I have been inspired by many things in my life from what people around me have said and done, movies I’ve watched and books I’ve read. I believe everyone has been inspired at one time or another in their life. However I never believed that one day I would inspire someone else.  

Well it happened today. How did I inspire someone? I wish I could say it was through my good deeds or donations and such but I’d be lying. I actually inspired someone by running. Today I ran 15 KM (the longest I have ever run in my whole life). At the 8km I met another runner coming from the opposite direction as I approached me she told me “You inspired me today.” I was so floored that all I could say was “Hi”. Now how lame is that. That said her comment kept me going when I was out of fuel in the last 2 Km of my run. 

Did I ever dream of inspiring someone one day? Doesn’t everyone? However I never thought it would be by doing something as mundane or ordinary as running on the streets.  Have you been inspired by someone lately? If so let me know.

One of the website I like to visit is discussing a touchy yet important subject, author online protocol. Not everyone is bad online, but there are a few that are. However all it takes is a few to give the rest of us a bad reputation.

I am always shocked when an author bashes another published author either on her blog, in a review on Amazon or BN. Don’t they realize it makes them look bad? I can’t help but think badly of the author.

Another pet peeve of mine is an old one, one that I had when I joined reader groups before I sold my book to LBF Books. I hate it when readers are discussing books and an author suggests their own work. I don’t mind when authors joined in discussions about the books they’d read and had a signature with the name of the books. However when they turn a reader discussion into a PR moment or an ad for themselves, that bothers me. I left groups the only catered to author’s promo and not to reader discussion. I try as hard as I can not to discuss or bring up my book on any reader loop. I will thank readers who have brought up my book on loops privately.

If you want to join the discussion on author online protocol go to Dear Author.

I should have known better. I attended a nice little Author and Artist event in Stittsville, ON yesterday. I brought my table and books, but forgot to bring along sunscreen. I thought it’d get a spot in the shade. Well they didn’t have any spots in the shade. So I baked all afternoon.

Yep I now have red arms and back. After the event I went and purchased some aloe cream. It’s helping but boy am I red. Even my hand is red.

Was the event well attended? They had a lot of vendors this year, and the foot traffic seemed to have increased, but not a lot. Did I sell any books? Nope but I got tons of exposure so that was worth it.  Plus it got me away from home and work.

Will I do it again next year? I’ll have to wait and see.

I have been through 3 critique partners in my short career as a writer. The first relationship came to an end when my critique partner couldn’t keep up with me and eventually stopped writing. Bad communication put an end to the second one. As for my third critique partner, she was the best one. By the time I hooked up with her I knew what I needed and wanted from a critique partner. We made a pact to be honest, not hurtful and to keep each other motivated. It was perfect! The only problem is that she’s no longer writing now. She started her own publishing house and is hard at work making that a great success.

As I start writing DEADLY DESIRE I find myself once again without a critique partner.  Some have suggested that I forgo getting another critique partner. I’m already published so what could a critique partner do for me? Plenty, in my opinion. I may have published my first book, but I still have a lot of leaning to do and my writing still has to grow – a lot.

I do know some writers who have been burned, burned badly by critique partners. They’ve either been steered in the wrong direction, some have had their ideas/plots stolen by a critique partner. I can certainly understand why they’d have such a hard time trusting a new partner.

But I have to say going without a critique partner isn’t the right option for me. Why? I need someone to keep me motivated to write. Right now I don’t have that in my life and I’m getting very little writing done. I also need someone to let me know when I took my story in the wrong direction. Trust me I can do that with little effort and have done that plenty of times. That said I don’t want just any critique partner. I learned over the years to put a list of criteria’s together of what I can offer a critique partner and what I need from them.

Today I’m listening to KISS FM my local radio station, nothing new really. I usually listen to them as I work. However today is different. Today is SHELTER FROM THE STORM. The station is raising funds and awareness for abused women.

They have been hosting this event for the past 4 plus years. The stories that are being told are ones of courage (for those who left and are now survivors) and tragic (for those who didn’t make it out and lost their lives). To be honest I’m not sure which is hardest to listen to, but listen we must. I have never lived a violent experience in my life but that doesn’t mean I have to ignore others who have.

I called the first year and committed to paying a monthly fee, small one. My donation will make it possible for one woman and her children to leave her husband and find shelter in order to start a new safe and healthier life. Does this make me a hero? Absolutely not. I believe in helping those who are in need of help. I have the extra money right and can afford to make these donations.

If you also want to make a difference by making a donation please click here 

The first Christy Ridgway book I read was a contemporary published by Avon. Well it looks like Ms Ridgway has moved on from Avon and in with Harlequin. I finished reading RUNAWAY BRIDE RETURNS.

This is the story of Izzy and Owen. They met and married during a wild weekend in Vegas. The day after the wedding Izzy ran off. Now Owen a firefighter is hurt and Izzy is back to help him and to get an annulment. Owen suffers from survivor’s guilt since the fire that injured him took the life of a fellow young comrade. While Izzy has to deal with her itchy feet not feeling the itch to move on, but can she depend on Owen being there when her own family had never been. Together they overcome their trust issues and find a strong bond fuelled by love.

I truly enjoyed this book. I can’t say it was the best book I ever read, but it did kept my attention and me wanting more. I do hope that we will see more from the other characters in the book. I believe Bryce, Owen’s brother, deserves a book of his own.