It's Earth Day!

So, as it states on Wickipedia...

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in held on April 22, 1970.

In my own way I hop to inspire you all to take care of our wonderful planet by showing you a few lovely pictures of our beaches, trees, sunsets, oceans, forests, and farms.

So, now that you're inspired...*grin*

Don't forget to plant a tree today! And as always reduce, reuse, and recycle!!

Goal Setting - Killjoy or Rocket Booster?

Writing is a creative act that requires letting your mind roam free in imagination. Goal setting, in contrast, seems a mundane task that makes me feel like I’m wearing concrete boots.

But in January of this year, I joined an Accountability group. Yes, it sounds a little dull, but it’s a way for a group of writers to band together and encourage each other to find the initiative and self-discipline to work at what is, by definition, a solitary pursuit. We each hope not only to hone our craft, but also to keep our noses to the grindstone with the ultimate taskmaster – ourselves.

How does it work? Each week, we set daily and weekly goals. We also have long term goals and quarterly goals, which are essential in thinking about what we want to accomplish overall. But I find it is the daily and weekly goals that motivate me best. Every day, when I look at my goals, I know what I’ve decided I want to accomplish that day. There is no pushing it off to tomorrow. If I want to get my smiley face for the day, I might as well do it now. (Okay, I would rather say I’ll work for champagne or chocolate, but hey, I work for smiley faces.)

There’s a tremendous amount of self-discipline required. After all, I could tell the group I accomplished my goals every day. They won’t know the difference. But then, why bother being in the group? The only one I’m cheating is myself. It feels much better to be honest and to gain the self-satisfaction of checking things off my list. The group is there for support, not judgment. But I have been nudged a couple times, very gently, and it works.

We’re still new to each other, and we have a tendency so far to not call each other out on our goals. I think that’s good. We don’t know what’s going on in the other person’s life. In time, we may get more assertive. I don’t know. There’s a fine balance between setting goals that are so aggressive that one gives up in defeat, and goals that are so easy to meet that they don’t challenge us to be as productive as possible.

This system works for me. I’ve increased my word count substantially. Equally as important, I’ve become much better about doing the writing-related goals that I personally like to procrastinate on. These include all the business related aspects of being an author – website updating, reading craft books, participating in workshops, etc.

I think of goal setting as a way to tether my feet to the ground so my mind can roam free, but return to earth with something solid in hand. If you want your writing to provide a livelihood, then prosaic things like effective websites, meeting deadlines and paying attention to the realities of commercializing your product are all things you need to pursue with a focus more practical than fanciful.

Being in an accountability group has definitely boosted my productivity. Do any of you have other methods you use to get yourself to be as productive as possible?

Guest - Wynter Daniels: Distraction or Inspiration?

Today we have as our special guest Dara Edmondson/ Wynter Daniels. Welcome!

Dara Edmondson began making up stories as soon as she could speak. She started working on her first novel in college - a mystery. But she soon realized the collegiate life involved way more than books, so she spent the rest of her time there partying.

When the writing bug bit her again years later, she tried her hand at many different fiction genres from Young Adult to comedy to erotic romance. She has authored books for several publishers, most recently under the pen name Wynter Daniels. She currently writes erotic romance for Ellora’s Cave (Tropic of Trouble), Loose Id (Playing with Barbie) and Red Sage (Can’t Stand the Heat). Older books are under her own name for such publishers as Red Sage (Captured) and The Wild Rose Press (The Kitten Club, Compromising Positions and Falling Star).

Now married with two nearly grown children and two spoiled cats, she writes full time. You can find her on the web at: www.WynterDaniels.com, and at www.NaughtyAuthorChicks.Blogspot.com and on Facebook as WynterDaniels.

Thanks to Nicole North for inviting me here today. If you’d like a chance to win a copy of my brand new story, Tropical Exposure, please leave a comment.

One question that friends and readers alike love to ask me is, “How do you come up with all those story ideas?” I have a pat answer to this question—from reading the newspaper and magazines. You see, I often get the kernel of an idea from a story about a woman in peril or a dignitary visiting the United States from some exotic land.

But when I thought about my latest release (my first from Ellora’s Cave), I realized there was no way I got the idea of a woman ending up on a tropical beach with two handsome bodyguards, the premise for the story. So I started thinking about where the spark for the idea came from. I couldn’t come up with a single clue. Regardless of how creative someone is, all story ideas originate somewhere. Anywhere.

Even from distractions. My two biggest distractions are my secret guilty pleasures—playing Scrabble on my computer and watching an occasional mindless reality show. Far as I know, I’ve never plucked a story premise from Scrabble. But one of my earlier books, Falling Star is about a grown up child star who is forced to accept a gig as star of her own reality show. So yeah, I might have gotten that idea from television.

The more I thought about my viewing habits, it hit me. The inspiration for Tropical Exposure was one of those movie star/socialites you see on the entertainment channels with a million flashes greeting them every time they leave a restaurant or go to the gym. I wondered how annoying that would be.

Hence the distraction yields inspiration. Check out the blurb for Tropical Exposure:

Megastar Marin Shay disappears from the radar a few weeks a year for a vacation from the pressures of Hollywood. This time, though, instead of the usual bodyguards she gets stuck with—beefy middle-aged men with bad breath and even worse comb-overs—she lucks into some scorching-hot eye candy.

Tony and Josh share the same objective—taking care if Marin in every way possible. And when she proposes they indulge her fantasy of a ménage a trois, both men are definitely eager to please.

There’s only one problem—one of them is really a tabloid reporter who could ruin everything.

Are you reminded of a certain pop princess? Okay, so honestly, only the character’s phenomenal celebrity is reminiscent of said princess. But that’s all it takes. This author takes the inspiring spark and runs with it. Did I mention when I was growing up all my dolls had back-stories? Even the stuffed animals had sordid lives. Perhaps my head has just always been filled with stories. Might explain why I daydreamed my way through school!

Okay—maybe I’m just weird. So what are your biggest distractions from work? Please leave a comment. I would love to send you a copy of Tropical Exposure!

Learn more about Tropical Exposure.

Visit Wynter's Website.

Guest - Summer Wilde : Non-Human Characters

Today we have as our special guest, Summer Wilde. Welcome Summer!

Despite my name, my favorite season is actually spring, when nature comes alive again, the farmer’s market begins, and the horses can graze. I wanted to be a large animal vet, but never got around to going to vet school. When not writing, I can be found riding my horses, or driving my yellow convertible with the radio up loud.

Readers constantly comment on my characters. Not the human ones. The four-legged ones. They seem a little surprised that the animal characters have a personality and are more than just a ‘reason for the heroine to be in the park’.

I am both pleased and puzzled by the comments. Pleased, because I want readers to appreciate my furry characters. Puzzled, because they seem surprised that the animals have character. Don’t they have a pet? Why does it seem strange that the dogs, cats, and horses in my books are more than just ‘props’. Ever since I can remember, animals have been part of my life. I grew up on a farm. Being an only child, the barn cats and dogs were my playmates. Currently, I have three horses, three cats, and a dog.

If you are an animal lover like I am, I’m sure you have your own collection of anecdotes. For instance, when I was a teenager, we were having a rather formal dinner party when my cat strolled around the corner dragging my Dad’s ‘whitey-tighties’ into the dining room. Talk about embarrassing!

I had an Aussie puppy that dragged a bag of grass seed all over – inside my barn. We had grass growing in there for what seemed like years. I have had two cats that like to be draped over my shoulders while I do dishes, type, or even vacuum. One of my palomino geldings thinks it is funny to hold on to a mouthful of water, then dump it on me.

Weaving animals into my stories is just as natural to me as putting in dialog. In my Red Sage novel, Ojeria’s Journey, an erotic fantasy, the warrior women of Handor can communicate telepathically with their war horses.

As a reader, I enjoy the story more when I realize the author is an animal person like I am. I seek those authors out to read again. If you like animals, a hot hero in leather pants, a heroine with a sword, and sizzling sex scenes, then you might enjoy Ojeria’s Journey, an e-novel available from Red Sage.

Does anyone out there notice the lack of animals on television shows? On the channels I get there are a million doctor, cop, and lawyer shows mixed with sitcoms, but I can't think of a single dog, cat, bear, horse, or dolphin....can you?

Summer Wilde

Learn more about Ojeria's Journey.

Heroes -- Men We Love and Love Watching

Even before I started writing romance fiction, I embraced reading about and watching heroes in movie theaters and on television. Something about those men who remained determined and courageous when facing danger and doom. Men who gave their utmost to save their loved ones and humanity whenever the need arose. I always remained riveted by their bravery and cunning as they revealed the same.

Yesterday my significant other suggested a movie he was certain I’d enjoy. He couldn’t have chosen better. From beginning to end I embraced the plot and characterization in THE POSTMAN. Kevin Costner’s performance was powerful, and I admired the way this movie succeeded in appealing to a masculine and feminine audience. It’s not often when a guy and girl agree on a movie’s impact, but this flick delivered drama, action and romance in perfect measure in my opinion. Not pithy or boring at any point, and I’m one who’s a fairly harsh critic when it comes to the end worth of a movie ticket or time spent watching at home. I cheered, laughed, cried and warmed all over during various moments while this story unfolded.

Here’s a bit for your viewing pleasure –



Later in the evening, I pondered some of my other favorite movie heroes found clips to share with you.

My ultimate favorite movie hero embodied justice and radiated appeal, all without removing a bit of clothing or flexing his muscles. Although the movie in which Atticus Finch was dealt an ultimate task of defending a controversial case wasn’t a romance, I believe he’s a man most women would admire and adore. Here’s a clip from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD –



A defender of the downtrodden is captured in the book and movie character, Tom Joad. Hemingway’s masterpiece, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, shows Henry Fonda in some of his finest acting moments as he isn’t afraid to go the distance when it comes to championing the cause of displaced Dust Bowl Okies and those whose hunger for food and hope for shelter seems doomed.



Tom Hanks shines as Forrest Gump—a man who rose above physical and mental handicaps to achieve goals, save lives, and start a lucrative business. He remained upbeat despite his tormenters and detractors and finds love and fathers a son with his best friend.



Who are some of your favorite movie heroes and what makes them memorable?

Wishing you many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Drilled--a new release by Regina Carlysle!

I couldn't resist blogging about my friend's new release, Drilled! Her books are always sizzling and this one is no different! i'll let her tell you all about it! :)

Remember when you were in high school and there were plenty of young guys your age but you just couldn’t take your eyes off the good looking, athletic senior? He was mature (yeah right…big eye roll). He was smooth and, in our young eyes, sophisticated and waaaay cool. We couldn’t resist the appeal of this guy who seemed to have his act together. We even wrote Mr. and Mrs. Super Cool Guy all over our notebooks and made sure to include little hearts all around it. Ahhh, the good old days.

As we matured into young women we still hankered after the man who had his act together. He was smart, well-educated, and often made a very good living. No, there’s not a thing wrong with that. The older man is sophisticated, fun to talk to, and sexually experienced. You know, interesting. There is major appeal to be found with someone to whom you can really talk, who doesn’t get into weird and confusing head games, who doesn’t judge you etc.

Now who is to say that young guys don’t have the same thoughts and feelings about this? Do you think the high school underclassman didn’t secretly lust after the senior head cheerleader? Of course he did. It’s natural to find self confidence and experience attractive. Perhaps that’s the reason Cougar stories have become so popular. Some of the most beautiful, exciting and interesting women in the world are over forty. They are living life large, confident in what they want and, ahem, in WHOM they want. Many mature women who aren’t anxious for entanglements have been there and done that with ‘relationships’. They instead want the freedom to have some fun. Not a thing wrong with it. Let’s be realistic here, mature men have been doing it for years.

And why wouldn’t a young man not find a more mature woman completely refreshing? He doesn’t have to worry about head games, biological clocks, hints of setting up housekeeping and future babies. He isn’t ready for that yet and often finds a mature, attractive woman just the kind of romantic partner that appeals. And of course there’s that whole ‘sexual peak’ thing.

I’m not advocating being a cougar. Not at all. It’s certainly not something that appeals to everyone. Just saying, to each his own and why can’t a mature, totally grown up woman look where she wants for fun and sexual fulfillment? It’s a brave new world out there. Embrace your maturity, your wit and wisdom, and reach for what you want.


DRILLED, my contribution to the Cougar Challenge series is available today at Ellora's Cave. For more information visit the Tempt the Cougar blog and read about all the other great stories in the series.


Buy It HERE!
Blurb:

A standalone story in the Cougar Challenge series.

Lori Donovan accepts the Cougar Challenge and pledges to snag a hot young stud, knowing it’ll be tough once she moves back to her Texas hometown. She expects barren plains and rattlesnakes but finds hunky Jackson Blue drilling for oil on her property instead. A driller. Hmm. Lori has a few ideas about that and just about all of them involve her poor, needy, sex-starved body.

Jackson takes one look at the curvy, sexy, older woman and puts his expertise into action. After all, drilling is what he does best. Against the wall, on the floor or in the middle of her bed, he’s the right man for the job. It’s a hot time in Texas when a tough, sexy drillin’ man meets a sassy cougar, and playing it safe just isn’t an option.

New Cover: Secrets Volume 29 Indulge Your Fantasies

I'm thrilled to have an awesome new book cover from Red Sage. I love it! What do you think?

Look for Beast in a Kilt in the Red Sage Secrets Volume 29 Indulge Your Fantasies, an erotic romance anthology to be released July 2010.

Beast in a Kilt: Scottish lady Catriona MacCain has loved Torr Blackburn, a fierce Highland warrior, since she was a young lass, but Torr only sees Catriona as his best friend’s little sister. When Catriona’s family promises her in marriage to a detestable chieftain, she desperately needs Torr to save her from a fate worse than death. But Torr is under the spell of a witch of the dark arts and is cursed to spend his nights as a kelpie water demon. He doesn’t believe himself worthy of the virginal Lady Catriona. However, she is determined to seduce Torr and claim him… body, heart and soul, if only they can banish the curse and defeat the enemies who have vowed to possess and enslave them both.

http://www.nicolenorth.com/