Nov 3, 2008 | Fun, General, Life |
I had a blog post written, but an unscheduled trip made me change my mind. See, my post was a bit cryptic and slightly whiny. Something happened last week that made me stop and think about a few things. And I was feeling hurt and irritated and wanted to whine. Without divulging the issue, of course. It wasn't really a big deal, but it bugged me.
And then on Sunday, we took an unplanned trip to Nashville.
See, Saturday was an author event, a reader's luncheon in Birmingham that was simply fabulous. I got to hear the wonderful and inspiring Christina Dodd speak, and I got to visit with fellow Pixie Chick Louisa Cornell. I received an engraved heart box, balloons, and a cake from my Southern Magic chapter mates for my first sale. More awesomeness. And I got to hang out with two of my friends and fab authors, Kira Sinclair and Kimberly Lang. (They forced me to overeat in a restaurant called Brio's.)
But as fun as all that was, I was still feeling whiny. Until Nashville. Why? I think because the Nashville trip had nothing to do with writing, publishing, reading, etc. Nothing to do with my JOB. It was a spontaneous trip with my hubby and parents. So spontaneous we didn't leave until 1:30 on Sunday.
We were at the Bass Pro Shop (yeah, the men wanted to go) by 3. Mom and I headed into the mall and had a blast going through the stores. I tried on a pair of Christian Louboutins that were on sale for the RIDICULOUS price of $118. Too bad they didn't fit because I have never, ever seen Louboutins that low.
We hit Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, and several shoe stores. I bought nothing. When the men finished picking out lures, baits, and whatever other kind of weird things men love to shop for, we went to a restaurant called Aquarium and had dinner while watching fish swim around in a 200K gallon tank. Too cool.
It was soothing, it was spontaneous, and I didn't think of writing or publishing for hours. I loved it. On the way home, I blew $25 on lottery tickets. I came home feeling much better than I did when this weekend began. Sometimes, it's the unscheduled trips that give you a new perspective, or give you exactly what you need to recharge.
Where's your favorite place to go when you need a recharge? Or what's your favorite thing to do? Shopping? Dinner with friends or family? Long walks or drives?
Oct 31, 2008 | Fun, General, Life |
Did you decorate for Halloween? I have two pumpkins, uncarved. I bought candy. I think that's good enough. 🙂 What about this place, hmm? It's in West Virginia. There are over 3000 pumpkins, and a group of volunteers carves them (ya think?). You can read more about it here.
When I was a kid, I used to look forward to Halloween so much. I didn't live in a suburb, but in the country. My mom had to pile us into the car and take us driving around the countryside for candy. These days, kids have such safe choices — neighborhoods banding together, malls, churches, etc, that hold Trick or Treat for kids. I think that's great.
Indeed, Halloween has turned into its own season now. The decorations, parties, greeting cards, etc. It goes on and on. When I was a kid, costumes were chintzy — K-Mart or Wal-Mart things with those horrible plastic masks that you couldn't see through or breathe out of. I can't remember any of the costumes I had. I do remember one I threw together though.
I wanted to be Samantha from Bewitched so much. My mother had this flowing black coat that made me think of Samantha's coat. I borrowed the coat, and a blonde wig (not that I wasn't blonde already, but my hair didn't look like Sam's). I think I wore a pair of my mother's shoes (they were too big, naturally). That was my costume, LOL. I imagine I looked seriously odd, but I was happy.
What was your best costume ever? Will you be dressing up for Halloween today? What was your favorite Halloween candy? I loved candy corn, though I can't stand the stuff now. 🙂
Oct 28, 2008 | Contests, Fun, General |
The MNF party was a success, and I was up too late (yes, watching football) and cleaning up. Therefore, no brilliant post at the moment.
Besides, you probably want to know who wins the B&N Gift Card. 🙂 I'll announce that sometime today. In the meantime, you still have time to sign up (see Yahoo Group in the sidebar). Last chance!
Oct 24, 2008 | General, Life |
Today, I feel the need to unplug from the computer for a while. Oh, I do not kid myself this will be a total unplug from sun up to sun down. I know me.
But I'm feeling a bit too much like I've got too many plugs draining power, you know? And I need to write this book.
So I'm going to make a very concerted effort to be somewhere else with my Alphie, or the laptop in a place where I have to pay for Internet (and therefore won't). Once I reach my goal, I'll be back to see what y'all have been up to!
Do you ever feel the need to unplug? Are you successful at it, or do you still manage to let the energy be drained away as you try to keep too many things going at once?
Monday: The beauties of Twitter. Unless I change my mind. 🙂
Oct 22, 2008 | General, Writing |
Sometimes, you just gotta look back. I know that you, my dear readers and friends, may be getting tired of my reflections, but I can't help myself. I have lots of email loops, and I've been steadily announcing my sale on them. And then I see things like this:
My sale on the Golden Network news page.
Southern Magic's scrolling Congratulations banner on the home page.
My NAME in the sidebar on the I Heart Presents site as an author!!
My name on the PAN authors section of the Heart of Dixie!
And I'm attending the Southern Magic luncheon in a little over a week as an author.
It just keeps going, and it's so exciting. There are new loops to join, new webpages to be a part of, and I'm excited about it. So where do the reflections come in?
Well, one of the comments that keeps popping up from people is “What a year you've had!” And I stop and think, “Yeah, I guess I have.” Because for me it seems longer, like I've been working for it for a long time. (I have, and the writers know this, though it's still been an incredible year.)
So where was I one year ago at this time? I was a PRO member with NO submissions out. I was trying to finish my mss for the Golden Heart, and the Presents contest wasn't even on my radar yet. I was like so many of you, slogging along and working hard and hoping to get somewhere soon. I remember that my husband said something to me about selling in 2008 — and I said no, it wouldn't happen that fast because I didn't even have a submission out. I had to submit, and then wait forever, and then maybe sell. It might happen in 2009, I said. If I was lucky.
If someone had told me I'd have sold a book a year later, and that it would be in a line I wasn't currently writing, I'd have scoffed. But there is a lesson here.
Be open to possibilities, believe in yourself, have realistic expectations, and don't stop trying. Because you never know where the path will open up and when your year will become amazing.
Tomorrow, I'm blogging at We Write Romance. I'll remind you to stop by.
What are your goals for 2009? Are you entering the Golden Heart? Or is it one of your goals to enter next year? If you aren't a writer, what goal do you have for the coming year?
Oct 17, 2008 | Fun, General, Travel |
Every year, the Heart of Dixie RWA has a retreat. This is my second year going, and I am so looking forward to it! As you read this, I'll be meandering my happy way into the Tennessee mountains, chatting with a friend, and looking forward to the massage waiting for me this afternoon.
After the massage, I'll shower and get dressed (casually, very casually) for a fun evening of talking, dancing, drinking some concoction or other, and general whooping it up by the giant fireplace in the Inn.
Saturday is general laziness, along with massages (not me since mine is today) and a plotting party. It was at the retreat last year that I mentioned my desire to write for Harlequin Presents — and Kelley St. John told me to go for it. She also sent me the contest announcement about a month later. 🙂
Saturday evening is our Murder Mystery party. Last year, we dressed like 1920s gangsters and it was a blast. This year, we're going for more casual — a spa retreat, which means we get to wear our pajamas and all be girls (I was Rhett Bumbler last year — the fedora and fake cigarette was fun, but I'm glad to be a girl this time).
Monday morning, I'll be back at the computer, hopefully refreshed and ready to work. Hope your weekend is a blast too!
