A Writer's Life

I’ve been incredibly busy in my new writing corner. Once there actually WAS a corner for me to hunker in to, it was an easy set-up and immediate settling in. Moving is stressful enough as it is. When you figure in important day-to-day details that can’t get swept away in the confusion, the reality can sometimes get rather daunting. So…I put decades of teaching experience to practical use and created what is essentially a traveling mini-office. I think it’s pretty damn awesome.

First I started with an assortment of clear plastic bins – the kind with the snap on handle lock lids (because eventually they’ll be taking a 2K mile road trip).Then I got serious. What were the absolute BASICS of what I needed during the stretch of time ahead when I’d be uprooted, traveling, in temporary digs, etc.?

So here’s what you’re seeing. One bin is actually stuffed with Silhouette Vinyl supplies. I have the small Portrait machine in its box ready to travel as well. Takes two minutes to connect with computer and get crafting. Seemed like a smart use of dead time in hotels and stuff.

Another of the bins holds a series of notebooks pertaining to WIP’s plus random business paperwork.There is even a special zipper pouch for keeping the hundreds of receipts that follow me around! One bin holds miscellaneous stuff. Pre-made swag bags, hole punch, pouch of stamps, envelopes.    

The compact travel bin on top is really cool. It’s three small, deep containers with lids that snap to each other to make the tower.The top container has an insert –assorted size compartments for office supplies like clips. And that top container also has a carry handle.

So once I was organized and had claimed a corner, it was time to put on my writer’s crown (yes, it’s a necessary accessory that lives on a small light within easy reach) and get back to work..

Family Justice Book 1 ~ Always has been keeping me awake at nights! Readers have enthusiastically asked for more where my three fabulous Justice Brothers are concerned. I don’t think anyone will be disappointed by Always.The story most definitely continues ….expect a release date announcement soon but I’m guessing first week in November.!

And then there’s Wilde Women Book 2 - Rhiann’s Story. The working title for that story had been Wilde Romance but once I started writing and the characters came into clear focus, I went with a subtle change and have decided on Wilde Heart instead.. Rhiann and Liam’s tale will be something of a bumpy ride! Not every guaranteed happily ever after is easy. And besides, what is true love anyway? When not Disneyfied, it can be messy, chaotic and challenging. Oh, a let’s not forget sexy, exciting, sizzling, and demanding. Yum! Sounds like a recipe for a great read.

If you haven’t read Brynn’s story – Wilde Forever …what are you waiting for? It’s 5 star rated on Amazon and GoodReads and has gotten tons of love and attention from readers!!! Brynn and Jax were such fun to write and I tried to shine some light on what PTSD can be like, years after the fact. I loved that Brynn was cool-headed and straightforward about Jax’s issues and that he knew when to step away and ask for help.

So there you have it! A small window of insight into my take on A Writer’s Life. Autumn is getting into full swing mode now. Aware that this will be the last time I’ll be in my childhood home watching the leaves turn and fall hasn’t been bittersweet at all. Change is good and in this case – a long time coming. When I step outside the detail-specific grind of packing, selling and moving, I feel nothing but excitement and clarity where the future is concerned. This is yet another leap of faith – one that was always going to show up.

Onward ~

Is that Autumn I see Approaching?

How is it that summer 2014 flew by so fast? Are you as stunned as I am to find school buses on the move and Halloween/Christmas merchandise appearing in stores? It seems surreal. 

So REDEEMING JUSTICE came out to rave reviews and I couldn't be more pleased. For this author, I loved writing that last story in the three book Justice Brothers series. Alex was quite simply - my kind of guy! He had a little bit of everything going on and only a strong (but soft) woman with her shit together was going to make the complex man sit up and take notice.

It's thrilling when readers "get" a character and the feedback I've received for Meghan and Alex's love story makes me smile. And think .........

After completing the three Justice Brothers books I got started on something a bit different. A new series, this time about sisters, was up on my "TO DO" list. As of this post, the first book WILDE FOREVER in the Wilde Women series is about to publish.

It's the story of the oldest sibling, Brynn. She's one of those over-acheiving, by the book types who's sworn off men after a nasty divorce. Of course only a hot, alpha male will be what shakes up her normally well-ordered life!

Coming from a family of sisters, I know all too well how very different each gal can be from the others and it was fun and challenging writing Brynn's story. There's a bunch or twists and turns along the way - just like in real life - and her hunky alpha isn't exactly a walk-in-the-park but you just know that the love they have for each other is worth the emotional journey.

In Brynn's story we also meet the middle sister - Rhiann. Her story WILDE ROMANCE will be one helluva' bumpy ride! Rhiann's tale is no easy or simple road to love .... not that she was looking.

I'd planned on following up Wilde Women book one with book two not far behind but guess what?!?! With readers clamoring for more of my sexy, alpha Justice Brothers, I've taken a writing detour and done a follow-up which will catch everyone up on the brothers and give some secondary characters their place in the bigger saga. Expect the first title in the follow-up FAMILY JUSTICE series to release in early October. 

Keep an eye on my Facebook page  www.facebook.com/SuzanneHallidayAuthor for updates, teasers, awesome giveaways and just plain fun! It's a great way for me to interact with readers so don't be bashful about joining in :-)

Hope y'all had an amazing summer and are ready for the change of seasons barreling at us at full steam!

Happy Reading ~

Spring has Sprung (maybe) 2014

Just returning from a spring break jaunt to the ocean. A five state, eight hours of driving jaunt at that! This annual adventure with the G'Kids, which began MANY years, ago started out with diaper bags and car seats and resembled a logistical nightmare of epic proportion. Now, we pack light and 'git 'er done, with a crazy precision that makes me smile. I've taught my little "dude army" how to travel with a minimum of fuss and bother! 

In some weirdly delusional part of my brain, I imagined this years' adventure would allow me some quality down time that included plenty of time to write, stay connected with my social media, and dream about character development and new story ideas.

Seriously now - who the hell was I kidding?

There's something special about our "happy place" that empties my brain and makes working nearly impossible!






So, I've lost practically an entire week but that's okay. I figured that unhooking from the endless flow of information and communication that all this lovely technology makes possible was probably a good thing. Gave me a chance to decompress mentally, figuratively, spiritually. After all, the time spent with my boys is what sustains my soul ..... everything else needs to sit in the third row back seat and wait its turn!

Adding a new NOTE TO SELF. Don't be fooled into thinking that vacation is prime work time 'cause it ain't gonna' happen! Nor should it.

The moral of this story is simple....be present. Grab the special times with both hands. Make memories instead of meeting self-imposed deadlines. Remember to feel the love!

Happy Spring Everyone!

I am an Author

When I was a little girl, Books were some of my best friends.

Shy and thoughtful as a child, reading was a favorite past time

My parents, especially my mother (and her mother too) were prolific readers.

I never had to look very far for reading material.

Back in those days, classic collections for the average family were all the rage.

Most had gold embossing on the spine and I remember the thrill of handling thin slivers of tissue paper slid into the pages where the illustrations were.

To this day, my inner Carrie Bradshaw still sighs at the smell of old books and the satisfaction from holding a hardback in my hands.

A particular favorite of mine [and I know this from having come across it while packing up the basement at my parents house …the book was well-read with a cracking spine. It was easy to see where a young child’s fingers had fiddled with the corners of the pages waiting eagerly to turn the page) was the Mark Twain classic – The Prince and the Pauper.

Miles Hendon was one of my first book boyfriends! A ‘soldier of fortune’ who befriends young Tom Canty during his reversal of fortune as the son of King Edward VIII, he was played by Errol Flynn in the 1937 movie. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this movie;)

I have no idea why this memory poked at my brain this morning while standing at the tea pot waiting impatiently for the water to come to a boil. Oh wait – yes I do!

Today, I am an author. For real. I’ve written a book. Actually, I’ve written three books but on this fine day, the very first story – something that I’ve labored over from character development to the words on each page to the chapter tags and the cover design is available to the world.

I’ve seen a lot of shit and done some crazy things in my time but NOTHING compares to waking up this morning and realizing that of the many, MANY hats I wear …. a new one can be added to the bunch. And YES, I will be creating my very own Ya Ya headpiece to commemorate the occasion.

I am an author ;;sigh;;

Shit. The laundry still needs to be done J

Getting my Hippie On or How I learned to enjoy Yoga without a shit ton of analysis

Exercise! Eat right! Drink more water! Get enough sleep! Take your vitamins!

Wha-wha-wha-what? Is there anything else I can do for you? Oh? There is? Continue please…… Low Carb! More protein! Embrace anti-oxidants! Understand your Omega-3’s! Stop smoking! Drink more wine! Laugh every day! Get a pet!  Take a baby aspirin every day! No wait – don’t take a baby aspirin every day! Go Vegan! Gluten-free? Blah – blah – blah.

It’s exhausting, right? I’ve been around long enough to see a bazillion health & well-being trends come and go. And come. And go. Ask a group of ten friends what they do and you’ll probably come away with then different answers. Ask that same question of those people a year later and be prepared for a shift in their answers.

I’m as guilty of this trend-reflex as the next, so before you go sticking your tongue out at me consider that in my basement you’ll find: an ab-roller – remember that? Plus a box of Tae-Bo videos crammed in with my Sweating to the Oldies collection. There’s also a HUGE crystal sitting in front of me as I write this, flax seed in the cupboard, a neti-pot in the bathroom and a rosemary bush by the garden gate.

And now for some personal reflection .....

Located on Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, not far from the ocean sits an amazing place called Self-Realization Fellowship. Founded in the 1950’s by Paramahansa Yogananda, the site is basically an open air shrine dedicated to all religions (for movie buffs I should add that the sight was one of if not the first movie studio in the early 1900’s where silent films were made….no! seriously!! Google it if you think I’m full of shit).

Unfortunately, people see/hear the word ‘religion’ and start backing away which is a shame because this place – open to the public – is a magnificent walking and visual meditation in and of itself. Here you will find the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, which houses a portion of the spiritual leader’s ashes (the only portion of his ashes to be interred outside of India). There are also statues of Jesus Christ, Saint Francis of Assisi, Bhagavan Krishna, Buddha, and the Madonna and Child. Paramahansa wasn’t kidding about ‘all religions’.

I remember one day, not long after being introduced to this beautiful place, taking a walk with a friend around the lake, meeting orange robed monks, yamaka’d Hebrews, Nuns in traditional habits and every manner of folk simply seeking a respite from the everyday hustle and bustle. There were families with children, a priest, and an abundance of what we gleefully refer to as tie dyed hippies, enjoying the atmosphere.

Not much of a ‘joiner’ by nature, the classes and services offered at the SRF were known but not something that called to me….it was simply a physical place that represented a higher ideal. One of peace and well being that I’ve taken with me in my soul as life and circumstance led me elsewhere.

What was the point of that story? Simple. It’s about finding an oasis of calm – even in the midst of daily chaos.

We’re all so frenetic these days. Over-connected. Plugged in. Tuned in. Internet driven through Facebook, email, messaging, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, even Pinterest. We have Kindles and iPads, cell phones and navigation systems. My TV has three hundred plus channels and when that’s not enough there’s Netflix or Hulu or even Amazon Movies to choose from. I have more damn bookmarks ‘in the cloud’ than I have time to visit.

But do we have pockets of silence away from this never-ending barrage of connectivity where we can switch off, back away, listen? Yes and No.

Since I was a teenager, yoga has fascinated me. To this day I have never taken a formal class – not much of a joiner, remember? – but even so have managed to develop a simple, straightforward personal practice that is equal parts meditation, exercise and therapy. I don’t think about it. It’s like brushing teeth. Something that gets done. Picking apart or analyzing WHY we brush our teeth is unnecessary clutter in an already over-saturated reality. As Nike says – we JUST DO IT.

There have been so many changes in my personal world and I’ve found myself walking a completely different path than the one I’d been on just a year ago. New challenges. Old regrets. It’s all the same, yes?

It’s taken me awhile to find my footing – if that’s what you can call it. Life is, after all, a sometimes-slippery slope over which we have little control. But I like to think that through simply trying to be aware, I’ve moved the story along if only just a little.

We’ve had a brutal winter in the east. If you’ve lived through it, you know what I mean. If you’re watching from elsewhere …. the endless news stories have done a good job of depicting what’s gone on. In a word, it’s been exhausting.

So….there I was early this morning – enjoying the quiet before everyone’s energy got things ramped up – making my customary cup o’ tea (side note: ordinarily I would have thrown in the expression de rigueur since it really IS part of my vocabulary ….but recently I’ve seen some eye-rolling and Google searching going on when I talk/write so I simplified, simplified, simplified) and it started to snow. The screaming in my head from the weather is getting so fucking old at this point!

Without planning or thinking it through (that’s what these ramblings are for:) I pulled out the yoga mat, flipped on some “spa” music from one of the hundred music channels available on my cable system, and got down to it. Twenty minutes later, the mental screaming was replaced with quiet laughter…”Weather!  WTF?!!”

Now, I may eat too much meat, don’t drink enough water and roll my eyes at the hard-core Vegans in my life but that twenty minutes keeps me from taking most of this shit so seriously that yet another layer of stress is added.

To be clear, I’m not preaching. If you knew me personally, you’d know why that impression is beyond fucking hilarious. I’m not advocating (shut-up Vegans! Said with tongue-in-cheek love y’all). I’m not hyping. I’m not selling. This isn’t a pyramid scheme for yoga freaks and I went out of my way not to single out the who/what/when/where and how’s of my practice. That’s for every individual to decide on his or her own.

What I’ve been getting at – in a rather round-about way (you can thank years of teaching for this BTW. Showing vs. Telling, y’know?) is that through a bit of time spent on a mat, I’ve found a way to disconnect and in doing so re-charge. Go ahead and make the snarky comment about the spa music on the cable system. It’s cool! You’re right. It’s hardly disconnecting if ya’ wanna’ be a dick about it – but a point made is better than a shit ton of white noise that leads nowhere.

It’s still snowing but I’m not screaming in my head at the weather gods or shaking my first at the sky. Yeah, annoyed and slightly pissed but ………oh well……..rather than oh my fucking god.

I'm taking that as a WIN.