Catch Up

It's been a while since I posted. There has been good reasons. I have been writing new stories. I have subbed my various completed books. In my last entry I spoke of being Stronger that Yesterday and it has been realized. Expect to hear some announcements soon {shhh...}

Taige

Stronger than Yesterday

My mother (may she rest in peace) had a saying she always used to tell me when I asked why has such or such happened, if I had a tough choice to make, or I’d made a choice and wondered if it was the right one. “Everything happens for a reason Taige.” She would tell me in that distinct voice of her’s. When I was younger my impatience would get the better of me and I used to say I want to know what the reason is now. LOL.

As I grew older I saw the wisdom of what she said. In these lasts few weeks I have been shaken up out of my complacency and stepped outside my comfort zone. As a writer being happy with just the status quo is a dangerous thing. You should be versatile and willing to change. I came to some hard truths. I couldn’t believe I had let myself become that way. I like to challenge myself push the boundaries I set for myself and go even further than those boundaries. Hell I do that whenever I write a word on a page why would I settle for less in any other way. I was shocked that I had then I set out to fix it. I took time to sit down and think of where I was and where I want to go. Then planned for it and went after where I want to be.

With what I am doing I know that status quo is no longer acceptable for me. I’m going back to the old Taige and push the boundaries, Hell I plan to smash them into little bits then burn them.

So with that being said I can say today. I am much stronger than yesterday.

Taige

Reader Gold - Series/Serials ~ the nity gritty

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about series and serials. What they are and how I feel about them. There are so many books coming out each month and a lot of them are part of a series/serial.

First here are my definitions of them both:

Series ~ Taige Crenshaw Definition:

Novels that has a related story theme but each one is complete in and of itself.

Serial ~ Taige Crenshaw Definition:

Novels that feature/follows the same main character/s yet are still a fresh story each time.

No matter which way you slice it I find whether it is a serial or series I enjoy writing stories like this. It gives me room to stretch my mind, push my characters to give me more and wallow in there adventure even more. Although I enjoy these stories I don’t usually start writing with the intention of it being a series/serial sometimes it just happens to evolve that way.

I write what I love to read and I’m one of those readers that wondered what is next for such and such main character. Or what happened to this sub - character that I liked in this or that novel. I go hunting to find more and when I find it I feel like I’ve struck READER’S GOLD. I jump up and down and shout in glee. LOL.

I remember an instance where I picked up an author that I hadn’t tried before. The novel was great and imagine my glee that I struck reader gold and it was a series. I went back and bought all of there novels except one it was sold out. I searched and searched for years for this one book and couldn’t find a copy. Not even a used one. I even contacted the author to find out if the story was going to be re-printed. To my dismay it wasn’t at that time. Amazon even had over 200 people waiting for a copy of this book when I checked. I stopped checking the numbers after I saw the amount of people. No one was selling. Last year I struck reader gold when the book was reprinted and I was able to finish my collection. I know me and over 199 other people very happy.

As my thought’s of Reader’s Gold evolved I decided that I would share here in my blog with you some author’s who have some wonderful series/serials that I feel are Reader’s Gold. Everyone should have a little Reader’s Gold on there book shelf.

Can you imagine so many readers looking for an author. Searching for that Reader’s Gold. That is what I want my novels to be to my current and future readers ~ Reader’s Gold. No I don’t want you the reader to wait a long time for my books but I want you to be so drawn into the worlds that I create you can’t wait to see what happens next.

Who are some author’s that are your Reader’s Gold and why?

Taige

Amazing Writer Race

Okay I’ll admit it I like reality shows. There has been an influx of reality shows but in my humble opinion there are only a few that are worth watching, I won’t go into a list of them but one of my favorites, The Amazing Race had the finale last night. After watching the contestants - this year it was families – run around the world all vying to win a million dollars I was pleased with the outcome. Then I started thinking that I was in a sort of Amazing Race myself. The Amazing Writer Race that is. Now don’t think like that. I know exactly what I am getting at.

Imagine for a moment what the Amazing Race really is. It isn’t only about the money (which is a million dollars) it’s about the experience on the race. Now lets me give you the break down on what are the similarities and differences between The Amazing Race and The Amazing Writer Race.


Starting

Amazing Race – before the race even hits TV a call goes out for entrants. Contestants have to sign up and I’m sure go through process before they are picked.

Amazing Writer Race-

Similarities – Before you can become a writer and idea must form. That call to pick up the pen or peck on that keyboard to pound out a story.

Differences – A writer is the only one who judges if you are worthy to be in the race and what must be done.


Point A to B

Amazing Race – once in the race you have to get from point so and so to here or there with your wits, leg work and a little money

Amazing Writer Race-
Similarities – As a writer you use your wits, legwork, and money to get your writing out there.

Differences – The road to Point A to B changes as you do and the way there is not clear cut way. It is up to you to get there at your own will.

Places, Culture, and Customs

Amazing Race - Each leg of the race the contestants goes to a new place they have to make themselves familiar with the places, culture and various customs. They even participate in some of these.

Amazing Writer Race-

Similarities – a writer has to do the same thing get in tune with the place, the scents, and people there.

Differences – the writer is the one who builds the world, the cultures and customs they follow. This gives you more leeway to make it yours.

People

Amazing Race - along the way you meet various people in these places you visit that.

Amazing Writer Race-

Similarities – In your writing life you met and get to know so many people that you take away something from each.

Differences – You get to know the people longer and better and form lasting friendships.

Detours/Road Blocks

Amazing Race - along the way there are detours and challenges to be performed before a contestant can move on.

Amazing Writer Race-

Similarities – In your writing life you have detours and challenges to met also

Differences – The type of challenges and the amount of time you have to overcome each is set by you. How you go about it is also set by you.

Other Contestants

Amazing Race - you have others that are in the race vying to get that money.

Amazing Writer Race-
Similarities – as a writer you also have other writer’s who is vying for that book deal.
Differences – The support and true friendships that you find with other writer who are going after the same thing.

Winning

Amazing Race - At the end of all of that there is one winner.

Amazing Writer Race-
Similarities – A writer definitely wants to be a winner.
Differences – However there is many winners in this race and some of them are your friends who also is in this race as an amazing writer.

Timeframe

Amazing Race - there is a set timeframe to get things some

Amazing Writer Race-
Similarities – You set goals and times to be done with various things.
Differences – Your timeframe as an author is as long as you want and the race doesn’t end until you let it.

So in this Amazing Writer Race according to your genre there is more romance, mystery, far off place or any number of things. They lead most times to a happy ending or resolution. Whereas in my case as an erotic writer there is an added bonus of not only getting to build my own worlds the way I like them. My characters get to have lots hot spicy sex and still find that happy ending.

When it comes down to it the major difference in the Amazing Writer Race is even after we have won the prize – a book contract – we still keep racing to get the next, then the next and next until infinity. So we are always racing. And after that book is out we enter a whole new phase of the race.

I’m still striving for the prize – a book contract – and I know that even when I get that win I have a lot more wins to go in my Amazing Writing Race.

So come on and share how the Amazing Race or any other reality show or even regular shows relate to you and your life??

Taige

Fantasy – What is it really?

I was thinking more about fantasies and started a discussion in my chat group - Crenshaw Café
I looked up the meaning of fantasy and there were so many meanings and variations to this it was eye opening. I’m going to start with my least favorite then go on to my most favorite.

My least Favorite:

Fantasy~

An unrealistic or improbable supposition.

Now where do I even begin on this one? This is such a cold, analytical way to look at fantasy. From time we are born we are taught to believe in many things that would from this meaning be considered “unrealistic” or “improbable”. The tooth fairy, Santa clause, Easter bunny, and sandman are but a few of the things we grew up with. It is a part of life that we believe at least until such things as this meaning makes us realize different. As a writer this meaning is totally out of my scope. I create living fantasy for readers and enjoy the hell out of doing it {grin}.

Now my most favorite is more like my way of thinking.

My most favorites:

Fantasy ~
Imagery that is more or less coherent, as in dreams and daydreams, yet unrestricted by reality.

Or

Fantasy~
An imagined event or sequence of mental images, such as a daydream, usually fulfilling a wish or psychological need.

All Hail the Fantasy brigade.

Ahhh. Now this is more like it. I create novels that are unrestrained by reality. Heck I build worlds that defy definition and enjoy each and every improbable part of it. I love fulfilling a wish. Wishes of a great story with lots of sex, fantasy and escape. Yes escape from the norm. I enjoy the forays of an alpha male hero type, kick butt heroine whether they be human, vampire, shape shifter, witch or anything else. Becoming free of the restrictions of the imagination is what I strive to achieve. Take a risk. Become a daredevil. Love, fight and live with all those characters of fantasy. Isn’t this really what it is all about.

I tap into the fantasy I enjoy and bring it into reality at least for the time you read my stories and then after when it is remembered by you. Here is my definition of fantasy.

Taige definition of fantasy:

Escaping the constrains of reality and making a reality of your own. A reality where your deepest desires, needs, wants and all things your imagination can think of is real as long as you believe.

Novels are always an adventure and isn’t that why you read. To be drawn into a fantasy. At least for a time before real life issue take over. Fantasy is all about imagination and using it to escape. I enjoy bring a little escape to you.

So tell me what does fantasy mean to you….


Taige