Write it in Longhand? Gasp!

It's time to write the next chapter. You've ended your story with a great hook that will entice your reader to turn the page and see what happens next. Great! But, if you want to keep those pages turning, you have to start your new chapter with a hook as well.

One thing that has helped me is to first sit down with pen and paper and freehand what I expect to happen in the chapter. Remember each chapter should have goal, motivation, and conflict. Yesterday I had a vague idea of how I wanted to move forward with my story, but I couldn't quite get the "hook" to begin with. So, I grabbed a tablet and pen and began to write. I filled a page and a half, stopping when I had reached a point of emotional turmoil for both the hero and heroine. Then I looked at what I'd charted as the beginning. Now I easily knew how to write that hook to entice my reader to continue reading.

Actually writing that chapter became very easy. No, I'm not a true plotter. I do know my characters, I know what is keeping them apart, I know how the story is going to end (like any good fairy tale), but I don't know how they are going to get there. There will be obstacles along the way, lots of conflict, tension, and pitfalls. But when I sit and develop each chapter on paper, then I can visualize the characters as I write their actions and words. In no time at all, I have a new chapter with a great hook for the first sentence and for the last.

Hope this helps some of you who have problems sitting down and staring at a blank page.

Thanks for stopping by!

Whiskerless Kittens

We adopted our three kittens from our Veterinarian's office. They were from the same litter. When we brought them home, they were so tiny they couldn't climb the stairs of our bi-level. It only took a couple of days for them to utilize their needle-like claws to grasp the carpeting and pull themselves up and venture into the bigger world. A week after bringing them home, they were on the bed and snuggling with us at night. One morning I awoke to find both of the boys were whiskerless! Charlotte, however, had all her whiskers. I was appalled to think she actually chewed her brothers' off. I worried that they wouldn't grow back and I knew they needed them to maneuver properly. I did some research and found that cats use their whiskers to determine whether or not they can fit through an opening. A cat will "test" an opening several times with their heads, allowing their whiskers to tell them whether or not their entire body will fit through the opening.

Then I found information that states a mother cat will often chew off their newborn babies whiskers to keep them from wandering! Aha! So, that's why Charlotte, our little mother, chewed off her brother's whiskers. She didn't want to lose them. LOL!

Our Veterinarian laughed. She assured us that the whiskers would grow back...and they did. Now that the boys are twice Charlotte's size, she wouldn't dare try that trick again.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla

It's Friday...so, what's not to love about that?

Well, I left my day job at the end of the year and I've been enjoying sleeping without waking up to the bla, bla, bla, bla of the alarm clock every morning. But, a good friend of mine is having some health issues and will be going in for surgery sometime in March. Tomorrow she meets with the surgeon in the morning. This friend is also the receptionist for our church. She asked if I would cover for her on Fridays while she's off...and tomorrow while she speaks with the surgeon. Of course, I told her yes. It's only four hours once a week. Other people are covering on the other days she works.

But, sigh, I do have to depend on the the bla, bla, bla, bla tomorrow. I just hope we don't get any snow until after I get home.

Helping others is always a good thing to do. It makes me feel good, and...what's not to love about that?

Thanks for stopping by!

Over or Under?

Sometimes life just gets in the way. Yesterday, I forgot to blog. No excuses, just plain forgot.

I should have started your day with a smile. Maybe you did smile when you realized there was no Wednesday blog!  Those who follow me know I have three cats who keep me entertained. A few days ago, I uncovered a video for cats, which our cat Sarah, now gone to Rainbow Bridge, used to love. Let me tell you, putting in a video meant to entertain cats is a sure-fire way to keep them in one spot for a long period of time. The only problem is they become television buffs. Templeton now bats at anything on the screen that moves or flashes. The good news is it doesn't keep his attention for long. I thought I'd share these pics I took of Wilbur and Templeton watching their movie.

Aren't they cute? Charlotte didn't discover the movie until yesterday. And, to make them comfortable, I move two kitchen chairs in front of "their" television. I wouldn't dare play it in the family room on the flat screen!

But, now it's Thursday and I usually share a view from my window with you. I can tell you that most of the snow melted and the icicles are gone. But, unfortunately, we are getting snow flurries now. There is a dusting of snow covering the road and the sidewalks...and my car. Ugh.

The poor knock out rose bush outside the window looks so beaten. I sure hope it pulls through this nasty winter. I keep telling myself that in less than two months it will be April. I'm ready for spring. I need to see green and pretty splashes of color.

I'll leave you with one more amusing thing. A lot of writers tell me that they have "dreams" of scenes for their manuscripts. I've never had that kind of thing happen. For me, I just have to sit and get into a different zone and then my characters "talk" to me. So, this morning I was sitting in a quiet room and reading when I suddenly went into this zone. I could visualize my two characters in an already written scene, but they said totally different things than I had written. Their responses were passionate, heated, and very real. I plan to write that scene later today. Where was I sitting, you ask? Um, well, I'll just leave you with a question. Does your toilet paper roll over or under?

Thanks for stopping by!

I Should Have Known Better

Last night, I pulled a cover from a casserole dish and received a horrible steam burn on the index finger and middle finger of my right hand. I should have known better. I suppose it's called taking a risk or laughing in the face of danger, thinking it won't happen. That was really stupid.

I ran cold water over the fingers and then applied aloe, but the pain kept intensifying throughout our meal and afterward. Finally, I covered the burns with an antiseptic gel and used an oversize bandage to secure the two fingers together. This kept me from bending them and also kept the air from hitting them.

But, it sure is hard to type or do normal things. For instance, how can I put my glove on my injured hand? It just doesn't work. I sure hope the temps don't drop and we don't get another shovelable snowfall.

Thanks for stopping by.

P.S. Maybe I should have let the words I typed remain as the garbled mess they were before I painstakingly kept hitting delete and retyping. Now that would have looked like a code of some kind!

Visual Characterization for Writers

Recently my local RWA chapter hosted Shirley Jump as our speaker. She taught us her "Rule of Six." The theory is that we can easily think of three, or maybe four, things that motivate our characters. However, coming up with six is hard. BUT, when you delve deeply and reach that sixth motivation, you really get to know your characters and what truly drives them.

I'm a visual kind of person. I prefer to look at a chart to reading through a whole listing of numbers to see a pattern. So, when Shirley showed us a neat way to chart the characters using the "Rule of Six", I was elated!

What she had us do was use a large piece of paper (preferably 11X17). She used an Oasis Pad (available from levenger.com). However, I purchased a cheap sketch pad for my use. Here's what you do:

In the middle of the page draw a circle. I used a large glass to make the circle. Inside the circle write your character's name, their age, and their occupation.

From here you draw six lines protruding from the outside of the circle--kind of like when kids draw a sun with rays.  Label the lines with the following six things: Career, Family, Friends, Relationships, Education, Quirks.

Now question your character about each of these things asking at least six questions. For instance with Education--Where did you go to school? Why did you go to this school? Keep asking why at least six times until you get to the real reason he/she went to this school. Perhaps they wanted to move away from home, they had a scholarship, they followed a loved one there, followed in a parent's footsteps, it's the only one they could afford....etc. Write the answers on six lines you'll draw out from this main line.

Continue with the remaining main lines. When you are finished you'll have a well rounded view of what drives your character and why.

On the left hand side of the paper, list six strengths your character exhibits. On the right hand side, list six weaknesses. Remember the weaknesses are the things that will get your character into trouble, but the strengths will be what saves them.

These pages can be folded in half and will fit inside a notebook for handy reference.

If you are a visual person like me, perhaps you will find this a handy way to do a characterization.

I highly recommend having Shirley Jump as a workshop speaker. She is a multi-published New York Times Best-selling author. Check out her website at http://www.shirleyjump.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Bright Orange and Golden Yellow

Bet you're wondering what that title means, huh? This morning I looked out my window at a gorgeous sunrise. A bright orange ball colored the sky a golden yellow behind the trees along the horizon. After so many days of gray, cloudy skies and either snow or rain showers, this sight lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face.

The weatherman is predicting sunny skies today. Now what's not to love about that?

A Wintery View From My Window

I'm so sick of snow.

This is the poor rosebush in the garden outside my office window. I've never seen a rosebush sport icicles before.

When I sit in my office chair, this is my view.

Killer icicle outside my bedroom window.

Snow on the trellis outside my bedroom window.

The little fishing boy on the bridge over the pond is buried in snow.

The pond. I don't think the fish will survive this winter.

Angels with Snow Shovels

The snow continued through yesterday adding another two to three inches to the nearly ten inches we received on Monday. Though I shoveled early on Monday, we were pretty much snowed in. With the possibility that I might need to take hubby to the VA clinic, looking at all that snow seemed a very daunting task.

Our son-in-law called and told me not to shovel out, that he would come and take care of it for us. And, he volunteered to take us in the truck should we have to go to VA. So, we waited and watched the snowfall, television and waited for the VA clinic to call.

In the early afternoon, our son-in-law called again. We still hadn't heard from VA, so he said their family would be coming over to shovel for us. When you are snowed in, getting a visit from your family is really something to smile about!

However, before they arrived, I looked out the window and saw a tiny lady wielding a snow shovel on our driveway! It was our new neighbor. Then I realized that her husband was also helping. They had shoveled the walk in front of our house and were working on digging out the driveway where it met the street. By the time our family arrived, we had been dug out. We've never had such wonderful neighbors. She said they didn't mind doing it for us and if we needed anything to let them know.

Angels with snow shovels is certainly something worth smiling about. God sends angels to us every day. We just don't always see their wings.

Digging Out the Newspaper

At 7am, I looked out the window to see where our newspaper might have landed. We have had over 20 inches of snow in the last two weeks. Yesterday we received nearly 10 inches, so everything is vivid white. Luckily, our newspaper was in an ORANGE plastic wrap. If not, I would never have found it. One tiny corner of the plastic showed in a deep drift near our flower garden.  I managed to rescue it, while standing in snow that reached nearly to my knees.

It is still snowing. I can see snow drifts and the roofs of our neighbors houses as I gaze out my lower level window. This is the worst storm we've had and the worst February. I haven't seen this much snow since living in the Chicago area.

I'm happy that I have a wonderful son-in-law who is going to come dig us out later today. Our county is under a Level 2 snow advisory which means you should stay at home if at all possible.

I guess it will be another day of putting something in the crockpot to make the kitchen smell good, while we hide away and wait for the storm to subside.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Reality is Not the Dream

When I left my day job, I envisioned myself coming down to my office and spending six hours a day sitting at the computer and writing, writing, writing. Writing would be my next career. I'd dreamed about it for years.

The reality is not the dream. Even though I don't have the interruption of little children, there are other commitments that call me. Making time for writing becomes just as difficult as working it around the day job.

I've set a writing goal, and I work toward that every day. Some days I exceed the goal, some days I don't reach it. I've learned to be flexible and not make impossible demands. To do so would turn writing into a chore and that's the last thing I want.

The truth is...writing is not easy. It takes discipline, commitment, and time. But it can be very rewarding. There is such a sense of accomplishment and pride when I write the last word in the story. That makes it all worthwhile.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cats and Warm Mattresses

A couple of years ago, we purchased a new latex foam mattress. We'd slept on a waveless water bed (prescribed by my chiropractor) for a number of years prior. The salesperson told us that most customers moving from water beds to regular beds preferred the latex foam. We tried the sleep number and the tempurpedic, and kept returning to the latex foam. What we didn't realize was how the pillow top mattress designed to deflect body heat in summer and reflect in winter (now how can an inaminate object do this?) would actually be so warm in the winter.

Crawling between the sheets, I would freeze...for about a minute. Then everywhere that my body touched, the mattress warmed around me. Nice.

My cats discovered this right away. Sometimes it's hard to remove them from the bed so that we can go to sleep. And the spots where they lay? Talk about warm!!!

Wilbur, my very fuzzy cat, has discovered that when displaced, if he looks at me long enough with his big pleading eye, can get me to raise the covers so he can slip between the sheet, too. He crawls to the bottom of the bed and snuggles around my legs. How he can stand being under all the covers like that I don't know. He's impossible to dislodge. If I want to change position, he's like an immovable tank. Sometimes he lays on his back with his legs bent and toes curled. Amazing.

But he does keep my feet nice and toasty!

Thanks for stopping by!

Quiet Bravery

I've thought a lot about bravery during the past two years. I'd once thought bravery belonged to the soldiers who fought wars, or heroes who faced danger to save another.

But I've learned that bravery is so much more. Many people fight battles with disease with a quiet bravery that inspires everyone who knows them. Bravery comes in many forms. My husband has battled with an unknown disease since the middle of December. Yet, he faces each day with a smile as he waits patiently for the doctors to diagnose his problem. My son-in-law faced a battle with cancer and won. My friend's husband is fighting a battle with cancer right now. Cancer requires a great bravery from the ones who are afflicted to all who love them.

A mother must be brave when she watches her child walk into the doors of a schoolhouse for the very first time.

A child who falls off a bicycle, then climbs back on, shows bravery.

Every day we see people who exhibit a quiet bravery as they move through their lives. You won't see them decorated with medals, nor will you read about them in the paper.

I once stopped in a busy intersection to offer help to a young woman with two children, whose car had stalled. What bravery it took for her to trust me, a stranger. She accepted my hospitality when she couldn't reach anyone from her family to come to her rescue. She'd driven in from out of town to do some shopping and had the terrifying experience of being stranded. My husband helped to move her car out of the intersection into a safe parking lot and we took them all home with us. She spent a couple of hours with us before someone came to help her.I can't imagine what bravery it took for her to accept our hospitality when we were perfect strangers. 

About a month later I received a card from her with pictures of the boys. She thanked me for showing her children that angels come in many forms. What a wonderful blessing that was for me.

My mother was a quiet, independent, shy person. I never realized how brave she was until 2009. If you'd like to read the story, I blogged about it today at White Roses In Bloom.

Thanks for stopping by.

No Sunny Sky Today

I had hoped to share a view of beautiful sunshine sparkling across the snow and glistening through the icicles this morning. However, I'm looking out at a very gray sky. A slight wind is blowing, just enough to occassionally move a leaf dead leaf, hanging by a small grip to the once beautiful knock-out rose bush.

The rose bush completely hides my view of the neighbor's house. Instead the beautiful plant which graces my view with bright blooms lasting well into the fall now is coated and encrusted with piles of frozen snow and huge icicles.

As the snow slowly melted off the roof during the last sunny day, it turned into spears of ice so large I'd be afraid to walk in the garden for fear of being gravely injured. As these melted slowly, they dripped to the rose bush forming another formidable mass.

I think today my choice will be to remain inside since the roads are still snow and ice-covered...and so is my car.

This has been a long, long winter.

Thanks for stopping by.

A Naturally Grumpy Morning Person

I always TRY to start my day with a smile, but I'm not the nicest person when I first get out of bed. I don't drink coffee, I'm just naturally sluggish and close-lipped. This morning was no different.

I woke up stumbled my way to the bathroom noticing a foul odor. I kept sniffing myself wondering what dead creature had crawled into bed with me last night. The odor didn't go away. Finally, I made my way to the kitchen to get a drink. There sat hubby, all bright and awake, listening to the radio. And the odor was really strong.  No, it wasn't him! He'd just brewed a pot of coffee. What he calls coffee does not smell good to me. It's a columbian roast that smells like something burning. Ugh!

So, to get away from it all, I put my coat and gloves on over my pj's, stuffed my feet in ny heavy boots, and headed outdoors to feed the feral cats. My wonderful son-in-law came by last night to shovel our driveway and walks, so I expected to have an easy time of it. BUT, last night another two inches of snow had fallen. I thumped my way to the back yard, took care of the animals, and thumped back to the carport to grab the snow shovel. Yep, I shoveled everything again. At least it was light fluffy snow, not the heavy, wet, kind.

By the time I came back in, I was awake and energized. There's something good about being out in the cold weather and exercising that is exhilarating.

Now, instead of feeling grumpy, I'm ready to take a shower and face the day...with a smile!

Thanks for stopping by!

Beauty and the Beast

I can't deny it. Snow is beautiful. There's nothing like viewing the pristine beauty of snow covered ground before anything has defiled it.

I love viewing the snow coming down in huge flakes, and the fine snow that if it were rain would require the building of an ark. Slowly it covers the ground, hides the flaws beneath, and continues, layer upon layer, to create a breathtaking scene.

T'would be nice to just stay inside a nice warm home and look out at the phenomenon of winter. But, reality rears an ugly head. One must dig out of the pristine blanket. Heavy, wet, snow defies the snow blower, requiring the use of old-fashioned snow shovel and muscle. That's where I come in, since hubby is not physically able to help. I did purchase a pair of heavy snow boots prior to the first big snow...thank goodness. They weigh a ton, but they are so warm and keep my feet dry. I feel like I'm walking on the moon...pick one weighted foot up and slam it down. Do the same with the other foot and you've made about 12 inches of progress. I'm sure I look like a displaced snow creature when I go out to shovel. Big boots, long tan faux-suede faux-fur lined coat, matching furry hat (which hides my face), and unfortunately the only gloves I have--leather driving gloves.

The last time I braved the beast, I had to thaw my fingers slowly in cold water. Hubby kept adding a bit of hot every few minutes until I could tolerate luke-warm water. Once the pain had left my fingers, all I could feel was the knifing pain in my back. Two ibuprofen and twenty minutes flat on my back took care of that.

Now, as I stare out my window at the snow slowly piling up, I'm amazed at how something so beautiful can also be such a beast.

Thanks for stopping by!

Why Do I Do It?

I keep a small stock of my books in my office to use for promotion. When hubby and I were meeting with VA to plead our case, we had a wonderful lady who saw our problem and found a way to help. God had truly sent an angel to help us that day. I had reached the bottom that day, and I couldn't stop sobbing, worrying that my retirement from my day job meant my hubby would be without critically needed health care. My prayers were answered.

On the first day that hubby saw his doctor, we stopped to thank our angel. I asked if she liked to read and her eyes lit up. "I love to read," she replied. I then told her that I was an author and asked if she would like to have one of my books. After an enthusiastic yes, I promised to bring a book next time.

And I did. Actually, I signed all three of my books and took them to her on our next visit. I felt it was just a small token to thank her.  Last week, when hubby and I made another trip to the clinic to pick up some meds, we saw Karen and waved as we passed.

She called out to stop us. "I've been hoping to see you," she exclaimed. "I've been telling everyone here that I started reading FOXFIRE and I love it! I'm half-way through and, honey, you have developed those characters so well. I'm really enjoying it. I can't wait to pick it up again."

So, for all the people who wonder why I write...that's why.

Writing is a lonely business. It's just me and the characters. I might love them, but what about the people who buy my books? When I hear that I've entertained someone and that they, too, love my characters, it's all worthwhile.

Thanks for stopping by!

Oxygen and Cats...

For a month, we've been trying to find the best way to deal with hubby's oxygen hoses. We have an Oxygen Concentrator to which he attaches long plastic tubing so that he can freely roam the house without having to carry an oxygen tank. First, he had a 50 foot hose which allowed him to travel to the lower level of our home if he wanted to watch sports on the large screen tv. Since we are supposed to change the tubing every 30 day, yesterday he removed the long tube and decided to replace it with a 25 foot which gets him all around the first floor.

The first thing he noticed were multiple small puncture holes along the tubing! A close inspection revealed the truth. Our cats had chewed the tubing. I do have to hide my purses from them. Especially, Templeton and Wilbur. They love to chew off the handles of my purse. So, they evidently transferred their love of chowing down to...my husband's oxygen tubes!

So, he decided to use a second 25 foot hose for the downstairs. He accomplished this by attaching it with wall hooks to keep it from dangling. If he decides to go downstairs, he removes the headpiece from the upstairs tube, attaches it to the tubing hidden along the stairway, and he avoides a long twisting, and very  enticing cat toy (er, tube).

Very ingenious, I thought.

Until this morning, when I noticed Wilbur staring at the upstairs hose, which is on the floor and close to the wallboard. Hmmm. I picked up the tube and....ACK!!!!....teeth marks.  Sigh.

Poor hubby needs the flexibility of being able to walk around, so we can't attach the tubing. It has to be free-moving.

I guess I'll have to file down the cats' teeth.

It's Friday, It's Supposed to Snow...A Lot...

The weather man is forecasting a possible 10 inches of snow by tomorrow morning. Looking out my window I see a steady stream of white slowly blanketing the ground. Not much is moving outside my window this morning, except for the snow. A heavy white sky threatens the forecast is accurate.

That's not exactly what I had hoped for on this Friday in February. The thought of putting on my heavy winter clodhopper boots, full length fur lined coat, hat, gloves, etc. is not appealing. Nor is the thought of the backbreaking labor of removing said white product from my sidewalk and driveway.

There is one bright joy to hang on to. I didn't have to drive to work this morning, and I won't have to battle the traffic and roads on what's sure to be an accident-riddled home commute.

Ah, yes, what's not to love about that?

Laughing My Way Through the Battlefield

This week I've been participating in Powerdraft with some of my local chapter mates. It's amazing the creativity that pops up and keeps us going. This month, somehow we got on the kick of our mentor being like a general leading her troops. This has expanded into a full blown accounting of the battles we've faced throughout the day. Each of us was given a role and mine was Chaplain. I guess I'm always the one trying to inspire everyone. Here's how funny this can be.

Yesterday I was hit with a sudden stomach upset in the middle of the day. I reported in that I had been taken ill by an enemy weapon and had to keep running to the bushes. My progress along the assigned mission had slowed. I did however take countermeasures by utilizing a fizzy med ration given by the medic and would do my best to go forward and conquer. Grenades were exploding all around me, but I kept dodging them the best I can. At the end of the day, I had moved forward ten pages, my uniform battle scarred and tattered, but safely reunited with the rest of the troops.

I only wish I could share some of the other things my fellow members reported. I spend a lot of time laughing, but checking in with the support group gave me reason to continue typing the pages and not looking back at what I'd written. I completed ten pages by early evening despite feeling sick.

If I hadn't been involved with my Powerdraft group, I might have just given up and spent the day laying in bed. Now that's something to be proud of and something to smile about.

Thanks for stopping by!

Putting Aside the Internal Editor

One way to put aside that nagging internal editor who has you going over your work multiple times and keeping you for making forward progress is to engage in a "fast" writing endeavor. Many people join Na-No, which I've never tried. However, my local RWA writing group sets aside one week each month for a "Power Draft". We start on Saturday and end on Saturday.

We have established a yahoo group and each of us post what our goal for the week will be. We are each accountable for posting our progress at the end of each day. The loop allows us to encourage each other, post stumbling blocks, etc.

Making yourself accountable for reaching a goal can help silence that editor. But, you must allow yourself the privilege of writing without going back and reading or editing. Just continue writing towards each goal. It's important to discipline yourself not to go back and read what you've written.

Once you have gotten into the pattern of reaching goals on a daily basis, you'll be amazed at how fast the pages rack up. When you reach the end of that first draft, pat yourself on the back! That's a major milestone. At that time, you can bring your internal editor out and allow her to read your draft. There will be things to change, but that is why we do edits! Allow for at least three different edits...but more for that at a later date.

For now, establish a goal. Put it in writing. Make yourself accountable, and write that first draft!

Thanks for stopping by.

Goals and Rewards

I'm gearing up for a week of intensive writing. My goal is to complete 2,000 words each day or a total of 40 pages. This is really a lot for me. In the past, I've set a goal of 750 words a day. Not sure if I will be able to reach the goal, but if I don't have something to strive for, then what good is setting a goal?

Working alone, the only way I receive a sense of accomplishment is to work toward a goal and then reward myself for getting there.  Now, I need to come up with a reward.  Hmmm. Nothing chocolate or fattening. Nothing that requires going outside...since it's cold enough to freeze my brain right now. I've been wanting to invest in an external hard drive. I think that's what I'll dangle as my reward.  If I complete the 40 pages, then I will go out next weekend and purchase the hard drive.  Now, that's worth working toward.

Goals, you just gotta love 'em!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Dear Author: "Can you help me understand POV changes?"

Some of my newer writing friends are baffled when they receive feedback that they've changed POVs. What does that mean?

POV (point of view) is probably the easiest and hardest thing to explain. POV comes from what the character is seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, hearing, or thinking. In fiction, editors want to know what is happening in a scene from ONE character's point of view. The temptation for the writer is to show the scene from every point of view because we, the writer, know what's going on in each character's mind.

Let's look at an example from my romantic suspense novel, FOXFIRE. Tyler is a vet and Grace is his office assistant. She accompanied him to an elderly man's home where Tyler had to euthanize the man's dog. Grace has a dog named Tiffany. She is filled with grief after the incident. After Tyler brings her home, they sit together in her living room. Below is the wrong way to write the scene:

Grace sat in the rocker.

Tiffany came out of the kitchen, her jowls dripping water. She walked to Tyler and leaned against him. He ruffled her fur, thinking again about the poor dog he'd had to euthanize. He wished he could have saved the old man's pet. (This indicates that the scene will be in Tyler's POV because we know what he's feeling know through his thoughts.)

Grace felt awkward. What could they talk about to avoid the issue forefront in both their minds? (Now we see what Grace is feeling. Hmmm. So, Tyler can't be privy to her thoughts unless he's a mind reader. We've clearly switched POV to Grace at this point. This is a no-no. It is called head-hopping.)

He met her gaze. "The first time I had to euthanize an animal, my dad was with me. Later we sat and talked about it. He helped me understand what I'd done was the humane thing." Tyler shook his head. He wanted to walk over and hug her. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her. (Again we've switched POV back to Tyler! Grace wouldn't know that Tyler wants to hug her. That's what he's thinking about out.)

Grace swallowed. The lump kept rising in her throat. She wouldn't resort to tears in front of Tyler. She bit the inside of her mouth, a trick that always worked. She watched Tyler's fingers absently stroking Tiffany's ears. (Again another POV switch. Now we are in Grace's head. We see what she sees, feel what she's feeling.)

"I suppose you get hardened to it," she said.

"Never."

****************

Okay, now that we've seen the wrong way to write the scene, how can we write it to show both POV's without doing that head-hopping thing? How to do it? Remove any instances where we are in Tyler's head and reveal his emotions through dialogue. Here is the scene only in Grace's POV:

Grace sat in the rocker.

Tiffany came out of the kitchen, her jowls dripping water. She walked to Tyler and leaned against him. He ruffled her fur and she dropped to the rug at his feet.

Grace felt awkward. What could they talk about to avoid the issue forefront in both their minds?

He met her gaze. "The first time I had to euthanize an animal, my dad was with me. Later we sat and talked about it. He helped me understand what I'd done was the humane thing." Tyler shook his head. "I still have a hard time dealing with it. No matter how prepared you are, it always hurts to see life fade away."

Grace swallowed. The lump kept rising in her throat. She wouldn't resort to tears in front of Tyler. She bit the inside of her mouth, a trick that always worked. She watched Tyler's fingers absently stroking Tiffany's ears.

"I suppose you get hardened to it," she said.

"Never."

*****
This scene shows that Tyler must have had as hard a time with putting the dog to sleep as Grace did. But, it is strictly in Grace's POV.

I hope this helps a little with understanding how to use POV.  Another trick is to write part of the scene in one POV and use a break *** and begin writing in the other character's POV. This is particularly helpful in love scenes.

Please feel free to ask any questions by commenting on the blog, or you can contact me directly through my website. I love to hear from my followers.

Thanks for stopping by!

What's Not to Love About Character Conflict?

I am currently reading a great book by Margaret Brownley, A LADY LIKE SARAH, publisher Thomas Nelson.

The characters grabbed my heart from the very first chapter. The tag line says it all, "She's an outlaw, he's a preacher. Both are in need of a miracle."

I'm enjoying the conflict with Justin, a preacher who left Boston in disgrace. He's traveling toward a new ministry in Rocky Creek, Texas, when he stumbles upon a U.S. Marshall and his prisoner. The two were left to die after being hijacked near a creek. When Justin removes the hat from the young prisoner's head, he sees a wild tumble of red hair. The prisoner isn't a young lad, but a young woman!

Justin, a God fearing preacher, is quickly put in conflict. He has made a promise to the marshall that he will deliver the prisoner to justice. However, justice in this case, means hanging. Who ever heard of hanging a woman? What could she have done to deserve that? He hopes he can find a way to save her when they arrive in Rocky Creek.

Sarah, however, has no plans on going back to Rocky Creek and feeling the course rope close around her throat! Having been taught by her brothers to seek justice for her father's death by robbing Wells Fargo at every opportunity, she doesn't feel she's done anything wrong. They aren't taking anything that isn't theirs. If Wells Fargo bank hadn't taken their farm away, her parents would be alive and she wouldn't have a noose in her future. Besides the crooked judge and sheriff in Rocky Creek lied about her. She never actually took part in the robbing and she never killed anybody.

She wants to run away and leave the preacher to deal with his own fate. But, how can she? The man doesn't even know how to start a fire, for crying out loud. She figures she can stand his trying to make a lady out of her long enough to get him to the Texas border before she takes off. But, when they run across a burned out wagon train and find the only survivor is a small baby, she realizes it will definitely take a miracle to keep the baby alive.

When God delivers a miracle to save baby Elizabeth, Sarah begins to think the preacher may be right after all. Dare she risk going back to Rocky Creek with him? Can he truly save her from the noose? How can she abandon the baby to a man who can't protect his own self, let alone Elizabeth?

Conflict, conflict, conflict.  Now what's not to love about that?

I highly suggest reading A Lady Like Sarah. I haven't finished it yet, but I give it five stars out of five.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunrises Make Me Smile

Today, I began my day sitting at the computer and through my window I viewed an awesome sunrise. The sky was an incredible pink color shining through the trees while the sky above remained a darker blue color. I watched as the sky continued to color as if a paint brush created the view. As the undescribable pink color began to fade, my smile continued.

There's something inspiring in watching a sunrise or a sunset. You don't have to be on a beach or in an exotic location. Sometimes we forget to enjoy the beauty within our own home areas.

Me?  I plan to spend more mornings enjoying the beauty outside my office window.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dear Author: "How do I show and not tell?"

Show versus Tell. It's long been a writer's dilemma on when to tell and when to show, and how to show the important things.Every writer is different and there is no magic wand to wave to impart the information.

For me, it's about visualizing the scene I'm writing. I see the actions as if I'm watching a movie. As I type the words, I'm watching the characters on stage. While they are moving and reacting to each other, they talk, they flirt, they argue. I'm writing down each action but only as it's being seen through my POV character's eyes. New writers sometimes have a problem with POV. I will discuss this in my next Monday's blog.  : )

Here is a scene I wrote from FOXFIRE. As you see, it's an action oriented scene. It begins in Grace's POV and then switches to Tyler's. (more on this next Monday). Grace's dog, Tiffany, is in the vet clinic where Grace works. The vet, Tyler, lives upstairs. He has allowed her to sleep on his sofa overnight so she can be close to her dog. She awakens, makes a pot of coffee, and then overhears him talking.

***
Tyler's voice drifted through his closed bedroom door. She set the picture back inplace and cautiously approached.

"No, don't send anyone yet. I'll call if I need help. If Max is here, I'll get him."

Max? She placed her ear against the door. Who was Tyler talking to, and what did he know about Max?

"I'm not sure Max is behind this yet."

Grace's heart began to thud loudly.

"Although Max prefers guns, I think it was him. Whoever did it was lashing out at Grace. She and that dog are inseparable."

Grace turned the knob on the bedroom door and flung it open. She had a second to register the slam against the wall before Tyler dropped the phone and spun, both hands closed around a gun pointed right between her eyes.

"Damn," he said, lowering th eweapon. He picked up the phone with one hand. "I'll call you back." He dropped it back on the mattress and shoved the gun in his waistband.

Grace's shock began to ebb. "Who the hell are you?"

Tyler ruffled a hand through his hair. "I guess you overheard."

"I didn't overhear. I eavesdropped. I want answers, Tyler."

His gaze burned into hers. "Let me fix some coffee first."

She blocked the doorway. "Who are you? A cop?"

His closed expression showed no sign of what he might be thinking. "No," he replied. He gently moved her aside and strode toward the kitchen.

Grace tagged closely behind. "Are you really a vet?"

"Thanks." He nodded toward the full pot of coffee and reached for the cabinet door. Grace's hand stopped him from opening it.

"Answers first."

"Yes, I'm a vet."

"What else?"

He pulled out a chair and indicated she should do the same. Deep in her soul, she feared her world was about to come crashing in on her.

"I'll tell you everything you want to know after I have a cup of coffee."

He ran a hand through is hair again, leaving it mussed. Much to her dismay, it reminded her of soft beds and sex. "It's been a rough night."

How could he appear so calm and unconcerned after pointing a gun at her? The hard look in his eyes as he'd spun with the weapon in his hands told her he knew how to use it. She had to get away from him and from the past that knocked harshly on the locked door of her heart. "Yes, it has," she responded. The urge to run overpowered her desire to hear his explanations. "To hell with the coffee. And to hell with you!" She whirled and ran for the sliding doors.

****
Tyler reacted on instinct, grabbing her arm. She drove a fist into his nose, surprising him and loosening his fingers. She pulled free and darted outside.

He tested his nose for blood, found none, and hurried after her. A brief smile tugged at his lips. The woman might be small, but she packed a mean right hook.

He caught her at the edge of the woods, and grabbed her from behind, wrappinghis arms around her waist and lifting her fromthe ground.

She fought hard, slamming her head back, trying to connect with his face. Her feet kicked against his shins and her breath came in short grunts of frustration.

"Let. Me. Go." She clawed at him.

Her nails raked his arm. "Damn it, Grace. Give me a chance to explain."

"No." Her head slammed against his chest. She nailed a solid kick to his shin, staggering him.

He dropped to the ground, pinning her beneath him. Her weight was no match against him, and she wilted, closing her eyes and turning her face away.

"I'm not a cop. I'm a vet. And I work for...a private investigation firm."

She opened her eyes and spit in his face.

So much for thinking she'd given in to his superior position. He wiped a hand across his face. Her eyes glared through him like poison darts.

"You're investigating me?" she yelled.

He'd expected her anger, but not the hatred sparking deep in her eyes. Somehow that hurt more than her punch to his nose.

"Just let me explain." He drew in a deep breath. "If I let you go, will you promise not to run away?"

"Why should I?"

"Have you forgotten about Tiffany?"

Her gaze wavered. She shifted, trying to free herself. His body responded. Looking down into her flushed face and angry eyes brought a desire to mash his lips on hers and turn her anger into a passion that would drive them both over the edge. He shook his head, wishing he dared to let go of her long enough to regain his senses. He groaned inwardly as the pressure against his zippered jeans increased. "I am a vet, Grace." She pushed against him and he grunted.

"Let me up." She bucked upward.

"Can I trust you?" he asked.

"Can I trust you?" she countered.

****

As you can see, this is a scene just as you might observe on the big movie screen. It's done in deep POV of the character and Grace and Tyler are acting out their parts. They aren't telling anything.

If I had chosen to tell this scene, it would have been much shorter and very boring. I could have said something like:

Grace overheard Tyler talking to someone on the phone. He said the word Max. She slammed open the door and asked him what was going on.  Tyler pointed a gun at her head. She was angry and frightened.

That would be telling.  Hopefully this litte scene helps you to see how you can empower your characters and turn those telling words into action.

Happy writing!

Thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I will not be posting on this blog until January 2010.  Many warm wishes to you and yours for a blessed Christmas and a very prosperous and healthy New Year.

What's Not to Love About Christmas?

Since we've become empty nesters, Christmas has been a kind of sad let-down. After years of having many children to grace our home, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are quiet and subdued. We go through the motions, but it's not the same.

Christmas Eve is always wonderful because we participate in candlight service at church and drive around to look at Christmas lights. Christmas morning, we empty our stockings and look at the gifts we've bought for each other. We are creatures of habit. We buy candy, a watch, a DVD. We take turns opening the gifts, but our hearts aren't in it.

This year, with hubby being so ill, we've decided not to celebrate with gifts in our stockings. We don't need commercial gifts to celebrate the birth of Christ. We have each other, we have a warm home, we have food to sustain us, and this year we have the anticipation of being able to spend more time together since I'm retiring at the end of the year. We have transportation, enough income to cover our bills, and a wonderful family of children and grandchildren. This year the true spirit of Christmas will live in our hearts.

So, what's not to love about that?

I hope you all have a wonderful and very Merry Christmas however you choose to celebrate.

Thanks for stopping by.

My Cats Snooped and Found Their Christmas Presents...Again!!

In the past, I've shared stories of my cats destroying our Christmas tree each year. Would you believe this is the first year they haven't tried to climb in our tree or knock off any of the ornaments? It's a miracle. We bought a new "slimmer" tree and put it downstairs next to the fireplace. Maybe it's the slimmer design which deterred them. Not sure, but I'm happy about it.

However, they have snooped and found their Christmas presents.  *sigh*  I remember the first year we had them we purchased fuzzy red catnip toys for their stockings. On Christmas Eve, I placed the toys and some treats in each one. On Christmas day, we came downstairs to find they had pulled the toys and treats from their stockings!! They'd unwrapped the toys and were playing with them. None of the other stockings were touched. Little devils. *grin*

Every year since then, they've snooped and scoped out their presents before Christmas. I've hidden them in some pretty good spots, but they always seem to find them anyway. This year I've been so busy that I haven't even been shopping yet. However, on a trip to the store to purchase cat food, I picked out three catnip toys with feathers for our babies. I tied them, still attached to the cardboard, inside a plastic bag, and put it inside another plastic bag with my mother's present and tied that closed. I placed it in a corner of my office, planning to hide the toys later.

About an hour later, groceries unpacked and put away, I sat down to watch the end of a movie I'd taped. I heard some noises, very strange noises, and then a banging noise. I knew that sound. The cats love to bat their fuzzy mouses against the walls in the hallway while they chase them. So I settled back down...until...I saw Wilbur running into the family room with Templeton close behind. Wilbur raced between the sofa and staircase then backed up and began shaking his head back and forth like a dog. What had he gotten into?

Yep, their Christmas presents. He had one of the toys, still attached to cardboard!  I snatched it away, then found another on in the hallway and grabbed it, while racing to my office. They had literally torn a hole through two plastic bags to get their toys. **sigh** I chased them away, with much nasty meowing following, and shut the door to hide the toys until Christmas Eve. Now they are stashed in a file cabinet drawer, inside my office closet. 

Please don't tell my cats.

Have a happy day full of smiles.

Why I Don't Go to the Gym

I don't go to the gym to exercise. There are several reasons why.

• Do you realize that every few minutes someone working out in a gym pulls a hamstring muscle?
  
• I've gotten in touch with my body. It communicated to me that if I took my body to the gym and tried to keep up with the Latin Fusion class, I would die. So I stay at home, sit at my computer, and sway my body to the tune of Golden Oldies.
  
• If I wanted to dress my body in spandex and show it to the world, I'd just go on The Biggest Loser where I'd be surrounded by people who might make me feel skinny.
  
• I thought machines of torture were against the law, but there are a ton of them in the gym.

Share a smile with someone today! It's calorie-free and you won't pull a muscle doing it.

Debate of the Alpha vs Beta Hero

Writers are faced with the challenge of creating the perfect hero for their romance books. Years ago, when I began reading romance, the hero always had a "bad boy" image. I loved the pirate books, where the innocent heroine wound up on the pirate ship and became the lover of the big bad pirate. I also loved the gothic romances where the heroine would wind up in a mansion and fall in love with the angst-ridden hero, who could be a killer.

As the years have passed, romance has taken a change of direction. The heroine is no longer a damsel in distress waiting to be saved. She's grown up. Now, she's stronger and makes decisions (good or bad) without needing approval from a man. This poses the problem of who the hero should be. Should he be a typical bad boy, should he be angst-ridden, or should he be confident and caring at the same time?

I like to write heros who are strong in their own right, but aren't demanding and dictatorial. I like my heros to have a flaw. I also like them to not be afraid to show their emotions. If the hero doesn't show his emotions, how can the reader relate to him? How can the reader root for him?

Thanks for stopping by!

What's Not to Love About Rocks?

What's not to love about rocks?

Many people see shapes in clouds. Me? I see shapes in all kinds of things. For instance, I can stare at the marbled tile floor in our main bathroom and see all kinds of faces and shapes. They change daily.

And rocks! When I look at rocks I see all kinds of animals take shape. My fingers itch to paint the rocks into that image. The other day, I brought home a small rock that looks just like a fish. It is rounded in just the right places and thing and narrower where the tail should be. When I retire, I'm sure I'll find time to go back to my love of bringing rocks to life.

Take time to look around you at all the little things. You just might see something you've been missing. 

Have a wonderful day and I hope you find something to love!

Thanks for stopping by.

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Little Child's Christmas Basket

When you are an empty nester, Christmas is a time for looking back over prior years and reminiscing those happy times with children. My grandson, who was just a little over a year, spent one Christmas ignoring all the toys he'd received at our house. Instead he had more fun playing in the basket a friend had given me. I still have that basket. It sits in the living room to hold my magazines. But, it still remains in my mind, Jeremy's basket.

Wasn't he just the cutest?  You can see the toys surrounding him. He'd hold onto that handle and we'd pull him all over the floor.

I hope you have a wonderful day, and that I brought a smile to your face with this special picture.

Share your smile with others today! It doesn't cost a cent, and it's the best give you can give or receive.

Writer's Read

I've participated in some lively conversations lately about writers and reading. Some of the newer writers had been told that reading would hurt them, that they would lose their unique voice. That's such a myth.

Most writers receive their passion for writing from reading. While reading a good book, inspiration can come for how to write a better book. We can learn the art of ending a book on a hook, how to up suspense, how to develop characters the reader falls in love with. Fresh ideas can be found in books. One tiny thing can spark an idea for a new book with a unique twist.

Books change over the years. The books written twenty years ago, though fantastic stories, would be penned differently today. The story might not change, but the wording, the phrasing, the pace would change to keep up with the way readers expect to find books written in today's world.

So, reading is vital to a writer's health. Don't feel guilty about picking up a book and rewarding yourself for a reached goal. But, don't let yourself become bogged down in reading to the extent that you don't allow time to write.

Thanks for stopping by!

What's Not to Love About Anticipation?

Anticipation drives our world, doesn't it?

As little children we anticipate birthdays. I love to see my granchildren's eyes light up when they tell me their birthday is coming soon! Their faces glow with anticipation of the unexepected.

And Christmas! The entire month of December is one of anticipation. Once the decorations are in place, the countdown begins. Gifts appear under the tree and curiosity drives us to shake, feel, and try to guess what might be inside. For the little ones, Santa represents another anticipation. He'll come down the chimney or somehow manage to enter the house and leave something under the tree. Will it be what they asked for? Or another wonderful surprise?

For me, Christmas represents the birth of Jesus. I anticipate the joy of celebrating that night in history when the shepherds were visited with the good news.

Currently, I'm anticipating the last day of the year when I'll walk out the door of my workplace for the last time as an employee. I'm anticipating what will happen in the next phase of my life. It's frightening, and exciting at the same time.

When I purchase a new book, I anticipate the journey I'll take as I turn the pages.

I realize that for many anticipation means something totally different. Some anticipate the next blow from the hand of another. Some anticipate with dread another day with no food to fill their stomachs, no warm blanket to ward off the cold, no roof to shelter the rain.

There are ways to help. Churches offer food pantrys, free stores for clothing. Firemen and police collect toys and money for children and others in need. And many others.

So, as you anticipate your day today, think about what someone else might be anticipating. I challenge you to open your heart and offer a smile, or a kind word to someone who might need it to get through the day.

Thanks for stopping by.

The Bride Smiled...Until...

It was a beautiful day to have a wedding in the prayer garden at our church. The sun shone brightly and so did the smile on the bride, my soon to be daughter-in-law. My son had picked the perfect woman to be his wife. God clearly made these two to be a pair. All was beautiful.






Until....









Have a wonderful day. Share your smile with someone today!

What's Not to Love About a Family Thanksgiving

Two plump turkeys, baking in my kitchen, presented mouth-watering scents wafting through the house. Downstairs my family room had been transformed into a long dining hall with two eight foot tables and nineteen chairs waiting for guests. How to fit four additional guests? The sofa pushed back under the windows would work for the four little children along with wooden tv trays. Everything waited, including me, for the arrival of our guests.

They came, one family at a time, each carrying a side dish to add to the feast. Time to pop the rolls in the oven, put the vegetables and potatoes in bowls and begin carrying down the food. With plenty of help, the long table was soon laden with two platters of turkey, a ham, sweet potato casserole, corn, green beans, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, hot rolls, butter, and soft drinks for all. Everyone told what they were thankful for this year, many bringing a soft chorus of "awwww", many drawing applause amidst tears. So much to be thankful for. Last year my son-in-law had been in the hospital on Thanksgiving after having his kidney removed due to cancer. His testimony broke us all down. My mother was thankful that she isn't alone any longer. Everyone spoke from their hearts and I felt so blessed to be part of this family.

Dessert came next...pumpkin rolls, pumpkin pies, pumpkin cheesecake, cherry pie, pecan pie.

Afterward, everyone pitched in to clean and to put the house back in order. Amazing how quickly things can get cleaned up with willing hands. That's when I discovered the crock pot full of sweetened carrots, which I forgot to add to the dinner. There's always one thing that goes awry and causes laughter and "remember when" moments. Guess it'll be the carrots that get center stage for this gathering.

We are so blessed to have a warm home, family to grace it with love, plenty of food, and an abundance of love and laughter. And the cats didn't try to interfere. I was thankful for that! We don't feed them table foods, but they do try to gain attention during our dinner hour by rubbing against legs and meowing for attention. No one screamed, so I'm assuming the cats had found safe hiding spots.

What's not to love about that?

How Cats Entertain...

So what does an acrobatic cat do to entertain his brothers and sisters? The pictures below should tell the story. Enjoy!










Wilbur enjoys climbing the rafters on our deck. We don't dare turn on the fan when he's out with us or his long bushy tail would be whacked off!





From time to time he even enjoys watching television.

Wishing everyone in the US a very happy Thanksgiving! Smile, it's contagious!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Dark Villains and Romance

It's no secret that I am addicted to reading about murder and serial killers. Where did this love of the dark, twisted minds come from? I used to read nothing but romance o the high seas or gothic romance. I suppose while the mystery and suspense were a part of these stories, I began to gravitate to the modern romance thrillers. I'm fascinated with how the psyche of these dark villains.

I suppose once being in an abusive marriage with a man who was not only paranoid schizophrenic, but also manic depressive has something to do with it. During college, my favorite courses were psychology. I loved studying about the different types of personalities. It also helped me with understanding a bit of what made my previous husband tick.

My very first book, in draft stages, began with a scene that broke my heart. But I knew it wouldn't fly in a romantic suspense book. However, it did help me to understand the villain I created and why he did the things he did...and how he felt justified in his actions. And,I enjoyed having my heroine find her soul mate, just as I did in real life.

With this passion inside me, perhaps there will be a book to come from me which will incorporate some of these insights. Not everyone likes to be frightened by what they read, but a part of me is still that little girl who liked to sit in a circle with her buddies at a pajama party telling ghost stories.

Thanks for stopping by!

What's Not to Love About My Beloved Katie

Katie had many nicknames: Doodle Dog, Katie Bug, Doodles. She didn't care. She would come at the sound of any of her names. She grew from a black and white furball into a ninety pound dog with soft flowing fur, deep brown eyes that could touch your soul, and a heart full of love. She followed me from room to room, even as she grew old and feeble. Her job was to be near me, to protect me. She'd wait patiently outside the bathroom door until I came out. She'd lay on the floor beside the bed while I slept. And when I'd sit in my office to write, she lay at my feet, her nose on her paws, her eyes watching me. I loved her.

As arthritis claimed her hips and she could no longer climb up and down the stairs of our bi-level, my husband built her an elevator. The elevator consisted of a box attached to a boat winch mounted on our railing. Katie would go onto the deck, into the box and we'd winch her down to the ground. She could enjoy the backyard, do her duty and when she was ready, she'd climb back into the box for us to winch her back up.

Katie and I talked about her pain, about getting older, and about being together again one day. When she had her stroke, she understood. Her eyes held mine telling me it was time to let go. I didn't think I could bear it. But she spoke to me, telling me it was time and that she'd be waiting for me. So I held her close, hugging her and talking to her as the vet administered the meds that would ease her pain forever.

Katie's cross is in my back garden where her ashes are buried. I still cry when I remember her and how special she was. She showed me unconditional love.

What's not to love about a friend like this?



Thanks for stopping by!

And the Winner is...

Tina Joyce is the winner of a free copy of HEART OF THE WITCH, by Alicia Dean.

Alicia drew the winner on Tuesday night from the names of all who commented on her Monday blog post. I had promised to include it in my blog yesterday morning and unfortunately was in such a hurry to get to work that I forgot to include it in my post.

Tina, congratulations!

I look forward to welcoming Alicia back to the blog again. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and to everyone who commented. For those who didn't win, be sure to get your copy from your local bookstore on November 24th!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Police Surveillance...on our Family Party!!

My family is hilarious. Everyone has such a unique and crazy sense of humor that when we get together there's bound to be one thing we'll all laugh about for years to come. Labor Day is one holiday we usually plan a big cookout at somebody's house. In 2007, my daughter hosted it since her yard was so large...and when you have a large family...

Her side yard sloped downward to a wooded area which extended behind the entire lot. So, she thought it would be funny to post a sign at the bottom of the hill that says restrooms with a sign pointing one direction for girls and one for boys. On the side of the sign she placed a roll of toilet paper. What a hoot!!!

One of my son-in-laws decided to pose for a picture after inspecting the sign. Not too funny, right. But at that time a police helicopter came by and happened to spot us. They were laughing so hard...yep, they came low enough for us to see them because the guy hung out of the helicopter and took a picture!!!

Enjoy!


You can see the wheels turning in his mind....





Maybe he couldn't decide what he was?





A day for all to remember!!



I hope your day started with a smile. Be sure to share your smile with others!

Thanks for stopping by.

Meet Alicia Dean, Author of HEART OF THE WITCH

It is my great pleasure to introduce you to a fabulous woman, one who is very dear to my heart. She's the wonderful editor who helped to make my first two books good enough to receive four and five star reviews. She's also a great author. Today, she's here to talk about her upcoming release, HEART OF THE WITCH, by Dorchester. I cannot wait to purchase this book! One of you may be lucky enough to win a copy. Every comment will get that person's name in the drawing. Wednesday the winner will be announced on this blog. Good luck!

And now, please help me welcome my dear friend, Alicia Dean!



All struggling writers that I know have broken into the publishing world in various ways. My story is what I'd call a stroke of luck and part miracle. I am a member of Oklahoma Romance Writers of America and Sharon Sala is also in that chapter. A few years ago, she offered to read a book by each of the unpublished authors in our chapter. (An amazing and very giving gesture for someone of her success). She only meant to offer some general comments on how to improve our writing. There were a few of us whose books she liked well enough to help us get published, and fortunately, mine was one of them. She referred me to her agent, Meredith Bernstein. Now, Meredith wouldn't have signed me just because Sharon liked my book. She's a businesswoman and had to feel she could sell my MS. She did sign me and it took a year, but she sold my book Heart of the Witch (formerly Tin Man) to Dorchester. I will be forever grateful to Sharon, my miracle worker. I was able to skip all the queries and rejections and letdowns. I hadn't even really been submitting up to that point. Now, while Meredith was trying to sell my book, I suffered quite a few rejections, so no matter what your situation, it can and will happen if you do one thing. Never give up and explore every opportunity (Okay, maybe that's two things )

I am holding a contest between my book's release date (November 24th) and the end of the year. The information isn't yet posted on my website, but will be soon. In the book, one of the character's names is a scrambled version of someone connected to the original Wizard of Oz movies. On January 1st, 2010, I'll draw one name out of all the correct guesses that are emailed to me. The winner will receive a 70th anniversary edition of the Wizard of Oz DVD, a $30 Amazon gift card, and a signed copy of Heart of the Witch. Check out my website for more details: AliciaDean.com (NOTE: My web site has been under construction, hopefully, it's up and running now.) If not, email me with any questions at AliciaMDean@aol.com. You can also use that email to enter the contest, but the subject line must say 'Name Scramble Contest'

Thanks for stopping by...I can't tell you how thrilled I am that my dream of publication finally came true and my 'baby' will be out there in the world in a matter of days.

There is a monster on the loose, a serial killer murdering young women near Oklahoma City. On each corpse he writes his name in blood:

THE TIN MAN

But while the villain claims to be heartless, he’s not beyond making a mistake. This time he left his prey alive, and ex-homicide detective Nick Lassiter plans to use her to crack the case wide open. Yet, Ravyn Skyler is nothing like he expects. She remembers little of the crime, and for a victim, she has a deep reserve of quiet strength. In her eyes he sees both helpless waif and merciless vigilante, and in her kiss he tastes both passion and power. With a tale of a tin man, it only seems fair that there’s a witch. And this witch guards a secret that threatens not only their lives, but their souls.

Excerpt:

“You’re not making any sense,” Ravyn snapped. “I’d
give anything to find and stop this maniac. I don’t
know what you’re accusing me of, or why. Why?”

Nick sighed and shook his head. “Damn it, I don’t
know. I don’t know.”

She put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Nick.”

He gave her a small, humorless smile. “Sorry for
what? Are you sorry Kayne is a dangerous fanatic? Or
are you sorry that I can’t stop thinking about you, can’t
stop wanting you? Sorry that my desire for you is stronger
than it ever was for my dead wife?” He grabbed
her once more and pulled her to him. “Do you have
any idea how crazy that is? How it makes me feel? I
want you every second of every day. Even with people
dying around me, even with the frustration and guilt
of not being able to stop this murdering psychopath,
I still want you. It’s . . . it’s like I’m under some sort of
spell.”


Visit Alicia Dean at her website: www.aliciadean.com

What's Not to Love About Getting Up Late?

Wow. I overslept this morning. I feel much more rested after staying up way too late on Wednesday night.

Ah, what a wonderful feeling...even if it is too late to compose a blog this morning.

Sorry!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have wonderful Friday and an even better weekend.

Mork--Do You Remember?

God blessed me with eight children. Believe me, as they were growing up, we never had a dull moment in our house. Especially at Christmas. I was perusing through some pictures preparing for a Christmas present I'm working on when I ran across the pictures below. I remember this Christmas like it was yesterday. Many of you probably don't remember the TV Show, "Mork" with Robin Williams. He played an alien from the planet Ork, who was trapped on earth. My kids loved the show. Mork wore suspenders and he would always sit on the sofa upside down.

This particular Christmas my kids purchased a pair of Mork suspenders for my husband. They were a bit nicer to me. I received a nightgown.



Wow, don't we look young there! Look at my hubby's hair!! I have to laugh everytime I see old pictures of us like this. But I diverse. The suspenders were a big hit. My husband never missed a chance to wear them when he had to take the kids somewhere. He'd wear them inside stores and make sure that all the sales clerks saw them...much to our kids' embarrassment.

He always took great delight in embarrassing them. Little did they know that their gift would haunt them for years to come. Today, they still laugh about it when start playing remember when.

That Christmas, after opening his gift, he promptly put those suspenders on and...well the following picture will tell it all.




I sure hope this started your day with a smile! It did mine.

Do you have a Christmas story to share? Please leave a comment with your unusual gift stories.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Call...Luck? Timing? Skill?

I'm always excited when I hear of an author securing a contract, especially if it's a really sweet deal. With talk in the publishing world about cutbacks, huge slush piles, and book stores folding, it's hard to keep an upbeat attitude toward the one thing we writers do...write and hope for publication. It's a tough road. We battle demons of self-doubt, pressures from friends and family who don't understand the sweat and tears that go into the books we write, and fear of failure.

Writers write. We crank out book after book and wait for "the call." We do need skill. Not everyone can write a book, although many believe differently. It does take a bit of luck in landing your manuscript on the right desk. And at the right time. There is no secret formula that will lead to instant success.

The one constant though is perseverance and developing a thick skin. What is it that makes an editor or publishing house sit up and take notice? Voice. Pure and simple. It's the all important first sentence. The hook. Voice is unique to each person. It's the way you write. You may not know what your voice is, but the editor or agent can spot a voice they like immediately. Likewise, they can spot one they don't like. Editors and agents make mistakes. Occasionally, books will be turned down by many agents and snapped up to instant success by another. Check out this story:


www.alanrinzler.com/blog/

So the one thing that every writer should remember is to remain true to their voice and to never, ever give up. Success might be just a phone call away.

Thanks for stopping by!

What's Not to Love about Counting Down the Days...

On December 31, I will be leaving my full-time day job. That's only 55 more days! And only eight more Mondays! I don't like Mondays.

However, it does get harder and harder to make myself go into work each day.

I'm counting down...but the countdown is soooo slow, and yet so exciting.

A new phase of my life. Something unknown. Adventure awaits...and hopefully, new books to write.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Thanks for stopping by.

The Furry Thief....

As we draw closer to the Christmas season, I've been looking at the ads for Christmas trees. Yeah, hard to believe since I'm the one who refuses to think Christmas until after Thanksgiving. But, we really need a new tree. I'd like to get a real tree because it would be much easier to withstand the torture tactics of our furry thief.

The first year we decorated our artificial tree with beautiful red and gold ornaments, our cats totally destroyed it. They dive bombed through the branches bringing down the red cardinals, the poinsettias, and the red satin balls. Once they knocked it completely down. We kept putting things back on, higher and higher, and the bottom half of the tree was bare. I was so happy to take the tree down after Christmas.

Knowing that cats love red and can see red better than most colors, I decided the next year to decorate with a light blue color. Surely, that would deter the cats. Not!

We had just finished putting the lights and garland on the tree. I'd put a beautiful bird in the top branches and hung a few of the non-breakable balls on the tree, when hubby told me dinner was ready. (Side note: we were having warmed up chili--the only thing he ever cooks!) Only a few bites into the chili, we heard a tell-tale rattle and thump. I knew. I just knew. My tree had been attacked.

Sure enough, the beautiful bird was on the floor along with several ornaments. Now how does a cat see six feet into the air, buried among branches, a bird nearly the same color as the tree?



Yet, sure enough. The damage was done. **sigh** I hadn't even finished decorating before they began to destroy. The culprit? Nowhere to be found. But wait...yes...there he is!



I don't know what we'll do for Christmas tree this year, but I'm sure it will not be without mishaps. I hope I shared a smile with you today.

Thanks for stopping by!

Free Autographed Book!!

I'm holding a contest on my website. You can win an autographed book, and it's very easy to do. Check it out on my "contest" page at www.carolannerhardt.com

Mondays I write about...writing. But for the past few days, I haven't been writing, so I haven't been inspired to write a blog today on...writing.

I've been drawing a blank because Saturday was my birthday and my daughter gave me a new book. We both are fans of Iris Johansen, so she gifted me with "Blood Game." The heroine is my favorite Iris Johansen character...Eve Duncan. I keep following her, hoping that in the next book Eve will be able to bring her "Bonnie" home.

I started the book Saturday afternoon, and I'm already half-way through. *sigh* I love to read and I can't put good books down. The problem is...when I reach "the end," I'm a bit depressed because it's over.

How do you feel when you read "the end?"