Happy Birthday, Charis!

Standard

I ventured out of the house and went to Charis Books and More’s 40th birthday celebration. Nicola Griffith kicked off the celebration by reading from and talking about her latest book, Hild. It was fantastic!

https://www.facebook.com/CharisBooks

As a side note: Ever since I read The Blue Place, by Ms. Griffith, I decided I’d like to meet her in person. The list quickly expanded to include Kelley. I love it when the universe grants a bucket list request with no muss, no fuss. Oh, what a feeling.

IMG_0454

(Learning to crop photos is on my list of things to do). 🙂

Oh look; here I am, posed with Kelley Eskridge and Fiona Zedde.

IMG_0450

Hild never left my hands!

Happy 40th Birthday, Charis, and thank you.

Advertisement

Getting Out Of My Own Way

Standard

I have a tendency to think about characters for a long time before I tell their story. I have thought about the parents of Lillian, (my future super girl), for years. I thought about how and where they grew up and the dangers surrounding their lives. They were supposed to be the minor detail that introduced my precious little wonder child. All hail the wonder child!

Today, I realized that this story is actually about the parents. Through their eyes, we will see their daughter. She will not be jettisoned in – just because I think she is the most important thing to happen to planet earth. Instead, she will arrive when they say so. It’s all about them. The next one is about her.

You may ask; how did you reach this conclusion without kicking and screaming, or at least throwing away your work?

Long story short:

It really helps when an editor sees the intent of the story. Otherwise, she may suggest improvements that will morph the story into a boring stranger, instead of the beautiful lover that I feel passionate about. It also helps when an editor can work with fragile egos. (other people’s, not mine). 🙂  Thanks, Kelley @ Sterling Editing.

 DC

Cutting Hair Is About More Than Cutting Hair

Standard

Three weeks ago, I went to the barbers to get my hair trimmed and lined, the peach-fuzz look. I didn’t realize the mall had three barber shops so I ended up in one I hadn’t used before. No problem. It’s easy to cut my hair.  I sat in the chair and waited for the magic to happen. I didn’t want conversation, I didn’t want to share my personal life, all I wanted was shortened hair, edges lined up.

He asked me my name and where I lived. I gave him my name and said I lived nearby. I hate when they do that. They never ask the male customers their names or where they live. Cause, it would seem ridiculous. But apparently for females, it’s the standard way to show polite interest.

The barber then told me about how his girlfriend once had a BOY haircut.

Did he think this would make me feel more at ease? Well it didn’t. What it did was highlight the fact that a haircut was not just a haircut. Does that make a difference? Yes it does. if he thought that about hair, he probably also had similar ideas about a woman’s place in the world, my place in the world. Not surprisingly, the conversation that followed  (with other barbers) was about some singer being gay.  *sigh*

All I wanted was a friggin hair cut. Anyhoo, he did what men do when they cut a woman’s hair instead of a man’s – he did not clean up my face or my neck (shave off the tiny hairs). When I got home, I cleaned up as best I could with my own  razor.

Two weeks later, I went back and looked until I found the shop that I had used several times before. I recognized one of the barbers, I’ll call him Jeff.  He didn’t have to ask my name because he remembered that we had already done that spiel before. He knew how short I liked my hair and made no negative comments. Jeff even cleaned the back of my neck with a razor. When I got home though, I still had to shave my face near the hair-line. Jeff is coming along just fine, though. With a few more reminders, he may eventually get it.

Two weeks later, I went back to see my best barber, Jeff. Lots of people were also waiting for Jeff. I was in a hurry, so I took  a different barber. He was very friendly.  He asked me for my name and where I lived. WTF. I couldn’t help it, I gave him the wrong name. After he finished with my usual questions, he talked about where he lived, the courses he took in school and told me that he also did ministry work. He was a very nice gentleman, but, as I said before, male barbers don’t ask men those questions or  force them to listen to intimate conversations about their lives. All I wanted was a friggin haircut.

I’ve been going to barbers for years. I’ll probably go for many more. I’ve learned to accept certain things and still get most of what I came for without having to resort to gazillions of training sessions, or pissing-macho-men-off sessions. But I can’t complain too much really, about American barbers. In England, I had a barber totally ignore me, then when he saw that I didn’t understand his hint, he physically pushed me out of the shop door while yelling, ‘I don’t cut women’s hair. Get out of my shop.’

Cutting hair is about more than cutting hair!

dfc

Teen/Young Adult Fantasy

Standard

I am working on a story that includes the life of three unique girls that live in different sectors on a damaged planet. When they meet, hiding in the shadows is no longer an option. But if they reveal themselves, many people will die. It is a tale of survival and a tale of love.

dfc

‘Da Kink In My Hair

Standard

I stopped being a hermit and got out of the house today. I treated myself to the documentary about the making of ‘Da Kink in My Hair’ and had a fabulous time. I heard I would have an afternoon of love, laughter, film, healing and words – It was that and more!

I’ve now bought a ticket to see the upcoming show and I’m looking forward to it.

Trey Anthony’s Studios  Presents “Da Kink in My Hair” on Friday, September 6, 2013 8:00 PM at the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta.

Delicious Divas

Standard

I entered an erotica contest sponsored by DIVA magazine and Xcite Books. They chose five winners – and I was one of them. *does happy dance* Our Kindle book, Delicious Divas – Five Erotic Lesbian Stories, is now being sold on Amazon.com, and Amazon.co.uk. 

I wrote under the name, Evan Ross, so don’t get nervous if you don’t see DF Collier. 

Thanks.

Certificate in Novel Writing

Standard

I have been taking the Certificate in Novel Writing Course at City University while working on my second novel, Breeze Over London. The course has been very informative – I’ve closed some of my missing info gaps. Sadly, the course is now coming to an end. As part of the graduation process, each writer will have to read a four-minute excerpt from their novel in front of agents, family and friends. I’ve read in front of friends before, but not agents. hmmm.

Everyone will be sloshing down the free drinks served before the program starts. that is, everyone except me. I was taught  never to drink before you read – or your words will slur – even after one drink. hmmm

It looks like I’ll be the only one having a skyrocket of natural fun. *fake happy face* But seriously though, everything is fine. *faints*

DFCpllier

Cleaning House or Finding an Agent.

Standard

Cleaning House would be easier.

My website is getting rebuilt so that the crap I have on line at the moment can be replaced.  I’m polishing the novel so I can reel in my own special agent who will take me to the height of fame or to at least selling my book in a grocery store. *polish, polish*  I hear some people have great difficulty in this task or, they get an agent that takes their manuscript and a year later – hasn’t responded to their client.  I know one guy whose agent hasn’t said two words to him for almost two years. I keep telling him that this is a sign of a bad agent.  He doesn’t know whether I’m right because this is his first agent….and since I don’t have one, what do I know?

My query and synopsis *polish, polish* will lead the way in four weeks.  I’ll outline my pain, blow by blow or my good news….blow by blow. 🙂