This Day in History

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1940 - Glenn Miller records "Pennsylvania 6-5000"

I love this because it proves that even amidst war and sadness, humanity, kindness and joy prevail.
My gosh! It's toe-tapping enthusiasm. I can imagine Glenn directing the orchestra, "No. Stand up and shout! I want every last creature -- including that fly on the wall way in the back -- to hear you above the saxes and trumpets. Now, again, with me, Pennsylvania 6-5000!" He'd punctuate with his baton and then laugh when they did it the way he wanted.
And people would dance.
*sigh*
It was a different time, perhaps not better and maybe not worse...
But certainly enchanting.

Thursday Thirteen

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It's the old, thirteen-things-on-my-desk trick.

1. webcam - we use it ALOT!

2. mouse - ditto

3. two candle sticks - with 2 baptismal candles in them. We didn't know if we could throw them away but were tired of "retaining" them. So we're burning them instead.

4. camera - I've been tracking plant growth.



5. glucose monitor

6. sunglasses - unfortunately, the desk is a catch all...of sorts. Not as bad as a junk drawer, but you know... keys, wallets, suglasses...and

7. mail - not really happy about this but it's convenient and 'in the box' as in, I don't know where else to put it possibly because I'm not thinking outside of the box. :D

8. DSL box - it's AT&T...our DSL box from verizon didn't work with AT&T service which stuck in my craw PLUS, our verizon had a wireless option where as this little thing is DSL stand alone...if we were ever to upgrade we'd need a different box. Grrr.

9. Thomas and friends VHS -

10. a Pencil Holder full of Pens and pencils - still they disappear!

11. speakers

12. printer - YAY! a really great thing for those days I wanna get away from the desk and still work.

13. The Fax Machine! - I love this thing. I love being about to say, let me fax that to you. It's an older model but that's actually better. My parents have one with all these buttons on it... and I couldn't quite get it to do exactly what I wanted. So. I'm happy.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
Thursday Thirteen is a meme.
Get to know other T13 participants HERE.


Enter, The Muses

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What do you do when you get a new idea?

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Our Muses. Giving us ideas at likely the most inopportune times. Me? I've got a completed manuscript I'm revising and editing and another [almost] finished manuscript that I put aside several weeks ago to write the completed one. I'm not going to even mention my short story/prompt folder... All ideas that will someday be brought to life again.

So, why oH WHY do I get an absolutely WONDERFUL idea for another book? I can't stop thinking about it! So, I've jotted down the notes, the basic ideas, descriptions and feelings. It has a folder on my USB -- Jake and Tara. [my folders are mostly named for the main characters!] Now, I just need a key in order to lock them up and keep them quiet until I'm finished with what I've started.

I should call a pharmeceutical company. Perhaps they can develop something to treat LSS, Last Scene Syndrome. I'm sure I have it and if there's a drug out there that won't cause headaches, gas or oily discharge, I might invest.

PLEASE, HELP! WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL YOUR IDEAS?

Now, I'm safe

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Quoted from Monk after he moves an out-of-place item back into place in his kitchen...and there are dirty rotten scoundrels after him.


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I feel so much better right now... like i'm not stuck in a lighthouse on an island off the coast of Blogland. :) I love lighthouses but the entire theme was starting to crimp my style.

So, tata to the lighthouse and *sigh* thank heavens for blue. I do love the color blue.

Don't be confused. It's still little ol' me, aspiring author and writer of romantic suspense stories. my url is the same although I've reverted to more the more familiar apellative, Bethanne.

Thanks for sticking with me. I love having visitors!

Fiction Friday -- Certain Suspicions

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Wow, I haven't pulled this old thing out of the closet in some time! But a writer on the Wild Rose Press chat loop started a conversation, things were talked about, stories were mentioned...

And I thought of this: The first novel I ever wrote...in it's 8th draft [AT LEAST!] I read it now and see so many things that I need to fix. Please forgive them. I actually hate this scene. It's the hero and heroine -- their first encounter within the story. Personality flaws are glaringly obvious... As a matter of fact, one author said of my hero. He will not appeal to the reader. He is too unlikable. At the time, I sat dejected, staring at the screen thinking, what the hell do I do now? Today, I would have thanked her. Thank you! That is as it should be. If our characters were perfect at the beginning of the story, there would be NO STORY!

Thanks to Alice Audrey. *waving* Hi! I'm posting an excerpt from the first manuscript I ever completed. ENJOY IT!


Certain Suspicions
by Bethanne Strasser
Another day went by before Jim came to see her. Danielle’s disappointment was unwarranted but she couldn’t stop it. She used all of her stubborn will in order to shield her heart from becoming completely lost to this man. She had protected herself through grief and heartache for ten years. She wouldn’t crumble under the pressure now.

So she pretended not to notice how he filled the doorway with his broad shoulders. How his sandy colored hair was longer than she had ever seen it before. She liked it. It was a carefree side of him that he rarely showed to even his closest friends. Neither his gloriously muscled physique nor the anger that radiated from his green eyes could determine his vocation as the owner and headmaster at a boy’s school.

The grin she gave him was most likely lopsided from the swelling and bruising but she made an effort anyway. "Hi."

He awkwardly carried pretty flowers in the store provided vase. She watched his hands gently place it on the table—they shook and her gaze shifted quickly to his face.

"I…" He stopped, cleared his throat. "…you look horrible, Dan."

She had always been able to count on him for honesty. "Uh, thanks?"

He didn’t apologize just moved to the bed and with the tip of his finger, touched her face. "Are they giving you enough for the pain?"

"Yes. They gave me my last dose this morning. I go home this afternoon. It’ll be Tylenol with codeine from here on in." She watched him sit across the room in the guest chair where he lifted and lowered himself twice before settling in. His leg bounced on the tile floor and she narrowed her eyes. Was he angry as she had thought or just nervous?

"What the hell, Danielle!"

"Excuse me?"

"Brian tells me you aren’t coming home. I want to know why."
She didn’t like his tone of voice at all even if she did understand the frustration bottled up inside of him. She’d known him long enough to identify that tendency. It stemmed from being the ward of an abusive uncle for the first ten years of his life and although his temper occasionally denied the fact, Jim did not like conflict. "Jesus Dannie, what are you thinking?"

"I’m thinking about the safety of the people I love, damn it." She knew he hated swearing but since he started it…

He took a deep breath. "Your father is out of his mind with worry. Brian very nearly had to sit him when he heard you were here. Are you really going to hurt him by not coming home? Your family can take care of you."

He was suggesting her greatest fear. She couldn’t stand the thought of anyone she loved being hurt or worse, being dead. No, she had to stay here in the city. It was her only viable option. "That’s sweet of you Jim, but it’s just not necessary right now. The policeman told me he had several leads and Frank’s here, too."

Dannie was being purposefully sweet yet determined in her plight. But he watched her closely as the heat of guilt warmed her neck.

"How long have we known each other, Dannie?"

She lifted her shoulder. "Twelve years." Apprehension tightened the muscles in her shoulders.

"I think you can cut the bull. I can’t believe you would do this." His disappointment unexpectedly bit into her conscience. The defeated quality of his voice tore a hole in her heart. "I don’t want to fight you anymore. You’ll be safe at home and your dad needs you, Dan. Don’t make him beg, please. Someone wants to hurt you." He faced the wall, his back rigid. "I’m not sure I want to wait around for you to get killed."

"And what the hell does that mean?" Were they friends or weren’t they? She hadn’t expected an ultimatum. God, her head hurt.

He shook his head and turned to her. "Stop running away, Dannie. Face this thing and come home."

His eyes spoke to her like they hadn’t since she was in high school and her mouth moved but no sound escaped. She cleared her throat.

Leaning over her bed, he pierced her with those damn eyes. "Make your choice Dannie…"

Qualifying a Romance

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What makes a Romance Novel romance?

I'm contemplating comparisons. Here's one thing I love about a romance novel: the Happily Ever After [HEA]. Perhaps you like a little reality check...or maybe you stick with the fantasy of a-okay. Me? I like them intertwined. I like an epilogue with grit but relational longevity. You know what I mean?

Let me tell you something about the series I've read in the past.
Before getting into romance, I devoured Stephen White's [doesn't he look a tiny bit like you expect Rob Winter from Karen Rose's book, Don't Tell to look? I think it's the mustache.] books about a psychologist in Denver who always ended up in some sticky situation solving one murder or another. Heart-pounding thrills, a hottie hero and a compelling secondary cast. At some point in the series... Our hero started having some bumpy issues with the loved one, his wife who suffered from MS.

Shame on me, I don't know what happened to them. I couldn't get past this blip... his second thoughts. And when Sam, a cop and his friend, experienced some infidelity [and he was one of the solid characters: long time marriage, happy family...] well, my fantasy started unraveling. I felt for him, felt for everyone, but I wasn't sure the story was going to satisfy my inner need for the HEA so I stopped reading...

I ask myself, what happened? Is it the masculine influence of the author? Maybe, but probably not.

Let's just say, Stephanie Plum is really getting close! I have to add my disclaimer: I've never read one but I think I'll have to. A steady relationship is something anyway...right? Maybe. But there are 14 Janet Evanovich books! That's a long time for a relationship to muck through. I think. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. And maybe they're happy... I'm not sure I would be.

What do you think? Do you read for the HEA? Do you write a book with the HEA in mind or do your characters dictate?

Me? I want nitty-gritty survivors. I know life isn't all flowers and song, but a true hero or heroine WORK. :D

Getting Tagged...and chastised, You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.

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That's what I've been told by wordpress 5 times while trying to post a comment on Kaige's blog. :(

I've been tagged though...
So this should be fun! :D

I’ve been tagged by Kaige.

You’re feeling: cool and relaxed.

To your left: Open space...or a filing cabinet...a little further, the kitchen.

On your mind: How to beef up my story...enhance the romance, clarify the plot, make it sellable.

Last meal included: lunch, crackers and cheese.

You sometimes find it hard to: be patient.

The weather: mostly cloudy, cool and windy.

Something you have a collection of: nothing, I just don't collect things... I don't think.

A smell that cheers you up: chocolate

A smell that can ruin your mood: microwaved hotdogs. [ew.]

How long since you last shaved: this morning.

The current state of your hair: REALLY long overdue for a haircut, frizzym shapeless and long. ICK. My hubby gets one without fail AT LEAST every two months. I haven't had a haircut in 2 years. I'm starting to feel some resentment.

The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): Samsung printer.

Your skill with chopsticks: rotten

Which section do you head for first in a bookstore: fiction/romance/suspense-thriller

Something you’re craving: cake with frosting.

Your general thoughts on the presidential race: I plan to vote.

How many times have you been hospitalized this year: 0

Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: bed

You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: gun handler.

Something that freaks you out a little: nothing...that I can think of off hand.

Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: peanut butter.

You have never: eaten snail.

You never want to: eat snail.

4 people I am tagging: Esmerelda Bishop, Ally Kendall, Michael Klein, and Dianna Street

The Big Finale

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T13





Thirteen Top lines from Espionage eh trois [JK, it's an untitled WW2 story about spies :D]


This is thirteen "top" lines. That's the first[top] line from thirteen pages typed double-spaced [TNR and 12]. I can't help it. I finished the revisions today and want to celebrate. :D

1. page one: With a full-out grin, Mark walked through the cool, humid morning air to the bed and sat next...

2. page ten: She frowned inwardly at his flippantly spoken words. Was she being deceitful? She...

3. page twenty: Mark slugged him and picked up the pace. Yeah, he could think of a few things to do… ...[i love these things, btw ... i have a critique partner telling me I should delete more! LOL]

4. page thirty: “I believe there’s a military base close to here.” He slowed as she stuck her head back in...

5. page forty: “I know. I have things to tell you as well. We’ll talk, don’t worry. Now, though, we’ll... [Ooo, that's fun. I wonder what they'll do?]

6. page fifty: “What the hell? Of course we’re going to make it.” He backed up in surprise. “Oh my...

7. page sixty: She was just so tired.

8. page seventy: Come on, get on with it! Get in and go.

9. page eighty: ...much, yet too little at the same time. He sighed as would be expected. “It’ll be nice to have...

10. page ninety: ...solid blow to the temple. He hit the desk with a loud thunk. Mark held him by his short, greasy...

11. page one hundred: Henry sighed and rested his hands on the top of the steering wheel. “No. I think you will...

12. page one hundred and ten: Mark grunted. They’d been married only a day when he left… She had no idea what...

13. Last line: The End





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Writing at Work

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I write at work. *Gasp*
My job is taking care of four children, their home and their father.

Right now, I've been working overtime.

The youngest has been up at night. I've been getting calls at 1 am or 3 am. Occasionally, the call will come before midnight even occurs and I'll be ticked that I haven't forced myself to bed. And perhaps it is my fault. I should go to bed instead of sit here thinking just one more page of edits is worth it. :)

Tonight I'll head to bed early with hopes that i'll be sleeping when my alarm rings at 6am.

Because, wouldn't it be nice to get some writing in before I have to go to work at 7am? I don't think it would matter, though. I'd still steal a few moments here and there to jot down a few thoughts or add that scene that's been stuck in my head.

I guess I'm lucky that I'm a stay-at-home-mom.
:D


Thursday Thirteen

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POINTS OF COURAGE - I love this for it's self-esteem boosting.
I've never been a self-esteem guru. Typically, I've rolled my eyes at such psychobabble, mumbo-jumbo. I mean, a C is a C! Average. You can do better if you put your mind to it! Well, I'm mellowing. Not due to age, mind you...
Here's the system, we're implementing over at Romance Divas. It's a bit of motivation to keep pushing at the edges of the envelope, to take another step towards success. We keep track of what's what with POINTS.

The Point Scale:

Submission :: 1 point (a reward for jumping in the deep end )
Novel sale :: 10 points
Novel rejection :: 5 points
Novella sale :: 6 points
Novella rejection :: 3 points
Story sale :: 2 points
Story rejection :: 1 point
Contest placement (finalist/etc): 4pts
Contest non-placement: 2pts
Request for partial/full/rewrite/etc :: 3 Extra points
Personal editor comment :: 1 Extra point
(1 point for any 2007 submission response received in 2008, regardless of sale/rejection)


Lengths:

Novel :: 50k+
Novella: 15k - 49k
Short story: under 15k
Exemption: Children's and YA novels that are under 50k may be counted as a novel.

Thirteen Quotes of Courage!
1. True courage is not the brutal forceof vulgar heroes, but the firmresolve of virtue and reason. ~Alfred North Whitehead

2. Courage is what it takes to stand upand speak; courage is alsowhat it takes to sit down and listen. ~Winston Churchill

3. He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. ~Muhammad Ali

4. It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. ~Edward Estlin Cummings

5. True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher. ~John Petit-Senn

6. Courage is grace under pressure. ~Ernest Hemingway

7. Give us the fortitude to endure thethings which cannot be changed, and thecourage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdomto know one from the other. ~Oliver J. Hart

8. Courage is almost a contradiction in terms: it means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die. ~Gilbert K. Chesterton

9. Half a man's wisdom goes with his courage. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

10. No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut. ~Channing Pollock

11. The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart. ~Robert Green Ingersoll

12. One man with courage makes a majority. ~Andrew Jackson

13. Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave. ~Mark Twain


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Getting ready for a T13

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I'm SO nervous! Am I prepared to do a T13?
What will I pick to count out? 13 things we still need in the new house?
13 household items not yet unpacked? Or, better yet, NOT put away? Yikes. I better get my butt in gear. Maybe I'll do some pics again. I do love a pictoral T13. I'm such a visual person.

I think that's good for my writing. Seeing a scene... Seeing the emotions...
It doesn't necessarily make it easier to write but it helps for putting the story together in my head. Kind of like a movie. :)

I'm starting page 75 on my edits/revisions[mostly edits now, though]. In the past week I've done another 20? The entire MS is 115 pages. I'm halfway through and doing well for all the other stuff I need to do in a day.

I'm glad you stopped here today.
I'd like to add a little inspiration to your day with a photo from the story I'm editing...which is still untitled. AUGH! Darn titles. I'll have to have a contest I think. A little promo/freestuff deal. Should be good. :) Have a great day! and remember to say a prayer for all of our soldiers, past and present.


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Bringing it Home

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I'm not really sure what that means...
but, we're finally in our new home. We've been here two weeks and have finally hung a few pictures on the walls. :D It's pretty. We don't have a couch and we need a bed BUT we have our pictures. That's nice. Makes it feel more like home.

Outside

It took me a while to get connected... and believe it or not [it's not hard to believe, that's for sure] I got a ton of work done while offline, including revisions for more than half of my World War II story. Looks like I'll have it ready to go soon. smiley face

I should get offline more often. Ha.
I look forward to this new leaf, though.
I'm going to focus on my writing and I want my blogs to reflect it.
I'll start back up with my This Day in History blog.
Tomorrow or Tuesday. I feel like I have a lot of time on my hands.
The days are REALLY long here in Illinois.

I think part of it is that I don't know anyone yet.
The phone doesn't ring. I don't have anywhere to go...
It's kind of nice, actually.