My friend asked if, being an intelligent alpha female, I sat back and did some paranormal world building while the men in my life (husband and son) dealt with the wobbling, leaky toilet. No, silly me, I used my computer in an effort to help and wound up smack in the heart of the problem – when the internet resource told me it was a relatively easy fix.

No sense calling a professional when we can do it ourselves!

We’ll call it a family bonding experience and chalk it up to character development. I mean when you’re an alpha female in the thick of wax seals and broken bolts, that’s when you really get to know a person, right? By the way, if my back was healthy, I would’ve been able to do most of it on my own – the way I prefer to tackle home repair.

Truthfully, it wasn’t nasty as much as messy. The wax seals hidden on the bottom of toilets are bizarre and rather impervious (by design, obviously) to water clean up.  So while my husband ran out for replacement parts I stayed home trying to dissolve the stupid thing so we could repair and replace it with something new.

My friend asked me if I used my super laser sword. (Gotta love a friend who’s a reader and a fan). Alas, no sword in my reality, only in the paranormal worlds I build up in my imagination. So once again, many thanks to internet resource! My trusty putty knife, glass cleaner, and a heap of rags worked their last job for our family and conquered the gooey seal of wax.

My friend then says (after hearing the whole story) that it sounded like a good blog post. What? What sort of world does she think I live in that I’d find even blogging inspiration on the bottom of a toilet?

Ah, let’s mark that last question as rhetorical.

It seems my friend is ever so smart – and knows me ever so well – to think I’d use the rather strange events of my real world day here at my blog.

Live the adventure!

Don’t forget to enter the Goodreads Giveaway (over there on the right).  Find all my titles on Amazon and Smashwords in the format of your choice!

Typically when Bandit goes out into the yard, he does his thing, pokes around a bit, then comes back to the door and yips for someone to come out and play with him. That someone is typically me, the alpha female of his pack (besides I’m the one who works at home)

In earlier posts I’ve told you Bandit quickly learned I couldn’t play tug when I got injured, but he refuses to let me feel too useless. On most days I can still go out and toss one of the backyard toys for him.

His favorite is the floppy yellow cowboy our foster greyhound Hank carried out one morning. (our general rule is if a toy goes outside, it stays outside, so Bandit thanks Hank for this).

Smart pup that he is, Bandit doesn’t ask me to bend over and pick up the cowboy. He simply brings it to me (for which I’m glad he’s so tall) I throw it and he brings it back. It’s fun, even when the occasional throw is rather lame, Bandit is the forgiving sort and does his best to affirm my place as alpha female of his heart.

You can read more about Bandit’s arrival and what makes greyhounds such greyt pets in the Adopt A Greyhound Guide.  (50% of proceeds go to help greyhound adoption and rescue groups).

Live the greyhound adventure!

And that fear is the heart of the problem.

Since the original injury I’m afraid of doing too much, afraid of not doing my fair share, afraid of moving wrong and mostly afraid of giving in to my alpha female side and doing it anyway – whatever the ‘it’ of the moment may be. (which only launches the fear of extending the recovery time.)

I’m afraid my inner alpha female is just not the patient sort.

When I thought about it, I was shocked to realize how many of my thoughts and words were preceded by ‘fear’. It’s not a happy place – at all.

Fear is a place most of the alpha female characters in my paranormal romance novels wouldn’t linger in. Jaden might have been afraid, but she found action to be her cure. Petra dealt with more than her fair share of fear when her empathy gift siphoned it off of other people. Cali had mountains of fear to overcome, but accepting herself was key.

Fortunately, for alpha females in books or real life, fear is only a state of mind.

Which is reassuring as it means even I can overcome my fears. As the author of my own life, I focus on what I can accomplish without injurious complications. It’s a tame list, but amazingly enough, writing, reading, editing, blogging, and facebook all help.

Yup, even in the face of injuries my alpha female side is finding the way. Learn more about my alpha female heroines during the Smashwords.com Summer/Winter sale or when you buy my books at Amazon.

And check out the latest fun in video gadgetry from YouTube!

Live the adventure!

I’m still behaving – I swear! – and as if the universe needed to prove it, I’ve discovered that’s a very good thing. We recently attended an event for my daughter’s school, but just two hours on my feet wiped me out.

Frustrating but true.

Of course doing said social mixer after pulling a very late night with the writing probably didn’t help, but it’s all proof my body’s not yet back on track. Grrr.

However, I am finding ways to be grateful in this challengeing time. A trait I’d like to think I’ve learned in part from the many alpha female characters I’ve written over the years.

No, I can’t be Jaden who would probably take the doctors hostage until they fixed her. I’m not Petra who would use her mental talents to separate herself from the pain.  (Yes, I’m meditating – thanks for asking – and it does help but I’m not as good as Petra).

It would be awesome to have Cali’s ability to illuminate a text so I could understand what the doctors really mean. More than once since this all began long ago in December, I’ve wished for a friend like Mira, a healer who will be starring soon in her own Shadows of Justice novel.

For now, I’ll go back to playing with Mira and the other alpha female heroines in my imagination

You can dive into their world too! Buy the books on Amazon or in the format and outlet you prefer.

Live the adventure!

No matter how you label it (type-A, control freak, or alpha female) I’ve always had more than one thing going at any given time. As a wife, mom, volunteer, and paranormal romance writer, we all know multi-tasking is just the way of the world.

But now, with physical ‘rest’ being the priority of every day, I can’t throw in a load of laundry and write, move it to the dryer and write, put dinner in the crock pot and write some more. It’s just write and write and write until it’s time to stretch.

Remarkably the single-tasking thing has amazing benefits. I can’t run away from the story when it gets rough. I have to stay put and imagine my way out of it. Of course the dust bunnies are big enough to need names – but I digress.

This injury – while so very annoying – is having a positive impact as far as life lessons go.

I’m enjoying my writing time even more. I’m moving more efficiently through my promotional (and blogging) efforts. And my family time is no longer plagued with questions about how I should be at the keyboard working on something.

So for this paranormal romance writer, single-tasking is working. And having anything working is a major boost!  Might I suggest you get caught up with my previous books, so you’re all ready for the fresh new tales I’m dreaming up now.

Live the adventure!

But I’d be lying.

As an alpha female, find my own answers, get it done type of girl, the DO nothing order is about the hardest thing to accept. I’m all about the cause and effect, make the effort, no pain-no gain sort of mentality. In short, I’m the alpha female who prefers to control her destiny.

With an ‘invisible’ injury like this back thing (no swelling, cast, etc.) I’ve learned control is a precious commodity I’m fresh out of.

I suppose I could say I’d developed a talent for doing nothing or tapped a previously unknown preference for the ‘lady of leisure’ lifestyle.

But I’d be lying.

The truth is I was the kid who was sure to run off and try it if you told me it was impossible.  (maybe that’s why I chose a career in writing and publishing) and not much as changed now that I’m not a kid anymore.  I want to fix it, or have it fixed, so I can get on with my life.

So maybe the team is right, I’m not over my alpha female tendencies, not even close to knowing how to relinquish control. But hey, I am behaving and resting and writing like crazy…so I can live vicariously through my alpha female characters.

Live the adventure!

No matter how I asked the questions, the answer came back – DO Nothing. (This, I have learned, is the exact opposite of the old ‘just do it’ Nike commercials that were embedded on this (former) athlete’s subconscious). I’m used to living a Just Do It sort of life. Stuff might hurt, but stuff needs done. From fitness to dishes to dusting.

If you asked me point blank about being a real life alpha female, having superwoman delusions, or even being a control freak, I’d label myself as reformed. That stage of my life was years ago, back when I didn’t know better.

Before experience, time and a couple of kids changed my perspective.

Apparently the team working to save my back isn’t so convinced I’m all over my need to be the alpha female. They assured me the world would not implode if the vacuuming is haphazard and the windows have smudges. (honestly the windows don’t bother me so much)

Worse, I was encouraged to think about how my kids would benefit from learning my secrets of making our delightful family dinners. (as if I don’t know how they celebrate on the nights we order pizza)

In a word, activity limits are uck. Or maybe the word is boring. But wait! I’m a writer, I can make up my own fun and adventure…it’s part of the job description.

So go buy my books and you’ll be all ready for the newest releases sure to result from the next couple of months of focusing all my inner alpha female energy into my characters.

Live the adventure!

We adopt greyhounds because they’re wonderful, easygoing dogs who just love to be loved by people. Of course, like people, every adopted greyhound has unique personality quirks.

Boo, our female, has always believed she’s a wee little lap dog.

If you’ve ever seen pictures, you know we share the couch with our greys, but Boo pushes the envelope (or rather shrinks it) when it comes to sharing.

She can fit into places any self respecting greyhound would ignore. Two people on the couch already? No problem, still room for Boo. Two people and a greyhound on the bed? Again, no problem, there’s an empty square foot by momma’s head.

There is just no convincing her she’s of average greyhound size.

We often joke Boo has delusions of Chihuahua. At least when she’s not stretching out in her role as queen of all comfy surfaces.

With the arrival of Bandit, the tallest greyhound we’ve ever met, Boo’s delusions have only been confirmed. She takes great delight, every chance she gets, showing us just how tiny she is in comparison.

Standing next to him, she gets even more coos and kisses, because she just looks so petite and adorable. Almost as if she could walk under him. And at playtime she’s happy to hold her own, keeping him in line and playing tug of war when it suits her mood.

Boo might be on the small side of adopted greyhounds, but she’s big on personality.

Live the greyhound adventure!

Today, I’d have to say it’s the ability to dream big!

It takes a wild imagination and a big heart to deliver a paranormal romance novel readers crave. Paranormal romance writers know this, embrace it as their truth, and strive to make it an unforgettable experience for the reader.

For a paranormal romance writer, it isn’t enough to tell the story of a once in a lifetime adventure. The challenges facing the characters have to be bigger than the norm, with often deadlier consequences.

And it’s not just about an unlikely romance. A paranormal romance writer usually locks onto a character that’s bigger than life, more than human and twice as tortured.

Whether it’s alpha males or alpha females, or the ever-combustible combination, the paranormal romance writer is called to deliver a story that knits all these elements into a cohesive experience readers clamor for.

Paranormal romance novels are the ideal escape for readers – offering up excitement, adventure, and big, big dreams.

It’s no mystery that paranormal romance writers are in demand and it’s no secret that romance authors of every sub genre own the lion’s share of fiction readership. Big dreams, wild imagination, and the ability to get it all on paper is what makes a paranormal romance writer stand out.

So if you feel the need for a little something extra as a reader or a writer, give paranormal romance novels a try!

Live the adventure!

No, not every female grey in retirement is alpha or becomes alpha female and when our Boo arrived I never thought she’d really get into the role. Boy, was I wrong.

It took some time. She was smaller than Brody and she was willing to learn how Brody worked the system. Then she started with the little things to morph that system to her own purposes.

Feeding, for instance. She eats quickly, so she’s ready to clean Brody’s bowl when he’s done and goes for water. But her bowl is off limits at all times.

Then there’s playtime. She acts all relaxed about going outside with Brody, but once business is done, she’s the alpha female – the one who starts the romping and dictates the correct route through the yard.

And don’t even try to open the peanut butter without planning to share.

Now, having learned the system, modified the system, and taught several greyhound fosters how best to retire, she is the alpha female in charge of her domain, (formerly known as our house) deferring only to the momma or the daddy.

And the latest foster, Bandit, who is playful and rambunctious and silly? Well, our shy little retiree turned alpha female has determined he’s a keeper.

They tug, wrestle, and often nap together, all according to her rules.  And when he returned from his last home visit (fail), alpha female Boo did such a celebratory dance when he came home we decided he’d better stay.

So while we might have the thumbs, she’s got the eyes and manners that are as effective as thumbscrews. Like many an alpha female we’ve met before.

Live the greyhound adventure!

p.s. You can learn more about life with greyhounds in my new book Adopt A Greyhound Guide. 50% of proceeds go to local greyhound rescue groups. Visit the site for more details!