"Even the losers get lucky sometimes"

 

That's from the fabulous Tom Petty, of course. I didn't win the big mega lottery this week, despite buying an extra batch of tickets. Isn't it a little bit fun to buy that ticket hoping against all hope that we could win even a share of that mega millions jackpot and what we would do with the money? I'm a pretty simple gal. Probably because I've never had a lot to spend, so I'm careful with it.  Getting a large sum of money, though...I might just splurge and buy myself something nice. I know...I read all of the odds of other things it would be more likely to have happen, but still...it's fun to dream, and you never know.  Somebody is going to win, and my ticket has just as much chance as the next person.  Since I didn't win this time, I'll continue toiling away as a starving artist writing more books, submitting to more agents, publishers and meantime, self-publish to get some satisfaction for my efforts and to share with you all.  Which brings me to my next topic...

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"Back Track" editing is coming along nicely. Grace Turner is a forty-something widow merely existing on a sprawling ranch in southwestern Colorado. In the two years since her beloved husband passed away from a quickly progressing form of cancer, she's let the ranch go. The depression of grieving left her lost and alone. Emerging from the dark days of grief, Grace awakens to the realization that it's time to get on with her life and start living again. Hiring someone to help with upkeep and maintenance around the ranch would be the first step to moving forward. Arranging her surroundings conducive to making a new life is a healthy beginning. The cattle needed to be driven to market. That isn't a job a woman can do on her own.  Not even a seasoned rancher like Grace. She needs a ranch hand experienced with horses and cattle drives. 

Juan-Carlos Martinez is a nomad ranch hand running from a gang lifestyle former past. That lifestyle took his best friend in a bloody gunfire, and he realized it wasn't a life he wanted to be a part of anymore. He wanders into Grace's neck of the woods in search of refuge as a ranch hand so he can camouflage himself from his past, and the people who were a part of it. He's been running...hoping to stay ahead of that past and the people he knows are tracking him. Grace hires him to help around the ranch and get the cattle driven to market. Working together to bring the ranch back to a respectable status, Grace and Juan-Carlos grow closer, and he knows he must deal with his past in order to hope for a future with Grace. Together, they travel back to Juan-Carlos' gangland territory just outside of Tucson to confront the kingpin and end the running so they can have a peaceful life. That's when the bullets fly - literally! They meet up with Juan-Carlos' old buddies and walk right into the middle of what appears to be a gangland ambush. The twists and turns their lives take from there is just the beginning of outrunning the past Juan-Carlos is so determined to escape. An edgy escape dotted with gunfire, helicopter surveillance and an illusion that proves things aren't always as they seem.

That's a little teaser of what "Back Track" is about. Originally written in 2006, I've been pondering self-publishing it for a while now.  I've had some setbacks health wise and haven't been able to sit here at this computer as much as I've wanted to the last couple of weeks, so it's not quite ready to print a proof copy as was my original goal.  I am, however, optimistic it will be very soon, hopefully in the next two weeks if arthur will give my hands a break and a little more free movement.  I've had folks ask me, why don't I just get someone else to type it on the keyboard for me? Well...I suppose that would be an option if I absolutely could not type anymore, but my writing brain doesn't work that way. If you've met me, you know I'm not so verbal. I'm much more chatty in writing. My verbal communication isn't nearly as articulate as my written form.  It's just the way my twisted brain works with sending the words to my hands, not my mouth. Anyone else out there with that eccentricity?

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Mean time, I'm still including a bonus of "LifeLoveLust"  at my website when you buy "Random Encounters" or "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" , or both.  I repeat this regularly as sales from Amazon for "LifeLoveLust" have been brisk of late and I want to be sure everybody knows it's free, when you buy one or both of my other books from my website. E-reader versions are available at Amazon, just use the links with the book covers to the left of the page here and it'll take you right to them. At .99 each, it's a pretty good bargain to give you an escape for a little while.  If you're a KDP Select member, they are free.  Enjoy! :)

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"This ain't no joke, you gotta know how to bend if you don't wanna get broke, to keep your piece in the big bad game, you know you gotta go a little loco...to stay sane" ~ Roger Clyne

Happy April Fool's Day! I'm not one for practical jokes, but I do get a kick out of hearing others experiences with them.  Give me a holler here and tell me about yours. I could use a chuckle or two. 

In true peace and love hippie-esque fashion...big hugs to everybody! I hope your first day of April brings promise of a spring filled with sunshine, love, and much peace in your world, wherever it be. 

Determinedly yours, 

 *Hugs* ~ K

It's all about the music! Mostly...

I'm a fraud. A liar, even. Is there a support group somewhere for evil people like me?  Here's how it all started:

I scored tickets courtesy of the good people at 95.3 KPND, Sandpoint, to the meet and greet and "Big Head Todd And The Monsters" sound check. Thing is, I don't know who "Big Head Todd And The Monsters" are. The radio station gave us a nifty cd/dvd that must be pretty terrific. The band came down off the stage from sound check, chatted for a few minutes, and autographed for everyone.  There was about 12 -15 of us there, I didn't count but we were a small group.  I pretended to be a fan.  I had to ask one of the real fans there who was who as there were several people milling about and I didn't even know who the band members were. Bad K!  But, there is a method to the madness.  I knew getting the tickets to the meet and greet would get me in the door first for the opening artist, Mr. Roger Clyne.  Now...normally, we would have a Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers show, but for this trip Roger did a short series (six I believe) as an opening for BHTM.  So, you see it's all perfectly good.  I had a good reason for being a fraud and it paid off in the end! I was front and center for Roger's opening of the show along with other dedicated Roger fans who sang, clapped, and very much appreciated the energy he put into his solo show. 

And then...there's Tawni...

Just about everyone who has been RCPM fan for much length of time has heard of the legend that is Tawni. She's been a faithful follower of the band from their humble beginning coming out of the ashes of Roger's former band "The Refreshments" . (To most of us, we simply refer to it all as Roger music as he's been the front man for the band since its inception no matter who the other players are and there've been a few changes along the way. We all go with the flow .)  Tawni stealthily followed Roger on his west coast trek and made every show except one. Spokane was the last stop and I'm so glad she made it! I've always wanted to meet Tawni. She's a legend in RCPM fandom and to experience the energy of a show right beside her was an honor and a pleasure.  Side by side front of stage, we had a great time tuning in to the music, singing every word to:  Marie, Green & Dumb, I Do, Mexico, Banditos, Bury My Heart At The Trailer Park, Americano!, and Wanted.   We shouted, clapped, and swayed in a trance-like state.  It was a fabulous evening and the only down side to it all was how short it was! I have seen countless RCPM shows and it's difficult to let go at just one hour, but BHTM kept him at the time limit so he had no choice.  Knowing Roger, I think he would have continued as long as we were all standing.  He's the energizer bunny of rock! A great time with great people and I can't wait to get back up and do it all over again.  

The kids are alright...

Roger is so appreciative of parents who bring the kids and he always makes a special effort to give them undivided attention. There were a few sets of parents who brought their kids, I would guess they were aged 8 -10 or so, who Roger noticed sang the words to the songs right along with the rest of us.  Second generation Peacemakers singing the words to his songs at shows! Roger took a request from one young fan and gave her one of his guitar picks as a gift.  She was thrilled! Just another fun moment from shows that make for fond memories. 

Yet more confessions of a groupie...

While I'm making confessions I might as well come completely clean.  I'm also very bossy.  Hard as I try not to be, I just am. After the Roger show, I was standing at the BHTM merch booth and telling their merch guy that "Jason doesn't do things this way."  He questioned: "Who is Jason?" (RCPM's merch guy). Then I think he just wanted me out of his way. Next, I was trying to bring order to Roger greeting fans after his set, getting people in line for photo ops, talking to other fans about his music that were new and hadn't been listening to it as long as I have.  I will work harder to refrain from such annoying behaviour in the future.  But it probably won't do any good.  I'm just that way. I like order and unchaos and I try to make it so.  

Some of the best of the evening wasn't even a part of the show...

I do believe everything is as it should be, but sometimes I need a little kick in the behind to remember it. I pulled up in front of Knitting Factory in Spokane fully expecting my usual handicapped parking space right in front of the tour bus.  To my surprise, that space was no longer designated as handicapped and was already taken. I circled the block thinking there must be a handicapped space somewhere close cursing to myself the whole time, but there was not and I had to park across the street in a paid lot. It wasn't that far, so I wasn't too upset. I got the few things I needed to take in with me without carrying a cavernous purse like I usually do. When I was waiting at the corner to cross at the light, none other than Roger walked up to make the trek too! I accosted him to come back to my truck with me to autograph a very delicate item (the news ad I purchased reflecting an article featuring "The Refreshments").  He politely agreed and we chatted for a few moments prior to getting back to the crossing and going our separate ways before the evening started. I'm always amazed at how polite and receiving Roger is of fans, and willing to accommodate requests if he can. As is his usual first class cowboy gentleman way, he wasn't the least bit testy about me invading his personal time before he had to get ready for a show.  I let Roger know there would be a glowing review at my blog and invited him to read all about it, however he politely declined saying he never reads that stuff.  I encouraged him reiterating it would be positive, but I'm fairly certain I was not able to convince him of that.  In the inner circle of Peacemakerdom, I would be termed a kool-aid drinker.  People can call it anything they like, all I know is the music is a deep personal happiness, a zen like state, that I've received no other way.  Fellow fans around me singing along, Roger on stage sweat dripping from his hair and soaking his shirt and he still gives it every ounce of energy he has whether it's a few dedicated die-hards at the front of the stage or the venue filled with hundreds. At one point I closed my eyes, swaying to the music and almost felt my feet lift off the ground. It's that powerful! Definitely a heaven sent gift that everyone should partake in. Roger always invites everyone to be a part of the congregation, and I do too.  The full band will be appearing May 22nd at Knitting Factory Spokane and if you haven't already met me there, I invite you to.  It's going to be another rockin' good time!

Just a short reminder, the paperback cover of "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" with Roger's silhouette on the front is a limited edition.  He signed my copy for me at last nights show *big grin* and you can get yours at my website or the e-download exclusively at Amazon.com, just click the link at the top of my blog and it'll get you there. 

Adios, mi amigos!  Hug everybody today and share the love the universe has given to you.

*Hugs* ~ K

Well, duh...

 

As mentioned last week, I've been toiling aimlessly when it comes to writing.  I'm a firm believer in everything is as it should be, even if the as it should be is difficult to accept sometimes.  I'm a realist and I try to live in the now, but sometimes it's hard to be content with what is, even when we know that's just the way it's supposed to be, whatever the situation is.  So...my next step in the thought process is, of course, to figure out why I'm having so much trouble. I'm naturally a why kind of person anyway, so getting to the heart of the matter was the natural next step for me.  You know how when you rack your brain, to the point of hitting yourself upside the head, asking the same question over and over as if that will finally bring an acceptable answer? Yeah, I knew that ya' did.  In an epiphany, and I really don't like that word so for me to even use it is meaningful, I realized the reason is because I'm meant to be doing something that's already here, right in front of me.  Something who's time has come.  Something that I've left sitting on the back burner and haven't really paid much attention to, treating it like it doesn't really matter.  If it could have, it would have hit me upside the head itself! 

I've not worked at promoting "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" for a few relevant reasons.  First, I was far too busy promoting "Random Encounters" and could only be focused on one project at a time.  Once I got momentum promoting the 'porn with a plot', I didn't want to stop.  It was a lot of fun doing interviews, talking about it, answering the questions I knew would be forthcoming...i.e., how does an average, seemingly sane (they don’t know me too well, do they?), mild mannered middle aged grandma write such smut?  Hee-hee...it's been a fun ride and I've enjoyed every minute of it.  Second, the subject matter of "Bright Lights" is considered 'fan fiction' in the literary world.  It's not highly regarded and not taken seriously.  Those ivy-league art history and literature majors look down their pointy turned up noses at those of us authors who write such insignificant...trash.  The story was actually written long before "Random Encounters" was even thought of.  And, the storyline came from exactly one line in a song written by Roger Clyne, so it's not like I took his whole song and built a story around it.  I had a lot of fun creating "Bright Lights" but even I didn't see it as serious fiction, but merely a fun creative project.  My bad.  It's a great story of a musician with an affectionate relationship with his guitar who finds himself depending on that inanimate object to get him through a rough time after his girlfriend leaves him for a Hollywood job on a TV series. Jack Hamilton takes a journey from bar band nobody to respected musician drawing arena crowds, who has the courage and fortitude to stand on his own, proud and determined.

So, what all this means is I'm shifting my focus to actively promote "Bright Lights", which won't be much hard work.  Amazon Kindle still has exclusive rights to electronic version of both "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" & "Random Encounters".  If you are a KDP Select member, you can borrow them for free.  Electronic versions of both are doing very well, so I have no regrets about making them available exclusively at Amazon. They're a great business partner for self-pubbed authors like me. 

If you're of the persuasion who wants to fondle the paper pages of the book (like me), please visit my website or just click on the book cover to the right and it'll take you there.  It's the best way to order either or both because you get "LifeLoveLust" for free.  My way of furthering the ramblings and passing it along for posterity.  And, it's the only way to get an autographed copy unless you accost me at a local Peacemakers show, which is coming up Feb. 19 in Spokane :-D I hope to see many of you there! It's gonna be a rockin' good time. 

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Currently reading on my Kindle: "Thunderstruck Hero" by Eric Seiden and "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.  It's good to re-read the classics now and then to brush up on my own writing skills.  I learn a lot from those who've successfully paved the author path before me.

Hug a paperback book today! I do every time I pick one up, it's quite satisfying.

Inspiringly yours,

~ K