Thursday Thoughts: Universal Permission

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Silver James

Sometimes we need a nudge to get moving. This nudge can come in many different ways. After being sick for so long, it took a bit of time and effort to get back into the habit of writing. There was a lot of stuff swirling around in my head in addition to the actual physicality of sitting at a desk and working on the computer. Sales were (and are) miserable. The Christmas book I pushed out did okay but it wasn’t really aimed at my core readers. The thing about writing is this. If you don’t have a big name, a big publishing house pushing the narrative of your book, then you have to do that yourself. Not many writers are true extroverts. The majority of us prefer to hide in our writing caves and churn out words. The way to get around the hype is to find your base and churn out good books for them to read. Well, at least I hope they are good.* Anyway, being out of the habit, I–along with a sister writer who was also out of the habit–did a summer version of National Novel Writing Month that we called Ju-Lo-Wri-Mo. So, for the month of July, my goal was to write, edit, or do something writerly every day. I achieved that but for one day and there were extenuating circumstances and it was back early in the month.

Then came August. Yeah, I got down off that horse and went to sit in the shade. There were a few days that I declared to be “mental health days.” I needed a break. Or so I told myself. See, those doubts were creeping in again. Why bother? No one’s going to buy the damn book anyway. That voice is insidious. Then this popped up in my inbox and the Universe handed me a Gibbs Slap™.

Do you really need someone else’s permission, acceptance, wink, or nod, Silver, or are you ready to give these to yourself?

I say, “Ready. Now.”
  The Universe
©www.tut.com 

P.S. Action, Silver… take it, make it, bake it, go.

There it was. In black and white and all spelled out. Why did I start writing in the first place? Because I wanted to tell stories. I didn’t share them for a very long time and then I gave myself permission to do so. For a long time, it took “permission” from a publisher to get a book into the hands of the public. Oh, there were vanity presses where you paid them and then hoped you could hand sell enough books to recoup your investment. I eventually found a publisher–two actually: Wild Rose Press and Harlequin. And then Amazon–love it or hate it–threw out a massive bone: self-publishing. I needed no one’s permission but my own. So, I jumped in. With both feet. BLOOD MOON hit the “presses.” It’s been a rollercoaster of good sales and bad but even back then, I knew I had to crank out good words making up good stories about people readers could care about.

So, to answer the Universe’s question, I don’t really need someone else’s permission. I just need to take it, make it, bake it, and go. I mean, what the hell else am I gonna do with my days if I’m not writing? Sitting around vegetating and acting my age? Nope, that’s not the way I wanna go. So back to work for me, full speed ahead! What will you give yourself persmission to do today?

*Psst…there are some authors who sell massive amounts of books and I’m like…how?!?!? *insert muppet flail here* I’ve forced myself to read some of those authors looking for the secret and I’m like…😲??WTF??? Anyway…

Posted in Craft, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wednesday Words: Battleground

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Silver James

Wednesday means words and this week, y’all are getting a bit more than the usual 250 words allowed by Thursday Threads. This scene sets up some pivotal moments that are coming up and I needed more than the word count limit. That’s what flash fiction is all about–writing a story/complete scene using the exact prompt and doing it in a specific number of words or less. Since I was the previous week’s winner, the prompt is a phrase from my entry. That’s the way it always works. Sometimes, like last week, I could work the phrase from my winning entry into a new scene that occurs close in time. This week, yeah…not so much. But that’s okay because I love it when a story circles around and it just did. Yippee! I danced in my chair for a few minutes because the timeline and scenes are slotting in nicely. The prompt from last week’s Thursday Threads is: *She could not face this battle alone.* FYI, this scene occurs much earlier than the previous two.

****
Ronan stood at the window in his office watching the late-night traffic on Dorchester. His contact in the DA’s office hadn’t minced words. Maura was squarely in Crensaw’s crosshairs.

He didn’t react to the soft tap on his open office door. His nose had already announced his brother’s presence, the scents of a peat fire and hops preceding him. Overlaying their familial scent was a hint of the sea breeze, salty and full of sunshine as it blew inland. Ronan, feeling out of sorts, wondered what was making Mick so cheerful.

“You’re looking glum, Rone. What’s got’cha so bollocked?”

“And yer feelin’ right cheerful for a man who’s been collared twice now by the coppers.”

Mick laughed, deep and hearty, as he slapped Ronan’s shoulder. “Shite, man, do ya think they can keep me under lock and key when I’m as innocent as a lamb?”

Ronan very slowly turned his head and stared. Mick, used to his older brother’s ways returned the searing look with a cheeky grin. “We both know I didn’t do the cop or the girl.”

He paused and inhaled deeply. Mick’s expression immediately turned serious. “You’ve been with the pretty DA again.”

“I went to her office because they were stallin’ out your hearing.”
Mick grinned, his mood mercurial. “Ah, no wonder I was so precipitously escorted to the courthouse.”

“No, that was all Declan’s doing.”

“You need to stay away from her, Rone. She’s trouble.”

Mick was right but Ronan refused to admit it. For all intents and purposes, Maura Brannigan was the enemy. She worked for a wanker on the take. She should be tainted by the man’s avarice. But she’s not. He agreed with his inner wolf’s assessment. Mine, the wolf insisted. No. Ronan denied the insinuation. Maura was all about law and order. Brian’s crew wasn’t anything like the sleaseballs JD Moore ran, but the Wolves weren’t anywhere close to being the innocent lambs Mick claimed.

He couldn’t bring her into his world. And he couldn’t step out of it to exist in hers. Additionally, Crenshaw was growing desperate and desperate men took stupid chances. That’s when Ronan realized Maura was in deep trouble and she could not face this battle alone. He’d put her in danger. Now it was up to him to protect her. He took out his cell phone and placed a call.
****

So there it is. I’m happy with it and went on to rip out a few more scenes once it was done last week. Now it’s a week later and I’m still making progress. Again, YIPPEE! Writers, take the “battle” to your own WIP. Readers, what are you battling today?

Posted in Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tuesday Treats & Titles: Food in Books

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Silver James

So, something different today. Why? Because I don’t have any cool ideas for recipes and my characters so I can link a book because the whole reason for this particular day’s postings is to get people interested enough to go check out my books and maybe buy one. I’m an author but a subset of my job as an author is to sell books. You guys get off light this week. I’m going to muse about how food is presented in books. This is not a how-to or anything, just my observations as a reader, on one hand, and how I’ve done it as a writer on the other.

So, I do occasionally mention food in my books but it’s not necessarily a big deal. Usually, it’s a meal in a restaurant or a character who cooks (or doesn’t…I’m looking at you Hannah and Sade!). I don’t recall going into elaborate detail when describing my characters enjoying their food. That said, would you believe that I fall down the “research” rabbit hole of the intrawebz looking at restaurants that I can either mention or build upon and if I mention an actual place, I want to know that I’ve gotten the food right. I’m weird like that. Considering I right fiction, I get stuck on the truth of things. A lot. It irks me when authors take HUGE liberties with the facts* and it will, in fact, cause me to stop buying books by that author. On the other hand, it might not bother you and the fact that I’m such a stickler for facts might irk someone else. Anyway, I’m digrewssing a bit but hey, this is what happens when I have no idea of what to post. Moving on…

Two of my favorite series (by other authors) do have a bit of food emphasis in them. There are very good reasons for the inclusion that is part of some excellent worldbuilding. If you aren’t a fan of UF/ParaRom books, I’d direct you to cozy mysteries because those quite often deal with food. I don’t read them as a rule. I occasionally read one or two back in the day when I was a judge for various book awards. Not sure why I’m not a cozy mystery kinda gal, but there ya go. Back to my forte, though.

Ilona Andrews, a wife-and-husband writing team, have a very interesting take on food in their Kate Daniels world. Premise: Magic and Technology are often at war and when one is prevalent, the other wanes. Then you have times where one has reigned for a long time (Tech in this case) and suddenly, Magic makes a comeback. There are waves that happen and sometimes Tech works and Magic is weakened, other times, Magic overwhelms Tech. There are humans, humans with magic (necromancers who pilot “vampires,” mages, witches, and people like Kate but no spoilers), a few gods, and shapeshifters. Food is very important to the shapeshifters. Feeding a potential mate is a Very Big Deal. Example: Kate (whose backstory involves a LOT) is a bit clueless about the rituals. Being injuried while helping the Pack lands Kate in the Pack’s infirmary. Curran (a lion shifter) is the Beast Lord, ie. his the alpha in charge of all the various shifter groups who are members of Atlanta’s Pack. Curran feeds her a bowl of soup. Aunt Bea, the matriarch of the hyena clan, jumps on this event. Feeding each other becomes a running thing in the books, starting with MAGIC BITES, the first in series. Now, for a slightly different take.

We move on to Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changling series. There are Humans, Psy, and Changlings. All three share human DNA but Humans are at the bottom of the feeding chart. Changlings can shift into their animals, have better senses, and have a certain amount of immunity to the Psy’s psychic abilities. The Humans have none. The Psy are all about the mental and decided back in the 1970s (it’s 2060-80s time in the saeries) that emotion is a bad thing and to be a perfect Psy is to be without emotion. This is called Silence. To be silent is to be an automaton basically. Everything that might encourage an emotional reaction (like sex) is banned. That includes enjoying food. The basically exist on unflavored protein bars and drinks. *shudder* In the course of the series, things happen and some of the Psy fall out of Silence and to watch their non-Psy friends and lovers tempt them with food is nice to watch. Reading about Sascha, the Psy heroine in SLAVE TO SENSATION, taste hot chocolate for the first time! Be still my heart. FYI, her hero, Lucas is alpha of the local leopard pack. Reading about the Psy discovering food is a journey and a large part of the worldbuilding and plot line. Also, Nalini’s shifters have a thing about food too. They always want to feed their mates. This is a running gag in a fictional magazine targeting ladies who are interested in pursuing relationships with shifters and then expands as more Psy become “sexy.”

Anyway, I know have a post, for what it’s worth. Writers, do you use food in your books for whatever reason? If yes, why? Readers, how do you feel about food in books? And can anyone think of other books/series with food? Inquiring minds want to know!

*In one case, an author’s MC was a CIA agent undercover in a US motorcycle club. The CIA does not officially do that. FBI, Homeland Security, ATF? Yup. CIA. Nope. That’s not their mission and they’d be in deep kimchi if Congress found out. In another, an author had oriental lords in regency England. Nope. My Brit History professor (who actually DID write a book on the Regency) is likely spinning in his grave.

Posted in Books, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Middle Monday Mash-up

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Silver James

Unhhh. I just need to reach a little bit further…almost have it…ahhhh. Coffee!

So it’s Monday, and it’s not quite the middle of the month but it’s close. There are two more Mondays before we hit September and the first Monday in September is a holiday so that’s like a bonus, right?

My life is so exciting. Not! There was a week and a weekend but I still don’t have much to talk about. I get up. I feed cats. I make coffee. I drink a protein shake. I make my first cup of coffee. I sit at the computer and try to figure out what the heck I’m doing while waiting for the caffeine to kick in. Sadly, that’s seven days a week. Sadly, I’m not even breaking up things with Starbucks runs. One, it’s too hot to get out. Two, until I start selling more than one book a month at the ‘Zon, no frappucinos for me! Luckily, I still have the fixings for homemade chocolate sodas for when I get the urge for something frosty and creamy.

Speaking of books, I’m up to 113K with the Boston Wolves. That’s twice the word count I normall work with. Ugh. But, that’s what the story wants. At this raite, with what’s left to be written, I’ll be lucky if the count comes in under 120K. *sigh* It progress. I worked on chapter 36 yesterday. I kept thinking that I’d written a scene about something that needed to be and I couldn’t find it and then I thought I did but I didn’t. I must have jotted an idea down somewhere and thought I wrote the scene out. Or I just dreamed the whole thing. I have no clue. Hopefully, if I did write a scene and lost it along the way, then write a new scene about the same thing, I or my beta readers will find it. Ah, the trials and tribulations of being a writer. Anyway, progress was made during the week and weekend, despite a few mental health down days along the way.

I finished off my relisten of the Trinity portion of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changling series with PRIMAL MIRROR. Remi and Auden. *deep feminine sigh* I swear Nalini can think in HUGE plot arcs. PM is a good one. Then I dropped in on my favorite Eeyore-jammies-wearing black volhv by listening to Ilona Andrews’ SANCTUARY, set in their Kate Daniels world. And no, I’m not being politically correct by using the “they” pronoun. Ilona Andrews is actually Ilona AND Gordon Andrews, husband and wife writing team. It was a fun “Christmas in the summer” treat. I’m currently listening to Marjorie M. Lie’s TIGER EYE, the first book in her Dirk & Steele series. I keep hearing about the D&S books so I thought I’d give it a try because free read off Hoopla. (Free to me. The author gets a royalty. Hoopla is a subscription service but also works with libraries who pay the freight. Free library, free read. Yay! I ❤ my library system.)

We actually had rain a couple of times this past week. The storm dragons were up playing REALLY early Sunday morning. And they must have been playing in the pool because we got dumped on–at least 4.5″ here at the house. That’s all good. We needed the rain! Of course, we didn’t exactly need it in the space of a few hours. Still, it was nice to sit, sip coffee and listen to the rain in between the thunder boomers.

In family news, Stormy starts the FIFTH GRADE this Wednesday. *muppet flail* Gah. I’m gettin’ so frickin’ old! In other news, his mom is going back to work. That’s a long story but she’s been off a little over a year. She’s a provisional ELA SPED teacher at one of the middle schools in a metro-area school district. This all happened late last week so YAY! She’s prepping her room today and tomorrow with students arriving in the classroom on Wednesday. She has a masters in musuem studies but did a lot of substitute teaching this past spring at Baseball Boy’s high school. She decided she liked the classroom (especially since museum jobs aren’t available at the moment) and had started the process to get certified. Anway, she’s excited. We’re excited for her. Yay. If I still had pompoms, I’d go shake them.

That’s pretty much the sum total of my life at the moment. Why yes, I AM living vicariously through my characters (and my kid! 😉), why do you ask? LOL How’s life with y’all? Have a great week all! Hopefully, I can figure out something to post for tomorrow. Later, taters!

Posted in Books, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Friday Free For All–August Edition

Posted on August 9, 2024 by Silver James

TGIF! I have had thoughts this week. And seen things. Many things. This is what happens when I fall down rabbit holes on social media and on the internet. Some things left me agog. Some made me laugh while rolling my eyes. Today’s list is pretty short. I had stuffs to do. Words to write. Cats to pet. Dog to sit in the yard with. Squirrels to almost feed out of my hand. Anyway…

Did you know that the lowest open string on a violin is the G string. Uhm… 😲

Take a minute–or two–and check out this series of Farm Cat Olympics by just CLICKING HERE. It’ll zip you over to one of the ICanHazCheezburger sites.

Learned a new term: Code-shifting. What is it? Code-switching is changing your style, dress, language or behavior to fit in different contexts or groups. Not that I would accuse a certain candidate of doing this but her fake southern accent irritated the snot outta me. I’m southern born and bred and come by my accent naturally, thank you very much. Another term comes to mind: pandering. But y’all probably know what that means…

My mind is like my browser–twenty tabs are open, eight of them are frozen, six of them say “Files Not Found,” and I have no idea where the music is coming from…but at least there’s music. 🤪

Finally, I leave you with this last bad writerly pun because it made me laugh.

Posted in Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thursday Thoughts: Universal Advice

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Silver James

Today’s thoughts are short and to the point. The Universe dropped this into my inbox just the other day. It’s one of those double entendre messages, one that resonates to both sides of my brain–the writer side and the life-in-reality side. And it sums it all up short and simple…

This is why I write romance.

Whatever you have to say, Silver, say it with love.

Love you,
  The Universe
©www.tut.com 

P.S. And whatever you have to hear, Silver, hear it with love. Boom!

Why yes, that was a mic drop by the Universe, why do you ask?

Posted in Craft, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wednesday Words: Do It

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Silver James

It’s Wednesday! And I need to add an addendum to last week’s WednesdayWords. I won the Thursday Threads that previous week. And…*blows trumpets*…I won this past week too! Yippee ki yay!.The prompt for this week’s words is: *You know what to do.* As the snippet itself points out, this scene is a few days after the previous WW scene. Do I have any clue what happens in between? Nope. I haven’t gotten to this part yet. And yes, my brain is a very scary place to be sometimes. Anyway, this is a solo scene with just Maura.

****
Maura untwisted and twisted the cap of her favorite Mont Blanc—the one her college mentor had gifted her upon passing the bar. The fountain pen held no ink because it had long ago become her touchstone when thinking. The shivery snick of silver on wood created a soothing backdrop to the chaos her mind sometimes became.

You know what to do. Brian’s final words still echoed in her brain days later. Ronan hadn’t said a word in response to Brian’s parting words. What plans had the two men made before she appeared and…well…surrendered. She could not face this battle alone. She’d thought the instructions were meant for Ronan. Now she wondered. Were they meant for her?

The part of her that firmly believed in law and order stirred. She’d literally made a deal with the devil by going to the head of Boston’s Irish mob for assistance. She was an assistant district attorney. And she was, again literally, in bed with the enemy since she’d fallen in love with Ronan O’Connor, Brian Boru’s top lieutenant.

Maura had learned some things along the way. Boru’s Wolves were honorable despite a flexible legal line in the sand. It was her own boss, the district attorney, who had obliterated that line. Alex covered himself in the stench of corruption. And last she’d learned that the Wolves were, again literally, wolves. Shapeshifters.

“You know what to do.” She spoke the words aloud, and did know. “Because sometimes, Justice carries a sword.”
****

There it is. And you know what to do…Writers, free write! Readers, I promise I’m getting closer. I made great strides last month and I’m still hyped to get this book finished and into your most patient of hands! (Psst. Did you see what I did there? 😉) I will admit that I know what happens after this so that’s a good thing. And while these snippets might be minor spoilers, I think I’m building in enough twists and turns that what a reader is pretty sure is going to happen doesn’t actually…happen. Or does it? shifty-eyes-ani2faster

Posted in Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tuesday Time Off

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Silver James

This time forty-one years ago, I was out in my parents backyard wiping the dew off the rows of chairs set in rows before this gazebo that my mother contracted because we needed a “focal point” in their very lovely backyard for my wedding ceremony. She sold the gazebo to one of the neighbors down the street after the wedding. It was a lovely morning, though warm. My husband to be, my dad, my brother, my future male in-laws (brother & dad) and LG’s best friend all looked very handsome in their formal morning coats and trousers. We got married in the morning for two reasons–it was outdoors in Oklahoma in August and my dad always wanted to wear a morning coat.

My wedding dress was a size 3 that was altered to be smaller. I had a 22 inch waist back then. For years after, I said I’d never fit in that dress again. Guess what? If the dress still existed*, I’d fit in it now. Who knew?!?! 😲

Anyway, I’m taking the day off. LG is taking me out to dinner–maybe Olive Garden because he has a gift card (and I–like my mothr–am cheap!) Alternative is a local Mexican restaurant that opened right before I got sick but we’ve never tried. We’ll see if we’re feeling Mediterranean or south of the border.

My advice to anyone looking for love, thinking about getting married? Marry your best friend. And remember to laugh. Happy Anniversary, Lawyer Guy! I’d do it all over again with you.

Happy Tuesday.

*My mother put the dress into storage at a local cleaners and at some point, it just…disappeared. I still have the hat though.

Posted in Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hot August Monday

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Silver James

Why yes, I am a fan of Neil Diamond, why do you ask?

It’s Monday. It’s August. It’s hot. But the days are getting shorter and Fall can’t be too far away. Right? I like Fall. It’s my favorite.

So, there was a week and a weekend. I finished off JuLoWriMo and started Labor Day Countdown. But no pressure. Beyond writing, my most productive effort was sitting down with LG to plan out some home-cooked dinners. He made the grocery list and let me tell you, the man is a general planning a battle when it comes plotting out his grocery shopping skirmishes. And no, I didn’t go. Maybe next week. Mainly, it was because it was hot out when he went and I would have wanted to take Jake because he loves going.

We had a traditional First Saturday–siren test followed by lunch with The Kids. We had burgers at one of their favorite places that isn’t far from their house and on our way home from the storm siren site we cover. The restaurant had the Olympics on all their TV screens. We got to watch the USA take gold and silver in the shot put. Yay! Only was a thrower in middle school and college–shot put, discus, and javelin (in college–no javelin in MS or HS around here. No clue why.) Food was good but there were a few kitchen issues and some promotional stuff. It all got worked out.

In reading/listening updates, I should be starting the newest Nalini Singh Psy-Changeling/Trinity series title today. For those of you unfamiliar, there are like 16 books in the original Psy-Changeling serie. The newest release is #8 in the Trinity series, which is a continuation of the series but with a different plot arc and focus. I did a marathon listen to the 7 Trinity books plus one book from the original series because the hero of this newest release is a secondary character in that book. In other book news, my sister author B.E. Sanderson has put her SCIU (Serial Crimes Investigations Unit) thriller series on special sale at Amazon.  Dying Embers will be free.  Fertile Ground and Early Grave are be 99c (US and UK only). If taut criminal investigation novels are your catnip, go grap these!

Not much else going on around here. Tomorrow is #41 for LG and me. I’ve been married to him 11 years longer than I lived before we got married. No wonder I feel old! 😉 Time for another cup of coffee because it’s Monday and I need it. What’s going on in your neck of the world?

Posted in Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Friday Sinema: Because…Smol Criminals

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Silver James

The Pallas Cats are back. We all need a smile and I’m happy to share what made me smile this week. Have a great weekend!

Posted in Writing Life | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments