GREAT ADVICE

Hi All!

The information below came in to our office today and I thought some of the tips should be passed along. Hopefully they will save some of you a lot of money and needless headaches.

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE-----NO CHARGE

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check-processing channels w ill not have access to it.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks, (DUH!). You can add it if it is necessary. However, if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling either here or abroad. We have all heard horror stories about fraud that is committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys" in! Take them with you and destroy them. Those little cards have on them all of the information you gave the hotel, including address and credit card numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel, can access all that information with no problem whatsoever.

Unfortunately, as an attorney, I have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer and received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online. Here is some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. The key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). However, here is what is perhaps most important of all (I never even thought to do this.)

3. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert . Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet and contents being stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1- 888-397-3742
3.) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything. Nevertheless, if you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone about who you care.

Do You See What I See?

Tonight being Halloween, and a beautiful night, my daughter and I decided to take the digital camera and pay a visit to a bridge in the area said to be haunted. Check out the image above the second post, just above the railing. Click on photo to enlarge. I'll let you decide what you see.

Comments welcome.

PERFECT AUTUMN DAY

Yesterday was another of the one tank getaways that my daughter and I share from time to time. Being two women, we set out with a direction, but no specific destination in mind. Since we are both drawn to the hills and water, we often head toward the southern part of the state. We avoid the Interstates, take the roads less traveled, and never travel the same road twice. We stop when ever the mood strikes and explore at our leisure.

It pretty much follows my approach to writing. I start out with a general plot direction and my main characters. I then allow them chart their own course along the winding road to see where it takes them. Who knows what treacherous hairpin curves, hidden treasures, missed turns, or happy accidents they will encounter along the way.

Anyway, my daughter and I had a wonderful day, talking, laughing, and in general enjoying each other’s company. About three hours from home, we passed a beautiful park and saw a lake in the background. Needless to say, we had to turn around and explore what the park had to offer. It was far more than we expected and we found a section of the park that we we had all to ourselves. The only people we saw were at a distance, in boats, on the lake. It was going on dinner time and we couldn’t imagine a better place for a picnic. So, we headed into town to find a KFC for chicken. No such luck. The town was too small. However, we did find Uncle Buck’s Pub and Carry-out Chicken. We figured what the heck, so we ordered a whole broasted chicken with all the fixing, and took it back to the park. I don’t mind telling you, that was a lot of chicken for two women, especially with all the sides. But in that gorgeous fresh air setting, so quiet and peaceful, I can’t remember when anything has tasted so incredibly good. I’d like to tell you that the dog ate most of the chicken, but unfortunately, that wouldn’t be true.

I’m sending along a few photos of where we ended up on this particular excursion. We’re thinking about including Haunted Indiana into our adventures. Who knows, I might have a few more mother/daughter excursions and photos to share.

The cutie below is Sissy, our other traveling companion who is all tuckered out after the long, fast paced jog my daugher took her on through the area. We didn't hear a peep from her the entire drive home.

Character Development

How real do your favorite characters feel to you? As an author, I go to great lengths to make my characters as vivid as possible in my mind. I have a character development list of about 50 questions that covers everything from physical description which includes any outstanding feature or markings such as scars etc, personality, likes, dislikes, job/career, educational background, family history, past relationships, religious beliefs, pet peeves, habits, favorite foods, food dislikes, philosophy on life. You name anything you might want to know about a person and chances are it’s on my list. I also do a lot of searching until I find a picture of that character. You see the picture and you say, “OMG, that’s him/her.”

I did something last night that showed me just how real some of my characters seem to me. While trying to find a suitable picture for the heroine in my current WIP, I went over a CD I have of photos for possible characters. Anytime I see a picture of a person that jumps out at me as someone who would make a great character, I save it to my character CD. Anyway, I found a photo of a woman in her mid-thirties, exact hair style, eye color, everything that fit the picture I have in my mind for Beth in my current story. There was only one problem. That was the same picture I used for Cinda Ellis in SOLD TO THE LOWEST BIDDER in my TEMPTING FATE HOLIDAY FANTASIES collection. In my mind, even though the picture was a perfect match for Beth, I couldn’t bring myself to put it on my character visual page for the new story. That picture was of Cinda, a single mom with a young daughter who was currently living happily ever after with her hero. To use that picture for another story I’d feel like I was breaking up the perfect relationship and happy future I’d created for her. Besides, Cinda would NEVER do some of the things Beth does in her story. So, as I continued to peruse the CD, a picture of a woman who did not fit my original vision or description for Beth literally jumped out at me like she was saying, “I’m here! Pick me, me, me!!!” Needless to say, I was forced to give Beth a make-over. I actually like the new Beth better than my first, her look fits the personality and even the situation better. For some strange reason, the story just took off as soon as I cast the proper Beth in the staring role.

In all honesty, as authors, we spend more time with, and know our characters more intimately than we do some members or our family and friends. If we aren’t sitting at our computer in the heads of our characters, they are attempting to get into ours while we go about our other activities. We know what they feel, what they think, what they want and need. We talk to them, try to reason with them, or downright argue with them, and they have a habit of responding in kind.

So readers, how many characters have you read about who stick in your mind long after reading …THE END? Characters you felt you would recognize if you met them on the street?

What about you authors out there? How well do you know your characters? Are you so involved in the lives you created for them that you almost feel as if you could pick up a phone and give them a call to see how they are doing?

Blow Out!!!!!!

Ever wonder about an authors, often wierd, sense of humor? How many of you ladies have ever changed a tire?

Yesterday, my daughter and I were on the Interstate - three lanes of traffic - 70 miles per hour mind you - in my car - when we had a blow out of a rear tire. We pulled to the shoulder next to one of those lovely concrete constuction barriers. We looked at each other and said "Do you know how to change a tire?" NOPE! But hey, we're intelligent, independant, modern women, we can do this!!!!!! And of course we're thinking some hero will see two women trying to change a flat and come to the rescue.

Out of the car, with vehicles blowing past us making it seem like we're in a wind tunnel. Get all the necessary equipment out of the trunk. The jack is a pretty straight forward tool so jacking up the car and getting the hubcap off wasn't too tough. Cars keep whizzing past, including a couple of cop cars. Next comes the lug nuts!!!! I wonder who came up with the term "Lug Nut"? It has a really masculine ring to it and stimulates all kind of images about the masculine personality. The term was most likely devised because men put the damn things on so tight that only a man has the strength to get the damn things off. (Tip, losen the damn lug nuts before you jack up the car so the tire won't keep turning to hamper your efforts).

Okay, after a lot of pushing and straining, the lug nuts are off. The blown tire is off. On goes that little dounut thingy that passes as a tire. Still no hero in sight. All but one of the lug nuts are back on, losely, we decided to lower the jack so we can tighten them enough so the tire would stay on.

By God, we'd done it!!! We changed a tire - by ourselves. Guess what? Along comes our hero! The first words out of my daughter's mouth was, "Now, you show up?"

Our hero, who was gorgeous by the way, has this sheepish grin and apologizes, "Sorry, I went past so fast I couldn't stop." He'd pulled off the Interstate on the first access road and climbed up a hill to reach us. You have give the guy credit. And of course a killer smile didn't hurt. Anyway, he tightened the infernal nuts, and put the blown tire and the jack back in the trunk. We're ready to get back in the car and, yep, you got it again, a cop finally pulls over, lights flashing.

Big an muscular, this State Trooper looks as if he could have lifted the car without the aid of a jack. "You ladies need assistance?" he asks. "Yeah, about forty-five minutes ago."

So, my daughter and I get back in the car, look at each other, and start laughing hysterically. This sort of thing is sooooo typical of our mother and daughter bonding days. Next on the agenda - get off the Interstate and find a place to get a new tire so we didn't have to drive too far on the donut thingy. We're in Indianapolis, shouldn't be too difficult. Yeah right! Ever try to get a tire changed after 5:00? The first two places we stopped, the chilverous heros working there said, "sorry, we just closed". The last one directed us to a Firestone dealership at the mall, three miles away. But of course we had to hurry because they closed at 6:00. Saturday traffic in Indianapolis is slow at best. Well, we did make it, with a few minutes to spare, Tire changed, and we're back on the road -- still laughing. Anyone want to bet whether or not the experience will one day find itself in one of my stories?

I have to tell you, that because of that damn blow out, my daughter and I both laughed more yesterday than either of us have in a long time. Needless to say, we changed our plans for the rest of the day. By the time we would have arrived at our intended destination, it would have been too late to accomplish what we'd originally set out to do. Instead, we returned to my house, fixed a nice dinner, and spent the remainder of the evening watching a movie.

We're thinking about trying it again today! News at eleven.

“Not Tonight, Honey. I Have A Headache.”

We have all been there. Sometimes you are just not in the mood. Maybe you’ve had a particularly stressful day at work, with the children, real life problems, or are simply not feeling well. As a result, you want nothing more than to relax a bit, then go to bed and sleep ... undisturbed. The thought of making hot passionate love is so far at the back of your mind it would take a blow torch to warm you up.

Fortunately there are some excellent books out there on which I would personally put a "Blow Torch" heat rating.

But, let’s get real. If you’ve had a really, really, bad day and your significant other comes home and says, “Come here baby and give Big Daddy some lovin’,” Big Daddy better duck and run.

That’s exactly the point I’m at with my current book. Since the first of the year, my day job has been particularly hectic … closing out year end and setting up for 2006 along with attempting to keep up with my normal, daily work load. By the time I got home each evening, I was wiped out, my brain all but fried. Definitely a "Not tonight, honey. I have a headache," situation.

In short, for the past week, my poor hero and heroine have been left hanging ... in the middle of a passionate love scene … in an old fashioned claw foot bath tub no less.

What authors put their characters through is shocking.

I’ve managed to tie up the last of the year end loose ends at work. Things have returned to normal … at least as normal as it gets. This weekend, I intend to complete the love scene and allow my poor hero and heroine to achieve the relief and satisfaction they’ve been working toward for the past week. Otherwise, they’re likely to seek revenge by becoming uncooperative.

So, what about the authors who write those hot and steamy books that as readers you often escape into … books that often help create the mood for romance?

As an author, I find the love scenes the most difficult part of the book to write. Just like in real life where you have to be in a particular frame of mind and mood to do it … I need to be in the mood to write it. For me, those scenes are best written in the evening or night hours. I do my best work if I set the mood … a hot bubble bath to relax me, candles burning, my special romantic mood music playing, and maybe even a glass of wine. It also doesn't hurt to read something with a bit of sizzle.

For other authors out there, how about sharing what influences impact the love scenes you write? What, if anything, make them difficult or impossible to write? What do you do to set the mood?

Right Brain vs Left Brain

In my last post I mentioned the need to switch mental gears from my day job to enable me to focus on my writing. I see myself as a right brain person, while my day job requires primarily left brain applications. Below is a more detailed description of the applications and functions of both the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Check them out and see if you are primarily a right brain or left brain person. I suspect there are those of you who are so well balanced that you do not lean heavier on one side or the other, or you function with both simultaneously. For me, I freely admit that balance in all aspects of my life is a constant struggle.


Right Brain Traits:

Intuitive: fllows hunches, or feelings, takes leaps of logic.
Nontemporal: having little or no awareness of time.
Random: arranges events and actions haphazardly.
Causal and Informal: deals with information on basis of need or interest at the time.
Concrete: relates to things as they are commonly known or understood.
Holistic: sees whole things all at one, overall patterns. Leading to divergent ideas.
Visual: uses imagery, responds to pictures, colors, shapes.
Nonverbal: responds to tones, music, body language, touch.
Visuo-spatial: uses intuition to estimate, perceives shapes.
Responsive: listens to music.
Originative: interest in ideas and theories imaginatively.
Emotional: suspicious judgment until it feels or seems right.
Learning: through exploration, creative, artistic

Left Brain Traits:

Methodical: organizes information, classifies, categorizes, structures.
Temporal: keeps track of time, thinks in terms of past, present, future.
Sequential: arranges events and actions in consecutive succession.
Linear: thinks in terms of sequence, one thought directly following another. Leads to convergent conclusions.
Factual: deals with details, items, the particulars, features of a thing.
Verbal: used words to name, describe, and define things.
Systematic and Formal: processes information methodically, in a well-planned way.
Learning: through systematic plans.

Reflections

I decided to get a head start on the new year by jumping on the blogger bandwagon. If you can't beat them, join them - right? Not sure I have anything to say on a regular basis that you will be interested in reading but I guess we'll soon find out.

Ever wonder how a writer's mind works? I've always said that a writer's mind is wired a bit differently. We look at life, people, and everyday situations from a different perspective. The two most important words in our vocabulary are; "What if?" Every person we meet has the potential to be a character, every situation a possible scene that adds realism and emotion, every song a title or plot, every location we visit an exciting setting for a book. The possibilities are endless. People often ask me where I get the ideas for my stories and the best response I can offer is; "Where don't I?" The ideas come faster than I can write them, proven by my ever expanding note book of plots, titles, potential characters, and scenes to be used at a later date.

Hopefully you'll find my REFLECTIONS on daily events and news about my work interesting enough to stop by often.