Sunday, October 14, 2007

I'm moving!

You can now find me at this place.

Hope you stop by soon!
Kris

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Am I only what you see?

I've been thinking a lot about the labels we put on ourselves. Mother. Father. Wife. Husband. SAHM. Full-time employee. Part-time employee Unemployed. It's amazing how one word can change your perspective on things. Some of them are positive, while some are negative.

Having this part-time job has been enlightening. Not just for myself personally - I still can't believe I've been hired as an editor - but, it's amazing the response I get from people who hear about the situation. I told a neighbor that I'd been grappling with my "purpose" and that I thought working would help bring me closer to that. She told me my purpose had just gotten on the bus, and that a job was just a job.

Wow. I continued walking the dog and wondered why it is so difficult for people to think that women can only have one role. Sure, I love that I've got two kids. Maybe my purpose here on Earth was to have these two kids specifically (not with another man other than my husband) because maybe these two little guys will grow up to do something really important. But isn't that sad to think that my only purpose is to have kids? Don't get me wrong; I love being a mother. I wouldn't change that part of my life for anything. But I do believe that I can be more than just a mother, just a wife, just an editor.

There's more to me than just what people expect. Just like there's more to you than what people expect. Right?

Friday, October 5, 2007

When do you find the time to write?

With this new editing job that I've taken on, the management of the hockey team, and all the other things a SAHM is supposed to be doing, when will I find the time to write? I can't even get over here on a regular basis to say anything worth while.

So....from now on, I'm going to make a pact that every day, or at least every other day, I'm going to make sure I blog here. Even if it's just to say "Hi, I'm a loser because I have no time to blog!"

I need to get myself back in the frame of writing. My story is screaming to come out. I think about it while walking the dog in the morning, but never get a chance to write any of it.

What will I do if an agent comes a'calling? That certainly would be motivation.

When do you write? Any ideas of how a mom working at home can prioritize her time to include her own writing? This is an excellent topic for Romance Divas. Maybe I'll post there as well.

Peace,
Kris

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #4

Ok, I've gotten myself together to get this one posted.


Thirteen Places where I spend time on the internet
. You'll find some usual spots, but maybe a few new ones.

1. Amazon.com - I use this one a lot and not just for buying either! It's a great place to look if you're trying to think up a title for a manuscript.
2. Publisher's Marketplace - I go there daily to read other blogs and sometimes update mine.
3. Romance Divas - God, I love this forum! I don't spend nearly as much time there as I'd like. There's so much information, and the people there are sooo nice. It's a home away from home for writers.
4. Yahoo News - Since I don't watch television newscasts nor really read the paper, I find out about happenings here. Plus, I can regulate what I learn about. Sorry, I don't want to hear about murder, death, rape, suicides, beatings, etc., you get my drift. I've got enough drama in my own life, I don't need any more.
5. MySpace - yeah, I'm old, but I don't care. I'm not there to pick up anybody - I'm there to congregate with the other writers.
6. WXYZ.com - I use this site to see my local weather forecast. I like it because it gives an hour-by-hour forecast.
7. eBay - I've not spent a lot of time here lately, but it comes in handy when the boys are looking for some rare Pokemon card or something.
8. PCHA.Org - our local hockey association. I frequent this site, as well as other hockey related sites. This should be no surprise to anyone that knows me.
9. Writeattitude.net - this is a great place for writers. I like to go there when I'm lacking inspiration.
10. Mayoclinic.com - This site is an excellent resource for all of those aches and pains. Also, it's nice to use as a research tool for writing.
11. My bank. It's nice to be able to check the account..see if there's any money in it!
12. Hummingbirds.net - This is a great resource for my favorite bird.
13. thegoddessnetwork.net - This is a wonderful female empowering site. Check out their meditations or their soul cards, very moving.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
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Have a great day!



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Interview: Caridad Pineiro and her new book, South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man

I'm so happy today to be hosting Caridad Pineiro. Her new book, South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man is now out. It's a continuation of the lovely and fun characters that Caridad introduced readers to in her book, Sex and the South Beach Chicas. You can find South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man here and Sex and the South Beach Chicas here.

Caridid was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

1. You write in several genres. What inspires you in each of them? For the vampires, the desire to write intensely emotional and dark stories is what motivates me. To help inspire me while I work on these, I watch videos and shows that are also dark and emotional, like UNDERWORLD and KING ARTHUR. The need to write the Chicas is all about creating stories about real life women in a city where I can show people a little bit about my Cuban culture. To help inspire me while I work on these, I usually pop in DVDs for romantic comedies. My favorite ones are with Sandra Bullock, such as TWO WEEKS NOTICE or MISS CONGENIALITY.

2. Of all the chicas, why did you pick Sylvia to star in this particular book? Sylvia was a very forceful and demanding character in the first book, so much so that she almost took over Tori's story. In addition, we all loved her mom Virginia and wanted to know what had happened with her and Sylvia's dad. Since Sylvia and Carlos didn't end with a happily-ever-after in the first book, it only seemed natural that we not only finish Sylvia's story, but answer everyone's curiosity about Virginia and Sylvia's dad.

3. Will you be focusing on another chica in a future book? I'm hoping to do Adriana's story next. I think that there are many women who have male best friends and who wonder what would happen if the relationship changed from friends to lovers. The worry that they'll lose that best friend, but they also worry about possibly missing the relationship that was meant to be. Adriana and Riley have started that journey and have become lovers, but I'd like to really explore how they got there and whether becoming lovers was the right thing to do.

4. You capture the emotional turmoil of these women's lives so vividly. How emotional is it for you when you're creating these characters? I get really involved with their lives, to the point where these women have become almost real. I think the fact that they have become so real lets me portray them with great depth and emotion. In turn, the readers sense that and connect with them. That helps to make the story special for readers because they become invested in the characters as much as I became invested in the characters.

5. When can we expect the next book? I'm currently working on the proposal for the next book and hope that it will be acquired. In the meantime, I have a number of paranormals coming from Pocket as well as more books in THE CALLING Vampire series.

Thank you, Caridad, for your answers. You won't want to miss this new book by Caridad. It's a great read!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #3

Here we go again.....


Thirteen Things on my desk
So in honor of having moved my home office to a more hospitable area of the house, you all get to learn what's on my desk.

1. My laptop. Goes without saying.
2. Naturally Upper Canada Cranberry & Lemon Rind hand cream. I LOVE the way this smells and it makes my hands so smooth.
3. Pens and pencils. Does this surprise you?
4. Little figurine of Winnie the Pooh. Don't ask.
5. A lamp. It gets dark in my little corner.
6. The infamous HOCKEY folder. Good Lord, I had no idea how much paperwork goes into managing a team.
7. Thank you cards for the volunteers at school for helping out during the first five days. Boy those kids were confused about where to go!
8. Post-its, notepads...misc items like this to make little notes and stick all over.
9. Results from the Tibetan Personality test that I did yesterday. Check it out for yourself here. It was pretty interesting.
10. The remainder of our September bills. God, I hate looking at them. Maybe I should put them in my desk.
11. A strawberry scented candle. The boys gave it to me for Mother's Day. It smells yummy.
12. Research material for my next novel. This includes maps, printouts of the history of the area (Saugatuck) and info about sailing.
13. Last but not least, a glass of water which will soon be replaced with a cup of coffee.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
Add your link by clicking on the Mister Linky box!




Have a great day!



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Monday, September 3, 2007

Time for an intervention

Help me. I need an intervention. No, it's nothing THAT horrible, but I do have a problem. You see, I can't help myself when it comes to writing instruments. I just love them. Love them! Yesterday, at Target, I bought yet another set of colored gel pens. Do I need them? No. Why did you do it, Kris? Because they're pretty. I just can't help myself.

Then, since I've gotten this new job, volunteered to be the team manager of my son's hockey team, and have taken on the position of PTO Secretary for my son's school, I decided that I really wanted my office downstairs rather than being tucked upstairs in a small room. My husband graciously moved all of the furniture around. It was a win-win situation in my boy's eyes - they got a playroom out of the deal. I got my office downstairs. It had been awhile since I'd used my desk, and I knew that it would have to be reorganized.

Now, I knew I had a lot of writing instruments, but I didn't realize HOW MANY! I quickly (30 minutes or so) went through them all, figuring out the ones that didn't write anymore, keeping the ones I wanted, tossing the ones that were no good and then putting a bunch (40 or so) in the kid's art station. I still have all the colored ones I bought at the store on my desk, along with more pens that I could use in a year.

I promised my husband that I wouldn't buy anymore pens/pencils until next year. He quickly responded with, "That's only three months away."

I hadn't thought of that! Please. Help. Me.