Constance Phillips - A Writer's Musings
Powerful stories about passion and surrender.
As events continue to unfold in the Boston Marathon Bombings, I’m maintaining “radio silence” on my blog.
Please look for new posts to begin again on a regular schedule starting Monday April 22, when I will start a countdown for Romantic Times Convention in Kansas City.
Today I’m at Urban Reader Girl Blogging about Happily Ever After.
There’s something to be said about a happy ending, isn’t there? It’s one of the reasons I love to pick up a romance over other genres to read. It is also the main reason I write romance. Taking two characters, putting them on a bumpy road to travel, and then watching them learn how to stand on their own two feet, while realizing they can’t live without each other, makes me all warm and mushy inside.
(Continue Reading and enter giveaway for $50 Amazon gift card at Happily Ever After.)
The lovely Jordan K Rose is hosting me over at her blog today.
Even though Resurrecting Harry is a book about an escape artist (Harry Houdini) who is able to escape the chains of death, one of my favorite characters to write was that of purgatory’s keeper – Jaden. (continue reading)
The first stop on my Bewitching Book tour kicks off today at Fangtastic Books! Stop by to enter to win a $50 gift card.
I knew when I decided to write a book about a reincarnated Harry Houdini, that I was treading on thin ice. I wasn’t just writing an alternate timeline for a historical figure, I was adding a new fictional tale to the life of legend. But, when the idea of an escape artist who could escape death hit me, I know Houdini was the only potential star for this story. (continue reading)
Tomorrow: I will be at the Maumee Valley Romance Writer’s of America Spring Book Lover’s event. Check out this post for details. In addition to the free food, free books, fun conversation and 2 huge giveaway bags (which will each have a copy of Fairyproof included) I will be reading from Resurrecting Harry at 10:45 am and be on a Q&A panel about writing and publishing at 1:30 pm.
Many of my friends and fellow authors participated in Carrie Ann’s Alpha Male blog hop last week. In going through many of these wonderful posts, I learned something about myself and my characters.
I DO write Alpha males.
No one was more surprised by this than me.
Daniel, my hero in Fairyproof is strong, and honorable, but I really wouldn’t classify him as Alpha I can not say the same thing, however, for Keiran. (Faithful readers of this blog, will recognize the pic to the left as a visual representation of Keiran.)
Now that I am writing Keiran’s book, he is the star of the show. He is center stage and absorbing the spotlight in a way that only he can… And I realized by reading these blogs, he’s very, very Alpha.
Just look at the traits he shows in Fairyproof:
1. He’s protective of his sister. – So, maybe he goes about it a bull-headed way, but in his heart, Keiran worries about his sister. He fears she’s in danger. And, he wants her home because he believes she is safer there than in the human world.
2. He’s a servant to the Council. – As a Protector, he has two roles: Protect the fairy population and serve the Council. He does both without question.
3. He doesn’t back down to those who oppose him. – Though, he did get himself in a sticky situation, in the end he doesn’t back down to his enemies. He stands up and defends both his sister and council.
Through all of this I’ve learned a lesson too. That one never stops learning about the craft. Keiran was and is what I’ve first wrote him. Now that I have a label, nothing really changes.
I hope this making all of you wonder if and how he’s going to change when he finds love.
It was a slice of serenity amidst a chaotic city, and a
dynamic illustration of the two worlds she was caught
between –From Fairyproof.
Over the summer, I built a small fairygarden of my own when plans to build a bigger, outside garden had to be put on hold.
I was happy with the end result, but have had some problems keeping the all the plants health, the moss, particularly.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been stopping, when I had time, to find some replacements with little luck. I’d almost given up my quest until spring and then yesterday I found a two-fold surprise in my local Walmart.
I was only mildly surprised to see the aisles once devoted to outdoors and gardening had been replaced with Christmas ornaments. Never mind the fact that they’ve skipped two holidays to jump to the big money-maker, I don’t even wan to think about Christmas trees, decorations and holiday baking just yet.
The second part of the little shocker — the one that actually helped me — was the endcap that had a clearance of the indoor plants. And while there was nice little variety nothing really pinged my interest, until I focused in on the bamboo (similar to the one pictured left).
“My little fairies would think of this as a tree,” I thought. And another small, green plant that had a very different look than the other plants in my garden stood out. Both would take the garden in another direction, give it a brand new feel.
It seemed apropos as I’ve been working on book two in the Fairyproof book, and the characters have been dealing with some changes in their world.
If I needed another reason to push me to buy the new plants, I was reminded that like my fairygarden, life itself is ever evolving.
(Look for pictures of the new garden here next week.)
I’m a simple person. And while I love to dress up from time to time when there is good reason, my first choice would be my “comfy clothes.” I’m one of those people who comes home after a long day at work and heads straight to the bedroom where I’ll trade in my work clothes for an over-sized t-shirt and lounge pants.
In fact, a few years ago, when I still worked a part-time job from the comfort of my home-office, every Friday was Pajama Friday. The self-declared holiday is just what it seems. I spent the whole day in my pjs.
Even now, my day job is working in a quiet office with one other employee. We very rarely have to greet people and most work is done over the phone of via the internet. I don’t dress up for the job, but I do strive for a put together look. And I wouldn’t think of having a pajama Friday.
And that is because I learned something from those days of locking myself away for days on end in my house — and worse in that “middle of the house” office, that doesn’t get any natural daylight.
How we face the day is as much a mental game as it is anything else.
An occasional pajama day can be incredibly relaxing. It can help shake off stress that too often builds up in this crazy, crazy world, but not leaving the house and spending days on end not facing the daylight can lead to a depression.
The only experience I speak from is my own.
There have been times throughout the years that I only worked from home or worked as a wife and mother (especially when our children were young). Every time I went through one of these phases, I eventually either got myself involved in activities that would draw me out of the house (a sewing class or a scrap booking class). If that wasn’t enough to shake the urge to live in my pjs, I took on part time work outside the house.
The reason I broach this subject here on my blog is that as a writer it can be very easy to fall into the world we’re creating. And if you one of the lucky ones who is able to make it your full time job, you may also be dealing with some of these emotions I’m talking about.
Aside from self awareness (identifying when my mood is beginning to sink), I have two little secrets that are like a life preserver to normal. They keep me a part of the world outside my house, and lifts my mood: black jeans and my manicure appointments.
I wear black jeans at least once or twice a week, because there is just something a little more dressy about them without actually having to dress up. I keep my manicure/shellack appointments every two weeks, because well kept nails make me smile.
And it’s hard to get down in the dumps when you’re smiling.
I am so pleased to be able to share another Crescent Moon Press author and book with my readers today! Marne Ann Kirk’s Goddess on the Run.
Also: My Bewitching Book tour continues today, and I am appearing at some additional blogs around the net today. Please check the bottom of this page for links.
About Goddess on the Run:
All Fomorian Hells are about to break loose on earth, making human souls the daily special, if the Tuatha de Danaan can’t stop it.
Teagan, a Celtic demi-goddess hiding from her destiny in small-town Colorado, wants nothing to do with her mother’s forgotten realm or the drama of a battle of the gods. And Merric is forbidden fruit she’s too smart to taste.
Merric, leader of the Tuatha de Danaan warriors, has other plans. Teagan holds the key to salvation, for both him and their worlds, whether she wants to or not. He’ll do whatever it takes to convince her of her duty.
But can he find the key to her heart?
About Marne Ann:
Marne Ann Kirk lives in Western Colorado, where her husband, children, grand-children, and a herd of small animals ride roughshod over her or at least she lets them think they do. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, which she uses a bit as a writer and much less as a wife and mother. When she isn’t escaping into the worlds her imagination creates, Marne can be found trying to get the last three of seven children safely through their teen years, playing with her grand-babies, baking, daydreaming in her garden, or learning to blog. Her favorite authors, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lyndsay Sands, and Kresley Cole, inspire her. Marne is a member of Romance Writers of America, and its Future, Fantasy, & Paranormal chapter. She is the Vice President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers for 2011, of which she’s been a member since 2002.
You can find Marne hanging out with some close friends and fellow writers at:
Cowboys and Dragons at the Cafe.
A Review:
“Goddess On the Run has everything a reader could ask for—Teagan, a heroine gutsy yet vulnerable, Merric, a hero willing to die for his soulmate and their child, and a High Deamon threatening to destroy the thing they hold most dear. Kirk has fashioned a story both action-packed and romantic with characters that will stay with you long after their adventure is over.” Jeanne Stein, Best-Selling Author of the Anna Strong Chronicles
Where you can find me and Fairyproof today!
Captivated Reading has a promo piece about Fairyproof today. Jill Kemerer is hosting a party for the book release at her blog. Sasha Summers also has a preview on her blog. Jenna Rutland invited Monique (Heroine from Fairyproof) to share her Supernatural Veggie Pizza recipe in her Fork it Up Friday’s feature.
Harlan Saysin:
Monique and Keiran’s great-grandfather, Harlan Saysin, has never left the fairy realm, so there is no picture available of him, but when Keiran visits him, he notices the man’s long gray hair and the fact he doesn’t look his advanced age (300+).
As a member of the Council (The Fairy’s governing body) it isn’t considered safe for him to travel to off the Fairy world.
Harlan’s most concerned that his great grandchildren live the lives they were destined to live as a member of a Council family. He is less concerned than Keiran is over the perceived negative aspect of the Re-population Project, but is committed to enforcing the Canon.
Toady, Kary Rader is hosting me at her blog and sharing Fairyproof with her readers.
Here at the blog, I’m giving you a sneak peek behind the scenes and introducing you to some of the characters in Fairyproof.
Meet Eero Teneyck:
Eero is from a powerful Fairy family who disagrees with the Re-population Projects suggested solutions to shrinking fairy population.
Shortly after Monique and Keiran’s parents are murdered, Eero proposed to Monique. She refused, but her brother has been pressuring her to change her mind.
Monique would rather stay on the human realm then bind herself or her power to Eero.
“What more could you ask for in life than to be given an impossible challenge?” — Cory Booker (1969 – )
Isn’t that a great quote?
I can hear some of you saying that you’d rather have just one day where you didn’t have to focus on challenges. That a day you could easily breeze through would be a nice break from every day life. And while in this super-busy lifestyle a single stress-free day might be nice, I bet you any more than that would leave you bored.
Whether I’m challenging myself in a fitness class, in my writing, or even in a game I’m playing; I find that the adrenaline rush I get from pushing myself just a little further is a big part of living.
But challenges serve a bigger purpose than pushing us forward. Working toward a goal, and that includes overcoming a hurdle in the road in front of you, helps you to sharpen your skills. A little bit of resistance is sometimes all you need to fight harder for a positive result.
Look at most writers, and you’ll see a perfect example of this quote at work. Myself included, many have found the road to publication was filled with rejection, more than they (we) would like to recount. Endurance and persistence are two necessary qualities that were used to face the challenges head on, overcome the hurdles and reach the goal.
