Fall inspires me

Happy IWSG Day. Hope you are writing or thinking about writing or about to be writing. However you are doing, maybe this little Fall poem will help inspire you, or gives you a chuckle. Plus a couple of surprises at the end...

Fickle Fall

Tis the season of dry hands

For turning off and on the fans

When we make then cancel plans

            if it rains.

Cozy colors everywhere

Xmas music in the air

And arthritis starts to flair

            oh, what pains.

Tis the season for achoos

And a few souls sing the blues

Don't forget the "I love you's"

            let them know.

Favorite flavor: pumpkin spice

Inside fire, outside ice

Fuzzy sweaters warm up nice

            on the go.

Tis the season for dry lips

Watching vids for all the tips

'Specially when cold weather nips

            like a pup.

Shorter days and longer eves

Crunchy, crinkly, colored leaves

Perfect time for story weaves

            looking up!

Surprise #1

I wanted to share my new cover with you all! I'm working very hard to get this one out there. Goal is December. And the awesome cover by Carrie Butler is motivating me to push myself even harder!

CONDUCTION by Tara Tyler

Pop Travel #4

In 2085, cutting edge technology is the most valuable currency, and the black tech market offers high pay-offs for diamond-level code. 

Jared Nertz is an easy-going ex-juicer gone legit working for Pop Travel Technologies, and just when he finishes his long-awaited Conduction project--the process of storing data in the brain--someone immediately steals it and kills his mentor, framing him for the murder. Now it's up to his lawyer/wife Miki and their resourceful friends, Geri and Cooper to prove Jared's innocence by recovering the stolen tech before the criminal killer sells it. But that's only the beginning, as they discover a darker threat when they dig deeper into the case.

I'm extra excited about the cover because I talked my oldest son into modeling for it. I love it!

Surprise #2

And lastly, a shout out to my writer friend, Christine Rains whose latest installment in her dark fantasy LitRPG trilogy, Khthonia was just released... BLIGHT OF THE NECROMANCER

When offered a choice between tedious research or fighting a dragon, the players always choose the dragon.

Even when they’re dangerously outmatched.

No one rational ever wants to play a bard, but Nora Quinn believed she could use her class’ skills of perception to her advantage as an investigator. As Essaerae the elven bard, she regrets picking the role now that the players are trapped in the dark realm of Khthonia. She desperately desires to go home, but her friends want to stay in the fantasy world, causing a rift in the party. To lift the Specter Plague curse from the land and win the game, the heroes must defeat the conniving necromancer. Yet he’s shadowing them with death the entire way.

Seeking the tools they need, Nora and her friends must survive perilous side quests and hordes of undead. The answer to how to slay the villain lies in the western ruins, but Nora is certain he is the only one who can get her home. And for that, he needs to stay alive.

Nora must choose between killing the necromancer and lifting the curse or siding with him and going home. Neither choice feels like a victory.

A fantasy LitRPG/GameLit for fans of tabletop role-playing games.

BUY THE BOOK HERE!

Happy November!

Cuddle up, buttercup!

Tri-Holiday Haikus

Is the world more chaotic or is that just me?

It could be the full moon, and it is getting closer to the holidays...

via GIPHY

For IWSG this November 2022

I'm sending you all cheer and Haikus!

Falling leaves pile up

Enjoy raking in brisk air

Until wind sends more

Bundle up in warm

Sweaters, hats, gloves, boots, and scarves

And a cozy book

Halloween children

Go house to house in disguise

Or reveal their truth

Doors creaking, branches scrape

Raising hairs on back of neck

Nightmares come to life

After Halloween

Christmas looms - Joy is ahead

But turkeys still fear

Let's share and get stuffed

Families trek and gather

Glad it's once a year

Shoppers on your mark

For crazy priced strategy

Bargain hunters day

Finding perfect gift

Beautiful wrapping paper

Ripped to shreds, returned

House all a-glow

Scenes of holiday wonder

Don't blow a circuit

That should do for now. I could go on and on. I love Haikus. Drop one in the comments!

Hope your Fall is full of friends and family and fond memories - reminiscing and making new ones!

via GIPHY

See a Need, Fill a Need

One of my favorite movie lines...Robots, Ewan McGregor, and productivity have been on my mind lately. Though summer just officially started on June 20, my summer is half over! I have so much I still need to accomplish. Here's my summer homework list:

• WIP - DISPOSAL, I finished the first draft, but I really want to finish 2 rounds of edits and send to CPs (I could also use one beta reader - if you're interested, let me know)
• Finish 2 short stories for future submissions - I have a thousand ideas and started stories, but most of my time is dedicated to the WIP... really hard to choose one or two to work on! (One is about robot teachers!)
• Start rough draft of WHEN THE WIND BLOWS (3rd Broken Branch Falls)
• Coordinate Cradle Rock release blog/review tour - I already have a couple of review volunteers but could use a couple more, let me know if you're up for it or if you'd like to help with the cover reveal in Sept!
• Finish reading 3 books - this is supposed to be summer vacation after all.

I've chipped away at my list, but it's funny how things come up that we magically make time for, especially if they're fun. Like for me, it's scrapbooks. I was able to visit my grandma and I wanted to bring her a gift. My dad told me what she likes best is photos - so I made her a small scrapbook.

Then my sister reminded me our parents are celebrating their 50th anniversary this month! Egadz! Well they don't like making a big deal out of things, not even huge milestones like this, so again, I took the time to make them a scrapbook (memories seem to be the most valued treasure as we get older) But the hardest scrapbook/slide show project I am about to embark on is for my first born son who will be a senior this year. I'm going to have to go to Costco and stock up on tissues, I fear.

1st Wed each month

Which all brings me to this month's IWSG post. We all have so much to do these days. But when other things come up, it's okay to get sidetracked and take care of them - whether out of necessity or just to take a well-deserved time-out for yourself. As long as we go back to work! And our work will be better for it.

Thinking about this recently, I was inspired to write a poem...

In Need

A gray cloud...needs to cry
A thorny branch...needs pruning
A scratchy throat...needs silence
A wilted flower...needs a talk

A smudged mirror...needs cleansing
A lone straggler...needs direction
A bad grade...needs focus
A charged firework...needs a spark

A red light...needs patience
A sore head...needs peace
A big winner...needs humility
A sad soul...needs a hug

Thanks always to Alex J. Cavanaugh for getting us together each month and to his helpful co-hosts!

Goings on...


My first book, POP TRAVEL is three-years-old this month! And in honor of its Book Bday, it's FREE! But only JULY 6 & 7. I will also GIVEAWAY one signed copy of each of my novels so far to celebrate OR a bracelet if you already have the book! (See below, starts at midnight 7/4)


The Summer Edition of my quarterly Newsletter is out - can't believe another 3 months has flown by! Stop over for tidbits and teasers if you have time.


Well, THE THING THAT TURNED ME anthology needs more time to be perfected - we're shooting for August 5. Look for the authors' awesome promos for their stories, links on our Facebook page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lamest of the Lame

That's me.

I'd blame it on my feeble, old mind,
I'd blame it on my lazy behind,
I'd blame it on my lack of time
I'd blame it on my need to unwind

But I really have no good excuse
For letting down my housewife crew
I shouldn't have sat on my big caboose
I should've done better for all of you!

PLEASE STOP BY 

THE REALLY REAL HOUSEWIVES

with our special guest poster this week

C. LEE MCKENZIE!!!!

Now I have to check my emails and see what else I forgot this weekend... It's definitely Monday, people.

Don't let the holidays suck the lifeblood out of you!

Merry Christmas, et al. I have two gifts & a giveaway for you all!

First, I wanted to write you all a Christmas poem. It's not really about Christmas, but it's in there... so here you go!

Meet the Jones

To Mulberry Lane,
In Sycamore Square,
Moved a handsome new family
With skin oh, so fair.

Respected, adored,
Admired by many,
They had wealth to spare
And flaunted it plenty.

In the spring they threw parties,
They lit up the night,
A few lucky chosen
To stay until light.

In summer they vanished,
They left the harsh sun,
Facebooked from down under
To show off ski fun.

When weather turned cooler,
Guess who reappears,
In time for fall fests
And Halloween's spooky fears.

But as winter approached,
The neighborhood thinned.
Where's everyone gone?
Asked the lone, chilling wind.

The family laughed
So full and so jolly.
Christmas wishes were granted
By vain human folly.

When New Year arrives,
The Jones will be gone
To another quaint village,
Fresh blood to feed on.


The Second gift I have, is the lovely and talented, Sharon Bayliss! She has a fun, "You might be..." post to celebrate the coming of her next December People book, WATCH ME BURN!

Dark wizards living in the Mundane world have a lot of challenges. Here are some signs that you might be one of The December People...

1. Your favorite football team really did lose because you forgot to wear your lucky socks.
2. You have to move every year because your house keeps getting destroyed.
3. You're on a first name basis with all of the nurses in your local ER.
4. If all your kids are alive and safely inside your home, you think you're the greatest parent ever.
5. You care way too much about the seasons.
6. You're angry at J.K. Rowling for her unfair treatment of Slytherins.
7. You celebrate Christmas either way too much or way too little.
8. If you and your family members stand in a circle, the house might burn down.
9. You have way too many children and they keep stealing your car.
10. It's your fault that it's raining.

Begin the series with Destruction for only 99 cents (12/1-12/21 only)!

Semi-finalist in the Kindle Book Review Awards and #1 category bestseller in coming of age fantasy.

DESTRUCTION
David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything.

Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.

Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without.

Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.

Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.

WATCH ME BURN
David Vandergraff lost his home, his job, and contact with his oldest son, but remains determined to be a good husband and father despite being a dark winter wizard.

His resolve is tested when a flyer for a missing girl--who happens to be a summer witch--begins to haunt him. David believes a spell needs to use him to save her, so he follows the magic's command and looks into her disappearance. His teenage daughter Emmy resents him for caring so much about a random stranger. But when she uncovers some disturbing evidence close to home, she begins an investigation of her own.

David and Emmy quickly learn that the mystery is not only about a missing girl they barely know, but a deeply personal story that impacts everyone they care about. As their world crumbles, they fear the warning may be true—never mess with summer wizards, because the good guys always win.

ADD ON GOODREADS

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

And lastly, the GINORMOUS GIVEAWAY!

My good buddy, Andrew Buckley from Curiosity Quills put together a colossal Christmas giveaway. It's a chance to win one of 24 awesome books!

I'm helper elf, Twinkle Fluffenguff, offering POP TRAVEL and BROKEN BRANCH FALLS. Sharon, aka Giggles McJinglebell, has DESTRUCTION in it as well! Check it out!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

TO ALL!

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

POP-ular destination!

Here are a few pics from our vacay in sunny Florida. Dodging raindrops, we still had a great time!

 view from room, sunny mornings!

 mmm, mmm, good!

(Ford's garage)

 birds let me get close, didn't seem to mind...

 the feet shot on the morning walk

 boys got water-logged at pool, nice it wasn't crowded!

 Steamin' Oyster Brewery! 

my favorite part! I got to meet fellow CQ author,

Jamie Ayers! Talking shop and shopping!

Then, we both got to see Shrek, the Musical.

Incredible happy coincidence!! Awesome show!

I shot this video because it was amazing to watch... Nature is awesome!

And I was inspired to write this poem while I was there...

We Are Waves

Pushing to reach

High on the beach

Then we fall back

As more waves attack

I want to be

A tsunami

Not just abide

Washed up in low tide

Hope your summer (or whichever season you are in) is going well. Can't believe school starts in less than a month! Have a great weekend!

PS - Thanks to those who have offered up reviews of POP TRAVEL,
they are greatly appreciated!
And if you don't have it yet, there's a giveaway on Goodreads (thru Aug 15)
in addition to mine - only three days left!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

sen-SA-tional!

The Sensational Haiku Wednesday topic this week is, in fact, sensational. Ha!

Sensationalism

Thirty two ounces

does not a fat man make. Preach

but don't steal freedom

Sensational News

Teaching positions

blooming around me. A sign?

Fate might be speaking...

Sensational

Eyes closed, skin tingles

with a heightened awareness

feeling the moment

Do you have something sensational to share?

we are delighted!

The royal "we" that is!
Because today's Sensational Haiku Wednesday theme is royal. Here are my three...

Moms should be treated
like queens, ruling over their
domestic kingdoms!

Three naughty princes
spoiled rotten to the core
need taste of pauper

Not periwinkle
nor navy nor cyan, but
royal. Pen color!


Today is also Insecure Writer Support Group day.
Thank goodness. I need to vent! Look out!

I am feeling mediocre. I'm worried I will have a ton to edit when I get my book back from my editor. (Launch date moved to July 13, btw.) And waiting is sooooooo hard!

I mean, I keep busy. No way do I ever sit still and twiddle my thumbs. To keep my mind off waiting, I'm editing my second MS so I can write a query and submit, critting a couple of other friends' MSs, and rough drafting my sequel. Not to mention all the daily life obstacles.

But my friends always remind me that I'm waiting. "How's the book coming along?" I like that they ask and that they think I'm cool for writing a book, but I must kindly tell them no news. We are still waiting!

I think waiting is worse that rejection. Rejection is over quick like pulling off a bandaid. Waiting, by definition, laaaasssttss looooooooooonger! And it gives me time to think dumb thoughts, and worry if they will retract their offer once the editor sees how terrible it is... wah wah wah.

Ah, well. Enough of my moaning and groaning. Back to work so I can make the waiting less painful.
Thanks for listening!

On to read about your insecurities! That always makes me feel better! Ha!

consider me quenched

Quench is such a silly word. But that is our prompt for Sensational Haiku Wednesday this week...

My throat's a desert                                My heart is thirsty

I need water to survive                           Drying up, yearning for love

I'm not a camel                                       Quench my fiery soul

I also wanted to pass on the Inspirational Blogger award I received from Elizabeth Zguta. Thanks, Elizabeth!

Here are the Rules of the Award Blog:

• Display the award logo on your blog post. 
• Link back to the person who nominated you. 
• State 7 things about yourself. 
• Nominate 15 bloggers to the award. 
• Notify those bloggers of the nomination by linking to one of their specific posts so that they get notified by ping back.

Being a veteran of this award, I bent the rules a little. This time I want to be inspiring. I give you
7 encouraging tips I have learned while writing...

1. The only way to have a beautiful garden is to keep tending it. Keep writing!
2. If you get stuck on one thing, work on something else. It's like crop rotation for your brain - sometimes the soil needs a break from all that work to rebuild the nurturing nutrients and be fertile again!
3. Read books on the craft.
4. Read books in your genre.
5. Write your query like you are writing the back of your book blurb - you want to grab attention and sell your book! The tastiest pie at the fair wins the prize, but a sweet aroma will bring the judges to your table!
6. Submit! Submit! Submit!
7. Don't let rejection get you down. Curse at it, settle down, and move on. It's fertilizer - it will make you grow!

Pardon my farming references, feeling down homey today, I guess!

I'm passing this award on to bloggers with less than 250 followers - up and coming friends who inspire me to keep going by sticking with writing and blogging and to give them a boost of inspiration too! Visit them!

Kate O'Mara      Tracey Joseph      Kim Gabriel

M.L. Swift      M.J. Joachim      Krista McLaughlin

Emily Moir      Shelly Flower      Russo-Challenging the Gnome
Millie Burns      Jackie Felger     Tracy Jo

And I saved the best for last. Many of you already saw or promoted Mr. Captain Ninja Rockstar Alex's cover for the final book in his Cassa Trilogy, CassaStorm... This is how it will look on my desk...

And this is how it will look when someone reads it...

Have an inspirational Wednesday!

play with me!

I love games!
Thank you to Jamie & Allison for letting me talk about games! And who can choose just one? I give you my top ten game list (plus a couple)

Board Games:
1. Apples to Apples - so fun with my witty family and great for all ages (just tried a new version with pictures at xmas - hilarious!)
2. Scrabble / Words with Friends - a given, right?
3. Pictionary - but I don't get to play it very often, not enough interest. I tried Draw Something for a bit, but it had too many glitches...eh
4. The Amazing Labrynth - love logic & puzzle games!
5. Blokus - my son and I challenge each other by using two colors each

Video Games:
6. Any Lego video game - challenging, funny, and revolve around my favorite movies! Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter!

Xmas 2009

7. Rock Band - love to sing and play guitar, though it has lost its lustre for my boys...not to mention we never have time!
8. Solitaire games - Mah Jongg, Sudoku, and newer What's the Word (reminds me of one of these things is not like the other...) I was playing Candy Crush, but you have to bother other people to play farther levels - I hate that!

Action Games!
9. Table games - ping pong, air hockey and pool (see how I fit all those in!)
10. Volleyball - can't remember the last time I played, but I love that game. I'd probably break something and definitely would embarrass myself if I tried to play today - but I'm game!!!

Today is also book club day!

Thank you, ML Swift, for hosting this online group! I learned so much and it's only the first book!

BIRD BY BIRD

by Anne Lamott

Based on her voice, I'd say Ms. Lamott is a tough bird! She's offered her challenging life experiences as positive examples of how to write and live. Humor is essential in her healing and dealing process - we shouldn't take ourselves or others opinions too seriously.

Her thoughts on bearing your soul in your precious story, to someone you hope will validate this and that person tells you it still needs more work. You have to, at this point, question your assessment of this person's character...and decide whether or not you want them in your life at all. (p. 163) I love her sarcasm!

I had to stop reading several times to run over to my WIP and apply it! So here I share my favorite tips:

• Her images of letting things distract you while trying to get started reminded me of Spongebob trying to write his essay... She suggests narrowing what we start with to as much as I can see through a one-inch picture frame. (p. 17)
• Love the draft definitions: first draft is the down draft - you just get it down; second draft is the up draft - you fix it up; third draft is the dental draft - check every tooth (p. 25-26)
• Favorite chapter - Character. It is the most important piece of a book. Don't make them perfect - a person's faults are largely what make him or her likable. and perfect means shallow and unreal and fatally uninteresting... (p. 50)
• This was my biggest problem with whether to write: deciding what is interesting is about as subjective as things get. (p. 51)
• Plot concerns Characters. **Find out what each character cares most about in the world because then you will have discovered what's at stake.** (p. 55)
• Dialog has to define Characters. They should not all sound like you; each one must have a self. And good dialog gives us the sense that we are eavesdropping... and tells what is said and what is not said. (p. 66-67)
• Another perfect summation of perfection - perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor. (p. 93)
• Lastly, on jealousy of other writers doing well, historically when people do too well too quickly, they are a Greek tragedy waiting to happen. (p. 128) 

I immensely enjoyed reading this and learned a lot about what makes good writing. Now to apply. And next month we will be discussing SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder. I'm excited!

I leave you with my "alternative" Sensational Haiku Wednesday...

go against the flow

find a better way

im such a rebel

Never say I can't

Try alternative method

Always have options

Bands that go beyond -
Cake, Incubus, Linkin Park,
Muse, Weezer, Offspring

What do you like to play? What's your favorite craft book?

And I'm always looking for a good game of Words w/Friends - find me on facebook!

crisis management

Good Sensational Haiku Wednesday to you!

This week's topic is crisis...

courtesy MS clipart

Some crises are big

The destruction of
democracy by the sad
loss of compromise

Some crises are trivial

You've already gone

and can find no TP in

the vicinity

Some are personal

Discovering your

original idea

already in use

Got any struggles or crises this week? Hope they are small ones!

I will overcome

This piece is for Nick Wilford He is compiling stories from his writing friends about Overcoming Adversity to sell and raise funds for his Step Son, Andrew, to go to a real college instead of a special, state mandated college. He deserves to be heard and have a choice in his own destiny. Here is my contribution.

I am blest. I thank God for all that I have. For my family, my parents, my friends, and my opportunities. I have not had to overcome many obstacles in my life. When a problem presented itself, I found a solution. If my plans didn't work, I made new plans.

But there was a time when I was doing all I could, all I thought I should, taking the bad, hoping for the best, and it wasn't enough.

After college, after working a great job, after getting over a broken engagement, after making some money and buying a car, I wanted to use my degree and be a teacher. It meant more to me than I knew. 

Living on my own was wonderful and exciting. I was free. I was poor. I worked up to four jobs at a time, from a waitress, a temp, a tutor, a night school teacher, to retail, to a medical collections operator, to subbing. All the while longing to teach. Hard to believe, but there were no jobs even then. And during the only interview I got at that time, I cried. I was overwhelmed with how much I wanted to teach. But I didn't give up. I got tougher. At the school I subbed most, two positions came open and they interviewed three candidates. Guess who didn't get the job.

It broke my heart. I felt used. So I quit. I quit looking. I quit all the extra jobs. I gave up on teaching. It wasn't meant to be. I went on a trip with my friend to forget. And when I got back I had a great job waiting for me, not teaching. A few years later, the teaching bug returned and I finally got my own classroom. I never really gave up my dream. And it was worth all I went through to get it.

I started out with a plan. But life had other ideas. As I look back, everything worked out beautifully, despite the timing or what I thought should happen. I have my family, I teach. And now I write - something I never considered in my plans. And it's wonderful! 

So I say, Don't give up on your dreams. If you persevere, they will find you when you're ready. And you might find unexpected happiness disguised as devastation along the way.

Maze of Life

Take the challenge
"Start here," it says
And off you go
So many ways
                         Find clues

Dead ends loom
Steps retrace
Round and round
Losing your pace
                          Pay dues

Easier to give up
Throw in the towel
Hang up your hat
Bury your trowel
                          Don't lose!

You never know
Joys that await
Just around the corner
Could be your sought fate
                            You choose...

And here are the events this week:

2/6 - IWSG ** Diane’s book tour ** Blog Chain

2/8 - The Magic Wakes - Charity’s book launch

2/9 - Pitchfest with Carrie Butler's group, NA Alley 

Plus some new news you might be interested in

Allison and Jamie are having a fun hop - the Level Up Blogfest on Feb 20 - what's your game?

On sweet Valentine's Day, Madeline will have a story published in  Every Day Fiction!

I know Nick is going to get a great response for his anthology - looking forward to some encouraging stories! 

And hope everyone had fun watching the super bowl (commercials - which was your favorite? OREO!!!)

winter is upon us

Here in the US, it's winter. And today the high was 17. Brrrrrr!

Sensational Haiku Wednesday is au natural, traditional nature haiku... 

Winter

Deceiving sunshine,

Tranquil, cloudless, azure sky

Hides cold's lurking bite

White wisps float and dance

Bright mittens, puffy coats, scarves

Let's build a snowman!

2007

Mirrored treachery

Smooth tempting surface looks safe

Please stay off the ice!

Natural power

Dryness and sweaters don't mix

Ouch! Shocking static!

just visiting...

It's amazing how Jenn has been in sync with me on her Sensational Haiku Wednesday topics...this week is "revisit" - I am a visiting Cassie Mae's today with a guest post about Querying!! and I went ahead and created a facebook author page in case you'd like to visit me there! (Hard to get used to talking about yourself...)

Spectacular place,

look forward to visiting

again and again

Nov 2011 - revisiting Nov 2013

Wonderful people
Wish would visit more often
Come back for a spell!

No revisits from

sickness, sadness, maladies

all unwelcome here

Editing - going

back, revisiting mistakes

making tough choices

what was I thinking?

I've been a serious writer for four years now. Well, more ambitious than serious. And I still shake my head. Though I always loved to read, I never thought I would be a writer.

My writing roots began in my twenties. I had wild and crazy friends and we went on wild and crazy adventures. Our stories were definitely worth writing down, so I took pieces of our lives, changed names, and came up with a story. Unlike today's moronic youth who record every idiotic decision and share it on the internet for perpetuity. My only hope is that when they grow up, they show their children their mistakes as examples of what NOT to do.

Anyway! Back to my fun story! It was about eight complicated girls going out in Hotlanta for a bachelorette party. Buckhead was THE place to party and bar hop in the 90s - it has since been torn down and turned into office parks. =(

As life got more hectic, the story was filed away. But after one of my many moves (every time I got pregnant, we moved. I have three boys.), "One Last Night" resurfaced and I read it. Cracked myself up! It wasn't half bad. Why not finish it and get it published? How hard can it be? (hahahahaha)

When I thought I had finished it and changed the name to "Jacks & Jills & Jezebels," I researched publishing. An agent you say? Query letter? Okay. Looking back, what a joke I was! Character soup, head hopping, and cliches. How embarrassing! Needless to say, I got rejections or no responses. It might still be at the bottom of a slush pile somewhere...(**NOTE: Next Wednesday, I will be guest posting at Cassie Mae's and talking about query letters - will share this horrible first one, you will die! **)

But I also started my blog to put myself out there - and here we are! Best thing I ever did! I've come so far! So listen, newbies, don't give up! Learn and grow and communicate! There is always room for the perseverent!

And thus is my offering in LG Keltner's Beginnings Blogfest! Thanks for hosting, LG!

To go along with my first writing venture is a set of Sensational Wednesday Haiku - and a photograph! (well, a picture I drew of the girls from the story)

Story of a life

Incredible adventures

Sacred memories

Recorded moments

Wistful reminders of youth

And risky business

How did we survive?

No cell phones, trusting strangers

World was safer then

Daily Reminders

I got "The Time Keeper" by Mitch Albom for Christmas and it has given me a new perspective on time...

I wax philosophic
in this numbered new year
for who's to say
that New Year's day
should be a time to cheer?

We make resolutions
and kiss those who are dear
but every day
we all should say
"I love you!" loud and clear!

So keep your goals handy,
display them without fear
remember each day
improve the way
we live throughout the year!

Today I also have to thank two special people for gifts I got, and not even for Christmas!

First, Brinda - who is a whiz at writing, blogging, and promoting - is also a wonderful book trailer creator! I won her fabulous prize of a book trailer! Talk about perfect timing! I can't wait to share it! Just adding a few finishing touches and waiting for my cover to put in it...Wacka Wacka! (I don't say squee)

And the Coup de Blogs!
My sweet, supportive, sassy, and spontaneous friend Heather, bestowed me with The 2012 Blog of the Year Award! Unbelievable! Such an honor!

Do you know a blog that deserves an award? Do you have special blogs that you love to read? Which blogs do you bookmark and follow? Would you like to give them an award this year?  Then the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award is for you!
The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

• Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
• Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
• Please include a link back to this page and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
• Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
• You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
• As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect!

Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!
When you begin, you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!  There are a total of 6 stars to collect, which means you can check out your favorite blogs – and even if they have already been given the award by someone else – you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

And so, I pass this award on to...

Rhonda, extreme traveler and jokester, never lets me get away without a laugh - and she named me a top ten humorous blog! She is the funny one!

and Stina, who I mentioned yesterday, is a giver of valuable, practical writing and publishing advice! in addition to promoting other authors! (I wanted to recognize her, even though she doesn't usually accept awards)

and of course I have to give it back to Heather, whose progress reports, which are filled with humor, and Stormy posts I always look forward to!

I completely recommend you give all these blogs at least a visit, then you will feel compelled to follow!!!

Onward!

Bring us your insecure, your tired, your brain-dead huddled masses!

It's time for a fresh installment of IWSG - the Insecure Writers Support Group, hosted by Alex and his lovely co hosts, Tyrean and Jamie!

Dear Friends As Insecure As Me,
For this month's session, I am organizing my goals for the year, as many of you may already have done...And putting these goals in a post makes them concrete, makes me more accountable to do them, and scares the crap out of me! I'll start with the easy ones...

• Cut back on blogging to M, W, F - just one less day - and sign up for fewer blogfests (probably 1-2 a month). I love blogfests, but I have to cut back. I need more time for the following...
• Spruce up Pop Travel - I am now in the hands of professionals and this is comforting. They will recommend edits, create a professional cover, and advise...I have no problem following directions!
• Finish editing Broken Branch Falls and call on CPs (need to give myself a deadline or it will go on forever)
• Read & review at least one book a month (please don't laugh! I'm so slow!)
• This is the scary part! Plan a promotional attack for the release of Pop Travel... I have bigger plans than my wallet and courage can probably handle...

Here is where I reach out to you all - If you have recently published or are about to publish a book, I would like to do a joint book reading/signing engagement in your neck of the woods. What do you think about getting several of us together in a central location for a nice weekend event! If you are interested, email me (taratylertalks ala gmail point com) or say so with your email and location in the comments. 

• I also plan to utilize Facebook and Writers 4 Writers and the Blog Tour Exchange and any other mediums available
• I need to create a facebook author page
• and a goodreads author page
• any other advice? 
• Stina has a phenominal business plan outline! You should check it out!

As for daily, personal goals...

• work on patience
• slow down
• be a better example

And finally, Sensational Haiku Wednesday fits perfectly as we look Onward!

Possibilities

Bright future ahead, hopeful

Opportunities

Don't wait for the knock

Open the door and go get!

Golden rings to take!

Bad year left behind?
Or a good year overall?
Make this one better!

it's all about the ...

TREE

star bright

halls decked out

lights     all   a-glow

reindeer tout

anxious    to   go

presents in their wrap

cocoa     Mrs. Claus    brews

give the whip a snap

thru neighborhoods on cruise

down the  chimney    he descends

enjoys a treat   from thoughtful  friends

homeward route

take flight

wheee!

Merry Christmas!

Don't worry, Santa, I got this

So here's the Help the Elf story...
A few weeks ago Pete the Elf had a touch too much Eggnog at the Holiday Christmas Party and as he stumbled home, he lost Santa's NICE LIST. (can you believe!?)

The North Wind scattered the papers to all four corners of the world, and The Bookshelf Muse put out a call to help find them in order to SAVE CHRISTMAS. Ever since I read about it, I've been on the lookout. And then today, EUREKA! Yes that's right...I found part of Santa's missing NICE LIST  There it was, fluttering in the wind, half caught under the corner of my welcome mat. And shock of all shocks, I recognized a name, and I bet you will too.

This is what it said:

NAME: Dana
LOCATION: The Daily Dose
NICE LEVEL: 95%
NAUGHTY LEVEL: 5%
OBSERVATIONS: Dana is a wonderful mom and inspirational blogger. Her only flaws are being overly critical of herself at times and I can't remember the other one.
RECOMMENDATION:     a) Coal                   b) Gift

~ ~ * ~ ~

Because poor Pete is dashing all over the place trying to hunt down the rest of Santa's missing Nice List, I decided to take care of this one myself.

Dana, I have known you since the beginning of my blogging journey and you've stuck around all this time always leaving me a kind word. Someone I can always count on. Can't thank you enough! Enjoy the gift I sent to your inbox and have a wonderful Christmas!

Photo credit: assorted gold baubles (christmasstockimages.com) / CC BY 3.0

And to bring a little family fun to the holiday season, my Sensational Haiku Wednesday -

Families are...

Insane, idyllic,

Irritating, intricate,

Irreplaceable

Sure security,

Sheltering sanctuary,

Sharing soothing smiles

Dynamite Dads, Brave- 

hearted Brothers, Sweet Sisters

Magnificent Moms

Enjoy your family and friends! Merry Christmas!

A Happy Scrooge!

Welcome to December's IWSG!

First, my cool publisher, Curiosity Quills, recently spotlighted IWSG and its supa star inceptor Alex C! Check it out!

Now on to today's topic.
For the past year or so I have only posted my fears and doubts for our group sessions (there are so many to choose from!) But this month I'd like to spread some happy around! Though sometimes I feel I might come across as too perky. So I'm going to tell you a little about me...

At home, IRL, I am usually stressed and cranky. Being a mom to teens is like being a prison guard - no respect and they try to get away with as much as possible. I hate nagging and repeating myself, not to mention cleaning up after everyone, cooking for picky eaters, and dealing with a crazy, ever changing schedule...See? Cranky stress.

Then, when my chores are done (or when I need a break from them - they're never done!) I write. My escape from the mundane. It's heaven, even if only in small increments most days. And my favorite thing about writing is you guys! Communicating with writers and readers!

So though you may feel the need to roll your eyes at all my smiley faces and exclamation points, please realize that my Pollyanna attitude is sincere! This is my happy place! =)

I hope you take some happy with you today! Where is your happy place? I know you all can relate to this positive atmosphere. It's a wonderful place to go you get stuck, seek advice, or receive yet another rejection...keep writing!

There are a couple more things I wanted to mention...

Please congratulate David P King and his 800 followers! and he's giving away blog makeovers!

Special happenings tomorrow and don't forget the fests coming up!

I leave you with my Sensational Haiku Wednesday on avarice (I had to look it up and remind myself what it meant...)

Miss Scrooge?

She hunts in pockets,

crevices, and piggy banks

No treasure is safe

There isn't enough

She needs more to satisfy

insatiable urge

Her desire is not

avarice, she needs cash for

delivery boy!