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For those who didn't even notice I was gone, I'm back. My husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer last February and passed away four months later June 21, 2013. I soldiered on the first few months fulfilling speaking engagements and attending conferences and conventions that were already on my schedule before crashing into the black oblivion of widowhood. The last few months I've wallowed in my grief. My mourning period is not yet over  but at least I've finally reached the point where I have accepted that it isn't necessary for me to roll over and die just because he did. Believe me the thought did cross my mind. I'm still bitter and have abandonment issues. When I realized I hadn't written anything or updated my own website or the Norman Galaxy website in over six months I also realized it is time to start breathing again. Yes, there is life after death. Life goes on for those our loved ones leave behind. So I'm crawling out from under...

I'm behind schedule. It's day 10 of my 'Finish the Book in 31 Days' challenge. I'm only up to day 7 goal wise. Behind by three days. But that's okay. It's way too early in the schedule to give up, throw in the towel, or run naked in the streets screaming, "I'll never make it; I just know it!" There is no need to change the plan or reschedule the deadline. It's just time to get serious, pull up my shirt sleeves, and work a little harder to catch up. I know I can do it. Never surrender. Never give up. Being behind is not the end.

I believe in setting achievable writing goals. That doesn't mean I settle for less. It means I am usually fully aware of my present abilities; therefore I am usually fully aware of which goals are actually within my reach, and which ones are beyond reach from my current position. With each achievement I set the bar a little higher for the next project.  For years I was a closet writer. Most of what I wrote sucked and I wouldn't let anyone else read what I had written –because it sucked. Like learning to play a musical instrument, I got better with practice and finally allowed a few trusted friends to read and critique my stories.  Eventually I joined a writing group, took a couple of classes, and attended workshops and conferences. As I learned writing technique and honed my skills I started entering contest. Then I started winning contest.  Finally I got secure enough in my skills as a writer to submit my work to publishers. I've had a few short stor...

I wrote my first Paranormal Romance Novel over a year ago. It just flowed out of me as if someone stood behind me whispering the words into my ear as I transcribed them onto the page. I finished the first draft in less than three months. Unfortunately, I've been editing and rewriting it ever since and can't seem to get to a point where I feel it's ready for submission. I've worked on it to the point of hating it.  With the help of a word processor I'm no longer forced to write six or seven drafts of a manuscript. I just edit and revise in my program adding, subtracting, and substituting words until I am happy with the sounds they make together. I'd say I'm at the equivalent of about the twentieth draft by now.  The book is over 70,000 words. The story is all there. But I'm still not satisfied.  I've worked it to death.  So I've set a deadline to quit working on it. If it's not any good by the end of the deadline that...