Cheryel Hutton

Real Life Love Story

2012-02-14T11:16:00.000-05:00

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I would like to tell a story about a couple who, in my opinion, live a romance novel life. The couple, by the way, happens to be my wonderful husband and me.

Read the story here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Wild Time Was Had By All

2011-10-07T17:58:00.000-04:00

Stephanie on the left, I'm on the right.

Sorry I haven’t been around. I had some health issues toward the end of last month. Just as I was feeling better, it was time for the Moonlight and Magnolias Conference in Decatur, Georgia. I’d been looking forward to this conference for a year. Georgia Romance Writers (a chapter of Romance Writers of America) put on one seriously awesome conference! When I got back I took my exhausted body and hid in my writer’s den. So shoot me (or leave snarky comments).

Since the conference was so wonderful, the next few blog entries will be about the trip. The plan is to put in some tidbits that will be of interest to writers while giving non-writers a glimpse into the crazy world of writers conferences. And trust me, writers conferences are like nothing else.

The first hurdle was driving from Chattanooga to Decatur. My good friend, and fellow writer, Stephanie Lilley drove down. I printed out the directions, so I have nobody to blame but me for landing us at the wrong hotel. I knew it didn’t look right, but we’d followed the directions. Turns out I’d printed directions to the wrong hotel. Hey, I’m talented, OK? The good part is that we were only two miles from the right hotel.

We finally got to the right place. Decatur is a suburb of Atlanta, and a gorgeous little town in its own right. The Decatur Hotel and Convention Center is downtown near the courthouse. There are all kinds of shops and restaurants within walking distance, but I saw very little, since I wasn’t there to sightsee, I was there to network and learn. I love smaller conferences, as this one is, since there is more of an opportunity to connect with new people and reunite with old friends.

Monday, I’ll tell you more about the conference.
Sundown tonight marks the beginning or Yom Kippur, the most solemn and holy day of the Jewish calendar. May your fast be easy.
Happy Thanksgiving weekend to those in Canada.
Have a great weekend everybody!

Cheryel
cross posted to WordPress

Places you're gonna Wanna Visit!

2011-09-28T15:33:00.001-04:00

Some great free places I’ve discovered with sage advice to make life easier, and cool stuff to make it more fun.

Advice:

When housework gets to the CHAOS (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome) stage:
http://www.flylady.net/index.asp

Change your life in 10 minutes a day:
http://smallstepstobigchange.com/

Quizzes to help you understand yourself better:
http://similarminds.com/

Playtime!

Puzzles, you pick from pages of beautiful pictures, and the cut of the puzzle. Hours of fun:
http://www.jigzone.com/

Expand your vocabulary and help defeat hunger with just a click:
http://www.freerice.com

Furry, funny, two of my favorite sites:

Cats:
http://icanhascheezburger.com/
Dogs:
http://dogs.icanhascheezburger.com/

Maybe these don’t appeal to you. Are there other places you like better? Have you ever put random words in Google just to see where the search leads? Do you think people spend too much time on the internet?

I'm moving soon. Get a preview of my brand new Word Press blog:
http://cheryelhutton.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/places-youre-gonna-wanna-go/

Painting Sarah: A Portrait of Autism...

2011-09-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

Normally, I go for funny on Fridays, but I happened on a video that I just had to share with you.

A couple of days ago, I read Carrie Spencer's blog, and was blown away by the video she posted. So blown away that I didn't stop with just the one video. I watched several of the amazingly talented Chris Scalf's videos. And then I happened on the one I'm posting here.

This video is not only one of the most awesome things I’ve ever seen, somehow this father manages to capture the autism of his beautiful little girl. How do I know? My grandson is autistic. And yeah, I see him in Sarah. Autism isn’t pretty, but these kids are magical. And somehow Mr. Scalf has captured that magic in his work.

lDid you know autism affects 1 in 110 children? Do you know anyone with autism? Are you surprised how much the picture resembles a photograph? Awesome huh?

Next Friday, we'll get back to the funny stuff.

Have a great weekend!
Cheryel

Free Brain Food

2011-09-21T19:15:00.000-04:00

Anybody who’s ever happened onto this blog probably knows I’m a nerd. Can’t help it. I love learning. And what’s the problem with that? Learning throughout life is a great way to sharpen the mind and increase enjoyment of the world around us. There are thousands of opportunities out there, books, classes, and even free online lectures. You won’t get a degree (but that too is available online these days), but these sites offer a lot if you don’t need the letters after your name.

Disclaimer: I haven’t actually taken (listened to?) any of the courses at these sites, but I have poked around on the sites more than once, and they seem to have good content and easy, free access. There are several courses I’d like to try. As soon as I get my current manuscript polished, I’m going to try one (or more) of these. Why not?

I love the name of this site, and there are a couple of courses I’m going to get into at the first opportunity:
http://einztein.com/

These two also look very interesting:
http://academicearth.org/
http://www.openculture.com/

I’ve heard many good things about the BBC languages site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

Did you know about these websites? Have you ever taken an online course (for credit or not)? Have you ever investigated furthering your education online?

Who's In Charge Here?

2011-09-19T13:51:00.000-04:00

Cheryel can’t be here today. ~~I tied her up in the closet~~ she had something she had to attend to. Who am I? I’m Quill, Cheryel’s muse. I usually hang out as a dragon, but I’m taking the form of a woman to type this (I make too many mistakes using my claws). I’m here to tell the world Cheryel’s secret problem: she doesn’t type fast enough!

I seriously do not understand. I’m sending her characters and stories, and she keeps shoving them aside. What does she mean she has to polish the last one first? If she’d typed them properly she wouldn’t have this problem. And there’s the one about she has too many stories in her head already. Well, if she’d type faster, she wouldn’t have that problem either. And the worst is needing to spend time with her “family.” Now really, why does she need anybody else when she has all the people I pull into her head.

Right now, she’s finally finishing work on the romantic suspense I gave her over a year ago. It took her forever to even start writing it. And she took time out to write a shorter story, but goodness! How long does it take? I have a vampire story I want her to write, and a couple of funny ones, and there’s another romantic suspense that stars characters from her very first manuscript, the one she screwed up so badly that no one will ever see it. At least I hope not.

Yikes! I think she’s getting loose, I mean it’s about time for her to get home. Now don’t tell her I wrote this. Promise?

Writers: Go write!
Non-writers: Do whatever it is you do.
Later,
Quill

And They're off!

2011-09-16T02:17:00.002-04:00

Breaking news: The dog and cat conflict has started. Battle one was noted late yesterday. And it was...cute?

Here's the video:

Do you think the dogs or cats will win? Which is the cutest? Don't you wish humans dealt with disagreements like this?

Have a great weekend!
Cheryel

10 Random Facts About Me

2011-09-14T16:49:00.000-04:00

In July and August, I took a Blogging for Brand class from the amazing Kristen Lamb. I’ve never been part of a group quite like this one. We emerged from the class being much more than classmates. We’re more like a family. We even have our own twitter hashtag #wana711. You are all welcome to come and play.

My wana711 sisters Kate MacNicol and Linda Burke tagged me to play the 10 random facts game. Tameri Etherton also asked to tag me, but gave up on me and tagged someone else. I don’t blame her, I’ve been very slow lately. But I want to mention her anyway. I feel really bad that I’m only now getting around to doing this blog.

Now the 10 random facts about me:

1. Due to a birth defect (Tetralogy of Fallot), I had open-heart surgery when I was 3, 9, and the complete repair when I was 20.

2. I have two beautiful, grown, daughters.

3. I will have been married to my husband for 12 years in November.

4. My husband and I have two dachshunds now, but in the past my children and I have had dogs, cats, a chinchilla, iguanas, rabbits, mice, and ferrets. I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting some varmints. Did I mention I love animals? They tend to love me too. Just ask the people who’s animals took a liking to me when they didn’t like anybody else. Odd, really. I believe it’s my Native American genes.

5. I used to be an RN. Health reasons forced me to quit several years back.

6. I have a hard time saying any one thing is my favorite. For instance, my favorite colors are purple, blue, and red—it all depends on the shade.

7. I love music. My favorite is classical, but I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. Especially 80’s pop and classic rock. Truth is, there aren’t many pieces of music that I don’t like.

8. My favorite current TV shows (remember my problem choosing only one) are Bones, Dr. Who, and Criminal Minds. Second place goes to Sanctuary, Warehouse 13, The Glades, and CSI (all three, but esp. original and NY).

9. I’m a science nerd. I love reading books about early humans, dinosaurs, and other science topics. I also buy used science textbooks and skim them when I have a minute. Story ideas have come from this odd behavior.

10. I know American Sign Language well enough to have basic conversations. I know some German, and I’m working on learning Spanish.

The game requires me to tag four more people, who post their own ten random facts and tag others. I must apologize, I only sort of have 4: Donna Newton, River The Beagle, who's mom and blog assistant is the amazing writer Stephanie Lilley, and Jody Wallace--who is declining the pleasure of tagging others. I'm letting her get away with this because she's a fellow Tennessee author, and she has some really cool cat (and book) videos on her website.

HHave a great rest of the week!
Cheryel

Is It My Turn Now?

2011-09-12T13:31:00.000-04:00

Most romance writers—and readers—are women. Women have a tendency to put their own needs and desires behind that of other people. I’m not saying this is a bad thing; it’s a built-in instinct that probably has contributed a lot to our species survival and accomplishments. A person, male or female, can do worse than caring about other people. However, the instinct to put everyone’s needs and desires above our own can be a liability when we try to build something for ourselves. Like a writing career, for instance.

Women who are trying to build a writing career are working from home, doing tasks that require hours alone with her computer. They tend to be interrupted. A lot. This, obviously, can make it difficult to get a career going. And it isn’t just women writers who feel the pinch. Women who go back to school, who start other businesses from home, who bring home work from their offices at night. We as women have a tendency to keep ourselves available to our families and friends. We tend to allow the interruptions, in part because we feel guilty about spending time alone with our computers, books, paperwork, etc.

I’m not saying men don’t have these issues also. It just seems that men in general have less difficulty shutting the door and ignoring what’s going on outside. They seem to be less likely to feel guilty about the time spent too. It seems women have more of a problem carving out their own spaces in time to do what’s important to them.

So what’s the answer? I believe each person must find her own personal path. Just as no one writing method works for every writer, no one technique works for every person trying to find the right balance between caring for others and caring for herself. Personally, I’m amazed at the number of writers who manage to become successes with small children at home. Writers like Nora Roberts, Heather Graham, Allison Brennan, and others. Nora Roberts, who sons are now grown, says that when her children were young she taught them that when she was writing not to bother her unless there was blood or smoke. Maybe we could all take a lesson from this. Our families and friends are capable of caring for themselves. Yes, it’s a good thing to care deeply for others, but we also need to allow others their own spaces. We need to let others learn independence. And we need to take care of ourselves.

Do you think women are more likely to have difficulty in carving out space and time for their own needs and desires? How do you deal with this issue? Are you guilty of giving up your desires to cater to others?

Have a great week!
Cheryel

2011-09-11T10:45:00.000-04:00

On this 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers, let’s remember those who were injured or killed. Then let us extend that sentiment and remember all the other victims of terrorism. The thousands of victims from all over the world. To all of them, and their families, let’s extend our heartfelt sympathy.

And let us hope and pray that very soon we will learn to live together on our little blue ball, and that we will learn that disagreeing with the way a person lives is no reason to hurt or kill them. We are each one of us different, each of the billions of occupants of this planet, no two are the same. Let us celebrate that difference, and not hate each other because of it.

Cat Reads! Stop The Presses!

2011-09-09T10:40:00.000-04:00

Kitty takes time from conflict preparations to catch up on her reading. Or is she learning how to attack dogs?
Either way, she's cute!

Have you seen a cat read before? Do you think this is for real? Do you like cute videos?

Have a wonderful Weekend!

Cheryel

Procrastination or Hoarding?

2011-09-07T13:35:00.000-04:00

We got a new clothes dryer today. This forced us to clean stuff off and around the old one. That cleaning unearthed a couple of treasures—and a lot of junk. Oy!
The purging we had to do reminded me, again, of how much smaller this duplex is than the one we had before. Which was smaller than the one before, which was much smaller…well you get the picture. The reality is that we have too much stuff.

I cringe when I see previews of TV shows or news stories about hoarders. I did a gig as a home health nurse a few years back, and I was actually inside a house that could be on one of those shows. The one thing video can’t convey is the stench. It really is awful. I see video of a place like that, and I feel a little better about myself. I’m not that bad, I think smugly. But setting here at my writing desk, I see the clutter around me, and I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. But can I do what needs doing.

I could offer up excuses. My husband uses a wheelchair, I have chronic medical problems. I’ve been getting a lot of writing and writing related stuff done. There just plain aren’t enough hours in the day. The truth is most of the problem is plain old procrastination.

This actually is good news. I can’t control my health, or what my husband can/will or can’t/won’t do. I can work on the procrastination. I wrote about procrastination Monday, so I should be well on my way to achieving great things.

But I procrastinated.

Have a productive hump day and a wonderful rest of the week!

Cheryel

Fear and Longiing

2011-09-05T15:43:00.000-04:00

Last week I blogged about procrastination—with videos. I thought it would be an easy, fun way to get my Wednesday blogging done. Thing is, I learned something about myself.

To review: According to one of the videos I posted, there are three types of procrastinators. 1. Relaxed. This is the most common type, and is mostly avoidance of hard work. 2. Genius. This type of person waits until the last minute because they know they can. The result might not be great, but it’s passable. 3. Avoidance. This type has good intentions, but tends not to follow through. They are not good at time management and frequently become overwhelmed. Basically, they avoid because they’re apprehensive.

I’ve been guilty all three types of procrastination, but I firmly believe I’m primarily #3. I avoid and hope the issue will go away. Sometimes it actually works, but most of the time I’m just overwhelmed and behind. I don’t know if this is part of the pattern, but I tend to take on more than I can possibly do, then feel like a failure when I don’t meet my own, impossible, goals.

I really do mean well, I intend to do what I say I’m going to do—what I want to do. Thing is, I worry too much. OK, I’ll admit it. I’m scared. Scared of success? Failure? Don’t know. Just scared. Afraid of making a mistake, I guess. If I don’t try, I won’t have to face success or failure.

Now that I’m aware of the reasons behind my procrastination problem. I’m hoping to find ways to defeat my procrastinating ways.

Have a good week, and I hope the weather is good where you are.
Cheryel

The Dancers Wear Fur

2011-09-02T06:01:00.008-04:00

Blithely unaware of the strained relations and impending war between cats and dogs, chimpanzees continue to rehearse for the first presentation of the Simian Dance Company.

must point out here that the title of the video is “Dancing Monkeys.” However, these are not monkeys, they are apes. The easy way to remember is that monkeys have tails, apes don’t.
Chimpanzees are our closest relatives with less than 2% difference in our genetic codes
And yes, I too was surprised how well they could dance.

Do you like to dance? Have you ever danced with an ape? Would you like to? How about a zebra?

Have a wonderful weekend!
Cheryel

Procrastinate Like a Pro

2011-08-31T12:05:00.000-04:00

After beating myself up all morning, I finally decided to ~~procrastinate~~ prepare a blog entry by watching YouTube videos. I found this one, and just had to share with you.

I felt a little guilty after procrastinating so much this morning, so I watched this video on the three types of procrastinators (I'm either type 2 or type 3, can't decide).

Here's the second video, in case you really do want to stop procrastinating. Don't blame me if you go on to...gasp...do great things.

Have a great hump day!

A Break From Disaster

2011-08-29T11:02:00.000-04:00

Today, instead of my usual FYI Monday, I’m going to go the easy route and post a video. With earthquakes, hurricanes and everything else that’s been happening, I thought it was a good time to remind us of how beautiful nature really can be.

Where are your favorite places to enjoy natural beauty? Does the outdoors inspire you? Energize you? Make you wish you were in the city?

Warrior Dachshunds In Training

2011-08-25T17:59:00.000-04:00

Last week, I brought you footage from the cat’s secret training camp. Not to be outdone, the dogs have set up some training areas of their own. Here is one of them. As you can see this is primarily a dachshund camp. It appears there are facilities set up for the training needs of different breeds. If I can verify this, I’ll let you know.

The dogs are also working on secret weapons--or is this simply an exercise machine. This video was smuggled out of an underground research and development facility. I apologize for the commercial at the beginning. That’s there to help disguise the actual subject of the video.

I’m reporting all this in the deepest of secrecy. Please don’t tell the cats!

Until next time,
Cheryel

Advice of Dubious Wisdom

2011-08-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

Lucy had to go to school today, so I’m taking her place for today. I don’t have Lucy’s training and savvy, but I’ll do my best. Without further ado, here is my advice to you:

Don’t drive with your eyes closed.

Don’t get in the car with a serial killer.

Don’t play an electric radio in the shower.

Don’t swim with sharks.
Don’t eat moldy cheese.
Don’t play tag with a bear.
Don’t play chicken with an 18 wheeler.

Don’t drive fast directly toward the edge of the Grand Canyon.
Don’t go outside in your underwear because you hear a strange noise.
Don’t eat at that restaurant. You know the one.
Don’t forget to come back Friday for something cute and/or funny.

Do have a great hump day!

Cheryel

Special thanks to Gina Delgardo, who gave me the idea for this post. :)

The Scoff-and-You-Will-Regret-it Fairy

2011-08-22T11:05:00.000-04:00

What do you think of when you hear the word “allergy”? Do you think of runny nose? Rash? A medical emergency?

What do you think when you hear “food allergy”?

I know what I thought. I was skeptical. Yeah, there is the odd person with a peanut or strawberry allergy, and I knew from experience some babies don’t tolerate milk. But to be allergic to food just seemed counter-intuitive. I’d never heard of it before, and suddenly it seemed everybody had it. I tried to be open minded. After all, one of my daughters doesn’t tolerate pork. At all. We just never called it an allergy. I hate being small-minded, so I tried to believe suddenly all these people were allergic to stuff that keeps us alive, but it was difficult.

And then my granddaughter was diagnosed with a dairy allergy. She got off dairy, and her health vastly improved. More energy, less abdominal swelling, no more dark circles under her eyes, no more exema, even her immune system worked better. It wasn’t easy for my daughter and son-in-law, but they managed, and I was suddenly a firm believer in food allergies. But the scoff-and-you-will-regret-it fairy wasn’t finished yet.

Recently, I went to my doctor. My weight had shot up with no real reason. I was having times when my asthma was totally out of control. My stomach would swell and be tender. See where this is going? On the way home from his office, I realized what all that added up to. With one exception, I’ve been dairy free for a month. The exception was the day before my birthday. I had homemade cherry cheesecake after lunch and homemade ice cream later that afternoon. I was so sick. I swelled up all over, I was irritable, I got dark circles under my eyes that almost looked like I had two black eyes. Forty-eight hours later, I’m feeling much better, and my scoffing days are over. Food allergies exist, are probably under diagnosed, and can make a huge difference in the quality of a person’s life.

Was I right in my perception that this is a new thing? Possibly. It may be that food allergies just weren’t diagnosed even a few years ago. It’s also possible that because our environment has changed so drastically over the last hundred years that we’re triggering allergies that once were extremely rare. Most likely, the reality is that it is a combination of the two.

Lactose intolerance is NOT the same thing as an allergy, by the way. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose—the sugar in milk. Becoming lactose intolerant happens to people as they grow up and age. While intolerance can cause some of the same symptoms, it is not really an allergy. People who are lactose intolerant can drink buttermilk, eat yogurt, and lactose-free milks.

Those of us with an actual allergy cannot tolerate milk in ANY form, even hidden in bread and other baked goods. Dairy allergy, like all allergies can be serious. Some people are so severely sensitive that they can go into anaphylaxis and even die. And no, not everybody grows out of it. It can be dealt with, though, the diet just has to be watched closely. There are several good websites for children with dairy allergies, but not very many for adults. One good one I use a lot is Go Dairy Free. Lots of information, and even help with eating out.

So, I guess that’s what I get for doubting. Food allergies are real and can be very serious. Trust me. I've met the scoff-and-you'll regret it fairy. I learned my lesson.

Have a good week!

Cheryel

Warrior Kitties

2011-08-19T09:37:00.001-04:00

In an undisclosed location, cats gather their troops. Here, at this elite training facility, cats become soldiers to go fight in the war with the dogs. This smuggled video shows amazing feats many would have deemed impossible. Are the dogs going to be able to deal with super cats?

Did you know cats could do these things? Have you been trained in martial arts? Are you the one who snuck this video out? Is the release of this video just a tactic to scare the dogs?

What are your plans for the weekend? I'm going to my mom's to celebrate my birthday (on Sunday). Do you believe I'll be 29? Boy, are you easy :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheryel

Heart Melting Linkage

2011-08-17T10:08:00.002-04:00

Do you love animals? If so, this blog is for you. Here are some of the best links I could find. I’m sure there are many others—feel free to share yours in a comment.

The animal organizations that come to mind are the Humane Society and the ASPCA. Their tireless work on behalf of animals is legendary.

Less well known are organizations that rescue animals from disaster areas. Possibly the best known of these is Noah’s Wish. This, and other, organizations go into dangerous areas in the aftermath of floods, tornados, and other disasters in an effort to rescue animals. Here’s to the brave rescuers!

If you’d like to have a pet, or support an organization that works tirelessly to find forever families for animals that would otherwise be euthanized, Petfinders is the biggest and best known. Their website is a central place where large and small rescue operations can show off the cute and wonderful creatures and melt your heart.

There are rescue organizations for specific types of animals like the National Cat Protection Society. And quite a few for different breeds of dogs, like beagles. And dachshunds.

Sugar and Cujo recommend visiting these sites and letting your conscience and heart be your guide.

Have a great hump day!

Cheryel

Strangest Animal Ever?

2011-08-15T11:23:00.000-04:00

The Platypus is one of my favorite animals. Not that I really want to get up close and personal—they have sharp claws, and the males are venomous. They are incredible animals, though, and under the proper conditions (behind glass, maybe) I’d be happy to examine one closely.

From the looks of the platypus, you could almost believe they are some type of mythical chimera come to life. In the original Greek myth, the chimera had a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a snake’s tail. And it breathed fire. The platypus has a bill like a duck, a tail that looks like a beavers, and claws that resemble a badger—on webbed feet. What a strange critter. But then, I like strange critters.

Other strange facts about the platypus is that they are mammals, which means the mother produces milk for the offspring. All but one other mammal—the echidna—gives birth to live babies. The platypus and echidna lay eggs. The platypus is furry, and, as I said earlier, the males are venomous. They have stingers in their heels.

It’s odd, and very cool. And only found in eastern Australia and Tasmania. Want more info? Go here.
What’s the strangest animal you’ve ever seen? Do you believe animals like the Loch Ness monster and Sasquatch could exist? Would you like to see a supposed mythical creature in real life?

Breaking News! Cats vs.. Dogs!

2011-08-12T07:17:00.000-04:00

Breaking news: After years of seeing cats take center stage for cute and funny, dogs are mounting a resistance effort.

see more dog and puppy pictures

Do you think this will escalate into a full-out war? What kinds of noms do you give? Are you a cat or dog person? Do you think you have to pick sides?

Bad Kids, Good Kids, What is the Difference?

2011-08-10T09:51:00.000-04:00

I was planning to write a rant today about wild children whose parents don’t seem to care. Instead, I decided to put a positive spin on today’s blog. I went looking for videos of well-behaved children and quickly found there aren’t as many of those as children totally out of control. Make of that what you will.

Up first is a video from a classroom. Quiet, interested kids. This warmed my heart.

This one is of two kids scraping snow from a vehicle. Cooperation. Work. I like this, although the one scrape had me cringing.

Finally, I’d like to present a video I just happened upon. This thing took my breath away. Warning, it’s eye opening.

Do you think today’s kids are out of control? If so, is this the parent’s fault? Society’s fault?
Why is it we only notice the out of control children? Do we give too much attention to the wild kids and not enough to the well-behaved ones?

Have a happy hump day!

What CATegory is this??

2011-08-05T09:55:00.000-04:00

I’ve heard of Cat burglars, cat scans, catalogues, and catastrophes, but I’ve never heard of a cat doctor. No, not a vet. And not a human vet who takes care of cats. This cat takes care of dogs. Don’t believe me? Here’s the video:

In other news, the cat with the loudest purr has been named. My dogs want to go head to head with this feline, their bark against the cat’s meow. What is the world coming to??

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/15006642/worlds-loudest-cat-purrs-into-record-books

Have a wonderful weekend!

So You Think You Can Write

2011-08-03T11:21:00.000-04:00

Are you good enough to make it in today's tough writing market? If not, or for those if us who want to learn and grow as writers, there's a lot of help out there. I’ve seen so many great resources lately that I want to share. Below is a sampling of the many wonderful resources out there:

This blog asks a very important question: is your novel salable?
http://jwmanus.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/your-novel-is-publishable-but-is-it-salable/

Nathan Bransford offers a simple solution to all writing problems. His blog has a lot of resources. I read it regularly.
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2011/08/solution-to-every-writing-problem-that.html

Bob Mayer talks about changes over the last few years. His is another blog I read regularly. I’ve taken his Warrior Writer course, and it’s great. He’s written a book about the concept. I haven’t read it, yet. But it’s on my list of books to get soon.
http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/changes-in-writing-and-publishing-over-20-years/

I have to put a warning on this next link. Four letter words. Lots of them. On the other hand, lots of good advice.
http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/07/26/25-ways-to-become-a-better-writer

Kristen Lamb is amazing. Not only is she a genius at social media for writers, she’s a lot of fun to read. I read her blog—and I have her book, We Are Not Alone—The Writer’s Guide to Social Media. It’s amazing!
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/g-circles-good-idea-for-writers-or-high-school-revisited/#comment-10588

Donald Maass is a literary agency and the author of some kick-butt books for writers. My favorite is the Breakout Novel Workbook (it is stand alone!), but you really can’t go wrong with this guy.
http://www.maassagency.com/books.html

The most awesome teacher and coach of writing craft is Margie Lawson. Anybody who is serious about writing should be looking at taking her classes or buying her lecture packets. She is awesome!
http://www.margielawson.com/index.php

For the days we writers just need a kick in the muse, this website is great:
http://www.advicetowriters.com/

Yes, there are many other resources out there. What are your favorites? Do you hate any of my choices? Do you write your own blogs or other resources for writers? Tell me about them.

Do You Have A Clone?

2011-08-01T10:10:00.000-04:00

Do you have a clone? You do if you’re an identical twin, because identical twins have the same DNA—the same genetic structure (different fingerprints, though). Oh, that’s not what you think of when you think clone? Me either, actually. So let’s find out what a clone actually is.

Definition from Biology-Online.org;
Clone
(Science: cell biology) a propagating population of organisms, either single cell or multicellular, derived from a single progenitor cell. Such organisms should be genetically identical…

Okay, what? You don’t understand that definition? Does it help that propagating means reproducing? OK, calm down. How about this definition from Dictionary.com:

clone
[klohn] noun, verb, cloned, clon·ing.
–noun
1.Biology .
a.a cell, cell product, or organism that is genetically identical to the unit or individual from which it was derived.

Clearer? That sounds more like the traditional idea of clones. You take one cell from an individual and presto-chango you have an adult with all the memories and traits of the individual the cell came from. Except…
A clone starts out with one cell just like everything else. That cell reproduces over and over to become an exact genetic copy of the individual. A baby. And if you know any identical twins, they aren’t necessarily alike in temperament. They’re individuals. The same is true of animals. We are shaped by many things, both genetics and life experiences. The same would be true of a clone.

Let’s say I was cloned. Nine months from now, I could give birth to myself. Right? The baby would have my genetic heart condition and my Elers-Danlos Syndrome. She would have brown eyes and dark brown hair. And her life would be totally different from mine, She would develop her own beliefs, her own style, her own way of doing things. She would have different memories, experiences, friends. She would be her own unique individual—just like identical twins are identical genetically, but not necessarily in any other way.

Now that we have that settled, would you like to make a clone? Simple take a cutting from a plant and put it in a pot and care for it. Soon, you’ll have a clone of the original plant. Unless I touch it. I did not inherit my mother’s green thumb.

Have you ever cloned a plant? Do you think Hollywood could use a genetics lesson or two? Are you an identical twin, or know a set? Are you/they the same or very different?

Please Don't Eat My Shoes!

2011-07-29T08:21:00.000-04:00

My dogs are not happy with me. I've been featuring cats on here, and they are insulted. To make sure they don't eat my shoes, I'm offering up one of the cutest videos I've seen on YouTube. Here it is, I hope Cujo and Sugar approve!

Do you have a dog? Cat? Other? Does your pet ever let you know in uncertain terms that you are neglecting them because it's been two whole hours since you last scratched their head? No? You must not have a Dachshund!

Enjoy:

NASA, gibberish, dogs, and fun!

2011-07-27T12:32:00.000-04:00

I want to do a mash up today, a bunch of links. I won't say there'll be something for everybody, but I hope there will be something for you. Enjoy!

Did you know NASA and space travel is responsible for some great technological advances?
http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/

Can you read gibberish?

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/9QfIUD/www.friends.hosted.pl/redrim/Reading_Test.jpg

The band Journey has been around 30 years. Their biggest hit "Don't Stop Believing" came from actual advice, and has inspired many of us to reach for our dreams. They were recently spotlighted on CBS Sunday Morning.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml

Official Journey website:

http://www.journeymusic.com/

Love dogs? This blog is for you:

http://riverthebeagle.blogspot.com/

Doggie fun:

http://dogs.icanhascheezburger.com/

Have a happy hump day!

Don't Look,It'sThe Romance Section!

2011-07-25T19:16:00.000-04:00

I spend a lot of time in my local library. I like writing there because it’s not home (no dogs, phone, or housework), and because I see all those books and my mouth waters at the thought of having several of my books on those shelves (I have one here—Snoopy dance. OK, calmer now). My favorite table at our library is beside the paperback romances. Perfect, huh? It’s also a learning experience. It seems romance is still a yuck worthy thing for a lot of folks.

Picture it, the library patron starts down at the mystery section, works their way past science fiction/fantasy and westerns through fiction. And then they find themselves in front of a bunch of books with a little heart sticker on the spine. And they edge away like they just saw somebody scratching themselves in public. Romance fiction is apparently the modern version of the leper colony. If the books are the lepers, what does that make romance authors? The virus in our society?

So many folks seem to think romance is easy to write, formulaic, cheesy, unrealistic. I’d like to address these ideas, working backwards.

Idea I:
Romance novels are unrealistic. I am really sorry to burst your bubbles, but fiction is unrealistic. No matter if it’s mystery, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, mainstream fiction, literary, or romance; it’s not life. Fiction isn’t life. I you read a novel that started with a guy getting out of bed going to pee, showering, farting, brushing his teeth,, getting dressed, making coffee, drinking coffee, taking coffee with him, going out to his car, getting in the car, complaining about the high cost of gas…Are you bored yet? Fiction, in any format isn’t life, it’s a prettied up, exciting, fun place to be. If it hits too close to real life, it bores the crap out of us.

Idea II:
Romance novels are cheesy. Why? Because it has a happy ending? If that’s cheese, then I must be a mouse. I’m a sucker for cheddar, and endings where the girl gets the boy, the mystery gets solved, and the long lost brother comes home. It’s a simple story? Have you actually read any romance novels? I’m sure there are some cheesy romance novels, just like there are cheesy mystery novels cheesy horror novel, cheesy literary novels. Cheese is an easily spreadable substance. But the majority of romance novels, like the majority of the mystery, horror, and literary novels are not cheesy.

Idea III:
Romance novels are formulaic, by which I suppose means written to a formula. Like the three-act structure? The one used by all moviemakers? Or is it that genre formula, boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl? How about dead body shows up, detective questions everybody, red herrings sidetrack him/her, detective finds him/her facing down the villain, villain goes to jail (or dies). Or a character is introduced, things happen, more things happen, nothing changes—but there is lots of description (literary)? Formulas are not the enemy, formulas can be a structure to make the novel understandable. They speak to our subconscious. Mystery readers read because they know the mystery will be solved. Adventure novels lead the adventurer back home. Literary novels offer the reader a specific experience. Romance readers know the couple will get together in the end. There are unlimited ways to get from point A to point B, no matter which type of fiction you read. But Readers have certain expectations, and if they don’t get what they want from the book, they’ll be mad. I would be. If I read a mystery that just stopped without nabbing the killer, I wouldn’t buy any more of that author’s books again.” Formula” is really a shorthand way of saying a reader expects certain things. Like you expect when you order a stake, you’ll get a section of beef.

Idea IV:
Romance novels are easy to write. Many times this idea comes with the line, “I think I’ll write one myself one weekend.” To which I say, Try it, sucker. Just don’t come running to me complaining. And before you ask, no I will not write your amazing/perfect/guaranteed-best-seller idea and split the profit. Ideas are the easy part. It’s the writing that’s hard. Plus, I have enough ideas to last me several lifetimes. Sorry.

So, what do you think, romance novels, a good thing or the scourge of the literary world? Do you hide those romance covers when you read romance? Have you ever tried writing a book?

And so we don’t get too serious on a hot Monday morning, here’s a video for your enjoyment:

Cat or Dog? You Decide

2011-07-22T08:43:00.000-04:00

Now available from Acme Pets, the Cat/Dog or is that Dog/Cat. Either way this new animal solves that age old problem of do we want a cat or a dog? You don't have to choose anymore!

Do you think this is an authentic video? Are you a cat person? A dog person? Hate animals (but then, you probably haven't read this far).

Have a wonderful weekend!!

They were funny then too!

2011-07-20T09:41:00.000-04:00

I'll be you didn't know i had a time machine. Ha, lots you don't know about me.

Today we are going to hop in my time machine and go back in history. Have fun!

see more Historic LOL

see more Historic LOL

see more Historic LOL

I Like Your Genes

2011-07-18T11:30:00.000-04:00

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA, for short) is the basis of life on planet eart. DNA is the code, the blueprint for living beings. DNA is reported in the news, discussed on TV shows, and has the power to convict or clear criminals. But what is DNA?

By the mid 20th century, science knew that traits were passed from parent to child. What science didn’t know was what was exactly how that happened. Something must tell the organism if it is supposed to be a chicken or a frog or a beauty queen. Something tells a human body if they are to be blonde, brunette, or redhead. But what?

In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helix form of DNA. They had just found the blueprint of life. They got a Nobel Prize for this.

DNA is made up of four nucleic acids (from which DNA got its full name deoxyribonucleic acid), adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. These nucleic acid form pairs and attach to a “backbone” of sugars and phosphate that holds everything together. These ingredients form the famous double helix of DNA.

Every cell in your body contains DNA. Each tiny piece of you carries your entire blueprint. Through a marvelous and complicated sequence of events, a cell in your big toe knows it is not supposed to be a liver cell.

I know it’s complex. But life is complexa. Are you happy with your genes? Would you like to change them? Do you want to learn more?

If you want to know more, here are some good resources. There are many more. Google away, my friends. Google away!

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/dna/episode1/index.html

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/

http://www.yourdictionary.com/dna

Have a great week!

Not What I Expected...

2011-07-15T11:24:00.000-04:00

As I was working on my latest manuscript, I really needed some input. Since there was nobody around, I thought I would just have to wait. Then I saw this cute kitten, and thought, hey, why not? So I started reading aloud, putting all my energy into the intonation and really getting into the story. The kitten’s reaction wasn’t what I’d hoped for.

End of an Era, Beginning of Another?

2011-07-10T13:57:00.000-04:00

Last Firday the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off for the final flight of the Shuttle program. Tears were shed, jobs were lost, an era came to an abrupt end. I’m lucky enough to have seen most of the space program in action. It was a glorious time in history. And unless something changes soon, I fear that it’s over.

Some would say sending ships, especially manned ships, into space is a waste of money and effort. I can’t help but think those people are either too young to have experienced or have forgotten the wonder of the Mercury and later Saturn space programs. They don’t remember the indescribable thrill of seeing a live, grainy image of a human being walk on the moon. If you see that, if you really remember that, you know that NASA and the space program is about more than just space. The space program is about a dream. It’s about reaching far beyond our little world, our little lives, our little concerns to something bigger, greater, more wonderful than anything here on earth. If you remember, you know that we, as humans, are richer and happier when we are reaching for the stars.

I hope with every fiber making up this self that there is another program to replace the Shuttle. That we keep the dream alive.

Today is Nikola Tesla's birthday. Living from 1856-1943, he held hundreds of patents. Edison invented the light bulb, Tesla figured out how to bring this new technology to the masses. He was an amazing man, who believed in the potential of space travel and even attempted to communicate with whatever is out there in the universe.

His legacy continues.

TGIF

2011-07-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

E\verybody’s up in arms over a recent verdict. Whatever your—or my—opinion, it’s a done deal. Being a little different (shocked, huh?) this has me thinking in a different direction.

I heard years ago (after another controversial verdict, actually, that if a jury can’t understand the science they will disregard it. Like DNA evidence, for instance. This blew my little mind. But then, I’m a science person. geek, nerd, whatever. I love me some science. My, not in the least humble, opinion is that the lack of understanding of basic science by the majority of the US population is affecting our entire culture, not just verdicts.

Now, since this is Friday, and I’m really, really happy to see the weekend coming, I’m not going to bore you with the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) lecture I’d planned. Instead, here’s a video. And it’s not boring. I promise. Money back guaranteed.

Without further ado:

Thanks to Kristen Lamb for suggesting the video!

Shhhh...

2011-06-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

And then it rang again. Keep in mind, I go to the library to have peace and quiet. An odd cell phone or some conversation doesn’t bother me. but this was LOUD! And the woman let the thing ring five or six times before she answered it. Like she wanted to make sure everyone heard it. I did my best glare, then got back to my work.

Then the bit…person comes over to my table to “apologize” by informing me that she’s from FEMA, and this the only place they can do their reports. I’m sorry, do they not allow her to do her reports at Starbucks? Can’t she turn her phone down? Go outside to take calls, like the rest of us?

I told her she had a loud phone, she said, “I just wanted you to know it was important.” I informed her that my work was important too and that I didn’t believe her anyway. And I moved to the other side of the library—where there is more traffic and more noise. But it’s usual noise, and tolerable, not the ringing of a phone that could be used as a fire alarm. For the hard of hearing.

Don't get me wrong, I know FEMA is important and I'd put up with a lot to help them, but this woman was over the top. She obviously thought she was better than anybody there, and that she had the right to do whatever she wanted. I can't stand that kind of egotistic crap.

I am proud of myself for standing up for me and my writing.

I love the smell of procrastination in the morning

2011-05-12T09:36:00.000-04:00

With apologies to the fans of Apocalypse Now, I offer this little window into my life. I’m a procrastinator. Shocking, you say—as you look back at my lack of entries over the last months. Why am I posting today? Well, because I’m revising a manuscript, and nothing gets a writer doing things they don’t normally do than writing.
Shouldn’t you love writing? You ask.

I do love it. Trust me, if I didn’t I wouldn’t sit here day after day.

So why procrastinate? You ask.

Because, in spite of the way movies portray writers, it’s hard work. But you know how hard work feels good when you’re finished? The sense of accomplishment is like no other. And the magic of taking a blank page/screen and putting a story on there. Of making the words flow, of tapping into the glowing, tingling current of the Muse.

It’s a high. A writer’s high, much like the runner’s high, when your body pushes past the limit you thought it could endure to feel the rush of an entirely new level of existence. That’s what writers yearn for, that’s why we write.

That, and our characters won’t leave us alone.

Have a great day!
Cheryel

Missing Sunday Soapbox?

2010-03-29T18:08:00.000-04:00

I am sorry I missed the last two Sundays. Last week I was at FantaSciCon. This week, I just missed it. Bad Cheryel.

Update on my spine: I’m looking at surgery on my neck (no date as of yet). Two vertebrae have almost no disk left and bone spurs pushing on my spinal cord (the reason for the increased pain and the inability to walk). I’m scared, but also hopeful. Maybe this surgery will help, or at least keep the problems from getting worse.

Update on writing: I am almost ready to submit a lighthearted paranormal romance to Samhain. I want it to be thoroughly polished, but I’m pretty sure I can get it in before I have surgery. I hope to be working on a dark paranormal romance by the time I go into the hospital. This will give me something to work on while I recover. At least that’s the plan.

Speaking of writing and books, The Long and Short of is holding a scavenger hunt and I’m part of it. The hunt begins today and runs until April 3. Yes, it’s an Easter Egg Hunt. Yes, that’s strange for someone who doesn’t celebrate Easter, but it’s a fun game, and the prizes are fantastic! And you won’t be outdone by your three year old.

Go HERE to get all the info.
　
And for all of us who celebrate Pesach (Passover), have a wonderful Seder and a great time with your friends and family throughout the holiday.

Soapbox Sunday II

2010-03-14T18:47:00.000-04:00

First, I want to thank everyone for their comments, their thoughts and prayers, and caring concern. It makes me feel better just to know there are people out there who care. I am feeling better, at least most of the time. It’s simply going to take time for me to adapt, and I’ve never been all that good at patience.
　
For today’s rant, I would like to talk about fear. As a writer I feel fear every time I get close to submission, or as I wait for a judgment on my work, or even as I put words on a computer screen. And I know from everything I’ve heard and read that I’m not alone. Apparently writers, and I suspect other artistic types, seem to thrive on fear. We use it to fuel our fingers as they create the next work. I think many of us want to show that ugly fear monster that, "Oh yes we can!" in spite of all the growling and stomping the beast does.
　
But what about the rest of the world (and artistic types when they aren’t creating)? How does fear relate to their/our lives? Well, it’s always there. We all live with fear hiding in the shadows around us. Whether it’s a traditional monster that we can’t help but feel is under the bed or in a closet, a mass murderer who might be coming in a window as we speak, or the dread of a boyfriend leaving, a husband filing for divorce, or a child getting hurt. We all feel the sting of fear.
　
In fact, fear is so univerisal that advertisers take advantage. What happens to your family if you don’t buy my insurance plan? Will anybody love you if your teeth are yellow? Will your arthritis be so bad you can’t take care of your child if you don’t rush to your doctor and get that latest medication? Will your husband be able to perform? Will you get the most out of life? Will you be able to handle a headache, backache, or "minor arthritis" without a particular brand of pain medication?
　
Seriously folks, that "call the doctor if you have a four hour erection" probably sold more Viagra than any other part of the commercial. And that really SHOULD be scary.
　
And then there are the politicians. Both sides of the heath care issue have used fear to push voters to where they wanted them to be. And the same is true of most of the things politicians push. They hire expensive PR firms to make sure the public is informed, but in a way that uses fear as a driving force to get the voters to do something. "If you don’t vote for me, this (insert horrible thing) will happen." Or, "If we don’t push this bill through, then (insert horrible thing) will happen." Listen next time a commercial or promo spot comes on. It can be enlightening.
　
Fear can be useful too. Need something to help you forget your problems? Try a scary movie or book (maybe SHADOWS OF EVIL?) Fear and adrenaline grabs you and pulls you out of the world briefly. Afterward you feel energized, and the laundry mound doesn’t look so bad anymore. Not compared with the Big Slime Monster.
　
Take care and have a great rest of the weekend!
　
Writing update:
Deep editing chapter one of SOUTHERN GIRLS (light paranormal romance) manuscript.
　
Began first draft of major revision BLOOD (dark paranormal romance) manuscript.

Soapbox Sunday

2010-03-07T17:28:00.000-05:00

My plan was to use Sunday posts to get on my soapbox and rant on some topic I felt strongly about, but my muse had other plans (what do you expect from a dragon!). Instead, I’m going to fill you in on the latest curve thrown at me along my life’s never boring road.

Most of you probably know I’m disabled. I have, among other problems, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (connective tissue disorder) and degenerative disk disease (spinal degeneration likely caused and/or worsened by the EDS). I’ve had problems walking before, but thankfully it was temporary. It’s been about seven years since I’ve had more than a few hours that I needed a wheelchair. That all changed on January 27. I had an MRI of my spine, got up and started walking down the hall, and I suddenly couldn’t walk anymore. I almost hit the floor, and have since been dependent on a wheelchair for mobility.

Wednesday will be six weeks that I’ve been in this chair. At first I wasn’t all that concerned. I figured it was a temporary glitch. But as the weeks wore on, and I noticed more neurological symptoms than I’ve had before. Eventually, I began to feel the effect of the sudden loss of independence. I was shocked by the rush of emotions. After all, I’d been in a wheelchair before. My husband uses a wheelchair. A big hunk of our friends use wheelchairs. What was the big deal? Well, beyond the obvious, my upper body isn’t strong and no matter what I do there won’t be a huge improvement. The result is that I need help from other people to do much more than the basics of bathing, dressing, etc. Not a good place for someone whose life is built on the foundation of independence.

I honestly felt guilty for being depressed, anxious, and scared over this change in my life. After all, I didn’t know if it was even going to be permanent. It finally took three separate people telling me that obviously I was going to grieve over the loss of mobility. It was natural, normal.

"Normal" is not a word I like very much, actually. After all, what is normal really? But in this case I’m defining it to mean that any independent, intelligent woman would experience an emotional rollercoaster in this situation. I’m finally coming to terms with needing help on a daily basis, but I also feel like crying at odd moments with no real provocation.

Please don’t feel sorry for me. Give me the dignity of treating me like you always have. I haven’t changed because my legs aren’t working well anymore. As I said earlier, I actually had started this blog with another topic in mind. But it feels good to open up about this development and the feelings my loss of independence has provoked.

My plan is to blog on Sundays about different topics. Many of them will probably involve disability. I’ll try to be interesting, and I’ll try to be informative. I’ll even try to be funny, at least some of the time.

Now, go and enjoy what’s left of your weekend.

Take care!!
　

Win A Kindle

2009-11-16T12:30:00.001-05:00

That's right, you can win a Kindle. It's easy. Just go here Monday through Friday (except for Thanksgiving and the day after)from TODAY (November 16)until December 14. Answer the scavenger hunt question for that author for that day, and you'll be entered. My day is December 1st, just so ya know.

Find new and interesting authors and you might just win yourself a Kindle. Win/win. How great is that?

Now and Then

2009-08-06T10:15:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I admitted that I’m fighting personal demons. The truth is, for the last few months, my life has more or less come to a halt. It’s almost as if my mind refused to hide the truth anymore. Why? I think it’s because for the first time in my life I have a solid support system. I’m not alone, and I know I’m loved.

I’ve been thinking about sharing some of the journey with the world, but it’s been a hard decision to make. The thing that finally was the deciding factor is the knowledge that I’m far from the only person to have suffered long term effects of child abuse. For those others, and for the people who love them, I offer my story. My diagnosis is major depression and PTSD, both a result of trauma from abuse suffered over the years of my childhood.

Post traumatic stress disorder. I hear the words and think of soldiers in ghastly battle conditions; I think of victims of horrible crimes. But PTSD can also result from childhood abuse. There are hundreds of thousands of us scattered across the world, suffering all kids of symptoms, all kinds of feelings that keep us from fully living our lives. All because of things that happened years ago.

For me, a big part of the abuse was at the hands of medical personnel. As a result of a congenital heart defect, I spent a lot of time in the hospital. And because it was a rare condition, that hospital wasn’t a local one. Every six months to a year, a few members of my family and I took a two day road trip. This journey began when I was three years old, too young to understand what was happening. My earliest memories are tied to these trips, to that hospital. The hospital was a research facility, and the patients there were treated like the lab rats that we were. I sincerely hope things have changed over the years, but at the time I was there, parents weren’t allowed, or at least that’s what I was told. I was all alone in this lonely, terrifying place. The things they did to me were necessary, if not to save my life, at least for the research they were doing at the time. There were no soothing words, no gentle touches. There is very little I remember from all the years I went to that place that isn’t filled with terror, agony, and revulsion. I went through hell, and nobody seemed to understand. My family didn’t, the members of the small town where I lived didn’t. I not only dealt with what was being done to me on a regular basis, but with the confusion brought on by the comments about how lucky I was to be alive and to go to that “wonderful place.”

In typical childish fashion, I decided that I’d been sent to that hellhole because I’d done something wrong. For basically my entire life, I’ve held deep inside me the belief that I was such a bad person that I was tortured because of it. The thing is, I didn’t realize that’s what I felt. What was more apparent was lack of belief in myself, and a propensity for subconsciously sabotaging myself. It’s only been in the last few weeks that I’ve begun to reach those long denied parts of myself. And it hasn’t been pretty.

I don’t know how often I’ll be posting, but I’ll do my best to keep everyone informed. And thank you, all of you, for being part of my support system. I’m very grateful.

Update

2009-06-18T13:29:00.000-04:00

As you may have noticed, I’ve pretty much disappeared. It’s hard for me to stick my head up and tell you what’s going on, but it’s time I did just that.

The sequel to Shadows of Evil has been rejected by Samhain Publishing. And no, there is no chance of resubmission. I worked with an editor for months in an attempt to produce a manuscript that would fit their needs, but in the end, it just didn’t work out. Please understand, I don’t have any hard feelings against that editor or Samhain. This was a business decision, and I understand.

Of course, this is far from the first rejection I’ve ever received. Yes, this one hurt more than most, but it was just another rejection. And while it was one of the things that contributed to my need to hide in my cave for a while, it wasn’t the only reason.

The truth is that I’ve been facing down some personal demons that I’ve been trying to shove under the carpet for quite a few years. The problem with the shoving under the carpet way of coping is that eventually the demons under there climb out and dance around waving hands and sticking out tongues and laughing at the very idea that you thought you could ignore their existence. To make matters worse, while they were under that carpet, those ugly little demons have grown to enormous proportions. Now you really have a problem on your hands. And that’s the situation I found myself in: facing down huge, ugly, terrifying personal demons. These are things that happened to me when I was very young. Things I barely remember. But things that have affected me on a daily basis for basically my entire life.

What now? Well, I have a fantastic therapist who I believe can help me defeat these overgrown bullies. As far as writing is concerned, I’ve been taking online classes, attending workshops, and reading craft and inspirational books. I’ve done some serious soul searching about what I want from my writing career, and how to get there. And yes, I’ve been looking at potential publishers for the Shadows sequel, because I believe in the book. But I also realize it still needs a lot of work.

I have no idea when I’ll have another book or story out. I am writing, I am working toward the goal of being published again, and I will try to keep you all in the loop. Please be patient as I sort out my life. And if anybody has any personal demon slaying hints and tips to share, feel free to send them my way.

Take care, and may all your demons be tiny ones.

What If Your Mother Sees That!

2009-03-30T18:29:00.001-04:00

My husband and I participated in Earth Hour Saturday night. As I sat trying to read to the light of a flickering candle, nostalgia filled me. I grew up in a small town whose electrical supply was the tail end of a larger city’s supplier. The city was miles away, and they got priority. Every time it stormed, and it storms a lot in Tennessee, our power went out. We kept candles and an oil lamp—and trust me, they got used. I loved those times.

There was something special about those evenings when the power went off, when my grandmother and I sat at the kitchen table and talked and read. The scent of the oil, the flickering light, the closeness to another person. Sometimes my mom would join us. Sometimes we’d play Author Cards—and I learned about people like Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Sir Walter Scott, Washington Irving, and Edgar Allan Poe. Can't find the dang things anymore, and it's a shame.

I had lunch with my mom last week. I had given her a print copy of Shadows of Evil, and she gave me an amazing compliment when she said she liked it. Then she leaned closer and said, "But I think it would have been just as good without all that," she lowered her voice even more, "sex. Don’t you think so?"

I sat there, in the middle of the restaurant, wondering just how red my face was becoming. I told her that my love scenes were very mild compared to most of what’s out there. "It is?" she asked. The shocked disbelief in her voice killed my embarrassment, and send that little doubt worm burrowing through me. Oh. My. God! My mother had read my sex scenes! Should I have given her that book to read? Was my work too sexy? Maybe I should just write sweet romances. Okay, that was when my logic circuits twitched and sparked. I had tried that gig, and it was not a good fit. I tried to explain that when you have somebody’s arm ripped off in the prologue, closing the bedroom door just seems silly. Then I changed the subject.

Shadows of Evil’s print edition officially releases tomorrow. Ebooks may be the wave of the future, but holding an actual paper book in my hand—a book with my name on the cover—is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. Having my mother like the book (except for the sex, of course) just made it more special.

Have a great Monday!

I gots books!

2009-03-03T18:12:00.000-05:00

I got my author copies of Shadows of Evil today. I'm excited, I'm goofy, I can't believe it's true. My book in my hand. It's an awesome feeling.

Thank you to everybody who helped me live my dream. This is amazing!

Con Nooga, Part II

2009-02-26T15:04:00.000-05:00

As I said yesterday, fantasy and science fiction cons are fun and exciting. I loved the Con Nooga experience, but I am a bit shy and it’s still strange to me being an author. Speaking on panels, sitting at a table and people coming up to me, signing autographs! Crazy.

The two panels I was on at were a "Writers Roundtable" and "Promotion for the Creator." At the roundtable, there were more writers than audience members, but it was interesting. It was exciting—and a little scary—to think that people might be interested in hearing what I had to say. The promotion panel was better attended. The other panelists were more experienced in this promotion stuff, and I learned as much as the audience.

I reunited with some fantastic people over the weekend. I met Christina Barber at Hallowcon last year. Though she’s probably about the age of my daughters, she took me under her wing at Hallowcon and again at Con Nooga. I appreciate her help and support. Other nice people I met at Hallowcon and saw again at Con Nooga were Mark Helwig—an amazing artist, and Joe Dickerson and Lonny Harper from Aberrant Dreams.

I met some really nice people at Con Nooga. D. A. Adams was nice enough to give me hints about how to overcome my shyness. Robert Freese had the table next to mine, and we talked a lot. He’s a nice guy with good information. Shane Moore is an amazing guy who knows more about promotion for an author than I ever will. Thank you, gentlemen.

I would also like to thank my friend Barbara for getting me involved in the con scene in the first place. You created a monster, girl!

I’m only now recovering from the weekend, but the experience was well worth a little exhaustion. I can’t wait for FantaSciCon next month. See you there!

Con Nooga, Part I

2009-02-25T16:41:00.000-05:00

This last weekend I was an author guest at Con Nooga, which was held here in Chattanooga at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel and convention center. I didn’t realize the place was so huge. The last time I was there, they had made some old train cars into hotel rooms, and there was a moderate sized hotel building. Now, there are three hotels besides the train car rooms, plus restaurants, a full-size theatre, buildings with convention space, and more. There was actually a small bus to take people from one place to another. The town I grew up in wasn’t much bigger.

The con itself was a blast. Much fun is made of science fiction/fantasy conventions, but the truth is there aren’t nicer people in the world. Yes, there are crazy costumes. Yes, there are people being more outgoing and goofy than in their everyday lives. But that’s part of the attraction. A person can go to one of these things and become someone else for a while. Sort of the way reading an SF or fantasy novel takes you away for a while.

This was the second con I’d been to as an author. The first was Hallowcon last October. To be honest, I’d never thought of going to a con as an author, but a friend of mine encouraged me to contact the guy who does Hallowcon, and he invited me to come. I was immediately hooked. It’s a trip just attending a con, but going as an author is an even stranger—and exciting—experience. I’m a little shy, and being in the spotlight was a bit unnerving. Even with Hallowcon under my belt, Con Nooga was still kind of scary. Luckily, I met some fantastic people who encouraged me and gave me a lot of useful information.

I have no idea why I look so stuck-up in this picture, but it's the only one I have (technical difficulty with the camera. I do strange things to electronics.)

Tomorrow I’ll continue the tale. See you then!

2009-02-13T15:24:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday, my novella Keepers of Legend was released from The Wild Rose Press. I’m excited, thrilled, beside myself.

So why, you might ask, is this crazy woman promoting the novella today, when it was released two days ago? Well, you see, it’s like this, not only do I write well, I also am quite talented in the clumsy department. I was up early Wednesday morning, ready to immerse myself in the wonder that is a new release. I was feeling great, up early, ready to get started on this magical day. I was grooming myself, as we women are wont to do on such occasions, and this grooming involved tweezing my eyebrows. I even had a new pair of tweezers. Sharper than most, I’d caught my skin several times with the things. I love the way they work, but I knew I had to be careful with them. I wasn’t careful enough though. I managed to scratch my eye with the dang things. Pain, much tearing, inability to tolerate light—for instance the light coming from a computer screen. I felt quite foolish, and very frustrated.

My husband had to get Online and pull up The Wild Rose Press. I peeked at the wondrous sight, then went back to my dark room to continue feeling foolish and frustrated.

My eye was somewhat better yesterday, but I still could only tolerate the computer for limited amounts of time. Even today I’m still quite sensitive to light. But it’s better.

Here’s a blurb for Keepers of Legend:
Deep in the Smoky Mountains a strange creature sweeps through the air and captures the imagination. It looks like a dragon, but is it? Jessica Knight has her doubts, but can she protect the amazing animal long enough to discover the truth?

Wanna read an excerpt? You can go here.

The Dragons are awake. Now everything changes.

Happy Friday the 13th!

Retreating

2009-01-16T15:48:00.000-05:00

Coming to you from the Hutton writers retreat. Never heard of it? Neither has anybody else. It’s actually my house. My husband is out of town for four days and I’m using the time to polish up The Manuscript That Will Not Die. Don’t get me wrong, I really love this story, but I’ve been working on it for almost a year. It’s a long story, and I’ll fill you in when I can. But for right now, I have to get back to the TMTWND (Not the real title, by the way).

The last two weeks, the Otherworld Diner employees have been posting about goals. There’s some really great stuff there. I even posted last Friday and today about writing a business plan for your writing business and using that as a guide for setting writing goals.

Back to the polish!

I’m almost halfway. Wish me luck.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

2008-11-03T19:39:00.000-05:00

I JUST finished and sent in the galley for the print edition of Shadows of Evil. The release date is March 31, 2009, and you can pre-order over at Amazon. I'm so excited. E-books are great. They're environmentally friendly, they're convenient. But the idea of holding my book in my hands is an amazing thought. Look out for excited squeeing. The release date for Keepers of Legend is February 11, 2009. This novella is close to my heart because it has a dragon as a major character. Yes, I'm planning on writing more stories set in this dragon-friendly world.Shadows of Evil is available for the Kindle now. I'm still doing the Paul McKenna program, and I'm still losing weight. Don't know how much, but I'm officially down a size. It's amazing, folks!!Good luck to all of you doing NaNoWriMo! I'm not this year, and I wish I was. But I had the galley, and I have a revision to get done. Maybe next year.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T11:00:00.000-04:00

As a Halloween treat, I've posted a paranormal romance short story originally published in The Romance Place. It's over at The Otherworld Diner, if you'd like to take a look.

Don't eat too much candy!!

Free fiction!

2008-10-10T18:02:00.000-04:00

To get you in the mood for Halloween, there's some free fiction over at The Otherworld Diner. My coworkers have written some amazing things. Oh, and I have a little piece over there too. Enjoy!

Checking In

2008-09-19T16:10:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to check in and let everybody know that I'm okay. I'm dealing with some physical and emotional stuff right now, and I just need some time. I intend to share some of what is going on at a later time, I'm just not ready for that yet. I am continuing to write, and there will be more books soon.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the hurricanes and the aftermath. My hope is that the big ones are over.

I have posted on The Otherworld Diner on the subject of magic in everyday life. Enjoy.

Too Good To Be True

2008-08-29T11:18:00.000-04:00

I’ll admit it, I’ve been holding back. I’ve been losing weight with a system that sounds too good to be true. I didn’t believe it either, so I wanted to make sure before I spread the news.

A few months ago, I happened upon a six-part television show called, I Can Make You Thin. The shows, and the program, were developed by British PhD Paul McKenna. There are four simple rules to his program: 1. When you’re hungry, eat. 2. Eat what you want to eat. 3. Eat slowly and enjoy every bite. 4. When you’re full, stop. Sounds too easy, right? And yet it works. Really. I didn’t believe it, but it’s true. I can’t tell you how much weight I’ve lost, our scale bit the dust two moves ago, but I do know my clothes fit better, and I see the difference when I look in the mirror. I’ll let you know how it’s going.

Over on the Otherworld Diner, my post The Otherworld Diner: A Prize Inside Every Snack!, dishes up a light serving of paragraphs in the middle of books by bestselling authors. If you want to check it out, go here. As always, while you’re there, feel free to look around. My coworkers always serve up thought provoking entrees and snacks.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Middle Age

2008-08-22T11:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was my birthday and I was *cough* years old. I spent the day with family—including two of my grandchildren. Cool day, really.

Over at the Otherworld Diner, I’ve posted a piece on middles (of manuscripts, not people). Come on over and check it out. While you’re there, my coworkers’ posts are wonderful. If you’ve ever had a manuscript slow down after the initial excitement, then come on down for some great ideas.

Have a great weekend!!

The Today Show—Again!

2008-08-01T12:52:00.000-04:00

This weekend is the Romance Writers of America’s national conference, professional gathering of writers of romance to learn, network, and recharge.

The Today Show did a report. They interviewed Nora Roberts, who did a wonderful job of explaining that romance is about hope. Personally I was hoping they wouldn’t make romance look bad. As they showed scenes from San Francisco, where the conference is held this year, they only showed the literacy book signing (the only event open to the public). No mention was made that those books are donated and the proceeds used to support literacy programs. Actually, from the report, you’d get the impression that the entire conference was about fans gathering in droves to meet their favorite authors.

Then, when the camera goes back to the Today Show set, two female hosts were sitting on a couch. One of them said, “We should take up that career in our spare time.” I took that to be the usual “I could write one of those trashy things in a few hours” type comments. I don’t think I was wrong.

I dare her to try. Come on, lady, show us what you can do. It’s easy to write a romance novel. It only takes hundreds of hours of hard work, including planning, plotting, research, revision, more revision, and polishing. And then comes the rejections. Yeah, it’s easy. Hey, why don’t we take up being a Today Show host in our spare time? It can’t be hard to just sit there and talk. Right?

Meanwhile, over at the Otherworld Diner, I blogged about my muse. Her name is Quill, and she’s a...

Sorry, you’ll have to go see for yourself.

Terrific Thursday!

2008-07-31T08:22:00.000-04:00

Okay, maybe not terrific, but I'm up, I have coffee, and I'm online with all my friends. That has to count for something.

As the weekend approaches, I think a lot of people consider what they've accomplished in the past week. My thoughts today have been that maybe I was too hard on myself in the last post. So what else is new. I guess as long as I'm making progress, I'm doing all right. (And hey, two blog posts in a week--yay for me!)

Today at the Otherworld Diner, I have a Thursday Thirteen up. I posted questions I think writers would like to ask their muses (or at least I would!) I had fun coming up with them. For example, "I’m in the shower. Why couldn’t you wait until I can write things down?" I have to say, I've asked that question more than once.

What would you like to ask your muse?

Monday, Monday :)

2008-07-28T18:09:00.000-04:00

Good Monday, folks. I know the beginning of the work week is not known for being a pleasant day, but I hope there are some things in your life today that you can happy about.

As for me, I’m basically taking a class without a teacher. Sort of. Long story, but the punch line is that I needed Margie Lawson’s Empowering Character Emotions class, but she wasn’t teaching it anytime soon. So, I bought the lecture notes. She writes at the beginning of the notes that the class is intense, graduate class level type work. My thought process was that I’ve been writing for a long time. I’m intelligent. I’ll breeze right through this thing.

Wrong.

She wasn’t kidding. The class is intense! At the moment, I’m averaging two days per lecture. And I haven’t even finished all the assignments of those three lectures yet. Now part of that is because I had some dental work done toward the end of last week. (My face is still sore.) But the biggest reason is that the class involves complicated stuff that takes some serious thought and study. Especially when it comes to applying the principles to my own work.

The up side of the whole deal is that I’m very sure I’ll come out of this experience a better writer. My biggest regret is that I didn’t take a class from Margie before. She’s awesome! I heard she’s an amazing teacher, and she’s even better than I imagined. If you get a chance to take one of her classes or workshops, I definitely recommend it. Just be prepared to work. Hard.

It’s a challenge, but—like everything else in life—nothing worthwhile is easy.

Back to work.

Keepers of Legend

2008-07-07T18:27:00.000-04:00

I am sooooo excited! I just got my cover for my paranormal romance novella, Keepers of Legend, coming soon from The Wild Rose Press. I think it's pretty. And I'm not prejudiced at all.

Seriously, the artist ( Nicola Martinez) caught the wonder of the discovery of the dragon. I can't believe how well she caught the feel of the story.

Jessica Knight and her teenage daughter are out for a hike in the Smoky Mountains when they run across a most amazing creature. As a scientist, Jessica can't believe what she's seeing is really a dragon, but it sure looks that way. But there are those who have their own agendas for the creature, including a certain army major that Jessica has a history with. Can she protect the greatest scientific find in history?

2008-07-03T13:03:00.000-04:00

I posted my very first Thursday 13 over at the Otherworld Diner. I'd post one here, but doing the one was interesting enough.

Hope you're all having a wonderful day and not melting in the heat. Love the sunshine, but it's hot here in east Tennessee.

Stay cool y'all!

Party Time!

2008-06-26T20:47:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is party day, as AJ Hampton hosts the All Author Bash. This is a multi-author event, hosted on a discussion board, and it lasts all day. So, no matter what time zone you're in, no matter what your schedule is like, you can come on down! There'll be excerpts, discussions, games, prizes, polls, you name it and it'll probably be there. :)

Check it out, tomorrow!

Got Romance Novels?

2008-06-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

First the whole males like Indy and females like Sex thing. And now MSNBC is dissing the romance genre. It looks like a regular old book promo. Not a big deal. But buried in the middle of an excerpt from Danielle Steel's new book, is a little blue box that says "Vote: Do you read romance novels?" Still not a big deal, except when you actually look at the options.

1. Yes, yes, yes! Bodice-rippers are my ultimate escape.
2. No way.
I don't touch those books.
3. Sometimes, while on vacation or at the beach.

Huh? I clicked #1, then commented. And I'm not alone. In spite of the antiquated--and insulting--wording, the first option is winning--though not by a lot. Adding the numbers of 1 &3 gives a more realistic picture, but really!

Feel free to go and click. Overwhelm the sexist idiots at NBC. Maybe they'll figure out that women are actually half of the world's population. That we read, watch news shows, and vote in polls. I know there are intelligent people at NBC--many of them women. Now if the powers that be would let them do their jobs.

Speaking of women, I posted today at the Otherworld Diner on the importance of the heroine in romance novels. While you're there, check out the great posts from my fellow employees. I'm always blown away by the fantastic writing, and the different takes on the same subject. Have a great weekend!

This Weekend!

2008-06-05T13:11:00.000-04:00

I'll be leaving early tomorrow for Ohio to attend Lori Foster's Reader Author Get Together. This will be my first event as a published author, and I'm very excited! If you're coming, I'd love to see you there! For more info, go here!

Battle of the Sexes?

2008-06-02T13:40:00.000-04:00

On the Today Show Friday, there was a story about the two blockbuster movies out right now, Sex and the City and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. So far, a pretty standard report. It was the angle they used that bothered me. The entire report was based on the idea that men would want to see Indiana Jones, and women would want to see Samantha Jones Huh?

I resent the assumption that women always prefer "chick flicks" and only go to action-adventure movies to please their man. I don’t believe for a minute that gender really plays that much of a part in movie selection. I had dinner with a close friend last week, and she was talking about her desire to move from writing romance to writing action-adventure for women. I hope she does (and I have a plan or two myself—see that evil grin?)

For months the anticipation for the new Indiana Jones movie has been everywhere. Many of the women I know have expressed excitement about seeing it, as well as the women on the groups/email loops I’m on (and I’m on quite a few). Women are excited about the movie. I haven’t heard one word from a woman saying that her husband or boyfriend dragged her to the theater. Not one!

I’m sure both movies will do quite well, they both have built-in audiences who have and will rush to the theatres. There is a large enough audience to ensure both make millions.

Personally, I’m looking forward to see a sexy man doing some very active archeology. But that’s just me.

It's Alive!

2008-05-27T13:06:00.000-04:00

Well...live, anyway. My paranormal romance, Shadows of Evil, is now available from Samhain Publishing. You can go here to find out more.

Here's the blurb:

For Kia Wolfe, moving to an isolated mountaintop is an act of independence from her demanding family and ex-fiancé. She’s literally dreamed about the regal old house for years, and for the first time in her life she feels at home. She’s here to stay, even though the house’s history of violent deaths is enough to scare off most people.
Garrett McKnight, owner of the contracting firm Kia has hired to renovate her house, is wary of the new resident. Emotionally bruised and battered by a self-centered ex-wife, he can’t get around the fact that there’s something about Kia that both attracts him and sets him on edge. And when Kia dabbles in a bit of Wicca, accidentally unleashing a hidden evil, it’s tempting to walk away and leave her to her to her fate.
But he can’t. Not when four people have died in that house.
Warning, this title contains the following: a bit of explicit sex, a touch of graphic language, some graphic violence, and a scare or two.

Now I'm going to happy dance!!!

2008-05-26T11:03:00.000-04:00

Every morning I wake up with a random song running through my head. Sometimes there’s something in the lyrics that reminds me of my life at the moment, or maybe the tune reflects my mood, or maybe I heard the tune late in the previous day. This morning was different. I woke up with a chant in my head: "My book comes out tomorrow!"

As excited as I am, I’m terrified as well. Not long after I woke up with the chant in my head—and a smile on my face—I drifted off again, only to have one of those short falling dreams. I woke up sure I was falling off the bed. And the floor seemed farther away than usual. Fear—it doesn’t take a dream expert to know that’s what I was feeling.

Then again, it seems the more anticipated and exciting something is, the more likely we’ll be scared. From childbirth to new jobs, we humans mix our emotions on a regular basis. And that interests me as a person—and as a writer.

If you’d like to find out more about the book, you can go here.
The members of my author group will be getting an excerpt seen nowhere else. Plus, tomorrow I’m going to be giving away a free copy of Shadows of Evil to someone in my Yahoo group.
If you’d like to get your name in the running, join me at my chat group.

Happy Memorial Day. May the memory of those who have fallen protecting our country be honored today, and every day.