Back in June (almost a year ago now), I gave an update on my next project with an oblique reference to a historical romance I was crafting and wasn’t sure I would end up finishing. With the world we ended up in, and the amount of energy to focus on world-building versus stepping into one I had already crafted, I ended up turning my focus back to the historical romance story. I’m happy to report I finished my first rough (very rough) draft last week. My mom asked if this one had a happy ending. [Spoiler Alert] I can say this one does in a much more unequivocal fashion then my some of my other works.

The image I’ve included in the post is one I found on Pinterest originally and has been one of my inspiration or mood pieces for the characters. It evocates a lot of my characters and helped orient me back into the feel of the novel. Before posting the image, I did some further research and believe the image was taken by Michel Brodsky in 1959 of Romy Schneider and  Alain Delon. Schneider and Delon were actors and partners for four years but had a relationship/friendship that apparently spanned decades.

In working on stories, I sometimes do stumble on images that ping in my braing connecting it to the story I’m working on. I try not to get too attached to other’s images though as I tend to get disappointed that I can’t use them for my cover art. For the past few works, I also have created playlists on Spotify to help with the plotting. I usually can’t listen to music when actually writing, but it can help on the walks I take to plan. By the end of last book, Don’t Belong to No City, my playlist had about 60 songs to it. The current WIP has abut 45 and may end up getting a few more songs added to it.

It’s true to say writing can channel emotions from disparate parts of my life and what is in the novel may not truly reflect my own state of mind or experiences. However, to fully enmesh in their lives can carry a weight with me that can occasionally catch me unawares. I turned back to the historical romance because I needed some softness in my life. I am about to undertake the editing process, and there is an ease in working through already created work too.

However you are processing this time, I hope you are giving yourself leave to shift focus to other projects, to new projects, to old worn-out stories you have passed the time with in happier moments.

Take Care, Lovelies!

I'm blessed in that I still have a job and one I can work from home. But it's been an odd two weeks in trying to create new routines, have them trampled, and try to settle up new ones. As an apartment dweller, with a roommate, I found it made sense to work at my desk--which is in my bedroom--a desk that I use for both school work and creative work. I managed to balance in my head school and creative before, I didn't even think that looking at the desk I would see "job." It's true though. The minute I'm done for the day, I can't bear to sit at my desk anymore, even as I switch out computers or tablets or notebooks. I have to physically move to another space. It's such an odd detail that my brain has now latched on to that space. Even now, on the weekend, I'm out at the kitchen table, because I see my desk and start to think of my to-do list. I like my boundaries, and I give work the time it needs, but I don't like the idea of it creeping into my off time. It was an odd realization how physical space can attribute to productivity or attitude. Though as I thought about it, I do tend to sometimes need to leave my house to go to a cafe or a library as a way to signal to my brain, we're about to focus! Now, it's smaller distances. It's time in between to signal, whether that's taking a walk, or doing that dishes, that brain needs to focus on other things. I love my desk, and usually I love to create at it. For now, I'll need to create new routines--an ability I'm thankful to have. 

Been a hell of a week. 

I woke up this morning wanting some peace, wanting some quiet, wanting some light. So I headed to one of my favorite spots in the city, the Harold Washington Library's Winter Garden. 

I was here a little before 9 and waited outside with the usual diverse group for the doors to open. I had my pick of tables, and am now firmly entrenched to get some work done. 

Harold Washington Library has the same feel, to me, as a place of worship. There is a stillness here. A stillness not broken by the photo shoot happening to my left, or the security officer talking to the handyman behind me, or the couple admiring the artwork to my right. In fact, the stillness is enhanced by it.

This library is reminder of why public spaces need to be welcoming to everyone, and that everyone deserves the dignity of knowledge, and have the respect of being treated equally. 

Whenever I need to know such places still exist, I make my way here. 

Hey World,

I'm writing to you from Champaign, IL. It's currently 9 degrees (yes, that's Fahrenheit) and when I walked across the snow this morning I saw squirrels huddling in the trees. The little grey creatures looked at me like I was an idiot for being out so early. Since I didn't have a choice in the matter, I could only march on to my presentation. This year sees me back in the hallowed halls of academia--thankfully, just for the week. The rest of my time earning the next degree will be spent online from the comfort of Chicago. And by Chicago, I mean my couch. 

The start of the year always cause me to reflect on the past one. What happened, what didn't. I try not to focus on the should haves. (Like, I should have Catspaw out and don't.) But instead all you can do is focus on what actually did happen--some pretty cool things did get done. And then what you want to carry forward into the new year. When I sat down to write this blog, I wanted to talk about goals. When I actually thought about what I want to accomplish, the long-term aims haven't changed. Keep writing. Keep publishing. Keep moving forward. 

The past two years have been an incredible learning experience in how actually to go about doing that. Both from a creative aspect and in a logistical one. I fully embrace now you can only learn by doing. Let's hope the next book reflects all that I've learned. 

Until then, keep reading and stay warm! 

Good morning Chicago,
To those of you who ran the marathon this morning, I salute you! To everyone else, I hope you are enjoying this gorgeous fall day. I'm currently with friends at a little cafe in Lincoln Park trying to be productive. So far I've had a scone, black tea, and (needing more caffeine) coffee. In the hours I've been here, I'm officially caught up with everyone's lives and done some plotting for the upcoming novel in November.


With days flying by it was great to sit down and do some concentrated novel planning. People tend to have very strong opinions about their magical process to writing and completing a novel. But whatever your process, the more you do it the more refined you get. For me, planning a novel means world building, which can be best the part. The odd thing is never knowing which detail will have a great deal more importance as the book takes shape and what becomes superfluous. Take Moonshine, my original plotting gave shape to the religions within Ravana. It got mentioned through prayer beads in the first novel, but never took on much more life. Didn't fit the characters. You can't consider it a waste of time though, because any planning helps give depth to the world and helps with any of the other subtle details cascading through. Plus who doesn't love planning out characters' names and features? This time around the main character has quite a few tattoos. I'm trying to keep it limited, but the list just keeps growing. 

Make sure to keep swinging by. Once November hits, you'll start to hear the griping on plugging through the word count. For now, I'll just be buoyantly happy (and pleasantly caffeinated). 

Happy writing! 

Where, you ask, is Perry, Kansas? Go about 30 minutes from Topeka and you'll find it. There's a lake and a state park. Why, you ask, am I in Perry, Kansas? Well, I had about a week of vacation time I wanted to use, and I figured I could use some extra sleep. Perry is where the parents live on their farm with assorted animals (dogs, cat, chickens, I'm pushing for a llama) and where I spent the past week. It's odd to be able to go outside, sit at a table and just hear. . . well the trees are rustling, the hummingbirds are arguing over the feeder, and the chickens are squawking below me. 

Regardless what anyone tells you, it's not that the country is quiet--it's just a different kind of noisy. Out here, I won't see another human being that's not family unless I actively look for them by going down the half a mile driveway.

Back in the apartment, in Chicago, I'd hear the neighbor's shower, another banging up and down the stairs, while a siren screamed by. Different. 

Whenever I come to Kansas, I always feel a couple of layers are stripped away, and I can just take a few breaths to chill out a bit. 

Kitty and I wish you happy writing!

In Chicago, doughnuts are here to stay, and there are options, options, options. Doughnut Vault keeps it simple. They open at 8 and sell until their out. They have their classics, and then a few here and there. I like the Gingersnap ones. You get 3 and can dunk them into the strong coffee leaving behind swirling trails of sugar. Where are you writing from lovelies? 

I was feeling antsy and was able to talk my mother into a jaunt to New Orleans. This picture is just off Jackson Square on Pirate's Alley. The gentleman pictured will write you a poem there and then on his typewritter for  a pittance of 15$.

Part of me thinks he's doing something right.

New Orleans is the city everyone talks in a husky whiskey voice, where women pat there remember the humidity and glasses in the room start to sweat. It is the city people love to dream about, and share with everyone. 

It is a good city to write in, but even better to soak in and simply absorb in. 

My scribbles for the days are stained from powder sugar of beignets and dribbles from Pimm's cups.  It is happy writing.

Where are you writing from today?