Well, I’m kicking off the Holiday Season with a couple of contests. First off, visit my blog and help me choose which photo to use for the new site — and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a red hot iPod.
Secondly, it’s time for the third “Chase the Dream” contest for writers, which I co-sponsor with author Leigh Michaels.
So, enter the first 1,000 words of your unpublished manuscript, and you could land a contract with an editor or agent. We’ve got some great editors on board — and this year, you can listen to audio clips from editors and agents telling you what they look for in a submission!
Before I get to manhood, I want to invite you to check out the weekly talk show I host for SingleMindedWomen.com. We’ve had some great guests, including Dr. John Gray, of MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS fame. On 10/13 at 6:00 p.m. PT, will be a Single Parents Roundtable, which should be quite interesting. I hope you’ll check it out!
So, on to manhood … I’m nearing the end of my story in the 2009 firefighter anthology (with Susan Lyons and Jodi Lynn Copeland). Which means it’s time for … you got it, p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-i-o-n, my all time favorite activity.
So, since there’s a scene in my story where the hero and heroine do a wordplay on the word ‘manhood,’ naturally, I had to take a trip to Merriam-Webster.com to look up manhood, which then caused me to click on penis. Which Merriam-Webster defined as:
a male erectile organ of copulation by which urine and semen are discharged from the body and that develops from the same embryonic mass of tissue as the clitoris
Now, there was a mood-buster.
So, I went on to look for sexy celebrity chefs, which resulted in a much more enjoyable experience – the accidental discovery of the 2008 Great Male Survey Results. Of course, I zoomed right in to the sex part of the survey. Here are some statistics I found interesting:
37% said they have sex less than once/month
Regarding how long their sexual sessions last, 39% said 15-30 minutes, 17% said 15 minutes or less, 13% said 5 minutes or less
60% have never told a woman they love her to get sex
50% would be offended if a woman faked an orgasm
61% would like to have a threesome
44% are not comfortable with their wife/girlfriend having had more than 5 sexual partners
74% HAVE NEVER TAKEN AN STD TEST
So, if you find yourself in the mood to procrastinate with me, check it out. I’d love to hear the statistic that you found most interesting.
Oh — and, I totally forgot about another procrastination opportunity, I’m giving away copies of SIN CLUB, plus a sexy bra sachet and bustier key chain at All the Blogs a Page - so please stop by and enter.
Like Sasha White, I, too, have been an absentee author from the Aphrodisia blog (and my own web site, and my MySpace page, and my Shelfari page, etc, etc.). And though I, too, am a book binger, that’s not my excuse.
My excuse is over-committing. I tend to say “yes” to every idea that comes my way or pops into my head that triggers a flicker of excitement – no, not that kind of excitement. The Sex Lounge Finding Derek Contest, my “Chatting with Chase” talk show, and the “Chase the Dream Contest” for writers are only a sampling of the ideas that started off as small flickers and morphed into big projects.
So, the last few months, I’ve taken some time to slow down and think before saying “yes.” And, that meant saying “no” to some things. Hence, I’ve been offline, my web site is months out-of-date, my “Chatting with Chase” show has been put on hold, my MySpace friend requests are accumulating, etc. While I feel extremely guilty for being such a “slacker,” it’s forced me to admit that I can’t do everything. And forced me to think about what I really want to do and whether or not there is enough time to do it. The non-guilty part of me has enjoyed this time of reflection.
Now, as I type my way toward my 10/15 book deadline, struggle through the politics at the day job, and slowly come back online, I find that my To Do List is, once again, overflowing. And, perhaps I have, once again, over-committed. But, I have given serious thought before saying “yes” and have figured these activities into a schedule. And I’m very excited about the results – and upcoming events, which I’ll begin sharing in a few weeks.
But, in the midst of all this self-reflection, I found this YouTube video, “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen” that is one of my all-time favorites. Because, no matter what is going on in my life at any given time, it is always appropriate, and always brings a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye.
Have you seen this video before? And, if so, does it resonate with you in any way?
Recently, a recruiter I’ve worked with several times in getting day job gigs called me about a job opportunity. With a voice brimming with enthusiasm, she listed all the requirements and duties, while I listened with growing dread. Despite this “fantastic” opportunity, all I could see was the dwindling hours per day left for me to spend on writing.
“And, they’re looking for someone with a high Emotional IQ,” she said.
“A what?” I laughed, thinking she was joking.
She then explained all the warm and fuzzy skills they were looking for in the areas of adaptability, motivating others with varying personality traits, working with difficult personalities to get the job done, etc. etc. This triggered a flashback of the Myers-Briggs test, which a company I’d worked for early in my career, had administered to all employees in my department. The results were supposed to enlighten us to our personality type – and those of others, facilitate our ability to work well with those who were different than us, and enable us to work together in harmony.
After the call, I searched the Internet for more information. Apparently, researchers had determined that traditional IQ tests, which only test intelligence, were inadequate in predicting success in life. Those tests were missing the emotional factor.
Enter the missing link: the Emotional Intelligence Test (EIQ). After oodles of studies, researchers determined that people with a high EIQ seemed to be more successful in life than those with a lower EIQ, even if their “traditional” IQ score was high – or, even average.
I took an EIQ test at Queendom.com, “the land of tests.” It was an interesting test. The subjective part asked me to give my responses on how I dealt with my emotions, the emotions of others, how I motivated myself, and more. The objective part showed a series of photographs and asked me to intuit what was going on. An hour later, and $9.95 poorer, I was amazed (and pleased) with the results. It accurately nailed the areas that I thought I was good at, while surprising me with a couple that I needed work in. Armed with a high IQ, I now have proof that I’ll make the bestsellers list one day. LOL
So, if you find yourself in the midst of a procrastination moment with $10 bucks to burn and an overwhelming desire to chart your EIQ, I recommend this test. And if you do take it, wanna discuss our test results?
Well, speaking of that day job, I’m off to put my EIQ skills to the test …
So, just as I was congratulating myself on what a good writing session I was having, I took a short caffeine-fix break, which led to a quick email check, which led to a visit to MediaBistro.com, where I was one mouse-click away from signing up AGAIN for the magazine article writing class that I’d previously taken, but never finished. But, the money Gods were watching, forcing me to close my browser.
What else can I do while the coffee’s brewing? I asked myself.
I know. I’ll look through my book idea file for new projects (despite the 9 unfinished ones staring back at me).
An hour later, I was still scrolling through the pages. Then, the following idea caught my attention. In December 2006, as I was sitting in Starbuck’s looking around and inventing lives for various patrons – something else I do to procrastinate – I saw a woman alone who looked rather sad and was staring at the door repeatedly, which triggered the idea for this Christmas story:
A woman sits expectantly at a table at a restaurant, convinced that Mr. Right is going to waltz through the door. She checks her makeup repeatedly, can barely finish each course, and glances at the doorway each time someone walks in. In between courses, she replays scenes from her life — past Christmases of heartbreak. But as dessert is served, followed by her third cup of coffee, and the last guest leaves, she must accept that Mr. Right is not coming. No one has ever come to here rescue, so why should this Christmas be any different. She asks for one last cup of coffee and takes the handful of pills she’s carried along with her. As she drifts off, she hears sirens in the background, before gazing up into kind brown eyes. “You came,” she says, then laughs, coughing, “I’m sorry I didn’t wait.” The reader is left to wonder if Mr. Right really came or if she has died and it was her last dream.
Now, there’s a cheery story! What had I been thinking about beforehand?
And, then I remembered why I’d jotted down this idea – because, each year, I get more and more turned off by the excessive commercialism and forced good cheer of the holidays. I was rebelling, in my own childish way, by forcing myself to come up with an unhappy Christmas tale.
Uh, yeah. Well, I think I succeeded.
Hmmmm…Supposing that I didn’t make the heroine come across as a Pitiful Pearl (as my friend Leigh Michaels says), do you think anyone would buy it if I wrote it? Now, that thought is good for at least ten more procrastination minutes…
But I’m going to be strong and resist the temptation – and struggle to get New Year’s Resolution #1 back on track. Further exploration of that idea will have to wait, perhaps forever.
Here’s wishing everyone success with this year’s resolutions!
It’s been a busy few weeks! First off, my second book, SIN CLUB, just came out on November 27th. Woo-hoo! I am SO excited!
So, to celebrate, as well as give folks a sneak peek, I decided to do something different, so I created an audio excerpt of SIN CLUB, as well as the sin-sual book video below:
Well, what do you think? I’d love to know, so please leave a comment here or on my blog about either the new web site or the SIN CLUB book video, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a **free** copy of SEX LOUNGEand an autographed mirror. Then, enter the December Happy Holidays Contestfor a chance to win a handful of books by Jasmine Haynes, Leigh Wyndfield, Dee S. Knight, Rachelle Chase, and a $20 Amazon gift certificate from TL Schaefer.
And speaking of contests, the SEX LOUNGE Finding Derek CONTEST – my previously mentioned online contest where sexy guys competed to be Derek, the hero of SEX LOUNGE, has ended. Check out the photos, audio clips, essays, and videos of the 37 hunky guys who made the cut, as well as the winners, by visiting www.FindingDerek.com/entries.
That’s all for now. I hope you’ll enter the contests and share your thoughts!
It’s my turn to blog today and, well, since making videos is my #1 procrastination activity, I was going to post a videotape of me, dressed in surgical garb — complete with gloves and surgical mask — cleaning out my refrigerator. But … sigh … fellow Aphrodisiac, Amie Stuart, talked me out of it.
So, instead, I’ll share a bit of news …
I’ve got two fantastic guests coming up on “Chatting with Chase,” my live talk show. First up, this Sunday, 11/11, at 4:30 p.m. PT will be Tara Janzen, author of the wonderful CRAZY book series, which features hot cars, kickass heroes, and tough heroines and is packed with all the weapons, tactics, and danger an adrenaline junky could want. Join us, as we discuss cars, guns, love, adventure, her new book, ON THE LOOSE (October 2007), and more!
Then, on Thursday, 11/14, at 6:00 p.m. PT, Sheila Clover English, CEO of COS Productions will be my guest. She’ll talk about screenwriting, book trailers, authors, her favorite Derek (she’s a judge in my contest), and more.
Next year, I will attend my 7th consecutive National RWA conference. While I still think RWA is an awesome organization and enjoy the conference, I must be honest: A bit of the thrill is gone. The level of anticipation and excitement that I felt in the early years is not as high. Probably because the experiences I have each year do not differ as drastically as they did in the beginning, when everything about writing and the industry was brand new to me.
Well, last month, I regained the ‘thrill’ – that sense of excitement and anticipation – when I participated in the Women’s Fiction Festival in Italy 9/27 – 9/30. Why? Well, off the top of my head, below are a few thrill-inducing reasons (and if you want to experience a bit of it for yourself, check out the video – in Italian – of the festival highlights) …
Italy. The thought of Italy, by itself, makes my heart go pitter patter. The conference was in Matera – in the Sassi district, which is the ancient part of the city, steeped with beauty and history along twisty, stair-stepped, stone streets. Getting lost was a joy – and an aerobic workout.
Food. From fettucine, tossed with bacon, mushrooms, and tomatoes in a cream sauce, to golden, moist swordfish medallions, flavored with olive oil and subtle spices, to Saltimbocca, thin, flattened, breast of chicken topped with prosciutto and cooked in butter – everything was flavorful and fresh. Not once did I eat a bad meal. And the coffee, ahhhhh – a caffeine addicts paradise. Strong, bold and fully loaded.
Global Perspective. Agents, editors, and guest speakers from the U.S, Italy, Great Britain, and Germany gave insight into publishing in their parts of the world, while the efforts of an extraordinary group of volunteer translators insured everyone was able to understand their presentations. Attendees, both writers and readers, were from different countries, which rounded out the international feel.
Conference. In addition to the staple ingredients of a writers conference – agent and editor panels and appointments, book signings, author/subject matter expert/special interest presentations – there were outside events that immersed attendees in Italian culture: A welcome reception in the upscale Ana Boutique; classical music performances; a night-time stroll through the Sassi; a ‘happy hour’ feast of wine, olives, and hors d’oeuvres in the piazza Sedile, while actors recited love poems in Italian, Romeo and Juliet style; wine and hors d’oeuvres in a romantic cave setting that was once an olive oil mill; and so much more.
Elizabeth Jennings did an outstanding job in organizing the conference, while the multilingual Bridget, Lorena, Micky, and Theresa did an amazing job translating each session into Italian or English for the attendees. The Women’s Fiction Festival is a unique and special experience, to be savored by readers, as well as writers, men, as well as women, and conference junkies, as well as those, like me, who’ve lost the thrill of the conference.
If I can ever get caught up, I plan to blog more specifically about the conference and my experiences in Matera, plus the delights of Ischia (especially it’s spectacular spa, Poseidon), a beautiful island off of Naples, that a group of us went to post-conference.
SUBMISSIONS: The first 1,000 words of an unpublished romance novel or novel with a romantic theme.
JUDGING: Each week, I will choose one finalist and post the entry on the web site. Then, at the end of the contest, readers will vote for their favorites and determine the top three winners. Each week, Leigh will also choose one entry to win a mini-critique, which will also be posted on the web site.
PRIZES: There are fantastic prizes for winners and entrants alike. In addition, editors and agents will read all the finalist entries. While there are no guarantees, last year, all the finalists received requests from editors and agents, some of which resulted in book sales.
Check the site for rules , last year’s winners, and more. It’s *FREE* to enter so enter today!
Last night, I attended Media Bistro’s Summer Fling Party at the Bubble Lounge, where 60+ editorial/design staff, full-time freelance writer/editors, TV/radio/newspaper reporter/anchor/producers, book publishing, and film industry professionals mixed and mingled.
As I sipped my first Rasmopolitan, I chatted with a freelance writer, discussing the daily challenge of mentally shifting from the freedom in writing to the rigidity and bureaucracy of the “day job.”
“I understand,” she said. “You enjoy the creativity of the right brain more.”
At first, I agreed. But, as I moved on to my second Rasmopolitan, I realized that wasn’t quite true. Because I love using both sides of my brain. It’s the freedom of use that distinguishes the two. In the day job, I feel like my brain is in a box, confined to only think within the acceptable confines of policies, procedures, and egos. With writing, both sides of my brain are free to explore any idea and implement it.
In my day job, I focus on technology, but I’m limited in the ways I can apply it. But with writing – the promotion of me and my writing – the ways I can use technology are endless. Which is why I was excited by the whole “streaming” live-over-the-Internet concept when I launched my live talk show, “Chatting with Chase.” Or the automated email list management functionality when I discovered Constant Contact for my newsletter. And my latest passion, merging text, sound, animation, and graphics in videos, which I indulged recently when my friend Saeeda videotaped me ‘finding Derek,’ the hero of Sex Lounge, at Swig:’
So while I love giving my right brain free reign in the stories I create, I crave the use of the day job, left brain skills in the business side of writing. I think I’ll go grab another Rasmopolitan and think about this some more …
Secondly, it’s time for the third “Chase the Dream” contest for writers, which I co-sponsor with author Leigh Michaels.
The 
