When Putin Comes Knocking...

This is NOT Avon calling.

Friday night arrives on a chilled gust of wind from the former Soviet Union. Quick! Grab your Tom Clancy novels and buff up on your Cold War fears. This could get bleak.

Putin’s timing is either brilliant or mad. Just days after Russia holds the Olympics, Putin sends his troops in to “visit” the Ukraine. Really? That’s just cold.

Yeah, I’ve got to keep this light or I’ll start worrying, fretting and wringing my pretty little hands… and nobody wants that, right?

Right.

So, deep breath, everyone while Chloe takes a chill pill… with a shot of Scotch.

Just kidding.

Back to the tiny speck of humanity I can control.

Progress on finishing Book One of the “Lion & Steed” series (Remember, title reveal tomorrow!) went a little choppy today. I got all my words done though. See…

                                                                                     3,179 words

Told ya.

But, as for the orderly progression from Prologue to The End, that particularly plan was shot to hell today. I got about 500 words done on that “bump” in Chapter One I spoke of this morning, but that was it. I high-tailed it out of those bumps lickety-split and settled my editing butt down in the softest, easiest, most finished scenes I could find.

Yep, not only did I bail, I belly-flopped into a pile of fluff.

Ah! The life of a writer.

Tomorrow, I promise to be more orderly.

I promise to get at least half of my 3K done on Chapter One, alone.

I promise to barrel my way through any bumps, potholes or suspect checkpoints I come across.

I promise not to “visit” the Ukraine with my army.

*smirks*

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

Jumping the Bumps

Expect Bumps in the Road.

With 3,022 words ready to head to Ravenous Romance, I’ve got another 3k on the schedule to knock down today. It’s exciting in Chloe Stowe’s world, let me tell you. *grins*

Yesterday’s work on my short, to-the-point, brief, tiny Prologue turned out just as you might have expected… it grew.

But not to absurdity, thank goodness. It’s still under 500 words, which for me is a win. I’m really happy with it as it adds a touch of The Da Vinci Code (without the God issues) to the story. An intriguing jumping off point for a gay romance, I think. Yep, I like the Prologue. *pumps fist in the air*

I got the first 1500 words of Chapter One scrubbed and brilliantly clean. I like it, too, but since I wrote most of it nearly five months ago, a lot of the fist-pumping “Hell, yeah!” mania has dampened back down to “Good job, Chloe. Let’s move on.”

Unfortunately, that moving on directive sent me right into the same road block I’ve been facing for weeks. As you all know, I’ve been struggling with connecting scenes in Chapter One for a while. I hit another one yesterday at the 1500 mark.

Nothing major, hardly catastrophic, just a bump on the road to that finish line. But since it was late in the day when I stumbled over said-bump, I saved that challenge for this morning. I jumped ahead several chapters to clear out those last 1k words from the queue. It’s a flashback scene which exists in its own little world, so it’s a fine place to go whenever I need a break from the rigor of Route Get-It-Done-in-Order-Dammit…

Yes, well, this is how it works in my head during the scurry to the deadline. It’s amusing, to say the least.

On a final note, I’d like to brag that Taken, my second novel for Ravenous Romance, has once again entered their Top Ten Sellers the last few days. This just tickles me pink. Taken is probably my personal favorite of my novels, so far. So its unexpected leap into the Top Ten nearly four years after it was published is particularly rewarding. Yep, I’m ridiculously giddy at this, folks, and I’m liking the feeling. Lol

Expect another Ticker FROM Madness this evening. (It’s “from” madness this time since, like I’ve said, I’ve already crossed that crazy line with this one.)

Remember: Title reveal for Book One of the “Lion & Steed” is tomorrow! Somebody order the keg.

Until tonight…

Chloe

Chloe Review: "Argento's Dracula" & A Ticker from Madness

"Argento's Dracula" (2012)

“Hey, honey. You want a number?” she whispers as she waves you over into the shadows of her world.

“A very nice number it is, too.” She giggles lowly into her hand. “Not too much, not too little. Just enough to let your night fly right.”

You pull back.

She tugs you closer, her words now dripping into your mind like warm honey. “Want to see?” she purrs.

You can’t resist.

She smiles as she knows she’s won, and gently tilts your head up to the small ticker of numbers lighting her dark, dark sky.

You look and see…

3,022 words

 

Your world grays out for a tick and the woman at your arm disappears.

Was she ever really there?

The end.

--

Admittedly, I have no excuse for whatever that was. Apologies seem so trite after that, but you have them. Do with them as you wish. Just know that 3,022 words of my “Lion & Steed” novel were checked, re-checked, buffed and shined today! A whole twenty-two words over my self-imposed minimum. I’ll take it.

Now, I will turn you over to the Chloe Review, an escape for us all from the big ticker in the sky.

The Particulars: “Dracula 3D” or “Argento’s Dracula” is an Italian horror movie released in 2012. Filmed in Piedmont, Italy, the film was written and directed by Dario Argento. The budget was 5.6 million euros.

The Chloe Blurb: A take on Bram Stoker’s novel finds Harker arriving at Dracula’s for a job as his librarian. Wives begin jumping out of the woodwork and fangs are passed around like ghoulish favors. Mina and Lucy are soon roped into the game, as is dear old Van Helsing. It’s a frightful time in ol’ Transylvania that night.

The Players: No major problems here, although the man playing the priest was not up to snuff with the rest of the crew. Lucy, played by Asia Argento, I really liked, although I don’t have the foggiest idea as to why. Screen presence, perhaps? Or maybe the look of the actress simply fit the part as I’ve always imagined it. It probably didn’t hurt her screen time to have her father as the director. Rutger Hauer as Van Helsing bothered me. Not because of the job he did, but because I think the role just didn’t suit the actor. I don’t know. It was weird.

On the Plot: The major plot points were taken straight from Bram Stoker’s novel. If you know the basic Dracula story, you know this film. Nothing new here. I will leave any complaints I have with it to the “Plot Holes” section below.

Plot Holes, Miscues and the Like: Spoilers abound here. Beware.

          -The priest’s role in the film was forced. It was like Argento thought he had to have the priest in there to be loyal to the story. Erasing the Father from the script, in my opinion, would have been a better move.

          -Mina seemed terribly unaffected by things that should have destroyed such an innocent soul as we are all to believe she is. Examples of this bland reaction include, in no particular order: Lucy’s graphic burning, the giant bug eating Lucy’s father, hearing of her dear Jonathan’s death. The fact that she was seduced by a vampire didn’t seem to bother her too much either.

          -Why didn’t Dracula just kill Harker outright? Dracula wasn’t using him and he didn’t even have the poor guy out of his coffin running around causing mayhem and murder like he had poor Tonya doing.

          -In the final fight, why didn’t Dracula just knock off Van Helsing’s head like he did the guy that was going to betray him at the town meeting? One knock is all it took.

          -Very Hammer-like in the colors, sets and the way the story was told but when viewing it without its 3D-ness, the backgrounds suffered terribly.

And so this ends tonight’s Chloe Review. Hope you enjoyed!

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

We're on the Clock...

…And the frenzy begins.

In 17 days, the first novel of my new “Lion & Steed” series for Ravenous Romance is due. Today, I begin the full assault on reaching that finish line.

The plan is simple: Prep, edit, polish and shine 3,000 words a day. Starting from the beginning, I work through everything I’ve written. Filling in the blanks, correcting continuity errors, grammar-checking the heck out of it, I buff the words up until I’d be happy to send that 3k off to Ravenous confidently, knowing I’ve done my very best.

Unfortunately, you toss some OCD tendencies and the job gets a whole lot harder than it really should be.

As I warned you yesterday, this isn’t going to be pretty. The crazy engines in my head are already revving up for today’s action. *sighs*

For all of our benefits, I’ll keep you updated on the word count progress each day. It won’t technically be another Ticker to Madness because, folks, I’m already there. Lol

First up, is the Prologue. It’s a tiny little thing of only a couple hundred words, but it sets up the entire “mystery” that leads my two main guys to meet. I’ve got the Prologue written but I need to clean it up a bit, make it crisp and biting.

In the case of this novel (the title of which I will reveal with much pomp and circumstance Saturday), the Prologue is acting not so much as an amuse-bouche for the audience but more as a stage-setter. Think scrolling story at the beginning of the Star Wars movies, or as the opening title frames of “Gone with the Wind”…

Jeez.

Not putting any pressure on myself there, am I? *rolls my eyes*

Of course, it’s nothing as grand as either of those two classic enterprises. It is simply a romance novel… a freaking, fantastic romance novel if I have my way.

Now, off to work!

Until tonight…

Chloe

"Tuck Tail and Flee" Conditions Ahead

As March 15 creeps up with the quiet guile of an alligator through the swamp marsh, I will begin the frantic dash to the Lion & Steed: Book One deadline tomorrow.

You have been warned.

I feel it’s only fair to fess up to what you might expect of this blog in the weeks ahead. So, with full disclosure again in mind, here’s a list. Highlight as you see fit.

Quirky Humor… Admittedly, this has been an issue all along. Expect an uptick in QH, however. The occasional spikes into US (Utter Silliness) should also be prepared for. In no case should cans of Silly String be allowed to enter the picture. If such appears, tuck tail and flee.

Occasional Tolls of Depression… These should be short-lived, passing out of your site between one posting and the next. To ease the awkwardness of the situation for my readers, I will endeavor to add a song and dance number to each Down-in-the-Dumps occurrence. Feel free to laugh your socks off at this attempt, or again tuck tail and flee.

Hysteria… I’m an expert at this. Two decades of severe panic attacks has taught this girl how to freak out. Whether it will be over Word Count Issues (which will not be an issue with this novel), Time Management (i.e. “I’m never going to get this done. Career is over. Call the strait jacket crew.”), or, my personal favorite, Buyer Aversion Syndrome (i.e. “Nobody’s going to buy this. All this work and nobody’s going to buy it. Nobody.”) will be a surprise for us all. Think of it as a box of crazy. You never know what delusion you’re going to get. Tuck tail and flee also applies here.

These are only the major issues you, as my blog readers, will have to concern yourself with over the coming days. Unfortunately, Chloe Stowe Mania is hardly a science. Rules do not apply. So, if ever in doubt please… tuck tail and flee.

Until tomorrow…

Your ever gracious hostess, Chloe

The Bogart Rule: An Author's Guide to Supporting Characters

Humphrey Bogart

Nightmares were a real son of a bitch last night so, please, excuse this post. The brain is firing on all kind of weird cylinders so this could get a little weird… Aren’t you glad you dropped by? *smirks*

“Key Largo” is playing in the background as I try to stitch together enough coherent thoughts to make this blog not too terribly embarrassing.

Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor and Lionel Barrymore… talk about star power! Even if the story had been crap (which it was most definitely not) this picture would still light up a movie screen like a couple million diamonds.

Whenever I’m working on developing a supporting character for my stories, I always aim to give them the screen presence of one those great classic actors like Bogart, Robinson or Barrymore. Especially in romance novels where the two major characters almost by definition need to be beautiful in either mind or spirit, a minor character can be real.

I love making up the “real” characters that inevitably populate my stories. They’re rarely gorgeous, they’re always flawed but their “screen” presence is always memorable.

Admittedly, sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t. Occasionally, these minor characters end up trying to steal the show from the main stars. I hate having to beat them back down. I feel guilty about it, like I was some director telling Bogie to hold it back a little. “We don’t want the audience only looking at you, son.”

Yeah, like that could ever happen with Humphrey Bogart on the screen.

And that’s how I want it to be with each of my “minor” players… a Bogart  no matter what the lousy director says.

Until tonight…

Chloe, the lousy director

So, Godzilla destroyed my short story. Now what?

I think it was rather apropos that today I saw the newest trailer for the “Godzilla” movie coming out this summer. With my “Sicily” short story lying in ruins, I felt a kind of connection with the big guy.

Today, I’ve stomped around the destruction I’ve caused to dear Briggs and Damiano’s lives, swishing my tail at the mayhem and roaring. Of course, that’s been completely unproductive, but, heck, I’m a freaking huge lizard, what else could you expect. (SIDE NOTE: I wonder if there’s a psychological condition for strongly identifying with a colossal Japanese monster road-raging all over humanity? Hmm, this will need further study. Lol)

So, while I was not writing, I was also not destroying the Statue of Liberty. Has anybody noticed how the poor girl always takes it on the chin whenever aliens attack, monsters invade or warmongers get high? Come on, guys. Can’t you pick on another chick in your utter destruction scenarios? Taking out America’s lady in green is getting a little cliché, don’t you think?

Sorry. Back to the actual point of this blog now…

If you remember, I had a nice, tidy romantic tale outlined up for my two main men: Briggs Skylar and Damiano Brasile. American writer meets Italian architect and sweet, sexy music fills the air. Simple story. Clean. Short. Crisp in tone, hot on loving.

Yeah, well. I am Chloe Stowe, after all. I’ve got to make things difficult.

The good news is that the basic story is still mostly a go. Damiano and Briggs aren’t changing, which is a very good thing because I’ve already gotten a little cuddly with the guys. In fact, the bones of the story are remaining mostly the same. They’re just being rearranged a bit to fit into a new skin.

A new skin.

I think that’s what is happening to my “Sicily” story. It’s not crumbling as much as it’s molting.

Can a story molt?

I guess we’ll see. I’ve got a magnificent new skin all lined up for this tale. I’m tucking the core of my original story into a bit larger, more melodramatic, more Chloe kind of a lining. Nothing too grandiose. No Crimean War issues as, if you remember, I had while writing “Ravenscar.” Just a covering that is a bit richer, more colorful, more emotionally charged.

Oh, yeah! It’s going to be good, baby… Just as long as Mothra keeps her distance.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

My "Sicily": Devastation wrought of Inspiration

Writers beware!!

When writing a short story there are bound to be bumps along the way. I expect them, plan for them accordingly. I always buckle up, have my cell phone fully charged and my GPS blinking happily on my driver’s dash.

Keeping my eyes peeled for detours that lead only to dead ends, keeping my gaze locked on the briefly sketched out road ahead, I try to ignore the occasional supporting character who suddenly leaps out in front of my car in hopes of making a splash in the story.

Pesky billboards advertising all the goodies just an exit and a few blind miles off to the side, I read but generally dismiss, jotting down in my head the most interesting ones. After all, there will always be more trips.

With a wary eye to the thunderheads always building to the north, I’m very good at keeping to the writing track I’ve set my GPS to. Once that outline is made, the destination marked in my head, the roads I need to take to get there relatively clear, it’s only a matter of time before Chloe Stowe pulls into the big “The End.”

Well…

*clears my throat, tugs a little nervously on my sleeves*

Sometimes…

*more throat clearing, followed by a nervous laugh*

Clear out of the blue…

*deep breath*

A big, meaty hand reaches down and shakes the shit out of your story world!

Roads are broken, cardinal points on the map are scattered and lost, travelling companions are morphed into unrecognizable characters. The most alarming sight, however, is finding that the big “The End” now lies on the cusp of a completely different horizon.

But what is most aggravating, what makes the writer grit their teeth down to pearly nubs, is the fact that the big, meaty hand –you know, the one who has just scrambled your universe- is really just a clumsily executed, brilliantly violent stroke of inspiration!

Or is that just me? Perhaps I just need to up my meds a tick? Anything is possible in my head, but…

*sighs happily*

…I’m really liking how the big, meaty hand has rocked Sicily’s world. “Sicily,” my short story project aimed at Carina Press, had been struggling along, moving where I’d wanted it to go but not dancing toward that finish line as I had hoped.

Then “Wham!”… Inspiration struck like a 7.2 earthquake yesterday afternoon and readjusted the whole freaking landscape of my “Sicily.”

I’m still a little in shock at the devastation and the (cross my fingers) potential awesomeness it has wrought.

So please pardon this post - this giant metaphor, analogy, simile-thing that has morphed into a giant pile of ungainly literary throw-up.

Blame it on the shock. This writer’s world was just rocked.

Details to follow on the state of “Sicily” as soon as I clear away a little bit of the rubble.

Until tonight…

Chloe

The Family Jewels

To further on this morning’s “A Hot Package” posting, this evening I’d like to take you a little deeper into the nirvana that is working with a big publishing house. In particular, let’s delve into the Blurb Composition Questionnaire!

I’ve never done one of these before, always suffering through the blurb-process all by my lonesome. So this is so exciting for me. Yes, I’m an idiot, but at least I’m a jolly one at the moment.

Here are a few of the questions I’m supposed to answer to help the pros write the “Ravenscar” blurb. I’m calling these the Family Jewels of the story (this is where the meat is, baby!) These are by no means direct quotes, simply summarizations of some of the info they are looking for. Maybe this will help you in creating your own blurbian masterpiece. *smiles*

         -What genre is the story? They give a whole bunch of choices and ask me to pick all that apply. For “Ravenscar” I have chosen: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense, Erotic Romance. Dreamspinner Press only publishes LGBT books, so that part of the equation is implied.

         -What is the tone of the story? They want descriptive adjectives here, such as: humorous, lighthearted, bittersweet or grim. These you have to come up with yourself. A few I’m thinking of including for “Ravenscar” are: atmospheric, epic, earnest, and stormy.

         -What is the setting of the story and does it play an important part in the plot?  I answered “Yes” to this one. “Ravenscar” is all about the mysterious atmosphere that surround these two men’s love story.

         -Give the biographies of all major characters, including primary and secondary roles who play a major part in the storyline. I only had to list three folks here. Quick and surprisingly easy.

         -In five sentences summarize the storyline. Still working on this one. In fact, it’s the only question I haven’t touched yet. Why? Because, knowing me, it will be the hardest. So, tomorrow I’ll deal with this sucker.

         -What is the major crisis or obstacle the couple have to overcome in the story? This one was easy to answer but I’m leaving that a surprise for all of you.

         -What details do you NOT want included the blurb? I like how they realize that the audience needs to be left in the dark about certain things. Personally, I’ve always thought the blurb should be more of a tease than a summary.

There are lots more questions, but these I found the most interesting and the most fun to work on. I’m just enjoying the ever-loving heck out of this whole process! I hope you guys are too!

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

A Hot Package

As Monday seeps through the blinds and brings light back into the world, I actually have real, honest to goodness, writing news to report. So no princess pigs or chicken coops to start your week. Nope. Chloe’s got you covered with… Contract News!

Yesterday, I received a huge email from Dreamspinner Press about how publishing “Ravenscar” is going to work. A very impressive package it is, too, I must say.

The highlights include…

          -“Ravenscar” is now in their “editing queue.” They hope to send out the first edits to me by March 15. Then after I make my contribution to those first edits, a second edit will be done and sent to me for review. After approval, a technical copy edit is done and then the story is off to formatting. A PDF galley will then be sent to me for final check, a galley that has already been checked by at least 2 proofreaders. They hope to have this whole process complete by May 1. (SIDE NOTE: Wow! It may not be any different than any editorial process but they make it sound impressive. I like that.)

          -On June 1, “Ravenscar” will be available to buy as a single story (they call it a “Nap-Size Dream,” a story between 7,500 and 15,000 words) for $2.99, and as part of the “Mended” Daily Dose package of 30 stories (sold as a single purchase for the whole set). I will receive my royalties based on the single story sales.

         -I am to fill out the Production Data Collection form enclosed in the email. This is apparently all the administrative stuff they need to know.

         -The Blurb Composition Questionnaire is also to be filled out. The Blurbs Coordinator will then be in contact with me. (I haven’t looked at any of the forms yet. So details on them will follow once I give them a look-see.) (SIDE NOTE: They have a Blurbs Coordinator? I doubt that should impress me as much as it does. Lol)

          -Their Pre-Production Coordinator will contact me soon in regards to the author biography I will need to provide them.

          -“Ravenscar” will have a Daily Dose cover with the story’s name on the front. I will receive a copy of this cover prior to publication for me to distribute promotionally as I please.

          -On June 1, I will receive a digital copy of the final product in my account at Dreamspinner (an account that I will also need to set up).

To see Dreamspinner’s previous Daily Dose packages, here’s the link to their store they provided me… http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=63 (Frankly, I’m super impressed with the way they do the Daily Dose packages… Have I mentioned I’m impressed yet? *grins*)

And there you have it. The publication of our short story “Ravenscar” is barreling on. As promised, I’ll share with you the entire process. Full disclosure, baby! Ain’t it hot?

Until tonight…

Chloe

"The Princess and the Pea" -or- "The Writer and the Blurb"

As rain dampens spirits in Daytona, and I alligator-wrestle the ugly day blues, I turn once again to my blog to find meaning in a soggy, soggy world.

In other words, Hello! Glad you came.

“The Princess and the Pea” is a fairly straightforward fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen in May of 1835. It relates the story of a girl whose royal heritage is proved when a simple pea under her pile of wondrous mattresses causes her to have a sleepless night. “Only a young woman with such sensitivity could be a real princess,” the hero proclaims as he sweeps her off to a happily-ever-after.

Simple and quite charming. (Yes, I’m aware there are probably socio-economic undertones whole treatises have been written about, but for here and now, let’s just say simple and charming, ok?)

The point of my sharing a recap of this tale is this…

Me = Princess.

Blurb = Pea.

While I’m hardly royalty (I played a pig in the school’s Christmas play, for pity’s sake), I do find myself suffering many sleepless nights when the blurb-to-be is underfoot.

It’s that time again (as I’m sure you could have guessed). The teaser for Book One of the Lion & Steed Series with Ravenous Romance is due in the next couple of weeks and it’s already behaving very pea-like.

A few sentences of dramatic writing should be a breeze. At this point of the process, you know the book, you know the storyline intimately, heck, by now you might be carrying the lead character’s child if biology and sexual preference wasn’t an issue.

Jotting down a couple of lines that sing of all the wonderful things your book is should be a no-brainer. For some people, I hear that it is. For me, however…

Me = Princess.

Blurb = Pea.

I’ve been told I’m quite good at it. When I get rolling, I can pound out a spectacular commercial for my product. Darren Stevens and Larry Tate on “Bewitched” have nothing on me… But getting this princess rolling can be a very drawn out, messy problem.

After 14 novels and a handful of short stories and novellas, I still haven’t got a clue how to get the girl moving properly. This time, apparently, will be little different.

*sighs*

Alright. I know what I’ve got to do.

Time to toss this royal ass down the nearest hill, tuck, roll and hope I land on a really good pea.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe, the princess pig

NASCAR & the Gay Romance Writer: A Love that Rumbles the Southern Skies

Let's shake the ol' NASCAR tree.

“And so the morning rumbles forth, and I, a mere weed, tremble…”

Yeah, well. I’d put a whole string of question marks here to address that poetic throw-up of mine, but I think it’s best if we all just close our eyes really tight and wish it away.

Thank you.

So, it’s thundering here. It’s also wet. Yuck.

The Daytona 500 is today… or is scheduled for today. With this weather, who knows if the field led by Austin Dillon in the #3 will actually get a chance to run.

NASCAR, itself, isn’t so weird, but the fans often are. Me? I love NASCAR. I have for years. But I’ve got to admit that being a writer of gay romance I don’t seem to fit into the proverbial “race car fan” mold.

It’s like the two worlds can’t cross or the whole cosmos might short out or something (a la “Ghostbusters” and their ray-thingies). Most NASCAR fans are not the prototypical narrow-minded, gun-toting, racist “rednecks” most of the universe categorizes us as. But there is an aura around cheering for the sport that makes a gal in my chosen profession feel a little, well, weird…

So, I’m aiming to put all that nonsense behind me today by stating to the world at large the uncomfortable truth – Chloe Stowe, m/m romance writer, gun law supporter, MLK adorer is a practicing NASCAR fan!

*waits nervously for the universe to shriek*

*and waits…*

*and waits…*

Silence.

Alrighty then, I feel better.

Do you?

If not, maybe I could write you a poem?

Lol

Until tonight…

Chloe

A Piranha at My Toes

As evening drifts down from the Saturday skies, this blog lies in wait for me like a hungry pariah demanding writer toes for its dinner…

Yes, well, you can see what kind of blog this is going to be. Lol

I’ve done moderate work today on my novel for Ravenous Romance due on March 15. I’ve finally connected my big opening scene with the all-important second scene in a manner which does not make me cringe and threaten to send my computer through the window. Big step, that is.

I’m sure you writers out there know the feeling. You’ve got two conversations/action sequences/etc. that you are really, really thrilled with, but finding a way to put them together without defiling the integrity of either scene can be a real pain in the arse (Oops. British grand dame currently taking up too much space in my head snuck out of the attic, there. Apologies.)

Anyway, the pain in the ASS connector is now done and I can move on with a smile on my face and a spring to my step.

I’ll more than likely dabble with the “Sicily” short story tonight. Maybe toss around some dialogue and see how Damiano and Briggs take to it. I might even start on sketching out Damiano’s mother, a character who may or may not play a significant role in the story. I’ll see how I like her. If I do like working with her I may tinker with the storyline a bit…

I always feel like a movie director at this point in the process. Although, I guess I’m still at the casting stage with her. I’ll have my assistant look at a few headshots and weed out the keepers. (The fact that I, of course, have no assistant should concern no one at this point. Unlike the British grand dame in the attic, Maximillian, the assistant, does not actually exist… *grins*)

Now that I’ve frightened off a good number of you kind folk, I’ll take my craziness and get the heck out of Dodge for the night. I will, however, return. Just as Sheriff Matt Dillon always returned to his Miss Kitty in “Gunsmoke,” Chloe Stowe will ride right back into your lives tomorrow... but hopefully I won’t be wearing a big arse cowboy hat.

Until then…

Chloe

Chicken Poop & Calisthenics: Why to Blog when you don't want to Blog

On a morning when writing a blog ranks right down there with the prospects of cleaning out a chicken coop, I think we should all take a few moments to consider why writers should blog. And, no, this isn’t about getting your name out there to the hungry reading masses.

This, my friends, is about calisthenics for your writing muscle.

Calisthenics is basically defined as: an exercise made up of a variety of exercises which are usually rhythmic in nature but requiring no equipment, such as weights.

This is blogging at its very core.

I confess, I don’t generally enjoy blogging. I used to hate it. I’d dread it like the cowardly ninny I often am. But after a month of forcing myself to blog (coherently) twice a day every day, I’m beginning to think its benefits outweigh the craziness it stirs up in my head.

Shall I explain?

I believe I shall.

The creativity required in maintaining a daily blog is phenomenal. Also exhausting, but we won’t go there this morning.

Writing can be a terribly dull career to chronicle. While word counts, character developments and the like can be very interesting and even fun things to share, I’ve found that you’ve got to add some unexpected spice to it to keep it interesting, to keep the readers coming back, to keep you writing it day in and day out.

In the case of my blog, the spices I have scrounged up have included, to various success rates: The Scrying Seed, Movie Reviews, Editorials on Current Events, and Picture Stories. But it doesn’t matter what kind of seasoning you choose to surprise your readers and yourself with, it matters that you, as a writer, make that stretch.

Calisthenics.

Stretch that writing muscle into positions categorized from “WTF?” to “Yes, yes, yes!”

A daily blog may sometimes hurt (mine often sting like hell), but after a few weeks of the pain you’ll start to feel the difference. You’ll wake up one day, stretch and think, “Hmm, that feels good.”

Or so I keep telling myself on days like this when writing a blog has sunk below the chicken shit.

Until tonight…

Chloe

The U.S. on Olympic Ice & Other Questionables

An old-fashioned ice skate.

Somehow, I managed a good day of writing despite the dark, dank, dismal skies and a general malaise hanging around my neck for most of the afternoon. As a side note, I keep picturing this “malaise” thing as either a snow white albatross or as a string of really ripe garlic a la Dracula-deterrent. Why? I have no idea. *sighs* Time to check the prescription bottle for side effects again, I suppose. Lol

Over five hundred words were pounded out of my “Lion & Steed” Book One (the title of which I plan to announce March 1). I even managed a little work on the “Sicily” short story which is slowly but surely beginning to sprout nice, pretty flesh on its outline bones.

In the bummer category, the United States lost to Canada in men’s Olympic hockey. While I like the Canadian team, it would have been nice to see the US make it to the gold medal game. The United States speed skating teams rounded out a truly awful performance in Sochi today, closing out their two weeks without a hint of a single medal. That kind of epic failure can’t be blamed on the high-tech suits, especially since the skaters went back to their old tried-and-true wear and still lost badly.

On one more Olympic note, the so-called “scandal” over the Ladies Figure Skating gold yesterday is being blown way out of proportion, in my opinion. I watched the whole competition live (with Tara and Johnny: the best figure skating commentators ever! Really, they were phenomenally entertaining. If NBC doesn’t move them up to first string, the network really is as stupid as I fear).

Back to the gold medal controversy… the anonymous judging thing is crap. No accountability does not equal fair play. But, even though I think the judges bumped the Russian skater’s score up a few points, I still think she could have won the gold on truly neutral ice. Would she have? I don’t know. It would have been very close if the South Korean was scored with the same measuring stick as the Russian.

In short, I think it’s something to chat about over meatloaf but hardly a scandal worthy of international outrage…

For what it’s worth.

Until tomorrow, a day with nary an albatross or a clove of garlic in sight…

Chloe

The Brit in my Attic... A Celebration of British Slang

Got rope?

The morning is thundering at me. It’s unnerving and I wish it would stop… *all said in a porcelain-chipped British voice of an old grand dame of a crumbling manor house.*

???

Yeah, I agree with you there. I don’t know where that came from but I’ll try to restrain the chippy old woman from popping up again. May I borrow some rope?

A storm is indeed brewing outside my window panes this morning. The sky is rock-colored, the wind prickly. The television is muted turned to the local radar station, for that is what one with panic-issues does when Mother Nature gets grumbly.

I haven’t a clue as to what to write about this morning. (Could you tell?) So, I’m just letting my fingers wander across the keyboard, and we’ll see what madness they drag out… Flee now while you are able.

Perhaps the English lady with cold fingers and violet-tinted hair who is currently tied to a chair in my mind’s attic is a reflection on my utter wonder at being able to pull off acceptably well the whole Brit-speak in “Ravenscar?” While I hardly went all BBC in the short story, I did do more than dabble in the English colloquialisms we all find so charming and fun.

American-speak can be so vulgar and hard at times. The British seem to imbibe a dash of sophistication to even their most cutting remarks.

An example, you demand?

Well, if I must. (Apologies. The grand dame, again… Does anyone have a spare iron shackle or two? I do believe she chewed through the rope.)

Ass is arse.

Shit is shite.

Fucking is sodding. (The curse, not the act of actual fucking. One must be precise in these things.)

Nut is nutter. (Crazy person, not a pistachio.)

A variety of American-isms for “You’re a real fuck!” (derogatory, not congratulatory) can be wrapped in a simple wanker.

See? Isn’t it delightfully more amusing to go off on someone when you let the little old grand dame in your head do the cursing?

If you are so lucky as to not have one such nutter in your attic, you may borrow mine.

I find a cattle prod is most helpful.

Until tonight…

Chloe

Chloe Review: "The Road"

Join me as I travel to the Philippines tonight for the foreign horror picture “The Road.”

In other words, a Chloe Review is about to happen. Take appropriate action.

The Particulars: “The Road” was filmed in Novaliches, Philippines in 2011 and released in the United States in 2012. The budget was restricted, but I could find no exact figure. English subtitles.

The Chloe Blurb: When three teenagers go missing on a lonely road outside of Manila, the case sparks memories for the police of another disappearance on the road ten years prior. How far back does this evil go?

The Players: Fine actors. I didn’t have a problem with any of them, which is sometimes the case in lower budget horror movies. They were all believable in the parts given them. Renz Valerio who played the young boy in the second section of the movie, was particularly memorable, not necessarily for what he did but what he didn’t do. There was no overacting, a pitfall into which many would trip with such a beefy role. Also charming was Ynna Asistio as Martha, the laundry girl.

On the Plot: This was a doozy. Not so much complicated as simply intermingled to the point of incest… at least that’s the feeling the viewer is left with. The whole thing makes sense, absolutely; and the story is an interesting one, reminiscent of a certain Hitchcock classic. But the way the storyline was laid out made my head hurt. The best way to describe it is to visualize a ball of yarn being rolled. Over and over again, the same ground is covered but never the same terrain. As a writer, I see what they were doing and I was impressed that they were able to pull it off, but… I just didn’t like it. The payoff wasn’t quite worth the audience’s effort.

Plot Holes, Miscues and the Like: No spoilers here. Everyone enjoy!

After I watch a movie, I jot down all the questions the film left unanswered. Usually, there’s quite a few. But for “The Road” I had nothing. I’m not quite sure there wasn’t any though. By the end, I was so ready for the movie to be over (fatigue factor of keeping up with all that yarn), I may have just said “Ok, I get it. It works. Moving on.” The survival of one character near the end surprised me and I didn’t quite get why that happened. I’m letting that slide, however, mainly because I don’t care to watch this movie again. This one’s dark, folks.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

Beware the Bunny Ears

Dreamspinner contract signed, sealed and delivered! Not bad for eight in the morning, huh?

I woke up this morning, stumbled to the computer and found to my absolute glee a link to sign my contract for “Ravenscar”!

Particulars, as promised… An eleven page contract which gives Dreamspinner rights to publish “Ravenscar” in digital form for 3 years. I will get $55 up front ($5 more than any other short story I’ve sold and $53 more than the last short story I had published)… AND 50% of net profits on all sales!! Huge jump from the 30% I’ve been used to.

I am ecstatic!

I’m slowly but surely working my way up. *cue “The Jeffersons” tv-show music here*

Other than my pay increase, the other stuff was all the standard fare. Very professionally done and speedy. I like speedy.

I’ll keep you updated as events warrant. *cue the “We now return you to regular programming” soundbite*

Women’s Olympic hockey is on. Does anyone else think this is as excruciatingly boring as I do? By all means, let women play Olympic hockey… just don’t make me have to watch. (Yes, I’m quite aware I can change the channel, but it’s Olympic time and I want to watch the Olympics *stomps her feet like a three-year old* and this is the only game on. I know there are other sports going on right now. Where are they? Please, oh please where are they?)

Kiev is burning. The third novel that Ravenous Romance published of mine (Barbarian) I set in The Ukraine. It’s a great country that has been given a raw deal so many times no wonder the people are fed up. I pray for peace but I understand the violence.

I have a headache. I’ve had it since yesterday. It’s pretty bad so excuse my less than flowing commentary this morning. I’ll try to do better tonight when I’ll do more than hippity-hop randomly over topics.

Until tonight…

Chloe

Details of a Contract Offer & Other Goodies

Now, for the details...

Now that my mind has settled down to a slightly more sustainable tic, I’d like to share the few details I have as to our (yours and mine, people… in spirit only, for now; when I clear my first $100K we’ll talk percentages, deal?) contract offer from Dreamspinner Press.

The best line, my favorite line, I quote here just to boast and preen my feathers a bit… “I would like to offer you a contract to publish Ravenscar…” Perfect. It even sounds better after you’ve spoken it aloud a couple dozen of times. *grins*

Anyhow…

The details. I submitted “Ravenscar” to be a part of their “Mended” series of the 2014 Dreamspinner Press Daily Dose. In June (I believe), they will publish one short story a day with our “Ravenscar” being one of them. Then (and this is the part I didn’t know about), they will also sell my short story as a standalone with its own personalized “Mended” cover. Yippee!! (uh, excuse that cowgirl interlude, please… Let’s just say I’m pleased as punch!... not any better, huh? Crap.)

I will receive a digital contract in the next 2 to 3 days. After I sign, I will then get a certified PDF of the contract for my records. All financial details will be disclosed within the contract. (If it’s a straight sale with no royalties attached like in most anthology situations, I’ll be expecting anywhere from $10 to $50. But that’s only a guess from my previous short story sales in completely different venues… this isn’t about the money, folks, this is about spreading the Chloe Stowe name in the field).

After Dreamspinner receives all the contracts from all the authors in the “Mended” series, I will receive details on the publication process.

I will, of course, keep you up to date on all the details, as I’ve promised full disclosure of the writing and publishing process and you’re going to get it (lucky people, you.)

I will happily admit that today has been a basic no-go on all my other writing. I’m simply too buzzed about “Ravenscar” to focus. Tomorrow will be better.

I did, though, work on the detailed “Sicily” outline, experimenting with a few twists and turns that will add pop to Briggs and Damiano’s love story. I’ll keep you updated with that, too.

I spent most of the day, however, working on my RWA profile and signing up for the Rainbow Romance Writer’s online chapter. I’m still learning my way around RWA, but I’m finding all kinds of goodies that make me feel so professional. Lol

In an OCD check (no professional organization there, only Obsessive Compulsive Groupies like myself), I have not checked my website views for my blog since early yesterday morning! A personal best for me and an accomplishment I’m sheepishly grinning at as we speak.

Tomorrow, we’ll return back to the regular Chloe-fare.

Until then…

Chloe