“I could only see his hands, and with that, the hint of who he might be that was hidden from view…” About a week ago I attended my son’s final wind symphony concert in high school. He was part of his school’s award-winning band for four years and this was his final performance. He’s the […]
Down the Hatch!
Why don’t we have a laundry chute, Mom? When I was growing up it was always fun to visit my cousins who lived a half hour away. Even though it was only half an hour, it was like another world. I lived in the “big city” (which meant a town with more than one high […]
A Dream Deferred, But Not Abandoned
“Never trust a redheaded writer.” –unknown I don’t know who said it, but I like it because it’s a humorous reminder to me that some people will just find ANY reason to rain on your parade. Red hair notwithstanding, I can recognize a real character when I see one, and a person operating with this […]
The Romance of History
To quote Buddy the Elf, “I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it!” A few nights ago I was browsing for a new book to read after just finishing a lengthy novel. I don’t sleep very well, so it’s common for me to finish a book during the night and look […]
Querypalooza and the SASE
That title got your attention, didn’t it? You’re thinking there’s going to be some big music festival with kegs and women who don’t shave their legs. I’m so sorry to disappoint, but a) that’s Lilith Fair and b) “Querypalooza” is my word concoction for the four-day weekend I’m currently slogging through. I set aside these […]
A Taste of Hope!
Today I finished compiling my phase one database for agent queries. I’ve sent out about thirty so far and now my database has more than a hundred agents who will be hearing from me soon. I have them divided into agents who prefer e-mail queries and those who require the old-fashioned post, or “snail” mail, […]
I wrote a book. . .now what?
Five days ago, July 27, 2013, I sent my first queries for my debut novel, The Willard. Yesterday I got my first rejection. It was very nice, telling me the work didn’t “grab” her and that I deserve “an enthusiastic agent who will champion my work.” In other words, not this agent. Today, before lunchtime, […]
I’m Not the Prom Queen
It’s April. The flowers are in bloom, every other day it rains, and the birds are singing in my backyard. Put all that together and what do you get? Prom season. My son’s senior prom is next weekend and we have the tux, the flowers, and the dinner reservations all set. He’ll get all dressed […]
Stimulus Overload
I was having dinner with my family a few nights ago, enjoying a tasty southwest wrap and some downtime when I noticed the advertisement on the table. The restaurant was offering a discount on a particular night and hawking it as a “stimulus plan.” Add to that the stimulus plan offered by the pizza delivery […]
What Happened to Snow?
Right off the bat let me just say that although I recycle and I have those reusable grocery bags so I don’t fill up a landfill with the disposable ones, I basically think the whole global warming hoopla is Al Gore’s revenge for the fact that people in Florida didn’t like him enough to punch the […]