I think (as an adult) I have only written one or two fan letters. As a kid I sent them out semi-regularly until I was old enough to realize that the person I sent it to had publicists and probably never even saw a letter from some little girl in Dallas. It is what it is...

Nowadays, I have staved off the temptation. Still, there are plenty of books and authors that I love that I could spend days on end churning out the “I love yous” to my fave people. But, here and now in this stage of my life and my writing career I feel a little weird writing to someone. It’s not that I don’t want to. Hell, I admit, I have done my fair share of gushing about and—God forbid (yes, made a total ass of my self, not once but twice)—to authors I admire.

I bring this up, because I just read a great book. It’s by an author whom I’ve read many many times over very many years. She’s kind of one of those authors I go to to “count on”. She’s my comfort food author. I don’t think I have ever been disappointed in a book of hers. I don’t think there’s a single book I wouldn’t recommend. (And I so want to be her when I grow up) Still, I hesitate to write to her about how much I loved the book I just finished. Because it would seem creepy (to me).

I know her well enough to have seen her around at many an RWA conference, may have been introduced at one point in passing by an mutual acquaintance. I think I have even emailed her once or twice on RWA business in the past. But I don’t “know” her know her, ya know. And I guarantee she has zero clue who I am. Given all that, for some inexplicable reason, I feel all weird and stalkerish about sending her a note. How messed up is that? I thought about doing an open letter praising her in a blog post but that bumped the stalker level up a nice level or two.

I realize I am way over thinking this, and you should know me well enough by now to know I way over think everything anyway... But what would you do? Send the fan letter away and gush ‘til your heart’s content? Or just say, eh, she probably gets enough of those anyway so she’ll never miss mine?

And can I just say, on the flip side of that, it is *SO* terribly awesome to get a “fan” letter. I haven’t gotten that many, but just to know that someone who’s not related to me read my book and enjoyed it enough to send out a note saying so is pretty darn cool (I have kept all the ones I’ve gotten BTW).

How can you keep your writing from sounding dated? I am reading a book that is so dated it’s almost too jarring to keep chugging forward. Granted it’s from 2002, which I didn’t realize when I’d gotten the book. I actually flipped to the copyright to check when it the references made my eyebrow raise the forth or fifth time. Ten years by itself doesn’t seem *that* old, but I’d swear to you the author had to have written it a good ten years *before* that even judging by the references she’s using. There’s a lot of celeb name dropping and not one has really even been relevant this century (and as it’s on every other page practically, it stands out). I want to like the book, I sought it out after reading a blurb of it somewhere, but the dating...

Sometimes, writers add topical points in their story to ground the reader be it with a culture reference or current event. Some stories hinge on that as their plot or the whole of the background. But when a reader picks it up years later, will it still make sense or be relevant?

I try not to add very specific culture references for just that reason. Sure it’s fun to put something in that will make a reader giggle or gasp because they know exactly what you’re saying with just that little blip. At the same time, you want your story to be timeless. Something that can be read now or twenty years from now and it’s not pulling you from the story because you have to stop and figure out “why” that was relevant when the book was written.

I am only two chapters into the book I mentioned above. And I might not finish it because it’s getting annoying. And for me not to finish something... it takes a lot for me to put a book down. As a reader does that even bother you, the dating? Or do you take it for what it is and keep on keeping on? And if it’s not a brand spanking new release, do you go in a check out the date to be prepared? I will say, I go through a ton of books and often have no idea when they’re written. 99% it doesn’t even strike a note of being off in the least.

As a writer, do you find yourself not putting a reference in that in a few years may leave someone scratching their head, or do you plug along and hope that it makes sense down the road? Is it hard to resist a topical zinger that will kill now whether or not it will ever make sense again?

How Zen are you? Me, not so much—or at least Zen-in-progress. I am one BIG ball of stress and worry most of the time. I have been since I was a little girl; at 10-y-o I was on the fast track to getting a stomach ulcer because I was so stressed. That’s pretty sad for a 4th grader! At the time, they taught me and my mom “calming” techniques and I know there was some weird pill but I didn’t get them often. I suppose whatever my mom did at the time worked; I never have gotten an ulcer.

It’s lucky that I am ulcer-free still...I am what you would call a worrywart! There isn’t an issue that I haven’t fretted over (some aren’t even mine). No this is not bragging. I have heard of those breathing and meditative exercises, but have never even considered delving into them. I don’t think they will work: case in point, during Lamaze with my first son, they played these relaxation tapes trying to get us to center our energy. Those made me angry. Don’t know why, but hearing “visualize the energy going from you head and out through your toes...” did not mesh with me.

However...recently I have found my own little piece/peace of Zen of sorts. Last summer we took the boys to Galveston. The house we rented was a block from the beach (and the only thing that separated us was a grassy field). I would sit out on the porch, listen to the the waves and read my book. (I think I got 2/3rds through the book I took with me)

Cut to last month, going to Hawaii and just being still and listening to the birds and the waves (and lets be honest lots and lots of cars—traffic on Waikiki Beach strip is RIDICULOUS!) It have a Zen like state to it. Once we got back from there, every morning I would open the back door—to let the dogs out—and just let in the fresh air until it got hot enough to kick the A/C on. Later in the day, I would got and sit out on the patio—hot or no. Over the past month, I have clocked in some good patio time!

I think the fresh air and the moments of solitude are definitely helping keep me a little more Zen. I’d like to say I have learned how not to sweat the small stuff...but, lets be real. I am taking baby steps, though. I will keep up the patio-practice as long as the weather allows and maybe this time next year I will have cut even more of the stomach-twinge moments. Again, baby steps.

I will say there is a huge difference between not doing anything—I can be lazy with the best of them—and being “still”. Your body, your brain, everything. It all needs a rest to find an inner stillness that lets you center yourself.

How Zen are you? Do you get a little wired when something is not right and can’t find that peace? Are you laid back and as long as it’s not life threatening it’s all good?

It’s June, it’s summer and it’s already hot in Texas (but really, it seems like it’s always hot here…). All the regular/network shows have gone on summer break along with the school kids, but not to fret… the summer shows have begin. I don’t know if it’s because the shows “seem” more streamlined or if it’s because there’s less going on in the house, but I really like the summer shows. I have as much summer TV recorded as I do the rest of the year)

Now this might seem a little deceiving, some of the “summer” shows do have a fall/winter series. They cut them in half rather than follow the networks typical episode run. But it doesn’t ruin it for the summer months, but makes you want it more. And it helps that they typically don’t compete too much for time (as someone well acquainted with my DVR, I know when they tend to overlap). Also, the story arcs tend to be much more succinct. They don’t have to drag something out past it’s lifespan with so many more episodes to fill out.

Some of the shows I really like are old favorites like Burn Notice, Psych, Royal Pains and Covert Affairs. I will watch until there is no more to watch! And some new favorites like The Glades and Rookie Blues. I have even gotten into a couple of brand new shows like Common Law and Longmire (REALLY liked Longmire!) … and YES I have a HUGE thing for cops shows. Have since way back when NYPD Blue first came out I loved watching that show. And apparently I have an ever huger thing for USA network.

And don’t get me started on the reality shows I watch (so excited about the new Glee Project!)

The USA and A&E shows, to me, seem a little edgier. They can cross a few more lines than network TV from the intensity to even the word choices that lend more an authenticity than shock value (IMHO). Admittedly, I do watch WAY to much TV, but seeing how I can’t see that changing anytime soon, I am unabashedly unapologetic.

If you’re a TV-holic like me, what summer shows are you salivating for as they heat up your DVR or TV? If you’re not and you’re shaking your head that I am uber-dependent on a small black box, just say “bless her heart” in true Texas fashion and know that I am watching enough for you too!