Writing Romance According to Crayola

On The Blog This Week....

2011-10-17T14:38:00.000-04:00

...Guest Author extraordinaire, TJ Michaels talks about being "Otaku", how growing up in a diverse neighborhood has shaped her writing and gives us a glimpse of her latest muse. He's guaranteed to wake-up your girly parts. LOL!

"Total Otaku" by TJ Michaels

And while you're there ogling her muse, don't forget to enter our J-Pop Indulgence giveaway!

Mimi

IMRR Fall Newsletter Submissions

2011-09-02T14:48:00.000-04:00

The upcoming FALL IMRR Bookclub newsletter is open for book announcement submissions and articles.

For book announcements, please include the following information along with your blurb and a clear, reproducible image of your book cover:

Publisher:
Genre(s):
Main Characters Ethnicity (or Species):
Author Website:
Format: (print or ebook)
Purchase Link:

ALL books included in the upcoming newsletter will automatically be included in the IMRR Book Database. http://www.imrrbookclub.com/resources/reader/bookdatabase.html

All Newsletter Submissions are due on Friday, September 23, 2011.

Please send all announcements and articles to imrrbookclub@hotmail.com.

My personal apologies to everyone who send submissions for the last newsletter. I (Mimi), spent a good portion of the summer with my hand in a brace and working on anything computer related for more than a few minutes here and there was nearly impossible. Thankfully, I'm finally back to normal...well, normal-ish.

RICH Writers Newsletter - December 2010

2010-12-20T19:08:00.000-05:00

IMRR/RICH Writers would like to reintroduce the monthly newsletter.

Each month we will alternate between announcing the latest books, reviews, announcements and words of wisdom from the authors of our two favorite online groups IMRR and RICH Writers.

Enjoy, comment and naturally, pass it on to your friends.

BIG emotions. lots of CONFUSION.

2010-05-08T10:50:00.000-04:00

Recently I've started waking up with songs by Mucc stuck in my head. Now, for those of you...which are most of you...who haven't a clue who Mucc (pronounced "Muc-Koo") are, they're a Japanese rock band. Been around a little over ten years and musically, they tend to play whatever they want. But most often it tends to have a darker, funkier, quirky sound, that I'm enjoying presently. One day last week I woke up with the words, "La-la-la. La-la-la. La-la-la-la-la-la-la, La-la-la-la-la-la-lahhhh" melodically running through my head ("Yasashii Uta").

This morning, I haven't a CLUE what the words were, but the sound was there. BIG, slightly funky and loud, but with an underlying smoothness that left me feeling like the day wasn't going to be too bad. It took me a moment to realize it was "Ame No Orchestra."

Anyway...I don't speak Japanese and probably never will. But, I've been waking up at least a couple of times a week with their songs stuck in my head and it's only been today that I've really been able to figure out why.

I'm in the midst of re-editing a story that I'd assumed I was done with.

Can't find the last chapter I wrote on another story...it was mistakenly packed away and put in storage in a box with the word "Writing" on it. I have at least three boxes with that label on them and would take me half the day to get to them. I put the notebook away because I'd assumed that I'd typed everything in it up and put it on my thumb drive.

I recently discovered that my caffeine allergy has now expanded to the point where I can no longer eat chocolate and I'm just generally confused about what's going on in my life from one minute to the next.

However, as I was brushing my teeth and this music and lyrics I'll never understand outside of how they make me feel was just rolling through my mind, I realized that despite my confusion on where my life is currently headed and all that everyone wants from me...Presently, everyone wants something from me and aren't really concerned about how I feel about it. They just want what they want...I'm still fairly happy and hopeful underneath it all. I'm a little ticked off and can be in a bit of a funky mood at times although I'd do my best to not let it show beyond my tee shirt, makeup or hair. I'm still happy in all my confusion and just want my family to allow me to work through what's what on my own. Mind you, they're the cause for most of my annoyance. But that's another story that I'm just not going to go into, although JJ says I need to write a book about my family and their trifling ways and Dyanne says the best way to get over people ticking you off is to write them into a story and kill them off. It makes you feel better without the litigation.

In other words, LOTS of emotion. Lots of CONFUSION. But I'm going to be okay.

Isn't it amazing how music can help you express yourself even when you can't otherwise...EVEN when you can't understand a word that's being said?

Mimi

2010-04-07T11:09:00.001-04:00

Hey guess what?

IMRR has a new board on Goodreads!!

WE'RE NOT CLOSING THE CURRENT BOARD!

So, no one panic about learning a new program. But because we want to give those members that never got the hang of Multiply another board option, we've decided to create a group there.

The new group is "restricted" so if you're not a member, you can't view the boards. But if you do decide to join, we're asking that you have an email address at one of the following domains: hotmail, yahoo, msn, aol or gmail. We've done this to protect the members from spam artists as well as free ourselves from the need to approve each and every member via a questionaire as we've been forced to do over the past eight years.

You can locate the new board HERE!

Mimi

We're in the kitchen...

2010-04-03T12:43:00.000-04:00

...metaphorically speaking that is. ..cooking up an new thing or two for our members.

The "We" being the members of IMRR Management, of course!

Be sure to be on the look-out next week for a new thing or two.

Mimi!

Have Your Computer/Email Been Compromised?

2010-04-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

Recently the members of IMRR Management have received quite a few questionable emails from members and contacts. We've deemed them questionable because often we're familar with the person who's name is attached to the email, but the content of the email itself is nothing more than a link to a website.

Most often the emails have come from Hotmail accounts. But they all have one thing in common: They appear to be a legitimate email from someone you know...or even from yourself.

The emails rarely have a title in the subject line and the only content in the body of the email is a link to a site that contains a trojan.

If you have been told by one of your contacts that they've received an email from you containing a link to a website and nothing else, please do the following immediately:

1. Change the password on the email account that's been effected IMMEDIATELY!

2. Update your virus scan and run it on your computer.

The best FREE Virus Scan is Grisoft's AVG. The last company I worked for used it on their computers as a suppliment to the virus scan that they had and I use it on my personal computer.

AVG: http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free

If you receive such an email from a contact, email them the above imformation immediately. The sooner they change their passwords and scan their computers, the sooner they can get back to enjoying their time online.

Which hero would you "DO?"

2010-01-22T10:40:00.000-05:00

Aww, come on.

Don't make me explain what I mean by "DO."

But you know who he is.

And you know WHY.

So...who'dya DO if he were real?

*Note to Authors - You can't say the hero from your latest book. You've already "DONE" him. LOL!

Judith Smith-Levin 1945-2009

2010-01-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

Judith Smith-Levin
1945-2009

Sad news that has to be relayed to you today:

Judith Smith-Levin died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at her home in Washington, following an apparent heart attack.

Her request was that her ashes be buried at sea in Washington. Burial will be performed at a later date.

Smith-Levin had a passion for writing. She had more books in her popular series, the Starletta Duvall Mysteries, in the process of being published. Among other things, she also enjoyed watching television and playing video games.

She was preceeded in death by her son Jason William Levin, on February 15, 2008.

Services are pending.

The above pictures and information was copied from Ms. Smith-Levin's website: http://www.judithsmithlevin.com/

Romanticon 2009 - Sunday's Workshop Panels

2009-10-16T11:48:00.000-04:00

Romanticon 2009 - Sunday's Worshop Panels

As stated in my earlier post, each day of Ellora Cave's Romanticon was chocked full of events and activities from sun up to sun down and we enjoyed each and every workshop. However, the cherry to our "Sundae" was in the fact that I'd been asked to participate as a panelist on two of the panels for the day.

The first of the day being the Reviewer's Panel. Panelists included: Chrissy Dionne (Romance Junkies) Sheila Gallagher (Two Lips Reviews), Joysann (Publishers Weekly) Moderator EC Editor Helen Woodall and myself.

Each panelist explained how we selected books for review. How we handle negative reviews and what was the best "thank you" we'd ever received from an author/publisher for reviewing a book as well as a wide variety of other questions. The one thing we as reviewers,...well, yours truly...hoped authors came away from this panel workshop with was to not take negative reviews personally. Learn from them what they could and continue to grow as authors.

Our "Thank You" for doing this workshop, a super-cool "Save The Frogs" wristband and stone all the way from Austrailia (check out savethefrogs.com for more information)

Pictured above: EC Editor and Moderator Helen Woodall, Sheila Gallagher (Two Lips) and myself.

Our next event for the day...the one that made me a wee bit nervous and sent me into the same frame of mind that I have when teaching Children's Church and I'm dealing with 2 dozen hyperactive 5-10 year olds,...was the Writing and Researching IR/MC Workshop that I was asked to participate on. *shrugs* Hey, we had 30 minutes and five speakers...I had to talk fast considering we still had to answer attendees questions.

From the start of the panel until the end, the discussion was lively. The panelist included Eve Vaughn, Liz Andrews, Lena Matthews, Koko Brown and myself. Each spoke on a specific topic of interest: Definition and General Information, Do and Don't's, Stereotypes, Conflict and Advice to Aspiring Authors.

Pictured above: Eve Vaughn (not pictured), Lena Matthews, Liz Andrews, Koko Brown and myself.

We ended the panel with random IMRR giveaways of t-shirts, totebags and copies of "Holiday Gifts" on CD. Both panels were amazing to be a part of .

Pictured from left to right:
Authors Tracy Cooper-Posey and Eve Vaughn, EC attendee whose name escapes me at the moment, myself (Mimi Tremont), IMRR Member: Lexi, Aspiring Author George Allwyn and Liz Andrews

My thanks to the staff of Ellora's Cave for inviting us to take part in this year's conference. We look forward to attending next year in whatever capacity we're allowed.

Although...I'd gladly take over as Caveman Wrangler.

EC Caveman and Mr. Romance 2006 - Rodney Chatman

Mimi

Back From Romanticon! - A Quick Overview

2009-10-12T15:31:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm back from Romanticon and I'm wonderfully tired.

In fact...we all are. (Please note the happy, but exhausted looks on the four faces to your right Gloria, Patricia, myself and IMRR's newest member, Mikah Woods)

Now, I could tell you about all the sexy models I met and managed to not grope. (Ellora's Cavemen David Greenhouse and Angelo)

*whispers* Right up until I saw these two very sexy cavemen, I'd wished my daughter had attended with me. Then after a tiny bit of thought, I was overjoyed she was home in Syracuse and not in Ohio with me because I'm pretty sure, I wouldn't have seen her much. And yes, they do indeed ooze sex appeal with every breath they take.

But instead, I think I want to tell everyone about the amazing authors I met.

Almost from the first day of the convention, I kept running into this super cute little person that liked my locs and said so. I later suggested that she try getting temporary twist extensions while secretly love-love-loving the purple tint in her hair. The only reason I kept it a secret was because I knew if I'd even begun to mention loving it, I would have left Ohio with purple hair.
She looked like she was a tad too young to read an Ellora's Cave book, never mind attend the convention. Turns out, she was romance crack dealer and author Sherri L. King and I left her table with not one, but two books after years of reading her blurbs and swearing to myself that I would stay away from her brand of romance crack. I'm pretty sure, Sherri's back home, loving her new title of crack dealer.

My first day of the convention, I attended the one class I swore that I was only going to for those members of RICH Writers that wrote M/M and M/F/M. In fact, I was positive that all I'd really learn was information that I could pass on to others.

Problem was, Kaenar Langford was among the panelist and within 30 seconds of opening her mouth, she had the entire class eating out the palm of her hand as she discussed going on a tour of a gay spa.

When we officially met her later in the lobby and she began to tell us more about her researching for her books and being a kindergarden teacher years earlier, we (Trish, Gloria and I) came to the unamious decision that she was easily one of the coolest people we'd ever met. I'm pretty sure, Kaenar's not afraid to research anything.

Other amazing authors I met and had a chance to talk to: Bronwyn Green, Regina Carlysle, J Hali Steele, Joanna Waugh, Nina Pierce...and I know I'm forgetting others outside of the four ladies I plan on mentioning tomorrow: Eve Vaughn, Lena Matthews, Liz Andrews and Koko Brown. Those four ladies, deserve a separate installation of their own.

Meanwhile, I'm going to bed and dreaming of all the books I've got to read...and must get back to writing.

Happy Reading and Writing!

2009-10-07T09:34:00.001-04:00

In less than 24 hours, Patricia and I will both be representing IMRR at the first Romanticon Convention!

I leave tonight. While Trish (and Gloria - aka IMRR's Unlisted and Invisible Member and Management Cheerleader) leaves in the morning.

I'm participating on two panels. Reading The Reviews and Research and Writing Special Genres: Interracial/Multicultural Romance (with Eve Vaughn, Liz Andrews, Koko Brown and Lena Matthews).

Some how I've managed to not get nervous. Let's pray it stays that way. However....all the giggling over the past few days could just be....Nahhh, it's just me talking books with some really...really...super cool...authors that I en...joy....*fans self*....Whew!...Is it hot in here? Can someone open a window....

If you live in the area and can't attend the convention, but would love to check out the book fair and giggle with Trish, Gloria and I, it's open to the public on Sunday from 12-3pm at the Quality Inn and Suites, Richfield, Ohio.

For more information on Romanticon 09's events: https://www.jasminejade.com/romanticon/details.html

Mimi
IMRR Manager

Favorite Quote

2009-09-21T17:15:00.000-04:00

Refuse to waste your time. Give it value and spend it wisely. ~ Mimi Tremont

Woo-HOO! (Travesty Update)

2009-09-03T06:07:00.000-04:00

So, this morning Mom and I are in the car and she's listening...kinda...to a comedy channel on Sirrus FM. But, of course, there's no local news on there so I grab my cellphone and turn on the radio function to locate a local station I can stomach that early in the morning. I plugged in my headset. Turned on the cell and started searching. Two stations in, it landed back on my fave station and what should my wondrous ears hear? NEPHEW TOMMY!!!

MY STATION'S BACK Y'ALL!!!

I have no idea what prompted them to change back, (probably a mindblowing number of phone calls from angry listeners looking for their daily fix of old school r & b music, Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden) but whatever it was...WHOEVER it was, my eternal thanks goes out to them. The world as I know it has returned to normal and I can get my laugh on again.

Your Top Ten Favorite Heroes

2009-08-24T09:01:00.000-04:00

You've read his story so many times the edges of the book is permanently curled.

Long after putting the book down, you just couldn't get him out of your mind....We're talking YEARS LATER!

Were you ever lucky enough to come in contact with a man like him, you'd be all the woman he ever needed. Lord knows you wouldn't have given him half the trouble his heroine gave him. He's your favorite hero and although you'd never share him with anyone, you know you want to tell others about him.

Who are your Top Ten
All-Time Favorite Heroes?

Here's mine thus far, in no particular order....

1. Garret MacAllister - "Get Your Sexy On" - Kimberly Kaye Terry (IR)

2. Duncan Tallchief - "The Cowboy and The Cradle" by Cait London- I don't think this book is even in print any more, but if you love Alpha heroes in kilts, Duncan's (and his brothers) your man!

3. Bobby Ray Smith aka "Smitty" - "The Beast In Him" by Shelley Laurenston (IR)

4. Jared Stone - "The Critic" by Dyanne Davis (AA)

5. Jake Kosevo - "Mr. Right Now" by Monica Jackson (IR)

6. Adam Omega - "In the Beginning" and "In Blood We Trust" by F. D. Davis - You REALLY need to read these books.

7. Carlos Manoso aka "Ranger" - The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

8. Acheron Parthenopaus - "Acheron" and The Dark Hunters Series - Sherilyn Kenyon

9. Mikhail Dubrinsky - "Dark Prince" by Christine Feehan

10. Sheikh Jamal Ari Yasir - "Delaney's Desert Sheikh" by Brenda Jackson (IR)

Honorable Mention:

Each and EVERY hero of "The Westmorelands" by Brenda Jackson.

Brian Spencer - "Rockstar" by Roslyn Hardy-Holcomb

Sullivan - "In Blood We Trust" by FD Davis

Anatoly - The Sophie Katz Mysteries by Kyra Davis

Books Featuring - Native American and Asian Heroes

2009-08-12T17:04:00.000-04:00

Locating a book featuring a bw/wm couple is much easier than it used to be. But, what if you're looking for an IR book featuring an Asian or Native American hero?

Not so easy to just blindly reach for a book at your favorite bookstore and locate such a book with ease. Below is a list...a growing list I'm sure. Of currently available IR books featuring sexy sistahs and handsome Asian and Native heroes.

Native American Heroes

"Unbreak My Heart" by Dar Thomlinson - bw/nam
"From The Ashes" by Kathleen Suzanne and Jeanne Sumerix - bw/nam
"Red Sky" by Renee Alexis - bw/nam

Asian Heroes

"J-Pop Lovesong" by Shiree McCarver - bw/am
"Drummer's Beat To Mend" by Kei Swanson - bw/am
"The Words of a Pitcher" Kei Swanson - ww/am
"Ebony Eyes" by Kei Swanson - bw/am
"No Ordinary Love" by Angela Weaver - bw/am

(All of the books listed are available via Genesis Press, except J-Pop)

Authors who focus on Asian Heroes - Shiree McCarver and Kei Swanson
Authors who focus on Native American Heroes - Renee Alexis

Check out Shiree and Kei's individual sites for additional books featuring Asian heroes. They both have several books not listed above.

Kei Swanson: http://www.keiswanson.com/
Shiree McCarver: http://www.shireemccarver.com/

Renee Alexis is working a series of books featuring Native American's heroes, check out her blog here: http://reneealexis.blogspot.com/

Mimi's Favorite Reads - August

2009-08-10T09:55:00.000-04:00

"Finger Lickin' Fifteen" by Janet Evanovich

"Get Your Sexy On" by Kimberly Kaye Terry

"Dream Warrior" by Sherrilyn Kenyon

"Finger Lickin' Fifteen" by Janet Evanovich - (ww/wm and hm - it's a love triangle of sorts for those of you unfamiliar with the series) I faithfully purchase Evanovich's books. FAITHFULLY. This year I was in Borders on the day it came out with a special gleam in my eye as a I fingered the pages. As predicted, she didn't disappoint and I laughed enough while reading it during my lunch breaks that my coworkers knew without asking who I was reading. Lula witnesses a murder, enters a barbecue contest (mind you, she can't boil water), moves in with Stephanie and the mayhem and laughter begins.

If you've never read Evanovich before, give her a try and as with all series, start at the beginning. It will make more sense when they refer to events that occured two books back.

And for those of you familiar with the series...Morelli and Ranger are sexier than ever...and I will be a Babe till the day I die!

"Get Your Sexy On" by Kimberly Kaye Terry - (bw/wm) I purchased this book within days of it's release. However, I held off on reading it until a couple of weeks ago. Hey, I've got a ton of books in my TBR pile...

Okay, here's the skinny....I opened the book one evening after work telling myself that I was just going to read the opening chapter, then get on with writing, critiquing and a whole host of other things that I needed to do. I sat on the edge of the bed. Opened the book and didn't get up until I was more than ninety pages in and the only reason I got up then, was because my daughter was on her way home from work and I thought it might be nice if we had dinner that night.

The next day when I got my "You better be writing" reminder email from author Naomi James, I admitted why I'd been lax the night before and sent her a link to KKT's GYSO page. Thirty minutes later, I got another email back from her screaming that she hated me because she'd just ordered the book from Borders herself and was picking it up on her way home. She, like yours truly, went home, opened the book and couldn't put it down.

Refusing to read the next page in this book is like trying to not eat the next potato chip in the bag. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT FINISH IT OFF IN ONE SITTING!

I promise you this is one of the sexiest books I've read in years. The plot is on point. I've never been a stripper turned teacher, but I understood Sienna Featherstone's motivations behind doing what she did. And the hero Garret McAllister...Listen, if you don't like Alphas....don't read this book. He takes alpha to a level that's far beyond anything I've encountered in a while. But...*fans self*...I want to go with him wherever he goes.

Before I ramble anymore, since this is always supposed to be a short "Here's The Books I Liked" type thing, I'll make it short. The book is hot. The hero's hot. The heroine is about her business and the plot kept me turning pages.

Note to Ms. Terry regarding Jake Runninghorse...DIBS!

"Dream Warrior" by Sherrilyn Kenyon - (paranormal - mythology) Yet another thing anyone that knows me knows, is that I love Sherrilyn Kenyon's books. She's such an autobuy that if her publisher decides to change the cover and not the content, and if I'm not paying attention, I will buy her books and not realize until I get home and go to put it on my shelf, that I've got a copy of it already.

Ms. Kenyon introduces readers to a new pantheon of warriors battling to save humanity from an evil that they don't know exist.

Now listen...the hero, Jericho/Cratus - YUMMY. If you love Zarek of Moesha, you'll love Jericho.

Delphine, the heroine...If only I had her skills. She minds her business and does her best to stay on the downlow when it comes to Zeus and his minions, but, she will kick butt, take names and have them posted for all to see just in case someone's crazy enough to think they're big and bad enough to take her on.

While Ms. Kenyon's said previously that from the point of "Acheron" on, the next book would set up a new series, the "Dream Hunters" and (Technically, the first book in the series is "Dream Hunter" released in 2007), "Dream Warrior" is the third book in the series, BUT...if I tell you what happens at the end of the book...well, lets just say it would be wrong, wrong, wrong of me.

*sigh*

Okay, okay, okay....I'll tell a tiny bit.

If you've never read any of the books in the series, this is the perfect book to pick up since from this point forward, we have a whole slew of new (and sexy) characters and I can not wait for the next book in the series

Like the Finger Lickin' and Sexy, I couldn't put it down and have found myself going back to reread portions of the book because it was just SOOOO good!

These are my three favorite books for the month. Why not spread the word about your favs?

And The Winner Is....

2009-08-05T17:02:00.000-04:00

....Tatiana2329!

Congratulations to Tatiana2329, the winner of my birthday contest!

Thank you to everyone that participated in this year's contest.

Last Day!

2009-07-31T07:17:00.000-04:00

Today's the last day in my annual birthday give away. If you haven't entered, here's your chance!

I'm giving away two of my fave books of 2009 ("The Beast In Him" by Shelly Laurenston and "Get Your Sexy On" by Kimberly Kaye Terry) and a $25 gift certificate to Borders (or Barnes and Nobles).

How do you enter?

Simply stop by my Multiply site and comment on a post. It's just that easy.

Best of luck!

Mimi
http://mimitremont.multiply.com/

IMRR at RomantiCon 2009

2009-07-23T09:20:00.000-04:00

Hey gang, we've got some AWESOME news!

In fact, it's so awesome that if you hadn't thought about attending RomantiCon 2009, you just might change your mind!

The official schedule will hit the net in a few weeks, but after a phone call here and there and lots of giggling, screeching and our usual behind the scenes madcap antics, we've confirmed with the powers to be (aka the Fabulous ladies at Ellora's Cave) that Patricia and I will be sitting on two panels during the convention!

Yep, you read that right!

I'm take part in the "Researching and Writing Interracial/Multicultural/African-American Romances" panel.

While Patricia will sit on the Reader's Focus Session Panel (I don't have the exact title of the panel), which from what I understand is supposed to be super cool because it's a group of romance lovers giving authors, both published and aspiring, information on what readers are looking for when they open a book.

As soon as the official schedule hits the net, or one of our inboxes, we'll pass it on to everyone. But, if you're on the fence about attending RomantiCon, consider joining us. However, if you know you're attending, be sure to find us! We've always got an IMRR promo item or two to giveaway if you do.

Amazing Birthday Continues

2009-07-20T17:52:00.000-04:00

Because my daughter forgot to take yesterday, my actual birthday off, she decided to make up for being such a rotten daughter, by taking me out to dinner tonight. I hadn't a clue where she was taking me until we reached the SU (Syracuse University) Campus.

Being diplomatic, she gave me the choice of two restaurants.

Now, she knew better than to do this because when I'm the one making decisions for someone other than just me, I've been known to bounce between two or three decisions because I want as many people as possible to be happy with the decision. While if it's just little ole me, making a decision is super easy.

She'd picked out two restaurants, "Appethazing" a thai restaurant...I'm a big fan of thai....and "Aladdin's Eatery" known for its natural ingredients and meditterranean food, most of which is vegetarian. The "most of which" is what made me choose "Aladdin's."

Thirty seconds into the restaurant and...

SWEET MERCIFUL SAVIOR!!!!

It was the first time in ages that I'd gone somewhere for dinner and had more than two or three choices. The menu wasn't huge, but with four or five choices from each area of the menu we both just sat there stumped for the first ten minutes until the waitress had mercy on us...well, me really. As usual, the brat knew what she wanted immediately, she had mousaka.

Indecisive me, I had a veggie combo plate chocked full with four appetizer sized selections from their menu. My faves, the spanikopita (spinach pie) and the tourlou (a stew-oup of sorts with eggplant, chickpeas, roasted red peppers and tomatoes). I ate until I was...not necessarily full, but so satisfied I couldn't contemplate dessert. Fact is, about the only thing I can think about right now, is a fabulous cup of red zinger tea.

It was an amazing meal and a great way to celebrate my birthday, thanks to the brat. Yep...all I can think about is the tea...too bad the leftover cake and ice cream's calling my name.

An Amazing Birthday

2009-07-18T15:27:00.000-04:00

I am having an amazing birthday weekend. AB-SO-LUTELY amazing!

What makes it so amazing you ask? Well gee, I'll tell you.

Now, I started to tell you a bunch of stuff that wasn't really your business and quite honestly, you're not really interested in outside of it being soap opera-ish, so I'll just trim it down to the basics.

Earlier today I was on the phone with IMRR Management's voice of reason (aka Patricia) when my call waiting flashed and I saw a strange cell phone number on the television screen (the wonders of digital tv and phone ties mine together). So, feeling generous with my time, I decided to put Trish on hold for a few and see who it was. I have a bazillion cousins and most of them know my b-day's tomorrow. So, I hit flash and the first thing I hear is: "Who's this?"

Well..*g*...if you know me, you already know my reply. "Who's THIS?"

"Uhhh....this is Lamar."

OMIGOSH!!!!!!!

I scrambled to get off the phone with Trish because it was my nephew in Orlando! I hadn't heard from him in at least three years! I had an amazing time talking to him. But in the middle of all the chatter I asked him how his Mom (my sister, Diane) was doing. His reply, "Well, why don't you ask her yourself?"

OMIGOSH!!!!

Now, my sister isn't anyone famous or anything like that outside of just being MY sister. (Please take the next few minutes to ignore the fact that I'm not famous either) But I hadn't talked to my sister in at least ten years. (Insert soap-operaish stuff that I alluded to earlier here). We talked for thirty of the most amazing minutes I've experience in a long time and I'm AMAZINGLY HAPPY!

So amazing in fact that I've decided to extend my birthday celebration giveaway until the end of the month and extend the prizes by adding a few more things to the $25 gift certificate and copy of "The Beast In Him" by Shelly Laurenston. The contest now ends on July 31st so if you haven't entered, be sure to do so soon!

Multiply Hasn't Lost It's Mind...

2009-07-17T04:29:00.000-04:00

...but I did finally figure out how to crosspost my blog posts between Multiply and Blogger. So, the 50-11 posts from me yesterday, was me finally figuring it out and THEN getting a wicked headache and going home to bed before saying as much to everyone.

2009-01-17T10:28:00.002-05:00

Multiply

Well ladies and gentlemen, I've finally gotten the "hang" of Multiply and we're days away from migrating IMRR. We've created a site for the members of IMRR Management to post info and such. In addition each member of management have created their own sites. Check everyone out and see what all they're up to.

IMRR Management Site: http://imrr.multiply.com/

Mimi Tremont: http://mimitremont.multiply.com/
Patrica Perry: http://patriciaimrr.multiply.com/
Stephanie Spalino: http://kittydiva.multiply.com/
LaVerne Thompson: http://isisindc.multiply.com/

2008-11-15T22:04:00.003-05:00

Migrations and Imports

Well, anyone that's a member of a group on MSN is well aware of the fact that MSN is closing all groups. Now, I'll tell you...I'm having issues with it. Not because I don't understand why they're doing what they're doing. (They weren't making any money on them since they were free) But because, there's so many people moving their groups and profiles from MSN to the new site (Multiply) there's been lots of "hiccups" with the migration.

Now, I'm not having issues with migrating the group (we're still in the final stages of making a decision on group migrations). But I AM having issues with importing this blog.

See, supposedly, when you post (whether on Blogger or Multiply) the post is cross posted on both sites. If this is true (let us pray that it is), the moment I hit "Publish" this will appear on both blogs and I can sigh in relief knowing that there's hope for my nerves after all.

The Diva's Dilemma - Excerpt

2008-11-15T18:24:00.000-05:00

The Diva's Dilemma - "Aliyah"

The Grind! They‘d taken me to the freakin‘ Grind for my birthday!

"Welcome to The Grind, ladies." The host, a Greek god brought to life wearing nothing more than a pair of skintight shorts and a smile, met us at the door. Considered the hottest nightclub in town, virtually every single, single-woman with a pulse under the age of ninety had been there from the day the doors opened almost a year ago. Six months after it opened, "Ballers" closed its doors.

I never planned on setting foot inside The Grind, but privately, I celebrated Ballers demise. The all-male staff represented their daily "grind" by dressing accordingly…only with a mucho sexy twist.

I sat back, folded my arms, silently staring them down. Destiny returned my stare, upping it with an accompanying brow-lift and swivel of her neck.

"Why did you guys bring me here?"

"We just want you to think about what you’re giving up ‘liyah." Dani lightly touched my arm. Her gentle touch belaying her need to scream over Kool and the Gang’s Ladies Night.

"But you know I’m not about this type of thing." I slashed my hand through the air emphasizing my point.

"We know that. But before you go any further down that path, we want to make sure that you’re sure about your newfound vow to swear off men completely." Diamond yelled back.

"Besides," Dani reached into her clutch pulling out a flyer and waved it around, "I got this flyer for two for one!"

"I’m here because of a flyer? You know, you could have at least given me the illusion that you guys were paying full price."

"You know we broke for real. I’m going to be paying off student loans for the next thousand years. But think of it this way, we get to spend twice as much on your gift."

"Where’s my gift Dani?"

"Uhhh…Penney’s has this HUGE sale starting tomorrow…."

Shaking my head, I closed my eyes in disbelief. "I give up….again."

"Consider it a walk down memory lane for when you get old and nobody wants your dried up butt." Destiny laughed at her own quip. "But seriously though, we thought this would be a cool place to celebrate your b-day and see some hot guys who knows the rules before the game starts. Besides," she leaned back as the waiter dressed as a super-sexy postal carrier sat her drink before her. "…I don’t want to have to slap anyone over their man tonight. It’s open season on every man in here and they’re not only willing to be caught, they’ll slow down for you to catch them."

"You know, most people just take their friends out to dinner and maybe a movie."

"Their wings are banging," Dani supplied.

I smirked in her direction and continued. "The very last thing anyone thinks of when coming here is food."

Destiny smiled brightly, "Lucky for you, we’re not most friends. Now, will you just sit back and enjoy your daiquiri." At my hesitation to pick up the drink, Destiny rolled her eyes. "Unlike you, it’s virgin."

"Oh, it’s like that?"

"All day long."

"I’ve reclaimed my virtue."

"I’m going to reclaim that daiquiri if you don’t pick it up," she finished with a smirk.

I took a sip of the aforementioned drink and watched a newly single Dani visually take in all the men in various stages of undress around us. "This is like going to a banquet the day you come off a diet." Her voice began to trail off as two men, identical in everything from head to toe wearing shiny leather pants and vests that zipped up the front stopped at our table. As one flashed his tongue ring and winked at her, she finished, "You just don’t know where to start."

"I’d know where to start," Mr. Tongue-ring commented with a nod of his head.

"I just bet you would." I sneered, eyeing him doubtfully, hoping to encourage him to move on. They both ignored the frost in my voice as his twin spoke. "Aliyah Montgomery?"

Tilting my head I began to wonder if someone’s placed a "Hello" badge on me without my knowledge. "Yes?"

"We’d like to welcome you to The Grind." Their smiles were big and bright and almost as mesmerizing as their tattooed biceps. "According to your friends," his words suddenly seemed to echo throughout the room. "Not only are you here to celebrate your birthday, but you’re an amazing dancer!" Women all over the building began to scream and clap. Including my three former friends. I started shaking my head no. I barely wanted to be here, never mind point out my presence to everyone. It was bad enough they announced my name and that I was celebrating my birthday.

"Let’s give her a hand ladies!"

As he hyped up the crowd, his double-mint twin took my hand, pulling me to the stage as he whispered in my ear, "Relax. It’s going to be super easy and super quick." He led me to a spot on center stage where a large, plush ottoman sat. "Tonight’s featured dancer is The Punisher," he said close to my ear. When I straightened and stepped back, his hand on my back stopped me. "He’s a super nice guy and wouldn’t swat a fly if it perched on his sandwich. When he comes out, look nervous, but brave. When he gives chase, fake like you’re going to run and let him catch you and dance." He held his hand out indicating that I should sit which I did immediately. My knees were beginning to knock together. Taking a single ballroom dance course almost three years ago hadn’t trained me for anything they could have had in mind. Besides, I’d done well up to this point with the whole yield not to temptation and look but don’t touch thing and unless the dance they decided to do was the electric slide, touching was a guaranteed event. I looked to my girls seated at the foot of the stage and shrugged as if to ask what to do next. They were hooting and whistling as loud as the rest of the fools in the building. Diamond even gave me a thumbs up.

"You’ve been a bad girl, Aliyah."

Desperately, I looked around attempting to locate the source of the voice overwhelming me. "Bad girl…girl…girl…." I looked towards my girls in the hope that they could clue me in only to notice equally confused looks on their faces. "I’m gonna have to teach you…teach you…teach you…." Every other woman in the place was screaming with delight as fog slowly started to curl around my feet. "It’s time you were punished!"

My heart hammered in my chest as a trap door approximately ten feet away slid open exposing first a head of midnight black curls cascading forward obscuring most of his face. I love men with long hair. Fact is, it was Xavier’s hair that first caught my attention. But I refuse to think about him. Thinking about him would only tick me off and ruin the rest of my night.
Maybe my love of long hair went back to my childhood of doing my dolly’s hair. Even without seeing all of him, I wanted to run my fingers through this man‘s hair. Test its springy texture. Feel the weight of it in my hands. A leather harness wrapped about his massive torso drawing attention to the nipple rings screaming touch me, tease me…. PULL ME! Washboard abs proceeded tree trunks moonlighting as thighs encased in zippered black rubber with locks. A pair of nunchaku hung loosely in his hand. Slowing I pushed the ottoman back with my feet.

"Want to try some new things with me, Aliyah?"

It couldn’t be him. God was not that cruel and my friends were not that crazy. This couldn’t be happening. But as he lifted his head and his eyes met mine, I knew that it was. I distinctly heard Prince ricochet through the air singing about screaming like a white lady as the Punisher’s lips curled into a panty-melting smile and heat like I hadn’t felt in more than a year pooled in my belly and spread out.

"I don’t want to hurt you----much." He lifted the nunchaku to his mouth licking them boldly. I would have sighed had I not found myself searching for a less than obvious way to make a mad dash from the stage.

"The Diva's Dilemma"

2008-11-15T18:21:00.000-05:00

The Diva Chronicles

Some time ago, one of my critique partners was muttering about how she was lacking in story ideas. In fact, she said, she was blocked. My reply was one that I always say and no one really seems to listen to when I say it, but I told her anyway, "Put your characters in a stupid/silly situation and watch them react." She kinda said, "Uh, sure Mimi" and she left it at that.

SHE left it at that. I DIDN'T.

I went to so far as to give her a crazy/silly/stupid situation. And I quote:

"Girl, put your characters in a crazy situation and watch them flip out. Here's a perfect example. Let's say you have a heroine that's decided she wants to become a nun. She's giving up her sinful ways and marrying Jesus. But before she puts on the habit, her friends invite her to a big party they're throwing. They neglect to tell her that they've invited a stripper and when he arrives, she discovers it's her ex-boyfriend and watch what happens next."

Well, I let the idea sit for months hoping that perhaps she would jump on it and have a ball. At the very same time I had several encounters with my daughters friends and realized, that no one would believe the things that happened to these young women. No one. I wouldn't believe many of them were I not privy to some of the happenings and the laughs that followed. Needless to say, it wasn't long before I finally gave in to my urge to write a story about some of her friends.

I've just completed my first story, a short, in the Diva Chronicles Series:

"The Diva's Dilemma"

Aliyah Montgomery has decided that she's tired of living her life with no direction. So to celebrate her birthday she's going on a fast to find direction. At the end of the fast, she's going to become a missionary and do whatever the Lord would have her do. Problem is, her girls have other plans and their plans involve watching oiled up men shake their money-makers in their faces. Too bad one of those oiled up men turns out to be the one man who broke her heart and inadvertently set her on her spiritual journey.

I promise to post a small excerpt soon and perhaps a picture of one the muses. After all, I did say the muses for this series was based upon my daughter and her friends.

Mimi

2008-06-23T21:03:00.007-04:00

As promised, an excerpt from "The Diva Chronicles." Let me know what you think. ~ Mimi

The Diva Chronicles - "Aliyah"

2008-06-19T20:32:00.002-04:00

Character Driven or Not?

Recently I've been pondering just how some authors can manage to make their characters behave. How it is that they corral them in to say and do everything that they want them to do without sacrificing their creativity and in turn creating one-dimensional characters.

The reason I'm thinking about this so deeply is because recently while working on a story my hero pretty much just flipped out on me. Well, not me personally, but my heroine. One minute he was trying to talk himself back into his favorite place in the world (her arms...figuratively speaking), the next he was dropping language like I've never dreamt of putting on paper and no matter how hard I attempted to edit it out by changing it here, tweaking it there, it came out FLAT. The moment I did that, I thought about a favorite author of mine who says that she doesn't understand how some can say they have no idea what's going to happen in their books until it's on the page. She says that she creates her outline and sticks to it no matter what.

Now, I'll be honest with you, I would love to say that I write my outline and stick with it no matter what. But I would be lying to you if I did. I write bullets for each chapter: "X, Y and Z happens in chapter 4." and I start from there. Anything that occurs while getting through those points until the end of the chapter can be as big a surprise to me as to the reader. All I know is that they have to get from point a to b by any means necessary.

So, are my stories character driven or am I a slave to my outline?

I'd hope a bit of both.

I like being as surprised by the characters as anyone else...yet know what's gonna happen next.

Mimi

2008-06-16T00:03:00.011-04:00

The Diva Chronicles

"The Diva's Dilemma"

I promise to post a small excerpt soon and perhaps a picture of one the muses. After all, I did say the muses for this series was based upon my daughter and her friends.

Mimi

2008-04-27T22:29:00.002-04:00

Lady Victoria's

Lady Vic's started out as a Ladies Boutique back when Victoria Jones-Smythe-Witherill-Chapel-Clayton-Barrows-Kleinschmitt had been Vicky Jones for all of a minute and a half....In other words, it was a wedding present from her first husband. "Dear, Dear Arthur." That's how she referred to him when some dolt who didn't know better asked.

Upon hearing that the shop was a wedding gift, they‘d say, "Your husband gave it to you? How sweet."

Then she'd look into the distance getting a bit teary eyed, sigh dramatically and say, "Yes, my dear, dear Arthur gave me the shop as a wedding gift. He was such a sweet man." She'd sigh some more, wipe her eyes daintily with a lace hanky as she held onto her Chihuahua, Brutus the Fourth, tightly choking the little tyrant into barking in protest, as the idiot that asked the question in the first place realizes that all other inhabitants of the room have disappeared mysteriously and prays that they haven't brought up memories so painful that Lady Vic might need sedation.

Lady Victoria's as it was called back then was a high priced boutique that started out carrying only the latest in fashionable Ladies wear. Everything from Chapeaux to Pumps. Handbags to Hankies. Nylons to Nighties. It was in a fancy, schmancy neighborhood. In a fancy, schmancy building. With a fancy, schmancy doorman and all. The dresses hung on models as they paraded the very latest in evening gowns and tea dresses as dainty dames drunk tea out of dainty china teacups and discussed the latest in fashion from Paris.

Over the years, Lady Victoria acquired husbands like the neighborhood acquired squalor. Each husband bringing his own personal touch to her business.

Hubby number two thought that adding sportswear to her inventory was the thing to do. It was. And she did. While, Hubby number two had been a smart business man who met a tragic end while battling mosquitoes in the Gulf of Mexico, Hubby number three was a lamebrain that thought adding a few toys to the store's shelves was the way to go.

Now while Victoria hadn't a problem in the world with adding a few teddy bears and perhaps a china doll or toy tea service that duplicated the service her customers were served on, she did have a problem with the fact that her hubby, sweet though he may have been; her loving, darling hubby, who could cause her heart to skip a beat with a glance, but wasn't the sharpest of knives in the drawer, wasn't thinking of the same kind of toys as she was.

Most of the stock was still sitting in boxes hidden WAAAAAAY in the back of the storage area waiting for a self contained flash fire and flood that would removed any trace of its existence.
Each husband in turn added his own flair. One gasping "Expand!" as another breathed "Diversify!" at the last and as the years accumulated, Lady Vic's took on a life of it's own gaining in character and characters.

And this dear reader is the first story of Lady Vic's and its characters....

***

Tuesday morning broke forth in a cavalcade of colors so splendid that the birds fought amongst themselves for the right...no...privilege to wake up the people in the neighborhood so that they too may enjoy as much of the beauty of the day as possible.

When Winsome broke forth from her bed and heard the birds singing their song of praise, although she was happy to be among the land of the living, she looked at her digital clock rolled her eyes heavenward and spouted the first thought to come to her mind..."Lord, if you can stop the sun in it's pursuit of the moon for Joshua...." she stopped, thought and blinked hard to awaken a bit more as she yawned,..."It was Joshua wasn't it? Or was it David....Father I am too sleepy to be up at this hour. But if you can stop the sun’s pursuit of the moon for whomever, can't you stop the moon's pursuit of the sun for me? I could use another two...no, three hours here. I've got to go out and battle the huddled masses and all and I won't be up to full speed until, ohhh, maybe 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. tops."

She kept up her one on one "discussion"...in her head of course, after all she didn't want people looking at her the way she looked at them when she saw them walking along telling their invisible friend about the space alien that they had dinner and drinks with the night before and how Elvis provided dinner music with a three song encore as they ate cheesecake and discussed the days headlines...all the way to the store.

Jake was on his post in front of the door as usual. He was holding down the concrete, as the two sheets of newspaper were holding him down to the very same concrete.

Jamming the key into the lock Winsome began her daily fight with the lock for domination as she bit her tongue and came up with a few colorful expressions..."why you dirty, no good, stinking," kicking the door and slinging her tote bag into a better position on her shoulder, she continued on..."I better not break a nail or so help me I'm going to be forced to find the nearest Army and Navy Surplus and get me a small guided missile and...." She was still plotting and jiggling the lock when Lady Vic, the Grande Dame of Ladies ready to wear appeared looking as if she'd never stoop to talking trash to a door and gently removed the key from her hand and with a firm look at the door she said, “I will have none of this this morning.” Then she did no different than Winsome when placing the key in the lock and turning except the door sprung open magically...as if it’d dare not do otherwise. And as she swept inside she called back to Winsome, “Tell Jake to get up. He’s blocking the entrance and bringing down the tone of my establishment.”

The inside of Lady Vic’s was...uh, well...different.

It still had all the things that made it as uniquely fabulous as it always was. But after numerous hubbies adding their opinion, it wasn’t as tiny as it once was. Where as it had once taken up only one average sized corner store front, it now covered from the corner of Smith Street and Wiley Avenue more than half way down the block, stopping only when impeded by the Chinese restaurant not quite three fourths of the way down. Sections of the store, although not abandoned weren’t given the same care as the other areas. Where each day the main area with the dresses, hats, shoes and such were lovingly cared for, dusted and cleaned daily, the areas that housed the “additions” to the Lady Victoria’s inventory were often merely checked to see if they were still there. Upon occasion, when there was nothing else to do she’d send one of the troops in to “battle the dust bunnies”.

Turning on the light as she entered the shop, Brutus trotting along side her, “You know I do miss the days when we had big windows that you could open and let all the daylight in. But Harold suggested that I put in those display cases instead and put locks on them for security reasons.” Looking at her able assistant questioningly, “Now was Harold my fourth or fifth husband?”

Stopping midstride, Winsome searched for the words to divert Victoria’s attention elsewhere, “Uhh, wah-lll....”

Throwing up her hand and dismissing her digression, “Well, it doesn’t matter. Whether or not I like them doesn’t matter. We’ve never been broken into and that’s all that matters. Even sometime ago when that moment of social disorder came and some overexcited young men’s social club threw a garbage can through our window; even then we didn’t lose a single stock item.”

They couldn’t find anything worth stealing, thought Winsome. How many places can a woman wear a tea dress with matching gloves, handbag and pill box hat?

“Now, before I forget,” her blue eyes twinkling as she gleefully clasped her gloved hands in front of her operatic style, “I’ve decided that we could used some more help and I’ve hired my nephew Pillsbury to help out around the shop. Maybe help a bit with lifting boxes and such. Her hands fluttering in front of her as she motioned to the shelves and racks, “Maybe help spruce up a bit and make sure I don’t miss the occasional decimal point.”

“Excuse me, Lady Victoria. His name is ‘Pillsbury’? Like in the Pillsbury Doughboy?” asked Winsome, her brow furrowed.

“Yes, just like the Doughboy. He was such a cute little thing when he was a baby. All fluffy like the doughboy and he’d even giggle like the doughboy when you poked him in the Tum-tum. He was such a delightful child.”

This, thought Winsome, does not bode well.

“Although I haven’t seen him in years actually, I imagine his laugh has stayed much the same. In fact,” she began to tick off the years on her fingers, “I haven’t seen my little Pillsbury in over thirty years. His Mother didn’t make the smartest match in marrying his Father, you know.”
Placing her bag beneath the counter and turning on the small AM radio next to the register, “Don’t tell me, he was dirt poor,” stated Winsome.

“Oh no, he just wasn’t the smartest man. I declare I’ve wondered a many a days how he managed to shower without drowning. But then again there was his tragic end that kind of sealed his reputation.”

“And what would that have been?” Winsome didn’t know why she asked, she was going to hear how the hapless brother-in-law sealed his fate and garnered the high opinion that her employer had whether she wanted to hear it or not. Perhaps, she just wanted to seem like an active participant in the conversation.

“Well, you know now that I think about it,” she pondered, “I can’t rightly recall the exact circumstances surrounding his early, albeit strange demise. But know this, the man didn’t have half the brains of my sweet little Brutus.” The dog hearing his name answered with a sharp little bark and began to prance at her feet joyfully until she picked him up. “Ahh, that’s my boy,” she said her normally dignified voice turning babyish as she spoke to the tiny excuse for a canine, “You have more brains than Pillsbury’s Poppa. Yes, you doooo.”

All Winsome could think as she watched Lady Victoria and Brutus was much the same that Lucy would say each time Snoopy gave her a wet one, “EUW! DOG BREATH!” She tried to hide the look of disgust on her face as she curled her lips, but try as she might, even the parties involved took notice of her look of distaste.

“Really, Winsome. You need to have a good breakfast in the mornings to avoid your stomach acting up like that. You look positively ill.”

“I’ll remember to have breakfast from now on.”

“Good! Now, Pillsbury should be...,” her next words interrupted by the entry of the perpetually late Doreen. “Good Morning, Doreen,” her voice cool as a winter wind, her eyes as piercing as a laser, “So nice of you to join us this morning.”

“Good Morning Lady Victoria,” sighed the young woman. Clad in a slinky tan and brown polyester striped dress a thin matching belt cinching her waist, a plain denim jacket and chunky brown platform Mary Janes. “Jake wouldn’t let me in. He called me a trespasser and said he was going to call the police and prosecute. I had to tell him it was a family emergency to get in. Can’t he sleep in the back alley like any other respectable street person does in the summer?”

“Well, honestly! That man! I know how to handle him.” Walking over to the door her stride quick and purposeful. Sticking her blue tinted head out the door and locating the hapless street person with a narrowed eye, “Jake! Either you get up and go to whatever corner you panhandle on immediately or I’ll put you on the payroll and make you a taxpayer.”

His position on the concrete shifted, Jake sat somewhat slumped with his back against the wall, his head hanging down, while his favorite cologne, “Eau de Funk” greeted all passersby. “You wouldn’t daaaaare,” he growled. “You make me a taxpayer and I’ll make you pay a tax or two. You’re not making me a part of the system. A victim of Big Brother! Nah uh. No sir!” He began to look around as if suspecting someone to jump out and say “boo” at any moment. “They’re not getting inside my head. It’s bad enough that they’ve got cameras watching my every move. I’m not getting back in their system and you won’t make me.”

“Well, you just continue to litter my entry way and I’m calling the labor pool and tell them where they can get themselves another bean picker. CHEAP!” Slamming the door as she brought the conversation to an abrupt end and the workday to a bang up start.

2008-04-27T12:20:00.003-04:00

Two days from today, I'll be arriving in Chicago as a delegate for IMRR...the very best online group for authors and readers of multicultural and interracial romance, in case you didn't know. But I'm pretty sure you did...and its sister group, R. I. C. H. Writers and to tell the truth, I'm stressed!

First off, I'm meeting my absolute fave author of all time, Dyanne Davis. I won't go into how much I absolutely adore her, but lets just say that I now save her books when I get them rather than reading them immediately, because I like knowing I have a a guaranteed fabulous read waiting for me on my shelf. Especially when I've been all but forced to read an honest to God wallbanger. You know the kind of book. It's so bad that you find yourself throwing it across the wall, grinding your teeth and cussing out the stupid characters. Anyway, Dyanne's a doll and I know she will put me at ease immediately. But I'm still kinda nervous about meeting her. After all, this is the woman who wrote "The Color of Trouble" and created, or maybe I should say, "exposed the world to" Adam Omega.

The next reason for my stress...is all the things that IMRR is doing to make sure that the attendees learn more about the author members, myself included, of IMRR.

The delegation and management of IMRR is hosting a daily give away of books, t-shirts, totebags and whatever else has been donated by author members and publishers and just making sure that we contacted, mailed out and thanked everyone has been...not really stressful. Actually, that part has been fun. I've gotten to know tons of authors on a more personal level and can't wait to meet them.

What's been stressful is my stupid printer! Dear Lord can't Lexmark make a printer that doesn't cause me to backslide everytime I hit "print"?

Now, I know you're wondering what my printer has to do with going to Slam Jam?

I'm the person responsible for the lovely entry forms for the giveaways and silly me...I decided that refilling my own cartridges would be a great way to save money on flyers since I need...oh, a thousand of them, give or take a dozen or so. I also still need to print out the gorgeous iron-ons that will go on the totebags and t-shirts. All of this is fairly easy to do. Only problem is, the doggoned cartridges are nearly impossible to refill and once filled, the printer refuses to recognize the cartridge as being full.

Needless to say, I'm stressed over that. But, a quick trip to kinkos will solve most of that I'm sure.

But here's the deal....

I haven't packed, although I have been getting everything together and putting most of it in one place for the past two weeks.

I have a ton of promo items that I didn't send ahead of me....Thank you once again to Dyanne Davis who's also had her home act as THE drop-off/receiving station of ALL the promo items for Slam Jam. God Bless her. She finally gets her home back this weekend....and I have to find room for them in my suitcase.

My ONE SUITCASE!

Did I mention I HATE flying?

This whole, "you can only check one bag for free" business isn't helping. But the good news is that I was able to get a non-stop flight to Chicago, thank the Lord. So, I dont have to worry about "taking off" more than once.

But of course, this is only the tip of the iceburg for the next 24-48 hours. As I type this, I'm in all places...at church printing out programs for a special service this evening. I have a big meeting tomorrow night after work where people will pepper me with questions about the academic competiton being hosted by my church...and I still have to pack. Although, it might be a good thing I haven't packed yet. Word is, it's seriously cold in Chi-town and most of what I planned to pack probably wouldn't work. Especially the no coat part of packing.

And lets not forget that I lost my glasses. I have contacts. But still. No glasses to make me look studious and sharp.

BUT....

I get to spend a week with my online friends...some of whom I've met previously...and hang out talking books, learning about the industry, meeting readers and telling them about not only me, but the fabulous authors that hang out on IMRR! Can't get much better than that. Well, it could. The weather channel could be wrong and I could come home married to Adrian Paul. Hey...you never know!

2008-04-16T00:35:00.004-04:00

There's Some Trickery Going On

At least that's the way I see it. Anyone that knows me, knows that while I'm somewhat fascinated by e-publishers, I'm also seriously wary of a good many of them. Too often they remind me of snake oil salesmen that come in during the cover of night, promise you the world...for a cost...then just as quick are gone with the morning dew.

Now, no one jump on me for what I'm going to say next, but.....How is it that an epublisher (Dark Eden Press) can post that it's closing its doors forever and have returned the rights to all their authors books, but still SELL those books for the next FOUR months?

I don't know about anyone else, but were I in the shoes of the authors formerly with DEP, I'd not only want them to return my rights, but to stop selling my books!

If I'm way off base, someone let me know. But....*shrugs*....I'm concerned for the authors of DEP and other epubs that have closed their doors recently.

Mimi

2008-04-14T21:51:00.003-04:00

Twenty Months!?!?!

Has it REALLY been that long since I've posted?

For Shame! For Shame!!!! I promise to do better. But I've been busy.

As always, I've been writing. I'm working on several projects currently...all of them my faves. But only some them I can talk about.

So, let me talk about a couple of them quickly.

"Dream of Me" - Isabel Clayton's life is everything that she's ever wanted to be...or so she thought until a prophet comes to town and tells her its about to get better, but in an unexpected way. When she meets restauranteur Zanipolo Grimaldi she finds out just how unexpected it can be.

"The Diva's Downfall" - A man only get's one chance to make a fool of Aliyah Montgomery and when he does, she cuts him off and moves on with her life without so much as giving him a second thought. Once shed of the aforementioned man, Aliyah decides to become a "better person" and devote her life to Jesus. Only problem is, the man wants the last word.

See....busy, busy, busy. Both stories are almost completed and have been a blast to work on. I can't wait to finish them and find out what the next set of characters screaming for centerstage will get up to when given free rein to run rampant.

In the meantime....

Happy Writing!

Mimi

2006-08-07T02:24:00.001-04:00

Daryl Hall

Nuff said.

Okay, so there's more to be said.

There's two things I require other than a computer when writing: A great idea and mood music. Daryl always puts me in the mood. Always smooth. Always sexy. And always able to take me "there."

I'm In A Philly Mood Video - Daryl Hall lyrics

Daryl Hall Music Video Codes

Music Video Codes by VideoCure.com

2006-08-06T23:02:00.001-04:00

Dreaming of Dad

I had a rather strange thing happen this evening. Well, not necessarily strange, but strange for me. I dreamt of my Dad. Like I said, not necessarily strange, but strange for me....Follow along and this will make sense shortly I promise.

My Dad died 13-14 years ago I believe. I tend to block out dates and such when I don't want to deal with it. *shrugs* Hey, I know this about myself and I'm willing to accept it. Anyway, I know it was before my daughter went to kindergarden and she's a freshman in college now. But anyway, I digress.

Usually when I dream of my Dad, I either wake up crying because I miss him or praying hard because he wants me to come with him. In all of my dreams I know he's dead and what "going with him" would entail so they are never happy dreams.

My dream today wasn't a happy dream, but it wasn't sad either. However, it did set me straight on something and get me to thinking clearly.

I tend to be one of those people that can learn and adapt to any situation. If you won't do something for whoever needs it done, I'll learn how to do it, master it and get it done. Then it's YOU that will be coming to me. That's how I am about a lot of things. I'd rather do something and do it right, than deal with begging someone else to do it and finding myself concerned about the outcome because of their lack of willingness and concern for the end result. I come from the School of "Do It Once and Do it Right."

And Still I Digress....

I tend to be the person that everyone comes to do get the job done. Especially at church. I act as my Pastor's personal secretary and assistant. I'm a Youth Church leader and work with the State Y.P.W.W. (Young People Willing Workers) as part of our State Scholastic Motivational Ministry Competition.

On top of all that, I'm a graphic artist, a Mom and desire to be a writer of exceptional romance. I hate a lot of what I read and I want to write romance that's better than what I'm reading....much better.

So, what ends up happening when I attempt to fit all of these things in my schedule is that either something gets left undone in my personal life or I end up restbroken because I haven't slept a full night in several days. A few years back I discovered what being exhausted can do for me when I ended up in the ER of a local hospital thinking that I was having a heartattack. To avoid that ever happening again I will do what needs to be done for everyone else and attempt to get a little bit done here and there with my writing. Unfortunately, it's always only a little bit because I'm usually very tired when I do get to sit down at the computer and finish answering my emails.

Today after church I came home with the intention to sit at the computer and get some major writing done. I'd spent yesterday at the mall with my Mom, my daughter and her boyfriend looking at laptop computers and cooking for my Brother and his family. My Sister in Law spent most of the week in the hospital sick and didn't come home until Thursday. So, I volunteered to make dinner for them yesterday. Now, yesterday was important in regards to what happened today because I always prefer to spend my Saturday mornings writing and cleanign first thing, rather than shopping. I tend to get more done because everyone else assumes I'm asleep or out and about and they don't bother me until late in the day. But I did no writing at all because we were waiting for my Mom to arrive and had planned to write last night, but ended up doing paperwork at church until 11pm.

Anyway, we came home from church today and Mom had decided that she was going to cook, which made me happy because it freed me up to write. "Yeah!" So, after church, I came home. Sat down at the compuer and after about ten minutes, I felt myself literally nodding in front of the monitor. So, I told myself that I would take a nap. One hour max. I'd awaken refreshed and ready to write. Sounded like a great idea, so I went downstairs, grabbed my Timer. (I used the timer rather than the alarm clock because it had a more gentle buzzer and wouldn't shock me awake.) I set it and laid down. I wouldn't even go to the bathroom because I told myself I was only going to be there for an hour and I didn't want to wake up too much. So, I slept. An hour later, the timer went off and I started to go back downstairs to check on dinner but changed my mind and told myself, "It's only food. It's not going anywhere. Besides, five more minutes won't hurt."

I laid back down and apparently drifted back off to sleep and dreamt of my Dad. It wasn't a long dream and didn't have a ton of details. We were standing on opposite sides of the galley kitchen in the apartment I was raised in. He was dressed as usual: Dark grey khaki pants and wifebeater T-shirt. He needed a shave and his hair was mussed. I was bending down doing something and explaining to him that normally dinner isn't this late. The only other time it was late was when I'd made a big dinner for someone's Grandmother. Don't ask me who. This is the only detail that's unclear. But here he is on one side of the counter and there I am on the other. I recognize the fact that he's dead. But he looks totally normal and I'm thinking that this is normal. He's not asking me to come with him and I'm not sad or terrified. I straighten up in the middle of telling him that dinner won't be much longer...I just knew that was the reason he'd come in the kitchen....and he starts to tell me that by the time he was about my age he learned that it wasn't important to be on time. He was always trying to be on time and do everything for everyone. Eventually the only place he could be on time to was the ER. Mentally, I heard him say, "48." An age that I will become acquainted with in the not too distant future. It was more important he said, "to do those things that make you happy and be on time for them. Rather than on time for everything else and none of it's what I want to do. "

I woke up. Walked downstairs and told my Mom about the dream and what it meant.

I'm so busy doing everything to please everyone else, that I don't have time to do anything that I want to do. I'm literally working myself to death to do things that should I drop dead tomorrow, someone else could do with ease and a tiny bit of training. By the end of the month I would be replaced and the world would keep spinning. But everything that was mine to do here on planet Earth would be left undone. All the stories brewing in my head, would go with me to the grave. Entertaining no one but worms and angels.

Now, with that little reminder from my Dad, I've come to recognize that I have to do what's important for me first. I often say that I'm going to do "Me" first. But more often than not, I don't. Not doing what's important to me and for me is stressing me out on top of all the stress I get from trying to be all things to all the people in my life.

So, in light of my Message from Dad, expect to see more of me here.

2005-12-19T08:16:00.001-05:00

According to Johnny Mathis...

...it's the most wonderful time of the year.

And I fully agree.

However, as the days get shorter and my "To-Do" list gets longer, I often wonder about those writing women that are loving, caring Moms of little ones, work a regular nine to five job and still manage to sit down for more than 30 seconds to write, manage to do it without reserving a room at the local booby-hatch. And not just write, but write complete sentences, thoughts and actually manage to finish what they're writing.

With the holiday season being in full swing around me, I can barely manage to put up my tree, never mind finish decorating, keep a little one clothed, fed and entertained AND write. As it stands I'm currently considering taking the first workday of the year off so I can stay at home and quietly write and contemplate what I plan to accomplish next year with my writing.

Now I just need to not be so busy that I:

1) Forget to notify my supervisor at work and take the day off.

and

2) Slip up and mention to anyone that I'm taking the first day of the year off and suddenly find myself with unwanted company that's expecting an entertaining hostess and a cup of coffee.

That is SO not happening.

Mimi

2005-11-20T02:07:00.001-05:00

Nothing deep this week ladies and gentlemen.

Fact is, I've been so crazy busy this week that I never got beyond writing notes in my handy dandy notebook. I have my hero literally on the brink of a life altering moment and I haven't been able to write it because I'm so busy I can barely see straight, nevermind write exceptional romance beyond the pace of a paragraph a day---if I'm lucky.

About the only relaxation I've gotten this week is from the times that I've discovered that after being on the computer for far too long, I've heard the tell-tale sound of maniacal laughter coming from my television annoucing that Invader Zim's on. At which time, I finally shut down the computer so I could watch it without being tempted to return to the computer during commerical breaks.

Now I probably wouldn't mention my addiction to Invader Zim were it not for the fact that it's one of the few bright moments...if you can call anything about a tiny alien bent upon making the human race his slaves, "bright"...of my day. The fact is, I love to watch just to see how crazy Gir will be in that particular episode. How many times will he break out into a dance and begin to sing, "Doody, doody, doody!" when Zim's back's turned. As well as just how many tacos it will take to bribe him into doing his job.

Right about now, I wish someone would attempt to bribe me with a taco while I'd dance wildly behind their backs singing, "Doody, doody, doody, doody!!!"

GIR // GIR is one of the most hilarious people on
the show. He's a robot and is SUPPOSED to be
helping Zim. His quote is "Can I be a
moongoose dog?"

Which Invader Zim character are you?
brought to you by

Mimi

2005-11-12T11:30:00.001-05:00

It must be Saturday.

It's after 11 am, I've been typing for almost three hours and my arms feel like they were fashioned from wet pasta.

*SIGH*

Most of the week I wait impatiently for the weekend when I can sit down at my computer and type until I'm exhausted such as I am now.

My only real problem lies in the fact that I have tons more to type from my notes and what I've typed so far, although not garbage, is in need of tons of revising. I think I hopped a few heads over the past couple of hours as much as I hate to admit it.

I do believe I need a long hot shower, a cup of tea and a massage at the hands of a dangerously sexy man willing to paint my toes.

Mimi

2005-11-05T11:10:00.001-05:00

Can just any and every author write Interracial Romance?

Should all authors write IR or Multicultural?

As much as I hate to say it....No.

Why do I think this unsettling way?

It goes back to the old phrase that most writers either wholeheartedly agree with or disagree with: Write what you know.

Sometime ago I was part of a discussion with several prominent mainstream authors where they were asked if they would attempt to write a book featuring a African American Heroine with their Alpha Male Hero, rather than their usual Blonde Temptress. Most of them said, "No." "No way, I don't think I have the ability." Some said, "No, I know I'd insult someone unintentionally." And a precious one or two said (try not to roll your eyes), "Hey! I'm part (fill in the blank) I'd love to try it!" Now, while I was kinda please with that author's response and proud of those authors that admitted their fears, some people where ticked at their response.

For some reason, only they know why, many people were annoyed with those authors that said, "No."

Personally, I'm grateful that they knew their limitations and didn't want to risk their reputation.

What limitations you ask? You're full of questions today, aren't you?

Well, I'll tell you my friend! They knew that they haven't a clue about the fact that few sisters go anywhere without lotion and not the cheap watery kind, in her purse.

I once remember reading on a board for Black Woman and White Men a comment by a widower who told the other men on the board, "If you don't know what "ash" is, find another board." This guy could write a book about loving a black woman and I'd buy it without a second thought. I'd probably buy two or three copies as a matter of fact, because I know the heroine would not find a romantic walk in the rain romantic after spending $40 or more and half the day at the salon for a wash and set prior to the date.

But unless, those authors have real friends that are women of color or members of the family, they're far more likely to insult ir readers than flatter them and in turn ruin their reputation with their readers that are women of color that they were unaware of before. Those faithful readers would immediately stop being invisible and silent the moment they read about a dark-skinned heroine not lotioning her body after getting out of a steaming hot shower. Especially if a couple of hours later, the hero commented on how smooth and clear her skin was.

Now come on....

Don't make me say it.

Okay I'm going to say it.

PUH-LEEEEZ!

Two hours after I've put on lotion, I need to put more on my these chocolate legs!

So, thank you to those authors that know enough to know they don't know enough about Women of Color...be they black, asian or latin, to write our stories.

BUT....at the same time, let me not forget those authors that work it right!

Kei Swanson, Jeanne Sumerix and Suzanne Brockmann! Those three ladies deserve our undying devotion and gratitude. They know us and they know how to "write" us and I applaud them.

Mimi

2005-11-04T01:18:00.001-05:00

Brains? IR Readers Have Them.

When asked why they write romance, most established and aspiring authors give you one of two answers:

1. I read a book that annoyed me greatly and found myself rewriting it in my head. After a while, I realized that I liked my ending better and started writing from there.

-or-

2. I write books that reflect the life I live on a day to day basis.

Personally, I write the kinds of books that I always wanted to read but couldn't find.

However, no one ever mentions those mediocre authors that write because they think, "this is so simple, a trained monkey can do this." Or worse yet, those lackluster authors that start out making their mark in a more "mainstream" genre that switch to Interracial Romance or Erotica because the readers are beyond eager for books and stories and it's quick, easy money.

Many of these authors are unskilled and woefully unqualified to write for either of these genres.

What makes them unqualified?

Lack of research and assuming that readers of both genres simply want a hot book featuring an interracial couple and no substance.

They write what they only THINK the reader wants without doing what most readers of their genre of choice do most often....buy everything that's in print and available online and read it voraciously and repeatedly. Followed by what most best selling authors do: crack a book or twenty, search the web and/or call an authority on Interracial Relationships or Erotica and interview them.

Why don't they do this?

Well, too often they think that writing these genres are easy. After all, all you have to do for an IR is decide which of the couple you want to be black and change a few skin-tone references and voila! You have an IR. Meanwhile, they haven't a clue that women and men of color, regardless of how fair their skin is, rarely ever have rosy nipples. They assume that inserting a few vulgars words in at the right place makes a tepid love scene that would put a nun to sleep, erotica.

Unfortunately, in today's world, with the increasing number of e-publishers wanting their share of the "literary pie" it seems few are truly putting out the kind of quality books that most life-long readers want, need and desire. For them, like those authors that think it's easy to write for these audiences, they think it's quick and easy money. But as readers, too often we're getting heat, but no flavor and romantic bon-bons filled with nothing but air.

IR readers deserve more. They deserve to have authors writing books about their lives that understand them, their struggles, triumphs and culture clashes. They need writers that know that Tiffany Marie knows what to do with collard greens and proves it every Sunday. While Jason knows that his woman would sooner ruin a new pair of shoes than let her hair go "back." Kwame, insists that his love wears her sunscreen to protect her alabaster skin and Latoya won't let her man go to the hockey game alone.

But when you have e-publishers and authors more interested in the end result...more money in their pockets....the reader gets the boot to the head and the aspiring author such as myself ends up holding the bag and looking stupid when they try to defend their chosen craft and genre.

Someone really needs to clue-in the e-publishers and these unworthy authors and tell them we're not crazy enough to continually buy their garbage, support their pitiful skills and pamper their overinflated egos. Instead, we'll continue to re-read Sandra Kitt, JJ Murray, Jeanne Summerix and other well established authors until a mainstream publisher discovers what they did: That if they print it, we will buy it and gladly. Because believe it or not, IR readers have brains enough to recognize which authors love the genre as much as we do.

Mimi

2005-10-31T23:40:00.001-05:00

One of the coolest or most annoying things about being a writer, depending upon how you look at it, is the fact that all of life can be an idea about a new story.

Now my problem with getting these brilliant ideas lie in the fact that most of these ideas occur when I'm on someone else's time....In other words, at work. (Obviously I keep a notebook with me at all times so I can write down my ideas that come to me at inopportune moments.)

What moment in my life gave me a great idea?

None of your beeswax! Do I look like I'm lost my mind and I'm suddenly willing to just give away a brilliant idea? Of course not!

But, I did manage to get the basic idea sketched out. Very basic. Thing is, I think I just want to create something that entertains like a mini-soap opera or round robin. Either something utterly ridiculous or so realistic my friend will look at me and wonder what I've been holding back on them all these years.

Now the question is: Substance or Slapstick?

Mimi

2005-10-30T03:40:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to panic.

I'm not going to panic.

I'm not going to panic.

...I figure if I say it enough, it will work.

I've been working on the critique of one of my most active critique partner's wip (work in progress). Critiquing is a great way to keep writers block at bay. But that's neither here nor there at this point, so let's end this digression. I was half way through the critique. Had enough useful comments to actually help (ie: caught some typos) and made just enough smart remarks to keep her from putting a hit out on me, when I decided to stop and attempt to finish working on my bedroom. Yeah, I know. I'm the Queen of Procrastination. After coming back, I played a few games of Collapse. Shut it down when I was done and went back to critiquing the story. Now, the computer didn't freeze per se, but I couldn't get it to do what I wanted it to do outside of typing in my comments/corrections. Of course I saved the document...I'm not a fool despite how foolish I feel right now. After using Ctrl+Alt+Del to get the task manager to assist me in shutting down the unnecessary files, I was able to get the chapter open again. But what should greet my eyes when I get it back up and functioning?

A Blank Page.

So, I'm not going to panic.

Nope. I'm not going to run around holding my head in my hands screaming like a banshee.

It would wake the neighbors.

Mimi

2005-10-29T14:53:00.001-04:00

It's so easy to NOT write...even when you want to.

I swear I want to write. Last night I managed to get through about 3 pages of notes on my current story. The sense of accomplishment at getting words from my mind, to paper and then my computer screen is something that I cannot explain.

But right now, I'm forced to clean my house. It's Saturday morning and my kitchen floor is screaming at me about being neglected. My boudoir isn't happy with me either. It's currently playing hostess to a small card table that up until 30 minutes ago held my sewing machine.

Meanwhile, I have a heroine and her best sistahgirl friend chatting in my head. The question is, do I stop and deal with them now or do I go ahead and clean....I have people coming over later...and risk not being able to recall their conversation later once all the cleaning is done and the visitors are gone.

Oh who am I kidding? Those two chicks can't shut up. I'll be able to recall their conversation later. The real trick is to not zone out on anyone talking to me until I can get back to my computer.

Mimi

2005-10-29T00:25:00.001-04:00

I am many things.

I'm a Mom.

I'm an Artist.

I'm a Daughter.

A Sister.

A Sounding Board.

Editor Extraordinaire!

And an excellent Friend.

But most of all, I Am A Writer.

I've written for almost as long as I can remember.

For instance....

I remember sitting in seventh grade math class and being bored out of my mind and deciding I could probably entertain myself by writing a poem. I haven't a clue what the ramblings of my pre-teen mind could have been....probably about some imagined nappy headed knight in a beat up deuce and a quarter, or where that ill-fated poem is today. But throughout the years one thing has remained constant: I love to write.

Unfortunately, I suffer from many of the afflictions that most other writers sufffer with.

The inablity to get what's in my head on paper...or in my case, on my computer the way it plays out in my head.

The distractions of the everyday world.

More emails than you can read in a week arriving daily.

Phone calls from people that I don't feel like talking to but have to because they're my "Near and Dear".

And the very worse culprit of them all....A really GOOD book.

See...even as I type, I'm being distracted by you!

I swear, I can't win for losing.

Mimi