Writing Tips and and News on Nights of Passion

A Lot to Say plus Advice for a Young Writer is up on http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com --this post is a mixture of writing tips and news.

I've gotten chatty on Nights of Passion. There's a lot of good advice for writers up today--advice from authors Carmen Hines talking about author and contest judge Toni Andrews. I talk about organizing ideas. I also invite guest bloggers to write about their favorite romance novel or romantic movie. Come visit. There's too much to write here. Visit us at the link above.

Two Movies that Excite or Make you Giggle

At Nights of Passion I have reviewed "Transformers: Rise of the Fallen" and "Confessions of a Shopaholic." I'm not going to tell you about them here other than absolutely worth it, especially the first.

So much going on: writing, editing, editing for a friend, setting up an interview for Nights of Passion, setting up a bridal shower, a birthday party, webmastering, and I know I've forgotten something. Ever have one of those days, when you know you've forgotten something. Oh, and waiting for the transfer of my domain to be complete. In the middle time, I've changed over links. If you would like to see my brand new website before the domain transfer is complete,
check out: http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.webs.com/ I'd love to hear your comments.

An Amazingly Busy Week/Virtual Vacation

This week I am blogging like crazy over at Nights of Passion with interviews and contests. So drop by and enter a contest or two or three. The interviews are fascinating. http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com

My brain is in overdrive what with working on my own book and blogging like a maniac.

I've come up with the concept of giving myself a virtual vacation. Since I can't go on an actual vacation, a virtual one is all I've got. I'm going to start by laying on the grassy bank of a river with my hand in the water as it flows by. I stare up at the interlaced branches of trees. Greens in varying shades mixes with gold light weaving through and making my vision fold into the surreal. The cool water is so refreshingly calming.

I won't think of anything.

Overwhelming My World

It's always ironic when you want to diet, that you overload your plate in other ways. I'm planning a wedding for a daughter, writing a blog on an almost daily basis, changing my website, working a job, submitting my novel, writing the next one, Twittering, and trying to keep up on emails and other correspondence. There are days when I sit on my bed and hand write in a journal my next book. There's something intrinsically elegant about handwriting. It's also very relaxing for me. Almost as relaxing as making jewelry. I love designing because it let the mind explore new shapes. I also love reading. Lately I've been reading Christine Feehan's Dark Celebration. It's very good overall. But again I am a bit confused with its label as paranormal romance. I would think it was urban fantasy. That's a debate that still continues as definitions either haven't really been ironed out or publishers are having different definitions and there's no industry standard. One definition says that paranormal romance is all about the couple, while urban fantasy is all about their world although there might be romantic elements. I love great stories with drama and excitement, but I also love great passion. So I guess I looking for a hybrid of the two. It's funny that my brain can entertain such a debate at 1 in the morning and in a state of spinning. I will have to find a way to adjust to new faster velocity my life is currently operating on.

Nights of Passion Interview and Contest with Emily Bryan

In a short time, the book contest will end on Nights of Passion http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com for Emily Bryan's book PLEASURING THE PIRATE. At 10 pm Eastern Time to be exact. To still make the contest, just go to the blog and comment on the interview. It's that easy.

And the World Speeds Up

So many things are happening this week. One is Fiction Fest in Connecticut. I'm an attendee at this conference. I've been on a lot of programs of sf/f. This is romance and it's different. I'm a newbie in romance. This is my opportunity to learn a ton and I'm going to love it.

There are moments when you just want to lie among the stars and feel the cool soothing breeze of the universe blow over you. You're in the way. You're going with it, and it's providing comfort, contentment, and a little bit of chaos.

I will always remember A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle. One of the characters, Mrs Whatsit, talks about her memory of being a star. Not the kind of star of a movie or tv show, but a star that shimmers in the dark night. The star we gaze at and it fills us with a serenity. She had sacrificed herself by blowing up in an attempt to stop a great evil. A noble death and a wondrous rebirth into a new form.

Living at Light Speed

I'm living my life in a mad rush with moments to pause and look for roses. No, no roses yet. In one day, I put up an amazing interview I did with romance author Bianca D'Arc on http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/

I edited a story for a friend, which is always good for me as it hones my talents as well as help someone else. I'm editing me, and I'm always harsher on me.

I wrote several email letters to friends. Proofread taxes with my husband to get that signed and in the mail.

Now I still have some critiques to review on my work and then critique the work of others. I may be floating into tomorrow with this.

I'm also writing an original storyline. Not done yet.

Of course, I've Twittered, blogged twice, and checked the website. I've visited other blogs and I've Facebooked.

I did eat and walk the dog a couple of times. I did watch "Enchanted" and "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". I think I watched some other things but not really. See what I mean about busy.

At least I can't wake up in the morning and say I have nothing to do. With a writer, there is always something to write. Something to explore. Research that needs to be done.

Now as it says in Douglas Adams's book Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, "Don't Panic!" I'm not losing it, I've just adjusted to living at light speed.