Pick Me Up Monday- Getting my feet back under me

This one is for me...all mine, hahaha! Some, go weak in the knees for a cowboy. For me it's a sexy highlander in a kilt. Get's me every damn time.

I learned something very important last week. I had a personal crisis crop up in my life and learned how blessed I am with such good dear friends. They are there, through thick and thin, good and the devastating. It is because of them I am getting myself back together. It's funny how life works, when you are at the lowest level, friends can raise you up.

For this, I will be forever grateful to each of you-you know who you are ;) -  Now back to work before all my dear friends kick my ass lol!

Have a wonderful and productive week ahead.

Pick Me Up Monday- Heart felt thank you for all your birthday wishes

What is better than one hot cowboy? Well four hot cowboys of course lol!

Every time I see cowboys there are two awesome authors that come to mind Jodi Olsen and Siobhan Muir. So this is for you two ladies.

Work on Firestorm is still progressing, though I did have a few squirrel moments. There is something about a massive cake with a dancing pole in the middle that can do that to a person. Only in Opensim-a virtual world in which I write - can such a thing be possible. Laughing as I remember so much fun having my avatar dancing on top of my cake.

To all the well wishers out there you humble me. So many of you remembered me, it amazed me. Thank you so very much for remembering me. I loved everyone of your notes and did my best to answer each and every one.

Well that's all I have, the brain is tired and I need some much needed rest. So with that, I wish all of you a very productive week, and reach for your dreams.

Love you all

Pick Me Up Monday- Heart of a Firestorm nears Completion

When looking for a male who would be the perfect visual match to my character Rogan, I only needed to look to Pintrest. There he was staring out at me from my monitor and I knew I found him. What is this models name? I've heard him called Kellen Jamison or Angel. This model is as mysterious as the dragon shifter created after his likeness. Whatever name he goes by, I give him a huge thank you for the inspiration he has given to my work.

With Rogan's book, Heart of a Firestorm nearing completion I am already turning my sights on the third and fourth book in this series. I must admit to feeling a bit sad, like saying goodbye to an old friend. You spend months deep within a characters psyche and once you pull out it takes a bit for you to come back to yourself. A time for a much needed break, before you throw yourself back into the frey once again.

After all, that is in essence what writing is all about. You tend to leave small pieces of yourself within the pages. Sometimes a reader will let you know how well they enjoyed your world, others stay silent. It's the way of writing, the nature of the beast. 

This is a solitary business much of the time, you create in isolation and emerge from your cave to share. Why? Because its the very nature of a creative person to send there work out into the world. So love it, as I hope you will, hate it if you must, but it is still there ready for you to turn the pages and invite you into another existence.

Enough musings for now, I hope for you a creative and productive week.   

I'll chat with you next week.

Pick Me Up Monday- A New Week Full of Promise

Happy Monday Peeps

Here we are with another week full of possibilities. This is a Rogan inspired pic. Getting me in the right frame of mind to delve into the mists of time. Back to ancient Pompeii, where my hero Rogan finds more trouble than he bargained for. All in a small curvy package called Sabine.

In March I will be leading my workshop into Fast Draft, and by the end of the month either they will hate or love me...I'm betting on hate lol! It will be a grueling pace where no matter what they must make a word count of 1000 or more words a day on their WIP. Ah, I can feel my ears already burning as I crack that whip. 

This will free me up to finish this darn book of Rogan's and get a good start of a few others which are waiting in the wings for some TLC. 

So with that, I'm off to write. Remember that whatever you do this week, small or big, strive for your dreams. We will talk again.

Pick Me Up Monday-Playing Catch Up Folks

Happy Monday Peeps!

This soothes the artist in me. Nothing is as inspiring as a fine toned body, male or female...though to be honest I have always preferred the male form. All those hard angles and sharp ridges are fun to sketch out on paper. Unfortunately, I never had such a wonderful specimen to work from in art class, lol!

I have been playing catch up and not much writing the past week. There are times when life throws you curve balls and all you can do is juggle them as best you can. Frankly I'm ready for some positive changes to come my way...and that may be just on the horizon for me. Time and patience will tell and I hope-fingers crossed-to have great news to share with you someday soon.

In other news...I have none lol! With the new week ahead of me I plan on spending as much time as I can writing. After all I have a book to finish and several more waiting in the wings. 

So I wish all of you a productive week and we will talk again. 

Pick Me Up Monday-HMK Workshop and HMK Writing Retreat Scheduled

Happy Monday!

I find a crisp white shirt on a man so...yeah.

Shaking my head to get rid of my lecherous thoughts lol! 

I must say nothing kicks my muse into high gear quicker than spending time with other authors. Writing, and talking about the craft we love so much is the best, most productive time I could ever spend. Being a part of such a small community of local writers is much like having a supportive family. One I hold dear in my heart. Seeing them each month, touching base and finding what project they are working on is always such fun.

Saturday we met, wrote and laughed, wrote more and shared our work. Can't get any better than that! The energy in the room lifted up my own flagging spirits, recharging my muse and helped me to continue on with my works in progress. 

And I have news to share! 

On April 25th and 26th, HMK is having a writing retreat at Pahrump Winery. A beautiful little oasis in the middle of a desert with quaint cottages, a restaurant and of course, wonderful wine! Perfect for many of my fellow writers. Look for more information coming on HMK's facebook page and my own under Shannan Albright. 

Well back to work I go, talk to you next week.  

Pick Me Up Monday- Another Busy Week Ahead and HMK Workshop on Saturday

Happy Monday!

Dear Lord, I am melting with this one...and I'm not partial to blonds either! The things those eyes of his are saying, well let me just keep it in my books lol!

So far planned for this week is working on Rogan's book, a short story, and a possible collaboration on a very different genre for me. Dieselpunk. Yep, that's right. It's set in the 40's era-one of my favorites-but with futuristic gadgets. Think of the movie Dark City and Rocket Man and you get the idea. It sounds very fascinating to me.

I also have TWO workshops going this week. My normal Monday night workshop "From Start to Finish, Write your Book in a Year" and HMK's writers group is meeting this Saturday. Lot's of writing opportunities this week to keep me on track. 

Well I have work to do, Rogan to get into trouble and a plot to hatch. No rest for the wicked or the weary.

Talk to you next week.