Characters. Where do they come from?

Ever meet someone on the street and think; Now, there's a character. Someone to build around.

Once I was writing a story and in this work was a man, named Willy, who had been in prison, now out and trying to be a better person. He's young, toughened by life and back living with his mom. He knows what he did broke his mother's heart and he tries to keep his cool under pressure mostly for her. He made promises and he'll put up with a lot not to hurt her again.

So, I'm grocery shopping with my daughter. There behind the deli counter is Willy. Almost the perfect Willy. Even his language was Willy.

So, where do your characters come from? Are they people you know?

And what about the people in your life you don't like? Do you take their uglier traits and put them into your bad guys?

Secret; I use the first names of those nasty girls from high school for the ugly characters in my stories. Am I evil for doing this?

Another turning point...

This photo is my latest WIP. Tomorrow is my last day at work. Feels strange. Freeing, scary, exciting and I'll miss my boss. She was the best boss in the world. It was a great office. Nice people worked there.

Via con dios' mi amigos.

Another turning point a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go
So make the best of this test and don't ask why
It's not a question but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable but in the end It's right
I hope you had the time of your life
So take the photographs and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good heath and good time
Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable but in the end It's right
I hope you had the time of your life
It's something unpredictable but in the end It's right
I hope you had the time of your life
It's something unpredictable but in the end It's right
I hope you had the time of your life

Count down: three days

New Jersey has beautiful beaches. This is proven every summer when all of New York decends on us. (which is why I perfer the beaches in winter)

In summer, Beaches can get really crowded but the worse part is the boomboxes. (or minitured versions of them: Ipods with mega speakers) There should be a rule against them.

Vent over.

I've been working in a business that's busiest time is in the summer. 12 hour days could be the norm. Early in, late out, losing control of life except as it exsists in the office. I haven't seen summer in almost 10 years.

Unemployment in 3 days; LOOK OUT SUMMER! HERE I COME!

Painting & Used Books

When painting a straight line you don't look at your brush. You look at where you want the line to end. Then your hand (and the tip of the brush) will go there. Easy. One straight line.

While painting last night I forgot this little rule. Then it came back. Oh yeah, eyes on the goal, not the process.

That made me think about other goals.

In five days I'm unemployed and I face this mixed emotions.

-More time to write!

-Scary money issues...

-Time to paint!

-More scary money issues (I have no idea how unemployment works.)

-I have control of my life!

- um...or do I?

So my daughter and I were talking about working, high unemployment and the slumping economy. And she suggested combining our love of books with work by opening a used book store.

Questions: Would you/do you go to a used book store? Are there any in your area? Have you ever visited a used book store?

I found this one on the net. It looks like fun.

I feel the words...I just can't see them yet

Grief, It's a strange beast.

It hurt when Inky left. My daughter thinks she left like that to spare her the pain of having to bury her beloved cat.

Maybe so.

I've had mixed feelings. I had anger at her not letting me be there.

Silly, I know. She's a cat. A soul seperate from my own who lives (and should) by her own rules.

But still.

I'm not writing yet but my mind has started churning. Ideas for one of my WIPs have been coming to me.

So it's almost time to write again. It's coming, I can feel it.

And I'm painting. So that's a good thing. Paint soothes the soul. If I could touch my soul I'd paint it orange. If red is lust and pink is pure love then orange is an outrageous combination of love and lust. We should approach life with orange energy.

I found this picture on the net. The artist name is on the bottom. I love the mood her work sets. This guy looks lonely but also content. Like he's almost ready to move on. I understand him.

What the parrot is saying: AAAFLAAAAAK!

My children have a strange sense of humor. I know they stay up late teaching him these things. He still has yet to say I love you.

Book Roast

They are slice and dicing authors over at the Book Roast. Check it out! Exerpts, contests and grilled authors. What more could we ask for?

<--That's the pic from their blog. Kinda makes ya drool, doesn't it.

WARNING: Read Blogger bio's at your own risk. (They're a bit scary)

Congratulations California!

Today is the first day for same sex marriages in California. Yay!

And its about freakin' time. Now if all other states follow their lead we might truly have some equal rights for all.

One couple had been together 50 years.

God bless 'em. And I'm sure he does.

Congratulations to all the newly wedded couples in California.