5 summer favorites

1. Walking the dog after dark in shorts and T-shirt – it’s still warm enough.
2. Having the windows open all the time and fresh air in the house – unless the AC is on.
3. At the most, wearing only four pieces of clothing – no socks, no shoes ever.
4. Waking up to the sun shining in my window – I don’t like getting up before the sun.
5. Being able to banish the kids outside when they get on my nerves – if only they could play the Wii outside, too.

This morning I received the call no child ever wants to receive, especially not those of us who live a world apart from our parents, siblings, and family.

My Dad suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. As I type this I cry because I cannot be there to take my Mom into my arms and comfort her. I cry because I cannot hug my brother or assure my grandmother that despite my tears I will be fine. My father and I had different views on the afterlife, but I do hope and wish ever so deeply that he is allowed to rest in peace, knowing he was loved.

Papa, ich hab dich lieb. 

— feeling devastated.

#NewYearsResolutionIn5Words ...

I don't usually do resolutions, but 2016 will be a big year with important HUGE changes for us, so ...
"Be present in the moment."

Great idea, but ...

Genius idea: I'll buy one Hawaiian Starbucks mug every month this coming year, leave them unopened and when we move I will have a nice commemorative assortment. 

Less genius reality: there are only two or three Hawaiian motifs

Thank you

My next book will include the following dedication:    “Thank you, McDonald's Corporation, for providing me, simultaneously, with an office (albeit a really noisy one) and a safe, fully enclosed playground for the kid (with food options and bathrooms!).”

Christmas music

This atheist with pagan-Buddhist leanings loves Christmas music. 

As a writer I love lyrics. Christmas carols/hymns are replete with symbolism: light conquers darkness, the resurrection of hope in the birth of a child, the sacrifice of innocence through a violent death. The angst, the drama, and the tragedy of it all speak to me. 

I love Christmas music for its mighty emotional punch. I get goosebumps every time I hear my favorite song …
“… and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”

Goals

2013 goal: Return from self-imposed writing exile and write another book. 
2014 goal: publish that book.

2012 was grand

I started writing again. In fact, it was right around this time in 2011 that my self-imposed writing exile came to an end. What kept me from writing all this time? I’d like to say my struggle with depression was a major contributor, but it would probably be just as correct to say that my non-writing was a major source of my depression. They certainly went hand in hand. My failure to produce a finished STALKER, the sequel to THE PROTECTOR, weighed heavily on me, too. It wasn’t until just a short while ago that I considered my writing career completely stalled, which didn’t do much to lift the lingering effects of my depression either. 

In fact, it wasn’t until my very good friend and writing buddy agreed we needed to get some stuff published that I realized not only had we written and finished a contemporary novella, but we were nearing the end of our paranormal novel. 

Holy cow, not one, but two writing projects, conceived and written through e-mail and instant messages, both untitled as of yet: 100,000 words written between diaper changes, cooking meals, doing housewifely things and, in my case, homeschooling. 

Neither my friend nor I started writing with an eye toward publication. We just needed something to keep us busy and from going insane. It wasn’t really until the second half of the year, when we were both becoming increasingly frustrated with what the published world had to offer. Dang it, we weren’t even trying and we were doing better than some of those (self-pubbed) authors. Why not publish our stuff?

I’m quite happy to say that I think we’re ready to set out on the road to publication (after major edits). I may not have written the book I was trying to deliver for some years now, but I created two new characters every bit as fun as Mason Ward and Soren Buchanan (who will have their sequel told one day, for sure; it’s half written after all): the somewhat impulsive Journey Pendergrast and my most silent-waters-run-deep character yet, Anson Ardley whose first name was inspired by Xavier Axelson’s EARTHLY CONCERNS. 

Hang around and maybe you’ll find those two and their love interests on your favorite tablet or e-reader sometime in the not-too-distant future. 

2012 also brought a new addition to the family: Texas, the terrier-mix puppy, whom we rescued from the Honolulu Humane Society. Texas is an awesome dog. I like to call her a love-bug. She’s very affectionate and great with Ivy. She doesn’t mind the cats and is absolutely ball-crazy. We couldn’t have picked a better dog. Naturally, she’s a redhead. 

 

My cousins from Germany and France came to visit in the second half of the year and that was a lot of fun. It was so good to see family again. It’s been a while. Living in paradise does not make for cheap or easy travelling back home. 2012 also saw my parents Skyping for the very first time. We do talk on the phone regularly, but it’s so much nicer when you can look the other person in their grainy eyes. My parents saw their third grandchild live and in action for the very first time and Ivy, I am happy to report, loves talking to Oma and Opa on the computer.

All in all, 2012 was pretty awesome. 

I have a feeling 2013 will be even better.

Untitled ...

Aw ...

Review: EARTHLY CONCERNS by Xavier Axels

EARTHLY CONCERNS was my first but certainly not last novel by Xavier Axelson. There’s something disjointed about reading an eerie, shadow-filled paranormal under the bright Hawaiian sun, but Axelson did a great job of pulling me in and making me forget that I was reading at the beach. 

Anson struggles with the classic gift-is-a-curse trope in a very realistic and understated way. Although his talent and the help he can render are integral to the story, it’s a paranormal after all, it’s his struggle to come to terms with his feelings for Barrett, the ex, that drive the story forward. Barrett needs help, but is beyond saving. Emotionally unavailable, he’s toxic to Anson. Their relationship seems as doomed as the child Barrett lost. 

It is loss that finally helps Anson to reconcile his feelings with what he knows about Barrett in a climax that I thought would have worked far better if not written in first-person. My personal preference to generally skip first-person writing notwithstanding, I do think the drama would have been heightened if viewed through the eyes of the man Anson was trying to save. 

If you’re looking for a quiet, eerie paranormal with excellent writing, look no further than Xavier Axelson. He does first-person exceptionally well, flawlessly showing us life through the eyes of his character (whose first name I totally fell in love with). 

A

Review: FOR LOVE OR DUTY by Bethanne Strasser

If not for my friend Kim at SOS Aloha, I wouldn’t have found the novella FOR LOVE OR DUTY by Bethanne Strasser. I’m sure glad Kim suggested I read this author. I’m all for military spouses reading military spouses, especially if the writing also deals with military life. 

I had a good time with FOR LOVE OR DUTY. It’s a light summer read for a few hours by the pool. Valerie and Kevin are just complicated enough to keep each other on their toes without weighing the story down with their issues. I really enjoyed that both were open to the idea of no-strings attached fun. And that they tried to make their friendship work. Cheryl, the sidekick, was fun and refreshing. 

But what really didn’t work for me, so much so that it lowered the grade for the entire novella, was the non-communication tool Strasser used to create a very contrived way to keep Kevin and Valerie apart. Seriously? Valerie’s father knew of Kevin’s plans; he wouldn’t have told his daughter what had happened to Kevin the minute he got the news? Cheryl knew of Kevin’s plans, too; she wouldn’t have called Valerie either? If a serviceman is injured, calls are being made. Period. No one cares if there was an argument before/during the deployment. 

I understand why Strasser used this tool (it’s in every new author’s bag of tricks), but her writing is beyond using such beginner tropes. She’s far better than the contrived conflict she created. 

Still, her conflict led to a satisfying conclusion and my absolute favorite part of the story. When Kevin said, “I can’t assure you I’ll be there every time you need me.” I cheered. I loved that he was being honest and realistic. Separation is a very real part of military life and too often overlooked in the happy-ever-after assurances of our fictional military heroes. Kudos to Strasser (and Kevin) for keeping it honest.

B

UEFA EURO 2012

If you are not a soccer fan, you may not know that the 14th UEFA European Football Championship is being held in Poland and Ukraine right now (until July 1). Sixteen national teams compete in 31 matches to be crowned European champions. At stake: national pride and bragging rights. And, trust me, in Europe that’s serious business.

Today, the Germans sent the Greeks home. In an exciting 4:2 game, Philipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus struck with greater skill. Go, Germany!