I love my dog…

Dogs are man’s best friend.  In this case, the “man” is species oriented and not gender.  I have a dog who is totally devoted to me.  A Boxer.  She’s currently snoring at my feet.  So, how do you know if your dog is just the run of the mill family dog or “your” dog?

She wakes your husband when she needs to take a midnight potty break because she knows you need your sleep.

She’s not content to be anywhere but tripping distance from you.  Thankfully, Boxer’s are a tall and leggy breed else we’d both be sore from falling.

Your laundry will never be the same.  Socks bearing teethy holes become common place.  If it carries your scent, it’s fair game.

From talking to other Boxer families, this tends to be a feature of the breed.  They’re wonderful family dogs, but often bond with a particular household member.  We purchased Lacy as an adult and were afraid of bonding issues.  She and I took one look at each other and it was love.  She’s great with the kids, shares her water bowl with the cat though cats were beyond her experience when she came, and views our home as her castle.

Who could ask more than that?

A new phrase…

This past week has been a wonderful week.  My Maggie Award novel, ANGELIC AVENGER, had its digital debut on Tuesday.  I was absolutely thrilled to say I downloaded it as soon as it became available…and yes, I paid for the priviledge.  Why?  Because it made it real to me.  :)

My husband, as the dedication indicates, is greatly supportive of my writing efforts.  In fact, one of the most memorable episodes involving Bella’s launch on the world comes from him.

He works at a hospital.  One of his coworkers came up to him and asked about my book.  The digital release in advance of the paperback had some of his coworkers wanting to know when they could go to the bookstore to buy it.

Well, the coworker asked what genre it was.  When my husband, slightly embarrassed, told him it was a paranormal romance, the instant reply was:

“Oh.  It’s one of those vibrator books.”

Having met the gentleman in question, I can hear the humor in which it was meant.  And the more I think about it, the funnier it is.

Vibrator books.  My new turn of phrase for the week.

Well, experts say that a good bit of a woman’s interest in sex comes from fantasy and intellectual stimulation.  Isn’t that the purpose of romance novels?  A little escapism and fantasy?

Men can learn from that.  *grins* And if they took advantage of it, they wouldn’t be called vibrator books at all.

My poor husband may be getting flack at work, but he’s taking it with pride and amusement.  Funny, I don’t think he’s complaining, either.  *wink*

Things Said Over Coffee…

WARNING:  I stayed up late last night.  Or is it considered late when you’ve not been to bed yet?  It’s been so long, I don’t remember!  Either way, slightly silly and slap-happy blog, but TRUE.  It happened either to me or someone I know directly.

Around here, “coffee chats” are what we do when we need to clear the air, vent, cry on someone’s shoulder about a mutual friend, or ask a very big favor.  It’s one of those “safety zone” conversations.  Anything can be said as long as it’s honest and open to discussion.

However, the recent Amazon Take-Backsies had me thinking of all the things said over coffee that can’t be unheard.  Your friendship may survive; however, the words can’t go away.

So, here are the top things said over coffee that even Amazon can’t take back:

1) “Are you having an affair with my husband?”

*cracks up* I’m sorry, but unless your husband is a Hollywood hunk who has a secret life on my wall of Heros, I think you’re safe.

2) “Are you bixexual?”

If you’re my friend and have been ogling men with me while searching for the perfect Hero, you shouldn’t feel the need to ask this question.  And if you do, it should not lead into Question 3 when the answer is, “No.”  Again, I point to answer #1.

3) “Would you like to have a menage with me and my husband?”

4) “Are you having sex with my daughter?”

*Yes, this has happened to me in college, another female friend, and several of my male friends with several different daughters filling in the blanks.*  In all cases, the answer was no, though one of the guys did eventually get together with the daughter in question.  The fact that a parent would ask just makes me wonder just what the girl had gotten into.

5) “Would you be the videographer for the porn video I want to send to my boyfriend while he’s deployed?”

Uhm.  NO.  Enough said on that one.

6) “Give me the skinny.  What’s he really like in bed?”

Okay, clarification:  There are some people who can ask this question and not be shown to the door; however, the person in question was someone I’d not laid eyes on since High School, did not even know my husband, and had married a man I dated as a teenager.  Uhm – TMI.  I’m not going to answer it.  Next question, please!

7) “Have you ever seen XXXXX naked?”

XXXXX being the person’s lover.  My thoughts are – if skin is involved, it’s an off-limits coffee chat conversation.  Face it, guys.  Some girls share and other’s don’t.  I’m usually in the “don’t” category.

There seems to be a trend here.  It just goes to show how crazy conversations can be when the polite muffles are taken off.

What’s the most off-the-wall thing someone has asked you over coffee, drinks, or just general conversation?

Kindergarten is a Musical

Have you ever stopped to appreciate the little ones bouncing under your feet, especially this time of year?

Holiday decorations are up. The smells of baking and pine trees are heavy in the air. Excitement is building with every bow placed on the presents under the tree. Who’s feeling it the most?

The tiny Whos in Whoville.

One visit to the local elementary will give you the proof of it.

I volunteer twice a week and share my love of books with the Kindergarten classes. It reminds me why I write. These bright faces will someday be our target audience. Teaching them to love the written word at this age can make them readers for life.

Okay, I admit it. I do it because I love to watch them react to the funny voices as I share my favorite stories – some old, some new, but all wonderful.

Anyway, there’s been a curious phenomenon this year. For absolutely no reason with no prompting, the students have been known to burst into song. Funny versions of Jingle Bells and Frosty to crazy songs I don’t even recognize.

In the middle of lunch? Fine, no problem. They can even throw in a little dance as they line up to go back to the classroom.

In the middle of craft time? Glue goes on better with a song.

In the middle of math? Well…songs have a repeating pattern, don’t ya know?

In short…Kindergarten is like living in a Disney movie. Spontaneous bursts of song are the sign of happy children before adults pound the glow out of them. This year, it’s really hit me the most because I’ve been a Christmas grump.

In the past, the first day of December marked the happiest time of the year. Somehow, along the way, I’ve lost that joy. Granted, seeing my children happy has been rewarding; however, I just don’t get that sense of excitement over every little thing like I used to.

It makes me sad and has me even more determined to make up for lost time. So, I’ve pulled out my Disney Santa hat and began to practice my own version of Christmas carols… *wink*

Happy Holidays!

Have you ever noticed…?

That men and children aren’t so very different?  *grins*

I love my husband.  Having said that, as I write this, he’s screaming in front of the television hogging a game he bought for the children on the Wii.  It’s a hard call to see who’s screaming and laughing loudest – them or him.

Tonight was supposed to have been date night for us, but I’ve been thrown over for the three foot and under crowd.  *grins*  All in all, I suppose it’s okay.  It’s really hard to hold it against a man who spends all his time either earning a living to pay the bills or playing rambunctiously with his children.  Work hard, live well, and play enthusiastically…

Now that is my kind of hero.

I was asked in my Raven interview the other day if I ever attached to my hero.  My answer was really simple:  No.  None of them are based on my husband, so it’s easy to let them go when the story’s over.  Maybe I should fix that and create one based on him…

What about you?  Do you live with your hero?  Better question:  What qualities do you have for your perfect man?

*SIGH* To the Bat Cave, Batman!

Don’t you wish it were that simple?  Do YOU have a Bat Cave?  Do you want one?  *raises hand* I do.

You guessed it, Summer is here.  Like a lot of work-from-home parents, my children have now turned into the holy terrors my mother warned me about.  Yes, I can hear that laughter, by the way.  While I love them and want them to mature to be well-rounded, well-adjusted adults, I’m trying very hard not to become the great harpy and eat them.

The Wii has broken after 4 short weeks in residence.  Hard rubber balls have been thrown against my smoked GLASS front door because it makes them bounce better on the hardwood coming back to them.  One curtain rod has been bent beyond repair.  WebKinz really DO fly when struck by the ceiling fan…and small children really can throw high enough to reach it in my vaulted great-room when they’re determined enough.

Oh, and let’s not forget that the cat has decided the frogs are a new novelty.  One has just begun to sing at night and suddenly, she’s remembering that cats in the wild enjoy an occasional frog leg…or body…provided she can get him out of the great aquarium I’ve put him in.  Bear in mind, one of my aquatic frogs had his name changed from Tad to Lucky for miraculously avoiding certain death by FLUKE when she managed to push over one of the smaller aquariums several months ago.

SIDE BAR:  Said cat pushed small portable aquatic habitat over so that it splashed enough water, sand, and one small frog into a tea cup that had been left beside said tank.  In the process of pushing over the tank, she had pushed the cup off the counter where it had fallen into a tall shipping box left to be broken down for the recycle bin from earlier in the day.  Said container was about 10 inches tall and about 6 inches square.  Cup knocked container over to an angle – just right for the flying frog, water, and sand to catch it when the habitat hit the ground and broke open.

Wait – where was I?  Oh yeah, the Bat Cave!

Instead of a secret lair, I get coffee and readjusted working hours.  The cat is curled up at my feet, the frogs are beginning to sing in their tanks, and my children are blessedly quiet.  And Tigers have never looked so good.

The price for a double life?  No sleep…but Batman never complained!

And in case you were wondering, the answer is yes.  Well, to the question of progress on Tigers 2, that is.  It lacks a name because I’m still toning and working the kinks out.

Hum…what do YOU think we should call it?

My very first review…*sigh*

It’s been a couple of days since release day – and my most surprising and joyous moment -

My very first review: Ciar Cullen took a look at Sasha and this is what she had to say –> REVIEW

Yes, I’m still picking myself up off the floor. I taped it to the large windows next to my writing desk (read dining room table).

I’m thinking of having it framed, I’m so tickled. At least I’m not tearing up over it, anymore. Come on, wouldn’t you cry over that review?

See, several years ago, I sent Ciar Cullen fan mail asking some questions that I’m now embarrassed to admit were terribly naive it’s not even funny. She was very kind. In fact, she gave me the piece of advice that I have fallen back on when I’ve wanted to quit a thousand times.

“Write the kind of book you’d want to read and someone will buy it.”

This was in response to my question (cringe with me, now), “How do you manage to write to the market like everyone tells you to when the market changes SO much?”

No, I didn’t ask her to read my book. Sorry, I’m just not that brave. I feel very lucky that she noticed it and went through the effort to write this for my story.

*grins*

So, Ciar, if you’re reading this, Thank you (AGAIN)!

Kaye

The morning after…

Why is it that the morning after the party is always so…icky?

I woke up with an asthma attack a little after 3 am. Yes, that’s early even for me. After learning how to breathe again with the help of my inhaler, I sat down at my computer and plugged away on a couple of non-writing related things before the minis got up.

Despite the seriously depressed breathing issues, I’m still floating from yesterday. I’ve got music pounding and trying to decide if I’m willing to risk caffeine (which can make my asthma worse when I’m congested) before getting rolling.

Motivation that has been lacking lately was sparked with a vengeance with my very first review. Ciar Cullen was kind enough to post a review for Tiger by the Tail on her blog. *GRIN* Skip over and take a look at what she thought of it…

*skipping out to go to work – out of PJs even*

Ack! CONTEST!

Hello World.

I forgot to mention my contest!  In celebration of my debut release from Samhain Publishing, I am giving away an iPod nano – 1G first generation – with a tiger themed hard skin.

There are two ways to enter:

1) Email me the purchase receipt of Tiger by the Tail.  Send it to kayechambers@msn.com with CONTEST in the subject line.  Please send it once and only once.  Please make sure CONTEST is in the subject so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle and I can dig it out of the junk mail folder if it ends up there.

 2) By mail:  Send a Tiger themed POSTCARD with the following information:  Name, Mailing Address, VALID EMAIL ADDRESS, and the answers to the following questions which can be found reading the excerpt available on the Samhain publishing page:

A) What is Sasha’s title?

B) How did Sasha know they were driving in circles waiting for the dark?

C) Who is she talking to?

D) What used to be grown on her property?

Mail to: Kaye Chambers, 1321 Buttermilk Lane, Griffin, GA 30224

Yes, you may enter ONE time by EACH method (that makes a maximum of two entries).  No purchase necessary to win.  Multiple entries by either method will disqualify an individual.  You may only send ONE email and ONE postcard.  Yes, I will acknowledge receipt of all contest entries by email so you know it got here and you’re good to go.

The winner will be chosen by random drawing and notified by email on June 21st.  There will also be an announcement posted on my yahoo group.

***PLEASE NOTE*** You MUST live within the United States OR CANADA to win OR have an APO/FPO address.  Military bases are the exception.  I will ship to them.  I’m sorry, but shipping expenses to other countries can be expensive and receipt is chancy, at best.

***CHANGE*** I updated this on 4/15 to include Canada – and it will out USPS.

Four more days and WOW!

I’m sitting here listening to iTunes playing one of my writing playlists – and what comes on but Nick Lachey *sighs* Resolution.  “Living life without a plan” really hits a nerve right now, but in a good way.

In four days, my novella will be available for sale.  Tiger by the Tail is an example of how plans can run awry.  Sasha’s plans certainly didn’t include tigers running amok in her life, but that’s certainly what she got by stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight.  Funny how one little decision based on curiosity can launch a major shift in life.  Well, curiosity did kill the cat, let’s hope Tigers aren’t quite that impetuous.

I was talking to a fellow debut author, Paige McKellan, this week about plans and those wonderful moments we wait our lives to experience.  Her novella, Claiming Their Mate, releases at the same time Sasha’s story does.  She’s also having a rockin’ contest (www.paigemckellan.com) to celebrate her debut, too.  We’re both very excited.  Take a jaunt over and check her out.

So, anyway, Tigers and my pending publication have me in a spiral of excitement.  It’s as if it’s not real.  I’ve been writing for as long as I could remember, dreaming of this day.  If you read it and want to share your opinion, I’d LOVE to hear it.

Counting down…

Kaye