Unfortunately, Dakota has had a really busy week and wasn’t able to get the Q&A to me in time to post for today. He promises he’ll get to them as soon as he can, and when he does, I’ll post them. So, since I didn’t have anything else planned for today, I’ve re-posting a post I wrote several months ago on Instinctive Writing. I hope you enjoy it!

Instinctive Writing

Most of the time when someone asks me about my writing process, I blink rapidly while trying to come up with something reasonable and somewhat intelligent to say. You might ask, “Why is this? You must have some sort of a process.” And yes, I do…kind of, sort of, in a way. There are certainly steps I take in the beginning of each book, before even one word is written…but these steps are a lot more about thinking than doing anything specific.

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t fill out characterization sheets. I’ve mentioned before that I don’t (i.e. CAN’T) do a lot of plotting. I’ve mentioned several times that the first three chapters are the hardest chapters of the entire book for me to write, and that often, these chapters are changed throughout the writing of the rest of the book. And, I’m pretty sure I’ve shared that writing the first half of a book is like climbing a very steep mountain uphill with a sprained ankle while being hungover after an entire night of partying. Oh, I haven’t? Well, let me expand…

It’s hard. Breathtaking, sweat-inducing, back breaking hard. Luckily, along the way to the top there are always places to rest, streams to wash the grit away, and shade to unwind a bit. These places are the times when the story flows easily, when the writing pours out of me, and oh I love these places. Unfortunately, in the climb to the top of the mountain, i.e. the middle of the book, these spots are few and far between.

There are always those moments when I’m sure I’m a fake…that there is no way the current book I’m writing will ever be finished, that everything I’ve already written doesn’t just suck, but has entered a whole new level of suckage, and that my fledgling career as a novelist is about to come to an abrupt and nasty end. You know, like falling off said mountain and crashing headfirst into the ground below? Yep, just like that.

These moments ALWAYS occur, so you’d think I’d be used to them. That I could pull up my big girl pants and see my way through with nary a blink of the eye. You’d be wrong. Because these moments are terrifying. So how do I handle them when they come up? Well, I freak out a little…it seems I must have at least some sort of an emotional reaction before I can move past the fear. But then, somehow, I remember the type of writer I am…and when I do that, I can push myself forward toward the next peak.

I am an instinctive writer. Some call it organic, some call it writing by the seat of your pants. Whatever term you use, however, the meaning is the same. I feel the story as I’m writing it. When it’s good, right, the story will flow as easily as running water. When it’s bad, well…those are the moments I’ve already described. I’m learning (slowly) to trust my instincts. If the writing isn’t going smoothly, it’s either because I’ve taken a misstep somewhere OR I’m not yet sure where the story needs to go next.

When I trust my instincts, when I listen to the voice inside of my head, I get through these bad moments quicker, and I find whatever it is I need to pay attention to, so I can continue forward. When I forget to trust my instincts, when I try to do something alien to my process (like detailed plotting, for instance, just saying–as this is what propelled me into the black hole of misery last week), then the story is held up for even longer…until I remember, once again, to trust my instincts.

So, this post is more of a reminder for me to stick with MY process. I’d love to be able to write a paragraph for every scene I plan to have in my book. I’d love to know exactly what I’m *supposed* to be writing when I sit down to write every day. But that’s not the way my brain works. And that’s not what gets me excited about writing. So, the truth is, while the thought of changing my process is often highly evocative, I much prefer to discover the story as I write. Even if sometimes doing so is like free-falling from the steepest height you can imagine.

Once I hit the middle of the book, though, the rest of the story tends to fly out of me. I’m going downhill at breakneck speed at that point, tying together the strands of the story I’ve already introduced, until I reach “The End.”

So, let me repeat this three times:

I’m an instinctive writer. I’m an instinctive writer. I’m an instinctive writer.

There, maybe that will be enough to stop me from freaking out as I climb toward the top of the mountain. Yeah, I know–not likely, but it’s worth the shot. <G>

Now, you tell me: Do you have to remind yourself to trust your instincts in any part of your life? Or are you completely analytical (which is totally fine!) and think “trusting your instincts” is silly? Let me know!

Do you want a chance to win? Create a magic spell to enter to win the Grand Prize package! You can write the spell as a poem, as a short story, as a recipe, or any other way you’d like! E-mail tracy@tracymadison.com with the topic Magic Spell no later than May 28, 2010, to be entered! Which is today! So, if you want a chance to win the thirty-minute free reading from Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence, the awesomely extra-large filled A Breath of Magic tote bag, and a name of your choosing (subject to approval from Dorchester editorial) given to a minor character in my next release, By Magic Alone, get your spells into me today!

Don’t Forget

Today is your LAST DAY to enter the Grand Prize drawing.

I’ll announce all of the final winners for the Month of Mysticism on Monday!

The Novel Girls are celebrating the release of Not Ready for Mom Jeans by Maureen Lipinski (a Novel Girl sister!). Head on over and join the fun!

A Breath of Magic is available NOW!

Today, join me in welcoming urban fantasy romance author, Jessa Slade!

Despite a grade school career aptitude test that indicated farming would be her best bet, Jessa always knew she wanted to be a writer.  Her early works include “MY POMES,” a poetry chapbook rampant with unicorns and misspellings, and a torrid teen cowboy romance which her editor-mother asked her to revise and resubmit, changing the love scene to “soul mates.”

After close to a million final draft words and nearly triple digit rejections, she sold her first novel, an urban fantasy romance, thanks to the 2007 Rose City Romance Writers’ Golden Rose writing contest.  She still pinches herself daily.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest where the potential for up to 120 days in a row of measurable precipitation keeps her at her computer (well, that and the chains).  Like many writers, she lives often in her head and appreciates interaction with people whose dialogue she doesn’t have to make up and revise for clarity.

Visit Jessa online at http://jessaslade.com.

I Want to Believe

I always loved that poster on Mulder’s wall from “The X Files” TV show. I’m drawn to anything with a woo-woo element: crystals, phrenology, remote viewing, string theory, comparative religions…

Lately, a viral video has been making the rounds. It purportedly shows a group of young men inventing “liquid mountaineering,” i.e. walking on water. The documentary style filming interviews the men, shows their technique for tip-toeing at high speeds across the surface of a lake, and talks about “how you have to think you can do it.”

Now, turns out, the video is actually an elaborate, fairly subtle ad for waterproof sports shoes. But what a fun ad!

Since I work in marketing in my day job, I’m always interested in what attracts attention, and what intrigued me most about this video was the desire people had to believe. In the comments section at YouTube and elsewhere the video was posted, the comments followed a typical pattern:

The first people to see it said some variation on, Wow, that’s so cool, I wish I could walk on water. The next people quickly said, Fake! The first people replied with, Don’t be such a hater troll. The hater trolls protested. The truth came out. But—and this is where things get interesting—a portion of the “want to believe” crowd stuck to their guns. They posted mathematical equations that showed walking on water is possible. They pointed out that Ninjas walk on water all the time. The hater troll/reality sucks crowd just laughed.

But I have to admit, cold hard reality aside (or in the case of the video, cold wet reality), I want to believe too. I love the idea of running across the water, even if I have to pay the small additional fee for special shoes.

At the same time, there’s a big chunk of Scully the skeptic in me, who knows phrenology is just bumps on the head, that rocks—no matter how sparkly—won’t change your future. As technology gets ever better at fooling us (hey, I Photoshop for a living myself) my cynicism deepens. But still, like Mulder, I want to believe.

I think I write urban fantasy romance because it combines my no-nonsense Scully and my pie-tin-in-the-sky Mulder sides so perfectly.  For every oil-slicked street corner in my gritty Chicago, there is a glimmer of magic.  For every slavering monster, there is a moment of pure and simple human love.

Light and dark.  Conviction and doubt.  Wonder and rejection.  The strain between opposites makes for an interesting story and an interesting life.  How about you, do you tend to be a believer or a skeptic?  Have you ever seen something you couldn’t explain?

Comment today and one random winner will receive a signed copy of Seduced by Shadows!

The second book in Jessa Slade’s Marked Souls series, Forged of Shadows, comes out June 1, 2010. Read the first chapters at http://jessaslade.com

I so love that video! Thank you for sharing it, Jessa, and thanks so much for taking the time to be here today.

Remember, the winner of the Magic Spell contest will also receive a signed copy of Seduced by Shadows from Jessa!

Do you want a chance to win? Create a magic spell to enter to win the Grand Prize package! You can write the spell as a poem, as a short story, as a recipe, or any other way you’d like! E-mail tracy@tracymadison.com with the topic Magic Spell no later than May 28, 2010, to be entered! There are only 2 days left to enter to win the thirty-minute free reading from Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence, the awesomely extra-large filled A Breath of Magic tote bag, and a name of your choosing (subject to approval from Dorchester editorial) given to a minor character in my next release, By Magic Alone!

Don’t Forget

Come back tomorrow for the final Q&A with Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence!

The Novel Girls are celebrating the release of Not Ready for Mom Jeans by Maureen Lipinski (a Novel Girl sister!). Head on over and join the fun!

A Breath of Magic is available NOW!

Today, please join me in welcoming one of the funniest women I know, award-winning author, Christie Craig!

Christie Craig grew up in Alabama, where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and regularly rescued potential princes, in the form of Alabama bullfrogs, from her brothers. Today, she is still fascinated with lighting bugs, mostly wears shoes, but has turned her focus to rescuing mammals instead of amphibians. She now lives in Texas with her four rescued cats, and a prince of a husband, who for the record, is not a frog. Her non-fiction and photography have appeared in over three thousand national magazines.

After selling four books in one day, she has gained a reputation for writing romance fiction that has both a witty humor and suspenseful, sexy tone. Shut up and Kiss Me, her seventh novel will be released May 25th. Her book, written with her non-fiction writing partner, Faye Hughes, The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel, was a September 08 release and also out in June is their second non-fiction, Wild, Wicked and Wanton: 101 Ways to Love Like You’re in a Romance Novel. Christie has also recently sold a Young Adult Series to St. Martin’s Press titled, Shadow Falls Camp that will be published under the name C.C. Hunter. You can visit Christie online at www.christie-craig.com, catch her blogs on www.killerfiction.net on Tuesdays or check out her writing articles at www.writewithus.net.

Fate, Destiny & Soul Mates:  Real or Not? What Do You Believe?

I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a stormy night, it was late, and the lights had gone out, I knew because the house had gone pitch dark and dead silent. No hot water heater humming, no background noise of the refrigerator generator keeping things cold. The lightening flashed through the windows and made ghost-like shadows on the walls. I was twelve years old and spending the night at my grandparent’s house. I’d snuggled under a soft quilt on the sofa bed when I heard my grandmother’s house shoes padding into the room. My grandmother was a small woman, her high cheekbones and brown eyes hinted at the “French” ancestry on her grandmother’s side. This great grandmother of mine called herself “French” my grandma once told me, because it wasn’t acceptable to say you were Native American.

That night my grandma thought I’d be scared of the storm, maybe I was, but I’d never admit it. Anyway, she sat down on the edge of the lumpy mattress and started telling me about a stormy night that happened to her when she was young. A bunch of her cousins had gotten together to spend the night, and they all asked the storm angels to give them dreams about the man they would someday marry. They were supposed to fall asleep looking at the four corners of the world, north, east, south, and west, and repeat their request for information. That night my grandmother had a dream , and while it didn’t give her a name it gave her letters: BB. She said she didn’t believe it.

It wasn’t until she met my grandfather years later, Burnett Bankhead Keith, who for obvious reasons went by the nickname, BB, that she recalled the dream. Even after she went to bed that night, her story intrigued me so much that I forgot all about the storm.

Was her dream a premonition? Was her husband/soul mate already written in the stars? Did the storm angels only give her the initials because who would want to marry a man named Burnett Bankhead? Needless to say, it was my grandmother’s story that got me thinking about Fate, Destiny and soul mates. I remember doing just as she told me to do that night, but I didn’t have a dream. I wondered if Fate had not yet decided who I would marry.

Years passed, and then I went and did it. I found my soul mate, tied the knot, started down the happily-ever-after path. (Hey, my grandparents weren’t Romeo and Juliet but they hadn’t gotten a divorce and I saw the way my grandma patted my granddaddy’s thigh as he drove.) Yup, I’d taken the first steps onto the road of marital bliss, but I must have taken a wrong turn, because I ended up on a road called a crappy marriage.

What happened? Had Fate and Destiny let me down? Or had I screwed up? I knew I should have waited for those storm angels to give me a name or at least a couple of initials. But even as I dealt with the big D, swore off love, men, and all forms of thigh patting, any time it would storm, and especially when the lights would go out, I would think about storm angels and soul mates. Had I missed my chance at a soul mate by choosing the wrong guy? Do we get more than one chance? Not that I was interested.

Then it happened. I met a guy. Okay, so I was weak. Not that I was going to let it get serious. And I probably wouldn’t have if he hadn’t started talking about it. Started talking about Fate, and Destiny, and about how many things had to happen for us to meet. If he hadn’t lost his job in Houston, if he hadn’t decided to give California a try, if he hadn’t chosen Pepper Tree Apartments to live, if he hadn’t heard my mom’s southern accent and asked her where she was from.

That was over 25 years ago, and guesses what? We’re not Romeo and Juliet, but darn if I wouldn’t do it all over again, and I still do my share of thigh patting, too. Are we soul mates? I like to think so. Do I really believe in Fate and Destiny? I do. But I also believe that we have to follow the right path for Destiny and Fate to take effect. In other words, you can’t be at the boat dock waiting for your train to come in.

Nevertheless, because of my belief, because of the years of being with my soul mate, and because of my grandmother’s story, I came up with the plot for Shut Up and Kiss Me. My hero’s foster father, Redroot, believes the spirits come to him in dreams and tell him who is whose soul mate. He is determined that Shala Winters, the new tourism specialist/photo journalist coming into town, and his son, the Chief of Police, Sky Gomez, are soul mates. Sky takes one look at Shala and decides he wouldn’t mind the “mating” part, but the “soul” part, meaning the forever kind of love, . . . well, Sky doesn’t do that. He watched love destroy his parents, which ended in a murder suicide. Shala, having taken a wrong turn herself in life, is not too keen on it, either. Unfortunate for Sky, she’s sworn off any thigh patting stuff, as well.

Ahh, but this is Precious, Texas, where you don’t get between Fate and what It wants. Because Fate doesn’t fight fair. It will use whatever it can: skunks, fire ants, and it has a whole pack of whacky town folk to help it, too. But it’s not just Fate stirring up trouble in Precious. It becomes clear to Sky that someone is willing to kill to get Shala’s camera, and it’s Sky’s job to find out why and who. It’s Sky’s job to keep Shala safe. But can he do it? And can he save Shala without losing his heart to the one woman who might be his soul mate?

I had a blast writing Shut Up and Kiss Me and now what I’d love to hear from you guys is—Do you believe in Fate, Destiny and soul mates? Oh, one lucky person will win a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble, so make sure you leave a comment. And . . . to celebrate the release of Shut Up and Kiss Me which is out today, I’m blogging and giving away prizes all over the place. Today find me at my own blog, http://killerfictionwriters.blogspot.com/ and at http://www.popsyndicate.com/books. Tomorrow I’ll be at http://siamckye.blogspot.com/.

Oh, I have another zany release in June. Check out Wild, Wicked & Wanton:  101 Ways to Love Like You Are in a Romance Novel. It’s a self-help, humorous relationship book that tells a woman what she can learn from a romance novel.

I love this: “You can’t be at the boat dock waiting for your train to come in.” What a terrific post, Christie–and thank you so very much for being here today and for offering up so many great items to the Grand Prize winner. Also, folks, in case you missed it, Christie is giving away a $10 Gift Card to Barnes & Noble, so be sure to leave a comment on today’s blog to be entered to win!

Remember, the winner of the Magic Spell contest will receive a signed copy of Divorced, Desperate and Delicious, Peace Potion Massage Lotion and some fun promo stuff (mini-notebook, pen, signed cover flats, chapstick, bookmarks) from Christie, as well as the rest of the items in the grand prize winning package. Thanks, Christie!

Do you want a chance to win? Create a magic spell to enter to win the Grand Prize package! You can write the spell as a poem, as a short story, as a recipe, or any other way you’d like! E-mail tracy@tracymadison.com with the topic Magic Spell no later than May 28, 2010, to be entered! There are only 4 days left to enter to win the thirty-minute free reading from Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence, the awesomely extra-large filled A Breath of Magic tote bag, and a name of your choosing (subject to approval from Dorchester editorial) given to a minor character in my next release, By Magic Alone!

Don’t Forget

I have an interview up today at Fang-tastic Books! Stop on by and comment for a chance to win a signed copy of A Taste of Magic.

Come back tomorrow to meet historical and paranormal romance author Emily Bryan!

The Novel Girls are celebrating the release of Not Ready for Mom Jeans by Maureen Lipinski (a Novel Girl sister!). Head on over and join the fun!

A Breath of Magic is available NOW!

This will be quicker (and less pretty than normal) as I’ve had a weekend of birthday celebrations with my kids and am running behind schedule on almost everything. Please forgive me the lack of pictures!

The winners from last week are:

• $10 Borders Gift Card goes to: Kimber-Lee!
  
• $5 Caribou Coffee Gift Card goes to: Kelly T!
  
• A signed copy of A Stroke of Magic goes to: Deanna N!
• A signed copy of A Taste of Magic goes to: Abigail S!
  
• A Breath of Magic mini-gift set (tote bag, key chain, sticky notes, etc.) goes to: Jennifer S!

Congratulations Kimber-Lee, Kelly, Deanna, Abigail, and Jennifer!!! Please e-mail tracy@tracymadison.com by Thursday, May 27th, with your mailing address.

The winner of the filled A Breath of Magic tote bag, as shown HERE, is….Raelena!

Congratulations Raelena! Please e-mail tracy@tracymadison.com by Thursday, May 27th, with your mailing address.

All winning items will be sent out on Friday, May 28th. Congratulations, everyone!

The winner of the signed copy of Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Bourque is…Jessica Rabbit!

Congratulations Jessica! Please e-mail me with your address, and I’ll forward that on to Marie-Claude.

And the winner of a simple tarot card reading by paranormal romance author Sharon Ashwood is…Donna S!

Congratulations, Donna! Please e-mail me and I’ll put you in contact with Sharon!

Contest News!

This Week’s Random Giveaways: Comment on my blog each day this week (Monday through Friday, one entry per person per day, for a total of five entries) for a chance to win one of five prizes:

• One $10 Borders Gift Card
• One $5 Caribou Coffee Gift Card
• One Signed Copy of A Taste of Magic
• One Signed Copy of A Stroke of Magic
• One A Breath of Magic mini-gift pack that includes: a tote bag, sticky notes, key chain, bookmark(s), and a signed cover flat

I’ll use random.org to choose five winners, and I will announce their names here (and what they won) on Monday, May 31st! This is the last week of giveaways for the Month of Mysticism.

Grand Prize Information – Only Five Days Left to Enter!

While the weekly Magic Series Contest is now over, you still have a chance at winning an awesome A Breath of Magic tote bag filled with tons of stuff. One Grand Prize winner will win:

• An extra-large customized Magic series tote bag:

What will be in this bag? Check it out: rose quartz heart-shaped pendant on sterling silver chain, chakra bracelet, heart’s desire jewelry set, Book: Seven Days of Magic, New Age CD: Dreamscapes,  Aventurine Tumbled Stone pendulum, Book: Pendulum Magic for Beginners, Music Dreamer tarot deck and book, rose incense, candles, mood lipstick, lavender aromatherapy body soak, lavender aromatherapy body lotion, lavender aromatherapy scented eye mask, aromatherapy fizzy bath, aromatherapy facial mask, aromatherapy essential oils – green tea, aromatherapy essential oils – jasmine, aromatherapy essential oils – ocean, signed copies of A Taste of Magic, A Stroke of Magic, and A Breath of Magic. But that’s not all! The grand prize winning bag also includes items from this week’s guests! The winner will also receive:

• A signed copy of Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig (Tuesday’s Guest!) – Christie has also donated Peace Potion Massage Lotion and some fun promo items (mini-notebook, pen, signed cover flats, chapstick, bookmarks)
• A signed copy of Stroke of Genius by Emily Bryan (Wednesday’s Guest!) – Note: Emily will send the book under separate cover to the winner.
• A signed copy of Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade (Thursday’s Guest!)
• And a handmade Native American Choker by Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawerence (Friday’s Guest!)

The winner of the grand prize will also receive:

• A 30-Minute Free Reading with Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence!
• A Name of their Choosing (subject to approval from Dorchester editorial) given to a minor character in my December release, By Magic Alone.

To enter the Month of Mysticism GRAND PRIZE Contest: Have you ever wanted to write your own magic spell? Now is your chance! Whether you decide to bewitch a would-be-lover, hex your arch nemesis, alter the flow of time, create a healing spell, or any other magical charm, spell, or curse you can think of, create a magical enchantment and send it to tracy@tracymadison.com with the topic Magic Spell. You can write the spell in any format you choose (a recipe, a poem, etc), so be creative!

Spells must received no later than May 28 in order to be entered. I’ll pick my favorite and that person will win all the above prizes! The winner’s name will be announced here on May 31, 2010.

Only FIVE more days to get spells in!

The Magic of Birthday Parties

Okay, I know a birthday party isn’t a paranormal activity (at least, not in the real word!), but I thought I’d touch on a little everyday magic today. See, my twins just celebrated their 8th birthday, my eldest son’s birthday is today (he’s 18!), and my brother’s birthday is also today. So I have birthdays on my mind. The twins celebrated with a party at, of all places, Chuck E Cheese. And there were a LOT of people in attendance. I’ll be honest. I dislike planning kids’ birthday parties. It’s always so much work, but it is always worth it at the end of the day. This party was no exception. My little boys, in the middle of the party, looked at me and said “This is the best birthday party ever!” and yep, right there, it’s all worth it. What was even cooler is this happened before cake and before presents. So that got me to thinking: why was it the best party ever (in their eyes).

And the answer, I think, is so much bigger than any one (or a dozen) present a child receives. It’s about feeling special. Being the center of attention for a little while. My boys definitely felt like they were the star attraction at their birthday party, and I’m pretty sure that’s what put the stars in their eyes. So I walked away a happy mom, even though I was mentally worn out by the end.

But I thought about the birthday parties I had as a child, and I instantly remembered the one I deemed the “best party ever.” It was the one and only year my mother went out of her comfort zone and made me a Holly Hobbie cake. Do you remember Holly Hobbie? My mother spent hours upon hours decorating this cake with tiny little stars of frosting in the appropriate colors. Seriously, she spent HOURS. My mom is wonderful in many ways, but she isn’t the most creative of folks, and this was a time-consuming job. But she did it for me, because I wanted it. And I remember how very special I felt on that day. Honestly, I don’t remember much else from that party. I couldn’t tell you what games we played or what presents I got. But I remember that cake.

So, you tell me: What is your favorite birthday party from your childhood and why?

Don’t Forget

Come back tomorrow to meet award-winning romance author Christie Craig!

The Novel Girls are celebrating the release of Not Ready for Mom Jeans by Maureen Lipinski (a Novel Girl sister!). Head on over and join the fun!

A Breath of Magic is available NOW!

Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence is with us again for part three our Q &A!  Please join me in welcoming him!

Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence knew at a young age that he was different from other children. With a psychic bloodline that exists on both sides of his family, no one was surprised when he gave his first psychic reading at the age of twelve, or when he entered the professional arena at the age of fifteen. Raised in Louisiana by his mother and grandmother, Dakota learned firsthand how his innate gift can help others.

Now, with more than a decade of experience and more than 8,000 readings to call upon, Dakota Lawrence is a known Paranormal Investigator and lectures all across the United States on topics relating to Psychic Investigation, Paranormal Investigation, Spirit Guide Communication, Spirit Guide Meditation, and Psychic Development. His passion is sharing his knowledge and insight in the hope that he can assist people in understanding their true (soul) purpose in life.

You can learn more about Dakota at his Facebook page, web site, and his weekly blog radio program: Enlightenment Radio.

Q & A with Dakota – Part Three

If you missed part one of our interview, you can catch up by going HERE and part two by going HERE!

For part three of the interview, we talked a little about spirits. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Do you believe in spirits?

Yes I do believe in Spirits. You look at the human soul, which is an energy, and then take into fact that energy never dies, so how can there not been spirits? Also take into account that science has proven we have a certain energy that surrounds us, and this just proves we never truly die. Which I think is the first step of proving an afterlife.

We’ve all heard of haunted houses. Have you ever been in a haunted house?

I co-founded a group here, Caddo Parish Paranormal Society, and I’ve been involved in the paranormal field since I was 12 so I have been in plenty of Haunted homes.

If above is “yes,” then what was that like? What/who were the ghost(s) doing the haunting?

You know I’ve done hundreds of cases, so the spirits range from a Grandma just watching over her family to something more malevolent. Each house has a different feeling. While some feel very relaxed and peaceful with the Spirit, others can be very dark and oppressive.

What is the biggest misconception regarding ghosts/spirits?

That all Spirits are negative and evil, and that they are haunting. That they are out there to scare you. Some just want to give a message or just watch over their family or their home they once lived in.

In A BREATH OF MAGIC, the family ghost, Miranda, fills the room with the scent of roses whenever she makes an appearance. I have had my own experience where I’ve been sure the air around me has filled with my grandmother’s perfume. Is it possible that our noses can sometime sense through scent what we can’t see with our eyes?

Yes, definitely. There have been numerous occasions on locations I have been to in  which smells come through when a Spirit is present. I recall being at Myrtles Plantation and there was a soft floral scent that Mrs. Winters used to wear, and you could smell it in the room she stayed in. I remember sensing her around, then I smelled her perfume. As soon as the team I was with also smelled the fragrance, it disappeared immediately and we couldn’t trace it, but then we’d come across it again, and it would leave again. So yes, that definitely does happen.

Are some spirits truly stuck here? If so, what are some of the reasons that can happen?

There are numerous theories as to why this happens. The most common belief, and I’ve experienced this, is just simply a fear of “crossing over” and facing judgment, God, or a family member or person they don’t want to see. There are numerous other ways a spirit can be trapped here. Some being by force, others being simply by choice.

Again, Dakota, thank you so much for being open and willing to spend your time with us! We have one more portion of the interview left, and that will be up next week. I can’t wait to see what else you have to share!

Remember, the winner of this week’s Magic Series contest will receive one of Dakota’s handmade Native American Chokers along with all the other tote bag goodies! AND, the winner of the GRAND PRIZE will receive a thirty-minute reading with Dakota!

Guest News!

The last week of my Month of Mysticism begins on Monday, and I have another awesome round-up of guests! I’ll be here on Monday with the winners from this week’s contests, including the special daily giveaways offered by some of my guests.

On Tuesday, May 25th, award-winning romance and YA author Christie Craig will be here. Wednesday, historical and paranormal romance author Emily Bryan will be my guest. Thursday is paranormal romance author Jessa Slade. And on Friday, I’ll conclude my interview with Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence. Definitely stop in for the last week of my five weeks of giveaways and guests…you won’t want to miss it!

Magic Series Contest Question of the Day!

Today’s Magic Series question comes to us from A Breath of Magic:

Chloe learns a surprising secret about her sister Sheridan when she visits her in Seattle. What is this secret?

E-mail the correct answer to tracy@tracymadison.com with the subject line Magic Contest no later than Saturday, May 22, to be entered to win the awesome filled tote bag shown HERE!

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win one of the five random giveaways for this week. Winners will be announced on Monday!

Are you creating a magic spell to enter to win the Grand Prize package? You can write the spell as a poem, as a short story, as a recipe, or any other way you’d like! E-mail tracy@tracymadison.com with the topic Magic Spell no later than May 28, 2010, to be entered! There are only 8 days left to enter to win the thirty-minute free reading from Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence, the awesomely extra-large filled A Breath of Magic tote bag, and a name of your choosing (subject to approval from Dorchester editorial) given to a minor character in my next release, By Magic Alone!

Don’t Forget

Be sure to stop by on Monday to learn who this week’s winners are!

The Novel Girls are celebrating Mother’s Day all month long! This week, we’re each sharing how we drove our moms crazy!

A Breath of Magic is available NOW!

Please join me in welcoming paranormal romance author Sharon Ashwood!

Sharon Ashwood is a free-lance journalist, novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. Interests include growing her to-be-read pile and playing with the toy graveyard on her desk. As a vegetarian, she freely admits the whole vampire/werewolf lifestyle fantasy would never work out, so she writes paranormal romances instead.

Sharon lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.

For more information, visit Sharon at her web site: www.sharonashwood.com

Reading the Cards

The last couple weeks before a book deadline are a special kind of hell. It’s like exam week at school all over again:  self denial while you slave over your project, staring out the window as the sunny weekend goes by without you, self-doubt, anxiety, misery. And we do this why? Oh right, because we love writing books.

As I’m thinking about writing this, I’m shuffling my tarot deck and thinking about the ending of my fourth book in The Dark Forgotten series, ICED. My plan is to do a short reading on the process of finishing my book as a basis for this blog.

I love handling the cards—they’re worn and familiar, the same deck I’ve had since I was a teenager.  I’m not a professional card reader, and I only work with a few decks besides the usual Rider-Waite cards (another favorite of mine is the Celtic Tree Oracle).  However, I use them as a meditation as much as a predictive tool.  The symbology of the images is very rich and pondering the layers of meanings often triggers my own thought process about a problem and gives me clarity—which is really why we want a reading, isn’t it?

The Fortune card falls out of my grasp and lands at my feet.  Sometimes that’s the deck’s way of making sure you pay attention to a particular card.  Because the Fortune card means good luck, I’ll take it as a prediction!  Otherwise, I might have decided I was just being clumsy.

I think a lot of fortune-telling works this way.  We take the bits we can use at the time and leave the rest. Who is to say that’s wrong? Some people think fortune-telling is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Things happen because we believe they will.  Just in case, shouldn’t we focus on the positive?

Another card falls out, and now I’m beginning to wonder if I need more coffee.  The Page of Pentacles. Pages are often messengers, and this one represents scholarship.  A new idea is on its way.

Fortune?  New ideas?  So far things are looking pretty good.  I decide I need two more cards to round things out, so I shuffle some more and turn up two knights:  Pentacles and Cups, reversed.  I don’t like those cards much, so I put them back and shuffle some more. Thoroughly.  At length. When I turn up two cards again, they’re exactly the same ones.

This is one of those moments when I remember to respect the cards.  Once in a while, they yell.

The Knight of Pentacles reversed is idleness and stagnation. If it’s a person, it’s the guy who parks on the sofa and spills beer on the carpet while watching sports 24/7.  I can see why this card appears in this reading. Anyone finishing a book knows their worst enemy is procrastination.

The Knight of Cups reversed is a trickster.  Fraud, dirty dealing, rivalry, and backstabbing come with this card. In terms of writing, I’d call it sabotage.  That can come as a person doing their best—willfully or subconsciously—to derail your concentration, or it could be something to do with a contract. In my case, the first is much more likely. As an author, we’re often called on to protect our creative time and the confident attitude necessary to get the job done. It’s not always easy or pleasant.

The thing to remember when you get lemons in a card reading is that nine times out of ten, they’re warnings to guard against a problem. It doesn’t mean that something bad is going to happen, it’s just a heads-up to be extra-vigilant.

So what have I got?  Good luck is on my side.  There’s a new idea out there, which is a happy thing as long as it helps me make my deadline. I have to watch out for an attack of the lazies and distractions. As an end of book prediction, I’d say it makes sense. Of course, it pays to be open to additional interpretations as time goes on.  A good reading’s advice will resonate for some time to come.

So now I have to sign off, and get to work! No procrastinating!  No distractions! But before I go, here’s my offer:  leave a comment to win a short reading like the one I did above—one question and three or four cards. I’ll do my best to make the cards dance for you!

And P.S. – the next Dark Forgotten book, UNCHAINED, is out July 6!

Check out the Book Trailer!

I have never had a card reading done for me, so I read this post with great interest. Someday, I’ll learn more about card readings… Thank you, Sharon, for taking the time to be here today and for sharing your knowledge with us. I’m in the middle of reading your first Dark Forgotten book, RAVENOUS, and am loving it!

Remember, the winner of this week’s Magic Series contest will receive signed copy of Scorched, along with all the other tote bag goodies. And Sharon is offering a short card reading to one lucky commenter, so get commenting!

Magic Series Contest Question of the Day!

Today’s Magic Series question comes to us from A Breath of Magic:

Grandma Verda, Chloe, Elizabeth, and Alice have a seance. Who are they trying to connect with?

E-mail the correct answer to tracy@tracymadison.com with the subject line Magic Contest no later than Saturday, May 22, to be entered to win the awesome filled tote bag shown HERE!

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win one of the five random giveaways for this week. Winners will be announced on Monday!

Are you creating a magic spell to enter to win the Grand Prize package? You can write the spell as a poem, as a short story, as a recipe, or any other way you’d like! E-mail tracy@tracymadison.com with the topic Magic Spell no later than May 28, 2010, to be entered! There are only 9 days left to enter to win the thirty-minute free reading from Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence, the awesomely extra-large filled A Breath of Magic tote bag, and a name of your choosing (subject to approval from Dorchester editorial) given to a minor character in my next release, By Magic Alone!

Don’t Forget

I’m at the Borders blog True Romance today with Sue Grimshaw…and I’m giving away a $20 Borders Gift Card. Come on over and say hi!

Come back tomorrow to learn more about Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence!

The Novel Girls are celebrating Mother’s Day all month long! This week, we’re each sharing how we drove our moms crazy!

A Breath of Magic is available NOW!

Please join me in welcoming urban fantasy author Nancy Haddock!

Nancy Haddock is the author of La Vida Vampire and Last Vampire Standing, with her third book in the series due out in 2011.

In writing her paranormal romantic mystery series, Nancy draws on her long experience with things-that-go-bump by day and night, and on the historic wealth of St. Augustine, Florida, the Nation’s Oldest City.  She writes full-time, and is a dedicated resident-tourist who never gets tired of exploring the sights of her new hometown – including a plethora of ghosts.

To visit Nancy’s web site, go to www.nancyhaddock.com

Getting in the Spirit

Hellooooo, Tracy Madison blog readers! First, I again thank Tracy for the honor of guest blogging during her Month of Mysticism. I’m wild about her books, and hope that A Breath of Magic is topping the sales charts!

I love anything paranormal. Anything magical or mystical. One of my favorite TV shows was Bewitched, mostly because I envied Samantha’s ability to change clothes and travel with a snap of her fingers or twitch of her nose. (Clothes shopping is so not my bag!)

However, dear readers, I know just enough about magic(k) to be dangerous, so let’s talk spirits.

I’ve been surrounded by spirits as long as I can remember, have lived with non-corporeal beings in every home I’ve owned. Many of these were nature spirits, but a number were nearly departed human spirits. “Apparition Americans,” to use a term coined by mystery writer Tamar Myers.

Do you watch Ghost Hunters? I’m a fan, and I get a kick out of spirits that turn on flashlights. A few months ago, I began having my own experience with an enlightening ghost. The encounter went like this.

I have a lighted makeup mirror on a small table in my bedroom. I seldom use the mirror, but leave it plugged into an outlet. Operated by touch, the mirror has four settings – off plus low, medium, and high lighted settings. (High being relative in terms of brightness.) Well, I began to notice that the mirror would be on when no one had been in the room, much less near the mirror. Figuring that my hubby had brushed a hand over it, or that vibrations turned it on, I dismissed the phenomenon.

Until the day I was madly cleaning, grumbling to myself about letting the bedroom get so dusty. I’d no sooner made that statement than the mirror turned on. I felt a presence in the room, and remembered I have an older female ghost who sometimes visits and only hangs out upstairs.

“Is that you?” I asked. “The lady in the long skirt?”

The mirror brightened to its medium setting.

“When you first turned on the mirror, were you agreeing that I let my house get too dusty?”

The mirror lit to its highest setting.

“Don’t suppose you want to pick up the other rag and help me.”

The light didn’t waver, but I mentally heard a snort and the word, “Hardly.”

Okay, so we’d established a Yes-No pattern. I formed another question.

“Have you been turning on the mirror to get my attention?”

The mirror turned off, then on the lowest light setting again. Gotta admit, that surprised me. Why not just leave it off? Change equals Yes, right? Not quite. A change in the light equaled Yes. A dark mirror didn’t count. Not to this ghost.

I asked a few more questions. Was she in my house often? Yes. Did she always turn on the mirror to let me know of her presence? No. When she wasn’t in my house, did she stay in the neighborhood? That query yielded a mixed answer, so I still don’t know where the woman goes when she isn’t here.

Finally I said I should get back to work. The mirror brightened one last time before I sensed the presence leave entirely. Since my visitor had left the mirror on, I touched-turned it off. I dusted a while longer, then decided to test the mirror. I brushed the bottom of the curtain over the touch points, stomped across the carpet, jumped around the table. Nothing. I ran the vacuum and purposely hit the table legs. Zip. I rocked the table, then held the mirror itself and rocked the base. Nada. I couldn’t get the mirror to light.

I still find the mirror lit now and then. Once was a month ago when my son checked the smoke alarms. I figured Long Skirt Lady approved of the now-working alarm. I don’t know yet who she is, what she wants here, or if she’ll stick around. But spirits are always welcome in my space.

The good ones, that is. The bad ones are smart enough to stay away.

Okay, what an amazing post! I think I’d have been a little nervous in your shoes, Nancy. I’ve had moments where I’ve sensed spirits before, but have never had definite proof one way or another. If you ever discover who the Long Skirt Lady is, I’d love to know! And thank you so much for your praise of my books. I feel the same about yours. I so appreciate that you took time out of your busy schedule to be here today!

Remember, the winner of this week’s Magic Series contest will receive a signed copy of La Vida Vampire and Last Vampire Standing (both books feature the ghosts of St. Augustine along with one of the coolest vampires ever!), along with all the other tote bag goodies! And because Nancy is so very generous, she’s also donated candles, essential oils, scented beads, and two spirit stones (transformation and health) to this week’s bag. Thank you, Nancy!

Magic Series Contest Question of the Day!

Today’s Magic Series question comes to us from A Breath of Magic:

A mysterious girl by the name of Mari visits Chloe several times during the course of the book. It is a huge shock when Chloe learns who Mari is. Who is she?

E-mail the correct answer to tracy@tracymadison.com with the subject line Magic Contest no later than Saturday, May 22, to be entered to win the awesome filled tote bag shown HERE!

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win one of the five random giveaways for this week. Winners will be announced on Monday!

Are you creating a magic spell to enter to win the Grand Prize package? You can write the spell as a poem, as a short story, as a recipe, or any other way you’d like! E-mail tracy@tracymadison.com with the topic Magic Spell no later than May 28, 2010, to be entered! There are only 10 days left to enter to win the thirty-minute free reading from Clairvoyant Medium Dakota Lawrence, the awesomely extra-large filled A Breath of Magic tote bag, and a name of your choosing (subject to approval from Dorchester editorial) given to a minor character in my next release, By Magic Alone!

Don’t Forget

Come back tomorrow to meet paranormal romance author Sharon Ashwood!

The Novel Girls are celebrating Mother’s Day all month long! This week, we’re each sharing how we drove our moms crazy!

A Breath of Magic is available NOW!