Celise Downs

Archive for the 'Secrets and Kisses' Category

And breathe…

February 13, 2010 | "Whoa whoa I gotta go...back to schoooool...again", 2nd Semester, Book Stuff, DA Series, Dance Jam Productions, Draven Atreides, LAS, Life in General, Nonprofit Explorations, Prescott College, Random Thoughts, School Daze, Secrets and Kisses, Spring 2010, The 4-1-1 on Me

If it seems like I’ve been MIA from the blogosphere and only posting a couple of times a week, it’s because I’ve been up to my hairline in school stuff. I realize it’s been a while since I’ve done a Weekend Wrap-Up. For a while it’s because there wasn’t much going on on the weekends. I should get back to that, seeing as how this weekend should be blog-worthy. Although, New Years was blog-worthy, too, and I didn’t blog about that, either. Go figure. So, let me catch you up on what’s been going on.

I was taking three classes, but then dropped the Modern Fiction course at Rio Salado. I guess I wasn’t into is as I thought I’d be. I figure I’ll take up a Creative Writing course at a later date. I’ve also been working on a community project for one of my other courses (which I’ll officially announce on Monday) and that’s overshadowed just about everything. That assignment involved a powwow with my BF and grew into something worth “squeeing” about.

I knocked out one of my New Years Resolutions last month by joining a gym: 24 Hour Fitness. I’m currently taking 2 dance fitness classes a week and let me tell you: that first class was. A. Killer. The 24Dance is on Monday nights at 530, so I basically go there straight from work. It’s all different types of dance—salsa, jive, hip-hop, bellydancing, etc. Seeing as how it was my first time, I didn’t stretch out. And paid for it two days later. By the time the Zumba class rolled around on Thursday evening, I was no longer sore. Of course, that comforting thought ended after an hr in that class. I could barely walk the next few days. Everything hurt and my body was saying things like “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. Stop. Moving.” But I was sleeping good. Sleeping like the dead. And I had more energy. Now, a month later, I think my body’s gotten used to the high-intensity-heart-pumping classes and I’m no longer sore. Ar least, not as much as I used to be. I think I may be even losing some weight.

In the midst of all this, I tried to join a writing accountability group. “Tried” being the key word because I only did it for 2 weeks. This group was going to help me balance my writing life with my real life. We posted daily goals each week, but by the second week, I was already starting to see a pattern: 1) I would forget was I was supposed to be doing each day and 2) When I was supposed to be concentrating on writing DA3, I would think about something I had to do for school. During this 2 week period, I was feeling a little depressed and was carrying around this…raging anger. I was holding all this in and it was affecting my interactions with my manager at work.

The group itself wasn’t making me feel this, by no means. Part of it, I’m sure, was because of Auntie Flow’s Monthly Visit. The main thing was that I had inserted something new into my life and it wasn’t working. Once again, I was getting overwhelmed. My writing felt forced. I needed to take stock. Even though I was excited and hopeful about being a part of this group, it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time.

(more…)

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Posted by Celise @ 10:31 pm | 2 Criticisms

Sunday Scribblings #199

January 26, 2010 | Book Stuff, Life in General, Secrets and Kisses, Sunday Scribblings, Writer Moment

I normally post this on Sundays, but was feeling a little under the weather to do so. Therefore, it’s going to be “Tuesday’s” Scribblings for today.

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: Yes

This is an excerpt from Secrets and Kisses, on sale now.

“You can’t─you can’t what?” she sputtered hoarsely.
I flushed again, thankful that my sunglasses gave me a semblance of protection.
“I’m not about to repeat it. What part didn’t you get?” I uttered between motionless lips.
I didn’t know why I was acting like this. No one could hear us, unless that someone had a long-range microphone, but I wasn’t about to get paranoid. This was only a minor setback. It could be fixed. I watched as Ellie shook herself out of her shock and carefully set her bagel on its wrapper. She rubbed her hands together, removing crumbs, then pinned me with a “Let’s get down to business” look.
“Let me get this straight. You don’t know how to kiss.”
“No…yes…I mean─”
“It’s a yes or no question, Sky,” Ellie broke in.
“No, it’s not a question because you didn’t ask me anything. It was more like a…verification statement.” I just made up something.
“Okay. Then tell me this: Do you know how to kiss?”
“Yes,” I answered, then nibbled on my bottom lip nervously. “Sort of.”

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Posted by Celise @ 6:06 pm | 4 Criticisms

Sunday Scribblings #193

December 13, 2009 | Book Stuff, Secrets and Kisses, Sunday Scribblings, The 4-1-1 on Me, Writer Moment

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: BRAVE

Since I had so much fun doing it last time, I’m going to do it again. Here’s an excerpt from my first book, SECRETS AND KISSES, using the word of the day.

“You look absolutely hot, Skylar. Your dress is totally amazing.” Kedren said the last word as though he’d been running in a marathon.

Blushing, I glanced up at him and flashed him a quick smile.“Thanks.”

Hot. Was that better than gorgeous? I asked myself.

“You look…pretty handsome yourself,” I reciprocated. Handsome was a major understatement, but I wasn’t brave enough to use the word delicious.

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Posted by Celise @ 3:08 pm | 2 Criticisms

A little facelift

November 24, 2009 | Dance Jam Productions, Secrets and Kisses

My first two books have been reissued with new covers through a new publisher.

Secrets and Kisses and Dance Jam Productions are now available at Booklocker, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. They’re both available as eBooks at Booklocker.

(I really need to harrass my web person about uploading the new images)

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Posted by Celise @ 6:26 pm | Criticisms

Weekend Wrap-Up: Huh…well…

November 9, 2009 | "Whoa whoa I gotta go...back to schoooool...again", Dance Jam Productions, Life in General, School Daze, Secrets and Kisses, The 4-1-1 on Me, Weekend Wrap-Up, Writing Movements

This is going to be a short one.

Friday -Signed up to volunteer for a 6-week Professional Artist Series session through Free Arts AZ. It’s a Creative Writing one and the first session was this evening. Will post that later in the week. Took my niece out dinner to celebrate the fact that she was one of 10 people to get accepted into the Herberger Institute for the Arts. If you’re a Theater major at ASU, your goal is to get into this place. You get two semesters to try and if you fail, they make you change your major! I know, a little pressure, much? You have the choice of writing three essays or writing two essays and performing two monologues.

My niece said a lot of the students don’t get in because they take the easy way out and just do the three essays. You think they’d do the monologues. I mean, they chose theater as a major, after all. She said she did an easy monologue from Othello and one she did in her class last semester. I am SO proud of her, I’m bustin’ a gut. They have guest speakers from the industry come and talk to the students and she’ll have an opportunity to audition for plays that show at The Herberger Theater and Gammage (where Phantom of the Opera is playing right now). These two places–well, Gammage more than the other–is like Arizona’s version of Broadway. Did I mention how proud I am of my girl? In ten years, she sees herself acting. And so do I.

Saturday – Had a fun time at The Gurl House with modeling magic clay (interesting. Dries a little foamy. It’s weird), and this one will be posted later in the week, as well. Quickly checked out White House Black Market for a dress for my company’s upcoming holiday party. I like long dresses–ankle length–and they didn’t have any. Will be checking out the mall this weekend. Did some laundry to prepare for the event on Sunday…

Sunday – Volunteered my time at the 15th Annual Palette of Homes Tour. Got to see how the other lives for the first time. And they live well. Lucky you, you actually get to read about it now. LOL. By the time I got home from this event, I was tired and hurting a little. Didn’t wear the right shoes for standing.

School Daze – It’s almost over but the cryin’. And yes, there was some of that. Here’s a quick recap.

Writing Movement – no comment.

My first two books are being reissued through a new publisher and they received new covers. SECRETS AND KISSES is now available in both E-book and paperback format. I received the new cover today for DANCE JAM PRODUCTIONS. What do you think?

DJPcover.bmp

You can still view the old cover here. My web designer is in the process of moving–again–and has yet to upload the new cover images.

That’s it for moi. How was your weekend?

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Posted by Celise @ 9:37 pm | 2 Criticisms
About the Author

Young Adult Fiction author extraordinaire, newlywed, female entrepreneur, lover of James Bond movies (Sean and Pierce ONLY), Betty Boop, adult romance series books and Linkin Park.



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Dance Jam Productions Secrets and Kisses






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