I leave for my cross-country tour in one week. That is just wild. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, I can’t believe my departure is imminent. I’m especially excited about the first non-California stop on my tour – Sedona, Arizona.

I had my first two days all planned out – Santa Cruz to Vegas to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to Sedona. Unfortunately there are several wildfires burning in Arizona right now, one that just a week ago was threatening the town of Sedona. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon has been closed due to fire, which requires significant re-routing. The Coconino National Forest has also been closed until fire danger decreases. This is a huge bummer because not only is beautiful country being burned up and homes and businesses being threatened, but also because the main reason I’m going to Sedona is to experience the vortexes, all of which are located within the Coconino National Forest.

The incredibly helpful ranger at the Coconino Visitor Information Center told me that they won’t likely open the forest until weather conditions improve and they get at least 2 inches of rain… So while just a few months ago I was whining for the rain to stop, now I’m sitting here praying for rain in the desert. Oh the irony. But the Southwest is indeed experiencing a rush of thunderstorms (it was lightening that started the fires), so anything is possible. In the meantime, I’m doing my best to remain flexible and remember that this whole journey is an adventure, and it’s okay if things don’t go exactly as planned. I’m sure there will be plenty of beauty in the detours as well…

Seven days and counting… Fires or no, Arizona, here I come!

My new website is up and running folks!
http://www.stephaniecasher.com

I think of it as the “Gateway to All Things Steph.” I know, kinda scary, lol. To be honest, it feels a little strange having my own domain name, but I love the design of the site (thanks to everyone who gave me feedback!), and now I feel legit on the author tip. Or something. I decided to keep it pretty simple for now, but one new feature I did add is a photo gallery. Now the millions of pictures I plan to take of Devin will have a proper home, lol. 🙂

Things have been nuts over here. Between houseguests and tenants, packing, wrapping things up at the office, and visiting my nephew, it’s been pretty much nonstop activity. And I don’t care if it’s not officially Retrograde yet, Mercury is seriously fucking with me. Whew, this is going to be a very interesting journey I’m about to embark on… But I’m excited nonetheless. 10 days and counting!!!

I have always, always loved Angelina Jolie. In fact, if given a choice of any celebrity to have an affair with, she would top my list over any man. I’ve always found her a little troubled, but very real, very deep, and as far as starlets go, very down-to-earth. Last night, during her interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN (read transcript here), she gave me several more reasons to admire and respect her as a woman, mother, and human being dedicated to fighting the good fight.

Let’s face it – our culture is Celeb-Obsessed. For some reason we care SO MUCH about what/who celebrities are doing, and not nearly enough about current events, social issues, and what is going on in the world. I’m guilty of it too – I’ll admit I visit Pink is the New Blog every day for my dose of celebrity smack, and we all know how I feel about Tim McGraw… But I’m not so consumed in pop culture that I don’t know or care what’s going on in this world. We ALL could do more to nurture our global community. Even if what you do is as simple as educating yourself.

Angelina Jolie is a woman who is doing a whole lot to further human rights causes. She is a well-travelled, educated, enlightened individual who understands the power of celebrity, and is working it to do GOOD THINGS in this world. Knowing there would be a fierce bidding war for photos of her and Brad Pitt’s daughter, she sold the pics for 4.5 million dollars, then turned around and donated it ALL to charity. On top of that, she gladly donates 1/3 of her annual income to charity, recognizing that she makes way more money than she actually needs. And then last night, knowing legions of fans would tune-in to hear her talk about her experience giving birth to Brad Pitt’s baby, she used the opportunity as a platform to educate others about the plight of refugees in third world countries all over the world. The interview was not so much about Angelina as it was a 2-hour public service announcement about a host of global atrocities. Descriptions of her visits to Africa and Souteast Asia were juxtaposed with stories and footage of the mutilation of refugees in Sierra Leone, the children dying from AIDS in Africa, the genocide in Rwanda, violence against women in the Congo, and the situation in Darfur. Sadly, this short list only scratches the surface of areas in need of aid.

There are terrible crimes against humanity being committed in this world. Every single one of us sitting in our air-conditioned homes, reading this on our computer screens, we are so blessed. We don’t even know how blessed we are. It is too easy for those of us in the first world to ignore the plight of the third world, to ignore the true suffering that exists. We complain about long lines or not being able to find a parking space, when there are people enduring unspeakable abuse every day. It really puts things into perspective. We don’t even know how good we have it….

So hats off to Angelina Jolie for trying to open the eyes and minds of the masses. After I got over being horrified, I was truly inspired. I’m going to do my part to be a little more mindful and a lot more grateful as I go about my days, and do what I can, when I can, to further the cause for world peace and the end to human suffering. I guess she and Anderson accomplished exactly what they set out to…

I learned that there is a very good reason you don’t see many “prequels” in books and film, lol. Because it just does not make sense to write books in a series out of order!!!

Aargh! Okay, I’m not pulling my hair out… But I did realize recently that I am going to have to rewrite several chapters in SOUL MATES. There’s just no way around it. When I started writing WHEN LOVE, I thought I knew exactly how the story was going to unfold. After all, it’s loosely autobiographical, and the sequel is already Done. But as I get deeper into the book, the plot is taking turns I never imagined. Instead of covering the span of two years, it is now covering the span of ten years, with a more epic quality. I’ve actually altered the course of events from how I describe it in SOUL MATES considerably. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with the new direction, and I really think this is going to be a more compelling version of the story. But an extensive re-write of SOUL MATES is now in order.

I feel like it took me forever to get to a place where I wasn’t revising and tinkering with that first manuscript anymore. Where I was actually able to let it go. I can’t believe I have to go back in (eventually) and do yet another revision. So is the life of a writer, eh?

It’s a good thing I love my job 😉

Heads Up: Mercury is about to go Retrograde from July 4-29. I know that’s still a few weeks off, but I’m actually already starting to feel it (Oh Joy), so I thought I’d mention it. Slow your Roll folks, and don’t plan any major moves/initiations for July…

PS: Added more pictures of Devin below from my visit this past weekend! He is the cutest baby EVER!

This past week I met my new writer friend Liz Devitt for dinner and drinks. Liz and I met at the Prepare to Pitch! Conference last May, but life has been so hectic for both of us, this was our first chance to hang out since then. Anyway, I just have to say, I LOVE WRITER FRIENDS! We had so much fun! It’s so nice to be able to hang with someone and talk about your book, talk about your struggles with trying to get published (not like Liz and I are struggling, both of us are pretty flippin’ golden right now, lol), and keep each other motivated… We’ve also transitioned into becoming critique partners, which is Awesome. Having someone give feedback on my work is great, but returning the favor is also rewarding, as it sharpens my editing skills, and also gives me ideas on how to improve my own writing. Win-win, and we all know how much I love the win-win!

Liz is also hella cool on a personal level (so much in common AND she’s a Capricorn, which means she Rocks by default LOL). I know there will be many more dates in the future for us to pump each other up and commiserate. Good friends are hard to find, and it’s nice have found someone who I believe could end up being a pretty good friend. Also, from what I’ve read so far, she wrote an AWESOME book. I can’t wait to toast at her book release party 😉

I’m so blessed that my BEST friend, Megan, is also a writer. But as I network and start to circulate, I am indeed starting to make more and more writer friends, and build my own personal author community… It started with Edwardo, then Liz, and recently I met Thomas Brooks on myspace who has been incredibly helpful by sending all kinds of useful information my way 🙂 I hope to add even more names to that list as I hit the conference circuit this summer. In this business, it’s all about who you know. I feel very fortunate to know some pretty cool people 🙂

Book Update: Progress on WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH is going well. Just cruised past the 30,000 word mark (I’m trying to get to 80,000), and still trying to write every day. This book has taken on a life of its own, taking me in directions story-wise that I never imagined… But more on that later 🙂

Introducing Devin Anthony Casher, born June 7, 2006 at 9pm, weighing in at 7 lbs and 6 oz!!!

I know the world is raving about the preciousness of Brangelina’s offspring, but I tell you, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt ain’t got nothin’ on my nephew! I swear, Bill and Jes made the most BEAUTIFUL baby. He is just too too cute. Not nearly enough adjectives to adequetely describe the cuteness of this baby!

It is also insane to me that Devin is a miniature version of Bill! I had my mom send me one of Bill’s first baby pictures – check out the resemblance!!! They even have the same crooked half-smile going on!

I had a surreal moment during my first visit with Devin… I looked up to see Bill holding his son, and I started having all these flashbacks of when Bill was a baby… (That’s actually Bill here on the left) Actual memories of the twins in arguably their cutest stage. I got yanked back mentally and emotionally to our childhood, flashes of memories of baby Bill and Eric, and then I watched our whole lives flash before my eyes…. Camping trips, He-man, Transformers and Go-bots, hot wheels races in the front yard, tearing it up on their bikes, then skateboards, little league and then basketball… Graduating from High School, and then college… And now to see my baby brother as a FATHER… Seriously, I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve gotten teary-eyed just thinking about it. Bill has a BABY. Mom and Dad are GRANDPARENTS. Eric and I have a new Nephew. It is just wild. Wild, wild, wild.

I guess we’re all officially grown-up now. It didn’t really feel that way until I held the next generation in my arms, but the Casher family has definitely entered into a whole new era. And the love I feel for my nephew is out of control. I swear, I’ll be going about my day, and I’ll think about him, or visit the blog to pull up his pic, and all of a sudden I just want to drop everything and drive over there to see him, lol. He is PERFECT, absolutely Perfect. My love for him truly knows no bounds…

Meeting Devin for the first time

Devin and Daddy

The above photo is now the desktop image on my work computer, lol.

Devin and Uncle Eric (hope he doesn’t get confused by the whole twin thing, LOL)

Devin, Mommy, and Auntie Jen

Biko is trying to work through his jealousy issues…

Susana is also in love…

Yup, Devin is well on his way to being the most photographed member of our family… I need to get a Flickr account or something, lol.

Introducing Devin Anthony Casher, born June 7, 2006 at 9pm, weighing in at 7 lbs and 6 oz!!!

I know the world is raving about the preciousness of Brangelina’s offspring, but I tell you, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt ain’t got nothin’ on my nephew! I swear, Bill and Jes made the most BEAUTIFUL baby. He is just too too cute. Not nearly enough adjectives to adequetely describe the cuteness of this baby!

It is also insane to me that Devin is a miniature version of Bill! I had my mom send me one of Bill’s first baby pictures – check out the resemblance!!! They even have the same crooked half-smile going on!

I had a surreal moment during my first visit with Devin… I looked up to see Bill holding his son, and I started having all these flashbacks of when Bill was a baby… (That’s actually Bill here on the left) Actual memories of the twins in arguably their cutest stage. I got yanked back mentally and emotionally to our childhood, flashes of memories of baby Bill and Eric, and then I watched our whole lives flash before my eyes…. Camping trips, He-man, Transformers and Go-bots, hot wheels races in the front yard, tearing it up on their bikes, then skateboards, little league and then basketball… Graduating from High School, and then college… And now to see my baby brother as a FATHER… Seriously, I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve gotten teary-eyed just thinking about it. Bill has a BABY. Mom and Dad are GRANDPARENTS. Eric and I have a new Nephew. It is just wild. Wild, wild, wild.

I guess we’re all officially grown-up now. It didn’t really feel that way until I held the next generation in my arms, but the Casher family has definitely entered into a whole new era. And the love I feel for my nephew is out of control. I swear, I’ll be going about my day, and I’ll think about him, or visit the blog to pull up his pic, and all of a sudden I just want to drop everything and drive over there to see him, lol. He is PERFECT, absolutely Perfect. My love for him truly knows no bounds…

Meeting Devin for the first time

Devin and Daddy

The above photo is now the desktop image on my work computer, lol.

Devin and Uncle Eric (hope he doesn’t get confused by the whole twin thing, LOL)

Devin, Mommy, and Auntie Jen

Biko is trying to work through his jealousy issues…

Susana is also in love…

Yup, Devin is well on his way to being the most photographed member of our family… I need to get a Flickr account or something, lol.

Exactly one month from today I leave for my cross-country road trip and book/conference/concert tour. I can’t believe the departure date is so close. I’ve mapped out a rough itinerary, aiming to keep some flexibility in there for detours and misadventures. 🙂 This is certain to be the adventure of a lifetime. I’m so excited.

I’ve always wanted to drive across the country. I come alive on the road, leaving all my worries behind, just dust in my rearview. Just me, my thoughts, and my music. To embark on a road trip of this magnitude is truly a dream come true. Five weeks away from work (which I could definitely use right about now), liberated from the mundane. 37 days of soul-searching, future-building, and reconnecting with distant loved ones. Countless life experiences to fuel my muse. I can’t think of a better send off for my Saturn Return than this…

Much to do before I depart. This is, after all, a working vacation. I gotta dust off my pitch cards and get ready to shift into “sell” mode. I plan to visit all the Af-Am bookstores along my route, and of course there’s the Black Writer’s Conference in Dallas, the main event. And knowing how well I write in hotel rooms, I’m hoping to finish WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH while I’m on the road. I just passed the 25,000 word mark (that’s about 100 pages), and am in a good groove. If the time away enables me to get into a zone, I think I can meet my goal to finish this second book by the fall.

So that’s the plan… 30 days and counting to lift-off. I cannot wait!

**Late Breaking News**
This just in – another countdown has ended…Devin is here! Stay tuned for pics of my brand-new nephew!

Well, I did my civic duty and voted today. Not like I believe my vote makes any bit of difference. After the outcome of the 2004 election, I have lost all faith in the ability of ordinary people to impact politics. But since I’ve promised to do my best to be part of the solution, and not the problem (which I perceive to be widespread hopelessness, helplessness and apathy), I read the voter information guide, educated myself, and turned in my ballot anyway. For all the good it’ll do.

I’m just glad the day has come and gone so my phone can stop ringing with automated voice messages pushing political propaganda and celebrity endorsements (Sally Fields actually “called” the other day to urge me to vote Yes on Prop. 81, lol). And I’ll finally get a break from all the campaign commercials which just irritate the crap out of me. I swear, these folks spend all this money on 30 seconds on airtime, and the most persuasive thing they can come up with is not why THEY are the best candidate, but all the ways their OPPONENT will fuck it up if they get your vote. Unbelievable. The persistence of these smear campaigns is so symptomatic of what’s wrong the world today — too much blaming/pointing the finger, not enough personal responsibility/accountability, and no mechanism in place that ensures that only the TRUTH can be publicized and broadcast to the masses. But like I said before, the truth doesn’t seem to mean much these days…

I was tempted to chuck my absentee ballot and do nothing. But then I realized that’s what the politicians in power are counting on. They are counting on people giving up and doing nothing, so they can contine to address their special interests and push through their bogus self-serving agendas with the least amount of resistance. They want us to bend over and take it. Well, I may be jaded, but I’m not going to just lie down in take it. Even if my vote is purely symbolic…

Apologies for the delay in posting… A certain situation at work has been detonating all week and I’ve been consumed by the fallout. Truly nasty stuff. I hate politics. The lying, the corruption, the backstabbing. I’ve never been so up close and personal to such a blatant abuse of power before, and it is making me physically ill. I am amazed not just at the degree of shadiness, but the fact that the shadiness is on display for all the world to see and we are all powerless to stop it! This is a recurring theme I keep seeing everywhere — the battle of Good vs. Evil being played out on a variety of platforms… and for some reason Evil keeps winning over and over and over…

I’ve never considered myself an idealist (more realist/cynic than anything else), but I’ve always believed that the Truth was something that was sacred. You could spin it and try to cover it up, but the truth would always come out and, well, be the Truth.

“You can’t hide a liar from the truth…”
~ Miranda Lambert, “Love is Looking for You”

It amazes me that the scales of justice seem to be tipped dramatically in favor of Evil these days. There is something really off in the Universe that is allowing some terrible things to happen, and atrocious behavior to go unpunished. The truth seems to have lost its value, and people’s right to speak it compromised. I remember when The Celestine Prophecy was at the top of the NY Times Bestsellers list, and the masses seemed to be moving collectively in a positive direction. (There’s that 90’s Nostalgia again). We were moving towards the light, and then somewhere along the way we got sidetracked and have landed in a very dark place. And it’s only getting darker.

I saw another bumper sticker the other day (gotta love Santa Cruz) containing another priceless quote:

“If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention”

I couldn’t have put it better myself. Now what to do with all this rage…