Of Wizards, Murder Mavens, and Gargoyles

Hi. My name? Homer J Goyle. Yeah, I look gruesome now, you should have seen me when I was headless.

I was called "The Headless One" by many a students here on the grounds of NIU. I was never so happy to get my new head back on my shoulders, now I can check on the women--uh, er, I mean I can guard the grounds near the old castle.

Okay, right. I was supposed to do this post for Lorelei. Color me forgetful. I'm a gargoyle after all. Got stone for head. Get it? He he.

Well... where was I?

Oh, right, right.

The post.

Today's post is updates. Well, Lorelei is busy. Has a few more long days of driving a Huskie Bus around town, trying to avoid hectic holiday traffic and all. I wouldn't know about that. I'm sitting in a courtyard. I see some vehicles pass, and people stop and take pictures of me. One guy took many, many, many of me. In fact he came on a couple of occasions and that's one of the pictures above. Lorelei was able to cajole him into taking a few picks of me. What can I say? I'm handsome, right?

Er, back to the main post.

Uh, oh. I'm to mention Lorelei is a writer, but I understand, plus she makes things with her hands. Mostly afghans, but other things like hand warmers and cowls. Hmmm. Don't know what those things are, but whatever.

She's also working on other things to take to local craft shops soon. As soon as she can get off the frigging bus--her words, not mine.

And after the holidays. She says she and husband are going to have a quiet Christmas Eve watching "It's A Wonderful Life" and something traditional, like ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans and a holiday meatball thing she says is easy to make and requires some strange ingredients like grape jelly and chili sauce. (If I could, I'd be shrugging, since I don't eat, I don't know what sort of strange things people eat)

Ah, and she tells me that her local bookstore--the only one left standing--is closing at end of the month, and she hopes to find a few books, or whatever, left to buy. 

Currently she's into murder mysteries, and something called The Dresden Files. Oh, wait. I've got a picture here... Oh! here it is.

Yep. She told me she picked this hardback up just the other day for only $5.99 at her local grocery store. I don't know. Is that a good thing? I haven't a clue. Now, I don't read, mind, but the whole thing is sort of, well, up my alley, so to speak. Dresden is a wizard PI, from Chicago. She tells me that there was something about the guy in a fedora that caught her eye. Then, she said she'd read his very first book (Jim Butcher), and thought it was okay, and wanted to read another, but she just hadn't been able to do that. Other things on her plate--so she says. But she likes to read a male point of view in the fantasy realm. She's begun this latest adventure, but she's way behind. I mean like more than a dozen were written before this. Oh, well, I guess she'll just have to catch herself up.

That was one of the books she's read. Here is the other one, which she's finished, and wants more of:

She says she used to watch the show, and loved it. Now, she can't get enough of these mysteries and hopes to snag a few soon.

And, when she can, she'll be posting herself. I hope so. This is murder on my stone fingers!

Oh, and if you're out here during the night, watch out for things that move around unseen. Well, I see them, of course. Duh!

I've gotta go back to my uh-er duties now. It was nice visiting with you folks!

The Facts, Ma'am

With March comes change... or so it is supposed to be that way. At least the temperatures are starting to go up, instead of down!

My week:
On Sunday night I woke with a bunch of ideas for two books--one was actually for the 8th book of the Sabrina Strong series (don't hate me). I had to get up and make notes, and since we weren't scheduled to work Monday, I sat at the kitchen table, made myself a cup of hot chocolate (with milk), and made some verbal notes (it was around 2:30 am).

The next day I wasn't able to work on much. Oh... yeah. Time (effing) change.

Monday was a go-to-town day. We did a bunch of things, including take check to pay on the truck, and then got the oil changed in it. We went to a few other places. At the end of the day I kept thinking it was like a preview of what it would be like when I retire from having to go to a job. I would know how to fill my day up with things I want to do. So, I sat and crocheted that afternoon thinking about it. It didn't help that we ran into my husband's brother and his wife and learned that she had quit working in her job for the school district (she is my age), I was quite jealous. Wish I could just up and quit like that. She's too young to take retirement, but probably had enough of a pension. Or something else is going on that wasn't mentioned. She has no real hobbies. Not even gardening. I think she doesn't like to get dirty, and she definitely isn't a camper at all. What she does to fill up her time, I haven't a clue. Maybe she's taking time to be with her aging mother. That's a possibility. Boy, the wrong people get all the breaks. If I were to retire today, I'd have lots to do.

On Wednesday it snowed. We didn't drive that day. NIU has been in Spring Break. So, we only took 3 runs, and put Wednesday up because we knew it would snow and just didn't want to deal with it. After the thaw on Monday, the ground was too soft to plow, and then the sun melted most of it, anyhow.

Thursday we drove. Six hours driving a bus is no picnic. And My husband has decided he can't do it any more. He has back issues. The run he had to do is not forgiving in giving you breaks. You have to keep on driving it until you get back to the student center (an hour run).

Today we didn't work again. We had to run to town, came back and I go my computer back into my office. It's been warmer in here and so it only takes a couple of heaters to get it up to 60+ in here.

I'm not putting pressure on myself this year. I've got the two books I'm working on. One is in edits, and the other one I'm still writing. Now that I've got my office back, I should be able to get something done, eventually. No noise, and I'm closed off from the world in here.

I'm still trying to get my speakers to work. I have no idea how I did it last time. Too many things to plug in and it says "speaker out" but I have no idea why it doesn't work. I got it to work last time by reconfiguring it. Maybe by luck I'll do it again. *shrugs*

Last year was different. I was super busy.  My publisher kept pushing back the release of my third book, I got the "edits" which may have been done by his 5-year old, and when the actual book came out I found errors in it.  Thank goodness he quit the business! I had to quickly go through each book, and especially the third one, make corrections and put them out as an Indie, and I was working on book 4, plus 2 other books!

This year I'm not pushing myself at all. I've got two books I'm working on. Edits on # 4 SS book is mid-way, and now I've got the privacy of my office, I'll settle in and work again on that.

Dhampir Legacy is still in works. I work on it as I can. The last two weeks I've been trying to write one scene where snakes are involved, but for some reason it just wasn't coming, and so during my wakefulness back on Sunday night, I realized I needed to interrupt this scene with a new one, and so that one came and I wrote it. It involves a minor character, but I need to tie up those loose ends on that.

I need a year off from doing very much writing. That might be why I've  turned to crocheting. I hope to do a little more gardening too. Need to loose some winter fat BAD!

Those are the facts. Hope your week went well.

Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control...

I was without Internet for a few days, and so, I wasn't around... in case anyone wondered, asked, or even missed me?

It actually made it easy for me to get something done for a change.

Edits on Vampire Caprice is still in progress. I will be sending a section of chapters to my second beta reader to go over them. Meanwhile I have been using the saved PDF's from Grammarly. I'm finding that in some cases it's not fool proof, and it doesn't know French at all. But when it catches something, it's a good thing I had it. I will go through it using these various editing devices, and then my last editing will be me doing a find & replace, or whatever, when I'm ready. After that, I read through it TWICE. So, that being said, it might be April when I've got this bad boy out. It is a long book. 343 pages, as a matter of fact.

Meanwhile work on Dhampir Legacy is suspended until I have finished with Caprice, or, I'm letting the manuscript sit a while between readings.

Work on my large afghan (granny square), is coming along. I have placed a number of the squares out on a sheet on the floor to see how I want it, and where I want the colors. It also lets me see what colors I still need to make before I go ahead with stitching them together. And a friend is having a June baby, and I want to crochet a baby blanket for the bundle for her shower. So, I'm busy.

Despite the fact that it is March, we still have snow--piles that have been here since January, in fact--and are expecting more. But the weather prediction is for 40's coming in soon. Could we actually see some melting and thawing soon? We were discussing that perhaps we should bet on our last snow event, or the last day we see snow on the ground. I'm going with April 8th--on the snow sticking around. March 25th for the last snow flying.

So, there you have my updates. I'll be posting irregularly until further notice.

COME ON SPRING!

Updates from llinois - Hate this humidity!

Yeah, it's hot. Well, to be truthful it's HUMID. I've been in Arizona where it's dry as bleached bones and it was something like 95 that afternoon we arrived at Dennis' mom & dad's place in Apache Junction several years ago. I wore jeans and a T-shirt. The only sweat I felt was on my upper lip. That was it. I could have used some shorts, but I was "comfortable" in the shade. Of course, you could not drink the water, and if you turned on the "cold" faucet it was actually pretty warm water. Saves on the water heater.  But I digress...

Here it's like wearing a wet washrag over your entire body, you can't breath, the deer flies attack you like crazy if you step outside from the moment the sun pops up (at least out here in the country--and my husband has the bites to prove it. He says, "you get used to it" And since he has to mow and hold on to the handles of the big zero-turn mower or it won't go) he can't swat at them.

My job puts me into a transit bus where I have air conditioning (thank you!), and believe it or not ONE person actually asked me to turn it down or off yesterday. I said, "I'm not turing this off." I'd have to turn it back on in two minutes (because I'd be suffering), and that's not good for the unit. She didn't press. She had sleeves on. Go sit down and talk to your friend on your damned cell phone and leave me alone!

Oh, yeah. This weather makes me snippety.

Been going through the documents my ex-publisher gave me to find any type-o's and other things I might want to change. Since I get to publish this Independently, I want to polish it up a bit, so that's where I've been when not working for the bus company for the last week or so (and will be tied up for another). So, if you wondered what the heck happened to me this is what's going on.

I'm hopeful I can get these done in another week and begin putting them back out there again.

Lorelei Bell, author of the Sabrina Strong series is working to get the eBooks back on Amazon so that you can buy them
Until then you CAN buy the first book of her other series, the Chronicles of Zofia Trickenbod, Sorceress - see below

Meanwhile, I've not quite put an ending on my 7th WIP. Things sort of got on the back burner while dealing with work on the first three books. However, you would think I'd be too busy, too stressed out with all that's happening around me to even think about the eighth book... but no. #8 is clanking around in my head. It's like I live in another dimention right where Sabrina lives, and I'm seeing it from my spot. Sort of like a fish bowl, I guess.
I'm thinking of mixing things up a bit starting with this one, and get away from the Vampire This or That titles.
What do you think of the title: "Six Shades of Hell"? Let me know if you think it's a good one, bad, or if you're indiffernt, don't worry about it.

Glad to see you all "waves". Hope to be back to normal (yeah, right) soon!


Lorelei Bell's debut novel about a quirky sorceress trying hard to do her job... and not get killed in the process.

Spell of the Black Unicorn can be purchased here.

Kitty Check-in & Up-dates

Hello, my pretties. How have you all been? Halloween is over. Boo-hoo. But I'm moving onward. No. Not doing the NaNo thing. I don't need to make myself crazy. Or, crazier than I already am (tee-hee). I've been going through the edits from my beta reader, Shelly Arkon *waves and chocolate hugs, Shelly*. I'm nearly done with it too. I'll be setting my Spell of the Black Unicorn aside for a month, after and continue work on my 5th in the Sabrina Strong Series, and try to finish a novelette.

So, I've been in my bat cave (writing cave to you all), and have not been able to do much posting. However, as a treat I thought I'd turn this over to my wild kitties. Take it away, Half-Pint!

"Hi. It's me. Half-Pint. It has become colder here. But the days still become warm, sometimes the sun comes out and it's nice to take naps under the low branches of the pine trees. It's now our favorite place to hang. It makes for good cover. My sister, Long-Hair, has found that crouching near the watering bowl is a good spot too. Birds come to it. She's very fast. I do believe she may be the first of us to catch an unsuspecting bird."

"No. I'll be the first!"

"That's my bigger idiot brother, Tango. He's always boasting." *Half-Pint turns to his brother."Shut up, stupid. I'm working here. My mistress has given me permission to be here on the blog. Not sure what a blog is, but my mistress thinks I'm more special than the rest of you."

"Snot." *Tango's ears go back*

"Whatever. You think you're so cute when you roll over on your back and show your belly to the humans. Then, when they go to pet you, you snag their hands (which they've covered, and that's a good thing), and bite. That's not nice."

"Shut up, snot."

"I know how to get the attention. I don't bite. I don't claw--well, not often. And I get more attention than you." *Half-Pint turns his back on Tango*

"The both of you disgust me."

*They look at their sister Long-Hair who has padded up.*

"I wouldn't be caught dead being touched by a lowly human. That's so demeaning." *Long-Hair settles on her haunches and licks her white paw.*

"Yeah, and yet you can't wait to jump on the food when it's brought out," Tango snarls.

"There's a difference in eating from a bowl and being petted. Although I'll admit the male human has touched me a few times." *Long-Hair licks her paw a few times, looking uninterested.*

"Whatever. Anyway, I'm just trying to tell the people out there how busy our mistress is. I'm not sure what she does inside her big cave, but she calls it writing. Whatever that is. Meanwhile, we're out here doing our thing. Right?"

"Whatever, poop-for-brains. I'm going hunting." *Tango walks off, disappearing into the dense woods.

"You going to climb that big tree again, sis?" *Half-Pint looks at his sister.*

"No." *Long hair stretches and yawns.* "I think I'll take another nap. Wanna come and cuddle up and keep me warm?"

"Maybe later. I think I'll go beat up my brother a little bit. Oh. Uh, Okay I think I'm done with saying stuff to you humans out there." *Half-Pint trots away, catching up to his sister. He jumps on her. She turns over on her back, claws out, biting. They tumble, bite and then part and go on their way.*

Author's note: Long-Hair is formerly known as Captain Jack/Jackie (after having figured out she's a girl) She is the only cat with long hair and different markings.

I'm Visiting Fangtastic Books Today!

Me at my very last book signing at BORDERS in DeKalb.

Hi to all of my adoring fans... Well, maybe that was a bit much. But you who are out there lurking, and stalking me... you know who you are!... I'm at Fangtastic Books, today, my host Roxanne was kind enough to put up another CONTEST to win a copy (ebook or a paperback copy). If you have yet to enter a contest, this is on-going as we speak! So head on over THERE NOW!

I'm working on a new novella, this is going to be in the horror fiction genre. I actually have taken scenes from Vampire Ascending which I've cut from it. I realized these scenes made the book too long and I also realized I had another entire book--or a short book, at least--I wanted to re-write it. This will not be a Sabrina Strong book, but a totally different one. I'm still playing with the title, too. It has a werewolf in it and an Indian legend called a Windigo (and I'm not sure about the spelling right now). My bloggy bud, Shelly Arkon, was nice enough to be the guinea pig my beta reader for this new novel. She's a big-hearted woman, and one of my adoring fans. Give her a round of applause. *cheers, clapping, etc.*

My back is a bit better today. My husband is doing some housework for me. Give him a round of applause *YAY! Cheers! Clapping*.

And I'm trying to find some notes from when I was writing this section of the book a few years ago. I'm unable to locate it )^; Must be in a bin somewhere...

Well, you all have a good weekend! And if you don't have any luck with this contest, I have another coming up on Monday. Swing back here and I'll let you know where!

Up-dates by Sabrina

Moon will be full--I guess tonight. I notice things like that. There's a reason for it. Believe me (you'll find out if you read this next book).

Hi. This is Sabrina Strong in for Lorelei today. Just have a few things to impart.

First of all, the cover of the second book looks--absolutely evil. Like I've been up to something bad. That's all I'm going to say for now. It wasn't ready to share as yet. Lorelei gave her okay to her publisher, and I guess they'll go from there.

Another bit of business is Lorelei has a host post over on Katie Salidas' blog, Written In Blood, today. The piece is called "Why Vampires", and it seems to answer it really well, and goes beyond the fiction characters we all know, and delves a little deeper into the human kind of vampires. You'll not want to miss that.

I, meanwhile, am waiting patently for an electrician to come and make a hook up for a new electric oven. Apparently this guy is rather busy. I've been waiting on him for weeks. If he doesn't show, I'll fire him. Or, maybe I'll send one of my "friends" to visit him? Nah. Then I might get the reputation of being a nasty bitch. Actually, being the nasty bitch gets things done. You know what I mean?

I've also picked up a nice little book to read. It's called "Light Beneath Ferns" by Anne Spollen. I think it's a ghost story about a little girl who meets one. Sounds really good. Here is the cover.

Lorelei is telling me that she wants to read it after me, so I'd better have it done. She's about to be finished reading Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison. I'm thinking she'll post a review on this as soon as she can.

I'm glad that the full moon is coming up and will be done with well before Halloween. I hate the very thought of what might happen when us creatures of the moon commune and cavort on Halloween when children are about. Hmmm. Sounds like that would make a great story!

Well, I've got some things to take care of before . . . you know . . . tonight.

Thank Goddess It's Friday

Suit cases are out. This means we are about to get ready to leave for a very short, but very much needed vacation. It might only be 3 or 4 days, but we need to get away. My husband especially, since he has not taken any time off, except to quit early during those very horribly muggy/hot days. Working outside for a living is one of the hardest things anyone must have to do. (He has come in and changed clothes--down to the underwear-- because he is sopped in sweat!)

I have had this past week off to get my thoughts together, work on my WIP, and get some notes taken, find some information out for the book, and get some words down on the "page". And this has been needed. It has been wonderful to just let my brain work on my characters/scenes/motivations/dialogue, etc. I've managed to get to my 81st page, and have over 30,000 words on my 4th book. This is just too easy! Well, easy, only when I get the time to do this. I would normally be driving a bus right now, in fact, if my husband hadn't told me to take 2 weeks off, I'd be driving one right now. So, a big thanks to him.

Now, the only reason I can get this much done even while I'm home is because I don't have children. I would have all the time in the world if I didn't have to take care of the house, feed my husband, and water my flowers--oh, and eat and do dishes. My husband takes care of the laundry. While home I get it into the dryer and take it out etc. He also makes evening meals, now and then. So, kudos to a supportive husband. This is really the one thing a writer needs is supportive family who understand that when you are working, they have to leave you alone. Not making this clear only frustrates you, but time will fly by you will be in your 60's and your husband will say, "Let's live in Arizona, do this and that...blah-de-blah, blah, blah. (This is what happened to my Mom-in-law, who should have been published before she died, but never got the chance.)

But really, once you are ready to write you have to do one other thing for yourself. I know this is the only way it works for me. GET OFF THE INTERNET!

Setting aside times when you can go and do whatever you wish to do there is fine. You give yourself 30 min or an hour, but you have to make it an allotted set of time. Then, cut yourself off. I have a phone modem and so I unhook the line so that I can't possibly get back on line and do anything.

Just for fun:
Yesterday I checked on RV's by Jayco. I have to share the inside of one of the top-of-the- line called "Embark". When my husband saw these pictures, he had the same reaction: "I want that!"
We both would love to own this and travel around in when we retire. It's just the right size too!


the galley



the bedroom

 Well, that's it for me today. Enjoy your weekend. 

Summer is Half Over!

Jeeze! Where is it going? And now it's gotten hot--most of you already know this!

I've had one week off, but I'm taking another two off beginning of August. My husband and I are not taking a huge trip. But we'll get away somewhere. Do something before we go back to driving these buses around. We are not putting in the hours we have in the past--since, as my husband put it, the government is RAPING our checks. So, why even bother? May as well make less and do with less.

I know that I've told you all that my second novel is with the publisher. And that I've finished a solid first draft of #3.

Well, guess what? I just finished two 1st chapters on #4. And have some more notes that I'm toying with on what's going to happen. I've put together a notebook with new Plotting/character pages that I, myself, made up and put together and then printed. I had some from a site, but I couldn't use them to the fullest, since I didn't understand what some of it was for. So, I just made up my own sheets and they work--and look--great.

Something about these characters, they simply live in my head. Actually, it's as if they do exist. I'm sure all of you have had this happen with your characters. You see them, hear them, know how they'd react to certain situations.

With fantasy--as I'm a fantasy writer, and this series is what I call urban fantasy--the parade of new characters seems endless, and the problems that arise, just continue to pop up.

On Friday, My husband and I are taking the day off. We're going to go to an early showing of HP#7, having lunch beforehand. I can't wait!

I have not had the opportunity to buy many books this summer. I bought one, but it's not that thrilling.

However, I'm about to receive one from an author friend. When I get it, I'll tell you all about it. I can't wait to read it. I owe him one, too, but he's willing to wait for me to buy a couple of copies of my book in August.

Snagged Second Season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

Yesterday, my husband and I went to lunch at a place called Busters. The owner and his wife used to run a video rental place in a nearby town about a dozen years ago. Some of the videos he sold as well. Now as time has gone by and we've gone into the DVD age, that shop closed, and the hamburger place is sort of a hodgepodge of his DVD, poster/picture memorabilia around the dining area. DVD's, CD's as well as albums and pictures of the famous musicians (Like the Beatles, or the Stones, etc) on sale.

While waiting for our turkey burgers, Dennis and I looked around for something that caught my attention. I did find a DVD (special issue) of “Da Vinci Code”--and I'd never seen the movie but loved the book. He had no prices on these, and I knew he probably had each of these in special sections and prices for each.

In the meantime, our wonderful turkey burgers and fries came. While we sat and watched “Password” on the TV in front of us, Dennis spotted a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” DVD set. Turned out to be the second season. I really had been looking for a second hand DVD of any of the Buffy seasons. I knew that second season was one I had not seen recently. We bought it for $10. Nice. The “Da Vinci Code” was $5 but I wanted the Buffy shows most of all—something I'd coveted for years and years to own.

I was pretty sure I hadn't see this season, and that they would pretty much be new to me. I popped it in, and watched one show, because I wanted to get my fix. I was right, I'd not seen these shows, except perhaps in re-runs, and suddenly even those went off the FX station—which I can only get if I go on vacation. So the only way to see my Buffy shows are to own them. Thus, I've begun a collection. Finally I can watch Buffy and get my fix whenever I want. I watched 3 shows in total yesterday. I loved when they introduced Spike and Drusilla in the show.

Also, one bit of news on my writing; I sent off my copy of the second book to Copperhill Media today.

Also, I managed to add some more to book 3. I'm on page 183 now. But way shy of a full book! Well, I'll add more to these scenes, no doubt. Other scenes will come to me. It was nice to get into this book full tilt, working out the mystery as well as bringing in the dangers of the world she's in, and the ever present unstable condition of how Drakulya might react to anything Sabrina does.

I'm not worried about the length right now as this is only a first draft. I'll be adding more details about the clothes, and things surrounding them in this other world in the second drafts whenever I get to do it. First drafts usually take me a good year to flesh out (since I work full time and this summer I'm working 5 days a week for the first time). I believe I began the third book in August of last year, working it as an "in between" book, so to speak.

To All My Friends, Stalkers & Lurkers: May Updates

Good morning, lurkers, stalkers and friends!


I'm home today. Sort of fortunate I am, since I've done something to my back and I'm in pain. But I'm doing the ice/heat/ice/heat/ice thing. I have scoliosis, and since I don't have health care I can't go to a chiropractor--which is what I would do if I could.

But enough about that.

I'm happy to have the day off. I've gone and visited some of you folks, and looks as though I've won an ebook. I just hope I can down load it. I'd like to read something by Carole Gill. I will give up-date on this as things happen.

Also, I will be posting something from our friend, Sumiko, this week. Last week just dished out more than I could handle, and I did not have the luxury of time to do much on my posts, so this one will be delayed, but will be coming up.

Speaking of give aways, I'm about to have another one. Yes. If any of you have been lurking to see if I'd have another give away for Vampire Ascending, you might just want to take advantage of this one, since I'm not sure when I'll next have another one. I'm just saying.

So, please stay tuned, lurk, or whatever you do to keep posted on when and where I'll be this next week. I love stalkers, so come on out and stalk me!!!

Since I'm in a chatty mood, I've changed my header over on my Vampire Writer's Retreat, I think it's great looking.

I'm also, as some of you know, working on the second book to be sent off to my wonderful publisher, and I'm working on the third book, as time allows, here and there . If I had more time, I'd be able to work on both at the same time, but sort of hard to write while driving a transit bus. I just can't multi-task that!


I'm also working on little titillations for the second book with Yolanda, editor at Copperhill Media, who does fine work on our manuscripts as well as certain blog posts I submit to her for frogenyozert.com. I've sent her something for this week and I'll put the latest link here for any of you lurkers and stalkers, as well as my regulars who actually leave me nice little comments. You all know who you are!

I've got ice on my back, but need to change to heat. I'm not sure how long to do this, I'll wait until the bottom of the hour, I guess.

Also, I'm reading Angelology. I've gotta say, my fellow readers/writers, this is one book I do recommend, if only for the absolute mastery of her telling this tale. I will put together a review once I've finished it.



So, enjoy your second day of May, and stop by often, I love stalkers, lurkers and all my friends out there.

I Love Quiet Sundays

Quiet as a graveyard. . .

We did go into Walmart to grab a bunch of those "stock-up" things. Also made list as we perused the kitchen areas, seeing what they had. Going to go with almond/tan/brown to sort of go with the colors of the floor and the counter top. Work comes to stand still on the weekends. Don't even know if anything will be done on Monday. Very frustrating waiting for things to get completed.

Other than that, over on my Vampire Writer's Retreat, if you recall I went with this picture for the header because I asked a bunch of you to give me your preferences back a few months ago.

Well, I went looking over on photobucket and found something that really looks great. I also decided to give a eensy-weensy titillation for the second book there. Check it out HERE.

I've picked up a couple more followers over on my Vampire's Literature on Writer's Digest blog.

Last night I had a few lines of dialogue in my head for the THIRD book, and had to go ahead and write that into my notes on that. I've been considering the title. I've changed it twice, now. I went from the working title: Necromancer's Dream--because it was going to be about a Necromancer, but then the story just changed. Or rather the characters changed their minds. And I had one surprise character just deciding to drop in. Dracula just wouldn't stay away. So, yes, the historical Dracula is a main character in my third book, and he just happens to be a vampire. How he manages this I'll not reveal, since his head was severed in battle.

So, I changed the title to Beyond the Veil, which worked, but I decided to make it doubly dark I went and changed it to Beyond the Black Veil. I have my reasons. Aside from it being interesting, it has a deeper vampiric meaning.

Well, I think I'd better go and do a little work on the second book, now. Hope your Sunday on this first day of May is quiet and pleasant, too.

Milestone: 50 Followers!

Wow, this snuck up on me! And for some reason I still am unable to see who were the last 2-3 people who joined, although I know one for sure, but can't remember who all had been followers, so the last person to join, I just don't know, but I'll guess it might be TC McKee. Anyone what to help me out, please do.







Hopefully having 3 days off I might be able to get something done. But probably not. However, I'm going to try and make a valiant effort in getting a couple more chapters read through, tweaked or whatever needs to be done on second book. I have to continue making posts to help rev up interest over on my publisher's site, too. So, there's that to do.







And a week from this coming Monday I am going to be on Patricia's Vampire Notes blog. I'll be doing a give away, so stay tuned, tell your friends, etc. Don't worry, I will remind you.







It's windier today, but warm, however we are to get some storms later. Speaking of that, I do feel for those people down south who have been devastated by the destructive forces of the many, many tornadoes which ripped through that part of the country. My husband's cousin lives down there, right near the town that was leveled. We don't know if she and her husband and horses and dogs are okay as yet. The power, etc is out.







I do plan on a couple of posts. One I hope to do with a meteorologist student about his storm chasing, thought it would really be interesting to hear about his experience. Also, I have a Sumiko Reads to put up, and just have not had the time to work on it because of all the extra cleaning I've had to do around here when we got home. I just don't have the time. But I will work on those, or hope to have them up soon. I don't know about the storm chaser, since finals week is coming up, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.







Tomorrow is May 1st. Maybe we'll begin to have better weather around here soon. My husband begins his summer park job of mowing at Afton on Monday. I know he is very happy to get off the bus, and if there was some way I could afford to not drive this summer I would.

This is the kiss--they kissed twice. I missed it both times they showed it on TV. Oh well. Got the picture of it. I sure hope that they have a wonderful life. I think they prepared for this in those 8 years of getting to know one another.

On that note, have a great day everyone!

Mid-week Updates--the kitchen, the contest, Fire at Afton Forest Preserve . . .

The winner of my ebook is Laura H. I have already notified her, and she was very excited indeed. Congratulations to Larua. I sure did have fun doing this and will do it again soon. I thank everyone who participated & left some wonderful comments. So, we find that they have put in the wood for the flooring, today, and began a tongue-in-groove wooden slats for wall--we are not sure if this is how they plan on doing the whole thing. But so far it is a big improvement, once the yucky wall of sheet rock is covered. I'm not sure how they plan on doing the rest. Also there is supposed to be a new north window--whenever that's done I have no idea. We just go away and come back and something new is added. Last night about 7 pm we had a voice male from someone who had been out in the park that we take care of, saying that he knew that they'd had a burn for the prairie--they burn off the old prairie to help the growth, and get rid of unwanted species--and somehow they'd missed a hot spot and it had sparked over under mature white pine trees. Well, we went out and checked along the south-east border, and sure enough there was some good flames going along the fence line. My husband called 911--the very first time we've ever done anything remotely like this--and the dispatch took the information. In about 5-10 minutes engines from the small, but close by towns of Waterman and Hinckely were there on our road and my husband tried to tell them how they might be able to access the area. There's a creek that runs across the park and the engines wouldn't have been able to get across the small bridges which can only take a pickup truck at best. The sun was setting, and by the time things got rolling it had set. Dennis had me stay in the house and he drove out into the park and called me later to give me the up-date that the fire was out. It basically caught on to the pine needles, and once it reached the field, which was plowed under, it had no place to go. But hooray for these guys who came out and took care of the fire! So, needless to say tonight is a dinner out night. No desire to have to heat things up. Have someone wait on us instead.

Kitchen Down to bare floor and walls

Weellll, When you come home and see that ugly cabinets, counters etc. are gone forever, you feel a sense of relief. Of course, now we are down to using the disposable dishes and so forth, but you still have to use something to cook in, thus I will be doing dishes (just a few things) in the bathroom. This is like camping in your own house . . . only you still have running water, a bathroom, and privacy. This house is over 100 years old, and a portion of the kitchen was an addition--way before we ever set foot out this way. Possibly before we were born, in fact. Dennis and I have grown up in old houses where our parents renovated. We know what it's like. We will get through this. At least tonight it wasn't too bad. We didn't rearrange furniture like we did last night (because the way we had it just wasn't working). We don't know what the new cabinets will look like as yet. Maybe it would be a pleasant surprise to just wait and see it in the kitchen. I will look forward to a floor I can wash (remember I said the other was a rug--yish!) I recall when my father had renovated the kitchen and the rest of the rooms downstairs. Uh, his house was built in something like 1865. The kitchen being the oldest part--and there was some interesting configurations in the construction . . . but no old money hidden. Darn! Meanwhile the contest over on Fangtastic Books is over. I will announce the winner tomorrow here. I have just told her about it and have contacted my publisher to send her the eBook. We're having pretty good weather for April here, today and tomorrow 60's, but after that it sounds yish! I'm working on the third book, allowing the second one to just sit before I do a final read through. Now, if Publisher's Clearing House would just leave me alone . . . I might get something done tonight!

So Much To Chirp About

Hello, my fine feathered friends out there!

I am happy. Happy because for 3 days straight I didn't have to wear my winter jacket! It got above 50--in fact yesterday it was mid-sixties! Three days I've gone for a walk, one in one of my husband's and my favorite places, and then today out in our own park. Just seeing, and hearing the birds again is wonderful. In fact, when we drove into White Pines the other day, I saw a bluebird. That's the earliest I've ever seen one. (the fellow above is a beautiful indigo bunting. He's actually so dark blue this picture does not do him justice!)

Earlier this week I emailed an acquaintance of mine who investigates haunted areas, and he has gotten back to me. I have not been in touch with him in a few years. He has published a few of my pieces at an on-line magazine, which is no longer up and running. His name is Micheal Kleen, and has his own site where he and others post about various true hauntings in Illinois. His blog is http://trueillinoishaunts.com/ and if you enjoy true tales of haunted places, you'll definitely want to go and check out all the stories and posts he has there. There are separate pages for just about everything, including murders, and he sure has a lot on cemeteries. Mike is also a pretty good writer in his own right and I happen to have met him at a author signing back over a year ago with another author, and bought a copy of his short tales.

Earlier today I put up a post over at one of my sister blogs Something Nebulous Within. The title is "Popularity:What It means For A Writer". I had something to say and just wanted to say it there, since this site is where I like to post things for other writers, and I knew I wanted to post this little "up-to-speed" post here on Muse today. So, if you'd like to check out how I view blog-hopping and the idea of using up so many hours in a day blogging, you may go here for that.

I realized that today is Friday. It was also payday and it was nice knowing we didn't have to go in to drive today. But next Monday we are back to the grind-gack!

I've been printing up chapters of my second book, and doing my edits that way. This is much easier for me to find mistakes, places where I've repeated myself, and so forth. Also have been reading two novels (Raven Corinn Carluk's All Hallow's Blood, and I simply couldn't resist picking up Quinn's An Embarrassment of Riches), since I've had plenty of time, could stay up longer than normal and read, if I wanted. I will post about these two book separately soon, so stay tuned.

Also, if any of you are not aware, the moon will be full this weekend, and it is closer to the earth than it has been in 18 years. This is called a Perigee Moon. It will appear 15% larger. So, if you are a Were, I'm sure that your senses have already been feeling the itch to howl. I know I have been feeling oddly both excited and drained at times. I'm hoping it rains on the fullest night, so I can get some sleep! If not, I'll just sit up and read.

Updates: Writing, Weather, Where I'll be Appearing This Week

Okay, the full moon--and coffee that I'd had mid-day--had me awake past 10:30. It was sort of cool to see the sharp black shadows of the house against the pristine-white snow in the backyard. Nothing was stirring. Possibly some owl might have been. And raccoons, of course.

If I ever get caught up I'll be amazed with myself. I've been doing read-through/edits of my second book, Vampire's Trill. I've rewritten the beginning over on my side bar, invited you to go take a quick peek at the first 5 pages over at Lorelei's Archives to get a first-hand look at my corrections, and noticed that many of you have. Thank you for stopping by!

I've been around to the blogs, and have enjoyed interacting with many of you. Tammy's post about her dreaming of wonderful office furniture brought back memories—this—the desk—has been my dream for years. Before we moved into the old McGurr farm house, 16 or is it 17 years ago—we lived in an apartment. Because there was only 4 rooms I had no office, so I'd write in the bed room, at the dining room table, and outside on the porch—weather permitting, of course. Once we moved here with several rooms on the first floor as well as second (but this house is so old that if there was one or two outlets in a room, that was all you got!), I finally had a room which was deemed my office. I could leave it as messy as I wanted, and close the door to any noises, and my husband respects this most of the times. I have no desk to sit at, only an 8 ft table, an office chair and two 2-drawer file cabinets with a laminated board arranged over them to give me more space to spread out. I have a fold-out table, for more junk, and two bookcases, plus I've moved the couch in here over the winter for those nights I have sudden inspiration and know I'll be getting up to work—or for naps (if I do nap).

Where I'll Be This Week:

This week I've been invited by Catherine at SUBURBAN VAMPIRE. She is running “Vampire Valentine's Party” this month and has been hosting various authors. The theme is the “romantic allure of vampires”, which, of course I can throw my 2 cents in on. So, if you haven't checked her posts out this month, you might want to see what delicious things to read she's been giving away.

After I had such a wonderfully successful book signing, and called the Borders store manager, Julie Morsh, she invited me to come and speak with a “retired” sorority who meets in her store once a year. She thought that they would really be interested in me/my book, so I've got a speaking engagement this coming Saturday at Borders. Thank goodness I'm only expected to speak to them for 20 minutes. Probably answer questions about my book, etc.

One of the very first things Julie told me—because she had read my book—was, “I just LOVED your book!” When I asked what it was she really liked about my book, she said, “It's more real, and more adult.” She explained to me that she didn't really care for the Twilight series that much. I'm sure this is what she'd meant by “more real and more adult”. When I asked, she also said she'd noticed the places that I'd used in my book from actual places/settings in her own small town (which I named Moonlight). The Pub was the bar in the opening chapter. The grocery store was used, and the bank, and a few other buildings/businesses, including the Subway. I don't think I could walk into the Hinckley Subway on Rt. 30 again without thinking about Sabrina and Jeanie Woodbine sitting eating, and talking covertly about vampires and werewolves at a table, and Jeanie's hot brother walking in for lunch from the stair-building factory nearby.

The weather is improving too. Today, in fact we've had temps already in the thirties and by end of the week it will be 50's. Why, we'll all be walking around in shorts by then (NOT!) I wouldn't doubt that by then the red wings will be back singing in a huge chorus up in the trees of our backyard.

Super Suday Update

It's snowing here. But not as much as last week, thank goddess! And after this week, the temperatures will rise out of the teens and single digits, and we might someday see the end of Old Man Winter.

I see in news around the blog sphere that someone has finnally cast Johnny Depp as a vampire. I've always thought he would make a superb one. I've in fact cast him for the role as Jett Drakulya from my third book--but that's just my dream team.

The movie is a Dark Shadows remake and Eva Green has been cast to play Angelique. I think that her eyes are haunting, I'm sure she will make a wonderful Angelique. (I have not had a chance to investigate this, so give me a while, I'll get on this.)

I am currently doing pin-point edits on my second book. This involves going through with my "find and replace" option and finding certain words that I either use too much, or use and shouldn't use because of bad habits of writing. Like the word "just", or "so", or "very", and "suddenly"--the list goes on. Bad habits are hard to quit in writing.

As a matter of fact this brings up what I'm going to introduce to my blog. Not bad habits, so much, but something I will call "Frustrating The Writer".

This past week when I saw someone posting about one writer's use of adjectives throughout her books, I had a great idea for a new post. This blogger was wondering about this author's use of adjectives and how this very shameful rule-breaking was suddenly okay for this very famous writer. It came down to the fact that this was "her style" of writing. There is a big difference in what a writer's style becomes, and what rules they break. There's a thin line, in fact, when it comes to style and what is allowed.

My newest addition to Lorelei's Muse will be about rule-breaking in writing, not so much as to why they are broken, but there might be some of this as well. "Frustrating The Writer" will give my thoughts on this, and writing rules that best-selling authors break, and things I've seen, or experienced while trying to learn the craft. I hope to expose these rule breakers, explain a few and why they are frowned upon--or at least considered "pet-peeves" by agents and editors. My hope is to give any of you who are "new" to writing, or finding yourselves frustrated by the rules, that you need to understand that rules can be broken as long as we adhere to the most basic rules of grammar. Especially if you are trying to find your voice.

Well, that's it for my Super Sunday Update. If you are having a party today you are excused from visiting my blog until well after the guacamole dip and chili is consumed and the party favors are all picked up.(Wow, I actually knew how to spell guacamole--that's just wild!)

Book is Featured At VampChix Today

Michele Hauf graciously has invited me to VampChix today. I complied most heartily, of course. I've been looking forward to this since this summer when I first mentioned it to Michele in an email, after winning a contest there.

My husband has been home sick and has been reading the book--well, between naps. He recalls my asking him to read a draft, and had told me I had given too much away. That was probably a year ago, now. And his mother read the first chapter as well. I dedicated the book to her, of course. She was my mentor, the only other person on this planet that I could talk face-to-face, or over the phone about writing, because she also was a writer. I sure hope her novel will one day see the light of day, even if she will never see that happen herself.

Cold has gripped us, as predicted. You tend to see temps in the single digits during January, not the beginning of December. Driving buses for NIU, this semester is nearly wrapped up, and the students have been taking their finals. Tomorrow should be less people going in, and Friday should be next to nothing. Then a week or so of just driving the city bus for 6 mindless hours, come home and hope to get a few hours in of work.

After this, three weeks off in which some serious writing will be happening in this office. I've been making notes for this third book. The second one needs some reading through and edits, then that will be ready to present to publisher by January at some point.

Later this week I will have an interview up with Jamie Wasserman, author of Blood and Sunrise. I think it's fun to see how another author works on their book, and why they choose the vampire as a subject. It's like asking why an artist likes to do florals, or landscapes as apposed to something else. Should be interesting. Stop in, check it out, and do stop by VampChix today!

November Chill & Other News

My writing friends to the north are experiencing SNOW. We, here in northern Illinois have said good bye to the unusually warm, and dry weather of October and have been re-introduced to November, and saying hello to cold, windy, rainy weather we all know and hate.

Well, I warned them.

I'm to work on edits for my book. I was told it was sent (I'm supposing a disk), to me priority mail. Yeah, I have stupid dial up, so having them send the whole thing to me over the Internet could take hours. I chose not to go that route.

Oh, my due date (to think I'd have a due date for getting edits done on a book is still making me pinch myself), is on this coming Friday--the 19th Is it coincidence that the second to last Harry Potter movie opens that date? If they hope to get the book out at the end of this month. Well. The disk had better get here on Monday, or it's going to be shaving it really close.

I've been in touch with Michele Hauf of VampChix, and she has slated me for a December 8th feature @ VampChix! I was very excited, and have held off posting about it, but wanted to get this out a little before. I'll remind everyone about it when the day nears.

My husband did a wonderful thing, and made reservations at a nearby restaurant for Thanks Giving. We have no children, and we don't go anywhere any more, and the workout on getting such a meal for just the two of us cooked--and the dreaded clean up after--has just been exhausting, lately. So, that's a thing to look forward to. Aside from our get-away the first weekend in December, for our 22nd anniversary, to White Pines Inn. We've a cabin for two nights, and a theater-dinner booked for Saturday--the comedy version of Scrooge. We have been looking forward to that date for months, now. Not sure that we should have, since we will have no work for 2 weeks during the Christmas break, but we haven't done anything special for the season in years. We simply need to treat ourselves. This should be really nice, quiet, as it's situated in the state park. I'm hoping for snow. I'll take pictures, and eventually get them on disk. Should be a great time.

I've also gotten the book by Jamie Wasserman, who'd had his book featured over at VampChix. It looked interesting, and I tried to win it in the contest, but when I expressed interest in it, Jamie simply sent it to me. I offered to do a review here at Muse, and maybe an interview. Jamie's work has been nominated for Pushcart. But I'll reserve all his information at a later date. However, this book is quite interesting and a little different.

I'd finished Dead Koontz's 1st book in this Frankenstein series, "Prodigal Son", and need to write a little about that, but I just haven't had time. Believe me, getting up at 4 a.m. to get ready to go to work doesn't leave much time for me to do much writing. When I get home, I have to measure out the time I do everything, or nothing will get done. Thus, this morning, when a scene was in my head--a future scened--for the book I'm writing now, I wrote it down while drinking coffee, watching the news, and trying to keep it all in my head while my husband talked about things on the news, or such. I feel terrible, but he's used to me half-listening. He knows what I'm doing may lead to us getting out of here, someday.

Well, I haven't checked my numbers over at Vampire Ascending facebook page, it was up to 12 last time I checked. If you are interested in hitting the LIKE button on my book at facebook, please do stop by. I'd like to see the numbers grow as the date of my book's release date nears.

(sorry if the web page doesn't go through. Just type in book's name: Vampire Ascending and it will come up. )