Wow, it's been a bit dry around here lately. Nothing to blog about really...at least nothing that would interest anyone to read about it. Just real life problems and issues being a drag, but hey! When aren't they?
But, yesterday was a BIG...HUGE...TOTALLY ROCKING...day for me. In my email inbox yesterday was a message from Dreamspinner Press, announcing the Daily Dose Anthology,First Time for Everything, is available for pre-order. This is the anthology that will include my very own short story, "Fragile". My very first published work!!!!!!
(I know, I have mentioned that a million times here already, but sheesh, sue me, I am STOKED!!)
Taking a peek at the link, I got to see the other authors that were included, and, once again, I was blown away. I mean, these are authors I REALLY admire, so I am skunnered to think I will be published right along side them.
Someone, pinch me, please. : )
Oh, and lookie lookie...is this cover not the sexiest thing you have ever seen???
*SWOON*
That's my VERY FIRST COVER!!!! How did I get so lucky?
I am not resting on my laurels, however. I am currently working on three projects, simultaneously. Yeah, my brain is about to turn to mush, but I am eager and hungry for more, PLUS I have a couple of people, really IMPORTANT people, pushing and encouraging me to get more out there. So, I am striving to do just that. I hope to get another post up later about these projects because I am really excited about them.
Well, that's it for now, enough with the "look at me!"...there is work to be done. : )
I'm not certain when I became aware of it, consciously, at any rate, but it just seems that music has always been a driving force in my life. I've lived with the stories, told by my mom, of me dancing in my crib before I could even walk. Pulling up to anything I could, shaking my little diapy-covered bum whenever I was within hearing distance of music. Didn't matter if it was a commercial, my older brother's Allmon Brothers wailing from his bedroom, or just my mom singing something that was stuck in her head.
Music has always moved me. And, I shouldn't be surprised how it continues to influence who I am.
I am an equal-opportunity music lover. Oh, don't get me wrong, I do have my favorites *cough*LadyGagaDuranDuran*cough*, but I love and appreciate all types of music. I am not one of those that can only appreciate country or heavy metal. I see value and talent in all forms of music. Perhaps it's because I am musically inclined myself. Not gifted, but I can pick at a tune on a piano; I know intrinsically how the bridge of a song will play out. This drives the hubs crazy. LOL He can play his favorite Mexican music, something surely I have never heard before, and I can hum right along as if I have heard it a hundred times. Yeah, that's fun to do and watch his face...sorry, I can't help it. :P
My iTunes is a mess; no rhyme or reason. It's nothing to put it on shuffle and go from DeBussy's Clair de Lune straight into AC/DC's Hell's Bells to bluegrass standards to Top 40 pop.
So, as I look at my files of ideas and things I have written, have left half finished, notes on others that I want to do...I shouldn't be surprised that they are all influenced by music.
I think I would like to share some of these...maybe the few of you that might read this, could give me feedback to see if it's worth my time to keep pursuing this dream to become a writer. I dunno. Everyone needs a dream, right? : )
Soooo....the first I will share now. It's the only completely 'complete' thing I have, everything else is just in stages, but this is also the first thing I ever wrote when I decided I really wanted to give it a shot. It is embarrassingly m/f, self-indulgent and probably too maudlin to ever put out anywhere. But, I am proud of it none the less.
"Something to Remind Me"
I heard this song one day on the radio during the 80's flashback lunch hour...yeah, I want to know how that happened? When did the 80's become the oldies but goodies? Gah.
Anyway, I hadn't heard it in ages, and had always loved it, back in the day. But, this time, it was just the weirdest thing, the story idea came to me in one of those weird flashes, like watching a movie in my head. I had never had anything like that happen to me...hadn't actually thought about writing for years, but there it was...a beautiful, poignant, heartbreaking story just laid out in front of me.
The story doesn't have anything to do with the video, it's the feeling of the song...that something that is left behind when a love is lost. It's the story of Cam and Chloe who fall in love at a young age, only to be separated by terrible lies and their own stubbornness. It spans the 15 years and their struggles to come to terms with losing each other, but eventually a death reveals the lies and it seems that they can finally have their happy ending, but fate is a cruel mistress.
I don't think anyone would ever publish this, it does not have that Harlequin happy ending, but it is the only ending I could give it. It was the ending that I wrote first, right after hearing the song. It was so touching, I cried as I wrote it...and I still get choked up thinking about it.
I have a whole slew of unfinished projects, all of which have a song related to them in some way, but I won't bore you with them... this time.
