Fun Weekend

I've had a great weekend.

Friday I went out to dinner with my daughter from Houston, love Chinese food.
Saturday, lunch with writer friends, gossip for three hours, or was it four. Also love a Leaning Bellini and Shrimp Portofino.
Made a big pot of Chili Saturday night, had the rest of the kids over and discovered chocolate wine-too good.
Had lunch today with my 88-year-old mother-in-law. discovered the most wonderful cake ever invented at Maggies, on 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK.
Okay, so this weekend revolved around food and drink. But it was fun.

So you don't think the weekend was a total loss, I almost finished chapter 13 of Dead Fairies, and have to figure out exactly who it is that Ande likes, Brandon or the new character trying to sneak in. Hmmm.

Also, I had an interview with Kim Smith on Blog Talk Radio on "Introducing Writers." That was fun. And in the interest of promotion, don't forget that all the Tali Cates books are at www.eternalpres.ca, or in print from www.amazon.com. If you need multiple e-formats, try www.fictionwise.com. You can catch the interview on Blog Talk in a couple of days. I'll put out an announcement.

I'm putting on a contest, see my website and visit my blog for a chance to win bookmarks, postcards, a Bloody Murder T-shirt, an autographed copy of a Tali Cates book and more. Stay tuned.

Tagged and Time

First, I've been tagged by my friend Ginger to tell you all six things you don't know about me.
1. I worked in a cafeteria as a kid, in Dallas, folding silverware into linen napkins.
2. When I began nursing school, hospitals still used metal bed pans, glass syringes and metal needles, all of which were cleaned, sterilized and re-used. We wrapped sterile packages in cloth and nothing much was disposable.
3. I wanted to be a ballerina up until I went to nursing school.
4. I've spoken nationally on subjects like resistant organisms, disaster management and bioterrorism.
5. I paint pastel portraits.
6. Watching the underwater scene in Aliens makes me short of breath.

Be sure and go see Ginger at http://mizging.blogspot.com and you can find out all her secrets too.

I'm starting the fast draft of FDWizard so my goal will be at least 1000 words a day, preferably 1500 so my graph will go up tomorrow. The plotting has a good start and I still need to fit in a synopsis.

I will announce the September "Bloody Murder" winner tomorrow.

Contest and Plots

First, I want to start a new contest. Once a month I'll draw a name to win a free book, it might be one of mine or an ebook from one of my fellow writers or a print book I particularly enjoyed. I might even throw in a book on writing once in a while. How to win, you ask? Just post a comment on the blog that month. The first monthly contest will begin September first, for a copy of my October release, "Bloody Murder." The name will be drawn October first and you should receive your copy after the seventh of October.

Now, if you're really anxious for a free book, comment in August and I'll have a grab-bag surprise book to draw for on September 1. Shhhh, the title is a secret.

Next is a question for readers and writers. What comes first for you, plot or character. As a writer, do you have the character all thought out first or the plot? For me, the character comes first because the way the plot unfolds depends so much on the character and the choices that character makes. In a series, once I have that character, then I can throw bizarre plots at her and see what kind of choices she makes.

As a reader, especially of a series, do you fall in love with a character first or a plot? What makes you stick with a series? Remember, to win prizes you have to comment!

Urban Fantasy-Paranormal.

OK. Today I'm asking questions. Why do we read paranormal fantasy, urban fantasy, vampire books, were wolves, magic, witches and etc? Why was Buffy so popular, Moonlight, Medium? Why Dexter?

Are we looking for humor, blood and gore, kick-ass heroines, strong heroes with an excuse for not being sensitive? Do we want the romance (Dresden has limited love scenes but lots of sexual tension?)Are we looking for vicarious ways to experience super powers like in Heroes or Smallville? Do we want to know you can have magic and still maintain a family life like in Medium.

For me, I think I have always wanted magic and fairies to be real and to be able to perform the magic myself. Plus, being the strong heroine, defeating the deamons, ghouls and trolls would be so cool.

Plus it's unpredictable. I think that's what I like with the added ability of the characters to have a sense of humor in dark moments. Do I want real encounters with monsters? Of course not, I'm not nuts. The first time I tried to go head to head with an evil fairy-I'd be dead. But as an escape it works. I've always been one to figure out plots, but with fantasy, the rules change and you can be surprised.

Now, if anyone is interested, post a comment and everyone who posts will be put into a drawing for a small fantasy collage. You have until April 15th. That way you have something to look forward to besides taxes this month.

Contests

People enter contests for many reasons, hope of winning, critiques, validation that their writing is good. Most writer's contests suggest that you follow the guidelines and submit editor-ready manuscripts. There are as many versions of editor ready as there are writers, in spite of specific guidelines.

It makes me wonder exactly how many agents and editors receive submissions where writers have ignored guidelines, even attached notes saying, "I didn't follow the guidelines because . . . ." Do these same people really expect editors and agents to ignore their inability to follow directions and decide this writer gets to break the rules because they are brilliant? These same people are often totally incensed because of the rejection from the editor.

It's no wonder that writers often have a bad reputation with editors and agents, and the non professional behavior of a few, color opinions about many.