Speaking at the Glendale, AZ., Chocolate Affaire Event

Every year in February, ….Glendale.., ..Arizona…. holds an everything chocolate event, called The Chocolate Affaire.  You can get chocolate covered everything (except a man-darn), drink wine, listen to bands.  It’s a fantastic event with lots of vendors and it’s a great way to enjoy a weekend.  The event starts on Friday and lasts till Sunday.

Arizona Romance Writers have a huge booth and offer workshops on the craft of writing.  I will be at the event all day Saturday and Sunday.  As well as, giving a workshop on removing your creative blocks, which will be on Sunday at 1:00pm. 

 

For those in ….Arizona…. I would love for you to show up and say “Hi.”  For those not here, send me a virtual chocolate kiss…yummy.

As a special note:

I want to recognize our local writing chapters.  They bring in fellow writers (NY best selling authors, ….USA…. best sellers, local authors that have made it, unpublished, beginners) to speak about their experiences in a wide range of topics:
            About the craft (character development, plotting, pacing, etc.);

           Or, about the business side of writing (website/myspace management, importance of blogging or promotions)

The speakers have also been agents (Deidre Knight – Knight Agency), people who have worked in the publishing industry (Jerry Simmons), CSI investigators, FBI and local detectives.  

I’ve enjoyed every one of the talks and enjoy networking with my fellow writers each month.  We celebrate the successes (contractors), celebrate reviews, celebrate the rejections and people submitting manuscripts.

The local chapters give free workshops, encourage new members, and hold local conferences (e.g., Desert Dreams).  Everyone is encouraging, motivating and has helped me more then I can ever repay.

Please join your local chapter and write your heart out.

Desert Rose Romance Writers

Valley Of The Sun Romance Writers

Almost everyone knows my favorite place is

Paris.  I love the architecture, walking on streets where Van Gogh or Monet once walked, the history and the restaurants.  The people have always been kind to me, even though I don’t speak French.  When you travel you’ll find people are the same all over the world.  A few bad apples do not mean the French hate Americans.My favorite place to stay, is the Hotel Aubusson, which is located across the street from the Louvre and down the street from Notre Dame. 

On one of my many excursions to

Paris, I traveled with a wonderful friend.  This friend, although encouraging, doesn’t want to know what’s out there.  Unfortunately for her, when you’re with me it’s not that easy for others to shut it out.  Poor thing, her rose colored glasses are cracking all the time.

One rainy afternoon, we walked around the streets looking for a restaurant so we could get some lunch.  A small restaurant with the right ambience and a good selection on the menu crossed our path.  My friend doesn’t speak French either, so it was trial and error.  Good thing we love food and the wine helps us to forget anything bad, lol.

While we were talking waiting for our lunch, a very tall (six feet plus) older gentelman with white hair, walked in and was seated about two tables behind us.  For some reason we thought he might have been German.  

I almost forgot to tell you, the restaurant was empty until we and the gentleman.  

When the German guy sat down, I told my friend that he had a spirit attached to him.  A young man in his twenties.  I started to get out of my seat to go speak with the guy and told my friend what I was doing.  This is perfectly normal for me to do, so I didn’t think about us being in a different country, in a strange restaurant, talking to a complete stranger.

My friend grabbed my arm and asked me not to speak with the guy.  Remember, if you don’t acknowledge spirits, then they don’t exist.  Poor, poor friend.  I respected her feelings and didn’t tell him.

The food was served and we talked the afternoon away.  When the waitress came back to pick up the dishes, she found that I didn’t eat very much.  I only eat until I’m full.  It could be two bites or the whole thing.  Here’s the conversation that took place:

“You no like food?”

“No, I love the food.  I just wasn’t hungry.”

“Are you sure? You don’t like?”

“Yes, it was wonderful.  Thank you.”  Waitress leaves with our plates.

“If you weren’t talking so much, maybe you would have eaten the food.”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Well, guess what.  When the waitress walked away we heard a man’s voice in a very clear American accent say, we were talking too much.

The disembodied voice was heard right beside my friend.  She repeated to me what was said.  I could see the German guy behind her.  He never even looked our way and was staring at the far wall.  It wasn’t him.

Now my friend is freaking out, because not only did she hear the spirit, it sat by her.  Poor, poor friend.  I laughed and thought it was funny.  I guess that twenty something guy wanted to say hi. 

We soon left the restaurant and had an uneventful night (at least the only spirit we had was in a wine bottle).

It seemed my workshop about writing about paranormal experiences has started a few conversations.  Recently I spoke with two other authors about their sensitivity in seeing spirits.  I find 3 out 5 people I speak with, see ghosts.

But they either don’t talk about it and try very hard not to see anything.  I asked why?  They said, it’s simple…unadulterated fear.  I’ve been there and understand the fear.  I’ve experienced the fear.  But I’ve also learned that you have CONTROL over anything spritiual–human, non-human, demonic—–EVERYTHING!

 In the beginning I didn’t know how to protect myself, so I couldn’t control when and what I saw.  I slept with lights on, night lights on, had my bed against the wall so only one side was exposed and avoided mirrors (almongst other things). 

With time, I figured out how to recognize the energy signatures of different beings.  I can feel evil, negative, bad, good, positive, loving, etc. energy.  This gives me the ability to figure out the right level of protection for what I’m doing.

Here are some ways you can protect yourself.  Remember, no such thing as absolutes.  This is what works for me.  You need to figure out what works for you and it could be any combination of many things. 

Start by picturing a white light (think about a flashlight beam) coming from GOD and going through your head.  It fills up the inside of your body from your head to your toes.  Think about this white light protecting the outside of your body as well.  You’re in a giant white bubble of protection that no entity can break through.  Trust in this.

 In addition, if you picture energy the color of mercury (silver) covering over the white light, then negative energy can bounce off of you.   I use this when I have to be in a stressful situation.

 Next is the chant or prayer of protection, which you would use with the white light of protection.

For any religion - prayers are extremely strong.  If this feels good for you, please use this. 

 For me, I say the following chant as I picture the white light protecting me:

I invoke the light of God within me

I am a clear and perfect channel

Light is my guide

Here is another chant that many use:

The light of God surrounds me,

The love of God enfolds me,

The power of God watched over me,

Wherever I am, God is

……….it could end with either …And all is well ..or..  So be it

 

Always know your guides, angels and God are with you.  If you feel something or see anything you can do the following:

 

• I command you to leave.

• I command you to leave and leave me (or this house) in peace

• If you’re not in the service of the light, the one infinite creator I call God, I command you to leave

I use the white light and chant over myself, my house, pets, friends and family.  Anything I feel needs a little extra protection.  Whatever you use it’s okay.  It’s about your confidence and always know you have control over anything that goes bump in the night.  If you need anything please don’t hesitate to send me an email.   

 

Please don’t fear what’s out there!!!!!  You’re a powerful being!!!!!!

Whew,  my website and blog are up and running, yeah!!  It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted as my author brand.  I’m not a sappy chick girl and I love scary stuff.  So over time I found that I want to write Romance, Thrillers and Dark Fantasy books. 

So my website suffered by my writers journey.  Now, it’s up and I love it.  Justin at Stonecreek media did an awesome job.  I kept telling him the scarier the better and make it over the top.  It took him a while to understand I really meant scary, horror and the kind of images you would have nightmares over. 

 Finally, it’s here!!!!  Yeah.  Tell me how you like it.  I would love to hear from you.