Ready, Set ...

Getting ready for tomorrow (Monday). So much to do like laundry, pre-make lunches, get my music together for my classes, make sure the week's dinner menu is done, and watch the new Netflix movie we've been procrastinating about for several days. Oh yes, and our SciFi club is having a crew dinner in costume. Now, what to go as ...

~R

Fun Was Had By All

Busy day starting with one of my RWA chapter writer's meeting, then on to a visit by another group we're with to another group's meeting then socializing, and home.

The afternoon meeting was a sedate, interesting group, and we found many friends we already knew. I was fortunate to also reconnect with a dance partner (Les) from waaay back when we were with the same belly dance group. She's still lovely as ever, and I was so glad to see her again. Turns out we have common interests, and we also talked about dancing together again in the future. Yeah!

Next week after out SciFi meeting another group is meeting at the same location ... so all I have to do is hang out then maybe Les and I do a bit of dancing again. She told me of several functions and we connected on a forum where I hang and do research for my SP stories. This is going to definitely be fun.

Writer's meeting means no writing today. Will try tomorrow for a few pages.

~R

Life & Stuff

I really don't like arrogant people. I mean, what reason can they possible have for narrow opinions and risking someone's safety?

Yep, I had a difference of opinion with someone, and I'm in process of checking out the facts. My day job entails a lot of watch dogging, and my #1 concern is my student's safety and good health. Exercise can be dangerous if not done correctly, and instructors should always keep preventative measures in place. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Fun can come with a price, and I gladly keep watch over my classes.

The reunion and dad's memorial went well. Stories were told and family members reminisced. There was a table laid out with my dad's photo, flowers, his favorite candies to share, a memorial book to sign, and extra stationary for anyone who wanted to write to dad because hey didn't get to say goodbye. After dark and our weenie roast supper, we burned the letters and the smoke rose to heaven and messages went to dad. Everyone cheered, and we waved to the night stars and dad. It was good and brought some closure.

Subbing several additional classes over the next two weeks, so I might only be able to post a line or two in my entries.

~R

Oh. My. Goodness.

Exhausted isn't the word for the whirlwind that is 'the beginning of school.' Day one was as expected: lots of parents escorting their spawn onto the grounds, lots of vehicles parked where they shouldn't be, lots of confusion because some families couldn't be at meet-the-teacher night last week.

I am so glad we parked up the street and walked.

My kiddo is excited to be back in school and to see friends. I am ready for my schedule to settle back down. My day job is still going well, and I think I've figured out my writing time. I don't have nearly as much as before, but the few hours per day will be put to good use. Now I'm looking forward to a little quiet time and maybe a chick-flick before school lets out.

Still need to do a bit of shopping for the family reunion and my dad's mini memorial tomorrow. Maybe that movie will have to wait a few days. (sigh)

Page count ... 7 new ones.

~R

The Day Job

A couple weeks ago I took on more hours during the day and even signed up for additional training classes. In two days I'll be jumping, skipping, moving and smiling like crazy in Zumba training to be 'official' and be able to teach under that name (rather than the usual 'Latin Dance Aerobics' class). I'm excited and very ready to get through this training. After talking to several other instructors about how vigorous it is, I've already packed my protein bars, nuts, and dried mangoes.

I am so ready to do this!

And school is about to begin, so tonight we get to meet the teacher and unload all the supplies. Yeah!

~R

Heat Wave

In Texas, air conditioning is NOT an option, and I'm always reminded of this fact every August when the Mercury rises over the century line. It's everything we can do sometimes to stay cool or even to keep our home livable, much less comfortable in 107-degrees. Yes it's not the desert, but a heat bubble always forms over the metroplex that dissipates any chance of precipitation.

Swimming is sometimes an option, though not always. Lots of ice gets made, lots of water is consumed. Forget turning on the stove (much less the oven) to make a meal! I've even taken to writing with pen on paper to cut even the tiniest heat from my computer. We will survive this year as we always do. Just don't pack my freezer with ice cream!

~R

PS: kiddo is coming home tonight! I can hardly wait to see him again!! :-)

Sweet Relief

Not exactly relief from the great Texas heat (though that will arrive in few weeks with Autumn), my son is still visiting grandma. Don't get me wrong, I love my child dearly. I an glad for a little quiet time to straighten my home, write a little more, and get inventive in the kitchen with chocolate, which I haven't had time to do in months. I suppose this can be termed 'stress relief.'

Chocolate is calling, and I must answer ... but not too much or I'll blow the beginning of my new exercise and diet changes.

~R

Thursday Recommendations

It's been too busy this summer, and getting a little down time - even a few hours - sounds heavenly! After reading Christie Craig's newest release "Shut Up And Kiss Me," I bought her book "Gotcha!" which came out last year. I'm not too far into the story, however it's proving to be just as entertaining as the other book.

I'm starting a "recommendation" post on Thursdays, and today my advice to relieve stress is to escape by reading something your enjoy. Go hide for 30 minutes, turn off your cell phone, take a bubble bath, visit your favorite coffee shop, or go get an mani-pedi and take your book and read. The time you spend on yourself will do you good.

Now it's my turn to do a little reading for stress relief. :)


~R

Did It Again

In my defense, I haven't judged too much over the past year, so I answered a "call" to help judge a non-RWA writing contest. Not too many pages for the entries plus an easy-to-understand-and-fill-out judging form. I know I'm side tracking. Giving back is something I do, because I've had some great help from contest judges in the distant past.

Editing is still slow, but I have hopes to get back on track within the next few days. I'm mulling over 2 new scenes I need to add and how to not make the additional character a total jerk. Redemption is the key here, making him somehow a lovable jerk. He's an alpha, so there's potential conflict with my main hero (always a good thing). And I have more than one shrubbery for them to beat on, lol.

For the next couple of weeks I'm hoping for a lot of quiet to get this story completed. I just have to limit my Internet time. I still have high hopes, though interruptions are the rule of the day sometimes. Thinking positive = I will persevere instead of procrastinate.

Wish me luck!


~R

More Fun

Well maybe. Editing is going slower than I planned. I'm supposed to be participating in a BIAW challenge, but yesterday I didn't make my quota. Three hours a day is a comfortable amount of work, any more and I get a little overwhelmed in the summer. It's different during regular school months. Not so when my kiddo NEEDS this, that and other stuff NOW.

I'm doing okay keeping distractions to a minimum. Routine has helped me a lot plus getting back to my daily exercise. I haven't had much luck finding someone to redo my website, so I'm back to square one trying to redo it myself. I spent a few hours Monday designing and figuring out what would work best, load fast and be easy to upkeep. I still haven't reconstructed my old site with all the particulars. Yahoo archives still don't have copies, and the way-back thingie isn't working for me. I'll just have to keep working on it a few minutes here and there.

Editing. Yeah, I'm behind where I want to be. I thought by now I'd be happily in the middle of the story. I really need to quit that, because it never happens that way. I'm hoping after I check on my class today to enter all the edits for the last two chapters I reworked. That's my goal ... besides redoing the music for my class this evening.

So, yeah, life goes on. Still have my fingers crossed this story will be out the door by the end of this month.


~R

Another Day

I figured I'd better post in case anyone was wondering (does anyone ever read this??).

It's been ten days now since D-day, and I'm trying to get back into my daily routine. But it's difficult. I look around I see something that reminds me of dad, and the moment comes where I just have to stop and remember to breathe until the tunnel vision and inner pain subsides enough for me to try and deal again.

I've made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my family for the past two days, a duty I usually share with my DH. I watered my orchids yesterday and this morning. I fed the cat. I watched a movie with my kiddo. I taught my workshop and went to my evening job.

Mundane simple things make life easier to cope with. I know it will eventually get easier to deal with the loss. I even negotiated with my offspring for a few hours of quiet time yesterday and edited an entire chapter. I have to add several new scenes, and I'm almost to the point where I can't continue editing without them. I'm so emo right now I'm not sure how they'll turn out. Or if they even will. I guess I can always save them for a different story if it doesn't fit the plot.

I have a personal goal to submit this story by the end of this month. Cross your fingers or toes or light a good luck candle for me.

On to editing another chapter today.

~R

Sad Day

My dad died today.

~R

Life Update

I know it's been a long time since I posted. The last several months, life has become complicated. Family comes first before all else, even writing. Last November (same time I broke my wrist and had surgery) my dad was diagnosed with non-Hadgkin's Lymphoma stage 4. I won't bore you with details, but here's a basic rundown.

In March my dad started having problems with his chemotherapy and went into the hospital for several days due to bleeding. He got out but had to go right back in a week later. April was the same, and then he stayed with my sister after he got out (sort of like a mini vacation from his, ahem, "wife" - don't go there, trust me). Early May dad went back in the hospital for the same problem but for a longer time. The doctors determined dad needed rehab to help him regain the strength he'd lost and help him recover. On Memorial Day he went into a good facility. Nine days later he started having trouble again.

A brief visit to his doctor put dad back into the hospital for testing. This revealed an ugly truth we were unprepared for: dad had two new massive tumors that has started and grown to the size of grapefruits over three weeks. These were inoperable and unresponsive to all treatment.

On June 11, dad went into Hospice care. My sister and I are sharing as much of the basic comforts as possible (translation = we happily do lots of "go-for"s) and being his "cheery" squad. We tell him stories about our kids (his grandkids) and remind him of all the good things that happened when we were growing up. Family and friends have driven and flown in from all over the USA to see dad. I gladly spend a lot of road time five days a week to get to the hospital over an hour away.

My dad is an amazing individual. He's got his quirks and faults, and he's made his share of mistakes. He's human. He also learned and grew into a better person.

He's survived car accidents, a plane crash, multiple surgeries, started several thriving businesses, went back to school after marriage and kids and got two degrees, built several houses, rebuilt several cars, and has lived all over the world. He use to sing little songs like "Dirty Bill" and "Alice" instead of reading regular bedtime stories. He's also a US Army Veteran, a tenor, gourmet chef, an avid reader, and a writer. He's lived joyfully, loved with all his heart, and laughed a lot. He also raised my sister and I.

I always had the feeling my dad could do anything he wanted. That's how he raised us too. But he's not going to be around much longer. I love my dad, and I'll stay with him as long a I can.


~Raquel

What was the best job you've ever had?

I'm very lucky to be able to have varied interests like writing, costuming, teaching, performing. I love doing them all! And the best is being a mom, though I don't really consider that a job. :-)

Ask me anything

Actions That Really Speak ...

Every writer’s heard the phrase “it’s all about the story,” and, well, in romantic fiction it seems doubly so. Actions can speak loud and clear, especially when there’s a lack of it through the plot. Heroes and heroines have a purpose to meet and fall in love just as readers have expectations of a happy ending. It’s the journey through the plot, all the little ups and downs, all the conflicts those two characters must face and eventually overcome, and all the actions those characters take that add a touch of magic and make the reader come back for more stories.

But sometimes that doesn’t happen, which was one of the reason ...


(visit here to finish reading ... http://ffnp.blogspot.com/)


~R

Accountability Rant

I really despise it when people take credit for someone else's work or don't mention that they were taught a certain noteworthy thing thus completely ousting the individual who kindly passed on their knowledge when they didn't have to. This is one of my pet peeves, and it's unfortunately happened before. It really bothers me that some folk don't own up and just say it like it is. Why not admit it when a thought or deed or skill was first done by another? There's no harm in it, no shame, and the individual will still get the glory because they are in the spotlight at the moment. Not only is unfair to the originator, it's down right mean.

If an idea was mentioned by someone else but not listened to, then was brought back up at a later date by someone else who happened upon a fairly lucrative deal and then was praised by those same people who practically ignored the individual who first mentioned it, that is so not right. Taking credit for someone else's ideas or work is wrong. Why? Why when the second individual already has all the glory and attention don't they pass on "oh, yeah, I got this idea from so-and-so..." The originator of the idea or thing probably worked hard to come up with whatever it was that was taught to or adopted by someone else.

I suppose blame should be distributed equally, especially if the original audience poo-pooers where so narrow minded they couldn't see their way to compromise so that everyone would benefit. But I think the first individual should be at least mentioned rather than ignored.

Just saying.

~R

Confession Time...

Usually there are a few things I schedule to accomplish each month, like a BIAW (Book In A Week) challenge, or NaNoWriMo or Script Frenzy. Spring is always exciting with school about to let out, new things happening, SciFi Conventions and my local Renaissance faire happening. All this on top of the fact I work. Mostly I've gotten everything I've wanted to done, but I've been busy this month.

The one thing I really wanted to get to but didn't was Script Frenzy. Sadly, my pathetic few pages beginning my script area all I've been able to do. I have a week remaining in the challenge, however I doubt seriously I can pull off 100 total pages by the end of this month. So, change of plans. I've decided not to worry about it and keep working on my editing. Better I think to have a polished manuscript to submit than yet another first draft partially ready for an editor's eyes.

Next month will be just as busy. I haven't figured out what projects I want to work on, and when I get it figured out I'll post. Until then, happy day and don't sweat what you can't finish.

~R

Stuff I Did Today

I read an interesting article about "5 Things That Will Make You Happier." It went on to explain the 5 areas and made sense. I guess I succeeded top day, because I did pretty much what the article said even before I read it.

Be grateful was easy. I have a great family, wonderful home and good job(s). I'm optimistic these will continue and I'll have a great week. I suppose that last would also count toward counting my blessings. Using my strengths when I write and dance and exercise (whether teaching or not) always relieves my stress. And last but certainly not least, I slowed down more than usual on the highway today ('cuz I just felt like it) and let lots of fast drivers speed by. THAT also relieved the stress of worrying about getting into an accident, which I didn't.

Overall, I had a good day. Now time to hit teth gym then back home to do more editing.

~R

If you had to give up one favorite food, what would the most difficult?

Chocolate, without a doubt. I would miss it terribly!

Ask me anything

Update and Prattle

A new day and so much to do. As Always. Last week was stuffed so full I thought my pocket calendar would explode from all the notes and reminders. It didn't. I got through everything, including all my appointments, obligations, exercise and dance classes (the ones I took and taught). All things considered, the days actually went pretty smoothly.

And today is another day, as Miss Scarlet would say.

I've been thinking about inspirations for stories, the things that my brain latches on to and then my imagination takes off like a rocket with more "what if"'s than I know what to do with. I never have a lack of material to write about. I just have a lack of time to write it all down. More about inspirations to come another time.

~R

Weekend Survival

I did it. I went from modern me back to the 60's for a b-day party then transformed into a purple haired gal. And with a couple of modifications to my schedule due to time changes I made almost all my appearances and got where I was supposed to go *on time.* Tonks and Harry showed up and fended off the evil Lucius at a notable concert featuring the music of several great movies (Harry Potter included, obviously :-)).

Two workshops ended yesterday, though I'm still fielding a few questions, which is okay. My April workshop on characters began today with lesson 1 plus four information sheets. (Anyone interested, check the right sidebar.) It's one of those fun classes I don't teach too often. I enjoy the emails and posts (if it's on a forum) and being able to experience all those "oh, yeah!" light bulb moments when folks 'get' the information and successfully apply it to their stories.

So, that'll be going on for the next 4 weeks. On other fronts, our local Ren faire will be starting in two weeks, plus there's a slew of SciFi stuff to do over the next couple of months. And this is besides my usual day job, lol. I know where my fingers will be flying to create stuff. More later and maybe even pictures.

~R

Star Trek or Star Wars?

That's tough, I love both. I've been a Trekkie for sooo long, but lately Star Wars is winning more of my attention.

Ask me anything

What website do you spend the most time on?

Publishing/writing industry blog sites. Reading to fun and I stay up with current trends and events.

Ask me anything

Who inspires you the most?

My son because he's always so inquisitive and creative. :-)

Ask me anything

Character fun

When people learn I'm an author I get asked a lot of questions, one of those being are my characters based on real people?

Yes and no. Sometimes but usually not. I have many tools to help me write including resources from the all my years in the paranormal field of research like Tarot cards and Astrology books. Mumbo-jumbo some would call it. No problem. It's useful and I love working with a resource that gives me answers every time.

Astrology especially is helpful because there are so many possible combination of character traits to feed conflict and liven the plot. I never have character motivation issues or lack a sufficient scene goal. I don't have what some writers call the "sagging middle" syndrome, and I never get writer's block.

I can teach you all about this handy technique too. My April workshop "Writing By The Signs: Creating Believable Characters with Astrology" will teach anyone to overcome any character difficulty and give even more insight to write with. If you're interested see the right sidebar for the link to the Savvy Author and sign up to take my workshop.

Discover hidden facts about your characters with Astrology. I'll also be blogging at Savvy Author's tomorrow again about this subject, so come read and sign up. :-)


~R

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/RaquelRAuthor

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/RaquelRAuthor

Saturday

Well the weekend's off to a ... piddly start. Kiddo's still well. I'm almost well, but DH is not. Not going to our SF meeting today or the extra activities later with the group. Workshops are caught up. I need to read through a week of emails and concentrate on catching up with the class I'm taking. And write. I need to spend a few hours today doing that.

Oh, to be current with everything ... (sigh)

~R

Another week another Ramble

So, yeah, Spring Break's almost over. It's been more effort than I thought it would be to work with the kiddo around. Everyone's finally over being sick, and I have a few more minutes of peace and quiet before offspring gets home from day camp.

And writing, yeah. Been trying. And I'm actually not behind on that. Just need a few more details in order than it's back online I go and more Q & A. And lessons.

I just need a couple more hours in each day, and I can make both ends meet, lol.

So much for tackling wayward projects this week. Maybe this weekend ...

~R

Savvy Authors

Blogging today at Savvy Authors (scroll down) and teaching my workshop there next month! Check it out (link is in the right sidebar), sign up, learn stuff!

~R

Marathon Saturday

We have TRON from NetFlix! I usually do one day a month where I watch 2-3 movies (a 'Marathon Monday'), eat nachos and chocolate and popcorn and gummy worms, whatever, and thoroughly enjoy myself. This always refills the creative reservoir and makes my Muse (Maab) happy. Sometimes it's all pirate movies, sometimes it's all historicals, sometimes fantasy, sometimes spy. Whatever I'm in the mood to watch, all the movies have a common theme.

If I don't get my "play" day, Queen Maab gets cranky and uncooperative, and I have a difficult time writing.

Well, this isn't a full "day," but I love TRON and haven't seen it in years. My kiddo's never seen it. This is where all the artistic movie CGI began, and for at least a few hours I'm going to enjoy a creative refill.

~R

Graduation Day

The last six weeks of physical therapy went fast. I was determined and still have a little more to go, however I'm very satisfied with the progress of my left arm and wrist. I can do almost everything I used to and almost pain free. Because of the severity of the breaks and the non-existent range of motion in 80% of my wrist and lower arm the Dr.'s were doubtful, and I was told "it will NEVER be the same," and "don't expect too much."

As if today I have 95% ability, motion, and range back.

They don't know me very well. :-)

~R

Mean People Suck :-(

To whoever hacked into my email: GET A LIFE YOU STUPID IDIOT.

You may think it's fun to spam my friends and colleagues, but it's vicious and mean. You now have ultimate BAD KARMA, and you deserve it!

To everyone who got the crap email and junk attachment, this was NOT SENT by me. Ignore, disregard, and otherwise trash it.

Thanks,

~Raquel

Wintery Wonderland

This morning I took more snow pictures to add to my collection from yesterday.


12 Feb 2010, 7:01 am - Snowy morning greetings from my front porch.

12 Feb 2010, 7 am - Gnomes buried under 6-inches of snow.

12 Feb 2010, 7:05 am - Butterfly Garden.

12 Feb 2010, 7:10 am - Lots of thick whiteness on everything - check out the bird bath in the background.


I wanted to document the cold beauty of nature and how much snow we got. This probably won't happen again for a long time.


12 Feb 2010, 7:15 am - Land ho, 6-inches of snow! Butterfly Garden ahead!

12 Feb 2010, 7:16 am - The cold didn't phase my huddling pink Flamingos.


Yesterday I measured three places in the open yard and figured we ended up with about 5 inches. Yesterday mid-afternoon we were at 3 to 4 inches. As of now we've got 6+ inches on the ground. I have hot tea and coffee, brownies and yogurt, and I'm staying inside cuddled up at my computer to edit.

Wisely, school was canceled today. Pretty and white, the powdery snow's piled carefully high on the bare tree branches and the ground and snowman-ready for my kiddo. I'll watch from inside and sip my tea as I contemplate how to get my heroine out of her man-trouble. :-)

~R

Let It Snow

Wow. I woke up this morning and looked out the window and ... wow.

Yesterday I knew snow was in the forecast, so I expected some.


11 Feb 2010, 6:45am - It's been snowing all night.

11 Feb 2010, 6:50 am - My garden Gnomes are digging for cover under the Maple tree.

11 Feb 2010, 8 am - My front yard Butterfly Garden.

And we got some more snow, plus some MORE snow. It been snowing all day!

11 Feb 2010, 8:05 am - Merlin sneaked into the middle of some clean laundry I was putting away and made himself quite at home.


And the white flakes are still falling. A snow "event" as it's called. In north Texas we get maybe 1 or 2 days of snow every other year, and it's over. Only once every ten to fifteen years we see snow "events" that last days and cripple traffic and throw silly people into panic. We get ice storms, and that story's best left for another post.


11 Feb 2010, 12 noon - Butterfly Garden again. Accumulation is 3-1/2 inches, and it's still snowing.

11 Feb 2010, 12:15 pm - Pretty Holly and berries in the snow.

11 Feb 2010, 12:30 pm - Front yard. It's really coming down now.

11 Feb 2010, 3pm - Lexie (dog) & Alex in the back yard after school.


Anyway, yeah, panic. Native Texans know how to deal with a little snow and ice under the snow. Transplanted Texans don't, at least the vast majority I've deal with or seen. And yep, I'm one of the very few natives left here. There's a way to drive on ice if it's necessary, and it's NOT the normal way you drive. Innocents and idiots alike know this and so do their insurance companies.

I don't drive in severe weather of any kind if I don't have to. Sliding on the street in my car to go somewhere or ending up in a ditch by the side of the road is not my idea of a safe journey. You get out, do what you absolutely must, then then get home and stay off the roads until they're again clear. That may sound weird to those living up in the north USA. Not in central north Texas.

Last night, all night, power transformers blow out around our neighborhood continually. The explosive "BANG"'s were disconcerting, and hopefully everyone got their power back on quickly. (shiver!) That's a creepy sound, hearing one of those big electric boxes blow up. Ice and accumulating snow causes it. Yeah, we're not equipped here to deal with lots of snow, but the experience is great background for my stories.

Stay warm and safe.

~R

Need Inspiration

Watching Van Helsing today. Besides being a mega-hunk I'd love to meet, Hugh Jackman's my favorite action hero! Maybe Wolverine next. Hmm ...

~R

Tying up Loose Ends

Today's been long, and it's only half over. I've edited, done some laundry, written, pet my cat and talked to my dog, and got about half of my To-Do list accomplished and just picked up my kiddo for school. In the Rain. And cold. I'm reeeeaaally hoping all this nasty cold will kill the mosquito and bug eggs so next summer will at least be tolerable. Enough of that.

Little by little my WIP is getting whipped into shape. I don't have a word count today, don't ask. I'll have something official next Monday, hopefully. Hey, at least I'm trying to keep up this blog more than once every, say, 3-4 months, lol. I'm doing more editing than writing right now, actually, and I feel like I'm going at this story back-asswards. Usually I go at it head-on then sideways. If you don't understand, don't try, 'cuz it'll give you a headache. The process works for me, and I love it.

Anyway, keeping wayward characters in check is ... interesting. Yeah. I'm seeing lots of attitude from one and snark from his ex- (she's got the hots for someone else, of course!). But that's what makes reading fun, all the conflicts of interest. More about this in a future blog report. :-)

~R

90 Percent Me

For those wondering about my broken wrist from Halloween, I can now officially write that I'm out of the brace with a naked arm. I'm 12 weeks post-Op, and I've been in and out of Dr's offices all week for physical therapy and check-ups.

The PT is doing a world of good. I've been re-evaluated, and all my lifting of weight/pushing/pulling restrictions have been canceled. I'm sore this morning from all the different new exercises and increased reps to rebuild muscle and strength. Already since the beginning of the year I'm back to my normal range of motion in most areas and 73-80% with the remainder. Yesterday's x-ray showed marked improvement in bone growth over the past 4 weeks also, and I couldn't even find 2 of the 3 break lines because they'd healed so well. I don't need my wrap or metal support. For my own peace of mind I'll still wear it at the gym for a while (I'm allowed to use it "as needed") when I do my weight training and aerobics until I get the final okay from my surgeon. But hey, it's been a long road, and I'm totally hyped about doing so well!

This also means more keyboard time with both hands. And relearning to do things around the house 2-handed is, um, going to be interesting. For now I'm aiming for full use in the next 4 weeks.

~R

And now the new and improved ...

I've been changing over my links and trying to update this site to my main websit'. Until I can get something I like, I'll be here posting and updating my books and progress.

About that progress ... I'm so close to finishing the extension of the first draft, but I keep going back and editing to get to the points where I've inserted the extra scenes with that new character. Instead of feeling like a bouncing ball, I'm just going to keep on the editing and write the new stuff when I get there. Copious notes and scene ideas will ensue until I get there.

WIP

33,250 / 50,000 (66.5%)

~R

Happy 2010

I am so glad to be finished with 2009, the year almost everything went wrong. No boring details, however I'll be recovering for a few more months according to my surgeon. :-/ Thankfully I can type 2-handed again.

Injuries aren't good for getting stuff done or enjoying the holidays or even being able to do everyday things like grocery shopping, laundry and driving. Somehow I managed, and now I have all this totally emo gloom and doubt to add into stories. It'll get doled out a little at a time not all at once. No one would believe me if I told them what I've been though. Geez.

I listened to the Universe and things are hopefully better. My writing definitely reflects the changes plus I'm moving faster with the story. Yep, got another wild hair up my hoo-ha and decided yet again to change the middle and add a new character. So I'm busy writing him in.

So am I'm really not totally insane for doing this. I just wasn't happy with the way it was progressing. And maybe this time I'll complete it and send the darn thing to my editor. And amidst all this, my website's been down and will be for a few more weeks until I can get some help there. Cross your fingers for me and watch for my Twitter updates. This blog will be my home-on-the-web for the present.

Happy 2010,

~Raquel