Where Does The Time Go?

I'm in the process of getting my youngest ready to go off to college. He only turned eighteen last Friday. With surgery to straighten both of his legs, we've missed graduation and all the hoopla surrounding that milestone.

Our emotions are uneven. I want him to start collecting what he needs for his dorm and classes, but he's taking his time. He gives all kinds of arguments as to why there's no rush. I think he forgets he has surgery to remove the pins and frames three days before he moves into his dorm.

Then again, I want to wait and buy all his linens and supplies down in Delaware where the hospital is. There's no sales tax there.

Needless to say, life in my house is very interesting and confusing. All I pray for is a clear head to get through these next three weeks and to not cry when I leave the campus. I've already said goodbye to my oldest, 23 yr old M. He decided to go back to Colorado with his girlfriend in mid-July. He called tonight and said he might stay past September which was his original thought. I miss my best friend.

Wow!

As I was struggling to figure out what to write about I received PW Daily. For all writers Publisher's Weekly Daily is a great way to stay in tune with not only the craft but the publishing world and it's free. Today's top latest news is Dorchester Drops Mass Market Publishing for e-Book/POD Model.

My first thought were OK, wow.  After reading the article I have mixed thoughts on the state of affairs affecting our publishers. I'm happy they are going to e-Books and POD model but what will happen to all the authors? Everything will change, royalty rates, advances...

As a reader, what will happen to my favorite author's books. I'm still in the analogue age, I don't process a e-Reader.  No Mass market publishing means no paperbacks for $7 or less instead the e-books will be in this price range. So the books will either be hardcover, e-Book or POD. Most POD range from $12 -$15 a pop. I guess it's time to get an e-reader.  Because I can't let go of Christine Feehan, Laurell K Hamilton, Lynsay Sands and many many other great authors. Some I do buy hardcover.

I'm excited at the way the publishing company is heading but at the same time, saddened at the lost of books to hold in my hand.  How does the announcement make you feel?

Makes You Think

I can hardly wait for our August fundraiser. 2012 has been a hot topic for several years, and now it’s scary close. Even scarier are recent events.
Some claim that the seventh Hopi prediction has come true. ‘The seas shall turn black.’ The gulf disaster really gets you thinking. I for one was clueless on how much a single oil well could produce. And to think, there are hundred of thousands of these wells around the world. Imagine an orange with hundreds of tiny straws stuck in it, drawing the juices out. Will our earth be left hollow? Will it crumble? Or will it pop like a balloon?
The doomsday possibilities range from asteroids, polar flip, war, super volcano, to flu pandemics. Really, who knows?
The Mayans predicted in 1999 that we would have 13 years to change the path of destruction. Jessica Andersen’s books follow that path. Her modern day Mayan warriors fight hard to save the planet. I pray her last book has a happy ending.
Hopefully, our local Mayan expert, Julianne Baliva, will share some secrets with us. I’ve got some questions for her. How about you?

Mayan Prophecies Lecture, Friday August 20, 7-9 at Gates Community Center 1605 Buffalo Road.

Our Conference

First congrats to Kat. Each contract is as heady as the first. In between the writing part and the waiting part is that limbo, can I do it again? Did my luck run out? No matter where you are in your writing there is always a sense of doubt, that frankly we can do without. So lets show our peers that we are behind the conference by signing up. To date only one person is signed up. The rest of us need to get on the stick. The comittee worked like the devil to create a one of a kind conference, so show your support sign on for the best conference ever.
I have spoken to some members who tell me that some groups do not meet during the summer and I think this might be better for our group as well. Some of you have children who are out of school for the summer and want to spend time with the family doing things that are fun. Those of us who (fortunately are past little kids) like to do different things in the warmer months. This is just a thought but I believe it should be considered for next year. This summer is fading fast and in a few weeks the little blighters will be back on the yellow buses.
I am challenging the group to sign up for the conference before the end of this month. The person who is the second to sign up will recieve a authgraphed copy of my newest book. Kat let me know who that is. Enjoy the rest of the week and I'll bug you again next Tuesday.

You Never Know. A Dollar and a Dream

At the last LCRW meeting we discussed the ins and outs of bringing back the Winers' Challenge, why and when. As Deb explained to new members or visitors what the Challenge entails, she reminded me I once took my challenge and turned it into a fully-developed story and submitted it to The Wild Rose Press for its Class of '85 series. It is titled Embraceable You.
That discussion prompted me to go back into a computer file which is filled with half-written stories, some story ideas less than 5 pages long. I love the concept: short stories, 6-7K, involving baby boomer heroes and heroines, all of whom are connected to the criminal justice system of a fictional city and county in Western New York State, of course it over looks Lake Ontario. Who [meaning publishers] wants stories like this? No one, I thought, so they continued to grow mold in this rarely visited file.
While sitting out a flash rainstorm during the Hilton Fireman's Carnival parade this past Wednesday night, I read through this month's edition of Romantic Times Book Club. What do you know, there is a publisher out there who is open for submissions for baby boomers. Call out the brass band and hand me a kazoo.
It did not take much to dust off and fumigate one of the stories. I submitted on Thursday; was offered a contract on Friday; resubmitted the lengthened story on Sunday.
You never know.

Getting Back on Track

It's been some weeks since I last worked on my manuscript. What blocked me? Me! I got too tired or too busy to find the time to sit down and create.

Yes, I was taking care of my son after his surgery. However, that didn't stop me from working, There were many occasions I could find to slip away for an hour or so to set up my computer and get down to business.

The change happened when even that schedule was interrupted when we went to Tennessee. Staying in a hotel room with 4 adults, and all my son's medical paraphernalia cluttering any flat surface, it was hard to work. Also, we were at a conference, so there were many people we knew and visited with. Needless to say, I was very busy, just not on my manuscript.

Once we arrived home, it's been difficult to get back to normal. Only home two weeks, and was off again for a post-surgical visit in Delaware. Have been home a week now, and really need to get back to my manuscript. It's nagging me and making me cranky. (Of course, if you call me on that, I'll deny everything! :D)

So, to get started, I put myself on the roster for reader at TWRP. I do need to finish that prelim tonight! After that, I'll bring a notebook with me tomorrow when I take my daughter to Stonybrook near Dansville for a few hours with her friend. I can insert a few chapters to my working story. It's taken a different direction right now, so I need to see where it's going to take me.

Here I am again

First off, yes I've been writing, but slowly and sporadically. My story has turned this way and that, but I have maintain my original idea, just my characters have become younger and younger. Throughout this process I have found my voice, my thoughts and myself... now I must write my story. I'm going back to what I found works through the Warrior Writer by Bob Mayer. Starting August 2nd, I am dedicating 1000 words per day to myself. I know I can do it, have done it. Now is retraining myself to do it.

The only person I can truly let down is myself, this time it won't happen. Time carved out is hard when balancing family, kids and life, especially when there is no cash flow, but when it is something that your passionate about, it comes down to just doing it. So here it goes, five months into my journey of writing a successful novel has come down to six months. Six months to have it query and submission ready. At least I know the story line, the characters, the quirks, now I must write the day to day words. I must be a warrior writer. I have my goal, the process. It's on me to get it accomplished.

I know I have say it time and time again, but this time. I will finish this book, Sometimes a Witch. 

Some accepted truths just need to be looked at differently.

A linguistics professor was lecturing to his class one day. "In English," he said, "a double negative forms a positive. In some languages though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However," he pointed out, "there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."

A voice from the back of the room piped up "Yeah, right."

To Share or Not to Share

Recently was reminded of the fragility of peace on open public forums. I posted a new profile picture with the lyrics of a song as the caption. Was it unfitting for someone my age? I didn't think so.

We have to remember when we participate in such public forums everything we post, whether it be pictures, links or words, it's there for all to see and comment on. One negative comment was posted and all my other 'friends' jumped all over the person. So NOT the intention of posting the picture.

So what has this meant to me? Do I need to think more carefully about what I'm going to post? Maybe. Is this incident serious enough to really worry about? I don't know. I'm upset my friends are at odds over it, but the act itself was an innocent way of celebrating my weight loss and being able to be happy to have pictures of myself seen again.

I would like to know your opinion. Should we be more careful of what we post, or am I'm worrying over nothing?

Home Sweet Home

Those words never meant more to me than they do now. I've been away from home almost as long as I was two years ago, but it will be even longer when we head off to a conference. What does this mean to me?

All those little things I was able to do without preparation are a luxury right now. Everything I do has to be scheduled around strut turns, medication times and mobility availability. Taking everyday life for granted is no more. The care and attention my son, Stephen, needs is more important than anything frivolous, unnecessary trip or errand I want to take.

That's right. I said 'want.' All those little trips to Walmart, Goodwill or the mall were essentially frivolous. There was nothing I really needed, or wanted even, to necessitate the frequent trips. They were all reasons to get out of the house.

I've been 'out-of-the-house' for over a month and will be out for another ten days or so. Yes, we do come home today, but only for 24-36 hours. Then it's load up the car for four people to stay in a hotel for ten days, travel for fourteen days. There's no room in the van now for two of us, with the wheelchair and all the paraphernalia we've accumulated to care for Stephen in the last month.

I miss my meetings, my friends, even work. I miss work because it gave me a place to be without family, yet still be out in the world for a more constructive purpose. This summer will be less enjoyable without being able to do all this, unless I learn to accept my life as it is now and embrace all the quality moments with my family.