The Dedication/Acknowledgement page at the front of a book is a meaningful way to recognize those who have played a part in the creative process. Due to its importance, I then must stress about it!

I’d like to thank the Academy, all the regular people, my sixth grade teacher, the Creator, my soul mate, whoever invented the internet… When I write the dedication for a book, the last thing I want to sound like is an award recipient who needs to be cut off by the musical ‘hook’ due to nonsensical rambling!!

There’s also the issue of being repetitive – I have a relatively small circle of friends and family. My hubby is more than content with the number of shout outs he’s received. Certain people have actually turned down the opportunity to be a dedicatee!?!! One of my books has no dedication due to the fact that writing it was delaying the project, and I’ve even dedicated one to myself!

I kind of like the ones with code; initials, abbreviations, inside jokes or references nobody understands, but I can’t do that too often or readers will just think I’m crazy.

Dedication
For my daughter, who suggested I blog about writing dedications.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tessie

www.tessiebradford.com

A Season of Shifting Gears

If you’re like me you’re probably working double time these days in all areas of your life and perhaps not seeing the results you expected. Is that happening to you? It’s certainly happening to me. I’ve fallen into the valley of diminishing returns and now must build a staircase and climb out.

This week I forced myself to look at my day-to-day and even hour-to-hour habits to see where I can plug a few energy leaks.

Exhibit A: I eat sensibly and work out often, yet yesterday a friend whom I’ve not seen at the gym in two years leaned close and whispered, “are you pregnant again?” This guy is a good observer with the keen eyes of an ex-cop and yet he did the stupid thing, he asked a woman if she was pregnant… I had to admit something painful. Two years ago I was pregnant, the baby made it almost five months but I lost it. I’m an older mom and I know that was my last baby. The same weekend I was miscarrying, my mother-in-law, whom I loved dearly, called to say she was terminally ill (she died five-weeks later). I was on autopilot after that for many months.

For some reason the weight I gained just won’t leave because I’m hanging on to it. It really didn’t bother me, in fact it was a comfort but I clearly saw through my friend’s eyes that I needed to let the emotional weight go regardless of what happens to my real weight. I had my revenge. I dragged my friend into his first yoga class and was gratified to see him sweating so hard his hair stuck to his scalp. That will teach him to ask a chubby woman if she’s pregnant…

Exhibit B: There’s a harsh irony in this next point. This week at my husband’s request and for the first time, I actually logged the hours I spent reading and answering emails on the loops, writing blogs or visiting other blogs and commenting. Guess what? I logged 15+ hours, and last week was a “light” week. I often spend more time on this stuff. 15 hours is a part time job. I realized that at the slow rate I work those 15 hours would be better-spent writing or giving a few quality hours back to my family.

Exhibit C: Last Thursday I attended a special Autumnal Equinox yoga class that began with a breathing mediation on our inner fire and mentally stoking that fire to a roaring blaze. The instructor then asked us to toss anything into the fire that we couldn’t bear to carry any longer. What followed was a killer-hard extremely physical class that left everyone drenched with sweat and a few people in (cathartic) tears. Holding a few of the more difficult poses with my limbs trembling, the instructor would walk past and say, “If I asked you to stay in this position all day what would you give up?”

It was a great question to ask. What was weighing me down? The first thing that popped into my head was “Emotional scar tissue”. I had to let it go. The second thing was “Unrealistic expectations”. Believe it or not that one was more difficult to let go because unrealistic expectations are so strongly connected to hopes, fantasies and goals, which are all wonderful things except for the “unrealistic” part…  Surprisingly, real responsibilities felt featherlight because I knew they were necessary. It was only the unnecessary burdens that caused drag.

This week has left me with a new manifesto to stop wasting my limited energy and time and find ways to reclaim a little progress in my life and push forward. These are challenging times and it’s a safe bet they aren’t close to being finished with us. I can sense another big wave of adjustments on the near horizon.

In this season of harvest, unburdening and shifting gears, I dare you to be honest and comment about a draining or unnecessary thing you are willing to let go of.

XXOO Kat

Getting It Done!!

As you read this today, I am sequestered in my writer's cave, ignoring family, friends and the outside world in general - deep, deep, (did I mention deep?) in edits for Emily's Destiny! I'm beyond thrilled at the recent news that it will release November 30th!!

I've had the priveledge of working with a number of editors during my career. I count on and appreciate their input and expertise, and have learned a great deal from each and every one of them.

When I turned in Emily's Destiny, I, of course, loved it, but knew deep down it still needed that ever-elusive 'something' to take it to the next level. (So did my beloved critque partner, and I appreciate her not getting annoyed with me for having an itchy 'send' finger.)

Luckily, once again, I find myself working with an editor willing to take the time to teach, mentor, and encourage me to be a better author.

Edits are rarely easy, and I always set near impossible completion deadlines -this time I allowed myself only one week, tomorrow is D-day - but I am seriously inspired/excited/dedicated to giving Emily the destiny she deserves!

Enjoy a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Tessie

www.tessiebradford.com

Autumnal Equinox and International World Peace Day

Friday September 23^rd marks the actual autumnal equinox and official first day of fall but it’s cool and foggy today, and I’m used to celebrating the autumnal equinox on the 21^st of the September, so that’s what I’m going to blog about.

Autumn is my favorite season. I live in an agricultural county our neighborhood is surrounded by orchards and farms. Autumn means a break in the heat, sprawling pumpkin patches, overflowing farmers’ markets and a lot of visual beauty.

It also signals the time to start slowing down and getting readjusted to the coming time change and darker days. I use autumn as a time to draw my energy inward and take stock of the year’s unfinished business. This is the time I plan ahead always with the hope of finishing the year on a high note.

I’m celebrating today by hanging a double string of orange Halloween lights on my fireplace mantle and adding a few small pumpkins and candles. Tonight, I’ll make a pot of turkey vegetable stew that has nine different kinds of veggies from the local farmers in our area. I love seeing the vibrate colors together in the soup pot. Hopefully we’ll have our first fire in the fireplace in many months.

In my mind the equinoxes are always special but the autumnal equinox is my favorite because it signals a time to set fresh goals and plant a new harvest of the creative kind that can be worked toward during the winter months. It’s also time to change my work schedule, enjoy the little things fall has to offer and just be grateful for what I have.

By the way today is International Peace Day. I know it sounds cliché but peace begins within. Take a moment today to celebrate something wonderful you’ve accomplished or something special that makes you—you, and take that confident, beautiful feeling into the world and let everyone you meet today catch a draft of that sweetness. Let’s love ourselves and be a little bit kinder to each other.

Do you celebrate the autumn equinox, or have something you enjoy about the changing seasons?

XXOO Kat

Amber's Goings On

I’ve wanted to share writing related blogs with everyone, but I can’t seem to stream sentences together these days. I am in edits for my book I Wanna Sext U Up. No release date yet, but that’s because my editor isn’t sure how long it will take me to get them done. :o)
I really like this book. It’s about Do-It-Yourself reality show. Beckett and Riley will makeover a kitchen and he’ll help her makeover her stale sex life!
I have been thinking about writing – A LOT. One of my publishers had a call out for stories on Coming Out. There’s an idea brewing in my head. Another publisher has a call out for Legal Briefs. Both stories will be M/M. I haven’t written a M/M in ages, but having ideas is a GREAT thing for me. Maybe, just maybe once the edits are done I’ll start a new book. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Happy Tuesday!

Ack! Bam! Crash! Another Friday!

So, coming very soon, Is It Spicy?

No, not romance, but a great title for erotica, don't you think? It's a fun short story.

More as soon as I have the time, which is also in 'short' supply right now.

I'm getting better and finding and using covers from internet freebies - remember ladies, it takes time to find exactly what you want and you might have to do some cutting. Definitely a learning process but well worth the effort.

Have a wonderful weekend! Julia

I Love A Challenge, I Think!

Are you a plotter or panster? Do you get up with the roosters or stay up with the vampires? Does music put you in the mood, a TV show or movie, or do you require complete silence? Which comes first, your characters or their story? An author’s creative process is as unique as the stories they craft.

When asked about my writing process, ‘linear’ is always my first response. I cannot skip around in a story. If I get stuck on something, I ponder, walk away, stare at the sentence I wrote two hours before, re-read all preceding text, watch the fish in the tank next to my desk, start a new file, and in extreme cases, go do some dreaded house chore. It is not uncommon for a WIP to remain stalled for days, or sadly more, until I figure out whatever I need to figure out.

After thoroughly enjoying challenging myself to write Matt’s Return, and Emily’s Destiny, both short, short stories, last week I started feeling the urge to write something a bit longer. I re-visited a couple of stalled WIP’s, but nothing piqued my interest.

Then, as is definitely a giant part of my creative process, I had a dream, and knew what I was writing next! – the prequel to Sensations (releasing November 9th from Resplendence)! I awoke excited and energized to write Carol and Colin’s story. I’d already given a glimpse into the characters, their whirlwind courtship, and hinted at a potential Dom/sub thing going on; hallelujah, bring on my next book!! The first three pages flowed effortlessly.

You all know where this is going, right??? ‘Pre’, i.e. ‘before’, oh crapsticks!!!

I’ve now re-read Chapter One of Sensations ad-nausea. Why did I have Carol describe her and Colin’s first meeting with such an interesting combination of detail and mystery? Okay, she’s “free-spirited”, but why is he “exactly” the type of man she needs? Why did I state more than once that their courtship happened over exactly six weeks, and why in the hell didn’t Carol call her out-of-town best friend during this whirlwind courtship?? What exactly did Colin “whip out” that first night?? I meant it to be double entendre goodness, but now….

Apparently, another challenge looms!!!!!!

Oh, by the way, on Monday, September 19th, I have an interview posting at

http://www.bookwenches.com/

Please stop by!!

Have a great weekend!
Tessie
http://www.tessiebradford.com/