Caridad Pineiro® Romance Author
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Romance Author
It’s Fun Friday and it’s time for the Best Cat Video Ever according to its title at Youtube. It is really funny, but I’m wondering – If you have a cat, have they ever pulled one of these ambush tactics with you?
Mine hasn’t, although she loves to chase dry pasta around the floor.
Hope the snow isn’t too bad by you today in the Northeast! We’ve got at least a foot on the ground and the plows have yet to come through. What a pain!
Have a great weekend!
Unlike my mom who was actively involved in politics, I’ve always taken a laid back approach. Maybe that’s been a wrong thing to do. For too many years I’ve trusted that government would get out of the way and let the People grow via the tenets of the American Dream – hard work which leads to prosperity.
Sadly, government has become a major roadblock to the American Dream. Whether left or right, red or blue, politics is bringing the American Dream to its knees.
So lately, I find myself reading everything I can about what’s going on because sadly, I do not trust one of the people in power to do what’s right for me or for America. They are all — red and blue, left and right — too busy endlessly campaigning instead of leading.
Today will see yet another video bite to stick in the public’s craw — the health care summit. A last step to make it seem as if they are all really listening before they use reconciliation to jam a bill down the throats of an American public that wants health care reform, but not what’s in the current bill.
Why is it so hard for the politicians to see this? Aren’t there enough polls out there for them to heed?
Some seem to think that it’s an issue with them not explaining it more clearly. Maybe . . . they . . .should . . . talk . . .like . . . this . . . because . . .the . . . .American . . . . people . . . are . . . too . . . stupid . . . .to . . . .understand . . . .duh.
The only stupidity is believing just that — that the American people are stupid. That they are willing to fork over their Freedom to a distant government that doesn’t hear what it wants.
Recently, the Consumer Confidence Index took a big hit. According to Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center: “Consumer Confidence, which had been improving over the past few months, declined sharply in February. Concerns about current business conditions and the job market pushed the Present Situation Index down to its lowest level in 27 years (Feb. 1983, 17.5). Consumers’ short-term outlook also took a turn for the worse, with fewer consumers anticipating an improvement in business conditions and the job market over the next six months. Consumers also remain extremely pessimistic about their income prospects. This combination of earnings and job anxieties is likely to continue to curb spending.”
This was apparently “unexpected” by experts. Seems to me that if you have the pulse of the American Public this should certainly not be unexpected. Like me, many are following what’s happening and not liking what they see from either the red or blue, left or right. It shouldn’t be unexpected that based on that, consumers are not optimistic and are pulling back from spending money, etc.
So I’ve had my rant about politics this morning. What about you? Are you happy with the direction we are taking? Do you think we need to focus on jobs more?
This Wicked Wednesday I wanted to share some more SINS OF THE FLESH! This scene is farily along in the book, after Mick and Caterina have had an initial encounter and the attraction between them has started to grow as they battle to find out what is happening with Caterina and if she truly is a murderer.
I hope you enjoy this Wicked Read!
The right thing, Mick thought, closed the door and approached the bed where Caterina rested, her gaze locked on him as he neared.
Her skin had lost the flush of fever and returned to its creamy hue. Thick curly locks of her nearly black hair, heavy with moisture, rested against the side of her face.
As she turned the deep blue of her gaze up to meet his, she said, “No matter what happens at the end, you’ve done the right thing by me.â€
At the end, he thought, unsure of anything other than the fact that this would all not end well for someone. Whether it was Edwards or Mad Dog or Caterina or even himself, someone would likely pay a high price at the conclusion of this assignment.
Mick sat on the edge of the recliner and cradled her cheek. Her skin bore a slight chill from the water and was smooth beneath the pad of his finger. So smooth and womanly.
Caterina covered his much larger hand with hers. His palm was rough. Clearly the hand of a man who worked hard with his hands. A strong hand, she thought as she moved her hand past his wrist and to his forearm. The hair on his arm soft beneath her palm. His body muscled and lean until she reached the edge of the bandage on his forearm covering the wound he had received battling for her. Another scar to add to the others on his body.
It had to be the fever that was making her remember just how that body had felt against hers when he had held her in the pool. How he had kissed her and she him, rousing passion that might be better left unexplored only . . .
“Would you hold me?†She needed the human contact. Needed the affirmation that she was still a woman. A desirable woman unless she was misreading the signals he was giving off.
“If holding is all you want, I may not be your man,†Mick replied and dipped his thumb down to trace the edges of her lips.
“I want more. I want to feel alive again,†Caterina said.
She was using him, but it wouldn’t be the first time or the last that a woman did that, Mick thought. Considering he found her damned attractive, weird genes and all, why not give into the temptation and get it out of his system.
“Move over,†he said.
Caterina shifted to the center of the bed and he joined her there, lying on his side and facing her. Their bodies less than a foot apart.
“Touch me,†she said and pulled away the sheet, exposing the fullness of her breasts with their soft tips.
He ran the pads of his fingers across the tip of one breast. Cupped the weight of it in his hand and rubbed his thumb across the tip until her nipples beaded into stiff nubs. He needed to taste, he thought and bent his head, licked the one tip while continuing to caress the other nipple with his hand.
She arched her back to give him easier access and cradled the back of his head. Moaned as he teethed the peak of one breast. He soothed that gentle nip with another lick and suckled at her breast while shifting one hand downward, across the flat expanse of her midsection. Past the delicate indent of her navel until the curls between her legs brushed the tips of his fingers.
She moved closer and threw her thigh up over his, inviting him to her most private core.
Tardily he accepted that invitation, skimming his fingers across her center until the sensitive nub swelled and his fingers dropped lower and experienced the wet of her femininity.
Caterina gasped as he explored that dampness, gripping his shoulders as he eased in first one finger and then another, stretching her in preparation for his possession.
“Mick,†she keened, shifting her hips against his hand. Holding his head to her, but wanting to feel the warmth of his body beside her.
He slipped inches away and she reached for the hem of his shirt. Pulled it over his head while he skimmed the sweat pants down his body, revealing the nakedness beneath the fleece.
She laid her hands on his shoulders once more and took a moment to enjoy all of him that was visible. The articulated and defined muscles of his body. The scars and bruises that spoke of a man familiar with danger and accustomed to violence.
But there was nothing violent about the way he touched her. About the gentleness of his mouth and hands as he resumed his loving.
She once again granted him access and he used it to full advantage, rousing her passion much as she urged him on, using her hands to stroke him. Playing him much as she might a sonata, each measured beat and pull of her hands giving him pleasure until he, too, was trembling and breathing roughly.
“I can’t wait anymore, Cat,†he said, rolling her beneath him. His arms braced on either side of her body as he slipped between her legs, but paused before entering her.
“I can’t either, Mick,†she replied and dropped one hand so she could encircle him and guide him into the center of her.
He sucked in a shaky breath as she gasped at his entry, held still as her body accommodated to the size of him. Thick in girth and perfect in length, he filled her completely.
She was the first to move, raising her knees to grasp his hips. The motion driving him even deeper within.
He met her gaze then, his eyes almost black with desire. A flush across the high cheekbones inherited from some long ago Aztec descendant. Full lips she wanted to savor.
She cradled the straight strong line of his jaw and brought her lips to his. Eased her tongue past the seam of his mouth to mimic the motion of their bodies. Her tongue darting against his much like he was drawing her ever closer to release with the pumping of his hips.
His movements grew more hurried and she urged him on with the soft cries of pleasure she whispered against his lips until something suddenly coalesced in the center of her.
The energy gathered into a ball and then exploded throughout her body, pulling him into her and caressing him as her climax overtook her body.
Mick exhaled roughly against her mouth as her soft cry of completion came against his lips and the muscles of her body milked him, pulling and tightening on him as his own release erupted in his body.
He managed to drive into her a few more times, prolonging her climax, but then he dropped down onto her, drained. His body heavy against hers, but she wrapped her arms around him and urged, “Don’t leave me yet.â€
Yet, he realized, glad that she understood the limits of what they had just experienced, but saddened by that as well.
He allowed himself to bask in the pleasure of her soft skin beneath him, and the heat and wet of her center as her body caressed him while he slowly softened within her.
The temperature of her body remained warm, a little more than normal. Thankfully nothing like it had been earlier in the night.
Guilt rose up on so many levels, but he ruthlessly drove it back, justifying what had just happened with one simple truth.
They had both wanted it to happen.
The question was, now that it had, where did they go from here?
There are a lot of things that can drain your creativity as a writer, but one of the worst is trying to edit while you are writing.
One of the important things to learn in writing quickly as well as writing effectively is not stopping and second guessing yourself about choices of words, sentence structure, spelling or grammar. Those are all things that can be fixed after the fact.
When you are writing your first draft, let yourself run free. Put down what comes out of your brain immediately. It’s always possible to go back and fix whatever it is that you think is wrong.
If you stop yourself from running free, you may miss creating something really different and interesting.
I will often write vital scenes without stopping (or stopping only a little). I want to get that rush of fresh thoughts down on the paper, especially when it comes to dialogue. Having the right pacing and words in dialogue often come easier when you just let it flow. It’s easy to go back and fill in what may be missing if you’ve got a good rhythm to your dialogue.
So – shut down your internal editor for that first draft. Let yourself explore new things and pour your heart out onto the paper. There will be time enough to fix things once you’ve finished the scene.
While surfing through the channels, I discovered this delicious Aussie dish who is doing one of my favorite things – gardening! Jamie Durie is an award-winning landscape architect and television host of HGTV’s new television show – THE OUTDOOR ROOM.
On the show, Jamie uses his landscaping skills to develop beautiful outdoor rooms out of problem backyards. From what I’ve seen so far, the outdoor rooms are nice and make me wish I lived in a clime where it was possible to have an “outdoor room.”
Want to know something else about Jamie? He was one of the founders of THE THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER/MANPOWER Male Revue!
Here’s some footage of an early Jamie doing an audition about MANPOWER. You can click on this link to see the interview with Jamie Durie. Thanks to ET for making this footage available.
I guess you guys know by now that I’m a baseball fanatic! I absolutely love the sport. Sad about the Mets, my home team. Already looking forward to 2011. Yep, 2011. Haven’t seen anything in the off-season trades or acquisitions that are giving me big hopes that the Mets will be contenders this year, but despite that I’m still a fan. Just one who knows not to get too hopeful about 2010. I hope they prove me wrong.
But on a more positive note, I watch baseball for a lot of reasons. The strategy. The excitement. The speed and power. The men in the tight pants. LOL!
There are times, however, where the game becomes more than a game and a play comes along that brings it all into focus.
Thanks to my friend and BIL Peter for sharing what is probably the greatest play in baseball. Here it is for you to see as well! For those who can’t see the video below, you can click on this link to watch how Rick Monday stopped two protesters from desecrating the American flag during a Dodgers-Cubs game.
You can also read more about the great play by Monday by clicking here to visit the Cubs website and find out what Monday thought about the protester’s prospects for the Majors after the protester tossed the lighter fluid can at him!
Thank you, Rick Monday! I hope you all have a great weekend.
The last two Thoughtful Thursdays I’ve been talking about Liberty, but as I mentioned during the blog on Big Brother and Big Government, Liberty is tough without having Life first.
On bigger levels, I hope that our leaders understand what they need to do to keep America safe.
On individual levels, there’s a lot we can do to safeguard ourselves, but today I want to talk about a writer’s life.
It’s not an easy life at times. If you’re not good with handling criticism or rejection, it’s probably not a good career choice.
If you’re in it for the big bucks, it’s probably also not a good choice.
If you’re in it because you have lots of stories in your head that you want to share with others — then a writer’s life is perfect for you!
So how is it that I decided to become a writer? If you’ve checked out my bio, you may know that in the fifth grade my teacher assigned a project – for us to write a book to be placed in a class lending library. The thought intrigued me so that I went home and started writing. When it came time to turn in the book, it was 120 typed pages (My poor mom worked at night for days to get it done!).
I knew then I writed a book, but for far longer than that, I’d had stories in my head.
I remember going to sleep at night and making up stories of princes, intrigue and sword fights (I always was on the dark side). The next night I would continue the story in my head, always moving it along.
After fifth grade, I started putting more and more ideas on paper and that continued throughout high school, college and even law school. So during all that time I was a writer.
Which brings me to the next thing – you don’t have to be published to be a writer. Writers write whether for just themselves or to share it with others. Thanks to the Internet, there are lots of ways to share your stories and satisfy the need to write.
So what made me decided to get published? For starters, and I am dating myself, there really wasn’t much in the way of the Internet back then for everyday people. The only way to share your stories was to go the traditional route of reaching out to a commercial publisher and having them buy your book.
With that in mind, I set out to get published and it took some time. At least six or seven years, but eventually it happened. I never gave up when I got rejection after rejection. I never lost sight of the dream that I had.
I also didn’t quit my day job. Which I guess brings me back to some tips I’d like to share with both pre-published and published writers!
1. Don’t quit your day job. Being a paid writer is an iffy proposition and economic worries will only be a drain on your creativity.
2. Don’t let rejection pull you down. You will not sell every novel you write. No one does (Well, except Nora Roberts although I’m sure she didn’t at first). Think of it as a ball game where .300 is a decent batting average. That’s one out of every 3 and ball players still get picked to play!
3. Learn to separate the wheat from the chaff. You may participate in critique groups or get “good” rejection letters from editors and agents. Be open to changes that are suggested, but learn how to separate bad suggestions from the good. You’ll have to trust your gut about that.
4. Don’t be a diva. Be willing to make changes and listen to what others say, especially editors and agents.
5. Join a support group. There is a reason why AA and Weight Watchers work. You need to be surrounded by people who understand what you are going through and can share their experience with you. They will also hopefully provide information on what’s happening in the industry and help you make contacts. (It is now time for a shameless plug for my local writing group – the Liberty States Fiction Writers – who is holding a marvelous conference on March 13th!)
6. Stay active. Writing is a both a solitary and sedentary life. With respect to the sedentary, try to move around during stints of writing and get some exercise!
7. Don’t lose sight of your dream! It’s not an easy road, but if you turn back, you will never reach your destination.
Hope you enjoyed today’s thoughts on a writer’s life!