Not so Smurftastic

Here lately I feel like a bunch of Smurfs all rolled into one big giant Smurf. Some of them you may never have heard of, but they were there. I am Grouchy, Frustrated, Fed up and Tired as Hell. You may ask why I am a giant Smurf at the moment, and I will tell you. (I know you didn’t think I would make you guess.)

Over the past few days, friends of mine have been bullied and insulted all because of someone’s ignorance. The crazy thing is one of my friends is being harassed because she dared to stand up to the original bullies. Please keep in mind all these people are adults.  

I realize it is as Will Wheaten said to Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory. Sheldon’s hatred of Wheaten actually gave him rent free living space inside Sheldon’s head, and if you think about it, that’s true. For someone to dislike you enough for your appearance, opinions or differences that they “call you out” in public, means that you have taken up residence in their psyche. It's kind of humorous to think I could have that much of an effect on a person or persons especially ones I have never met.

I have to remind myself that someone who does such things must be very unhappy and insecure with themselves. To constantly look for the faults in another takes a great deal of energy. I am not perfect by any means. I was one of those people who looked faults in others until it dawned on me that the faults I found in others were predicated on my own insecurities in relation to my looks and abilities.  

I know we cannot or will not always like everyone or everything in this world. Our likes and dislikes make us who we are, and that is a good thing. I like animal prints and I dislike stripes. I dislike my food touching, but I like peanut butter and chocolate. I only wish that before people lash out at others for whatever reason, they would stop and really examine why they feel the way they do. But, alas, I know that will not happen because those individuals would have to gain a level of maturity they will probably never reach.

To that end, I shall remain a big ole’ Smurf.

The Next Big Thing

I am in the process of working on the follow-up to my first novel, The Last Guardian, and was sent this questionnaire by a wonderful author friend. Since I haven't been around for a bit, I thought this would be a good way to get back into the swing of things. Hope you enjoy it.

10 Questions:

What is the working title of your book? Burdens of a Saint (Guess who the hero is.)

Where did the idea come from for the book? The idea for this book started long ago when I began the Guardian series. My husband and I bought a house that needed a lot of work in the backyard. One day when I was trimming bushes, I started thinking about what would happen if, while I was working, half-naked men walked out of the forest. Strange I know, but that’s it.

What genre does your book fall under? Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Oh my. I would be lying if I said I never thought of that. I would love for someone like Ryan McPartlin to play Saint. Dr. Travis Stork would play his older brother Fergus. Rick Mora would definitely be Mika andAlex Pettyfer as Ghost. 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? The title says it all.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? It will mostly be self-published.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Ha ha. Still working on it.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Well, it is part two of the Guardian Series, coming after The Last Guardian. But I would compare it to Christine Feehan or Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Who or What inspired you to write this book? I suppose I must credit my maternal grandmother. When I was a kid she would tell me stories about ghosts, skin-walkers and things that go bump in the night.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Hot men, shape shifters, Norse gods and a touch of romance. That about covers it. Oh, and did I say hot men?