Firsts - Lost Sibling

Here's another first but this one comes from a sad place, the loss of my big brother. So, please go back to your (hopefully) paid day off (if this isn't a day for you to feel my pain) but I can promise some sweet lines long the way.

As a youngster, I watched my brother and envied some of the things that an older brother got to do. I was an annoyance to him as he felt that he couldn't do anything without me watching or wandering what he was up to. This ended up in several damages on my side as I had doors shut in my face or was shoved out of his personal space. Back then I could scurry away or tell  my mom that I was offended by his lack of compassion for my curiosity.

As he grew older, he became more comfortable with his zany ways and I was envious of that. He was creative, had an ear for music, and an eye on comic book story lines. As a matter of fact, my favorite character in the comics was the first one he introduced me to Magique (with Daredevil). He would make sure that I wasn't sitting outside of his room when he would play his Prince records, as it "wasn't age appropriate". Seriously, you were only a couple years older than me. To this day, Prince, Toto, and Depeche Mode will always make me think of my brother and his teenage antics.

Growing older, I had crushes on his friends as they were close to my idol plus had the cool factor that I admired. Sadly, this went as well as a stuffed bikini top at the local swimming pool. Not well. One of them was supposed to take me to the 8th grade dance but happened to forget. OUCH! (Side note: as I "grew up" he supposedly apologized to me through old friends about how that night had turned out. It in itself is a whole other story....first heartbreaking crush.)

A pattern was set as I was the aggravating sister who wouldn't leave him alone and he was the coolest thing I could think of for a unique brother. Yes, we had tons of squabbles but that didn't change my devotion to him. When I got married, he had already run off with his wife. The great part was that he became really tight with my hubby. I stayed in the background as I was told not to "ruin his life" by adoring him, but I was proud of all of his achievements. We even went to visit him and his new family when he was stationed in Alabama and had a wonderful days as we all played cards.

The friendship got even tighter over the last few years and at one point I was told that I no longer had custody of my brother as he was officially my husband's brother. I was fine with that because although I wasn't his fav to hang out with, he was there for me to love from my quiet corner. We were there for the days he moved, some of the last minute get togethers he threw, motorcycle trips, and hours spent working on broken vehicles.

More recently he was going to help us move into the house that we were buying and attend my RMA (registered medical assistant) pinning ceremony. That didn't happen. I ache for what did occur. You see, my brother fought a mental illness that wasn't diagnosed when we were younger. It does explain how he handled things and how he felt about my shadowing him. I understood and backed away as to show my love in a different light. It was the best that I could do.

The night before my pinning we got the call that stopped time for me. My brother was no longer with us. The tears were non stop as my hubs and I tried to piece together what could have taken away such a vivacious warm person. He loved his wife to the point of saint hood, cherished his kids so madly that he sold cars to get them the things they needed. Why had God taken away the brother that had just accepted me as a more important part of his life? I still don't understand and I probably never will.

Even with it being a month ago, I will suddenly start crying as one of his famous lines or a character he would invent popped into my mind for a brief visit. Now, I fight the stream of tears while I think of him imitating Robin Williams who also imitated people. Robin himself died right after my brother's memorial so that made it even harder as people were mourning all around for the same type of spirit being taken from our view. They were so much alike that I re-experienced it all as if the tears hadn't just stopped.

I went to my pinning anyway, without him, and thought of him most of the time that I was celebrating my evening. You can imagine that the tears of joy for my accomplishment were actually for the loss that I was feeling in my heart. I played it off well. My teacher and husband were proud of him for not losing it that night. We bought that house that he was going to put some of his gear at. He isn't there to paint or to give some outlandish opinion on how the bathroom should be decorated in some garish scene. His spare riding gear won't be in the closet and his tools won't be spread in a corner of my garage. Not in reality. In spirit he is with me as I listen to Depech Mode sing Shout, while I watch the memorials on Facebook about the standup acts that Robin Williams did in the eighties, and in the motorcycle (that looks like his) in my garage.

Even if the ringing phone isn't him, he's in my heart as the wonderful man that I shadowed through our lives. This was one man who wasn't afraid to laugh at life's little humor as he would normally joke right back, He was a hero to me, no matter how many flaws a human could point out. That was my brother. I miss him.

P.S. Moral - ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE YOU LOVE THEM - NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON
you never know when God will need them more than we do.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn
Wench Writer

The Name Game

Let's talk about Pen Names.

 
 I go by Ginny Lynn in the book publishing world. Those who know me personally know what my real name is (No, don't put it on here. Giggle).

Why do I have this? As I'm a (recent) college graduate and have a career outside of the book realm, I like to have a small piece of privacy that is mine to hold onto. Telling everyone where you are and who you are is a place that some people want to stake out. Creepy is not a good enough word for the progressive trolls that are out there. Yes, I've experienced a couple of these trolls.

I'm also a wife/mom/grandmom, so there are tons of things that a stranger doesn't need to know about me. Have you noticed that I use the names Werewolf and Teenwolf to speak of my husband and son? They like the nicknames and it keeps things from getting embarrassing when we're in the public eye. I can get away with telling some of their epic tales as only a handful of people know who they really are.

If you've paid any attention to my books, you'll find that I use the same pen name for both of the genres that I have published. I have paranormal and contemporary romances
(both genres have suspense and a happily ever after). As I've talked to more published authors, I'll probably keep the same name for any other pieces that I chose to write. This would include genres like Science Fiction/Urban Fantasy/Romantic Comedy/Gothic Romance/Romantic Horror. All of these are current ideas that I'm plotting out.

No matter what I write, I possess the same fictional voice, even if the background of the story making is completely different. I also don't have any future dated contracts with any publisher outside of Secret Cravings, so I don't have demands from a bigger house. That may seem like small potatoes but I've seen good and bad on both sides of the publishing line. I know happy big house writers (Avon, St Martins, Harlequin) but I also know ecstatic Indie/Self Pub/Small Press writers.

If I ever go to a big house, then I'll see how they feel as I have no idea what I'll be writing at that time. Having always wanted to pursue a book deal with a big house, I'll still keep looking at what I can submit to them. But in the meantime, I'm very happy where I am in this Fictional World. I'm even going to take this time to research all the before mentioned genres to see what I can accomplish with my flavor of romance. Who knows, I may even go back to writing my paranormal series while I sort out the faint voices in my head.

The future is open and I have a new bulb in the tunnel, so we'll see what is ahead of me on this wonderful path.

(((Corset Hugs)))

Ginny Lynn
Wench Writer

Me being me - part one

"The day you stop learning is the day you start dying." Ronald Kirkland, my daddy

So, I'm learning more about myself as I fight some insecurities. Recently graduating from college, my mind is out of sorts on what I'm doing with my time and my talents. My job has changed a bit and I'm okay with that, even if it isn't what was in my plans. I'm also fighting the fact that the time I used to spend on studying is now occupied by fixing up the house we bought a week ago. Again, this is doable as I can't sit around and wonder what things I'm missing. I've trained myself to be a professional multi tasker so the thought of having a block of unplanned time is totally unnerving to me.

All this being said, I'm going to add in a few posts about the changes that I'm going through. Maybe it'll help someone or maybe it'll be a cathartic way of me working myself out. Whatever works :-)

Today - Genre topic issues

I write primarily paranormal romance/paranormal romantic suspense. The problem is that my being engrossed in creative tales of vampires/shifters/witches has caused many to claim that the market is too saturated with these types of stories. Really? Isn't yet another Dracula movie coming out this year and didn't we just enjoy one season (dang it that they weren't smart enough to do more...) of the NBC Dracula series?

My opinion is the that you either like yummy vampires or you don't. Period. I have some friends who can't get enough and some that would rather not read another one, ever. That's fine and to each their own. I love vampire stories, macabre and romantic. I just do. So, until further notice, I will be milling my muse with ideas of more to come. I even just released one 

Calinda is a vampire coven daughter of the council and a timid translator who has been given to a stranger in a marriage contract that means exile if she doesn't accept the terms.  (cough cough - Go Buy It at http://store.sweetcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=232&zenid=fea3698539822556283d9a33dd5d0b4a)

http://store.sweetcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=232&zenid=fea3698539822556283d9a33dd5d0b4a

And as I have several more in the Muse Library, there will be tons more to join this and my previous vampire characters.....like this

Andromeda is a psychic twin with two delicious men fighting to own her powers but only one can have her in their bed.

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=36&products_id=556

(Cough Cough, buy this too...also on Kindle and Nook, unashamed advertising)

I've made peace with the fact that some people are sick of fangtastic stories. It hurts but it's just a thing to overcome (giggle). I'm still going to move ahead with my series that hasn't found a home (sad to say) and see if I can keep going with it (with the other 6 books in the series) plus the many many many others in my imaginative notes. 

It's part of who I am, as a person and a writer. I can't please them all and I shouldn't try to. For those of you who follow my tastes, wonderful and welcome aboard the Wench Writer Ship of Temptation. To the people who would rather have a victorious viscount or energetic erotica....I applaud your diversity and may want to read those with you...but later. :-)

)))Corset Hugs(((

to you all

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

8/11 - Second week snippets

The opening to my newest release To Have and Too Bold  

   CHAPTER ONE

     

        “You did what?” I shrieked.

       “I just signed your marriage contract. As a council member, and your father, I took that right. But I’ve conceded to it being a formal wedding, as I want to see my lovely daughter walk down the aisle properly. Your new husband will be none other than Allastair Bomani.”

           “What gives you the right to plan my life for me? Can you even do that legally?”

“I’m your father and furthermore a secretary to the coven leaders. I have every right to better your life and the future of our family.”

           “How could you do this? I thought we’d settled this last year when you kept setting me up with council wannabes.”

           I was beside myself with rage. Just when I thought he had stopped all this nonsense about my life needing more substance, he did something like this.

           “It was very easy, my dear. At nineteen, you’re old enough to start a family of your own. You need to focus your concerns on something other than translating our archives and horseback riding.”

           “Excuse me? But I thought that was my life?”

           “It is, but you’re not doing anything with it. This way, you get to build a family and we can stop the feuding between our two covens. Calinda, we need to bind the wounds between the Amun and the Osiris clans.”

           “Father, this is outrageous. You can’t seriously expect me to marry a man that I haven’t seen in ten years, let alone take on the role of fixing the covens. Couldn’t you just sign some peace treaty, like most civilized races do?”

           “No. We’ve tried. Every time we get together, someone has to bring up that our relatives killed their creator. You’d think that several thousand years would have repaired the damage, but it hasn’t. They won’t let it. I had to do something drastic, so Councilman Bomani, one of the few sane ones from their clan, reminded me that his sire had not wed, as of yet. We’ve been negotiating for some time and the papers have already been signed. Now we only have the ceremonies to handle.”

           He was smiling as if this was the best plan he’d ever constructed. Maybe it was, but I wanted no part of it.

***

This will be releasing this month (I hope :-)) and will be available as an e-pub from my publishing house. http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/

Let me know what you think. 

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

8/4 - First college diploma

Many of you know that I've been in the Land O'College for the last three years. It's been an arduous journey for me and I'm glad to say that as of 7/31, I am done with getting my Medical Assistant Diploma.

 

I don't have my formal graduation, with cap and gown, until 12/4/14 but we were able to have a Pinning Ceremony for the day and night classmates. It was wacky, fun, and sweet. I'm so proud of my girls that I could bust and they know it. I cheered them all on and even issued a few threats of goodness along the way. We were there for each other, in a sorority type of way. Each of us had our own lives, and battles to fight along the way but we were still pushing the next one on.

It's going to take a while for me to come down from my multi tasking lifestyle as I don't have three jobs (yes, there were weeks where this happened) and college classes to attend. It's just strange how out of sorts it feels to not have all of that still going on. Of course, life is still progressing around me so it's not like I'm sitting idle. AS IF! The people close to me know that I don't understand the concept. :-) Having a few things on my plate (like a new book release and purchasing a home) is keeping me from feeling bereft as I learn to slow down on the stress and amount of work that I was used to dealing with. Without the current To Do List, including a corset order, I'd be in serious withdrawal from the monotony that has been my busy life.

My next step is to get a rewarding career as an RMA somewhere that I can call home. I've been doing front office long enough that that seems like second nature but I can do back office triage and still hold my own. It all depends on what is meant for me to do next, ya know? I'm on a path, even if at a rest stop, and have further to go. Thank goodness my shoes have the mileage left on them. 

I'd like to take this time to tell my classmates, "You got this and I'm proud to know you all."

To my family, "Thank you for supporting my dream."

To my friends, "You lifted me every time that I slipped."

To my supporters, "You mean so much to me."

I hope to make you proud and I want you all by my side as I keep pushing forward. And remember, dreams don't just happen while you're asleep, they can be reached while you're awake as well. Why not? What is there to lose? Just get out there and kick booty, baby.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

How Did I Do That?

My college fun ends this week, (mwahahaha) and I have a sweet romance releasing next month. And here I am, blogging instead of doing some of the other stuff that I need to do. Why? Because I put out a blog and want you guys to rely on me. This doesn't mean just for a quick laugh but that I'm a wench of my word. No, I don't always want to stop studying to type 300 words for a few folks to read but I want you to know my commitment to my followers. Sure, a few of you talk to me about my blogs but the lack of response hasn't stopped me from putting my vulnerable self out there for you guys.

 Lately, I've been asked "How Do You Do All Of That?" and I've even had a fellow writer ask me to teach others on how I manage my time. Seriously? The only thing I've managed is stress induced hypertension. Honestly? I've managed more than I ever thought that I could and I'm shocked at how far this journey has taken me so far. Yes, I have faith in myself but I also know that I'm no spring chicken. I have bones that creak (not my corset ones, hehe) and I enjoy my time with my bed, but I have seen where my limits end. School pushed me and trying to be myself in the meantime showed me what kind of endurance that was needed to get where I needed to be. I'm not quite there (yet) but I'm seeing it with my own vision and not through a looking glass.

   Not everyone is religious, but I was born and raised Southern Baptist. I'm not going to get into my beliefs as that's a different topic that will end in my being more spiritual and why. The only reason I even mention this is that I as a person have no idea how I got through all that has transpired. Some of it has been awful but other moments have brought me to joyous tears. Several things can be said, such as Anyone can do anything if driven hard enough, or A Person Can Endure Many Things In A Short Amount Of Time. Seeing it from my hazel eyes, By the grace of God go I, is all I can think of. 

No schedules were set up. No white board was involved in my master plan to stress myself out to medicated lengths. There was no minion or bribery involved in getting things done behind the scenes. If there were, then I make more than I thought or my minion worked for peanuts. The secret was that there was no secret. I just did what I had to do, like anyone else (with oodles of stress time) would. Television was given up, so was leisure time sewing, and fixing up the house that I'm renting. Housework? HA! You see if you can do better and then we'll talk. 

What this has taught me is that I'm much stronger than I anticipated. But I also learned where I have to draw the line in my sandbox. I can't do it all, not quite. I've taken on more than I can chew with a few things but my peeps were kind enough to be patient with my blind spots. With school ending 7/31, I'll be able to recoup (under a desk somewhere) and use the new free time to get back to being more of myself. I need to feed my soul. I'm also getting to purchase a home, so time will be available for me to put my mark on it. I'll even have an office :-) Giggle! 

Whatever you take from all of this, just know that it's up to you to see what you are capable of doing. That teacher that told you to give up writing two years ago can fly a kite. Friends who think you will come home crying can just sit at the front step and wait for you as you sail by. Family who think you'll come running back with a sad tale will just have to make you a drink as you tell them of your success. It's not them doing it, it's all you. The Good Witch told Dorothy correctly, you had the power all along. Just click your heels, my friend. 

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Spitting genres can be like spitting hairs

Those who know me understand that I write primarily paranormal romantic suspense. I like stories with sexual tension and dreamy characters that you wish were in flesh and blood. Paranormal is my sweet spot as I don't feel that I have as many rules as some of the other genres. Who knows? But, I'd like to try my fictional hand at writing romantic comedy, edgier mysteries that lead to a romantic tryst, and maybe something with a bit more of a vintage touch but I'd have to work hard to make them believable.

   As they aren't part of my normal writing voice, I'm going to take the chance of seeing if I can do one or more of these properly. I will keep my sexual tension and yummy innuendos but reformat myself to see what else I can do. Some might ask if I'll use a new pen name in these endeavors but I believe that I'll stay myself, as each of these fictional pieces comes from a part of me. I may even self publish some of these as I have thought to do with my unpublished paranormal series.  

I've already written two sweet romances that stop at lusty foreplay and one of these was non-paranormal. Now I'm releasing (in a couple of weeks) the other sweet romance but it's with my paranormal flare. This new one is Egyptian vampires, so I touched on my long ago travels into Egyptology. Previously, I used my tad of knowledge in Mythology for Andromeda, which will be used again when I write about her twin brother, Perseus.  

(My new baby, Releasing this Aug.)

I'd love to share some of my more recent plots with you but they need more flesh before they see the light of a new day. I have several things lined up and am chomping for the time to get to these tantalizing ideas (once my college terms are over). Some will have more heat and some will be a dip into my darker side, but they'll still be all me.:-) For those that are my faithful followers, you'll start seeing more teases and small glimpses into what my mind is forming into my next few novels. Because this wench isn't even close to giving up on her limits, I'll just find a different place to draw in the sand.



To Be Continues>>>>>

)))Corset Hugs(((
Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer