Do wishes come true?

I know we all have those moments in life where something we've wanted or needed finally comes to pass. The contract, the baby, the house, the milestones by which we often measure our lives.

And I have to wonder...how many of us really believe those wishes come true by some magic of karma, or how much of us believe that it's simply a matter of hard work to accomplish a goal?

For example:
Hubby and I are expecting baby #4 in March. Granted, we were obviously doing That Activity which leads to a child's birth. (and that's as close as I'm ever getting to talking about my sex life on this blog, thankeemuch.) However, we'd been not-preventing childbirth since August...and found out we were pregnant the following July. It'd never taken that long before. So how much does little4 have to thank 'fate' for his/her existence...or does he/she just have to be grateful hubby and I hadn't stopped...well...yknow.

The contract for a book...how much do we say "oh thank goodness I got in front of such-and-such editor, because she loved it and accepted it and took it." (fate). And how much do we say "well, I subbed 900 stories in a year, one of them was BOUND to be accepted. (working hard pays off.)

I guess I fall between the two camps. I like to think that working hard produces the karma which results in good things. What do you think?

Sleep is a good thing

Having been woken every. twenty. minutes. last night, I'm a little obsessed with sleep. And the lack thereof. And...because I haven't slept...my mind's doing weird and wonderful things. Like so:

• Do you write when you're tired? I don't just mean 'sleepy', I mean..barely able to keep my eyes open tired.
• Do you read when you're that tired?
• Do you prefer to read/write in the morning, or late at night? (and are you a Morning Person?)
• How often do you read about people sleeping in books, unless they're a) attacked by bad guys or b) have a prophetic kind of dream?

And the question I really want to know...

Have you ever read a book where the main character has been deprived of sleep for so long that they simply can't think properly? And if so...what book is it?

Because I've got to say, I haven't slept since Thursday night. Not properly, anyway. And it makes me punchy. (It also makes me try to pour my kettle into my toaster while making breakfast, too.) And I'd love to read a writer who can capture that whole feeling.

And now...it's time for either more caffeine...or a nap...

Magic Math by Dayna

My husband and I recently added a puppy to the mix of things at our already insane house. A week later, I found out I was (am) pregnant with our fourth child. It's been a rollercoaster.

I have a manuscript I've been sending to agents, and I hit a wall one morning. "I can't send this. I'm going to have a baby...how on earth can I get an agent NOW? I don't know if I'll ever be able to write again once little4 gets here." Of course, all this angst finds its way into my writing, which I'm hoping is a good thing.

So, instead of worrying about it too much, I decided to break my life down into some Magic Math:

A heightened sense of smell + a beagle = nausea.
Nausea + morning = no coffee
No coffee + Dayna = problems.


Three kids + beagle + one more coming = fear.
Fear + writing = dark stories
Dark stories + faeries = twisted fun.

If pregnancy = cravings, and cravings = irrational yet acceptable...
Dayna's cravings = Pringles for breakfast.


So, do some magic math of your own and give us a rundown on your life today.

What's your fantasy?

Noooooooooooo!! DON'T start posting yet! I don't mean THAT kind of fantasy!
*whew*

First, open this link in a new tab or a new window so you can refer to it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_subgenres

Now! What's your fantasy?
*glowers at the smart aleck who is still typing 'two women, one bed, and silk scarves'*
Not. That. Fantasy!

There are some 19 different fantasy subgenres listed at Wikipedia. And I'm wondering, what's your favourite? What books do you have in the genre which you love? Why do you like that one?
Yes, I'm being nosey today :)

Intro--Dayna Hart

I've written so many of these introductions in the last year, I find it hard not to regurgitate the same information over and over again. I have one bio listed at my website, one on my 'author info' pages at each of my epublishers, and then another one in the little sidebar here at blogger.

But at the risk of repeating myself, I'd like to give an introduction here which gives appropriate kudos to Fantasy writing. :)

When I was three years old, I walked around the house with a notepad in hand, drawing loopy circles in a row across the page. When asked what they were, I would tell whoever asked a story. Never the same one twice, either. Because of this rather unique habit, my aunt dubbed me "Doodles". (I didn't answer to it then, I won't now. Just FYI for anyone thinking it'd be a 'cute' nickname to try using for me.)

However, this marked the beginning of it all for me. Even at three years old, I told people "When I grow up, I want to be a writer."

It was only recently I realised there could be anything else for me but fantasy, and I tried my hand at all of it. Rather unremarkably, too, I'll add. Unless I throw in some winged creatures, fairy spells, or magic potions, it just doesn't feel right to me. But I've learned a lot about romance, and erotic romance, so it felt natural to blend the genres.

And here I am.

I have a rather warped sense of humour, which sometimes translates to the page, and sometimes not.

My writing and I both struggle with elements of darkness--even the most lighthearted of my stories end up with threads of darkness throughout. This is a theme I explore in my work, too. And the fact I have identifiable themes...well, I take it as part of my Canadian heritage...making even a simple story into something Literary.

Which sort of lends itself to fantasy, which has always been about 'good vs. evil'.

So that's me...or at least, a start to knowing me. And if you want the really short version:
I'm a dichotomy. A complex set of contradicting ideas housed in one place. :)