Welcome Guest Blogger Kay Stockham!
A while back on the eHarlequin Make Mine Supers! loop, a discussion began about how we see our muse and what, if anything, we had which represented it. Did we possess any tangible thing as a visual?
Well, I opened my mouth (always a semi-dangerous thing) and posted that I actually do have a statue on my bookshelf which I consider my ‘muse.’
The problem? He’s green, warty and dressed in princely finery. Yup—he’s a frog.
But wait. Why not have Prince Charming as my muse? Don’t I write romance about the gallant hero coming in and saving the heroine?
Um, no. In fact, if anything I typically have my heroines doing something to help my hero out. Besides, what woman ever really gets the prince? And who’d want him when said woman would have to put up with the queen mother and all the dictates? See?
So, yeah, I have a frog. My muse is a guy humbled by his current situation. He’s warty with problems and worries, and dressed in nice clothes because he’s trying to hide the fact that his life isn’t all it should be—or all he’s pretending it to be. My frog also holds his heart in his hands because it’s been broken and he’s not sure how to fix it. So he cradles it gently in the hopes that nothing else will happen to damage it. Then the heroine comes along and bumps into him, knocking his precious heart to the ground (or into the pond) one more time.
My frog isn’t the kind of guy typically asking, “Your lillypad or mine?” He’s the kind who gets invited inside but doesn’t take the heroine up on her offer—not just yet anyway.
So what about you? If you’re a writer, do you have a muse? What does he or she look like? And if you’re a reader, do you have a keepsake that represents your take on life? If so, please share! I’d love to hear about it. I’ll choose a name from those who post and they’ll win a beautiful, blood red heart ornament similar to the heart my frog holds in his hands. I’ve said for years I write romance from my heart to yours, so I’m offering up a keepsake to prove it.
Kay
Welcome, Kay!
I love your frog, and the reason he's your muse is excellent! I do not have a tangible muse, except for maybe my BICHOK keychain that I picked up at my second RWA Nationals. I attached it to my memory stick and look at it when it just seems to hard to figure out how to get my hero or heroine out to the predicament they're gotten themselves into, lol.
I'm so looking forward to reading your book!
Jeannie
Hey, Jeannie! LOL Yeah, he's
Hey, Jeannie! LOL Yeah, he's warty all right. ;) Thanks for the warm welcome!
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
Just so you know, I ran to
Just so you know, I ran to grocery store after posting, picked up Another Man's Baby, and I'll be starting it today. Like I said, can't wait.
Aww, thank you, Jeannie! Let
Aww, thank you, Jeannie! Let me know what you think!
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
I have tons of keepsakes but
I have tons of keepsakes but never really thought of it as a representation of a take on life. I have things that were my grandmothers and they mean alot to me because she is gone know. We have a tradition in my family were we hand down class rings. My mother has my grandmother, I have my mothers, and when my daughter gets older she will get my class ring. I have no idea why we do it, it has just always been done. I guess one thing that I have that would represtent my take on life is my grandmothers old watch. To me the watch represents that time goes fast and not to waste it. It means so much more to me than just a normal watch because it was my grandmothers.
I can't wait to read Another Man's Baby, hopefully I can get it tomorrow when I go shopping. They didn't have when I look for it last week, so fingers crossed they will have this week.
You're so lucky to have
You're so lucky to have items from your grandmother. I have a set of dishes my gmother gave me when I was young, but nothing else. I'd love to have something personal of hers. The dishes were new, bought as a gift to me and my 'hope chest'. LOL
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
Welcome, Kay!
Kay, welcome to Cigars! I'll admit that the Frog Prince is one of my favorite stories! I love your statue, btw! I just read an excerpt of Another Man's Baby, and can't wait to pick this up (today!). I do have a Muse...it's an alabaster statue of Rodin's The Kiss, given to me by my parents on my 17th birthday, when they finally had to acknowledge I was a helpless romantic.
Oh, Karen! I'd love to see
Oh, Karen! I'd love to see your statue. It sounds beautiful. I'm a hopeless romantic, too. Such is the life, eh? ;)
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
Good Morning Kay
Love your frog and what he represents. Of course I just might be a wee bit partial to him since I collect frogs. :)
I have a small angled mirror on a stand with SMILE engraved below the mirror. It was given to me by the president of a savings and loan I worked for during one summer vacation from college. He had it made for me and presented it to me when I left to return to school because he said he had never received so many customer service compliments for an employee as he had for me and they all started with "She always has a smile". Through all the ups and downs of my life, and the dark days of illness and death, I've always tried to maintain that smile. It's amazing how much positive power that one small gesture has.
Kay, I started reading AMB after the chat last night and I'm loving it. This is going to be a fabulous series!
~PJ
PJ
I love your keepsake! How precious. Obviously you had a huge impact on not only your customers, but the bank and its manager. Good for you. I try to hold onto that 'smile' attitude but there are times when it's really hard. LOL
Thanks for the compliment on the series and for stopping by!
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
A muse
Yes, I definitely have a muse but she's an intangible force that hovers around me and visits in my dreams. I think of her as many different things, muse/guardian angel/general helpful being of light that sort of thing. :-) Of course, now everyone will know that I'm a little left to center! Well, they might've guessed it but now they know for sure. ;-)
Kim! Thanks so much for
Kim! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your muse. LOL on being left of center. Isn't every writer a little left of center? ;)
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
Hi
That is quite a peculiar Muse!
I know that I have a lucky pen which I used on each exam... and I once I forgot it and was really stressed out because I thought I was going to fail without it! Now, I have tucked it away, but still get a little emotional when looking at it!
Nathalie, what does your pen
Nathalie, what does your pen look like? Is it a special color? Favorite color?
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
I too am a frog collector.
I too am a frog collector. The start of the collection began in college when I got news that my father had had a heart attack and I was too far away to get home. A couple of friends bought me a frog figurine with a heart. The collection grew through good times and bad. And yes my father lived a long time after. My other keepsake is the gold coin on a chain that my father had given my mother for their 50th wedding anniversary.
After I bought my Frog
After I bought my Frog Prince, others noticed and began buying me anything and everything like it. I even have a small Christmas tree full of Frog Princes, but I have to admit to being a little tired of it. I love my muse but I'm ready to move on to something different in the way of Christmas trees for my office. ;)
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
Love the Frog!
I don't really have keepsake that represents my life however I cherish a blue pearl and a blue horse-shoe my grand-mother gave me and they are supposed to bring luck... I hope it is true!
Lily, (love your name) your
Lily, (love your name) your keepsakes sound precious. A blue pearl? Sounds beautiful. Horseshoes are definitely good luck (says the KY girl) but if you display it, make sure the ends face up (to keep the luck from running out!)
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
Love the frog! I enjoy
Love the frog!
I enjoy reading your books.
Estella, thanks so much for
Estella, thanks so much for stopping by! Lovely to *see* you again.
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
Love the frog.
I really enjoy your books. Yes I do have keepsakes. I have a few things of my mothers, grandmother, and old friends. I even have a china cup that my sunday school teacher gave me when I was a teenager and she was about 80, she said it was her when she was a little girl. I have alway taken care of it.
And the winner is...
Nathalie! Nathalie, please contact me through my website. Congratulations!
Everyone, thanks so much for blogging with me today!
Kay
Kay Stockham
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
www.kaystockham.com
www.myspace.com/kaystockham
What a muse!
Thanks for sharing today, Kay, and everyone else! How neat to read about tangible things that represent special things for us! I'm a reader, and I'm not sure I have a single thing that represents my take on life! With all the stuff I seem to gather, you'd think I'd settle on one! ;)
And congrats, Nathalie!
I have a locket that was
I have a locket that was given to my grandmother by my grandfather when they were dating and it has their pictures in it. My grandmother gave it to me she said it probably isn't very valuable, I said are you kidding me its priceless and it is even more so now because both of my grandparents have passed away. That locket represents to my family
Well...
Congratulations, Nathalie!
I don't have a keepsake that represents my life. I used to collect crystals, however - I can't think of how that correlates. They're nice and sparkly and hard? :X
I'm definitely going to think about this more...