I have decided that all I can do is laugh. If not, I'd cry. This has been a week for freak accidents.
Monday night, I was hit by a falling object (too confusing to describe, so just roll with it here) and my right forearm swelled up the diameter of a baseball and the height of a golf ball. The bump felt awful, until the numbness set in. My hand was swollen and my wrist hurt every time I moved.
I thought it might be broken, but as it was 11 at night and ERs are hours of waiting, I crawled into bed and slept in a sitting position after 600 mg of ibuprofen and 20 minutes of ice.
The next morning (Tuesday) I drove 40 miles to the urgent care clinic where my best friend's husband is the doctor. Dr. Jon was a top ER doctor before moving to urgent care, and said I did the right thing. Since nothing was sticking out, his advice is just go to the urgent care. I did, and I was in and out in 25 minutes compared to what could have been 4 hours in the ER. As it was, I was lucky. My bone wasn't broken and I just had deep internal bruising--basically a soft tissue injury. So I'm staying on the ibuprofen and staying away from bumping or using my arm to lift things. Even better, my friend Cynthia (Jon's wife) met me there and afterwards took me to breakfast. I continue my streak (knock wood) of never breaking a bone and never needing a cast.
However, my mom wasn't so lucky. A week ago someone started banging on her door at 1 AM. She didn't answer, and later learned that someone must have driven off the road as her flower bed was torn up. Around 1 AM on Sunday the 15th, a 17 year old went off the road and into the horse pasture, tearing up the fence. This is the 4th accident in this area in 7 years--people simply crest the hill to fast. So she's submitting the bill to the insurance company. I was typing up that fax for her when she came down and honked her horn.
Turns out that her sprained ankle was really a break. Wednesday afternoon my 71 year old mother was tap dancing, and she had an accident. She put herself in the car, drove home, and basically endured 24 hours worth of pain before Thursday afternoon, when I told her to go to urgent care. When she drove down to my house afterwards, she told me the x-ray revealed she'd broken the leg bone above her ankle. She's in a cast and off to the orthopedist for further assessment and treatment.
My poor mom. All week she'd been telling me how lucky I was--since my life would have been unbearable to have my dominant right arm in a cast. However, it was as if fate was determined that one of us needed a limb in plaster. However the doctor promised her she'd be back to tap dancing soon. The neighbor will keep watch over her while I'm at work (my mom and I live 1000 feet apart, each of us on acreage) and the insurance company will send her a nice check. But I think I'm ready for Monday.
Michele
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
After hearing “I didn’t like Slumdog Millionaire at all”, “too violent”, “not a great movie” from various people, my husband and I finally decided to see for ourselves. I admit, I was prejudiced against liking the movie.
We both came away enriched by the experience. The photography, the music, the memorable story, cleverly told. Usually I steer clear of violence. But the violence that accompanies dire poverty in a city of 19 million belonged in this story. Upsetting, yes, because violence is real for the struggling poor all over the world.
The movie is full of plot holes and unanswered questions. What are the odds of finding an orphan girl you lost in a see of 19 million? (Who probably should be dead or maimed in order to garner pity and make more begging.) Who knows why the Indian emcee of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire wanted Jamal to fail? And don’t forget a boy from the slums ever getting on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, let alone winning.
Those are just a few of the holes and coincidences. Normally I hate movies or TV shows (or books, for that matter) with gaping holes and coincidences. Yet with Slumdog Millionaire, this movie experience was so rich that these things didn’t bother me too much.
The writers, directors and actors deserve huge kudos. (And in my opinion should walk away with a bunch of Oscars.) They produced a compelling story, guaranteed to make you think. Isn’t that what we all strive for?
What do you think? Did you like the movie, or not, and why?
Until later and wishing you movies that deepen your life experience,
Ann
www.annroth.net
Ooh, Baby!
March RT Top Pick!
We both came away enriched by the experience. The photography, the music, the memorable story, cleverly told. Usually I steer clear of violence. But the violence that accompanies dire poverty in a city of 19 million belonged in this story. Upsetting, yes, because violence is real for the struggling poor all over the world.
The movie is full of plot holes and unanswered questions. What are the odds of finding an orphan girl you lost in a see of 19 million? (Who probably should be dead or maimed in order to garner pity and make more begging.) Who knows why the Indian emcee of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire wanted Jamal to fail? And don’t forget a boy from the slums ever getting on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, let alone winning.
Those are just a few of the holes and coincidences. Normally I hate movies or TV shows (or books, for that matter) with gaping holes and coincidences. Yet with Slumdog Millionaire, this movie experience was so rich that these things didn’t bother me too much.
The writers, directors and actors deserve huge kudos. (And in my opinion should walk away with a bunch of Oscars.) They produced a compelling story, guaranteed to make you think. Isn’t that what we all strive for?
What do you think? Did you like the movie, or not, and why?
Until later and wishing you movies that deepen your life experience,
Ann
www.annroth.net
Ooh, Baby!
March RT Top Pick!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Ideas
Just where do we get our ideas for books? That question is one of the most asked questions of authors by readers.
While trying to start a new book the other night, I was amazed at some of the thoughts going through my head. "He could do this" and "She might do that", along with "But what will happen after that?" were moving through my mind at lightning speed, which surprised me. Usually those thoughts are barely crawling, if moving at all.
But first, I realized, came the idea. That spark that set off those thoughts.
From talking with other writers and from my own experience, ideas come from anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes an idea comes from an event so obscure that we don't even recognize it. An author friend recently told me she once had a story idea that came from hearing a Paul Harvey commentary. It wasn't what he was talking about, but one small, unrelated thing he said that sparked an idea that later became a book.
Ideas come from the life experiences of ourselves and others. They come from a conversation we overhear while waiting in line at the grocery store. They come from movies and TV shows we watch and books we read. Yes, tiny ideas from those can become stories that, in the end product, are totally unrelated to what we saw or read. We might pick up on the way a character reacts to certain situations or interacts with others or a mannerism. It might be a conflict between two people, either the hero and heroine or others.
Music, too, can inspire not only a scene, but an entire theme for a book. A song might also provide the one thing we're missing about a character, such as the character's motivation/backstory, that will make him or her real.
A story in the news, whether print media or television can often spark an idea which, when finished as a book, doesn't resemble the original piece at all.
It takes only one small spark to set a writer on the course of a new story. What happens after that spark is up to each author and the process he/she goes through until the final book is finished. That process is different for each writer, and it's often amazing.
So where do we get our ideas for books? Everywhere! That really is the answer.
While trying to start a new book the other night, I was amazed at some of the thoughts going through my head. "He could do this" and "She might do that", along with "But what will happen after that?" were moving through my mind at lightning speed, which surprised me. Usually those thoughts are barely crawling, if moving at all.
But first, I realized, came the idea. That spark that set off those thoughts.
From talking with other writers and from my own experience, ideas come from anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes an idea comes from an event so obscure that we don't even recognize it. An author friend recently told me she once had a story idea that came from hearing a Paul Harvey commentary. It wasn't what he was talking about, but one small, unrelated thing he said that sparked an idea that later became a book.
Ideas come from the life experiences of ourselves and others. They come from a conversation we overhear while waiting in line at the grocery store. They come from movies and TV shows we watch and books we read. Yes, tiny ideas from those can become stories that, in the end product, are totally unrelated to what we saw or read. We might pick up on the way a character reacts to certain situations or interacts with others or a mannerism. It might be a conflict between two people, either the hero and heroine or others.
Music, too, can inspire not only a scene, but an entire theme for a book. A song might also provide the one thing we're missing about a character, such as the character's motivation/backstory, that will make him or her real.
A story in the news, whether print media or television can often spark an idea which, when finished as a book, doesn't resemble the original piece at all.
It takes only one small spark to set a writer on the course of a new story. What happens after that spark is up to each author and the process he/she goes through until the final book is finished. That process is different for each writer, and it's often amazing.
So where do we get our ideas for books? Everywhere! That really is the answer.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Interview with Barbara White Daille
I’m very pleased to be interviewed for the Harlequin American Romance blog, but I have to be honest and admit you’re not always getting my absolute first-choice answers here. (smile)
You see, some of the questions are geared to my “best,” my “favorite,” etc. I’ve had to make an effort to deliberately leave my husband out of my responses...because he is, of course, my favorite in anything.
And would you romance readers and writers have it any other way?
Okay, here we go....
Q: What’s your favorite dessert?
A: Anything with chocolate and without coconut.
Q: What item not yet in existence would be the world’s greatest invention ever?
A: Bags for cookies and chips that automatically refill when empty.
Q: If you were stranded on an island for a month and could bring three things along, what would they be?
A: Ah. See, that’s why I had to give you the warning, because #1 would have to be my husband! However, I’ll try to work around him....
#1. See previous response about the world’s greatest invention. (grin)
#2. a case of books and blank journals
#3. a box of pens
(Am I cheating here?)
Q: If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?
A: Curl up on the couch with a good book or three, a cup of tea at my elbow, and a plate of cookies in my lap. (Hmm... I think you should see that answer about the world’s greatest invention for this response, too!)
Q: If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?
A: More money than Bill G. so I could give food, clothing, and shelter to anyone in the world who needs them; pay off the National debt; pay off our mortgage; and buy a lifetime supply of gift cards for my favorite local bookstore.
Q: What do you like to do when you're not writing?
A: Read!
Q: What inspired you to write your first book?
A: Many things and many people, including the wonderful writers I first discovered as a child; my mom, for her love of reading; and my fourth-grade teacher, for encouraging me to put words on paper. Though I’d been writing smaller pieces, poetry, and of course diary entries long before this, I wrote my first “official” short story when I was in fourth grade. I wrote my first book when I was in eighth grade.
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: See above. ;-) Although I have to add, I’ve probably been creating since before I knew how to write and started writing fiction as soon as I learned the alphabet.
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Three guesses, and I’ll bet you only need one. (A writer, naturally.)
Q: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
A: I don’t feel completely comfortable with my characters until I know their names.
Q: What is your writing routine?
A: Routine?! I’m supposed to have a routine?
Q: What is the hardest part of writing your books?
A: Accepting that it’s time to let them go. (See next question....)
Q: Do you re-read your books once they’re in print?
A: Of course. To me, re-reading any book is like a visit to old friends. And when those friends are characters I’ve created, the trip is extra-special.
Q: Why did you target the Harlequin American Romance line?
A: I love home and hearth stories and reading and writing about small towns--or those places with a small-town feel. For me, it doesn’t literally have to be a small town, as long as it’s a place where people are in close quarters--whether they like it or not--and are then almost forced to make their relationships and interconnections work. A hospital, a school, an Army base, snowbound in a mountain cabin, marooned on an island--anything with an “enclosed” setting like that really catches my interest.
Q: Tell us about your next book.
A: (Taking a deep breath....) A responsibility-ridden art teacher from an eccentric Irish family butts head with an uptight lawyer who's determined to protect his mom from the teacher's con artist uncle. (Whew!) That’s it in a nutshell.
The book just went in to my editor this weekend and is currently awaiting both a title and a publication date, so watch this space. You can be sure I’ll share the news as soon as I learn it myself!
Q: Now that we’re wrapping this up, what is the one question we should have asked you, but didn’t?
A: “We love your books so much, Barbara--couldn’t we please pay off your mortgage and give you a monthly salary just so you could stay home and write more of these wonderful stories?”
All right, that last answer was a bit tongue-in-cheek--but, still, wouldn’t it be fabulous to hear someone say it? LOL
Thanks for taking the time to read this interview! I hope you found the responses interesting and feel you’ve gotten to know a little about me.
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
You see, some of the questions are geared to my “best,” my “favorite,” etc. I’ve had to make an effort to deliberately leave my husband out of my responses...because he is, of course, my favorite in anything.
And would you romance readers and writers have it any other way?
Okay, here we go....
Q: What’s your favorite dessert?
A: Anything with chocolate and without coconut.
Q: What item not yet in existence would be the world’s greatest invention ever?
A: Bags for cookies and chips that automatically refill when empty.
Q: If you were stranded on an island for a month and could bring three things along, what would they be?
A: Ah. See, that’s why I had to give you the warning, because #1 would have to be my husband! However, I’ll try to work around him....
#1. See previous response about the world’s greatest invention. (grin)
#2. a case of books and blank journals
#3. a box of pens
(Am I cheating here?)
Q: If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?
A: Curl up on the couch with a good book or three, a cup of tea at my elbow, and a plate of cookies in my lap. (Hmm... I think you should see that answer about the world’s greatest invention for this response, too!)
Q: If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?
A: More money than Bill G. so I could give food, clothing, and shelter to anyone in the world who needs them; pay off the National debt; pay off our mortgage; and buy a lifetime supply of gift cards for my favorite local bookstore.
Q: What do you like to do when you're not writing?
A: Read!
Q: What inspired you to write your first book?
A: Many things and many people, including the wonderful writers I first discovered as a child; my mom, for her love of reading; and my fourth-grade teacher, for encouraging me to put words on paper. Though I’d been writing smaller pieces, poetry, and of course diary entries long before this, I wrote my first “official” short story when I was in fourth grade. I wrote my first book when I was in eighth grade.
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: See above. ;-) Although I have to add, I’ve probably been creating since before I knew how to write and started writing fiction as soon as I learned the alphabet.
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Three guesses, and I’ll bet you only need one. (A writer, naturally.)
Q: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
A: I don’t feel completely comfortable with my characters until I know their names.
Q: What is your writing routine?
A: Routine?! I’m supposed to have a routine?
Q: What is the hardest part of writing your books?
A: Accepting that it’s time to let them go. (See next question....)
Q: Do you re-read your books once they’re in print?
A: Of course. To me, re-reading any book is like a visit to old friends. And when those friends are characters I’ve created, the trip is extra-special.
Q: Why did you target the Harlequin American Romance line?
A: I love home and hearth stories and reading and writing about small towns--or those places with a small-town feel. For me, it doesn’t literally have to be a small town, as long as it’s a place where people are in close quarters--whether they like it or not--and are then almost forced to make their relationships and interconnections work. A hospital, a school, an Army base, snowbound in a mountain cabin, marooned on an island--anything with an “enclosed” setting like that really catches my interest.
Q: Tell us about your next book.
A: (Taking a deep breath....) A responsibility-ridden art teacher from an eccentric Irish family butts head with an uptight lawyer who's determined to protect his mom from the teacher's con artist uncle. (Whew!) That’s it in a nutshell.
The book just went in to my editor this weekend and is currently awaiting both a title and a publication date, so watch this space. You can be sure I’ll share the news as soon as I learn it myself!
Q: Now that we’re wrapping this up, what is the one question we should have asked you, but didn’t?
A: “We love your books so much, Barbara--couldn’t we please pay off your mortgage and give you a monthly salary just so you could stay home and write more of these wonderful stories?”
All right, that last answer was a bit tongue-in-cheek--but, still, wouldn’t it be fabulous to hear someone say it? LOL
Thanks for taking the time to read this interview! I hope you found the responses interesting and feel you’ve gotten to know a little about me.
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
What's in Your Junk Drawer?
Okay, fess up. You collect junk, too, right? But you don’t want anyone to know that you've become a psychotic hoarder of useless items. Spring cleaning is just around the corner and that's when I go through drawers and cupboards, hoping to gather a collection of junk I can finally bring myself to toss out.
The other day I took inventory. Here's a few of the items I found in the laundry room drawer: old cell phones--(three of them. That means I've kept the phones for six years). House keys from our two previous homes. Two combination locks that I don’t know the combinations of. Keys to a paddle lock I can't find. Spools of weird-colored thread. A collection of buttons I've retrieved from the bottom of the wash machine throughout the year. Several single strands of various colored shoelaces.
Sitting on my kitchen counter is decorative catch-all metal purse I bought at a flea market years ago. This holds papers I'm too lazy to file. Every Tom, Dick and Harry's business card. Take-out restaurant menus from places I'd never eat at. Last year's association pool passes that went unused. A Dick's sporting Goods discount card, same for Dominick's, and PetSmart. Also a card for Albertsons grocery store from when we lived in Texas. Expired coupons, the kids' school photos from three years ago, old ChapStick and Realtor magnets--to name a few things.
Beneath my bathroom sink are several plastic baskets containing: trial-sized perfumes, expired wrinkle creams. Eye shadow colors I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing. Nail polish that's at least five years old. Sponge rollers, sparkly hair clips in all sizes, a diffuser for my hairdryer and a waffle iron I could never figure out how to use.
Here's what I think: I keep some of this stuff for so long because once I throw it away, I have to admit that I wasted my money and never should have bought the items in the first place. As long as I keep the stuff and there's a chance I might use it one day…then I didn’t waste my money. How's that for self psychotherapy?
Anyone else want to share what's in their junk drawer?
Marin
A Cowboy's Promise *Men Made in America* April 2009
Samantha's Cowboy August 2009
www.marinthomas.com
The other day I took inventory. Here's a few of the items I found in the laundry room drawer: old cell phones--(three of them. That means I've kept the phones for six years). House keys from our two previous homes. Two combination locks that I don’t know the combinations of. Keys to a paddle lock I can't find. Spools of weird-colored thread. A collection of buttons I've retrieved from the bottom of the wash machine throughout the year. Several single strands of various colored shoelaces.
Sitting on my kitchen counter is decorative catch-all metal purse I bought at a flea market years ago. This holds papers I'm too lazy to file. Every Tom, Dick and Harry's business card. Take-out restaurant menus from places I'd never eat at. Last year's association pool passes that went unused. A Dick's sporting Goods discount card, same for Dominick's, and PetSmart. Also a card for Albertsons grocery store from when we lived in Texas. Expired coupons, the kids' school photos from three years ago, old ChapStick and Realtor magnets--to name a few things.
Beneath my bathroom sink are several plastic baskets containing: trial-sized perfumes, expired wrinkle creams. Eye shadow colors I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing. Nail polish that's at least five years old. Sponge rollers, sparkly hair clips in all sizes, a diffuser for my hairdryer and a waffle iron I could never figure out how to use.
Here's what I think: I keep some of this stuff for so long because once I throw it away, I have to admit that I wasted my money and never should have bought the items in the first place. As long as I keep the stuff and there's a chance I might use it one day…then I didn’t waste my money. How's that for self psychotherapy?
Anyone else want to share what's in their junk drawer?
Marin
A Cowboy's Promise *Men Made in America* April 2009
Samantha's Cowboy August 2009
www.marinthomas.com
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Living it up -- or down
I recently heard from an old friend, a novelist, with whom I’d lost touch for years. She had quite a story to tell, including (I hope she doesn’t mind my repeating this, since I’m not naming her) the breakup of her marriage and an exciting romantic relationship with a new guy with whom she’s living in a campground.
That’s right. A campground. Of course, I dearly hope she’s not in a tent in the dead of winter. Most likely it’s a comfortable RV. All the same, it sounds … brave.
She’s bubbling with happiness. At an age at which most people are watching their salt intake, she’s spicing up her life.
It makes me feel really boring.
When I was 22, I went to Europe for a year with so little baggage, I hand-carried it onto the plane with me. When the weather got cold, I knit a sweater and bought a cape. When spring arrived, I gave them away.
Okay, let’s be honest: I had a writing fellowship, and I’d sent the money ahead to the American Express Bank in Florence. So I wasn’t exactly starving. But I had the spirit of adventure!
A few years later, my husband-to-be and I drove to Yosemite in a tiny camper that sat atop his pickup truck. It had – get this – no bathroom. Even in autumn, Yosemite gets cold, and we camped in an area (you probably can’t find these any more) where there was no one else around. So in the morning, wearing only a bathrobe, I would hop, skip and thump across the cold pavement to a cold outhouse.
I don’t do that sort of thing any more.
While my friend is celebrating Valentine’s weekend by staging a romantic tryst, I’m cozying up with my husband in our two-story house. With the economy the way it is, we’re grateful to have a roof over our heads and hot food to eat.
And above all, each other. Hope you had a terrific Valentine’s Day!
That’s right. A campground. Of course, I dearly hope she’s not in a tent in the dead of winter. Most likely it’s a comfortable RV. All the same, it sounds … brave.
She’s bubbling with happiness. At an age at which most people are watching their salt intake, she’s spicing up her life.
It makes me feel really boring.
When I was 22, I went to Europe for a year with so little baggage, I hand-carried it onto the plane with me. When the weather got cold, I knit a sweater and bought a cape. When spring arrived, I gave them away.
Okay, let’s be honest: I had a writing fellowship, and I’d sent the money ahead to the American Express Bank in Florence. So I wasn’t exactly starving. But I had the spirit of adventure!
A few years later, my husband-to-be and I drove to Yosemite in a tiny camper that sat atop his pickup truck. It had – get this – no bathroom. Even in autumn, Yosemite gets cold, and we camped in an area (you probably can’t find these any more) where there was no one else around. So in the morning, wearing only a bathrobe, I would hop, skip and thump across the cold pavement to a cold outhouse.
I don’t do that sort of thing any more.
While my friend is celebrating Valentine’s weekend by staging a romantic tryst, I’m cozying up with my husband in our two-story house. With the economy the way it is, we’re grateful to have a roof over our heads and hot food to eat.
And above all, each other. Hope you had a terrific Valentine’s Day!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Valentine's Day
Okay, it’s almost Valentine’s Day. I have to admit, I’m a party pooper. There are no decorations in my house, and except for the cards my kids buy to give their friends, we don’t do anything special. In fact, I try to avoid the holiday and have found that by doing so, it works out better.
You might find this weird, given that I’m a romance writer. As I write this, I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever even used Valentine’s Day in a book. Maybe, but if so, it’s a blur. Not like the ones I did for Christmas, like Unwrapping Mr. Wright and The Christmas Date. Those are crystal clear.
Since I’ve spent all but nine years of my life single, most of my Valentine’s days have been as a singleton. They’re filled with all sorts of mishaps. There’s Steve who sent me flowers, and the florist never delivered them. So here’s poor Steve waiting for me to call all gushing…and that didn’t happen. He finally asked me, all disappointed, a day or two later what I thought of his gift. I had no idea what he was talking about. Oops.
Then there was the Valentine’s Day that I was supposed to go to dinner. Gene scheduled dinner at eight at this really posh restaurant, but I was chaperoning a school dance that night. I told him that, reminded him, and basically I ended up double booked as the dance didn’t end until nine and once I got there, I found I couldn’t leave early as I’d hoped. We ended up eating at ten-thirty—crammed in a table near the restaurant kitchen door. Oops. Thank goodness he didn’t mind and forgave me, although it wasn’t the evening he’d planned.
You have to admit, Valentine’s Day is a lot of pressure, especially for the guys. A romance hero would get it right, but somehow, in my life it doesn’t work out that way. My favorite Valentine’s Days was spent with my friend Jenny. Here we were, two dateless losers. I was young, next-to-broke and not about to be paid for another week, and really, we had not much to do. So she suggested Bingo. She was going with her mom and grandmother, and invited me along. I was down to my last $25 and here we were in our 20s—everyone else was at least 50. The hall was full of intense bingo players, and we sat with Jenny’s mom and grandmother and their bingo friends. They tossed bingo markers my way, and we were off. Except for playing in grade school, and one time watching my parents in eighth grade, I had no idea what “real” bingo was like.
It was wild. It went fast. We had a pile of “bring your own” snacks on the table, and plastic cups filled with beer or soda from the bar. The women around me were watching a minimum of ten cards. I had three—all I could afford and all I could manage. And then it happened. I had all but I-27 for bingo. The woman next to me leaned over and put a clear square tile over the number. “The minute you hear that, you yell,” she said.
Two numbers later, I was shouting BINGO! I won $100, which was a lot of money and a very nice way to tide me over to payday. That was a very good Valentine’s Day indeed—and I’ve never played Bingo since.
This year I’m spending Valentine’s Day in the back row of the FHHS auditorium, where the drama club is doing a 7 PM showing of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”. My thirteen year old daughter is meeting friends, and since where I work is 45 minutes from my house, I’ll simply hang out with the other teachers present while she goes and pretends not to know me. Sounds perfect to me.
So now it’s your turn. What’s your best memory of Valentine’s Day? How are you spending it? Do tell….
You might find this weird, given that I’m a romance writer. As I write this, I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever even used Valentine’s Day in a book. Maybe, but if so, it’s a blur. Not like the ones I did for Christmas, like Unwrapping Mr. Wright and The Christmas Date. Those are crystal clear.
Since I’ve spent all but nine years of my life single, most of my Valentine’s days have been as a singleton. They’re filled with all sorts of mishaps. There’s Steve who sent me flowers, and the florist never delivered them. So here’s poor Steve waiting for me to call all gushing…and that didn’t happen. He finally asked me, all disappointed, a day or two later what I thought of his gift. I had no idea what he was talking about. Oops.
Then there was the Valentine’s Day that I was supposed to go to dinner. Gene scheduled dinner at eight at this really posh restaurant, but I was chaperoning a school dance that night. I told him that, reminded him, and basically I ended up double booked as the dance didn’t end until nine and once I got there, I found I couldn’t leave early as I’d hoped. We ended up eating at ten-thirty—crammed in a table near the restaurant kitchen door. Oops. Thank goodness he didn’t mind and forgave me, although it wasn’t the evening he’d planned.
You have to admit, Valentine’s Day is a lot of pressure, especially for the guys. A romance hero would get it right, but somehow, in my life it doesn’t work out that way. My favorite Valentine’s Days was spent with my friend Jenny. Here we were, two dateless losers. I was young, next-to-broke and not about to be paid for another week, and really, we had not much to do. So she suggested Bingo. She was going with her mom and grandmother, and invited me along. I was down to my last $25 and here we were in our 20s—everyone else was at least 50. The hall was full of intense bingo players, and we sat with Jenny’s mom and grandmother and their bingo friends. They tossed bingo markers my way, and we were off. Except for playing in grade school, and one time watching my parents in eighth grade, I had no idea what “real” bingo was like.
It was wild. It went fast. We had a pile of “bring your own” snacks on the table, and plastic cups filled with beer or soda from the bar. The women around me were watching a minimum of ten cards. I had three—all I could afford and all I could manage. And then it happened. I had all but I-27 for bingo. The woman next to me leaned over and put a clear square tile over the number. “The minute you hear that, you yell,” she said.
Two numbers later, I was shouting BINGO! I won $100, which was a lot of money and a very nice way to tide me over to payday. That was a very good Valentine’s Day indeed—and I’ve never played Bingo since.
This year I’m spending Valentine’s Day in the back row of the FHHS auditorium, where the drama club is doing a 7 PM showing of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”. My thirteen year old daughter is meeting friends, and since where I work is 45 minutes from my house, I’ll simply hang out with the other teachers present while she goes and pretends not to know me. Sounds perfect to me.
So now it’s your turn. What’s your best memory of Valentine’s Day? How are you spending it? Do tell….
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tornadoes
I have survived the tornadoes! We had a scary line of storms move through our area last night. Fortunately for me, my house and car and trees are all still mostly intact. When those sirens go off it scares me to death. It doesn't seem to bother my husband, but he's never been through a tornado. (Anyway, last night he was on the train coming home and missed the whole thing.)
I've been through several tornadoes. When I was little, my dad used to make us kids get in the bathtub and put a mattress over us any time it seemed like a tornado was about to demolish our house. (We didn't have a basement or storm cellar.)
Weather warnings weren't as precise as they are today, but he could tell just by looking at the sky and watching the wind. We never lost our roof, but once the wind was so high it blew debris through a window. That particular tornado flattened a church about a mile from our house, then churned through some trees and took off a couple of roofs at the end of our street.
Storms fascinate me, and several years ago I happened to read a newspaper article about storm chasers, and I knew I had to find out more. I tracked these guys down and begged them to take me with them. I went on three different trips with the chasers in their vans and trucks bristling with antennae and high-tech equipment (just like in "Twister"!). The first two trips were busts--I was in far more danger of dying from our vehicle hitting a cow than from any storm. Third time, though, we ended up smack in the middle of a killer tornado in Oklahoma. I still remember the tennis-ball-sized hail hitting the van--it sounded like gunfire. I was trying not to scream and cower so as not to humiliate myself in front of the boys. I never actually saw the funnel, though, because of all the rain.
The guys claimed we were never in danger, that they knew precisely where the storm was and were never directly in its path.
Of course, for me there's no point in such thrill-seeking behavior unless I’m going to write about it. I've put tornadoes in at least three books (plus a couple of storms at sea in other books). I even wrote a whole book about storm-chasers. Whenever I’m plotting a book and I get stalled, I'm always tempted to throw in a tornado. The awesome power and sheer unpredictability of a big storm can sure liven up a story.
I've been through several tornadoes. When I was little, my dad used to make us kids get in the bathtub and put a mattress over us any time it seemed like a tornado was about to demolish our house. (We didn't have a basement or storm cellar.)
Weather warnings weren't as precise as they are today, but he could tell just by looking at the sky and watching the wind. We never lost our roof, but once the wind was so high it blew debris through a window. That particular tornado flattened a church about a mile from our house, then churned through some trees and took off a couple of roofs at the end of our street.
Storms fascinate me, and several years ago I happened to read a newspaper article about storm chasers, and I knew I had to find out more. I tracked these guys down and begged them to take me with them. I went on three different trips with the chasers in their vans and trucks bristling with antennae and high-tech equipment (just like in "Twister"!). The first two trips were busts--I was in far more danger of dying from our vehicle hitting a cow than from any storm. Third time, though, we ended up smack in the middle of a killer tornado in Oklahoma. I still remember the tennis-ball-sized hail hitting the van--it sounded like gunfire. I was trying not to scream and cower so as not to humiliate myself in front of the boys. I never actually saw the funnel, though, because of all the rain.
The guys claimed we were never in danger, that they knew precisely where the storm was and were never directly in its path.
Of course, for me there's no point in such thrill-seeking behavior unless I’m going to write about it. I've put tornadoes in at least three books (plus a couple of storms at sea in other books). I even wrote a whole book about storm-chasers. Whenever I’m plotting a book and I get stalled, I'm always tempted to throw in a tornado. The awesome power and sheer unpredictability of a big storm can sure liven up a story.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Frugal Valentines
I loved Linda's post about how she met her husband. Valentine's is one of my favorite holidays for any number of reasons. Obviously, as a romance writer I love a holiday that celebrates romance. But Valentine's Day is a feel-good holiday that embraces all kinds of love -- parents for children, friends for friends and neighbors. You can give Valentine's Day cards to anyone who is special in your life, not just your sweetheart.
I also like Valentine's Day because celebrating the day does not require extravagant expense. Sure, you can spring for a dozen roses and bling, but I think the best Valentine's Day gifts are homemade cards and home-baked brownies.
The holiday has a long tradition of homemade cards, from Victorian lace concoctions to a child's construction paper heart.
A friend of mine once made a card that consisted of three photographs of herself. In each photo she was holding a red heart made of poster board with a single word. The pictures in succession spelled out I Love You. This would be cute to do with children, also. I once made a card that consisted of hearts taped together accordian style. On each heart was written something I loved about my husband.
If your special someone likes crossword puzzles, you can make a free crossword puzzle that uses your words and clues here.
I've also cut photos into puzzle pieces that had to be reassembled for an interactive card.
Of all the cards I've made my husband, my favorite was one I fashioned from the cover of a romance novel (One purchased at a used book store for the purpose -- I couldn't bear to cut up a new book). I chose a gorgeous historical romance cover with a woman in an elaborate dress and the long-haired, shirtless hero. I cut out the faces and substituted pictures of my husband and myself. Then I wrote something about him always being my hero. (Now I could use one of my own cover flats, but this was before I was published.)
What fun and creative things have you done for Valentine's Day? And has a romance novel ever inspired your celebration?
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Hubby and me at a booksigning.
It’s been over forty years now and I still remember the first time we met. How about you? How did you meet the love of your life? Was it love at first sight or did it take a while for love to grow?
Harlequin celebrates love with every book they publish. And to celebrate sixty years of publishing Harlequin is offering 16 free downloads (just in time for Valentine’s) - a book from each line. You can even download to your computer. Once a Cowboy is one of the books. Check it out. http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
The Sheriff of Horseshoe, Texas – Mar ‘09
Valentine’s Day is less than a week away and I was thinking how a romance starts, with a glance, a stare, a first meeting that leads to more. Every love story starts with two people meeting and a spark whether positive or negative that last a lifetime.
I met my husband on a cold December day at a wedding of a friend. He was on leave from the National Guard and he and his buddies crashed the wedding. They’d heard there was beer and girls at the reception and dance. The soldiers were a hit and the girls were eager to meet them, including myself. I zeroed in on one soldier who had a woman’s red high heel poking out of the pocket of his camouflage jacket. When we were introduced, I asked about the shoe and he grinned and said, “What shoe?” The smile got me and he was so good looking. But he’d also had too much beer which didn’t appeal to me. When he called later in the week and asked me out that part didn’t seem to matter. Did I mention he was good looking? Back then, as a naïve teenager, my list of priorities changed daily.
The high heel belonged to a bridesmaid who he’d been talking to. She’d kicked off her shoes for the dance and he took one knowing she would come looking for it (clever). He never dated the bridesmaid and to this day he denies the shoe being in his pocket. I bring it up sometimes to annoy him and to see him smile.
I met my husband on a cold December day at a wedding of a friend. He was on leave from the National Guard and he and his buddies crashed the wedding. They’d heard there was beer and girls at the reception and dance. The soldiers were a hit and the girls were eager to meet them, including myself. I zeroed in on one soldier who had a woman’s red high heel poking out of the pocket of his camouflage jacket. When we were introduced, I asked about the shoe and he grinned and said, “What shoe?” The smile got me and he was so good looking. But he’d also had too much beer which didn’t appeal to me. When he called later in the week and asked me out that part didn’t seem to matter. Did I mention he was good looking? Back then, as a naïve teenager, my list of priorities changed daily.
The high heel belonged to a bridesmaid who he’d been talking to. She’d kicked off her shoes for the dance and he took one knowing she would come looking for it (clever). He never dated the bridesmaid and to this day he denies the shoe being in his pocket. I bring it up sometimes to annoy him and to see him smile.
It’s been over forty years now and I still remember the first time we met. How about you? How did you meet the love of your life? Was it love at first sight or did it take a while for love to grow?
Harlequin celebrates love with every book they publish. And to celebrate sixty years of publishing Harlequin is offering 16 free downloads (just in time for Valentine’s) - a book from each line. You can even download to your computer. Once a Cowboy is one of the books. Check it out. http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
The Sheriff of Horseshoe, Texas – Mar ‘09
Friday, February 06, 2009
Author Interview with Ann DeFee
Please welcome Ann DeFee author of eight Harlequin American Romances. Ann’s debut book was a double Rita finalist in 2006 and in 2008 she won a Book Buyer’s Best award.
How long have you been published?
My first book came out in July 2005 and with my February 2009 release that makes a grand total of eight. In addition I have Top Gun Dad slated for October 2009 and I’m working on a 2010 book.
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Don’t get discouraged, keep learning your craft and submit. If you don’t send out your work it’s like wanting to win the lottery but not buying a ticket.
What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Kidney pie at a B&B in Scotland. Or perhaps it was the mystery meat I had at a Samoan birthday party. I swear it looked like a pig leg, but that was debatable. Then there was the slimy stuff (it could have been fish or mammal, again not sure) I had at my son’s wedding reception in Copenhagen, Denmark.
What comes first: the plot or the characters?
Sometimes it’s the plot, sometimes it’s the characters. Honestly, it all seems to come out of the ether.
When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
Wow! That hair would look right at home on Don King. It’s those curls, you know. They do whatever they want, whenever they want. LOL
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Classics like Gone with the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird are my favorites. As you can see I’m partial to southern literature.
What are you reading now? I’m into my Rita submissions. This year it’s a case of the good, the not quite so good and the ugly. But, the nice thing about judging the Rita contest is that I read books I probably wouldn’t normally buy.
Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
Nope – I already know how they end. LOL
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
This is a shameless plug; my favorite (currently) is The Man She Married which is available in stores next week. You’ll love Maizie, the heroine. She’s been married twenty + years and her hubby’s spending way too much time watching sports, so she decides to make him jealous. Can you say “big oops.”
Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I’ve had some very poignant and heartfelt letters. The readers make this all worthwhile.
Are you working on anything at the present you'd like to share? I’m working on The Glory Place, a story that takes place during two days of a revival preacher’s wake. It’s set in the Appalachians and features his daughter’s path to redemption.
Did you ever eat paste or Elmer's glue when you were a kid?
Are you kidding? I was more into Milky Ways and hot fudge sundaes.
What did you do career-wise before becoming an author? I’m a Certified Land Use Planner, and in that capacity I worked for a city managing real estate development projects.
What helps inspire you when you write? Do you have any ‘rituals’ (like music, candles, and a favorite scent) that helps you find your writing zone?
The thing that keeps me pecking at the keyboard is a deadline hovering over me like a vulture just waiting to pick my bones. Yew! Way too graphic.
What do you want to know about the future? This one is personal and very micro - when will I be able to sell my house? We’re in a real estate crisis, you know!
Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
I could do that blindfolded.
If so, which do you prefer?
Coke
Have you ever made a crank phone call?
Haven’t we all? Don’t you remember the “is your refrigerator running” gag?
Who's you're personal hero--past or present?
As a group, I have to say our Founding Fathers. They had the courage of their convictions and they put their names on a document that would ensure the loss of their freedom and fortune if they ended up on the losing side. In my mind that takes incredible guts!
What is your dream car? That one’s easy – a black Porsche 911 Carrera.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
The Holy Lands. When I was kid (as a Southern Baptist) I was convinced the Holy Lands were at least the size of Siberia. I mean really, how could folks get lost for 40 years is a place that was no bigger than a medium sized Texas county? What’s wrong with asking directions?
If you were locked in a closet for one hour who would you want in there with you? A locksmith or a professional burglar – anyone who pick the darned thing.
If you were stranded on a deserted Island what kind of hero would you want with you--A Cowboy, a Viking Warrior, a CEO, a Forensics investigator, a Chef or an Accountant…and why?
I would actually prefer a survival specialist (did I mention that my husband was the Director of Operations for the Air Force Survival Schools? He’s even spent the night in a igloo he built) but since that wasn’t one of the options I think I’d go for a cowboy. At least he’d know how to build a fire and roast some little critters.
How long have you been published?
My first book came out in July 2005 and with my February 2009 release that makes a grand total of eight. In addition I have Top Gun Dad slated for October 2009 and I’m working on a 2010 book.
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Don’t get discouraged, keep learning your craft and submit. If you don’t send out your work it’s like wanting to win the lottery but not buying a ticket.
What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Kidney pie at a B&B in Scotland. Or perhaps it was the mystery meat I had at a Samoan birthday party. I swear it looked like a pig leg, but that was debatable. Then there was the slimy stuff (it could have been fish or mammal, again not sure) I had at my son’s wedding reception in Copenhagen, Denmark.
What comes first: the plot or the characters?
Sometimes it’s the plot, sometimes it’s the characters. Honestly, it all seems to come out of the ether.
When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
Wow! That hair would look right at home on Don King. It’s those curls, you know. They do whatever they want, whenever they want. LOL
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Classics like Gone with the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird are my favorites. As you can see I’m partial to southern literature.
What are you reading now? I’m into my Rita submissions. This year it’s a case of the good, the not quite so good and the ugly. But, the nice thing about judging the Rita contest is that I read books I probably wouldn’t normally buy.
Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
Nope – I already know how they end. LOL
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
This is a shameless plug; my favorite (currently) is The Man She Married which is available in stores next week. You’ll love Maizie, the heroine. She’s been married twenty + years and her hubby’s spending way too much time watching sports, so she decides to make him jealous. Can you say “big oops.”
Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I’ve had some very poignant and heartfelt letters. The readers make this all worthwhile.
Are you working on anything at the present you'd like to share? I’m working on The Glory Place, a story that takes place during two days of a revival preacher’s wake. It’s set in the Appalachians and features his daughter’s path to redemption.
Did you ever eat paste or Elmer's glue when you were a kid?
Are you kidding? I was more into Milky Ways and hot fudge sundaes.
What did you do career-wise before becoming an author? I’m a Certified Land Use Planner, and in that capacity I worked for a city managing real estate development projects.
What helps inspire you when you write? Do you have any ‘rituals’ (like music, candles, and a favorite scent) that helps you find your writing zone?
The thing that keeps me pecking at the keyboard is a deadline hovering over me like a vulture just waiting to pick my bones. Yew! Way too graphic.
What do you want to know about the future? This one is personal and very micro - when will I be able to sell my house? We’re in a real estate crisis, you know!
Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
I could do that blindfolded.
If so, which do you prefer?
Coke
Have you ever made a crank phone call?
Haven’t we all? Don’t you remember the “is your refrigerator running” gag?
Who's you're personal hero--past or present?
As a group, I have to say our Founding Fathers. They had the courage of their convictions and they put their names on a document that would ensure the loss of their freedom and fortune if they ended up on the losing side. In my mind that takes incredible guts!
What is your dream car? That one’s easy – a black Porsche 911 Carrera.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
The Holy Lands. When I was kid (as a Southern Baptist) I was convinced the Holy Lands were at least the size of Siberia. I mean really, how could folks get lost for 40 years is a place that was no bigger than a medium sized Texas county? What’s wrong with asking directions?
If you were locked in a closet for one hour who would you want in there with you? A locksmith or a professional burglar – anyone who pick the darned thing.
If you were stranded on a deserted Island what kind of hero would you want with you--A Cowboy, a Viking Warrior, a CEO, a Forensics investigator, a Chef or an Accountant…and why?
I would actually prefer a survival specialist (did I mention that my husband was the Director of Operations for the Air Force Survival Schools? He’s even spent the night in a igloo he built) but since that wasn’t one of the options I think I’d go for a cowboy. At least he’d know how to build a fire and roast some little critters.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Don’t let this happen to you!
Last week, it happened. My Mac Cube up and died. There were no signs until instead of booting up, the little question mark flashed at me. I rebooted, with the same scary results. The kind techies at the Apple Store (who oohed and aahed over the Cube and that fact that I used it relentlessly for NINE years) tried to resurrect the hard drive. No luck. Disaster!
Luckily, I backed up a lot of stuff on my laptop–through October, 2008. No photos though, and none of the recipes I collect. My flash drive had my current wip on it—up to the day before the meltdown, when for some reason, I failed to back up. I lost some edits, but one day’s edits isn’t so bad. (Though I swear, they were the best edits ever!)
Using my 2008 income/expense spreadsheet from my laptop, I easily recreated the 2009 version. Same with my email and address book. Still lost a bunch of stuff, though, including e-fan mail and the neat online reviews and promo stuff I saved.
I know better!
On the positive side, I bought a brand new iMac. Macs no longer come fully loaded with Microsoft Office, so I purchased that and a faster, sleeker printer. All that, yet the combined cost was $1300 LESS than what I paid for the Cube and printer in 2000. Pretty cool. And my new 20-inch screen is heaven! Also, this computer is much, much faster. All to the good.
In the near future, I’ll be buying a portable hard drive. They’re tiny (about the size of my hand) and worth the cost.
Don’t do what I did–back up everything at least weekly! You'll be so glad you did.
Until later and wishing you a healthy computer and a good backup system,
Ann
www.annroth.net
Ooh, Baby!
March RT Top Pick!
Luckily, I backed up a lot of stuff on my laptop–through October, 2008. No photos though, and none of the recipes I collect. My flash drive had my current wip on it—up to the day before the meltdown, when for some reason, I failed to back up. I lost some edits, but one day’s edits isn’t so bad. (Though I swear, they were the best edits ever!)
Using my 2008 income/expense spreadsheet from my laptop, I easily recreated the 2009 version. Same with my email and address book. Still lost a bunch of stuff, though, including e-fan mail and the neat online reviews and promo stuff I saved.
I know better!
On the positive side, I bought a brand new iMac. Macs no longer come fully loaded with Microsoft Office, so I purchased that and a faster, sleeker printer. All that, yet the combined cost was $1300 LESS than what I paid for the Cube and printer in 2000. Pretty cool. And my new 20-inch screen is heaven! Also, this computer is much, much faster. All to the good.
In the near future, I’ll be buying a portable hard drive. They’re tiny (about the size of my hand) and worth the cost.
Don’t do what I did–back up everything at least weekly! You'll be so glad you did.
Until later and wishing you a healthy computer and a good backup system,
Ann
www.annroth.net
Ooh, Baby!
March RT Top Pick!
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
The best of times, the worst of times...
I’m deep into the middle of revisions on the manuscript scheduled to become my third Harlequin American Romance. As many authors will no doubt tell you, this is both the best of times and the worst of times.
Best because we’ve got the story down on paper, the twists and turns plotted, the setting chosen, the characters brought to life.
Worst because now we have to “make it better.” To quote the members of one of my early critique groups, we must “take it home and fix it.”
This is when the struggle really begins!
We need to rewrite the book well enough to appease our internal critic/angel/mentor/mischievous child or whatever we may call the part of our subconscious that won’t allow us to rest until we’ve “fixed” everything in sight--and then some.
We need to please our editors, whose keen eyes, long memories, and years of experience make them our toughest critics and our greatest allies.
Most of all, we need to craft a story that will satisfy our loyal readers, who show their appreciation of our earlier works through cards and letters and e-mails and postings to message boards, as well as by spreading the word about our books to all their friends.
You see why I’m living the best of times and the worst of times, all wrapped into one? The pressure’s on! (smile)
Now you know what I’m going through, if you have any urge at all to send good thoughts my way, please do--I’m ready and eager to read them!
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Best because we’ve got the story down on paper, the twists and turns plotted, the setting chosen, the characters brought to life.
Worst because now we have to “make it better.” To quote the members of one of my early critique groups, we must “take it home and fix it.”
This is when the struggle really begins!
We need to rewrite the book well enough to appease our internal critic/angel/mentor/mischievous child or whatever we may call the part of our subconscious that won’t allow us to rest until we’ve “fixed” everything in sight--and then some.
We need to please our editors, whose keen eyes, long memories, and years of experience make them our toughest critics and our greatest allies.
Most of all, we need to craft a story that will satisfy our loyal readers, who show their appreciation of our earlier works through cards and letters and e-mails and postings to message boards, as well as by spreading the word about our books to all their friends.
You see why I’m living the best of times and the worst of times, all wrapped into one? The pressure’s on! (smile)
Now you know what I’m going through, if you have any urge at all to send good thoughts my way, please do--I’m ready and eager to read them!
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The Driver's Test
On Thursday, my daughter will turn sixteen. I’m letting her sleep in a little late, will take her out for pancakes, and then we'll make the thirty minute drive to the driver’s license bureau.
After she takes her driver’s test, I’ll shuttle her to school. From that point on, I have a feeling the rest of the day will either be all smiles and happiness, or filled with tears and angst.
Yes, the stress of the upcoming test has overshadowed everything else. I think she’s in good company.
Do you remember when you took your driver's test? I sure do. It was my dad's job to take us to the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was a busy guy, and I remember standing in line next to him in his suit, a bundle of nerves.
We waited in line for what seemed like forever. My dad, who believed girls looked their best in heels and dresses, sought to lighten the mood by teasing me about the highway patrol officers. See, there were four patrol officers there, two men and two women. One of the female officers never smiled at anyone. She was at least six feet tall. Blond and brawny. Tough. She looked exactly like the type of person you'd want to come to your rescue if you were getting mugged.
To my sixteen-year-old eyes, she looked like exactly the wrong person to sit next to when attempting to parallel park. My dad-never one to be accused of being politically correct-called her Ms. Big.
Finally, after standing in line for over an hour, my turn came up. I was directed to walk to my car, and to wait for the officer there. My dad walked me to my spot. Gave me a hug and wished me good luck. And then he looked at the officer and grimaced.
Yep, you guessed it. There was Ms. Big with a clipboard in her hands and a giant scowl on her face. I thought I was going to throw up.
We got in. I put on my seat belt. "Insurance?"
"Pardon me?"
She glared. "Insurance?"
That's when my throat went dry. I pointed to my dad, who was standing on the sidewalk in front of us, kind of giving me a thumb's up. "My dad has it."
That was the wrong answer. Ms. Big frowned. "It's supposed to be in here. With you."
And that's when she wrote me a ticket.
I am the only person I know who somehow managed to get ticketed during a driver's exam. After she signed the ticket with flair, she rolled down her window, signalled my dad over, and barked at him to hand over the insurance card.
Until that moment, I had never seen anybody order my dad around! To my shock, he pulled out his wallet, fished out the card, and handed it to her without a word.
Up went her window. Out went the next command. "Drive."
I did! And, somehow, I passed my driver's test. Twenty minutes later, I was walking back to my dad, holding two sheets of paper. One had my test score on it. The other was a fifty dollar ticket.
I sincerely hope my daughter's experience will be far less eventful. Or, maybe not. My dad and I laughed about that test for years. And, well, it is a pretty good story.
Anyone else recall their driver's exam?
Shelley
After she takes her driver’s test, I’ll shuttle her to school. From that point on, I have a feeling the rest of the day will either be all smiles and happiness, or filled with tears and angst.
Yes, the stress of the upcoming test has overshadowed everything else. I think she’s in good company.
Do you remember when you took your driver's test? I sure do. It was my dad's job to take us to the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was a busy guy, and I remember standing in line next to him in his suit, a bundle of nerves.
We waited in line for what seemed like forever. My dad, who believed girls looked their best in heels and dresses, sought to lighten the mood by teasing me about the highway patrol officers. See, there were four patrol officers there, two men and two women. One of the female officers never smiled at anyone. She was at least six feet tall. Blond and brawny. Tough. She looked exactly like the type of person you'd want to come to your rescue if you were getting mugged.
To my sixteen-year-old eyes, she looked like exactly the wrong person to sit next to when attempting to parallel park. My dad-never one to be accused of being politically correct-called her Ms. Big.
Finally, after standing in line for over an hour, my turn came up. I was directed to walk to my car, and to wait for the officer there. My dad walked me to my spot. Gave me a hug and wished me good luck. And then he looked at the officer and grimaced.
Yep, you guessed it. There was Ms. Big with a clipboard in her hands and a giant scowl on her face. I thought I was going to throw up.
We got in. I put on my seat belt. "Insurance?"
"Pardon me?"
She glared. "Insurance?"
That's when my throat went dry. I pointed to my dad, who was standing on the sidewalk in front of us, kind of giving me a thumb's up. "My dad has it."
That was the wrong answer. Ms. Big frowned. "It's supposed to be in here. With you."
And that's when she wrote me a ticket.
I am the only person I know who somehow managed to get ticketed during a driver's exam. After she signed the ticket with flair, she rolled down her window, signalled my dad over, and barked at him to hand over the insurance card.
Until that moment, I had never seen anybody order my dad around! To my shock, he pulled out his wallet, fished out the card, and handed it to her without a word.
Up went her window. Out went the next command. "Drive."
I did! And, somehow, I passed my driver's test. Twenty minutes later, I was walking back to my dad, holding two sheets of paper. One had my test score on it. The other was a fifty dollar ticket.
I sincerely hope my daughter's experience will be far less eventful. Or, maybe not. My dad and I laughed about that test for years. And, well, it is a pretty good story.
Anyone else recall their driver's exam?
Shelley
Monday, February 02, 2009
JANUARY WINNER!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS Joey Hill! You’re the January winner. To receive your free autographed books please contact Jackie Diamond, Shelley Galloway and Lisa Ruff through their Web sites.
To enter the contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Simple and painless. And FREE BOOKS.
So check back often and be sure to leave a comment. Good luck!
To enter the contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Simple and painless. And FREE BOOKS.
So check back often and be sure to leave a comment. Good luck!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Go on ... lie to me
Some TV shows make me feel downright inadequate.
I don’t mean the ones with gorgeous young women whose professionally made-up faces and toned bodies set standards hardly anyone can match. Having written about TV and theater for The Associate Press in LA, I’ve seen how quickly the latest hottie can fade, and how life deals blows even to those who appear to live charmed lives.
They have my best wishes, not my envy. After all, I’ve been happily married for 30 years and have two great sons and an interesting career. That’s as much as anyone could ask.
No, it’s the whole Sherlock Holmes business that’s got me down. You know what I mean – the crime solvers with an almost magical gift for detection.
CSI isn't my problem. Those detectives have crime labs and gizmos aplenty. No one expects an ordinary person to match that.
But take the CBS series The Mentalist, whose protagonist draws brilliant conclusions from obscure evidence just like Sherlock used to do. As someone who’s written murder mysteries with twists on top of twists (as you’ll know if you’ve read my Harlequin Intrigues The Stolen Bride or And the Bride Vanishes), I feel as if I ought to be able to match Patrick Jane at least partway. But still the show fools me. (Well, sometimes.)
Things have gotten even worse with the new series Lie to Me on TNT. I don’t mean that it’s a bad series; quite the contrary. I’ve enjoyed the episodes so far. The thing is, the hero “reads” people. He knows whether they’re lying and dopes out complex and unexpected truths.
I’ve always had a knack for picking up emotions. At a social event, I can often tell from body language who’s been quarreling, who’s consumed by worry and who’s nursing a grudge. When someone tries to manipulate me, such as a salesman or a religious zealot, his tone of voice chafes my nerves. I can’t even hear what he’s saying, because his true intent rings so loud.
But this can’t-lie-to-me guy has it all down to a science. A character makes a statement, then folds his arms and steps back, and the hero points out that the fellow’s literally retreating from his position as if he doesn’t believe his own words. To reinforce the point, we’re shown newsreel footage of former President Nixon declaring “I am not a crook,” and then, yes, taking a step back and folding his arms. Right on target.
Yes, I knew (thanks to a seminar at a Romance Writers of America convention) that law-enforcement folks get trained to recognize certain telltale gestures and expressions, but I always figured I was a natural. Well, guess what? I may be a natural, but I’m not that good.
Still, it’s fun to enjoy TV’s fictional worlds in which heroes and heroines, with the help of scriptwriters, solve all the puzzles. I guess being a writer trumps being a detective, at least when it comes to sniffing out a happy ending.
I don’t mean the ones with gorgeous young women whose professionally made-up faces and toned bodies set standards hardly anyone can match. Having written about TV and theater for The Associate Press in LA, I’ve seen how quickly the latest hottie can fade, and how life deals blows even to those who appear to live charmed lives.
They have my best wishes, not my envy. After all, I’ve been happily married for 30 years and have two great sons and an interesting career. That’s as much as anyone could ask.
No, it’s the whole Sherlock Holmes business that’s got me down. You know what I mean – the crime solvers with an almost magical gift for detection.
CSI isn't my problem. Those detectives have crime labs and gizmos aplenty. No one expects an ordinary person to match that.
But take the CBS series The Mentalist, whose protagonist draws brilliant conclusions from obscure evidence just like Sherlock used to do. As someone who’s written murder mysteries with twists on top of twists (as you’ll know if you’ve read my Harlequin Intrigues The Stolen Bride or And the Bride Vanishes), I feel as if I ought to be able to match Patrick Jane at least partway. But still the show fools me. (Well, sometimes.)
Things have gotten even worse with the new series Lie to Me on TNT. I don’t mean that it’s a bad series; quite the contrary. I’ve enjoyed the episodes so far. The thing is, the hero “reads” people. He knows whether they’re lying and dopes out complex and unexpected truths.
I’ve always had a knack for picking up emotions. At a social event, I can often tell from body language who’s been quarreling, who’s consumed by worry and who’s nursing a grudge. When someone tries to manipulate me, such as a salesman or a religious zealot, his tone of voice chafes my nerves. I can’t even hear what he’s saying, because his true intent rings so loud.
But this can’t-lie-to-me guy has it all down to a science. A character makes a statement, then folds his arms and steps back, and the hero points out that the fellow’s literally retreating from his position as if he doesn’t believe his own words. To reinforce the point, we’re shown newsreel footage of former President Nixon declaring “I am not a crook,” and then, yes, taking a step back and folding his arms. Right on target.
Yes, I knew (thanks to a seminar at a Romance Writers of America convention) that law-enforcement folks get trained to recognize certain telltale gestures and expressions, but I always figured I was a natural. Well, guess what? I may be a natural, but I’m not that good.
Still, it’s fun to enjoy TV’s fictional worlds in which heroes and heroines, with the help of scriptwriters, solve all the puzzles. I guess being a writer trumps being a detective, at least when it comes to sniffing out a happy ending.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Ready for Spring
I'm one of those people who hates the dark days and gray colors of winter. As I write this on the 28th, two days before my blog will post, my yard is covered in six inches of white snow and the sun is shining. So everything is bright. I'm waiting for my neighbor to come take his tractor and dig me out--but he's going right on by. (His wife will remind him.) Until then, my yard is pristine and smooth, marring one set of deer tracks. I'd show you a picture, but all my cameras are at work--which is closed. There's no way I can dig out this driveway. I've done it before and didn't love any of it.
I live in the country on five acres, which I love. I'm surrounded by an 11 acre horse farm, and 26 acres of land that no one uses and really can't be developed. So at most I might see one more house. The only time life out here is trying and somewhat annoying is during the winter, but no one expects to go anywhere so it's usually okay. So far we've been off for 2 snow days, and my district where I teaach has used a total of four. The school district I live in has been off for 5.
While I get tired of drab winter pretty quickly, I like Missouri. For the most part we have all four seasons, although we can have them all in one week, and some years it seems like we skip spring. Hopefully this March I'll be back at work on my current project--clearing out the brush and extra trees that block my view of the pond. When I moved in you couldn't see anything at all, just a sliver. Now this is the view once you get to the edge of the grass part of my backyard. This project is going on about three years now, depending on extra $$, time, that sort of thing.
Lastly, since I'm sharing photos, my feral outdoor cat, who adopted us and who we've called Doofy, is finally out of his igloo and braving the snow. He's spent the last two days battened down. He's my sweetheart, although he wasn't happy to spend two nights in my garage when it got to -17 one night. But I want him around for another year.
I live in the country on five acres, which I love. I'm surrounded by an 11 acre horse farm, and 26 acres of land that no one uses and really can't be developed. So at most I might see one more house. The only time life out here is trying and somewhat annoying is during the winter, but no one expects to go anywhere so it's usually okay. So far we've been off for 2 snow days, and my district where I teaach has used a total of four. The school district I live in has been off for 5.
While I get tired of drab winter pretty quickly, I like Missouri. For the most part we have all four seasons, although we can have them all in one week, and some years it seems like we skip spring. Hopefully this March I'll be back at work on my current project--clearing out the brush and extra trees that block my view of the pond. When I moved in you couldn't see anything at all, just a sliver. Now this is the view once you get to the edge of the grass part of my backyard. This project is going on about three years now, depending on extra $$, time, that sort of thing.
Lastly, since I'm sharing photos, my feral outdoor cat, who adopted us and who we've called Doofy, is finally out of his igloo and braving the snow. He's spent the last two days battened down. He's my sweetheart, although he wasn't happy to spend two nights in my garage when it got to -17 one night. But I want him around for another year.
Everyone have a great end to January, and be safe and warm.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Through a Visitor's Eyes
About three years ago, my stepson decided to move to Australia. Strange decision, coming from a kid who previously couldn't move himself far enough to attend college classes. Turns out there was a girl involved. He met her on the Internet.
Could have ended in disaster. But instead, Nick and Dani fell in love. He lives with her and her grandmother in an Adelaide suburb. She's a zoology grad student and he's in college (actually attending this time) studying psychology. They are both on summer break from school and have come to America to visit for a few weeks.
It's Dani's first trip to America, and it's been a great deal of fun to experience our country through a visitor's eyes. Of course, being curious types, my husband and I pepper the poor girl for her impressions.
Several things stand out in her mind. The terrible traffic and the huge, multi-lane freeways are alien to her. Super Walmarts and gigantic shopping malls are overwhelming. Then there's the weather. Since she hit Texas, she's been hit with temperatures ranging from the 20s to the 80s. She's had snow, sleet, ice and hail, rain and wind and heat.
Despite all that, she likes it here, or at least she says she does! But the thing that has made the biggest impression on her?
Squirrels.
No squirrels in Australia. She finds it freaky-cool that they're everywhere, in the yard and on the roof and running in the streets, and that you can get so close to them. She thinks they're very cute. (Clearly she's never experienced them chewing holes in her house or emptying her bird feeders!)
In a couple of weeks, Nick and Dani are headed for California and Disneyland, the quintessential American tourist experience. I imagine squirrels will fade into the background then.
Could have ended in disaster. But instead, Nick and Dani fell in love. He lives with her and her grandmother in an Adelaide suburb. She's a zoology grad student and he's in college (actually attending this time) studying psychology. They are both on summer break from school and have come to America to visit for a few weeks.
It's Dani's first trip to America, and it's been a great deal of fun to experience our country through a visitor's eyes. Of course, being curious types, my husband and I pepper the poor girl for her impressions.
Several things stand out in her mind. The terrible traffic and the huge, multi-lane freeways are alien to her. Super Walmarts and gigantic shopping malls are overwhelming. Then there's the weather. Since she hit Texas, she's been hit with temperatures ranging from the 20s to the 80s. She's had snow, sleet, ice and hail, rain and wind and heat.
Despite all that, she likes it here, or at least she says she does! But the thing that has made the biggest impression on her?
Squirrels.
No squirrels in Australia. She finds it freaky-cool that they're everywhere, in the yard and on the roof and running in the streets, and that you can get so close to them. She thinks they're very cute. (Clearly she's never experienced them chewing holes in her house or emptying her bird feeders!)
In a couple of weeks, Nick and Dani are headed for California and Disneyland, the quintessential American tourist experience. I imagine squirrels will fade into the background then.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Viewpoint and Perspective
If reading and writing books are among my top two pasttimes, a close third would probably be talking about books (and how to write them) with others. I had great fun last Saturday teaching a workshop about Point of View and how important POV is in a story. I want, as an author, to really bring my character's perspective to life, to help the reader relate to what that character is going through, why that character is behaving a certain way, and to more fully bring that character's world into three dimensional life for the audience.
And the fact of the matter is, learning to see things through another person's perspective is a great skill to have in life, not just in building my stories. I am reminded of my mother-in-law and The Soup.
My husband grew up in a very small town (no bookstores, the horrors!) in an insular family. They've all stayed pretty close to home. Except then he married me and not only did we move several states away, we don't even live in the same time zone! Not long after we married, his parents drove to see us and I was nervous. My husband and I come from very different cultural backgrounds and I wasn't sure what my in-laws would think of their daughter-in-law, the Aspiring Romance Author. The day we expected them to arrive, I spent hours slaving over a meal I hoped would impress them. I wanted them to know I was trying to take loving care of my new husband.
When my father in law knocked on our door, my M-i-L stood behind him with a vat of homemade soup (she not only makes her own stock, she makes her own noodles) that she had transported cross country. It was her son's favorite she explained and she'd brought it just for him, so we could warm it up for dinner. My husband asked if we couldn't accomodate her and reheat my efforts the next night, and I felt crushed.
In fact, I may have--deep down, you understand--harbored the tiniest smidge of resentment when, every visit afterward, she brought along homemade noodles and told me just to let her know which night we wanted to have soup for dinner. Well, less resentment and more relief two years ago, when they visited us in the dead of winter and I caught a bad cold and the sheer volume of peppercorns she adds to that soup gave me the only five minutes of clear breathing I had all day! I decided then I could learn to love the soup, which has always been a family tradition for them and now, a gentle source of amusement between us.
This fall, I watched my little boy walk into public school for the first time--it looks so BIG and he looks so TINY among the much taller third, fourth and fifth graders. And I suddenly had a clearer perspective on what it's like, as a mother, to let go of a son--whether it's watching him start school or the much more daunting task of seeing him marry and move away.
It's cold and rainy today, the kind of weather that makes one feel introspective and melancholoy, and to tell you the truth, I could really use a steaming bowl of that lovingly made soup.
And the fact of the matter is, learning to see things through another person's perspective is a great skill to have in life, not just in building my stories. I am reminded of my mother-in-law and The Soup.
My husband grew up in a very small town (no bookstores, the horrors!) in an insular family. They've all stayed pretty close to home. Except then he married me and not only did we move several states away, we don't even live in the same time zone! Not long after we married, his parents drove to see us and I was nervous. My husband and I come from very different cultural backgrounds and I wasn't sure what my in-laws would think of their daughter-in-law, the Aspiring Romance Author. The day we expected them to arrive, I spent hours slaving over a meal I hoped would impress them. I wanted them to know I was trying to take loving care of my new husband.
When my father in law knocked on our door, my M-i-L stood behind him with a vat of homemade soup (she not only makes her own stock, she makes her own noodles) that she had transported cross country. It was her son's favorite she explained and she'd brought it just for him, so we could warm it up for dinner. My husband asked if we couldn't accomodate her and reheat my efforts the next night, and I felt crushed.
In fact, I may have--deep down, you understand--harbored the tiniest smidge of resentment when, every visit afterward, she brought along homemade noodles and told me just to let her know which night we wanted to have soup for dinner. Well, less resentment and more relief two years ago, when they visited us in the dead of winter and I caught a bad cold and the sheer volume of peppercorns she adds to that soup gave me the only five minutes of clear breathing I had all day! I decided then I could learn to love the soup, which has always been a family tradition for them and now, a gentle source of amusement between us.
This fall, I watched my little boy walk into public school for the first time--it looks so BIG and he looks so TINY among the much taller third, fourth and fifth graders. And I suddenly had a clearer perspective on what it's like, as a mother, to let go of a son--whether it's watching him start school or the much more daunting task of seeing him marry and move away.
It's cold and rainy today, the kind of weather that makes one feel introspective and melancholoy, and to tell you the truth, I could really use a steaming bowl of that lovingly made soup.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Author Interview with Judy Christenberry
Please welcome one of Harlequin American's most popular authors Judy Christenberry. Along with writing several best-selling series for the American Romance line Judy also pens cowboy stories for Harlequin Romance.
How long have you been published?
Twenty years as of 2008
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Write. That’s the most important thing. You may not like what you write, but that’s the building blocks to everything. Your couple can’t have a happy ending if you don’t get to the end.
What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
I don’t eat strange things! Nothing that swims, and I don’t write about vegetarians or other eating habits I don’t understand.
What comes first: the plot or the characters?
I don’t do characters sketches for my hero and heroine. Once I establish them, I try to stay consistent.
Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?
No, I’ve always had deadlines and I never had time for writer’s block. Usually, if I know where the book is going, I can keep on writing.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I loved reading Zane Gray, but I was always frustrated about the romance. Now I write about cowboys who have a believable romance. Georgette Heyer was a big influence on my regency romances, and Nora Roberts, because her characters always come to life for me.
Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
Always
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I write about a chapter a day, which is sixteen pages. I usually write four days a week, although sometimes more if I need to. Since I write for two lines, Harlequin American Romance and Harlequin Romance, sometimes the deadlines can be very close together.
How many books have you written?
85 for Harlequin, and 10 for other publishers
Which is your favorite?
The Lemon Cake, my first Regency romance for Harlequin. When the editor said she only wanted me to change two things – a description of an aunt and one other minor detail – I was thrilled. It was a difficult book to write but easy to get to print.
What did you do career-wise before becoming an author?
I taught high school French for twelve years in Highland Park, Texas, and before that I taught eight years in middle school.
How has the American Romance line changed since you first began writing for it?
The first thing I learned when I sold to American was that good heroines don’t cry very often. Unlike real people, they can’t be emotional watering buckets. When my editor told me she wanted humor, I was relieved. I could write humorous scenes that people could really enjoy reading. After I wrote my first Randall book, my editor told me that although she didn’t like cowboys very much, they really sold well, so that’s what she wanted me to write.
Who's you're personal hero--past or present?
Many of my books are based on my late father. Not only did he have great integrity, but he was an outdoorsman and a firefighter. He was raised on a farm in East Texas.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
I’d love to go back to Wyoming. The only time I went there I visited the small town I based my Christmas book on. The actual town was very different, much more rural and smaller than I’d imagined. Now I make up all my towns.
If you were locked in a closet for one hour who would you want in there with you
Someone with a flashlight, so I could read!
If you were stranded on a deserted Island what kind of hero would you want with you--A Cowboy, a Viking Warrior, a CEO, a Forensics investigator, a Chef or an Accountant?
A cowboy, of course!
Judy
www.judychristenberry.com
How long have you been published?
Twenty years as of 2008
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Write. That’s the most important thing. You may not like what you write, but that’s the building blocks to everything. Your couple can’t have a happy ending if you don’t get to the end.
What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
I don’t eat strange things! Nothing that swims, and I don’t write about vegetarians or other eating habits I don’t understand.
What comes first: the plot or the characters?
I don’t do characters sketches for my hero and heroine. Once I establish them, I try to stay consistent.
Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?
No, I’ve always had deadlines and I never had time for writer’s block. Usually, if I know where the book is going, I can keep on writing.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I loved reading Zane Gray, but I was always frustrated about the romance. Now I write about cowboys who have a believable romance. Georgette Heyer was a big influence on my regency romances, and Nora Roberts, because her characters always come to life for me.
Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
Always
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I write about a chapter a day, which is sixteen pages. I usually write four days a week, although sometimes more if I need to. Since I write for two lines, Harlequin American Romance and Harlequin Romance, sometimes the deadlines can be very close together.
How many books have you written?
85 for Harlequin, and 10 for other publishers
Which is your favorite?
The Lemon Cake, my first Regency romance for Harlequin. When the editor said she only wanted me to change two things – a description of an aunt and one other minor detail – I was thrilled. It was a difficult book to write but easy to get to print.
What did you do career-wise before becoming an author?
I taught high school French for twelve years in Highland Park, Texas, and before that I taught eight years in middle school.
How has the American Romance line changed since you first began writing for it?
The first thing I learned when I sold to American was that good heroines don’t cry very often. Unlike real people, they can’t be emotional watering buckets. When my editor told me she wanted humor, I was relieved. I could write humorous scenes that people could really enjoy reading. After I wrote my first Randall book, my editor told me that although she didn’t like cowboys very much, they really sold well, so that’s what she wanted me to write.
Who's you're personal hero--past or present?
Many of my books are based on my late father. Not only did he have great integrity, but he was an outdoorsman and a firefighter. He was raised on a farm in East Texas.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
I’d love to go back to Wyoming. The only time I went there I visited the small town I based my Christmas book on. The actual town was very different, much more rural and smaller than I’d imagined. Now I make up all my towns.
If you were locked in a closet for one hour who would you want in there with you
Someone with a flashlight, so I could read!
If you were stranded on a deserted Island what kind of hero would you want with you--A Cowboy, a Viking Warrior, a CEO, a Forensics investigator, a Chef or an Accountant?
A cowboy, of course!
Judy
www.judychristenberry.com
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