Blog Musings

Holy Moly, this is a real job

2012-05-21T16:00:45Z

So things are getting busy busy over hear and it feels awesome. It would be more awesome if this was my fulltime gig, but I can be patient...sorta. In the mean time it's full steam ahead building an my writing biz.

So as last most of you heard, all those lovely edits I finished in New Zealand were lost thanks to a corrupted flash drive. Yes, I did cry. But after a moment of break down, I got my ass back in gear to redo them. No point in crying about it when the release date is looming.

As for the print version of Sexy in Stilettos, CreateSpace is the bane of my existence and they will not accept my cover upload. Kimberly Killion, my cover artist is helping sort out the problem. I'm hoping for my print version in June.

And moving things along, I'm working with Audible ACX to get Reluctant Protector and Sexy in Stilettos in audiobook format. I've already got my narrators. RC Bray will be doing the narration for Reluctant Protector and Sherin Nicole will be narrating Sexy in Stilettos. I'm so excited! As a person who loves audiobooks, this is a huge step for me.

Plan is to finish edits for Sultry in stilettos next, then to re-release Game, Set, Match. Then the race is on for the next Protector book, so it's going to be a busy summer. Just the way I like it.

Oh, and keep an eye out for me on Goodreads where I'll be doing some giveaways of the print versions of my books.

Sunday Stylings 5/20

2012-05-21T01:00:33Z

So after my lovely week off in NZ and letting Bratlette wear her twists for this week, I was loathe to do a complicated style today. I wanted to ease myself back into the whole hair doing thing. So today I went with and oldie but a goodie that i picked up from my go to hair blog Chocolate Har Vanilla Care.

So we started with her twist out and it took a minute to detangle it. I won't lie, she probably should have only had the twist out for three days or so, but again...lazy. So it was a hot minute of work. I did help myself out and section it into eight sections that I planned to use for the style.

So I washed with the braids in and conditioned the same way. And we used clarifying shampoo from Kinky Curly because it has been a month since we washed it and she had a ton of lint fuzzies hanging along for a ride. For conditioner we used Mixed chicks conditioner. For our leave in conditioner, I used Kinky Curly Knot Today.

Since I was too lazy last night to wash, this all had to be done today which meant no time for banding so after our wash, I used the blow dryer on a cool setting to get most of the moisture out. I let Bratlette pick out the colors of the no damage ponytail holders. I also soaked the ponytail holders in coconut oil before putting them in.

And Voila!

PS, I'm loving Hipstagram. The photos came out great :)

sunday Stylings 5/13

2012-05-14T03:00:00Z

Well it seems like two weeks is the maximum staying power fro Bratlette's hair. I returned from NZ to find her yarn extensions still in place. YAY!

However, they did look a little fuzzy and worse for wear around the edged and smack dab in the middle where her hair is the thickest. But all in all, I was happy with how they held up, AND her hair wans't dry when I took it out. Now, thankfully Daddy had been paying attention when I begged him to spray some of the water and conditioner solution on it every coupleof days or so, but still. I will definitely try them again. Maybe on the next three day weekend we have or something.

As I'm feeling still a wee bit jetlagged and a little lazy, I opted to go for the simplest styole I could manage for this week. A twist out. Now all I've done for this is take out her yarn extensions with the assist of my trusty coconut oil and spray a little leave in conditioner treatment in it.

I hope it lasts, but I'm anticipating having to do hair midweek, which I loathe, but whatever, it was nice to have a hair free weekend :)

New Zealand Does a Body Good

2012-05-07T16:00:45Z

I'm thrilled. Forsaken Protector edits are done. A little time away and some to focus and my goals are comign together.

NZ has been amazing. The people are so hospitable. and obviously seeing my cousing and friends has been great. I'm a little jetlagged, but I'm powering through.

The cast, I can't even begin to telll you how nice everyone is. And alas I knwo nothing about what's upcoming for the next season as they are very hush hush, but what I do know is that there will still be hot gladiator type men running aorund with very little on :)

Next thing to tackle, Sultry in Stilettos. I can do this!

When Keeping it Real Goes Write...

2012-05-04T16:01:16Z

What's my least favorite part about the book process you ask?

No, it's not the promotion. It's not the keeping track of sales or fiddling with advertising campaigns, or research, or trying to find elusive readers, or even the negative reviews (though they suck the big hairy ones.)

It is hands down the edits. Man oh man, if I could pay someone else to polish the book I would. I hate them. To my mind I'm already done with the book. My brain has already moved onto the bright and shiny of the next project. Or more like it's already moved on to the next project which has not been waiting patiently.

But it's important. Perhaps the most important piece of the whole process behind the story. It's the red dress and make up you put on before a date. It's the gloss of lipstick, the hair in the right place the sexy &$%@ me stilettos.

No writer loves them. I least of all, but I know they're necessary and the finishing touch. And nothing beats the feeling when you have it done and have a finished product you can be so proud of.

Doesn't mean I won't complain...*grumble grumble*

My fellow writers, what part of the process do you loathe?

Advice to a teenaged me...

2012-05-02T15:00:15Z

Don't let anyone else define you.

I was thinking the other day that somehow through life other people have had this idea of who I'm supposed to be, tried to tell me who I was.

To my teenaged me, I say, know yourself and hold onto that. Everyone from your parents to your friends to your employers will have their ideas about what path you should be on. About what's best for you. About how best for you to be a success.

But only you can know what's best for you. For years my mother was convinced I should be a lawyer. And probably still wishes I'd gone to law school. My father of course wanted me to be an engineer. Then when that didn't work out, he thought I'd come home and work with him. I think he still holds out hope. :)

And of course employers have thought they were leading me down the right path and teachers the same. Even fellow writers.

But unless someone tells your to do what feels right and unless they encourage you to really stretch for the dream no matter how outlandish, then the advice giver should be ignored.

Only you can know your path. Listen to your gut and follow your dream, not someone else's.

Goals to Print

2012-04-30T16:00:56Z

Good news! This week I managed to load the print Version of Sexy in Stilettos. I'm still working out some cover difficulties, but I hope to have that done this week before I leave for New Zealand on Wednesday.

Next on the roster as discussed last week Forsaken Protector and Sultry in Stilettos will be done while on vacation. Or rather on my flights to and from.

And best part of this last week, I've had some crazy Ideas for the next two books in the In Stilettos Series as well as a grand idea for a spunky female paperazzo. I'm already thinking about the crazy goals for next year. Lol. As if this year won't be crazy enough. But I love a goal!

Next you hear from me, Forsaken Protector at the very least will be complete and on to the formatting phase. Anticipated release June 5th. I'm so excited for this next Protector book.

I'll let you all know how I'm coming. Wish me luck with my travels!

Sunday Stylings 4/28

2012-04-30T04:14:24Z

So last week, we started a yarn braid style to tide us over while I'm in New Zealand this week. God forbid I come back to a rat's nest. Lol.

We had to do this style over a couple of days, so day care was a little roungh, but all in all I think it turned out great. I didn't want to make them too long either. I wanted her to still look like herself and not too old.

What do you all think?

When Keepin it Real Goes Write...

2012-04-27T16:00:44Z

I had a reader ask me the other day on FB (Wavin' at'chya Krista) if it was hard to make my characters behave and follow the rules.

Great question! I know other writers face the same dilemma. You're writing away and if your'e lucky, the stars align and you have the most ideal writing condition for you, then next thing you know Character X, we'll call the ungrateful b--witch "Lala", decides she won't cooperate.

For example she wants to turn from a loving nurturer into a bad, ass-kicking, motorcycle riding kinda girl. And no matter what you do Lala won't cooperate. Every time you sit down to write and force her to the model or outline, she stamps her foot and throws her stiletto...erm maybe that's just my characters. Ahem.

What I always try to remember is that these characters want to live. They breathe through us the writer, but they have minds of their own. We can force them to comply, but more often than not, the story doesn't work and it comes off flat and uninteresting. Or course, pieces of the alter ego slip through and they do too many things out of character which confuses readers.

I try to let the story develop on it's own. I always start with an outline, but more often than not, it changes as I go. And sometimes I have to scrap a whole story cause Lala has decided she wants to be a Vegas bound Bounty hunter/Stripper instead of a Miami bound socialite. It is frustrating, but sometimes real magic happens if you go with the flow.

Thanks again for the question, Krista!

Got a question for a writer you've always wanted to ask? Just ping me :)

Advice to a teenaged me...

2012-04-25T19:00:05Z

To not be in such a hurry to be so responsible.

From the time I was seven, my whole life has been that of a little adult. I'm the one who was always responsible. Who did what I should, not what was silly, or fun, or irresponsible.

I had my reasons. I had to be a mini adult to help with my autistic brother, but I wish I'd seized some of those more fun moments.

I wish I'd snuck out with my friends to go see Boys to Men. I wish I hadn't been the designated driver for every damn party I went to. Not that I was in a hurry to drink, but more because I would spend time at parties looking out for friends to make sure they didn't do anything crazy.

Where was my sense of crazy? Where was my sense of just let loose and be a kid? It got to the point my friend's parents would make sure I was going to a party because they knew there would be a chaperone. I was like Manny from Modern Family.

For highschool graduation, my father offered to send me to France for a year. An actual gap year that he was going to pay for. What did I say... "No, Dad, I want to go right to college. I don't want to miss anything."

Yeah, I'm wanting to shoot myself in the eyeball too. Even in college, I was the one being all well behaved.

To a teenaged me, I say, stop. Enjoy the moment. Just once look around. Dance a little. Laugh a little. There's plenty of time to be an adult. Plenty of time for responsibility. Take the time to enjoy being a kid when you can. Really enjoy it, because there's no turning back.