How (Not) to Write a Book

1) Have kids, eat, sleep, have basic personal hygiene, have friends, have any life at all, take time off for being so sick you can't even crawl across the floor or having a baby.

2) Go on Facebook (enough said)

3) Get sucked into watching all eight seasons of Charmed end to end. (Who, me?)

4) Start reading books by your favorite authors 'for research' and end up 1-clicking yourself into debt.

5) Have a neat and tidy house. If the house is clean, the creativity isn't rolling. Cleaning the house is just a procrastination tactic.

6) Run out of caffeine.

7) Did I mention having kids?

8) Actually become 'mentally and emotionally stable'-- I personally think that's just a myth.

9) Have a love life. (Which, after all, just leads to more kids and even less writing time-- so what's the point?)

10) Manage to drop your computer so many times that you actually break it four times in one year and have to have it sent away to be fixed at two weeks a pop. Thank goodness for warranties! (Yes, this has happened this year to me.)

11) Ebay. Etsy. Just... forget they exist.

12) Entertain any idea that there is or ever will be anything more to life than-- in the (paraphrased and rather morbid) words of Hemingway-- sitting down at the keyboard and bleeding.

Just A Little Teaser

Everyone will be happy to know that I have been working hard and dilligently on How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost. I'll be releasing it in August for all of you to enjoy!

This book in the Cindy Eller series answers a lot of those questions that have been hanging over our heads.

Here's a little taste of what you are in for. Remember: this is rough draft and subject to change!

And as always, this is totally copyrighted! No stealing, peeps, or I won't be able to share anything anymore!

  The woman sitting in front of me was beautiful, with golden waves of hair falling over her shoulders, nearly the same shade as her amber-colored eyes. Dimples touched both of her cheeks as she regarded me.

  Those dimples were extremely familiar. In fact, they looked suspiciously like the dimples in my boyfriend’s cheeks.

  That was probably because this was his mother.

  Or so she said.

  The only problem was that he said he’d never seen her in his entire life. His mother was dead—had died when he was only sixteen years old.

  Timothy stood across the bakery at this moment, blending in with the crowd that had gathered to celebrate my advent into the television world. He watched me with a frown on his face as I approached the woman he had named as an imposter.

  “Quinna Borden,” I greeted.

  She smiled at me radiantly. She honestly didn’t look a day over twenty-five. “I’m glad you remember me,” she said.

  I had only met her briefly once before, but I didn’t think I would ever forget her.

  “Did you come for more of those split bananas?” I asked, naming the dessert she had purchased that night months ago when she had walked into my bakery and asked if I knew where she could find Timothy.

  Timothy, her son. The toad of my dreams.

  The man that was staring at us from across the room.

  Quinna laughed. “Those bananas were certainly delicious! I actually came by to see if you have heard anything about my son.”

  “Your son,” I repeated.

  “Yes, of course,” she said, smiling brightly. “My son, Timothy.”

  It took all of my will-power not to glance in his direction. If she couldn’t pick him out of a crowd then I was pretty sure she couldn’t be his mother—even if she did look just like a—younger—female version of him.

  And Timothy was adamant that she had no connection to him whatsoever.

  “Does he know that you’re looking for him?” I asked cautiously. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that she looked pretty good for a dead woman.

  Quinna tilted her head in thought. “I wouldn’t think so,” she said slowly. “You see, he doesn’t even know that I exist.”

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little taste! Keep an eye out for How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost-- coming out soon!

A Guest Post by Cindy Eller

Hi, everyone, it's me, Cindy. 

I just finished a long day at the bakery, but I'm too hyped up to try to sleep. It's probably all the sugar I breathe in all day long-- I don't really eat that much of my goodies... well not tons, anyway.

I got another visit from Quinna Borden. She says that she's Timothy's mother, but he says otherwise. I think my boyfriend would know if his mom was still alive... and looking like a twenty year old. I have a sneaky suspicion that we're in for some more Magical mayhem. I guess you'll all see what I'm talking about when How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost comes out in August.

I thought I'd answer a few questions:

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I consider surviving my Mother and my childhood nothing short of a miracle. As far as achievement goes, though, I'd have to say opening my very own bakery. It has been a dream come true!

• What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Good food, good friends, family... just the right level of business balanced out with some quiet time. I'm pretty easy to please.

• What is your current state of mind?

I'm kind of revved up right now. I've been working on a bunch of new recipes and that always gets me kind of 'high', I guess you would call it. I'm also a little worried-- I don't like it when Timothy is upset, and this whole Quinna thing has him wearing that 'stoic' face that means he's hurting.

• What is your most treasured possession?

Other than my bakery? OK, don't laugh at me, but I really treasure my pink mixer. It makes me think about Tansy and feel like she's still nearby.

• What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Maybe it's too soon to tell, but I really think Timothy Borden is the one for me. Sure, we both have bad tempers-- I'm a redhead in fact and he can act like one sometimes, but it just means we're both passionate people, right? Our road hasn't been smooth, but I think we're nothing short of Magic when we are together. We... fit.

• What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is that something will happen to my family. My family is everything to me. If something happened to someone I love... I think it would destroy me. I can't even handle it when someone I care about has hurt feelings, and that's not even something major.

• What is your greatest extravagance?

That would have to be ingredients-- nothing but the best for my treats! I have no problem dropping down thousands for quality ingredient, but I can't bring myself to spend much on new clothes. (Shrugs) I guess it just shows my priorities.

Well, that's all I have time for right now! Be sure to keep an eye out for the next book in the Cindy Eller series-- How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost.

derelict phantasm oreos

derelict phantasm oreos

derelict phantasm oreos

derelict phantasm oreos

derelict phantasm oreos

Google it

 Don't ask me why

They will attack-- I swear...
It's the first step in the zombie apocalypse
Or am I trying to mess with google on behalf of my brother?
The world may never know

New Release!

Goldie Locke and her Magical menagerie return in another thrilling addition to the Goldie Locke and the Were Bears series.

Goldie's life has been in upheaval ever since a bite from a were bear has rendered her caught somewhere between were and witch. As she struggles with this transformation she is hired to find heiress Paige Turner, whose kidnapping involves vampires, ancient legends, and a series of brutal murders.

Does Goldie have the strength and courage to face the danger that lies ahead in rescuing Paige, when she herself is trying to adapt to her new way of life?

With the whole world hanging in the balance, she has no choice but to try.

Join Us on Facebook!

To celebrate the release of Baehrly Bitten (Goldie Locke and the Were Bears #2) we will be giving away a gorgeous necklace created by pinkabsinthe. For details, check out my Facebook page!

How (Not) to Kiss a Beast!

It's here! The long-awaited third book in the Cindy Eller series!