Cora Rules...
Book 3: The Hollywood Rules
Until her father died, Cora's goal has been to look drop dead gorgeous
in the latest fashion and be seen at all the right places. Now in order
to keep her inheritance she can't buy any new clothes for a year, and
she's assigned to help her ex-lover's wife, Vivian Gordon, rediscover
her mojo. Cora's in serious need of a massage. And there's one N.B.A.
coach who's ready to give her more than that.
Available for purchase:
Squirrel! By Melinda Curtis
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I love being an author. I love
writing stories that delve into life’s conflicts and character emotion. But I have to say that I have a lot more in
common with my puppy, Tally, than I’d like to admit. She can be so very obedient. And then, “Squirrel!” Just like the dog from Pixar’s movie “Up” –
her attention leaps elsewhere. Sadly, I
have my own attention deficit problem. Here
are some examples of my own personal Squirrel moments:
Imagine me in the writing zone when suddenly my cell phone chimes, announcing
a text message. After a few minutes
texting back and forth with my daughter, I look down at my draft and wonder
where I was. It takes me 10 minutes to
get back in the zone. Squirrel!
Imagine me talking to a writing friend about my manuscript deadlines
while at a writing group meeting. I’m
going to be adamant and stay focused this year – no side projects for me. Then I overhear someone remark that books
with brides in the title are selling really well. I have a bride book that I can retool (only
if I sacrifice another writing deadline).
I spend much of the rest of the meeting having an internal argument with
myself. Squirrel!
Imagine me banging away on a rough draft, trying to reach a page
goal. My husband comes home from work –
greets Tally enthusiastically, turns on the television to college basketball
(on volume that should be labeled For the Almost Deaf), and then sits in my
office and asks me what I’m doing and what’s for dinner. Squirrel!
Perhaps you see my point.
Writing and editing take intense concentration. When I’m in the writing zone, I am these characters. When I commit to deadlines, I trade-off
opportunities to do other projects. It’s
too easy to be distracted by a squirrel and get caught up in the moment. Unfortunately, distractions, for me, aren’t
going away.
I’d love to hear about some of your squirrel moments. Those who post will be entered for a chance
to win an e-copy of Cora Rules, a fun, sexy take on life in Hollywood and the
NBA.
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Melinda Curtis writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet
romances for the Harlequin Heartwarming line. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my
keeper shelf”. Melinda also writes
independently published, hotter romances as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says
of Blue Rules: “Sharp,
sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age except
a lot hotter.” Melinda is
married to her college sweetheart, and has three kids in college. She follows the NFL because one young
quarterback is from her hometown, and follows Duke basketball because Mr.
Curtis has a man crush on Coach K. Her
latest releases are Cora Rules, book 3 in The Hollywood Rules series, and
Summer Kisses, book 2 in the Harmony Valley series.
Hi Melinda. Your post made me laugh. I, too, have squirrel moments. It happens regularly when reading my email. I'm looking for one thing and get distracted by an email and the next thing I know, I've logged into Facebook and 30 minutes have gone by! Total squirrel moment. Your book sounds fun. Best of luck with the release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maria! When did social media become such a time suck?
DeleteMy goodness! I CAN relate! We run a business from our home and when my husband is out, I've got the job of answering the phone. Is that a squirrel moment!
ReplyDeleteIlona, I bet you make lots of lists!
DeleteThese sound so familiar. How I wish I could closet myself sometimes so there isn't any other sound or distraction while I write!
ReplyDeleteDebra, good luck with that. 4pm around here is time to play fetch (even if I have the phone turned off)
DeleteMel,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Snarkology! Your post made me laugh. I think my entire life may be a string of squirrel! moments. Thank you! :-)
Thanks, Melissa. Always a pleasure to stop by and visit. I'm currently dog-sitting my "granddogs" (a St. Bernard and an Australian Shepherd). Too many squirrel moments today
DeleteMelinda, I really chuckled at this. I have so many of those 'squirrel' moments myself--it's good to meet someone else who does, too. perhaps we could found a 'focus' focus group LOL.. Good luck with the writing--are you going to retool that story you spoke of? Barb Bettis
ReplyDeleteI'm currently replotting the series for "brides" being in the title. Might take me awhile (it is March Madness and my bracket is already toast - Oklahoma's losing? Squirrel!)
DeleteSquirrel moments in my house are many and often. In the middle of an important conversation at work it isn't uncommon for me to be instantly distracted by something. Thankfully, I don't stay distracted for long, unless somebody else gets just as distracted and we all go off on a tangent. Yep, squirrel moments, they can be fun.
ReplyDeleteLaura, you are a better woman than I. I could not remember a conversation I started with my husband this morning. Seriously. The Aussie stole Tally's hedgehog, panic erupted, and I forgot what I was going to tell him. A sentence that started with, "Don't forget to..."
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