Jax's Artistic Journey...

My sisters and I were driving to lunch when I noticed the passenger door of a car that was stopped at the left turn lane open up and the woman threw out a large McDonald's drink cup in the middle of the intersection. Then, these hooligans proceeded to move forward as if they didn't give two shits about the environment, running over the cup as they peeled away. I was so pissed off I wanted to chase after them and scream not so nice things. People like these inconsiderate assholes are the reason why the earth is being destroyed. It wasn't like this was the trashy area of town...Contrary, it was a newly developed and spotlessly clean section of town. Not that I would condone them littering in a more rundown area..but I was just steamed about it. There was at least a dozen public trash cans available and still they chose to litter. Honestly, if I had been driving I would have picked up the cup, driven after them and thrown it into their car! I'm upset I couldn't stop to pick up the trash because of the dangers of being run over, but I wonder why some people feel they have the right to do these things. It's just sad!!!!!

What do you do when you need a little creative push? Well, you watch the entire first season of BONES. Yep, it's true. I was in a vegetative state as I watched episode after episode. This is by far one of the most engaging shows out there and I still have 2 more seasons. I'll have to make sure to do it after my deadlines, though. What I love about the show is the witty dialogue between the characters and the obvious love story between Booth and Bones. It's really brilliant to see good writing and helps me sort things out in my own dialogue...let's not forget the real reason women watch the show...two words: David Boreanz. I rest my case.

I went to the Space Coast Romance Author's Super Saturday event and just got home... so I'm pretty exhausted...not too coherent...a bit sleepy...

The speakers were fabulous and both Amanda Hilton (Executive Editor)of Siren Publishing and Angela James (Executive Editor) of Samhain Publishing were awesome!

While most of you will be BBQ-ing this weekend or taking a trip, I'll be writing, writing, writing to meet my deadline...! :) Be safe and have a great time!

First off.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!!!












evolution of dance

I've been busy working on my YA and it's starting off well. My niece read the first five pages and has given me the thumbs up that she likes it and the premise! YAY for me, which she is my demographic! At least I'm doing something write. I'm hoping to finish this project by Monday night if all goes well. Of course, I've got several things planned to participate in this week for my chapter and going to a Super Saturday conference in the Cocoa Beach area Saturday. Seems like there's always something going on. I haven't been able to write at my favorite cafes because my laptop is having operating system issues. Basically, I need to re-install the operating system..now, if I could only find my original disk! The cross country move has made it difficult to locate anything. Can't even find my suits and some of my favorite clothes! Sigh...

I don't know about you but I just realized next year is my 20-year high school reunion!!!! Yikes! I have participated in my 10-year in 1999 and it was a total blast, but 20 YEARS! Has it been that long already? Some folks weren't able to make the 10-year but I am wondering if they will come this next go around if it's being organized. I hope it will take place. I loved my high school and had good times there...sorry, took a moment to digest that I'm in my mid-thirties.

Well, growing up in a small town was amazing. You really do get to know EVERYBODY. You get to see everyone's personality come out and where each person was heading in school popularity. It's those moments that are great for writing about. Most of my classmates were kids I went to elementary school with and it's sad that I didn't keep in touch with them after graduating. It didn't help that I moved out of state senior year but the school still invited me to participate. Good times.

What about you..do you have a reunion coming up? Any good juicy stories? Wanna walk down memory lane... I may just walk down with you...

I'm not going to lie. I am ADDICTED to Grey's Anatomy. There, I said it. I never watched tv much until I moved to Florida..now that I'm here, I've discovered that I'm going through this new transition and all this free time is a kind of therapy. This show is therapy. It's engaging and helps me escape the stresses of the world. I don't know about you, but being in my mid-thirties, it's a milestone. I think back and wonder why I pursued the career I'm in now...why not medicine? I think I would have made a great pediatrician. Why not broadcast journalism? That was my original major because I had dreams of being an ET reporter...those days are gone, but I've decided that it's never too late and so I'm embarking on a new journey this year on top of my writing career...why not? I figured you only have one life and you should take advantage of it.

Well, you watch a lot of sappy romantic comedies playing on tv. You pull out a box of tissues because 1. everything makes you sensitive 2. you need to blow your nose because the production of snot from the head cold gives you a good excuse to be sentimental

But you know just when you think things are bad, it could only get worse!

Yep, folks...I recently moved back to the Sunshine State and basically my life is in storage at my sister's second home, which is going through total renovations. Okay, so I had meant to get around to moving everything to an onsite storage facility, but being that I am so booked all the time...I neglected to do this. So, I got a nice phone call from my sister telling me someone broke into that house and stole a lot of my personal items...including my $400 easel. Now, I can be furious and I can be crying over this, but I'm not. Why? What the heck can I do when it's already gone. I haven't assessed the damage and it's too late to do so now, so I'll wait until tomorrow to see what all they took of my personal belongings. Sure I'm ANGRY as hell but I'm trying to stay calm.

Wow, what a year...I've known loss and I've known LOSS...can it get any better than this?

I think I'm catching a cold...right in the midst of a deadline!!!! My immune system has been shot since last year and it seems no matter how well I take care of myself I've been hit by some bug or another.

Anyhow...I wanted to plug a FABULOUS workshop at ROMANCE DIVAS that is happening this weekend...

MAY 16-18th :: Everything Old Is New Again

Want to know how to use mythology, culture, fairy tales, or folklore in romance? Romance Divas is hosting a free workshop May 16-18 with some of the hottest names in the genre, including P.C. Cast, Gena Showalter, Robin D. Owens, Nancy Madore, Lori Handeland, and Alyssa Day. It will take place in the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.

Here's a bit more about our awesome line up of authors!

P.C. Cast: Ms. Cast is a New York Times Best Selling author. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers’ Best, and the Laurel Wreath.

Ms. Cast writes the popular Goddess Summoning Series for Berkley Publishing. The sixth book in the series, WARRIOR RISING, is available May 2008. Cast also writes an epic fantasy series for LUNA set in Partholon, the unique, award-winning world she created. Visit her web site at www.pccast.net

Ms. Cast coauthors a paranormal young adult series with her daughter, Kristin. CHOSEN, the third book in their House of Night series (St. Martin’s Press) debuted at #2 on the New York Times Best Seller List. UNTAMED, the 4th book in this blockbuster series, will be released in October. Please check out the series website, www.houseofnightseries.com.

Robin D. Owens: Robin has been writing longer than she cares to recall. Her fantasy/futuristic romances finally found a home at Berkley with the issuance of HeartMate in December 2001. She credits the telepathic cat with attitude in selling that book. Since then, Heart Thief was a launch book for Berkley Sensation in June 2003, Heart Duel was published in April 2004, and Heart Choice in July 2005. Her Luna Books series includes shape-shifting fairies and average American women Summoned into another world to fight monstrous evil. Visit her web site at www.robindowens.com

Gena Showalter: Gena sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy. Visit her web site at www.genashowalter.com

Nancy Madore: Published with Harlequin Spice and Spice Briefs, Nancy re-tells classic fairy tales for adults, but with an interesting twist. Her works include ENCHANTED, THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES, and GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BARONS. When not writing, Nancy also owns a shoe store in Massachusetts. Visit her web site at www.nmadore.com and her MySpacce page at www.myspace.com/nmadore

Alyssa Day: The pen name (and dark and tortured alter ego) of RITA award-winning author Alesia Holliday. She is a multiple finalist in the prestigious RITA awards for excellence in romance fiction and has won several awards for her novels.

ATLANTIS RISING was the first of Alyssa's Warriors of Poseidon novels for Berkley Publishing, and was featured on the cover of the March, 2007, issue of Romantic Times BOOKClub magazine! Additionally, it rocked the bestseller lists, hitting the Waldenbooks, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Bookscan, and the prestigious USA Today bestseller lists!

Alyssa has long been an avid fan of all things Atlantis, supernatural, and in any way pertaining to lost civilizations. Visit her web site at www.alyssaday.com

Lori Handeland: Lori Handeland sold her first novel in 1993. Since then she has sold to Dorchester Publishing, Kensington Publishing, Harlequin Superromance, St. Martin’s Press, Avon Books and Pocket Books. Her stories span the historical, contemporary and paranormal genres.

She is a Waldenbooks, Bookscan, and USA Today best-selling author as well as a two time winner of the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award, for her novels BLUE MOON and THE MOMMY QUEST.

Lori lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband, two teenage sons and a yellow lab named Elwood. Visit her web site at www.lorihandeland.com

As I write my first YA novella I'm wondering what people like to read. I've been to the bookstores and there are so many different authors and series to choose from that I can't decide. I love most of the covers and it's becoming more sophisticated than the ones I used to read, like Sweet Valley High and other romance YA's that were featured on the monthly book brochures in school. In those days, I read like 5 of the books a week because they were the size of a Harlequin category book. I know that kids these days are not as naive as before and their vocabulary may even be more advanced than mine...but I'm curious to know what readers are looking for. As I mentioned in a previous post, my publisher is keeping it more wholesome. Sure the're sexual attraction, mininal cuss words, etc...we can't avoid those things, but we want it to still be engaging to the YA market. We're not going to insult their intelligence but we're also not here to preach...we're here to entertain without getting too risque or push the limits of what is considered taboo. I'm personally writing something that would have appealed to me, will make me laugh and possess a dreamy spark of romance...that's what I'm all about.

Look at this! My name is listed first! Okay, okay...so it's in alphabetical order, but who cares! I think it is awesome to be listed. I sold a handful of books, more than expectations and I'm on the shelf!! YAY!

Here I am with my sunglasses on my head because my sister forgot to tell me to get it off my freakin' head! :) But at least I have photos..even though she only took 5 pics :(

Here is my group photo..At the far end is Catherine Kean (historical author), Nancy J. Cohen (humorous mystery), and Moi!

If you live in the Orlando area, I'm going to be signing! It's going to be lots of fun and my first signing in Florida. YAY!

My friend Roxanne St. Claire will be signing and you know it's smart to rub on a NY Times Bestseller...maybe I'll be blessed with a sprinkle of some of her contract and sales luck this year!

Date: May 10, 2008
Time: 2:00-4:00PM
Location: Barnes & Noble
Plaza Venezia
7900 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando, FL 32819
407-345-0900
Participating Authors: Jax Cassidy, Roxanne St. Claire, Catherine Kean, Nancy J. Cohen, Louise M. Gouge, Terry Odell

My friend Lara Santiago tagged me to do something on dreams...since I can't really remember my dreams, I couldn't fill out a lot of the stuff...sorry. No can do this time around. I am so bad at tagging games on the blogosphere. Since I feel bad, I'm going to pimp out her book! :)


The Sins of Their Fathers is AWESOME!...As is all her books if you are looking for HOT and GOOD reads! This erotic romance author is one to watch!!!!

I love this freakin' movie.

Incredible special effects! Great casting (except for Gwenyth Paltrow's character), great directing and I totally have a crush on Robert Downey, Jr. now. I thought the movie was really entertaining and very action packed. I am certain this will be another cool franchise.

Today is chapter meeting day...next week is my book signing...more details to come.

Happy Saturday!