The Christmas Spirit

Okay, I know the last time I posted I wasn't exactly full of Christmas cheer. But here we are, it's Christmas Eve and not only am I ready for the "Big Day" I'm also working on a novel about it set in the wonderful little town I've created over the past three years in other novels. Those novels have been works in progress for far too long. This year, 2011, is the year I finally put them all to rest and work my sorry butt off to have them published. There, it's out there. The Bookstore Lady and Date with a Dead Guy will see their last edits early next year. As for Book Three which is titled Padded Walls, I'm still working on it and have Book Four started as of the beginning of December. It doesn't have a title or even a real story line yet, it's more of a meandering at present.

I have so many projects sitting on shelves which do need to see the light of day. Now is the time to get my act together and start getting things published.

On the bright note, the Headwaters Writers' Guild book is on shelves as of Dec 18th. It is called A Walk in Fields of Gold and retails for $14.95 with $4.95 of that going to purchase books for the children's library of the Headwaters Health Care Facility (our hospital). Our way of giving back to our community and encouraging young readers.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...

Two Weeks Before Christmas...

I've been having a hard time getting into the whole Christmas spirit this year. We live 2000 miles away from our family and have no visitors this year. Not to mention we've had no snow until now.
Today, Dec 12, we've been blessed.
First of all, it started to snow today. Everything is white and fresh.
Secondly, I hosted the HWG Christmas Luncheon while my husband went to a karate seminar.

Not all of the HWG group was here, but the ones to joined the party had a wonderful time. Plenty of food. Great conversation. And my cats. I was worried about the cats causing problems but they were wonderful. Oscar slept the entire time, Jazz made his rounds as a social butterfly. He checked out all of our guests - heads and feet - and seemed to approve of them all. Tonight, Jazz was asleep on the foot of my son's bed. Exhausted from the festivities. So were the kids!

As writers, we all had a similar complaint. Not enough time/too busy to write. Although today gave some of us a lot of inspiration. The company, the snow and the food.

We did get to see the proof of our book A Walk in Fields of Gold which should be in our cold little hands later this week. A step toward getting more work published.

I've made the same New Year's Resolution for the past several years: to have my own book published.
This year, 2010, I've had stories published in two anthologies, A Walk in Fields of Gold and Stories of Prayer and Faith, and photographs published in Escarpment Views and more lyrics recorded on my dad's albums.

In 2011, I'm making an even bigger push to get my own novels published.
One baby step at a time, I'm making my dream of being a "real writer" come true.
Stay tuned to track my progress!

The Great Procrastinator

If there's one thing I'm great it, it's procrastinating.
It's true.
If I weren't so darn good at it I'd already be published several times over, my house would be spotless and my kids would have the cleanest, most hole-free clothes on the block.
Alas, this is one area in which I excel.

Then I get those phases where I see a job that needs to be done and get it done before I have the opportunity to put it off. No seizing the chance to procrastinate - I jump before the dust can settle and get things done. In general, I'm not exactly a go-getter. Nope, not me. But the more I sit back, the more nothing gets accomplished.

Query letters don't write themselves. Novels don't edit themselves. (Although the kids are learning to cook and clean.) In short, no one else will do it for me. At the end of the day, it's ME who has to put on my "game face" and do what must be done if I ever want my novels to grace the shelves of Coles, Chapters and Amazon. I am the only person who cares if my work is ever published.

Every little triumph I have, whether it be publishing a photograph or short story in a magazine, a story or poem in an anthology or a full-length novel in bookform or on-line is added to my list of accomplishments. Every year, that list grows a little bit longer. This year alone, I am part of two anthologies - the second due for release by Christmas (I hope!) called A Walk in Fields of Gold.

Procrastination gets you nowhere.

Rolling up your shirtsleeves and working hard to make your dreams come true can get you much farther.
I know I'm a month ahead of schedule, but I have two Resolutions for 2011.
Number 1: I'm working harder than ever to get my novels published. I have two that are ready aside from a great hook and cover letter.
Number 2: I'm taking better care of ME next year. It's hard keep on top of things when you feel like someone ran you over with a team of sled dogs.

To be honest, I was going to post Chapter One of Date with a Dead Guy but...I procrastinated.
I'll get right on that. Soon. Maybe.

Keep on Writing.