A Writer's Journey

Too Many Hobbies?

2012-05-25T02:28:43Z

I'm starting to prepare for the empty nest that I'll be faced with next year. Still can't believe that my baby is a senior in high school. Nearly 17. Dang. These past 17 years have flown by. But I digress . . . one of the things that I think will help me cope with her going off to college are my hobbies. They keep me busy.

I'm a writer. I love to write, have for years. One of my short stories has been accepted for publication in The Storyteller this summer, which thrills me to pieces. I've had one other story published, and it took first place in their People's Choice (fiction) award! It would be so cool to do that again. I also write web copy for a riflescopes company, which has been a blast. I get to research for my fiction writing and use that research to write non-fiction copy, and get paid for it. Very cool.

I'm a scrapbooker. I have a studio, which I love escaping to every now and then. For me, it's about recording the stories of my family, my life. I imagine my grandchildren looking at those albums, the albums being passed on for generations. Of course, they'll probably get tossed some day. Nah - someday I'll be a famous writer and those scrapbooks'll be worth a mint! (don't tarnish my dream, just go along with it)

I'm a runner. A very, very slow runner. But I run 2 miles three times a week. It' been great. I love the feeling of freedom, lacing up my shoots and going out, just me and the road. And the occasional coyote. One scared the bejesus out of me tonight. Yikes. Unlike those who run with an iPod, I run with nothing - that's a great time to noodle ideas, to think about my characters, and indulge my competitive side (though let's face it, I'm only competing with myself . . . at my last race, I was beaten by an old couple WALKING).

All these hobbies take time and compete for attention, but together they make me complete. Is it too much? Nah. There just aren't enough hours.

What are your hobbies? Do you ever think you need to give one up, or is there one you want to take up?

My 2nd 5K!

2012-05-20T22:26:09Z

I have been running about 2 months now, doing C25K. I'm doing well, considering I started running at age 44 and have lupus. Why did I start? Because I turned 44 weighing more than I've ever weighed in my life - more than I weighed when I gave birth to my daughter. Because I am feeling the years go by faster and faster. Because I'm feeling the stress of an impending empty nest. Because I want to make myself a priority. Because most of my hobbies are sedentary (writing, scrapbooking, reading). In all honesty, I didn't give it much thought. I just woke up one day and thought, I wonder if I could run?

Yesterday, I ran in the Girls on the Run 5K. I'm already feeling like part of the running community. When I went to the restroom before the race yesterday, I ran into Julie, a runner I met while scrapping last month. We ended up lining up together, though she outran me easily (she came in 5th!). I reserved my strength, walked uphill, ran downhill. All I wanted to do was beat the time I ran last month, 51:22. It was hot, so I was a bit conservative - was afraid I wouldn't be able to cross the finish line at a run. But I did! And I ran it in 47.59!!! It was such a rush. This race was bigger than the little one I ran last month. As I turned the last corner and saw the finish line, I broke into a jog. The DJ announced my name over the loudspeaker as I ran through the big inflated "FINISH arch" and I threw my hands up in victory as the race photographer took my picture. I walked for a bit to cool down, then went back to the finish line to cheer others on as they finished. Met a woman who was practically a pro. She was so encouraging, so nice. It felt great. Julie texted me after the race to see how I did and congratulate me on finishing. Ha - I almost typed "winning" - and that's exactly what it felt like. I may have come in 27th, but I set a new PR. That was over 24 hours ago and I'm still grinning.

Would it be wrong to order wallet size pictures of myself crossing the finish line to give away to everyone? :o)

The Journey: Better than the Destination?

2012-05-15T20:46:45Z

When we last spoke, I told you about Lisa Bearnson's instructions on how to find Joy in the Journey. And that's really what this blog is all about, that's what I am all about - the Journey. Many years ago I recognized that I often enjoyed the Journey more than the Destination. When I was little, the trip across Kansas in our wood-grain-sided station wagon was an adventure. Mom and Dad were waaaay up front, and my little brother and I were allllll the way in the back, in that huge expanse. We had packed Hershey's chocolate bars for snacks, but Bro & I discovered that they melted quite well in the sun, then we could squish the chocolate out the end and suck on it. I don't recall Mom's reaction, but I'm sure she wasn't quite as amazed as we were at that discovery. We watched out the window for antelope and buffalo, and got excited when we actually saw one. Bro irritated me, I irritated him. We had staring contests. Mom instituted the "Let's See Who Can Be Quiet the Longest" game, but neither Bro nor I were good at that game. But it was still a fun trip.

When I grew up and began to make purchasing decisions, actually getting something wasn't nearly as satisfying as pouring over the details, making lists, researching the pros and cons. That's true for everything from decorating my house to deciding which fitness watch to get. Again, it's the Journey that brings me the most satisfaction.

My writing life may be the same way. When that perfect day happens, and I actually get a book published, will I be satisfied? Of course I will. You'll probably hear me whooping and hollering all the way over there. But the Journey has been wonderful so far, and I expect it will just get better. My critique group has become my touchstone. Those women are hard on me - they tell me what I'm doing wrong, what doesn't make sense, what I need to do better, but they also support me in a way that no non-writer could. Those I've met at conferences have shared their experiences, encouraged me to persevere even when the market is tough and have passed along their knowledge. The online writer's community is also supportive and full of information. And then there's the personal Journey. I've learned so much about myself since I began writing. It has made me a better wife, mother, person. I'm sure I have a lot more to learn on this Journey, but I fully intend to enjoy every moment of it and find Joy in this Journey.

How about you? Do you enjoy the Journey or the Destination more?

Joy in the Journey

2012-04-24T17:58:33Z

I went to a crop Saturday to benefit the Buddy Pack Program with the Central Missouri Food Bank and had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Lisa Bearnson, founding editor of Creating Keepsakes and entrepreneurial scrapbooker extraordinaire. Her keynote talk was on Finding Joy in the Journey. She impressed me beyond belief, so I'm going to share a bit of her talk here, though I am sure I am not doing it justice.

To begin, she told a little bit of how she got started. She was working as an editor for WordPerfect magazine. OK, let me digress for a moment. WordPerfect used to be THE word processing software. I took classes on it, I was good at it, and was even offered a job teaching people how to use it. I read WordPerfect magazine. This was all back in the late '80's/early '90s, before Bill Gates took over the world. So, Lisa was working for WordPerfect magazine. She had lunch with a friend, was complaining about her job, and her friend asked her what kind of magazine she'd rather be working in. She said scrapbooking, of course! (my takeaway: wouldn't it be nice if we could all answer that question so quickly?). She told her husband about it that night and he supported her, said let's do it. (my takeaway: wouldn't it be nice if we could always be supported that quickly, that easily and that unconditionally?) They got together with another couple, each mortgaged their homes for $50,000 and went to a publishing seminar, where they approached someone with PrimeMedia (I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong, but I don't want to go look it up right now. I'd rather just tell my story. Bear with me.) He laughed at them, said they hadn't done a year's worth of market research. Said that they needed at least a million dollars to start. Said it was a stupid topic for a magazine. They did it anyway. It was successful. And that same company bought Creating Keepsakes years later. Apparently it wasn't such a stupid idea.

I loved that. So here's what I'm going to try to do, and what I encourage you to do.

Don't listen to experts. They don't really know everything.
Do listen to your gut.
Don't be afraid to say yes.
Do take chances.

What would you rather be working on right now? Seriously. Comment below and let me know.

CreateSpace / Self-Publishing

2012-04-17T18:13:55Z

I gave a presentation Saturday at the Fulton Public Library about using CreateSpace to self-publish a novel. The impetus for the program was the offer from CreateSpace for winners of National Novel Writing Month. CreateSpace is a corporate sponsor that offers five (yes, you read that right - five!) free (yep, right again) copies of a book for NaNoWriMo winners. It's a great deal. They give you until June to redeem your coupon code to get your free copies (you pay shipping and handling). But considering this offer brings up a question. Are you self-publishing your novel?

Before you answer that question, please give it serious thought, because once you create and nurture your baby, please, please, please don't release it to the harsh cruel reality of readers until it is ready.

Some things for you to think about:

Have you rewritten (reworked) this novel? This is the stage where you think, OK, that wouldn't have happened. My character really would've done this instead of that. You fill in plot holes. You fix continuity issues. You step up the tension. You create conflict between the characters. Tie up the loose ends.

Have you edited this novel? And I mean with a fine tooth comb. Did you get someone who is really, really good at grammar and punctuation to proof it for you? Don't trust yourself to find the mistakes - you will read what you know you meant to put there. Is every single comma in the right place?

Have you formatted this novel correctly? Do your research. Look at a lot of books with a critical eye. What font do they use? How is the book set up? How many blank pages are between the cover and the title page? Where does each chapter begin on the page? What do the headers and footers look like? How many blank pages are at the back of the book? What does the acknowledgement page look like? What other pages are at the front of the book? Copyright information? What about Library of Congress info? (Do a little research on that. Go ahead. I'll wait.) Look at the paragraph about it being a work of fiction. Is there just one title page? This is a painstaking process, but take your time and do it RIGHT.

Do you have a professional looking cover? Again, do your research. Look at CreateSpace's detailed instructions about how to create your own cover. Look at covers for other books like yours. Consider hiring someone who is good with a camera and a computer and graphic design to help you with this. Do you have a well-honed blurb for the back cover? A professional photo of yourself? Reviews from people who really matter (not Cousin Jane who likes mysteries)?

Do you have a marketing plan? You need to know what genre your book is, who your target audience is, and how you will get your book into the hands of your target audience. The marketing plan is actually one piece of your Business Plan (which, if you are going to write as a business, you need to have). Again - research. That's a whole 'nother post, so I'm not going to talk about it here.

Do you have the ooomph to follow through with your marketing plan? This means that when people look at you, down their noses and say, ohhhhhhh, it's self-published?, you'll be OK with that and can move forward. By the way, be prepared for that. And be prepared to distinguish between vanity publishing and self-publishing. It is different. Again, whole 'nother post. But you should know the difference. I highly recommend NEVER paying someone to publish your work. But I don't have a problem with someone who wants to self-publish in order to maintain control over their work and how it is marketed. I'm a bit of a control freak, so I get that.

OK, so, now you have a few things to think about. Give it some thought, and if you decide to go forward with self-publishing, good luck! Keep me posted and let me know if you have questions. I self-published Denim & Diamonds and I'd be glad to share my experiences with you.

The Happiness Project: Day 36

2012-02-05T21:17:31Z

OK, seriously . . . how did it get to be Day 36? January flew by. Not that I'm complaining. Every day that passes takes us further through winter and closer to the day that I don't have to worry about driving in snow and ice. But still. My life is spinning by. I swear, I can almost feel the air whistling past my ears as the Earth spins on its axis, going faster and faster.

Yesterday, I did something that was important in my Happiness Project. DOING things makes me happy. Making memories, experiencing things makes me happy. Although I enjoy sitting at home watching Sex and the City reruns, what makes me truly happy is doing. Yesterday I went to Star Trek: The Exhibit with my kiddo and a writing friend. While there, we met Robert Picardo, who played the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager (who I loved - such a great sense of humor). He autographed my book (he wrote the funniest book in his character's voice) and autographed a glossy for my kiddo. I wanted so badly to shake his hand, so I did. Ericca snapped pics, I was star-struck, and my kiddo was even excited about getting his autograph. It was fun. It was exciting. It was memorable. And it made me happy.

Oh - and a wonderful bonus was the drive itself. Ericca and I talked about our characters, our plots and our dreams. It was a good day, start to finish.

THe Happiness Project: Day 4

2012-01-05T03:16:08Z

I took a few minutes today to peruse The Happiness Project online today - I got the book for Christmas and have decided to make a concerted effort to make 2012 a good year. One of my focused resolutions for the month is to get more rest, which is especially important since I have Lupus. Although I got to bed later than I wanted last night, I still got about 7 hours of sleep. Ideally, 9 hours is good for me.

This morning I woke up a minute or two before my alarm went off, and I went ahead and got up (a tip from Peter Shankman) and drank a glass of water. The morning was so nice. I had my cup of coffee, ate a bowl of blueberry cereal and did a little writing . . . and made it to work on time.

It's amazing how much difference little changes can make. My kiddo goes to bed early every night. I think it's time I follow her example.

What little changes can you make in your life to increase your happiness?

The Happiness Project: Day 3

2012-01-04T03:15:43Z

2011 is in the rearview mirror and 2012 stretches out before me like a blank canvas. When I look back at 2011, there are several things that stand out:

going to Vegas to spend a long weekend with my BFF
going to 2 CKC events
going to the Princess Diana Exhibit at Union Station
my daughter getting her driver's license
presenting at the state paralegal seminar
teaching a scrapbooking class for the public library
presenting at the Mid-Mo Writers Conference

Ah, yes. It has been a wonderful year. :o)

And 2012 will be a good year, too. I can feel it. And given the fact that this is my last full year with my kiddo at home, I am determined to savor every moment of it. My goal is to make this year memorable and special. I want to make a big deal out of the holidays, and would like to do more to cherish the small moments, too. (I know I'm going to miss my kiddo horribly, so I think I need to start preparing now)

Anyone else out there starting to prepare for an empty nest?

Love Under a Dark Sky by Shellie Foltz

2011-12-30T17:21:19Z

I'm not sure why, but I rarely share reviews of the books I've read, however, I put this book on my bookshelf over the weekend as I was cleaning up for Christmas and remembered how much I enjoyed reading Love Under a Dark Sky by Shellie Foltz, so I thought I'd share my thoughts. This book was a fun, fast read, very well-written and enjoyable. The heroine is older than usual, and the hero is a sci fi writer. I loved the fact that the characters were layered and complete, the story was believable, and I identified with the heroine (and the hero, for that matter). I really wanted this couple to get together, and loved experiencing the excitement of a new relationship through their eyes. I enjoyed the book so much, I sought out the author's previous book and purchased it, also. I highly recommend the book - especially for women beyond the teen stage, who enjoy reading about real women finding real love.

For more about what I'm reading, check out: My Goodreads Page

Writing about scrapping

2011-11-26T20:20:01Z

As most of you know, I'm a writer and I participate in National Novel Writing Month. This month has been really tough, more of a challenge than I've ever faced in previous years. This is year eight, and for the first time, I may not win. But you know what, that's OK. Because I have started on a story that has really captured my attention, because it has combined my two passions - writing and scrapbooking. This story takes place when a series of murders break the tranquility of a small town, a group of scrapbookers band together to find the murderer when one of their own becomes a victim.

I envision the book being a sort of scrapbook of the women's lives as they grow closer and get closer to the murderer.

Here's a snippet of how the story begins:

The four women sitting at the back table at Crop Circles looked typical at first glance. If this were a movie, things would start off wide, beams of sunlight slanting down from the west, letting you know it's late afternoon. A big pan shot, showing idyllic rolling hills topped with brilliantly colored leaves of red and orange, surrounded by beautiful sprawling homes and ranches separated by white wooden fences that look like dotted lines from above, then the camera would scan right, past the little stream that is marked as Cosby Creek but everyone calls Casper Creek because of the ghost sightings, over the hills and then you would see the town of Tranquility. It's laid out in a perfect grid, with the Christmas tree factory to the north and the old rail yard to the south, highlighted by the depot that has been turned into a science museum for kids. The houses start off big, on tree lined streets, then get smaller and more dense the closer you get to the town square. The camera would zoom in, flying down Adams Street, drifting slightly right and left to give you the illusion of flight, dodging the cars parked on the left and right, in spite of the fact that parking isn't allowed on the right side. You'd pass a handful of businesses just before the square, the title company, a Ford dealership with a gleaming black Cobra sitting in the front window, a pharmacy and a pawn shop. When you finally get to the square, the camera pulls in tighter and you see the old courthouse, a stately stone square, squat and solid, with an old cannon outside, a tribute to fallen soldiers from Cedar County. That tells you right away that Tranquility is the county seat of Cedar County, a small town, yes, but big compared to other towns in the area, and important. This is where things happen. And the true center of activity, the pulse of the town is coming up on your right. The camera passes a sporty gray convertible Mustang, a racy red Mercedes coupe, a chic dark gray Cadillac and a worn out blue minivan with bald tires, among other vehicles, then the image zooms in on a storefront. The plate glass window is filled with goodies of all types, very retro and spacey looking, lots of circles and swirls, all showing off paper crafts, papers, paint cans, albums and other assorted ephemera related to the hobby of scrapbooking. The painted words along the plate glass window declare that this store is the Crop Circle. A large green alien head smiles beside the words. The glass door swings open with a merry jingle, the camera swoops past shelves and racks, past the center counter – an island of business in the chaos of the store – and to the large open area in the back of the store. A mural of the New Mexico landscape covers one wall, with Roswell identified in the background and a crashed space ship with a tall gray alien laying beside it in the foreground. A black helicopter hovered in the air, frozen in time on the wall. The back wall was completely covered with chalkboard paint, and people had decorated it with all kinds of jottings and drawings and squiggles. The other wall was completely covered with a whiteboard, similarly covered with jottings and drawings and squiggles and notes from one scrapper to another. Several long white banquet tables are set up in the back area, with women gathered around them in folding chairs like hens around a pile of fresh grain. From the outside, men probably think that’s exactly what they are – a bunch of clucking hens. But look a little closer. Especially at the table in the back left corner. The table isn’t crowded. Four women sit together, gathered at the center of the table, two on each side, with their supplies on the ends of the table. There are four women, a pixie like blonde, cute as a button, with an upturned nose and everything. Beside her is a frazzled looking woman, older than the pixie. At least, she looks older at first glance, with her frizzy hair pulled back in a ponytail to hide the fact that it has no shape, no style. She wears no makeup. At closer look, they’re probably closer in age than you first thought. Across from the frazzled woman is her opposite, a tall, slender woman with a sleek bob. Her dark hair is smooth and chic, cut at an angle, longer in front, shorter in back. Stacked, the stylist called it. Everything about her is perfect, from her clothes to her makeup to her hair. Even the layout in front of her is perfectly laid out in a grid. Next to the sleek brunette is a redhead with long, flowing locks that fall in loose waves. Her makeup is applied with a much more liberal hand than any of the others. Her clothes are expensive, and her V-neck blouse is buttoned one button too many. Her breasts are large and worth every penny, she admits readily. The first thing most people notice about her, male or female, is her curves. Outside of the store, the four women might not have been friends. It’s not like they hang out together. But their Wednesday night cropping sessions had brought them together, and they attended the crops as religiously as most of the Bible thumpers in town attended Wednesday night church. One by one, they had found the store. One by one, they learned that scrapbooking was an exciting and fun hobby that brought them together. Their crafty creations were almost a byproduct of their time together.

Ghosts of the Past

2011-11-08T20:43:29Z

What is it about going back to a place you used to know? There’s a delight, a little thrill when you see things that remind you of what once was. It’s the little things, too – the hook on the wall where you used to hang your coat, the pillar in the middle of the room where there used to be a worktable around it, the area where your desk used to be.

I took my daughter on her first college visit last month, to the college where I attended and used to work. Her last meeting of the day was held where my old office used to be located, some 25 years ago. I paid no attention to the discussion. Instead, I looked around, in awe. I felt a sort of quiet reverence being in that room again. The memories came flooding back: laminating alumni cards, using a computer for the first time at work (those were the days of DOS . . . ), the fumes of markers from coloring Homecoming decorations. It was an odd feeling, the memories flooding over me like that. If I squinted my eyes just a touch, I could almost see the ghost images of Teresa (she had a baby that she named Gentry, her maiden name), Cindy (she taught me a lot about being a good employee), Diana (she looked like a flower child, but had the mind of a computer guru), Robyn (a dynamo of a woman), Marilyn (my hero – the first professional woman I ever knew), and Virginia (who took me under her wing).

As I drove home that day, with my daughter about to embark on the most exciting journey of her life, I felt as if a circle were closing. I was young, idealistic and had a lot to learn when I worked there. I was married and thought I knew everything. I knew nothing. But since then I’ve learned that my goals are just as important as anyone else’s, that my time is as valuable as anyone else’s, and that making your dreams come true requires hard work, perseverance and a little luck. The ghost of me that wanders the third floor of the Student Union would be proud of who I’ve become.

Fun Friday: I've been hit by an airborne turtle!

2011-09-16T06:00:00Z

Nah, not really. There is a new federal law that dramatically increases the number of insurance medical codes. New laws, especially insurance laws, aren't funny. But it does strike me as funny that the new medical codes include so many ways to code a run-in with a turtle. I think there should be a mandatory stupidity code to cover the code "bitten by turtle, subsequent encounter". And "struck by turtle"? Seriously? How many instances are there of individuals struck by turtles?

Turtle grenades?

Turtles launching themselves with catapults?

Hmmmm . . . now my imagination is in overdrive! :o)

Poke around the new medical codes and let me know what you find interesting!

Elle

Mid Mo Writers Expo

2011-09-15T14:41:05Z

I thought I had already shared this information, but alas, it looks like I was wrong! The Mid Mo Writers Expo (co-sponsored by my writing group) is this coming Saturday! WOOT!! We have a great lineup, including Randall Fuller, Matthew Murrie, Margo Dill, and local writers, Carolyn Branch, Ericca Thornhill, Kadi Easley, Jennifer Bondurant and me.

If you have not been to a writers' conference before, this is a great one to start with. It's one day and affordable. If you have been to a writers' conference before, we hope you are able to join us to hear some great speakers and network with other writers in the Mid-Missouri area. It always amazes me how many people I know that say, "I want to write" - but I've known them for years and had no idea!

By the way, plans are gearing up for NaNo . . . it's just around the corner! Have you thought about what you want to write yet? I have an idea, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet. Can't actually - that takes the magic away!

Tell me about conferences you've been to. What did you like about them? What would you have changed? Any particularly good speakers?

Fun Friday: Generators

2011-08-13T03:21:42Z

Here's a list of five fun sites, in no particular order:

Seventh Sanctum's Writing Generator - a great time waster, plus it actually works when you get stuck and need the name of a pub for your fantasy.

Bing maps - if you can't afford to travel, use Bing's bird's eye view.

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books - reviews of romances, "All of the romance, none of the bullshit."

Who Do You Think You Are - the UK version. If you're stuck, explore your own past.

The Fluffington Post - because nothing will brighten your day like cute fluffy animals.

Thrifty Thursday: Going to Conferences

2011-08-12T01:42:32Z

Those who know me know that, although I enjoy spending money and am easily distracted by shiny things, I'm kinda cheap. Many of my reads come from the library. The books I buy are generally e-books for my Nook because they're cheaper. I read websites instead of subscribing to magazines. And I'll use my laptop until it dies.

Still, the hardest thing for me to spend significant money on is going to a conference. And it is something you really NEED to do if you want to be a successful writer. Conferences are a valuable networking opportunity, and they provide an excellent way for you to study the craft of writing. So, how do you go to a conference on a budget?

Research. There are lots of conferences out there, some better than others. Remember that you want to make sure the value you get for the money is the best it can be. If you find a cheap conference for children's authors, but you write horror - not a good use of money. Look at the conference first, money second. Another tip: don't be swayed by fancy websites and big prices. High priced conferences aren't necessarily the best.

Volunteer. Check with the conference organizer and see if a discount could be offered if you help out. Added bonus: you'll get to meet other volunteers and speakers.

Carpool. Find someone else from your area to ride with. You can split the gas money, plus you get a buddy to talk writing about on the way to and from.

Share. A good bit of your budget will likely be the hotel. It is often cheaper to stay at a nearby hotel, but check into it. Sometimes the host hotel will offer a great deal for conference goers. If you have a friend going, share a room. If you don't have a friend going, contact some other attendees or some writers' forums online. I've met some great people online who I ended up splitting a room with at a conference. One of the most fun conference experiences I ever had was when five of us were sharing a room with two queen beds and a cot. It was fun - like a slumber party!

Great memories on a budget! :o)

What are your tips for going to a conference on a budget?

City Girl or Country Girl?

2011-08-09T18:05:41Z

When I was younger, I dreamed of life in the country. I knew it would be wonderful, living in a big white farmhouse flanked with white wooden fences stretching off in both directions. Horses would graze on one side, cattle on the other, kittens would play on the hay bales. Morning would start with a big breakfast and the smell of coffee would mingle with the maple smell of syrup.

Yeah . . . no. It really hasn't worked out quite that way. But a girl can dream, right?

I got my feet wet in the country-arena when I was in the 6th grade. 6th grade was a big year for me. I got kissed for the first time (my first "real" boyfriend), I learned that I could escape into writing, and I got my first job. The kiss wasn't nearly as big a deal as the first job. It was a quick little peck on a dare in the library. Over and done with, whoopee do. Not quite what my pre-teen mind had imagined it would be (and it sure as hell wasn't like the ones I'd seen on TV). The first job on the other hand, was way more than my pre-teen mind had imagined.

It all started when I spent the night with my friend Amy, who lived in the country (I can still feel those jealous pangs!). We walked across the road to see the neighbor's horses - it was a riding stable, just like in the books I read! I plucked grass with my fist, yanked so hard that the edges of the grass made tiny cuts all over the edge of my palm - but I was so thrilled at the thought of being so close to a horse, I didn't even notice at the time. The owner came out, showed me how to feed the horses the grass without losing a digit and mentioned that she needed someone to help at her riding stable.

Gulp.

Could that be me? I stood there in my cheap jeans and garage sale T-shirt and no-name tennis shoes and thought that, perhaps, just perhaps, I could finagle riding lessons out of this deal. There was no WAY my parents would ever spring for riding lessons, but maybe I could barter? I had dreamed of such an opportunity, and often fantasized about approaching horse owners and offering myself up as slave labor for the opportunity to ride. And here was an owner right smack dab in front of me, ripe for the picking. But that meant I had to actually talk to an adult. Negotiate. For someone as shy as me, that was like walking the plank. And then, worst of all, I'd have to talk to my mom. We were miles out of town, no way I could ride my bike that far, especially not on such a hilly curvy road with no shoulders. I'd have to talk her into it, and she wasn't easy to talk into anything.

But, I pulled myself up as straight as I could and asked Beth if she'd be willing to let me work for her in exchange for riding lessons. To my utter surprise and horror, she said yes! I could work from 8 - 12 every Saturday and during that time, I'd get a one hour lesson. WOO-HOOO!!!

Oh, crap. I remembered that a major hurdle still stood in my way. My mother. It's funny now, all these years later. I remember how much courage it took to ask Beth to work for lessons, but there's a total blank about asking Mom. What I do remember is that she agreed. And so, for two summers, I was in heaven. My Saturdays consisted of cleaning saddles, raking the barn (a/k/a scooping shit), painting fence (by the way . . . If I ever get that big farmhouse, the white fence is going to be something I don't have to paint!), and cutting weeds with a hand scythe. It was hard, hot work, but I loved every minute of it. That's when I knew that horses would always be part of my fantasy life. In reality, the farmhouse has been replaced with a modular home, the fence is cattle panels and woven wire, and the horses are miniature . . . but there's still nothing like sitting in a barn with horses snuffling softly around you, their hooves kicking up little puffs of dirt, with the fragrant smell of fresh hay hanging in the air.

Small Town Girl

2011-08-08T01:14:22Z

I grew up in a small town in central Missouri. Population of about 3500, give or take. Like all small towns, it was hell.

My first mode of transportation was a used bicycle with no covers on the handlebars (man! I wanted one of those cool bikes with pink tassels on the handlebars!). I still have a scar from that handle digging a hole into my tummy when I was learning to ride and wrecked. That hurt like hell, but it was worth it 'cause then I got a cool bicycle with a banana seat. It was great. I could fly on that thing, and cut corners so short and fast that my pedal would dig into the ground.

Everybody knew everybody. That sucked when I was a teenager. My mom hated "cruising" (kids nowadays are really missing out - man, the days of cruising from Hardees to Hardees or cruising the loop were great!) and if I went cruising with a friend, somebody would tell her before I got home. No chance to sneak out either, 'cause if I went to spend the night with a friend, my mom knew their mom and they'd both know if we weren't where we were supposed to be.

Still, town was all I knew. Neighbors right next door, sharing a fence. If you needed a cup of sugar, you ran to a neighbor's house. Evenings were spent chatting over the back fence. I walked to school, rode my bike if I wanted to go see a friend. When the tornado sirens went off, we drove a few blocks to the church and took cover in the basement with everybody else. Chores consisted of feeding Duke, our old bird dog, and raking grass after Dad mowed the yard. I dreamed of what my life would hold, spent days cloistered in my room, drawing plans for my dream horse ranch, writing stories of what it would be like to live there. I just knew that someday I would live on a farm, with dogs and cats and horses and goats. I just knew that it would be a dream come true. I knew that someday I would be a ranch owner.

And the dream has come true.

Kinda.

We have horses and dogs and cats (haven't talked my hubby into the goats yet). But it isn't quite the way this townie pictured it.

What did you dream of when you were a kid? And have you made it your reality?

Ozark Romance Writers Conference

2011-08-06T03:07:11Z

One of my writer friends, Angela Drake, told me about the writers' conference held in Springfield Missouri last month. One of my critique partners suggested we go, so we did, and it was wonderful! I came back inspired and ready to kick my writing into high gear. The speakers were fantastic. Shannon Butcher I had met previously, but it was her husband I heard speak at that time. It was nice to hear Shannon speak - she's easily as talented as Jim is, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her take on writing. Leigh Michaels was one of my favorite speakers. I had the pleasure of sitting at her table during lunch. She reminded me of one of the attorneys I work with, and of an actress . . . whose name escapes me at the moment. Another good speaker was Eliza Lloyd. I've got to get some of her books. They sound positively sinful! Her talk about heroes was memorable - I don't think I'll ever look at Disney movies, particularly Tangled, in the same way after hearing her talk! Shannon Vannatter spoke about editing. I took a lot away from her talk, and have been using her diagramming method to help me go through my work again. I have heard her speak before, and I thought this talk was much better. This entire conference was better than any I've been to for a while, in terms of giving me down and dirty tips that I can actually use to improve my writing immediately.

The editor who attended was Lia Brown with Avalon Books and the agent was Louise Fury, with the L. Perkins Agency. They spoke during a couple of sessions, and took pitches.

The fact that it was all crammed into one day was greatly appreciated. A decent price, good speakers and smart topics - add them all up and you get a really good conference!

What conferences have you been to lately? What made them good or bad?

Summer . . . AT LAST!!

2011-06-14T23:55:25Z

This was a particularly bad winter. Seems like it lasted forever. The blizzard of February 2011 was horrendous, and made me even more jealous of my friend Lynn who now resides in the desert. Initially, I was just jealous that she was in Vegas (I can't say that word without mentally saying "VEGAS, BAY-BEE!!"), but getting 20" of snow - in just that one snowstorm, I might add, made me particularly jealous of the fact that she was in the arid southwest.

I'm really thinking a move may be in our future. Particularly if the whole global warming thing doesn't kick in like I'm hoping it does (sorry, my green friends). It is now the middle of June and I'm sitting on our beautiful new back deck, looking at our beautiful new above ground pool - and I'm wearing jeans. And I'm not IN the pool. Something is wrong with this picture.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday (those are especially bothersome after 40) and the doc said she wanted to see me back in 6 months. The front desk gal made my appointment - in DECEMBER! I stood there aghast. Crap. Only 6 months 'til I have to worry about that blasted drive to work again. GRRRR.

Oh - a side note that I think I'll probably talk about more later - I have had a really good travel spring. I went to my very first Creating Keepsakes Convention in St. Louis in April. It was fun, I learned a lot, and I made new friends. Special thanks go out to my new friend Dottie who I went with, and to my new friend, Kelly, who roomed with us when her plans went awry. And a shout out to the owner of Boxer Scrapbooks who put on a hell of a class - it was my favorite class, I'm still using stuff I learned in it, and their products are all made in the US. That alone guaranteed that they will continue to get my business.

April was a busy month for me. The annual Missouri Paralegal Conference was held in Kansas City, and I was asked to be a speaker (Prepare to Present: Using Adobe Acrobat Professional in Discovery). That went well, I took advantage of being in KC and visited my cousin Tonya. We went to see the Princess Diana Exhibit at Union Station. Not only was the exhibit itself amazing (seeing The Dress was nearly a religious experience for me), but I was impressed with Union Station. We had lunch at Harvey's, where Patrick was our waiter - quite the entertaining server, and good to boot!

But May . . . ahhhhh, May was incredibly special and oh, so fun! I took a trip to Vegas to see my friend Lynn. It was exciting just GOING somewhere. I suspect that a lot of people don't travel alone. Oh, people do for business all the time, but I mean to take a trip just by themselves. I highly recommend that women do that. There is something empowering about traveling alone. Not only do you have your thoughts to keep you company (seriously, gals, we don't chat with ourselves enough), but you are not distracted by a fellow traveler and you can really focus on the experience itself. I rode MOX to St. Louis (by the way - kudos to MoX for having such a friendly website), where I caught a plane to Phoenix, where we dropped off passengers (the older couple next to me were excited to get home) and picked up passengers (I hope that poor woman had a good time at the Hilton with her hubby and had a smoother flight home) and then it was on to Vegas (VEGAS, BAY-BEE!!). Lynn met me at the airport and we were off! Here are the highlights:

Thunder Down Under. Yummy. Absolutely yummy. By the way - I touched the guy on the left in their pic on the Excalibur website. So did Lynn. He ran right in front of us on the bar. I went in feeling like a frumpy middle aged wife and mother, but after sitting on a hot guy's lap and having him slap my butt . . . I came out feeling like a million bucks. <SIGH> And I'll never be able to listen to Thunderstruck by AC/DC again without a big goofy smile spreading across my face.

Phantom of the Opera. Beautiful opera house. I was way more blown away by the set than the music. I'm not sure if that says the set was fantastic or the music wasn't as good as it could have been. Or perhaps I'm just not as cultured as I think I am, because I must say . . . I'll go back to see the guys from Thunder Down Under, but I'm happy with the memories of Phantom. :o)

The Mob Experience. A fun, immersive experience. My apologies to Lynn, though. I really hope the $100 I stuck in my pocket didn't get us whacked!

Ah, yes, I'll write more on that experience later. Vegas was just what the doctor ordered - I came home feeling refreshed and happy and ready to face the world again.

Have you ever taken a vacation alone or traveled to meet someone?

StoryADay: Altered Reality

2011-05-05T18:32:00Z

Frannie stared out the window at the Irish landscape. The rolling green hills were a delight after the dreariness of the small town of Stradbally. Granted, it was a dull and dreary day, so perhaps she shouldn't judge the town or its people on her first impression. The clouds thickened, blotting out the sun, and the fog rolled across the road - what was that poem? Something about like on cat's paws?

Ah, but this fog was nothing like that. This fog was creeping in like a stalking panther, silent, swift and seductive.

Thomas suddenly spun the wheel to the left and they bounced into the public entrance. They had talked about coming to the Electric Picnic for years, but this was nothing like she had imagined. In her mind, she thought they would be dodging party-goers, happy and drunk. Instead, they were dodging deep ruts. Straggly tree branches reached out for them and clawed at the Mini Cooper, trying to slow its progress. In spite of the Irish land's best efforts, Thomas maneuvered the little car around holes, over rocks and onward towards the Hall.

After what seemed like an eternity, the forest released them and there, in the middle of an emerald green clearing, was Stradbally. It rose up from the grass like a hulking castle, cold and distant, yet elegant and refined. Strength seemed to be the most fitting description of the place. It seemed to imply great strength.

Thomas waved a hand towards the great sweep of green grass and said doubtfully, "Perhaps we entered in the wrong place. There's clearly no rock concerts going on here."

Frannie shrugged, then cranked her window down. "I don't hear anything either."

"Should we just go knock on the front door?"

Her shoulders rose again. "I guess so. I didn't fly all the way to Ireland for nothing. It's a huge event, so I'm sure there's someone here who can give us directions."

The sound of hoofbeats caught their attention before Thomas could put the car in gear. A horse and rider appeared from a break in the woods and galloped towards the front door of the castle. The rider tugged the reins and pulled the horse to a sliding stop, just on the other side of the fountain. Thomas leaned to the right and Frannie leaned to her left, both trying to catch a glimpse of the mysterious horseman. He landed on the ground lightly, his knees bending to take the impact, then he dropped the reins, shouted at someone, and took the steps two at a time. The great wooden door swung open just as he reached the top. He disappeared into the darkness of the Hall and the door swung shut.

Frannie thought she heard the creak of the door. Then again, perhaps she just expected it to creak.

Thomas turned to look at Frannie and said, "Did you see that? That man was wearing a suit of armor."

Frannie pointed at the horse standing at the fountain. "And so is his horse."