For some odd reason I was thinking about this statement this weekend. I had a micro-mini vaction over the weekend and was able to listen to what I percieve as the most relaxing and energy giving sound nature can provide. We went to Niagara Falls to celebrate our 21st anniversary. Niagara is my most favorite spot. I love the falls! I could sit for hours just listening to the roar of the water, feeling the light spray of water tickle my face. I become energized, my mind works better, doors open in tiny little compartments that allow my creative juices to flow. Frankly, to me, there just isn't anything better, yet.
I've heard people say "What's the bid deal. It's just water falling off a cliff." Ya know what my first thought is? How sad for them. Is that all they see or feel? Next, I want to shake them, take them to the falls and make them stand at the horseshoe falls, tell them to close their eyes and just listen. Open up your mind.
See, when I sit there and listen with my eyes closed, I swear I can hear echoes of the past that these falls have witnessed. Native American Indians who lived side by side with natures gift to the world. The people who journeid to the falls to witness the original awesome power they possess, sitting with a picnic lunch and making a lazy, lovely day. The men who worked to save the falls when they began to crumble. The people who risked their lives to do the impossible and plunge over the falls in such unbelievably inadequate vessels simply so they could say they did it.
These wonderful falls have such amazing history, how could you not hear the whispers of those who came to witness them before us? I have to say in all honesty, the US side of the falls is much better than the Canadian side. The fact that we, as a nation, have made the falls into a National Park is a fact to be proud of. Don't get me wrong, I love Canada, but as you stand on the US side and look across, there really isn't anything welcoming about the falls. No nice park to wander through up the Niagara River. And, yes. They are continually working to make it better.
How someone can look at the magestic beauty of these falls and see only running water is beyond me. Have you ever heard the story of the little boy that was having a family day up the river on a boat? I don't remember the entire story but their boat capsized, the little boy floated down the river and over the falls. Luckily, the Maid of the Mist was running at that very moment. The Captian, and I wish I could remember this great man's name, took the boat as close to the falls as he could get and fished this little boy from the water. The best news, the boy lived. Can you imagine being beaten and battered floating down the river and then dropping off what must have seemed like the side of the earth.
If you don't beileive in miracles, maybe you should reconsider. No barrel to protect your body, nothing but the soaked clothes on your back to protect you. As a mother, this story makes my heart skip a beat and then sink. The helplessness of the family knowing their boy was headed for certain death and they could do nothing to stop it, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
Anyway, my point is, open your mind, think of the stories these falls have been a part of, some good, some tragic. Listen for the whispers and echoes of those people laughing with joy, screaming with fear and the simple gasps of wonder from people viewing this natural beauty for the first time. Allow the power of the falls to fill your being, energize you. Enjoy the spray of water on your face and maybe, just maybe think of this as a kiss from mother nature.
Water falling over a cliff? I don't think so, but then that's just me. Next time you see something or someone you want to dismiss as ordinary, simple or even ugly, take a moment and look again. Sometimes when you know more about people or things, their beauty shines through.
Have a good evening everyone and....
Happy Reading...........
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
So Excited!
Some of my interviews hit the world wide web today. www.examiner.com www.literarilyspeaking.net April 5 starts my month long book tour. I've been working on some guest blogs. Ugh! I've never guest blogged before so this is a whole new world to me. I'm having fun though. I guess the key is to just let yourself go and get into them.
I haven't touched the WIP all week and its really bugging me. When I let too much time pass I start questioning what I'm writing. Like now. I'm already thinking have taken the right path with this story? Is it too long? That one might a legit question. I'm already 200 hundred pages in and I haven't gotten to the best parts yet. Maybe I'll try to trim it up a bit and rewrite some scenes.
This weekend the hubby and I are finally going to celebrate our anniversary. Only a few weeks late but hey, I'll take it. This is the last weekend we'll have free until, OH GOD, the fall. Two birthdays in April, racing season starts in April which means Friday nights are GONE! Saturdays and Sundays are used to repair the damage customers inflicted on their engines. It's our life.
Okay, not much else to say tonight. Gonna cruise the web to see if my interviews show up anywhere else.
Happy Reading...
I haven't touched the WIP all week and its really bugging me. When I let too much time pass I start questioning what I'm writing. Like now. I'm already thinking have taken the right path with this story? Is it too long? That one might a legit question. I'm already 200 hundred pages in and I haven't gotten to the best parts yet. Maybe I'll try to trim it up a bit and rewrite some scenes.
This weekend the hubby and I are finally going to celebrate our anniversary. Only a few weeks late but hey, I'll take it. This is the last weekend we'll have free until, OH GOD, the fall. Two birthdays in April, racing season starts in April which means Friday nights are GONE! Saturdays and Sundays are used to repair the damage customers inflicted on their engines. It's our life.
Okay, not much else to say tonight. Gonna cruise the web to see if my interviews show up anywhere else.
Happy Reading...
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Should an author push their political views?
This question has been eating away at me for the last few days. Facebook is a wonderful tool for networking and letting your readers know whats going on with you and your publisher. But, seriously, should you push your political views on your readers? Especially if a majority of your readers are the one's you're slamming? Personally, I wouldn't do this. I like my readers. I appreciate my readers and the last thing I want to do is insult them. With all the books out there in the world readers could be purchasing, if they choose mine I will thank them, bow at their feet.
I don't know, maybe if you're a big enough author bringing in loads of money you can get away with it. Example: If you can't afford a basic health care that's your problem. I don't care if you get sick and die. In the mean time I have a new book coming out so please buy it so I can continue to live high on the hog and afford my own health insurance. Does this make sense? I for one, will no longer by buying books from certain authors, certain best selling authors.
I've held my tongue on facebook because the last thing I want to do is get into a bitching war with anyone. I simply can't understand what's happened to this country. When and how did we become a nation of self centered stuck up snobs? Here I am trying to raise my children to treat everyone equally no matter race, creed or financial situation. Am I that far out of the loop that I'm teaching antiquated ideas?
I saw on the new yesterday that a local high school held a fund raiser to help defray the medical costs of a child suffering from brain cancer. I actually pulled up my facebook page and typed. "Just saw a local high school conducting a fund raiser to help raise money for child suffering from brain cancer. Imagine the gull of these people helping a family in need. Who do they think they are? Don't they know we as Americans don't care if you can't afford care for your loved one?" I let it sit there on my page a few minutes and then deleted it.
I have to say it felt good to write it, and it would have felt a hell of lot better to send it, but that's not what I want. I can't allow myself to stoop to the levels these people stoop. It just breaks my heart and embarrasses me to have other countries hear the things that are being said about our people. No wonder we continue to lose respect in the world. If the United States doesn't care about its own people, how are they supposed to believe that we care about them?
This, I believe, will be the real downfall of our country. I wonder, do these people that hate so much treat wounded soldiers with such disrespect? Do they knock the elderly out of their way as they storm through their lives thinking only of themselves? Or maybe, just maybe, its all the result of people not taking the time to learn about what's going on for themselves and only listening to the real haters, the talking heads that make a living off being loud, obnoxious, and thrusting their hatred for others down peoples throats while they stuff their pockets with our money.
I don't have an answer for this. I can only sit back and continue to wonder where it all went wrong. When it became okay to preach assassination and brutality because not everyone believes the same way you do. Think about it. If you don't love the person I think you should love, it's okay if someone beats you to death. If you aren't the nationality that I believe you should be then its okay to kill you. If you don't make enough money to buy yourself health care than hurry up and die so I don't have to be bothered with you. God, it makes me physically ill.
So, no I won't be using my hard earned money to purchase books written by people who think so little of their fellow man. I will, however, use that money to donate to fund raisers that help people get the care they need. See, I'm just one of those stupid dopes that will give someone a few dollars in the grocery store line if they're short. I'm a person that firmly believes that if you help someone in need the good deed will come back around one day. And it has.
Well, now that I have that off my chest, on to my passion for writing fiction. I know, I think I'll write a story about a world where one human life is worth the same as another no matter what your age, status in life, income, or mental capacity. A world where no one is looked down on because they don't believe the same as another and is respected for having the capability of thinking for themselves. I do love fiction.
Have a good evening everyone. I wish you all good health, love and respect.
I don't know, maybe if you're a big enough author bringing in loads of money you can get away with it. Example: If you can't afford a basic health care that's your problem. I don't care if you get sick and die. In the mean time I have a new book coming out so please buy it so I can continue to live high on the hog and afford my own health insurance. Does this make sense? I for one, will no longer by buying books from certain authors, certain best selling authors.
I've held my tongue on facebook because the last thing I want to do is get into a bitching war with anyone. I simply can't understand what's happened to this country. When and how did we become a nation of self centered stuck up snobs? Here I am trying to raise my children to treat everyone equally no matter race, creed or financial situation. Am I that far out of the loop that I'm teaching antiquated ideas?
I saw on the new yesterday that a local high school held a fund raiser to help defray the medical costs of a child suffering from brain cancer. I actually pulled up my facebook page and typed. "Just saw a local high school conducting a fund raiser to help raise money for child suffering from brain cancer. Imagine the gull of these people helping a family in need. Who do they think they are? Don't they know we as Americans don't care if you can't afford care for your loved one?" I let it sit there on my page a few minutes and then deleted it.
I have to say it felt good to write it, and it would have felt a hell of lot better to send it, but that's not what I want. I can't allow myself to stoop to the levels these people stoop. It just breaks my heart and embarrasses me to have other countries hear the things that are being said about our people. No wonder we continue to lose respect in the world. If the United States doesn't care about its own people, how are they supposed to believe that we care about them?
This, I believe, will be the real downfall of our country. I wonder, do these people that hate so much treat wounded soldiers with such disrespect? Do they knock the elderly out of their way as they storm through their lives thinking only of themselves? Or maybe, just maybe, its all the result of people not taking the time to learn about what's going on for themselves and only listening to the real haters, the talking heads that make a living off being loud, obnoxious, and thrusting their hatred for others down peoples throats while they stuff their pockets with our money.
I don't have an answer for this. I can only sit back and continue to wonder where it all went wrong. When it became okay to preach assassination and brutality because not everyone believes the same way you do. Think about it. If you don't love the person I think you should love, it's okay if someone beats you to death. If you aren't the nationality that I believe you should be then its okay to kill you. If you don't make enough money to buy yourself health care than hurry up and die so I don't have to be bothered with you. God, it makes me physically ill.
So, no I won't be using my hard earned money to purchase books written by people who think so little of their fellow man. I will, however, use that money to donate to fund raisers that help people get the care they need. See, I'm just one of those stupid dopes that will give someone a few dollars in the grocery store line if they're short. I'm a person that firmly believes that if you help someone in need the good deed will come back around one day. And it has.
Well, now that I have that off my chest, on to my passion for writing fiction. I know, I think I'll write a story about a world where one human life is worth the same as another no matter what your age, status in life, income, or mental capacity. A world where no one is looked down on because they don't believe the same as another and is respected for having the capability of thinking for themselves. I do love fiction.
Have a good evening everyone. I wish you all good health, love and respect.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Something I'd like everyone to check out
Just found out tonight my niece has a blog. Not surprising news, doesn't everyone have a blog? But, this one is different. See, my niece is 23, has been married for a year, is pregnant and has Cerebral Palsy. Her blog is about her journey through this pregnancy, her concerns, her trials and her hurdles. Anyone who's been pregnant can sympathize with the normal morning sickness, hormonal swings, etc. Now, add to that, that she isn't steady on her feet, doesn't walk well and is a tiny little thing. She weighs 94lbs and is 4'9" tall.
Really, I'm not just pushing this because she's my niece, I'm pushing this because it's interesting and humbling. I've had three children and not one of those pregnancies was FUN! Hers is going to be difficult but her attitude is remarkable. Anyway, check it out and keep your fingers crossed for her, her husband and their little "peanut". www.pregnantwithcp.blogspot.com
stop by and offer her encouragement, please.
Okay, got some work done on my WIP today. A pivotal chapter in the book. Tomorrow I plan on going back over that chapter and making sure the emotion rolls off the screen with such ferocity that my readers will be sobbing. That's the idea anyway. I need to do some writers research to make sure I'm getting those emotions across the way I want, need, too. I so want my characters to reach out grab people around the throat, shake them and make them believe these people could be your friends or neighbors. So, that being said..........I'm off....
Happy Reading..
Really, I'm not just pushing this because she's my niece, I'm pushing this because it's interesting and humbling. I've had three children and not one of those pregnancies was FUN! Hers is going to be difficult but her attitude is remarkable. Anyway, check it out and keep your fingers crossed for her, her husband and their little "peanut". www.pregnantwithcp.blogspot.com
stop by and offer her encouragement, please.
Okay, got some work done on my WIP today. A pivotal chapter in the book. Tomorrow I plan on going back over that chapter and making sure the emotion rolls off the screen with such ferocity that my readers will be sobbing. That's the idea anyway. I need to do some writers research to make sure I'm getting those emotions across the way I want, need, too. I so want my characters to reach out grab people around the throat, shake them and make them believe these people could be your friends or neighbors. So, that being said..........I'm off....
Happy Reading..
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Chaos has come to an end.....for now
Okay, after months of running from school to school, hundreds of rehearsals (Okay, it seemed like hundreds) it all came to an end this weekend.
My son's school play, Alice in Wonderland, was Friday night and I have to say, I was completely, totally, wonderfully impressed. Big talent from 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Their costumes and scenery were fantastic but the singing and acting, out of this world. My son played a card, the only boy in all the cards. It was his first shot at a school play and he really liked it so I'm hoping it gives it a shot next year.
My daughter's Odyssey of the Mind competition was Saturday. For those of you who don't know what Odyssey of the Mind is, the kids are put into groups, given a problem to solve through a skit. Another part of the competition is they are given a spontaneous question. They walk into a room with judges, are given a question and have two minutes to think and three minutes to fire off as many answers as they can. Ex. If you had a secret garden what would be in it and why would it be there.
Keep in mind, my daughters group is made up of 7 and 8 year olds.
Her group was given a "problem" of having a surprise party for something unusual they had to have an unusual noise maker, make up a song, create a party game, make their own props, costumes, everything had to be done by the girls, no assistance from parents, adults, older children, no one could do this but them. They had to set up their props put on their skit all under 8 minutes.
Out of 200 possible points, they rec'd 166.66 points. I still don't know how many points they rec'd for spontaneous, but from their score for their skit, if they were eligible for states, groups that young can't move on in competition, we would be preparing for state. So proud of the girls and their hard work.
Saturday was a long day for me and my husband, but we were so proud. Our group only had one coach so my husband and I helped keep and eye on the girls while other parents went to watch their other children's skits. Let me tell you, watching my husband deal with these 6 girls was hysterical. He was like a nervous hen. When we finally got home around 9 at night, he crashed hard. Poor guy, little girls kicked his butt. Still, I'm proud of him for going the extra mile.
So, maybe now I can get serious about my WIP. I'd really like to get it finished so I can do my edits. Wonder if I can finish it by the end of the week? Racing season starts in a couple of weeks and my oldest son is going to have our Friday nights used up. Well, Thursdays too because we need to have everything loaded and ready to go for when he gets home from school Friday afternoon.
Okay, enough rambling. I'm tired, my brain's used up for the day and losing an hour out of my day is going to create havoc for me in the morning. Kids won't want to get up and get moving for school.
Happy Reading..............
My son's school play, Alice in Wonderland, was Friday night and I have to say, I was completely, totally, wonderfully impressed. Big talent from 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Their costumes and scenery were fantastic but the singing and acting, out of this world. My son played a card, the only boy in all the cards. It was his first shot at a school play and he really liked it so I'm hoping it gives it a shot next year.
My daughter's Odyssey of the Mind competition was Saturday. For those of you who don't know what Odyssey of the Mind is, the kids are put into groups, given a problem to solve through a skit. Another part of the competition is they are given a spontaneous question. They walk into a room with judges, are given a question and have two minutes to think and three minutes to fire off as many answers as they can. Ex. If you had a secret garden what would be in it and why would it be there.
Keep in mind, my daughters group is made up of 7 and 8 year olds.
Her group was given a "problem" of having a surprise party for something unusual they had to have an unusual noise maker, make up a song, create a party game, make their own props, costumes, everything had to be done by the girls, no assistance from parents, adults, older children, no one could do this but them. They had to set up their props put on their skit all under 8 minutes.
Out of 200 possible points, they rec'd 166.66 points. I still don't know how many points they rec'd for spontaneous, but from their score for their skit, if they were eligible for states, groups that young can't move on in competition, we would be preparing for state. So proud of the girls and their hard work.
Saturday was a long day for me and my husband, but we were so proud. Our group only had one coach so my husband and I helped keep and eye on the girls while other parents went to watch their other children's skits. Let me tell you, watching my husband deal with these 6 girls was hysterical. He was like a nervous hen. When we finally got home around 9 at night, he crashed hard. Poor guy, little girls kicked his butt. Still, I'm proud of him for going the extra mile.
So, maybe now I can get serious about my WIP. I'd really like to get it finished so I can do my edits. Wonder if I can finish it by the end of the week? Racing season starts in a couple of weeks and my oldest son is going to have our Friday nights used up. Well, Thursdays too because we need to have everything loaded and ready to go for when he gets home from school Friday afternoon.
Okay, enough rambling. I'm tired, my brain's used up for the day and losing an hour out of my day is going to create havoc for me in the morning. Kids won't want to get up and get moving for school.
Happy Reading..............
Friday, March 5, 2010
Virtual Book Tour
I'm getting ready to do a virtual book tour in Aril. So, today I filled out 3 interviews. Ugh, I hate those things. I make them harder than they have to be, I know it, but I can't help it. I freeze. I look at the question and just BLANK! I can write scenes with blood and gore, sex scenes, write an arguement between two people but I can't answer a question about myself or my writing. Stupid hunh? But there you have it. I just like to write, not about myself, about other people, fictional people. People I have control over. Does that mean I don't have control over myself? No. I just can't answer questions about myself.
Okay, I didn't get any writing done today on the WIP and that makes me feel all frazzled. Maybe later tonight I'll get some writing done and I'll feel better.
Next week, I'm not sure how much writing I'll get done. Next week is the week from hell. Every night of the week two of my three have practice after school for 1, school play, 2, oddessy of the mind. Friday night is the school play, Saturday is oddessy of the mind. The whole day. Away from home. Away from my laptop. Will I survive, tune in to find out. My nerves will be shot for both of them. I'll be nervous and proud and excited and will need a good stiff drink by the end of each day.
Oh, and my anniversery is next week. 21 years to the hubby. Where did the time go? We won't be doing anything to celebrate, but hey, that's okay. Busy time.
He told me he wanted to take me on a cruise for our 20th, but that never happened. I heard him tell one of his friends he just said that so I'd stick around for 20 years. He said he'd promise me a cruise for our 25th so I'd hang around for another five years. (Shaking my head) How stupid does he think I am?
Well, since I don't have anything to report on the WIP today, I'll sign off. Maybe I'll have something tomorrow.
Happy reading.......
Okay, I didn't get any writing done today on the WIP and that makes me feel all frazzled. Maybe later tonight I'll get some writing done and I'll feel better.
Next week, I'm not sure how much writing I'll get done. Next week is the week from hell. Every night of the week two of my three have practice after school for 1, school play, 2, oddessy of the mind. Friday night is the school play, Saturday is oddessy of the mind. The whole day. Away from home. Away from my laptop. Will I survive, tune in to find out. My nerves will be shot for both of them. I'll be nervous and proud and excited and will need a good stiff drink by the end of each day.
Oh, and my anniversery is next week. 21 years to the hubby. Where did the time go? We won't be doing anything to celebrate, but hey, that's okay. Busy time.
He told me he wanted to take me on a cruise for our 20th, but that never happened. I heard him tell one of his friends he just said that so I'd stick around for 20 years. He said he'd promise me a cruise for our 25th so I'd hang around for another five years. (Shaking my head) How stupid does he think I am?
Well, since I don't have anything to report on the WIP today, I'll sign off. Maybe I'll have something tomorrow.
Happy reading.......
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Another great day.........
Another great day of writing. This story is coming together nicely. Fawn, Shane and Luke are cooperating so far. They haven't thrown a tantrum and sent me into a tail spin. I just hope it continues this way until the very end.
Read a book yesterday, In Deep, my mother bought me. I'll just say holly s*&t! It was like a train wreck. I just couldn't look away until the very end. If you like gory, twisted, and just plain out there stories with sex, this book is for you.
Okay, so what else to say. We're one day closer to spring and I can't wait. I'm tired of the gray skies, dirty snow and cold. Bring on the green grass, colorful flowers and fresh smell of cut grass. Where I live, I'm surrounded by mountains and I can't get enough of looking at them during the summer, trying to burn their wonderful, deep green leaves into my brain so come winter time I can remember it won't always be this drab.
I like having my house open during the summer and keeping it closed up all winter makes me feel clostrophobic, which I am. So I'm counting the days until I can open up the windows and let the fresh, warm air drift around me.
That's all for tonight kiddos. Enjoy you weak and...
Happy Reading....
Read a book yesterday, In Deep, my mother bought me. I'll just say holly s*&t! It was like a train wreck. I just couldn't look away until the very end. If you like gory, twisted, and just plain out there stories with sex, this book is for you.
Okay, so what else to say. We're one day closer to spring and I can't wait. I'm tired of the gray skies, dirty snow and cold. Bring on the green grass, colorful flowers and fresh smell of cut grass. Where I live, I'm surrounded by mountains and I can't get enough of looking at them during the summer, trying to burn their wonderful, deep green leaves into my brain so come winter time I can remember it won't always be this drab.
I like having my house open during the summer and keeping it closed up all winter makes me feel clostrophobic, which I am. So I'm counting the days until I can open up the windows and let the fresh, warm air drift around me.
That's all for tonight kiddos. Enjoy you weak and...
Happy Reading....
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