Ramblings of Frankie

Quirky Imaginary People - Er Characters!

2010-09-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was in a meeting - invisible things always seem to happen in a meeting! It was a very serious discussion of which I was actively a part of. I wasn't day dreaming.

And Kat just plops in, sitting beside Boss and starts shoving potatoe chips in the middle of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

*hand-flip shrug* Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over!

What quirky things do your characters do at the most inappropriate of times?

A Funny Mis-Understanding!!!

2010-08-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, as a writer, it's important to listen to dialogue, REAL dialogue. Here's an example of how BAD real dialogue can be.

So, the other day at work, we get this change to the building adding Bird Control to the exterior. It's a little complicated and it takes some coordination and discussion and it's taking more time than we'd expected. BossMan (Boss' Boss) calls so we can put him into a meeting that's supposed to be going on right now.

There are three of my subcontractors there, my superintendent (aka Superman), a foreman, a subcontractor's sub and Boss. Boss and Superman are discussing Bird Control and the meeting has been delayed.

BossMan (on phone): Where's Boss?

Me: He's with SuperMan.

BossMan: You did remind him he has a meeting.

Me: Yes (with lots of "duh" dripping from my tone)

BossMan: What's so important that he has to hold up the entire meeting?

Me: Bird Control.

BossMan: *pause* What?

Me: Bird Control. We just received this huge change and we've got to get it installed right away.

BossMan: What?

Me: The skin is going up and the Bird Control has to be installed now.

BossMan: Who told you you had to have Bird Control?

Me: Uh, the architect? That's how these things work.

BossMan: What do you have to do?

Me: We have to prepare the conduit for insertion.

BossMan: And you're doing this at WORK?!

Me: Where else would I do it?

BossMan: Who does Architect think he is to tell you you have to be on Bird Control?

Me: I'm not on--Now, wait. What do you think I just said?

BossMan: Architect told you you had to be on Bird Control.

Me: I don't think we're hearing the same thing here. We are talking about Bird Control right?

*the guys waiting for the meeting are by now in TEARS*

BossMan: Maybe you should spell this for me.

Me: You know, like Bambi.

BossMan: I don't remember Bambi being on Bird control.

Me: No, I mean Bird. BIRD. Bir-D. You know, bird.

BossMan: Ooooooooohohhhhhh! *he's laughing his ass off now too* I thought you said BIRTH control and you were having it inserted and Architect told you you had to go on it! I was about to ask you why Architect thought it was necessary.

I nearly DIED!

And then...I found out he had me on speaker phone the ENTIRE TIME!

Another Great ARC Giveaway!

2010-08-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Carol over at Carol's Prints has the best giveaways and this one is extraordinary! You seriously need to go check it out, all of my faithful followers! Although, I just have to say, I'm seriously hoping to get one this time!

Check out her Extraordinary Give-away!

What's In My Handbag?

2010-08-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

I am SUCH a bore! I don't carry a handbag! LOL! I carry a wallet. It has my JW license, my driver's license, my OSHA license, my CRP thingy, my first aide thing, my debit card and two business cards (both mine). There's my B&N card and my Starbucks card (which is empty....hmmmm.) I also carry this week's budget taped to my debit card to remind myself to stay on target.

I do, however, carry a backpack,.

(2) LEED study manuals
(1) phone
(2) chapsticks
(1) package of gum
(2) hair clips
(1) spare baseball cap
(11) paper clips (whoops)
(1) bottle of lotion
(1) stick of glue (what's that doing in there?!)
several wrinkled pieces of paper
(5) large, manilla envelopes
(1) package of stamps
(this thing is really heavy, just so you know)
(7) #10 envelopes already stamped and ready
(3) medium sized yellow sticky pads
(1) green highlighter
(1) blue highlighter
(1) pink highlighter
(2) yellow highlighters
(1) red pen, fine tipped
(2) blue pens, medium tipped
(1) mechanical pencil
(1) music book for piano

Now, then...who to tag? Hmmm....

I hereby tag the following people!

Vicky
Jay (backpack, not purse)
Dawn
Ralene
Annie

Thanks to Mireyah, you now know what's in my backpack! LOL!

Just Not Good Enough

2010-07-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

I have found myself in a weird, weird place. I've sent Demonic Alliance to my list of agents (basically ANYONE interested in urban fantasy who's open for submissions and accepts emails) and I've hit a wall.

It's good, just not good enough.

Now, granted, there are those that don't accept email submissions and I SHALL be hitting those up, but what do you do when you're not good enough? ACK! That's frightening and hugely depressing.

I asked an agent who was tentatively interested in it for awhile, but who eventually passed saying that was good, but just not the right fit for her. (and that's fine. She's still awesome!) I said, "This is where I am. What do I do?"

She said, "Keep writing. You never know what book someone will eventually pick up [for representation]."

My problem lies in the fact that I've invested pretty heavily on two series of books; my adult paranormal (which isn't a romance and happens to fall into a tight, small market) and my YA which is currently being revamped because apparently I kinda suck at writing a book the first time. You'd think after eight years of writing-for-publication-practice, I'd have a good handle on that.

Not so much.

So, I've got the YA which I might be able to put back out there in a month or two. With Dad, family, Roomie, finances and work, the writing is a lot slower than I'm used to. If I could wrangle in one or two of those to free up a little of this "worry energy", I'd have more energy to write.

But...maybe...maybe I should think about writing a stand alone book that's just different. You know, just for fun. I--*blink, blowing out air, blink* I don't know what I'd write, though. For the past two years, I've focused solely on these two series. So...huh...I wonder what I could write about? A romance? BLECK! No. Another adult paranormal? Hmmm...I don't know. A YA? That sounds fun. But what? Or a good steam punk because I love those!! I just don't know if I could pull one off, but it would be soooooooo much fun!

So, here's me trying to come up with a plan B.

The Mid-Life Crisis...at Any Age

2010-07-27T06:06:00.000-07:00

You know, I don't get the mid-life crisis thing. I don't. I like the fact that, as my kids say, "I'm ooooooold." I love it. I'm even starting to get wrinkles. Okay, not a lot, but I'm noticing a little wrinklege around the eyes.

When I asked Roomie about it, she said, "I'm that much closer to being dead and I haven't done what I wanted to with my life."

Huh. Well, I've done some pretty incredible stuff with my life. There are definitely certain parts of my life that SUCK (in all capital letters, as you saw), but for the most part, I'm good. I set out to do something and I picked two somethings and did great at one (work) and I'm struggling with the other (Agents, yes, I'm still here).

But I didn't realize the magnitude of getting old without meeting certain goals until this weekend. DemonChild is turning 10 and hasn't learned how to ride her bicycle yet.

Now, when I call her DemonChild, please know that she's incredibly sweet (when she wants to be) and she incredibly bright (in a ornery way most times) and she's got a great smile (when she's not throwing daggers from her eyes). She's a great kid. I love her.

She's turning 10 this week and she made the decision that she was going to learn how to ride her bike before the ill-fated day of her 10th B-day! *look of determination in her big blue eyes*

Well, Grandpa isn't quite as spry as he used to be, and Grandma isn't either. They're grandparents. Go figure. So I was asked to take her and run beside her and try this thing without training wheels. I was excited! FINALLY, I get to see one of my girls' Firsts.

So we try it. We're fighting it for the first 1/2 hour or so. I'm gripping the bike too tight. I'm not holding on tight enough. I'm holding the bike all wrong. No, Mom, stop holding me. Hold the bike. She's scared, isn't confident and she's decided to give the bike a personality. I try telling her that giving an inanimate object a personality isn't always the best thing to do. After all, I gave numbers personalities and now I can't do general math because at the age of almost 40, 7 still HATES 3...and 4 and 5 and 6 and 8 and 9! 7 only socializes with 1's and 2's and other 7's. That's it!

So we get over that hurdle and we get her going fast...er and she's doing great. I'm running, not holding on. We get her around curves. She's turning. She's remembering how to use the brakes (which is something that even MissThink forgets to do sometimes).

And then she takes a break. It was hot and those helmets might save a head when you crash, but for the love of PETE, they make your brainpan so hot, it boils and then you're FORCED to crash! What happened to the good old days when riding your bike wasn't a death defying experience?

Well, she gets back on the bike and she's going and I'm pooped, so I'm walking, not running.

And then her mind just goes blank! You know what I'm talking about. You're going along and then, BLIP. There are no brainwaves anymore.

She crashes into the light pole.

She's fine. She kept everything upright. No scrapes, no road rash. Her back tire went up and bounced back down. That was it.

But the tears started flowing and that's when the meltdown occurred.

"I'm 10 years old and I can't even ride a bike without running into a light pole."

"Sweetie, you're doing great. Look, you've got all your skin in the right parts. You didn't leave any behind on the pavement. You're doing awesome!"

"I don't want to be old if I can't learn how to ride my bike!"

And that's when I saw it. A mid-Life crisis can happen at any age. It happens not when you've suddenly realized that you're old because how old is 10? It happens when you set goals for yourself and then don't figure out a way to meet it before your turn old.

So! Life lesson from a 10-year-old. Go ahead and set your goals.

But then go out and figure out how to meet them, BEFORE you get ooooooooold.

A Spludge Rambling

2010-07-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

It would appear that I'm on my own with my Deal with the Universe. Unfortunately, I'm a little boring. But! You know what? Maybe my deal with the universe will be "doing something fun for a change" because I never seem to take the time to do that. I'm always writing and I'm always working or editing or putting together workshops or helping other writers or...I'm never having fun.

So...I think my Deal with the Universe might be something like:

1. Hike a 14'er and share the pictures.

2. Find a waterfall and have a picnic lunch - leaving the Netbook BEHIND!!

3. Take the bike (bicycle) out for a mountain trail ride and share pictures of all my injuries.

4. Go bowling - in a bodice! That would hurt though, so I'm thinking not. My ribs just aren't as young as they used to be. But that might be fun AND I could probably get SisterPainIntheButt to tag along with me. LOL! Though her bf might find it a little tooooo weird. LOL!

That's what I'm thinking. Something just FUN! Universe, if you're willing to help me out, I'm willing to let my hair down a little and enjoy this mess we all call life.

There's another thing that's kinda hit recently and that's requests for partials. What's really cool is that in this whole request for partial process (the emails back and forth, the tweaks, the thoughts, the reminders, the NAGGGING) is that it opens up some dialogue and you can actually see these poor agents as people. That's cool and I just thought I'd throw that out there.

So, anyway, I have a fixture PO that's kicking my BLEEEP and calling my name. It's my nag today. I HATE FIXTURES!!!!

People! Use candles!

*cheesy grin*

Frankie's Deal with The Universe

2010-07-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

I've decided after cyber-stalking my in-box for the upteenth time in four years, that it might be time to follow some safe advice from my followers and do a deal with the universe.

However, I've also decided that I am a very boring person because I can't think of anything to deal. And after Googling "Deal with the Universe", I find I'm coming up quite blank. Some of these people had fantastic ideas.

I have a few problems though. I don't know how to Vlog or how to convert any pictures I might take into a vlog so that I can share this experience with you. I DO, however, know how to take pictures that are digital. *wide eyed expression* This has been recent.

*thinking....thinking...thinking* What oh what could I possibly do? What would the Universe like? Hmmm...*shakes head* I just don't know.

So! I'm going to ask you! What deal should I make with the Universe? The person with the best idea will win an award, like a realio-trulio mail-to-you award.

So...let the dealing begin! *rubs hands together*

Query Hell...again

2010-07-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Querying is HELL! Especially the waiting. I am LOVING *sarcasm dripping from tone* the fact that no one replies anymore. You send out 5-6 queries and then you never hear anything back. We're past the point of "Not for me, thanks!" Now all we get is... ... ... ... ... ... *crickets singing in background*

Great.

The problem with this, I've found, is that I sometimes forget it's time to submit to new agents. I mean, yeah, some agents will say, "If you don't hear from us in 2 weeks, assume you're rejected," and that's great! But...I forget that the two weeks are up, and that ALL of my prospective agents have "rejected" me and it's time to get my ms back out there.

Am I old school?

The answer is yes. I am.

At work, I've seen how this "electronic age" has ruined an architect's or engineer's ability to actually design a building before it gets built. And it's not their fault! It's a pain in the ass, don't get me wrong, but it's not their fault. Everyone just expects that everything's easy to change, modify, add, or delete; that it'll only take one or two clicks of the mouse and one typed command and voila! It's done.

In construction, this spells disaster for the poor contractors (me) trying to actually build the building. Half the time, we build it before they decide what they even want. The architects and engineers are simply overwhelmed by the information coming in from the Owner, who can't make up his mind, the contractors who need VIABLE information, and their subcontractors who also need VIABLE information.

Agents are overwhelmed as well, and that's the problem that leads to my frustration.

I am one frelling fantastic writer. I rock. I do. My writing is excellent, my storylines are interesting, my characters leap off the page and as a person, I'm not too shabby - a bit flaky sometimes, but not too shabby.

But with the fact that it's so incredibly easy to query now, the agents are deluged with queries and don't have the time to READ. Can you imagine being an agent and being hit with 100 queries...in a DAY?!

It's kinda like my boss sending me 100 emails a day. There are only so many times I can go, "Boss, did you look at the drawings? Did you read the email I just sent you in reply? Were you IN the same meeting I was? Are you sure?"

So...Agents, I understand. I do.

But at the same time....

....Grrrrr....you frustrate me!

*petulant sigh* There. I said it. Now, I'm done.

Please send me a request for full and tell me you HAVE to work with me. You may not know this, but you really DO HAVE to work with me.

Love,
Frankie

Frankie's Update

2010-07-13T12:23:00.001-07:00

First of all, I really need to get in here and update more. I apologize! I know I have a few faithful readers who are like beating at my door and going, "Frankie, would you frelling POST something sometime soon?!"

The only thing is, nothing's really happening to blog about. Jay has a tree he'd like to kill. I have a list of people I'd like to smother and a job that has me running around like a chicken.

*shrug* But that's normal.

I am, however, re-writing Tempest of Silence. This is something I swore I would never do after I re-wrote The Sandman. And then I swore again that I would never do it when I re-wrote Demonic Alliance when it was a sci-fi and I converted it, and then again through this last revision when I decided it was lacking a certain sparkle that I needed to make it marketable.

Yeah. *biting lip* One day, I'll be able to write a book and just stick with it.

Here's what happened. I wrote the first book, the second book and I was half-way into the third when I saw the last scene. It was WRONG! Everyone dies; Mom, Quinn, Rune, Kat! It was horrible! I cried for a WEEK!! And then I was scrambling, trying NOT to tell Kat that I'd killed her and I was going through the third book, trying to figure out where I'd gone wrong. I tweaked a little here and there. I MURDERED chapter 3 FIVE times. Nothing saved me.

Riley and Kestrel were the only survivors.

So, I took it back a book. Book 2 was a little rough. I knew that. So I tried revising it, reworking it, tweaking it, fine-tuning it. And the last scene changed a little, but not enough. Now, I killed everyone except for Rune, Riley, and Kestrel.

So I was like, what the heck? I didn't know what was going on. I went back to book1. Tried re-working that. I tried to speed things up, but then it wasn't logical and I was left with "Why would Ri do that? There's no reason for it."

So I let that last scene ride.

I killed all these fantastic characters I've come to love. And I let Kat know that I killed her. I wrote the scene.

And then Ri solved the problem for me. She went to Lady Willow and asked her to send Riley back so she could do it all over again. And the lady did.

So, what happened was, I ended up scrapping book 1 because now Riley does really have a reason to accept things a little quicker than she did before. Ri can be VERY obstinate when she wants to. I had originally thought I'd just tweak it, but *shakes head* no. I was able to save and re-use two scenes. Two. Scenes. Yeah.

So now, I get to re-write this and it is going in a totally DIFFERENT direction. *eye roll* And it's going really WELL, much much better than the last time.

*sigh* I've GOT to stop writing the same book multiple times, though. Good grief!

BUT! I DOOOOOOOO SOOOOOOO love this version better. WOW!!

More later!

One Really Cool Contest

2010-07-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

There are a few books that I just can't wait to get my hands on! I've Tweeted with the authors, I've interviewed one of them, I just can't WAIT to read these books!

It just so happens that one person has a contest GIVING THEM AWAY!

I WANT these BOOKS!

LOL!!

Here's the link. Please sign up and show you her support. With enough support, she can keep providing these awesome, awesome contests!

theundercoverbooklover

I'm Out of My Funk!

2010-06-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had a spurt of inspiration about how to breathe new life into my young adult series! I changed the name of the series, the first book, the cover of the first book AND a brand new beginning! It's like a whole new series.

Okay. Not quite.

However, there is LIIIIIIIIIFE!

I'm In a Funk

2010-06-06T12:14:00.001-07:00

And it probably has something to do with work. I get that, but at the same time...I'm more than ready to just WHINE!

LOL!! I love my job. I do. It's fun, it's different everyday and it's challenging. Some days, it takes everything I have. Other days, it takes everything I have and THEN some.

And that's where I am right now. It's taking everything I have and then some.

Which leaves very little room for writing or thinking about writing or doing much more than glaring and growling at my collage of dreams.

*thinking*

*sigh*

*thinking*

I've spent the better part of a year working on Paige's and Dexx's story. I think, in order to rejuvinate myself, I'm going to concentrate a little on Ri's and Kat's story. Might read through book 1, revise book 2 and see if I can't write book 3.

That is if life doesn't get in the way...again.

But first? It's Sunday...and I need to get work done. *sour face*

The Non-Writing Part of Writing

2010-05-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

This is the thing that drives more logic minded people nuts. I'm a writer 24/7. It doesn't just shut off. I'm also a musician 24/7. That doesn't shut off either. I've constantly got music and dialogue/scenes going on in the back-processes of my mind - even when I'm putting my "full attention" somewhere else, IE: work.

I haven't updated anyone yet on where I am writing-wise because I've been so dang-gum busy. But I'm finishing up the finishing revisions to Angels & Assholes, which as predicted went really well. It's a fantastic book. I'm sure that someone else will read it and go, "Hey, Frankie, what were smoking when you wrote this?" However, for now, I stand by it. Firmly. I've had a couple of my critique partners read it for review and they all gobbled it up so fast that the critiques were slim. That's good, I think. LOL!

However, I've stopped writing Death Matters due to time constraints. In order to write, I need to have at least a few hours during each day where I can concentrate on my daily tasks and provide at least a little attention to the scenes and dialogue going on in my head. Right now, I can tell you that my unconscious mind is doing a pretty good job of untangling the mess I made - it wasn't huge, it just wasn't working quite the way I thought it would - and IT knows what I'm going to do to fix it. So one of these days, when I GET a couple of days, I'll be vomiting this book out the same way I did Angels. LOL! And with any luck, it'll be JUST as good, if not better.

*hands up with look of shocked outrage* I have When Fury Calls outlined and mapped out and I know exactly where that ones going! Thanks to a personal life just this side of Hell, this book is SCREAMING at me to write. LOL!!!

So, Boss, sweetie, I need a little time, more than just a weekend. I need to write. I need to think about writing. I need to do a little more than just think about it. I need to...WRITE!!!!!

*eye rolling sigh*

However, in the meantime, I'll revise. I might go back to The Kingdom Series and start revising that one too. Since that's about all I have the time for. GAH!

A Day of Pants....

2010-05-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is kinda embarrassing, but hugely funny.

Not many of you know that I'm attempting to lose some weight. I'm tired of lugging all of me around. So far, I'm doing pretty well.

However, about four weeks ago, it suddenly hit me that I could wear my most favoritist pair of jeans again. They're nothing cool. They were just really comfy. So with the sounds of VICTORY in my head, I grab my pants and trot about my morning, very happy and slightly smug in the fact that I can now wear a pair of jeans that haven't seen the light of day in over two years. Yay me!

However, on the drive to the job site, I'm feeling a breeze on the inside of my thigh. Now, it's a nice morning and I have the window rolled down - it was one of those weird warm mornings, like the only one we had last month.

So, I look down, can't see anything, feel around and then a big Oh SHIT moment hits me.

This is the pair of jeans I was supposed to throw out or mend because I had a big RIP in the inside leg of my pants.

I brush it aside. I'm like, "It'll be fine. No one will know. It's on the inside of my thigh. It's hidden. We're good."

Not so much.

I'm walking from my truck to the trailer and I'm feeling cool morning air hit my bare skin as I walk and I'm like, "This can't be good. My shirt isn't that long."

So I go into the bathroom and I'm looking and, sure enough, when I walk, I'm flashing leg at everyone. Not. Good!

I figure out how to walk without showing thigh. I let everyone know I strained my back the night before working out and that's the reason I'm gimping around. And the hole gets bigger. I'm looking around trying to find a way to fix these darned pants!

And then I see it, in glimmering brilliance! My Stapler!

Yes, I stapled my pants and it seemed to be working. Until the pants gave out and the staple won. *winces* Let me tell you, ladies, that staple chaf, and they are stronger than material. Whatever you do, do not staple your pants.

So as the morning progresses, I try my darndest to stay At My Desk so no one can see me. I fail. I had to go on site, there was issues with material, there were issues with drawings in the other trailer - and all these things couldn't have happened on a day when I wasn't having a wardrobe malfunction.

I finally decide enough is enough when I go back into the bathroom - by this time, I'm HIDING in there! - and the other leg rips. It's time to get a new pair of pants! I have 45 minutes until my lunch break. I'm Googling the nearest Walmart, I'm searching for the nearest clothing store. I don't care if I have to pay $100, I'm getting a new pair of pants to complete my day!

So I'm waddling - *eyebrow raised nod* Yes. Waddling! The rips were HUGE and I'm not the kind of gal who likes to FLASH people - through Walmart, can't find the frelling jeans, talk to this gal who gave me directions I couldn't understand, panic is setting in my head, my blood pressure is rising and the only thing I can think is, "I NEED A NEW PAIR OF FRELLING PANTS! GIVE ME SOME FRELLING PANTS!!!!!!!"

Finally - FINALLY - I find them, I grab my new, smaller size and allow myself a little smugness as I go into the checkout line - still waddling, btw - with my smaller pants. The cashier noticed the rips and he's smiling at me. I'm grimacing back. I rush into the bathroom because I'm wearing these damned things OUT of the store and...

RIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPP!

*biting lip* My pants disintegrated! The butt completely blew out of them as I'm pulling the off! I have no idea how the butt of my pants remained intact while I was waddling all over freakin' America trying to find a replacement pair of pants!

*sigh* But I was able to fit into my new jeans - though barely. I'm guessing there was a reason those jeans were so comfy. They were falling apart! - and I got back to work and, guess what?

I stayed at my desk for the rest of the afternoon!

A Day in the Life of...Me

2010-03-22T19:46:00.001-07:00

My day starts at 5:30am. Now, usually, if I'm heading to the job site, I'm out of bed, my hair thrown up in a pony tail, there might be some mascara - depends on if I like my crew that day or if I feel the need to terrorize them - my favorite t-shirt and jeans (VERY simple, basic, dress in the dark attire), my boots and I'm out the door by 5:40am.

Except I'm in the office right now, which means that I hit the snooze button at a bare minimum of five times before I even think about getting out of bed because at the shop aka the office, I have to actually CURL my hair and put on a non-scary face. You know, the one that has people not asking if you're sick. *shiver* I have to color coordinate my "outfit" and hope like hell that I managed to find an outfit that has pockets. Because heaven FORBID you find a pair of women's slacks with POCKETS that would make her ass look BIG! *eye roll*

I usually get to work around 6:40-ish. Curling my hair and the make up thing is problematic. The color coordinated wardrobe is an even bigger problem. Jeans don't conflict with my army green tee. However, my brown cowboy boots for some reason I haven't figured out yet, should not be worn with a black or gray blouse. *pained wince* Why?

My computer comes on and then it's trying to catch up on the emails from the people who work crazier hours than I do. No joke. 2:33am Sunday morning. Seriously?

Then as everyone is strolling in and settling in and talking about their wonderful weekend, I finally go to get coffee. Then I'm hit by my boss' boss - We'll call him Happy - who catches me and I'm in his office for about thirty minutes all the while, my coffee is cooling at my desk...untouched. I used to be good. I'd be in and out in under two minutes, but now? *wince* And then it's RFI's, and ASI's, and drawings, and specifications, and submittals and purchase orders and subcontracts and basically taking chaos, tying a lasso around it and reeling the damned thing in WHILE your boss - Grumpy - and your other boss - Bashful - and their boss - remember Happy? That's him. - and his boss - Doc - and then there's Sneezy, and then a person from another department - Sleepy - and my all time favorite - Dopey - all try to do their utmost best to let the tornado loose.

*dead pan stare* Somehow, that just doesn't do it justice.

And, guys, for real, I love these people. Most times. Like, Bashful is FARRRRRR from bashful. Grumpy has an inner Dopey. Sleepy doesn't SLEEP. Happy has a slight case of the Grumpies. Doc, though, is Doc. *nods* Sneezy fell into the name because there were none left. And Dopey...Sweetie, I like you. I do. *nods* Everyone loves Dopey the best.

Meanwhile, I've got the invisible people in my head. When I'm at work and I'm working, they're not allowed to talk about the book. That's absolutely forbidden. There was one time - three years ago? - where I was doing a control take-off (trying to figure out how much material to buy without over or under buying. *click tongue*) and apparently I was working through something with Dexx and Paige. I honestly don't remember what. I went to review my work with Bashful only to be informed that if Dexx or Paige were anywhere in my take-off, he didn't want to see them. And then he made me do it all over again. So, while I'm working, they are forbidden to work on plot.

Does that mean they're QUIET? No. I've just learned to ignore them.

Now, what that means is that I have to take a few moments to "stare into space" and do that non-writing thing that we writers do. However, it generally creeps my fellow coworkers out because they have no idea why I'm staring at them or their shoe or the floor at my feet. I've tried telling them that I'm not seeing the Real World, but these guys are so very, very Real World, they have no clue what it's like to be a full grown adult and admitting quite loudly that I have imaginary friends. *blink* And you don't want me to pull out the "my imaginary friends are waaaaaaaaay more interesting than you could ever be" card. Number one, they don't get it. Number two--OUCH!

However, I do have to say one thing. Being surrounded by Real World people is quite grounding.

So, I sit there for about 10-15 minutes and then I have to decide. Will any writing come at this point? If yes, I start writing. If not, I close it up and continue working, telling myself I'll write after work. Usually, if the writing thing is going to happen, the head phones come on, the volume goes up so I can't hear my name being called or the knock on my desk, or the careful clearing of the throat. However, my boys are trained well. They find a way to get my attention. My lunch hour - if I'm writing - usually is in ten minute writing bursts spaced approximately eight mintues apart. Unless!! Unless Sneezy stopped by because, holy Hades, that man likes to talk. And normally, I don't mind, but none of the grasp that this is MARCH and that I'm WRITING!

I'm awake and at home for approximately 2-3 hours. I come home and Roomie and I talk and talk and talk and talk. Or we don't and I end up watching TV until "my brain comes back" which it rarely does. And then it's time to call MissThink and Sunshine (aka DemonChild who does not care for the term DemonChild even though she has looks that freakin' kill), call it a night, drink a glass of wine and go to bed.

Only to do it all over again.

And really, if you take anything out of this, it should be...

Frankie doesn't do hair first thing in the morning. And for crying out loud! She doesn't do girlie, non-pocket pants. I don't care HOW big my ass looks!

The Not-So-Awesome Blog That Could

2010-03-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Blogging is one of those things that if you don't do on a daily basis, it doesn't survive too well. AND it helps when you have time actually go to other bloggers' blogs and comment on their stuff. Why? Because NO one likes talking to themselves with no comments. Right?

Okay. There's the narcissist and I'm sure we all know at least one, but...*points finger, blinks, and moves on to the next thought*

I am NOT ignoring this blog. I'm trying to write 77.5K in a month so that Death Matters will be done by next month. I promise, I will update more regularly.

HOWEVER, in the interim, go to my site, www.smblooding.webs.com and go to Death Matters because that's where I'm posting all my writing updates. It's a little log to see how a book really goes together because, apparently I had a few misconceptions. I thought I was a LOT cooler (and a lot calmer) during the writing process than a I really am. LOL!

Frankie

The Nap Nabbed Me!

2010-03-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

Alas, I did not get another 10K out yesterday. What I did do, however, was bring my Netbook into work and, guess what?! I was able to take nearly a full lunch break. Not entirely, but it was good! I wrote 1.7K at lunch. It'll be an easy finish when I get home from work and then maybe I won't need to write a full 10K next Saturday! Wouldn't that be nice? GADS!

Frankie

2nd 10K Day in a Row...BLEH!

2010-03-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

The one thing we always forget as writers is that Other Stuff takes most all of our time. So, Writing Stuff generally takes the trunk, not the back seat, and rarely gets a lot of time.

This new promotion is kicking my butt. Spec review, drawing review, purchase orders that I can't write, subcontracts I can't write, submittals that can't go out. It's more stress and less time.

But it also means less writing during the week.

*singing* PROBLEM!

However, I have this rare ability to be able to pull off 10K days. Usually, though, it's only one day and the next day is spent resting. Why? Because using that writing muscle for an entire day drains you. Like, right now, I could seriously use a nap. But! *holds up pointer finger* Naps are bad. Repeat after me. Naps. Are. Bad.

*droop*

Okay, maybe just a little one, but most of the day is already gone.

Alice in Wonderland was good though and well worth it. LOL! A VERY good movie for the creative heart. And no, Depp didn't own that movie. He's one of those great actors that allow other actors to take the spot light as well. The Red Queen - I forget her name - GREAT actress and she really did a fantastic job! And Alice - I don't know her name either - did a fantastic job too. The 3D wasn't all that great. The movie itself was, though.

CONTEST!!! YAY!!

2010-03-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

Alright! I'm trying to get more followers to this blog.

*hand over heart* I solemnly swear that if you follow this blog, I shall endeavor to write more frequently and shall never allow it to go un-blogged for more than two days!

Here it goes! When I reach 50 followers, I will choose one lucky winner from my comments in this post! Said lucky winner shall win....*drum roll*

Vicky, pull back the curtain please!

*sounds of trumpets*

Dun-dun-du-duuuuuuuuun!!!!!

A one hour conversation with the character of your choice!!

*loud round of applause and whistles and cat-calls*

Yippeee!! WoooHOOO! For a complete list of characters, please visit my site, www.smblooding.webs.com! Visit all the pages. They're all over the place!

Rules:

1. Only one character per person and please specify the character you choose in the comments.

2. You get points for each form of promotion you choose:

+1 for Re-Tweeting

+1 for Following me on Twitter (I'm a talk/Tweeter)

+2 for following this blog - Well, duh!

+2 for following The Crew: www.smblooding.blogspot.com

I don't Facebook, so don't worry about that.

+3 for posting it on YOUR blog (I will follow you)

*dramatic finish* Good luck! and may the Force be with you!

A Work in Progress

2010-03-05T20:21:00.001-08:00

I'm soooooo bad! I've neglected this poor, poor blog for a...*looking* *cringe* Oh, gosh. Two weeks! Can you believe that? GACK! I didn't think it was THAT long.

But it is!

Oh dear...

Anyway! As some of you may know, I'm in full-on write mode for Death Matters. I started this book the last week in February. No...the second to last week in February. Oh, heck. I don't remember now! LOL! If you want to know, go to my site, www.smblooding.webs.com, and then go to My Writing, Demon Talker Series, and Death Matters. I know. It's buried, but I made it worth the undigging. Lots of pretty pictures to look at! I'm doing a writing update on the book right there.

Full-on writing mode doesn't mean that I'm full-on writing all the time. No. I can still write a book - and a GOOD book at that! Holy PETE! - in a month. This book will be written in a month and a half. Mid April, I will be taking a small break and then moving back to my YA series, The Kingdom. But...most of my "writing" time is doing...well, things that aren't writing.

I turn on my IPod and DAAAAAAANCE when no one can see me. I've even learned to move my hips. The feet? Still not so much, but the hips, yes.

I siiiiiiiiiing! While staring at my plot map because, for whatever reason, the helps.

I clean. If I feel I'm getting unorganized in my head, I clean like a mad woman. However, at this point, there's not a lot left TO clean.

I do Group Therapies, but that's kinda bad sometimes. Writing takes energy out of you. You might think you're just typing, but you're not. Writing my group therapies uses the same energies I use when writing. Go figure, right? Yeah. Shocked me, too. I've learned that if I want to write 10K in a day, I can't write a group therapy on the same day.

I stare into space. Doing. Absolutely. Nothing....at all except breaking out into the occassional giggle. It freaks people out, especially when you're in Starbucks.

I grocery shop and talk out my next chapter while picking bananas. (I looooooooove bananas! AND I've discovered the JIF peanut butter with the Omega3. For some reason, it tastes better.)

I go out and do something I've never done before. Or go to a place I've never gone before.

I walk.

I argue with my daughters...why? Because that's fun. They both know more than I do now (nearly teenagers), so it's wickedly awesome to argue with them.

All these things have absolutely nothing to do with writing, but this is what I do when I'm in full on writing mode. When I'm NOT in writing mode, I'm reading, watching television, being super unsociable or working out.

I'm a lot more FUN in writing mode.

LOL!! What do you do when YOU're in writing mode?

The Power of a Group Therapy!

2010-02-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are new, a Group Therapy is where I sit down with my characters and I chit chat. Sometimes about the book (I do try to stay focused.), but mostly not so much.

I've always done these, though it's only been until recently that I've written them down to share with people. Usually, it's Paige and me as we're driving home from work, or Dexx and me as I was studying for my journeyman's exam in Burger King, or Alma and me in my tiny kitchen as I learned how to cook.

Yeah. You can say it. They sound like imaginary friends.

Doesn't that sound better than having voices in your head?

One sounds like you're still a kid - which my kids assure me I'm NOT because I'm stuck up, serious all the time and a total prude! - and the other sounds like you need medication - which my mother and SisterPainInTheButt would probably agree to. However, they'd probably disagree one what medication I require.

LOL! However, you put it, they make me happy. I like being around them. I like my quiet alone time moments so they can come out. Although it must look pretty silly sitting next to me at a red light and seeing me talk to myself. But they have no idea. I might be on the phone with an ear piece or might have that hands free thing. *nods sagely* It's all good.

And it's good for your writing. When you allow yourself to be around your characters in non-plot moments, you understand your characters more and your characters are stronger.

I can't tell you how many times I've had conversations with my characters in the shower. *shakes head* Don't ask me why the shower. I don't know. They do let me do other bathroom type things on my own, but I rarely get a solitary moment in the shower. Drives are never long, no matter how many times frelling people who have no business being on the frelling freaking road cut me off. Budgets are made a lot easier and they go a lot quicker. Dexx and I have the same thing about numbers. Without a calculator, they don't make sense. However, I GET algebra and trig. He doesn't so much, but we sit there and complain about budgets while I whip through them and it's FUN!

And then there are the moments when there's a demon pinned down in the grocery store in the middle of a meeting.

*wince* Yeah. Not so great. I don't remember a lot about that scene because I really do like my job and I needed to sound smart.

Group Therapy is really more of a Frankie Therapy. The invisible people inside my head are just dragged along. LOL!

So, why don't you try it? Just sit down. Empty your mind. Turn off the music or the TV. And let your characters just hang out with you. Do nothing. Talk out loud. And just chill with them.

Your book will be stronger for it.

Death Matters is Breaking Slowly From it's Shell

2010-02-20T13:28:00.001-08:00

The first three chapters are always the hardest to get through. It seems like there's always just a little bit of a fight at first as I try to get back together with the characters and the characters try to fill in the plot that I map out for them.

Paige is not happy with me right now. I can tell you that.

However, after you manage to get past the first three chapters, it's like you've finally sync'd. You know? There's a rhythm and you finally see it and it's all good. The plot and the characters start to meld with a lot less of a fight. It's like trying to wrangle your foot into an old pair of shoes. You remember the last time you wore them, they were comfy and now, not so much, but the more you wear them, the better they feel.

So, I've made it past Chapter 1. We're working...slowly on Chapter 2. I have a feeling that chapters 2 and 3 will happen tomorrow as both of those will be mostly character chapters. Chapter 4 might wait until Monday. I don't know.

But for now, I'm going to continue to read Angels and Assholes. It's a frelling good book!

And, if you haven't done so already, make sure to check out my website for continuing updates on Death Matters, Angels & Assholes, and Group Therapies. I'm in the active writing stage of the game which means there'll be lots of movement on many things. LOL! I hope you enjoy! I know I will.

That Lull Before the Spludge

2010-02-19T10:36:00.001-08:00

That's where I'm at with Death Matters. It's kinda like prepping for a race. You warm up. You stretch. You get plenty of rest. Make sure you're well-caffeinated for the days and weeks to come.

I'm getting so PUMPED!!!

Most times. Sometimes, I'm just so pooped, there's no pumping...even for Billy Banks who is kicking my BLEEEP, but in a good way. My Bleep is actually getting shapely. Okay, so not so much, but let me live in my own delusions! LMAO!!

ANYway! I'm getting punchy. We're demobilizing and that means packing everything up and moving off the site. We're getting the job closed up. Everything's getting buttoned down. It's a really great feeling to come to the end of a challenging job like this and know that you did GOOD! And we did! Great, great, great!

However, that has absolutely nothing to do with this post. I am so loony right now. *pant, pant* Some of those boxes and rolls of drawings were heavy! I tried reminding everyone that I'm a girl and they all just basically laughed at me and said, "So what?" *chuckle* Yeah, okay.

There's this lull right before I get to writing. I plan. I brainstorm. I outline. This time, I mapped it - you are not getting a vlog because unlike Kiersten, I look like doodoo that was walked on and then ran over by a Mack truck, so no vlogs for you! - and I'm ready. I know where the book is going. It feels good. I can't wait to get started.

But...it's just not...there yet. Do you know what I mean? In order to write something, you've got to feel it, and I'm just not feeling it yet.

I'm not worried, though. It just means that my body, brain, whatever says I need a little more of a vacation. So I'm still reading through these books - which are OMG AWESOME! Holy Pete! - and chit chatting with my characters, catching up on TV, and my stack of published novels to read.

*shrug* In a couple of days when it DOES hit me, there will be NONE of that! I can tell you that much! When I'm not working, I shall be writing and it will be GOOOOOOOD!

Oh! and before I forget! I'm just throwing this out there because I have no idea how Mireyah does this, but if I get 100 followers, I will do a contest! The prize?

An IM date with one of characters of your choice. Mires, I'm pretty sure I already know your choice. LOL!

A Festival of Links!

2010-02-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

I made one tip-toe step into a huge array of links and contests and *blink, blink* all kinds of stuf!!! I found some wonderfully new blogs and new people and some pretty amazing contests!

Check out Shelli's blog, Market My Words for some frelling awesome prizes. Agent critiques and marketing advice...need I say more?

Then on Elana's blog, Navigating the Publishing World with a Real Splash of Life, she's having a Pay it Forward Contest with more cool agent critique rewards.

Shannon O'Donnell on her Book Dreaming blog, is giving away Elana's book and a gift card.

And then you MUST check out Christina Farley's blog Chocolate for Inspiration because that's where I stole this post! *grin*

I really need to think up a good contest! But I have nothing cool to give! *thinking frown...thinking FROWN* Nope. Still nothing. I'll come up with something!