Have you seen it? The first season of Sherlock, the BBC update of the adventures from Baker Street is amazing. And the premier of the second season just showed on my local PBS station. Weeee!

I wasn’t sure at first. I’m an old Sherlock Holmes reader from wa-a-a-a-ay back. One of the first mystery series I ever read and one I still enjoy. I’ve seen numerous adaptations, films, television series, even comic books, fan fiction and thoroughly enjoyed most all of them.

Nichol Williamson did an interesting portrayal of the detective as a drug addict. Loved it. One of my favorites, by the way. The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. If you like Holmes movies, look for this one!

But Benedict Cumberbatch is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. Whether or not you agree with the portrayal, this actor is intense and compelling. I personally love the ambiguity of the character. Is he gay? Is he bi? Is he…does it matter? Not really, not to me. The intellectual wheels are literally visible in Benedict’s eyes and the body language, the story being told without words…wonderful!

Now, I write pirate stories. But more than that, I write the type of characters I could imagine Benedict playing. In fact, it’s very inspirational to watch this young man.

Not that long ago, I saw Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy at the movie theaters. And felt that Gary Oldman did a masterful job portraying George Smiley. But I can remember sitting in the movie theater, titling my head at the agent called Peter Guillam… “I know this guy…who is he?” Finally, something clicked and I realized. “This is Sherlock!”

I’d love to see this guy in a pirate movie…I’m thinking…I have a character in the third book that I leave a bit up in the air at the end. Fans of Lee? I am working on Lee’s story and honestly, wouldn’t Benedict make a wonderful Lee? Yeah, a bit slight in stature, but I think he could do it!

Okay, I’m hoping I can do justice to this week. So, you see…five years ago I went to bed, not feeling terribly well and woke up three days later in the hospital. Seems I’d fallen asleep and my heart sped up, lost rhythm and then stopped.

My husband, attentive man that he is, noticed and started CPR. Most people to whom this sort of episode happen, especially if in bed, don’t survive.

I did. Now, five years later…I have an interior cardio defibrillator, a sort of personal emergency medical technical device that lives in my chest, with leads directly in my heart. It keeps track of what is going on and if my heart goes dicey again, it will deliver a shock, saving my life.

Modern medicine is phenomenal, what it can do.

My life, prior to April 21, 2007, was simple. I wrote constantly. I didn’t submit, I didn’t think about publishing…I was too scared at the idea of being rejected. Funny, how that all changed after I did the tango with death.

The one year anniversary, I was at my first Romantic Times Booklovers Convention, taking a class from dear Judi McCoy. The second year, I was returning from my second Romantic Times Booklovers Convention, having taken the follow up class from Bobbi Smith and pitched to agents and editors. Got requests, too.

The third year, I was with a friend as we left our third RT, having met the woman who later became my agent. The fourth year, I was signing my first printed book.

The fifth year? A week home from my fifth RT and signing my second in print book.

I know have six titles out, two in print.

Now, modern medicine made this possible. My husband being attentive made this possible. A very good therapist made this possible.

And I made this possible.

Life wasn’t ready to let go, neither was I.

Challenges, like mine, are difficult to see as a blessing. They can be a turning point, as mine was. A kick in the ass, as mine was. A sobering thing…like mine.

How is my life different now?

Well, I am not scared of rejection anymore. Didn’t happen overnight. I am still extremely superstitious. My faith is still the same, probably stronger. (I’m a pagan.) My house is messier than it ever was, my yard was in the process of going wild…it’s now completely wild.

I woke up fast to the hunger to create and dove into stories, editing, learning my craft. Not to organize or clean.

Sigh.

Now, I sat across the table a few days ago with a talented young woman, with two younger children. She writes. And just discovered she may lose her sight in the next ten years.

I wasn’t sure what to say, other than to offer my experience. You never know the gifts these challenges will eventually gift us with.

I do know one thing that is very true. Sometimes, you have to let people help you. It is a gift you give to them.

And that is my wisdom for the day.

And thank you world, for letting me leave that dance and return to life.

Well, my goals for RT were simple. Go to some panels. Dance at one of the parties.

Oops.

Hey! I went to one panel! Whoohoo!

I didn’t dance…

What I did do! I connected with several wonderful authors…Including the fabulous Corina Lawson, who was a wonderful cohort at the Gaslight Gathering as we huddled in a corner and played the evil villains…

And posed with a sexy guy and an intrepid female botonist…

More as the week progresses of my adventures in RT Land!

Honestly, it’s the only thing that makes sense. Why did I pledge to do without chocolate the weeks before leaving for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Chicago?

Sigh.

Okay, I am feeling better physically. And doing without the fast food at the same time as surely done me good. Body hurts less, I think I’ve lost weight… But still.

Here I am, days away from climbing aboard that plane, still so much to do and I can’t take refuge in chocolate?

What do I still need to do?

Proof and activate the new book pages of this blog. (I’m going to ask my husband to help out with that. He has a better eye for details than me.)

Print up the MadLibs I coerced from Katharine Ashe and Beth Williamson on something nice and big and sturdy.

Package up more of the tattoos…

(This is the tattoo and I’m packaging most of them with directions in small plastic bags. Aint they cool?)

And I need to pack all the promo stuff that I waited too long to send off to friends.

I have a digital photoframe coming that I need to load with images of my book covers, some amusing pics of me playing the pirate and quotes from my reviews…

ARGH!

And I’m not eating chocolate!

I. Can. Make. It!

Man, first thing I’m having when I get to the Hyatt is a Chocolate Martini. And maybe a brownie. With ice cream, and chocolate sauce…

Wow! Yup, only two weeks to go and I will be sprawled in a hotel room in Chicago, surrounded by chaos and wishing I were already asleep.

Yes, I do know how it goes for me!

I will also have finished my chocolate fast, most likely with a York Peppermint Patti, bought this week by my husband, who I had forgotten to inform of my chocolate fast. Sweet man! He hid it from me and said he’d tell me where it was the day I leave. Easter Sunday. I figure it will be a real nice way to display my control. I mean, there ain’t a lot of chocolate in a York Peppermint Patti.

How have I done it? Struggling. And cashews. And other sweet treats. I think I’m going to do my best to cut back on the extra sweets this week. I’m allowed, but no reason to go overboard just because I’m not eating chocolate.

I’m doing well staying away from the fast food. Five lunches and no Taco Bell, no Carls Jr., none of them. One day I had Subway and I am eating at local establishments. I mean, the fish tacos at Los Gallos are to die for. And just grilled fish, fresh salsa and small corn tortillas. Wondrous!

I will be ready for RT and I’m already feeling lighter and less bloated. Nope, I am not weighing myself, just going by how I feel.

The swag is shipped and arrived…but I’m still cutting out temporary tattoos!

This was one of the funnest things I put together. My author trading cards. Yup, no individual book cards, but I had a blast putting these together!

This is one card, front and back. If you’d like one sent to you, send my your snail mail and I’ll pop one in the mail to you!

Three weeks until the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. Well, three weeks for me, since I go a few days early to help out with the pre-con workshop for the Aspiring Authors.

I had great intentions for this con. Last year, in Los Angeles, I was so totally exhausted at the end of the week, I was determined to be in better shape for this one.

I am 15 pounds lighter, about half what I wanted, but that isn’t bad. I am walking more, though I didn’t join the gym as I’d planned, learn pilates, etc… Well, I’m human! Best laid plans, blah, blah, blah.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing pictures of the swag and promotional items I prepared for this year, in Chicago. A lot of this stuff will still be available to anyone who makes a request and sends me their address… And a few of the bigger items? I’m always finding kraken swag when I go out and I will hold contests this year…

And…big announcement…for the next three weeks, 21 days… I am giving up chocolate and fast food. (Aside from Subway sandwiches.) I want to give my body a chance to shed some toxins before I climb aboard that plane. I’m going to increase my daily walk by at least five minutes, which the dog will enjoy…

I’ll go onto Facebook and post for the world to watch. Three weeks without chocolate…

I’m gonna die!

*big breath…I can do this.

Now, here is one piece of swag for the convention… My button for The Chameleon Goggles!

What do you think?

Somedays, I so miss Judi. I had a day like that today, March 12. Big loss of confidence, fell into an ocean of self-doubt, felt like crying a rive of tears…just big melt down day.

Used to be I could have e-mailed Judi and eventually she’d reply and talk me off the cliff. In my heart, I know she’s still in my heart and her strength, common sense and conviction will always be with me.

Judi was such a dog lover! The second Romantic Times Booklovers Convention I attended was in Orlando. And at one of the large costume events, I created a character I knew she’d adore. I attended as the Fairy Dogmother…a character that looked after all dogs, good and bad. Rewarding those who treated dogs well and punishing those who were cruel.

My friend, Jane, and I walked to Judi’s hotel room to show off our costumes. And she laughed, and smiled and thought for sure I’d win a prize. (Nope, but it was still fun.)

I’ve thought a lot about that evening lately. And about a year ago, I came up with a story to write about that character. Not so silly, more contemporary, romantic and sliding slightly into the paranormal. Much like Judi’s Goddess books did.

On days like this, when I just feel low…I make notes about that book. I’m thinking this year, at my 5th RT, I’m gonna sit down with Judi’s former students and do some plotting work. If this book ever reaches the shelf…it will be for Judi.

Jane and I are bringing buttons to RT, to commemorate Judi. Her favorite saying was “Finish the damn book!”

Well, Judi, I will work on this book, for you, and I will finish it!

Had an interesting discussion the other day with a writer friend. I was chatting about a book I’ve been editing for my agent. It’s called Foxoddness and it features a character named Will. And Will’s mother was a fox. This led to a discussion about whether that made Will a shifter.

Me, “Nope, he doesn’t shift. Well, he did once and I suppose there is a danger he could again. But he’s not a shifter in the traditional sense.”

Traditional sense? Once upon a time shifters were cursed humans who lost their humanity once a month, when the moon was full, and became animals. Or some hybrid of animal and human. Then that sorta changed to shfiters who could shift at will, who weren’t cursed and didn’t lose their human intelligence when they shifted.

Why the question mark with traditional? Well, once upon a time, mythology featured animal guides who sometimes walked in a human shape, and sometimes in an animal shape. They weren’t actually called shifters… I’m talking about the tricksters. Coyote, Rabbit, Raven…etc.

My friend? Well, she isn’t particularly fond of shifter stories, feeling it’s a bit on the bestiality side of things. So, as we discussed my book and my characters and I tried to explain that no, Will’s mother isn’t a shifter either.

Her, “So, his dad has sex with a fox.”

Me, “Uh. No. When she’s with him she’s a human woman.”

Her, “So, she is a shifter.”

Me, “Uh. No…she’s a magical mythological creature. I’ve read of them in Japanese mythology. Though usually the vixens trick men into denning with them.”

Her, “So, he thinks he’s with a woman, but she’s really a fox.”

Me, “Uh. No. She’s…hell. Okay, she’s both human and fox. Two realities that change places…she’s a fox, but she’s also a woman. But mostly, she’s a fox.”

Her. “Right.”

My friend isn’t big on paranormal elements.

But the whole conversation got me thinking about the idea of how one defines a shifter. Will was born a fox but now he’s human. So…technically, he shifted. Once. But he isn’t a shifter. He does have odd gifts from his supernatural mother. Hence, the name of the book. Foxoddness.

Which my friend thought was a strange title.

I love conversations like this! Get my brain spinning. Not sure my friend found it as fascinating…

My dog. What a smart girl! And amusing.

She’s a rescue, we got her a few years ago from the shelter. We were told she was a shepard/pitbull mix. Not sure how much pitbull is really there…I think the shelter simply says pitbull just in case. She does have a broad jaw… But I meet boxer people who think she’s part boxer. Rhodesian Ridgeback people thing she’s part ridge… It’s difficult to say what she is. Though I think the black eyeliner around her eyes spells shepard. And the black tip at her tail… I tell people she used it to pain the eyeliner on…

So, Bonnie! She goes everywhere with me. When the minivan is running smoothly, this is a great life for her. She considers that van her moving kennel. But when the van is frightening me with starts and stutters…I take the Matrix and she has to make due with a crowded back seat. But it’s better than the end-of-the-world that staying at home would mean.

Yup, my co-pilot!

The Matrix has a remote unlock and I hit that button as I approach the car. I might have spent a few hours in my Starbucks, or had lunch or taken in a movie… I hit that button and I see my 50 pound dog rise from the driver’s seat and move to the passenger seat. There’s a big pad in the backseat! But nope, she is curled into this little bucket seat…

Dogs. They are totally beyond understanding!

I just heard, Judi. And my heart is heavy with loss. I knew you were struggling and I sensed I wouldn’t be seeing you again. I know you are with Rudy now and he is dancing about your feet, anxious to show you all the wonders of heaven.

Now your back no longer hurts, your knees will let you dance and as he leads you through the green grass and up hills and through the trees, there will be no pain.

Oh, how I will miss you. Hearing your laughter at the Romantic Times Convention, that wonderful tilted eye and crooked smile…my heart aches at the memory of that expression on your face as you asked about ‘humping fairies?’ …

Thank you for all the encouragement, the mentorship, the love and support. I promise to do my best to live up to your example and dedicate myself to honoring you.

All my love, Maureen