Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sept 29

The month has faded away into a memory. Writer friends are you prepping for this year's NANOWRIMO? My regular readers may remember that the month of November many writers sign up to hit a certain word count that equals a book in a month or as close to one as possible. It's a great motivator to get writing before the holidays hit us. What do you win if you reach your goal? A complete first draft and a cute little banner to add to your blog or website. I have never done this because I've always set my own goals. But I will use the change of month and season to create new goals and deadlines. For me it's all about getting your bum in chair and writing. The stories tell themselves.
Are you setting new goals?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sept 28

Today little dog and I went for our walk in rain. It was the third day in a row. I'm not begrudging it as we needed it, but it is a bit cold and wet and yucky to walk in. I keep saying I need to get a giant golf umbrella for us both to walk under. When I do, I can guarantee that the rain will stop. Isn't that the way of things.
Writers, when you write characters do they have things like this happen to them-rain when you don't have an umbrella or rain right after you wash your windows or your car? We call it Murphy's Law here- whatever can go wrong will go wrong.
Everyone, what others things seem to happen all the time?

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Sept 27

Next week is October. Gah! I know I'm accomplishing things. My to-do list is fluctuating. So why then am I feeling as if there simple aren't enough hours in a day? Little dog says I'm making her tired and she needs a nap. Perhaps I'll discover that October is a good month to get caught up and I will be able to join little dog in her nap. With the colder air, falling leaves, and honking geese flying south, a nap sounds very, very good.
But the grapes are getting ripe and soon I will be picking them and cooking them and straining them and making juice and jams and jelly. So much for a nap. At least the jelly will be tasty when I'm done.
Cheers~

Monday, September 26, 2011

Sept 26

I forgot to say- Happy equinox! It is officially autumn here and spring down under. The days are rapidly growing darker. The trees are changing color and leaves are falling. This morning was a heavy cold rain and little dog grumbled about having to go outside to do her business. I refuse to spend the money on one of those puppy shelters for her to potty under. 1) I don't think she'd use it. 2) It's crazy how much money we spend on dogs while children suffer. Don't get me wrong, I love little dog and spend far too much money on her, but in my book all children should be warm, dry, happy and healthy. (So should fur babies but human babies first.) We can't rescue everyone. Life isn't fair, blah, blah, blah. It's why I love stories. I know you can get lost in a story and for a while-however short- you can be a hero/heroine. For a while you can be brave and funny and beautiful and you know the outcome will be happy. If only life were truly like stories. What are your favorite things about changing seasons?

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Sept 22

There are so many details to be attended to in my life right now; details in writing while I edit, research revise. There are logistical details of getting myself to and fro. There are details to attend to after Bouchercon. There are details, details, details. I like to organize my details and try not to miss them. Sometimes it feels as if you are swallowed up whole by the little things, but then I smile and say "hey, don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff." What I really have to do it to stop promising things that I can't deliver and forgive myself when I don't meet my personal insane deadlines.  I keep making lists and crossing stuff off. In the end it all gets done.
How do you deal with the details of your life?

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Sept 21

On our walk today, little dog and I passed a group of Mallard ducks sleeping on top of two large logs in the middle of a swamp/pond. I thought how clever. I doubt a coyote is hungry enough to splash his way through the water to get to them. Even if he did, they could wake up and fly away before he reached them. It's times like this I wish I had a camera with me.
What did you see today that stuck in your mind?

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Sept 20

I did write a post yesterday. I didn't see it posted. Hmmm, Blogger is acting all weird. So is Facebook. It seems when the internet messes up it goes all over. I am changing internet providers and will be without service for a while. Hopefully it will be fixed by Saturday. I'm hoping to have more time starting next week to get back on line and follow your blogs and check in with my friends. I feel so woefully out of touch. Take care and know I'm thinking of you~ Cheers!

Whoops, it wasn't blogger it was me. I scheduled it for the 20th and not the 19th. Yikes. I need some rest. Thanks for your patience.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Sept 20

I learned last week that The Counterfeit Bride, my latest book was named one of the top ten romances of 2011 by Booklist Magazine. What an exciting and happy thing!!
I actually learned about it from friends who sent me the link. Thank you to everyone who told me and tweeted the information.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Sept 16

When you are at a conference there is far too little time. I am stopping in to let you know that I am fine. I'm simply busy meeting wonderful book reviewers like Dru Ann Love and writers and other business professionals. It's been non-stop motion since I got here. My poor roommate is doing at least two things a day. Where I am lucky and get to sit in the break room whenever I want. Sometimes it's good to be part of the masses.
Cheers my friends. I hope your weekend is joyful!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Sept 14

I got revision notes for my latest cozy mystery. I love to see what my agent thinks. Then it's a puzzle for me to figure out how to make that happen. When I first started many books ago, I would have been put off by revisions. But these days I encourage opinions. It doesn't mean that I will follow them all, but it helps me to improve the work and for me that is the most important thing. I want to be successful and if that means a rewrite or a word search, then I'm all over it. I am so invested in my stories. It breaks my heart when they aren't selling. So I work hard to ensure they are the best they can be so that more people enjoy them.
Writers, how do you feel about revisions?

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sept 13

Well, my blogging friends, how is your social media doing? Have you done any Google analytics to see page views. Are your numbers going up or down now that the kids are back in school? I see my numbers rise in September. But I wonder what it's like for YA authors, do your numbers go down or up with the return of school and all it's activities?
I think there is a place for blogs and it shows when the numbers come back that many people get to my website through blogs.
Readers, do you have more time or less for social media when school starts? Inquiring minds want to know. Cheers~

Monday, September 12, 2011

Sept 12

The grapes are starting to turn purple. I have noticed trees with red leaves. Some are half red while others are still pure green. People are putting out their Fall decorations of scarecrows (that scare no one) and red/orange/yellow-colored mums. The geese are flying over head in V formations. I suspect they will begin to come back to the lake for their annual ten o'clock coffee break.This area lost a lot of trees this summer. The weather was bad between drought and strong storms that tore off branches and split trunks. Then the bugs came and feasted on the damage. Slowly the trees are being cut down. The limbs sectioned into firewood. The air is dry and scented with bonfire smoke. Fat squirrels run about burying nuts for winter storage. I have yet to see the deer this year. I wonder why they are not coming by this way. Perhaps there is more food somewhere else. Little dog tells me that chipmunk has been up on the deck again. I need to keep an eye on the fruit and ensure I get it first.S easons change daily, but life...life goes on in known cycles. It's comforting. Isn't it?

Friday, September 9, 2011

Sept 9

Yay Friday~ It has been a crazy short week. September ramps up for writers as the fall releases start to come out and the publishers, editors and agents are back at work after a leisurely summer. I'm having fun with my new story idea. Plus working on new stuff for my next release. Then there is website stuff to update and more. So, it's going to be a busy weekend.
If you're a reader do you buy more books come Fall? Are you thinking Christmas already or are you simply happy to have the kids back to school?
If you're a writer, tell me about your latest release and what kind of promo you're doing. Inquiring minds want to know. Cheers~

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Sept 8

Its a Thursday that "feels" like Wednesday due to the holiday on Monday. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing because it is almost the weekend already and a bad thing because there is more work than usual to fill the hours. I'm working on a new mystery series as well as a young adult horror/thriller novel. No worries there is humor in my horror.  I guess that is because I see humor in everything. It keeps the hardships of life less of a burden when you see the ridiculous in them.
What is your favorite genre to read and/or write?

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sept 7

The grapes on my back deck are beginning to turn purple. Right now they are a dusky red. The air is scented with concord grape. It smells purple. The neighbors gave me a bag full of tomatoes from their garden. Mine are still mostly green. It has cooled off and I am worrying that frost will come before the plants fully produce. If that happens, we'll figure out what to do with green tomatoes and green grapes- perhaps a relish.
Do you know of a good green tomato recipe? Cheers~

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Sept 6

I'm going through my inbox. What a mess. There are stacks and piles in the basket. So it's time to figure out what stays, what goes, what's due and what can be put off.  I did get some critiquing done this weekend. I got signed copies of my new contracts out. That's always good. I did write my weekly letter to my grandmother. It's an excuse to use stationary and practice my handwriting-which sucks since I type everything. There is some mail I wanted to reread. A book borrowed from a friend. Notes on my new job. An invoice on a skirt I bought on-line. Gah!
The good news is that nothing has tipped over and scattered on the floor. Not yet anyway.
How busy is your Sept?

Monday, September 5, 2011

Sept 5

A cold front has come through and the temperature dropped about twenty degrees F. The windows are open and the breeze blowing in making me chilly. I have a sweater on. Here in the US it's Labor Day and the official end of the summer season. The fashion industry once again debates whether it is fashion forward or a no-no to wear white after labor day. As for me, I try to avoid white at all costs because I'm a hot mess and white will be quickly stained and ruined if I wear it. One bump of my coffee cup or a stray spurt of ketchup or even just brushing by something dark or greasy. For that matter I sat in gum at the movie theater a few weeks back and ended up tossing a pair of slacks. So for me, white is always a no-no. As for my messiness. I embrace and accept it. I work around it. Mostly I don't worry about it. It can sometimes bring a good laugh to a sober day. Happy holiday my friends. Cheers~

Friday, September 2, 2011

Sept 2

Yesterday I saw the first signs of Fall. I drove to pick my daughter up from college for the weekend and passed a farm with a line of colorful flags on either side of the driveway and small signs that read: pumpkins, corn maze, hay rack rides, caramel apples, and- my favorite- cider donuts. It brought back memories of taking my kids to one such farm to pick out their pumpkin for carving later-or painting if we decided to cook and eat it. Fresh apple cider and donuts are special parts of Fall I look forward to, although these days for me it's gluten free donuts as I have a gluten allergy (celiac). The memories flow of college and football games and bon fires and fun.
What memories do you have of Fall?

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Sept 1

Welcome in a new month~ this month I will be attending my first conference in a few years. Bouchercon is taking place in St. Louis and I am hoping to do some networking and learn a few things along the way. Bcon is my first foray into the mystery writer community and with my new sale to Berkley Prime Crime~ the Gluten Free Bakery mystery series, its time I became more familiar with the mystery/thriller world.
I know some writers who attend every conference they can. While that would be fun, I think it would be exhausting and they must have to write while they attend to keep up. I'd rather attend one or two conferences a year and give them my entire focus.
Bcon is a conference for writers but mostly for fans of mystery books. Do you ever attend a conference as a fan? If so, what are your favorite moments?