G Is For Grammar! #AtoZChallenge

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

Usually once a year I decide I need to upgrade or learn something new about the craft of writing. This time it stemmed from a freak-out over punctuation. Gawd, the English language with its they’re, their, and there, proving it has the zaniest spelling system ever invented. It requires a quirky understanding of past and present tense, among many other eccentricities.

We’ll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,

But the plural of ox should be oxen, not oxes.

Then one fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,

Yet the plural of moose should never be meese,

You may find a lone mouse or a whole nest of mice,

But the plural of house is houses, not hice.

Part of a Poem Attributed to Anonymous

It’s important to have reference resources at your fingertips to fight the good fight.

“I’m exhausted. I spent all morning putting in a comma and all afternoon taking it out” Oscar Wilde

It was time brush up on some skills.

F Is For Fire! #AtoZChallenge

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

The A to Z April Blogging Challenge

We’ve all got that something in us. That passion. That FIRE. To do what we have to do. What we are compelled to do. We dream about it. Fantasize about it. Read books about it. Watch others do it. We have all kinds of excuses for not getting down to it. Why it’s not possible, or not happening. But really it’s fear of failure holding us back.

One of my favorite books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. In the story, a shepherd boy named Santiago sets out on a quest inspired by his dreams. He learns many lessons along the way which lead him to understand it’s more about his actions, the risks he takes, and what he learns along the way than about the endgame.

“When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.” Paulo Coelho

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” Paulo Coelho

It’s up to me. No one else can travel the path, take the steps, walk the walk for me. The journey is about the steps you take, literally and figuratively. And that’s what life is about – feeding the fire within you.

E is for Elflock #AtoZChallenge

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

A to Z April Blogging Challenge

Meaning: Tangled hair, as if matted by elves.

Origin: 1590s

As in: Jeez, Karyn, look at the state of those elflocks — brush STAT!

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. On account of all the food, chocolate, and wine from the Easter celebrations yesterday. And also because I love owls.

D Is For Doubt #AtoZChallenge

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

The A to Z April Blogging Challenge

Doubt. It can be paralyzing. At different times I find myself doubting myself, my abilities, my instincts, my actions. It’s times like those that I remember a piece of advice given to me: Never aim for perfect.

That’s a lot of pressure to achieve an impossible state, which in turns creates doubt. I’ll never be perfect, or write the perfect book, or be the perfect marketer. But maybe it’s not so important to be perfect as it is to be positive. To do a little better each time. To take small steps, make progress. To set realistic goals. Reach. Repeat. Till what you achieve is success according to the goals you’ve set and worked towards.

Someone else once said, “When in doubt take the next small step.”

C Is For Curiosity #AtoZChallenge

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

The A to Z April Blogging Challenge

Curiosity isn’t just for kids! And forget about it killing the cat. It’s imperative for writers, and many others I suspect. Curiosity fosters imagination which encourages inspiration. This helps when we’re creating plot lines, characters, and dialogue, etc.

Recently a family member commented on the fact that I notice things she never would. Probably not true. Probably we notice different things. She’s very interested in facts and amassing them and somehow manages to retain them, where as I have no interest in retaining that stuff. But what makes people tick? Oh, yeah. What makes people do the things they do? People and their choices fascinate me. Do I take note of what they do when they think no one is watching, you bet. I pay attention to the way people speak, react, or reply. In line. At the doctor’s office. At the beach. Well, you get the idea.

Being curious and exploring means we’e engaged, living in the moment, and making connections. It’s about exploring the world around us. So embrace your curiosity. Have conversations, read books, watch films, take a walk, ask questions, take a class, try a new hobby. Try a new recipe, a new look, a DIY project.

Have fun! How do you embrace your curiosity?

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. – E.E. Cumming

B Is For Bed #AtoZChallenge

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

The Blogging From A to Z April Challenge is lots of fun!

We bought a new bed. Something we desperately needed. Oh my gosh, it’s ridiculous. And huge. I’m pretty sure you can see it from street-level and we’re on the second floor. I almost need a stool to get into the thing. My husband is confused by the amount of pillows needed to make it look perfect. And was even more confused when I said I needed to buy more. He’s not sure where we’re going to put them all at night. He’s got a point. There’s not a lot of room leftover in our bedroom.

I’m normally a very practical person when it comes to purchases, especially big ones. We both are. This bed is not so practical. But it is gorgeous. And I LOVE it.

A therapist my daughter once had (there have been many) said her own husband was of the belief you should be prepared to spend money on three things: beds, shoes, and tires. Makes sense, no? BTW, my daughter also got a new bed. But I’ll save that story for the G post on Guilt.

Another thing I spend money on: BOOKS! Another wonderful B word. Currently reading Deep by Kylie Scott. Will be reading The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty for book club.

Till tomorrow! What do you spend money on?

A Is For Attitude

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Karyn Good

So, this year I’ve decided to join the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. That means I’ll be blogging every day in April except Sundays. Yikes! Challenge is right.

We’ve all heard the saying attitdue is everything. What better way to focus on making sure my attitude remains as positive as possible then meeting new friends and reading blog posts sure to entertain and inspire me. And just maybe participating in this blogging challenge will help me be present, to appreciate where I am. To help me take a breath and take a look, and be encouraged by the writings and thoughts of my fellow bloggers.

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning ~ Gloria Steinem

Inspiration and Bathtubs

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

A person can find inspiration everywhere, in the smallest or biggest of places. Or anywhere in between. One source of inspiration for me is live theater. I adore it. I live in a small city, with a population of 200,000(ish). The largest theater company here is the Globe Theatre, and its performances are done in-the-round, meaning the audience surrounds the stage. The latest production was called The Drowning Girls.

The Drowning Girls is inspired by a 19th century serial murder case where three women in succession where found dead in their respective bathtubs. Bessie Mundy, Alice Burnham, and Margaret Lofty were all married to George Joseph Smith who used many aliases to cover his tracks as a conman, bigamist, and murderer. The case became known as “The Brides in the Bath Murders”.

One of the things I loved about this play is its focus on the lives of these three women, on their histories instead of making it about the murderer. It gave us insight into how these women found themselves at the mercy of George Smith. It is the victims’ story. A cautionary tale of what can happen, be it the 19th century or the 21st. There was plenty of pathos, sincerity, and humour. Cleverly written and beautifully acted, with three bathtubs and water as the setting.

Yes, these three young actors spent a solid hour and a half dripping wet. There was water in those three bathtubs and the play opens with each of them submerged. Water fell from the ceiling, there was a moat of sorts surrounding the small stage. It splashed on the floor, on the actors, and maybe even the first row. Not only that but they don weddings dresses, veils, and silk stockings while soaked to the skin. The choregraphy of movement and body language was perfection. They were in and out of those tubs, danced on the slippery wet wooden floor, and they entranced the audience.

If it comes to an area near you, you should check it out! Do you enjoy live theater

Once Upon A Time…

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Karyn Good

Sexy Suspense

The Romance Reviews is throwing a party with some serious chances to win! There are more than 350 participating authors and publishers with more than 350 prizes up for grabs during the whole month of March. Grand prize is a $100 Gift Certificate! There are games to play too! You do have to register to participate in the games. Click here to find your way there. Discover new authors and catch with favourite ones. Good luck!

Here’s an introduction to my latest romantic suspense!

OFF THE GRID

A committed doctor to Vancouver’s inner city, nothing fazes Sophie Monroe—until a pregnant teenager shows up at her clinic on Christmas Eve requesting sanctuary and claiming the baby’s father is one of the city’s most influential businessmen. Sophie is in over her head and thankful when aid shows up in the form of an attorney who’s a little too confident and a lot too sexy.

Family Law expert Caleb Quinn just wants a date, a chance to prove he isn’t the elitist jerk Sophie assumes. Helping deliver a baby is not what he has in mind. But before long protecting a traumatized teenager and her son become his first priority. Even if saving them pits him against the baby’s father, a childhood friend. A man who will do anything to keep his dark side private.

But justice never comes cheap. Will doing the right thing cost Sophie and Caleb their reputations? Or their lives?

Available Now

* The Wild Rose Press * Amazon * Kobo * Barnes and Noble * All Romance Ebooks * BookStrand * iBooks

In other news March is the month of my 25th Wedding Anniversay! Time for reflection and sifting through memories. 25 years seems like quite the collection of years, yet it seems to have gone by in a flash. Here’s to the beginning and the good times and the tough times that have followed.

We honeymooned in Montego Bay, Jamica. In a little all inclusive resort that wasn’t fancy but it was clean and the staff was kind and friendly. To the bar staff we were John and Mrs. John. At this point, as a someone who’d grown up on a farm in the of the Canadian prairies I don’t think I’d been further away from home than two provinces over or across the border into the northern United States. It was quite an adventure. And of course, I ended up with food poisoning. Which was also a shock for someone who’d hardly been sick a day in her life.

The rum punch was excellent!

“If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me, time after time.” Cyndi Lauper, Time After Time

Hope For At-Risk Teenagers

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Karyn Good

My review tour of OFF THE GRID continues with an chance to win a $25 gift certificate. All you have to do is enter the rafflecopter at either of the following:

Sassy Moms Read Romance, OR Undercover Book Reviews

March is just around the corner and there will be all kinds of chances to win gift cards, books, and a grand prize at The Romance Reviews 4th Anniversary Party. Join us starting March 1st.

*********************

I was reading the paper as I love to do on Saturday mornings. This past weekend there was an article about aborginal at-risk teenagers and the very real and horrifying struggles they face.

“Before a man strangles, or shoots, or stabs a woman in a cheap hotel room or a dried-up river bed, a hundred other terrible things typically happen to that woman to put her in that vulnerable, isolated position. For policy-makers, the lesson is clear, no matter whether victims are aboriginal or not: You can’t just go after the act of murder. You have to go after those hundred other terrible things.” Jonathan Kay, Of Horror and Hope, Editorial

I like to think my romantic suspense, OFF THE GRID, touches on a few of those “hundred other terrible things”. At least, I hope it does. I hope it touches on what it takes to be a warrior, a survivor, when the odds are stacked against you, practically from birth.

Sixty-seven women disappeard from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the setting for OFF THE GRID, between 1997 and 2002. Like me and the women I call friends, these missing and murdered women had things in common. They were mothers, sisters, daughters, poets, and dreamers. They had people they cared about, cherished, and mentored. Unlike my circle of friends, the other ties that bind them are terrifying: child sex abuse, early drug addiction, untreated mental-health problems, violent boyfriends and early pregnancies. Many fled small communities to end up alone in predatory neighborhoods, the victims of drug dealers and pimps who knew very well how to prey on the vulnerble and the isolated.

But there is hope. More than ever we have a chance to improve the odds. We are learning and we speaking out and bringing attention to a crisis that we can do something about.