It's That Time...

So the youngest offspring (although he denies it) made the toilet overflow. Yes, it was FULL of all the nasties you could think of- I won't go into detail. And right before church so I was in heels and a skirt. The hubby offered to clean up the mess.

But you know men and bathrooms. So I spent hours, on hands and knees mostly, scrubbing with bleach and other cleaners: floor, walls (yes, it splattered), tub, sinks, woodwork, foot rug, towels, shower curtain. Spring cleaning a little early. Actually way early since there are still pockets of snow on the ground and I have lots of writing, editing, posting and other writerly things to do in between the mommy/wifey/volunteer stuff.

But I was rewarded.

Daffodils! If you've been following my blog for at least a year, you know I get ridiculously excited for these babies to arrive. Seeing them makes me want to clean out all my garden beds, rake the lawn, plants pots of bright hued flowers, and set up my pool. I am a summer/spring gal.

And with these pop ups come loads of energy; I'm going to tackle a number of projects starting today. I will finish editing my NaNoWriMo manuscript Lethal Dose and then finish a review/book blurb I was asked to do. While I wait for editorial revisions on Blonde Ops, I'm putting together a presentation for the New Jersey annual Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators happening in June (when the second son graduates high school!). I have ideas for 2 other manuscripts, but I'm going to work on the two paranormals-Crash and Burn and Splice-I started months ago (even if my agent isn't that crazy about them YET).

To further motivate me, I found these:

Doesn't look like much, but it's my son's daisies. When he was little he loved them, so every year we had daisies. I see them and think of him, and it makes me want to just get things done so I can sit back and appreciate life, gardens, sunshine--and things accomplished.

So go poke around, see what inspires you.

Char

It's That Time...

Love it or hate it, it's....

Don't fixate on the "I don't have a husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance" aspect. Focus on all the love that is in your life; family, friends, pets, faith.

I wish you all love and happiness. Go love someone new, they might really need it.

Char

I Got Distracted...

It happens. You sit down to write, or edit, or do something you NEED to do (work, volunteer activities, studies, etc.) and something comes up. It's like the moment you go to drive somewhere, there's a line of traffic that suddenly rushed to the intersection, making you wait. Every time.

I'm working on a number of projects, and yes, I have a good work ethic, but I do get distracted. What's my weakness?

This is the 'kitten' at almost 9 months old. Mink is part Persian, part Maine Coon. (I think the Maine Coon part is winning- this guy has the biggest paws I've ever seen on a cat. Does not bode well for the grocery bill.) Whenever I settle down in my office to work, he rummages through his toy basket and brings something up (here he comes now; usually it's a mousie on a stick.) Do I stop and play with him possibly losing my train of thought, or play?

I play. He's a living creature that I've taken into my life and he's looking what we for what we all want; love, attention, something to experience. ( Oh look, he brought his favorite string, my son's ridiculously long sneaker lace.) *15 minutes later-- Cats are a part of my life--besides loving two rescued cats, I frequently write them into my books. Hades had Cerberus, the 3-headed dog, so my character, Sharisse, had to be a cat lover. Mink's tired of playing, so off he goes.

My next distraction?

 Food. I'm not a frustrated chef, or a food-a-holic. Sometimes I actually forget to eat. It has to be a necessary distraction. Meals for the family and let's face it, my Chai latte addiction. When I remember, or take the time, to eat, it reminds me to weave some of the everyday-ness into my stories. I've read stories where there wasn't a single mention of eating, showering, using the bathroom. While we don't need a catalog of every meal or bathroom break, those are part of being human. Even zombies eat. Plus, food connects me to family and friends. Instead of having dinner at home, we mixed it up with our friends next door during the Super Bowl. Gotta get out and live life to write it.

Which brings me to: swimming.

I grew up on Long Island, between the Sound and the Great Peconic Bay. I love to swim. If I could be any mythological creature, it would be the mermaid. So, I drag my half unconscious body four or five times a week to the YMCA to swim. Just diving into the warm water make me happy. (And the high amounts of chlorine keep me blonde!) I hate gyms; the stink of stale sweat, the 'look over' as people size you up, or having to decide if I really want people to see me bouncing or grunting over machinery without makeup and wearing outfits from years ago. I know, you think it's worse being seen in a bathing suit. Nah, people are wearing goggles or have water in their eyes, or don't look any better as long as you make sure you're out before the swim team arrives. (Oh, Mink's back...*plays again). It's a distraction that I need; exercise keeps the cellulite away, drives up my alertness and will help me live to 100 like my Grandmother (actually she lived to 105 and for many years did water aerobics).

I must admit to: computer solitaire. (And yes, a character in Blonde Ops (Thomas Dunne, 2014) plays computer solitaire much to the annoyance of the main character, Bec.) Sometimes you just need to veg out on something mindless. I don't play games on Facebook or PlayStation or X-box. (I will however, take on the hubs at Wii bowling and fencing.) So many people spend hours playing, discussing or thinking about these games, they're obsessed. Life's too short to chalk up thousands of hours on stupid electronic games. Sorry, but I've got living to do and my time is limited. I allow myself to how many games I can play while I'm waiting for the florescent lights to brighten up so I can see words on my computer, or while I drink my Chai (I only have one hand free.) Plus, too long on the computer, with reading and editing tends to give me migraines.

So those are my main distractions. There's also the three boys, the other cat Casey, cars, house, church, school, family, friends, crises and sometimes the weather to deal with as they all vie to pull me away from what I need to do (write/edit/read).

But life's like that; so use your distractions wisely.

Char

So Not The End Of The Road

He was driving way too fast.

That was the opening line in my novel Crash and Burn. A contemporary ghost story that has evolved from the first novel I ever wrote, The Recalling. It started out as an adult book (sexual content). First, the word count was too low. So I stretched it. Then other projects came up: never to be published picture books, magazine articles that did get pubbed, and then my middle grade novel, Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines (not pubbed). Then came Sirenz, Sirenz Back In Fashion (Flux), and now, Blonde Ops (Thomas Dunne, 2014).

I'm always working on several projects because now that the older kids can drive themselves and I have just the youngest, I have more time. True, I'm out of the house going places six, sometimes seven days a week with fencing, math tutoring, bell practice, and tournaments,and let's not forget family visits and holidays that keep me busy, but I do find I have more time. So I work.

Having completed yet another revision, I sent Crash off to my beta readers. They suggested some changes. Good, because I knew there were holes and fresh eyes always help. I revised and sent it to my agent, Natalie Lakosil. She loved it BUT it was still rough, which I knew, and she listed some changes. No prob. I made the changes, sent it back. It came back with major change suggestions. I incorporated all but one which would in no way work. Sent it back. It was returned with a 'meh.'

Of course I fumed. I made all the changes! I revised, edited, reread, had others do the same. The novel was much better than when I first sent it. Why the 'meh' now?

The answer I got was that editors are 'tired' of paranormal and want contemporary stories.

Oh please.

They said that about vampires years ago, and yet I still see them being published. And they're not all fabulous. Then the editors were tired of werewolves. Yep, they're still coming out. I don't see paranormal going away any time too soon because it's just too popular. And by the time I get a contemporary novel written, polished, and submitted, I'll hear that they're tired of contemps. You can't win playing the 'what's hot now in the market' game because you'll always be behind.

So what do I do if my agent doesn't want it? Throw all that work away? I've actually heard some agents say that if they don't like it, that's the end of the road for that novel.

I think not.

I'll keep working on it. My critique group just read it and I know they'll have great suggestions. When I go to an SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) conference, I'll get a critique by at least two editors. And it they don't like it? I'll put it away for a bit while I work on more promising novels.

If I'm lucky, I'll have an editor say, "I've read your books. Send your manuscript to me." Or my agent will say it's time to bring it out again.Or, I can always self pub down the line.

One thing is for sure; to quote Mr. J.R.R. Tolkien, "The road goes ever on."

Char

Making Room

Spring cleaning isn't that far away, but I'm going to start early. As a reader and a writer, I collect a lot of books so I'm doing giveaways to help clear out the shelves.

For my first giveaway, I want to help an aspiring writer. Although I generally write YA, I do have a middle grade book needing an editor to adopt him, and I started in picture books, so these books run the gamut. All are great for people just starting out or are finally getting serious. The bundle includes:

It's A Bunny-Eat-Bunny World by Olga Litowinsky
From Inspiration to Publication by the Institute of Children's Writers
The First Book Market by Jason Shinder
Your Novel Proposal by Blythe Camenson and Marshall J. Cook (Writer's Digest Book)
Over 100 FAQs Women Asked About Writing by the National Assoc of Women Writers

It's A Bunny-Eat-Bunny World is a survival guide for the children's writer that is both funny and realistic. The other titles are self-explanatory. All have been useful to me but it's time for them to move on and help others. I will blindly pick one name and you get the whole bunch. If there's one you don't want, pass it on to a friend, a member of your crit group, or to whomever you think would enjoy/use it.

I'll try to do a giveaway once a month, so stay tuned and tell your fellow readers/writers.

Happy Writing!

Char

A New World Order

Originally, my post was going to be about books I've read once- and will NEVER re-read because I either didn't like them, or felt they had nothing further to offer me. That will come next week. This week I received an email from my aunt which has made its way around. It's something historical that I feel is very important, and just wish I could send it to every person, every government official, every politician. I don't know to whom I should give the credit, but it is not my work. Take from it what you will.

Thomas Jefferson 
  
At 5, he began studying under his cousin's tutor. 
At 9, he studied Latin, Greek and French.
At 14, he studied classical literature and additional languages.
At 16, he entered the College of William and Mary.
At 19, he studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.
At 23, he started his own law practice.
At 25, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
At 31, he wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America” and retired from his law practice.
At 32, he was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.
At 33, he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
At 33, he took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.
At 36, he was elected the second Governor of Virginia, succeeding Patrick Henry.
At 40, he served in Congress for two years.
At 41, he was the American minister to France, and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.
At 46, he served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.
At 53, he served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.
At 55, he drafted the Kentucky Resolutions, and became the active head of Republican Party.
At 57, he was elected the third president of the United States.
At 60, he obtained the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the nation's size.
At 61, he was elected to a second term as President.
At 65, he retired to Monticello.
At 80, he helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.
At 81, he almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia, and served as its first president.
At 83, he died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, along with John Adams
Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future:
John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
 
Thomas Jefferson said:

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."
 
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
 
"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."
 
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
 
"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
 
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
 
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
 
  "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." 

 
  "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
 
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

Thomas Jefferson was a bona-fide American genius- no one could argue that, and history has only confirmed it many times over. It's a shame that we will not heed his words...

Char

One Good Thing...

I was in a quandary; what do you get your 101 year old grandmother for her birthday? She has everything she needs and more than she wants. I thought about 100 stems of flowers, but in November, even carnations cost a small fortune and she gets tons of flowers. She once told me it was like a funeral home with all the bouquets and arrangements she received. Even though she protested she didn't want anything, I couldn't let her birthday pass without something.

In the end, I gave her nothing--but wishes and hopes and dreams.

It's a decorative mason jar filled with wishes like, "A bowl of your favorite ice cream." Here are some others:

*The smell of fresh cut grass
*Knowing how much you're loved
*A great book to thrill you
*A day without annoying phone calls
*A happy day
*Hope for the world
*Quiet time with God
*A spectacular sunset
*Remembering where you left your keys
*A visit with the new baby ducks
*An emergency bottle of wine in the cabinet

Some were very personal to her:
*A Republican president
*A decadent birthday cake
*Eating dinner in your jammies
*Osama Bin Laden's obituary
*The smell of snow

Once I got started, it wasn't hard to come up with 101. I could have gone on for 200 or more. Sadly, my grandmother passed on--at 105--and she saw almost all these wishes come true. I have her jar sitting in my office and when I browse through the wishes, it makes me smile and feel like she's dropping in for a visit.

And it's inspired me, as the New Year approaches, to create not a wishing jar, because we're all always wishing for something, but a "Blessing Jar." This is not my idea, I heard of it from somewhere and I wish I could give them proper credit but I can't remember who to thank! I'm taking a plain mason jar (which held pickles (and still smells like them- gotta remember to leave it open to air out) and whenever I can, I'm going to put in a slip of paper of something good that I've been blessed with. The first good thing for 2013 is that I'm alive to see it rung in, and to have the opportunity to accomplish and be and learn and give so much more than 2012.

Wishing you all many blessings, opportunities, hopes and dreams,

Char