Friday, March 27, 2015

FRIDAY STIR FRY - My Life As A Writer








A writer friend of mine wrote a couple of blog posts about her life as a writer. She is living my dream - stay at home and write. She even has a house keeper and a husband that will sometimes cook dinner. You can read her posts here:
http://carabristol.com/2015/03/a-week-in-the-crazy-life-of-an-author-part-1/

So, I thought I would give you some idea of what my writing life is like.

http://www.morguefile.com
What you see in this picture is pretty much my life 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. Our office is a little different, but I bet you get the idea. Glamorous right?

Because I'm not a morning person, there is no early writing. My day starts with me falling out of bed about ten minutes after seven. Notice I said work starts at eight? Thank goodness I'm low maintenance, I don't live too far from the office, and there is coffee at work. Quick shower, dress and out the door by 7:40.

Nine hours later, I'm headed back home. My brain is so tired I sometimes have a hard time unlocking the back door. Kidding, but again, I bet you get the picture.


Next is a well deserved cocktail while watching the nightly news.
Sometimes, I feel a little better and open up my work in progress and write a few hundred words. Most nights though, I don't get out of my recliner until time for bed, usually around 9. What no dinner? Yep, some nights I'm too tired to fix anything.

So when do I write? Weekends. And if I feel like lugging my laptop to work (which isn't often), I'll get a few words during lunch.

Sadly, all this doesn't translate to creating a lot of books. But, it's what it is until I can live my writer friend's life and stay home. Although, I'll probably never have a house keeper and forget that whole husband thing.

Friday, March 20, 2015

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Guest Author








I'm very pleased to welcome Tierney James to my blog today.
She has a new release coming out tomorrow and I'm sure it
will be as fantastic a read as her other books. Here is a link to
her blog where you can find out more about her other
novels. http://ptierneyjames.blogspot.com/

 


What a teaser! Love it!

And now a fun interview with my guest.

If you could have dinner with any four people in the world, alive or dead, who would you pick?

 I would have Mother Teresa and Gandhi because of their selfless work among the poor of India. Their influence and work continues because of their greatness. Two other people I greatly admire and would love to have at my table would be Billy Graham and the Dali Lama. Both men have dedicated their lives to bringing hope, inner peace and the awareness of a higher power to everyone, no matter who you are or what you have stored up, because in the end all that worldly stuff doesn’t matter.   

What three things do you have to keep in your pantry?

I’m pretty confident that my Ganoderma Coffee with mushroom extract has to be there or a S.W.A.T. team might have to be called out. Several jars of peanut butter in case of a zombie apocalypse are a must along with lots of bottled water. 
What or who influenced you to write thrillers? 
Movies influenced me a great deal. The Indiana Jones Series, Star Wars, The Wind and the Lion and many others get my heart pumping. My husband used to work in mining and explosives so he is not so ready to sit on the edge of his seat like me. In the author circle I think James Rollins got me to write. I would read his books and think, “Now that is how I would like to write.” He takes you to the edge of a cliff then leaves you there while going someplace else to weave his story. All the while you’re screaming to come back. Other writers who have impacted me are Brad Thor, Steve Berry, David Baldacci, Tom Clancy, Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown. Vince Flynn is one of my very favorites and I’m saddened that he passed away nearly two years ago.
What actress and actor would you like to play your lead characters? 
In the Enigma Series (An Unlikely Hero and Winds of Deception) I see Dwayne “Rock” Johnson as Capt. Chase Hunter. In The Rescued Heart I’ve imagined Mark Wahlberg playing Garrett Horton. You can see those Pinterest boards at https://www.pinterest.com/ptierneyjames/
What do you find to be the hardest part of writing?
When I talk to interested groups about writing they often ask that question. The first sentence is the hardest part. After that I think keeping up the momentum of writing every day is difficult. We all lead busy lives that compete with our imaginary ones. Of course marketing is up there with the hard stuff. Finding time to write is hard enough. Throw marketing in the mix and you get caught up in a whirlwind of letting other important things slip.
What is your favorite inspirational or other quote?
 Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
I can’t tell you how many times those verses have saved me from drowning in self-pity, doubt and confusion.
What superpower would you like to have?
That is a tough one! But in the end I think the superpower would have to be the power of healing and discovery. With laying on of hands I could tell what the medical problem involved and how to heal it. Maybe I wouldn’t actually heal the person but I could help doctors. I could be on the battlefield to save soldiers too. Crazy right?

No, not at all. All your answers are very thought provoking and inspiring. It has been a privilege to have you as a guest on my blog today. Thank you!


Tierney James is a former Solar System Ambassador for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab as well as a former geography teacher. Besides working on a Native American reservation, floating the Okavango Delta of Botswana, Africa and visiting The Great Wall of China, she has spent time at Space Camp for Educators and volunteering her time for Friends of the Library board. Living in a mining community for many years led to writing the novel, The Rescued Heart, a romantic suspense.  Between traveling, gardening and writing, Tierney serves as an officer for Sleuth’s Ink, a mystery writing group. Creating a writing workshop for beginning writers is her latest project. 




Friday, March 13, 2015

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Big News!

http://www.morguefile.com



Notice something different to the right? It's a new e-book for your reading pleasure. I jumped into the Amazon and self-published my first book. The process was much easier than I thought it would be. Priced at a very reasonable 99 cents, how can you pass it up?

It's a collection of eight stories I've written over the last fifteen years including the first one I ever penned. Disclaimer here: I had to re-write that one and a few others. It's amazing how much I've learned about writing since that first attempt. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? I'd be remiss if I didn't credit some of my education to both writing groups I belong to - Sleuths' Ink and especially Ozarks Romance Authors who conduct a monthly critique group. I've learned so much from having my writing evaluated and by critiquing other members' work.

I think you'll be surprised at the variety. It's not all happily ever after. I have a bit of a dark side. A few have won or placed in contests. The others have just been sitting on my computer waiting for somebody, anybody to read them. I had to grant their wish.

A special shout out to Allison Merritt who designed my cover.

And don't forget, the best way to make an author happy is to leave a review.

Be sure and come back next week when I'll be hosting and interviewing a very talented author, Tierney James. She writes thrillers and will be giving us a taste of her new release.

Friday, March 6, 2015

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Authors You Might Want To Check Out

http://www.morguefile.com


Today I'm featuring more of my talented writer friends. If you missed the first batch, check the archives November 29, 2014.

I feel lucky to know and be associated with these people. Please check out their sites and their books.

First up is Shirley McCann. She is a talented mystery writer with several books available and also her short mystery stories have been published in Woman's World Magazine. Here is her blog link    http://shirleymccann.blogspot.com/
And here is her Amazon Author page   http://amzn.to/18XhPZM

Next up is Cara Bristol. This lady has many books published and specializes in erotica.
Here is her web page link
http://carabristol.com/
And her Amazon author page   http://amzn.to/17Y7USG

And last but not least is Vera Jane Schultz. A talented writer she has something for everyone from mystery to humor to romance.
 Here is the link to her website  http://verasversion.blogspot.com/
Here is her Amazon author page     http://amzn.to/1ETOP0I

I hope you take the time to visit them and perhaps support them with a purchase.