Would you change anything?

It's a common question. People are curious if you'd go back and change anything in your history.

I've thought about it.

I wouldn't.

I would keep half a century of trauma so that I may have the life I have now.

Does my life suck on the daily?

Physically? YES. Mentally? On most occasions.

But I wouldn't change my children. Or my grandchildren. Or my wife.

These are fixed points for me. 

Professionally? If it wouldn't affect my personal life?

Sometimes, I envy, yes I said it, those who published in the mid-2000's. I believe my works were published 2005-2009. Then...well, life.

House fire. Break-up. New job.

I couldn't get on my feet because I couldn't find the bastards.

Let's simply say, I wish I could have kept my foot in the door.

The "book of my heart"...what everyone calls the first book you write...was written long hand in several spiral notebooks. 

I didn't use ANY dialogue tags.

I was greener than Kermit.

Twenty years later, I can write a book in a month and a half. Design the cover. Have it published in two months. Have it in my hot little hands a week or so after that.

Because I accumulated knowledge when I wasn't publishing. Conferences and conventions. Book signings and author talks.

I crave information.

And what I tell everyone I've ever spoken to during an appearance: take what you can use, and leave the rest.

Because it's overwhelming. 

Which part, Crystal?

ALL. OF. IT.

😬

Now?

Blessed to work on my craft six days a week. Able to breathe and let things come to me. Instead of grabbing the flow with outstretched, tired hands, I'm now riding those waves and letting them take me where they will.

Regrets?

You already know...

Speaking of Medusa...

...my fourth book in my current series is all about her and her sisters.

Also, just broke over 40,000 words. 

Brad Pitt...you know the drill.

Medusa

She seems to be all the rage as a symbol of women retaking their power. I'm all about that life. For decades, I grew up with the one-sided knowledge that this evil serpentine chick was turning people into stone. re: Clash of the Titans circa 1981.

No CGI. More of a stop motion animation for the creatures depicted.

Then we had a little Queen of Hearts action--"OFF WITH HER HEAD" type business. Because we can't have this monster floating around turning others to stone.

But who turned her to stone first?

Poseidon? Who raped her in Athena's temple as Medusa was a handmaiden to the goddess?

Athena? Who, instead of kicking Poseidon's ass, cursed Medusa with the headful of snakes?

Both.

Fucking both.

There's a reason I love mythology, all cultures. 

It's intense. Sister-wives. Father-husbands. And oh so many variations of this.

Great storytelling. 

These fuckers are icons.

We've named days of the week, months of the year, planets, and companies after them. 

Take Nike. 

Amazon.

Pandora.

And so many more.

These tales have stood the test of time and then some.

They've thrived.

But they're like Grimm's Faery Tales. 

Most endings are traumatic as fuck all.

People polish them. Take off the rough edges. Parse down the cutting of organs and flesh from bodies. Highlight the good shit.

Medusa is having her hey day again. If ever there were a woman who encapsulated femininity, female rage, and woman power...it is she.

But let's remember.

She was once a simple handmaiden that a man wouldn't leave alone. And servant to a woman who punished her for existing.

Raped. Body and soul.

She deserves her flowers.

And a happy ending.

Smoothing the edges. Filing the corners.

Many, many times, I will come up with an idea for a book and then need to backfill to the tune I'm G'ing "Augmented Reality" because I needed the specs to explain a situation. Vague, yes. It's for my erotic romance book. Immersion level, hardware, and environment. Plus, I needed a few additional items. For, perhaps, a paragraph of dialogue. 

And this morning, as my mind decides to whir around a bit:

In an older post, I couldn't remember the name of the app where you could control two Twitter accounts at once. That's TweetDeck, folks. Courtesy of my shit finally kicking in this morning.

Also, I don't think I can smooth out the edges of my erotic romance to my satisfaction. Translation: I'll have to introduce "alternate means".

sigh

I love it when the premise fits my other information, and we rock on with our bad self. When, as is sometimes the case, it does not jibe, I need to bring in the circular saw, sandpaper, and the patience God never gave me.

It may mean I change the trope. Or, perhaps the genre or subgenre. Add a character or two. 

Stories are malleable. Don't get locked up in your head that it has to be a certain way. Books are living documents until you publish. And, EVEN THEN, they may be torqued.

In the case of my erotic romance, I'm looking at changing the genre from Contemporary to Paranormal. 

Do I like it?

Ehhhh...not sure yet. I don't want it to change the dynamic between the two main characters. I'll ponder this over the next few days.

In other other news, if you're in the Midwest, batten down your fucking hatches. Shit is rallying again today. 

Then again, Oz doesn't sound so bad right now.

I love the OKC Thunder

Our boys are amazing. The team's leadership and tutelage second to none. Brilliant staff and roster.

Having said that, my creativity is like hey! HEYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Let's make a rap.

Yeah.

Not a "wrap". Think Dre and Eminem. RAP

Did I?

Fuck yes, I did.

My fifty-four year old ass has got the flow, people. 

bahahahahahaha

anyway...ahem

Here it be.

This links to my personal FB. 

Chrys' OKC Thunder rap

I've put this post to public.

Ah...sweet relief. 

Now...back to The Gordons.

Why, yes. I'm on the G searches

Thought it would mostly be a writing day. ALAS, my short ass has to rewrite a minor character. This minor character has beef with my Gordon sisters. So kiss my short butt. I've found another deity to fit, but now I'm wondering if I want to make this new deity the owner and leave the other character? Either way, this new deity is too big for my story. Will probably be mentioned in passing. I'll have to research another minor deity. Or make one up, at this point. *shrug*

Also, it's damn early. And these are my G searches thus far:

black gloves with button

EngelMuller snap

black iron

what's a good metal snap?

Then I went DOWN a deity hole about four layers deep. Had to get the jaws of life to pry me out.

whew

Almost forgot!

I use OneNote, as I've stated. And I LOVE the tabs and whatnot. Except, you know, when I have like sixty and can't remember where I put shit. I've got them descending alphabetically because that's at least in some semblance of an order. 

But I've found that I like to put the deity name, the pronunciation, and occupation. Except sometimes, ya girl likes to put the occupation or place first.

Yeah. I can't stand myself.

Thanks for asking.

FUCKING HELL. 

Just published this. Went back to my OneNote. I put two tabs in "The Morrigan" notebook instead of "The Gordons"!

*kicks everything*

20,000+ words, baby!

Yep. It's me. Giving a small update on my book 4, The Gordons, in my mythological retelling series. 

Getting good.

Hope to squeeze about 3,000 more words today. More this weekend. *fingers crossed*

Interesting G searches thus far:

Kunafa

Tres Leches

Red eye color

Eir pronounciation

Doctor gown

What is the origin of Om Ali?

What are those damn things at the end of the staircase?

Chili rellenos

Woot! And we march on...