Following Your Gut: How Not To Miss the Road Signs on the Path To Your Authentic Life
It is with great pleasure (and apologies for the lateness) that I introduce back to The Revenge special guest pirates and co-authors of The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel Christie Craig and Faye Hughes.
Are you on the right path to meet all your writing goals? I’m a firm believer that if we are trying to live our authentic lives, if we are following the right path, we will get a little help from the universe. I’m not saying it will be easy, or that it will happen over night, but I think if we watch closely, we see the signs that can help guide us and those signs can help us keep going.
Below is an example of one of my personal stories about gut instinct and about being on the right path.
I met Wilma when I was doing an all-day workshop. She was in her eighties, bright, funny, and beautiful. Wilma shared that her husband had recently died, and practically with his last breath he made her promise three things, that she’d start back golfing, that she’d try really hard to get published, and that she’d learn to balance a checkbook. She told the class that day that she hoped two out of three was going to be enough, because she didn’t think she’d ever balance her checkbook.
Later when talking about how to turn the little nuggets of your life into stories, Wilma held up her hand and shared her own nugget. Her story was so engrossing, so compelling that I went up to her afterward and told her that if she didn’t write that story, that I was going to steal it. Oh, I was serious, too.
I also told her that I felt her story could be a Chicken Soup For the Soul story. This was in the mid-nineties, and my mother had given me that book for Christmas. In January, another writer friend had called me and asked I’d ever submitted to the Chicken Soup to The Soul books. I hadn’t submitted, and I hadn’t even read the book yet. But the second mention of the book had me pulling it out and reading it. And oddly enough, when Wilma told her story, my gut whispered it was right for them. I even told Wilma that I would see if I could find who she needed to send the story to. And that if she would send me the written story, I would help her polish it.
Months passed, I got busy, Wilma didn’t send me her story. Then at another conference I ran into Wilma again. I reminded her that I was going to steal her story. Another month passed, but I didn’t forget about her or that story. Finally, one day, after again remembering it, I wrote it down on my day planner. Once things were in my day planner they always got done. The note read, “Call Evelyn about Chicken Soup.” Evelyn was another writer I knew had submitted to the Chicken Soup publications.
Imagine my surprise when the most amazing thing happened that morning. Before I called Evelyn, I got a call–a call from a Chicken Soup editor. They had read some of my stories in another magazine and wanted to know if I had anything that would fit their book.
I stood there in awe that she was calling me and that she wanted me to submit. Then I remembered Wilma. Wilma’s theme was so right for this particular Chicken Soup book. So, on the phone that day, instead of telling the editor about my work, I told her about an amazing woman I’d met. I told her Wilma’s story.
The editor was as blown away by the story as I was, and she said, “I want to buy that story.”
I called Wilma, “Wilma, an editor from Chicken Soup is going to call you. They want to buy your story.” Wilma was shocked.
Wilma called me back after she spoke with the editor, and asked if I would critique her story. I did. It needed tweaking, and I did it for her. Then because the editor had wanted the story immediately and Wilma didn’t have email, she asked if I would send it. I did.
Wilma got the call within a week, that they were indeed buying her story.
I remember thinking after I hung up with Wilma that day, that perhaps I should have also pitched a couple of my own stories to the editor. But I wasn’t really sorry. Somehow I knew in my gut that I’d done the right thing.
Two weeks later, the same editor called me again. She said, “You know, I got so excited about Wilma’s story that I forgot to ask about your own stories.
I went on to sell five stories to Chicken Soup. I was even the leading story in their Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul #2. And I just got another call from Chicken Soup that two of my stories are being reprinted and honored as some of the best Chicken Soup stories published over the past 15 years.
* * *
Guardian angels. ESP. Or just ol’ fashion gut instinct. What ever you want to call it, I’m a firm believer that it exists and the Wilma story is just one of those examples of this. I sincerely believe that if we keep our eyes, ears, heart and gut open, we will receive clues. Clues like road signs, giving us insights to detours we might need to take, a new path that will take us to a different, but better place, a sign that leads us to the best rest stops, places we can refresh, fill up with go juice, and recharge our creative batteries.
Okay, maybe I’m an optimist. But I believe that when I’m doing my part, when I’m on the right path that there’s something out there besides just luck, that offers me a helping hand.
And as with the Wilma story, I’ve experienced this helping hand many, many times. I’ve also had hindsight and realized the hand had been offered, but because I wasn’t on the right path, or wasn’t open to receiving the help, I lost an opportunity. We don’t have to miss opportunities.
So, how do we gear ourselves up for these opportunities? Below are tips to help us recognize those little messages that our gut might be trying to tell us.
Make sure you’re on the right path.
One book I’ve read through and through and am returning to again, is Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. It really helped me stay on path. Funny thing was, I was reading it daily when I met Wilma. The book is a daily meditation that in many ways changed my life. It’s a book that gives clues on how we can live more authentically. I highly recommend it.
Living an authentic life means you are being true to yourself, living your life the best you can. Being on the right path is felt within. It’s a feeling of contentment, of passion for what you do, and gratitude for what you have. If you have any questions about whether you are on the right path, pick up this book, I can assure you, that you won’t be disappointed.
Make sure you’re actively pursuing your goal.
It’s not enough just to be on the right path, you have to constantly move on that path to the next place you need to be. Life is about learning, growing, and living through the lessons life offers. To become stagnant is the first step to death. The poet, Wendell Barry says, “The life we want is not merely the one we have chosen and made. It is the one we must be choosing and making.”
Teaching and encouraging other writers has always been important to me. Helping Wilma felt important and by pursuing that goal, and merely by taking steps to make that happen, look what happened. I’m a firm believer if I hadn’t put that in my day planner, if I hadn’t been about to do it myself, I would have never received the call. Set goals, and meet them. Rewards await you.
Make Sure You’re Giving Back to the Universe
We’ve all heard it, it’s better to give than to receive. But I have learned so many times that giving is almost a selfish act. When I give, the most amazing thing happens: the kindness seems to return to me twofold. My Wilma story is a prime example of this.
Listen With Your Heart
If something for an unknown reason tugs at your heart, or gives you a moment of pause, pay attention. Wilma’s story touched me. Only by listening to my heart, to that little emotional tug, did I hear the little voice that said, “This is a Chicken Soup story.”
Pay Close Attention to Repetitions
If something is put into your awareness more than once, take notice. It could be the universe trying to tell you something. I received the Chicken Soup book for Christmas, but it took another friend calling me about the book before I picked it up and read it. If I hadn’t paid attention to the coincidence and read the book, I wouldn’t have known Wilma’s story was perfect for them. Wilma may have never met her promise to her husband, I may have never published in Chicken Soup, I wouldn’t have had this story to share with you.
Ride the Elephant When it Shows up
I read it in Simple Abundance. I can’t remember the exact story, but it was something about the author taking her little girl on a trip. And her little girl was a little bored, and then a hotel clerk called and said a man had brought an elephant and was giving elephant rides. And the moral of her essay was, “Sometimes when you least expect it, when life seems so mundane, suddenly an elephant will show up for you to ride.
The story touched me and I shared it with my husband and to this day we are always looking for elephants to ride. In other words, we look for the opportunities in the everyday moments. And when they show up, we get on their backs and see where they might take us.
Recognize Opportunities in their Varying Forms
You may have heard the story about the man who lived in a flood area and the weather had predicted a flood. The man was a devout Christian and he believed God would protect him.
When the storm started, it was announced on television. When his son called to warn him to get out, the man said, “No, God will protect me.”
The rain started and the man’s neighborhood started to flood and the police showed up and told him he needed to leave, and he told the men, “No, God will protect me.”
The streets became flooded and impassable and National Guards showed up in boats and told the man to get in, but he said, “No, God will protect me.”
The water continued to rise and the man was forced up on top of his roof. And a Red Cross helicopter showed up and told him to grab a hold of the rope and the man said, “No, God will protect me.”
The water got worse and the man drowned. When in Heaven he looked at God and said, “I thought you were going to protect me.”
And God said, “I put it on television. I had your son call you. I sent the police with a car, the National Guard with a boat, the Red Cross with a helicopter. You never once accepted my help.”
Sometimes, we refuse to see what is or isn’t an opportunity. Don’t become so close-minded that you think one way is the only way. Be flexible in this path called life.
When I stopped writing novels and started focusing on my freelance, part of me wondered if I was giving up a dream, but looking back at where I am now, and where that detour took me, I don’t think it was giving up, I was simply taking the path right for me. Writing non-fiction all those years, not only paid the bills, but I was growing and learning as a writer. I was becoming stronger in the face of rejection, and I was learning to listen to my gut instinct. Even more importantly, I was learning, and am still learning, to live my authentic life.
What is it you need to be doing? Should you be writing in a different genre? Should you be adding humor or should attempt to write a sexier story?
Only you can really know what is right for your path. Only you will know if you are you living your authentic life? Are you watching out for the road signs on your path?
Stop Worrying About “the Market” and Labels – Start Thinking About Possibilities
So, what kind of a book do you want to write?
The truth about publishing today is that sometimes, you have to compromise. If contemporary romance is your passion, or if cozy mysteries are your cup of tea, what do you do if the market goes soft?
Notice how I didn’t say, “the market has died”? That’s because markets never die. They just sometimes go through a slow growth period. Of they get a new name. (Think Chick Lit, now know as Women’s Fiction, among other labels.)
But back to the original question of what you should do when your market goes soft. Well, that depends. Are you writing traditional versions of this dead-in-the-water genre? If so, you may have a problem. When the market is soft and editors aren’t looking for “those kind of books,” your book really has to be exceptional, as in genre-changing, to sell.
If it is just a well-written, well-plotted version of the genre . . . well, the odds aren’t in your favor. But you can change that by changing genres.
Say, for example, you’ve written a chick lit novel about some young twenty-something. What other genre does it most closely resemble? Start to brainstorm. Does it have a mystery? If so, can you increase the mystery and market it as a mystery? Does it have a Young Adult vibe? If so, can you revise and market it as a YA?
In other words, take a look at the work in question and figure out what options you have for it.
Sometimes you may have no options at all, and that is okay. Just shelf it until the market changes. Then ask yourself what you want to work on for your next book. Don’t make the same mistake you did with that book you have to put on the shelf. Take the strengths of your writing and see how they can apply to another genre.
Explore your possibilities. You might be surprised at what you find.
Now that you're incredibly inspired, grab some rum and fire off with the questions. I'm happy to say one lucky commenter is going to win one of Christie's previous published books, Weddings Can Be Murder (2008 RT Romantic Suspense of the Year Nominee!!!) or Divorced, Desperate and Delicious plus adorable Christmas cards and a pen. I got one of the pens earlier this week and it's the cutest thing!
Fire away!!!
Books by the Crew
48 comments:
Awesome, awesome post! And you're so right, not only about making sure you keep moving forward along the path, but about listening to your heart and giving back to the universe. I really loved your story about Wilma. I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in meeting the next deadline, boosting our sales, or we worry about our story, that we forget how many people are going through the same trials, or are just starting out on the same path. If we do our best to support one another good things happen for all. Karma.
J.K. Coi,
Thanks for stopping by.
You're right. We caught up in so many things, that it can be hard to stay on the right path.
Here's to us all getting things right.
CC
I have to love a blog that quotes Wendell Berry! :)
I'm still a long way from 80, but I am old enough that I sometimes wonder if I missed my chance, if I'm too old to be writing romance. So hearing about an 80-year-old realizing her dream is like a tonic for me. Thank you!
What an inspiring blog!
I love Wilma's story as well. I've always been a believer that God knows what we need and when we need it. My faith lies in his direction,and I totally believe we must be open to clues for his path meant for us.
The most rewarding moments in my life were precipitated by acts of giving.It is so amazing how good things come to those who give back.
I never considered submitting to Soup For The Soul. Thank you for the inspiration!
Janga,
Don't ever get up hope. Lora Lee Lillibridge is a buddy of mine and she sold her first romance very late in life. I want name her age, because she might come after me. And she's very fit for her age.
Hey...they will be prying the keyboard from my cold dead hands when I die.
Thanks for stopping in.
CC
Lisa,
I so believe in the following our own paths. Karma rocks.
Good luck submitting to Chicken Soup.
CC
This was such a great and inspirational post...and I love the Wilma story. (It sorta reminds me of Terri pitching Marnee's book at the conference! *LOL*) Helping each other...I love it.
Can we know what Wilma's story was about, or what edition of Chicken Soup it was in? I'm rather interested to read it.
OMG, and I love the Elephant line. *LOL* Looking for moments of extraordinary in the ordinary--great advice--and you're a lot happier (and grateful) for doing it.
I feel like I'm at an Oprah taping...doesn't this feel like the same sort of charge you get out of watching an episode of Oprah? I love that feeling.
I think CC should guest blog with us every week. *grins*
Hellion,
Here's a link to Wilma's Story titled, Rudy's Angel.
I'm gonna warn you, pull out the tissues for this one.
http://mackmcgee.com/dad/rudy.html
Thanks for stopping by.
CC
CC should definately blog every week:)
I haven't felt this inspired in months!
Thank you Lisa.
Blogging every week? Well, could you explain to my agent and editor why I don't have time to finish my books. AGGG!
Seriously, I love blogging as much as I do speaking/teaching writing. However, with blogging once a week at Killer Fiction, and doing 10 to 12 workshops a year, fitting it all in is getting hard.
But thank you sooo much. My goal is always to entertain, educate, and motivate.
Oh, Faye and I do have a website with www.writewithus.com that has articles and a yahoo loop you can join for free that has even more writing articles. And I had some articles on my web site, www.christie-craig.com
CC
OMG, THAT'S Wilma's story? I've seen that in emails before...I love that story! I cry every time! That's a great story!!! OMG!
Christie,
Wow, I felt your excitement coming off the page. I have a lot of those moments when I know something is right for someone else. I only wish I had it for myself. :)
I had an experience when I first started writing. I had even quit writing so I could focus on hearing God's direction for me. I have a very Pentecostal background, many would tar and feather me if they knew I wrote romance. Anyway, I had felt a direction toward writing real characters and real romance, but there was always that thought of being struck by lightning if I attempted writing sex. Took me a few months of turmoil to discover God's direction for me.
Thanks for a wonderful blog! I haven't read Wilma's Chicken Soup story yet, but the one you told near had me in tears.
Renee
Renee,
You have to follow your heart. My work is very sexy, but it's always love stories and the people always commit. And I'm proud of it.
I think it's harder to hear our own messages than it is to hear the messages for others.
I know without a doubt that I'm on the right path. Writing romance, humor, and stories that touch people is what I'm meant to do.
I know some people roll their eyes at romance, but I think love, passion, and all that goes with it is part of being human.
Thank you so much for stopping in. And I hope you enjoy Wilma's story.
CC
*nods* It's the touching peoples lives. That's where it is at. That is what I'm supposed to do. And I know that without a doubt. I have no issue bringing sexy to the page now that I know I'm on the correct path.
Renee
Thanks Renee!!
CC
Oooooh! Great blog, Chrisitie! I love the bit about staying open to the possibility of an elephant ride, too. I can imagine you and the husband keeping an eye out for elephants...
We hear a lot about the story of your heart... I followed that path and suddenly discovered this really is what I am fated (*grin at Hellion) to do. I am a writer! But my genre is assuredly in a soft market. I stay busy with other stories and keep creating, figuring my first publication won't be my dearly beloved pirate story. And that's OK.
Will you and Faye be offering the online knock 'em dead opening workshop again? With hopes this time of getting enough response to do it? You are so inspirational, I figure some help with the opening of me pirate saga would benefit from your workshop.
Everytime I get a rejection, I tuck it away in my suitcase, remembering your suitcase display!
Hi Christie, I can't say I stay on the right path. It seems right now that my path is at a stand still and I need to do something about it. I am stuck in a rutt. I am sure things will change.
What type of books do your read ones with a lot of humor like you write or something else?
I can't believe I'm just now commenting. I am a terrible person and a terrible host! I'm SO sorry to be late. And late this morning. Seriously, my entire week has been off kilter. Someone straighten this ship out!
I love this blog. I'm a huge believer in Karma and getting back what you put out to the Universe. I've seen too many examples of what goes around comes around coming around to bite someone on the ass. It's certainly bitten me before.
I need to check out Wilma's story and that's cool that you pitched it for her. When I sort of did that to Marn's book, I didn't even think about what I was doing. And afterwards I thought she might kill me. LOL! Thank goodness she's a forgiving pirate.
I know I want to write, but for me it's not the only thing I'm meant to do. There's something else too. I'm just not 100% sure what that is yet. Right now all I can do is concentrate on improving life for myself and my daughter. I'm doing that by getting a degree and trying to work my way up in my company. Writing fits in there somewhere...I think. LOL! I know I have to get this story out and I'd sure like to write the others locked in this brain of mine.
My favorite part might be the repetition thing. I try to keep my eyes open for that sort of thing. It's kind of like looking for a sign. In the year before I moved here (Va Beach), the beach theme kept creeping up in my life. The books I was reading, the cards I would get. The beach was everywhere. That's one of the reasons I decided to move here even knowing it was going to be complicated. It's worked out so well, I'd hate to think what would have happened if I'd ignored all the signs.
2nd Chance,
Those elephants show up all the time. We just need to be watching out for them.
Yes, I'm sure Faye and I will be doing more classes soon. We have another book due in Feb. (A humorous self/help/humorous relationship book about what women can learn from romance heroines. It's really fun to write) And I have another novel due, so we're focusing on getting those wrapped up now.
And about those rejections. We seriously have to see them as stepping stones. Those suckers can sting, but they can teach us, too.
Don't let them stop you from writing. Get mad, take on the attitude of, "I'll show you" if you have to, but don't let them stop you.
Thanks for stopping in.
CC
Quilt Lady,
I read across the board. I'll admit I love books with humor and suspense. But I also read to learn. Non-fiction and books that are hitting the NY times. And I read books of my writing friends. Right now I'm reading The Haunting by Robin Popp. Next I'm reading Kim Lenox Night Falls Darkly.
Thanks for stopping in.
CC
I just finished Jenny Crusie's "Agnes and The Hit Man."
Terrio,
You are not a terrible person!
And boy I've a had few chucks taken out of my butt, too. I think we sometimes have to have our asses bitten a few times to teach us a few lessons.
And girl, you are so right about watching for the repetitions. I think the universe is always giving us clues that we miss.
And since I can use all the help I can get, I try to pay attention.
CC
What an inspiring blog! I just love it. I haven't used your advice with my writing but have definitely used it in other areas of my life and it sure rings true.
Making sure I'm on the right path and actively pursuing my goals were big ones. Ones that once I got the hang of - life just started working out. The biggest one by far was riding the elephant though. The elephants used to scare me and now I embrace them.
Off to read Wilma's story with a box of tissue in hand... :)
Irisheyes,
I hope you enjoyed Wilma's story and didn't mess up your mascara too badly.
I know what you mean about those elephants scaring you. Change is always scary. Even good change can let me to breaking out in hives.
But only by getting the back of an elephant can we sometimes know if that place it leads us to in just the place we need to be.
Thanks so much for stopping in.
CC
Hi, Christie! I love your books and loved the latest. And this blog was just so great and inspiring. I think of Randy Pausch who said the brick walls are there to show us how much we want it---it's true, we can either let the brick wall stop us or climb over it. No matter how hard it is to get past a set-back or the elephant, once I do, I feel just that much stronger.
Only my CP Tiff knows this but about three-four weeks ago, I told her I was done with writing in the sense of writing a novel and then only to get smacked back down. I said I was done. Done. Done. Done. I said I couldn't do this anymore because it was just too hard . . . too painful to spend months and months on a book to only know after a certain amount of rejections that it was headed under the bed. I let myself get into that dark place. Really embrace what giving it up meant and what it would entail.
And then, I thought of how many times I've been knocked down in my life and how many times I've stood up. Like the Chinese proverb says Fall down seven, stand up eight. And, that's when I decided that I couldn't let myself think of the possibility that I would never get signed and never join the ranks of so many authors I admire and respect. And I couldn't try to write to sell. I finally gave myself permission to stop changing my voice and worrying about if this new hero and book would sell, and I just let myself write what I wanted to write. See, I can't predict the future, so even if this book goes down the route of the previous two, I can't stop writing. Writing is a part of who I am, and that would be, in essence, denying who I am as a human being.
I know that with everything that's happened to me in my life, good or bad, has taught me something about myself and defined who I am. But, it's facing the dark that's made me realize how much more I want it---with every rejection and tucking a book away, it's making me more and more "tough" and determined that one day I will be on the shelf.
And so will my friends, whose writing I love. I think a big part of why I don't give up is because of my CPs, because of what Hellion wrote over ona comment on Vixens today and her support/friendship, and every author I've come across who's shared her wisdom and advice. At one point, every one started in the same boat we aspiring writers are in now.
Thanks so much for the blog---it's just made me realize how much I do want this even more.
Oh wow, Rudy's Angel always makes me cry.
Ely - You really are an inspiration. We hear all the time you have to let go and write what's in your heart. That's what makes for the best books. And you have so much in there. I can't wait until the day we're celebrating that first sale of yours. And the second. And the third. And the tenth. :)
Elyssa,
Girl, I've walked in your shoes. I felt the toe pain, got the blisters. And I've worn the bandaids on the blisters, too.
It's so hard. But just as you said in your post, it's harder to quit. Someone once told me, "If you can quit, do. You probably weren't meant to do it."
That sounds mean, but there is some truth in there. No matter had many times I felt as if I was kicked in the teeth by rejections, no matter how many times I swore I was quitting, I just couldn't quit.
And aren't those CPs the best!! I remember once I told Faye, that's it, the fat lady has sung, I'm finished. She told me she understood and suggested I could always get a job at Wal-mart as a door greeter. I have several CPs that were always there to lend a shoulder, hear a whine, and then tell me shut up and get back to work.
When I sold in 2006, I had eight completed novels and six completed proposals that I had written in the last five years. They had all garnered a stack of rejections.
The good news is that I've sold over half of those. From reading your post, I can sense your determination. You go girl. Remember most of the time the only difference between a published and non-published author is one gave up too soon.
CC
Terri, that's why I love you! You say the perfect thing, and that was incredibly, undeniably, sweet of you to write. And I can't wait to read your books; I still remember that kiss between Bryan and Celi. (Sorry if I spelled Bryan's name wrong . . . I tend to always spell Bryan with a "y" and not an "i").
Christie, you're so right---the difference is the one who gave up and threw in the towel. I've given up on things in the past, like acting but now I know I really didn't want it because if I did, I wouldn't have stopped. But with writing when I said I quit, I just couldn't do it. So that's the big difference. It definitely hurts to get back up, but I do it. We all do it. Your story is a definite inspiration, and thank you for the words because sometimes all you need is a You go, girl to spur you on.
Ely - I only speak the truth. :) And you spelled his name exactly right!
Christie - You had eight novels written in five years? Plus proposals? And I'm guessing you were writing other stuff during that time. Yes, you definitely were meant to do this! That's amazing!
BTW - Can you us a bit about your latest release, Divorced, Desperate and Dating? (Aside: if you click on the cover above it'll take you right to Amazon for purchase) That title describes my life so precisely it's scary. And we'd love to hear about the next one called Gotcha.
Hi, Guys,
First, I apologize for chiming in late. I got hung up on the day job and couldn't access the site. (Stupid Internet filters! lol.)
And, for 2nd Chance, Christie and I are definitely doing the Recipe For Success: How To Cook a Great First Chapter in 2009 but, as she said, we have a book due 2/1, a conference in March (we are conference chairs for the RWA-Published Authors Special Interest Chapter conference in NYC), and RT in April. May is looking good, though. We will definitely put the word out!
Faye
Terrio,
I’m a pretty fast writer, but I also work an obscene amount of hours, too. When a story comes to me, I have to write it. Because it keeps telling itself whether I write it or not. Seriously, I usually work between 10 -14 hours a day. But I don’t have small kids and I have a very understanding hubby. My first drafts are pretty rough, polishing them sometimes takes longer than writing them.
Here’s a little blurb I wrote about DD&DATING just last week.
Detective Jason Dodd kissed mystery writer Sue Finley. The kind of kiss that makes a girl melt into her panties. Then he gave her that chicken-shit grin that bad boys are so good at delivering, and said those famous words, “I’ll call you.” But the two-bit-no-good-for nothing piece of poo didn’t call. And she waited, wanted, and then she finally just got pissed off. No one checks out her tonsils like that and doesn’t call! Truth is no one has checked out her tonsils for a long time. Her divorce pretty much left her heart feeling like chicken liver that has been run through a Cuisinard. Twice.
Now, when her life couldn’t get more complicated, when Sue’s got a stalker sending her dead rats, a boyfriend whose kisses leave her panties powder-puff dry, (but hey, at least he calls), a mother whose dog won’t stop sniffing everyone’s crotch and is dating an Elvis impersonator, (her mom is dating Elvis, not the dog) and Jason, good cop/bad boy, saunters back into her life insisting she can lean on him.
Right! Okay, truth is, she might trust him with her life, but can she trust him with her heart? Oh, heck no! But who says she can’t have a little fun making him wish he’d called her back?
Divorced, Desperate and Dating is my third humorous Romantic Suspense and my second novel in the Divorced & Desperate Series. As Terrio said, my second novel, Weddings Can Be Murder, has just been nominated for a RT Reviewers Choice award. And wow, I’m in the running with some BIGGY writers. And I’m not talking pant size. Biggy as in, all of the other nominees in my category are New York Times Best Selling Authors. I’m so honored and scared that someone is going to tell me it was just a typo.
Go to my website, http://www.christie-craig.com to check out my book videos. There are links to the videos right under the book covers.
Plus, for a laugh go to Dorchester’s site and read my post about divorces. Terrio, you will get a kick out this one. http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?Special_ID=2582
Also, if you have a cute story about love look at my contest posted on the site. Hey…I’m giving away a $20 gift certificate for Amazon. So . . .
Now Gotcha!, well, Faye swears up and down it’s her favorite of my books. It’s similar to Weddings in the fact that it has more than one romance, and while it’s funny, it also has some very suspenseful moments, too. I have the blurb up on my website.
Thanks for asking Terrio!!
CC
I've seen DD&D all over the place. I hadn't decided whether or not I'd pick it up and read the blurb, but now I'm sold. It'll definitely be on my weekend shopping list.
Renee
Thanks Renee,
I hope give you some pure reading pleasure.
That's what reading is supposed to be, 100%escapism.
CC
Elyssa,
Do you know how many times I've said the same thing? There are still times when I feel it. But the feeling of knowing I'm supposed to be a writer is much stronger.
I've only had two rejections so far and I know there are plenty more to come. But as long as we have our wonderful support groups we'll carry through the rough waters a little wiser than when we first set out.
Renee
I'm posting when the doors have well been closed.
I have to say that reading your blog has absolutely cured me the stomach flu virus. Yeah, I got that after the puking from morning sickness let up. Believe you me, I'm whining how life is unfair.
How inspiring in every asset of life--even if I'll never be a true writer-- but very Hellionesque like, I believe that I can if I really want to.
Thank you...and I love "Simple Abundance." My best friend bought it for me years ago and it's my go to book every time I need to remind myself that I have time to make the impossible things quite real.
Stupid day job keeps me away from blogs during the day.
This is a wonderful, wonderful blog. And I believe in signs and keep my mind open for opportunities. I'm a uh, rather superstitious kinda gal so I use it to my favour. When something is screaming at me in my head (like great stories I was afraid to write before---I changed genres) Like coming out of my shell and going to a conference to sell myself cause I just knew my new story was going to make waves, I just went with the flow. I'm feeling pretty good about it now. I've been letting my gut lead me for a while now and so far... I've been very lucky.
I think sometimes, as writers, we get so tangled up in what everyone is telling us is right that we forget to tune into that niggling inner gut feeling.
Man, wish I'd been around all day to chime in more. Christie, thanks for the words of inspiration. And Faye? Great about the class. I'm sure I'm on your mailing list as I signed up last time. May sounds good to me. I'll be at RT in Orlando.
And the new self-help book sounds fabulous. We all need to laugh more...about everything!
I have to agree with writing because you can't stop. It just isn't possible to stop. I've had periods where it isn't flowing, and I work on editing, or synopsis, or the submission process. Just to keep the words coming... The stories eventually club me across the head and I get the message.
I've had the rejections, and I grade them. A five star was from an editor that asked me submit to her directly from then on, she liked me voice. A one star was when I felt like they hadn't really read my chapters...it was...odd... I'm going to print them up and buy a pack of stars for them... :)
Pack of stars? Uh...a pack of gold star stickers.
If I were a scrapbooker...wouldn't that be a fun scrapbook?
Tiffany,
We both are superstitious. And I find it amazing how those little signs are always there when I open myself up to seeing them.
And you are so right. It's so hard to find and stay connected with our own writing voices when we hear people telling us we need to go with the trends. Don't get me wrong, I'm a trend watcher, but one thing I learned while doing freelance was to learn to take your idea and fit it into someone else's box.
If paranormal is hot, but you're not much on the blood suckers and shape shifters, maybe if you look deep within yourself you might find some slight angle of paranormal that you do like. But if you really can't feel it, don't even attempt it. We have to be true to ourselves.
I can't tell you how many times I was rejected because I was . . . too funny. Or told you couldn't write a suspense and have humor. Now my readers love my humor and I'm praised for suspense. We have to listen to our inner spirit to guide us.
Thanks for posting.
CC
Island Girl,
I love it. Can I use the quote? "Reading Christie Craig can cure the stomach flu!" Hey...if you haven't read my book Weddings, you should know I'm a fan of puking. (Smile) My heroine is a nervous puker, and my hero is a sympathtic puker. So you could say, there's a lot of puking going on.
And can you believe this is the book being nominated for the Best Romantic Suspense?
I love the book Simple Abundance. I'm rereading it again now.
Thanks for stopping in.
CC
2nd Chance,
Of course we grade those rejections. Sometimes I want to write a rejection to someone for their rejection. "I'm so sorry but because of the amount of rejections I recieve I can't respond personally to your rejection. But generally a rejection provokes one of these emotions:
Please shoot me!
I don't like you either.
You're right, but that still hurts like a paper cut.
Please take me off your mailing list, because I've taken you off mine.
You just wait...You're gonna regret this!!!
Humor aside, they do sting, but a lot of times those rejections can offer us helpful insights.
Thanks for posting.
CC
Renee told me that I should stop on by and read this blog, and I am *so* glad I did. At a time where work, family, and the stress of the holidays are starting to become overwhelming, and when I'm rethinking for the hundred time if I really have what it takes to be a published author, this post was incredibly inspiring.
I do believe that the universe provides what we need and that we just have to take the time to listen. Sometimes I just get so caught up that I forget to.
So, thanks, for the inspiration and the stories. I haven't read any of your books but I definitely will now. They look delicious. As for Wilma's story, Rudy's Angel, it's heartwrenching and wonderful.
Loved the blog!
Lara Lee,
It so easy to forget, or to stop listening. I think we can be on the right path, stumble over one little thing and let stress lead us down the wrong way.
I think we all need to laugh more, love more, and be thankful more. It's not easy, but it's something I know I strive for, and work on every day. And on the days I succeed, I'm always happier.
Thanks for stopping in.
CC
Christie,
The website you put up http://www.writewithus.com leads to a retail store. I think you meant http://www.writewithus.net/. There are a lot of workshops on there that look intriguing.
Whoohoo! You gals kept it going all evening.
Thanks so much to Christie and Faye. Sorry you got hung up, Faye, but we're glad you made it over. Since many of us will start focusing on new goals and resolutions soon, this blog is exactly what we needed!
Huzzah!
Wow, how touching and very inspiring.
Thanks Sonya!
I'm glad to see you made it over.
CC
Terrio,
Thanks so much for having us.
You guys have a great ship here!
I'd love to come back when deadlines are all met.
CC
Wow - I'm glad I found a site like this. Love the template!
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