 | 1 Dec 06 |
‘Tis th season to be jolly, fa la la la la… oops, sorry got carried away. When it comes to the holidays I am totally bi polar. Love ‘em, and hate ‘em.
I love to socialize, and throw a partay!
Whoo hoo, Karin’s house is the place to be. I spare noszing. (said in Sergeant Schultz’s voice) NOSZING! Best booze, best food, cigar bar, heated smoking room, a bartender who can whip up the meanest drink and some of the best company in town. This year? We’re having a fabulous group of Dickens carolers come by for a song or two. They vill look marvelous on my stairway!
I just hope this time when they ask for requests my husband doesn’t ask them to sing Free Bird again.
Vut, I hate about zee holidays? I hate to shop! I hate to decorate! And I hate to clean up the damn mess!!!!
It’s kind of the love hate relationship I have with publishing. I love to write, and I love to do signings. Everything else? Take it away—please!
Speaking of signings.
Last night I traveled 75 miles to San Jose for a signing at a great book store with a fabulous bookseller. Being the last Thursday of the month the romance readers group was there. Great group of ladies, some of whom I met earlier this year. Nice, and tough. Each reader chatted about the books she read in the last month, and while most were complimentary, there were several duds mentioned and the ladies explained why they were duds to them. Most complaints were about pacing and the story being just plain boring. There were a few who didn’t care for the heroines. But I listened to this group of women, women who read romance, women who can make me or break me.
I understood where these gals were coming from. I’ve read books that have put me to sleep or books where I didn’t connect with the characters, but hearing these avid readers speak so candidly about what they loved and didn’t love in a story resonated with me. I took mental notes and on the drive home put them to the test. I asked myself questions about my current wip. Is the pacing brisk? Is the heroine sympathetic? Is the story juicy or boring? All things considered, I think, JADED, my current wip is my best writing to date.
The other part of last night was the ladies I signed with. Josie Brown, Jami Alden and Jasmine Haynes aka Jennifer Skully. I have gotten to know these authors over the years and quite frankly, as we ate dinner afterwards and chatted about the industry, our RWA Chapter, then our hopes, fears and dreams, I realized that this sisterhood is just as important to me and my writing wellbeing as my agent and editor. These ladies get me, I get them, we are all still learning, and the best thing is there is no pretense or prima donna diva BS.
It’s good to know in this roller coaster business there are kindred souls so close.
On the way home I called convalescing hubby to let him know I was on my way. “Was it worth the drive and the time?” he asked. My response, “Damn straight it was.” And while it took me away from my family for an evening, cost me some serious change for gas, gave up an evening of desperately needed writing time, and I came home tired, I wouldn’t have changed a minute. Life is good. My friends, the book sellers who love romance and the readers who love it more, make this business a wonderful place to be.
I truly can not think of anything else I would rather do.
So, my question is this: In this crazy life, who or what grounds you?
© 2006 – 2009, Karin Tabke. All rights reserved.
A Cop’s Wife Writes the Cop’s Life:
Award winning author, Karin Tabke isn’t just another author with steamy stories to tell, but a cop’s wife who has “seen it all and heard it all.†Some of the hottest stories come from behind the blue wall of law enforcement rather than from in front. Married to a street cop, now retired, Karin is intimate with both and proves it with her sizzling tales and hot cops. Not only are her cops hot, but so are her sexy knights. Karin’s Blood Sword Legacy series is a must read for anyone who loves tales of yore when men were men and women were women, and love did conqueror all!
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DH, and taekwondo. Speaking of which, I got to go to my first class last night, after four months off (darned foot). Tkd totally makes my week. It’s always good to have something in one’s life that’s just for fun, and just for me. I know it sounds selfish, but a little self-indulgence feels really good, sometimes!
by spyscribbler December 1st, 2006 at 6:35 amMy Black Diamond Gals totally ground me. Every day they remind me of what great ladies they are and how much we give each other. I can not believe our chapter will celebrate TWO years this January, and we have gone from 6 members to 15.
My DH is my rock, I would go insane without him to remind me writing is supposed to be fun. Also, he is a pretty good cook and cleaner just when I need him.
by Amanda December 1st, 2006 at 7:41 amNot selfish at all, Spy, one must have their indulgences. I think more people need to insist on them, especially women. We’re happier, and when we’re happier? So is the world around us.
by Karin December 1st, 2006 at 7:42 amDefinitely Dancing Daughter and Chatter Child, who never fail to pull me from my work needing yet another ride, yet another dollar (or twenty), or to cry about a bad day.
by Natalie December 1st, 2006 at 7:52 amAdmittedly, Amanda, the BD’s are an exceptional group. Ain’t it grand to have people you can meet in person who get you?
Nat, the term nickel and dimed to death is so underrated, like you I’m twentied to death. I so look forward to closing the Bank of Mom someday soon.
by Karin December 1st, 2006 at 8:24 amMy RWA chapter for sure! Those women are the best. Plus my husband, kids and sister. Then there’s Natalie, Karin, Allison and Deb!
by Jen December 1st, 2006 at 11:01 amDefinitely my buddies from my local RWA chapter and some other wonderful & generous authors I’ve met along the way.
by Monica M. December 1st, 2006 at 1:00 pmMostly my CPs and my blogging buddies, plus some other cyber writing friends. I’m sure I could write more if I weren’t on the internet so much, but the journey is more fun with these people around. Plus, they get me, and that’s so important.
by Edie Ramer December 1st, 2006 at 1:12 pmAwesome to see you and hang out last night! My sistas from the SFRWA definitely keep me grounded, and I’ve stopped feeling guilty about the times I go to lunch or chat on the phone with other authors instead of writing. Not only do I need the socialization, I learn so much and get so much support from all of the wonderful women I’ve met over the course of my very short writing career, I would never want to sacrifice that. Well, maybe if I were on deadline…
by Jami Alden December 1st, 2006 at 5:16 pmJen, I hear your chapter rocks! How many members show up per meeting?
Monica, I agree, while in the beginning (my beginning with them) the chapter was cool and distant, the new wave over the last year is great.
by Karin December 1st, 2006 at 8:53 pmEdie, it i hard to stay off the net, it’s like leaving a friend’s house.
And Jami, I was so glad you stayed out last night. It was good, all good.
by Karin December 1st, 2006 at 8:54 pmYou mean we have to be grounded too? Damn, I just got off being grounded three decades ago.
Ta dum!
The question is…Does your hubby sing Free Bird on request?
by Cele December 1st, 2006 at 9:11 pmFirst, I have to agree on the Holiday shopping. I hate it…Absolutely hate it..I love to bake and do all the decorations, some of the parties, but I hate to shop for gifts. I could have all the rest without the gift giving. For me, it ruins the whole thing. The attitude came from the years I was so dirt poor I couldn’t give anything, and felt the pressure from friends and family to somehow cough up a gift. I avoided a lot of parties and social situations for that reason. Now with grown children with families and bills, and I don’t allow them to give me anything at Christmas, just their company, and big hugs from the grandkids and watching their little faces light up when they look at a tree full ornaments. I just want sparkling lights, lots of food, and music. That’s what makes me happy at on the holidays.
About writing groups. They are the best. They inspire. They guide. They educate. And the freindships are the best…They’re always there for you…
by Lee December 2nd, 2006 at 7:41 amKarin, the meetings vary in attendance, from about 80 to 120 I think. It depends on the time of year and the speaker. Dean Koontz had 200 but that was super rare.
by Jen December 2nd, 2006 at 8:40 amCele, I met with an editor several years ago that was so young, I wanted to tell her I would ground her, without her cell phone if she didn’t read my ms. And yes, hubby does sing Free Bird, he sounds better after a few JD’s.
Lee, I so hear you! The expectation of a gift really bugs me. Why not just celebrate the reason for the season? When my kids ask me every year what I want I have a standard response. “Peace.” When hubby asks I tell him, “Carats, lots of shiny carats.”
by Karin December 2nd, 2006 at 2:00 pmJen, that is great attendance. We’re having John Gray of Mars and Venus fame as our Feb speaker. I am hoping for a large turnout. We have some really great speakers in the works.
by Karin December 2nd, 2006 at 2:03 pmKarin, having read some of JADED, I agree with you. I think it’s your best work as well.
by Michelle Diener December 3rd, 2006 at 12:10 pmI can’t wait to read JADED. I know what you mean about getting better. I’ve felt that I’ve gotten better and grown as a writer with each book.
by Allison Brennan December 3rd, 2006 at 7:23 pm