The joy of research

I have been researching the heck out of the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu for a project I have been working on, and I'll tell ya, it has been a journey all its own. But a true labor of love.

When I started this project, I had visually fallen in love with Machu Picchu. These stone ruins that stand in such symetrical perfection, amidst a sea of green grass intrigued me to no end. And of course, that never ending question: Why?

 After hundreds of years, the stonework is still so tight, with no masonry, that you cannot slip a piece of paper between them. To me that is unbelievable. The feats these people managed, that not even our modern equipment could do now adays, is beyond me. I am very pleased to know that the Peruvian government has taken extra, and strict, steps to ensure its beauty remains. Now, if only they could pay the Porters more! Those guys are unbelievable and get paid very little, and yet they are always smiling and generous with themselves. I read one of them is a Futballer and uses his job as a Porter for training purposes. I think that would suffice! lol

In the first photo below, you will see a trail running midway through the mountain. That is the Inca trail and if you look close, those are the people on it. It's very challenging as there are many MANY stairs that the Inca built those many hundreds of years ago.

Just imagine traversing these stairs, stepping in the same steps that the Inca trod centuries ago. They have been worn smooth over time from so much use, and it just gives me goosebumps to think of it that way.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enanablanca/3879522916/in/photostream/

This is the link of the photographer who took these and many more beautiful shots, I've posted. They just struck a chord and I had to post something about what I am working on and why I loved it. Of course, here is the final outcome to the whole journey.

If only these mountains and stones could talk. Imagine the tale they could tell!

Happy Friday Eve!!

Just needed to post a bit of inspiration.

Horses and Jimmy Thomas, what more could a girl need?




Oh, I totally love the music and belly dancing moves in this video, too! :)

C~

Current WIP Inspiration

Honestly, how could I go wrong? Right?

I always love to have a face behind the action, and Mario more than fits the bill. Sweet!

Heroine is coming right up...

C~

Magic Monday

Not much to say today, other then have a Magic Monday. It is very cold, but sunny with blue skies. Very rare for the Pacific Northwest this time of year. I enjoyed working out in the barn today, just hanging out with the boys. One stallion and three geldings. Lots of love, warmth and fun to be had no matter what the tempreature is. The stallion, Lad was galloping, bucking and kicking his heels up out in the field. Just enjoying the day. :) What a great way to spend an afternoon.

Now, I get to relax with a nice hot cuppa and settle in with my writing. I've pushed through a little wall and I'm off and running.

Hope you have a Magic Monday! :)

C~

Sexiest Man of the Year

http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20237714_20241213_1,00.html


Hugh Jackman!
Am I surprised?? NO WAY!! In my opinion, he should have been a long time ago! I've been a fan of his for a long time and really REALLY liked him as Wolverine.

He is one of the inspirations for my next book. I am just now gathering my research together and am very tickled to see he made it to this point. Very VERY cool and a long over due recognition. But then if you read the article, you will see his wife knew that a long time ago. hehe I love romantic stories of people who are in love for so long. It just adds to my inspiration as I am a long runner myself. :)

Happy Wednesday!
C~

Monday Magick

Well, I know I said that Brad Pitt was the face behind the story I'm working on, but guess what. I just couldn't get it to work that way. Viggo's face kept appearing. lol So, here is to inspiration and the face that keeps haunting me. :D



It's a terrible thing to have this going through your head all the time, I tell ya. hehe Now, pair this face with that of Evanescence, Amy Lee, and there we have it. :)





Have a Magick Monday!!
C~

A picture worth a Thousand Words

'Nuff said.

C~

Why Mr Pitt?

A good question I ask myself!
If I would have been choosing characters that inspire stories based on what moves me, Brad Pitt wouldn't have made my list awhile ago. BUT... Things change. People change and now I see him in a total new light. No, I haven't met him and no, I don't swoon and croon after him. He's a human being for crying out loud! But the fact is, he has done alot of very VERY good things and I think it took being with the right woman that brought it out in him. True, maybe he did good things before Angelina, but, I think it took the two of them as partners to really shine and help people who were, and are, less fortunate then they are.
I think the best fashion statement he makes is when he is in regular clothes, with his children on him. Beautiful! Of course having Angelina Jolie on his arm is the biggest gem of all. They all look extrodinarily happy. You can very plainly see it isn't a publicity smile that's just there for the paporatzi. It is genuine because it is in their eyes.
In my opinion, I think NOW Brad Pitt is very sexy and handsome, simply because of what he has become. That's what living life is. It's all about the journey to the mountain top. Both parents look tired. That's good! They should! It means they are being parents to their children!
So, why am I including his likeness in an erotic romance? Because I believe love and romance and sex are all a very healthy part of who we are as people. I see writing erotic romance the way I see a beatiful rose bush. There are the stalks and vines that are the basic plot of the story. There is the relationship, the 'coloring in', that is the leaves that feed the plot and then the flowers are the lovescenes. They bring the joy and essence to it all and give life to the story.

Anyway, that is my reasons for choosing Mr. Pitt. I think his journey up the path to the mountain top is very inspiring to me today!

Happy Wednesday!
C~

Girl Pirates Rule...

Well, this is my inspiration for the first book of my Girl Pirate trilogy. That's right. Amy Lee from Evanescence. She is the perfect image for my heroine. My brain has wrapped around Mr. Brad Pitt from when he did the movie Troy.




So, if you enjoy seeing what inspires me making it's appearance, then please stay tuned. I've collected lots more and AND I have two other books that I have found equally delicious photos to light up my prose each day!
I will be releasing the title of both book and series when I complete the first installment. I already have everything set up and the first book is nearly complete already, so you won't have long to wait!

Have a Magick Monday!
C~

Just because...

Because pictures speak a thousand words, I have nothing left to say today. :D

Making Friends at the Fair!

We went to the Evergreen State Fair on Wednesday. It is a yearly tradition that we all look forward too and we go rain or shine! The kids ride the rides until we cant stand it anymore and then we go look at all of the beautiful animals. I love looking at the chickens and would love to show my Nutsy, but he hates being handled and his spurrs are about three inches long now, so, I just dont think so...



Anyway... I made a new friend. He is a giant Percheron. I watched him for awhile and everyone else was kind of afraid of the big guy and would barely touch him, because of his sheer size, which was very similar to this (No, this isn't him.):



When everyone else had left the area, he looked at me and I asked him how he was doing. I could see the whites around his eyes, marking him unsure. I held my hand out to him and told him it was ok. He sniffed and snuffed at me for a minute while I pet his nose, before closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he had pure friendly trust there. He is a gentle giant. He lowered his head and I scratched his forehead with both hands. He nodded his head up and down and then he began to turn. He rubbed his neck and body along the stall door and that was when I noticed it was open a tiny crack. EEKS! Then he turned his rump to me and I stood on my tip-toes and scratched and scratched for him while he swayed his hips back and forth, further opening the stall door. When it began to open further, I patted his butt and told him to stop. He did and I pulled the door closed. I loved him for a moment longer before we had to go. I found a gentleman who had the horses next door and told him about the stall door. He showed me that the guy had undone the lock and he thanked me and said he would tell the owners. It was funny when he locked the stall again, because my new friend didn't want him relocking the stall and tried to wrestle it out of the man's hands with his lips. I don't know if you know how strong a horses lips are, but you can see my story on Unicorns listed below. They are like elephant trunks. So, the man had to swat his mouth away. We gotta keep the big guy safe!

So, what the heck does this have to do with writing? Everything! It is pure inspiration for a fantasy writer who is married to her knight in shining armor. :)

That was the highlight of my day. That was just pure magick for me. :)
I told my trainer friend about it and she though the same. She said that I had indeed made a new friend. :)

Hope your Saturday brings equal Magick!

C~

Girl Power

I have a new person to add to my list of inspirational people. Christina Applegate. The struggle she has just endured and the sacrifice she made to save herself is amazing. The fact that she turned and faced this disease and took the prevenative measures to prevent it is nothing less then heroic. I think that of anyone who has to sacrifice for the greater good.

This disease has touched my family as well. I lost my aunt to it. I hope that if it ever touches me, I have the same amount of courage.

C~

Sometimes it's more then you think.

Sometimes beauty is more then just in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes it helps pull a frustrated writer's mind out of a quagmire and back onto the path to complete the journey.

I have been stuck for the last several, and very frustrating, weeks! Mind you, it isn't writers block, I know what I want down on the page. Just a stopping up of the inspiration, if you will. I knew I needed something visual. There are so many beautiful faces out there to select from. But none that fit what I had in my head. That was until I was browsing a friends site and she had this posted. I stopped so fast, I may have left two little furrows on her page, sorry 'bout that! :D
That's right, Jay Tavare's image grabbed my attention only the way a pair of brown eyes can. But then the next step is to see WHO he is. I have to pause, because 'beautiful' is all that comes to mind.

He is everything I have been writing in Blood's Price and I am just stunned. He has even portrayed a character named Spirit Walker. I am sure it is a common name, but I have reasons why my character is named that and it is going to stay that way now.
The very first thing that appealed to me was that he is part of the Adopt An Elder program. This foundation helps the elderly tribes people. On his website, there are many pictures of him just 'being' with them. There is such joy radiating from everyone there, it is very touching. I believe in my heart that there is not enough being done to help our elderly and veterans. But I'm not getting into that today, but so much knowledge is being lost.

ALSO, he rescues dogs and wolves. Any of you out there that knows me, doesn't even have to second guess why this appeals to me on a huge level. I just cannot add anymore to that.
Here is Mr. Tavare's website, for anyone interested. It's a lovely place to visit! www.jaytavare.com.

So, with my inspiration renewed, I am off to resume my journey with this story. And quite possibly go looking for a certain number of films that may just put me in a coma. Because a girl can only handle a certain amount of eye candy before she drops, right? Hasn't happened to me yet, but I'm willing to try. :D

Happy Saturday!

C~

Exciting New Things!

New Series in Cactus Rose Opens Today

"Earth Songs"

The stories can be set anywhere in the United States among any Native
American tribe, but must take place between the years 1870 and 1890.

Each story must involve a Native American hero, heroine, or both.
Historical accuracy is essential.

Cactus Rose is looking for believable stories with fully developed
characters and happily ever after endings.

Stories must be 40K or less. This brand new series is now open for
submissions. Please send query and synopsis in your email to
queryus@thewildrose press.comThis e-mail address is being protected
from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and indicate
that it is for the Earth Songs Series in your email.


I just cannot tell you how exciting it was for me to open my mail this morning and have this note in from my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. Sadly, Blood's Price is erotic, so it won't be going to this line, but I have another story brewing. One that will fit the bill perfectly! EEEE! I'm just so excited to do this one!

Off I go to finish Blood's Price, so I can get at this next one!

C~

Eden at Twilight inspiration

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When I was writing Eden at Twilight, I used alot of music as my influence. Ok, when I write anything, music is always a heavy influence to get the mood right and everything. Well, I found this YouTube while I was writing Eden at Twilight, and it was so... well, so right on, I couldn't get it out of my mind. The music just haunts me and I love it so much I have to keep it. So, I'm putting it here as my keeper, so I don't have to go seaching for it every time I'd like to see it. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing this film yet, but obviously, I'm a huge Viggo fan, and Gweneth is just stunning. : )

Happy Thursday!