The 7th Question

I answer the 7th question in Simon Goodson's new interview. Check it out!

All About Reading Tag

I was tagged to do the “All About the Reading” tag by the lovely Christie Stratos. Answering these questions was so much fun! Learn what I hate in a book, which book should be required reading for everyone, and which books (if any) I re-read. All those questions and more are answered in this video. Check it out!

Why I Root for the Villain - My Interview With Ben Starling

Today I had the privilege of being interviewed by the awesome Ben Starling! He interviewed me about my writing life, Strange Luck, and my upcoming book. You probably already know that I'm a chocoholic, but do you know what I wear when I write, or why I always root for the villain? Check out the interview here.

While you're on his website, be sure to sign up for Ben's mailing list because you'll get a FREE e-copy of Something in the Air. Happy reading!

TBT Writer - A Sparkling Dog Named Millie

It's Throw Back Thursday (TBT)! If you're a writer, I invite you to share something you wrote way back when and/or a pic of yourself. Whether you wrote a bad story, silly story, or something really promising when you were eight or thirty eight, share it. It's all part of the journey to becoming a better writer. It's also a really awesome feeling when you can look back and see how far you've come. Don't forget to use #tbtwriter when you post. If you're a reader looking for some laughs, you've come to the right place. So without further ado...

Growing up, my house was like something out of Dr. Doolittle. There were a zillion different animals running around, and yes, we had birthday parties for all of them.

Here's Elmer the iguana celebrating his birthday with a delectable fruit salad.

I especially loved our little duckies.

My brother and I feeding the ducks in our pajamas.

So when I got my first dog, Millie, I was beyond thrilled.

Meet Millie.

Millie was a part of every family event from the very beginning.

Have you ever seen a more enthusiastic dog watching someone open an Xmas present?

I guess it was inevitable that I wrote a story about her when I was in elementary school:

Millie

 

When I first got my dog I was very happy and I got to name her Millie. I took her to a park and saw her long ears fly and her beautiful skin sparkle.

Millie come back. Millie is my new dog. She is a Shaffordshire Bull Terrier. She has golden orange fur mixed with white. I like taking her for walks at the park. She's really fast. I love to watch her golden ears fly back when she runs. She is a very strong dog, fun, and lovable. I enjoy taking here wherever I go.

I've loved MANY animals since Millie, but since she was my first dog, she'll always have a special place in my heart.

Bertha the cat. I think I have more hair here than head. :P

My grandparents dog, Matty.

Gomer the pug in his Christmas sweater.

My brother, Bo, and I.

My puppy, Loki, and me.

I hope you enjoyed my writing throwback. I can't wait to post again next month.


Don't forget to check out my other #TBTWriter stories and pics:

• Good Ideas, Sometimes!
• A Nine-Year-Old's First Horror Story
• Confessions of a Sugarholic

TBT Writer - X Never Marks the Spot

It's #TBTWriter! Time to share some embarrassing pics and things I wrote back in the day. If you’ve got a writing throwback, post it with this hashtag so we can all read your story.

Before I started writing full-time, I explored a lot, and I mean A LOT, of career paths. One of those paths was archaeology. Maybe I kinda had an unrealistic fantasy that it would be like Indiana Jones in some sense...any sense. Maybe I thought I'd get to travel to exotic locations and find really cool things...then, a lot more really cool things would happen. Reality check! It's more like spending 8 hours in a hole in the middle of nowhere in the hot sun, and you can't sleep at night because your back hurts so much from having been hunched over all day. I really did enjoy the excavation part and not knowing what I was going to find though, but it didn't take me long to realize that archaeology just wasn't for me.

Here's me doing something archaeological.

Anyway, I was flipping through one of my old writing books and found a story I wrote in elementary school, ironically about being an archaeologist, and thought it would be fun to share. It didn't have a title, and I'm not sure if I purposely ended the story like this (you'll see what I mean), but here it is in all its glory. Enjoy!

A snapshot of this story in my first writing journal. I can't make this stuff up!

"Boy it's hot." Today is another big day for me. I'm finding dinosaur fossils. 

"Amie. Help us over here. I think we found something," my friend yelled.

"Just a minute," I yelled. I walked over to a rocky cliff and saw down below track marks. I skidded down the bumpy slope to get a closer look. I saw something amazing.

A small animal dashed out of nowhere and a giant animal headed for it, leaving track marks behind. Then I saw a circle which had millions of track marks scattered everywhere in the circle. It looked like the big animal had ran after it and attacked it (*I wrote 'attached' in the original. lol.). I think the small animal didn't survive because I saw only the big animal tracks leading away from the circle. 

I yelled, "I found something," to my friends.

They dashed down the slope and stared, for what we saw lay in front of us was very important.

What was so important? I have absolutely no idea! I don't understand this story at all. I saw the animal, then I didn't? I'm assuming I was writing about seeing real dinosaurs, but who knows. I was ten. It was still a blast re-reading this and sharing it with you. I seriously look forward to these posts each month.

Mini-me on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland wearing an Indiana Jones hat.

If you haven't done so already, please check out my other #TBTWriter stories and pics:

• Good Ideas, Sometimes!
• Confessions of a Sugarholic
• A Nine-Year-Old's First Horror Story

What did you think about my story, or my shattered dreams of being an archaeologist? Do you have something from way back when you'd like to share? Post your comments below.

The Scary Reviews Interview

 

David Spell started The Scary Reviews because he's always been a huge horror fan and wanted to have a place to post his favorite horror book reviews. Not only did he see his dream to fruition, his site also features insightful horror/fantasy author interviews, guest posts, and a fabulous Women in Horror spotlight. I'm thrilled that he will be reviewing Book II in the Strange Luck series, The Nightmare Birds, as part of the Women in Horror feature in late 2016. I'm so excited!!!

Until then, you can check out my interview with The Scary Reviews, where you'll learn how many books are planned in the Strange Luck series, how I got the title, and what inspires me to write. And don't forget to check out the other author interviews, too! They're incredibly interesting and I've already discovered a bunch of new books to read as a result.

The Lucky Cricket Is Real...Well, Sort Of

I don't know about you, but I love discovering little secrets behind a book like that Ernie Prang and Stan Shunpike, the driver and conductor of the Knight Bus in Harry Potter, were named after J. K. Rowling's grandfathers. It's so much fun discovering these little secrets, so I thought I'd share some secrets of my own about Strange Luck. Enjoy!

 

1.   The fortune-telling cricket is real! Well, sort of. Growing up, my parents always had a little cricket statue in our living room. When I got older, I asked where it had come from and my mom told me it was given to her by my great grandma who said it would bring their home good luck. I always thought that was neat, so when it came time for me to live in a house of my own, my mom gave me the cricket. Since then, it's traveled across the country with me and it currently resides in my living room.

2.   Although Sea Salt, CA is a fictitious town, it is based on a combination of my favorite ‘real’ towns in California - Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Pescadero, and La Honda.

3.   Daisy’s relationship with Roger started out in a similar way to how one of my high school relationships started.

4.   Roger’s dog, Millie, is based on my first dog ever with the same name.

5.   I love to antique! A lot of the antiques in the shop were inspired by real things I’ve seen or read about over the years.

6.   The idea of “collecting memories” in a fantasy world came to me as I passed by a cemetery on my way to work one day.

7.   My grandmother, Mary, died before she got to read this book, so I wanted to find a way to remember her. Her favorite flower was a daisy and one of my favorite memories was planting daisies with her. There was never any other name I entertained for the protagonist.

8.   I wrote the first two chapters of Strange Luck and then abandoned it or forgot about it for some reason. About a year later I was cleaning files on my computer and found the story and decided to finish it.

9.   I literally chose from over 100 cover designs for this book. I couldn't be happier with the result :)

10.  The Nameless world was inspired by Fantastica from The Neverending Story (book and movie) and The Labyrinth (movie).

Bonus: This book was fueled by cappuccino's and chocolate...and I enjoyed every tasty minute of it. 

Now you share! What are some secrets from your favorite books?

TBT Writer - Good Ideas, Sometimes

It's #TBTWriter! Time to share some funny pics and things I wrote back in the day. If you’ve got a writing throwback, post it with this hashtag so we can all read your story.

When I was ten, we were given a class assignment to write our own short stories, draw the illustrations, and even include a dedication inside a bound book. The completed book would then be given to our parents during parent/teacher night and our parents would write us a letter telling us what they thought. Creative writing was my absolute favorite subject in school, but I had completely forgotten I made this book until my mom recently sent it to me. Now, I'm sharing it with you!

Oh la la!

Here she is. My first book! Check out the intricate hand-drawn cover art. Fancy, I know!

I just about fell out of my chair laughing when I read this. If you can't read my handwriting it says, "I dedicate this book to my brother "Scott" who helps me get good ideas for writing sometimes!" Not all the time, only sometimes! Ha ha ha. And, apparently I felt pretty strongly about this claim given the exclamation mark. This is so funny I just might have to do the same dedication in my next book.

My stories were all about sweets and animals. Big surprise! I'm curious why I starred the picture/story of the ice cream cone. Perhaps because dessert is my favorite meal of the day :) If you haven't read my TBTWriter story about an ice cream sundae, get ready to laugh.

And no book is complete without an About the Author section. Check out more of those fancy shapes and oh la la, a hand-drawn book in the middle. Aside from my last name and where I live now, pretty much all of my interests have remained exactly the same, especially the "she loves writing, music, and art" component.

Then, I came across this letter from my mom after she read my "book."

"You may become an author someday." Wow! I had no idea that my family saw that kind of potential in me back then. Writing was just something that I always enjoyed, but I never imagined I would write books one day. 

And this is me and my bro...and we're obviously up to no good.

Don't forget to check out my other #TBTWriter stories and pics:

• Confessions of a Sugarholic
• A Nine-Year-Old's First Horror Story

What did you think of my first book, or the weird dedication? Do you have something from way back when you'd like to share with the world? Post your comments below.

Visiting Real Book Locations

I recently discovered a super cool app ~ Squirl. The app bridges the gap between books and the real world. The places you pass by become portals into the stories unfolding right where you are standing. What exactly does this mean? The app pinpoints actual places in a book so you can go and visit them. How cool is that???

                                        

As soon as I watched the above video I signed up and input the coordinates for Strange Luck. I also included excerpts from the book that describe the locations. If you venture out that way, I'd love to hear from you. Enjoy!

The Nightmare Birds Update - Book II in the Strange Luck Series

Now that the first draft of The Nightmare Birds is complete and editing is underway (hooray!), I thought I'd give you a quick update on what to expect in Book II in the Strange Luck series. Enjoy!

TBT Writer - Ooey Gooey Chocolatey Goodness

It's #TBTWriter! For the past two months, I've shared some stories I wrote back in the day. My favorite so far is my first horror story I wrote when I was nine. Don't know why I thought a bald man was the most terrifying thing in the world, but it certainly adds to the fun. Pics of crimped side ponytails, uneven bangs, and hot pink spandex do, too (gotta love the 90s). I have quite an embarrassing collection of pics that would make a nice addition to Awkward Family Photos, but I haven't gotten there yet. Someday.

Te he he he...

Anyway, since Valentine's Day is coming up I thought I'd combine the TBT concept with a delicious recipe from way back when - a recipe that I entered into my high school's dessert contest and won! If you're looking for something yummy and sweet to make for V-day, or just for yourself because you deserve it, check out the irresistible recipe below.

YUM!

Chocolate Revel Bars

1 cup margarine or butter
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups quick oats
1 1/2 cups semisweet or dark chocolate chips
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

In a mixing bowl, beat the 1 cup margarine/butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add about half the flour, the brown sugar, eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, and the baking soda. Beat until thoroughly combined. Beat in the remaining flour. Stir in the oats.

In a medium saucepan combine chocolate pieces, sweetened condensed milk, and the 2 tablespoons margarine/butter. Cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in nuts and remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Press two-thirds of the rolled oats mixture into the bottom of an un-greased 15x10x1 inch baking ban. Spread chocolate mixture over the oat mixture. Using your fingers, dot remaining oat mixture over chocolate.

Bake at 350 for approx. 20-25 mins or until the top is lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Enjoy with a tall glass of milk.

I've made these chocolate revel bars a couple of times since the contest and they are consistently delicious. 

High school me with my first pug puppy. RIP Gomer :(

Have an old school recipe, story, or pic you want to share? Post below :) I respond to all comments.

TBT Writer - Confessions of a Sugarholic

It's Throw Back Thursday (TBT)! If you're a writer, I invite you to share something you wrote way back when and/or a pic of yourself. Bad stories happen. It's part of the journey of becoming a better writer. Whether you wrote a bad story when you were eight or twenty eight, embrace it with laughter. :) Don't forget to use #TBTWriter when you post. If you're a reader, enjoy the hilarity.

And now...for my bad story. For those of you who don't know, I have a major sweet tooth (especially for chocolate). I could eat an entire four course meal and miraculously have room for dessert. It's a special skill, I know (*hold for applause). Anyway, for this month's TBTWriter, I thought I'd share a hilarious story I wrote when I was eight-years-old about ice cream. Hey, I was eight! What could've possibly been more important? And of course, I included photos.

Gotta love fashion in the 90s!

An editor's nightmare.

The Ice Cream Sundae Was Good

The ice cream sundae that cost $20.00 was fantastic. It was nice and cold like snow. I could almost taste all of the wonderful flavors with the hot fudge and caramel drowning the multi-colored toppings. On top of that was the creamy, white whipped cream, circling around that were bits of Reese's peanut butter cups all crumbled up. My favorite part was the ruby red cherry on top. All of this was piled high. The smell was cool and creamy. Just looking at it almost hypnotized me. Waiting still for the lady to let me eat it, I felt the hardness of the uncomfortable chair that I was sitting in. Finally it was time. I asked for the biggest spoon and I took a huge mouthful of the ice cream. The word "yes!" ran through my mind. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. Now I think you know why it cost $20.00!

Some things never change.

Don't forget to check out my other #TBTWriter stories and pics:

• Good Ideas, Sometimes!
• A Nine-Year-Old's First Horror Story
• A Sparkling Dog Named Millie

What did you think of my silly story? Do you have something from way back you'd like to share with the world?

TBT Writer - A Nine-Year-Old's First Horror Story

Throwback Thursday (TBT) is awesome! It's fun, and often hilarious, to see what people used to look like and who they were. But, for this TBT let's mix it up a bit...

Wouldn't it be kinda neat if writers shared their old pics? Maybe holding a pen for the first time or even writing in a journal? Wouldn't it be cool if your favorite authors shared some of their very first stories...like when they were in grade school? 

If you're a writer, I invite you to share something you wrote way back when and/or a pic of yourself. Don't forget to use #tbtwriter when you post. If you're a reader, let's see how many of your favorite authors we can get to share. I would personally love to see Neil Gaiman back in the day. :) 

To kick off #tbtwriter, I present mini-me and my very first horror story I wrote when I was nine (which has been edited for ubiquitous typos). Enjoy!

The House Was Old and Abandoned 

As I was walking down the street, I turned into a court. I walked to the middle house, then stopped. I saw an ugly, broken house. It was blackish and grayish, and the house had a gate circling around it that was yellowish. I stepped inside the yard. I saw an old rotted oak tree and a tire was leaning against it. The grass, well it wasn't really grass, it was a few dozen weeds. Also, I saw concrete steps that had been covered by weeds that were leading to the house. I followed the steps to the porch, then I saw a weird creature looking at me. I almost screamed cause I thought it was real, but it wasn't, it was just a statue. After that, I saw a huge door. It had a giant knocker. I knew no one was there so I entered. The door handle almost fell off in my hand, then I encouraged myself to be brave and go in, so I did.

I saw a bunch of wood chips scattered everywhere, and spiders that had made homes out of it. I also saw a Persian rug that had lost some of its color. I walked over to the staircase. It was long and twisted, with a carpet that covered the staircase. The carpet had lost its color and turned gray. I climbed up the stairs. When I got to the top I had counted 45 stairs. Where I was standing I saw hundreds of doors that were an ugly red color. I went to the second door on the right and opened it. I saw all kinds of old-fashioned furniture that was torn up and the stuffing was coming out. The floor was made out of wood that was missing a few boards. I turned my head. On the wall I saw a picture of someone that was bald and a huge Indian head dress. The wall paper had strange designs that looked like a triangle stacked on a square, stacked on an ant shape. Then I saw a table missing a leg. On it was a book. I walked over to it. It was a picture book of the people that used to live there long ago. It was weird. I even saw a bald guy.

I decided I wanted to leave and find some other interesting things, then I heard a strange noise. It scared me half-to-death (in the original I wrote half-to-deaf). I ran out the door, came to the stairs. I thought it was too long to walk, so I slid down the rail. "Boom!" I reached the bottom, hopped up, and ran out the strange door. I almost tripped going down the stairs, but I managed to keep my balance. I ran out the gate and started to walk home cause I was out of breath. Then, as I was leaving, I saw a strange thing look at me through the window and gosh, I think it was bald!

Puppy Preschool, Writing Fuel, Krampus, and Masterpiece Theater

So much happened this week, so I thought I'd share some highlights. 

My puppy, Loki, graduated puppy preschool. He'll be starting puppy kindergarten on Monday, followed by a therapy dog class. I'm a proud parent :)

We got our first snow flurries of season. Yay! Yes, I'm one of those annoying people who loves the snow. Keep in mind, I haven't seen snow in over 5 years.

I finished writing Chapter 6 of my new novel, The Nightmare Birds. I couldn't have done it without my best friends - chocolate and caffeine. My new book is part of the Strange Luck series. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing to already have your cover design picked out when you haven't even finished writing the book. :)

Two of my latest interviews went live this week with Awesome Gang and Book Goodies. You can learn more about what I'm currently working on, my writing quirks, and advice to aspiring authors.

So I guess they make Krampus ornaments now.

Lastly, if you haven't watched Mr. Selfridge yet on Masterpiece Theater, you're missing out on the new Downton Abbey!