How many of you are annoyed by those pop-up ads LiveJournal has added to their site? I'm frustrated at that, and a few other formatting issues, so I'm moving my blog to http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/ Or you can follow it here: http://jaletac.wordpress.com/

Three blogs is too many to keep up with right now. So look for me there. Thanks!

So I'm doing one of my day jobs, those things necessary for paying bills and buying groceries - customer support for an iphone app company. I'm reading through emails complaining about our product. It happens. It's my job to try to fix problems and satisfy the customer. It's a frustrating racket most of the time for two reasons.

One, troubleshooting someone's internet connections on their iPhone when I have no idea what settings they use, who their provider is, or any of a million other variables, is a total crapshoot. Besides, I'm only supposed to troubleshoot our app, not their whole phone. That's what Apple support is for. But in the interest of keeping my boss and the customers happy, I do my best.

Two, customer assumptions about customer support are miles from reality. I've had customers complain that we are just too big and corporate, that we only care about raking in their hard-earned money. I fell off the couch laughing over that one. They assumed our customer support department was a large cubicle farm just full of eager customer support people, salivating over the chance to read their email the instant they sent it off.

Reality? It's me, on my couch, usually in my pj's, answering emails for about an hour a day. No, I don't answer them as they are sent. I have a life. I have three other jobs. I do my best to be polite, professional and helpful, but sometimes I just can't do what you want me to do. I can't send you a refund. I can't give you services that don't exist. I can't make an iPhone do something physically impossible.

So what does this have to do with my publishing career? Many new writers and most readers have misconceptions about the publishing world. I thought when I signed my first contract and did the final edit, my book would sell itself and I would be free to work on more writing. The truth? I spend two or three hours a day working on marketing, getting my book noticed, getting my name out there. Since I'm with a small press, I also deal with the automatic assumption that I'm self-published (a completely different topic and a very touchy one) or that I'm not really a professional because small presses don't offer large advances so therefore I must not be worth much as an author.

Truth is, I'm an author, as professional as any other. I write stories because I enjoy them. I publish them because I want to share them and make a living doing something I enjoy that doesn't involve customer support emails. I'm new, yes, to publishing and marketing. I'll make mistakes because I'm human. But if I want to be successful, it's up to me to sell my novel. And write the next one. And market that one. And so on.

So next time you make an assumption about an industry, it might not hurt to take a step back and look for the reality. And for pity's sake, give the poor person doing customer support a break. Courtesy is much appreciated in a usually thankless job.

One conversation lately turned to dark and dangerous heroes and sexy villains. Why are we so attracted to those things that will hurt us? Watch people around a fire. It's hot. It will burn you. But it's so pretty. Same thing with our stories. Why do we create such dark and dangerous men for our heroes? Because we like to play with fire, no matter how much we might get burnt.

Frances Pauli (http://francespauli.com/), an author friend, said about a character in my novel Nexus Point (http://www.nexuspoint.info), "Tayvis is definitely dark and dangerous AND sexy as all hell." I should return the favor for her book Roarke. The title character is definitely dangerous and sexy. Maybe being a closet romance writer isn't a bad thing when it comes to speculative fiction. Dangerous? Definitely, but the kind of burn that feels so good. Most definitely a guilty pleasure.

Much like these cookies. My kids dubbed them Death by Chocolate Overload. Eat them warm, if you dare.

Decadent Chocolate Chunks

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 T. vanilla
2/3 c. cocoa
1/2 T. baking powder
1/2 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
1 2/3 c. flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 bag semisweet choc. chips
1 bag M&M minis

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, vanilla, cocoa, baking powder, soda, and salt. Beat well. Add flour, chips, and M&M’s. Drop by Tablespoon onto cookie sheet, bake at 375° for 9-10 minutes. makes about 6 dozen.

Frances Pauli's (http://francespauli.blogspot.com/) new book Roarke is now available for purchase. She writes great stuff, at least what I've read so far. She sent me a copy of Roarke to review (Thanks!). I'll get the review up soon. Promise.

Since I'm still fighting a sinus infection and can't write coherently, I'll leave you with a taste of her free serial: Space Slugs (http://spaceslugserial.blogspot.com/). Go read it. Seriously. You won't regret it.

One of our two cats died last night. Considering she was 16, it wasn't unexpected. She lived a very long life full of cuddles, brushings, naps, catnip, all the good things cats love. One of her favorite treats was roast turkey. She would park in front of the oven the entire time it roasted, begging for tastes. We chased her off the counter and out of the garbage more than once as she rummaged for turkey bits. So for my recipe today, even though it isn't even close to the usual turkey roasting season, I offer Roast Turkey with Gravy.

1 16 - 20 lb turkey (on the small side at my house, we try to find the 25 - 30 pounders when we can)
2 large oranges, cut into quarters, don't peel
2 large onions, peeled and cut into quarters
1 T. dried rosemary

Thaw turkey completely. The fastest way to do this is to put it in the sink, with the stopper in place, and let cold water dribble over it for about 6-10 hours. It takes 3 - 5 days to thaw in the fridge. Plan ahead.

Unwrap turkey and place in large roasting pan. I use a black ceramic coated one, make sure yours has a good fitting lid. Stuff body cavity and neck cavity with oranges and onions. Working from the tail end, gently slide your hand between the skin and the breast meat. Spread rosemary under skin. Put the lid on the roaster. This traps moisture so you get plenty for gravy and the meat stays moist. It also cooks faster. Roast in a 350° oven for 3.5 - 4.5 hours, until meat is at least 170° or until the legs pull off easily.

Remove all drippings and place in large saucepan. You should get at least 4 cups. Replace the lid on the roaster and set the turkey aside to stay warm.

For gravy, bring drippings to a boil. Mix 1/4 c. cornstarch in 1 c. cold water until no lumps remain. Stir into drippings. Bring back to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Salt to taste. Add 1 t. rosemary to gravy if desired.

Serve gravy and turkey with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing - you know what makes a turkey dinner. And make sure to share a few tasty bits with your cats.

...a box of chocolates. Each one is a little bit different. You never know what you're getting until you bite into it.

Um, not quite? Try again?

...cooking. No matter how carefully you follow the instructions, measure, and bake, it never turns out the same. And sometimes the serendipitous mistakes lead to the most delicious results.

Hm. Do over.

...eating an elephant. One bite at a time. It takes a lot to chew through something that large.

...bathing naked in a pool full of man-eating, ravenous sharks. With paper cuts.

No, wait. That's what being published feels like some days. How would you complete the sentence?

In honor of the March snowstorm now blowing through my yard, I'm posting this recipe. Part pumpkin pie, part baked pudding, it's all delicious. So bake some this week and curl up with a bowl. And don't feel guilty - it's low fat, low sugar, high fiber, just good for you and good to eat.

Enjoy!

Butternut Custard

1 medium butternut squash - about 2-3 pounds
3/4 c. milk
4 eggs
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. ginger
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. salt

Split squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds. Place squash in 9x13 pan and cover with foil. Bake at 350 until very tender, about one hour. Let cool. Scoop out flesh. Place 2 c. butternut squash in blender. Add milk and eggs. Puree until smooth, about one minute, it will be very thick. Pour into bowl. Add sugar and spices. Beat with whisk until smooth. Pour into well-greased 9x13 pan, spread evenly. Bake at 400° F for twenty minutes, turn heat down to 325° about 45 minutes, until filling is set and toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm with whipped topping.

I decided I needed to post twice a week. Mondays will be devoted to writing advice, author interviews, and other topics of interest to writers. Thursdays will be recipe/family life articles.

So this Monday post is: Simple Advice for Writers, 5 easy ideas of things NOT to do (Yes, I've done them all)

1. Never write while under the influence of children. Your dialogue ends up reading something like this:
"Kiss me," she whispered, passion glittering in her eyes.
"Quit kicking the cat!"
"Oh, my dearest darling, Stop squishing peas into the carpet!"
"I don't care what your brother said, he is NOT stealing your air when he breathes!"
Her bosom heaved as his hand slapped his sister. "I'll give you something to scream about, you little monsters!"

2. Never write while under the influence of cold medication. This should be self-explanatory. If you're anything like me, your brain takes a holiday. What you write is highly entertaining but usually makes very little sense when read in the light of day.

3. Never take advice columns too seriously. Really, folks. The best way to learn to write is to do it. Then get people you trust to read what you've written and give you feedback. If all they tell you is, "This is wonderful!", find other friends who know something about writing. Pick apart books you like, books you don't like, movies, whatever has a story to tell. Study other people's writings. Then write more of your own works. Keep writing.

Good luck with your writing endeavors. I'm going to go take more cold medication now.

Ever have one of those family recipes that is more than just food? Comfort food for me feeds the soul and heart. This recipe is one of those my family requests, especially in those dreary days before spring decides to actually arrive. Enjoy it with fresh bread, crackers, or our favorite, garlic croutons. I love it because it's quick, easy, and fairly light on the waistline while being very satisfying.

Chicken Soup

1 lb chicken, boneless skinless breasts preferred, cut in small chunks
1 onion, chopped
2 T. butter
4 c. carrot slices
2 c. celery slices
2 T. candied ginger, minced fine
1/2 t. black pepper
1 t. dried parsley (or 1 T. fresh, chopped fine)
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 c. chicken soup base (I like the vegetarian version Blue Chip Baker makes) OR 6 chicken bouillon cubes
8 c. hot water
2 c. egg noodles

Melt butter in large pot. Add chicken and onion. Saute until meat is almost cooked and onion is soft. Add everything else except noodles. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes until carrots are soft. Adjust seasonings, adding salt to taste. Add noodles, cook 3 - 4 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Chicken with Rice: Substitute 1 c. uncooked rice for the noodles. Add with the carrots. Cover and simmer soup for 45 minutes. Season to taste and serve.

Roarke by Frances Pauli

Published by Devine Destinies

Short Science Fiction Romance

Blurb: They have to be lying when they tell her she was dead. With no memory of her past, and no idea who she actually is, Nora has little options. Alone, and at the mercy of the Mercenary Defense Conglomerate, she searches for clues into her past, and the truth about her supposed demise.

If she is a prisoner, robbed of memory and held against her will, then she must trust no one. If she has, in fact, returned from the dead, then who could possibly help her? Armed with only her wits and her inexplicably sharpened senses, she is forced to play along, to search for the holes in their story, and to piece together the flashes of memory that serve only to taunt her.

But the visions seem to confirm the impossible. The man who is supposed to be her fiancé seems bent on confusing her, and the one person she is desperate to be near may very well be responsible for her death. If the silent Roarke is her enemy, why do her visions draw her closer to him? And why, when nothing else seems remotely familiar, does Nora find herself remembering, or wanting to remember only him?

Author Bio: Though she always held aspirations to be a writer, Frances originally chose to pursue a career in visual arts. Her stories, however, had other plans for her. By the time she entered her thirties, they were no longer content existing solely in her head. Compelled to free them, she set aside her easel and began to write in earnest

She currently resides smack in the center of Washington State with her husband and two children. When not writing she dabbles in insane things like puppetry, belly dance and playing the ukulele. She collects rocks, and is a firm believer in good wine, fine chocolate and dangerous men.

Her short fiction has appeared in Alternative Coordinates magazine.

More information on Frances and her writing can be found at www.francespauli.com

She offers a free online serial at: http://spaceslugserial.blogspot.com

As part of a blog tour, I had the opportunity to interview Frances. It's surprising how much we have in common.

On your website, you have a couple of books out and several more coming out this spring. Tell me about them.

My short story, The Alien Embrace was printed in two parts in the Summer and Fall issues of Alternative Coordinates magazine. The first novel in my Urban Fantasy trilogy, A Moth in Darkness, is due to be released in the fall. It’s set in a world where the boundaries between the Faerie and Mortal worlds have opened. My protagonist is a woman who has strong ties to the Fey races but suffers from an addiction to faerie food and reveling. This summer my futuristic romance, The Dimensional Shift, comes out. It features a maid who is hired to work in a hotel for inter-dimensional travelers. The sequel to Moth in Darkness is scheduled for release next summer, and of course, there is Roarke out now.

You mention romance in your descriptions. Do you write primarily romance or is it more of a sub-theme in your stories?

Most of my stories have at least a romantic sub-plot. I grew up reading Speculative Fiction, but sneaking over to Romance section from time to time when no one was looking. So I love mixing the two, but in some cases the book is definitely a Romance, and in others the love story is secondary.

I'm enjoying your free serial - Space Slugs (http://spaceslugserial.blogspot.com). What prompted you to write it?

Slugs is so much fun. I think of all the things I work on, the freebie is my favorite. I originally wrote the story as an incredibly short puppet play. I built a few of the puppets, in fact, and as I went along, the story kept expanding. When I started writing seriously, and decided to try a free serial, Slugs stood up and said, “Ahem, pick me please.”

You mention in your introduction that you have small children. With my own kids, I know how disruptive they can be. How do you balance writing and family?

Is hiding under the couch to write considered balance? Seriously, I steal writing moments every chance I get, but they come far too few and far between for my tastes. You learn to write in short sessions and to keep focused even when too much time passes between them. I also whine a lot and have a husband who takes what I do seriously and helps out…okay sometimes I have to cry a little. We’re lucky enough to have Grandma nearby as well, and she helps me squeeze in those mandatory work days when things absolutely have to be done on time.

I have to ask, what are your favorite bad 80's sci-fi movies? I'm also a fan with an extensive collection. What do you find most appealing about those movies?

My all time favorite would be SpaceHunter with Peter Strauss. I also love and own Ice Pirates, which may very well be one of the best of the worst. Honestly, I think the beauty in campy films comes from not taking themselves too seriously. They’re fun, and fun is rarely a bad thing in my book. There may be some nostalgia involved as well. I am a child of the 80’s. (where the good music comes from)

You write mainly science fiction, right? Where do you see the future of publishing in twenty years? Fifty? Five hundred?

That’s a can of worms waiting to be opened. I talk about this a bit on my blog, but usually only when I’m feeling “rant-y.” I think publishing will evolve, like all things do. Maybe it’s even a little overdue, in fact. And while I don’t believe that our generation will ever give up their print books, I have to lean toward the camp that says, eventually there will be a generation that does. Hey, I write Speculative fiction…I like to speculate. Print won’t go away easily, and it may exist for a very long time as a novelty. (Before the howling starts, I don’t think we’ll live to see it go away…) Still, I’m a Star Trek fan. I love the idea of the data pad—the slim, shiny all in one tablet. Even better if I can use it in space. If you still can’t imagine a world without print, hang out with some really young people—the ones who live by their I-pods and their hand held games and use their cellular phones to surf the internet. I believe we should be more worried about whether or not future generations will read than about how they will read. Personally, I think if stories plan on surviving, they’d better fit into that hand-held data pad.

Anything else you'd like to add?

We are running a contest along with the tour. Everyone who comments on the blogs gets an entry into the drawing. The more blogs you visit the more entries you get. You can find the details at my webpage: http://francespauli.com

Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a true pleasure.

Thank you, Frances Pauli, for allowing us to peek into your life.