RePost! How to Subscribe to this blog!

Happy New Year!! This is a repost due to me being on vacation and hopefully celebrating the New Year like a manic!


I had a question asked by Kelli via my GUESTBOOK, and it is a wonderful question. How do I subscribe?

That is easy! On the left side of my page you have two options!

One is to become a "FOLLOWER", this option allows you to use your Google account or another account to keep track of your favorite blogs, I actually use this feature myself for several blogs. This option allows you to sign in under your google account and allows you to leave comments on the blogs you are a fan of, this is easier for me.

The second option is a new addition to my blog. You can now subscribe via a feeder. This allows you to add a feed to your most used homepage like MY AOL. Just click on the orange icon on the top of the left side of page that says "SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG". It will pop up a page that has some of my most recent posts on it and on the top right side it gives you multiple options to add a feed of my blog to. Choose which one you use and it will say subscribe with MY AOL for example, then click on it. It will pop up your page and may ask for your log in info. Then it's done! Simple, and easy.

Kelli, I hope that answered your question! If you have a question feel free to leave it as a comment in the post it is referencing, or you can leave it in my guest book which is located at the bottom of my blog or you can e-mail me at rubyself@aol.com. Thanks for reading!

Swap

Repost! I am still on Vacation!
I know that if your like me you love to curl up with a good book on rainy days. There is nothing better that I like to do than cuddle up in a blanket on the couch and read with the house quiet. It's a rare moment when my house is quiet. The thing for me lately is that the selection of books in my local area are not quite up to snuff, they suck actually. If I wanted to read every version of a cup of soup for the Soul I would be set, or if I wanted to simply read crafting magizines. But I don't, I crave something thick with plot and characters that fly off the page. So I am bound to reading old favorites or hitting the library in the hopes that they have something decent.

Its somewhat frustrating really. I am a collector of books, I love the way they smell, the feel of their wieght in my hands, and the sounds of pages turning. I am addicted to simply put it. In order to broaden my selections a select group of my friends and I swap books. Yep, we collect five or six books, put book covers on them with the title and our name and we swap. They all get retuned to the owner once a month when we swap again. It saves me money, trust me I could easily blow a wad of cash on books, and I get to see my friends and have an excuse to get out of the house that does not involve me spending money.

My husband is relieved that I do this. I once walked into a Barnes and Noble and dropped nearly $300 on books in less than fifteen minutes. I thought he was going to have a stroke. Swapping is kid friendsly and also allows my kids to see their friends. It's kind of like a play date. It's a win-win really.

So as the hoildays approach and we must tighten our belts even more I highly recommend this. If you and your friends are addicts of other media, like Video Games or DVDs try swapping them. I know I was surprised with what selections my friends and family had that I didn't.

REPOST! Confrences and Workshops

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! This is a repost well beacuse I am busy celebrating and hopefully over-induling in my mother's homemade burbon balls! Since the new year means that the season for workshops and confrences will soon be here I thought this would be a lovely re-post to do. Also I will not be posting any new postings until the 6th of January! I am going on VACATION, so enjoy the hoilday season and of course all of those wonderful family activites.

I know that writing can be a lonely occupation, but it doesn't have to be. One of the greatest tools (and distraction) for an author is the Internet. We can contact other author's and aspiring writers through on-line writer's groups, and check out other people's blogs. One of my favorite blogs to read is Nathan Bransford's, not only is it informational but you get to see the publishing world through an agent's eyes.

Outside of the world wide web there are slews of workshops, book clubs, classes, seminars, and conventions. I know in mid-state TN in the next four months there are at least 4 different events happening this summer and fall. 1 seminar, 2 conventions, and a few workshops. Now keep in mind these types of events require a bit of fundage and of course registration. If you live in the middle TN area one of the best organizations that offers these types of events with a reasonable cost is the Council for the Written Word, they are based in Franklin TN. They are hosting a seminar/workshop in the fall. Their website is:
http://www.cww-writers.org/

What to do if you are interested in a workshop. Workshops are fun, and are supposed to be relaxing, there is no need to work yourself into a tizzy. Breathe!

First thing to do is to find out their registration deadline is, then mail in your information or submit it on-line if that option is available. Next is check what type of materials you will need. I attended a workshop in march and the guest speaker was Susan Gregg Gilmore and it was recommended we read her book before hand and to bring it with us. Which I did, (it was a good read!) and surprisingly she even signed the book for me. It was also recommended that we bring our own writing tools(pen, paper, ect.) A must for attending any conference, workshop, or any event is to make sure you know the TIME and PLACE of the events. Most workshops have a pre-event get together usually at a book store the night before. Check your information, and if it seems unclear ask them about it. I assure you that they will not bite.

If you are feeling a bit shy about going to a workshop all willy-nilley and meeting new people take a friend with you. I asked a friend to go with me in March and she benefited from it also since she is in college and is taking creative writing courses. I have learned that jeans and a comfy shirt is okay apparel to wear. Wear what ever you are comfy in, (not pj's though, make sure you do look professional)especially if your going to be sitting for long periods of time. But as always check the event listing, a ballroom party might not be a good function to wear jeans to unless it's themed.

So in short, relax and enjoy the function. Don't worry the other author's at the event, they are people just like you, and are possibly more nervous than you are. Enjoy the fall and summer workshop season.

Christmas Overload

This time of year we all are overflowed with family and of course activities forced upon us by them. Really, do I need to go to a tree lighting ceramony? in your head you say "NO!" for several different reasons, but your bundled up anyway and end up freezing your butt off in a square waiting for the "officals" to work out some sort of "electrical" issue in 10 degree weather. Yeah, that sounds like heaps of fun.

We can all suffer through incidents like these or we can use these experiances to our advantage. Keep a holiday journal, and in this journal write down your hoilday experiances. Your feelings, your reactions, and other people's reactions, and your insight to whatever the situation is/was at the moment.Once Christmas and New Years is over stash it away for a moment of crisis when you are stuffing from writers madness.

This is a brillant idea for a writer to keep all of those experiances fresh in the mind and also preserve all those wonderful Family memories.

A hard lesson learned

I have been thinking about all the good things that came with 2009. Somethings that came out in the open were more like a "WTF?"moment. I had several of them this year where you just stare at the PC screen with your mouth agape wondering why now of all the moments in the world did this have to happen now. But for me mostly the year is not just about those crazy moments where the media caused me to scratch my head and wonder about the sanity of myself and those around me, but I have learned a lot this year.

In writing this year I have had my eyes opened. In some ways it does mean in some aspects of the industry I have become jaded and just as cold as Mr.Scrooge. It was not even that I was asking for a heap of stuff from this person, but I was simply accepting was what was being extended to me. Then to have that pretty much shoved back into my face for several reasons did hurt, given it was over a period of several months, so it was a group or a gaggle of small hurts that turned into one nasty monster of pain and a pinch of anger and a scoop of disappointment.

I have learned from that experience to NEVER really trust anyone. That is their opinion, what they are seeing from their eyes; If they are not of importance in your life, in your views and in your plan for becoming accomplished don't take anything they say to be of any amount of worth. Simply nod, smile and say thank you for their praise. Make a note of it for when your having a blue moment, but in reality those kind words lead well into nothing. Space really, a void of nothingness.

I know that sounds awful especially for this time of year, but that is the truth. There is nothing anyone, whether they are published or not, can do for you other than try to change all those wonderful words you have composed or try to change who you are as a writer. I know that as writers we are full of self doubt and all it takes it one person saying one little thing for us to go back and rip out chapters upon chapters and try to change not only how we write by why we write.

If you feel like there is something that needs to be altered in any way make sure that it is a change that you WANT, not because someone "suggested" you change this or that. All I am saying to you my lovely reader is that if you are happy with what is on the page then it is perfection. If you have read it and re-read it and your are satisfied with your product keep it. Don't change a thing. Be confident in yourself, in your skill and in your product. That is what really matters. If you love it someone else will too and they will not ask you to re-write a single word or try change who you are as a writer.

Finding your voice

This is REPOST! I know that I am being naughty, but with family coming in early for Christmas I am simply overwhelmed! I hope this gives you some food for thought while you are celebrating! Have a great weekend!

I read a lot. Well, some of my closest friends and family will state that is an understatement of how much I read. What I read does not really have any set pattern to it, I'm not at the book aisle every Tuesday when the new releases are shelved screening possible additions to my book case. What makes me pick up a book and actually purchase it is not just the story alone, or the wonderfully witty characters, it's the writer's voice. Yep, their voice.

Now, I'm betting you are wondering what an author's voice is and if your are a writer what yours sounds like. An author's voice is how they phrase their sentences, convey their words onto paper, the type of language used (an example, do they write in American tones or British tones?)The author's voice can tell you a lot about the author from what period (Renascence, Victorian, etc.), what class they were cast in society (this can even expose a person's education level), and in some cases even reveal what area they were raised in from their vocabulary selection and slang use in their writing. A writer's voice is as individual and unique as a finger print. For an example compare Edgar Allen Poe's works to Mark Twain's writings. Yes They are both American and born in the same time frame but their voices are different.

For us writers to understand and hear our own voices read aloud your work. Read it to yourself, your friends, your family, if you need to read aloud to your houseplants. Just don't read it thinking, "oh, this again, I've read this 100 times since I wrote it.", that maybe true but read it and you will hear yourself. The easiest way to hear your voice is to get a friend to write a short story and then you write the same short story, the same everything; character names, storyline, beginning and ending. Then swap stories and read them. Your voice will stick out like a sore thumb to your ears.

Once you can recognize your voice you can control it and how it effects your writings. It's your voice and it can be anything that you envision it to be. If you try the short story exercise let me know if it helped you, I love feedback.

The Perfect Gift!

I know that Christmas is almost here. Trust me on this, or rather trust the sexy cowbow calender that is hanging by my desk with Decemember 25th marked in red. Christmas is always a difficult time of year. What do I get my neice?? do you think that's his size? It's an endless debate with yourself in some over crowded shop. Toture is a perfect word for it all.

For those last minute gifts forgo the packed department stores and forget about trying to calculate how many more shipping days are left before Christmas and how much that shipping will cost you. Head into a book store. There you can find something for everyone. If they are into heavy music a musicial group bio would hit the spot. Are they a history buff? Try a book about odd facts about the Presidents. Are they into to design? There are books for that too! A book is something that lasts beyond an expiration date, and does not require batteries. Books are the gift that keeps giving! They not only get the book, but the knowledge it contains! It's a perfect way to show that special someone how much you love them.

E-Book Mania!!!

Last week was a pretty explosive week in publishing, well e-books to be exact. Simon & Schuster has become the first major publishing house to put into place a firm release date for its e-books—four months after publication of the hardcover, this is for books released from January-April.

The 35 titles scheduled to have a delayed e-book release are books that have either high print runs or high price points. An S&S spokesperson said the company believes that “this publishing sequence will benefit the performance of all the different formats in which these titles are published and, in the long term, will contribute to a healthier retail environment for the greater book buying public.”


Usually in today's market the hard backed format and the e-book format are released on the same day. It seems that times are changing. I feel that this publisher is trying to delay the growth of e-books. I seriously doubt if people will be willing to wait four months for an e-book version of a book when they can go out and by a hardback and not have to wait. I HATE waiting, and I'm sure a mass majority of people are the same. Then again people may not wait, and completely opt to purchase a different book based upon this delayed releasing of titles for e-book.

I'm not quite sure what the delay is for other than perhaps as a way to "poke" at Amazon.com for slashing prices, and in response to this delay they have slashed prices even more. The oddest part is that the publishers are still getting their cut in full, and amazon is the one taking the hit in the income. Perhaps this is Amazon.com's way of saying, "Sorry about those crazy publishers people! I swear it's not my fault your format is not released!"


Simon & Schuster was the first of officially state that they are delaying the releases of their titles, but once they did a flood gate opened. A Hachette Book Group and Harper Collins are doing pretty much the same thing. Hachette stated that they will be delaying a "wide selection of titles" in January and February. Harper Collins has plan.
In the first few months of 2010, HC will delay the release of five–10 books per month. But HC also plans to develop enhanced e-books for some of those titles and will publish the special e-books, which will have price points close to that of the hardcover, simultaneously with the print edition. The regular e-book will then be released at a later date. In addition, next year HC plans to test low price and free e-books to gauge consumer appetite for a variety of digital price points and formats.

So the questions that remains for me is this really going to work? True the publishers want people to buy the most expensive format, but now days it's all about meeting the consumer's needs and of course convince. I love a good hardback; the feel of it in your hands as you read, the feel of the paper as I turn the pages, and the fact that it can withstand several readings makes hardbacks a wonderful thing. As a consumer I realize that there are certain books that I will not pay the hardcover price for, like romance as an example. I sometimes feel the need for a good sexy highlander story, but I will NOT pay anywhere near $20 for one. That is madness, so I wait for a good paperback version to catch my eye. It's easier on my wallet and my purse, oh, and don't forget my already packed bookcases. There has been some wonderful books out there that was strictly published in hardback that I passed on because of the price point. I like a good bargin and I cannot afford to be fleeced, I mean really who can in this economy?

This decision that the publishers have made will either open up the e-book sales or send it to hell in a hand basket. This is a publisher's version of Mr. Toad's wild Ride. Simply replace motorcar mania with e-book mania. So let us put on our driving goggles and a good scarf and see where Mr. Toad will end up. Who knows, he may save Toad Hall after all.

Is Harry Potter Christ?

I know that I am re-posting this, but it is the "Christ-Season" so to speak, and I am currently out of town. So here's an oldie but goodie post that really had me thinking for a while. I shall resume my normal posting on Monday the 14th. Again, for those that skimmed the top part (You know who you are) this is a repost. Have a great weekend!!!!


The books are completed, all seven Harry Potter's are done. The movies are close to being completed as well. Now rewind in your minds to back when Harry Potter was first being noticed by kids of all ages and the churches and of course religious scholars. Do you remember the book burnings that were held for the Potter books? Do you remember all the slander of the books by Conservative Christan's saying that the books promoted witchcraft and Satan? I remember schools banning the books from their libraries and parents having fits over the Scar Boy.

Now those same people who condemned the books a "EVIL" and a strike against all that is good in the world are saying that the Harry Potter series are not all that bad. That the books follow the gospels. They see that Dumbledore (even though he is gay in the series) and Harry are versions of Christ because they face a death experience and then they are reborn in a fashion. That makes Malfoy and Snape the Judases. The the wands in the book represent God, the Father, the Sorcerer's Stone represents the the Son because it stands for resurrection and Harry's invisibility cloak stands for the Holy Ghost. I know, I said "WTF?" too when I heard about this.

Quite a few Conservative Christan's and religious scholars have changed their tune since the book series was completed. To me I never saw these books as bad or evil in any fashion. They got kids into reading when otherwise they might have picked up a video game instead.

Of course kids are going to be interested in anything that is considered taboo. I remember when I was in the sixth grade listening to my grandfather telling stories about a neighbor of theirs several years past that had some odd habits that tagged her as a witch in the community (Ok, being able to change form into a goat kinda of does label one as a witch of some sort).I remember being fascinated with the tale, I begged my dad to take me to the house where she lived at down on the creek, I even went to the local library to look up as much information as I could on the witch trails and witches in general. I was hooked. I still am.

I don't see any harm in letting kids know that there is magic out there. Everyday is magical from the beauty of a Morning Glory blooming to a rainbow gracing the sky after a rain shower, to getting all green lights on the way home. The magic may not come from a wand with a strand of unicorn hair as it's core, but it is wondrous all the same.

These Christan Conservatives and religious scholars are just now realizing that the Harry Potter series are not that naughty and that they are indeed a blessing in a way because they got children interested in books and perhaps that these books got kids into reading when otherwise they would not have ever picked up a book willingly. For me these books not not only boosted literacy they boosted the publishing industry. Hey, they had to PURCHASE those books they burned. Of course the Harry Potter series is not so bad.

*this post is based on the NPR (National Public Radio) transcript, the orginal peice aired August 22, 2009. If you would like to read the transcript please go to this website:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112141959&ft=1&f=1032

Do You Thank You??

I know that the gift giving/receiving season is here and as we all are scrambling around for that perfect gift we all want our gift and thoughtfulness to be appreciated. "A few nice words about those rockin' pair of socks with pumpkins on them that I got just for you on clearance would be lovely, 'cause I paid almost a full dollar for them!" Is what were all thinking when we give a gift. We want praise, just a simple "Hey, thanks for thinking of me while you dug through that Halloween leftover rack." would suffice.

These days I have noticed that thank you notes are pretty much a thing from times past, a generational thing I guess. Even Christmas cards and pretty much any kind of a real paper card that I can hold in my hand is out of fashion. Well, it maybe out of fashion, it may not be "hip", but those old fashioned cards made out of paper are still a wonderful gesture. I send out Christmas cards every year and I spend hours filling them out with tender care and consideration and I also send out thank you notes for every birthday gift my sons receive. It's us showing that the gift was appreciated and that I care enough to actually send out a card by snail mail.

What makes me ill about the whole thing is that not only are the cards falling out of fashion, but the gestures behind the cards are as well. I want you to think about how you feel when you get a card in the mail, any type of card(birthday, invitation, etc.). Concentrate hard; close your eyes and remember what it felt like to tear open the envelope and pull out a funny card someone took the time to pick out just for you. That's an awesome feeling huh?


Now that you have remembered how it feels to open the mail, lets move on to reading it. Think about how nice it is to read that your gift was appreciated and that whoever the gift was for was thrilled. That's a good feeling. That is your applause via an old fashioned snail mail paper card. That was awesome huh?


I am hoping that you enjoyed that walk down memory lane enough to go out and by some stationary and write with a pen a friend a note, or even send out a Christmas card by snail mail! These things are traditional! To tell you the truth whenever I give a gift as an example we will use a baby shower gift, I expect within the month to receive a thank you card in the mail. If I don't receive one you can bet that I will not be forking up any more of my time or effort for a gift for that person again. It's my weird way of teaching people how to respect the traditions of old. Oh, and in my book a "Thank you" text does not count. That's awful, simply tragic. And some people have the nerve to wonder why the new generations do not respect traditions, it is because they don't know them! Spread the word about cards! Tell your friends and family, you can even feel free to rant to them on a beautiful stationary set.


The most wonderful part about thank you notes and cards is that they must be concisely written. You do not have the space to waffle on, your sentences must bring your point across swiftly and coherently. Think of it as a writing exercise. How does one show gratitude for a pair of socks in 3 sentences or less? Sounds like an excellent writing challenge to me. It will also help you work on penmanship, spelling, sentence structure and a whole slew of other things us writers deal with on a daily basis. Think of it as a mini-workshop if you will.


So go out there and buy some paper, envelopes, cards, pens, and go to town thanking those that gifted you this Christmas! If your feeling crafty make your own cards! Heck, even my 5 year old appreciates a homemade card before he tries to use it as ramp for his hot wheels (hes learning to re-use, reduce, and recycle). You can do it, I just know you can.

How to survive the holiday season

The Holiday season is upon us. I know for us it's in full swing, this past weekend we have cleaned house and put up Christmas decorations and the Christmas tree. It was exhausting but fun, and now we are all geared up for Christmas. I cannot wait till our family arrives from out of state; I have a new niece I have yet to hold and let me tell you I have a bit of baby fever.

For us writers Christmas is a bit of a crazy time. Normal people have errands to run, presents to buy, you know the normal Holiday rush. For writers it's a bit harder. We spend a good portion of our days conversing with characters in our heads and plotting, that has a tendency to make us seem a bit anti-social. I admit some days I would rather argue with my main character about the plot than deal with real people. Please, like I need to hear how awful things are for a walmart cashier when all I want is to take my new pack of ink pens and Jungle Juice home and start on a new chapter.

For us writers that are a bit on the secretive side Christmas is a struggle. It's much harder to deal with real people than the people we created. To help you the writer get through the Holiday season successful I have made a list of tips.


1.When confronted by a person that is "touchy-feely" and you are not feeling the "love" cough heartily and wheeze a bit before they go in for the "Killing hug". Usually the signs of sickness will ward off even the touchiest of relations.

2.When booze is offered accept. Booze will help make your most annoying relations seem half-way decent.

3. When asked what your are currently working on tell them that it is a top secert project, but that you can give them a hint. It involves Secret Squirrel.

4.When asked if you want to join someone for a meal inquire if booze will present. If so please accept the invite, if not decline, decline, decline!

5. When asked what you want for Christmas reply that you would like an elf that does paperwork. They could be handy for all of those queries.

6.If you are disturbed while brooding over a plot line by a relation and they ask you, "What are you thinking about?" simply reply that you are simply figuring up if reindeer farts is what gives Santa's sleigh the lift to fly. Magical oats my foot.

7.When given a totally lame gift simply over react. Act like the gift is the best gift ever given the history of the human race. It will make them feel good and you will be able to see an honest reaction. Think of it as Field research.

8. This time of year people will call. As of right now I have already talked to 5 people on the phone, and it is not even 11 AM yet. Simply put the phone on speaker and grunt occasionally as you continue to work.

9. Keep a tally of the Christmas items you receive in the mail, that way when people call and say did you receive blah, blah, you can look it up and say "Yes, it was lovely!" This way everyone is happy.

10.When in doubt wither it be a social interaction that has you grappling or simply someone Else's stupidity simply resolve the issue by singing loudly. I prefer the wonderful tune of "Jingle Bells", but pick which ever song that you like. This will bridge the social gap and make you seem like you are filled with the holiday spirit and not just booze.

A Christmas Revolution!

I hope that everyone has awakened from their turkey coma, I know that if your family is anything like ours your still eating turkey and possibly for the rest of this week. I think we are crazy to eat turkey like crazy for Thanksgiving then right when we are finally done eating it and somewhat recovered we celebrate another Holiday which turkey is a spotlight meat on the dinner table. That's just asking for trouble.

So I am thinking that this year for Christmas we all should branch out from turkey and ham. How about steaks for Christmas dinner? Or a nice spring salad with a lovely dressing, a salad would leave LOTS of room for Bourbon balls, rum cake, Christmas toasts...

I think it would work! So before you go out and buy a huge turkey lets save the turkeys and eat something else! A double cheese burger with bacon, a fat juicy steak, a wonderful fruit salad! Together we can kick the turkey habit!! I mean have you ever seen a real turkey, not one of those farm raised white things, but I real wild turkey? All I'm saying is that whoever was the first person to eat a turkey must of been extremely hungry, as in "I'm starving and it's either this turkey or my foot" kind of hunger.


It's just an idea, that's all I'm saying. Happy Tuesday!

What have we done??

I have been thinking about vampires here lately. The latest Twilight movie is due out this week and It has made me ponder vampires. Vampires have changed quite a bit from the folklore vamps that made people's heart race and fear consume them in the dark of the night. They have went from being basically the living dead with pale skin and fangs like a tiger with an eternal lust for blood. Vampires now days are seen as lovely creatures who may or may not have fangs, the male of species will be ripped with six pack abs and a great smile; the females are beautiful beyond compare, pretty much sex on legs, the perfect rack with a deadly bite. It doesn't matter if your a boy or a girl out there somewhere is the vampire of your dreams.


Pop culture has softened vampires to the point where we would invite them into our homes and allow them to have their dinner without much protest. Lord knows if Eric from True Blood showed up and was hungry me being the good hostess that I am would let him have a drink on the house accompanied by a little something for desert. There is no fear pumping through our veins, no need for holy relics or prayers to save our souls. We want to be consumed, made into their perfect meal while secertly hoping it will develop into more.


I must say that our ancestors would be ashamed of us as a whole. Would we willingly sell our souls to the devil to become vampire? Would we risk loosing our humanity to become what we are not? Would we risk our afterlife for just a taste? From what I see and what I am included in I would say yes. That we are begging for it.

Most people cannot see that there is more to this than just vampires and being obsessed with living forever. It's about being able to change from being "normal" to something otherwordly, into something that is the top-of-the-food-chain-predator, something beautiful, and contain a bit of magic within ourselves. It's not that we want to loose our soul, we want to loose ourselves.

A good book does that to a person. It makes us want to be different, to be the hero struggling to find themselves on a quest that is world changing. We want to have the power to make our destiny truly our own. If that means dressing as a wizard with a room full of friends while playing a role playing game so be it, or immersing ourselves in vampire books, or playing video game for hours upon hours we will.


What this change in vampires is saying to me is that we are taking away their scare factor and humanizing them to the point to where we can assume their identity easily so that we can escape for a short while. If they are thinking more like us, the humans, then we feel like we know them, that as a species we can pin point what it feels like to be an all powerful, sex driven vampire that can get away with murder, or having numerous sexual partners without guilt and shame.

Vampires have evolved and morphed into these physically perfect bodies while we as humans are still waging the battle of the bulge. They have perfect eyesight, perfect hair, perfect teeth. Really no flaws physically, but mentally they are a bit off in different ways. A perfect example of this is Eric from True Blood seeing children as "tea cup humans". We have given vampires personalities other than being lustful for the red stuff that pumps through our veins. We have taken folklore that scared the crap out of our ancestors and turned it into the stuff of fantasies and perhaps our dreams for the human race. Who wouldn't want to be a physically perfect version of themselves?

Should we put the fear factor back into vampires? Should we allow them to return back to their graveyards and suck out their almost human ways? I think we need to remember that vampires evolved from a stories told around the fire to remind us that out there in the darkest part of the night there might be creatures out there that are deadly and want not just our blood but our very souls. If we strip vampires of their spooky essence so to speak what does that leave us with? It leaves us with another verison of the human race. Now what fun is that?

Books, books, books!

This time of year there is always a ton of books being released and it can be difficult to keep up with. Trust me, I'm struggling a bit. There are so many different genres of books out there and twice as many authors. There is so many out there you couldn't even stir them with a stick as my mom says. To make things easier I have rooted through some new releases and oldies but goodies for you.


Paula Deana's husband Michael Groover has published a memoir with Sherry Sule Cohen titled "MY DELICIOUS LIFE WITH PAULA DEAN". This memoir includes tid-bits about his life with Paula, and he has even included how the two met. I adore Paula Dean and I am fascinated by her, plus she reminds me of myself. I am not such a big fan of butter like she is, but all the same the southern gal thing is there. It is available on Amazon.com for $16.50 in the Hardback edition and $9.99 for kindle.


We all have read "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" by Charles Dickens, and we all have seen the various stage renditions and movies versions of this wondrous tale. But did you know that in 1853 he went on a reading tour, and when Charles Dickens went on a reading tour it was anything but normal. He was not your typical writer, and so his readings were not typical. There was no simply reading small paragraphs here or there, nope. He acted out scenes from his most popular works. He not only read parts of his books but he also acted out the scenes alone. It was him on the stage illuminated by the gas lamps acting out the scenes in a one man show. The reading tours almost killed him. He put his heart and soul into these reading tours. He cut, re-wrote, added stage directions, and made notes for himself in a select copy of "A CHRISTMAS CAROL", this version of the book is called a prompt copy.
The great people at Levenger have worked with the New York Public library (who has the only original prompt copy) to release reproduction prompt copies to the public. The reproduced prompt copies are in full color and include copies of handwritten notes penned by Dickens and an introduction by the New York Public Library's curator Isaac Gewirtz which covers the back story of the book and a transcription of the amended text. A prompt copy of A Christmas Carol is found only from Levenger at the price of $48 for a red linen and gold foil Hardcover edition. Levenger.com


For those out there that love graphic novels and history this is the book for you. "The story of Sir Winston Churchill:The Happy Warrior" is a 1950's comic strip from Britain's Eagle comics complied into a single book. It's the biography of Sir Winston Churchill comic book style. This is also only available from Levenger, it is a hardback edition and is priced at $38. Levenger.com


"On Becoming Abraham Lincoln: From the 1893 Biography" by John Torrey, Jr. Morse with a foreword by Ronald White is an 1893 account of Lincoln's early years. The original print of the book minus the foreword by Ronald White is no longer available, meaning it is out of print. The version with the added foreword is avaiable through Levenger for $34.00. This newest version of the book includes copies of handwritten notes by Abe himself.


"Bear Portraits" by Jill Greenberg is a follow up to her first book "Monkey Portraits" with this collection of photos of bears that will make your heart sing with joy. The Bear's photos were taken against a simple drop cloth backdrops to ensure that the bears are the center point of the photo. A must have for the animal lover, and kids will thoroughly enjoy being able to check out bears minus all the distractions of a natural background. This a available on Amazon.com, Hard copy, for $14.57. Sorry there is no kindle version.


Rare Words and Ways to Master Their Meanings: 500 Arcane but Useful Words for Language Lovers and Rare Words II and Ways to Master Their Meanings: 500 More Unusual Selections, Some with Poetic Confections for Gleaning Their Meaning by Jan Leighton and Hallie Leighton. These books are no longer in print but can be purchased from independent sellers and from Levenger.com for around $20 each. These books include forgotten words of the English language. These are books for language lovers and scrabble lovers.

Check back next week for a list of children books that would make great gifts for young readers and beginners.

Happy Vetrans Day!

First up, HAPPY VETERANS DAY!! Today make sure that you say thank you to someone that has or is serving our country.

Second Christmas is right around the corner. I checked and we have 6 Fridays till Christmas! I know that everyone has that certain someone in their lives that is impossible to shop for, I am myself am one of those people. Being that I am hard to shop for I wondered if all writers are hard to shop for at Christmas. It's a delicate balance of spending your money well, meaning purchasing something of quality,getting something that he/she will adore and of course the price has to be affordable. Yeah, if I had a million dollars I wouldn't worry about the holiday season. I'd just throw a wad of cash at my beloved family members, but since I don't and a majority of people don't I am here to give you some ideas for the writer in your life.

Office supplies. No joke, I have an office supplies addiction. Put me in Office Depot with a blank check and I will get the shakes. Does your writer go through ink pens like mad? If so ask what their favorite brand is and buy a large box and gift wrap it. Do they buy index cards in bulk? If so buy them so spiffy multi-colored ones or a note card bleacher.
(cubi leather drawers $74.00 from Lavenger.com) Are they unorganized? If so think about gifting them some organizational aides such as a spinning organizer, labels, a file folder box that can be easily personalized. Or if your a true friend you could hire them an assistant to mail off all of those pesky query letters and help them be organized. Trust me, your writer friend will love you. My desk currently looks like a paper factory puked on it, and it's no body's fault but my own.

Is your writer a traveler? Does he/she have a hideous bag they tote everywhere that went out of style 10 years ago, and is tattered and looks like it has been on several expeditions to the Amazon and back? Or do they just carry everything loose like in High School (Cause they are too cool for a bag, duh.)?

(the bag in the photo can be found at Amazon.com, rust is the color and it is by BedStu for $89.90)If so a bag is the solution! I adore messenger bags with lots of pockets and that is all weather proof. I have a red and black one that has been through hell (I even took it to the beach several times and it still looks good) and it has lasted. There are several grown-up adult bags out there in heaps of different designs and made out of a whole slew of materials from leather, canvas, hemp, there are even some green options.

Are they a laptop writer? If they are they might not be satisfied with their laptop bag. I'm not. I hate it because the only thing I can fit in it is my laptop. Lord help me if I want to carry a notebook with me or even try to jam my cell phone in with it. I love the fact that it's all weather proof and shock proof (meaning if I drop it the contents of the bag will survive the fall). but that's about all the good points it has.


I have found a wonderfully spiffy laptop case that I wantand I'm sure that special person in your life would enjoy. It's perfect for the traveling laptop addict/writer. It's by "Levenger" it's a laptop case that is light and it holds your laptop, plus cds/dvds, it even has a mesh zipper pocket that will hold a flash drive, a power cord, and has 3 zip pockets on the outside! It also has an option for backpack straps to be attached! It's waterproof/shock proof and comes in 5 different colors. It can be found on Levenger.com

Has your writer fallen on hard times and still hasn't gotten that website up and running yet? Well, there are all sorts of web hosting sites out there(go daddy go is one of them). Check out their prices and give them a gift card for a year of web hosting. Then your receiver can go on-line and set it up without having to worry about the bill. They get their face out there and you helped. Hey, it might get you mentioned in the acknowledgement section of their book when they are published.


I hope that these gift ideas have gotten your shopping juices flowing. I know mine is, but I seriously doubt if my husband and kids will be thrilled if I spent all of our Christmas money on office supplies. That would be so good for me, but would suck for them. If you have an idea for a gift for a writer post it in a comment, I would love to hear any that are not mentioned above.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!!

bibliophilism on-line

This past weekend I worked on a Science Fair Project with my oldest son. We wanted to analyze the effect of vinegar while dying eggs. It was interesting to say the least, and we have come to the conclusion that you should NEVER try to dye eggs in 100% vinegar, it comes out ugly and will dissolve the egg shell. It was a very productive weekend.

I have been productive in other ways also. I have officially started myself a SHELFARI account. The link to the page is on the left to their website and this is the link to my page; http://www.shelfari.com/o1514444833 check me out and set up your own on-line library, after all it's free! This is a great way to keep track of your books, what books you want to read, which ones you have loaned out to your friends, and of course your friends can access your page to see what books you own so they can ensure they do not purchase you a book you already own. And of course they have heaps of reviews from other members, and a community. It's like FaceBook for bibliophilism.

I Survived!

I have survived my parent teacher conference with my pride still in tact. Actually I simply adore my pre-k teacher, I would hang out with her all the time if I could. To put it simply she rocks. I hope your parent teacher conference went as well as mine did.

I thought I would post an update about me, well my book actually. I have finished typing it and editing! I survived that also, it has been a day full of miracles. I am still not done with it, but I am so very close. Really all I have left to do is to polish it, which means I have to read it and make sure there are no typos marring my masterpiece. I have almost drove myself insane over the details, I do sweat the small stuff when it comes to my work, and almost drug my wonderful husband insane with me. I bet he is wondering how many times I can possible wake him up at 2 AM asking him about a phrase or an idea. I am so very close to being finished that I can almost taste it.

Now I know that all of you writers out there are fighting with your own characters to behave and to follow what you want. The best advice I can offer is if you are not satisfied with your work re-do it, and re-do it until you are happy with it. I re-wrote chapter 22 fifteen times, and I am still not entirely sure if I am satisfied with it. I know that the entire process is frustrating and can in fact drive you to hate all writing apparatus for the rest of your life, but you can do this! It's your mind, your paper, your words. Simply let your words bloom, envision your paper as a garden with rich fertile soil and your words are the seeds. Plant your seeds with care, love and joy and watch them sprout into something that will be a thing of wonder and beauty. When your "flowers" bloom you will be surprised to see how they have formed paragraphs and chapters that will cause awe to fill you. You will have a work to be proud of, a work that will scream your brilliance.

Happy writing, and Happy Friday!

Parent Teacher conferences

For us that have kids on the nine-week block system, meaning that instead of every six weeks like most schools we get report cards every nine weeks, the time for parent-teacher conferences are here. There is no need to panic!

It's just a conference! There is no need to flash back to when you were in grade school and the principal just summoned you to the Lair of Doom, a.k.a their office. Trust me,I understand that fear, I have been there many times myself, and this is coming from a girl that was in After School Detention so much in High School that I had a special reserved desk. Yeah, I was a bit of a troublemaker. We are adults now, all grown up, and they cannot bring you into the office and make you feel like they are going to call your parents because you forgot to sign a form or because you sent your child a peanut butter sandwich for lunch when three students in the class have nut allergies.

Since we are adults you would think that the playing field would be even. Your an adult, the teachers and staff are adults, your a parent and most of them are parents themselves. Not the case! I have had my fair share of feelings of frustration because the teacher thought poorly of me. I do not care if they dislike my bumper sticker or the fact that I let my child eat ice cream every single day for lunch period. I am here for my CHILD, I am his/her main promoter! I am here to rally them to success when they are failing otherwise.


These ill feelings can come from the strangest of places. I had one teacher who informed me that I was a "Young" mother and that she understood if I felt like I couldn't handle my "baby" being in kindergarten. I handled it just fine, and so did he did until she turned out to be crazier than a bat. I have realized that teachers are just like us, they are people! Yep, who could of guessed that?

We all know that they have received a higher education at college and that they are trained to deal with children and the issues that children have. What the colleges do NOT teach is how to communicate with parents. That is where us the parents have to step up.


The easiest thing to do if you are having ANY issue is to speak to the teacher. Call them, e-mail them, send a note, or make an appointment to visit with them. I promise that they are ready for some sort of communication from you, that is part of their job. If your little one is being reluctant to go to class talk to the teacher! Find out if their is another child in class that your child does not get along with, or if they are struggling with a subject the are doing in class. You know your child, you know what he/she is comfortable with, advise the teacher of your child's personal likes and dislikes. Is your child a bit of a neat freak and does not care for finger painting? Let them know! If your child can be comfortable they will do much better in class.

I know that a lot of children and teachers simply do not mesh well. I know this because I have been there. If your child is doing poorly in school and your communications with the teacher has not gotten to the bottom of the issue simply spend a day with your child in school. It doesn't matter if the teacher is a P.E. teacher, or if they are having issues in the lunch room, go with them. The school cannot forbid you to join your child for library time, gym or lunch or spending the entire day with them. I recommend it actually. If they are having a special learning unit in gym, like a skating unit go to gym and skate with your child. You will have fun, your child will be thrilled that you went and you will get to see how the teachers conduct class and you will also get to meet their friends.

If your child and the teacher simply is not a good combination you can request a different teacher as long as you make the request early in the year or if there are signs of MENTAL or PHYSICAL abuse. You may have to meet with the principal to achieve this, but hey, who is scared of the principal?

The parent-teacher conferences are to let you the parent know how your child is doing in class, and to give you the opportunity to ask the teacher any questions. A lot of the time not only are the child's main homeroom teacher there for the conference, but also the gym, art, music and computer lab teachers are there. You can talk to them also, check out the projects your child has done and check to see if they have a classroom wish list for items they need for future projects.

To prepare yourself make a list of things you want to discuss, but keep it simple. Most conferences allot only 15 minutes per child. If you feel like there is more you need discuss while at the conference arrange a meeting. I try to ask if my child has improved in anything since the beginning of the year (I love to praise my child), second I ask if my child is having any difficulties with any subjects (math, reading, handwriting, spelling, class room behavior, etc. If your child struggles with paying attention at home or finishing tasks at home ask to see if they are having the same issue at school, and if they are not ask the teacher what promotes they are giving your child that is different from what you are doing at home.

Parent-Teacher conferences are not to be feared. Explain to your child that they are welcome to come with you, and that you are going to speak to their teacher about how brilliant they are. Children LOVE praise, make sure you learn something good so that you can praise them.

As far as the teacher is concerned they only want to discuss your child. They do not want to hear about how plastered you got last weekend because you got a raise. They do not want to become your best friend. They would like to know when any MAJOR changes in your home take place. If you are having a baby and your child is having issues dealing with it tell the teacher, if you are getting a divorce tell them! Tell them about anything that could potentially have an effect on your child!! They can help your child get through the issue with your help of course.

So make your list, be on time for the conference and don't be nervous! You will be brilliant. This meeting is for your child's benefit and yours. Enjoy it.

Halloween Contest 2009

REPOST!!REPOST!!


Today is Hump Day! To take the hump out of your week I am here to announce that The Feathered Quill will be having a HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST! The contest officially begins TODAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 and ends on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2009!

TO ENTER: Send a photo of yourself in your Halloween Best to me at rubyself@aol.com in JPEG format and include your name, address, contact phone number and your e-mail address with your photo. This information is for contest use only, I will not spam you.


PRIZES:
First Place will receive a $25.00 gift cerifticate to SIMPLYAUDIO.COM, second place will receive a copy of DAN BROWN'S "The Lost Symbol", and one winner will be chosen randomly to win a $15.00 itunes gift card.
The winners will be contacted by me R.J. Self when they are drawn. I will mail the prizes to the winner in the month of November and the winner will be drawn on NOVEMBER 7 2009.

RULES:
NO NUDITY! A selection of the entries will be posted to my blog as well as the winning entries, by entering the contest you agree to have your photo posted. Only one prize per person. If multiple people are in the photo you will have to share the prize, one prize per place awarded. Entries without contact information included will not be entered in the contest, they will be discarded. Everyone is welcome to enter, the photo's can be in black in white, but this contest is for BEST COSTUME it will not be judged based on the photographer's skill.

If you have a question please contact me at rubyself@aol.com or leave a comment on my blog.

I look forward to seeing all the photo's and I will re post this blog post EVERY TUESDAY for those that need the entry information. May the best costume win!!!!

New Releases

I hope everyone had an awesome Halloween, I know that I did. I was surprised to find Atomic Fireballs and Sour WarHeads in our candy booty, that rocked. Needless to say that I claimed those delightful little candies for myself; there is nothing better than a fireball. This is the LAST week to enter for the Halloween Costume Contest, Friday is the deadline on that. I will repost the rules and how-to submit your entry today.


In other news Paul Shaffer, the band leader on David Letterman, has published a memoir titled, "We’ll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives : A Swingin' Show-biz Saga". This book covers his life growing up and of course his life in music and television, but the book really is about the music. It is now available for purchase on Amazon.com in Hardback edition ($15.21), Kindel edition ($9.99) and Unabridged Audio CD ($39.50).


Stephen King will have a new book released on Novemeber 10, 2009 titled, "Under the Dome: A Novel". It is available on Amazon.com for pre-order for the price of $9.00, now that is a deal! It's also avaiable for the Kindle for $9.00 and the audio CD (unabridged) for $26.39.

This is the synpopsis of the book:
On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when--or if--it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens--town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing--even murder--to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.



James Patterson is releasing "I, Alex Cross" on Novemmeber 16, 2009. It is a murder mystery of sorts. It is avaiable for pre-order through Amazon.com Harcover price is $9.00, Kindle verison is also $9.00, and the ABRIDGED Audio CD is $16.49.

You can't run

Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim.

Alex Cross is your only hope to stay aliveYou can't hide

The hunt for her murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Alex and Bree are soon facing down some very important, very protected, very dangerous people in levels of society where only one thing is certain--they will do anything to keep their secrets safe.



As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable--a revelation that could rock the entire world. With the unstoppable action, unforeseeable twists, and edge-of-your-seat suspense that only a James Patterson thriller delivers, I, Alex Cross is the master of suspense at his sharpest and best.


"The Original of Laura" by Vladimir Nabokov is being released on November 17, 2009. This book intrigues me not only as a writer, but also as a reader and as a person who has a large family. It is avaiable for pre-order on Amazon.com for the price of $23.10, and it is only avaiable in Hardback. I forsee myself making this book one of my purchases in the near future. The description follows.

When Vladimir Nabokov died in 1977, he left instructions for his heirs to burn the 138 handwritten index cards that made up the rough draft of his final and unfinished novel, The Original of Laura. But Nabokov’s wife, Vera, could not bear to destroy her husband’s last work, and when she died, the fate of the manuscript fell to her son. Dmitri Nabokov, now seventy-five—the Russian novelist’s only surviving heir, and translator of many of his books—has wrestled for three decades with the decision of whether to honor his father’s wish or preserve for posterity the last piece of writing of one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. His decision finally to allow publication of the fragmented narrative—dark yet playful, preoccupied with mortality—affords us one last experience of Nabokov’s magnificent creativity, the quintessence of his unparalleled body of work.

About the Author
Vladimir Nabokov was born in 1899, in St. Petersburg, Russia. His acclaimed works of fiction include Lolita, Pnin, and Pale Fire, among others. He died in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1977.

This year has been an amazingly frustrating year for book publishers and writers alike due to the fact that people are having less money to spend on lesiure books. For christmas this year give the gift of a book, or audio CD. By purchasing new books not only do you support your favorite authors but also give the book industry a much needed boost. With the economy still being low publishers are not accepting NEW WRITERS as much as they used to and many brilliant manuscripts are being turned away due to the fact that a new author is seen as a RISK. So if your like me and are looking for that new author that will make your heart race as you read their book we need to show our support of the industry so that the publishers will be willing to take those risks again.

Halloween Tips

Halloween is tomorrow, so I'm posting a few tips to get you through the Holiday with your sanity intact.


Trick or Treating begins at sunset here in the states. If there is a porch light on and an open front door to a house plan on some cute spookables coming your way for goodies. I always take my kids to people we know, the dangers of unsafe candy lurks in the back of every parents mind on this holiday.


If your giving out candy and your giving out large candies like whole chocolate bars, and small toys I recommend making little goody bags. That's the easiest way, then you know everyone is getting the same amount and you'll be able to divide it up so you will know when your out. I usually put a "From:...." on the goody bag so that the kids will know that their Aunt R.J. hooked them up with the good stuff this year! No toothpaste and toothbrushes from Aunt R.J.!! I say give them King Sized bars! Let's get them hopped up on sugar!!


If your going out on foot make sure you have a flashlight and reflective clothing on. I make my kids wear glow sticks, they are spooky (sort of) and fun. While walking remove any face coverings like masks so you do not trip. I enforce this one. A sprained ankle a few blocks from home sucks.


Wear warm clothes under your costume! It is always easier to remove a layer than to freeze all night. I make my kids wear their warmest Pajamas under their costume. Then when we get home we can wash their faces and hands and simply take off their costumes and they are ready for bed.


Never allow children to go out alone!! They must have an adult with them, think about it, if you send your kids out with a somewhat responsible teenager and something happens you will blame the teenager. Just postpone whatever till after trick or treating.


Do not eat your goodies till you get home! We always wait till we get home so we can see the bounty laid out on a table. This also gives the parents a chance to go through the candy in a well lit area. Check the booty for candy that is missing labels, wrappers and candy that looks unsafe. If it looks wrong for any reason throw it away!


I know it is tempting to have just one candy before you get home, but don't. Even if the candy is from someone you know. If you think you will get peckish pack a snack. I take Ziploc bags of popcorn for my kids and juice boxes.

Here in the South Trunk Or Treats are popular. What is a Trunk or Treat you ask, well it's where an organization like say a local church will let it's members give out candy from their cars/trucks in it's parking lot. This is really popular in rural areas. It saves the parent from walking/driving all over creation. It's actually really spiffy. The best "trunks" that we visit have Halloween decor, like orange lights, props, etc set up to make a scene. The kids get a kick out of seeing a skeleton in the driver's seat, and don't forget to dress up yourself! I love it when the older members of the community get into spirit of the night. I dress up every year and it is a ton of fun to have little minds helping me plan out my costume.

The important part is to have fun! Enjoy the night and being with people you care about. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!!!!

Essay's

I am sick. Yep, I have been coughing my lungs up and the worst part is that today is the first day since Sunday that I have been able to string cohernt sentences together. It sucks. Thankfully I think the worst is over.

I have been recieveing heaps of Facebook friend requests. Yep, heaps and heaps. If your a reader of my blog and wish to be a friend on Facebook simply add a small note to your friend request so I don't think that your just adding me becuase I'm a girl ( Hate that!).

Okay on to something good. I have quiet a few friends who are brave enough to go back to school. Yep, can you imagine starting college all over again at 30? One of my girlfrind's made an excellent point the other night while we were chatting around the campfire. We were talking about their English Comp II class and all the essays they are having to write. When I was in school my favorite thing was essays and book reports, but for a lot of people these assignments are dreaded alomost as much as the plaque.

The key to essays is easy. Follow the steps your professor gives you! They give these out for a reason, to make it easier on you!

Pick your topic, make sure it is one you can write about with it being too overwhelming. Once you have a topic do your researching, get your sources and articles and get them approved my the professor. After that is's easy, just write it. First is a rough draft, this is kind of like an outine. Make sure you are hitting key points then re-do it. If you need to let a friend read your second draft, then re-do it again. This should be your final product.

Okay, that's the process. But what my girlfriends were complaining about was that they had went through all of that to have their final paper ripped to shreds by their professor. The professor's reasoning was that it was not written to their liking. That is one of the most terriable feelings of all time, to have something that you have worked hard on rejected because it did not fulfil someone else's ideal. Ouch.

To avoid this from happening pay attention! Not just to the class but to your professor!! He/She is your target audience! Think about it, if you were writing a paper about Women's Rights for a history class you wouldn't make it strickly polictial, it would also need to cover the bases of what changed for the American Home Life, example, women working outside the homes equals more men doing chores at home that had once being considered "women's work". Now how does this involve your professor you say. Well, how old is your professor? Where are they from? What type of lanuguage does he/she use? All of this plays into your report.

If they are older and use ridgid language (no slang, no modern usage) stick to that in your paper. I do not recommend the use of slang peroid becuase it can make you sound less educated and it can alienate your aducience by making them feel their age, and really who needs to google a word that is not in a dictonary while reading an essay? If they are from a different region, like from Russia, try to remember what was going on in Russia in the time of your report. Did the change to Women's Rights in America affect other countries? Look it up, check on it and include that in your essay. Once you realize what your target audience wants to hear and read it will make it easier on you!

This also true in writing of any manuscrpit or article. Remember who your target audenice is! If your writing for teens do not include scentences that will go over their head, make your dialouge simple and easy to follow. The more complex something is the less anyone is to read it. I do not enjoy reading something that takes me a while to figure out what that writer was meaning, in other words express your meaning clearly. Clairty is your best friend, don't leave your paragraghs full of murky undertones that will leave us the reader confused. That is never fun.

Remember that it is only an essay. A simple essay, nothing major and most professors will allow you a re-do if it's not up to snuff. Try again, it's no big deal. The best thing to do is not to try do write your essay the day that it is due. That's crazy. Try to have it done a few days before it's due. It will do wonders for you self confidence if you do. Wouldn't it be nice to say, "I have an essay due on Thursday, and I have it already done." That is a HUGE amount of pressure that will be off of you. There's my tips to an essay. Enjoy!

Publishing this week

This is a bit late because this book was released on Tuesday October 20th, but all the same it is a publishing tid bit.

Actor, comedian and Chicago native Geaorge Wendt has published a memoir book that was written with Jonathan Grotenstein titled, "Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer'

This book covers Wendt growing up, his school years, his college experience and of course his adult professional life including his life on the famed TV series "Cheers" where he played Norm and his life after Cheers. The book includes personal stories, odd facts about Wendt and of course beer might be mentioned.

He was interviewed on Bob and Tom on Tuesday and also did an interview with Chicago Sun Times about his book. To read the article go to : http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/books/1834066,CST-FTR-wendt20.article

Goerge Wendt has been been a busy man in years past he was in 1999's made for TV movie "Alice in Wonderland" he was Fred Tweedledee, he has been on SNL several times (remember the Chicago Bears skit with Chris Farley?), he also was on Frasier several times as a guest, and he is in the newly announced House of Re-Animator which is due out for 2010. House of Re-Animator's plot is when there's a death in the White House, "re-animator" Herbert West is brought in to bring the corpse back to life. Wendt is playing the Vice President of the United States. That will be interesting to say the least.

"Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer' is available on Amazon.com priced at $16.49 for Hardcover and is also is available on Kindle for $9.99 and paperback edition is priced at $10.20. Boarders has the book also available in hardcover for $17.49.

Have a great weekend and remember to work on your Halloween costumes!