Interior Maps

I do these sketches to get dimensions right in my head, and the movement of people in the space (choreography).

This is The Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon, seen in most of my books since Heart Duel (but actually determined as I was writing Heart Search). Also T'Hawthorn's ResidenceDen, again seen in Heart Duel, and Heart Change (at least).

If I ever have the time I'll do them in ProFantasy software....



May you enjoy all the interiors you visit today.
Robin
p.s. It was rather lowering to have to revise "Heart Change" (above) twice as I figured out which book I meant...

What Inspires Me

This was something I was asked to contribute for the RMFW newsletter (and most was paraphrased), so here it is in it's entirety.




What really inspires me? For the original idea it can be a physical object (a bloodstone pendulum for HeartMate) or a character or situation. But what keeps me going are the lines. Especially lines that perk all night during sleep or in the foggy-between of reality and that other world of subconscious, those will get me out of bed and running to the computer (careful not to trip over the black cat on the black rug in the dark!).

Sometimes they are wonderful lines: "A dwarf was at the door, the magical kind...."

Sometimes they are just transition lines to get me over a bump and lay out a whole panorama of a scene before me, scenes that must be written quickly before I forget them:

"She walked back and forth on the sidewalk outside the stoop of The Green Knight Fencing and Fighting Salon, not quite sure what she was doing here."

"It wasn’t often that Laev didn’t know what to do. He was shaken to the core."

Maybe the lines are pedestrian, but they can be fixed, massaged...later. After the scene burning in my brain is down on paper. After all the other lines that exploded like briefly seen fireworks on my mind are captured.

So, for me inspiration is truly lines, my voice, I suppose.

And, you know, since I’m single and a full time writer, fear of upcoming deadlines work, and need for money are always galvanizing.

2011 Crazy Goals

In 2011, I would like to:

Finish the stories/novellas: Noble Heart and Heart & Sword
Write: Enchanted Ever
Write: Heart Secret (Garrett Primross' - private eye - and Artemesia Mugwort's story)
Write: Enchanted Ever After

Those are under contract.

This is what I'd also like to do.

Revise and put Zanth and the Landscape Globe up on Kindle, for, oh, say .50 cents since it is so short (so I'll be taking it off here, fair warning).

Read/Revise and put on the Kindle: Shades of Honor (Regency historical romance with paranormal elements, a twin story)

Betrothal and Blackmail (Regency historical romance), the only book I've ever written WITHOUT paranormal.

Write for Kindle/ebook:
Lost Tales of Lladrana:
The Earth "Singer's" story
Koz's story
Another story I've had in my head with Koz as a secondary character.
Again, I would probably put these up singly throughout the year and am thinking charging under $2.00.

Proposals for 2-3 more Heart books, and 2-3 more Mystic Circle books.

Attend RWA conference in New York in July
Go to Retreat in SC in November

I think that's it. Maybe some Heart stories as they occur to me...

Open to suggestions.
May you enjoy planning mad starts (contradiction).
Robin

Another Favorite Quote

There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. Martha Graham

Enchanted No More Shipping/Out December 21

There's the amazon link. I hope you all love.

Robin

Quote

"All that's required is an availability; you must allow yourself to be transported. Or, more precisely, you must put yourself in the hands of the thing that is to be born." Federico Fellini

Heart Search

Heart Search is finally coming together, thanks to tips from mentor. She was dubious of my next bit, so was I, but when I wrote it, I realized the motivation was completely different than I'd expected. So it worked.

Don't know that it makes sense, but I gotta get this ms. done, so I will be here very minimally. Due to work.

You, of course, may be out whooping it up. Give a few cheers for me.

May the blessings of the holidays be yours today, peace and good will. Have a kind day.
Robin

Better Quality Borders Coupon -- Online & in person today & tomorrow

If you want to support a writer's group that offers FREE membership, use the coupon.

Robin

Blog about Enchanted No More.

I had a great time talking about Enchanted No More. I hope you enjoy it.

Robin

Borders Coupons, Signings Saturday and Sunday, Colorado Springs

Since Enchanted No More isn't out, these will be for Heart Journey and whatever other books the store has on hand (though I may take a few copies of Enchanted No More with me as gifts ;) )



STORE NAME: Borders Bookstore - Colorado Springs SOUTH
ADDRESS: 2120 Southgate Road, Colorado Springs
LOCATION: north-east of the intersection of Lake Ave and S. Nevada Ave
DATE: Saturday 12/11/10
TIME: 1pm - 5pm



STORE NAME: Borders Bookstore - Aurora
ADDRESS: 6606 S. Parker Road, Aurora
LOCATION: Near the intersection of S. Parker Road and E. Arapahoe Road
DATE: Sunday 12/12/10
TIME: 1pm - 5pm

May you enjoy your holiday shopping, online or in person! I'D LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE! Bring your books (no matter what shape), and I will sign them.
Robin

Don't Use American Greetings ECards

All right, I got a lovely ecard. I wanted to send one. I signed up for a "Free Trial."

I realized today that my "free trial" was or would be up.

1) There is no good contact info on the americangreetings.com website to email.
2) You have to call to cancel an account.
3) The automated system had better recognize your account.
4) I was on hold for about TWENTY minutes before I hung up without speaking to a single person.

5) Looking around, I found an email for the sales dept. and emailed. This was bounced as a permanent failure.

This is not a good system. I will never use American Greetings (or Blue Mountain) cards again.

Better to craft and send an ecard of my own, or from some of the sites I have listed in the past on my website, UNICEF.

May your day remain shiny.
Robin

Couldn't have said it better

Funny for writers...or those who need tips on publishing...and, yes, I've heard some people say such things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9fc-crEFDw


May you laugh a lot today.
Robin

Plot muttering

I mutter to myself (or to the cats if they are around) about a plot or character point all the time, sometimes stomping as I go. It helps me think. This is particularly true if I am working on pages that have been critiqued...and trying to see if I should do what they want (all right, like yesterday morning).

If I get something like...."I agree with P., tell us more about complication 2." Since these were the first pages of Noble Heart, Walker's story, I don't know him as well as some of my other characters. But I did figure out what was bothering me and what to do about the critique.

Walker is 1) sick 2) overwhelmed by complication 1. He wouldn't be bothering about complication 2. Soooo, I put down something like that. "His life was falling apart and he can't think of Complication 2 right now." That should satisfy everyone.

After all, you need to leave some hooks for your reader. ;)

And I suppose I should go back and title this blog: "leaving plot hooks for your reader" and pretend that it is something I think of all the time, without stomping around and muttering.... I'll probably be erudite on Facebook, since it's a lot fewer words. ;)

May you enjoy your own muttering today.
Robin

Critique -- What if I do this? Or that?

I had a friend call me today and we went over her comments page by page on the phone. She would have a problem with a line, a transition or some question about why a character said or did something.

I made (mostly) corrections as I went along. "What if I deleted that line, would it work better?" "What if I added something like this...." and typed it or made a note that two or three more lines should be added to finish a thought off.

A couple of times I decided that I'd leave something alone, or wait for other feedback.

But I felt very professional and not confused by her comments. I think that's because I read and transcribed edits from hard copy to the computer yesterday and that I have THE CHARACTERS DOWN SOLID. What would they say and why would they say it? What were they feeling at this point of time?

Motivation.

So Heart Story is sitting at Heart Story Revision 3, and not in final format, but I'm feeling really good about it.

Meanwhile I DID finish Heart & Soul (Genista's story), about half an hour ago. I know I need to tweak a couple of spots tomorrow, but then will send it out. It ended up 32, 834 words, 149 ms. pages.

Tomorrow is Heart & Soul and Noble Heart (Walker Clover's story), chapter 1.

I'm feeling very accomplished and pleased with myself and earned my chocolate candy today and my sticker. LOL.

May you be pleased with yourself.
Robin

Re-reading books, my own work and my collection

I had a question from a friend who is just getting into the Heart books as to which was Holm Holly's, and my answer prompted this blog, so here it is:

Holm's book is Heart Duel, red with the sword on the cover. You know, I have fav bits in all my books, and just thinking of them makes me smile, though I (extremely) rarely re-read them, unlike books in my collection, which I re-read all the time.

Fav bit that made me smile this am is the tiny subplot involving Clam. Currently rereading: Reserved for the Cat by Mercedes Lackey.

May you enjoy your Saturday, and Happy Hanukka!
Robin

Working on Celta....

I have finished revising Heart Story of Hearts & Swords and have sent it out to my critique buddies. It's a rough time of year to ask for help, but I already have one say she'll look at it. Heart Story ended up being 14K.

I had hoped to finish with Heart & Soul (Genista's story) today, but family matters intruded. Best guess is that I will finish Heart & Soul tomorrow and clean it up tomorrow and Sunday. Heart & Soul looks like it will hit about 30K.

Sunday I also hope to work on the first chapter of Noble Heart (Walker Clover's story) and clean it up from critique last Saturday.

I am determined to enter hermit mode next week and finish the rough of Heart Search. I have the beginning, the end, and bits of the middle that need to be tied together. I know where I'm going next.

May you know where you're going, too, and may the holidays be blessed for you.
Robin