Writers Rock!

Today will not be a long post as I have a lot to do but...I wanted to make note of something awesome in my world right now and those who deserve to know it.

As you know, this was my first year with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I dragged my ass out of my bed on Sunday's and went to write-ins down in Tribeca. There I got to know some of the best ladies (and a few men). I then went to both of the post NaNo parties; The "Thank God It's Over" Party AAAND the Christmas Potluck at Alexis' place! The latter of which was this past Sunday and I shoulda taken pics but I didn't...I was too busy eating and talking to pull out a camera. But, I have pics from the TGIO Party that I'll post in this blog entry for you, so you can see some of the great folks who joined my world this year. Unfortunately I don't have pics of all of them but here's what I do have.......

Me and Alexis:


Me and Clarice:


Kate and Alexis:


Ellen and Clarice:


Alexis and Kate again...calling out raffle winners:

(As you know I won Kate's book during this raffle and did a review...scoll down if you missed it!)

I suppose all I want to say is this...

If you are a writer and you've not gotten out there to meet fellow writers in your community...you should...you NEED to! I know writing tends to be an "alone sport" but...these people I've gotten the chance to start to know are just wonderful and supportive folks who understand me as a writer and THAT in itself is a gift. In Theatre we automatically get a community of support with our fellow actors/producers/etc but with writing you tend to be on your own---but you don't need to be. Not that my other friends, most of which are in the theatre, aren't FANTASTICALLY supportive of my writing---they are (especially Rachel, Lauren and Josh!), but I've not had writer friends before---people who I know and connect to primarily through writing.

Having these people in my life, as silly as it may sound, makes it seem real---the fact that I write and my committment to it. Their support and friendship gives me an extra emotional boost when I feel down during the "submit your book over and over and over again" process. THEY understand! It's a great thing to have others in your life who are doing what you're doing...chasing a dream along with you. It's wonderful to be supported and to give support! I can already see how they all have this potential to become just this amazing network of writers I trust and appreciate who will make a difference in my life and I pray I can return that favor.

So, thank you to those who accepted me into their fold of writers this year. You are definitely a highlight of my 2010! I am looking forward to 2011 when we'll continue our adventure of this daunting task...to become published writers! And we will do it! With supportive friends, how can we not?

And as always, I leave you with my fave picture of all....and yes, that is Clarice and me photo-bombing in the back...LOL!

Halloween 2010 (late post, I know)

GOING BACK IN TIME TODAY...to HALLOWEEN!
That's right! I know Christmas is almost upon us but, I realized last night when I finally downloaded pics off my camera (which I'd not done since the photo-shoot) that I had missed blogging about my Halloween...TRAVISTY!!!!

So here we go...

HALLOWEEN 2010 - Part One; The Pumpkin Masssacre

I was greatly blessed this year. I, who normally sit at home and do nothing on Halloween, had TWO nights of things to do. I attribute this to the GREAT friends I've made in the Goth/Industrial Scene here in NYC. Explanation for previous years: Most of my friends are "couples". I've been one of few single ladies in my circle of friends (until this year as I've met many more) and couples hang out with couples...invite couples to things...have couples over for dinner...invite them to parties. It's a built in date and that tends to equal invites. Don't ask why...it is what it is.

Anyhoo, as I'm single I tend to not get invited to "couples" evenings...makes sense, right? So normally I'm home for Halloween unless I'm throwing said party. Unfortunately my current apartment is far uptown and has NO space for a party (living room is TINY). So I stay home, eat some candy or order in a nice dinner to splurge and watch a movie or something.

THIS year was different. I did get invited to a party! :) My darling friend Sheri invited me to the 13th Annual Pumpkin Massacre Party! It was at a loft down on White Street (which is a ways downtown but easy to get to) and even though I needed a 2nd costume for the night and a pumpkin to massacre I was on board.



I was the first to arrive (of course----and to think, I left late!) and helped them set up. I got to chat with Sheri's new boyfriend who is an actor, his name is Rodney and he's really awesome! The pic to the left of this is of course Sheri and he in costume. :)


Followed by a pic of me and Sheri. Who am I dressed up as? Hint #1: There was a movie out this year, based on a comic book, and the leading girl is who I'm dressed as. Hint #2: That's a shoelace tied around my neck. ---and yes, that wig itched like hell!

So, there was tons of food, drinks and pumpkins! Here is my poor pumpkin before I killed him:


Here he is after I finished:


Seeing as I hadn't done one of these by myself in FOREVER I was pretty impressed with my final product. :) Now, for those who didn't guess who I was, I'm not super suprised...you'd have to be a fan of Scott Pilgrim to know I was Ramona Flowers. In all the pics of her I found her hair is purple or pink or blue and she wears shorts with tights, combat boot, ripped stuff and a shoelace of her brother's on her neck because he passed away.



HALLOWEEN 2010 - Part Two; Vampire Freaks Halloween Party

So...THIS is the party Lauren, Robbie and Garret had been planning on. Here they are (L to R is Robbie, Lauren, Garret). Robbie is the Heath Ledger version of the Joker while Garret is the comic book version of the Joker...and of course, Lauren is Harley Quinn...the Joker's girlfriend. :)



What about me though right? I'll be honest...if I'd known they were all going as Batman characters I'd have picked one also(possibly Penguin...insert jokes here) but no...I'd already chosen to be Snow White (hello...I'm short with short dark hair and pale skin...it was an easy choice). Here I am with Lauren...


Here are a few pics of me in the most whorish version of Snow White I think I've seen to date....nickname; Ho White...




To be honest...I have NO idea where all that cleavage came from...

ANYHOOOOO...As for time at the club! Here are some of the decorations...



Here is a great pic of me and Jet (Mad Hatter) and then me and Annabel (sexy witch)...




I love this pic as it wasn't planned...both Jokers with misty fog around them...so cool huh?


Anyhoo...we stayed at the club until Jet and Annabel both DJ'd so I got home around 2:30am (ouch) and then dragged my carcass to work the next day. I think the day after Halloween should be a paid day off from work...unless it falls on a Friday or Saturday...just an idea I'll toss out there...

So Halloween 2010 was fun! Many thanks to Sheri, Jet, Annabel, Lauren, Garret and Robbie for making it so great this year!

Tamsin xo :)

Review of "In Hot Pursuit" by Kate McMurray

It's that time again...review something I've read! But this time...you get hot, sexy, gay man porn...that's right, you didn't read me wrong.

So, I know the author of this and it's her first publication and I won a copy of her book in the raffle at the end of NaNoWriMo and as you can see by the cover---well, it draws some attention on the train whilst reading it. :) I had more than one person tilt their head and try to see what the hell I was reading...and I'd chuckle inside. You are saying, "Why not just keep it covered?" And I say, "Where's the fun in that?"

To be honest, I've NEVER read male erotica before and I love that a female wrote this...after much research; being as she is not a gay man. Though one might find similarities between gay men and straight women...that doesn't mean research for intimate moments doesn't need to be done to KUDOS to Kate! These steamy scenes were STEAMY and accurate (according to my gay roommate).

FIRST OFF...LET ME SET UP THE PLOT FOR YOU...(I pulled this from the website)...

Hard-working NYPD cop Noah Tobin didn’t even want to go on vacation. But it’s been a tough eighteen months since the death of his lover, so he’s determined to make the most of it. On his first night in sunny Florida, a chance encounter with a handsome man in a bar bathroom jumpstarts something in Noah that’s been dormant for all those months. Then the man disappears.

Noah’s vacation is thrown into upheaval because he can’t just let it go when he learns that the mysterious man who turned his life upside down went missing. He volunteers to help with the manhunt for his mystery man, a wealthy restaurateur named Harrison Knowles. But finding Harry is only the beginning of Noah's hot pursuit.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Male/male sexual practices.

Okay, on with my review...

I actually loved this story. It's a fast read--only 50,000 words or so--and I read it in a day (well, half a day) and it holds your attention throughout without a problem. I'd not recommend this book for straight men, let me say that up front. You won't like this--too much gay sex for you. But gay men and ladies who appreciate a hot man's body? I think you will.

The story is written in first person from the viewpoint of Noah, our cop who has been through a horrible tragedy of love. Anyone who's lost someone can relate to this book. My eyes teared up more than once...but I'm a sap so, take it for what you will.

What I love about this book, other than it's fast pace, witty humor, and fun leading man is that the primary focus isn't the sex...its how Noah's broken heart gets the chance to heal....the sex is a natural part of the relationship that blossoms from the situation(s) and is never unwarranted (even the hot scene in the bathroom---or shall I say the FIRST hot scene in the bathroom?---Chapter Two!). Yeah, its a little more often than in other books but hey, ITS A ROMANCE PEOPLE...that's how they roll.

I think that the LGBT community should take pride in this story. It's a great tribute to how gay men feel in the work place, hiding who they are, and coming to terms with that. One of the big things for Noah is that he's a cop and many cops in the NYPD (as he says) are homophobic. I don't know if that's true, but in this book that's the premise (and it's not a hard premise to believe). Part of Noah's journey isn't just getting over Josh, or falling in love with Harry, or even the mystery segment of the story (kidnapping and drugs and gun fire, oh my!) as much as it is with him learning to love himself as well as someone else again.

I think we all can relate to that.

So if you get the chance to give 'er a read I think you'll find you can relate to many things in this book even if you're not a gay man.

I leave you with my favorite disclaimer in this book from the Publisher Page in front. It says, "Many of the acts described in our BDSM/fetish titles can be dangerous. Please do not try any new sexual practice, whether it be fire, rope, or whip play, without the guidance of an experienced practitioner. Neither Loose Id nor its authors will be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles."

AWESOME!

Question though....wouldn't "loss" be same as "death"? And if its not...what do you "lose" while doing BDSM/fetish things? Maybe they once had someone loose a hand from handcuffing? Who knows! LOL!

Have a great week all! I'll have more up with pics from the NaNoWriMo party next!

xo

Tamsin :)

P.S. I probably should mention that this book in particular has no fire, rope, handcuff play (etc) in it. But lots of time in bathrooms! :)

The Purple Bar!

When you upload all your words into the NaNoWriMo site and you've "won" (meaning you've written at least 50,000 words in November) your bar that's been showing your progress in blue gets lit up as purple with the word "WINNER!" inside it.

I GOT MY PURPLE BAR!

As those of you who read this blog know, I earned it after two weeks but it still was awesome yesterday to put in my chapters and hit "update" and see my final count was 80,301! More than I thought...more than Word said but hey...whatever. Word said I was at 80,231 so this just seems to think I wrote 70 more...odd but okay.

To celebrate I shall give you an excerpt from the book that I enjoy, its from near the end. I did pull about a paragraph or two in the middle of this out so as to not give away important plot info---would hate to ruin suprises for those who someday read this.

It's a scene between Cash and Phin. They're at the hospital. Enjoy!

--------------------------------

Tiny section from Chapter 25...

Cash sat on the couch, head in his hands. “What is wrong with me?”

“Do you want a list or would you like it in a power point presentation?”

Cash looked up to see Phin standing there. “Would I get color pictures?”

“But of course!”

“Then Power Point it is,” he said, his head back into his hands, his elbows on his knees.

Phin sat down and put his laptop bag on the ground. “Look, I know I’m not your boy Liam but if you need to talk—”

Cash looked up at him. “You’re my pack brother just like Liam is Phin, you know that.”

“I know—it’s just, well, you two are really tight.”

“He and I drink and party a lot, we don’t talk about serious stuff that much. He’s a great guy, don’t get me wrong, but that’s not how our friendship rolls. You on the other hand—well, you’re more level headed than he is.”

“I think that was a compliment.”

Cash gave him a lopsided grin and a light grasp on his shoulder, “It was.”

Phin paused and then said, “It’s good to have you back.”

“It’s good to be back—I just wish—why is she so difficult?”

“Denika?”

“No, the other bane of my existence.”

Phin laughed.

“Excuse me, sir? Mr. Pankov?”

Cash looked up at the nurse, “Yes?”

“Maria has arrived and has asked for you to meet her on the Squad floor.”

“All right,” Cash said as he stood up. "Thanks Phin.” Cash started to head towards the elevator when Phin stopped him.

“Cash?”

He hit the down button and turned around. “Yeah?”

“My suggestion? Just tell her.”

“Tell who?”

“Denika.”

The elevator dinged and the door opened. Cash reached in and held the door. “Tell her what?”

Phin smiled. “Just tell her that you love her man. It’ll solve a lot of your problems. Trust me. I speak from experience.”

“What makes you think—”

“Stop right there and get on your elevator—lying is not a virtue.”

Cash tried to hide a smile. “Thanks Phin.”

“Anytime good sir, anytime.”

Back to Living Dead Girl; Book 4 - Destiny

It's that time...time to put Moon Over Manhattan down...let it rest...let me detatch from it so I can really edit. I tried to do a lightning edit but I'll be honest; I'm too close to it still to do anything so...into the metaphorical drawer it goes. Don't get me wrong...I was able to cut almost 200 words in the first two chapters so I was doing well--I just found it hard to really see objectively. I might jump back over to it, we'll see.

What I knew I needed to do was get back to Living Dead Girl. I left off after I'd started Chapter 12 (so, basically 1/3 of the way thru) when I began Moon Over Manhattan. Problem was, I needed to re-read it cause honestly, I didn't remember much about it. I've been in a different girl's mind for the past 4 months so, alas, I had to re-read.

I started with the Introduction and had a profound memory recall--THIS main girl is NOT in good shape. I'd forgotten how messed up Atlanta is at this point in the game. I've been in the head of a healthy (and I mean mentally healthy) girl for 4 months. I'd forgotten about what a disaster Atlanta's head is. No wonder I left her for awhile...sheesh!

Anyhoo...wish me luck getting back into the other series. It's SUPER sad to leave Denika behind but alas, Atlanta needs me.

I will say this...I was impressed with the opening of Book 4, which is called Destiny. I'd forgotten how it started...here it is...

xo

Tamsin :)
--------------------------------

Introduction
Main Entry: des•ti•ny
Pronunciation: \ˈdes-tə-nē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural des•ti•nies
Etymology: Middle English destinee, from Anglo-French, from feminine of destiné, past participle of destiner
Date: 14th century
1 : something to which a person or thing is destined : FORTUNE
2 : a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency
synonyms see FATE

So I wait.

What do I wait for?

Destiny…to eat me whole. This “predetermined” course of events that seem to have infected my being. The “chosen one”. Prophecy this and prophecy that. I hate it. To feel like you have no choice but yet you’ve made all the wrong ones. It sucks. I am unhappy and I hurt those I love daily. How in hell can this be my destiny? Did I per chance pick the wrong path one day? If so, when did that happen and can I go back and change my mind?

On one hand, I have two beautiful children and powers that many would make a deal with the devil for. Yet, on the other hand I seem to have the propensity for tragedy and horror to follow me and those I care for wherever I go. One might suggest maybe I need to embrace this stay of being. I cannot fathom it. If I didn’t feel I was needed I would find a way to die. Destiny or no, there are things I’ve seen and things I’ve done that make my skin crawl and my non-beating heart cry out for help.

But I can’t. Have help that is. I have made these bad choices, whether they were my destiny to make or not, and I am the one that deals with them. There is no need to share my dirty laundry with those who count on me so heavily. I am the chosen one and I should be able to shoulder this pain and these burdens alone…and I will.

Until it kills me.

As Destiny Unfolds
by Nettie Pennington

There is always a choice to make
When two paths merge and life takes a break
For a split second, all things are one
As destiny and chaos collide once more

When two paths merge and life takes a break
No one will warn you that it is already to late
To change the path you have taken
As destiny and chaos collide once more…

Moon Over Manhattan is DONE!

On July 13th, 2010 I posted on this blog that I had a book idea. I then took you on a journey with me on how I discovered who it was about...how I decided to do a photo-shoot, and so on.

And as of 12:30am this morning...I'd finished the book. No joke. 30 Chapters + a tiny Epilogue (to piss off the readers of course because its the cliff hanger in case I want to write another one...and how could I not? I love these characters!) and BEFORE edit its at...hold onto your belt buckles people...175,829 words. Phew! No kidding...she's a big'en huh? Actually, to be honest, my first novel, Living Dead Girl; Book One - The Betrayal is 188,000 words AFTER edit so...I think I did better this time around on a "book one" (seeing as they need to have more backstory than other books).

Now, there is still a little over a week of NaNoWriMo left...so...what to do? Well, I'm going to do a "Lightning Edit". This is one of those things where I'll sit down and just start hacking away at it--cutting things I feel are "indulgent" or "boring" or "too wordy" (who me?). I would like to, in the end, cut a minimal of 25,829 words so the book is no more than 150,000 but...on the first pass let's set our sights on a more realistic goal...especially since we only have a short time to do it. Let's say.....5,000? Is that unrealistic? We'll see.


Anyhoo...I'm both sad and happy. Happy to have honestly written a full novel in four months...but sad to be done. It's been a great few months and I've had a blast! My story telling has gotten better I feel and this book is a lot of fun. It not only has a primary mystery plot that develops nicely but a love story that I feel is one of my better ones; my two lovely readers were very (and I do mean VERY) investsed in that part so, I think I nailed it better than before. Honestly, I'm going to miss my dysfunctional couple Denika and Cash----though, by the end they're not so dysfunctional.

After I do the Lightning Edit the book will get put in a drawer (metaphorically speaking of course) for a few months while I go back to LDG4. Once I've had some time away I can give it a better edit. I'm too close to the book right now to really attack and hack at it. #ThingsToKnowAboutYourself

I leave you all with a picture of the dynamic due...good gal sister and bad guy brother---ever enemies...Denika and Demyan...

National Novel Writing Month!

For those of you who don't know what this is--let me fill ye in!

Every year many (and I do mean MANY) writers young and old participate in this event; the object of which it is to try and write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.

You are thinking; "Seriously?"

You're next thought is then one of the following;

A. Who can write that many words in a month that make sense?
B. You can't write a full novel in 30 days!
C. If you do write a full novel in 30 days it'll be utter shite.
D. What novel these days is only 50,000 words?
E. I think I'm crazy enough to try that!
F. That sounds like fun! Where do I sign up?

I was both E and F...cause I am crazy like that! Besides, I write rather fast so I was curious if I could do it. Ah yes, us Leo's love a challenge! :)

Now, in NaNoWriMo (that's the abbreviation we all use--go to Twitter and go to the hash tag of that and you can see all kinds of stuff!) you're "suppose to" start a NEW novel as of November 1st...but...I won't lie, I didn't do that. I have been working on Moon Over Manhattan and had sworn I would finish it by the time I rang in the year 2011. To take all of November off to write something new would put a damper in my need to get this bad boy ready to pitch to agents by the new year so...I held off and began Chapter 16 of the book on the 1st of November.

I tend to write chapters with approx 5000 words per--so I was thinking, "So, in order to 'win' (there are no prizes & you're not really competing against anyone but yourself...so win is a loose term for 'complete') NaNoWriMo I need to do about 10 chapters. I would love to try that! Deal."

I've been known to, on frequent occation, to write a chapter in a day so all I needed was 10 good days and BAM...I'd reach the goal.

What happened though, has suprised even me.

As of today I am writing Chapter 23. I am at 36,722 words as of when I went to bed yesterday evening. I only have 13,278 words to go...so honestly only 2.5 more chapters to go...so to be honest, I could be done by this weekend. Well hell. I didn't want to be done that fast--nor did I think I would be.

But, it is what it is and I'm having fun, which is part of the point, and I've met some really cool people who are writers (who write as they're job job, or their job-to-be in the near future job OR those who write as a hobby--all of which ROCK!) here in NYC by going to "Meet Up's" and "Write In's". I love hearing about what people are writing! I love to listen all the amazing ideas that are in their heads! Plus, I get the chance to talk to people who are like me...people who like to let their imagination out to play on a regular basis. :)

What I am excited about is that I'm reaching the end of the Novel...which is bittersweet...but have no fear, I've totally thought of a way to continue the series if I so choose. What's even better is that I'm getting to bring in some of my awesome witches from my original series, Living Dead Girl. Characters that were children in that story (which begins in 1997) are now young adults and I'm really enjoying that!!! In particular, Gabriel Cotswald is 9 years old in Book Two of the LDG Series and now he's just now 21 years old and full of bravado! ***I believe Rachel describes him as being a mixture between James Dean and Vinny Barbarino*** ---LOL!

Someone who has read the first 3 books I've finished in my first series (I'm half way thru writing Book 4 and I plan to get back to it when Moon Over Manhattan is completed/edited/being shopped) had asked if I was going to bring in the "old gang". But of course I am! What fun for those who read both series! Bring in their favorite characters from one book to the other. I also plan to bring some of my characters from Moon Over Manhattan into LDG 4 and onward...cameo's...but still there. It IS the same world after all.

So that's my news. I know you all wanted more pictures...I know I promised you all the "villians" but those pics are still being worked on...not much longer, I promise.

But for now, I leave you a picture of what it looks like in NYC right now...and to all you NaNoWriMo Peeps! HAPPY WRITING! See you at the write in on Sunday! :) --If I've finished the novel by then, I'll start the editing process so I'll still be working with you all!

TTFN!

xo Tamsin :)