Author Solutions Speaks Out to RWA

Writers: Do you believe this is a new opportunity?

Readers: Do you believe this gives you more choices in books to read?

Jill James

No Pain No Gain

At the gym

Or as Private Tim’s Army recruiters say, “Pain is the body’s way of getting rid of weakness.”Not sure I like either one of those sayings, but my first workout with a personal trainer at the gym just about killed me. I was fine during the workout, I was fine on the way home. I was fine until I sat down to eat lunch and couldn’t get back up. It took four days to start walking without pain.

When you are with a personal trainer you definitely overdo it. You have this person who seems to believe in you, at least for the 30 minutes they are with you. “Come on. You can do it. Just one more.” Why is one more never actually one?

I love to exercise. I love the endorphin rush. I love seeing my body reshape. But, I think I’m one of those people who doesn’t mind if it takes awhile. I don’t need to lose all my weight in one workout. Slow and steady won the race and I am definitely the tortoise.

Do you exercise great on your own? Or do you need a buddy or coach?

Jill James   

 

 

 

 

Private Tim M.

We now have an army private in our house. The US Army’s latest; Private Tim M. He already seems like a different person. He is proud of what he has accomplished and what he will accomplish. My friends know the story of the on-again, off-again physical. But, he finally got to go and passed.

Now he goes to mini-bootcamp, which is physical training with the recruiters and learning army stuff online. Things like ranks, insignia, saluting, and drills.

Bootcamp is in April at Fort Benning, Georgia. Of course I think I’m already learning the army way and that could change, one never knows. Be prepared. Be ready. Be Army.

Jill James

Unwind – Neil Shusterman

I am endlessly amazed by the plethora of plots, genres, and talented authors when I stroll into the YA/Teen section of my local Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

When I was a YA/Teen there were no YA books. One either read children’s books or adult books. I went from Little House on the Prairie to Joanna Lindsey, Jennifer Blake, Heather Graham, and Rosemary Rogers.

The other day on the Murder She Writes blog Allison Brennan had her daughter on there to discuss her likes and dislikes of YA books and authors. She recommended Neil Shusterman’s Unwind. I was hooked from the backcover. The plotline is intriquing to say the least, the writing is excellent, and like most YA’s is fast-paced and easy to read. The story carries you along on the journey with three different but alike Unwinds; young teens who are ordered unwound by their parents and the state. In this futuristic tale killing any child is not allowed, life begins with conception, but between the ages of 13 and 18 a child can be unwound, taken apart, and parceled out to others an organ, tissue, or limb at a time. It is the belief that these children are not “killed” but still alive in thousands of other beings.

Even if you are not a YA/teen this is storytelling at its best and I will be getting other Neil Shusterman novels in the near future.

Do you ever read other genres than your usual? Do you ever venture into the YA/Teen section?

Jill James

Janet Reid, Literary Agent

Janet’s Blog

 

Janet Reid, Literary Agent has a great blog.  She keeps it up to date and relevent with information any writer could make use of in their writing career.

I try to visit it at least once a week and backtrack to read the week’s posts.  Don’t miss a chance to have useful information about the publishing world.

Jill James

 

 

Strong – Army Strong

Today I have to take my son to the recruiter so he can take his physical to join the army. I’m proud, don’t get me wrong, but I’m so nervous. This is my baby we are talking about. Okay, he is 6 feet tall now, but still my baby.

This is what he wants to do. He wants to be a CSI somewhere down the road and this is the path he has chosen to get there. The world is his and at 19, almost 20 he gets to choose what direction his life will go.

Being a mom is hard. We spend their whole lives trying to make them independent, able to think for themselves, to make their choices. Then, we have to live with the choices they make. I think moms need to be Army Strong too.

Jill James

My Wish For Christmas

My wish for this Christmas is lots of happiness and joy to my family and friends wherever you are.  I wish for lots of good food and good friends around the table. I wish for all to receive the joy of the season and never forget the reason.

My wish for this Christmas is all to be together. I wish for yuletide friendship and joyous family times.

My wish for this Christmas is to remember those no longer with us and remember the wonderful times we used to have.

My wish for this Christmas is to feel close to everyone I love even if they are far away.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!  Jill James

Devil of the Highlands – Lynsay Sands

Devil of the Highlands

I discovered that Lynsay Sands, who writes my favorite vampire series, The Argeneau Saga, writes historicals. They are amazing. They still have her sense of humor and voice, but in a historical setting.

I just finished reading Devil of the Highlands. Cullen, Laird of Donnachaidh is a hero any heroine would swoon over, if he would just talk to her. Evelinde is a heroine any hero would die for, if she would just stop demanding he talk about his feelings.

I can’t wait for my next trip to the bookstore to pick up some more Lynsay Sands’ historicals.

Jill James

Grandchildren

My grandson spent the night on Saturday. He and his mother moved out of our house a few months ago after living here for four years. Yes, four years. I am so enjoying my peace and quiet. So, when Alex visits it is always amazing to hear him chatter. He can chatter for hours about his toys, his video games, and his days.

There are times I miss his chatter. When he visits I’m reminded of how much I love to hear him talk. He has a vivid imagination and anything he is thinking just tumbles out. Ahh, the joys of being 7.

We recently took him to Disneyland. He had so much fun. He talked for hours about each ride, each character seen, each meal we had. Everything on his mind is out there for the world to hear.

Perhaps he will change with age, his thoughts will become his own. But, I hope not too soon. I like my glimpses into Alex’s imaginary world.

Jill James

Here comes the rain again…finally.

Here comes the rain.

It is raining in Northern California. It is expected to rain all week. On one hand this is a good thing, we need the rain here in Nor Cal. But, on the other hand, doing errands in the rain-soaked day is not fun.

 

I wish I could just start a nice fire, cuddle up with a blanket and a new book, but alas, it is not to be so. I have errands to run that can’t wait. Christmas cards that have to be mailed, checks to be cashed, and places to stop and see people.

So, out into the rain I go, thankful that unlike the Wicked Witch I won’t melt.

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

Jill James

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

In my neck of the woods we celebrate Pearl Harbor Day. We have a lighthouse on the top of nearby Mt. Diablo. Every December 7th the survivors of that infamous day gather on the mountaintop and turn on the beacon for all to see all night long.

One year we made the trek up the mountain with our cub scout troop. The boys were in awe to hear  the tales of Pearl

USS Arizona Memorial

 Harbor, to meet the men who had been there. Before we went Pearl Harbor was just a place to the boys and December 7th just a day. They applauded those men who had been there when they weren’t very much older than our cub scouts themselves.

If we don’t remember our history, we are destined to repeat it.

Jill James

The Holidays

Happy Holidays

I always think of the holidays as starting when I go to my first party. Tomorrow is the Christmas Party for the Black Diamond Chapter of RWA. This year we are going to a restaurant. I feel like a party girl. I bought new clothes, going to a fancy party, gonna have some fun.

How do you celebrate the holidays before the official holiday?

Jill James

GalleyCat

GalleyCat is a great place to learn what is happening and why in the book publishing industry. As their website says, The First Word On the Book Publishing Industry

If I’m looking for more details or little known facts about whatever brouha is brewing in book publishing land, I head there first.

Today they are discussing quirky book trailers.

Jill James

My Golden Heart Adventure

I haven’t entered RWA’s Golden Heart contest for unpublished authors for a couple of years because my last scores were so bad I was sure I sucked as a writer. No — just that story.

So I decided to enter this year. Did really well getting the money and entry in on time. No problem.

I knew I needed to rewrite chapter 1 because it just wasn’t working. I waited…and waited…and waited to do it. Until I noticed Thanksgiving fast approaching. Plunk myself down, shut office door, put on earphones and didn’t come out until chapter was done. So far so good.

Sent GH entry to CP to look over. She was nice and fast and very, very helpful. Thank you Keri.

Noticed with rewrite of chapter 1 a whole lot of other stuff needed to be changed too. Oops!! Got it all edited and pulled together Thanksgiving morning. Yeah! Ahead of personal schedule.

Today I print out the 6 copies of partials, 6 copies of synopsis, and burn CD of full (All by myself, no son help). Put synopsis with partial, read directions at RWA National, pull sysnopsis from back of entry and put in front, add binder clips.

Go to UPS store. Give them address, they box it all nice for me and everything.

Celebrate with Starbuck’s, go home to check email and see CD in case on desk. Oh Sh@t!!! Run back to UPS store and pray it hasn’t been picked up yet, it hadn’t, UPS guy having lunch first, get them to open box and put CD inside, reseal box and thank them very, very, very much.

My getting-the-GH-entry-in adventure  Jill James

Being Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I’m thankful that Thanksgiving is only once a year — I hate turkey.  I’m thankful the dinner is at my sister-in-law’s house so I don’t have to cook the turkey I don’t like.

I’m thankful for my family. We were all just at Disneyland and it was amazing to be with everyone!!!

I’m thankful for my friends. They are the best and believe in me so much that I start to believe in myself.

I’m thankful this year for all the blessings I have received. Our daughter is once again out on her own. Our grandson is happy and healthy and soooo smart. Our son is maturing and finding his way.  My husband is the best man in the world and I am so thankful for every day I get to spend with him.

Jill James —– Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Disneyland

Just got back from Disneyland with grandson and nephew. I love seeing some place through a child’s eyes, but nowhere better than the magic kingdom. This was my first time to see it with the Christmas decorations. No words can describe the magic and sense of awe of being there at this very special time of the year.

 

 

 

Hoping everyone has very Happy Holidays.

Jill James

Disaster Rubbernecking

You know the people, you might even be an unwilling participant. The ones who slow down at an accident scene, drive as slow as possible, and crane their necks until you just know they will need a chiropractor tomorrow, to gaze at the scene.

The past few days have been like that for RWA members. I won’t go into details on my own blog because their is more than enough all over the blogosphere. Just Google RWA and Harlequin Horizons and BLAM! it will hit you upside the head.

This post is more about the fascination we seem to have about watching the disaster unfold. Unlike a real accident scene the blood and gore of this fiasco is only of the ‘word’ kind. Never forget though, that real people are behind the scenes of this Titanic. For all the ‘unrecognizing’ and ‘rescinding’ involved, those words represent real people, authors who are confused right now about ‘what it all means’.

I have spent the last two  days ‘rubbernecking’ the whole RWA/Harlequin Horizons event in the mistaken belief that I need to be informed about these things. I do need to know, but I also need to write, which is something I haven’t done for two days as this all unfolded.

So, I’m pulling my head back into the car, staring straight ahead, knowing my organization will let me know what is being decided while I do what I’m supposed to be doing — writing.

Jill James

At the Speed of Light

This year seems to be whooshing by at the speed of light. It was just summer and we were melting here in Northern California. Whoosh!! It is almost Thanksgiving.

In our household the Christmas tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving so we usually are all done Christmas shopping by now and the presents are all wrapped and ready to go under the tree. We were so behind we had one Christmas present purchased. So Saturday we went Christmas shopping and now we are 90% there. The only thing left is a trip to the toy store for the children in our family.

You have not been Christmas shopping until you’ve gone with my husband.  We spent one hour in Penney’s and had almost everyone’s present.  He’ll grab a shirt, looks like Uncle Tom, grab pants, looks like Tim, grab a sweater, looks like Grandma…..done here. LOL

He has no patience to spend a day out shopping, looking in windows, maybe stop for some lunch. He just wants it done and over. But, if I went by myself it would probably take weeks so we compromise. Ahh, the joys of marriage.

Jill James

Nanowrimo Day 9

My nano seems to have puttered to a stop. But, my editing is going like a rocket ship. So perhaps there is a reason for everything. The whole door/window analogy.

I’ve edited all 183 pages of my contemporary so it is ready to be submitted to an e-publisher.  I’m going to start editing my Golden Heart entry today so I can have a critique partner look it over and send it in before Thanksgiving.

I still have plans for Nano. If I don’t hit 50,000 words I’m not going to beat myself up, because I’ve done more writing-related stuff this month than I’ve done in months.

Just keep in mind the whole door/window thing.

Jill James

Nanowrimo

Otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month.  The brainchild of Chris Baty, Nano as it is called is a shoutout to writers everywhere to sit down for the month of November and write a book. 50,000 words by November 30.

I’ve done it for three previous years. This year has been kind of a funk and I need Nano to get the creative juices flowing again. My story for Nano this year is a haunting/Ghost Hunters kind of story. A romance of course.

You can buddy me on Nanowrimo — I’m there as mrsgodiva

Day 1 total – 1900 words.

Jill James