Texas Typos

Lifethread: A Book about Life and Friendship

2011-05-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hot Curries & Cold Beer: Lifethread: A Book about Life and Friendship: "In my sacred writing space office, I have a special shelf for Keepers. These are books I read over and over again, by authors I admire. Mos..."

Life Changes

2011-03-30T15:29:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I've been MIA for a bit, but I've been busy changing my life.

In this economy when most people around me are thanking their lucky stars to have a job, any job, with regular paychecks and health-insurance, I resigned from mine.

Why? Because of Eva.

Eva was a petite,dynamic woman with the energy of the Energizer Bunny and a twinkle in her eye. I met her about four years ago in a writing class I was teaching. She wanted to write. I loved having her in the class --she was enthusiastic and inquisitive, did the work, and showed up for every session.On the last day, as we said goodbye, I told her to keep writing. She laughed her trademark laugh and said, "I'll probably wait until after I retire."

Well, she retired and actually helped me get the job. She'd already retired as a teacher, and now she hung up her hat as a nutrition educator. I wished her well and told her to buckle down and write. Unfortunately, her mother who'd been ill all along took a turn for the worse and Eva transformed into a full-time care-taker.

This January Eva's mother died. When I saw her, I gave her a big hug, offered her my sympathies. I made a silent wish for her: Now, now she would write.

Two weeks later she got diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer. And earlier this month, Eva died. Even though I knew her only a short while, Eva managed to touch my heart and bring change into my life.

Thanks to her, I had one of the best day jobs ever. I got to teach people about food and how to cook. Not only did I have fun at work, but at the end of the day I knew I was helping people improve their lives. I have had enough jobs where I wrote fluff to make a product sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread, or a news story to boost the publisher's pal. They paid the bills, but left me empty.

So, why leave my great day job? Because even in passing, Eva managed to touch me and bring about a change. She made me think.

Yes, I enjoyed the job, but did I want to retire from it? No.

If you asked me what was the one thing I wanted to do in life, the answer would be to write. The elementary school me, the college me, the today me would all answer the same way. For the longest time, I've wanted to write and be a writer. Not write a bit on the side, but be a full-time, wholly-committed, creative writer.

So, yes, the money was good, the health insurance a blessing. But the cost was most of my waking hours spent not writing. Some of the other costs were missing out on kids' programs that conflicted with work, travelling, spending time with my parents.

So, while lots of people are digging in their heels to hold on to their jobs, I walked away from mine.Because "someday" sometimes just doesn't come.

I know my decision doesn't make sense to a lot of people,and that's okay. I arrived at my decision through much thought & reflection, and, yes, after many discussions with the Cowboy. It wasn't an easy decision, but it's the right one for me.

The key now is to live life well, and use the time I've gained.

Drowning in Lemonade

2011-03-28T19:04:00.001-07:00

You know the saying - when life gives you lemons? I have a whole orchard full of lemon trees... When I look back on the events of the past couple of years, I am truly amazed. On the one hand I have published a novel and a novella. I've expanded my horizons both as an author and in my pays-the-bills career. I have met many wonderful people and discovered new friends. While other areas of my life have gone so far downhill I have to tunnel to find them! And, lately, my writing has suffered. It would be easy to give up and hang it all up. Instead, I tell myself things are finally looking better. I've planted a little sugar cane to sweeten the juice and am determined to restore my faith in humanity and, more importantly, my faith in myself. To borrow a famous phrase: "I'll be back!"

Happy New Year & Writing!

2011-01-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote I found and wanted to share:

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Perfect right? Well, I think every day is a new chapter. :)

With that in mind, I just signed up for the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood's Winter Writing Festival...an on-line writing spree that you can customize to your needs and pace. Sounds wonderful, right? For more info check out http://rsswwf.com/

For example I have committed to: Writing a new scene OR Revising 2 pages per day to earn my points because I am in midst of writing a new book and revising a short story. I want both those projects done.

And checkout the neet logo I get to use :)

Cooking Up A Character

2010-12-27T21:57:00.000-08:00

My first-ever guest-blogging opportunity *Fiction Groupie*: Cooking Up a Character.

Characterization explained in cooking terms for the foodie writer out there. Warning: the post will probably leave you hungry.

Food & Writing Blog SOS Modern Spice giveaway!

2010-11-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I finally got brave and set up a personal blog focused on food and writing. Since I'm technologically clueless...feeling kind of nervous. I'd really appreciate if you could visit it and give me feedback.

In appreciation, I'll be giving away Monica Bhide's new book Modern Spice. To win you have to leave a comment with your e-mail. I'll draw a random winner at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend!

The URL is http://www.hotcurriesandcoldbeer.com/

Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving!

75 Christian Authors * One Amazing Online Event

2010-11-16T19:59:00.000-08:00

The Christian Review of Books in conjunction with CrossPurposes Bookstore is excited to announce the first annual Christmas Book Signing Bash.

Beginning on the day after Thanksgiving and lasting ten days (26 November - 7 December), this book signing will be an unprecedented online event. 75 of today's favorite Christian Authors have come together to answer questions, chat with their readers, and offer signed copies of their books - all without leaving the comforts of home and hearth!

Readers can search by author, title, or genre at the Christian Review of Books (http://www.christianreviewofbooks.com/) and then follow the purchase links to CrossPurposes Bookstore (http://www.crosspurposesbooks.com/) and buy autographed copies of each book featured. The authors will sign the books and ship them to the customers.

For a full list of participating authors, visit the CRoB.

NaNoWriMo

2010-10-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I typed my two favorite words: The End.

It was better than wild monkey sex with chocolate sauce. After many tears of frustration, many hours of hard work , the third revision of my completed manuscript was done. This time around I kept writing guru Donald Maass’ words in mind, “Revision is an opportunity to re-imagine your story.”

So that’s what I did. Yes, I looked for the easy fixes like grammar and word choices, yes I deleted entire sentences and paragraphs. But more than that I took a hard look at my characters and settings, each scene and thought about how could I make them more. More dimensional, more interesting, more functional to the story. The basics were down and having the skeleton (the draft) really helped. I knew who the characters were, what the inciting incident was, what the central issue was and how the book ended. But now I explored what exactly I wanted from each scene. What emotions did I want to evoke in the reader. I started with the biggies: the beginning, the hero-heroine meet, the climax, the conclusion. I compared what I had on paper with what I had in my head. Took notes and worked to make the two merge.

Now, I have a longer, richer story. Thirty-two chapters and 86,700 words that I’m truly satisfied with. It’s not a story that’s going to change the world or win a Pulitzer, but it’s a good story. It’s the story that had been haunting me, it’s a story I can be proud of. Until now, I’d start on another project, but then get sucked back in by this completed manuscript. I fussed around, unsatisfied, fixing a sentence here and there, knowing it didn’t work, but not having the courage to take a closer look, go for true change. But this time, I’m happy. It’s done. I’m done with it.

I’ve already started a new notebook for my next project. Here I’m jotting down all kinds of ideas that come to me regarding the story, the characters, and the plot. I’ve closed my eyes and visualized the MC and the setting, done some rough drawings, added color. I’ve worked out a rough synopsis. The back cover blurb is written. As is the three sentence pitch and the elevator pitch. With my other story, I did all this after the story was written, but I decided to try and add a little bit of order this time around. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a pantser, but now I’ve some bones to work with, a sense of direction.

I’m gearing up for November. Notebook in hand I’m going to participate in NaNoWriMo and launch into my new WIP. Any of you NaNoing this year? Do you do a lot of prep work or start cold turkey? Any tips for having a good NaNo experience? Any and all help will be appreciated!

New Opportunity

2010-08-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Hi writing friends!

Fiction groupie is giving away an agent crit from Suzie Townsend and other cool prizes. Go check it out at Fiction Groupie:

New Opportunities

2010-07-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

July has brought two new opportunities.

1. I'm writing a weekly food column for my local news paper. It's called The Family Table and also a some feature articles with a food angle. Yes, food and writing, my two passions in one job. I'm floating on cloud nine. :)

2. I've agreed to write a monthly post at Romance Magicians, a group blog for my Southern Magic RWA chapter. My first post is about my training as a writer. If interested please check it out...and leave a comment so I know somebody is reading :)

Bonus opportunity: Getting myself a tweeter account....

2010-07-07T21:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I drove my husband to a doctor's appointment on post. He'd been having shortness of breath and coughing so much. Monday he spent most of the day in bed. So he agreed and called yesterday morning for an appointment with his Internal Medicine doctor. He saw a different doctor, his is on vacation, and this doctor was concerned about a possible pulmonary embolism. He talked to my husband, Jim was 62 yesterday too, and examined him. Then he sent him to ER via X-ray for a chest X-ray. After spending most of the afternoon and evening at the ER they decided to transfer him. I had to choose BAMC in San Antonio-3 hours away, or Temple, TX with Scott & White hospital-only 30 minutes away. I chose the closer civilian hospital. He was having problems with either his creatine or cretin level being too high. They were saying "creatine" so I don't know what is what but it is at 3 and it is too high. He had high hopes he'd being coming home today the doctor told him this morning after his blood work and the renal ultrasound he'd be able to leave. Then she came back this afternoon and told him she'd really like to keep him one more day. I had a meltdown coming home.

Happy July!

2010-07-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

July came in with gifts. The first tomato from my garden. Isn't it beautiful? And a new meet and greet between my hero and heroine. And yes, it's hot :) Four chapters rewritten and revised. Moving forward.

Good Intentions

2010-06-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

For those of you who suffer,
I keep you in my prayers
For those of you who celebrate,
Good fortune I will share
For those of you who wait in vain,
I will complete that task,
Unless I owe you money
In which case once more ask
I read your tales of joy and woe
As often as I can
I wish I had more time to write
It always is my plan!
But life soon overwhelms me and
I’m easily distracted
By work and home and other chores
That always are protracted
So know I often think of you
And YOU is everyone
That I have ever cared about
And hope that –

Sorry, gotta go.

Fantasy is Dangerous

2010-06-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

I came across this really cool take on fantasy and had to share...

I learned things look different by the light of a dragon’s fire. Ordinary things become extraordinary; common problems change shape and become either unusually interesting or utterly insignificant. You really see things, sometimes for the first time. And you don’t forget them when you close the book. That, of course, is what makes fantasy dangerous. – Patricia C. Wrede, author.

Writers Retreats Are Good For The Soul

2010-06-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

I just returned from Deborah LeBlanc's Pen To Press Retreat in New Orleans. Wowza. My master class was with author CJ Lyons, not only a wonderful author, but also an amazing teacher, joyful foodie and just a great, down-to-earth person. While I learned a lot from her, the most important thing to me was: the black moment is not the end. It's always followed by resolution. Then a new story.

That little nugget can be applied to any given WIP, finished manuscript, a writing career and life itself. Personally, it helped me know myself as a writer and what I want. It helped reignite my passion for storytelling, for the first book and beyond. And that understanding is priceless.

Earlier this year, I also went to TWRP retreat in the Texas Hill Country. That was amazing too because it drove home the message: writers write. Don't get me wrong: we went dancing, fossil hunting, attended craft-related talks, but also for hours people (including me) would just pull out their lap tops and start typing. Imagine a roomful of people, just typing. Uninterrupted soft clicks of keys and creativity. Amazing.

Yes both retreats cost money and time, meant work while others played, but the best part was connecting with other creative souls and getting re-energized. Writing is a tough business, and it can wear you out. This year I have treated myself to two wonderful gatherings and my soul needed it.

The end result: butt in chair, writing. And enjoying every minute.

NOW Officially Unemployed

2010-05-28T11:22:00.001-07:00

I'm no longer employed as of 11:30 pm last night when I walked back into the store to turn in my office key and lottery box key. Gulp! I spent fifteen years working at Athens Shell Foodmart and while there were times I hated it basically it was a great place to work and learn as I worked there. My shift ended at 11:00 I had received parting gifts of a digital key chain, the movie AVATAR, and little Reese's peanut butter cups in the bottom of the bag under the tissue. My boss, Ida, paid for the pizza I had planned to order for dinner my coworker had a coupon for low price. All my coworkers had signed the card and a sweet customer brought me cake from a bakery in Tyler. It is an Italian Cream Cake and good. So on my way out I made two trips to the car first I carried the pizza left overs and the cake. Then last I carried my purse, my always there giant mug of Diet Coke, and my gift bag. I had to hug my friend and coworker that I trained six years ago. We had fun people would walk out shaking their heads going you two are having entirely too much fun. So we joked that was why the boss separated us. But the truth was Denise took the overnight shift and I was on evenings with one early morning. I always joked if you ever put two on nights Denise and I work well together. Our boss, Ida, would laugh and say I can't do that you two are my best employees and have to put someone else with you. I'd go I know but would be fun to work together again. We closed at midnight when she hired Denise. Denise made the comment one time when another girl who had only been there a week left her a note demanding she do something. Denise said it wasn't like Ida or Kathy had told her to do it, after all they'd been there 100 years they could boss her around. No this was a new person. She promptly wadded up the note and threw it over her shoulder. The 100 years stuck. Denise told Ida with me leaving only person could boss her around now. And Ida said oh no you didn't as Denise said, "Now it's you 'cause you've been here a 100 years." Gotta love your coworkers that make you old in a sweet way.

Repeat after me - I CAN!

2010-04-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have a sticky note on my monitor at work. “Attitude is everything.” I strive to make mine good and not bad. With a high-stress job and long hours it’s not always easy, but I’m determined to smile. My good humor is not always appreciated but misery spreads like wildfire.

Why are we so more receptive to negative thoughts and comments? Talent and creativity should not be wasted. Any author, aspiring or published, needs a network of supportive friends for days of self-doubt, rejection, and humiliation. Everyone should make a list of their accomplishments and put it on their bathroom mirror. At the top note: “I am a goddess and I can do ANYTHING.”

Inspiration --Tiger Eye

2010-02-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

Books are what inspired me to write. Books that transported me, and made me feel a whole gamut of emotions from fear to tears and more. One such book was Marjorie M. Liu's "Tiger Eye." By the time I'd finished reading that book I'd traveled to a Chinese dirt market, fallen in love with Hari, cried over deaths and guilts. And I knew, I wanted to write stories, stories that touched others.

Tiger Eye is on my keeper shelf. From time to time, I'll take it down and read through it again. Even though I know the ending, I enjoy it every single time. When I get a rejection, I read it. When I'm stuck in my writing, I read it. And I always come away energized and inspired.

So, when I heard Passionfruit games is turning Tiger Eye into a game...well, of course I did the Snoopy dance, whooped and hollered. How cool will it be go active into my inspiration?

For more info on the game check out Passionfruit

Blessings

2010-02-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

My mother says there are different sorts of blessings. A person can say the words to you. Or do some action that translates into a blessing for you. Or, according to her this is the best, bestow a subconscious blessing.

A subconscious blessing is in response to some action of yours. It can be a lightning smile that illuminates the face for a brief second or a sigh of happiness. It is a blessing from the heart, requiring no conscious thought or formal acknowledgement.

On Valentine's weekend I was involved with a group of volunteers to host the fifth annual Valentine's Lunch at the Soup Kitchen (a Peace Ambassadors of West Texas project). We decorated, cooked, served, washed dishes, cleaned. We also visited, danced and sang. Both the guests -- the homeless and working poor --and the volunteers (a diverse group in terms of age, race, religion, socio-economic status) had a blast. Yes, I was tired by the end of it all, but smiling. Smiling from the inside all the way to the outside.

The breaking of a dream, a rejection, unanswered queries are all minor when compared to hunger and poverty. Life continues at its own pace, all we can do is live as best as we can. So, I haven't published yet, but I've done some things I can be happy about. And I've been blessed.

Writing Insight from a Pro

2010-02-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

Found a lovely piece of writing insight today from an author I admire greatly for her productivity, straight talk, and sheer stubborness:

"Every time you write, you go to a construction site in your head. The words are waiting there, like a couple truckloads of loose bricks. They're not going to build themselves into anything, no matter how often you talk to your hands or mouth-breathe or get in touch with your inner Tinkerbell. You pick up the bricks. You mortar them together on a page. You build a story out of them. And that's it. The sweaty, nerve-wracking, non-glittery, unglamorous, orc-free work of writing."

Check out Paperback Writer: Where's the Mothership?">Lynn Viehl's entire post for a good laugh, a healthy dose of common sense and some more insights.

Thanks Lynn, you keep inspiring me. :)

Cool Photos

2010-02-01T18:43:00.001-08:00

I recently came across some beautiful travel photography from a UK competition. Looking at the pictures I was reminded that even though writing and photography are different art forms -- words and visuals --some of the same factors are at play. An attention to detail, the ability to see something from a different angle, and then an ability to capture that idea.

The photographer of the year is a Bangladeshi and since I'm originally from Bangladesh...I'm mighty proud to present to you ...drumroll....

Cool Travel Photos

Today is a New Day

2010-01-29T14:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy, overwhelming week and I've felt like a rickety little sampan caught in a monsoon storm.

Besides the health scare, one of my non-writing dreams crashed and burned. I'd applied for a career in the foreign service -- passed the initial test, took a language test and submitted five personal essays and finally got eliminated. Since the essays were based on my personal experiences, I couldn't but help feel my life didn't measure up. Yes, major pity party and waterworks. Therapy included early morning talk session with the hubby and a scrabble match, prayer, lists, chocolates. All that sank into a conclusion: I'm doing the best I can and that's all I can do. Today is a new day.

But there's been good stuff too.

This week my WIP was chosen as a honorable mention in the QueryTracker contest, which resulted in an agent's invite to query. So I worked on the query letter some and should be able to send it off (with sample pages) by tomorrow. Eek!

I also submitted another short story to a spec fiction market. Waiting for their reaction.

And, I think I've a better beginning for the short story I'd been working on last week.

Somehow, the positive things seem like small, baby steps in comparison to the disappointments. But steps --any kind--keep moving us forward.

Not in the plans

2010-01-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I landed in the ER after I felt bad --numbness and tingly on the right side, a black hole of emptiness in the center of the chest, dizziness, nausea, S-L-O-W thought process. My reaction? I lay down, until much of the feeling passed. Then drove to work. Just another day.
My friend at work --who happens to be a nurse-- heard all this and insisted I call my doc, which resulted me ending up in the ER for hours, undergoing all kinds of tests. Final diagnosis --all tests for a heart attack turned up negative, but now they suspect the beginnings of a stroke.

Lessons learned:

1. 37 isn't too young for a heart attack or a stroke.
2. With women symptoms don't have to be on the left side, could be on the right or any where else in the chest cavity.
3. It's not as dramatic as in the movies, instead the symptoms can creep up on and catch you unawares.
4. None of this was in my plans, my resolutions or my lists. Yet it happened. Life happens. So I'm going to stop putting off things for later and just do what I want to do. Such as write the story I want.
5. I need to take care of myself. Sometimes life gets busy, and exercise time falls by the wayside. Or life stresses me out, so I indulge in comfort foods --fries, nachos etc. Well, payback can be a bitch. So I am going to make me a priority.

So I guess I learned a few new things (part of my resolutions) but in an unexpected way. Sometimes the universe knows better what I need. And I definitely needed this wake up call.

Another list

2010-01-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

Speaking of lists, here's a great one I came across on author Marjorie M. Liu's blog. While all of it is relevant, I love #5.

Let's hope I've linking success here:

Marjorie M. Liu's List

Lists

2010-01-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

I like making lists. All kinds of lists --from grocery lists to lists of books to read. When I'm stressed, I make lists --of things to do, pros and cons, solutions, options. Lists help me think, calm me down.
So I decided to end my week with a list. A list of what I've accomplished this week. I'm hoping that will help me keep on track with my goals, show me where I stand before its too late.

1. Finished editing my manuscript Wild Fire. Yay! Still too raw from the experience to say whether I really hate the book or am just sick of it and actually like it. Anyhoo, I did send it off to a reader. That's a step in the right direction.

2. Rewrote my short story as a poem and submitted it to another market. Waiting to hear back.

3. Wrote 1,055 words on a new short story. Not finished yet.

4. Read two books --a J.D. Robb and an Inspector Ghote mystery. Looks like I'm into crime and detecting at the moment.

5. Signed up for a food writing class, which starts next week. I like food, I like writing...should be a good combination. But homework!? Looking forward, feeling nervous.

6. Asked the hubby out. Waiting for him to pick me up after work, so we can explore downtown a bit, have dinner, a conversation before we go pick up the kids and resume the chaos that's called family.

Here's hoping for a great weekend all around!

Late Resolutions

2010-01-20T08:32:00.001-08:00

So, I've finally settled into 2010. I no longer automatically date my checks 09 and "Happy 2010!" trips and trots off my tongue easily. I've had time to reflect on the past year and dream on the new one, and these are my resolutions:

1. Laugh more --esp. in situations where the only other option maybe to cry or lose it. Given I've two kids, two cats, two dogs and the typical male of a husband, I'll have to recite this one as a mantra on a daily basis.

2. Learn something new --while publication has been a life-long dream, I can't let it consume me. One of the most important things I did last year was to realize that I can and do have more than one dream, one hope and I'm going to continue to build on it.

3. Write more -- regularly and more than my WIPs. I'm going to have fun and explore other forms --poems, short stories etc.

4. Send my words out to the world. I'm not going to let rejections, long periods of silence and my own doubts pull me back. I'll keep sending my writing out. To that end, I've already submitted and got rejected on a short story this month (while the rejection was very kindly worded and I appreciate it, an acceptance would have made my day). Anyhoo, I'm thinking of reworking the piece into a poem and sending it elsewhere.

So here's wishing for all kinds of wonderful this year....

An Early Resolution

2009-12-26T20:22:00.001-08:00

Two-thousand-nine is almost done

And twenty-ten will soon be here

When "Auld Lang Syne" is sweetly sung

We'll welcome in a brand new year

Our hopes and dreams will rise anew

In promise of a brighter day

We will commit to see things through

And clear those hurdles in our way

Fresh words will flow from brain to screen

And characters will spring to life

With writing always crisp and clean

And pages full of hope and strife

To all my friends and friends-to-be

Successful wishes I now send

And hope before next year is through

We all will smile and write THE END

My new room

2009-08-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

I got my own room today. One of the upstairs bedrooms is now my study / den / retreat / whatever I want to call it but it's where I'll WRITE relatively undisturbed.

Once I wrote in the bedroom and pretty much cluttered up half of it, but after we had all our floors redone (courtesy hurricane Ike) the bedroom looked so nice without my junk...

So I moved into the dining room because we never use it anyway. Well, twice a year. BUT - it's right between the kitchen / living room and my husband's study (where he leaves the door open and cranks up the music) and with all the carpet gone everything is much louder than before. Plus it's hard to be in the middle of an intense scene but have someone stop by to see if you know where the [insert item] is or when the TV is drowning out all rational thought.

So - I'm moving out - er up - to where I'll have a door and the opportunity for peace and quiet - I've promised my family I'll show up every now and again.

I finally framed all those contest finalist certificates so I can hang them up over my desk and use them for inspiration. But I'm wondering what else I need to put in there - books, knick-knacks, computers, printer, paper, toner, promo items, iPod, trash can, new lamp, comfy chair. The latter because I like to proof read a hard copy every now and again, it's amazing what the eyes will spot on paper and especially if you change the font.

Hmmm what else - any suggestions?

What's in a blog?

2009-08-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

I'm cheating a little today. First I'm going to tell you all about the request for a full I received recently, that would be the full I made a significant plot change to.

I've been editing like crazy all week!

Secondly, I'm going to tell you about my other blog which really describes how I've felt for the last week. Except I forgot to mention I had dental work done that tore up my mouth and put me on antibiotics!

Check out:
http://rosesofhouston.blogspot.com/2009/08/escaping-doldrums.html

and everyone have a great weekend, I have a story to read and another one to finish!

Fear, Stress, Worry

2009-07-31T01:20:00.000-07:00

None of this pertains to writing directly. It is about the thing sthat my husband has going on with him health wise right now. We have been married 37 years and i so hope to go for the big 50 if God is willing. But right now we are staring at some serious illnesses. He has diabetes, high blood pressure, fast heart rate, blind in his left eye-cataract in right one-wobbles when he walks, peripherial artery disease (poor leg circulation due to blocked arteries), an abdominal aneurysm and last of all cancer of an unknown origin and type. All we know is it isn't the same as when they removed his left kidney in 1988. It isn't related to the urology department they ruled that out on Tuesday. Now we have more tests and more trips to San Antonio to look forward to in the future. He's a lot more upbeat about this than when they told him he had cancer in 2005. We both were devastated and when he couldn't get anybody to work with him at Fort Hood he sort of quit taking his meds and never went back. This spring he started having pain in his left eye and losing his vision. They think either glaucoma or a stroke caused by a piece of plaque from his neck arteries breaking loose and lodging in his eye. I am doing my best to trade days with coworkers and save my last day of vacation of 2009 for a day when I can't trade and need off. Thank goodness I have been at this job for 14 years and they know about all of this and are willing to work with me as much as possible. Still I'm holding onto God for all there is that he will do what is best for my husband and give me the strength to hang in there no matter what happens.

Odd Event

2009-07-31T01:04:00.000-07:00

When we were at Fort Hood, TX on Monday they had an attempted baby kidnapping. Thankfully the baby is safe but no news if they caught the woman that attempted it or not. They locked that place down and at the entrance to every clinic on every floor someone was there checking ID's and making sure of who came and went. There was a picture taken of her from a security camera, I am assuming, posted to the news article I found online about it. Thanks to my niece, Laura, I was able to read the news report. They were having a press release or news conference when we were leaving after 5:00 pm. I was sleeping darn it in a chair and I almost missed it. I woke in time to hear the afterwards talk and search information. There were several comments made on the website where the news article was posted. This is scary because I have two great nieces almost a year old and how devastating it would have been to lose them. Now would be worse but as a newborn how harsh is that. As of Tuesday they had not located the woman I heard them say she kept changing clothes on them.Maybe at soem future date I can utilize some of this in writing. Right now would seem rude to the family even though they don't know me and I dont know them.

I got a release date!

2009-07-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Learning to Let Go will be available in epub format on November 20.

A little exciting and a lot overwhelming.

A perfect release date as that's the time of year the story takes place.

Catching up

2009-07-23T20:34:00.001-07:00

I know I owe everyone a blog about DC - and I'll get to that, I promise! It was hectic, wonderful, hectic, exhauting, exhilarating.

And now it's over, sob!

I arrived home the day after my daughter got back from Australia. Two days later, we found out she'd been exposed to H1N1 on her trip.

My employer freaked and sent me home so I've been working remotely all week. Boring!

There are NO pigs flying at my house but any attempts to return to work were not well met. So I'll be back on Monday.

Meanwhile, I'll work on that "I survived DC" post!

Fear, Writing & Life

2009-07-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

Recently I came across two posts that have been particularly enlightening and inspiring. The advice contained in these not only applies to writing, but all of life. So I wanted to share:

Have No Fear by Marjorie M. Liu

Faith In Your Writing by Jay Lake

Hopefully my linking worked...Enjoy! Maybe if it doesn't you can google the key words.

Blogging at the Roses of Houston

2009-07-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Is it lazy to cross-post your blogs?? ;)

I'm all excited about my trip to DC. Check it out here.

http://rosesofhouston.blogspot.com/2009/07/dc-or-bust.html

Different folks, different strokes.

2009-07-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

I got score sheets back from two contest entries today. A third is a finalist in that contest. I skimmed through the sheets and read the comments, refusing to let myself be depressed.

I think one judge got all three of my entries, that's fine because at least she liked my stuff and gave me decent scores for each. A couple of the judges gave me fairly low scores and that's fine too.

What's always interesting is the comments on my h/h. I'll read about how someone can't bond with my hero at all, but love my heroine. Then next score sheet they love my hero but my heroine is bland. I'm sure many authors have the same problem, but is there a happy medium?

Or, should I be glad that readers have strong opinions one way or the other?

The contest train continues

2009-06-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Two sets of exciting news over the last few days. First – my Four Seasons finalist entry Rural Rendezvous garnered an agent request. I’m polishing up that partial!

Second, When Jonny Came was a finalist in the Golden Acorn contest. I get to spiff up my entry before it gets sent to a Harlequin editor for further review. I’m not holding my breath on that one, but being a finalist is still an awesome feeling.

And – I sent my thanks off right away! I was fortunate to get decent scores from all three judges plus useful comments.

I’m not sure about another part of my resolution though, I really want to submit an entry for Heart of the West but it closes tomorrow. Groan. I might have to break that one unless I can squeak something in tonight.

The moral of my story—if it needs one—is that contests are still a viable and valuable way of getting your stuff in front of editors!

Have a great week everyone, and a safe and happy Fourth of July.

I’ll be biting my fingernails and waiting for my galley copy of Learning to Let Go. We’re getting down to the wire and I should have a release date within the next month.

Much excitement!

Elizabeth

My Contest Resolutions

2009-06-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

I feel very proud of myself today - not only did I send out the last handful of thanks to judges for a contest I'd coordinated (with apologies for my tardiness) BUT I finished up my outstanding thank you notes as well.

I therefore resolve:

As a contestant -
*I will try to enter BEFORE the last minute. Like at least one day before entries close!
*I will send thanks to ALL my judges (even the ones that hated my work) as soon as I get the score sheets back. Well - within a few days ; )

As a contest judge -
*I will get my entries back to the coordinator in speedy order and NOT wait until she's tearing her hair out!
*I will be constructive and not destructive, encouraging and not belittling.

As a contest coordinator -
*I will continue to assist my contestants and answer questions / allow entry fixing until the cows come home. Or at least until entries close.
*I will celebrate with those that final and be supportive of those that don't.
*I will keep excellent records and get those score sheets back post haste.
*I will forward thanks ASAP.

Whew - I feel better now!

My first novel

2009-06-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

Not the one about to be published - but the FIRST one I wrote, almost two years ago.

I dusted it off and read through it yesterday, wondering if it could be salvaged. My writing is far from perfect now but oh dear! I broke a lot of rules back then. Lots and lots and lots.

But what fun to read the "one" that started it all.

And yes, it can be salvaged. I love the story. Need to add a hero POV, get rid of the !!! and was-ings, and use contractions!

A couple of dozen other things too but it is definitely on my to-do list.

Has anyone ever got the FIRST thing they wrote published? Or do they learn and move on?

Seeing the light - and it's a train

2009-06-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

I was a little disappointed today. Make that a lot. In the first round of a recent contest I was a finalist in two categories. I scored highest with one MS and tied for highest with another. Can't get much more promising than that!

I've been eagerly awaiting results and comments from the final round judges.

Well, today I got the results. 3rd out of five with the one I thought needed the most work and Honorable Mention with the other. She apparently couldn't bear to place me fifth so I guess I got the HM by default. It's been a while since I received a failing grade and a little hard to swallow.

This is the second MS (of mine) the latter editor has seen. She does not like my work, will never like my work. I understand and that's okay. She probably enjoys stuff I hate to read.

These entries plus a third are (courtesy contest finals) under review by other editors at that particular, and my dream, publishing house, but it's occurred to me I'm wasting my time there.

I know there are, and will be, other dreams. But it's always sad when something turns to dust.

Chatting with Anna Kathryn

2009-06-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I'm blogging with Anna Kathryn Lanier today, come and check it out!

http://annakathrynlanier.blogspot.com/2009/06/learning-to-let-go.html

TIMELINES -HISTORY

2009-05-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

I was working on the end of my WIP and began thinking about generations and age. If my heroine is 20 something in 1888 she would have been born at the end of the Civil War. Just as I fall into the Baby Boomer Generation by the year (1952) I was born. I started down this road trying to determine how many greats would be from 1888 until the present day and time. If you take the definition I located that a generation is defined as 20-30 years I chose 25 as an average since it is halfway between the end and beginning. My own great grandmothers were born in 1878 and 1864. I was born in 1952 but having no kids was looking at my sister's. Her oldest was born in 1978 she was 21 her youngest was born in 1989, she was 32. She has 4 kids. Three boys and one daughter. She has five grandaughters ranging in age from 7 years to six months. I can count 4 generations from my mother until my sister's oldest granddaughter who is a great niece to me. My mother was born in 1928, one of her grandmothers was born in 1864, her mother, my grandmother was born around 1906.

It's here!

2009-04-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

Another milestone - aka exciting moment - on the way to publication.

My book cover!!

Huge thanks to Tamra Westberry for her design - isn't it awesome?

Now I only need the next round of edits and a release date.

And probably another dozen things in between that I don't even know about yet!

I didn't think it would be this hard

2009-04-11T15:35:00.000-07:00

Or – The Evolution of a Novel (and its author)

The voices in my head aren’t real, but they have some really good ideas.

So goes a sticker my daughter bought for me. Fortunately she understands the “voices” while others think I’m crazy. It’s almost like dreaming, or watching bits and pieces of a movie in your head. Bits and pieces all jumbled while you, as director, yell CUT and start the whole scene over.

About eighteen months ago I had a random idea to write a story about a guy who lost his wallet outside a church. And make it an inspirational contemporary romance. That was it really, just an idea. Then I had to choose who would find his wallet. What would they do? What would make them do it? What would the wallet-loser do when he did or didn’t find it? Who was the wallet loser? Why was he there?

In no time at all I had my first chapter. Rudimentary at best and very old-fashioned in style. No matter, I sent it off to a contest. Gotcha! 2007. I changed it a little, added a few more pages, and then sent it off to another contest. Meanwhile – I began to read “da rules” on inspy stories. Hadn’t broken any of them so far, but what was going to happen next?

At this point I undoubtedly set it aside and worked on something else. Then I got my Gotcha! results.

Oh my. Not quite the bottom but almost there. Perplexed, I read the comments. One judge admitted if she hadn’t been forced to read the whole thing she would have put it down after page two. All judges commented on my poor sentence structure, backstory dumps, and wishy-washy POV.

All judges loved my heroine, encouraged me beyond belief, and told me to rework it a little but not give up. One, a published author, gave me her e-mail address and a bunch of suggestions. She offered to re-read the first chapter after I’d re-written it. Wow. I was inspired, and made some changes. But I still had a long way to go.

The story hit a crit group, I think I got through several chapters. It was tough, though. The critters wanted more action, more tension. And a few other things not conducive to inspies. But I did get some good feedback and encouragement, and kept rewriting the darn story. I frequently got sick of it, I admit.

An eBay fundraiser allowed me to meet one of my greatest mentors, Tracy Ruckman. I was high bidder for one of Tracy’s editing services. She took my three chapters and clumsy synopsis and tore them to shreds – very politely, of course. She also told me how much she loved it and gave me fantastic suggestions. I think I learned more from that single review than from anything else and all of my writing improved thanks to Tracy. I also came up with a “real” title – Learning to Let Go – a lot more exciting than the placeholder of The Wallet.

I embarked on rewrite number 257 and sent off entries to a few more contests. Then, in August of last year, something fantastic happened. A publisher requested revisions on my partial, and the entry began to final. I called in Tracy to help me with the revisions, and sent it off to the publisher. And waited. Meanwhile, it occurred to me I should probably finish the novel. I wrote and wrote and packed the first half off to Tracy. She loved it. Until page eighty-three when my heroine had issues with many things and showed a spiteful and bitter side.

Tracy said NO. Fix it. Well, darn. I knew she was right, but that meant more work. I hadn’t heard from the publisher and no one would ever buy the stupid story anyway. I ignored it and worked on something else, deciding this MS would be my learning material and nothing more.

Unfinished, it gathered dust.

Well – so much for that. In a few short months the thing finaled in six contests. The crowning glory was first place in the East Texas RWA’s Southern Heat, followed by first in Gotcha! 2008. I was pleasantly surprised. When I got the Southern Heat scoresheet back from the Wild Rose Press editor, I was ecstatic. The wonderful lady gave me a perfect score. After a nudge by the Southern Heat contest coordinator, Carol Braswell, TWRP requested a full. Goodness gracious. I think I was finally excited about this story.

Until Carol told me to send in the full ASAP, or at least within a couple of weeks. Eek!

I took time off work and about wore out my fingers but got it in AND my heroine stayed “true” throughout. TWRP replied quickly and told me I’d get their response by May 5th.

March 18th – I get a contract offer. I still can’t believe it.

(cross-posted at RosesofHouston.blogspot.com)

Win a Sony eReader from White Rose Publishing

2009-04-02T04:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why I'm posting this because I intend to win BUT - ; )

Cross-posted with permission:

Visit www.WhiteRosePublishing.com between April 1, 2009 and May 30, 2009 and purchase any title from any of the sponsoring authors. It's easy to enter: Once you purchase a book or short story from any of the participating authors (free read downloads, excluded), email your order number to sonyreader@thewildrosepress.com. That's it. In addition to the wonderful inspirational stories available at White Rose Publishing, SONY will include $25 worth of free downloads from their site with every reader we give away. So enter now!If you purchase more than one title, you can enter more than one time. For questions regarding the contest contact Rhonda Penders at rpenders@whiterosepublishing.com*Full details, the list of participating authors, and no purchase necessary rules are on the website www.WhiteRosePublishing.com Winners will be announced on our website on June 1, 2009! Good Luck!

(One day you can go here to buy MY book!)

The Joys of Renovation - or - the hurricane continues

2009-03-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sometime in a previous life (or perhaps last year), I had the joy of surviving Hurricane Ike. Which, I suppose, is a lot better than the alternative!

FINALLY we're on stage two of the repairs (stage one being a new roof), which means my torn and otherwise disgusting carpet is being replaced with tile. Yay!

And aaarrgghh!!

Right now all my downstairs possessions are in the garage, master bedroom, or small corner of the living room. Supposed to take three or four days - let's add a week to that. At least we've only spent one night in a motel (the rest have been spent sleeping on recliners) and my two "youngest" kids cleaned their upstairs bathrooms so hubby and I could use them without shuddering. Replacing the master shower is stage three. It's all torn out but I guess a new one will be put in eventually.

Problem is - when it's all done I'm not going to want to move the junk back in! And boy, do we have a lot of junk. At least we can unpack at a slower pace and throw a lot of it away.

We now have a new stage four - removing the baseboards pretty much trashed the paint and wallpaper. Time to redecorate!

My writing time has been very meager this week and the dust and mold that the workers uncovered have given me a nice cough. All good fodder for my hurricane WIP though!

I'm still waiting for the signed contract to arrive from WRP, I have a feeling that will perk me right up and get me motivated!

Plus - I found three contests I can enter - happiness!!

I'm a 'Tweenie

2009-03-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

It's hitting home I have a contract (or will when it shows up in the mail, anyway) and have shuffled a very small step from the pre-published to the almost-published!

But - right now - I'm in between published and unpublished.

For me that means - NO CONTESTS! And I am, after all, a contest junkie.

Yes - there are a few that accept entries from published authors (or us 'tweenies), but not many.

Never mind - I'm going to have plenty of work (and edits) to keep me busy.

Now - what to do with all that money I'll save? Hmmm.

More conferences!

Excellent blog on STORY

2009-03-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

A friend passed this along to me. The sort of thing you have to read three or four times and each time you get hit by the WOW factor! Read the whole thing, he really gets into some interesting stuff.

http://ericswanson.blogspot.com/2007/08/story-by-robert-mckee.html

The "Call"

2009-03-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

Or in my case - the e-mail!

After being lucky enough to place first in the East Texas RWA's Southern Heat contest with LEARNING TO LET GO, I got a request for a full from The Wild Rose Press! Mostly thanks to the persistence of the contest coordinator, Carol Braswell!

I polished it to pieces - still wasn't happy but couldn't stand to work on it any longer so sent it in at the beginning of February. I got a nice note from Elizabeth West, telling me I'd hear from her no later than May 5th.

Meanwhile - TWRP spun off it's White Rose or Christian Romance line into its own division - White Rose Publishing. I was thrilled to read about it and secretly crossed fingers and toes they'd like my stuff.

March 18th. I see an e-mail from Elizabeth West. Well, phooey. Everyone says rejections come quicker than acceptances. I took a deep breath. Got up. Walked around. Had another look at the list of unread e-mails. Still there.

Another deep breath and another walk. Telling myself it was okay. I'll learn to let go of this rejection and move on. I'm okay. You're okay. Doesn't mean I can't write. All is well.

Sat down and opened the e-mail.

And FREAKED!

Still can't believe it. I'm a coordinator for the Daphne contest so am swamped in entries - trying to get them out to judges - trying to do everything right (having some issues with that part) AND trying to come up with a bio for myself and a back cover for my book.

WRP sent me a whole sheet to fill out so they can do a nice front cover. They asked things like h/h eye color and I had to go look it up! I've been immersed in another WIP and LTLG had GONE out of my head.

So this weekend I'm going to print it and read it. In between packing up the ground floor of my home because they're coming to lay tile on Monday (finally getting fixed after Ike damage in September) AND getting out the rest of my entries.

A thrilling ride!

Contest Wins are on a roll for the Texas Typos

2009-01-19T18:49:00.000-08:00

Ok I posted my win I saw on a site we share where Rashda won and I had an email from Elizabeth stating she won a contest also. Now ladies why not post your good luck here. Kathy andSusan hope you had a safe Christmas and New Year. If you find time to drop a line to one of us let us know you are still out there somewhere. Do either of you have any news to share?

2009-01-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

Well as of December 24, 2008 I am a work in progress writer? I received the neatest Christmas Present ever. I received official notification that I won the Southern Heat Contest's Historical Category. The contest coordinator also informed me the judge wanted to see a partial of my manuscript. So I started the New Year of 2009 off by emailing the judge to see when she would like to see my partial and how much of the manuscript she wants in the partial. So ladies where do we go from here? I am out of the dumps. No more thinking it was a mistake. No more thinking she will hate it and I will be back to square one. All I can do is try. Cross your fingers for me this is so fast to me.

Na No Wri Mo

2008-12-01T15:52:00.000-08:00

I only wrote 5,081 words for Na No but that was about 1/10 of the amount we were supposed to write lol. How did our other competitors do? I have bronchitis wonder what would have happened if I hadn't gotten sick. Just felt so yuck this month. :-p Oh well next year.

Southern Heat

2008-12-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and I were notified today that we are finalists in the ETC RWA Southern Heat contest. Good luck Elizabeth may you win the gold. We will find out more at the end of Jan 2009. What a way to start a new year and end an old one. I'm doing a happy dance for us . :-)

NANO PROGRESS FOR KC

2008-11-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

NaNoWriMo progress so far on a new story 1068 words and 5 pages. It is in rough draft so far and I was in the middle of something else when this story appeared in my mind. I am working on a fantasy paranormal story that I am literally writing it as it comes to me. I started it off another story I had started that fell into limbo. When I was getting ready for work I was thinking how can I do this what would be a good way for it go from here and these lines began. Now I have five pages of writing. I don't know if I will make 50,000 words by the end of November. I think sometimes if work would not interfere I could have more time to write. I just need to find the time frame that works for me is all. Sometimes it is before work others it is after work. Today my husband , Jim, his mom and I are joining some old and good friends for an early Thanksgiving Dinner. This will be fun we haven't seen these folks since July and Jim's 60th birthday party. Before that it had been several years. Now they live in the area and we are renewing our friendship. So my writing will be later today, but surely it counts to have it on your mind and thinking when you are not actually putting the words down but saving them for later? Kathy

MY NEWEST GREAT NIECE IS HERE

2008-11-16T09:01:00.000-08:00

Kylee Emeryl Weaver arrived at 1:56 am Central Standard Time 8:56 am Central German Time Sunday November 16, 2008. She weighed in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and measured 20,5 inches long with a head full of dark hair and dark blue eyes. Mother Jennifer Weaver and daugher Kylee are doing fine. Hoping to see pictures soon.

A week of Extremes

2008-11-09T18:45:00.000-08:00

Whoo! The first week of November has been a rollercoaster ride (yes, i know cliche --too tired for anything else).

First, I celebrated Barak Obama's win. Danced to the tune of hope, reveled in being part of a historic moment, and joined hands and swayed in an All-American celebration.

Then Michael Crichton died and I grieved. With Tony Hillerman and him dying, now we've lost two wonderful creative spirits. I loved reading both of their stories and will greatly miss them. I truly regret never making it to Hillerman's writing conference in New Mexico when I had the chance.

My NaNo-attempt faltered. I came in at 3,125 words for the entire week. I guess that's better than no pages, but still not as much as I hoped for.

However, my WIP revisions progressed full-speed ahead. I actually got through 100 pages. WooHoo!

I ended the week by finding fall Color in Texas -- pretty rare and extreme for most of the state. But I took the time to search and I was rewarded. Here's my favorites picture from Lost Maples State Park. Enjoy!

NaNoWriMo

2008-11-03T10:04:00.000-08:00

Yes, two of the Texas Typos --Elizabeth and Moi-- are NaNo-virgins this year. So keep your fingers crossed for us!

I'll try to do weekly posts regarding our progress. If I'm not too busy typing. ;P

First Update: Kathy C, another TX Typos is also NaNoing. Yeehaw! The Texas typos ride again....

Discovering A New Author: Devon Monk

2008-11-03T05:16:00.003-08:00

Earlier this year, I made it to my first Con –Conestoga 12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A number of my favorite kick-ass authors from the Fangs, Fur & Fey site were part of the program. I just had to attend. Now, I have to admit I was nervous and had many questions. Could I wear normal clothes or did I have to dress up as an elf or werewolf? Did they really have wild parties?

So the first night, I show up at the bar area for a happy hour/mingling, find a spot and end up in a great discussion about vampires, faeries, writing and books with a wonderful bunch of ladies. Among them, was Devon Monk.

The next morning, while attending a writing panel, I realized she's an agented author with her debut novel MAGIC TO THE BONE coming out. Also, she’d sold over fifty short stories to fantasy, science fiction, horror, humor, and young adult magazines and anthologies. Her stories have been published in five countries and included in a Year's Best Fantasy collection.

Yeah, I can be clueless at times and drinking wine doesn’t exactly help.

She handed me her first chapter to read on the plane ride home. And I was hooked. Here’s a blurb from MAGIC TO THE BONE, see how you like it:

Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user--maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they offload the cost onto an innocent. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster--and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is.

Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune--and the many strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magical offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown back into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic.

In bookstores November 4, 2008. To learn more about Devon, check out her site:
http://devonmonk.com/old/

The Texas Typos had a slew of questions for Devon, which she generously offered to answer:

1. How long did it take you to write the book from concept to agent-ready?

I was invited to submit a short story to an anthology. It probably took two weeks to come up with an idea for the short story and a week to write it. That ended up being the first chapter of the novel.

I wrote the novel (except for the first chapter, which, actually, I had to rewrite) in a little over a month.

2. How do you know when a book is agent-ready?

When it is as good as I can make it with my current skills. I love rewriting, but there comes a time when I must let go of a book so I can move on to the next book, the next challenge, the next thing that will help me grow as an author. In the most basic terms I draft, rewrite, send to first readers, rewrite, and send to agent.

3. How long did it take you to find an agent and how many did you query? How did she target her agent(s)?

It took me five years and four different books to sign my current agent. I don't know how many I queried in the end. At first, I only queried the one or two agents I was familiar with. Then my goal became researching as many agents as I could (via Publisher's Marketplace, Agent Query, websites, blogs, conferences, chats, etc.) and submitting to as many I thought were viable every month.

4. From 'the call' to print: what's your favorite part of the process? Why?

I love hearing from readers who have enjoyed reading the book. That is after all, my ultimate goal--to write something others can enjoy and escape into. As for the writing process, I think my favorite part is rewriting after the first draft because that is when I feel I have finally unpacked the story and discovered what it truly can be. I also love seeing the cover art for the first time.

5. How many times did you want to give up and if more than two or three what kept you going? If less, what drugs were you on?

I gave up once a year for fifteen years. Seriously. What kept me going was that I love writing. Even when it's really, really hard, and there is no time for it in my life, and no one wants to buy my stuff, I love writing.

6. What is your message to pre-published authors hoping to see their books in print?

Remember writing is a job and you are responsible for your career. That means showing up at the keyboard every day and working (writing) to climb the mountain. The most important tool a writer can put in their toolbox is determination. Talent and inspiration are great, but determination will get the words down, will lead you to strive to improve, and will send out the novel/short story/article again and again, rejection after rejection, until it is sold.

7. If you knew what you know now starting out, what would you've done different?

I probably wouldn't have listened to the people who told me the only way to sell a novel was to learn to write short fiction. I also would have dared to be bad more often, trusted more in my voice, and tried to write more and faster, every day.

8. Do you have any strange -okay, let's call it unique-writing practices?

I don't think so. I just sit down, roll up my sleeves and sweat and cuss and despair. Isn't that how everyone does it? Wait, I just thought of something that might be strange--sometimes I plot my scenes/chapters/books in the shower. There's something about the warm water and time away from the rest of the world that really helps me think.

9. What do you do for stress relief?

I knit, do yoga, and take walks. Knitting isn't always great on my fingers and wrists, but I love it. Yoga has done wonders for my typing-cramped shoulders and keeps my mind more alert. Walking is just plain fun.

10. Did you use a critique partner or group, or did your previous experience mean you didn't need to?

I'm assuming you're asking if I used a critique group for MAGIC TO THE BONE. No. I'd been a part of critique groups for fifteen years. All of them focused on short fiction. There wasn't a group in my area that critiqued novels. So I found a few trusty first readers and asked if they would take a look at the book. One of my first readers is a wonderful writer and the other two are wonderful (and voracious) readers. They all gave me invaluable feedback on how to make the book more satisfying.

11. How do you find a trustworthy beta reader? What are the qualifications of a beta reader?

This one's tricky. It takes knowing what you expect a beta reader to do and being clear about asking for that. If you're looking for someone to tell you what you did right, ask for that upfront: "I'd love it if you read my book and just told me the things that you like about it."

If you're looking for someone to tell you what didn't work in the book, be specific, i.e, ask, "When did you get bored and put it down? Was the scene in the warehouse confusing? Do you like the main character? Why not? Who was your favorite character? Why? Did (blank) make sense?"

I guess my advice is to just keep trying people--at critique groups, conferences, classes, online--until you've found someone who is willing to build a relationship of trust and (sometimes brutal) honesty. Then listen to them and apply the suggestions that make the most sense to your vision of the story.

12. What's the biggest difference in writing magazines, anthologies, short stories and novels?

The writing process is still the same (sit at keyboard, roll sleeves, sweat, cuss, despair) but the format and length of each form calls for a different approach in plotting.

Short stories need tight, brilliant little plots with every word doing triple the work. Novels need tight brilliant big plots with every word doing double the work.

Magazines and anthologies are different in that anthologies are often identified by themes and magazines are usually identified by genre. In many cases anthologies have a longer shelf life than magazines--simply due to the format.

I believe every form of story calls for deep characterization, rockin' plots, exciting world building, and a lasting sense of wonder.

13. How do you draw the line between fantasy and science fiction?

I don't. That's up to marketing/publishers/book sellers. There's a lot of blending between the two genres anyway, and I like it when things cross-pollinate.

I know there are purists who will argue the point, but as a reader I basically classify fantasy as stories with strong magical elements and science fiction as stories with strong technological elements.

14. You span a number of genres, what's your ultimate favorite to write?

All of it! I love a good story that will whisk me away and let me spend time with unusual/engaging people who are doing cool things.

15. What elements are a must in a good book?

I like books that have strong, engaging characters and plots, great dialog, interesting settings, emotionally fulfilling outcomes, and pacing that makes the whole thing sing.

16. Give us your top five reason why a reader should pick MAGIC TO THE BONE when browsing a bookstore shelf.

I get all kinds of shy doing that sort of thing. How about I just quote five people who have read it instead?

"...clever and compulsively readable...brilliantly and tightly written...a multifaceted character who will surprise, amuse, amaze and absorb readers." --Publishers Weekly Starred review

"With style and a magical world that is quite fresh, Monk explodes on the scene and makes a few waves!"
--Romantic Times top pick 4 1/2 stars

"Loved it. Fiendishly original and a stay-up-all-night read."
--Patricia Briggs, NYT Bestselling Author

"Monk's writing is addictive and the only cure is more, more, more."
--Rachel Vincent, NYT Bestselling Author

"The characters in Magic to the Bone are anything but stereotypical. They defy expectations and truly come alive on the page. The use of magic in here is new and fantastically riveting. The plot is complex and wonderful, with excellent twists and turns. The not-particularly-explicit (in fact, they’re teasingly abstract in some ways) sex scenes are searingly hot in an unusually “real” kind of way, and the emotions are incredibly poignant."
--Errant Dreams Review

17. State three ways you're similar to your heroine, Allie, and three ways you're different.

Oh boy, here we go!

Similar: I go out of my way to help others in need, I have a sarcastic inner monologue, I'm willing to risk it all for those I love.

Different: I get along with my family, I'm not a loner, I'm not in over my head burdened with magic in a world where dangerous secrets and dangerous people are around every corner.

Thanks a bunch Devon and best of luck with MAGIC TO THE BONE. May you have rock-rockin’ sales! Keep writing,
Rashda

Computer Scare

2008-10-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I almost cried. I teetered on the edge of throwing myself on the floor, kicking and crying. I had the latest version of my WIP --the one I've been working on for a couple of years now--on a zip drive. Well, when I plugged it in yesterday, my file --only my WIP file and none other--is corrupted.

I tried all kinds of things to recover a version with most of my changes. Nada.

I called in favors, drove to the state university computer people and begged. Nada.

Finally, got referred to this tiny computer shop --The Computer Stop -- hidden in a shopping strip of burgers, salons and laundromat and pub. Left my baby with them for an agonizing hour. And the staff retrieved most of it. I don't think I've ever been so happy to write out a check!

Moral of the story: Backup, backup, backup. On a weekly basis.

Accidents can happen, files get corrupted, zips get lost. You don't want all your hard work to vanish in an instant.

Okay, I'm breathing again and writing too! :)

Patting Myself on the Back

2008-10-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm celebrating a major accomplishment. On Friday, I sent two contest entries winging off into cyberspace. Woo~Hoo! Let the Cyber Champagne flow, the Cyber chocolate makes its rounds. And, of course, send in the Cyber cowboys!

Yes, I know I haven't WON any contest. Merely entered. However, every time I attempt to enter contests there's major hurdles to overcome.

1) Self-Doubt: Suddenly my wonderful story doesn't seem that wonderful anymore. I obsess over every word choice until the last minute. I can't believe I wrote this drivel. I want to call up all my writing friends and seek reassurance. But I like having friends, so I don't.

2)When upset or nervous, I cook or bake. So I spend precious writing time in the kitchen. This time, it was a Pumpkin Spice Bread, pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pudding. I'm really getting into October here.

3)My computer sabotages me. Really. I'm not making this up. Whenever I'm on contest deadline, my computer acts up: the word processor refuses to do the requested formatting, the e-mail goes down etc. etc. What? Operator difficulties, you say? Nope. It's the computer's fault.

So win or lose, just entering contests is a major accomplishment. And I'm celebrating!

Dangerous Typos

2008-10-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all came across this post about how a typo resulted in some very sick people. For a reminder that typos can be serious business check this article out:

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/food-magazine-typo-poisons-sweden/

Okay, technophobe here doesn't know how to make the link live...so, cut and paste it into your search engine or google "nutmeg typos" if you want to read the article.

Nicholas Sparks and writing good info

2008-10-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all I was surfing the web talking to my aunt when she mentioned Nicholas Sparks and a movie with Richard Gere being out. I called up the man's page and look what is there, things about writing. If you are interested here is the link: http://nicholassparks.com/WritersCorner/Index.html Kathy, an asprining author, maybe some day lol.

We have a brand new baby girl!

2008-10-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

Today my family added an great niece. Well her grandmothe is my sister, so she has brand new granddaughter. But this is my brand new great niece . This is my sister's daughter's baby girl. There will be another one born next month. Her oldest two sons have girls also. The oldest has a 6 almost 7 (on Monday October 6) and the youngest one is 4. They are named Evelyn and Katie. The second oldest son has a daughter named Cinnamin who was 5 in July on the 8th. She lives with her mom but she sees her daddy and his second wife on a regular basis they all live in Germany where the first ones are at Fort Hood/Killeen Texas area. Now this son and his second wife are having a baby in November. But here is our newest aby born today. Please welcome Lillian Rose Maldonado, born at 2:00 pm central daylight time. She weighed 8 pound 6 ounces (a chunky monkey) and was 20.5 inches long. Lillian's mother says she has her daddy's hair and that she is hungry, tired, and hurting after the birth.

The use of apostrophes in Texas

2008-10-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

Okay I had to share this, since we are the TXTypos!

I recently got this question:

I have a friend in Alabama who's trying to tell me the difference between "you all" and "ya'll." But I'm still unclear. I thought "ya'll" was for addressing one person (you) and "all ya'll" was for more than one (you guys).

Is that right?

Followed by:

Okay, disregard. LOL. After reading my friend's e-mail THREE times through, I finally figured out what she was trying to say. She was trying to correct my placement of the apostrophe. Hence, "y'all" vs. "ya'll." Apparently, she sees that error all the time in books, and it drives her crazy.

My response:

Yes the apostrophe placement is very important in Texas as in y'all and fixin' to.

Such as Y'all are fixin' to get into a heck of trouble for misusing the apostrophe! :P

It is done. Let the waiting begin.

2008-09-29T18:53:00.000-07:00

I did it. Got my cover letter and synopsis and first three chapters in the mail to Steeple Hill.

Of course - the editor that said change these things and send it back has moved on... I sent it to the new person but doubt if I will hear anything positive. I hope I hear something though, fairly soon, so I can scratch them off my list and send elsewhere. I have this fear it will hit the slush pile and I'll be waiting until Christmas. "Elsewhere" doesn't like simultaneous subs so I have to get the official rejection before I can do anything else.

Of course, standing in line at the post office I thought of better things to say and things I should have changed or added, but resisted the urge to yank it back out of the clerk's hands and let the envelope go on its way. Sigh. With the other editor I thought I might have a good shot at a request for the full.

Never mind.

Writing Again

2008-09-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Slowly, but surely, I'm recovering from September.

I've finally managed to catch up with my e-mail and tame the beast. Yay me!

I've also returned to my WIP and am trying to plot. Until now, I've been an out and out pantser. But discovered I'd write chapter after chapter, only to change directions and not be able to use many of them. Aaargh!

So yes, instead of sitting down writing, I sat down and took a couple of on-line plotting classes --one with Angie Fox and one with Tracy Montoya. Uber helpful and I've been spending time in trying to chart my book.

Yeah, it's almost as hard as cramming your book into a perky logline. Anyhoo, at least working on the plotting has got me thinking about my story again and is helping me slip into writing mode. Yay me!

Golden Heart

2008-09-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

Go ahead everyone, get your GH entries in now! You can enter on-line. Actual entry has to be in their hands by December 2nd (I think).

I got my inspie entered which means I need to finish it. Which I needed to do anyway. I'd hoped to have more than one entry but - oh well. The stuff that happened wasn't all writing.

At least I have been writing, trying to make up for lost time. Which means I'm missing out on sleep but can't have everything!

Three hours yesterday and one so far today. And some of this was REAL writing and not editing and rewriting the stuff I'd already written!

2008-09-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

Tiny FrogsWow! This is really awesome!...Some Tiny FrogsOnce upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs....who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....The race began....Honestly: No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.You heard statements such as:'Oh, WAY too difficult!!''They will NEVER make it to the top.'or:'Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!'The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher..The crowd continued to yell, 'It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!'More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower.

Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?It turned out .... that the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is: Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic....because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!Always think of the power words have. (There's life and death in the power of the tongue - Proverbs 18:21.)Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!Therefore: ALWAYS be .... POSITIVE!
And above all: Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!Always think: God and I can do this!Pass this message on to 5 'tiny frogs'you care aboutGive them some motivation!!!Most people walk in and out of your life......but FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart

Writing your book in the future- sort of

2008-09-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

I am currently reading Sandra Brown’s book ENVY. It has a copyright of 2001. It supposedly takes place in 2002. Through almost half of the book, there has been no mention of 9/11/2001. Now my point in this ramble is, if it is taking place in 2002 how she cannot know about 9/11. Of course, she didn’t know about 9/11 when she wrote the book most likely in 2000. It just makes one think when they are writing how quick you can date your writing. Mention a VCR and most people look at you as if you were from another world. It is all DVD now. If you can remember for those of us past those years, not that long ago, maybe 30 years ago, cassettes were the popular form of music to listen to. I personally still have record albums lol. So how do we go about keeping our work current without it being out of date?

They've gone - whew!

2008-09-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

And for those of you that think I'm heartless... I had six extra people staying with me.

My poor m-i-l, bless her soul, is old, feeble, and borderline Alzheimers. A couple of examples. She thinks the power is off in her home because f-i-l didn't pay the light bill. Also that he is giving her the wrong medication to try and kill her. He says fine, just die then. She has sweet, sweet moments then tantrums because the family is keeping her from her home against her will. Stress #1 - 3

f-i-l is great and still laughs at my jokes. But hasn't quite accepted that his health isn't what it should be, and eats food that upsets his stomach and makes us think he needs an ambulance. And feels helpless that he can't do more. He wants to help me with the three meals a day (for 10) plus dishes but seriously, it is easier if I do it myself. Stress #4

b-i-l #1 (50+ and has never been married / left home) gets concerned that he missed a meal and thinks I'll do his laundry. ROFLMAO! I showed him what HOT, WARM, etc. meant on the washing machine and how to measure the detergent. Stress #5 - 7

Two nieces and nephew (ages 11 - 14) are awesome and from single parents (hubby's siblings) that dropped them off and left (that's okay).

Three of my husband's siblings (he's one of six) in the area had power but did not seem to want the parents or see how they were doing. Hmm. Stress #8

And hubby has found a lot of "outside" things to do the last few days. Stress #9

m-i-l and f-i-l can't go upstairs so they had our bed and hubby and I slept on recliners. Sort of as the kids were loud until I sent "be quiet or die" text messages to my daughter. Note I'm not saying dh right now and "hubby" is stretching it... Stress #10

Turns out b-i-l #2 had a generator so f-i-l guilted him into setting up at their house. Just as well as I have to go back to work in the morning and my daughter starts school. Of course b-i-l #1's truck broke down on the way home and dh (!!) had to go take them water for their radiator. I thought they might be back and hit the chocolate. But they managed to make it home.

Excuse the venting . . . therapy!!

AND I got to write for an hour this evening and feel GREAT!! Tired, yes, but great.

Perhaps next week I can talk about something more fun!

East Texas Chapter Romance Writers of America Expert Expose

2008-09-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

My day had an interesting beginning I had to buy a new battery and then debate the merits of two trips to Tyler approximately 125 miles round trip. I get mad, mouth about spending money on cigarettes for somebody else in the household. AKA the other half. Then decide I am going anyway. So I get ready and head to Tyler arriving in lots of time. As I am always running late this is a biggie for me, plus I had never been to this place. I looked on map quest and memorized the street where it was and how to get there.

I arrived at the Oxford Street Restaurant in Tyler, Texas to find it had a sign on the door that stated "CLOSED". I was on the phone asking other half to find my yahoo group for the chapter in case they had changed something. Another member pulls in, whew, never mind other half. After the two of us discuss what to do next I mention the other sign on the door that says something about a singles Dinner Out meeting at Fat Catz, a nearby place. I race over to see if they have room to seat a part of ten around 7:30 pm it's now pushing 7:00 pm at least maybe a bit after. They say sure we can do that. Everyone arrives to a noise filled restaurant. We can't hear each other, or our thoughts. Then they add a live band to the mix. They all ate a great meal of sea food(yours truly had a simple cheap cheeseburger-not big on seafood). The agent is really a super nice lady really cool, Nephele Tempest is her name she is there in the black top and dark hair. ( I took the picture with my phone.) After dinner we adjourned across the town so to speak to a more quiet environment of Starbucks. I was needing Diet Coke not coffee. Alas I sat and enjoyed sans coke the people in our group and Nephele.
All in all our Friday night disaster turned into a fun thing even with the inability to hear or think in the restaurant. I will post more on our great day today.

The problem with having power when others don't

2008-09-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

The in-laws are back. 'Nuff said. With six extra people in my house I'm now a short-order cook, dishwasher, nursemaid, and keeper of the peace.

I'll let you know when I'm out of therapy.

What is, is.

2008-09-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

Today my dad asked how my writing was going and I had to tell him my writing is on hiatus. This earned me a lecture on how I should write religiously.

Well, this wasn't a planned hiatus. I am participating in my local community's 11 Days of Global Unity events and it's taking up more time, energy and brain cells than I realized. While writing is very important to me, world peace seemed a bit more important.

Today I learned about Taoism. The speaker was a shy and soft spoken woman, but her message was powerful. What is, is.

So, that's what I'm trying to do. Instead of fretting about the book not being written, I'm concentrating on learning as much as I can from these Peace events and making new friends.

The book that's meant to be written will be written, after September.

Ike - Day 6

2008-09-17T20:00:00.001-07:00

The good stuff:
Nice weather. McDonald’s open. More stations with gas. Stores open longer hours. Dairy and other perishables starting to reappear in small quantities. Curfews with shorter hours. People helping each other. Meeting friends and being happy they are safe. Seeing our local officials do a great job. No one is perfect but they are trying so hard and you know they are spending time away from their homes and families to take care of others. POD’s and COW’s. The absolute and total coverage being given by the local news and radio stations. Stores like HEB and Kroger that are being so generous. The mood is good around here but I think the glorious weather has a lot to do with it. Extended deadlines for dog shows and other things.

The not so good stuff:
Being ashamed to admit you have power when there are still a million and a half without. Everyone complaining about the smell of mildew and all the bugs in their homes. The amount of destruction seen by driving around the neighborhood. Your insurance company telling you there is a $6,000 deductible for wind damage. Not knowing when everything will be back to “normal.” The fact that we get a bare mention on national news and it hasn’t even been a week. The scary thought that there is still 2 ½ months of hurricane season left.

I finally started writing again although did move the refrigerator, clean the kitchen, do more laundry and go shopping as well! I’m taking four online classes and have fallen behind on homework so must decide which I can catch up on and which to lurk and read later.

It is still hard to get a data connection unless late at night. As more people are coming back from their evacuation the cell service is bad during the day. Also I think a lot of the towers are simply running out of juice.

It was amazing to walk into Wal-Mart. All their dairy / produce etc. shelves are empty. I got pictures. Kroger’s has a little cheese, a little meat, a few eggs, etc. Not much but some.

Downtown Houston is still a mess. Yay Shell for only requiring essential employees to report to work until Monday. I thought I was going to have to burn some vacation time. They are good to their people.

I have fifteen pages on my hurricane story which is going to involve arrests and curfews and mandatory evacuations and government officials and all sorts of neat stuff. Oh yeah, and a little romance too. I must remember the POD’s and COW’s!

Post-Ike

2008-09-16T21:51:00.001-07:00

Wet carpet has been torn up, contents of refrigerator and freezer discarded, and air fresheners strategically placed. After two hours, 60% of scattered shingles have been picked up.

Power is ON and yours truly finally got to take a shower.

Internet not back yet and cell phone coverage too taxed for datacard until late. But it could have been so much worse!

Until next time,
Elizabeth

Ike-us Interrupt-us

2008-09-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

I typed this yesterday but then couldn't get a good enough datacard connection to get online!
************

Several years ago, my husband asked if I would like to go catping. My response: “Not sure. How big is the RV?”

So “roughing it” after Ike is tedious, to say the least. It is now Sunday, September 14 and almost 9 pm. I’ve been surviving the lack of power and lack of water and lack of everything else with the comfort of my laptop and cell phone. My mini-van is nicely equipped with a power outlet so we pull out into the driveway a couple of hours a day, run the engine, enjoy the a/c, and watch TV. I also plug in my laptop and data card and share “air” time with my daughter. For any Apollo 13 fans it is our Lunar Module.

Not today. Cell service has got weaker and weaker and I now can’t connect. I thought I’d make some notes for when that changes.

I think Centerpoint restored power to a whopping hundred thousand people over the last twelve hours. Only 1.9 million to go! Of course, a couple of major transmission lines are down and many rows of light poles are tilted at alarming angles. Trucks are running around all over the place and the “up” folks are creeping in closer. I think they are doing the best they can but we are never satisfied! The temperatures have dropped and supposedly the humidity will go down tomorrow which will help out. The house is smelly so we tore up the areas of wet carpet in the four rooms affected. The hole in the roof is at the very top and even the man-lift we rented to put up plywood (and couldn’t return because the store closed early) couldn’t reach it. The rain is supposed to be over but we still have a couple of buckets in the front hallway.

Today we drove forty or so miles to Rosenberg. We’d been told we could find gas, water, and ice there. We found gas in Needville (or about halfway) and the lines were manageable. A huge stream of traffic came the other way, RV’s and livestock trailers with people coming home.
Things in Rosenberg were civilized. There were a couple of restaurants open and McDonald’s boasted a “hurricane” menu of burgers and nuggets. We even found cash on our fourth ATM stop, we still had plenty but wanted to stockpile. Bottled water was fairly plentiful and we got about fifty gallons.

The area we traveled was littered with twisted metal, downed signs and traffic lights, and tarp-covered roofs. Power was non-existent for the first fifteen miles, then spotty, then mostly on. People pulled into powerless but open gas stations and just hung around and chatted. Humanity is so social!

Of course, everyone is complaining. Where is the ice and the water and the MRE’s and the gas? Well – I’m sure it will be here. Less than two days has passed since the worst of the hurricane left our area and help could congregate. I don’t think anyone anticipated so many people being without power.

I’m so tired of living “rough” but it only shows how spoiled I am. I applaud the stores that are opening so we can go in and buy baby wipes, chips, peanuts, and warm cans of soda. The folks behind the counter are working via calculator and it is cash-only, but they were a welcome sight and we didn’t encounter any gouging. We got a lot of batteries, flashlights, water, food, and candles before this started. Not enough. Especially not enough water because our 4-H chicks go through six or seven gallons a day. Having run out of usable rainwater they are now on bottled so I hope they appreciate it! We learned a lot when we evacuated for Rita but that missed our house. So many things we will do differently next time there is a chance we may lose power.

Seems like the various agencies are finding out the things they could do better too.

I am thankful that I thought to do every scrap of laundry on Friday although spotted a couple of packed but open laundromats in Rosenberg.

Grateful we have nothing we can’t recover from.

Not looking forward to another dark night.

Greatly anticipating the time when we get power or find a motel room and I can shower again!

Let there be light. Please

2008-09-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

So we made it through the storm without killing each other. It was close, people got a little cranky. Stress? Nothing like the wind screaming while the candles flicker and water drips through the ceiling and under the refrigerator. Make that pours. We mopped up five gallons that was somehow coming in through the side of the house. At least we had something to flush the toilets with! But it was scary. You'd hear things rattling against the side of the house and not know what would hit hard enough to break through. Then you'd think the wall or roof was about to peel away.

Anyway - did you know you can get blisters from wringing out towels? Try doing it for two hours. At least it was cool on the kitchen floor sitting in a puddle of water. And it took my mind of that claustrophobic feeling... Or perhaps it was the bottle of wine. One or the other.

Power went out early, 9 pm. Out of 2.2 million Centerpoint customers, 2.1 million are without power. All together it is 22 percent of the ENTIRE state of Texas. That's a lot of folks, y'all. Up to a month to bring it all back. Hopefully ours will only be a few days as we aren't in the flooded area and this is the only time I'm happy we don't have a lot of trees. For us no power = no water.

Then the eye passed and the wind changed and the water came in through the study instead. Carpet in there is soaked. Oh well. After seeing the rest of the damage we got off lightly. Our barn is short a roof and a couple of walls, but the livestock survived (haven't seen all the chickens yet but haven't really looked). And thirty percent of my shingles are scattered on the floor but nothing that can't be fixed.

I'm sitting in my van, parked in the driveway, with dh and daughter watching TV in the back. I have a full tank of gas, a/c, and a power outlet. We may camp out here tonight! I said it was our Lunar Module a la Apollo 13.

Inside it is dark. We took down a few strips of plywood but the sun is down. I still walk into rooms and forget I'll be blind.

In-laws left and son went to stay with a friend as he has to work and really needs a shower. (We all do but still.) So it is just the three of us and a mountain of animals. But we have flashlights and a few candles, water and iPods. Tomorrow I think stores thirty or forty minutes away will be open and hopefully trucks with ice and water will arrive.

And who knows what the next few days will bring. If there's anything else brewing in the tropic please don't tell me...

Okay - daughter is whining for the data card.

Take care everyone!

The hurricane's coming and so are the in-laws

2008-09-12T10:34:00.001-07:00

Just a few of the in-laws...

Two b-i-l's, f-i-l, niece, and nephew.

M-i-l went with s-i-l and her family to niece in College Station.

We have enough soup to start a kitchen but my pizza’s about gone. This was a last minute decision for most (they live north of Galveston and we live west) of them but never mind, the other kids are keeping my daughter’s mind at ease.

The plywood’s up and so is the wind. Debris is being cornered and I’ve moved crates so I can bring the dogs that live in a small kennel building into my utility room.

For those that don’t know – I have 21 dogs… Don’t ask.One is already driving me crazy with yapping so he just got two Benadryl. Another one is a storm freak so he’s going to share a crate with his sister.

The mom with one pup in my bathroom is another storm freak but she can hang out in the bedroom with me while I’m hiding from dh’s family. Did I say that?

It’s gonna be a long night!

Oh well, back to work!

Waiting for [I don't like] IKE

2008-09-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

Well it was coming here. Then it wasn’t. Now it is again.

*rolls eyes, big sigh*

A huge cloud of complacency covered southeast Texas yesterday (Tuesday). On Monday everyone was on high alert then they said “never mind, it’s going to Brownsville.” Red flagswere lowered and evacuations held off until the last minute.

But THEN the forecast changed. Instead of the well-planned evac by zip code it is: “Brazoria County, y’all get out now.”

Not that everyone’s leaving yet. There were fifteen pickups in the plywood line at Home Depot, (I'm glad we already had ours) and fifteen people in the prescription pickup line at Walgreen’s! Wal-Mart was surprisingly empty but I think a lot of people had supplies left from the Gustav episode last week. Or they were still at Home Depot.

Galveston County has been advised to shelter in place. I hope they all have a second story. Supposed to be a huge storm surge with this thing, and Jim Cantore is hanging out there. It's always bad when he shows up!

Well – I’m not going. I’d leave the livestock - sorry all you animal lovers but none of mine qualify as “high dollar,” which is really all they want you to take. What I have is too many dogs. I could stick them all in the van and drive, hoping to stay out of traffic, hoping to find somewhere to go. Made that mistake with Rita and don’t want to do it again.

I’m thirty miles, plus or minus, from the coast. The plywood’s going up as I type, and we have forty-eight hours to pray for the thing to do a Rita and go north sooner than expected. Or it can go west. Or east. I’d love it to go east. Anywhere not as densely populated.

Meanwhile I’m going to stay home, do laundry, and continue to stock up.

Watching, wondering, waiting.

A view of contests

2008-09-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

Contests. Love ‘em or hate ‘em they have their place. I’ve been entering them for almost a year and have crawled from the dregs to making the finals (not with everything!) although it is still a game of chance. Or - contests are like a box of chocolates!

Judge’s feedback makes you laugh, makes you happy, makes you cry. Sometimes you wonder what they were reading because they will say “Who is Pattie?” when one paragraph above you clearly introduced Ms. Peppermint. They will give you radical ideas for your story that make you want to give up writing all together. They will constructively point out all your problems and give wonderful ideas on how to fix them. They will tell you how much fun they had reading your work and absolutely make your day.

The best contests – my opinion only – are as follows:
1. Wide range of categories. Who wants to put their inspirational in competition with a sensual contemporary or their romantic suspense in with a paranormal?
2. Electronic entries, including payment. Folks like me have trouble finding the post office.
3. Closing dates on Sundays or holidays with the time zone stated.
4. Fantastic coordinators that immediately respond (almost immediately anyway) and say yes they did receive your entry and yes it did open okay.
5. At least fifteen MS pages and at least three synopsis pages. The more the better though.
6. Three judges or two judges and a discrepancy judge if needed. There is nothing more “fun” than receiving a contest entry that got 95 from one judge and 64 from another. A third judge could have also given a low score, yes, but maybe not!
7. Timely results and notification if the results are delayed. It is nice when the results are available on a wide group of lists, as well as the contest-holding-chapter's home page.

Synopsis vs. no synopsis.
Sometimes the first few pages (like the Gotcha! Contest) are great to try out a new idea. More pages, more of the story in front of the reader. I used to hate doing a synopsis and avoided every contest that mentioned it. Then an editor saw my work and thought “something” happened when “something” didn’t really happen. She said I could never have “something” happen in a romance novel and I didn’t! If there had been a synopsis involved then she would have known that “something” wasn’t anything at all!

Final Judges
I never used to look at these. I’d never make the finals. Then I did, oops. SO – now I look. And while I don’t care about who it is if they haven’t seen my stuff, I will avoid the editor above (unless there is a synopsis) at all costs. I think if someone sees your work, doesn’t like, but comments then you can fix it. If they don’t like it the second time then save your money!

There are a LOT of contests. My fave site to check them out is www.stephiesmith.com. She has a perpetual rolling list which is very useful.

My favorite "all about contests" group is CONTESTALERT (Yahoo).

Gotta go now, need to get my contest entries in!

It's official - Kathy C has gone overboard!

2008-08-31T17:40:00.000-07:00

Note from Kathy Crouch:

"I hope to raise $500 and write 30,000 words.

http://unleashyourstory.wordpress.com/
Support my efforts! "

And this would be in ONE month, sheesh!

Good luck, Kathy!

Meeting Rashda

2008-08-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

The e-mail said she was going to be in Houston and would I like to meet for coffee? Of course!

Of course we'd never met before so came to some decisions on what we would be wearing to narrow it down. Blue shirt and jeans, she told me, pink shirt and jeans, I told her.

Of course, by the time I got to Borders there was someone there. Blue shirt. Capris. We looked at each other as we scoured the bargain shelves outside the store. Could it be? No. JUST IN CASE I was in the wrong place I walked back to my vehicle to drive around the shopping center.

Rashda calls, all apologies, she's running late. Is that okay? Well DUH! I'm at a book store and could spend all day waiting without complaint!

By the time she got there I'd only bought five books but had gone through several sets of shelves looking for my favorite authors. She calls. I start walking. See some woman on the phone, staring in my direction. I point.

"You're pointing at me," she says. Uh-huh!

Then she thinks I'm supposed to wear a blue shirt too!!

ANYWAY - the coffee bar inside was full so we sat outside with a drink (juice, folks) and chatted for two hours. Rashda decided if we'd sat inside we would have been thrown out. Talk about LOUD!

But a good time was had by all. Who else is coming to Houston??

How it all began

2008-08-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

Writing binge, anyone? Such was Rashda's brilliant idea. Get Kathy Crouch and myself involved in a 2-hours-a-day-or-bust adventure.

Soon we had a fourth, Kathy Wyland, and a fifth, Susan Young. They both hail from far (FAR) West Texas, i.e. California! But us Texans are friendly folk, y'all. And they fit right in!