May 8th Challenge

Hi it’s Christina –

Good Morning! Chin up, it’s only two days until the weekend.

Since Dani was up, I didn’t even attempt to start this blog first thing this morning. Instead I poked around on the internet. One of my friends posted this photo, with the story behind it. Like most things posted on the internet, I was skeptical, so I looked into it further.

It turns out, this is a true story, but what people might not know, is the photo is almost twenty years old. Kyrie and Brielle Jackson were born on October 17^th, 1995 in Massachusetts, which means they are most likely either seniors in high school or freshmen in college now. It’s amazing, a photo and the story behind it, which took place almost two decades ago, is still circulating on the internet.

Lilacs
(in my front yard)

Lily of the Valley
(lining my walkway)

Well, I think the wait is finally over, Spring just may be here to stay. Yippy!!! Although my allergies are in overdrive, I am not going to complain one bit. I was happy to see, two of my favorite flowers, were blooming. In my mind, the combination of these two, is what Heaven smells like. I just LOVE both of them. I only wish they didn’t bloom at the same time of the year, that way I could thoroughly enjoy one, and then when it was finished, be able to enjoy the other.

I have a confession to make. I kept checking my email yesterday to see if another message came in from the folks at Indie, but sadly, it didn’t. Now I’m wracking my brain (or is it racking my brain – another word where you get vehement opposing views and I’m never sure which is right) as to what Taking Chances was missing.

It’s very frustrating. How am I supposed to learn and improve, if I can’t figure out what made A Second Chance a winner, and Taking Chances not even get an honorable mention in the romance category? Was there too much intrigue, action, and suspense for it to be labeled a true “romance” in their eyes? Is there something I should or shouldn’t do in Simply by Chance – the third in the series?

Although I am not claiming to be at the same level as Johanna Lindsey or as Stephanie Laurens, their Mallory and Cynster Series, respectively, are pretty much on the same lines as my Bradford Series; historical romance novels, with a high degree of action, adventure and mystery, with an interwoven cast of characters. Plus, like both of their novels, there are some steamy scenes, and, of course, the predictable yet required, happy ending.

I know, Taking Chances was better written than A Second Chance. The characters were deeper, the conflicts more intricate. I learned a lot from writing and then from the editing of A Second Chance, so I was able to implement the knowledge while writing Taking Chances. I learned even more from Taking Chances, and I tried to bring that knowledge into the books I’ve written or am currently writing.

However, this is making me wonder if I’m getting steered off course somehow; if my interpretation of the “knowledge” or my implementation of the “knowledge” has gone awry. I’m NOT saying I should have won, and if Taking Chances had become a finalist in the ROMANCE category, I would not even be questioning any of this right now.

Obviously the book has appeal, since it was a finalist in a category which encompasses multi genres, and I am THRILLED about that, but I’m still left scratching my head, and second guessing myself.

Many of you out there have read both A Second Chance and Taking Chances. Can you give me some feedback or insight? I DO NOT WANT A PAT ON THE BACK HERE. I want some honest, constructive, warts and all, feedback. My goal is to give readers what they want, and if I’m not doing that, I need to fix it, and fix it fast, or I might as well hang up my pen (keyboard).

Oh well, enough wallowing. I’m working again today, so I have to start getting ready. I hope you have a great day, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

Share a brief microhistory on any subject you know about, because you could hardly do research in the ten minute allotted time. Make it as interesting as possible so it does not read like an instruction manual.

While writing historical romance novels, you have to do a lot of research. In the course of that research, you come across many interesting facts, facts which never make it into your novels, but are interesting non-the-less. When I was writing Taking Chances, I had to do research on the Napoleonic War, French and Spanish ships, the Battle of Trafalgar, and Lord Nelson. Let me tell you, I could probably write a doctoral thesis on the subject at this point.

One of the interesting facts which never made it into my book was what had happened to Lord Nelson, after he was killed, during the Battle of Trafalgar. Remember, this battle occurred in the early 1800s. The voyage from Cadiz back to England took quite a bit of time, and the crew couldn’t give Lord Nelson a burial at sea as they would have any other fallen sailor, so they needed to figure out a way to preserve his body until it could be returned to England. Their solution, they placed his body in a barrel and used the salt they used to preserve meat during a voyage, to keep him “fresh”. In essence, they pickled him.

Innovative for sure, but that’s not even the worst part. Supposedly, when his body was returned, it laid in state for three days, as was customary for dignitaries at that time. Okay, I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure if I would want to view a body which has been dead for three weeks and pickled. EEEEwwwww!

Your Next Challenge is:

Write a FIRST person experience from the viewpoint of a dollar bill.

You have ten minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count, and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

July 6th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Crazy short today folks, because I have to get some writing done before we leave for Connecticut. I’m bringing the girls to see a Hunter Hayes (country singer) concert. We are leaving around 11, so I wanted to get a few hours of writing done before I had to leave. That’s why it’s before 5:00 am and I’m blogging.

Off to camp, even before the sun rises…

 

Your Last Challenge was:

They could be twins…

 

So there I am, walking down the street of a local town, I pull up short and so does the person directly in front of me. We stop and stare at each other, both of us stunned and temporarily speechless. Same height, same weight and body structure, same eye color, not the same hair color but that was caused by a bottle not nature; it was like looking into a mirror.

 

When we actually started to talk, things got even more strange; Christine vs. Christina, April 1^st vs October 1^st - which was a HUGE relief, next town north vs next town south. We spent about ten minutes talking and were both pretty freaked out. That was the first and last time we ever spoke.

 

They do say, everyone has a twin.

 

(True story – out last names were even similar, hers spelled the English way, mine spelled the German way, but pronounced the same.)

 

Today’s challenge is going to be a photo. Look closely. What do you really see?

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

July 5th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good morning world! Hope everyone had a happy and safe July 4^th.

 

Well, as predicted, my daughter’s cake was the hit of the party. Check it out…

 

The outside:

 

 

Four layers high, with a peanut butter frosting, garnished with crushed peanuts and mini chocolate chips.

 

The inside:

 

 

A round checkerboard with chocolate mousse filling! Yes, it tasted as good as it looked! My daughter just may have a career as a pastry chef, after her career with the FBI of course. LOL.

My son was quite surprised with his gift from us, which is great. We got him a grill (and tools to be able to assemble the grill). He thought he was going to be getting a hand-me-down grill since we got my husband a new one for Father’s Day, but we figured he would use a grill almost every day, so he should have a new one.

OK, let’s get to the challenge so I can go to camp. Oh, almost forgot, I hit 10,240 for my word count yesterday. 20% done!!! YEAH!!!!

Your Last Challenge was:

But it started out so small…

 

Another big party at my house, and I am rushing around like a chicken with its feathers on fire, but then again, what else is new? This time, I was in pretty good shape. The appetizers were ready, the cold food was prepared, and the hot food was either cooking on the stove or in the oven. My husband was out on an adult beverage run and my children had all vacated the premises for more appealing endeavors than an adult social, so at the moment, it was just the dog, the cats and me at home.

I was doing my last sweep of the house to make sure in the last hour no one hung underwear off a lamp or something else equally as ridiculous, when I notice a strange spot on the couch. Small really, only the size of a dime, so I’m surprised I even saw it. I go over to take a look, but I cannot identify what it is. I grab a paper towel to try and blot it up, but the paper towel immediately sticks to the spot and I can’t get it off. Great, now the spot is the size of a quarter with fuzzy paper sticking out of it. I grab a damp sponge and start to dab. The paper towel starts to loosen and finally come off, but now the spot is the size of a doughnut and bright red.

 

Ahhh! I rummage through the cabinets and find some upholstery cleaner, quickly read the directions – spray, let soak for a minute, blot with a clean dry cloth. I spray, so far so good. Fifteen seconds, tiny bubbles start to form – yeah, it’s working. Thirty seconds, bigger bubbles start to form – is that supposed to happen? Forty-five seconds – the area literally starts to foam. Forty-six seconds – I screech, grab the entire roll of paper towels and start blotting frantically. Sixty seconds – I’m sitting on the floor staring at my ruined couch in shock. The cushion has melted, where the foam hit the couch is melted, and where it dripped on the rug it ate a hole almost to the padding.

My husband walks in, sees the mess and asks the obvious “What happened?”

Still in shock, all I can say is, “But it started out so small…”

 

(Thankfully NOT a true story.)

 

Your Next Challenge is:

They could be twins…

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.