Characters Acting Badly and #MyMuse That Contributes to Their Delinquency

Sometimes the life of a full time writer can be…well, lonely. I mean, when I’m writing, the only company I have are my characters. If they started talking to me, I mean verbally, I think I’d freak.

My muse whispers in my ear in the middle of the night, but that’s something else entirely. There is no accounting for what she might say or do. If you doubt it, check out these posts.

http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/2013/03/conversation-with-mymuse-chocolate.html

http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/2013/01/conversations-with-my-muse-duct-tape.html

http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/2012/07/conversations-with-mymuse-ghost-edition.html

http://denisemoncrief.blogspot.com/2012/10/conversations-with-my-muse-accounting.html

Here is what I think my muse might look like…

Picture in public domain. Courtesy wiki commons.

Sometimes my characters are sort of like real people, you know. Today one of them just wouldn’t cooperate with me. I wanted her to do one thing and she hauled off and did another. This one has a mind of her own. I gave her a good talking to but she wouldn’t listen. Had to have it her way. It amuses me for a while to argue with them, but it’s not the same as talking with a living, breathing individual. I think she forgets she’s fictional. Am I going to have to restrain her?

Maybe this device would work…

Drawing in public domain. Courtesy wiki commons.

Do you think that would keep her in line? I mean, my characters should be careful not to annoy me. I just bought this coffee mug…

 

Mug can be purchased at cafepress.com

This mug means what I say and says what I mean, you know what I mean? I’ve done some nasty things to my characters. I even impaled one bad guy on a dead tree before it caught on fire and fell over the side of cliff into a deep gorge. My characters should quiver in fear of my fast tapping fingers. And my muse should stop leading them down the path toward destruction. When I tell my heroine to call my hero and make up with him, that's exactly what she should do!

Happy #ReleaseDay to my friend, @ChantelRhondeau

Check out this exciting new release by romantic suspense author, Chantel Rhondeau.

Crime & Passion

Genre: Romantic suspense/mystery

Release date: March 15, 2013

Cover art done by LFD Designs for Authors

A decorated police officer, more intent on justice than following the letter of the law, lands in trouble when a schoolteacher finds a dead body on the beach.

Officer Donovan Andrews knows how to have a good time—ask any woman in town. But when it comes to men abusing their wives or children, Donovan takes it upon himself to make them regret it.

Madeline Scott is unlucky in love. All she wants is a quiet place to heal, away from cheating, womanizing men. However, her life is far from peaceful once she stumbles across the body and witnesses someone fleeing the scene.

Terror spreads in Pleasant View when the small community hears a killer is on the loose. All evidence points to Donovan, and he realizes someone is trying to frame him. When troubling suspicions from his past surface, even fellow officers believe he’s guilty. Madeline might be the only person who can clear his name, but first he has to win her trust.

The body count rises and no one is safe. The murderer makes it clear Madeline is next. Soon, Donovan’s whole world is focused on protecting her and keeping himself out of prison. The more time he spends with her, the harder it is to fight his growing attraction. Since she’s been burned by love, convincing Madeline he’s interested in something more than hot sex may prove harder than keeping her alive.

Read the first three chapters at Chantel’s blog: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com/2013/03/crime-passion-romantic-suspense-and.html

About the author:

Chantel once thought a great mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense novel, she never looked back. Before long, the need to create her own stories took over. She spends her daytime in the clinical profession of medical transcriptionist, but her passion is in the blissful hours she spends with her characters in the evenings.

Chantel lives in the western United States. When she isn’t writing, she loves playing cards with her family and snuggling with her lazy kitties.

Want to connect with Chantel? You can find her here:

Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chantel-Rhondeau/e/B008ZSM1KQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Twitter http://twitter.com/ChantelRhondeau

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChantelRhondeau

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6444354.Chantel_Rhondeau

E-mail: ChantelRhondeau@gmail.com

Want the book?

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/Z24vsP

Amazon Paperback in Createspace Store: https://www.createspace.com/4160971

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Ys0lHs

KOBO: http://bit.ly/Y8qWNB

All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/YnS2iX

Add it on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16135008-crime-passion 

Wordless Wednesday 3.6.13

What do you think? Are those little white orbs UFOs?

Conversation With #MyMuse - Chocolate Seduction Edition

Image in Public Domain as a faithful reproduction
of a work of art in the public domain.

I’m not gonna lie, my muse has been good to me lately. I’ve started a new Work In Progress, and she has practically written the story for me. Sometimes I love her.

Then, there’s those other times when she’s being, shall we say, ornery. There have been a few occasions where no amount of pleading, cajoling, or threatening with lawsuits can motivate her to give up her ideas. Dang her, anyway.

I was chatting with my writer’s group yesterday and the subject of recalcitrant muses came up. Thank God I’m not the only writer who has a stubborn muse. I don’t feel so alone in the world.

So let’s just say I suggested seducing…um, enticing…or maybe luring her out of hiding…with chocolate. This has worked for me before.

This is how the conversation went:

Frustrated Writer (That’s me): Musth? * munch, munch * Where are ya musth?

Muse: * peeks head around corner * What? I can’t understand you. * eyes FW with suspicion * What’s that in your mouth?

FW: * hides wrapper behind back * Nothum…

Muse: Whadaya mean nothing? I can see the wrapper. Are you… Yes, you’re eating chocolate. And you weren’t going to share, were you?

FW: I domth know wha ya mean. * wipes mouth with back of sleeve *

Muse: Can I have a bite?

FW: Don’t be silly. Muses can’t eat.

Muse: The heck they can’t. Don’t be selfish and share your chocolate.

FW: * tilts head sideways * If I give you some chocolate, will you help me finish Chapter Three?

Muse: * snorts * I told you how to write that chapter already. But noooo…. You wouldn’t listen to my advice. You had to give your heroine a colon cleanse. What made you think her hero would want to hear about her experience? Erase the chapter and start over.

FW: Okay. You’re right, but how? Where do I go with it? Help me.

Muse: Give up the chocolate.

FW: * acts reluctant to hand it over, but smiles inwardly * Now, about Chapter Three…

Friday Four Fill In - 3.1.13

Each week, Hilary at www.feelingbeachie.com lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blog. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to her at Hilary(at)feelingbeachie(dot)com. If she uses them, she will add you as co-host to the hop! This week’s co-host is Uttley from Uttley’s take – he came up with the last two statements! Hilary would LOVE it if you could please help her spread the word about this hop…. So, please tweet, FaceBook share, and add the linky to your post…

This week’s statements:
1. Sometimes I ___ I am ___
2. When I wear ___ I feel ____
3. When in doubt, _____________
4. The easiest way to ______________ is to ___________.

My Answers:
1. Sometimes I ate eat a whole box of tagalongs when I am…well, really, just because I want to
2. When I wear clothes I haven’t worn since before I lost weight, I feel sexy
3. When in doubt, I usual consider both the pros and the cons, and then go with my gut instinct
4. The easiest way to make me mad is to insult one of my children

Please add the Follow Friday button to your post, or your blog. Please link your Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun post to the linky below. PLEASE grab the linky and post on your blog…
If you tweet, please use #F5-bloghop so Hilary can find you…

Conversations With My Muse - Duct Tape Edition

Image in Public Domain as a faithful reproduction
of a work of art in the Public Domain.

It was hard to ignore my muse. Really. She pestered me until I had to put duct tape over her mouth. She still managed to make her presence known, but I didn’t let her get to me. Nope. I needed the break. I took a month off from blogging and promoting my books so I could get some much needed rest. Too bad the month wasn’t very restful. But that’s another story.

So recently I tore the duct tape from muse’s mouth and we had this conversation:

Muse: What the—

Me: Don’t give me attitude! I needed a break. You know how exhausted I was.

Muse: But I’ve had all these ideas. You really should get it together, girl. Your muse isn’t going to wait forever, you know. One of these days, I’m going to go dry. Caput! Finito! The End! And then where will you be? You’ll be a has-been hack! (Note: never call a writer a has-been hack)

Me (with a really fake horrified look): Oh no, you can’t desert me! I need you!

Muse: Oh stop it with the pretendsies. You know you need me. You can’t write without me—

Me: You are a little too sold on yourself. (I study my fingernails.)

Muse (rolls eyes): All writers are divas. (Wait! Can a muse rolls her eyes? Never mind. This is my imagination, so yeah…Mine can.)

Me: You know, that’s a little insulting and…a blanket generalization. If you think you deserve a more…cooperative writer to harass, then feel free to find someone else to pester.

Muse (obviously ignoring my bluff): What’s with the duct tape, anyway? That crap hurts when you yank it off.

Me: I know. (Smiles wickedly.) You know what they say…

Muse: No. What?

Me: Duct tape is the Southerner’s tool of choice. If you can’t fix it with duct tape, it can’t be fixed.

Muse: Whatdaya mean? I am not broken! That is just mean-spirited. You can’t treat me like that!

Me: But I did…

Muse: You’re being ungrateful…again.

Me (tearing off a strip of duct tape): You know, I can—

Muse: No! Wait! I have an idea. Just listen…

Me: Okay, I’m listening.

Muse: So there was this gal with a roll of duct tape—

Me (nods appreciatively): Now you’re talking. Tell me more.

Sunday Showcase - When Noonday Ends by Carmen DeSousa #5PP

Today, I'd like to showcase a book by my fellow 5 Prince Publishing author, Carmen DeSousa.

When a new attorney accepts a case of a woman accused of attempted homicide, he finds himself entwined in age-old secrets and a family that will stop at nothing to conceal them—even murder.

You can read an excerpt from the book on Carmen's Blog here.

You can purchase When Noonday Ends at the following links.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes