NaNoWriMo 2010

I haz a win.

International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women

Domestic violence is an unfortunate reality. This month, within my family, it became a personal reality.

Don't tolerate abuse. Stand up for those without a voice. Don't judge. Just love.

Celebrate November 25th as a day that should last all year.

http://www.nnedv.org/component/content/article/347-intldayvaw.html

Hard Drive Crash of 2010

My hard drive crashed unexpectedly last night. I say unexpectedly like they're ever like, "Oh, pardon me--I'm gonna crash right here. You don't mind do you? You might wanna save your valuable shit before I do. K? Thnx."

I am NOT happy. I backup my writing on a memory stick every so often. But not my pics. I had thousands. Tons of pics I had collected over years and years and years.

Not my music.

Not my purchased e-books and stories. Bought and paid for and gone forever.

I HATE computers right now.

The Blur Of Summer

In June, Texas became the new Fiery Pits Of Hell. Nothing new there.

In July, someone purchased one of my stories. Whoever you are, thank you. :) I appreciate it and hope you enjoyed it.

In August, Husband and I adopted/rescued a kitten. Stormy. She's a cute little shit and I love her. (Pics to come later.)

Honesty

There are many pet causes and personal wars in which I gladly volunteer to fight, but depression, The Big D, The Big Black, The Black Dog, is one that is close to my heart. Unfortunately. It's sort of like that mole that the doctor says would hurt more to remove than leave there. Only he doesn't mention that leaving it there makes you want to jump off a cliff. Now that's what I call a win-win situation, right there.

My point? Depression has robbed me of so much. No scratch that. So freakin' much. The list is too long and sordid to go into but suffice to say, I shall never win the war, but I do occasionally kick depression's ass in a battle. But in recent weeks, it has been it's turn to reciprocate the steel-toed boot in my ass. And boy does that sonofabitch hurt. It has tried its damnedest to take away my peace of mind, my joy, my accomplishments, my sense of self. Well, today, munitions, supplies and backup managed to punch through and aid me when I needed it most. Music, physical activity and connection with my critique partner. They helped me.

Depression, Mr. D, may have me in his clutches again. As a matter of fact, it is inevitable. But not today. Today, I was a feather's width ahead of him. Today, I danced circles around him. Today my smile blinded his black eyes.

Today--is mine.

So, in the spirit of things, here's a video of a performer singing a song that fits the theme of this post. I could be phony and just post when things are happy and shiny but that's not me. Good, bad, ugly--that's honesty.

Thank You For Being A Friend

A Golden Girl has passed away. Rue McClanahan. Aka Blanche Devereaux.

I adore "The Golden Girls" and watch them constantly. I know the scripts better than the girls do. I still laugh out loud at it.

Rest in peace, Rue. You rock.

Seeing Stars

OMG.

Here is the cover for my second short story "Seeing Stars." Love it. I have finally achieved beefcake cover status. LOL.

Thanks again to my CP (currently missing in action) Kitty Cahill, my editor Helen Revell, my husband, my mom and of course Shadowfire Press for making it all possible. Big hugs for all!

You can purchase "Seeing Stars" tomorrow at Shadowfire Press!

Welcome Back, Musey Muse Muse Muse Muse

(Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo and Edie McClurg as Nurse DeFarge in The Golden Girls Episode "Beauty and the Beast")

Finally.
Some wordage.
Not only that, but actual good wordage.
About 2K.
Two thousand and one hundred some odd words on a story that all of a freakin' sudden wants to be written.
Um...
Okay, Muse.
I'll just pretend I didn't notice your MONTH-long absence.
*Shrug*
No biggie.
I'll just sit here and keep typing.
Nooo problemo...

In Heaven's Arms

"In Heaven's Arms" has officially debuted today at Shadowfire Press. It's my first story to be published. Ever. So I'm very excited. I love my cover. Check out the kewl tats!

I hope readers enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks to my CP, Kitty Cahill, and my editor, Helen Ravell, for helping me make it the best it could be.

And a hat's off to the other Shadowfire Press authors debuting titles today!

Cheers!

Covered

Well, it's official. I got my cover for "In Heaven's Arms." Like a stalker, I've been visiting the Shadowfire Press website looking for my cover on a twice daily basis. Then yesterday, I saw a spot where it would eventually be. The title, price and a box for the cover had me smiling. Yea!

Then today, I got an e-mail from Michael that let me know it would "go live tomorrow. Wondering if there was a cover image yet, I went to the Shadowfire Press website and there it was. I right clicked and saved it to my computer and looked at it.

All I can say is...

I LOVE IT!

It's really kewl!

Doing the happy Snoopy dance!

Eh Edits

Finally finished up my edits for "Seeing Stars", my Fourth of July themed short story for Shadowfire Press. I don't know if it was the pollen or just plain 'ol procrastination, or that serious case of "The Blah's" but I took a long time to get these simple edits done.

ARG.

Fortunately, my inner dominatrix cracked the whip and I submitted like a good little girl. (Insert cracking whip sound effect here!) Now I don't have to lay awake in bed tonight feeling guilty. Hooray!

I like the changes I made. Hopefully my editor will too. And I'll have two, count 'em, TWO stories with Shadowfire Press! Woo-Hoo!

A Muse Gone

Sad news. A muse of mine has passed away today. Peter Steele, lead singer and bassist for Type O Negative. Loved them. Loved him. He was so deliciously talented, funny and hawt.
Rest in peace, Peter. Your music lives forever.

Returning Author Packet

I am now officially a "returning author" at Shadowfire Press. Heeeeeeee!
I filled out and signed my set of forms for "Seeing Stars" and sent them off.
I feel a fist pump coming on. In celebration of this latest victory, here is a small fist pump collection of images guaranteed to get you in the mood!

A villainous fist pump. Nice biceps, dude...

A feminist fist pump is definitely in order here.

And finally, the baby fist pump. (Okay, he's probably eating dirt here, but still...it totally works.)

Love Me Two Times

I feel like Jim Morrison. "Seeing Stars" has been accepted by Shadowfire Press! I am very excited about being a twice-published author. Once again, I want to thank my awesome CP Kitty Cahill for helping me put the finishing touches on Payton and Savannah's story. HUGS! Her Scooby sense told her to tell me some good news was coming my way. And as usual, she was SO right. Then I checked the date. It's the 8th. Eight happens to be my all-time favorite/lucky number.

Now, I'm seeing stars.

Seeing Stars

I sent my second submission "Seeing Stars" to Shadowfire Press today. It's for their Love and Fireworks: Fourth of July theme open call. Once again, my CP Kitty Cahill, helped me polish it and I send her a big red, white and blue kiss for it! (MWAH!)

Wish me luck!

P.S. When I went to the grocery store this evening, my checker's name was...get this--Payton. Is that a good omen or what? :)

Oh The Horror

Gotta love the snail mail. It occured to me that I may not have put enough postage on my envelope containing my contracts to Shadowfire. There is but one word for this and that word is

ARG.

But it's all good as they say. If they come back the folks at Shadowfire told me to resend them. I think I'll be taking the envelope inside the post office next time this happens. Did you see that--"the next time"? Optimism! *Gasp*

P.S. Enjoy the evil mail kitty.

Signed Sealed Delivered

I had my husband print up my contract forms for Shadowfire Press today. He brought them home, I signed and dated them, put them in an envelope, and addressed it. It's all ready to go back to Shadowfire tomorrow morning.

Wow!

The Surreal Life

Spent the morning going from writer to contracted author. I filled out my new author info packet from Shadowfire Press. Talk about surreal. I never dreamed I'd be doing this.

Okay, technically that's not entirely accurate. I have in fact dreamed of signing contracts. But in my defense I've also dreamed of doing book signings and giving autographs and doing interviews and yes, even a screenplay for the motion picture adaptation of one of my books! Those were dreams!

This was real! Reality kicks ass.

Woo-Hoo

The unbelievable has happened. My short story "In Heaven's Arms" has been accepted by the editors at Shadowfire Press. This is awesome news. It will be my first publication. I am sooo excited. :)

(Insert an even louder hysterical scream here...)
This part of my post is going to sound like it just got doused with a box of melted Velveeta cheese but I don't much care, since I have every right to be out of my mind for a second. This would not have been possible were it not for the support of my darling husband, my CP (the uber-awesome Kitty Cahill) and my mom. Not to mention the scores of English teachers who showered me with praise whenever I wrote something they liked.
Lastly thanks to Shadowfire Press for giving this girl a chance.
Hugs for everyone!

Luck O' The Irish

The luck o' the irish. Wearing green. Being redheaded. Call it what you will. I got some wicked good news today. My short story, "In Heaven's Arms", has passed the preliminary reading and has been sent to the senior editor at Shadowfire Press! That I submitted--yesterday.
(Insert hysterical scream here...)
Needless to say, I believe...

Flying Free

Well, for better or worse my short story "In Heaven's Arms" is complete and out of the nest. I submitted it to Shadowfire Press with my CP's best wishes. I am nervous but also relieved.

Now, onto the next story! Back to work!

CP Heaven

I just met the coolest--no the kewlest critique partner. She answered an ad I'd placed on the web for critique partners. Nothing much came of placing the ad, or so I thought. Then she sent me an e-mail and I've started chatting with her. Her writer name is Kitty Cahill and she rocks. I'm super excited because we really clicked from the word go. We have a lot in common and are having an awesome time helping each other out.