Happy Halloween!

Zombies have taken control of my blog.
They want brains.
I only have snickers bars.
What's a girl to do?

Publishers Marketplace 10/30/2010

Jessie's Girl Is a Single Mom with Three Kids Living in Culver City

Currently I'm reading Late, Late Night by Rick Springfield. Yes, that Rick Springfield. Of Jessie's Girl fame. I learned two things from this book. The first is, I'm so very old! I remember the days of crushing on Rick Springfield as Dr. Drake on GH. A man who is now sixty years old. When did I become an adult? How could it sneak up on me like this?

The second and more important lesson is, start every book like dear Rick. Late, Late Night kicks off with...Rick Springfield trying to kick off. He opens his book with his 15 year old self attempting suicide by hanging himself in his garage. The power of this opening is quite amazing, not only does it make me want to read on, but it forces me to feel empathy for a man who as the story progresses doesn't always deserve my sympathy or respect. But no matter how awful he portrays himself in the narrative, that hanging 15 year old boy sticks in my mind. That and his love for dogs. How can you not love a man who loves dogs? This is what I want my readers to feel when they pick up my books.

So here's to Jessie's Girl's stalker, Rick Springfield.

Thurston Moore - Sonic Youth!

Recently I learned that Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth fame will be teaching for the Summer Writing Program. My Summer Writing Program! How cool is that? I will meet a legend, someone I grew up admiring, and who I still admire. Which is odd in itself.

Many of my childhood heroes became tarnished, forgotten, lost to adult sensibilities. Because, really, how lame is John Travolta outside of Grease? Or Cyndi Lauper? Sure, I like her music, the old stuff at least, but I'm not that crazy-haired, rubber band wearing teen filled with angst anymore. This girl wants to have fun, sure, but I also like going to bed by midnight during the work week, and the occasional prune juice martini (kidding...I'm usually in bed by 10).

So thank you Gods of Childhood Heroes for giving me Sonic Youth, and a chance to meet Thurston Moore. It's really more than I could ask, but in case you're still granting wishes, I wouldn't mind hanging out with Lou Reed. I'm just saying...

Would You Like Fries With That?

Waiting. Always waiting.

In the past five years since I started writing professionally I've spent much of my time waiting. Waiting for rejections. For an agent. For critiques. For someone to love my work enough to buy it. For money from said purchase. And most importantly, waiting for inspiration.

Writing isn't easy.

Sure, it's not defusing bombs in Afghanistan.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining about how hard my life is. In fact, the opposite is true. Once you develop a tough second skin, being a writer is enjoyable, and can be lots of fun. But there are times when writing one sentence takes all week. Times when I have nothing to give. Nothing for my characters to say or do. It isn't writer's block as some might say, but rather, a process. If I could write beautiful, entertaining words all day every day, what would be the point?

Challenge is the key to being a good writer. Break the rules. Break the bonds that hold us. And yep, wait. Because patience is a virtue, and it is also the only way to survive in publishing.

Jim Bianco - I Think I Love YOU

Jim Bianco ROCKS! If you've never seen him live, you haven't lived (Warning: Guys don't bring your gal to Jim's show, for she will fall instantly in LOVE).



See what I mean?

Well, Jim has a new album coming out - Loudmouth. Look for it soon.

http://jimbianco.com/

I Wanna Be Jerry!

Not Springer, but the other one. Jerry Stahl. For years I've enjoyed his books, from Permanent Midnight to his short story collection, Love Without. This man can write.

He makes unsympathetic characters into unforgettable ones. How does he do it? How do you?

Shout Out

I'd like to give a shout out to my newest critique partner, Ross Willard. He's a hell of a writer and from the feedback he provided today, an excellent critique as well. Check his website out at http://rosswriter.com/

Junkie Tales

Yep, I did it. I officially jumped into E-publishing with a collection of short stories that were previously published in various magazines, journals, and online. I wrote these stories in 2007 while I was working on the manuscript Dope. Sick. Love. being shopped by my agent.

The collection offers a glimpse into the lives of junkies with a twist. I'm excited about it and I hope the reading public is too. I'm offering a free copy to anyone willing to write a review on smashwords, amazon or barnes and noble. If you're interested, leave a comment with your email address and I'll be in contact.