I've been away for awhile, caught up in a furious rewriting of my second novel, The Sacred Circle. I've learned alot about magic while away. Why magic? First, "Sacred" is about modern-day witches with the ability to conjure magic, so there should be plenty of spells and shit in it, right? And secondly, it's a story of romance, so there should be a lot of that too, right? So, what happens when your editor E-mails that the manuscript you've sent doesn't have enough of either?
You do two things. First, you cry with disappointment and silently threaten to put a curse on the Editor's head for not seeing how wonderful the manuscript truly is, and then, second, you sit your butt down in the chair and hit the "rewrite" mode of your creative Muse and get to work.
And that's when the magic begins to happen. You let your head and heart start working simultaneously--to tell the story you meant to tell in the first place. You take the Editor's critical notes, and you pare them down to what's possible and what isn't. And then you begin to write--from Page 1 to The End--all of it new. And the magic of writing begins to weave its way into your story. The charcters begin "living" the words, and the story shifts dramatically. Soon, the Magic finds its way into the characters' lives and romance is suddenly part of the conjuring. Out of nowhere, the story takes a new shape, but a shape that is exhilarating, because you've touched that chord of magical music where a new symphony resides. You stir and you summon, weaving a spell with the words. And then the magic builds to a high level of energy when the spirit guides answer the call.
By the time you've finished and sent the rewrite back to the Editor, you're exhausted and in need of a week's sleep, but you've also found that the magic hasn't left your life at all. It's still there, in the corners of your mind, simmering like a bubbling cauldron, ready for the next big story idea. What will that be? I don't know yet. But I know it will be laced with magic, love and romance. Why? Cause everybody knows I'm the biggest sucker for love and romance that ever walked the Earth.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Star-seeded Beings
I'm in the middle of a telesummit confernce devoted to Tarot. And while the "journey" has been uplifting most of the time, it's also been disappointing. Some of the speakers are terrific, with the ability to connect the card to a listening audience. Some, though, seem unprepared, or worse, uncomfortable in speaking to a listening audience.
Don't get me wrong. Even the poor speakers have said something profound during their hour-long presentation, proving that spirit works in different ways with different people. Just because they don't articulate the material well, doesn't mean they don't know it backwards and forwards. Or live its truths.
At the very least, the meditation portions of the presentation have afforded me a calmness I haven't felt in months. I rush around in my mundane world, doing mundane things, like solving money, health, or relationship issues, but I don't take the time to look inward and see that my spiritual self is in need of some TLC, too. This summit has given me permission to look at my spirutal self and bask in its glory. It's made me look at who I am, how far my spirit has come in the human body its using, and, of course, how much I've grown, both spiritually and personally, since I first incarnated on this earth.
Does that make the telesummit conference a spiritual success rather than a physical one? Yes, I think so. Because those of us listening, though we live worlds apart literally and will never meet, are kindred spirits. Each of us craves the knowledge of what it really means to be a powerful, spiritual/star-seeded being traveling the earth plane in human form. The astral world vs the human world. This summit has shown me they are not two separate worlds, but one and the same.
Don't get me wrong. Even the poor speakers have said something profound during their hour-long presentation, proving that spirit works in different ways with different people. Just because they don't articulate the material well, doesn't mean they don't know it backwards and forwards. Or live its truths.
At the very least, the meditation portions of the presentation have afforded me a calmness I haven't felt in months. I rush around in my mundane world, doing mundane things, like solving money, health, or relationship issues, but I don't take the time to look inward and see that my spiritual self is in need of some TLC, too. This summit has given me permission to look at my spirutal self and bask in its glory. It's made me look at who I am, how far my spirit has come in the human body its using, and, of course, how much I've grown, both spiritually and personally, since I first incarnated on this earth.
Does that make the telesummit conference a spiritual success rather than a physical one? Yes, I think so. Because those of us listening, though we live worlds apart literally and will never meet, are kindred spirits. Each of us craves the knowledge of what it really means to be a powerful, spiritual/star-seeded being traveling the earth plane in human form. The astral world vs the human world. This summit has shown me they are not two separate worlds, but one and the same.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Happy Anniversary!
It's been a year since my novel, The Kindred, came out and the journey has been nothing short of a thrill ride. It's made me new friends, introduced new readers to the spiritual world, and showed me that I know nothing at all about marketing books. It's been hit and miss and a lot of angst! But looking back, I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. Along the way, I learned so much about writing, myself, and the power of spirit to send the book to the other side of the world to be read.
When it comes to friends, I learned that I have a lot more of them than I thought. They bought my book, even though I know that many of them don't like to read paranormal romance books They did it for me, and for that, I'll be eternally grateful. As to those readers who read it on a whim, (or out of curiosity), I'll always be grateful to you for E-Mailing me your comments about the book. I'm glad to say that no one who read it, disliked it. I can only hope that you'll be as appreciative of my next book.
As to writing, I've learned that I have what it takes to pursue a writing career. I can sit down and write anything, and I can re-write it when asked to. (I don't even grouse or whine when asked to do it anymore--glory be, hallelujah). I've also found that keeping in touch with other writers makes my writing better. We've become kindred spirits when it comes to putting words on paper, and we share the same publishing concerns, story blocks, and angst over the end results.
As to the spiritual world, you know my thoughts. I believe that spirit always guides us where we need to go (if we let it) and spirit always arranges the right person, at the right time, in the right place--to help us get where we're supposed to go. It goes without saying, I'm in awe of spirit and its power to move people, places, and things, so that I can attain my dreams. It's been a fabulous year, all in all, and I have spirit to thank for it. Sooooo...thank you, spirit. You are the truest, bestest friend.
When it comes to friends, I learned that I have a lot more of them than I thought. They bought my book, even though I know that many of them don't like to read paranormal romance books They did it for me, and for that, I'll be eternally grateful. As to those readers who read it on a whim, (or out of curiosity), I'll always be grateful to you for E-Mailing me your comments about the book. I'm glad to say that no one who read it, disliked it. I can only hope that you'll be as appreciative of my next book.
As to writing, I've learned that I have what it takes to pursue a writing career. I can sit down and write anything, and I can re-write it when asked to. (I don't even grouse or whine when asked to do it anymore--glory be, hallelujah). I've also found that keeping in touch with other writers makes my writing better. We've become kindred spirits when it comes to putting words on paper, and we share the same publishing concerns, story blocks, and angst over the end results.
As to the spiritual world, you know my thoughts. I believe that spirit always guides us where we need to go (if we let it) and spirit always arranges the right person, at the right time, in the right place--to help us get where we're supposed to go. It goes without saying, I'm in awe of spirit and its power to move people, places, and things, so that I can attain my dreams. It's been a fabulous year, all in all, and I have spirit to thank for it. Sooooo...thank you, spirit. You are the truest, bestest friend.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Earth Magic and Dreamtimes
For the Aborigines of Australia, the Dreamtime is a place before time and outside of time in which ancestral spirit beings came to Earth and gave all of Life its form. Once the work was done, these spirits remained in the very forms they created--including the animals, hills, stars, and other features of the land--and continue to be present today.
Since I like to explore the connection between the human world and the spiritual one in this blog, a recent reading of an article on "Earth Magic" captured my attention. In the article, it noted that the Dreamtime was a group's spiritual template, laviously littered with songs and stories that have been handed down for at least 60,000 years--although the Aborigines would argue that the template has been around since the beginning of time. We are born, we die, and we are reborn again.
This Dreamtime theme is prevalent in most spiritual studies, I have found. The world of Astrology charts our current "mission" here on Earth, and how to have the happiest life available while traveling the human path. If that's not a spiritual template, I don't what is. It also contains a reaffirming "template" that our souls undergo many incarnations here on Earth, each with its own "story" and "song". Astrology's sister, ,Numerology, reveals that each soul has a "master plan" for its run here on Earth. And like the Dreamtime, that template takes many forms, with no end in sight. Again, we are born, we die, and we are reborn again.
It seems to me, that no matter how hard I try to prove that there is NO connection between the spirit world and the human one, I simply can't do it. The template works. Period. I don't know why it does, or how it does, but it does. Having said that, it also seems to me that if your "song" is sung correctly, and your "story" is told honestly, your spirit can never die. It passes on to a new generation, and for just a moment, the human spirit obtains a little piece of heaven here on earth. Wow! Is that a Dream to die for? It makes little ol' me wonder.
Since I like to explore the connection between the human world and the spiritual one in this blog, a recent reading of an article on "Earth Magic" captured my attention. In the article, it noted that the Dreamtime was a group's spiritual template, laviously littered with songs and stories that have been handed down for at least 60,000 years--although the Aborigines would argue that the template has been around since the beginning of time. We are born, we die, and we are reborn again.
This Dreamtime theme is prevalent in most spiritual studies, I have found. The world of Astrology charts our current "mission" here on Earth, and how to have the happiest life available while traveling the human path. If that's not a spiritual template, I don't what is. It also contains a reaffirming "template" that our souls undergo many incarnations here on Earth, each with its own "story" and "song". Astrology's sister, ,Numerology, reveals that each soul has a "master plan" for its run here on Earth. And like the Dreamtime, that template takes many forms, with no end in sight. Again, we are born, we die, and we are reborn again.
It seems to me, that no matter how hard I try to prove that there is NO connection between the spirit world and the human one, I simply can't do it. The template works. Period. I don't know why it does, or how it does, but it does. Having said that, it also seems to me that if your "song" is sung correctly, and your "story" is told honestly, your spirit can never die. It passes on to a new generation, and for just a moment, the human spirit obtains a little piece of heaven here on earth. Wow! Is that a Dream to die for? It makes little ol' me wonder.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Are Romance Writers Kindred Spirits?
Are Romance Writers kindred spirits? Yes, I think so. Each of us in our own way strives to tell a
story so compelling that it will live in the minds and hearts of our readers forever. It doesn’t matter if we fling our characters
back two thousand years, or hurl them forward two thousand. What matters is that we transport the reader
to a world where love, romance and happily ever-after isn’t just a possibility,
but a guaranteed thing.
Having said that, I think romance writers are really Soul connectors—like the group of psychics
portrayed in my novel, The Kindred. Oh,
sure, we can toss our characters into life and death situations, and then ask
them to tap in to the hero lurking within them to win the day, but ultimately that’s
on the printed page. What we are really doing with our stories, I think, is
asking our readers to connect with their own hero inside, so that when a
horrendous day comes, like the recent tragedies sweeping our country, we have
the courage to shore up that heroism and act,
no matter the danger to ourselves.
People helping people. Strangers helping strangers. That’s
the true definition of a soul connection. And, when you get right down to it, isn’t that
what romance novels should be about? People connecting with each other under
the most extraordinary circumstances and winning the day? Yes, I think so, absolutely, positively, no
doubt about it. Leaving the soapbox now.Saturday, July 20, 2013
Proof of Heaven
I have just finished reading Dr. Eben Alexander's book entitled "Proof of Heaven". This book is mesmerizing--a can't-put-it-down book. It tells the incredible story of Dr. Alexander's brush with a Near Death Experience (NDE), or the "afterlife", if you want to be more politically correct. Dr. Alexander is a brain surgeon, a man of science, who had little belief in the "afterlife" or anything spiritual. And then the unthinkable happened. He came down with E.Coli Bacterial Meningitis (out of nowhere) and fell into a coma which lasted seven days. As he explains, this disease is fatal, one that you don't bounce back from. Yet, he did.
His book takes the reader through two journeys: one spiritual, one human. From the moment he entered the coma, he crossed the barrier of the human world into the astral world, and what he found there is spell-binding. (No, I won't say more. You need to read his account for yourself). The reader also travels a second journey--the human one, where the doctors are struggling to combat the infection and save his life. All the while, his family is dealing with a "no hope" scenario and praying for a miracle. (Their faith in miracles is a testament to the human soul's capacity to love on a grand scale).
Dr. Alexander's journey to the "Other Side" is awe-inspiring, especially if you doubt the existence of the astral world. His book proves that Spirit (the God-force) does indeed send us down strange paths, some of them totally mind-blowing. What happened to Dr. Alexander while in heaven? Read the book and judge for yourself. What happened to him when he sat up after seven days and greeted his family? You will cry at the beauty of it all.
A final note: this story would be remarkable no matter who it happened to. That it happened to a a man of science, makes it revolutionary and thought-provoking. I think reading it will change your life. Visit Dr. Alexanders website at: www.lifebeyonddeath.net.
His book takes the reader through two journeys: one spiritual, one human. From the moment he entered the coma, he crossed the barrier of the human world into the astral world, and what he found there is spell-binding. (No, I won't say more. You need to read his account for yourself). The reader also travels a second journey--the human one, where the doctors are struggling to combat the infection and save his life. All the while, his family is dealing with a "no hope" scenario and praying for a miracle. (Their faith in miracles is a testament to the human soul's capacity to love on a grand scale).
Dr. Alexander's journey to the "Other Side" is awe-inspiring, especially if you doubt the existence of the astral world. His book proves that Spirit (the God-force) does indeed send us down strange paths, some of them totally mind-blowing. What happened to Dr. Alexander while in heaven? Read the book and judge for yourself. What happened to him when he sat up after seven days and greeted his family? You will cry at the beauty of it all.
A final note: this story would be remarkable no matter who it happened to. That it happened to a a man of science, makes it revolutionary and thought-provoking. I think reading it will change your life. Visit Dr. Alexanders website at: www.lifebeyonddeath.net.
Monday, July 8, 2013
A Capitol 4th Romance
While watching the Capitol 4th Celebration on PBS last week, I had an epiphany about why I write romance novels. Watching Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond perform some of the most romantic pieces of music from the 70's, I remembered what it was like to be young and in love. The best part, though, was watchng the camera cut away to the crowd. Sometimes the camera would catch a young, hip, sexy couple kissing and I thought: Ah, young love! I remember you!
But my favorite cut-aways were to the Senior couples. Now, mind you, I have no aversion to young couples kissing unabashedly (except of course when it's on Big Brother). It's wonderful to see love and romance in its early stages--when love is new and everything feels so right (stars in your eyes, I think they call it).
However, watching the Senior couples holding hands quietly and enjoying the music (and each other) in ways the young couple has yet to experience, made me realize how important romance novels are in the writing world. Senior romance (I'm not going to call it old love), is quiet with lots of unspoken, interwoven threads between the partners. A look that conveys "I love you deeply, though I don't always say it aloud". It takes a long time of being together to create those kinds of threads. And it's those "threads" that galvanize readers into reading a romance book they can't put down.
Is Senior love better than Young love? Not at all. They're different, that's all. What makes the difference? Time. You learn so much about love and romance the longer you stay alive on this earth. When you're young, everything is fresh and new and exciting (as it should be). But by the time you reach your senior years, you've come to fully understand the true meaning of unconditional love in all its forms--love of country, love of family, love of your fellowman. No wonder so many seniors in their 90's are ready to leave this world behind and move on to the astral world. After all, they're taking all the love they've experienced with them when they go. And if that isn't the most romantic thing about love, I don't know what is.
But my favorite cut-aways were to the Senior couples. Now, mind you, I have no aversion to young couples kissing unabashedly (except of course when it's on Big Brother). It's wonderful to see love and romance in its early stages--when love is new and everything feels so right (stars in your eyes, I think they call it).
However, watching the Senior couples holding hands quietly and enjoying the music (and each other) in ways the young couple has yet to experience, made me realize how important romance novels are in the writing world. Senior romance (I'm not going to call it old love), is quiet with lots of unspoken, interwoven threads between the partners. A look that conveys "I love you deeply, though I don't always say it aloud". It takes a long time of being together to create those kinds of threads. And it's those "threads" that galvanize readers into reading a romance book they can't put down.
Is Senior love better than Young love? Not at all. They're different, that's all. What makes the difference? Time. You learn so much about love and romance the longer you stay alive on this earth. When you're young, everything is fresh and new and exciting (as it should be). But by the time you reach your senior years, you've come to fully understand the true meaning of unconditional love in all its forms--love of country, love of family, love of your fellowman. No wonder so many seniors in their 90's are ready to leave this world behind and move on to the astral world. After all, they're taking all the love they've experienced with them when they go. And if that isn't the most romantic thing about love, I don't know what is.
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