When is a Muse Not a Muse?

Borrowed from Post Secret

The man on the left is Henry Rollins. He is a punk icon from the eighties. He has continually re-invented himself as a musician, poet, publisher, activist, radio and TV host. If you ever get a chance, go see his spoken word tours. He's funny, smart, strong and not hard to look at either.

He is my muse. I've been a fan of his since I read the lyrics from 'Grip.'

When those walls close in around you
When all about you doubt you
When the world can live without you
Get a grip and keep it
Henry Rollins - Grip Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

The man on the right is Bruce Dickinson.

He's been the lead singer of Iron Maiden for more than three decades. He's also an author, songwriter, world-ranked fencer, and commercial pilot. He hosts his own radio show, brews beer and has a company called Cardiff Aviation dedicated to aircraft maintenance and pilot training. Is there anything this guy can't do? He's fighting cancerous tumors at the back of his tongue and if anyone's going to beat cancer, it's Bruce. I believe he is invincible and he is my number one muse. Always has been.

The person in the photo below is no longer my muse. All the good this guy ever did is over-shadowed by the fact that he is facing appalling charges of sexual assault. I want to rant. I want to burn up my keyboard with my disgust and rage. But my husband reminds me that he hasn't been charged yet. My words would be tantamount to slander.

In the past, I have called this television personality my third muse. I'd like to publicly renounce those statements. Convicted or not, this will be the last time I mention the name 'Bill Cosby' and the word 'muse' in the same sentence.


I guess from now on, I'll stick to old rock stars to be my writing inspiration. And to think...Parents used to be afraid of metal/punk musicians corrupting their kids!

Diving in with my Heels On.

I'm in love with this book!

So I bought this book called Writer's Market 2015. ( Robert Lee Brewer, Editor) Brilliant stuff. If you are a writer, you should get one. I bought it because I need to know the best ways to market myself, and how to write an effective query letter. Not to mention, this book is stuffed full of the names and addresses of editors, agents and publishers and what they are looking for. Actually, that was the main reason I bought it, but I got MORE.

I'm at the part where it tells you how to build a Platform. 

Platform? I know what a platform is. You can dive off a platform. Platform shoes make you taller. Right? Not exactly apparently. I've just learned how to dive into a platform to make myself bigger, that's for sure. Am I the only writer who didn't know about this? It's not hard to do...in theory... but I think it will be hard to build. I hate being in-your-face and trying to push a sale.

Essentially, I've learned that one must use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to gain followers. Other things you can do to build a platform include mailing lists, newsletters, and street teams. Hoo-boy.

Turns out I had the right idea, but like the book says, "Think big. Then think bigger." It's not enough to have eight hundred followers on the author page, or seven hundred followers on Twitter. I need THOUSANDS. Tens of thousands. Yeah, I have 90 followers of this blog after 4 years.

So here's the plan: First I'd like to thank the bloggers and fans who've been tweeting their reviews like confetti for me. I've been retweeting them. Thanks for making it easy to make myself look good.

Jennifer R@pearlofagirl30
The Avid Reader@Magicofbooks
Lana&Mel@MelandLanaWrite
Roxanne Kade@RoxyKade
Melissa Simmons@GHBTours
Girls *Heart* Books@2grlsheartbooks
MythicalBooks@MythicalBooks

Thanks ladies <3 I deeply appreciate it. Thanks to Norm R. Peterson too. I saw all those retweets :) I'd like to thank all my Facebook bloggers too. There's a long list of you to thank too.

Image Courtesy of: jscreationzs@FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I've been a bit of a Twitter snob, going about things all wrong. I didn't see the point of following people who didn't seem to have much in common with me. NOW I get it. It's about Networking. It's about building a platform and staying in touch. It's about supporting others as well as yourself. It's my own fault if I find Twitter boring, because I haven't connected.

So you know I'm here...Where are you? Where's your blog? How do I reach you? Share, share, share. If you'd like me to follow, let me know in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you.

Had My Cake and Ate It Too.

Courtesy of my friend Duane <3

I just had the best birthday weekend I can remember in a long time. The fact that I CAN remember it is pretty amazing. My FRIENDS are amazing!! It snowed for my birthday...It always snows for my damned birthday! But they braved the roads for me, and I love them all for it. They gifted me with their presence and a few presents, and it was wonderful!

Me happy :D

Duane brought a cake. It was a white cake with a vanilla pudding center. Rebecca gave me a fresh fruit bouquet. Sydney bought the pizza, and I provided chips and dips, a veggie platter. I also made jello shots made from champagne on the blue layer and Tennessee Moonshine on the red layer. I should mention that the moonshine came with booze-soaked cherries, which I put on top.Note to self: Add the sprinkles just before serving, or they will melt.

But the wildest food thing that happened that night came courtesy of my best friend Melaida. When she arrived, I opened the door and she had a cell phone in my face, filming me.  I think I said, "What are you doing with that?" Then I saw what she had in her OTHER hand! 

Ta-Daaaah! Melaida did this <3

Ever seen a writer become gobsmacked to speechlessness? Yeah, it was pretty damned amazing. I damned near wept. The cake is decorated with a Greek Mythology theme, with symbols of the gods all around. Spears for Ares, Thunderbolts for Zeus, Bow and Arrow for Artemis, A Fire for Hestia, A Lyre for Apollo plus a winged sandal for Hermes and an owl for Athena.

We all had a great time, and stayed up too late. The very next day, Me, Mel, and Sydney went to Krush with Mel's posse and did it again. And on Sunday, we rested. And watched Walking Dead.

I've had enough cake and pizza to last me another year, and I'm relieved  to greet the week in sobriety. You'd better believe I've been hitting the Wii in the basement. It's time for me to go back to writing, and get some work done. Oh wait...

Courtesy of Karen and Blair <3

It's my Birthday, and I'll Play Like I Want to.

Image by: Stuart Miles@FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's my birthday today!! I share a birthday with H.R. Giger, the artist behind Alien and much more, plus Don Cherry of Hockey fame, and Duff McKegan bass ace from Guns 'n Roses and Revolver. There's teensy pieces of all three of them in me ;) Which means I'm talented and obnoxious.

I have a weekend of fun and debauchery planned. Since I'm going to go back to work, this may be my last party for awhile, so I'm going to enjoy it. The nice thing about being 43? I don't care what anyone thinks.

So I'm having a Passion Party. What's a Passion Party? It's like Tupperware, but with sex toys. No, there will be no demonstrations. Oh, and they sell lubes and lotions too. If you're in the Edmonton area, and you want one of your own, here's where to reach Sherry, the lady who does them: www.ShersPassion.com  Why not?

I have invited as many friends as my tiny house will fit, and some of their husbands are going to be there too. Because some asked, and because why not? I get along with my friend's trolls, and would like to see how uncomfortable they get so I can poke fun at them. I know that some of them will NOT be embarrassed, no matter what. (I'm looking at YOU, Brad and Gerry!)

I have some friends from Calgary coming, and Sydney from British Columbia and she arrives tonight. I can't wait! Guess what? I've never met her in person before. My friend Jody introduced us through Facebook.

I'm going to have cake and pizza, and chips with dips. And Monday I will grow up and be as much of an adult as my personality allows. So wish me a Happy Birthday, because there's only one way out of getting older...

New Year, New Ideas

I have news. Good or bad, we're not sure yet, but here it is. My publisher at Staccato Publishing, Heather Savage and I have reached a decision. I won't be publishing my next novel with Staccato. I'm going to look for an agent, and a bigger publisher. That's not to say I wouldn't work with Staccato again...This isn't goodbye. It's more like, "See you later, okay?"

With the loss of my husband's job, I need to make a change. The Independent circuit, while allowing all kinds of awesome freedom, doesn't make me enough money. I have to go big. I have Heather's blessing, and I have that wonderful woman's help and encouragement to do so. Thanks, Heather <3

I hemmed and hawwed, but when I finally developed the guts to tell her, she was nothing but kind and helpful. She told me of 'Hybrid authors', and offered advice. Apparently, I can be any kind of published author I want...Independent, big name, or self-published. Good to know, eh?

When my previous publisher had to dump me, she put me in touch with Heather. (Thanks, Nicola) A great partnership followed. Heather Savage is an excellent writer herself, and publishes not for the market necessarily, but books she just think are a great read. If you need to see for yourself, check out David Fingerman, Jacinta Maree, Jay Mims, or any of her other authors at http://www.staccatopublishing.com/Staccato_Publishing/So_that_you_can_write_and_leave_the_rest_to_us....html  I believe in all of them, and in Heather. I just need to try something new.

I will continue to write, as always, but I need to go get a job. Not sure what I'll be doing yet. My trade as a meatcutter is obsolete in the city, with pre-cut meats coming in from Brooks, Alberta and British Columbia, and I'm not sure I want it back anyway. I hate the cold, and now that I have pets, I'm not really sure I want to slice up animals for a living.

I'm worried and scared, but determined. When I get my life back on track, I'll continue to write fiction.  Right now, I'm reworking parts of Chasing Monsters and still writing an Egyptian novella. From there I write a synopsis for Chasing Monsters, and write to an agent. I'll continue to write this blog, and one I just started with my bestie, Melaida Corpuz. It's specifically to help plug her Travel agency with ytb Travel and my Yelp page: http://www.yelp.ca/user_details?userid=iEhpkdXhqA6ozUBwKYPPPA   It's in the beginning phase, but it's called 'How to Hang Out' and here's the first entry:  www.howtohangout.blogspot.com

It's a work in progress...

In the meantime, I'll still be here. Wish me luck?

Dear Universe

If you don't mind, I would like another cat. I am in love with my Freya, Mighty Huntress and perfect little girl. I am forever grateful for my best friend, Spartacus Jones, whose cuddles and loyalty keep me sane. But the Energy has made cats sweet, furry, purry, and addictive. I can't have just two. 

 I'm asking you, whatever powers that be, because had I never even voiced out loud what I wished to anyone when you took my mental list, and delivered Spartacus Jones.

Back then, I wanted another kitty, but he would have to be special. Someone I could not resist. Maybe a stray, starving and possibly injured...the weather would have to be bad. Because at that time I believed there was no reason to bring a stray cat indoors if it wasn't raining or snowing. He would have to be younger than my cats...I decided he would fit in better that way. Having said that, he would have to get along with Sully and Freya.

It was as though the universe said "That's your list? Here you go."

Spartacus Jones followed my husband and friend home. He fit all the criteria. It was raining AND snowing on April 29th, 2013. He came to us with scars and ribs showing. He begged for affection, which I gave until I decided he belonged here. I tried to find his owners, but he'd obviously been out for awhile, and despite the fact that he was a good kitty, fixed and litter trained, no one seemed to be looking for him. I couldn't let him be abandoned twice.

Does this cat tree make me look fat?

You did such a good job, Entity Upstairs, that I'm making a formal request for one more. Here's my list:

1) I'd like another stray or even a willing feral. Not just because they are such grateful kitties, but because they don't have anything.  They have no shelter, and don't know when their next meal may come from. They are unwanted. They suffer so much, and I know I can love them right back to health. They deserve it.

2) I'd like for this cat to fit in with Spartacus Jones AND Freya. In fact, could you let the two of them  choose? When we lost Sully, we lost the natural balance between them. It's hard enough to get Freya and Spartacus to get along now. I can't bring another cat into this family if it will ostracize any of them.

Perfect Little Girl

3) I don't care how old the cat is, what gender it is, or what breed I get. I will accept the responsibility of an injured cat, extra toes, missing legs, it doesn't matter. If you send me the one that can get along with my furchildren, I will give it a home. I will take in any stray sent to me anyway, and get them off the street to someplace warm, even if it's the Humane Society. I promise.

Did I mention I have a birthday coming up?

Hashtag: Why Isn't Thoeba in Movies?

Cover art from Terra Weston Koster

I went to see the Hobbit in the theater. I wish I could tell you I loved it. SPOILER ALERT: The truth is, Peter Jackson and Hollywood took a classic children's book, added a romance, embellished an epic battle, dragged the ending out to unnecessary proportions and called it a day. It felt like the movie should have ended after Smaug's death, but they gave us over an hour of (admittedly pretty good) battle scenes. The ending was...unending. But that's not my only reason for ranting.

As always there were previews. Guess what? Not only is there another Star Wars movie coming, but there is also another Terminator AND another Mad Max coming out! Really Hollywood? You've got nothing else?

When I went to Texas for the convention, a writer stood in front of the assembled group and declared, "There are no original ideas." I almost walked out, especially when I heard her latest book idea. If that weren't bad enough, she's got an agent and a contract for a big name publisher.

Sour grapes, you ask? You bet! I work hard to try and come up with original ideas. Nothing bores me more than to read a new book and know exactly how it ends, to know I've seen it somewhere else before.

I can't help but ask: WHY ISN'T THOEBA A MOVIE?

No really...Have you read it? I have sex, death, romance, humor and violence. I also have a decently original plot. Thanks to the evil that is slowly encompassing the world, the Energy (God)  has lost Its power. It is up to one angel to tip the scales back to the side of good. Too bad she has to ally herself with humans, because she isn't very fond of them. I take the concept of life after death and turn it upside down.

I write angels, demons, reincarnation and pepper it with mythology, and I'm proud of what I've created. I can say the same for 'Aphrodite's War' and 'Chasing Monsters'.  What do you get when a paranormal investigator meets a demon with a soul? You'll find out when 'Chasing Monsters' gets published.

What do I have to do to get some attention in this market? Do I constantly have to ask...

#WhyisntThoebainmovies?