An Author's Thoughts

NaNoWriMo has Officially Began...

2008-11-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

and all I can think of right now is how much I want to sleep and dream of a better life than this one. Have you ever had one of those days when you just don't see the light at the end of the tunnel for all the dark clouds looming waiting to hit you in the butt with a stray bolt of lightening??? My head is so stopped up with sinus drainage , my eyes are watering more than the Niagara Falls, and my husband is trying to force a new dog into my home. I lost my dog 3 months ago today as a matter of fact, to kidney failure. And although I feel for this dog, it needs a good home, I can't help but think of how much I miss Reese, my chihuahua. Besides the owner wants $200 for him and we just don't have that to throw away on a dog right now. I know I should be concentrating on writing my novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), I have the drive, just no story is jumping out at me. I know, I know, the purpose of this experiment each November is just to get you writing, but without having some kind of direct path in mind how do you begin??

I failed to meet this challenge last year and I don't like to fail....at anything. I long to see my name on books lining the shelves of every bookstore chain in the world and yet I can't pick up a pen and put it to paper to achieve that goal. Shameful, I know. To be so selfish, to want something for myself, but I do....I want it. Something that could be just my accomplishment. Maybe someday I can do just for me and feel okay about it. Until then I serve my family. My husband, son, daughter, dogs, cats, mother, father, anyone who needs my help, I'm there. But one day, maybe......

The Dawn of a New Day

2008-09-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

So here it is...far, far too long since I wrote here. Amazing how time flies by without you realizing it. Life has a way of taking over and there you sit not doing a damn thing it seems. I've plotted. I've downloaded pictures for all my Wolfe Investigations Inc. heroes and heroines. They look gooooood too. I've built backstories and character worksheets, even written a little something here or there, but haven't finished a dang thing in the past year and a half. My talented sister (webmistress) created a seal for my WII series. She's awesome. And yet I haven't finished one dang book in that series even though I love those characters. I think I get upset because I don't write in order. the scenes jump out at my at different times and then I string them together to make the story. Night Stalker was the only thing I wrote from beginning to end. Maybe that is why that one is finished and published. Broken Cowboy is still being perfected so that I can try it at some other publishers this year, hopefully. Motivation.............what's my Motivation????????

Ever think that pulling your hair out by the roots is a good thing? On the home front all is well. Now on to the book front.........

MIA...but I think I'm back

2007-04-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Man, I can't believe it has been 3 months since I last blogged. So much has been going on in "real" life, that my secret obsession has fallen to the wayside. My 12 year-old son pitched a no-hitter a couple games ago. Our only win this season. I have been searching high an dlow for a job that I could do from home. I don't know the whole hustle and bustle is beginning to wear on me. I got a different job, working for any attorney and I like the job and the people I work with just fine, I just...I don't know I yearn to stay at home and relax for a while. To have the whole day to myself to write and craft something. It just seems like my body can't find the energy to get into writing after a long day of doing computer work at my "real" job. And books don't write themselves. I have squeezed in some reading on the craft lately. Even spent 7 whole hours today doing nothing but lying on my couch reading. I felt kind of guilty cause I knew there were surely more important things to be doing today, but couldn't muster up the ability to care. I cleaned my house for the most part yesterday and anything else could wait until later.

Probably could have spent that time writing but my son and his friend had the computers tied up with playing on the internet and who was I to shove them off. I am setting myself a goal. Seems I never get anything truly done unless I make a list or set a goal, so here it is. My goals for the rest of 2007.

Goals
1. Finish writing School of Hard Knocks. (It's been far too long since I touched that story)
2. Create character profiles, complete with pictures for all characters of Wolfe Investigations Series books. (Have fallen in love with my characters and their storylines again, but I want to make sure they are well rounded characters)
3. Submit School of Hard Knocks and hopefully a completed Wolfe Investigations 1: Statue of Osirius to both critique partners. (Jenna and Crystal, I knowits been a while since you guys got anything from me)
4. Last but not least, See if Night Stalker can be reworked and maybe added to, then submit to a new publisher after contract with New Concepts runs out this year. (need some promotional items and a few contests to go with this). (Still love this story!!)

I'll be a writer yet!

Unproductive New Year

2007-01-19T17:56:00.000-08:00

Okay so I have heard several authors who get angry because they lost their hard earned work because of a stupid computer...never thought I would be one. My laptop had a faulty battery or some such nonsense and my husband ended up having to reboot the whole thing(some nerdy computer blah). I therefore lost all my lovely work that was on the computer. Have lots of stuff on jump drives and disks, but had been writing here and there, little by little on a story called Bride For Hire. You guessed a wonderful 2 chapters disappeared into the great beyond. Everything else I think is recoverable because I am usually a write on paper then type it up kind of girl, but for some reason I wasn't with this story. I thought it was pretty wonderful stuff too. So where am I??? Back to the drawing board if I can ever get my mind free from all the life stuff going on. Buying a house...finding a new job....raising kids and trying to figure out why I work so hard and never have time to relax. Well to writing! I will remember to back up on jump drives from now on. I learn my lessons teh first time around. Or at least I hope I do.

Ringing in a New Year

2006-12-31T20:35:00.000-08:00

So another year has come and gone and what have I done???? I published a novel in paperback, entered several contests, won $1,000 from Harlequin's Sports escape writing contest. I finished writing Broken Cowboy, but found not one publisher who wanted a contemporary erotic cowboy novel. Started several other novels, but life intercepted my attention and I have yet to finish any. I hope to return to them this year. My family is happy and healthy. We had a wonderful Christmas holiday, but I am looking forward to the kids going back to school. Been spending much of my time looking for a house to buy and a new job. I have a job interview next week and I hope that I get it. It is working for the City and just a few minutes down the street. So to everyone out there, have a safe and happy New Year!

Giving Thanks

2006-11-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

This year I find that I am thankful for so many things that on any other day I may overlook for the blessing that it is. So in honor of the wonderful feast that I will eat tomorrow I wanted to give thanks for these things:

1) Heathly kids! My kids are happy and healthy and for once not really wanting or needing anything. Which means to me that my dear husband and myself have done pretty well in providing for them.

2) My husband! Even when we have our bad days, I know he loves me and I love him more than he will ever know. After 13 years we can still make each other smile. We finish each others sentences and even our thoughts. We can look at each other from across the room and know what the other is thinking at that very moment. To me that spells LOVE.

3) My family! They may be mental cases (LOL), but I love them and they are all in pretty good health. Even though my mo would love to wring my brothers neck and sometimes we think my sister has lost her mind since she has snakes as pets, and even though we don't get to see or speak to my niece Deanna as much as we would like to ... They are healthy and I am thankful for everyday I have them in my life.

4) My writing! Even though I haven't been writing as much as I wish I was, it is nice to have that outlet to express not only my emotions but the love I feel in my relationship with my husband through the written word. I hope that one day I can write for a living and my husband will be my inspiration for all my wonderful heros.

5) My health! Although a doctor has not confirmed it, I believe myself to be in perfect health. Slightly overweight, but I am still active and other than this stupid cold that is threatening to come in hard, I am good. But what can I say it is cold and flu season.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Stay safe and for those spending the holiday with their families take a moment to remember how much they mean to you and be thankful that you have them in your life.

To my family...I love you all!
Paula Beaty

NaNoWriMo is under way!

2006-11-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

That's right folks! NaNoWriMo is officially inseason. For those of you who don't know what that is I'll explain. National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo for short is 30 days to write 50,000 words. The one month out of the year you challenge yourself to completely go insane...I mean write a novel. LOL! I have accepted the challenge and have shamelessly fallen flat the first day. I have a story in mind. I have my hero (Joaquin Phoenix) and heroine (Denise Richards) picked out. No that isn't their names, that is the stars I think the people who live in my head most resemble. It helps us writers to keep our muses straight if we have a visual. So links to fantastic pics of these stars are saved as favorites on my laptop and now all I have to do is write their story. They popped into my head a while ago but i was working on something else at the time so I put them on the back burner just for NaNoWriMo. I am supposed to aim for writing 1,667 words per day. Today a big fat ZERO! That means that now I am just that much more behind. I will catch up though. I am determined to finish another novel and sell it to my publisher.

Which brings me to my side note....Night Stalker has sold over 1,000 copies. Not much when you look at how many millions of books Iris Johansen, Sara Paretsky, Stephen King and the like have published, but in my book a hell of lot better than I ever dreamed. I love it when a plan comes together. Well off to spend time with my honey before I have to slip into dream land.

Laterz

Do you ever wonder...

2006-10-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

if God really exists? I believe in him, talk to him even. Don't go to church, but He is in my life. Mainly I feel like He is a high and mighty observer who likes to screw with my life to see just how much stress I can take while he gets a wonderful laugh. Kind of like my life is His soap opera. These are the Days of My Life!! Wednesday I found out I am losing my job next Wednesday. That night I bought chinese food. My fortune from my fortune cookie read, "Something unusual will happen at work next week." And whammo! it hit me like a ton of bricks. God was making sure I knew he was getting a good laugh at my expense. Of course, now I have the fun adventure ahead of me of trying to find a job that makes even close to what I have been making in this job for three and a half years. Christmas and my son's 12th birthday are coming and I am going to be out of work. That sucks! I feel so many different emotions. Funny that even knowing things are about to get extremely difficult I have felt a kind of release. I love the guys I worked with, but I really hated my job. So maybe it is a plus. Maybe I can finally find a job that I enjoy going to everyday. And God, if you're reading this blog, EASE UP okay I can handle alot, let's face it I am a woman and a wife and mother, but for goodness sakes enough is enough. :)

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the WISDOM to know the difference. Amen.

The celebrity in me

2006-09-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine found this website that compares your facial features to celebs and matches which ones look the most like you, these were my matches. Not a bad lot I think.

My muse has gone

2006-09-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

To where has she flown?
A hot vacation spot,
To a cold mountain retreat?
To the depth's of hell maybe,
I do not know.
But she better have stories to tell and pictures to boot when she dares show her face around here again.

:)
Paula

I Won!! I Won!!

2006-09-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Okay so writing hasn't exactly been going as planned. Too much REAL life has been butting in, but I got the go ahead to share some good news so here it goes.

I won!!!!!!!!!! I entered the Carly Phillips/Harlequin Sports Escape Fund Contest back in July. You had to write a short (100 words or less) essay about why you felt you needed an escape from hubby and sports and I won!!!!! $1,000.

I was so freaked out when I got the paperwork in the mail. My husband was skepticl because we constantly get these phone calls telling us we have won cars or trips there is always a catch so he of course wanted to know what the catch was now. I told him there was no catch. I won!!!

Funny that after all these years of putting up with him and my son's obsession with watching ESPN and flipping from one football game to the next I finally got a pay-off for my angst. Wonderful feeling I just cannot explain in words so I will just do.....the snoopy dance! :)

I love winning. Now on to writing dang it, I just want to finish one more manuscript before the end of 2006.

Self Imposed Challenge

2006-08-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

Okay I think I have finally gone over the edge. I have challenged myself to write 70,000 words in two weeks. I guess it is kind of cheating because I have already written 24,000 words of the story, but in all fairness I am probably going to cut out 14,000 of those. Might just scrap the whole thing if it keeps giving me ulcers. Anyways, I have signed up to do the NaNoWriMo which is pretty much the "Write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days" challenge. It doesn't start until November so I am trying to prepare myself for this type of thing, since I have never done anything like it before. For those of you out there who have done NaNoWriMo I hear it is nerve racking and tiring, but if you meet the goal I'm sure it is totally worth it. I am determined to finish my Wolfe Investigations, Inc series in the next few months. I have started 1 and 2 and made notes for 3, 4, and 5. A new friend told me made me aware of a new line Harlequin Silhouette has called Nocturne which I think these books will fit into perfectly. It has always been a dream of mine to write for Harlequin so I am excited to finish them and submit them. Wish me luck. I will try to stay in touch with my webmistress and keep a running update on word count, but if I disappear for a while I just wanted to make sure youo all were aware of where I went. BICHOK!! To those non-writers that means BUTT IN CHAIR HANDS ON KEYBOARD. It is a motto we authors have that pretty much means exactly what it says. ~Toodles~

Undetered

2006-08-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Okay I have recommitted myself to being a novelist. I love books. The smell of a new book, the hard binding being bent that first time you bury yourself in the story. I walked into a bookstore this past weekend and longed to walk to the romance section and see my book sitting on the shelf for all the world to see. Being published was just part of the dream of being a writer. I want to see my books on the shelves of every bookstore and maybe even Wal-mart one day [hey they get enough of my money, I should get a little cluck for my buck]. I want to one day see New York Times Best Seller or something along that affect that you see on so many wonderful author's books. If I give in and give up then I have failed to pursue a dream and I don't want anymore regrets in my life. So many times I look back and say If Only I'd Done This... I don't want to say that about writing. It is something that has been in my heart for close to two decades [yes I'm old LOL]. I want my kids to be able to see that their mother accomplished something important in life, besides helping them grow into amazing human beings. I don't want them to say it is okay if they quit trying to achieve a dream because mom did. There are far too few role models in this world and I want more than anything to be my kids best role model. I refuse to give in! I refuse to give up! Watch out publishing world Paula is about to come full force. :)

Now where is the Red Bull and hordes of chocolate??

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

2006-07-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Okay I admit it, after all these years I am still hooked. I watch Buffy every morning before going to work. In fact most days it is the reason I am running late because I don't want to leave the room and miss a moment of Spike, er Buffy. You caught me...I am a Spikeaholic. His attitude, his look, his accent (even though I know its fake) draws me in. My kids are hooked right along with me. My 6 year old daughter always tells me Spike is hers. I let her think that! :) Anyways he is also the basis for a character in one of my current WIPs so its research. Hear that honey just research...I LOVE YOU, not some actor. But I found myself reading an article earlier and it of course laid into the fact that the writers never address the issue of Spike nearly raping Buffy in Season 6. I laughed. Not because rape or attempted rape is funny, but that people can't think for themselves. They think television shows hold the answers to all their unanswered questions and problems. It's for entertainment purposes. It doesn't teach children that rape is okay or not okay, people do that. Our justice system does that by setting a rapist free on some stupid technicality. Why can't parents take responsibility for raising their own kids. And if you watch the show and really get into the show you realize that the relationship Buffy and Spike has is not an abusive one, it is merely a relationship between two people who feel that they aren't supposed to be together...hello! Vampire plus vampire slayer not good sexual combo. And yet they find themselves drawn to each other because Buffy isn't some normal, everyday average girl. She can fight and never have a bruise. She can kick a vampires ass and stake him without batting an eye that she just killed someone. Again ENTERTAINMENT! Spike was not just loved for his attitude, washboard abs, accent and wit. He was the hurt bad boy who turned into a vampire to save his dying mother who he then had to stake because she didn't want to be that way. He'd been hurt by his girlfriend Dru who just thought he wasn't evil enough for her anymore. He may have been a blood sucker but he longed for someone to love and he loved Buffy, he was attracted to Buffy because she didn't bow down and do whatever he wanted.

Okay rant over.

Love my Spike!

Writer's Block Unblocked

2006-07-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered why one day you havev so many stories floating through your head and then another day you can't buy a storyline? I have been blocked up for weeks. Sure a little snippet will run through my head here or there usually at the most inopportune time or when I don't have anything to write it down on. Been thinking the past week or so on one very interesting story. Trying to mold it and shape it into a good little morsel. So what's the problem you ask? Problem is it will be a sequel to Wolfe Investigations Inc 1. Yeah the one I am halfway through the word count and frozen in mid-book. The storyline was shady and didn't seem to flow well. My critique partner ran off and is doing her own things right now. She was the one who it seemed always whipped my butt in gear and got me to finish. Now I'm lost and need a hard-ass critique partner to beat these dang WIPs into shape.

Any takers?

Waiting patiently to hear back from Samhain Publishing on Broken Cowboy. Decided to indulge my need to learn something by joining in a few free online classes about writing. More on that later. ~Toodles~

Writing Research

2006-06-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

Okay so I've been missing in action for a while. Guess I was more down about the rejection than I thought. I have been reading like crazy, Iris Johansen, Katie MacAlister and even some writing research books like Scene & Structure, and Beginnings, Middles and Ends. They helped me understand how to write better, but writer's block has jammed up my brain. I have these great little ideas for stories, but the minute I sit down to write it down I clam up. Like "yeah that is a great premise, Paula, but um,....what exactly are you planning on happening to your characters to carry the story along?" I have all these ideas, even funny titles (kind of play on words) but writing a synopsis for it makes my blood run cold. Maybe that fear of rejection, maybe just fear that I'm not a good writer and Night Stalker was a fluke. Could even be that my mind just doesn't have anything left in it to give to me. ARGH! It makes me want to scream. I want to write romance, but my brain screams horror and blood. Night Stalker managed to combine the two, but I just don't think I have another one in me. Hopefully my muse will return full force soon, otherwise I may be doomed to constantly wonder if I was a one-hit wonder. :-{

Rejected again

2006-05-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

But not down about it. Broken Cowboy was rejected because they aren't sure a western would sell. It isn't really a western just has a cowboy and ranches, but not to worry I am submitting it to Loose ID, LLC.

ON another note, none of my winners have contacted me so I am going to pick two new winners and hope they contact me so I can mail their prizes. Will be running a new contest soon. I am being tight lipped on the prize for now.

Well back to life! :)

And the winner is...

2006-05-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

Kris!

But Kris you didn't leave me an email address so I could contact you for mailing info. Please contact me by email or comment here on my blog to give me your email by May 14th. My winner of the autographed copy of Night Stalker is on hold because I can not get in touch with you. If I don't hear from you by May 14th I will send the grand prize package to the runner up and the third runner up will get the signed copy, so please contact me as soon as possible.

Thanks to everyone who entered and I hope to see you all around.

Form rejection!

2006-05-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

My first big R. I'm upset but not crippled by it. I was rejected on my children's book A Teeter-totter Named Renee. I'm upset a little because I thought it was a cute little story that kids could learn from about self-esteem and that they should appreciate and love who they are. I guess what really upsets me about it was that I didn't even warrant a letter rejection. I got it back in the mail along with a small 3X5 piece of paper stating they do not have time to respond to every submission personnaly but they appreciate me trying them. I will of course search out another publisher and submit it again because I love the story. It would go over better with publishers I think if I could talk my sister into illustrating it. HINT HINT *giggles* She's real busy with moving and all but I think she could squeeze me in, dont' ya think. *That would be another hint*

Back to the grind...

Slaving away

2006-04-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

...at nothing. My mind is mulling over several ideas, for this MS and for others floating around in the space between my ears. I guess my body is just worn out. I can't think straight long enough to churn out another chapter of Wolfe Investigations. I alotted myself a week per chapter and have stuck to that so far. In five weeks I have written five chapters. Now three days into my sixth week and I haven't written word one. I'm stuck. Dragging ass. The words are failing me... and I hate it. I love this story, and I want to continue on, mainly because it gives me something to think about while I wait PATIENTLY to hear back from my editor on Broken Cowboy and from the children's publisher on A Teeter-totter Named Renee. I am taking time out to read some books, more research for my werewolf storyline.

Which by the way for those of you out there who love a sweet fun read or if you have teenage or pre-teen girls who love to read, Chloe: Queen of Denial by Naomi Nash was very funny. I picked it up because I am researching different publishers for the ideas I have to write Young Adult books. Dorchester's Smooch line is filled with very good books for young girls and I guess boys might like them as well.

Well back to playing instead of working. I really need to concentrate and buckle down. Just write! :)

Learning and Growing

2006-04-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! My CP said that she could really tell how much I have grown as a writer after reviewing the first two chapters of my newest WIP Wolfe Investigations, Inc. I can see it too, but it really means so much when you hear it from someone else. Truth be told I have been feeling down the past couple of weeks. Not sure why, only know that I feel completely exhausted, exhilirated, mind-shagged and feel like there is not enough time in my day for all that I am supposed to do and be. I know I should be happy as a clam, but daily worries seem to pile up and take their tole on me. I wish I could just get a day to myself. No kids, no husband, no cleaning calling my name, no phone calls or interruptions. Just me! Maybe even no writing or thinking about writing. Just a day to relax and just be. But that isn't going to happen. School's almost out (what am I gonna do with the kids for the summer), work is boring me to tears(should just hang on for one more year until we move), thoughts of moving away from my mom(even if it is only an hour and half away), trying to keep a clean house, two kids, one husband, two ferrets, and two dogs happy while working in time for myself to find the same happiness. But I'm growing and all these life lessons are good for me to. So I'll just take it in stride and hope to get out of my funk soon.

A hold in my hand book

2006-04-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am currently losing my mind! I am holding in my hands a book with my name on it. I wrote it. It's published. I'm gonna faint! I can't believe this happened to me. I hope it happens again. Still waiting to hear back on Broken Cowboy (not sweating ... honest). Waiting on A Teeter-totter named Renee too. I would love to write children's books too. I want to be diverse and span the globe of writing. I love so many genres, I would love to have my hand in all the ones that intrigue me. Well gonna go stare at my book some more until my husband gets home and then I am going to scream and cry. What can I say, I get emotional sometimes! :)

Night Stalker is available for purchase

2006-03-29T12:58:00.000-08:00

and the creative juices are flowing. As soon as my webmistress gets online she will update my word count. I have been bugging her lately I know. Now up to 11,882 and it just keeps coming. I am loving Wolfe Investigations, Inc. The characters are so fun, yet mysterious. I think I put a new little spin on the whole Were/vamp type read. I'd go into more detail, but I prefer to remain mysterious myself for a while. Maybe once I get a few more chapters done I will post an excerpt and you guys/gals can read for yourself. My editor just emailed me about Broken Cowboy. She's hasn't gotten to it yet, but wanted me to know she did receive it. So "no worries". I mean I haven't really stressed over it in the past month, I can wait a little longer. My children's book "A Teeter-Totter Named Renee" is at Chronicle Books Publishing, have probably a good three month wait to hear something back on that. Was turned down on a query/synopsis by Publish America for the same book, but that's okay I believe in my story. Got The Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market guide book and it has some good hints and references as to publishers guidelines and such, so it looks promising. Before I'm done I will be a seasoned writer of both adult and children's literature.

"Night Stalker on Paperback" Contest

2006-03-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

Since Night Stalker is going to paperback on March 24th I have decided to run another contest. The contest will run thru April 29th and I will be giving away two different prizes. The grand prize will be a gift basket containing scented candles, bubble bath, romance novels, promo stuff, etc. (photo coming soon) There will also be a runner-up prize, a signed copy of Night Stalker.

How to enter:

Simply reply to this post to enter. The contest will close on April 29th at 11:59 pm. Everyone that enters will be entered into Randomizer.org and the grand prize winner will be choosen. Then everyone else will be entered in again and the runner up will be choosen. Please be sure to post your name and e-mail address (to prevent spam you may enter your address as follows: someone[remove this]@somewhere.com).

Winner will be choosen using Randomizer.org on April 30th. Winners will be notified by May 4th.

Good Luck!

A new project

2006-03-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

Okay so I am finally working on a new project as you can see on your left. Wolfe Investigations, Inc. jumped up in my brain and I haven't been able to focus on anything else since. School of Hard Knocks begged me the whole time I was writing Broken Cowboy to finish it next, but Casper Wolfe is flexing his muscles and showing me tons of well sculpted abs and ... well as you can imagine I can't get the image out of my head. I've got the first chapter done and have of the second. I tried to lay out an outline which I like to do just to give me a general idea of how the flow should go, but it isn't coming to me with this book. So I guess I am going to fly by the seat of my pants for while and see where the journey takes me. It's about werewolves mostly, but it does have vampires thrown in for good measure cause I have a feeling they will pop up later in another book. If all goes as planned I should be making this into a series of about 5 books, at least that is what I have down on paper so far. I still need to get some promo items made for Night Stalker which is due out this Friday *fingers crossed*. I will be running a contest giving away lots of cool prizes so stay tuned in and bookmark my site www.paulabeaty.com for your chance to win. Toodles!

Isn't that too Weird?

2006-03-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

Okay so I've finished writing Broken Cowboy and sent it off to my editor for review. After work yesterday I went to my local Wal-mart and picked up some ferret food. Upon entering I walked right by a man who was missing a leg. Well he had the prosthetic limb attached which was completely visible because he was wearing shorts. Then inside I saw a man who was missing an arm. Weird cause Broken Cowboy is about a man who has lost his leg in a horse riding accident. Makes you go hum!

A Marvelous Book

2006-03-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

I am currenlty trying to relax and recoop from editing overload. Broken Cowboy is finished and winging its way to my editor. I am reading a book called The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines (Sixteen Master Archetypes). I know I am supposed to be taking a break. But I read through the first couple pages and am hooked. It is going to become a most invaluable resource for me during my writing. It breaks down the basic types of Heros and Heroines, giving characteristics even some ideas of history for why they are the way they are. Even defines some careers they would hold beside of their personalities. This is a must have for any writer. Keep it close at hand and refer to it often. I was drawing a blank on what story to write next but this book is giving me all kinds of ideas and storylines just by describing the wonderful character types.

Finally Finished!!

2006-02-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

I have finally reached the end of Broken Cowboy. I breathed a sigh of relief when I wrote the words The End. BUt it isn't over yet. Now to go back over it one more time to edit out all the THAT, WAS, HAD words. I really have a problem with this passive voice stuff. It's hard for me to write it, but I can always go back and edit it out. Well off to edit.

Children's book wanted!

2006-02-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

Gosh my days just seem to be getting better and better lately. I just got an email from Dorrance Publishing, they want to see my manuscript for my children's book tentatively titled A Teeter-totter Named Renee. I am so jazzed. I have to get it reviewed by my CP first but I hope it meets their standards seeing as how I've never written a childrens book before. I mean I make up stories all the time to tell my kids, but I never get around to writing them down. This is the second manuscript I've written for kids and am excited that they want to read it. Now to polish up Deanna and Giggles Visit NASA in case they want to see more of my work. Off to slave away at writing.

Royalties

2006-02-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

Well I just received my first royalties statement and I was floored. I sold a lot more copies of Night Stalker than I ever dreamed. I am so proud that I accomplished something so important to me and that so many people bought my work. Broken cowboy seems to be coming along nicely for now. My CP is screaming at me at spaced out interval to send her more Seamus, so I am highly supported to "get my butt in gear" and I am hoping to finish by the end of February just in time for Night Stalker to come out in print in March. Could life get any sweeter?!

OHMIGAWD!

2006-01-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

I'm going to print! I'm going to print! Attention everyone, everywhere!! Paula Beaty's debut novel Night Stalker which just came out as an e-book in November 2005 will be going to print in March 2006. I am absolutely stoked. I sadly thought I would never see my name on anything sitting on a store shelf. Well people tell me my mouth may land me on a the back of a milk carton one day, but hey now I'll have two things on the shelf. HA! Now I am running around crazy because I must get some excerpts together for promo day on the internet site and I want to run a contest on promo day but I'm not sure what to give away. I haven't had anything made up yet for promo items. Argh! I feel a headache coming on, but I am so happy (and no that feeling is not the vicadine talking). I have to have a tooth pulled tomorrow so I may be a bit dingy then, but not now. I am so freakin' excited I could have sex for hours...where's my husband! :) Well off to write some more on Broken Cowboy (soon to be in a store near you) I hope. :P

I need a break!

2006-01-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

Okay so writing has been going but not how I wish. I have decided to write it down as it comes to me. Problem is it is coming at me in pieces and from different chapters in the book. So what I have done is made an outline of Broken Cowboy hitting the main points I see happening in the book, then when these flashes come to me I am typing what chapter they appear in the outline and then typing away as the moment takes me. So depending on how you look at book writing I am almost halfway done according to the word count, but not halfway done if you count from the first page to the middle. But hey as long as the writing is coming, who cares how it gets done as long as it gets done. I set a deadline for myself to have Broken Cowboy's first draft done by the end of February, and I mean to keep that deadline. But for now I need a break. If I force it it isn't going to sound right and major rewrites will be in order, so for now I have taken a little time for myself and am reading Iris Jahansen's newest book ON THE RUN. I love it, but then again I love all her books. What gets me is that alot of her books are pretty mucht the same thing, strong mercenary type hero and strong willed, stubborn heroine who knows how to take care of herself but loves to have the hero take care of her. Thing is she always writes the characters so that they endear themselves in your heart and you remember them long after you've put the book down. My goal is to one day be half the writer she is because she is great. Well off to relax...oops I am at work, guess I better try to do something constructive with my time. :)

It's an honor just to be nominated!

2006-01-03T18:03:00.000-08:00

Hey guys guess what? Night Stalker has been nominated for best romance novel. Isn't that amazing. You like me, you really like me. :-p Okay so for all of you out there I need your votes. Go HERE and vote for Night Stalker by yours truly Paula Beaty (it's about 3/4 down the page). You will need to enter your name and email addy then a confirmation email will be sent. Just go to your email inbox and confirm that yes you voted for me. (I think this is their way of not stacking the votes in your favor) but little do they know I'm telling everybody I know to go vote. Also why you are there click on Other short stories and vote for Night of Inspiration by my wonderful CP Jenna Allen. If you haven't read it check it out. You can find it on www.phaze.com

Thanks in advance for all of your support. Happy reading! :)

[NOTE: Paula's sister edited this to make it easier to find where to vote. I added the link so you can just click, scroll down, and vote.]

I hope she won't be mad at me. :grin:

A New Year!

2006-01-03T10:18:00.000-08:00

Happy 2006 everybody!!! :) Okay so a new year is here and resolutions are beginning to fly from everyone...even those that say they aren't making any resolutions. I have vowed not to fall into the "I will lose weight this year" trap. Do I need to lose weight? Hell, yes. But it is something I need to do and I don't want any excuses like "Oh it was a resolution, those things never work" following me around. Problem with losing weight is that it will put a huge damper on my budget. Mainly because my kids aren't going to eat salads and diet food no matter how good they may taste to me. My daughter is extremely picky so that would mean I would be making a different dinner for them than for me. My husband probably wouldn't eat it either. So portion control seems to be the way to go. I mean it isn't like we eat out all the time, usually once maybe twice a week depending on what sport event for my son we are running to or from. So my goals for this year are to lose 60 lbs, to finish writing Broken Cowboy and sub to a publisher, to write a childrens book, and to say I love you to my husband more often. I guess that's a good jumping off point, I'm sure I will add more goals this year to my list as I see where life is taking me. Hope everyone had a safe holiday.

Another Holiday Season Gone!

2005-12-30T08:06:00.000-08:00

So it has come to pass that another Christmas is gone and a new year is about to be upon us. Time for those New Year's resolutions to fly out of your mouth only to fly out of your mind a week later. Everyone always resolves to lose weight, quit smoking, quit drinking, etc. I've decided that those are ones that a good percentage of people never stick to including me so this year I resolve to finish at least one manuscript (Broken Cowboy) and to have it published if not by New Concepts by someone. Also to write a children's book and see if my sister can help me illustrate it so she can show the world how amazing her drawings are. I would like to have it published but that's not part of my resolution just a dream of mine (and my son's). I am looking forward to what 2006 has to offer me. I was blessed with so much this year. I hope the momentum keeps going on into 2007. Plan to relax more this coming year and stop riding myself so hard to be perfect in every way. I drive myself crazy by being so anal about everything. Less stress is the key... well back to work. Toodles! :)

By the way do any of you have any unique resolutions that stray from the norm? I would love to hear them so post away.

Feeling BLAH!

2005-12-23T19:38:00.000-08:00

okay so i've been home for seven days now and I have written two pages. 2! I've been spending time with my kids and cleaning my house cause believe me it really needed it. But I promised myself that i would get some writing doen while I was on vacation and I haven't done squat. Guess I'll be a one hit wonder for a while longer. Hope all you guys are being safe and having a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas to all and happy writing as well.

Christmas is Coming!

2005-12-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

Okay so Christmas is coming and I am ready for it to be over already. I usually enjoy the holiday season even though it does tax my wallet. But this year its just so stressful. I guess because I have more on my plate than I did last year. I have done the unthinkable. I have published my first novel. Problem is if I can't get my mind back up to par I will only have the one and that isn't what I want. I know that I may never be able to quit my job and write full time, but I have this longing to see my books on the bookshelf at my nearest store. My mind just seems to be on overload. It is full of ideas for other stories, other characters, and even children's book ideas for both my sons age group (8-13) and my daughters age group (2-6) so I am extremely overwhelmed with everything. I can't make my AADD calm down enough to concentrate on one thing. I have been working overtime so much for the past two months that my house looks like a tornado took a vacation in it. Maybe once the holidays are past I can settle back into my normal routine (whatever the heck that is) and get back to writing. I so want to have another pubbed book by my 30th b-day in June. Merry Christmas to you all! Have a safe holiday season.

What is this world coming to?!

2005-12-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

This morning I sat with my children in my car waiting on the bus because it was too cold for them to stand in the wind. When the bus arrived I kissed them and sent them to the bus. While I waited for the children to load I noticed that the bus driver was not letting anyone on and was talking and waving around a piece of paper. I turned my radio down and my heat off, rolling my window down I tried to hear what she was saying to the children. Afterwards she spoke with several mothers lingering in the line with their children. Once all the kids were on and the parents began walking away I asked one mother I knew what was going on. She replied, "2 boys were caught performing oral sex on each other yesterday afternoon on the bus." I wanted to scream. WHAT! I was horrified to think that my kids may have witnessed this and didn't tell me. My kids, 10 and 5 know about sex. My 5 year old doesn't know the ins and outs but she has the jist that it is something special and something adults do. To think that she could have seen these two boys doing this makes me crazy. I experienced some abuse as a child and I vowed to prepare my children enough and to keep the lines of communication open so that they can protect themselves, because like it or not parents when they are outside your line of sight shit happens and you can't protect them forever against every threat. This is a case in point. I guess what scares me the most is that these two boys were 6 and 9. So close to my kids ages, not friends of theirs because I'd never heard their names before, but still its scary that predators you have to worry about getting to your kids are no longer just adults.

Giving Thanks!

2005-11-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all! This year I am thankful for so much that in an ordinary day I don't seem to notice. I am thankful that New concepts Publishing saw something in my writing that made them make one of my dreams come true by publishing Night Stalker. I am thankful that I have a job where I enjoy working with my co-workers who are a great bunch of guys. I am grateful that I have my own apartment and don't live with my parents or relatives even though I love them all dearly. But most important I am grateful for the family that I have. Two great kids, even when they drive me insane with their incessant fighting and one wonderful husband who may tend to get on my nerves at times (but what husband and wife don't have those kinds of moments) but he still loves me and I love him very much. My life wouldn't be the same without my husband and my kids in it. Even though you may think you don't have your dream life, its the little things that you should be thankful for.

Happy Turkey Day!!! :)

Writing is flowing

2005-11-22T09:25:00.000-08:00

How is it possible that one day you can't force the words to come ut of you and the next the words pour out of you faster than you can write them down. I am in the process of writing three different books. The words come at me from different directions for each one. Funny thing about it is, that one is kind of a sensual romance, the other a straight outpouring of erotica and the other one is a childrens story that is meant for kids from 4-8 years old. What's up with that??? So I am a slave to the writing. I must write when it tells me to write. I just hope that it stays with me for the next couple of days since my husband and kids will be gone for about 5 days for the holiday. I will be all alone and although I will enjoy the peace and quiet and time to relax I also hope to get stuff done. Like cleaning my house, writing, laundry, writing, cleaning off my back porch and cleaning out closets, and did I mention writing? I hope to finish up Broken Cowboy by the first of the year if possible. Then hopefully get Pleasure Dome 1 squared away. I think the Pleasure Dome series of 4 books will be short novellas, maybe I can get them all in an anthology together or something that way my readers can follow the trials of one family of siblings witht their sexual exploits and fight to keep their thrones. Oh well back to writing.

Playing around

2005-11-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

Okay so I should be writing on Broken Cowboy cause I think I am on a roll but alas I have coem to a "what the hell do I do now?" moment. The hero and heroine are playing house becasue ex-hubby is in town and thinks he can just take back the wife and son he wants and get rid of the son he doens't. thing is wifey doesn't want him, but doesn't want to push him to where he never has anything to do with his son, while keeping in mind that the son that isn't biologically his still needs a father figure. But something magnificent needs to happen here. Something that makes heroine come to the conclusion that sometimes people aren't meant to be parents and be okay with the fact that she loves her boys and they don't need any old male as a father figure, but somebody who is a good role model and father figure (a stand up guy). If I could just write it. I guess I just don't want it to come out sounding cliched or overdone like so many other stories. I want it to be original. The ex-hubby wasn't abusive, he was merely an azz who ran off with his secretary then was later dumped cause she found Pablo the pool man more interesting than a staunchy suit.

Writing Again

2005-11-11T10:32:00.000-08:00

Man it feels like it's been forever since I was writing. I took a small break after getting the news that NCP was going to publish Night Stalker. Now after finishing up the edits for that I have finally gotten back to writing. I've got a new chapter written for Broken Cowboy and have several thoughts about where I want School of Hard Knocks to go next. I am working 6 days a week at my full-time job and that leaves little time to get anything done. But I desperately need Christmas money becasue my kids are getting older thus more expensive every year. Kyler my 10 year old will turn 11 on the 21st of December which adds an extra amount of money needed into the equation. He wants to have a party but no one ever shows up to his parties and i don't want to waste alot of money on that. My daughter will be expensive for Christmas because she is finally old enough to have a TV and DVD player in her room, so that is 2 of her presents. Now if I can just figure out what to get the rest of my family. What do I want for Christmas seems to be the going question!!! I don't know...sleep? to sell lots of copies of Night Stalker? to finish Broken Cowboy and School of Hard Knocks and have them be contracted too? how about some new clothes?

Gay Rights

2005-11-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

WARNING: Author's opinion about to be spewed on the subject of gay rights and political hypocrits. If such things offend you please do not read any further.

Okay I have to put in my two cents no matter they are worth to the public at large. Texas voters have just shown their true colors as all out hypocrits and chicken shits. They have voted to make the law state that a marriage is by definition a union between a man and a woman. Therefore, telling all homosexuals that they don't have a chance in hell of ever being able to make a lifetime commitment to each other that the government will recognize. Now pardon me but where do these people of America freakin' get off trying to tell others how they should live their lives or whom they should love. ATTENTION, ATTENTION HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A DISEASE THAT YOU CAN CURE WITH TREATMENT AND MEDICINE!!! These are human beings that have the same rights as you straight people do. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No one is guaranteed happiness just the right to pursue it and you jack asses have just effectively taken away their right to pursue it. So you think it will tear down the sacred thing that is marriage, well I hate to tell you all but homosexuality didn't do that assholes like yourselves have done that. Look around at how many marriages end in divorce each year, marriages that are between a man and a woman. They end for many reasons, they just can't get along, money woes, they grow in different directions and have different dreams, they got married for the wrong reasons (i.e. children), etc. Whta is eroding away at the core of this wonderful country is the fact that you people seem to think that what you think is morality and if others disagree with what you call moral then they are bad. Bad homo don't kiss that man he is supposed to be your basketball playing, beer guzzling, football watching buddy, not your cuddle in front of the t.v., holding hands, making out butt buddy. BUt how many of you were so in outrage over the fact that the president's dick fell into the mouth of an intern. Not so many! What's wrong with this country? I would love to know the statistics of the voters. You know how many were blacks that voted that homosexuals should not be allowed to marry cause it wasn't that long ago that blacks weren't allowed to marry white folk. We've come a long way and yet haven't come far enough. You people spew off stuff from the bible taht apparently says in your translation that being gay is wrong in the eyes of God. I, of course, don't seem to get passed the commandment that says LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. Or past the Constitution set forth by our Fore fathers that says all men are created equal. I can, however, see that the same idiots who read that and said it applies only to MEN not women are the ones who read LOVE THY NEIGHBOR and say hey he doesn't live next door to me so I don't have to love and accept him. Oh and one more thing before I shut up, why is it that just about any man you ask that answers honestly will tell you that a fantasy of theirs is to be see two women together and maybe even engage in the act with them, get sick at the thought of two men together or even those two women being in love and not just knocking boots. When you see two lovers on the street (a man and a woman) and they are kissing and pinching each others tushy do you automatically picture them in bed getting it on? NO! you say...then why is it that if you see two women or two men doing exactly the same thing all of a sudden you are grossed out. Check yourselves people. Human rights not gay rights or straight rights. We should be fighting for human rights!!!

My Own Blog

2005-11-07T12:04:00.000-08:00

How cool is this?! Not only do I have my own website, my first book published and life all around going great I now I have a blog too. Now I can blab about anything, everything and maybe even nothing at all. It's been a while sine I have written in a journal of sorts so hopefully it will be a much fun for you as it will be for me. I am looking forward to finishing up my next manuscript. I am currently working on two of them "School of Hard Knocks" and "Broken Cowboy".