Love me, touch me, kiss me....

I've been on a major romance kick the past week and a half. Maybe it's because Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Or maybe it's because I'll be celebrating my wedding anniversary to my soul mate this month. Regardless of the reason, it has given me a lot of romantic inspiration for my writing. Which, of course, got me thinking about my romance song list.

So, for your listening - and viewing - enjoyment, and in no specific order, here are some of the most romantic songs for which to write to, make love to, or just snuggle to. Enjoy!

Kissing You by Des'Ree. I first heard this song while watching Romeo + Juliet. The the music alone makes me crave hands moving through my hair, fingers brushing down my cheek.

My Love by Sia. Any Twihard knows this song. This is played during the infamous, extremely romantic and sensual make-out scene in Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Can't you picture Edward's hands moving so gently over Bella's face?

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. Ahhhh. I can picture every single action as the song plays out. You can feel the way Eric loves his woman in this song.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You  by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. A little indulgent and cute, sure, but I so badly want this song sung to me!

Make A Memory by Bon Jovi. This band can sing just about anything and it makes me think of snuggling...or more!

I'll Be There For You by Bon Jovi. You can't think of romantic and Bon Jovi without this one. *sigh*

I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith. The lyrics, the movie, the moments. What woman doesn't want to think their man loves every single thing about them?

What songs bring love to mind? What really makes you crave your significant other's touch, their lips?

You asked, I answered. This is how I write...

Dozens of people have asked me over the past year how to write a book. Normally, I say...just write. That doesn't always go over well, but I don't always know how to tell someone who's never written a short story how to write a novel. While trying to go to sleep last night, an analogy I heard once on one of the writing boards I stalk started playing through my head. I just added a little to it....

When starting a book, you have to think of Adam and Eve.

Want a bite?

 Yep, that's what I said-Adam and Eve. Everything has to start with the bones. Not everyone does this part the same, but all stories end up the same way - the skeletal form of a novel. Some choose to outline. Some choose to wing it. I'm a little of both. Sometimes I have a fabulous idea, but have to sit down and type out a few things to see if I can make it work. Other times, I outline nothing more than the character or world building. When I write a story I want to know where the characters went to school, their favorite colors, their fave food and drink, why they act the way they do, even if they've ever had an ingrown toe nail. Now, of course a majority of this never makes it into the book, but it helps me get to know the characters better.

Other times, I know what I want to happen, but I'm not sure which order, so I outline the approximate events. A lot of times this will tell me if I even want to include certain events, or eliminate them completely.

The next part is adding the meat. Obviously, we can't walk around as nothing but skeletons. It would cause mass panic, and people would try to hunt us thinking we were zombies.

Gr. I'm a zombie..

This is where after planning what I want to happen, or maybe even after doing the mad dash to get the story out of my head, I'll go back and add details. Maybe I need to add more description of the room which will play a huge part in a scene. Maybe I need to add more description to a fight scene to make it more intense. Or maybe I need to do a little more research about a certain species of creature, or illness someone is inflicted with. The story is now resembling a real novel.

Now, at times, we women (and some men) want perfection. Therefore, we have to go through the book and remove the moles, warts, blemishes, and all imperfections. Beauty marks may look good on a woman, but they don't in a novel. Well, at least not a lot of beauty marks. You don't want to send a novel into the universe covered in zits!

I'm sexy and I know it...

What I mean by imperfections is all those repeat words, the excessive 'that's, and all of those annoying adverbs! Kill them! Kill them all!!!! Okay, not all. But adverbs should be like any seasoning...used in moderation.

There. Hopefully this short description helped someone. How do you write? Do you have some advice for those who are finally sitting down to write the book they've always dreamed of?

Inspiration or Distraction - Is technology killing the creative mind?

As an adult, I had a television in my bedroom for about five years. Not only that, but the alarm clock is right next to my head, my phone sits on the nightstand, and my laptop was on the floor beside the bed. My doctor said I should remove all of these things from my room to eliminate all the electrical energy from my room. I removed the TV and laptop, and whaddayaknow, I sleep better, with less crazy dreams.

On Absolute Write Water Cooler there was recently a conversation about creativity being squashed by so many distractions, and it got me thinking - are we killing our imagination?

I've always tended to have the TV playing in the background, or music, as I came from a large family, and have a busy house, therefore, I'm accustomed to a more chaotic home. But, could all of these things be interfering with my 'what-if' factor?

The poster of the question was concerned by his lack of ideas-no matter how much television he watched, how many news clips he read, etc he couldn't seem to find fresh ideas. Could these outside influences be killing the gene responsible for our outlandish ideas?

Most of my ideas come from my dreams. Of course, at times they've come from other 'what-if' circumstances, or hit me while on the back of my husband's Road King, but I tend to remember the dreams and nightmares more often. Which, by the way, would contradict the whole 'remove the clock and phone from beside your bed' idea. 

Do you rely on outside stimuli to awaken your creative senses? Or do you prefer a solitary walk to get the juices flowing? Do you need silence, or do you prefer some inspirational music to get you in the mood?

It's the End of the World As We Know It...

And I feel fine.

I know I promised to blog on a more regular basis, but I gotta tell you...I'm not sure what to write about. Sometimes I try to think of something I think you'd want to read. Others, I feel like venting. But, what should this page truly be about?

Tell me, oh wonderful readers, what would you like to see me blog about more often? Would you like more writing tips from experts? Or maybe some more guest posts by some of the most awesome people I've ever had the privilege of meeting? How about just a whole lot of pictures of naked people....seriously, I'll do it.

Here's your chance, peeps. Tell momma what it is you want to see on a regular basis. It's all about you at this moment!

The story of Drexel: She was more than just a dog...

Everyone means well when they say they know where I am, they had to put their dog down. But, I think I need to explain my relationship with you. Drexel was more than just a dog to me.

I adopted Drex from the Humane Society on June 1, 2000 as a four month old puppy. In the beginning, she annoyed the piss out of me. I've never been one to enjoy puppies, kittens, or even babies. Oh, I know that sounds bad. It's not that I don't like them, I just prefer to enjoy them and give them back to their moms. Drex chewed up everything; my shoes, my clothes, my furniture, everything. She couldn't seem to get housebroken, nor trained.

One day, while she was in heat, she got out and I found her mating with a male dog from the neighborhood. The next day I called the Humane Society and asked what would happen if they received a pregnant dog. At this point, she was about six months old. They told me they would put her to sleep if she was indeed pregnant. I hung up and bawled.

I called my mom and told her "she doesn't even know how to sit," to my surprise she sat. Within the next few days she was suddenly housebroken and listened to commands. From that day on she went everywhere with me. If I wasn't going to be in a store more than twenty minutes, she came along. If she was allowed in the store, she came in. She went on camping trips, canoe trips, and family trips with me. I was unable to conceive a baby, so she was my child. I embroidered her stocking with her name, bought and wrapped Christmas gifts, and stuffed her stocking. She had a bandana for every holiday, every special event.

I even kept the first puppy tooth she lost. (Yes, I still have it packed away somewhere)

I was in an abusive marriage; she was my protector. I was always alone; she was my friend and companion. Even after becoming a mother to my three awesome kids, she was still considered my first born. She was always in our holiday portraits, and I talked about her as if she was one of my kids.

Drexel was in my life for almost twelve years, and I will never stop loving her. I will never forget her. I will always hurt for the loss of my baby girl.

I love you, Drexel. Forever and ever!!!!

Did I mention I'm multi-talented?

I've been remiss in mentioning my other business endeavor. I not only write about the supernatural, I create things for babies. Yeah, I know. Kind of opposite ends of the spectrum, huh?!

Don't worry, this blog won't be taken over by my crafts, I just thought I'd mention to you all, as any publicity is good publicity. I may open a separate blog specifically for my other business, but as for now, I have my hands full with everything else!

So, without further adieu, here's a few of my items I offer in my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/christyparks:

My all natural homemade diaper wipe cubes come in a variety of formulas. All the soaps are infused with Vitamin E oil, but I also offer Lavender essential oil, Jasmine essential oil, and Green Tea and Cucumber essential oil. These are perfect to use with your reusable cloth diaper wipes. Just dissolve in one cup of hot water, then pour over your cloths. They're also great as a foot soak, a mild cleaning solution in your favorite spray bottle, or toss them into your bath for your own benefits.

I have a variety of prints for the reusable nursing pads. All pads are made with flannel and fleece for extra absorption, and max comfort.

I also offer contoured nursing pads in a variety of colors and prints. These are also made with flannel and fleece or minky for extra absorption, and max comfort.

Okay, don't worry. I'm not going to post everything in my store, but make sure you head over and take a look around my shop.

Thanks for sticking around for this post, y'all! Until next time, see you in the funny papers!

Global Warming? End of the World? Or......

Just really nice weather? I gotta say, I'll take it any way I can get it. This December has been the warmest in my memory, and I didn't have to trudge through snow and slush to clean out my chicken coup, or help my kids down the hill to their bus stop. Yet, oddly enough, I still hear people saying it's because the world will end in the year 2012...is that such a bad thing?

Here's how I see it: those of us who believe in a higher power will be in whatever Heaven or Nirvana we were promised (except those of you who killed innocents in order to jump to the front of the line), and those who don't will go *poof* into non-existence. No more bills. No more stress. No more illness. No more pain, or evil, hate or sadness. It's that really such a bad thing?

Then, of course, there are those who believe it's the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse. Fortunately for me, I've watched tons of movies about zombies, and read twice as many books. I can survive any type of supernatural attack! Oooh, but what about you? Will you be running for the hills, searching for Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, and Jessie Eisenberg? Or will you become a Shane from Walking Dead and let your morals disappear, killing anyone to save your own ass...even if you don't have a family while the other guy does?

As for me and my family, we'll be hunkered down here, with all our critters, burning wood in the fireplace for heat, eating our chickens and their eggs to survive. Okay, so that sounds a little lacking in variety, but it's better than eating our dogs...