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Thursday, September 02, 2010Sometimes I Don't Know What To Say...
I got some bad, sad news this week. A good friend and fellow writer has decided to give up the ship. Although she is really talented, she hasn't felt a pull toward writing in a while and she's putting her stories away. No more writing for her.
That makes me sad.
I understand that my friend has a lot going on in her life. I get that writing is a terribly competitive job with very little good feedback along the way. Mostly I'm sad for her. Because I believe she would have been a great author.
It also makes me mad for my friend. I don't like it when people I know and care about give up their hopes and dreams. I think that is how people die. It isn't when they stop breathing, it's little by little as they put their hopes and dreams of shelves of maybe-was'es. They stop dreaming and little pieces of them shrivel up.
I've felt many times like giving up. In fact, from mid-2008 through mid-2009 I wrote very little good work. I wrote a lot of angsty, I hate the world, ticked off stuff. I had a ton going on -- starting with our adoption, which was on-again off-again even after the kiddo was placed with us. At that point in my life, writing was a way to vent my feelings so I could care for the kiddo, my husband, my family with love instead of allowing the hurt, anger and sarcasm to take over. Because the writing ate up the sarcasm, the bad feelings, the anger...all of it. I could put it on the page and not allow them to deal with it.
Believe me, the writing I did during that period isn't good. It's nowhere near good and those 2 1/2 books I wrote will never see the light of day. There isn't enough goodness in the world to salvage the angry, hurting books they are. At least not salvageable by me. But they are for me. When I start feeling overwhelmed, I can open those files and look back at the place I was in then. Even though the writing isn't saleable, it did help me 1) get through those tough days and 2) tighten my storytelling abilities.
But my post is getting off track.
I sincerely hope my friend works her way through this period and comes back to writing. Good luck to you, my friend...and I hope we are able to stay in touch even though we're going in different directions.
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Monday, August 23, 2010Skip a Starbucks...Bring a Little Girl Home!
So, you guys know I'm a champion of adoption. Even before we adopted, I firmly believed that every child in this world deserves a family to love. Here's our story in brief: My husband and I tried for years to become pregnant...and nada. We had 2 pregnancies end in miscarriage and I was done. No more trying, I just couldn't face it.
So 2 years ago we decided to look into adoption. We researched international, private-domestic and finally decided to go through the state (foster care) system. It was a harrowing 18 months of excitement and joy tempered with angst because our little started out on a difficult road. In the end, it was so worth it! Today, bebe is 2 years old, she's been with us since her third day in this world. She's smart, funny and totally ours it isn't funny.
She has my husband's mannerisms, she talks a little like me...but she is also her own person. Our lives were changed by adoption forever and we are so grateful!
Well, here's your chance to get involved, even if adoption isn't the option for you. Fellow author, CJ Redwine, is thisclose to bringing her baby girl home from China...she just needs a little boost. And that is where you come in!
CJ and her husband have saved and saved and saved...they have most of the money they need for travel expenses, adoption fees, paperwork, etc. But some of the costs have gone up and they need a little help to go over the top. If you skip your daily Starbucks, you can help CJ bring her little one home by donating that money via her PayPal account on her website. You can read CJ's story here and learn how to donate at the same time.
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010Book Review: Word Gets Around by Lisa Wingate
It's kind of a push-pull, isn't it? We all love those books we can't put down, but at 4 in the morning the eyes get heavy and we start thinking about the next day at work....and eventually, you just have to put it down. Unless you only have about 20 pages left. In that case, always keep reading. Ha!!
I'm in the middle of one of these books now. Word Gets Around by Lisa Wingate. I became a fan of Lisa's with Texas Cooking, and this book doesn't disappoint, either. I like the quiet spirituality of the book, I love the tension between the hero and heroine and I love the setting - Texas, horse ranch/movie set.
The book came out a couple of years ago, and it's been languishing in my TBR pile, but if you can find a copy definitely pick it up. While you're doing that, pick up the other two books in the series.
I like that Lisa has given both the hero and heroine some very deep-seated issues to work through and they are doing it, not just paying lip service to what has happened to them. Here's one paragraph:
All these years, I'd been battering the same barriers over and over and over, thinking that the answer lay in breaking through and leaving the past behind. I'd looked for the answer somewhere outside - my work, my house, my car, my name in the credits...But every time I came up empty. The answer wasn't there. One the way back to the hotel, it dawned on me: Maybe the answer isn't in getting beyond where you come from but in learning to accept the things that went into your making.
I like that paragraph. I like the emotion, I like the idea of moving forward because of the past. I just really like it, as a person and as a writer.
As a writer, I want to dig this deep and bring the reader thisclose to the characters...isn't that what we all want? A little direction now and then, even in the form of fiction?
What are you reading now? How is it affecting your sleep (or lack of sleep)? Are the books you can't put down the books you keep?
Posted By: Kristina Knight @ 12:20:04 AMTop
Show All » Silliness, Just Life » Silly Girl, Present
Thursday, July 01, 2010One Seriously Happy Camper...
I am one seriously happy camper this afternoon. Not only is all of the nonfiction off my plate heading into the holiday weekend - which means lots of fiction writing time!! - but I just received my copy of Mira Lyn Kelly's debut Modern Heat "Wild Fling or a Wedding Ring". Yippeeeeeee!!! I won a copy of the book during a blog contest over at Maisey's a few days ago. Can't wait to get started.
And of course, now the deals with myself begin...what will I give up to sink my mental teeth into this book? Writing time? Television? Playing with the bebe? Nope...I'll just work around everything. Well, okay, maybe I'll DVR a couple things and skip actual TV, but other than that I'll be strong. I'll still hit my wordcount goals. I'll be focused and in sync with bebe. I'll spend time with the husband.
And once everyone is asleep tonight I'll rip open that cover and enjoy. Will be back in a few days with a review.
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Friday, June 18, 2010Roman Holiday and Unforgettable Characters
I'm a huge romance fan. Yes, I know, big surprise. Since I write romance novels and all! Seriously, though, I love a good action flick...and will give my eye-teeth for a truly heart-wrenching drama. But a romance/romantic comedy flick? Ahhhhh...that takes me to a whole other place. So I thought I'd share one of my favorites with you today: Roman Holiday!
Why do I love it? The actors, for starters. Gregory Peck...ahhhhh....Love Audrey Hepburn and the supporting cast is amazing. And let's face it, William Wyler knew his way around quirky, romantic movies!
But Audrey Hepburn is the reason I keep coming back, I think. She is so Princess-ey that I forget she's acting.
Countess: My dear, you have lovely things.
Princess Ann: But I'm not two hundred years old. Why can't I sleep in pajamas?
Countess: Pajamas?
Princess Ann: Just the top part. Did you know that there are people who sleep with absolutely nothing on at all?
Countess: I rejoice to say I do not.
She really and truly becomes The Princess who is so fed up with being dutiful that she risks everything to have a few moments of just being A Girl. You know that line from "Notting Hill"? When Julia Roberts goes after Hugh Grant and says, "And something I just want to be a girl, standing before a guy, telling him that she loves him?" That is the feeling I get from Audrey's Princess Ann through the whole movie...even the ending when she realizes she can't be 'just' Ann.
And then there is Gregory Peck as Joe, who is only after the Princess for one reason: a story. That is, until the end, when he realizes that she is so much more. He's a quote from the two of them that I love!
Princess Ann: I have to leave you now. I'm going to that corner there and turn. You must stay in the car and drive away. Promise not to watch me go beyond the corner. Just drive away and leave me as I leave you.
Joe Bradley: All right.
Princess Ann: I don't know how to say goodbye. I can't think of any words.
Joe Bradley: Don't try.
For me, the movie is a great escape - just like my favorite romance novels. I like it when books or movies are continuously quirky, but the best parts ever are the quirks mixed in with true, bone-deep characterization that makes you laugh and cry along with the characters. If you haven't seen it, do it. Run out and grab a copy - if you can't find one at the local video store go visit your library, I bet they've got at least one copy to loan out!
What about you? Do you have a favorite classic flick? What makes it a keeper for you?
Before I forget: It's a Freebie Friday over at eHarlequin!
FREEBIE Fridays. We guarantee something FREE every Friday. It could be FREE Shipping, a FREE print book or a coupon for a free eBook!
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010Random Silliness Causes Sleep Deprivation
I think I suffer from sleep deprivation. I also think it's my own fault. You see, about 10PM every night I start yawning, but instead of actually going to sleep I think of ways to stay awake. Because, you know, no kid wants to actually go to sleep at night.
My ten-year-old self apparently takes control of my brain after about 10PM. Go figure.
Tonight, it happened again. Which brings me to this random, silly post full of random thoughts or silly things I've done. Why? Because these things are like a movie in my head and they won't turn off. So I'm sharing with you.
I've been using "pulchritudiness" wrong. For about 30 years.
Cliffhanger. Doesn't have a great story or even good acting, but there is that beautiful scenery. Biceps, lats, pecs, buttockius amazingus courtesy of Sylvester Stallone. The next time I watch, I may just mute it and enjoy.
I think once I painted my walls Coca-Cola red my 'collection' became an 'obsession'.
Took a trip to the big Wallyworld yesterday and completely forgot to pick up milk(dry cereal is not my idea of a good or even serviceable breakfast), but did pick up Wite-Out. However, I don't have a typewriter and wite-out + computer = veddy, veddy bad things.
I was reading through accident reports (in my days as a reporter) and found these:
"I saw two kangaroos having it off in the middle of the road. So I hit them, which caused me to ejaculate through the sunroof."
"I saw a slow moving, sad faced old gentleman as he bounced off the roof of my car."
"I was going at about 70 or 80 mph when my girlfriend reached over and grabbed my testicles so I lost control."
"The accident was caused by me waving to the man I hit last week."
Yeah, folks, random thoughts + 11:30PM = Kristina laughing until she cries.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010Just a Little Life...
You know how I said a few months ago I was never downloading any new software? Yeah, I broke that promise. My computer kept reminding me that I hadn't downloaded the latest version of Internet Explorer - I'm a Mozilla girl, but IE comes on all PC's...and I was tired of getting the messages.
So I caved and downloaded and I've been playing around with it.
I'm not at all sure that I like it.
I've turned off the internal popup blocker because our anti-virus/spyware program tests everything before we click to unknown sites - and it's still blocking me from sites I want to go to. Everything is moved, and I can't figure out how to add the toolbar buttons I actually want up there instead of the ones that are defaults. Ugh! Why did I do this? I'm going back to Moz-Firefox as soon as I'm done posting here - which has taken me about 15 minutes using the "new and improved" IE. Yeesh!! Why, why, why didn't I just stick with my old Mozilla and ignore - or better yet turn off - those stupid reminder messages?
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