While I have offered some good advice in my Wordslinger posts, (and we've all had a few good yucks in the process) I think that this month's essay has the potential to do the most good for any and all writers in any and all mediums.
In today’s modern age, when a chivalrous knight appears to protect us from harm, we’re reminded of the value of honor.
Just yesterday such a thing happened to me. Out of nowhere, a hero stepped up to protect me and had been protecting others in the same manner.
There is no benefit or gain to be had on the hero’s part—only a deep and underlying need to do the honorable thing. The right thing.
Our society is in dire need of those who adhere to a code of honor. Honor goes beyond the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have done unto you.
Honor is recognizing a wrong and doing what you can to make it right.
Honor is seeing someone in distress…and offering aid.
Honor is treating others as human beings.
Honor is protecting and supporting the emotional welfare of another.
Honor is respecting the rights of others.
Honor is thinking of another’s needs above our own.
In the harsh world in which we live, where there are villains and natural disasters we cannot always avoid, it’s a bright shining ray of hope when heroes adhere to a code of honor. But they are not rare…they are everywhere. We need but only open our eyes.
We become the hero when we step outside ourselves to be aware of and protect others in all ways. Our loved ones and friends are there for us, looking out for us…even when we do not see the imminent danger. Warriors, in the form of our military, firefighters, and law enforcement, go out and do battle to protect us and our way of life without ever having met us.
Romance celebrates the code of honor. We cannot love if we do not step outside of ourselves and extend our hearts to another. One of my favorite aspects of writing and reading romance is the honor that the characters display…because honor stems from a place of love.
When the hero swoops in to prevent disaster…
When the girl bares her heart to save the wounded man…
When the friend takes a risk to save another…
The road is paved for everyone to seize their happily ever after.
Thank you to all the heroes out there and everyone who celebrates them. May we all continue to celebrate the code of honor within our hearts, in our friends and loved ones, and in every warrior we’ve never met who protects us in ways we cannot fathom.
We teach honor through actions…may its treasure spread like wildfire.
Your humble shoe,
~ Kat
© 2013 by Kat Bastion
Hello, everyone!
In recent weeks I’ve been posting weather reports on Twitter from the Highlands. Every morning before dawn, I race into the woods after my favorite alpha male characters and their feisty heroines, inking their adventures into stories to share with all of you.
If you hadn’t already noticed on either my website or my spirited Twitter posts, I write time-travel paranormal romances set mostly in the medieval Highlands of Scotland.
This fall, I’ll be bringing you the first story in the series.
{vibrates excitedly}
The first award-winning manuscript in the series is nearly ready to publish. Starting next week, I’ll be glued to my keyboard as I incorporate the insightful suggestions made by my beta readers.
In mid-April, the manuscript is going to a wonderful freelance editor.
{cringes, imagining a chainsaw ripping into my work of art}
A creative summer will be filled with final edits, final proofing, cover art, and arranging a promotional tour.
The first book is tentatively set for a September 2013 release date.
My early morning Twitter weather reports from Inverness, Scotland?
They’ve prepared me for the daily plunge into the snowy forests of the Highlands in a holiday novella I’m also penning for the series.
Incorporating characters from all three of the longer novels, the novella will release in November of 2013.
Furious drafting of the second manuscript has begun. While chasing after my characters to document their wild adventures, I’ve been typing two to three thousand words a day.
I anticipate an early 2014 release for the second book.
I’ve had such a blast combining my favorite genres–paranormal, romance, and the medieval Highlands–into my writing. All the stories feature strong characters who go on a journey of self-discovery, finding unexpected love amid their turbulent adventures.
Many themes center on the difficulties in overcoming issues of trust and the rewards of learning acceptance. Redemption will play a large role in the second and third novels of the series.
Some of the stories will also highlight the great tragedy of human trafficking set within the timeframe of the stories. The characters struggle with the grave injustice brought into their lives and learn to survive and thrive in spite of the darkness of their world.
The completed series will tell the stories of three siblings whose lives and clan are affected by a very unique kind of magick.
{refuses to give away spoilers} 
Are you a book reviewer?
Do you love paranormal romance, time-travel, or Highlander romances?
I’ve begun a list for ARC copies. If you’re a book reviewer interested in reviewing the book for its release, and we’ve not yet spoken, please contact me via Twitter or by email. I’d love to add you to the list.
If you participate on a blog or with a magazine and wish to be a part of any of the promotional tours, please email me your information and ideas. I’d love to start building that list and calendar as well.
As I mentioned, I’m anticipating a release of the first book sometime in September 2013 and the novella sometime in November 2013, but will know firmer dates as the months progress.
In recent months, traveling along my own road of self-discovery, I’ve become a more selfless creature and strive to continue toward that end every day.
Both World Vision and Covenant House support efforts to fight human trafficking. In November of 2012, the romantic poetry collection of Utterly Loved, with inspiring foreword by the incredible author and humanitarian Sylvain Reynard, was published to support those worthy charities.
With every other book I publish, a portion of the proceeds will go to an ever-growing list of charities in the hopes of raising awareness and increasing support for those that are lost in this world and in need of our love.
Now that I’m chronicling a rowdy clan of Highlanders, my weekly blog posts will transform into spontaneous musings. I’ll occasionally wander out of the forest for a signal on my electronic devices.
My goals for the year are to get that first book into your hands by early fall and release that novella by the holidays.
Meanwhile, be sure to follow me on Twitter, where I try to say hello at least once or twice daily; “like” me on Facebook; and “friend” me on Goodreads.
Thank you for every bit of enthusiasm and support that you’ve given for my writing and for the charities I support.
Until the next blog post…
{disappears into the Highland mist, notepad and pen at the ready}
Your humble shoe,
~ Kat
© 2013 by Kat Bastion
Have you ever noticed that…
The first bite of dessert is always the sweetest?
The first touch by a crush… the most electric?
The first kiss… the most soul-searing?
It’s the thrill of discovery.
As children, we experience so many things for the very first time. Our senses are thrown open wide to soak in the incredible world around us. We aren’t just on the edge of our seat paying attention, we’re standing on it with excited anticipation a split second before taking a huge fearless leap into the sensory overload.
Take the time to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel things you haven’t paused long enough to absorb, and you’ll be rewarded with new experiences. Sometimes altering one element in your everyday routine incites a riot of new input simply by going off-course from the expected. A shift to a different position at a favorite restaurant table is a basic example. You’ve changed your viewpoint literally and your perception in a multitude of ways. Try it.
A few months back, I sat on the ground examining a new transplant in our yard out of concern for its welfare (I’m a horrific plant parent) and found more than the plant alive before my eyes. 
What a treasure it is to stumble across something beautiful happening right under our busy noses.
As a writer, we express our three-dimensional adventure onto the page, tempting the reader to get lost in the vivid world we’ve created. Our goal is to take them along for a ride they’ve never experienced.
If because of our efforts they…
Feel the abrasive surface of the jagged stone wall…
Squint at the brilliant sunset before it fades below the horizon…
Savor the taste of a tart cherry pie…
Inhale the sweet earthy aroma of a pine forest…
Hear the pop and crackle of a roaring fire?
Mission accomplished.
There is actually a phase in the writing process called discovery. Some define it as the exploratory period in which we seek new topics and do research. I recall an article I read over a year ago that described it ideally. It appeared in a past issue of the RWR (the Romance Writers Report, a trade publication through Romance Writers of America) and described the discovery process as a time of rest and recharge between writing projects.
The holiday from “work” should be a time to immerse ourselves in the outside world, separate from the isolated writing caves we’ve sequestered ourselves within most of the year. Music, art, outdoor adventures, and civic events all become opportunities for us to turn our thinking brains off and amplify our learning. Surrounding ourselves in melting pots of activity allows us to observe human behavior from a relaxed vantage point. Wandering into a different solitary activity, like painting or reading a new book, maybe even in a genre outside our norm, helps expand our horizons.
When the time is right, maybe after a few days, perhaps after a few weeks, our rested and recharged brains are stocked full of creative new ideas from a variety of sources.
Interestingly, layers of discovery happened while writing my latest manuscript. The stories in my series are about self-discovery.
At the exact moments my heroine flew high with happiness and achievement, circumstances ripped away her newfound joy. When she stood again from the pile of surrounding rubble, she learned something about herself. She found strength because she’d tasted heavenly bliss and then plummeted to crushing heartache. From a new perspective, she discovered what she truly wanted in life…and it was not what she’d originally thought. Once she realized the ultimate prize within her reach was threatened, she discovered the one thing worth fighting for above all else… those she loved. The ones in her world who relied on her suddenly had all her focused attention.
As my heroine’s discovery unfolded on the pages in true pantster-style writing, her realization provoked my own. Everything is about the journey. Life happens along the way from here to there, and if you aren’t paying attention you’ll miss it.
How funny that my own character in a story taught me how to shift my focus from self-centered to selfless. But then, I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me at all. When we write, pieces of ourselves shine through onto the page and are expressed to some degree in many of our beloved characters.
Treat your life as a rare adventure. Look at each mundane activity as an opportunity to seize a new experience with a subtle shift of perception. Channel the child within you, living every precious day you’re given as a sparkling gift. Unwrap your treasure with unbridled excitement and embrace… the thrill of discovery.
Enjoy your world, my friends. I wish us all the most spectacular time as we step from our ordinary lives into the world of the extraordinary.
Your humble shoe,
~ Kat
© 2013 by Kat Bastion
Hello, everyone.
As you all know, or will now be finding out, I’m a paranormal romance writer that stumbled into poetry accidentally with Utterly Loved.
I’m back in the saddle (my office chair), my fingers flying on the keyboard with a new paranormal romance story. My new work-in-progress (WIP in writer lingo) is a holiday novella woven into the story lines of the series. After that, it will be on to writing the second in the series. I can’t wait to write the amazing stories unfolding in my head.
You’re probably all wondering: What happened to the first story?
It’s currently a polished manuscript. I’ve scheduled a freelance editor to edit the piece in the beginning of February. If all goes well, the book will be published early to mid-summer.
In the meantime? It’s with four beta readers.
Who are these beta readers?
They are dear trusted friends who love to read.
Collectively, they…
Held my hair in college when I hurled at the bar
Were the first to tell me, “That’s the story you need to write”
Consoled me when I was frustrated
Wiped away the tears
Cheered the successes
Sometimes know me better than I know myself
These are my people. The ones I rely on. My closest confidants.
I only decided last week to take each of them up on their offer to read my story. This project has been a part of my life for two years. They are the ones who’ve shared my ups and downs along the way.
I finally got the courage to let go and give my heart and soul to them.
Why now?
I had an enlightening hour-long conversation with a best-selling author who shared with me the value of her beta readers and why they’re so important to her. She said they’re the only ones who truly know her. Her most important goal was for them to be honest with her and, where warranted, tell her, “This sucks.”
We both laughed. But the impact of what she said sank in. She further explained how they will see things we can’t. We writers are too close to our work to see certain things we need to know. If we want to publish a page-turning story, one the reader can’t put down and thinks about long after they have, we have to know if there are slow sections, missing parts, or extraneous, excellently written fluff.
I decided she was right. My friends wanted to be a part of the process. Each of them had voiced that sentiment to me. I also realized no one else would do.
They will all laugh when they read this blog post. I impressed upon each of them to please relax, read, and enjoy the story. But they had better tell me if they hit a slow part. I demanded they tell me if any part of it sucked. I have every confidence they will. If it’s ever really bad, I hope they please break it to me gently over a drink. {laughs}
The really amazing thing for me? They’re all from different backgrounds. I’ve got swamp and city. All are highly educated and intelligent, but some are analytical and some are creative. Only one of them reads books in my paranormal romance genre. One tells me they will give me their opinion when they are finished reading. (I’m dying of suspense.) Another is telling me chapter-by-chapter her thoughts.
So far? My chapter-by-chapter (non-paranormal-romance) girl is giving me such incredibly exciting feedback, I’m having to repeatedly ask her, “Are there any slow parts? Anything missing or extra?” She’s replied with a resounding “NO!”
Her texts have said…
“I am speechless…”
“Never saw that coming!”
“You have this supernatural ability to take the reader to the edge of a heightened emotion and then drop them immediately into another.”
“I’m having to force myself to stop reading. The flow…epic! Just when one scene is finishing up, another one, just as vital, comes into play.”
“It’s the perfect flow of detail and plot movement.”
She’s even dubbed the hero, a Highlander, “Scotty McHotty” … I just… {dies laughing}
I’m very interested to hear my other beta reader opinions. I value them all.
Thank you, my beloved beta readers. I’m so very grateful for your friendship and support. Don’t go easy on me. Find me something that sucks…please!
It’s important to mention, that I have a fifth beta reader, my husband. He read my manuscript months ago. As my best friend, he told me where it sucked. He also pulled me up out of my office chair the moment he finished, grabbed me by the shoulders, and stared at me hard as he said, “Anyone who ever tells you that you don’t have what it takes has no idea what they’re talking about.”
Damn, I love that man, for both telling me where it sucked and convincing me I have talent. That is why I love my friends. They excel by having my back in every way needed… The love and the tough love.
My goal is to give you, the reader, the very best story possible. I hope to transport you into an amazing story filled with medieval Highlanders, ancient Picts, magick, and a few other surprises I’m not yet ready to spoil for you.
Stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming release and my adventures in writing, editing, and publishing along the way.
Your humble shoe,
~ Kat
© 2013 by Kat Bastion
I LOVE reading. That said, I choose not to read while writing. My reading abstinence helps me maintain my voice and stay motivated. {whispers} I’m easily distracted.
By the time I’m finally able to read, I’m starving for really great books. I search for the phenomenal reads. If I find a paranormal romance? I’m in heaven.
After months of editing my paranormal romance manuscript last year, I took my first reading break in late September and read many spectacular books over the holidays. Most were outside my preferred genres. The experience of stepping outside my comfortable reading box was highly rewarding. I encourage everyone to do the same.
Books that blew me away among a field of a dozen very good books:
Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard (Romance)
Gabriel’s Rapture by Sylvain Reynard (Romance)
Iced by Karen Marie Moning (Fantasy)
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton (Comedy/Romance)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Young Adult/Fantasy)
My first read in late September? Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard. I chose well. In the beginning few pages, compelling writing drew me into the world of Gabriel’s Inferno while I sat in the middle of a chaotic airport. Over the course of a week, I fell in love with the characters, the story, and the author. Gabriel’s Inferno instantly became my favorite book and Sylvain Reynard my favorite author. Why? The complexities are great as to the reasons. It’s written differently, which I enjoyed. The references to art and culture are so plentiful and detailed, I became a student in the professor’s class. Gabriel’s Inferno is a captivating sensual and poignant journey of love, hope and redemption written in a delightfully artistic manner. A must read.
My second read? Gabriel’s Rapture by Sylvain Reynard, of course. I needed more of Gabriel and Julia. Sylvain Reynard’s second book did not disappoint. Complex storylines emerged and wove together taking the reader on the ultimate journey of self-sacrifice, hope and love. The main character’s continuing transformation in this book, from a man past all hope of redemption to one who has been saved through love of many kinds, is an amazing must read.
The book I’d been waiting almost two years for? Iced by Karen Marie Moning. I’ll admit I began reading with equal parts excitement and apprehension, as this is the first book in a spin-off series after her phenomenal Fever Series. Could Moning match the stellar writing and intriguing story from the Fever Series? Suffice it to say, she eclipsed it. I couldn’t put the book down. Her imagination is incredible and her writing and vivid imagery are flawless; you are there in her world. I highly recommend this book if you love fantasy, but to get the full effect, you may want to read her five-book Fever Series first.
A surprise love? Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. I didn’t think I was a fan of romantic comedy. Apparently, I am a huge fan of Alice Clayton’s brand of laughter and love. What began as Caroline’s midnight irritation, turned into her neighbor’s well-earned nickname, and evolved into a wonderfully fun love story. I fell in love with the characters and story through Clayton’s well-written humor. Even Clive, the heroine’s cat, had me in stitches. What captured me the most in Wallbanger is the way the comedy endeared you to the characters. I share the same sense of humor with the characters and found the exchanges very relatable. I wanted to be at their dinner parties. In fact, I now find I want to go to Spain. And bake… 
An even bigger surprise? Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, my first Young Adult genre read. I’d never ventured into Young Adult, but was not disappointed. It quickly became clear to me that Laini Taylor is a very special author. She writes fantasy, a genre that I love, flawlessly. The story was unique and fresh. The way she unfolded events had me page-turning until the very end. If you like fantasy, or even paranormal, I highly recommend this book.
All five of those incredible books are now cherished stories on my Kindle that I’ll be reading again when the time is right. I hope you enjoy their well-written heartfelt stories as well. Thank you to all the authors for sharing your imaginative worlds with us.
I’m adding those reviews to my Goodreads Page, which I’m still learning to navigate. {laughs} Stop by there and say hello!
Please share your thoughts. What other stellar books have you read? I need to start a list for my next writing break later this year!
Have a wonderful time reading, my friends!
Your humble shoe,
~ Kat
© 2013 by Kat Bastion
I’ve never made a New Year’s resolution.
Am I an exception to the masses? I’m not sure. Perhaps you could share your thoughts.
The idea had always seemed impermanent to me. Anyone I’d ever known who’d made a resolution made an attempt to curb excess of one sinful nature or another, only to abandon said restriction before the next legal holiday.
I’ve never exempted myself from those who have behaviors to modify. I’m certainly sinful, just as any other person, being human after all, but I’ve never been moved to change with a “resolution.”
Until I had.
Reflecting back on the last few months of my life, I realize the major changes I had ever wanted to make in my life, the person I had always strived to be, had happened. Events beyond my control flicked on a dusty switch that apparently had always been destined to shine a brilliant light. I’d blinked in amazement as the darkened world around me suddenly glowed brightly.
Like all things new, however, there will forever be vast room for improvement. Infinite lessons await us as we seek to master… becoming our better self.
Coming off a landmark year for me as far as changes go, I’m embracing the next stage with the strong foundation of the last. Truly, the first affirmation was admitting to myself that I haven’t changed.
… I’ve transformed.
As I dangle from the safety of my familiar cocoon, the moment has come to fly. Time to stretch my wings.
I will endeavor to be who I was meant to be… the butterfly.
With beauty and grace, I accept who I am. I will remind myself daily of what I was meant to do with my fragile life in this harsh and unforgiving world…
To live each precious moment to its fullest
To multi-task less and focus more
To think of others and act so they feel it
To love with all the fire and passion in my heart
To cherish those whose lives I touch
To stand strong amid the darkness and brighten it daily
To believe the smallest kindness matters
To give charitably in thought, word and deed at every opportunity
To honor the vessel in which my heart and soul reside
To write for the love of writing
To spread awareness of those in need of love
To save the world one book at a time…
The last resolution came about from publishing the romantic poems in Utterly Loved, and yet, from that one project, all the other tiny miracles within me strengthened and took hold. One book pivotally changed me. The belief in a singular collection of heartfelt poems delivered with a message powerful enough to change our world… transformed me.
Of course, there where many catalysts along the way, for which I am forever grateful… My readiness to accept change toward growth. The humanitarian efforts of the author who wrote the inspiring foreword for Utterly Loved, Sylvain Reynard. The support of loved ones and new friends made along the way.
I look forward to the path unfolding before me. My journey is not for the year ahead. The adventure I’m taking will be for a lifetime.
Please join me in embracing a lifetime of resolutions. Our world will be a better place if everyone commits to spreading love in a place very much in need of the kindness of our hearts.
Begin by purchasing Utterly Loved. For yourself. For your friends. Your library. Your church. Share the beautiful poetry with a serious message of saving those in need of everything we have to give. Daily.
Purchase Utterly Loved in paperback
Purchase Utterly Loved in Kindle edition
So? I’m truly dying to know…
Have you done New Year’s resolutions in years past?
What are your resolutions this year?
Are you ready to commit to Resolutions… For a Lifetime?
What are your ideas for lifetime resolutions?
Thank you, my friends. Your support in spreading awareness of charity, in giving all you can to those in need, in purchasing and sharing the news of Utterly Loved, is deeply appreciated. Have a happy, loving, and prosperous year to come… that you may share your abundance with others. May love and hope spread like wildfire in our world.
Your humble shoe,
~ Kat
Oh… {slides back in before you leave}
P. S. ~ I have one more very important resolution to add…
To keep my desk uncluttered for maximum creative writing flow!
© 2013 by Kat Bastion
© 2012 by Kat Bastion
In delicate whispers it falls
Near rainbow-twisted icicles
Parachutes drift in patterned lace
Branches frosted with tender grace
Sparkling clear diamond days arrive
Foot-printed forest brought to life
Swooshing turns on fallen powder
Playground starts contagious laughter
Steaming hot tub, beautiful view
Perfect snowman molded by two
Through window steamed by warming fire
Snow beckons forth sweetest desire
When the storm comes, I hope it brings with it even the smallest treasures to enjoy. Please be safe and continue to give to those who are still in need from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.
Your Favorite Shoe,
Kat
© 2012 by Kat Bastion
Today's blogiversary guest post comes from Kat Bastion...and it's a good one peeps.
Read and enjoy...O...and there's a giveaway at the end :)
© 2012 by Kat Bastion
Half full. That would be a description of my beverage vessel.
Those who read my blog posts or watch my Twitter timeline know this indelible truth about me.
The label means I’m fortunate enough to wake most every morning excited about the day. Present me a problem? I focus on solutions. If storm clouds threaten, I see sunshine after the storm.
I do have occasional defeated moments, bluesy afternoons and down days. There are times when I desperately need a hug, a smile, or a cheerleader. Most of the time… I’m the one giving them.
Optimists are hardwired to see and seek the goodness in a dark, harsh world. The blessing is multi-faceted. We share positivity with others, because our cups are more than merely half full.
They runneth over…
With enough joy in one’s heart, sharing with others is easy. The rewards for everyone? Immeasurable.
Many of those closest to me are not optimists. I dare say some are pessimists. It’s good, actually. We balance each other. They worry about the worst possible scenario. I anticipate the best outcome. Reality plays out somewhere in between.
One day a snarly stranger, upset by life’s circumstances, threw her anger at me. I smiled, deflecting it. My surprising reaction disarmed her. We focused together on the root of her problem, and she relaxed. I’ve never worn a cape, but I know I saved her day, or at least a moment in time for her. I gave her some of my optimism. I gave her hope. At no cost to me. The act lifted both our spirits.
It’s almost like a super-power. With not enough of it out there in the world, it shines like a beacon, attracting others to the vibrant feel-good. They want a hit of the drug you’re dealing.
Anyone can adopt optimist traits. No matter our natural tendencies—two loved ones in my life are textbook pessimists—we all have the ability to give selfless love. Smiles and laughter are contagious. Those same beloved pessimists often go rogue, making others smile and laugh.
Now you all know why I vibrate so much! {laughs}… It’s impossible to hold it all in.
We’re all on the same spectrum. I’m nowhere near the most optimistic. Every day I strive to find the bright side. Everyone has the capacity to find and share more happiness.
Two wonderful books on the topic are The Ultimate Happiness Prescription by Deepak Chopra and Always Looking Up – The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox.
In the darkest hour, the smallest act of kindness bestowed becomes the foundation of many miracles. ~ Kat Bastion
I know I cannot save the world. But, I can brighten someone’s day.
Want to know what it’s like to have the adventures of an optimist?
{smiles slowly}… Join me and find out.
What are your favorite ways to find optimism? Who inspires you the most?
Go forth. Share your smile. Ignite hope in another.
Your Favorite Shoe,
Kat
© 2012 by Kat Bastion
