Phosphorescence

When I lived in Saint Thomas, one of the most magical things I experienced was the phosphorescent plankton that would appear in the secluded bay where we lived. On nights when the waves would crest with pale green light, we would go to the beach and swim surrounded by beads of green-blue light.
It happened on the hottest nights of the year, and when the sea was calm. The plankton gives off light when it's agitated, so it glows just at the edge of the ocean where the waves wash onto the beach. Walk along the wet sand, and your footprints glow. When you swim, the plankton lights up all around you. You can smear the plankton on your body, and leave luminescent tribal tattoos. Once, on a boat at night, the plankton lit up in the boats wake. We leaned over the railing, the starry sky above, the dark water below, and it seemed we were floating along the milky way.
Of course, that's when my glasses dropped off into the ocean, and we couldn't afford to buy new ones. I didn't get another pair of glasses until I'd lived in Paris for a year.

Jack the Stripper

Jack the Stripper *

Welcome to The Purple Dee. Pull up a chair and get settled in, the show will start soon! Our featured performer tonight is Jack the Stripper. He's Jack Severn, newly back from the dead. He's magical, he's hot, but evil he's not!
Jim Ling-Li, Necromancer extraordinaire, brought him back to life, gave him some extra features, and, as you'll see, made him irresistible --Especially to Jack's ex-girlfriend Brianna. Jack's sexier than ever, and they're better together. But she doesn't want to risk her heart, not again, and definitely not with a zombie.Jack also has a mission. He's back to catch the Heart Taker, the mutant that's been terrifying human and undead alike. His current obsession's none other than Jack's Brianna.So give a big hand for Jack...he's going to need all the support he can get to catch his own murderer.

"...The story is really enjoyable as Ms Winston deliciously brings on the zany dark humor in a manner that really appeals to the fan of the macabre in me. The humor is not too overpowering or too farcical - just enough to keep me laughing. There is already a beautiful kind of poetry in the premise, what with a hero who lacks a heart, but is in love, and who is supposed to be dead but ends up a hero instead. The story doesn't disappoint in delivering a fun Tim Burton kind of romantic adventure where I am concerned."

~ Mrs Giggles eBook review

* Jack the Stripper was originally published by Loose Id as "Zombie Jack". It has been re-edited and re-issued by Evernight Publishing. 

Thai Cover for the Secret of Shabaz

This is the Thai cover for "The Secret of Shabaz"

Rather pretty, don't you think?

Summer is over...

Vacation is over. I kind of wish I were still on this path, on my way to the beach.

Writing Process Blog Hop

I was tagged to do this by Bridie Hall who recently published "Letting Go", a YA romance about a good girl who meets the proverbial bad boy! Visit this talented author's blog.

Now on to answering the four questions in the Writing Process Blog Hop.

1) What am I working on?
I'm working on two or three books, as usual. One YA book about a boy in a wheelchair who finds a wounded hawk - a fantasy about a girl who's part ancient god (her mother is a Muse...), and a book for Ellora's Cave about girl who is determined to get her man...by telling stories like Scheherazade!

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I don't really know if it's that different - what genre, for example? And is it good to be different? I suppose, if I had to really dig, that perhaps I tend to get more involved in character and world development than some other authors - I love creating new worlds, and character development gets a lot of attention too.

3) Why do I write what I do?
Because I love it! I love to read, I love to read different genres, so I write lots of different genres. My favorites are fantasy and science fiction, but I happily do romance and historical novels too. Even mysteries are not safe from my pen, lol!

4) How does your writing process work?
I'm very structured and love to work from outlines. That said, I'll do an outline and promptly ditch it if the story starts to head in another direction. (But I'll usually do another one to make sure I'm going in the right direction!) Outlines can be very detailed, or they can be just a couple paragraphs about the beginning, middle and end of story. I have written books without - Welcome to Paradise is a good example - I started that one from a vivid dream and it went on from there. But it's one of the few I did without outlines and notes. Most of the time, I have a nice, chapter by chapter outline done before I start to write.

You can find my books on my website, at Evernight Teen or at amazon and B&N.

Next in line for the blog hop are:

Gail Bridges
Visit her site on April 28 to learn about this author's writing process!

and

Jane Leopold Quinn, a multi-published author of highly sensual books. Other interests include building and decorating doll houses and miniature room boxes. She lives in Chicago overlooking Lake Michigan. Visit her blog on April 28th to see her writing process!

Chez Auguste

Walking in the town, I discovered a restaurant called "Chez Auguste". My dog, Auguste, appreciates the menu. (We had lunch there - very good!)

Journeys

We never know where our journeys will take us. Sometimes just going out for a loaf of bread turns into a grand adventure. But one thing I have found out - as long as the company is good, and the day is sunny - the journey will certainly be a good one, no matter how far, or how short your legs are.