You know, I’m thinking I may be revealing a bit too much of my mania on this blog ;)

If you think I’m a Christmas freak now, you should have seen me a few years ago. I had enough Christmas clothes for every school day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Actually, I just gave away a couple of the jumpers and skirts this year because they don’t fit anymore. (Now I only have 11, but three are in sorry shape, so that leaves 8. And most are sweatshirts – not too practical in South Texas.) But I used to start sewing Christmas clothes in the summer, as soon as the new fabrics would come out.

My other mania is baking. I’d buy those little books at the checkout counter every year, sometimes 4 or 5 of them, and make the recipes I found in them. My Christmas shopping list was as long as my arm, and cost a small fortune. Every weekend from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I’d bake 2, sometimes 3 or 4 varieties of cookies and freeze them. I learned the value of parchment paper and a good oven timer. I had every counter surface covered, as well as my long table. I’d have cramps in my hands from squeezing piping out of a tube. I’d send the dh for burgers because if I tasted one. More. Sweet. Thing….



By the last week of school, I’d have at least 8 tins filled. I’d take them to school, put out a tablecloth and a pretty platter, and open them up.

I was very popular.



Of course, they’d eat all the cookies, then I’d have to bake more for the family. It was a vicious cycle. THEN I’d have too many left over and throw a lot of them away.

So, what to do this year? I’m not as pressed for time as I was. Still, the idea of all that baking….

I may just stick to the classics – gingerbread men, sugar cookies, molasses cookies, pretzel bark (easiest recipe ever) and sugar plums, which I used to make as a girl before I lost the recipe, only to find it again last year (it’s at Wet Noodle Posseif you’re interested!). That means no truffles or chocolate crinkles or any of the other tried-and-not-so-true recipes from those little books. And really, why go to so much trouble when you can buy them ready made??

JoAnn's book is out now!!!



This is her first book, and it's AWESOME! If you love tarot cards and seaside mystery, a wounded hero and a spunky heroine, you'll love this!

Three of Swords

Janice's book is in stores - I got mine in the mail day before yesterday!! Can't wait to dig in!




I was priveleged to read the synopsis way before this book was complete, way before it won the AMERICAN TITLE contest! It's going to be great!

Jane Millionaire

Elizabeth tagged me, so here goes!

1. The Internet is evil when it comes to book buying. It leads to impulse buying. Read someone’s comments on a book that sounds interesting? Hop on over to amazon.com. My wish list there is maxed out! I’ve cut back on buying new books from people I know, or from people whose books I love to keep reading (don’t want their numbers to fall off!) But between eHarlequin and SARA and the Wet Noodle Posse, I’m going broke!

2. I’m very careful with brand new books. I used to share them with my grandmother (that kind of justified the expense, and she’d slip me a $20 every now and then for book money.) Used books, I don’t tend to treat as fine. They can slide under the seat of the car, or get beat up in my purse, or accompany me to the bathtub.

3. Going to Barnes and Noble can have one of two effects on me as a writer – freeze me up because I can never possibly compete when there are So Many Books, or fire me up because I want to see MY name on that shelf. (Yes, even if it’s a pseudonym.) And no, I can’t walk out without buying anything.

4. I’m not much in the way of a series reader. You know, Anita Blake and all that. I petered out on JD Robb, though I still have about 4 in my TBR, and I haven’t bought them in 2 years. I’ve read all but the latest in the Outlander series, and am not drooling to read this one, not like I was when the 4th one came out.

5. Covers…I have bought books by their covers, most recently Lori Handeland’s A Soldier’s Quest. My first book that I bought by the cover was Winter Roses. It turned out to be my favorite book. I love pretty colors on covers – that draws my eye. I’m not fond of cartoon covers, though Julie Ortolon’s latest, where the couple is at a table sipping margaritas is pretty cool. I do hesitated to take bare chested covers and clinch covers in public.

6. I rarely reread books. I have enough new books to read! I have reread the first three Outlanders, Winter Roses and some of Nora’s earlier ones. Now I buy them on CD so I can listen to them on the way to work!

7. I read one book at a time, unless it isn’t holding my attention. Then I might pick up another one, but still give the first one a chance, in case it’s just my impatience. It’s rare that I’m reading two, though.

8. I read in the bathtub, in bed, or in one of my two favorite chairs. I read in waiting rooms, too. Again, not often.

9. I love authors who make me forget about GMC and POV and all the other things that I’ve learned to watch for. I want writers to take me into their world. Nora does, Catherine Mann does, Jennifer Crusie does, Suzanne Brockmann does.

10. I don't like books with children. Maybe it’s part of being a teacher.

11. I have never read an e-book.

12. I dream of having a book signing with Nora Roberts. Hey, may as well dream big.

13. I almost always force myself to finish a book. Part of me wants to see what happens, part of me feels, well, I wasted that time starting the book, may as well put the rest of the investment in.

14. I took the English AP test in high school (I wrote about The Great Gatsby, the scene where she’s going nuts in his closet, throwing shirts around), getting me out of freshman English. Yay, me! And then I minored in English!

15. Titles…some are just so damn catchy, like the Bombshell Cardinal Rules. It’s about the Vatican, get it? Some are awkward, especially historicals, if I don’t know how to pronounce the words. Elizabeth mentioned the Presents titles, some of the Romance titles were bad, too. But I understand those hooks are big!

16. A lot of my early memories revolve around books. Taking a road trip to California with Trixie Belden books strewn across the backseat of the Cutlass and my dad getting mad, buying MORE Trixie Belden books once we were IN California, helping my 4th grade teacher plan a mural about Little House on the Prarie, going to the school library one day a week during the summer time (now that was a librarian who wanted kids to love reading!) My grandmother signed me up for all kinds of book clubs, like a horse book club. Was I in heaven or what? My grandmother would tease me about a particular incident. I read all the Blaze books, by C.W. Anderson. Well, in my hometown, there’s a Chas. W. Anderson loop. I of course asked if it was named after one of my favorite authors.

Okay, I tag Colleen, Trish and Bosey!

So, I know I shouldn’t be thinking about this now, not when I still need to get Hot Shot to Emily and I want to get Surface to her by the first of the year, but I’ve been thinking about a story I started last winter and never finished because…well, it wasn’t coming out the way I wanted.

Part of my problem, I’ve decided, is my heroine. She’s a waif. It’s an action adventure novel. She has no place in that book.

But….here’s her story. Her father ruined the family name scientifically speaking. She’s a biologist trying to rebuild her reputation. She’s very knowledgeable about nature, but she’s not particularly assertive.

So the question is, how to make a waif heroic?

Wait! Where are you going?? This won't be scary, I promise.

I clearly missed out on the housecleaning gene. My mother is compulsive about it. The other morning before we went shopping she wanted to use my restroom. I'd cleaned everything but the floors, thank God, but she walked past the guest room where things were piled on the queen sized bed - so many you couldn't see the quilt. Oh, dear.

So I spent a good part of last week cleaning house. And you know what? Yesterday when I came home from work, it was so nice to walk into a clean house. Okay, don't get me wrong, it's not CLEAN. I don't think I'll ever keep up with the cat hair and my husband's pile o' stuff has been in the same position for weeks and of course there's the computer mess, but the clothes are hung and put away, the kitchen and bathroom counters are clean, the washer, dryer and hall leading to them are clean.

I used to be a Fly Lady - any of you familiar with her? She said to clean for 15 minutes a day. Well, over vacation I cleaned an hour. I spent three days on the bedroom, three on the guest room, three on the mud room (okay, I cheated on that one a bit. They have all their music equipment in there, and what am I supposed to do about that?) But I cleaned out my closet, got out my winter clothes, swept and mopped the floor, dusted the windowsills. It could probably use three more days, but it'll have to wait till its rotation comes around. The next two days are the kitchen, then the living room and the sunroom.

It only took me six and a half years, but I have a laundry method now. I have three baskets, one for towels, one for whites and one for darks. I sort the clothes from the hampers at one end of the house, then haul the hampers to the laundry room in the garage. After the clothes are dry, I hang up the hang-up-ables on the pole that has been there all six and a half years, and everyone has to come get their own. The rest of the clothes go back in their baskets and sit beside the couch till I sit down to watch TV. It has defeated Mt. Laundry (otherwise known as the quilt rack in the bedroom.)

I also tried some new cleaning supplies. I already love Swiffers for quick stuff, especially going under the couch. I bought Magic Rub Erasers. I cannot believe how wonderful these things are. They remove soap scum. And believe me, in my shower, I needed it. They remove rust stains. They are quite remarkable.

I like those toilet scrubbers that you can flush, too.

Any household cleaning hints you'd like to share?

And here, for enduring this punishing post, have a picture.

Back to work after a week off. It was a lovely, restful week, I got a lot done, and thoroughly messed up my sleep patterns. At least I have two inservices this week, so I can sleep in those days.

The other night we were watching Stealth and I mentioned something about the conflict set up between the female pilot and the male pilot who wasn’t Jamie Foxx as being nicely done. The dh turned to me and told me (in a nice way) that I couldn’t stop analyzing movies and shows.

Only I don’t think that’s true. The other night we were watching The Skeleton Key and he was the one who worked out what the twist was. I was happy to go along for the ride.

I don’t submit theories about Lost or Alias, but I listen to them. I’m just as happy to let JJ tell me a story.

Then again, I use some movies to teach my kids the elements of story telling. I love using Shark Tale for cause and effect. I use Pirates and The Mummy for character goals. I tried to use Harry Potter as a characterization thing, but there are too blasted many characters.

Maybe it's only when I am being hit over the head with something that I am even able to analyze it. What about you? Do you dive after hidden meanings, or do you prefer to stay on the surface?

Surface is an all right show, but it is masterful when it comes to black moments. Last week and this, the doctor lady and Louisiana boy were in a submersible to study the new life forms, and the cable snapped, leaving the adrift, before the cable dropped below them, dragging them into an abyss. For two shows we were left wondering how they could possibly get out of this predicament, and I truly didn’t think they would.

It led me thinking to some good black moments in movies.

My absolute favorite is a Hugh Grant movie Extreme Measures, where he’s a doctor, and Gene Hackman is a doctor trying out a dangerous drug on paralyzed people (okay, I don’t remember the plot exactly) but Hugh Grant was trying to stop him. Except Hugh Grant finds himself paralyzed and you have to wonder – is he going to be so against the testing now?

There’s Two Towers, where they’re at Helm’s Deep, and all appears lost until Gandalf comes riding over the ridge.

Serenity. Holy cow, what a black moment. Once you-know-who was you-know-what, you believed any of them could be next. And you’d already seen what the Operator could do with that little grab.

Lost (I know, not a movie) but when Sawyer is shot and Walt is taken – and we were left all summer to wonder how they’d get out of it!

X-Men (the first one) where Rogue is dead despite Wolverine’s every effort to save her. Turns out she’s only mostly dead, like Wesley in Princess Bride.

Alias – Who WAS Michael, anyway???

What are your favorite black moments?

I cannot buy any more Christmas decorations. Ever.

Before





No one should have this much Christmas stuff. And this isn't even all the dishes - I have more Christmas dishes and glasses than everyday wear.

But it came out mostly nice.

You should have seen the food yesterday. Holy cow. Two turkeys, two hams, three kinds of dressing, three things of mashed potatoes, three pumpkin pies, two sweet potato casseroles, three cranberries, green bean casserole, cherry cheesecake, cookies, jello salad, six bottles of wine. And….twenty six people. All of my sister in law’s family came, except her brother and his wife. One of her sisters brought two young soldiers from Fort Sam. We had a blast. And I snagged enough leftovers so I don’t have to cook tomorrow, which is good since tomorrow is my decorating day. I’ll put up the tree, take down everything that isn’t Christmas-related and put up all my Christmas decorations, get out my Christmas plates/glasses/silverware (yes, silverware.) I worry about the kitten – it’s his first Christmas and he’s kinda rambunctious, so I hope he doesn’t mess with the tree. The other cats have all been good with it.

I’ll go to the grocery store, but none of the Black Friday specials were good enough to tempt me. Okay, Target has $30 microwaves and two portable DVD players for $100. But the crowds – ugh!

It’s going to be rainy today, and cooler, and I’m expecting a call from my agent, so it’s a good day.

How was your Thanksgiving, and did you get any good bargains today?

26 Things I Learned From the Movies from Cool Movie Quotes

I didn't want to do a "what I'm thankful for" post, because, well, how different is that?

But ya know? I gotta. The least I can do is not make it 10!

12) I'm thankful for good romance novels and romantic movies.

11) I'm thankful for online shopping, Blockbuster.com and paperbackswap.com.

10) I'm thankful I don't have to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Or pay for it!

9) I'm thankful I got my GH entries out of the house. Just in time for more revisions on Hot Shot!

8) I'm thankful we have the money for the house repairs that have been piling up.

7) I'm thankful we have a week off because now my house looks halfway decent and most of my errands are run.

6) I'm thankful for cozy pjs and socks and kitties and popcorn and hot chocolate and laying on the couch watching good TV.

5) I'm thankful for my class and my good work environment. It makes every bit of difference.

4) I'm thankful I got the most enthusiastic understanding agent on the planet.

3) I'm thankful I have patient, understanding friends like you guys! You listen to me whine, you celebrate with me, you boost me up.

2) I'm thankful for my family, even though my mom did keep me in Payless for an hour looking for a second pair of shoes, then she didn't buy the first pair AND NOW SHE WANTS TO GO BACK.

1) I'm thankful for my fellas. (The ones I live with, not Gerry. Though him too. Only not here. Something higher than #1) You think you guys hear whining? You should live with me. And they put up with it. And the occasional Gerry movie. They're the best.

Yes, it’s that time again – time for the “things I’m looking forward to” blog.

I’ll be honest, I love the preparations for the holidays, but I’ve become a bit of a hermit in my old age, so the actual holidays stress me out. BUT, I am looking forward to sweet potatoes tomorrow. And looking at the bargains in the newspaper, maybe even formulating a shopping plan I’m not likely to use because of the whole hermit thing.

I look forward to getting my house decorated for the holidays. I look forward in some small way to baking for the holidays. It was always my thing in December, but every year it gets harder.

I look forward to being DONE with Christmas shopping and Christmas cards (haven’t bought those yet, either.)

I look forward to decorating my classroom. My kids get such a kick out of it.

The next three weeks at school will FLY, with testing and Secret Santa and parties and inservices. I look forward to that.

I look forward to March of the Penguins on DVD, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Serenity.

I look forward to Narnia and King Kong on the big screen.

I look forward to word on the Emily, Launching a Star and Duel on the Delta, my last three contests, outside the GH.

I look forward to being DONE with my stories for awhile ;)

Once I'm done with Surface, I'll switch to another hunk. For now, I need Gerry.

The other day I took my notebook to school so I could write while the kids were testing. (SH!)

Well, of course it didn’t turn out that way. What I discovered was it was my notebook where I’d recorded two of our vacations. Our favorite ones, as it turned out.

The first was in 2002. We went to the Grand Canyon.



The dh had wanted to go to the Grand Canyon for years, but every year we didn’t have enough money or we went to see family. We decided during the Christmas of 2001 that we would go. We’d gone to New Orleans the previous year, hadn’t had a lot of fun, so I didn’t hold high hopes, especially since me and the outdoors are not the best of friends.

We left the day after Josh got out of school for the summer. We left at something like 5 AM, stopped in Kerrville for breakfast as the sun was rising in the hill country. The plan was to stop at Carlsbad on the way, go through the caverns, spend the night in the resort there. The dh had planned this all, I was just along for the ride. We drove through miles and miles of Texas, just like the Ernest Tubbs song, saw towns long abandoned (and for good reason.) We got to Carlsbad at 1:30 ish. We checked into the hotel (resort, yeah, right) and went out to the caverns, did the tour and were surprised by people who proclaimed it HUMID, ate the godawful food there, went to see the bats (this was really cool.) We went back to the hotel, played on the water slides, took baths in the very nice tub and hit the sack early, so we could get an early start.

We were astounded that the sun rose so early in New Mexico. By the time we got to Roswell at 6 AM, it was full bright, and all that was open was Albertson’s and WalMart. Got my Roswell souvenirs at WalMart, you bet I did. Ate breakfast at McDonald’s. Drove on through a not-too-pretty part of NM, saw my first reservations as the day progressed, ate lunch at McDonald’s just before the Arizona border. The land was really gorgeous out that way.

Once we crossed the Arizona border, it was like we’d driven into a wind tunnel. The whole way across Arizona, we battled wind. We stopped at the meteor crater, but I balked at spending the money. Of course, I still haven’t lived that down. We got to the Grand Canyon itself at 5 PM their time, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the little village there, complete with Laundromat and grocery store. We checked in, put our stuff in our room (which wasn’t pretty, but was very clean and functional) and headed to the canyon.

All I can say is, wow. The pictures you’ve seen can’t do it justice. If you’ve never been there, you MUST GO. All I could think was, “How can one little river have done so much?” We scoped it out, walking the trails that were very nicely paved, heard languages from all over the world, stopped again and again for the breathtaking view before we went back to the village to eat in the cafeteria (very reasonably priced, too.) I saw some honest-to-God Hot Shots there and was very excited. We went back out to the rim for sundown, then, miracle of miracles, they had a star party. One week a year, a group of amateur astronomers go to the Grand Canyon, and we hit that same week. My dh, also an amateur astronomer (albeit a poor one) was in heaven. The boy and I, while we enjoyed it, were freezing to death in our shorts and t-shirts. We got blankets out of the car and wrapped up in them before the dh finally called it a night.



We slept like rocks.

We woke at sunrise to see the, well, sunrise, again wrapped in our blankets. We went to breakfast, then back to bed, then back to the rim and walked around to El Tovar. Now, the place where we stayed was on the park property and was very nice, but if you’re going to the Grand Canyon, you want to stay at the El Tovar. See, every time we wanted to go to the rim, we had to drive or take a shuttle. At the El Tovar, you just have to walk out the front door. Even cooler, there was a raven on the edge of the path, “talking” to the people who passed. It was so determined that we understand him!

The best thing about the Grand Canyon was that there was no timetable to keep. The only schedule was to be at the rim for sunrise and sunset, and then be in the parking lot for the star party. That was it. For someone who lives by a timetable, it was glorious.



While we were there, we scoped out a flat rock that extended into the canyon and that was where we would sit when we weren’t hiking (we didn’t go into the canyon, though. I was a little nervous about that.) It was just the most relaxing place. I was so sad to leave.



While the Grand Canyon was a relaxing vacation, New York was high energy. I’d debated going to the conference in 2003 way before I knew I was a finalist, and a friend advised against it. She said I’d hate NY.

Boy, was she wrong.

We flew into La Guardia, took a cab into the city, and looked like hicks as we leaned our heads back as far as they could go, mouths open. Wow. We checked into the hotel, and hit the streets as fast as we could. We walked all the way up Fifth Avenue from the park,



got as far as the Empire State building before turning west, toward the river where the Circle Line tours meet. We walked through Times Square and past to the boats. We’d prepurchased our tickets and were so excited. The tourguide was excellent, pointing out everything, talking about 9/11, just really putting us in NYC. We were still on the boats as the lights came on.

Unfortunately, we didn’t plan how to get back to the hotel once the tour was over, and ended up walking (alone, yes, hello, we’re tourists) through Hell’s Kitchen. GULP. I was so scared.

Except we emerged in Times Square. At night. It was like sunrise. It was the most breathtaking manmade thing I’d ever seen. So energizing. So by the time we got back to the hotel, I couldn’t sleep.

The next morning, I joined the other RWA ladies at the Today Show, only I didn’t know they’d changed the times, so I was an hour late. Met Eileen Rendahl, who had just sold her first novel to Pocket. Now she’s a Rita finalist! Did some RWA stuff while the boys saw the sights.



Met up with my NJ cousin and did the museums, learned to ride the subway, was very tired with all the walking. Pooped out in the middle of the Egyptian exhibit of the Met – and I love the Egyptian stuff! Did the lit signing, but was so so tired.

Did more RWA stuff, went to the zoo with fellow SARA (who I’d only just met in NY), had a blast. Came home and met up with the Hive Mind, ladies from AOL who I’ve become good friends with. We had so much fun.

Saturday night was the awards, and I was so nervous, but the Hive bought me lovely silver heart jewelry which I still wear when I feel the need, and I enjoyed the rest of the evening.

Sunday, NJ cousin came again and we went downtown, to the WTC, but she wouldn’t go to Ground Zero. Went to Chinatown and Little Italy, fell in love with Battery Park, saw the Washington Square arch (all under construction) before we had to catch the subway back to the hotel, check out and get to the airport. A hectic trip, but one I’d take again tomorrow.

Yes, this is my favorite subject. Why do you ask?

I’ve been reading inspirational books by some friends this week. I mean, men who have faith have always fascinated me, because it always seemed like a woman thing (except me, I hate to say mine is not strong.) So I should be thrilled to get this peek inside the heads of men with faith. Only all I can think about is that I don’t know any men like that.

Then, duh, I write firefighters and spec ops and cops who sacrifice themselves for others, and while I am sure they are out there, I don’t know any men like that either.

Why am I more fascinated with the rough and tumble risk takers than with the boy next door? Do we write romance to try to figure out the male psyche? Or do we write to create the ideal man?

It’s that time again, time to start thinking about Christmas shopping. (And if you’re done, don’t even tell me. I’m usually much farther ahead than this, but the three books have killed me. I don’t even know WHAT to get.)

So I’m making my list. Mom, brother and I have agreed to give each other gift cards to restaurants, because going out to eat is always such a treat. Okay, that’s them.

Still need little brother, MIL (prolly another gift card), Dad and stepmom, son, best friend Cindi (who I also picked as my Secret Santa at school, AND who has a birthday the 23rd) and her baby (I did get a gift for her older boy already) and my husband. Please let that be all.

Little brother loves music and books, but never has time to read. He loves computers and IM and all that jazz. He’ll start driving in January, loves languages and ancient Egypt. Usually have a ton of ideas of what to get him, but not this year.

Dad loves the great outdoors, is building a lakehouse, drives a Corvette, works a billion hours a week. No idea what to get him.

Stepmom occasionally visits here, so I am saying NOTHING ;) I do have some ideas in this arena.

Cindi. Oy. Loves music and movies, but not the same as me. Has two boys under 5. Loves Elvis. Loves teaching. Loves the Spurs. Should be easy. Not. (I did pick her up some Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer slippers at Burlington last night. The noses light up! Still two gifts to go.) I'm thinking about getting her really tacky Secret Santa gifts so she won't guess it's me.

Baby should be easy, right? He’s 15 months old, something like a stuffed animal or something.

Boy. My husband has ideas, like a new guitar or cash toward the amplifier he wants. Why would he need a new guitar, is what I want to know. He has two. I think I don’t get it.

Husband. Heaven knows. He loves music and computers, sci fi….oh, maybe Battlestar Galactica on DVD, the new one….

All I want is someone to come clean my house. ;) Or this...

I just had a three hour nap....I'm on vacaaaaaaation.

Woke up to news that Hot Shot finalled in the Hot Prospects contest long contemp and is going to Brenda Chin. (I know. All I can think is that I entered this one without knowing the final judge.) But still, yay, Hot Shot!

I slept late…..I’m on vaaaaacaaaaation!!! Hope to see Harry Potter today and Zorro tomorrow (hey, that rhymes!) Annnd, finished DLB, ready to mail. Now, onto Surface!

This isn’t a post about changing point of view, or staying in one point of view, it’s about becoming your character and looking through their eyes. Deep POV, I guess.

When I started writing Don’t Look Back, one of my cps told me to make sure my hero and heroine’s voice sounded different from each other. What a concept, right? But a lot of books don’t have this. You can read one paragraph and go to the next and though you KNOW it’s changed POV, you can’t TELL. The hero and heroine sound the same. I hadn’t thought about it. I think mine do, but I’m not sure – Trish, JoAnn?

I think the hero’s POV is usually the one with the most trouble. Men are not as wordy as women, they are more direct, and they don’t use words like “flaxen” and such to describe women’s hair. I think it’s word choice more than length of sentence that draws me out. I wanted this scene in Hot Shot where he sees her with a French pedicure, only I knew he wouldn’t call it a French pedicure. We had a speaker at school who had a pedicure, and I went to the men asking them how they would describe her nails. “Tiny,” “Sexy” and “Pink” were my answers. Sigh. I went with pink.

Then there are the sensibilities. Some characters have “old” ideas, or know things they shouldn’t at their age. Now, I was born to a young mother, but she was born to an old mother (Gigi was an old maid, had my mom when she was 35 – old in the 40s). So I know a lot of things my peers don’t know. Sometimes I read about a character and think, but how do they know about that? They’re 15 years younger than me! I even read part of a YA where the character sounded more like a kid from the 80s than a kid from today.

In Surface, I had to cut a bit about video games that I loved, but I couldn't use it. My heroine had grown up traveling the world with her parents, and my hero had grown up spending all his time studying to get out of his home situation. Neither of them were video game freaks. A way that I kind of avoid age gaffes is to look at my younger brother (not the baby, the one coming over today to fix my heater). Would he say or do it? Then neither would my characters.

I’ve been listening to a lot of workshops – a LOT. Trish and I have proposed one for next conference, and I’ve been thinking about the dos and don’ts of speaking at conference.

Here are some of my observations:

1) A cute title does not a good workshop make. I’ve listened to several with intriguing titles that say the same thing over and over again. Please. It’s the hero’s journey/writer’s block/point of view. Don’t try to fool me. (Also, those long titles are really hard to write on a CD.)
2) Writers like to read. But DON’T read to us. ESPECIALLY if you’re reading the handout that’s in the book. I could have gone to a different workshop and read what’s in the book. (Hint: if you want people to come to your workshop, don’t put all the info in the book!)
3) Have a sense of humor. I listened to two by authors I didn’t know, but they were so charming, I’m getting their books now.
4) Be polite. I listened to another where someone asked a question (yes, a long drawn out question, but…) and the speaker interrupted and snapped, “So what’s your question?” Yikes!
5) Get people involved. We had a speaker at SARA who had us acting out a scene so she could illustrate misuse of backstory. It was hilarious, and everyone was paying attention.
6) Have something new to say. I know, not easy to do, but if you say it in a way I’ve never heard before, it may click with me. The one I listened to today that set wheels in motion was How to Revise with Anna DeStefano and Johanna Raisenen. Another one that had me perking up was How to Structure a Bestselling Novel. Give me ONE thing that I can use and I’ll love you forever.

Any other advice you can think of to offer a speaker?

Field trip today to the zoo - going to be gorgeous (though I hate field trips) then off for a week!! Yippee!

I work with a girl a year older than me, another 3 years younger, and two girls in their twenties. The one 3 years younger wanted to have some 80s music to listen to at lunch time, so I burned a mix CD.

They don’t know any of the songs.

I tried to get the most popular song off each CD, but I admit I had off-the-wall taste in the 80s. No A-ha or Kajagoogoo, no Van Halen or Bon Jovi (sorry, Trish). I loved loved loved The Ramones. Loved Billy Idol – hey, my Billy Idol CD is missing! The boy must have it. Loved Psychedelic Furs – boy must have that one, too. Loved the Thompson Twins and Madonna and Cyndi Lauper and the GoGos and Prince. Loved Duran Duran for the music. I swear. I won’t say who I had a crush on in the 80s. No, I won’t. But it was my first concert.

There are some I like now that I didn’t like then, like Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams (though I saw him in concert.)

Here was the CD I made:

We Belong Pat Benatar
Save A Prayer Duran Duran (love, love, love this song)
Need You Tonight INXS
No Myth Michael Penn (love this one, too)
In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel (dh and my song)
How Soon Is Now? The Smiths (love this song)
We Can Get Together Icehouse (not my favorite, but most popular from this album)
Goody Two Shoes Adam Ant (not my favorite song – I liked Ant Music and Stand and Deliver)
Peek-A-Boo Siouxsie & The Banshees
Rudi, A Message To You The Specials
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding? Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I Wanna Be Sedated The Ramones (hard to choose)
Blue Sky Mine Midnight Oil (I loved this whole album)
One Step Beyond Madness
Get It On (Bang A Gong) The Power Station
The One I Love R.E.M.
Let's Go Crazy Prince And The Revolution
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic The Police
Lovesong The Cure (another hard to choose – also loved Pictures of You.)
Blue Jean David Bowie
Love Shack The B-52's (also like Rock Lobster)
Hazy Shade Of Winter The Bangles (love this song – almost hurt myself trying to sing harmony)
Two Tribes Frankie Goes To Hollywood (another hard to choose)
Shadows of the Night Pat Benatar
Nothing Compares 2 U Sinéad O'Connor (loved this whole album)
Shattered The Rolling Stones (had a best friend in love with Keith Richards)
Dancing In The Dark Bruce Springsteen (didn’t listen to him much in HS)

Any of these ring bells?