(Apologies in advance for the ramble...)
The other day, a friend commented on Facebook, "Soooooo many things to do, soooooooooooooo little time."
I replied, "Been there, pretty much live there."
Except there's no 'pretty much' about it. I hate being busy, but am never NOT busy, even after I finish something and think now I'll have more time. Donna had mentioned to me about wanting go do something together, but she didn't want to bother me because she knows I'm busy. I said, "I'm always going to be busy, so ask anyway."
The past couple weeks, I've been working on my laptop to finish a book because my desktop kept freezing up on me. It's 7 years old (maybe older?), and I was going to take it in for a check-up, but hubby said to just get a new one. Color me shocked! But for the first time, I'm not so excited to go get myself a new electronic gadget...I've been putting it off because that means I have to make time to go shop for a new computer, then spend time setting it up, and getting all my info transferred to it. Yuck to all 3!
On top of that, my laptop (which is just supposed to be for writing on when we go up north) doesn't have everything that I need for doing all the business things I need to do, so I've been procrastinating on a bunch of things. Which makes me more busy. Busier. Whatever.
Ha--instead of Joy, my middle name should be Busy.
Well, after all that whining, on the plus side, I get to cross one thing off my "list"--I finished my sequel to Lost in Italy this past weekend!! Book 2 of the Italy Intrigue Series, RUN TO ROME, will be sent to my editor later today and I can maybe focus on a few of the other things I've been neglecting.
Few.
Ha Ha Ha. LOL. She's such a comedian.
And oh, yeah...first item on the list...write the darn LIST so I know what I'm doing!
Have a great day everyone. I'll be busy.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Yikes! A Reading Slump (Jamie)
I can't believe this has happened to me, but it seems I have fallen into a reading slump. I haven't been absolutely in love with any of the books I've read in the last several weeks. This is very unusual for me. I tend to fall in love with the characters and settings in books rather easily. The really odd part of this is that I've been trying to read the latest book by one of my must buy authors and I just can't get engaged in this story. I've really been trying, but I haven't been able to finish this book. I have some friends on Goodreads that have very similar reading tastes to mine, and they have all loved this book. It makes me wonder if it's possible I have finally overdosed on reading romance. As I've been struggling my way through this book, I've even tried something I rarely do - reading another book at the same time, but reading at least one chapter of the first book before I can continue reading on the second. This has worked successfully for me in the past, but even that hasn't done the trick this time around. I got through my second book without making much progress on the original read, and have even started reading another "back-up". That book is going slow for me, too.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
What person do you prefer by Delia
I love reading and writing in first person point of view. In case you get POV's mixed up, first person uses a narrators point of view and the words "I" and "me" are used, making a story sound autobiographical. It tends to look something like this:
"Wait, just a gol durned minute," I hollered. I ran after Cletus, catching him in a flying tackle and getting a mouthful of dirt in the process. I blinked the red Georgia dirt out of my eyes and got a grip on his forearm, twisting it behind his back. A warm glow built in my heart when I heard his grunt of pain.
I like to pretend I'm the character I'm reading about and when something's written in first person, it's much easier to do this, even more so when I'm writing. My book, Not Looking For Trouble is written in first person, and when I was writing it, I WAS Susan Kent. It was much easier for me to feel what she was feeling when I referred to her as "I" and "me". Susan and I are Siamese twins.
Second person point of view isn't very commonly used. In second person POV, you hear words like "you", "your" and "yours". I've never written anything in it and I'm willing to bet most other writers haven't either. Offhand, the only thing I can think of that uses second person POV are choose your own adventure books. Second person sounds like this:
The doorknob is hot in your hand, telling you instantly that the fire has indeed spread to the second floor. Your heart is pounding in your chest, you have to make a quick decision. Do you open the door and risk burning to death? Or, do you follow the advice of Sparky the fire dog and look for an alternate route? The problem was, Sparky never told you what to do when you were stuck in a closet.
Last, but the complete opposite of least, is third person. Most fiction books you read are in third person point of view. You hear the words "he", "she" and "it" a lot in third person. An uninvolved, unspecified narator is telling a story to the reader, either subjectively or omnisciently. A subjective narrative means that the narrator only can see and describe things from one characters point of view, they can only tell you of one persons experiences, pain and happiness. Omniscient means that the narrator can jump into many different characters heads, they can tell you how multiple characters are feeling and reacting at different points in the story.
Both of my books, It Takes Moxie and Eye of the Beholder are told in subjective third person. Once again, I find it easier to stay in one characters head, preferring the mystery of other people's feelings to knowing everything. Third person sounds like this:
"Wouldn't you know it," Iggie complained, "as soon as I find a decent-looking outfit for the wedding, I get attacked by a werewolf and it gets all bloody."
How about you? What point of view do you prefer to read?
"Wait, just a gol durned minute," I hollered. I ran after Cletus, catching him in a flying tackle and getting a mouthful of dirt in the process. I blinked the red Georgia dirt out of my eyes and got a grip on his forearm, twisting it behind his back. A warm glow built in my heart when I heard his grunt of pain.
I like to pretend I'm the character I'm reading about and when something's written in first person, it's much easier to do this, even more so when I'm writing. My book, Not Looking For Trouble is written in first person, and when I was writing it, I WAS Susan Kent. It was much easier for me to feel what she was feeling when I referred to her as "I" and "me". Susan and I are Siamese twins.
Second person point of view isn't very commonly used. In second person POV, you hear words like "you", "your" and "yours". I've never written anything in it and I'm willing to bet most other writers haven't either. Offhand, the only thing I can think of that uses second person POV are choose your own adventure books. Second person sounds like this:
The doorknob is hot in your hand, telling you instantly that the fire has indeed spread to the second floor. Your heart is pounding in your chest, you have to make a quick decision. Do you open the door and risk burning to death? Or, do you follow the advice of Sparky the fire dog and look for an alternate route? The problem was, Sparky never told you what to do when you were stuck in a closet.
Last, but the complete opposite of least, is third person. Most fiction books you read are in third person point of view. You hear the words "he", "she" and "it" a lot in third person. An uninvolved, unspecified narator is telling a story to the reader, either subjectively or omnisciently. A subjective narrative means that the narrator only can see and describe things from one characters point of view, they can only tell you of one persons experiences, pain and happiness. Omniscient means that the narrator can jump into many different characters heads, they can tell you how multiple characters are feeling and reacting at different points in the story.
Both of my books, It Takes Moxie and Eye of the Beholder are told in subjective third person. Once again, I find it easier to stay in one characters head, preferring the mystery of other people's feelings to knowing everything. Third person sounds like this:
"Wouldn't you know it," Iggie complained, "as soon as I find a decent-looking outfit for the wedding, I get attacked by a werewolf and it gets all bloody."
How about you? What point of view do you prefer to read?
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Bonus Week Writing Prompt
April is one of the months in 2013 with an extra Tuesday, so it is time for us to stretch our creative muscles with another writing prompt.
The first line of our story is: If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.
We were allowed to change the POV from 1st person to 3rd person if we prefer.
Here are the results --
Delia
If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it. They were coming for me.
Their grey-tinged faces were expressionless as they mindlessly shuffled across the street and onto our front lawn. They were being led by a tall blond, the quarterback of our high school football team...my boyfriend, Brandon. He ignored his bangs as they fell down into his eyes and I longed to push them back like I had a million times before. He needed a haircut, but it was never going to happen. Cost Cutters didn't give haircuts to zombies. The remains of his last meal were spread down the front of his football jersey, I think it was Mr. McJohnson, our calculus teacher.
I'm still not sure how this happened, why the world as I knew it turned upside-down, but that's the way it is and I've got to accept it and deal as best as I can. I walked to the door and put my hand on the knob.
"Don't even think about it, Vanessa," Sheila yelled, knocking me away from the door with a flying tackle. "I haven't done a very good job keeping you safe, but that ends now! You're getting out of here over my dead body."
I looked at my sister, remembering that in all the years we'd shared a room, she'd never made her bed, or the time she took my cellphone and sent nasty texts to all my friends, how she ratted me out when I got in late last Saturday night and when she put Nair in my shampoo bottle. Then I reached over and ate her face.
I shuffled over, opened the door and joined the rest of my 2nd period history class. Brandon took my hand in his and we went next door to have the neighbors for lunch. Sheila should know that nothing can stop two zombies when they truly love each other.
Stacey
If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it. One second she was standing there and the next a house dropped from the sky. The impact of the thundering crash knocked me to the ground, but as quiet settled, I rushed to my door, nearly tripping over my feet. I peeked out to see my neighbors doing the same. I couldn't quite grasp what had just happened until I stepped outside with the others and crept closer to this mysterious house. Protruding from beneath the foundation was a pair of motionless legs, their feet encased in those sparkling red slippers. Shocked gasps echoed around me but elation made my heart soar. Ding dong! The wicked witch is dead!
Donna
If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.
Mr. Bolger, my next door neighbor, was a drag queen! I watched him prance back and forth in his living room as he sang and danced to some song I couldn't hear, his sparkly painted face animated, one arm reaching gracefully for the sky as he belted out his tune.
He wore a silver sequined mini dress, and wowsa...what legs the guy had! They went on for days. His feet were encased in matching silver, six-inch spike heels, and I felt a rush of jealousy over how easily he strutted across the floor in those things. I struggled in a pair of three-inch wedges, for cripe's sake.
He tossed his head back as he finished the song, and I watched in fascination as he smiled and took a bow, as if performing for a captive audience. When he straightened, my heart leapt to my throat--he was looking directly at me! My pulse sped out of control as I stood staring, frozen in place as if by physical force. His eyes mirrored my own, growing big as silver dollars.
Suddenly, he rushed forward and snapped his drapes shut. Holy crap, I thought, stumbling backward until my legs hit the bed. How am I supposed to face him today when I hand in my homework? Mr. Bolger is my history teacher!
Jamie
If Andi hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with her own eyes, she never would have believed it. Angel, her black lab, was sneaking across her neighbor's yard in broad daylight like a poorly trained ninja, headed toward the open kitchen window and the freshly baked pie cooling on the sill.
Andi hadn't met the new guy next door, but judging by the display of baked goods, Mrs. Donnelly had. Men and women alike fell in love with the sweet eighty-two year old lady after just one whiff of her culinary creations.
Before Andi could distract Angel from trouble, the dog jumped up against the side of the house and nabbed the edge of the pie plate with her teeth. "Oh, crackerjack," Andi muttered. Her pup buried her muzzle into the thick apple filling and happily grunted her way through the unexpected treat.
While Andi debated the best way to retrieve her wayward pet and make restitution for the pilfered pie, a grumpy face glared out the now empty window at the scene. This didn't seem like the best time to welcome him to the neighborhood.
Well, that takes care of our contributions. So, how about you? Anybody feeling creative this week and want to give it a try? Have fun!
The first line of our story is: If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.
We were allowed to change the POV from 1st person to 3rd person if we prefer.
Here are the results --
Delia
If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it. They were coming for me.
Their grey-tinged faces were expressionless as they mindlessly shuffled across the street and onto our front lawn. They were being led by a tall blond, the quarterback of our high school football team...my boyfriend, Brandon. He ignored his bangs as they fell down into his eyes and I longed to push them back like I had a million times before. He needed a haircut, but it was never going to happen. Cost Cutters didn't give haircuts to zombies. The remains of his last meal were spread down the front of his football jersey, I think it was Mr. McJohnson, our calculus teacher.
I'm still not sure how this happened, why the world as I knew it turned upside-down, but that's the way it is and I've got to accept it and deal as best as I can. I walked to the door and put my hand on the knob.
"Don't even think about it, Vanessa," Sheila yelled, knocking me away from the door with a flying tackle. "I haven't done a very good job keeping you safe, but that ends now! You're getting out of here over my dead body."
I looked at my sister, remembering that in all the years we'd shared a room, she'd never made her bed, or the time she took my cellphone and sent nasty texts to all my friends, how she ratted me out when I got in late last Saturday night and when she put Nair in my shampoo bottle. Then I reached over and ate her face.
I shuffled over, opened the door and joined the rest of my 2nd period history class. Brandon took my hand in his and we went next door to have the neighbors for lunch. Sheila should know that nothing can stop two zombies when they truly love each other.
Stacey
If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it. One second she was standing there and the next a house dropped from the sky. The impact of the thundering crash knocked me to the ground, but as quiet settled, I rushed to my door, nearly tripping over my feet. I peeked out to see my neighbors doing the same. I couldn't quite grasp what had just happened until I stepped outside with the others and crept closer to this mysterious house. Protruding from beneath the foundation was a pair of motionless legs, their feet encased in those sparkling red slippers. Shocked gasps echoed around me but elation made my heart soar. Ding dong! The wicked witch is dead!
Donna
If I hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.
Mr. Bolger, my next door neighbor, was a drag queen! I watched him prance back and forth in his living room as he sang and danced to some song I couldn't hear, his sparkly painted face animated, one arm reaching gracefully for the sky as he belted out his tune.
He wore a silver sequined mini dress, and wowsa...what legs the guy had! They went on for days. His feet were encased in matching silver, six-inch spike heels, and I felt a rush of jealousy over how easily he strutted across the floor in those things. I struggled in a pair of three-inch wedges, for cripe's sake.
He tossed his head back as he finished the song, and I watched in fascination as he smiled and took a bow, as if performing for a captive audience. When he straightened, my heart leapt to my throat--he was looking directly at me! My pulse sped out of control as I stood staring, frozen in place as if by physical force. His eyes mirrored my own, growing big as silver dollars.
Suddenly, he rushed forward and snapped his drapes shut. Holy crap, I thought, stumbling backward until my legs hit the bed. How am I supposed to face him today when I hand in my homework? Mr. Bolger is my history teacher!
Jamie
If Andi hadn't looked out the window at that exact moment and watched it happen with her own eyes, she never would have believed it. Angel, her black lab, was sneaking across her neighbor's yard in broad daylight like a poorly trained ninja, headed toward the open kitchen window and the freshly baked pie cooling on the sill.
Andi hadn't met the new guy next door, but judging by the display of baked goods, Mrs. Donnelly had. Men and women alike fell in love with the sweet eighty-two year old lady after just one whiff of her culinary creations.
Before Andi could distract Angel from trouble, the dog jumped up against the side of the house and nabbed the edge of the pie plate with her teeth. "Oh, crackerjack," Andi muttered. Her pup buried her muzzle into the thick apple filling and happily grunted her way through the unexpected treat.
While Andi debated the best way to retrieve her wayward pet and make restitution for the pilfered pie, a grumpy face glared out the now empty window at the scene. This didn't seem like the best time to welcome him to the neighborhood.
Well, that takes care of our contributions. So, how about you? Anybody feeling creative this week and want to give it a try? Have fun!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Could it be...Spring? - Donna
It seems as if everyone has been waiting forever for the arrival of Spring here in Northeast Wisconsin. Oh, the actual First Day Of Spring came and went...followed by snow, sleet, ice storms...sigh.
I had just about given up hope, but today, the last of the snow on our property melted--Hallelujah!!! I walked around the house and was thrilled to see my chives popping up (time to make a cheeseball!), as well as several of our perennial flowers finally making an appearance. It won't be long before the trees are full of leaves, the daffodils are blooming, and my husband is fighting to get our ancient tiller started.
And my puppy...well, she's a 90 lb. black lab/Shepherd mix, but she's still my little Sassypants...is as happy as a pig in...mud. *grin* She knows once the weather warms she'll be spending a lot more time outside. Not that the bunnies are very happy about that. She's already caught three this year (one managed to wiggle free and race under the porch to freedom). Since I don't want to have to find anymore half-eaten bunnies, I now hold Sassy's collar for a few seconds when I open the door, just to give the plump little buggers a fighting chance.
Sorry, I digress. What else was I going to mention? Oh, my seedlings! Because it's been unseasonably cold, my poor little tomato & pepper plants have been growing at a snail's pace (though the cabbage plants don't seem to mind the cold *shrug*). But once the sun burst through the clouds, I could practically see them doing a happy dance. I can't wait to get out there and start planting my gardens. I have big plans this year. So here's to hoping the bad weather is behind us, and there's nothing but Spring showers and May flowers ahead. :-)
If you look closely, you can see the rabbit killer skulking in the last picture, just waiting for Bugs to make an appearance.
Thanks for letting me bore you to tears with my late night ramblings!
~ Donna
I had just about given up hope, but today, the last of the snow on our property melted--Hallelujah!!! I walked around the house and was thrilled to see my chives popping up (time to make a cheeseball!), as well as several of our perennial flowers finally making an appearance. It won't be long before the trees are full of leaves, the daffodils are blooming, and my husband is fighting to get our ancient tiller started.
And my puppy...well, she's a 90 lb. black lab/Shepherd mix, but she's still my little Sassypants...is as happy as a pig in...mud. *grin* She knows once the weather warms she'll be spending a lot more time outside. Not that the bunnies are very happy about that. She's already caught three this year (one managed to wiggle free and race under the porch to freedom). Since I don't want to have to find anymore half-eaten bunnies, I now hold Sassy's collar for a few seconds when I open the door, just to give the plump little buggers a fighting chance.
Sorry, I digress. What else was I going to mention? Oh, my seedlings! Because it's been unseasonably cold, my poor little tomato & pepper plants have been growing at a snail's pace (though the cabbage plants don't seem to mind the cold *shrug*). But once the sun burst through the clouds, I could practically see them doing a happy dance. I can't wait to get out there and start planting my gardens. I have big plans this year. So here's to hoping the bad weather is behind us, and there's nothing but Spring showers and May flowers ahead. :-)
If you look closely, you can see the rabbit killer skulking in the last picture, just waiting for Bugs to make an appearance.
Thanks for letting me bore you to tears with my late night ramblings!
~ Donna
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
I Don't Understand ~ Stacey
I don't have much to say today. I'm on deadline to finish my current book, so I simply want to offer up prayers for the people in Boston who lost their lives and were injured in the senseless attacks on the innocent. I am also praying for the family members of all who lost a loved one, or are sitting at the beside of someone in the hospital due to this tragedy and others like it that are committed every day, all around our world.
I don't understand why these attacks happen, and you know, I'm not sure I want to ever truly understand the why. I don't ever want to harbor such darkness and evil in my heart that I could understand taking the lives of fellow human beings in such a cruel and cowardly way.
Someday the people who commit these atrocities against others will have to face God for what they've done, though in the moment, finding comfort in that is not always easy.
Hug your loved ones and make the best of the day before you.
I don't understand why these attacks happen, and you know, I'm not sure I want to ever truly understand the why. I don't ever want to harbor such darkness and evil in my heart that I could understand taking the lives of fellow human beings in such a cruel and cowardly way.
Someday the people who commit these atrocities against others will have to face God for what they've done, though in the moment, finding comfort in that is not always easy.
Hug your loved ones and make the best of the day before you.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Transitions - Jamie
He has been to New Orleans several times in the last few years with the youth group from our church and fell in love with the city. For his graduation gift, we did a family trip to his favorite city. I'm not real big on hot weather, so we went over spring break.
The temps were a bit on the cool side, but perfect for me. And much warmer than at home (and no snow!) We had a wonderful time exploring his favorite things about NOLA, and seeing some new things.
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| The history in the cemeteries is amazing. |
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| Wonderful museums to explore. |
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| Love the grandeur of the plantation houses. |
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| Seeing the swamps was a must. |
And the food - oh my word, the food!
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| Beignets at Cafe Du Monde |
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| Blackberry Mint Julep - to make the plantation experience complete. |
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| Calamari |
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| Po-Boy |
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| Shrimp Creole, Gumbo, Red Beans and Jumbalaya |
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| Muffelata |
It was a fantastic trip, but it made me a little sad, making me wonder if it would be the last vacation the four of us would take together. I hope not, but if it was, we all came home with memories that will last us a lifetime and will help me through the difficult transition as one of my birds leaves the nest.
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