Hello Christmas

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I see you peeking at me from around the corner.

I'm too smart for you...

You can't kill my joy...

So what if there are only FIVE more days left to go shopping?

So what if I don't have a menu put together?

Christmas will be wonderful because I'm with my family...and we don't need lots of presents or perfectly manipulated menus.

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48,582 On the WIP. WHOOT!
951 a day to the NEW YEAR
Must get some more done.

I don't wanna be a Giant

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I braved the snow covered roads today, TWICE, in order to do some shopping. My first stop was a combo grocery and Christmas, the second was just grocery. The first trip I had my youngest with me and the second, my next older [i really can't stand when people say first and second youngest. Is is just me or does that not make sense? and who is the first youngest? The one who was born first and is now older???? Just sayin'].

My third child and I were checking out and he said in a very serious voice, "I don't wanna be a Giant." [it was that tone that indicates I've been telling him to do something for some time and am trying to convince him how wonderful it will be--a little whiny, but mostly desperate pleading] We weren't even talking about Giants...or David...or Monsters, Inc. Nope. Just out of nowhere. He doesn't want to be a Giant. I told him that was fine.

He mentioned a few minutes later that he would stop eating now so he didn't get bigger. [OMGosh. He's so cute.]

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Maybe it's my imagination, but the conversation ignited that paranormal gene inside of my DNA. Wouldn't that be fun if it was a [still cute, yet] serious conversation? It made me think of the stories I've read that encompass shifters and magicians. I can just as easily imagine Jasha and Ann's oldest saying, "I don't wanna be a wolf."
Isn't this what fiction is all about? Creating alternate realities. Imagining a different set of rules. Speaking of rules... This got me thinking a few weeks ago when I asked her opinion on the intimacy issues of my Hero and Heroine. Should they have sex before they are married? Will they wait? She asked me when the story was set because if it was fifty years [or more] ago than it would matter, right? If it's today, it probably doesn't matter.
Well, I can understand her confusion. But I could only respond what I knew in my heart. That I didn't think God's laws had changed. I ruminated on this topic for a while, though didn't ever bring it back up with her. In any case, I think our stories are like that. We make a set of rules, perhaps guidelines, that will dictate how our characters will act AND how those actions will make them feel. There are some rules that we can bend or manipulate or recreate, but there are also the founding rules. In Vicki Pettersson's Scent of Shadows, her superheroes could only cross into a different realm at the exact point between day and night. Changing this would ultimately change the story. I suspect, this is a rule that will very rarely be broken...if it can be broken at all.
On the other hand... my hubby paid the dentist an exorbitant amount of money today because the receptionist told him he had to. A week before Christmas??? OMGosh! I said to him, WHAT?
You should have told her you didn't have your check book. That's what I do.
"My wife lies." He responded, somewhat amused.
"Yes! You didn't have to pay that right now. They could have billed you." Hell, who carries that kind of money anyway? And it's not like they told him before hand and prepared him. UGH! Sheesh. I would have told them I only had a certain amount of money then paid that amount. That way they would know I'm serious. I'm not trying to jip them, but come on!!! A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS?? *eyeroll* *sigh*
Purgatory, anyone?

Fiction Friday

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Ahead of schedule here... just 909 words a day to make my 60,000 word count by the New Year. Yay!


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I don't often read something that makes me giggle, okay I do, but this one was extra special.
Imagine, two [ethno]botanists in the Amazon, both scarred by events that have taken place over the past few years. Now they are together, fighting evil to save a culture.
Hero: Working for money-grubbing riverlord in order to get to the REAL bad guy. He is hired to transport a woman up river to a science refuge.
Heroine: Says she is going back to science refuge to retrieve previous work. Really is looking for revenge against the REAL bad guy because he captured her and tortured her.
There's something about fiction that is GREAT!
Anyway, believe it or not, they fall in love.
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Fiction Friday is brought to you by Glenna McReynolds and her book, River of Eden.
I am really liking this book. Don't let this tiny blip fool you. It is well written and plotted.
It's not a trashy romance novel.
[Indian shaman speaking to hero] "You should take your woman to the river," the shaman advised. "Wash her in the warm water and put your seed inside her to calm her down. Do this every day and feed her only fish and fruit. Then she won't be so wild."

Monday Goals

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Last night, Matt said, "We could watch an episode of Arrested Development."

"Okay," I replied, closed down my work on the computer and settled onto the couch with a blanket and my book.

Matt followed me into the living room and proceded to putz around with the entertainment center, closed the blinds, too...

I finished the paragraph I'd been reading and looked up. "Aren't we going to watch a Bluth?"

"You mean now?" he asked with that look in his eyes. [No! Not that one. The blank one.]

"Yeah, come on. I could be writing," I said as he walked by me to go change into some sweats.

"TYPING!" He called out.

I laughed. "That's right. I'm a typer. I've been typing for about 5 years."

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Really though, aren't we writers because a long time ago people with a story to tell actually used a pen and paper? They wrote. Well, unless I'm plotting or Keyboardless, I rarely write anymore. I type. I'm a typer. An aspiring Novelist, NOT an aspiring romance writer. LOL Just a thought...
It's Monday. I've reached 38, 252 words. It's like being able to see the end but not wanting to get my hopes up too much, because it's still a lot of work ahead of me.
Goals:
1. Write at least 2K
2. Crit something
3. Again, Blog
4. Read a book

Fiction Friday

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“I wouldn't have recognized your mother here.” He picked up one of the loose photographs. Behind it was one of her most treasured pieces. If she could drag him bodily away, he might not see it.

She took the picture of her mother from his hand and turned away from the shelves to look at it. “She's lost a lot of weight. She smokes to much and drinks. She got sick right after this picture was taken.”

“You took care of her?” He stared at the picture on the shelf.

“Yes, of course.” She cleared her throat wishing she'd hidden that picture. “Wouldn't you like to go down and get something to drink? Better yet, shouldn't you go home?”

Ignoring her, he picked up the one. Framed in cheap, dollar store plastic that she'd bought when she was fourteen, was a grainy picture of Thad and herself. A sunny, summer day when they'd gone fishing. He probably didn't even remember her being there. The Mason boys and Jeannie[thad's sister], Bobby and his girlfriend had all marched down to the homestead creek.
Her second summer in Coopersville she'd been eleven. Big-eyed and mesmerized by the boy next door. Unfortunately, he hadn't been so much a boy, but a grown man. In this one instant though, he'd leaned against the fence where she sat and asked her if she was having fun. Jeannie had called out and as one they'd both looked up with huge grins on their faces from laughing about how Thomas had fallen in the creek.

“This is great. I can't believe you have it.”

She shrugged. She'd tossed aside her childhood crush, but hadn't had the heart to get rid of it. Even when she'd decided to hate him, she hadn't been typical. No burning session after a night of beer with her girlfriends, no Edward Scissorhands to mutilate it. “Seemed a shame to throw it away.”

Seriously, could he ignore her request to go downstairs any more blatantly?

He set it gently back on the shelf. “What are you so nervous about?”

“I'm not nervous.” Her house shoes were under the bed. She slipped them on. “It's weird having you in my bedroom.”

He started wandering again and leaned onto the bed with his palms flat against the quilt. “Nice. Firm, yet soft.”

She lifted a brow.

Turning, he sat then bounced a couple of times. “Good bounce.”

She pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh. “Are you finished?”

“Wait,” Thad said pointing his finger. He leaned back against her pillows and headboard. “Good support. Comfy.”

“Thank—”

“So, who is this Roarke to you?” He patted the bed for her to come and sit beside him.

She snorted with a shake of her head. “You want to talk about my past lovers?” Heat rose on her neck at the implication. God. She had to get out of here. “Roarke wasn't a lover. He was a good friend. His wife was in my nursing class. I babysat for them occasionally and he gave me guitar lessons.” She huffed. “Why am I explaining this to you? I'm going downstairs now.”

Thad watched her clear the doorway, heard her feet on the stairs before he blew out the huge breath he'd been holding. Holy moly, he was in serious trouble. “Get a grip.”

A workshop review

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I joined Candace Haven's Write_Workshop last week.
The assignment is to write a positive review.

Bottom line in a review for me is how much did I like the book. The part about why isn't always addressed as easily as the negative. Why is it so easy to point out the negative?

I've decided that my new goal in writing [and on my review blog] is to make a solid list of likes when I read a book. Even the worst book ever written has to have something likable in it. Even if it's just one tiny little phrase that made me chuckle or think or smile or snort.

I'd like to have a smart list of things to apply to my own work, rather than a long obnoxious list of things I would never do [but probably will do anyway]. ;-)

The timing on this assignment couldn't have come at a better time. As you can see in my side bar, I'm reviewing another Harlequin Intrigue this Sunday for TGOB. This is my third HI. And it's the third time I've been disappointed. Ugh! I don't want to be disappointed anymore!

One thing that makes this review hard to do is that I visited Kathleen Long's webpage. And I found a nice person, friendly, dedicated, passionate--someone like myself. I know that sounds crazy, but I really don't want to talk badly about a nice person... even if my head tells me it's not the person I'm reviewing.

POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT A NECESSARY RISK.
1. pacing--Ms. Long took her time to create a fast paced story.
2. plot--the story was well plotted. With a few red herrings, she kept me guessing.

I really think Kathleen Long's book has potential. My biggest beef was the balance of suspense to romance. It was hard for me to believe her hero and heroine knew each other well enough to have fallen head over heels. I wouldn't mind reading a few more of her books to see how she has developed her craft. For a more in depth review remember to visit The Girls on Books this Sunday.

What is your bottom line after reading a book?
Is it easier for you to point out the negative or the positive?
How does reading and reviewing help you on your journey to publication?

Thankful to be Home -- Monday Goals

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I worked a total of about 30 minutes over the holiday weekend.

My hubby and I took the kids to my sister's house in Michigan. She has seven kids. I have four. They had a BLAST! It would be wonderful to live near them... Maybe someday.

My entire family was there, so it was a good time for everyone. Kate lives at the top of a hill. Out her front door is a nice, long drop to the road that sent the kids into winter extreme heaven. Imagine--7 boys, one girl, 5 sleds and snow--my sister and I didn't hear from the kids for GOBS of time. It was awesome! They live off the main road a good ways so there was almost no worry. One busted lip, which is par for the course--just part of growing up. :)

When Saturday finally rolled around, my third had decided it was time to go home. The poor little trooper made it through most of the day without a complaint, but by bedtime, he had informed me several times that it was time to go home. There is nothing like going home...

It's regularly scheduled programming.
It's not forgetting where the bathroom is and having an accident.
It's a light in the hallway at night.
It's finding your mom where you expect her to be.
It's watching TV when you're in stimulation overload and need a break.
It's having your older sibling's attention.
Home.
It's where the heart is....

Ba dump, pshhhhh. <--it's too corny not to end with the old drum and cymbals joke fanfare.

This week.
  1. write a lot. i mean, alot, alot.
  2. blog--must get back into it, even if it means being boring
  3. read a book
  4. love my babies
  5. love my man
  6. love God

Speaking of God. I was so irritated with this [possibly, but i'm a cynic] down-on-his-luck-guy at a rest area today. He came up to our car, told us he was a Christian minister, gave us a story about a son he lost in Iraq, pointed out his Ford Ranger and described how he used to have a bigger better truck...could we spare a few dollars. Ugh! I was so irritated. When my hubby said, "No. I'm sorry. I don't have any cash." The guy actually scoffed, made a comment about how nobody would help him. I couldn't believe the gall. And he used Jesus [and a son who may or may not exist and who may or may not have died in Iraq] to...what? Shame people into giving him money? Now, if the guy had run out of gas and needed a helping hand, he should have just asked for it. I'm more than willing to help out someone in need. Don't play me, though. I hate that.

Have a great week everyone.

What do you Blog?

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Do you ever look at your blog and think, I should just shut this thing down. I love my blog, really. It has elements of me all over it, but it also feels limiting. Weird, I know. Let me explain.

I was blog hopping, started at my sisters blog and jumped through a few virtual hoops by following her follower list. Read some wonderful posts by friends from my childhood... acquaintances and family. That's when I realized, I didn't have anything spontaneous on my blog anymore. It was all very calculated. Even with the Blog Menu at the right being so new, there's always been a theme of some sort...

usually in the way of writing. I LOVE WRITING.

But, sometimes, I wonder if my blog represents my voice very much... bottom line right now: after doing this Menu bit for a few weeks, I'm bored. :P That's not good! I don't know what to do! I'm going to think on it....

and get back to my manuscript, which is at 29, 861 words. Eeek! close to half done. Phew.