SYTYCD has declared tomorrow, July 28, National Dance Day. It seemed only fitting to post one my favorite routines from that program, executed by my favorite pair of dancers from Season 3 to boot. “Hummingbird and the Flower.” This choreography by Wade Robson is genius. Okay, the music is not bad either. : )

“We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
 
Sometimes the book industry seems nothing but an immense sea of writers all doggy paddling toward the same hard-to-reach beach. Going adrift to assess my position I found that I work diligently at certain marketing strategies and avoid others. 
  
Particular self-promoting canvassing efforts make me very uncomfortable. It feels so much like a rat race that I’m left yearning for a glimpse back into humanity. I’m also not convinced they’re that effective in reader/fan authenticity. But that’s just me (apparently).
 
The differences in us (writers) might explain why certain marketing methods work well for some and not others. It’s said authors can’t afford to be choosy, but I doubt I’d rise to the NYT Bestsellers List by, for instance, like-fests, i.e., I’ll like your author page/tag if you like mine. I’d rather leave my future to providence, work hard at what’s right for me, and enjoy what I do and how I do it. It may be dark, but at least I’ve taken the leap. Besides, I’ve recently discovered the ocean of publicists who are dedicated to providing lifeboats, equipped with sonar, for those like me.

Today, I have the privilege of interviewing multi-published author, Bruce Judisch, over at ICFW. He’s sharing about his latest work, For Maria, an upcoming novel evolving from the subject of the Hidden Children of WWII. He’s also giving away a copy of its prequel, Katia.
 
Stop on by and leave a comment on the blog of International Christian Fiction
Writers.

There was a time when I couldn’t listen to anything while writing fiction because, distracted, I’d focus on the progression of the music instead of the story. Things changed over time, and now I find music enhances productivity. I often rely on it.

My tastes are eclectic, and what I choose depends on the type of manuscript or mood. During the writing of Wind’s Aria I almost exclusively listened to Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Considered “The saddest music ever written,” and “full of pathos and cathartic passion,” I discovered, long ago, that  sadness evokes greater creativity in me.
 
Today I’m lingering in the realm of fantasy and I find Globus a great go-to while in my current work-in-progress. Particularly fond of genre-blended pieces, here’s a sample of one I especially like: Sarabande Suite (Aeternae)

A fascinating novel set in the Amazon prompted my four-star rating on Goodreads. Until I read the gripping sentiment at the end. I then upgraded it to the maximum five-star reader evaluation.

“And you will be my best friend, too—as long as we see each other with our hearts,” a character said.
 
My first thought was, Oh, that’s beautiful. My second thought was, Ouch.
 
What a rare and sacred thing to truly see with our hearts; and how easy it is to stop seeing.
 
While I don’t follow celebrities I happened to notice a recent headline about two actors divorcing. This struck me with certain sadness because I remember years ago sitting in my dermatologist’s waiting room
equipped with television, and the male actor on interview made such a spectacle of having been smitten with—yes, the love of his life, his forever after, happiness always gal. What happened? What happens to so many, too
many?
 
They stop seeing each other with their hearts.

One of the reasons I love writing romance is that although you must have conflict in the plot, the relationship has a “happily ever after.” A “happy for now” (HFN) is acceptable in the genre, but just about everybody experiences a HFN sometime in their life. What’s stronger and notable: to realize an unending future in an equally meshed heart-seeing embrace; hearts that not only become one but remain one.