One of the most important aspects of a novel is the character development, it’s something us writers struggle and stress about often. I only say it’s “one of” the most important things because some writers believe plot is the most important, or the hook, or conflict. Personally, I believe story is the most important thing, and I also believe the story come from the characters.

Therefore Character development is the most important thing…to me.

The one question I always ask my characters is What do you want?

And the answer varies. Usually it’s something I’ve either wanted, want or think someday I might want. So, uhmm, yeah, if you’ve read any of my stories you might start to wonder what things I’ve wanted and had, what things I want now, or what I think I might want in the future. *grin*

If you’re brave enough to ask me which is which, I might even answer.

But for now, I want to talk to you about Samair, the heroine in my upcoming release TROUBLE. Samair wants to find herself again. She feels like she’s lost herself by trying to be who her family wanted her to be. And she’s had it. So now, she’s looking to go out there in the world and not holding back.

This is a particular thing I want pretty often. I’ve had to sit back and look at my life, and decide to start over at least three times. And I’ve never regretted it once. I think people change and grow ad they move through life, and I think they become unhappy when they don’t let their wants and needs change with their spirit. Does this make sense?

Take a peek at the excerpt here for glimpse at what I’m talking about. Hopefully it will explain what I can’t. http://www.sashawhite.net/bookshelf/trouble

So every now and then I ask myself what do I want? Right now? Out of life in general?

Sometimes I just want a hot lover, sometimes I want to live out a fantasy, sometimes I just want to find my place in the world.

What about you? What do YOU want? Right now, what do you want?

It can be something as simple as a pedicure, or as big as a career change or a divorce. But if you ask yourself right now, what do you want out of life…. What’s your instinctive answer?

In the comments section you can either share your answer with us in the comments, or ask me a question of your choice to be entered into a draw for a signed copy of TROUBLE.

(PS: The books release date is August 7th, and while the N&S girls will pick a winner right away, you will have to wait until I get my copies for me to send it to you. LOL that could be early, but it’s not guaranteed to be early)

I’ve been back from conference four days now and I haven’t written a word. I’ve been busy reading blogs, looking at pictures of us behaving badly in Dallas and generally procrastinating the actual act of opening my document. You see, I went to this conference with the specific goal of catching the eye of a specific agent. I knew that I needed to meet this agent in person and pray she liked me enough to request to see my work. I did meet her and she did make a request.

Problem is, now I have to send it and I’m scared. I’ve never sent my work to an agent before. What if she hates it? What if she rejects me? What if I suck? Those are the questions I ask myself each time I go to open my document and polish up the first three chapters. For some reason I haven’t been able to get started on polishing this MS or writing the synopsis. My palms get sweaty each time I think about it. But I can’t keep myself busy forever, can I? I promised myself I’d send this off by the end of next week. If I want my CP to read it first, I need to get on the ball. I need to get to work. I need to get over this anxiety and write.

So. Does any one else have post-conference anxiety?

Ok I’m still on a Dallas high.  I ‘m just gonna share photos - I’ll do a real post next week.

 All right I must add that the photos are appearing waaay too big even though I did everything I was supposed to (i.e. change the image size in Photobucket).  So I’m just going to share the funny little video that happened quite by accident on my camera.  I’ll share pics on my own blog tomorrow.  When I’m feeling a little more coherent.  I stayed up too late last night and my kids woke me up at 7:30.  Grrr.

It’s the Naughty and Spice girls in the flesh - with the wonderful Emma Petersen trying to take the picture. Enjoy!
 

Wow…Yesterday I blogged at SFC about dinner with Shelli and Emma (complete with pic of much despised okra!). Today I’m going to talk about all the cool folks I met (and I’ll upload some pics later). I totally went to Nationals with the intention of meeting up with online friends, networking and most importantly of all, having a great time. If the time I spent in the bar is any indication, I succeeded!

All I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW! I should have taken notes because after a while, everything ran together–I’m sure some of this will be out of order, and if I leave anyone out, please forgive me.

The first person I got to meet Tuesday after I checked in was Kristi J…outside, smoking my first conference ciggie (please don’t throw rocks). I also got to meet Kristin and Jax from Romance Divas…both of whom are sweet a sin. I totally have hair-envy on Jax….I want pink hair too.

Then got to meet Crystal Jordan after she got her First Sale tattoo–yes she got the call Tuesday morning! She’s now an Aphro-girl! Finally got to meet Feisty, but it took us until Saturday afternoon to get all four Naughty and Spice girls together for a pic!

On Tuesday I ran into my favorite best budette Pam Britton, who called me an hour later and ordered me to the bar. Who was I to say no? She was there with her best good buds, Rae Monet (who I know from LSB) and Jen Scully, who was kind enough to sign (more…)

Well, I’m back from Dallas and I never met Debbie. But here’s who I did meet. A ton of really fabulous people!

I networked like there was no tomorrow. I am, and have been for a year and a half now, a die hard Romance Diva. My first Nationals I was attached at the hip to them and rarely left the bar. This year I made it my goal to meet new people, and lots of them. (Though of COURSE I still hung with my Divas for parts!) The thing I’m most proud of doing is being confident (or faking it) and introducing myself to agents and editors. Is it so wrong to want to put a face/personality with the people I’m querying? I used to have a fear of this, so bear with me. But in the end, they were all lovely people.

So, as you know or maybe don’t, the only other Spice girl I’d ever met was Lillian. And this week I got to know Amie and Karen in person–we are like blood sisters online. I love them!!

Well here I go, summing up the week:

Fire ants are terrible roommates and take up all the window space. I think a few even snuck into my bag to come home.

Hotel food turns your stomach into a washing machine on spin cycle.

I must make future plans to room with another morning person (though I love Emma P to death!)  

Amie loves waking you up at 6:20-7:30am in the morning with a phone call asking, “Hey, are you awake?”

Karen is freaking hilarious and we have some hilarious similarties I dare not confess to the entire web.

Feisty is just a crazy and kinky witch.

And our Naughty and Spice Promo blow pops went FAST. Those suckers were popular.

There really aren’t any cowboys in downtown Dallas.

Women in Dallas don’t necessarily have big hair because they want it big, it’s from the humidity (seriously, I thought they just liked it big).

Never trust a 21 year old waiter who knows JUST the fruity drink to recommend to you and your friends. Can you say schlockered? Is that a word? Or maybe I should just be blunt and say drunk.

I promise a more coherent less tired post next week. I’m still recovering.

Since I’m too freaking tired to blog. I’ll just say a few highlights.

Apparently Emma Petersen and I are in a room with quite a stigma! (Think of a movie that’s out right now!)

My nametag got violated in the most God awful way. Just imagine the possibilites of what can happen when you lean over to flush. (We rinsed and sanitized the HECK out of it!)

Here’s us in the bar. Amie, Me, Emma, and Kristen (my makeup is so dark, cause Jax had done my pics that day!)

Here’s some Diva Dinner pics!

First, we all rode in 2 Hummer limos again.

Crystal Jordan, Anna J. Evans, and Emma Petersen chilling at the dinner.

Blogosphere friends (and divas!) Sarah C., Karen Erickson, Me, Julie S.

Kristen and Jax (oops, got her with her eyes closed!)

Loribelle Hunt and I

Me, Karen, Feisty

Just partying

Well, I’m in Dallas. And have been for a little over 24 hours now! My plane made it in just fine, which amazed me! I’m having a grand old time. Let me tell you, stepping out of the airport, though, I got a little worried with the multiple asthma attacks I immediately had! But I’m all good now. Let’s see. What have I done…WELL! I ate fried pickles, have networked, met many people I’ve only know online (and will keep meeting more!!)

This hotel is PACKED, and it’s only gonna get worse. The restaurant’s are little pricey. Though $18 for ONE quesadillia(sp?)–that’s it, no chips!–after room service might seem like a bargain to some! I’ve been getting some writing done, and Jax took my pics today for my author photo (I think she did an awesome job, though I haven’t seen them yet).

Amie and I had dinner with Pamela Britton tonight, and Denise and Eve (can’t remember last names, it was that blue martini thing!) We took a stretch Hummer for fun (hell, we couldn’t all fit in a cab and there was the Hummer thing right there!!)

Earlier today Feisty and some more Divas went off to get Crystal Jordan (who got some great news today!) tattooed and Mel pierced! Here’s some of the Divas below (Feisty and I are in there!)

OMG! I forgot the best part!!! I bought a cowgirl hat. NO KIDDING! An authentic cowgirl hat from Wild Bill’s shop. I think it looks That’s Bill

Well I wish I could chat more, but I need to get up EARLY for the President’s Retreat. More later!!