It's Nathan's Turn

Meet Nathan Granger, the hero of Fool's Gold and the only man who manages to get under Candace's skin. Read what he has to say about Candace and life in general.

I'm a blacksmith...or at least I used to be before everything was taken from my family. Nobility tends to do that. They take from those they don't like and give to their favorites. It's hard to find work when you no longer have your tools. Fortunately for me, I have other skills as well, so I manage to find other work here and there to keep body and soul together.

In spite of the hardships, nothing pleases me more than to cause problems for Baron Lynsdale. He's responsible for the loss of my father's trade, and as a result, mine as well. It seems I complicated his day when I overheard a conversation going on in the kirk. After what I'd heard, I thought I'd interfere and make a bit of trouble for the baron by laying claim to his bride-to-be. That in itself would have been entertaining but it seems I got more than I expected. The baron doesn't often fight to get back something that's taken from him. He is more the kind to wait and exact retribution when it suits him. But there's something about this woman that has him looking for ways to get her back. And he seems rather desperate to succeed.

Candace is the prickly type. I see it as a means of protecting herself, from what I'm not sure, besides the baron. She's been talking about some gemstones. I've heard about them but I've never believed in their existence. But if they don't exist, why is the baron so determined to get Candace back? She certainly isn't the home and hearth kind of woman. And a nobleman would never think to wed a scullery maid. She can't even cook. She's totally lacking in the skills every woman learns at her mother's side. The only thing she seems to know how to do with any skill, is get into trouble.

Life has suddenly become rather interesting and eventful but I shouldn't say too much. I can tell you that there's an unexpected revelation that will, in due course, be made known. It will make important changes in our lives. I could lose everything that's come to matter to me, but it's Candace's decision. What will she choose?

Meet Candace McAvoy

Candace McAvoy is the heroine of the second book in the McKinley's Jewel series. See what she has to say about her adventure in the past.

First off, I wouldn't call myself a heroine. I got caught in the past and can't find a way back to my own time. In my time I'm known for being a big flirt. I admit it's got me into some trouble but I don't let that bother me. I know exactly where to draw the line and I never let anyone cross it. I haven't figured out what I'm looking for. I only know what it is I don't want. You'd think that in itself would be a help but it hasn't been.

I've been stuck in the past for a couple months now and that Baron Lynsdale has been trying to get information from me that I don't have. He thinks I'm hiding the McKinley jewels. It doesn't matter that he has no rights at all to them but as long as he thinks I know where they are he's not about to leave me alone. I'd rather stay in the kitchen where I've been working as a scullery maid (not my choice of occupation) than have anything to do with him. (This place could use a social director)  Of course, the choice isn't mine and I'm about to get married. Can you picture me, a modern gal, tied to an overweight, overbearing member of the nobility? Not on your life, but trapped as I am between him and his brother-in-law who happens to be the current laird...I don't see a way out of this mess.

Of course, the hero comes along just in the nick of time. I have to admit, he's a good looking guy in spite of his rough edges. I wouldn't call him handsome, but if he can get me out of this mess, it would be a first. I've never had a man defend me before and I should have known better. Nate Granger is like all the rest of them. He's got his ulterior motive too. How do I keep getting into these messes?

Like it or not, I'm stuck with Granger. The only advantage is that at the moment he's the lesser of two evils. Now if I could get free of him and find my way back to my own time. I'd be thrilled. But you know what they say about being careful what you wish for?

You'll have to read Fool's Gold to find out if I manage to escape the past, and Nate with it. I can tell you this. There are a couple unexpected surprises in the story.

Down Time? What Is It?

Down time. At some point, everybody needs down time to take a break from what they do. It recharges our batteries, rejuvenates our thought processes and generally promotes over all well being. Most people will do something entirely different from their life's work, like take a trip, work in a garden, read a book or just veg in front of the television.

So what makes writers so different? We spend a great deal of time writing, then look to do something else for a short time so the brain can take a much needed break. What do we do? For the most part we get involved in something else creative. Granted, it isn't writing but it's still creative.

Have you ever looked at an author's bio? Or if you've created one for yourself have you looked--really looked--at the information you've written? Have you noticed how similar your information is to that of other authors? It's uncanny.  Or is it? It just varies on the way we approach it.

When I'm not writing, I'm doing something in craft work. Right now I'm working on some shawl/lap afghans for some friends of mine, trying to come up with a simple, light weight pattern. After a few tries I finally hit on something that works. Then there's the "crib-size" quilt (covers the top of a twin bed) I've been quilting. I have to get it finished before I can get started on the full size one I want to make for my son and his future wife. Then there are the two afghans that are still in pieces and have to be sewn together for an auction in late April. Before these projects are finished, I'll have a list of new ones I'll be itching to get to. Then late at night I might spend an hour or so reading and even then the writer section is still working.

It seems like the creative side of our brains never truly gets any rest. Even in sleep we dream of plots and characters. What if our creative brain is divided into compartments? Each one has a little man who is assigned a specific task. When one or two are working, the rest of them might get break time...or more likely they're taking notes.  Have you ever noticed how you can be doing one thing and the writer compartment will always find a way to intrude? Well, maybe intrusion is a little harsh but let's face it. That part of us doesn't have the simplest understanding of what it means to take a break.

Then again, if we were able to shut down, even temporarily, consider all the great, weird, complex, crazy, ideas that might never be thought of or the plots that might never be created. Down time? We might need it but our actions and interests for the most part say we're not particularly concerned. Down time is mainly for those who have yet to get a handle on multi-tasking (another creative sport) but sooner or later the majority of us manage to live with only a hint of it.

Have you had your down time today?

Resolutions vs Goals

Every year between Christmas and New Year's, (usually not till New Year's Eve for us procrastinators) most folks are thinking about the resolutions they plan to make. There are the typical... to lose weight, find a job, or a better one if you're fortunate to still be working. I used to make about the same ones every year and hope that the new year would see me keeping those resolutions. It never fails...the resolutions fall by the wayside before two months of the new year are gone. There's just something about making resolutions to yourself that don't always work out.

My Oxford Word Finder defines resolution as "a thing resolved on; an intention".  In place of resolution we could use words such as: commitment, pledge, promise, word of honor, oath, vow, undertaking, obligation, intention.  Every one of them evokes determination to achieve some kind of result. Give me a few weeks and I'll have forgotten what the resolutions were, never mind my failure to keep them. The next step is guilt setting in. You know what they say about good intentions...

So I got to thinking there had to be a better way. I thought about setting goals. After all, we don't set resolutions as writers...we set goals. Is there a difference? I believe there is.  Going back to my trusty Word Finder, a goal is described as: "the object of a person's ambition or effort; a destination; an aim. Other words we could use might be: object, aim, purpose, end, objective, target, ambition, ideal, aspiration.

Comparing the two, I find I like setting goals better. Resolutions sound like gavel-pounding promises that will come back to bite you if you fail to keep them. There's just something about goals that doesn't seem so harsh, or hard to keep. If you fail them, it's more like "I'll have to try harder next time," and there's no real 'guilt' attached.

Last year was the first time I tried goal setting, and although I only set one I was pleased to have achieved it. This year I'm doing it again and set a couple more. I expect one goal will be much easier to reach than the second but they're still goals.

In conclusion...I resolve, to the best of my ability, to achieve the goals I have set.

Internal Editors

I just read a blog written by Brenda Whiteside at www.theromancestudio.blogspot.com .  She writes about authors working with or as editors. Rather than add a comment I thought I’d express my own thoughts on the subject from a different point of view.

I’ve worked as an editor for some eleven years now and as Brenda mentioned, it is a hard job. You really have to know all those little nuances of writing – the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and, something most people don’t think too much about ... sentence structure. Have you ever read a sentence where one word was in the wrong place and it changed the whole meaning of the sentence? It’s pretty much on the same premise as using commas but it can be a lot more hilarious.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to my internal editor, appropriately known as Eddie Books. Eddie knows I like to sprint, that the process keeps me focused when I write. Eddie also knows that by rights, he’s supposed to take a hike during those sprints but he rarely does. People in the know have always said, when you write, you should turn off the internal editor and let the words flow. You can go back later and edit your work.

Eddie rarely, if ever, takes a vacation. He doesn’t believe in doing something a few times if you can do it once or twice. Since he’s been around more years than I care to count (lots more than eleven) we’ve developed a tight relationship. When I write, he automatically steps in and corrects something before I get two words past it. It might be a misspelled word, or something left out. More often it’s a word or two that works better than what I’ve typed. It might take a little more time that way but in the long run it’s a job we’re both proud of. Actually, the process works so smoothly now, it really doesn’t take any time at all. Eddie can point out a problem and before you can say ‘sprint’ it’s fixed.

Internal editing as you go isn’t something everyone can do. It takes a solid knowledge of the English language (or whatever language you write in) learned over many years. It’s something that becomes a part of you and sometimes tends to take over. There are some changes in the language Eddie has to make adjustments for and others he refuses to acknowledge – with good reason. It comes down to a matter of knowing the difference and accepting or rejecting accordingly.

When it comes to editing other authors’ work, Eddie has the uncanny ability of being able to see through the author’s eyes and understand what they’re trying to say. Editors in general don’t always understand where the author is coming from. (I’ve had personal experience with that when my work has gone through the process.) It can be frustrating.

As smart as Eddie is he’s far from being the know-it-all internal editor we’d all love to have. He continues to grow, to evolve...and the only way he can do that is working with others. Every writer has, or should have, an Eddie. Work with him, watch him grow and see how much your writing improves.

Meet Bonnie-Jean Russell

Hi,  I'm Bonnie-Jean Russell. I'm the personal assistant to David McKinley, the current laird of the clan McKinley. When I first took the job I didn't realize how much work it would entail. Not only do I keep track of his personal itinerary, but I also run the tourist business in the castle. Sometimes I fill in when the staff is short-handed. It means every day is busy and I never know what's going to happen.

Take the Portrait Gallery for instance. I sometimes spend my break time there, studying the portraits of David's ancestors. There's even one who could be his twin brother, the resemblance is so strong. Then there's the portal which I discovered quite by accident. Now that was quite an adventure but it was only the beginning of something bigger.

What's it like working for David? At times it can be difficult since he's a rather private person. He sometimes forgets why he hired me. Most of the time he counts on me to run interference so he doesn't have to deal with the tourists that come through the castle almost everyday. I have to remind him on occasion that it's good business to be seen now and again so people don't think he's a bit of fiction.

The one time he doesn't mind mingling is when we hold the annual charity ball. Every year it has a specific theme, and of course, he leaves it up to me to come up with that. Sometimes I wonder how he ever got along without me. This year's ball is proving to be a nail-biter. There are things going on I have no control over and I can only hope the problems will be solved before the ball really gets going.

I could tell you what's going on but I don't want to spoil the adventure. I can tell you that David ends up in a peck of trouble and it isn't easy trying to find a way to free him of it. I've been recording all the things going on and now it's an open book.

You can find out how we solve an old mystery and get tangled up in time. McKinley's Jewel has all the answers.  (Well... Almost.  Candace and Andrew will have something of their own stories to add as well. Can't wait to see that.)

Meet David McKinley

He is clan laird and unlikely hero, but I'll let him tell you what he thinks about things.

My name is David McKinley. Actually, there's more to it but first and last is enough. When my father died a few years ago, I became laird of this branch of the clan and from what I've been told, I'm next in line for clan chieftain since the current chieftain has no heirs. I'm not particularly looking forward to the promotion--if you can call it that--since it will mean being out in public more. I know it would be an honor but given my penchant for privacy...well... The job is not a problem at the moment.

I'm not the sort of man who enjoys being in the public eye. That's why I have a personal assistant, to take care of all that 'public' stuff for me. I do have business meetings and make frequent trips, but I deal strictly with people I've known most of my life. I trust them implicitly. As to the rest of it...

Bonnie-Jean Russell has been my personal assistant almost as long as I've been laird and still, there's little I know about her beyond her abilities to handle her job. Never have I seen a more efficient assistant. She not only keeps track of my itinerary but she keeps the castle tourism business running smoothly. (She has a knack for catching me leaving and manages to cajole me into take pictures with tourists. She says it's good for business. I might question that.) I don't know how she does it but--she does. To my knowledge she has yet to confront a problem she can't solve. I have great admiration for the woman and I know if I'm not careful, said admiration could become something more. And that is a fate I should avoid for all I'm worth because I know it would change my life drastically. I like things just as they are.

At the moment, my dear assistant is looking into a clan...legend...if you will. It's something to do with a pouch of gemstones. Frankly I don't believe the tale but what she does in her spare time is her own business. I do have this nagging feeling that her curiosity is going to have an impact on some things around here.

 I leave it to Bonnie-Jean to relate the tale of whatever she discovers. She's best at that and appears to be on good terms with Marissa. I just hope the whole business doesn't require much involvement on my part. www.spellbynder.webs.com/mckinleysjewel