5 on Friday - Set 86

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

This week's set is about dreams coming true.

When I was younger, I rode the wave of creative expression with gusto. I acted, I sang, I danced, I stage managed, I operated camera, I assistant directed, I wrote, I directed.

I had no way of knowing what was in store for me. No one does. Life always throws curve balls at everyone's plans, and my life has been no exception.

I went through a lengthy period that really tested my resolve. Ultimately I have to say that life crushed my belief in dreams for a time.

Looking back, there must have been a tiny kernel of hope nestled somewhere among the ruins. Otherwise, why would I have kept trying?

Here's to the power of dreams. In only one year since regaining my belief in my own dreams, so much has changed for me. I wish the same for any of you who may be struggling with a similar lack of faith in dreams.

1 - Dream On - Aerosmith



2 - What You Waiting For - Gwen Stefani



3 - Making Our Dreams Come True - Cyndi Grecco



4 - When You Wish Upon a Star - Cliff Edwards



5 - A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Ilene Woods

Thursday Thirteen - 228 - 13 Things About Hosting A Harlequin Executive Editor at My Writers' Group

1 - A few weeks ago, my chapter of Romance Writers of America hosted a special event - Birgit Davis-Todd, Executive Editor at Harlequin Enterprises, gave an informative workshop and took story pitches from 20 of our members.

That's Birgit at right, next to YA author Renee Pace.













2 - Handling the hosting duties on behalf of our chapter, Annette MacPhee-Gallant, shown here at center, made a hectic schedule seem effortless.












3 - Also on the executive and a co-planner of the event, my good friend Kelly Boyce, shown at left.












4 - And rounding out the exec who pulled the weekend together, Michelle Helliwell in the green sweater, and -










5 - Donna Alward, in the foreground, wearing a blue printed blouse.












6 - First part of the event: a fabulous dinner at a Greek restaurant, Ela! in Halifax.












7 - I really enjoyed my scrumptious spanakopita with rice and salad, as well as a few glasses of pinot grigio. I'm sitting beside YA angel writer Shawna Romkey, who also happens to be one of the critique readers for my upcoming vampire novel.












8 - The next morning, we gathered bright and early to begin the writing all-day workshops and story pitches. Birgit gave a workshop with as much insider experience as one would encounter at the large, national RWA conference, like the one I attended this summer in New York.












9 - For some reason, on a beautiful, sunny September morning - no wind, no rain - the power went out. After a moment of blackness, the hotel's generator kicked in. Must have been a car running into a power pole, or some such thing.

Annette quickly made alternate lunch arrangements for 26 people without batting an eye. As it turned out, the power returned and we were able to keep our lunch reservations at the hotel restaurant, the Redwood Grill.










10 - This is a restaurant near the library where we hold our monthly meetings, so it's a familiar spot for our group. We don't normally descend in such numbers, however!













11 - For the afternoon session, Birgit set up in a meeting room and listened to timed story pitches from 20 members of our group. I realize Birgit's used to doing this by now - but still. My brain would implode after all of that.











12 - While the pitches were given in a separate meeting room, returning president Nikki Figueiredo, at right, led other activities - sharing our own 2-minute pitches of current projects, add-a-sentence stories and word-prompt writing.












13 - And guys - just in case you thought this chapter was a ladies' only outfit, meet Mark.

We've had several male writers join our group over the eight years I've belonged to RWAC.

Most stories have to be written from both the male and female characters' points of view, so it's a good idea to get a sense of what makes the opposite gender tick. I would love to see more men join groups like RWA, and likewise, it's a great idea for female writers to spend some quality guy time before returning to that male character they're writing.

Scorpius will return in 2 weeks

I'm currently in the home stretch of final edits on my vampire novel.

Scorpius will return as soon as I've sent the manuscript to the formatter. Thank you for your patience - hope to see you on Oct. 11th for the next instalment, as a 19-year-old Scorpius and his master Lord Thibault get into all sorts of trouble.

5 on Friday - Set 85

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

As I ready my vampire novel for its self-published debut in November, I can feel the heady rush that comes from being part of a publishing world revolution.

1 - Uprising - Muse

To watch the video, CLICK HERE


2 - Rebel Yell - Billy Idol




3 - Rebels of the Sacred Heart - Flogging Molly




4 - Rebel Rebel - David Bowie




5 - Revolution - The Beatles

Thursday Thirteen - 227 - 13 Things on My Self-Published To-Do List

1 - This picture of me sitting with Shawna Romkey, currently writing angel YA, was taken last Friday at a dinner to welcome Executive Harlequin Editor Birgit Davis-Todd to our local writers' group. I'll have more on her visit for next week's Thursday Thirteen.

It was a great weekend, and I had the usual light bulb moments go off in my head during Birgit's workshop, and also during the other workshops held while she took story pitches.

I didn't pitch anything - because I'm self-publishing and have a lengthy list of things to take care of. Birgit helps to steer a publishing corporation that sold $3.8 million dollars' worth of storytelling might in the last quarter. So far, I'm an entity of one juggling a myriad of jobs which publishers like Harlequin assign to departments filled with experienced professionals.

2 - So what have I been up to?

After my mega-revisions marathon over the Labor Day Weekend, I handed my manuscript to a final reader for story content, and to a proofreader/editor for style and technical adherence to publishing conventions.

Once they come back to me, I'll make any last adjustments to my manuscript.

3 - I sent a request for a quote to one of my favorite authors. Considering that she writes historical romance, I was nerve-wracked that she wouldn't want to give a quote for a book outside of her genre.

Now, to backtrack a bit - this writer is one of a handful of historical romance authors that are on my sigh-worthy list. She writes dark, passionate stories with truly tormented heroes.

I met her in blogworld before I read her books, so I felt comfortable sending her the request - I just wasn't sure whether my very dark vampire genre would be something for which she'd want to give a quote.

Imagine my delight when she got back to me with a totally rockin' author quote. I'll be putting it on my book cover and on my website. I'll be able to share once the cover is completed.

4 - I contacted my book cover designer, and he's been tweaking the layout for the wraparound cover, meaning the front cover/spine/back cover for the paperback hard copy.

5 - Still on my to-do list for the book cover: write a back cover blurb so enticing, it will raise sunken ships from the bottom of the sea.

6 - Also for the back cover: apply for an ISBN number. Did that on Wednesday.

7 - Start to formulate my dedication and acknowledgements page.

8 - Think about that all persons fictitious disclaimer page - you know the one: "All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental."

But I have to make sure it's in the final manuscript document, before it goes to the formatter.

9 - Write my author bio page.

10 - Get a physical agenda and start writing down which blog appearances are going to be on which day, once the promo tour begins.

I'll be honest - I'm going to be using the backs of returned instruction sheets and other re-usage paper from work. I've got a ton of it. Might as well use it for something.

11 - Once the formatted file is back, I'll be giving the final page count to the graphic designer so that he can calculate the width of the book spine. At that point we can upload the cover and the formatted document onto the Kindle and Create Space sites.

12 - Create Space will mail a proof copy of the paperback version out to me for final approval, before it gets locked into its Print On Demand format.

13 - Start spreading the 11 - 11 - 11 release date throughout the land.

Tuesday Serial / The Serialists - Scene 72

My Scorpius serial now posts on Tuesdays for Tuesday Serial.










I'm also posting with The Serialists which appears on Wednesdays.

To recap this dark fantasy story so far:

As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.

Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.

An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.

We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 72

Pulling free of her sleepy grip, Scorpius slid from under the covers, rummaging for his trousers.

His master lay sprawled in the arms of last night’s amusement, who now snored with indelicate persistence. The gray shadows warned of dawn. Time to be off.

Slipping outside to be sure the horses were saddled and ready, Scorpius returned to the slaves’ hut, ignoring the gaze of the older woman, now roused from her mat on the floor. She sat and watched him as he tapped Lord Thibault on the temple.

He hadn’t been able to make out whether she was the girls’ mother, or just someone who lived here with them. She said nothing as his master groaned loudly and stretched.

Neither girl awoke as Lord Thibault stumbled into his clothes, but the older woman’s gaze followed Scorpius as he prodded and cajoled his master to the door. As Lord Thibault shook the night off and placed his foot in the stirrup, Scorpius crept back to the woman’s side and knelt beside her.

“For your hospitality,” he said, placing a kerchief bundle in her hand. The aroma of spiced cakes filled the small space, bringing a surprised smile to the woman’s lips. Ducking out into the dew-heavy morning, Scorpius swung up into the saddle and nudged his horse forward with the heels of his boots.

Catching up with his master, Scorpius waited for the grin he knew Lord Thibault would flash at him.

“Determined to keep me on schedule,” his master said.

“If I do not, I shall catch it from the chancellor.”

“Remind me to somehow lace your drink with a sleeping draft next time, would you?”

“I shall do my best, my lord.”

“You shall do your best for the chancellor and not for your master,” Lord Thibault said, turning back to look at the slave hut with longing.

“He serves your house, as do I, my lord.” Scorpius had already pushed the slave girl from his mind. Her kisses and caresses had been ordered, making him long for their rooms and a hot bath.

“Can we refrain from mentioning my illustrious house, just at present?” Lord Thibault twisted back to gaze at the road that would take them home. “I shall be back in its clutches soon enough.”

They rode for a time in silence, the swaying gaits of their mounts the only thing to break the stillness of the morning.

“Do you know, when I first met you at the falconer’s, you gave no indication whatsoever that you would ruin lovely mornings like this one,” his master said.

Scorpius snorted derisively.

“And I went out of my way to find a sweet little thing for you to enjoy.”

“Your generosity is never in question, my lord. Merely your punctuality.”

“Who is asking for me at this time of day?” said Lord Thibault, sober realization dawning in his face.

“You take me for a fool, my lord?” Scorpius flicked his hair out of his eyes. “You shall find out only after I have you bathed and dressed.”

“Why did you let me drink so much? I feel like death.”

“You say you feel like death, and yet you repeat all the nights like last night,” Scorpius said. “Do you not tire of it?”

“Weren’t you drinking?” his master said. “Why do you look so presentable?”

“One of us has to keep his head.” His horse wanted to challenge his master’s, but that would not be tolerated as they neared the estate. He held his mount back to follow Lord Thibault’s horse just slightly.

“By the gods,” his master chuckled. “I’m a slave to my man.”

“You merely serve your house, my lord,” Scorpius said. “As do I.”

© Julia Phillips Smith, 2011

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