I Knew It Was a Dream When...

"I hope you have a good one/ I hope Mama gets her shopping done." - "Christmas All Over Again" by Tom Petty

Last night I had a dream that included some of the characters in my Willow Ryan series, and it seemed so real! I was shopping at Thyme to Play, the cutest toy store in Santa Elena, and talking with Willow and the store owner, the quirky Peggy Maguire. Willow, being the hardworking, friendly salesperson that I wrote her to be, was telling me about these new fairy wings that they just got in, and she said my nieces would love them. I was just about to hand my Visa card to Summer, who was working the register (all decked out in an acid wash jean skirt and off-the-shoulder hot pink sweater - the series is set in the 80s after all!), when I remembered that I was done shopping, so I left! That's when I knew it was a dream because I would never turn down the perfect gift, even if I had thought I was completely done shopping. I really wish Santa Elena and Thyme to Play were real places. I could have done a lot of Christmas shopping there this weekend!

Okay, back to reality. I am actually done with my Christmas shopping! And it's only November 28! I have been so consumed with buying and making gifts that I haven't written a single word for my work in progress all month. Isn't that terrible? I just can't concentrate on my novel right now when there are so many other things to do, so I am taking a break until after the holidays. I will still be updating my blog, but as for writing new chapters, the characters of Who We Thought We Were (and my notes for the next book in the Willow series) will just have to wait patiently until I can give them my undivided attention. I guess the freedom to stop and go as I please is one benefit (maybe the one and only benefit) of not having a publishing contract. I really hope that changes in the coming year!

These Dreams

"These dreams go on when I close my eyes/ Every second of the night I live another life/ These dreams that sleep when it's cold outside/ Every moment I'm awake the further I'm away." - "These Dreams" by Heart

Is this just totally cool or am I losing my mind? I had another dream last night that starred the characters of my book series. It was nothing that would drastically change the course of my writing, but I will definitely be adding this dream to book four. It was so sweet and so real, it almost felt like I was watching a real family interact, not just figments of my imagination that have taken life on my computer screen, and now apparently in my subconscious dream state.

Do any other writers out there dream about their characters, or dream that they themselves are a part of their books? It would be nice to know I'm not the only wacko one, but I think I'm kind of leaning toward thinking that this really is pretty amazing. Too bad I don't sleep much. Just think of the inspiration I would get if I slept like a normal person!

Dreams I'd Like to Sell

"Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions/ I keep my visions to myself/ It's only me who wants to wrap around your dreams and/ Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?" - "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac

Yes, I do have some dreams I'd like to sell! Any takers? I have had dreams that starred the characters in my "Willow Ryan" series before, but the one I had last night was so real, it seemed like these figments of my imagination were actual people that I know.

It was actually kind of neat, because the story arc in my dream was a little different than where I thought the fourth book was going to go, but I actually like this idea a little better! It takes Willow's professional life in a direction I hadn't considered, and I think it will add to her journey. Pretty cool, huh? Too bad all great ideas don't just come to me in my sleep!

Check back tomorrow for a look inside the the charming beach town of Santa Elena, CA, home to Willow, Denny, Peggy, and the rest of the gang!

Yellow Brick Road

"Back to the howling old owl in the woods/ Hunting the horny back toad/ Oh, I've finally decided my future lies/ Beyond the Yellow Brick Road." - "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John

I picked this song for two reasons. One, there is a very annoying frog ribbiting outside of my dining room window right now that is very distracting, and two, because last night I dreamed that I was walking down the Yellow Brick Road toward Oz. Instead of looking for a wizard, I was looking for my manuscript which had mysteriously vanished. I'm not making this up! It was very frustrating because I kept getting lost and I was sure that all of my hard work was gone forever. I didn't meet any unfortunate souls along the way who lacked heart, brains, or courage, and I woke up before I found my book, so I'm not sure what would have happened in this crazy dream if I could sleep through the night like a normal person. Any thoughts?

I've Always Been a Dreamer

"You know I've always been a dreamer/ (Spent my life running 'round)/ And it's so hard to change/ (Can't seem to settle down)/ But the dreams I've seen lately/ Keep on turning out, and burning out/ And turning out the same/ So put me on a highway/ And show me a sign/ And take it to the limit one more time."

The Eagles kind of sum up my experience with the world of literary agents at this point. I finished my first novel a little over a year ago and have been submitting ever since, hoping against hope that someone will be willing to take on an unpublished writer with big dreams and hopefully equally big potential. I have received a few requests for sample chapters, but nothing has panned out. I got an email from an agent requesting Chapter One yesterday, and I am excited, but with reservations. I am still dreaming... but trying to keep my head out of the clouds.

In the meantime, I am still writing, and am happy to say that in the last 16 months, I have written about 800 pages. I think that's pretty good if I do say so myself! Thanks for listening!