Blog Hop

I have been gone for a long time. So what better way to get back in the spirit of blog writing than to hop right into it. I was invited to play along by my new friend, author John Morey. Without further delay let's play "Getting to Know You".




If you could time travel and steal somebody else's novel/short story/film for yourself, what would it be?


Nothing. I couldn't possibly do something like that. The stories we write are part of our souls, our babies. Shoot I have higher expectations for my books than my kids only because I have more control over the words than I do them. They'll do what they want when they grow up. The thought of stealing some one else's work is enough to give me hives. I feel bad thinking about stealing a Crunch bar from out local gas station.


Now if I could time travel, preferably in a pretty blue box, aside from seeing the sites I would have to go back just far enough to publish my dark urban fantasy vampire novels without fear of that genre being overrun. I am still going to publish it. There isn't a doubt in my mind that when the right audience finds Birth of a Vixen they will love Veronica's story. Any way to ease the twist and turns through the marketing labyrinth to find said audience would be a dream come true.




What writing sin do you actively struggle against in your own work?


That is a simple enough question. And if you have had the awkward pleasure of being a beta reader you'll know my answer...tense changes. I write in first person. Therefore I write as if the main character is telling the story. Most of us don't keep track of our tenses while we speak. Well, same goes for my writing. That first draft is loaded with grammar mistakes centering around tense. I know. I warn my beta readers about it. Editing the send draft takes a bit longer than I anticipate because I spend so much time changing "is" to "was" and adding "-ed". But it is good to know ones flaws. It's the only way to grow. I am doing a lot better than when I first began Birth of a Vixen's first draft. Virus Within should not be as wrought with time inconsistencies.




Pick three writers, past or present, that you would want to have share dinner? Why those writers?


1) Joss Whedon. He writes screenplays and, I believe, a few comic books, Whedon is my number one. I've said it once and I'll say it again, "He's my hero."


2) L. J. Smith (Lisa Jane Smith). She was the first writer who captured my attention. I would fake sick to stay home and marathon Vampire Diaries, Secret Circle, Forbidden Game and (can't forget) Night World. These books still line the shelves of my office. I have four daughters. Three of them have read each book. The youngest hasn't simply because she is eight. Give her time. L. J.'s words entranced me, invoked my love of the paranormal to new levels, and empowered me as a young woman.


3) This is a tie because you can't have one without the other...Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth. When I first started writing Birth of a Vixen and learning about the publishing business I ran across these two wonderful ladies through myspace, but got to know them through their podcast, Paranormal Talk Radio. Through their crazy antics they taught me much about how the system works. They gave me hope. I think that earns them a steak dinner and chocolate desert of their choosing.




You have 42 words, write a story.


While on a picnic Princess Dani lost her cat. She searched the gumdrop woods until she, too, was lost. The young princess cried. King Candy heard her. When he found her he had her cat. Then he escorted them both home safe.


*My youngest will be so happy I used a Princess Dani story. Every night we do bedtime stories, usually a chapter a night with whatever book we are on, like lately we've been reading Mary Poppins. However when she goes to bed later than she's supposed to I tell her a grand Princess Dani tale. This was a shorter version of when Princess Dani lost Mr. Duke Whiskers (one of our rescue cats name is Mr. Whiskers).
**The Bog Hop questionnaire was brought to us by John Morey. He can be found on twitter via @ridureyu. Too see his answers or read other posts on his blog go to http://lucydecember.com/blog-hop/
***L. J. Smith's website is http://www.ljanesmith.net/
****Michelle M. Pillow official site is http://www.michellepillow.com/presskit.html and can be found on twitter and facebook.
****Mandy Roth official sire is http://www.mandyroth.com/ and can be found on twitter and facebook.