Making time for Family.

Posted: March 25, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Fight, Odds and Ends | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

I recently finished the first draft of Fight, the second book in the Kitsune series, and I’ve set it back on the shelf for a couple of weeks to let my mind rest a little. In the mean time, I’m making some time for family. Taking a trip to visit my dad and grandfather, the kids will be on spring break soon, and the old man is off while the kids are on spring break, the two things together means getting anything done will be next to impossible.

After spring break is over (basically, after Easter,) I’ll pull up Fight and start rewrites. It’s not a simple process but I have high hopes for where the story is going. I’m excited about this installment in Nickie’s story, and already plotting out what will happen in the third book, I just have to keep working to bring it to life. It won’t be fast, and it won’t be easy, but hopefully it will make for a better book. I’m hoping to have Fight available by the end of the summer, but I’ll let you know more as things get closer to that goal.

What I’m Reading ~ Fair Game ~ Patricia Briggs

Posted: March 14, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: What I'm Reading | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

This is book three in the Alpha & Omega series.

Charles is struggling with his guilt over the killings he has had to do for his father, and the ghosts that that guilt feeds, and in the process he is withdrawing from Anna. Anna is desperate to help Charles but it seems her pleas to Bran are falling on deaf ears. When Bran sends Anna on a diplomatic mission for the werewolves he may have actually found something that could help Charles, or will hit hurt him more?

 

What did I think? I enjoyed it, it wasn’t something I couldn’t put down, or something that haunted me to pick it back up when I had to lay it down (or maybe my brain is just so buried in the story I’m trying to tell,) but I could easily loose myself in the story and I really enjoyed the tale of these two characters I’ve come to care about.

What I’m Reading ~ Wrath ~ Laurann Dohner

Posted: March 11, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: What I'm Reading | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This is the sixth book in the New Species series.

Wrath joins the task force to hunt down and capture humans who worked for Mercile and bring them to justice. The task force captures Lauren, believing her to know where one of the men they’re after is. When Wrath realizes she is just in the wrong place at the wrong time he does every thing he can to protect her.

What did I think? This is the sixth book in the series, I’ve read them all. I enjoy the series, despite knowing that they are a softer, gentler version of Lora Leigh’s Breed series. They have an intriguing (if hauntingly similar) story line and steamy, erotic (if tame) love scenes.

Fanfic ~ I don’t get it.

Posted: March 9, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Odds and Ends | Tags: , , , | 6 Comments

What is fanfic? According to Dictionary.com it is:

  1. fiction written by fans of a TV series, movie, etc., using existing characters and situations to develop new plots.
  2. a work of fiction in this genre.

And according to the Collins World English Dictionary it is.

  • Fiction written around previously established characters invented by other authors.

So, by both definitions, fanfic is where people take characters created by other people and have them do different things. In my experience, they are generally things that are out of character. To me this ruins the experience. I just don’t understand why you would want to make a person, any person, real or imaginary, do something they wouldn’t normally do.

Whether it’s to have Dudley be nice to Harry, and treat him as a person, or the shallow, lifeless Bella Swan venture into a BDSM relationship, it’s not something either character would do, even in their wildest dreams.

Now, if you want to create a character of your own you can give them any personality and history you want, and make their actions in character for them. Tell us their story. That I can get into.

Goals

Posted: March 8, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Odds and Ends | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

I’m nearly done with the first draft of the second book in the Kitsune series.  I’ve been winding down the story for several days now.

I realized this morning that I had somewhere between 4000 and 9000 words to go to reach my goal word count for the first draft. Then I realized that if I continue to reach my daily word count goal of 1000, then I could conceivably finish the first draft within the next week. this was more than a little thrilling. I went to work and managed to make more than double my daily goal today! I felt great.

Once I finish the first draft I’ll start the rewrites, and my goals for that stage generally shifts to a chapter or scene basis rather than a word count one, but still, progress is progress, and goals keep you moving.

I’m loving my goals, and achieving them!

What I’m reading ~ 50 Shades of Grey ~ E. L. James

Posted: March 7, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: What I'm Reading | Tags: , , | 6 Comments

or at least I tried to.

I know that the book is about Dominance and Submission, I was prepared for that, and honestly it wouldn’t have been my first book on the theme.  If I were really honest, it probably wouldn’t have been the 50th (though, admittedly I haven’t counted.)

So why couldn’t I make it through 50 Shades of Grey? Because I found it so poorly written I couldn’t stand to read it any longer. It was like Stephanie Meyer wrote a BDSM novel. *gag* Only worse.

First problem? The story is told in first person, present tense. Why is this a problem? Because it is REALLY, REALLY hard to do well. And this wasn’t done well. I felt it was shallow, stilted and emotionless. I read about five chapters in and I rolled my eyes and wanted to spork my eyes out about twice a page (screen, I read on a kindle.)

The characters had about as much depth as Bella Swan. By that I mean no personality at all. I wanted to slap Anastasia at least once a screen for some stupid or childish thing.

About the fifth time I wanted to throw my kindle across the room and tell them both to get over themselves I found a new book to read.

What I’m Reading ~ Scent of Passion ~ Elizabeth Lapthorne

Posted: March 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: What I'm Reading | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

This is the first book in the Rutledge Werewolves series.

Artemais spent years searching far and wide for his True Mate, when doubting that he’d ever find her he scheduled the band he shared with his brothers to play in the nearest city. He was aware of Sophie the minute she walked into the bar, but he didn’t dare to hope she could be his mate.
Sophie had acted out of character that night in the bar, and she’d been unable to forget him in the time since. When she discovers she’s pregnant she has a whole new set of problems.

What did I think? Light, quick, entertaining read. Nothing deep or earth-shattering, but fun and hot, which was the point.

What I’m reading ~ Moonlight in the Morning ~ Jude Deveraux

Posted: March 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: What I'm Reading | Tags: , | Leave a comment

This is an Edilian book.

Jecca had been to Edilian once, as a teenager getting ready to go back to college, now, years later, she’s going to spend the summer with her best friend, Kim. What she didn’t count on was Tristan, one of Kim’s many cousins, tripping over her in the dark. She strikes up a friendship with him, but is it more?

 

What did I think? I enjoyed it, it’s a fun, easy read. No big mysteries, no storyline to work out, just a fun story to get lost in. 

What I’m Reading ~ The Game ~ Mackenzie McKade

Posted: March 1, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: What I'm Reading | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

This is the first book in the Ecstasy series.

Chastity Ambrose is desperate for money, and she’s willing to do anything, even become a contestant in a game that sets her as a sexual slave to her ex-fiancé. But is she prepared for what will be required of her? Can she handle being that close to the man who still holds her heart?

How did I like it? It was alright. A quick read and a good escape, it will get your juices flowing if your into BDSM. It helped me to relax some and not stress so much about what I’m working on.