Sunday, November 29, 2015

Apology to my Readers, Publishers & Friends...



So it’s been a while since I’ve been online, especially social media. It’s not something that was foreseen and I had little control over, even though I wanted to and for that I apologize to my readers, publishers and friends.

Being diagnosed with an invisible medical issue was hard enough, but the effects were a bit harder as it was something I was not prepared for.
Thankfully I have an outstanding doctor who saw straight into the problem and jumped on it immediately.

I’m still battling with some issues from this diagnosis, so for now I’ll be keeping what it is to myself. I know thousands of people out there deal with it on a daily basis and speak of it openly, but I’m not ready for that and may never be.

Those who read my blog or posts know I don’t usually post anything that is not ‘author’ related in some sort. I’m a very private person. Even with my personal accounts where I have only family and friends on, I don’t post anything to personal.

I do want to say I’ve had the utmost support from my immediate family, best friend and (day job) boss! Support I never thought I’d have, and for that I offer the most heartfelt thank you!

My goal this year was to have two completed manuscripts sent into publishers.

Well I can say that has not happened. I did finish one, at the beginning of the year when my RWA chapter started our Prod Your Muse competition for its members. 

I can’t guarantee it today, but I’m hoping to have it sent into one of my publishers before the end of December.

That is my new goal!

I knew I was feeling better when I went and sat in my writing/reading room (my office J ), just sat there, dusted a little…OK a lot J, then a few days later had a plot rumbling through my skull and the very next weekend sat down and outlined it.

Then this week during my time off for the holiday, I had another plot rumbling, sat down the day after Thanksgiving and outlined that one as well. WHAT? You thought I was shopping on black Friday?? You’re crazy LOL. Only on-line J  (I worked to much retail in my younger years to even want to step foot outside my house on that nutty day J)

I can’t say I’ll be posting every week or twice a week (Fun Drink Friday) But I’m going to give it a shot. I want my routine back!


Here’s to routines!! (Coffee mug held high) J

Friday, August 21, 2015

Fun Drink Friday - White Summer Sangria


From Our friends at: Midnight Mixologist

Remember to drink responsibly and stay spicy 
                                                                


C. A. Salo
Indulge in the Spicy Side of Romance
The Minotaur’s Mate – Now Available


Sunday, August 2, 2015

Quotes on Writing



You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury

I try to leave out the parts that people skip. ~Elmore Leonard

If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster. ~Isaac Asimov

Books want to be born: I never make them. They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such and such. ~Samuel Butler



I'm not sure if this qualifies as a 'quote' but my favorite is from Albert Einstein.

When he had a study offered to him at Princeton I believe, they asked him what he'd need beside a desk, chair, pad and pencil. His reply was a 'wastebasket to hold all my mistakes.'



Have a great Sunday all!!
Keep Reading and Stay Spicy!!
C. A. Salo
Indulge in the Spicy Side of Romance
The Minotaur’s Mate – Now Available

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Back in the Saddle ... Maybe





Sorry, I'm not talking about horseback riding, although I would love to hitch a saddle up and go for a ride.

~~ Memories floating back from childhood ~~ 
Ahem, oh sorry...

Nope I'm talking about being back on-line. 
I haven't posted for the last few weeks, due to a back issue, which 
hopefully has been straightened out.

I went Friday for a shot and now the wait is on to see if it works.
If yes, then we know what the issue is and I can go to physical therapy to work on the issue.
If not -- well, that's why it's called the practice of medicine.

During my day job I'm at the desk & computer about 7 hours and then come home do all the good stuff like, cook
then usually write or something book related for an hour or two, and go over my son's home school work he had for the day.
(Last year of home school high school) YAY we have a graduate!!

But because of this back thing I've only been able to sit and write or do book stuff maybe one day a week (Usually on a Sunday), if I'm lucky. So the past 8 months have literally been HELL, especially lately. 

I'm used to going, going, going! Not -- oh damn I hurt, oh damn that hurts, oh damn, oh damn, oiiii, ouch, my back is killing me!

Hey I know I can't do the same things I did in my 20's,  I'm in my 40's and slowing down -- slightly, but this is ridiculous!

I've hurt so bad, I just crash on the couch after the day job. Saying its find your own for dinner tonight and passing out by 8.
Yeah starting to feel like an older lady here. 


Working off the smart phone while laying down is not my area of expertise and I hate doing it. So until I'm forced to or it's my only dang choice, it probably will not be happening anytime to soon.

Keeping my spirits up this shot will work!!

Hope everyone has a GREAT Sunday 
and remember
Keep reading and stay Spicy


C. A. Salo
Indulge in the Spicy Side of Romance


Sunday, July 5, 2015

To Series or Not to Series...


That is the question!
For me anyway.

I've completed a 20K+ word novella and it has all the markings of a series. 
But...and I've been sighing over this for 2 months now. Do I want to make it into a series or keep it as a single read? ???????????
Grrrrr Arrrrggg!!
I have two other plots already half formed (in my brain) but do I want to put them down to pen and paper -- AKA the computer, or do I want to brush them aside for the time being, go on to something else and maybe bring the plots back later in stories of their own, with no relation to the novella I finished? ????????????????
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The woes of an author!!


I know series are 'big' at the moment, so why not sit down and crunch two more novellas out? 
Series however take time in planning, and although I am a 'panster' (I write by the seat of my pants). There is some planning you have to do to make sure the series comes out right
Like all eye, hair colors are the same if character from book 1 is in book 3. Body types, mannerisms etc... 
Trust me as a reader when I sit down to read a series, I have noticed little inconsistencies, that have me grabbing the book before and reading it again to make sure I'm not losing my mind, that YES, her/his eyes were blue in the first one and now they're silver!
I'm anal that way LOL. 

So I'm thinking I need to sit down and really think this over, making a decision by the end of today!

Maybe I'll finish my office wall today and clean my office while I'm putting everything into place. After all there's nothing like having a clean work area to stimulate the mind.

Have a great day all!! 
Stay Spicy
C~




Friday, July 3, 2015

Fun Drink Friday - 2 Drinks - Happy 4th!!





1.5 Cups Strawberry Smirnoff
3 Cups Lemonade OR Cranberry Juice
Serves 8
From our Friends at: Smirnoff


Non-Alcoholic Drink
Raspberry Fizz
Charles Maraia

Raspberry Fizz


Ingredients

1/2 
cup 
sugar
tablespoons 
lime juice
cups 
cranberry juice
cups 
seltzer
cup 
ginger ale
pint raspberry sorbet

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add the lime juice. Let the lime syrup cool to room temperature.
  2. In a large pitcher, combine 1/2 cup of lime syrup with the cranberry juice, seltzer, and ginger ale. To serve, pour into glasses and top with scoops of raspberry sorbet.


Hands-On Time 
 
minutes 
 
Total Time 
 
30 
minutes

Serves 6

From our Friends at: Real Simple

                                     Happy 4th all!!
                         Drink Responsibly & Stay Spicy!!
                                              C~