We all know (I assume) that exercise and developing muscles is good for us.

Muscle building improves posture, gives us strong bones and–the best bonus of all-muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue. (Looks better too.) I’ve tried all sorts of ways of doing it from holding soup cans as I do aerobics to going to the local gym. For years now, I’ve gone to Curves. It’s easy, quick and relatively painless. It’s become a habit, which means I have it mentally programmed into my life. And that’s a good thing.

Which brings me to creativity. We hear lots about the two sides of the brain-the logical left side, the creative right side. People often tell me they are strongly left-sided and hence could never write a book.

Well, let me tell you about being left brained.  In my previous life, I was super-organized, multi-tasking mother of 14.

I was so left brained you could hear the sound of a computer running when I was working.

So being able to compose and write stories surprises me as much as anyone. 

How does that happen? And what does it have to do with exercise? Well, I can say from experience that creativity is a muscle that can be developed. It can go from flabby to strong with exercise.

I know there are those who are going to argue but I insist it’s true. I’m pretty sure you have a creativity muscle though you might not use it for creating stories but perhaps you knit, paint handmade cards, set a charming table, invent recipes or create stunning school lessons for children. And I’m guessing that the more you do it, the better you become. So go ahead, build your creativity muscle using whatever avenue you choose. Have fun doing it.

I have a secret of my own to share. It’s this. Sometimes I prefer snow, cold and bad weather because then I don’t mind sitting in my office ignoring the outdoors. When the sun is shining and the temperatures are balmy, I want to be outside. I feel as if I’m missing out on a precious day. Part of the problem is that the window in my office is four and a half feet from the floor so I can’t see anything but sky when I glance out.

I’ve tried taking my work outside but there are only so many tasks I can do successfully away from my computer. And I work most efficiently at my familiar place.

So, after thirteen or more years of telling myself I’m over reacting to something in my workspace, I have decided to take the plunge and have a bigger window installed, one that comes down to desk level. I don’t know when it’s going to happen but a handyman has come out and taken measurements. I am very excited about this. Greedily, I wanted a big bay window but alas it is too pricey to get installed. So picture this window as flat and that is what I am looking forward to. The view is more open too. I see the yard, the trees, the road and across the road into the distant. The view takes my thoughts on journeys into the distance as well.

A date to remember. May 1. That’s when my editor at Love Inspired Historicals is blogging and answering questions. May 1 at http://www.writersatplay.com/ Anyone interested in what Melissa likes as an editor, stop by. I know I’ll be popping in.

How about I tell you five secrets about myself Few people would know these. In fact, in most cases, consider yourself the first to hear these confessions.

1. My earliest memory is of being in a car with my family. We pulled to a stop in a grassy area with some bushes around. My dad opened the trunk of the car. Inside was a huge square wash tub. We were going to pick Saskatoon berries. I don’t remember picking them but I do recall the excitement around me.
2. I remember telling a big fib. Okay. I lied. Our house didn’t have running water and sewer but my grandparents’ in the city did. I didn’t know anything about the dos and don’ts of such luxuries so I threw the empty toilet paper roll in the toilet. It subsequently plugged but when my mother asked who had done it, I assured her it wasn’t me. Of course no one else confessed. I remember Mom’s disappointment that one of her children was obviously lying.
3. I remember the number of our post office box way back when and no I’m not going to say when. It was Box 308. The floors of the building were oiled wood. Yes, it was that long ago. No, wait, I lived in the last place in North America to go modern. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
4. My favorite flower is not a rose. In fact, I’m not much impressed with roses. I much prefer daisies of any sort. They are brave, long lasting, friendly flowers. Not high-needs like a rose.
5. My favorite food is grapes, which might not be a secret to anyone who has spent any time with me. If I’m ever confined to a hospital bed (heaven forbid), do not bring me chocolate. Bring me grapes. Oh yes, don’t bring roses, bring daises.

Anyone else care to share some deep dark secrets? Remember, confession is good for the soul. And also quite entertaining.

A few weeks ago I promised you a glimpse at other writers’ lives. Here is my next interview. I hope you enjoy hearing from Margaret Daley as much as I did.

Introduce yourself where you  live, what you write, your family.

I am Margaret Daley and I live in Oklahoma. I write for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense. I have a wonderful husband of thirty-seven years and one son. I am the proud grandmother of three little girls who if I must say are adorable. When I’m not writing, I teach or tutor. I recently retired from teaching special education for twenty-seven years, but I’m going back in the classwork for the last two months of school year as a substitute in an elementary special ed class.
What brought you to writing?

I didn’t really write much other than what was required in school as a child. But I have always been a storyteller. I would make up elaborate stories when I played with my dolls or paper dolls (Boy, does that date me!).  One day I decided to see if I could put one of those stories down on paper. I haven’t stopped writing since then.
I’d forgotten about paper dolls. I had drawers full of them and created lovely tales for them.

Describe your writing area. Is there something special that seems to encourage you to write? Perhaps a memento that has special meaning, something that triggers your muse. Is there something people would be surprised to see?

I have an office in my house with lots of bookcases and a couch as well as my desk and chair. Two things are different about my office. The walls are hot pink and my husband years ago started framing all my books and they surround me on the walls while I write. When I begin to doubt myself and my writing, I can look at them and see that I have been able to do it over a career of twenty-eight years. And the hot pink walls are  invigorating. I didn’t think I would keep them long, but I’ve had them for years now. Also I’ve decorated my office with lots of flamingoes. They go well with my hot pink walls.
LOL. Dancing flamingos?? Sound like a title for a book.What is the wall paper on your  desktop? Why?

My three grandchildren–every morning I get to see them before I start to write. What a joy and a way to start my day!

I agree. My grandchildren are the best.

 Do you have little routines you  follow in your writing time? Special music, special tea or coffee, certain cup  or pen or color of paper you prefer?

I love French Vanilla General Mills International Coffee (not what I call real coffee) and have several cups in the morning. I also love to check my emails then play a couple of mind games to get myself in thinking mode.

I’ve recently discovered several new flavors of GM International Coffees that I enjoy too-my special treat to get me back to work for an hour or two in the afternoon.

Do you have a favorite dead  author? Favorite research or reference book that is always at your  fingertips?

My The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale is the best thesaurus I’ve found and believe me I’ve got several. I’ve also got various research books that help me when I’m planning a murder (for anyone reading this, the murder only takes place on the written page).
 Okay, let’s be brutally honest.  What is your biggest distraction, perhaps self-made, during your writing  time?

Promotion “stuff”, emails and playing games instead of working-most of the time it is because I’m stumped and just need time to come up with something that works. Writing doesn’t always happen on demand.
What is your favorite thing about  being a writer?

Creating stories–brainstorm a plot
 

Your least favorite?

The line edits–not the editing of the overall story but the one where you check your word usage and other picky items.
 

Is there something you secretly  would like to change about your writing live? 

I love my office. I could use more storage area for my books but other than that there’s nothing I would change.
 

Thanks for sharing, Margaret. I’ve really enjoyed getting a glimpse of you at work

You can find Margaret at the links below. She is giving away a free copy of the book pictured to one person who comments on this blog. Too bad I have to disqualify myself.

 
http://www.margaretdaley.com/
http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/

 The winners of the books given away by Ruth Axtell Morren are Dubby Giusti and Renee Ryan. Congratulations.

I’m behind with my blog, announcements re contest winners and–okay, I’m behind in just about everything. My excuse–and I’m sticking to it– is I’ve been sick with a cold all week.

First, the winner of my contest is Anne. Congratulations. The book is in the mail. ( As soon as I get it packaged up.)

Secondly, check out the post below this one–an interview with Ruth. It’s a great interview and if you post a comment your name will be entered to win one of her books.

Next item of business–check out this link for a fun spot-the-differences game featuring the cover of my May release. I’m thrilled they chose to use my cover. http://community.eharlequin.com/content/introducing-spot-difference

Speaking of getting on track….

I’ve been working on a story idea. By now I understand there are certain things each story must have–simple things like a hero and a heroine, a romance and some sort of conflict. I thought I had them all with this story but it just didn’t feel right to me. And I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Or at least I couldn’t seem to fix it.  But I am happy to report that yesterday bits and pieces of the cure came to me and last night, while I was trying to sleep (of course)  I think I figured it out. Now I just have to go back and fix the story which is about half written and then finish this draft. Okay it’s not exactly simple but at least I am finally on track.