Sleep is over rated...

My blog today reflects sleep deprivation on my part. Why? Well, I'm one of those people who loves pets and even though I have 4 teenagers, I consider my pets my babies. Unfortunately, my pets think of themselves as people and therefore deserving of sleeping in my bed.

After spending a good portion of yesterday, I went to bed at approximately 12:30 AM. At 1:30 AM my dog decided to join me in the bed. My dog, a 7 year old beagle named Nike, is small so you would think he wouldn't take up a lot of room. WRONG. He sleeps like a person, on his back with arms and legs spread out, taking up as much as the bed as he can claim. And while I always insist that he sleep at the foot of the bed, somehow he ends up snuggling with me in the middle of the night and I wake up to his furry face. I love him, but not his dog breath. If his dog breath doesn't wake me, it's his whine at 5:30AM to go outside.

Then there is my 14 year old cat, Keturah. I always wondered about her name. It's very old fashioned. I actually googled it once and found a whole bunch of women named Keturah from the 1800s. If anyone knows the meaning of it, let me know. Keturah came to live with us when she was 7 years old. She had an owner who was single, no children and traveled a lot. Her previous owner felt she needed more attention so she moved in my house with 4 children who at the time were ages 6, 7, 8 and 9 and she got more attention than she ever wanted. Truly. She hid beneath my desk for 2 years and only came out at night. Usually around 2:00AM to wake me up and say hello. I'd wake up to one of two things, either the play-with-me purring noise right in my ear or a crazy screech that means one of two things, feed me or there's no more water in my bowl! They usually come around 4:00 AM.

It's my own fault. I spoil my pets. And make no mistake about it, they own me, not the other way around. It does leave me with less sleep than I use to get when my kids were babies. I think I can manage to get one full sleep cycle in between animal calls.

So forgive me if today's blog is a bit off. I'm sleep deprived and need more coffee.

Until next time, many blessings, Lisa Mondello

HEART OF DIXIE READERS' LUNCHEON

Ever been to a readers’ luncheon? The Heart of Dixie Chapter of Romance Writers of America hosts a gala event each May in Huntsville, Alabama. Fellow Steeple Hill author, Missy Tippens and I left Atlanta Friday morning and drove to Huntsville, arriving in time to check into our hotel – the beautiful Embassy Suites in the heart of downtown – before we headed to the main library for a bookseller and librarian tea. We spent the afternoon talking books and enjoying the delicious finger food HOD provided, thanks to Andrea’s catering.

That evening we had dinner at the Jazz Factory. I sat next to Roxanne St. Claire and across from Sherry, Stephanie and Jean – HOD gals who I’ll be seeing again at the RWA Conference this summer. We got back to the room in time to call our hubbies and wish them goodnight before we turned out the lights and got a good night’s sleep.

The next morning we gathered in the lovely Van Braun Center where each author was assigned a table. I brought goodies for the gals who would sit with me – cute notepads and note cards, a Craftie Ladies highlighter/pen and chocolate as well as copies of my latest release, MIA: MISSING IN ATLANTA. The doors opened at 11 A.M. and eager readers swarmed into the room, finding seats at their favorite author’s table.

Dianne Hart, Rachel Lewter, Anita Mays and Dawn Eby joined me, and it was wonderful chatting with them. A special treat was having two dear friends who I’ve known for years come to the luncheon. Alice Mingo and I lived across the street from each other at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Dorothy Newman was a neighbor at Fort Irwin, California. Seeing them brought back so many memories of when kids were young and so were we! Thanks, Alice and Dorothy, for being there for me on Saturday!

HOD luncheon chairman Kathy Bone also sat at my table. Kathy’s a beautiful woman who did an excellent job organizing the event. Lunch was delicious, and Kathy and the other HOD members made all of us feel so welcome. Thanks, Kathy! You and your committee did an outstanding job!

After lunch we got to hear Roxanne St. Clair talk about her life as a writer. Rockie is a doll! She’s upbeat and outgoing, and she never meets a stranger. An added plus for the weekend was getting to know her better.

Following her speech, drawings were held for the author baskets. Mary Freeman won mine! More baskets—all piled high with books—were given as raffle prizes, and five lucky people at my table went home winners. A booksigning followed the luncheon and the proceeds went to aid literacy.

If you’ve been to an HOD function you’ll know the gals from the Writing Playground (www.writingplayground.com). Marilyn Puett, Kera Sinclair, Danniele Worsham, Kimberly Lang, and Alexandra Frost worked throughout the weekend to ensure everything was flawless. Thanks for making it all look so easy!

HOD divas Linda Howard, Beverly Barton and Linda Winstead Jones presented Kim Kerr, writing as Kim Lange, with flowers and a charm on the sale of her first book. Kim organized the bookseller and librarian tea and is the go-to gal for every HOD function I’ve attended. It’s great to see her hard work pay off with a sale to Mills and Boon!

Southern Magic ladies and dear friends, Carla Swaffard and debut author Christy Reece, with a three-book contact to Ballentine, were there as well as librarian Irene Charles and her sister Sarah.

Missy and I hated to say goodbye to Huntsville friends, both old and new, but we had a long drive home. Of course the miles flew by since we had so much to talk about as well as plans to make for next year when we’ll be heading back to Alabama for another Heart of Dixie Readers’ Luncheon. Hope to see you there!

Wishing you abundant blessings!
Debby Giusti

A Face in the Shadows Interview

Today we're welcoming KATE BROOKS, the heroine of A Face In the Shadow--May 2008, part of the Reunion Revelations continuity series . Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

I grew up in Magnolia Falls and went to Magnolia College. I wanted to be a singer, so after I graduated I went to Nashville, got married and had my son Brandon. But the singing career and the marriage didn't work out so I went back to school to become a neo-natal nurse and I moved back to Magnolia Falls to be close to my family (for my son's sake--his father isn't the best role model.) After I returned we had a class reunion at Magnolia College and that's where I met Parker Buchanan again. We were best friends in college and I can admit this now--I always had a crush on him! But Parker is a reclusive comic book writer, so even though we saw each other at the reunion I didn't talk to him for a while after that. My son is a big fan of Parker's comic book hero--Patchman. Brandon wanted to invite Parker to his birthday party, so I got up the nerve to go to Parker's estate and well .... after sneaking in and being chased by his two German Shepherds, Parker and I talked and he turned me down--refused to even consider coming to the party. But he showed up at my door later (with lilies) and offered to throw the party at his house! After that, things were going great until the police came to the party and took Parker in for questioning on this ten year old homicide case--(a body was found buried on the college campus and Parker knew the woman who was found there--Josie Skerritt.) Now the police thing Parker killed her!

2. So, during the book you met Parker. Tell us a bit about him. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

As I said, I knew Parker in college but he wasn't like the other boys. He was shy and quiet--a real James Dean type. But he was my friend. Then he was in a horrible car wreck (with another student--Penny Brighton) and he refused to see me after that. The accident damaged his leg, so he still walks with a limp. My first impression of him after spotting him across the room at the reunion was, "Wow, he looks great--like a character right out of a Jane Austen novel." I also realized I still had a crush on him. Now that we've finally found each other again, I know God met for us to be apart so we'd mature and appreciate each other more. I just hope he will be cleared of this horrible crime, because I know in my heart Parker didn't kill Josie.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?

My greatest strength is my faith. It has helped me through a horrible marriage and an awful divorce. Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision--and I believe I did--for my son's sake if nothing else. Brandon needed the stability of a family and friends and we didn't have that in Nashville. I now sing at church and I love working with the tiny babies in the neo-natal ward. My weakness is my impulsive nature--that led to running off to Nashville and marry the wrong man. I'm trying to learn how to be less impulsive but sometimes that still gets me into trouble--such as when I was so determined to talk to Parker I practically broke into his estate!


4. What scares you?

Something happening to Brandon or my family and--what if I lose Parker all over again? I don't want to lose him this time. But we can't move forward until this murder is solved.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I'd try to trust my heart but I'd also be more cautious and less impulsive with my feelings. That's hard right now with Parker.

6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?

I have always had a strong faith and I believe God will see us through this crisis. My prayers have held me together through so many things. My faith has never wavered.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?

My faith only grows stronger each day, because God has given Parker and me a second chance and we've weathered the worst--a murder, Parker being accused of that murder, gossip and doubt from my family and friends and a killer who is determined to get revenge on Parker, even if that means committing another murder. If God can see us through all of that, then we were meant to be together, right?

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.

"He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light."--Job 12:22

This passage is important because throughout this murder investigation, we all felt that someone was out there in the shadows--someone sick and evil who wanted to punish each of us for the past. But as I tried to show Parker, God wikk help us overcome that evil, that face in the shadows, so we can walk together in the light of His love. That is my one prayer--to be with Parker and raise my son with our faith shining brightly! I will continue to pray that all will be revealed and those shadows will disappear so we can finally be a family.


9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

I'd be chocolate chip cookie because cookies bring comfort and show that someone cares. They are a bit crisp on the outside, but also soft in the middle--just like me. Besides, Parker baked me some on one of our first dates. A man who can cook wins my heart immediately. Can you tell that it always comes back to him. I think I'm truly in love!



Warmhearted, Wholesome, Worthwhile
http://www.lenoraworth.com
Secret Agent Minister--Finalist Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence!!!!
March 2008--Mountain Sanctuary
April 2008--Reissue--Something Beautiful/lacey's Retreat
May 2008--Face in the Shadows (Reunion Revelations)
August 2008--Lone Star Secret (Homecoming Heroes)




Thank you so much Lenora Worth for sharing Kate with us. I know I look forward to reading A Face in the Shadows.

Next week we will have a contest to win one of the fabulous May Love Inspired Suspense books, so please stop on by.

Here, There, Everywhere

Here: Yesterday afternoon I had one of those epiphany moments. I was sitting in the living room with my son watching Noddy (children's cartoon) when suddenly I did a swept of my living room. I looked at the curtains. They no longer close all the way thanks to Mikey's constant opening and closing. Continuing south, I saw Mikey's little rocking chair with a Dapper Dan in it (the doll you use to teach zippers, buttons, etc). Then, there's my antique rocking chair (given to me by my uncle who lived to be 97!). Sitting in that rocker is a giant Winnie the Pooh bear and Curious George leans against him. Next comes my Grandfather Clock. In front of it is a blue bean bag chair that Mikey likes to drag to the middle of the room to settle in while he watches T.V. Finally, there's the entertainment center. It used to be a Martha Steward piece. I have special knick knacks there. Now, I see children's videos. On top are the things I take away my Mikey. I see a car; I see puzzle pieces. I stop my sweep. I don't need to look any farther to know that God has given me what's known as HOME.

There: Yesterday I emailed my agent my new proposal. It's for a three book series. You'd think I'd be comfortable sending off a three book proposal but I'm not. This proposal is revised per suggestions one month ago. I wonder how my little proposal stands up? Does the editor look at it and think, "Boy, you can tell this one's a beginner." Doe she look at it and think, "Surely, somewhere there's a book on putting together proposals and this author will someday find it?" or, as I suspect, will the editor look at my proposal and say, "I hope it's good." I surmise that I worry about the packaging and that my editor worries about content.

Everywhere: Last week I had an excuse as to why I hadn't read Robin's LIS. Walmart didn't have them in stock yet, and I'd just joined the bookclub but hadn't received a shipment. This week should have been so much better. I went to Walmart on Saturday. New books are there! I grab all four. I'm really looking forward to Lenora's because I've been reading the Reunion series (am actually all caught up-finished Carol Steward's just last week) and Lenora's is next to last. I get home. Then, Saturday night I go to pick up Lenora's book. I didn't buy it. It gets worse. I pick up the top book from the stack and think "Hmmmm". Yup, it's from the previous month. Now, I'm not completely lame. I did know what was coming, so I quickly look at the others. Yup, for some reason at Walmart, they restocked three of the four new ones, and left one stack of the last months. I had two of one book. Arg.

Such is the life of a writer: here, there, and everywhere.

The Towering TBR stack...

What great weekend! I just finished a manuscript yesterday and took it to FedEx, which meant this was a weekend to play! So after church last night, my husband and I went out to dinner. And today, I spent most of the day puttering around in the barn and then riding Tucker for a few hours. We have one geriatric hayburner who is too arthritic and gimpy to ride (though oddly enough, he can sure race around bucking and kicking, when he thinks no one is watching!) and Tucker--a younger horse that we bought from author Cindy Gerard a few years ago. Her husband raises beautiful horses, and Tucker is sure a sweetheart. And now--I get to tackle my TBR pile. I can't wait to catch up on all the latest books by the authors here. Robin's new one (there's a review here, if you page down) sounds absolutely intriguing, and so do the others!!

What's scary?

One of the questions asked of the heroines is what scares you. I started thinking about that. What really scares me? Here’s my list: something happening to my husband, son or granddaughters (or for that matter anyone I care about), a tornado hitting my area, snakes, not pleasing the Lord (He’s done so much for me), not being able to write a book (drying up), rats, not having a clean toilet (no, not really, I just threw that in to see if you were still reading), and probably a lot of other things I can’t think of because I haven’t had them happen to me or someone I know.

I will say researching different methods of murder that I wouldn’t want to be murdered or left in a casket alive underground. I could go on and on, but I’m sure you are ready instead to share what scares you.

So fess up—what scares you?

Getting back to basics to find the plot...

I've been reading Debby Guisti's blogs with much interest as I'm a big fan of the Donald Maass workshop. Sometimes I find myself falling back on old habits and I need to remind myself that there is a process to writing a book that I should never rush.

I'm not a heavy plotter. In fact, my plotting is basic at best. I'm a puzzle/pantser writer. I can write a 15-20 page outline that will give me a roadmap as to where I'm going with the story. But there are two other steps that have always been essential for me to "get into the head" of my characters and create that roadmap. If I skip them, I'm in trouble.

The first process is letter writing. I tell people in my workshops that I'm a big fan of not "reinventing the wheel" so I have to give credit to Robin Lee Hatcher for this technique since I got it from an RWR article many, many years ago. I take each main character in my book and write a first person letter in their point of view to me. I start out when they were a child, i.e. I was born in Tulsa, and go all the way up to when the story begins. I've gotten a lot of good information that rounds out my characters and gives them personality just by writing this way.

The second process I use is placing all my plot points into a 4 Act structure chart. I use the Syd Field screenwriter's workshop that I learn years ago from attending a workshop author Pat Grasso did at a conference. It was one of those transforming moments in my writing because I found I could really see the progression of my story and fix any holes I had before I started writing.

I find that when I skip any one of these steps in the beginning stages of my writing, I get myself and my story into trouble. Lesson learned and reading through Debby's post made me realise I need to get back to basics.

Until next time, many blessings, Lisa Mondello