Time

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am hung up on time. It's the last week in January already. I don't know where the time has gone, but it goes. Minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years. And so it all goes, blending into something we call our life, our past. Like a film strip of all that is and was in our history. Time seems to pass faster these days and there seems less of it to go around. Is this also an illusion? Is the world spinning faster, or are we just so bombarded with stimuli that we must truly struggle to find a moment let alone stay in one?

Time stops for me when I meditate, or truly listen to music. Meditation is a practice I do daily. I have noticed significant changes in myself. A marked difference in my perceptions, actions and sense of time. Sounds and colors are in sharper focus. Things seem clearer. I take more time to do the things that matter the most. I listen harder and say less. When I worry about wasting time, it flies by. When I try to stay in the moment, I seem to have an endless supply of it. I tend to be forever measuring my moments, multi-tasking, etc. in order to get the most out of my days. Meditation is changing this mind-set for me.

A friend recently suggested that "you need to play more and take a few hours to just be; do nothing." Perish the thought! How can one "waste" a day doing nothing? And what exactly does it mean to do "nothing?" Perhaps she means to slow down, to relax and enjoy everything more. I am learning.

It's no surprise that I am fascinated with vampires. No need to rush through anything when you have forever. Every day is a gateway to an eternal existence. Would I get bored having eternity to read, write and meditate? No beach time for me but for someone so obsessed with time this idea seems appealing. The endless day to day (or night to night actually) would take on a new meaning and imagine not needing clocks or a watch.

Wow, lots to think about as I check the time on my computer. Got to run.....

A Mark in Time

I am just beginning Part Two of my current work in progress which is the second book in my trilogy. My goal is to have the entire novel finished in draft by this Spring as I take notes, redraft my chapter outline, etc.

The process for writing this novel is very different than my first novel, Immortal Obsession. I wrote and rewrote it. Then I found an editor who was kind enough to point out both the positives and negatives of it, which led to months of rewrites. It became a much better novel, thanks to him.

This novel, tentatively titled Blood Kiss, is taking form in a very different manner. There is more research to be done on 18th century Paris prior to moving ahead. I am drawn to alchemy too. A medieval form of chemistry in which the primary goal was the discovery of how to turn metal into gold. Being a lover of symbolism, I am fascinated by their meanings. Look at Nordic Runes.

There is also the element of the metaphysical involved here, as I ponder the nature of existence and truth and knowledge and how all of these things impact on my vampires; esoteric beings that are struggling in their world. I am the first to admit that there is nothing traditional about my vampires. Yes, they sleep at night, and yes, they drink blood, but they are so much more.

The traditional definition of a vampire is "a reanimated creature that wakes at dusk to drink the blood of the living." There is no room in this definition for personalities, special gifts, or the very human needs and desires that compel and control all of us.

You know, the stuff that makes us human.

Fierce Pride

I can only speak for myself here, but I am so proud to be an American at this moment in history. I cried tears of joy watching the inauguration of Barrack Hussein Obama this morning. Despite the cold there were thousands of happy smiling faces, cheering and waving.

I am so excited for this new administration. I wish them all the best.

God Bless us all, everyone.

The Rise of the Lycans

I don't know about you but I have this "thing" about werewolves. Odd you might say for someone with a life long interest in anything vampire. Well...maybe, but the way I see it werewolves are misunderstood creatures. Three excellent novels about werewolves are: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, The Passion by Donna Boyd and Night of the Werewolf by Harry Shannon. These novels showcase the best and worse of our fuzzy friends.

There is something so primal and physical about them. With a degree in Anthropology, I am continually looking at culture and subcultures as well. I am fascinated with the distinction made between vampires and werewolves. I even think I blogged about it in the past. I used the movies Underworld and Underworld Evolution to make my case. In these two movies you see the disparate natures of these two species who become enemies when one tries to enslave the other.

Vampires are generally depicted as handsome or beautiful, rich and well-dressed; educated, insightful and incredibly erotic and seductive. One can only imagine their house or apartment, richly decorated in excellent taste. Werewolves on the other hand seem messy, frumpy and probably smell funny! They have a hard time controlling their animal nature and more often than not, it gets them in trouble.

I am not expressing my opinions here, merely observations about the way in which the media has portrayed each of these supernatural beings. One of the most memorable characters is Jeremy Danvers from the novel Bitten. He is a handsome, insightful, educated, artistic werewolf. He is soft spoken, introspective and extremely powerful. He rules from his beautiful home in the country with a velvet voice and an iron will. I love him. He has stayed with me for years now and like my favorite vampire: Christian Du Maure, he has tried to rise above his basic nature. Sometimes he succeeds and other times it is much harder. Especially when emotions get in the way.

How human is that?

I'm Back

It's a new year and though I did go down to Florida for the Christmas holiday, I feel as though I have been gone longer than 10 days. It's a new year and I have some news......soon some lovely portraits will grace this page. Portraits of my vampires: Christian, Michel, Gabrielle and Gaetan...as well as portraits of Solange, Josette and Sabin. Who are these people you ask? They are the living, breathing mortals and vampires who inhabit the pages of my novel Immortal Obsession.

These portraits were done by a wonderful graphic artist. I can't share much about her now, but I think the proof is in her work. I hope you agree. Presently, I am working on the second novel in this trilogy. I cannot reveal the title of this work, nor the title of the trilogy, but I am truly enjoying it. My tale seems to have a mind of its own and I feel like I am merely the recorder of the story. It's magical at times.

As those of you who stop by regularly know, I am waiting to hear from various agents regarding Immortal Obsession. I keep my fingers crossed that one of them will have the good instinct to take a chance on me. I am anxious to get my books out there to you all.