Writing a Novel Like Planting a Garden By Connie Vines

Writing a novel is a lot like landscaping. 

You start with an empty lot. You see the potential. You also see the weeds, uneven ground, and iffy soil. (With a novel, this is when you tell yourself the options are without limits.)

With a garden, you must decide where there is direct sunlight and evaluate the soil. (outline, research.). Then comes planting many seeds-- more than is needed for a healthy garden.

Step one: Preparation

Only some of the seeds I plant will take root. Some will be healthy, others weak. It takes 4 - 6 weeks for the seeds to grow. (This is the character development and information-gathering time in a novel.) and aside from watering and daily soil monitoring, I must walk away.

Tomato plants: one may be removed 😞

When I return, the plants have taken root, and the leaves are visible. Now begins the thinning process--removing sickly plants, moving sturdy plants, and supporting weak plants. This will occur several times, allowing an interval between each pruning/thinning (editing). Some will need to be more robust (fleshing out characters). Others will appear strong and healthy, but my harbor issues that could undermine the entire crop (story).

Rose Garden #1

I can't play favorites when it comes to gardening. I may love one plant more than another. However, it must be removed if it's not meant for this world (my novel). A hard decision, but it's necessary for the best harvest.

The Fragrance 😘👼

I also keep a notebook titled: My Story Garden.

In this garden, I grow seeds of a story. Some of them are lines of dialogue, while others are scenes. I plant them in my garden when they first come to me, and they stay until I decide it's right for a particular story. Pet peeves, fears, goals, and dreams.

Connie's Story Garden 

Thank you for stopping by 😀,

Connie

Click here for my author page and my social media, and buy

 links!

Why Don't You Ever Talk About Yourself? (Don't Ask Me About Me) By Connie Vines #BWLPublishingInc., #Author Interview, #Live From Southern California

During the Spring, I attended a local event for readers/writers.

Many attendees remembered me, to my surprise or dismay (depending on the questions 😉 tossed my way).

(I've been active in Young Authors, a guest speaker at local schools, and participated as a reader in middle school classes to promote the joy of reading to reluctant readers, and Frybread cook at Title IX and X school events). 

I was prepared. I had my speech. I had props, handouts, and links to websites to assist them. 

I've never been comfortable speaking before a group, but I can 'appear' at ease.

(video is licensed by Canva to the author. @connievines-author/ do not copy/reproduce)

 

It was not what I expected 😮.

What were the most asked questions? #1 "Why don't you ever talk about yourself?"

I know I had that look. (most likely the same expression I had in my Algebra class when called upon). Why? Because I talk about myself all the time. I have an ongoing saga about my dogs' adventures (gummy girl 🐩 and bee-sting 😢boy). I blog, do social media, explain my research... 

Personal Photograph @connievines-author

Nope, they weren't buying it.

They wanted to get personal. 📷 🎤

Personal?

How personal?

Enthusiastic voices:

"What's your favorite TV show?" 

"Whatever happened to Justine?"

"What's your favorite movie/ who is your favorite movie star?"

"Do you listen to...(someone I'd never heard of)?"

"Do you still make Frybread?"

I rebounded. 

Sort of.

At the moment, I'm streaming "Dark Winds." (I don't recall what I was watching then).

Justine was my greyhound (but everyone thought she was my daughter), the fashionista, and the mischief maker/couch potato/self-proclaimed tether ball champion.  😎

Eventually, I was able to steer the interview back to the craft of writing and the pros and cons of joining a critique versus a plotting group. As well as goal setting and deciding upon a daily word count.

Success!

Author Licensed by Canva. Do not copy/reproduce.

What did I learn?

To be me. I have a great time with written interviews! I am semi-comfortable with podcasts, too.

While I am at ease with children and young adults, I must be more relaxed with my peers.

Tips for Authors:

Make your answers fun!

Let your personality shine through, tell stories, and show us your geeky/nerdy/weird side. It will turn us from passive observers into raving fans.

Being caught off guard is now the norm. 

Embrace the chaos!!

(To learn about my books, pets, and quirky life, follow me on Social Media)

Happy Reading,

Connie

Where's Connie?

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OumB8pFI6oc

Buy Links:

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BWL Author Page: https://bookswelove.net/vines-connie/  

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Writing During Vampire Hours -- Secrets Writers Keep By Connie Vines #Writing Tips, #NightOwls, #Cowboys, #Western Romance, #Fantasy

⏰🦇🌙 

Vampire Hours?

According to the Urban Dictionary:

When someone keeps vampire hours, they are awake all night and sleep all day. They are unreachable by phone, text, or social media during daylight hours when the rest of their friends are up.

While I do not sleep all day...  

"I don't 'rise' from my bed at sunrise, either.  😎. 

🌞 vs. 🧛

The conventional wisdom is that morning people are high achievers and go-getters, while late risers are lazy. But what if going to bed in the wee hours is actually an advantage?

🕯  On the school site before 7:00 a.m. was my day job (my-oh-my was that torture.) until I recently retired.

The Wonder Years

Staggering into the kitchen, adjusting the curtains so that I was not blinded by the sunrise. And wondering how I was going to get through the day on 4 or maybe 5 hours of sleep.

Wondering: Would I wake up if I spent my lunch break in the car and fell asleep?  

Wondering why I could only write at night? Life would be simpler if I could write during my lunchtime. Le Sigh.

Admissions

While I don't broadcast to the world, I write until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning; nothing goes unnoticed when you live in the burbs. 😎 

Everyone is up at sunrise going to work or working in his/her front yard. 

I wear sunglasses at 10 a.m. when I check the mail. No one 'sees me' until an hour or two before sunset when I sit on my front patio with a cup of coffee. 

They all seem to go to bed (all lights out between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m.) not long after sunset.

My sweet neighbor across the street said, "Whenever I get up at night, your lights are still on..."

"I know..." 😉

🦇 Writing should never be a race to the finish. It should be an extended immersion in a hot tub or a relaxing meditation. Good writers write at night because it's devoid of distraction, there's nothing else left to do in the day, and there's no one else to hurry to.

🦇Bursts of inspiration like this at night frequently within the creative community. Writers, artists, and inventors throughout history have all said they've been most inspired during night-time— think of Tennesee Williams. He spent so much of the night writing he would be found asleep in his bed the next morning, still wearing the same clothes as the day before (source: Williams' notebooks). (Connie doesn't do this.)  

📖📱💻

Do you have a favorite time you like to read?

Please visit my website/blog. Remember my books are on sale at Smashwords, too.

Happy Reading, everyone.

Connie Vines

XOXO

Website: https://connievines-author.com/

Blog: http://mizging.blogspot.com/

https://bookswelove.net/vines-connie/

https://books2read.com/Gumbo-Ya-Ya

https://books2read.com/Lynx

https://books2read.com/Brede

https://books2read.com/Tanayia

https://books2read.com/Here-Today-Zombie-Tomorrow

Why You Can (Almost) Never Read Too Many Books By Connie Vines #BWLAuthor, #WesternRomance, #BookTech, #connievines-author.com

Some would say, “You have too many books.”

You have books on the shelves. You have books on the nightstand. You have books in the closet, the guest room, and on the floor. Oh, and don’t forget about the books waiting for you in the mailbox.  

But as any book lover knows, there's really no such thing as “too many” books. If this sounds familiar, check out these hilarious things you can relate to if your house — or your e-reader — is overflowing with books.

1. First of all, there’s no such thing as “too many books.”

2. After all, if it weren’t for your books, how would you survive a blizzard? (Yes, I live in Southern California...but one never knows.

3. One of the reasons you can never have too many books is that reading is an adventure. It will take you to the past, the future, and countries you've yet to visit.

4. In my case, my parents were readers. It was a treat to read/ go to the library or books store.  

In my case, I have loved reading since before they even knew how. There is a photo of me sitting in my crib turning the pages of a picture book.

5. Like me, I'm certain others could relate to many of the memories:  of having my first library card. The frustration of being continually told by my parents to “take a break” from reading and “go outside.”

FAST FORWARD to today...

As you see the title of my blog post (Almost) Never.

If you follow my blog, website, or Facebook page, you are aware for the past year I've been setting up a new home office.  I had books, boxes, and boxes of books like very large knick-knacks throughout my home.

Once I had all of my bookshelves (I converted my office closet), a four-shelf bookcase in the living room, a three-shelf bookcase in my dining room, and my Nook eReader, and Kindle--I only had one problem.

A very BIG problem.  

How was I ever going to keep track of all my books?

Of course, being a writer, a large number of my print books are The Classics, out-of-print editions or nonfiction, diaries, etc. While my eBooks and Audiobooks are in digital format, that doesn't keep me from making a second purchase. 

Notebooks are cumbersome. Setting up an Excel doc seems excessive.  BookBub, GoodReads is fine for reviews but not helpful in this case.

I located an app. 😃 for my iPhone called Book Buddy (it's FREE) 

Are you rolling your eyes? 

I have a total of 180 books on only two bookshelves. So this is a REALLY BIG DEAL for me. 📚📙📘📗

And hopefully, a very useful tool for you also. (While you can give a book a star rating) There is also an area to make notes to yourself.  The heroine's dog...is sooo adorable, or LHM (Lord Have Mercy) this Hero!  

Here's the mini info video (just skip the ad). Canadian views may have a different link to youtube. 

BookBuddy App (youtube video) Also available for Android

There is a scan button/ or multi-scan choice.  I had those 184 books scanned, dusted, and back on the shelves in only a couple of hours. 

What about eBooks you ask?  I will set up an additional Category for ebooks and a second for Audiobooks.

Yay!

It's the little things in life....and of course, an unlimited supply of coffee and books..which bring joy!

Happy Reading,

Connie

https://bookswelove.net/vines-connie/

AMAZON

https://connievines-author.com/  (Social Media links and more!)

An Introvert-Writer’s Guide to Celebrating Mardi Gras by Connie Vines

#1 Celebrate from the comfort of your home.  

Am I kidding?  No.  My husband is from Louisiana.  We have vacationed in New Orleans, many times. I absolutely love New Orleans’ French Quarter. However, my husband has always declined to vacation during Mardi Gras season.

“Why?”

“Because there are people.  Huge crowds of people.  Loud people who toss/throw things at you.  They also get drunk and. . .” he explained.

I got the idea.  He was probably correct.  Reality-Mardi Gras might be too intense (recalling my experience with the man and the tickle-feather at the Renaissance Faire which did not end well).

Still, the origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies.

On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America's very first Mardi Gras.

My day job requires interaction with staff, students, and social events.  I enjoy preparing regional meals.  I also like to throw family parties and get-together s with a small group of close friends.

Each year I host a “Mardi Gras” dinner party (I am an Introvert, remember.  No wild dancing or bead-throwing on the agenda). 

If you’ve ever traveled to New Orleans or are familiar with bayou cuisine, you may have tried a muffuletta. It’s one of my all-time favorite sandwiches.

 Muffuletta is both the name of a Sicilian sesame bread - and the name of a sandwich created by Italian immigrants (one branch of my family-tree originated in Sicily) in NOLA using the same bread. The sandwich combines Italian deli meats and cheeses with olive tapenade to create a layered sandwich unlike any other.

It’s Carnival season and there’s no shortage of delicious food to enjoy before, during, and after Fat Tuesday. If you’re having a Mardi Gras party, this slow cooker muffuletta dip is the perfect appetizer to serve to your krewe.

You can transform this quintessential New Orleans sammie into a dip for easy enjoyment at any party.  Plus, it’s research for my WIP set in New Orleans.

Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker

In a small slow cooker crock, combine giardiniera, cream cheese, chopped provolone cheese, cubed salami, and olives. Giardiniera is an Italian relish made of pickled vegetables. You can find it at the grocery store near the pickles.

Slow Cooker Mardi Gras Muffuletta Dip

Ingredients

1 jar (16 ounces) giardiniera, drained and coarsely chopped (Walmart—which I discovered by accident— Muffuletta mix in a glass jar).
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese
1 package (8 ounces) sliced provolone cheese, coarsely chopped
4 ounces hard salami, cut in small cubes
1 cup sliced pimento stuffed olives
½ cup sliced olives
Pita chips/muffuletta bread

Instructions

In a small slow cooker crock, combine all ingredients except pita chips.
Cover slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or LOW for 4 to 4 ½ hours. Stir occasionally.
Serve with chunks of muffuletta bread/pita chips.

After your party, indulge in a steaming cup of coffee with chicory and hot milk while reading an exciting novel available at BWL Publishing.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

My BWL Author Page!

https://books2read.com/Lynx  and my other novels, too!

New Year’s Resolutions and other Horrible Ideas by Connie Vines

New Year’s Resolutions.  Everyone makes them; everyone breaks them.

Need additional stress in your life?  Then go ahead and make resolutions for 2020.  Proclaim your intent to friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers you might encounter on the street.  Tell everyone so he/she can remind you, about mid-February, that you’ve fallen-off-the-rails—or worst yet, you never made it to the station.

While I’ve had my share of failed resolutions over the years (I’ll share those later in my post), I compiled a list of ‘what were you thinking?’ resolutions.

• Quit Your Job.  Calling your boss up on New Year’s Eve and leaving voicemail that you quite your job is one of the worst New Year’s resolutions you can ever act on? Why? Firstly, your savings account is probably looking rather unhealthy. Plus, after the holiday seasonal hires are looking for new jobs, meaning competition for that position you want is going to be tougher than ever.

• Join A Gym Straight Away. Joining a gym straight away doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to stick to it. Studies have found that 60 per cent of gym memberships go unused and that by mid-February gym attendance has subsided back to the pre-Christmas levels. Instead, sign-up for a gym class, or walk with a friend (human or furry variety) in the early morning or in the evening.

• Travel.  Booking a one-way ticket to some far-flung exotic destination. Great; what about your house, your pets, your job, your partner, your debts? The list goes on and on. Although traveling is great, booking a flight as part of your New Year’s resolution because you hate the monotony of your life.

• Join A Band.  Just because the likes of “insert name of your favorite band” started their epic career in a garage, it doesn’t mean you’re going to follow a similar path.  Bad, very bad idea.

• Find Someone to Marry (in real life).  Yes, I know I write romance novels with always end with a HEA. However, ‘finding someone to marry’ and ‘falling in love’ are not interchangeable terms.  Even if you’ve had your parents nagging you to settle down all Christmas or you’ve been paraded in front of what feels like a hundred happy couples at numerous festive parties, then your desire to find someone to marry might be higher than normal. Yet, love strikes when you don’t expect it. So, don’t try to plan to find “the one”; give it time and you’ll find someone when you least expect it.

My failed, or repeated fails, of past New Year’s resolutions.

• Weight loss, of course.  I’ve joined and rejoined this popular program several times—always with limited results.  The past several years I’ve utilized Pinterest to save ideas and recipes.  I also downloaded “My Fitness Pal” application.  It’s free and I am able to scan, track, and sync with my Fitbit activity tracker.

• Go to bed early.  I’m a night-owl (or a closet vampire). Mid-night is my early-bed-time, never mind that I must bound-out-of-bed at 5:45 AM each week day.  My primary doctor asked me ‘how much sleep to you get each night?’  I hedged, “how may hours should I be sleeping?” He responded, firmly, “at least 7 hours.”  “7?” I was shocked (I come from a long-line of night owls) and confessed, “6 hours. . .maybe.”  He stared me down and ordered me to get at least 7 hours.  When I returned home my husband asked me what the doctor said.  I replied, “He told me that I failed sleeping.”  Unfortunately, my husband found this extremely amusing (he’s an early to bed and get-up at 5:00 AM type of person—he even cat-naps). 

• Which leads me to. . .going to bed by 10:30 each week night.  Sounds like 7 hours sleep, doesn’t it?  If I fall asleep at 10:30 PM (snort), I’m awake for a couple of hours, usually 2:00 AM – 4:00 AM.  However, on Friday and Saturday I stay up late writing and go to bed in the early AM.  I did purchase a satin sleep mask (think: Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s) for my writing nights.  Of course, my dog (Chanel) tries to pull the mask off and my husband ignores us both. The mask does help.  Sometimes, I even sleep 8 hours.

Are you making resolutions for 2020?  Or do you have a few fails you'd like to share?

Remember my novels are on sale 75% off at Smashwords until January 1, 2020 --saving money and reading a wonderful story written by a BWL author is a great way to start the New Year!

Smashwords  (75% off !)   

Books We Love


Best Wishes and Happy Reading,

Connie Vines

"What woman doesn't love a cowboy?"

Enjoy the special effects:

New Year’s Resolutions, Tweets, and Confessions for 2019 By Connie Vines

Personally, I don't make many New Year's resolutions because I always end up being one of the 80 percent of people who abandon them by February. It's hard to change habits. and these Twitter tweets prove I’m not the only one.

And, if your New Year's resolution is to simply keep your head above the water in 2019, you're in good company.  I’ve shared a medley of Tweets I found on Twitter Moments.

1. Abby Russell: My New Year’s Resolution this year is to finally throw away those three empty Domino’s Pizza boxes sitting in the bottom of my fridge. This was my resolution last year, too, but 2019 feels like a year for change.

2. Monika:  My new year's resolution is to pretend i have the willpower to magically fix all my problems   **Monika I’m adopting this resolution as my own!”*

3. Introverted Life:  New Year’s Resolution: avoid getting talked to by a stranger while waiting in a line of any kind.

If you I’d to lower the bar for your New Year’s Resolutions, these sure-fire successes:

4 Pet more dogs.


5 Drink more coffee.

However, I must confession that I, too, am a repeat offender when it comes to multiple attempts at New Year Resolutions.

• To maintain the illusion of control, I purchase numerous calendars/journals (because my IPhone calendar isn’t always accurate).  To date I have in my possession: a purse size Academic Calendar for my purse, a small calendar for my car, and an elaborate calendar/journal from my husband, “She Lives Life in Her Own Little Fairy Tale” which he purchased at B&N (which I carry with me everywhere).  He also gave me a wall calendar for my office (Yes, he is an enabler), a back-up wall calendar—just in case (of what, I’m not certain).

• Obviously, I have a bit of a stationary fixation too.  I have stationary, notebooks and binders, pens and pencils that match.  No, I do not have every color available (I do have self-control, after all). Pink, Purple, and light blue (Cinderella Blue). Since I reside in SoCal, my office has many Disneyland items (photos of which I’ve share on Instagram, FB, and my website). 

• 2019 is the year I’m evoking Tweet #2 (wink).  Since I’m on Winter Break (and if you’ve studied Numerology, I’m entering a # 7 year—Creative Expression) I’ve begun to sort and organize my house—currently I’m my office.

• I’ve also managed to ‘confine’ myself at the gym for 45 minutes 3 – 4 evenings a week.  I’ve substituted green tea for 1/3 of my day coffee consumption. And, I no longer eat “Green Bean Casserole” at family gathering/ church/ school potlucks—nor do I make excuses. Oh, I also ordered a daily food tracking (purse size logs) because I can’t always use my iPhone to log into my Fitness Pal app.

Purchase Connie's eBoosk/ Books

Do you have any confessions about failed Resolutions? 

Any pending New Year’s Resolutions you’d like to share?

Warm Wishes and Happily-Ever-After in 2019,

Connie