Guest Blogging with Elaine Cantrell

Please join me as I guest blog with Elaine Cantrell at http://elainepcantrell.blogspot.com about my upcoming Faery Rose release, His Ship, Her Fantasy.

Chinese Thai Vietnamese Cuisine

Okay, I was asked by fellow author Mary Ricksen what the differences were between Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese food, and my response was mainly the sauces. My epicure of a husband chastised me for my response, and probably rightly so.

Chinese food covers a wide variety of foods. China is a diverse country with many different ethnic groups and regional specialties. In America we do not typically get authentic Chinese food. There are places you can go for authenticity, but mostly the flavors have been Americanized with salt and sugar. Sorry folks! Living in Houston, I have had the fortune to visit some authentic restaurants. I love spicy garlic shrimp, Peking duck, and Hong Kong noodles!

Thai food is all about the hot and spicy. Depending on the region, you'll find coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, basil, and galangal (blue ginger) as a primary ingredient. They do lots of curries. Yummy! Interesting note. The fork and spoon are the primary utensils, but that's a history lesson in itself.

Vietnamese food has a French influence (another history lesson). It uses a lot of fresh herbs and vegetables (because of Buddhist influences). Favorite meats are pork, fish and shrimp. Duck is reserved for special occassions. There are also strange things eaten when alcohol is involved. A lot of the dishes are rice or noodles with seasoned meats and a small salad all served in the same dish with a side of nuoc mam, fermented fish sauce. Another favorite is pho, which is a broth based noodle soup with different cuts of meat.

Hope this was more helpful!

It's a New Day

So, I can't believe I'm going to utter these words, but my mother was right. I shouldn't have worked yesterday. It seemed like such a small thing, creating a web page. For the most part it was. The design was easy. However, I bought two sites and had to direct one to the other. No problem except I directed the one I designed to the one I didn't. Then I had to wait to make changes. When I did, I redirected the design to the second page, which left the first without a link. Aargh! It was an easy fix, but I had to wait until this morning to do it because of publishing delays. Who would believe that I used to be a computer engineer?

I guess next time, I'll listen to my mother.

You can check out my site at http://www.emmalaiwrites.com/ and let me know what you think!

Happy Vietnamese New Year

Happy Vietnamese New Year! Welcome to the Year of the Water Buffalo! Projects in progress will come to fruition.

If I were in Vietnam, I would not have been working over the past two weeks nor would I work over the next coming weeks. Instead, I would be eating my fill and spending time with my relatives. But, here I am in the States. So what does that entail?

Well, I have brought in the New Year with dragons and firecrackers and honored my ancestors by going to Temple with my mother and stepfather. No sweeping for the next few days so that I don't accidentally sweep my luck out with it. Theoretically, no working either, unless I want to have to work like a dog for the rest of the year. And, there has to be some form of gambling involved. So, I'll go out and purchase some lottery tickets. Wish me luck!

Mates of the Guardians Update

I'll admit that I've been struggling lately. I started the Mates of the Guardians series and immediately had thoughts for characters and story lines. What I didn't have was an underlying story to tie them all together. Well, I'm happy to say, I've finally discovered it. Now, I have to go back and figure out how to work it into the next story. Of course, I also have to figure out which one out of the two completed ones is the next story. Wish me luck!

First Book Cover

I just received the book cover for His Ship, Her Fantasy, and I must say it blows away the image that I had in my mind. It didn't dawn on me, until I was filling out the Manuscript Information Sheet, that I would have to think about a cover. It took me a while to come up with the glimmer of an idea. Well, Nicola took that glimmer and made it sparkle. Thank you, Nicola!

Writing Shorts

I've always liked a good short, something that captures the attention, gets me involved, keeps me involved, and provides a satisfying ending, all in less than an hour. I like to immerse myself in the story, and I like to read a story in one sitting; so sometimes I just can't pick up a full length book, especially if I know I won't want to put it down.

It makes sense then that I have a fascination with writing shorts as well. I have a couple of books started, but I keep getting distracted by shorts. So, how do I know when I'm writing a book or a short?

Books are easy. I know it will be a full length book if mapping out the basic ideas results in +25,000 words.

Shorts are easy if...
The scene that is the basic idea is short. (I say scene because all of my ideas start from a scene that repeats over and over in my head until I write it down.)
What had to happen for that scene to occur is short. (I can't hop straight into an action scene.)
The consequence of that scene resolves itself quickly. (You can't have too many consequences lest the story become something other than short.)

Simple. Right?

I think the most important question is how do I keep the shorts short?

I don't always. I've had one short that just refuses to be a short. The characters demand to be heard, and I've fallen in love with them and their story; so I've decided to keep writing until we are all satisfied. I'm anticipating that it will be at least a novella, or maybe the beginning of a series.

As for the rest...
I start by keeping the basic story between 3,000 and 5,000 words. That means bare bones. Then, I polish. I add the descriptions necessary for interest, for flow, for speed.

I don't change the basic premise. I don't say but what if I add this twist and that twist and ooh add this character and explore how the whole story affects him/her in addition to the main characters (that's a whole other short or book if you want it to be). You get the picture.

Hope this helps!

Irritating Emma vs Logical Lai

I'll let everyone in on a little secret. I have a completely rational side (logical Lai) and a completely irrational side (irritating Emma). Here is a recent argument between the two.

Irritating Emma: I admit it. I'm afraid. (Wringing of hands.) I submitted one short, and it resulted in a contract. (Thank you Jamie and TWRP.) I submitted another short and have received word that it has been forwarded to the acquiring editor. Two submissions, two positive notes to date. Great! Right? (Frown.)

Logical Lai: Of course, it's great! (Smack!) Do you realize the improbability of having your first submission for publication accepted? (Calculator out, fingers busily entering numbers.)

Irritating Emma: (Pushing calculator out of face.) Yes! Yes! But, what if I submit my next story and it's not accepted? What if none of my stories are ever accepted again?

Logical Lai: Oh, get over it you big cry-baby. (Smack!)

Irritating Emma: But. But.

Logical Lai: No, buts. Don't you enjoy writing more than anything you've ever done before?

Irritating Emma: Yes.

Logical Lai: Then write.

Has anyone else ever suffered from this fear? How do you overcome it? I'm off to write. Logical Lai wins again!

The Beginnings of a Passion

I started writing in June of 2008 to end a vicious cycle of stories repeating in my head. They replayed over and over, distracting me from studying for my comprehensive exams, which I needed to complete my Masters. (Just received unofficial word that I passed. Yay! PhD, here I come.) The actual writing of these stories allowed the stories to progress as well as made way for new ones. (It seems my brain never sleeps. I literally dream up stories!)

My loving mother-in-law came for a visit, read some of my work, and was very encouraging. (She, herself, has published as well as reads for numerous other writers.) After completing my comps, I decided to polish some of my stories and send them out. Amazingly (and I can't emphasize the word enough), there was immediate interest.

Why the amazement. Well aside from the fact that every writer should be thoroughly prepared for rejection, I have these problems. Common problems for many writers I hear. First, there is the whole show not tell issue, which makes me beat my head against the wall. Then, there is my tendency to use all things ing in improper ways. Next, there is my overuse of adverbs (pretty much anything ending in ly). Finally, there is a lot of hair pulling involved to get the point of view right.

What has helped me? First, lots and lots or proofing. Second, the help of interested first readers, namely my husband and mother-in-law. Third, the critique of talented editors. And finally, my willingness to swallow my pride and take all the suggestions.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me!

Emma