BAD GIRLS NEED LOVE TOO!

What am I reading? Mistletoe Mommy by Tanya Michaels.  Single dad on vacation with his kids finds a cat and love.

I mistakenly thought this was a Christmas story.  It was not.  The story takes place in the summer in...Mistletoe, from the 4 seasons in Mistletoe series.  My fault.

I desperatly wanted to read a Christmas story.  Not A Christmas Story, but a story about Christmas.  So, I downloaded for free from Samhain, Mistletoe and Mario, written by my gal pal and chapter mate at the Music City RWA, Marie-Nicole Ryan.  It had Christmas decorating, rekindling an old flame, and sex.  Ho ho ho.  And it was about a sailor on leave (my hubby was in the Navy), so I enjoyed all twelve pages of it, wishing there was more. 

Have a happy holiday!

What am I reading? Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M.C. Beaton.  This is an Agatha Raisin Mystery.  Who done it? I don't even remember, but it had nothing to do with Christmas except the last 20 pages.

Do you have the Christmas spirit? I have no small children at home. Not even a medium sized child.  But, okay I decorated a tree.  I love a Christmas tree.  I have some of my grandmother's old ornaments. I have ornaments I made nearly 30 years ago. I hate to take them down after Christmas.  I have 2 miniature trees I leave up year 'round, but the family will not let me leave the four footer up all year. 

I just don't get the magical rush from decorating for the seasons that I used to. I've watched a couple Christmas movies.  Mrs. Miracle.  Okay, so just one.  I thought I was reading a Christmas book, but it turned out - no.  Next I'm going to dive into Mistletoe Mommy.  That has got to be about Christmas.  Right? 

I finished writing a Christmas story of my own.  And yet, I'm not excited about holiday shopping.  I did buy a gift for a needy child.  Her name is Charity, and she is 5. I got her a Barbie and some clothes, so I hope she's not reading my blog.  I really don't care what you think about Barbie with her perfectly proportioned...everything.  I like her. I like her clothes.  Ken...not so much. I think she can do better. I was really surprised by the serious lack of Barbie clothes.  I've been to K-Mart, Fred Meyer, and Rite Aid.

There's nothing on TV, so I'm going to go dive into Mistletoe Mommy and hope for some spirit to find me.  Actually, the couple on the cover sort of look like Ken and Barbie.

What am I reading? Breakfast at Sally's by Richard LeMieux.  A memoir of one homeless man and the aquaintences he encounters in his journey.

I'm not sure if I'm drawn to this book because of the book itself, the subject matter, the writing, the voice etc...or because the setting is my own back yard.  I see these homeless people every day - yet they are invisible.  When Richard LeMieux leads me around town, I know exactly where I am, no description necessary. 

Now, has it changed the way I feel about homelessness?  I'm not sure.  Am I finding it inspirational?  Not so far, of course I haven't gotten to the part where he climbs back from homelessness.  But I respect anyone who can write a novel and get it published, although I'm not sure how he went about that.  The book hasn't touched on his writing yet.  I'm not sure if it will.  I don't think I could have accomplished publication out on the streets.  I sent out many, many querries and partials at great time and expense (emotional as well as monetary).

I do feel sorry for homeless animals and small children, because I don't think it is a choice for them.  Some of these men are on the street by choice.  I admire their resourcefulness.  But I'm sort of one of those believers in give a man a fish or teach him how to fish.  I choose teach him how to fish. Only, not me personally, because I don't know how to fish.  I don't know if these men want to learn to fish - and when I say fish, I mean learn a trade - get a job.  This book shows a pattern of peoples most basic instinct to survive by going around from soup kitchen to soup kitchen being fed.  Is that helpful?  I'm not sure. 

The building I work at just hosted a Thanksgiving meal for the poor, sponsered by the local high school and a group of dedicated volunteers. A one day event that they probably spend all year preparing for. But feeding people for one day out of 365 is a bandaid. A tiny bandaid on a gaping wound.  A bandaid that does nothing but perhaps ease our conscience for the other 364 days.  What is the solution for homelessness?  I'm not smart enough to answer that question.

Back to the book.  It's easy to read.  The pacing is quick.  LeMieux writes some insightful and thought provoking things.  But, since it is a memoir, I take it all with a grain of salt.  I do not believe that you can lose your business, money, possessions, your mate, and your family by no fault of your own.  Don't get me wrong, I've been there...divorced...out of work...relying on public assistance...on my own with 2 children...no one to help but my mother, who helped me a lot.  How did this happen to me?  Bad luck, bad choices, bad timing.

So, I am thankful on this Thanksgiving holiday that I have my writing aspirations.  I suspect Richard LeMieux emerged from his dark days on the streets with the help of his writing.  I still get up every morning, go to my low paying, dead end job, do my work, come home, work some more at my second job (cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping), and then work on my "real" job as a writer.  At one point, Richard claims that the homeless are free, and perhaps that is true.  I'm certainly not.  I have responsibilities (children, husband, house, dogs), the reason I get up and go to my job.  The writing I do for me.  And hopefully someday soon, for you.

What am I reading? Free Fall by Phyllis Humphrey.  Girl falls for guy.  Literally.  Like she jumps out of a perfectly good airplane.

I'm not one of those people who likes to go around the Thanksgiving table forcing their guests to recite what they're thankful for before allowing them to eat, like holiday bribery. 

If a host dangles food out of my reach until I barf up some reason to be thankful, they will not see me around their table again.

But here's what I'm thankful for, although I'm not what you'd call extactic about some of it.

• A roof over our heads that is still worth more than we owe.
• A job that keeps giving me more hours rather than less hours, which is the norm in this economy.
• A husband who puts gas in my car.  I haven't had to pump my own gas in years.  I don't even know how much gas costs.
• Healthy self & family.  Everytime I get sick, I promise myself I will be thankful everyday I'm well, but then I forget once I'm feeling better.
• An ebook coming out in April 2010. 
• We have a turkey and I don't have to cook it. 
• Endless writing ideas.

I hope everyone has something to be thankful for, even if you have to really dig deep to find it.

What am I reading?  Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie.  Romping good fun with a little mystery, a smattering of sex, layered in comedy.  Just my style.

Way back on June 25th I blogged about promo finding me.  I was interviewed by Barbara Zukowski for an article in the RWR (Romance Writers Report).  She told me it would be in the November issue, but I didn't really believe it.  I figured my quotes would  never make it to print, but they did.

The article is "Finding Your Musical Muse".  I think she'd read a partial of Pleasant Lake P.D. as a contest judge, and, well, I like music.  My characters like music, and just because you can't hear the music in a book, I love to make musical references.  As a matter of fact, I jot down songs I like as I hear them for use later in my writing.  My fav is 80s music, even though my characters are a little young for that era.  Oh, well.  Who doesn't like the 80s?  Maybe not the clothes, or hair, or cars, or movies, but, oh, the music.

So if you get the RWR, check it out, page 32.  I'm on page 34.  You should read the entire article.  It's great stuff.

What am I reading? According to Jane by Marilyn Brant. Girl talks to dead people Jane Austen. Who wouldn't want to know: What would Jane do?

I was thrilled to be the winner of the Contest Diva tiara for most contest finals in 2008. Check it out at www.contestdivas.blogspot.com.

I remember very well the day I took the lead and I kept the lead. What does it mean? It means I enter too many contests. It means I'm too competitive. It means I need help. I need an intervention. The only remedy is to get published so you're ineligible for most of the unpublished contests. It's a given that I won't win the most overall contest finals next year (which is this year), but I could win greatest number of different manuscript finals, as I'm already at five and last year's winner was six. Okay, someone stop me.

So I'm sitting here wearing my tiara as I write this blog. I thought it would be like a virtual tiara, more like an honorary thing. I wanted to win and I didn't think I was even going to get a real tiara. Yes, I seriously won a tiara, and it's a really nice one with a carrying case so I can travel with it. It's not squishing or pinching my head. My tiara is actually quite comfortable. I also got a tiara pin, in case my actual tiara is "too much" bling for a certain function, although I can't imagine.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to Lily in Wonderland being in print some day so I can enter the world of published contests. Won't somebody, anybody just stop me?

What am I reading? Necessary Arrangements by Tanya Michna.  Battle to the death with breast cancer.  I'm hoping the cancer loses and the heroine will be victorious.

     I literally just finished my third round of edits for Lily in Wonderland.  I'd like to tell you I read through the manuscript, finding no mistakes, typos or error, but that was not the case.  If Cerridwen sent it back to me three more times, I'd probably find more.  I'm sure it will go to print with a typo or two. In quilting, it's called a humility block, a purposeful mistake.  In publishing, I don't think there is anything purposeful about it.  It's just a typo.   

     If you'd like to read an excerpt, I am posting it on the website.  I hope you enjoy. 

What am I reading? Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts.  Three brothers (sort of) = three heros = three books and three heroines.  Good vs evil in a final showdown. 

     Who is this Nora Roberts?  What rock has she been hiding under?  Why have I never heard of her before?  She must be the best kept secret in the writing community.  I wonder if I could get credit for discovering her? 

     I'm joking.  Of course I've heard of Nora Roberts.  I've just never much read her before.  Sorry, Nora.  I picked up Midnight Bayou somewhere and just loved it.  Thinking it must be a fluke, I picked up Blood Brothers.  It took me a few pages, but I came to love it too.  Now I need to find book two, which I think is called The Hollow.  I have book three, but can't put my hands on it at the moment, The Pagan Stone.  Sorry if I'm wrong about those titles.  I'm up to my ears in books and I keep winning more off people's blogs.  Not that I'm complaining.  I just wish I could be so lucky with editors and agents.

     As I admitted before, I'm not a vorascious reader, nor am I a fast reader.  And I want to read all of these books people are sending me and tell all one or two of you about them.  I also need time to write and blog and check my e-mail.  My boss insists I come to work if I want to keep my job.  The family claims they need me for a variety of activities.  I need more time.  More time for Nora and Tanya and Jennifer and Terry and Diana and Joan and Raeanne and Marilyn and Phyllis. 

What am I reading?  Suddenly One Summer by Barbara Freethy.  Woman on the run crosses paths with a man suffering from a tragic past.   Sprinkle with angels. 

     A few days ago I caught my husband doing something that shocked me.   I'm sure I'm not alone here.  Am I right, ladies?

     It stopped me in my tracks, made my heart pound, my throat dry, and then drew me in closer.  I was soaking wet, fresh from a shower, draped only in a towel.  I'm pretty sure it was his first time.  At least that's what I told myself.  He knew I was there, but didn't stop.  He didn't even look up and why would he?  His hands were full.  I got this funny roller coaster feeling in my gut and I wanted to be a part of the action.  I wanted to feel what he felt.  I wanted to see through his eyes what he saw.

     Get out of the gutter.

     He had been checking his email, saw my manuscript, Lily In Wonderland, sitting by the computer where I had been working on it.  I don't know what made him do it.  He'd never done it before that I know of.  He began reading.  And even with me hovering around, (in nothing but a towel - hello) he kept reading it.  He'd chuckled.  He'd turn a page.  He'd chuckle some more.  Sometimes he'd repeat something I wrote.  He may have called me a pervert, but I'm unclear why.  He said my heroine, Lily, was a bad, bad, bad girl.  And I reminded him that bad girls need love too.

     That's it.  That's all.  He read ten pages and gave up.  But he said it was good.  So there you have it.  It's good.

What am I reading? Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins.  Wow!

I think I'm in love.  I picked this book up in DC for free.  I don't recall where or when.  It should have been a moment I remembered, but I picked up a lot of books in different places and schlept them all home in my carry on bag, risking chronic back pain because I'm too cheap to pay the shipping.

Why do authors give their books away?  This is why.  Because I will probably go out and buy Just One of the Guys, Fools Rush In or Catch of the Day.

I can't add Ms. Higgins to my favorite authors list because there are rules, although the rules are fuzzy and flexible.  I should read at least one or two more of her books and love it/them too before adding her to my short list of favorite authors. 

I do have a very short list.  I'm not a "good" reader.  There, I said it.  I am not one of those voracious readers you hear so much about.  I'm easily distracted.  I find myself counting the pages in the chapter or scene before I keep reading.  I make disgruntled noises while I'm reading, depending on how disgruntled I find myself.  Sometimes I find myself unable to finish the book because I don't care what happens.  I'm a better TV watcher than I am a reader, although I still make disgruntled noises.  I enjoy writing more than reading.  I also feel vindicated because Janet Evanovich said she doesn't really read.  I'm sure she reads.  I'm not saying she can't read.  I believe she said it contaminates her writing or something to that effect.

Anyhow, about Ms. Higgins...I love her voice.  I love 1st person point of view when done well and it was.  Did I have some problems with the book?  Sure, but I loved her entertaining style of writing so much, I didn't care.