June 30, 2007

GONE

Here is another aspect of the eagle pic from a two posts back. You can see him atop the old snag. But take a look at all the other trees.

Brown. Dead. White pines. All gone. The effects of the pine beetle march becoming quite apparent at this latitude now. It’s sad. I see the brittle carcasses with their tell-tales beetle scars under peeling bark on my walks each day — in the woods, and in my yard. I guess now we worry about a hot, dry summer and fires. But by the looks of things — summer may forget us here in the mountains altogether. With these past months of rain and cold, I was beginning to really look forward to some HEAT at the RWA conference in Dallas in a week.

Alas. They have rain. And storms. And flooding now. Or so I am told

Hope there are some cowboys to make up for it ….

June 29, 2007

I have new inspiration – from DD#1. White Phalaenopsis — eight gorgeous blooms, and two fat buds — sent long distance. I am one lucky birthday girl. My office is turning into an orchid house. Let’s hope it nourishes the muse.

Thank you to all who made my day special

June 25, 2007

MAJESTIC

 
Isn’t he beautiful? He sat up there watching, waiting …. and when DH hooked a fish, he’d  swoop down, talons outreached, and with a thwump of his wings, grasp at the trout.

Smart bird. Let the human do the work.

But this is also the world my new heroine is intimately familiar with. Her northern spirit is much like the eagle’s … wild, and smart. A perfect match for the villain A perfect challenge for the hero.

I love this stage of a book ….

June 21, 2007

NEW HORIZONS

This is where inspiration is taking me at the moment — up the Alaska Highway, with a Mountie. A killer. And a lot more …

I love the start of a new book, where possiblilties seem endless. It’s all mine to ruin from here on

June 17, 2007

THE NORDIC LIFE …

I have new toys — Nordic walking poles, and every writer should have them!

After several back-to-back deadlines hunched in front of my computer 24/7 I was having back and neck issues (never mind personality ones ). This exercise is the perfect solution since it really works that upper body area. I spent two hours on the trails today, and one hour yesterday, and am totally hooked — especially after reading Deborah MacGillivray’s article in the recent Romance Writer’s Report …. about how to juggle the stresses of writing for more than one publisher. As she states, “your health will be the biggest obstacle you face.”

Good sleep, nutrition, and exercise are vitally important if an author wants to sustain a brutal deadline pace, yet these are the first areas to be shortchanged.

Well — these poles now form part of my career game plan :). If you use these things properly (ie get yourself into proper four-wheel drive and find a good rhythm) Nordic walking also increases your heart rate on average 10-15% more than normal walking. This means you can burn up to 450 calories per hour compared to around 280 with regular walking. And apparently, an additional energy consumption of 1500-2000 calories a week while doing physical activities reduces your risk of getting sick. You can achieve this by walking with your poles approximately 3 hours per week.

Normal walking, even with a fast pace and good stride, uses about 70% of the muscle mass in the body at any given time (mostly lower body). Put some Nordic Walking poles in your hands, and with the proper technique, you can use up to 90% of your body’s muscle. And again, building more muscle means more calories burned.

The poles take stress off my gammy knee, the sport gets me outdoors and away from my desk. And … the rhythm — when you find it – is incredibly meditative, which helps with that (ahem) personality issue.

No wonder the man gave them to me as an early birthday present

June 15, 2007

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

It’s time to plot the new book — and walk into the woods of the subconscious. I’m not big on basements …. I’m an outdoor kinda gal ;). I prefer to find my archetypes in the dark and dripping forests, and in the chuckle of rivers, and in the whisper of the winds. So that’s where I plan to go today ….