Whenever you pack your favorite things while traveling, you feel you have all the bases covered.  Whether it’s a cell phone, laptop, blackberry, whatever these “comfort” things are, all is well with the world.  That’s how I feel about my characters.  Whatever I need for my story, it’s inside them.  Need emotion, it’s there if you dig deep enough.  How about motivation, and all the other stuff writers chat about, no problemo.  I trust my characters to have these things. 

After writing my Ruby blog at Magical, I realized my characters are very real to me.  Well I knew that, but was reminded again.  I hear them talk,  know what they’re thinking…I feel them.  And when they’re gone, I miss them.  For writers, this is everyday living.  I have “writing” books that I’ve rifled through on occasion, but they never seriously held my attention.   The exception is, THE ART OF WAR by Steven Pressfield.   And that’s because it’s a survival manual for writers, not technical. And I figured out why the others didn’t work for me…finally.  If I dissect the process, it won’t be magic any longer.  And I love magic, it’s why I write, what makes stepping into a story a breathtaking moment for me.  Edie’s question at Magical  today is, “Why do we love this business so much?”  And that was part of my answer.

What about you? As a writer, what’s your “comfort” when writing a book.  Maybe an outline, music, brilliant ending shimmering on the far horizon that you desperately want to reach…

Wanted to share my third sale, RUBY’S DAUGHTER, will be a spring 2009 Tiger Publications release!  YAY!  I’m so excited that I’ll be blogging about Ruby over at Magical Musings today.  Come and join us today, and bring your most memorable character.

I promised y’all I’d keep you updated on my journey, so I wanted to let you know I finished my galleys on my debut book, BUTTERFLY WISHES.  Yes, I bid my “baby” adios last week.  Marcia was working through her galleys at the same time.  It’s always great when friends are going through the same process, at the same time.  We connected, and rode those last few waves of ohmygosh, it’s really happening!

I could share with you how magical the moment is/was, and I could tell you I hope the sales will fly off the charts, and it would be all true on a surface level.  But what I really want is readers to care about Fey and Colin and, for a moment in their lives, believe in magic and the power of hope.  That’s it.  All I’ve ever wanted is a connection to readers…my readers.  That joy is something I’ve been waiting for as a writer.  It’s one thing to write stories from the heart, and live the process of bringing characters to life.  Quite another to complete the connection and have someone hold your book, read the words you wrote with your heart, and feel your story.  It’s the last missing piece for me. 

So, as promised I’ll keep you posted on my journey.  I’ve yet to hold my ”baby” in my hands, and I’ve yet to experience meeting a reader face to face.  All of these will be memory moments for me.  I’ll never forget them.  I intend to savor the experience with gratitude.  It makes writing new stories all the more magical.

Any thoughts you’d care to share?

I love Oprah’s show, big time.  I remember the year she dedicated herself to focusing on spirtuality, and issues of great importance.  Sure, she has the movie stars on her show once in a while, but there’s always a piece of wisdom shared from their experience.  It’s refreshing to watch, and I’m a fan. 

I picked up her new club selection titled,  A NEW EARTH, by Eckhart Tolle and it’s the wow factor in my blog title today.  I’m on page 119, and had to put it down reluctantly because…well, I have work to do.  Luckily for me, there’s 300 plus pages and I can indulge later.  This is a book to be savored.  For the first time, I actually used a highlighter.  One of my daughters is reading it too, and passed this little suggestion my way.  And I’m grateful because I can go right to those passages now, and reread them whenever.  Those little AH moments that jump out at me.

What really struck me was the simplicity, yet deep lessons  the writer shares.  I’m on a part now about the games the ego plays, and find it very interesting.  Over the years, I’ve discovered the more in tune I am to “ME” the less I need outside of me to feel good.   This is especially crucial in the publishing business.   Y’all know what rejection feels like, and it’s healthier not to internalize.  In my twenties, I was guilty of that when it came to my work.  A valuable lesson to learn, and overcome in my experience.  An interesting comment I read in the book is, “Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will set you free.”  Hallelu!

As a child, I was the one to get up in the dark and peek in my closet.  I wanted to know if the boogeyman was in there and, if he was, I wasn’t happy until I saw him with my own eyes.  I also crept down the stairs as a teenager, if I heard a noise and was alone, because quite simply I wanted to face whatever might come at me.  Not sure what that means symbolically, but I’m still that way.  I dig deep.

This book is one of many on a special bookcase of mine.  Have any of you read this yet, and if so what little pearls did you discover?  On a note, Oprah’s having an online class in March on this book with Eckhart Tolle.  I’m signed up, and rarin’ to go.  They’re going to take it chapter by chapter and I’m really excited.  Just wanted to share with y’all.

One of my favorite Disney characters is Tinkerbell.  Y’all know she’s a fairy, and has an unlimited supply of fairy dust.  I imagine all writers have a little velvet packet with this sparkly dust on their desk.  They may not be aware, but it’s there.

The one thing I’ve learned on my journey is that inspiration most likely will not come and tap a writer on the shoulder daily.  You have to make the effort and show up.  Once there, you’ve established an intention.  I know whenever I’m away from my desk, it’s harder to get back.  I had a break between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.  One project was finished, and one yet to begin.  Holiday time is a busy time, and the time off was much appreciated.  But, I had to get over the guilt of not working.  Guilt is a funny thing.  When I do the daily work, guilt doesn’t visit.  When I’m not as productive, it’s all I think about.  So, for me, I need to accomplish something creative daily.  It’s what I do.   And I’m grateful I feel lousy when I don’t enter that creative space.  It means I’m off my stride, it’s a wakeup call.  I love playdays too, especially in the summer.  I just put in more hours on the other days.  We writers are blessed to be able to schedule our time.  I love it!

Do you do the two-step with the guilt mistress whenever you’re away from the desk. If so, here’s a sprinkle of fairy dust to light the way………….

  

We’ve reached a milestone in our family!  Our youngest granddaughter has discovered speed-dial, and we love it.  Over morning coffee, our first call of the day is put on speaker phone.  We hear this little voice say, “Hi, Mimi and Papaw!”  There is no way you can start your day on the wrong foot over here.  Before this milestone, hubby would sometimes say to me, ”You’re a little too happy in the mornings, honey.”  How can that be?  But this little early morning call has worked it’s charm on my hubby.  He’s a morning guy now, and I’m lovin’ it!  We discover how the pet bird slept, what the family dog is doing.  Sometimes, she whispers how to make muffins, and that it’s a family secret. 

My daughter worries sometimes that this new discovery will get in the way of our daily routines.  I told her to let the speed-dialer follow her heart.  This time will not last forever, it’s fleeting.  One day, when this little charmer is in college and I’m begging her to call, I can look back on this and smile.  For now, we have a beautiful way to start the day, a nice chat before bedtime, and a few calls sprinkled in whenever it suits her mood.  I’m lovin’ it, and feel pretty darn blessed.  All of our grandchildren have gone through this stage, and I remember watching cartoons together via phone at certain times.  I love looking at the world through their eyes.  Each one is so unique, and we learn so much from them.

On a note, I have five of these little darlings, and each one fills our lives with wonder.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving as they say.  In this case, it’s absolutely true!  So to my five little angels, I love you!

So, are y’all morning people, or does it take a while to start the motor?   And if you want to share any family recipes, I’ll pass it on to the little charmers!