In my search for fun contemporaries in today’s paranormal flooded market, I found myself reaching for something I didn’t think I’d like to read. It was a paranormal but it was comedy. Romantic comedy. It was called I’M THE VAMPIRE, THAT’S WHY by Michele Bardsley. I laughed and I loved and I was hooked. Then (and Michele can correct me if I’m wrong, the memory went a long time ago) I did something that I do … not often but every once in awhile when a book strikes me as special - I wrote a note to the author. Or I posted on her blog. I can’t remember, LOL. Michele wrote back and next thing I knew, I was reading an ARC of the second Broken Heart book. Michele is one of those ultra talented ladies who makes you wonder just how they do it. Her Broken Heart Vampire books are special. They bring you into a new world, but it’s a contemporary world … and yet it’s not. You’ll have to read it to see what I mean - and I highly recommend you RUN not walk to the store, or get that finger clicking online to pick up one of Michele’s books to see what I mean.
I’ve read Michele’s blog and I am floored by the insight. I hope you will be too. She’s great! And she’s in the jungle, so please make her feel welcome! Just don’t throw any bananas! 
Five Ways to Stay Inspired to Write
By Michele Bardsley
When I started writing with the intention of being a published author, I read books, I joined organizations, I took classes, and I went to a weekly critique group. I did it all. I wanted to learn everything I could about writing and I somehow hoped that I would discover some magic or secret way to get published.
I found myself following advice that didn’t fit me or my personality or my habits. I found myself trying to find the Way of the Published Author through the methods that had worked for other writers. And I failed to use those tools effectively. We all know that the truth about publishing. The only way to get there is to write and to submit and to never give up.
How you choose to bring your dream into reality … how you choose to write, to submit, and to stay inspired, is up to you. Trust yourself. Sometimes, it’s difficult to hear the inner voice. We let everything and everyone outside of us influence our decisions because we fear we’re making the wrong choices.
Sophocles said, “The only thing I know is that I know nothing.” I interpret that as we should always be a blank slate. We should always be open to learning and to new ideas and to be unafraid to question established ways of doing things. Just because it’s right for someone else, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Most writers say they write because they have stories to tell and they want to share these stories with readers. This may be true, but it is not the only truth. Most writers write because they are intimately connected with the process of creating and expressing through the written word.
When we admit, “This is what I want,” we have to prepare for two things. First, we have to work toward that goal. As my grandma used to say, “If you pray for potatoes, you better grab a hoe.” Second, we have to accept that how that desire is achieved may not fall within our current expectations.
Benjamin Franklin said, “Never confuse motion with action.” We all tend to hang on to things, material and emotional. We all have our “thin” jeans hanging in the closet. Oh, one day I’m going to fit into those jeans again. No, you’re not. Let the jeans go. Buy beautiful, comfortable clothes that fit you and get rid of those “thin” jeans. They are the past. They are the reminder of things you did and of who you were. Those thin jeans are not you anymore. They are a connection to a place you have traveled to and passed through and aren’t going to return.
In your mind, there is a closet and there are a lot of thin jeans hanging in there. You gotta give up the thin jeans so that you can you make room for new clothes. And you gotta give up those thoughts, expectations, and old goals so you can make room for the new thoughts and new goals. It’s okay to stop wanting something. It’s okay to say, “You know what? I’m never gonna do that.” It’s okay to let go.
I don’t believe confusion exists. I think we cloud our minds with pros and cons and guilt and worry because we don’t want to make hard decisions. I have found in my own experience that any time I claimed “confusion” about a decision, it was only because I knew the choice I had to make and I didn’t want to make it. Only it’s not confusion. It’s fear.
In Lessons of Love, Melanie Beattie wrote, “Change is constant. But change wrought by some moments, is more profound than others. Sometimes we turn a corner. Sometimes we’re pushed off a cliff.”
We hate change. Change is uncomfortable, sometimes difficult, nearly always unwelcome. We need the jolt out of our complacency so that we can progress in life and in writing. We cannot escape that life carries sorrow and pain and terrible, terrible things.
Epicurus was a Greek philosopher born in 342 BCE, about seven years after Artistotle died. His core belief was that people should be happy. He thought that the way to achieve lifelong happiness was to avoid pain and he said we should do that by living simply, limiting our desires, banishing fear about death, and not worrying about what the gods think. In a way, I think many of us are Epicureans.
Recognizing and actively appreciating the blessings and the people in your life inspires you. Commit to starting your day by acknowledging the positive aspects of your life—write down one “blessing” every morning or search out a daily affirmation. When you get frustrated, depressed, or angry, write a gratitude list. There’s nothing like counting your blessings to find that moment of clarity.
Daily, we receive messages from the media and society and businesses that we must have more, better, bigger. If we only have more then we will be fulfilled. The truth is that we are failing to enjoy the quality of every experience. More will not bring us enlightenment or fulfillment.
What we must learn to do is savor the moment, be mindful of the present, and learn satisfaction is about quality, not quantity. Even if we could do this two or three times, or heck once a day, we might feel less stressed and more joyful.
Sometimes, it’s difficult to hear the inner voice. We let everything and everyone outside of us influence our decisions because we fear we’re making the wrong choices. Sometimes, you gotta make a leap of faith … you may fall or you may fly, but you’ll never know until you jump.
The following steps can be done as journaling exercises. The goal is to help you figure out how you can stay inspired to reach your writing dreams.
1. Admit what writing means to you.
Albert Einstein said, “The tragedy of life is what dies in the hearts and souls of people while they live.” Take a few minutes to explore what writing means to you.
2. Determine what you want to achieve as a writer.
Write down one thing that you want from your writing or from yourself as a writer. It can be big or small, general or specific, fantastic or realistic. Remember, nothing is set in stone. What you decide now is what you need or want at this moment.
3. Let go of the conditions attached to your desire.
Write about your fixated hopes, write about letting those fears go, and how it feels to let go of your expectations.
4. Set two goals to accomplish in the next 30 days.
Write down at least two actions you can take in the next month that will help you toward your writing goal.
5. Rearrange, delegate, or let go.
Write down at least three tasks that you’re willing to give up or to change for your writing.
Daily Inspiration
To bring daily inspiration in your writing and in your life, I encourage you to take seven minutes in the morning to do the following exercises. I know you can find a way to squeeze seven minutes into your morning routine to open your heart and mind to living an inspired day. And you can certainly spend as much time as you want on each task if you have more than seven minutes to devote to these exercises.
1. Meditate/breathe for two minutes.
2. Free write or journal for two minutes.
3. Take two minutes to answer the following questions:
Today, the one thing I want to accomplish is ______.
Today, I will not fear ______.
Today, I am grateful for ______.
Today, I will write ______ number of pages.
4. Spend one minute visualizing white light and love surrounding you, supporting you, opening your mind and heart to the experiences that await you.
Michele Bardsley is the author of Wait Till Your Vampire Gets Home, which is the fourth novel in the Broken Heart, Oklahoma series. Please drop by MicheleBardsley.com and BrokenHeartOK.com.
# 1 Netti 
The economy is a mess, there is less money to spend, and shopping will be very thought out this year, for all of us. I hope you were able to put all that aside and enjoy Thanksgiving with someone you care about, friends, family or pets!
Note from Julie: While your out shopping for all your loved ones, don’t forget to pick up a little something for yourself…like a copy of Phantom’s Touch! Or, are you like me and would rather pull out your fingernails with pliers than shop on Black Friday? The bookstores shouldn’t be too busy…do a quick run and get yourself a copy of Phantom’s Touch for a little weekend reading! I’m thankful for all the Plotmonkey readers, who have been instrumental in keeping all of us in the book business. We’re all very thankful for you.
Where do I begin? Do I center it around three women? Three men? One man, one woman? Brothers, sisters, both? Cousins? Friends? 
: The new icons are fantastic! 
My Halloween party was cancelled and we already bought the costumes 
and costumes are nonrefundable! 
But I’m picking up my new car tomorrow 
and I am NOT looking forward to my dogs barking from their crates on Halloween every time the doorbell rings! 
# 15 Gigi 
