardonnay--and jalapeno spiked yams) at the turn of events that had brought us through the past two decades to where we sat that evening. Because, you see, the four of us were all "second chancers"--folks who'd led previous lives (with different spouses, alternate dreams) and survived twists of "fate" that turned our lives upside down when we'd least expected it. It was fun--and affirming--to hear each person recall where they'd been in, say . . . 1988. And to realize (with goosebumps) that we could never have known the changes (and challenges) that were to come, the way our lives would parallel and then intersect . . . until we arrived at this South Texas Thanksgiving dinner table together. It was a staggering, then very cool realization. And a very good thing to add to our lists of blessings we are thankful for this holiday.
So how about you? Was it a "warp speed" year . . . decade?
Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful, and that you buckle up your seatbelt--there's holiday madness ahead!
SMALL TOWN ~ For over three years now, I've lived in a small town--for the first time in my life. Add to that, that the small town is in Texas, nearly two thousand miles from my native Northern California, and you have to agree that it could be a culture shock. It was. It is. And because we've recently been traveling to places like Athens, Cairo . . . Newark, Seattle, the "Mayberry" aspects of home are even more apparent. And yet . . . in so many ways, it's SO GREAT. Because of a lot of little things, like:
1) Going to the grocery store today and (while pushing my cart down the aisles) exchanging hello's with 2 neighbors, 4 people from our church, and even our local independent bookseller. And--because it's Texas--getting to smile once again at the pink "stork" signs in the parking lots that designate special parking spots for "Expectant and New Mothers".
2) Attending a fundraiser for our incumbent county sheriff, a barbecue held at a local dude ranch--at which, the candidate was introduced, and rode up on horseback, toting a shotgun.
3) (In a country that has cities banning Christmas lights!) Making plans to attend a "Live Nativity," on Main Street which includes CAMELS trucked in from . . . Cairo? (Probably some private ranch in Forth Worth, but hey--they're live camels for goodness sake)
4) Having a small, independent bookstore--Read All About It Books (soon to have a website and online catalog)--with employees who know my name, pass it along, and cheefully host my launch parties. Making me feel "real," instead of just another ISBN # in a book catalog.
5) Living in a resort community (of 100 or so) where, when hubby and I are walking our 14-yr. old schnauzer, we can recite the name of each family in each house we pass--and might very well be invited to sit and talk.
6) Living in a neighborhood where--when our burglar alarm sounded after a recent lightning strike--the sheriff, fire department, our neighbors and our pastor (who lives next door) arrived within minutes to check on our welfare.
7) Knowing that our town boasts the oldest German Oohmpah Band in the country--requiring septegenarians to bare their knees in lederhosen several times a year.
8) Seeing our church host an annual blessing of the animals--dogs, cats, hamsters, fish . . . even stuffed animals if need be.
9) Having a local CrimeStoppers offer rewards for tips . . . but the coffers remain full, because there's so little crime.
10) Having a local pizza parlor host a Friday Night music venue, with a hurricane Katrina evacuee who (with the help of a talented waiter) packs the room doing his impression of the Blues Brothers. Causing this author to awake last Saturday morning with a voice hoarse from singing along, and hobbling on legs sore from doing the Twist . . .
Seriously, it's great. Not that we don't occasionally crave big city culture and high rises. There's Austin and Dallas, and even San Antonio for that. But for a place to live . . . I'm spoiled. And I'm thinking that my next mystery series will be set in small town. Where everyone knows everybody, and the shops close on Mondays, the streets roll up at 9 PM, and--just like in Camelot--the autumn leaves fall neatly into a pile . .
Ah, I'm hooked.
THE HIGH SEAS ~ As you already know, I've just returned from a 12-day cruise that began in Athens and sailed on to ports in the Black Sea, Cypress and Egypt, before returning to Greece. You know I climbed aboard a camel, you know I navigated a non-Western (meaning Black Hole in the Floor) toilet, drank vodka and ate borscht. What you didn't know is that I promoted my books like banshee aboard the glamorous MS Rotterdam, one of many in the fabulous fleet of uber-ships known as the Holland America Line.
I'm admitting, right here and right now, that I went aboard with . . . an agenda. That I was determined to reach my goal: seeing my funny & romantic cruise mysteries on the library bookshelf of my favorite cruise line. So I brought aboard (along with my glittery gowns, my anti-blood clot airline stockings, my Wikipedia printout history of the Pyramids) one copy each (autographed) of DRESSED TO KEEL, AYE DO OR DIE, and MAI TAI TO MURDER. Then I sought out the Cruise Director--who turned out to be the vivacious, gorgeous and oh-so-British dyamo, Ms. Susan Wood. (The photo above is of Captain Jan Smit and Susan Wood, and . . . moi)
I presented the books, confessed my dream of having them appear in her library and . . . voila, she made a call to Corporate in Seattle and made it happen! And here, to my great delight is a photo of one of my books on the (Bestseller!) shelf on the Rotterdam, and one taken with ship librarian, Susanne:
The VERY best part, was that my books were CHECKED OUT from the first day of the cruise! A captive readership, isolated aboard a ship surrounded my miles of sea . . . a floating literary island of sorts . . . all making for an incredible temptation for an author. To peer at folks reading on deck chairs, in shipboard bars, in lounges . . . to crane her neck to see the book's title, to see if, perchance . . . NOT that I would stoop to such a thing, of course! The 3-mile laps around the Promenade Deck were strictly for my health.
But, I have to say that I'm thrilled that HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE LINES was so kind, and did their part to make this author's dream come true! Darcy, Marie--your'e really and truly SAILING, ladies!
1) A hike up to the Acropolis in Athens to see the Parthenon
Me and the Sphinx--who'd have thunk it?
If you want to view the slide show of our trip photos, click here. Note: this file takes a couple of minutes to load and about 15 minutes to play, but includes some cool (and funny) images.
* I climbed aboard that camel--in the shadow of the pyramids--in honor of my mother, Betty Lou, a woman with an insatiable sense of adventure, a killer wit, and the bluest eyes you've ever seen. She died (after a long struggle with Alzheimers) just before we were scheduled to fly to Europe, and the day after my last post here. She'd have been furious if I cancelled. I did my best to see it all through her beautiful eyes.
Bon Voyage and Godspeed, Mom*
OMIGOD, THE PYRAMIDS? ~ Sunday, day after tomorrow, I'll be climbing on a jet that will fly--via Newark, New Jersey--to Athens. Where I'll climb the gangway of the elegant Dutch cruise ship, ROTTERDAM, that sets sail through the Greek islands, on to The Black Sea, Cypress, Istanbul . . . and eventually to Alexandria, Egypt . . . which leads to Cairo, a riverboat along the Nile . . . ending at the PYRAMIDS. I'm goosebumpy beyond belief with AWE.
Seeing the pyramids--that big ol' Sphinx--is something that I (provincial, ordinary, Sacramento California kid) only dared to dream. It was the stuff that movies showcased, mystery novels chronicled, National Geographic displayed in full color photos . . and for me, pure whimsy. But now I'm going. Pinch me, I don't believe it. Even though I've done the preparations: current passport (so-so photo), immunizations, packing of travel wear, some borrowed, (courtesy of a generous neighbor who must be a Chico's elite customer!) and practical (orthopedic) flight items like memory-gel neck pillows, anti-thrombus compression stockings (in no way trendy), Airborne tablets to ward off inflight viruses . . . . you get the picture; but it still seems incredible. Here's our itinerary:
Athens
Istanbul, Turkey
Varna, Bulgaria
Odessa, Ukraine (where we'll see a Russian ballet!)
Sevastopol, Ukraine
Ephesus, Turkey
Rhodes, Greece
Limassol, Cyprus
Alexandria, Egypt (a cruise down The Nile in Style . . . and on to the pyramids!)
Piraeaus, Greece
I'm boggled. I'm jazzed. I've had a haircut, a pedicure, made arrangements to board the mini-schnauzer, packed up my books, my laptop, my digital camera . . . made lists of my lists and . . . I'm ready. To see my wonderful, handsome husband (who's making this Sacramento girl's dream of the pyramids a reality) dressed in a tuxedo. To sip champagne while sailing through the Greek isles. To do the Chicken Dance in a shipboard Disco. To eat . . . lotsa gorgeous food totally banned on the South Beach Diet. And be . . . very, very grateful for my incredible blessings.
Ciao (or the Greek, Turkish, Russian, Egyptian equivilent!)
PS: It looks like we'll have wireless aboard the Rotterdam, so I"ll do my darndest to check in and let you know what I'm doing.
Wish me Godspeed, and stay tuned for more!
with bookstore owners Rebecca and Darla and aspiring author Cassie
With new Read All About It Bookstore owner, Rebecca
fabulous cake by HEB baker, Carol (note the little manuscript pages "floating" in the frosting!)
With the amazing and talented San Antonio Romance Authors . . .
friends and neighbors raise a toast
author and her real life hero
Mai Tai's all round!
Can't believe I ate that much cake . . .
What a party . . . thanks to all who came to help me celebrate--and those who were here in spirit too. We're sailing!
THE WILDE SIDE (SITE)~ You may guess, already, that this post is made from a far better frame of mind--just because there are no photos of frogs or rodents, or . . . Potatoe Heads. Good call. Actually, the "Wilde" reference goes beyond the energy of this photo--and points to my friend and fellow author, LORI WILDE. She's honored me by posting an author interview on her (fabulous) website. This is a new monthly feature for Lori, and technically, this makes me . . . um . . . Miss September! (blush, blush) Of course, I'm not going to wear bunny ears or a cottontail--not with that rodent eating SNAKE in my backyard! But anyway, it's very nice of her to include me in her author interviews, and if you'd like to read it (and have a chance at winning a signed copy of Aye Do or Die), just click HERE. And while you're at it, take a dizzying look at the booklist of this bestselling romance author, which includes her latest steamy release, MY SECRET LIFE.
SOUTH BEACH~ So ya wanna know the diet update? Well, hubby and I survived Phase One without going crazy--okay, I almost did go crazy, but then you knew that--dreaming of Mr. Potato Head is not entirely normal. But after 14 days of Carb Prison, here's the count: Hubby--down 12 pounds. Me: 8 pounds. Gotta tell you, it feels great. And, amazingly, we have never been hungry. (Cranky, yes, hungry no). And now, in Phase Two, we get to have a glass of wine, some bread, fruit, our standby Scottish rolled oats . . . and even chocolate. Guess who's not cranky anymore?
Right: Miss September.
The best thing about the South Beach Diet, is that it is a wonderfully healthy, do-able for a lifetime diet. Actually, not far from what I've always done (minus refined sugar products). So we'll stick with this Phase for another week, lose our targeted five more pounds . . . then celebrate by going on a TWO WEEK cruise to the Greek Isles, Russsia, the pyramids . . . oh, I forgot to mention that? Tune in next week. Same time. Same place.
Hmmm . . . Egypt. Isn't that where Cleopatra encountered that godawful asp???
CREATURES~ So yesterday was what I call a high creature day. I mean, in my 3 years in Texas, I have learned to accept some of the quirks of nature; I watch for fireants hills, I've scooped lightning bugs out of the spa, I brake for roadrunners . . .
But I'm NOT Sheena of the Jungle, for godsake! Here's the rundown:
0800: Hubby and I are eating our yummy South Beach Diet breakfast (fake Eggs with fake bacon, Day Ten) and I see a green flash out on the back fence. I run out barefoot (watching for fire ant hills) to spot a green lizard.
Interesting, but not a biggie. Then--
1600 : I'm floating on my air mattress in the pool, running plot ideas through my head, when I hear a rustle, and then frantic squeaking in the bushes beside me. I raise up and squint toward the sounds. In a flash, there is this animal kingdom Keystone Cops scenario: out runs an (unidentified) furry rodent, chased immediately by a 4 FOOT LONG Hognose Snake. I scream for hubby (just wanting to share the sighting, of course). He arrives poolside, the snake slithers back into the bush, which causes two large bullfrogs to jump out. Then I jump ( out of the pool), reach for my towel, and out of the towel leaps a gecko!
1605 : And hustle into the house, to discover a scorpion on my kitchen floor.
Jeez, loueeze. So . . . that was my creature day.
What? The other picture. Oh, no, --I didn't have any Texas Potato Head sightings. That's my newest dream creature.
CARBS~ You know how, in that commercial, the guy has dream creatures consisting of Abe Lincoln, a groundhog, and an anstronaut? Mine is Mr. Potato Head. Likely related to the fact that we can't have any potatoes on the South Beach Diet (or rice, or fruit, or bread or . . . wine).
And by Day Seven, my subconcious mind figured out that cauliflower (see last blog post) is NOT a potato.
Why is the photo black and white?
You try dreaming in color with no carbs in your brain.
But then again, at 7 pounds lighter ( yes, the diet works), I probably run faster now. Which comes in handy if the lizards, snakes and frogs figure out how to get inside the house.
Three more days and I'm having a baked potato.
Soaked in civilized California merlot.
LIGHTNING~ Check my hair: is it standing on end? No? Good. Wait--are you sure? Okay, but . . .
If I sound traumatized--or just plain nuts--I'm blaming it on the fact that we were struck by lightning last Wednesday afternoon around 4:30PM. Seriously. One of our nasty Texas "thunderbumpers" rolled in suddenly, and in the din of the showers (we have a metal roof), I wandered into my husband's office to ask, "Are we okay?" Which is something I'll admit to doing since we moved to Texas--every time there's one of those wild storms.
Anyway, before he could answer, there was this HUGE blasting sound (like a bomb, I swear) and a flash of light so bright that it shone like a fireball even through his closed window blinds. I'm pretty sure I screamed. Then we went outside to see what the heck happened (how dumb is that?), and discovered that lightning had struck one of the large oak trees on our front lawn--maybe 30 feet from our house. The tree bark was pitted, and the slate decking below it had shattered, flinging pieces of tiles maybe twenty feet out onto our lawn.
Amazing. As was the fact that the surge traveled along our outside lighting and then into our house.
Wiping out the sprinkler systems and the TV/internet cable. Just to add to the drama, our security system shorted out after we went to bed, setting off the alarms--and bringing the sheriff and fire trucks! All in all, a memorable evening. What's that? Oh, the cauliflower. No--weird as Texas may be--it did NOT rain cauliflowers. That's about . . .
LIGHTEN-ING~ My husband was advised to cut back on his sugar/carb intake and--since we are taking a cruise next month--I decided that we could both use a "tune-up," and started us on The South Beach Diet. They say that the average weight losss is 8-12 pounds in the first 2 weeks, which is pretty much what we'd like to accomplish. But that means no sugar, no bread, no alcohol, no rice, no . . . potatoes. And because I'm a tad bit . . . OCD, I am following the plan page by page. Recipe by recipe. Which actually are pretty darned good. If not a teeny bit strange, like last night's dinner of lean steak, grilled tomatoes, tossed salad with Balsalmic dressing and "Surprise South Beach Mashed Potatoes." The surprise: it is actually mashed cauliflower. For godsake. Steamed until soft, run through the food processor with a bit of fat free half & half, some fake butter spray, (real) salt and pepper and . . . they were REALLY GOOD! I swear. Looked and tasted a LOT like honest to goodness mashed potatoes!
Really.
Unless . . . being struck by lightning shorted out my taste buds.
Darcy's newest adventure--MAI TAI TO MURDER--was released (early) on Amazon and Barnes & Noble a few days ago, and (as usual, since all my book "births" have been premature) I'm scuttling to catch up with momentum as this third voyage head to ports. I have to admit, that it's my favorite of the three mysteries. I feel like my characters have hit their strides and--most importantly--have grown as people. Okay, that makes me sound crazy. To call them "people," when they are in reality simply thousands of words, images, bits of dialogue--verbs, adjectives, nouns. But, hey, for this author (and for many of my readers, so they say) after three books (and three years), these words HAVE become people. When I write words like, "shamrock tatoo, jeez, for godsake, macaroni and cheese, Grandma Rosaleen", you know that's Darcy. Just as, "cherry cigar, fanny pack, Babe, cow socks, Carol," conjures up my pal Marie Whitley.
Another one of the really fun things about writing Mai Tai to Murder, was that it allowed me to spoof the entire publishing industry, from readers to writers, to agents, editors, and even those "Fabio"-esque male cover models.
It was a hoot to create nasty, meat-cleaver wielding SuperAgent Theodora Kenyon, desperate aspiring authors, zealous fans . . . and even a "fowl-mouthed," parrot who squawks nasty literary criticisms. Obviously, I borrowed generously from my own experiences in the circus-worthy journey toward publication. And, though I embellished outrageously, I did offer readers some insights into the process. I also intended the book to honor the real folks within the industry. Just as I said in the book's Dedication:
"This book--though liberally poking fun at the literary world--is dedicated to those same folks: agents, editors, and publishers whose vision and talent put great books into the hands of eager readers. And to my fellow writers (published and pre-published) to honor the unique combination of guts, heart, and tenacity that it takes to persue this craft in the face of daunting obstacles, not the least of which is self-doubt. You are my friends, mentors, and the only people who truly understand this crazy calling--go for the dream!"
Of course this dedication has not completely convinced my (brilliant, savvy, and personable) agent, that I didn't model the character of the ruthless, rum-swilling Thea Kenyon after her! The same way, I suppose, that my friends continue to say that Darcy is really ME, and that . . . well, you get the picture.
But I swear that ALL of these characters are fictional, just as the publisher's disclaimer says at the beginning of the book. Except for the characters of Bill and Frankeen Price, who are indeed artists and my neighbors. They climbed on board for a "cameo appearance" via their very generous donation to local Texas charities (The chance to appear in Mai Tai to Murder was an auction item at a Ladies Club charity event). And I'm really thrilled to have them onboard, that they were such colorful characters to "shanghai," and--mostly--that they've allowed my quirky mysteries to do some very fine things within our community. Now THAT'S where fiction becomes reality. And it so, SO rocks!
Here's a toast to the sailing of my third ship--and welcome aboard!
If you'd like a sneak peek at Chapter One of Mai Tai to Murder, click here.
DALLAS~ After long weeks of tough stuff, it's high time for this author to kick up her heels and kick loose. So I'm packing up the boyfriend-cut bluejeans, my best Justin boots, a couple of business suits . . . and some high-glam evening wear and flying to the Big D for: The Romance Writers of America National Conference--yeehaw!
For romance authors and readers, it's the highlight of the year. There will be thousands of attendees, readers, booksellers, librarians, big New York editors, cutting edge e-publishers, high profile literary agents (like mine, Natasha Kern), aspiring writers, over 400 published authors including BIG STARS like Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Lisa Kleypas, Lisa Jackson, Jayne Ann Krentz, Carly Phillips, Nora Roberts, Amanda Quick, Kat Martin, Linda Lael Miller, Jo Beverly, Suzanne Brockman . . . and many, many more!
There will be more than 100 workshops, publisher parties, chapter parties, The Death by Chocoate Party (do you notice the frequency of the word party? Remember, writers spend most of their year in solitary confinement in front of their computers!), a BookSeller Tea, Moonlight Madness, Author and Editor appointments, and the grand finale on Saturday night: The RITA and Golden Heart Awards Banquet--a formal, Academy Award-esque gala ending in the presentation of awards to the year's best romance books written by both published and unpublished authors.
The 4-day event, beginning Weds. July 11th and ending on Sunday, July 15th will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas and, as you can tell, I'm jazzed! It will be my very first National Conference since my publisher has been "recognized" by RWA, which means (though I'll soon have 3 books on the shelves) I'll be finally considered a "published romance author," get to wear the coveted Pink Ribbon to celebrate that distinction, and take part in the huge Readers for Life autographing event. I'll be signing copies of DRESSED to KEEL and AYE DO or DIE for fans, and the entire proceeds of this charity event (with over 400 authors) will support adult literacy programs. A great honor and a wonderful cause. The Readers for Life signing is open to the public and will be held on Wednesday, July 11th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Click here for details and author list, and c'mon down and say hello to me: I'll be the one wearing the Pink Ribbon and the goofy smile.
So, yes, Dallas will be just what the doctor ordered for this author; rooming with my great critique partner, Nancy, meeting up with old friends and new, having dinner with my agent, star-gazing at the BIG NAMES, swapping stories, learning new tips, cheering my friends who are up for awards. . . and talking until I'm completely hoarse with folks who are as nuts as I am about this wacky business of writing. As the commercial says: Priceless.
So c'mon to Dallas, y'all--there's a party goin' on!
Anyway, I'm now ensconced in a real chair close to a plug, and am recharging both the laptop and--thanks to Starbuck's--my caffeine level as well. I'm pretty sure that the Lord himself inspired Grande Nonfat Mochas (with plenty of whipped cream--hey, no one should be too "good").
The past weeks' absence, culminating in an exhausting 10 days in Sacramento, were because of:
TOUGH STUFF~ An unexpected illness for my 84-year old father, and his death on May 24th. Before I flew to California for his memorial gathering, I posted a tribute to Dad on the Midnight Ink group blog, InkSpot. You can read it by clicking here. The blog entry is entitled, "Storytellers," because Dad was my earliest--and most memorable storyteller.
So now I've completed my promise to my father--scattering his ashes in the ocean off Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz. A gorgeous, golden, sunset moment on Father's Day . . . fitting, and good.
And--because life occasions are often bittersweet--had a WONDERFUL opportunity to spend time with my three siblings all at once. Rare indeed, since we all live in different states now. After the tears, there were plenty of laughs, and all those "remember whens" and "hey, that wasn't me" 's, and . . . great stuff.
So now I'm going back to Texas. And back to writing as well . . . because I'm a storyteller too. It's in the genes: Dad's lasting gift to me.
Godspeed, Daddy.
MALICE DOMESTIC, WASHINGTON D.C.~ Okay, I'm excited. Because on Thursday morning (incredibly, squinty-eyed early) hubby and I are catching a flight to Washington D.C., home of the White House, the Pentagon, Library of Congress (which actually catalogs my books!), Constitution Hall, the National Archives . . . Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson Monuments, Arlington Cemetery . . . whoosh. I'm having a US History quiz flashback! It will be our first visit to DC, and it will also be my very first MALICE DOMESTIC mystery conference. Malice (if you didn't already know) was: "established in 1989 . . . saluting the traditional mystery--books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie."
There will be hundreds of fans and oodles of mystery authors, including a great sampling from Midnight Ink. We'll be presenting various fun and informative panels. Here's the lineup:
"InkSpotters" traveling to Arlington, Virginia for Malice Domestic , May 4-6, 2007.:
Deb Baker
5/5/2007 at 9:00 am
The Craft of Detection-Sleuths Who Craft More Than A Killer's Fate
Karen MacInerney
5//07 at 9:00 am
New Kids On the Block
Sue Ann Jaffarian
5/5/2007 at 10:30 am
Gumption-These Sleuths Have Plenty!
G.M. Malliet
5/5/2007 at 10:30 am
Short Story Panel
Chuck Zito
5/5/2007 at 10:30 am
Moderating "It's A Man's World: Guys With Attitude"
Susan Goodwill
5/5/2007 at 2:30 pm
Murder in Paradise:Death among the Beautiful People
Candy Calvert
5/5/07 at 4:00 pm
Mystery and Medicine: What makes the murder go down?
Joanna Slan
5/6/07 at 10:30 am
Undaunted Sleuths: Murder Most Adventurous
I'm looking forward to a whirlwind trip; seeing the sights of DC, eating some Maryland crabcakes, meeting fans and networking with fellow authors, and cheering on my pal Karen MacInerney whose book, Murder on the Rocks, has been nominated for the coveted AGATHA AWARD for Best First Mystery!
Go Karen!
So, please, if you're in the DC area, stop by--I'd love to meet you!
Okay, I knew this image would catch your attention--and no, it's not some weird CSI opening hook about a Vegas showgirl trapped in gopher hole. It's an Earth Day protest depicting people who "play ostrich in the face of environmental degradation." Pretty heavy--and acrobatic. But don't worry, I'm not going to be making any real political statements here, because--in truth--I'm way behind the curve on saving the earth; although the older I get, the more I'm paying attention, and the "greener" I feel. This no doubt amuses my brother Dennis, who is a renowned Doctor of Palenontology and who has spent his career (and soon his retirement) not only dissecting (literally--I've seen the formaldehyde jars in his lab; whoa!) creatures of the past, but indeed preserving animal and plant life for the future benefit of our planet. To say that I admire him for this is a huge understatement.
My contributions are far less lofty, but I'm learning--and trying. To conserve water, and energy. To choose native plants, to reach for organic choices in food, make my garden eco-friendly (and enjoy the "perks" of butterflies and birds!), choosing recycled products when I can . . . baby steps, I suppose, but that's a start. Some folks are doing way more, like our newest neighbor who is building a completely "green" house, with water-catchment systems and solar panels. It will fascinating to see that happen, and I hope it encourages other builders in our area to do the same. Because--like the woman in the image above--we can't afford to be environmental ostriches.
Especially in Texas.
Where there are fire ants under the lawn. Ouch!
Happy Earth Day! And here's some ideas if you want to do a little bit more to help our Earth: 50 Ways to Go Green
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