Thursday, December 20, 2012

A Quick Christmas Greeting

Image by: Photoexplorer@FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Where does the time go?  This is a really late post, because this is the first time all day I've been able to get at my computer.

Remember when I bragged on Facebook at the end of November that I was finished? Yeah, apparently I lied. You'd think that since I'm wrong about that year after year, I would stop taunting the Spirit of Christmas with my smug efficiency.  Maybe it would stop piling more , er...'cheer' on me.

I love it, but Thank God the festivities come only once a year. I'm already exhausted.

But also excited. I'm spending the end of the world going to Canada's Largest Mall and spending the Gift Certificate Pennington's sent me on the 50% off sale in Phase One.
Then, I'm finishing off the jello shooters for Terra's party. I'm going to buy beer and coolers--The last of the Christmas booze.

THEN I will be ready, and I can spend time doing edits and hanging out with my sister, Jody and my best friend, Darci, plus the troll and cats.

I wish each and every one of you a fantastic, Christmas, Hanukkah, Holiday--Whatever you celebrate. And if the world doesn't end tomorrow, Thoeba and I will see you in 2013. (We're taking next week off.)

What have you guys got going on?

Thursday, December 13, 2012

We've been adopted!

Photo

Yes, it's true! Thoeba and I have been adopted by a lovely woman named Lesa-Miller-Cox.

Can you imagine my surprise, when I found a note in my direct messages saying "I can't wait to adopt you!"?

Turns out some of Staccato's supporting reviewers at YA and Teen Readers have organized "Christmas for Authors." It really DOES feel like Christmas already!

My adoptive reader and I have lots in common. But she is super sweet, and enthusiastic. She's into paranormal--especially vampire novels, and adores animals. She's got a fantastic sense of humor I relate to. She loves Thoeba and wants to everything she can to promote her. I am so lucky! 

And how's THAT for creative marketing? The ladies behind this adoption drive are geniuses. Through this  blog-hop I've made a new friend and learned more about the YA community. I LOVE their new take on giveaways and marketing. They're making it fun and original.

If I haven't said it before, I'll say it now. THANK YOU, ladies! You are awesome. And thank YOU Lesa-Miller-Cox for choosing Thoeba and me.


http://www.facebook.com/YaTeenReaders Check them out and like their page. 


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Musings of Bruce


     I almost forgot to blog today! Sometimes when you're busy and don't have a set schedule, you forget what day it is. Needless to say, I didn't have anything prepared. So here is a blog about my favorite muse. (I have three) It was originally published on Author Jessica Frost's blog several months back, and it's one of my favorite pieces.

     It took me twenty minutes to pick this photo of Bruce Dickinson.  It took me another ten minutes to begin this blog. It’s hard to catch a man’s essence in one picture. I wondered, as sometimes happens, what would Bruce say?
     Certainly Bruce wouldn’t flaunt his looks…He doesn’t have much in that department. He isn’t hideous like his band’s mascot ‘Eddie’, but he isn’t GQ material either. His face isn’t why I worship him.
     Bruce wouldn’t brag about his long list of accomplishments, but I will. Besides his decades long career as songwriter and vocalist for Iron Maiden, Bruce is a world-ranked fencer, a commercial jet pilot, a radio announcer, a tank collector/enthusiast, and oh yes, he’s also an author.
     Bruce is fifty-two and unstoppable. He is a modern day renaissance man, and that makes him muse-worthy.
     What would I give for his boundless energy? His unshakable confidence? His thirst for life?  Bruce Dickinson has inspired me to bravery.
     Writer’s Block? No problem. Take a break to do something else you are passionate about. The answer will come.
     When my character has activities or vocations I know nothing about, I dive in like Bruce, learning new things like Kendo and paranormal investigating first-hand.
     When I doubt myself and my talents, I plow through like Bruce, knowing I’m good now, and I’ll only get better with time and perseverance.
     It’s more important to be talented than gorgeous, but to me Bruce is both. He’s a shining beacon of determination that breeds success, no matter what one sets their mind to.
     “If it all happens just like this for the rest of my life, it’s going to be one endless Groundhog Day.  I determined that I was not prepared to submit to this regime, so I thought I had to do something about it.”—Bruce Dickinson. (From Brainy Quote)
     And that is why Bruce Dickinson will always be my muse.

Photo by: Ross Halfin