A Favorite Stone

Another little tidbit about me--I like stones. Crystals. I have a dozen or so. Ametheyst. Rose quartz. Snowflake obsidian. Moonstone. Tiger's Eye. I have a huge Selenite wand with a bit of green fluorite attached of the end. Far too many to list them all here. I have some I've had for so long I no longer remember their names. I pick them up, hold them in my hands. Sometimes I tuck them into a pocket and carry them around with me during the day. Each one has its own unique subtle "feel" to it, a subtle vibration that's barely noticeable on a conscious level. But I feel different when I hold them. They lend me something I'm not entirely sure is really there or all in my head. But I love to hold them, to stroke them while I'm doing things. Some lift me up. Some give me peace or a sense of calmness.

One of my favorites is yellow calcite. I don't even remember where I bought this stone from I've had it for so long. I haven't held or worn this stone in years. They've all been sitting, collecting dust on my shelf. This one is crystal clear, with rounded square edges, with a light yellow tinge. Here's a picture:



I found it very difficult to capture its clarity. It reminds me of a piece of yellow ice. The stone is said to have metaphysical properties. According to a website I found the stone:

...stimulates the intellect. It can help one organize intellectual thoughts and information.

...boosts one's general energy level. From this, it increases one's personal power and sense of self-worth.

...is also very helpful for psychic abilities and meditation. It assists with channeling, intuitive awareness, shamanic work, and other psychic activities.

....and benefits the stomach, upper intestines, upper back and upper spine.


For me, just looking at it, or even holding it in my hand, it's like what I imagine holding a ray of sunshine would feel like. It fills me with warmth and joy and just makes me smile. This is very much a feel good stone for me, which, I'd imagine, is its entire purpose. Living in The Great Northwest, where it rains and is cloudy and overcast something like 300 days out of the year, this stone is a good pick-me-up.

On a writing note, I've completed the first chapter of my new WIP, and have written bits and pieces of the next two. I'm afraid the inspiration is coming in fits and starts, but I'm having quite a lot of fun just letting myself go with it. I love the premise and the characters. Next up is writing the first love scene. Started it this morning, but I find them difficult. As my CPs will likely tell you, I find it hard to find the proper balance between emotion and, ahem, "action". So, I've saved the writing of until tomorrow morning, where I'm hoping that the muse will knock me square over the head and make it easy on me this time. Wish me luck. LOL

Have a great weekend! May the "muse" be with you! ;)

Update on me

So I logged in this morning and realized it's been almost a month since I last posted a blog. I'm not much of a talker. I tend to be one of those who talks when she has things to talk ABOUT, but can otherwise be fairly quiet, so the idea of blogging is something I'm working my way in to. Some of my blogger friends simply amaze me with their ability to continually come up with interesting topics. So I thought I would just do something simple--an update.

Well, I had two books out at publishers. The Playboy's Baby was and still is out with Silhouette Special Edition. Been four months now. I take this as a positive sign.

The other book, Not Part of the Deal, unfortunately got a rejection a few weeks ago. Some of my CP's already know this. It was an old book. I'd sent it out to Silhouette years ago and gotten a form rejection for it, and, being too depressed, I shelved it. So I took it out and dusted it off, then sent it out to TWRP. Being 80K, it would have been a full length. A "rose" I believe they call it. Well, it didn't make the cut. She was nice and told me what was wrong with it, so it stung, but i wasn't entirely surprised, being that it had been turned down before. And I see it as a plus that at least I finally got to know what was wrong with it. This one is being permanently put out to pasture. Another one of the books that helped me get to where I am now, part of the learning process.

On the plus side, I've start a new book and have completed the first chapter. I even have a good idea of where I'm going. The premise is, like most of mine, fairly traditional I think. The hero and heroine knew each other as kids and run across each other later in life. My heroine, however, is a bit different. She's a stripper in Las Vegas. I have no idea if this will even work. I've certainly never seen it done, but that doesn't mean it hasn't. But it's different for me, and the idea really intrigues me, so I'm going to write it and see where it takes me. Maybe I'll make something out of it.

Here's a snippet from the first chapter. To set it up a bit, they haven't seen each other in fifteen years, so at this point, he doesn't recognize her yet. She's going under an assumed identity.

She arched a brow, one corner of her mouth quirking up. “Then why should I go out with you?”

He couldn’t help but smile at that one. That was too easy. “Because I’m not like other men.”

She let out a low, throaty laugh. A sound he vowed to hear again. “Like I haven’t heard that before.”

He pulled a twenty from his pocket then and met her gaze, waited until he had her undivided attention. Until that certain something caught and ignited between them again before he slipped the bill into her bikini bottoms. It was an excuse to touch her. To watch her reaction.

He pulled his hand back with deliberate slowness, let his fingertips trail over the skin of her hip. He’d flat out violated the unspoken rules of stripper engagement and they both knew it. But a shiver ran through her he felt clean down to his toes, and a lazy, desirous heat flared non-too-subtly in her eyes.

“Go out with me, Candy,” he said again.

She shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, Mr. McKinley, but—”

“Alex.”

She stopped, stared at him for the span of a heartbeat, clearly taken off guard. Then a soft smile curled across her mouth. “Alex.”

God he loved the way she said his name. Spoken low and throaty and half whispered, so that he swore he could feel her breath on his neck as she breathed it in his ear…

He tossed her a playful grin, and lowered his voice. “I’ve seen your nipples, up close and personal. I think we can do away with formalities.”

The got a genuine smile out of her, one that lit up her whole face, and triumph surged in his chest.

“I promise I don’t bite.” He grinned and winked at her.

That earned him another throaty laugh.

Then she bent over him, hands braced on his thighs, her luscious mouth inches from his own. The heat of her palms singed his skin even through his jeans, her warm breaths puffing against his lips as she stared him dead in the eye. “What if I do?”

***

At any rate, it's so far proving to be very spicy, but no, this won't be an erotic or even something like a Blaze. I just don't write that hot. But I AM having fun with it.

Anyway, so that's where my month has gone. What's everyone else working on these days? Have a great week!