Okay see - I am not one to brag about myself. My books maybe, or my poetry. I even went so far as to be proud of my crafts galore and said, "lookee at what I did". But I never crow about "me".

Twice in a week, I have been complimented on my hair (Bonnie C ... stop laughing). And not too long ago, I had two remarks about it in one day. At the Yellow Rose meeting, one of the buds commented several times. (My color has mellowed since Christmas and is now a lighter shade of auburn - hey, it works with the freckles - use them or cover them up with make-up and long sleeves.)

Back in October, I blogged about The Rosebuds retreat and the waiter at the restaurant. That was funny and just after that a woman stopped me out of the blue and asked who did my hair. I have to say, the comical look of dismay and disgust when I told her I cut and color my own hair made me laugh for several hours.

I don't remember getting too many compliments when it was blond - of varying shades. What is it about red hair that makes people stop and feel the need to comment. Don't get me wrong, I like the praise but I am unused to it and often am not sure what to say. I suppose a polite "Thank you" would suffice - and often I joke and tell them the box number so they t0o can enjoy the luxurious light auburn by Miss Clairol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

and for good measure...
(I thought of someone else I like - Hugh Jackman)

I changed the pic Eve but ... um ... I can't take him off all together....

More jokes from Jim....

Guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: "Free to good home. You want it, you take it".

For three days the fridge sat there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually decided that people were too un-trusting of this deal. It looked to good to be true, so he changed the sign to read: "Fridge for sale $50". The next day someone stole it.

Caution! These people Vote

=======

While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was North because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the North?" When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, (and has for sometime), she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff"...

She ALSO votes!

==========

I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific"

He ALSO votes!

===========

My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car It's designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk. . ..

My sister ALSO votes!

==========

My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount...

He ALSO votes!

==========

I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, "Wouldn't the chain rip out every time she turned her head?" I explained that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned...

My friend ALSO votes!

=========

I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet?". . .

SHE ALSO votes!

WOOHOO!!! I had one hell of a time at the CC concert! That place was jam packed with people. Wall to wall Cowboys boots and straw hats! That man can sing and shake his "badonkadonk" up on stage! My ears are still ringing!

just a couple of notes for after the show:

1) Remember the temperature of when you went in and subtract fifteen - it was *COLD* when we came out!

2) When driving home, you should probably pull to the side of the road to remove your boots - s'all I'm saying.

3) Try not to rub your itchy - smoke hazed - eyes just after eating salty fries at a burger joint. OW-WIE!

oh and - if you see you fave guy in the restaurant make sure you talk to him the first time as you will probably not see him a second time - darn it all...




Side note: I think I may want to change my profession - veterinary school seems very interesting!

Man, tonight is the night! Restraining order has expired (I am so kidding here just for those who take me seriously - sheesh - but it has happened before) I got my boots shined and I am ready and raring to go. The boys will be with grandma ALL NIGHT - woohoo!

Can you say, "Follow that bus!"



I finished my first round of edits so tomorrow is all new writing. I am planning on cranking out pages of work - no pressure, huh?

---

Jokes from my bud Jim...
(remember, I don't write 'em - I just post 'em on my blog!)


One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweatshirt.
Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, "What
setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," I replied. "What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, "University of Oklahoma."

And they say blondes are dumb...


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


A couple is lying in bed. The man says, "I am going to make you the
happiest woman in the world." The woman replies, "I'll miss you..."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Q: What do you call an intelligent, good looking, sensitive man?
A: A rumor


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


A man and his wife, now in their 60's, were celebrating their 40th
wedding anniversary. On their special day a good fairy came to them and
said that because they had been so good that each one of them could have
one wish. The wife wished for a trip around the world with her husband.

Whoosh! Immediately she had airline/cruise tickets in her hands.

The man wished for a female companion 30 years younger...
Whoosh...Immediately he turned ninety!!!

Gotta love that fairy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A PRAYER....

Dear Lord,
I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods.
Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death.

AMEN

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Q: Why do little boys whine?
A: They are practicing to be men.

Q: What do you call a handcuffed man?
A: Trustworthy.

Q: What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name?
A: You did not hold the pillow down long enough.

Q: Why do female black widow spiders kill their males after mating?
A:To stop the snoring before it starts.

Q: Why do men whistle when they are sitting on the toilet?
A: It helps them remember which end they need to wipe.

Q: What is the difference between men and women?
A: A woman wants one man to satisfy her every need. A man wants every
woman to satisfy his one need.

Q: How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?
A: Rename the mail folder "Instruction Manuals"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



Have a good day!

On Ballpoint Wren - she found a face recognition site to play with. You upload your pic and inexplicable they pick who - celebrity wise - you most favor in their face recogntion program.

drum roll please..........


coming in at 64% - Christina Ricci

. . . . . . . . . . . . 61% Julianna Moore

. . . . . . . . . . . . 54% Elisha Cuthbert

(Those are the photos they compared mine to, and you're nuts if you think I will post mine!)

okay for those who know me face-to-face - you may stop laughing now -

Last but not least...
"For Good luck;Rub my belly"
To quote Pop-in-Fresh ooh-ha-ha ~


"I"m making it up as I go"
Story of my life!

I have on-again off-again writing spurts. I am currently off. Interestingly enough I find that when I am told I cannot write I am most prolific. Conversely when I am up, oh like selling a book or two, I draw a blank. LIKE NOW. Man. I hate having a writing deficit. Granted, I have been in Yellow Rose contest hell, so I have an excuse. And the DH is MIA for a coupla weeks thanks to the pig-skin parade in February.

I am in hopes that watching my fave country boy in tight-assed jeans shake his thang up on stage Saturday night will get those mental juices flowing. The time we followed his bus to the burger joint, I came up with and wrote four chapters of a pretty funny/neat/exciting book. I even pitched it to a Berkley agent who in turn scrunched up her nose and frown the moment I mentioned, "he's a country singer..." so I decided by her lack luster response to forgo the mail to the big apple. But I had written quite a bit. Then the computer played a late April fools joke and crashed eating said tale.

I moved on. In October, I came up with another story - actually wrote from beginning to end an entire book in one month - I will admit, I left a tad out in the middle - like who the bad guy was and why he did it, just so I could get to the end of the book and win the competition. Hey, that's what edits are for anyway, right?

My muse can also come in the form of small pieces of chocolate wrapped in shiny foil wrappers, but often I indulge in the muse and then forget to actually write.

After hearing a commercial for a man-enhancement-drug, I realized that my muses are very similar. "Your reaction may not be ready for her, but know it can take affect for up to thirty-six hours for when she is ready." (no joke it said that). Same for me - CC or my chocolate nirvana may not get me in the mood right that moment, but it gets the mental juices flowing for when I am ready.

"If your reaction {edited slightly for skitish readers} lasts for more than four hours, please seek professional help." Same for me. If my muse pushes and pushes for more than four hours and I cannot write, I need to enlist the help of someone to brainstorm with to work out whatever plot point I am "hung" on.

What's your mental viagra?

---

just a little joke to lighten the mood:

Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich.

I have become a connoisseur of fine shoe leathers - the ladies from Sex in the City ain't got nothing on me - as I always manage to say just the wrong thing at the exact wrong time. Can you say "Open mouth, insert foot."

Be there, done that, got the damn shoe in my mouth...

Problem is - I have learned to talk around said inserted foot and keep digging it deeper and deep er. I have had this affliction since the moment I learned to talk - so yet again - I can blame dear ol' mom for not breaking me of this from wee childhood.

Do you do that, too - do you say things that in hind sight you know you shouldn't have?

"Well yeah your butt is big, it's called a bubble butt." - didn't go over so well - can't imagine why...

"Sure, I'll do the pubbed authors contest." - 180 books, two crossed eyes and a tic later...

"Hey, let's follow the bus." - seemed like a good idea at the time. Restraining order is due up any minute - hehehe

Oh, and there are so many more. I could bore you all night with them, but I won't. (American Idol comes on in a couple of hours - priorities!)

And now there are so many forms in which to embarass yourself - that'd be me ...

In person ~ always the best becasue you can see that moment the insult takes hold in the brain of the hearer. E-mail ~ you don't realize that you've done it 'til they don't respond for weeks - yeah okay I am slow - I tell you your butts big and you seem to have forgotten my e-mail addy. Phone ~ they never call back. Then the number is blocked - a good clue that comment about how friggin' ugly their baby is didn't go over well - just kidding guys! So many way to make yourself suck sole!

It embarrasses the hell out of me when I say too much, but I cannot make myself stop. A guy I know once said he wanted to get me drunk just to see if I shut up - besides being suuuuuch a nice guy - I don't think it would have worked, I don't drink (over much).

One of these days, maybe I will learn, but for some odd reason I cannot see myself without the taste of shoe leather in my mouth.

Your Monster Profile

Creepy Professor You Feast On: Hot Dogs You Lurk Around In: Wal-mart You Especially Like to Torment: British People

Well, uh. . . . . hmm ~

I don't make this up I just cut and paste

Saying: The engine's runnin' but ain't nobody driving.
Translation: Not overly-intelligent.

Saying: Tighter than bark on a tree.
Translation: Not very generous.

Saying: Big hat, no cattle.
Translation: All talk and no action.

Saying: We've howdied but we ain't shook yet.
Translation: We've made a brief acquaintance, but not been formally introduced.

Saying: He thinks the sun come up just to hear him crow.
Translation: He has a pretty high opinion of himself.

Saying: As welcome as a skunk at a lawn party.
Translation: (self-explanatory).

Saying: S/He's got tongue enough for 10 rows of teeth.
Translation: Talks a lot.

Saying: It's so dry the trees are bribin' the dogs.
Translation: We really could use a little rain around here

Saying: Just because a chicken has wings don't mean it can fly.
Translation: Appearances can be deceptive.

Saying: This ain't my first rodeo.
Translation: I've been around awhile.

Saying: He looks like the dog's been keepin' him under the porch.
Translation: Not the most handsome of men.

Saying: They ate supper before they said grace.
Translation: Living in sin.

Saying: As full of wind as a corn-eating horse.
Translation: Rather prone to boasting.

Saying: You can put your boots in the oven, but that don't make 'em biscuits.
Translation: You can say whatever you want about something, but that doesn't change what it is.

I got my contracts back today - WOOHOO!!

I am a *paid* author - hehehehe

holy cow! ... I check the Samhain website just about every ten minutes - and BAM it's on there now (my hands are shaking!)

check it out (click on the pic to go to the site!) - it is official - WOOHOO!

Okay folks - we have a book! (almost)

I have been waiting to post the cover - but I cannot wait any longer. (I still have to do the edits and get the release date)

Please watch for the release at Samhain Publishing, date TBA as soon as I get the info.

I hope you buy and enjoy the book!

yeah me!

It is finally raining here in the lone star state - you cannot imagine how scary it is to walk out your front door every other day and smell smoke and not know how close it is or is not to you.





and of course it is friggin' cold too - around 45 degress - I think that is the high for today - but we'll take the rain!!!

Your Hair Should Be Purple

Intense, thoughtful, and unconventional. You're always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights.

YEAH BABY!

Eve found a "Romance Novel Cover Generator" - a new plaything! click here to go and make your own cover.





This is an actual title of a book I started - don't laugh, it's a working title.

"Party Like It's $19.99"

'nuff said~ "Welcome to the Gun Show"

Yeah okay-
"Beer; the only carbs I need"

yet again ... 'nuff said!

It is too freaky. I have before mentioned my penchant to blog hop - and I have continued to do so with regularity. Well, I am starting to see the same names no matter where I go - and it is weird!

I will find a commenter on someone's blog and go see what their site looks like and read their comments - and BAM there are three or four names of other bloggers I know and chat with. I bet if I threw out several bloggers names that I have peeked at everyone of you would know at least two of them - well, shoot you can just look at my list of blogs I go to on the side and see for yourself.



What's even more fun - or challenging - is when they have more than one blogger name. It took my two weeks to realize that one such person that I have talked to one two blogs was one in the same - okay, sue me, I am slow! And then a new "buddie" I noticed had a different name on blogger as the one on a different type journal.

I suppose when you are writers and shopping the same publishers and agents that you're bound to cross paths, so maybe it is not so odd that the blogging community leads bloggers to and from one another.

Your Hidden Talent

You are a great communicator. You have a real way with words. You're never at a loss to explain what you mean or how you feel. People find it easy to empathize with you, no matter what your situation. When you're up, you make everyone happy. But when you're down, everyone suffers.

Freaky-deaky indeed! (Other than the "never at a loss to explain..." - though you usualy know my mood pretty quick so I guess that is right after all!)

Okay so last night, I told my wonderful critique group, Trinity Writers Workshop, about my sale to Samhain Publishing. I wanted to do it in person, so I didn't post it on the e-mail loop that we have. (though I did tell a couple of folks because I am not THAT good at keeping a secret) They gave me a standing ovation - how friggin' cool is that!!

I had been feeling a little down. Even though I told my mom and she told everyone she has ever met and even though my buds, SandyJ, Tsavo, Diane, the Rosebuds as well as my fellow bloggers (okay, so that is actually a whole lotta people), all cheered and made me feel super-great, the response I got from one particular person was so ... blah ... that my bubble burst and my euphoria high ran out of caffeine.

But in the fashion that I knew they would, my fellow TWW-ers pumped me up, lit me right back up to maximum over-drive. And I thank you!

You know, I have heard of other groups that just tear you down and flaunt sales in the faces of the unsold. Or they don't particularly care if you do well, but not my TWW. They nurture, they push and they are so damn proud of your sale they make your chest want to burst with pride when they cheer and clap and probably scared the crap out of the other people down the hall - I guess I should apologize to all the music students that probably went deaf with the noise level - but I'm not gonna!

We are a family, we have our disfunctions sure, but we care for each other and cherish when one does well. I heard two women both of whom I consider dear, dear friends speaking - "Our little girl's grown up good," one says. "Yes, indeedy," the other replies.

Aw shucks... {stubs toe of shoe into the carpet}

Define style? If I can't, does that mean I don't have one?

I am not hip, hep or otherwise known as cool. I have {gulp} 30+ cardigans in my closet. Jeans out the wazoo - ew that could hurt. And 80, yes I counted, pairs of casual shoes and only 4 dressy heels.

With my auburn hair episode - and the varied responses when people saw me - Oh! OH! OH!!!! - it made my mind start to go - and that can be a scary thing!

I look around at other people my age - the other moms, mostly up at the elementary school because that is where 75% of my adult interaction is. Even there, some of the moms primp and pump. They keep the big-haired Texas woman alive and well! Me, well hmm, More often than not - my hair is up in a clip - I can't stand it to touch my face it's a thing I have. I rarely wear makeup. A little mascara and lipstick - when I remember to put it on. Maybe having all boys has attributed to some of this. I don't have to set an example. I don't need to know how to do makeup correctly. (and frankly I don't feel I need makeup - I only wear the mascara because my eyelashes are so pale you can't see them otherwise - I think I look just as cute - ugh - killer word - with or without it)

Don't get me wrong, BK - before Kiddoes - I was all the glam I could handle - then I had over 100 pairs of shoes and dresses and skirts out the ying-yang - again could be painful. I watched trends and eschewed them for what I liked. But not any more.

from this:



Can a lack of style then become your style? That I-just-threw-this-together look.

to this:



I'm not a slob - at least, I hope not. But I have steadily slid down to mommy frumpdom and haven't had the motivation/ambition to claw my way up the stacks of microfiber pants and silky shirts. My one wild attempt at fashion diva is my vibrant choice of hair colors - and even then I hold back from what I really want to do - though I did check out some highlights that you don't find in normal hair color under the age of 90.




OH and just as an FYI - I have purchased Decaf - we'll see if that helps {she says as her eye twitches}

* When you ask a child to toss something into the other room, be specific, "You didn't say not to hit him, mom."

* When getting water from the auto water-thingie on the fridge - don't' get distracted or you get to mop you floor twice in one day

* Things you find hilarious at 12:30 in the morning might not be so funny at 8:30 in the morning - Brenda, you may wanna disregard that e-mail I sent ya - sorry hun!

* When your kids have the next school day off and are sleeping in the floor reeeeeal close - don't laugh aloud at those things that might not be so funny the next morning - sorry heir, go back to sleep

* Make sure when you are wrestling with your dogs on the floor to keep you mouth shut or you may have a new girlfriend - YICK!

* Make sure if your son's fave football team, that went 14-2 in the year, play like crap the first three quarters that you have lots of tissues handy for the end of the forth quarter when they muff a field goal attempt that would have tied the game and then gone into overtime where they might have come back to win and also have some form of distraction or he may pout and cry for an hour and a half solid - sheesh - it's just football.

* Before you submit your book for sale, have your blurb and tagline ready so you don't have to depend on your non-reader DH for advise - it could take hours from your evening!

* Same vein - submit - you never know when you'll get an editor that gets you!

* When making a list of the things you want to randomly muse about, write legibly or you have to laugh aloud to wake your kid to tell him to go back to sleep to randomly muse about it - okay - sheesh - I think I need to forcibly make myself got to bed now - 1:48 in the am is not a time for fimble fingers on the keyboard - night/morning all - great day!

I was tempted to put a pic of me and SJ up - but 1) - she'd kill me

=)

and 2) DB is much prettier!

I have finally mastered the coffee machine - you don't know hard it is when you cannot seem to add the right amount of scoops needed for a caffeine fix! The fact that I doctor my coffee heavily with milk, sugar and flavored creamer - I am nothing if not over the top - is the only thing that has kept me trying.

Oh and if I failed to mention it - I sold TWO books to Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

I am SO EXCITED. I mailed the contracts off last week. I will have to edit - I can't believe I just said that - Ha! One is a romantic suspense, the other is a romantic novella.

When I get more info, I will put out the release dates (and I am not sure if the titles will change so I will add those on here later)

MY FIRST SALE! My first TWO sales! WOOHOO!

I like to research for books. But not the every day stuff like facts and statistics. That I usually try to ask around and get that info. No. I like the odd facts that may not take up an overwhelming portion of the story but add color, flavor and depth to it.


I have been recently called Anal-retentive (and completely owned up to it) and I think this is proof positive of that!

I will research whether a car came in a certain color in a particular year - then may look up the accessories that went with that model. Most people would say who cares - I say it's the details that make a bland story BAM!

Actors will immerse themselves in roles before their movie starts. You hear about ride along with the police or boot camp with a platoon. As a writer, your research can accomplish much the same - mental boot camp. Your heroine is a pet photographer - you research cameras and processing - and troll the pet shops. Your hero is a dyslexic musician you research people who were as well - you'd be very surprised (did you know John Lennon...?)!

I mentioned on Marybeth's blog a while back, that I tend to get carried away with my research and forget there is a story that it is to be plugged into - you have to be careful.

I was born in Alaska (my dad was in the Air Force and before you ask, I was almost 1 when we moved so other than the bazillion photos of Alaskan license plates to prove we were there and me bundle up to my nose in in front of a white background that I presume is acres of snow - I know nothing of the time) so when I decided to set a book there, I looked up Alaskan tourist info. I like to add things that seem obscure - did you know the locals call Mt McKinney Denali - I didn't, but my heroine darn sure does.

It is so much fun!

If you have ever read Nora Roberts, she puts her books all over the world and at one of the RWA conferences someone asked her if she has gone to all the places - that range from Qatar to Ireland to England (and many other countries - but am having a brain fart right now and cannot think of any other - the woman has 150+ book - I can only do so much) to just about every state in the contiguous and non-contiguous US (I could have left it just plain US but I like the word "contiguous" =) sorry) - she laughed and said, "I wish." She immerses herself in research and through the minute details you are transported there to.

I have never professed to be an overly brilliant person. I am not a slacker in the mental department either. But I have these, "huh?" moments where smile and nod and hope to God they don't ask me to repeat what they just said (which I do to my children all the time - so I know how heinous that is!) or I shake my head and re-read whatever I just read and shake my head again as I am totally lost.

When the boys are going on and on . . and on about their Yu-gi-oh or Zatch Bell cards I am not expected to understand whatever it is they are saying - which is a darn good thing. But when I am in a conversation with other adults and fight the urge to scrunch my nose and scratch my head - it makes me wonder, "What is wrong with me?"

I will admit, I tend to only half-listen most of the time, so that is probably as big a factor as anything. My mind tends to wander to that next book I am plotting or a deadline zooming in. With stuff I am reading, same thing. There are blogs I tend to read with regularity and then there are the ones I look at every so and so 'cause half the time - I don't' get it. Again - like listening, I tend to skim and only get half of the post.

I am sorry I have a mind that wanders. I have tried to curb that, tried to stay focused, but then . . . Did you read Cece's book - posted in my "What I am reading" Great book! - oops there I go again - off on a tangent.

A segue - but still on topic - sort of....

On Jill Shalvis's blog she asked what we listen to when we write and most folks listed CD's with no or unintelligible words - I am just the opposite. I need the songs I know and love for when I get stuck in a place in the book I can sit back and let my mind fade out of the book and into words I can sing in my sleep and then re-focus and get back to the book. I just now realized it is also like a tether that holds me in place - when my mind wanders , it hears words I know inside and out (I listen to one CD only per book so the words are embedded in my children's brains!) and grabs my attention, I listen for a bit and then snap out of it and back to where it is supposed to be.




Current book - in edit stages
Current CD - Bo Bice's The Real Thing

Alrighty folks - I have a challenge for you. Let's see how observant you all are.

I have changed something on my blog - What is it? Any guesses?


He's cute - just wantred to add some fresh meet to the blog- and no this isn't the change.


Sandy J, my crit partner Diane and Tsavo cannot guess - so, ssshhhh, no telling!
(Or if you are related - you are prohibited from participation - thanks - managment) =)

I have heard - "there is no such things as an original story". It's all been done before. The zinger or selling point is doing it in a unique way, with an interesting hook and/or twist.

Your approach to the century old, "Boy meets girl, boy pisses off girl and loses her, boy gets girl back" is what makes it a truly interesting story.

It's interesting. The Rosebuds have an annual plotting weekend, as well as Cheddars brainstorming sessions and plot books with one another. We have often said, we could take the one outline and six of us write it up and come up with six totally different stories. Each has their own voice and style.

So, how do you find that thing that sets you apart? How do you come up with a hook or gimmick that will sell your book over another? I wonder that so many books actually make it to print sometimes.

Summer of '04, I got a bunch of books (100+) at the RWA conference. I made a valiant effort to read as many as possible (all but 20 or so - woohoo!). Funny thing - I read these two in a row. Different authors, different publishing houses and the same story. Not only the same story - hero/heroine had the same jobs in both books, the heroine even had the same name. And keep in mind it wasn't Jane or Sue it was a unique name. The H/H past relationship was even based on the same experience - too freaky. (one Author a NY Times best seller - the other making her way up there)

Depending on the day, I am torn between this being a good thing, "Well surely *I* can get my book(s) published, too." or a bad thing, "Why do I even try."

Haven't decided what day today is yet . . .

More t-shirts to make you giggle.

"I traded my Girlfriend for video games"

Don't know about the girlfriends, but I know some boys that would trade their brothers =)

"I'm falling apart here."

Yep, had many a day like that . . . . . . . . . . . .

"I have multiple Personalities; I can date you and your friends"

Men - puh-leeze! Oh wait, that could be a girl shirt - don't think the hubby would buy that one!

Glommed from Sandy J

Your IQ Is 115

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Exceptional Your General Knowledge is Average

I guess as a writer the verbal score is a good thing! Though my logic . . .

"YOU'RE UNIQUE; Just like everyone else."


HA!

"Stupidity is not a crime; So you're free to go."

Hmm - I know just who I can give THAT one too...

"I'm not unmotivated; I'm just Lazy."

Even better - I think that is for me.

...which is your shirt?

...it's gonna be a long day when you look in the mirror and expect to see your avatar and instead see ... yourself. And are shocked

"You know you're on the internet too much..."

Ever heard part of a conversation and stuck it in your current WIP? Or see a scene in a movie and wonder how it would turn out if they had taken a different slant on it?

I do that all the time.

Maybe a song strikes a cord in you. I have come up with three plot-lines from songs (thank you CC and TM). Take for instance "Miss me Baby," by CC. Now the song itself didn't inspire the novel, but running into the artist at a fast food chain after his concert did. Ignore the fact that we followed the tour bus to that restaurant - that would be stalking probably, but that makes for a great first chapter of a book for "what if... what happens after..."


Let's say your friend goes to Starbucks and, in an attempt to check out the studly studs, places her sunglasses on to not be observed. And imagine her surprise when tallest stud extraordinare approaches her - cue heart palpatations and excuses for gold band on third finger, left hand (kidding kidding). Then imagine said stud informs her she is wearing not one but two pairs of glasses and walks out the joint. That is funny - that can lead to soooooo many things! (sorry hun - you know I love you!)

other examples:
*Your spouse, not realizing the popcorn button on the microwave in fact cooks it, sets the timer for six minutes and leaves the room - makes for an interesting scene when the heroine smells it and in pre-natal angst runs from the room

*You know a pair of twins and cannot for the life of you tell them apart - your heroine can ID the wrong twin in the morgue and later realize her mistake when she see the other

*You are pregnant and, though live in Texas, wonder what would happen if you got trapped in a snow storm in Colorado in December - Your hero finds a pregnant woman about to give birth just after a wreck into a snow bank

*A friend comes over and your children hide every single time (usually in a closet) - your hero/heroine could have a killer among their inner circle that only the youngest know to fear

You can pull inspiration from so many aspects of life. Listen, observe, get details no one else cares to watch for - just don't put on two pairs of glasses!

I was home semi-alone today. Dh and 1-3 offspring had a day of Cub Scouts. That left me and mini-me here all by our lonesome.

I had to work on the TWW website. It took me several hours (six) as I had to write all the code out as our hosting site changed all their stuff and screwed up any and all formatting I previously had - sheesh! (But I am getting a raise so the new pres said. Double my current salary - twice 0 is pretty darn good ...)

anyhoo ~ around 12:30 mini-me asks for lunch - so I took a break and fixed his requested mac and cheese, this was around hour two. Later, towards the fifth hour, my hands started to shake - but I chalked it up to sitting at the computer for so long. Then an hour later, when I hit "Publish" the final time, I realized - I hadn't eaten anything.

Sheesh - You'd think after so many dern kids I would remember something as simple as feed yourself - but nope. So then I re-heated dinner from the night before (Corned Beef and potatoes - I decided to forgo the cabbage a second time) and plunked my arse (stole that word from TL) in front of the TV as Mini-me took over the computer. I watched the second half of the A & E version of Pride and Prejudice - all in all a good and productive day!

LOVE Colin Firth !

Don't:

*spin your 4-year-old around (three seperate times) just after breakfast - ew!

*leave your candy bar - your favorite - on the bar in sight of ankle biters - it won't be there when you go looking for it! (darn it!)

*tell a secret to a family member and expect it to stay secret. 'nuff said.

*say "if you feel like it" when asking your spouse to do something for you because inevitably, he won't! (second - learn to make your own coffee soon - the instant is crap!)

*expect other drivers in smaller cars to see you ever though you are going 60MPH and have the right of way and they are crossing in front of other cars to get in the very spot you are headed while they go 20MPH - need I say more? (No dents, dings or otherwise damaged property, but three very freaked out boys and one pissed off, horn blaring momma!)

Do:

*Hug you children every morning even if the blush and squirm away - they really need/crave the attention - trust me on this!

*keep a supply of Band-aids in every nook and cranny of your home - you never know when the 7-year-old will spout a gusher and demand you fix it asap and scream until you do - it was just a tiny paper cut - sheesh!

*keep a never-ending supply of Kleenex on hand at all times or your youngest will wipe his nose on the person standing closest to him in line whether you know him or not! (I really am sorry sir!)

*watch where you step when your children own 40-bazillion Legos. Yeowch!

*reply promptly to your friends' e-mails or they will think you're mad at them - I've been slacking this week I am sorry - you know who you are!

I figured since I have spoken of it recently, I'd post the clown attack. It is part of a WIP that I lost in the computer crash.

Thanks to my wonder crit partner, Diane, I have the first four chapters that I had sent to her. And truthfully I only lost one more chapter - so I guess it's time to get working on it.

Click on the pic to read my clown attack.