Here We Go Again

Gustav isn't even in the Gulf of Mexico yet and our governor is planning to evacuate the city of New Orleans. If and that is a big IF Gustav comes here it will be late Monday night or Tuesday morning. Why do they feel they have to start evacuating Saturday? It probably won't even be in the Gulf by Saturday. It probably won't hit New Orleans. Why?!!
Yes, the very Saturday that Heather Graham's Writers for New Orleans Workshop will be in full swing. I look forward to this all year. I don't wish this on anyone else, I just wish it would die a peaceful death. But that's not going to happen because the Gulf waters are too warm to let that happen. It will grow just as Katrina did. Hopefully not as large and strong as Katrina, but it will grow.
You ask why this could cause problems with the workshop? Well, let me give you an example. For Katrina they started the evacuation on a work day. People left work, left home to pick up kids at school, left for wherever. What took my hubby on a normal day 45 mintues to drive ended up taking 6 hours. And that was just to get home. And they are talking about starting the contra flow on the highways. For those of you who don't know what that is, contra flow is where they stop all traffic coming into the city and all lanes are open for outgoing traffic. Why is that a problem for me? Well I don't live right in New Orleans, but in a subburb. And parking cost a fortune in the city, so hubby is/was going to take me into the city and drop me off then pick me up when the fun was over. Ooops. Can't get into the city!
I will lose my money, but I don't even care about that. I wanted a weekend with other writers. I wanted to learn from those who know much more than I. I wanted to mingle and play.
I'll wait until tonight to make a decision. I'll listen to the news and see what the Governor plans to do and when. Until then I'll just feel sorry for myself.

Today is a Total Loss

"Nobody cares much wheather you write or not. You just have to do it."
Natalie Goldberg


"A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it is to be God."
Sidney Sheldon

Can you tell I'm at a loss for words today? I've tried all morning to write. I've deleted every word I've written. The muse has abandoned me.

Think I'll go eat a gallon of Praline Ice Cream.

This and That

I've had one of those days. I've not stopped but acommplished very little of importance. I shipped off some books to Connie Perry so she and Heather Graham could use them as prizes in the gift baskets raffled off at the New Orleans Workshop. (August 29-31) The proceeded go to the Louisiana Library system. Do you want to donate 10 to 15 books to add to the baskets? I'm sure Heather would appreciate it. So would the library. You can get in touch with me and I'll e-mail you the info. I'm looking forward to the workshop. Going to be quite a line up of "stars" to give the talks. Let me give you a taste. On Saturday, August 30 the topics will be:Tales from the TrenchesExperienced authors share the most valuable lessons they've learned over the course of their careers--including what they wish they'd known in the early days.Satisfying Reader Expectation Book After BookDefining your "signiture" and delivering your experiences with every book--and delivering more "Wow" with each release.Pros and ConflictWhether you write romantic comedy or edgy, dark thrillers, cozy mysteries or urban fantasy--if there's no conflict, there's no story. Make it real, make it strong, make it hit your characters in the heart.Out of this World-BuildingWorld bulding isn't just for fantasy or sci-fi. Whether your books are set in 1810 Regency England or 2525 Outer Limits, the world in which your characters live enhance the action and pulls the reader into your story. What are the key elements that must populate your novel's world?Marketing Your MarketingYou have the fab website, the MySpace page, the blog and the book trailer. You need to get people to see them, build Internet traffic, etc. How do you reach beyond the established reader to find new readers in your target audience? (Blog ads, blog interviews, internet sales beyond the known reader sites, etc.)Balancing the Dream and the Day JobFace facts--most of us don't support ourselves solely with our writing. How do successful writers balance their different careers while bulding their writing career--and still have a life?Who? Kate Duffy, Leslie Wainger, Adam Wilson, Peggy Garcia (Senior publicist at TOR), Barbara Vey from PW, Mary Stella, Cathy Maxwell, F. Paul Wilson, Kathy Love, Erin McCarthy, and Helen Rosburg. There are more but I've ran out of brain space. That is just Saturday. Friday night is the party to end all parties. All inhabitations are left at the door. Dance partner? You don't need one. No one knows who is dancing with whom anyway.Sunday will be a calm breakfast with more talks and more topics. And no one will metion that you got up and danced on the tables the night before.I wish you could be there. It would be a weekend none of us would ever forget or live down. LOL

Scrambling

I sent a submission to Samhain Publishing a couple of weeks back and I just received an e-mail from them asking for a five to seven page synopsis for the story. Yes. I sent them a synopsis but it was a short one pager. I'm so used to editors/agents wanting short I didn't have a longer synopsis ready.

So my goal for today (and probably into tomorrow) will be to write a long synopsis. I'm pretty good at writing queries, but I so suck at synopsis.


So why am I sitting here blogging? It's called procrastinating. I could lie and say I'm running the story over in my head so I can breeze through this project, but in truth I'm just plain stalling.
I will do it. I will have it done by late tonight or early tomorrow afternoon. So if the Muse is out there, Come back, Sweetie. Vacation is over.

Meet the Author 11

Today's author is a good friend of mine. If you don't know her, you've got to look her up on Myspace. She will knock your socks off with her humor and wit.


C. L. Freire


Where do you live?

Miami, FL

Married/Kids?

Married, and have two furry little girls.

Pets?

My two girls, Midnight (kitty) and Muffy (pooch)

Age?

35, although I tend to joke every year that I'm still 22 on the outside and 15 on the inside.

Astrological Sign?

Libra

Dream Job?

What I do now. Author with the BEST PUBLISHING HOUSE EVER (TRIAD Publishing Group), and now Editor-in-Chief of TREI Literary Magazine

Favorite Genre?

Fantasy and Horror

Some favorite authors?

Hans Christian Anderson, Neil Gaiman, J.M.S. (creator of Babylon 5)

Favorite Fictional Hero?

John Sheridan (Captain of Babylon 5)

Favorite Real-life Hero?

My husband.

Favorite Fictional Heroine?

Buffy Sommers

Favorite Real-life Heroine?

Not sure on this one..

Favorite TV Shows?

Babylon 5, Desperate Housewives, Lois and Clark (The New Adventures of Superman), Supernatural, Friends, Sex in the City

Lifelong Ambition? To be a best selling author and live in NYC with my hubby and our girls in a fabulous apartment overlooking Central Park.

Where’s the Farthest you’ve traveled? Puerto RicoYour

Best Feature or Talent? My best features are my eyes and my smile, from what I'm told. My best talent is writing, although I have a lot of interests that I've spent my life trying to be as good at as possible.

Catchphrase or Motto? It's a Moral Imperative!

Webspace or blog link?

www.myspace.com/clfreire http://www.clfreire.blogspot.com/

Tell us about your books. Any more in the works?

I can't really spill about the first book, which is coming out Oct 1 this year. Pre orders open July 1. And I'm going on the air with www.blogtalkradio.com/AngelLesa at 8pm EST to officially announce the title of the book, which I've kept secret. That's when I'll talk about the book...hehe.

What I will say is that it is the first book in a Tween fantasy series of eight.

Meet the Author 10

Today's author: Sher Hames Torres

Where do you live?
Georgia
Married/kids?
Married to Mark for twenty-five years, two kids--Courtney 17, and Dusty 15
Pets?
Auggie, a French Charles Spaniel/Beagle cross whom we've discovered is deceptively brilliant...he knows HOW to do just about everything--there are just some things he refuses to do.
Age?
49
Astrological Sign?
Aquarius
Dream Job?
Whoa that's tough. Let's see, I write. Love that. I stitch. Love that. And I'm a mom. I really love that. So I guess my answer is StitchingWriterMom.
Favorite Genre?
Wow, that's a hard question...Actually I love just about everything, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, mystery, ya...so I think it would be easier for me to say what my least favorite genre is...illogical. I can read just about anything and enjoy it...even horror--which I abhor watching. I have no need to see what's on the INSIDE of a body and should stay there. Hence the reason you didn't see Doctor in the dream job slot. I can even read boring...course I put it down quickly. But what I can't stand are books that start out wonderfully, ease into the story with grandeur, then the H/H does something stupid and completely out of character which grabs the story by the belly button and yanks it into the realm of the unredeemable.
Some favorite authors?
Phyllis Whitney, LaVyrle Spencer, Kay Hooper, Iris Johanssen, Donna Kauffman, Linda Howard, Dan Brown, Karen Robards, Tolkien, Lackey, McCafferey, and the list goes on....
Favorite Fictional Hero?
Mr. Darcy. I love a strong man who will do grand gestures without having to have the fanfare and the HowWonderfulAmI? recognition.
Favorite real-life hero?
My husband. I know, nor have ever known anyone stronger, more loving, tougher or gentler than that man.
Favorite Fictional Heroine?
Jo March. She was strong, determined talented, headstrong, ambitious, and loved her family beyond all else.
Favorite Real-life herione?
My daughter. I've watched her fight through a life threatening illness, panic attacks, self-doubt and come out of it strong, determined and successful.
Favorite TV Shows?
I love intelligent tv...shows with rich characters and storylines, like Bones, House, Medium, Ghost Whisperer, Numbers, Moonlight Closer, Saving Grace. As a rule, I don't enjoy reality TV except for American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance(My son is a dancer so this is a must), Project Runway, and anything Gordon Ramsey.
Lifelong Ambition?
To be a mom and a writer.
Where's the farthest you've traveled?
Canada to the North, Miami to the South, Louisianna to the West, and the entire east coast from Jersey to Florida.
Catchphrase or Motto?
Just because you pray for something and don't hear back immediately doesn't mean the answer is no. Sometimes it just means "When I get good and ready." or There be dragons here and you look crunchy and probably taste good with ketchup.
Web space or blog link?
www.hometown.aol.com/babynerds/index.html I also have a My Space page, but I can't even tell you the link...just search for Sher Hames Torres
Tell us about your books. Any more in the works?
Right now, I have stories in two available anthologies: Fate's Little Trick in Enchanted Holidays, and Enigma in One Touch Beyond, both available from Cerridwen Press. My first full-length novel, Illusions, is due for release later this year. Presently, I have three other novels in the works.

Meet the Author 9

Today's author: Laure Sorensen
Where do you live?
I live in midwestern West Virginia, Huntington and or Charleston are basically a stone's throw from my porch.
Married/Kids?
I am married for the second and final time to my soulmate, Danny. Between us we have two kids that are mine and three that are his, and one of his has a husband too.
Pets?
Pets, goodness where do I start? I have one indoor-outdoor cat, Oreo, two indoor cats, Addy and Milo, PLUS my stepdaughter and her husband, who are currently living here, have two indoor cats, Doddy and Basket. We then have several outside catd, Ralf, Tabby, Dobbie, Cameo, Dot, Mini Oreo, and Ms. Oreo. Yes, Ms. Oreo is the mother of Mini Oreo and the grandmother of Mr. Oreo. Original, ain't we? LOL
Age?
I am 37 years-young righ now, but I have a birthday coming up, I tell everyone I am only 29...some believe me...LOL
Astrological Sign?
I am a Virgo, to a Tee.
Dream Job?
My dream job would be to be a history teacher in high school, while ALSO doing my professional author bit, it would be like having my cake and eating it too.
Favorite Genre?
Historical Romance
Some Favorite Authors?
Catherine Coulter, Nora Roberts, C. J. Parker, Micki Peluso, Linda Daly, Dan Brown, Jane Feather, Julie Garwood.
Favroite Fictional Hero?
Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind and orry Main from North and South.
Favorite real-life hero?
This one is easy. That would be a combination of four men who have been or are in my life now. Danny, my husband, rescued me from the pits, bringing me up further than I could have ever been alone. My father, Albert Poole, who took me on when he married Mom, accepting and adopting me to bring me into his large family fold. My paternal Grandfather, Amos "Bud" Poole. He was the only one who tried to keep a straight face, while explaining to this 'city girl' that bulls are the cows you DON'T milk. Rest in Peace, Grandpa, I love you still. And last but not least would be my maternal Grandfather, Walter Sorensen. This is a man who has overcome odds, and the death of three wives, yet is still here to tell the story. I adore you beyond words.
Favorite Fictional Heroine?
Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind and Madeline from North and South.
Favorite Real-live heroine?
This one is easy...Mom would be the major one, as she is stronger than she appears, having overcome triple bypass surgery, and all the trials life has passed her way. She goes out of her way to help someone, anyone. She has strong and loving faith in me, and proves it all the time. Another two heroine's for me would be both of my grandmothers. Loretta Sorensen, gone from her earthly binds now for many years, but still very much in my heart and soul. Evelyn Poole, who loved one man all her life and now devotes all her time to family and friends. She is one of the strongest women I have ever known. She loved and accepted me into her family when Dad married Mom, that upon looking through photo albumns much later, she mentioned that she didn't understand why she didn't have any baby pictures of me. We had to remind her that she didn't even know me until I was 5 years old. I am so blessed to have her in my life.
Favorite TV Show?
Supernatural, Charmed, Little House on the Prarie, Touched by and Angel, Nashville Star, America's got Talent, Days of Our Lives, and Hero's.
Lifelong Ambition?
I think my lifelong ambition was to be the best mother I could be. I have two natural children who love me and are very well behaved, for the most part, and three step children who I love dearly, and they even come to me for advice sometimes. So I guess I made it happen.
Where's the Farthest you've traveled?
The farthest I have been would have to be Either England or Okinawa, not sure which one would be farthest away from my current location. My father was in the Air Force, I was about 5 and a half years old when I was in England, and I was 13 when I was in Okinawa.
Your best feature or talent?
My best feature, so I am told are my eyes and smile...as for my talent, I am told that I am a born story teller, which might explain why I decided to become a published author.
Catchphrase or Motto?
Love from the heart is eternal.
Web space or blog link?
www.freewebs.com/lauriesorensen AND http://www.sorensenshorts.blogspot.com/ AND www.myspace.com/nights_salvation And my book can be had from http://www.lightswordpublishing.com/ as well as any fine booksellers online, such as Borders, Barnes and Nobel and Walden Books.
Tell us about your book. Any more in the works?
Ravenwood: Night's Salvation is book one of a series of books which will have a toal of 5 novels and a companion cookbook to complete the entire set. Ravenwood: Storm's Destiny is the next in the series, and hopefully will be turned in to the publisher soon. I have several more books in the works, all in various stages of writing. The back of the book blurb for Ravenwood: Night's Salvation is as follows---Duty, love and passion take flight on the wings of destiny. Compelled by honor and duty, Night Ravenwood leaves the life on the sea he loves to return home after the deather of his brother. As heir to Ravenwood Manor, he finds himself in an arranged marriage and living a life he did not want. When tragedy strikes the newlywed couple, Night finds himself in love with the beautiful and serene Satine, they are tested in every way. Satine vows to make Night understand his destiny is with her while someone is willing to commit murder to keep them apart. Will love or murder shape the destiny of this union?