"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." - Ronald E. Osborn

Will I ever master my craft? Is there a key to doing so? I don't know, but no matter how much I study, I learn something new from editors.

 

During edits for my book, For All Time, I learned about em dashes. That being said, I'll share that bit of knowledge with fellow writers. I mean, I'm not the only one who didn't know the correct usage of em dashes. Right? *crickets chirping* Ahem...okay I'm sharing anyway.

 

The original line:

"Quit acting like a monkey and pay attention to what you're—" She winced with each crack, thud, and grunt until he finally landed on the forest floor, "...doing."

                                                     Edited version:

"Quit acting like a monkey and pay attention to what you're"—she winced with each crack, thud, and grunt until he finally landed on the forest floor—, "doing."

Here's a bit more clarification regarding the use of em dashes to keep the interruptions in your writing running smooth. Uh...what a contradiction, but you know what I mean. 

~*~

From the Chicago Manual of Style 

6 : Punctuation

6.90 Indicating sudden breaks

An em dash or a pair of em dashes may indicate a sudden break in thought or sentence structure or an interruption in dialogue.

If the break belongs to the surrounding sentence rather than to the quoted material, the em dashes must appear outside the quotation marks.

“Will he—can he—obtain the necessary signatures?” asked Mill.

“Well, I don’t know,” I began tentatively. “I thought I might—”

“Might what?” she demanded.

“Someday he’s going to hit one of those long shots, and”—his voice turned huffy—“I won’t be there to see it.”

6.91 Used in place of, or with, a comma:

If the context calls for an em dash where a comma would ordinarily separate a dependent clause from an independent clause, the comma should be omitted.

Because the data had not been fully analyzed—the reason for this will be discussed later—the publication of the report was delayed.

 But if an em dash is used at the end of quoted material to indicate an interruption, a comma should be used before the words that identify the speaker. 

“I assure you, we shall never—,” Sylvia began, but Mark cut her short.

~*~

 Did you learn something new lately? Please comment and share.

Now that I've got em dashes under my belt, I'm going to master something else... maybe apostrophes...or commas...or semi-colons...or the overuse of ellipses'.

Magical Art

Cover Art Sneak Peek!

After I received rights back from another publisher, Breathless Press acquired my Magic Stone Series. We are currently polishing  the manuscripts, extending word counts and making this series even more enjoyable.

This is the cover to book one, For All Time. 
(Release date: May 27, 2013)

 The cover artist, Victoria Miller, gave me a choice of using models or creating a modernized-artistic cover. (I was clueless as to the latter, so she explained the difference.) As you can see, I chose the modernized-artistic cover. 

We worked closely together. I chose photos and filled out a form so she'd have a clear picture of what I wanted, and Victoria used my suggestions to create this cover. 

Is this a new trend in romance book covers? (I hope so!) Though I adore the hunky hero/beautiful heroine covers on romance novels, I like a refreshing change such as this. 

What covers draw your attention in a book store? Typical, modernized-artistic, or both ?

I'd love to hear what you think!

Romance, Reality and Suds

 Be it right or wrong,  I  expect the relationship with my husband to resemble a romance novel.

Reality tends to get in the way of my expectations.
Just the other day, I had this conversation:

Hubby: "Would you like some coffee, hon?"

Me:     " Aww. Sure babe!"

Hubby: "Pour me a cup too."

That's reality. I'm sure you can relate.
 But can't we have both reality and romance?
Let me share a little story that might answer that question. You decide.

Years ago, my husband and I couldn't find a sitter for our wedding anniversary. (People don't return phone messages that pertain to multiple toddlers.) So, we came up with a brilliant and romantic idea. Make a special dinner at home.

We put our three toddlers to bed, and within minutes they were asleep. 

This gave us free time to make out dinner.

 I prepared lobster, and veggies. After rummaging through the junk drawer for a candle, I crammed it in an empty pop bottle I found in the recycle bin. That looked like crap so I wrapped the bottle in foil and tied a ribbon around it. Okay, a little better. As a final touch I put Fleetwood Mac on the stereo. What was Hubby doing all this time? Cooking the steaks on the grill. Outside. In the snow. 

 Now isn't that romantic?

The steaks were hot, but Hubby was shivering. I warmed up that man in no time.  I prepared a steamy cup of coffee to warm him.

We danced to the music...okay so we didn't dance. We both suck at dancing. Let's just say we swayed for a minute, then sat down to eat.

 Ah, romance was in the air--so was reality--in the guise of a big, bouncy ball.

It splat in the middle of the table, showering us with mashed potatoes and knocking over the candle I slaved over.The tablecloth nearly caught fire. (I think my hubby's gust of laughter put it out before it caught hold.)

That was the first time we discovered our toddler son's pitching ability.

And the last time we had our anniversary dinner at home.

After we put our monster child back to bed, assured the other two remained with the sandman, we salvaged what was edible and ate through fits of giggles...okay I was the one giggling. Hubby just shook his head and grinned. Hey, I had more than my fair share of wine to soften the bouncy ball fiasco.

We ended up washing dishes side by side. Which reminded me of something romantic. (Of course.)

Me: "Remember when we were just friends and I stopped by your apartment and you weren't ready because you were washing dishes that had been piling up for a week and you didn't want me to see your kitchen like that?"

Hubby: "How can you say all that in one breath?"

Me:      "Do you remember?"

Hubby:  "Is this a test?"

Me:      "No, seriously. I offered to rinse so we could get going to the movie?"

Hubby:   "What movie?"

Me:        "Never mind."

Hubby: (Leaning closer, his breath still sweet from wine) "We were standing side by side, like we are now. Our hands touched when I handed you a dish."

Me:     Speechless. For once.

Hubby: (His lips a whisper away) "Then I kissed you for the very first time."

Me:    "Then we--."

Hubby: "Shhh..." Then he cradled my face with his sudsy hands and kissed me... like the very first time all over again.

Reality and romance mix great with suds.

So can we have both? What do you think? Do you have a story to tell? What reality mixed with your romance? Is there a limit to how many questions I can ask? I did it all in one breath too.

Five for Fiction

I'm happy to announce that the girls at Five For Fiction blog has asked me to be their fifth author.
Themes each month change, but all of them have something to do with a list of five things. It's a fun and entertaining site. Come join us today at Five for Fiction. My first post is up today.

Time to Kick the Bucket and Spill The Contents

We all have bucket lists, right? Okay, so maybe everyone doesn't have one written down, but I bet the majority of you out there at least have one nestled in your thoughts somewhere.

I was reading about bucket lists on Five for Fiction and it got me to thinking about the top five things I want to do before I kick that proverbial bucket. I believe if I list them here, I'm held accountable. (Yikey.)

Some have to do with my writing dreams--correction--goals.

Get one of the "big time" publishers to notice me. (Jumping up and down waving my arms didn't work, so I figured polishing my craft was a better way to go.)

I believe the sleep deprivation, wearing off the letters on my keyboard, and constant growth in my craft won't go unrewarded. The only difference between me and those who have reached the dream of the New York Times Bestseller list is time and determination. It will happen.

A smaller, yet important goal is to narrow down my focus. I have four...err...five different books in progress. Who else does that?  If you're a writer, let me know how you focus on one manuscript at a time.

Other things on my list are...well, more personal.

As a mother of an autistic child, I strive to instill hope for every parent whose child is diagnosed with Autism.  Mixing hope and humor is a healing start. I can reach out to more people through writing about my experiences and what I've learned.  (See above--yet another work in progress.)

To round out my list, here are things I want to do for myself...hey, we all should love ourselves enough to follow a whimsy or two, right?

Visit Italy with my sister
Tour a Castle in England
Create a writing nook in my attic

I will update from time to time--that way I will meet these goals. And eventually follow the dreams.

What's on your list? And why does that remind me of the tag line in a television commercial, "What's in your wallet?" (I think I just figured out why I have so many works in progress.)


Hey, don't forget to visit the Five for Fiction blog--they have some great posts. It inspired me to write this one!

A Complete Book Signing

Was this something I could do? 


 I asked myself this question when an organizer invited me to be a participant at a local fall festival—as a local author. By the end of the phone call, my answer was yes.

What had I done? 

True to my typical insanity manner, I jumped into something I knew nothing about. Other than signing a few books at a speaking engagement, I'd never really held a book signing, much less outdoors. The only festivals I attended consisted of eating cotton candy, and hanging out with friends.

I jumped into the deep end, trusting if I worked hard enough, I wouldn't drown. Friends and family were a huge part of this event. So big, I don’t really know where to start. But never short on words, I will blather on.

Rack card
by Deborah

Rack card
by Deborah

Deborah Macgillivray threw a life preserver to a drowning author helped me. I truly admire her strength, honesty and open heart (As well as her writer’s voice in the awesome Scottish romances. But I'll save that for another post) Deborah is talented in other ways too. The rack cards she designed were a fantastic surprise. I'm forever grateful. Not only were they vivid and professional, they were created from her heart. I "met" Deborah online, and she has been my mentor ever since. Hard to explain, but I "feel" her friendship. Getting sappy so...let's move on. 

After sending me the design posted above, Deborah guided me to Vista Print. I downloaded it and received fifty free rack cards. Talk about fitting the bill!  You can go where you wish for printing services, but this place is the best in my opinion. I ordered a vinyl banner from them too, (under $15.)  I also got a freebie—a poster. Cripeys! I sound like a scripted commercial. Shuddup already.

Brochure
 by Jayha

Brochure
 by Jayha

Jayha, from Beautiful Trouble Publishing, designed this brochure.

A beautiful creation.  

She also printed up my ebooks 

 (Magic Stone Series)

For display purposes 

Cool huh?

(I never expected such outpouring of help, and I’m eternally thankful. Pay it forward is my mantra. Someday I'll be in the position to help a fellow author. )

Now on to my family:

My mother-in-law, a tiny but fierce Italian woman, carried my book, Jewel of Ramstone, through the lined rows of booths, food trucks, bounce houses, face painters...you name it. Just by walking through this huge event “casually” holding the book had people asking where she got it. (This goes to show how important cover art is.) She directed them to my tent.

There were plenty of books, a big screen television, chairs,  a raffle basket, free candy. The customers loved the medieval decor. (Okay, so a television wasn't medieval.)

Being a “Mangia! Mangia!” personality, my mother in law also provided an endless supply of hot Italian wedding soup, caramel apple cider and strong coffee to warm me up. (Ah, that was a nice addition) It was a typical New York autumn. Cold. 

But something was missing...

Maybe it was my blood circulation. (Next year I'll bring a portable heater. What a great way to get people to stay in my tent and buy!)

 My teen-age daughter, Ayla, convinced the DJ to announce: “Your local author, J.M. Powers."  My tent got a lot of traffic right after that...or maybe it was due to my location directly across from the band stage. 

Quick! Turn up  sound on the Book Trailers.
Can you tell I'm FREEZING?
 I wore four layers of clothing!

Which brings me to book trailers: 
The band drowned them out! Undeterred, I turned up the volume during band breaks, then muted it during the performances. 
The show must go on...

  

My husband even got into this mix. He greeted people—just about everyone already knew him as a "life-long islander", but many weren't aware his wife (aka me) was an author. My kids even brought some of their teachers to my tent. The pride I witnessed in my family’s eyes was touching and treasured. 


(I wish I had some pictures of them too! If my friend didn't take photos with her phone, I'd have none at all.)
Maybe that was it camera. Hmm, yeah maybe that was what was missing.

Why am I so close to the book?

All in all, I winged it.  I must've done something right, because most people I spoke to stopped by later, many of them buying an autographed copy of Jewel of Ramstone.

My best friend, Joan, stayed most of the day with me. She showed up with Tim Horton's coffee. Two of my favorite things, Tim Hortons and Joan. Ahhh...

Full of caffeine I had  to move about. Joan watched the tent while I wandered aimlessly hoping someone would notice me  introduced myself, invited people to visit my tent, told them about my book signing, and encouraged them to enter my basket raffle. 

The set up
I framed reviews and placed them on each side of
Jewel of Ramstone.
Banner at top and poster in front of table
by Vista Print--I highly recommend them.

See the tiny woman through the screen? ((front far right)
That's my mother-in-law drumming up customers.

Table runners make great banners
I used velcro strips to adhere the photos. 

One would think this excitement couldn't be topped.

It was.

I was talking to a customer after signing a book. 

After he left I rearranged a few things on my table and looked up.

\There stood my sister and niece from Georgia.

I reside in Western New York.

What the...?

Yeah, it took a moment to absorb...

absorb...absorb...absorb.

Okay, maybe more than a moment.

Well, hell--that's what was missing!

Cheryl--my sister and fellow author (right)
My niece, Krista (The Georgia Peach in the middle)
Me (Left) 

My mind finally caught up to...uh...to my mind.

Then the deluge began. Tears mixed with laughter, hugs mixed with kisses. A moment forever in my heart. 

Author Sisters
C.E. Hart & J.M. Powers

Krista and I greeting customers

My booksigning was complete.

Why or Why Not...that is the question.

I have post-it notes all over my work space. Some have been there for years, others for a day or two, but all of them have a quote scrawled on them.  Here are a just a few of my favorites and why I decided someone else's words were important to post where I could see them everyday.

"Life is not a dress rehearsal."~Rose Tremain~
My favorite quote.I saw it on a plaque at a friend's cabin and have lived by this for years. I have surprised people with changes and aspirations I follow--then surprised them again when they watch me succeed at anything I strive to do. I never regret following my dreams and making them reality. Enough said.

"Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not." ~George Bernard Shaw~ 

There is a need to dream and to ignore the question why.
 My son has autism. If I asked why and wallowed in grief, he would not be the successful young man he is today. We always live by WHY NOT?
When he could not point, we thought, why not try turning off every light and using a penlight to show him what it means to point at something? This may not be something the typical world thinks of, but imagine trying to get what you want when you cannot speak.

 When he could not speak, we asked, why not teach him sign language? He now speaks and signs for those who cannot. His teachers love this about him.

When he would press his face against the television screen I thought, Why not do the same and see what he sees?  In doing so, I gained eye-contact, because he sensed me in his world. Though that was many years ago, I will never forget it.

I've learned to ask why not at every turn. This is a quote I read to myself through tears of exhaustion, tears of hope and tears of joy.


"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." ~Khalil Gibran~

Many of us are subjected to hardships others cannot even begin to imagine. I am no exception. However, I refuse to allow anyone or anything to break my spirit.This self-imposed belief that one could surmount every single difficulty built my spirit so strong it now soars.


"You must trust and believe in people or life becomes impossible." ~Anton Chekhov~

My biggest obstacle is that I simply expect people to be trustworthy; to give the same as I deliver in a friendship. On a general level, people tend to disappoint me, but not always. I'm happily surprised by those who reach out with no expectations, and people who pay-it-forward. Examples of wonderful humanity inspire me to believe, to lead by example and eventually to trust. Trust does exist in my heart, I'm just very careful who to believe in. This quote helps me remember why trust is so important in life.

What quotes inspire you through life?

Much Ado About Something

Sometimes I write to escape—that’s called hanging out with my characters. It’s fun and healthy. Every single person needs to escape,for just a little while.

Other times I write to vent...but that’s called a rant, or simply feeling sorry for myself, and nothing good really comes of that, so I don’t post those writings.

I also write when I’m happy, or feeling extra special because I helped someone, or they helped me.

I write when I’m inspired by something in the news, a smile, something cheesy like a rainbow or walk along the beach.

My emotions spill into my writing. However, when I’m hurt, be it feelings or physical pain, I find it hard to write anything that makes sense. My mind pings like a rampant super ball, up in anger, pounding the ground in disbelief. It’s exhausting.

I want to say something clever, pretend it doesn’t matter, defend myself, and slap the offender silly--simultaneously. Yet I do none of these things.

My throat closes.  Then I bolt so they won’t see my tears—my weakness.

Or, like today, I post something on my blog. I try to say a lot—yet nothing really comes across the page to express exactly what I feel.

I suppose I just need to write a whole lot of nothing to let wounds ebb away...through the fingertips on my keyboard.  Then, surprisingly, I feel better.

What does writing do for you?

You Can Fly!

Today, someone asked me what I was up to. It might be because I had my feet in a bowl of green grapes, but ...well I’m not even going to try to explain that.

Sometimes I just take flight with an idea. Okay, I do that all the time. You can call this phenomenon following my heart, bliss, inner-voice or just plain stupidity, but I don’t see myself changing my ways anytime soon.

I refuse to live with what ifs, so I grab onto ideas and fly with them.

Sometimes my ideas infringe...er...involve others. As a child, I’d gather my younger siblings and tell them a story I made up while rummaging through a box of old clothes. They’d wrinkle their cute little noses in disdain when I dressed them up, telling them how much fun it would be to act in the story, however, once we got started, they would “fly with it” too. I nailed “curtain” bed sheets from the basement rafters—much to our mother’s dismay—and the show was on. Transported into realms filled with kings, queens, dragons and trolls, or even creating a musical with old LP records, three children became so much more. We were stars!

As I grew, many things created flight in my imagination. Never once did I pass up anything. I don’t regret a single moment. I love the song from Peter Pan, "You Can Fly!"  by The Jud Conlon Chorus and the Mellowmen, because it captures the way I think...and live.

Like Peter Pan, we all need to hold onto the magic within, and never let anyone tell us we can’t fly.

Time For Today

TIME FOR TODAY

One day...

I'm going to climb Mt.Everest.

I'm going to join a gym.

I'm going to write a novel.

One day...

C.E. Hart, who happens to be my sister, sent me an article from an advice columnist. 

A woman asked if it was too late to follow her dream of becoming a nurse. By the time she went back to school to get a degree,  four years would pass and she'd be 42 years old.

The answer: How old will you be in four years if you don't pursue your dream?

At the end of the article, my sister wrote in big block letters:

NO MORE ONE DAY

IT’S TIME FOR TODAY

Yeah, C.E. Hart is clever with words. J

Jewels of Ramstone, my full-length novel, as well as five novellas, became reality. All this because I took my sister’s words to Hart.  (Clever genes run in our family.)  

What one day is waiting for you?

Do it today.