Those who know me well know I’ve been a stress case lately because of writing stuff. Sometimes it seems there’s so much negative in this business to focus on, it can be all-consuming. I know I’ve had it on my mind a lot lately, letting it overshadow some of the good in my life. This morning I have a different perspective.

Those of you not living in the Pacific Northwest missed the mother of all wind-storms last night. Hurricane force winds in certain places. We have a large stand of old Douglas fir in the park behind our house. I … Read more »

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for a good underdog story. Rudy, The Natural, The Rookie, Old School, Eight Below – all are underdog stories of one kind or another. This weekend we saw Stranger Than Fiction, which, if you haven’t seen it, I’m telling you to go watch. Writers will get a lot out of it most people won’t, and there were some hilarious situations only a writer could appreciate. But at the heart of this movie, it’s an underdog story – about one man who normally wouldn’t have any reason to do something … Read more »

Maybe it’s because the WIP is still kicking my butt – I thought I’d made a break-through, was super excited with the new direction, and now am worried it might be too similar to the other proposal I recently finished (at least initially). Maybe it’s because last night I spent some time online reading author blogs and ingested all the stress and worry over deadlines and proposals and fear of success (Yeah, Lisa told me not to do that again). And maybe my anxiety is just related to the fact publishing has to be the slowest industry in the world. … Read more »

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate. Esp. with peppermint schnapps. Mmmm….
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped. Always.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White only
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No.
5. When do you put your decorations up? Mmm…when I’m tired of the kids nagging me. Did them today – all except for the tree.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Tea time tassies – they’re like mini pecan pies. Oh, and fudge. Yeah, gotta have fudge.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Driving into the … Read more »

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Lisa said I didn’t gloat enough. So, Lisa, baby, this is just for you…

So aside from the fact the Beavers WON (30-28), WOOHOO!!!, I have just one other thing to say. What the heck were the Ducks thinking with those uniforms? In the words of my good friend, Tonia, it looks like someone peed all over them.

Cheer up, Lisa. There’s always next year. 😉… Read more »

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Lisa‘s giving me crap for being what she calls a two-posts-per-week blogger. Yeah, whatever. And here I thought I was saving you all from reading about my frustrations with the WIP.

What have I been doing? Reading. Finished Nora’s Vamp trilogy – it’s a bloody one, so I’m warning anyone who’s thinking of reading it. I actually liked it regardless, but then I like most of her stuff (there are some exceptions) and bloody doesn’t necessarily bother me. (I loved Divine Evil and that was about a satanic cult, so go figure.) Right now I’m reading Alice Sharpe‘s … Read more »

I’m back from the beach. Had a great time. Weather was even somewhat nice. Saturday there was a break in the rain. I took a nice long walk up the beach, and it was even wind-free! Almost unheard of this time of year on the Oregon Coast. There were nine of us total. We chatted, worked, ate, chatted more, worked, worked, worked, laughed and had a fairly relaxing weekend.

(Almost).

This is me working:

I look semi-productive, don’t I? HA!!! I got nothing done! Gah. Talk about frustrating. My WIP is driving me loco. I won’t bore you with details … Read more »

I’ve given up on Nano. No, I’m not a quitter, but I have more important and pressing things to worry about.

I’m still working on my proposals. Yes (stop laughing), STILL. I’m not slow – exactly – just neurotic in a whole bunch of ways. Let me explain the nightmare that has become my writing world…

I’ve never started a book and not finished it. Never. Not one. Until August 2006. Since August I’ve started four. Two I was lukewarm about. I think I’ll write them down the line, just not now. Now’s not the time, and I’m okay with … Read more »