Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Happy Wednesday!! Magical Powers

The week is halfway through. I wish it was Friday already, but I have no magical powers, lol. Some days I could really use those powers.


Like wiggle my nose like in 'Bewitched' and my house would be clean. My lawn would be mowed. My garbage would mysteriously disappear. My roses would become instantly weed-free and perfectly trimmed. My books suddenly rough drafted with only my thoughts. Okay that one would be a train wreck waiting to happen. The paper would look like a very bad puzzle put together horribly wrong.

But, then again, maybe it is a good thing I don't possess special powers. I'd have too much fun pranking people. Disappear and then suddenly reappear behind someone. Amongst other pranks.

What special powers do you wish you had?

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Writing Perfection Syndrome

That's me. I'll begin writing a scene. I have it pictured in my head where it plays out perfectly. But on paper, to me, it seems lacking the pizazz I had first pictured. I'll attempt to 'fix' it over and over again. but by the time I'm done, I believe I have ruined its essence I had started out with.

This is how I used to be. I've become better about the 'perfection' thing. I'd never heard of perfection syndrome. Too funny because when I typed in the title for this post, I thought, 'I wonder if there is a such thing.'

Lo and behold, there is. And thankfully I don't have it as bad as some do. I've somewhat disciplined byself. I've had to tell me it's okay if something isn't absolutely perfect. I'm able to participate in NaNo and allow myself to write freely without editing until the end. I still get a little frustrated, but I push myself forward. That's probably half the reason it had taken me so long to finish Secrets of Jenkins Bridge.

I still have a small problem with mistyping words and wanting to go back immediately to fix them. Even as I type up this post, the red underlines are driving me a little batty.

Anyone else have this problem?

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Close Call

My grandson-to-be decided he wanted to attempt being born early a couple of nights ago. Scared the living daylights out of us all! But, after the frights, he is still baking away.

However, she is now termed Preterm Labor. She's 1 cm dilated and almost 75% effaced (basically her cervix is thinning out) and she's only 25 weeks. So, we are attempting to keep little Joshua right where he's at for now. Good news is Jessica hasn't had any more contractions (poor child's going to suffer-she had back labor pains). Bad news is her boyfriend and a roommate are both sick with bronchitis. She came home with me.

Sorry for the short post today, but my hands are full for the next couple of days.

Oh, and my editor offered me a contract for Secrets of Jenkins Bridge. :)

How is everyone's week going?

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Curses and Negativity

In my WIP I'm currently working on, my poor hero has been cursed. I'm pretty much torturing the man so he can see a world outside his short-sighted life. He fights me tooth and nail, but darn it, he's going to grow!

Anyhoo, I figured I'd post about curses. Not that I know anything, but what my beliefs are on them. The way I figure it is the psyche works in strange ways. If I believe that my life is doomed and I'm superimposed with strings of bad luck, then that negative thinking alone is enough to make that true. (I know someone like this and the person truly has the worse luck I've ever seen).

But, if I believe my life is full of love and joy and I'm satisfied where I'm at in life, then I'll have a joyous life. And if not, I can make some changes in what's not making me happy.

And, of course, there is prayer, and I must say it's pretty powerful. Hope and faith can be the very strength one needs.

I believe if the back luck person I know would just start believing his/her life could turn around and actually attempted to set out to do that, then he/she might be surprised by the outcome.

To me, this is generalized. There are people out there who no matter what they do, nothing seems to work out for them. Why? I wish I knew. I'd love to help everyone have a happy and loved life. Since I can't, I'll just continue to work on my hero and maybe in time, my readers will at least enjoy the adventure I've created with this story when it's done.

Have you ever known/heard of anyone being cursed?

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

It's Wednesday - If I could be anyone, I'd be...

And kind of a yucky one. At least for my sinuses which are reeking havoc upon my poor head.

I'm blogging over at our new group blog, Soul Mate Publishing Author Group and would love for you to come visit me :)

It's Talli Roland's launch of Watching Willow Watts! Woot! Go over there and share with her If I could be anyone, I'd be....

If I could be anyone, I'd be...any one of the Charlie's Angels! Doesn't matter which one - They're all beautiful and kick some serious butt! They have all the right moves. Who wouldn't want to be one?


So, if you could be anyone, who would it be?

Sunday, September 11, 2011

9/11 Tribute

Like most Americans, I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when each plane struck the Twin Towers and the Pentagon along with those courageous men and women aboard Flight 93 overtook the hijackers. I had never been more proud of America is those coming days and months as we came together as one nation, under God, indivisible.

A wonderful friend passed along this poem to me. I'm dedicating it to the survivors of 9/11.

If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all that we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and hug you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss some tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day is the same way,
There's no longing for the past. "

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right there, in your heart.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Those Yucky Rs

First, let me introduce The Insecure Writer's Support Group. It is held the first Wednesday of every month by Alex J. Cavanaugh so we writers can post our fears and doubts and also offer encouragement for one another.

Here's mine for this first Wednesday of September.

It didn't take me long to receive an R from Pink Petal Books, but it's alright. I figure I'll list the pros and cons to the rejection.

We'll start with the cons and get them out of the way:
1) It hurts regardless of the reason. I mean you can understand if they just don't have any more room or what-have-you, but when they just say 'Sorry, but we are going to pass on your submission' it still tears the insides up a bit.

2) I don't know about anyone else, but a rejection generally leads to a huge bowl of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream and sometimes a couple of margaritas. FATTENING!!!

Now with the pros:
1) It wasn't meant to be there, and there's a better home out there for my baby :)
2) The R is a way to prove I'm not doing this writing as a hobby.
3) Gives me more time to polish my synopsis (afraid I may totally destroy it though if I keep hacking at it!)
4) Perfect excuse for the ice cream and the margaritas :)

Onward and upward. I know I'll find Secrets of Jenkins Bridge a special home.
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Monday, September 5, 2011

Happy Labor Day!!

A day off?? Not here, lol. But, then again, I was lazy daisy yesterday. The rains coming in from tropical storm Lee has dampened any outdoors fun, so I will get some writing done.

I submitted Secrets of Jenkins Bridge this morning to Pink Petal Books (crossing my fingers they love it) and the wait begins. When I hit the send button, my stomach did flip flops!

Labor Day generally marks the end of 'summer fun' but here in the south, it's stays toasty warm for about another month (give or take) so we can at least enjoy the weekends swimming in the pool. I'm looking forward to autumn though as it's been so incredibly hot here. I'll enjoy morning coffee out on my front porch.

Are you looking forward to the Fall?

Friday, September 2, 2011

Another special blog- I'm sharing!

In order for me to receive a COOL Blog on Fire Award, I have to answer these 10 questions. Thank you Paula Martin!



1. Are you a rutabaga?
Definitely not. A cross between a cabbage and a turnip? Short answer-Yuck! I didn’t even know what this was until I looked it up, lol. Part of my daily learning adventure.

2. Who is your current crush?


Ryan Reynolds. He’s just simply cute in the All-American Boy kind of way. My all time favorite is Sean Connery. He ages well…






3. Upload a heart-warming picture that makes you smile.


My son when he was three…the superhero king.

4. When was the last time you ate vine-ripened tomatoes?
Last week. These are the type I usually buy. I miss my mom’s garden of tomatoes with the salt shaker.

5. Name one habit that causes people to plot your demise.
I have no control over it, but it has to be my snoring. Apparently I’m REAL loud. It’s a good way to know when I’m in a very deep sleep. No amount of shaking or screaming wakes me up in this state.

6. What’s the weirdest, most disgusting job you’ve ever had to do?
I don’t know about weird, but the most disgusting would have been cleaning toilets at a local clothing factory. That wasn’t a very pretty sight to say the least.

7. Where da muffin top at?
If we’re talking my side rolls (lol) yeah I try very hard not to let da muffing top show! If we’re talking regular edible muffins, I’m fixing to make me some chocolate chip ones :)

8. Which author introduced you to your genre?
It all began with Rita Herron and B.J. Daniels (Harlequin Intrigue). I love my suspense, but have since added some paranormal into mine because I like the strange and unusual.

9. Describe yourself using obscure Latin words.
Fun pio-potissimum vicus - Fun loving most of the time.


10. Who else deserves this award?
I don’t like narrowing my choices down to just one, so here’s the deal. If you post your own answers on your blog (let me know you did) and answer this one question in the comments below, you will be awarded with the Blog on Fire award: What is your all time favorite book and why?