Always fun to actually hold the first copy of a new book in my hand. Of course, I’ve already read it umpteen times while I was writing and editing the story, so I don’t sit down and read it again when I get that first copy hot off the press. But I do imagine others seeing this new book and …
Happy Happy Book News!
Happy happy! That’s me after last week. An author spends a lot of time shut away in her office with imaginary friends. Sometimes those friends don’t play nice and make the writing hard. Other times the writing goes well and you meet your deadlines and goals. I sent off my work in progress on my readjusted deadline, a month later …
Kneading the Dough of Your Story
Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new. ~Ursula K. Le Guin I haven’t bought a loaf of bread for years now. I have bought a lot of bread flour and whole wheat flour and other ingredients. But you can get spoiled pretty quickly to homemade bread. …
Spring Means Babies in the Animal World
Well, I do find the beauty in animals. I find beauty everywhere. I find beauty in my garden. ~Doris Day Spring is a time for baby animals. So it’s a great time to check out the zoos and animal parks to see the babies born each year. Here on the farm, it’s a great time to take a walk and …
Cutting All Those Unnecessary Words
A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. ~William Strunk, Jr. Oh, the joys of editing. Actually, editing is the easiest part for me when I’m writing. Of course, I have to admit that I find editing and …
Pause and Smile for Family
You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu Have you ever noticed how sometimes everything wants to happen on the same day? That’s the way it was in our family last weekend. My grandson was graduating from high school and my granddaughter was having an engagement party. On the same …
Hovering in the Moment
“Hummingbird darts lightly through the world, spreading its message of joy and beauty, and teaching us to appreciate the wonder and magic of everyday existence. Hummingbird brings the gift of joy. Learn to laugh and be happy.” ~Unknown author This week has gone by in a flash as I’m working hard on trimming down my work in progress by editing out all …
Dogs, Cats, Horses, Hens Got to Have Names
They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, ‘Can he name a kitten?’ ~Samuel Butler I’m not exactly sure how naming a kitten can prove you are a literary power, but if it does, many of you have some literary power. And if naming a kitten is good, surely naming dogs …
Name the Hen & a Happy Bunny Dog
Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she laid an asteroid. ~Mark Twain We’ve named a puppy. We’ve named a cat. We’ve even named two horses and a dog. You all have been wonderful name pickers. With these dog names, you have me second guessing naming Frankie Frankie. Maybe I should have …
What Would Your Dog Name You?
So have you ever wondered what your dog would name you? Or if perhaps he does have a dog name for you? I think Frankie’s for me is a high pitched yippy bark. The bark that makes me frown and tell him “NO!” lol. But we’re not naming us. We’re naming them and I have a new dog needing a …