The End of Summer is Near

Yes, it really is.  Once I start seeing back to school commercials and sales on paper and pencils, I know it's time to get back to the job at hand, which means, blogging.

So how I have been spending my time?

1.  We went with the Tiny Dancer to Nashville to compete at our Nationals.  Sadly, I am not a fan of Nashville.  I didn't have a great time.  There wasn't much to do with a teenager other than shop and go to a few attractions.  Granted the Johnny Cash Museum was pretty good, but that was the highlight of the trip.  The hotel (The Gaylord - FYI) was kept so dang cold that everything felt wet and damp.  I went outside in the 100 degree heat just to dry off and warm up.

2.  We took a weekend trip out to Boston where I spent a fun day in Salem.  We did all the touristy things such as troll all the witch crafty stores and went to the museums.  It was a good day.  I had a Tarot reading and all in all it was good.  I was told that my day job is killing my creative side so I need to look into making some changes.  That was weird as who out there knows me as a writer or creative?  I enjoyed the trip even if it was a little quick and way over commercialized.

3.  The Tiny Dancer was accepted into a training program with the Joffrey Ballet Company.  She's been with them a while now.  I am ready for her to come home.  I know its all in the reach for training, but I miss my girl.  Horribly.  She's learned many things, including how to do her own laundry, and how to have fun while doing the chore.  She's a hoot.

She also sent me a few fun shots just to lighten my day.

School starts back up in 17 days.  She has schedule pick up day next week.  I need to get her re-fitted for jeans that fit, (Those Darn Legs!) and find some shirts for her that are not Twenty One Pilots.  I think her entire wardrobe right now is TOP shirts, a bit too short jeans and Nike Pro Shorts.  I will be broke soon.

But now that summer is coming to an end soon, I am back working and working hard.  The third book in my A Howl in the Night series has been fully drafted and is now being edited.  It will be in my publishers hands asap as I have several readers clamoring for it.  I will be back blogging weekly now, so stay tuned.

Have a great week.
ctny

The Art of Tipping

I know everyone has their own stance on tipping.  Sometimes the debate gets heated and I admit, entertaining as all heck on-line.  Why is this on my mind?  Because it’s getting ridiculous.

My thoughts and opinions.  Notice I said “My”.

No, tipping is not required. Sorry, it's not. Yes, I completely understand that tipped persons get a lower minimum wage.  However, tipping is a show of a job well done.  If you do your job well, with a smile, I’m likely to tip very well.  If you are friendly and helpful, I will tip well.  If you check my needs, refill glasses, bring me napkins as you see I have a child in tow, and will likely be making a mess, I will tip you extraordinarily well. 

No, I do not hold my server or wait staff person responsible for the quality of my food.  That is the cook’s job, and their responsibility. 

No, I do not hold my server responsible for the restaurant; it’s cleanliness or whatever else.  That is the manager’s job and responsibility.

However, if you don’t come over to my table within 10 minutes of me sitting down to at least check on us and get my drinks, I’m going to be annoyed, but I will still tip.  If you take our order, and I never ever see you again until its time for my check, I’m not going to be pleased.  If your only job is to take my order, what am I tipping you for? I still will, but it may not be the 15% they  think they deserve.  If I have an issue with my food and you give me a hard time about it, you will be lucky to get any percentage of a tip.  It takes a lot for me to complain.  I will usually just not eat my food before complaining, but in the instance that I actually do say something, and you make me feel like crap over it?  Or you sigh and yank the plate off the table and stomp away like a child, yeah, I’m not tipping you crap. 

Plus what is with the tipping of carry out at restaurants?  No, really.  I don’t understand this at all.  They take an order, sometimes one placed on line, so you aren’t even talking to anyone.  It’s bagged up and waiting for you.  What am I tipping for?  I’ve already paid for it by phone or online, all I’m doing is picking it up. Am I required to tip?  Really?

What say you all?  

Writer's Block...no, not really

It’s April 16, do you know where your taxes are?  Mine, thankfully are done and have been done for a whole week.  We didn’t procrastinate quite that long this year.  I know some of you are currently at the moment I am typing this, furiously clicking through PDF versions of your return trying to get them done before the deadline.  I feel for you.  Sincerely. 

So, since our minds are currently over loaded with income and interest and numbers from hell, I will keep this blog short so that those that need to, can get back to work!  We don’t want any penalties and interest being allocated this year. 

I know you are dying to know how the work is coming on book three in the Howl series.  Well.  Actually.  I’m stuck.  Yes really.  I hate killing off characters.  I know that sometimes we have to do it, as that is what the story calls for, but I hate to do it all the same.  I am staring at death in my book at the moment and feel stuck because I don’t want to move forward and face it. 

What will I do then?  I think I will start writing and work my way forward in the book to the point where my outline is stuck.  Maybe I will feel better about it once I have it all set up and see that there is nothing else to be done for it, but to bring on the end to someone. 

I’ve had to kill off characters in the past and some break my heart even if they are in fact the “bad” guy.  I wonder if that is just me?  I know some people think we writers laugh evilly when we do in a character, but I don’t.  I’m not saying I have never, but in general I don’t.  There was one character in my Shadow Dancer series that I enjoyed their demise.  I did.  I’m not telling who, if you haven’t read the books I don’t want to ruin it for you. 

Is it only me that is conflicted in death in a book or is it an issue all writers have to face?  Regardless I will get through the “stuck” and move forward one way or another. 

Blog Schedules

For the better part of the year I try to blog once a week, usually on Mondays.  I tend to slow down during the summer months to twice a month or every other week, as I get really crazy busy during the summer months. I also tend to go to a every other week once the holiday winter season gets moving for the same reason, as well as all I can think about is whining about the cold and no-one really wants to hear about that. 

I know it’s not quite summer yet, but I will be starting the summer slow down now.  Why?  I know how my blogs will be missed terribly, but I am almost finished with the outline for Book Three in the Howl in the Night series, which mean I want to get started on the first draft as soon as possible.  First drafts for me tend to take up a lot of my free time.  I only have about one hour a day to write and I don’t want to take up that one hour every week.  I am very excited about where this book is going and I can’t wait to get started. 

I am still working on a title for the book.  I like to have a nice title in mind before I begin but after I have the outline.  I don’t have one yet.  Twilight ruined a lot of good moon type titles for me.  Darn it all!  I am thinking along the lines of “The Blood Moon” or something dark like that.  It would be fitting if I stay with the outline I have going.  Ooo I just thought of another option.  "Darkness before the Dawn".  Oh, I like that.  I think we have a winner.  I will give that title a whirl for a bit and see what I think. 

As I was saying, I will be off and on the new few months as I work my way through the new book as well as get loaded down with my summer and events.  Have a great week everyone.  I’ll be back soon.  I promise.

Guilty Pleasures?

I find a lot of people like to talk about the literary masterpieces they have read.  The mean ornery side of myself likes to poke sometimes at these discussions, as sadly a lot of times the people may have read the books (Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Moby Dick) but they didn’t really read them.  They read the words and the sentences, but they have no idea what they were about.  Sadly, that was how I felt reading Wuthering Heights.  What the heck was that melancholy book of sadness about really?  I have no idea! 

It’s not that those types of books aren’t worth reading. It’s that I don’t think reading those types of books makes you any better than someone who hasn’t.  Maybe more patient as in my opinion it takes a lot of brainpower and patience to get through some of the older fiction.  The Lion in Winter, for instance…there were scenes in that play that I swear I had to read several times just to figure out what was going on. 

So…what types of books do I read?  Everything.  Anything.  Fiction.  Non-fiction.  Romance.  Horror.  Childrens.  Teens.  Mystery.  You name I will read it if I’m in the mood for it.  I have gone through Bronte, and Shakespeare, and Stephanie Myers, and King, and Rice.  I read everything.  Poor amazon has no idea what to recommend me as I read whatever I’m in the mood for.  I once ordered a book based upon seeing the cover from a man reading the book at a Panda Express.  Yes, really.

I have gone through an entire romance section at the library just by going in and grabbing a handful of books at a time without looking at the covers or the titles.  I started at one end and worked my way through the rack.  I am voracious when it comes to reading.  I tend to read two books at a time.  One fiction and one non-fiction.  The fiction is for fun.  The non, is for education.  I am currently in a history mood.  I have realized my historical knowledge is severely lacking.  I’m correcting that.  Russian history is a prime example.  Aside from where Russia is located, I couldn’t tell you much about it, but for what I saw in a Rocky movie.  Sad, I know. 

I guess what I am trying to say here is that you should read what you want to read, not what you think you should be reading.  What fun is that?  If you like romance, enjoy it!  If you want a good scare, go to it.  Don’t let the adult world guilt you into reading.  Read what you want.  That’s it. 

Pinkeye, the Plague, Competitions, and the Tiny Dancer

It’s been a long week plus a few days for me.  That law that says:  When it rains, it pours, is more than simply true.  I had my share of the rain now to last me quite some time, thank you very much!  I’m ready for a bit of sunshine.

So?  What happened?  Sit down, and enjoy the tale I am about to tell.  Friday last, I woke up with a pinkish watery eye.  My brain stares at it and simply denounces it.  I don’t have time for pink eye.  I just don’t.  The tiny dancer has a dance get together that evening and although I am not much for social gatherings, we like the mom that holds the event and we wanted to squeeze it in.  Even if it was just to drop by and say hello.  Plus, we have an extra practice to get the tiny dancer to, and a dress rehearsal coming up on Monday, and we are leaving for out of town on Thursday evening.  I don’t have time to get sick! 

Thinking maybe it was just an irritated type of thing, I put in a few drops of clear eyes and thought, there!  All good.  That would be a resounding no.  Not all good. It continued to get worse as the day progressed.  I decided I would stop off to the “minute clinic”.  It was pinkeye after all.  How hard can it be to diagnose, eh?  Well, an hour later, standard eye drops in hand; I was out the door and told I was contagious for at least 24-48 hours.  So, no dance get together.  Tiny Dancer would be upset, but there wasn’t much else I could do.   

Saturday and Sunday progressed and my eye was not getting better.  It fact, it got exceptionally worse.  It swelled and turned the color of red you don’t want to see in an eye, and continually cried.  I was starting to look like a gross zombie in the making.  The eye was not doing well.  Monday arrived and with it, I decided I needed to get to the doctor.  Add in I had to go to work, the tiny dancer had a dress rehearsal and I felt like crap.  My face hurt, and my neck was swollen and I just didn’t have time to go.  But I didn’t have much choice.  So, I went to work, got done all that I could and then took the afternoon off.  There was nothing else to be done.  I hate taking off work!  I get to the doctor and I’m told, I’m having quite the reaction to the drops, and they are swapping them out to a different (more expensive of course) type.  I am not to use the other drops ever again.  LOL.  But what about how I look?  It’s not that I am vain about how I look.  It’s that I don’t like being scary to look at to others.  When people are blanching when they get a good glimpse of me and taking a step away, it tends to be hard to take for me.  She was nice enough and sympathetic enough to give me another drop to try to deal with the swelling at least.  Then I am again, off and with new eye drops.  Which by the way, burn like hell fire when I have to put them in.  I mean, it’s a real practice in patience and forcing myself to open my eye wide enough to get them in at this point, as it’s real pain.  And, it sucks. 

That evening, I have to get to the dress rehearsal for the tiny dancer, and oh joy of joy, Kasich and Romney are going to be there.  I am expecting the worst with security and crowds, esp. looking as I look a bit like a crack head at that point, but in the end, all I had to deal with was one grumpy police officer and that was about it. We were sealed up in the auditorium away from the masses so it wasn’t as bad as I expected. 

The week progressed, and my eye doesn’t seem to be getting better and by Tuesday evening I realize I’m getting sick too.  Most likely I picked up a germ from either the minute clinic or from the visit to the doctor on Monday.  GREAT!  By Wednesday, I didn’t want to wake up.  That children’s medicine commercial where the little girl in laying in bed thinking:  It will hurt if I swallow, it will hurt if I swallow, was going through my head.  And of course what do you do?  You swallow.  And yes, it hurts.  I do get out of bed, I do put in my torturous eye drops, and I get in the shower, where I have a mini breakdown.  My eyes hurt, my throat hurts, my neck and shoulders hurt, my ears are clogged and I just can’t take anything more.  Plus, I have to leave to go out of town the next day!  Thankfully, the pity-party doesn’t last that long.  I pull it together, put in more drops, take some extra strength cold and flu meds, and I go to work and get through another day. 

Thursday, we get out of town with the tiny dancer and head to Cleveland.  I’m dosed with every med imaginable at this point.  Friday classes for the tiny dancer, and I’m smiling to the other dance moms and pretending all is great.  My eye is finally starting to look better.  Not great, but the swelling is abating, and the seeping is dwindling. It’s still red as hell, but it’s getting better.  My throat feels awful, but again, I’m smiling. 

Saturday is the competition.  I want to lie in bed all day and not move.  But I am feeling a bit better.  I can’t decide if it’s due to the “Fake it Until you Make It” I’ve been playing at, or if I am finally on the mend and the plague from hell is making it’s way out of my system.  The tiny dancer has a good first competition. Some great moments, some not so great, but all in all they pulled it off relatively well.  Poor girl had to put up with a not as patient momma as usual during the stress of the day, but I was trying.  Out of six dances, one took 1^st in their division, one took 2^nd, and one took 3^rd.  The 1^st place also took 4^th place overall in their age group, which wow.  For the first event of the year, and at a place that is hard to impress, we did well.  Granted we were out until 1 a.m., but it was a good day for the dancers.

Sunday arrived and aside from a few classes we were on our way home by 4.  My ears are still clogged up now and then, but my eye is almost clear and my throat, thank GOD is finally feeling better.  Just in time for…my husband to get it.  Sorry about that, Dear!  My bad. 

So, that’s how my week went and why I decided to skip the blog on Monday.  Frankly, I didn’t have time, but also, I couldn’t see very well out of that eye thanks to it being so swollen.  I am back to my normal self by about 85%.  I am not quite complete, but from where I was last week at this time, I am way ahead.  This week will be cake!  Hope you all had a better week.  I’m off to see what damage I can do.  My advice for the week?  Take care, stay healthy, and don’t touch your face. 

Moods of the Writer...aka Me.

This last week has been pretty up and down for me on the writing front.  I don’t know if all writers get this way or if it is just me, but I get stuck in the mind set where I’m unsure of myself.  I wonder what I am doing wasting my time and energy. 

Take for instance my horror story.  I think it is pretty well done.  Ready to be submitted out.  It’s a complete story, with a nice story arc, and three main sections, of the beginning, middle, and end.  I don’t really pay attention to word count until the story is done.  Well, it’s done and it has a word count of only 47,500 words.  That is a bit short for an adult novel.  I spent a bit of time trying to figure out a way to plump it up another 12,000 words at least, but yeah, I’m not coming up with anything that doesn’t seem forced and stupid.  I was feeling a little bummed out.  What was I going to do with it?  Was it a waste of my time?  How could I have written a complete story and have it be so short on words. 

I then, got my Amazon recommendation and saw on my list a novella book.  Well, guess what I decided to do with my horror story?  Turn it into a novella!  Heck, maybe I will self publish it for cheap and move on, but at least I have options.  I got so bogged down on the “Oh no!” that I couldn’t see a way around it. 

I was feeling a bit better about my word count issue and then while I was on Amazon, I checked out my books and saw a new review came up for The Full Moon Rises!  And, it was a good review.  That made my day even better. 

See?  The Full Moon Rises Reviews

Then late last night, I was messaged and asked when book 3 was coming out and how soon as they and another reader were anxiously waiting for it!!!!  How nice is that?  I have fans!   

So, that’s the cycle of me as a writer, I go from I suck, to okay, I can make it work, to look at me, I’m great.  Tomorrow I will be back in the “I suck” department, but for today, I’m feeling pretty good.