Ten Minutes: Activism if you have depression or other limitations.

The reality of injustice has been uncovered in the most horrific ways possible. We have work to do to make the country a place where people can live in peace.

If you suffer from depression, chronic pain, or other conditions that keep you from the front lines, you can still help people. The trick is to start small. If you make your goal too big, you will inevitably fail and slide into despair. So begin with ten minutes, just like if you were starting an exercise program.

You can get a lot done in ten minutes. Write a tiny email to someone you admire, telling them thank you for their hard work. Or write a tiny email to the city council, saying you want the police to learn new ways of interacting with their people of color.

No need to worry about making it perfect. Just start. For example, here's a tiny note I just made up on the fly:

Dear Police Department,

Seriously, guys, I think you need some help. The way you work now kills people, both officers and populace. Please expand to include social workers and mental health professionals. I want everyone to feel safe on the streets.

Or, you could be more assertive, depending on your personality:

Dear Police Department,

What the fucking fuck, dudes??

In ten minutes, you can create a draft about a situation or system that needs to change. If the email triggers your anxiety or your condition, you can wait for tomorrow's (or next week's) ten minutes to edit and send.

Perhaps you are awesome on the phone. Or you design excellent protest signs. Maybe you are in the absolute pits and can barely get out of bed. At that point, play some protest music, for yourself or your neighbors (my favorite protest musician is Mavis Staples).

Start small.

Small actions do add up and do make a difference.

Mental Health in a time of pandemic: Part III

From the Rice Museum near Portland, OR

This instillation on caring for our well-being during the pandemic focuses on curiosity and connectivity!

Stay curious

Since everyone is in this together, many places that would have required in-person attendance are now providing virtual resources. Take advantage of this free opportunity to enjoy sights and sounds that would have cost money to enjoy before!

-          Take a virtual tour of an art museum. Many museums, including Chicago's own Art Institute, are allowing for virtual tours of exhibits. https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

-          Watch a professional performance. Since live performances are not possible, watch a Broadway show or popular artist streamed right through your computer! https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/all-musicians-streaming-live-concerts.html

-          Read a new book. Here is a list of some great books you can download to an e-reader https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Kindle-Store-eBooks/zgbs/digital-text/154606011

-          Try a new recipe. There is no better time to try out some new meals than when you have plenty of time at home! Here are some simple ingredient recipes that don’t take too much time and have household ingredients. https://ifoodreal.com/clean-eating-recipes-dinners/

-          Watch a new series, movie, or documentary. Most of us have some type of streaming services (e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.) and if we don’t, we have a friend or family member’s login information J. There are even some new movies in theatres that are currently streaming on these services. Plus, there is a wide array of new series and documentaries to watch. Here is a list of some recommended series: https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/best-shows-on-netflix/.

Stay connected

Human beings are not meant to exist in isolation. Studies from solitary confinement in prisons demonstrate the damage that social isolation has on our emotional health. The good news is that we can still stay connected even if we can’t be physically with others.

-          Video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, WebEx, and Microsoft Groups offer free accounts and allow you to talk with multiple people at once. Set up a family Zoom call and see everyone’s face at once! https://zoom.us/

-          Schedule individual FaceTime or Skype dates with friends and loved ones. Have a meal together, watch a show together, do a workout together, or just chat. This can be a way to connect and still feel like you are engaged with others.

-          Start a book club. Perhaps you have a text thread with a group that you don’t get to spend a whole lot of time with anymore. Pick a book, read it, and discuss all together!

-          Write a letter. Snail mail might be making a comeback! Take time to write a personal note and send it to a family members (perhaps one who is less technologically inclined).

-          Join or start a group meditation or group prayer. Many congregations are streaming services and engaging in prayer virtually – if a place of worship is important to you, join!

-          Start or join a virtual dance party. There are DJs hosting sets, where multiple people are tuning in and having a living room dance party at night – this is also a chance to get active! https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9340211/dj-d-nices-virtual-social-distancing-dance-party-drew-vips-like-michelle-obama-missy-elliott-more

Dracula Unleashed.

Behold! The cover for Dracula Unleashed, the last book in the Blood Wings Trilogy.

On the cover, we have our lovely and dangerous Valerie. The sleeveless one is everyone's favorite angel, Lance Soleil.

And rocking that gray tee-shirt is John Jante, the sweetest of our little menage.

Here are some other pictures that I am using to inspire my writing:

Angle Wing Chalcedony

My original vision for Lance.

Valerie loves diamonds.

The inspiration for her dragon embroidered coat.

Topkapi Palace

Lots of people visit Topkapi

Writing Prompt #3:Tiny Stories.

The tiny copper colored wires sang an ancient song to her. The object  held metal flanges set into a metal circle. Tiny wires descended from the flanges through the glass of its container to end in a horseshoe of 7 thing prongs.

She pressed the prongs into the fleshy part of her arm and admired the neat impressions they made. The glass was unlike the smoky, opaque glass she'd known her entire life. The glass was clear and smooth, pleasing to the touch. At the very top, the glass came to a point, like some kind of exotic hat.

The long-extinct humans had been great experimenters and inventors. She recognized this object from her ancient history; it had been used to control electric currents. Here in New LA, they had tamed the tides to create power since the surface dwellers' electricity didn't work in the water. But despite her people's eight limbs and sensitive suckers, they had trouble with the transmission of kinetic energy.

She wrapped the pleasant glass tube in one limb and propelled out of her salvage building. The future depended on the music of a forgotten spark.


My inspiration:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/world-octopus-and-squid-populations-are-booming

I, for one, welcome our Cephalopod overlords. 

Greatest Hits

Jane with Heather Locklear.

Once again, it is time to get into the Way Back Machine and discover what exactly is hidden in my blog's archives.


Published January 7, 2010, here is a writing game courtesy of Jane Porter.

***

Several years ago, Jane Porter spoke at my local RWA chapter, the Rose City Romance Writers.

I'll be honest. Jane's blonde, gorgeous, petite, skinny, and looks about sixteen. I was consumed by envy. Then she gave a brilliantly inspirational speech about where your writing fits in the market.

I was expecting something very business-like, maybe a breakdown of the different publishers and what they tended towards.

Instead, she talked about the roots of your writing- the fables, myths, and fairy tales that consumed you as a child. What could you listen to over and over? What were those themes? What keeps coming up over and over for you?

The fairy tales didn't reveal that much about me, I thought. I picked.

1. The Seven Swans: I chose discipline, faithfulness, and sewing shirts out of flowers (transformation) as the themes I loved about this story.


2. Aladdin : Flying, courage, and risk.


3. Sleeping Beauty: Disguises, awakening to a new reality, and (what the hell) fairies with personalities.

I really flailed with these. No common themes seemed to emerge. Then we went to mythology. I chose:

1. Medea: Revenge, justifiable wrath, a woman who controls her life, a woman who kills, escape



2. The Golden Fleece: Powerful allies, justifiable wrath, travel



3. The Aenead: Rising from the ashes, travel, new starts

I suddenly realized why my attempts at light-hearted romantic comedy failed miserably. I had much darker stories inside of me.

I focused on the story that began, "She swam in an ocean of blood" instead of "Lola blinked." I'm pretty sure we can all tell which first sentence is far more attention grabbing. :)
(That's not the first sentence anymore, by the way ;).

Myths, fables, legends, and fairy tales are our playground. They provide the archetypes, the symbols, and the language for our lives.

Play the game with me. What are the stories that have haunted you? What themes do you carry inside of yourself?

Best of...Tips and Tricks

Continuing the four year anniversary of my blog with a post from November 10, 2009. :)

Tips and tricks.

Let's be honest. We all experience insecurity and fear about our writing. Everything from "It sucks", to "I suck" and everything in between.

It can paralyze an artist in a quagmire of self-loathing misery. Sometimes, though, it's possible to make a few steps out this nasty, leech-ridden, malaria-infested swamp

I call upon my 'tricks' to make it easier to find a shortcut. Here's few of my favorite tricks in no particular order, in a handy numbered list for quick reference. :)

My local library

Bribery. Yummy, yummy bribery.

1. Change writing locations. I'll write in the library, different rooms in the house (I'm writing this now on my second floor landing), a coffee-shop (Starbucks is a cliche for a reason, folks!), or even just go outside. Something about a different visual geography can shake me out of a funk.
2. Bribery is both functional and traditional. One of my critique partners says, "I don't need a lollipop every time I finish five pages." Well, I'm not nearly that mature. I love to bribe myself with hot baths, visits with my friends, a good movie - you name it. I try to avoid bribing myself with food, though. That way lies getting stuck in the different quagmire of body image issues.
3. Ask for help. Somewhere out there, someone believes in you. Give them a call or an email. Say, "I'm going in. Cover me!" For some reason, this works really really well.
4. Set a timer. When I'm exhausted and nearly falling out of my chair, I can fulfill my promises to myself by setting a timer for however long, and then letting myself rest.
5. Read your work aloud. Something about hearing the story  gets me ready to rock and roll.
6. Crank your tunes. Turn that knob to eleven. Let the music drown out all those nasty, self-defeating voices.

What are some of your favorite tricks?

I admit it. I love James Bond.

And there is a new trailer for Skyfall!

And did you all know I used Daniel Craig as my inspiration for Lance Soleil?

The XY File

I was going to talk about how I watch men for inspiration - not so much with their looks, but for the way they carry themselves, their smiles, the body language they exhibit around people they might be attracted to.

Jeremy? Call me. ;)

But instead, I got caught up looking at pictures and videos of Jeremy Renner.

I feel plenty inspired now. ;)

How to start the day right.

I recommend listening to Elvis Presley while eating a bagel covered with sunflower seed butter and bananas. And for that Pacific Northwest flavor, add a nice hot mug of Insomnia Coffee Chai.

Then you will rock out all day long!

Where the hell have I been?

I've announced in other places that Kensington Publishing extended a three-book contract (with options to consider the series). I am going to be the flagship author of their new e-book line and I am stoked!

(insert running around like a happy chicken here)

I'm keeping mum on a lot of details right now - I'll be able to post more once the contracts have been signed and all the marketing has started.

As of lately, I've finished the editorial revisions to Dracula's Secret, I've gotten the back cover copy for both Dracula's Secret and Book Two (untitled at the moment). Again, I'll post them once we get closer to publication - after all, things change and I don't want to get things out too early before everything is set in stone.

Mostly, I've been writing Book Two. I'm getting a good grasp on my antagonists and I've got the plot hammered out much better. It's due in February, so it's going a lightning speed. That can be exhausting, so I'm taking lots of naps and making sure I get out and about for intellectual stimulation.

I can share that Dracula's Secret will be released on June 12th, 2012, and that Book Two will be released July 12th, 2012.

So get your reading eyes ready! I'll be able to share lots more soon. :)

Down the rabbit hole

Ever since I posted my weapons dealer thoughts, I've been obsessed with the concept of a woman who deals arms. I haven't done any research into the world, I haven't looked at anything, but I keep going over and over what would drive a woman to an extreme career.

I followed my strange brain into this new character. While I was eating breakfast today, I jotted down her Goal, Motivation, and Conflict (previously here). I don't know what she would look like, what her name may be, or anything else. I was just playing with what kind of toll this would take on someone.

Character: Female Arms Dealer

Goal: Death.
Now, goals are supposed to be concrete, instead of vague. I mean, really - death? That's guaranteed for everybody. So I thought about it and decided she would want to destroy Warlord X. I think she'd start off wanting to kill him, but her character arc could be that she'd rather take away what he most loved (power? His drug fields? His alligator farm? Who knows yet?)

Motivation: Revenge
At first I thought she would want to avenge the deaths of her parents/family (shades of Melina Havelock from For Your Eyes Only). It's a pretty good idea, but I didn't want to get too trite. Perhaps Warlord X destroyed the school or hospital she worked at and she had to use a handgun to escape the devastation. Or someone she loved was ruined beyond healing by his actions.


Conflict: Stymied by agents of the law
This felt a bit weak to me at first, but it certainly introduces the hero! A hot, serious anti-terrorist guy? An agent from Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms? Her pissed off ex-boyfriend?

Sounds like a cool story, doesn't it?

FANGIRL SQUEE!

http://susiebright.blogs.com/I have a workshop with Susie Bright tonight!

*turning handsprings*

Dare to be Average, part two

"Ok, Ms. Smarty-Pants," I hear you saying, "How exactly does Dare to be Average work? If I don't push myself to succeed, I'd spend my time in slothful idleness, surrounded by clutter, and I'd never get anything done. This is what works for me."

Fair enough. Here's the scoop- I know exactly what you mean by "needing that motivation". Self castigation is a time-honored way of getting yourself off your duff.

The problem? Fear and self-loathing aren't effective long term motivators. A bit of self disgust might work now and again, but quite simply, it is not sustainable.

Calling yourself names (lazy, fat, disgusting, etc.) hurts more than it helps. I know that I work very poorly for a person who belittles, insults, and castigates me. In fact, I will actively avoid working for that person.

So why am I trying to motivate myself that way?

If I look at a project that I am resisting (like writing this blog post - I so did not want to do it), I realize that it is because I am using negative motivators. By thinking, "Fine. I will write an average blog post", I am freed. I can play, draft, and eventually post.

It's not a world shaking post, but it is here, it's done, and I got my point across. If I am for average as opposed to HEARTBREAKING, EARTHSHAKING, SUPER GENIUS, GUT-WRENCHING TRUTH, I have a much better chance of actually finishing something.

Next time you find yourself frozen with perfectionism, take a deep breath. Think, "Fine. Let's aim for average and see what happens."

I bet you'll surprise yourself.

I have found new inspiration.

Why, hello there, Guilherme Marchi, professional bull rider from Argentina!

Story Basics Part IV: The Herald Archetype

I've written about big penises, Turkey, Muses, and International Woman's Day.  I figure now is a good time to get back on my subject of Archetypes and how they are used in literature.

When I think of the Herald, I think of the character Mountjoy in Henry V. Mountjoy is the carrier of news and challenges. His appearance means things are about to change, that a new energy is going to shake up the Hero's life. This archetype is so important that the God Mercury (Hermes in Greek mythology) was the Deity of messengers.

(I obviously have a weakness for the Herald archetype ;).

The Herald announces the need for change (also known as The Call to Adventure) and provides motivation. This role is not always filled by a person, but can be a wonderful character when it is, especially if the Herald is mixed in with another archetype. Often, the Herald is filled by inanimate objects; hurricanes and storms, a telegram, phone call, or television broadcast, perhaps a letter. Sometimes a Herald is negative, a message from the antagonist. The Herald can be also be positive or neutral.

Time for noms.

I think I will bake cookies this evening.

Taking a break.

I've been doing some heavy duty writing about archetypes. Today, I decided to talk about my wonderful day yesterday.

I got to spend an afternoon with a dear girl friend who is always working, so this was a rare treat. We hung out in her hot tub, drank champagne, slathered ourselves with lotion, and talked about everything, including sex. Some people get uncomfortable with such intimate discussions, but I am always fascinated and delighted with them.

It's when people are the most likely to share their deepest emotions. It's when our pasts and our presents come together (no pun intended) to reveal what we most need in our lives.

I always want to honor those brave enough to share their secrets with me. I want to take their bravery and vulnerability into my office to inspire not just my love scenes, but also the limits of human courage - the very soul of what makes fiction important.

I had great writing day today. How about you?

Cross Pollination

Today, I will have an afternoon with my dear friend Kim Sakkara. Kim is a disgustingly talented woman. She is a brilliant clothes designer, a seamstress, an entrepreneur, organizer, dancer, and general genius.

I love visiting Kim. Even though we are creative in different ways, I always feel refreshed and full of ideas after our time together.

Kim lives in a world of color, texture, design, shape, shine, drape, flair, and fit. I live in my head in a world of words and improbable acts. Going into her studio is like descending into Aladdin's magic cave - her colors dazzle me and her gift with texture and layering makes my fingers itch to hit my keyboard. I would descend into mad poetry to describe her space.

I have had the great privilege of owning a Kim Sakkara original design and being a model for her. Here are a few pictures to make you sigh and dream of Kim's beauty.

04/2007 Copyright Kim Sakkara. Location: La Mode Macabre fashion show at the Fez ballroom in Portland. Custom costume design by Kim Sakkara & Magidah with beadwork by Sera Richardson. Model: Magidah. Photo: Circle 23.

All photos c. Kim Sakkara and used with permission. The model is the lovely Grace of Deviant Dance.

My gorgeous custom outfit from Kim.

2006 Copyright/velvet skirt & gauntlets: Kim Sakkara. Bedlah: made in Egypt. Photo: Lenny Gotter. Model: Linda

Tendril pants

2008. Copyright/pants/choli tops Kim Sakkara. Photo:Circle 23. Models: Grace, Linda and Tanya Magdalena.

Kim designs for all sizes and shapes. That's your not-skinny author in front.

What exactly do I tell people when they ask what I do?

Photo by Michael Baxter

As a pre-published author, I'm not someone who can say, "And X is the title of my new book!" This leaves me a bit at a disadvantage in social settings. When people ask what I do, I bravely say, "I write very very sexy paranormal romances."

Thus far, I have had positive responses to this statement. I wondered why, when I'm straight up admitting to being a freak who writes in a denigrated genre.

I found an answer:

A bad reputation can set you free. After all, if you've already declared yourself to be a pot-smoking, acid-addled slut, your opponents are forced to oppose your ideas on their merits, rather than strategically revealing your hidden depravities. Shame is no weapon against the shameless.
-- John Perry Barlow

(For the record, I am neither pot smoking nor acid-addled.)

As for the slut? Well, in most people's definition of the word, I am one simply by writing sexually adventurous characters. 

Hi. I'm Linda Mercury. I write very very very sexy paranormal romances. I refuse to be shamed by that. I hope my refusal invites you to enjoy life's pleasures.

Primary source research and other wacky hijinks.

Over the holiday weekend (and I hoped yours rocked, too), I got sidetracked by some research. I was figuring out how modern Berlin differed in layout from World War II Berlin, especially what happened to the land where the final bunker was.

(It's an apartment block and playground now. How very cool!)

In the course of looking that up, I found a book called In the Bunker with Hitler by Bernd Freytag von  Loringhoven.

Von L, as I started to call him, was a Captain in the regular Army, and was aide-de-camp to the Army chiefs of staff- Guderian and Krebs. He describes his experiences in the Bunker from July 23, 1944 to April 29, 1945.

It's a fast,  fascinating read, and I suddenly wanted to do a paper on Group Think and the Third Reich. Groupthink: Psychological Studies of Policy Decisions and Fiascoes, by Irving L. Janis is one of my favorite books. This would be an amazing study, full of footnotes and quotes (and parenthetical statements).


But alas, there is only so much time in the world. So instead, I'm going to use In the Bunker... as a primary source on Hitler's behavior and personality in the last days of World War II. Some of my notes:

1. Never underestimate the power of charismatic, motivated, deluded idiot.
2. As much as it sucks, it really does help to listen to people who disagree with you.
3. As nice as it is in your own little world where your soldiers are at full strength with plenty of food, ammunition, fuel, and not being killed by your enemy, you might want to maybe, just maybe try playing make-believe.
4. The regular Army really didn't know about the war atrocities. I never understood that before, but after hearing how Hitler ran things, I see how he did it, and why. (Secret meetings with the Nazi party because he didn't trust or like the regular Army men).

This is why primary source research is the most fun of all.