Going back to California

Captain's Log, Stardate 05.11.2005

I am again at the airport at the end of my visit home to Hawaii. I am so sad to leave my parents and this relaxing time of vacation. I read almost all the books I brought with me and spent time around the island doing research for my Hawaii Chicklit. I wish I had more time to drive around more and do more research. But maybe it's better if I spend more time brainstorming so that my research will be more focused.

I went to the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens for the first time since I was young, and it was neat to see the different native plants that my paternal grandpa had helped to cultivate. He worked in the Gardens in the late 50's. I also came up with some story ideas from the trip.

I visited both the Mililani Cemetery and the Wahiawa Hongwanji temple to not only be a dutiful daughter and visit my relatives' graves, but also to take pictures for research. The Hongwanji visit was mostly to confirm how I'd described it in my suspense ms, although I might use it in the Hawaii wip too.

Mom drove me to the North Shore today, down Mokuleia side to see if I could find the set of the TV show "Lost." I didn't see much besides a stretch of beach that could have been it. I'm assuming they took the props with them when they finished filming the season. But the trip gave me a better idea of the area, since I might use that as the setting for my fictional resort, which I think I'll name after my cousin's daughter: Anuheia. I'll have to figure out what that means! LOL

I'm so unhappy at the prospect of going back to work. This vacation was supposed to help me feel refreshed, but I'm only depressed that I'm not free to spend more time here in Hawaii, building my manuscript world. Lord God, please help me to feel content with where You have put me for now. Please speak to me clearly if You will allow me to quit and write full-time.

I am really looking forward to seeing my husband again, and my dog. Mom and Dad hope my husband will come with me next time. However, he won't have missed too much because I'm bringing home portuguese sausage, huli-huli chicken, and kalbi--all frozen and packed in a styrofoam container for the trip in baggage.

Writing: Creatively, this has been a very productive time. I brainstormed a brand-new short story, and I have lots of ideas for my wip. The relaxing time helped free my right-brain activity, I guess. Maybe I'll spend some time in the air on my writing. I didn't actually write much during this vacation, but the ideas have been flowing.

Diet: I actually ran on my parents' treadmill twice this weekend. I don't think it negated the amount of rich food consumed, but I feel slightly less guilty.

Comments

Pammer said…

I am so glad that you got some good pics and even better ideas. You are an awesome writer. I will be praying for you and your wish to stay at home and write full time. (I pray for the same thing.) (((((((Camy)))))))YOu could, um, share some of those pictures. :0D
Love yas! Pammer

Fri May 13, 10:16:00 PM 2005

I’m done

Captain’s Log, Stardate 05.17.2006 Blog book giveaway: My Thursday book giveaway is THE PREACHER’S DAUGHER by Lyn Cote My Monday book giveaway is BLIND DATES CAN BE MURDER by Mindy Starns Clark . You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. I’m done. At the beginning of the year, I made a goal of three books this year. That’s four months per book. I started this manuscript January 15th. I finished in the wee hours of May 17th, so it took me about four months, a day and a few hours. Yay me. I’m going to bed now. Yes, this is the espresso maker on the right, and a professional coffee grinder on the left. By the espresso maker, I mean the one I promised to my long-suffering husband if I got a book contract, as a reward for letting me quit my biotech job and write full-time.

I GOT A CONTRACT!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day ...

Window shopping

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Captain's Log, Stardate 07.11.2007 I started the day with a great meeting with Al Hsu , an editor at InterVarsity Press. We discussed Asian Americans—fiction, non-fiction, the church, family. He’s been in publishing for many years and is very wise. We had a great discussion. I also met his wife Ellen, who’s totally nice and is also into card-making! I wandered the floor and happened to meet Robin Jones Gunn. She asked if I’d eaten yet, and since I hadn’t, said to join her for lunch. On the way to lunch, we met Mark Mynheir, and he gave me a copy of his book, got The Void . Isn’t that cool? Robin has so much wisdom. I loved having lunch with her. She gave me such good advice, both professionally and spiritually. I hope I’ll get a chance to have lunch or dinner with her at the ACFW conference in September. I met up with agent Steve Laube, and walked with him to his next meeting, but on the way we were hailed by Cec Murphy and agent Jeff Dunn. Jeff had been the first editor to request...

Free Christian Romantic Suspense Novels by Camy Tang / Camille Elliot

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Regency Romantic Suspense (as Camille Elliot) The Spinster’s Christmas (Lady Wynwood’s Spies series, Prequel novel) (Posted on my blog as a serial novel, completed) Spinster Miranda Belmoore and naval Captain Gerard Foremont, old childhood friends, meet again for a large Christmas party at Wintrell Hall. Miranda is making plans to escape a life of drudgery as a poor relation in her cousin’s household, while Gerard battles bitterness at the fact that his career was cut short by the injury to his knee. However, an enemy has infiltrated the family party, bent on revenge and determined that Twelfth Night will end in someone’s death … Lissa and the Spy (Lady Wynwood’s Spies series, Prequel novella) Click here to get this ebook FREE when you subscribe to my newsletter In...

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