Micheal Releases!!

I'm thrilled to be able to take part in this special one of a kind blog hop. It's for one day only. 24 hours! And even better my two good friends and colleagues Chris White and Aaron Patterson are hosting it in celebration of their newest YA release Micheal.

Description of Michael


Michael did the unthinkable to save Airel from death, but now he must live with the choices he has made--both good and evil. Tortured by his past and haunted by what he believes might be his future, Michael seeks redemption--but will the past prove to be too strong? How can he break free of it and be the man he longs to be for Airel? If only he had never...

Airel. Michael's one true love. He had forced her to drink in new life only to find that old wounds and deep scars do not heal overnight. Can she truly forgive Michael, can she truly love him? And can he accept that forgiveness? Or is it all for nothing, and has he gone too far already? As the darkness of past choices closes in on them, chases them, intercepts them, coming at them from everywhere at once, how can their love possibly survive?




To get back to the blog hop and continue on this super fun event click here. 

Wait is a four letter word

If you've followed the Belle you know that waiting and anything vaguely resembling patience is  not my virtue.

I'm a woman of action and persistence comes more naturally than waiting.

However, there are times in your life where you really do have to sit still. Where you have to literally wait for the things around you to align so that you can proceed. That scripture , Be still and know that I am God, really comes into play here.

Feature Friday: Of Light And Darkness YA Vamp Read Decidedly Different

Product Description

When one human stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of overcoming them in this coming-of-age modern fairytale may result in war between light and darkness.

Abandoned as an infant in Prague, naive and strong-willed Charlotte Ruzikova was raised by one of the last Vampires left alive. As a human, she knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches drew spells of enchantment, Phasers threw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin. Charlotte has lived her life in the dark with her Guardian, content to having him to herself and reveling in his attention, until she's realizes she wants more...

Resident medical doctor and Vampire, Valek Ruzik fears the day his ward would come of age and blossom into a fine woman, and he is forced to confront his own motives as time is of the essence once his past catches up to him, and their lives become endangered...

As genocide and war threatens their secret society, the dictator in power is ready to wipe out Valek's race, but Charlotte will not allow that to happen. Fighting for the only one she's ever loved and truly believed in, she will do whatever it takes to save their love...before the sun comes up and light takes over.

Review

Of Light and Darkness is a paranormal YA that holds it own among the saturated genre. Original beasts, well known magical creatures like Fae and Witches, and of course vampire add to a world to get lost in. With the blend of contemporary with it’s own world building characteristic of Paranormal YA readers will still fall in love with Eastern Europe, specifically Prague.

The truly original but intriguing premise of the book is the relationship between Valek and Charlotte and how it evolves. When I first saw where it was going I was on alert. I just couldn’t see how it work out without be creepy. Nevertheless, the rhythm of writing is so amazing I read on. Pleasantly surprised Shayne Lieghton not only delivered but secured a loyal reader by bringing it together and icing it up.

Writer Wednesday:Lesson Learned Check Those Attachments.

In July I had a lot going on! I was in Tennessee visiting family and taking care of responsibilities that require my attention there every summer. It truly wasn't like I was lounging or vacationing in the least. I had my two high maintenance daughters the diva and the victim with me. To top it all off my Internet ability was like when the cell phones first came out and people walked around holding out there phone. Like I said not a vacation.


However, within the mist of that trip I released Glazier in eBook form. I was beyond ecstatic. There were a couple of reviewers I have relationships with who I immediately sent a pdf to. For a split second I stopped and thought did I send the right copy? Then frankly forgot about it.

Fast forward three weeks later. After the return home and the sudden move where I had a pack unpack 48 hour turn around. I get my first review. She mentions errors. Ding Ding Ding. Yep you bet ya. I sent the wrong copy. And now my second review where I sent the wrong copy. Apologies ladies. I'll be sure to check those attachments from now on.

Here's the latest review for Glazier from Paranormal Opinion

"This book has a lot of writing errors, but the story is incredible. It's wonderfully unique and intriguing. It's a paranormal story – but it's not your usual vampires or shape-shifters. There is plenty of sexual tension, even though the relationship doesn't get very heated."

Feature Friday: Fallen Idols...Paranormal Novella to read

Product Description

Falling: A paranormal contemporary romance novella with a feisty heroine, an immortal hero, and their wee trip to hell and back The trouble with falling in love is the long drop down… Alexis isn’t afraid of much. She’s never met a cliff she didn’t want to climb or a waterfall she wouldn’t plunge over. Yet when her fiancé leaves and takes her daring edge with him, she swears off love…. Until one wild night out at San Francisco’s latest hard-to-find, impossible-to-get-into new club where she discovers more than just a stiff drink awaits her inside, because the owner of this club is the sexiest man she’s ever met—and the most dangerous. A few hundred years ago, Jason made a very bad bargain with a very vengeful goddess. Now it’s time for him to pay up, either with his soul… or his heart. And when one long look at Alexis makes him understand just how hellish a life of unrequited love could be, suddenly the alternative doesn’t sound so bad. Only it turns out, the alternative isn’t just hellish—it is hell… and Alexis is the only one who can spring him loose. If, that is, she’s brave enough to try…

Writer Wednesday: Writing it's the B word.

No not that b word! But to some authors it's just as offensive. Business Yes my fair reader it is and today I will address it. Well not so much I will address rather I'll quote and link to a couple of very successful people in the industry who put it out there clear and concise.

Often I'm asked How are your books doing? or Are you doing well? Which are just cloaked questions that really are saying Are you making any money?

I'm great at deflection so I usually do that and leave the conversation without really answering but the asker thinking I'm doing great. Because really I am!

I'm still in my first year since I landed my first contract as a published author. By the end of 2011 I'll have nine publications to add to my platform, as well as a successful blog, four professional websites I review four, I contribute at Ravencraft's Romance Realm twice a month (that's a very new one), as well as being regularly sought after for a guest poster on other blogs. And that's just what I do other than writing. To top it all off in less than a year after attending the Idaho Book Extravaganza (a conference I highly recommend) I will be participating now as a featured speaker.

Writer Wednesday: To Miss a Manuscript

After being on vacation for two weeks and away from my latest WIP Eternal Witch, the sequel to Familial Witch, I didn't realize how much I missed it! Is that even possible? If I wasn't an author I'd be considered clinically insane. But luckily I am an author. Shew...that was a close one. The loony bin has been trying to get me for years.

But why is it OK to miss a manuscript or to even mourn one? I've read authors who wrote novels that were never published that sigh in interviews and dab at unshed tears over they fact that their beloved characters will never be seen. Then others rejoice over the fact sometimes years later they are able to get a contract and publish their beloved long ago buried ms.

So back to my Eternal Witch...I think it's the characters and their story. It's all up in my head and needs to get out. I'm so close to finishing that first initial draft and I NEED to get it out. I'm scared I'm going to forget something or suffer an accident causing amnesia and their story will never be finished. EEK!!

I think I may be having a bit of my smartypantsdiva moment. You think? So to my critique partner's bitter delight I'm about to load her up with a whole flipping MS.

What about you? Ever missed a WIP, MS or perhaps characters from a series you love?

Writer Wednesday: Blogs on Kindle...I'm there are you?

So I recently found out that blogs subscriptions can be set up via your Kindle. I know right, AWESOME! I was thinking wow this is great my Kindle goes everywhere with me and if not my it then my Kindle app on my iPhone. Yeah you have to pay a little fee but that's for the convenience. Here Kindle explains it best....

Kindle blogs are fully downloaded onto your Kindle so you can read them even when you're not wirelessly connected. And unlike RSS readers which often only provide headlines, blogs on Kindle give you full text content and images, and are updated wirelessly throughout the day.

So I immediately go a hunting for my favorite blogs. The disappointment set in no one I already subscribe to was on there. Oh the agony...then a thought occurred. (imagine the Grinch grin here) What if I added my blog then shamelessly plug it encouraging my other friends I love to follow to do it as well? And so here's today's post.

Now for the shameless plugging....



 PSS... As soon as you set yours up come back and let me know so I can subscribe. I'm so excited to find a way to keep up with blogs now!!!

A Belle's Roots...A love story from a few generations before Part Two

Wilma looked through the closet of her best friend Betsy. She didn't have many clothes but that was OK cause she borrowed what she needed from her sister Rita or Betsy. There were enough between them and coming from a family with nine children sharing was a lesson learned early.

"Toots," Betsy called. Toots was a nickname Wilma got when a small child. Only no one knew why or who started it. "You go ahead and get anything you want. In fact wear this blue sleeveless top with these white knee pants. It will bring out your eyes and when that fool Jimmy sees you he'll be rethinking spending his precious leave time with Bob instead of you." She said shoving the outfit in Wilma's hands.

After their morning chores and breakfast they walked to town. That was the great thing about Erin the railroad ran right through it and there were no strangers in the small town. Betsy swung her hands to and fro along the folds of her high back sun dress. Wilma listened to her as she talked on and on about the latest boy in town.

A long high whistle sounded interrupting Betsy's tirade. She turned, her shoulder length blond hair flipping around and arched a brow as she planted a hand on her slim hip.Wilma followed Betsy's glare having it fall on a handsome boy with dark hair and dark eyes. He walked toward them a half smile on his face leaving behind a Chevy with the hood raised.

"Betsy Darling you are looking mighty pretty today in that dress." He said winking and calling her by her first and middle name. Betsy smiled back. "Whose this other pretty lady with you?" He continued his flirtation nodding his head toward Wilma.

"This is my friend Wilma but everyone calls her Toots." He nodded toward Wilma and she smiled crossing her arms suddenly furious that James wasn't who she was with. If things had gone as she thought they were she should have been in his arms with a ring on her left ring finger.

"I'm Danny Allen. Why don't you two come sit on the porch and have a couple cokes." Wilma and Betsy shared a look then walked quickly to his porch. Cokes were a sweet and rare luxury for the two girls.

They hadn't been there long when Bob walked up toward the porch and he didn't look happy. Wilma squared her shoulders and put what she hope was a blank look on her face.

"Toots I've been looking everywhere for you. Jimmy is up at the house...been waiting all morning too." Bob pointed toward his home by the railroad tracks.

"Well if he was so eager to see me why didn't he take the opportunity to do it yesterday." Wilma replied before taking a long sip of her Coke. Danny and Betsy looked on wide eyed but quiet. Bob had a temper and Betsy was his sister and knew to steer clear. Color drained from Bob's face as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Now you get your hind end up there now you hear!" He yelled pointing again down the tracks.

"If Jimmy wants to see me let him know that I will be sitting right here." Wilma replied sitting her now empty glass bottle on the wooden porch beside her before meeting Bob's steely glare. Huffing he turned on his heel and headed in the direction he had pointed so many times before. Shortly her sister Rita followed attempting the same thing Bob had, still unsuccessful.

However, before Rita left she shared a death blow to Wilma. Jimmy was up there waiting to propose. He had showed the rings the night before to Bob. Betsy sat down beside her in the swing while Danny politely went to fetch more Cokes.

"Are you sure you don't want to go up there now Toots?" Betsy suggest leaning toward and lightly touching her hands fisted in her lap. Wilma took a deep breath and picture her backbone straight and solid.

"If those rings were meant for me then I should have seen then before Bob." She insisted. Then heard the familiar growl of a Ford driving too fast in the direction of the base. Wilma sighed then started on her second Coke.


Now I just want to point  out that there is a lot of creative license in this post. It's like hearing a family story then adding your own romantic imaginations to it. A lot...how about I call a spade a spade...a tremendous amount. LOL If you missed part one it's here.

 

Airel: YA at it's finest

No Resolutions Here Just Goals....

I have never been one for "resolutions." and I was even a smoker. Never resolved to quit. Perhaps it's because I'm just too cocky-- whenever I think I need to change course I just do it. Perhaps I'm perfect....No I'm not that conceded. My mother has always said I have a strong sense of self and mind. However, it wasn't until meeting and speaking with a friend and colleague JT Debolt that I finally had a label (And I'm not one for labels. I have no problem labeling others...I'm southern duh. I don't like to be labeled.) He called me "a high altitude thinker."

High altitude thinkers are people that think beyond their fears and make a daily decision to change or "shift their momentum" toward the goals that they have. You can find out all about it on his blog just click his name.





So first things first GOALS....DREAMS...DESTINATIONS....DESIRES....doesn't matter what you call them you got to know where you are going. So a list of my goals for 2011.

1. I will write as many digital shorts as I can in 2011 beginning with Caffe' Seduzione with Stone House Ink and Familial Witch with Astrea Press. (Yes I have an additional publisher now but that's for another post.)

2.I will release Glazier the debut book in a series as well as The Awakening the novel that will wrap the Familial Witch Series.

3. I will read, review and support fellow authors without ulterior motives or the attitude of what's in if for me.

4. I will attend at least one writers conference or convention this year...perhaps two.

5. I will move into a place where I can have my own office space that is not my bed.

6. I will leave for a few days and go to a place where the only thing expected of me is to take care of my own basic needs and write to my hearts content without fear of interruption or expectations. A writer's retreat if you will.

7. I will love...live..and laugh at anyone I can including myself.

What are your goals?

Bri

Don't Be A Copy Cat

Motivational Poster once again created by the talented Ricky Ross

  

Anyone who writes will tell you that what they read influences what they write. There is a distinct difference in between influence and plain plagiarism.

Most of the time children will write stories based on something that they have seen or read. Stephen King began his literary career at 8 based off characters in a penny comic he read. That's normal and it's how they practice their budding writing skills.There is even the extremely popular fanfiction sites. Fanfiction is where fans of novels, movies or comic books make up stories based on the characters they love. These are all great creative avenues that encourage people to think and to exercise their literary brains. I do not knock them. It's when you start using the same tone, voice, adjectives, plot and story lines where you need to stop and take a step back.

I know this from personal experience and will use those experiences to illustrate how to be aware of it and then correct it. 

Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga was the first fiction I had read in 6 years. Afterwords It was like a dormant part of my brain had been unleashed and refused to be repressed again. Fantasies, ideas, and daydreams would appear out of no where--doing dishes, folding laundry, and exercising. I began to write them all down...then the Glazier Series was born.

Which brings me to my copy cat connection. I had about 165k words in that draft and asked a couple of friends to read it. While most of my friends gave supportive and positive reviews this friend went through with a red pen and literally edited my entire manuscript. She also added notes on the blank pages in the back. It was my first somewhat negative yet honest feedback. Not to say that my other friends were lying...just that hers was more detailed.

Needless to say I was a little taken back. I read over what she had written and mulled it over a few weeks. There were several things she had suggested that I had already put into play. The most significant advice she gave though was that I had used several of the same adjectives and phrases used in Twilight to describe Edward on my own hero. She was right. I have kept that book with the red marks as a reminder.

It was a little funny to me because Edward and Henry are two separate protagonists..the plots themselves are different. Nevertheless, there they were. I went back through the manuscript with vigor and enthusiasm making it my own creation. Which wasn't hard because it wasn't that bad after cutting the book into two.

So Dear Reader be aware of what you are reading and even more aware of what you are writing.

Bri

The Monsieur of Noir... Vincent Zandri

A review and an interview....

SOMETIMES THE PAST DOESN'T COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU! IT COMES BACK TO KILL YOU!

Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.

Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.
Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.

Trailer for The Remains

The Remains was voted the No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Hot Hard-Boiled New Release and was No 8 on Amazon's Romantic Suspense list. It was published by the rising star of a publisher Stonehouse Ink. This novel was two firsts for me. It was my first noir genre novel and was also my first taste of Vincent Zandri. I have to say I'm addicted to Zandri now like a southern woman needs gossip. The noir genre is a big leap for me. Romantic fantasy, paranormal romance and romantic adventure are my genres of choice to read and write. You will notice the key word being "romance."

The Remains by all indications was an accidental romantic suspense...I still felt every exclamation point!

 I connected with Rebecca in a way I have only done from female authors before. Most reviews you will read (there are plenty)about the The Remains will talk about how suspenseful, frightening and scene setting it is. Believe me it is all those reviews and more. However, for me I enjoyed another element. It was subtle and woven in like the center piece of a braid, hidden but needed for a tight rhythm. It was Rebecca.

Rebecca has lived a life of tragedy from the painful experiences of a childhood event, to the loss of her twin and finally the ending of her marriage. Nevertheless, through all that she happily endures. Her love and empathy for those around her is inspiring. If Zandri ever tires of noir he obviously has more than potential for romantic suspense.

Vincent Zandri...The Monsieur of Noir
Vincent Zandri is an award-winning, bestselling novelist, essayist and freelance photojournalist. His novel As Catch Can (Delacorte) was touted in two pre-publication articles by Publishers Weekly and was called "Brilliant" upon its publication by The New York Post. The Boston Herald attributed it as “The most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season.” Translated into several languages including Japanese, Russian, French and the Dutch, Zandri’s work has also been sought out by numerous major movie producers, including Heyday Productions and DreamWorks. Other novels include Moonlight Falls (R.J.Buckley), Godchild (Bantam/Dell), and Permanence (NPI). His newest thriller, The Remains (Stone House) will be published in July, 2010 in E-Book and in November, as a Trade Paperback. Forthcoming novels include The Concrete Pearl (Stone Gate), a new detective series starring the brassy but beautiful construction business owner, Ava "Spike" Harrision, and the re-publication of the classic, As Catch Can (Stone Gate).
I was able to speak with Mr. Zandri... here are the spoils of that interview.

What is noir? Noir is my passion! It's truly American literature...dark detective type novels. When Europe caught on it became known as noir. Noir is French meaning dark, gloomy or black.

How do you write women so well?  As a child I was surrounded by women...I still try to do that as an adult. (can you see the smile in that line?) I had a single mother, two older sisters and I'm very experienced in relationships. What can I say...I love women.(see the smile again)

Have you ever received a bad review? No.. at least not professionally or from a blog review. Thank God. (He thanks God a lot. It's sincere too.)  However, I had one by a reader on Amazon, it's still there and I remember it well. This douche (yes he said douche) said I should be classified in the same pile of junk as LaHane. And I thought that's a good pile to be in.

Was The Remains meant to have a romantic element? No absolutely not. I had just ended my relationship with my second wife. That relationship very much inspired this novel. Don't get me wrong I loved her and we are still very close.(insert smile again) I didn't get much done creatively during our six year relationship. When it ended I went into a writing frenzy and the end result was The Remains.

Do you consider yourself a character writer? You set the scenes so realistically.  I like to set up the circumstances and then imagine how that character would react.

Do you base your characters off real people? Of course. I even use their real names until the end. (I'm curious if he will have to keep his laptop locked after that one.)

What's a typical day for you? Always have to have a good cup of coffee...at home I make it. In Italy I found myself going out for coffee. A great cup of coffee is essential for an author. I put on what's lying around and write a while. There is always writing to be done...whether on a novel, for my blog, or an article. I'm a gym rat so I always work that in. I have three kids so anything they need. I enjoy cooking for them.

After reading The Remains and now Moonlight Falls and Moonlight Mafia as well as interviewing Mr. Zandri this is my conclusion. I already knew he was a gifted rising author. However, now I find that he is wickedly brilliant and witty with as much baggage as his characters. Just like his characters he perseveres through the trials of circumstance and finds the joy of the moment. Which really I think is a requirement for any great author. Can you be a cutting edge anything and be described as delightfully normal?

Sexist reader convinced...

Sweet Dreams

Book One In The WJA Series Mark Appleton faces his worst nightmare as he hunts a killer, but little does he know that he is the one being hunted. Kirk Weston is a detective with the Detroit police department. His life, although not going as planned finds himself investigating a mysterious group known only as the WJA. Just when he is about to make a breakthrough on the case something terrible goes wrong? He finds exactly what he is looking for!
 
 
Sexist reader converted...a romantic fanatic convinced...Sweet Dreams is told from not only one but two male POV’s, something I usually avoid. It is a suspenseful action adventure thriller; this is a genre I avoid like someone on a diet avoids buffets. However, thanks to Patterson’s Sweet Dreams I will become morbidly obese on suspenseful thriller fiction, also known as Noir.


Sweet Dreams isn’t the typical beginning, middle and end book. Patterson has a way of weaving the threads of not only one but two men’s lives. Mark Appleton is a successful and happy business/family man. It’s only when a violent personal tragedy unleashes the destiny he was trained for that he really begins to live. Kirk Weston is a reluctant hero. Divorced, unkempt, and arrogant your first impression of Kirk is far from positive. As you experience the thought process of Kirk’s investigative techniques you begin to appreciate his unlikely but effective methods. By the end you are cheering for him just as much as Mark Appleton. As these two men’s lives run parallel and criss cross yet without meeting it leaves you satisfied for the moment; yet salivating for more. Which you will get since Dream On is available now.

bought this series for my fourteen year old son. He was very happy with it. Well as happy as a fourteen year old boy allows people to know. I knew he liked it alot when he couldn't put it down then asked when the third book would come out. I then read it myself. I was really impressed. It was also a great experience in that my son and I began to discuss the WJA series. Any parent who knows how hard it is to talk to a teenager will understand the significance of this experience. The WJA series would be a great Christmas present this season for teenager and adult alike since Patterson only writes what is considered clean fiction.

Author Interview with Aaron Patterson

Aaron Patterson lives in Boise Idaho with his wife Karissa and three children, Soleil, Kale, and Klayton. Aaron is the author of the bestselling WJA series. SWEET DREAMS, DREAM ON and IN YOUR DREAMS. He also began a line of "Digital Shorts" which are E-book short stories. His first in the line is "19."



I was able to ask Mr. Patterson some questions about his techniques and books. Here are the spoils of that interview...



 How long did it take you to write Sweet Dreams?  30 days.


So that’s the Raw unedited draft? Yes. I like to just sit down and write.

So your not the type of writer that does outlines and chapter outlines? No I write in sequence. I usually don’t know how it ends until I’m 3/4ths of the way through. There comes a point in my books, well it’s happened every time so far, that I have this epiphany and it all just comes together or falls into place is more like it such as with Sweet Dreams. When I began it I knew I wanted to do some sort of secret organization, that was the initial premise. Then the story kind of wrote itself. Like the dream effect…I was working out at the gym and it came to me. I literally left the gym and had to go right it down immediately.

Did you plan on Sweet Dreams being a series? No. Initially I didn’t. However, every book ultimately defines itself and at the end of Sweet Dreams I knew that Kirk and Mark’s story would continue. So now we have Dream On (available now) and In Your Dreams coming out in Summer of 2011. I’m curious to see how readers respond to how it wraps itself up.

Mark and Kirk are polar opposites, however they are both effective in their own way. Would you say that they are your own alter egos? Every character has a part of you...you create them. Just like every character created is a representation of someone real initially then they take on a life of their own.

You are finishing up your 4th book, Aierl, now, compared to your first novel did the writing come easier? Yes. Sweet Dreams was very choppy. Each novel I write it just gets smoother and smoother.

 Aierl is your first YA novel, can you tell us a little bit about it? Of course, It’s set in two time periods, I jump between the two. The past being around 2100 BC and the other present day, in the past there is an angel who has left heaven and fallen in love with a mortal. They marry and produce offspring. There is a demonic group who are after their offspring for disposal. Then in present day you have Airel who begins to have all these strange symptoms and abilities and thinks she is sick. She is kidnapped and finds out she is a descendant of this long ago angelic/mortal race.

Sounds amazing...When will Aierl be released? The ebook will be available around Christmas 2010 with the print to follow in the spring of 2010. StoneHouse Ink will have all the up to date information.

After speaking with Mr. Patterson my opinion of him would be best described as the humbled brilliance of a talented author and accidental publisher.  Just like the characters of the WJA organization he desires nothing but the betterment of his fellow authors. To find out for yourself visit his blog at The Worst Book Ever .

Thank you Mr. Patterson for your time and your talents.

Bri

Seclusion can be inspiring...

Poster created by the uber talent of Ricky Ross

Sometimes you simply need to check out. Authors, artists, musicians and even you need to recluse yourself from the world at times. There are mutiple reasons for self induced reclusion. A person may need a break from stress, emotional turmoil or certain people in their lives. An artist may hide themselves away in a studio creating their latest peice of soulful inspiration. The next club stomping hit may be mixing away now as we speak by a muscician within the confines of their studio.



Then there is the author, the writer, the blogger and the poet, whatever you call them, they are all creaters. I remember when I wrote the first draft of my novel, Glazier. My day began at 4:30 AM. I walked 40 miles a week. I would get lost in my novel playlist. (I have a playlist of music for every novel I write.) The music of my iphone played out in my mind like the background music of my own personal movie. The theatre being my mind. I lived off peanut butter crackers and diet pepsi. I wrote close to 8 hours a day. If I wasn't writing I was reading.


The point is I almost completely checked out of my life. My husband became a single parent for a while. My grandparent's thought I had fell off the side of the earth. My friends and aquaintances thought I was a having a breakdown. Or an affair. The rumor kept changing.


I had no deadline except for the desperate need to know how it ended. Imagine what it's like for people with deadlines. When I finally surfaced a few months later I was happy. I had created something uniquely mine. With that being said I was hesitant of who I shared it with. Luckily I got over the nervous novel jitters pretty quick. My desire to share it with others overcame my fear of rejection. Any serious author knows about rejection.

You're not alone. We have all had them. Whether it was from the all too common query reject or a bad review. The sting is still the same. I have several creative friends, mostly other authors. Their silence is the fuel behind this post. It is also a warning for my own friends and family.


If an email is sent and I don't respond. I'm writing. If I post a status update on Facebook or Twitter and I don't respond to your comments. I'm watching my internal movie. If I post a blog and don't respond to your comments or likes. I'm creating. Take note that it's nothing personal. I'm not in a fetal position on the floor of my too small apartment. Niether am I in any other position with another man that isn't my husband. That was for those gossips from last time.



Keep this in mind if you have any friends that fall under this category. I'm sure they are simply creating as well. Have patience. The best part of having a part time reclusive friend is that you are one of the first to see their latest masterpiece. More often than not it's always worth it.I promise.


Bri