Fan Mail

Ok, so...I've been procrastinating answering the very obvious questions related to "Random Encounters".  Primarily...how does a semi-normal (stop laughing!) middle-aged grandmother like me come up with such a far fetched story of a sexual nature?  My usual response is..."I'll never tell!"

But, seriously...I have been asked many times, and it's not that I get tired of people asking, because that means they're interested.  Interest means people will read my book which is why I put it out there.  I want people to enjoy it.

 A long time ago, a fellow author much more astutely accomplished than I who I have read and admire told me: "Sex sells".  It wasn't my plan at the time to even put "Random Encounters" into print.  It was a fun story I wrote from the depths of my sordid, twisted imagination and frankly, kept it hidden away for several years before even considering getting it into print.  What prompted me to do so, you may ask? Well...I really love the story.  Veronica Walters is an attractive, well bred, well educated woman who is just a little mixed up when it comes to her own sexuality.  Is she perverted? No, I don’t think so.  I created her to have a strong sense of self, a positive self image, be independent of her own needs and desires, but also somewhat insecure emotionally.  There are two very important aspects (there are more that just these two, but these are pretty high up on the list) that go together for a successful relationship: A healthy sexual attraction and an emotional investment.  Veronica found that she hadn't had any luck combining those two things.  So, she acted out sexually to satisfy a physical control issue and completely sidestepped the emotional involvement.  It's easy to stuff our emotions and put up concrete walls to protect ourselves from the pain that comes from emotional relationships.  It's easier to have a physical relationship and be able to walk away without any entanglements.  And that's what she wanted, namely...no familiarity whatsoever. Clean and neat and no lingering involvement.

So...how did she do it? Ah, no! I'm not giving that part away here.  That's what makes the story all the more interesting.   For the rest of this week, I'm practically giving it away in e-reader format on Smashwords for the insanely next to nothing price of $1.96, 51% off the regular price. Enter coupon code PK69A.  Further proof that I am completely batty! Think of it as a post Halloween haunting of my brain. 

If you're like me and relish the paper and ink and fondling the spine of a book in your hands while you devour it, order at my website  and I'll throw in LifeLoveLust as a bonus.  More for the molesting of the aforementioned paper and ink and spine for your pleasure.

After you read, please do let me know what you think of how Veronica gets men to submit to her unusual sexual urge.

Hug somebody today! You won't regret kindness and I'm fairly certain it will be appreciated and reciprocated. 

Randomly yours,

~ K

A voice, a brand, and a song

What do all of the above have in common? They are used to describe an author.  Authors develop their own voice over time.  I could pick up a Lee Child novel without seeing the authors name or characters name and know it is his writing.  He has his own unique style, known as the authors voice.  A brand for a writer is much the same as a brand name product, like A-1, Amazon, Orville Redenbacher.  Just with those names alone we know what the product is.  It's the same for authors.  We develop our brand name individually by how we market our art.  Think of:  Walt, Stephen, Ernest, Edgar. Those are all names of writers immediately recognizable by branding themselves in the business. Personality lends to the branding, and for me a song is my own individual signature. Music is a major part of my personality.  A song for me has to go along with everything. Music is so inspirational to me.  My twisted, manic brain relates better to music than almost any other medium, including the written word.  I get more out of listening to the song being played than reading the words to the song without any instruments along with it.  There's a connection between my brain and music that clicks and is compatible like nothing else.  Want to steal my heart? Give me music! I like books a lot, too, but music is the quickest way to melt my normally crusty, curmudgeon exterior. 

Although I feel I have the necessary elements above, I sometimes feel I haven't paid my author dues.  I haven't even one suicide attempt, my self esteem is higher than the national debt, and don't have any flaky friends in need of artistic support because they, too, are starving artists.  I'm fairly normal by the publishing world's standards.  I have considered all of the above may have played a role in the piles of rejection letters I've amassed.  Although, I do feel some sort of validation that I at least received a rejection.  Far more queries have been submitted for consideration that simply went straight to the rubbish bin without any response whatsoever.  Which, I originally thought incredibly rude. Then, I got deeper within the writing world to find that more rejections are done anonymously than are acknowledged with a bonafide rejection letter.  I almost feel privileged now to get that rejection form letter.  Doesn't have the title of my manuscript or my name addressed in the greeting, it's just a form letter in an e-mail that says my project just doesn't fit their agency/publishing house at this time, blah, blah, blah...all offered with the enthusiasm of a middle of dinner telemarketing call.  As aforementioned, I am stubborn, obstinate and willful.  I shall persevere!  But, I won't be so rushed to do it anymore. 

******

More useless information:

"Weird" Al Yankovic received a Bachelor's degree in Architecture in 1981.  He also served as valedictorian of his high school at age 16.

The oldest business in the United States of America is the cymbal company Zildjian which was founded in Constantinople in 1623.

Marijuana was not illegal in the United States until October 1, 1937, when Congress passed the "Marijuana Tax Act".  Total debate time on the House of Representatives floor concerning this issue: 90 seconds.  This act did not actually ban the substance - it simply said that one could not sell marijuana without a license.  Of course, Congress refused to issue any licenses.  Congress finally banned marijuana outright in 1970. 

Hug somebody today!

Virtually yours, 

~ K 

Balancing act

I find myself going in so many directions, sometimes it's more difficult than others to balance it all out.  I purposely have several projects going at once, mostly because I can't live without the aggravation, but also because, well...we never know when we'll run out of time.  I'm afraid I won't get everything done that I want to.  Or more importantly, that I won't get to see all of the people I want to see.  I try to fit a 32 hour day into 24 hours, which means that something, or worse...someone, always suffers a lack of my attention.  I'm so obstinate and stubborn, I still try to find ways to fit it all in and not shortchange anything or anyone.  Usually, I'm the one who ends up with not enough time for myself, and as I get older and hopefully a little wiser, I realize that I need to be more attentive to myself.  Certain factors of my health situation require that I be more vigilant about taking care of myself, but aside from that I really don’t spend much time on just me.  I have few precious times just to myself, even when I'm here at this keyboard writing down my thoughts or working on a fiction project, there are people all around me in the house going about their daily or sometimes nightly routines.  My daughter's work schedule is erratic in the retail world, her boyfriend who lives here, also in retail, normally works nights, and I frequently dog sit for my other daughter who is a teacher and also coaches the high school dance team.  If she has long days for parent teacher conferences, or the dance team is performing at a football game, she'll bring her little shih tzu doggie to have some company during her long workday.  I work a full time job daily, working in my dr. appointments, regular lab visits and various tests into that work day.  I'm so blessed to have a flexible job and people who understand my illness and that it requires so much of my time.  In between all of that, I manage to blog at least a couple of times a week now, pay attention to the social networks to keep up with friends all over the world, and I've somehow managed to finish three self published books with two more on the way early next year.  Oh, yeah...I'm working on getting bands out on the road for some winter shows.  I have no clue how the housework, grocery shopping, laundry, and usual daily chores even get done! My life is a whirlwind for sure, so please pardon my air headedness at times.  I have to look at a calendar to know what day it is, sometimes more than once a day.  I depend on my computer and phone to remind me of the time to try to be punctual for appointments and work times. 

How chaotic is your life? Are you afraid if you stop running yourself ragged that you might have some idle time? What is idle time, anyway? Anybody know?  Here are some things I think of whenever my mind has a second to think of slowing myself down:

“Life is short, eat dessert first” ~ I don’t know who said it first, but I agree

“Dream as if you'll live forever.  Live as if you'll die today” ~James Dean

“As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do” ~Zachary Scott

“To change one's life:  Start immediately.  Do it flamboyantly.  No exceptions” ~William James (this one is my favorite!)

“Hug somebody today! You may never get the chance again” ~ Me :-) 

Hurriedly yours, 

~ K 

Vacancy

Does your life ever feel like a Seinfeld episode? You know, the official "Show About Nothing" that was so popular in the '90's.  Neurosis ran rampant among four friends in New York with daily antics that were seldom normal by any standards.  Some of my days seem like a "Seinfeld" episode.  A whole lot of neurosis that ends up being about nothing.  By the time the clouds start clearing and cobwebs are batted away, and I get a handle on what's going on around me, and it's not that I'm hung-over so I can't even use that as an excuse, I'm left staring into space wondering what the hell it was all about!  Right now, I'm working on making the longest sentences about nothing that I conjure up in the annals of my job fatigued imagination that more often than not works overtime anyway, but on a day like today it's compounded and nothing is making sense.  Day jobs suck the life right out of me to the point that words are coming fast and furious but they are not melding together in sync to create something more than just words strung together, just like this probably doesn’t make any sense to you, either.  I wonder how "Seinfeld" made it work for so long. Talking about nothing is difficult!

******

What's your tagline? You know...the superlative to your name that people call you by.  Like, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, or "Hollywood" Joe Namath, or even the shortened version of a couple can become their tagline.  Just about everybody breathing knows who "Brangelina" is referring to.  It's a title with your name that is unique enough to you that people immediately associate it with your name.  Apparently, it helps keep one's name more prominent in the public arena and ensures you won't be forgotten. However, here's the tricky part: we are not to give ourselves our own tagline.  We are to depend on media or our peer groups to do that in whatever atmosphere we've attained enough recognition among to be awarded a tagline.  I don't have one, and I don't want one.  I shudder to think of what other people would insert in that tagline spot if it were up to someone else to add that moniker to my identity.  If Kathleen is too formal for some folks to address me, "Just K" will do fine. 

******

I found an awesome Facebook friend named Gene Burnett, who I have threatened repeatedly to stalk, jokingly of course.  Check out his blog . He's quite succinct at summing up how I feel about success and self promotion.  If success happens...cool.  If it doesn't...cool.  I do what I do from my heart and that itself is a great reward. 

More self-promotion.  I'm thrilled to be featured at  Highlighted Author . Check out all of the authors featured there and see if there's a book that gets your attention.

******

Today's tidbits: 

Bazooms, ta-ta's, boobies, breasts, hooters, tits or titties, headlights, I personally refer to them simply as "the twins"...whatever nickname you have for that part of anatomy that suckles babies and sometimes older folks alike *snicker*...it is breast cancer awareness month.  Breast cancer has touched almost everyone's family and/or loved ones, sadly.  Please encourage every woman and man to do self exams monthly and if women have not had a baseline mammogram, for goodness sake get one! Breast cancer knows no discrimination or age group.  We care about our twins!  If you need help with personal inspection, I know a few men who are willing to sacrifice some time to help you girls with that *wink*

And, from the never too old to be sexy department: I can't believe Jeff Goldblum *flutter* is 59 (happy birthday Oct. 22nd, Jeff!). What a hunky-hunk! *heart*

Completely useless information you probably didn't need to know: Most toilets flush in e-flat.  I knew that sound was familiar from somewhere, probably heard it in a song or two.

"Random Encounters" and "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" are available at my website as always, and order one or both you get "LifeLoveLust" for free! Such a deal.

Hug somebody today! I did and now I'm all warm and fuzzy all over once again. 

Vacantly yours,

~ K

Surprises

I remember a long time ago on an episode of the comedy "Roseanne".  Her son on the show asked her if he was an 'accident'.  The sisters on the show had been teasing him, telling him mom and dad didn't want him.  They didn't plan the pregnancy and birth of him, so he was an 'accident'.  He was distraught, which of course is what the sisters wanted, so he ran to his mom Roseanne and asked her.  She replied, he was a surprise.  He then asked, what's the difference?  She told him an accident is something you didn't expect to happen.  A surprise was something you didn't know you wanted until you got it, thus convincing him her oopsie pregnancy was not a mistake, but merely an unplanned happy event. 

Most of us like surprises, the happy kind, not the: "Oh my God! It's a 6.9 earthquake!" kind. I like giving surprises, it's fun to experience the joy brought to another person with a small gift or token of affection.  Getting surprises can be tricky, cause sometimes people mean well, but it may not be what the recipient would want. In that case, we smile and give abundant thank you's, and be as gracious as possible to the giver so as to not insult them or hurt their feelings.

I lead a pretty uneventful life, most days are like all the others, nothing out of the ordinary happens and I don't get many surprises, unless somebody pisses me off at the 4-way stop and I have to extend a three finger wave.  I'm pretty laid back and easygoing, unless...you cut me off at the 4-way!  If that happens, I turn into somebody even *I* don’t' like.  So, I mostly take the back roads and avoid the 4-way altogether, that's the sane thing to do and it helps keep my blood pressure down. And, keeps me out of jail.  The point to all of this is, I got surprises today!  It was nice surprises, yet...I'm ambivalent.  All in one day, I scored blog interviews, a reply from a query for the first three chapters of "Random Encounters", and scheduled a half hour radio interview that will be streamed live! Holy bajeebers, batman! I'm more nervous than a virgin on her wedding night! I've not thus far in my very short writing aspirations given a live reading of my book.  Now, it's not that I have jitters from speaking live; I'm actually quite entertaining as long as I have a script to follow.  I just have never read PORN out loud for people to hear! Will I get bleeped out with the seven dirty words? Some are in there, you know.  I always envisioned readers of "Random Encounters" would be curled up in their bed with a hot cup of something, hanging on every word to find out how Veronica manages to get men she doesn't know to silently have sex with her. Doesn't sound difficult, does it?  Aaah...it takes skill, lemme tell ya'...I digress...I saw the reader silently relishing the escapades of this poor confused young woman who simply has some unconventional sexual needs. Not reading it out loud to untold numbers of readers listening to it live! Yikes! 

I'll be back when it gets close to the dates in question, the blog reviews and interviews will be online and the radio interview will stream on Dec. 6 @ 3:30 PM PST.  I'll be reading porn out loud in the middle of the afternoon!  Sounds heathenly, yes?

Hug somebody today! I'm going to this afternoon and it'll be divine.

Surprisingly yours,

~ K

Literary snobs, use your illusions, and creating our own success

I seldom like to write about or even get on the subject of negativity, because typically negativity just breeds more of the same, but… (you had to know there was one coming!)

I’ve been reading this morning in author’s groups I subscribe to, a thread at LinkedIn, authors being repulsed by the shameless self promotion some authors are engaging in, i.e., Facebook promotions, Twitter feeds, online reviews by “questionable” reviewers, etc.  I laugh at the high mightiness of some very educated writers who look down their noses at those of us who are more self made.  Having a college degree does not a genius make.  Writers like me who write from the heart, have taken some creative writing courses along with some literature and grammar, have spent our own money attending writer’s conferences to learn from professionals who could give us tips and help us through the maze of literature in the 21^st century world of electronics, have stories to tell.  It doesn’t take a college degree to be able to weave an interesting tale to hold the readers attention, rather it takes a love for the written word, telling a story that flows well, and spell check helps a lot! But seriously,  I personally work really hard at being literate, articulate, creating a point and doing so while taking the reader on a journey that tells a story that is interesting and engaging without being trite, cliché, while bringing some element of personalization to it.  I’m passionate about the written word.  There is not a minute of the day that I’m not thinking about writing in some form.  My day job consists of much correspondence with both customers and the companies my agency represents, when I’m not working at that I’m *thinking* about writing, typing on the keyboard a story or prose in some form, talking about it with colleagues and/or editors and publishers, querying/being rejected…everything in my life connects with writing and music (my second passion). 

That said, I have no illusions about my writing projects.  Do I expect to be on the NY Times best seller list some day? No.  My author colleagues say you must aspire to this, for not aspiring to greatness such as the NY Times best seller list, lessons my ambition and therefore my level of success.  I say, success is relevant and I’m a realist.  I know I have a very simple style of writing that may not appeal to those college educated geniuses who are looking down through their glasses perched on the end of their ivy league noses, but I hope to appeal to the average reader lending a short escape in a story that is told with lots of heart and passion, for others to enjoy. 

I hesitate to exacerbate hot topics like this because I don’t like to feed into the negativity, but sometimes individual opinions are relevant, and sometimes getting a personal glimpse at flaky people like me lends more of a human element and helps people understand my perspective a little bit more.  I’m known for big hugs, for smiling rather than frowning, being the proverbial flower child spreading joy, laughter and acceptance everywhere I go, and I’d like to be taken seriously as an author, which is the biggest challenge I’ve ever had in life.  It’s not insurmountable, though.  I’m confident in who I am, what I do and want to accomplish, and naysayers have a choice.  I’d simply prefer they go on their merry way to criticize and belittle someone else, or even better…look in the mirror.  That’s the person we all have to be true to and where there’s room for improvement, it starts with self before criticizing others. 

Peace, love and all that other hippie crap on a MONDAY, for goodness sake!

Revolutionarily yours,

~ K

"A Spy At Home" ~ Joseph M. Rinaldo

First, I would like to say "A Spy at Home" is a very good, engaging read.  Joseph Rinaldo has managed to intertwine likable, believable characters with a far-fetched plot and make it all work. It's the author's dream of starting with an empty box, filling it with lots of goodies anybody would be thrilled to get as a gift, and then tied up nice and neat with a beautiful ribbon and ending up with a story that I couldn't put down! There is heartfelt love and a connection with family from Garrison (the lead character) and his wife Louisa along with their adopted child Noah who has Down syndrome,  an almost otherworldly type of intrigue with Garrison being employed by the CIA, laughter and tears at the pitfalls and triumphs of everyday life, and a little sarcasm and wit.  I'm pleased to be able to bring you a close encounter with the author and get first hand from him how his story came to life. 

K: Do you prefer Joseph, or do you go by Joe? I'm a Kathleen and I prefer it, but sometimes people assume it's OK to call me Kathy and I don't object, but I don't prefer it.  That's why I ask. 

JR: I use Joseph on my book covers, but I  go by Joe, and that's most comfortable for me.


K: I have novels I started as long as five years ago I'm still completing and/or editing. It's a long process and I wondered,  how long did it take you to write "A Spy at Home"?  

JR: About a year. It took a long time to revise, edit, and get it to the stage (formatted and all) where it was ready to upload to Amazon. It was the first ebook I published on Amazon's KDP program, and formatting it was a nightmare! I love the way it looks now, though, and I'm very proud of the hard work that went into it.

K: I hear you! That was the most difficult part of getting my first book done for Amazon. The e-reader format is so different than paperback.  I almost gave up, but I agree with you, it's worth all the work. 

K: The protagonist is multifaceted what with being a trained spy, husband, becoming an adopted father, and he manages to juggle it all admirably, weaving himself from wearing one hat to another effortlessly.  I admire an author who can give such versatility with a character they've created.  I think we as the creator of the characters must interject a little bit of ourselves into each one we create. I always leave a little piece of me in all of my creations.  How much of him is you?
JR: I think that his determination is all me. The long absences from his family wouldn't work for me; I enjoy spending time with mine, and no matter what, I make time for them. The character of the adopted son, Noah, who has Down syndrome, is very relevant to my situation. I married a woman who had an adult daughter with Down, and when I became her stepfather, I threw myself heart and soul into being her DAD. My nature (and my career as a credit manager) demand efficiency and dependability, but I am also flexible and spontaneous. My family is the most important thing in the world to me, but I also understand that without devotion to the work I do, I could not be the best father and husband to them.



K: Tell the story behind the story.  How did you come up with such an intricately woven tale, intermingling international security and conspiracy, a family trying to be ordinary and simple, yet due to the spy status turns complicated, and put it all together to make sense in one story?
JR:  It's always difficult to pinpoint where a story idea comes from; I read a lot of spy novels on the order of Clancy and Higgins, but I also wanted to put a human face on the spy business. The character of Noah was always in my mind, and I guess the fears my wife and I have about what might happen to our daughter if we died before she did inspired that part of the story.

K: I've been so intrigued by the spy aspect, that's obvious from the title, but it really is detailed about an agent for our government, and some for other governments we don't really want to know about.  How did you come by all this information? Is it first hand? That's the big question!
JR:I could tell you about how I came by the information about the spy business, but then I'd have to kill you. National security, you know. Seriously, that's what creating fiction is all about. Reading a lot, and then letting the voices in your head guide you on your journey to your own story.



K: The twist in the story I won't give away, but I have to say it takes a pretty diverse mind to come up with something like that! Definitely the signature of a studious author throwing in complete surprise that takes the story on a whole 'nother plane.  What else have you written, anything already published, and what is coming in the near future?  
JR: I have nine novels completed; A Spy At Home was my first to be published, and the second, Hazardous Choices, has just been released on Amazon, also as an ebook. Hazardous Choices is the story of a young Chicago gangbanger who tries to escape the thug lifestyle by accepting a football scholarship to a small rural Kentucky college. The question is: will he be able to leave his deadly past behind, or will it follow him?

Another book, Mountain Meadows Aftermath, is in the revision/editing stages right now and hopefully will be released next year. It is the story of a young man seeking revenge on Mormon zealots for the long-ago massacre of his ancestors and the more recent abuse of his mother during her first marriage to a Mormon. 

 A Spy At Home can be purchased on Amazon at: Amazon also my website and on Goodreads
Look up A Spy At Home on  Facebook
Readers who are interested in purchasing my newest ebook, Hazardous Choices, can find it on Amazon

Thank you, Joe!  It was a pleasure reading your novel and I wish you much success!  I'll be checking into "Hazardous Choices", and I encourage my readers to as well. I think most everyone will enjoy Joseph's style of writing and the intriguing tales he tells.  
 

I hope ya'll enjoyed learning a little more about the author and the story.  I like to know what makes people tick, especially other authors who come up with storylines that hold a readers attention.  

What's next for me, you ask? I knew you were on pins and needles!  I've got so much going on right now, I think I'll probably start blogging more than once a week to get it all in, so be on the lookout for that.  The easiest way to keep up, is join here as a follower and you'll get automatic e-mail updates letting you know when something new is posted.   I'm working on more interviews, I'm working on getting bands out on the road for some shows in YOUR town soon! And, as always I'm writing, working on short stories or poetry or blogging or whatever is in the webs of my musty brain function.  It could be an early sign of  psychosis, but the test results aren't back yet on that.  

Hug somebody today!  I'm going to this afternoon, and I may never let go again!

Conspiratorily yours, 

~ K

Imagine

Today would have been the 71st birthday for John Lennon.  A prolific man, who wrote from the heart and was highly criticized for it.  I admire his ability to put himself out there for everyone to see, and many judged him harshly.  He was a man ahead of his time politically, and really only wanted a peaceful existence. His music is timeless and it makes me wonder what further greatness he would have achieved had he not been taken from this world too soon.  I like to imagine him as front man for a  band of musicians in the 'nother world beyond, marching to a joyful tune and encouraging everyone to come together in peace and harmony.  It's icons like him who inspire me to be creative, fearless of judgment and criticism. I try each week to write about things that inspire me, things that are close to my heart.  A combination of aging and having been through personal crisis for a few years now, has me quite pensive much of the time.  I'm still trying to figure it all out.  The cliche why I am here, what my purpose is, how do I best serve both myself and others.  I don't like to sound selfish, but one thing I have learned definitively, is one cannot be fulfilled and happy with anyone else unless they are fulfilled and happy with themselves first.  For someone like me who has spent my entire adult life being the mom who gives everything to everyone (and did so freely and willingly) and leaving myself always for last, shaking the guilt that goes along with trying to turn that around and put myself first is a real challenge.  Old habits and all that jazz.  I'll keep working on it though, as long as I'm breathing I'll be a work in progress.   

***

I don't pay a lot of attention to celebrity gossip or news, but one thing this week caught my attention.  It was an interview with Ellen DeGeneres talking about what is important in her life.  She's made it to the top both in the comedy world as one of the best in stand up, and then she became popular in daytime television.  She confessed what I believe to be true of anyone, that personal happiness is utmost important.  She was generous enough to reveal a statement her partner Portia de Rossi said to her in their wedding vows: "It is important to be loved, it is profound to be understood".  This really hit home with me!  I've been trying to verbalize that emotion to anyone who will listen to me, that it is so important to be understood.  To be accepted and loved and not judged for who and what we are, is complete validation.  I meet many people who lack validation in their own lives and their unhappiness is painfully apparent.  I go out of my way to try to be more understanding of those people.  Being a child who grew up during the flower power era of peace and love, it is starting to absorb into my psyche now what that truly means.  Complete acceptance and understanding without judgment.  If we could all be a little more tolerant, think how much better relationships are, or even simply day to day relating to others.  Smiles help a lot, too :-) 

***

How 'bout that Occupy Wall Street movement?  On second thought...nah...I'll leave all the political discussions for Facebook and for message boards.  It's not that I don't have political views, or that I don't believe our country is in dire straights and needs a serious wake up call to reorganize and re prioritize, or anything like that.  Or, that our politicians and government have far too much power and authority in our lives, or that they take way too much of our slaved for money and dole it out to other countries when we've got serious problems here we need that money for, or that we've stuck our noses in other countries business and spent too much money and lives on fighting someone elses wars...no, none of that stuff.  I'll leave that to the pros to debate and argue about. *wink*

***

Fall is in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest.  My favorite time of year! The warm cider hits the spot.  The leaves are turning and the beautiful colors are inspiring.  I wake in the morning to turn the heat on to take the chill off, still can leave for work in my flip flops, sometimes have to switch to a/c in the afternoon, then come home in the evening and put the piggy slippers on to warm my chilled toes.  It's perfect!  It's also the perfect time to get your cool weather reading in order.  As I previously announced (ok...shouted!), "Random Encounters" was favorably reviewed and highly recommended by Ms. Nora Chipley Barteau . It is the first completely unbiased professional review I received and it is very rewarding to have a professional and complete stranger give validation for what my friends and reader guinea pigs already told me...it's a great read!  So, grab your fleece throw, and hot cup of something or your favorite liqueur or shots to stoke the inner fire (Mexican Moonshine is highly recommended) and snuggle up with some great reading this winter.  Both "Random Encounters" and "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" are available at my website.  You can get either of my books or buy them both and get "LifeLoveLust" as a bonus.  Makes for some great light reading, with a little laughter mixed in to give you some giggles.

I'm still at LifeLoveLust this week, I'm working on the new site, it's a bit of a challenge for a thick head like mine, but I hope to have it out of the construction phase and ready for viewing by next week.  Or, if you prefer you can get it from Amazon Random Encounters or for Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey

Except for this weekly creation, I'll be taking a short break from writing to work at my fun job, getting some bands and solo artists out on the road, so I'll be announcing that in the near future.  I love working with independent artists, it's a lot of fun!  Speaking of independent artists, I finally finished a great story!  I'll be showcasing "A Spy at Home" by Joseph Rinaldo next week.  It's an engaging story and I’m intrigued by it, so I'll delve deep into the mind of the author to get the plaguing questions answered.

Hug somebody today!

Randomly yours,

~ K 

BREAKING NEWS!!!

The ever so kind and thoughtful Ms. Nora Chipley Barteau gave "Random Encounters" five stars and a glowing review!  You can see it here:

http://norachipleybarteau.blogspot.com/2011/10/random-encounters-by-kathleen-walker.html

Thank you very much, Nora! It's both humbling and redeeming for someone objective to confirm what *I* already knew...it's a great read! lol!

*HUGS* ~ K

Getting it together

Monday greetings, all!

I don't intend to make it a habit to twice weekly post, however...I now have the correct links.  I'm still waiting for the paperback version to show up in Amazon's cue, I thought it would by now but they must be running behind.  I'll be back with that link as soon as I have it.  Or, put in an order for paperback through my website http://www.lifelovelust.webs.com/ and I'll send you one out. 

E-reader available:

"Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92296 , Coupon Code VV99W

"Random Encounters" http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72549 , coupon code JD58M

Further proof of my loonyness, right now both are available @ 20% off only at Smashwords.com with the coupon codes above.  That is $3.19 each!  Who wouldn't love reading at such an insanely cheap price?  Enjoy!

Hugs and happy Monday,

~ K

NEW BEGINNINGS…

Life really is a big circle. From the new hope-filled awakening to the time to rest the weary soul, the cycle is full of changes.  Times to reach out and times to hold back, “a time to ev’ry purpose”. Lately I have been reminded of how fleeting and precious our own happiness can be, and how important it is to protect it by taking an active role in our own futures.  Take relationships, for instance.  Sure, a lot of stuff that happens to us is definitely not under our control - how else do you account for selfish relatives, flaky friends, or unpredictable (me!) lovers?   But uncertainty is about the only constant in life, and you gotta deal with it.  

One way is to keep trying, reinforcing what we want, even in little ways.   Yesterday, I went to a local holistic festival and bought a couple little trinkets that supposedly symbolized some of the things I wanted in my life.  One little polished stone represented ‘New Beginnings’, and I bought it for my dear friend.  He smiled when I gave it to him, but said it made him think, too, about things.  Afterwards, we had a great afternoon together, better than for some time before.  Little things. They really do make a difference. 

It's that time of year we segue from the carefree warm summer days of flip-flops and tank tops, to flannel over shirts, long pants, and real shoes.  I hate real shoes.   The change of seasons had me thinking that it's a good time for new beginnings.  To put away old hurt feelings and replace them with positive vibrations.  Sometimes, one of the hardest things for us to do is give up old habits that we've lived by, even when we know those old habits are detrimental to us.  It's comfortable.  Like that dysfunctional family...every family is as far as I'm concerned, 'cause we all have our quirks, but the point is, it's still a family.  People close to us who have accepted us in whatever state we are in, whether it's to the good or bad.  We get comfortable with that and even though we know it's not serving us well, it's still hard to change a whole lifetime and move forward.  This will be my new challenge and I'm grateful for friends who are allowing me some much needed crazy time to make the changes in my life that I know I must. 

One thing that doesn't change...I write.  Day, night, from keyboard to screen, on paper, in my head, into the recorder for transcription later, anywhere...anytime.  I wake in the night thinking of story lines, or characters or how I should change a phrase, or add one...you get the picture.  Writing is ingrained in me; I couldn't stop doing it any more than I could stop breathing, to serve anyone. Which brings me to...all three of my finished books are available for purchase now.  I received and approved the final draft of "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey".  Right now, the paperback is only available at Amazon.com.  I will have other outlets to purchase it in the near future.  I previously was not going to release an e-reader version of it because I knew how much time goes into preparation of the e-reader formats and wasn't prepared for all that work, but Smashwords.com is the one site that makes it very easy.  I just get the manuscript e-reader ready, and their handy-dandy online converter does the rest of the work.  It's a beautiful thing!  So for now, the e-reader version is only available at Smashwords.com.  Or, you can still buy any at my website www.lifelovelust.webs.com.  If you buy either "Random Encounters" or "Bright Lights" I'll throw in a copy of my poetry anthology.  It's a little bit of the zany in me and is very close to my heart.  My new website, life-love-lust.com is currently under construction and I hope to have it finished by next week's blog.  Such aspirations!  I'll keep you updated on that as when I switch over, the store to purchase books will change to there. 

Hug somebody today! I haven't yet...and dammit! I miss it very much. 

Commencingly yours,

~ K

p.s.  Thank you, Gordy.  For allowing me to be me, and allowing my loonyness into your life.  *heart*