Morgan Freeman-Invictus

This time every year Hollywood is aflutter with anticipation. Who will receive the golden statue for the leading man in the best actor category? This year the Academy of Performing Arts has once again nominated the best of the best. What I noticed about this years nominees, is the distinguished attraction in a category of talented performers. Just like the heroes in some of my favorite novels, it proves that looks do not always dictate the power of the leading man. George Clooney, Tobey McGuire, and Colin Firth are nothing to sneeze at, but I find the talent of Morgan Freeman and Jeff Bridges to be equally arresting.

JR Ward created a tortured and scarred hero in Zaddist. In Lover Eternal, he displayed as many scars on the outside as the suffering he sheltered in his soul. His scarred appearance endeared his character to thousands of readers. An attractive appearance is just icing on the cake for the most cherished leading men. Heroes are remembered for their actions, and the ability to make you believe them in the role they portray.

Tobey McQuire- Brothers

George Clooney-Up in the Air

Colin Firth-A Single Man

Unfortunately, I haven’t viewed any of the movies nominated. However, I can remember each of these men in unforgettable roles. Most memorable for me would have to be Morgan Freeman in the Shawshank Redemption. At the end, when he strolls down the beach toward Tim Robbins, it makes me want to stand and cheer every time.

In movies as well as novels, the memory etched, is the sucess gained.

Jeff Bridges-Crazy Heart

Who are your favorite-scarred heroes? Whom do you predict to win the Oscar tonight?

This is the time of year that many of us share needed time with loved ones. We often spend hours at the mall looking for the perfect gift for each person on our shopping list. I enjoy giving more than receiving. I count down the days until I can see the joy on my son’s face as he rips into each present. To me, Christmas isn’t just about giving material items; it’s about giving from the heart. Some of the best presents I’ve ever received or given were priceless. They were random acts of kindness that meant far more than any material possession. They opened my eyes to the important things in life that I often take for granted.

I thought about writing this blog as a letter to Santa. We could have shared our favorite things as Oprah does with her viewing audience once a year, but I wanted to make it more real. I wanted to think outside the box about issues that are often beyond our grasp. Those issues we view on the nightly news, and shake our heads at the atrocity. Issues that we feel are out of our control, but in reality, we know that if we took up a cause we couldn’t save the world, but we might make a difference.

So many elderly people need assistance, not just financially but emotionally. The hospitals and extended care facilities are at capacity with elderly individuals who will never see a family member this Christmas. I’ve been fortunate enough to join church functions that reached out to these individuals, and I have never experienced a more wonderful gift than seeing gratitude and a smile for just singing a Christmas carol.

If your children, nieces, or nephews have used books, consider donating them to your local school or library. They could be a vessel that will foster a desire to read. You can clean off shelves in your home for new Christmas toys and provide another child with the gift that keeps on giving.

If you have teenage children plan a holiday party so they can extend an invitation to several friends. In a nation where teen violence in schools is increasing at an alarming rate, every random act of kindness is needed. The invitation might reach a child that has a disappointing family life. We often don’t realize the magnitude of hospitality.

Have you ever considered volunteering your time to help serve a holiday dinner at a local soup kitchen? If you can’t spare the time, consider giving a donation to a favorite charity or food bank. You will provide funds or a meal to those less fortunate, and benefit from income tax relief.

Do you have a garage or attic full of unwanted Christmas decorations? Find a local charity taking donations, maybe that old star that used to perch on top of your Christmas tree could bring the light back into another family’s Christmas.

Christmas is a time of joy, we don’t want to dispel that fuzzy feeling with a startling peek at how the less fortunate live, but when we take much needed time away from the tinsel and glittering lights, a feeling of even greater joy is unearthed.

I’ve missed the crew, and my cyber peeps. Even though I’ve been pulled away from the writing world by my day job, I’ve missed this world and all of you, tremendously. Hugs all around! Peace and joy to all of you this holiday season.

“Last I heard he was heading for the states.” He said.

We all experience stress, just like the characters we create. Maybe not at the epic proportions of the character in the snippet of my story, but I’m sure we all have felt as if we were working under the gun from time to time. In my past writing life, I have usually dealt with stress in my personal life by tapping away the frustration on the computer keyboard. I’ve written some of my best scenes after experiencing a stressful day. Emotion, anger, and heartache give me the right frame of mind to slip under my character’s skin. As we’ve often discussed on the ship, writing can be a cheap form of therapy.

My father passed away 9 years ago. As a form of therapy, I chose to express my grief through a pen on paper. I couldn’t verbally express the raw pain of emotion clawing at my heart. The verbilizations never seemed sufficient to describe the turmoil in my life. I wrote pages upon pages of words, attempting to extinguish the pain the only way I knew how.  I wrote everything I felt, and everything I missed about him. In the end when I finished pouring out my soul, I wrote a letter to him. I told him everything I wanted to say that I didn’t find the opportunity to say before I said goodbye. Most of what I said he already knew, but visulizing it on paper made all the difference in the world. I documented my feelings of loss, followed by a celebration of his life. Through my journey I discovered a love for writing that I left behind in an American Literature  class. It took the darkest moment of my life to discover something that would become one of the biggest anchors in my life.

In recent months, I have experienced an extreme amount of stress in the workplace. The stress has carried over into my writing life. Before, I dealt with stress through writing, now I’m stressed because the stress is not allowing me to write. My workdays are long and exhausting; they leave me both mentally and physically tired. When I find time to sit in front of the keyboard my brain is mush. I have fleeting ideas for storylines, and thoughts for scenes to add to my current WIP, but they all filter away because I don’t have the advantage of stopping a surgical procedure and writing them in my trusty notebook. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been known to have a fellow coworker dictate notes for me from the surgical field. I get some weird looks, but I’m sure you understand how important those fleeting thoughts are to a current WIP.

I’m not writing this blog to illicit cyber hugs, because I’m no different from anyone else who has a stressful job environment. I empathize with those who do, but I know I’m not alone. Even if you don’t have a stressful job, most writers experience stress in their personal life. We all have families, friends, pets, households, and deadlines. At any given time, unexpected crap hits the fan. The car breaks down, grandma falls and breaks a hip, the cat gets a hairball, or the air conditioner ceases to function on the hottest day of the summer. Life is good, but it can be a never-ending snag of complications. Have you ever heard the quote “If life gives you lemons make lemonade?” My life is giving me lemons, but I’m too tired to squeeze.

I know most of you have procrastinated on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter. I often wonder how the world communicated before cell phones and wall posts. Who would have thought that reading something as trivial as what someone ate for dinner could be so interesting? I’m just poking fun, but I have to admit, when SEP confirmed me as a friend, I got a little light headed. Face book has allowed me to reconnect with some high school friends, and old acquaintances. I’ve enjoyed catching up on the lives of people I haven’t seen in over 20 years. However, I have received a few messages with comments about my pursuit of a writer’s dream. Some of them were very interesting and supportive, but then a few, not so much. I even reconnected with a friend from high school who is a published author. How cool is that?

2. As therapy for all the nasty mean things my brother did to  me as a child, and the way Jody Mulky treated me when I made the pee wee cheerleading squad, not to mention that Chris Thomas turned me down when I asked him to junior prom. I have issues to work out, and by cracky I’m doing it in the pages of a book, and it’s going to be good.

3. I am a cover art whore and my cover is going to be good. It’s going to picture a half naked, dark skinned man with no chest hair, a tattoo around his bicep, and a dark brooding look in his eyes. If I get lucky maybe, a Ducati will be in the background. I know that most writers never get a choice with their cover art, but after the publisher finds out about the childhood trauma I endured, they’ll make an exception.

4. I have 21 years of experience as a nurse. In those 21 years, I’ve interacted with people of all lifestyles, in every stage of life and death. I could write a book for every years worth of experience. I’ve lived it, now it’s time to share the joy and heartache.

5. I have the choice of picking out a cool pen name-an alter ego so to speak.

6. I have the opportunity to meet cool writer buddies.

7. To have the opportunity to travel, and experience other cultures, and meet other writers in all walks of life.

8. The opportunity to change a person’s negative energy toward the romance genre.

9. To be able to say I wrote a book as a way of obtaining a personal goal.

10. To create a cast of characters that resonate in the reader’s mind long after they close the cover.

What are your reasons for writing a book? Have you ever used a character or a scene to work out some personal issues? Does anyone else have a cover art fetish?

I spend forty hours a week in a sterile environment. Life and death situations are as close as my fingertips. I’m conditioned to anticipate the next instrument to place in the surgeon’s hand, it doesn‘t mean I’m always correct, but you have to allow for the man factor. Most of the time I hand them what they need and not what they ask for, it works to both of our advantage. Surgical procedures are performed in steps, and unless some unforeseen occurrence happens, they move as precise as the hands on a Tag Heuer watch.

The more I write, the more I discover the correlation between my day job and my writing process. When I‘m experiencing a good day I imagine a new idea for a story. On a bad day, a patient experiences a sharp pain in their flank area, and a desire for pain medication. Before I start a story, I immediately gather information by research, and brainstorming. When a patient arrives in the emergency room, the admitting doctor obtains the patient’s medical history. After brainstorming, I develop a starting point for my story. The ER physician compiles lab and x-ray data, discovers a kidney stone and consults a urologist. Based on the size of the stone, the urologist decides whether to perform surgery. The patient receives a preoperative medication to relax them before surgery. I put on my pajamas, grab a glass of Diet Coke and get comfortable in my desk chair. The patient is placed on the surgery table; I put my desk chair in the swivel- rocking position. The nurse preps the patient with an antiseptic solution; I prepare my highlighters, and adjust my keyboard. The nurse places the patient’s legs in stirrups while I visualize how I can incorporate a set of stirrups in my story. The surgeon enters the room to perform the surgery; my hero takes center stage and commands the scene with an overconfident swagger. The surgeon confidently performs an x-ray with contrast, visualizes the stone, inserts a small basket into the patient’s ureter, curses when he drops the stone the first time but removes it on the second attempt. My hero scopes out my heroine, attempts to understand her, and finds himself running into her just on general purpose. He lassoes her heart, but not before he drops the ball on an important occasion, but in the end he delivers a happily ever after.

You’re probably wondering why I’m comparing writing to the removal of a kidney stone. Even though I made a small satire out of the two comparisons, it alleviates a lot of my writer anxiety. There are many gray areas in writing. Yes, there are specific rules one can follow, but I’m a person who feels comfortable only with experience. In my early years as a surgical nurse, I sweated the small stuff. I’ve learned the most by experiencing a situation in a swim or drown fashion. I had to rely on my own instincts, and thankfully, I had enough nursing experience in another field to carry me through the process. My writing experience has followed the same path. I wrote my first story by the seat of my pants, because I had no idea what I was doing. I totally relied on the passion I felt for the characters. I continued to write because of the encouragement I received from my peers. I continue in the field of nursing because I find reward in the healing process. If I haven’t learned anything else about writing, the most important thing that pulls me out of the darkness is my belief in what I want my characters to achieve. A part of me always feels every struggle, every tear, and every triumph that I create on the page.

The hardest and darkest points in my life have been about doubt in my ability and regretting not doing more when I had the chance. The most shining moments in my life have been about believing that good follows all the strife and effort I have experienced in this world. The more I write, the more I believe that good will come.

 

On the eve of America’s independence I pause to reflect on how blessed I am to be a part of this great country. Even in the midst of the economic turmoil of the past several months, there is no other land I would rather call my home. I become emotional when I hear the National Anthem, and I’ve been caught singing Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA at decimal levels only small rodents can decipher.

I’m a little patriotic.

I have more than one t-shirt with an American flag waving across the chest.

*Biting lip* One even has random rhinestones.

I display more than one flag on the Fourth of July, and I hang patriotic bunting across the entire length of my front porch.

 If you come to my Fourth of July barbeque, you will find a buffet of corn on the cob, barbequed ribs, and watermelon. You can even drown your sorrows in sweet tea, if it’s your poison. You can chat with the family while relaxing in a variety of rocking chairs around the pool, but if  idle rest is your cup of tea, I have overstuffed patio furniture with ottomans to rest your feet. If you enjoy whiling the time away playing mindless games, my DH will be glad to challenge you with his corn hole expertise. For those of you not familiar with the game, you throw beanbags at a hole in the top of a slanted box. I know this scenario has most of you scrambling for your frequent flyer miles to book a trip to Ohio, but hold on Nellie, I’m just grazing the appetizer on this virtual playground.

You might have noticed the patriotically clad pool boys on the perimeter of my blog. Believe me when I say, they have more talent than just handing out beach towels. Besides wearing a flag well; they are highly educated in the art of massage. After they rub you into a noodle stupor, they will pour you into the chair of your choice (with the understanding  that you copping a feel is expected).  When the sun goes down, they can light up the sky with a variety of fireworks for your visual and auditory entertainment. No worries about pyrotechnics being illegal in the state of Ohio, the sheriff lives down the street and he indulges in his own pyrotechnic display. If mosquitoes become a problem, the pool boys wear a tool belt fully equipped with bug spray, condoms, and drool wipes. Okay, so maybe these exact pool boys won’t be present, but my brother Randy did some push ups last week, and he carries himself well. He has mad skills at wielding a lighter. Last Fourth of July, he simultaneously ignited a bottle rocket,  a citronella candle, and a marshmallow. We ‘re thinking about entering him in the next America’s Got Talent. 

When the festivities become too exciting, you are welcome to retire indoors to watch Dateline NBC with the grandmas. They can give you the latest on Michael Jackson’s demise, and tell you anything you need to know about preserving leftovers. Don’t ask questions if you find them washing the paper plates.

If you can’t be enticed by the fantabulous agenda for the Russell Fourth of July shindig, enjoy your own celebration, and do it safely!

Here’s ten questions geared toward the writer in you.  

How old were you when you discovered you wanted to write?

I was eleven when I wrote my first story. I was 39 when I wrote the first story with the intent to publish. 

Do you prefer to write in first person or third?  

First person all the way baby! Deep first person POV is the best for me. 

Do you write straight through, or tackle the scenes out of order?

I tackle whatever scene is tickling my muse. 

Where do you write? 

At my desk, or on my laptop in the living room. I write better with no background noise. 

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

I pick favorite names, or cruise the name reference books. 

Have you ever changed a character’s name in the middle of the story? 

No.

Name two authors who are your biggest influence as a writer?

Lisa Kleypas and Jane Green. 

Is there a genre you want to tackle other than the one you are presently writing? 

I would love to write a historical romance. 

You need to trust yourself, especially on a first draft, where amid the anxiety, and self-doubt, there should be a real sense of your imagination and your memories walking and woolgathering, tramping the hills, romping all over the place. Trust them. Don’t look at your feet to see if you are doing it right. Just Dance.

-Anne Lamott                  

    As most of you know, I started writing by way of fan fiction. I borrowed characters and placed them in my own unique environment. A sort of “practice” drill for writing my own story. What I didn’t understand during the start of my writing life is the crutch that I formed by writing in a world that was already present and familiar to me. I found a great deal of insecurity in the transition from writing fan fiction to writing an original story of my own. Therefore, my solution was to go back to the basics of writing, and practice, practice, practice.

In my journey, I discovered a book that has helped me tremendously. A Writer’s Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life by Judy Reeves. This book may be very elementary for some seasoned writers, but I find it a refreshing companion, and helpful tool. The book has twelve chapters, one for every month of the year. Each chapter contains counseling and words of advice, words of inspiration, and literary lore and legend. Each month begins with one of twelve “Guidelines for Writing Practice” that are used to help you along the writing practice road. Incorporated in the exercises is everything from auditioning words to using your dreams in writing. You’ll learn how to build a writing community if you don’t have one, and how to say yes to the muse. Easy to use checklists give you the telltale signs that let you know when the critic, the censor, or the editor are having their way with your writing. Subjects are cross-referenced so you can easily find related information.

Throughout the book, the experience, wisdom and opinions, and even a few quirks of a number of well-known writers are presented in “The Writing Life.”

Closing out each month is “Beyond Practice”- special invitations for writers to treat themselves. Consider these a reward, or bonus for a job well done. With titles such as Cafe Writing On the Road; Hot Nights/Wild Women; and A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread-a Notebook, these twelve self-directed miniworkshops encourage writers to set aside a once-a-month special session to honor themselves as a writer and nourish the writing-self.

The book contains many elements and facts that never fail to bring a smile to my face. Like the list of famous writers and their day jobs. Did you know that  T.S. Elliot was a banker? Or that  William Faulkner served as a postmaster for the University of Mississippi post office. Charles Dickens pasted labels on bottles of shoe polish, and Zane Grey was a dentist. I felt myself being a lot more inspired by these revelations than I probably should have.

Each month fresh and new exercises are given as challenges. Writing prompts are given to enforce each aspect of the chapter. It is always reinforced that time and practice are of the essence. Much importance is given to setting aside time each day for writing, and creating a calm work environment, that facilitates the muse. The book stresses to always listen to your heart about what direction you want to take your story, and never force an idea just to facilitate the portion of the story you enjoy writing.

The most valued lesson I learned was recognizing my ability to undermine my best writing intentions. I put a damper on my writing spirit by making excuses not to write, and holding unrealistic expectations. Most of all, through this book’s exercises, I learned to believe in myself as a writer, no matter how much I lack in education or experience. I’ve accepted that writing a novel is a slow process. My daily exercise is taking a deep breath and focusing on the journey.

The present key to my writing life is practice.

I admit, sometimes I compare the heroes in my favorite romance novels to the man sitting across from me at the dinner table. On a really good day, my significant other is comparable to a reformed rake, other days, not so much. I chose him to be the hero of my life, he loves me for who I am, and he is a wonderful father to our son. Sometimes his character arc could use some work, but overall, it’s a happily ever after.

One of my good friends recently decided to stop reading romance novels. She can’t let the fantasy of her literary heroes stay within the pages. She compares all of their “heroic qualities” to those of her husband, and he just doesn’t measure up in her eyes. She realizes this isn’t fair, but she still wants to throw rocks at him every time she finishes a romance novel. We’ve had lengthy discussions about this issue. I argue the fantasy card and she argues that she wants to read more substantial fiction that portrays the hero as a more average male. I can empathize with her to a certain point. I understand that some romance heroes are a little over the top, but most have the basic characteristics our significant others possess. It’s great to read about a hero who has attractive physical qualities, but I always look for an honest heart. Even the most notorious rake can have a sympathetic heart for those less fortunate, or at least he is good even when he is bad. If every hero was your average Joe, wouldn’t reading become a favorite past time? Readers wouldn’t make a purchase at the bookstore; they would glance at the man holding the remote every time they passed through the living room with a load of laundry.

I enjoy immersing myself in the fantasy lives of fictional heroes. The more far removed the story line is from my life, the more I enjoy the book. I suppose that is why I am such a fan of historical romance. I become fully entranced by ballroom scenes and those stolen moments of passion. It’s a treat to escape into the past by holding a book in my hands. I also know when the book goes back on the shelf that I can use the fantasy to my advantage. It can inspire me to write, it can inspire my interaction with my real life hero, or it can relieve stress at a time when I have zero access to a Big Boy Margarita.

I admire a hero who brings out the best in a heroine. Sure, it’s easy to become fixated on a charming hero, but my admiration comes from the growth he shows as a character throughout the story. I love a flawed, tortured hero who reforms, but doesn’t turn into a complete sap by the end of the story.

I think the secret between creating a good hero and a memorable one, is balance. He has to be charming but credible. A writer shouldn’t lose focus of his end compromise, and should always make his black moment as worthy as his character.

If you would like a review from someone who is fortunate enough to have already read Smooth Talking Stranger,  wonder over to Smart Bitches Trashy Books and read SB Sarah’s tasty review of this literary treat. While you’re there, take the time to check out the Save the Contemporary Campaign. A contemporary title is featured every month. It’s a great way to spread the goodness of contemporary romance. If you recommend a contemporary title, or pass on a link to the campaign, you are eligible for prizes. What a fun way to promote contemporary romance!

The countdown is on. The minutes are ticking away. It’s not as long as it has been. Very soon, I will hold in my hot little hands a copy of Smooth Talking Stranger. I know I won’t be disappointed. Lisa Kleypas never disappoints!

Lisa, I confess, I want to be just like you when I grow up! Congratulations on your nomination for a 2009 Rita Award:)