Almost an entire month has zoomed by, and I haven't stopped in to say hello. Shouldn't summer be lazy? Not here! And not for me!

It appears I haven't been blogging, but that isn't true. Besides here, I also blog at Bits & Bytes: Romance...the Writers Way, my writers group's blog. The 29th is my day to blog, but I'm constantly posting comments on everyone else's posts. It's very interactive, and we're having tons of fun talking romance writing. If you aren't a writer, that's okay! Readers are more than welcome to share their thoughts, and maybe learn something along the way.

Want to meet your favorite Harlequin American Romance authors? Check out our blog! News, recipes, writers' tips, cleaning tips, and all kinds of good stuff can be found there. My blogging date at HAR is the 19th, but I missed it this month. :( Must do better!

Last weekend, two of my daughters, my oldest granddaughter, and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie. I was sadly disappointed. I've only read the first book, so I'm not privy to all the ins and outs, but I have seen every one of the movies. I had a really hard time following what was going on in this one and even dozed off at one point, which resulted in a poke from my daughter. :) Mallory, my youngest, said it was because so much was left out, yet there were things in it that weren't in the book. (Mallory is an HP expert, having read each book multiple times. DO NOT play HP Trivial Pursuit with her unless you want to lose, big time.) Maybe I should start reading those books!

Sad things going on here. I posted earlier about our new puppy, Willow. On the 4th of July, someone stole her from our backyard. :(( She was playing out there in the early evening, while the neighborhood fireworks were going off. I could hear her howling at one point and went out to check who was making all the noise. (The fireworks, not the pup.) Discovered it was a neighbor, three houses to the south and muttered some unkind words under my breath, then went inside. Willow was fine. The next morning, she was nowhere to be found, her collar laying open just inside the fence. She's chipped, so if she'd run away and someone found her, a trip to the animal shelter would be all that was needed for her to be returned to us. No more pups for us. I'll stick to our two cats, Tosca and Mocha. They're tortoiseshell calicos that look like mother and daughter, but aren't related. One of these days, I'll post some pictures of them. Oh, and there are the four betta fish we have. Two belong to my daughter Chelsea, a male (the fish, not the daughter and whose name I forget) and Harley, the female. My two are both males, Shrimp and Spock. Watching them swim around can be soothing, and they notice when I'm paying attention. Maybe a bird someday? Who knows?

I've just finished writing the first draft of the third book in the Desperation, OK series. I hope readers love this one as much as they seem to love the first one, The Rodeo Rider, available in stores next month. Hearing from readers adds such a spot of joy to my day! Don't be shy to let me know what you think!

Last but not least, if you haven't met the Ditzy Chix, my very very bestest friends, stop in at our website. Or even better, come visit us on our Facebook page! We've just gone from 10 of us to 11, and will probably have another new chix or two in the future.

Yes, you can find me on Facebook! (How did this happen?) I love chatting with others there!

Until next time, have a lovely summer! Fall will be here soon--my favorite season--so what's left of the lazy (ha!) days of the last of summer should be savored. Make some memories!

Labels: Book News, Fab Friends and Fun, Family Ties, HAR Books and Authors, Holidays, This n That

Labels: Book News, Fab Friends and Fun, Family Ties, This n That

It seems like only yesterday that it was the day after Christmas. (By the way, the day after Christmas is my favorite day of the year. It's another 365 days until next Christmas.) Time has gotten away from me and I see it's nearly Valentine's Day. Now that's a holiday I let go by without a bit of fanfare.

Since the end of the holiday season, I've been busy. I switched rooms. More precise, I switched my office and bedroom. This is not an activity for the faint of heart. And it took three weekends. It also took nearly rebuilding my desk after breaking one side in half...horizontally.

So why did I attempt this death defying feat? My bedroom, in which I sleep 5-6 hours a night, change clothes twice a day, and occasionally read in bed, was the largest of the two rooms. My office, where I spend the majority of the other 18 hours, is the smallest. It didn't make sense to squeeze my life into a smaller room when I had the option of a larger one. Uh huh.

But it was worth it. The broken desk (with accompanying weeping), the ancient (and ugly) government issue 5-drawer file cabinet that weighs more than all my grandkids together and caused my back to ache for 5 days, the boxes of papers and files and "stuff" that still need to be gone through were all worth it. I just wish I knew when everything would find its place and get there, because my moving time has run out, and it's time to get back to real work--writing and friends and websites. Copy edits for my August Harlequin American arrived yesterday. The long holiday break is definitely over.

Labels: This n That

With this being Christmas week, topics won't be posted on the usual day. I'm going to mix it up a little with the hope of posting more often, until after the holidays.

I posted the below back in July of 2005, but because of one of Blogger's transitions, it can't be accessed. I'm posting it again because it seems very appropriate for the season.

THINGS WE SELDOM THINK OF

(copied from a local neighborhood newsletter & posted here )

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. If not for you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique.

9. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.

13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

14. Always tell someone how you feel about them. You will fell much better when they know.

15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

Labels: This n That

Three inches of flurries. That's what I found when I woke up this morning. And there's more predicted for the rest of the week.

Yesterday's high temperature was 11. Would someone please tell Mother Nature that it's December in Kansas, not February?

I'll admit that the snow is beautiful...until it's time to drive in it. Last Tuesday we had a surprise snowstorm that garnered the city 650 vehicle accidents. I made five trips out during that day, from a two-mile round-trip to take one grandkidlet to school, to a thirty-mile round-trip to take one daughter to work. At least today we'll be down to to-and-from school trips.

For those who live in the white and wild northern states, bless you all. At least you become accustomed to driving in this "stuff". Around here, each snowfall is a new lesson in how to drive slowly and stop even more so. Of course the first snowfall is the worst. Drivers don't seem to retain their common sense from one winter to the next. Not that their memories are any longer a week later, but they do manage to cut the rate of accidents down some. Maybe by the end of the week, they'll have enough practice to slow down and watch out for the other guy...the one who slid through the red light or around the corner sideways.

Right now, spring is way too far in the future for my taste.

Labels: This n That

It's beautiful! It's fun to play in!

But it's dangerous to drive in, and kids tend to track in tons of it on their shoes.

So what do we have today? After 60+ degree weather? Why, snow, of course!

I have to figure in half again as much driving time when going somewhere. I even managed to hit the curb when trying to turn a corner. Not my fault. The driver behind me going up the hill just didn't want to back off, so when I went down the hill, with the corner at the bottom, I didn't slow down as much as I should have, thanks to the truck following so closely behind me. No biggie though. Just a bit of a bump, and I hope the driver understood that if my brake lights are on, along with my turn signal, I'm going to be turning, so keep a safe distance, unless you want to end up in my trunk. :)

But it was almost worth the yucky drive when I saw a house with 5 or 6 big blow-up decorations in the yard. The wind is blowing hard, so the snowman was dancing with the tree beside it, Santa had fallen on his side and couldn't get up, and Charlie Brown was doing push-ups. At least it gave me something to laugh about! And I did, at least for a block.

If your weather isn't the greatest, take care. Drive slowly and especially watch out for others who aren't able to get their car to stop sliding at a ride light.

Tomorrow it will all be gone. Believe me, one day if icky, slicky snow is enough for a while.

Labels: This n That

Wow. Gail and I spent a memorable evening at the ballet, performed at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Wichita. It was beautiful! So instead of me telling about it, see for yourself.




And another...

Labels: Fab Friends and Fun, This n That

For me, Thanksgiving is the kick-off point for the holiday season. In only 4 weeks, it will be Christmas Eve, then we'll roll right into 2009. And so I sit here on the eve of Thanksgiving, while the turkey finishes thawing, knowing time is going to fly, and I've only just begun buying Christmas gifts. That could be because I don't know what I'll be giving everyone.

The one thing I don't want to do is rush the holidays. One of our local radio stations has been playing Christmas music for a couple of weeks. For me, that's too soon, but even one national chain store was playing the same only a couple of days ago. And, of course, with Christmas coming on quickly, I'll need to download a holiday ringer or two for my cell phone. After all, 'tis the season.

Tomorrow, after two of my daughters are done attending the Thanksgiving dinners of their "other" families, we'll all get together at another daughter's house for our own family Thanksgiving. Somehow this year, I'm stuck with preparing the whole meal, but it isn't a first, and I'll let them take on Christmas dinner.

There's a lot to be thankful for this year, even though we're expecting the economy to get worse before it gets better. I'm always thankful for my family, and everything else is secondary. I hope those reading this are in touch with their own families, whether in person, via a phone call or the internet. Just remember, Christmas really is right around the corner.

I'll go check on that turkey now...

Labels: Family Ties, Holidays, This n That

Labels: Family Ties, Holidays, Movie Mania, This n That

I'm finally getting back to normal...whatever "normal" is. As of yesterday, the final copy of Taming Kate is winging its way to my editor. "Final" isn't quite honest, though. Once a book is turned in, it goes through a few more incarnations, including copy & line edits and later, author alterations. But for now, it's done. Hooray!

As far as "normal" goes, we haven't been having normal weather here in Kansas for quite some time. After a wet summer, we're having a very wet fall. The year has been so wet that forecasters expect 2008 will surpass 1951's 50.48 inches as Wichita's wettest year ever. But at least the weather has cooled off enough that we can turn off the AC and open the windows. Nights have been in the 40's. Great sleeping weather, but not so good for waking up. It's a bit chilly in the morning and requires a snuggly robe before donning long sleeve shirts or even sweatshirts and jeans. I'm just thankful we were able to get our lawn mowed before the rain we've been experiencing for the past three days hit.

Now that life has slowed down a little, I hope I'm able to get back to my blog schedule. It's definitely worth a try, so check back tomorrow!

Labels: This n That

Labels: Movie Mania, This n That

...and on the weather channel.

It was, by far, not the best weekend for our friends along the east coast of Texas. Because I was away from home for the weekend, I wasn't able to keep track of Hurricane Ike, but I did hear and read some accounts, and my heart goes out to everyone, including those who left their homes and those who stayed behind. But not only did Ike wreak havoc and devastation on many parts of Texas, "he" left his mark along a path that left people in other states to deal with rain and flooding, terribly high winds, and loss of power. When I returned home yesterday, I checked the national radar and discovered Ike had made it all the way to the Great Lakes area. I heard Cincinatti and Columbus, Ohio were both without power, and included other areas of the state.

We were lucky here in Kansas. Our 10 inches of rain came before Ike reached land, causing flooding and taking lives. By Saturday morning, when Ike was moving on from Texas and we had been warned of high winds and more rain, I awoke to sunny skies and a beautiful autumn day. We were lucky, but so many others weren't.

For those in Texas who left their homes and belongings behind, I pray their return won't be as horrible as they may think it might be. I also pray this will be the last of the hurricanes to touch our country and all others for a long, long time.

Labels: This n That

What with Labor Day falling so early in the month and grandkids out of school for it and the next day, finding the few minutes to blog last week was impossible. This week hasn't been much better. Therefore, I am lost.

Should I add that I've been "polishing" the second of two books that I hope will be coming out next year? Taming Kate has been a joy to write, and the time is near to package it and send to my editor. But before that can be done, it must have a complete read-through. That means looking for any and all typos, wrong words used, and funky (it's the only correct word in this case) continuity. There have been plenty of each. It's amazing how much the mind can skip over mistakes, after being "inside" the story for months. It takes stepping back into the real world for a few weeks, so the story can be read with a fresher eye. Sometimes that fresher look can be eye-opening. In the end, it will be well worth the time spent, both for me and for the reader.

So excuse me for missing so many days. I plan to be back on schedule tomorrow and ready to share.

Labels: This n That

I'm sure everyone deals with this dilemma once in a while. A good book (a GREAT book) comes out, shortly followed by the movie. Or maybe a good movie comes out, and you learn the story was originally a book.

Because I'm still reading The First Wives Club after watching the movie...again...I started thinking about all the movies I've seen and have also read the book. I admit that it used to bother me, as if it was a RULE that I had to choose which was better. And to tell the truth, most of the time the book wins out. But sometimes I can't choose, and so there's a tie.

An example of a tie would be Gone With the Wind. I saw the movie for the first time in high school (196?) and loved it. I read the book much later and loved it. I can't pick between the two, because both are excellent and offer different things. For instance, I can't imagine anyone playing any of those roles except the actors/actresses who did them. But if I'd read the book first, without knowing anything about the movie, I wonder how I would have imagined the characters. I doubt Rhett would have resembled Clark Gable in my mind. :)

And that's really the question. Is it better to see the movie first or read the book first? In most cases of book-turned-movie, I've read the book first. GWTW and To Kill a Mockingbird are two exceptions, and with both, I can't choose which is better. I assume most readers are like me and have a picture in their mind of what the characters look like. When a movie is made, there's no way to match the mental pictures of the millions of readers. Tom Hanks would never have been my choice for Robert Langdon in the Da Vinci Code, even when I tried to envision him while I read the book a second time before I saw the movie. But he did a good job and I was able to forget my prejudice during the movie.

Then there are all the things that are left out or changed when the movie is made, usually because of time restrictions. My youngest daughter is a Harry Potter fan and has her own opinions on the more recent movies. Because I've only read the first of the HP books, I don't have the problems she has when seeing the movie. She's noticing all the things that are "wrong" or not there. I'm just watching the movie and trying to make heads or tails of a few things. But she's never turned down the opportunity to see the movie. :)

So which is it? Movie first or book first? You choose.

Labels: This n That

Next to Friday, Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. Once I get past lunch time, it's all downhill. Only 3 more hours to lunch!

I had every intention of blogging yesterday. I even had a topic for a topic-less day. And then I forgot what it was. My short-term memory is getting worse. Could it be because there are just too many things that need to be remembered? I do write myself notes on the most important things. It's the only way to stay sane and get anything at all done. But too many things are falling between the cracks, so it appears I'll need a new system.

NEWS FROM FRIENDS IN SAN FRANCISCO--
Friend Kristi called last night, laughing about being lost in the hotel. I wondered how they'd managed to get lost in the hotel. Was it that big? Later, I called her back and learned they were actually trying to get directions to Fisherman's Wharf, but she and the others--Vicky Dreiling, Leigh Riker, and Lisa Childs--had been relaxing in the Executive Conference Room, before deciding on the trip to Fisherman's Wharf, so that explained it. (Check out the photos at DitzyChix.com for a definition of the ECR.) They were having a wonderful time, and I wished I could be there with them, but their antics and giggles made me smile, so envy, such as it is, is manageable. :) They did take a trip to the aquarium and had a nice time there. Kristi said the temperature in SF is more like Texas in the winter, around 55, and they were all scrambling to find suitable jackets, even though most had brought something. While 55 degrees isn't exactly cold, when coming from 100 degree summer temps in Texas, it certainly can seem like it! I'm happy to know they're having fun, not that I thought they wouldn't. Being with friends is always fun, no matter what we're doing, and I consider myself blessed to have the wonderful friends I have, even if I don't get to spend a lot of face-to-face time with them. When that does happen, it makes for some really special times and memories.

Labels: Fab Friends and Fun, This n That

I guess the title is testament to the fact that I've been busy and haven't posted for a few days. I've been mired in work and decided to get caught up with other things today, if possible. But because I have been able to cross a couple of things off my To Do list (the one in my head, not on my desktop), I have that little extra time.

That was the This 'n That for Monday.

One of my very good friends, Kristi Gold, will be leaving early next week to attend RWA's annual conference, this year being held in San Francisco. Although I would have loved to have gone, it wasn't in the cards for me, and I'll miss Kristi while she's gone. She and I and Kathie DeNosky have a weekly phone conversation, utilizing the three-way calling option, but next week, we'll have to skip it. We talk to each other throughout the week, too, but it's nice when we can all be "together" with the one phone call, too. Our fingers are tightly crossed for Kristi. She's a RITA finalist for her fabulous book, Fall from Grace, so it's extra hard for Kathie and me to not be there to cheer her on at the awards ceremony and calm her nerves before it.

And that was Fab Friends and Fun...fun that will be sorely missed by Kathie and me, but we'll survive.

Movie mania? Who has time? Yes, I'd planned to set aside during the week for at least one movie, if not more, but the best laid plans and all that... A couple of weeks ago, my youngest and I watched Little Women. This was the version with Winona Ryder as Jo and not a terribly bad one. My oldest memory of LW was one in 1933 which starred Katherine Hepburn. No, I wasn't born then, but I've seen it. Then there was the 1949 version, starring June Allyson as Jo, Janet Leigh as Meg, and my strongest memory of Margaret O'Brien as Beth and Elizabeth Taylor as Amy. Of course, casting those two was a reach, since Amy was the youngest of the March girls, not Beth. I noticed on IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base...the absolute BEST source for all movie and TV info) that there were also two silent versions, the first released in 1917 and the second a year later in 1918. Not being a silent movie fan, I didn't recognize any of the actors listed, but I thought it was interesting.

My daughter is always disappointed when Jo turns down Laurie's marriage proposal. I can remember feeling the same. And said daughter is sorely disappointed in Jo's choice of Professor Baer, just as I was when I was young. Now that I'm older, I understand both so much more. Jo could never have made Laurie the wife he would need in the future. She would have hated it and so would he, no matter that she understood his music. Amy would understand his music later, just as Jo had. And the professor was the perfect man for Jo, calm and stable, while Jo tended to be wildly emotional at times. Too, he would understand her writing, which was not something Laurie ever would have done, even though he would have accepted her need to write.

I reminded my daughter that Little Women was not the only book Louisa May Alcott had written about her family. My daughter was surprised. I'm not. While women my age were encouraged to read the classics, the next generation didn't fare so well.

And because that brings me up to tomorrow's "Latest Reads", of which there are none, I'll stop for today and call it done.

Labels: Fab Friends and Fun, Movie Mania, This n That

I've been downloading a lot of music lately. Yes, legally downloading, as I feel artists should be paid for their work. Oh, all right, I've bought books at used bookstores, even recently, but I don't make a habit of it. To be honest, I've been getting my music free. Yes, legally free. I use Pepsi points, and for 5 points a song, I can get downloads from Amazon. I can even get a DVD movie for 90 points! I haven't done that yet, I'm still gathering music.

Coming to the point where I thought I'd gotten most of the music I wanted and that was available (not everything out there is available for downloading), I haven't gotten any new songs lately. But late last night (make that very early this a.m.), I needed to know one small phrase from a movie/Broadway song. I found it, grabbed the song, and realized just how much I've always liked it. It's the theme song from Camelot, sung by Richard Harris.

And then I went craaaaazy listening to Broadway tunes. Old ones, new ones, some I remember singing in glee club in high school. (That would be "chorus" now, I think.) Songs that made me smile, like "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair". Songs that made me cry, such as "Climb Every Mountain". So many songs that I had to make a list, but "Camelot" was the only one I downloaded.

Listening to music when I write has become a habit. I have a long list in my player for just that, and another for when I go walking, although I haven't done that. Fun, bouncing tunes, some that I used to dance to back in the Stone Age. Music can lift my soul or quiet it.

There's one other way I listen to music. Pandora is online and free, and a program that lets you choose the type of music you like to hear and make "stations" of your favorites. I've recommended it to several people and haven't found anyone yet who doesn't like it. Check it out. It's worth it! Pandora.

Labels: This n That

There's nothing like summer. School is out, vacation time is scheduled, and hotter days are the norm. But just what do most people consider hot around here? We found out this past week in Kansas just how hot "hot" can be.

3 of 5 days this past week topped out at 109. We really aren't used to those kind of temps here. Hot, yes. 100 to maybe 105 for a few days, yes. But 3 straight days of 109? Yikes! And to top that, the fourth day was 112! The AC ran. And ran. Even during the night, when the lows were in the 80's. You know that when it's 3 a.m. and the thermometer reads 89 degrees, that it must be a heat wave. I don't know how I could've survived without that AC, but I'm sure going to hate to see that cooling bill when it arrives next month. Double yikes!

But it wasn't just Kansas with the high temps. I heard people from all around the country and into Canada say that temps were high. There was even a power loss in California last night that affected Yahoo.

Personally, I'm eagerly looking forward to September. Or maybe October, even more. Then again, I've noticed that, over the years, we are losing our 4 seasons. The question now is, will I be happy when autumn rolls around, or will we still be experiencing these weird temps?

How has YOUR weather been this summer?

Labels: This n That

My post yesterday got me thinking of the summers of my childhood. Add that to a recent comment on a local newspaper blog about what it was like when my generation were kids and Kristi Gold's aforementioned memory on her website, and today's topic was born.

The world has changed since we Baby Boomers were kids. We had pretty much the run of the neighborhood, my childhood friends and I. That neighborhood encompassed our block, including both sides of the street. As we grew a little older, it included the block behind, but we used that mostly for riding bicycles, because the street there ended in a circular deadend. We spent a lot of time on our bikes, racing, riding with no hands, sometimes pretending they were our loyal steeds.

I became proficient at hopscotch and could beat everybody on the block. It took me some time, but I mastered jacks and the multiple ways to play them. I had a pair of stilts and could walk up and down the porch steps on them. And I loved my roller skates! My favorite make-believe with them was to be a girl who lived in the frozen north, and they were my skis. I even had sticks, at times, for my ski poles and raced down the long driveway that sloped to the street. We played with cars and trucks in the dirt around a huge old tree and carved out towns and roads. And we learned to hang from our knees like circus performers, from the top bar of our swingless swingsets.

As long as our parents knew who we were with, they were happy. As long as we kept within the boundaries of the neighborhood, everything was okay. As long as we came home before dark, they weren't concerned. Our world was safe. We were happy. And at night, we fell into our beds, exhausted but smiling.

There were no Nintendos or X-Boxes. We'd never heard of a computer. We had board games, like Monopoly, Go To the Head of the Class, and Life, but they were saved for rainy, indoor days or winter. We watched old Shirley Temple movies on our black and white TVs when the afternoons were too hot to bear in our non-air conditioned homes. A few times each summer, we'd walk to the neighborhood pool, but it was crowded and noisy and filled with kids we didn't know. We read books and I wrote plays.

I hope some of my memories bring back happy memories for you.

Labels: This n That

...because that's what I have time for today.

I wanted to mention that I've made posting comments easier, so feel free to add something, whether in agreement, disagreement, or just to say HI.

Labels: This n That

(copied from a local neighborhood newsletter)

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. If not for you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique.

9. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.

13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

14. Always tell someone how you feel about them. You will fell much better when they know.

15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

Labels: This n That

No, not me, my computer's power supply. There's nothing like spending time without a computer to appreciate everything it does that makes life easier. From relaxing with a quick game (my favorite is spider solitaire) to doing research for a book and everything in between, I use my computer constantly. And I, like most of us, tend to take technology for granted. I paid the price for that, not only in $$$, but in time.

I decided to spend some of my downtime by hitting my TBR (To Be Read) pile. I wasn't disappointed and was in fact energized after reading 3 books, enough so that I pulled out my trusty Alpha Smart and wrote 16 pages in 2 days. To my surprise, my power supply arrived 4 days after I ordered it and that included a weekend. WOW! I was back in business again. But I had a lot of catching up to do.

Now that I'm (relatively) caught up, I'm curious to know what others are reading. Frankly, my reading tastes are eclectic, and I'll read just about anything if it looks good or interesting. I'll especially look for something someone has suggested, so feel free to post what you're reading now or have read in the past. I'd love to hear what's out there that's good!

Labels: This n That

Happy Saturday!

One of the greatest joys in my adult life is being a part of a group of writers. The Ditzy Chix began in August 2001, and it's amazing how much the eleven of us have grown as friends since then. It could be because we're women, and it could be because we all understand that it's okay to hear voices in our heads...aka characters' dialogue. More than likely, it's a little of both, in addition to the fact that we all support each other in our lives and our writing.

Writing can be a lonely profession. Writing can be a profession that brings little money. But those who write do so because they can't NOT write. Sounds crazy? Okay, it is, and I'd bet each and every writer would agree. We're all a little crazy, but who isn't? Keep in mind that only a select few--Stephen King, John Grisham, James Patterson, J.K. Rowling, to name a few--are making the big bucks. The rest of us are quietly waiting for our next sale or next royalty check to help pay the bills or maybe have the extra to redo our bathroom. And we do it alone. Just one on one with a computer and those voices in our heads.

But we're just like the guy or girl next door. Many of us have regular jobs, families to take care of, mortgages or rents to pay, soccer games to go to, and the need to buy gasoline that keeps going up and up in price. We laugh and cry like everyone else...sometimes a little more, because we laugh and cry at the characters we write about. So we may be crazy, but we're pretty normal, too. You probably couldn't pick us out of the usual crowd at the grocery store.

So if you've ever had an itch to write, but a little voice in your head keeps telling you that you must be crazy, there's no time in your life to write a grocery list, just remember that lots of others out there are doing it. What can you lose? A little time watching reality TV? Go ahead, give it a try. Be a little "crazy", just for fun.

Until later...

Labels: This n That