Home Sick

My Home Town


My New Town

I’m going to let you all in on a little secret. I don’t currently reside in my home town. I live in TN but I was born and raised in Chicago. I have to tell you that initially coming here was like culture shock. The people the atmosphere the scenery is all different and it really took some getting used to. I mean I had to drive through like two states and two cities just to get here.

Now that I've been here for a while I have grown to like living here but I will always miss the city life. I guess you can take the girl out of the city but you can't take the city out of the girl. I've been here for eight years and people can still tell that I'm not from here.

Though Chicago (for the most part) is a beautiful city, surprisingly that's not what I really miss. I miss my friends and family. My friends that still live there, some of them I have known since I was a toddler (no kidding) and some since grade school. I don't even consider most of them friends anymore now they are more like my family. I wish I could see them more often. Sometimes I feel really torn. When I visit Chicago I miss TN and when I come back to TN I miss Chicago. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever find the right balance.

Am I the only one out there who's homesick? Does anyone else live a double life or should I be going out to look for therapy lol? Talk to me, you know I want to know.


Thanks for stopping by.

Let's Talk About Sex!

No, seriously let's talk about it. :P

There are many things that I love to talk about (as you all know from my previous ramblings) and sex is definitely high up on that list. What does it feel like? How good does it feel? How and when and even where do you like to have it (Oooooh)? All of these topics, and more, are fascinating to me.

However, among some of the women that I’ve come across sex seems to be a taboo subject. We don't want to talk about it, or maybe we don't want people to know that we talk about it. We act like we don't think about it but is that really the case? I am always hearing about how it’s not the physical act that makes sex special for us but the emotions behind the act. Is that really true for all of us?
Why do some women act like something is so wrong with being into just the physical act. Maybe not all of the time but surely some times it’s okay, right? It feels good doesn’t it? Hell sometimes for me it's so mind numbingly awesome I just want to sit in the corner and suck my thumb. *fans*

Oops sorry I got distracted by the thought of mind numbingly good, thumb sucking sex. Anyway, I personally am a fan of both. Sometimes I want the sweet romantic type but sometimes (okay most of the time) I want the earth shattering climax from an intense session. Am I alone?

Women of the world please tell me what you think about sex. Is it all about the emotion or the physical feeling for you? Or is it a bit of both? Do you shy away from talking about it or do you just let it all hang out? Don’t be shy here. Drop me a line and tell me how you feel.



Thanks for stopping by.

Lemon Chicken (Yes this really is a post about food.)

I've realized that I would like to share more of my loves with my readers. You know about my writing but you really don't know much else about me. I love all sorts of things but on the top of list is cooking and sex. Yes, I know what an interesting combination.

I'm sure that it may be fun to combine the two and some people may cook while having sex but that is not my intention. I can't imagine hot grease flying all over the kitchen and me covered with flour while I’m trying to get my groove on. That image just does not appeal to me.

So, *cough* *clears throat* as you will notice there will be some posts about cooking (but not while having sex) and there will be posts about sex (but not about me having it and certainly not while cooking). But, in my short little existence I have noticed some very interesting topics about sex and I would dearly love to discuss those. I like a little (ok a lot) of spice in my life and what better way is there to add some than by talking about cooking and sex (again not together).

Now that I've gotten that nice ramble out of the way (you know I have to do it some time) here is what I'm cooking today.


CROCK POT LEMON CHICKEN

1 chicken, cut in pieces (sometimes I just use legs or leg quarters
¼ c. flour
1 ½ tsp. salt
2 tbsp. oil
1 (6 oz.) can lemonade, thawed & undiluted
3 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. vinegar
¼ c. catsup
Combine flour and salt and coat chicken. Brown on all sides in hot oil. Put in crock pot. Stir lemonade concentrate, brown sugar, vinegar and catsup. Mix well. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on high 3 to 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours.

This is not my own personal recipe (though I do have many). I found this wonderful dish on Cooks.com.

If you like to cook you should definitely check them out. There are all types of wonderful goodness there. I particularly like this recipe because it's in the crock pot. That means that I dump everything in and don't have to touch it again until it's done! Woohoo! Freeeedooooom! *clears throat* Sorry I got a bit carried away there.


Now, don’t just take my word for it. Try this most wonderful recipe and let me know how it goes for you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Kicked the Crap out of Writers Block. HA!

For months I have struggled with WIP after WIP and let me tell you, it's been so discouraging! But, the good news is that it's over. Last week I added 15K to my latest WIP. OMG I haven't done that in so long I'd forgotten what it felt like.

I used to be a writing machine and then one day I just couldn't write anymore. *gasp* Terrible, I know. Very recently I realized that I had stopped writing for the love of it and was letting all of this other stuff cloud something that once brought me such joy. Once I understood that this was the case I immediately set out to change my outlook. For me writing is all about enjoying the journey of the story and the characters.

It was difficult getting back to the mindset I wanted to be in. There were a lot of doubts and the writing progress just inched a long, so slowly that I wanted to yank out my hair. Finally I asked a group of friends to participate in a challenge with me. It’s called Book in a Week (BIAW) and we all set the goal we wanted to reach by the end of the challenge. Mine was 15K. I knew it would be difficult but also I knew that if I wanted real progress I was going to have to push myself. This was by far my best idea ever because in order to reach my goal I really did have to let go and just write it. No agonizing over this word here, or that phrase there. I just had to let it be and it turned out wonderfully! I reached my goal and the story is moving along swimmingly.

Now I have challenged myself to finish this first draft by the end of this month. Yes, I am a fan of torture. Wish me luck. I’m going to need all the help I can get!


Thanks for stopping by.

Excerpt for Cara's Christmas Fantasy Available from Shadowfire Press Novemeber 7th

Cara's Christmas Fantasy by Lauren Murphy

Genre: Contemporary Big Beautiful Woman

Heat Rating: Bonfire

Length: Long Story-17,000 words

Price: $3.75

Coming November 7th from Shadowfire Press

"I didn't think you were ever getting out of that shower." Mike's deep rumbling voice said from behind her. Her breath caught in her throat as she whirled around and spotted him standing at the door. Stuck. She hadn't brought a towel with her when she came out of the bathroom figuring that she was still alone in the house. This situation gave the deer in the headlights saying a whole new meaning.

"Well aren't you going to speak to me?" His eyes roamed over her body slow and sure. His voice curled around her like silk drawing a shiver from her naked form. All thought fled her mind until her brain was empty of everything but the sound of his voice and the heated look in his deep brown eyes.

"Hi," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the nerve racking silence hovering about the room. His foot steps echoed in her ears as he made a slow, purposeful advance toward her.
"Cara," he said against her parted lips once he'd finally reached her. He pulled her against him, touching her with his erection through his thin slacks, creating a pool of heat deep in her loins. Damn, he was hot!

She had never seen him like this, all raw and shaking with desire. Desire for her, really? His generous hands roamed over her body. When he reached her hips and ass her body involuntarily stiffened at the contact, but he pressed her closer and growled into her ear, "Mine."

Lust crashed over Cara like a tidal wave hurdling toward land. With just one single word he had stripped her of everything except the need for him and his possession of her. And God help her, she loved it. Like warm butter she melted under his artful touch. He knew exactly what to do to get her juices flowing and it had been so long, all he had to do was just look at her with those hooded eyes and she was lost.

Coming November 7th from Shadowfire Press

I Got A Contract!!

As most of you know I've been writing for about ten years and I've been working on becoming published for about a year. Well finally the day has come. I signed a contract with Shadowfire Press (www.shadowfirepress.com) a new e publisher on Sunday for my Christmas Novella. I am so freakin excited! A dream come true. The release date is set for November 7th. Check out the cover and the blurb below.




Plagued by her weight gain, Cara’s self-esteem has taken a downward spiral. No longer feeling attractive she unknowingly pushes away the one thing she truly wants; her husband’s affections.

Mike considers himself to be an understanding man but enough is enough. He wants his old Cara back--the wild, vivacious woman he met and knows is waiting to be revived. His desire for her compels him to create a plan that will bring them closer together emotionally and sexually. But will Cara be able to open her mind and body to the man she loves or will she push him away for good?



Thanks for stopping by.

Fantasy Workshop at Romance Divas

Please join us at Romance Divas THIS WEEKEND!

Friday October 10th and Saturday October 11th, we will be joined by some huge names in fantasy and fantasy-romance for a workshop on what the difference really is between the two genres.

Got another R...

But it wasn't as bad as I thought. In fact it wasn't bad at all. The publisher thought my story was charming and sexy and she also said that she hopes I'll send in another story for consideration. I squealed with delight when I read that last part and scared the hell out of everyone in the apartment.

Anyway now I have to polish something else to send to her but I have to wait on my CP to send it back to me first. *Sigh* And the waiting continues.

The name of the story is called Cara's Christmas Fantasy. I really enjoyed writing this baby and I really hope I can find it a home... next year. Check out the blurb below. Thanks for stopping by.

Plagued by her weight gain, Cara’s self-esteem has taken a downward spiral. No longer feeling attractive she unknowingly pushes away the one thing she truly wants; her husband’s affections.

Mike considers himself to be an understanding man but enough is enough. He wants his old Cara back--the wild, vivacious woman he met and knows is waiting to be revived. His desire for her compels him to create a plan that will bring them closer together emotionally and sexually. But will Cara be able to open her mind and body to the man she loves or will she push him away for good?