New Year's Resolution #1: Stop Procrastinating - Broken Already
So, just as I was congratulating myself on what a good writing session I was having, I took a short caffeine-fix break, which led to a quick email check, which led to a visit to MediaBistro.com, where I was one mouse-click away from signing up AGAIN for the magazine article writing class that I’d previously taken, but never finished. But, the money Gods were watching, forcing me to close my browser.
What else can I do while the coffee’s brewing? I asked myself.
I know. I’ll look through my book idea file for new projects (despite the 9 unfinished ones staring back at me).
An hour later, I was still scrolling through the pages. Then, the following idea caught my attention. In December 2006, as I was sitting in Starbuck’s looking around and inventing lives for various patrons – something else I do to procrastinate - I saw a woman alone who looked rather sad and was staring at the door repeatedly, which triggered the idea for this Christmas story:
A woman sits expectantly at a table at a restaurant, convinced that Mr. Right is going to waltz through the door. She checks her makeup repeatedly, can barely finish each course, and glances at the doorway each time someone walks in. In between courses, she replays scenes from her life -- past Christmases of heartbreak. But as dessert is served, followed by her third cup of coffee, and the last guest leaves, she must accept that Mr. Right is not coming. No one has ever come to here rescue, so why should this Christmas be any different. She asks for one last cup of coffee and takes the handful of pills she’s carried along with her. As she drifts off, she hears sirens in the background, before gazing up into kind brown eyes. “You came,” she says, then laughs, coughing, “I’m sorry I didn’t wait.” The reader is left to wonder if Mr. Right really came or if she has died and it was her last dream.
Now, there's a cheery story! What had I been thinking about beforehand?
And, then I remembered why I’d jotted down this idea – because, each year, I get more and more turned off by the excessive commercialism and forced good cheer of the holidays. I was rebelling, in my own childish way, by forcing myself to come up with an unhappy Christmas tale.
Uh, yeah. Well, I think I succeeded.
Hmmmm...Supposing that I didn’t make the heroine come across as a Pitiful Pearl (as my friend Leigh Michaels says), do you think anyone would buy it if I wrote it? Now, that thought is good for at least ten more procrastination minutes...
But I’m going to be strong and resist the temptation – and struggle to get New Year's Resolution #1 back on track. Further exploration of that idea will have to wait, perhaps forever.
Here's wishing everyone success with this year's resolutions!
It's been a busy few weeks! First off, my second book, SIN CLUB, just came out on November 27th. Woo-hoo! I am SO excited!
So, to celebrate, as well as give folks a sneak peek, I decided to do something different, so I created an audio excerpt of SIN CLUB, as well as the sin-sual book video below:
Well, what do you think? I'd love to know, so please leave a comment here or on my blog about either the new web site or the SIN CLUB book video, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a **free** copy of SEX LOUNGEand an autographed mirror. Then, enter the December Happy Holidays Contestfor a chance to win a handful of books by Jasmine Haynes, Leigh Wyndfield, Dee S. Knight, Rachelle Chase, and a $20 Amazon gift certificate from TL Schaefer.
And speaking of contests, the SEX LOUNGE Finding Derek CONTEST - my previously mentioned online contest where sexy guys competed to be Derek, the hero of SEX LOUNGE, has ended. Check out the photos, audio clips, essays, and videos of the 37 hunky guys who made the cut, as well as the winners, by visiting www.FindingDerek.com/entries.
That's all for now. I hope you'll enter the contests and share your thoughts!
It's my turn to blog today and, well, since making videos is my #1 procrastination activity, I was going to post a videotape of me, dressed in surgical garb -- complete with gloves and surgical mask -- cleaning out my refrigerator. But ... sigh ... fellow Aphrodisiac, Amie Stuart, talked me out of it.
So, instead, I'll share a bit of news ...
I've got two fantastic guests coming up on "Chatting with Chase," my live talk show. First up, this Sunday, 11/11, at 4:30 p.m. PT will be Tara Janzen, author of the wonderful CRAZY book series, which features hot cars, kickass heroes, and tough heroines and is packed with all the weapons, tactics, and danger an adrenaline junky could want. Join us, as we discuss cars, guns, love, adventure, her new book, ON THE LOOSE (October 2007), and more!
Then, on Thursday, 11/14, at 6:00 p.m. PT, Sheila Clover English, CEO of COS Productions will be my guest. She'll talk about screenwriting, book trailers, authors, her favorite Derek (she's a judge in my contest), and more.
Up until recently, I thought I was a face girl. Give me a man with a beautiful pair of eyes framed by long lashes, along with a full set of soft, kissable lips, a sexy smile, and my heart – and other body parts – instantly melted.
Oh, sure, the guy’s body was important, but it’s his face that had always captured my attention first. Because it’s his face that I had to stare at 95% of the time during our interactions.
But, now, I feel a change in the air.
After reading Bonnie Edward’s blog about What is Sexy? and writing my guest blog titled I Need a Man – both at Naughty and Spice – I’ve been forced to admit the obvious.
That I’m becoming a total body girl – broad shoulders, rock hard abs, muscled thighs ... There is no body part that I won’t admire (though I will admit that feet are at the bottom of my list).
And, if that wasn’t enough, I fear that I’m becoming attracted to men in uniforms.
While walking down the street last week, a police officer stopped me. Was my heart racing because my mind was scrambling to determine which law I’d broken? Or was it racing because of the muscular body and flat stomach encased in the navy uniform? The authoritative hand-on-the-holster stance? Or the half-smile playing on his face and the mystery lurking behind the sexy shades? When he asked me for my number, I decided that the law was not the source of my thrill.
Then, there are the men in motorcycle leathers. Now, until I bought a bike and started riding, I was completely immune to the appeal. But now, one glimpse of a muscled chest, back, or thigh encased in leather as a big, gleaming, bike passes by me and my heart does this odd little jump.
So is it just me – or do you find that what you once found physically attractive about a man is changing?
And while I have you thinking about men, please stop by the SEX LOUNGE Finding Derek CONTEST and check out the hunky guys competing to be Derek Mitchell, the hero of Sex Lounge. (And don’t forget to click on their photo #2s, as those are the somewhat risqué ones).
Okay, I know Lucinda just "tagged" me - and I really will respond this weekend but ... in the meantime, I just had to share my exciting news ...
I'll be Tara Mack's guest on Playboy Play Date, 2:00-3:00 p.m. PT, on Sirius Radio 198. Here's how the show works: Host Tara Mack presents dating scenarios, callers supply answers (and may win prizes), and I select winners based on the best answers. I'm flying to L.A. to do the game show live, in-studio -- and, afterwards, I just might get a tour of the Playboy television studio.
I hope you'll tune - or better yet, call in to the show at 1(877) 205.9796. It should be wild!
SEX LOUNGE is finally out! And to celebrate, I've just launched the SEX LOUNGE Finding Derek CONTEST, an online contest that seeks the American male who resembles Derek Mitchell, the hero of my book.
We're looking for the perfect Derek. And we intend to find him. Participants will be asked to post photos, audio clips, text, and video (later) to convince celebrity and other online judges that there's no better Derek anywhere in the world. Current judges include:
We're looking for great guys to enter and one lucky judge to enter to join our celebrity judges. Both will win fantastic prizes! And, once voting begins, so will web site visitors.
I've got two fantastic guests coming up on "Chatting with Chase," my live talk show. First up, this Sunday, 11/11, at 4:30 p.m. PT will be Tara Janzen, author of the wonderful CRAZY book series, which features hot cars, kickass heroes, and tough heroines and is packed with all the weapons, tactics, and danger an adrenaline junky could want. Join us, as we discuss cars, guns, love, adventure, her new book, ON THE LOOSE (October 2007), and more!
Oh, sure, the guy’s body was important, but it’s his face that had always captured my attention first. Because it’s his face that I had to stare at 95% of the time during our interactions.
While walking down the street last week, a police officer stopped me. Was my heart racing because my mind was scrambling to determine which law I’d broken? Or was it racing because of the muscular body and flat stomach encased in the navy uniform? The authoritative hand-on-the-holster stance? Or the half-smile playing on his face and the mystery lurking behind the sexy shades? When he asked me for my number, I decided that the law was not the source of my thrill.
Okay, I know Lucinda just "tagged" me - and I really will respond this weekend but ... in the meantime, I just had to share my exciting news ...