I read this quote on Pat Bertram’s web site:

Everything a writer learns about the art or craft of fiction takes just a little away from his need or desire to write at all. In the end he knows all of the tricks and has nothing to say. – Raymond Chandler

I’m not saying I know everything there is to know, but I am saying, at this stage, I’m feeling like I have nothing to say. When I first started writing, I had so much to say – in my manuscripts, on my blog, etc. And people seemed to like what I had to say and let me know it. Now, everybody’s on Facebook or Twitter and they’re so busy talking, nobody has time to listen – lol!

My writing craft has improved since Real Women Wear Red, written in 2004, agented in 2005, and published in 2007. This happens with every writer if they continue to write and study the craft of writing. But this book continues to be my best seller. There’s something about it that attracts readers. And I’m still hearing that people love it. That makes me so happy that this book can still make readers happy. But when somebody criticizes it or criticizes the writing, I want to say, “Well, why don’t you read one of my more recent novels?” But what makes a book a good book or well-written is oh so subjective. They may find fault with everything I write just because they’re not into me.

It is frustrating to know how hard I’ve worked on my craft in The Tom Jones Club and Letters on Balboa Island. Yet, people continue to overlook these books. I really can’t do much with The Tom Jones Club because it was published with Bookstrand. I can’t do a free promo, enhance its visibility or change the price – the publisher is in control of all of that. As for Letters on Balboa Island, it hasn’t been out that long and now that the blog tour launch is over, I can feature it in other promo spots.

But I also know that both of those books are different from each other and different from Real Women Wear Red. So maybe my readers find something in that book that they can’t find elsewhere. And that’s why I’m working on the sequel, Real Women Sing the Blues. But I’m struggling with sitting down and just writing it. I’m making progress and I like what I’ve written – my critique partner is very excited by it – but I need to add another ten thousand words to it. So why am I struggling? Am I just not into writing anymore?

I suspect it has a lot to do with so many things going on in my personal life – the move, losing our cat, getting sick, etc. That once I recover from all of this, I’ll be on it – at least, I hope so.

What about you? How do you stay motivated to write when life happens… or is anybody even reading this blog anymore? Maybe it’s time to move on and do something else…

But if anybody is reading, check out Pat’s blog post today – What is the Price of Creativity?

Posted by Kathy in Book News

I really don’t like doctors. Most I’ve met have terrible bedside manners, and I have the stories to prove it. So I only go to the doctor when I really have to. But after several nights coughing all night long a couple of weeks ago, I was ready to check myself into the hospital. Thankfully, all I had to do was drive a couple of miles to the nearest walk-in clinic, which Florida has in abundance. I love this about Florida. And this particular clinic gets high ratings. They were very efficient and the technician was especially pleasant.

But what I don’t like about doctors in Florida is this attitude about smoking, as in so many people smoke in Florida, surely you must, too. The doctor asks, “Do you smoke?” “No,” I say. And then he/she asks, “Have you ever smoked?” “No, I have never smoked” and then said doctor pauses as if in disbelief. I noticed this at the dentist the last time we lived in Florida. I realize these are standard questions, but it’s the attitude I detect that puts me off. (Why are they even asking this question – it’s right there on my chart that I do not smoke now nor have I ever smoked!)

It surprises me to see so many smokers in their cars in Florida, because as a freelance writer, that’s where I see the smokers – when I’m in my car. But not only am I from California, which was the first state to ban smoking at work, in restaurants, bars, etc., but I also grew up in a religion where smoking was verboten – you would get kicked out if you smoked. So I wasn’t around smokers – except for people I worked with. For me, smoking is an anomaly – I’m surprised that people still smoke. It just isn’t a part of my life.

So, the next time doctors or dentists ask, “Do you smoke?” I’m tempted to say, “Absolutely not!” and when they ask, “Have you ever smoked?” I’m tempted to say, “Don’t insult me!” Or maybe I should say, “Although I do not smoke, I do write characters who smoke” kinda like “While I am not a doctor, I do play one on TV” – lol! But most doctors don’t seem to have much of a sense of humor.

And when they ask, “Do you drink?” I think I’m going to eliminate wine from the equation, because to me, wine is medicinal, but that’s a topic for another post.

Posted by Kathy in Book News

I used to hang out at the Embassy Suites Santa Ana, California in the early 90s – sometimes with girlfriends – sometimes with my mother – and we loved to hear Denny Pezzin and his “One-Man Show” in the Capistrano Lounge. In fact, this whole experience inspired the hair coloring scene in Real Women Wear Red. Not only that, but the SoCal women in the lounge fascinated me – I recognized these same women at my first Tom Jones performance in Las Vegas – and they all inspired the women of The Tom Jones Club.

Something came over me yesterday and I tried to track down Denny – we’d been at the Embassy Suites this time last year and he was no longer there. I did see that he often performed at other venues in SoCal and even Las Vegas. So, much to my surprise, I discovered he’s now in Florida. Wow! Talk about a coincidence. He’s on the Gulf side in the Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda area so we definitely need to make a trip over there to see him again.

Here’s a sample of one of Denny’s performances – the guy who can do anything and performs all night:

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Posted by Kathy in Book News

Today is Skipper’s 12th birthday. He loves books, purses, and shoes – especially flip flops. We lost his litter mate, Buddy, 3 weeks ago today so this is the first birthday without him. He missed his brother, mourned him, and then retreated to his babyhood by grabbing 2 french fries off my plate as if to say, “One for me and one for you, just like the old days, bro!”

Buddy was loved by vets, coast to coast – he even received a birthday card from the Las Vegas vet today, which was a bit of an emotional hit for me (I’m still recovering from pneumonia after losing Buddy). Loyal, adoring, comforting – he was definitely a little Buddy!

But Skipper is sweet and affectionate (especially for being the dominant cat) – loves to kiss and be called “baby boy” – takes him back to his kittenhood. Unfortunately, the vets never see this side of him.

We know how special he is so I thought I’d post a few pics of my dear writing companion, Skipper, who is also the star of the first and only children’s book I wrote, Skipper’s Big Adventure. Some day I may actually publish it.

Happy birthday, Skipper (and Little Buddy – we’ll never forget you)!

Posted by Kathy in Book News