The Bandwagon

eReader Daily News: Midnight Sun by MJ Fredrick

2011-12-22T08:29:00.000-06:00

eReader Daily News: Midnight Sun by MJ Fredrick: Midnight Sun by MJ Fredrick Genre: Romance This wasn’t the adventure she’d signed up for… A sexy boss, a rough crossing, and pirates—all...

Sunrise Over Texas by M.J. Fredrick Review

2010-11-23T19:24:00.000-06:00

Sunrise Over Texas by M.J. Fredrick Review

Nine Naughty Novelists: Guest Blogger MJ Fredrick - My Secret Plotting Weapon

2010-09-14T05:31:00.000-05:00

Nine Naughty Novelists: Guest Blogger MJ Fredrick - My Secret Plotting Weapon

Pack Your Bags

2010-07-04T09:25:00.001-05:00

We're moving. I'm going to keep this blog for now in case Wordpress makes me mad, but new updates will be at the new site.

Goals for the Week SURFACE RELEASES!!!

2010-07-04T02:47:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Happy 4th of July, everyone! Celebrate safely!

1) celebrate, and drive to different stores to see if it’s there

2) celebrate 4^th of July

3) work on Midnight Sun (7000 words, please)

4) revise short story, write synopsis and query, submit

5) judge last contest entry

6) Get this website thing squared away

7) Write 3 guest blogs

8) paint MIL’s interior

9) get Cindi’s son a bday present

10) get ds’s girlfriend a bday present

11) exercise

12) keep up house

Heroine Types I Don't Like

2010-07-03T02:38:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Yes, it really is 2:30 AM as I write this. My boy cat was in a fight outside the window and I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to get up and write, since the dh took over the computer last night. (Yes, we need a new computer. Haven't exactly decided which option we want to go with, though--netbook, iPad or splurge and get a new Macbook.)

I was reading that book I was telling you about the other day, Suddenly One Summer, and I just don't like the main heroine. It's not her, particularly, but her type. The closed-off type, the one who doesn't let anyone in and wants to do it all herself. This one is particularly serious, as well, which doesn't heighten her appeal. I'm trying to think of other books that I've seen this type of heroine in and I can't.

Another kind I don't like is the too-tough heroine, which probably means urban fantasy isn't for me. Interestingly, these two heroines have something in common, I guess. I wouldn't say Jenna in SOS is too-tough, so they're not the same type, really, just similar.

Busy day ahead--post office, UPS store, Goodwill, library and Walgreens, then my cousin's in town and wants to meet up. Hope I can get back to sleep. Maybe after I write something....

Something to Talk About

2010-07-02T05:46:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I was looking for a home for Something to Talk About. After some poking around, I sent it to Lyrical Press, and this week they sent me a contract, saying they loved it. Finally! No idea about release or print or any of that yet, as I've just signed the contract. But STTA has a home.

I'm also trying to move my website and blog to Wordpress. I feel like a bit of a traitor, since I've been on Blogger forever, and I love my new template here, and all the widgets I can use. But I hate updating my website and Wordpress makes it so easy. Also, it's very pretty. I'm trying to figure out how to point it to my mjfredrick.com, that's the only delay.

I finished revisions on Road Signs LATE last night, and spent most of yesterday morning watching The Tudors and rereading Midnight Sun. I'd planned to insert a storm, but it seems I'd already done that. Blast. Today, I'm going to fix the query and synopsis for Road Signs, then get to work on MS, after a morning of breakfast and shopping with Mom and BB. Hope to get my carry-on luggage for my weekend in MN.

The Ideas...The IDEAS!!!

2010-07-01T05:32:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Eight years ago, we were driving to the Grand Canyon through New Mexico and the dh said, "I wonder what's down that road." An image came to my head, a rundown house, a corral, a man who worked as a vet and took care of his alcoholic brother and delayed sister. I knew his story was that his father had killed his mother and was coming home from prison.

I just didn't know who the heroine was. I thought maybe she was a lawyer hired when the father was accused of killing again, but I thought a romantic suspense would be too complex.

Last night I think I figured out who she would be, a social worker who threatens the hero's view that he can take care of everything by himself.

Only this story has to wait. I have my cruise ship story to write next, two books I want to rework for HAR, and a post-apocalyptic story. That's not even thinking about the hostage negotiator story or the RS series I want to write or the three historicals I have in mind. And I write every day. I need a clone.

Book Recommendations

2010-06-30T05:06:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I've read some good books this summer, and I've read a lot more than usual, about 2 books a week.

The one I'm reading right now is called SUDDENLY ONE SUMMER by Barbara Freethy. I think it's the first in a series that takes place on the central coast of CA, in a seaside town. It's a contemporary romance, but has elements of the paranormal--angels are leaving messages carved in the cliff overlooking the sea--and romantic suspense--if I tell you that, it will spoil the surprise. It has wonderful characters, all of whom have their own conflicts and concerns that makes you root for them. I already have the second book on my wish list.

I really enjoyed EXCLUSIVELY YOURS by Shannon Stacey, too, one of Carina's launch books. It's a great reunion romance, focusing on the hero and heroine, but set at a campground, of all places, surrounded by his family. It has a great mix of humor and tenderness, and will be the topic of discussion at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books book club.

DISASTER STATUS by Candace Calvert was another book that I was thinking about after it was over. I absolutely loved charge nurse Erin and her grandmother, and thought she was just what firefighter Scott needed to snap him out of his shell. It's inspirational but not preachy. Can't wait until book 3 comes out!

What have you read lately?

Guilty Pleasure Movies

2010-06-29T05:44:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I was bummed to read in Entertainment Weekly that Sunday was a Jaws marathon on Encore. I LOVE Jaws. I enjoyed Jaws 2. But my guilty pleasure is Jaws 3. I love that ridiculous ridiculous 3D movie. I love that it's set at a Sea World. I love that they have an underwater part at the Sea World. I love the cheese.

I also love Christmas Vacation. I think I watched it a dozen times last December. I always think I'm going to watch whichever part is coming up next, but then I get sucked in. I crack up at the lights, the houseguests, the squirrel.

And the movie Soapdish--have you seen it? Robert Downey Jr, Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Sally Field, set in the backstage world of a soap opera. It's a reunion romance (hey, I forgot this one!) and a secret baby, and RDJ is delicious. Also Kevin Kline.

What are your guilty pleasure movies?

Wish Lists

2010-06-28T05:48:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I'm still thinking hard about getting the Nook, but have about 40 books I'm not sure I can transfer. I'm going to tweet someone today who I know went from an iPod Touch to a Nook and ask her.

In anticipation of that, I downloaded all my books from Fictionwise and put them on Calibre. I have no idea what I was doing, so that may or may not work.

I didn't see where one could make a wish list on bn.com when it came to ebooks, so I poked around and found one, then moved items from my Amazon wish list to bn.com. Overall, it seems the books are more expensive, though I did get CHILL by Stephanie Rowe for $3. But I like how the bn.com wishlist shows the prices, so I can see at a glance if anything changes. Right now they have the new Robyn Carr for a good price, but I'm 4 books behind in the Virgin River series...

Does anyone here use Calibre? Can someone explain it to me?

Goals for the last week of June

2010-06-27T05:55:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Goals for the Last Week of June

1) Barbecue with my cp and her daughter, who I haven’t seen in 7 years

2) Catch up with Cindi, whose oldest son’s birthday is today

3) Grocery store

4) Library

5) Finish revisions on short story and submit (Halfway through the 65 pages already)

6) Finish revisions to Road Signs and submit (I’m up to p. 100 already)

7) Work on new short story

8) Newsletter (MUST) and website—hope I get the final copy of my Sunrise cover soon!

9) Read Coven for Trish

10) Contest entry

11) Go to 1 more bookstore to see if they’ll order Surface

12) A day with Mom and BB

13) Continue exercising

14) Clean house and yard—brush pick-up is this week

Works in Progress

2010-06-24T04:09:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I blogged at Leah Braemel's blog and Toni Anderson commented that she'd heard so much about my book. I'm thinking, yes, she has heard a lot. We used to be on Sub Care on eHarlequin together, and then we started following each other's blogs, and y'all know, I write a LOT about my works in progress.

Last night I started Anna Louise Lucia's DANGEROUS LIES. I remember when she was aiming it for Silhouette Intimate Moments and called it "Danglies." Funny to be reading the novel now.

I have Toni's SEA OF SUSPICION, which I remember her writing mostly because of the Sean Bean pictures.

I have Kelly Parra's CRIMINAL INSTINCTS, which I remember from her selling to Bombshell just before the line closed.

I have Stephanie Feagan's Pink books, which I remember her writing from our GH email loop. (Can't wait to read Mephisto!)

Colleen Gleason's Gardella series came from a comment on our GH loop about how Anne Mallory's first cover looked like an old fashioned Buffy.

EDITED TO ADD: I can't believe I forgot Marianne's ONE LOVE FOR LIV, back when it was called ISN'T SHE LIV LEIGH! My excuse is that the book is on my keeper shelf, not my TBR :)

I feel connections to these books because I saw the process, the behind-the-scenes looks. Do you ever buy books for that reason?

Guest Blogging and Temptation

2010-06-23T06:57:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I'm guest blogging today at Leah Braemel's blog about writing the reunion romance.

I've been tempted all week to get the Nook. It's $149 right now and I know Marianne loves hers and Shannon Stacey said you can get the Adobe epub books from the library on it. Last night my finger hovered above the buy button.

But I resisted. Why? I finished reading the excellent Disaster Status by Candace Calvert and scrolled through my other books to see what to read next.

And scrolled.

LOTS of books on the eReader, which has the books I got from Fictionwise, which can't be read on the Nook, at least, the ones from the big publishers.

Quite a few books on the Kindle for the iPhone.

Yeah, I can't justify the expense until I read a bunch of those. Maybe for Christmas....

I may finish my short story for TWRP's reunion series today. Only 2 more big scenes to go.

Goals for the Week of Father's Day

2010-06-20T05:06:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

This week I should only be working on 2 books at a time instead of 3 :)

1) celebrate Father’s Day and the dh’s birthday

2) visit with my oldest writing friend, who’ll be in town this week. We haven’t seen each other in 6 years.

3) Finish Sunrise edits

4) Write query and synopsis for Queen

5) Finish short story for TWRP and write query and synopsis

6) Promotion (blog at Leah Braemel’s, email loops and setting up blog visits, newsletter, update website as soon as I get the final copy of the Texas cover)

7) Day with Mom and BB, to their place in the country this time

8) Exercise

9) Keep up house

Hmph

2010-06-19T06:20:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Last night I was hot. I mean, hot. I couldn't cool off, I was sweating, I told the dh. He blew me off. I checked the thermostat on the way to bed. At midnight, it was 84 in the house, and the AC had been running constantly. The dh was snoring on the couch (which is probably good because otherwise I would have kicked him). Finally at 2 AM when HE was hot, he checked the thermostat, figured the compressor had iced up AGAIN, and shut it off. Miraculously, it was cool in here when I woke up this morning. But what's with the not believing me? That's what I want to know.

I finished the revisions on Queen on Thursday but need to write the synopsis and query (which I thought I had done, since I'm pretty sure I submitted it before, but, oh, well. Can't find it.) The thing is, I'm not in love with this book. I think it's good and unique enough, but I never had the connection to it that I have with my other books. Not sure if it's because it was plotted ahead of time (which should make that synopsis easier) or if there's something wrong with the characters' connection--I just don't love it. Have you ever experienced that?

Going to take my walk now while it's relatively cool.

Writer Brain

2010-06-17T11:37:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I have serious writer brain. You know, where you can't be trusted to go out of the house because your head's so deep in the story you might not find your way home. Or you might do something stupid, like not set your parking brake (not terrible unless you drive a standard. Ahem.) But I pried myself away from the computer for 45 minutes, and went about a mile down the road, to Walgreens and Lowe's because I can't trust myself to go into the grocery store alone.

What dumb things have you done when you have writer's brain?

Roller Coaster Day

2010-06-16T06:06:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I knew when I put the blog up yesterday that the universe would hear and respond. Yesterday we went to Fredericksburg for a day trip. When I checked my email, I had my line edits for Sunrise, due NEXT Wednesday. Gulp! When I got home, my author copies of Surface were here! Then when I sat down to take a look at the edits, I got a rejection for Something to Talk About. Of course, that's what's taking over my thoughts. I love that book and I have no idea what to do with it. Apparently the conflict of falling in love with your dead best friend's husband isn't big enough.

Any thoughts about where I could take it next?

Anticipation

2010-06-15T05:20:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Yesterday an author who has her print book out the same day as Surface tweeted that she got her author copies. Immediately, I started checking the street for the UPS guy. No dice, but maybe today. Can't WAIT.

Season 3 of the Tudors is due to arrive from Netflix.

I'm obsessively checking my email these days. First of all, I'm anxious to see my Carina Press cover, which should be coming ANY day now. Also, I should be getting the art fact sheet for the short story I contracted with Samhain, and edits for both the Carina and the Samhain book. (Okay, I'm less eager about getting the edits, but I need to know when I can get going on the Road Signs revisions. Almost done with Queen revisions.)

There are other things I'm waiting for that I can't mention here because when I do, it doesn't end well.

What are you looking forward to?

Getting Glee, and The Tudors

2010-06-14T00:37:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I am obsessed with these two shows lately, and could they be more different?

I think I finally get what it is about Glee that draws people. Not only does it show the talent of the outcast kids, but it shows that the cool kids have trouble too—Quinn with her parents and Finn not having a father figure. I do hope next year we see more of the secondary cast perform. I love to see Mike dance and hear Kurt sing.

It took me a few episodes to get into The Tudors, unlike Supernatural and Glee, which sucked me straight in. And to be honest, Charles Brandon, as portrayed by Henry Cavill (guh!) is a big part of the draw. But I’m also watching and anticipating the downfall of these selfish people. I can’t say I really root for them, because, well, they just aren’t very nice. I’m intrigued with the church history angle, as a Catholic, and I’m wondering why we were taught that Anne Boleyn was a person to be pitied when she was a conniving little so-and-so. Still, I cried when she died, the scene was so well done.

Also, I think the actress looks a lot like Penny from The Big Bang Theory. Seriously. Same shape face, same eyebrows, she does the same thing with her mouth….

I finished watching the streaming shows over the weekend and now am looking forward to getting the discs of season 3.

Goals for the Second Week of Summer

2010-06-13T05:41:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

1) get Father’s Day presents/dh’s birthday present

2) Finish BD galleys

3) Finish Queen revisions

4) Start Sunrise revisions

5) Work on short story for TWRP

6) Day with Mom and BB in Fredricksburg!

7) Call a friend to make a lunch date

8) Promo on email loops

9) House cleaning

10) Exercise

I’ve also been cooking every night, except for the nights the dh cooks. Definitely saves money there. Also, my dad wants me to come visit him in MN. The dh can’t get off, and we’re already kinda tapped with our planned trip to CA later this summer. Dad said he’d buy my ticket with frequent flyer miles. They have a lakehouse, and that would be a lovely place to visit, don’t you think? But I don’t go without the dh often—in our 21 year marriage, we’ve been apart less than 10 nights. Still, might be fun. I’m thinking about it.

The Benefits of Walking

2010-06-12T05:30:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Okay, I didn’t know about Schrodinger’s cat until I watched Big Bang Theory. Sad, huh?

I’ve been doing good with my walking except for Tuesday when I turned back because of rain and Wednesday when it rained more. I SO didn’t want to go yesterday, but made myself, and thought I’d share what I like about it.

1) Listening to the Glee station on Pandora

a. I didn’t know you could do this, but you can make stations on the Pandora app based on artists you like. So I have one for GLEE. There are Glee songs mixed in with the original songs, and some other harmonizing kinds of songs, like “Little Bitty Pretty One.” “Don’t Stop Believing is the perfect pace for when I get started, but by the end of the walk, the beat of “Color My World” is more apt.

b. The downside here is that some of the songs are pretty peppy. And sing-along friendly. There are a lot of people out in my neighborhood in the mornings. This could get embarrassing. Also, you might end on a less-than-desirable song and end up singing it all day. Like, say, “Little Bitty Pretty One.”

2) Inspiration

a. I like looking at people’s houses, the way they decorate, landscape and the colors they choose. One house down the street has the most gorgeous RED crape myrtle. You just don’t see those a lot.

b. I like seeing the 50-something lady who rides her bike every day, helmet, fanny pack and all.

3) Knowing what day it is

a. If the blue cans are out, it’s Recycle Monday

b. If the empty blue cans are out, it’s Tuesday and people forgot to put up their cans.

c. No cans—Wednesday

d. Brown cans—trash Friday

I do hate trying to avoid the garbage truck, though. Ugh.

4) Interesting sights

a. Like the very tall man with the very big dog

b. Or the daddy showing his little boy how to jump start a car

c. Damage from the storms we’ve had two weeks in a row that leave trees branchless

5) A 30 minute walk is exactly the length of time for a load of wash, or a load of dishes.

6) Coming home and scarfing a big bowl of granola and fruit. Mmm.

7) Working out plot/story problems, since I’m listening to music and not a book, which was my original plan.

What do you like about exercising?

You can see in this picture why he was Stephanie Meyers’s first choice to play Edward, can’t you?

Lost Time

2010-06-11T04:23:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

One theme I can't bear in stories and movies is the theme of lost time. The other night the dh showed me the video below and I just burst into tears thinking of the lost 15 years. When I read Dragonfly in Amber, the Diana Gabaldon book that had Jamie and Claire reuniting after their daughter was grown up--SOB!

All I can think of in these stories is lost opportunities, experiences missed, never to be regained. I like reunion romances, because the characters have to grow and change to come at the relationship again in a stronger way, but by the same token, I don't think I could ever write a secret baby story because of what the father would have missed in his child's life--pictures and videos don't make up for not being there.

This video's about 7 minutes. Let me know what you think.

My Summer So Far

2010-06-09T16:06:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Monday was VERY productive. I met all my daily goals early and finished reading 4 books I'd started the past few months.

Yesterday, I picked up the boy from the airport. He wanted to go to Taco Garage for lunch, and while we were there, Jackie Earle Haley walked in! Now, you may remember the boy LOVES Watchmen. He leaned over and said, "Rorschach just walked in." He started to go over, then decided not to bother him, but as we walked out, we walked past his table and he couldn't help himself. JEH was SO nice, and the two geeked out over Watchmen for a few minutes. Was cool.

A big storm rolled in again last night, and the skylight in the living room started leaking. This is new. Also annoying. Then I heard a loud crash and went looking. A big branch fell from the tree on the patio onto the patio, across the electric lines that lead from the pole to the house. So I didn't sleep well, worrying about that. I called City Public Service first thing this AM and the man came out to look at it just now, and will send a crew in an hour. So, annoying.

I have managed to meet my goals AND watch the first season plus a few episodes of The Tudors. Tonight I hope to watch Shutter Island.

Then there was GLEE. Did you see it? I LOVED it, but I wish there'd been more Will and Emma, more of Rachel's reaction to Finn's declaration and more Quinn.

I started a short story for TWRP. I'm using Henry Cavill as the hero.

Goals for the FIRST WEEK of Summer Vacation

2010-06-06T05:55:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

We had a lovely luncheon yesterday to end the school year, and I was home ten minutes later. Today we have a graduation party, and tomorrow, my summer starts! The funny about the luncheon—the computer lab teacher made the slide show, and when she set up the computer, she had a screensaver of Jensen Ackles. LOL! I got her hooked on Supernatural.

Okay, breaking down that big ol’ list from last week.

1) 125 pages of galleys on BD (half)

2) STTA revisions

3) Queen revisions

4) Newsletter

5) Blog for Leah

6) Library

7) Grocery store

8) Day with Mom and BB

9) Promo on email loops

10) Book store visits

11) House cleaning, a room a day, an hour a day

12) Exercise

My Favorite Day

2010-06-04T05:11:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Not only is it the last day of a VERY difficult school year, but my whole summer lays in front of me, not one moment wasted yet. Great possibilities ahead.

Problem Child has been very good in class because he wanted a recommendation to be a patrol. I actually think he'll be good at it. Today he said he wanted us all to meet at the park on Saturday, one last day of being together as a class. Kinda sweet, huh?

But then when I was driving home, I saw him and one of his minions running along the main street in front of school (BUSY street) near the highway (running across the access road) so I called their parents. (Yes, I have their numbers programmed in my phone.) Wonder what happened.

Wednesday night a big storm blew through, and I mean BLEW. I'm so glad we had those trees taken down or it would have been bad. BAD. We lost a mountain laurel and other people have split trees and downed branches all around us. Apparently 1/3 of the city, but different parts of the city, lost power. 60 mph winds! Hurricane force! Trippy. But Thursday temperatures didn't break 80, so good payoff.

ANYWAY, I have a busy summer ahead:

1) Galleys on Breaking Daylight, print version

2) revisions on Sunrise (expected next week)

3) revise STTA

4) revise Queen and submit

5) revise Road Trip and submit

6) write a short story for TWRP's new series

7) write a short story for promo for Sunrise

8) get a good chunk of Midnight Sun done

9) work on promo for Surface and my September releases (newsletters, guest blogs, bookstore visits, get back into eHarlequin, etc.)

10) hang out with Mom and BB once a week

11) lunches with Stacy, JoAnn and Linda

12) class reunion the last weekend of July

13) hook up with teacher friends

14) exercise daily

15) read at least an hour a day

I really wish there were less revisions, but....you gotta do what you gotta do.

Zzzzzz

2010-06-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The boy left for NYC yesterday morning, but I stayed up late Monday to tell him goodbye. Last night he called at 10 (WAYYY past my bedtime) and we talked for half an hour. Now, I am tired. Very tired. Today, I'm trying to keep the schedule normal, but also I want to clean my room. I've packed my library and today we'll clean out our desks. Problem Child loves to organize, so I have him cleaning out one cabinet. If nothing else, I'll have an organized room at the beginning of the year.

This morning I have my last traffic duty. I don't mind morning duty, even though it means I have to be there ten minutes earlier (I'm usually there, anyway). It's cooler and the traffic isn't as bad.

Today we also have a meeting with our test scores (not sure why). Tonight the dh's artist friend is having a showing or something at a local restaurant. Not sure if we're going, but we should.

I finished watching True Blood Season 2 over the weekend. I like Sookie in the books so much better. She's not so dumb. I like Bill in the show better, though. Since I finished that, I started watching The Tudors, but don't really have it in me to pay that much attention. I didn't care for last night's GLEE episode. No one was acting heroically. (That looks like it's spelled wrong.) Also, I didn't like the songs. Seriously, the first part of the season was amazing, but this part seems just to be filler. Still one of my favorite shows.

Burn Notice is back on tomorrow, too.

I'm only working on revisions on Queen right now. Feels weird to just be working on one thing. I should be getting my edits on Sunrise soon, though.

If I Won the Lottery

2010-06-01T00:47:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

This is just a bad month, expense-wise, which of course means I start thinking about what it would be like to have expendable income.

I would build a pool in the backyard.

I would have an outdoor kitchen.

I would have a Nook, and NO books on my wishlist, because they'd be on my Nook.

New laptops for everyone in the family.

A cruise to Alaska.

A big screen TV.

Front loading washer and dryer.

What would you get?

Memorial Day Holiday

2010-05-31T00:05:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I can't remember the last time I've had Memorial Day off. Lately, it's been during the last week of school, so the powers-that-be figured, well, why? But last year I ended the day with 8 students on Memorial Day--they were either absent or checked out early. So the PTB decided to give it to us this year, which means the teachers have to finish up the year on Saturday (the third time in my 21 years that we've done that.)

No big plans, even though the dh has two days off in a row, which never happens. A little shopping, a little napping, a little writing. Yesterday I finished my writing goals for the weekend by one o'clock, but still felt guilty for not working last night.

Today, it's back to Queen.

What are your Memorial Day plans?

Goals for the LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!!

2010-05-30T00:48:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The other day I realized that I was listening to the second Sookie Stackhouse book when I was getting my room ready, and that doesn’t seem that long ago At ALL. And yet….this is the year that won’t end.

Cindi told me that she had her students (5^th graders) write about their elementary experience and all the kids I had wrote lovely things about me. That made me feel really good. This class…yeah, that won’t happen.

So, lots to do this week.

1) Revisions on STTA

2) Get room ready.

3) Finish paperwork

4) Grocery store (must remember to get good packing tape.)

5) House?

6) Exercise?

Enough. I’m not cooking this week. The dh will cook tonight and tomorrow, but the rest is take-out. Too bad I have to go to the grocery store anyway.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRISH!!!!

2010-05-29T04:57:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Today is Trish's birthday. Usually I give her a hottie-filled post, but I was inspired by something on Jaunty Quills the other day, and thought I'd tell you why she's so awesome.

1) She's always there. Okay, almost always. She travels sometimes. But I can always count on an email from her during the day.

2) She is uber talented. Just wait until you get your hands on Winter Longing. You'll be sobbbbbbing!

3) She is super committed. No matter what she's decided to do, being a board member, writing, editing, she WILL DO IT.

4) She's fast on her feet. Several times this last month I've emailed her to ask her for ideas and BOOM! She has them!

5) She celebrates success in fun ways. Wait until you see the frame she got me for my Carina Press novel book cover!

6) She commiserates on disappointments, too.

7) She makes me try to be braver. I still can't believe she travels all over the place by herself.

8) She's inspirational. Okay, I haven't exercised and dieted as much as she has, but she has inspired other people with her healthy writer blog.

9) She has great taste. Not only is she my friend, but she likes a lot of the same shows I do :)

I'm going to stop because I know I'll forget something. But I love Trish like a sister and hope this decade is her best yet!!!

First Lines

2010-05-27T17:00:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Stealing this idea from Marianne...

First lines from 10 things I've written, published and not:

1) “Kit!”

Katherine Barclay straightened from stirring the laundry in the iron pot. She swept loose tendrils of hair back from her face and schooled her features into patience before she turned to her sixteen-year-old sister-in-law. SUNRISE OVER TEXAS, coming from Carina Press in September

2) By the time Mallory Reeves reached the campsite, the sun had set behind the mountains, giving the

crescent of sand below her a red glow. The color matched her mood.

BENEATH THE SURFACE, from Samhain Publishing

3) So this was Gabe Cooper.

HOT SHOT, from Samhain Publishing

4) “Join the army, see the world,” Master Sergeant Alex Shepard mocked under his breath.

Breaking Daylight, from Samhain Publishing

5) “Aaron!”

The dark-haired imp broke from the herd of kindergartners and bolted. Bull by the Horns, from The Wild Rose Press

6) Lauren Stokes raced down the stairs as fast as she

could without tripping over her own feet. Where There's Smoke from The Wild Rose Press

7) Dr. Liv Olney didn’t want to open her eyes,

though she’d not heard that sound before. She feared

what she’d encounter in the dark stone room. Don't Look Back, coming in September from The Wild Rose Press

8) McKenna Spencer lifted her gaze from the computer monitor when she heard a sound bouncing off the cement walls of the basement of the Texas capitol. Guarded Hearts, out on submission

9) “Cam, I need you to come get me.” Willow Hawkins pressed a hand to one ear and her cell phone to the other. Road Signs, in revision

10) Maddy Saunders studied the brochure as she waited for the ferry to McDavid Island, off the South Carolina coast. The cheap tri-fold on bad paper with bright colors fit a water park better than a haunted tour.

Ghost of a Doubt, waiting for the other people in the anthology to finish

Things I'm Loving Right Now

2010-05-25T05:30:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

1) The Hunger Games--I'm listening to it on audio and can't listen fast enough!

2) Simply Caramel from Milky Way. I limit myself, but--yum!

3) Playing kickball with my class every afternoon.

4) GLEE and Friday Night Lights.

5) Being done with grading.

What about you?

Goals for a DEFINITELY Busier Week

2010-05-23T06:46:00.000-05:00

1) Finish art fact sheet and get to Carina.

2) Mail my contract.

3) Finish and revise short story, due next Tuesday

4) Write synopsis and query for short story

5) Promote promote promote

6) SPN blog

7) Crazy activities at school—teacher vs. 5^th grade kickball game, talent show, field day, chill out day (we can bring our electronics). The trick will be keeping them occupied on the other days!

8) Keep up house

9) Exercise

10) Color hair (wish I had the courage to go gray!)

I Need Your Help!

2010-05-22T08:51:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

My mom and I have this tradition. Every year I compose a countdown list to the end of school. Every day I email her the list. I started with 15 Days Left, 15 Things to Look Forward To. I include different places to go to breakfast, to go shopping, as well as simple pleasures, like eating breakfast on the back patio and taking naps.

Here's the thing. I'm running out of things! I need about 15 more ideas! I think I've included every restaurant that serves breakfast, every craft store, staying up late...I'm out of ideas! Help! What do you look forward to in the summer?

The Ugly Truth

2010-05-20T05:06:00.005-05:00

moar funny pictures

Yesterday I came home, turned The Ugly Truth on Netflix, and went to

sleep on the couch. (I like having a familiar movie on when I sleep on

the couch.) When I woke up, the scene where she finds out he's left

was on.

Jennifer Crusie's right. It's a terrible movie. She's a shrill heroine, and

he's an arrogant SOB. So I wondered what might have made it a better

movie, and I thought, "She's the wrong heroine for him."

In the beginning, he's telling women who call in to his show that they're

dogs if they haven't found the right person, and when he meets the

heroine, he says she's not a dog at all.

Maybe she should have been. Maybe she should have been a confident

woman who wasn't slender and blonde and beautiful. Maybe she should

have been a little heavy, a little less-than-gorgeous. Maybe she should

have challenged his own perceptions ofbeauty and love more than she did.

Because essentially he got what he wanted withoutchanging his perceptions,

much like Danny at the end of Grease, when Sandy changeswho she is for him.

What do you think? Did you see the movie? Did you like it? Do you think

my idea is better? (HINT: The answer is yes.)

11 more days of school. So much to do!

You Make It Look Easy

2010-05-18T05:20:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I've made all my sales since I've been working at this school, starting in October 2007, when I signed two contracts. I've sold 6 full-length manuscript and 4 novellas. One of the teachers said I made it look easy.

Easy.

Trish said she was making a master submission list of all her projects, which made me curious about my own. My list isn't complete, because it starts in 2002, but I submitted Hot Shot 35 times to publishers and agents before finally contracting it with Samhain.

Surface--11 places.

STTA--14 and still looking.

Easy. I guess it seems that way from the outside, though only Sunrise Over Texas and the novellas have been written since 2007. The others were wrangled and revised and shelved and revised....

I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But am I giving up? Nope. Don't have that in me.

I Haz a Sad

2010-05-17T05:07:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a baby daddy--with two different women. He has a 4 year old child with one actress and a baby with another (27 year old actress from One Tree Hill.) I don't know why it bothers me, except that it does. It just seems irresponsible and I don't like knowing it. I guess the last I heard about his social life, he was back with Mary Louise, and that doesn't seem that long ago. It was at least a year, I guess, if he has this baby with Hilarie.

It's not like knowing David Boreanaz cheated on his wife (which Trish told me) but I'm...disillusioned. Maybe if she wasn't so much younger. JDM is one day younger than me. It would be the same as me dating Jared :-/

I submitted STTA to TWRP and realized the book is just a hair too short to go to print, so I worked on expanding that yesterday, and I have three more scenes to work on in Sunrise Over Texas. I'd like to be done by Wednesday.

Goals for the Week of, Nothing, Really

2010-05-16T05:16:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

This is the week before the week before the last week of school. IOW, the last regular week. Next week we’ll have field day and the talent show (though I really wish they’d save all that for the VERY last week. What are we going to do those last four days, I ask you? 14 more days.

1) Finish revisions and send back

2) Newsletter

3) Update website

4) Get back to work on Queen

5) House/exercise

See, nothing, really. I can do this.

How To Train Your Dragon

2010-05-14T05:30:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

First, I was ready to pull the trigger on buying the airline tickets for our trip to CA for my grandmother's 90th birthday, and the tickets have gone up $40 each! From Thursday morning to Thursday night! ARGH!

Second, we took the kids to see How To Train Your Dragon yesterday. We got to the theater early--they'd planned to show it just to us. The kids bought their snacks (OMG, did this theater make money!) We didn't get the discount we did last year, and it was in 3D so we didn't have the money preorder the snacks, which we need to do if we do this again, even if we just ask the kids for the money. So we get the 3D glasses and the movie starts in this big theater and....it's blurry. I moved, thinking it was me. I cleaned my glasses and my 3D glasses. Finally another parent turned to me and asked if I could see it. Everyone just assumed it was them. Another parent and I went to tell the management. They moved us to a TINY theater--not even enough room for all the kids and the parents with us. They had to bring in chairs! Also, the kids swear they saw rats!! But once the movie started, the worries fell away.

What a wonderful movie! I just loved it. It was visually gorgeous. I thought it was very unique despite having a familiar theme (the same theme as GLEE this week, in fact), and I started clapping as soon as it was over. The grandmother sitting with me turned to me and said, "THAT was a movie."

Have you seen it? Did you like it?

Also, don't you think Hiccup looks like Jared?

The Days Are Dragging

2010-05-13T04:52:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The days always drag now, when I'm not desperate to cram 5 courses in a day, and still make it to computer lab. We're at centers a good chunk of the morning, which is more time efficient, but makes for a long morning. Not to mention Problem Child is in a mood this week. Remember the paperwork I filled out to get him on medication? I won't see any results before the year is out, I'm sure.

Today is a field trip and I'm not taking him, so his grandfather said he'd keep him home. Fine. I'm taking off tomorrow. Four days without that stress, then only 14 more.

Our dryer broke Tuesday morning. The dh got a part for it yesterday, only $40, a bargain, considering we've had the dryer over 11 years. So before we went out to dinner last night, I got a load of towels rewashed and in the dryer. Clean towels--whee! I'm washing another load now, and drying the dark clothes I put in last night before bed.

Dinner last night--my dad sent me a gift card for a restaurant called Biga on the Banks. We were told it was a dress-up place. The dh couldn't wear jeans and had to wear a jacket. I wore one of my floaty skirts. We had reservations, and had a table by the window overlooking the San Antonio River, on the quiet end. EVERYTHING was good, from the iced tea to the way-too-big steak (I'm not adventurous. The dh had bouillabaisse.) to the fruit crumble for dessert. It was the fanciest restaurant I've ever been to, and would definitely return, once I'm comfortable dropping that much money for dinner. The server was Australian and when I told her my dad got me the gift card for my birthday, she had the kitchen write "Happy birthday" on the plate with the dessert, and they put a candle on it for me to blow out. Wasn't that sweet?

Okay, I've been up an hour now. Need to hit the revisions. I'm on the second half of the book, but that's where most of the changes will be.

Oh, and tonight's the season finale of SUPERNATURAL!!!!!!! Can't WAIT!!!

Diet Foods

2010-05-11T05:12:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I'm not on a diet, exactly, but the boy is, so I've been trying out new diet snacks so not to tempt him with the usual cookies and brownies I make. I've discovered that diet foods aren't so bad right now. I've been taking the Oroweat sandwich thins for lunch, as well as the Pringles and 100-calorie Nabisco sweets. I will say I'm hungry by 4 PM, though.

So when I come home, I have one of these treats. The mousse is sooooooo good, but then, so are the Skinny Cow sandwiches. I've only had one of the truffles.

The other day I celebrated with one of these:

Mmm. I still have my Big Mac and fries, and Chick-Fil-A breakfast biscuits, but I figure I'm cutting corners. What diet foods do you like?

Top Ten Reasons You Should Be Watching Friday Night Lights

2010-05-10T05:24:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Friday Night Lights is FINALLY back on NBC (though the DVDs are coming out later this month) and I'm falling in love with it all over. Why? Let me tell you.

10) The Taylors' marriage, a true partnership with real problems, but real respect. Love!

9) “Clear eyes, full hearts can’t lose.”

8) Landry—a teenaged actor playing a teenager, a geek who tried out for the football team to get the girl. Best friend to reason #1.

7) Real Texas. Filmed near Austin, uses a lot of product placement from our local grocery chain.

6) Real issues—teenaged alcoholism, parents in Iraq, racism, money issues, both personal and schools

5) Buddy Garrity—the leader of the booster club, usually great comic relief but with his own problems.

4) The music. The first episode I ever saw ended with Coach Taylor walking out on the field to the song “Devil Town.” I bought it on iTunes that night, and then the CD.

3) Tim Riggins—the bad boy raised by his older brother after his parents abandoned them both. He’s gorgeous and sleeps with anything that moves. But your heart breaks for him, too.

2) Tyra Collette, the bad girl who wants more from her life than what her mother and sister have. She’s played by the gorgeous Adrienne Palicki, who does

1) Matt Saracen, the boy who has to balance his time working, playing football (and becoming starting quarterback as a sophomore after the star quarterback is injured in season 1 and taking care of his grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. He sacrifices so much. You just want to take over for him, and relieve him of some of his pressures.

Then there's Jason Street, star quarterback who finds himself wheelchair-bound, Coach Taylor's relationship with his players, past and present, and just terrific writing.

So what did I miss, if you watch? If you don’t, why not?

Goals for the Week of Mother's Day

2010-05-09T05:31:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! I hope it’s a wonderful day, and not like the one Frankie had on The Middle!

This week is busier.

1) celebrate Mother’s Day

2) field trip

3) send out progress reports (almost done with grading…)

4) revisions on Sunrise

5) blog at SPN Sisters

6) Continue working on promo. I have back-to-back releases—July, August and September!

7) maybe work on Queen (I think I have two more scenes to go)

8) exercise

9) clean house (fallen way behind here)

Definitely taking off Friday.

The Appeal of Glee

2010-05-08T04:30:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I love Glee. I heard a lot about it last year, when Fox showed the pilot, so when it reaired in the fall, I recorded it and fell in love. It's like a drug, seriously. It makes me ridiculously happy. I love the music, especially, and the dances. I love Mr. Schuster and the romance with Emma. I. Love. Sue Sylvester.

My cousin Greg posted to my Facebook page that he doesn't get it, that it must be a teacher thing. I think maybe, because a number of teachers at my school watch and love it. But I know a lot of writers that like it, too. I don't know a lot of guys who like it. The dh and ds were in the room while I was watching it and were snarking like mad, but my friend Susan's husband watches with her. I think it might have more appeal to people who were on the fringe in high school, too.

So what IS the appeal of Glee? Why does it make me so happy? It hits a chord with a lot of people (haha) but I can't put my finger on it.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

2010-05-07T16:05:00.002-05:00

After a long time and lots of concern I'd lost it, I got The Call today from Angela James! Sunrise Over Texas, my very first historical, is going to be out in August from Carina Press. You cannot know how happy this makes me. I've been watching Carina on Facebook and Twitter and longing to be part of them, and now...YES!

The call: About 15 minutes before lunch, my phone rang. The kids were in centers and I was doing grades. I saw the area code and stood up even as I answered. I knew. When she said, "This is Angela James," I squealed. (Okay, I have admired her for a LONG time. I think she's damned smart and talented. I won't tell her she's the reason I started sewing again because that just sounds stalker-ish.) She laughed and said, "So, how do you know I'm not calling to wish you a happy Mother's Day?" While that would also be very cool....but then she said she wanted to acquire Sunrise Over Texas.

By now the kids realized something was going on and they were getting noisy and coming to my desk. Later they told me they thought it was Johnny Depp on the phone. Don't ask. I had to excuse myself and shush them, but really, I don't remember much. She said my editor loves historicals, and another person on the acquisition team read and loved it, and that the revisions would be minor. (I got the revision letter by the time I got home and it's not toooooo bad.) She said something else about knowing before RT and she apologized for not getting back to me. I'd sent an inquiry earlier this week and she mentioned that, yes, no news was good news. She went over the contract terms and congratulated me and wished me a happy Mother's Day. I still haven't stopped grinning.

After I hung up I went into the hall and saw the reading specialist and ran to tell her. She gave me a big hug. Then another 4th grade teacher was coming down the hall and I told her. Susan, our youngest team member, wondered what the commotion was so I told her. Only then did I call the dh!!! At lunch I called Trish. I'm like, "This is Mary." It took her a minute (it WAS the middle of the day.) Then I said, "Why would I call you in the middle of the day?" She said, "You sold something!" Much squealing ensued and then we realized we'll both have books out in August. Very DIFFERENT books, but still.

Then I called my baby brother (straight to voicemail) and then my step-dad, since he took me on the big research trip last spring break. I posted to Facebook, told my bosses and the other people at lunch. The kids got a REALLLLY long recess today. Too bad it was so hot!

So, revisions at the top of the list for now! After a dinner out to celebrate, I believe!

Days Off

2010-05-07T04:21:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

We get 10 days to take off during the year, and usually, I use most of them. In fact, when I was at the school-from-hell, I went into my emergency days, which cost me $50 a day and required a doctor's note. Considering I'd used most of my days in October, it was worth it to me.

I debated taking off today. I could have had a retired teacher as my sub and she doesn't even like teachers to leave lesson plans. That would have been cool. But I weighed my need for the day against other activities going on and decided to wait to take it until next week, the Friday after our field trip.

I thought I might take off release days, but this year both were too close to going back to school, one after summer break and one after Christmas. I take off when I'm too behind in writing or have revisions, I take off when I know I need distance from the kids. I used to take off when I wouldn't sleep the night before, but I couldn't sleep during the day, either, so I stopped that. I've already got 2 days planned for next year, right around Labor Day when we're (hopefully) going to CA.

Some teachers don't take them--they get paid for the 5 personal and carry the 5 sick over to the next year. I've been known to carry 2 over, and I've never been paid for the personal days. One of the teachers in my grade level has over 45 days banked! Not me. They're my days and I take them.

What about you? Do you take your sick/personal leave?

Rooting for Success

2010-05-06T03:46:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

And it ain't over. I thought about taking a mental health day tomorrow, but it's still Teacher Appreciation Week and the admins are doing fun stuff, so next Friday might be a better choice. I have to survive a field trip first, though. I called 2 parents yesterday and one of the students got so mad he called me a "h-o-e," (my girls spelled it out for me.) Yes, it's Problem Child. Thing was, he was GOOD last week. He behaved 4 days in a row. BUT his grandfather (who has custody) promised to buy him a new game if he got a sticker on Friday, and he got a sticker on Friday, and no game. Um, THANKS, Grandpa. I filled out the paperwork for the kid to get on medication over 2 weeks ago. Hey, I'd drive Grandma to the doctor MYSELF to turn it in.

We've been having Spurs Spirit Day at school (any excuse to wear jeans this time of year) but I don't think it's helping. They've dropped two in a row.

We got 2 magazines this week, EW and Rolling Stone, with Robert Downey Jr on the cover. Now, I've long appreciated RDJ. The dh, when he was younger and thinner, resembled RDJ so much that when I showed my son a picture of RDJ when he was 5, he thought it was his dad. I loved RDJ on Ally McBeal and I'm really happy that he's clean and having success now. I guess I feel invested in his success because of the perceived connection between him and the dh, but he's one person I'm really happy for.

Another person I love to see succeed is Jennifer Aniston. I don't know much about this woman, but I just loved her on Friends and she seems like a genuinely nice person. I'm not particularly Team Aniston in the conflict between her and Angelina, because I think Angelina is cool, but I really want happiness for Jennifer.

There's an author I know who was a Golden Heart finalist with me in 2007. I remember sitting in the awards ceremony with my fingers crossed that she would win, because I had a feeling it would mean more to her than to me. She didn't, but has gone on to great success, writing her second series now. I don't know why I connected with this writer more than others. I didn't really know her outside of loops and blogs at the time. I'm still her cheerleader, though I'm behind on her series.

Do you ever have connections like that, with people you don't really know?

Roadblocks

2010-05-04T06:10:00.002-05:00

moar funny pictures

I'm not feeling particularly motivated to write these days. I know I should, so I've been trying

to figure out what's wrong.

In Queen, I don't know what choice my heroine will ultimately make, and what effect either

choice will have on her relationship with the hero. I think this is the first book I've ever

written where they could end the book apart.

In the short story, I'm having motivation problems.

In the romantic suspense, my heroine is flat. Flat, flat, flat.

I'm working mostly on Queen, but am frustrated all around. What do you do when nothing

is going as planned?

The Art Show

2010-05-03T05:57:00.003-05:00

I'm promoting Beneath the Surface at Coffee Time this week. Go read an excerpt and comment for a chance to win a gift certificate!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Mom, BB and I went to an arts and crafts show this weekend. There were dozens of artists (much smaller than it's been in the past, but it was later than usual and in a different location) and we wandered about. The thing was, we were there pretty early, and it wasn't crowded and so a lot of the artists and artisans started talking to us. Well, BB takes art appreciation/history classes and knows a lot about art, and when you start talking to people and know their story, and see how nice they are--well, if we'd had it, we would have spent $1000 each. And the thing is, BB and I, especially, will talk. One artist had painted a map of downtown Seguin, where I spent many summers, with all the landmarks that I remembered, so of course I had to tell her. BB is the kind who would say, "Oh, look at the colors in that one, look at the flow," and the artist would start talking to him about technique, or where they were when they painted it or how they came up with ideas. (Why didn't Mom chime in? She couldn't get a word in edgewise!)

Our other problem is that BB and I are both very sentimental about being Texan. (I'm more so now because of him.) At this fair there were a LOT of Texas paintings. I told BB if I sell my Texas historical, he has to buy me one of the paintings.

How do you fare if you go to an arts and crafts show? Do you feel bad if you don't buy something from someone you had a conversation with? Do you avoid conversation? And when did I get so friendly?

Goals for Teacher Appreciation Week

2010-05-02T06:03:00.001-05:00

I'm promoting Beneath the Surface at Coffee Time this week. Go read an excerpt and comment for a chance to win a gift certificate!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

24 days of school. Last year, Teacher Appreciation week was lots of fun, with activities every day. One of the activities was that an aide would stay with the class while the teachers watched a teacher-inspired movie. (We watched Freedom Writers.) We got popcorn and water while we did, and 2 blissful kid-free hours. Not this year, sadly, but we do get free lunch on Wednesday.

1) enter grades so progress reports can go out at the end of the week

2) faculty meeting

3) use my dad’s gift certificate to go out to eat

4) work on short story for Samhain

5) work on Queen

6) start promoting regularly at Coffeetime and elsewhere

7) try not to go crazy with the waiting

8) keep up house and cook more

9) exercise

10) sew?? I have two pieces of fabric, one already cut out!

Settings

2010-04-30T05:08:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I always have story ideas,

1) Kentucky Derby—something about the glamour appeals to me, and I’ve always loved horses. I know it’s been done a lot, and done well, but I’d like to play with the idea. Maybe a wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance

2) Alaska—I’m reading Trish’s Winter Longing, and I loved Nora’s Northern Lights. I loved Men in Trees and Northern Exposure. I love the idea of the extreme weather and wildlife. Have no plot idea at all, though.

3) Fiesta—something I know well. I even have my heroine. I just have no plot. (I know, when has that stopped me?)

4) Santa Fe—I’ve never been but I’ve heard it’s amazing. No plot or characters but maybe I could go for research

5) Bermuda Triangle—I have an inciting incident, but no characters or plot.

6) Maine, right on the coast. I have a thing for lighthouses, see.

7) The barrier islands, either NC or Virginia—Just because I love the coast and I grew up reading Misty of Chincoteague.

Where is your favorite setting to read? Have one you want to write?

Kitties, Testing and Writing

2010-04-29T05:47:00.004-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

On Tuesday, the first morning of testing, the custodian found a box of 6 kittens (too young to leave their mother) that someone had dumped at our school. Can you believe? This is the third batch of kittens since I've been there, one batch being Mama Kitty's brood. Thank goodness they had a PTA program that night because we could only find 2 teachers to take them. See, we get dogs dumped a lot, too, and many of them have taken home dogs/puppies, as well as kittens from those other two litters.

Testing is done for us (well, we have a district test next week, but...) Today we have to keep quiet because 5th grade is testing. We're cramming science for the next 3 days for that district test, then I want to start doing centers again. Not sure if it will be possible with problem child, but maybe if I don't count on centers as grades I can do it.

I'm rewriting the climactic scene in Queen, then have the romantic stuff to do. I also need to add a scene earlier in the book, then go back through one more time to build romantic conflict and find continuity errors. I'm DYING to stay home to write, but the earliest I could do that is the middle of next week. At least there's no more tutoring and I can get home at a decent time tonight. I'm going to check the Tivo early because it didn't record Glee, Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife and....something else. Grrr.

I thought I'd get up early again because Stormy was scratching at the door at 3 AM (this is new). I fell back asleep, though. Yay, me!

Book Releases, The Losers, TAKS testing

2010-04-27T05:30:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Yesterday went by REALLY quickly. We did math almost the whole day in preparation for today's TAKS test. Please please please let some of it have stuck! I came home and tried to nap, since I didn't sleep hardly at all the night before, but I couldn't. The dh and I decided to go see The Losers at one of those theaters that serves dinner, so we drove a bit down the road and had hamburgers and hotdogs and a beer while watching the movie, which I loved, but then, I was loving the whole experience. It was expensive, but we never do stuff like that. In fact, this movie and Clash are the only movies I remember paying full price for. The theater was empty, but that could be that it was Monday night....it was a good, action-packed movie.

Today Elisabeth Naughton's new series releases. MARKED is already on my phone. (Yes, another series to start!) Savor the Moment, by La Nora, is also out. I ended up buying it from bn.com because Amazon didn't have a Kindle version!

I'm going to save my Sam W pictures for a bit. I'm not using him in the book I'm revising and it's making me nervous because I WANT to be working on his book.

Yawn

2010-04-26T06:36:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I've been awake since 2. I read a chapter of a Susan Mallery book at 3, then tried to go back to sleep. No dice. Got up to write around 4:30. Did 5 pages. I don't think I'll be up to seeing The Losers tonight, mainly because I want to go to the Alamo Drafthouse and have a beer while watching, and a beer will knock me out.

I had to share this great how-to on making your own book trailer. Marianne made mine and I'd love her to do another, but finding time to look for the right pictures....

The good thing about not being able to sleep last night is that I didn't have to make lunch today and I'm just wearing capris and a t-shirt. Maybe if I can come home and nap....

It's Hug an Australian Day. Guess who's at the top of my list, even in these glasses?

Goals for the Week of TAKS

2010-04-25T06:43:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Fiesta’d yesterday—King William parade and fair, stopped for a drink at a local patio bar, hiked back to the car. I got a bit of a sunburn and came home so tired! Watched Avatar again when I got home and just vegged.

This will be the week for vegging, with the kids testing. Can’t do anything but monitor. Maybe then I can figure out the right ending for this short story—and for Queen. One of these days I’m going to come up with the ending first.

1) survive 2 days of my kids testing, and a third day of 5^th grade testing, which means our kids have to be quiet

2) finish revisions on short story for Samhain

3) finish revisions on Queen

4) sew gray skirt, cut out blue dress

5) go see The Losers (dh’s back went out Friday night, spoiled that plan for last week)

6) grocery

7) exercise

8) house

9) yard

I Have a Confession

2010-04-23T08:20:00.002-05:00

moar funny pictures

I stopped reading the latest Jennifer Crusie book. I'm about halfway through but just don't care.

She says it's not a romance and she's right. But I'm also not crazy about the workaholic heroine

or the setting or the hero (though he doesn't appear the be the heroine's hero). It hurts that I

spent $10 for it, though.

Not like Dead to the World, which I'm listening to in the car and cannot WAIT to hear what

happens next. What is it about those Sookie Stackhouse books that are so addictive? (Look,

another series I'm hooked on, and on book 5.)

So now I'm reading some samples on my iPhone. Is SOULLESS steampunk?

Today I'm off for Fiesta. First up: finish revisions. Then read Trish's synopsis, work in the yard,

make a skirt, and watch Young Victoria so I can send it back and get Sherlock Holmes next week,

finally. Oh, and watch last night's Craig Ferguson (JDM!) and SPN again because it was great!

School

2010-04-22T20:00:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Today was the last day of tutoring! We were given the option to cancel but I figured, with the test next week....so we stayed and I actually got home before 5. I guess everyone was off for Fiesta. We're off tomorrow for the parade. I'm waiting to Fiesta on Saturday--it's kinda pricey.

I had to share two things my kids said this week that cracked me up. I was talking to Brandon and he was telling me that when he was little, a bee stung him on his nose. He said he went inside and his grandpa gave him a piece of bacon.

"To put on your nose?" I asked, thinking it was some cure I'd not heard of.

"No, I ate it," he said, just as serious as he could be. I couldn't stop laughing.

Yesterday--well, let me give you some background. I collect the pencils from my kids and keep them in a bucket. I don't let them use the electric sharpener because they'll run it down. Whenever a kid needs a pencil, I tell them, "You know where the pencils live." I've said it for years.

Yesterday, Vivian needed a pencil. I said, "Vivian, where do the pencils live?"

Across the room, Alfredo said, "Pennsylvania." AHAHAHAHA!!!

Birthday

2010-04-21T16:41:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I woke up to a bouquet of Gerber daisies from my dh and half a dozen Facebook birthday wishes :) I went to the grocery store on the way to get cupcakes and Capri Sun for my class and plants for the secretaries. I got to school and was bombarded with wishes. Cindi brought me prezzies from her and her kids, including hand drawn cards. The fourth grade teachers had all the kids (and the VP who happened to be passing by) sing to me, and one of the teachers made me a crown to wear. Another teacher gave me a plant and another a box of chocolates. Problem Child brought me 5 candy bars! My other problem child brought me a plant that I've never seen, but is pretty. Took awhile to calm the kids down. Then they bought me lunch from Pizza Hut (NOT pizza, thank goodness, I've overdosed on that.)

I got a call from my mom before school and a text from my son and a BUNCH of Facebook wishes. Now I'm thinking about where to go for dinner. I want to go to Chuy's but the ds loves it and he's working.

So, good day. :)

Post-Party Bonus

2010-04-20T05:10:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

We had a get-together for my birthday on Sunday. The dh and I made 5 pizzas, expecting my brother, his wife and her bff. So we have almost 2 leftover pizzas, leftover cake (best cake ever, chocolate cake with TWO kinds of frosting--fudge AND meringue) and sugar cookies (with lots of icing.) Also, the house is still clean. Double benefit.

Yesterday was very nice without Problem Child. We played a game and did art. Today...we'll see.

Goals for the Week of AWESOME (oh please don't take this as an invitation for drama!)

2010-04-18T06:08:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Also a crazy week, so I’m dialing back the writing, which makes me feel guilty since I didn’t do a lot last week. I should have finished Queen already, and should be halfway through Midnight Sun, but I cut 3000 words and haven’t made much progress since.

But, this week should (oh please no drama to ruin it) be good:

1) my birthday party

2) my birthday

3) last week of tutoring!!!!!!!!!!

4) Avatar on DVD (Sam!!!!!!)

5) The Losers in the theater (JDM, baby!!)

6) Tahmoh (Helo from BSG) has a new miniseries on Sci-Fi. Almost forgot about that one.

7) Problem Child will be absent Monday, going to the doctor to please God get medication. (I have only ever wanted a child on medication one other time in my career. Trust me that this is a desperate situation.)

8) Revisions on short story for Samhain

9) Finish a round of revisions on Queen, then go through one more time for continuity

10) Fiesta event with mom, BB, SIL and her bff

11) Exercise

12) House

Sorry Writing Week

2010-04-16T04:57:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I've hardly written at all this week. The plot is moving faster than I'd like, and I'm trying to find a way to slow down. I had decided to go ahead and write it this way and fix it in revisions, then I got a revision letter yesterday from Samhain, so I'll be working on that starting this weekend. I only have about 30 more pages to revise on Queen, and Trish sent me her notes on Road Signs, so part of my block may be because I'm overwhelmed. Not to mention trouble with Problem Child and I didn't realize THIS was the end of the six weeks (I thought it was next week) and TAKS in...6 days.

I do feel creative. I bought fabric to make some capris, and fabric to cover my MIL's ottoman. I haven't made the capris, but did the ottoman last night.

Here's before:

Up close--lovely fabric :)

After: I once saw a couch with this fabric and wanted it, but my mom convinced me it was too busy.

Works as an accent, though.

It goes with my green wall and yellow couches, too. Next up, pillows with the leftover fabric. I think

I can get three out of the rest of the fabric.

What Skills Do You Wish You Had?

2010-04-15T04:38:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I wish I could cook, or enjoyed it enough to learn. I have a few recipes that I rotate, but I wish I enjoyed the process enough so I could cook like Candace. Her tweets about what she’s having for dinner are mouth-watering.

I enjoy gardening, but I don’t give enough time to it. My friend Dawn has a gorgeous yard, but she devotes hours to creating it.

My beloved Land Cruiser is sitting in the driveway needing an engine overhaul. I wish I knew how to restore her. Then I’d get that Impala….

I wish I could create my own website from html.

I wish I could plot a series.

What do you wish you could do?

One of my Favorite Things

2010-04-14T05:00:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Natalie convinced me to come back to Netflix since I was having so much trouble getting new releases from Blockbuster, and they changed the exchange-a-mailed-movie-for-a-movie-in-the-store policy. So I came back, and had the same trouble getting new releases.

But.

We got a new Tivo, which streams a lot (a LOT) of Netflix movies. A. LOT. Recently I learned they stream The Dresden Files and all the Buffy and Angel series (though I own those.) They stream all seasons of Grey’s Anatomy and The Office. They stream the new cable series Spartacus, and the old Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew (not the whole season, though.) Also The Night Stalker, remember that series? Also Lost, Torchwood, The Tudors, Harper’s Island and Heroes.

Then there are the movies. Two Sam Worthington Australian movies, a lot of the Mystery Science Theater movies, classics like Jason and the Argonauts, Cleopatra, Butterflies are Free, the original Clash of the Titans. Penelope is on there, a few of the Rocky movies, the second Terminator. Singles, The Breakfast Club, The Last of the Mohicans, only a click away. Somewhere in Time, Princess Bride, Footloose. Newer movies, too, like The Taking of Pelham 123, The Ugly Truth, Angels and Demons and The Proposal (which I’ve now seen a BUNCH.) Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is there, and I realized I hadn’t seen the last episode. Caddyshack, Vacation and for awhile, Animal House was on.

It’s so nice, we’ve cut back to one DVD at a time, and when we’re in the mood, we just click onto Netflix. It stops the movie when you stop it and you can pick it up again later. I know Trish is using her netbook to stream them, which I could do, but I prefer it on the TV.

Anyone else use Netflix streaming? And no, no one is paying me for this!

Weird Things You Eat

2010-04-13T04:55:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The other night on Twitter, agent Colleen Lindsay wanted to know why anyone would eat Miracle Whip on purpose. She got a flurry of responses from Southerners who eat it all the time.

I started thinking about weird things I’ve eaten repeatedly, and liked.

I like Miracle Whip on my black-eyed peas.

I eat ketchup on my scrambled eggs.

My mom used to make this “salad” with pineapple slices, grated cheddar cheese and Miracle Whip. My step-uncle would make fun of us, but it was GOOD.

When we were growing up, and didn’t have something sweet to eat, we’d spread butter on white bread and sprinkle sugar on it for bread, butter and sugar sandwiches.

My baby brother grew up eating mayonnaise sandwiches. I think it was Miracle Whip on white bread.

My friend Denise eats ketchup on her macaroni and cheese.

What weird food combinations do you eat?

Series I've Started

2010-04-12T04:44:00.000-05:00

moar funny pictures

Michele was talking about reading the Bullet Catcher series by Roxanne St. Clair, and I want to read that as well as Christy Reece’s books. And the Soulless/Changeless books. But I’m already so far behind on several series, I hate to start another. And it’s not that I didn’t enjoy the first books—I did, which is why I bought the subsequent books. I just don’t..have…time!

I read and loved Larissa Ione’s first Demonica book. I have all the others. Haven’t started.

I read and loved Rachel Vincent’s first book. The were-panther shifter books, Stray, Pride, all those. I have the second book in the series. Haven’t started.

I just finished book 6 or 7 of the Robyn Carr Virgin River series. There are three more. I own them all. I have to say, I loved Temptation Ridge almost as much as the first book.

I read and loved the first Colleen Gleason Gardella book. Have the others. Haven’t started.

Same with the Joss post-apocalyptic books.

I’ve got the next two Michelle Rowen books in her series. I think I read 2, and I own 2.

The Cindy Gerard books—I have the last of her previous series and the first three or four of her new series.

I have all of Paula Graves’s books, first series and this new one. I read the first of the first one and got behind.

I read the first two Robyn Dehart historicals, and I think she has one more in that series. I have it, and the first book of her new series, which I haven’t started.

I’ve read 2 Linda Winfree Heart of the South books, own most of the rest, haven’t gotten to them.

Read the first Meg Benjamin, own the next two, haven’t read.

We won’t even talk about how far behind I am with the JD Robb books. Or the Jim Butcher ones.

The series I keep up with are Nora and Suzanne Brockmann. No idea why those are easier than others.

And I know what you’re thinking—that’s a lot of books, right? That’s not even the category series, or the stand-alones. Yeah, a lot of books. Maybe I should just read this summer!

Goals the Week of Traffic Duty

2010-04-11T05:43:00.000-05:00

moar funny pictures

Of course you know my traffic duty week would be one of the two full weeks in April. Sigh. At least I get to leave early M, W and F, since I have to be at school earlier.

1) Traffic duty

2) Work on MIL’s house. We’re really mostly done but haven’t been able to get over there since Spring Break.

3) 7000 words on the RS

4) finish revisions on Queen, start revisions on Road Signs (again)

5) exercise (maybe take the dog for walks to appease her need to wander)

6) keep up house (I was really glad I’d been doing this when the police detective came over the other night with not much warning!)

Huh. Not too bad. If I can survive the 7:45-4:15 part of the day!

The Day Is Mine! (Cue Evil Laughter)

2010-04-10T08:02:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The dh is working until early afternoon and he has a gig tonight. The boy is working this morning and afternoon, so I have the house to myself! I can eat lunch where and when I want, I can write, I can sleep....

Of course, I also have to do laundry, and maybe I'll work in the yard a little. Don't want to run the leaf blower while the neighborhood is still sleeping.

We had two trees taken down yesterday and I can't believe the changes it's made in the yard. One, in particular, has really opened up a space. Also, no more pesky Chinese tallow leaves everywhere. They also trimmed up some other bushes, I see (though they took out my redbud tree! At least it had already had its buds and wasn't mature in the least.) So it's much brighter back here today. Which reminds me--does anyone know of a good glare screen for this MacBook? I like to write outside and I can barely see. My iBook had a matte screen, but this one glares like mad.

Last night I came home and had 2 beers. The dh brought home pizza and I was essentially a lump on the couch when the dh said, "The dog got out." Now, she'd escaped the night before through the gate the tree guys were using. I wouldn't let her out without me when they were here. Then I double checked that gate.

So she got out through the other one.

We drove around the neighborhood for an hour, until we couldn't see anymore. We got home and the boy was here. He wanted to go around one more time, and the dh went with him. About half an hour later, I heard the car pull up, and the clicking of nails on the driveway. They were driving around and saw someone putting up flyers for a found dog (the picture is hilarious). He'd found her on the main road by our house, and said he saw her almost get hit by a car twice! Stupid creature. My son was upset that she'd go by the cars, and she is so grounded today. Even though both gates are secure, I'm only letting her outside a few minutes at a time. Bad dog!

You Ever Have One of Those Weeks....

2010-04-09T17:47:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

So much going on, I don't know where to start!

Had a gut-clinching 24 hours with a parent threatening to bring the media to my school because of how I treated her grandson, AKA Problem Child. Had a conference with her this afternoon that was all sweetness and light. Whatev. 39 more days? I think I'll be taking every one of my sick days after the TAKS test.

Last Saturday (Friday? This week went quickly) the dh witnessed a wrong-way driver on his side of the highway. He came home and told me about it, and that night we saw on the news that he'd hit a truck head-on and killed the passenger. This shook the dh up pretty bad. Also, since he'd called 911 to report it, he's now a witness, and a detective came to our house last night to get his statement. He also told us some pretty grim stories about his job. I should have dragged the boy out of his room to listen. Dh is still pretty shaken up, because he was in the right lane when he would have ordinarily been in the left. Something told him, he said. I said it was his mom.

Yesterday, after freaking out that a parent was going to have video cameras in my classroom and hearing the words in my head, "on administrative leave pending investigation," I came home to get a second estimate on the tree guys. Theses are quite a lot cheaper, but still, bye-bye new laptop. Or trip to CA. We spent half our tax return on having two dead Chinese tallows removed, and the tree guys are still here.

I cut 3000 words from my romantic suspense, am watching a video now for inspiration, but I have no desire to write, and haven't written in 3 days now.

I found my favorite English teacher on Facebook, but haven't heard back from her yet.

I'm so glad it's the weekend.

Book Recommendations

2010-04-07T17:34:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I'm reading a book recommended by this woman I follow on Twitter. I think she's the funniest person out, and this is the second time I bought a book based on her recommendation. Neither time did I enjoy it. I should know, because it's not a series I usually buy, but like I said, she's someone I admire, so I bought. I'm flipping through the pages looking for "landmarks" because it's set here in San Antonio, but otherwise I could care less.

Jessica Anderson is everywhere right now with her new release in her 2012 series. I think it's an awesome concept and I bought the first book, but it was very dense. I don't like dense books.

I saw blogs about Julie Kenner's new series, and bought the first book, Tainted. It's more urban fantasy. Again, I was drawn in by the concept, but didn't finish the book. It's just not to my taste. Same with Allison Brennan's Original Sin. I may give that one another shot, because I'm only on chapter 2 or something.

I don't NEED book recommendations. I have about 80 books on my phone and another 250 or so paperbacks.

But where do you go for book recommendations? What makes you buy a book? Seeing an author all over the blogosphere? Reading the blurb? The concept? The setting? Recommendations by someone you know? What?

Used Up My Blogging Time Budget Here

2010-04-07T06:05:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Wow, yesterday was a long day keeping kids quiet. Another day like that today, but we wised up and are giving the kids a practice reading test while 5th grade takes the real one. Ours is in 3 weeks.

I struggled for word count yesterday, barely made it before the end of LOST, so no time for a thoughtful post here. I did spend a good chunk of Monday working on the Supernatural blog, though! Go, enjoy!

Facebook

2010-04-06T05:59:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I joined Facebook last summer with my pen name, thinking, you know, promotion. I never expected the level of involvement I’d have with it.

My California family is on. I haven’t been in contact with them in years, and now I’m trading weekly (if not daily) updates with my cousin and aunt. The cousin who came to visit last week had just joined Facebook, too, so now we connect.

My mom is on. Yes, she lives 7 minutes away, but we still send each other stuff on Facebook. It’s the ONLY way I see my Texas cousins and my SIL.

Then my school friends started getting on. By the end of last summer, I was excited about going back after keeping up with them the last few weeks. I’ve gotten to know some of them better through Facebook. I also found some teacher friends who have moved on (or stayed behind) to other schools.

Then I went into the past. I friended a girl I went to middle school with, and then another, and then found a fan page for my elementary school. I cannot describe the joy I felt—all the posters were from my time, and we had the same memories and it was wonderful. So I found some high school buddies, and eureka! My bff from high school showed up right at the end of the Christmas break. Oh, I was so happy.

I'm kind of tripping, though, because at least 3 of my HS friends are GRANDMOTHERS. I mean, my mom was a grandmother when she's my age, but it still freaks me out. Also, almost all my friends have been divorced. My 23-year marriage is the exception.

Sometimes it’s a little much—too many people, knowing too much about me. And recently one of my former students, who is in 7^th grade, became a fan of my author page. I’m always very cautious about what I post, but GULP! The other night when we were at the movies, I was posting updates and the dh got nervous about people knowing we were away from the house. I never post updates about being home alone, though.

I love posting pictures on Facebook because everyone can see them (okay, my dad doesn't have a page, but my stepmom does). I can also post reviews and such that I want to share. People in my family and from my past may know a little too much about my thing for Sam Worthington, but I'm okay with that.

I make lists, so I can check family, teachers, my past, at a glance.

It’s not my FAVORITE social network—I love Twitter because it’s less of a commitment, honestly—but it’s made me less of a hermit, because I’m interacting online with people I know IRL.

Do you Facebook? Do you love it?

A New Series

2010-04-05T05:56:00.003-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The first chapter of Beneath the Surface is up for your reading pleasure! Check it out!

I am very intrigued by this new series for The Wild Rose Press. I have an idea, now to find time to write it! I have a plan for now until June, including finishing this romantic suspense, revising vampire hunters and a sweet romance I wrote about 10 years ago, writing a novella for TWRP and one other novella. I'm very excited! Only about a third of the way through the RS, though.

The following is a new series we're kicking off for LROS. There is a yahoo loop devoted to the details. If interested, please follow the appropriate submission guidelines or ask questions through the same toqueryus@thewildrosepress.com. Please feel free to spread this to your writing loops, etc.

Rhonda Penders

Did you ever wonder what happened to . . .
The Prom Queen? The guy most likely to serve time in a federal prison? The couple voted most likely to succeed?
If intrigued with the opportunity to rewrite a bit of history . . . or exact a little revenge. . . .

The Last Rose of Summer invites you to a reunion of

The Class of '85

Dear fellow alumna,
Hard to believe it's been 25 years since we last walked the halls of Summerville High. Wouldn't you like to know what's going on with former classmates?
The Reunion Committee has worked hard to plan a fabulous, fun-filled three day celebration on the last weekend in June at the historic Summerville Inn.
Come for one day or all three—but register early for the SHS package discount.
Bring your spouse or come stag. You won't believe the surprises waiting for you!

RSVP to KathyCottrell@thewildrosepress.com

Details which must be included in every submission:
* Summerville is a medium size city on the shores of Lake Ontario in Western New York State.
• Some students may still live in Summerville, others might be returning for the first time since graduation. They might make it back for the celebration; they might not.
• The above invitation will kick off the story but it is the concept of "whatever happened to . . ." which is the key element.
• The reunion might be one feature of the story, only a side-note as in a 'regrets-only' RSVP phone call. The common thread among all Class of '85 stories will be the invitation above. It is up to the author to take it from there.
• The Hero or Heroine [or both] must be a member of the Class of '85.

* Story length: 7,500—40,000 computer word count
* Sensuality level: sweet to sensual [no erotica]
* As always, it MUST be a romance with protagonists who have realistic goals, motivation and conflict—along with a HEA ending.

Submit to: queryus@thewildrosepress.com with "Class of '85" in the subject line.

What do you notice about Sam W that you don't notice about my other heroes? Look how little he is! Only 5'9. I usually go for big guys. But he has a big voice, so...

Post 1800--Goals for the week of Easter

2010-04-04T00:14:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

We can wear jeans all week because 5^th grade is taking the TAKS. Yay!

1) celebrate Easter

2) make skirt

3) cut out dress

4) work on RS

5) pull out my vampire hunter book and start revising. Again.

6) Dinner with middle school friends (?) We reconnected on Facebook and I would love to see them again.

7) Tutoring (6 more days this year!!)

8) Exercise

9) Keep up house (I did pretty well with both of those last week)

I have a plan for writing for the rest of the school year--I'm revising VH now, and I'm going to revise my sweet romance after that, while I'm writing the RS. That should carry me the next 9 weeks :)

Rant Ahead

2010-04-02T22:17:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

We just got back from the movies and holy cow, there were a lot of people. Every seat was full. I enjoyed the movie (duh) BUT...

WHY DON'T PEOPLE SHUT UP? OMG!!! There were three teens behind the dh who Never. Stopped. Talking. I gave them my best

teacher glares but none of it worked. I wanted to say something but didn't think the dh would appreciate me getting him in

a fight.

Then the family beside me. A mother, two kids and an older woman (grandma, maybe?) The mother either kept explaining the movie to her kids or asking what was said in the movie because she was busy explaining it to her kids. GEEEEEEEEEZZZZZ.

On a lighter side, we had some good previews. The dh mentioned that we were at the remake of an 80s movie and saw previews for remakes of other 80s movies--Karate Kid and Robin Hood. The Expendables had a ton of 80s stars and looks good. And THE LOSERS, the new JDM movie. Whee!

Fathers and Sons Again

2010-03-30T05:16:00.001-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I got all my goals met by 6 PM last night! Awesome. I had a moment of panic when I thought I lost my 850 words on Write or Die but I found them. Whew. I think I had so much energy because it was a gorgeous day and Problem Child gave me a bit of a break.

This weekend my favorite subject was brought to the forefront again—the relationship between fathers and sons. Several things made me think about it—my cousin Greg and his son, the movie The Proposal and the show Parenthood.

My cousin Greg was here to see his son graduate at Lackland AFB. We didn’t have time to see them together, but the pride with which Greg spoke of his son (who is a month older than my son—I can’t imagine the boy going into the service) really made me long to watch them interact. He said he cried for a week when his son left. Wow.

Now I know my husband loves my son, but he takes things more as a matter of course, more as something that is expected, I guess. And let me tell you, the two of them cannot be in a room for long. They butt heads like nobody’s business. Even if they agree on something, the dh will find a way to play devil’s advocate and rile the kid up.

My father and brother have a very distant relationship, and my step-dad and other brother butt heads a lot, too. I see the same kind of head-butting on Parenthood, between the oldest son and the dad. I wonder if it’s just a force of nature.

3 days to Clash of the Titans!

Books and Movies

2010-03-29T05:57:00.003-05:00

see more dog and puppy pictures

I bought...I think 8 novellas this weekend and read 3 1/2 of them. 4 were Harlequin Undones and 4 were Samhain books. I also bought a Julie James book, I think. Really, I need to stay off the internet where I'm bombarded with books, say, "Oh, that sounds good," and then I go buy them.

I have decided urban fantasy isn't for me. I started reading Julie Kenner's first UF and just didn't get into it. Glad I didn't buy the whole series.

I'm also not a huge paranormal fan. I started Original Sin by Allison Brennan, and can't get into it, either, though I'll give it more time. I think I just don't have it in me to stick with a complex plot.

Saturday night when we came home from dinner, I was really relaxed and ready for bed, but I put on The Proposal (streaming from Netflix FTW) because I needed to write 100 more words to reach my goal. I ended up watching until the end at 12:30!

Last night the dh and I watched 9, that odd little animated film that came out last year. And I mean odd. It didn't end like I expected at all. In fact, I'm not sure what exactly happened. It was pretty much the same plot as Terminator, though.

Then I watched an Antarctica documentary which was a little too graphic for my taste. I wish I was getting Sherlock Holmes tomorrow, but Netflix won't release it for 28 days because of Warner Brothers. I'd say I'd buy it, but I've not seen it and don't know if it's worth it. Also, that's exactly what WB wants, now, isn't it?

4 more days until Clash of the Titans!

Goals for Week of CLASH OF THE TITANS (I mean, EASTER!)

2010-03-28T06:15:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

1) Go see Clash of the Titans

2) Big grocery trip

3) Work a bit at MIL’s house

4) Work on edits on short story

5) Submit other short story

6) Work on romantic suspense

7) Testing

8) Faculty meeting

9) Self-evaluation form for work

10) Exercise

11) Keep up house (didn’t do either of these too well last week)

Writing Kids

2010-03-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Writing kids has never been something I wanted to do, probably because I’m a teacher, and dang, I want to have some away time. I definitely never wanted to write teen-agers. I mean, they’re moody and make bad decisions and, well, you know. It’s hard to focus on romance when you have to worry about kids.

Except…I’m watching Parenthood. I love love love Peter Krause and Monica Potter’s characters. Their relationship is so real and solid as they deal with their son with Aspergers and their teen-aged daughter and her “Facebook official” romance. This week, I loved how Monica looked from her daughter to her husband to watch his reaction, and I absolutely saw the romance there, wanting to see the man you love react to his daughter’s first boyfriend. I don’t know if I could write something like that, but I understand it now, how a reader can fall in love with a hero who has that protective instinct, that fear of losing his child to adulthood.

Sooo, maybe I’m not ready to write a single dad story, but I may go dig in my TBR for some Karen Templetons.

Is anyone else watching Parenthood? I saw Natalie posted somewhere that it’s too negative, but I love the interplay between family members. I do wish they’d quit making such bad decisions, but like I said, I love Peter Krause and Monica Potter, so I’m sticking.

Friday, eBooks and Exhaustion

2010-03-26T16:26:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I don't actually have writer's block. In fact, during today's very stressful hours, I was wishing to write, just to escape for that little bit. Of course right now I'm too tired. I even took an Ambien last night and STILL managed to wake up for an hour and a half around 3. Problem Child is completely kicking my butt. I recalled today that I had a child like him my first year at this school, with such hatred that I couldn't reach around her, and I absolutely failed her. I am no wiser now.

I'm playing with the idea of buying more ebooks because I of course do not have enough. I like to buy Harlequins and such from Fictionwise because there's a discount, and you get a rebate toward buying more books. But at the same time, I wonder if I should wait and spend my money on the new Nora and new Jill Shalvis. Trying something new vs. tried and true, you know? And yes, I'll still buy the new Nora even though the last two haven't been keepers for me.

I wish I could take a nap but am waiting for my cousin, who's in town from CA, to let me know if they want to get together tonight or tomorrow. The dh and I are hoping for tonight, because the boy is off work and the dh has a gig tonight, which means he'll be toast tomorrow, but so far no word. And you know that makes me nervous.

What's on tap for your weekend?

The Big Day

2010-03-25T06:34:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Today Golden Heart and Rita (imagine trademark signs there because I don't know how to do 'em and am too rushed to look it up) calls go out today. Good luck to all who entered!

I was remembering previous years, and getting the Call.

In 2003, the calls went out early. I'd just told the dh that I'd probably be feeling down the next week because the Golden Heart calls would be going out. Not an hour later, the phone rang. I didn't hear anything after "Hot Shot is a Golden Heart finalist." She talked and talked and talked and all I could think about was getting off the phone to call my critique partner Elizabeth. HER first words were, "Your career is made." I remember sending out emails, getting congratulations and phone calls, and joining the Wet Noodle Posse that day. Also, making reservations for NYC because I hadn't planned to go. So glad I did!

In 2004, I'd left my work number on the entry form because I didn't yet have a cell phone. I told the secretary that I might be getting a phone call, and if I did, to please let me know over the intercom and I'd come take it. I even had contingency plans for leaving my class. Sure enough, around 8:30, she called me over the intercom but didn't tell me to come to the phone. I don't remember exactly what the confusion was, but she told them to call back at lunch, which was 11. Never was there a longer morning. Back then, I was music teacher, and between classes, I'd go lament to eHarlequin, because I didn't have email access, but I could get through with them. I saw so many people getting the call, and spent interminable hours wondering if that call was MY call. At 11, I went to sit in the office, and at about 11:20, I got the call that Hot Shot had finalled again.

In 2005 I entered Beneath the Surface, but didn't final. That was a long day, too, of checking email and the official list.

In 2006, I was standing in my 3rd grade classroom, and I think we'd just come back from breakfast when my cell rang. The board member had called the house first, and the dh had given her my cell, so he knew before I did that Don't Look Back (coming out this September, LOL!) was a finalist before I did.

In 2007 I entered Beneath the Surface again, with a shortened beginning. That year the calls went out on Sunday, and since Trish was on the board, she let me know they wouldn't start until noon. Whew. Long morning. I decided to restain the bench on my front porch. We went to Lowe's for the supplies and I got started right away, unable to keep still. RIGHT at noon--the church bells down the street were still ringing--Trish called me. She was my board member, see? She knew all night that I'd finalled and didn't say a word!

I hope someone out there has a similar experience to share today!!!!