I have passes for a FREE advanced screening of the new film, Shutter Island.

CLICK HERE FOR PASS

Shutter Island

Director: Martin Scorsese

Synopsis: Based on the novel "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane. An atmospheric psychological thriller set in a 1950s asylum for the criminally insane. It's 1954, and up-and-coming U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a patient from Shutter Island's Ashecliffe Hospital. He'd been gunning for an assignment on the island for reasons of his own -- but before long he wonders whether he hasn't been brought there as part of a twisted plot by hospital doctors whose radical tr... more Based on the novel "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane. An atmospheric psychological thriller set in a 1950s asylum for the criminally insane. It's 1954, and up-and-coming U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a patient from Shutter Island's Ashecliffe Hospital. He'd been gunning for an assignment on the island for reasons of his own -- but before long he wonders whether he hasn't been brought there as part of a twisted plot by hospital doctors whose radical treatments range from unethical to illegal to downright sinister. Teddy's code-breaking skills soon provide a promising lead, but the hospital refuses him access to records he suspects would break the case wide open. As a hurricane cuts off communication with the mainland, more dangerous criminals "escape" in the confusion, and the puzzling, improbable clues proliferate, Teddy begins to doubt everything -- his memory, his partner, even his own sanity.

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Release Date: Friday, February 19, 2010

MPAA Rating: THIS FILM IS RATED R FOR ADULT LANGUAGE, NUDITY, VIOLENCE.

Screening Info:

February 18, 2010 at 7:00PM

Phoenix, AZ

LINK

Up late writing a fun scene tonight. This is the music one of my characters puts on for his date to impress her. The song is called Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado. It was a big hit way back in 1955, but I think it is timeless. It helps a lot to have the actual song playing while I script it all out! The video is sweeter than cotton candy on a sundae, so I thought I'd share! Enjoy! LINK NOTE: About my deadline! I turned in a big chunk of the book Monday, and was allowed a week extra to finish up! Thank you for all the encouraging comments and emails,I really appreciate it! Peace, love, and glitter! Kathy :-)

Photograph: Roger Tooth

This time of the year always reminds me of when I plunged to the depths of my chocolate addiction. This little event took place about 10 or 11 years ago.

For years, I nagged Patrick to surprise me with a box of high-end valentine confections. When he finally got the hint, I happened to be on the Atkins diet.

I hadn't tasted sugar in months. Shock came over my face as I unwrapped my gift - of all times to hit me up with these creamy confections? I had no will power. I felt like Edward Cullen, sitting next to Bella Swan in Biology class. My eyes turned black and I couldn't contain the yearning to BITE.

I stayed firm and calmly set the box aside. I decided to do the dishes as a way to quietly debate my dilemma. To scarf or not to scarf? I know you're thinking - "just a nibble", but when you haven't had the hard stuff in weeks and then it's under your nose - the concept of "nibble" does not exist. "Gobble" takes over. I contemplated my options while Patrick went to the other room with our kids and my mother-in-law.

I thought maybe I could handle a nibble if I prepped myself first.

My mind raced. I knew if I ate just one piece, my diet would certainly crash and burn. You know that split-second turning point when you eat junk, there is no turning back? Regardless, a devilish voice in my head said,

"It's a gift, silly. A nibble won't hurt."

"NO waaay!" I said out loud. I grabbed the box and shoved it into the kitchen trash.

My hands trembled as I scrubbed the countertop. "Just a nibble . . . " I innocently thought.

Next thing I knew, I had my hands in the trash. I ripped off the lid and popped a truffle in my mouth. I closed my eyes and began to sway from the smooth, dark, decadence. I hadn't even finished it, yet had one more on deck.

All of a sudden the voice of a child brought me back to reality. My child.

"Mommy, why are you eating out of the garbage?" my son asked.

"Oh!" I laughed while wiping away the drool, "It's not what it looks like, sweetie!"

Yikes. I noticed my mother-in-law and husband had also witnessed my dirty deed.

"Were you just eating those candies out of the trash?" my mother-in-law asked.

"No, please let me explain," I cried. "The top of the box was still on them and . . . "

"Kathy!" said Patrick. "Why did you throw my present away?"

I ended up taking the box out of the trash and we all ate the chocolates together!

 Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

My book deadline is in 36-hours. I'm far from the finish line. Instead of crying and freaking out, I'm working hard to get as far as I can. I'm mad at myself for spending to much time editing early in the process back in November, when I should have just been writing. Now I'm paying for it!

Every chapter is a scenic road trip with lots of adventure and sights. But the hard part is in between the chapters. Sitting at the rest stop, taking too much to stretch. It's hard to get going from level zero. But as soon as I get going, the words and scenes fly and I can't go fast enough.

I'm at the rest stop at the moment, getting ready to put my foot to the pedal again. Break over. Last night I wrote for 12 hours straight. Hoping to have that magic again tonight!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

We are starting to put together a blog tour for when my novel comes out! If you want to:

- participate in reviewing the book on your site
- having an interview or feature

send me a message (kathyATcraftychicaDOTcom) or leave a comment, and the publicity department from Grand Central Publishing will be in touch!

Yikes, I can't believe time is getting close!

Thanks!!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

(Art: Focus and center, by my friend, Tracy Dove, TracyDove.com)

I'm starting to worry. CHA is next week in two days, and I'm not quite ready. But I will be.

Focus and center.

My novel manuscript is due next month in two weeks, and it's not done. I'm hoping praying it will be.

Focus and center.

I'm giving up parties and dinners at CHA so I can scurry back to my hotel room to continue banging out the stylish saga of Scarlet, DeeDee, and Mary Theresa.

The thing about writing fiction is you can't rush. I can't stay up all night and finish this project like I can with my artwork and crafty assignments. Yet, at the same time, I know what is going to happen in the plot and I'm excited to get there, so I push harder and faster to write each chapter.

In my last book (the one that comes out in March) all the characters had a lot of "me" in them. That helped my fingers fly across the keyboard. However, none of these new characters resemble me at all. This book stretches beyond crafting and touches into fashion design and costume-making. There are scenes in New York, Miami, Glendale, and Phoenix. It's hoity toity in some parts. The eras span from the 1950s to present. I never thought I could "go there". I always thought as long as I stayed in my comfort zone of what I know, I'd do just fine.

Instead, I'm tackling a marathon through the woods! And I'm very proud so far, even though I've had many deletes and do-overs. All of this makes writing my characters' story lines more interesting because they are people I normally would have nothing to do with, and now they are all I think about! I love them because they have lots of drama and sparkle surrounding them.

I've been writing until 1-2 a.m. every night, on weekends I start at 10 a.m. I haven't seen the news, any new movies, or gone out to dinner. I'm washing the same clothes over and over to shave time off of deciding what to wear. I haven't coated these lashes with mascara in weeks, but I do still wear red lipstick. I apply face cream when I need to think through a scene. My skin is super soft right now. The kids make me coffee, Patrick makes my meals and serves them to me at my desk. I hide when company comes over so they won't see me in this state.

I do take breaks. Weekdays are prepping for CHA and other stuff for my job, and sometimes at night I'll catch an episode of 30 Rock or Ugly Betty. (LOVE!) Half of me is 100% burnt out. I'm beyond anxious to get in the art room and paint, draw, sew and stitch. But I can't. I have to finish this book first. I WANT to finish this book first.

I'm probably boring you to tears. OK, getting back to work!

Focus and center!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

Using a timer might help you break through your writer's block. Set a timer for five minutes and once it starts, just type away, don't let yourself stop to think until the buzzer goes off. The better you feel, stretch it out to 10, 15, 30 minutes. This is a good way to download ideas from brain to paper. And it doesn't leave room for second guessing, you can always edit later.

Tip: Don't use a kitchen timer! It has that annoying tick tock sound that will drive you loco. I use the alarm feature on my iPhone.

I'm still working away on writing my book, praying  i can finish by deadline. It's been hard to focus with all that is going on in the world.

We keep hearing about celebrities donating a million dollars to Haiti relief efforts. I wish our little familia had a million dollars to donate too. But we don't. We have bills, bills, bills.

But we do have art and craft supplies!

Today and tomorrow (Sunday and Monday), we are donating 100% of our Etsy store sales and even what is left of our Yahoo merch to Doctors Without Borders.

Even though daily life can be a struggle, it is nothing compared to what these people are going through right now. I know our crafty donations will be a drop in the bucket, but at least it is something!

NOTE: Other crafty friends of mine are doing the same! Chick out Vickie Howell's fund-raising efforts, as well as Alisa Burke!

Etsy Buy Handmade craftychica

5:10 p.m.: Sorry, all the passes are gone! Check back again for more book-to-movie promotions!

If you live in the Phoenix metropolitan area, I'm giving away 50 movie passes to see an advanced screening of The Lovely Bones.

Screening Info:

January 12, 2010 at 7:00PM
Harkins Fashion Square, Scottsdale, AZ

LINK

CLICK HERE TO PRINT A PASS FOR YOU AND ONE GUEST (limit of 50)

The Lovely Bones

Director: Peter Jackson

Synopsis: Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, and directed by Oscar® winner Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson, “The Lovely Bones” centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. Oscar® nominee Mark Wahlberg and Oscar® winners Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon star along with Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli and Oscar® nominee Saoirse Ronan.

Studio:

Release Date: Friday, January 15, 2010

MPAA Rating: THIS FILM IS RATED PG-13 FOR MATURE THEMATIC MATERIAL INVOLVING DISTURBING VIOLENT CONTENT AND IMAGES, AND SOME LANGUAGE.

I spent all day crafting the chapter I mentioned in my previous post.

I'm happy to report, I had a breakthrough and love how it turned out. Not only that, but it led me to the perfect ending for the entire novel. There's no way I could have come to the idea if not for writing through the details of this chapter. No. Way.

My advice (as a second-time novelist): It's not wise to spend all your time (ie: procrastinating) outlining the plot to spider web-thin details, or filling pages with lists of quirky character notes. Yes, they come in handy and can make the overall job easier - BUT they are not the be all, end all.

Once your fingers start flying across the keyboard, your characters will come to life in unexpected ways. Be open to listen to them - they know what works!

I thought my original outline was pure genius, all the pieces of the story fit perfectly in place. Until I started writing it. One of my secondary characters bloomed big time, and I had no choice but to go into her backstory. And through that, I discovered new ways to enhance my other characters' storylines so they all play off of eachother.

Thank you, Daisy! (That's her name)

How I'm handling this: I always have a printed outline on my desk. In my computer, I have my master outline. After every couple of chapters, I revise it with the changes, save it as a new file by date and print it out. That way I can keep track of what has happened and where I'm going, yet I still have the master saved. I try not to spend too much time on this process, just a few important lines of content.

I had hoped to hit 5,000 words, but I'm happy with the 2,600 I closed out with tonight. I'm more than anxious to wake up and dive into the next chapter. Miss Scarlet, here I come!