To the Stars

Thought provoking music. "Saturn" by Sleeping At Last

I was reading the second chapter of The Princess Diarist on the snowy morning of Dec. 23, 2016, while I waited in the car in a machinery lot for my husband.  In the book, Carrie Fisher was discussing hairstyle options for her iconic role as Princess Leia.  I had been looking forward to reading the book ever since I had heard about it over a year ago.  What fangirl wouldn't enjoy reading Carrie's journals she wrote while filming A New Hope?  I was jolted out of reading when my husband came back to the car and we started a slow track in the snow to town.  As we progressed, the snow flakes became bigger and the travel more hazardous.  I remember thinking, "I really don't want to die on my birthday!"  We finally made it to town, where we stopped for lunch and Christmas shopping.  My husband assured me that if we took our time, the snow would end and the roads would be better on the way home.  Sure enough, by the time we left the restaurant the weather had improved.  When we finished shopping, the snow had completely stopped and the roads were clear.  When we got home, I checked my Facebook news feed for birthday posts, when I discovered a post about Carrie Fisher suffering a massive heart attack on a plane earlier that day.  I remember thinking, "But, it's my birthday..."

I know these days people can be very sensitive about the attention celebrities receive when they pass away, stating statistics of how many public and armed services figures died in the past year.  I am exceedingly grateful for our real life heroes but--to be honest--they are complete strangers to me.  They have unfamiliar faces.  I don't know a thing about them.  I will ask this question...how many of them were a part of one of your first memories?  Anyone?  Maybe if they were a neighbor or a close relative.  Sure, I have foggy memories of being in the crib because that was before toddler beds.  But my first clear memory was going to A New Hope at the drive-in theater with my family.  My older brother and oldest sister sat in the front with my dad.  My mom sat in the back with my older sister and myself.  Sadly, the only part of the movie I remember was a scene of Luke and Leia talking.  I cannot pick the scene out today, as our memories change over time with the dialog and the background fading away.  (I remember Chewie's son Lumpy from the holiday special walking across a big structure similar to Titan's kingdom in The Little Mermaid.  It turned out to be a railing on a primitive tree hut with a painted background!  My, have my memories become distorted with time!)  Part of the reason I don't remember much of Episode IV was because I fell asleep across the backseat.  No stones, please.  I was preschool age and it was way past my bedtime. I slept fairly sound until my sister sat on my head!  That is a topic of discussion that continues to this day and we still laugh about it.

I thought Carrie was going to make it.  I truly did.  Maybe she had found peace by going public with her long ago affair with her co-star?  They had such phenomenal chemistry that many of us fans were not surprised when we found out.  I actually wasn't feeling that chemistry in the last movie and I wondered why.  Now I know.  I was shocked to hear of Carrie's mother passed the following day.  Not the fact that her mother possibly died of a broken heart, but the irony that Princess Leia's mom died of the same thing.  It's like George Lucas had a little bit of the Force himself when he wrote it.

Girl Power started with Princess Leia.  She was my inspiration for Hope.  I wanted a strong female protagonist and I gave her these characteristics: a petite brunette with brown eyes and an inner strength that made her very powerful.  Thank you for paving the way, Carrie.  Godspeed.  I hope you've found peace.

Veronica

  

Jacob's Hope

#lightsonforjacob

With my main character of The Whisperer of Storms being clairvoyant, I did a great deal of research on psychic abilities.  In doing so, I learned a little more about their vital role in locating missing people.  My interview with a clairvoyant taught me how they use their sixth sense, which sometimes heightens their other senses, to find people.  One such instance was a plane crash.  Under hypnosis, "Rita" pointed to the crash site on a map, which was within 30 miles of the wreckage.  The smell stayed foremost in her mind...the scent of death.  She also talked about knowing the location of a missing boy who had drowned.  Shortly after, the police recovered the child's body from that very location along the river.  Rita once received a letter from a woman who read about her in the paper.  She had told Rita she shouldn't be doing those things.  I sat there in disbelief as she told me this, "But you do it to help people."

To help people...to give them hope.  That was the reason why I named my heroine Hope.  She found a few missing children in her story.  I always focused on those she could save. There were a few she couldn't.  I never wanted to go there.  The hardest part of writing was putting myself into the parents' shoes.  Feeling their fear, anger, despair.

We took a short family trip last week before school started.  We drove through St. Joseph on Thursday.  My husband reminded me that Jacob Wetterling had lived near there.  I watched a group of boys walking along the street, wondering if they felt safe now that so many years had passed.  Imagine my surprise when I got home on Saturday night to learn they recovered Jacob's body.  I was a few years older than Jacob when he disappeared.  After 27 years, he's finally home.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.  May they eventually find the closure they need.

Veronica

No, Thanks! I'd Rather Itch!

I can't believe it's been over five months since I published my first novel.  I think about the timing and am very grateful to have published it when I did.  My husband and I have been through some trials and tribulations ranging from the health of our aging parents to piracy.  Timing was vital, so I'm glad I picked the right release date.  Otherwise, you may never have joined Hope St. Clair on her unexpected journey to find her destiny.

Do you ever take the time to read the medication guide that comes with your prescription?  I have to admit expository medical writing is not my cup of tea, but I cannot express how important it is.  Patients should be aware of the possible side effects of a new medication.  Be vigilant and let your doctor and pharmacist know if you're experiencing any possible side effects.  My husband's former colleague was suddenly having seizures.  He had tests and CT scans done over the period of a few months.  The doctors were stumped.  They finally found the culprit...a prescription drug!

I had a c-section when my youngest was born.  I'm sure many of you ladies understand when I say the spinal really made me itch!  They gave me an antihistamine through my IV to relieve it.  It made me so groggy that by the time it finally wore off, I refused to take any more.  I told the doctor, "No, thanks!  I'd rather itch!"

 I suggest the next time your doctor prescribes a medication, to do a little research of your own.  Read the medication guide and Google it.  There's even reviews/feedback for medication online.  I cannot express how vital research is to a writer.  It's the foundation to his/her career.  Always remember that knowledge is power.

Veronica

 

      

The Island of Broken Dreams

Disney Dreams was the name of the collection of paintings that Thomas Kinkade created based off of the Disney movies.  It's quite an impressive array of his talent.  You get the feeling of happily ever after.  Isn't that what's expected from a Disney movie?  You expect the couple to get their happily ever after.  For me, Disney has always given me a feeling of expectancy.  I always know the prince or the knight will always rescue the damsel, and they will ride off together into the sunset.  Those are our girlhood dreams, right?  But, what if the hero didn't make it?  What if the princess had to find a way to go on without him?  That's quite a way to shatter girlhood dreams, wouldn't you say? 

When I find myself feeling this way, I imagine myself climbing the ancient steps of a mountainous island.  It's a lengthy climb.  I can hear the waves crash against the rocks below.  I can feel the wind in my face.  I see the daylight reflecting off of the water.  I can hear the birds calling to each other.  When I reach the summit of the mountain, I see a lone, cloaked figure looking out across the ocean.  He slowly turns at my approach.  He pulls back the hood of his cloak revealing his white, wavy hair, with an equally white beard.  He looks at me with a look of torment.  Without breaking eye contact, I reach into my bag and pull out...a silver pen.  With a pleading countenance, I hold it out to him as his inner turmoil persists.

Who is the man and what's the significance of the pen? 

Veronica     

The Day Is Here!

Finally!  October 27th is here!  The Whisperer of Storms is now available:
Amazon in Kindle and paperback
Barnes & Noble Nook
Smashwords in various eBook formats
CreateSpace in paperback

I've received positive feedback from three people who read advance copies!

Uncharted Waters

It is a book!  I sent my manuscript off for editing earlier last week.  She smoked through it over the weekend and gave me positive feedback!

I'm also on the schedule this week for cover design with Laura Shinn.  I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with.  Laura is a wealth of information for self-publishing and I am very grateful I found her, thanks to Mark's List!  In the meantime, I'm reading the Smashwords Style Guide to prepare me for formatting, in addition to setting up my Smashwords, Createspace, and Kindle accounts.  My goal is to be published before the end of 2015.  Preferably before the holiday rush!

Veronica      

A Child's First Teacher

The other day, I assisted a handicapped gentleman in a wheelchair into a local business.  Even though I was in a hurry, I took the time to hold the door for him, and made sure his chair made it across the threshold.  I didn't even get a thank you out of him, though I wasn't expecting one, but I was certainly greeted with warmth from the staff members.  Most of all, my youngest saw that I helped the man and asked me about it.  I explained to her that we are supposed to help those in need.  There are little rewards, even if it's setting a good example for a child.

I am happy to say that I finally finished The Whisperer of Storms!  It consists of 50 chapters and an epilogue.  I am currently making arrangements to have it edited.  In the meantime, I've been working on a book trailer, reading up on eBook formatting for Smashwords, and thinking about a tentative release date.  Once the editing and formatting are completed, I'll have a better idea for a release date.  I am considering doing pre-orders,which I will set up once I set a date.

For my next book, I have two stories to choose from.  Both are contemporaries, which will be much easier to write than a historical.  I won't have to worry about when a phrase was coined, or when something was invented.  Since I now know what I'm doing, my second novel should take much less time to complete.  I have to stick to writing everyday.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Veronica

Pure Imagination

Yesterday, I had two comments from two different people that made me realize how much time writing takes.  I visited a friend whom I hadn't seen since October.  She said she didn't see me much anymore.  I always use the excuse that I've been busy.  Kids, school activities, the library, house work, and helping hubby out with farming are always good excuses.  I never mention that I've been busy writing.  I always feel a little guilty not talking about writing, but I find it's easier to talk to strangers and online acquaintances about it.  The second was a question from my eldest.  She asked me why I never bake anymore, except for school and church functions.  My answer was simple.  The time I would spend in the afternoon baking, I use for writing instead.  She proceeded to ask me if I would bake more when I get my book published.  I replied I probably wouldn't, since I'll be writing my next book!  The poor kid!

I wish I could see my time clock for the totals hours I've spent researching, plotting, writing, revising, formatting, etc.  Writing is a lonely business, and I think it's for those who don't mind being alone at times.  I remember my mother used to voice her concerns that I liked to spend a great deal of time alone.  No worries, Mom.  I'm was just exercising my brain and storytelling muscles.

  I recently saw Josh Groban and Lindsey Stirling's video for Pure Imagination.  This should be a theme song for all writers.  Josh has a beautiful, powerful voice!  Skip to 1:40 to get to the song.

As the school year comes to a close, I am busy editing and formatting my manuscript.  It's starting to look more like a novel. 

Veronica

#ForPaul

I saw The Fast and the Furious 7 today, even though I haven't seen 2 - 6.  It was the first Paul Walker movie I've seen since his death.  The theater was quiet as the end credits rolled.  Afterwards, as I was driving home, I caught a glimpse of Heaven . . .       

A picture is never as good as the real thing, but I still had to pull over to snap a few shots.  The afternoon had been sunny, until the clouds rolled in, which was shortly after the movie.

  

I have to commend the filmmakers, and the Walker family, on persevering during that difficult time.  As a writer, I have far less worries than a movie director.  I could continue to write in the case of an untimely death, and I've, in fact, done so.  Losing the lead cast member is another story.  Caleb and Cody Walker did a wonderful thing stepping up to help them complete filming.  I thought they all did a great job, and made a beautiful tribute to Paul.

I have to wonder how the original script played out.  I noticed that Paul wasn't in many scenes in the beginning; therefore, I'm assuming those were the unfinished scenes that they had to modify.  I really couldn't tell which scenes had his brothers, but I think it was those where he didn't have much or any lines.  The only time I was aware of CGI enhancement was a closeup.  He looked almost otherworldly, but I thought it was a fitting scene for it.  I'm hoping they'll reveal more about the revisions in the DVD extras.

I've heard many people complain about how people react when a celebrity dies or has an accident, but no one cares when a commercial airliner crashes, taking 150 lives.  Of course people care!  The thing that divides a celebrity from the main stream is people know who they are.  There's a recognizable face to the statistic, many times bringing with it public awareness.  What's more, a celebrity can touch many lives.  Not only by their work, but by their charitable efforts.  They not only donate to their choice charities, but they form charities, and also get their fans involved.  I've provided a link to Paul's charity Reach Out WorldWide.

In closing, I recently read someplace that the most coveted role Paul Walker auditioned for but didn't get was Anakin Skywalker.  I don't know if I could have ever seen him in that dark of a role.  For me, he was the light shining through those dark clouds.
#ForPaul


Veronica     

Script To Manuscript & A New Language

I got some good advice from a Writer's Digest webinar to finish my novel.  The guest speakers' advice was just get it done.  It's not going to be perfect.  Move on to the next book.  Writing improves the more a person writes.  At this stage of the game, it was the best advice for me.  I'm nearing the completion of my second draft, which is gradually morphing from a script to a manuscript.  I have far surpassed my word goal.  Now, I just have to put the finishing touches to it, in addition to writing the cover description.  This perfectionist needs to remember that it's never going to be perfect; therefore, to stop allowing that mindset to hinder it's progress.  I have to eventually "Let It Go".


What are you reading?  I'm learning a new language - sheet music!  I have never learned how to play an instrument, and I plan to remedy that.  I recently discovered YouTube violinist Taylor Davis, and came across her early video:  Taylor Davis Theme from Schindler's List   I have always been a fan of the great John Williams, whose music is frequently playing while I'm writing, and decided after watching this video that I wanted to learn to play his masterpieces.  I would like to learn both the piano and the violin, but it seems that I'm catching on to the piano faster.  Books are also a wonderful resource when learning to play an instrument.  I find I remember better what I read on paper, plus I can learn at my own pace.  I just have to remember not to get too consumed with it that I fall behind with writing.

I hope Old Man Winter is being kind to you.  Have a great weekend!

Veronica

The Everlasting Dream

I revised my short story, The Never-Ending Dream, and entered it into a writing contest.  I also renamed it The Everlasting Dream.  Wish me luck!  Here's the revised edition:

Autumn leaves crunched under my feet as I entered an old bookstore.  A bell on the door announced my arrival.  Old wooden shelves were overflowing with books stacked up to the ceiling.  Ladders and step stools were randomly placed in the aisles.  The scent of old books and a couple of gray tabby cats greeted me before the wizened shopkeeper did.  He was a thin man with glasses perched on the end of his nose and a shock of white, unruly hair.  He directed me to a miscellaneous section of used books.  In perusing the selection, I was able to find what I had been looking for:  A Guide to Interpret Dreams.  The book was an old brown hardcover with pages yellowed with age and gold embossed lettering on the spine.  I paid for my purchase and gave a farewell pat to the cats before I left.  The wind blew leaves across the sidewalk as I zipped up my fleece jacket and stuck my hands into my pockets.  The weather was getting colder as Halloween was rapidly approaching.  Pumpkins, witches and bats littered the storefronts.  

When I got home, I changed into my comfy flannel pajamas and sat down in my favorite rocker, pulling a fleece throw over my lap.  I held the book in my hands, studying the worn cover.  I had been having a reoccurring dream as of late, where I am alone on a dark night.  The only thing I could remember about the place was it was some kind of timeworn courtyard with a tiered stone fountain that featured a rather large water basin.  It reminded me of a wealthy European estate, built around the turn of the last century.  As I opened the book, I wondered if it would provide me with answers.  After reading a few pages about symbolism, I began to feel drowsy . . .   

I find myself in the dark of night, in the courtyard of my dream, wearing only a white gown.  I suddenly sense I am no longer alone.  I am frightened because I know a man is looking for me and what he wants from me.  I’ve dreamt of him before.  His seductive lure beckons me.  I cannot escape him.  Out of the darkness, he emerges.  His pale skin is a sharp contrast to his midnight black hair and cloak.  He takes a step towards me.  I back away into a hard stone surface.  I look behind me to discover it is the fountain.  I look into the water, and I suddenly see myself asleep in my home with the dream book.   
It's only a dream! I tell myself.  
I attempt to open my eyes, but they feel as though they are glued shut!  I look back at my pursuer, who is closing in faster than humanly possible.  Was he not just ten feet away?  He is right in front of me!  I will not run.  That will only entice the hunter in him.  Besides, I have nowhere to go.  He would catch me before I could take one step.  If flight is out of the question, the other option is to confront him.  
"Why are you keeping me here?!"  I demand.
He smiles, and I can see the hint of a fang glinting in the faint moonlight.  His dark eyes heighten with a hint of crimson.
A scream builds in the back of my throat, but I suppress it.  He wants me to fear him.  I attempt to open my eyes again, but I cannot.  No, there’s another way.
He reaches out to touch me.  I tumble backwards into the frigid water of the fountain.

I woke up in my chair, with the dream book in my hands.  I struggled to catch my breath.  My clothes were dry, but I was still shaking from fear and the thought of the chilly water.  It was only a dream; just a dream.  I went to the bathroom to splash water on my face.  As I stood in front of the mirror, drying my face, I discovered two small puncture wounds on my neck! 

Let Me Go

I recently watched this music video for Let Me Go by Avril Lavigne featuring Chad Kroeger.  It struck me as it reminded me of my own novel, The Whisperer of Storms.  I'm sure it happens to many writers/artists when they find something that reminds them of their own work.  First off, it's set in an older mansion, with the hardwood floors and those awesome vintage windows.  Not quite dated back to the Regency, but the house has an old-world look to it.  I also took note of the antique furniture with the blue couch and cheval mirror as my favorites.  Sheet draped furniture is an additional feature that struck a cord of familiarity.  My tale also features a pianoforte and the hour glass bears some significance.  This story may vary from mine, in addition to another's perspective of the video.  I gathered from it that she either died, or she left a long time ago.  Some may believe that the older fellow is channeling the younger man.  I think he's the same person.  The man feels old, but when he looks in the mirror, he's a younger version of himself.  Time is his enemy.  I've posted the video below if you care to see it.  I definitely think it has the look and feel of The Whisperer of Storms.  It is my hope the readers will also see the connection.   

I saw the movie Gone Girl last night.  Talk about unpredictable as it has quite a few twists!  I could not get into the author's mind for this one.  I may have to read the book someday.  Ben Affleck gave quite a performance.  I recommend it if you enjoy his movies, but be forewarned there's a graphic scene that I did not care for.

Ready for Halloween?  I have the kids' costumes together.  We'll be ready for some Trick-or-Treating on Friday.  Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Veronica

10 Books That Have Never Left You

Here's my list of 10 books that have never left me, in no particular order.

1.  Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
2.  A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss
3.  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
4.  Until Forever by Johanna Lindsey
5.  The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros
6.  Immortal Sins by Amanda Ashley
7.  The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
8/9. Lords of Midnight series by Teresa Medeiros
10. Left Behind by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins

What are your books?  It doesn't have to be a list; you could name only one or two books that have stayed with you.

I continue to work on revisions for The Whisperer of Storms.  I have a tendency to head-hop with POV, thus I'm remedying that.  I have more time to work on revisions now that school has started.
  
Have a good weekend!

Veronica

Jayce

It's been a difficult couple of weeks.  I used to marvel at how my class made it all the way through high school and had two reunions without losing any fellow classmates.  Unfortunately, the inevitable happened.  It hit very close to home.  He was an old friend of mine; taken away from us too soon.  Apart from family, he was my first friend.  I keep waiting to wake up and realize it was only a nightmare.  He can't really be gone.  But he is.  Instead of Hope in the cemetery like Christine Daae wishing he was somehow here again, it's me.  Now, I have the life experience to write about an unexpected death.  I now truly understand the emotions enough to describe them and to make them believable.

I started writing again and I never told him.  He'll never know how much of an influence he had been.  I had captured our friendship in two of my characters in The Whisperer of Storms.  He was my Jayce.  Selfless, loyal, dependable, and gifted.  I find that working on Jayce's character development is therapeutic for me.  It's my way of keeping his memory alive and of letting the world know him.  I think many people who know me will be surprised that I wrote The Whisperer of Storms before he died.  I only wish he knew.

Every morning, I wake up in blissful forgetfulness and it takes a few seconds for me to remember that he's gone.  Many say that we find forgetfulness in sleep.  Then, we wake every morning and the reality sets in that they're gone.  Is it truly forgetfulness, or is it comfort?  Perhaps it is only in sleep that we can hear them speaking to us?

Hold your loved ones close and get in touch with a friend that you haven't seen in a while.  You never know when someone you hold dear will be taken away from you.

Veronica  

New Teaser Graphic

Dragon Slayer recently completed an updated teaser graphic for The Whisperer of Storms.  I love what she came up with!  I told her to go for a dream-like look and she came through once again.  

Veronica

The Indie Route

Great news!  I've completed the first draft of The Whisperer of Storms and am in the process of revision!  My plan is to publish independently through Smashwords and Amazon, in both eBook and paperback formats.  I've been doing a little research on self-publishing, thus I'm not completely in the dark when I get to that point.  Formatting sounds a little challenging and I've heard some horror stories about Auto-Correct.

I've also been collecting ideas for the book trailer, when the time comes to work on it. I've chosen the music and am collecting images that I'd like to use.  I still need to work on the wording, but there's time for that.  

Once again, I have Dragon Slayer working on a concept graphic for me, which I hope to have up soon. 

I've also been working on social media.  Twitter is a wonderful tool for writers.  Since I've been utilizing it more frequently as of late, I've met many other writers and have discovered a wealth of information about the writing/publishing business.  Feel free to visit me @VRWinters or click the link off to the right of this page.

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

Veronica

Love Story vs. Romance

What is the difference between a romance and a love story?  I had to do a little research to answer this question.  The biggest difference would be a romance is expected to have a happy ending.  A love story has more options for the ending.  Even though I love reading romance, I decided to go with a love story for The Whisperer of Storms.  It allows many possibilities in addition to decreasing predictability.  Plus, it omits the expectation of a love scene.  I have no qualms about writing a love scene, but I do with publishing one. Would I want my parents or my children to read those scenes?  No!  Therefore, what goes on behind closed doors is going to remain there.  I'll leave it up to the reader's imagination.  I had to make a few more changes with moving away from romance, which included stripping a few fellows of their titles and replacing the word ton, which referred to London's fashionable society.  With weighing the options, I do believe a love story is the right fit for my novel.        

Speaking of which, I've completed the first draft of The Whisperer of Storms!  Now, I'm in the process of revising.  It's not as fun as creating scenes, but I do enjoy improving them.

Enjoy the summer!

Veronica    

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Eighteen

My protagonist, Hope, is 18 years old at the start of my novel The Whisperer of Storms.  I chose that age since it was the eligible age for a young lady to marry in the early 1800s.  I didn't want her to be on the shelf, but getting her married off was a cause for concern for her guardian in that day and age.  What a perfect way to develop conflict in the plot!  

Interesting enough, age 18 was a period of ups and downs in my own life.  My grandmother's hardy health took a rapid decline.  My own health took a turn downhill as well a few months later and I was faced with my own mortality.  It was through the trials and tribulation that I finally found what I was looking for. 

I was lucky as I caught the monster (as I like to call it) early, but I remember the time of uncertainty.  The day I was diagnosed, I went to school, which was right before Valentine's Day.  Our school had the tradition of giving flowers to our friends.  Some people walked around with a bouquet of flowers pinned to their shirts, while others didn't have any.  That day, I thought it was all very stupid!  I'm happy that people thought of me, but it seemed so insignificant to the whole aspect of life.  (To this day, I still don't care for Valentine's Day.)  Even my crush couldn't make me feel better, who thanked me for the flower I got him, which I ordered earlier that week.  He hadn't a clue what I was going through because I never told him.  I tried to talk to him at the end of that night, after a school event, but he said he had to go and that he'd see me on Monday.  Only I knew I wasn't going to school that Monday due to doctor appointments.  I responded that I'd see him later.  I drove home that night feeling very alone.  The thought kept going through my mind that if he was truly my "friend" he would have sensed that something was wrong.  I've often wondered what he thought when I wasn't in school on Monday.  I missed most of that school week, but I learned that I was going to survive.  I only needed surgery.  No radiation or chemo.  I didn't have to worry about losing my hair.  But I was never the same.  I often think of Frodo's narrative at the end of LOTR, 

“How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back?"

There was no going back.  My crush started dating a girl within three weeks after my health scare.  I wasn't even recovered enough from my surgery to participate in Physical Ed and in addition, I had a broken heart on top of it!  I realized life was too short to be pining over someone who didn't want me, so I decided that we weren't going to be friends anymore.  He never confronted me about it, because I simply quit talking to him, but I would sometimes catch him watching me with a questioning look.  I should have handled it better, but I was young.  I was forced to grow up faster than my peers, but I still wanted to hang on to a little immaturity.  Looking back on it now, I know that I handled it poorly.  I regret the way that I treated him.  After all, I never told him how I felt, but I always figured that he must have known.  I had the worst luck with love, but little did I know that my luck was about to change in the upcoming months . . . 

I met my husband that fall during my first year of college.  Have you ever felt that spark the first time you made eye contact?  You feel like he's a new person, yet he's somehow familiar to you?  Is that what it's like when you finally meet your soul mate?  That's what it was like for me.  That's how I met the one I was meant for.  We've been together ever since, married with children.  We've had our trials and tribulations, but that's what a life together is all about.

Unlike my 18 year-old self, Hope is too busy assisting others to think of her own heart's desire.  She's never had time for a relationship other than friendship.  I think many readers will find her quite interesting.  Some might think 18 is a little young, but I've learned from experience that maturity isn't always measured in years.

Enjoy your summer.  I will be revising my manuscript since I completed the first draft.

Veronica       

Writer's Workshop

It's been a while since I posted.  I've been busy helping my kids with school projects and waiting for a little inspiration to strike.  I've also been spending more time on Twitter, which I feel is an important tool for my author platform.  I'm discovering more author resources than I realized were out there!  Twitter is awesome!  Thanks to those of you who are following me as I pursue my dream!

My children are on a field trip today to a writing/reading workshop for middle school.  I would have loved to tag along, but I'm scheduled to work at the library today.  Regardless, it caused me to take a trip down memory lane to my first writer's workshop.  I was in sixth grade and only children with an interest in writing were able to attend.  The class I remember the best was descriptive writing.  It was due to the instructor, who was a horror writer.  During his lecture, he told a few ghost stories, which he claimed were true.  They consisted of a haunted grandfather clock, a zombie under the bed and a haunted window that turned out to be the ventilation system and some faulty hardware.  I don't remember the name of the writer, but his lecture had quite an impact on me.  I remember being scared to sleep alone because I kept replaying his lecture over in my mind.  Was there really a zombie under my bed???  I started sleeping with a teddy bear again.  I kept a good distance from grandfather clocks, too.  My overactive imagination had gone into overdrive.  I think it was the fear that made this writer so memorable for me.  It's unfortunate that I can't remember his name.  I should see if my mom saved the itinerary in my scrapbook.  I'd like to Google him.  That was my first experience with writing and the paranormal.

My second experience happened as an adult, when I took up writing again.  I had started writing The Whisperer of Storms, and I was interviewing a lady for research.  I wasn't expecting much for the supernatural that time, but lo and behold, she proved me wrong!  It got me thinking, with the ghost stories I was hearing which involved writing, maybe I was getting a sign?  Perhaps I was meant to write paranormal fiction?  I took that idea and I went with it, choosing paranormal as a sub-genre. I have to admit that sometimes writing alone in the dead of the night can really freak me out, especially when I'm writing those spectral scenes!  I keep expecting to look up and find someone standing beside me!  Overactive imagination indeed!  Now you know a little more about why I chose to write about the paranormal.  It has nothing to do with current trends, but rather a gut-feeling.  As a wise master once advised his apprentice to trust his instincts, I'm taking that piece of advice to heart .

Veronica