Bests of the Year

I decided to pull a topic from a radio station that I listen to and every year they make a list of the five top things that were the best to them for the year. Sometimes they choose alcohol, vacation spots, hotels, restaurants, dive bars, menu items, and boutiques. You can argue any of these that you choose but it's still my blog and my picks. :-) Giggle. If your choices beat mine, I'm great with changing my opinion.

One: Best Burger         
Five Guys - Make it your way with tons of yummy toppings

Two:Best Chocolate Concoction
Sadly, I barely know the name or recipe. WHat I CAN tell you is that it's brandy soaked brownies layered in chocolate mouse and Heath crumbles..My sisters make it for me when I beg them to.  .Heaven in my mouth!!!!!

Three: Best Breakfast Item
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/baked-french-toast-casserole-with-maple-syrup-recipe2.html
ngredients
1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple syrup
Praline Topping:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/baked-french-toast-casserole-with-maple-syrup-recipe2.html?oc=linkback

Four: Best Biscuits
Cracker Barrel, with grape jam

Five: Best Writing Tool 
Google Docs, as it will save as I go and can store tons of files without any monthly fee. It's what has been my Go To Tool for the last two years.


Ok, I'm done for now. And if anyone can figure out the specifics on the chocolate mousse brownie stuff (o'heaven), then please share it with me. (Mouth watering, slurp)

                                                    )))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn
Wench Writer

My Twist on Two Christmas Carols

SHOPPING BLOWS
Oh the checkout line is frightful but the sales are so delightful
And since we've got funds so low
Shopping Blows, shopping blows, shopping blows

The idiots show no sign of stopping and my patience is dropping
The fights have turned into rows
Shopping Blows, shopping blows, shopping blows

When we finally say All Right, how I hate going through this swarm
I'll hold down my tongue so tight so the curse words won't form

The night is slowly dying and my dear we're still here dying
But as long as you save some dough
Shopping Blows, shopping blows, shopping blows.



The Writer's Twelve Days of Christmas
On my first day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
One back support

On my second day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my third day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my fourth day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my fifth day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my sixth day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
6 things of white out
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my seventh day of Christmas publisher gave to me,
7 pads of stickies
6 things of white out
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my eighth day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
8 series contract
7 pads of stickies
6 things of white out
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my ninth day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
9 conference choices
8 series contract
7 pads of stickies
6 things of white out
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my tenth day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
10 page long chapters
9 conference choices
8 series contract
7 pads of stickies
6 things of white out
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my eleventh day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
11 beat sheets cooking
10 page long chapters
9 conference choices          
8 series contract 
7 pads of stickies
6 things of white out
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces
One back support

On my twelfth day of Christmas my publisher gave to me,
12 chapter edits
11 beat sheets cooking
10 page long chapters
9 conference choices
8 series contract
7 pads of stickies
6 things of white out
5 tissue boxes
4 weeks til deadline
3 book cover choices
2 wrist braces                                                     )))Corset Hugs and Happy Holidays(((
One back support                                                 Ginny Lynn, Holiday Wench Writer

           

Random Writing Tips from Authors

As I've gone online for writing tips and tools, I've seen a list of things that have grabbed my attention. See if you like any of these.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that — but you are the only you.― Neil Gaiman


"My first rule was given to me by TH White, author of The Sword in the Stone and other Arthurian fantasies and was: Read. Read everything you can lay hands on. I always advise people who want to write a fantasy or science fiction or romance to stop reading everything in those genres and start reading everything else from Bunyan to Byatt." —Michael Moorcock

I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide. — Harper Lee

Believe that you’re a writer.




The first draft of everything is shit. -Ernest Hemingway


Never rescue your hero.


Break out of your comfort zone.

You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. ― Jack London

"Always carry a note-book. And I mean always. The short-term memory only retains information for three minutes; unless it is committed to paper you can lose an idea for ever." — Will Self







There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. ― W. Somerset Maugham


Did any of this help, or at least make 
you laugh??

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn
Wench Writer

Second Week Snippets - My newest venture

This is an unedited snippet from my WIP (work in progress). It's a new venture for me but I'm willing to see where this will take me. I'd like to hear what you think.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a brisk night that blew the rusty leaves into my hair and a chill to my fingertips. Of course my thin trench coat wasn't substantial enough to withstand anything under forty degrees, so I shivered in my worn denim jeans and long sleeve blouse. But I needed a moment of courage to step up to the imposing steel front door with enormous lion knocker that was at eye level for the average adult. Average, that was me in a nutshell, except for the visions that I got. Those were enough to have ruined my chances of already being married as my last doozy had been when a gentleman caller was attempting to kiss me goodnight. I had resulted in screaming at my internal screenplay as his cool lips had brushed across mine, then I had fainted. Thank God he had revived me before he’d run for the hills. I was still beating my head against the wall on that particularly embarrassing moment in my loveless life. It had gotten frequent enough on my visions that sex hadn't been tried in over three years. I was even afraid to head into a sex toy shop as I might have an episode in the swing aisle.

I said a silent prayer as I reached a shaky hand to the cold steel knocker. The door began to creek with wind and age as the first pound toned throughout the wind filled doorway. I had stepped back just as the door shook with the effort of someone pulling it open. My heart leapt into my whimpering throat as the door creaked open a sliver. I paused for a still second and saw that no one was in the breath of drafty space that was being sucked into the gloomy interior of the back-lit foyer.

“Um, hel-lo?” I stuttered the question, waiting for someone to pop up in my presence.

No reply came back. No scuttle of feet was heard to prove that someone had actually opened the ancient door. I felt a stiff breeze push me into the open alcove, almost toppling me onto the white marble floor that met the floor before me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well???????

)))Corset Hugs(((

                 

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Firsts That I want for 2015 - Part 1

I spent a good bit of time thinking over what I wanted to put for this month's First blog but had a hard time finding something that "hit the spot" for me. This time I decided to make up a list of Firsts that I want to complete throughout the next year. There are several, so I'll do three for now and do three more, plus any of the first few that I didn't complete, in three . I'll post the other parts the first weeks of March, June, September, and let you know about the rest around the end of the year holidays in 2015.

1. Write my First Gothic Paranormal (aka another type of Romantic Suspense)
       
          I've already started it but being on the second chapter means that I barely have my act together. I'm surprised that I even came up with the GMC (goal, motivation, conflict) last week - on Thanksgiving Day, no less. It's a new venture for me and I want to see if I can do it justice. If not, then it was a wonderful learning experience. Either way, I want the first draft (when you toss the whole idea out of your mind and need to rework it, a few times) done by the end of April. I think that this is a fair goal with me being out of college.

2.  Have my First Home Office functional and in use

          The house that we bought in September has a good bit of work to be done on it. As we don't have adequate storage space, my office and the spare room have been  housing all of the items that we're going through for Goodwill donations. I was lucky enough to paint the walls before moving my desk, sewing machine, and bookcases in. It still needs the drawings on the wall, the black decorations, and everything ready to be used. MWAHAHAHA.

3.  Make my First Batch of Cinnamon Rolls

          Cinnamon rolls are one of my favs, even if lethal for anyone trying to fit into those skinny jeans. ;-) Maybe that's just me. Giggle. Even if I can't afford the caloric intake of having them on a frequent basis, I want to successfully make a batch of these babies. I'm sure that my best friend, and amazing cook, can help me accomplish this.

Who wants to do this with me? And yes, that means sharing it with me. I'll keep you posted and I'd love the same from you.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

My Turkey Manuscript and my Black Friday

My explanation of my Turkey Manuscript

I'm going to think of my new WIP (work in progress) as a family sized turkey. You need to show it some love and attention as you slow cook it in your preheated oven. It's me, you gotta see it. It needs to be prepped, basted, lovingly watched, accessorized, and served up on a nice platter. If I can make this into a tasty meal, then it would be more beneficial than a sweater at 45% off the clearance price. Unless it's a high quality piece of apparel, the book will outlast it.

My sides will be

Green Bean Casserole - vibrant explanation of scenes with a hint of something strong

Mashed Potatoes - comfort food phrases to help ease the scenes along

Cranberry Sauce - a slight bite of sarcasm

Rolls - a tad bit of rising in the tension

Desserts

Red Velvet Cake - a vibrant and seductive slice of passion

Ice Box Lemon Pie - a tangy bit of coolness that touches your senses

I think that's a decent base for a good meal.

That brings me to Black Friday

I'm rebelling against the normal tradition of heading to the outlet mall for my Christmas shopping on Black Friday.  I have anxiety issues when around large  (usually rude) crowds plus I have a little bit of claustrophobia so being pinned against a clearance rack of ugly holiday sweaters is too much outside of my comfort zone. I'm just not going to do that to myself this year.

As I'm not going to be at work and have very few plans for my day, I'm going to see if I can write 3,000 words instead of spending $300 at a long list of stores. Sure, I could use the discount as my budget is screaming like a overly tired three year old but I'd feel more productive if I saved on the anti anxiety methods and put that angst into the gothic romantic suspense that I am building on. 

If I'm successful in my meal planning than my day will be easier to navigate as I take a mental break to throw my angst into a plot that has been on my mind for awhile. It's not my usual feast but I'm not afraid to try new foods. My readers and publisher will confirm whether my investment is good enough to serve up to the public. I hope it is and we'll see what the vote is next year.

)))Corset Hugs((( and Happy Thanksgiving

Ginny Lynn 

Wench Writer

Plotted out of my pants

Sadly, I think that I have plotted myself out of my muse time. After recently attending the Moonlight and Magnolia's Conference, I started pinpointing plotting skills that were needed for a successful story. In the past two years, I've read more over GMC (goal, motivation, conflict), outlines, storyboards, adequate back story, etc...And this was while I was editing my last book for publication. 

Having wonderful writing friends is a boost as I can see what works for them in their careers but it's been hard making them work for me. One thing that I learned about myself this year is that I can seriously plot myself out of several promising story lines.

While having a bank of novel ideas, I kept trying to write more than a sketchy scene to only have my imagination freeze up faster than my toes on a frigid tile floor. It was mind numbing. I could see something and then by the time I got it down to typing it out, POOF Gone! My muse would run from the room as if she'd been scared by a mansion full of ghosts. I'd start to feel better when I"d get a whole new scene in my internal vision but I'd end up doing it all over again.


About three weeks ago, I started jotting down brief descriptions of all the scenes that I could clearly see and saved them on pieces of paper in my purse. When I had a free lunch hour (hahahahah), I got those bits out and smiled at tangible proof that my creativity had not run away from me.


 This past week, I had pulled out a group of plotting tools to see if I could give myself a day to think over what those small scenes could mean for a plot lineup. I was pleased when I got a few of them answers on the questionnaire but then it crashed on me faster than a Walmart buggy on Black Friday. I was totally stumped.

 My GRW (Georgia Romance Writers) meeting was this past Saturday and I mentioned this dilemma to some of my chosen circle. One response (sounding strangely like my hubby's opinion on the matter) was that I was pushing it too hard. DUH! That's what we do!

This person was a bit different in her explanation. She stated that I was a pantser, which is a free form thinker, and not a person who technically plots out every little detail. I knew this. What I didn't understand was that I was trying to make myself a better writer but in a way that smothered my creative flow. I was unintentionally taking the fun out of every scene that my delicious mind handed over, therefore kicking my muse in the curvy butt cheeks.

I had a couple of hours to think this over as I drove back home and thought it was worth a try to see if I could get my Pants On. I have a few days that I can concentrate on my ideas and will try to get myself to just write what is thrown at me and not push the technical issues until I have the first draft written.

This is worrisome for me as I feel like I may be wasting time but my muse may need this to reboot for the projects that I have lined up for 2015. There's only one way to find out. So, Thanksgiving will be Food, Resting, Family, and Writing. I'll be thankful for my blessings, whether they be in ink or by my side.

Fingers Crossed. 

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Second Week Snippets - Another Work In Progress (Unedited)

The blood was ambrosia to my panging stomach but it was also terrifying in it’s delivery. How could he have killed the female peasant? He didn’t need to as there was game migrating into the forest. He could’ve taken us farther into the limbed depth to fill our vast emptiness. But he chose to kill a virgin who had mistakenly came across his prowling steps.

He’d even rubbed red against my muzzle after making the killing blow. I knew by the scent that she had been a virgin, untainted by the darkness that had just taken her soul. I heard footsteps rumbling toward us, knowing we were about to be confronted. Blast his hide for crossing this line, with so many of us here to pay for this crime. My instinct told me not to look any further upon the body at his paws and to run for cover, as the devil himself would be upon us quickly.

I yipped a cry to the others as I turned my tucked tail toward the hills. Hearing the shuffle of my escaping pack, my heart leapt as the human neared us. We’d all been caught by surprise and would pay for it dearly. A few were frightened enough that their bodies rode too closely to mine. It was a momentary tangle of limbs and then a missed step that had me lagging behind the others. Fear rode the air as I fought to recover, but I wasn’t quick enough.

I heard a bellow just before I felt the ripping pain in my hip. I faltered further, hitting the churned earth, as my pack left me there. I was shot and would be sacrificed for someone else’s crime. God help me.

***

Thaddeus bellowed as he pulled the trigger on his riffle. My moving target went down in a tangle of limbs. The small cream colored wolf with the red smeared muzzle had been taken out with only one shot. It’s a shame that I could only kill one of them, especially as I saw the unmoving victim in the dry leaves of the forest floor. I could see the fair maiden was dead by the amount of blood pooling out around her cooling form. If only I’d caught the pack before she had come across their path. Would I have been quick enough to save her? I’d never know. That made his tough heart ache.  

Now I’d have two bodies to tend to. I wasn’t about to leave the woman’s body for them to come back to and I had use for the wolf skin. Setting the rifle down, I found a boulder that was just large enough to cover the corpse, plus mark her resting place. I’d have to leave word with someone in the small village about her whereabouts. Someone would have to know what had become of her. Thankfully, one of the predators had been taken care of, as to not have the same one attack an innocent again.

Whatcha think of this one? Let me know.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Firsts - Co Chairing a Conference

I'm a Pro Member of Georgia Romance Writers and we have an annual conference each October. This year things were vastly different. Instead of being a member who was there for the workshops and pitching my manuscripts, I was the Co-Chair. Shudder.

Noelle Pierce was elected the Chairperson of the conference for 2014 and 2015 but she had to pick a co-chair that hadn't handled it before. Guess who happened to be in her beady line of sight? Shudder, again. As I have told her, I was thrown under a fabulous bus and here I am.

I was there from 3 pm on Thursday 10/9 and didn't come home until 3 pm on Sunday 10/12. As soon as I had walked into the Goody Room (where we share writer swag), I was put to work as I stuffed gorgeous bags with anything from sexy bookmarks to logo pens. There were historical novels and erotic romances to add as well. I know, poor pitiful me. Not! Did I mention that I came in there wearing a corset, peasant blouse, jeans, and three inch gold peep toe shoes? No? Well, I did and I showed them that I could work in all of that. I didn't even take the shoes off until I was in the hotel room later that night.

I even got a hilarious spoon made by Anastasia Vitsky and it was appropriate for my conference adventure. As you can see below, I "wore" it with pride. No false advertisement here, folks.

  We had tons of wonderful workshops going on and I missed some of the best ones (sadly). I met Marie Force, funny gal, and got to grab a few minutes with my publisher, Sandy Sullivan (From Secret Cravings Publishing). Wendy Wax, Roni Loren, Anna Destefano, Tanya Michaels, Kelli Ireland, Jana Oliver, Jennifer McQuiston, and many more where in attendance. (Fangirl moments ensued)

 The official dinner was that Saturday night and the theme was Wicked this year. Sadly, I couldn't get my act together for a Good Witch ensemble so I attended as myself (sad, huh?). Noelle was a shining star in her witchy best...swoon. And I got to switch dates between the wonderful Kristin Anders to my hubby (AKA Werewolf). I was a happy girl.

 But before the dinner was our book signing and I was awe struck by the talent in the room. I was honored to be among these authors. If I'd had the funds then I would have gone broke that night from all the published goodies that were on display.

My friend B.B. Louise won some awards for her service to GRW and I'm bursting with pride for her. It was a wonderful event and I've been told that I handled my newness well enough that I was about to be thrown items for next year. She wasn't kidding because it wasn't thirty minutes from the end on Sunday before we were already gathered around a table with topics for the next one. 

I'm going to be a monster when this comes about again. I hope they still like me. BWAHAHAHA!

Long live Georgia Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America. 

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer