Tuesday, June 22, 2010

True Blood


Anyone watching True Blood? Interesting developments. I like that the plots are just a little different from the books to keep you guessing a little. Still fun to watch. Bill's new Vamp girl is funny. The actor playing Pam is spot-on with her, so is Lafayette.

Working in nonfiction right now, not my fave thing since fiction is more fun but nonfiction pays better, and sometimes you have to do what you have to do while you wait...and wait...and wait...to hear from that editor, agent etc.

So, what do you do to keep yourself busy while you wait for that important call, write more, exercise, work in the garden, all of the above?

Monday, June 14, 2010

Wolves and Such



First, the winner of an ebook is Cornelia. Send your email to cshenold AT cox DOT net and let me know if you would like "Museums are Murder" or "Fairy Dust." Congratulations.


I went to lunch with my wonderful friend Sara Saint John on Saturday. (Check out her books at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Sara+Saint+John)

Anyway, we talked about writing, and family and friends and movies and all the horror stories we both love so much, ate good food and missed the friends that couldn't come. After we ate we went to her house to watch "Wolfman" on DVD.

I liked it. Emily Blount is an actress I always like, no better person for the villian than Hannibal Lector with hair. Wish the screen play had devoted a couple of pages to the relationship between Lawrence Talbot and Emily Blount, but enjoyed it. Could have used one or two touches of humor for relief, Universal used to be good at that, but not this time.

I also watched "Legion" this weekend. Loved watching Lucas Black. Haven't seen him since "Sling Blade" and "American Gothic." Accent is still there and that sweet smile of his. Angels fighting angels was interesting and the use of humans as cannon fodder. Saving the baby was a bit cliche but what can you do?

Reading the new Harry Dresden "Changes." I think it's the best one yet and I've been a big fan all along. Didn't get much writing done this weekend but hope to remedy that soon.

Also, "True Blood" season three started with a bang (or should I say fang?) last night and was Fangtastic, as was Pam in her snarky blonde way. Fun series. So, now you know how I wasted the weekend.

Monday, June 7, 2010

New Experiences-toes

No, that's not my broken toe. I thought baby toes were a better choice since they are so cute. You don't want to see my toe, or toes.

I've had a new experience. I broke/dislocated my little toe. At any rate, after I rammed it into the corner of a trunk, I looked down and saw it sticking out at a right angle to the foot. Like Jasper's claw looked when he hurt it. So, I reached down and pushed the toe back where it belonged, heard a click, taped it to the toe next to it and iced it.

The toe is now a lovely dark violet color. And, did you know you can't wear shoes comfortably with a broken toe, including flip-flops. I'm limping, and wearing black slipper with everything-a totally sex and the city fashion look-NOT! Anyone who know me is aware that I'm not a slave to fashion, but black slippers, in the summer-come on.

On to writing. I decided to finish Agatha Ann and the Shadow Curse and printed it out. I've done more on it than I thought. It should be fun. Also, study for the certification test we won't discuss and wait, wait, wait to hear from an editor, which most likely won't happen for months, if at all. Just adore the waiting game. My least favorite part of writing.

So, what's your favorite or least favorite writing task? One lucky commentator will receive an electronic copy of "Fairy Dust" or "Museums are Murder." Their choice. Include an email addy.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The End is Coming


Earth quakes, floods, tsunami, volcano eruptions, baseball-sized hail. Is it the end of the world as we know it? Global warming must be causing it, or, is Mother Nature simply having a hissy fit because of things like the oil spill in the gulf? I'd do worse than that if I were her and you spilled oil all over me.


Our lives and careers seem to have the same ups and down sometimes. Then, we can't blame mother nature or global warming. It may be something we did or didn't do that started the down-ward spiral. What if we simply gave up and quit? Nothing good could happen then.


Writing is the same. There are those really good writing days and those where every word we put on paper sucks rocks, or seems that way to us. But guess what? Do we stop or push through? We know that book, story, poem will never be finished if we don't keep on keepin' on. So we do it. And when we finish, the product is good. We set out to make it even better.


We just have to be ready for those highs and lows in life and writing. Barrel through and see what happens. By the time you reach the end, you're on your way up again. That's were it gets good, the way up to the top. On your way, throw a mattress down so you can bounce your way back up if you slip and keep on trying.