Feeling a little inspirational...

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.--Anton Chekhov

That's one of my favorite quotes coupled with a pretty nifty picture. The quote is actually pinned above my keyboard for a constant reminder to "show not tell" in my writing. Now write away!

Another Summer, Another End

This morning I was reflecting on how another summer managed to sneak up on me. June is brimming with bridal and baby showers, birthdays, parties, graduations and vacations to "relaxing" places. (Though often times the planning and packing takes away some of the "relaxing" part.) Being pretty much a lifetime student and former high school teacher, the whole year seems to end with the conclusion of school. January 1st doesn't seem nearly as "new" as June 1st with nothing but summer days ahead.

So after today, my year is done!

I got to thinking how much different this year feels than last year. My flights are booked for RWA's National Conference in Orlando (yes, it was moved due to the floods), the hotel is reserved, and I even have my brand new laptop bag begging to be used. At this point last year I was in the same place when considering all of those things...

...but I'm not in the same place when it comes to my writing.

Kiersten White did a post a few days back about "last year-this year". Read it here.

I think writing things down that way gives a great concrete comparison. That, and I love lists.

Last year: I started and finished book 1, then realized it wasn't good enough to be published. Booked trip to RWA to learn what I had to do to make this my career.
This year: I started and finished books 2 and 3. Booked trip to RWA to pitch these awesome stories to agents and editors. I'm so in love with Book 3...and by the response I'm getting, I think other people are too.

Last year: I hadn't met a single writer, agent, or editor.
This year: I meet a wonderful group of writers every single month (SFARWA and BDRWA), have a published critique partner (Hi Lisa!), and have met too many agents and editors to count. And they're all FABULOUS.

Last year: I hadn't entered a single contest.
This year: I entered the Golden Heart and didn't final, although my scores were good. I entered the Daphne and also didn't final, but my scores were phenomenal with one "published, award winning" judge saying she can't wait until my entry is published so she can finish reading it.

Last year: I was writing through the night.
This year: I write mornings and afternoons only.

Last year: I sent out 100 queries on book 1 and received 100 rejections.
This year: I sent out 10 queries on book 3 and received 4 rejections and 3 requests...so far.

Last year: Writing everyday.
This year: Writing everyday.

Last year: I wasn't sure if I could cut it in the writing world.
This year: I know I will...it's just a matter of when.

I simply can't wait to see what the next year has in store!

(Oh, and did I mention I'm giving away a free signed copy of Eve of Samhain by Lisa Sanchez or a $15 Starbucks giftcard when my follower count reaches 100? If you haven't hit that "follow" button yet, it only takes a minute...and I'll be glowing in radiant thanks when you do!)

Round Here

I've decided to let you in on the run-down of my mornings as of late. I seriously need to start manuscript #3 sometime soon otherwise I might get sucked into the Internet realm and never return. To get you started with some mood music, take a quick listen to one of my all-time favorite songs, Round Here by the Counting Crows.



So here's how my mornings go once Princess is in school and I'm perched in front of the keyboard. (Complete with crazy head-talk and all!)

"I really need to do some editing or tweak my synopsis...but a quick check of my email wouldn't hurt. I'm bound to have a rejection or two and maybe (fingers crossed) a request for my manuscript."
"Damn, one rejection. Oh, a youtube link from a friend! I must watch to lift my spirits!"
"Hmm...I've never heard of that band. They're pretty good. I should google them."
"Wikipedia shows they're new out of the bay area. Love local bands. And they have a blog!"

(After 10 minutes perusing through their blog posts...)

"Their blog rocks! I wonder how my blog's doing...I should do a post."

(After 10 minutes writing a post...another 20 spent checking up on all my writing buddies blogs and commenting like the wind...then another 20 catching up on publishing buzz through agent blogs...)

"I should put up some linkie-dos like some other writers' blogs...they're all pretty hip, and hey, I've always wanted to be hip! But wait, in that sidebar is a facebook badge. I wonder if any of my 'friends' have anything interesting to say?"

(Pound keys over to facebook...)

"Oh look, more requests to be my 'friend'. I'm popular. Finally. I must look at what this long-lost elementary school acquaintance has been up to all this time."

(After getting sucked into the facebook stalking vortex that is oddly satisfying, I check my own profile page)

"Hey! Look at that! Someone tweeted their post onto the facebook wall. I really need to learn how to do that. I should check my twitter account."

(Logging into Twitter...but alas 'too many tweets'...must fill coffee cup and try again...)

"Man, look at all these twitter posts. These people are part of some secret Twitterati, hell-bent on world domination through endless tweets. Holy-croley. I should twitter my little heart out to catch up."

(After 5 minutes retweeting posts and coming up with something creative to say about what I'm doing, then another 10 minutes looking through tweet history, I sit back. And take a deep breath.)

"What was I suppose to be doing again? Oh yeah, editing and tweaking my synopsis. Right."

(Open word doc and stare at the cursor speed. It's slowing down...or maybe that's just my eyes blurring)

"I wonder if I have any requests sitting in my inbox? Oh look!"


And that, my friends, is how the vicious cycle goes Round Here.

Pararomance's First Contest!

That's right, I'm having a contest to reach 100 followers on my blog!

Let's get to the goodies first...

I'm giving away either a SIGNED copy of Lisa Sanchez's paranormal romance novel, Eve of Samhain,


Or a $15.00 Starbucks Giftcard.


The winner will get to choose their reward, but I'd pity the fool (in Mr. T's voice, of course) who turned down the change to ogle Lisa's super-sexy (yet adorably tortured) hero Quinn Donnegan.

The rules are simple. To be entered, you must "Follow" my blog and leave a comment on the "Author Spotlight with Lisa Sanchez" post which can be found under the "Author Spotlight" label on the sidebar.

You also get one bonus entry for each thing on this list: (And who doesn't love a bonus or two?)

+2 Adding this contest post to your sidebar (shoot me an email so I can check it out)
+2 Blogging about the contest (shoot me another email so I can give mad thanks)
+1 Twittering this post (make sure to add @KM_Miller so I know you did it)

(Each of those above can only be done for bonus points once. Thanks to those of you who'd so graciously tweet the contest every day...but I couldn't possibly add up all those bonus points until it ends.)

The winner will be announced once my "Follower" count reaches 100. As of May 25th, 2010 I have 35 followers. Shouldn't take too long, right?

Let's get this ball rolling and have some fun! Good luck!

Thanks to those of you who've already joined since the interview yesterday! Can't wait to give away a copy of this book! (Or free coffee to one tired writer!)

Interview with author Lisa Sanchez!

I took some time to interview Lisa Sanchez, an up-and-coming author whose first paranormal romance novel will be released tomorrow!

1-Eve of Samhain, your debut novel, will be released May 25 by Omnific publishing. What's it about?
Eve Of Samhain is a modern spin on the Irish legend of the Gancanagh, or Love Talker. The Gancanagh is a male faerie, cursed with an orgasmic, yet deadly touch. Sex with this gorgeous, bad boy sends you spiraling into insanity. Yikes!

Quinn, our hero, is weary, jaded and riding out what he believes are his last days when he meets the protagonist, twenty one year old, Ryann Pierce. There’s an immediate physical attraction between the two, but of course love is never easy. Ryann throws Quinn for a loop when she doesn’t automatically fall at his feet like every woman before her. The feisty Ryann is more than a pretty face and a meaningless piece of tail. She’s special, and Quinn finds himself falling for someone for the first time in five hundred years.

2-How long did it take you to write?
The first draft took me four months to write. Not too bad. The editing, the rewrites? Yeah, those took a bit longer, lol.

3-When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing since I was a child. My mother used to give me random topics to write about and I’d go to work spinning goofy tales about Superman peanut butter (Do you remember that brand?) among other things. As a freshman in high school I remember reading Gone With The Wind (One of my favorites.) We were given an assignment to write a scene for a sequel. Sort of a “what happened next” type thing. Yeah…my paper was titled Back With Bunyons. I’ve got an odd sense of humor, what can I say?

4-Are there any other novels in the works?
Yes! I’ve actually penned the sequel to Eve Of Samhain. The protagonist in book two is a character you get to know in book one and that’s all I’m gonna say. Don’t want to spoil anything! My goal is to eventually write a book for each of the four friends. You’ve met three of the friends in EOS. Book two introduces you to the fourth and final protagonist.

I’m also polishing a romantic suspense right now that I’m really excited about. The hero is raw, wounded and gritty and I think I’m in love with him. Ha!

5-Who are some of your favorite authors to read?
Finally an easy question! Lol! J.R. Ward is my favorite author right now. The woman has an amazing voice, and the way she can weave a tale with layer after layer just blows my mind. She’s my hero for sure. I also love Diana Gabaldon, Gena Showalter, Charlaine Harris and Sherrilyn Kenyon and Karen Marie Moning (if you haven’t read her Fever series, you’re missing out!)

6-What's your typical writing process like?
Oye! Well I’ve got three daughters, so my schedule is pretty hectic. I usually try to get my writing done in the morning while the girls are in school. There’s too much distraction when they are home for me to concentrate. Afternoons are a wash because by then, I’ve morphed from mother into taxi, and am driving back and forth from tumbling classes and cheer practice.

7-What part of that process would you say is the hardest?
Dealing with rejection. Yep, the “R” word. Doesn’t matter who you are or what you write, we’ve all dealt with rejection. Writing is very subjective. What floats one persons boat leaves a bitter taste in someone else’s mouth. The key is learning how to pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and keep writing.

8-The easiest?
Dialog. I’ve got a house full of cheerleaders and the maturity level of a fifteen year old. Slang is my best friend and it springs forth at regular intervals like Old faithful. Oh, and shmexy times. I seem to be pretty good at writing the smut scenes. Who knew? My friends don’t call me Smut Queen for nothing 

9-What gave you the idea for Eve of Samhain?
I’d entered a short story contest, and the prompt was something like “Girlfriends, Ghouls and Gorgeous Guys.” I’d been reading a lot of vampire fiction (still am) and wanted to try something different. I hit Wikipedia, did a search for mythical creatures and found our sexy boy. Woot!

10-And finally, what are your plans for the eve of your release date?
Hmm…lets see…I’ve set aside two hours where I’ll probably lie in the fetal position, praying people will like my book while simultaneously regretting my gratuitous use of the word “assface.” After that I plan on whooping it up and partying like a rock star. (Sssh…don’t tell anyone, but, I’ll actually be sitting on the bleachers in my daughter’s cheer gym watching her tumbling class and gossiping with the other moms. Real life=boring. Ha!)

Thank you so much Lisa for stopping by and taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions! Can't wait to hear rave reviews about this book!



Eve of Samhain can be purchased from Omnific Publishing's website here.

*Interested in getting a SIGNED copy of Eve of Samhain for FREE? It's easy! Today officially marks the start date of my 100 Follower Contest! Read the tab above (where I'm giving away a free SIGNED copy or a Starbucks GiftCard), then drop back down here and leave a comment to be entered! Let's get this party started! *grin