Buy My Book.....Please :)

I'm very pleased to announce that my debut novel, Class Letters, is available for purchase as en e-book or a real-open-it-up-and-smell-it-book.

You can buy it through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or iTunes/Apple.

If you buy a copy, please review it online -- apparently it's very helpful for marketing and moving up in the queue (on Amazon).

And tell your friends!!

Thank you so very, very much!

Something You Should Not to Say to Your Author Wife...Ever

The Husband is back in school, working toward a business degree. It's been "awhile" since he matriculated, and some of his skills, and the timing in the execution of said skills, are a tad bit.....rusty. In spite of this, he's pulling a 4.0 (Yay, TH!), but he also spends a lot of time editing and revising. I do the final QA....just to be on the safe side.

He wrote a couple of short (less than two pages) essays today for a class, which I happily proofed. He did a little more revising before sending them off into cyberspace, while I did some reading. He called me back into the office/den and said.......drumroll, please.....

"Whew, Hon, writing is a lot like work."

No shit, Sherlock!

P.S.  I'm incredibly proud of TH. Truly.

Taking the Action

Or you can download this by clicking here.
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I've told you that I have a novel coming out in June. It's pretty exciting and a LOT of work. Trust me, writing the book was easier than getting it published. It's no one's fault; it's being published by SheWritesPress and they have been wonderful! But the process itself kinda sucks. There's all kinds of editing and proofing and correcting and marketing to do. It's the necessary evil to get it in the hands of teachers (and others, I hope) everywhere!

I've gotten help outside of the publishing industry as well. The insightful and business savvy Amy Palko and I chatted about marketing and (one of) her brilliant suggestion(s) was to create a resource booklet/e-book explaining the process I used to write letters to my students (the inspiration for the novel). You can find it over on the right hand side of this little site here (at the top....see it?).>>>>>>>>^^^^^^^^^

My part of this brilliance is making the effort to get it to the teachers. I've been emailing a bazillion teachers in high schools all over the country, offering this booklet for free. 

And then I actually heard from one of the teachers I sent a link to. I am an AVID teacher and this will be a meaningful way to connect more personally with my students. She actually wrote that. OMG! She GETS it! And she may even USE it! I hope she does, and that she reaps all the benefits from connecting with kids (there are soooooo many).

And then those thoughts creep in......what if no one reads the book.....what if it sucks.......what if I can't write worth shit...... You know those thoughts. Ugh.

Puttin' it out there is scary, but all I can do is try. If it works, it works. If it doesn't? Well, I have a choice....to try again (using the lessons I learned from this experience) or do something different. Here's my view: I'm doing the best I can, which is all I can really do. The rest is up to God/Spirit/The Universe. And I figure if God really wants it out there, it'll happen.

Have you been puttin' it out there and taking action? Have those thoughts plagued you (I hope not!) about the results?

Have you been there?

A Class Letter on Fear

I've been working for some time on a novel about the monthly letters I wrote to my classes when I taught high school English. I wanted them to think about the adults they wanted to become.

Since tomorrow is October 1st, I wanted to share one of the October letters with you. Read on:

Dear Class:

Halloween is coming!  It’s fun to dress up, get candy (mmmmm!), tell ghost stories, see scary movies and go to haunted houses.  I still like to go to haunted houses.  There’s something fun and exciting about being scared.  You know it’s fake but it still gives you an adrenaline rush.

There are some kinds of fear, however, that aren’t as much fun.  In fact, they can be debilitating and harmful.  There are lots of different kinds of fears but I’m not talking about a fear of heights, flying or small spaces.  I’m talking about the kinds of fears that hold you back as a person: fear of failure, fear of success, fear of taking a risk, fear of relationships, fear of not being good enough…..

Let’s look at a couple to give you an idea of what I mean.  One is a fear of failure.  Nobody likes to fail, right?  But failure is a normal part of life.  We can’t all be good at everything we do.  It’s OK, even necessary, to fail in order to learn something from the failure or find another way to do something.  But sometimes, a fear of failure can keep us from trying anything at all.

A similar fear is that of not being good enough.  When I was in college, my school offered a junior year abroad program.  I figured my grades wouldn’t be good enough so I didn’t even apply.  I could have spent a year in Spain, Italy or France – a whole year! – but my fears held me back.  Dumb, huh?? 

What about fear of success?  That doesn’t make sense.  Who doesn’t want to succeed?  Well, there are some people who don’t.  Maybe they think they don’t deserve it, or that if they succeed then other people will expect it from them all the time, or that they will no longer fit in with their friends if they do.  Maybe they have carefully cultivated an image of not being smart or capable in order to fit in.  Sometimes people “dumb down” to achieve this “goal.” 

Did you ever see the movie Stand and Deliver? It’s about a group of kids, mostly from gangs and the projects, who didn’t think they could learn calculus.  Lou Diamond Phillips’ character was really smart but didn’t want to act like it in front of his homeboys. He was afraid that if he succeeded they wouldn’t like him anymore. Eventually he overcame his fear of success and passed the AP Calculus test.

The example from my college days is just one example from my own life.  I have made many decisions based on fear and they have ALWAYS come back to haunt me.  One time, I got into a bad relationship with a guy because I was afraid to be alone.  Another time, I was afraid to spend a little bit of money to protect myself (an insurance thing) and it cost me thousands of dollars instead. Since then I have made a conscious effort to not make decisions based on fear.  I’ve heard it said that true courage is doing something in spite of the fear. Sometimes I still make decisions based on fear because I’m human but most of the time I try to simply walk through the situation with courage, in spite of the fear.

Another thing you can do to stay out of fear is to stay firmly rooted in the present.  99% of all fears are about the future – “what if?” kind of things. In my case, they were “what if my grades aren’t good enough?”, “what if I never find anyone else to love me?” and “what if I need that money next week?” Look at what you have in your life today, be grateful for it, and your fears of the future will dissipate or even disappear completely.

I’ve listed a few examples of fears you may have.  Can you think of any others?  What fears do you have that hold you back?  What can you to do overcome them?  How can you be courageous today?

This is a quiz grade and should be a page long.  Say whatever you like – there’s no right or wrong answer.  I’m interested in what you think about this.  Your letters are private between you and me (unless you reveal something that requires me to take it to a higher authority).  You don’t have to answer each of these questions individually; they are included to make you think. 

How would you answer this letter? What are you afraid of?

Have you been there?

P. S. If you're intrigued by this letter (and the book that resulted from the practice), you can either subscribe to the blog and receive the first three chapters free, or you can wait until the novel comes out later this year!

Re-Plugged and ReNewed!

I'm back after a glorious few days in the mountains. I basked in the cool temperatures under a bazillion stars at night. We saw friends and family, got some pampering in, and gave our Jeep a run for its money in the mountains. The Husband played a great round of golf and I read....and read.....and read. It was heavenly. 

OK, OK......you beat it out of me. Yep, I succumbed to Christian Grey and his.....antics. I read all three E. L. James' books; they were perfect for vacation reading. I was afraid they would be as angst-y and repetitive as the Twilight books, but, thankfully, not enough of either to be annoying. 

We had a glorious view -- a beautifully reflective lake with the mountains in the background. We got a glimpse of several critters while we were gone. A muskrat chomped on a dead fish below our balcony most days, geese wandered around the property, flying in and out of the lake, a moose lounged in a meadow, lots of chipmunks and ground squirrels scampered everywhere......and there was a BEAR! It visited the garbage area underneath our balcony one night (I was sooooo happy to be on the second floor.....unlike after our arrival when we lugged all our shit up two flights of stairs). Apparently it's a common sight at night on the compound. We contemplated a moonlight stroll on the golf course before we knew about the bear. Whew! Glad we decided against it. 

Sooooooo....my novel should be out in the next month or two, and I thought I'd (hopefully) tease you a little with an excerpt. The novel follows a teacher through a school year, connecting with her students through a monthly series of letters. This is the September letter.....the one that started them all.

September

Dear Class:

This is a first for me. I’ve never written a letter to my classes but it seemed like a good time to start.  Based on a recent conversation I overheard in one of my classes, I wanted to hear your thoughts on cheating.

First, what does cheating mean to you?  Is it cheating on a test?  Giving someone answers for their homework?  I looked the word up on dictionary.com and here is a list of synonyms: mislead, defraud, hoax, victimize, deceive and trick.  Not a pretty list is it?

You may consider some forms of cheating harmless, and you may even use another word for it, such as “helping” someone with their homework. And there are other words for cheating.  If you cheat on your taxes, it’s called tax fraud and you can pay a fine or go to prison.  If you cheat on your spouse, it’s called infidelity or adultery and can be grounds for divorce.  If you do it in college, it might be called plagiarism and you could be expelled.

Look again at the list of synonyms. Several of them (mislead, trick, and deceive) also sound like lying.  Defraud, hoax and victimize sound like stealing.

OK, let’s say your best friend sucks at Algebra.  So you help her with her homework by giving her the answers.  You probably don’t think that’s cheating and you may be right.  But one way to look at it is that you are cheating her out of an education.  How is she going to understand Algebra I and move on to Algebra II (both are required classes here) if you give her the answers?  Another definition of cheating is “to deprive of something expected.”  Your BFF might expect to understand Algebra or maybe she only expects to pass but either way, who loses out?

I mentioned tax fraud and infidelity above.  What if you (or your parents) did that – and got away with it?  Is it still cheating?  If no one knows, does it count?  What if you cheated on a test just to pass?  Who does it hurt?  Anyone?  But what if you cheated, got an A and bumped someone out of their rightful spot in the class rank thereby depriving them of the scholarship they need because it’s their only hope of going to college? Is there a line that you cross when “semi-cheating” becomes cheating, sort of like going from petty theft to grand larceny?

If you cheat, you may never get caught by a teacher, spouse or the government. But there’s one person you can’t hide from and that’s YOU. Even if no one ever knows, you will have to live with it. But what if cheating became easier every time you did it? What if it’s so easy you move on to other forms of cheating like lying or stealing? Can you live with that too?

You may think I’m making entirely too big a deal about this but I want you to think about it. Think about the person you want to be.  Every action you take today affects the person you become in the future.

You may want to know if I ever cheated.  Yes, in high school I know I looked on other papers to get the answer.  I didn’t get caught.  I don’t lose sleep over an indiscretion that’s 25 years old but I don’t cheat anymore either.  It wasn’t in line with the person I wanted to be then and want to be today.

Here’s your assignment.  Now that you have read the letter, think about cheating and its part in your life. What’s your definition?  Does cheating affect your life in any way?  I want to assure you that your response will be between you and me.  If, of course, you tell me that you’re going to blow up the school or shoot a bunch of kids in the cafeteria, I’ll have to tell someone. Otherwise, I want you to feel free to say what is on your mind and in your heart.  I expect you to write a minimum of a page and, remember, it’s a quiz grade. Enjoy!

Have you ever benefitted from unplugging? Have you contemplated the spectrum of cheating? How would you answer this essay?

My Last Tattoo....Or Rather, My Most Recent!

I promised I would tell you about my tattoos. You've heard about my first, so here is my last. 

It says Tusitala and has a peacock feather underneath. I first remember reading about Tusitala in The Little Colonel series, by Annie Fellows Johnston. It's a series about a girl in the South (Kentucky), written and set in the early 1900's. I read the series when I was maybe around ten (??); it follows Lloyd, aka the Little Colonel, from around five years old into adulthood. Along the way, many of her friends are introduced. Two of them, Malcolm and Keith McIntyre, tell us the story of Tusitala and the Road of the Loving Heart. It's the story of Robert Louis Stevenson's friendship with the Samoans, who named him Tusitala, which mean Tale-Teller or Writer of Stories.

The phrase, "The Road of the Loving Heart", is a gospel in itself. "The day is not longer than his kindness "  is a new beatitude. Fame dies, and honours perish, but "loving-kindness" is immortal.  --  Annie Fellows Johnston

Later in the series, the story of the Road returns, having a profound effect on more of Lloyd's friends, Joyce, Betty and, especially Eugenia. She realized how selfish she had been and vowed to change her ways. As a result, Eugenia's father gives her a gold knot ring with Tusitala engraved inside the ring as a remembrance.

My parents gave me an opal ring (my birthstone) with Tusitala engraved inside, no doubt to encourage my own path of loving kindness. Unfortunately, that ring was lost in the lake many moons ago, but I always remembered the ring and the name inside. And, although I haven't always succeeded, I've tried to be loving and kind throughout my life.

However, I couldn't remember the story, so I did some research last summer. I was thrilled to find the Samoan meaning of Tusitala......Tale-Teller.

To me, it was like confirmation from the Universe that at least part of my path here is to be a writer. I've been writing for about fifteen years (steadily....sorta kinda) and have several allegories (I call them Spiritual Fables), one finished novel (to be published this fall!!!), one mostly finished novel (and my brilliant buddy, Jess Morrow, gave me some awesome feedback in the form of YES! Finish that mo' fo!), and the first several chapters of my third novel. But, even though my fables have been well-received by "regular" readers (ie not in the publishing biz), I've made several attempts to publish them as well as my first novel, with no success.

And, sometimes I wondered if I was wasting my time.

I told myself, "This is a story I want to tell. It doesn't matter if anyone reads it." It was a LIE, folks!  Hell yeah, I wanted other people to read it.....whatever "it" was. Writers write to be read. I like my stories, and I think they are important, in their own little way. Check out some of my Spiritual Fables and see what you think. I have more to post as well.......just sayin'.  

I like the novel that's about to be published too. It's a fictional version of a practice I had in my classroom -- connecting with kids through a monthly letter. It was amazing and I think all teachers, at every level, should give it a try. Parents and counselors....anyone who has anything to do with kids. It's a wonderful tool for getting kids to open up, as well as passing along the wisdom that is only gained through experience.

So while The Husband was out of town last summer (getting his own tats, I might add), I had my Tusitala tat inked, officially accepting my path, my job, as a writer. Wooohooooooo!

Have you had validation from the Universe about a dream or a project? Did you commemorate it with something special?

Have you been there?

Find Your Inspiration HERE (the LINKS)!

I was humbled when the invincible Jess Morrow nominated me for the Inspirational Blogger Award! I'm so grateful that something I've written was considered inspirational -- thank you so much, Jess!

My duty now is to tell you, my readers, seven things about myself and to nominate fifteen other inspirational bloggers.

1. I have five tattoos. My first one was inked when I was forty-nine because I was about to become a grandmother. I was single, and I felt like I was reinventing my life, so numero uno was a phoenix. I'll save the other stories for a blog post.

2. I ride a Honda Shadow Spirit 750.....but I need a bigger bike. Like maybe a 900....but sorta low so my short, little legs can touch the ground.

3. I haven't had a drink in over twenty-five years.

4. My first novel will be published this fall.

5.  I'm left-handed (all the best people are!).

6. I was a debutante (yet another future blog post).

7. I went to boarding school (yep....that'll be another one!).

And the nominees are:
1. Ring Finger Tan Line: This lovely, courageous lady (and fellow Texan) has turned sorrow to success....complete with scrumptious recipes.

2. Jo Anna Rothman's website, The Receiving Project, is a wonderful reminder that there is nothing blocking our abundance (except ourselves!). She also has a FREE 32 day e-course all about receiving all the good stuff your little heart desires. 

3. Although I'm sure the beautiful Amanda Oaks has received this award many times, I can't leave her off any list that relates to inspiration. Kind Over Matter is a lovely site that is all about spreading love and kindness. What could be more inspirational?

4. The fabulous Daniel Collinsworth is the author of Metta Drum, a glorious site (and so well-written) full of uplifting posts. He's currently taking a break from writing, but there is a wealth of love throughout his site.

5. If you are interested in bees and beekeeping, Miss Apis Mellifera is the site for you! Ms. Emma Sarah Tennant is very knowledgeable about beekeeping (and lots of other cool stuff).

6. Another writer who has inspired me for years (long before the Internet) is the incomparable SARK: Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy. She is a fountain of love and all things sparkly.

7. Evan Sanders is a wonderful young man who wants to be an even better man. And that's what his blog, The Better Man Project, is all about. Inspiration for men and women.

8. Leigh began writing a blog, in case i'm gone, to her son after being diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease. Her posts are beautifully written and full of wisdom.

9. There are a bazillion different things to read and sign up for on Owning Pink (I loooove The Daily Flame!).

10. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life is another inspirational source for ways to make positive changes in your life, including a transparent series about how to make money from blogging.

11. The Positivity Blog is all about applying awesome, positive tips into your life. Such good stuff!

12. If you want to simply breathe easier, head over to Zen Habits and find some peace.

13. The Bridgemaker helps readers span the challenges and obstacles of life to make positive changes.

14. I love quotes and Happy Publishing is all about inspirational quotes.

15. Last, but not least, is Rainbow Light Angel, a wonderful collection of poetry, photography and inspiration.

Whew! There are some truly inspirational blogs out there -- check them out!! Thanks again, Jess, for giving me the opportunity to spread the love!

P.S. Nominees: You are to: post the award on your site, list seven things about yourself, nominate fifteen other bloggers and let them know what you've done to them! ;)

I'm Shining!

Honey-sweet Miss Apis Mellifera has nominated me for the Sunshine Award! Woohooooo! For those of you who are entomologically challenged, apis mellifera is the scientific name for honey bees. Her site is chock full of interesting tidbits about beekeeping and aromatherapy. Thank you, Emma!!

This is now my charge:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Answer questions about yourself, which seem to vary – let’s keep a little mystery!
3. Nominate 10 bloggers for the award and let them know they’ve received it.

Questions:

Favorite color: blue and purple (it's my post....I can have two!)

Favorite number: 17....my birth date (yes, it IS all about me)

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Diet Dr. Pepper or my morning coffee

Facebook or Twitter: Facebook

My passions: writing (duh), riding my motorcycle (duh)

Getting or giving presents: giving!!

Favorite pattern: I have no idea what this means. Plaid? Or maybe the crap I do over and over again expecting different results......

Favorite day of the week: Every day is a good day!

Favorite flower: Anything pungent (in a good way)

My Sunshiney nominees:

1. I adore Lauren's blog Filing Jointly Finally. We are BFF's (sorry, Vanessa) and co-owners of a dead pony.

2. Amy Palko is equally amazing but in a different way. She is a wise, gentle soul who can tell you any and every thing about Goddesses.

3. Linda over at Sharing Thanks is all about expressing gratitude, so her blog is right down my alley.

4. Another uplifting blog is Life Heart and Soul. Dorothy is full of insight so check her out!

5. I've just finished Jess Morrow's amazing Invincible Summer writing course. She is doing another one very shortly (TOMORROW! hint, hint) but she has lot of other offerings on her site.

6. Suzysomething Thinks Out Loud is a wonderfully positive blog.

7. You should check out Hogs Ate My Sister because, in their words, it will make you "taller, slimmer, better looking and fabulously wealthy." I think I've grown an inch since I started reading it.

8. You can find an awesome Aussie blog at The Emerging Dark Horse. Sonya is a biker sister!

9. Patti over at Sustaining Hope is all about spreading kindness -- gotta love that!

10. Finally, for your listening pleasure (yes, listening) there's Guapola who includes a song with every post -- for FREE!

So there you have it! Check out my lovely nominator as well as all of my nominees. Support each other and have a sunshiney day!

Have you gotten a Sunshine Award? Share the love!

Have you been there?

Who? Me?!?

I have some news.....some wonderful news....and I'm still in shock.

My novel, Class Letters, is going to be published. By a real publisher. Someone who has read my work (the first twenty pages), knows what they're doing, and wants to publish it. I'm thrilled and terrified.

Class Letters is not my first novel. I wrote one called Treadmarks some years back. I went through several rounds of query letters to agents and publishers, who replied with lovely rejection letters. Actually, most were quick "thanks, but no thanks" postcards, but there were a few letters in there as well. Maybe it would be right at another time or with another publisher, they said. In an act of defiance, I put my rejections together into a poster and used it in my classroom for a few years as a teaching tool. I called it the "I Never Quit Wall of Honor." Since many teens think that adults automatically have it made, I explained that adults don't always get what they want, and that success takes effort. They asked if the rejection letters hurt my feelings. No, they didn't; it was business, not personal.

But I questioned whether or not I could write well enough to be published.

That was almost ten years ago, and much has happened in the publishing world in that time. E-books and e-publishing are now big business, and, to some degree, have lost the "vanity press" stigma. There some awful self-published books out there; many others have written good books and done very well. I have been debating for some time whether to attempt the query process again with Class Letters or self-publish. If I self-published, I knew the question of being good enough would linger. But I wasn't sure if I wanted to expose myself to rejection again. Maybe it would be better to self-publish and live in blissful ignorance. In the end, I took a risk and it paid off.

Now that it's official, and my book will be published, by a real publisher who has actually read my writing, the self-doubt still creeps in. Will it sell? Will it be successful? Will anyone read it? Is it good enough?

The truth is that it's not about the book. I know in my heart that "is it good enough" = "am I good enough"?

I've struggled with my "not-enoughness" for years and have tried many different ways to combat it. I know it's a self-defeating mindset. I also know (in my head) that it's a lie. I know that I am enough....all by myself.....just as I am. And yet it persists. Believe it or not, I'm better than I used to be.

I may not ever lose my feeling of not being enough. Maybe it's something everyone struggles with, and I may be saddled with vestiges of it 'til the day I die. And, one would think, that the prospect of being published would put this misconception to rest....at least on the writing front. 

I guess I'm a stubborn cuss......I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like, maybe they confused me with someone else....or maybe they'll change their mind....or maybe, as we go through the editing process, they'll decide that I really can't write.

Or maybe, publishing is just a new situation....a new adventure.....a new road ahead....one that's unfamiliar, but exciting. It may even be validation.

Have you realized a dream only to doubt it (or yourself)? Have you battled the "not-enough" demon?

Have you been there?

It's NOT Its

I have spent a (mostly) lovely day reading, meditating, napping, and chillaxing with The Husband. The only challenge to my serenity was the book I read. Not the content. It was semi-interesting and somewhat informative. No big deal -- I didn't pay much for it and believe it will be a fair to middlin' resource for a future novel. 

But the mechanics, grammar and writing were horrendous....and very distracting. The book was published by a South African company that offers self-publishing and traditional publishing opportunities; it's not clear to me which venue was used. 

Regardless....SOMEONE should have edited and proofed it. There were long rambling sentences that made no sense, subject/verb agreement was hit or miss, and the author changed tenses in the middle of a sentence. I find it hard to believe that NO ONE caught these glaring errors.

But the it's/its mistakes killed me. Both were used incorrectly about 50% of the time. Really, author?? Here's the deal, for future reference: IT'S = IT IS (it's a contraction, hence the apostrophe); ITS = POSSESSION (the dog chased ITS tail). Got it? Please, for the love of all things chocolate, get your writing skills together! 

Yes, I'm a former English teacher. Yes, I have an English degree. And, yes, I suppose those who know me might suggest that I am slightly anal about all things English. But is it too much to expect an error-free book? I understand one or two things may get through, even after a meticulous review, but, in my opinion, this book wasn't even ready for publication.

Then again, I found this on the publisher's website: Its our experience that every author....

*sigh*

Have you been distracted by errors in a poorly published/written book? 

Have you been there?

P.S. I felt it was unnecessary to tell you anything about the book, author or publisher. I don't want to be trashed on someone's blog when my book comes out, and the book itself wasn't the point anyway. Karma's only a bitch if you are! ;)

Trusting the Process...In the Meantime

Cover design by Amanda Oakes

I haved dreamed of being a writer for some time. I wrote some (probably mostly angst-y) poetry in high school (although I was one of the winners in a city-wide contest, so it wasn't all bad) then stopped writing creatively in college and my twenties (too many distractions....like copious amounts of alcohol). I created the majority of my spiritual fables in my early thirties working through shit in therapy. Then about fifteen years ago, I penned (literally....pen and paper, transcribed into the computer) my first novel. It started as a question that took about two hundred pages to answer. I tried getting the fables and novel published, accumulating a mountain of rejection letters in the process. Still, I had another story to tell; I wrote it, in spite of my unpublished history. And now I'm working on a third while the second one is being edited. 


Crazy, huh? 


So why do I continue to write in spite of the lack of publishing success? Because I love it, and because I have tales to tell that no one else can. Of course, it would be completely awesome if I had publishers fighting over my work, piles of fan mail to answer each day, and Hollywood moguls tempting me with movie rights, but that's not my life.....yet. 


I continue to write, taking action for the day when all of that is my reality. And I wait, in joyous anticipation, for that day to arrive. I can't make someone publish my novels and stories....or read them....or turn them into movies. But I can prepare for that day, with stories that are lovingly crafted, business cards that claim writing as my profession, and visualizations of book signings and contract negotiations. I trust the perfect timing of the Universe. I've seen it over and over again in my life....in hindsight, for the most part, but certainly enough to know that there is a Divine Order to the happenings and "serendipities" of my world. 


In the meantime, I write. I'm currently taking two writing classes, one with SARK and one with Jess Morrow. I guest post occasionally (thanks again, Lynne! Y'all need to check out All Fooked Up!). I did an interview for another blogger; Jules at Random Musings of a Type-A Workaholic, is (I believe) posting it today (wooohooo! Thanks, J!). I hand out business cards to anyone who will take them. I do my part.....the part of the process that is mine, the part only I can do. The rest is up to the Universe and its perfect timing. 


Have you tried to get publshed or into an art gallery or start a new business? What did you do in the meantime (prior to ginormous success, of coure)? 


Have you been there?

Out of Sync

My phone alerts me constantly that my yahoo login failed and it can't sync my mail. I don't have a problem with that because I switched to gmail, so the yahoo account is mostly spam. but I hang onto it because every now and then something important slips through.


Unfortunately, that's not all that's out of sync.


The Husband has been using my laptop because his is in the shop. The dogs jumped on it and knocked off the Q and A. And there's always a need for Q and A. I have a wireless keyboard for my iPad but I really prefer to write on my laptop. I tend to write in bed or in my recliner (which I'm sure is terrible for my neck, so don't tell my chiropractor) and the laptop provides more stability in those venues. Which means I haven't been writing much.


My schedule is out of sync too. We love The Princess and are so glad she's with us, but I'm somewhat out of practice carting a non-driver around. It's been over four years since I've found that necessary, and at least two years since it's just been the two of us. Not complaining, it's just....different. And we have a couple of Princess-related issues up in the air (paperwork for the most part) before we can make some decisions about this summer, which puts me smack dab in the middle of Limbo-land, which is definitely a sync-less spot.


Emotionally, things have been a little weird lately as well. There was a death in the family (the fourth out of five siblings on my mother's side), and I've made a concerted effort to go through old papers and letters that my father left behind. This process has been interesting and enlightening. It seems that my father did some creative writing and worked on a post-apocalyptic story. He never mentioned any of this to me, even though we talked often about my writing. I wonder why he didn't pursue it, and I want to talk to him about it. I haven't read it all thoroughly yet, but I intend to hang onto it. 


All in all, life is a little funkadelic. It's not bad....or good. It just is. And it will pass.


Have you been out of sync with your work or your life? How did you get back in sync?


Have you been there?

Words

I love words. I love learning about where they come from and what they mean. I love how they meld together in beautiful, juicy images that stay with me. I love the shades of gray in the connotations. I taught high school English for a decade or so, and I'm a writer. Suffice it to say, I love words. 

Sometimes I screw up with my words, however. Sometimes I say things or write things that are hurtful.....unintentional, but hurtful nonetheless. I hate it when I do that. I want to take it all back immediately, pretending that it never existed. But, like toothpaste, once it's out, it's damn near impossible to put back in the tube. At that point, there's not much I can do except apologize and try not to do it again. But I'm human and sometimes I make mistakes.....more than once. At times like that I check my motives. Was it my intention to be hurtful? Was I trying to get in a good "dig?" That's rarely the case for me, because I'd hurt me before I'd hurt you, which may not be the healthiest thing, but, in the spirit of authenticity, it's the truth. Apparently, there are aspects of the people-pleaser still lurking within me. Regardless, it kills me when I hurt someone. 

I try not to repeat my hurtful actions, but every now and then, it happens. Maybe it's a different situation and, in my mind, that makes it okay. Or sometimes I repeat a faux pas because I'm menopausal/forgetful or stressed or distracted or not paying attention, and I beat myself up because I did it....again. Shit. It may take awhile for me to forgive myself in that case. Like I said, I'd rather hurt me than you, so when I hurt you, I take it out on me (clear as mud, and oh-so loving, right?).  But, since I'm not into beating myself up (like I used to, anyway, believe it or not) I do my level best to have integrity with my words.

But what happens when I'm on the receiving end of hurtful words? I have some choices (yay for choices!!). One is to remember that when people say hurtful or unkind things to me (intentionally) that they are coming from a place of hurt, pain or fear. It's more about them than it is about me. Sometimes they just don't think it through (thought-less)....all the way to the hurtful consequences. I can remember that words don't have power over me unless I give it to them. Saying I'm a chair, doesn't make me a chair. I can bless them and let it go. Or I could argue the point with them (hello.......definately not a chair here!), but I have to ask myself if I'd rather be right or happy (because in their mind, I am a chair, regardless of the eloquent arguments to the contrary). I almost invariably choose to be happy. 

Words have power (think Martin Luther King, Jr. and Adolf Hitler -- two of the most influential speakers of the Twentieth Century) and can be used for good or evil, love or hurt. Words are important, to be used thoughtfully and consciously (yes, you'll make mistakes...we all do). Use your words with love and integrity. But when they're directed at you? They may hurt, but you can take that power back. You know the truth. What other people say or think doesn't matter.

Have you had issues with words, yours or someone else's? What did you do about it?

Have you been there?

Six Sentence Sunday

I came across a tweet about Six Sentence Sunday and thought I'd give it a shot. It's pretty simple: you sign up on the website and post six sentences from something you've written, published or not, by the deadline on Sunday morning.

I've included six sentences from my novel, Class Letters, which will be published in the not-too-distant-future. It's about a high school English teacher who connects with her students through a series of letters (and if you like what you read here, you can download the first three chapters by subscribing to the newsletter). Enjoy!

Keosha was surprised at what she read.  She had never had a teacher who admitted to cheating before.  She had never had a teacher who seemed almost….human.

“But if that bitch thinks I’m gonna tell her ‘bout all the times I cheated, she crazy.”

The next day, replies to the letter began to trickle in.  Anne couldn’t wait to read them and see what her kids had to say on the subject.

Silver and Gold Friends

I went to real summer camp when I was a kid. No air conditioning, no en suite bathrooms. I had to walk to the casita (the bath house filled with Daddy Long Legs....like, to the ceiling) in the middle of the night. With a flashlight so bears wouldn't eat me (I'm pretty sure there are still bears in the Granbury, TX area, so watch out). And, of course, I had to shake out my shoes in case a scorpion crawled into one during the night before I could even go to the casita. With spiders. Like I said, real camp.

And because it was real camp, we sang camp songs -- all the time. I still remember most of them (although, nowadays, I frequently can't remember what I originally needed when I walk into a different room; I call this Roomnesia and I'm pretty sure I should be famous for discovering it. And rich). What was I saying? Oh yeah......  Here's one I remember:

Make new friends

But keep the old.

One is silver

And the other's gold.

I've been thinking about friends lately. I have friends that I've known since kindergarten, which was, like, two hundred and fifty six years ago. Some are more recent, of course. It's not like I've been on a desert island writing fabulous blog posts and working on my tan. I do get out every now and then.

I reconnected with a semi-old friend recently (circa 1970). The circumstances of the reunion aren't great, but the visits have been wonderful. I'll admit, there was a time I (briefly) hated her guts. We were going from 8th grade into 9th (ie high school --- yikes!). I was a cheerleader in 8th grade and tried out for a spot on the high school team (certain I would make it because of all my vast experience). So did she. On crutches. All she did was yell a lot. I yelled and jumped.....at the same time. I guess you just can't account for the sympathy vote (yeah, she won). But, because I was such a gracious, magnanimous person, I forgave her and we remained friends. Then I went away to boarding school my sophomore year, where I made new friends. But we would hang out together some when I came home on vacations, and we were debutantes together (yes, really) in college. Later on, we were busy raising families and lost touch. We'd run into each other at parties or restaurants, but never actually got together. Until recently.

It's interesting to hang out with old friends you haven't seen in awhile. You have a shared history that's comfortable and familiar, but there's this whole other life you've both lived in the meantime. Some of it has been awesome, some of it kinda sucky, and you wish you had been able to help somehow. And part of you wants to share all the dirty little secrets you've been hiding the past X years because that's what you used to do X years ago, but part of you realizes that, in some ways, this person is also sort of a stranger. It's really the best of both worlds -- familiarity and discovery, laughs about antics from the past and some new ones you've yet to experience. And it's way cool to see how we've "grown up" (not so much for my friends, because, well, I just haven't grown up that much....but I think you already knew that). I've enjoyed it and look forward to more times together. Maybe get into a little mischief too. It could happen.

I found some of my new friends via the blogshere. I've only been blogging since January, so they are really new friends. And we've never, like, actually, met. I mean, IRL (in real life, for those of you who are terribly out of touch. Don't you wish you were cool like me?). But I feel like I know the bloggers I follow, ya know? I probably have more information about The Bloggess than anyone else via her new book, Let's Pretend This Never Happened. I pre-ordered so I wouldn't have to fight somebody over one at the bookstore. And I'm actually going to meet her when she comes to Dallas on her book tour. Eeeeeeeeee!! 

I've gotten to know other bloggers too and I can't wait to see what happens next in their lives. I've celebrated with Jules on her inspiring journey to the smoke-free world of smaller boobs (soooooo jealous on both counts). I've cried with courageous Lauren who has had such a difficult time lately, but always comes back with a smile....and cheese (and she's hilarious, but she really needs gemstones and babies, RYAN, to make everything OK). Lauren will also be in Dallas to meet Jenny and, if I recognize her, I truly hope that I don't scare the living shit outta her by, I dunno, maybe squealing and jumping up and down like a twelve year old at a boy band concert. Sorta undignified for a 54 year old, but not out of the realm of possibility, I'm sorry to say. Then there's RingFingerTanLine. I get vicarious dating thrills AND tempting recipes from her blog. Bob the Water Cat is hilarious; Metta Drum is deeply spiritual. I could go on, because there are some truly awesome, funny, transparent, real people  writing out there (not like there's mannequins or zombies writing the other blogs, but you get my drift, right?).

I love my friends...new and old, silver and gold. They're all priceless to me!

How do you keep in touch with old friends? Where do you find new ones?

Have you been there?

The Envelope Please......

A great big "thank you" to everyone who attended the anniversary extravaganza! And huge hugs and thanks to Parachute Promise for the fabulous prizes. There's still a little cake and champagne left over if anybody wants some. 


On to the winners......


Maestro.....drum roll, please!


The winner of the t-shirt and key ring is.....APRIL! (Yes, I'm aware that this is the month of April, but that's not this April. This April rocks because she subscribed to my blog, which the month of April did not.)


Next.....the fabulous ball cap and key ring go to.........JESS!!  Wooohooooo!


And finally, the prize you've all been waiting for........


The mug and key ring go to...........JAY!!!!  Yeehaw!!


To those of you who stopped by to comment or subscribe but didn't win.....my condolences. But there will be more giveaways, more cake and definitely more champagne! 


Keep coming back!

Did Someone Say Giveaway?!?

Here are the rules (since that's why you're really here!): 


One comment = one entry for the giveaway
One comment + a subscription = two entries for the giveaway.


Each person may have TWO entries (maximum). You don't get an extra entry if you comment more than once. If you have already subscribed, you already have a "ticket" -- besides, you can only subscribe once. The contest begins whenever I post and ends at midnight (CST) on Monday, April 9.


The prizes (the real real reason you're here) are all from the lovely Parachute Promise: 

• Cap + key ring 
• T-shirt + key ring
• Mug + key ring 

Now that that's out of the way......LET'S PAR-TAY!

First, grab yourself some cake and bubbly. Now, turn up your speakers so we can jam!

http://youtu.be/pIOOwhmkoLo (it's LOSE, not LOOSE -- sheesh! Spelling is important, people!)

http://youtu.be/u5HRzaOFhec

http://youtu.be/XjVNlG5cZyQ

http://youtu.be/pAUao5niY-c

http://youtu.be/QzlNFcT2aOE (you should see me rock out at my cue: even the white kids....)

http://youtu.be/T70o9pN4o5E

This last song is called "May the Light of Love" by David Roth. It's a good Thanksgiving Day song, but I think it's great for every day. I'm truly so grateful and humbled by the fact that you read and enjoy my little corner of the blogsphere.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! May the light of Love be with you every day! xoxo  MUAH! 

As we come around to take our places at the table
A moment to remember and reflect upon our wealth
Here's to loving friends and family, here's to being able
To gather here together in good company and health

May we be released from all those feelings that would harm us
May we have the will to give them up and get them gone
For heavy are the satchels full of anger and false promise
May we have the strength to put them down

May the light of love be shining deep within your spirit
May the torch of mercy clear the path and show the way
May the horn of plenty sound so everyone can hear it
May the light of love be with you every day

May we wish the best for every one that we encounter
May we swallow pride and may we do away with fear
For it's only what we do not know that we have grown afraid of
And only what we do not choose to hear

May the light of love be shining deep within your spirit
May the torch of mercy clear the path and show the way
May the horn of plenty sound so everyone can hear it
May the light of love be with you every day

As we bless our daily bread and drink our day's libation
May we be reminded of the lost and wayward soul
The hungry and the homeless that we have in every nation
May we fill each empty cup and bowl

May nothing ever come between or threaten to divide us
May we never take for granted all the gifts that we receive
Being ever mindful of the unseen hands that guide us
And the miracles that cause us to believe

May the light of love be shining deep within your spirit
May the torch of mercy clear the path and show the way
May the horn of plenty sound so everyone can hear it
May the light of love be with you every day

May the horn of plenty sound so everyone can hear it
May the light of love be with you, may the light of love be with you
May the light of love be with you every day