For the last couple of days, I’ve been stressing and worrying over prepping an email query. Last night, I got everything done, pulled it all together, spell checked everything and then I made my fatal mistake. Because I’m paranoid, I saved the email with its attachments to my draft file in Hotmail while I checked out one last little fact. After I got confirmation of the fact in question, I returned to Hotmail, pulled the email out of the draft file and sent it. And then immediately realized that, for whatever reason, when you save a draft in Hotmail, it drops the attachments. So, yes, the query email that I’d spent so much time and energy on went to the publisher without the required attachments.
I quickly sent another email with the attachments and I hope it won’t reflect too poorly on me. Or that they won’t accidentally delete the email with the attachments as a duplicate. Ugh. I hate this. Querying is hard enough. I don’t need technology tripping me up. And yeah, I could have used my other email account (I only have four of them), but of course, I didn’t know that Hotmail suffered from this flaw until after I made the mistake.
All that kept running through my head last night was that line from that movie with Matt Damon and Clare Danes that was a John Grisham book first. “They say you make twenty-five mistakes when you commit a crime, but you’ll be lucky if you remember five.” So, now, of course, I’m wondering if I screwed up other stuff in the query as well. Oh, I’m so tired right now…
Friday, January 27, 2006
Going to work early
Things that suck about going to work early:
Getting up when it’s dark. If God had meant for us to get up when it was dark, then He would have made it light earlier. Or something like that.
School buses on the road. Yes, I understand that people do not want their children getting run over by cars passing the stopped school buses. But surely they can understand the frustration of being trapped behind a bus that stops for a small cluster of children every fifteen feet!
It’s cold. Enough said.
Suffering through almost FOUR hours to get to lunch instead of my normal hour and a half.
More traffic.
Early morning meetings—this is the only reason I ever go in early.
People who are cheerful when they are both up early AND at work. One or the other might be understandable; the combination I’m fairly certain is a sign of being an evil robot with plans for world domination.
Things that don’t suck about going to work early:
Seeing the sun rise in these beautiful shades of deep red and purple through the windows of my writing room.
Writing as much as I can in a shorter time than normal—it’s a challenge. Not one I’d like every day but it’s interesting sometimes because it forces forward progress.
Getting out of work early, of course! Which, in this case, facilitates my going to see Underworld: Evolution with Stacy G.
Two pieces of rye toast and a carton of no pulp orange juice from the cafeteria. Yum!Normally all the breakfast stuff is put away by the time I get in.
A parking place in front of the building I actually work in instead of halfway across campus.
Getting up when it’s dark. If God had meant for us to get up when it was dark, then He would have made it light earlier. Or something like that.
School buses on the road. Yes, I understand that people do not want their children getting run over by cars passing the stopped school buses. But surely they can understand the frustration of being trapped behind a bus that stops for a small cluster of children every fifteen feet!
It’s cold. Enough said.
Suffering through almost FOUR hours to get to lunch instead of my normal hour and a half.
More traffic.
Early morning meetings—this is the only reason I ever go in early.
People who are cheerful when they are both up early AND at work. One or the other might be understandable; the combination I’m fairly certain is a sign of being an evil robot with plans for world domination.
Things that don’t suck about going to work early:
Seeing the sun rise in these beautiful shades of deep red and purple through the windows of my writing room.
Writing as much as I can in a shorter time than normal—it’s a challenge. Not one I’d like every day but it’s interesting sometimes because it forces forward progress.
Getting out of work early, of course! Which, in this case, facilitates my going to see Underworld: Evolution with Stacy G.
Two pieces of rye toast and a carton of no pulp orange juice from the cafeteria. Yum!Normally all the breakfast stuff is put away by the time I get in.
A parking place in front of the building I actually work in instead of halfway across campus.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Random Stuff
Hypochondriac much?
I have to stop watching medical shows. Lately I’ve been watching the National Geographic Channel and TLC, both of which have programs like Medical Incredible, Mystery Diagnosis and The Man Without Skin. On top of this, two of my very favorite programs at the moment are Grey’s Anatomy and House (which has just disappeared because of American Idol, which I hate with a passion—what is up with that?) All of this convinced me that my normal stomachache yesterday (well, normal for me, it’s a weird little pain that nobody else seems to get but it’s been happening to me about once or twice a year for close to twenty years) had to be a bleeding ulcer. You know, like the one that patient with the annoying family had on Grey’s? And the woman that Chase killed on House? Yeah. Less television, more peace of mind.
Rant on bathroom hygiene…
Ladies, you’ll appreciate this. Yesterday, upon entering the bathroom, I nearly collided with a woman exiting the stalls. We did the awkward smile and dance around each other before going our opposite directions. I couldn’t help but notice, though, that she then left the bathroom WITHOUT washing her hands. Aside from the whole grossness factor of that, wouldn’t you wash your hands just for appearance’s sake? I can’t be the only one who pays attention to such things. I’m so never shaking hands with her. Every time I see that woman, I will now think, “There goes that woman who doesn’t wash her hands.”
Also, I know the practice of “hovering” garners much debate, but regardless of how you land on this issue (ha!) I think we can agree that those who hover should take a lesson from men and learn to aim just a little better. Or at least clean up after yourself. Good grief. I’ve used a men’s bathroom in a fraternity house (long story) and seen cleaner stalls. Also? They put those paper toilet seat covers in the stall with you for a reason. Hovering is really not required.
Book stuff
No news on the query front yet, but it’s early still.
Have to run now. Need to be in the office by 8:00 tomorrow. Ugh.
I have to stop watching medical shows. Lately I’ve been watching the National Geographic Channel and TLC, both of which have programs like Medical Incredible, Mystery Diagnosis and The Man Without Skin. On top of this, two of my very favorite programs at the moment are Grey’s Anatomy and House (which has just disappeared because of American Idol, which I hate with a passion—what is up with that?) All of this convinced me that my normal stomachache yesterday (well, normal for me, it’s a weird little pain that nobody else seems to get but it’s been happening to me about once or twice a year for close to twenty years) had to be a bleeding ulcer. You know, like the one that patient with the annoying family had on Grey’s? And the woman that Chase killed on House? Yeah. Less television, more peace of mind.
Rant on bathroom hygiene…
Ladies, you’ll appreciate this. Yesterday, upon entering the bathroom, I nearly collided with a woman exiting the stalls. We did the awkward smile and dance around each other before going our opposite directions. I couldn’t help but notice, though, that she then left the bathroom WITHOUT washing her hands. Aside from the whole grossness factor of that, wouldn’t you wash your hands just for appearance’s sake? I can’t be the only one who pays attention to such things. I’m so never shaking hands with her. Every time I see that woman, I will now think, “There goes that woman who doesn’t wash her hands.”
Also, I know the practice of “hovering” garners much debate, but regardless of how you land on this issue (ha!) I think we can agree that those who hover should take a lesson from men and learn to aim just a little better. Or at least clean up after yourself. Good grief. I’ve used a men’s bathroom in a fraternity house (long story) and seen cleaner stalls. Also? They put those paper toilet seat covers in the stall with you for a reason. Hovering is really not required.
Book stuff
No news on the query front yet, but it’s early still.
Have to run now. Need to be in the office by 8:00 tomorrow. Ugh.
Monday, January 23, 2006
I am father's daughter...
...so I found this column from the Chicago Tribune interesting. "That's it! It's God's fault."
Monday Musings...
Four more queries in the mail today. One emailed last week. We'll see what happens. I'm curious to see if there'll be a difference between this time and last. The book is published now (which could either work for or against me) and it has reviews and blurbs to accompany it.
I'm trying the agent route first. Can't hurt, right? I'm contacting some of the various agents I've met and/or communicated with in the last couple of years. All the articles and magazines and such always tell you to go to conferences to meet agents and pitch them, but I've only done that a couple times. I'm a nervous wreck in person. I'm nervous when I'm just mailing the query envelopes! But that truly is the best place to meet them and then, at least, you've got an opening line to your query letter later. It has helped being published over the last year because it takes some of the pressure off. I could talk to them as just a person instead of "THE PERSON WHO COULD HOLD THE FUTURE OF MY CAREER IN HIS/HER HANDS." Yeah. I never said I was normal.
There are also a couple of good publishing companies that I'd like to investigate. So, I'll be working on that as well.
Other good news includes that Becky D. has finished reading her copy of the untitled sequel to The Silver Spoon (which is being called Eye of the Beholder in all my query letters *grin*) and says, "WOW!" Among other things, of course. So, I'm taking that as a good sign!
I'm trying the agent route first. Can't hurt, right? I'm contacting some of the various agents I've met and/or communicated with in the last couple of years. All the articles and magazines and such always tell you to go to conferences to meet agents and pitch them, but I've only done that a couple times. I'm a nervous wreck in person. I'm nervous when I'm just mailing the query envelopes! But that truly is the best place to meet them and then, at least, you've got an opening line to your query letter later. It has helped being published over the last year because it takes some of the pressure off. I could talk to them as just a person instead of "THE PERSON WHO COULD HOLD THE FUTURE OF MY CAREER IN HIS/HER HANDS." Yeah. I never said I was normal.
There are also a couple of good publishing companies that I'd like to investigate. So, I'll be working on that as well.
Other good news includes that Becky D. has finished reading her copy of the untitled sequel to The Silver Spoon (which is being called Eye of the Beholder in all my query letters *grin*) and says, "WOW!" Among other things, of course. So, I'm taking that as a good sign!
Friday, January 20, 2006
It has begun...
My title sounds like bad grammar (and it may very well be...), but I'm pretty sure it's a quote from one of the Star Wars movies.
Anyway, I sent out my first email query last night. I've got four more queued up and ready to go. I have a love/hate relationship with email queries. First, because I'm so not technically-adept, I'm always afraid that what looks perfectly fine on my end will come out on the other end with weird formatting and strange little characters in place of the apostrophes. Plus, I use Microsoft Works for writing--I know, I know, I need to switch over--and everyone else prefers Word for attachments and I don't know if that means RTF is okay or not. *Sigh* Hard copy is more time consuming and less environmentally friendly but at least I know what they'll be looking at when they open it.
The second reason I hate sending email queries is also a reason I love them. They're quick. Like, an instant after you send it, it's already there waiting to be read. Which means the worrying about what I wrote and what will they think and have they read it yet commences immediately and lasts for a longer period of time usually. With snail mail, I have to put in the mailbox before mail pick up and then I get to estimate about how long it takes to get to where it's going. Then I imagine that the staff in the mailroom at the agency/publishing company isn't really excited about yet another query letter, so they probably don't rush around delivering these things at a run or anything. So, it probably takes a day or two to reach the desk of the assistant or whatever. And then from there on, who know? But you can see that with snail mail I queries, I get almost a week to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and bravery before the worry kicks in. On the other hand, email queries are usually answered much faster!
Heading home now. Will restrain myself from checking my email more than seven or eight times tonight : ) At some point this gets easier right? This is only really my third time through this process and while I know more about my role in it, I'm still this dangerous mix of nervous and excited about the whole thing.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Anyway, I sent out my first email query last night. I've got four more queued up and ready to go. I have a love/hate relationship with email queries. First, because I'm so not technically-adept, I'm always afraid that what looks perfectly fine on my end will come out on the other end with weird formatting and strange little characters in place of the apostrophes. Plus, I use Microsoft Works for writing--I know, I know, I need to switch over--and everyone else prefers Word for attachments and I don't know if that means RTF is okay or not. *Sigh* Hard copy is more time consuming and less environmentally friendly but at least I know what they'll be looking at when they open it.
The second reason I hate sending email queries is also a reason I love them. They're quick. Like, an instant after you send it, it's already there waiting to be read. Which means the worrying about what I wrote and what will they think and have they read it yet commences immediately and lasts for a longer period of time usually. With snail mail, I have to put in the mailbox before mail pick up and then I get to estimate about how long it takes to get to where it's going. Then I imagine that the staff in the mailroom at the agency/publishing company isn't really excited about yet another query letter, so they probably don't rush around delivering these things at a run or anything. So, it probably takes a day or two to reach the desk of the assistant or whatever. And then from there on, who know? But you can see that with snail mail I queries, I get almost a week to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and bravery before the worry kicks in. On the other hand, email queries are usually answered much faster!
Heading home now. Will restrain myself from checking my email more than seven or eight times tonight : ) At some point this gets easier right? This is only really my third time through this process and while I know more about my role in it, I'm still this dangerous mix of nervous and excited about the whole thing.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
The good, the bad and the very ugly...
All right, so here it is: RuneStone is going to be closing. Ugh. Just typing it makes me feel icky. I just found out about it officially last week, though I suspected long before that time. So much so that I’ve already written query letters to other agents/publishers but I haven’t sent them. This is the chance you take with a small press, especially a new small press. It’s a tough business that demands a lot of time and resources, and not all of the companies can make it.
This, of course, means that RuneStone will not be publishing the sequel. Which sucks. Especially because initial feedback from one of my first readers (Stacy G.) is that the story works! It also means that The Silver Spoon could potentially go out of print while I’m trying to find a new home for one or both books.
However, as many people have pointed out (including my husband, my parents, Stacy G., Ed and more), this could also be an opportunity. The Silver Spoon got really good reviews. Several people who are way more accomplished than I am have read the book and said lovely things about it. Both of these things might help convince an agent or a publisher to consider the book. There’s also the possibility of landing an agent or a publisher that will help me reach a larger audience.
So, here we go again. Querying. I was planning to do it this year anyway for a different project, but this is a little trickier. I don’t know, for example, if publishers and agents are mostly against previously published material or not. Obviously, some people (Linnea Sinclair and MaryJanice Davidson, for example) do very well in small press and get picked up by a larger publishing company. But I don’t know what that means for me. I don’t have the name recognition that either of them had as small press authors. Guess we’ll just have to see what happens.
Right now, I’m in the process of revising my query letters, gathering review information, researching agents and collecting author quotes. By the way, if there are any published authors out there reading this who’ve read The Silver Spoon and would be willing to blurb it, PLEASE let me know. Yes, I am shameless, but I could really use the help. : )
Anyway, my goal is to have five letters/emails out by Monday, January 23. I also need to update my Publisher’s Marketplace webpage to let people know that The Silver Spoon is available.
For those who were eagerly awaiting the sequel, I am truly sorry about the delay. I hope, though, that this may mean a general improvement in the availability of my books...eventually. In the meantime, please consider sending me an email with your name and address (either snail or email). I'm going to try to put together a mailing list that I hope will help demonstrate to a publisher/agent that there is interest in the sequel. Obviously, your information won't be sold. It's just to say to the publisher/agent that XXX people are interested in receiving a postcard (or email) about the sequel when it's published.
So, stay tuned...it's going to be an interesting year!
This, of course, means that RuneStone will not be publishing the sequel. Which sucks. Especially because initial feedback from one of my first readers (Stacy G.) is that the story works! It also means that The Silver Spoon could potentially go out of print while I’m trying to find a new home for one or both books.
However, as many people have pointed out (including my husband, my parents, Stacy G., Ed and more), this could also be an opportunity. The Silver Spoon got really good reviews. Several people who are way more accomplished than I am have read the book and said lovely things about it. Both of these things might help convince an agent or a publisher to consider the book. There’s also the possibility of landing an agent or a publisher that will help me reach a larger audience.
So, here we go again. Querying. I was planning to do it this year anyway for a different project, but this is a little trickier. I don’t know, for example, if publishers and agents are mostly against previously published material or not. Obviously, some people (Linnea Sinclair and MaryJanice Davidson, for example) do very well in small press and get picked up by a larger publishing company. But I don’t know what that means for me. I don’t have the name recognition that either of them had as small press authors. Guess we’ll just have to see what happens.
Right now, I’m in the process of revising my query letters, gathering review information, researching agents and collecting author quotes. By the way, if there are any published authors out there reading this who’ve read The Silver Spoon and would be willing to blurb it, PLEASE let me know. Yes, I am shameless, but I could really use the help. : )
Anyway, my goal is to have five letters/emails out by Monday, January 23. I also need to update my Publisher’s Marketplace webpage to let people know that The Silver Spoon is available.
For those who were eagerly awaiting the sequel, I am truly sorry about the delay. I hope, though, that this may mean a general improvement in the availability of my books...eventually. In the meantime, please consider sending me an email with your name and address (either snail or email). I'm going to try to put together a mailing list that I hope will help demonstrate to a publisher/agent that there is interest in the sequel. Obviously, your information won't be sold. It's just to say to the publisher/agent that XXX people are interested in receiving a postcard (or email) about the sequel when it's published.
So, stay tuned...it's going to be an interesting year!
Friday, January 13, 2006
where is Stacey?
Sorry for my absenteeism this week. I've got some stuff going on that's dragging my attention away from my normal routine. Nothing scary. Well, actually, that's not true. It is kind of scary and disappointing, just nothing health-related or anything like that.
I'll keep you posted...
I'll keep you posted...
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Book List
The eye doctor appointment went just fine the other day. They're always very nice to me over there, despite my weirdness about getting my eyes dilated. It wasn't even that bad this time, the dilating, I mean. And my prescription did not change from last year!!! Not only does this save me money, but it also makes me worry a little less about my eyesight in general. For awhile there, it was in a period of very steady decline. So, to stay the same is excellent.
I also took the opportunity to hand out bookmarks. Hey, you know me, I'm shameless when it comes to book promotion!
Anyway, I finally got a chance to assemble my 2005 Book List. It's by no means comprehensive. These just happen to be the ones that stuck with me...for a good reason. I don't list the ones that still cause me to cringe : ) If you can't say anything nice...well, you know the rest.
Books of 2005
In alphabetical order:
-Tithe by Holly Black
-Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (Books 1, 2 and 3…and yes, I know they’re three separate books and called different things but this list is already going to be too long!)
-Avalon High by Meg Cabot
-Princess in Training by Meg Cabot
-Dark Secrets: Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler
-37th Hour by Jodi Compton
-English as a Second Language by Megan Crane
-Everyone Else’s Girl by Megan Crane
-Revenge Gifts by Cindy Cruciger
-The Good, the Bad and the Undead by Kim Harrison
-Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
-Abby Cooper: Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie
-Better Read than Dead by Victoria Laurie
-The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
-Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
-Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair
-The Cobra and the Concubine by Bonnie Vanak
-Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
I also took the opportunity to hand out bookmarks. Hey, you know me, I'm shameless when it comes to book promotion!
Anyway, I finally got a chance to assemble my 2005 Book List. It's by no means comprehensive. These just happen to be the ones that stuck with me...for a good reason. I don't list the ones that still cause me to cringe : ) If you can't say anything nice...well, you know the rest.
Books of 2005
In alphabetical order:
-Tithe by Holly Black
-Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (Books 1, 2 and 3…and yes, I know they’re three separate books and called different things but this list is already going to be too long!)
-Avalon High by Meg Cabot
-Princess in Training by Meg Cabot
-Dark Secrets: Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler
-37th Hour by Jodi Compton
-English as a Second Language by Megan Crane
-Everyone Else’s Girl by Megan Crane
-Revenge Gifts by Cindy Cruciger
-The Good, the Bad and the Undead by Kim Harrison
-Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
-Abby Cooper: Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie
-Better Read than Dead by Victoria Laurie
-The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
-Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
-Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair
-The Cobra and the Concubine by Bonnie Vanak
-Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
Monday, January 09, 2006
Sun motivation
It's so much easier to get stuff done when the sun is shining. When the skies are all gray and cold, I just want to curl up on the couch and sleep. I think I must have been something that hibernated in a previous life : )
This weekend, during that brief time of sunshine, I cleaned up part of the yard--dog mess, you know--folded two loads of laundry, and mopped the utility room floor. I also got very brave and emailed my Bitter Pill manuscript to a fellow author and friend (I'm not going to mention her name in this respect unless she's okay with it) because I don't know what to do with it and I very much respect her writing and her opinion. It's always scary sending out something you love that much because you know that the truth, even when spoken kindly, might hurt. : ) But it's time to be brave and make some progress. Either fix it or move on. No more noodling it about.
Speaking of which, I also sent the sequel manuscript to a couple of first readers. So, I'll be holding my breath to hear what they think!
I have an eye doctor appointment tomorrow, so I doubt there'll be a blog. I doubt if I'll be able to even see the computer by the time they're done dilating my eyes. *shudder* I hate that so much. Not being able to see makes me feel helpless and scared. And it never, ever wears off in an hour like they say it will. Ugh.
This weekend, during that brief time of sunshine, I cleaned up part of the yard--dog mess, you know--folded two loads of laundry, and mopped the utility room floor. I also got very brave and emailed my Bitter Pill manuscript to a fellow author and friend (I'm not going to mention her name in this respect unless she's okay with it) because I don't know what to do with it and I very much respect her writing and her opinion. It's always scary sending out something you love that much because you know that the truth, even when spoken kindly, might hurt. : ) But it's time to be brave and make some progress. Either fix it or move on. No more noodling it about.
Speaking of which, I also sent the sequel manuscript to a couple of first readers. So, I'll be holding my breath to hear what they think!
I have an eye doctor appointment tomorrow, so I doubt there'll be a blog. I doubt if I'll be able to even see the computer by the time they're done dilating my eyes. *shudder* I hate that so much. Not being able to see makes me feel helpless and scared. And it never, ever wears off in an hour like they say it will. Ugh.
Friday, January 06, 2006
7 Things Meme
My thanks to Bonnie Vanak for tagging me in on this one. It took me awhile and I had to really think about some of these...
Seven Things to Do Before I Die:
1. Get a book (or more) published with a NY house
2. Be able to work as a full-time writer (in other words, no day job)—just want to see what it would be like
3. Adopt a daughter from China
4. Own and operate a bookstore
5. Live in a small town again
6. Live some place warm, near the ocean
7. Visit Hawaii again (Hey, maybe I can knock out three of these at once by living in a small town near the beach in Hawaii?)
Seven Things I Cannot Do:
1. See a dead bird without flinching and gagging
2. Slow dance without leading (I don’t know, don’t ask)
3. Make myself taller
4. Climb up a rope—I always flunked that part of gym class
5. Go to outer space
6. Visit another planet
7. Get on a plane without worrying about crashing and memorizing the location of the emergency exits
Seven Things That Attracted Me to My Spouse/SO:
1. His eyes, his nose…okay, his whole face : )
2. His sense of humor (usually he’s brave enough to actually say some of the snarky comments I’m thinking)
3. His love for 80s music!
4. His patience
5. His ability to forgive easily
6. The way we just “clicked” when we talked
7. His intelligence
Seven Things I Say (Or Write) Most Often:
1. Um
2. Yeah, well…
3. Well, yeah…
4. Just
5. Like
6. Totally
7. Dude
Seven Books or Series That I Love: (Too many books! I can’t narrow it down to seven only. So here are seven of the many—in no particular order—and I’m focusing exclusively on fiction…)
1. Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
2. English as a Second Language by Megan Crane
3. Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton
4. Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris
5. Tithe by Holly Black
6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
7. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (the book is better than the movie)
Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again (Just seven?!? Okay...):
1. Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope
2. Ghostbusters
3. Office Space
4. Serenity
5. Pretty Woman
6. Speed (Keanu Reeves has the most attractive elbows *grin*)
7. Clue! (I still can’t figure out how everyone got to where they needed to be to kill all the people in the various versions)
Seven People I Want to Join In (Be Tagged):
1. You
2. You
3. You
4. You
5. You
6. You
7. And, you guessed it…You.
Basically anybody who’s reading this and wants to participate, I’d love to read what you have to say. Write it in your blog and post a link in the comments or just write it up in the comments section. Have fun!
Seven Things to Do Before I Die:
1. Get a book (or more) published with a NY house
2. Be able to work as a full-time writer (in other words, no day job)—just want to see what it would be like
3. Adopt a daughter from China
4. Own and operate a bookstore
5. Live in a small town again
6. Live some place warm, near the ocean
7. Visit Hawaii again (Hey, maybe I can knock out three of these at once by living in a small town near the beach in Hawaii?)
Seven Things I Cannot Do:
1. See a dead bird without flinching and gagging
2. Slow dance without leading (I don’t know, don’t ask)
3. Make myself taller
4. Climb up a rope—I always flunked that part of gym class
5. Go to outer space
6. Visit another planet
7. Get on a plane without worrying about crashing and memorizing the location of the emergency exits
Seven Things That Attracted Me to My Spouse/SO:
1. His eyes, his nose…okay, his whole face : )
2. His sense of humor (usually he’s brave enough to actually say some of the snarky comments I’m thinking)
3. His love for 80s music!
4. His patience
5. His ability to forgive easily
6. The way we just “clicked” when we talked
7. His intelligence
Seven Things I Say (Or Write) Most Often:
1. Um
2. Yeah, well…
3. Well, yeah…
4. Just
5. Like
6. Totally
7. Dude
Seven Books or Series That I Love: (Too many books! I can’t narrow it down to seven only. So here are seven of the many—in no particular order—and I’m focusing exclusively on fiction…)
1. Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
2. English as a Second Language by Megan Crane
3. Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton
4. Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris
5. Tithe by Holly Black
6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
7. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (the book is better than the movie)
Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again (Just seven?!? Okay...):
1. Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope
2. Ghostbusters
3. Office Space
4. Serenity
5. Pretty Woman
6. Speed (Keanu Reeves has the most attractive elbows *grin*)
7. Clue! (I still can’t figure out how everyone got to where they needed to be to kill all the people in the various versions)
Seven People I Want to Join In (Be Tagged):
1. You
2. You
3. You
4. You
5. You
6. You
7. And, you guessed it…You.
Basically anybody who’s reading this and wants to participate, I’d love to read what you have to say. Write it in your blog and post a link in the comments or just write it up in the comments section. Have fun!
Random moment of weirdness
Had a very surreal moment last night while shopping at Target. As I was picking up some Caffeine-free Coke and packages of ready-bake cookies (What? Every writer needs motivation!), I caught a glimpse of a guy, probably younger than I am but close to my age, walking down the main aisle. Something about him must have clicked in my brain but didn't register on the conscious level because when he drew closer, I looked again.
He was wearing a clerical collar. A minister's collar. You know, black shirt with the white plastic insert at the throat? I totally gaped at him. He was so...young! And he had sideburns, long ones--like kind of trendy and stuff. I seriously wanted to follow him and ask him, was he a minister or a priest? What was it like being either one at such a young age?
Now, I know there are young ministers. Duh. I mean, you can graduate with a Masters in Divinity by what, age 23 or 24? I even know people from college who've gone on to be ministers. But I've never seen them in collars so it doesn't seem real to me, I guess. All the ministers I've ever known personally and seen in collars have been older than me. Primarily, this means my dad.
So, I ended up sort of keeping an eye out for the young priest/pastor, though I'm not sure what I would have said, had the opportunity arisen. Turns out he was there with a buddy, ANOTHER young priest/pastor type. How do I know? Because this one too was dressed all in black (couldn't see his collar from where I stood, but he was clean-cut and well-dressed, not Goth), and he held a big bottle of that Woolite stuff that's especially made for black clothing. And the funniest thing was they were kind of goofing around and joking, not acting holy at all. Which, hello, I should know better. It always irritated me when people would forget that my dad was a person as well as minister. In other words, he was just as vulnerable to losing his temper and just as likely to joke around as a normal person. But somehow when I saw these young priest/pastor guys, I managed to forget that.
Anyway, all this made me think of the time I went with my dad to the grocery store while he was wearing his clerical collar. I was young, probably in my teens at the time. Both the cashier and the person bagging the groceries referred to my father as "Father." You know, like "Have a nice day, Father." Or, "Thank you, Father." Freaked me out.
I asked him why he didn't correct them. "Father" meant Catholic priest to me(I was neither wise nor worldly enough at the time to have heard of Episcopalian priests who can marry and have children, I believe). And hello, my dad was wearing a wedding ring and I was standing right there--marriage and children are both kind of no-no's for Catholic priests.
He told me that it was a sign of respect, not just for him but for religion in general, and why should he make them feel bad for doing something good? Essentially. He's often said that people are nicer when they see him in clerical collar. Kind of like slowing down when you see a cop car, right? Huh.
He was wearing a clerical collar. A minister's collar. You know, black shirt with the white plastic insert at the throat? I totally gaped at him. He was so...young! And he had sideburns, long ones--like kind of trendy and stuff. I seriously wanted to follow him and ask him, was he a minister or a priest? What was it like being either one at such a young age?
Now, I know there are young ministers. Duh. I mean, you can graduate with a Masters in Divinity by what, age 23 or 24? I even know people from college who've gone on to be ministers. But I've never seen them in collars so it doesn't seem real to me, I guess. All the ministers I've ever known personally and seen in collars have been older than me. Primarily, this means my dad.
So, I ended up sort of keeping an eye out for the young priest/pastor, though I'm not sure what I would have said, had the opportunity arisen. Turns out he was there with a buddy, ANOTHER young priest/pastor type. How do I know? Because this one too was dressed all in black (couldn't see his collar from where I stood, but he was clean-cut and well-dressed, not Goth), and he held a big bottle of that Woolite stuff that's especially made for black clothing. And the funniest thing was they were kind of goofing around and joking, not acting holy at all. Which, hello, I should know better. It always irritated me when people would forget that my dad was a person as well as minister. In other words, he was just as vulnerable to losing his temper and just as likely to joke around as a normal person. But somehow when I saw these young priest/pastor guys, I managed to forget that.
Anyway, all this made me think of the time I went with my dad to the grocery store while he was wearing his clerical collar. I was young, probably in my teens at the time. Both the cashier and the person bagging the groceries referred to my father as "Father." You know, like "Have a nice day, Father." Or, "Thank you, Father." Freaked me out.
I asked him why he didn't correct them. "Father" meant Catholic priest to me(I was neither wise nor worldly enough at the time to have heard of Episcopalian priests who can marry and have children, I believe). And hello, my dad was wearing a wedding ring and I was standing right there--marriage and children are both kind of no-no's for Catholic priests.
He told me that it was a sign of respect, not just for him but for religion in general, and why should he make them feel bad for doing something good? Essentially. He's often said that people are nicer when they see him in clerical collar. Kind of like slowing down when you see a cop car, right? Huh.
Dear fellow commuter,
Hey you, in the silver Toyota? You owe me big. You were driving like a jackass this morning, as I'm sure you're already aware. And yeah, I know it pissed you off when I moved into your lane to prepare for my turn and to get around the slow moving trucks. But did you really need to tailgate me? I was already going 42 in a 35. You wanted to go 50? Too bad. I have learned the very hard and expensive way about speeding more than seven miles over the limit. Unfortunately, my (relatively) cautious driving saved your butt. You jerked into the other lane as soon as the even slower guy got out of the way, but you had to slow down some to do so. Not enough, though. That cop that came whipping around the corner at the intersection? He was totally after you. But you, in the luckiest moment ever, caught sight of him and slowed down just in time. If I hadn't been in front of you, you would have been cruising through that intersection at 50+. And you'd have gotten what you deserved...
I don't care if you speed. I don't. Just don't endanger everyone around you when you do it by riding five inches off someone's bumper. Jackass.
Love,
Stacey
I don't care if you speed. I don't. Just don't endanger everyone around you when you do it by riding five inches off someone's bumper. Jackass.
Love,
Stacey
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Fun with photos...not mine, but photos nonetheless!
Speaking of clean offices...
I always enjoy seeing what other writers' offices look like. Mine is normally a chaotic mess. Now that it's clean, it's bugging me (this is a common side effect for me when I clean this room, which is why I don't do it very often). Anyway, here are links to a couple of fun blogs, Megan Crane and Jennifer Crusie (another of my favorite authors), where the authors in question give you photographic evidence of the room where they work.
Megan Crane's office looks so cute and cozy. I love it.
Jennifer Crusie's office looks strikingly like mine at the end of a book. "A tornado, you say? No, I'm just in the last fifty pages of the fourth draft of a book that's killing me!" At least, that's what I say to people who ask.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips (another awesome writer and apparently a friend of Jennifer Crusie's) sent a photo to Jennifer's blog. I couldn't think in an office that clean...probably. I guess I wouldn't know for sure, never having tried it.
Hmm, I really need to figure out how to work my digital camera...
I always enjoy seeing what other writers' offices look like. Mine is normally a chaotic mess. Now that it's clean, it's bugging me (this is a common side effect for me when I clean this room, which is why I don't do it very often). Anyway, here are links to a couple of fun blogs, Megan Crane and Jennifer Crusie (another of my favorite authors), where the authors in question give you photographic evidence of the room where they work.
Megan Crane's office looks so cute and cozy. I love it.
Jennifer Crusie's office looks strikingly like mine at the end of a book. "A tornado, you say? No, I'm just in the last fifty pages of the fourth draft of a book that's killing me!" At least, that's what I say to people who ask.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips (another awesome writer and apparently a friend of Jennifer Crusie's) sent a photo to Jennifer's blog. I couldn't think in an office that clean...probably. I guess I wouldn't know for sure, never having tried it.
Hmm, I really need to figure out how to work my digital camera...
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Hello, 2006
The sequel to The Silver Spoon is done! Yes, as in done, done. I’m working now to find a cheap copy place to make all my copies to send to my first readers. I finished it on New Year’s Day—a good start to the New Year, I’d say. I’m currently in the “Oh, God, what if it sucks?” stage. So, I’ll be holding my breath for the next month or so as my first readers plow through it. At the moment, it’s 424 pages. At its longest, the page count was 442, but I cut out some chapters already and may have to do more cutting. I feel really good that it’s done, but I’ll feel better when someone else besides me has read it!
This last weekend, I also spent time cleaning up my writing room and finally unpacking the three boxes that have sat in the center of the room since September. I’m actually making plans to hang things on the wall in this house (hear that, husband of mine?), which means I hope that we aren’t moving anytime soon again.
I’m moving on now to do more work on the mystery project and perhaps revisiting Bitter Pill. Yesterday when I was “cleaning” (which really translates to, sitting on the floor and shuffling piles of paper from one place to another), I got sucked into reading my draft of Sleep Tight, the book that follows Bitter Pill. To be sure, there are problems with it, but I still really like it and I love the characters. So, to get to that one, I have to get Bitter Pill out there first. I love that one too!
Last night, I went shopping at my second favorite place to shop—an office supply store! Bookstores are, of course, the first. I suspect that other writers are as entranced as I am by the reams of blank paper, the new pens behind their pristine plastic and oh, all the folders and post-it notes….so many possibilities! So many stories that could be written with these magical tools. Seriously, if you’re ever looking for the perfect gift for a writer, it’s an ink cartridge for her printer and a ream of paper. Or, maybe a really good pen. Not an expensive one, mind you, but one that you’ve tried. It feels good in the hand—no cramping issues—and the ink flows well and looks sharp on the paper.
I also bought a labeler. Yes, I know that’s truly pathetic, considering the disarray in which I spend most of my life. But I couldn’t help it. Labels! That I can make myself! On folders and envelopes and everything!
I’m also beginning to suspect that office supply shopping might be another form of procrastination. You see, now that I have new folders and a labeler, I must spend time organizing and creating labels. Otherwise, it’s a waste of good book money : )
Okay, that’s enough for now. Stay tuned for “Best Books of 2005” list. I’m trying to remember all of them!
This last weekend, I also spent time cleaning up my writing room and finally unpacking the three boxes that have sat in the center of the room since September. I’m actually making plans to hang things on the wall in this house (hear that, husband of mine?), which means I hope that we aren’t moving anytime soon again.
I’m moving on now to do more work on the mystery project and perhaps revisiting Bitter Pill. Yesterday when I was “cleaning” (which really translates to, sitting on the floor and shuffling piles of paper from one place to another), I got sucked into reading my draft of Sleep Tight, the book that follows Bitter Pill. To be sure, there are problems with it, but I still really like it and I love the characters. So, to get to that one, I have to get Bitter Pill out there first. I love that one too!
Last night, I went shopping at my second favorite place to shop—an office supply store! Bookstores are, of course, the first. I suspect that other writers are as entranced as I am by the reams of blank paper, the new pens behind their pristine plastic and oh, all the folders and post-it notes….so many possibilities! So many stories that could be written with these magical tools. Seriously, if you’re ever looking for the perfect gift for a writer, it’s an ink cartridge for her printer and a ream of paper. Or, maybe a really good pen. Not an expensive one, mind you, but one that you’ve tried. It feels good in the hand—no cramping issues—and the ink flows well and looks sharp on the paper.
I also bought a labeler. Yes, I know that’s truly pathetic, considering the disarray in which I spend most of my life. But I couldn’t help it. Labels! That I can make myself! On folders and envelopes and everything!
I’m also beginning to suspect that office supply shopping might be another form of procrastination. You see, now that I have new folders and a labeler, I must spend time organizing and creating labels. Otherwise, it’s a waste of good book money : )
Okay, that’s enough for now. Stay tuned for “Best Books of 2005” list. I’m trying to remember all of them!
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