Tag Archives: writing

home again, home again

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Well, we’re back in the Rock in one piece. We had a great weekend hanging out with our friends and doing loads of yard work. Do you know how hard it is to make a garden pretty when you no longer live there to appreciate it? Sigh.

While I was weeding my flowerbed in Oxford, I found the St. Joseph I had buried last fall. I can be pretty superstitious so when multiple people told me to bury a St. Joseph to help my house sell, I did…well, when I found St. Joe this week, I gave him a stern talking to. I think we came to an understanding, and I reburied him beneath a new Gerbera daisy. He must’ve really understood, because the next morning, we got a call from our Realtor. No, we didn’t have an offer, but we did have two new scheduled appointments. That’s a start.

Now I have to get started on my yard in Little Rock. I’ll admit, I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do or where to start. My front yard is nearly all moss, which means there is way too much shade for most grasses. I’d like to sod it, but I have to find the appropriate shade loving grass to do that. My friend suggested I plug it with Dwarf Mondo grass. She said it takes some time, but it only grows to a certain height and stops, so it never has to be mowed and it stays green year around. I may try that. I dunno though, if it’s too much work it might not be worth it for me. I love to garden–in spurts. LOL

Anyway, today I’m finishing my proposal that I didn’t finish last week. I have about 10 pages left. Then I’m off into the world of revision for a while. Fun. For. Days.

Did you have a good Easter weekend? Did you do anything fun or exciting? What’s up, y’all?

drive by posting

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I’m finishing up my latest proposal to send to my fab critique partners today, cuz we’re headed to Oxford tomorrow to do some yard work and to bring home my gardening tools, because it’s high time I start working on my yard at the house we actually live in.

Entertain yourself with this movie trailer (thank you, Jill Monroe for posting it first.) I am totally STOKED about this movie. Normally, I don’t get the whole musical thing…but I totally get Mamma Mia. And with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth? Mamma Mia indeed.

march two

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Another beautiful day here in Whoville. Love it.

We have more soccer today. Ian played a rockin’ game yesterday, he gave a valiant effort in the goal and he blocked a penalty kick like a pro. He was the youngest player on the field by two years, but he held his own nicely. Some of the players on the other team looked like full-grown men. It was a little strange watching these boys with mustaches running down my almost-14-year-old in the goal.

I am going to write this morning. Gotta get my proposal to my awesome CPs for them to shred. I love this new story and I think it’s gonna be a great one…but it needs some work.

It’s gonna be 80 degrees today. I’m shaving my legs and putting on some shorts.

I hope it’s pretty and warm wherever you are. If not, maybe it will be soon.

Peace.

it’s fiction people…

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So, after Anne Rice so vehemently proclaimed she was finished with the Lestat novels because she was born again, she has now recanted. One more Lestat novel is forthcoming.

Now look, I don’t care about the Lestat novels one bit. I liked two of them. The rest did nothing for me. I did always have a problem with renouncing her fiction for her faith because they are two separate things. It baffles my mind when people can’t separate life from fiction.

When you make sweeping statements like

“I would never go back, not even if they say you will be financially ruined. I would be a fool for all eternity to turn my back on God like that.”

then you always wind up looking foolish. C’mon. It’s okay to have faith and write vampire books. Or zombie books. Or books about witches. Or whatever. Faith and fiction are two different things, unless you want to intertwine your faith in your fiction. But let me just say, IMO when you do that, you risk coming off as preachy and judgmental and frankly, turn readers away.

Anne is justifying her return to the Lestat story by saying:

the book will have a definite Christian framework and a focus on the theme of redemption

hmmm. sounds a little preachy to me.

My favorite line in the article:

“I don’t see it as a violation of my promise, because I won’t be writing about vampires in the same way,” Rice maintains.

C’mon, Anne. Just admit that you can write fiction and have faith. I would have much more respect for your return to the Lestat lifestyle if you’d just admit you realized you made a mistake by renouncing your fiction in 2002. I am so disappointed that you are justifying it by offering some sort of redemption theme. Just write the book as it was meant to be written–don’t use it to recruit.

KTHXBYE

and a good weekend was had by all

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Yes, it was a very good weekend. We had company Friday and Saturday night and I also wrote a buttload.

I finished the rough draft of my synopsis and 23 pages of my new proposal. I’m not sharing anything yet, except that it is another YA Paranormal. And it’s fun.

Now I’m watching Blade Trinity with the boys (can you believe I haven’t seen this movie?) and we’re having a lot of fun with Ryan Reynold’s character. He cracks me up.

See y’all bright and early tomorrow morning.

Kisses.

morning people

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I’ve never been a morning person. As a matter of fact, I used to refer to those blasted folks (Fishdog)who rise from sleep all chipper and shit, as people who suffer from Morning Syndrome.

But as I’ve gotten older lately, I’m realizing I’m becoming one of those people.

I wake up before 6 a.m. every day. On my own. Before my alarm. And I’m awake-awake. Not just “my eyes are open” awake. And for those of you who don’t think “before 6” is early–go away. It is.

Knowing I have to get up in a half hour anyway, I usually just get out of bed. Sometimes I lay there and do some “serious thinking” about my book. (we don’t call it plotting, because what I do is the loosest form of plotting known to man.) This is where I came up with my brilliant new title for my brilliant new YA that I’m working on. I woke up, it was early, and the title just JUMPED into my head. I love it when that happens, though I hate having to get out of bed to act on it.

I wouldn’t mind being a morning person if the bed wasn’t so damn warm and comfortable. I hate leaving my snuggly cocoon, even if I am wide-freaking awake. And sweet Ruby is always burrowed against me and Fishdog’s feet are always keeping mine warm. But no. I must do what I must do. Motherhood calls. Breakfast must be fixed (today was waffles). Kids must be micromanaged (how many times did I tell Rader to brush his teeth today? Anyone care to guess?) The dogs must be fed and let outside. The cats must be worshipped. And the blog must be written.

See the sacrifices I make for you?

Tell me, are you a morning person on purpose? Have you always been? Or are you slowly becoming one as you get older ?

the unveiling

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Fine. I’ll fess up. This is the one I chose.

This picture (#2 in the line up) was hands down my favorite of them all. I was honestly surprised at how many folks chose the serious looking hand-to-face shot. And though I liked the mug photo, it felt just a little bit too, “Maxwell House” to me.

So it came down to the two “Smiling” pics.

What really surprised me the most was that my favorite was the least favorite of the masses. As soon as I saw the picture, I knew it would be the one I would use. It just felt relaxed and warm and real. Some of the others just looked posed and I really didn’t want to go that route.

Anyway, as the lovely Terri Garey said, you better like the one you pick, because you’re stuck with it for a long time. So, I went with my gut and against the popular choice. But it sure was fun seeing what everyone said.

monday, monday

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Good Monday Mornin’ to ya!

What’s going on today? Well, I’m going to start working on a new YA story. It’s a great idea and I love the main character already. I used my trip home from Kansas City to brainstorm quite a bit and now I’m going to sit down and see if I can hammer out a chapter. Or two.

I have to tell you, I am completely shocked by the number of people who commented on my author photos post. Thank y’all so much. I am also completely shocked by how many of you guys chose the serious hand shot photo. It was totally my throw-away picture. I like it, but I am NEVER going to have a “hand shot-head shot” as my author photo. Those are soooooo overdone. And most times, they are so cheesy, my cholesterol goes up 50 points just looking at them. Aside from the fact that I don’t want a “hand shot-head shot” as my author photo–the picture is also too serious. I wanted something that is warm and fun. So I went with a smile. Deidre was right…I needed something less serious for my target audience.

This picture was probably my all time favorite, but it’s a little too dark and there’s a bit of a flash on my glasses, so it didn’t make it into the final countdown.

My weekend in KC was great, but I am glad to be home. I spent a lot of time with two of my best friends. We ate some great food, did some shopping, and drank a little bit too much. It was almost perfect.

For today’s entertainment, I’m posting my new favorite video. You totally need to watch it. Sarah Silverman is funny as shit…but so is Matt Damon. And if you love Matt Damon…you’ll love him even more after watching this. If you don’t love Matt Damon (what is wrong with you?) then you’ll at least have a newfound respect for him. This was my theme song for the weekend. It’s a very catchy tune. Seriously, watch the video. Totally worth it.