Monday Again, So Blog This!

Monday. Blog Day.

I don't have anything to write about. I'm trying to revise an NA (new adult) novel but with my right hand/arm in a brace and hurting, typing is hard. Even worse is that I like to print out my novel and revise while reading the comments from critique group members. I hate the double screen because everything's too squishy (I work on a laptop, so I don't have a big desk monitor). I have ideas for other books, but don't want to start until I clean up the several I'm working on so I can submit them.

Weeded my meditation garden with my left hand. I think by the time my right arm gets normal,  my left is going to look like Hellboy's giant stone fist.

Enough boring you with complaints. How about I show you a little happy?

My bee balm bloomed (say that 3 times fast). I love the coral color.

My astilbe popped with color. And yes, I had to go to Dictionary.com for the proper spelling because I was pronouncing it wrong.

I don't know what these pretty purple peeps (I'm obviously in the mood for alliteration), but they are one of my faves. I have them in front, pool, and meditation gardens. If you know, tell me!

The only way for my lilies to bloom is to put them in pots. Rabbits? Chipmunks? Gophers? I don't know but SOMEBODY is eating them.

And finally, have a happy, and SAFE Fourth of July. While our current situation is far from perfect, we have a good beginning as stated in the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. 

We have not always employed these ideals, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. We need to work harder to embrace all humanity. We must learn from the past to improve our future. Don't give up- we can make it work.

CHAR 

Some of this, some of that...

I can now type with 2 hands, so it's time for a new post. But since my broken right arm can only last for 10 minutes before it starts to hurt like heck and swell, this is going to be a short post-

1- Dr checkup tomorrow, hopefully find out why wrist is so bad.
2- Arm break slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) getting better.
3- Revisions on my new projects is frustratingly slow because of stupid wrist.
4- Bunny moved out of my strawberry patch and didn't eat any strawberries...
5- Mating foxes need to learn that 'outdoor voices' ends at midnight.
6- I will spend most of this week in my bathing suit, poolside. Can't go anywhere anyway...
7- Trying to get more followers/friends on my Facebook author page- Author Charlotte Bennardo- which will be my main page in the future.
8- September is going to be crazy busy because by then I should be able to paint my living room.
9- Working in a new genre- adult sweet romance/drama. Children's publishing is a tough market.
10- Spending too much time wondering when life will get back to normal- and slowly realizing it will never be the same...

Oh, and here are some happy pictures of my meditation garden because we all need moments of peace and sanity...

Geraniums are such happy flowers..

My middle son loved daisies when he was little, so I make sure I always have them in my garden.

Since I put up a better fence, the bunnies and deer can't eat my astible. It's never looked this good!

Day lilies- how can you look at them and not smile?

Yarrow- some say weed, some say wildflower, I say pretty.

Cracked birdbath works as a pedestal planter.

So there's some happy for you. Hope to share more Good Things and give everyone just a tiny bit of serenity...


Char

Taking A Step Back...

Yep, missed last Monday's blog. This time, I have the BEST excuse. I'm not dead, so okay second best excuse. Wait, haven't been kidnapped by aliens. Or joined a secluded religious order. Or been in jail. But I have a REALLY good excuse.

I fell off my bike and broke my arm. Got 6 staples for a gash in my head, too. Lots of road rash. I'm a righty, so typing this left-handed is a tedious chore. I'm going to need some recoup time.

Have pity on me, send prayers and vibes, and show cute pics in the comments.

Char 

Enough! The Gloves Come Off...

No one knows better than me how tough the book business is. Unless you're a famous, or have hit the bestseller list with a previous book, authors have to do more and more of the marketing, public relations, and selling of their books with decreasing help from publishers. Everyone's scrambling for money and attention.

But that's not what I'm complaining about. Today, it's about trolls. Specifically, one who promises 'honest' book reviews and helpful marketing. They posted once in my comments, clearly trying to sell me on their services, and I allowed it.

Then they started posting two and three times (or more) on subsequent posts, even those that didn't relate to writing, like last week's post about my painting patio chairs. I've marked them as spam, but somehow they still manage to post in my comments.

So, NEVER USE HONESTBOOKREVIEWS.COM because they troll you until you want to commit felony homicide. (Maybe this will get their attention.) Seriously, if you have to harass and torment a writer to get them to look at your services (we won't), then how good can your service be? These people are as bad as the Replacements by Anderson Windows (they keep calling, mailing, leaving leaflets for new windows WHEN WE HAVE NEW WINDOWS...BY ANDERSON). I would never recommend these two because of the unrelenting harassment.

And as long as I'm ranting- PLEASE STOP SENDING ME STUFF: ASPCA, Disabled American Vets, St. Judes, USO, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society, to name a few. I support a number of charities. There is only so much I can donate. I make these donations once a year, in October. Save $$ and stop with the 'gifts' which make me believe you're wasting the money I send you to help people and animals by SENDING STUPID STUFF. Playing cards? Almost everyone uses their iPad or laptop. Cards? People send email greetings. Calculator? Use my phone, thanks. And NO ONE really uses a paper calendar anymore.

So chill with sales pitches and stuff, save the earth by reducing this waste, and don't talk to me until October. Then you can all duke it out for donations.

Oh, and here's a picture of my kitty to make you feel better about being a pain in the ass.

Char

Crafting, But Not With Words

Okay, with all this time while we #stayhome, I can get a lot of writing done. And I have. But sometimes, an author needs a break from word crafting. I used to do a lot of crafts when the kids were little, but I accumulated a lot of projects. I mean, how many wreaths and centerpieces are too much? I've since lost interest in cutesy décor. This past week though, I've been working not only in my meditation and food gardens, but also the décor around my pool. (I LOVE my pool.)

This is what I started with:

A neighbor was moving and put these chairs out for garbage pick-up. They were sturdy, although dirty and stained. Plus, I think someone tried to touch-up the paint because there were areas where paint was peeling. I have a pool, so I have parties and lots of people who need seats. Plus, every year at least one chair breaks. So I took these home. But I have high standards; I don't like anything that looks worn, and I strongly believe in recycle/reduce/reuse.

The first thing to do was scrub the chairs with a good detergent.

Then I sanded the chairs. Not only does it take off a lot of stains, but it makes the plastic a bit rougher and more porous, so paint adheres better. I already had a color scheme in mind (it tends to change every two or three years). Next, choose the right paint: one that is specifically designed for plastic. A spray can is better than a brush on paint, but you have to use the right technique. I've found to avoid runs and drips, you should not continuously spray, but do it by spraying a strip at a time. This also gives your finger a rest. And generally, you have to do two coats. Generally I choose a satin finish because experience has shown me that satin washes more easily than flat, and lasts longer, hides more imperfections than super glossy. Please use protective glasses, spray outside, not in enclosed spaces, and put a drop cloth (or cardboard) underneath.

This is the end result. I'm now ready for a party I can't have, but at least everything looks nice.

Stay safe, and treat yourself-and those working under these dangerous conditions- with love and patience. I hope we can meet in book festivals, libraries, restaurants, and other places soon.

Char 

Going Digital...

Yep, blog is late again. What's new with you?

Photo by Felipe Cespedes from Pexels

This year I was supposed to make a number of appearances at book festivals and camps. Like me, I know so many readers, authors, teachers, students, and fans will be disappointed.

But not all is lost!

Many events are going digital! So if you were planning on going to say, NerdCampNJ, there are workshops and presentations by a number of authors that you can access. Here's the Writer's Block presentation I did with fellow author Christine Uss:

NJ NerdCamp 

Even if you don't suffer from writer's block occasionally, Christine and I share some tips that may help you get past that awful rejection, or an editor's lengthy 'I love the manuscript but here is a gazillion pages of notes for changes so I'll love it more' roadblock.

Another presentation I'll be doing is reading from my middle grade novel, Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines in lieu of attending in person the Chesapeake Children's Book Festival. I'll post the links when available.

So don't despair! We're all doing the best we can. Feel free to contact me or any author that provides a social media link. We'd love to chat with you, especially about books! (ours, yours, whomever!)

Stay safe, stay calm, and write on!

Char  

Just... Breathe....

Behind your mask, six feet from everyone, in your home. Play video games, go to school online, Zoom conference with family and friends. Order necessities to be delivered. Put together puzzles, color rainbows for the window, post Thank You notes for essential workers.

We've done it all, and frankly most of us are getting cabin fever, sick of being corralled. (This is NOT a political rant against the #StayHome orders from federal and state governments.). Add to that days of rain and clouds and a reversion to cold weather, and a lot of us are ready to scream at the moon- or those with whom we're locked in. We want open spaces...

So here: a few pictures of just calm, peaceful scenes from both my yard and from Pexels Inc. May it bring your stress level down and help you get through another day, even a few hours of this pandemic as we wait for our lives to return to a partial semblance of what was our normal:

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Photo courtesy of Pexels 

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Just know that I'm sending a warm hug to you all- we will get there because "This too, shall pass..." 

Char