Carol Burnside's Road to Publication

Happy Thanksgiving!

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:39:00 +0000

May your day be filled with gratitude for all the wonderful things life has given you. And may you enjoy good food, great friends and make lasting memories on this day of Thanksgiving.

Carol

Today..

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:54:00 +0000

I'm blogging at PFHT and sharing recipes even a novice cook could master.

And while you're there, check out the posts all week for great gift suggestions, holiday reviews and more!

Isle of Palms

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

It's a beautiful place. Don't you agree?

More inspiration

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, I saw this...

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

and was inspired.

I love walks along the beach, the sounds of the ocean, and treasures found along the way.

I'm here

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

for an all-writing week with a bunch of other authors. The sounds of the ocean create a natural, calm rhythm within me, and I write.

Ahh, the bliss...

Cutest Pudelpointer in the world

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:36:00 +0000

At least I think so, because...

--he's mine

--he has cute wrinkles above his eyes when he's concentrating

--he tries really, really hard to be a good boy

--he has a soft, shiny coat and velvety ears

--he's a snuggler and has a warm little body

Hubby took the dogs hunting for two weeks. I miss them.

Tuesday Tidbits...a little late. :-)

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:05:00 +0000

Amie Stuart has a great blog post at Southern Fried Chicas titled Ethnocentric that continues her thoughts on writing a variety of races. Good stuff there.

Over on Susan May's blog, she's worried about her NaNo project and The Economy. Aren't we all? Susan, I'm looking forward to our writing marathon later this month. :)

Terry Spear found the coolest picture for those who love reading. See it here. I wanna know how they did that!

Good advice bears repeating

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:59:00 +0000

From the NaNoWriMo One Week Pep Talk e-mail I received:

Do not beat up on yourself. Do not criticize your writing as lousy, inadequate, stupid, or any of the evil epithets that you are used to heaping on yourself. Such self-bashing is never useful. If you indulge in it, your writing doesn’t stand a chance. So when your mind turns on you, turn it back, stamp it down, shut it up, and keep writing.

Good luck!

Gail Carson Levine

Great advice for any writer, but especially apt for those of us who have trouble turning the infernal editor off. Thanks, Gail!

It's Guinness time again

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:38:00 +0000

Can't resist. This weekend we took all three dogs out for exercise and put the youngest two on birds so I could get some pictures.

The first picture is of Guinness at 14 weeks, exhibiting a nice point. In the second, it's hard to see that he's still holding a point, but I snapped it because you can see what is holding his attention.

And the third picture is of Murphy, whom you may have seen on this blog before. Murphy is now 4 years old and didn't need a lead to keep
him in check. He knows better than to move in
on the bird. See how that beautiful tail is extended and not moving? He's so intent on the bird that he didn't take his eyes off it, though I was walking all around him taking pictures. He got a lot of 'good boy's' for his efforts, just as Guinness did. Both had fun and were proud of themselves.

For those of you who might be concerned, the birds are tethered to a bush, but the dog isn't allowed to get the bird. After the dog points the bird and is praised, the bird is released. :)

I hope you enjoy my handsome boys.

Tuesday Tidbits

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:10:00 +0000

NaNoWriMo is in full swing. Know how I can tell? I can't get on the site half the time, and when I do it says there are 5,872 others on their with me and the pages take 45 seconds to a minute to load. Sheesh!

Who was I kidding with that last post. I've been doing nothing on my NaNo project. I'm combing through Bittersweet Obsesssions, trying to make it the best it can be. That also entails a lot of work on the ending. Maybe I'll get to the NaNo project next week.

I needed a laugh today and definitely got it plus some when I happened on Amie Stuart's blog. Oh my. There's just no describing her post. You gotta experience it.

If you haven't done the Petit Fours & Hot Tamale blog Treasure Hunt you're missing out on a great prize. There's only a couple days left to collect clues and answers. Check out my sidebar or the PFHT sidebar for info on where to find the FREE READS where the clues and answers are hidden.

My friend Nicole North has a new book for sale and an "Under the Kilt" contest to go with the title Kilted Lover. Nicole's website is worth going to just to see those male abs. She's running title . Hmm. Even the title's intriguing on that one. :)

PF&HT blog sister Sandra Elzie's debut title, The Diplomatic Tutor is out as well. Check it out.

Have a great Tuesday!

NaNoWriMo is here!

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:01:00 +0000

It's NaNo Day 1!!!

Are you writing?

I am, or will be. Give me a break, it's only 12:02 AM. LOL.

I've got some GOOD writing NEWS! Bittersweet Obsessions placed at third in the Heart to Heart contest, so no win, but I did get a full request. Yay! Guess I'll have to work on that a bit during NaNo too.

Happy Halloween?

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:05:00 +0000

My hubby asked me last weekend if I wanted to buy pumpkins and a hay bale or some kind of decor for the front yard. Uhm, no. I've got mums in a hanging basket and an autumn wreath on the door. That, and the porch light will have to suffice to let Trick-or-Treaters know I'm home and handing out candy.

These days, with my kids grown and out of the house, Halloween means a night of ringing doorbells. And ringing doorbells means all three dogs will be barking most of the evening. Talk about a headache in the making!

I'd raid the liquor cabinet and make it a more enjoyable night, but I have to be fresh and ready to write, write, write on Nov. 1 for NaNoWriMo! Yay!!! Now that's something I can get excited about. :-D

=================
Later...now that the candy is gone. All five bags of it.

Yep, you read that right. Five (5) bags. All gone. Partially due to the fact that my dear hubby walked over to speak to the neighbors while I was inside getting a drink. He left the candy sitting on the porch and when he returned only a handful was left. There was a slew of kids that came by. Probably 70 or so. We were giving several pieces to each kid, but a few got the motherload.

I must admit, the rest were very polite and there were some interesting costumes. One in particular made me scratch my head - a toddler in a skunk costume. Why a skunk? Cheap costume? Kid farts a lot or has majorly stinky poops?

I guess I'll never know.

So, how'd it go for you? See any fab costumes?

I Scream, You Scream at PF&HT

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:45:00 +0000

I'm blogging today at PF&HT and confessing what makes me scream. Wouldn't you like to know? Uh-huh. You know you do.

While you're over there, check out the latest FREE reads in the October Treasure Hunt.

NaNoWriMo Looming

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:09:00 +0000

Hey, anyone out there gearing up for NaNoWriMo this year? This will be my first year trying it. I'm not sure my internal editor will go to sleep long enough to write 50K, but I am going to try to keep forward momentum for the month and see how far I can get on a new WIP.

For real?

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:05:00 +0000

Wow, this has been a good writing month. Monday evening I got a call from the Hot Prospects contest coordinator telling me I'm a

Yep, Bittersweet Obsessions has done it again. Erotic category. Yay!!!

Tuesday Tidbits and Other Musings

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:05:00 +0000

Autumn is fully here in southern Maryland, with rain and chilly temperatures and colorful foliage. As the leaves fall, I'm reminded that another year is drawing to a close. It's time to revisit my annual goals again and see how far I've veered away from them. Scary stuff.

Our new Pudelpointer puppy, Guinness is growing fast, weighing in at over 20 pounds now. I'll try to remember to post pictures soon, while he still looks like a puppy. :)

And now for a few Tuesday Tidbits:

If you like book trailers, you should visit Barbara Vey's blog at Publisher's Weekly. Each Sunday she posts several sent to her from various authors, just because.

Romance University is a great place for those looking to improve their writing. Posts on their blog include advice from published authors, special guests and editors and encompassess everything from internet dating, to plotting, to how men think and what they want. What woman doesn't want some insight on men?

Over on the PF&HT blog, Tammy Schubert has a fun, interactive challenge for everyone. Check it out.

And last, but certainly not least, over at the Author's Studio, Nita Wick has a great account of her experiences at the recent Moonlight & Magnolias conference with photos. What fun!

This week at PF&HT

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:05:00 +0000

This week our "Scary, Spooky, Witches, Ghosts and Goblins, oh my!" month continues. In addition, the Treasure Hunt is ongoing(See pumpkins logo in sidebar). Follow the instructions and be rewarded with free reads throughout the month. Gather the answers to the questions asked after each story, and be prepared to send the lot of them to a special e-mail address we'll divulge at the end of the month. We'll draw one random winner from everyone who gets all the answers right. There are four free stories already posted, so get to reading and GOOD LUCK!

This week's lineup on the Petit Fours & Hot Tamales blog:
Mon, Oct 19: Debbie Kaufman – TBA
Tue, Oct 20: Tammy Schubert – Prove a Story Creation Theory (A fun interactive exercise!)
Wed, Oct 21: Darcy Crowder - Creature Feature
Thu, Oct 22: Cynthia Hamer-Omey – My Greatest Fears
Fri, Oct 23: Guest Chef: Susan Heim (Chicken Soup Editor)
Sat, Oct 24: Reviews

Next week I'm in the lineup.

Received, Sent and waiting...

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:26:00 +0000

My Golden Rose entry of Her Unexpected Family is revised and resubmitted with the synopsis. Winner results on the Golden Rose won't be up until early December, so I need to just forget about it. I've done all I can do at this point. It was encouraging to realize that two judges gave me one point shy of a perfect score! Whoo-ee.

Cross your fingers for me that I'll be a finalist in the Hot Propects contest, Erotic category, with Bittersweet Obsessions. Results coming out around Halloween. :)

Now I've got to concentrate on finishing up a few more projects and getting ready for a writers Hermit Week on the Isle of Palms in November. Sand, Sun, and Solitude during the day; Fun, Friends and fabulous food at night. I can't wait!

HUF finals in Golden Rose

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:41:00 +0000

Yay! Her Unexpected Family finaled in the Short Contemporary category of the Golden Rose. Squeeeeee!!

PF&HT's Treasure Hunt

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:01:00 +0000

If you've been following the Treasure Hunt from our Petit Fours & Hot Tamales blog, then you've reached the right place. Congratulations! If you've stumbled on this "treasure" by chance, here's how to participate:

Locate the PF&HTs Treasure Hunt pumpkins on the sidebar. Each time a new short story will be posted, a link will be made available to the location in this area. Click on the link, search for the PF&HTs pumpkins at that site, then enjoy the read. Don’t forget to record your answer at the end of the story. Hoard the answers (keep them to yourselves) and on October 31st, we’ll post our final “clue” and an e-mail address to send your answers to. Once we reach the deadline, we will draw from the participating treasure hunters for the final prize.

But WAIT! You can get started by reading my piece of the Treasure Hunt below and answering the question at the end. I hope you enjoy Roni and Carlo's story (below).

Marinara Magic

Roni Lombardo surveyed the atrocious mess of partially unpacked boxes, their contents spilling over the sides like drunken house ivy. Not one partial bag of cookies or chips anywhere. She knew. She’d created the mess while looking for them. Her stomach growled. While her former pantry held little to begin with, her dear brother obviously took pay for his moving services out in the form of her snacks.

She sighed and flopped down on her futon, too weary to consider going out for food. Caressing the satiny finish on her hickory futon, Roni treasured what she’d created with her own hands.

Through the open window above her head, the smell of onions and garlic drifted in on the cool salt-air breezes of early October, and Roni groaned. Why hadn’t she learned to cook instead of bugging her dad to teach her carpentry? Those skills didn’t help her right now.

Maybe not, but carpentry brought her to this old Sausalito neighborhood with it’s odd mixture of beautifully maintained old homes now sporting shop fronts, window boxes spilling profusions of color, and small apartments tucked upstairs. Perfect for the satellite workshop her dad trusted her to make a success.

The aroma of mushrooms and tomatoes joined the garlic and drove her back to the task of unpacking. Work would keep her mind off her stomach. Where’d she put those pictures and sconces to be hung?

She’d just started hammering in the second picture hanger when a solid knock sounded on her door. Caution and habit drove her to use the peephole. Through the distorted bubble, a guy in a chef’s apron stood waiting.

Damn. Was she so hungry she was hallucinating?

Another knock. A little louder this time.

She peered through the tiny viewer again. Same guy she'd seen before, same apron. He looked innocent enough.

Using the door chain, she cracked the door open. “Yes?”

One chocolate colored eye and half a wide grin appeared in the slit.

“Hey, I’m Carlo, your upstairs neighbor.”

“Hold on.” Roni closed the door to remove the chain, then swung the door wide. “Veronica Lombardi, but everyone calls me Roni.”

“Carlo Petrizzi,” the delectable male said with a nod. “Saw you moving in earlier and I thought maybe you could use a hot meal about now. I’ve got some—”

“Homemade marinara?” she interrupted, having noticed his tomato-splattered apron.

He glanced down at the stain. “Right. Guess the apron gave me away. My nonna says I’m not the neatest chef, but I make a pretty mean sauce.”

Roni arched one eyebrow and made a quick assessment. From the thick, dark hair cut close on the sides, but longer and unruly on top, all the way down to the bare feet peeking out underneath soft worn jeans, she saw nothing but possibilities—for friendship, and maybe more.

Years of cautious living won out. “I don’t have dinner with strange men.”

“Then you’re in luck,” he said, a smile lurking at his mouth. ”I’m not strange, and I’m a good chef. Ask anyone in the neighborhood.”

She laughed at his audacity. “You feed everyone in the neighborhood?”

“Just about. I’m the head chef at Rudolfo’s.” He flashed a grin. “How about you? Does the logo shirt mean you’re advertising the family business, or are you employed there as well?”

Roni glanced down at her attire, dismayed. What a lousy first impression. She looked like Lumberjack Jane wearing a full tool belt, an old work shirt sans sleeves, and her rattiest gym shorts.

“Oh my gosh, I need to change. I can’t go anywhere looking like this.”

Carlo smiled. “I think you look fine. But if it would make you feel better, why don’t you meet me upstairs when you’re ready? I’ll toss a salad. About fifteen minutes?”

“That sounds about right. See you then.”

With a nod and a wave, he was gone. Roni secured the door and ran for the bathroom, grabbing toiletries along the way, wanting a quick shower in addition to the change of clothes.

Once she was clean and dry, the lazy way Carlos had said “fine” echoed through her head, making her brush aside her usual jeans-casual attire for a dress relegated to the back of her closet. She zipped it up and turned to look.

Not bad for a carpenter, even if she was a bit too curvy from eating fast food. The deep red was a nice match with her dark hair and eyes. She’d show him what fine really looked like and hope he forgot about her profession.

* * *

Roni rapped on Carlo’s door. If the tantalizing smells were any indication, garlic bread was in her near future, too. Her stomach roared seconds before the door opened.

“Ah, good, you’re right on time. Come on in.” Carlo had ditched the apron, his crisp blue oxford stripe rolled back at the sleeves, revealing strong, tanned forearms sprinkled with dark hair. Apparently, he didn’t spend all his time in a kitchen. And if the appreciative once-over he’d tried to make look nonchalant was any indication, her dress had done its job.

Dinner went smoothly, with a mouth-watering sauce, homemade Italian dressing over baby greens, and some of the best garlic bread she’d ever eaten. They laughed over the trials and tribulations large families could foist on their singles while enjoying pumpkin cannoli, a seasonal dessert he'd brought home from the restaurant. She complimented him on the excellent fare and began to breathe easier. Maybe he’d forgotten about the “Lombardi Woodworks, Since 1892” logo.

Ignoring his protests, she insisted on helping him wash up. They worked together filling the dishwasher and wiping off countertops. When he reached for the last dish at the same time as she, their hands brushed together. His gaze turned warm and velvety for a fleeting moment—or had she imagined that?

He hung the dish towel on a hook and escorted her to the couch. “Um ... you never said before. Do you work in the family business?”

She hesitated, surprised at the sudden question, wondering what this man’s reaction would be. It dismayed her to learn she cared what he thought.

“Yes.” She scarcely breathed. Some men were too intimidated by her ‘manly’ skills outweighing theirs. Would he be the same?

“Well, my guess would be you don’t answer the phones. That tool belt looked pretty broken in.”

“I’m a carpenter.” There, she’d said it. She lifted her chin slightly.

“And a good one, I’ll bet.” He continued on as if he hadn’t just glossed over her dreaded moment.
“Lombardi’s has an excellent reputation, and I heard they had a carpenter setting up shop here. When you get set up and open for business, I have a sideboard I’d like you to look at. Your firm does restorations, too, right?”

“Yes.” The small word strangled her. Here she’d been worried about his reaction, and he’d known of her vocation all along—had possibly invited her to dinner because of it.

“Excellent. Nonna gave it to me, and it’s been in her family for generations. It’s really showing its age, but has great workmanship in the lines and hand-carved details. I’d like an expert opinion as to the practicality of having it restored.”

“Of course.” She forced the cheerfulness, but inside, disappointment stomped its foot in a childish tantrum. “I could look at it tonight, if you have it here.” She’d much rather get it over with than have to come back and be reminded of how silly she’d acted over this man.

“No, no, no. Another time. You’re tired.”

“Really,” she insisted. “I don’t mind.”

He shook his head and grimaced. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I was nervous about the lull in conversation. I should have waited.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been invited to dinner for worse reasons,” she joked, trying to cover hurt feelings.

“That wasn’t my intention at all.” He sighed and leaned toward her, a frown briefly creasing his forehead. “Okay, I watched you moving in from my window, and recognized the logo. But this was my way of getting past the awkward first date thing without the usual pressure. I enjoyed tonight and want to see you again, even if I have to barter meals for an appraisal. But, I understand if you don’t feel the same.”

So, he was willing to cook to keep her around. His honesty gave her courage.

“I’m handy in the fix-it area, but I don’t cook, so we could barter. Problem is, my expertise doesn’t come cheap. You may tire of seeing me across the table.”

“I'll chance it if you will” He reached for her hand—a small step, but one that spoke of endless possibilities.
----------------
If you'd like to comment on Marinara Magic, I'd love to hear from you. And now for the Treasure Hunt portion:

Carlo is a chef who specializes in Italian cooking. What classic Italian dessert did he serve and what atypical flavor had it been infused with in honor of the Fall season?

Remember to write down your answers, keep them in a safe place and check back on the PF&HT blog for more "treasures" and the final contest at the end of this month. GOOD LUCK!

Kate Duffy remembered

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

One of the best obits I've read for the late editor, Kate Duffy, can be found here.

RIP, Kate.

Are you ready for this?

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:33:00 +0000

PF&HT's Treasure Hunt offically started today. What is it, you say? Well, I'm glad you asked. It's the chance to read some free stories throughout the month of October, gather answers to questions posted at the end of the stories, and then check back on the PF&HT blog at the end of October for a special e-mail to send your accumulated answers in. One lucky reader will win a fabulous prize! Oh, and my contribution will appear on this blog on Wednesday.

How do you find these stories? Boy, you ask some good questions. Just look for the pumpkin logo like the one above.

The first free read has already been posted. Click the link above and go find it.

Woo-hoo!

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:37:00 +0000

2009 Heart to Heart Contest finalists

Contemporary
Off The Deep End by Barbara Cool Lee
Slow Summer Burn by Elisabeth Barek
Counting On You by Gwen Hernandez

Paranormal
Raven's War by Barbara Cool Lee
Spirited! by Laramie Sasseville
Insomniac Chronicles: Karmageddon by Kelly Fitzpatrick

Historical
Sempevirens by Theresa Donovan
Ruining Lexi by Tatia Talbot
Deep Blue Sea by Angela Francis

Erotic
Gold Lust by Sarah Marshall
Sounds of Love by Marilyn Kelly
Bittersweet Obsessions by Carol Burnside

Ain't he sweet?

puzlqueen57@yahoo.com (Carol Burnside) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:22:00 +0000

Yesterday, I spent a large part of the day buying supplies, baking and wrapping breads for a meeting my hubby had this morning. Today he called to let me know my efforts were a big hit and he's saving me a slice of a breakfast bread I hadn't tried before.

I'm thinking he's still a keeper. ;)