Halloween - my second favorite holiday

 

Aww Halloween. This is voted as my second favorite holiday. I used to start planning my outfit in August, as to have it perfect within three months. And, I wasn't as busy back then as I am now. The outfit below is one of the only "vintage" pictures that I have of the costumes from my teenage years. I made this whole outfit, minus the hose and shoes. Yes, I made the cape and the headband. It's how I roll.

 

Of course, I love my vampires and even bought my own Scarecrow fangs. Being someone else for a little while can be good for the soul, as long as you know who you truly are.

 

I did this Little Devil for work one year and the ladies were cool enough to be silly with me. Yes, I made the top (crocheted) and the corset.

 

This was my version of Cat Woman for a Halloween party at a former friend's house. There were pics taken of my shiny black butt that night.

 

The hubby and I decided to do matching characters this particular year. I was Poison Ivy and he was Two Face. The Swedish Chef was the same guy who wore the red dress in the above pic. I think he likes Halloween, too.

 

 

This was my son and I last Halloween. I've had complaints on Facebook that this pic of me was down right creepy but that my son was amazing. I'll take those as compliments.

 

 

I've also been: Medusa, a Zombie, a Reaper, a Toy Doll, and Anna from Van Helsing.

 

 

 
 
 

I'm still wanting to do Malificent, Belatrix, Jessica, Batgirl, Electra, and Athena .

 

And you can't talk about Halloween within thinking of candy.

 

The treats that I loved the most were: Snickers, Reeses, Milky Way, and M & M's.

 

The people who gave out popcorn, apples, and pennies were just being mean. IMO.

I've been so busy this year that I don't have a costume planned. It may be a last minute thing, like being a Ghoul last year. My mom did buy me two costumes last month, so I could always throw one of those on but that depends on the weather. They're adorable but too skimpy for them predicting a cooler temperature this year. Who knows.

 

What are you guys going to be? Or what did you wear to the party last weekend? Share you pics, if you have them. I always love a good costume.

 

Happy Halloween And )))Corset Hugs(((

 

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Self Analyzing

Self Analyzing

For most of my life, I’ve fought depression and anxiety. I’m of a certain age where I’m just tired of the energy that I lose on such trivial items. I chose to call them trivial as they aren’t life-altering things that will throw my world into a tailspin. I learned from my old mentor that everything is manageable if it doesn’t do three things, and even those can be sorted out. If the issue can’t have you committed, incarcerated, or killed, then you need to analyze it until it can be solved.

Yes, easier said than done but I’m trying. Once I realize that I’m letting something get to me, I take a breath and dig in to see why I feel that way. Most of the time it’s me being under a lot of stress or too tired to process what I have going on that day. Being over booked with my year of growing, I realize the problem is a good one to have.

A co-worker asked me if I had any boundaries in my crazy existence. I do. Really. I may have to use binoculars to gaze upon it but it’s out there.  That boundary shows that I can only accept a few more invites, and have a miniscule amount of time to concentrate on any writing. Knowing that I will be out of clinicals this time next year, with graduation following in December, I see a glorious finish line.

In the meantime, I need to look at my reasons for wanting to rant on social media about the need for my nerves to scream like a bloody banshee. As I type this, I’m bothered that a former friend is still mentally jabbing my success and that a teacher is finding fault with every little thing that I try to do in my lab class. I understand both have their own agenda and at least the teacher is someone wanting me to succeed. But it’s being delivered on nerves that feel like a tightrope over a three-ring circus.

I see that I’m exhausted, but still having 2.5 semesters to go, I must keep my chin up. I have to keep telling myself that I don’t need to allow these little things to annoy me when I have better things to focus on. I have to root out the real reason for the depression and get myself to see what I can control as I chant the Serenity Prayer. While deleting a tweet this morning, I saw myself as venting when that isn’t doing me any good. I simply need to rest a little, over the next few days, and regroup with positive vibes.

As I’m a bit peeved at myself, for not doing my best for the teacher and giving permission for people to tear into my confidence, I have to stop it. As my friend Bella tweeted to me, Snap out of it #cher. So, I’m snapping. If that means chocolate ice cream, a romance novel, and being lazy on the couch for one night then book my curvy rear a sofa cushion. It’s my future so I need to keep my subconscious on happy thoughts. If I keep wanting to bang my head on the wall then more analyzing is in order so I can conquer what ails me.

Anyone else suffer from this or have any techniques that they’d like to share? I’ll take any advice that I can get and see which ones work for my psyche.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Book Review on Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker By Syrie James

Hello, gang. I decided to throw in a few reviews for the people who join me in the adoration of the paranormal genre.

 

I start with Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker

By Syrie James 

 

This is based on Bram Stoker's Dracula and the movie that featured Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves & Wynonna Ryder. I can clearly see this being made into a movie with the same characters showing the story from Mina Harker's point of view as she meets Dracula. James didn't go into pages of lush landscape but she did focus on the fighting emotions that battled in Mina's split heart.

 

Lies were woven in such a tight net that poor Mina gave up parts of herself as she fought to see the truth before the trail of myth. You weren't sure who was being played with and who would finally be the ultimate victim of the bed of lies. If you've seen the movie, you know how it ends but I was pleasantly surprised by her version of the inner workings of Mina's mind.

 

 

Her passionate love for the demon while she cherishes the timid kisses of her husband's lips, you feel how badly she is torn. You want her to be happy but who should she choose to make her future the vision she wants it to be? Knowing the lies were thicker than the accents telling the tales, what would you do?

 

 

Would you chose the steady man that was quiet and loving or the man who was born of hate whose mere gave held your breath in your throat? Would you condemn others as you seek out the truth of the man who could give you an eternal kiss? Is the ultimate passion of your life worth the life of others?  

 

 

I went with her on this journey and believed that she would do what was best, no matter the outcome. The heart wrenching decision kept me rooting for her. It was historical, endearing, and exciting as I came to understand the character of Mina, through her journal entries.

Thank you, Syrie James.

 

)))Corset Hugs(((

 

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

 

You can check out the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-My-Love-Secret-Journals/dp/0061923036/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Moonlight & Magnolia Book Signing

2013 Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight & Magnolia's Conference and Book Signing

 

This was my first conference book signing and I was proud to represent my small press, Secret Cravings Publishing, with both of my novels (SCP Best Selling Paranormal - Andromeda and my romantic suspense Just to be Left Alone). I was surrounded by amazing authors like: Hildie McQueen, Trish Milburn, Pamela Heron, Debra Smith, Haywood Smith, Jana Oliver, and Sandy Sullivan.

 

 

Here I am! Bryonna Nobles, a Maggie Finalist, took this picture of me and my lovely books. They're so pretty that I just can't compete with them. The talented Noelle Pierce (Selestiele Designs) did the eye popping work for my business cards (and this website), which got plenty of attention. If I ever self publish, Noelle will be my "cover girl".

 

 

Below is my lovely goodie basket that was being given away as I was attending my book singing. This went to Sally Kilpatrick, another lady who has pushed me into the depths of writing til my muse threw in the fictional towel. I love my people.

 

 

Sandy Sullivan advised me to get the Square for credit card sales then Laurie White and Hildie McQueen gave me a crash course on using it. I'm so glad that I did and got the hang of it pretty quickly. Thank Goodness because I sold several of both novels.
 

 

 I thought of this idea as my pen and card holder and got some great comments on it. For my next book signing (Southern Magic Reader's Luncheon in November), I need to get some of those metal picture frame/book holders so I can properly display my sexy covers to the people perusing the fictional possibilities.

 

And one of the girls that made this possible was Savannah Savage, a former critique partner who was there when I needed second (third, fourth and twelve) opinions on my manuscripts as I purged the words from my brain. I was glad to see her statuesque form as she came by to purchase my new print copies. Writers need support and groups like GRW (Georgia Romance Writers) have what you need to see these dreams come true.

 

Thanks & )))Corset Hugs((( to those who supported this wench Writer,

 

Ginny Lynn

 

 

 

Yes, that's my size.

This is about sizes and I have a few (insert hysterical laughter here) things to say about this topic.

 

I'm a "curvy, spirited, cellulite carrying, stretchmark scarred mother who borders on the clinical term of being near obese." Those who know me will either confirm or deny this statement. Some of my friends have even seen me in my undies as I've gotten ready for the Renaissance Festival or trying on clothes in a dressing room. These ladies have seen the real me. This is the woman who had the roadmap of her 40+ years and carried her 5'5 stature with as much dinity as possible.

 

I'm 148 lbs. Yep, I said it. And on a medical scale, my BMI is borderline obese. I wear a size 11 in jeans and they always have to be tried on as manufacturers seem to think that an ample rear means you don't have a smaller waist. How wrong they are.  

 

Here's something some of you don't know. I used to be anorexic. I was 105 lbs when I met the man that I ended up marrying but before the wedding I had lost 20+ lbs. Honest. I stopped weighing myself at 85 lbs because I didn't want to acknowledge what the world was telling me. I didn't lose the weight because I thought that I was fat but putting it back on made me feel as if I would be fat.

 

As you can see, I love food again (a lot) and don't feel as guilty as I used to when I ate a huge plate at Thanksgiving. I do, however, have Body Dysmorphic Disorder as no matter what size that I am I now feel too big by the standards that I see in the mirror from 20+ years ago. It's that sad?

I'm by no means "too large" for a bathing suit or for skinny jeans....at least, not by my standards. My perception of "Large" may be what others call "fat", but that's how I am. I hate going by sizes in the stores and try to go for what fits my figure. That is an accomplishment because before I had my son, I hated touching anything that had a certain set of sizes on it. I've since trained myself that I need to grab the L or XL in certain stores, as they are what I like to wear plus that store has a distorted image of what the average women looks like.

 

I wanted a particular dress that was simple yet stylishly cut to work with my body type but they didn't understand that I couldn't see myself walking around in a sausage roll of a Medium when I clearly needed a L or XL (lovely and extra lovely, as I was told).

 

I've had women argue with me about what size I wear, even when I've shown them the tag that backs me up. It's freaking ridiculous. Yes, I have pants that are even 13/15, as they're slim cut and I am not. Don't yell at me that I'm just trying to make you feel better when I'm just wanting to cover all the acreage that God blessed me with. And don't fuss at me for thinking I need a large if you are more blessed than I am. I grew up with gorgeous, tall, blonde women who had huge breasts while I resembled a teenage boy with long hair.

 

What I'm getting at it is that this is my size, whether you agree with it or not. I know what it takes to zip up my jeans and I know what will shoot buttons off of my top when I sneeze. Don't jump to conclusions, argue, or even tell me I'm in the wrong part of the store. Yes, some of them said that as they knew that I was a mother with a teenager.

 

It's bad enough that I judge myself for every wrinkle, dimple, and pooch. Right? Do you really need to do the job better than I do? Aren't I my own worst critique? It's my body and if it offends you for me to be wearing a particular number then just go away. If I can snuggle up to these flaws every night then who cares? I was given a Coke bottle body with two legs and a sassy mouth so let me fill it or label it anyway that I care.  

 

I'm off my Large soap box. :-)

 

)))Corset Hugs(((

  

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

 

Success???

I've heard people asking about the definition of success. What is your picture of success, if you had to plan it out or describe it to someone you just met? Would you be able to formulate something that made a great picture or would you stammer for the words?

 

I was a witness to another of these discussions at last month's Georgia Romance Writers Meeting. I wanted to help the young lady who was being asked to define her visions of success. She seemed uncomfortable and I was, too. I wanted to put words in her mouth but then realized that I had no idea how to answer this if it had been me.

 

I've rolled it in my mind since then and tried to properly answer the questions when it comes to my writing career. How do you see success, for yourself? What would be the marker for you stating "Now, I'm a success"?

 

I consider myself to be Always Under Construction, like Hwy 285. In that, I see that success would be constantly reaching for the goals that I have given myself. This could be a bad thing as you never fulfill your goals but in my eyes I'd be putting energy into something new that would make me grow in some way.

 

I see success in my helping someone to reach their own goals, like a writer friend needing a big shove (with love) as I push her to pitch for the first time. Success would be shown in any person that can say that I helped them reach a milestone.

 

If I had to say what my ultimate goal was for the success I would have for my future, it would be me being retired from the medical field as I traveled while writing for a living. I may live as a nomad, but being able to survive off the income as I did what makes my soul happy, that is success for me.

 

Can you answer the question or do you need time to come up with something?

 

Share it with me when you have it figured out. I'd love to hear what you came up with.

 

)))Corset Hugs(((

 

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer