Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

I’ve received blog awards before, but I’ve never heard of the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers award. It’s a cute name and it reminds me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novel. What makes the award special is that I received it from one of my internet sisters, Pat, who shares so many kitchen table stories. Please take the time to stop on over to Pat’s blog, Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom.

The Rules are as stated:

1. Provide a link and thank the blogger who nominated you for this award.
2. Answer 10 questions.

3. Nominate 10-12 blogs that you find a joy to read.

4. Provide links to these nominated blogs and kindly let the recipients know that they  have been nominated.

5. Include the award logo within your blog post.

Since I haven’t been blogging much, and the blogs I follow have received countless awards, I’ll refrain from passing it on and just answer the questions.

Questions and my answers

1. Your favorite color? Red.

2. Your favorite animal? Shakespeare (My Jack Russel/Maltese Mix dog)

3. Your favorite non-alcoholic drink? Water

4. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook. I don’t have the patience to go through a bunch of links. Not my thing. I’d much rather interact with people than read about celebrities, or click on links to blogs, articles, etc. BORING!

5. Your favorite pattern? This is definitely a question I’ve never come across before. I’d probably have to go more with style, which is Modern Country (Pottery Barn).

6. Do you prefer getting or giving presents? I prefer to give presents than receive them.

7. Your favorite number? 7

8. Your favorite day of the week? Actually, every day of the week that I get to spend with my husband is my favorite day.

9. Your favorite flower? Calla Lily

10. What is your passion?  To ‘live’ life, not just be a spectator.

Virtual Sisters and Awards,

Bea

Fogged Up Fairy Tale

I know I’ve been sleeping on the blog, but I have to tell you that it’s because I’m writing. As I mentioned before, I’ve been working on a women’s fiction/chick-lit book, and it’s in the revision stages.

BUT, I finally came up with a title and created the front cover. My current novel is called Fogged Up Fairy Tale and below is the cover.  

I am excited about this book because it is very different from Net Switch, and that alone challenged me. Fogged Up Fairy Tale is slated for publication in the Summer of 2014. If you get a chance, please stop on by my author website, http://www.authordenisebaer.com/, and browse around to check out the changes.

Chick-Lit and Sarcasm,

Bea

Too much, Too Little

I’ve recently read an article about James Franco, which posed the question, “What, Exactly, Is James Franco Doing?” In the article, it talks about his many works in the arts, such as acting, teaching classes, he’s in a band, writes short stories, but because of all his ambitious endeavors, it has left him with a “lack of definition.” He’s done so much, that you wonder just exactly who he is and what he is doing.

I like James Franco. This article made me think about him and his achievements, yet I never really thought about ‘lack of definition’. His movies range from blockbusters to artsy, independent films. He reaches to great lengths to stretch out and embrace his likes. But really, who is James Franco? What mold does he fit into? Would we be surprised with anything else he attempts to do? For me, I’d have to say I wouldn’t be amazed. James Franco hasn’t defined himself as an actor, band member, writer, teacher, so I somewhat lost interest in his continued new attempts in the arts.

Too much, too little. It made me think about writers and genres. If a writer spreads s/he wings and ventures out into several writing styles, do they lack definition? Will readers find it difficult to connect with the author, therefore discouraging interest in their writings?

In some cases, spreading yourself too thin can cause an over-the-top reaction—an undefined overachiever. With writers, I think attempting new styles of writing, such as screenwriting, poetry, and short stories, only enhances their achievements and makes us wonder about other possibilities. It’s a great thing for a writer to move outside their comfort zone and try new genres. Sometimes writing within one genre style can become one-dimensional. Then again, some writers want to be genre-defined. I think other styles of writing help spark the muse, and bring the writer to new levels. A writer showing diversity demonstrates to readers that they are not afraid to experiment, and experiment alone heightens interest because of the unknown—shifting away from the cliché and mundane writing styles of so many.

What do you think? Is too much, too little for writers, or does diversity spark more interest?

Too much and Definition,
Bea

Let Me Pick Your Brain!

Hello Everyone,

I am currently working on a women's fiction - chick lit novel, and I do not like the working title. I'd like to get your input.

If you have time, please read the brief synopsis below, and place your vote above. Any and all comments appreciated.

Brand Rye’s life has come to a halt. She’s lost everything—even her memory. After spending time in the hospital, Brand returns home to a husband she doesn’t remember, and a life that has disappeared overnight. Her husband, Easton, provides Brand with bits and pieces of her past while she tries to put it all together.

Brand starts to realize that she isn’t the person she thinks she is ... or is she?

Alcohol and loss are what brought Easton and Brand together. Once out of rehab, Easton offers Brand a place to stay for a price. With nothing left to lose but her sarcasm, Brand takes him up on his offer, which begins a whirlwind of adventure and sexual tension.

I thank you in advance for your time.

Denise Baer
http://www.authordenisebaer.com

Twerking to the End!

I finally finished my ‘first draft’ of my current WIP, which I started writing in November 2012. For a first draft, I’m pretty damn proud and excited about it. I’ll be marketing it as Women’s fiction – Contemporary Women – “Chick-Lit”. I’ve done my homework on genres and sub-genres, and I feel this is the best label for it.

At the present time, I’ve only been using a working title. Hopefully I’ll fix that soon enough.

The book is about a woman's struggle to find her true self. She loses so much—including her memory. As she learns about who she is, she must come to terms with her mistakes, and rebuild her life.

Alcohol and loss are what originally brought Easton and Brand together. Once out of rehab, Easton offers Brand a place to stay for a price. With nothing left to lose but her sarcasm, Brand takes him up on his offer, which begins a whirlwind of adventure and sexual tension.

Since this novel is very different from my dark, psychological suspense thriller, Net Switch, I feel a renewed sense of accomplishment. I want to write different genres and even attempt other forms of writing. I’ll admit though, I didn’t twerk while I was typing. I waited until I was finished with the last sentence.

If you’re unfamiliar with twerking, please watch this video, but don’t imitate her.

First Drafts and Twerking,

Bea

Renewed Friendship!

Within a 5 month time span, I reconnected with three old friends on Facebook who I haven’t seen in 20 to 25 years. All three of these women friends were in my life when I was 19-years old—a time when I was lost and confused—clueless of what or where my future was headed. Clouded times. Somehow (my memory fails me) we lost touch, most likely because we were all trying to figure out our ‘niche in this world’ (I know, so cliché).

During my summer vacation, I had the opportunity to see each of these women. Although time has passed, and we aged, failed and succeeded at things, we just picked up from where we left off. The time lapse didn’t create any awkwardness. A few of us cried when we first saw each other, and then our youthful spunkiness came to life. We listened and talked about what happened since we last saw each other, and where life has brought us to now. Back in the day, all three of these women stifled some of my sadness because of the great times and private moments.

I used to play softball with one of these women. There was a bar on the south side of Chicago that sponsored women softball teams. Every Sunday, during one of the hottest, most humid Chicago summers I can remember, we were out on a baseball field. No one on our team was serious about playing—it was all about the drinking. We stood out in the field with a cigarette in one hand, and a drink at our feet. When the game ended, which we usually lost, we’d head on over to the bar for an afternoon of music and pitchers of lemonade and vodka. Today this woman is a chef, has a beautiful home, a husband, and more to come in cooking and publishing.

I knew the other two women from high school. One of the women I continued to hang out with into community college with … and we forgot about classes when it came to guys. We wound up meeting a bunch of guys in our first year of college—two of them becoming our boyfriends. One evening, spruced up in punk fashion, we headed downtown to a bar called Medusa. Throughout the evening, we mingled with others and danced all night. It was a magical night, and one I’ve never forgotten. Today this woman has a Master’s degree, she’s a wife, and a mother to four children.

Last but not least, the third woman and I did the goofiest things—one being a total blond moment. I told my husband this story a week before she contacted me on Facebook. When we were 19-years old, we were going to a homecoming dance at a college near the Iowa border. My friend and I didn’t feel like taking the bus, so I took her for her driver’s license, she post-dated checks to buy a car, and we took off to this college. We had a blast that weekend. While driving home, we were hung over and distracted from talking. When we finally stopped, three hours later, we found out that we were in Omaha, Nebraska. We got lost in Nebraska coming home from Illinois. Figure that one out. We had a quarter tank of gas left and we had $4.00 to our name. A couple felt bad for us and gave my friend some money. Needless to say, we arrived home 12 hours later. Today this woman and her husband own their own business and she’s the mother of two children.

As crazy fun as it was back then when we were together, it’s been a beautiful experience reconnecting. I feel like they are supposed to be in my life now. These three very different women blossomed into three incredible women, and I hope our reconnection will foster a new fun-filled friendship.

Friendships and Hugs,

Bea