I have a lot of Character!

Have you read Angel's Code and wanted to know more about the characters, what compelled me to write the story, and what's next?

Well, you're in luck!

For the next few weeks, I will be blogging and guest blogging on the in's and out's of Angel's Code.

Starting with Danny- the "main" character of the first book of the series.

If you would like to know more about Danny, please read my guest blog on Janette Harjo's blog.

I will continue the discussion next week on here on my own blog, then travel around the blogosphere sharing the secrets of my madness.

And if you haven't read the book yet, your in luck!  There are still plenty of copies at the following online retailers.  You don't even have to get out of your pajamas!

ITunes

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

See you on the inter-webs!

The Death Cat Cometh

Being sick sucks.  Monday night I came down with a stomach bug and left work early, hoping it was some sketchy yogurt I ate earlier and not the flu that was rampaging through the sorority house, laying it's victims to languish in the hallways, moaning about how sick they are, but not taking any of the advice the housemother and I would give them. 

But I digress, I was sticken with stomach cramps, nausea, sour burps, and dizziness.  Not good when you need to serve up a fancy plated meal for 60 women.  Needless to say, I kept it together until after the plating, though the fury of passing plates almost pushed me over the edge, then I went home.  Driving while nauseous is no picnic either.  I made it home and went to lay down until the room stopped spinning.

The next day, I felt a little better.  That is until I opened a can of dog food.  The chunks of compressed meat hovering in it's viscous gravy sealed my fate, and I called in sick then went back to bed.

After a three hour nap, I made myself some gingered chicken broth and sat down in the sun room by our sliding glass door.  The early afternoon sun warmed my aching body and I felt a little more cheerful.  A sudden movement caught my eye, and from out of the hedges lining our porch slinked out the death cat.  I screamed in horror at the ominous omen glaring at me.

"The Death Cat!  The Death Cat has come in my hour of weakness!"

Now the Death Cat is one of many cats that roam our neighborhood.  A massive long-haired black feline who usually sits on the fence corner glowering at our house.  He is the arch enemy of our black cat, Magic.  The Death Cat, when he's in full skulk, looks like the grim reaper,  Saggy black fur and two demonic glowing eyes.  Many midnight battles have been waged between Death Cat and Magic.  Usually after these fights, we will find a deceased animal on our patio, a bird, a mouse, one time a pack  rat... always Magic, missing clumps of fur, ends up staying inside for a couple of days.

But yesterday the Death Cat came for me.  He looked me right in the eyes and my heart shivered.  

I'm surprised I'm still alive.

Perhaps it was just a warning, a gentle reminder that bad things do pass, to enjoy your health while you have it.   So Enjoy Life my friends, or else the Death Cat may visit your porch next.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled life

So my life has been crazy.  Week after week of work, markets, and critique meetings and now my calendar is finally clearing up.

Two weekends ago, I went to my first writer's conference.  It was sponsored by the Montana Chapter of the Romance Writers Association.  Yeah, I know.  I'm not a romance writer.  Now I know what a man feels like in a room full of estrogen high women, much like the houseboys I work with at the sorority.  The seminars were good, I learned a lot, and I met a bunch of great women. Including a woman who looked exactly like my mom.  It was erie.

So I got home last Sunday and dove right into Homecoming weekend.  I'm not in college, I'm not an alumni, but I do belong to Pug Club, and we march in the parade every year.  This year the theme was "Up with Montana" thus our club and every other entry in the parade dressed as the movie "UP!"

I have to admit we were the cutest.  I volunteered to make the floating house, and then we all dressed up like the old man, and our pugs were clouds.

Aren't they adorable, and miserable looking?  

So our parade went well, and I'm glad it's over.  Now I can get back to my routine. Work, exercise and write.  Here's hoping.

Angel's Code

My first book was released on Sept. 17th.  It was quite the learning process, publishing a book.  I would like to thank a few people who helped along the way.

First, my mentor and friend, Danica Winters.  If it weren't for her, I would have never started this process.  Her guidance helped me develop, edit, rewrite, edit, rewrite and finally submit my book.
I'd also like to thank the other women in my critique group, Kristi Fitzgerald, Melanie Calahan.  I couldn't have written as much as I did without you.

Second, I'd like to thank Jennifer Conners and the staff at Books to Go Now for their hard work and dedication to new authors.

Third, I thank my family and friends who supported my endeavor.  It was quite the trial.

So in the name of self promotion, here are the links where you can find the book. :)  I hope you enjoy it.

Amazon copy
Barnes and Noble copy

The Calm Before the Storm

This  past week I've been thinking about how quiet it was.  Too quiet.  It reminded me of this line from one of my favorite actors, Gary Oldman, in one of the first movies I saw him in, "The Professional." (BTW was also one of the first roles done by Natalie Portman - it's an excellent movie.  I highly recommend it.)

Anyhoo, here's the clip.  Warning: it does get a tad violent.

Did I say tad?

So it's been calm.  Calmer at work, calm at the market, calm at home. It's beginning to freak me out!

I have finished the final looks of my debut novella.  Yea!

Here's the cover

Isn't it awesome.  The artist over at Books To Go Now really did a great job.  

So now what....

                                    ....we wait.

Fortunately, you don't have to wait long!  Angel's Code will be available for download Sept. 17th.  That's in six days people!  How stoked are you?

So.... like I said, the calm before the storm.  Go rent "The Professional" while you wait.

My Three Lives

I came to the realization today that I'm living three separate lives.  A multiple personality disorder manifested into my daily life.

I used to only have two distinct jobs during the year and they only overlapped on the outer fringes of their existences.  First is the job I hold at a sorority as a cook and the second takes place during the summer at the Farmer's Market.  Now I wear this third hat, published (almost officially) author.

As I have mentioned, my three parts never collided like they have the past two weeks.  When I wake, I am cook extraordinaire.  Afternoon rolls around, and between batches of bread for the market, I try to plot a few lines for my next book.  Then it's back to sling in' hash for the college girls.  I go home and become farmer chick, checking up on my garden, picking the ripe tomatoes and peas, and exterminating some noxious weed or offending insect that dares cross my path.  My nights are illuminated by the glow of my computer screen, researching, writing, and editing. Editing.  Editing...

And though I know the market life is about to wind down, ready to hibernate until next spring, I feel grateful I've been able to balance it thus far.  I guess it's a good thing I don't have much of a social life or children - the dogs take care of themselves.

Please excuse me, there is a hungry girl/baking timer/confusing sentence/errant weed calling my name.

                             Beans

                                               My market stall

                    My poor neglected dog

Guest Blog Announcement

Hey everybody,
Sorry it's been awhile.  I've been busy editing and preparing for the upcoming release of my first book "Angel's Code" (final release date TBA).

Tomorrow, Monday, August 12, I will be guest blogging on Leanne Tyler's site. You can find my post on her site:
Sweet Southern Romance

Please drop in and leave a comment.

Thanks
H.