"Evil"

   I have a creative consultant and she is well named.  We call her Evil.  This picture below describes her perfectly.  She is the light that helps me.  (CHEEEESY!  And yet, true)  I asked her too write a little something about what its like being A creative consultant we call Evil.  This is what she had to say.  

ME and Evil

   So I am the one referred to as "Evil".  I am the sounding board; the creative consultant. The beta reader. I am afforded the privilege of reading all of the delicious details first.  I get to hear how things may turn out and I get to enjoy the ride that goes along with reading a book that is in the process of being written.
   This author is fantastic. In person she is fun and sun shiny. Yes, that is a legitimate adjective- at least in my world. As a writer, she takes all of that personality and mixes it with creativity to produce stories worth reading. I enjoy reading, and frankly there are a lot of books out there that are just NOT worth while. Unsatisfying endings, overuse of favored words, and wording that doesn't even begin to make sense ("not unkindly" anyone?) Hers do not fall into this category by any means. She has the talent of adding just the right amount of sarcasm and dry humor to a tough situation to make it relatable. Her characters maintain their own voice and become real to the reader.
   As creative consultant, I am privy to the fact that there have been many times she has suffered what every writer surely dreads; writers block. She has conveyed her thoughts of abandoning plots altogether. For me this would be unthinkable because once involved with the characters of a book I must know how things turn out. I like to take credit as being one of the ones that encourages her to keep writing.  It's probably just all the begging I do for the lives and sake of the characters to come to a conclusion. I emphasize to her how I must know what happens to these people she has created that have taken on their own real lives.
Or maybe it's the nagging I do.

"How's David?"

"How's Edmund?"

"Did you send me a chapter?"

"Isaiah is so freaking awesome. What's happening to him right now?"

   Either way, she writes on and I count that a victory. My prize is having the privilege of reading what happens before everyone else. Muwahaha! Yes, that's my evil laugh. In the words of Keith Urban "Who wouldn't wanna be me?" I'm sure other quotes could go here, but the song has been absolutely stuck in my head for a couple days and it fits, so I'll just go with that.
   It can be agonizing waiting on chapters. I wait patiently. Okay... impatiently. When the chapter finally arrives in my inbox, I blaze through it as the world around me fades into a background blur. Sometimes my laptop feels like it might catch fire because I read through the chapter so fast. I soak up the details and my mind follows where she leads.  A lot of times I have already heard what could happen and what will happen. Then I get the chapter and it exceeds my expectations. Sometimes she changes it up completely and throws twists and turns that would make the most avid roller coaster rider a bit loopy. Numerous times I've been caught in a " Wow! I did not see that coming!" moment. Then I reread it so I can give her my well thought out opinion. If it's two in the morning my ramblings may not be that well thought out, but she never complains!
   I have recently been informed that you can get paid to do this job. Who knew? Apparently not me!
   I guess I should go ahead and clarify that I have not been paid to write this post. I just think her stories are that good! She's a fresh take on the typical literary releases that you see strewn about in book stores. When her books are finally released I highly recommend reading them. For now, I am one of the few chosen ones who gets that privilege. Muwahaha!

Go here. http://cfoc-ifindyourlackoffaithdisturbing.blogspot.com// Check her out. 

If you don't have someone like this who helps you and puts a fire under your butt then you need to get one.  I don't know what I would do without her!

Given blurb

   I extinguished my seething face with a cascade of water. The ice cold liquid was a comfort running in-between my fingers and it became like a child’s blanket as I raised my cupped hand to my cheeks. The water formed into droplets on my newly shaved head and cooled my racing mind. Mark stood behind me, his arms crossed and his eyebrows swelled with determination.
   “I said look tough, not kill someone.”
   “I didn’t kill him.” I had no energy to properly defend myself. I knew what I’d done.
   “You nearly killed him. But, we could make this work for us, you may have just made me the most powerful person in this room.” He patted my back and looked at my reflection in the crystal framed mirror.


A little blurb I wrote yesterday from my WIP Given.  I truck on.  This is by far the hardest book I have ever written. 

I title this picture "frazzled WIP writer who runs to get ideas...and is now ten pounds thinner!"

"What was I doing, again?"

This is what I feel like right now in my current wip Given. 

see more Sports Pictures

How do you get your brain to jump start??

Uncharted Territory

A few months ago I started writing a book that I named Given.  Its about a young girl who goes into an arranged marriage with a snobby spoiled prince. 

It has become a who done it with twists and turns that I am getting confused with.

BUT, its exciting because Iv never done anything like this before and I am feeling stretched.  I need to organize my brain which is HARD for me to do. 

I mean isn't that why I have an editor? 

So, any advice from those who have read or written a mystery who done it kinda book?

P.S.  Iv seen the cover art for My Stupid Girl and its AMAZING.  AHHHH.  The font is still getting worked out, but soon my friends!  SOOON!

I die

Look to the right, there is a WIP box....take a look at the one in the middle.  The little word Given is sitting right above a line that is almost half way done.

I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THAT WHOLE BOOK LAST NIGHT....

I died.  Went to heaven.  God told me it wasn't my time yet and sent me back.

I called Evil, my creative consultant that has read all the chapters so far to see if maybe she had them still.

SHE FREAKING DID...and sent them all to me.

So all I lost was Chapter sixteen that I was a paragraph away from finishing.

Thank you Jesus!

Now I am going to go do the I have a spider on me dance for the next three days.

In which I ask you to watch a million videos.

I lorve you tube and I always post videos, but its been a while.  I'm assuming you are deprived. And cuz I'm a nerd I will relate my new book to SYTYCD! 


OK, the things that are on my heart are women. Women are strong creatures that are often made out to be wilting little flowers that need constant watering and pruning or they aren't going to make it.  BLEH!  Now, I am not a feminist in the least.  I don't hug trees and I like my bra.  BUT, I do enjoy a good strong woman who knows who she is and is confident and comfortable being feminine while kicking butt and taking names. 


The reason I have this on my mind is because I am writing a story about a girl named Daniella who is a princes.  She is thrown into an arranged marriage to a strong willed spoiled prince and she is forced to become stronger and make decisions that are hard.  (Its a fun loving, sweet, pump you up kind of book, not as serious as I just made it sound.  Promise) 


But here is my dilemma.  I am trying to write her as more than a come hither princes while at the same time she is young and needs to figure out who she is and will make mistakes in the process.  So, she will look stupid and the reader will go "WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT, SILLY WOMAN."  But, the reality is, we need to make mistakes so we really understand who we are and what we believe. 


Right?  Isn't that why God has so much grace?  I think it is.  I know I would be a different person if I had never messed up so many times.  I would probably be stuck up, condemning and UN loving.  Because I would be better than y'all because I never ever messed up, ever.  (Evvvver)


So here are some women that I am falling in love with.  And I lorve this show so I am moved by them. 

This lady is amazing. She shows her natural beauty, her long strong legs and stunning face. But she is kicking butt in her performance. I want my lead girl Daniella to be like this.

This girl is amazing to. She is cute and silly, but takes control of herself. I love it! I want her to be mine. You know what I mean...

AND, cuz I'm a nerd and I always have a favorite, this tall guy who is tap dancing is the one. I want him to win!  I think I like him becuase he reminds me of Stephan, a young boy in my current WIP, Given.  I love me some tap dancing too!

Opinions needed

OK, Ya'll.  I need some opinions.

I am going over and over in my mind about selling my book vs self publishing.

   VS

Of course there are pros and cons to both.  My biggest pro towards self publishing is the freedom.  I get to publish a book and have it be inexpensive for the reader and still have freedom to be a mom, not worry about doing book tours.  (As amazing as that sounds and something I hope to do someday, the truth is as a mother of three young ens I am not at that place right now)  But, I will not let that stop my dream of having people fall in love with my characters. 

BUT, being a traditional author, ahhh, what an amazing thing to be. 

Tell me what you think?  I need some advice from other pros!