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!!!!

Cliches

Today I am thinking about cliche's. Yep the boring of the boring for books. I realize that for your manuscript to fit into a genre it has to have some common elements with other books to fit in so we can add a label to our writings. Labels are uncomfortable for me. I despise having to say that my book will most likely be dubbed as a youth book when it really is an all ages book.

Cliche's are everywhere. From page one to the last page, from the moment we meet the villain and we know that he will be bad and do horrid things just to fit his label. From the vampires that fall in love with the sweet and innocent mortal to the perfect goody two shoes, who in the story has flaws but nothing really too overbearing, that totes the whole story.

The reason why I quit reading romances is because of the cliche's. I am sick to death of reading the same story over and over. The girl needs a man's man, and he's the one for the job even though he is clueless until he has a moment of perfect clarity and he realizes that he does love her. Gag me. Who hasn't read that 50 billion times over?

I want to PREVENT cliche's in my writing. I want the reader to feel something for my character's. I spent so much time inventing them and making them live why would I place them into the mediocre? That's senseless, I don't see the reasoning behind it. Why work if your not going to give your project 100% of everything you have? Not only have you wasted your time, but your readers as well. I have actually returned books to the store because of this. When the store clerk asks my reasoning for returning the book they look at me like I'm crazy when I say that it was dull, but I will not read another cliche story. I crave something more, I want to read something that will move me into another mode of thinking and living.

These days money is tight and needs to be well spent. Give your readers something worth their buck. Show them the story, not tell it, and give them something more. Reinvent your writing style if you have to, talk to people who actually have the same occupation as your main character if you haven't been there and done that. Get out there in the world and experience something then write about it. Drop the dull and overused plot lines and create something that leaps off the page into your readers hearts. Yes it will be hard, but dang it, aren't you worth it? Isn't your manuscript worth it? Isn't your readers worth it? Yes!! Let's open the minds and hearts of the world! We are the music makers and the dreamers don't be pushed around just to fill pages or to meet a deadline. Anything good is worth waiting for.

Inspiration

Inspiration comes in all forms. It can be from a beautifully moving song, a movie, or a wonderful piece of art. Many things are inspiration for us writers. Some say a pay check or even fame is enough inspiration. That is true on some level. For us writers to receive a pay check and fame someone has to like our writing enough to feel inclined to PAY US, which of course means that someone appreciates our skill and VALIDATES us as a writer. All that we are striving for is to know that someone sees how hard we have worked and it has moved them in some way. This is also true for many occupations, but writers and artists are known to CRAVE that validation to outrageous points.

In order for us to make the work that someone will "Ooh", and "Awe" over we are in constant need for inspiration, some type of muse. For me life and nature provide that. I adore nature scenes where the calm is almost touchable, but then I also love the photos that dare-devil photographers take in the middle of a hurricane of palm trees bent backwards with their leaves being blown harshly by 100 mph winds and rain drops pelting the scene and the camera with a force that makes the skin sting and the water to bounce like hail off of the ground. It's a moment forever frozen in time. That is what moves me to want to try to capture the beauty and fierceness of the moment with words.

My main thing is to keep motivated. I try to see beauty everyday, and it up to me to try to describe it. If you are having a hard time narrating a scene go for a walk and look around. People find their muse in the most unexpected places. Mine is not a constant. It's not like I have a single person or item that makes me want to write. I write because what I experience in my life is overwhelming and needs to be detailed. I want to preserve the memory onto paper so that future generations can read about my life and know that we made it through some tough times, but it was only a select few bad moments that were surrounded by love and laughter.

Writing is complex. That's what people who do not write will never understand. It's not just having the dedication or the commitment to write, but being able to OPEN yourself up to different experiences and being able compose a symphony based on those feelings. I strive to write down my experiences for the day every single day and what my emotions were and how I reacted to these experiences. Then I can go back if I am stuck in a scene. I'll remember, "Oh, yeah. I went through that!" and I can read how I felt when that happened. Inspiration is great but it alone cannot get a writer through the day sometimes we need a little help.

I am offering you my readers a little help today. This week in Tennessee is rainy, wet and a bit on the chilly side. Usually this time of year we have nearly 90 degree (Fahrenheit) days, and this week we have yet to peak above 65 degrees. Yep, it's a spooky week. Fog covers the landscape, creeks are overflowing, the ground is saturated with rain and mud puddles are everywhere. It's a beautiful week. To show you how beautiful this week has been I have spent my morning driving around the area where I live to take photos. All of these were taken by me in my car. I didn't get out a single time, but I did make some U Turns and stopped quite a bit. It was fun. I recommend you try it.

Happy Friday! (to enlarge any of the photos simply click on them)

Revision, revision

I would say that my week off was a week of perfection, but it wasn't. It was a week of me working all hours of the day and night on my book. For those that don't know, I have written a book in a moment of weakness. It is a young adult fantasy fiction, and I am in the process of editing it and making a few revisions. I know that it will never be perfect, but hey I am giving it my best shot.

The revision process is grueling. The process tests you in ways you never expected. It makes your eyes hurt from staring at a screen for hours everyday, your shoulders hurt from the weight of the knowledge that you are ripping your baby apart. It makes you wonder if you should use a semi-colon, a period or some other means of punctuation. It makes you doubt yourself, your skill as a writer, and your work. Revision and editing is hell to put it simply.

There is a few simple things to help you get through this process with some measure of sanity intact, and perhaps a tiny sliver of your soul.

First thing to do is to READ your book. I know that you wrote it, and you have every single line memorized, but still read it. While you read it, on paper, highlight sections that you are not satisfied with. Also make notes in a notebook for things that you want to change and alter. Simple.

I take things step by step. A chapter a day. Go slow. If you feel rushed your work will reflect that. Take your time and SAVOR the process.

After you have a couple of chapters knocked out make yourself a deadline and mark it on your candler with a big red stinky marker. This deadline is your goal, but give yourself plenty of time. Remember DO NOT RUSH!

Part two entering your changes. Start simple, set a number of pages a day you need to complete. I try to do 30 pages a day. I work only Tuesday-Thursdays. Monday's and Friday's are too crazy for me to be able to get any PRODUCTIVE work done. Set a schedule, stick to it, and make sure it works with your everyday life. The important thing for me is that I have a flexible work place. Yep I said Flexible. That means I can work outside on my deck, at my kitchen table, on my bed, at my desk or even in my car. That is important.

If you tell yourself, "I can only work at my desk, but my kids are up and are playing outside. I guess I can't work." Wrong!! Take it with you! I love watching my boys play and I am more than willing to give them a push on the swing while I work a sentence over in my head.

The most important thing to remember is that life happens!! If you are feeling stressed and overloaded take a few days off. It won't kill you or your manuscript. When you are feeling better make sure that you are back on your work schedule. If you need to go to an event take a break. Your book will be waiting for you when you return like the best friend it is.

The second most important thing to keep in mind is that YOU CAN DO THIS! It's your book, your world that you have created! You can make ANYTHING happen. You need a purple tree in a green sunset go for it! It's yours make it happen! Don't give up and keep your confidence up.

Once you have your revision done print it out and read it again. If you need to go through the process again you can. Rome was not built in a day, and neither will your book. The best things in life don't come easy.

The life of a writer is never easy, and it can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be. Remember to keep in contact with your support (i.e. family and friends, and other writers that you have met). If you need something uplifting read my blog! If you are having a low day, remember it is just one day and it will pass. You can do this it's just words on paper.

Friday, Friday, Friday!

Happy Friday! This week has been crazy! I hope that you all remembered to tell a writer that you support and love them. It's Writer's Appreciation Week!

As everyone knows this weekend is Labor Day, I will be taking a Holiday week off! I will not be posting again until Monday the 14th. Yeah! Well, not really a holiday week, I will be working on my manuscript while sitting on a lovely deck. Remember not to drink and drive and DO NOT dive head first into the shallow end of a pool.

(Click on the photo to enlarge)


A small tid bit of weird news this week, Veterinarians at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum successfully separated conjoined rattlesnakes, saving the life of one of the diamondbacks, who'd been joined to his twin at the neck.

"We have every reason to believe that it wasn't the surgery that caused one of them to die," Craig Ivanyi, the museum's associate executive director for living collections, told AOL News.
"The one who died was the weaker of the two. He was being dragged around by his twin, and it was harder for him to recuperate."

Ivanyi says the conjoined rattlers were unlike anything he'd seen in his 25 years at the museum. They were found three weeks ago at a construction site north of Tucson and brought to the museum.
"It's unlikely they would have survived if left in the wild," Ivanyi said. "They'd be easily picked off by a predator."
Luckily, Dr. Jim Jarchow, a veterinarian who works with the museum, had experience separating conjoined tortoises.

I can see how special these snakes are with their two heads and all, but still they are VENOMOUS snakes that are a dime a dozen. I think that if I had of found these snakes I would not of called a vet but I would of fetched something to hack off two heads at once. Talking about killing two snakes with one stone.

NIV

For the first time in 25 years the New International Version of the Bible will be revised to reflect changes in English usage and advances in Biblical scholarship. This was announced on Tuesday September 1, 2009. The revision is set to be completed late next year and published in 2011.

This promises to re-open the debate again about changing the gender of sections of the text. Past attempts to remake the NIV for contemporary audiences in different editions have been plagued by controversies about gender language that have pitted theological conservatives against each other.

The changes did not make all men "people" or remove male references to God, but instead involved dropping gender-specific terms when translators judged that the original text didn't intend it. So in some verses, references to "sons of God" became "children of God," for example.

"We want to reach English speakers across the globe with a Bible that is accurate, accessible and that speaks to its readers in a language they can understand," said Keith Danby, global president and CEO of Biblica, a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Christian ministry that holds the NIV copyright.

Acknowledging past missteps, the NIV's overseers are promising that this time, the revision process will be more transparent and that they will actively promote what they describe as a long-held practice of inviting input from scholars and readers.
The NIV was first published in 1978 and more than 300 million NIV Bibles are in print worldwide; its publishers and distributors say the translation accounts for 30 percent of Bibles sold in North America.

The Committee on Bible Translation, an independent group of conservative scholars and translators formed in 1965 to create and revise the NIV, will oversee the new revision.

Many prominent pastors and scholars endorsed the changes. But critics said masculine terms in the original should not be tampered with. Some warned that changing singular gender references to plural ones alters what the Bible says about God's relationships with individuals.

The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution saying the edition "has gone beyond acceptable translation standards."

"We fell short of the trust that has been placed in us," said Danby, of Biblica. "We failed to make a clear case for the revisions."

Danby said that freezing the NIV in its 1984 state was also a mistake, however. He emphasized that in the revision, about 90 percent of the NIV will be unchanged.
Douglas Moo, a professor at Wheaton College and chairman of the Committee on Bible Translation, said the group is committed to "a complete review of every gender related change." "I am not sure how it's going to come out," Moo said. "We have a genuine, authentic review process ... Everything is on the table."

This has some issues being reopened, given that they never were really closed. Shall we wait and see how PC the bible can get?

There is a new book out about Marilyn Monroe, it's "THE SECRET LIFE OF MARILYN MONROE" By J. Randy Taraborrelli. T his book is causing quite a stir. It was released on August 25, 2009 from Grand Central Publishing.

The content of the book is what is making this book such a hot ticket. The National Enquirer has reported that the book states that her cause of death was a drug overdose, not information that she knew about the Kennedy Family. I have yet to read this, the 40th book about Marilyn Monroe, and to be serious I doubt if I will. It's just not my cup of tea, even though her story is tragic and she was beautiful and mis-guided.

Writer Appreciation Week!

This week is a week full of many things. This week I have fought with my possessed food processor, a half-way functioning electric can opener and I bruised my shin when I banged my car door into it. Even though this week so far has been trying for me, it is a great week for a numerous amount of other people. YES! Tons of people across the country, across the world are having the best week of their year. It's Writer Appreciation Week!

This is a week to celebrate all those people that have been published and those that are still writing and polishing their works of art. Tell a writer that you love them, that you admire them, and most of all BUY a NEW book. Don't go cheap and buy a used book from Amazon.com, even though it is tempting. Show your support and love for the written word and buy a book. You can also show your lovely support and admiration here by leaving me a wonderful comment!

Publishing This Week

This week in publishing news the Simon & Schuster agency is building on its relationship with Moxie & Co. by giving the licensing agency representation rights for a half dozen additional properties. (Moxie has been licensing Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys for Simon & Schuster since 2005.)

The agency will seek licensees for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, David A. Carter’s Bugs, Marissa Moss’s Amelia, Matthew Van Fleet’s Cat and Dog, Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman’s Bear and Little Pip, Little Quack, and Pendragon. The first licensee signed for any of the new properties is Manhattan Toy for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom developmental soft toys.

Meanwhile, Moxie & Co. is actively looking for more literary properties, talking to publishers, literary agents and authors and recently signing a deal with Suse MacDonald for Alphabet Animals. “Our goal is to add more iconic, classic books with staying power,” says co-owner Laura Becker.


Nickelodeon has authorized 19 books based on its series Ni Hao, Kai Lan through the end of 2010, including titles from Simon & Schuster (storybooks), Random House (coloring and activity), Publications International (sound books), Readers Digest (supernovelty formats) and LeapFrog (Tag electronic readers).

Target exclusively launched one book, along with a handful of toys, in May; Jade Liana, the actress who voices Kai Lan, will read and sign two of the Ni Hao titles at the Target Book Festival in Minneapolis in September, where Ni Hao will be the focus of the children’s section. Target, Borders and Kohl’s are end-capping the books, and Nickelodeon is talking to Barnes & Noble, Borders and Amazon.com about promotional events. Licensee Mega Brands will promote the books on its Ni Hao, Kai Lan packaging, while some book titles will feature call-outs for Fisher-Price and Vtech toys.

Ni Hao, Kai Lan follows in the footsteps of Nickelodeon’s other leading preschool girl property, Dora the Explorer, which launched with four books. “Dora paved the way for a new generation of preschool tie-in publishing,” Allen says. “It’s been a top publishing property for almost a decade now.”



Cookie Jar Entertainment has signed a number of new licensees for author Richard Scarry’s characters, in conjunction with the debut of a new 52-episode television series, Busytown Mysteries, which will launch this fall. NCircle Entertainment is on board for six DVDs, Cookie Jar has created a Web site called BusytownMysteries.com that includes an immersive world and a fan club, and Simon & Schuster will introduce a new line of books, based on storylines from the TV series, in summer 2010. Current licensed products, for boys age 2-5, include board games from I Can Do That, puzzles from Cardinal and cake decorating supplies from DecoPac. Toys, plush, home furnishings and gifts are planned.

According to Lisa Streff, Cookie Jar’s senior v-p of domestic consumer products, the series has the look of the classic books, and many of Scarry’s most popular characters appear in it. Pointing out that there hasn’t been any merchandise on the market for quite some time, Streff says retail-specific promotions are planned with mass and mid-tier retailers and that the company is in talks with bookstore chains as well.


N
ordstrom will exclusively sell children’s apparel in its Midwest and Northeast stores based on the Planet Color by Todd Parr brand. The clothing will be produced by Jen’s Ideas.... Grosset & Dunlap will publish three titles for boys 7-10 tied to Warner Bros.’ Batman: The Brave and the Bold, in spring 2010.


Modern Publishing will release Smurfs coloring and activity books, licensed by Sony. The classic blue characters will make their comeback in an upcoming film.

Majesco Entertainment is introducing interactive games for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms based on The Daring Book for Girls.


Warner Bros.’ licensing program for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince includes manufacturers NECA and Corgi International for toys, Mattel for a Scene It game, and Noble for wands, chess sets and sculpts, among others.


With all of this news I am most excited about the Smurfs! What is not to love? How could anyone not simply adore the cute little blue guys? I still have a stuffed Poppa Smurf from when I was little. I cannot wait till the movie is released, and I will try to find some additional inforamtion on that and post it as soon as it becomes available!

Have a great Weekend!

Is Harry Potter Christ?

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

Hand Written Notes

I did not post yesterday due to pain in my shoulder and arm. Somewhere between jumping in a bouncy house for a birthday party we hosted, a slumber party and rolling up the bouncy house I managed to injure myself. Today, or at least this morning, my arm and shoulder are feeling much improved. Me and my husband watched "Lost" episodes of season 2 last night, so it is possible that the island healed me.

I had a very uplifting day yesterday. I received a card in the MAIL from my best friend who just moved to a new place of residence about an hour away from me. Almost for the past year she has lived right down the road from me so I could "pop" in whenever I was around. I do miss being able to do that, but I realise that she is only a phone call away.

When I read the card I smiled, I laughed and I was in shock over the fact that she managed to mail something, which is not her strong point. It made me feel loved and appreciated even though she is 100 miles away. That is the power of the written word.

I try to mail my family and friends notes via the mail, a simple card or a copy of a few PICS I took when I last saw them with a quick note attached is all it takes to make some one's day go better. When was the last time you received a note, a personal note, in the mail, not by E-Mail, but by snail mail?

In this age of PC's and screens everywhere in our lives we have a tendency to forget that a hand written note is lovely. It expresses your feelings much more than a precisely typed letter sent by E-Mail ever could. Not only does a hand written letter show that you took the time to do something just for this person, but it also shows that you were thinking about the person while at the store picking out the perfect card, or licking the stamp, and addressing the envelope. It shows more emotion than a send button ever could hope to.

I know that most men are not up to sending a heartfelt letter, a funny card or even a quick note saying thank you will work. People loved to know that they are appreciated, and it will also help you HONE those writing skills. The hardest note I have ever had to write was a thank you note for a pair of Hanes socks. That is tricky, how does one make a package of socks sound like the most appreciated gift given in the history of the human race? That takes skill.

This is my challenge to you my beloved readers, send at least one person a hand written note this week. It can be left under a windshield wiper, mailed, stuck in a lunch box, left on the bathroom mirror. It doesn't matter how it gets to the person, but make sure it is handwritten. No E-Mail, no texting, no twittering. It will make someone you love feel special that day.

Battling Book Sellers

Jim Henson Company with HaperCollins the publisher annouced that they are launching a publishing program for "Sid the Science Kid", the emmy-nominated animated TV series that is PBS Kids. The TV series has been on airing since fall of 2008. The books in the series will feature full-color stills from the TV series and will go on sale in December 22,2009. The book series will start with three
titles and are targeted for children ages three to six, but are also great for kids
up to age nine that need more paratice reading.


The first three books in the series will be Sid the Science Kid: Why Are My Shoes Shrinking?, Sid the Science Kid: The Trouble with Germs and Sid the Science Kid: A Cavity Is a Hole in Your Tooth. The books are priced between $3.99 and $5.99, and are available on www.Amazon.com for pre-order.




In other publishing news the bookseller Borders announced on August 17 2009 that they will be INCREASING they offer educators from 20% to 25% off of the list price on books, music CD's, toys, and games for use in the classroom. This change came after Barnes and Noble annouced their launch of a new school/educational section on Barnes and Noble.com, plus they are offering a 20% discount to educators.

The new Borders discount is available to pre-k through 12th grade teachers as well as home school educators and school librarians. Also Borders has added "Borders Teaching Zone" sections to it's stores which will carry educational workbooks.


The battle rages on between Barnes and Noble and Borders. I am not sure if there will ever be a "clear" winner, but in this case educators and our children are the winners. Teachers of all grade levels need all the assistance they can get, even in the form of battling booksellers.

Have a great weekend!

Nathan Bransford

I know that in a previous post I mentioned Nathan Bransford's blog, there is a link to his blog on my side bar on the left. His blog is full of goodies for us writers. Everything from how to construct your query letter to other tasty tidbits. He is an agent for Curtis Brown, Ltd based in New York. If you are in doubt query Nathan. He is honest and full of knowledge that us writers might not be very knowledgeable about.

One of his handy blog posts that he published was posted on August 13, 2009, Thursday titled, "Book Publishing Glossary". This is great. There are terms and definitions that I know that I was not acquainted with that he posted. Check it out, and print it out, heck even save it. The information may be of use to you. Here's the link to that blog post:

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/08/book-publishing-glossary.html

If you want to read what Nathan has to say about his blog, his thoughts on publishing in the future, and his clients check out this blog at www.alanrinzler.com where he had a Question and Answer session. Here's a link to the post with the interview.

http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2009/03/14/literary-agent-stars-online-nathan-bransford-blogger-extraordinaire/


Have a great hump day!

Beware of Scams

I know from experience that the Wild Wide World of Publishing can be frightening and overwhelming. There are agents out there that are not really agents but scammers ready to suck your bank account dry, there are publishers that say they will publish your book but in fact will never once look upon your baby, A.K.A. book. There are sharks out there that will swallow you whole if you are not careful.

Not to worry, there are resources that are there to help us writers determine who the villains are in the publishing industry. Those people are the wonderful of Writer Beware, they are located at www.sfwa.org. There they receive complaints about agencies, agents, publishers, contests, and other pitfalls that target writers and they also post the results of court cases on their web site and blog. Very handy-dany. I have noticed that some of the agencies and agents and even self publishing publishers listed in the Writer's Market are listed on their web-site for complaints, and court ligation's. Always double check before you send out your well formed query and of course before you agree to sign any contract or PAY any amount of money to anyone. (A good rule to remember is that a decent agent will not require you to pay any amount for a reading, query or anything else up front.)

My golden rule is to google the agent, the agency and check the Better Business Bureau. Use your common sense first. If a deal seems to good to be true, it usually is. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!! There are no stupid questions.

Rant of the week

This is a rant post. You have been warned.

In Johnston Rode Island at the "My Special Place Early Learning Center" a daycare center a baby boy was locked in the center for an hour, alone. The mother came to pick her child up and was shocked to discover that the center was closed and locked up tight for the night. The mother pounded on the door and yelled until a neighbor to the center heard her and assissted her in breaking into the center. The baby was found in a crib crying.

This was reported to the authorities and the center was placed on probation. The center's side of the story is that the mother did not sign her child in when she dropped the baby off that morning. They said that they checked the list and as far as they knew all of the children had been picked up by their parents/guardians and that they were okay to close for the day.

I have worked in childcare previously at a day care. There were very ridgid policies on checking all the cribs, bathrooms, storage rooms, kitchens, every room in the center to ensure that there was not any children in the center. The vans were done in the same fashion. After every room was checked the employee that checked the room had to sign that they did check, then the lead adminastrator would check the rooms and sign also. It was a system of checks and balances.

This daycare should of have some sort of policies in place to prevent this from even happening. I realize that out there in the wide world there are people who think that a mother's place is at home with her babies.

That is a VERY backward point of view. Every person has a story, each one is different. I do have the support from my wonderful family that allows me to stay at home with my boys. In that respect I am very lucky. I have worked and I did have a babysitter that was a family member. But a babysitter all the same. It was slowly killing me everyday to leave my babies with someone else who was not their mother or father while I went to earn the allmighty dollar. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

People want to blame the mother because she allotted to put her child in daycare. I believe that mastakes were made, perhaps by both the mother and center. As a mother with school age children I know that there are polcies that drive me crazzzzzy. (Example, do I really need to show them my identifaction almost every single time I pick them up after three years of me picking them up and dropping them off every day).

Do we know the mother's side of the story? Do we know why she decieded to put her child in daycare? No. All that was told was that the child was left alone, locked in an empty building. An infant alone. If the mother had left the child alone she would have been punished heavily for child abuse, and child neglect. They only got probation. Something is wrong there. (Keep in mind that the child was not harmed, thankfully.)

The best thing to do if you do decied on a day care center is to throughly check them out. Visit the center (multiple times), speak to the employees, talk to parents that have or have had children there, check with the Better Busissness Breau to see if any complaints are listed. Google the center adminstrator, check their facebook and myspace pages if you can. They maybe professional the first time you meet them, then you realize later that you made a mistake. Trust me, people are awfully nice the first time, they want your money.

For a sitter place an ad in a local paper and of course ask around. Interview the people applying at a local spot, like a coffee bar or a resturant. Ask LOTS of questions, ask for references. Ask about their history with children, google them, check out their myspace and facebook pages if they have one and you can. Make sure that they are able to comply with your guidlines and are flexiable. (keep in mind that you also need to be flexiable) Make sure that you have their FULL name and their home address. Accidents happen, it is our job as parents to ensure that we can prevent everything that is a possiablilty.

Questions to Ask a sitter for an interview:

Do they have children?

How long are they going to be able to be a sitter (a few weeks, months or years?)

What is their view point on disipline?

What type of disipline do they use or have used?

Are they a leader or a follower? (determine this by the way they answer their questions)

Do they smoke?

Are they drinkers?

Do they have car insurance? (if they transport your child in their own vehicle)

Are they timely?

Do they have a cell phone?

Remember that many people get nervous and excited at a job interviews. If you feel that you did not cover all of your bases interview them again. Be frank and honest with them, remember that they are people too.

For those out there please do not judge a mother or father because they have to have the services of a day care center or babysitter. Times are tough and two incomes for a family could mean the difference between hungry and satisfied. Clean clothes and dirty, a roof over their head or living out of their car. Or maybe the mother is a single parent. A widdow perhaps. Dont' judge what you don't know.

Beautiful People

I have noticed that us writers can be a bit worrisome by nature. We compare ourselves to other writers, not just our skill levels, but our personal lives. We also compare our work, our finished product to others, and it doesn't even matter if it is in the same genre. We compare our education levels, and job skills. We are fickle. We want attention , we want the praises of out work to be shouted to the heavens, and we want the royalties to roll in like high tide. At the same time we crave to be alone, to immerse ourselves in our work, we like to dive into a new chapter like a swimmer in the deep end of an Olympic size pool.

These traits make it utmost difficult to befriend a writer, marry a writer, or even try to have a positive working relationship with another writer. Our pay is sporadic, our hours are uneven (I have been known to be up for days at a time working on a plot twist), and we are temperamental. It is hard for us to realize that people in our real, non-book, everyday lives will not function as we think they will. A stranger might not help you after they knock you down, people will cut you off while in traffic, not all teachers will be open and communicative like in all the books and movies.

This aspect of life throws me for a loop. Sometimes I do not understand their motive, or even their thought patterns. I have often caught myself thinking, "How did they come up with that?" That is the beauty of people, of free will, something characters in my books do not have. I have the power over what they say, do, think, over their whole lives. I am their fate. It is a powerful thing.

The worst thing for a writer is to think that they are insufficient. You are not. You are a creative, beautiful person even if the only thing you have written is a very detailed grocery list in the past six months. It's just a book, or an article. There will be more. If it's not perfect it's okay, it's not meant to be. That's the beauty of creation, most things are flawed in some fashion.

If someone compares you to another writer in a good way, yay! Absorb it, love it, cherish it. Move on. If someone says something negative think on it for five minutes and move on. Life still goes on. It's only one persons thoughts. Then you can say, "How did they come up with that?"

For us writers to be social, to be out in the real world, we need to take a deep breath and put aside our fears of other writers. we need to get out there and interact. We need to query and meet people at conferences and workshops. We need to be ourselves. We are writers, the beautifully elegant authors of the world. Be proud, be smart, be yourself.

True Blood news

School has started here this week, and I a apologize for the sporadic posting. I am still trying to get a rhythm down that I can live with. I am not a morning person, and I have two kids to prepare for school every morning. So this night owl writer has been trying to go to bed early, which has really putting a pinch on my work that I have been doing. I am hoping that by next week we will all have adjusted to waking up at 6 AM, instead of our regular 8 AM.




In this weeks PEOPLE magazine there was an engagement announcement made. Trueblood stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are officially engaged, reps for both actors confirmed! The couple has been official since February 24th of this year. They have not released a date for their wedding as of yet. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Stephen has two children from previous relationships, and Anna is currently childless. Anna Paquin plays Sookie Stackhouse and Stephen Moyer plays Bill Compton on the HBO series, "True Blood" (Sunday nights at 9 pm, 8 pm central).

In other True Blood news HBO is releasing bottles of Tru Blood for purchase. The bottles will not be filled with a blood synthetic, but a type of Blood Orange soda. Samples were given out at the San Diego Comic-Con that took place in the end of July. Tru Blood bottles will be available on September 8, 2009 for purchase in either single bottles for $16.00, or a 24 pack for $96.00, it is available for pre-order at the website, www.trubeverage.com .

Who got a book deal?

This weeks "Who got a book deal?" is more of a continuation of a book deal. It's complex, seriously.

Before George Carlin's unexpected death last summer he had been working on a memoir book with Tony Hendra, who is a founding editor of National Lampoon magazine. George Carlin had been working with Tony Hendra for almost a decade on the memoir at the time of his death.

The book will not be like his other comedic publications he had previously published, the titles of those releases are: When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, Brain Droppings, and Napalm and Silly Putty.

George Carlin's memoir is titled, "Last Words" and will cover his career that spanned more than 50 years, and will also include Carlin's own story. George Carlin was famously known a being a very private person even though he was widely known for comedy and acting.
This video does have some naughty words in it, so crack out the earphones if your at work or around kiddos.

Tony Hendra gained permission from George Carlin's family to have the book published. It is due to be released on November 17 2009. It is avaiable on Amazon.com for preorder for the price of $17.81, not including shipping.

I think this is wonderful! Me and my husband saw George Carlin live at the Ryman Auditorium when he was last on tour in 2005 and it was inspiring. We were very close to the stage, and his paced the stage the entire show like a caged tiger. We enjoyed it overly much, it was a night to remember. It is something that we tell our kids about. How many people do you know that got to see Mr. Conductor from Shining Time Station live? That is cool beyond words. We have missed George's comedy, but now it is time to learn who he was as a person.

This Video is one of my favorite's of Carlin. Enjoy.

Abridged VS Unabridged

Last week I posted that Barns and Noble was launching e-books, for more info on that check out that post, I have found that quite a few e-books and audio books are abridged. The defintion of "Abridged" is: (from Dictonary.com)

a⋅bridge  /əˈbrɪdʒ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uh-brij] Show IPA
Use abridged in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), a⋅bridged, a⋅bridg⋅ing. 1. to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic contents: to abridge a reference book.
2. to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminish; curtail: to abridge a visit; to abridge one's freedom.
3. to deprive; cut off.


Origin:
1350–1400; ME abreggen, abriggen < MF abreg(i)er < LL abbreviāre to shorten. See a- 4 , abbreviate

Related forms:

a⋅bridg⋅a⋅ble, a⋅bridge⋅a⋅ble, adjective
a⋅bridg⋅er, noun


Synonyms:
1. cut down; epitomize; condense, abstract, digest. See shorten. 2. contract, reduce. 3. divest.



I know that me personally will not purchase abridged books, eBook, audio or otherwise. I feel that if I am paying for the WHOLE book they should be able to provide the book in it's entirity. They may "omit" sections that they feel is unneeded, but actually they may make better the book for the reader. The author thought those details were important enough to include in the published work, that it gave the work some kind of boost in one direction or another. What gives the eBook publisher and audio book maker the right to take away from the audience, i.e. the consumer, the person or persons that keep the buissness in fact a buissness.

I have been reading Dan Simmons "Drood", it is a thrilling tale about Charles Dickens. It's has a twisting plot and enough mystery elements in it to make me wonder what will happen. I was trying to explain the book to my husband without throwing out any spoilers the other night and he said he would love to read it. The downside to the book is that is a large book. He would never find the time to readit. He is always on the look out for a new audio book, and "Drood" is abridged. Yuck. Unless they release an unabridged verison of it the audio book verison will never be included in our listening library saddly.

So in closing I am curious if other people buy only abridged works or unabridged titles? Does the title being abridged affect you purchasing it? Leave me a comment, I love to hear from my readers!

Mozart Sandwich

Happy Friday!! Yep, the weekend is almost here at last. I am eager to spend some time with my family. I am savouring the last bit of summer break. I know that as a parent it is my duty to ensure that my boys love going to school, and that they get a proper education, yada, yada, yada. I fulfil my parental job requirements with tact and some happiness. I love hearing about their day when they come home. It's small moments when they look at me and smile right before they say how much they enjoyed the sandwich I packed in their lunch box because it was shaped like a race car. I realize that soon that my oldest will be too old to have dino and jack-o-lantern sandwiches. Well, packed in his lunch box anyway. Kids are cruel in the worst way.




In my reading of the news I have came across a spiffy article that got me excited. And I mean excited. On Thursday, as in yesterday, the International Mozarteum foundation said in very brief e-mail statement that they have DISCOVERED two NEW works composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They are previously unknown works that are piano pieces composed when he was young.


These compositions have been in the foundation's possession for a while and they have recently discovered who the composer was. They are refusing to release anymore information on the two newly found works until August 2, 2009. The foundation has been around since 1880 and they seek to preserve Mozart's hertiage, and music.

This is HUGE for me. I am a avid lover of classical music, I grew up listening and playing classical music at home. I have even introduced my children to the genre of music. They listen to it every night when they go to bed. I feel that classical music is a dying genre, like a dead language, it is fading slowly. It's mostly used as background music in movies, and what is sad is that most people cannot tell the difference of Mozart from Chopin. That is sad. That is like saying people cannot tell the musical talents of Usher from Elvis. Public schools do not educate our children on the music that made music what it is today.

Classical music is awe inspiring. Some people think that it is nothing, that it is easy to compose music, some say it is easier than learning to read or write. To those people I have one question, Where is your composition?? Trust me composing is not easy matter. When Mozart was composing he did not have any technology other than the instruments, quill and paper, and a metronome. Could you compose what he did minus today's technology? Keep in mind he was doing this at the age of 5 years old. I seriously doubt it. That is why he was one of the best.

Now that I'm done ranting, I hope everyone has a great weekend, and a safe weekend! Remember to buckle up and not to run with scissors. It's all fun and games till someone looses an eye.

This video is from the movie AMADEUS, which came out in 1984. It is one of my all time favorite movies. This is the aria of the Night Queen from the Magic Flute, she is commanding her armies to slaughter her enemies. It's so beautiful one just doesn't think of bloodshed. It was composed in 1791, and it was one of his most popular opera's. In November of 1792 it celebrated it's 100th performance. That was outstanding then. Most opera's were considered successful if they were performed 3 times with a somewhat full audience. If you enjoy drama, guilt, vengeance, love and music see this movie. rent, borrow, and beg. It's worth it. Enjoy!!

Who got a Book Deal???

This is a new segment called Who got a Book Deal??? This week's book deal has left me shaking my head a bit in a sad way.





Former Miss California Carrie Prejean has signed to do a book for conservative publisher Regnery called Still Standing. The title is scheduled for November 2009. This bit of news came out on the 20th.

The book is a tell all about the pageant, why she answered Prez Hilton's question the way she did and what led to her (in her point of view) loosing her crown to the runner up. This is a book that I feel does not need to be published.

I believe that Carrie Prejean has done enough damage without the aide of a memoir. Then again the book may be able to provide hours of entertainment. If your wondering what I think about gay marriage, I say we let them get married. They have just as much of right to lead a life that they enjoy and if that means marriage so be it. Everyone has the right to a family. That's all these people want, to be able to make their own way in the world and to have a family. I wonder how Ms. Prejean would feel if someone told her that she could never marry and have the family that she dreamed about? I bet we would find out in a book.






In other news Barnes & Noble made its long awaited entrance into the e-book market with an announcement late Monday afternoon of the launch of the Barnes & Noble eBookstore (www.bn.com/ebooks). In direct contrast to the closed Kindle system from Amazon, B&N’s e-bookstore will carry e-books that can be read on a wide variety of platforms. B&N will offer 700,000 titles at launch, with “many” new releases and bestsellers priced at $9.99, according to William Lynch, president of BN.com. The total includes 500,000 public domain titles from Google which can be downloaded for free. B&N added that it expects to have more than 1 million titles available within the next year, “inclusive of every available eBook from every book publisher and every available eBook original.”

The eBookstore will support the ePub standard in what Lynch called an "every device strategy." (In addition to the Kindle, the store will not be compatible with the Sony eReader). The eBookstore will feature Fictionwise's eReader application which supports both wireless and wired access to the store for such devices as the iPhone and iPod Touch. B&N acquired Fictionwise earlier this year.

I know like a lot of people out there have been waiting to see which seller would go face to face with Amazon.com for eBooks. I can't wait to see how well it takes off, and I am very excited that they will cater to more than device. I mean really who has the money to throw around for a new kindle? I know that I don't, but for those out there with the iPhone and iTouch this is some exciting stuff. I do wonder if the Barns and Noble membership will also apply for eBooks? I guess that will be a wait and see. I am a bit confused about the Sony eReader, I was actually thinking on getting one of them. If it's only compatible for Amazon.com I may not be getting one after all.

Harry Potter's Vincent Crabbe Charged

I know I said that I would post on Monday, which was yesterday, but I got caught up in doing mundane household chores. Thrilling, huh? I wish I could say that something super awesome happened, but the most exciting thing that happened was me catching up on some laundry. If your wondering how my boys oral surgery went, it went well! I was not completely thrilled with the care they received afterwards, but we made it through it.




A special Shout Out to Deana! Happy Birthday



Now on to some interesting stuff. The actor Jamie Waylett who plays Vincent Crabbe in the Harry Potter Films was sentenced to 120 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to drug charges. What drug charges you say, well he was caught growing 10 marijuana plants at his mother's England residence. When did this happen? He was actually in court on July 7, 2009. He got off with a lesser sentence because the judge saw it as "small scale", and he was also dubbed to be of "good character". All I have to say is whatever!

I know that here in the states if I was caught growing 10 pot plants I'm sure that I would be stuck with the worst punishment the law could give. I would most likely be charged with the intent to sell, which would make my sentencing even more rigid. Why is it that the celebrities always seem to get off easy? I'm sure that the judge was not not thinking about Jamie Waylett being in the Harry Potter films at all. I'm sure in London all kinds of people get off with the most basic of sentences for growing pot. I mean it is kind of on the same side of earth as Amsterdam.

My question to you, does this change your view of the Cast of the Harry Potter films? Will you watch the next installment of the movies after this? I would love to hear your thoughts on this! Leave a comment please.

I'm a bit tired of the Harry Potter stuff. For years all we have heard about is Harry Potter. At first I was kind of excited, now I'm more like, "Oh, there's another Potter film." That's about the extent of it for me. That boat has sailed for me. I am hungry for something new that will blow me away. How about you?

Interesting news

Today so far has been a wonderful day. And I mean wonderful. I have obtained my renewed driver license this morning and I didn't get stopped by a single red light. I also managed to get me and my hunky husband breakfast while I was out. Oh, and my photo on my new licenses is awesome, I look good. I am hoping that the rest of the day says, "Gee R.J. is having a wonderful morning, so lets make the rest of her day rock out loud!". Unfortunately days can's speak so it leaves me wondering and hoping on some small level about the rest of my July 15th.

In the news today there is a report about 317 people skinny dipping for a world record. That is interesting! Could you imagine being a pool naked with 316 other people, most of whom are strangers? All I have to say is one word, "Wow!". For the full story and to see a short vid clip here's the link to the site:
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/heres-skinny-dip-was-record

Another piece of intriguing news is about a funeral home in South Carolina, the Cave Funeral Home and the owner Micheal Cave. There are always rumours about what actually goes on behind the closed doors of a funeral home, and many people have speculated what drives a person to want to be in the Death Business. Money of course is the a major moditvatior, and perhaps there is family pressure as in this case to continue the family tradition.

The state Funeral Board ordered the home shut down last month after Cave admitted his father, Charles Cave, used an electric saw to sever James Hines' legs at the calf because he wouldn't fit in the casket. ( He was 6 feet 7 inches tall). The elder Cave does not have the license needed to embalm a body, but helped with tasks around the home like dressing and cleaning bodies, his son told the board.

Rumors about Hines' suspected truncation started spreading through the town of 3,700 people about 75 miles southwest of Columbia not long after his death from skin cancer in October 2004. But confirmation came four years later when a fired employee, who was the only other worker in the room with Charles Cave when Hines' legs were cut, told the family what happened.
The state funeral board exhumed Hines' body and found the severed legs still in the casket. A criminal investigation also has been launched. A spokeswoman for prosecutor Duffie Stone didn't immediately return a message Tuesday.
Hines, 60, was an albino black man who had several modest hits in the 1970s as a soul and funk guitarist with J. Hines and the Boys. He became a preacher later in life.

This story is shameful! Desecration of a body, and he kept the secret until he was outted by an ex-employee who wanted a bit of revenge and a clear conscious. How would they feel it is was their loved one?

Tall people have as many problems as short people do. For example if a car/truck is too large I have trouble reaching the pedals, even with the seat adjusted. I can't reach the top cabinets in my kitchen, I have to have all of my jeans hemmed to fit me. Where I have issues most people don't. I don't know another person outside of my family that has to use a step stool to reach their crackers.

A tall friend of mine actually got a concussion from a ceiling fan, and he had actually removed the front seat of his car so he could fit in it. He drove while sitting in the back seat, it was a tiny car. Think 7 feet 2 inches in an escort. Not to mention all the weather jokes and people assuming he was skilled at basketball when he wasn't. People can be cruel, and this poor guy couldn't even defend himself and his family was unaware of it.

So next time think twice before you say something stupid or do something even worse. Would you want someone saying that to you? Or would you want someone doing that to you? Come on people, think! We were blessed with a brain and free-will for a reason. Lets put them to use!

*note for followers, I will not be posting on Thursday the 16th or Friday the 17th due to my children having dental work done. Please leave a comment and sign my guest book! I wish everyone a great rest of their week and a good weekend! I will post again on Monday!

British Pamplet

Today has been a rough day for me. I am currently having issues with the TN DMV. Apparently a Social Security card and a Marriage Certificate does not mean I am a US citizen, or the fact that I have a Driver License. I am currently wishing a pox on the DMV lady.

I am intrigued by something I read on AOL. The British have published a sex education pamphlet that promotes pleasure in sex as well as making young adults and teenagers aware of STDS and HIV. The sex positive approach that is being used will hopefully encourage kids to put off being sexually active till they are ready to experience the pleasure that can come with sex. The pamphlet declares, "An orgasm a day keeps the doctor away," and questions why doctors don't commonly recommend "sex or masturbation twice a week" in addition to a healthy diet and physical activity.

In an online poll 55% of readers (on AOL) said that the pamphlet was inappropriate, leaving only 45% to say that it is appropriate.

I realize that many people are not open about sex and leave the sex education to the school system here in the states. I remember in the 5th grade going into a darkened classroom to watch an approved Sex ED video and being told not to wear a pad in the pool. The boys got to watch a video on volcanoes in the next room. Not fair huh?

As a parent of two small children I realize that sex is everywhere. I mean everywhere! Was it necessary in Spongbob the Movie to have Patrick wearing fishnets and heels? No. Did we need to see a lady on a trapeze topless wearing pasties in Coraline? NO. Did a transformer really need to have "balls"? No.

These are things that I have to guard my kids against. These are small incidents, but ones that are easily memorable to a child. I have told my boys the most basic information about their bodies for the moment. Things a child can handle and comprehend without overwhelming them or shocking them. They know all the proper names for their body parts and I am not ashamed when my 4 year old tells me his penis had a mind of it's own when he peed on his underwear by mistake. I am proud he said penis instead of some other slang term. I know some adults that can't say penis without blushing or stumbling over the word. (Penis, penis, penis, vagina, vagina, vagina!)

As a parent I realize that it is my RESPONSIBILITY to ensure that my boys are informed and are aware of their bodies and what can happen to it and what the consequences are of unprotected sex. I also it is my role to introduce them to the good side of sex. I don't want them to be scared stiff by myths and half-truths.

I didn't know anything about sex until I had it. There's always the stuff that your girlfriends tell you but that is mostly their impression of the act itself, which is not good a majority of the time. As soon as I realized that I was lacking in knowledge I began to ask questions and do research. That is something nobody should have to do when they have elders in their lives that can provide better and first hand knowledge.

Sex is not shameful. It is not. Sex is a natural act that we were designed to do. There are only two creatures on this earth that experiences pleasure during sex, that is us humans and dolphins. We SHOULD educate our young on the benefits of a healthy sex life, pass on tips and tricks and make them aware of the bad stuff as well. Introduce them to it in a calm and neutering environment and they will learn, and adapt to positive messages about sex .

I can't hardly wait for the day when me and my husband can tell our boys about the joys of sex and freedom that a marriage provides. It will be fun and will be a great memory. I want my boys to be able to ask me any question without embarrassment and shame. I say let the next sexual revolution begin! The sexual revolution of knowledge and education!

What are your thoughts on sexual education? Did you learn everything from your parents or from your own experiences? Would you want your child reading about sexual pleasures in a pamphlet from the government?

Rules for giving gifts to ladies

It seems that every body's birthday is coming up. I have noticed that guys don't have a clue about what girls like. This post is an insiders tip for the fella's. There are a few simple rulers for giving gifts to ladies.

Rule #1- Don't buy us stuff that you want, unless we have specifically told you we really want that skill Saw.

Rule #2- Listen! A lot of girls will mention items they want as gifts and things they want to do for our special day.

Rule #3- We like things to have special meanings. An example is that she told you what her favorite flower was 6 years ago and you remembered it! Show her by sending her a bouquet. Or she told you she loves emeralds more than diamonds. A nice pair of earrings will go a long way.

Rule #4- Don't give your gift in the store bag!!! Tacky!! That is so very tacky! You can wrap a gift or buy a gift bag. It's simple, and does not require manual labor that is intensive.

If you can't think of a gift that she has mentioned she wants think about what she enjoys. She is really into music? An itunes gift card is great, so is concert tickets. Is she in need of pampering? A gift card to a local spa is awesome. A girl sometimes needs a pedicure and a facial. Is she a shopper girl? A visa gift card is great too. That way she can go to all of her favorite shops with one card.

Okay fellas this is a big one for me, don't make her cook and clean on her special day!! If you are planning a party do it with style, and do it without her help! It's her day and she shouldn't been required to do dishes! Recruit people to help out if you are throwing a party. One person can do the dishes, one can do trash detail, another can help with food. Ask people to help out, many are more than willing to help out.

The last rule is the most important rule. Tell her that how much she means to you and how special she is, and of course tell her how beautiful she is!! It's her day and she is the goddess of the day!

Friends don't let Friends suffer Writers Block

Writer's block or Blocking the Writer as I call it can effect anyone, just not us professionals. It could happen to you as your jot down your grocery list or as your typing up a report for work. Friends don't let friends suffer from writer's block, so I am here to help you.

First thing to do is to change your location. Sitting on your couch? Move to the kitchen or bedroom. If you can go outside do it. Even if it's just for a break. Once in your new setting focus on a object. Anything will do, like a painting or a photo on the wall or a bird wheeling through the sky.

Observe the object of your focus. I mean really pay it some attention. Notice the smaller details. Maybe the painting has a small detail in a corner that you have over looked before, or it's frame has a chip. Absorb all the details of the object.

Now think about how you would describe that item/object to a friend. Lets say they call you and ask you to describe it to them in detail. If you need to write it down grab a pen a paper, but it's not necessary. All that matters is that your thinking in sentences. Do this for a few minutes or a hour. Take as long as you need.

Now take a breath and head back to your project. Think of all those great words you just used to describe your object. You can be creative! You can be descriptive! You have the power! Now write the hell out of your project that you were blocked on.

Usually this works for me if I am having issues with writing a scene. Sometimes even I can be at a loss of words. I mean really what can a person say after they discover their mom is a Elf, even though they have been raised up to believe they are human? I know I would be shocked silent. That only works for a paragraph or two in a book, then the character has to say something.

Change location, think of the scene then try the exercises list above. Instead of you suffering as a Blocked Writer you will be a Creative Writer.

Is your summer activity list running short?

Summer is slowly slipping away. Soon school will be starting again. I know that I am NOT ready for school to begin again. I enjoy the summer. It lets me enjoy my boys without having to force them to do homework or to go to bed at a "decent" hour.

Summer is a time for parents, it's the season when our kids are ours again. This means responsibility for continuing their education during the summer months. Yep education. That means keeping up with what they learned in school last year and reinforcing it so they don't forget.

The easiest thing is to simple read them a book. Children love to be read to, and if your like me and you have a child that can read on their own let them read you a story. One of the best times we have is sharing the funnies in the Sunday paper.

For some fun simple activities visit www.nickjr.com or www.crayola.com. They have printables, a.k.a coloring sheets that are free, free on-line games and ideas from celebrating a birthday to learning why which crayons are in our coloring box. Nick Jr. has pages featuring the Wonder Pets, Go Diego Go!, Olivia, to Moose. May the summer never be boring!

Also on these sites you can sign up for a free e-mail newsletter that they send out to tell you about special printables and activies they have available.

Sounds like fun to me! So break out the crayons and glue!!!

Questions and Answers

Today is ask an author day! Yep. First question I am normally asked is Tell me about your book. That's not really a question but more of a demand/request. But I will try.

Answer; My book is called Darkness in Karn. It is a three part series that follows a newbie king and his crew. They battle evil and are trying to preserve their way of life from extinction caused by the, um, darkness. It's a youth/young adult fantasy fiction.

Question: How long have you worked on it?

Answer: YEARS! No seriously years. I have had to create characters, back stories, landscapes, entire realms for this book. I even created several new species of evil creatures for it. It takes a lot to create a new world from nothing.

Question: Is it finished?

Answer: Yes, but I am currently in the editing stage. It's done and I also have 3 other works in progress.

Question; Is it based on anyone you know?

Answer: Actually yes. There are several friends of mine that are in it as characters and my family is in it also. My mom is an elf in it that is pretty awesome.

Question: Why did you decide to write?

Answer: I have always had a pen in my hand. I honestly cannot remember a time in my life where I did not have a story to tell or a poem to pen. I remember making a "newspaper" with my brother when I was 8 years old. The articles in it were mostly about my pony Midnight and our new kitten, but it was a newspaper all the same. Writing also gives me a creative release. I think I would go mad if I didn't have some way to express myself. There is only so many ways you can express yourself with macaroni art.

Question: Do you want to be published?

Answer: Yes!! Who doesn't? I would love for it to take off like Harry Potter, then I would happily retreat to my newly purchased mansion to celebrate. I would be happy to get published period. I want to leave something for my sons to be proud of in the future.

Question: Your book contains magical elements. Do you yourself believe in magic?

Answer: Yes I do! There is magical things happening all the time! You just have to see it that way. To me there is magic in my son's laughter, in the way the rain falls to the ground and the way the moon rises. You just have to open your eyes to see it all.

Question: Why did you write a fantasy book?

Answer: Well they tell you to write what you know. So I know fantasy, I grew up reading them and thinking "I can do this better!". So I did.

Question: When are you going to officially be finished with the first book?

Answer: Well to be honest a good story never ends for the writer. Every time I pick up the manuscript I think of something I could add to it or edit. It's a constant battle not to pick it up once I declare something is finished. It's my baby and I want to coddle it.

Question: Can I read it?

Answer: Yes when it's published!

I hope this answered a few questions that you might of had. If I didn't cover one that you wanted answered post it as a comment. I hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday weekend!