An Epiphany of sorts or why Julee hasn't blogged this week

 

Definitions of epiphany (n)

e·piph·a·ny [ i píffənee ]   

1. sudden realization: a sudden intuitive leap of understanding, especially through an ordinary but striking occurrence
2. appearance of god: the supposed manifestation of a divine being 

• Encarta World English Dictionary
• See full definition 

No, it is not the rapture. I'm not that important. Really. It's nothing that difficult or earth shattering.

First, I've not been feeling well, but there is a potential solution in the works. I had a CAT scan earlier in the week that showed I'm not a hypochondriac, there really was an infection in an upper sinus that kept reinfecting me. If this round of antibiotics doesn't work, surgery may be involved. It would be a relief to have a solution.

Second, I had two bad reviews. Now, I won't rail against the contest judges, because I've revised my work since I entered it. Also, because they were right. They brought up two points I hadn't thought about. We live with our characters, sometimes 24/7. I know my hero is a dick, his nickname at the Naval Academy was Will the Dick. He's trying to do better to win the heroine, he's trying to live up to his potential, BUT those people reading it cold didn't get that. One freaked when from his POV, I mentioned he looked at the heroine's sister's boobs. She said twice, did this mean he was looking for a little action with both sisters. My first reaction was to get upset--that wasn't what I intended at all! But, I wasn't upset at the reviewer, I was upset that I hadn't made it clear. When I settled down, I mentioned it to my husband and he laughed, saying, "Honey, after 23 years of marriage, I admit I look at other women's breasts. If you had a sister, I would look at hers. Sorry."

My response was, "I know! That was what I was trying to say. If I'm writing from a guy's point of view...." Then, a very sensible friend reminded me that the reader was looking at it from a romance reader's side and not everyone likes that their husband/character/brother/etc. is a perv. So, this morning, I added a couple of sentences where Will realizes he will have to be more discrete than in the past, will have to convince Lizzy she will be his last and moved that forward.

The second criticism involved the opening, which I'd totally changed from the contest entry. The judge asked why my heroine didn't just call the ambulance and police herself, when she thought her sister's drink was drugged? I realized I started the scene a little too late, in my effort to start it as close to the action as possible. So, yesterday, I put in a few lines casting doubt the drink had been drugged and about the argument with this sister on the way down to the bar. Again, moving some of the information forward for the reader.

I did write a brief thank you email and sent it to the contest coordinator. I also worked on another story I've got plotted and I'd say 75% written. I hadn't looked at it for a few months, so I could see it with fresh eyes. I'll work on it a little more and submit it to another contest to see what else we can find that I didn't see, having known these characters for so long.

So, my lesson here, folks, is not to blog your immediate reaction. Chillax, think it through. Realize they may have something you need to know. Set it aside and think. Make your writing better by seeing it through someone else's eyes.

Even more music old and new

Okay, after I figured out Rhapsody, I got to deal with eMusic. I had a bazillion little gift cards for free music from flash drives I'd purchased, but when I tried to use one, I got stopped. It was finally determined I'd signed up for a free trial in 2007, but didn't use it because at that time, they didn't have anything I wanted. After a half dozen emails, which I printed out (respect my paranoia!), I finally got them to say they'd credit my account for $17.50, IF I would sign on again. One more email where they said oops, we forgot to tell the computer it was okay for you to use the same credit card number and I still had to call customer service.

Long story short, the emails disappeared (were recalled) and suddenly, it was if I "bought" the $11.99 month, they'd "give" me the next month free on June 22nd. Really freaking weird, but I cut my losses, because I didn't want to $#%& with it any more.

So, wanna hear what I got?  These are the YouTube links:

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Lady Gaga - Poker Face (Video Oficial)

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

N Sync - Bye Bye Bye

Orleans - Dance With Me

Head East- Never Been Any Reason

RIGHT TIME OF THE NIGHT - JENNIFER WARNES {TOMA'S TIMELESS TUNES # 1385}

The Clash- Should I stay or should I go

Donny Osmond - Soldier of Love

QUEEN & DAVID BOWIE: Under Pressure

Moby ft. Gwen Stefani - Southside

Crowded House - Something So Strong

Lone Justice Ways to be wicked

We Are All Made Of Stars Moby

Mariah Carey - Honey

Johnny Rivers - Swayin' To The Music (Slow Dancin')

Johnny Rivers - Baby I Need Your Lovin'

Because, baby, I was BORN this way! More tunes to listen to while writing. What are your favorites?

Follow Friday and my first attempt at poetry in almost thirty years

Hey, welcome! Let's take care of some business, then I have some stuff for you to laugh at.
This week's question is:
If you could spend a day with any author, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Please join me in welcoming MG Ainsworth of  Writing After Nine with this week's answer:

I consider myself fortunate that I've had an entire week to think about this because it's a difficult decision. There are many wonderful authors I admire and would like to meet. I considered Jane Austen, Dr. Seuss, Edgar Allan Poe and J.R.R. Tolkien as deceased authors and living authors included J.K. Rowling, Charlaine Harris, Nora Roberts and Chelsea Handler who would provide a most entertaining day, I'm sure.

After much deliberation Nora Roberts is the winner. Not only are her books in the Three Sisters Island, Key, Born In, In the Garden and Circle trilogies amongst my favorites, I also admire her work ethic and dedication to writing as a profession. While I don't read all of her books since I am more interested in those with an urban fantasy or paranormal vibe I admire her ability to write books across multiple genres and for different audiences.

She embodies being an Author as a profession. She once stated "you don't find time to write. You make time. It's my job." She spends her weekdays in an office writing and releases several novels a year with great reviews. I dream of being at the point where I am not finding time to write but making time, and I find I am make much more progress when I take this approach carving out hours dedicated to writing.

She has also uttered the words that have inspired me most as a writer both to start writing and to continue despite obstacles from self doubt to exhaustion:

"You can fix anything but a blank page"

I would like to spend a day with her not only because I admire her works but because she has some real insight into the writing process and inspires me as an Author to keep writing.

My answer to the question would probably be Kris Rusch. In science fiction circles, she writes under Kristine Katheryn Rusch, ran Pulphouse Publishing, edited The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and her romances are published under Kristine Grayson. We had her as a Guest of Honor at a science fiction my husband and I ran several years ago and I think we were sisters with other parents. Her blog and webpage (

The Business Rusch: Surviving The Transition (Part One) | Kristine Kathryn Rusch

She's married to Dean Wesley Smith and his is extremely helpful too.) are brilliant in alerting writers, new and established of what is going on now in the industry. She also loves kitties and cross-stitch, so there you go. It would be a fun and informative day!

Now, the rules:

Follow this blog. Please and thank you.

Answer the question on your blog and post the featured author’s response.

Follow, follow, follow! This is about networking, so if someone stops by your site, return the favor and check out their blog to say hi back with a comment. You might find a new follower or two.

Follow Elizabeth Sharp, the originator of this hop. This is also where you get the image code for the blog hop and add your name to the link at the bottom of her post while you’re there. http://somesharpwords.blogspot.com/2011/05/yay-blog-hops-back.html

Follow the featured author of the week:, MG Ainsworth

So, Bad News Poetry Contest! at

Rant and Ramblings from a Literary Agent, Rachelle Gardner, has a

http://networkedblogs.com/i5OSE

Here is my entry:

Abject depression

From your rejection.

What's an author to do?

It's not what you need.

Did you even read?

My heart and head are blue.

So I'll wallpaper my bathroom

With what doesn't belong in a classroom

Since it was a form letter you sent.

And go back to revising

My work and reprising

The rejection on my blog where I vent.

Not bad for less than ten minutes, huh?

Yet Another Learning Experience

Over the past few weeks, I've been working with Rhapsody and eMusic to try to buy some songs I haven't been able to get individually, either by buying the CD or at the library. I had a bunch of eMusic coupons from different flash drives purchased and I bought a $10 Rhapsody gift card for $7.50 at Big Lots the other day. I have my music list sorted and printed out, so I tackled Rhapsody today.

The website isn't really user friendly for those of us who weren't born with a mouse in our hands. To be honest, my first computer class was over thirty years ago (I'm *cough* old!), but years of teaching skills for a previous job, I've got some game. Our HP we got late last year had the software installed, though there were no instructions that you had to go to a separate log in to enter your credit card information and the gift card number. "Peggy" from tech support was very helpful and I only had to ask him to repeat a few things.

In my efforts to try to get things correct, I didn't take advantage of the "listen free for 30 seconds" deal and paid/downloaded a live version of "Couldn't Get It Right" by Climax Blues Band. It wasn't heinous, like Head East's "Never Been Any Reason" I bought in error last year (really, there are times retro bands should NOT go on tour), but still it pissed me off. Won't be doing that again, right? And I got two versions of "Firework" by Katy Perry, one "unedited." Can't tell the difference, but there you go.

So, some old, some new, some country, some, well, blue. Let's see if these YouTube links work--I think you have to hit Ctrl+Enter or it will give you the link to cut and paste. Let me know. And let me know what you think of my diverse interests.  Pretty good for an old fart, huh?  Next time, eMusic!

Gretchen Wilson - When I Think About Cheatin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBzC7p1ZOnA  Gretchen Wilson “Here for the Party”

Katy Perry - Firework

Outkast i like the way you move

Lady Gaga - Paparazzi

Swing Out Sister - Stoned Soul Picnic (Studio)

Weather Girls - It's Raining Men Video

Sugarland & Little Big Town Life In a Northern Town

I Could Not Ask For More - Edwin McCain Official Music Video

Andy Gibb - I Just Wanna Be Your Everything

Jermaine stewart we don't have to take our clothes off. Top

Heart of the Night - Poco

Soundgarden - Burden In My Hand

Jody Watley - Looking For A New Love

Pebbles - Giving You The Benefit

Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love

Wanna be startin somethin?

Okay, a loooong time ago, I spent two hellish summers taking typing classes.  Yes, I'm old.  We loved the IBM Selectrics, but hated the Royal manuals.  My brother gave me an electric typewriter for Christmas/birthday/graduation that lives out in the garage as we speak, that got a hell of a lot of use.  One of the major things I learned from Mr. Donham was to double space after each period, each sentence, actually. 

I'm doing it now.  It's a habit I've had ingrained for a loooong time. 

Have you noticed, when you post on a blog, a board or Facebook, it's changed to only one space between sentences?  Have you really looked at a book published in the past oh, say, eight years or so and seen that there is only one space between sentences?  Go ahead, look and come back.  We have more to discuss. 

Okay, Smack Upside of the Head for Today: "Using a single space means that you understand that technology has changed since the decades ago when you first used to type." --Alissa Walker, in "Good Design Daily: Do You Double Space After Periods?"

http://www.good.is/post/good-design-daily-do-you-double-space-after-periods/ 

Walker references http://www.slate.com/id/2281146/ by Farhad Manjoo, who has gotten almost 1,000 posts, some hateful and angry that she even makes the suggestion we should change.  Current style manuals and typographers are clear that the one space rule should be, well, a rule and still folks are adamant that they won't change. 

Or, as my good friend Pam Asberry put it when she posted this recently:  "Don't hate me.  I'm just the messenger."  http://pamasberry.blogspot.com/

Now, these posts give the reason we put the extra space in--typewriters used monospace fonts, where each letter took up the same space.  With these big, fancy computers, the proportional fonts used automatically adjusts the space, because the lower case "i" uses less space than a lower case "m."  When you have a sentence starting with a "W," it truly looks better to have that extra space in there with some fonts.  I can't tell you how much time I spent line editing when I changed fonts on my completed manuscript, because it was easier to see if I had one, two or three spaces between sentences. 

But, earlier this week, I took the advice above and did "Find and replace" for periods, exclamation points, question marks and quotation marks on my 518 page "Seven Days."  When I finished, I looked at the bottom and saw it had gone down to 512 pages.  SIX PAGES (yes, I meant to yell) of extra spaces between sentences. 

Think about it.  That seriously affects your word count.  When it gets scanned in to whatever program, it'll get automatically switched to one space between sentences anyway.  Your angry Comments will be published with only one space between sentences, no matter how hard you pound that space bar twice. 

In other words, this is yet one more thing that has to change, needs to change.  Don't know about you, but I particularly hate change, even though it is often for the good.  Six pages I don't have to sweat over cutting works for me and it was simple to do.  I won't miss those extra spaces and I'll bet you won't either.  If you want to keep typing them, that's fine, just remember to do your search and replace at the end.  You'll get a more accurate word count and take a giant step forward toward what your computer already knows anyway.  And as Pam says, you can teach this old dog some new tricks. 

All about the covers

Spending an afternoon chasing interesting links on Facebook, I found an interesting article on The Romance Book Club page, called "Off with Their Heads:  Cropped Figures in Romance Cover Art," by Mary Anne Landers.  Here is the link and I'll wait if you want to look at it, but come back please, because I'd like to discuss it:

http://theromancebookclub.com/main-blog/2011/5/6/off-with-their-heads-cropped-figures-in-romance-cover-art.html?lastPage=true#comment12835765

Good article, huh?  We had this discussion on the science fiction fan side a few months back, because there is a dramatic change in trends in cover art.  I grabbed three books to illustrate the discussion on the romance trends:

This is what they were discussing in the article and the comments--the generic sort of picture/painting that gives an impression of a time and heroine or couple.  She's holding holly and it's snowing outside.  It's a long dress, so it could be Regency or Victorian.  I think this cover model has blond hair where the light reflects it, but if you look on the left side of the painting, the curl over her shoulder is brown.  All bases are covered, as we don't have to worry about the wrong eye color.   There's no information about the cover artist or designer for this Kensington/Zebra book and it is the author's fifth book apparently.  The dress is light in color, so the title and author's name are easy to read.  The only blurb is in small print, saying "She's all he wants...."  This would be a good choice for an e-book cover too, as the tiny image would show well. 

This is a debut novel and getting a good cover blurb is a real coup, so up in the top corner is "'Brims with clever wit and repartee.' --Nicole Jordan, New York Times Bestselling author."  In between the title and the author's name is, "England's most eligible bachelor has finally met his match."  This is from the Forever imprint for Hachette and the back gives "Cover design by Diane Luger, Cover art by Jim Griffin, Handlettering by Ron Zinn."  I usually have a problem with ornate script on a cover for a title, but it is in a print on the binding and it's readable.  So, this one shows the faces of both the hero and heroine (love me some matchmaker romance!), but their eyes are closed.  Moderate level of sensuality, with a hero losing his shirt and the dress artistically dropping off the shoulder.  Oh and the strategically placed hand and pretty blush.  So, what do you think?  The hero model is tasty, but not necessarily my type and I can tell you for sure I don't look anything like the model for the heroine.  Would that affect my reading pleasure?  Probably not, unless they had reference to a wrong hair color inside or something.  Impressive for a first time author, though.

This is one from an established author and a pretty big name.  It's from 2005 and the wonderful Lisa Kleypas (she dedicates it to Christina Dodd, another favorite) and Avon is her publisher.  No information about the cover artist, but they did double duty, because this one garners a "step-back" cover, with a shirtless hero and fully dressed heroine in the garden.  I'm about half-way through this one and they kissed in the garden, but I believe the artist took some liberties.  Just sayin'.  Again, the closed eyes, so they avoid that issue. 





Between the second cover inside, metallic on the top of the outside cover and raised lettering, there were major bucks spent.  Did I buy it because of the cover?  No.  It was one on my list of the author's I didn't have.  Does the virginal heroine show too much cleavage?  Yeah, but points for the pretty boy hero checking it out.  The garden plays a minor part in the story, so there you go.

During my years as a bookstore manager, they began the practice with a Danielle Steel book (don't remember which one, sorry) of releasing the new titles with her name in large font, a small bit of art and then in two different color covers.  It was cool if you could alternate the colors in the rack.  It kind of drew the eye, though sometimes one color sold better than the other or the publisher sent only one for the initial release, then you had to figure out they were the same book later when you got restocked.  I still remember one of my smart-assed clerks telling one of the customers when she had both color covers in her hand that the pink one was the happy ending and the blue one was the sad one.  When she started toward the cash register with the two copies, I made him apologize.  We laughed about it when we were sure she was out of the store. 

I also remember the huge scandal when a Joanna Lindsay book on the bestseller list had a painting showing what was obviously a man's very fine naked buttocks, with the naughty bits hidden by a bush or the heroine's skirt or something.  We did have one complaint about it, from a concerned mother, since it was at the front of the store.  I have to admit, I sometimes made fun of the improbable or shall we say probably embellished models in that Fabio era.  Somehow, I don't think those Scottish lords in the Highlands shaved their chests.  I know the Regency era heroines did not wear eyeliner. 

So, what do you think about the cover trends?  Do you prefer a generic cover, without a clear portrayal of the characters so you can visualize yourself and your dream man as you read?  Or do you want to know what they look like?  Or do you think it will matter less as you get to read on your Kindle or Nook the first chapter? 

The first person who expresses interest and sends me their address (juleejadams@gmail.com) will get the copy of Christmas with the Duchess.  I'm embarrassed to say it's a duplicate.  Oops. 

Follow Friday and some amusing links

Let's take care of business, then we'll check out some amusing and informative links from this week.  Because I live to be amusing!

This week's question is:What moment has validated you and made you feel like a writer? If it hasn't happened yet, what do you think it will be?
Please join me in welcoming VK Tremain with this weeks answer.

There were a few things that combined made me feel like a writer; however, it all started when I sat down at the computer and wrote the first words of GIFT OF BLOOD. The act in itself was so fulfilling and addictive that I began to identify as a writer. As my story continued to develop, my character's world followed suit, and their voices in my head urged me to write on.My addiction grew with each word I typed. The nail in the coffin was when I started my VK Tremain Facebook page, blog, and Twitter account. By that point I already acknowledged myself as a writer, but through social media I put myself out there. The public would see me as a writer, and I risked rejection and disinterest. To my delight, the opposite happened. I was encouraged! For that, I have to thank the members in the HP Writers Group, who are awesome and wonderfully supportive, as well as the incredible feedback through blog comments and my Twitter and Facebook friends. After so many years of searching, I had finally found my path in my life.I am content even if I never reach celebrity status or get offered a publishing deal. I am a writer because, quite simply, I write. Some of my earliest memories consist of me curled up, lost in a paperback. My dream is that one-day I will have the honor to pay it forward and give that feeling to other readers. Whether I ever get paid or not doesn’t matter. I write for the love of my characters and for the world that I have created. I write for self-expression, and I write to entertain. Hopefully, one day, I will get that big paycheck that everyone thinks writers receive. I will live in luxury, sipping martinis in my beachfront property as I tap away on my laptop. Hey a girl can dream, right? But in the mean time all I want is to share my love, passion and creativity.I can't imagine not writing now; it’s a part of who I am.

Julee here.  What moment validated me and made me feel like a writer?  I honestly don't know--I've written since grade school and written novel-length romance on and off since 1991.  I think it was the judge from Romance Writers of America (back when they did such things) who gave me her agent's name and address.  Now, if I'd only followed up on it.  But, like V.K., it's a part of who I am and I want to share my stories. 

So, would you like to join the Blog Hop?  Here are

The rules

1. Follow this blog.
2. Follow Elizabeth Sharp, the originator of this hop http://somesharpwords.blogspot.com/
3. Follow the featured author of the week, VK Tremain  http://vktremain.blogspot.com/.
4. Go to Sharp words and copy the image code found there and paste it in your blog. Add your name to the link at the bottom of the post while you are there.
5. Copy and paste the rules in your blog, as well as this week’s question.
6. Answer the question
7. Follow, follow, follow. This is about networking, people, making connections with people in your community. So talk to us. We don't bite!
8. If someone stops by, says hi and follows you, the polite thing to do is follow back.
9. Comment here and introduce yourself and you just might find a new follower or two.

It's fun and I've met some great folks!

Now, the first link is to an essay on the Writers Beware! site by Victoria Strauss for those authors lucky enough to get invited to sign a contract with an agent. 

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/04/interminable-agency-clause.html

Even more information is included in the amazing Kris Rusch site:

http://kriswrites.com/2011/05/04/the-business-rusch-advocates-addendums-and-sneaks-oh-my/

Here's the link for the equally amazing Neil Gaiman's recent trials with a Wisconsin legislator who doesn't understand the concept of a speaker's fee:

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2011/05/neil_gaiman_matt_dean_pencil_neck_weasel.php

and the link for the New York Times article on the sort of apology.  *sigh*

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/legislator-apologizes-for-calling-neil-gaiman-a-weasel/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Finally, happy Mother's Day for all of you out there.  I am only a mama cat and my mama, Clara Maude, passed in March of 2004, but I'll fix something for my mother-in-law, because she's a great lady.