Productive Day

I wrote today, but not on Falling Short.

Not on a short story, either.

No, of all things, I was besieged by the voice of Rebecca, the character in the murder mystery I got all tangled up in a year and a half ago. The one, you may have heard me mention, that was going to take an act of God to untangle the plot lines. I was writing The Art of Deception when I got frustrated and switched gears last October and started writing Falling Short. Rebecca had a lot to say. Apparently, she wanted me to add to chapter one. So I did.

Now I am working on two novels at the same time.

If I seem a bit off, it's only because my brain is trying to listen to too many characters at once.

Personality Memes

I saw this on CJ's blog and had to give it a try. Thanks, CJ!

The Recipe For Jane

3 parts Superiority2 parts Vitality1 part Mania Splash of Happiness Finish off with an olive

What's" the Recipe for Your Personality?

Me? Superiority? Vitality, Mania and Happiness, yes. Hmm. I'll have to work on that Superiority thing.

December

Wow, December flew by in a flash! I've been neglecting my blog. Shame on me.

I received my copy of the anthology yesterday and I sat down and read every story. I needed a day of R&R so it arrived at precisely the right time. It felt wonderful to be holding a book in my hands that contained one of MY stories. I read Devil's Breath again, but it didn't feel like reading a story because I'm (obviously) too close to it. It's still too fresh in my writer's mind for me to have any perspective.

On Thursday, I received a very nice rejection letter from Story Quarterly. It's time to put "Not Your Average Joe" aside for a while - let Joe sit until I can look at him objectively and figure out why he didn't win anything more than finalist status in the Lunch Hour Stories contest.

This December, I enjoyed time with family and friends. I didn't hover over my keyboard. My ISP helped: we've had intermittent connectivity problems for months and in December we rarely had any internet access. But stepping away from my story was good for my family, for me, and for my characters. Guess what they did while I was making merry? They GREW! Isn't that amazing? I'm so proud of them. Now they're ready to pounce back onto the page.

Holiday tidings

I'm a bit late with this but the holidays aren't over yet, right? If you want to participate, copy the questions and delete my answers. It's fun!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper.
2. Real or Artificial tree? Artificial (stupid allergies)
3. When do you put up the tree? After my husband brings it in the house.
4. When do you take the tree down? I try to resist taking it down the day after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? Love my eggnog lattes!
6. Favorite gift you received as a child? A doll that was almost as tall as I was. I don't remember her name.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, it's crystal and beautiful, but it's in storage this year.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My husband.
9. Easiest person to buy for? My kids
10. What was the worst Christmas gift ever received? A stuffed reindeer that sang "Grandma Got Runover By a Reindeer"
11. Christmas Cards? Love them. Used to do them every year. Now I send a New Year's letter.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? It depends on the year. Once, when I was young and full of energy and enthusiasm, I started on Dec 26th. Most years, we choose a Christmas project by Thanksgiving and start making our gifts.
14. Have you ever 'recycled' a Christmas present? See #10 above. Dunno who has it now, but I imagine it will find its way back to me.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My husband's breakfast quiche. Yum!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored.
17. Favorite Christmas Song? Oh Holy Night. Martina McBride's version makes me cry.
18. Travel at Christmas or Stay Home? Home.
19. Can you name Santa's Reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixin, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
20. Do you have an Angel or a Star on top of your tree? A star that my husband made.
21. Open the Presents Christmas Eve or Morning? In the morning, after Santa's been here.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I live near a major shopping mall. Getting out to do my errands is stressful between November and January.
23. Shopping...Mall or online? I detest shopping malls and the mass consumerism they represent.
24. Do you decorate outside for Christmas or just inside (or at all?) This year, we barely even got the tree up because all of our stuff is in storage due to the addition we're constructing. But usually we decorate inside and out.
25. Favorite Christmas cookie? Boy, it's tough to choose one. Gingerbread cookies? No; chocolate crinkles? Sorry. Too many choices.
26. Do you own Christmassy clothing or jewelry? Yes, both, but couldn't get to them this year (see answer to #24).
27. Do you believe in Santa? Duh.

Preorder Heat of the Moment

I know you've all been waiting for the release of the anthology that contains my short story, Devil's Breath. THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT is now available for preorder on Amazon.com. Order your copy today and help support the San Diego County Fire Safety Council and the families who lost so much in the recent wildfires.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590805968?tag=myspace08-20&link_code=xm2&camp=2025&dev-t=D2WQY839001DMT

"Devil's Breath" in PRINT!

My short story "Devil's Breath" will be featured in an anthology titled THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT. The anthology will be available in print! I will post as soon as it's available on Amazon.com.

Your purchase of the anthology will directly benefit the victims of the San Diego wildfires.

With one e-mail sent by publisher Karen Syed to 21 authors, "The Heat of the Moment" was developed. Each of the authors involved in this remarkable collection of short stories, the youngest being sixteen years old, has made a pledge. Contributors, authors, editors, and artist; all have committed their royalties to benefit the survivors of the San Diego fires of 2007.

"The Heat of the Moment" is a compilation of twenty short stories with one common theme—fire. From fantasies to tributes remembering historical catastrophes, chilling and moving, the stories will tap human emotions with their overwhelming credit to survival.

The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County (FSCSDC) was formed in 1997 and is comprised of a 15-member Board of Directors (voting members). The Board consists of federal, state, and local agencies and stakeholders as determined by the FSCSDC. The FSCSDC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is incorporated under the California Franchise Tax Board. The FSCSDC is a member of the California Fire Safe Council, a non-profit corporation, and is authorized to use the name "Fire Safe Council" and the FSC logo. All FSCSDC Council members have common goals of fire safety education and pre-fire management, attend meetings, and participate in SDCFSC programs and activities.

Echelon Press, LLC, is an independent publishing house based in Laurel, MD. With ninety authors in their three divisions, Echelon Press has spent nearly seven years cultivating a stable of authors ranging from beginners to national award winners. Echelon authors are located across America as well as in New Zealand, Australia, Israel, and Canada.

Look for my story, titled "Devil's Breath". It is the story of a struggling blended family that finds a connection in the grasp of raging chaos.

More info:
http://www.myspace.com/heatofthemoment2007
www.echelonpress.com/heat.htm