I have to say that I am sorry that I haven’t been blogging as often as I used to. However now that I am a new partner in Lachesis Publishing I have to put my responsibilities there first which leaves me with little time left. Right now all my free time is being spent watching the Olympics. I have to admit I am loving every minute of it. Vancouver seems to be doing a bang up job.
This Is What Dreams Are Made Of
By Giovanna Lagana
www.giovannalagana.com
We all dream. Sometimes we remember most, or parts, of the dream when we awaken. Other times we don’t. Dreaming is the natural process of REM sleep where the brain recharges itself for the upcoming day, where thoughts and data are either stored or siphoned out of our brains to make room for more information the next day.
But some believe there is more to dreams than just a way for the brain to sort information. Some believe what we dream is a cryptic code for the future. That our dreams are a crystal voyeur to what is in store for us.
In my romantic suspense/horror novel “The Battle of Armageddon”, the first book in the series “With Black & White Comes the Grey,” dreams play a big part in drawing out the story and building suspense. They are what drive the heroine, Miriam James, first through forewarning, then through fear, despair, and finally avenging her son’s death.
Although my story is fiction, there is some truth in Miriam’s dreams. One reoccurring dream of Miriam’s where she tries to hide from the Grim Reaper in an apocalyptic scene was largely related to a dream I had off and on for three straight months way back when I was eleven.
Obviously, that dream never came true; it wasn’t a cryptic code to what would happen in the future. I don’t believe is such things. But it did leave me unsettled each time I awoke from it, my heart hammering with such ferocity in my chest that it hurt. And it etched itself into my psyche from then on, its memory springing up every now and again in my mind to remind me that it never left.
So when the idea of “The Battle of Armageddon” came to me, I thought it befitting to embed it into the tale for the simple reason that all the fear and sufferance I experienced during and after each dream sequence way back when I was eleven wasn’t in vain and that some time in my life it became a useful tool in my work. And for that I am grateful my mind chose to store this memory, not in the far, dark crevices of my brain where I’d forget about it, but in the center of my thoughts and focus for all these years, so I would never forget it.
Thanks, Leeann, for having me as your guest on your blog this week.
I have been quiet for the past few weeks for very good reasons. So much has happened in the past few weeks that I don’t know where to begin. Maybe I should start at the beginning. After coming home from the writer’s retreat last month I get the news that my best friend, Carole, has been having big health problems. I’ve known her for over 8 years. We met at a writers group in town here. She was my critique partner for years became then my cheerleader when I opened my own PR firm and once more when I sold my first book to LBF Books. Five years after meeting her she hired me to do her PR for her new publishing company. Then 2 years ago she bought out LBF Books and became my publisher. Without her my book never would have been published.
After hearing her news she offered me something I had never dreamed of doing but loved the challenge none the less. She offered me a full partnership in Lachesis Publishing Inc. After weighing all the pros and cons I decided to take her up on her offer and became a full partner this past month.
Where does that leave my writing and my PR business? I still plan to run my business as I always have, that will never change. As for my writing that has been put on hold for now. For the past few weeks I have been getting organized to include my new duties at Lachesis Publishing without loosing too much sleep. Once I get my duties in line I will put writing back in my schedule. However does this mean that LBF Books will be publishing the next book in the series? To be honest I’m not sure right now. Carole still wants to publish it, but I’m not sure if I want to go the self-pubbing route at this point. So on that front I have a few more pros and cons list to make before I can make a finale decision if Lachesis Publishing will be publishing DEADLY DESIRE or will I start submitting it to other publishers at this point. Right now I’m putting that on hold.
Today I am off to celebrate with my fellow chapter mates everyone’s success in 2009. We have 4 members who sold books and one who sold a novella.
My plan this year had been to sit back and not take on any responsibilities, I mean I’ve been a member for 10 ½ years and always had a volunteer job. Well my sabbatical will have to wait for another year because, I became the assistant to the organizer (who has done a fabulous job) and I’m MCing the whole event. Maybe next year I’ll be able to take it off.
I am hoping to come back with some fabulous prizes.
About Leeann...
Leeann Burke writes romantic suspense. Her first novel, DEADLY SECRETS, will be out in December 2008 from LBF Books.
DEADLY SECRETS is now available for pre-orders!
Pre-order at Amazon.com
Pre-order at Amazon.ca
