The Feathered Quill

Edit, Edit, Edit.......

2012-09-15T10:26:00.000-05:00

I have done it! I have finally started editing my book! I put my excuses away and told my husband that I was indeed working on my book and not just sitting at my kitchen table listening to itunes through the laptop. (who does that anyway?)Needless to say he was shocked. I haven't worked on it in ages. I am fairly proud of myself, and I plan on doing again today.

Now that I have tooted my own horn for actually doing something let me just say after all this time I am reading it with new eyes. The one thing that is staggering is how I just simply "gave up" and it shows in the text. I have found myself wincing at some of my narration and I am very much dissapointed with myself. To be honest in it's current state I wouldn't let anyone read it. The last "edit" I did was a hack job. I ripped the soul out of my work! I am ashamed that my grammer perfecting OCD screwed my work. Yes, the sentences are beatutiful in their correctness, but really nobody speaks "correctly" and when reading pages upon pages of perfectly worded grammer it becomes flat and dry. Akin to reading an applicance user manual. Yuck. I have a LOT of work ahead of me, but I look foreward to it, and I will savor the chance to correct my mistakes to make my book "alive".

The moral for this post is Yeah you might of screwed your entire book up, but YOU are the writer. You are the dreamer of this dream and it is yours to do as you wish with it. If you want rainbow colored cookies to fall from the sky while pony ninja's are fighting perfect pretty-pretty princessess to over throw the pony's slave masters go for it! This is a lesson I had to re-learn.

ADHD/ADD

2012-09-13T10:35:00.000-05:00

Since another year of school has started, for us back in August, I have been reminded that a lot of teachers are not aquainted with ADD/ADHD. Sure they have heard of it on T.V. and radio, but most of them are CLUELESS as to how to help a student that has ADD/ADHD. (ADD is where you or a child simply cannot focus, cannot concentrate. ADHD is ADD plus hyper activity thrown in.)

Let me give you the short version of "Our Story". My middle child has ADHD and it's not a slight case where he may day dream through math class. He is in constant motion, always moving, always thinking and most of the time he's not concentrating on what he needs to. Which means he's not focusing and not RETAINING any information. He just can't be still. Even when he sleeps he rolls around and talks.When he was smaller, in pre-k, we had issues with him remembering simple saftey rules. I almost had a heart attack one day at the gas station when he ran OUT INTO traffic because he was excited because he got a slush puppy. Needless to say our motto is "saftey first" and before we go ANYWHERE I remind him of the rules. He just gets so wound up he forgets them. It sounds lame, but it is the truth. We also had issues with behaviour. I mean bad, naughty behaviour that made me shake my head and think, "What in the world was he thinking?". The issue is he WASN'T thinking. He is very impulsive, he thinks it and does it. He doesn't think about the consquences, he just doesn't get that far along into the thought process before he is all excited about whatever. That was a major hurtle for us, but with lots of patients and heaps of getnle reminders and a behaviour system we over came it.

Class work can be a major ordeal for him as well as homework. I have literally spent hours upon hours helping him do a simple sheet of math problems. This equals to him and me being frustrated. Our school system does not share information with the teacher, unless they deem it important enough for her/him to know. So it is left up to the PARENT to fill in the blanks before the rumor mill does. I had issues with this last year. One Nosey Momma of a fellow classmate of my son did that before I realised the school kept information private. I of course had a very long talk with my son's teacher and we kept up an open line of communication all year so we could be a team to help him succeed. It worked great!

She was on-board and even understood what ADHD was after our chat and we had a game plan to amp up his strengths and to help strengthen is weaknesses. He was an honor roll student after that! It made him confident and it made me so happy to see him focused and driven!

This year started out rough. New school equals new everything. Then I learned after the 3rd week of school, after 3 weeks of VERY poor, failing grades what was going on. My darling boy was in a class of 24 students. Disctraction city and the teacher again was clueless. After I met with his teacher and got a classroom game plan and a home game plan things have improved so much. (a different grade means an entirely different set of homework expectations).Instead of getting 30's on tests he's now getting 100's. What's the difference you ask?

Step 1: Talk to your doctor
I talked to our family doctor and got some ADHD medication for my sweetie. Keep in mind our family docotor has been the same for one almost 10 years now, so he is fairly aquainted with my boys. The medication is a stimulant that helps him focus. It does not change is personaility, or slow down his hyperness. It actually can make is hyper behaviour worse if you are not prepared. So we got prepared. (Also chocolate and caffeine are a major no-no while on the med)

Step 2: Try the Medication
Before he took the med on a school day I gave it to him at home to see the effects. He was a live wire. He talked for 12 hours straight! He was bouncing all over the house. The next day he took it at home I made sure we had activies to help keep him focused. That did wonders for him! That's the key to the medicine. He's good as long as he has something to keep him focused.

Step 3: Get a game plan for school and home
This is where my son's teacher comes into play. From my experience as his mother I have learned that a simple daily routine helps keep him on track. From the time he gets up till he goes to bed we have a routine. Everything has a place, from his toys, books, backpack, shoes and everything else. This makes keeping him organized simple which is an issue for people with ADD/ADHD. A simple reminder is all it takes to get him back on track, and it is soothing to him to know what is next.

As for school organization a binder with labeled dividers is all it took to help him sort out his "stuff". The binder I bought him has 2 mesh zip pockets on the outside to hold his pencils and other things that gets lost inside of a desk or a locker. The dividers are labeled for his subjects, spelling, english, math, and of course a section for me. The teacher and school always sends home heaps of stuff for parents every week. Now I'm not reading a crumpled up class newsletters that got smushed in the bottom of his backpack.

His teacher also began a routine at school and posted it for all of the students to see. What's at 8:10 after anouncements? Morning Work. They all know what to expect, and she has it posted on a white board so if they have a special day she can change it! Brilliant! The next step is rewards. If he is good and has good grades or gets caught being good he gets a ticket. After he has collected "x" amount of tickets he gets a trip to the treasure chest!

As for the distractions she has split the class up into groups for learning activities. A group of 4 students may be reading on the rug, another 4 are finishing up class work, another 4 are having computer time, another 4 are in the science center. Brilliant teaching at it's best. And the best thing is that all of the students are benfiting from these smaller groups of learning centers.

The biggest factor for my son is movement. He must move. He will be bouncing in his seat or walking laps around the room. So to aide him in keeping in his seat we use a excerise ball for him to sit on! It gives him a range of motion that he needs and keeps him at his desk to do his work.

All of these small steps keeps him on track and makes life easy for everyone. Nobody is running around like a crazy person in the morning, and in the afternoon we all know what to do when we walk into the front door. If there is a change, like say a fair, I make sure to tell him what we are doing, the when, the where and what I expect of him and it goes smoothly! No more am I looking like the overwhelmed momma with 3 boys and frazzled hair with mis-matching socks. In a small way his ADHD has helped get our family on track. Otherwise I would be a mess, my hair in a sloppy bun wearing flip flops in 10 degree weather because I didn't have time to put on "real" shoes.

The key to having a ADHD or ADD child being sucessful in life is to have a plan and get everyone on board.Plus being calm for those "bad days". Yes, you will not be able to do this for his whole life, but he will pick up on these tools now if you show him how to use them. Then when he is an adult he will know what he needs to be successful. You know what they say, "Give a fish to a hungry man he will eat for that day, teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime".

Remember

2012-09-11T12:48:00.001-05:00

Today is the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Of course leading up to this day there has been heaps of programs on the T.V.and articles in the papers to remind us all of that tragic day.

I remember where I was at when it happened. I had a 3 week old baby boy (my first born) and I was nursing him while watching our small 11 inch T.V. in our bedroom when the "breaking news" took over. It took a moment for what I was seeing to sink in. They were showing the demise of thousands of people on live T.V. It was like watching a war zone; I could not absorb all of the content. I was stunned, shocked and overwhelmed.

I live in Tennessee which of course is no where near New York or any of the other sites, but I remember my heart being lodged in my throat for all of those people that were involved. I knew that I wanted to help those in need, that while we didn't have much I would gladly give what I had to those that needed it. The local churches of course started to donation drives for clothing, non-perishable food, bottled water, first aide supplies, money and volenteers to go to "Ground Zero" to help. I wanted to go help, but I was still recovering from having a baby and so me and my husband opted to donate. We gave clothes, blankets, towels, food, and money. Understand at that time he was working at Wal-mart not making very much money. Things were tight for us, but still we gave.

The non-stop media coverage horrified me. All the dust, smoke, and debris from the twin towers seemed like it was from another planet. Then the news of the brave ones on the third plane came out and my heart broke again for those families. Their actions were simply stunning. Such breathtaking bravery shown by people I might of sat next to at the coffee shop, or stood in line behind at the store.

I remember the terror of that day and for the months that followed. The rumors that spread like wildfire and of course the non-stop media coverage. I remember them telling people to not call looking for loved ones because the phone systems were simply bogged down and were failing. The unknown was the terror of that day and the days that followed. Who knew if that was the only set of attacks? Who could tell us why they did this? Still most of the answers we sought of the attack were not given, but at least the families were able to get a small amount of closure.

Yes, all of this was tragic, but it also showed to us,as a country, what we had forgotten over the years. That we are strong, that we are truly one country united. I did not know any of those that suffered a loss on that day personally, yet I gave. I have never been to New York or any of the other sites, and still I gave. Why? Because they were in need. That is such a simple answer. I have NEVER turned anyone away that I could help. Nobody ever leaves my home hungry or thirsty. If you are in need simply ask and you shall be blessed. Why should distance affect their cause? We are all human and know how it feels to be hurt or sad or in need.

I know how easily things are forgotten in this fast paced media driven age. One moment we are watching Kitten videos and the next posting about our lastest and greatest whatever on Facebook. To honor those that were affected by the 9/11 attack we need to simply remember! My children were either too young to remember it or wasn't even born so it is up to us the parents to tell them! The schools will only do so much! Do you want your children to learn of this from a bland text book or do you want to tell them your 9/11 story so that they can know that part of their family history.

It was an ugly day, but it was a day we lived through and we should remember our fallen unsung heros who risked so much. Simply Remember.

Excuses

2012-09-10T14:51:00.002-05:00

I know that one of most difficult things as a writer is actually making time to write. That's right, actually sitting down and doing it. I know that life still carries on. I am the worst at making excuses for NOT writing. "the kids have...." "I have to go get groceries today..." "The kitchen floor needs to be scrubbed..." I am an endless font of excuses.

So my excuses line up like good little soilders ready for war while my book lays moldering away thinking it's forgotten while I am digging through box after box looking for "that" candle holder Aunt Margret gave us when we got married 12 years ago that I haven't seen since we got married. "It would match the new couch perfectly!!" (insert my husband's eye roll here)

To all of us that have heaps of excuses quit cleaning your house and doing pointless errands and work on that book! Crack out those index cards and binders full of notes and put them to work! Clearly we are needed! Have you seen the new books being offered here lately?? Most are sad things that should be avoided if you want to keep all of your brain cells. Which is worse for a person; An awful book or a bong hit? I'm going with a badly written book.

An Adventure for Spiderwick

2012-09-07T14:14:00.001-05:00

I sent my poor mother to Books-a-Million near her doctor's office today with an errand. My oldest son is in a book club at school and they are starting to read The Field Guide book 1 in the Spiderwick chronicles. This is one of the few youth series I have not purchased. If it was Harry Potter or the Lemony Snicket series we would be all set. So I sent her to the book store with my membership card and the book inforamation to purchase one for my sweetie.

She came back with a box set of Lomony Snicket!Books 1-3 in the series all in a neat little set for the cheap price of 45 bucks! Ouch!

Of course she was pissed because she had to return to the shop and it's a good 40 minute drive from where we live at. (Trust me I called everyone in town to see if they had it in stock or in a library. Everyone was out or had lent it out!) Also the only copy I could get on my Kindle is the audio book, which he can't take into a book club meeting! UGH!

So here's my rant. If your going to work in a book shop pay attention to your customers! Know the differences between all the popular book series. Lemony and Spiderwick really don't have anything in common other than they both have kids in the stories. I'm not even sure how you could mistake one for the other. How frustrating! Especially now with gas being so high a 40 minute one way trip into Nashville and then a 40 minute trip back really sucks up the money. I seriously doubt they will give her a $20 spot to cover her gas back up there. Before she had a reason to be in Nashville, she had a doctor's appointment.

Thankfully I was able to call the book shop before she left and spoke to someone there. I gave them the info of the situation and got them to hold a copy of the first book at the desk for her so that way there will not be any confusion. My poor mom doesn't know Lemony Snicket from Anne of Green Gables. Hopefully, she will return with the right book and he can get his extra credit.

Isn't it amazing how a simple trip to a book shop can turn into madness? Then again, with my family I am not surprised in the least. It seems like this kind of thing happens a lot. Were blessed with Confusion!

Potter Plotter Catching Fire

2012-09-04T13:55:00.002-05:00

I have finished reading Catching Fire By Suzanne Collins, the second book in the Hunger Games Series. It was good!I really hated how unfair things turned out for Katiness and Peeta, so in hopes of a HAPPY ending I will read the final book in October when I can get it for FREE from the kindle lending library!

Now this brings me to a topic that is really a pet peeve of mine. I love series books. I truly do when they are done WELL. By "done well" I mean that each book contributes to OVERALL theme of the plot. A good example is the Harry Potter books. Yes they had heaps of stuff going on in each book, enough to make a tangled mess in the heads of the readers, but the overall goal of the stories was the Harry- Voldermort show down. Good vs. Evil. Even in the very first book you get a taste of it even though Harry was so young and Voldermort basicly a vapor. This theme continues in each book building a bit each time. The danger builds and the lure of even MORE secrets keeps the pages turning. Until the final book when the writer's job is to pull all those plot strings she or he has woven through many books to make one beautiful tapestry.

Now that is HOW it is supposed to go. And most writers somehow miss out on that idea and may have a bit of ADD because most book series are scattered and the only linking factor in between the books are the characters themselves. To me sometimes that is not enough. I need not only to be hooked on the charcters but also the story itself.

The first book in a series should be an introduction book. Kinda like a first date. Full of inforamtion and plot and of course lots and lots of narritive to set up the rest of the series. It's not an easy task to make sure the book is like a guide to the characters. After reading the first Harry Potter book you knew Harry's strong points and his weaknesses. It's is true he may have developed a few more of each as the story progressed; In this way the PLOT was supported for the series end game.

I could go on for days on this topic. Seriously. I hate it when the author drops the ball so to speak. To avoid this plan out your books in advance! Don't fly the seat of your pants. What is the overall ending you are wanting to achieve? What must happen in the story support this? Write all of this down and look at it often!! Sometimes I know we can get caught up by writing alone. It's just you and the keyboard. Your in chin deep before you realise you missed an important point that needed to be included. That means re-writes. Ugh. Or if your not so picky a crapy book. Nobody wants a crapy book.

I used index cards for my plot line. In chapter I this needs to happen.... Chapter II they discover...

It keeps ME FOCUSED and helps me remember my overall goals. It's like a map. Follow your map of index cards and you can't get lost!

Hard copy VS. Digital

2012-09-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

My last post I covered hightlights of owning a Kindle or another e-reader device. Just let me say that no matter how much stuff they cramm onto a device sometimes just a good old fashion paperback or hard back book will do.

I have LOTS and LOTS of books. Some are signed and collectors first editions which are my darlings. I will do a lot for a signed copy of a First edition. Lord help me if it is an Anne Rice book. I am a book collector to put it simply. Nothing can soothe the soul quite like the weight of a good book in your hand and the smell of it's printed pages. It's like therapy after a bad day when life shows you that you are not quite the person you thought you are.

There are just some books you have to OWN physically. Not just the words, but it's presence. The lure of the jacket and art work of the book, the feel of the ink on the pages helps suck you into the story.

I will admit on a lot of books on my kindle are what I call "Junk books". They are interesting, and most of them are good reads, but most of them are books that I would of never physically bought in ANY bookstore. These are mostly from new writers that have not quiet found their voice, but are working on finding it. They may have a decent plot and fastinating characters, but somewhere among all the words they fail. They missed something while composing the story and it just fell apart. The story felt flat.

Because of collectors such as myself and the books that demand your presence in it's physical form will help keep bookstores from completely vanishing. I understand the need to save paper and help the trees, but some stories just require the death of a tree. There's no other way around it.

How will the book industry be overall affected by this digital age? I haven't the slighest clue how things will turn out, but be rest assured that books will continue to be written, reviewed and talked about and most importantly read! The printing press changed books forever and now our instant gratification age will also. Hey, I have woken up at 2 A.M. and decieded I NEEDED that certain book and I bought it via my kindle which deliveried it instantly. The key to all of this isn't the way the book, i.e. message, is delievered, but that it is delivered.

A kindle run down

2012-09-02T13:11:00.000-05:00

Well, I have downloaded the second book in the Hunger Games series thanks to Amazon.com Prime lending library on my Knindle. I have yet to really dig in and begin, but I am excited! I love new books that can INSPIRE a person to really amp up their own lives.

How can a fiction book do that you say? Through the writer's voice you can be inspired to be grateful for what you have in life. You may not have much, but it usually is a lot better than what most of the characters are living through and with. Could you imagine living like Katniss on grain and oil rations? Or watching the people you love die from the elements, hunger or a cold a simple antibotic could cure? That is harsh to say the least. So be thankful you can simply pop into the local store and buy some wound ointment and that we have vaccines readily avaiable.

Now to chat about the Amazon Kindle. I love my kindle, but it is a few years old and maybe in another few years I will upgrade to a kindle fire or whatever will be out. Still though they are not as popular as one would think. They are not in everyone's hands and purses. Including myself I know 5 people that have one, that is including my OBGYN and his nurse.

For those out there that are living in a cave let me explain it. The Kindle is fantasic. It is a easy way to purchase books, e-books or digital books, by downloading them from Amazon.com. Other book stores have their own versions like the Nook that works the same way just for their store though I believe. I like the Kindle because I can get a free book a month through their Amazon Prime program if the book is a "Prime" book. The Amazon Prime costs $79 a year and has heaps of advantages like free shipping on merch and sometimes discounted Prime Prices on items! Plus they have FREE books and short stories that are mostly self published, but sometimes an established writer will have a freebie peroid if they are launching a new book! Also another perk is that you get your book instantly, no small talk with a teenager while being checked out, and the DIGITAL list price is often much cheaper than hardcopy list prices! Enough of me sounding like a Amazon commerical.

The glory of an e-reader is that you can carry with you hundreds of books, games, magizines and heaps of other goodies in one small device! Even audio books! (it does have a headphone jack)You can download the Kindle App for FREE onto any phone, ipad or whatever you have, but it's not the full on experiance. The best part is the built in dictonary and notepad! I can makes notes and save them for later which is awesome, and you can highlight text and save it! Perfect!The dictonary rocks because I can look up an unknown word and then hop right back into my book with the simple press of the back key!

I cannot tell you how many times my Knindle has saved me from going crazy waiting in doctors offices without me displaying to the entire room that I am reading a romance novel or playing a game. I really don't need the chatty Cathy sitting next to me ruining the plot because she already read it. My boys love it too. Yep I dare to let kids touch my kindle. I know I'm a risk taker, but I do have really good insurance on it.

In short if you like FREE and DISCOUNTED books the kindle is the way to go. There are literarly millions of things to read and check out. A book lovers dream come true. But there are downsides to it. Hard copy books are being less available in mass markets like in big box stores. Think back to when the book aisle at Walmart was huge, now your lucky if you get a wall. And of course this hurts the small book shops like mom and pop stores because they simply cannot compete with a huge supplier like Amazon. Which can make the dreams of owning a book store simply impossible in most cities unless it's mixed with a coffee shop. Books will live on and continue to be published and purchased, but the industry is changing.

BF could be your BFF

2012-09-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Since I hammered out a post earlier about the Transgender dad breastfeeding I thought I would do a post about my views of breastfeeding.

Let me go ahead and state that I have nursed 3 boys, my oldest is now 11 and my youngest is 16 months who I am currently weening. I have 3 different experiences with nursing all my boys. My oldest was a struggle because I was 22 when I had him and I was clueless. I had no support, no fancy pillow and I was pretty much on my own. I made it a little bit over 6 months before I caved to the formula temptation. My second child was MUCH different. He cried, and cried and the only time I could soothe him was while I was nursing. So nursed I did. I worked also, which means I pumped while at work and in-between his feedings while I was at home. My pump was my best friend. I nursed him for almost a year. It was a struggle. I had issues with his latching on, and yeast infections. I was stressed if I was pumping enough milk for him, if he was hungry while I was working, if my babysitter was heating the milk properly. I was one stressed out momma, and it was not a pleasent time for any of us. My youngest child was so easy! He latched on right away and it was perfect! I had a fancy pillow, and a decent pump which I hated to use. He is much easier to nurse and I will admit that it was still a struggle!

Nursing a child is no easy thing. I know that if your pregnant you will be pressured into at least trying to nurse for the good of your child because breast milk is the best, and it is honestly. It has heaps of good things for your baby in it that your body is making JUST for him or her. It's always the perfect tempture, it has the perfect amount of Fat and proteins in it unlike cow milk or formula. It helps your little one's gut develop and his brain grow! Nursing also bonds the baby and mom, and helps the mom recover from the birth. The biggest perk is no bottles to buy or expensive formula to suck your money out of your bank account. As I said, Lots of good stuff.

Even good things have a downside. Breastfed babies grow at different rates than formula fed babies so be prepared to get lots of worried looks from your baby's doctor, and comments from strangers (Oh my he is little! Was he a preemie?) Only you can feed him/her until you can start pumping which is roughly a month after you have given birth. You will leak like a faucet until your body settles into your baby's feeding routine. Be prepared to not get a full night's sleep for a while. My youngest is 16 months and he still wakes up at least once a night to nurse. I have adjusted to this lack of sleep, but I do long for a full 8-9 hours of sleep like a normal person would get. Be pepared to whip out your breasts in all locations. I have nursed in cars, malls, living rooms of my family, resturants, the park, the movies, at the drive-in, and the oddest place as of yet has been at a Banana Pudding Contest. Of course you try to be descreet and try nurse somewhere quiet with few distractions and that can be sometimes hard to do.

If I was a pregnant mom I would weigh the pros and cons before I commited myself to either formula or breastfeeding. Buy a book, do some research, talk to a mom who has breastfed; Basically do your homework. I am going to be honest. It is hard. The first 6 months are all about nursing for a little one. They are striving to build up fat and grow, and so of course they need a lot of fuel for that!

If you are going to nurse I recommend you not to purchase a single bottle or any formula. The hopsital will send you home with some, but don't use it. I kept a can of formula for almost 7 months before I used it and it was an emergency. I felt good knowing I had that there if I NEEDED it, but I kept it out of sight so I would not be tempted. Once you start formula it just goes downhill from there. If you can make it the first 6 months you can make it another 6 months. It flys by to be honest. After the first 6 months your baby will become more interested in trying to roll over and crawling than nursing all the time. They will start to discover the world and you and your breasts will get a much needed change in routine that will allow you some distance between feedings.

I know the major concern for new moms is their baby getting enough? Your body will meet your baby's demand with flying colors. As long as they have plenty of wet and dirty diapers daily you are doing it right! I know it's hard because you can't physically see what your baby is consuming, but you can see the results of it which is just as good. I kept a notepad handy to write down notes about feeding times, and diaper changes. When I was feeling tempted to fix a bottle of formula I read my notebook for support. It helped me be confident in nursing him.

The most important key thing a mom needs is SUPPORT! If your husband/partner is not supporting your nursing then you might as well forget it. Thankfully my husband was all for it ("Honey, you can nurse all you want! Formula is nearly $20 a can!). In short, or the long of it, if your are considering nursing really do your homework so you can be prepared, and talk to your doctor and husband about it. Don't be pressured into it. They make formula for a reason; Nursing is HARD and not everyone can do for a whole slew of reasons. Don't feel guilty if you are going to formula way. All that matters is that your little one is cared for and loved. The end result is the same with either option. They will grow, pee, poo, walk, talk and melt your heart.

The Fifty Hype

2012-08-31T17:07:00.000-05:00

I will admit that I did read the horrid books in the Fifty Shades of Grey Series by E.L. James. I did it for friendship. oh, what a girl will let her best friend talk her into...

I watched the staff of the Today Show give it raving reviews and I read all the GLOWING reviews of Fifty Shades of Grey and I stupidly thought, "Oh, it will be good!". Nope. I now have learned not to let reviews guide my reading list.

This is a list of my issues with the books in the series. First off it started out as a Fan's writing of a Twilight story on the Twilight Fan page. The story was set up for Edward and Bella in another UNIVERSE. Then when it was getting heaps of reviews word spread to somebody that had the means to publish it and they did after they pulled it from public domain, and changed the story enough so they could legally copyright it so that money could be earned from it. So they took something that was FREE and made HUGE amounts of money off of it.

Number 2: The girl in the story is in College and does not own a PC, MAC or even has her own e-mail address or a cell phone. What TEENAGER doesn't even have these items??? That's unrealistic. NUMBER 3: Again, she's in COLLEGE and a virgin. I have NEVER met anyone in real life that managed to graduate a virgin. Number 4: Again she's in COLLEGE and hasn't drank any liqour or beer, and yet a few weeks pass and after one night of grauation partying she's a pro at drinking and when she visits her mom acts like it's "old hat". So is she a drunk or not?? Number 4: She has no spine, and when she does leave him it seems off, like the writer just needed conflict and this was how she chose to add it.

Number 5: At the start of the book she is a confident girl with the world at her feet. She hooks up with "Fifty" and all of her self confidence is shot out the window attached to a flaming arrow. The character changed! Number 6: All that I had heard was how risky the sex was. "oh, it's HOT!" It was not. Handcuffs, neck ties,cable ties and the occasional spanking does not equal risky sex. I was expecting more, something other than what I got. I hoped the intensity of the sex would progress through the books to give the reader a feel of what it is like to be in a REAL BDSM relationship. Nope. The book was more about how to get a guy who is into that type of sex into a "vanilla" relationship with plain old regular sex. It should of been called Fifty ways to get a guy to settle down, instead of Fifty shades of Grey. Number 7: After all the pages of the same old sex I began to SKIM read the booty pages. Which equaled about half the book.

Maybe if you are a young adult that's just exploring sex or a very sheltered house wife with no internet the sex content would be considered hot and taboo. To me the plot was thin. Yes I will read romance novels if they have a great story line that keeps me turning the pages. Kresley Cole does this well and so does J.D. Robb. I have no hate for romance done with taste and good writing. The writing in Fifty Shades of Grey made me crazy. Her inner goddess sections of the book was the most interesting sections till they got annoying. To me the best sections was the e-mails from Christian to Anna. I could of done without the rest of the book because they were too pefect. Yes, I understand it was fiction, but I adore characters that have flaws. Even if their flaws are something that I have never experienced I can still symthapize and connect to them. How can I connect to a rich boy who thinks he has "issues" related to his mom and a girl who has everything going for her? There's not much for me to latch onto to be honest. As for the movie I know everyone is thinking about who would play Christain in it. I think Justin Timberlake could pull it off well. He has the same body type as Christain and he can pull off the sex scenes with no issue, plus he is rich and he is charitable! A perfect match I would say. So there is my view of the Fifty shades of Grey books. Don't read them unless your a sheltered house wife or maybe 18 years old.

Hungry...

2012-08-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading the Hunger Games book 1 by Suzanne Collins. Yes, I know I am a tad behind all the raging teenagers, but I have been busy! I actually rented the movie first from Netflix then read the book via my Kindle. I got it free because I borrowed it from the lending library. All three books in the series is currently free in the Amazon.com kindle library!

I must say that I was SURPRISED that it was written decently! I was expecting another "Fifty Shades of Grey" writing style. The book flowed well, and the movie followed it closely! I really did connect to Katniss and Peeta, and I really did not want any of contestants to die, but that is part of the Game. I will not spoil it for those who have not read it yet, but it was really good and I am eager to begin the second book in the series come September 1st. I tend to stray away from the most hyped up books because usually they are lacking. The Twilight books were awful to push through, but I did read them all except for the last one. I let me husband do that one all by himself. I couldn't force myself into that again. Even for him.

In closing I think if you like action filled books with plently of harsh scenes about death The Hunger Games is perfect for you. It does have some emtional overtones in it, but not enough to make me weepy. It is well written, flows nicely and again the movie follows it closely. The main difference is that they cut out some of the background on Katniss and Peeta, and Gale of course. They leave out the story about the goat which I thought showed depth Katniss and Prim's relationship and they shortened most of the character narritives. I adored Cinna and I wish she would of given more detail about Haymitch's own Hunger Game. Maybe in the next book. I am tempted to re-watch the movie now that I finished the book.

Breastfeeding is in the news Again

2012-08-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

I have seen several news articles over the summer about Breastfeeding. The first was the photos that TIME magizine did of the Army mom's nursing while in uniform and now it's in the news again because of a Transgender dad wanting to be a leader of La Leche League in Winnipeg, Canada.

What happened is that he sent an e-mail to the La Leche League (LLLC) requesting it and the declined him because he is a man. Their rules states that a man cannot be a leader. Of course he is upset over this, and I can see why. He has breast fed his child for 16 months with the help of a feeding tube that allows him supplement his own milk. There's no shame in that; I have had to supplement my own milk before.

Here's my take on it. Transgender people tend to fall into a grey area. I have NOTHING against them or their lifestyles. I think that if that is what it takes for you to be happy and to live a productive self-fulfilling life then go for it. I am of course all for Breastfeeding, but as a mom that has breastfed three boys (I am currently weaning my youngest) I can see the La Leche League's point of view. Some mom's would simply be uncomfortable discussing nursing their child with a man who is not their husband. I had heaps of issues nursing my boys from Yeast infections, plugged ducts, engorement, plugged nipples and more. I didn't even feel like telling my husband how I cured the plugged nipple. It was a tad embrassing and gross.

This is my solution. Let him have a Co-Leader that is female! That way if another Transgender is attempting to nurse or considering to nurse the support is there! Also if the members of the League feel uncomfortable seeking a male for aide then he has backup, a female Co-Leader to handle those types of situations.

Breastfeeding Leagues should welcome ALL into their fold. Nursing a child is hard enough, let alone with no support. The first time I nursed my first born I did not know ANYONE else who was nursing and the hospital did not have a laction counselor. Also there is no league where I am located at. It was before it got popular. I was on my own. I really struggled, I just wanted my baby to sleep through the night. I was exhausted and so very unprepared. Now things are different and should be improved! There is no need for ANYONE to be shut out just because of a lifestyle choice.

I can see how his experience could aide new mom's. Why should they not allow others the chance to have that kind of wisdom at their fingertips because he doesn't fit into their idea of a Leader physically? How silly can you be? They need to readjust their rules to allow for MODERN times. Exceptions should be made. They, the LLLC, should be helping progess breastfeeding by whatever means a family has. Hopefully in the future they will adjust their rules and push foreward the movement of Transgender breastfeeding.

He has been writing about his struggle with the LLLC on his own blog at Milk Junkies. He is currently asking people to write to the LLLC about them needing to change their rules. Hopefully he will get enough support to push this much needed change through! Visit his blog and help out!

At last....

2012-08-26T15:03:00.000-05:00

Were finally semi-setlled into the new house and I LOVE it! We still are unpacking, mostly items from our storage unit which is about 30 miles away so it is slow going. I have yet to set up an "official" writing area for myself so I am posting this from my kitchen table while watching it rain through my awesome bay windows! Having a new home is my dream. A place where I can raise my kids, and have roots. It's an awesome feeling. I have big plans for our yard and repainting in a few years. Sometimes I still feel stunned that we actually managed to pull this off. I will be folding clothes and it will hit me that I just washed and dryed clothes in MY machines and I am folding clothes in MY living room. It seems surreal to be honest. I am so proud of my home and of my husband. He made this possiable! He is my favorite person at the moment. I regret not posting as much as I wanted to, but a new house means a new routine to settle into. My boys are going to new schools, which means adapting to a new community's rythem and flow. So far things are going smoothly except for last Monday when I had to pick up my middle child from school early because he ran into a door and needed stitches. His first stitches! He got three on his right eyebrow. He was paniced of course, but he did really well. Minus the yelling he held very still and let the doctor do the procedure. He is such a trooper! So life for us is moving on. We have had issues as far as employment is concerned, but really who is not? Things are finally looking up for us, and hopefully some of the pressure will be relieved. The stress of making the house payment plus the other bills can be overwhelming. While all of this is running circles in my head my youngest baby is finally walking at 16 months! It is thrilling watching him take his first solo steps that reminds me of Frankenstein walking. If your wondering if I was concerned about him taking so long to walk I was not. Why should he walk when he has me, dad and two brothers to carry him around? Plus crawling is faster. His walking may be delayed, but his mouth is not. He talks all day, and sings, and yells. He is very vocal! I finally have decieced that it is time to begin writing again so I can once more have a purpose in life other than child related goals. When I was taking my "moving" break I did feel a bit lost, almost like was floating free with no connections. I envisioned myself as a bit of dandelion fluff lost in the wind. I do feel better since I have started thinking about my plot lines again, and of course what to post! Now to get myself to the storage unit to drag out my desk and my books. I do miss my books..

It's been a while...

2012-01-26T11:14:00.002-06:00

I haven't posted anything for a while because I have been so busy. Thanks to my new little boy who is 9 months old I barely have time to sleep, muchless write anything, and I do mean anything. Even my husband has taken on the challenge of writing the shopping lists, which is confusing for me because he will put Water on the list but not what kind he wanted. Which results in me calling him while I'm shopping.

I haven't forgotten about writing, I still keep a journal for myself and that helps me sort through and process my day. A way to wind down after a busy day of breastfeeding, homework, cooking, laundry, and Lord knows what else. My days are a bit overwhelming to say the least.

On top of everything else we are curreently in the process of buying our first home. There are tons of stuff that is involved. It is a bit overwhleming to be honest. The biggest shock so far was how much the Home Inspection will cost us. $330! Wow huh? That doesn't even cover the septic,termite, and radon testing. Those will run us about an extra $225 bucks. Ouch. What got me was how quickly all the testing and inspecting has to be done. We have 10 days to get all this done. This after months of looking at homes, it seems like everything is in fast foreward. Were keeping our fingers crossed that everything will turn out well and we can be moving sometime in March.

If your writing everyday, even if it's a journal like in my case, keep on. Life will free up some and before you know it you will be writing that book that you always wanted to. Even if you just write down ideas once a week for your writing that's progress! See the cup as half full instead of half empty.

Spring Green

2011-04-04T08:06:00.003-05:00

This time of year, Spring, always leaves me awed. It's as if my eyes have never before seen the color green before. It's just not standard shade of green that has my eyes consuming the feast Mother Nature puts before them, but all the varying shades that make up the spring pallet, the combination of colors.

To me this time of year is the MOST important for the writer. Spring is the season of renewal, and new starts. I know how tempting it is to stay hunkered behind your laptop to keep pecking out one more chapter, but you need to get outside and experience this new season. If you just can't, gasp, abandon your laptop for an hour in the outside realm take it with you and write your impressions of what you see! A writer always writes best what they have experience with and to get experience that means getting out there in the world and well, getting some experience! Take notes on the weather, if it's a balmy 70 degrees take note of how your body reacts to it. Are you wearing a sweater and sweating your butt off? Did you forget that it rained yesterday and today you wore sandals and now your squishing through puddles? Write all of this down and it will help you when your stuck in writing.

Writing is tricky business. Your a living being trying to breathe life into a person that will never actually breathe or move in the real world. All that your character has to rely on for this amazing ability is you! Don't give your wonderful characters the short end of the stick, use what you know; the life you have been living since you were born to help your book get on it's feet. Remember how it feels to run till your sides hurt, how it felt the last time you stubbed your toe, and how good it really feels to take a real deep breath after a spring storm. If you have forgotten what it feels like to live take a writing break for a day and live! Your characters will thank you!

RWA 2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

2011-03-02T10:15:00.000-06:00

Romance Writers of America annual Conference for 2011 will be held in New York, New York from June 28- July 1 2011. The link to the page is http://www.rwa.org/cs/conferences_and_events . This year is the 31st Annual Conference and it will be held at Marriott Marquis in Times Square. This year the Keynote speaker is Madeline Hunter and the Awards Luncheon speaker will be Sherrilyn Kenyon, Meg Cabot will emcee the 2011 RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony and Julia Quinn will speak at the Librarians Day Luncheon.

This conference will have OVER 100 workshops, plus panels and round -tables with publishing pros. They also will have one-on-one pitch sessions with a literary agent or editor available, but you must pre-register for this. They also have Scholarships available.

This conference is meant for writers, editors, agents and other professionals, but if you are a fan and want to attend they recommend you attend the “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing on Tuesday night, which features HUNDREDS of authors and is open to the public. For this you will NOT have to pay the conference fee to attend the book signing.

This is a HUGE conference and to be honest it is a tad overwhelming, but they understand this and have a GREAT FAQ’s page that is a must see if you are thinking about attending. They cover the cost, what to wear, what to bring with you, and heaps of other questions you may have.

Registration for this event has started, and the early registration for members of the RWA and non-members end on May 13, 2011. Late registration ends June 10, 2011. The big difference between members and non-members is the price. Of course you can do an on site registration, but it will cost you extra.

Workshops & Conferences 2011

2011-02-16T08:57:00.000-06:00

I just wanted everyone to know that I will be looking into this year's conferences and workshops for 2011. I will post about them ASAP and add them to the tool bar on the right. 'Tis the season for registering!

Valentine Blues

2011-02-14T06:41:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I know it's a day for L-O-V-E, and couples, but really it's not. For those out there that simply hate the day due to all the lovey dovey crap in the air, think of it as a day to cherish those you hold dear. It doesn't have to be a speical someone, wink, wink, but anyone who means something to you. Yeah, the coropate america wants you to send $150 on a dozen of roses that will die in a week and diamonds to make her sparkle. It doesn't have to be that way.

A simple card to a grandparent or a phone call to a friend you haven't talked to in ages will bring special meaning to the V-day if your a single. Or you could treat yourself! That's right, take all that money and spend it on YOU! Office supplies anyone?? Has all the typing on your new book made your nails crappy? If so treat yourself to a manicure! You deserve it! Can't remember the last time you ate a meal that wasn't pre-frozen due to the plot that your eye-balls deep in? Take yourself out to dinner!

See V-day doesn't have to be awful! If your cringing at the thought of actually going out on the hoilday don't. Stay at home and order in. It's amazing the things they will deliever now days. It's just a day, given a day with heaps on pink in it, but still just a another day.

Kindergarten Woes?

2011-02-09T09:02:00.000-06:00

Since spring is almost here a lot of parents have enrolling in kindergarten on their minds. This is a HUGE step in a child's life and in the parents. What to do first?? I will be honest in saying that if your child has been through some sort of a Pre-K program things will be easier, but if not there is hope!
First check with your local Elementary school to see when the OPEN ENROLLMENT is for Kindergarten, durning the enrollment make sure to turn in your paper work, if you miss the deadline DON'T PANIC, simply drop off your paper work at the school's office after they are open. Don't worry about the immunizations, you have all summer to get those if your child needs them, but check with the school about their policies regarding the deadline for when you can turn in your shot record.

In order to make sure your little guy or gal is ready for school simply play school with them at home! Make a table a desk for your child and have some fun projects planned that involve jumping, playing, and story time (they have to sit quietly while you read), and keep in mind the rules that a teacher would have. No talking in class, raise your hand, walk quietly in the hall, sitting still, and listening. Make it fun and use POSITIVE rewards, like "Wow! You really did a good job coloring!" then a sticker would be given, or a high five.
Of course play dates offer heaps of opportunities to seep in some more school rules. Sharing, team work, how to listen, how to treat other people & their property. Gentle reminders go a long way, "Hey, remember how we use team work to get a BIG job done?" then show them the first couple of steps and watch them absorb the concept and take off with it!

Now if your worried about that pesky kindergarten test at the start of the year don't be. It's not a real test. This is mainly for the teacher to know what level your child is on so they will know your child's strength's and weaknesses. Most school's will send you a copy of the results so you can work on their weak area's at home. No worries.

If you want to prepare your child for kindergarten so they are not swimming in the deep in go over basic skills.
Handwriting: how to hold a pencil, writing their first name, coloring semi-in-the-lines. As far as fine motor skills go they should be able to trace a cross, a plus sign, make a line, and make a circle.
Shapes: work on recognizing basic shapes, circle, triangle, square, rectangle.
ABC's: recognize letters in uppercase & lowercase, recite the alphabet
Numbers:count to 20, recognize numbers 0-20
There are some physical aspects also. Standing on one foot, hopping, telling left from right.

Enjoy the experience! Make sure to talk to your little one so they will know what's going on. Often they will be MORE excited than you would have expected!

Bio or not

2011-02-07T10:04:00.000-06:00

The worst part for me of writing is sending out those letters, you know what letters I am speaking of, those Query letters. You send them out and wait, and wait. This is after you fretted over what to put in your letter, how to phrase it and if it will hook that literary agent. It’s stressful to say the least. I am a FIRM believer in simpler is better. Make your letter easy to read, yet full of your voice as a writer.
The hardest choice is what info to include in the bio section of your query. Do you even need a bio? It’s a hard choice to make, because really it depends on the literary agent. Do some research on your agent before you submit or compose anything. Be smart about your query.
Here’s my take on the Bio section of a query. There are HEAPS of thoughts on this section of a query. It can be confusing.
If you have been published before, or if you have written a NON-FICTION book and you have expertise on the subject of your writings because of your education, background, etc., please include that information in your bio section because it will hammer in why you have experience on the topic.
For fiction previously published works, no matter how small can be a help, and a brief description of your education, did you go to Yale? If so toot your own horn for a few lines. Simple is better, do not overwhelm the agent with you education, or publishing history.
If you to choose to skip the bio section that fine too. It’s your query! Try to go by the agents guidelines so that your query can hopefully avoid the slush pile.
Keep in mind that your query letter should be ONE page total, no more. I know it’s a lot to squeeze into one page, but you can do it! Also keep your query’s appearance neat and basic. I know you LOVE, L-O-V-E those cute pink hearts around the edge of your paper, but it is not needed for your query. You want it to be clean and professional.
Hopefully this will help you choose on what to include in your Bio section, or if you even need one. It’s a frustrating detail that is required if you are not already signed to a Lit agent, but hopefully this will help you snag the agent of your dreams!

SOOKIE!

2011-02-03T09:49:00.001-06:00

I am a Charlaine Harris addict. Yes, I watch HBO's version of True Blood with a passion, (I mean who can resist all of those wonderful, lively characters?) and I read and have re-read the books the series is based on to make sure I have all my bases covered for when a new book comes out. This year is a BIG publishing year for Mrs. Harris And her devoted readers! I am proud to announce several up coming publications in the Sookie universe!

First up is "DEAD RECKONING" which is due out May 2011. She has yet to post any kind of a synopsis, but you can go to http://www.charlaineharris.com/DeadReck_1.html to read the first chapter of the book which is 19 pages. It begins with Sookie cleaning out her attic then moves onto her shift at the bar which starts out normally but as usual in the world of Sookie ends up haywire.

If you are a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse books you are very familiar with the beautiful art work that graces the covers. The artist Lisa Desimini is now selling prints of the Sookie Stackhouse art work on her website, www.lisadesimini.com , the paying option is through Pay pal.

August 2011 will bring the "Home Improvement: the undead edition", which is a collection of short stories by various authors and includes a new Sookie Stackhouse story. There is also no synopsis posted yet for this book.

Out in September 2011 is the Sookie Stackhouse Companion Book which will include an all NEW novella and an interview with the HBO True Blood director Allen Ball. This will help you keep track of all of those fairies, werewolves and vampires!

If you are new to the Sookie world books 1-10 are for sale and you can also watch HBO's True Blood seasons 1 and 2, season 3 has yet to be released on DVD and Blue Ray, and season 4 is slated to start airing this summer.

Spring Reading

2011-01-31T08:20:00.004-06:00

A new year equals a new look for The Feathered Quill. I also added a new feature for all of my lovely readers, now it's easy-peasy to share what you read on my blog on your Facebook & other sites!

I have been thinking about my spring reading list, and of course my up coming book store run. Being pregnant, very much so, makes me realize that come May I will not be able to read as much as I would like. In short my selections need to be precise, and this is also true for ANYONE who is on a budget, and these days who isn't? Here are a few books I am truly excited about reading.

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch

First published in Germany in 2008 as "Die Henkerstochter" this book has been quite popular there & now it has been translated to English by Lee Chadeayne! It's set in the mid-1600's in Schongau, a small Bavarian town, Jakob Kuisil is asked to discover if an ominous tattoo found on a dying boy means if witchcraft has come to their small town. Is the midwife to blame or someone else?
Keep in mind this is set in the time period when witchcraft was a SERIOUS offense, and that they used ANY means possible to extract a confession. What makes this book more than simple fiction is that the author Oliver Pötzsch is a descendant of the real-life Kuisl family, but he has clearly stated that this work uses his for bearer's name but is strictly fiction. I am sure this book will be full of plot twists & turns and will be a great read for historical fiction readers.

The Hangman's Daughter is available for purchase at book stores & on Amazon.com, there is a Kindle edition and paperback.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003P9XMFI/ref=s9_ri_bw_fi1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-9&pf_rd_r=00VQACBT9WK9MD5XC6RD&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1279395682&pf_rd_i=283155

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

This book is set to be released on February 8, 2011 nation wide. Diana Bishop is a Yale historian who happens to also be a witch who discovers an enchanted manuscript that attracts the attention of Matthew Clairmont who is a 1,500 year old vampire. Due to the manuscript her life is turned upside down thanks to an assortment of demons, witches and vampires who all want the manuscript. She turns to Matthew for aide, and their research raises questions about the race of the undead and their romance raises centuries-old enmities.
This book may be able to fill in the publishing gap for those fans of Charlaine Harris, but it still promises to be a great read!
This title is available for pre-order, and will be sold in hardcover, audio book & kindle editions via Amazon.com, below is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Witches-Novel-Deborah-Harkness/dp/0670022411/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296488198&sr=1-1

I hope these two books will get you through the winter hump and into spring when warmer weather will beckon us all to explore the world outside. I am ready for warm weather, flip flops and sun screen! I am sick of snow, freezing toes, and mud. I say bring on the sunshine!

The Purse

2010-12-02T21:55:00.004-06:00

The Holiday season is upon us, again. It's funny how just when you recover from last years holiday crap another one is here sucking you dry again. I am not a Scrooge, I've seen several of the movies and I am nothing like that old miser. I love Christmas actually. The lights, the cheery songs, the laughter of family, who could ask for more?

Sadly these days people just are not satisfied with a warm hug and good meal. You actually have to purchase stuff with your hard earned money. This is what gets me, you put a whole heap of thought and consideration into a gift & they act all grateful. Ask them 6 months after Christmas what they got and I bet half of them can't remember what they got.

Me personally I remember. To me I am impressed that someone cared enough to even think of spending their livelihood on me instead of buying groceries or paying a bill. That is truly special. The gift that made me smile, and still does, is the purse my dad gave me. He's a 51 year old tool & die engineer who is an avid coon hunter, huntsman, fisher, and 6 days out of the week is covered in grease for at least 10 hours a day. He's a manly man and he went into an upscale shop & bought me a purple & silver zebra stripped purse with a giraffe wallet. I could just see him stomping into the shop in his heavy duty steel toed boots with a smear of black engine grease on his forehead looking at all the purses and bags. That is priceless.

So this year instead of buying someone junk that they will forget about get them something that will stick in their memory and their heart. It doesn't have to be expensive or the latest whatever. If you have a friend that always wanted to go to Paris get them a mouse pad with some Paris sights on it, or if they have a child a gift card to a movie & the promise of a sitter would be perfect. Are they an avid runner maybe they could use some new tunes to run to, a burnt CD would be great. Simple things make the best gifts.

My Excuses

2010-11-23T20:43:00.002-06:00

I have not posted in a looong time. Summer has came and gone; winter is upon us. I had a busy summer filled with relations visiting from out of state, kids staying over for sleep overs, and my anxiety over my son's year in kindergarten, and for the first time in 2 years dealing with a new teacher that was not his pre-k teacher. That is a on going challenge, but after several meetings and game plan tweaks I think we have things down. It's like I can breathe for the first time since August 1st. Any parent stresses over a new school year, but for us it's different because he has Sensory issues. Meaning that he is VERY sensitive to loud noises, certain textures, smells, even the chance that his schedule could be changed or disrupted is a cause for upset. It's been a challenge for me and my husband to help him through this, but to throw in a teacher, who he spends 7 hours a day with, who hasn't a clue about what's what and that's a recipe for disaster.
Also we are expecting our 3rd child in May 2011. Call me Fertile Myrtle. I wasn't even trying and I still got an "A" in conception! GOOOO SPERMANATER! Were all excited, and we will have some MAJOR changes. Were currently in the process of house shopping, and car shopping. The car is easy, the new house not so much. First we have to make the choice if we are going to stay in the same area or move closer to my family. Which has a whole slew of subtexts, if we move will it disrupt his therapy? Will our oldest son be okay with leaving his friends for new ones? Is the school there paced the same as our current one? See crazy subtexts that give me a headache.
And then there's the most awful part; my laptop screen cracked! Yep, it's like trying to Google through squid ink. I will admit it, I cried. It happened on my birthday, and I had a broken toe. It was a stinky birthday this year. I still haven't gotten it fixed because HP wants the insane amount of $450 to replace the screen. I could by a new one for that amount! So I am also laptop shopping. Lots & lots of shopping. I hate shopping. I must be the only female on the planet that thinks that.
I know your wanting to know about my writing. Well, I have wrote a short story, and I have had the itch to work on my book, but it's in my shot laptop. I know it's an awful excuse, but it's true! I have read a few good books lately. I loved Stephen King's "Bag of Bones", and Charles Dickinson's "The Widow's Adventure's" I had read some flops too, and they were so bad I cannot recall their names.
I hope to keep posting as long as my sweet hubby will let me borrow is laptop. I have some ideas brewing about some new posts that should be interesting. Happy Thanksgiving!

New in Publishing

2010-05-13T08:36:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted anything about what is going on in the publishing aspect in a while. I realize that this single post will not cover everything that I have lapsed on, but I have found some interesting tidbits that made me go, "Hmmmmm." this morning.

If you don't know who John Grisham is I'm not sure if I can explain how BIG of a writer he is here in the States and across the world. Almost every single book he has written has been on the Best Seller List. One of his most famous books "THE FIRM", published almost 20 years ago, has been pitched as a TV SERIES to FOX,NBC, FX, A&E, TNT, and other channels. NO word on if any of them have snapped up the pitched series, but it has been put out there. This is not a new avenue of publishing for his works, he has had SEVERAL movies and TV series based on some of his other works. "THE FIRM" was actually pitched as a TV SERIES several years ago but was dropped before a pilot was made. Also in news of John Grisham he has 2 new books being released soon. 'Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer' will be released on MAY 25, 10 and it is written for younger readers.In October 'The Confession,' will be released.

Touchstone Fireside bought the U.S., Canadian and open market rights to the former GUNS & ROSES bassist Duff McKagan memoir. McKagan is the Co-Founder of the band and he spent 13 years with the band. The memoirs covers the time he spent with the band Guns & Roses, his battle with being sober, and of course life after G&R. No news yet as to what they will do with the memoir, but it will be interesting all the same.

I hope these tid-bits made you go "Hmmm," like I did. Till next week!