Feeling Connected.

When I'm writing, I always make sure the topic I'm writing about is something I'm connected to. Readers can distinguish a piece you a believe in from a piece you do not believe it. If you put your heart into it, chances are, that your readers will feel the emotional connection. That's something I try to do with every piece I write.

Lizzie, Lizzie.

In Love Sucks, Elizabeth is the leader of the vampire clan known as Cara's extended family. She's kind, loyal, and just. She basically serves as Cara's role model, someone Cara would strive to be like or look up to. After living together for years, Cara and Elizabeth become great friends. But as we all know, not all good things last. And because of the card's Elizabeth is dealt her friendship to Cara is cut short.

AHHH What To Read?

So I was walking around in my local Target the other day, trying to find a new book to read. I try to read when I have down-time(which lately hasn't been much) but, I still figure I'll find time eventually. I have always loved to read, ever since I was a little girl. The first book I ever read was Little Women. I was eight years old. If you find a good book, it pulls you in from the first page. So I found a book I thought looked inriguing, so I bought it. The title is The Mistress Of Rome by: Kate Quinn. I'd pick it up, I've only read the first few pages, and so far I'm hooked. :)

Quote of the week.

I never would have gotten anywhere If I had given up. And nothing happens with anything over night. Determination is one of my favorite words. I blog about it often because I want the readers of this blog to believe in themselves, I want them to never give up, I want them to make it. I'm just concerned about myself because we, my fellow writers are a community and we should stick together.

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. ~

Music That Inspires Writing.

Believe it or not, a lot of people ask me what music I listen to while I'm writing. They wanna know what gets my creative juices flowing. I honestly love almost all music and have at least 1 favorite song in every genre. So here are a few of the songs I listened to while writing Love Sucks.

1. Broken - Seether and Amy Lee
2.Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven
3. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
4. Let it Be - The Beatles
5. If I Were A Boy - Beyonce

New Novel!!!

So I don't about you readers, but I myself have always been a huge fan of Greek Mythology. I can remember learning about some of the stories when I was in the 8 th grade. Most of the stories about the God's that dwelled on Mount Olympus fascinated me. So I got the idea for my next novel based on one of those stories. It's one of those dark romances that has never been touched before and I felt connected to it.

Interview

I was extremely pleased with the interview I gave to Writer's News Weekly about my novel Love Sucks that is going to be released on August 1, 2010. If you want to read the interview, I've pasted the link below. Enjoy !!

http://www.writersnewsweekly.com/interviews.php

The King Of The Underworld

Hades sat rigidly still on his throne. He gazed out into the dark abyss known as the underworld. The underworld in which he was the tyrannical ruler of. Normally he loved the thought of being alone. But latetly, that loneliness was getting to him. He peered over his right shoulder to nothing beside him, then to his left, still nothing. The quiet engulfed him until he had nothing with him but his thoughts. At times, he cursed his brother Zeus for damning him to this life. But at times he also praised him. Hades was never like the other God's on Mount Olympus. The wicked and despicable things he was capable of would haunt his brother's and sister's to the core. He was sure of it.

Excerpt from The King Of The Underworld...

The Wrath of Audrey

Audrey's character is a character you would describe as the witch of the story but, there is much more to her than that. Yes, she's got a bitchy attitude, she's stubborn, and at times very mean. But in her core, she's a softy. The years of pain she's gone through becomes a hard shell on the outside but, the inside is soft and vulnerable. The only person I could see playing Audrey is Lindsey Lohan.

Kill them all!!!!

Love Sucks begins in the early seventeen hundreds. Most people ask why a period piece? They wonder why it isn't started in present time. I think for readers to really understand Cara's journey as a vampire, you have to start from the beginning. In the book, being a vampire at that time wasn't something humans weren't aware of. The humans knew of the vampire kind and were trying desperately to wipe the whole European race of vampires out. Groups of vampires killers had formed around the world and had nearly extinguished the race completely. People's homes were raided, forests were burned, and every person thought to be a vampire was hunted down and staked. I think in order for the readers to understand what obstacles Cara has to overcome, they have to see what it was like for her at the time of her creation.

Yo Motha....

For most people in this business, our mother's are always our number one fans. And it's usually our mother's that teach us to never give up, to keep on fighting, to believe in ourselves. Well, at least that's what my mother always said. Now, I never imagined that when I grew up I'd actually follow my mother's advice. You people know the teen stage, you as a 16 year old always know more than your older, wiser, parent. But it's this piece of advice I learned from my mother, that I've always kept in the back of my mind at all times. Watch and see what everyone else does and do the exact opposite. Do not be a follower, be a leader. Very true statement mom, very true. And thanks for all the years of words of wisdom.

Hello Weekend...

As you all know, this weekend is father's day. So take a moment of time and honor your father.

A father carries pictures where his money used to be.~ Unknown.

What Do I Want To Be?

I vaguely remember my grandma kissing me on the cheek on my twenty-first birthday. She said sweetheart, from this day on, your life is going to fly. I kind of gave a uncertain look and smiled. I remember think yeah, ok, grandma. But after these past five years have flown by it made me realize how right she really was. So then it made me wonder what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It took a great tragedy in my life to put me back on the writing path. In 2006, I lost one of my dearest friends in a house fire. She died along with all three of her children. That brought me back to the gift I'd been given, and so began my writing career. And I haven't stopped since.

What Do You Want To Be?

Congratulations, you've ended your career as a high school hell cat. Now, you've graduated and are probably off to college in the fall, or to a vo-tec, or even starting employment somewhere. And if you don't know already, you have to ask yourself one simple question. What do I want to be? Well, the choice is yours and yours alone. I for example, always knew I would write. I displayed that talent at very early age. But instead of taking myself directly down Writing Road, I decided to attend cosmetology school first. I liked the creative aspect of it, because that's what kind of person I am. However, I always lacked that passion in it, that joie de vivre. Sure I was good at it, but it wasn't something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. It's important for you to know what you want to do with the rest of your life. After all, you are going to be doing your job for the rest of your life. And life, my friends, is short, you should live it to the fullest extent.

Writing Away....

Sometimes people think giving up is an option. In my eyes, giving up is for the weak.How do you know what's out there if you haven't pursued your dreams to the fullest extent? Just remember this, if you fall off the horse, pick yourself up and get right back on. You need to tell yourself you are capable of achieving your goals and someday you will.

A Quote To Live By

This quote strikes me as a quote I try to live my life by.


Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow~ Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

Write For You.

A few years ago I went on a vacation to visit some family in California. I wanted to explore the city, meet up with one of my writing partners, and see how I liked it there. Everyone says, if you want to make it as a writer you have to move to California. While out there, my aunt mentioned a writing friend of hers who wrote for television shows. I asked her, I wonder if he'd be willing to help me. She looked right at me and said probably not. Why I asked? And then she began telling me that he wouldnt want me to get ahead of him. I can't stress how wrong I think that is. Look, I realize this is a cut throat industry. But I wasn't asking for a handout, I wasn't asking to take this man's job. All I wanted were a few pointers, ways I could better myself. I was young, and making mistakes. I wanted someone to tell me don't do this, yes, do that. So I made it my goal to be that kind of person. There is enough room for creative advancement for everyone.

LOVE SUCKS COVER

You guys can now check out the cover for Love Sucks!!! I'm so excited about it!

Until Monday

As we go into the weekend here are some important thoughts to remember. Never conform to what other people want you to be, be yourself. You'll get much farther being yourself than you will changing for what others want and need.

Celebrity is the chastiment of merit and the punishment of talent~ Emily Dickinson~

The Audacity Of Humans

You know, my mother raised me to treat others how I would want to be treated. And I know I usually talk about writing on here. But I had an experience yesterday that I just had to talk about. People never cease to amaze me. Yesterday I was on my lunch break standing in a very crowded subway restaraunt. There were only two girls working and the lines were very long. It seemed as if at that moment everyone in the world was on their lunch hour. So, while I waited patiently in line, these two morons in front of me begin to shouting at the subway girl for not making their subs fast enough. I took a moment to scan the overly crowded establishment. It was packed. And I thought to myself, these girls are doing the best they can. I truly felt sorry for the girl behind the counter. Her cheeks were red with embarassment and she had become a spectacle. So I waited for the two rude idiots to leave, walked up the counter and said, "they were rude weren't they?" The subway girl smiled and nodded. Then I began to speak again. " You know," I began, "What you really should of said was: Why don't I come down to the street corner and tell you how to do your job." Then maybe you wouldn't be here telling me how to do mine." The girl laughed and it felt good that I was able to cheer her up.

New Material

I always have my mind turning. This week, I have managed to come up with two more novel ideas that I'm going to begin working on in the next few months. I've also come up with two more screenplay ideas. It's funny how these thoughts come to you when you least expect them too.

R-E-V-E-N-G-E

The character of Harris is introduced early on in Love Sucks. When we first meet him, we don't know much about him. All we really know is that he is Audrey's mate. In the beginning he seems kind, but eventually, that kindness fades. Pretty soon, all that's left of the old Harris is his face because of the fact that vamps never age. But where the old kind Harris used to be, there is now, this bitter man, full of hatred, who only wants one thing, and that thing is REVENGE.

Devotion

When I began writing my first novel, I didn't even own a computer. So, I sat in the back of the break room of my job, and at every open opportunity I got, I wrote down the whole thing. When I finished writing the whole book down on the note book, I then would drive fifteen miles every day so that I could type it out on the computer. You see, if you're like me, you are so devoted to your craft, those boundries are only minor road blocks. When you have a goal in mind, you have to tell yourself that nothing is going to stop you. You have to be devoted, and passionate about your craft. You also have to convince yourself that you are a force to be reckoned with and that nothing is going to stop you.

Phillipa Gregory

So last year, when I was in Cali for a a meeting with my screenwriting partner, I was staying with my aunt and she had these stcacks of Phillipa Gregory books. (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Constant Princess, etc) Anyway, I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl and had finished that book within three days. So after I finished TOBG, I began reading The Boleyn Inheritance. The Boleyn Inheritance is highly entertaining, and well written. It follows the lives of three women in Tudor England, Jane Boleyn , Katherine Howard, and Anne of Cleves. Now, each of these women is directly connected to the one and only Henry VIII. The king killed Jane's husband and sister-in-law, Anne of Cleves is the new Queen, and Katherine Howard a new mistress. Pick this up. It's an interesting read.

A New World In My View

As we go into this weekend, try to think of some whort term goals to accomplish. Maybe, your garden needs weeded, or maybe a room needs painted in your house. Whatever you decide to do, it's up to you.

If you don't like how things are, change it! You are not a tree! ~ Jim Rohn

I Did This.. It's My Fault.

I awoke that day finding it hard to sleep. For a few minutes, I just gazed out into the darkness that surrounded me. Then I reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. With the dim lamp illuminating the room, I turned over, propped myself up, and stared at Jared, whom was still sleeping soundly. He looked so peaceful, so pleasant. The sight of his slumber brought a smile to my face. I admired his perfectly muscled chest. I reached over and slowly glided my fingertips over it. That's when the smile faded from my lips. I found myself watching him, waiting for his chest to rise up and down from his breathing. It only took a moment for me to snap back to reality and realize that Jared was now a member of the undead community and that it was my fault because I was the one who crossed him over, the one who ended his life, the one who made him this way.

Excerpt from Love Sucks.

What's Your Passion?

Writing is my life, it is the oxygen in my lungs, it is the blood coursing through my veins. It's something I am passionate about, and it is something I will never stop doing. I think about it when I wake up in the morning, and dream about it when I'm sleeping. I think everyone should be passionate about something. It gives you that fire, and makes you push yourself harder.

Step 5: Send Out Your Work

Okay, you've done everything. You've edited, queried, copywritten, now the next step would be for you to send out your manuscript. Nine times out of ten, you've peaked the interest of a few agents, and they've requested either your whole manuscript, or a portion of it. Follow the intstructions they give you on how to send it.Most times, you can send it in a email. And other times they prefer you send the whole thing through the mail. You'll ususally recieve a response in 8-12 weeks. Sometimes though, it could take as long as six months for you to recieve a response. Just be patient.

Natalie...

Jealousy can be the root of all evil. And I feel like it is often an insecurity. That's what inspired me to write Natalie's character in Love Sucks. Natalie is no doubt beautiful, but beauty is sometimes nothing when all of your bad characteristics flood to the surface. Beauty is only skin deep applies to Natalie. The outside package is everything a man could want but, the inside package makes her ugly. She's vain, snobbish, and very insecure. But she does shake things up in Love Sucks making an interesting love triangle.

The Last Song Sings...

When I picked up The Last Song off of my bookshelf last night. I said ahh, I'll read a chapter then do something else. What didn't expect is to be on my couch six hours later, still reading. That's what a good book is. You pick it up, and can't put it down. Kudos to you Nicholas Sparks, you can write on hell of a novel.

Step Four: Copyright Your Work.

Copywriting your literary works is a definite must. You can either copywrite your work with either the Library of Congress, or you can register it with The Writer's Guild of America. When registering it with The Writer's Guild, you have to be careful because registered work expires every five years and you need to renew it..

Query Letters

Here are some links to websites that help you understand query letters.

http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx

http://www.hiwrite.com/queryletter.html

Step Three: Writing your Query Letter.

A query letter is basically a one page sales pitch. Your query letter can make you or break you. A query letter should include the length of your novel, genre, target audience, a brief synopsis, and short bio about you, yourself, the author. In the header do not write to whom this may concern. You should know the name of the person who is reading it and address them as so: Mrs. Mary Jones, for example. Some agencies, and or publishers prefer email queries, while others prefer snail mail queries. Make sure you check under their company guidelines to which method the company prefers. You can expect anywhere between a four week and eight week waiting period while your query is being reviewed. Remember, patience is a virtue, do not be hasty. In time, the companies will get back to you. If they haven't, you should assume that they are not interested in your book. Do not send multiple emails regarding your status, if they are interested they will contact you.

Step Two: Submitting Your Work To Agents

After you have edited your work, and it glistens with a good format, and perfection, now would be the time to start thinking about submitting it to agents. You can find a list of agents accepting unsolicited manuscripts in a recent copy of The Writer's Guide To Literary Agents. These books can be found online, or at any local bookstore. As you page through the book, it lists every agent, if they are accepting submissions and how to query them.