Jax's Artistic Journey...

Lisa evacuated to escape the blazing fires that inch closer to her residence. She packed her beau, dogs, cats and valuables and headed to her father's house. I hope the fire will be controlled or smothered before it reaches her home. It's a horrible thing and although I'm not sure how it was started, I feel for everyone who may lose their property. I just hope they escape with their life.

On another note, I spent most of the day re-arranging other people's blogs--including my own. I wonder if they'll notice. LOL

I went to a movie screening of Just Like Heaven starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. It was held at a place called LA Center Studios which is a large movie production / sound stage place. Most of the movie was filmed there. I had loads of drinks including Cosmopolitan's and Corona's and appetizers. Then before the movie was screened we saw the producer of the movie and the emcee who gave away prizes. Ten people were asked to come up on stage if they thought they were Reese experts. Well, I sauntered up because my friends urged me there. Unfortunately I was the last man standing because everyone won prizes. Guess I'm not a Reese expert after all. On the last trivia which had a grand prize of a nice poker set...I answered the most obscure question on her.

What famous person in history is Reese related to?

Jeez, could it be any easier. I blurted out JOHN WITHERSPOON. He signed the Declaration of Independence! Woohoo, I WON.

So, I drove home all happy inside because I came out a winner.

The most exciting prize of all? My RomCom is my dream project and my muse has been more than happy to comply.

You know it's a crappy Monday when it's dreary outside, the wind is whipping your nicely coiffed hair, and you wish you'd worn a turtleneck instead of a lowcut blouse. Okay, I like to dress in the dark. Is it so wrong to not lay out your work clothes the night before? I tend to sleep to the very last minute, roll out of bed and grab whatever I think is color coordinated in complete darkness. Just relying on instincts and my ability to see in the dark. Okay, most days I look decent but there have been quite a few days I regret getting rid of my expensive suits from when I was a Director. These days I work for Corporate and I look like a slob. Can't help myself. I refuse to buy any more expensive suits when I know the day will come when I'm working from home in my bunny slippers and PJs. I could use that money to buy my espresso machine.

On a good note, I'm moving along well on my RomCom and it's really really good. I just love my hero. He's the stuff chivalry are made of. He's a hunka-hunk! Moving onto the next topic... Kristen loaned me an ARC of Ronda Thompson's "The Dark One" from the Wulf's of London series. Can I just say it's absolutely wonderful! This woman has a way with words. Not only is the hero to die for, the stuffs hot!!!!! It's released in November and you have to read it if you're a fan of Regencies and paranormal. Even if you're not, it's that good!

I've decided to change up the home page of Romance Divas. We're starting a new promotional program for published authors. I'll have it up and going by the end of the week. We're getting close to our one year anniversary and we're hoping this will help in keeping us going another year. So, all you published writers out there, contact me if you want to know about how you can become a Sponsor of our site.

What you'll get:

Your name on our home page noting your AFFILIATION / SPONSOR status
A promo page with your photo, book cover, ISBN/Release date, etc.
Link to your website
Monthly group newsletter to send out to your readers notifying them about upcoming releases.

It's a great promo idea, you'll see!

If you haven't jumped in an participated in Candace Haven's Fast Draft Workshop at Romance Divas -- You should. I've been trying my hand at writing at least 20 pages a day, but due to my heavy work week I reserve bulk writing on weekends. I have, however, been working on several projects at various times of the day so I would think they'd add up to at least 20 pages. :) This weekend may prove to be a challenge as I'll be in Disneyland all day Saturday. I know I'll have a grand time there...brings me back to my childhood days at Disney World... LOL

I'm thinking I will be at page 100 on my current RomCom by Sunday evening if I haul butt the rest of the week. I'm focusing on Kensington's new erotic line for this one. I can say it's fun and going extremely well. Now, all I need to do is trap myself indoors and write.

Check out Candace Haven's new book Charmed & Dangerous -- It's kickbutt fun! So I'm sure you'll love it.

Lastly, I want to say that my thoughts and prayers are with my friends and family in Texas and New Orleans. I wish you a safe journey and hope that you will be protected from Rita.

As well, my prayers are always with the troops overseas.

Yes folks, I'm 34 years young today. :)

What is my birthday wish? C'mon I'd be lying if I didn't say a 3 book deal. LOL But I'll take happiness, health and personal success. Maybe go easy on the stress which is what caused my severe Vertigo last week...won't want a repeat or a stroke ;)

Okay, okay. Twist my arm. I'll take one itsy bitsy sale... but seriously, I've decided to buckle down and do the best that I can and hope it all works out. Like most writers I dread thinking that it may take me five or ten years to publish -- are you kidding me? No way. I'm an overachiever, and as such, it ain't gonna happen. So for this next year I will do everything in my power to sell. Even conjure the muses-that-be.. Not just short stories (which I have sold - yay, for me) but something that can line the bookshelves at B&N or Waldenbooks. That's my goal, my dream and I plan on seeing it happen next year.

Watch out writing world -- Jax is out for blood... er, not quite that... how about out for the bestseller's list?

Show me the contract! :P

Happy Birthday to me. I'm going to Disneyland!

Well, I'm thinking that I'm not alone in this. As a writer you tend to find yourself in the midst of writing the greatest romance novel and then BOOM! you suddenly get stuck in a pause. Not really like a hiccup where you get your mojo back in a day or two, but the kind of pause that makes you hesitate and wonder if writing is for you. C'mon, it's easy to persuade yourself to quit but deep down you don't want to because you want to sell more than the person who's announced the sale. Not because you're being mean and petty, but because you want to say I'm good. Friendly competition isn't a bad thing if you are fired enough to write the best story you can.

I'm thinking all these insecurities isn't really stemming from friends or acquaintances who have made a sale...it's the inner part of you that is scared you're wasting your time on a dream when you think you suck. Yeah, I've been in a rut but I still produce and it amazes me. So my muse likes to play hide-n-seek and chooses the oddest time to inspire but you gotta love her. I found myself wrapped up in so many personal issues this weekend yet I have to thank that pain in the ass for gracing me with her presences when I needed her..even for a brief moment.

As the world tries to rebuild, understand devastations, accept these conflicts I find my problems a bit small. This morning I woke up to a profound understanding. I need to make changes in myself and often I thought I understood -- I never understood at all. So, this morning everything clicked and I can say I'm pleasantly...happy? Yeah, comfortably happy. While I figure out where to go from here I know everything is going to be all right.

I woke up Saturday morning with the serious case of the spins. Couldn't sit up, couldn't walk without wanting to puke and the world kept spinning. I popped like a dozen types of headache meds and nothing. Nada. Zilch. I was sleeping most of the day to get it over with and still managed to pry myself out of bed to do webwork and maintenancing on Romance Divas.

Sunday I woke up with the spins, but a little less so. Still couldn't focus and was grumpy as hell and had to do more stuff on websites and was miserable.

Monday I had no choice but to go to my doctor. Waited for 3 hours just so I was told I had Vertigo and that it would go away anywhere from a day to a few weeks. No kidding? I will walk and act like a drunkard or druggie for that long? So I get meds that put me to sleep. Why bother waking up? Then I get a pint of blood taken out so they can run tests on me. After I waited an hour for them to do this. Okay, I get home and hop in the shower to get rid of the sick germs all while thanking God I didn't careen into someone coming to and from the doctor's office. As I step out of the shower the electricity pops and everythings out. I'm naked, dripping wet, and there's no power. I do the best I can to get dressed and walk around the building in a dizzied state looking for any of my friends/neighbors to be home. I accost Paul and we take a walk for five blocks and see the pandemonium. Nothing works, all the shops are closed and it's like my friend said, "Dawn of the Living Dead." I think I'm living a nightmare.

Paul and I head back to the apartment and notice the garage gates are open so we hop into my jeep and decide to head out to Glendale because we hear they have power. We putz around in Starbucks and then we find out the power is finally back. It's now a bad comedy and I'm like one of the Stooges. I get a call from my friend Jesse and he tells me all of Downtown has evacuated, gone home due to no power. It's obvious the one day I call in sick there's a conspiracy. I lose a sick day. Can I just say this is a weird freakin' month and I'm expecting vampires, ghosts, goblins, and demons to surface and I'll have to stake them in my current mental state. Hummm, I need more drugs.

Where is this story going? I don't know.

This month is awesome for many reasons.. including Lisa Bradley and yours truly's Birthdays! Hooray for us!!!!

Romance Divas has a full schedule!

Free Workshop with Author Of The Month Candace Havens:

Candace Havens presents Fast Draft: How to write your first draft in two weeks. Really.Week of September 18th, 2005Fast Draft is way to get through the terror of the first draft in a fast and efficient manner. Why draw it out over several months, when you can have a first draft in just two weeks? Using creative techniques you'll learn how to write more pages a day than you ever thought possible. This class works for new writers as well as seasoned professionals, and allows writers to flesh out a story fast to see if it will work.

Live Chat with Christopher Keeslar, Senior Editor at Dorchester:

Date: Thursday, September 15th, 2005
Time: 9:00PM EST
Go to http://www.romancedivas.com/divachat.html to access the chatroom.

Q & A with Deidre Knight:

During the week of Sept 18th, Super Agent Deidre Knight will be answering questions in a special section of the forum aptly titled, "Ask Deidre". Don't miss this opportunity to get those questions answer and get to know this fabulous woman!See you online!

I love my muse. She's witty, hard-headed, and often such a pain I want to ring her neck. All the same, I love her when she cooperates. This Labor Day weekend I had a cookout, watched a movie and wrote my little heart out. I'm currently working on a romantic comedy called One Night With Jared and it's going fabulously! The hero is HOT and he's just alpha enough and just beta enough. I love men who connect to women and who can bring back chivalry that has been lost through the ages. Sigh... I love him! Anywoo, as I was flying through my pages and the muse making side comments as I went-- it suddenly dawned on me there is a second book in this. Yep, so one of my supporting characters is having a book devoted to them. It's a grand idea and it's going to be just as hilarious.

I've -- gulp -- even started going back and outlining my book. Which I never do! I've always been lucky enough to plot in my head and so after badgering from my friend Amanda, I have decided to humor her and outline the current WIP. I hate doing it. My muse agrees. The only thing we ever agree upon. I'm usually envious of her since she's so gorgoeus and so into fashions, trends, etc. That bitch! But I need her so I will endure her flauntings as she manages to nab one hot babe after the next. Okay, I'm off to whisk my h/h off on their adventures and I'm dying to be a voyeur in their quest to fall in love.

In this time of crisis, we must ban together. Please donate whatever you can to help the victims devastated by the recent hurricane that destroyed New Orleans and the surrounding states. Romance Divas is donating to this cause.

I am auctioning off a 5 page website design (valued at $1500) and all proceeds from the winning will go to the American Red Cross. Please email romancedivas@aol.com to place your bid. The winner will be notified on Monday, September 12, 2005.

**This does not include web hosting or domain name registration. It is up to the winner to arrange this.

I was listening to a radio personality rambling about men, relationships.. yada yada.. when she said something that made my ears perk up. She read that Scientists discovered the Y chromosome that makes up the male species has show a significant decline in genes that make them distinctly masculine. Also, in the next million plus years men will become--gulp, women!

I found this article: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2004/12/14/in_pursuit_of_the_y_chromosome?mode=PF

But in another article it says the facts aren't all there: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/afp/20030616/chromosome.html

That's disconcerting as who doesn't love MEN! At least it explains the whole metrosexual thing and well, men being more sensitive than women these days. Does that mean women are becoming more masculine? Hehe...

On another note, Romance Divas has an incredible contest focusing on Best Opening Hook and we've got like almost 100 entries posted! Okay, it sounds exaggerated, but it's true. You should stop by the Diva's Workshop and judge for yourself. These women are truly talented and made my entries seem pathetic. Hey, I can admit I didn't send my best works as I was pressed for time, but I'm glad I did and I'm glad our members are participating.

BTW, I just put up the new Author of the Month, Candace Haven's info on her workshop as well as the Spotlight On Christopher Keeslar, Senior Editor at Dorchester.

Don't miss the excitement!