Monthly Archives: May 2014

Happily plotting

It’s Saturday, a bit overcast, but quite pleasantly warm. So I figured I’d set up out on my balcony to write for a while. Fresh air, sounds of the city around me, and just enough sun not to freeze to death. It was an awesome plan. Got a lot of writing done on the new C&M Security book. Book three for those keeping track. Got just over 3500 words down on the page and already my lead female character is in shit up to her eyeballs.

Unlike the other books so far in this series, this one my lead character is heading straight into danger, willingly I should mention. She’s a police detective so that’s kind of her gig. Unfortunately for my leading gal, no one actually has much of a clue as to just who they are going up against, who they are rescuing her from. Neither did she until it was too late. Much too late.

Muahahaha! Yeah, I’m evil. I just LOVE putting characters into precarious positions and then trying to figure out how to dig them out. I do a bit of plotting ahead of time, more or less enough to know what the bad guy is after -his ultimate goal- but let the characters guide the story for a good portion of it. I like seeing where they pull things, often it’s to places I never would have been able to think up sitting there staring at a blank word doc.

I’m not saying that where they pull me is always the best place. Hell no! For instance, in book two of this same series, my lead male character nearly had him and those he was with, doing something highly questionable, and very illegal. I had to kibosh that right quick. Can’t be having any of that, especially since that isn’t who they are at their core. While the staff of C&M Security might play a little loose and free with the law, they can’t break it. So, after a knuckle whack or three, I got them back on track with a slightly less dramatic, but much better for the overall storyline, path. They were happy, no criminal records or jail time, and I was happy, no supporting of illegal activities just because you can. Don’t need to be setting that sort of precedent.

Now, had I written about a thief, totally different standards there. I can’t write about a thief that never steals anything, that would go against who I was writing and the story I was creating. But these guys work with law enforcement so, bending a little is okay, outright breaking is very, very bad.

Well, that’s enough of a break, back to writing now. Need to see if I can make about 5k words before dinner. Have a good day everyone ~ Moira

Allergy season…

The “official” start of Spring for me. Gotta love the red, watering eyes, the runny nose, and the uncontrollable sneezes that can clear a room. I was ready for it though, as I am every season. Thankfully, for me at least, it doesn’t last very long. A couple three weeks and then I’m fine for the rest of the season. It’s the dust, nasty shit, from after the winter as they do the street clean up, and people mow and de-thatch their lawns for the first time of the season. Snow mold/first mowing dust is my biggest enemy. I can’t mow a lawn, at any time in the season, without being pumped full of Benadryl.

On the other hand, it’s FRIDAY! Woohoo! LOL! So I have the weekend to get my snotty nosed self (literal meaning here) under control before I have to return to the workplace. The fact it will be a relatively lovely weekend, weather wise, is a huge plus. Maybe I’ll get out for an hour here and there to get some color into my poor native white Canadian ass. At least enough to not blind strangers as we pass on the street. Thank goodness I can tan. Being part Irish it was kind of a coin toss right from the start. Not everyone in my family got lucky on that particular draw.

Other plans for the weekend include some movie watching while I write book 3 of the C&M Security series. I will also likely be working on my paranormal book since it seems to finally be shaping into something tangible. Nothing else new on the horizon until I get these two written. Figured two at a time was more than enough but there are plenty of ideas I’ve been jotting down for upcoming books in the C&M Security series. Should be a good little series.

Well, that would be it! I’m off to hunt down some ice cream and poke at some paranormals for a bit. Night all ~ Moira

Week’s going great

So far anyway, lol! Yesterday wasn’t too bad, except for the drenching I got as I dashed semi-quickly home from work. I was definitely more than just a little soggy by the time I got here. There was much squish-squish happening as I dripped my way to my place. I hate having wet shoes – nasty!

Plus side though, got my contract signed, and sent off for book 2 of the C&M Security series. As well as doing up the blurb/cover art sheet – that went back to Evernight Publishing as well. Did some writing and I think I may even have an idea for book 3 in this series. It’s vague right now so I’m just letting it rumble around in my head.

Stayed up a bit too late last night and then just couldn’t fall asleep. Not because my brain was spinning but because I honestly couldn’t get comfortable. Damnedest thing too. Especially given what I spent on my awesome mattress. Frickin’ thing cost nearly a very large mortgage payment – if I paid mortgage that is. But it was a Christmas gift so, in my humble opinion, well worth it. I love my bed. My bed is awesome! But last night we just weren’t in the groove together.

I had a LOT of coffee today to combat my need to sleep. That and I needed to try, I said “try”, to keep my wandering mind focused. I think I left my brain in bed this morning because I was seriously disorganized and mildly chaotic. I did, somehow, manage to get a lot of work done though. Not a fucking clue how! Really, I have no idea how the hell I managed it.

Well, that’s it for the moment. I think I’ll go hunt down something for dessert and vegetate in front of the TV and computer for a like. Have a good night ~ Moira

Just got word

That another of my books, this one the second in the C&M Security series, was accepted by Evernight. Still have to do the whole contract signing and such but it’s nice to know it didn’t get lost. LOL! Yeah, I was a little concerned it might have, but I should have known better. Only bad thing about submitting when the staff is off partying, you get stuck wondering just a little longer.

It’s a great way to end the weekend and start the new week I must admit. Will definitely make whatever work decides to throw my way a little easier to swallow. Hopefully.

On the new works front I finally have my Paranormal’s in line. Little buggers. Got a good start on them today and it seems to be flowing quite well. Unfortunately for one of the male characters he’s going to have to do a bit of work to win over the girl from the way this one’s going. M’eh, what’s a little suffering in the name of love right?

Oh! Finished up the Graceland marathon I had going. Very interesting ending I have to say. That and I cannot wait for the new season to begin here in June. Very excited to see where they take this. Now, I’m not huge on TV. I do have a couple series I watch but I’m really a movie person. Though I will admit that I tend to have the TV on while I’m writing, mostly for background noise and to give me something to focus on when I’m trying to think through a section I’m writing. I will say though that, if season two is anywhere near as good as season one was, I have myself another show to watch.

Well, I do believe that is it for the night. Just had to share the good news with everyone before I burst or something equally icky. ~ Moira

Not a thing was accomplished today!

I did absolutely nothing today. Well, not exactly nothing, I have been watching a LOT of TV today. I found the entire (very short) season of Graceland and have been soaking it in. I sort of meant to watch it when the season was actually on but, well, I forgot and then it was over. [Insert pouty face here.]

But! Redemption was mine when we had it show up here as an all day thing. Taped them all and then just needed a weekend to myself to watch it. I have thoroughly been enjoying this show I have to admit. Lots of great characters, lots of wheelin’ and dealin’, lies, cover stories and shit that’s just waiting to hit the fan! I’m nearly done the season, I think it was ten shows in total, and I’m approaching the finale. Get to see if some of the lies are finally revealed and if the head guy, Briggs is the characters name, is found out. Sooooo exciting!

Graceland

Haven’t done any writing this weekend, just haven’t felt the need yet. I might tomorrow if the weatherman continues to be right about the up and down weather though. We had a bit of sun today interspersed by hellish rain showers. Damn, that shit could’ve stripped paint off a car it seemed to be coming down so hard. Just glad I did my run to the store before it hit otherwise I’d likely still be wet.

That’s it! I have more TV to watch so I’m out of here ~ Moira

Just chillin’

Had a very relaxed day at work, huge shocker, but given the rather sunny conditions out of doors it was overly surprising. Pretty sure most of the city cleared out for camping this weekend. Happens rather regularly when the weather looks great – but this is Canada, that shit will change fast and you could very well wake up under six feet of snow trying to dig out of your tent. Yeah, that sounds like the bees knees of fun ways to spend a weekend. Not!

Working on a couple of stories right now. One may, may not, be a new series but I’m not overly concerned just yet. Still gotta write the damned thing LOL! The other one I’m still getting a feel for but it’s definitely of a paranormal vibe. Not my original thought but a new and decidedly odd one. It all started with a wayward thought, a TV show and Pepsi shooting out of my nose during a sneeze I shouldn’t have tried to stifle. It was NOT pretty around here for a bit after that.

It was the oddest thing too, it just kinda popped into my head. So off I went – after wiping down several surfaces to save them from the snorted pop – and jotted down my notes. It’s very rough, but most starter stories are. So we shall see what we shall see as this develops.

Well, I’m off to grab a hot bubbly bath and maybe something to drink. Night! ~ Moira

The return

To work after a long weekend sucks ass. It’s like a Monday times two. Only plus side to it all was the fact that it was damned quiet at work. It let me get in a couple of cat naps which I definitely needed. Tomorrow should be interesting though since I have family in town that I’m supposed to be meeting up with at some point. Not sure how we’re coordinating all this but I’m sure we’ll figure it out…eventually.

Did a crap load of writing on the weekend. Got a new WIP going strong at just over 13k on the word count and something else niggling in my head. No clue what it is yet and it’s really only coming to me in bits and pieces but it just might be something new. We’ll have to see how it plays out and where these new characters lead me. I’m betting it will be an interesting and likely a wild ride.

Got a bunch of reading done on the weekend too, just to let my poor brain relax in between bouts of writing. I find it’s a great relaxer to wipe the mind clean and let it restart and ramp back up again. Especially when it’s fun and great stories.

Well, since I’m starting to babble, I think it’s time to go and do something else. ~ Moira

Long weekend

keep-calm-its-the-long-weekend-2Well, so far weather wise, this long weekend kinda sucks. I’m very happy I have three blissful days off from the hell I call my day job. But really, some sunshine would not be amiss here Mother Nature.

On the plus side though I got my second instalment of the C&M Security series finished and submitted to Evernight for consideration. We shall see if they want to take it on and keep the series going. I have a feeling I won’t hear right away as I know most of the staff is off in NOLA for a conference there. From the sounds of things they are all having a blast and that’s marvelous. I may just have to join them next year wherever it might be lol!

In other news I’m working on another new story since my paranormals aren’t working out quite right and I’m thinking of coming at that from a different direction entirely. The new story may be a short, not sure yet. It will be a standalone for sure, that I do know right now. It just sort of popped into my head and I’ve been getting it down as fast as I can as accurately as I can manage. Should be a fun little read I hope.

Well, that’s about it from under a bunch of cloud cover. I’m off to keep plotting ~ Moira

Time’s a draggin’

Ugh. It’s a long weekend up here in Canada this weekend. But it’s taking so-o-o-o long to get here! Why? Oh why couldn’t it have been Friday already? Ugh.

I desperately need one of these. One where I’m not dashing out of town to help out the parents. One where I can just be in my jammies all the time and to hell with any need to go outside. One where I might actually get all my cleaning done early so I can enjoy the entire time stress and worry and anything else free. Ah, now there’s a lovely thought.

In other news I’m getting close on my WIP. I hit a speed bump a few days ago and had to do a fix to get it rolling again. I don’t know what I was thinking trying to write while utterly exhausted, not very smart at all. I do not write well when my brain is mush. But! I’m back on track once more and it’s going well once more. I might be a smidge behind my original schedule for completion but I don’t think it will be by much. Finish it up this weekend, do a little polishing and the ever important spell check and then submit.

I may end up waiting until Tuesday to submit, the Monday being the official holiday here, but other than that I shouldn’t be more than a day behind on my “plan”. Ha! Like I really ever have a plan lol! Well, I think that’s it. Sushi is on the menu tonight so I’m outta here folks ~ Moira

Writing like mad

First off, Happy Mothers Day to all the mom’s out there, mine in particular. As well, a very happy birthday to my mother. Gotta love it when I can send one big gift and cover both LOL! But I always go big or go home, you have to with your mother. After all, as mine so quaintly likes to put it (though I am paraphrasing slightly), she brought me into this world and she can damn well take me out. Now all I have to do is call and sing her a big ol’ happy b-day. And I can’t sing – but hell, it’s tradition now and expected.

While I await the golden hour to call her I’ve been working on my second instalment to my series. I’m hoping to have it finished either today or possibly tomorrow and then I can submit it and hope they accept it. I’m relatively sure they will but one never knows until the message comes through. But that’s the worries for later. First I need to finish the damned thing, lol!

I’m getting close to the big finish, just some details to slip in here and there leading up to the final reveal of the bad guy for this one. While both stories are romances there’s also an edge of mystery to them as well and some intrigue. That’s sort of the goal of the series. Give the readers something to hang onto while the relationship between the main characters develop and, hopefully, give them a satisfactory ending to the build up of what brought the characters together in the first place. It definitely wasn’t originally planned to go this way but I’m working with what my characters are giving me. And this is the path they chose so I’m just trucking along and hoping for the very best.

Thankfully the editors over at Evernight have been awesome so far. Well, the one I’ve worked with to this point has been awesome. I do still have my comma problem but I’ve been desperately trying to work on it. Trying to use them only when they are actually needed and work with the sentence structure. I guess we’ll see when edits come back if I’ve managed to tame them a little. I’m hopeful but thinking I have a ways yet to go.

Well, I think that’s it for today. Off to go write some sex into my book and figure out what dinner will be for tonight. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and, again, Happy Mothers Day to all the mom’s out there. You are awesome, you are strong and you help us find our paths in life. Never give up ~ Moira