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So I've meant to post, and I haven't. I'm sorry! We discussed beverages, so we could stay on the topic of the sense of taste. You see, indulging the senses works wonders to refill the creative well. After all, as writers, we must convey the sense of taste, of smell, touch, and hearing in words. How does one describe a lover's sigh? A lick? A nip? The taste of chocolate and champagne or a rich, juicy steak? I've been pretty open about my being on Weight Watchers, which means all the rich, decadent foods I've had to either lighten up or forsake, at least on a daily basis. I treat myself, but as my weight loss as grown, my treats have changed. Where I once dreamed of Dorioto's and butter lover's popcorn with more butter, now I'm thinking of plump, ripe strawberries, or a peach, or fat free fudge bars for a hint of icy chocolate. It's pure bliss. I bite into a peach, the taste exploding on my tongue. Sweet, fleshy, I close my eyes as I chew a bite. The juice runs down my tongue, and I lick at it, not wanting to let a single drop go to waste. Is this how my hero feels, I wonder, as he tastes the heroine, his lover, for the first time? Or perhaps, this is the burst of new love, all sweet and sticky and messy, yet oh-so-enjoyable! Taste. One of the richest senses we have. Indulge it. Savor it. And let it renew you.  
Let's talk coffee. Flavored, preferably, like a nice french vanilla or cinnamon with one or two creamers (coffeemate, it doesn't have any points), and if it's the horrid stuff here at work a sweet n' low packet. I love coffee. In the mornings it wakes me up, helping me to focus on the email or writing task I have before me. In the evenings it's a reprieve from drinking plain water, and it can warm me up on a chilly fall night. I love organic coffee. Shade-grown coffee produced with respect for the land, the earth, and its people may not be as refined as some of the European roasts of coffee, but I can drink it knowing I'm doing a good deed for the earth. I love flavored coffees. A hint of cinnamon or french vanilla really brings out the decadent pleasure of drinking coffee. So what are some of your favorite brands of coffees? I'm not so much a Starbuck's girl, mostly because I use Gevalia's coffee service. I love their french vanilla or their cinnamon coffees, and I also have some bags of Peruvian Organic sitting on my counter. There's a coffee shop in Iowa City that sold butterscotch coffee, and oh what an orgasmic drinking delight. In fact, I think when I'm in town for the booksignings on the 30th, I'll have to stop by and purchase some. Mmmm...butterscotch coffee. The Arbor Day society has their shade-grown coffee, of which I've given out several bags as contest prizes. It's very good and grown with care for the environment. But when I'm out and about I love to stop at Starbucks. We have one in our Super Target, and it makes Saturday errands a treat. Borders has a coffee shop, but alas, I've not been as thrilled with their offerings. But, as I was told today my Borders is not a Seattle's Best, so maybe that makes a difference. I love Borders for their books though, so good coffee or not, I'll continue to stop there. The same coffee shop that sells the Butterscotch coffee also as what they call a Mexican Mocha. Coffee, cinnamon, chocolate, whipped cream, all mixed together in yummy, blissful goodness. I can't wait for that book signing.
One of the things anyone has to do is be good to him or herself. I mean, we rush about doing so much for our jobs, our families, and other people along the way that we forget about ourselves sometimes. As a creative person, I find when I pamper myself, I can tap into those creative energies easier. My indulgence: coffee and tea I'm pretty open about my weight loss efforts through Weight Watchers, so once I drink my prerequisite 6-8 glasses of water (done during the first 1/2 of my shift at work usually), then I start in on the coffee and tea. Now the coffee here at work is horrid. Some crazy quasi-100% columbian stuff that's prepackaged and mass produced. It's bearable. But at home, I have my Gevalia, or my organic coffees, or my flavored coffees. I took a survey and was just selected for a Senseo coffee system, so am hoping to try it out when it arrives, and of course, I'll share. But tea...now there's a real indulgence. Herbal teas. Imported teas. I have a Bigelow sampler box I bought at Office Depot at my desk. Everything from peppermint tea, which is a staple of mine because it helps my sinsues to something called "Constant Comment" which I'm drinking at the moment, a lovely blend of black teas, orange and spices (I smell clove and nutmeg). Yummy! Sipping these warm drinks evokes a cozy image in my mind. It refreshment for the body and the soul. I love to just close my eyes and inhale the aroma of fresh brewed coffee or a nice cup of tea. So yummy. So relaxing. And oh so indulgent (without the worry of spending Weight Watchers points).
What contains singles from artists as diverse as a Norwegian fiddler, Enya, Clannad, Celtic Woman, Phil Vassar, Lonestar, Trace Atkins, Nine Inch Nails, Buckcherry, Metallica, Godsmack and Marilyn Manson? Nope, it's not a music store. It's my itunes. Yeah, like ebay and all the other joys of the internet world, I love my itunes. Still waiting for that ipod though... So what's this diverse listing of artists have to do with me and my itunes? Well, music is one way in which I refill the creative well. I was a band kid. No, not band camp. It was horse camp for me, LOL!!! But I played the clarinet from middle school all the way thorugh high school. Jazz choir. Regular choir. I love to sing. I feel like I can cleanse my soul, whether I'm belting out Loreena McKinnit tunes while I'm driving down the road or singing along with Once More With Feeling (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Yes music, you make me come-plete. (to borrow a phrase from OMWF. We'll talk more about Buffy later...) I love finding the perfect bit of music to go along with my works in progress. For a polar bear shape shifter story I'm working on, it was a Norwegian fiddler. When I'm working on my vampire/werewolf/werepyre menage it's hard rock all the way, the darker the better. Fantasy lends itself to Enya, Clannad, Celtic Woman, Loreena McKinnit, and other celtic/world music. I am a huge fan of David Arkenstone. His cds, all well-played in this household, never fail to inspire. For you see, the creative well may be deep, but it isn't endless. Those of us who create also need to do some things for us. Some may find creativity in handicrafts or photography. Me, I hop onto the net and head on over to itunes. Next on my list...religious music from the middle ages. I think I'm writing some angels.... I'll be blogging for the next week or so on different ways I refill the creative well, and I'd love to hear from others. What things do you do, or enjoy, just for yourself? When you can't write another word, what do you do to make the muse sing to you once more?
Title: Agency of Extraordinary Mates: Chasing Dragons by Kate Douglas Publisher: Changeling Press, LLC One of my favorite erotic romance authors is Kate Douglas. Her StarQuest books were among the first I read from Ellora's Cave, so when my Changeling Press newsletter mentioned this title, I knew I had to read it. And I'm going to have to catch up on her backlist. So who doesn't love elves? or dragons? Not only does this story provide hot romance involving two male elves, but also the elves shift into dragons. Add to that a menagerie of other mythical creatures and this story is a winner. Although this piece is short, there's a timeless element about it, as if the two leads had been together for a while. The emotional struggles ring true, and this isn't a "everything is so easy and they're in love" kind of read. No, there's a quest to accomplish and personal truths to find. It's not easy to pack so much punch into such a short story, but this piece has it in spades. A wonderful, evocative, emotional read with a satisfying ending. 
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