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

Author Interview - The Next Big Thing

I just got back into writing my current WIP and I thought about sharing some of it with you, and then something better came along. I was tagged on Jeri Walker-Bickett's blog to be a part of The Next Big Thing. I know what you’re thinking, “But we thought you were already the Big Thing.” How nice of you to think so, but I’m not quite there yet…I’m working on it though. The Next Big Thing is a promotion idea started on SheWrites website. It’s a great way to talk about and promote your current writings, so here I go, gushing about my next adventure.

 

What is the working title of your book?

My current novel definitely has a ‘working title’. As of now, it’s Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sarcasm.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea came from a few places. I recently read a book that had a protagonist struggling with loss and finding her identity in life, and then I read another book where the protagonist just was down on her luck, but it was told through humor.

These books made me reflect on my own life. About a year ago, I couldn’t find a job after 7 months of searching and decided to give my condominium back to the bank. I figured I’d move in with my mother until my boyfriend and I decided where we were going to live. As I was planning to move in with my mother and working on the publication of my novel, Net Switch, my mom passed away before both were accomplished. I published my novel two weeks after she died.   

At the time, it seemed like life was caving in on me, so these two books made me think about writing a fictional book about a protagonist who suffers loss and fights to find her place in life again. But I didn’t want it to be sad…I wanted my protagonist to attack her situation with sarcasm.

What genre does your book fall under?

In my endless search of learning and memorizing book genre categories, I’m still unable to find the perfect slot that my book fits into. I’d say it’s a romantic crime adventure or chick-lit.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

The protagonist would have to be someone who looks like she’s in or around her 40s. An actress who can toss sarcasm out like a truck driver tosses profanity. The one actress who comes to mind is Eva Longoria. During Desperate Housewives, I couldn’t stop laughing when she was on the screen. 

Her love interest would have to be a good-looking man who doesn’t flaunt it. This man is a guy’s kinda guy with a romantic flare and humor to match the protagonist’s. I can actually see David Boreanaz playing the part. 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

After a month in rehab, Brande takes on the role of crime fighter to compensate for her lack of money and home, and to use the time to reinvent herself.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will self-publish my book like I did with my other books. It took me a long time to be able to step back and find the flaws and strengths in my writing…and to be able to say, “Damn girl, that’s good.” I’m ‘my’ worst critic and best promoter. The publishing world is changing, full of self-published authors, and those still trying to get their name out there traditionally. I believe I found my place in self-publishing because I can stay true to myself, produce a professional novel that meets my standards and who else better to get the word out than my biggest fan—ME.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m currently working on the first draft, but I hope to have it published sometime next year.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It has the tension and smart mouth humor of both Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding and The Last Time I Was Me by Cathy Lamb.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

It was time. My misplaced life was about to end after we finally made the decision to move to Germany to start a home there. While I stayed with family and friends in the States, before crossing the pond, I took the time to read several books, which got me back into writing again.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I think the reader will not only be excited about the romantic tension that exists, but BDSM and a virtual world are also incorporated into the storyline.

It is my turn to pass it along to other authors, but unfortunately, all the requests to my author friend’s came back as too busy at the moment. I hope they’ll participate in this wonderful idea in the near future.

Life’s Pitfalls and Laughter,

Bea

Wednesday Woe or Whoa!

I’m the youngest of my siblings, the baby of the family, and a Wednesday Woe Child—supposedly a life full of grief and sorrow. I’m not saying I haven’t had hard times in my life, but I can’t say my life is full of misery and sorrow. I’ve lost some dear family members…but so have many other people in this world. It doesn’t make my life any different. Yes, I’m still struggling to get over the loss of my mother…at the present time woe seems to have a vise grip, though I’m thankful that I had her as my mom.

As a matter of fact, I’ve been blessed with so many things in my life. All roads lead to happiness, that’s if you look at the hard times as part of the learning process. Something good comes out of bad situations. I love and treasure many things I did and shouldn’t have done—they were some of the best lessons of my life. These were Whoa! moments when I had to stop and find my way back to the crossroad to find another road to walk. I walked away from men I loved, knowing that a life with them would not work out, and I wasted years not knowing what I wanted to do with my life—a lost child. During those years, I found my way back to the crossroads and picked another one with a plan.

And there were other Whoa! moments when I couldn’t believe the fabulous was happening. Like when I received my first semester of A’s and B’s on my transcript. When I became a LAN Administrator based on my abilities, not education, and this boosted my salary to a Whoa moment. The opportunities I took to travel abroad to see age-old buildings and observe other cultures with a Whoa. The day I met and fell in love with the Love of my life, looking at our past, present and future with nothing less than a smile and a Whoa! If someone told me years ago that I’d meet a man from Germany at the age of 40, fall in love, and plan to spend the rest of my life with him, I would have definitely responded with a, “Whoa! You’re crazy!” But also is a life of woe.

 An urban legend is all

it is of Wednesday woe

We choose each hall

to walk; every friend and foe

When we’re out of luck

with too much to tow

Avoid passing the buck

and get your life to flow

So when you hear it said,

“You’re a Wednesday Woe.”

Ignore the lingering dread

Step back and shout, “Hell no!”

Whoas and opportunity,

Bea

‘Til Life Gets Better

Memories of you constantly

slap my brain, squeeze

my heart—so I make a wish

to rewind time.

To a time when I didn’t feel so

lost because I knew you

were here—but now

lost is where I am.

A time when all holidays, birthdays,

and special events included you,

the constant in my life—but now

my constant is sadness.

A time when your voice

and laughter made me smile

inside and out—but now

I hear silence.

A time when you gave my life

purpose because you depended

on me—but now my purpose

is full of memory tears.

A time when you would say,

“You’re going to miss me

when I’m gone”—and now

I admit that you were right.

So now I must struggle with the

here and now—what was and

what might have been—‘til life

gets better.

I am Smokin’ Not!

Every year on this day I praise myself for a job well done – One Year and Second Year. I was talking to my mother yesterday about how quickly my three smokeless years went by. Since I quit smoking, I’ve acquired a new perspective on life, my sniffer is enhanced, taste buds are partying and I traded one butt for another.

I won’t be doing much in regards to celebration—job search and revisions come first—BUTT I plan to savor another smokeless year. Who knows, maybe something spectacular will happen today. I hope this inspires someone.

Tobacco surges

Through your veins

It’s time to Commit

Let go of the reins

Such truth be told

Throughout the world

Blow away your smoke—

Gray curled and twirled

Nicotine plants

a cancer kiss

trade in this loss,

for a life to reminisce

Cheers to another smokeless day.

In Memory

In memory, I think of how things use to be, how life has changed and not necessarily for the best.  I think of the laughter we shared, tears we dried and the periodic fights we had to enrich our lives in order for us to blossom.  To know love, to feel your hand in mine when letting it hang to the side wasn’t enough to deal with hardship.

In memory, your discipline and criticism didn’t go unnoticed as well as the care you gave to me.  When in doubt, your voice rang true and that smile let the wrong choices seem less disheartening.  Emotions ran rapid during certain periods in our lives, and in others, we simply coasted.  We laughed at each other's blunders yet sympathized with defeat in life.

In memory, your presence was like a coat of armor while you shared wisdom with everyone dear to you.  I heard you when you said I’ll be able to take care of myself, and you were right.  From all the memories, I now know why you said and did the things you did.  The sacrifices you made for others, and the pain you buried deep so no one else had to worry.

You all played your parts well, and I thank you for playing them out in my life.  Your voices have not faded, your laughter still is heard, and the wonderful memories held in my heart’s treasure chest.

Someday we will meet again, Ann Renee, Uncle John and Grandma, but until then your lives still plays out in memory. 

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