TGIF and Bottoms Up!

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Silver James

[Edit: I hate when I goof and mess up the posting time and then decide to sleep in. Sorry!]

Wednesday’s topic was about song lyrics as inspiration and music setting writing moods. Well, this is my current favorite song. I LOVE the video and Iffy swears there’s a book here! No, really! Somebody take my Muse on spring break or something! I don’t have time for this.

In the meantime, enjoy Brantley Gilbert and “Bottoms Up!”

Happy Friday! I’m helping the kids paint this weekend, getting Lawyer Guy home, and maybe finding time for a birthday celebration in there somewhere. I’ll let you know Monday if my birthday daffodils bloomed.

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Universal Time Travel

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Silver James

universeI was doing the Muppet Flail(tm) yesterday when I realized it was already Wednesday. And this is the next to the last day of the month. Where has February gone? I’m not ready for March! *more Muppet flail*

When I was scrolling back through my saved Universal messages, this one caught my eye. The Universe was sounding all Frodo-like but the…I don’t know…ambiguity(?) of the message struck me.

Between here and there, Silver, the only thing that matters is what you think, from now ’til then.

Choices, choices, choices –
The Universe

© http://www.tut.com ®

Silver, the past is simply what you choose to remember, if you even choose to remember it.

But you know? This makes sense, in a weird-not-sure-I-can-put-it-into-words way. I can’t change what’s been. I have no control over what will be. But I can learn from one in order to meet the other. I will stop now before I leave Middle Earth and go all Yoda.

Choices, you have them you do. Make good ones.

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Wednesday Words – Sing It!

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Silver James

As most of you know, I’m big on soundtracks to set the mood when I’m writing. I’ve been known to hear a song and immediately come up with a story idea. This would be the case with the currently-under-revisions COWGIRLS DON’T CRY. (Look for the song by Brooks and Dunn 😉 )

I’ll catch a song used in a TV show and the lyrics will grab me and won’t let go until I track them down. This is true of the following lyrics and songs.

From FLASHPOINT (a show I’m really sorry ended–about a SWAT team in Vancouver), the song START AGAIN by Illiyun.

And those mistakes you made don’t make you half a man.
There is weakness where there’s pride.
A broken heart don’t mean a broken girl within.
It’s not a sin to start again.

Trust me, that song and the image the chorus burned in my imagination will definitely make an appearance in a future Penumbra book. I think I know which one, but I’m not going to say. *bwahaha*

And a song that always reminds me of Hannah and Mac–in fact, it reminds me of all the Wolves when they find their mates. From IF I DIDN”T HAVE YOU by Thompson Square:

You are my heart, every breath I breathe.
I’m safe in your arms, you rescue me.
When I’m weak, you’re strong.
If you were gone I don’t know where I’d be.
You were made for me
(You were made for me)

And finally, one of my favorite songs and is perfect for all the Barron brothers and their cowgirls – Blake Shelton’s MINE WOULD BE YOU.

Happy Hump Day! May you have a song in your heart today–and if you do, share it here! 😀

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Tuesday Tastes – Coffee

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Silver James

Good morning coffeeIf you haven’t figured out I’m all about the coffee, y’all haven’t been paying attention. 😆

Ev sent me a really cool little desk calendar full of coffee facts. Here’s a few I stuck on the bulletin board:

The 1699 book “England’s Happiness Improved” states, “Moderately drunk, coffee removes vapours from the brain, occasioned by fumes of wine, or other strong liquors; eases pains in the head, prevents sour belchings, and provokes appetite.”

Well…d’uh! Or how about this one:

The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks. ~Sir James Mackintosh

Which I think I’ve quoted before but it bears repeating! And then there’s the famous “conversation” between Nancy Astor and Sir Winston Churchill:

Mrs. Astor: If I were your wife, I would put poison in your coffee.

Sir Winston’s reply: If I were your husband, I would drink it.

*bwahaha*

And finally, here’s a recipe from the National Coffee Association USA for Coffee Alexander:

In a blender, mix 1 cup cold, strong coffee., 1 cup coffee ice cream, and 2 oz. brandy or cognac until smooth and creamy. Serve in 2 champagne flutes or wineglasses. Garnish each with a coffee bean.

Me? I’d forget the coffee bean and go for shaved chocolate. *nods*

So how do you take your coffee?

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Monday: Good, Bad, and Ugly

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Silver James

lol monday coffeeWe’ll start with the ugly. *points to picture* This is me on Monday morning with no caffeine in my system.

The Good: Lawyer Guy is out of MICU.
The Bad: He’s not home yet and there is no release date on the horizon.

The Good: Moving along on revisions/edits of COWGIRLS DON’T CRY.
The Bad: I have plenty of time so I’m procrastinating a little. Okay, a lot.

The Good: I’m caught up on all my DVR’d TV shows.
The Bad but Good: All my favorites are coming back after the Olympic hiatus.

The Good: Lots of reading done, and enjoyed the books I read.
The Bad: I bought even more books to add to the TBR pile.

So…was your weekend good, bad, or ugly?

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Friday is Dog Tested…

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Silver James

I forgot I hadn’t posted anything for today. Here, have a series of commercials that crack me up every time I see them. Meet The Barkleys, from Subaru’s Dog Tested, Dog Approved series of commercials.

Have a great weekend!

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The Universe on Miracles

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Silver James

universeThis has been a month of miracles for me and mine, so when this little gem from the Universe popped up in my inbox, I knew I had to share it.

A word on miracles…

Silver, don’t let those that have not yet transpired, blind you to those that have.

It really fouls things up.

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

Silver, mountains will be the least that we’re going to move.

Here are my miracles this month:
Lawyer Guy surviving his brush with death, and that he’ll be coming home from the hospital soon.

The Only and Baseball boy finding, contracting and closing on their house all in two weeks’ time.

Getting my call on Valentine’s Day, with a two-book deal with me dream editor at Harlequin after working on it for way longer than I want to admit.

What about you? Did you have a miracle–large OR small–this month?

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Wednesday’s Words – Concealed

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Silver James

Writer's MindOMGWTFBBQ! Yesterday was release day for CONCEALED IN DEATH, the latest addition to the Eve Dallas/In Death series. I opened it up on my Kindle while waiting in line at the post office. And seriously considered letting people go in front of me so I could continue reading.

While “conventional wisdom” varies, an author has a very limited time to catch and keep a new reader’s attention. Hence, the importance of having a killer opening–and not just in Romantic Suspense. 😉 A writer has to know *WHERE* the story should start, and use language that will intrigue, entice, seduce, or simply grab the reader. There are online classes and panels at almost every writers conference dealing with this subject.

Well, I’m here to tell you that LaNora definitely got it right with this book.

Neglect could kill a building brick by brick. It was, to his mind, more insidious than hurricane or earthquake as it murdered slowly, quietly, not in rage or passion, but with utter contempt.

Or perhaps he was being a bit lyrical about a structure that had served no purpose other than housing rats and junkies for more than a dozen years.

But with vision, and considerable money, the old building, sagging its shoulders in what had once been Hell’s Kitchen, would stand strong again, and with purpose.

Roarke had vision, and considerable money, and enjoyed using both as he pleased.**

Okay. Maybe it’s just me but the language on that first page jerked me upright, gave me a Gibb’s Slap(tm), and then stared at me with a raised eyebrow. Meanwhile, Iffy wanted to know why the hell I don’t string words together like that. I’m workin’ on it!

Quite frankly, I want to be Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb when I grow up.

Do you have a favorite opening in your work or a book you love? And how long do you give an author when you start a book? I’m not talking about a beloved author who you’ll read everything and anything, but a new-to-you author. Happy Hump Day!

**Excerpt from CONCEALED IN DEATH, Penguin Group, (c)2014 Nora Roberts

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Tuesday’s Taste Buds – Celebration Station

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Silver James

°I’m still running back and forth between home and the hospital, plus expecting to get my revisions back from HE (Harlequin Editor 😉 –STILL celebrating!) so this is quick, down and dirty…but oh-so-yummy! Two ingredients, about 30 minutes, and you get the best biscuits ever!

Silver’s Best Biscuits

1 1/4 cup SELF-RISING flour
1/2 pint whipping cream (unwhipped – LOL)

Mix flour and cream in a medium bowl until dough forms. Roll out on floured surface to about 1 inch thick. Use a glass or round cutter of the desired size to cut dough. Bake in greased pan with sides touching in preheated 400° oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

coffee faeThey’ll be light and fluffy and perfect with gravy, butter, jam/jelly, syrup, or anything you want to put on them.

And no, I didn’t make any to take a picture. You’ll just have to trust me. Enjoy! And share any quick/easy recipes you have.

Oh, and they’re perfect with a side of coffee. So here…have some coffee fae. 😉

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Spectacular Monday

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Silver James

cute-puppy-pictures-hello-im-here-to-make-your-monday-suck-lessFor those of you who didn’t hear me screaming on Valentine’s Day (or see my news on Facebook or Twitter), I am now a Harlequin author. An editor I’ve wanted to work with forever called Friday and offered me a two-book deal with the Desire line. I’m still having odd moments of Snoopy Dancing(tm) and Squee!

There will be cowboys. And cowgirls. And hopefully way more than the two books–since those two brothers have four more like them at home. 😉 For the time being, the working title of the series is For the Love of a Cowgirl. The first book is COWGIRLS DON’T CRY and the second book is THE COWGIRL’S SWEETHEART. Revision letter arrives tomorrow and I can’t wait to get started. Trust me, there will be lots of updates on the project. This has been in the works for quite awhile but I’ve played it rather close to the chest because I didn’t want to jinx anything! 😆

Should I mention that I first submitted to Harlequin back in 1991? Or thereabouts. I’ve slept since them. While they turned that book down, they were encouraging. Life kept intervening, then other stories and opportunities, but I’ve come full circle and I’m just thrilled to be able to say, “Why yes, I DO write for Harlequin!”

In other news, I was asked to participate in a Christmas anthology for Wild Rose Press. Guess who is finally going to get his own story! Why yes, it would be that wily fae harper, Abhean. Look for more announcements and the book around Christmas 2014.

Lawyer Guy is on the mend, though still splitting time between home and hospital. NRCA books are going in the mail tomorrow. I didn’t win the Powerball, though it felt like I won the lottery this weekend between the call from Charles at Harlequin and LG’s swifter-than-expected recovery.

Books. I’ve read them! I finished Christine Warren’s HEART OF STONE. I liked it. I’ll stay with the series, but probably continue getting the books from the library. Finished Jayne Ann Krentz’s GRAND PASSION, a 1994 book of hers. While a contemporary, it was fun to see that some of her ideas for more current books/series of the Arcane Society variety seemed rooted in earlier works. I also finished JB Lynn’s THE NEUROTIC HITWOMAN HUNTS A GHOST. Haven’t gotten the review done yet but I will. If you love your mystery with some light comedy and talking animals–well technically, only Maggie, the heroine, can hear them–you should read the series. I’m currently reading Donnell Ann Bell’s THE PAST CAME HUNTING, a romantic suspense. Good stuff so far!

That’s pretty much my weekend. What did the rest of you do?

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