Last Chance Rescue

Press Pause Moments Anthology Receives Awards

2011-08-20T21:02:00.001-07:00

Press Pause Moments (published last September) is a collection of tales written by women that reflect upon change, adversity and celebration. My contribution, "The Great Motorcycle Spirit," is a sometimes funny, sometimes wistful look at the transitions in my life, as seen from the vantage point of riding a motorcycle.

Now Press Pause has been awarded the 2011 Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications in the category of best books & CD-ROMs/DVDs.

The Clarion awards is a renowned competition named for the medieval trumpet known for its clarity, and symbolizes excellence in clear, concise communications. This year's competition drew entries from 30 states, three countries, and 90 Clarion awards have been awarded. We hear the competition was tough!

Congrats to the other 34 contributors and to Anne Witkavitch, publisher and driving force behind the book!

A Pair of Biker Novels

2011-08-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Since many of my readers know I am a biker chick, I am often asked if I'm going to write about motorcycling. (And, in fact, I have published two essays about life lessons learned from riding a motorcycle.)

I have to admit, it seems a bit daunting. I mean, how can you write 50,000 words about motorcycling - and have it be interesting and compelling? What kind of plot and characters would I need to work it around (since my novels tend to be about how a character changes over the course of some major event in his/her life)?

In recent weeks, I've picked up a couple of "Biker Novels" to see what other writers have done with the idea of motorcycling + fiction.

I have to say, both books were disappointing. Both books were geared toward African Americans and featured black (or mixed racial) characters. I have no problem with that, except that I don't get all the lingo, and it makes it harder for me to follow the story.

Both were liberal with the sex and vulgarity. Not that I'm against that in fiction, either, but when it gets in the way of the story ... well, what's the point then? I can read that stuff anywhere. I don't need to read swear words on every page, nor do I buy that every chick in the story is a ho and hey, they enjoy it!

The first book was published by a small press that caters to African-Americans (from what I can tell; their About Us page is blank). The main character in the book had a believable 'voice' and personality (some fire and some weakness) that I liked – at first. I expected the point of the story to be how she changed based on what she went through; but I couldn't really see much change in the end. I felt a little cheated that I'd spent all that time with a character I thought would learn something and become a better person.

The second novel was an example of why self-published authors get a bad reputation.

The book was full of typos, misspellings, and jumping from one character's point to view to another (often from one paragraph to another). There were places the wrong character name was used, characters with more than one name (confusing!) and even a character with different last names (I assume that was an error). I couldn't tell who was speaking half the time. A simple read-through by someone with a little editorial sense would have caught much of it. I don’t think that's too much to ask.

The plot should have been compelling, but there was so much confusion over who was doing what, and so much bragging about how "fine" he or she was (or certain parts of the body, or rough or flat-out violent sexual acts), that I almost quit reading.

And then there was the ending. It was building up, the mystery was unraveling, and then the climax (a character getting killed) and ... THE END. There was no resolution; everything was left in the air. It felt like the author got tired of the book and just decided to stop at page 307.

This book was published in 2008, and I see the author has a sequel out now. Even if you knew you were going to write a sequel, you need to wrap up some of the aspects of the story, or leave off at a logical point. There was just no reader satisfaction whatsoever (and no, I don't plan to read the sequel).

So, was I looking in the wrong places? Is there intelligent fiction that just happens to have a motorcycle-riding character at its center? Do I have to write it? (And I'm back to the daunting thing again…)

Book Review: Pearl Maker

2011-07-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

I can't remember how I heard about Pearl Maker by C.C. Wharton. But somehow I came to own a copy, which has been on my nightstand for several months.

I spent this past weekend on vacation at my dad's lake place, and took the book with me. I finished it in three days. Here are some of my thoughts.

The premise of Pearl Maker is excellent: a high-school English teacher is kidnapped (along with two of her students) and raped by the low-life assigned to guard them. During an escape attempt, the teacher is forced to make a split-second decision: it's her or her captor. The aftermath of her decision throws her into a quest for moral clarity whilst going through a murder trial.

There is a strong Christian overtone to the book (which I happened to like), and I got to root for the heroine as she struggled with herself. I love that in a book (especially when it ends on a positive note).

Now for the problems. The first is one I see beginning writers make all the time, which is to have too many points of view. At times, the point of view changed paragraph by paragraph. I would have to re-read to find out whose head I was in now.

Closely related to that: to much telling. Don't tell me what the character's feeling: SHOW me with the character's actions.

I felt there were too many "extemporaneous" characters - ones that don't really impact the direction of the story or the character's development (the teacher's Senator uncle comes to mind). They clutter up the pages and make the 'real' story harder to follow. And (again closely related): it makes it harder to really flesh out the main characters. Consequently, I felt the characters were somewhat stilted and a bit too stereotypical. (The teacher's minister friend comes to mind - he seemed to have NO bad habits or weaknesses - too good to be true.)

Would I read another book by this author? Yes. Because I think she'll get better!

What's in a Title?

2011-07-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

I recently sent my proposed book title to my writer's group, and asked them to chime in with any thoughts or mental images the title inferred to them.

I purposely did not provide them any visual images (that is, the proposed cover of the book).

Responses were pretty much across the 'romance' related spectrum, from historical to erotic to inspirational. (Of course, they may also have been influenced by the fact that they know me and in some cases, have read my work.)

What was NOT mentioned was any sort of military theme. So what should I glean from that?

Everyone knows a book's cover is VERY important. It may have more of an impact on compelling a reader to buy the book than the title. So my cover art really needs to impart that 'side' of the story - that the main character is a military officer. (And if possible, to communicate the multiple meanings behind the word 'surrender' in the title.)

To that end, I took a fresh look at the proposed cover (done back in January) and am pleased with what I see. It does not have as much color as I tend to prefer, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. It says what I need it to say.

Virtual Assistant?

2011-07-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

Whether a publisher picks up True Surrender, or I self-publish, marketing is largely up to me. For almost two years now I've thought I would find more time, but our family business has continued to grow (and in fact, experienced some growing pains, requiring my time and energy).

And so have my kids! :-)

I wasn't able to be consistent in markting Last Chance Rescue, and I'm sure that hurt sales. But perhaps more to the point, the entire book-buying experience is different than it was three years ago. Back then there was no Kindle, no SmashWords, no iPhone Apps ... and Barnes & Noble didn't "consider" self-published books (huh).

And though it's not like I have any sort of budget for this, I'm seriously considering hiring a "virtual assistant" to help me market my books. That is probably the only way I'd ever be able to market AND continue to write...

Music MP3 "Samples" Are Live

2011-06-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

It was fun to work on Mark's new album (Built to Bust), but it's even more fun to hear it complete!

The official "release date" is July 1, but since I've got the inside track, I've got them already. You can hear "samples" of four songs on my web site!

Developing as a Writer

2011-06-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Lately I've found myself somewhat uninspired. True Surrender is still at the publisher (which means it's "done" unless they say they want it and ask for changes). And nothing has really jumped out at me in recent weeks saying "work on me, work on me!"

So today I opened a rather OLD writing file - some of my very early writing from 2002-2003. I was curious if any of it was decent.

The verdict is still out on that ... this piece has a lot of bouncing from one head to another (one of the big issues I had to work on when I got serious about writing) that would need to be re-flowed. Some of the scenes have merit but the plot would need a whole lot of revision (which may render the scenes moot), and in fact, might not be as plausible as I'd prefer. (It IS fiction, but I do like a certain level of believeability - it's why I've done things like air medical ride-alongs and interviewing search-and-rescue personnel.)

What I did like: the characters (although a bit stereotypical and stilted at times). And that might just be what resurrects this piece some day. Or, I may "borrow" a a character (or two) and place them in another story. Or "break it up" and use parts of it differently.

At any rate, it was an interesting exercise!

My Real Name Is...

2011-06-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

I don't do much writing this time of year (too busy with the motorcycle biz and summer activities), but I did sit down tonight and jot out some ideas that have been floating around in my head for a week or so.

The heroine isn't who she seems to be. She's got a big secret. When he falls for her, he thinks he knows her ... but he can't possibly. Hmm, the possibilities!

Singing Gig this Weekend

2011-05-25T05:03:00.000-07:00

I'll be singing with the Mark Cameron Band on Friday, May 27 (starting at 9pm) at Neumann's (2531 East 7th Avenue in N. St. Paul). This will be my second appearance with the band and should be a good show. Hope you can come out!

BTW, Mark's second album (which I sang back-up vocals on), titled "Built to Bust," is finished and will be available soon. I will put some snippets on my music page when I get 'em!

The Rose (Surrender Version) - Music MP3 Completed!

2011-05-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is something I have wanted to do for nearly three years - ever since I went back to the music studio with my friend's band in April 2008. We finally completed one of MY songs: an upbeat and slightly bluesy take on "The Rose."

It has inspired my husband (whose did the harmony/duet parts) to look into getting our own mixing software - especially since he plays guitar.

Special thanks to Mark Cameron and Scott Lundberg for their help with the song. "The Rose (Surrender Version)" is dedicated to my friends Paul and John, who believed in my ability even when I didn't, and to my husband Tim, who believes in everything about me.

Listen to The Rose (Surrender Version)

Ex FBI Analyst Becomes my Newest SME (Subject Matter Expert)

2011-04-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

This week I had lunch with an ex FBI analyst. It was fascinating, and I confess that the phrase "truth is stranger than fiction" applied to some of our topics. On a personal level, I found it difficult to imagine working in that environment (I think it would depress me!).

After an hour and a half of hashing through some of the finer points of "True Surrender," I was gratified to realize that my creative self had not been too far off the mark. Only a few minor edits were required (which have now been completed). Special thanks to my new SME ("Subject Matter Expert") Tina.

What does FBI stuff have to do with "True Surrender," you ask? Well, I don't want to tell you so much that it ruins the story. Suffice it to say that Major Aaron Bricewick has a job change during the course of the novel that takes him into new territory...for the rest, you'll have to read the book!

Rejection Letters

2011-04-09T20:24:00.001-07:00

I suppose rejection letters should bother me more. Maybe I'm just too busy to think about it. (Maybe I don't WANT to think about it!) Or maybe it's because people in my life - people I am close to - are going through really crappy stuff, and this is such small potatoes compared to that.

Maybe I'm arrogant ... or just a control freak ... but why wait around for other people to "approve of" my writing? Especially when things have changed so much in the book publishing and selling world. Time is slipping through my fingers so fast it makes me light-headed. And True Surrender is a GREAT story. What should I do?

The Damn Synopsis ... Again

2011-03-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

When I 'extended' the True Surrender story in late January, it meant that I now had to re-write (or, more precisely, 'update') the synopsis.

Which is definitely NOT my favorite type of writing!

So I might have put it off just a little.

But now the synopsis has been 'done' (again) and I'm reading it out loud to myself (sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn't), and I think ... "what a great story this is!"

It's very nice to read something after you've let it sit awhile, and realize that, by God, it's quite good. It gives me warm fuzzies.

So why isn't it in the hands of agents yet? The answer: it's the damn synopsis. It's so crucial and I'm so perfectionistic, and I think I'm just going to have to let it go. They'll either like it or they won't ... right?

A True Surrender Exerpt

2011-02-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

Below are just a few of the 6000+ words I wrote during my writing 'marathon' on late January. I thought you might like a little teaser...And if you're not already on my email list, please join!

Aaron wasn't sure what good his presence was. He sat in Cheryl's home, in her living room, and listened as the police officers recounted the details of her suicide.

She had overdosed on pills and pot.

The irony was not lost on him, and he felt physically ill.

There was apparently a note, but he wasn’t privy to the contents.

Cheryl's mom, June, sat in a chair in the corner and cried intermittently. Cheryl's younger brother (only 17 years old, he learned) sat in stony silence, as if he were numb. Which he probably was.

Only part of him registered the scene, as if from a distance. Robert took charge, of course, extracting each person's experience of the night before and that morning. Aaron recognized that he was trying to tie them together, to get a complete picture of what had gone so wrong.

Why a young woman was dead.

Robert turned to June last. "Mrs. Young," he said. "Did anything out of the ordinary happen yesterday or even the day before?"

Mrs. Young shook her head. "She went to work, she walked the dog, she watched TV..."

"Any change in her routine?" Robert said. "Any upsets with her friends?"

"Friends?" June's brow furrowed in concentration. "There was one thing. Unusual, I guess you'd say...an Army friend came to visit with her."

Aaron felt Scott stiffen beside him.

"I thought it was odd it wasn't one of you,” June continued. "But she still has friends in the Army and it's her business who she associates with..."

"June." It was unlike Scott to interrupt, and it set Aaron's nerves on edge. "Do you remember the soldier's name?"

She shook her head. "I'm not good with names," she said, "and you all look alike to me, especially with those camouflage things you wear."

Robert pulled a file folder from his briefcase and extracted a photo. "Mrs. Young, is this the man who was here?"

She took the picture with shaky hands, and dabbed her eyes with a tissue for the hundredth time. "The clothes are different," she said, "but this certainly looks like him."

Aaron saw Robert take the photo from her as if in slow motion. Somehow, he knew. He knew before Robert tilted the photo unobtrusively toward them.

Jared's head shot.

One Helluva January

2011-02-08T18:54:00.000-08:00

Winter in Minnesota is supposed to be slow. Quiet.

Bor-ing.

But in the past month, I spent a miserable week trying to fight off a virus only to finally succumb and spend two days in bed. My kids got sick and being the mom, that meant I had some nights with very little sleep.

I ordered a keyboard (the musical kind!) and went into the music studio to record backup vocals for the Mark Cameron band.

I took extra taiko drumming classes because I thought I'd have the time.

I joined the Romance Writers Association and attended my first local meeting, where I was invited to join a critique group - something I have wanted and needed for a while.

The final 10 days in January found me writing intensely and purposefully every free minute I had. I worked on a new section of True Surrender - a section I added after getting feedback from several of my readers. The real fire under me was (big surprise) a deadline: the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award opened for submissions on January 24 and would accept "only" 5000 entries before it closed. I wanted True Surrender to be one of those entries! On February 1, I met that goal.

I didn't have time to celebrate, because I had a new product launch event for work on February 4 - and timing was so tight, I was picking up the final parts that morning.

And now a new adventure: the first live band gig I've done in EIGHTEEN YEARS. Yep, I'm singing with the band on February 19 (Rafters Bar in Stillwater). My kids are starting to sing along since I've been "studying" whilst driving them to/from school etc. Next week we'll rehearse and try to wrap up the recording work.

And then ... I think I'll need a 3-day nap!

A Little Writing, a Little Music...

2011-01-10T20:52:00.000-08:00

Eighteen months ago I was asked to lay some backup vocal tracks with some musicians I sang with way back. I hadn't expected to do more than that, even though that band is now actively gigging around town - and one of the songs I sang on was getting radio play in France.

But something was re-awakened, and I found myself drawn back to music in a way I hadn't expected. Because of my busy schedule, being a permanent band member and gigging regularly isn't an option right now ... but I became open to doing 'projects.'

This past week I've been listening (and re-listening) to my friend's new tracks in preparation of recording vocals next week. And I'm starting to think about building a singing 'portfolio' for the day when I DO want to re-join a band.

When I gave my web site a face lift, I added two MP3 files on the MUSIC page (you can listen now).

There's also a link to a video of one of our taiko drumming pieces. It's not professional by any means (and it's of rehearsal, not performance), but it's fun - I'm playing the big "odaiko" drum on back right.

Speaking of odaiko, I just started an 'intensive' class on how to play that particular instrument more effectively. My son and I are also taking a 4-week taiko class together (along with my regular practice).

You might ask when I have time to write around all this. And that would be a fair question. But remarkably, the novel is progressing and I'm waking with new ideas more often than usual. I suspect creativity is like any other exercise: the more you do it, the more it comes to you!

New Year, New Look for Author Web Site

2010-12-14T17:24:00.000-08:00

It took me nearly three hours, but www.TraceyCramerKelly.com is finally reorganized and ALMOST up-to-date (I still need to write a good teaser for True Surrender). Not "done" of course - a web site is never "done"!

But I AM ahead of schedule (for once) - I had targeted January 1 as the 'launch' date for the new site.

Whilst working on this, I came across a treasure trove of short essays and commentaries I wrote as part of the virtual blog tour last year. It made me realize just how far I've come (sometimes I lose sight of that).

One of the main questions during the tour was how long I've been writing. I wrote during high school but never with any intention of publishing. In college, my creative outlet was music. Later I got into the beaded jewelry craze, but that phased out after my son was born (beads and toddlers don't mix well). In the meantime, I would write when the muse struck, and eventually I had a half-dozen novels (or, more specifically, parts and pieces of). What you see on the site now are those seeds finally growing into something!

They're About to Kiss, but Then...

2010-12-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

You know that scene where the main characters are JUST ABOUT to kiss...but then they don't? That's the one I've been working on. I've been trying to get the sexual tension just right. It's hard!

In fact, I'm starting to think that the parts I've yet to finish are ALL going to be difficult. I suppose that's why they're the last ones to be written!

Have you ever been betrayed by your best friend?

2010-11-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

It happens to Army Major Aaron Bricewick in True Surrender...and it nearly gets him killed...

Jared took a long time to answer. "You understand how it is," he finally said. "I did what I did for the good of the mission."

"Bullshit," Aaron said. "You did what was good for you. You made a mistake and instead of owning up to it, you covered your ass. And you nearly got me killed."

"I didn't--" Jared stopped.

"Didn't what?" Aaron said. It took a supreme effort not to speak aloud the thoughts going through his mind.

"It was not supposed to happen that way," Jared said. "Things went wrong. But I did save you."

"You put my life in jeopardy, and then claim to save it?" Aaron was incredulous.

"Hey, you're okay now."

"Are you shitting me?" Aaron said. "Jared, they beat me. Threw me in a cellar. Broke my legs. Threatened to slit my neck. Does any of that sound 'okay' to you?"

Jared looked like wanted to get up and leave. Instead he cleared his throat. "So where do we go from here?"

Aaron was silent for a time. "I don't know," he finally said. "I really don't know."

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? To find out what Aaron does, join my email list so you'll know the minute the book is out!

Last Chance Rescue Now Available in Kindle

2010-11-24T05:44:00.000-08:00

If you use amazon.com at all, you know their Kindle Reader is wildly popular.

Don't ask why it took me so long, but Last Chance Rescue is (finally!) available in the Kindle format.

I love holding a book in my hands, curling up on the couch by the fireplace...but even I am considering getting a Kindle.

Check it out!

Holiday Gift Idea for Book Lovers - and a FREE Bonus!

2010-11-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe the holidays are upon us again. Another year...where did it go??

If you have a book lover on your gift list this year (or someone who "has it all"...or you have no idea what to get a particular person...) please consider giving a copy of Last Chance Rescue.

(It's also a great gift idea for babysitters, teachers, co-workers or people you're trying to impress!)

Last Chance Rescue is about two search-and-rescue team members who must fight their own defenses to let down the walls that will allow them to rescue each other. It is a story of breath-taking action and adventurous lives, and the heart that is behind it all.

If you order now, I will also give you/your recipient a BONUS: the first four chapters of my forthcoming novel, True Surrender.

True Surrender is the story of Aaron Bricewick, an Army Major who is held hostage by terrorists. When he's rescued, he thinks the worst is over...but his personal journey has only just begun.

For more details or to order, visit LastChanceRescueBook.com

Trip to West Virginia: Mental and Physical Rejuvenation

2010-10-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

I took a vacation. I mean a real one. The kind where you leave your kids behind and you don't miss them until Day 4. And for the first time in 4 or 5 years, I even left my work behind for FOUR WHOLE DAYS. (That is no small feat when you own your own business.)

We went ziplining - zooming from little 4-foot platforms from one treetop to another hundreds of feet above the ground. (I'll admit to a little trepidation at first, heights are not my thing!) We visited two ghost towns (old coal mining towns), one of which required a strenuous hike down 1/2 mile of steep terrain and 821 steps (good thing we did that one the last day, because I was sore for three days after).

And - my favorite and the main purpose of the trip - we whitewater rafted the New River and the Gauley River. This is something we try to do every couple of years, but we've always gone West - Colorado or Idaho (someday northern California...)

I have to say, I was surprised and impressed with the whole area (so much so that we plan to take a family vacation there when the kids are a little older). We happened to be there during Bridge Day, an annual event during which 80,000 people show up in this tiny county in West Virginia to watch BASE jumpers launch themselves off the bridge into the gorge below. (And we had the best seat in the house - ON the river below!)

It's amazing how closely linked the mental and physical are. With so much fresh air and physical activity - not to mention the complete lack of commitments! - my creativity really started to flow. All the way home I was mentally working on a story line involving a river rafting guide. Perhaps I will post a teaser...

New Writing Sample: Charlie's First Realization

2010-10-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

The early morning sun was backlit against one of the most magnificent things Charlie had seen in her young life: a nearly-naked Trig.

He stood ramrod straight, clad in nothing but his briefs, his shirt in one hand. His attention was focused out the small window, which allowed Charlie to take in every inch of him: the shadow of a beard and his hair curled at the nape of his neck. The broad shoulders that folded into work-honed biceps. A spray of dark chest hairs across strong pectorals and down a taut stomach until it disappeared under the band of his briefs.

The night came back to her like flashbacks in a movie: the feel of Trig's body pressed against hers...lightning flashing...his arms around her, his breath in her ear...

An unfamiliar heat formed between her legs as her eyes wandered over Trig's well-proportioned rear and similarly well-proportioned front side.

And then he turned toward her...

(Copyright 2010 Tracey Cramer-Kelly)

Published! In Press Pause Now

2010-09-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

I got a motivational boost today: I received a copy of the anthology Press Pause Moments: Essays about Life Transitions by Women Writers, in which my essay, "The Great Motorcycle Spirit," appears.

This collection of beautifully crafted tales reflect upon change, adversity and celebration. As women we look at life transitions in many ways, sometimes one layered upon the other. However, when we press pause, inner voices become quiet long enough to pay attention to what is going on within us and around us - and we realize the need to make change happen, and become greater than our existing selves.

"The Great Motorcycle Spirit" is a sometimes funny, sometimes wistful look at the transitions in my life, as seen from the vantage point of riding a motorcycle. An excerpt:

So today I am going back to my roots, so to speak. Today, I am, simply…a biker chick. Today I will seek comfort and tranquility where I have found it so many times before: in the arms of an “iron horse”...

Find more information here.

Creativity: a Funny, Fickle Thing

2010-09-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

Taking a deep breath...back to writing after a 3-month hiatus due to work and children, a taiko recital and funerals...and more work. I'm no different than other writers - the bills don't get paid by the writing bug. Children aren't raised by mom escaping into a fantasy world. And so...here I am, wondering (again) where time went!

Most of the writing for Last Chance Rescue was done between 9 and 11 pm. But most of it was also done BEFORE my second child arrived. These days I find myself so tired by 9 pm that it's difficult to get the creative juices flowing.

Thank you to those who have expressed interest (and gentle prodding) about my next novel. When last I worked on it, I estimated I was about 2/3 done - but also at a difficult point where I needed to make some significant plot changes.

So you'd think that's what I would be working on, now that I have finally regained some 'brain space'...

But creativity is a funny, fickle thing. For the past couple weeks I have been gurgitating what is turning out to be another, altogether different novel. And you know what? Writing is fun again... so I'll be back sooner with my next post!

Essay About Riding Motorcycles with my Dad - Published!

2010-06-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

My essay, "Naked Ladies and Biker Dad", is a sweetly humorous look at what I learned about life by riding motorcycles with my father.

It was published this month in the anthology "For Daddy With Love"!

This is a cache of 60 plus short stories, quotes, and anecdotes from daughters aged 5 years old to 70 years young which reveal the complex themes in the daughter/father relationship. Drawing from all walks of life, these moving personal narratives are sure to bring a smile, sigh, laugh, or tear to your eye.

I'm giving a copy to my dad for Father's Day (along with a coffee-table book of - surprise! - motorcycle photos and trivia. Get your own copy here!

Permission to Walk Away

2010-05-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

The synopsis for True Surrender is as finished as it's going to be. (We'll see how long that lasts!)

But an interesting thing happened during the 5-month-long writing of the (2-page!) synopsis. I found some things I wanted to change to make the main character's personal transformation more believable and compelling. The challenge, as usual, is to integrate the changes into the storyline!

There was also a chapter I hadn't finished. I knew what affect I wanted to have on the character (Major Aaron Bricewick) by chapter's end, but I hadn't been able to nail down THE sequence that gives it strong 'impact-ability' ... probably because I'd worked too closely on the novel for so long (2 years and counting).

In the four weeks since I gave myself permission to accept the synopsis and walk away from the project for awhile (I even worked on a short story idea for a bit), at least ONE of these issues has become clearer to me (the unfinished chapter).

So perhaps these unexpected benefits of the process of writing the synopsis will make the time I've spent worth it (believe me, I've questioned that many times!). Certainly it will make for a stronger story!

Interview with Jessie Van Dyke, Iraq war veteran, paramedic and search-and-rescue team member

2010-05-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

And here is another peek behind the scenes of Last Chance Rescue (psst: buy it today!)...

So, what were you doing before Last Chance Rescue?
I spent twelve months in Iraq as a paramedic before moving to Colorado, and I'd been in Colorado for a couple years when this all started.

What was Iraq like?
I don't like to talk about it much. It was pretty intense.

Didn't you get married after that?
I don't like to talk about that, either. I'm a pretty private person.

What did you think of Brad when you saw him at the reunion?
I thought he was shallow, but it underneath that I could sense a little vulnerability. I was curious what he'd do if I challenged him on it.

Is that why you took him on that first ride-along?
I could see he wanted it badly, and the guys were like, 'ah, come on, let him come.' It wasn't really my decision; it was the team leader's. It was supposed to be a routine search; Brad was not supposed to see what he saw...

How did he end up on your search-and-rescue team?
I have no idea! I sure never expected him to move to Colorado! Or to get out of advertising altogether. That was a pretty big, hairy, audacious thing to do! But I will say, he's damn good at it.

So what do you do to pay the bills?
I work as a physical therapy assistant. It's a pretty sweet deal. They're supportive of the search-and-rescue team and they cut me a lot of slack.

What do you do with your spare time?
I spend whatever extra time I have at Last Chance Ranch. I even 'adopted' a horse named Mistletoe, who'd been on the Premarin production line. And you won't want to miss the birth of her baby, Holly!

Have you been riding long?
I hadn't the first clue about horses when I moved to Colorado; all I knew was that they were the most magnificent creatures I'd ever seen. When I left the service, I had to make a delivery to Madeline, the owner of Last Chance Ranch -- it was a favor I owed a dead friend -- and the moment I set foot there I knew it was a healing place. Once I learned to ride, I was hooked.

I heard you have a 'thing' for cowboys.
[chuckles] I've always been attracted to cowboys. They have very nice behinds and they tend to be the strong, silent type.

How about a certain cowboy in Last Chance Rescue?
No comment!

Interview with Brad Sievers, former advertising executive

2010-04-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Ever want to get to know the characters in a book even BEFORE you read it?

Here I transcribe my 'interview' with Brad Sievers, the main character of Last Chance Rescue, who, at the start of the book, has just lost his job as an advertising executive...

So, how do you know the 'heroine,' Jessie Van Dyke?
Jessie and I went to high school together. But I hadn't seen her in 10 years -- until the night of our reunion. We figured out we'd worked at the same advertising agency, although at different times -- and that was kind of weird.

I understand you had ulterior motives for attending the reunion.
[chuckles] I wanted to see my high school crush, Aimee.

And how did that go?
Let's just say that running into Jessie changed the direction of the whole evening -- not to mention the rest of my life. At one point she made a comment about people in advertising being shallow. She touched the lapel of my suit.

What did you think of that?
That was a bit unnerving, actually. But it wasn't a come-on or anything, that was obvious.

What made you decide to leave advertising and go into search-and-rescue?
That's a pretty complex question...after I was laid off from my job...shoot, Jessie probably knows the answer to this question better than I do.

Why do you say that?
Jessie's got a way of looking in and through a person, if you know what I mean. She'd probably say that I needed fulfillment in my life. The things I used to enjoy didn't interest me anymore and I felt kind of...oh, I don't know...flat.

What kind of 'things'?
Drinking, partying...women. I was a bit...ah...cavalier in my love life before moving to Colorado.

What do you do instead?
Well, the bills have gotta get paid, so I pitch in at my friend's print shop. All that computer tinkering I did in high school has paid off. I sure made a lot more in advertising, though.

What about hobbies?
I play basketball with Micah. I guess you could say he's one of my best friends besides Ryan. He's African-American, to be politically correct. Man, my mom was weird about that; I never realized she's prejudiced until I introduced her to Micah...

What's your favorite part of search-and-rescue?
Other than saving lives? [smiles] Rappelling. Ryan and I go sometimes, just for the hell of it. He's the one who mostly taught me. He's pretty good for a young shit.

How would you say you've changed because of Last Chance Rescue?
Well, that's the whole point of the book, isn't it? The better question is what didn't change. I wouldn't want to give anything away or spoil anyone's surprise, but I will say that I'm no longer cavalier about women and sex.

Any final thoughts?
I just want to say, for the record, that I did not throw up on that first rescue!

Should she believe him? (Excerpt from novel-in-progress)

2010-04-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

"Mom, what took you so long?"

"Just adult talk, sweetie." Surely Nicholas wouldn't notice the flush in her face. Her cheek, her ear, her neck all felt like they were on fire.

Aaron had always affected her this way - physically, sexually. But what of his comment about love? She was wise enough now to know that allowing herself to love him again would be a bad move. He did not know how to make the kind of commitment she would seek from a man.

But how to deny the desire - the tingling from her head to her toes - that she felt when Aaron touched her? She'd had a few dates about a year after Todd passed, but she hadn't been intimate with a man in a long time. Could they...?

Not a good idea, she told herself sternly. They had confused lust with love once before, and it had cost her dearly.

Damn, but I do miss it..

Mother's Day Idea - and a Free Sneak Peek!

2010-04-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

How about a personalized, signed copy of Last Chance Rescue?

Introduce someone you care about to Jessie, an Iraq war veteran, and Brad, a laid-off advertising executive who finds himself on Jessie's search-and-rescue team.

Bring her alongside Jessie and Brad as they face not just physical obstacles, but their own internal struggles. Will they finally let down the walls and rescue each other?

NOT LIMITED TO MOTHERS!

A personalized, signed book is a great way to say "thank you" or "thinking about you" to anyone in your life (even a GUY, they like this book too!).

GET A 'SNEAK PEEK'

If you order by May 9th, I'll include a copy of the first four chapters of my forthcoming novel, True Surrender.

True Surrender is the story of a die-hard military officer whose experience at the hands of terrorists -- and the resultant amputation of one of his legs -- is just the beginning of his personal transformation. What happens when he is forced to choose between love and duty?

So order now (no special code needed). If you have a special message you want included, put it in the notes. If you'd like it mailed directly to your recipient, just let me know. I'll do the rest. But hurry - Mother's Day is coming up fast!

STILL Working on Synopsis

2010-04-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

I sent draft #7 of the synopsis for Novel #2 to a fellow writer/reviewer a few weeks ago. It took a couple weeks (first it was his schedule, then it was mine), but while I was on vacation (skiing in Montana!) last week, we connected via phone and hashed over it for nearly two hours. (Two hours! Over three pages!)

It still amazes me that every time I think something is "close" (in this case, I thought maybe 2-3 more drafts) ... I've so much more to do than I thought. It's bad but it's good - after all, it only gets better each time I re-work it.

Or perhaps I'm too much of a perfectionist with this synopsis. Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on it. Its sole purpose is for the agent query letter... So what if I can't get an agent to consider the novel? I've self-published once; I can certainly do it again.

But there's just something in me that compels me: if I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it RIGHT. I want to do it to the best of my ability. (And it's not just writing that I feel that way about.)

I will say this: writing the synopsis is HARDER than (and certainly not as fun as) writing the book! And until I finish it, I'm stuck in one spot. I can't work on the novel because I need 'distance' from it while writing the synopsis. And, of course, I can't send out agent queries without a synopsis. And - as always - time is an issue. So I'm going to sign off now and work on it some before my daughter wakes from her nap...

Another Essay to be Published - More Motorcycling!

2010-03-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

An essay I wrote about what I learned from riding a motorcycle is going to be published in an anthology titled Press Pause Moments: Essays About Life Transitions by Women Writers.

It's great to at least be writing and talking about motorcycling, since it's still too cold to actually DO it...

Editor Anne reports that she is hoping for publication in May (Mother's Day). I will let you know as soon as I find out!

Iraq War Marine Military Memoir: How it Helps my Writing

2010-03-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

I picked up Joker One by Donovan Campbell after reading his article in Guideposts magazine. I wanted to see how his faith fared while he was immersed in the military/combat life. In the book, the faith/Christian themes are pretty low-key; however, the insightful observations Campbell draws about the human spirit and LOVE in particular were – at least for me – a clear expression of his spirituality.

This is the most balanced war memoir I've read. It's not about politics and it's not dripping with military ego/pride. Campbell's ability to be straightforward and honest about his own shortcomings, regrets and emotional state is truly compelling. It's about his personal journey and how he is changed by what he experiences – and he's not afraid to tell it like it is. He's obviously driven, and he's hard on himself.

In fact, I found parallel characteristics between Campbell and Major Aaron Bricewick, the fictional 'star' of True Surrender, my novel-in-progress! So there was an extra element of discovery in reading this ... any doubts I had about whether my character was acting realistically were settled!

Besides that, Campbell's either got a natural knack for writing or an incredible editor, because this book pulls everything together in a way that other Iraq memoirs I've read haven't. And - let's face it - 'technically' good writing makes for an easier read, allowing the book concept to really come to life. Nothing gets in the way of Campbell's sometimes powerful realizations ... which is just what I've been working on in True Surrender!

Reflections on a Second Anniversary

2010-02-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

It has been two years this month since Last Chance Rescue was released. I can't believe it's been that long!

So I'm feeling somewhat reflective about that ... and a little disappointed. In my naivette, I had hoped Last Chance Rescue would have a greater reach. I didn't know then (and I only know a little more now) how difficult it would be to market a book on my own.

I had also hoped to have my next novel, titled "True Surrender," completed by now, with letters sent off to agents in the hope that I can find a publisher (so that the book might 'live larger' than Last Chance has).

But there are the realities of life. This past year has been difficult for many businesses, and Leader Motorcycle (which I own and operate) has been no different. It has required my all (and then some). Luckily I love what I do. But the "writing life" was put on hold for a good portion of 2009.

I also have no desire to miss out on time with my children (7 and 2-1/2). Nathan's art was one of only TWO chosen from his entire school to be displayed at the State Capitol (St. Paul, MN) for the month of March ("Young Artists Month"). And Evelyn is showing a true gift for singing (just like her mom, some might say!). I've kept up on my taiko studies, but the flight lessons were put on hold in November (and have yet to resume).

Together my husband and I have also undertaken a new service: training to be Marriage Mentors through our church. We feel a true calling to this, as we've been through a marital crisis ourselves and we see so many marriages hurting these days.

Many of you have asked how I do so many things and pursue so many interests. The answer has increasingly been, "I don’t ... not really ...not now." I'm just like most of you: the majority of my time is spent working or caring for my children.

So where does that leave writing? A distant fifth or sixth, from what I've written above. But my life is full and I feel blessed. I will continue to write when I can. "True Surrender" will get finished (and it will be worth the wait!). So thanks for the support you've shown, and for sharing Last Chance Rescue with anyone you can think of.

Defining Moment as a Writer - Part II (see November for Part I)

2010-02-18T20:32:00.000-08:00

There were two.

The first: holding the "draft copy" of Last Chance Rescue. I was in awe. I caressed the cover; I kept opening the front flap to look at my name inside. The hundreds of hours, the agonizing over edits, and the painstaking care I'd taken in the details of the book and its presentation (cover, layout, etc.) were suddenly all worth it. (Never mind that no one had seen it yet!)

The second: being named as a Finalist in the 2009 Indie Awards. I had struggled with getting the word out about Last Chance Rescue - the requisite "self promotion" doesn't come naturally. But here was someone else (not just me) saying the book was good! It was validation in its truest sense, and came at a pivotal time.

And now...I can't wait to do it again! (Novel #2 is about a military officer's harrowing experience at the hand of terrorists, and his personal journey to learn what is truly worth fighting for, and what True Surrender means.)

And that, more than anything else, may just be the true mark of an author. Because writing is hard work - and it doesn't pay the bills for many of us. I do it because there are stories that refuse NOT to be told. There are times I think to myself, 'why in the world would I want to do that again?' and yet...I can't resist.

So perhaps there's a third defining moment that is ongoing!

Political Novel: Missing Ingredient

2010-02-13T17:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not a big fan of political novels or courtroom dramas. But I try to read widely, and so it happens that I just finished Richard North Patterson's "Eclipse."

I tend to be more interested in character development and change. Which – given the topic of this book – could have been served up in spades. However, I felt the dialogue was stilted and limited, and that the reader was never allowed to get too deep into the characters (the main character was referred to by his last name throughout the book, adding to my general sense of standoffishness). If it hadn't been for the attraction between the two main characters (the lawyer and the activist's wife) I may not have finished it.

I will say that the ending was, in my opinion, compelling (though certainly not happy) and memorable. But my reaction to this novel was, overall, only lukewarm. If you like political novels and/or courtroom drama, you may enjoy this one.

Excerpt from Forthcoming Novel

2010-02-08T18:51:00.000-08:00

"Aaron was not looking forward to her seeing him trussed up like the deer his uncle had hung in their garage one fall..."

Interested? Fascinated? Want to find out more? Join my newsletter and you'll be one of the first to hear about the new book's progress (as well as fun tidbits from Last Chance Rescue)!

Essay Chosen for "A Daughter's Story"

2010-02-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

An essay I wrote about my father and his influence on my life - using our shared passion for motorcycling as the central focus - has been accepted and will be published in an anthology due out in June 2010! More details soon...

January: Prime Writing Time?

2010-02-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

Normally January is prime writing time here in Minnesota (the weather encourages indoor activities!) - in fact, it's usually kind of boring - but I am startled (pleasantly, in some ways) by the fact that it's February already. The only writing I got done in January was a pitch letter for a major contest (less than 300 words - but it's GOOD).

We had a bout with the flu (everyone in my house, one after the other, except my son) that lasted 10 days. I finally hired help at work and have been spending a lot of time training him (which I don't particularly enjoy). And since he needed a computer, he got mine and we got a new one for ME - and it took all weekend to get the software reloaded and straighten out my email program, etc. (There's still a laundry list of smaller issues to clean up.)

I managed to read one book ("Eclipse" by Richard North Patterson) but only 72 pages into my marriage mentoring studies.

But I HAVE been enjoying time with my kids (especially swimming at the Y and making chocolate-chip cookies) ... and I'm working on another tough but really compelling scene in novel #2!

Tough Scene, Novel #2 (Dealing with Guilt)

2010-01-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

Took me all afternoon to get it outlined. That's about two pages of actual writing! Sometimes I wonder why in the world I would want to write another book...

Reading Instead of Writing

2010-01-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

I did a little of both over the holidays. I usually prefer books over movies, but I loved the movie "Dancing With Wolves." So I finally picked up the sequel, titled "The Holy Road" by Michael Blake.

First off, I think it would be challenging (make that daunting) to write a sequel to a novel that was made into such a popular movie.

Second, this is pretty different: Unlike Dances with Wolves, there is no ‘main character’ in this book. That is both a plus and a minus.

On the plus side, it allows Blake to share several very distinct points of view (from staunch resistance to resigned acquiescence) – which is probably a very accurate depiction of the internal struggles of the Native Americans (considering the history in play here). I was impressed by Blake's ability to do this.

On the minus side, it is difficult to empathize with any one character when you're jumping from one head to another every chapter. For me, the minus over-rode the plus – in the first story I cheered for Dances with Wolves as I got to know him and his deep struggles. Although I could feel respect toward the various characters in this novel, that strong bond between reader and character did not have a chance to form.

(I also thought the book needed a better title - there was very little to do with the railroad ("Holy Road") in this book.)

One Small Interview for (Wo)man ... One Giant Step Forward for Book

2010-01-03T12:26:00.000-08:00

I just had a really enjoyable - and hugely productive - meeting with what I call a "SME" (Subject Matter Expert). This SME is an ex Air Force physician, and when I first met him back in July, I had put this novel (the one I'm working on now) on the backburner - even though the plot line was more than half done.

Much of that had to do with time constraints. But also, I think, I was stagnating in certain aspects of the plot. I don't feel my fiction needs to be 100% percent literal and accurate - it IS fiction, after all, and needs some room to breathe - but I do like believable settings, and understanding the settings enough to use them for character development (like flying with medevac before I wrote "Last Chance Rescue").

Meeting this particular SME really jump-started the novel. It was like a message from above: 'YES, I want you to write this story now, and I'm sending you the tools to do it.' I know it will be a better story because of this person's experience, insight - and willingness to share those with me. So thanks, SME (you'll know who you are)!

What I'm Working on Now: a Random Selection from Novel-in-Progress

2009-12-26T14:12:00.000-08:00

Written today...

Aaron woke to an insistent tapping on his arm and a small voice saying, "Can we watch another one? Can we?"

Startled, he glanced at the clock: 4:40. Holly would be there within a couple hours. "I think we can do that," he said. "Until your mom gets here."

He felt a little guilty for falling asleep on the job, but as he was changing the movies, Nick surprised him -- and nearly knocked him over -- by throwing himself at Aaron and squeezing him tight. It was what Holly called his "aggressive form of love" and it touched Aaron in a way that he wasn't ready to analyze...

A Book After my Own Heart

2009-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

I've found author who writes like me!

Nicholas Evans "The Smoke Jumper" has everything I love in a story: dangerous occupations. War and chaos. A handsome, brooding male character. A love triangle ... and a happy ending (I'm a sucker for those).

Hmm ... sounds familiar!

Evans did a masterful job of using traumatic events and showing how the characters develop because of (or in spite of) them. The 'voice' of each was authentic and even though there were four points of view (telling their stories) I didn't have any moments of confusion like I have in other books.

All the things I use in my writing (although I try to keep my point of view to only TWO characters)!

The only weakness I encountered was an image of a moose on fire. Although I understood (as the main character did) that it had significance to his path in life, it was not clear in the end how it impacted his life.

It has gotten me thinking about the novel I'm working on now. There is a similar recurring 'theme' in it, also, and I will take this as a timely message to make sure there is a strong purpose in writing it into the story!

Last Chance Rescue Video Now on Amazon

2009-12-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

If you use amazon, you probably already know they have some neat features. They've just added the ability for us authors to upload videos on our Amazon Author Pages.

So, of course, I did! You can check it out here!

Good Mom, Bad Writer

2009-12-13T19:38:00.000-08:00

It has been a good weekend to be a mom. But not such a good weekend to be a writer.

I wanted to work on my novel, but every time I thought I'd have an hour of peace, I found my children yakking at me (my very sociable 7-year-old) or trying to pull all the ornaments off the tree (yep, that's my toddler). Now here it is Sunday evening and I'm too pooped to get my mind into writing or even work on my writing to-do list. Sometimes it's really frustrating!

So here is a reminder to self: focus on what I HAVE been able to accomplish rather than what I haven't.

Last week I updated my 'newsletter,' which has blurbs about recent reviews of "Last Chance Rescue" as well as a short (and interesting) essay about how I got into flying helicopters.

Some 'newsletters' include virtual interviews with characters and even sneak previews of upcoming writings.

You too can receive these missives - once every 6-8 weeks - simply by subscribing here. I hope you'll join me in this journey, and I promise it will be interesting!

When Inspiration Strikes...

2009-12-08T13:40:00.001-08:00

I found this quote the other day, and it struck me as TOTALLY appropriate to my writing life...

"Before I had kids, I wrote when inspiration struck. Now I find inspiration strikes when I have childcare and enough caffeine." – Brad Parks

I couldn't have said it better!

No "Sickly Sweet" Romance Here!

2009-12-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

"Last Chance Rescue" was reviewed by Linda at Rhode Island Roads Magazine! Here's the first and last part of what she had to say ...

I was a little reluctant to read [Last Chance Rescue] at first. I've had my fill of gushy, sickly sweet romance novels and I just didn't want to read another one. Surprisingly, I found myself not able to put the book down once I started reading it. I wasn't expecting such an action-packed book, full of vivid imagery, knowledge about rescue maneuvers and extraordinary character development ...

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that likes action-packed, never-ending adventure with a roller coaster romance thrown in the middle of it all. It is well written from the author's medi-vac and pilot experience making the flow of the book superb. The characters' development and self-discovery throughout the book transitioned satisfactorily from one chapter to the other. Plain and simple, it was a great book!

Aw, thanks Linda! To read the complete review, click here.

Photo from Author Signing

2009-12-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

In November I teamed up with fellow author and friend Cheri Andrews for a book signing at the Davinci Academy Holiday Marketplace. My sister came by and snapped a photo of "The Authors" (hey, that's me!). I was hoping I'd sell more books but the people were fun. You can see the picture here (and read some cool reviews too!).

A Big Thank You! Last Chance Video Ranked #4 in Contest

2009-11-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who voted for my book trailer! I thought you might like to know that the "Last Chance Rescue" mini-movie came in FOURTH place. It missed the top-3 honors list by just 2% ... but out of 20 videos, that ain't bad!

Now that my virtual tour is over, I'm getting back to writing Novel #2 (two hours last night!)...

P.S. If you haven't already done so, become my Facebook "FAN"!

I Know It's a Good Book When...

2009-11-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

I'm still thinking about it 10 days after I finished it.

I've been reading Iraq military memoir as I've been working on novel #2 (since the novel involves a military officer held hostage in Afghanistan), and I recently finished 'The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell' by John Crawford. Here's what I thought:

I was looking for brutal honesty and the raw emotional toll of war (not a factual history tome), and I got it in this book. Sometimes it was as much what WASN'T written as what was. That is a delicate balance for a writer and it was powerful. (Note: toning down the swear words and tightening up the sentence structure would have made it even more powerful by making it less distractive to read.)

I caught a snippet of a documentary on TV the other night, about a situation where our bombers killed our own soldiers because they "got confused by the smoke." It's dismaying to realize that some things never change. I WANT to believe the Army Reserve is smarter and better organized now than my experience in it 20 years ago, but John's experiences sound uncomfortably familiar – our tools were outdated, our training was under par, and the left hand never knew what the right was doing.

I (like the author) joined the National Guard to help pay for college; the recruiters laughed off any suggestion that we'd actually be sent anywhere to fight. What do you expect an 18- or 20-year-old to believe? And when you are immersed in a culture, you tend to adopt that culture's attitudes (especially when you're young) – and the military IS a culture. I lost site of some of the morals I'd been brought up with and I'd be willing to bet some of the author's less tasteful characteristics may have been 'exacerbated' by this immersion too. I would have liked to know more about who the author was before he went to war, and what happened when he returned home (perhaps that's another book altogether?).

There was one mind-blowing moment in my life when I thought I was being activated to Desert Storm. Thank God it was our armory-sharing MP unit instead – or I might have had the same disillusioning experience!

Vote for my Book Trailer!

2009-11-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

The mini-movie ("book trailer") for Last Chance Rescue is in a contest and I need you to vote for it (entry #6)!

Besides helping me out, you'll have fun checking out all the trailers (there are some tough competitors!).

Please vote by Friday (entry #6!), before the polls close: click here.

Three "Must Haves" When I Write

2009-11-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

1 - QUIET (easier said than done when you have two young children)
2 - No distractions (i.e., no internet!)
3 - I must be in the mood (I don’t write for a living and don’t want to because I never want it to stop being fun)

And what crayon color would I choose to be? Find out here!

Journey through a World of Books

2009-11-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

That's where I am today (electronically, that is...physically, I'm working a motorcycle show in San Francisco)! And she asks:

If you could wish for anything, what would it be?

I'm pretty satisfied with where I am in life. But in terms of my writing...what the heck, if you're going to dream, why not dream big? I would like my next novel to be picked up by an agent and publisher and become ridiculously popular - to the point there's a bidding war for the movie rights (to BOTH novels) and I finally get to produce a musical (in which I would do the singing). :-)

Read more here!

How I got Into Flying Helicopters

2009-11-19T05:39:00.000-08:00

Today I'm at "Reading at the Beach" talking about how I became a helicopter pilot. Here's an excerpt:

"The Army trained me as a medic and an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). I was not a good soldier...but I loved being a paramedic. Where I responded to Army 'regiment' with near-distain, what I was trained for had the opposite effect: I liked splinting a broken leg. Inserting an IV. Dressing a sucking chest wound. One weekend a month I was a grunt soldier and a token medic. But for two weeks in the summer I was a soldier medic. And during our two-week training of my third year in the Guard, I took part in a mock battlefield exercise that changed my life..."

Read more here!

Advice for Aspiring Authors

2009-11-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

That's just one of the interview questions from Katie Bug today. Here's what I said:

Forget about writing what you know (that would be so boring for most of us!), but do your homework to make it as real as possible (but don't get too carried away - it is fiction, after all!). Don't write for a particular goal or market; write what makes your heart sing.

Read the rest of the interview here!

Writing Sex Scenes!

2009-11-17T12:45:00.001-08:00

Today I'm also at Mary Eason's Blog, and she's got some good questions for me, including one about writing sex scenes!

I try to write scenes with sexual tension rather than actual sex (usually) – which I find more difficult than an actual sex scene, but so much more powerful! I also like to place that tension in unexpected places or situations.

To read a FREE 'sexual tension' excerpt from Last Chance Rescue, check this out!

What I Like to Drink and other Oddball Questions

2009-11-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

J.A. Saare had some fun, unusual questions for me today, including this one: "What's your favorite beverage when you write?"

My answer: If I'm home: wine (white zinfandel is a favorite) or Hornsby's hard apple cider. (I also like Smirnoff Ice but it's too much high fructose corn syrup.) If I'm stealing an hour at a café, I'm smitten with Panera's mango smoothie.

See what other oddball tidbits Jaime got out of me here!

Why the Colorado Rockies?

2009-11-16T15:06:00.000-08:00

That's what Tamela Quijas wanted to know. Today she hosts me at her Web site (check it out!).

Here's a sneak preview...

In essence, the setting is an external analogy for their internal struggles (or: an external parallel to their internal struggles).

The physicality of the location (mountain) offers me as a writer plenty of obstacles to put in my characters' paths. And obstacles are what I use to show how my characters develop over the course of the story. Without obstacles there is no story. And - for me - if a character isn't changed by his/her experiences, then it's not a very interesting story...

What is the Hardest Thing about Writing?

2009-11-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

Today I'm being "hosted" by Book Junkie! Here's one of the questions:

For you, what is the hardest part of writing a novel? Concept, Characterization, Plotting, Writing the story, Synopsis/Query letter writing, etc.?

I think it's ALL hard! Thank goodness I don't have to do it for a living! Characterization is a challenge. I do better if I take time up front to flesh out the characters before I start writing, but if I've been inspired, I'm off and writing before I've got a full 'picture' of a particular character in my head. And writing the story often comes down to just putting my butt in the chair. I often find it more enjoyable to just daydream and fantasize about it...getting it onto the computer screen is much more difficult!

Tomboy Talk

2009-11-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

Today I am 'talking' with Marianne Arkins about why I wrote "Last Chance Rescue" from a male point of view. Here's how the post starts:

"Did you consider yourself a tomboy?"

When I was a kid, all the neighborhood kids ran around together. We were a mini-gang and we were outdoors all the time, climbing on jungle gyms, playing tag and hide-and-seek, creating chalk drawings, running through sprinklers or building elaborate snow forts.

I never fell out of a tree. I never broke a bone. I didn't play organized sports (not that I didn’t want to, but that’s another story).

I didn't have dolls, but I had LOTS of stuffed animals, each with their own name and personality (hmm ... the early writer in me??).

So...no...I never felt like a tomboy!

But...

Read the full interview here!

Book Tour: Talking Motorcycles (ah, one of my favorite topics...)

2009-11-12T11:44:00.000-08:00

Today I'm talking motorcycles with Susquehanna Writers...

My transformation is almost complete.

“Where the devil did I put those gloves?” I mutter.

By “gloves,” I don’t mean winter gloves. I mean riding gloves.

Because today—for a few hours, at least—I am, simply…a biker chick. Today I will seek comfort and tranquility where I have found it so many times before: in the arms of an “iron horse.”

Read it here!

TWO romance book tour stops today!

2009-11-11T11:54:00.001-08:00

The second is Diane Craver's Blog at www.dianecraver.com/blog

She asked me how I met my husband, and I told her about my difficulty with flashbacks while writing Last Chance Rescue (hint: they kept trying to steal the show).

Check out HER books too!

"My Defining Moment" on today's book tour stop

2009-11-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

Today I'm at LONG LIVE CHICK LIT! Here's a teaser...

I've tended to “grow into” each new identity.

Being a writer is no different.

Perhaps I should pause here and try to define the difference between "writer" and "author" (in my opinion). I do this because I've been a writer since I was in my teens; I wrote for fun and relaxation with no thought to ever being "published." Almost anyone can write (maybe not well, but they do).

Being an author, on the other hand, requires a more intentional approach - and a whole lot more persistence! (And in many ways, it's also tied to publication.)

Until recently, I didn't consider myself an author.

In fact, I'm still getting used to the idea (e.g., "growing into" that identity)!

So what was the defining moment?

There were two...

Read the rest here!

Second virtual book tour stop: Razlover's Book Blog

2009-11-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

Sample interview question: If you weren't an author what would you be?

TLC: I would be what I already am: a wife and mother (my children are 2 and 6), a daughter and a sister. A business owner (my husband and I own a motorcycle accessories business, www.LeaderMotorcycle.com). A pilot, a skier, a singer, a taiko drummer ... in short, I wouldn't trade the fullness of my real life for what is admittedly a full 'fantasy' life!

Read the complete interview!

Virtual "book tour" is now underway

2009-11-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

First stop, Chris Redding! Here's a sample of the discussion so far:

CHRIS: What is your favorite word?

TLC: Actually, I have two favorite words: ‘discombobulated’ and ‘caddywampus’ (and you would have laughed to hear them as some of my childrens’ first words!).

CHRIS: What place haven’t you visited that you would like to go?

TLC: Alaska. Baja, Mexico. Sea kayak the Santa Barbara Islands. Heli-ski the Canadian mountains. Raft the Grand Canyon. There’s a lot of rivers I’d like to raft someday...

CHRIS: What other time period besides your own would you like to experience?

TLC: I would like to have been alive (preferably male) during the gold rush period in the American ‘wild west.’ I have a fascination with old mining towns.

CHRIS: What’s your favorite thing about your book?

TLC: The girl gets to be the hero! :-)

See all tour dates and locations here!

Last Chance "Book Trailer" Goes Internet-Wide

2009-11-06T20:47:00.000-08:00

Did you know there are entire Web sites devoted to "trailers" (like mini-movies) for BOOKS? They are much better than YouTube if you're a reader. But one warning: These are addicting (I had to pull myself away)! The trailer for Last Chance Rescue has been accepted/posted at the following:

bookscreening.com
previewthebook.com
blazingtrailers.com
TrailerSpy.com

To go directly to the Last Chance Trailer, click here (windows media file). Thanks to Gregory Rohm for the design work!

Interview: Why I "Write Like a Man"

2009-11-04T18:50:00.000-08:00

I was recently interviewed about "Last Chance Rescue" by a radio station in Maine. We talked about writing from a male perspective and why men would enjoy the book (the interviewers were both men) and why I don't consider myself a tomboy even though I 'write like a man'!

The interview was about 18 minutes long (although commercials take up minutes 3-6) and if you're so inclined you can listen to it here (windows media file). Special thanks to Tim for formatting!

Hear about my experience as a military medic, as well as why I decided to become a helicopter pilot (and how I ended up doing ride-alongs with Dick Chaney's Secret Service team!).

We talked about the idea behind the book (how a major wake-up call can change a life) as well as what I like to explore in my writing (internal struggles with past/intimacy/regrets or unreasonable fears) and how I use the setting/physical danger to develop the characters.

Sometimes it's better than reading!

Last Chance Rescue Scores in Contest

2009-11-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

"The Long and the Short of It" romance reviews Web site put "Last Chance Rescue" on its weekly poll this past weekend. Although it didn't win top honors (I think its final 'standing' was third out of the ten listed), the site's review is phenomenal and is worth reading whether you've read the book yet or not. Here's the start of it:

"You rescued me, and I don’t mean just from the mountain." The how, where, when, and why of this quotation is the essence of this beautiful love story that is full of action, emotion, introspection, and sharing of life.

The learning to love oneself in order to truly love another who will give love in return is another compelling part of this novel. In addition, the acceptance of others and their limitations comes into play as the main characters come to terms with issues that cause deep-seated anger, guilt, and feelings of self-doubt.

To read the complete review, click here.

Thank you to those who got my link this weekend and voted for me!

What is a Virtual Tour? Last Chance Rescue to Find Out!

2009-10-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

I've teamed up with Goddess Fish Promotions to conduct a 'virtual tour' to promote "Last Chance Rescue."

So, what is a virtual tour? (I knew you'd ask; I had to, too!)

Here's the gist: there are web sites and blogs that pertain to writing and/or romance novels (or other types of writing) that NEED content. Goddess Fish has a stable of 40 or 50 sites (maybe more) that are looking for content.

So they 'pitch' me and my book to their stable of affiliates. Hosts that decide I'd be of interest to their readership can 'commit' me to a specific date. They send me their topic questions (I complete the responses ahead of time) and then on the appointed date, they 'interview' me using their questions and the answers I've provided. Their visitors/participants make comments, etc, which I can then log into and comment on - like having a discussion via the Internet.

The official dates of the tour are November 9-20, but I'm finding out that the work required doesn't only happen within those dates! So far I have four 'tour stops' and have completed three written 'interview responses.' I'll share some of these as we go, so watch this blog for more details...

Performance Dates for Cameron

2009-10-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

This is the band I recorded some back-ups for last year. I probably won't be able to make any of these (too far and schedule too tight), but here are a few gig dates for the locals who may be interested:

10/30/09 Boxcar Bar - Waseca, MN 9pm -12:30 am

11/14/09 Busters/Southpark – Owatonna, MN 8pm- 1am

11/27/09 Busters – Mankato, MN 9pm-1am

12/4/09 Lefty’s – Austin, MN 9pm-1am

Point of View Changes in Popular Author Novels

2009-10-11T12:31:00.001-07:00

I'm about 80 pages into a novel by an extremely popular author (Nora Roberts). It's a suspenseful, enjoyable novel, but here's my beef with some of these popular authors (the other that comes to mind is Jodi Piccoult)...

It has been pounded into my head by my ex-English teacher mom and writing instructors (and other writers) that you should NOT have multiple points of view in a single chapter (and that, further, you should limit how many points of view you tell the story from, period).

In this book (and the Jodi Piccoult one I recently read), the point of view not only changes from chapter to chapter ('Last Chance' changes by chapter but only between TWO characters) ... it can shift from paragraph to paragraph! As a reader, I'm not ready for it - it interrupts the flow of the story when I have to backtrack a paragraph or two to make sure I understand whose 'head' I suddenly jumped into.

Is it just me, or have other writers (and readers) noticed this?? Is it just the immensely popular authors that can get away with this??

To Watch Book Trailers

2009-10-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just found this fun site/blog where you can watch all kinds of book trailers. If you can't sit down to read at the moment (say you're at work...), this is the next best thing! (And it beats sifting through all the trash on YouTube!) Check it out at www.watchthebook.com

First Flying Lesson -- and One Hilarious Surprise

2009-10-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

After three delays (weather – maintenance – weather), I finally got my first fixed-wing flying lesson in. Mostly I flew straight-and-level with a few shallow turns (my instructor did the take-off and landing).

Surprise #1: It was easy! Compared to flying a helicopter, it was a piece of cake. I hear landings are the hardest – but if I can learn to hover in a helicopter (now THAT was HARD) then I think I can handle this...

Surprise #2: No airsickness! I had it for the first half-dozen or more helicopter lessons but it went away as I got used to the motion. Maybe it was just a really calm day and I’ll be UN-happily surprised next time...

Surprise #3 (and this one you could NEVER guess!): in April of 2005 (yep, 4-1/2 years ago!) I took a demo flight. My logbook was signed by that instructor at the time. When we completed this lesson, my current instructor went to sign it and...it was HER signature in my logbook -- from over 4 years ago! She had married and had a different last name and I had never put it together.

How is that for cosmic karma (a topic I’ve blogged about in the past)??

Writing the Dang Novel...

2009-10-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing like a deadline to get a writer moving. Sometimes I enter contests as much to give myself a kick in the pants as to actually ‘win’ anything! This past week was a case in point: I spent it transforming what I have of Novel #2 into a novella (a form I really like)...

Agent or No Agent?

2009-09-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Last week, in a sudden fit of inspiration, I wrote a rough draft of a query letter for Novel #2 - despite the fact that I haven't consciously decided to go that route this time around.

Why the (potential) change of heart?

Struggling to get the word out about 'Last Chance Rescue' (with mixed results) has had the interesting effect of *encouraging* me to seek representation.

I didn't believe an agent would seriously consider any proposal I would have made for "Last Chance Rescue." After all, my 'writing credentials' were, well, nearly non-existant. And the market was (and is) saturated. (And then there's the little matter of my IM-patience...)

But now I've proven that I can finish what I start (a novel) and even that I have the chutzpah to market it myself (however questionably successful that has been). AND - perhaps most important - that the book is GOOD (according to others, NOT just myself and I).

So perhaps it's no longer 'wasted' time; an agent might actually read through my query and synopsis now. What have I got to lose?

(one little drawback: I've got to actually WRITE the dang novel...)

"Not So Much" Public Reading

2009-09-14T08:18:00.000-07:00

This was a busy weekend - seemed like every type of activity was "kicking off" or "starting up" (I was back at taiko too!) so I thank the local publications that DID mention our book features and readings on Sunday.

We managed to complete only TWO readings (myself and one of my writing group peers). This was due to the fact that there was a band shell not far from our booth, which featured various musical artists throughout the day. They were good and enjoyable and really not that loud - but still not something we could compete with.

I did not sell a single book, nor did my two peers with whom I shared the space. It did, however, teach me something important: literary crowds (however nice they are) are not where I will find readers for Last Chance Rescue. I need to find the physically active people (and the romance readers). So chalk that one up to experience...

Public reading and books for sale -- Sunday, September 13

2009-09-10T04:35:00.000-07:00

I will be joining other authors from the Sandhill Writers Group to read from our novels during the "Art in the Park" event at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts this Sunday, September 13.

The event runs from 10am to 4pm at 6666 East River Road in Fridley. My assigned reading times are currently 1:30, 2;30 and 3:30. Autographed copies of Last Chance Rescue will also be available for purchase. I hope you can come out and say hello! (If you can't, you can always order here!)

For more information about the event, visit http://www.banfill-locke.org/ or call them at 763-574-1850.

Search-and-Rescue "Read Along"

2009-09-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Deb Lauman, a search-and-rescue expert, created a Squidoo lens about Last Chance Rescue! The unique thing about THIS page is the interactivity of it. Deb took kind of a different approach, trying to get people to read along with her ... kind of like a virtual book club. Pretty neat (and something I'd never get around to)!

So check it out here. If you've read it you can add your own comments. (If you haven't, YOU NEED TO!)

BTW, Deb is a published author herself; you can check out her book here. Thanks, Deb, for your help and support!

An Entirely Different "Last Chance Rescue"

2009-08-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist picking up Christy Reece's book titled "Rescue Me." After all, it kept coming up when I'd search for MY book (seeing as how the organization in her book is called - you guessed it - Last Chance Rescue!).

I was expecting a typical (read: formulaic/mindless) romance novel (it's a Ballantine title), but I was in for a pleasant surprise. Some of the plot lines were a stretch, but heck, isn’t that why we read fiction, after all?? The characters felt real, their dark and painful pasts were compelling, the action never flagged -- JUST LIKE LAST CHANCE RESCUE!

I do find it amusing that a term like "Last Chance Rescue" can have so many meanings. I, of course, *meant* to incorporate a double meaning (search-and-rescue and horse rescue operations). Thank God I didn't title mine "Rescue Me"! :-)

Support MOMS and get a Free 'Moms Rock' T-Shirt

2009-08-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

From my friends at Mamapalooza.com...

Get a FREE "Moms Rock" T-Shirt by making a donation (through August). Your support goes to empower women and mothers in the arts, business and beyond. Mamapalooza pays their artists and supports local communities -- to the tune of $250,000+ since 2002. For more details:
http://www.housewives.stirsite.com/membersjoinhere.html

And their logo/design is oh, so fashionable ... :-)

Last Chance Rescue Reviewed by Feathered Quill

2009-08-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Coolio! This also appears on my Amazon book page and B&N Web site (and somewhere on Goodreads.com too)! Geez, I hope it helps SELL a few books...

Here's a portion (see the full review here).

"The two snowmobilers were probably high-marking it, but it would be the last time for one of them. Brad got a glimpse of the man’s mangled face just before they covered him, but it didn’t deter him from wanting to try his hand at search-and-rescue. Maybe it was the fact that he no longer had a job or, if he really thought about it, it could be Jesse van Dyke. He’d known her practically since they were babes in arms, but well... things change...

Jessie had secrets and they were as deep, dark and turbulent as a Colorado Rocky ravine at night. A tour of Iraq left its mark, but things like helping deliver Mistletoe’s foal, Holly, on the ranch and her dedication to her job did seem to breathe a little life back into her soul. Every positive attribute that could be slapped on a woman Jess could lay claim to save one, and that was a sense of peace. Brad couldn’t seem to get anywhere with her and found old man jealousy smacking him upside the head whenever he thought another man like Drew loved her...

Told from Brad’s point of view, it was a nice change of pace to find an emotionally vulnerable man instead of a man totally devoid of feelings pretending to be a tough guy...We’ve got a winner!"

Short Story "Born Rescuer" is Highly Commended

2009-08-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

I occasionally submit my writing to different contests, but rarely do I receive a note back! I couldn't say this better than the contest judge, so here's a copy-and-paste...

"It gives me great pleasure to inform you that your entry, "Born Rescuer", has been Highly Commended in the 2009 Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest.

While your submission did not win a cash prize, I'd like to assure you that this omission was not due to any defect in your superlative entry itself. In a large contest like this (I believe around 2,000 entries were received), when the judges are forced to choose between 56 entries of equal merit on the Final Short List, the final decision often comes down to simply a matter of personal taste.

Believe me, to achieve a Highly Commended status in a large contest is no mean achievement, but a most encouraging step in your progress as a writer.

With all my very best wishes for your future success!

Sincerely,
John Howard Reid
Chief Judge"

Two Good Books: Medical Mystery and ... Fictional Grief?

2009-08-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

It took the entire month of July (and then some), but I actually READ two really good books. (I also started one that I did not finish - 'nuff said.) One is a medical drama/mystery by CJ Lyons ("Warning Signs") and the other (Juliette Fay's "Shelter Me") a fictional novel about a 38-year-old woman's journey through pain and hope after her husband dies and leaves her to raise their two young children.

You can read what I had to say about them (and other books I've reviewed) on my Amazon reviews page:
click here. (Hopefully this link will work!)

Alarm Bells Turn to Pleasant Surprise

2009-08-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

"Last Chance Rescue" got a really great review in Firehouse Magazine. It really speaks to the bias against self-published books:

"Alarm bells went off in my head as I read her words. Key phrases like Romance, aka Bodice Ripper, went through my mind along with serious concerns about a self-published book. Mind you, there are a number of good to very good self-published books on the market, but it has been my experience that the majority of them would have been much better with the services of a good editor.

I am very pleased to say that Tracey Cramer-Kelly is an excellent writer. Well-crafted plot, storyline and character development that is consistent throughout and a very plausible, satisfying and realistic ending to the tale..."

Click here to read more. Thank you Norm!

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Newspaper Reviews "Last Chance Rescue"

2009-08-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

I returned from Round 1 in Sturgis at 2:30 am on Sunday. So far, so good (even with 30 MPH winds on Friday)...

While there getting our booth set up and training the staff, I was interviewed by the Rapid City Journal. They wanted to write a piece about "Last Chance Rescue" that would tie in to the whole woman-owned motorcycle business thing.

Writer Jessica Kokesh starts:

"It's hard to pin Minnesota native Tracey Cramer-Kelly down to any particular standard. As a self-described 'non-traditional mom,' Cramer-Kelly, 39, has a helicopter pilot's license, is a former reservist with the Army National Guard and manages her and her husband's motorcycle accessories business, Leader MotorSports..."

She then touches on the balance of work, writing and children, as well as my motivation to write (including the Indie Award Finalist status).

To read the complete article, click here.

Thank you, Jessica, for putting up with several interruptions during the interview (not to mention the wind)!

Taiko Hangover

2009-07-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

It's not entirely unpleasant, except that I need to get a lot of things done this short week (I leave Thursday to work at the Sturgis motorcycle rally). But it's that slow, draggie feeling you get after a sustained frenetic pace, and I'm having trouble getting moving this morning.

But the recital was a resounding SUCCESS!

Favorite Writing Quote

2009-07-21T20:30:00.001-07:00

I recently came across this quote from Margaret Sackville:

"Great imaginations are apt to work from hints and suggestions, and a single moment of emotion is sometimes sufficient to create a masterpiece."

That's ME exactly! (Although we could debate the definition of "masterpiece"...) There will be one grain of truth to something I write ... one tiny piece of a scene that was factual ... before my imagination ran away with it!

Live Band Gigs and YouTube Videos

2009-07-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

When I was younger I could arrange my life around singing live gigs; now any kind of singing has to fit around my life (which is near-impossible at times)! Thus it is that I STILL have not sung live with my old bandmates (and it’s been over a year since I laid backup vocals with them).

They do have a gig coming up: The “7 to 11 Concert Series” at the bandshell in Central Park (Owatonna, MN). Date: Thursday, August 6. Time: 7-9pm.

(Once again I’ll miss out, as I will be working the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis.)

Fun Fact ... Mark Cameron’s song “Ambition” was recently used in a video from a Model-T club. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHdUIEZ6cIo

Fellow Author Launches First Book

2009-07-14T19:16:00.001-07:00

Like Harry Potter or the Twilight series, but sometimes wish for a little, well, brighter option? (Or wish your kids would?)

'Reef Warrior' by Cheri Andrews might be just the ticket.

'Reef Warrior' is the first book in what Andrews hopes will become a series chronicling the life of Diam Roceht, an average adolescent girl who comes to realize she is actually a mermaid who must one day return to the ocean to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The idea for 'Reef Warrior' was sparked by Cheri's daughter's English project, but she admits it was also a ploy to spend more quality time with her adolescent daughter. As she told us during our Writers Group, little did she know how far it would go!

The book’s release date is set for TODAY! - July 14 - and Andrews has a few events set up in the local area. Visit www.reefwarrior.com for details. Congratulations Cheri!

More Strange Coincidences = More Karma??

2009-07-13T14:03:00.001-07:00

I was on my way to my taiko drumming practice on Saturday morning (I was riding my motorcycle) when I found myself in the midst of about 20 motorcycles that had entered the freeway next to me. An organized ride or a club on an outing. I nodded to other riders as I passed them (I was running late so I was bookin') when up ahead I spotted two friends on their bikes!

Now, I've known these two women for awhile as part of the Women on Wheels motorcycle club (which I haven't been as active in lately due to children) and they and their bikes are - in a word - unmistakeable.

So I pulled up alongside first one, then the other, stared at them until they couldn't ignore me and waited for the double-take when they recognized the crazy rider next to them. We did some hilarious pantomiming and then I went one way (with a grin on my face) and they went another.

I was running 15 minutes later than I normally would be. Now I ask you: what are the odds of us being on the SAME road (out of thousands in the Minneapolis area) at the same TIME at 8:50 on a Saturday morning??

It was just too weird and wonderfully funny.

These are the same two women I saw out the window of a McDonalds one day last fall (I had ridden the motorcycle there with my son). I’ve only been in that McDonalds 2-3 times in my life. Again, what are the odds?? Not odds ... karma. Great to see you Kat and Barb - miss you!

Do You Believe in Karma?

2009-07-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

This time of year, my motorcycle business (www.LeaderMotorcycle.com) is so busy I don't have time or brain space to write. But the universe doesn't stop just because I do...

In the last two weeks, I've met two people that I feel I was lead to, particularly related to my writing ventures. I wasn't looking for them - unless it was subconscious - but there they were.

The first is the organizer of the flight club I will be joining in the fall. I mentioned this in my last post. Since I didn't know his background when I met with him, I was stunned to find out that he is an ex-Air Force physician. Why? Because the main character in my current novel-in-progress is an Air Force officer who loses a leg during a hostage situation.

The second is a wholistic healer whom I met in a most unlikely way - during the course of my motorcycle business. Those who've read "Last Chance Rescue" know that there is a healing scene in it, and that my writing tends to have overtones of medical emergencies and healing. I spent two hours talking to this person, once again struck by how I've been brought into his sphere.

Cool, huh??

Going Solo for the Night

2009-06-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

Ah, solo for the night! (I forgot how this feels...) Family left for the lake around five, but I didn't want to miss my taiko practice in the morning (only 4 practices left before the recital!). I'll head up after practice.

I spent the evening doing errands (who knew it would take THREE stops over two weeks to get a new cell phone plan??) and stopped to chat with the president of the Flying Club I'm going to join in the fall. There I received what I can only describe as a karmic lift - that subconscious nudge that I was brought into this person's sphere for a reason (in this case it perhaps has to do with my novel-in-progress). But perhaps that's true of all encounters?? - we just don't usually feel it so strongly as I did tonight...

When I got home I wrapped my daughter's birthday presents and painted my toe nails (I haven't done THAT in a very long time!). Now I'm ostensibly working on my writing (I made some headway this week, most noteably from my prosthetist friend, whom I "intereviewed" AGAIN for another 45 minutes)...

But really I'm just revelling in the feeling of not being accountable to anyone but ME for one evening!

New content on Mamapalooza

2009-06-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

Mamapalooza.com is a site for "women empowered, mom-branded business, entertainment and education." Quite a bit of mom rock/music, but in general, these moms are not your "typical" moms!

And apparently they feel that I'm also a "non-typical" mom ... portions of THIS blog will now be compiled on their site. Cool, huh? Check it out at mamapalooza.com

I hope to find more of this type of "partnership" in the future!

P.S. Just as soon as I blogged about Kiva, they launched a new program. Now, not only can you choose to help fund a micro-loan in other countries ... you can do the same right here in the US! kiva.org

Give Them a Fish...

2009-06-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

Micro-lending is built on the concept of "give a man a fish, he eats for a day; but TEACH him to fish, and he eats for a lifetime."

The idea is to provide small loans to people in developing countries so that they can start their own business (or expand one they already have) and improve their quality of life.

Great idea - but difficult to know who needs what, and which requests are legitimate and viable.

I found a great site that coordinates with local 'partners' (in other countries) to list requests. You can choose a category or type of recipient. You can choose the amount to give (it lumps other donors together to meet the requested need). Most the loan requests I've seen are modest by US standards (under $4000). The site even provides updates and repayment! (I plan to put the repayment right back into helping another.)

What a great way to use the power of the Internet... check it out at www.kiva.org

Interview with Last Chance Character Quinn Belmont

2009-06-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

I was looking at past blog entries tonight and realized I hadn't posted the third in the series of character interviews. So, here is what Quinn Belmont has to say about his role in Last Chance Rescue...

How do you know Jessie?
She was one of our medics in Iraq, and we had some of the same friends. But the way I come back into her life in Last Chance Rescue ... well, let's just say it's a shock to both of us.

Will you tell us a bit about Iraq?
Damn, you don't really want to hear about that, do you?!

If it would help to understand you ...
Look, if you haven't lived it, you can't understand it. We were out there getting sniped at and blown up by suicide bombers and Improvised Explosive Devices. I saw a lot of nasty stuff -- legs and hands blown off, head injuries ... hell, I was injured twice myself.

You lost friends there?
Everyone lost friends.

I heard you lost two of your closest friends.
[Long sip of beer.] My girlfriend ... and Max. Me and Max were close ...

Is that when you started drinking?
I was drinking long before that. Drinking was only the start of my problems when I ran into Jessie in Last Chance Rescue ... and I didn't like that she had all these guy friends. Guys and girls can't be 'just friends,' you know what I mean? She was way too friendly with some of them. Especially Brad.

Sounds like you were jealous.
I wouldn't put it that way. She and I, you see ... we were connected by what had happened to us in Iraq.

But you threatened Brad.
That's an exaggeration. I just didn't like him much. Although I guess it's a good thing he was around the night I overdosed ...

Will you tell us about that?
No can do. You'll have to buy the book!

Global warming video

2009-06-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is not related to my writing, but is one of the better communiques I've seen on the topic of global warming. The young speaker is so low-key that I had to laugh when, near the end, an expletive is used!

To view this 4-minute video click here.

Gripping, personal account of Iraq War

2009-06-06T20:12:00.000-07:00

I am supposed to be in WI getting ready to go rafting tomorrow, but Mother Nature had other ideas (cold and rainy here!). So I was doing a little ‘homework’ today: reading “House to House” by David Bellavia (with – a LOT, I think – of help from journalist John Bruning). It is a memoir of his time serving in Iraq, and particularly Fallujah.

Last Chance Rescue’s character Jessie Van Dyke is an Iraq veteran, and though the story is taking place AFTER her tour of duty, the experience of war has left her with emotional baggage. And ... a divorce.

Her ex-husband, Major Aaron Bricewick, is the main character in my current novel-in-progress. The military life played a role in Last Chance Rescue, and it’s a BIG theme in ‘Bricewick.’ So besides just being interested in the subject matter of the Iraq war, books like this one are fodder for my writing.

The main purpose to my own five years in the Army Reserves was the GI Bill (to pay my way through college). The big scare during my time in the military was Desert Storm (thank god I was never activated), but you don’t see such gripping, personal accounts of that conflict as you do for Iraq. I find it fascinating, and I hope I can reach military spouses and family with “Last Chance Rescue”...and eventually my next book.

Taiko drumming student recital "Passing the Beat"

2009-06-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

I will be performing in the Mu Daiko Student Recital (with my Taiko class) on Saturday, July 25 at 7pm and Sunday, July 26 at 2pm. You will see some incredible performances (as all levels will be performing). This is a high-energy event that is best seen LIVE (although I am going to try and get video of it), so if you're interested (or you just want to see what I've been doing every Saturday morning), here are the details! And now I'm off to happy hour with my classmates...