What’s happening in my world in 300 words or less…

I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t had time to do much of anything except revisions on the book I’m writing with my sister, Whistling Woman, about our great aunt Bessie’s life growing up in Hot Springs, NC, at the turn of the 20th century.  It’s finished.  Yay!  But now comes the hard part; editing and revising.  I usually don’t like that part but with this one, I’m really looking forward to doing the final edits because Christy and I are planning on meeting in Hot Springs when we get to that point.  Another yay!

At the same time, I’m still polishing my older woman/younger man contemporary romance novella, Strict Policies.  And when all that editing gets to be too much, I’m working on the next book in my Eternal Shadows series, Sun Shadows.  Really hope I get this one finished quicker than I did the second one!

Other than that, I’ve been canning quite a bit–my pantry is overflowing!–and putting the garden to bed for the winter–just in time, we had our first frost last night.  Des and I are still walking every day and we’re really enjoying it…for the most part.  Had an encounter with the wicked witch of the neighborhood yesterday but more on that later.  That little event deserves an entire blog post all its own!

I got a great review for Storm Shadows the other day from Amelia Richard at Cata Romance.  4.5 stars!  Yippee!  Here’s Amelia’s teaser:  STORM SHADOWS makes the supernatural seem genuinely real with clever writing and an innovative premise.

Finally, I have an interview up on Susan Whitfield’s blog today.  Lots of fun to do–and believe me I didn’t think I’d ever say that about an interview!  Hope you’ll drop by and check it out!

Back to the edits…

Not just one, but two women in the spotlight…

Today is day 3 of my author spotlight on The Long and Short of It.  Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?  Spotlights are not a good thing for a menopausal woman!  They bring on hotflashes which invaraiably leads to a mood swing and…well, trust me, you don’t want to be there for that!  Good thing you’re protected by the vastness of cyber-space!  Anyway, today I’m talking about what I do to beat writer’s block.  Hope you’ll join me–and if you do, please, bring a fan!

Also, over on the Dames of Dialogue blog, Claire Applewhite, author of Crazy For You, is in the spotlight.  Interesting and fun read.  I find it amusing that she seems to be going in the reverse direction of most romance authors.  She started out writing mystery but as she writes, she’s finding that romance often noses into her stories.  Usually, it’s the other way around with romance authors–or at least with the ones I know–they start out writing romance then move into mystery or some other genre.

I have a theory about why that happens, but that’s a post for another day!  Meanwhile, check out yours truly on the Long and Short of It and Claire Applewhite on the Dames of Dialogue.  Between the two, you’re sure to find something you like!

Oops, almost forgot!

I’ve been working in the garden and during my breaks from that, updating the chapter outline for the book my sister and I are working on together, doing more research on milk fever in the late 19th century, and I also managed to fit in a few minutes of actual writing time.  So, I’ve been busy and yes, I almost forgot about my Writing Challenge.  This week’s challenge was to post at least five blog entries and since I’m going to be tied up this weekend, I really need to get them done before Saturday.

Problem is, I don’t have anything specific to write about today.  Usually I can find some article on AOL or Yahoo but today…not a one struck my fancy.

I could, I suppose, write something about the Red Sox but after the weekend they had and the fact that they are, for the time being, winning again, I definitely don’t want to jinx them so…I’ll just say, I’m glad they’re back at Fenway!

Other than that, nothing else comes to mind.  I’m still working on the list of 52 writing challenges but I don’t want to post that until I get a little further along.  And I’ll probably make it a page instead of just a post so…like I said, zero, zilch, zip.

But wait, there is a new interview up on the Dames of Dialogue blog with author Sharyn McCrumb and there’s also a slightly older post about aging and extreme sports by guest author Ric Wasley.  Check them out and yep, you got it, don’t forget to leave a comment!

That’s about it from me today.  Sheesh, couldn’t even break 300 words with this one!  Hope everyone’s having a fabulous day!

The joys of spring…

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I posted anything here.  So much for that class on being a good blogger.  I guess my mind was otherwise occupied when the teacher talked about the importance of blogging at least once a week.  Oops and yikes!

Anyway, I have been busy.  Between weekend trips to Knoxville to help my mother-in-law move and see my father-in-law–who’s now walking again.  Yay!–I’ve been working on a short story for a free read promotion on Cata in April.  Based on the Cherokee legend of Atagahi, it’s about a female shape-shifter who gets shot and the hero takes her to the Enchanted Lake to heal her.  I finished it yesterday but it stilll needs some serious editing before I send it in.

I’ve also been getting my garden going–in between the rain and snow showers.  Yep, I said snow, it snowed here yesterday.  Again, yikes!  Thank goodness the plants in my garden seem to have survived but I’m fervently praying that’s the last snow I see for a while–like until December 24th!  So far, I’ve planted broccoli, lettuce, onions and a few herbs, all plants that can withstand cooler weather.  I’m hoping to get the carrot seeds out tomorrow before it starts to rain again.

Writing and gardening, two things I love to do so I figured I needed to balance that with something I don’t like at all…spring cleaning.  All I’ve got to say about that is…yuck!  I’d much rather be writing or gardening!

Okay, now on to the real reason I’m here–the Dames of Dialogue have a new interview up with author Dorothy Francis.  It’s a fascinating insight into the mind of a mystery writer so check it out and don’t forget to leave Dorothy a comment!

Put bad days to work for you!

Having a bad day at work?  Why not take a page from author Mark Rosendorf’s book and put those bad days to work for you?

Find out how he did it and how it turned out on today’s Dames’ Dozen!

This week’s Dames’ Dozen is one for all the animal lovers out there!

Amazing interview on the Dames of Dialogue today with author, animal communicator, and healer Nancy Kaiser.  Yep, that’s right I said animal communicator.  Nancy is like a real-life Dr. Dolittle and she tells us all about her wonderful ability plus a little about some of the animals she’s “talked” to and what they taught her.

She also talks about something I’ve believed in for a long time now–reincarnation–and why she believes in it too.

Fascinating and thought provoking!  If you’re an animal lover–or even if you’re not–check it out and don’t forget to leave a comment!

Depression can be your friend…

Yep, you read that right, depression can be your friend.  Why do I say that when everyone knows depression is extremely tough to deal with and sometimes can even prove to be lethal?  Because it was a bout of depression I suffered after being diagnosed with MS that finally made me get serious about writing.  My life hasn’t been the same since that happened and according to schuyler kaufman, the latest author interviewed on the Dames of Dialogue, it was depression after her divorce that got her writing too.

So, yes,depression can be your friend but chances are, if it is, you won’t understand that until long after your new pal has packed up and moved out of your life.  It’s sneaky that way.

Check out schuyler’s fascinating interview on the Dames of Dialogue blog and don’t forget to leave a comment!

Do you own more books than shoes?

I do!  Never have been a shoe person, take me to a mall and the first place I head is the bookstore.  I’d much rather have a new book than a new pair of shoes!

If you’re like me, the latest Dames’ Dozen is for you.  It features Joyce Sterling Scarbrough, a women’s fiction author who says she writes chick-lit for women with more books than shoes.  Yep, I checked and that would definitely be me!

Check out Joyce Scarbrough’s intriguing interview on the Dames of Dialogue blog and as usual, don’t forget to leave a comment!

I’m a WOOF-er and proud of it!

Two days before Christmas and the Dames of Dialogue have a special present for all you WOOF-ers out there, an interview with author Diana Black, one of the original WOOF-ers!

What’s a WOOF-er, you ask?  Women Only Over Fifty, of course!  And today one of the founding members of this awesome group answers the Dames’ Dozen.  I hope you’ll check out her uplifting interview and don’t forget to leave a howl comment!

Author Margaret Brownley answers the Dames’ Dozen

The latest Dames’ Dozen is up! This week we feature Magaret Brownley, author of more than twenty novels!  Wow!  Margaret also writes nonfiction and inspirational articles.  Can we all say prolific!  I sure can and her interview is not only inspiring, it’s entertaining as well, so hop on over to the Dames of Dialogue blog and check it out.

I think…no, make that I know, you’ll be glad you did!