Category: Uncategorized

  • Thursday 13

    Thirteen Words:

    This is what you do when you\’re pressed for time, haven\’t done a TT in ages, and need to do a TT cuz yer friends are startin\’ ta eye yer blog with a dust rag in their hands…

    1. Prevaricate
    2. Bonk
    3. Abscess
    4. Obstreperous
    5. Fiddle
    6. Loquacious
    7. Moody
    8. Defenestrate
    9. Transit
    10. Vector
    11. Cetacean
    12. Nitwit
    13. Catalepsy

    There!

    ~faints~

  • The Versatile Blogger Award!

    Thank you to author Darla M. Sands for awarding me The Versatile Blogger award.  It\’s much appreciated, Darla!

    I \’met\’ Darla through a mutual writing community and she joined my online writing forum.  Over the last couple years, we\’ve become friends and supported each other through the trials and successes inherent in the writing life.  I got to see her blossom from a novice blogger with one blog to the proud author of two individual blogs and as a contributing author to several others.  Her steady output and inventive writing style are continuous sources of inspiration to me, as is her support and upbeat personality.  Thank you!

    The Versatile Blogger Award:
    Here are the rules:
    1. Share 7 things about yourself
    2. Pass The Award to 15 bloggers recently discovered (or however many you can manage).
    3. Notify the blogger recipients.
    4. Link The blogger who gave the award.

    Seven things about me:
    1.  I love to write.
    2.  I love dark chocolate.
    3.  I\’m afraid of spiders.
    4.  I dislike interpersonal conflict.
    5.  While I am strongly right-brained in my thinking style, I am good at details and working in a stepwise fashion.
    6.  Writing out of order is fun.
    7.  I speak Spanish and Russian, though I don\’t get as much practice as I\’d like.

    Here are my award recipients:

    1.  Allie, of Hyperbole and a Half
    2.  Debbie Cairo
    3.  Tina Holland
    4.  Lucius Antony
    5.  Rowan Larke
    6.  Silently Mine
    7.  Tess Miller
    8.  Kaige, at Impulsive Hearts
    9.  Michael A. Horvich
    10.  Perri Sanborn
    11.  Sand Castles, by Darla M. Sands
    12.  Romance Divas Blog
    13.  Sasha Devlin
    14.  S. K. Yule
    15.  Maddy Barone

    Enjoy!

  • The Importance of Mentoring

    I am a member of the Romance Divas forum, and recently they issued a call for submissions.  My article, The Importance of Mentoring, was selected to be published today.  I\’m so excited!

    Check it out here.

  • 13 Reasons to NaNo

    Every November, writers across the globe participate in NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. My boss says, “Yeah, but are the fifty thousand words any good?” implying that writing fifty thousand words in a month means somehow the quality is bad. But people all over, myself included, write it anyway.

    Why?

    Well, I can’t tell you why Mbute in Nigeria does it, but I can tell you why I do it. So here, without varnish, are thirteen rebuttals to my boss, the NaNoHater:

    1. Most people never finish a novel, even though they say “I’d like to write a novel.” I don’t want to be one of those people.

    2. Writing fast gets you onto the page, past the Critic.

    3. Writing more is preferable to writing less.

    4. Writing 1,667 words a day is good practice for life. It teaches that slow and steady wins the race, and that we can create without drama.

    5. Writers aren’t all drunk, disorderly, and undisciplined. Some of us, many of us, are much like marathon runners.

    6. People thought the first woman to finish a marathon was nuts too. And the woman who finished last in the 1984 Olympics, staggering across the line, people though she was nuts. But she did it, anyway, in spite of all that.

    7. Writing fast and nuts is fun and contagious, which is why people band together to do it.

    8. There is strength in numbers. Writing with thousands of other nuts people is electrifying.

    9. It feels good to finish a novel, and it feels good to do it again. Thus, I’m in my second NaNo.

    10. Writing a lot gives you practice, and you get better with practice.

    11. Rough drafts and ‘ugly ducklings’ are a necessary part of the creative process.

    12. You can’t perfect what you ain’t writ. So all respect to the “yeah, but is it fifty thousand good words’ crowd, DUDE. IT’S A ROUGH DRAFT. WHATCHOO GOT? NOTHIN!

    13. I live to write, so I NaNo.

  • Thursday 13: 13 Exercises for Knee Health

    Some of you already know, I have some significant knee problems. In the course of dealing with them, before surgery and after, I’ve had to learn a number of new exercises and habits to keep my knees healthy. They help my ankles too, which is also important because of old sports injuries.

    I got to thinking, I’m not the only one with some knee challenges, so I figured I’d share my exercises. Use them in good knee health!

    1. Walk, don’t run. If you have osteo-arthritis, walking is a lot better for you as an exercise. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever run, despite what several doctors have said to me, but it does mean you’ll have more work to do if it’s something you want. In the meantime, walk. A lot.

    2. Get good shoes. Srsly. I have completely had a revolution in thinking about shoes since my surgery. I spent way too much money and time on my knees to ruin them with crappy – but cute – shoes. Get good shoes, people. New Balance and Nike are my favorite; DSW is a good place to bargain hunt. But initially, I cannot overstress the value of going to a real, live shoe store. One of the best is Waxberg’s.

    3. Stretch the hamstrings. Those are the big muscles on the back of the thigh, under your butt. Particularly if you have a sedentary job, like I do, these muscles get very tight and painful. First stretch: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, facing a chair or bench. Set one heel on the bench, and if you need to for balance, hold onto something or use the wall as a support. Bending forward carefully from the hips, bend until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg. Hold for thirty seconds, then do the other leg.

    4. Second stretch: Stand perpendicular to the chair, feet shoulder-width apart. Put the heel of the leg closest to the chair on the chair. Lean toward the chair with the hips, feeling a stretch inside your legs. Hold for thirty seconds and then do the other leg.

    5. Third stretch: Stand facing the chair, feet shoulder-width apart. Set one heel on the chair and turn the hips in toward that leg. So, if your right leg is up, turn with your hips to the right. You will probably feel a stretch without even leaning over; hold for thirty seconds.

    6. Stretch the thigh by lifting your foot and holding it with the hand – right foot, right hand; left foot, left hand. Push your hips forward and pull your stomach in. You will probably feel a stretch just with that; if not, pull on the foot a bit to tighten. Hold for thirty seconds.

    7. Cross one leg over the other. Lean away from the uncrossed leg. To put it another way: cross your right leg in front of the left, and then lean to the left with your hips. You will feel the stretch down the outside of your left leg. Hold for thirty seconds. Then do the other side.

    8. Practice squats – very carefully! Stand, feet shoulder-width apart. Without allowing your knee to bend over your foot, squat down – only as much as it takes to feel it; even if it’s only a little. Over time, you can increase this. Then come back up. Do this 12 times, each side, then rest. After a week, increase to two sets; third week, three sets.

    9. Side squats: starting in the same position as for #8, step out to the side and squat on that leg, then come back up. Be very careful to not allow the point of the knee to extend past the toes on either side.

    10. Back squats: starting in the same position as for #8 and #9, step back and squat on that leg, then come back up.

    11. Ball squats: these are done with a ball behind the back. (A small volleyball-sized one is fine, if you have it; otherwise, you can use an exercise ball.) Stand about a foot and a half in front of a wall, and put the ball at your lower back. Back up until you can hold the ball against the wall with your body. Then spread your feet about twice shoulder width. Pushing back against the ball, squat down no farther than ninety degrees, then push back up. Do this twelve times as a set; same incremental increase as for #8.

    12. The Roller. I hate this one, but I really, really helps. Using a foam roller, roll along your IT band (the fascia that extends along the outside of the leg from the knee to the hips) up to ten times, back and forth. (If you’ve never done it before, you may only be able to do this once or twice at first, and it hurts a LOT.) Persevere. This is one of the single best things you can do for chronic knee pain; you will hate and love the roller thingie.
    Here\’s a good You Tube.

    13. Good massage. If you can find a massage therapist that knows myofacial release, HIRE THEM. They will do tremendous things for managing knee pain and helping you to get better. Good therapists will also be able to suggest other exercises to help you.

    Good luck. Chronic pain is no fun, and managing it – improving it – and moving past it are a long-term investment. It’s worth it. Hang in there.

  • Vosges Chocolates

    I\’m blogging about Vosges Chocolate today over at Eclectica. Check it out!

  • The Night Is a Harsh Mistress, Chapter 18

    Chapter 18 of The Night Is a Harsh Mistress is up. We get to find out about the mysterious Viktor and his father, and who, exactly, David Greene is. Enjoy!

  • Labor Day Blog Hop

    Happy Labor Day! Thanks to Booknibbles.com for the wonderful tour! If you’re just coming across this post, you can catch the beginning HERE.

    In celebration of the beginning of the end of summer, here is a brief excerpt from a novel about the intersection between the world of Men and the world of the Fey. Enjoy!

    Chapter 1: Shards

    Daniel Guthrie sat in the street, the blood and the noise made no impression on him. The body in his arms dragged against him; its weight pulled at his shoulders, his back. The tears had dried on his cheeks, his chin; he stared at the ground somewhere by his feet. He felt hollow, numb. David Behan was dead.

    He knew when the police came, their sirens pierced his ears. Blue and white strobed through the nighttime blackness, cut through the street lights. He heard Bryan Sullivan speak to them, his voice cutting through the din.

    “Yes, sir. I saw the whole thing. Self defense.”

    The words made no sense to Danny. The detective kept trying to speak to him, even asked Bryan to try to get a response. Danny didn’t care. His throat closed, shut tight, and it felt like he’d never speak again.

    “Sir, we have to take the body.”

    A hand closed on David’s shoulder, crossed in front of Danny’s face, tried to lift the body away. He saw that much before Bryan appeared, holding his arm and shoulder in front of Danny, blocking him from moving. He realized Bryan had been speaking for a while, repeating the same phrase over and over.

    “Danny. It’s okay. They’re here to help. You have to let them take David, Danny. It’s okay.”

    It felt like his ears popped, like in a plane landing.  He sat on the ground, in the street. The grit stuck to his hands grated where he gripped Bryan’s arm. His neck felt stiff but he turned to meet Bryan’s gaze from inches away. Bryan’s face looked haggard, twenty years older than his twenty-five. Tear tracks and blood splotches stood out against his pale skin. Danny blinked.

    “Bryan.” Danny’s voice felt worn, hollow.

    “Danny!” The relief in Bryan’s voice almost embarrassed Danny, like Bryan revealed personal information to strangers.

    “Yeah. I’m here. I won’t… fight them.” Hurt them, he almost said. He couldn’t say that openly, not when the detective hung over his shoulder.

    After a moment or two, the paramedic apparently decided Danny was not going to interfere again and motioned his partner forward. They moved David’s body to a waiting gurney. He saw Bryan out of the corner of his eye, watched him track the gurney and swallow. But Danny didn’t turn. He knew they would take David to the ambulance and then the hospital morgue. All he could focus on was the blood. So much blood, it pooled in the street, soaked his jeans and shoes, squished in his socks. He knew it matted his hair, streaked his face. The mad detachment welled up again, swallowed the sound and the light. Bryan started to speak again but Danny could only focus on the blood on the ground nearby. Gravel and broken glass studded it, here and there sparkling in the light from the nearby police cruiser.

    David Behan was dead.

    Okay, on to the next blog. I hope you make it to the end, where I’ll be giving away a gift certificate. Good luck!

  • Thursday 13 – September 2, 2010

    So, I got some grumpy news from a friend this week. Rather than expose it to the world of the internet, which could give it legs I don’t intend, I figured I’d vent in a general fashion. It’s been a tough couple weeks, and I’ve been kind of off my game.

    On the other hand, staying off my game seems silly. So the second half of my list is stuff I’m grateful for. In fact, since half of 13 is 6.5, the greater part of my list (7) will be grateful stuff. That way, I can vent and then focus on the happy.

    1. When people say stuff and then don’t follow through. This is sometimes annoying, sometimes unprofessional, but can be hurtful.

    2. Lack of communication. If you do something that doesn’t include someone it should have, don’t let them find out through Facebook. That’s like finding out at recess.

    3. Broken fingernails that break off beneath the quick. Ow.

    4. When my dog poops on my carpet. GAH!

    5. When the alarm clock goes off in the morning.

    6. When I can’t find my hammer to kill the alarm clock with. GRR!

    And what am I grateful for?

    7. My family.

    8. My friends.

    9. My pets.

    10. My writing community. Y’all are awesome, d00ds!

    11. Airplanes. Srsly. I get to go visit mah peeps later this month by plane. I’m very excited!!

    12. The telephone. The friends who can’t come are going to call in later this month. I’m so excited!

    13. Forum software. It lets me stay in communication with people all over the globe, and maintain friendships that otherwise wouldn’t happen.

    Thank you!

    Happy TT!

  • Chapter 3 of Initial Public Offering

    Chapter 3 of Initial Public Offering is up.

    For a quick blurb on the story, visit our \”About the Stories\” page.

  • Wiley Wednesday: Irreducible Minimums

    I\’m blogging about Irreducible Minimums over at the Writer\’s Retreat Blog this week.  Stop on by!

  • Thursday 13 – 13 Reasons to Go On Retreat

    I haven’t been doing as much promo as usual for my Evanston Writers Workshop Retreat, but not from lack of interest. It’s just been a hellishly crazy couple of weeks! (Which is also why I’ve been so resoundingly silent on my blog duties… o.O…)

    So. Other than the urge to HIDE FROM THE WHOLE WORLD… ~blinks~ sorry, was that my outside keyboard? … Here are 13 Reasons to Go On Retreat!

    1. TO HIDE FROM THE WORLD! (Duh. I mean, d00d, you didn’t see that one comin’?)

    2. Stephen R. Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and other books, suggests that we need to renew ourselves on a regular basis. He calls this process “Sharpen the Saw.” After all, if you continue to saw away with it and never sharpen it, what happens to the blade? People are the same way. Renewal can take many forms – education, recreation, rest… but it must take some form, regularly, in order for us to maintain our effectiveness.

    3. The Evanston Writers Workshop First Annual Retreat is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, August 14 and 15, at the Fox River Bed and Breakfast outside of beautiful Starved Rock State Park, Illinois.

    4. Our theme is EWW Unplugged: Rest, Rejuvenate, and Write!

    5. When we retreat, not just EWW but in general, it’s useful to step out of our daily round and go somewhere. (I’ll address how to do a staycation retreat below.) Sometimes, the simple act of changing one’s surroundings can help shift personal reality into a new perspective, which makes it easier to feel as though one is actually retreating.

    6. Another reason to retreat is that it provides perspective. It’s easy to let the self get swept up in the flurry of day-to-day activities and not take a step back to see the forest. But the forest is an important thing to see. Just because you’re toodling along on the path, efficiently and quickly, doesn’t mean you’re in the right forest! Uhps!

    7. If you can’t afford to take a weekend elsewhere, you can do a Staytreat. These are related to Staycations, in that you don’t physically go anywhere. But like the Staycation, the Staytreat must be out of the ordinary flow of events. Plan special meals, baths, relaxing events, writing events, or time with special books and people to make your Staytreat a Retreat and not a Retread of the Same Old Weekend.

    8. That’s another reason to retreat, actually: the dreaded malady, The Same Old Same Old. Highly contagious, this malady afflicts four out of five people and leads to boredom, mindless surfing of the addictive interwebs, addiction to television and silly reading material, and carboloaded eating habits.

    9. Retreat is an excellent remedy for “I haven’t been writing lately.” Retreat Unplugged is even better, though difficult for modern Interwebwarriors. One of the key tools for this is the Almighty Prompt. There are many, many opportunities for prompts all over the interwebs (caution – may lead to mindless surfing, so maybe give the task of finding the prompts to an enterprising family member – but watch them for signs of this malady!!).

    10. Get compatriots! Gather your friends, in the webs and in the flesh, to retreat with you! Communication software (and the old-fashioned telephone) work wonders to connect people across distances. Read to each other, share prompts, share writing time… but share the retreat! It’s a lot easier to retreat when you have help!

    11. Unplug. Turn everything off (except maybe the air conditioner…). Turn off the computer, the cell phone, the television, the radio, the iPod, the CD Player, the 8-Track… (sorry, belay that last), you know what I mean – TURN THAT … OFF!!!

    12. STAY unplugged for a whole weekend. Light your home with candles, stumble around with a flashlight, write outside by the light of the street lights – use bug spray as needed! – but practice being off the grid.

    13. If those STILL don’t help you, then come join us! We’ll help you retreat good and proper! Saturday and Sunday, August 14th and 15th, at the Fox River Bed and Breakfast in Illinois. See you there!

    ~Happy TT!~