Monday, Monday…

Wow! What a weekend. I had a friend in from California, who I barely got to see, but still left me smiling. I also was contacted by some friends/fans and they gave me an uplifting presence that I needed.

I have been struggling to continue on with both novels. I draw so much from life and what I am going through. I have felt creatively stiffled for some time and alone. I know I’m not alone, don’t take it that way. Well, maybe so. At any rate, I’m in a new point in my life. I’m ready to move on. Onward, forward, write, write, write!

I have a date tonight, with my manuscript.

Tags: Friends

Muse

I got to meet my muse for a character in Unwritten. No, seriously- none other than Muse Watson. His performances inspired me to cast him in my head as Jack Madison. He is a recurring character on CBS’s number one hit, NCIS, as retired Special Agent Mike Franks.

I attended an awards banquet at the Gideon Media Arts Conference in Ridgecrest, North Carolina, on Sunday, June 5.  I had disappeared for a moment and came back to find my friend Michelle had flagged him down. She gave me the opportunity to chat with him and to present him with a copy of Unwritten. He is a most gracious man and quite charming. I feel very blessed to have made his acquaintance. We were lucky enough to see the premiere of “A Christmas Snow,” from Trost Moving Pictures. Tracy J. Trost, director, and writer for the film, was such a delight to watch and listen to. After the screening of the film, the cast and crew sat down for a question and answer session.

I look forward to more films from Trost and seeing Muse at his best. “A Christmas Snow” is due out in October on DVD. Currently, Trost is in negotiations with Hallmark Channel.

Tags: Jack Madison, Muse Watson, Unwritten

Writing About Tomcats

I am still working on a section of Unbecoming dealing with Tomcats. The Navy has retired the birds as of 2006.  Many people are still fans of the plane- and I am one of them! Caroline, David, Bumper, and Harry will be flying these planes in Unbecoming. More on that later.

Tags: Caroline, David, F-14, fiction, Harry Ashby, Tomcat, Unbecoming, writing

Writer’s Conference

Red Press Co. is putting the pieces in order to develop a writer’s conference in Asheville, NC. It is intended to provide inspiration and resources for those thinking of writing as a hobby or career. Those involved in the industry will also be on hand. There will be workshops for organizing your material, getting started with a topic, etc.  If interested, let RPC know. It promises to be fun.

Tags: inspiration, write, writing

Lost Chapter

Unwritten has a lost chapter! Uncovered while the author was cleaning out her hard drive, the chapter has been posted online. Be warned, it is adult content.

This “chapter” belongs on page 266 in the first edition. With Unbecoming soon to be finished, God willing, be sure to give this a read.

http://monicacollier.com/londonrain.html

Tags: lost chapter, Unbecoming, Unwritten

Another Monday

Here we go again. I had a great weekend. Many projects I’ve been juggling in the yard are on my to-done list. This week I’ll be tackling my Mother’s bathroom for a quick makeover. It is supposed to rain on Tuesday. So I’ll go and gather the supplies I’ll need tomorrow night. Paint, new valance (already up), shower curtain, rings, and curved shower rod. I can’t wait!

Much better

Nothing blew up on me today, or over me. Although we did have a small fire in the kitchen that was extinguished before I arrived. The fans were turned on and smoke sent out into the world.

I had dinner with my parents tonight. It was nice, quiet. Then we went into a retail store in Georgia where a fan recognized me. I was grilled on the release date for Unbecoming. I still get a thrill every time a fan says something to me. We stood and discussed how much we missed seeing David James Elliott every week on JAG. I miss John M. Jackson, too. Season ten of JAG wasn’t the same without him. For now, I think I can make do seeing Mark Harmon, and the occasional guest appearance by Muse Watson, on NCIS.

While chewing on my entree I had thoughts swirling through my brain about the plot point I’m at right now in Unbecoming. I think I’ll write around it until I figure out exactly how to fill the gap.

More on that later when my brain figures out what I meant by that.

Tags: David James Elliott, JAG, John M. Jackson, Mark Harmon, Muse Watson, NCIS, Unbecoming

Thursday? It’s not Monday?

I should have known to stay in bed today when, at 8am, I heard a tractor trailer idling too long beside my home. I live nearby an industrial area and big trucks missing their turn and stopping near my home is not all that uncommon. In fact, it usually occurs at about midnight. Sleep much? This morning, the truck mistakenly made a left turn. At this particular intersection, it will result in the removal of the neighbors mailboxes and the trailer back wheels dropping off of solid ground and into a horse pasture, mean while ruining the electric fence and allowing the horses their escape.

I managed to get by the debacle and on to work. Then it was sign number two: the floor was glazed over in my area with a thin sheen of grease. I was reminded of how stiff I had become from so-long-ago gymnast days. I almost peformed a split against my will. I then mopped the floor.

Just when I thought it was safe to breathe, at a few minutes after three, a fluorescent tube light shattered above my head, raining glass shards down on me. I had glass in every conceivable place, including those that you wouldn’t think could have gathered them.

I made it to the grocery store to get bananas and a few salad items on the way home. The self check machine won’t take my debit card. Arg! I am forced to leave my items with the self-check attendant and go call the bank. I was told, after arguing with a phone tree computer, by a native spanish speaker, that a hold had been placed on my account due to a suspect charge. That charge turned out to be my hairdresser, whom I had visited on Tuesday. Why wasn’t I called?

I finally made it home to a waiting hot shower to wash off the remains of glass and a perpetually horrible day.

I think I’ll wake up tomorrow and see if it starts any better. If not, I’m going back to bed and pulling a Garfield. It sure felt like a Monday.

Thank God for Fridays.

Reckoning

With Easter come and now gone, I’m left to reckoning. I have had to come to terms with many things about myself and my life in the last year. I hope Easter continues to remind me that this life is not just about me, but about what I am ‘to’ be.

The book is coming right along. A friend of mine in South Carolina mentioned going to see Muse Watson’s new movie in June. I think I will go. Muse will be putting in an appearance there as well. He will know soon enough that the character Jack Madison, in Unwritten, was inspired by his performances.

I am not going to make it to Oklahoma this year to see Mark Harmon. My friend Jerry is frowning because of it. I’ll miss the trip. It would have been great.

In the mean time, keep emailing me and sending your thoughts. I like your input and also feedback.

Tags: Jack Madison, Mark Harmon, Muse Watson, Unbecoming, Unwritten

It’s a bird! It’s a plane.

Tags: F-14, Tomcat, Unbecoming