Just Imagine

Feeling chatty?

Welcome to my blog! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and read what's on my mind. I've a vicious sense of humor, an apprecation for romance and a mad addiction to writing.

Friday, June 29, 2012

The Deadly 777 Challenge


I was tagged by the talented, Linda LaRoque along with six other authors. My challenge is to go to page 7 of my current work in progress and post seven lines. When I'm done posting, I get to tag seven other authors. Hmm, who shall I tag? Oh and once I'm done, I challenge those seven to do the same and tag 7 more. Too much fun!

I just wrapped up my latest Work-In-Progress, The Tudor Revival (Calum’s Curse: Ultima Bellum) so I decided to snag seven sentences from that. *grins*

Here goes…

A light breeze caressed her face.

Seth said, “I want to live again.”

Something about the way he said it, even within her mind, set her teeth on edge, made her skin tingle with awareness. Opening her eyes, she gazed at the brief stretch of lawn and tried to focus on the slew of deep greens washed across the New England woodland.

Breathing became impossible. The mere concept of Seth's spirit so close made her knees grow weak.

And not because of the fact he might be a ghost.

My 7 authors to tag…

Hywela Lyn
Alisha Paige 
Skhye Moncrief 
Catherine Bybee
Beth Trissel 
P.J. Jones
Eliza Knight

Woot! Have fun all!

Sky

Sunday, June 24, 2012

My Own Little Amazing Indie Story

Did you know that I am with a publishing house and I'm also an independent author?

I am not the 'HUGE' success story about Indie authors that you might have read about on the internet.

But I’m not the small story either.

And so begins my tale.

It began last summer when my Dad went into the hospital. I know that sounds weird but within all the terrible heartache that went along with my Dad being sick, I was receiving emails from fellow authors about this great thing… independent publishing. Dad was aware of it. I’d talked to him about it, mostly with a frown on my face. I didn’t like the idea or concept. I am… was all about publishing houses.

But Dad liked the idea of me going out on my own. He saw somthing good in it. And darn if he didn't make me a believer. He made me see something in myself I had not seen.

Self-worth.

And that was a skip and jump to my writing. After all, my writing was ME. So I listened to Dad.

Write for me and my readers. Nobody else.

I knew I could. I knew I had to. Since I've independently published I’ve sold over 60,000 books in seven months. Pretty cool. But don’t let your jaw drop too far down. I didn’t make 60K. I wish! I made a small fraction of that. But with that small fraction I helped with Dad’s medical bills. With that small fraction I finally showed my husband that I haven’t just been typing idly for the past five year. With that small fraction I developed and met a wonderful new reader base.

That’s right. Five years.

Being a writer is a passion, an obsession and truly, an author’s whole world.

I can’t lie. I hope someday that I can tell you that I’ve sold millions. But I’m not there yet. Will be though! Promise. Because there’s nothing but ‘forward’ for me. Being an independent author is AMAZING. It is the future. It is the way that readers will discover so many wonderful authors!

This post is a SOLID shout out to the people who made this possible for me…

#1 Amazon- Can’t tell you how much I love them. They were there for me 100%.

#2 Barnes & Noble- A great site.

#3 Smashwords- They never let me down.

Today I’m still swimming through the wild world of publishing but I’m doing it with a smile on my face. How could I not?

Sky

Friday, June 22, 2012

The Power of a Book Cover

Hello all! I hope you kicked off the first day of summer in style. I spent mine poolside with my son. Day one of summer 2012 was all about the steamy heat wave sweeping over New Hampshire and my silly attempt to enjoy an orange creamsicle before it melted. Let’s just say the heat wave won. *winks*

But my summer also kicked off with yet another fabulous Tamra Westberry cover. I’ll tell you what, the woman ‘has my back.’ She NEVER lets me down. I tell her I love a cover, she says okay then sends me another version which I love even more. I tell her “This is perfect!” she silently shakes her head and adds more to it. By the time she’s finished my jaw has officially dropped.

I love her work.

Then again, I’m a sucker for a great book cover. After all, there’s power in a book cover. If there are people on it they should engage through emotion. If there’s scenery, it should make you stare and stare. A good book cover should capture a potential reader. That is the face of an author’s story, the selling point.

But you know that.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

To Blog or Not To Blog?

The countdown is on. It’s officially one week from the beginning of summer. Woo hoo! 

I feel like every time I post I’m saying sorry for not blogging more often but truly I am. Between finishing one novel, editing another novella and starting a new novel, my time is swamped. On top of that I have a six-year old son whom I love to spend time with. Which brings me to my latest topic, which I’m sure applies to many…

Should I worry about blogging right now?

For me, the answer is an inequitable YES.

Life can get super busy but my blog readers are just as important as my book readers and I’m sure some of you are one and the same. Either way, this blog is my passion and the past five years of chat have been a blast. Yep, A Writer's Mind blog is coming up on an anniversary in October but that’s better left for another post!

This go around I thought to keep the subject simple… to blog or not to blog?

Sunday, June 3, 2012

What's Your Perfect Ending in a Book Series?


That’s right. I got it done. I rock. Check me out. Party time!

Um... really?

*Snorts* C’mon. Seriously? I’m not that author. Never have been. Never will be.

But I AM both pleased and sad to announce that I’ve typed the very last word in my latest Calum’s Curse trilogy novel, The Tudor Revival (Calum's Curse:Ultima Bellum). Aye, I know, I should be popping the cork off the champagne bottle. But I’m not.

I never do.

This is the second such experience that I’ve had with closing up a series.

As it turns out, by popular demand, I will continue on with The MacLomain Series. Great! But my Calum’s Curse Trilogy has consumed my every thought for over two years. That’s a lot of time and heartfelt investment.

Now these characters are being let out into the world in their entirety. Yep, I feel like a mom sending my child off to his first day at school. I’m saying goodbye. Can you blame me for feeling a little freaked out? It’s a terribly vulnerable sensation. But it’s also such a profoundly proud moment. If you’ve written a book, you know what I'm talking about. 

If you’ve ever written a series, you REALLY know the feeling.

Friday, June 1, 2012

SIDEBAR...Yawning Dark Fissure in the Sun. The Milky Way is Crashing?



Astronomer's Corner Time!

There is a newly formed fissure in the sun. The Milky Way is colliding (AKA- crashing). An iceberg did flip over. An unmapped asteroid appeared three days ago.

Bet the title of this post got your attention. Very good! Astonomer's Corner is part of my quarterly newsletter and always worth the 'check it out!' While I have your attention, (off topic) this summer is going to be smokin’ hot with romance writers popping in to say ‘HEY!’ and offering up some mad giveaways in my Hot Summer Nights blog event. But for now, in these rare few weeks when I’m crunching to finish my latest novel, it’s super laid back at A Writer’s Mind.

It’s all about the latest and greatest and the wha??? That’s right, the eye-popping stuff.

Because I do take what's going on beyond this planet and right here on Earth very seriously I like to share what I come across. There's amazing stuff going on around us folks. Seriously. So worth paying attention to!

First off, my fav, the asteroid that was discovered shortly before it passed Earth two days ago. Yep, you heard me correctly, this little bugger was closer to us than many of our satellites and we discovered it 24 hours prior. Go technology, go! No pun intended. I think.

Here’s the recap…

University of Colorado Prof. Richard Keen has done something unusual. He observed an asteroid flyby with nothing but optics and the human eye.

SMALL ASTEROID BUZZES EARTH: Newly-discovered asteroid 2012 KT42 is flying past Earth today (May 29th) only ~14,000 km above the planet's surface. This means 2012 KT42 will actually fly inside the Clark Belt of geosynchronous satellites. The 3- to 10-meter wide asteroid ranks # 6 on the top 20 list of closest-approachers to Earth. According to the asteroid's orbit, there is no danger of a collision. Even if it did hit, this space rock is too small to cause significant damage. It would likely disintegrate almost entirely in the atmosphere, peppering the ground below with relatively small meteorites.

Awesome discovery. Thank goodness it was small!

Other cool things (Again, I think. Not too sure.) ….

Iceberg flips.

By Eric Pfeiffer

“A tourist has captured some rare and startling video of an iceberg tipping over. The tourist was traveling on a boat near the Upsala Glacier in Argentina and caught the unexpected moment.”

Very cool. Click HERE to read more and view video! (Worth the watch. You'll probably never see this again. Hope you don't.)


The Milky Way is doomed to crash with Andromeda…

“Our Milky Way is bound for a head-on collision with the similar-sized Andromeda galaxy, researchers announced today (May 31). Over time, the huge galactic smashup will create an entirely new hybrid galaxy, one likely bearing an elliptical shape rather than the Milky Way's trademark spiral-armed disk.” Says Mike Wall.

Click HERE to read more!

And of course, I saved the best for last (until the Venus transit of course).

According to my favorite site, Spaceweather.com

CORONAL HOLE: Spewing solar wind, a yawning dark fissure in the sun's atmosphere is turning toward Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the "coronal hole" during the early hours of June 1st.

Awesome! I love all of it. Label me odd but I adore all things nature and outer space. Lots of stuff in the news lately!

Be in touch soon with more from the wicked world of romance writing and unusual star gazing. Until then, be good my friends.

xo

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

An American Male? Heck Yeah!


I’m luvin'-life proud to announce that I’ve nearly finished the third book in my Calum’s Curse Trilogy titled, The Tudor Revival. This novel has been a long time coming and it’s surprised me at every turn. Why you ask? Well, frankly, I never knew an American hero could be SO FREAKIN’ HOT!

I know, odd thing for an American female romance writer to say but seriously… who knew? I’ve lived in the land of sexy highland Scots for so long that when I came up for a breath of air (that sounded dirty, but you know what I mean) it turned out the series had led me to a male born and bred on my very own soil.

A Boston guy to boot!

But the fact of the matter is I do love my New England boys. In fact, I married one. Perhaps it was because we shared a local, traditions, viewpoints, but mostly because I thought he was so damned fine.

Back to the point of why I posted this article. I’ve published over ten titles and all have had foreign heroes. Scotland, England, Ireland, France, Italy, you name it. Without doubt it’s because I've traveled and dated men from other countries but more than that it had to do with the country’s wonderful heritage and my extreme passion for the foreign experience. And c’mon ladies, those international loves keep on keepin’ on!

Now that I’m writing about an American guy, I’ll admit that there's a wicked freedom to it. Not only is he USA born but Seth is into the paranormal. He’s the dare-devil of ghost hunters. Almost like a sexy, supernatural warlock version of Zach from Ghost Adventures… you know the type. *winks*

I don’t have to worry about an accent with Seth. After all you can’t read how we ‘get tha butta out of the fridge’ here in New England. *hee hee* I can blissfully leave Goodwill Hunting’s attempt at our accent OUT of my book. Phew! I’m just saying it like I see it… like I know it.

I’m finally writing about a male who I know drove down F'ing 93 at rush hour. He dealt with traffic on Storrow Drive when the Red Sox were playing. And yep, he was RIGHT THERE when the New England Patriots were welcomed home after too many Super Bowl wins to count. Heck yeah, he sure as hell gloated!

Not gonna lie… all of this gives me the warm fuzzies. It’s super comfy writing about the American male. He’s nothing short of dish-me-up-sum-more wonderful. A truly tantalizing hero!

Truth told, I'll continue to travel the seas in my writing but this whole American hero thing is intoxicating and fun. No doubt about it, I’ll be back.

What are your thoughts? Does nationality really matter? In my world it always has, specifically that tasty breed out of the UK. But name the male, name the country, I’d bet he deserves his hay day…even my very own super delicious American males.

xo

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Author Apps. Are They For You?


I'd jump on board! Wouldn't you?

I recently indulged in the latest marketing tool because I feel it’s the wave of the future. And what is that you ask? My very own app!

It sounds amazing. In fact, it sounds downright ‘best seller’ aye? I mean seriously, people live on their cell phones now. I know I do. Yep, guilty. In fact, if my cell phone is out of my reach for over an hour I start going all wild eyed.

Am I alone?

Somehow I doubt it. Since the creation of the iPhone and Android, the world has entered the next level of technology. Yee haw! Absolutely LOVE it. And still not sure how I survived my childhood in the Atari and DOS ‘80’s. *winks* (Lots of ‘Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.’)

But we’ve arrived in an era in which I’m super thrilled to call my own. Things are going faster and faster. Every day there’s more and more. As far as tech goes, that’s just fine. A little overwhelming sometimes but still OMG’ish, right?

So now I have an author app. Yep, I took the digi plunge. Was it cheap? Not really. At an average of $400 a year, I’m hoping it will pay for itself. After all, people are starting to read books on their cell phones. In its own way an author app serves two purposes. The first, an instant Newsletter with daily status updates for fans AND a quick ‘click’ for readers to download your books while you’re on their minds. It’s all about quick turnover in this day and age. People want ‘right now quality’ and if it’s not a click away, they’re moving onto the next interesting thing. (No offense, I’m the same way. It just is what it is.)

My concern?

The mad crazy amount of apps out there. My husband looked at me when I started this venture and said, “You do know that there are billions of apps out there, right?”

“Sure,” I responded while secretly cringing.

Now I’m thinking, is this one more thing that needs to be overly promoted or does it fall into the category of ‘found easily by readers.’ Is everyone diving into the same pond at once? What makes an app survive? What makes an app drown?

I’d love to hear feedback on this topic from authors and readers alike. What do YOU think about author apps? Is it just too new to risk right now, writers? And readers, would you be thrilled to find that your favorite author had an app? Would you download it or would other apps take priority?
Feel free to check out my recently launched app on Android and iTunes.

I’m excited to see how it does. And, despite my reservations, I’m THRILLED to be part of the future. *grins*

Sky

Sunday, May 13, 2012

It's All About YOU This Mother's Day.


I hope that all of you mom’s out there are completely spoiled this Mother’s Day. Luckily the weather here in the northeast is supposed to be fairly nice so I intend to take a break from writing and enjoy some gardening. I know that doesn’t sound very self-indulgent but it really is for me. There’s something about getting my hands dirty (no gloves for this gal!) that I love. Giving plants a new home is so soothing and therapeutic.

This year my Birthday falls on Mother’s Day so I’m even more thrilled by my plans. However, my six year old son is less than impressed. How could I NOT want cake and presents??? I know who really wants to eat the cake! *winks*

So what are your perfect plans for Mother’s Day?

Three lucky commenters will be chosen. The prize? Any book from my backlist! (You don’t have to be a mom to comment)

Contest ends Tuesday, May 15, 12 PM EST.

Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend!

Sky

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Want More Readers? HOT SUMMER NIGHTS Blog Event.


HOT SUMMER NIGHTS Blog Event

Ready for some hot summer nights at A Writer’s Mind?

It’s been some time since I hosted one of my infamous ‘A Writer’s Mind’ blog events and I miss them. I enjoyed connecting with all of my wonderful co-authors and I miss the fabulous readers who always pop in especially for these events.

So here’s what I’m thinking…

I’d like to feature authors with books that take place during the warmer months of the year. Any romance genre goes. Any publication date, be it ten years ago or tomorrow, is fine. I want readers to buy your books and relate with the setting. Relate with the romance that blossoms when the air is hot and humid and the nights are long and romantic. Naturally, this blog event is an ‘in’ for all authors with settings in the Deep South or warmer parts of the world. *winks*

This blog event will start June 1st and run through the summer. Up to two authors will be featured a week. The guidelines to participate are simple. Please lead out with a brief intro about WHY you wrote your book. Include one book cover, blurb, excerpt, Buy clicks (up to 3) and four links (I recommend your Website, Facebook, Twitter and Blog) but any links are totally fine.

Like my Christmas event, I’m asking that all participants include a giveaway. Anything you like!

If interested, please email me at Sky@SkyPurington.com with your information and I’ll shoot you a date.

Cheers,
Sky

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Soar Into Ecstasy then Virtual Passion! Reece Herring

Remember how I said I'd be doing a ‘Sky’s SHOUT OUT’ at this blog now? My own little boisterous way of screeching, “Check this out!!!” Well, here it is again.

This time I’d like to share a truly wonderful author with you. Reece Herring is all about fantasy romance and she doesn’t mess around. Her work makes your mind look twice. Yep, she’s that good.

Reece and I were co-authors in The Song of Muses Series four years ago and like me, she again published her contribution, Soar Into Ecstasy, recently. Reece is a gem. I adore her. She is, without doubt, the best of the best.

While Soar Into Ecstasy totally rocked, be sure to check out Virtual Cat-astrophe. It’ll always be one of my favorites!

SOAR INTO ECSTASY

Beautiful and headstrong priestess, Rheasan, is honor bound to fulfill the virgin sacrifice her temple offers to their Goddess. That sacrifice and her honor are placed in serious jeopardy when Elisaph, a glorious winged man, falls into her life. Despite conflicting obligations to enemy Goddesses, their mutual attraction is undeniable.

Yet their fiery passion seems destined to remain unquenched as Rheasan and Elisaph struggle with their growing love for one another and their obligation to their individual Goddesses. The jealous Goddess, Euphrosyn decides to test Elisaph's loyalty by putting Rheasan in harms way. Elisaph must then decide what is paramount; his newfound love of Rheasan or his love for his Goddess. His life and her future hang in the balance.

EXCERPT:

“Where am I, Rheasan?” Elisaph asked in a low careful voice, his posture rigid.

“My room,” she replied just as carefully, not quite meeting his eyes.

“I meant, where are your rooms located?”

“Oh, well just past the dining hall and several corridors from the servant’s entrance,” she replied, biting the corner of her lip.

“Do not test me, woman! What place is this you have brought me to?”

“The Woodland Temple,” she answered, her voice wavering.

“Of which God or Goddess?” He demanded.

“Teavana.” She murmured.

In a flash of wings and molten limbs, she was pinned forcefully against the wall, preventing any escape from his fury. Her fear and excitement was instantly fueled by his sudden violence.

“You brought me inside the temple of the Goddess Teavana?” He shoved her against the wall.

“Me, the anointed of Euphrsyn, inside the temple of another Goddess? Have you any idea what you’ve done?”

“I saved your life, which you seem not to appreciate.” She flared, a surge of anger burning up all fear. “You are hurting me. Release me. Now.” She tried to push him away, and was alarmed to see that, even in his weakened state, she moved him not at all.

“You do not command me, woman. No one commands me now, for I no longer have any honor. So as you have taken my honor, perhaps I shall take yours.”

Pick up your copy at AMAZON

VIRTUAL CAT-ASTROPHE

When Carrie finds the man of her dreams on an internet playground, she puts aside her fears,and connects with Lorne on a level beyond the physical. Fate deals a wild card though. With her clumsy cat acting as catalysts and a well timed bolt of lightening,Carrie is sucked into cyberspace, forced to come face to face with Lorne. Would destiny be kind or had it thrown her into a virtual catastrophe?

Pick up your copy at AMAZON

Friday, April 20, 2012

Ready to Enter the Debris Field? April 21st!


Ancient Comet Thatcher has sped by and we’re hurdling into her dust!

For my regulars, it’s that time again… Astronomer’s Corner. For those of you joining me for the first time, Astronomer’s Corner is the ‘little extra’ tossed into my quarterly newsletters. As an amateur astronomer, I can’t help but chat randomly about the latest and most fantastical things happening all around our beautiful planet.

This go around I had to share what should be an awesome display in the night sky on April 21st and 22nd. No telescope necessary! So for all you romantic stargazers out there, grab your love and find a cozy spot in the great outdoors for this.

According to Spaceweather.com (one of my all-time favorite sites) “Earth is approaching the debris field of ancient Comet Thatcher, source of the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on April 21-22; a nearly-new moon on those dates will provide perfect dark-sky conditions for meteor watching. Usually the shower is mild (10-20 meteors per hour) but unmapped filaments of dust in the comet's tail sometimes trigger outbursts 10 times stronger.”

This steadfast comet has been providing Earth with an April space shower for nearly 2,600 years. Yep, all those BC folks were able to enjoy this as much as you can tomorrow night. How cool is that??? Yeah, yeah, label me a space geek. But seriously, you might even see a fireball. Who doesn’t like a good fireball? *winks*

And…as it turns out, Saturn is ripe in the skies. She’ll be twice as bright and visible. So amazing. Sky says, "Bring it!"

Guess where I’ll be for this? Virginia Beach. I can’t wait. So excited!

This video on the upcoming event is two minutes long and really good. Gives you the basic FYI's. Provided, of course, by the fabulous talent over at NASA.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Saying Goodbye to an Author and FRIEND. I'll Miss You, Sharon Donovan.

This post is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend and fellow writer, Sharon Donovan. Always a kind voice, Sharon touched all whom she met. I think we’d only officially emailed twice before she sent ‘hugs and love’ or some such touching sentiment after her emails. She was that sort of woman. Warm and loving and totally amazing.

I didn’t have to search long to find the prayer I wanted to post on her behalf. It is utterly perfect. I will miss you so very much, Sharon. May you now soar over the distant Irish hills…

An Irish Funeral Prayer

Death is nothing at all.

It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Everything remains as it was.

The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no sorrow in your tone.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effort

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.

There is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,

just around the corner.

All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before.

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.

- Source: derived from a sermon written by Henry Scott Holland and delivered in St. Paul's (London) on 15 May 1910, at which time the body of King Edward VII was lying in state at Westminster. Although not originally derived from Irish writings, versions of this sermon have been used at many Irish and Catholic funerals over the years.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Too Soon For Intimacy? Be Honest.

I had to post about this because it’s been weighing on my mind lately. When is it too soon for the characters in a book to have sex in a non-erotic story?

We’re not talking the number of sex scenes or their intensity but the right ‘window of opportunity.’ Whether it’s behind closed doors or out in the open, I’d like to pin-point the moment when the magic’s right.

I’ve always enjoyed the build-up myself. Like real life, if one jumps into the sack too soon with their partner, it often takes away that delicious shiver of anticipation. And, oftentimes, the relationship fizzles out fast.

But it’s also important to stay true to the characters. In my current work in progress the hero and heroine are dare-devils and eager for the next big rush. Late twenty-somethings. That said, they get intimate a bit faster than most. It almost felt wrong to wait too long with them. I’m still not sure if it was a good thing or not but the thought of removing their first time together seems… off kilter.

So what’s the word? WHEN is too soon in a book? In my case, with this tale, it happened by chapter five. I think on average, things get smokin’ hot by chapter ten. In many cases, chapter thirteen.

This post is all about YOUR opinion. I'd love feedback from readers and writers alike.

When is it time for SEX in a book? Be honest.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Characters Have Astro Signs! So Do We. April Horoscopes.

I can’t believe it's already the first week in April. Is it me or is 2012 flying by? It seems it was January 1'st a few minutes ago. But as the saying goes, “The older you get the faster time goes by.” I always thought my parents were nuts when they said that. Turns out they were on to something.

As seems to be the case lately, I pondered what I wanted to blog about next. My recent work in progress, The Tudor Revival, is eating up a lot of my time, as it should. That said, I’ve been feeling a little detached from my ‘chats’ here at A Writer’s Mind. I suppose, in one way, that’s a good thing. I’m working on something I can eventually chat about even more. *grins*

So I had a few cool topic ideas but it was within my mindless cell phone net musings that I discovered what would be a nice break going into the weekend… astrology and horoscopes! Why not? While I’m not a regular horoscope follower, I do have an avid interest in our ‘signs’ and how it affects mankind in general. Truth told, I’m more of a numerology gal but that's better left for another post.

The reason astrological signs, ‘slapped me in the face’ today is because they're something that not only apply to us but the characters in the book we’re writing or reading! I suppose in most stories it’s a moot point but as it turns out, in the novel I’m writing, it’s important. Why? Well, I’m dealing with spooky stuff like possession. Yep, you read correctly. Possession.

In my novel (without giving away too much of the storyline) the heroine is coping with such a thing. That being the dilemma, I’ve not only had to research possession in more detail than is probably healthy, but I’ve had to find alternatives to blending two characters (the possessed and it whom possesses). As you can imagine, it gets a little tricky. But I adore a challenge.

My favorite thread between these two personalities? You guessed it, their astrological signs! In this case, I’m using the traits from two different signs (Taurus and Gemini) to, in a weird way, combine and differentiate between the characters. I mean seriously, why go with something as simple as mere scientific personality traits? *winks*

Naturally, I’m sticking to the Golden Rule writers are supposed to follow… write about what I know. I’m a Taurus and am attracted to Gemini men like a bee to honey. In fact, I married one. In my defense, I was born under a Gemini moon, so I was seasoned for it from the get go! Trust me, though Gemini’s excite me to no end, one must learn the art of truly understanding their 'two faces'. Once you get the hang of it, Gemini’s totally rock. Who ultimately gets along best with a Taurus? You guessed it. Libra's. Guess that’s why Dad and I were such good friends.

All three signs are used in my latest book, unpredictably predictable traits intact!

So what are your thoughts on character’s in books and their astro signs? Have you ever thought about it? Will you next time you write or read a book where birth dates are provided? And of course, what’s your sign? And what sign is your best match? It's always a blast to talk signs. Share whatever you like!

Because we’re going into a holiday weekend, I thought it might be fun to leave everyone with something light to read. An astrological forecast for the month of April. All pics and horoscopes provided by the super-fabulous peeps at HOROSCOPE.COM!

ARIES… This will be a fast-paced month with plenty of surprises in store. The Sun, Mercury, and Uranus will all move through your sign, ensuring that you'll be busy and involved in many things. You'll be confident and self-assured, but you could be prone to impatience and too much risk taking. A Full Moon in Libra on April 6 could bring a crisis involving your business or romantic partner. Much tact and the willingness to compromise will be required from you to make up for one or more situations when you were overbearing or hurtful. There might be frustration regarding your career.

TAURUS… The Sun, Venus, and Jupiter will all transit in your sign this month to bring positive energy and the ability to attract the people and resources you need. Some of your dreams will be realized now if you're proactive and keep the faith. Personal relations will go smoothly while Venus is in your sign until April 3. The Sun will impart strength and confidence after April 19 when it moves to Taurus. A New Moon at the cusp of your sign on April 21 will herald a time when you feel renewed and can make a fresh start. Mars in Virgo will help you get organized and focused.

GEMINI… Venus moves to your sign on April 3 to help you get along well with others. You'll be inclined to listen more and be helpful during the month. Avoid the tendency to gossip - be diplomatic in conversations. The Full Moon in Libra on April 6 will bring out your flirtatious and superficial side. This could backfire if you're not careful of others' feelings. Mercury will be retrograde until April 4 and in Pisces until April 16. During this time you could have trouble focusing. Try to keep a record of conversations and instructions so there are no misunderstandings.

CANCER… Three planets in Aries this month will get you motivated to make changes in your career. However, be proactive if you want to see results. Nothing will come to you easily - you'll have to put in some effort. The Full Moon in Libra on April 6 will stir up trouble on the home front or with your family. Don't be surprised if there's a misunderstanding or failure to communicate. Be on your best behavior and willing to compromise even if someone else is in the wrong. A New Moon in Taurus on April 21 will help you improve your relationships with friends and associates.

LEO… You'll feel motivated and enthusiastic with the Sun, Mercury, and Uranus moving through Aries this month. The transits in this fellow Fire Sign will bring a lot of change and variety and several unexpected events. Jupiter and Venus will travel through Taurus. You might overindulge in food and drink or spend too much, especially while Venus is in Taurus until April 3. Jupiter in Taurus brings opportunities, but you must be patient, which isn't your strong suit. A New Moon in Taurus on April 21 will bring out this quality, however, and you'll also learn how to slow down and appreciate beauty and nature.

VIRGO… Jupiter and Venus in Taurus will help you enjoy the finer things in life and open up opportunities to travel and meet new people. Mercury will be retrograde in Pisces during the first few days of the month. Until April 3, be clear when giving instructions and follow up later to avoid hassles. Mars will be in your sign all month, and retrograde until April 13. You should refrain from taking action on important matters during the retrograde period so you can be clear about the best way to proceed. After Mars turns direct, you'll be busy and have a lot on your plate.

LIBRA… Venus will be in Gemini from April 3. This planet will enhance all communication, and you'll have a relaxing and enjoyable time if you travel. Make new plans or take care of details after Mercury turns direct on April 4 or there will be a lot of confusion. The Sun, Mercury, and Uranus will move through the sign of Aries this month. You might become frustrated by rapidly changing scenarios and people who try to rush you. You could experience a lot of tension and anxiety when dealing with others. Try to remain calm and detached even if someone pushes your buttons.

SCORPIO… A friend will help you get organized and stay on top of things this month if you ask. You might also get involved in a group or organization that needs practical help. Venus and Jupiter will be in Taurus, bringing the opportunity to be helpful and generous to your partner or the public. Venus will only be there until April 3, but you'll be able to relax with others and enjoy the finer things in life. A New Moon in Taurus on April 21 will help bring out your patience and determination over the coming weeks. Your intuition will be strong all month.

SAGITTARIUS… There might be some rapid developments in your love life with a few planets in Aries this month. You'll feel vital and energized, but you could make rash decisions if you're attracted to someone. Venus moves to Gemini on April 3, and after that you'll find that all of your relationships require more diplomacy and cooperation. It will be difficult to achieve harmony without some effort. Be careful when communicating to family members early in the month. If you aren't clear, there could be misunderstandings and confusion. Pay attention to details all month in order to avoid mistakes.

CAPRICORN… On a positive note, Venus and Jupiter will be transiting in the sign of Taurus this month. There will be an aura of romance and new opportunities whether you're single or in a committed relationship. The Sun, Mercury, and Uranus will all move through Aries, causing you to feel uneasy and defensive. Life at home or with family members could be tense and full of conflict. Sudden changes will disturb your equilibrium. A Full Moon in Libra on April 6 could cause stress or a crisis regarding your career. Help from others that you had counted on might prove disappointing.

AQUARIUS… You'll be active in your community or within your extended family this month. You'll take the lead in organizing events or gatherings. Three planets moving in Aries will motivate you to get things started. Venus will be in Taurus until April 3, helping to smooth over any disagreements with family members. However, for the rest of the month, issues could be magnified and cause stress. A New Moon in Taurus on April 21 will allow you to develop more patience and loyalty, and this will help resolve problems. It would be good for you to get out in nature and surround yourself with beauty or listen to soothing music.

PISCES… Your ruler Neptune has been in your sign for a few months, bringing out your spiritual nature, artistic sensibilities, and intuition. Mercury will be in Pisces until April 16 so you can expect to have some powerful insights and vivid dreams. Follow your hunches and they will pay off. Mars will be in Virgo and retrograde this month. This transit could put a strain on a committed relationship because your partner might be critical and demanding. Much will be expected of you and you may not be able to live up to the high standards. A New Moon in Taurus on April 21 will help keep you grounded.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Sky's SHOUT OUT. Heaven is for Real! Is This Jesus?

Hey all! I’m starting something new at this blog. It’ll post between events and other random chit-chats that fly up the viral line here at A Writer’s Mind. It’s called Sky's SHOUT OUT. This heading will be followed by my ‘current read or favorite title'. Most will be romance oriented but I read a lot of non-fiction too so you never know what you’ll get. One thing’s for sure, it’ll always be preceded by Amazon stats (past or previous), a blurb and buy link, then my own little zinger statement.

Yes, I’ll be sharing books by friends, but I’ll also be sharing those written by perfect strangers. No matter what, every time I SHOUT OUT it’s because I think you should listen.

This go round I’m sharing my latest read titled, Heaven is for Real. I bought this book mainly because my Mom raved about it. Losing Dad is still such a fresh wound for both of us and we’re trying to find solace where we can. No doubt about it, this book helped. While my beliefs in the afterlife may vary from some, they still exist. Whether or not the experiences this little boy claims he had in fact happened or not, the message is wonderful and one worth reading about.

I’ve included a drawing of Jesus done by a very young girl who had a NDE (Near Death Experience). She was under ten. Yes, she drew this when under ten. Amazing, isn’t it? She claimed her ability to draw it devine. Interesting thing…other children, including the boy in this book, claim this is the very man who greeted them when they were dying. To a ‘T.’ In the case of this little boy, THIS was Jesus. After years of saying, "No" to many renditions of what Jesus looked like, he adamently said YES to this one. Without hesitation, this was the one. 

I'm particularly content to see that he's portrayed as Middle Eastern. Some versions of him, with pale skin and light hair never made much sense to me. After all, he was born in the Middle East. No way around the logic. As to his pale blue green eyes? It seems to be a feature many NDE's agree with. In fact, his eyes are their favorite part not because of the color but because of their intensity and love. No complaints here. 

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
“Do you remember the hospital, Colton?" Sonja said.

"Yes, mommy, I remember," he said. "That's where the angels sang to me."

When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren't expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed-a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy's trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery-and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

Heaven Is for Real will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child.

This is a best-selling book. As it should be. Purchase HERE.

Sky's zinger..."Colton's Heaven is for real. I know mine is. What about you? Is your Heaven for real? And what do you think of this picture of Jesus?"

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The X-Files. 'Do You Really Want To Know?'

Click PLAY to listen as you read. (Gets you in the mood. *winks*)



Welcome! Sorry I’ve been sort of quiet lately. My latest paranormal WIP (Work in Progress) has kept me out of trouble. Speaking of paranormal, when I’m not busy writing and spending time with my fabulous family, I enjoy watching certain programs. As it turns out (probably because I was wishing for it) Netflix went and did something long overdue…

They’re airing the first 100 episodes of The X-Files!!!

In my world, that’s equivalent to the joy I’ll feel when one of my novels hits #1 on the NY Times Bestseller list. It’s just plain ol’ fashioned bloody good news.

So why am I sharing this? Well, it got me thinking about a few things. The first, how much I love the main characters, Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) The second? How much their characters and the series itself affected my work over the years.

Let’s start with the first, the wonderful characters. I think they’re perfect because they complement one another so well. Scully is the skeptic FBI agent ultimately assigned to The X-Files to debunk Mulder via scientific analysis. Mulder is the brilliant FBI agent who, of course, believes in the existence of extraterrestrial life.

I have always related more with Mulder. He has the same belief system as me. Not to mention he’s got a kick-arse sense of humor. Not bad to look at either. *Sky grins wide*

The truth is he was always a more believable character for me. Why? Because he saw things that were considered unusual and didn’t let others tell him he was delusional. He was a driven character. Yes, his sister was abducted by aliens when they were children but that’s beside the point. It’s all hypothetical. Did I mention he also has a FANTASTIC sense of humor? Win, win…then win some more. I know….focus….

Then there’s Dana. The girl doesn’t back down. In fact, she spits nails half the time. If she isn’t given plausible evidence then forget it. Thinking outside the box is tough for her. But the things she sees during her X-Files investigations very slowly open her eyes.

So how has this series affected my work over the years? Because God knows I’m sure it has. I loved the dynamics between Scully and Mulder. I loved how they interacted through the storyline as it grew more complicated, as it made less and less sense. In its own way, The X-Files was sort of my own little inspiration for how I saw couples reacting in a romantic sense when met with such incredibly fantastic dilemmas…situations that made no logical sense.

I think at root what I appreciate most about these characters was that while they often turned from one another, they always maintained a nucleus of faith in the others beliefs. In essence, they had enough mutual respect to be there for one another.

The skeptic stood by the believer. The believer stood by the skeptic. In the end they found each other.

I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to tap Scully upside the head and yell, “Didn’t you just see what happened? How can you sit there and remain so clinical.” I gave Mulder a lot of pats on the mental back for putting up with it. But I would. I’m the believer. Not the skeptic. THAT is the key. Bet you’re curious what I’m talking about.

Well, the best thing these characters did for me was draw out emotion. THAT is what it’s all about. Two characters who conflict to the point the reader/viewer wants to rant at one of them for not seeing things clearly and scream, “Get a grip!” These characters are going to keep pages turning. Of course, keep it believable but pull out that emotion. For me, that’s the most important thing and it’s precisely what I learned from Scully and Mulder, two characters who loved, hated and so much more.

The perfect paranormal/syfy romance. That’s the X-Files. Thanks for nine awesome years!

For those of you who appreciated the romance that developed between Scully and Mulder, grab your favorite ‘sip,’ relax, put up your feet and watch this video. It takes you back… promise.