Definitely Thankful.

I got so preoccupied with all that's been going on this fall, I forgot about Thanksgiving! I feel like a real putz for that...But just because my family didn't really celebrate it, and me and my husband rarely do, that doesn't mean I don't reflect on the things I'm grateful for.

I'm grateful for my husband, who believes in me so much he lets me stay home to work on my writing. I'm grateful for my best friend Darci who always has my back and is forever helping us with home and computer stuff. As a matter of fact, she's having us over for Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow. I'm thankful for my sister, who has always supported me.

I'm thankful for all my writer, blogger, Twitter, Facebook, Staccato, Shenanigans, and plain ol' Good Friends. And for my, dare I say it?--fans. Maybe it's too early to call them that. You're only as good as your last book, right?

I'm grateful for my reviews too--good and bad. And for all the opportunities that come my way as a result of all the hard work people have done on my behalf.

I'm grateful for all the simple things, like the view out my windows, the harvest from my garden, and those little sparks of inspiration.

Most of all, I'm grateful for my CATS. Because no matter what, they make me smile everyday and there is nothing in this world I love more than them. Thanks, God! And Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Oh, My Stars!

Cover by Terra Weston Koster

Sorry guys, I'm still running around like a maniac. My part of the blog tour is winding down and reviews are in. Including a few on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.ca/Aphrodites-War-ebook/dp/B00F8LJJSA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1379425838&sr=8-2&keywords=Aphrodite%27s+War

 Five stars! Oh yeah! I'm off to a good start, but I'm also nervous. Thoeba and Aphrodite's War are not the same novel. People who loved one may not like the other. It makes me feel a little tense.

But honestly? I can't help writing the way I do. I just follow my heart and my muse and hope for the best. I never actually consider what might be marketable or what people might think until the days following publication.

So now I'm a basketcase. I worried about how my fictional take on angels and demons would be received for Thoeba, and in many ways I dodged criticisms. People relaxed a bit when I told them I was just writing fiction and that I had no intention of starting my own religion.

Now I'm worried that my readers won't like this novel because it's not the same thing. Or they might not like it because of the intense sexual content. Or maybe how I mixed mythology with just a pinch of the Energy.

I'm scared, but my favorite quote is this: "Decide you want it more than you are afraid of it." --Bill Cosby

What's next? I don't really know. I can tell you there will be two interviews on this blog soon  (That reminds me, I need to write up questions for both of them.) and that I'm working hard on my yardwork. I can tell you I just finished Chapter Nineteen for 'Chasing Monsters' for the second time, and haven't decided whose POV I'm going to start Chapter Twenty with. My nerves are jangling, but I'm doing alright.

If you are interested in buying an e-book of either Thoeba or Aphrodite's War, you can use the link above. You can also use amazon.com, Smashwords, and Barnes&Noble. Actual paperbacks will be available soon. As soon as my publisher lets me know, I'll post it on my author page. https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMilwardAuthor

In the meantime, thanks everybody for all the awesome support. I'd be even more neurotic than I already am without you people. Thank you <3

It's HERE!

   APHRODITE'S WAR is finally here!  It felt like the day would never come, but yes, my second novel is here! http://www.amazon.ca/Aphrodites-War-ebook/dp/B00F8LJJSA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1379425838&sr=8-2&keywords=Aphrodite%27s+War  The blog tour is is full gear for it, and if you're interested, here's the link! There's going to be a lot of giveaways.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/440785532611199/621291374560613/?notif_t=group_comment_reply

This is the first blog post, done by my friend Mimsey--http://themimsey.blogspot.ca/2013/09/a-mimsical-interview-with-donna-milward.html Mimsey's become a good friend and doing this interview was like talking a an old pal.

Thanks to my sweet husband, I had a lovely launch party that I spent two day recuperating from. I gave away a few keychains, a notebook, and magnetic calendars.

Currently, I finished Chapter 19 in 'Chasing Monsters', only to delete three of the last pages. I think I'm about to introduce a new character. Wish me luck!

Until next week!

September, What's Your Hurry?

My sweet Grandma 

What the hell is going on? There is no room to breathe and take stock of what's going on. It's already September 19th, and "Aphrodite's War" has only been out for two days, officially. I feel as though I spend half my days on the computer, marketing and writing, and the other half doing things like harvesting, socializing and possibly sleeping. Or at least a reasonable facsimile of those things.

Facebook is my marketing best friend and my time-wasting enemy. Today I closed the page I was writing on to look up police jurisdictions for areas in certain parts of North-Central Alberta.

I ended up answering a bunch of Facebook messages, Tweeting, and building a profile page plus pages for Thoeba and Aphrodite's War on StoryFinds.

It wasn't until I got to my Tuesday night meeting with my Shenanigans group of friends that I remembered that I didn't get that done. I got the dishes and laundry done, plus making that phone call to our previous insurance company, but I never got around to calling the Pet Behavioral Hotline about how Spartacus Jones keeps attacking Freya for either play or territory and we-have-no-idea-why there is so much hissing.

Oh yeah! And my Grandma is up for a visit! That's an especially big deal because:

a) She's the last grandparent I have.
b) She got my Uncle Jerry to fly with her up here all the way from Manitoba. (He's in his late sixties.)
c) She's 91 years old. (WHAT? When did that happen?)

I feel like a shit because I just talked to her a month or so ago, and heard two things:

a) I heard my poor Grandmother ask if was EVER going to come visit her in Manitoba...I hadn't been back there since my teens. I couldn't give her a decent answer. Honestly, WHEN is a good time to drop everything and fly down to Winnipeg?
b) She pointed out that in July she was 91 years old. My jaw hit the floor. I kept meaning to phone her. Honest. But the truth is, the last time before THAT phone call that I spoke to her, she was turning 89.

I am swamped, but I'm going to spend as much time as I can with her. I gave her an "Aphrodite's War" calendar magnet and a T-shirt for her "Brag Bag", but there's NO WAY she's getting a book this time.

She's got glaucoma to the point where she can't actually see, but that didn't stop her from lending "Thoeba" to her Jehovah's Witness friends and her Lutheran family.  "It's very well written, but CERTAINLY not my cup of tea."--was the common quote.

Please, please, PLEASE God don't let my relatives read "Aphrodite's War."

Blogs, Events, and Parties, Oh My!

September is kicking my butt. Seems like there's a ton of things to do in both my personal and writing life.  Not that I'm REALLY complaining. I'd rather be swamped than bored.

Of course there's the usual harvesting, canning and wall washing. No doubt followed by wallpaper peeling and painting if my best friend Darci gets her way.

But August ended with the wedding of the decade (see previous post) and things haven't slowed down since.

If I didn't include Tara's birthday parties or Scott's visit from British Columbia, Canada things would still be interesting.

APHRODITE'S WAR comes out on the 17th! SCREAM!! That means all kinds of interviews and blogs, including a blog tour done by the awesome women behind TTC&B2B Blog Tours, Jessica Johnson and Tammy Middleton. Trust me, these ladies ROCK! The event is called
 "STACCATO AUTUMN FAMILY LINE-UP."

Cover by: Terra Weston Koster

 
It starts on September 17th, and promotes several other Staccato authors as well. We'd all love it if you could join us. So would all these other people who volunteered to help out with our on-line party...


http://themimsey.blogspot.com 

http://drwrnmk.blogspot.com 

http://sinfulreview.wordpress.com

http://www.worldsofwonderment.blogspot.com

http://bookend2bookend.blogspot.com

http://www.ohmyshelves.com

http://randommusesomy.blogspot.com

http://beccaannesbookreviews.blogspot.com

http://jessica13bridgers.blogspot.com

http://tamssbookblog.blogspot.com

http://www.echibbs.blogspot.com

http://jacintamareeauthor.blogspot.com

http://revloush.blogspot.com

Hope I didn't miss anyone. Thanks all of you for your participation. I'll be checking these blogs out and I can't wait to see what comes up!

Best. Wedding. Ever.

Jeremy and Rebecca Reid

What happens when two creative and playful people meet as Zombiewalkers and fall in love? They have the most amazing Zombie Wedding never seen before, and I just GOTTA share it with you. It felt like the day wouldn't get here, but when it did, all Hell broke loose.

It was my first time as a zombie. I gleefully tore up some of my clothes and bought four tubes of fake blood. I must say it was very liberating to wake up with bedhead, plaster my skull with tons of hairspray and call my hairdo done. That was another 40 minutes I could fret over my makeup. My husband chose to be a zombie hunter, and had his outfit done in minutes.

Me and the Troll

If I had any doubts about our costumes, they disappeared the moment we arrived. There is no right or wrong way to dress as a zombie or zombie hunter. Especially when you're surrounded by cool people who just want to have fun with it.

The ceremony's first unique twist came when Jeremy's groomsmen wheeled him to the altar in a black casket. The dapper dead man crawled from his coffin and took his place next to the creepy clergyman while a cloaked figure lit all the candles.

Jeremy isn't a morning person...

Then the speakers blared with 'Living Dead Girl' by Rob Zombie, and minions shuffled in, led by a ring bearer in a white top hat and an insane flower girl who tossed flower petals as though she wanted to kill everyone with them. The undead took positions alongside the aisle, allowing the bridesmaids to lurch by.

Then came the bride, who managed to look beautiful and ghastly at the same time. At first glance, you would think her gown had a pink tinge to it. Upon closer inspection, you would see that the color comes from a fine mist of blood droplets. Isn't it freakishly lovely? Well done!

You are looking delightfully pale, Rebecca

My favorite part was when they asked if anyone 'objected' to the union. Sure enough, some unfortunate jumped up and started yelling about how HE should be marrying the bride. The bridal party descended upon him, spraying his blood and ripping off his arm. They stepped back into place, leaving the corpse in the aisle. A groomsman chewed contentedly on the appendage for the remainder of the ceremony. The victim didn't move again until the end, when he 're-animated' and led the procession out. He made a great MC for a newly dead guy.

Guess they couldn't wait for dinner.

While the wedding party left to take pictures, a bunch of us helped set up for dinner. Everybody chipped in to set up tables, chairs, settings, centerpieces, wine and food. It's not work when everyone's having a good time doing it.

Did I mention it was potluck? There was chicken, ribs, meatballs, buns and bannock, salads, and desserts. I piled my plate, but still didn't try everything. And I MUST talk about the cake!

Chocolate dirt, gumball eyeballs and a skeleton bride and groom

 The three tiers were covered with a sort of Frankenstein skin of the best fondant I've ever tasted. I hate fondant, but I ate every bite of it. I asked the creator, Amy Mancor, how she actually managed to make fondant so edible, she told me she makes her own....Of course she does. Why should I be surprised? She is, after all, the owner/operator of  'Wicked Sweets' and has her own blog at ...amymancorscakes@tumblr or you can email at amymancorscakes@gmail.com. 

As always, the first dance was sweet, but it wouldn't be zombie without 'Thriller' would it? Wanna see it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEkbeNDMY_k&feature=share

And let's not forget the entertainment: Banshee, Charlie Vegas, and Delilah LeDouche did beautiful burlesque dances. I'd show you photos, but I forgot to ask permission from any of the girls to post their nearly naked bodies on my blog...Sorry! But if you're interested, I think all three of them have fan pages on Facebook.

The rest of the night was dedicated to hanging out with old friends and new, everyone comfortable in their own decaying skin. Have you ever had the rare experience where EVERYTHING was great, and nothing went badly? Where every person you met was pretty damn cool? This was the whole package.

Days later we're all Facebook friending each other, posting pics and tagging. We'll be talking about this for weeks. Thank you Rebecca and Jeremy. That really was the Best Wedding Ever.

'Rebecemy' and 'Danna'

Thanks but No Thanks...

Photo by: artur84/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You know what is a really inappropriate thing to tell a writer? How to write their book. Why is it that these 'helpful hints' only come from those who DON'T write for a living?

 Easy. No author or journalist appreciates it when someone else, who is NOT working on the project thinks they know better than the creator of that work how to get our point across. At least not without being asked first. That's what critique partners are for.

I don't go inside other people's offices and organize their desks. I don't sneak into restaurant kitchens and advise chefs on which spices I prefer to use.

Plot advice is right up there with suggestions on how to beat Writer's Block when you don't have Writer's Block...I can say, "I haven't had time to write lately." and suddenly I'm bombarded with ideas on how to get my creative juices flowing. Like I didn't know...I've got two completed novels (actually four, if you include the unpublishables) and another on the way. Golly gee whiz, I had NO IDEA that a quick nap or a walk or maybe if I work on something else might be helpful. (Head hits desk.) Can you say 'condescension'? Better yet, can you SPELL it without autocorrect? 

Many of us work on multiple projects, blogs, interviews, blurbs, marketing and more. Very few of us have days where we simply cannot write. When it DOES happen, trust me we know how to handle it.

Last week I said, "I finally figured out that last scene switch point and I know who's POV I need to be in next."  My friend said, "Good for you! Now you might want to think about where this character is going..."

"I know. I got it."

"He or she could-"

"No REALLY. I GOT IT." I'm trying not to bite his head off... "I know where she's going and what happens to her." I'm a plotter, but I don't think Pantsers appreciate the advice any more than I do.

Why do non-writers seem to think we need their help? Do they think we are such emotional misfits that we need assistance with our own craft? Okay, maybe some of us are a little weird...But we're perfectly capable of plying our trade better than anyone else. We're also capable of doing other things, such as dressing ourselves and ordering pizza. And we didn't ask you.

Whew! I know I said my next post wouldn't be negative, but I actually feel better for ranting, thank you, and I hope I haven't upset too many people, but it needed to be said! ...At least it wasn't about cats, right?