Nationals, Used Cows, and the Ever-present Manuscript

RWA nationals are going on in Atlanta. Sigh. If I had gotten my act together and rejoined, I could have gone. Atlanta is only a few hours from my folks' place in Tennesse. The last one I went to was in Chicago. I had a blast with my Chapter 89 friends. Miss them something fierce. I basically dropped out because I moved an extra hour away, got married, and got lazy. Chapters are for writing, not just socializing. I really lost my drive to write and burnt out on my main manuscript because I reworked it to death. Now I live between two great chapters -- Indy and Northwest Indiana, based in Lake County. If money was no object, I'd do both. Sigh. Of course, money is very important consideration in everything I do now. But at least I have a decent computer now. My printer is out of ink, but the computer itself is just fine.

Tennessee: gotta love the drive. There is a sign in Kentucky off I-65 that says, I swear to God, "Used Cows."
Please, feel free to discuss because heaven knows my sisters and I have.

The Manuscript
I am currently writing a turn of the century romantic suspense. Our heroine is a physician, following in her father's footstep. Our hero is a successful businessman, heir to his father's shipping empire. He also has an identical twin brother. I am currently working on two problems. Our heroine cannot seem to make up her mind if she wants to marry him. Of course, she does, but I need to get her thinking to arc to where she reaches a pivotal decision where she overcomes her objections despite having loved him her entire life and told him no anyway. Yes, it would be nice if he told her he loved her, but he doesn't really know that himself yet. He is being Mr. Logical and thinks she will suit nicely. Grrr.


Point 2: Hero starts logical and well, anal retentive and immediately becomes Mr. Best Friend and not very heroic. I need to have him gradually loosen up due to her influence. He is a scoundrel who is trying to reform, but his past keeps popping up and foiling his plans. The original idea was that she was Miss Perfect and he was the Scoundrel. He decides to reform just as she decides to loosen the corset strings. She wants the scoundrel, but feels she missed her chance.

Maybe if I just tighten up the "ships passing in the night"... that might work. She is hell-bent on creating a scandal and he has to reign her in. To pull that off though, I will need a fresh approach. That's been done over and over again. And it cannot overshadow the fact that a murderer is stalking her.

I think I have too many ideas floating though here. Methinks my garden needs pruning.

"We've got cows." -- Twister

The Whip Guy

Chris Camp, "The Whip Guy"

I took my ten year-old stepson and my husband to see his show at the local library last week. It was great fun, and the walls and ceiling were only scarred a little bit. I have to say I was hooked as soon as I heard he was inspired by Indiana Jones. I knew just then Chris was a guy after my movie-loving heart. Chris is a world champion whip cracker and holds a Guinness Book World Record. Best of all, he is entertaining, informative, and yes, funny. Of course, if you made your living as a whip cracker and had no sense of humor what-so-ever, me thinks that invites a whole other world of comments and ribbing. The show was completely worth losing all feeling in my legs from sitting on the floor for an hour. His site is: www.thewhipguy.com.

Do whip masters have groupies? The DH and I are thinking about catching his show at the Illinois State Fair.

And hey, you--yeah, you--get your mind out of the gutter. We're not that into whips, or groupie-ness, thank you very much. But Indiana Jones is too cool. I cannot tell you how many times I tore apart my jump ropes to make a whip. Hooray! They are making a 4th movie. I love Harrison Ford, but Indy is kinda getting up there. If they pair him up with some twenty-year-old love interest, I just might hurl. Come on, folks. I came up with a story line nearly twenty years ago featuring myself (of course) as his daughter/niece/long lost cousin (I was what? Twelve?). I heard one rumor that Natalie Portman was going to play his daughter. I hope so, only let's give her a little bit more kick butt attitude than gee-let's-die-of-a-broken-heart Padame. Come on. The mother of Princess "Get this walking carpet out of my way" Leia is going to die of a broken heart? I so pictured her giving Anakin all heck for going Darth on her and hiding the kids, sacrificing herself to protect the future generation. I mean, Leia is/was my first concept of a romantic heroine. I'll have to post my article on it sometime.

Back to the Harrison Ford/Natalie Portman thing, the Lucas/Spielberg world is a small one. Apparently, Han's mother-in-law is Indy's daughter? Ewwww.

Here we go

Yes, I know it's been days since my last post. I will try to do better, I promise.

If you need a good laugh, want to learn about the writing process, or both, you need to check out Jennifer Crusie's web site and blog. He wrote/She wrote is a dueling blog with John Mayer her co-author on Don't Look Down. Argh is her personal blog. Both are excellent. It was her Argh blog that gave me my spit take for the month. I will never look at teenage mutant turkey vultures the same ever again. And don't forget to read the comments. The Cherries are her fans and the Cherry Bombs (CBs) are the Bob and Jenny fans and they are the BEST. They are organized, smart, occassionally frightening (in a good way). They could easily organize a third world invasion and be fully accessorized. Atlanta, beware.

I just finished Amanda Quick's Second Sight. Yes, I polished that off in about a day and a half. I loved it. Victorian England, paranormal and romantic suspense? Jayne, you continue to inspire me, even if I did make a complete cake of myself when I met you (can you say, blithering idiot?). Thanks for posing for a picture with me anyway.

Oh, happy day! I see that Alex is back on Janet Evanovich's web site and the Q & A has been updated. This site is one of my top faves if for no other reason that Alex makes me laugh. I loved Twelve Sharp, but I have to admit the lack of an exploding automobile has looking for some hidden meaning. Is it due to some cosmic balance since she hit a major milestone with Morelli (sigh) or just that Janet has some wiz-bang idea to start off #13? And you know, the four months of teasers leading up to the release date is simply torture. It's like catnip for Babecakes.

All for now. Off to learn something new today.

"As you wish." -- Wesley from the Princess Bride

Howdy

Hi there. Yes, this is my first post, first blog, etc. Yes, I am pretty clueless what I am doing, but it seems like a good idea for now.

Considering how technologically stunted I am, this will be an adventure. Hopefully, a good one.

Better yet, hopefully I will have something interesting to say.

On some of the author blogs I read there is apparently a rash of blog Nazis. Rude people with holier-than-thou attitudes who are then supported by the lemings who applaude the rude behavior.

Like the t-shirt says, mean people suck. I mean, get a grip, people. Yes, people have a right to their opinions, but hey, no one said I had to sit here and read it. Like inappropriate TV during family viewing hours: you can turn the channel. Trust me, I do.

Don't get me wrong. I love the medium. I am definitely one of those people who think better while writing than in actual conversation. Especially if it means I can come up with a witty retort like, "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" (Monty Python - Holy Grail).

And yes, I've been waiting all day to be able to use that very quote.