Wednesday Words – What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Silver James

Definition of writerToday’s words come from books I read and tucked back some quotes from but interestingly enough, they tie in with today’s Kiss of Death #1lineWed over on Twitter. Today’s theme is CHARACTERIZATION, meaning dialogue, narrative, or description that provides insight into the character. So…enjoy!

From Lisa Shearin, THE GRENDEL AFFAIR:

Liz’s swearing was doing her Marine training proud; it was almost poetic. I wanted to scream a few choice words myself, but it’d be like throwing out a dirty limerick after a Shakespearean sonnet. I’d just embarrass myself. ~Makenna “Mac” Fraser, seer at Supernatural Protection and Investigations

From Ilona Andrews, MAGIC BLEEDS, a conversation between Kate Daniels (MC/POV) and Andrea Nash, secondary character:

She was also my best friend.

Andrea braked a couple of feet from me. I shook my giant stack of pink slips at her.

“I see–you have messages. That’s nice.” Andrea nodded at me and snagged a cookie from the box.

The canine companion growled under his breath. Just in case she was trouble.

“What is that?” Andrea’s eyes widened.

“What is what?”

“The beast.” She waved the cookie at the dog.

The beast trotted over to her side, sniffed her, and wagged his tail, indicating he had decided she was good people and she should give him a piece of her cookie.

“He’s evidence.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I think a dog is a great idea. I just never pictured you with a mutant poodle.”

“He isn’t a poodle. He’s a Doberman mix.”

“Aha. Keep telling yourself that.”

And from Ilona Andrews, MAGIC SLAYS, a bit of description and some…wisdom. 😉

A wide island of forshythia bushes flowered on the left in a froth of vivid yellow, as if dipped into whipped sunshine.
****
Shapeshifter parenting motto–if your kid slits somebody’s throat, always have a backup plan to make the body disappear.

And from the Andrews’ MAGIC RISES, a small insight into Kate:

Outside the windows the day was bright: golden sunshine, blue sky, pleasant wind…I wanted to punch the happy day in the face, grab it by the hair, and beat it until it told me what the hell it was so happy about.

I babysat yesterday–Sprout had an upset tummy–so no time to pick out my own stuff for today. I’ll eventually get around to Twitter when I scrounge up something in 140 characters that will work. LOLOL Who has more words to share?

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Tuesday Treats – Creamy Chicken Enchaladas

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Silver James

Creamy Chicken EnchiladasThis is an old recipe I got from an insert with a product. I’m using the brand names because it came from Campbell’s kitchens. 🙂 Prep time is about 20 minutes and it bakes in 40.

Creamy Chicken Enchaladas

Preheat oven to 350°
10 Mission soft taco size flour tortillas, warmed
1 can (10 3/4 oz) Campbell’s Ceam of Chicken or 98% Fat Free cream of Chicken Soup
1 8 oz. container of sour cream (can be low fat or fat free)
1 cup Pace Picante Sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 medium tomato (I don’t use this–allergic, d’uh)
1 green onion, sliced

Mix soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder

Mix 1 cup of above picante mixture with chicken and cheese

Spread about 1/4 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla. Rollup and place seam side down in 3 qt. shallow baking dish. Pour remaining picante mixture over enchiladas. Cover with foil.

Bake at 350F for 40 minutes or until hot. Top with tomato and onion. Serves 5.

Easy peasy, ooey gooey winter night dinner. You can serve with a side of refried beans, Mexican rice, or a salad. Good stuffs. Who else is a fan of Mexican food? 😉

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Monday the 12th of Never-ending

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Silver James

Coffee MondayNeed I say more? It’s Monday. And it feels never-ending. So…is it nap time? 😉

First, I’m guest blogging today with my good friend from the Kiss of Death RWA chapter, VICKI BATMAN. Click on her name to see the cool picture of my newest girly-girl acquisition. Shhh. It’s a secret, at least until you click through to see it. Vicki writes humorous romantic mysteries so go check her out!

Weekend. Lazy. ‘Nuff said.

Okay, here’s the run-down. I read. A lot. Insomnia has been A Thing™ lately. I sort of tumbled into an on-going re-read of the In Death books. I’m reminded–again–of why I love this series and these characters. I normally just reread the first three books because they contain my favorite scenes and take Eve through her first, emotional character arc. But then I forgot how Feeney hurt her. And how she saved Mira. And Summerset’s growing admiration if not affection for her. McNab has joined “the family” and Trueheart is introduced. So yeah, while I’m waiting for new books on my wishlist to release, I think I’ll just keep feeding my addiction for all things Dallas and Roarke. 😆

Ashlynn asked a question about writing process on FB so I’m thinking about doing a blog on mine. Probably Friday.

There are 38 days until pitchers and catchers report for spring training. BASEBALL!!!!!

I’m about 1/2 done with the Sooper Sekrit Project (short story for submission). I like the way it’s coming along. Also chugging along on the editing and some revisions on MOONSTRUCK: SECRETS. Hoping to hear something about RDR#3 this week. Not holding my breath, but crossing fingers.

Snow. It’s forecast for Tuesday/Wednesday.

The house across the street (out my office window) is going up for sale. Anybody want to buy it? I’d love to have a friend in the neighborhood. 😆 Plus, I make yeast rolls/cinnamon rolls to share. Just sayin’…

And that’s it. This was a very laid-back, quiet sort of weekend. What did y’all do? And who’s reading something really good? (Yeah, like I need MORE books on my TBR list!)

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Friday Free and Easy

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Silver James

It’s Friday. Everybody do a happy dance! Did you have a good week? Have big plans for the weekend?

I finished the revisions on the first three chapters of FOR THE LOVE OF A COWGIRL (working title for Red Dirt Royalty #3), revised the synopsis and sent it back to Mr. HQEd. Now I’m at work on a short story for submission to an anthology. As soon as it’s done, it’s back to work on MOONSTRUCK: SECRETS. The Only is thinking on the cover design.

Speaking of cover designs, I’ll be sharing the one for THE COWGIRL’S LITTLE SECRET soon. It’s just as awesome as COWGIRLS’!

And speaking of COWGIRLS, did I ever share the review in RT Book Reviews magazine? No? Well, what’s wrong with me!

★ ★ ★ ★ (4 stars out of 4 1/2)
This is a complicated romance with a reluctant cowgirl and a very sexy corporate cowboy who highlight the courage it takes to do the right thing.

And speaking of reviews, I’ve hit a milestone. The infamous Harriet Klausner reviewed COWGIRLS in her own inimitable way–meaning she got the gist of the story all wrong. You can Google her if you aren’t familiar with her. Her reviews always make me laugh. FYI? The Barrons live in Royal, Texas. No, seriously. raised eyebrow gif At least according to HK. 😆

There was something else I was going to mention here and now I can’t remember. Brain definitely resembles Swiss cheese this week. I obviously need more coffee!

And to leave you with a laugh…here’s the commercial for the new Fiat 500X that Lawyer Guy sent me. We laughed. A lot. 😉 Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

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Universal Bravery

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Silver James

universeThere’s nothing to fear but fear itself. Did Churchill say that? It’s one of those quotes we all know and bandy about but don’t ever remember who should be attributed.

You can have what you want, Silver, if you brave what you fear and do what you can.

Game on,
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®

Pretty soon, Silver, you’re going to completely run out of things to fear. Seriously.

I’m still new enough into this year to still be reflecting on last year. 2014 wasn’t as scary as 2013 in some ways, and far worse in others. I think the big sticking point was whether or not I could be a successful hybrid author. It was close, but I managed to eek out two self-pubbed books at the end of the year. I’ve also set a massive schedule for myself this year. Dream big or go home, right? That’s the way I want to roll, even though it means I go to bed at night tied up in knots–and not in a sexy way. 😉 I’m getting over my fear of juggling. I’m getting over my fear of marketing (even though I still suck majorly at it!). But dear Universe? Trust me when I say, I will never completely run out of things to fear. I’m a writer. It’s coded into our DNA.

So lets get down and dirty. What do you fear?

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Wednesday Words – First Lines

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Silver James

Writer's MindFor those who play #1lineWed on Twitter with RWA Kiss of Death Chapter, the prompt for today is First/Opening Lines. Here are a few of my favorite openings from other authors, and then some favorites that I wrote.

She woke in the dark. Through the slats on the window shades, the first murky hint of dawn slipped, slanting shadowy bars over the bed. It was like waking in a cell. ~J.D. Robb, NAKED IN DEATH (Eve Dallas/In Death series)

Y’all knew I’d start with that one because…favorite. Book. Ever! 😉 Here are three more, all much loved books from the first books in their series, all of which I’ll be rereading this year as new books in each series arrive.

Half blinded by the storm, she stumbled into the open area between two buildings. Hoping to hide from whomever was hunting for her as well as get some relief from the snow and wind, she followed an angled wall and ducked around the corner. Her socks and sneakers were soaked, and her feet were so cold she couldn’t feel them. She knew that wasn’t good, wasn’t safe, but she had taken the clothing available just as she had taken the opportunity to run. ~Anne Bishop, WRITTEN IN RED (The Others series)
****
I’d been having the same dream for the past month–the one where a dark stranger materialized out of smoke and shadows to play doctor with me. I was starting to wonder if repetitive exposure to nightly hallucinations resulting in earth-shattering climaxes could have any long-term side effects. Death via extreme pleasure was a serious concern. The prospect led to the following dilemma: Do I seek help or buy drinks all around? ~Darynda Jones, FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT (Charley Davidson series)
****
Saturday: Day One of the Death Mark
The whispers were nothing new.
Darcy MacAlister followed behind her mother’s graceful white casket with the elegant raised scrolls as they left the MacAlister Funeral Home for the cemetery next door. Being the funeral director eased the knot of grief and sorrow in her throat. She was honored to oversee every detail of the service that celebrated Eileen MacAlister’s life, and show the community how well-loved her mother had been. She would not let the whispers affect her. ~Jennifer Lyon, BLOOD MAGIC (Wingslayer Hunters series)

Can’t wait to reread off of them! And now to mine. This is probably my all-time favorite opening:

This was only Day One of what was shaping up to be a bloody weird week and the gods had been drinking again. Too bad Sade Marquis didn’t have that option. She was on duty. Dammit. Not to mention it was only ten in the morning. However, if things got any stranger, she might change her mind. ~Silver James, THAT OL’ BLACK MAGIC (Penumbra Papers series)

And now, just some random opening lines from various WIPs, though I’m not naming titles or series. 😉

She found God at a minute to midnight though the coroner would place her time of death between eleven and one.
****
Shadows. Insubstantial as gossamer wings and not nearly so user friendly. They haunted. And hunted. The unwary, the profane, the innocent, and not-so-innocent all fell prey to them. They lurked, hunting in pairs, ready to pounce when chance provided them with a victim. Like the disenchanted urchins swarming around old Fagin, Shadows plagued humans and Fae alike.
****
Destinies are a dime a dozen and Fate is the biggest bitch of all. Roman shoved his hands deep into his pockets to keep from wrapping them around the human messenger who stood quaking in his boots before him.
****
Cordell Barron was always in control—of his life, Barron Oil and Gas Exploration, everything that made up his world. Except for now. At the moment, Cord’s world was crashing down around his ears and his life seemed to be spinning out of control.

That’s it for me. How about y’all? Who wants to share their favorite first line or opening from a book you love or one of your WIPs?

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Tuesday Titles: Cowgirls Don’t Cry in the Wild

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Silver James

Cowgirls Dont Cry 680Today is the day if you are looking for the paperback copy of COWGIRLS DON’T CRY on the shelves of your local bookstore. At least I hope the books are out there! Copies should be at B&N, Walmart, Target, and other places where you can buy Harlequin categories. After coffee with my CP, I’m going to hit the local Walmart (which sometimes lags behind on getting the new books out), Target, and the nearest B&N. Because I’m excited about this, I’m running a Cowgirls in the Wild contest. How do you get your name in the drawing? You snap a pic of COWGIRLS on the shelf of whatever store you see them. You can email them to me, you can post them on Twitter with my Twitter name: @SilverJames_ and you can post them to my FB wall–either my profile (personal) page or my author/fan page. Pretty simple for the most part. When you post, be sure to let me know the name of the store and the location. See? Easy peasy. I’ll put all the names into Random.org and one lucky name will pop out.

Now, what do you win? Well, here’s “Cowboy” Blue with the prizes: a signed copy of COWGIRLS DON’T CRY and this metal wall sign, because we all need every color of boots, right? Right!
CDC wild Sightings giveaway 680

And as an added incentive, the first person who emails or posts with a picture will get a $10 Amazon gift card. 🙂 Good hunting!

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The Power of Monday

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Silver James

T-Rex Monday I’ve been thinking. Yeah, yeah. I know that’s a bad idea. *snort* Monday is much maligned. Why? Yes, for those who work, it means getting up and trudging back out into the world to deal with the job and all the contingent frustrations that go with it. Or in the case of many writers, it means shuffling into our writing caves and slurping coffee like there’s not tomorrow in a vain effort to jumpstart our creativity before getting out the paddles to shock our Muses back to life. Monday, much like the picture I used in last Friday’s post, should be a day of potential. It’s a new week (Sunday is part of the weekend. It doesn’t count! 😉 ). It’s the opportunity to start something new, or to continue an unfinished project. It’s full of possibilities and promises.

Or not. Who am I kidding? I look like this (points to photo meme) almost every Monday. But today has possibilities. I’m awaiting either an email or a phone call (a second one) from Mr. HQEditor. We talked for a long time Friday afternoon about the possibilities for the next Red Dirt Royalty book. I like the changes we came up with so I’m now working on revising the first three chapters and synopsis for the proposal. I’m excited.

And tomorrow is paperback release day for COWGIRLS DON’T CRY. Be sure to come back because there will be a new contest! With goodies.

There was a weekend in there between Friday and today. The REAL OSU (Oklahoma State) won their bowl game against Washington Friday night. I’m still in shock. We weren’t supposed to win. But then again, neither was the fake OSU (Ohio State), much less were they supposed to be playing in the national championship. Which I probably won’t watch because I don’t care about either team. *yawn* I did some business housekeeping. I read. I didn’t read. I searched for a book I wanted to read. I ended up with a reread. 😆 More on that Wednesday. Oh, and I napped. Too long. Which meant I didn’t go to sleep Sunday morning until 5:00 a.m. *headdesk* No naps yesterday. I have to get back in normal sleep mode.

What about y’all? What did you do over the weekend? Are you ready to get back to work now that the holidays are over?

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Sunday In the Pink Heart Society

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Silver James

Just a quick note: I’m visiting with the lovely ladies of The Pink Heart Society talking about COWGIRLS DON’T CRY and how the book came to life, and the call I received from Mr. HQ Editor. Stop by and say hi if you get the chance! You can find the post HERE!

Also, I’m doing a series of memes with quotes from COWGIRLS. Here’s the one I did yesterday. More to follow and eventually, I’ll have a bunch to go with each series. Yeah, yeah. We can all sing along: Pro-crassss-ti-na-tionnnn!
Chicago downtown night panorama during thunderstorm

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First Friday Free For All

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Silver James

New Year I like this image. As a writer, it speaks volumes to me. Last year is done. The holidays are over. There’s no reason not to get back to work. Except… Except it’s Friday. The last day of a traditional work week. But I’m a writer. I work odd hours. Odd days. Odd places. But I think this is a good image to start the year. I have new projects to start, new Chapter Ones to write.

A few odds and ends before I get to work.

Amazon. Amazon Author Pages, to be precise. They’ve changed. Now you can go to a favorite author’s page, click the follow button and you’ll get an email with updates every time a pre-order pops up or a new book releases. This is a HUGE boon to me. There are series I’m following but with sometimes six or more months between releases, I forget. And I’m horrible about checking my Amazon Wish List or my Goodreads Want to Read list. I spent quite awhile tracking down some favorites and clicking away. So Yay!

I totally suck at marketing and stuff like that there. But I have this whole box of paperback copies of COWGIRL’S DON’T CRY sitting in my office. The digital version went live yesterday but it’s my understanding that the paper copies won’t hit bookstores until Tuesday, Jan. 6th. I’ve given some away on Facebook. And in my newsletter. I need to give one away here. So comment. I’ll pick a random person. 😀 I’ll even sign it. 😉

Christmas cards. Oh, who am I kidding…New Year’s cards…or….Winter Wishes cards! Yes! That’s the ticket. Winter Wishes cards! Getting those out are on my list for this weekend. Yeah, yeah, I’ve been saying that since they were still Christmas cards. Sh’up!

On the writing project front, I’ve got two on the front burner. One is MOONSTRUCK: SECRETS. This is the compilation of BLOOD MOON and BAD MOON with a whole middle section added dealing with Hannah’s pregnancy, disbanding the Wolves, and her return to work in the Defense Security Service. The other is a short story (7K words max) that I plan to submit for an anthology. We’ll see what happens. It’s set in the Nightrider world, so even if it’s turned down, it has a home–and could be expanded for a full release. I really like the characters and the premise–second chances. That’s one of my favorite tropes in romance.

Sunday, I’m doing a guest post at the Pink Hearts Society blog, talking about how I came to write COWGIRLS. I’ll pop in here over the weekend with the link once I have it.

That’s it for me. TGIF! Have a great weekend and I’ll see y’all around the intrawebz. 😉

This is how I roll: New Year…New Chapter! What’s the title of your Chapter One?

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