Tales and Yarns by Laurie Laliberte

So I Needed a Hand Towel for the Bathroom...

2015-08-23T08:00:00.000+01:00

Seriously! That's how this design came to be. I needed one more pattern to round out the "Table and Tub" group from my Blog Collection and I toyed with several ideas: table runners, napkin rings, oven mitts . . . But nothing clicked for me. Then, one day, I found myself using a store-bought kitchen towel as a placemat. I was eating lunch at my desk and didn't want to get food on my laptop, so I

Caffeine and Sugar

2015-08-16T08:00:00.000+01:00

I'm not the huge coffee drinker I once was. Before the cause of my chronic fatigue was finally diagnosed, it was no unusual feat for me to consume well over a pot of strong, straight, black coffee every day. Yep, no sugar, no cream, no flavor, just brew and serve. I was so sick, so far gone, that I could barely stay awake for more than a few hours at a time without mass quantities of caffeine.

An Interesting Mashup

2015-08-09T08:00:00.000+01:00

Greetings friends and readers! I'm really excited about this week's guest post. Kris Hanson approached me a short while back and asked me to edit his first novel. After reading the first couple of chapters, I knew I couldn't pass it up. Yes, like most firsts, it was a bit rough, but workable, yet the story hooked me right from the beginning. Immediately, Kris drew me into his world. He was

I Keep Promising This One, So Here it Is!

2015-08-02T08:00:00.000+01:00

Since I moved to Oklahoma City, almost three years ago, I've lived with so many roommates I can't even remember them all. Anyhow, once or twice, I've been lucky enough to encounter one who can teach me something new in the kitchen. John was one such person. He'd worked in kitchens, as had his wife, Tascha, and they made a hamburger mix to die for. You see, before I met this duo, I never

I'm Posting a Day Early Because. . .

2015-07-25T08:00:00.000+01:00

It's Christmas in July! that time of year when some of us are panicking because we only have five months left to make all those homemade gifts. Others are just beginning to make them and completely relaxed. So who will still be hooking away on Christmas Eve? My advice? I tend to go by the KISS rule: Keep It Sweet and Simple. Along that vein, I leave you with a Christmas in July present for

Getting My Feet Wet Again

2015-07-19T08:00:00.000+01:00

I walked away from blogging for a while. I was overwhelmed at the time. Work, home, health issues, were all taking up time and blogging was just an added stress I didn't need. Anyhow, most of the crazy is done with and I'm more motivated to blog since I recently jumped over the 500,000 page views hurdle. (I can't believe it.) I never expected my little blog to get so many hits. Granted, I'm no

Say What?

2015-02-22T08:00:00.000+00:00

Yes! I have been absent, first busting my butt on projects in the works, and there are plenty coming down the Pike... All are well worth reading, in various genres. I may or may not expand on these statements before this gets published. Second, I've been sick, laid up off and on all winter, so something had to give for a while. Again, maybe I'll expand on that in the near future. But at

A Truly Epic Interview

2014-11-16T16:13:00.000+00:00

Have you ever wondered what your favorite authors would discuss if you put them in a room together? I used to.But now, since I'm living the writing/editing life myself, I imagine that their topics of conversation would be pretty much the same as mine with my local writerly friends... Just like any other professionals who work in a common field, our conversations tend to veer toward work. Sure

Top Ten Writing Mistakes

2014-10-13T06:22:00.000+01:00

I have been neglecting you all again, my faithful friends, and for that I apologize. It will all be worth it when You see what I've been up to. Some of it is still top secret, so I prefer to remain quiet on the whole bundle until I can speak freely. I was fortunate enough; however (thanks to my pal Alex Maisey), to come across a fabulous blog post by a teacher of creative writing. So please

Granola Helps Me Do My Job

2014-09-21T08:00:00.000+01:00

I know it's a stretch, but hear me out. If not for granola, many (more) of my days would be wasted procrastinating by playing online and whatnot. We all have days when we simply can't focus. There's too much running through our minds; we're disorganized; we can't decide which job to tackle first. You know the drill. Heck, I'm procrastinating right now, just by writing this post. (Yes, it needs

Pinterest Has Me Cooking Again!

2014-09-15T02:46:00.000+01:00

Okay, truth be told, I never stopped. I just didn't have the time for posting about it. Some months, it's difficult enough for me to maintain my weekly schedule, let alone trying to post semi-weekly. Anyhow, I chose to take over Sunday's post for Pinterest recipes this week because the two I made this week were yummilicious and I had to share. I'm going to begin with dessert since I make this

I'm Polish, of Course I Like Cabbage!

2014-09-01T08:00:00.000+01:00

Every time I see cabbage on sale at the grocery store, I fondly remember my grandmother who slaved over a hot stove every day to feed a horde of family members. Since that side of my family was Polish, and descended from farmers, the food was simple. Babcie's cooking rarely utilized complex seasoning and layers of flavor. It was plain, peasant food prepared with few ingredients. Often fruits

He's at It Again!

2014-08-17T08:00:00.000+01:00

As my most prolific client (and very dear friend) Tony Healey releases the latest installment of his Far From Home series, he is also working on the next step in his newer series The Fallen Crown, among other things. Therefore, I've invited him back to talk a bit about writing in installments and his current projects. He's also got a giveaway brewing, so read down for information on that

A Blast from the Past, Dreams of the Future

2014-08-10T08:00:00.000+01:00

Three years ago this week, Bernard Schaffer and I came together to begin the Kindle All Stars. Hand in hand, we produced an anthology (Resistance Front) with the intent of paving the way for new, independent authors to find a place to showcase their work. Some have continued to write and enjoy much success; others have chosen to take different paths. Many of us who continue to work in

Catfight and Hell Kitten . . . Really? Really!

2014-08-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

Hey y'all! I'm beginning to think there may be a lot of writers in my life (and I will confess that sometimes it seems as though there are too many, but I love them all). I'm fortunate enough to call many of them my friends. I'm also fortunate that when I don't have time to put together a quality blog post for you all to read, they seem to have projects they want to talk about. So, cutting to

The Writers Go Marching Two by Two

2014-07-27T08:00:00.000+01:00

I have just finished editing a book that I hope to be a huge seller. I mean, I always hope they do well, but this one in particular hooked me. It wasn't so much the story, which is terrific, unpredictable, and sometimes a bit depressing; it was more the writing team with whom I worked. You see, Nathan and Derek Howe are two of the most endearing writers I've met. They have gained my

A New Way for Kids to Eat Their Vegetables

2014-07-20T18:09:00.000+01:00

This one is specifically aimed at the parents out there who have a difficult time convincing their littles to consume anything green. A friend of mine made this recipe for me last night and I scolded her for not making more. It's ridiculously easy and I can almost guarantee it will get your kids (and my BFF) to eat their green beans. It's also a great dish to make when you're busy in the

I See You! (free crochet pattern)

2014-07-13T21:15:00.001+01:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know it's been a while since I've treated you to a new, free pattern, but I plan to make up for it. The prototypes for the book are basically made. The rough drafts of all the patterns are written. All that's left is a bit of spit and polish, and a whole lot of high quality picture taking. Until then, you get to reap the benefits of a newly finished project: The Blog

The Bloody North

2014-07-06T08:35:00.000+01:00

Well, we've done it again. Tony Healey wrote it; I edited it, and now it's available for your reading pleasure. The first title in Tony's The Fallen Crown series, The Bloody North, is now live on Amazon. It's also only 99 cents for the e-book right now, so grab it! Anyhow, Tony has a bit more to say on the subject, so I'll let him do the rest: ON WRITING 'THE BLOODY NORTH' My first

To Beta or Not to Beta. . .

2014-06-29T19:08:00.000+01:00

That's my question. I'm not a big user of beta readers when I write. My editor is the toughest critic of my work, next to me, so when I'm soliciting feedback, the most important opinion is his. That said, if I send out a beta copy of my own work, I'm not usually looking for editing advice; I'm simply asking for a review. But most of the writers for whom I edit are quite different

Local Flavor or Culture Shock?

2014-06-22T18:02:00.000+01:00

Oh my gosh! I'm writing about editing for a second week in a row. I can't explain it. I suppose I just felt the need. Anyhow... I talk to my clients quite a bit about "vernacular." Basically, what that means is the way locals speak in their day-to-day lives. It's the less formal, regional speech. As writers and/or editors, we need to be careful of how much local flavor we inject into

I Fired a Client Today

2014-06-15T08:00:00.000+01:00

Three times in my career, I have told authors to remove my name from their books. Actually, for those of you who may not "get" that statement, let me back up for a minute... When an author publishes a book, he or she generally gives a nod to the editor with a short sentence on the copyright page or in the acknowledgments. Some writers will even list the editor on their Amazon page, so they

I'm Turning into a Hippie

2014-06-08T22:14:00.000+01:00

Okay, so maybe it's not that bad, but I've become addicted to making my own yogurt and granola. I've been crocheting like a maniac, working on projects for myself and projects to share with you. Today; however, I'm sharing my much-experimented-with recipe for basic granola. In the interest of giving credit where credit is due, I must tell you that this granola began as this recipe from

Help Laurie Breathe

2014-03-21T14:05:00.001+00:00