Is a writer's life really glamorous?

For some reason there is a myth that a writer’s life is glamorous, sort of like a movie star’s. To show what a wide gap there is between the two, and in the interest of having a bit of fun, I thought I’d compare a writer’s life to a movie star’s (with an apology to the fictional star):

Movie Star: Wakes up and leans over to kiss Brad Pitt, who looks deliciously tousled lying there beside her.

Author: Wakes up and reaches for her laptop, before she loses that state where dreams still feel like reality.

MS: Can’t resist the urge to wake Brad and indulge in a bit of morning sex. What woman in the world could deny the opportunity? Sighs with delight when the encounter is over.

A: Reads through the last scene of THE LORD OF ILLUSION, where her hero, Drystan Hawkes, makes passionate love to her heroine, Camille Ashton. Sighs with delight.

MS: Watches her nanny fix breakfast for her adopted children, and ponders the addition of another child to the family. Money is certainly no obstacle.

A: Grabs a chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk for breakfast while musing about adding a secondary character to THE LORD OF ILLUSION. A young girl who makes talking dolls out of sticks and mud. Word count is not an obstacle.

MS: Skips breakfast, and starts her morning regime of stretches followed by vigorous exercise and beauty treatments. She makes her money off her looks and must maintain them.

A: Her fingers start to loosen up as they get their usual morning exercise flying over the keyboard. Her creativity makes her money, and she doesn’t have to worry about her looks. Pops a chocolate into her mouth for inspiration.

MS: Drives her new BMW to the movie set, the wind in her hair, her favorite song on the radio.

A: Needs a change of scenery for additional inspiration. Moves her laptop outside to the patio and it works. The next scene for THE LORD OF ILLUSION springs into her mind: Camille looking exceptionally beautiful as she flies on a dragon's back, the wind blowing through her hair.

MS: Throws herself into her new role as a secret spy on a daring mission of intrigue, so into the part that she half-forgets her own identity, especially when she wields her gun as they escape the evil villain.

A: Half-forgets her own identity as she empathizes with Drystan when the magical scepters torture him once again with visions of fire and blood and death.

MS: The love scene with her co-star consumes her. Who can blame her when Mathew McConaughey is kissing her?

A: The love scene where Drystan uses his magic of illusion to seduce Camille consumes her. Who can blame her when the imagery seems so real?

MS: The set workers burst into applause as she finishes her scene. The director takes her to her favorite restaurant for lunch. An expensive place, but she’s certainly worth it.

A: Her dear husband of thirty years taps her on the shoulder, knowing that when she gets caught up in her book she’ll forget to eat if he doesn’t remind her. He doesn’t mind taking the time from his day to make her lunch; he thinks she’s worth it.

MS: Fatigue has lined her face. She cannot afford for the camera to capture it, and calls it a day.

A: Fatigue slows her brain. She can’t afford a mistake in continuity, and calls it a day.

MS: Spends the evening with her loving family, content to leave behind the fantasy of her profession for the reality of a warm hug and a hot bath.

A: Spends the evening with her loving family, content to leave behind THE LORD OF ILLUSION for today, but eager to pick it up again first thing next morning. But right now she needs a warm hug and a hot bath.

My Magical Best,
Kathryne

Birthday Girl

One of us is having a Birthday. Guess who?

Nope. It's not Dani. But, Dani wanted to make her a cake.

She wanted the cake to look just like this.

But it turned out like this!

Dani wanted to have pretty candles on top.

But Dani was afraid it would look like this!

So we ate pie.

Happy Birthday Tia!

Tia Dani wants to wish all our Virgo friends and fans a happy birthday. We're thinking of you warmly and wishing you a birthday that will bring a lot of happiness to you. We're hoping that your day begins a year that's really special, a year when all your favorite dreams come true.

Be sure to watch for our, COME FLY WITH ME, from Sapphire Blue Publishing. Coming soon!

Have You Seen My Muse?

It seems every time we meet and chat with new readers, the subject of storylines always comes up. We get questions like: “How do you get your ideas?”, and “Do you ever get writer’s block?”

The answer is everywhere, and maybe.

We always have ideas. With the two of us, we can take a small idea and turn it into a full blown storyline over breakfast. And as for the writer’s block, that’s just when we’re too tired to think. There are too many interesting characters running around in this universe to worry. With our active imaginations usually working overtime, writer’s block isn’t something we are concerned about. However, finding the time to write our stories, that’s what’s difficult for us.

We’ve read a lot of helpful articles on writers block lately and they all give great advice on how to get your creative juices flowing. We’re sure you’ve read many of them yourself.

We thought you might like to hear some of our own tips for dealing with the attack of the dreaded writer’s block or how to come up with a new storyline.

Be an avid people watcher. We certainly are. One our favorite things to do while out and about, say lunching at our favorite restaurant, is to observe those around us. We see a couple across the room and decide to create an entire story about them. Out comes a notebook. Did they meet online and this is their first in-person date? Or, are they superheroes plotting how to save the world?

How about the great looking guy you noticed in line at the supermarket or Starbuck’s, have you ever considered him as the hero (or villain) in your next story.

The ‘what if’s’ are endless. And, fun. Here we are brainstorming with our friends.

If you’re still stuck, take a break and watch some TV. Watching television is a great way to get inspired. Daytime TV has taken a hit recently with all the soaps that have been canceled and replaced with more talk shows. Come on. Really? How many self help shows do we need? Wait, before we get all the comments about the stupid soaps, let us remind you, General Hospital’s Luke and Laura were household names and their GH marriage made the front of Newsweek.

But, if daytime TV isn’t for you then take a look at nighttime TV. Boy, there are some great ones coming this fall. Talk about cliff hangers and upping the stakes. Bones, where Temperance told Booth she’s pregnant? And, Castle? Oh, goodness, Montgomery involved in a cover up? Will Kate live? Of course she will since the show wasn’t canceled, but did she hear what Castle told her as she lay dying in his arms?

Some of our favorites for inspiration are, The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, NCIS, and Memphis Beat, and of course, Hawaii Five-O. The list goes on and on. Tia even draws some of her quirky characters or story twists from Midsomer Murders.

Hawaii Five-O Cast

Alex O'Loughlin.

Dani see him as her next hot hero. Tia sees Alex as a villian.

And the movies??? The wealth of ideas continues to be endless.

Still have writer’s block? Here’s another tip. Before you start working on your current project, relax, take a deep breath and think about all your wants and desires. Then take another deep breath, and after you exhaled slowly, say aloud, “I release all my wants and desires; all I need comes to me exactly when I need it.”

The story will come, trust us.

If not, there’s always chocolate and martinis.

Live your dream passionately.

Have a wonderful Week.

A Modern Day Romance Novel

He held me firmly but gently just above my elbow and guided me into a room.
I had never been there but I knew this was his room. I knew what he was going to do to me, and I knew I was going to let him. The door closed quietly and we were alone.

He approached silently from behind and spoke in a low, reassuring voice close to
my ear. "Just relax."

Without warning, he reached down and I felt his strong, calloused hands start at
my ankles, gently probing, and caressing upward along my tender calves slowly and steadily. My breath caught in my throat. I knew I should be afraid, but somehow I didn't care. His touch was so experienced, so sure.

When his hands moved under my skirt to my thighs I gave a slight shudder and
partly closed my eyes. My pulse was pounding. His knowing fingers continued upward across my abdomen, my ribcage. And then, as he cupped my firm, full breasts in his hands, I inhaled sharply. Probing, searching, knowing what he wanted, his teasing hands quickly moved to my shoulders and slid down my tingling spine. My entire body was throbbing when he discovered my pink, lace thong.

Although I knew nothing about this man, I felt oddly trusting and expectant.
"This is a man," I thought. A man used to taking charge. A man not used to taking "No" for an answer. A man who would tell me what he wanted. A man who would look into my soul and say...

“Okay, all done. Here's your purse, ma'am. Have a nice flight.”