Interview with Pamela Thibodeaux

The Blog Studio Band performs the last notes of a lively tune as the curtain rises and Carol Ann walks on stage.

"Good morning, Blog Studio audience!"

THE AUDIENCE RESPONDS IN UNISON: GOOD MORNING!

"I can't believe this weather. My mother says it's because our world is being flip-flopped and soon we'll be having the weather from the North Pole while they have ours. I'm not sure I agree with that, but two days ago it was 80 degrees, and today I'm wearing a heavy winter coat."

THE BAND RESPONDS WITH A SHORt RUN ON THE PIANO

"I was afraid the weather might keep my guest from showing up today, but she's very brave. It is my pleasure to have inspirational author, Pamela Thibodeaux join us. Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana and a member of White Roses in Bloom Authors. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Please put your hands together to help me welcome, my friend, Pam Thibodeaux!!

THE AUDIENCE APPLAUDS AS PAM WALKS ON STAGE AND TAKES A CHAIR ON STAGE OPPOSITE CAROL ANN



CAROL ANN: Hi Pam. So glad to have you here in the studio today.

PAM: Thanks for inviting me.

CAROL ANN: (Holds up a book and the camera pans in)




CAROL ANN: I love this cover. Tell me about WINTER MADNESS.

PAM: Actually the premise for Winter Madness came with a scene of childhood sweethearts meeting up in a coffee shop on a cold, winter day. I knew from the opening they were complete opposites - he a pessimist, she an optimist. What she considered lovely, he thought madness. The story developed from there.

CAROL ANN: And the old cliche is that opposites attract. Tell me, for you, what is the hardest aspect of being a writer?

PAM: Balancing writing with the time necessary to promote and the fact that I’ve been so busy editing my existing work for publication and promoting my current titles, I doubt my ability to write a full-length novel from scratch.

CAROL ANN: I have to agree. Balancing everything is sometimes a difficult task. What comes first in your writing process? A scene, characters, title? Are you a plotter?

PAM: As a seat-of-the-pants writer, writing starts with any or all of the above. I’ve had stories develop from a scene, a simple thought, or characters just appear and start talking. Rarely have I had a title come first, but hey, anything is possible.

CAROL ANN: I often wonder what non-writers think when they hear us say we hear people in our heads. **grin** What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

PAM: The greatest stumbling block I’ve encountered is that my writing doesn’t fit the genre for which I write. The CBA/EPCA publishes conservative Christian fiction – I write “Inspirational with an Edge!” I’ve overcome by staying true to myself and finding publishers who appreciate my work for what it is.

CAROL ANN: I admire you for staying true to yourself. Many of my writing friends have conformed to fit what is currently popular trends. Staying true is what makes a good author, in my opinion. So, tell me, who can you always count on to make you smile, even if you are feeling down?

PAM: My grandchildren and great nieces & nephews – innocence has the innate ability to make one laugh.

CAROL ANN: Isn't that the truth! Nothing makes me laugh like picking up the phone and hearing another funny story about my grandchildren. Here's a question I ask every author I interview. Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?

PAM: Oh yes, the sword maims and kills, words have the ability to soothe, heal, teach, and entertain.

CAROL ANN: I'm going to put you on the spot. Imagine that you are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to give a message of hope to the world. What will you say?

PAM: Hope is the life-blood of existence, faith is the substance of things hoped for, and Jesus is the answer to all circumstances.

CAROL ANN: **claps** You did great. Now, let me ask you something personal. We really like to know the good stuff about our guests. So, what do you have under your bed?

PAM: **laugh** Dog hair and dust bunnies – regardless of how often I clean.

CAROL ANN: **laugh** At least you are honest. Tell us about the hero in your life. Who is he?

PAM: My husband – he is strong yet gentle, hard-headed yet kind, stubborn and sensitive. He is my biggest supporter and greatest fan. He is truly the wind beneath my wings.

CAROL ANN: I hope he's in the audience to hear this! THE BAND BEGINS TO PLAY Oh no, our time is up already. Pam, thank you for coming by. Before we go off the air, do you have links you’d care to share?

PAM: Link to my TWRP page: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=142

Website: http://pamelathibodeaux.com
Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

Member White Roses in Bloom Authors: http://whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com

Co-Founder/Member Bayou Writers Group: http://bayouwritersgroup.org

Email: pthib-7@centurytel.net; pthib07@hotmail.com; pthib07@yahoo.com

I belong to numerous networking sites – check my blog for links to all!

CAROL ANN: Thanks, Pam!

PAM: Thank you!

CAROL ANN AND PAM GET UP AND WALK OFF STAGE WHILE THE BAND PLAYS AND THE AUDIENCE CLAPS AS THE CURTAIN COMES DOWN ON ANOTHER EPISODE OF "THE BLOG STUDIO"

Bad Hair Day

I'm having a bad hair day. One of those days where I wish my hair was longer. I'm stuck in the "in between" stage.

That happens to me a lot with writing, too. It can happen especially during the "dreaded middle," but also during scenes. I have a tendency to move along with the story--quick action, fast reaction. Move on to the next. And so on. When I'm emotionally charged and finish that scene, I print it out, read it and...it is good stuff...but not enough. That's when editing comes into play. For many editing means changing or cutting. For me, it's adding. Adding description, internal reaction, and more showing.

So, I have to compare editing to having a bad hair day. I need length on my hair, and I need to add length and body to my writing.

Stop by tomorrow when I'll have another "live" interview in the Blog Studio with author Pamela Thibodeaux.

Thanks for stopping by!

FOXFIRE Revisited and an Upcoming Contest

I am working on naming the main character in my novel. This is the first time I've begun writing and developing a heroine without naming her first. Actually, I will be writing this story with Jake Scott as the hero. He was Tyler Sandford's brother-in-law and boss in FOXFIRE. I thought it would be fun to do another book set in the fictional town of Foxfire, with some new and some old characters.

If you read FOXFIRE, you might remember Jake. Would you like to help me choose a name for the woman he'll be paired with in this new book? I'm having my website professionally designed, and for the big unveiling, I'll be hosting a contest. I'll be asking for names for the heroine in my new book. So put on your creative hats and start working on names. You just might be the big winner!

Thanks for stopping by!

Interview with Sharon Donovan

Announcer: "It's Thursdaaaaaaaay!!! Welcome to The Blog Studio! And now, heeeeere's Carol Ann!

THE CURTAIN RAISES AND CAROL ANN WALKS ONSTAGE.

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE

"Good morning, Blog Studio Audience! It's great to be back in the Blog Studio again. I'm so thrilled to be able to showcase another fantastic author today. This amazing lady is an inspiration to me and to many others who know her. Sharon Donovan has been writing for the past several years since the loss of her vision. Prior to her blindness, she was an artist. Painting was her life, her passion. Devastated when she could no longer paint, a new dream resurrected. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, she paints her pictures with words.

Sharon is an author for The Wild Rose Press where she writes stories of suspense and inspiration. Three of her short stories, Touched by an Angel, The Claddagh Ring and Lasting Love will be released in 2009. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Pennwriters. She is currently seeking representation for her memoir, a narrative non-fiction about her struggles with diabetic retinopathy. Two of her suspense novels are under review.

Please put your hands together and welcome my special guest, Sharon Donovan!

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE

SHARON WALKS ONSTAGE. CAROL ANN AND SHARON HUG AND SHARON TAKES A SEAT ACROSS FROM CAROL ANN AND SMILES AT THE AUDIENCE.



CAROL ANN: Sharon, thank you so much for joining me today. I'm so excited to have you here with us.

SHARON: Hi Carol. Thank you for interviewing me today.

CAROL ANN: It's my pleasure. Which of your books are you going to tell us about?

SHARON: I’d like to talk about The Claddagh Ring which is available now from The Wild Rose Press as a St. Patrick’s Day story.

SHARON HANDS CAROL ANN HER BOOK. CAROL ANN HOLDS IT FOR THE CAMERA TO PAN IN.



CAROL ANN: Beautiful cover. Tell us about THE CLADDAGH RING.

SHARON: A few years ago I was fortunate enough to visit Ireland, the home of my ancestry. The Emerald Isle is truly an enchanting land, rich in culture and tradition. Whimsical castles loom high above heathery mountains and rocky headlands, giving way to green rolling hills and long stretches of coppery beaches. And with the sheep grazing high on the hillsides of the misty mountains, it’s like stepping back in time.

A lot of writers come from Ireland, including James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde. With its green hills and rugged landscape, major movies have been filmed here. The Irish take great pride in pointing out the farmhouse on the Dingle Peninsula where Ryan’s Daughter was filmed. Inch Strand Beach, shaped like a sandy half moon, is one of the most remote areas of the island. But the best part of the trip was learning the significance of The Claddag, which has an ancient history dating back three hundred years.

According to legend, the first Claddagh Ring originated in a small fishing port off the coast of Galway. Truly a land of legend and lore, the Irish are known to spin a wee bit of the “Blarney” from time to time. Some say the original Claddagh Ring was blessed by St. Patrick himself. Others believe the first ring was dropped into the lap of a woman by an eagle. And others say the original ring was brought back to Galway by a man who was captured by the Algerians and sold to a Moorish goldsmith.

But whatever the case, the tradition of The Claddah has lived on for the past several centuries. And in today’s materialistic world where love and friendship are taken far too lightly, the significance of The Claddagh Ring has strengthened.

The Claddagh is said to bring eternal love and lasting friendship to its wearer. The design consists of two hands holding a heart and a crown on top of the heart. The heart represents love, the hands friendship—and the crown designates loyalty. But in order for the ring to cast its mystical spell, it needs to be worn in a certain way.
If worn on the right hand with the heart facing outward, this means the heart is open to love. If worn on the left hand with the heart facing outward, it means the wearer is taken. But when the ring is worn on the left hand with the heart facing inward, the wearer has found true love for all eternity and will be forever blessed.

Being part Irish, I was born with a superstitious nature. Totally awed by this legend, I was inspired to write The Claddagh Ring, a White Rose rosette of 34 pages. Because I had the pleasure of touring the Atlantic Breakers and the Cliffs of Moher, part of my book takes place in County Clare.

The Atlantic Breakers pound the west coast of the county, sculpting the grey limestone into a myriad of shapes, the most notorious the Cliffs of Moher. A rich plethora of birdlife as puffins and shags dominate these rugged cliffs, adding to the savage grandeur. Beneath the rocks, the waves have spread a thin dusting of golden sand, said to be sprinkled by angel wings. Standing on these cliffs with the wind at my back and the sun on my face, I truly enjoyed writing The Claddagh Ring. May I read the blurb and an excerpt?

CAROL ANN: Yes, please do.

SHARON: “To live in the hearts we leave behind is to never die.”
Thomas Campbell


Struggling with her faith after her mother’s death, Meghan O’Malley finds comfort in wearing her Claddagh Ring, said to be blessed by St. Patrick. And when Meghan meets Rork, she finds love, loyalty and friendship. But before everything comes full circle, Meghan must face the biggest challenge of her life.

Rork McGuire is ruggedly handsome, sings Celtic music straight from his soul—and has a deep secret. When he sees Meghan O’Malley tending bar at her club, he falls hopelessly in love with her and wants to give her his heart. Will the secret he harbors pull them together—or break them apart?

SHARON OPENS THE BOOK AND BEGINS TO READ:

As Meghan mixed drinks from behind the bar of The Wild Irish Rose, the fiddle and violin captured the true essence of Ireland. The tantalizing aroma of Irish stew, corn beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread wafted through the room.

Suddenly, all activity came to a halt as the eerie wail of bagpipes keened through the bar. The lead singer took center stage with his rendition of Danny Boy, the haunting lyrics crawling into Meghan’s skin. Mesmerized by his hypnotic blue eyes, she stopped what she was doing and met his penetrating gaze. With the exception of her mother, she’d never heard anyone pluck the strings of the harp with such finesse. The Claddagh Ring on her right hand felt hot, the heart pressing into her skin. By the time the song ended, Meghan’s green eyes were misty with tears.

“Well now, darlin’,” he touched her cheek. “If I knew Danny Boy would make you cry, I’d a sung When Irish Eyes are Smiling.”
Meghan Shannon O’Malley lost herself in pools of midnight blue.
“I’m Rork,” the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. He took her right hand and kissed the heart on her ring. “Single and looking, are ya?”
“Huh?”
“The Claddagh Ring, darlin’,” he kissed it again. “On your right hand with the heart facing outward, means you’re single and looking for romance.”
“Ah…I have no idea what you’re talking about; it’s just a ring, a gift from my mother.”
“Ah, come on now, darlin’ girl,” he got a little closer, staring into her eyes. “Ya can’t fool an Irishman. My mother bought one for each of my sisters. I’ll have ya know they’re all married.”
Meghan felt lightheaded. “My mother gave me this ring the night before she died. It’s a family heirloom, said to be blessed by St. Patrick himself. Mama promised me by wearing the Claddagh, everything in my life would come full circle. So before you go thinking I’m wearing it to find a husband, think again.”
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” his blue eyes seared into hers like lasers. “What do ya say, Meghan, darlin’ girl of my heart.”

CAROL ANN: Wonderful!

AUDIENCE APPLAUDS

CAROL ANN: Sharon, can you tell me what you believe is the hardest aspect of being a writer?

SHARON: For me, the hardest aspect of writing is finding the time. I don’t do well under pressure and hate the feeling of being rushed. When I begin a story—even a short assignment for my writing group, it takes me far too long to write the opening paragraph. I lost my vision nine years ago after a long battle with diabetic retinopathy. Prior to the loss of my sight, I was a legal secretary where I prepared cases for court. But painting picturesque scenery was my passion and when I could no longer see, my world fell apart. But after a long and winding road and the use of a computer with adaptive software, a new dream has resurrected. Today, instead of painting my pictures on canvas, I paint my pictures with words.

Imagery is a vital part of my writing. When I describe a desert sunset or a Tuscan landscape in my stories, I visualize the colors I would use when painting—and make it work for me.

CAROL ANN: What comes first in your writing process? A scene, characters, title? oR Are you a plotter?

SHARON: It’s actually the plot that comes first. An idea blooms in my head and just takes off. Sometimes a brief flash will come to me in a dream kind of like a book trailer, glimpses, bits and pieces of a story. And it might be a personal problem haunting my subconscious. So I’ll let it germinate until it blossoms in my head like the first spring crocus. Then I’ll create atmosphere and the scene. The characters come next and I often use friends, relatives or acquaintances as role models. By using real dialogue and dialect, characters come to life on the page. The title is rarely the same at the end of the book. Often times the story outgrows the original title and needs a better fit.

CAROL ANN: What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

SHARON: I guess a stumbler for me is point of view—although I have gotten much better. Because I always want to know what everyone is thinking, I have a tendency to incorporate this trait into my writing. Naturally all my characters make perfect sense to me since they live in my head! But going back and forth with pov can be jarring to the reader as well as confusing. And it is ultimately the reader the author must please. I have learned to deal with pov by sticking to one for three to five pages. And when two characters are in one scene, I make one speak his or her thoughts and the other think them. I must be getting better with this stumbling block as my editor hasn’t brought it to my attention lately.

CAROL ANN: That's always encouraging. I always dread edits. **BIG GRIN** To change the subject, who can you always count on to make you smile, even if you are feeling down?

SHARON: I can always count on my fellow authors to make me smile. No one understands a writer like another writer.

CAROL ANN: Do you believe the pen mightier than the sword?

SHARON: I can speak from personal experience as far as the pen being mightier than the sword. I have been through so much in my life and have found writing to be great therapy. Blogging is a personal journal where I can share my triumphs and burdens. I write in two different genres, suspense and inspiration. Writing stories of inspiration makes me feel good, a way of giving hope to those reaching out. And when I feel shall we say less than inspired, I just run out and kill someone in the wonderful world of fiction!

AUDIENCE LAUGHTER

CAROL ANN: I love it! Okay, let's do some imagining here. Picture this. You are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to give a message of hope to the world. What will you say?

SHARON: Never give up on a dream. Dreams come true for those who believe in magic and miracles. Take a lesson from the Irish and spin a tale of Blarney once in a while. Laughter is good for the soul. Keeping traditions alive from generation to generation is the greatest gift we can leave when we depart this earth. Treasure family and friends by making your house a home. Make guests feel welcome with a pot o tea or a cup o Irish coffee. Regale over good times, count your blessings—and never lose sight of the simple things. But most of all, never forget to count your blessings. They far outweigh the burdens.

CAROL ANN: I always like to learn something about my guests that most people wouldn't know. So here's my question. What do you have under your bed?

SHARON: **LAUGH** Besides dust bunnies? Shoes. I love shoes and love to collect them. I also keep a penny jug which also has a collection of buttons, seashells and single earrings that have lost their mates. I have several boxes with “stuff” that I might even sort out one of these days! Old cards and keepsakes, gifts from old boyfriends, some old CDs and many many pictures and albums from different vacations. Oh…and my fluffy purple slippers…perfect for these frigid Pittsburgh mornings!

CAROL ANN: Purple is my favorite color! I have some fluffy slippers too, but they are pink. Okay, now one more personal question. Who is the hero in your life?

SHARON: My hero is a heroine. She is my guardian angel—a gold charm I wear around my neck. She never left my side in my darkest hour. I had a fatal illness and was not expected to survive the scheduled brain surgery.

A prayer chain was started the day before the surgery. After being sedated and wheeled down to the operating room, there was a lot of fuss. Nurses were concerned because my neurologist was very late. These were the last words I remember before dozing off from the initial sedation. When I opened my eyes, my doctor was standing over me, smiling. He said he was up all night going over my MRI and decided against the surgery. He said in his professional opinion, I would not have survived the operation. He decided to combat the massive infection raging through my brain with an aggressive antibiotic, to be distributed intravenously for six hours a day for one month. The side effects were worse than chemo.

I got through, never once taking off my angel. But still, my prognosis was very uncertain. Doctors gave me six months. That was 1996. It took three years to regain my strength, but I beat the odds. I had the endless support of family, friends and an incredible team of doctors. But mostly, it was through God’s healing and my guardian angel. I am living proof miracles happen.

CAROL ANN: Wow, that gives me goosebumps. What a wonderful story about faith and God's healing miracles. Thanks for sharing that with us.

AUDIENCE APPLAUDS

CAROL ANN: I can't believe our time is up already! I have so enjoyed having you share with us today. You are a true inspiration in so many ways. Before we have to leave, would you share where the audience can learn more about you and your books?

SHARON: My website is www.sharonadonovan.com Please visit my website for a sneak preview of what I’m working on including a memoir about the loss of my vision. You can also read about my stories of suspense and inspiration. And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter on my website. Thanks so much for the great interview, Carol! It’s been a pleasure.

CAROL ANN: The pleasure is mine, Sharon. Best of luck to you. Audience, don't forget to check out this book for St. Patrick's Day!

THE AUDIENCE GIVES A STANDING OVATION. APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!!

It's Friday...It's Raining...It's a Good Day for Plotting

This is a perfect day to stay home from work, sit by a window and listen to the rain slashing the windows, and the wind whistling as it torments the branches in the trees. These are the things that tease the creative side of my brain. I can sit and type words that grow into an intriguing tale. But, alas, I must go to work, sit in my office far from any outside walls and windows. Perhaps this is the day I will plot the demise of...my boss. Especially after I have to walk outside in this mess and have my hair blown so hard and pelted with rain that it becomes the thing nightmares are made of...but wait! Isn't that another plot?

Thanks for stopping by!

Hero and Heroine...How Do I Name Thee?

When you sit down to write your book, how do you come up with names for your characters? Do you search the internet for names, scour the newspapers, read obituaries, think back through the names of everyone you've met over the years? Do you use A and B and then make changes in your ms when you are finished?

In I've always found names for my characters prior to writing out their character sketches. It's the way they become real for me. Their names are branded in my mind and I just have to tell their story. Sometimes I have to abandon the story because it doesn't seem strong enough, but if I try to start another, those names keep drawing me back like a magnet. It's the one thing that stops me from abandoning a work in progress.

The biggest problem I have is finding a name that is not one belonging to someone I know well. The first book I wrote in 2001, was subsequently published in 2006. One of the secondary characters was killed. Her name was Natalie. One of my dear friends at my current place of employment read the book and commented that I'd killed her daughter! I started working here in the middle of 2002, one year after completing that novel...I didn't know any Natalie's at that time.

So...how do you name your characters?

Thanks for stopping by!

A Great Resource for Fiction Writers

In order to make this next book I'm working on be THE BEST ONE, I wanted to ensure that I did a better job with plotting. I googled plotting and stumbled across this great resource for writers that I thought I'd share with you. HollyLisle.com Not only is it a great site for writers, but also for readers and anyone interested in books. The links are at the top of the page for Writers, Readers, and lots more. But while you are there, why not take her test to learn your writing strengths and weaknesses?

I'm going to try her Notecarding: Plotting Under Pressure method. If you check it out, let me know what you think!

PERSONALThe shower is still...an unusable shower. Hubby is putting the frame around the window. Yeah, our house is one that still has a window in the tub/shower. Worst part is it faces the front of the house. I've sprayed some stuff that makes the window look like it has been sitting on a vacant cabin for 100 years gathering dirt and cobwebs. I still have to find a way to cover that window. No one makes window shower curtains any longer. Guess I'll buy a shower liner and make my own.

I'm doing well on my blood sugar "diet" regime. I'm adding more complex carbs and cutting down on both sodium and sugar. Been doing well with staying within my diet foot counts. I've been exercising five days a week, usually walking on the treadmill while I watch an evening show. I'm giving myself the weekends off on the exercising though. Too much to do. But, I did learn that vacuuming for a half hour burns more calories than walking. How about that!

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm Getting Used to Being A Pioneer Woman

Well, it's been we are into the third week of bathroom restoration. Poor hubby has a bad case of bronchitis. **sigh** I know he feels bad about not being able to do as much as he'd like to finish this project off. He did tell me last week that he isn't going to do any more large projects. I wanted to contract this one, but he wanted to save money.

Right!

Actually, I've kind of gotten used to walking downstairs to use the half bath to get ready for work. It saves time. Where I used to take a nice ten or fifteen minute shower, now I strip wash and dress in less than five minutes. It's cold down there! Have you ever stood in the cold in your birthday suit and washed your body. The water on your skin cools real quick. I told hubby I was getting used to being a pioneer woman and not to worry about how long it takes to finish. I love having a toilet sitting in my bedroom.

It's a crazy world at my house, but it's teaching me a lesson in patience.

Thanks for stopping by!

Coming Soon....

Author Interviews in the Blog Studio!

The first interviews will begin in March. On March 5, I'll be interviewing Sharon Donovan, and on March 12, Pamela Thibodeaux will be in the studio with me.

For those who are interested...I still don't have a shower!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

What? We Have to Pay the City for the "Right" to Operate an Alarm System?

I am on my soapbox today. In our alarm monitoring bill this month is a license application. We need to have a license from the City of Columbus in order to have our home alarm system. What's with this?

We paid to have our system installed twenty years ago and we pay each month to have it monitored. Now we learn that we also have to pay the City of Columbus a licensing fee of $35.00 every two years in order to be able to use it! I'm really angry. BUT, if we don't pay it, then we cannot have the alarm system. We could go to court if we don't register.

So, what's a person to do? Our taxes pay for the police and fire personnel, we pay for our alarm system, we pay a monitoring system, and now we also have to pay the city for the "right" to use it?

Argh! It's not the amount of money involved, it's the principle. I'm ticked. Especially since our mayor wants to tear down the city center mall and build a park. In light of the economy, WHY? Is this why they are now trying to collect license fees for alarm systems that have been installed for over twenty years? The lady at the bureau said that the law has been in effect since 1987. So, why is this the first we've heard of it?

I'm ticked...really ticked.

Thanks for stopping by!

High Blood Sugar

I went to the doctor last Wednesday for my six month checkup. He told me my cholesterol was fantastic, my blood pressure was fantastic, and I was doing a great job with my exercise and weight loss regime...but...

My blood sugar is high. If I don't get it down, I'll become diabetic. I've been concerned about the numbers for over a year, and they aren't getting any lower. My last count was 118, and 125 is considered diabetic.

I'm making a change to my diet and hoping that, combined with exercise, will help to bring it back in line.

Do any of you have any suggestions?

************
Also, I've reopened my Keeping Hope Alive blog. You'll find the link on my website (click here). I've issued a challenge that I hope everyone will accept. Stop by and check it out.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Suspicious Encounter...

My friend and I were so delighted that the yesterday and today we had such mild weather here in Ohio that we were able to walk outside on our breaks. Today, we decided to walk on the last half of our lunch hour. Our walk takes us around the back of our warehouse, and we never know what we might see there. Today, we saw a police car parked at one of the empty buildings, nearly hidden. As we drew closer, but not close enough to see the car number, the driver started the car and pulled away. He drove over a rope meant to keep cars from coming through and cruised through the upper parking lot where we couldn't really see him. When we turned our backs and started down the far side of the building, he cruised out of the upper parking lot and went back over the rope toward where he'd been parked earlier. By the time we returned he was nowhere to be seen. Suspicious in my eyes. Wonder what he was hiding?

I started working on a new manuscript today. I'd been struggling on how to start it. I have the entire book outlined, but those opening paragraphs are always a challenge. Well, our skies were very overcast today and the more thought I put into the opening, the more certain I became that it should begin with a tornado. What fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

What to Do When You are Addicted to Email

I have for a couple of years been unable to write anything beyond this blog when I'm sitting at my home computer. Even when I've finished everything that needs to be done, emails, blogs, and research, I stare at a blank screen and cannot write a single word. It's been a mystery I've been unable to unravel...until now.

I realized the main reason is that I'm addicted to email. When I'm on my laptop, I have no problems at all writing. My laptop is not hooked to the internet. I use it strictly for writing on my lunch hours at work or when we are camping.

So, I've decided when I move my office downstairs, I'm going to set up two stations. One will be my big desk where I conduct all my business and the business aspects of writing. The other will be set up for writing. No internet. No email. Nothing but me and my laptop.

If any of you writers might be having a similar problem to mine, you might want to give it a try.

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!

Mundane Monday

What happened to the weekend? I woke up this morning and couldn't believe it was back to work Monday already. Let's see I vaguely remember figuring taxes on Saturday and then everything is a blur until church yesterday morning. That is vivid and clear and a happy memory...then all I remember is hammering, pounding, the whining of saws, and pieces of drywall everywhere...in the office, the hallway, the living room, and the stairs. And this morning there is the bottom half of a shower in my living room and a box with shower walls in the family room.

And, now I'm heading to the kitchen with a bathtowel and soap. I guess I'll have to stand in the sink, one foot on either side, and use the spray hose to take my shower...oh wait. Maybe I better not try that...

I think I'll just go back to bed and try again.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Hubby Is Stepping On My Last Nerve

We purchased the shower enclosure tonight. It's the beginning of the end for me...end of patience, that is. I become a snarky witch at the first sign of remodeling.

So, yesterday, hubby tells me that he cracked the first floor tile trying to remove it. He knows how I get. I think he's trying to kill me off. Here's what he said:

"So after I busted the tile and realized we didn't have any left downstairs, I went to Lowe's to see if they still carried our style. They didn't. So I purchased some maroon ones. I think that will look nice along that row next to the shower."

Okay, so my blood pressure zipped from 110 over 70 to 220 over 100. I mean, after all we have this pretty tile with blue, gray and cream marble like texture. Maroon? One row!!! I said a few choice words which I won't repeat here. And then...he laughed! He actually had the nerve to laugh after nearly giving me "the big one."

Okay, so he was able to match the tiles. One hurdle down. I'm trying to psyche myself into staying calm during the storm. Then tonight he tells me that he's going to start tearing apart the bathroom this weekend! The tub comes out, the toilet comes out and the new shower enclosure goes in. But we will have no toilet upstairs, nor anyplace to shower for at least a week. When he says one week, I can count on at least two. At least we have a half bath downstairs, but even that will give me a pounding headache. He'll have to take out the ceiling tiles and saw through a floor joist to move the drain from the front of the "now tub" to the middle of the "new shower". **sigh**

And...to top things off, he'll have to cut a big hole in the wall of my office to access the pipe fixtures for the bathroom upstairs.

I'm trying to stay calm. I really am.



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My Husband Should be a Writer...NOT!

Have you ever known someone who could take one simple tiny little action and turn it into a long drawn out story? I live with that someone. For instance:

He says: "When I take an Alka Seltzer Plus, I break it up in tiny little pieces and then it dissolves real fast that way."

She says: "Ah."

He says: "First I break it in half. Then I break it into smaller pieces. It works great that way."

She says: "Ah."

He says: "Yep. Just break it in half and then into smaller pieces."

She ??: Oh, wait. She's asleep.

You should hear him tell a story about someone pulling in front of him while he's driving. It goes something like this:

He says: "You won't believe what happened to me today."

She says: "Really? What?"

He says: "I was driving to Anderson's to get that shut off valve. I found a neat one that all you have to do is just tighten the bolt on and it's done."

She says: "That's what happened to you?"

He says: "No. Anyway, I was driving to Anderson's this morning. Right after I finished eating breakfast. I had driven past the gas station and was waiting at the light. There was a lot of traffic this morning. I'm not sure if there was an accident or not."

She says: "What happened to you this morning?"

He says: "I'm getting to that. So, anyway, I pulled through the light and after I made the turn this gal next to me...in one of those SUVs...I think it was a Toyota something. Not the biggest one, but the smaller one. I can't remember what that model is."

She thinks: "Is he ever going to get to the actual story of what happened to him?"

He says: "So she pulls right over in front of me, no turn signal, nothing. Just like she owned the road. I blasted my horn and rode right up on her bumper."

She says: "Ah."

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Preparing for Construction Mess

I love my ideas for remodeling and the end results. What I don't like is the mess in between. **sigh**

Since Mom is coming to live with us, we need to provide her a way to shower. We found a great shower insert which will fit exactly in the area where our now combo tub/shower is in the full bathroom upstairs. So, that means, hubby must take out one row of ceramic floor tiles, put shut-off valves on the pipes, reroute the drain system (which means work in the lower half-bath), and then he can take out the old and put in the new. Then he'll have to relay the tile. Ugh! He told me he'll have to make the bathroom access wall to the pipes (which is in my office) larger. Oh, no!

He's trying to prepare me...but I'm already freaking out. LOL!

We also have to move my office from upstairs to the downstairs spare bedroom and move that furniture upstairs. What was I thinking?

Oh, and I want to replace the ancient rod iron bannister with a wooden one. Hmm. That means we'll have to replace the carpet, too. It's time since it is over 20 years old. Not only am I going to have a big hole in my wallet, but I must have a hole in my head as well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Feather Boas for Inspiration

There's just something you gotta love about a soft feather boa! Our writing group participates in a monthly Power Draft where we put aside everything we can and concentrate on our writing for eight days. Our reward for participating was a beautiful, soft, feathery boa. Woo hoo! Now that's inspiration to tickle a writer's imagination.

Mary Buckham Workshop

On Saturday I attended a conference our local RWA chapter hosted on Pacing, Power Openings, Power Endings, and Plot Points presented by Mary Buckham. Mary is a powerful presenter, witty, funny, and "spot on" at pinpointing problems with manuscripts. I've had problems with my current manuscript and Mary's presentation clearly pinpointed my mistakes. I needed a stronger opening and deeper conflict between my main characters. Mary explained why power openings are so important, and believe me it was an eye-opener.

Using her templates, I've been able to redefine the conflict and give my story a more powerful opening, some great twist points, and a powerful ending. If you haven't taken a Mary Buckham course, I highly recommend doing so. She will motivate you and open your eyes to mistakes you might be making.

Two other fellow chapter members and I met Mary for dinner on Friday evening before the conference. We shared stories about writing, our goals, our fears, and a lot of humorous stories about our "real lives." Mary is gracious, down-to-earth, and sincere. I mean, how many famous people would share one piece of carrot cake on a plate with three other ladies wielding forks? There is nothing like bonding over dessert, even it it isn't chocolate.

If you'd like to learn more about Mary Buckham, her books, and her workshops, please go to www.marybuckham.com

Thanks for stopping by!

A Writer's Take on Sublimina Media

Have you ever listened to subliminal messages? I've been an interested follower for a few years. I first began listening to cassettes on my walkman when I was walking about five miles a day. I had several of them. The music was great to walk with and I did feel more energized and motivated. Eventually, I stopped using them when I fell off the exercise kick.

Once I purchased a self-hypnosis weight loss CD at the fair after watching an entertaining program where members of the audience went on stage and were hypnotized to do some funny stuff. I always fell asleep listening to it, and gave it up after a few weeks, though I could feel a difference in my thinking about dieting. Ugh, hate that word.

Last weekend I purchased Paul McKenna's book "I Can Make You Thin" and included was a self-hypnosis CD. I've been using it faithfully since last Saturday. It is working. I like it because I still can eat what I want, I just eat less. The subliminal messages must be working because I really eat about half what I used to. I guess I'll learn how effective after another week when I weigh myself.

But, here's the best CD I have ever purchased. I'm not sure if you'd call it subliminal messages, but it definitely works for me. It's called "Creative Mind System" by Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. There are two CDs in the set. These CDs were developed around the CREATIVE MIND PATTERN which is present in great artists, inventors, business visionaries, breakthrough thinksrs, advanced meditators, and other highly creative people. The music is soft and soothing and I have started using it when I write and also while I am at work. When I'm writing it helps to put me in that "dream state" which writers crave to live and create the world their characters live in. And at work, it keeps me calm and focused on my projects. I purchased mine through Writer's Digest, but you can learn more by clicking here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a relaxing and productive weekend!

To Shovel or Not to Shovel....

In my city, there is a law that every homeowner must shovel their walks clear of snow and ice on a daily basis. One of the reasons our city schools are closed tomorrow is that there is so much snow and ice and the sidewalks are not clear so it is too dangerous for children to walk to school. Hmmm. Most of the kids I know are bussed...and usually across town. (But that's another gripe for another day).

Tonight on our local news, a discussion ensured about the liability of the homeowner for not keeping their sidewalks cleared. The newscaster said that a homeowner wouldn't be liable if someone were to be injured because of snow or ice covering their sidewalk...but they could be liable if they did shovel and did a poor job. Now what's with that?

So, the question is whether to shovel or not to shovel. Geesh. Can't anything be easy?

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Economic Stimulus Plan--One Writer's Opinion

I'm really tired of looking at one more so-called economic stimulus plan. Come on, people. Remember, if it seems too good to be true...then it is too good to be true. Our government is already deeply in debt, just as the rest of most Americans are. Debt has become our downfall. I'm not a Republican, and I'm not a Democrat. I'm an American, who believes in working for what I want. I don't want anyone to hand it to me. But...if I have a loaf of bread and my neighbor is hungry...I will give half a loaf to my neighbor.

In my opinion it is time to get back to basics. Back to where we "cared" about our friends, our neighbors, our communities. When did we become so greedy? One of the ten commandments says we shouldn't covet our neighbor's house, wife, servant, ox, donkey or anything else that belongs to our neighbor. But then the devil dangled a credit card in our faces, and we learned that we didn't have to have funds to purchase what we wanted. We could have something bigger and better than our neighbors. Easy! We could charge it. Our country backed the idea and more and more Americans fell into the trap. The more we had, the more we craved. And the debt kept piling higher and higher. Eventually, it had to catch up with us...and now it has.

Why should we expect government to "bail us out?" If they do, that means the government goes even deeper into debt. So, are we expecting government to hand us our lives back on a silver platter while our country plunges deeper and deeper into the mire? How much more before it collapses?

Economic stimulus package - who pays for this ultimately? Aren't we just adding one more charge on our already overextended credit?

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Honey, Are You Awake? Honey? HONEY!

So, I bought the Paul McKenna book, "I Can Make You Thin." I read it and I've been trying to apply the principles. Inside the back cover was a self-guided hypnosis CD. For these to be effective, you need to have total quiet with no distractions. So I bought myself a portable CD player for a mere pittance...no frills...runs on batteries...and has earbuds. I showed it to hubby and told him this way I could listen when I go to bed just before I go to sleep. I explained that it would be best because I needed no distractions while I listened. Stage set?

10PM In bedroom looking for outfit to wear to work. Hubby comes in.

ME: "Are you coming to bed now?" Thinking...this is unusual. He usually watches tv until midnight.

HE: "Yes."

ME: "Oh. I was going to turn on the news, but I won't do that."

HE: "Are you going to watch it on this TV? Cause I wanted to watch it, too."

ME: "Yes." I hang outfit on closet door and turn on television. Hubby is nowhere to be found. I go to brush teeth and hear the television playing downstairs. Weird because it's loud and the one in my bedroom and the one downstairs, tuned to the same station, are playing in several seconds delay stereo. He must be watching the news on the HD channel, which I do not have in the bedroom. I go to bed and watch the weather, then turn off the tv. I can still hear his, but I figure I'll tune it out with the self-hypnosis CD.

I settle down, insert earbuds which don't seem to want to stay put. How does one use these things anyway? Finally, relaxed, I turn off the light and turn on the CD. I've listened to about two minutes and in my mind I'm counting backwards from 300.

HE: "Honey? Are you asleep?"

ME: Thinking...he'll go away. Just keep quiet.

HE: Louder..."Honey? Hey, are you ASLEEP?"

ME: Surely, he'll leave now.

HE: Closer and louder. "HONEY?"

ME: Popping up out of bed and yanking earbuds from ears, "What? What's wrong?"

HE: "Oh, I thought you had fallen asleep with your glasses on. I'm sorry."

ME: Turn on light, turn off cd. Watch while he goes back to kitchen, turns off light, turns off hall light and then comes into the bedroom and crawls into bed.

HE: "I won't bother you anymore." He pulls up covers.

ME: Kiss, kiss. "Goodnight." Off with the light, in with the resistant ear buds. On with the cd.

HE: Cough, cough. Moan, moan.

ME: Silently counting down from 300.

HE: Coungh, cough, sit up in bed. Moan again. Get up. Turn on hall light. Go to kitchen. Open and close refrigerator door.

ME: Out with the earbuds, off with the cd. No way can I relax. Wait, wait, wait.

HE: Not coming to bed.

ME: Once again, in with the earbuds, on with the cd. Count down from 300. Listen to the cd, wiggle, wiggle, toss turn.

I finally made it through the cd, but I doubt if it did any good at all. And then, I opened my office door this morning, and poor Wilbur came running out. Yeah, I locked the cat into my office all night long. Poor baby.

Now, I'm trying to get ready for work while hubby...he's sleeping soundly. Maybe I'll just go in and turn on the light and say..."HONEY?"

Thanks for stopping by!

SAD? Maybe...

I've heard people talk about SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but I've never experienced it...maybe.

The depression that hit me on Friday came so fast and so swift that I had no idea what happened. It continued through Friday night, into and through Saturday and even into Sunday. I kept going through the motions of life, doing what I knew was expected of me, but miserable inside...and I didn't know why.

The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that I was possessed. Someone else had taken over my body completely. I didn't like the person at all! And then it dawned on me. The devil was working on me. Where he came from and how he managed to grab such control of my life is beyond me. In fact, if someone were to tell me that the devil could do this, I would have been skeptical. Trust me, it's real. When things are going great, the devil will try and destroy. He took away my desire to write, my desire to love, my desire to exist.

Oh, I prayed and asked God why this was happening to me. I asked for His help. I wondered why I wasn't receiving any answers. I realize this started several weeks ago, a slow take-over that culminated on Friday. It wasn't a sudden thing. It had been subtle and slow and devastating. Then I spoke with my daughter, who has also suffered from depression, and I knew she would understand. See, she is one of those stones I spoke about last week. And she told me something I needed to hear. She reminded me that the devil doesn't hear our thoughts, only God. So I needed to say the words out loud. Cast the devil from my body. Tell him there was no room for him. And I did. And I prayed.

Today, tears are gone. I know I can face life and my optimistic self has returned. Oh, the devil is still here. He's still trying to chip away at me. But he's losing ground. And I will continue to take a stand against him, for I know with God all things are possible.

Just plain depression? NO. SAD? Maybe. "Sneaky Attack by Devil"

Morally Right...or Wrong?

I'm in a ready to cry mood today. Skip that as I dot my eyes with a tissue. I was in a decent mood this morning, got stopped by several school buses (which is a major point of frustation for me--but another story for another time). Finally, I moved along and while driving on a road that always brings a peace and sense of calm, I started thinking about...cats. Out of the blue, I remembered holding my beloved Sarah, while they "put her to sleep." Every vivid second replayed and I got so incredibly sad. I started thinking about whether we should be doing this. I mean, how does God look upon us for ending life? It is morally wrong in the majority's eyes to stop a human life, regardless of the circumstances. What about animals? Legal, yes. Morally right? I don't know. I just know that it broke my heart and the memory will reside with me forever...to come popping back at inopportune moments...like driving.

So, here I am, sitting here in my office feeling frustrated and upset over things that I cannot control. I'm not a fit person to be around today. Must be a hormone thing.

Just had to share a second post today. Hopefully, it will lighten my mood.

Thanks for bearing with me.

Spreading Joy in Traffic

For the past few days, I've been searching for my muse. This morning I'm sitting at my desk and wondering where she's gone to hide. As I look around my desk, I've decided she is in a corner pouting because...there's just no room for her. **sigh** Guess I'll have to clean up this mess over the weekend.

Yesterday, I did my good deed by stopping to allow three cars out of an apartment parking lot. Traffic in the morning on this two lane road is horrendous. They acknowledged me with a wave or a smile, which made it all worthwhile. I guess the guy behind me must have been filled with joy as well because he kept honking his horn. It is my goal to spread joy to all. I probably should have turned and acknowledged his happiness, but I decided to just sit a few extra seconds and let him be blessed by the moment.

Today the temperature is supposed to get warmer...48...a heat wave considering the sub zero temps we've been having. But that means even more glacial melt. Ugh!

Thanks for stopping by!

Currently reading: BLUEGRASS COUNTRY, by Allie Pleiter (Publisher Steeple Hill, Love Inspired Inspirational) Feb '09

Ohio Romance Authors Contest

Several of my fellow authors from Central Ohio Fiction Writers have a group blog on My Space. Several times a year, we offer a great contest with lots of free books. So what better time than Valentine's Day! Here's the info.

The Ohio Romance Authors are gearing up for a sweetheart of a contest... Visitors who post a note to this blog will be eligible for our big Valentine's Day Contest. A random drawing will be held February 13th with the winner being announced on the blog February 14th, Valentine's Day.

What's the prize? A heart melting romance package...

Here's a list of the goodies in our prize package. ....

Lori Foster -- Print copies of MY MAN MICHAEL, CAUGHT and DOUBLE THE PLEASURE
Becky Barker -- Print copy of HANCHART LAND and a Valentine surprise.
Jules Bennett -- Ebooks: LOVE IN BLOOM by Jules Bennett and NAKED VENGEANCE by Sophia Rae
Alison Paige -- Print copy of CANDY CARESSES
Donna MacMeans -- Print copy of THE TROUBLE WITH MOONLIGHT
Tabitha Gibson -- Ebook copy of GUARDING MADISON
Marcia James -- Ebook AT HER COMMAND on a mini CD with a stuffed dog
Jayne Rylon -- ebook of NICE AND NAUGHTY
Carol Ann Erhardt -- ebook copy of FOXFIRE
Elysa Hendricks -- print copy of STAR CRASH with a mouse pad
Janie Mason -- ebook copy of MODEL BEHAVIOR
Erin McCarthy -- Print copy of FLAT OUT SEXY

You can click on the title of today's blog and it will link you to our page. Just click on the Valentine's Contest on the right hand side that lists blog entries. Leave a comment and you'll be entered in our contest! Good luck.

Thanks for stopping by!

Currently reading: Bluegrass Courtship by Allie Pleiter - A Love Inspired Inspirational Romance published by Steeple Hill.

A Day of History in the Making...

I am a conservative, but I was very moved by the inauguration today. It is time to put aside our political differences and put our support behind our new President. I will pray for him and our country. Times are changing, and I hope we can withstand the changes with honor and dignity.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I am reading: Bluegrass Courtship by Allie Pleiter (Love Inspired published by Steeple Hill Feb '09)

Finshed Today: Daddy for Keeps by Pamela Tracy (Love Inspired, Steeple Hill Jan '09) Loved it!

You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs

Our local RWA writing chapter had a meeting this past Saturday. When we have good news or bad news, we get to share, get applause or condolences, and then we get to "dive" into the incentives basket. This goody basket is to help us get over the bad feelings after receiving a rejection, or to celebrate a success in our writing. I was able to share my good news about JOSHUA'S HOPE being nominated to receive a CAPA award from The Romance Studio in the inspirational division. I dove into the basket and chose a cute coaster with a little frog and the words "you have to kiss a lot of frogs." I love it. It makes me smile.

In our lifetime, some of us will kiss a lot of frogs. This can be applied to many different situations...so I'll leave the interpretation up to you!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm reading right now: "Daddy for Keeps" by Pamela Tracy (Love Inspired, Steeple Hill, Jan. '09)

Are You a Stone in Someone's Life?

When you hear of someone being considered a "stone", do you think about it in terms of that person weighing another down? I wonder where that connotation came from?

Remember Moses? Remember how he led God's people out of Egypt and into the desert to wander for forty years? At the end of those forty years, Moses revealed that he would not be crossing the Jordan river with the people. Instead Moses died in the land of Moab just as God had revealed to him. Joshua had been declared their leader.

When Joshua led the people to the Jordan River, another miracle occurred. God revealed that He would make Joshua a great leader and that He would show the people that He was with Joshua, just as He had been with Moses. He instructed Joshua to have the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant take a few steps into the Jordan River and stop. So Joshua did as He was commanded. He told them the Ark of the Covenant would lead them across the Jordan. But he also told them to choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. Why? Please read on.

So the people followed Joshua's instruction. The priests' stepped into the river and the water above that point backed up a great distance. The water below flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. *Note: the people had to maintain a sacred distance of about 1/2 mile from the Ark.

After everyone had crossed, God told Joshua to have a chosen twelve men return to the place where the priests had stood and each to bring one stone to the place where they would camp for the night. These stones were used to construct a memorial.

These stones commemmorated God's faithfulness to his people. Today, as I look at all the people in my life, my family, my friends, my church family, I am reminded that each is a stone in my life. And I pray that I am a stone to others.

Thanks for stopping by.
So why did Joshua instruct them to choose twelve men? They weren't the ones to carry the ark of the covenant--that was reserved for the priests who were to cross before them. The answer can be found in Joshua 4:2-3 "The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the lOrd of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall."

I'd like to think I'm a stone in someone else's life.

Snow, Snow, Snow

People in Ohio know two things: The weatherman is never right, and if you like the weather today, just wait until tomorrow.

We had a prediction of two to four inches of snow. That usually means an inch or less accumulation. So, I didn't wear boots to work. Well, the weatherman was wrong. We actually had five inches of snow by the time I left work, and another inch in the last couple of hours. Supposedly the worst is over...as far as snow.

Actually, it is beautiful. I love to look at the scenery when everything is covered with white snow. But, the worst is coming. The temps are dropping and heading down close to zero and with the winds predicted...the wind chill will be well below zero, around negative fifteen.

But, we'll have to see which way the weatherman errs. I'm hoping they are predicting much lower than we'll actually have.

Okay, off to check cancellations.

Stay warm, and thanks for stopping by!

Making Decisions

In December, I started my inspirational blog, but I've found that it is too much to keep up that, plus this blog, plus three other group blogs. Usually, I find it hard to admit when I can't do something...but this is my year to learn to say no--especially when I'm saying no to myself!

Here's what I've taken on this year:

President of my local RWA chapter
Secretary of my local ACFW chapter
Blogging on three group blogs
Writing four newsletters, including four free reads
Promoting on yahoo reader loops
Writing four writing articles
Attending RWA Conference
Attending COFW Workshop
Attending COFW Conference
Attending two Alpha Bible Studies per month
Participating in 11 Powerdraft writing weeks
Writing 3 pages per day on manuscript
Exercise 30 minutes daily

In addition to working 8 hours per day, cooking, cleaning, and squeezing in some reading time.

Yep, I'm going to be very busy!

Thanks for stopping by!

No Way to Start the New Year

Stomach flu is yucky! I developed a bad case on Wednesday evening which kept me home from work and in bed for two days. Then we had an ice storm on Saturday which kept me inside and resting...maybe a good thing. Sunday I made it out for church, then had to catch up on some cleaning and laundry. Today it is back to work.

This flu hit me so fast and so hard. Only good thing is I got a lot of rest and watched a ton of movies on Hallmark.

Hope you all started this year a bit better than me. Thanks for stopping by!

Who Hid the Macaroni?

I make a daily menu and from that I do create my grocery shopping list. But, sometimes I do forget an item or two. Tonight, we were going to have a side dish of macaroni and cheese...from a box.

Hubby called today and asked what was for dinner. I told him to check the menu. He got all excited when he saw macaroni and cheese. He loves my homemade version. But, tonight I was on a tight schedule, thus the "fake stuff" was on the menu.

When I arrived home, hubby said you're making homemade mac and cheese, right? My negative response had him moaning because he said he had his taste buds set on the good stuff. Toooo bad.

I began making preparations and reached to remove the macaroni and cheese box from the shelf to find...there wasn't any! I was certain I had purchased at least one box on my latest shopping expedition. **sigh** Well, hubby got his wish. I created the dish from scratch.

I just wonder if I'll find that box sitting in a hidden alcove one day. It wouldn't surprise me if hubby has hidden it from me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sucked Into a Black Hole and Lost Forever

That's what happened to my latest additions to my novel. I have a flash drive that I work off of at work when I have nothing to do and need to fill in some blank time. So, the first instance happened just before Christmas. I was working away on making major revisions to a novel and at the end of the day I hit save...and received a message that the system could not access the flash drive! I kept trying to no avail. Then I tried to save as and the same thing happened. When I pulled up the contents of the flash drive...the file did not exist! So, I lost all those wonderful revisions.

On the 26th I began a new novel. I worked off my hard drive instead of the flash and when I finished I would copy it to my flash so I could work on my home computer. On Saturday, being involved in a week of PowerDraft with my local chapter where we enter goals and work hard to achieve them, I began working on my new novel. I made some revisions to the first six pages and typed another three and decided to call it a night. Hit save...yep. I'd been working off the flash drive and "voila!" the entire file had been sucked into a black hole, never to return. **sigh**

Yesterday I was able to retrieve the original six pages and added another ten. I saved the file to a brand new flash drive, but now I'm afraid to work directly off it.

Anyone else ever had that problem with a flash drive?

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Year

It's a brand new year. Time for setting goals and resolutions that may or may not be met in 2009. I failed miserably in meeting my established goals for last year. This year I'm going to be more realistic. I will remember that "life" can get in the way of writing, and that's okay. While I love to write, family will always come first for me.

My goals for this coming year are:
1. Exercise 30 minutes a day (when possible)
2. Write daily
3. Read the Bible daily

So, how about you? Are you setting any new year resolutions?

This will be an exciting year for me. I'm planning to retire in January 2010. Next year my goals may be much different! I have committed myself to a lot this year. I'm President of my RWA writer's group, Secretary of my ACFW writer's group, committed to meeting with a bible study group twice a month, put out a newsletter once per quarter, blog on four shared blogs besides my own, and also keep up with my established goals. In addition we are moving my mother into our home in May of this year.

Busy times ahead, but I'm looking forward to the challenges.

Thanks for stopping by!

ON VACATION....

This blog is closing down for the Christmas holiday. Blogging will resume on January 5. Have a blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Thanks for stopping in.

The Silent Treatment...

Have you ever had a disagreement with your hubby and then gave him the "silent treatment?" Most women have. Sometmes men do the same, but they just aren't as good as women. Check out the story below...

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't woken him. Then he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The note said, "It is 4:00 AM. Wake up."

Men just are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

Thanks for stopping by!

Creativity Breeds in Chaos...

My writing office has taken over. I no longer have control. I squeeze myself to my keyboard which is surrounded by pop cans, bible, nail cream, organizer, magazines, important mail, address labels, a storyboard, cups of pens and markers, a box of tissues, phone, a bowl of stale popcorn, lists...

I cannot think in this chaos. Yet, this is when I can allow my fingers to fly across the keyboard without worrying about editing, or getting every word just right. I don't look around, I keep my eyes focused on the monitor, and give free rein to my brain. I don't have to think. I just have to write.

And the story flows....

Thanks for stopping by!

A Snail Tale...

Two snails were taking a leisurely walk one day enjoying the beautiful fall weather. Suddenly a turtle jumped out of the bushes and beat them senseless. Hours later they awoke in the hospital. The doctor looked grim and said, "You've received a lot of injuries and it would be helpful if you could tell me what happened." Both snails replied...


Are you ready for this?



"We don't know. It all happened so fast!"


Thanks for stopping by!

What To Do When You Can't Sleep...

Pull out a hand-held game of Phase 10 and play a classic game...and win. Listen to the song play while reading "you win!".

Read three chapters of a book which you started, but isn't too exciting to put down. Close the book and get out of bed.

Decide what to order for your upcoming Christmas party. Count up how much money it's going to set you back, but still it's worth it not to cook.

Eat cheese and crackers. Think about hot chocolate and decide it's too much trouble.

Read through the latest Lifeway Christian Stores flyer.

Make a list of the people who will be coming to your Christmas party and make sure you have enough gifts.

Look through your change and get excited because you have one of the last three quarters you need to complete your set.

Pick up the book you put down earlier and read another chapter.

Write a blog....

Thanks for stopping by!

I Want a GPS for Christmas

I'm directionally challenged, although with a map I can find the right direction by turning the map so that it's facing the direction we're going...that's when hubby is driving and I'm the navigator. However, I do a lot of driving on my own and I try to follow the directions on Mapquest. This is a challenge when traveling by yourself or waiting for my co-rider to catch up and read the directions before I pass my turn. So, I want a GPS for Christmas. I'm buying it for myself out of my Christmas bonus. But, I don't know the first thing about them. I need something easy...no hard installation, and I don't want to leave it in the car to be stolen. I do want it to talk to me and tell me where to turn, rather than have to constantly look at the map.

So, can anyone give me some guidance? I've been reading the specs on-line which only confuses me more. And I don't want to spend over $150. I'm cheap, but I want the best for my money. **grin**

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Tree Trimming...for cats...

It's that time of year again when we put up our artificial tree, spend hours arranging the lights, adding the ornaments, ribbons, and birds...

Yep, this is the year of the "red" Christmas tree. The tree with the red poinsettias, and red cardinals. Two years ago, the cats managed to practically destroy the tree by climbing and laying on the branches, snatching the poinsettias and birds and batting the red satin balls around the floor. Once, they knocked the entire tree over. By the time Christmas morning arrived, both the tree and I were bedraggled and wishing it was New Year's.

This year, the cats are two years older, so I'm hoping for the best. So far, I've only had to replace a few of the satin balls after hearing them hit the floor and go rolling...with a cat in hot pursuit.

The entire bottom of the tree has no ornaments at all, but this hasn't discouraged the cats from going after their prey. So far, they haven't attempted climbing the tree...thankfully, for the cardinals are resting in the highest branches. But, who knows. Tomorrow I may come home from work and find that beautiful tree...destroyed.

Ho, ho, ho!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Honey, Who Took the Remote?

Have you seen your hubby hold a remote (which obviously needs new batteries) and click it over and over to no avail? Have you seen him stand and move closer and closer to the screen as he tries to make it work?

Well, I received a humorous email which I felt was very appropriate during this commercial Christmas rush. I mean, after all, aren't we women the ones who are responsible for purchasing the majority of the gifts? And, while we are out shopping, our hubbies are sitting in the recliner, remote in hand, enjoying football.

Enjoy!

"Cash, check or charge?" I asked after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet, I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. "So do you always carry your TV remote?" I asked. "No," she replied, "but my husband refused to come shopping with me. I figured this was hte most evil thing I could do to him legally."

Thanks for stopping by...and remember to laugh. It's healthy!

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

My friend and I walk on our breaks at work. We bundle up and laugh at the cold, biting air. Tears escape from the bite of the wind and run down my cheeks, but when we're finished I feel so renewed.

Today, I was pretty well chained to my desk except for those two breaks. When I went to the ladies room, I did what needed to be done, washed my hands and escaped back to my desk.

Late this afternoon, while making a bathroom trip, I looked up and caught sight of my reflection...and the black smudged below and beside my eyes, trails coursing down one cheek. Egads! And no one had told me!

Now, I imagine all the men thought I was in my office all day crying. **sigh** I wonder if I can milk this and get some sympathy gifts? I mean, after all, Christmas is coming.

Suntan Lotion for Your Cat??????

I thought I had heard it all...until I turned over my daily cat calendar to find a beautiful white cat. It was sitting in profile on a fence post. Then I read the caption. I couldn't believe it.

The gist--if you have a cat with a white face, it is very sensitive to the sun. And, you should get a special suntan lotion for protection.

I don't know about you, but I've never seen a sunburned cat. Have you?

Thanks for stopping by!

It's That Time of Year Again...

Every year, following the tradition of my mother, I purchase Christmas cards to send to family and close friends. This year, I bought two boxes while browsing through Barnes and Noble. The cards are beautiful renditions of Thomas Kincaide.

They've been sitting on my desk for three days now. I stare at them and know I must make time to sign and address them. I vow to mail them early this year so they will be received before Christmas.

Let's see--there are twenty two days left. It will take me at least two days to get them ready. I have to stand in line at the post office and purchase Christmas stamps. I have to work every day and have only my lunch hours free...but I don't want to work on Christmas cards at lunch. That would be stressful. I need to unstress by reading. That leaves the evenings. But then I have to cook dinner, clean up, exercise, do some writing...hmmm. What about the weekends?

I have to grocery shop and clean house on Saturday in preparation for a writer's group meeting at my house on Sunday after church. Ah, the following weekend...nope. That's reserved for our family get-together. And then...Oops the last weekend before Christmas. If I mail the cards on the 22nd they probably won't arrive before Christmas...again.

Why do I put myself through all this stress? Ah, but the cards are so beautiful...

Thanks for stopping by!

Braving the Elements...

My friend and I walk on our breaks at work. We started doing this last July and we have been faithful. We walked when the temps were in the high eighties and even nineties when sweat dripped from our armpits and people cleared the hallways when we returned. Now the weather has changed...drastically, but we have continued walking when it isn't raining and the wind isn't howling.

Today we bundled up and headed out the door to brave the elements. Snowflakes drifted around us. We wore winter jackets and matching knit hats bearing "Samuel Adams" on the earpieces (the emblem meaning the ale, not the man). Such cute little earflaps with knitted ends to tie under our chins. The end result meant our hair would be sculpted to our heads for the remainder of the day. We turned the corner and felt the wind blowing against our backs. We chatted and continued walking, enjoying the brisk weather and the glowing feeling in our cheeks. A half-mile later, we looped around and headed back...directly into the wind.

Even the ear flaps couldn't stop the fingers of cold from driving down into my ear canals. And my nose! Can we say icicles formed on the hairs inside? And those beautiful snowflakes now froze on my glasses and burned the exposed areas of my face. I looked at my friend and thought she'd turned into the headless horseman. All I saw was the collar of her coat, but then I noticed a bit of blue plaid...the top of that Sam Adams cap. I couldn't laugh for to do so would mean getting frostbite of the lungs. The last half-hour of that walk was equivalent to "dead man walking."

Needless to say, we did not go outdoors to walk in the afternoon. I suppose they'll find our frozen bodies sometime tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Why I Hate Answering Machines...Or How To Stress Your Cat

First, before I start getting angry comments about cat abuse, let me state that I love my cats. They are part of the family and are probably more spoiled than our kids ever were (sorry, kids)!

When we returned home from an errand tonight, the red blinking light on the telephone indicated a message waiting. I dialed in to check and listened to the message, then listened again, and again, and again...I hate it when people talk so fast that the words slur together. Here's what I heard: "ADT Securities...Ro...Errrrha...test. If you have any questions call (phone number left out to protect the innocent). Well, yeah! I had a question. First, where did this guy learn phone etiquette, and second what the blinkety blank was he trying to tell me? So I called, listened to the three minute spiel of press this and press that (of which none of the numbers applied to "decipher a phone message") and finally "Hold for all other questions" So I held. And then heard a "busy signal". Oh, yeah. I'm feeling the pressure now. Dial, listen to the canned garbage, hold, finally...a voice of reason...maybe. So ADT wants to test our security system. We can do it now or you can call back in the morning at 9am. (No thanks, it took me fifteen minutes to get through this time). So I agreed to "test the alarm" now after assuring them I had no small children sleeping in the house. I set the alarm and was instructed to open one of the doors. A loud screech ensued...and my cats became acrobat artists. Their eyes grew large and they suddenly all had more hair than I realized any cat could own. Can we say armed porcupine? They ran in circles, stared at me like I should be doing something to stop the noise. And then...the alarm went off for real. The gal on the phone said it would have to go off for two minutes. She had set a timer and would let me know when the test was over. Then...I got a busy signal on the phone. NO!!! Now, what would I do? The cats would have shredded my legs if they had claws... Do you know how long two minutes are? When your eardrums are bursting, two minutes can seem like two hours! And...I had no lifelines left. ADT has hung up on me! The cats and I ran around in circles trying to avoid each other. They finally figured out how to stick their paws in their ears, but their eyes were about to burst from their sockets. Soon, I'd have to sue ADT for killing my cats. Then, the phone rang. It was ADT telling me the test was over. "Okay, so stop the noise!" She instructed me how to stop the alarm, and then hung up. Now I have a green ready light, and Zone 1 is orange and so is alarm. My fingers shook wondering if it would go off again. The cats have now climbed my back and are on each shoulder, while one is perched on my head just daring me to set that alarm off one more time. Let me tell you, cats can inflict a lot of damage even without claws. Have you seen their teeth? So, I tentatively pressed the code and armed the system. Then I pressed it again to unarm it...and breathed a sigh of relief. All was well.

My cats may not forgive me before Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Thanksgiving

Our world is facing many challenges. People are losing jobs, homes, health. The stock market is turned upside down. Our family has suffered losses this year, death of friends and family, family moving away, family members joining the military, declining health, loss of jobs.

But despite this, we have many things to be thankful for. We have a diverse family filled with love. We thank God for the blessings he gives...the comfort of knowing our loved ones who pass are with Him, being able to reach out to those who are far away through the telephone, internet, and snail mail, wonderful surgeons and doctors, church family.

We will sit together this Thanksgiving around the table and give thanks to the Lord.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Thanks you for stopping by.

Writing A Synopsis - Lesson Four

We're ready to finalize that synopsis. We've written the back page blurb, used it (or part of it) as the hook to the synopsis. We've introduced our characters, shown the conflict and what their goals are. We've picked out the turning points or high points of the novel and written these into the body of the synopsis. Now it's time for the climax and resolution. Again, keep it simple, don't overwrite, and most of all don't keep the editor guessing what happens.

Here is the final part of the synopsis for Foxfire:

Her trap works, and she faces her worst nightmare, for her ex-lover captures her and holds a knife against her throat. He leads her into the dark wooded mountainside where he plans to kill her, just as he has five other women. He's the serial killer the police are seeking, but they'll never find him. He's set up the perfect ruse.

By the time Tyler realizes Grace has lied to him, it's too late. She's been captured by a killer. The same man who killed Tyler's wife. He realizes that he could lose another woman he loves. He can't let Grace die, too.

Tyler and his boss catch up with them and Grace knows she has to do something or the man she loves will die. She drives her arm into her assailant's midsection and grabs the hand gripping the knife. Gunshots ring out, and she is pinned beneath a dead body. She's faced her worst fear and lived, but her enemy has been slain.

Tyler proposes to Grace. She accepts. Together they've found the strength to overcome the shadows in their past and open their hearts to true love.


Once you have put your entire synopsis together, don't forget to go back over it several times. Don't be afraid to make your sentences stronger, use active verbs, and most of all let your voice shine through.

Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Drowning in an Ocean of Food

Friday we had a turkey potluck at work. I wanted to boycott it and go out to run errands and eat a sandwich, but I do enjoy spending time with my co-workers. Thus, I ate too much food, and went back later for second helpings of dessert. Sunday we had our Thanksgiving potluck at church. Yep, once again I sampled nearly everything. Came home feeling drugged and laid down on the bed to nap. For the rest of the evening I didn't feel like doing one thing. Finally gave up and went to bed at 9pm. Now I'm sitting here in my office and staring at....FOOD! I'm cooking our Thanksgiving dinner this year. I guess we'll have 16 people. Ugh. With no place to put all the extra canned goods and things, I stored them here in my office. I'm going to be glad when Thanksgiving is over...but, then comes Christmas. **sigh** No wonder I can't lose weight.

Sending warm wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to each and all of you. Thanks for stopping by.

Interview with Liana Laverentz

My first experience being interviewed on another blog happened yesterday. If you'd like to check it out:

Click Here

Interviewing with Liana was a lot of fun, especially since we met face to face last June at Lori Foster's Readers and Authors Get Together in Cincinnati.

Thanks for stopping by!

Writing A Synopsis - Lesson Three

Now that we've written the back page blurg and introduced the characters including their goals and what is keeping them from reaching that goal, we need to get into the "middle" of the synopsis. Don't get caught up in putting in too many details. This is the hard part. You must pick out the most important parts of your story and no matter how important each piece is to you...the editor doesn't want to know all the little details. Think "condensed" version.

The easiest way to decide which points to include is to write a high level outline. For each novel you will have three main turning points. The first comes about 1/4 of the way through the book. This is where the hero or heroine MAKES A DECISION to do something that takes the story in a new direction. The second comes at the half-way point. This is a MAJOR turning point and must be high stakes. The third comes about 3/4 of the way through the book. If you have identified these three major points, then you can easily write this part of the synopsis. Remember to keep it simple and to avoid telling every little detail.

Here is the beginning and middle of the synopsis for FOXFIRE.

GRACE WILKINS knows about disappointment, about guilt, and about fear. She's spent her life running away from all three until she finds the perfect hiding place in a small mountain community. At twenty-eight years of age, she's finally put down roots. The murdering mobster she once slept with will never find her here. Nothing bad ever happens in Foxfire, Tennessee.

TYLER SANDFORD is a thirty-five year old undercover agent who is soured on his current job. He's haunted by guilt over his wife's death at the hands of a convicted felon, who remains at large. Tyler wants to turn in his gun and utilize his veterinarian degree to begin a new life somewhere far away. Perhaps then he'll be able to sleep at night.

Then MAX CLAYTON, the man who killed Tyler's wife, resurfaces with a new face and begins picking off the people who testified against him. Tyler moves to Foxfire with a dual purpose--to set up his veterinary practice and use Grace to flush out Max. When Tyler finds Grace unemployed, he hires her to work in his clinic. Though he never mixes business and pleasure, he's having a difficult time keeping his hands off her. She's sexy, tough, and as vulnerable to their mutual attraction as he is.

Strange things begin to happen. A serial killer leaves his fifth victim's body behind the only restaurant in Foxfire. Grace's weird neighbor begins making veiled threats after seeing Tyler and Grace in a compromising embrace. Someone leaves roses on Grace's doorstep and she receives a package that sets her fear racing once again--Max has found her. Someone brutally stabs Grace's dog, and she turns to Tyler to save her canine friend. She spends the night on Tyler's couch and wakes to overhear him talking on the phone about the man she's been hiding from for three years. She barges into the bedroom and confronts Tyler who is pointing a gun straight at her.

A bitter argument turns into raging passion and the two find themselves tangled together in Tyler's bed sheets. Sated and basking in the afterglow, Grace is only amused when Tyler's boss, JAKE SCOTT walks in on them. He shows them a picture of Max's new face. Grace tells them she's seen Max in Foxfire. She convinces Tyler and Jake to let her work with them to capture Max.

Then her world is turned upside down. Her best friend's house is bombed and he is rushed to the hospital. Knowing Max is responsible, Grace fears for the other people she loves. At that point she realizes she's fallen in love with Tyler. She must work alone, setting herself up as bait to catch her nemesis.

Good luck and happy writing. Thanks for stopping by.

P.S. Apologies for posting this a day late.

Traffic Woes

Winter has come early to central Ohio. Yesterday we had snow squalls, huge snowflakes, icy snow pellets...and no accumulation. Last night we had a little snowfall, just a few patches remaining this morning, but icy patches on some roads and overpasses. Now I sound like the weather forecaster...but let me tell you, there are some really angry people driving this morning.

An SUV came roaring past me in my subdivision where the speed limit is 25mph. They had to stop in front of me and wait for the school bus to load. But I suppose that person relieved some anger by moving up one slot in the traffic line.

When the school bus stopped at the railroad tracks, I stopped at the intersection to let another vehicle turn from the left lane into a subdivision on my right. I feel so great! The person behind me blew the horn so loudly I can now hear despite my congested ear. I suppose they were angry at the school bus for stopping, and I'm sure they felt much better after releasing that hostility on the horn. After the vehicle made the turn, I inched up one car length to stop and wait for that school bus to clear the railroad tracks so traffic could once more move.

As the traffic moved toward the first major crossroads and traffic light, we merged into two lanes. The left becomes a turn left only lane...mine to go straight or turn. See, I learned something today. If you are angry and tired of waiting in line, you can move into that left lane and cut off the next person in the right hand lane going straight! Isn't that amazing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Living with Arthur is a Pain

Five reasons living with Arthur is a real bummer:

1. When I'm so exhausted I can't wait to crawl between the sheets, Arthur likes to keep me awake.

2. When I'd like to be alone and meditate, Arthur intrudes without an apology.

3. Arthur tags along with me everywhere I go.

4. When Arthur came to live with me, my entire life changed...for the worse.

5. Arthur's like that energizer bunny...relentless and annoying.

Living with Arthur Itis is a pain.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rain, Snow, and Weather Blues...

Ohio is gearing up for a nasty winter. We've already seen snow...not an accumulation...but it's been here. More is predicted. Ugh. Our furnace has been running off and on since October, unusual for this time of year. Typically temps stay mild through mid November and drop just a bit through December, with January and February being our coldest months.

Winter months mean too many hours spent indoors. I leave for work in the near dark, have no windows to the outdoors, and return home in the near dark. Depressing. At least when the weather is mild I can get outside during breaks and walk. Being cooped indoors with the same people tends to make people grumpy and I work with a lot of normally grumpy workers.

Not looking forward to the next months. How about you?

Thanks for stopping by.

Little Corner Grocery Stores....

Ah, yes. The little corner grocery stores. I used to live with my grandma and grandpa. What a great time. We knew all the neighbors and it was so cool. I could walk next door and sit on the porch and talk with the elderly couple living there. Now, mind you, I was only six. The corner grocery store was three blocks away...an eternity...but we walked there and bought our groceries. We had a running tab which was paid monthly. The store owner would give me a lollipop from time to time--a wonderful gift, greatly appreciated. I moved away two years later, but I returned for a two week visit every summer. Eventually, a R&W root beer stand came to that little community...across the street from the grocery. Again, we all knew the owners' names. They, too, were neighbors. "Champ" was a great guy. He wore a white hat and tended the outdoor "bar." For a treat, we'd take fifty cents and sit on stools under an overhang,eat a coney dog and drink an ice cold frosted mug of root beer. Back then, parents weren't afraid to let their kids walk the streets of the neighborhood, and if one of us got into trouble, there was no hiding it. The entire community knew.

Everyone worked hard, and no one had credit cards. There was no stigma to keep up with the neighbors. People had backyard gardens and shared/swapped their food. I'm all for progress, but I don't like what it's done to us on a personal level. Maybe that's why I write stories set in small rural communities.

We're on the verge of a new way of life. Time will tell what direction it takes. I worry for my grandchildren, but I suppose my grandparents worried for me. Hmmm, perhaps they were right to worry.

Thanks for stopping by.

Writing a Synopsis - Lesson Two

Assuming you've completed writing your blurb (see last Tuesday's blog Writing A Synopsis - Lesson One), your ready to introduce your characters. This is where goals, motivation, and conflict come into play. Keep it brief and simple. I usually do this in two paragraphs--one for the heroine and one for the hero. What you don't want to do is describe the physical characteristics of your characters. Save this for your manuscript. The goal here is to outline what is to be expected during the story.

Example from Hit and Run:

Beth Barrett's twin sister, Jilly, is killed by a hit and run driver and Beth knows who did it. Proving it is the problem. No one believes she is psychically connected with her deceased twin, and the man she accuses has an alibi. It doesn't help that she's attracted to the detective assigned to the case, especially when he's skeptical about her motives for accusing her brother-in-law. Faced with a cunning adversary, Beth must find a way to convince Detective Ryan Snider before she becomes the next victim.

Detective Ryan Snider wants to believe Beth is telling the truth, but in reality no one can talk to a dead person. He met the twins when Jilly was hospitalized after being brutally beaten by her husband, Keith Carson. He did his best to help, telling himself it was duty, not the physical attraction to Beth that kept him involved. But now Ryan has a murder to solve, and he has to put logic before heart, and doing so may destroy his relationship with Beth.

If you use your blurb, you can expand it to create these paragraphs. Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stop! No one is "One Size Fits All"

If you believe in the greatest marketing scheme ever created, One Size Fits All, you need to take a step back and look at reality. For instance, if you ask a woman who wears a size 2 and a woman who wears a size 20 to stand side by side wearing an identical "one size" article, you can easily see the problem. I mean a sheet is one size fits all!! Forget the myth. We are individuals. We are unique. Everyone is different. Even identical twins have one thing that distinguishes them from the other.

Writers easily get caught up in the one size myth. Especially beginning writers. It's easy to seek advice and learn the rules, but the hard part is retaining a unique voice. Yes, it is important to learn the craft. It is important to know the rules that shouldn't be broken. But...more important is to write your story. Forget the rules and write the story YOU want to write. Once you have poured out your heart on the page, you can go back and apply the rules WHERE YOU BELIEVE THEY WORK. That's important. Don't ruin your voice, your story, by over applying what you've learned along the way. Much easier said than done, but just like the vision of two people wearing one size articles, so our books should be different.

Thanks for stopping by.

Taking a Stand Against Bathroom Deficiencies

For those of us who work outside the home where we spend nine hours or more in the workplace, shouldn't we at least have decent toilet paper? I mean, come on! Wiping with a piece of paper with pieces of bark embedded in see-through single ply has to stop. I come home raw, bleeding and limping on days when I just can't hold it in for nine hours.

And then, there's the issue of hand soap. Does it contain lye? I mean, my hands are so dry they try to dive into my glass of water after my trip to the ladies room. I don't have to worry about dark spots on the backs of my hands. I can't find them anyway because they're hiding to avoid the torture of that dreaded paper hand towel, cousin to the bark based toilet paper.

Worse, before I can make my exit that "too high on the wall to reach" so-called air freshener spits out a smell strong enough to kill anyone who dares to stay long enough to be caught. Have you ever tried any of that over the counter tooth medicine? Or take a deep whiff of some prescription codeine-based cough medicine. Yep, I swear that's what's in that stupid air contaminator. In fact, I've never seen a bug strong enough to escape. From time to time, I see little insects upside down, legs stiff, two of them trying to stifle their nostrils.

I'm taking a stand today. I'm bringing in my own toilet paper, a small hand towel, a bar of creamy hand soap, and nose plugs. Bet I get somebody's attention when I come walking down the hall. Hmmm, our Director of Human Resources from corporate office is coming in today. Maybe I'll give him a tour of our Ladies Room. First, I'll offer nose plugs, though.

Thanks for stopping by!

"I Think I Can!"

Henry Ford said, "If you think you can or think you can't, you're right."

That quote is taped to my computer monitor. The intent was to make me remember to keep a positive attitude. Unfortunately, I forget to look at it. Like most writers, I do have those "terrible doubts" and times of inactivity. If that happens to you, perhaps you are subconsciously thinking you "can't."

Like the little train you need to repeat to yourself, "I think I can. I think I can!"

This applies to all aspects of life, whether you are a writer, a homemaker, a clerk, a mail deliverer, a teacher, an office worker... If you take time to reflect on what you want to achieve and "think you can do it," you'll soon find a determination in your heart, and a smile on your face.

I admit that I'm my own worst enemy. How about you? What are you thinking today?

Thanks for stopping by.

Writing A Synopsis - Lesson One

A good synopsis should begin with a hook. Just as your manuscript must grab the reader from the first page, so should your synopsis grab a potential editor in the first paragraph.

The best way to accomplish this is to create a back page blurb. Here an example from HIT AND RUN, my first novel:

Beth Barrett's twin sister, Jilly, has been killed by a hit and run driver. Beth knows who did it. Proving it is the problem. The twins are linked through a psychic connection that hasn't diminished with Jilly's death, but no one believes it, not even Ryan Snider, the sexy detective assigned to the case.

When a stalker targets Beth, she can't prove that either. Faced with a cunning adversary, she must depend on her own strength, and an unlikely bond with her dead sister, to unmask a killer before she becomes the next victim.

An example from FOXFIRE, my second novel:

Nothing bad ever happens in Foxifre. Then Grace Wilkins' fiance discovers her secret and calls off the wedding. Suddenly strange things begin to happen. An enamored neighbor makes veiled threats. Roses appear mysteriously on her doorstep. Her beloved dog is viciously stabbed, and the sexy veterinarian who saves her has a hidden agenda--and a gun. Now Grace must confront her past to reveal the identity of her stalker or become his next victim.

An example from JOSHUA's HOPE, my latest novel:

Hope Courtland escaped her marriage to save her life. Her only regret is leaving her four-year-old stepson, Joshua, behind. Though she wants custody, no attorney is willing to tackle her ex-husband in a custody battle. Hope’s faith begins to falter. She learns that Joshua is paying the consequences for her freedom, and in an act of desperation, she kidnaps him. Suddenly, she becomes a suspect in her ex-husband’s murder.

Zack Stone is content to be sheriff of Pine Cove, Tennessee, where the worst conflict he deals with is handing out speeding tickets. Though his faith is strong, he struggles with issues of forgiveness surrounding his wife’s death. When he rescues Hope in a rainstorm, the last thing he expects is to find a woman who stirs his heart. Being a small town sheriff shouldn’t involve kidnapping and murder, but Zack can’t turn his back on Hope and the little boy she loves.

Your tone must reflect the genre of your novel. The first two examples above are both romantic suspense. I know that a reader will expect to see the essence of the suspense and also a hook for the attraction to the hero. The last example I included is an inspirational romantic suspense. Not only must I include the suspense hook and the romantic anticipation, but also show that a faith journey will be included.

When you begin writing your synopsis, you can include the blurb as the beginning. So, go to your local bookstore and pick up some books in your genre. Study the back page blurbs.

Spend the week defining the back page blurb for your manuscript. When you begin to write yours, don't be discouraged. It takes time and a lot of revision to refine these paragraphs until they speak to you. Feel free to post your results here for feedback.

Next Tuesday, I'll post lesson two.

Thanks for stopping by.

What an Unsettling Weekend...

So, I posted about Powweb on Friday and since learned that Sprint and Cogent are in a legal battle and Sprint cut communication to Cogent. Thus separating me and countless others from many sites on the internet! My ISP uses Sprint and Powweb uses Cogent! Argh!! So I set up a new mail account with google and rerouted all my yahoo loops there. Settled all new incoming mail issues. However...

On Friday I had to take my hubby to the hospital emergency room. He has COPD and developed an infection in his lungs which dropped his oxygen level to dangerously low levels. Long story short, he was released on Sunday and is on meds and doing much better.

Top the hospital stay with the internet issues and you have one frustrated and mentally exhausted individual---me!!

While sitting here watching television, I opened my Outlook Express to check mail and...voila! Suddenly it started downloading the 578 messages from Powweb! I logged into my website and downloaded everything so I have a new copy. Never again will I redo my website and not keep a copy on my hard drive. Whew! I am not going to change my yahoo loops back to my old email address...at least not yet. This might be a temporary fix only.

Meantime, I'm trying to get hubby to behave and rest. Another monumental task. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by.