My Two Blessings

Which way did he go, George, which way did he go? ~ Bugs Bunny It's Sunday evening and I'm wondering where my week went.  As far as writing goes I don't think much got accomplished.  I did start to interview Greg, my main male character in Eyes in the Ashes.  When asked him to describe his hands, got an interesting reaction.   Greg:  He snorted out a laugh. "Seriously, my hands?"  I nodded.  He shook his head and held out his hands, looked at them.  "Beat up, rough. 5 fingers on each hand."  He flexed his fingers, stared at his palm and a sad look crossed his face.  "Strong and weak.  I couldn't hold on."  me:  "Hold on to what?" Greg:  "I never saw it before.  You can only hold on so long, then you have to open your hand, let go." Me:  "Like a parent lets go of a child?" Greg:  "I guess. You can squeeze them shut, but after a while you have to open, let go or it...

Nasturtium Waterdrop by Zen So Spring segued right into Summer in a flash, which really isn't surprising. Sacramento's weather has a tendency to change on a dime.   I can't complain because now I can sit out on my patio in the morning, enjoy nature and write.  I think I'm more productive in the spring and summer - just something about listening to the birds singing, the breeze rustling the leaves and the cats hanging out and getting into mischief.   James has also started working ahead a bit with his lessons in the hopes of finishing everything by mid June so we can take a longer vacation.  I've come up with a plan, a project, to avoid the summer doldrums and kept him from overdoing technology.  We are going to design and build bookshelves for his room.  He will have to be actively involved in every step and I think once he finds out, he could possible earn a little bit of extra spending money, he'll be jumping on board with the pl...

Clock walker courtesy of Profound Whatever Have you ever noticed that as you get older time seems to pass so much more quickly.   I really don't know where the week went.  Between lessons, reading, work, reading, cats, reading, editing,  and reading.... Well I think we know what I've been doing with my time.  *grin*    Oh and Eureka and Glee are back.  Yeah! I managed to revise chapter two of my current WIP and give a bit more life to my main male character.   I can see where this is going to be a slow process.  I finished reading James Scott Bell's Revision and Self Editing in the Write Great Fiction series .  And he himself says "Learn always about the craft, but when you write, write like Fast Eddie Felson played pool in The Hustler, fast and loose.  When you revise, revise slow and cool." I've decided not to rush the process and do my best.  Going to give myself a few days, then start the next book ...

This week has been a big fail for me as far as blogging and editing are concerned.  The taxes took up quite a bit more time than expected.  Especially when discovered to my dismay that all the nifty tax credits we received for 2010 went away for 2011, which resulted in us underestimating our business estimated taxes.  At first thought I had done something wrong and went over it several times.  Nope.  Then hubby looked it over and went through his usual grumbling about the government.  Now its time to just pay them and move on. The joy and the ups and downs of owning a small business.  Honestly wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.   I did get my test mile figured out and have been writing 250 words each morning. Sort of like morning pages, whatever comes to mind about my current story or just letting a mini story flow out. Now that's been interesting.  Despite the fact I didn't get much editing done, have been thinking abo...

Happy Easter!  I am knee deep in taxes so don't have much time to post today.  Nothing like waiting til the last minute.  *grin*  Be sure to check out Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks .  This week highlighting poetry since it is National Poetry Month.   Found some neat links to various authors and bloggers who are celebrating by writing some original poetry or showcasing poets.  And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him.  For He departed, and behold, He is here.  ~St Augustine

Back in the late 80's I happened to be perusing the shelves at my local christian book store and stumbled up a new novel -  This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti . The premise of angels and demons battling over the possession of the inhabitants of a small town intrigued me. Have you ever read a novel that was so visually stunning, it creates a visceral reaction that sticks with you forever.  Frank Peretti knows how to verbally paint a picture and has continued to do so in all his novels from his very first This Present Darkness to Tilly to Visitation.  So when he released his latest book after a long seven years, I immediately ordered it and read it.  Illusions is one of those stories that makes you hold your breath wondering what's going to happen next.  So imagine my surprise and delight when I received an email asking if I wanted to be part of the ASK FRANK Blog tour.  I am the last stop on the tour of 9 bloggers made up of nine pastors, a...

courtesy of Horia Varlan It's time for Round 2 of A Round of Words in 80 Days which will run from today through June 21st.  My goals will be simple.  To edit, edit, then edit some more.  Finally getting a handle on it....I think.  Currently reading James Scott Bell's Revision and Self Editing and Alexandra Sokoloff's Screenwriting Tips for Authors. Between the two of them, I'm hitting the ground running. My goals will be simple this round 1) Edit suspense story - Eyes in the Ashes.  It's been sitting on the back burner long enough so going into it fresh.  2) Sponsorship:   I am also a sponsor this round so goal is to visit at least 5 ROWers per day.  3)  Writing - need to keep the creative right brain engaged so write at least 250 words per day, whether it will be the story, blogging, journal or just being creative and letting my imagination fly.  4)  Blogging:  Besides ROW80 Wednesday check in's and Sunday Salon,...

Happy April!  I just spent 4 days at the Left Coast Crime mystery conference and had loads of fun.  I think the median age of the participants was 50ish which mean lots of nice, friendly, classy people who enjoyed talking about writing and books.  I met quite a few new to me authors and came away with quite a few books. Unfortunately my iphone pictures all came out fuzzy. I'm blaming it on the dim lighting and mustard colored walls, which is my only complaint about the whole conference.  I had fun working the registration desk and chatting with everyone coming in.  The writers workshop with Jennifer Fischer and Alexandra Sokoloff was very educational and had scads of fun eating lunch with 4 other writers and talking about, what else but, writing.  Now I reading Alex's   Screenwriting Tricks for Authors and Writing Love and have lots of homework to do.  After the Deep Story class I took through Savvy authors and the complicated 18 s...