Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

Inspiration for Writers by Shelley Munro

Inspiration comes in many forms. Like many writers, I enjoy people watching. One of my all-time favorite things to do is go to the mall, grab a coffee and watch the world pass by. I also enjoy learning new things and trying new experiences, many of which find there way into my writing in some shape or form. My June 2010 release, Seeking Kokopelli came about after my husband and I visited New Mexico and Colorado. I’m currently working on a book set in Yellowstone National Park, which we also visited.

In the last month, I’ve done two new things to add to my experience “bank.”
Our local community has a retirement village. They were holding an open day so I went along to tour the facilities. I actually had a lot of fun learning how retirement villages work and seeing the facilities. My tour ended with free drinks and a meal, which was a bonus, especially since my glass seemed to magically refill.

During the weekend, our local primary school held a gala day. I enjoyed wandering past all the stalls and seeing all the different things they had on offer. I have an idea for a contemporary series and the gala day will work perfectly as part of my plot.

In just under a month, I’m going on a Pacific cruise. I cannot wait! I intend to sign up for a shipboard tour, and I’m sure the knowledge I gain will work its way into a book at some stage. I carry my digital camera everywhere I go and take lots of photos to help me remember the different nuances of any new experiences.

People always ask writers if they write about their own experiences. In my case, I do put a lot of myself into my books, although when it comes to love scenes I’m not telling. I add a little imagination to the things I learn and, hopefully, come up with a book that readers will enjoy.

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and writes contemporary and paranormal romance for Samhain Publishing. Her next release is The Bottom Line, which is about a woman who explores the world of spanking and finds love along the way. You can visit Shelley at www.shelleymunro.com

Public Displays of Affection

Have you ever visited the mall and seen a couple holding hands or kissing? That, my friend, is a public display of affection. PDAs (public displays of affection) are a more recent thing, something that has occurred with the relaxing of social rules and less stringent attention to etiquette. It’s quite common to see people getting frisky and many couples like to have sex in public places because it’s naughty and risqué and a bit of a turn-on.

Vacation Preparation 101

As I write this blog, I’m thinking about packing and the hundred and one other things I need to do before Mr. Munro and I fly off to Singapore tomorrow. I thought I’d do a list of my rather random thoughts as I try to get everything done.

1. Writing is much easier.

2. With all the technology around these days, why can’t someone invent one charger to fit all? The chargers alone are going to take up a lot of space!

3. Where are my books?

4. Blast! It’s raining. No point doing the washing after all.

5. Must check my email.

6. Where is my laptop bag? It was here the other day. Maybe it’s gone to hide out in the same place as my keys. I need a coffee.

7. I wonder if hubby has talked to the neighbors about collecting the mail.

8. Yikes, all those clothes are never going to fit into our suitcase.

9. The internet isn’t connecting. Ring Telecom. The fault is their end. It might be back up tomorrow. Grrr! I have a headache.

10. Weird, I can’t find any of my handkerchiefs. Not one.

11. I wonder if I’ve forgotten anything.

12. Writing is definitely easier!

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and loves to travel once she gets past all the packing and last minute drama. Her recent release TEA FOR TWO is now available in print. To learn more about Shelley, her books, contests and travel visit her website at www.shelleymunro.com.

Sensory Input and Stress

Each day we’re bombarded with things that cause us stress. While a little stress is good, constant exposure can lead to long-term health problems. If you’d like to learn a little more my Thursday Thirteen today is about stress and what it does to the body.

So how do we relieve the symptoms of stress?

As writers, we’re told to use the five senses in scenes when writing our books. The same five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell can help us relieve stress.

Sight: soothing and uplifting images work, especially if you’re a visual person. Bring the outdoors inside in the form of plants and flowers, place personal mementos such as photos in your office and private space. Walk on the beach or through the park or botanical gardens.

Hearing: if you’re sensitive to sound and love music, auditory stimulation will work well. Listen to your favorite music, hang up some wind chimes, buy a small fountain to place in your office or private space, go for a walk and listen to all the sounds.

Touch: works well if you’re a tactile person. Wrap yourself in a blanket and relax. Pet a cat or dog. Soak in a hot bath or dress in soft or sensuous clothing that feels good next to your skin.

Taste: this is a trickier one since we don’t want to get out of control and gain weight! But slow savoring of a favorite food can help relieve stress. Drink a glass of your favorite beverage. Lick an ice cream cone. Sip a cup of hot tea or indulge in a piece of chocolate, letting it melt slowly on your tongue.

Smell: If you tend to become quiet and introspective while stressed look for an invigorating scent and if stress turns you into the Energizer Bunny go for a relaxing scent. Light a scented candle or spritz on your favorite scent. Walk in a garden and smell the flowers. Breathe in the scent of fresh coffee or bread.

Practice the above strategies and you’ll be well on the way to managing stress.

Source – How to Manage Stress

What are your favorite ways to relieve stress?

Shelley Munro loves walking, cycling, boxing on her Wii and baking cakes when she’s stressed. Her contemporary release, TEA FOR TWO is currently available for pre-order at Amazon. You can visit Shelley to learn about her writing and books at www.shelleymunro.com

A Visit With Robert Louis Stevenson

I’m off to Western Samoa in a few weeks. This will be my second visit, and I can’t wait. Picture me on the beach with a book and a fruitie drink from the bar because that’s where I intend to spend most of my time. But Samoa isn’t all beaches. During our previous holiday, we did some sightseeing and visited Robert Louis Stevenson’s house. It’s the place where he spent the last years of his life. This trip I might even make the hike up the hill to see his final resting spot.

Woman Take A Stand by Shelley Munro

I’m an avid traveler and a recent article in the travel section of the New Zealand Herald caught my attention. It spoke to me. It made me laugh.

In some countries, you still have travel with a father or a husband before being allowed to enter i.e. Saudi Arabia. In other countries I’ve visited, such as Iran, women have to wear head scarves, covered shoes and a long sleeved coat. I have a photo somewhere of me and two girlfriends in the back of a cab in Esfahan, Iran. We’re dressed in black from head to foot and wearing huge grins. We wore a black chador during our visit plus headscarves. I remember being uncomfortable and hot for the full seven days it took us to drive through the country. That said, it was a wonderful experience and we met some lovely people.

Tea For Two: About Tasseomancy

When I started writing Tea For Two I wanted an unusual occupation for my heroine. I was also feeling nostalgic and wanted to visit London, England again. Unfortunately the wallet wasn’t up to an overseas jaunt so I did the next best thing. I decided to set my story in London. At least that way I had a good excuse to drag all my old photos, maps and guidebooks out of the cupboard and maybe slip into visit a travel agent or two when Mr. Munro wasn’t paying attention.