A Day on the River...

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Random Facts and Tidbits.

Random Courting the Flame Fact…Line?!

First, let me start by saying, “Thank you, thank you…THANK YOU!” to the lovely ladies at the Plymouth Public Library. Seeing as though it was my first “official” author appearance, I had no idea what to expect on 4-27-13! I can tell you, however, that the afternoon far surpassed my dreams! I had an absolute blast chatting about love, life, and the making of Courting the Flame! The only downer was how quickly the time flew by. A huge thank you to Judy R. for pulling it all together, by the way. You’re a doll, Jude!

And now onto our “Random Courting the Flame…Line?!”

Okay. So here’s how it works. Below, please find a random quote from my debut paranormal romance, Courting the Flame. Be the first person to guess who said it and win a Courting the Flame mug. It’s that simple! And now, for the quote:

“Anyway, once I made it past ‘the clothing,’ I found her work extremely insightful. She sees beyond the static to the truth in her subjects. It’s a fascinating approach, possibly even unique. Three or four shades at least on the other side of Picasso or Dali.”

So, which Courting the Flame character said it? Feel free to post your guesses in the comments section. Just click on the tiny red “post a comment” button at the very bottom of today’s post. I know. Could the button be any smaller, right?! Anyway, all I need is your guess for now. We’ll work out the details later. The first person with the right character, wins!

Good luck!   

And now, onto another Diana DeCameron Tidbit:

So, we all know I’ve been busy. I’d like to say it’s because I’ve been working on Book II, but in reality, my “business” has been attached to some required graduate course work I’ve been trying to complete. This past Sunday I was determined to put the finishing touches on a Shakespeare course I’d been immersed in for far too long. I’m happy to announce that as of 5-12-13, I finally finished it! Yes, that was me “Whoot! Whooting” at around 11 AM Eastern-Standard time. I’m sure you heard me. Lord knows my family did!

So, there I was feeling completely triumphant thinking…You know what? You should totally reward yourself with a little family time! Later that day, I followed up on my advise and did just that. My husband, boys, and I took our fishing boat down to the Susquehanna River for a late afternoon boat ride!

For those who aren’t familiar, the Susquehanna River is a well-know piece of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s landscape. Flowing through New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, at 464 miles, it’s the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean. As is true of any river the Susquehanna’s size, it’s been a source of both beauty and devastation throughout the years, but one thing’s for certain. As a Northeastern Pennsylvanian “lifer”, the Susquehanna River has been a part of my

life for almost 44 years now—which is precisely why we decided to visit it this past Sunday. Drifting along the Susquehanna is something we like to do together as a family.

With temperatures ranging in the mid to upper seventies, it turned out to be the perfect day to meet up with our old friend. I held tightly onto my hat as we took off downstream, the sun filtering through the trees. Beams of sunlight cast dancing shadows upon the Susquehanna’s dark waters (a residual effect of local coal mining that continues to plague my stretch of the river) as I squinted into the oncoming air. When we finally reached our destination (the boys’ favorite fishing spot) I reached for my notebook and pen. I enjoy jotting down my thoughts in a free-form brainstorming sort of way while the boys cast their lines. It’s a very relaxing and oftentimes productive activity. Many blog post topics have introduced themselves to me in just this fashion.

Whether it was the sound of the red-winged blackbirds or something more spiritual

gliding along the late afternoon breeze, something on the Susquehanna eventually lead my thoughts to the Susquehannock Indians. A branch of the Andastes, a subdivision of the Algonquin Tribe, the Susquehannocks were the earliest humans to inhabit the Susquehanna River Valley. Farmers, fishermen, and hunters, the Susquehannocks or “the people of the muddy river” were also known to be quite aggressive and warlike, always fighting with their northern neighbors the Iroquois.

As we continued to slowly drift downstream, I couldn’t help but wonder if the thought came to me because of the particular location our boat had drifted to. Did this stretch of the river have some sort of spiritual significance to the Susquehannocks? Perhaps it had been the location of one of their many battles? Not much historical information remains on the Susquehannock Indians. I do know, however, that in 1675 their people were decimated by an epidemic and by continued fighting with the Iroquois. I also know that in 1763, the surviving 20 Susquehannocks (who had converted to Christianity by this time) were slaughtered by an angry mob known as the Paxton Boys, a group of Scottish-Irish frontiersmen who had wanted to enact revenge on a group of warring Indians some 200 miles away, but settled for the remaining 20 “now peaceful” Susquehannocks.

I scanned the river with a new lens. How different things must have been back then, I thought. How much more vocal the red-winged blackbirds must have sounded when they didn’t have to compete with the never-ending hum of traffic or the occasional rumble of a train. How much more beautiful the rolling hills that line the Susquehanna River Valley must have appeared devoid of power lines and structures. Perhaps, I continued to ponder, that was my answer. Perhaps, I surmised, the Susquehannocks simply wanted me to remember the way things might have appeared, sounded, or smelled…when once they walked this land.

“Perhaps,” I glanced down at the river’s rippling waters, reflections of a once proud people glancing back. “Perhaps…” I sighed, lifting my face to the sun.

The same sun that once shone upon the Susquehannock Indians.

As always…

Until we meet again, make it a great week!

Oh, and more Facts and Tidbits to come.

Perhaps Lucy was Onto Something...

Back again with the latest segment of...

Random Facts and Tidbits.

Random Courting the Flame Fact…Reminder?!

Tick, tick, tock. This is it! The countdown’s on! This Saturday afternoon (4-27-13) beginning at 2:30PM, I’ll be appearing at the Plymouth Public Library, part of Luzerne County Pennsylvania's Library System, to host a very special Courting the Flame—Meet the Author/Book Club Event! If you’ve already read Courting the Flame and would like to “fire” some plot questions and/or comments my way, here’s your chance!

Plus, stop by and visit and you could win a cool Courting the Flame Gift Basket loaded with items that have “ties” to my debut paranormal romance novel. If you've already read Courting the Flame, you'll understand this eclectic collection of goodies. If you haven't, think of how much fun it will be to spot the items as they appear in the story.

So, mark your calendars for this Saturday (4-27-13) starting at 2:30 PM. I can’t wait to dive headlong into a lively discussion about love, life, and the pursuit of all things paranormal at the Plymouth Public Library, 107 W. Main Street, Plymouth, PA 18651. See you there.

For directions or to contact the Plymouth Public Library directly, call (570) 779-4775.   

And now, onto another Diana DeCameron “Tidbit”…

Diana DeCameron Tidbit:

Blog topics don’t always come easily to me. If the act of writing feels at all forced, I simply won’t do it. I’m one of those “odd” writers who won't put pen to paper (so to speak) unless I’m truly inspired to do so. I write simply for the joy of doing it, not because I have to. I have a day job. Lately, however, there has been one topic that’s been weighing heavy on my heart. Tonight, I’m putting voice to it and giving it the room it needs to breathe.

Tonight I'm talking about..."fear".

It’s a topic that’s surfaced and resurfaced again and again in my life. Normally, I try to lock it away, camouflage it, or call it by a different name—all in the hopes that it will magically disappear, vanish, or evaporate from my life. None of those strategies have ever worked, though. So tonight I’m going to try a radically different approach. Tonight, I’m bringing “fear” out of the shadows and into the light. The way I look at it is, if you’re that desperate for attention, I’ll give it to you.

Sooooo…(Lays head back on the couch to stare up at the ceiling) Where does this “fear” thing all begin? It's a valid question. My answer? Well, it depends on your perspective. For those of you who don’t believe in reincarnation…”fear” undoubtedly introduced itself to me at birth. For those of you who do…we’ve more than likely already had this conversation so I apologize in advance for repeating myself, but most of the time it feels like “fear” has been chasing me through lifetime after lifetime after lifetime. Stick with me and you’ll see where I’m going with this. I hope.

As a small child, I remember being afraid of just about everything. I’ll spare you the itemized list. Believe me, it’s extensive and…you’re welcome. Anyway, I specifically remember a time when I was about 6 and my mother read Little Red Riding Hood to me. Looking back, I’m not sure if it was the actual story as much as it was the time of day (early evening) and the weather conditions (rainy and dreary), but the story just about scared the bejeebers out of me! I’m talking a blood-draining-from-your-limbs, heart-racing kind of scared.

The full thrust of my fear didn’t really strike until after the story was read, however...when I was reminded by my mother that I needed to take care of my chores. It was my job to take the dirty clothes down into the (cue echo) dark, dank basement. I’m sure you see where this is going. Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead. My heart thudded wildly in my chest. Even my lungs struggled to pull in enough air to support my breathing. Why? Well, obviously I was convinced that the Big Bad Wolf was going to burst through one of the basement windows and eat me. Don’t laugh. (shivers) Of course, Mom helped me to move past my “fear” of the basement by forcing me to meet my fears head on. Translation? She stood at the top of the stairs and told me I had 2 minutes to get my butt downstairs and put the dirty clothes in the hamper…”or else”!

Now, keep in mind that I had absolutely no idea what “or else” meant, but as a child who was already afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, I was determined not to find out! Which I didn’t. I was a good kid (relatively speaking). I did what I was told. So what did I do? What any 6 year old would do. I held my breath and raced at break-necking speeds down the stairway tossing my armful of dirty clothes into the formidable darkness that was…(cue echo again) "the basement".

Obviously, I’m making light of the situation. But honestly, at 6 this was some pretty serious stuff. Little did I know then, however, that the Big Bad Wolf would pale in comparison to the other “monsters” I would learn to fear once I got older.

Let’s face it, as a child it makes sense to fear the Big Bad Wolf. Good Lord, he has sharp teeth and clearly appears to be hungry like…I don’t know…all of the time?! But no one bothered to warn me about this “new” breed of monsters that were headed my way. No one said, “Fear the monsters lurking in the deepest, darkest corners…of your mind.”

I like to refer to them as the Subconscious-Mongers. Oh, they’re horrid creatures, these “Subconscious-Mongers”. They make you doubt yourself, your abilities…your self-worth. (Shivers) Does this new breed of monsters have sharp teeth, you ask? Honestly, I’ve never really made eye contact with them, so I really don’t know. All I do know is that they usually visit me when I’m sleeping. When I am vulnerable. They creep into my subconscious and whisper, “Doubt yourself. Worry about things that are completely out of your control. Obsess over everything and anything.” For many years, I allowed these monsters to consume my life. There have been many a night where I've jolted up from my bed consumed with fear and trembling in the darkness.

And then I found writing—my outlet, my therapy, my saving grace.

I won’t say that I still don’t have occasional panic attacks. Of course, I do. But now, however, I have somewhere to direct all of that otherwise wasted energy. And the greatest thing is that as a writer I call the shots. I create the conflicts, but I also resolve them. It definitely leaves one with a sense of accomplishment and control.

Take that “fear”!!!!     

Oh, and for those of your still wondering, I'm happy to say that I eventually moved past my fear of carnivorous fairy tale characters. Ole Big Bad and I turned out to be great friends, as did long-time friends Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Blob. As a matter of fact, (waggles eyebrows) I’ve grown up to be quite the lover of ghost stories, vampires, and all things that go bump in the night. Who would have thought it possible, right?! So for those of you who, much like myself, still occasionally struggle with unseen monsters, know that there’s someone out there who understands exactly where you’re coming from. But more importantly...(takes on a classic Ninja stance) know that I got your back ;)

“What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it.”

~Jiddu Krishnamurti

I don't say this very often, but perhaps Lucy was onto something...

As always…

Until we meet again, make it a great week!

Oh, and more Facts and Tidbits to come.

A Courting the Flame...APPEARANCE?!

Back again with the latest segment of...

Random Facts and Tidbits.

Random Courting the Flame Fact…Appearance?!

Exciting news NEPA Paranormal Romance fans! Saturday, April 27, 2013 starting at 2:30 PM, the Plymouth Public Library, part of the Luzerne County Library System, will be hosting a very special Courting the Flame—Meet the Author/Book Club Event! If you’ve already read Courting the Flame and would like to “fire” some plot or character questions or comments my way, now’s your chance—live and in person! Haven’t downloaded your copy yet? Don’t sweat it! There’s still plenty of time. You can purchase Courting the Flame directly from my publisher at MuseItUpPublishing.com or download it wherever eBooks are sold. Oh, and did I mention that I’ll be giving away some cool Courting the Flame swag while I'm there?? (waggles eyebrows)

So, mark your calendars for Saturday, April 27, 2013 starting at 2:30 PM.

I can’t wait to dive headlong into a lively discussion about love, life, and

the pursuit of all things paranormal at...

The Plymouth Public Library, 107 W. Main Street, Plymouth, PA 18651.

See you there.

For directions or to contact the Plymouth Public Library directly, call (570) 779-4775.   

Diana DeCameron Tidbit:

So, where have I been for the past few months? A fair question, considering the fact that my last post was back in January. Bad girl! Bad girl! (Slaps hands) Well, here’s the skinny. I’ve been hanging out with a dear friend. Actually, he’s a rather troubled old chap—goes by the name of Edgar. Some of you may know him as Mr. Poe. Regardless of what you call him, one thing’s for certain—the man’s a master storyteller and one I can’t quite seem to get enough of.

For reasons which I cannot explain, I find myself deeply attracted to Mr. Poe’s dark and depressing landscapes, his morose prose, and his almost comical tendency to entomb anything and everything—which is rather ironic coming from someone most people refer to as Miss Polly Positive. Hey, everyone’s got a dark side, right?? (Shrugs) Loving Edgar Allan Poe just so happens to be mine.

Yes, Edgar and I have become quite the item these past few months. I agreed to read his mysteries and novella for the first time with the promise that I’d be given the opportunity to reread some of my all time favorites including The Pit and the Pendulum, The Black Cat, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Cask of Amontillado. Just for the record—entombed, entombed, entombed, and….more entombing. Read them. I’m not making this stuff up, folks.

Looking back, I believe my fascination with Edgar is actually Vincent Price’s fault. Bad Vincent. Bad Vincent. Then again, (drums fingers on computer desk) Academy Award winning film producer Roger William Corman is actually the man responsible for bringing the entire cycle of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations to the big screen and eventually my living room. So, perhaps I should be blaming him. My sincerest apologies, Mr. Price. Of course, you did make one helluva creepy Roderick Usher, Vincent (shivers). 

Okay…they’re both to blame, and so…I thank them both. Why?

As I set out to reread Poe’s works over the past few months, I came to the distinct conclusion that the master of the macabre inspired me in more ways than I ever could have imagined he would have some thirty years earlier. Yes…as is the case with most relationships, at some point Edgar and I fell out of touch. Life got busy and things happened, but the most wonderful thing occurred to me as I reread those amazing short stories. As subtle as the nuances may be, Edgar Allan Poe most definitely influenced my style as a writer. I would even go as far as to say that without Edgar, Diana DeCameron wouldn’t exist as we know her today. Relax. I haven’t entombed anyone...at least not yet (waggles eyebrows), but talk about a wonderful epiphany as a writer.

So there you have it. This post is my shout out to Edgar Allan Poe. Thank you, Mr. Poe for sharing your wonderful gifts, not only with the rest of the world but with me—the little girl who would someday grow up to be an author. I may not have loved everything you wrote (I’m still trying to erase The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym from my memory banks. Sorry. Not a fan of the high seas adventure). But the ones I did connect with will forever be a part of who I am as a writer.

And in my book...that totally rocks!      

 As always…

Until we meet again, make it a great week!

Oh, and more Facts and Tidbits to come.

She's at it...AGAIN!!!

Back again with the latest segment of...

Random Facts and Tidbits.

Random Courting the Flame Fact…Excerpt?!

This time around, rather than just give you a random Courting the Flame fact I’ve decided to give you an excerpt. Here’s a tiny sampling of one of my favorite scenes. Who knew that finding a brooch could be so…well...you decide.

“Michael?”

He lifted his head, and I gasped. His eye sockets were ablaze, flames shooting across his face. I stumbled backward, but he reached out and caught me, his eyes deep chocolate again, his visage full of concern.

“Hey, take it easy!” he said. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, stomping my irrational outburst of panic beneath its steel-reinforced trapdoor. “I’m fine,” I lied too loudly. “I just wanted to know what you thought of the brooch.”

He cocked his head. “I love it. It’s beautiful. An exquisite piece. Nothing to get upset about.” He held out his hand; it was empty. The brooch had fallen to the floor.

I stooped and swept it into my palm, eying it carefully. It looked perfectly normal. Gracie, you’re losing it. You’re absolutely losing it. This is a pin, for heaven’s sake. Just a pin. “I wish I knew its story,” I said, to have something to say. “I mean, if it even has a story.”

“Of course it has a story!” Michael caught himself, and then smiled. “It’s far too striking to not have some sort of tale attached to it,” he added in a milder tone. He knitted his brows and looked at me hard. “What’s your guess?”

Diana DeCameron Tidbit:

Wow! (chuckles to herself) I just scanned back through some of my old blog posts and was amazed to discover just how many of them discuss my “inspirations" for writing, LOL. In my defense, sharing things that inspire me creatively feels completely natural…easy. They’re the posts that I never feel forced to write because the topics are genuinely the ones I enjoy talking about. In case you haven’t guessed by now, I’m about to do it again. And the recipients of this week’s “You’ve Inspired Me Creatively” blog post goes to the band:

The Civil Wars

Those who know we well may be surprised by this choice, mainly because I tend to be more of a rocker chick (yes, yes…leading lady Gracie Clarke gets that from me). So by all accounts, The Civil Wars is a band that shouldn’t inspire me. A mingling of Americana, indie folk, and folk rock, their sound is far more “country” than I normally prefer.

No offense to all those die hard country fans out there. My husband is a huge country fan, and as a singer myself, I can appreciate the musicianship involved in composing country music. Truly, I can. But normally the themes of most country songs don’t speak to me the same way that say a…Linkin Park song would. That said, imagine my surprise when my friend suggested this slightly obscure alternative country duo out of Nashville called The Civil Wars. One listen to their single Poison and Wine and I quickly searched out The Civil Wars on iTunes. Half an hour later,  I downloaded their 2011 release, Barton Hollow.

So what is it about this country-ish sounding band that hooked me? That’s a great question, actually. There’s definitely a haunting undertone to most of their songs and, hey—I’m all about haunting undertones. But the cool part is you can’t quite place your finger on exactly what it is that makes their music so haunting. Sometimes it might be a subtle effect on one of their voice tracks. Sometimes it might be a dissonant tone craftily placed in the bridge. Often times, though, the “haunting” aspect to their sound comes from how their voices work together.

Shivers.

Speaking as a vocalist now, it’s very rare to find someone whose tone completely and unequivocally matches your own. It would be the equivalent of say…finding your “musical” twin flame. When I listen to Joy Williams and John Paul White perform together, that’s the level of connection that I not only hear but feel. It’s almost as if their voices dance together on some strange unseen level. Sometimes their voices travel together side by side, paralleling each other musically, but sometimes…ohhhhhhh, sometimes their voices join together in this amazing display of harmonies that leaves me awestruck and almost weepy (but in a good way). I’m talking hairs-up-on-the-back-of-my-neck awestruck.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention their talents as lyricists. The Civil Wars is one of the few country-ish sounding bands that manage to speak to me lyrically. Why? I think it’s mainly because the theme to most of their songs revolves around relationships. The good ones. The bad ones. And the…well, the ones you’d like to forget, LOL.

Heart-stopping harmonies and heartbreaking lyrics—it’s the perfect combination, really. Of course, I wouldn’t dare end this post without paying homage to The Civil Wars with a video showcase. After all, they’ve held my hands through many late-night writing sessions. So it seems only right. That and…well…all this talk about The Civil Wars has made me want to listen to them again. So, without further ado, please allow me to introduce—

The Civil Wars

As always…

Until we meet again, make it a great week!

Oh, and more Facts and Tidbits to come.

A Very Gollum Christmas?

Back again with the latest segment of... 

Random Facts and Tidbits. 

Random Courting the Flame Fact:

Well, it’s official. I didn’t win best cover for YouGottaRead Review’s December Cover Contest. A heartfelt thank you to all you showed up to vote. You guys rock! Truly. Sure, it would have been nice to take home the honors, but victory or no victory, I know I have an award-winning cover. My cover artist, Nika Dixon, was an absolute joy to work with and in the end she gave me a stunning cover that I never tire of looking at. That's "winning" in my book.

Losing aside, I am reluctant to say goodbye to the holiday season. I had a wonderful Christmas with my family, and so...I’ve decided to extend it, in my own special way, with another Courting the Flame e-copy giveaway. I’m calling it my “Review It and Win It” contest. Here’s the skinny. I need reviews. Honest reviews, which means...I. Need. You. Agree to review my book, and it’s yours free. Just visit my 

Courting the Flame

facebook page and personal message me your name and email address to be entered. The first five names to message me win. In return, leave your honest review at the location of your choice: MuseItUp Publishing.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or any other (dot.com) for that matter. Make your review as long or as short as you like. A rating would also be nice. It’s really that simple. Obviously if you’re entering a contest to win a book, you plan on reading it! I’m only asking you to tell me what you think of it when you’re done. Good luck!


Diana DeCameron Tidbit:

Okay. So what’s been going on in Diana DeCameron’s life? Actually, I think the better question would be what hasn’t been going on. It’s been well over a month since my last—why do I suddenly feel like I’ve stepped into a confessional? LOL. All joking aside, I am a wife, a mother of two small children, and like many other authors I have a day job. Add Christmas preparations to an already overstuffed schedule and, well, you get the idea. With another Christmas under my belt, however, I finally have a few minutes to slowly ease back into the swing of things. I’ve definitely missed writing and I can’t wait to dive back into Book II. (sighs) Yes, it’s still unnamed. One thing I did manage to do over the holidays, though, was finally get out to see The Hobbit.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before in one of my previous posts, but for those who don’t know…I’m a HUGE Tolkien fan. Yes, yes…I’m one of those crazy fans who’s read the Lord of the Rings umpteen times. I can quote Gandalf with the best of them. I collect Tolkien’s works and I’m delighted to say that I’ve passed that love onto my children. There were quite a few (requested) Hobbit and LOTR’s items under the Christmas tree this year. Even though the movie released on December 14, as a family we decided to see it over the holidays when we could enjoy it. This past Friday, we finally managed to take it in…in all of its glorious 3D splendor. Don’t worry. I’m not going to review the movie…just share a few of the “tender” moments I had with my kiddos while watching it.

I’ll admit, the first 30 minutes were a tiny bit slow. I’m not complaining, mind you. I’d sit through those 30 minutes again in a heartbeat. I was concerned about the kids. I went into the movie knowing it was 2 hrs and 49 minutes long. Again…not complaining. I just thought that the kids would get restless. I was wrong. While driving home after the movie, I mentioned that I thought the intro was a tiny bit on the slow side to which my youngest replied, “No, no…Mommy. I liked seeing Frodo not surrounded by lava and smiling at the beginning. It made me feel all…happy inside.”

(Sighs) Kids. They really have a way of putting things into perspective.

Minus the slightly slow start, I absolutely adored the movie—every cinematic moment. My all time favorite scene, however, had to be when Bilbo spared Gollum’s life in the mountain. I thought Peter Jackson masterfully illustrated Gandalf’s “Gollum” discussion with Frodo while in the Mines of Moria (LOTR).

Gandalf: “Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

While reading The Lord of the Rings, my oldest would continually get frustrated every time Gollum escaped a scene unharmed, even though he caused so much pain and hurt to others. My answer would always be… just keep reading and you’ll understand. I think the visual of Gollum’s tortured soul staring into Bilbo’s watchful yet hidden eyes finally did the trick.

When the scene ended, I leaned over and whispered, "See? This is what Mommy is always trying to get you to understand. Everyone and everything has a purpose in life. If Bilbo WOULD have killed Gollum—"

“I get it, Mom. Gollum had his part to play…"

(Double sigh)

Yeah. It was a great night out. I love special family moments, especially ones that revolve around great books. Thank you J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson for everything you’ve done and continue to do to spark lively conversations and bring families and friends together. Speaking of friends, it’s nice to be back, folks. I’ll make it a point to visit more often.

Don’t forget to visit my Courting the Flamefacebook page to sign up for your free e-copy of Courting the Flame. Until next time… 

Peace, Love, and Joy in the New Year!

More Facts and Tidbits to come...

Sooooooooooooo Excited!!!

I just found out that COURTING THE FLAME will be entry #6 in You Gotta Read Reviews' December Cover Contest!!! My beautiful cover, created by Nika Dixon, will be featured starting December 6th. (bites finger nails) That's just 4 days from now!!! Voting will take place December 21 through the 26! I'll keep you posted on all the details as the days tick by.

Something You Can't Quite Put Your Finger On...

Back again with the latest segment of...

Random Facts and Tidbits.

Random Courting the Flame Fact:

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” 

― Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 7: 1966-194

Although some of the characters may proceed forward with reluctance, Courting the Flame is, indeed, a story that chronicles the journey to self-discovery—an idea summed up quite nicely in the above quote.

Diana DeCameron Tidbit:

Human beings…oh but we are a complicated lot. Born into this world at point “A”, hopefully our life experiences help to move us along that tiny space that is our existence, encouraging us to grow and change and morph into something new. Something exciting. Something better than before. I say hopefully, because my life experiences have proven that some of us never really budge from point “A”. But rest easy, that is not the topic of today’s post. I am choosing not to focus on the stagnant souls, but on those who have somehow managed to grow despite themselves, adversity, or a steadfast reluctance to change. 

I’ll be honest. For the first 30 plus years of my life, I remained fairly consistent as a human being. My life views were predictable. My behaviors followed a pattern. I questioned nothing and did as I was told. My beliefs were based, for the most part, on those of my parents, extended family, and any others I chose to surround myself with. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying that the belief systems were bad, they just weren’t…well, my own. It would take many years and a willingness to search my soul to finally realize that I actually had my own opinions. Don’t worry. I’ll keep them to myself, LOL. Besides, the “what” isn’t nearly as important as is everything I learned about myself along the way. 

Over the past year, I’ve had several opportunities to touch base with people from my past, and each encounter has been a wonderfully uplifting, albeit sometimes emotionally overwhelming, experience. A twenty-five year high school class reunion, touching base with work associates from my past, and even some chance encounters while shopping have brought me face to face with many of the ghosts from my past. Not one to let myself off the hook, I made sure to apologize for anything I may have done or said in my teens or early twenties that may have caused pain or hurt to another. Sometimes those apologies came with words and sometimes they were wrapped up in a hug. Why apologize for something I may or may not have said or done? Because I’m a realist, folks. I’d like to remember myself as a saint, but twenty-five years was a long time ago. Better to be safe than sorry, I say. 

Yes, there were some souls who hadn’t moved an inch from where they stood twenty-five years ago, but many had and besides, life is a journey and it’s never too late to jump on board. I wish only the best to those who have yet to experience change. It’s a wonderfully freeing experience. I am far more at peace with myself at 43 than I ever was at 16, 18, or 21. Becoming a wife and parent had a lot to do with that. Becoming an author pushed me over the edge. 

As I stated earlier, though, it’s those souls who have managed to change and morph into something new in the face of adversity that really catch my attention. You know the ones—those individuals who come out on top despite the odds. It’s a phenomenon that has intrigued me since as far back as my undergraduate days. Although his views are now considered outdated, I still find myself contemplating Philosopher John Locke’s concept of the “blank slate”. Is the core of who we are solely derived from our nurturing? Is it a combination of genetics and upbringing? Or are we a combination of both nature and nurture with a little something else thrown in? Something you can’t quite put your finger on even though you know it exists. As a writer, it’s the unknowns that we can have the most fun with…which I do (please excuse the shameless self-promotion) in Courting the Flame.

As always...

Until we meet again, make it a great week!

Oh...and more Facts and Tidbits to come.