K. Michals's Blog

My characters got away from the other week; they went off on a tangent, a dialogue, that I am not entirely sure works. Or, at east, it wasn't the way I originally planned it, and this particular book has taken a lot of planning

Not entirely sure I was ready to deal with it on an editing level, I decided to take some time to mull it over

Which of course led into road trip territory!

I put in a request off work on Tuesday, and on Thursday evening we hit the road! Deadwood, South Dakota was the main goal, but there were things to see along the way.

First thing to note - Sprint does NOT get any kind of coverage past the I-25 in Cheyenne. We spent 3 and a half days unplugged, basically - which I know is, like, the thing to do these days, but, when you aren't trying to be unplugged and off the grid, can be a bit frustrating.

Google Maps, for instance, won't really work. It kind of does, but not in the way one is used to. And that's fine, if I kept an up to date road atlas in my glove compartment like it was 1996. But I don't. Nor did I anticipate my phone going offline, so there was no downloading of the maps till the next evening at the hotel (if it had Wi-Fi). So, that made the trip a touch more...interesting. None the less, we maneuvered pretty well and learned a good lesson - despite the technologies, it may be wise to keep a map in your car, or research which carriers may get service and at the least, buy a burn phone.

Moving on from this debacle...

The first stop was Cheyenne. I'm still not entirely sure what I think of it. The people were friendly, but the look of the place sets one on edge. A real juxtaposition city. I'd like to see more.

Then came Devil's Tower. A very interesting piece of geography. We did a quick hike around it, watching climbers insane enough try to grapple their way to the top, saw some deer and I hoped for a porcupine sighting, but was disappointed.

Then a leisurely drive through Spearfish Canyon. It was a pretty route to take into Deadwood.

And Deadwood itself. I'll admit, in my fiction filled head, I did honestly expect dirt roads and wooden sidewalks. THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE. It is a normal little town, real roads and hotels, and most of the bars of lore are now casinos. But, they notate historical locations and the events that cemented it into legend. We walked into the #10 saloon and ordered 2 whiskeys at 9 Am. We saw the re-enactment of Wild Bill Hickok's assassination. And we roamed the main street of Deadwood, where so much happened beneath our feet so long ago. It was exciting and fun to be a tiny part of.

We eventually pulled ourselves away from booze and gunplay to go see Mt. Rushmore. It looks exactly as it does in pictures. I was astounded and impressed that someone carved something like that in a mountain. wow.

Then, one of the more fun parts for me, the drive through Custer park and Wind Cave park. We saw Buffalo! Real live, wild Buffalo!!! And a pack of wild Donkeys!!!

One more stop at Hot Springs on the way home to walk through an on-going geological dig of mammoth bones. Impressive preservation from the sink hole. And one can volunteer to help dig out and discover more animals and plants that were buried thousands of years ago! I know I will look into it!!

Then, it was time to head home.

It was a three day round trip, all in all. Three days without thinking about my second book. Three days without wondering what my characters might be doing.

But now....it is time to get back to work. Let's see where this all goes!

It's been a good year since I last did any kind of blog update, but that's about standard for me. I'm bad about talking about myself. I'm just not a good salesperson. And I'm horrible about blogging. I just don't like it.

But, let's see.

I found an agent/manager, and lost them. It happens. People get busy.

I found an editor, and that seems to be going well.

And I guess Caught Up is headed to the London Book Fair. That's exciting!

I made my way back to Colorado and so far so good.

I'll do more updates as things progress more. But at least it seems, despite a few pitfalls, that I'm ...well, I'm on some kind of track at least. We will just have to see where it leads.

Not shopping in the normal way. No Halston Heritage or shoe shopping. I got stuck on the IHeartDogs webpage. Yeah. T-shirts, hoodies...I found a bunch i would buy and wear...and then realized i may be a kind of crazy dog person...then decided that i don't really care. I'd have 4 or 5 dogs if i owned a home. And as much as i want a puppy, because they are so cute and cuddly, I know they'd all be random, maybe (probably) even some ugly ones, because they would make me laugh and then cuddle them.

So, that is where i am today. Not writing and getting words on paper like i should...but shopping for crazy dog gear and wondering if i could sneak a third dog into the apartment.

It's been a full week of 8 or 9 hours of typing. I've got a good 60 pages it looks like - unedited. And the words keep coming! Filling pages till eventually my eyes go blurry from looking at a monitor all day.

But, it seems that the sequel of Caught Up is now well under way. It doesn't seem to good for Tay...but, I mean, maybe things will turn around. I don't know. There are still a good 200 pages that will need to develop.

Either way, I'm thinking of calling it Caught Between....what do we think?

This last month I embarked on a cross country move. We left California and trucked to Florida.

It was fun and exciting at first, but it became tedious and stressful and hard work as it progressed.

But, that's the way moving usually goes. Unless you toss it all out and just load your car with the minimum - which I have done 3 times before and have gotten tired of replacing things.

So, here I am, and it doesn't feel any different except for the creatures and greenery here. But i went from palm tress to palm trees, beach to beach, ocean to ocean and warm weather to warm weather.

I'm still longing for seasons though. Proper seasons, with colored leaves and snow.

Maybe our next move will be north. Till that time comes, i will learn and live here in the South.

The thing about not having a 9-5 job any more,(my Vegas friend advised) is to maintain a schedule...and stay positive.

Taking his words into consideration - i try to maintain a schedule. Get up, go to the gym, check emails, settle in at the comp to get some writing done.

But stay positive? it's hard. You get rejection letters, you see little progress on things, and you get discouraged.

So, I decided to make a Positive To Do List

So, WHEN (not if, see? positive)
When i become a NY Times Best Selling Author, these are the things I will want to do.


1. Cover of Maxim

2. Walk down the runway with my own set of wings at one of the Victoria Secret shows, and exchange knowing head nods with Taylor Swift while she belts out a cool song (I know she'll be there because she is damn good at that and she freakin looks like one of the models)


2. Play a game of doubles tennis with Venus and Serena Williams on that helipad that Tiger Woods hit the golf ball off of in Dubai. (it has to be doubles so we at least have a chance and then i can blame my partner for the loss.)

3. Be that girl in a Carls Junior burger commercial

4. Be the next Bond Girl

5. Hangout with Kenny Chesney - he just seems like a chill beach guy like me

6. Adopt about 4 more puppies. (I'd adopt cats, but i have severe allergies to them...)

7. Be one of Cover Girls cover girls

8. Have my own perfume, fashion, makeup or shoe line. Or, all of them.

9. IDK - but i know i can grow this list

SO, what do you think? Does it seem positive enough??

I want to say i am a sucker for marketing, but I don't think that is correct. It seems more an influence of things that I connect with.

Sadly, that happens to be mostly my TV.

I just, need to have what i see on it; like, if someone on TV is drinking a coke, i want a can of coke. If someone on a show just poured a glass of wine, i need to pour myself a glass of wine.

I suppose it isn't limited to TV though, now that i think about it. If someone in a book i am reading goes to bed, i suddenly want to go snuggle in under my covers.

And, it occurs as I do my own writing. One of my characters went on a road trip, and i became antsy, wanting to pack my own bags and go somewhere.

and, unfortunately, I just wrote a paragraph where that same character accepted a drinking dare...

so, now, here i sit, with a shot glass filled with Bacardi 151 in front of me, thinking how i really REALLY need to be a stronger person....

A friend pointed out this morning that there is a definitive free fall time for when you take that leap to chase your dreams.

I concur.

I sit here, another day, but no new dollar, wondering what comes next.

Strangely enough, i miss the 9-5 world. The routine, the predictability - the bi-weekly paycheck.

But I needed to know where the writing could go.

Potentially that answer is "nowhere".

And this, i assume, is the free fall point. No clue what comes next, no idea if it will work, and just hoping you land somewhere soft.

But at least i jumped.

....that's not admitting that i may have twisted mid leap and am actually now just clinging to the edge...

Yup, still fighting this chapter. It's odd, some chapters are started and over in 20 minutes, others like this, frustrate me to no end.

I once had a bit that took me two months! I went for walks, i ranted to the boyfriend, i stared at the screen. Nothing helped. I guess when something is ready to be written, then it will be, but not a moment before.

I have a different approach today than the other night. Red Bull. Maybe if I have enough caffeine, my brain will jump into super drive and i can kick through this.

I won't hold my breath though.

So, here i sit, a martini and a shot of vodka in, Kenny Chesney songs on the TV, trying to get through chapter 19.2...and it's not going as smoothly as i would have liked. Stupid books.

And, sorry, this isn't the follow up to Caught Up - you'll have to keep waiting to see what happens...really, i do apologize for that, but it just seemed like a good spot to end. ...plus, i was tired of writing.

But, i'll get to that one. I promise.

After I get through this one.

So, let's hope this chapter finishes itself and I can continue the story.

Oh and yeah, I did say 19.2 - That's not actually the chapter number it's a...WHIP number. I find if i use professional supply chain terminology i may at least feel like i still have a job.

Don't ask about that - it's still a sore point. Shhhhh.

I lie. feel free to ask whatever. I am an open book. get it? ....blame the vodka.

P.S. To Kenny, every time i head back home, i play the song Anything But Mine for the Cleveland reference. But if anyone asks, I'll deny I ever grew up in the Mistake on the Lake.