Fractured Fiction

Weekend Update

2011-10-20T20:21:00.003-04:00

Well, it’s been almost a year since my last blog entry, and looking back at my last posting it seems as if not much has changed when actually a lot has happened. Here’s how it compares to last year’s last entry.
1) I am going to do Nano this year, I’ve got a project I need to get started, as I’ve got an editor already interested in it. I’ve been doing quite a bit of research and preparation, not just need to get it done.
2) I would like to begin blogging more regularly, however between Nano and the madness that is my work schedule, I would be happy with a weekly posting. This would be a good start, right?
3) Yup, still working on the losing the weight, and am making progress. Not fast, but I’ve gotten to the point where I’m starting to keep it off. No plans for marathons, but maybe a walk/run for cancer.
4) Still not playing games on Facebook, and not even spending much time on Angry Birds. This seems to have been a low tech summer, lots of curling up with a good book. I’m currently glomming my way through J.D. Robb’s in Death books.
5) Yup, I still have allergies, and they are once again driving me nuts.
Now for the things that have changed:
1) Savannah Jane, my 19 year old cat, passed away on March 16 of this year, so I’m currently catless, and not yet ready for a new one.
2) My car which is 14 years old, and has 139k miles on it, has had some seriously expensive repairs done to it this year, and needs to go into the shop tomorrow. If I can get it there. I’m seriously thinking of going car shopping when I go home for Christmas. That’s what sisters are for, after all.
3) I’m thinking of buying my own place, and have even started getting organized for any potential (oh god) moving in my future. But never have enough time off (and energy) to get very far.
4) The library will be getting a new space, just not this year, and not a standalone building. So the mad packing we started the year with… now has to be undone and redone in a more orderly fashion. So we can actually find things. And then we have, oh joy, another move.

I’m sure there is more, but it is late, and I don’t want to sound like I’m whining. Not all of the changes have been bad. I bought a Nook, and quite enjoy it (even if it has been on more trips this year than I have), and also a new cell phone (one I actually use and remember to keep paid up). Hopefully a few things in my life, though, will stay the same.

Weekend Update- the Halloween Edition

2010-10-31T15:27:00.002-04:00

Happy Halloween, Happy Samhain, Happy Sunday. Hope everyone is enjoying lovely weather and having fun watching the little trick or treaters. Not a lot going on, but I am trying to blog more, so I thought I'd borrow a page out of Charlene's blog and do a 5 things make a blog entry.
1) I've decided not to Nano this year, but work on the revisions and then pull my manuscript for book 2 together and see how far I am with that, and then go one from there.
2) I will try to blog more often. I'm going to aim for twice a week, and see how that goes.
3) I'm losing weight, and am going to start on getting in shape. In addition to using the Wii Fit Plus, I'm going to add walking once or twice a week, and am thinking about buying a bike. Once I lose enough weight, I might add running in, or at least increase the distance of walking. The goal, which might be sheer madness, is to attempt, with my sisters in 2012, to run the Chicago marathon. Yup, I'm nuts, and it is genetic. I blame my sisters. :)
4) I order to blog more and work on my writing more, I'm going to have to give up one of my Facebook games. I've given up all but two: Island Paradise and Farmville. Not sure which one to give up. In both, I'm working towards another expansion, and I think in Farmville it is the last available (for now), but on IP there is one after that, but it takes a long time to work up to. But both can take a up a lot of time, if you let them.
5)My allergies are driving me nuts. At the moment one of my ears feels like it has bubbles popping in my ear canal, all of the time. Nothing I do seems to affect it, not even yawning, and I've been yawning all day (which looks very professional, let me tell you). If it doesn't clear up before tomorrow I might have to go to the doctor. Bleh.
Oh one more.
My friend Katie moved back to VA (and her hubby Max will follow as soon as we find him a job), so now I have someone to go out to eat with, and we found a new restaurant, The Green Turtle, which makes a pretty mean Monte Cristo (not as good as the Green Leafe, but on the other hand I don't have to drive an hour to have one).
So things are looking up, and hopefully November will be even better.

Thursday Thirteen (or not)-the Early Edition

2010-10-14T16:46:00.004-04:00

So. It's been a while since I did any regular blogging, or writing, and I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out where this summer went.

1) Writing is like any other activity, it is easy to get out of practice. But just because I haven't been writing or blogging, doesn't mean I haven't been thinking, or plotting, or planning. It does mean I need to start back, or my characters are going to start taking over my dreams again (not a good idea when you're plotting out a murder mystery).
2) I need to start working out with the wii more, maybe that will give me more get up and go (I was doing it almost all summer long- I had to take a break though, getting muscle cramps in my feet- not fun when you drive a car with a stick shift and a clutch).
3) Trying to get organized is a never ending process- one I wish I could finish soon. Although it did help taking one of my love seats to the dumpster (it really needed to go), maybe this weekend I'll take a load of stuff to the Salvation Army.
4) I also need to get ready for my trip to Florida and the Wonderful World of Harry Potter. I can't wait.
5)I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately, and when I get back I'll start blogging about some of the books I've read. Big hint: two words for you: Steam. Punk.
6) The Evil Dayjob is getting a new library! This is great news, and desperately needed. I'll share more news (and floorplans) as we get them. Click Here, if you want to see what the building will look like.
7) I haven't been blogging much, or visiting other peoples blogs. And I definitely need to do more blog hopping, I miss my peeps too much. Although having the chance to meet some in person has totally rocked. :)
8) I've started planning my travels for next year. Not sure if I'm going to make it to RT, in LA. But I do plan to go to Pennwriters, Lori Foster's, and the CRW writer's retreat. Not sure where else, other than the usual trip home. Places to go and people to see, that's a good thing in my book.
9) According to weather.com, not a single thing in my area is producing pollen: weeds, grass, or trees. So of course my allergies are going nuts. Oy.
10)I'm going to FL Thursday, to go see the Wonderful World of Harry Potter (see #9).
11) My 18 year old cat is driving me nuts. I just hope she sticks around so I can tell everyone that my 19 year old cat is driving me nuts.
12) I want to move. I don't care if it's across town or across the country. I want to move. Will work on that too.
13) Once again it has been a supremely crazy year here, and once again it would have been even crazier without all of my writing friends, online and in person, who remind me that there is more to life than the dayjob. And that it's always good to have plans.
P.S. This is not actually early, I started this last Thursday, went home and got sidetracked. I'll try to do better next week.

To Nano or not to Nano

2010-10-10T15:01:00.002-04:00

It's October again, and I must once again make that annual decision: to I attempt NaNoWriMo? Or not? I would like to finish my revisions and resubmit before I leave for Florida, and would still have time to do some serious research before November 1st. Perhaps the best way to decide is finish the revisions and submit the ms, and then try and write out a tentative synopsis for the next book. If I get a good start on where the story is going, I'll do it. I'm not promising that I'll be able to finish 50k words in a month. But I'm not rejecting the possibility. How about you? Anyone else up for a marathon writing month?

Changes

2010-07-03T11:56:00.003-04:00

I've made a few changes to the blog, mostly to the comments: you have to log in to post a comment and I've enabled the verification word feature (I had it on when I first started the blog, but turned it off when I realised the only person it caught...was me. But now that I'm getting spammed- it's back on- my apologies to the two of you who comment regularly).

Weekend Update

2010-06-12T11:46:00.015-04:00

Okay, this is actually a report of what I did last weekend. But once I got home and back to work, it took me a while to get this posted. I had started this blog entry sitting at the Columbus airport waiting for my flight home from the Lori Foster Reader/Writer Get Together.
I had a great weekend. I got to see friends, talk shop, relax, and reconnect with my tribe (writers, if you're curious, or maybe book people would be more accurate). Sometimes you have to give yourself a chance to refill the well (although personally I think my well has sprung a leak).
I flew out Thursday, with a brief lay over in Charlotte, where I ran into my friend Angie (found out she was there reading her update on Facebook). So we shared a taxi to the hotel, which took us longer than the flight from Charlotte (I saw an accident with a 5-7 mile backup as we were approaching the airport, traffic sign said to avoid 75 and take 275 instead- cabbie still decided to try taking 75).
After checking into the hotel, we went out for dinner and drinks. The hotel staff suggested the irish pub just down the street. It was awesome. The food was great, the live music was fun, and the wait staff all wore kilts. The chocolate creme brulee was divine. Back at the hotel, we ran into Larissa and Amy at the pub, and had a good time hanging out with them.
Friday morning I joined a group of women for breakfast at Bob Evans, and then on to Jungle Jim's, a foodie Mecca. That place is huge, and full of all sorts of foods from all over the world. Friday was when it formally started with registration and pizza for dinner, after which I hung out at the bar with Angie, Shiloh, Limecello, Angie's friend (who's name escapes me at the moment). At midnight, I was in my room sitting in bed... working on my synopsis, I even worked on it more when I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep.
Saturday was laid back and relaxing. They did the drawings for the gift baskets (which I didn't win), had the book signing, I sat in on Angie's talk about Carina press, and went out to dinner with Shiloh, Beth Williamson, friends of Shi's, and Marty and Chrissie from Samhain.
The next morning Shiloh and I had breakfast at Dianne Casteel's house, before she generously drove me to the airport.
And now for the pictures.

This is the entrance to Jungle Jims, the mammoth grocery, outside of Cincy.

The entire space was full of these displays, such as the flying pig...

and this horse & buggy

The entrances to the rest rooms were actual port-a-potties,

one of which was staged for pictures.

A shoe chair.

There was a huge section of beers and wines with some interesting selections,

such as Insanity Beer...

Ruination...

Mad Hatter Pale Ale

Monty Python's Holy Ale

and Werewolf Beer

This is my psychokitty drinking the water I was taking outside to water the plants on my deck. She must have been really thirsty. :)

Happy Blogoversary to Me!

2010-05-12T12:13:00.003-04:00

This humble little blog has officially turned four today. Four. Can you believe it? Neither can I, time sure flies when you're having fun, and I've had a blast. Going to conferences and getting to meet so many awesome people. I went to RT again this year, and will post pictures hopefully tonight. I'm still working on getting published, but am a little further down the road and definitely feeling more prepared. So thank you for stopping by, and let's get the party started.

5 Things Make a Post

2010-03-30T22:54:00.003-04:00

Since I have to work tomorrow, and must go to bed in 6 minutes, I thought I'd do a 5 things post.
1) Spring is sprung. The trees are blooming, the rose and the mint plant both survived the winter, and the ficus is now on the deck. Even the plants I'm starting from seeds have started sprouting. The trick will be to keep them all alive through the summer, on a deck that faces due west.
2) Spring cleaning has commenced- especially the polishing of the wooden bookcases. This might take a while. :)
3) Tai Chi has been canceled, so we're back to walking around the lake. Will try to add more working out, but so far working (at work and around the house) is enough.
4) RT- 4 weeks. Preparation has begun, picking which books to take with me, and trying to get some of them read, especially those by new to me authors.
5) I've been trying my hand at poetry again, not sure if this one works. What do you think? Here it is:

Sea Glass

Wind-swept words
Scattered across the storm-swept land.
Words, like glass shattered on the reefs,
rubbed smooth by wind and waves.
Small kernels of southern civility
adrift on the northbound current
Yet, as always, feelig the pull of the ocean:
The sweet salt smell of the sea.

Good night everyone. :)

Toodles

2010-02-18T18:47:00.002-05:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures
I am off for a week in the sun. I'm going to visit my sister in Florida, and work on my evil plans for world domination. So, have fun, stay warm, and I'll see you when I get back.

Weekend Update

2010-01-17T20:04:00.003-05:00

I'm thoroughly enjoying my four day weekend, made even better by not requiring a long car ride or plane trip (okay most of my plane trips these days only take an hour - two hours tops but still). I must admit I haven't gotten a whole lot done. I saw Sherlock Holmes, and quite enjoyed it. I read Too Hot to Hold by Stephanie Tyler as well as The Stranger's Secrets by Beth Williamson (both awesome books- I'd highly recommend them both), and have started working on the (formerly known as) ghost story (I really need to think of something else to call it- the ghost is gone-maybe I should just call it ghost town, it is set in one after all).

I've been working on Ghost Town, and trying to work out some problems I am having. I know pretty much what happens, what I'm finding difficult is when to start and how to braid the different stories into a cohesive whole. Much thinking involved.

And since everything else I've tried to write has turned into mush, I'll leave you with a picture. This is my psychokitty, Savannah Jane, who turned 18 over Christmas, I don't think she looks a day over 17, don't you? (okay, the picture was taken last year, so she was 17, but still). She's training for a gold medal in napping, and has taken over the bed to do so.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend (especially those with tomorrow off).

Weekend Update

2010-01-09T17:01:00.014-05:00

Thanks to a day on the love seat with ice on the knee (yes Kate, I did do 20 min. on and 20 min. off) a good book (Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin- actually an awesome book), and movies on the Family Channel, the knee is feeling much better. This means that tomorrow I can pack up Christmas, go grocery shopping, and maybe even make a dent in the mountain of laundry. Between Christmas and New Years I've been gone quite a bit, and have a lot to do to catch up. So part of tomorrow will be spent on end of year stuff, this year's goals, as well as beginning my evil plans. I have also been challenged to write a sex scene in iambic pentameter, and a piece using the rhythm of the Fibonacci sequence. Maybe a poem.

I had a longer post planned, but I can't remember most of it, and what I do remember sucked. So instead I thought I'd share some photos. I love my digital camera, and being able to download pics to my laptop, now all I need to do is figure out how to select the pics before downloading, so my camera doesn't download all of the pics on my camera everytime (I've got around 400 pics stored there).

The weekend before Christmas the area where my mom lives was hit by the snowstorm. A week later, this is a picture of her parking lot outside of her condo. There was only one clear spot in front of her building, where my brother's truck was parked, and one narrow lane with which to get in and out. And the snow wasn't the only hazard, the snow was melting a little each day, and freezing each night.

My brother and I took Miss Daisy, my mom's dog out for a good long walk, only to find out the park was closed. I took this picture driving to the park, not bad considering I took it through the front window. Nothing like not seeing where a road leads to make you curious. No?

The original plans had us camping out the Saturday after Christmas, this is part of why it didn't happen. The mountain hidden by the fog bank is twice as high as what's there.

This is the other reason, all of the melting snow was causing the rivers and creeks to flood their banks. This is easily four times as much water as usually flows through here.

This field is usually home to hay, not rice. Any deeper and you could probably jetski on it.

This is actually two fields, one of which usually houses a group of cows. There is no pond there, just creek.

Outside my mother's kitchen window was this little tree that looked like Charlie Brown's tree, so we decorated it for Christmas. It seemed appropriate.

I spent Christmas eve down on the Outer Banks with a friend and her family. New Year's Eve was not only the full moon and a blue moon, but also a blood moon (a lunar eclipse which makes the moon look red- which I didn't see), so we walked down to the beach to see the rising moon. This is the moon's light reflecting on the surface of the ocean.

I also got a shot of the moon, before my batteries died. The funky shape is me not holding still enough while the picture was being taken.

This last is for the ladies of the WriteMinded Readers Group, who all cheerfully admit to being addicted to books. The Waldenbooks at the mall is closing soon, and the romance section was 60% off. These are the books I bought Friday after work. Now to find a home for them all.

That's it for now. Hope you're all enjoying the weekend.

Thursday Thirteen #59 (?)

2010-01-07T19:08:00.002-05:00

13 Goals for the New Year

Since I haven't done this in a (long) while, and this is the first Thursday of the new year, I have decided to do a TT of my goals for the new year. These don't include my evil plans (I'm still working on them). We'll see how well I do at year's end (finger's crossed).

1) Visit Larissa- she moved. It sucked.

2) Meet Amy- she moved too. Close to Larissa. It could happen.

3) See Susan at least once- I think. I hope.

4) Go home twice (and possibly FL once).

5) Work towards my evil plans.

6) Finish rewriting both the ghost story and the urban fantasy.

7) Submit both stories.

8) Organize the kitchen.

9) Organize the Office/dining room

10) Begin losing weight.

11) Excercise 3x/ week (and possibly get a Wii + Wii fit)

12) Eat out less and eat more healthy foods

13) Blog more (as long as my internet cooperates).

So. Did you make any goals for the new year?

Curl up with a book... and a Nook

2009-12-21T13:18:00.001-05:00

Click here for a chance to enter Curl up with a Book...and a Nook Contest.

Weather Update and Pictures

2009-11-12T15:38:00.033-05:00

It's been a while since I updated the blog,and since I'm stuck at home I thought I'd do some blogging. Things have been crazy around here lately, lots going on (and not all of it good), but not all of it is my news so can't really share it. As a result I've been doing a lot of thinking (but not much writing). I've been modifying my evil plans, hope to get them implemented sooner rather than later. I've also been working out the changes I need to make to the ghost story (and really must stop calling it a ghost story since he's no longer a ghost). I want to work on my schedule, make more time to write (and blog). I'm also getting my apartment organized and cleaned, I'm hosting my first Thanksgiving dinner (Should be fun).

And since I'm tired of talking about the weather (I've been talking about it on my Facebook page), I've finally posted some of the pictures from my trip to NY for the Author's After Dark weekend. Some of the pictures weren't as in focus as they looked in the camera, and if I owed you a picture I apologize it was too fuzzy to send. So now, on to the pictures.

1) The author in her element (aka Mechele at home). I drove to her house and then rode with her to NY. She's good people and I had an awesome weekend hanging with her. Am talking her into riding together to RT this spring.

2) Crossing a bridge on I-95, not sure which river.

3) Reduce Eed- in other words- Ow Down.

4) Fall! The most awesome trees I didn't get pictures of, came and went by too fast for me to aim and shoot. but the pictures I did get were pretty good.

5) Audra Price (and her mum)- it was really cool getting the chance to meet her (and hang out with Stella).

6) Jennifer Armintrout- had a blast hanging out with her. She's so much fun. Can't wait to see her again at RT (hint, hint).

7) Stella and Jacqi had a baby shower for Audra and ninjababy- complete with cake and presents. Isn't the bear great?

8) I saw these and thought of Larissa- Star Trek toys- pretty cool, huh?

9) These were taken during the book signing- this is Teresa Noells Roberts and Selena Illyria (who I met at RT in Pittsburgh).

10) Tilly Green- had a great time hanging with her, told her all about my evil plans for world domination. She agreed to participate when the time comes (insert evil laugh here). :)

11) The very nice Cat Johnson-

12) And Eliza Gayle-

13) Samantha Summersby

14) Jennifer Armintrout during some down time.

15) Taken on the bridge over the Delaware River.

16) This is a picture of the bridge itself- an impressive structure.

17) Another picture of Mechele- who very generously did not smack me on the head for taking so many pictures. :)

18) Road signs leading us home

19) More pictures of fall (cause I can't ever get enough of fall).

20) More fall.

21) Mechele again. :)

22) The Potomac (I think). For some reason our bypass around DC took us to the west.

23) the Potomac from a different direction.

24) Not sure what this is, but it's outside of DC.

25) The Barnes & Noble outside DC- it looks huge.

26) Quantico- it can be the oddest things that capture your attention on long drives.

Weekend Update

2009-06-21T12:40:00.002-04:00

My friend Susan at West of Mars does this thing on her blog called only good news, which is pretty smart if you think about it, it makes you think of good things instead of the bad or just bleh. So with that in mind, here it goes. Yesterday was the first day of summer, and I celebrated by going out with two friends after work (who both also had to work) and had a lovely meal at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. It was nice to sit and chat. I've started dealing with the mountain of books that have taken over my dining room table, and of course found duplicates, as well as books I need to send out to peeps. I've also been working on my ghost story today and am up to 75 hundred words and 32 pages. I'm still enjoying the story, even if I don't know how it ends (I do know, sort of, where it's going). I also saw Race to Witch Mountain Friday (on what was otherwise a supremely lazy day), it was interesting, very different from the original, but in a good way (much better special effects but I would have been surprised if that hadn't been the case). In an effort not to get overwhelmed with things I need to do, I've made myself a mental check list and limited it to five goals for the summer. They are:
1) finish the ghost story
2) buy a bike (and use it)
3) visit Larissa
4) go home and see mom
5) send in my submission (the finished book)
There are others that I will probably also work on as the time permits, I've got plans for a website, maybe a teen oriented blog for the dayjob, a database for all of the people I've met at RT and other conferences, and other evil plans (which involve the quest for world domination or a three week vacation- whichever comes first).
Have a Happy Father's Day, and here's hoping we all have a healthy, happy, and hurricane free summer.

Weekend Update

2009-06-08T21:35:00.002-04:00

I wrote this yesterday, most of it, and decided to post it as is. It gives a better idea of what yesterday was like. And I'm not really up to rewriting the whole thing.
I'm typing this sitting in the Boston/Logan Airport, with a 4 hour layover, and no free wifi. Which is just wrong. And evidently none of the coolers are cold, so no cold soda (or more importantly- no sandwich for dinner). There are three gates that seem to be completely separate from all of the others, and there is no restaurant, no fast food, no coffee shop; just a sandwich stand (with evidently room temperature sandwiches) and a newsstand with not cold drinks. Joy.
I must say though, that the rest of the weekend totally rocked, so I'm not ready to pitch a blue fit (yet) more in the nature of a cranky in need of a nap or maybe a comfy chair with a cop of tea and some quiet. Which I won't get, unless I want to go through the hassle of going out and coming back in through security. Still not decided so I'll tell you about this weekend while I think about it. I left Friday morning and flew to Akron by way of Atlanta, and landed in Akron with no problems (despite the rain that made 64 slow down in several areas), and met Susan (from West of Mars) when she picked me up. The drive to Cinnci took us longer than we thought, but it wasn't too bad. Driving through Ohio is (I must confess) boring. No mountains, no water, not much variation in the scenery (which was nice- just the same for the whole trip).
We stopped for dinner along the way, and got their about 8, and registered for our room, and went back down to register. We ran into some old friends: Lorelei James, Shiloh Walker, and Bianca D'Arc, and also met some new ones: Valerie Tibbs and Jambrea Jo Jones. I even managed to surprise Kensana Darnell, who didn't know I was going to be there (for those of you who don't know- I met her through the Write-Minded Readers Group, and then met her in person when we found out that she lives not far from my mom).
The room was nice and comfy, the two doubles beds were loaded with pillows. Friday was an early night, which was good as we got up early and made it down for breakfast.
(I went out through security but didn't find anything that looked comfortable and schlepped my way back through security and am back in the gate waiting area- it is now 7:11 pm- and I have just under 2 hours to go).
We ate breakfast with Emma Holly and bought more raffle tickets and distributed them around to the various gift bags (there was one bag with a selection of ya books that I was seriously coveting. There was also a great big basket from the Ohio Romance Writer which included a one day pass to their September contest, and I threw one in there, as well as a bag of Suzanne Brockmann's books, a couple of bags from Shiloh, and Bianca, and Lorelei (and also Lori Armstrong), and a few that I can't remember.
After breakfast we went to the talk that Angie gave on e-publishing. I always learn something when I listen to one of Angie's talks. She talked about the various myths concerning epubs, and talked quite a bit about contracts and pointed out clauses you might want to negotiate before you sign (because once you sign you are bound to the contract): clauses such as ownership of your author name, ownership of your characters and world, worldwide rights and length of contract. And of course, hamster shifters. :)
After the talk we went through the booksale to get the books for the book signing, which took a long time (they only had one cashier). Then we went to lunch and got ready for the booksigning. I was relatively good at the bookstore, I bought:
Long Hard Ride by Lorelei James, Firedrake by Bianca D'Arc, “Tween Heaven and Hell by Sam Cheever, Winter's Daughter by J.C. Wilder, Fragile by Shiloh Walker, Chains by Shiloh (for Charli), Hallowed Ground by Lori Armstrong, and Fairyville by Emma Holly. The book in my goody bag at registration was Maverick by Lora Leigh (which she signed for me). It was great to get to sit around and just talk with everybody and make new friends. And of course get new books.
After the booksigning, Susan and I went upstairs to crash before dinner. And I crashed hard. And woke up still feeling groggy. Dinner was good, and after they did the raffle drawing. I won the big read basket from the Ohio Romance Writers. Susan and Angie both generously offered to take it for me since they were convinced it wouldn't fit with my luggage (I'd come prepared).
After dinner, we somehow ended up in the bar with J.C. Wilder and Lorelei and several other awesome people, watching the hockey game and listening to J.C.'s crazy stories.
This morning we were up and out by 8?9?/ We stopped at the first Cracker Barrel we saw and had breakfast, and made it to the airport with more than an hour to spare. We had to sit on the tarmac for a while, but it wasn't that long and then we were in the air and made it here.
This weekend (layover in Boston not withstanding) was very relaxing. I've got plans. Big plans, little plans, long and short range plans. But not right now. It's too noisy to concentrate, so I think I will save this, shut George down,and go find a bottle of water. TTFN.
I'm home now, I some how managed to get up this morning and get to work. The morning was spent on books and book keeping, the afternoon on putting together three flag stands and one display stand. I seem to be the designated assembler of furniture and displays.
And now I'm thinking about going to RWA (at least for the literacy signing).

Thursday Thirteen #???

2009-05-28T19:59:00.001-04:00

13 Reasons I’ve Been OD’ed on Books
Yes, evidently it is possible to od on books, and for the past two weeks, I have not wanted to have anything to do with books. I’m still reading, and have read a couple of really good books, but when reading you are only dealing with one book at a time, which I can handle. But any collection of books larger than what you can carry in one hand and I want nothing to do with it. Why you ask? Let me tell you. 
1) The dayjob- first there was the weeding (the entire library- parts of it more than once), then there was the rearranging (parts of it were moved more than once), and lastly there was the tagging (which involved putting a sticker in every book, cd, and dvd in the collection), which is in preparation for putting in a self checkout system. Which means I have handled, inspected, and stickered a larger percentage of the collection, frequently more than once.
2) Then there are my own books- which are in a constant state of running out of room. So I’m frequently shifting, shuffling, and weeding books from my library, making room for the new books I knew were coming. Such as…
3) Mount RT- the stacks of books that came back from RT with me and are currently camped out on my dining room table while I find homes for them all (make no mistake, I’m very happy to have them all- especially the freebies and the signed ones- I’m just tired of dealing with large collections at the moment, and they definitely qualify as large collections).
4) Then there are the books that were weeded from the dayjob collection that somehow or other made it into the personal collection (all of which were paid for with a donation to the friends of the library- I just went a little overboard and am now looking for homes for them as well- you can stop laughing now).
5) Then there are the friends (not the friends of the library- my friends) the ones who all put out books at the same time, which makes me want to buy, you got it, more books. It’s getting to the point where I can’t afford any new friends. Srsly.
6) And the library books- shelving, weeding, shifting- invariably I find books that I want to read (but thankfully don’t feel the need to own), Library books that I check out still need space, specifically a space where I won’t lose them and find them again months later (don’t laugh- I misplaced a book I’d gotten at a book signing and only found it last week).
7) It got to the point where I didn’t even want to browse the shelves at B&N, not that I didn’t want any new books so much as I didn’t want to have to find a place for them (sad, I know).
8) But. I think I’m getting over my book binge. I can look at the book shelves at work and not feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done.
9) I haven’t done anything with Mount RT yet, but I’ve got an idea of what I can do. It would even take care of the books I brought home from the library (research sources- honest- okay, stop laughing).
10) It involves cleaning out the closet off the dining room, putting a bookcase (or two) in there, and keeping the research materials in there (as well as my papers and records and stuff). That would free up space in the other book cases.
11) Which would give me enough space to clear off the dining room table, and the computer desk. And once I cleared off the computer desk, I could set up the laptop, and hook it to the printer, and print out stuff (and submit said stuff).
12) And once all of this is done, I would get back to writing more, and getting more done.
13) Which would make me feel better, which I think is part of why I’ve been so wah about all of the books in my life.
14) Did I mention I’m going to Lori Foster’s get together in a week? And no doubt will return from Ohio… with more books.

Weekend Update

2009-05-23T09:37:00.004-04:00

Not much to say, honestly. The dayjob has been kicking my butt (we've been tagging the entire collection to get ready for them to install a self check-out system and new security gates- and we're almost done), getting ready for summer and not one but three summer reading programs, as well as scheduling as many programs for the kids who are going to live in the library as we can. So today I am tired and stiff and sore and don't want to do anything with the mountain of books currently taking up my dining room table.

On the writing front, again not much to say but this weekend I plan to set up my work space and set up the printer with the laptop and print out the first three chapters of whistle to send out. Not sure if I want to continue working on the urban fantasy or maybe take a step back and work on something else, maybe what I need to do first is take stock of my options.

At the moment I'm reading Ecstasy by Jacquelyn Frank and enjoying it. Not sure what I'll read next, but I have plenty of options (I even checked out a few books from the library), I brought the new Monk book home from the library (by Anne Perry), and might read that one next (Love the Monk mysteries).

And lastly, for a good laugh, this is me as a Lego:

Update (sort of)

2009-05-08T00:44:00.002-04:00

I know, I've been a bad blogger. I meant to have posts from RT, but the highspeed wireless was as highspeed as molasses flowing uphill in January (in a raging blizzard). And then after the long-ass drive home, I got thrown back into the hustle and bustle of the dayjob, and still don't feel up to snuff. But I won't whine about that here (although I have been whining about it in person), I will say that due to the evening thunder storms this is the first time in three days that I've been able to post. So I thought I'd tell you all about my trip. This is kind of long, but not as long as it could have been, I think I took about a quarter of the pictures I took last year. Also, if I owe you pictures, I will try to get them out to you as soon as I can.

RT was a blast. The drive was long but not so bad, I got to see my sister, which is always fun, and then I got to see people. Some were people I had met last year: Sasha White, Lauren Dane and Megan Hart, Anya Bast, Beth Williamson, Jeanne Stein, and Richelle Mead. Others I met for the first time this year: Cynthia Eden, Stella Price, Angie Fox, Anna Evans, Jenna Black, and Christine D'Abo (although I've been reading her blog for a while now). And of course I got to see Jo Carol, Kate, and the rest of the awesome RT staff again, without needing them to save my bacon as they did last year. Which is always good.

The panels were good, and informative, and just plain fun. The first day I went to to of the bookseller programs and learned a lot, but except for a couple of events for the booksellers, I mostly went to writer panels. The first one I went to was on writing Demons, with Stella Price, Larissa Ione, Jenna Black, Jacquelyn Frank, and Bianca D'Arc.

This was Larissa's first RT, and her first panel. It went well, despite her penchant for one word answers, and several people said they thought it was the best panel they'd seen. The cool thing was I got to hang out with pretty much the entire panel at one time or another during RT. I even sat with Bianca during the Vampire Ball.

The next panel was humor in paranormals, but the pictures didn't come out well, so I'm not going to try and post them here. The panel included Dakota Cassidy, Mario Acevedo, Michele Bardsley, Judi McCoy, and Mark Henry.

I then went to a vampire panel, with Patrice Michelle as moderator, and Caridad Piniero, Angela Knight, L.A. Banks, Jeanne C. Stein, Vivi Anna, and Kerrilyn Sparks.
I'm including this one because you can't see Vivi in the other.

L.A. Banks in the vampire panel.

These pictures were taken while in line to go into the Fairy Ball

Wings!

More Wings!

Shoes!

Ann Aguirre and Cynthia Eden at the book signing

Jeanne C. Stein

Lorelai James

Michele Bardsley

Sasha White

Christine D'Abo

Lauren Dane

Cynthia Eden

Mario Acevedo

Ash aka A.D. Roland aka Adra Steia

Mechele Armstrong

Shayla Black

Jenna Black

Anya Bast

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Dakota Cassidy

Cash Cole

Cynthia Eden

Annaliese Evans

Angie Fox

Kayleigh Jamison and Myla Jackson

Cat Johnson and Stephanie Julian

Stacia Kane

Isabo Kelly

and her side-kick

Judi McCoy

Stacey Kade

Robin Rotham

Michelle Rowen

Jeri Smith-Ready

Jeanne C. Stein

Beth Williamson

The Bags of Swag

The mountain of books that came home with me.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T00:11:00.003-04:00

You can buy this at art.com

Begin Braggin Here!

2009-04-09T00:00:00.004-04:00

Book one was good, book two was great and made the USA Today Bestseller list. Book 3 was freaking awesome... and made the New York Times Bestseller List.
Which is totally awesome,
and completely appropriate.
So head on over and tell Larissa congrats.

Weekend Update and Monday Poetry Train

2009-04-05T23:21:00.002-04:00

This has been a good weekend. I got to see some friends, did some writing and plotting, and worked in my friend's garden. At the moment I'm watching the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, so far it's been very good (this is only the second episode). I've been working on plotting the fourth draft of my urban fantasy, and started by writing a three sentence pitch for it. I'm including it here, so please let me know if it makes you want to read more:

A long-kept secret, a forgotten story begun millenia ago, and a family keepsake with untold (and unkown) powers. Grace's trip began as a graduation present, and a way for her to celebrate turning twenty one. No one told her she'd have to save the world before she could do so.

I'm also including a poem for Monday's Poetry Train, I've been working on this for a while, mostly when I've been sitting at a stop light watching the trees swaying in the breeze.

Long limbs sway
In the soft south wind
Bending slowly
Like dancers at the barre.
Warming muscles and joints
Before the rush of spring
As life leaps forward
In bud and bloom
And the symphony of spring
Waits in the wings.

It's late, and I have to work tomorrow morning, so I'll just say have a good night and a great week, and I'll be around tomorrow (or actually much later on today) to read the other poems.

I'm a Hero?

2009-03-22T13:05:00.002-04:00

I stole this from Angie, and thought it was pretty cool. What do you think?

Weekend Update

2009-03-14T22:58:00.002-04:00

moar funny pictures
So, just where did this week go? I'm still trying to figure that out. Once again the dayjob has taken the majority of my time (and gray cells). I did get a clean bill of health from the dentist, though. This weekend has been rest and recoup (and pay the bills), but tomorrow I hope to get some writing done (and some grocery shopping). I also have some posts planned for here, so come on back. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Weekend Update

2009-03-06T20:46:00.002-05:00

No memes this week, but I did want to get you all caught up. I probably won't post much this weekend, I've got a Romance Writer Group meeting tomorrow, and after Judi McCoy is having a book signing for her 1st dog walkers mysterie, so I'll probably go and hang out with her. I'm also writing again, and need to get my synopsis done, so I'll be working on that (and the usual clean the house, do the laundry, eat meals, feed the cat, take out the contacts, sleep, etc. *g*). So here are the highlights:
I drove up to Williamsburg to hang out with Mechele Armstrong and Larissa, went to my favorite used bookstore and took Larissa out to lunch to celebrate her great news. Her latest book made the USA Today Bestseller List *pause while the crowd goes wild*. Isn't that awesome? Completely well deserved, the book's awesome.
Driving up to W'burg, I happened to be going through the bridge-tunnel just as a destroyer was going over the tunnel. Spooky. It sounds like a dying whale or something, or a motorcycle on steroids.
I also went to training for two days (which is why I could go to W'burg on Thursday- it was my day off for working Sunday), which was very interesting (or would have been if I actually thought we'd be getting help to do all of this extra work- but we won't go there-it's bad for my blood pressure). the second day we were leaving the training and were stopped at a red light and looking to the side of the road I saw this mammoth rodent, i swear this puppy was groud hog big without the cute. I thought at first it was a rat (Ick), but now think it might have been a Nutria (A coworker had one in her back yard), and I just have to say WTH?!!! Nutrias in VA Beach?!!!! That's just wrong.
Larissa told me about this writing software just for novelists, WriteWay Pro, and I'm thinking of buying it. She showed it to me on her computer, and it would save me from papering the walls with postits (or at least more than are on them now), and from losing all of my notes.
I've got a mountain of books I want to have read by RT, so of course I've found a whole bunch of nonfiction books to check out and read (still working on Animal, Vegetable, Miracle- it's slow going when you only read a book at lunch).
I also replaced my cell phone, not that I used the first one a great deal, it's more in case the car breaks down. I'm getting ready for conference season.
Have a great weekend. I've also made a Facebook page, feel free to friend me. :)

Thursday Thirteen #57

2009-02-26T18:52:00.014-05:00

Thirteen Books I'd Like to Read Before RT (in April)

Apologies for the bad blogging, things have sort of settled down, and at last I've started writing again (draft 4 of the Urban Fantasy), which means I probably won't be blog hopping much either. I'll try, but the writing comes first (I've still got the synopsis to put together- oy). So here's my list
1)Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong (I've already read Bitten, Broken,Stolen, and Personal Demon- now I'd like to read them...in order).

2) Dangerous Games by Keri Arthur- now all I need to do is get a copy of book 6 and I'll be set.

3) Witch Blood by Anya Bast- I have it, I haven't read it yet, I'm sure I'll enjoy it when I do, and then I can read...

4) Witch Heart by Anya Bast

5) Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

6) Accidental Human by Dakota Cassidy

7) Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson (okay, I'm not exactly sure where I am in the series, but wouldn't mind rereading).

8) Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris- I'm better about getting the books than watching the tv series- can never remember when it's on- or to remind myself that it is on.

9) The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison- I know I need to catch up, so I can read...

10) White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

11) Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead- this is her YA series and very interesting.

12) Succubus Dreams also by Richelle Mead

13) Pride by Rachel Vincent

Happy TT everyone. I'll try to post at least once a week to let you all know I haven't been abducted by aliens (and my change of address if I do).

Thursday Thirteen #56

2009-02-19T16:34:00.003-05:00

Okay, it's been a while, and I'm actually at dinner for the dayjob, so I don't have a lot of time. But I did want to post something, and as it is Thursday- I thought I'd post this. I got my refund! Which means I registered for RT! And the hotel! (very important when you no longer have peeps in Orlando you can mooch off of). So this is a (very basic) list of :

13 Authors I want to meet/ see again at RT

1. Larissa Ione (duh)- we're carpooling, she holds the car keys- I hope to see her at least twice on this trip. :) (I'm also going to be her minion at the booksignings).

2)MaryJanice Davidson- hanging out with her at last year's RT was fun.

3) Mechele Armstrong- always fun to hang with.

4) Keri Arthur- currently going through her Riley books like the book crack they are (highly addictive)- hope she can make it.

5) Anya Bast- I met her last year- I've read the first book in her series and enjoyed it, have the next two and hope to read them before April (Mt TBR collapsed- surprised no one else heard it).

6) Steve Berry- he's on the list- it'll be interesting to see if he attends.

7) Cathy Maxwell- I met her at a local conference and it's always nice to see her again.

8) Judi McCoy- I missed the meeting in January for her program, and just know she's gonna give me grief for that (for the record- I was suffering from charliehorses that morning- both legs).

9) Richelle Mead- I'm currently addicted to both of her series (and have all of the Vampire Academy books in the library)- and am interested in hearing her programs.

10) Carole Nelson Douglas- Read Dancing with Werewolves and also Brimstone Kiss, and very interested in what comes next. I mean Vampires in Vegas (that's a duh if I ever heard one).

11) Jordan Summers- she's on the list in their book- not sure if it's true but I would love to meet her after reading her blog for so long.

12) Shiloh Walker- I met her last year, and read her blog regularly.

13) Sasha White- I met her last year too, and also read her blog regularly.

14) Lori Foster- okay, she's not on the list- I couldn't resist (too much caffeine and birthday cake)- I apologize to Lori for the wild goose chase. :)

I'll try to get around to the other TTs, but after work I'm going to register for LF's get together, and then tomorrow I'm heading to WB for the day. Hangin' with my peeps. Have a great weekend.

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Books Galore!

2009-02-14T23:55:00.004-05:00

So I went to Barnes & Noble today, and ran into some old friends. Larissa Ione and Michele Willingham. The first time I met Larissa was at her first book signing, and the last time I saw Michele was at the same signing. In fact I posted pictures from their first signing here. A lot has happened in the year and a half, for all of us.

They both have new books out, and I got signed copies of both:

I also finally got my own signed copy of Snowbound.

Now I've got three great books to curl up with. :)

Books for OZ

2009-02-12T11:48:00.002-05:00

Okay, I totally stole this from Charli's blog, but it's a good thing and it helps out the people who lost everything in the fires that devestated Australia recently.

Got extra books? Want to send some book relief to Australia? Help the Romance Writers of Australia help others.

As well as raising money for the bushfire victims at their annual conference, Romance Writers of Australia are launching a Bushfire Book Appeal. It's a small thing; we know that for many affected families, books will not be high on their list of necessities for some time to come, but we also know how valuable books can be in providing time out when reality gets tough.
So if you can help, we'd be grateful.

What we need? FICTION BOOKS! Romance books, children's books, genre books, whatever – either new or in sparkling condition.

Please send them to:
RWA Bushfire Book Appeal
c/- 89 Rennie St
Thornbury
Vic. 3071
AUSTRALIA

When to send them? Now! And any time over the next few months. The books will be boxed
and delivered to the appropriate neighbourhood centres/community centres/libraries in batches as soon as practicable. Feel free to pop
a note inside, or if you're the author, sign the book.

Monday's Poetry Train

2009-02-08T21:16:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted any poetry, on the other hand it's been a while since I've written any poetry, so I thought I'd repost one, maybe it'll be new to some of you. Even if not, I hope you enjoy it.

Constellations

Coy Cupid's wicked dart
Catches the Hunter unawares
Watching the seven Sisters
Dancing to the music of time.
The dart flies true,
Loosing Orion's bow.
The Dipper tips
The milky way slips,
And stars fall down like rain.
Glittering diamond dust.
Tears of sorrow,
Tears of joy,
Tears of completion,
of ecstasy as I kiss
The constellations speckled
Across your skin
As freckles.

Brag! Brag! Brag!

2009-02-07T14:43:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I had a lot of plans for today, and none of them to like they're going to happen: my get up and go... never got up. But I did want to brag on the great news of one of my blog buddies.

Joely Sue Burkhart sold her novel Letters to an English Professor to SAMHAIN! It's getting a new title, but the story is an awesome one, and I think this is going to be the start of something great for her. Pretty soon, she'll be in print (Joely said I was prophetic, so it must be true).

One last thing, this picture is from the dayjob's renovation.

Doesn't that look like a cozy spot do curl up with a good book? That's what I did Friday, put together four of these chairs (and find places around children's to put them).
I also put more pictures of the renovation on the
dayjob's blog evidently the first time I forgot to take any pictures of the new configuration of our public computers (and as we have 25 of them in the main room and 5 more in the training lab- they're kind of hard to miss). So feel free to go over and take a peek, and leave a comment.
(You know you want to :) ).

News

2009-02-05T16:50:00.002-05:00

The Renovation of the dayjob is finished, and it looks great. I was going to post one of the pictures here, but it's not cooperating. If you want to take a look, go here and you'll see what it looks like now. We ended up being closed for three days, and we're all walking around sore, stiff, and tired. Thank God for Friday. :)

Weekend Update #3

2009-01-31T12:44:00.002-05:00

more animals
Apologies again for the long gap between blog posts, things have still been hellaciously busy at the day job, but it's almost over. We finally finished weeding the library. In the past months, we've weeded: Large print (twice), fiction (thrice), audiobooks, nonfiction, ya (took out almost half of that collection), children's (nonfiction, fiction, and picture books), and reference. The only things we didn't do were the dvds and the music cds, both could use weeding but not as badly as the rest of the collection. The rearranging has already started, they came in Friday and put in the new circ desk. It looks really good. I'd post a picture but can't seem to get into the dayjob email from home. Monday and Tuesday will involve paint, and moving (almost all) furniture, rewiring for computers, moving books, cleaning (Dusting), and god knows what else.
So needless to say, not much has been happening on the home front.
I did do my taxes, and will get enough back to take both trips this year (to RT and to Lori Foster's even in Ohio- Yay!), and at some point I'll make a trip home to see my family.
Once I recover from Monday and Tuesday, I hope to get back to a more regular posting schedule, as well as a more regular writing schedule.
So I hope everyone has a great weekend, enjoys the Super Bowl, and (where necessary) stays warm.

Weeken Update #2

2009-01-17T22:42:00.002-05:00

more animals
Today is day 2 of a 4 day weekend. As far as I can tell, this is the first four day weekend that I've had in 8 years that didn't involve annual leave (or some wench named Isabel *g*). Yesterday I actually went out in the below freezing temps to do some shopping (which involved Not finding more work clothes and then finding a couple of books at the BAM in VA Beach). This morning I woke with my back aching (not very bad, but with the feeling that it could become very bad if I wasn't careful) and spent the day surfing the net and watching movies on tv, and this evening I started getting my books in order (and adding books to my Library Thing- feel free to go look- there's a link on the sidebar). I'm currently reading Amy Knupp's new book (The Secret She Kept), which is very good, I'll probably finish it tonight.
Not much to report on the writing front. Yet. The brain is still recovering from the week of weeding (the entire library at work), but I've been getting ideas, and need to start writing them down soon (they start taking over ya know). Before I get mugged by plotbunnies.
So how has everyone been? Read any good books lately?
I've been going through my books, and found several duplicates, and thought I'd offer them up for trade, if anybody wanted them. I can post them tomorrow. Just let me know. Thanks.

Weekend Update

2009-01-10T21:51:00.002-05:00

see more puppies
That's what I've been doing this weekend, so far. I woke up early this morning with charley horses, in both legs. Went back to sleep and slept in, missing my writing group's monthly meeting. Leg muscles are still sore, but not cramping (yay). I hope to get something done tomorrow, at least.
I did have some fun, at least. After work Friday, Jean and I went to the Waldenbooks that is closing, and we picked up some good bargains. I got:
Rescue Me by Jaci Burton
The Treasure by Beth Williamson
Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurentson
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
Dawn Keepers by Jessica Andersen
Veil of Midnight by Lara Adrian
Devil Inside by Jenna Black
Devil You Know also by Jenna Black (autographed)
A Twilight Bookmark
An Origami Kit
and
2 small, 1 medium, and 1 large Picadilly notebooks
Plans for the coming week: get my receipts in order so I can fill out my taxes as soon as I get my w2s, and organize my bookcases (it's also that time of the year when the wooden bookcases need another rubdown with lemon oil- to keep them from drying out). Next weekend is a four-day weekend for me, but no plans yet. Any suggestions?

New Year's Goals 2009

2008-12-31T22:39:00.002-05:00

So before the New Year comes, I thought I'd write down what my goals are for the coming year. Not much different from last year, but at least if I write them down I'll have something to aim for. So here they are:
1) Get more exercise- I'm going to keep up with the Tai Chi, but need to add to it. I'm thinking of joining the Y, using the indoor swimming pool and maybe the (dreaded) treadmill.
2) Get more writing done- and keep track of how much I write throughout the year. Specific goals: rewrite the urban fantasy, finish book 2 of the fantasy, and if there's enough time- work on finishing the novel that started as a short story.
3) Three submissions this year- one is already planned, so it should be doable.
4) Attend the RT conference in Orlando (and meet even more of my blog buddies).
5) Loose weight- I'm thinking of doing the Atkins for the first month and then switching to Weight Watchers)
6) Organize my apartment- still working on this one.
7) Post more on my blog.
8) Read more nonfiction (some of those books are going to come from the Great Books list).
9) Eat out less (and invite my friends over for dinner more often).
That's all I can think of at the moment, and it is now 2009, so I will say Happy New Year, and good night. :)

Year in Review (sort of)

2008-12-29T22:32:00.002-05:00

more animals
I'm back from vacation, psycho is back from the vets, and I'm in the middle of an allergy/sinus attack that's got me whooped. So I thought I'd go back to my goals for this year and see how I did before going on to make my resolutions for the new year.
1) Get more exercise- I started walking last year and managed to keep at it all year, this year I would like to increase the number of times each week, the distance walked, and add some variety to my routine. Say 3 times a week. 15000 steps a day, and maybe go on some hiking day trips. I'm not sure about the more, but I did manage to go to Tai Chi regularly (for the most part) and to keep it up for the whole year.
2) Get more writing done- again I've managed to keep up (for the most part) with what I intended to do last year, but this year I would like to increase my output and write on a regular basis. Okay this was a total bust, life was insane this year.
3) Submit two manuscripts and work on two more (not sure if I could finish them, but get them started- I have one that is started that I should be able to finish a first draft). I did get one submission in (and rejected) and am working on the second, so yay.
4) Attend the RT Conference in Pittsburgh (and get to meet my blog buddies). This I did, and had a blast, and intend to go to RT next year in Orlando.
5) Lose weight (I figured I'd start with a reasonable number- as soon as I come up with one). Sigh.
6) Organize my apartment (again I've started this, just going to continue working on it). Still working on it.
7) Not spend all of my writing time blog hopping- when I sit down to work I will set a reasonable goal and complete it before I go online and read everybody's blogs. Still working on this too.
8) Read more nonfiction- need to widen my horizons, and stretch my brain more. I'm thinking of starting the History of the English Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill (of course I left the first volume at my mom's house but I'm sure the library has it). Nope, this year was a big ole fiction glut. :)
9) Keep better track of how I spend my money- there are a few big ticket items that I'm looking at and I think if I kept track of what I bought I'd be able to swing a few of them. Actually with the online banking this is getting easier, just wish I could have skipped having the purse stolen to get it. And I was able to swing a couple of the big ticket items: a full sized bed, with new pillows and sheets and blankets, as well as a new toast oven, the laptop went on the credit card so that doesn't count.
10) Limit the number of meals I eat out- this would help the budget and the diet. Another nope, not eating out would require regular grocery shopping.
11) Update my work wardrobe- sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go clothes shopping (bleh). I did, and yet somehow need to do this again. Bleh.
12) Get in touch with people I haven't written or called in a long time. I'm getting better at this.
13) Try not to let the dayjob drive me totally bonkers, and possibly work towards one day not needing to work a dayjob (I can dream- right?) Too late.

On the Road Again

2008-12-20T17:50:00.002-05:00

more animals
Before I shut George down to get ready to fly home for Christmas, I wanted to tell everyone to have a Happy Hannukah, and a Merry Christmas. I'll try to check in while I'm on vacation, but not sure about the internet access. So have a safe a happy holidays.

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas!

2008-12-15T00:22:00.002-05:00

more animals

Okay, not really. The Christmas ficus has been decorated, and most of the cards sent, but chaos still reins in my house. And since I'm going to Williamsburg on my day off, it's not likely to change soon. But that's okay (it's clean, just really needs to be picked up).

Anyway, in lieu of a poem, I'm offering up my recipe for Christmas fudge. I originally got the recipe from a Kahlua cookbook, which I've since lost and have never seen the recipe again, so I modified the recipe off the marshmallow fluff jar.

Ingredients:
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 sticks butter or margarine (I use butter)
5 oz can of evaporated milk
1 jar marshmallow fluff
1 bag semi- sweet chocolate chips
1/2 bag milk chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Melt the sugar, butter, evaporated milk, and marshmallow fluff in a pot big enough to let it boild bring to a boil and let boil for 4 minutes. Take off the heat, stir in the vanilla and the chocolate chips until the chocolate has melted and is thoroughly mixed into the fudge. Pour out into a tray made of folded alluminum foil and let harden.
Variations: When you add the chocolate chips, you can also add 1/3 cup of Kahlua (or more or less depending on how much you like Kahlua flavor). I'm thinking about trying Creme de Menthe (I'm quite fond of chocolate and mint together). You could probably use amaretto (I wouldn't but that's just cause I really don't like amaretto).
Enjoy!

Thursday Thirteen #55

2008-12-11T01:17:00.016-05:00

Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME

1) Tuscany (on my short list of places I want to go)

2) The Sierra Club

3) The Secret Garden (I get one of these every year- beautiful pictures)

4) Scotland (I'd love to go back- the furthest north I ever got was Edinburgh)

5) Provence (another place on my list)

6) New Zealand (I'd love to go there)

7) Irish Country (another place I'd love to go back)

8) Ireland (I see plotbunnies scampering around in that picture)

9) Hawaii

10) Germany (in honor of Gabriele :) )

11) Colorado (Mountains! I miss Mountains!)

12) Australia

13) Audubon

Bonus- Northern Lights

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Wah- an update

2008-12-04T23:12:00.002-05:00

So, I've been weeding the library's books, and getting rid of the 20 year old books on things like law, investing, and medicine. I'm also shifting the books that I'm keeping, and rearranging the shelves: lowering the shelves so that the top shelf isn't so flippin' high and the bottom shelf is only half as high as the others (which gives us a place to store the oversized books- where they can be found and will hopefully get used). And when I get done here I get to do it all over again with the children's nonfiction (shoot me now...please). Now I'm not going to bore you with how the spot between my shoulder blades that usually itches, is now hurting, or how it hurts to hold my arms up to type (which is one reason I love my laptop, lots of space to rest my forearms while typing.
Instead, I'm going to tell you that weeding the library collection is better than a 50% off sale and B&N. Some books are so old they need to go straight to the dumpster, others are too old to keep, but not too old to sell at the Friend's of the Library Sale, and quite a few of them have started finding their way home with me. I also find books that I think would be great for different people. And there were all those books on clothes and costumes, and the history of costumes (sweet). And I haven't even gotten to the cookbooks yet. :)

Awesome Contest

2008-12-01T19:42:00.005-05:00

Click here to enter.

Monday Poetry Train

2008-12-01T13:21:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted any poems, and wanted to start up again. I'm not sure if I have posted this before or not, but as I haven't written much lately, and no poetry to speak of, I thought I'd post this. I have to admit, though, that it's just a draft and will probably change a time or two.

In late afternoon
When peace holds sway
When the world and work
Seem miles away.
When the gentle breeze blows
The tall trees sway
And seem to be whispering
There are dreams at play.
The smell of the mountains
The flowers in bloom
Remind me that summer
Will come all too soon.

NaNo Not So Much

2008-11-29T21:10:00.002-05:00

Okay, it's the last day in November, so I will officially admit it. My first attempt at NaNo tanked. Between the insanity of my life these past months, and the exhaustion of trying to weed an entire library in a ridiculously short time (we didn't get done, we did get farther than I thought we would), my brain cells have fallen short on creativity this month. Things are slowly getting back to normal, though, so I hope to get back to a regular writing schedule. And I will try NaNo again next year. Hope springs eternal. Right? :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T09:04:00.000-05:00

more animals

Awards

2008-11-21T19:14:00.003-05:00

Raine Weaver of Raine's Secret Garden gave me one of these:

* Put the logo on your blog or post*
Nominate at least 10 blogs which show Great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
* Be sure to link to your nominees within your post
* Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award
And the award goes to (in no particular order):

1) Larissa Ione
2) Joely Sue Burkhart
3) Charlene Teglia
4) Susan Helene Gottfried
5) Amy Ruttan
6) Cora Zane
7) Julia-Mind Over Matter
8) Wylie Kinson
9) Gabriele Campbell
and last but not least
10) Larissa, Amy, Maya, Jaci, and Stephanie of the WriteMinded blog (and awesome readers' group).

Thursday Thirteen #54

2008-11-19T23:18:00.015-05:00

Thirteen New Books on my To Be Bought List

1) A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry- a novella featuring one of the secondary characters from the Thomas/Charlotte Pitt novels, in this case Charlotte's sister Emily. I've read the other Christmas novels she's written and look forward to this one.

2) No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt

3) The Witch's Grave by Shirley Damsgaard

4) Foundation by Mercedes Lackey- I love her Valdemar books- great stories.

5) Moving Target also by Mercedes Lackey- a collection of short stories.

6) The Golden Tower by Fiona Patton

7) Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson- I'm looking forward to this, I love Fred and her world

8) Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead- I've already gotten this, just want to finish the book I'm reading now before I start it, I've enjoyed everything of hers I've read, and I also enjoyed meeting her at RT.

9) Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton- I finished this a couple of days ago, and quite enjoyed it.

10) Succubus Dreams by Richelle Read

11) Be With Me by Maya Banks-

12) Red by Jordan Summers- I've got this one, I'm thinking about holding this until I fly to Florida, I need a good book or two to fly and this will definitely be a good book. :)

13) Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb- I can't wait to read this, I will however wait until it comes out in paperback to buy it (buying them in hardcover would rather quickly eat up all of my shelving, and I run out of book space pretty regularly as it is.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Blog Updated

2008-11-16T10:31:00.002-05:00

Okay, so NaNo was a bust this year. We're half way through the month, and I haven't written a single word. Ouch. I knew my life was going to be busy when I signed up, just not how much. Or how tired I would be trying to weed the library's entire collection by Thanksgiving. But I have added some things to the blog, things I've wanted to do for a while.
I went back to using Library Thing when I lost the catalog I'd created using All My Books with the death of my desktop, and even bought a lifetime membership. Now all I have to do is create my list. (if anybody is on Library Thing and wants to add me to their friends, feel free).
I also started posting pictures from my trip to Ireland two years ago. Some of them came out rather well, if I do say so myself. I'll post more as I have time. If you want to see more of them, just click on any of them and it takes you to my Flikr page.
There are other things I want to add, and with the make your own widgets that I found on Paperback writer's blog, I think I can make them work.
Ideas. I has them. :)

Innovative and Proactive

2008-11-14T12:29:00.004-05:00

I was talking to someone the other day and they asked me to tell them what I had last done that was innovative and proactive. I won't bore you with the panicked answer I gave them, but that one question has given me quite a bit to think about. I have been so caught up lately with busyness that I haven't had the time, or energy for innovative. And so many things have been thrown at me lately that I've just been trying to keep up, forget being proactive. I miss that. Making plans and looking forward to things, as well as doing new things. Maybe that will be my New Year's Resolution, make time to be both innovative and proactive.
I'm working on it. :)

I got nothin'

2008-11-11T12:41:00.002-05:00

more animals
No get-up-and-go, no desire to do anything, just a headache slowly taking over the left side of my head from the eyebrow out. Fortunately I also have the day off. And hopefully I'll eventually get to at least some of what I need to do today.
Wish me luck.
And for all who have served, are serving, and will serve in the armed forces. Thank you.

Let the insanity begin!...

2008-11-01T16:48:00.002-04:00

with apologies if it takes me a while to visit everybody's blogs, and to update my own. Today is November 1st, and the start of NaNo, or for those not in writing- the National Novel Writing Month. So my goal for the month is to write 50,000 words on book 2 of my urban fantasy.
On the home front, the mouse is out of my house. Yay! It was stuck inside the wall (and trying its hardest to get out), but I think (and hope) that it has moved on. That means I can finish up the rearranging from when they replaced my cabinets, put the office supplies in the other half of the pantry, and rearrange my closets, etc...
Have a great evening.

This is getting old here

2008-10-26T23:16:00.002-04:00

So I spent the day cleaning the kitchen from stem to stern (again), finding evidence of my uninvited guest (most of it behind the fridge), but no sign of the bloody thing. I did however find evidence that it had spent time in my bathroom (despite the presence of the litter box). Psycho is thoroughly useless as a mighty hunter. I wouldn't be surprised to go into the bathroom one day to find psyhco teaching it how to use the litter box.
I'd be tempted to move, but I'm afraid it would climb into one of the boxes and move with me. Wish me luck.

You May Be Right... I May Be Crazy (tee hee)

2008-10-24T12:51:00.002-04:00

My apologies to Mr. Joel, but the title just seemed appropriate somehow. So what in particular did I do that confirms my general insanity (as apposed to the major chaos or colonel mustard), I signed up for NaNo (otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month). Despite the mouse still in my house (I caught two Monday and then surprised on into falling of the countertop on Wed- haven't caught him yet), the general disarray caused by kitchen remodel and mouse invasion, the 101 things that have to get done at the day job, and the dire need for a vacation (and some serious shopping), I have signed on to write 50,000 words over the month of November. Did I mention that I don't think I've topped 1,000 words since June? Or that I haven't finished outlining the novel I plan to work on during NaNo, or that I haven't finished revising the novel I wanted to have done before NaNo started?
Yup. I'm nuts. *g*

Why I've Been Scarce Lately

2008-10-17T12:53:00.002-04:00

I apologize to all of my blog buddies for being scarce lately, things have been crazy around here, and I'm still trying to get everything back to normal. What you ask? Here's it in a nutshell: the cabinets and countertops have been installed in my kitchen along with new appliances, and a mouse that refuses to be caught, so I've got to take care of that; getting rid of stuff in the kitchen has created clutter in the dining room and living room, so I've got to take care of that; some idiot walked off with my purse so I had to cancel my credit card and my debit card, and freeze my checking account, and am slowly getting that back in order, only I haven't had a chance to go to the grocery store or do laundry (or run the dish washer- no soap) in over a week. Or buy books.
But I'm going to the bank, and at least this weekend I'll be able to buy groceries, do laundry, and maybe buy a book or two.
Maybe I'll take a nap.

Houston! We Have Laptop!

2008-10-02T12:54:00.001-04:00

It's here, it's pretty, it's wonderful. I don't have wifi at home, but the wireless in the laptop works well at the dayjob. Hope to fix that tomorrow or Friday, so I can once again be a bloggin fool during my time off :).
TTYL.

Just Waiting on George

2008-09-25T15:53:00.001-04:00

Yup, George. My new, soon-to-be shipped to me laptop courtesy of Dell. It's an Inspiron with a black case, and almost all of the bells and whistles I could want. Why call him George you ask? Here's why:

see more puppies
It seemed appropriate somehow.

Yes, I have no computer. I have no computer today.

2008-09-17T08:56:00.002-04:00

My computer is toast. With no peanut butter. And no jelly either. So I will now be looking for a new computer. I'm thinking laptop. What I'm not looking forward to is Vista (I've heard it takes around 1g of memory just for the operating system).
Wish me luck.

The Further Complications of Being Computerless

2008-09-13T10:54:00.002-04:00

So the memory card didn't work and now my monitor and my cpu aren't talking to each other, and when I went to see if I needed a new monitor someone suggested that I might have blown out my video card. And now is not a good time to get a new computer. But I guess I will if I have to. I'm just hoping I don't.

Why I Might Be Scarce This Weekend

2008-09-05T11:33:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I have my monthly meeting of the Romance Writers,but otherwise I have the weekend off, so I should be able to do lots of blog hopping and get caught up, right? Right? Wrong! It's like this.
1) I have no kitchen- found out Wednesday I'm getting new kitchen cabinets and appliances- Thursday. So I spent Wednesday night unloading the cabinets and storing the stuff anywhere I can find- the bedroom, the living room, part of the dining room (the rest of the space needs to be clear so they can work). Thursday morning they take out my cabinets and my old appliances (generously leaving me with a fridge- plugged in in my dining room), and leave. I get a call from the apartment office that they'll finish Friday (today). Haven't heard anything this morning, and am hoping for the best.
2) My computer has been running as fast as mud flows uphill in a blizzard (but hey eventually it would work), so I bought a memory upgrade, which came in yesterday. So I tried to load it last night and turned on the computer... and it didn't work. So I turned off the computer, took it back out, and now the monitor won't work. Don't know why, I do know it is getting power, because when I first turn it on the light is green and then it turns orange.
and last but not least
3) Hannah is coming Saturday evening sometime. Not a hurricane, but lots of rain and high winds. Which mean that I should really clear off my deck (I live on the third floor and things get blown over during plain old thunder storms), only I can't bring anything inside because of the chaos created by having to empty my kitchen cupboards. Besides, even if Hannah just dumps a lot of rain and not much else...
there's always Ike coming possibly as soon as next week. And Josephine.
So, even if I do get the monitor working and haven't killed my CPU, I'll probably be busy this weekend (or napping). On the other hand, we just got a copy of Acheron in, so maybe I'll procrastinate and read that. :)
Wish me luck.
And for all of you in the path of any of these storms, stay safe and I hope they don't do much damage.

The Ebook is History

2008-09-03T13:15:00.002-04:00

I have pulled the ebook, and deleted it's blog. I realized it was time, and several of my friends agreed with me. Having expanded it to novel-length, and revised it as well, the ebook is no longer a true representation of my writing. For those of you who read it, thank you. I hope you enjoy the novel when it gets published just as well.

Must. Have. More. RAM.

2008-08-31T22:03:00.002-04:00

At least that's what it looks like. But I've figured out how much, and what kind, and tomorrow if I get motivated, I'll go out shopping and buy the memory upgrade for my computer. And then hopefully I'll be able to go back to my normal round of visiting blogs and leaving smart alec comments.
In the meantime, have a safe and happy Labor Day.
I'm thinking cook out. :)

No TT- Again

2008-08-21T13:04:00.002-04:00

I know, yet again no TT. Why, you ask? Because my bloody, stupid computer is possessed. Seriously. I updated the virus protection and my internet security, I've defragged the computer, and it's still running as fast as molasses flows uphill in the middle of a blizzard. I'm sure I'll get it working... eventually. But for today maintenance took up all of my computer time. And I even had a subject for todays TT.
I'll try and get around to see everybody's posts, but it might not be until tomorrow, tonight I'm helping a friend pack before she moves back to Ohio on Sunday.
Have a great evening.

The Writing Meme

2008-08-17T18:10:00.002-04:00

Julia posted this and tagged Amy, who posted her answers and left it open to anyone who was interested, so I thought I'd give it a try. Here it is:

1. List one of your writing goals for the upcoming month, and how likely are you to accomplish it?

I have two goals for this month, I would like to finish revisions on my urban fantasy, write the cover letter and submit it. I would also like to do another pass at revising the fantasy and send that off as well.

2. What genre or subject would you like to write about that youd aren’t currently?

I've got an idea for a historical mystery, and I'd like to give that a try.

3. What is your writing lifestyle habits? How do you manage the interruptions with your writing? How do you stay positive? How do you believe in your writing success.

At the moment, my writing habits suck- and the dayjob isn't helping. But I am working on both interruptions, and I do believe that it will happen (getting published) it just might take a while longer.

4. Are you a panster or a plotter?

I'm a disorganized combination of the two. So far. I'm trying to work on my plotting more. The Fantasy series is sort of planned for four books, so I need to be able to keep track of book plots as well as series plots.

5. Who are two of your favorite current authors and why?

Only two? *g* For reading, my current favorites are Maria V. Snyder (just finished Poison Study- awesome book) and Elizabeth Peters (just reread He Shall Thunder in the Sky- very interesting book). For writing my two current favorites would be Larissa Ione, for the moral support and letting me see what she goes through with her writing and a bit of the process, as well as Lynn Viehl for her informative and educational blog posts.

6. How does your family feel about your writing?

The family is very supportive, of course they don't live with me, so they're also not around during the writing marathons when the dishes don't get done. :)

I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you do decide to do it (hey it's one more day when you don't have to rack your brain for a blog subject), just let me know you've done it so I can read what you post.

I'm Back- Sort of

2008-08-10T21:25:00.002-04:00

Hey, I'm back from my vacation, now all I need to do is recover from it. The trip down was easy, no traffic problems, had a great book to listen to (The Falcon at the Portal), and I made it in good time. My mom's birthday party was a blast, got to see my aunt and one of my cousins as well as one of my mom's cousins and all of my siblings. And the next day I got slammed by my allergies, and the stomach as yet to forgive me (it actually took me 2 or 3 days to realize that was the problem, and not just a stomach problem). So I started taking allergy medicine and am starting to feel better, and made the drive home Saturday. So I call a friend to chat and let her know I'm home, and when I tell her what happened she replied, "You do realize that whatever hit you there will probably be blooming here in a week or so."
Shoot me now.

Thursday Thirteen #53

2008-07-30T23:29:00.019-04:00

Thirteen More Books on my To Be Read Pile
Back on May 28th, I did a TT that listed 13 books on my TBR pile, and since then I have actually managed to read 9 of them, and still plan to read 3 of the others. Since that was such a successful motivator, I thought I'd try it again, this time with cover art. (this also helps me pack for my trip home Friday- I'll be gone a week).
1)Charlaine Harris- From Dead to Worse

2)Dakota Cassidy- Accidentally Dead

3)Kate Mosse- Labyrinth

4) C.E. Murphy- Heart of Stone

5) Maria V. Snyder- Poison Study

6) Jennifer Estep- Karma Girl

7) Heather Brewer- Ninth Grade Slays

8) Stephenie Meyer- New Moon

9) Libba Bray- A Great and Terrible Beauty

10) Liz Kessler- The Tail of Emily Windsnap

11) Jennifer Armintrout- The Turning

12) Anya Bast- Witch Blood

13) Lillian Stewart Carl- Blackness Tower

Bonus) Gena Showalter- The Darkest Night

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Wicked Hot by Charlene Teglia

2008-07-25T12:59:00.002-04:00

Okay, I owe Charli a review for this book, and not just because she gave me an ARC. This is a great book. She takes an interesting premise (a succubus who has been assigned to seduce a Nephilim- or fallen angel who has been banishing demons) and runs with it. The characters are well drawn. There's humor, and angst, and steamy sex. All in all a very fun read. With a awesome cover.

No TT

2008-07-24T17:17:00.002-04:00

My internet connection is on the fritz again, and I'm not sure why. It keeps insisting that something is not plugged in, but I've unplugged and replugged everything possible. Hopefully I'll get it figured out after work tonight. So, in the mean time, I'll leave you with a few more funnies.

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

see more dog pictures

see more dog pictures

see more dog pictures

see more dog pictures

No TT This Week

2008-07-17T15:39:00.002-04:00

Why, you ask? Well, I had every intention of doing on this week. I had plans to do one this week, even if I hadn't come up with a topic this week. What I did have was an unread copy of Twilight Fall. Which I read. All Last Night. And Most of this morning. And I'm still not finished. 20 pages. With luck I'll be able to finish and eat supper. Then again there's always tonight. :)
P.S. Yes, it's that good. :)

#19!

2008-07-15T10:36:00.003-04:00

Twilight Fall is #19 on this week's New York Times Bestseller List for Mass Market Paperbacks, and Lynn aka Paperback Writer can now add NYT Bestselling Author to her list of well-deserved accomplishments. What a birthday present, wouldn't you say?

2008-07-09T19:22:00.014-04:00

Thirteen New Books for Summer
Okay, I admit it- I totally stole this idea from Susan at West of Mars. But I figured our lists would probably end up being completely different, and this way I can support my peeps without having to write 13 book reviews (this week at least- maybe next week). No links, just covers. Go forth and support your local bookstore (Indies are best).
And I would just like to add (apropos of nothing except my feelings of impending doom)that Bertha is once again a 2 (just sayin').

1) Lover Enshrined- J.R. Ward- as if anyone who reads this blog doesn’t know who J.R. Ward is, or haven’t read the series. Seriously though, haven’t read the book yet, but love the series.

2)Undead and Unworthy- MaryJanice Davidson- I must confess, I haven’t read this one, and I do have some catching up to do, but I do enjoy this series. I love reading about Betsy the Vampire Queen and her shoes (even if I don't share the obsession).

3)Murder on Bank Street- Victoria Thompson- Awesome series- set in New York in the late 1800s (when Teddy Roosevelt was Commissioner of the Police).

4)Where Memories Lie- Deborah Crombie- I didn’t even know this one was out, but want to read it (she’s on my autobuy list). A fascinating series of police procedurals set in London, with lots of messy life and relationships included.

5)Nightkeepers- Jessica Andersen- So… book 2 comes out when? And can I get an ARC? I’d say I would trade my cat for one, but psycho might object. *g*

6)Pleasure Unbound- Larissa Ione- Great Book- another book I finished and immediately wanted the next book in the series. And I’m not just saying it because the author gave me a signed arc or because we’re friends.

7)Seduce by the Storm- Sydney Croft- Comes out the end of this month- another great book (I think this is the best of the three- as it should be *g*).

8)Twilight Fall- Lynn Viehl- I haven’t read this yet, but am looking forward to it. I love this series.

9)Omega Games- S.L. Viehl- Comes out in August, but I won a galley copy in a contest on the author’s blog. Great story, great characters. The only bad thing about galleys and arc, you have to wait even longer for the next book.

10)Wicked Hot- Charlene Teglia- Comes out later this month, and by that time I’ll have read it and will post a more in depth review. (Did I mention that Charli sent me an ARC?) *g*

11)Acheron- Sherrilyn Kenyon- comes out in August- I must confess I haven’t been keeping up with the series (I ran out of steam after book 8), but I want this book. Acheron is the reason to keep reading all of the books. The glimpses into his story are just as important as the main story lines, and are a thread through the whole series.

12)Don’t Hex with Texas- Shanna Swendson- OMG- I love this series, I didn’t even know this was out until I was looking for two more books for this list. I guess there’s a trip to the bookstore in my future (big surprise, I know).

13) From Dead to Worse- Charlaine Harris- Another book I missed in my wandering around the bookstore. I love this series. Sookie is the bomb.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Memed

2008-07-08T22:35:00.002-04:00

I've been a bad blogger, but actually there hasn't been much to report. The dayjob is driving me nuts (it's a short trip), the Dismal Swamp is still burning and when the wind is blowing our way we get the smoke from the peat fires (Larissa thought I was joking until the winds shifted and blew it all her way), the afternoon heat index was 106. On the plus side, I've been getting caught up on my reading.
The writing retreat was a blast, I didn't get a lot done, but it did get me started writing again, and made me want to write (which is half the battle).
Anyway, I saw this meme at Gabriele's blog and thought I'd give it a shot. Let me know if you do it, too, I'm always interested to see what other people have read.

Instructions:
1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
4) Reprint this list in your own blog so we can try and track down these people who've read six and force books upon them.

1 Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series – J.K. Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11 Little Women – Louisa M Alcott (loved this book growing up- reread it regularly)
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles– Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
17 Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
19 The Time Traveler's Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
34 Emma – Jane Austen
35 Persuasion – Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis
37 The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin – Louis de Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel García Márquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving (the only one I haven't read-I think)
45 The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins (I prefer the Moonstone)
46 Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
47 Far From the Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale – Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement – Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi – Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert (read all six and took them right back to the bookstore)
53 Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafón
57 A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love in the Time of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
62 Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History – Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road – Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary – Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children – Salman Rushdie
70 Moby-Dick – Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From a Small Island – Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses – James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal – Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession – A.S. Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple – Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web – E.B. White
88 The Five People You Meet in Heaven – Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down – Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables – Victor Hugo (read it in 4 days- say the musical twice)

I'm Back! (Sort of)

2008-06-30T11:01:00.002-04:00

Hey all, I'm back. I spent the weekend at a writer's retreat, and just got back yesterday. The Internet is still on the fritz at home, the Dismal Swamp is still burning and sending it's smoke my way, and the plumbing hasn't been fixed (I'd say it still smells like a barn but I'm rather congested at the moment). But I don't care. It was nice just to be able to sleep in my own comfy bed with my cat sleeping at my feet. I'll try and get my bloody internet back up when I get home from work today, but for now I just wanted to tell you something really wierd that happened. I drove up to Williamsburg and spent the day with friends and then drove on to the retreat. When I unpacked my stuff from the trunk of my car, I noticed that my deoderant had melted. Yup. Pretty bizarre isn't it? I'll talk to you all later. Have a great day and keep cool.

Temporarily Internetless

2008-06-19T08:56:00.002-04:00

Can't post today, the internet is wonky at home, has been for the past two days. I'll let you know when I'm back up and running. Hopefully it won't take too long.
In the meantime, enjoy the lolcats:

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

more cat pictures

Monday's Poetry Train- in Pictures

2008-06-16T23:18:00.002-04:00

Sorry I'm posting so late. I've been rather busy lately. I'm working on revising my second book so I can send it out into the world. I did set up my very own flickr account lately and uploaded some of the pictures from my trip home. I took quite a few pictures at the Biltmore Estate (and think I did a pretty good job) and have posted them here. Hope you like them.

Thursday Thirteen #51

2008-06-11T22:12:00.018-04:00

Thirteen Pictures of the Gardens at the Biltmore Estate

1)These first three were taken in one of the wings of the greenhouse-

2)

3)

4)This picture was taken inside the main part of the greenhouse to show the height of the building

5)This is the herb garden- just outside the greenhouse

6)This is the rose garden, taken from just in front of the greenhouse

7)There is a cottage just outside the walled garden, that I have always been fascinated by, and the trees that frame it made a great picture.

8)There is a path that you can drive along that goes through the walled garden, and this picture is taken from that path. In early spring this bed is filled with hundreds of tulips (it's somewhere around 6 or 7 hundred). They usually bloom the second week in April, but with mild winters it probably comes earlier.

9)I could probably do a Thursday Thirteen with just the pictures I took of pansies.

10)

11)

12)This and the next picture are Asters- I'm currently using this picture as my desktop.

13)

Bonus)This picture is of one rose bush. Amazing, isn't it?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Pictures!

2008-06-10T11:26:00.005-04:00

Yay! I got my USB cable back and all is right with my world (Okay, no it's not. It's still hotter than Hell, but not much I can do about that). I will be posting more reviews, I'll probably post one tonight (after work), but for now I thought I would tease you with some of the pictures from my most recent trip to the Biltmore Estate. And then I really must go and get ready for work. Sigh.
This is the greenhouse from the back, the lower level is now one big (very big) gift shop. With lots of cool stuff. Of which I bought quite a bit.

This is one of the wings in the greenhouse. I want a greenhouse this size when I get my own house (I can dream, right?)

This is the main greenhouse as seen from inside the walled garden.

This week's Thursday Thirteen will have more pictures of the garden (we didn't actually make it to the house this time, just walked through the garden and then went and had lunch at the Bistro at the Winery. Off to work. Have a great day, everyone, and keep cool.

Monday's Poetry Train-- Sort of

2008-06-08T10:57:00.003-04:00

Hey! Okay, so I haven't written a word since I got back from RT, but I have started reading again, so I'm not terribly worried (Besides I'm going on a retreat later on this month and have to have a 850 word short short written on something outside of my comfort zone, and have an idea for a short involving...seals). Anyway, I'm steadily making my way through the mountain known as my TBR pile, and I though since I haven't been writing anything (okay I did try to write a poem, but it sucked- seriously), instead of posting older works that need revising I thought I would post reviews of those books I've been reading (and help out my fellow writers). So for my first Monday review, the book is:

Satisfaction Guaranteed by Charlene Teglia
This is actually a series of three linked novellas all set in the same place and roughly at the same time, similar to her earlier book Wild Wild West (all set in the coffee shop- Lemon Espresso). In this case, the link between the three stories is a dating service the three women all sign up for, a dating agancy with a difference-
"Welcome to The Capture Agency, a fantasy dating service for dominant men who know what they like and how they like it, and women who can handle limitless pleasure. After being matched with a partner, the male will capture his date and make her a slave to passion. This exclusive service is for couples who aren’t afraid to push the limits, let go of their inhibitions and lose themselves in the fantasy."
(I got this off her website)
The stories were well written, funny, sexy, and interesting, and what I appreciated was that none of the males played any of those stupid lets see what sort of ridiculous, humiliating things we can get the women to do and tell them its out of love garbage that seems to be par for the course with some of the writers of bdsm. The men in these stories actually respect the women they've been paired with, and aren't afraid to show it.
There was one thing that I was curious about, the beginning showed how the three women decided to try out this agency, but there was not further interaction between them. Not a big thing, and probably not absolutely necessary in the story, just me being curious.
So... not sure how often I'll post reviews, probably not daily but maybe twice a week? We'll see how it goes. I'll also be running contests this summer, not sure when or what though, you'll have to come by and see. :)

Thursday Thirteen #50

2008-06-04T23:02:00.009-04:00

Thirteen Funny Pictures
I had all sorts of plans for my TT this week (don't laugh I did), but we all know what happens when I make plans. I haven't received my usb cable from my sister yet, so I can't get the pictures out of my camera, the pollen counts have risen so my allergies have kicked in, and the expected high for tomorrow is 98! (and it's only the beginning of June! Someone please shoot me. Now). I'm not sure if it's the plants or the change in the weather/temperature, but I've had a headache all day now
(and my eyes have decided not to focus on the same things any more). So I give you 13 pictures from Icanhascheezburger and Ihasahotdog. Enjoy (I'm going to bed, I'll be around to check out everyone's lists tomorrow.

1)

more cat pictures
2)

more cat pictures
3)

more cat pictures
4)

more cat pictures
5)

more cat pictures
6)

more cat pictures
7)

more cat pictures
8)

more cat pictures
9)

more cat pictures
10)

more cat pictures
11)

see more dog pictures
12)

see more dog pictures
13)

see more dog pictures

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I Am Insane...

2008-05-29T22:50:00.002-04:00

Or Why There is no snippet this weekend.
I have been informed by no fewer than two separate and unrelated people that I am insane. Friday is my day off, so I emailed Larissa to see if she can have lunch and do shopping, only to remember that Friday is also the Relay for Life day. So I am going to do both, and then work the whole day Saturday. Yes, I probably am insane. But this also explains the no snippet. That and preparing to start all three summer reading programs...On Monday, thank you very much. With all of this, my insanity is pretty much guaranteed (actually we're almost ready, all I have to do is type up the instructions for the three programs for the staff). And then there's programs for the summer, a writer's retreat in June, another trip home in August...(I'll stop now, before my brain explodes).
So, yup, I'm doing the Relay again this year. This will be our last year doing the relay, so if you feel like donating a couple bucks, the link is on my side bar (and I'm the only Ann on the team). Wish me luck (my feet will need it). :)

Thursday Thirteen #49

2008-05-28T22:38:00.003-04:00

Thirteen Books on my To Be Read Pile
Not just on the list of books to be read, these books are actually stacked on my new bedside table. Most of these books I got at RT (one way or another *g*), and I should probably confess now that it will take me quite a while to read all of the books I brought back (and considering the number of duplicates I've been finding as I organize my books- it looks as if I'll be running a few contests in the future). I will try to post reviews of these as I finish them, along with a couple of other books I owe reviews. I had intended to post the pictures of the covers, but my contacts are drying out, so I think I'm going to finish this list and hit the sack. I'll be around tomorrow to visit everybody's blogs.

1) Satisfaction Guaranteed by Charlene Teglia- I'm reading this now, am on the second story and am enjoying it very much.
2) Seduced by the Storm by Sydney Croft (not out yet)- Larissa gave me this, and I can't wait to read it. I've enjoyed everything of hers I've read.
3) The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason- She beat Nora in the Dear Author March Madness, now she's got me curious *g*.
4) Doctor's Orders by Jessica Andersen- I found a copy of another of her books in the Friends (of the Library) booksale and bought it. It was very interesting and well written, I'll read this, but I'm really waiting for her new series to come out (Mayans, gods, and preventing the end of the world- sounds great).
5) Boy Next Door by Amy Knupp- I did get this at RT, Maya gave it to me. Now I have all three of her books.
6) Dark Lies by Vivi Anna- I met her at RT, so I had to get a book of hers at the Book Fair.
7) Wild, Wicked, and Wanton by Jaci Burton- I got this in the gift bags that Maya handed out at the pizza party the first night at RT. I've read Surviving Demon Island and Hunting the Demon, so this should be interesting.
8) Colter's Woman by Maya Banks- Maya gave me this one and the next, and I've read other stories by her (plus the reader's group keeps saying those of us who haven't read this, really should read it).
9) Her Majesty, My Love by Sharon Long (aka Maya Banks)
10) Hunter's Salvation by Shiloh Walker- I read Shiloh's blog, and was glad I had the chance to meet her in person, and at some point I might even try to read these in order.
11) Forbidden by Lila Dubois- I won this in a drawing and have been going nuts busy ever since, so I'm putting this on the pile to make time to read it.
12) Girls that Growl by Mari Mancusi- I met the author when she was on the panel of a YA program at RT, and she gave me a copy of her book. Can't wait to read it, it sounds great.
13) The Ruby Key- Holly Lisle- I've been reading snippets of this whenever Holly posted them on her blog, and have been waiting for this to come out. The cover is amazing, the story is awesome, and the writer is my hero. What more could you ask for.
Well, there's my list. I'm going to be now, the ringing in my ears is clashing with the music I've been listening to (it's not making the headache worse- it's just annoying me). I will be back tomorrow to check out the other lists, and try to post a snippet for Friday. Good Night.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I'm Back!

2008-05-25T20:56:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody, I'm back (did you miss me? *g*). I had a good time, I had a chance to relax and to see some of the extended family that I hadn't seen in years (and met some of the newer members). I also visited the Biltmore Estate with my mom and my sis, and took some pretty good pictures of the gardens, which I will post as soon as I can find the usb cable for my camera (I think it came home with me, just not sure which bag it is in).

The reason I went home was that just before Christmas my great-aunt died, and a week ago Sunday we all got together to celebrate her life. She was an inspiration to everyone who met her, living her life to the fullest and leaving with no regrets. She did some amazing things in her time (teaching yoga into her 80s, taking up art after losing her eyesight), but some I only learned about after she had gone- I only wish I'd known before and could have asked her about them (growing up in a small town in Oklahoma, she took her first trip abroad- with her new husband- to Europe, including Germany, in 1938). She will be missed.

P.S. I'll try to get back into the swing of things and post more poems on Mondays and Thursday Thirteens, but I might have to put off the Friday Snippets for a while. I'm going to do a heavy revision on the first book so I can submit it to another publisher, and when I've done that I'll polish up book 2 so it can be sent out into the world. Wish me luck.

So long, farewell, toodle loo...

2008-05-15T23:32:00.004-04:00

Sorry, once again there is no Friday snippet, I haven't written a bloody thing since I got back from RT (not that I'm blaming RT, I've just been running ragged since I got home), but Saturday I am on vacation and I am Going Home (Yay!). I'll be gone for a week, without internet for the most part, but while I'm gone I hope to start writing again. We'll see. Once I have a chance to relax, I should be able to string a few sentences together and have them make sense. So I hope everyone has a peaceful and relaxing weekend (and if this bloody thing doesn't post and show up, I'm gonna drop kick something).

I've been Memed!

2008-05-13T19:36:00.002-04:00

more cat pictures
Nicole got me with this one,and I couldn't think of 7 more random facts, so I thought I'd give it a try.

The rules: Posted at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer. Play nice, children.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? 10 years ago I was graduating from grad school.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today - get up, go to work, work, come home, and...Feed the Cat (in her opinion, the last one is the only one that matters).

3. Snacks I enjoy - Cookies, scones, and coffee (hot, iced, ice cream).

4. Places I’ve lived, in no particular order - Orlando, Fort Lauderdale (close enough), Keystone, Colorado (ski resort), London (England).

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire - Pay off my debts, buy myself a nice cabin in the mountains, and quite my job to write for a living.

6. Peeps I want to know more about - Let's see. How about Joely, Susan, Cora, and Larissa (only if you're not crazy busy).

Happy Bloggiversary to Me!

2008-05-12T13:06:00.002-04:00

Yay! The blog is two years old today. And to think I only started it because I couldn't seem to get my comments posted on other blogs without it. I've met tons of wonderful people through my blog (and you all know who you are *g*), and have had some great experiences because of it (it was a blast meeting authors at RT and have them recognize the name of my blog). I would make this a long post full of deep thoughts, but my lunch break is over, so I will leave you with a lolcat instead. Have a great day, everyone.

more cat pictures

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T09:39:00.003-04:00

Thursday Thirteen #48

2008-05-07T23:05:00.003-04:00

Thirteen Things I did to help stimulate the economy

I know, lame topic. But I've been a bad blogger, and I felt really guilty not having posted since last Thursday Thirteen, and I've been wicked busy with the dayjob (but don't like to blog about it), so I thought I list 13 things I bought with my refund check.

1) A 1 gig flash-drive- yup bigger is better. :) This thing holds pdf files like nobody's business.
2) A new toaster over- this one has a removable crumb catcher, making it possible to clean, and less of a fire trap as my old one (so old it went into the dumpster instead of the Salvation Army).
3) A wire media rack- for my dvds, so I can use the wooden one for the extra paperbacks that came home with me from RT.
4) A neti pot- it's supposed to help with sinus problems (which I certainly have)- I jsut haven't gotten up the nerve to try it. Yet.
5)Gas- I do seem to do a bit of driving, but I try to carpool whenever possible.
6)Lunch and Dinners Out- the schedule has been really weird since I got back from Pittsburgh, slowly though I'm getting back in the swing of things.
7) Groceries- Boy, was that an eye opener, don't go shopping for a month, and it takes a lot of money to get caught up.
8) Books for me- I can't help it, people keep putting out great books, so I keep buying them.
9)Books for giveaways- Yes, I will be holding giveaways on my blog, most likely this summer, so keep a look out.
10)A new mattress pad- always nice to have, helps keep the mattress nice and clean.
11)New sheets- a soft butter yellow color, which should go well with...
12)A new quilt set (quilt and pillow sham)- lots of blues, and the perfect size for...
13) A New Bed (Yay!)- this one is a full-sized bed with a pillow top, and not one of those no-flip kind (which wear out twice as fast) and is being delivered Friday. I can't wait (Of course, I also have to clear a space for it, but that's a different list).
Gotta go, I have a ton of stuff to get ready for my new bed to be delivered, I'll try to post my snippet tomorrow, but if I don't, have a great weekend.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday Thirteen #47

2008-04-30T20:32:00.012-04:00

Thirteen Authors Whose Books I Brought Back From RT
(and are currently taking over my dining room)
Well, today sucked, but instead of boring both of us with my whining, I'm posting a list of some of the books on MountGotatRT, listed by author, with pictures (where available- at one point my camera batteries died- that point being halfway through the book fair- yup, of course it was). Anyway, if I have a picture (and know it's you), I'll post it. If not sorry, the batteries died. Enjoy (it might take me a while to get all of these read and posted about- just sayin').

1) Write Minded Authors- Jaci Burton (Wild, Wicked, & Wanton), Maya Banks (Sweet Surrender- I took that with me, Colter’s Woman, and The Perfect Gift), Sharon Long (Her Majesty My Love), Amy Knupp (The Boy Next Door), and Sydney Croft (The Boy Next Door), and last but definitely not least Sydney Croft (Seduced By the Storm- out in July and I will totally brag about it closer to the pub date).

2) MaryJanice Davidson- (Undead and Unwed, Sleeping with the Fishes, Swimming without a Net, Dead and Loving It, and Secrets Vols. 6 & 8)- met her at RT, had a blast running into her (the first time at the bar and she bought me a drink, the second in the goody bag room where I helped her find her own books *g*).

M.J. with merpeople.

3) Shiloh Walker- (Hunters: Heart and Soul and Hunting the Hunter)- it was great getting to meet Shiloh (whose picture I won’t post here)- she has posted that she was out of it for most of RT due to breathing problems, but the only thing I noticed was she was losing her voice (we all were), and seemed to be tired (ditto).
4) Lauren Dane- (Taking Chase and Giving Chase)- I met her the first night (also down at the bar) with Angie (who I had met last year at a writer’s conference).
5) Mechele Armstrong (Dinah’s Dark Desire)- very cool person, I only wish I’d had more time so we could have hung around together and talked (next year in Orlando?).

6) Cheyenne McCray- (Forbidden Magic and Seduced by Magic)- another writer whose blog I visit more than I comment, and will be adding to the sidebar as I have time to work on it.

7) Anya Bast- (Witch Fire and Witch Blood)- great book (I’ve only read the first), cool lady, glad I got to meet her.

8) Ann Aguirre- (Grimspace)- I’m running out of ways to say “Yay, I met her.” Got to talk a bit during the book fair, but not enough. She is also one of several blogs I usually visit by means of Rhian's side bar, but I'm adding everyone to my side bar as I find pieces of time to work on it.

9) Rachel Vincent (Stray and Rogue)- I sat in on a panel of hers- very cool (on the panel was Richelle Mead, Rachel Vincent, Jeanne C. Stein, Keri Arthur, Kelley Armstrong, Jeri Smith-Ready, and Paula Guran-editor from Juno Books)- and I got to talk to Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy) about YA books too (Yay!)

Keri Arthur (on the left) with Rachel Vincent (on the right).

10) Jade Lee- (Dragonborn)- totally cool woman- I sat with her during the Vampire Ball’s dinner (she left early) and then ran into her a couple times after, friendly, funny- I hope she goes to RT next year.
11) Vivi Anna-(Dark Lies)- Have you ever read or heard a name and know that you know the name but can’t place the context- that was me with Vivi Anna- I knew the name but not where I’d read it. Well, a bit of research assured me I wasn’t totally nuts (we all know I’m slightly nuts), her name is listed on Romancing the Blog’s side bar, so that’s at least one place I’ve run into it. Having met her and heard her speak on panels, I’ll be looking for her name in other places as well (her blog and her books).

12) Jessica Andersen- (Doctor’s Orders)- Okay, I’ll confess- before RT I didn’t know her from Adam. But I went to hear her speak about world building with her crit partner, J.R. Ward (where J.R. let ‘er rip- it was toooo funny for words). She was funny and helpful and held her own against J.R. Ward’s energy and verve. I bought one of her books at the book fair, and she has a new series coming out about 2012 and saving the world, so I’ll be posting more later. (if you look at the pictures-you'll understand why it too almost 45 minutes just to get through the As and the Bs).

13) Coleen Gleason- (The Rest Falls Away)- Again, didn’t know her or her work when I arrived at RT, except that her book had beaten La Nora’s High Noon in the Dear Author/Smart Bitches’ March Madness Book Challenge. So I bought a copy and she signed it.

P.S. if any of you are actually in any of these pictures and would like copies, post a comment and I will send them to you (I plan to do this anyway, but life and the dayjob are making it hard for me to get to it- I will, though, it just might take me a while).

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Monday Poetry Train- Sort of...

2008-04-27T21:44:00.004-04:00

I know, not really a poem. But this was my first day off in two weeks (the conference was still work- and though very fun, also very exhausting), so I wasn't really up for poetry writing. Julia, however had tagged me for this meme, so I thought I'd do that.
Here are the rules: Tell seven random and/or interesting things about myself. Get five blog buddies to play, too and link to their blogs. Don't forget to post the rules.

Here they are (not entirely random, but perhaps interesting)

1) I need to update the sidebar on my blog (need to add those blogs I visit by way of Rhian's blog, as well as those I visit via PBW's blog, as well as to add all of those wonderful people I met at RT).
2) I need to come up with an icon- for when I post comments, everyone else has awesome icons, and I want one.
3) I'm thinking of starting a Flickr account- that way I could share my pictures from RT with all of you (as well as my pictures from Ireland). Do any of you use Flickr? Do you like it? Is it easy to use? Free?
4) I'm also thinking of starting a Scribd page- to keep my short stories and poetry in one easily managed place (plus now the ebook is novel length- I'm thinking of taking the ebook down- do you think I should or leave it up).
5) I've got a boatload of emails that I need to start sending out (thank yous to all of the wonderful people I met at RT)- last week was not the week for me to do that (schedules, yes- evals, yes- sleep, I did lots of that- writing coherently didn't happen).
6) I've started distributing the assorted pens, bookmarks, cover art, and plain stuff that I brought back from RT (the books will be handled separately), this is going to take me a while.
7) Seeing the picture of the books I brought back from RT, my friends threatened me with an intervention (I shall point out in my defence that I have no intention of keeping all of them- okay, most of them yes, but not all of them).

Now I'll share pictures with you: the first is the picture of the books that came back from RT (some of them I took with me to get signed- the majority were picked up there- and I only spent $89 at the book fair- the rest were given to me). I have to add, the books under the easter bag were just there 'cause I'd picked up the living room and hadn't put them away (yet).

This is a picture of the top of my monitor. The camoduckie was given to me by Stephanie Tyler, the demon ducky by Larissa, the sheep and the bear are from ireland, but the alien around the sheep's neck, the elephant, and the parrot are from RT. They give me something to look at when the screen starts bothering my eyes. :)

I'm supposed to tag 5 others, but everyone I know is wicked busy so I'll just say that if you're running out of ideas for blog posts, consider yourself tagged, just come back and let me know you've done it and I'll go and check out your post. Okay? Okay. :)

Don't you hate it when that happens?

2008-04-24T23:27:00.002-04:00

I appear to have written myself into a corner. I knew where I was going before I left but seem to have lost it during the trip (the direction being the story, the trip being RT). As soon as my wandering thoughts start making it back home, I'm sure I'll be able to write myself out of the corner, but it won't be this weekend. I will however visit everyone else and read your snippets when time allows (most likely Sunday). Have a great weekend.

No TT this week- apologies

2008-04-24T10:17:00.002-04:00

I meant to post one, really I did. But last night I was so tired I went to bed early, and I got to sleep in but then realized I could post a TT (which would have taken most of the morning) or I could go back to bed and take a nap before I have to get up and go to work. We all know which won. :)
P.S. The post below this has pictures from RT, more will follow but probably not until Sunday, I work Friday and Saturday I have another conference (this one local). Have a great day everyone.

I Need More Sleep!

2008-04-22T23:03:00.013-04:00

Actually, I've been doing a lot of that lately (okay- the last two days), that and working the dayjob. That's it. But I did manage to locate the cable that would allow me to download my pictures. It will probably be a few more days until I can do a more complete report, but I thought I'd leave you all with a few pictures to let you know how it went. (And so you'd feel jealous *g*).

1) Kim Harrison (and me)

2) J.R. Ward (and me)

3) Angie (aka Angela James, Editor of Samhain)

4) MaryJanice Davidson and Cheyenne McCray (with mermaid)

5) Maya (who actually said I took a good picture of her)

6) Rennie (Hi Rennie!!)who helped me schlep my stuff down to the lobby and stood watch over it while I took care of my bill and liberated my car. How much stuff did she help schlepp? Take a peek at the next picture...

7) This is only a portion of the luggage that is yet to be unpacked. It's gonna take me a while.

8) And last but definitely not least, Susan from West of Mars, who was totally awesome and hung out with me and went through the book fair with me (and helped carry the books I bought there- Hey, I actually managed to buy only $86 worth of books that day). It's kind of blurry, but blame the photographer not the subject. She rocks.

So that's just a snippet of my time at RT, I have tons more to tell and more pictures to show, and hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to start emailing them to the many people I promised that I would.

I'm Back!

2008-04-20T21:57:00.002-04:00

It's 10:00 and I only got back about 45 minutes ago, so my brain is completely and totally fried. I had a total blast at the conference, everyone at RT was awesome (especially the staff) and I'm dying to go next year. The Hilton however sucked big time. The trip home wasn't too bad considering that it started to rain in Pennsylvania and basically never stopped, with periodic torrential downpours (the radio even mentioned flooding on roadways- it would have been nice if he mentioned which roadways). So anyway I will give a complete report this week (including pictures), but I thought I'd try something radical and go to be early. Toodles. :)
P.S. Besides if I weren't so tired I'd be totally babbling like a complete and utter fangirl (I leave you with that picture- feel free to laugh).

Monday Poetry Train #24

2008-04-13T22:53:00.003-04:00

This week's offering, like the poem from last week, was thought up while waiting for my laundry to finish washing so I could move it into the driers. I wasn't really thinking thematically, just following a train of thought and a train of metaphors. It's not quite done, but it's not too bad. Hope you like it.

The rain falls sideways
Blown in by a balmy breeze,
I stand in the doorway
Smelling the spring rain,
Feeling the damp carpet
Under my toes.
The spring breeze,
fanning my hair and
cooling my skin,
brings the rainwater
puddling in my carpet.
I can’t enjoy the cooling breeze
Without risking the dampness.
I can't learn from life
By just observing.
I'm ready to do
And to learn
And, just maybe, to get my feet wet.

Friday Snippet #44

2008-04-11T00:25:00.002-04:00

This comes right after last week's post. I most likely will not post next week as I'll be in Pittsburgh, but I'll have lots to share when I get back. So in the mean time, enjoy.

“Oh good, you made it. I was pretty sure you would, but you know how people can show up and change everything.” The young man’s voice came from behind them, in an area Adhara could have sworn was empty. The three travelers jumped, as much as chilled and weary bodies were capable, and spun around to locate the speaker.

The young man was quite young, but a man none-the-less. Tall and slim, he stared at them with amusement in his laughing blue eyes, a pile of towels held loosely in his arms. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes. There’s a pile of blankets on the settee that you can wrap yourselves in while you warm up.”

The young man walked to where Adhara and Selene had huddled, the heat of the room setting off a fine trembling in their bodies, as they were finally warm enough to shiver.

“We’re good.” Adhara said, carefully polite while sliding her body between Selene and the strange man, her meaning perfectly clear. Ignoring his knowing grin, Adhara turned her back to the man, and knelt down to help Selene out of her boots.

Feeling Selene’s hand on her shoulder, Adhara thought the other woman was bracing herself so Adhara could take off her boots. Until Selene’s hand moved to cup her face, lifting Adhara’s head until she was looking at Selene’s face, into eyes that glimmered with understanding and acceptance, and yes, with humor.

Blushing brightly, Adhara smiled and shrugged before once more bending down to the soaking wet leather boots that Adhara thought she’d have to cut off in order to get remove them without hurting Selene. But giving a good pull, the boot slid off without any problem. The second boot came off just as easily.

Not so the buttons and buckles, by this time Adhara’s pull overworked fingers were having trouble working, but at last Selene was out of her clothes and wrapped in the large, soft, warm towels.

"Don’t rub the skin,” the strange man said, looking over at the two women. “You can rub the towel; just don’t do anything that will chafe the skin. Skin that has been that cold is very fragile while it is recovering.”

“No, really,” Adhara snapped, partly in irritation, and partly out of guilt, for she had been about to do just that.

“And I suppose you have such a great deal of experience with frost bite and snow shock? You must see so many cases of this, during those warm sunny days of life down in Winter Quarters?”

“No. You’re right.” Adhara swallowed her next comment. Painfully. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and started over. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long, hard day. I’m cold, and tired, and none of that is a valid reason for taking my bad mood out on you.”

"No. It’s okay, I shouldn’t tease when you’re cold and tired and worried like that. Why don’t you get out of your own wet clothes, come over here and have some soup and coffee and then we’ll talk.”

Thursday Thirteen #46

2008-04-09T23:23:00.005-04:00

Wherein the blogger plays Catch-Up. I am seriously behind on my reading, and have started to make a dent in the TBR pile taking over my apartment. I'm also trying to get caught up on the reviews for those books given to me by the authors, so this week you get a twofer. Two reviews for two totally awesome books I read this week. Next week I'll be at RT, but will try to post something for you. In the meantime, enjoy.

13 Awesome Things About Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

1) The Hero- Eidolon- a demon who went to med school, not all demons are evil in this world.
2) The Heroine- a demon hunter who is rescued by demons and taken to their hospital, where the evil, wicked demons…heal her.
3) The Setting- the demon hospital, the gates between worlds, the city itself
4) The Hero’s Brothers- Wraith and Shade- cool names, interesting characters.
5) The secondary characters- Nancy, the vampire nurse, Skulk, Gem, Kynan
6) The Dialogue- some of it is laugh out loud funny,
7) The Writing- awesome writing, the storytelling, the character development, the plotting, the whole nine yards.
8) the world building- The Aegis, the Demon councils, the fact that there are good and evil on both sides, the gates between- very cool.
9) The glossary- very helpful to explain the Demon world
10) My very own signed ARC- yup, I’m bragging.
11) Book 2- Will be out next year- hoping for another ARC (hint, hint).
12) Book 3- There will be one, yes?
13 ) The author- Nuff said (wouldn’t want her to get a swelled head- *g*).

13 Awesome Things About The Fire Within by Joely Sue Burkhart

1) The Hero- Zahak- has no hope about his fate, until me meets…
2) The Heroine- Eleni- at her wits end trying to escape her brother’s clutches.
3) The Setting- the Green Lands, Keldar, the ocean
4) The secondary characters- Amin, Malum, and
5) The Bad Guy- Darius- creepy guy- very creepy guy- very well written creepy guy.
6) Hello, Dragons- love dragons, very cool. 
7) The mythology- Somma, Igni, and Yama the Black are the gods of the realms.
8) The Dialogue- great dialogue- believable, appropriate, and at times wicked funny
9) The Writing- again- awesome writing, the story telling, the development of the mythology, the character development, the sense of place.
10) Descriptions- people, places, things, and even the horses- all made real.
11) The world building- where the people drink things called fire tea and dragon piss (it’s not, just tastes like it).
12) The bookmarks and postcards- and again I’m bragging. Totally cool cover art, made into bookmarks and postcards, and sent to me by the author. 
13) The author- has been sharing snippets and encouragement with me for almost two years now (that's how long I've been blogging- not her), and I’m thrilled to see her become successful.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Nothing But Red

2008-04-08T11:48:00.003-04:00

From Angela James' Blog:

You know what you’re here to read about. Don’t pretend you’re not here for the good gossip. You know what I’m talking about :P

So here’s the scoop…

Yesterday was the release day for a really special charity project, Nothing But Red. (Giveaway at the bottom of the post)

The purpose of Nothing But Red is to bring attention to the issue of violence against women worldwide, as well as the continuing need for equality, through art—both written and visual—and by raising money for a charity that strives to help women of all faiths, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, with the support of dedicated volunteers who share a desire to promote equality.

From the Press Room section of the Nothing But Red website:

Nothing But Red, the anthology of literary and visual arts inspired by the impassioned plea of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon in response to the “honor killing” of 17-year-old Du’a Khalil Aswad, is now available for purchase. Sales of the anthology, which is currently available in multiple formats at www.lulu.com/nothingbutred, will benefit the international human rights organization Equality Now.

“I’ve met some amazing people who’ve worked incredibly hard to put this book together over the last year, whether as contributors or volunteers,” said Skyla Dawn Cameron, originator and editor-in-chief of Nothing But Red. “We can’t change Du’a’s fate – but we can let the world know that there are people who still care. That’s where this fight really happens: with each of us, challenging ourselves to do something to make the world better.”

The 313-page collection, which can be purchased as a trade paperback for $15.95 or as a pdf-format e-book for $5.95, is being released on the one-year anniversary of the death of Aswad. An Iraqi adherent of the Yazidi religion, Aswad was stoned to death by family members and neighbors; her brutal beating and murder was captured in a graphic video and spread on the Internet.

Shortly after learning of the murder, Joss Whedon, creator of the television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly, penned an emotional response on the website Whedonesque.com. His post, which built from the topic of Aswad’s murder to the contemplation of misogyny’s transcendence of culture, religion and era, ended on an appeal to his fans to do something active to change the cycle.

“True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself…” Whedon wrote. “Her face was nothing but red.”

Taking its title from those words, Nothing But Red is a response to Whedon’s call to action, which is included as an essay in the volume. A full list of contributors can be found at nothingbutred.wordpress.com.

Equality Now was chosen as the recipient of the anthology’s proceeds due to Whedon’s public support of the organization and its mission to “[voice] a worldwide call for justice and equality for women,” as stated on Equality Now’s website.

I had a very (very, very) small part in helping with this anthology–in fact, it might make some of my authors happy to know that I actually missed a deadline. Very frustrating (but I do tell you all that it happens, and now I’m proof of that, unfortunately). But I got to read some of the pieces included in this book and they’re a mix of fiction and non-fiction, but all are moving and powerful.

Please buy a copy of Nothing But Red and help raise awareness for violence against women. Visit www.lulu.com/nothingbutred to purchase your copy! The full colour eBook is $5.95, and the black and white trade paperback is $15.95. All profits (about $4 per book) will go to Equality Now.

I will give away up to five (ebook) copies immediately to the first five people who post about this project on their own blog and leave me a link in the comments. Even if it doesn’t mean getting a free copy of the book, please spread the word about Nothing But Red!

Me here again.
I heard about the project last year, when they were in the planning stages, and wrote my weekly poem about her death, so for the release of the book, I'll repost it here. Go forth and buy copies. This has got to stop.

Nothing but Red

You colored my world
With cinnamon dreams
With sky blue hopes
And sea green schemes.

You raised me on tales
That revealed to me
A rosy-fingered dawn
Over a wine-dark sea.

You said life was a rainbow
The future a gem
But you never told me
It was meant only for them.

Your boychild was given
Life’s golden key
That closes the cage
You built just for me.

But when I would protest
And when I had fled
You colored my death
With nothing but red.

Monday Poetry Train #23

2008-04-06T21:29:00.003-04:00

I'm only counting those weeks where I posted my own poems, if you're wondering how I came up with that number. So I'm trying to be calm and write my short story and post my poem, despite the fact that I called the Hotel to change my reservation and was told that They Do Not Have a Reservation in MY NAME (I'm okay, I'll stop yelling now), but srsly. And I can't do anything until tomorrow. I am not happy. But be that as it may, it's Sunday so I will post my poem, and maybe go to bed early so I don't get totally spazzed about this. Think it'll work? Me neither. :)
Here is my poem. I wrote this after listening to Jacqueline Winspear discussing where her interest in WWI came from (her grandfather fought in WWI- and was wounded in the war). Somehow thinking about this on a dreary drizzly dismal, I came up with this poem. Not cheery stuff, but it seems to fit. I hope you like it.

War is a wound
Which steals souls
Sapping color from the world
Leaving strangers,
Surviving in a black and white world-
Yearning for color,
Emotion,
Even if only
The color of blood.

Friday Snippet #43

2008-04-03T23:51:00.002-04:00

Here's my snippet, it starts right after last week's post ended. I just finished writing it, so this is definitely a first draft. Enjoy.

The rest of the morning was spent racing the storm, as the wind picked up, the sky grew darker, and the air grew sharp and bitingly cold. The horses struggled against the wind, and even Mist was having to push against the wind, her head down as she fought for every step forward. Campion took pity on the tired mare, and took a place on the wagon’s seat, tying her reins to the wagon’s traces so the larger drays could offer her some protection from the wind.

The snow started not long after they reached the clearing they had planned to stop for lunch. Now they had no time for lunch, or naps, or swimming in the creek fed pond that was Adhara’s favorite swimming hole when visiting. The biting wind had them all so cold they had stopped shivering, just sat huddled together; their only thought was to reach safety and warmth.

Adhara was beginning to think their trip would never end and had, in fact, forgotten where they were headed, when Campion, whose hands were protected by his gloves and who had taken the reins when Adhara noticed her fingers going numb, turned the wagon off the road and down the cart path that led to the waystation. Rarely used during the normally mild winters, it was a much used stop during the summer’s frequent thunder storms.

Built into the back of the cabin was a stables, and it took all three of them to unharness the drays from the wagon and lead the three exhausted horses into the stable and free them from their reins, as well as Mist’s saddle.

“We can make then a hot mash, once we get warmed up,” Campion stuttered as he had warmed up enough to start shivering. “Let’s get us warmed up first, though. I don’t think they’re in much better shape than us, and I certainly don’t feel like eating.” Throwing several blankets over each, Campion filled the hay bags and made sure the water wasn’t too cold to drink.

“Let’s go inside and see if there’s any firewood,” Adhara brought the last of the bags in from the wagon, and storing it in the empty stall. “I’d really like to sleep for a few days, but we need to get warm first.”

Selene didn’t reply. Adhara watched as she silently groomed the giant nags, ingoring everything else, and making sure they hadn’t injured their hooves in the struggle to make it to the waystation. At last, she could do no more for either horse, leaning wearily against the horse’s flank as she was battered by waves of exhaustion and the effects of a long day of being chilled and exposure. She barely had the energy to look up when Adhara wrapped an arm around her shoulder and started leading her away from the horse.

“Come on, let’s get you inside before you fall asleep standing up. And we all need to get something warm in us before we fall asleep.” She wrapped the wool blanket around Selene’s shoulders and led her to the connecting door. “Campion are you coming?”

“Right behind you,” the muffled voice replied, he and Adhara had borrowed as many of the stable blankets as they could after covering the horses. “I must be dreaming, I could swear I’m smelling soup.”

“It must be a good dream,” Adhara said, taking a deep breath, and sighing, “I think I smell it too.”

And opening the thick, heavy door she led the way into the darkened cabin, lit only by the light of the fire in the fireplace. The well fed fire, with a tall stack of wood on either side of the hearth, a big cast iron skillet covered with a lid sitting in the ashes, and sitting in the middle of the hearth sat a pot of hot steaming coffee with a jar of milk and four mugs.

Thursday Thirteen #45

2008-04-02T23:39:00.004-04:00

Okay, I'm getting excited, and have begun channeling my inner Monk. Totally starting to obsess over going to RT, seeing people, talking to people, meeting people I only know from blogs. So that is the reason for this week's TT. Rhi and Susan aren't on the list for 2 reasons, 1) they're not writers (published anyway), and 2) we're going to do some serious hanging out during this *g*. Anyway, here is my TT...
13 Authors I Want to Meet at RT

1)Ann Aguire
2)Kelley Armstrong
3)Mechele Armstrong
4)Keri Arthur
5)Maya Banks
6)Anya Bast
7)Lauren Dane
8)MaryJanice Davidson
9)Christine Feehan
10) Jeaniene Frost
11) Marjorie Liu
12) Cheyenne McCray
13) Shiloh Walker
Bonus) JR Ward- Jessica Bird
P.S. My books are packed to get signed, is there anything else I need? *g*

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Monday Poetry Train #???

2008-03-30T17:31:00.002-04:00

I know, some day when I have nothing else to do and I get ambitious I'll count up all of my Poetry contributions and start numbering them, but in the meantime here is this week's poem. I started thinking about this in the car on the way to work this morning, and it sort of wrote itself. Enjoy.

Constellations

Coy Cupid's wicked dart
Catches the Hunter unawares
Watching the seven Sisters
Dancing to the music of time.
The dart flies true,
Loosing Orion's bow.
The Dipper tips
The milky way slips,
And stars fall down like rain.
Glittering diamond dust.
Tears of sorrow,
Tears of joy,
Tears of completion,
of ecstasy as I kiss
The constellations speckled
Across your skin
As freckles.