1 Week to go

I can't believe it is only 1 week to the launch of my very first book. What things am I doing to ramp up for this monumental event, you ask? I stained a portion of my back deck. Yes, the glamorous life of a writer doesn't change when the books get ready to hit the shelves. I thought the day I sold my first manuscript, things would be different. But I still did laundry that day and cleaned the house. I mean really, that kind of sucks. I limo should have whisked me away to some charming restaurant only the select and famous could get into and I should have been embraced by these new found peers, while sipping champagne and telling amusing anecdotes. No limo. No fabulously exclusive club. No champagne. Just dirty socks and a vacuum cleaner.

Now with the launch, of course there will be that elusive limo ready to whisk me off to the officially published ultra exclusive club to sip champagne but Tuesday is the night I have to put out the garbage on the curb so probably not....

-Serena

So, does the carpet match.....

I have been offline for a couple of days. Still offline, technically. I am on a borrowed computer with borrowed internet access. You see, I am having the carpet replaced in my office in anticipation of selling my house. So as the nice carpet guys needed my office clear of, well, everything, I disassembled my computer and hauled everything out in boxes. They arrived, promptly ripped out my carpet and realized they didn't have my carpet in the van. Seems my carpet is on back order. Yes, that's right. BACKORDER. They left, ever so apologetically and today (at least they hoped it was today) they will return to replace the carpet. Sigh.

In other news, I just received a copy of my release book for Braced2Bite and its is gorgeous. They embossed, yes embossed the cover title and my name. I was tickled to see that, don't ask me why. My author photo turned out great and very large on the inside back cover. With photo credit to my dear friend Heather who took my author photos. As a matter of fact, Shannon went to Heather this week for her author photos as well and they turned out gorgeous. I think we had Shannon a little nervous when we joked about the 'nudes' Heather took. hehe.

As soon as my computer is back up and running, I will post a picture of me with all my precious books. So happy. Less than two weeks to go until release. Yahoo.
-Serena

Tagging

Not the graffiti kind, but the kind where you are 'it'. Christina tagged me so I guess its time for me to bare my soul. Get ready to discover how boring I really am.
Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. 40 year old Virgin
2. Serenity
3. Shawshank Redemption
4. 4 Weddings and a Funeral

Four of your favorite flowers:
1. Calla Lillies
2. Gerber Daisy
3. Bird of Paradise
4. Tulip

Four magazines you buy or subscribe to on a regular basis:
Uh, none. I don't subscribe or purchase any. How is that for sad?

Four of your own childhood toys still in your possession:
Uh, none. How is that for Barbaric? If I did, it would be my Wonder Woman and Darcy doll.

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Bones
2. Lost
3. Alias (yes, even though it sucks I still want to watch the end of the series episodes coming out in a couple of weeks)
4. Malcolm in the Middle

Four recurring nightmares you tend to have:
Uh, don't have nightmares. Can only remember ever having two as an adult. As a kid I used to dream I was falling.

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. London
2. Scotland
3. Hawaii
4. Florida

Four languages you can speak:
1. English
2. Game Geek Speak
3. Baby
4. Writer Geek Speak

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Alone, anywhere without responsibilities :)
2. In my new house
3. Somewhere warm
4. With my friends

Four of your favorite foods:
1. pasta anything
2. goat cheese, spinach, roasted pepper pizza
3. cheesecake
4. Chicken Tiki Marsala

Four of your favorite alcoholic beverages:
1. Amstel Light Beer
2. Cosmo
3. Reisling wine
4. Whatever someone else is buying :)

Four of your worst vices:
1. Plu-ease, me? Vices?

Four accomplishments you’re most proud of:
1. Writing my books
2. My kids
3. Surviving a divorce
4. Choices in my life

Four of your biggest fears:
1. Failing as a parent
2. Not realizing my full potential
3. Losing my sense of self
4. Drowning (In know, last one is way out of left field)

Four of your most irrational fears:
1. Drowning (oh, it's irrational, I get it)
2. Losing my talents
3. Going crazy
4. Uh, still thinking

Four genres of radio stations pre-programmed in your car:
1. Classic Rock
2. Eighties

Four items you always carry in your purse:
1. Tazer Gun (hehe, now you'll think twice about messing with me. Does she really carry such a thing? I'll never tell.)
2. Lipgloss
3. Wallet
4. Checkbook

Four things you look for in a mate:
1. Sense of Humor
2. Intelligence
3. Generosity
4. Sexual Stamina (yeah, like you aren't looking for that too. I just had the guts to put it down)

Four things (realistic) you want to do within next five years:
1. Take a vacation without the kids
2. Write in two genre
3. Write for two publishers
4. Go to New Zealand

Part 3: Writing is like American Idol

I believe this will be my last comparison post between writing and American Idol. I had an epiphany last night while watching AI. It took the second to the last contestant, Katherine McPhee to finally call Simon out after he kept giving bad reviews of the song choices. Finally, she just said, "It is okay Simon. You just dont like country music." And he agreed. Then it hit me. Well, not really hit me as so much reveal itself to me. Maybe you just dont love the genre you are writing or the voice you are writing in.

Good old Chris did a pretty good job seeing country and I know its a genre he does not love, but many of the other contestants looked visibly uncomfortable and flat out didnt care about the song. Country music is about storytelling and emoting emotions. You have to get that in order to sing it well.

How many times have you heard "Write what you love or it will show". Last night was a perfect example. Only two contestants really love to sing country music and last night, it showed. Bucky and Kellie were the bright stars, seeing what they love. You will shine as well if you write what you love. If you try to write a genre because it is hot or write to a trend because everyone is buying it, you wont succeed. Especially first time authors. The story wont come naturally and every page will be a struggle. It will show from the very beginning. Is this the reason your manuscript isnt done? Could this be why your stuck and nothing will flow?

Be true to yourself and love what you are writing, screw the trends. If you love to write chick lit, but they arent selling, then write a romance with a chick lit voice. Keep the elements of chick lit you love and give a popular genre a new twist. It can be done and then you will be the bright star that shines.