Susan E. Falk's Blog

Rising From the Ashes (heh)

2007-04-19T22:52:00.000-05:00

I've been in a funk for months. I have plenty of ideas floating around in my head, but sitting down to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) has been a problem. I'm not sure why. Things have been stressful personally since last spring when my husband was forced to resign from his job of 14 years. Finding another job that paid the same (or a comparable amount) that wouldn't take him far from home was difficult. He's not happy with the job he has currently, but he hasn't been unable to find anything else. So, things have been stressful. Unfortunately, my 16 year old bares the brunt of it as they lash out at each other - both are Type A personalities I guess, the type who worry and stress. I'm not and I tend to get caught in the middle.

My step-dad died suddenly last month of a massive stroke. He would have been 73 April 2 and it was just so sudden that it really has put me in a worse funk than I was before his death as far as being creative.

Couple that with my hours being cut practically in half the past month. All I can say is oy, it has to get better. Right!?!

I've been going through emails the last few days. I had online classes that I took back as far as last September still sitting there to go through and process. Bad, bad, Susan. Like I said above, stress!

In addition to the online class emails I've been sorting through the various emails I have saved from the writing loops I'm on. Some I saved merely for a helpful link they referenced. It's a huge task, but I feel like I'm decluttering (even if it's just my mailbox) - and by reading these tips and sites related to writing I'm slowly finding myself get pumped up again about writing.

I'm hoping I can turn the loss of hours into more writing time once I've completed the task of cleaning out my mailbox. It is hard at times, because I have a three year old and when I'm not working I feel guilty sitting at the computer. But hopefully I can start to balance it out.

It's finally spring here in Fargo - and maybe that's what I need. A pull myself up by my boot straps, fresh start.

Happy Writing!
Susan

Still here!

2007-02-16T21:47:00.000-06:00

I apologize for not updating in quite some time. The intent is there, but unfortunately real life has not been fully cooperative of late. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things and sit down and write this month.

Thank you for visiting and look for more soon!

Susan Falk

A little behind!

2006-09-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

I didn't get Part 2 posted of my serial over the weekend. Last week was a bit busy, ending with a wedding Friday night. So very little writing was accomplished on my part last week. I'm itching to dive in again, hopefully tonight. Check back over the weekend.

Susan

Summer Devotion Part 1

2006-09-15T22:03:00.000-05:00

Part 1

Chicago 1925

Melinda hated days she didn’t have to work. Still living at home, working was the only legitimate excuse for her to get out for any length of time. There was the library, but that wasn’t very exciting.

Today, however, she had something to look forward to, not that her parents knew. It was better that way. They wouldn’t approve anyway. In a thriving city full of energy and change her parents were stuck in their ways.

“Bye, Mama, I’m leaving now.” She drew the door closed behind her not wanting to give her mother the opportunity to respond. Once on the sidewalk she glanced to the upstairs window to be sure her mother wasn’t watching. She headed in the opposite direction she normally went to work.

She smiled when she rounded the corner and saw the car at the curb. He was always on time and never complained if she was late. He seemed to understand it wasn’t as easy for her to get out of the house.

She admired him as he walked in front of the car from the driver’s side to the passenger side, bending a little at the waist to open the door for her. A gentleman. She liked that about him and was glad to know that a year apart hadn’t changed him. He was handsome, too. She’d never thought of his father as handsome but wondered if this was what Rourke had looked like when he was Robert’s age.

She removed her hat once seated. No longer needing it, she dropped it onto the backseat. Her mother would have had one of her fits if she had seen Melinda leaving the house without her head properly covered. It was exasperating at times how closed her parents were to progress.

“I’m glad you could make it.” He kissed her on the cheek, just a tad longer than was polite but she didn’t mind. “I was beginning to think I’d never see you without a table and work shift separating us.”

“I was glad to get out. Mother was in one of her moods today.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks.”

“Ready?”

“I sure am. Today it feels like it’s going to be a perfect day.”

“I think you’re right. I ordered it especially for you.”

She sat back while he started the car and drove toward Cubs Park. “You’re so sweet. Is it strange being home?”

“I’ve never been in the house before with a baby there. I was the last one, so yeah, it’s a little odd. But Dad is happy. I think it’s sort of fitting that I wasn’t named for him.”

“What makes you say that?” He shrugged and gripped the steering wheel. Melinda placed a hand over the one closest to her. “It’s okay, Bobby.”

He loved his father, but it bothered him to talk about his parents, especially his mother. She’d been dead for over twenty years, but sometimes Melinda felt like she was a ghost choking everyone she had known.

Melinda knew more than she should because Rourke’s wife was her friend and they confided in one another. Melinda knew, for instance, that there was a good chance Robert wasn’t Rourke’s son. When Amanda had confided in her she hadn’t met the son in question. And now she was spending time with him when he was home from college. She had assured Amanda it was a secret she’d take with her to the grave. No good could come out of anyone discovering such a possibility existed.

He chuckled and shook his head. “No one but you can get away with calling me that.”

“Why do you think I do it?”

He turned to look at her and winked, making her blush, which in turn made him laugh harder.

“I know my mom and dad didn’t have a great marriage or anything. Dad never speaks ill of her, he wouldn’t do that. But Tabitha and Madeleine are old enough to remember bits and pieces. And he’s so happy with Amanda. It just seems appropriate the kid that gets his name is the one made out of love.”

“Your parents didn’t love one another?”

“I don’t think so. At least that’s what Tabitha and Madeleine tell me. I don’t know much about them. I was still a baby when she died and Dad never spoke of her much. Tabitha and Madeleine didn’t either. I think they were scared to.”

“Of your dad?” She found that hard to believe. When she first met Rourke a year ago she had been intimidated by him. He seemed so sure of himself and everything he touched was successful. She had learned from Amanda the man behind the businessman was not as confident as he seemed. Knowing the things she did about Rourke, she couldn’t imagine anyone being scared of him.

“No, nothing like that. I don’t think they wanted to upset him. I don’t know. And now,” he shrugged. “It was so long ago, it doesn’t seem worth bringing up.”

“I’m sure he’d answer your questions if you wanted to know about her.”

“I’m not sure I want to know. I’ve found some letters she’d written and some other things. I don’t think she was a very nice woman.”

“Oh,” Melinda said simply. Did he suspect what Melinda knew?

He placed his hand over hers and squeezed it. “That’s enough talk of the past. Let’s talk about the rest of the summer.”

“What about it?”

“I want to see you whenever I can. Will you be able to do that?”

“Probably, though you may have to meet my parents eventually.”

“I can do that. I do pretty well around parents.”

“I didn’t think otherwise.”

He brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand. “It’s okay, we’ll figure it out. I’ll see you when I can. I can always see you at work.”

“I don’t want you spending your money on food.”

“I’ll get a cup of coffee. Amanda would come with me I’m sure. If not, I’ll bring a book.”

“That’d be nice. I haven’t seen her much lately.”

He found a spot to park not too far from the baseball park. She remembered they had parked near here the afternoon of Rourke and Amanda’s wedding. Robert had wanted to spend time with her once the civil service was over. He thought it strange she suggested a baseball game, but she enjoyed them and it was a nice way to spend the afternoon. He slid his hand into hers and walked with her across the street.

“Let’s hope the Cubs can win today.”

“You know, I have a feeling they will.”

Progress

2006-09-14T16:07:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday. I've gotten over 6,000 words written in my new version of SHARON'S ESCAPE. I'm thrilled to have it falling into place! Finding time to write this week had been challening as my little one has decided she no longer needs her afternoon naps. I've until now been guaranteed 90 minutes of writing time if I wanted it.

I've started on a serial that I'll post here, hopefully weekly. Look for the first installment this weekend. It will feature two characters from my completed manuscript AMANDA'S SONG. Melinda is Amanda's friend and Robert is Rourke's son. The two met at Amanda and Rourke's wedding. In the story, it's the summer of 1925 and Robert's just returned for the summer from college.

Thanks for stopping by!
Susan

Epiphanies

2006-09-10T04:54:00.000-05:00

I've been lax in writing much of anything lately due to a wall I'd been hitting with the contemporary WIP I have in the works SHARON'S ESCAPE. This manuscript was aimed toward a Silhouette Romance type venue. 25,000 words into it and it just wasn't working for me and I couldn't figure out why, but because I was almost halfway done with it I found it difficult to set it aside and work on other things. My mind kept wandering back to Sharon and why her story wasn't working for me. I spent the month of August editing what I'd written so far hoping it would jump-start my creative juices. It didn't. I wrote a paragraph here and there after completing the edits but it still wasn't working. Finally, late last Wednesday night I was cleaning my desk and it all became clear.

Sharon is a 30ish woman who married her high school sweetheart, put off going to college herself to work while he went through college and law school. Three years ago, he left her cleaning out their swanky Chicago apartment and their bank account as well. Sharon's yet to really move on despite the wishes of her family and friends.

I realized what Sharon needs isn't a comfortable, somewhat platonic relationship while she's housesitting for a month in Florida. What she needs is an affair. Something to knock her socks off and carry her kicking and screaming into life again.

And so SHARON'S ESCAPE has evolved from a sweet romance into my first real attempt at erotic romance. Check back to see how things are going with Sharon!

Susan

Welcome to my Blog!

2006-09-03T18:07:00.000-05:00

Here I will hopefully write about my progressive steps in getting published.

I currently have one completed manuscript. It is set in 1924 Chicago about a woman aspiring to sing despite a rather strict upbringing in which such a lifestyle is frowned on. Coming to Chicago from Iowa is a huge step for Amanda, bringing her one step closer to her dream. She leaves behind a large family who while they love her would never support her in her dreams and a suitor who was not very gentlemanly in his behavior. After witnessing her mother die in childbirth to children #8 & 9 as a young girl, Amanda has secretly vowed not to end up like her mother with nothingn to claim from her life but her own baseball team in children. She's not counting on her job at a Speak Easy resulting in her getting attention, particularly from the scarred owner of the Speak Easy, Roarke Collins. It's a romance, so of course it centers around Amanda's not only finding love but accepting it. AMANDA's SONG is 75,000 words.

I have several works in various stages of progress.

SHARON's ESCAPE is a contemporary romance set in present day Florida. An emotionally and socially reclusive woman, Sharon Peters agrees to housesit for her friend, bringing about her first vacation in years. While there she meets Neil Patton, a man who seems to have nothing better to do with his time but spend it with her for the month she's visiting. This work is geared to a line similar in nature to Silhouette Romance.

AN AUGUST WIND is a frontier historical romance set close to where I live now in Fargo, North Dakota. August comes to town after a long winter of solitude intent on restocking his depleted supplies and maybe seeking the comfort of a woman for a spell while he's there. He had not counted on the changes that took place in the little town during the winter, a dark cloud hangs over the town. He finds himself wanting to find out what has caused it, drawing him closer to a woman than he anticipates.

A FREE MAN is a contemporary Inspirational romance set in a rural Minnesota town. James Bonner has just been released from prison after five years, falsely imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. He returns to the town he and his father had visited often as a child for fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities intent on starting over and putting the pieces of his life back together. His landlord, Melissa Horton, has enough faith to flood the little town with it. He's doubtful that she can ever trust an ex-con, even one who claims his innocence.

TIFFANI's TRAVELS is a sequel to AMANDA's SONG and is a time travel, bringing Tiffani "with an I" Sinclair to the Roaring twenties where she meets James Andrews. We met James in AMANDA's SONG, he is Amanda's uncle by marriage and has been a widower for years. Believing that there was only one chance at love for him and having it cut short for him when his late wife was gunned down, James hasn't exactly lived the life of a hermit but he keeps women at bay. What is it about the frustrating Tiffani that has him rethinking his hesitancy to commit?