We heaved and pushed and made it over the finish line

When I first heard of the words "blog tour" I didn't know what they meant. How was I going to tour around with people who live millions of miles from me? Then I was added to the secret group and besides feeling specially selected, I was bewildered. But Tasha, helpful as she always is, answered all the questions through her posts and clarified all my confusion. Now I was excited. Sure, I had a blog, actually I had two, but I didn’t know what to post about half of the time, and the other half I was rambling stupidly.

Now, a participant in a real live blog tour, I was posting on a weekly basis and writing too. Tasha provided the topics or sent us in search of them and I will admit there were several times that I was going to quit; hand in my honorary blog tour badge and sit with my lip hanging- defeated. But, I didn’t, I made it through 16, yes SIXTEEN weeks of a blog tour, writing a post for every one of those 16 weeks. Sure, they were not always on time, because I don't do PC time on the weekends, my glorious little angel demands my attention on Saturdays and the hubby on Sundays and when I am not showering them with attention I am busy in my little business. But I would still hurry into my office on a Monday morning and tap at the keys trying to bleed some words out for my guest post.

Of course the journey was not without its bumps. I have, in my eleven years of being employed, worked with all sorts of people and so I wasn't surprised to meet some on this tour who didn't keep up their end of the bargain. I do understand that all sorts of things arise in our lives to keep us from keeping deadlines, but if you can update your facebook status every ten minutes you can quickly leave a message in the TTC-VBT group informing the organisers that you won't be making this week's post. However, I know it didn't affect me half as much as it affected Tasha, who is a real trooper for having such patience with all the participants.

I, on the other hand, peeped out of my shell and trotted along the path, week by week, bringing myself out a little more every week until I slowly made it, at my own pace, over the finish line. I am a very shy and introverted person, who would not approach another person about guest posts, but after this blog tour you can bet I will be doing that now. The tour taught me how to seek out people who write in my genres and how to trade with them, a post for a post. I made a lot of new friends too. I also learnt how to post regularly by doing flash fiction and getting my readers involved in my WIP, also a way to promote it before it is released.

I wasn’t like the legend Usain Bolt, instead I stumbled down the path like an awkward child, falling down every now and again, to have Tasha pick me up brush me off and send me on my way again. But I was glad that along the way I got to meet a lot of wonderful people, like Tara Chevrestt; who I am in awe of because of her ambition to write and release romance novels, I think I kind of stalk her now on her progress and I tell myself, get going on your work, look how many books Tara has coming out. She has become somewhat of a role model for me.

I already knew that Ellie Mack was a straight talker and an avid blogger and was pleased to host one of those very "kick in the butt" posts.

I was inspired by Linda Bolton's blog and how she keeps all her posts about romance in keeping with her genre.

Bruce Blake and Doug Simpson got me interested in their novels and after acquiring On Faithful Wings in a free giveaway, I am now reading it and quite intrigued to see where the story is going.

Nikki Noffsinger taught me about vanity presses and I was very grateful for that lesson.

I learnt how to create author interview questions, and how to write author spotlights, things I knew nothing about before this tour.

I made it to the end because I didn’t want to be one of the persons who disappointed Tasha. Every time I thought of dropping out I thought about the fact that I wasn’t doing so because my schedule was packed, or I had more pressing and important things to do, but was doing so because I didn’t believe I could do it, and then I would go read the posts in the group and there was always an encouraging word from Tasha; offering tips on how to do the post, where we can inspiration from, inviting persons who were encountering problems to share the problems so she could work with them and so much more. I made it to the end of this tour without missing a post because of Tasha Turner’s encouragement, leadership and support. She is not only a brilliant and magnificent individual; she is also a great leader, guide and friend.

So now I congratulate myself for making it here and I hope I can continue to post at least weekly, using the knowledge I have acquired from the blog tour and keep all you new supporters on my blog entertained.

Thanks for the experience Tasha and all those who participated.

Excerpt from a promising new Romance Novel by Linda Bolton

This week on the blog tour we are sharing excerpts from our books; whether we are published, finished writing, still writing, or editing. My guest this week is romance author Linda Bolton and she shares an excerpt from her first book Perfect. Leave a comment for Linda and let her know how you liked her excerpt, make suggestions, or just leave one word that you would use to describe Linda's excerpt.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to my guest Linda for her excerpt and blurb.

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My first book, Perfect, is still searching for a publisher. I hope you like the excerpt.

Perfect

Alexandra Daniels is a forty-something, hard-working mom, wife and employee. Her life has been plodding along at a snails pace and she’s longing for excitement. She wins a trip to her favorite talk show in New York, the Veronica Becker Show, and it just so happens the actor of her dreams is a guest, Derek Dunbar! Is Alex’s life about to change?

Derek Dunbar is Scottish, an actor and a hunk! Every woman in America drools after him. He has his pick of women but stinks at relationships. At forty, is he longing for a more meaningful relationship? Does he even know how to have one? Is he willing to make the effort or will it just be too complicated?

Chapter 1

Alex sat in her chair, her eyes wide, staring at the screen.  She loved the Veronica Becker Show and was a faithful viewer.  During her lunch hour at work she would rush to the break room to turn it on.  Veronica had viewer contests every week.  Alex had never won anything but that didn’t prevent her from signing up each week in hopes, knowing full well the likelihood of winning was minimal at best.

“Today one lucky viewer will win a trip for two to visit New York and my show.  An all expense paid weekend!” announced Veronica Becker, touted as the ‘Every Woman’s Woman’ by national magazines. 

Veronica Becker had become a household name, a chef for the everyday woman; quick, inexpensive meals that were tasty too.  Veronica had taken her love of cooking to television and added a bit of fashion, some down to earth chat with the audience and  interviews with the latest stars.  She was  health conscious and wanted the women in her audience to look their best at any age. She also loved to give things away. Coming from a modest family she believed in giving back. Generous to a fault, if there was an earthquake somewhere, a typhoon, or tornado, Veronica was there to help out.  

“Our winner is Alexandra Daniels of Plano, Texas! Congratulations! We’ll be giving Alexandra a call today!”

Her co-workers were staring at her. Had she really won?

“Alex! That’s you! You won!”, they all shouted.

“Oh...my...God! I can’t believe it! I won!”

Alex had the hardest time concentrating the rest of the afternoon.  As a customer service rep for a marketing company, she was usually swamped with work but couldn’t concentrate. Two o’clock rolled around and Alex’s cell rang, a number she didn’t recognize.

“Hello?”

“Is this Alexandra Daniels?”
“Yes it is”
“Alexandra, this is the Veronica Becker show. I am pleased to tell you that you are the winner of a  trip for two to New York City and tickets for the show.”

“I can’t believe it! Are you sure?”  Alex was still in shock.  She wanted to make sure there was no mistake.  Josh would never believe her.


"Yes, you’ve won! We will send your tickets out next week. Your trip is for April 15-17.  Can you make it those dates?”

“Oh yes!  I’ll make it work! Thank you so much!”

“We’ll get back to you Monday to finalize the details.  Have a great weekend!”

“Oh, I will now!” Alex was amazed! It was true, she actually won! She was already mentally packing when reality hit.  Josh would never take off work to go.  Maybe Mattie could go with her....no, she had school.  She could ask Kathleen, her best friend and co-worker, but they couldn’t take off at the same time.  Kathleen was her back up so one of them had to be there. No, she’d have to go alone. Well, it was about time she did something adventurous.  This was probably the most exciting thing that had happened to Alex in a very long time.

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Linda Bolton is an aspiring contemporary romance writer.  She is looking for a publisher for her first book, Perfect.  While working on a future projects Linda can be found:

On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/linda.bowersbolton

and http://www.facebook.com/lindaboltonauthor

On Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/#!/lindalou42 

Her romance blog at http://www.lindabolton.blogspot.com

How Did We Get to the Beginning?

You have read a novel, enjoyed the scenes, got involved with the characters, shared their sorrows and joys and then when you close it you wonder: How do these people come up with this stuff?
Well here today on my blog to enlighten you to the process of how he comes up with his story and characters is the talented science fiction author Raymond Frazee. Raymond is also one of my colleagues on the story blog StorytimeTrsyts and is featured every Monday.
So, sit back and about Raymond Frazee process of writing and creating characters:

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How did we get to the Beginning?
by Raymond Frazee

Characters and novels.  Jeez, not too much to deal with, is it?  Well, I’m a wordy guy, so hang on as I tear up the countryside to talk about my biggest, but as yet unpublished novel . . .

When I started writing Transporting, I had a very nebulous concept:  guy gets kidnapped to the future, something happens to him, gets über psychic powers, falls in love, goes back in time to see aliens, fights to save them.  There is it:  that’s the story.

 I had a core of four characters—well, five, but you gotta see how I did that.  So, where to start?  How about characters, and how I came up with them?  Sure, you got it.

 First, let’s look at the kidnappers.  As I have in my novel’s notes, here is one of my main female characters, Cytheria:

  

Her Grace Lady Cytheria Lakshanya Warington, Duchess of Scoth, Marchioness of Windslade, Countess of Magdalen ("Cy") (29)

Born Scoth, May 7, 3153 (GS)

Daughter of Duke Scoth, Jeremy (60), Deputy First Speaker for the Council of Lords, New London, and Duchess Scoth, Amishi (deceased). Lady of the Royal Courts of New London, Scoth and University, OHE, CH, PC, FRS. Matriculated Lady Margaret Hall, (3171) with BA in History-Sociology.

Diagnosed as a controlling Talent, 3164. Diagnosed with controllable multiple psychic abilities, 3166. Diagnosed as "psychic twin" (PT) candidate, 3169. Registered with Security Service (MI5) Department of Extraordinary Government Assets (DEGA) (Gifted Beings Division) and Ministry of Science Advanced Psychic Abilities Division (APA) as an Aptitude A-3 Psycho-Manipulative Individual (PMI), 3172. Rating upgraded by DEGA/APA to Aptitude A-1A (Classification Special, PT-Transient) Psycho-Manipulative Individual (PMI), 3177 (GS).

Minor Fellow of Magdalen College (New Oxford). On extended research sabbatical attached to the Quantum Studies Department, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University.

Now, when I started thinking of her back in the late 1980’s, I imagined her as this short, curly-haired woman with a demanding aura, and just a bit on the snooty side.  The person I saw her as—at that time—was Sarah Sutton, who isn’t very well known in the U.S., but is better known as having played Nyssa on Doctor Who.

By the time I started editing the novel in the early 2000’s, I saw her moving away from being small and demanding, and a little more—I guess you could say real looking.  I began envisioning her as being taller and far more curvaceous, as one might hope that twelve hundred years down the time line, society isn’t going to continue perpetuate the Death Camp Survivor look for women, and let people be people.  I still wanted her to have a certain air about her, one that said, “My family has been noble born for 12 generations,” but not so haughty that she’d end that statement with, “Suck on it, commoners.”

 But when it came time to finish the novel, I was struck with something else, something that I hadn’t considered when I started writing the novel over twenty years ago.  After twelve hundred years, humanity would become pretty crossed up, ethnicity-wise, with dozens of generations of intermingling.  One of the major things I changed was Cytheria’s mother, who was a descendent of generations of Indian/Hindustani culture.  So now Cytheria was not only a lovely, curvy, full-figured woman, but one with darker eyes, hair, and skin, than her original concept.  Which is how she remains today.  Still a bit haughty, though:  make certain when you address her, you know you’re speaking with a duchess . . .

Now, for the guy who pilots the time machine:

 Sir Dr. Thomas McCrimmon ("Tommy") (34)

Born Aberdeen, 6 March, 3148 (Galactic Standard [GS])

Director of the Theoretical Sciences ("Quantum Studies") Department, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University. Schrödinger and Hawking Chair (New Oxford), Honorary Lucasian and Newton chair (Cambridge Intergalactic), Knight of the Realm, MHE, PC, FRS, Fellow of Magdalen College (New Oxford), Fellow of Darwin College (Cambridge Intergalactic), Nobel Prize for Physics (3177), Schrödinger/Hawking Medallion for Practical Quantum Applications (3175), Einstein Prize for Physics (3174), Copley Medal (3173).

Developed and constructed Quantum Extra-Dimensional Conveyance (QEDC) ("Q-Scape") 3173-3176. First quantum dimensional transposition: 12 April, 3176 (GS).

 I made him Scottish because—why not?  I liked it, so never the mind.

When I put him together, I imagined Tommy looking a little like Peter Davison.  Why not?  Since Peter worked with Sarah, no reason why he couldn’t work with Cytheria.  His home planet, Aberdeen, was founded by a lot of people from Scotland, but that doesn’t mean Tommy is this pasty-skinned egghead.  He’s got a bit of a tan because, once again, finding someone who’s really light-skinned takes some doing.  (Oh, I have someone like that in a later story—it’s because she comes from a planet that goes around an orange sun.  And she’s somewhat Welsh.  Go figure.)

Tommy is smart:  he’s considered one of the most intelligent individuals of this era in history.  He lives simple.  He doesn’t like to put on airs.  He doesn’t suffer fools, but he’s not completely arrogant.  He actually comes to like the guy they kidnapped, Albert, because he knows, as big of a screw up as Albert can be, he’s also a bright guy who only needs a guidance.  A lot of guidance, but guidance nonetheless.

He’s also a guy who remains calm through most everything—even a discussion about an accident that could be more powerful than several supernovas going off at once, and wiping out all life within dozen of parsecs.  Why?  Science!  That’s why!

Lets bring in another doctor—the Psychic Doctor:

 Dr. Lynette Wesley (41) (GS)

 Born Tsavo, June 4, 3141

Director of Special Talents Development and Psychological Studies, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University. Rhine Chair (New Oxford), MHE, CH, FRS, Fellow of Magdalen College (New Oxford). Randi Emeritus Award (3165).

Doctor Wesley is a person who, when I started developing her, really didn’t have much of a personality.  She was the head of the department where all the shiny Talents when to learn their new-found abilities.  She set up the tests; she helped teach everyone; she kept everyone safe.  And if a Talent ever got out of line, she might just have to drop a dime on their ass and call in the SAS to smoke them.  Because her duty is to Empire and Queen first, the local citizenry second, and to crazy, fire-ball throwing Talents last.

Lynette is a very dark woman, the results of many generations of marriage between people of central and southern African heritage.  Her home world, Tsavo, also revolves around a star that is hotter and brighter than our Sun, and that helps darken her just a little more.  She’s tall and willowy, though “willowy” in the 32^nd Century is a lot different concept than willowy these days.  She’s not rail-thin, but compared to what would be the norm for women in this future, she’s a bit thinner—and this is something that often bothers her.  Oh, if only she could somehow gain those last five kilos . . .

And lets look at the guy who started all this stuff:  Albert Dahl.

Albert was from the 1980’s.  He was working in Chicago as a computer programmer.  He was alone, he was depressed a lot, he was bi-polar.  He had no one in his life, and he didn’t think he’d ever have one, so there came a day when he decided to end it all.

While hanging out at Navy Pier, he was nabbed by Cytheria . . . and as they used to say at Torchwood, Cardiff, that’s when everything changed.

See, when Cytheria was back in the 1980’s, checking on a bit of history, she felt something, and she followed that feeling to Chicago.  She found Albert, and she kidnapped him so she—with Tommy’s help—could have him tested by Lynette.  Never mind that what Cytheria thought about Albert being special was impossible, the feeling was still there.

 What no one knew was that Albert was special . . . because without him, there would have never been Audrey.

 Who is Audrey?  Audrey is Albert.  Or, I should say, she’s what Albert would have been had he been born a girl.  As quantum physics dictates, with unseen events, there are always both possibilities in existence until the event is observed.  So, in the case of birth, there is always a male and female baby until observation—at which point you could have a quantum wave collapse and two universes are created.  One universe had Albert, the other Audrey.

 Problem was, they were always connected.  Somehow—you know, those sub atomic physics are always an issue with me.  But there was some kind of connection there, and when Albert was removed from his environment, it caused things to—well, they got messed up.

As I say in the tale of the tape:

Albert/Audrey Dahl (29)

Born Earth (Terra), May 7, 1957 (GS)

 (Albert) Graduated Purdue University June 1982, with BS in Computer Science. Reported missing Chicago, IL, October 16, 1986. Case closed October 31, 2021, as unsolved. Date of Abduction October 13, 1986 (Monday) (October 11-12 was the date of second meetings between Reagan and Gorbochev.) Arrived New Oxford, University February 1, 3182 (Tuesday Local).

(Audrey) Much of her early history is currently unknown. Believed to have graduated Purdue University June 1982, with BA in Literature. Worked as copy editor, Entertainment Section, Chicago Sun Times, for unknown period of time. Date of disappearance unknown at time of this writing (3183 LS).

First Quantum Extra-Dimensional Transition (QET) occurred February 2, 3182 (Wednesday Local Standard). Second QET occurred May 13, 3182 (Saturday Local Standard). Registered with Security Service (MI5) Department of Extraordinary Government Assets (DEGA) (Gifted Beings Division) and Ministry of Science Advanced Psychic Abilities Division (APA) as an Aptitude A-1A (Classification Special, PT-Transient) Psycho-Manipulative Individual (PMI), 3179 (GS). Granted Extraordinary Duel Citizenship status by Royal Proclamation of Her Majesty Margaret II, Protector of the Interstellar Humanist Empire (IHE) and Defender of the Realm, August 23, 3182 (LS).

On extended attachment to the Quantum Studies Department, Magdalen College, New Oxford, University.

 Every twenty-five hundred hours, or so, Albert transitions into Audrey.  Everything in the physical body changes, but the mental part, the mind, the memories, that part all stays Albert—the rest is Audrey.  The upside to all of this is she links to Cytheria, and they become a very powerful entity:  Twins, who are like almost off the scale as far as abilities are concerned.  Not only that, but they’re mentally linked all the time:  they actually have to learn how to keep each other out, otherwise, they’re just chatting up a storm without ever physically saying a word.  Think of them as being like Jean Grey and Emma Frost if they both stopped trying to bang Scott, and decided to hook up and stay together.

It’s assumed the same thing is happening to the real Audrey, wherever she is, and that she’d going through a similar situation.  (Do I know, by the way?  Yes.  Am I telling?  Wait until that story comes out.)  And after twenty-five hundred, or so, hours, there is another transition, and it’s back to being Albert—and not having cool powers, not being connected to Cytheria.  But still having feelings for her, remembering how they were in their heads, how nice things could be . . .

So why the title Transporting?  It’s about change, about transition.  Going from being a no one to being someone.  To being powerless, to being a person that people will never want to mess with.  (I would love to get some artwork of Cytheria and Audrey together.  Cytheria knows cryokinesis and Audrey pryokinesis . . . Ice and Fire.  Yeah, I know:  been done.  But I still like them like that.)  It’s about feeling nothing, and being filled with desires and wants and needs.  It’s about having to deal with the idea that your life is always changing, and every time you turn around, something special—or horrible—may happen.

It’s also about the fact that at the end of the novel . . . you’re just going to have to wait until the novels—yes, the story is so big, it’s in three novels—are published.

And there you have it.  How my characters come to life, and how I do my titles.  At least that time around . . .

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Raymond Frazee has been writing most of his life, but only in the last year has he seen success.  His first story, Kuntilanak, was self-published, September, 2011, and is available at Smashwords, Barns & Noble, and Amazon.  His second story, Captivate and Control, is published by Naughty Nights Press, May, 2012, and is also at Smashwords, Barns & Noble, and Amazon.

Raymond is currently in the process of trying to publish a novel, and is working very hard towards his dream of becoming a full-time writer.

Follow Raymond on:

His blog, Wide Awake But Dreaming

On Twiter

On Facebook

On Pinterest

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So after reading this are you trying to figure out how your favourite characters or titles from your favourite books came to be? Are you a writer/author? Then share with us how your characters and titles come about, just leave a comment below. Let Raymond know what you think about his process and more. Don't be shy . . . ..

The beginning of a wonderful journey - with Cathy Brockman

I am excited; so excited than I am on the laptop at 8:00am on a Sunday morning. This is totally unlike me. I am excited to be apart of Tasha Turner Coaching's Virtual Blog Tour and also excited that my first guest is someone I know and admire. As I said to her last night; seems like fate is saying we should be working together :)
My guest post is up already too and you can check it out at Allison Bruning hosts Anjie Harte.

Anyhow, without further delay I present to you: Cathy Brockman and her many muses.

Why I write and what inspired me.

Hello! My name is Cathy Brockman and I am a writer. Well, actually I can truly say I am an Author, since I published my first book (though it is under my other personality  ... * Cathy Boyd - meet childlike muse. She waves* Luke’s Dragon; book one of the Dreamworld series. I have many other books started but that is for another story.

 Today we will talk about why I decided to write. I didn’t just wake up one morning and say “hey I think I am going to write a book”.  *muses give me the evil eye.*Well I guess it did kind of happen that way. Here is the whole story. It’s kind of long so you better sit down. *muses offer up a comfy chair and a tray of assorted teas and water. Sorry no coffee since its 9 pm here. Oh! Ok for the ones in the UK and other places where it is morning we will bring in the coffee pot. *sweet muse smacks my hand as I reach for it and hands me the bottled green tea*.

It was about a year ago in mid-April. I had recently retired from my job at Wal-Mart of 19 years due to a damaged nerve. I have chronic pain and seizures now and fall unannounced so I can no longer work and basically have to have someone around. I’d been lying about doing nothing but a little crochet and a lot of reading when the pain meds didn’t have me knocked out. I had gained a lot of weight. I was the heaviest I had ever been (yes I will admit I topped 200 and I’m only 5 feet.) I also became very depressed. About all I could do was read. I read both of Laurell K Hamilton’s series; the Anita Blake vampire hunter ( lots of books and the Merry Gentry ones also a lot), after I had read  the four twilight books and the entire collection of Sookie Stackhouse books  by Charlaine Harris. I moved on to Kim Harrison’s Hollows series. After I finished it, I read Patricia Biggs and Caitlin Kittredge’s entire series. Then in February, Kim released Pale Demon.  Yes, now we are getting to where my inspiration came from... (I know I ramble)

I had read Pale Demon twice; I loved it so I was obsessed. I daydreamed (well evening dreamed as it was mostly at night when I was relaxing in a nice hot tub with my Mp3.) This night in particular, I was  just about ready to  bring in my fantasy when Paralyzer came on the Mp3 player. Instead of Trent from Pale Demon showing up in my fantasy world, this tall  hunky werewolf shows up dancing (imagine Joe Mangenello with auburn red hair,  pulled back in a ponytail ,tucked into a shirt buttoned down low…(I ramble again.) I’m thinking wow… my own character. How cool is that?  So for the next few nights I had my own set of characters.  This was about a week before this April morning decided to get a grip on myself and lose some weight and cut way back on the pain pills.

One morning early in April, rejoined Spark people a weight-loss group sight, and was doing a spring boot camp to lose weight. This particular morning I got on to log in my calorie count, when a pop up popped up.  It said. “Have you ever thought of writing and selling your own book?” How odd. (You probably think not odd, happens all the time… except we have a good pop up blocker and don’t get popups and I haven’t gotten any more in a year now.. And yes it was a vanity ad for Iverse publishing. Anyone can write a book and buy a package and you have books.)But that was my plan at the time. Daughter had a birthday coming in July and I thought I’d write a book for her birthday. How cool is that?  A book by your mom?

 I got out a stack of composition books and a pack of pens and got busy. I started designing my characters.  Then I realized the story was off. How did these characters get to where they are?  So I started another story, a prequel but I hate prequels. So I decided that book one; the original book, one would be book two.  Suddenly a new storyline, and I had the makings of book three.  Then something crazy happened at the end of the third outline leading to book four. I had a series.(and I ramble again..) Back on track. I found out there was a lot more to quality writing than sitting down and writing words on paper.

 I started doing a lot of research, joining groups, making friends.  I read that you needed to start queries and social platforms when you first start writing. This was all new to me, and I had to brush up on basics since I have no training and been out of school a hundred years. *childlike muse gasps and dark muse grins flashing fang.* Well maybe not a hundred. Then one day far into the journey, well that fall, I posted a post something about a chapter I had written and had sent out a couple for critiquing. I had a couple ladies talk to me about it. They both were very helpful and told me how to  submit some queries, and was interested in some ideas and one introduced me to Tasha Turner to help  me  get on track  and polish m up. Tasha introduced me to Masterkoda group. From there I met a sweet lady ,Debra Welch, that also talked to me about the critiquing and asked to read a bit of my work. Then she asked for samples of all I had so far.  Then she said her and her partner at Saga Books would publish the first book of the series. Yes I have a contract for the first book and hope to have it out by year end.

In the meantime; the muses kept showing up and plot bunnies multiplied. I developed more stories. I decided one night to do a M/M romance (another story for another time) I call this thing 2 and my naughty muse was born.*Naughty muse smiles* Then one day thing 3 cropped up; a contemporary romance, or Chick Lit (sweet muse was born she curtsies).

 I got involved in a charity project, called the Gage project, and wrote a children’s story for it. My editor edited it for free for me and she liked it so much she published it also. So Luke’s Dragon is available on amazon for $2.99 and also in the Gage project. * And the childlike muse is born she waves frantically*. You can visit with me and all my muses on Thursdays when we do our weekly interviews at our lair at cathybrockman.com., and probably more often pretty soon.

As if all of this wasn’t enough,  I got the crazy idea of a story blog and My short story Love bites and my group Storytime Trysts was born. I developed it to give people free samples my writing style and to give a few friends the opportunity also. We have had ups and downs but I have learned a lot.  From both the blog and my whole journey.

Speaking of my journey I have an old blog on blogspot called my journey if you are interested in more details.

I hope I haven’t bored you to death *muses go around shaking everyone awake.* this is how I decided to write and became published. How Kim Harrison inspired me and this is just the beginning. So stay tuned for more. A lot more!!*muses open three drawers and show you all the folders of ideas! *Yep a lot more!!We hope you come back soon! Until then, here is a little about me and where you can find me!

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Cathy Brockman

Cathy is fifty years old (Shh! don't tell anyone!!) though she refuses to act it. She prefers to play with clay and write on the sidewalk with the Grandies (she has 10 of them). She lives in the hot and sticky mid-south and dreams of a cooler climates and making snowmen. She retired from her everyday job of 19 years, selling jewelry at Wal-Mart, to spend time writing books and creating her own jewelry and other cool stuff.

She likes to garden, cook, sew, and craft. When she isn't creating new recipes for her home-grown goodies, or making some cool plastic canvas creation or a pretty piece of jewelry, she can be found hiding in one of her many garden getaways, creating new worlds and getting lost in writing and sometimes reading a hot and juicy romance. She also hopes to get to travel a lot soon to get more inspiration and ideas for even more great stories to share with all of her friends. If you would like a free sample of her writing, go see Storytime Trysts for weekly episodes of her latest short-story.

Storytime Trysts:  http://storytimetrysts.blogspot.com/

links:  Facebook pages

 http://www.facebook.com/w.php?h=AeSD-ceCtrLEokxH#!/cathy.brockman1

Facebook: Cats reviews  http://www.facebook.com/#!/CatsReviews

Sian and Cathy’s chattime radio  http://www.facebook.com/#!/SianandCathysChatTimeRadio

Blogs and websites

 http://cathybrockman.com/

and my book under Cathy Boyd  my children and Ya page

 http://www.amazon.com/Lukes-Dragon-Lightning-Dreamworld-ebook/dp/B0079PD1Q4

*Cathy and muses wave and blow kisses*

What inspires you? Do you have a dream that you would like to see come true some day? Tell us about your dreams and inspirations in the comment section. If I can make mine come true so can you!! Thanks Anjie Hart for inviting us here today!