Expectations

I have high expectations, I do admit it. I work very hard and want results from that work. I put in the labor and want it to work and want results. What I don't have is patience. I know that is something I really need to learn. I think that is one of my biggest lessons in life and I am trying to learn it. Not easy, I am modern woman and expect things to happen quickly.

Right now I am in the waiting mode again. It soooo hard. I think what I want to learn is to enjoy the process. This is one lesson I have never learned and I think that life is making me learn it right now. Enjoyment will take time, first I have to learn patience and that is what I am doing right now.

So I am waiting for my add to be published... I am working hard on the next draft of my new novel. I have new article that I sent to be published. Waiting, waiting, waiting...

I am also working on a big project right now, it is the biggest writing project I have ever taken on and I am working so hard on it. I am not ready to announce it yet but I am sooo excited about it. Waiting, waiting, waiting...

I am happy to bring up the second half of my interview with Vada Foster.

Do you prefer one genre to another?

I tend to shy away from supernatural and sci-fi because I am too lazy to learn all the necessary names and descriptions. Other than that, pretty much anything. I am an avid reader with close to 1,200 books in my collection, so clearly I like a wide variety of genres.

Do you like the feel of a book in your hands or do you prefer electronic devices?

In my heart, there is no substitute for a book in my hand, but I do have an e-book and I tend to go back and forth from one to the other. I love the fact that with a hundred or more stories on the e-book, I never run out of things to read. I have been known to read two books on a flight to Europe, and it is a pain to have to haul all that in your carry-on. An e-book is a must on the plane!

Can you tell us about what your working on now?

I have not been seriously working on anything for sometime. I have several story ideas I have worked on but not so much lately. Anybody have any great suggestions for what to do about writers block? I'm all ears!

Thank you Vada, for answering my questions, I think everyone enjoyed hearing from you.

Please email me with any questions at rithebard@yahoo.com or tweet me at @rithebard.

Exciting News

I have exciting news my book is going to be in a co-op add in the Boston Review! Isn't that cool? My little book will be in a national magazine. I am so excited about that. People who never go on the Internet will see the add and maybe buy my book. So exciting!

I also have two articles that I wrote that came out this week. One is in SelfGrowth.Com. Its about the most important person in my life. Which is all about my Dad and how important to my life he is and always will be. http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/most-important-person-in-my-life .

The second article I did was for Working Writer. It is all about Fan Fiction and how important it is to me. Fan Fiction is such an important part of my life not only for my writing but also because of all the friendships I have made. Fan Fiction not only gives you a chance to write and get feed back, but you also get to meet wonderful people that you may never have met otherwise. http://workingwritersandbloggers.com/2011/04/07/finding-an-audience/ .

I also finished the first draft of one of the novels that I am working on. So I can tell you that the winner of my book race is my historical drama. The title of my book will be Full Circle. Its a continuation of a famous 19th century story. I loved the book but it had an open ending. That drives me a bit crazy so I decided to write an ending for myself. When I talked about it with fellow fans of the novelist, they said I should continue on with the story. So I did and now it is ready for the second stage of putting it into the computer, because I write all of my stories long hand first. So I am really happy that I finished one of my three book ideas. Yeah!!!

Now for my interview I am breaking it up into two parts. Vada Foster is a talented writer who wrote one of my favorite novels, Josie & Rebecca; The Western Chronicles. http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781933113388-0

What was the first book you remember loving? Do you still own it?

As far as lesbian novels go, the first ones I loved were Ann Bannon's Beebo, I Am a Woman, and Vin Packer's Spring Fire. These were given to me by a friend when I was still very young and I read them until I was afraid the pages would fall out. And yes, I still have them. Tattered, but treasured.

What kind of books do you like to read? Do those books have an affect on your own writing?

My tastes have changed over the years. I used to read anything I could get my hands on because there was so little available out there you had to take what you could find. lately I tend toward adventures/romance novels. And I guess they do, because both of my published novels were adventure/romance. I enjoy writing it as well as reading it.

Do you have a favorite character that you created?

I like Colleen from The Sea Captain and the Lady because she had the courage of her convictions and a beautiful spirit.

What is your favorite character from another writer?

The lead character in Ruby Fruit Jungle I absolutely loved, but can't lay my hands on the book to tell you her name. I remember laughing out loud when I read that book and that doesn't happen very often.

That's the end of part one, next blog will have part two and more news and updates.

If you would like to email me at rithebard@yahoo.com or send me a twitter @rithebard I would love to hear from you:)