Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (2006)

ISBN-10: 0-7852-8903-8

ISBN-13: 978-0-7852-8903-6

Genre: Non-fiction, self-help

I found Inside My Heart on a bargain table at Borders with a price too good to pass up on a #1 New York Times Best Seller. It’s not my normal read by a long shot, but a peek inside revealed a conversational tone and a bit of self-deprecating humor, so I bought it.

Inside My Heart is a stream-of-conscious type read, with Robin McGraw weaving back and forth through the events of her life with Dr. Phil (Phillip McGraw) of TV fame. At times it had a ‘look what a stellar person I am’ feel, but each time she managed enough of the aforementioned self-deprecating humor to keep me reading.

McGraw’s quote from the back cover says: “I am on a mission to get you excited about your life, excited about being a woman in this day and time. My goal is to help you see your life as I see mine: a vast array of choices that can bring you closer to the person you long to be. Your life is waiting for you to claim it. It’s all in the choosing.”

I can’t say …

Harlequin Presents

ISBN: 13:978-0-373-12897

Ally Smith is on her honeymoon trip without a husband. Four months earlier she’d found her fiancé in bed with another woman.  The trip was prepaid and she was going to make the most of it. Deciding to use the trip to be more adventurous, she takes Chris Wells, who she believes to be nothing more than a boat hand, to bed. When their time is cut short because her needy family demands her return home, she never expects to see Chris again.

Chris Well is surprised to only receive a note when Ally leaves the island. He finds out where she lives and calls her.  He is shocked to learn that Ally is pregnant with his child and she’d had no intention of telling him. He wants to be a part of his baby’s life but Ally is not excited about the idea. Ally is surprised to find out that Chris doesn’t live far from her and is well known in the yacht racing world.

Chris wants to marry Ally but must convince her that this is what they should do. Ally is falling in love with Chris but can’t …

Movie and Book #1 from the series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Starring:  Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Catherine Keener, Uma Thurman, Pierce Bronson  

Director: Chris Columbus

Writers:

Craig Titley (screenplay)
Rick Riordan (novel)

Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures

Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Book Released: June 28, 2005

Percy Jackson thinks he’s just a troubled kid with really, really bad luck.  After being attacked by his psychotic pre-algebra teacher, he finds himself in a life or death race to the safety of a place called Camp Half-blood.  Once there he discovers this is a camp for children with a parent who is a Greek God and that he is a son of Poseidon.   With this realization, his luck goes from bad to worse. 

He barely has time to take it all in before he has to embark on a quest to save the world from an all out mythological war.  With the help of two fellow campers, Percy has to make his way to the underworld while navigating his way from one side of the United States to the other and through all the monsters in-between.  If he can make it through this alive, …

By Nicki Salcedo

I dislike clichés and when I read them I feel insulted.  It makes me think the author believes I’ve never read another book before.  Don’t get me wrong, I still write about dark and stormy nights and chiseled-chinned heroes, but I delete those clichés during the editing process.  Good writing is never predictable writing.  Surprise your readers and yourself.  When I write I don’t just think outside the box, I think outside ALL of the boxes.

It was a dark and stormy what? What do you think of when you think of rain?  A funeral?  A precursor to a dramatic first kiss?  Why can’t rain signify something happy?  Lightening could mean something exciting is happening instead of something frightening.

What you talking about, Willis? Do not say I love you.  It’s wrong.  I’m sorry.  Think about memorable movies lines that didn’t say I love you.  “You had me at hello.”  “Ditto,” and “I can’t quit you.”  In response to Princess Leia’s I love you, Han responds, “I know.”  Classic.  But in that moment you know he loves her too.  He …

by Maxine Davis

     What is my favorite part of writing? 

Typing The End.  I know.  That is not what this month’s theme means:  “Blog at what you’re good at.”  Well, since I’m not published yet, I’ll just go for personal opinion of the part I enjoy.

 I really like to write dialogue:  (from WIP)

 “Where is everyone?”  She laughed.  “Hey, anybody out there noticing a girl with a wedding gown stuck on her head and the zipper caught in her hair?”

Hands gently tugged her hair for a moment before the dress slid into place and she felt the zipper being slowly pulled up.

“Thanks.”  She turned to admire the dress in the mirror as her breath caught in her throat.  “Who the hell are you?”

“The new groom.”

 OR

 He placed his hands on his hips, and on his belt was a badge that gleamed even in the dark alley.  “Are you telling me he beat you?” 

She frowned.  “No.  I’m telling you he swung at me and said he’d kill me.”

“But he’s the one with a broken nose, a missing tooth, and blood all over his face.”

“Yeah, well, he surprised the hell out of me.”

 ###

 Then there is dialog I wish I had written:

 “Last night, …

Hi Erica! How’s release week treating you? 

Fabulously! I may be averaging about 4 hours of sleep a night, but the past couple weeks have been amazing. On Sunday, I had my official launch party: a signing at a local independent bookstore followed by an after party at a friend of mine’s café. Another friend of mine baked lip-shaped cookies as “kiss” favors. (Yet another friend of mine brought a fabulous key lime dessert. Key lime may have nothing whatsoever to do with my book, but it was delicious!!)

 Do you realize that your description of release week primarily details the food?

 Er, yes. Pretty much all my stories have to do with food. I spent the past year in Europe, and I’m pretty sure 99% of my Twitter and Facebook updates were about the incredible things I was eating and drinking. (Or not eating. Like the time someone brought over a frozen fish as a party favor, unwrapped it, and set it directly on the coffee table. I was the only one who seemed to find that strange.)

 Are there many strange goings-on in Too Wicked To Kiss?

 Each of the …

By Tami Brothers 

Secrets

I’ve been told by those who read my blog posts or who happen by my Web site that it LOOKS like I’m making great progress.  But looks can be deceiving. 

The reality is that I haven’t written anything substantial in two years.  Two! Freaking! Years!

Yes, there is the chapter I contributed to Aspen Expose’ (and the chapter I just turned in for the sequel), my short story for the October Treasure Hunt, and finally the articles I’ve written for GRW’s Galley and RWA’s PROspects publications.  Aside from that?  Nothing.  Zip.  Nada.  

Lies

Recently one of my GRW chapter mates asked why I hadn’t made it to publication yet.  I mumbled something about a couple of WIPs I was working on and about getting around to submitting something, then immediately felt guilty because I wasn’t being truthful.  What I should have said was I that was mourning the death of my muse.    

Murder

You see, two years ago I made a commitment to go back to college and quickly discovered nothing can kill a muse …