Jax's Artistic Journey...

Per the blog title, I'm researching about my favorite place in the world...IRELAND! I always get excited when I write about the Irish, especially those brooding hotties. Except this time, my hero is not so dark...just plain sexy. Of course, it takes place in a pub and includes some juicy scenes that I hope will entertain. But the bottom line is that it's not just about the sex. It's about attraction, the appeal of common interests, and the falling for someone hard even though it's during a short span of time. Hey, I believe that it's possible to fall head over heels for someone in a matter of days and most of my friends have! I don't necessarily believe in love at first sight but it's in engaging with the person that you'll know if there's a spark--that instant connection.

My work in progress is also about music and a few other twists that I hope will engage the reader. Because it's a short story, I have to make every scene count. I have to give just enough to satisfy the reader and that's what scares the heck out of me! Writing single titles allow you to fill the gaps and elaborate on those things that are necessary. In a short, you've got to make sure that you answer all the questions so readers don't feel like they've been screwed. The best part of writing a short is that it challenges you to be precise. It forces you to really think about the project and makes you a better writer, but it's all in the execution.

I'm loving this story more and more....

It's been a long time since I've done self portraits of myself. I've been thinking about building up my lens arsenal ever since I got rid of my Canon and all it's lenses years ago. :( That's thousands and thousands worth of equipment I walked away from when I hung up my photography hat. Some stupid things you can't make up--but it's in the knowing and admitting that you have an impulsive streak that counts. The first time I held a camera was when I was nine years old. My brothers are avid photographers and I was always drawn to their cameras. Those days there were no digital cameras where you could see your shots instantly. We had to bring the rolls of film to process or we processed them ourselves. Oh, I miss the smell of the darkroom--sharp, pungent, acidic and vinegar...it fills your nostrils, your lungs and you become accustomed to it. Processing your own black and whites took time, patience. You had to love the steps, the wait, the accuracy of developing just perfect. My favorite part was watching the images slowly come into focus like a blossoming bud. My stomach would flutter, my heart would sing because you never knew exactly if the image would come out like what you viewed from the tiny negative. It was like the faces, places, and abstracts came to life in the palm of your hands. These days, darkrooms are practically non-existent. Just like the Polaroids and we can't do much to stop change.

As I was thinking of what I've seen in the past thirty-eight years of my life, I realized that I've come a long way as a person. I never would have thought I'd write romance. My passion was for journalism and news reporting. Back then, I dreamed of being the next Connie Chung. But in the blink of an eye, I took a different direction but never abandoned my writing. Truthfully, I was born to create love stories. I've always had visions of happy endings. I even knew that my journey as an artist was going to be a difficult one but it didn't stop me from trying. So, these past few weeks I've had time to think and to explore who I am. I needed to know that I wasn't afraid to fight for what I wanted. I needed to close off everyone's opinions--good or bad--and focus on my work. What do I want to write? What do I want to accomplish? What do I want to achieve this year, next year, in five years? I had to taste this dream and then I would have to chase it to the very end because if I take one second to fear...I might not reach that place I had always fought so hard to arrive...

Self Portraits are a good evaluation of yourself, your soul, your wants, your needs. Go explore...

I'm over at HOOKED and talking about MOTIVATION.

You should stop by if you need a good hard kick to get you going.

I know that writing it was the extra shot of caffeine in my morning...

What are you waiting for? Go to HOOKED ON ROMANCE now!

Why,Oh Why am I so easily distracted these days? I can't seem to get into the mental writing zone and it's bugging the heck out of me. At least I'm starting to work out again...I'm taking my time to build up and get more active so I will keep exercising. Maybe I'll even get the Wii Fit so I can workout in the privacy of my own home...that's definitely going to be on the list.

I was getting pretty good about staying on my writing schedule but now it looks like I need to be more proactive about my progress. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to try to write at least 10 pages a day and work my way up. I've got this novella I want to finish to submit in 2 weeks. Originally I was aiming for this week but it's not going to happen...time to buckle down and fight those Springtime/Summertime distractions. Who can resist the call of the sun? Poolside seems too tempting but I will overcome these desires....

What am I up to the rest of the week? Well, writing, researching, and working out. Saturday I am going to a birthday bash for Mr. Right's friend. Then on Sunday I might call it a free day...by Monday, I should be back on track and ready to kick publishing butt! I plan on having a multiple book deal by the year's end...that's my primary goal!

Today is the day in which the world becomes more conscientious of our Mother Earth and what we can do to pitch in. Preferably you're already doing this like I am....There's a lot of cool sites to read up on how you can help minimize excess and learn more about sustainability. For instance, Earth Day Network is a great way to start or Greenaholics. Another great site is called Green Is Sexy which my girlfriend Megan created with actress Rachel McAdams and Didi. This website provides tips and insight on what goes into being green.

I know it's easy to say "I don't have time to do that..." -- when, in reality, it only takes a few seconds to save and conserve. How hard is it to recycle? Unplug everything you don't use regularly...Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth...Buy earth friendly products...Believe it or not, just one small step at a time and you are pitching in....You are making a difference.

Then there are the eBooks...you can download hundreds of books into your hand held reader to re-read again and again. I'm not saying to stop buying books, that's one of my guilty pleasures, but if you're not certain about a book that's out you might consider buying the eBook first. In fact, if you have print books and you have no need for them--donate or pass it on to your friends.

At this time I'd like point out one of my most environmentally conscious and earth loving friend--Eva Gale! The woman makes her own soaps and detergents for a few dollars! I kid you not. She amazes me with her continual efforts to practice and educate her family on this. Makes me real proud because she sets a good example. Thanks Eva!!!!

I'm not 100% practicing these good Eco habits but I definitely try on a regular basis. With time, my goals are to purchase a sustainable design home, get another hybrid vehicle, and spend more time practicing and learning about ways to help the environment. However, what I started investing in years ago was donating to organizations such as Tree People. There a plenty of local versions of this organization and they plant trees to replenish what we've lost. Tou can even volunteer to plant the trees in your area!

There are so many ways to help save the Earth...so why not start now? Baby steps.

The sun is beaming brightly outside and I've been daydreaming about laying poolside to get that summer glow. Unfortunately, the pool is being worked on and I'm going to have to wait one more day. Most of my friends are headed to Romantic Times Convention in Orlando and I'm bummed I couldn't make it this year.

Lately, I've been thinking about promotions and what events may be more beneficial to me than ones I've attended in the past. There are several I've been looking into and with conference fees being in the $400+ range, it's easy for me to look into smaller conferences or reader appreciation weekends that will run a third of the cost. I'm starting to see the value in connecting with the readers and finding a connection to them. Isn't word of mouth the best promotion?

Hopefully next year, I'll have more help in the publicity end and won't be solely responsible for it...So, as writers, what has been the best type of promotion for you? What seems to work and what may be the least expensive way to get you visible?

Trust me, I'm signed up for everything from Facebook, MySpace, to Twitter...but I'm not so good at keeping up with it. I find that Twitter can be a great way to be visible but you are constantly censoring yourself so you don't look like an idiot. I don't tweet that much but I'm sure I'll get around to getting better with time....maybe. I'm good at losing interest in things. Blogging is probably the most consistent thing I do.

Okay folks, hope you're having a bright and cheery day! Now I've got to work instead of daydreaming....

I'm talking about my road trip to Texas Hill Country at Hooked on Romance.

What a great weekend trip with plenty of rain and surprises. Fun, fun, fun!

Happy Monday!

It's all set. Friday morning we're driving off into Texas Hill Country where we'll be participating in the annual Wine Trail. I'm very excited because I love wine and I especially love tastings at the vineyards...there's something magical about seeing the rows and rows of flourishing grapevines and having the opportunity to learn the process of turning these fruits into wine. Of course, there's already a thunderstorm warning but we hope it's nothing more than scattered showers...I'm toting my faithful camera with me to see if I can get some awesome shots of the Texas Countryside.


It's my first real vacation in a long while so I'm going to make sure it's fun and relaxing. We don't know how many wineries we'll hit, but it's more for the adventure and a change of pace. I've decided to take time away from all the proposals I'm working on and write my paranormal short story. It's got Asian witchcraft, magic, and plenty of romance. I'm hoping I'll finish it in a week...yep, so everything's on hold until I get it done. It's a good exercise for me. Like with any craft, you gotta keep writing and finish something. Proposals are fun but they don't require me completing the whole thing until it's sold. At least with novellas, I'm constantly pushing myself to get more work out there. Can't have people forgetting my name...

Okay folks, hope your weekend is full of relaxation and fun. Go ahead, you deserve the spa treatments and mani/pedis. Of course, I've already been spoiled this week. I got a new cell phone, Samsung Memoir, coming my way and an awesome pair of Sketcher cyclers with a wedge. They're so comfy and fashionable! It's a compromise for a person who loves flip flops and still want the height. Off to pack...

I've found the perfect pairing with Mr. Right because we are both romantics at heart. Yesterday he decided to surprise me with an early date night. We normally reserve this occasion for Fridays or Saturdays but he was in the mood to be romantic. Not that I have anything to complain about :) First stop, book buying at B&N and then onward so I could get a mani/pedi before we went off to dinner at this Italian restaurant I love so much.

On the ride home, I realized that our relationship is strengthened by these moments. That even with everything going on around us we can still take time to make an event fun and special. Okay, so we spend most of our week working or catching up with our personal goals but at the end of the day--you need to apply the same effort to making a relationship work. It's true that you learn a lot from experience and past relationships have shown me that the things you want to hold onto is the things worth working at and fighting for. I'm the luckiest woman in the world because Mr. Right is one of the few who values me, appreciates me, and does things for me without me asking him...like taking out the trash, doing the dishes, doing laundry, and sometimes whisking me away when he knows I need to be pampered--which so happens that he plans to take me on a spontaneous road trip this weekend into Texas Hill Country during the annual wine trail event...

As for what I did to make him happy...a hot, home cooked dinner...Monday night I made lasagna. (Yes, that's the actual first slice I cut out) Okay, it's not nearly that difficult to be the culinary experimentalist in the kitchen, but I try to reciprocate those thoughtful things he does for me without him asking...

Why is this post so sappy? It's a reminder that you can turn a stressful environment into a stable and loving one if you put out the effort...because truly....'all you need is love' to get you through hard times.

On Sunday, thunderstorms were in the forecast and Mr. Right was sick so we ended up making it a lazy weekend. I've got certain shows I love during the week: Castle, Life, Bones, Dollhouse...but Mr. Right likes The Unit which I only started watching a few episodes with him and because I don't know the backstory on this series, he pulled out the first three seasons. Just to humor him, we watched all of the first season on Sunday and I will have to say, I'm hooked. I'm not big into military shows but David Mamet did a good job of developing the show which is based on a 2002 memoir called Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit by Eric L. Haney. I relate it to soap opera for men. You see, there's plenty of juicy situations, scandals, infidelity, and body counts involved in the show each week and you find yourself actually enjoying it. So now, there's actually two shows we watch together: Dollhouse and The Unit.

It's Monday and I need to get my head back into work mode...so, crack your knuckles and get started!

Oh yea, it's Monday and I'm also over at Hooked On Romance talking about "Relationships"....

I was too tired last night after watching Dollhouse and some movies we rented to try out this new Rum Cake recipe. So this morning, I decided to make it a mission to do it right, crossing my fingers it wouldn't burn up my home :) You see, I'm a terrible baker...except for the occasional instant pop-in-the-oven sugar cookies. I've only baked a handful of times and either it turned out or it was trashed. After following this recipe I found and adding my own twist, I was skeptical that the end result would be editable. To my surprise...it was perfect! Mr. Right and I ended up having slices of moist and yummy Rum Cake with our coffee. It was amazing how well it came out in a bread loaf pan. Next time, I'm going to get a bundt cake pan or mini-bundt cake pan. Uh-oh, I think this is going to be one of those obsessions...

As you can tell on the pictures, this is how perfect it turned out...I'm still wondering why it split at the top but I will investigate on my next baking mission.







Doesn't it look beautiful! LOL

I'm also dying to make chocolate and Grand Marnier souffles because I had it at this awesome French restaurant the other night and can't stop thinking about it. Isn't it a good feeling to find something new to try? I am pretty proud of my handiwork... :)

I'm going to bring some slices of my yummy experiment to give to Mr. Right's parents on Easter Sunday. It's a family dinner and I'll get to see his little nephew for the first time. Hope he likes the pink plush bunny I'm bringing him...I almost wanted to keep it for myself!

Have a wonderful Easter and may it be a joyous occasion of egg hunts and barbeques for you and your family!

**per request**

GOLDEN RUM CAKE
Recipe provided by AllRecipes

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (your choice if you want nuts)
* 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix (Pillsbury has the pudding mix in it)
* 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
* 4 eggs
* 1/2 cup water
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup dark rum (I substituted with Coconut Rum)
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/4 cup water
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup dark rum (Don't skimp on the good rum for the glaze or same per above)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the bottom of the pan. (If you want nuts-YUCK)
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Mix in the eggs, 1/2 cup water, oil and 1/2 cup rum. Blend well. Pour batter over chopped nuts in the pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto serving plate. Brush glaze over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze and repeat until all glaze is used.
4. To make the glaze: in a saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup rum. The best thing to do is to pour the rum in slowly over the sink because it might fizzle up, depending on the rum brand!

It will be after I make my rum cake, that's for sure!

You see, I decided to finally do my taxes before I missed the April 15th deadline. Of course, I hate doing taxes so Mr. Right did mine for me. YAY! Somehow I prayed I wouldn't owe...especially because I made less than I made since middle school working for a fast food chain...unfortunately, this year I owed as much as I did last year which was a huge chunk... **cries**

Like most authors or freelance artists, we tend to forget to put money aside from our earnings. Last year I worked in corporate for 2 months then I moved temporarily to Florida. That's when I decided to write full-time and do freelance graphic design work when the economy was starting to drop. I love being able to write and work from home, which is at total dream, however, freelance doesn't include tax deductions...which I should have known better and put at least 25% aside on every job...but I didn't. Mostly because I needed to pay bills and still have enough to live on. Oh, believe me, I've budgeted. 50% of my earnings go toward things I need to purchase for my freelance jobs, promo, and all that stuff. I basically have to pay for things upfront and out-of-pocket which doesn't always get reimbursed by the client. Okay, maybe I'm just too nice and under charge my clients but I have that mentality where I'm overly sympathetic. Anyways, enough about that... :(

So now my chances of saving to attend conference is gone, thanks to the IRS. However, if I should miraculously sell something in the next few months, I will be going to conference and hopefully will have a hotel to sleep at! LOL -- but I'm not holding my breath. I'm one of those authors on the cusp of something good...but I can say I've learned a lot about sacrifice and staying level-headed this year. Seriously, I should be close to a total breakdown, but I'm happier than I've ever been and even though the going has gotten tough...I do have a lot of faith that something good is coming around the corner...

On this Good Friday, I wish everybody much love, happiness, and all things beautiful for you and your loved ones. If I am the 1%, during these hard times, who is filled with optimism, I truly hope that it's enough light that will keep all our spirits up. To me, I see these challenges as a learning experience and one I will never ever ever repeat...not if I can help it!

Funny how things work. My friend Kwana wrote a post yesterday about occasionally being 'in a mood'...and this morning, for purely different reasons...I related to her completely...

I would love to growl it out of my system but sometimes being moody is contributed to uncontrollable outside forces...or someone who is lashing out because of jealousy or pettiness...but I'm going to channel my inner Zen and work on my current WIP.

How can one achieve that inner and outer Zen? Focus. Simply, allow yourself to decompress and visualize what is at stake. I'm going to use this heightened energy to my advantage and transfer all this pent-up emotion into my writing. I'm at a pivotal point in my proposal which requires my full attention and I've been putting it off. The symptoms of being mentally trapped by over thinking...a procrastinator, if you will. But not that it was intentional, I just have way too many things influencing my mental state of late. At least things are slowly improving and I know I must push forward. I must never give in or give up the fight.

A writers job is to write. To create. To continue even when faced with difficulties. I kind of lost perspective and self-confidence in between, like the little dips in the flat road of life. But my strength is still intact and I'm not going to allow anyone or anything to deter me from my goals.

Anyway, I was over at Hooked On Romance to read Q&A on this week's guest blogger: Angela James, Editor of Samhain Publishing...it charged me up a little more. In a very good way. Sometimes, it's just good to re-evaluate and then delve right into your work. Maybe it will equal to more page counts!

Go write people...but only after you read the HoR interview!

I saw this image on AOL and it made me laugh. A little inside joke on my part...Ahem, I will say that the weather is nice and sunny here in my neck of the woods. The perfect day to kick off Springtime...

With the warmth of the sun's rays, I'm already planning vacations that involve sunscreen and bikini gear for just the occasion. This is also the best time of year to go on movie binges. For instance, I've been fascinated by those particular rentals that people often overlook. Granted there are a few that I understand why they sit on the shelf...well, Mr. Right and I live close to a Blockbusters and that can only spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e. I'd say every other week we rent between 4-6 movies at a time. So, it finally dawned on me that we really ought to get Netflix. Don't get me wrong, I love to support the local rental places but when you're paying $20+ for 4-5 movies, with penalty fees if you're late, it really adds up. Let's weigh the cost, shall we. One price per month. Movie comes in the mail, when you're finished viewing, you pop them back in the mailbox without needing to leave your home. The best part is, you can choose your movies online, hassle free and without anyone looking over your shoulder. Hummmm....on the other hand, this is just contributing to a lazy society...

Let's talk movie...I hadn't heard much about SEVEN POUNDS nor did I have any inkling what the story was about. I've noticed the darker, more emotional roles Will Smith has been tackling lately and, that alone, appealed to me. The movie starts off a little slow and viewers may be slightly confused but...wait for it...just pay attention and you'll get sucked in. Based on the first fifteen minutes you know it's going to be a tearjerker but you can't stop watching, you can't stop hoping that there's some glimmer of hope. It does happen and the budding love is so sweet and tender...but once you're deeply invested in this man and his actions, you have to be prepared for what's to come...

In a nutshell: I recommend this movie if you're wanting a good cry and aren't afraid to do it. Just have the tissues on standby.

SEVEN POUNDS
Academy Award® nominee Will Smith (2006, Best Actor, The Pursuit of Happyness) stars as Ben Thomas, a man at a crossroads. He embarks on a journey to help change the circumstances of seven strangers who deserve a second chance in life. But when he opens his heart to a beautiful woman who needs his help, he risks everything he's planned for one last chance at love. From the director of The Pursuit of Happyness comes this "life changing motion picture you will not easily forget." - Pete Hammond, HOLLYWOOD.COM

Hey, I'm over at HOOKED talking about characters. I guess I was thinking about it when I was watching the series finale of ER. I also have seen SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SEVEN POUNDS, and BOLT. All different movies, all with strong characters and that led me to my Monday post at Hooked On Romance.

PS. I'll get to those movies another day. :)

I'm not obsessed with Nora, not exactly. I've been intrigued and a bit enamored by her ability to create and consistently grow as a powerhouse. Who wouldn't want to be Nora right now? Recently, she's been involved with MyLifetime.com. Her books have been developed into the Nora Roberts 2009 Collection...It's basically four of her books made for television. I've seen past adaptations of Blue Smoke, Angel Falls, Carolina Moon and Montana Sky, and although they were not the best adaptations, they were charming--and I watched them all while stuffing my face with buttered popcorn and chasing them down with hard liquor.

This time around, I was interested in seeing if the production value went up. After watching Jane Porter's FLIRTING WITH FORTY, I was hoping that they would be vastly improved. To my surprise, they were. These book adaptations include: Northern Lights, Midnight Bayou, High Noon, and Tribute. Only 2 of the four have already shown. These movies are supposed to run 4 Saturdays in a row and I've caught the first two on the www.mylifetime.com website since I don't have cable. I'll be honest, I was extremely engaged in Midnight Bayou. I thought it was very well scripted and rounded off with a good cast. The whole supernatural/reincarnation element was a plus. Sure, I've gotten sucked in by Nora...and although I still haven't read more than a handful of her books...I'm very pleased. It makes me aspire to be like her.

It also got me thinking that if I could adapt my books to tv, which one would I choose? Honestly, all of them. When I write romance, and I've said this before, it's a moving picture and the story is simply unfolding like a movie. I can really see these book live. Maybe someday it'll happen....Needless to say, I'm a bit inspired and now I shall go back to writing.....

Watch out, Nora...here I come! :)

Have you noticed that authors are always on a journey? A quest to learn, grow, and understand ourselves? Being an artist, I've always traveled this road and there are many times I've stumbled across heartbreak, anger and fear. I am always searching to understand and to explore, to discover the secrets that I think lies beyond that door that will make me a better writer. A better person.

The last few years have tested me in more ways than one. I've seen a lot, heard a lot about authors who, from the outside looks like they live a charmed life...but even those who were at the top of their game have lost contracts during this economic downturn. I've ran into several authors who have told me that their publishers dropped their series from low sells which translates to "find another publisher"...which means their career could virtually be dead in the water. Not a good bit of news for authors like myself who has worked so hard to get that stellar agent, yet be standing in the waiting line wondering if I will ever have a career. Even with all this, I realize I'm not doing this for fame or fortune (although it helps--hey, I'm not gonna lie).

Writing is personal for me....I've always loved doing it and it brings me joy when someone stops me at conference or sends me an email that says, "I really enjoyed your book." My words are out there and the knowing is what makes everything special. The knowing that I accomplished a complete manuscript and others have purchased it and read it. It does matter...I'm thankful that a reader took a chance on an unknown author. I'm thankful that there are books period. What would the world be without them? Lost. It's painful to even think about it.

That's why we need to buy books. Even if it's once a month, we need to keep this industry going. With electronic publishing making a rise, it does scare me, but my stories are getting wider distribution...but not for one second would I ever NOT buy a book. Nothing replaces the feeling of flipping through pages, seeing the spine visible on the shelf or being able to pass it on to someone with a recommendation. Personally, I make it a mission to purchase books even if I don't read them. Even if I'm on a strict budget, I'd forgo frivolous pampering to purchase books of friends and acquaintances. I want to do my part as an author and a reader. It's important to me as much as writing is.

Writers need readers for the livelihood of their careers. Readers need writers to escape a long, hard day...

This post is a big THANK YOU to all my readers for their support. I appreciate you buying my book!

I got a review for ART OF SENSUALITY from The Romance Studio and it really made me happy! 4 1/2 hearts out of 5!!!! Woohoo!

It's been such a hectic time and although my book has been circulating for a little while now, I'm still proud of it. I'm working in more than one genre but my love for contemporary romance is not far from my mind.

I would post something exciting but I'm so busy this week that I can't seem to think straight. Hopefully I'll have more to talk about in the days to come....

Now, I do want to add that Romance Divas offers an annual Scholarship Fund and we're currently accepting raffles on items. *See the website for details.* All proceeds go to the recipient who will be able to attend conference because of this great cause. So please visit this site and make bids! We'll end the bidding in early June. Take a look and see if there's something that may be of interest to you. I'll be adding more donations as they come in! GO HERE for details...