tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66352548870609657922024-03-13T00:01:33.019-05:00Word WanderingsThoughts on writing and life from pre-published mystery and science fiction author Liberty SpeidelAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-13499626856416858622014-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:002014-12-08T07:00:07.402-06:00Guest BloggingJust a real quick update!<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_">I'm going to start doing some guest posts over at the <a href="http://www.authorculture.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">AuthorCulture</a> blog. <span class="gm_ gm_0baec42a-8a22-23c2-c4da-d9fdfb7007fa gm-spell">The kind folks have invited me to join them permanently, but I'm not sure yet if that's something I can maintain, so for the next three or four months, I've agreed to do some guest blogging.</span> My first post is today! So go check it out. :) </span><br />
<br />
Also, I probably mentioned it before, but I did a guest post last month at K.M. Weiland's blog, <a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2014/11/how-to-keep-writing.html" target="_blank">Helping Writers Become Authors</a>. My post was about how to keep writing in the midst of adversity. I kind of have a bit of experience in that area.<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_"><span class="gm_ gm_1bc679b8-15b4-1832-37d7-33575a20d220 gm-spell">I'm hoping to branch out with my guest blogging in the next several months, so if anyone has any suggestions I should inquire at who are open to self-published/hybrid, mystery, or science fiction authors, please leave a note in the comments!</span> </span><br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-29573886966005036282014-11-06T08:30:00.000-06:002014-11-06T08:59:43.744-06:00It's a GIVEAWAY!!I'm putting the final touches on <i>Retaliation</i><span class="gmw_"> this week, and starting to work on its sequel. Okay, who am I kidding? The sequel is written; I'm editing it already. <br />
<br />
And I woke up yesterday thinking how fun it would be to give away a few advance reader copies (ARCs in<span class="gm_ gm_82810edc-cab5-38eb-71e6-61bee1b05b6d gm-spell gm_tiny"> </span>publishing language!)</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5lcHtFrPTnQ/VFuLgohfAGI/AAAAAAAAAUw/f9RGfwbROYk/s1600/Retaliation%2BCover%2BTemplate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5lcHtFrPTnQ/VFuLgohfAGI/AAAAAAAAAUw/f9RGfwbROYk/s1600/Retaliation%2BCover%2BTemplate.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><span class="gmw_">So, here's the deal. Through next Tuesday, November 11, you can enter to win one of<span class="gm_ gm_77d2c2c1-5ea7-ef2b-3037-bada05c191be gm-spell gm_tiny"> </span>three copies of </span><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OWOMBXY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00OWOMBXY&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20&linkId=MIPBH3BYFYWSZPTN">Retaliation</a></i>! I'll also be giving away three copies of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LRPPZG6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00LRPPZG6&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20&linkId=PUBFFJAQNQMJGGNU">Emergence</a></i>, so if you haven't had a chance to read that, here's your chance. The first winners will be given a choice between the two books, until I've given away all of one, then the rest will get whatever is left. You may choose to assign your gift to a friend or loved-one if you so desire. :) Please note that these are e-books only--the hard copy version is coming, but I have another book to finish up before a physical copy is ready!<br />
<br />
You can enter as many times as you want up to the Rafflecopter limit. Already liked me on Facebook or following me on Twitter? No problem, you just have to confirm it with the robot! <br />
<br />
I'll contact the winners on either the 12th or the 13th to see which book they prefer, so be watching your e-mail. The email will come from: AuthorLibertySpeidel [@] gmail [.] com (without the brackets or spaces) so keep an eye out! Please share the link far and wide--I really want to reach some new readers!<br />
<br />
Also, I'll be guest blogging over at K.M. Weiland's blog, <a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/">Helping Writers Become Authors</a> on Friday, November 7 (that's tomorrow!) Stop by and say hi!!<br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1747ec791/" id="rc-1747ec791" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script><br />
<br />
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<br />
I live in America, in relative peace.<br />
<br />
I have a family who loves me, children who are (mostly) healthy whom I adore.<br />
<br />
I get to pursue my passions, and enjoy the work I do (on most days--every once in a while I hate it.)<br />
<br />
And I've gotten to spend three decades of my life with all four of my grandparents living.<br />
<br />
Last year, when we returned from Seattle following my son's bone marrow transplant, I lost my first grandparent the night of our arrival home. I was lucky to be with her when she passed away, to have the chance to say goodbye. <br />
<br />
Last night, my family said goodbye to my grandfather on the other side of my family. I was with him, as well, when he went to be with Jesus.<br />
<br />
He was 94. <br />
<br />
As I hugged my aunts, uncle, grandmother, and cousin, we were able to reminisce a little about the life he lived. He was born in rural North Carolina. Had several brothers and sisters. Served in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Married my grandmother before the end of the war, celebrating 69 years earlier this year. Worked for the post office. Raised my father and his siblings. Could be very loving, but just as cantankerous. He was a bit eccentric, and many things we did, many of us in the family shook our heads over. But he loved us, and adored my son, calling him his buddy.<br />
<br />
In recent years, he'd gone down hill, and for many years, I've wondered if he'd see another birthday, another Christmas, another wedding anniversary with Grandma. I'd held out hope he'd get to celebrate 70 years together with Grandma next year, but it wasn't to be. <br />
<br />
While I remember the cantankerous man who could snap at us grandkids, I also remember him and Grandma gardening with me, tending their cows, and taking me on rides on their property and picking wildflower bouquets for me along the way. One of my fondest memories is knowing that every night, both he and my Grandma would read the Bible. I have no idea how many times they've read it through, but that has always been a stand-out memory of him (and her.) Every Sunday that I was at their place, we'd go to church, almost without fail. And he took my family and me to see the Passion Play when I was 5 or so. <br />
<br />
We'll say our final goodbyes next week. In the meantime, I will be reflecting on my memories of him. Hopefully, a few more I'd forgotten about will surface as I talk with my family. <br />
<br />
Go hug your family. If you're blessed enough to have grandparents with you, be sure to tell them how much you love them today. I'm glad my final words to him were, "Grandpa, I love you." <br />
<br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-28123147656895963892014-09-26T11:30:00.000-05:002014-09-26T10:56:16.259-05:00Doctor Who: Season 8, Ep 2 - 4<span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">There's some sort of quote about the best laid plans of mice and men... Well, apparently I operate more on the theory that whatever CAN go wrong, WILL go wrong. </span><span class="gmw_"><span class="gm_ gm_87c68b8c-3fd8-7ce5-863a-42aa213be53e gm-spell">And that involved not one, but TWO 4-day hospital stays for my husband, The Man Of The House (affectionately known here as TMOTH.) So, I haven't had a chance to do a review of the three most recent Doctor Who episodes, although I did take a bit of time to watch all of them.</span></span><span class="gmw_"> </span></span><br />
<br />
So today, I'll do a recap of my thoughts as best as I can, and hopefully reboot and have a new review for the one airing tomorrow. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/doctor-who/photos/doctor-who-season-8-photos/wp-content/themes/bbca-child-theme/lib/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2014/09/dw-804-1.jpg&h=506&w=898" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bbcamerica.com/doctor-who/photos/doctor-who-season-8-photos/wp-content/themes/bbca-child-theme/lib/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2014/09/dw-804-1.jpg&h=506&w=898" height="180" width="320" /></a>Peter Capaldi. I really feel like he's oozing into the role as the Doctor quite nicely. I still see a few remnants of Matt Smith's doctor, but he's really making the character his own. If anyone has any doubts about this, go watch (or re-watch) <i>Listen</i>. I've seen many of my friends proclaim this episode as the best in years, and I definitely agree. It's probably the best episode since <i>Blink</i>, and definitely the scariest. <br />
<br />
<span class="gm_ gm_09bec029-7603-1fe5-f069-0a56b133df86 gm-spell">For the storyline, I'm curious what the writers are going to do with Missy, but I'm also curious about one of the scenes in </span><i><span class="gm_ gm_09bec029-7603-1fe5-f069-0a56b133df86 gm-spell">Listen </span></i><span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_"><span class="gm_ gm_09bec029-7603-1fe5-f069-0a56b133df86 gm-spell">where Clara happens into the barn of a young Doctor before he WAS the Doctor.</span><span class="gmw_"> Are the writers going to expound on this at some point? It makes sense that Clara, the Impossible Girl herself, would show up at points like this in<span class="gm_ gm_9c7c91fc-8cbd-7768-0df6-ac9317c9ba7f gm-spell"> the </span>Doctor's timeline, so maybe we'll be seeing more of this in future episodes. It would be interesting to see more of a young Doctor...but maybe this is also a one-time tease. Steven Moffatt is good at that. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_">Clara and Danny Pink. I like where this relationship is going so far, and am excited to see the Doctor interact with Danny...and just what Clara will do. She's always been a feisty character, but I think it's gotten a bit more so with age, a change in her job, and with the new Doctor. Adding in perhaps a bit of jealousy on<span class="gm_ gm_84e52aa2-988b-bc14-188d-fe3ab6d7098d gm-spell"> the </span>Doctor's part where Danny is concerned will probably prove to be an interesting dynamic, and I'm looking forward to it. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
____________________<br />
<br />
I'm hoping to get a newsletter put together either this weekend or early next week. If you haven't subscribed yet...well, why not? I'm planning to have some more publishing news either in this new newsletter, or sometime mid-October. In other news, I'll be guest-posting on <a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/">K.M. Weiland's blog</a> on Friday, November 7th. More details about that in an upcoming newsletter.<br />
<br />
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Until next time...and hopefully next week...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-51864708479987056852014-08-26T09:28:00.000-05:002014-08-26T09:28:10.861-05:00Doctor Who: Deep Breath Admission: <br />
<br />
I've only been a fan of BBC's "Doctor Who" for a little more than eighteen months. <br />
<br />
But when I get into a show, I dive in.<br />
<br />
So, in the last eighteen months, I've watched all of the modern episodes, and have viewed at least a few episodes from most of the previous doctors (I'm sadly lacking with Number Eight...I need to rectify that one.)<br />
<br />
Being up to speed now, I was eagerly anticipating the new season, with the new Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi. I'd heard a lot of whining from some "oh he's too old to play the doctor." Oh, really? Was William Hartnell? <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/doctor-who/photos/doctor-who-season-8-photos/wp-content/themes/bbca-child-theme/lib/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2014/08/dw-801-pack-2.jpg&h=506&w=898" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bbcamerica.com/doctor-who/photos/doctor-who-season-8-photos/wp-content/themes/bbca-child-theme/lib/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2014/08/dw-801-pack-2.jpg&h=506&w=898" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Doctor and Clara. Photo from BBC America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anywho...<br />
<br />
I was blown away by the episode which aired on 8/23, which, ironically, was my wedding anniversary and I wasn't supposed to be able to watch it that night. But friends with football tickets made seeing it Saturday a possibility since my husband was gone! :)<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_">Let's get one thing out of the way first, then I'll go into my thoughts on the episode itself. <span class="gm_ gm_fdc9b699-296c-f01b-d733-ba37ab6387c5 gm-spell">Since I started watching Doctor Who especially, but also coupled with Sherlock (because they are presently produced and written by the same team--Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss), I've mentioned to several writer friends that I'd love to kidnap the pair and just pick their brains.</span> (No worries, BBC, if you're reading this. I'm not planning a trip to Britain any time soon, and this is mostly tongue-in-cheek. Mostly. Not to say if I wasn't in Cardiff or London and saw either of them, I wouldn't stop and try to pick their brains!) Right now, both writers--especially for Sherlock, a little less for Doctor Who--make me want to get into writing screenplays. Perhaps one day.</span><br />
<span class="gmw_"><br />
</span> Cinematically, I have to say, I'm less impressed by Doctor Who than I am Longmire. (If you missed my gushing on the season finale of Longmire, see the post that precedes this one.) I'm sure it's because it's a science fiction show, and they're mostly shooting on a soundstage, and there's a lot of CGI that needs to be added in. But still. It would be nice to see a bit more flare in how the show is put together. That would be my only real criticism. I've never watched an episode of Doctor Who yet where I've just marveled at how the photography is used to tell the story--unlike Longmire, where it's a week-in-and-week-out thing. Apples. Oranges.<br />
<span class="gmw_"><br />
</span> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbx1XVWWYBg/U_yXGm94BGI/AAAAAAAAATA/LVl-Y89GEgY/s1600/River%2BSong%2B%2B%2Bgun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbx1XVWWYBg/U_yXGm94BGI/AAAAAAAAATA/LVl-Y89GEgY/s1600/River%2BSong%2B%2B%2Bgun.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Song</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="gmw_">Insert River Song saying in her super-sexy voice, "Spoilers." </span><br />
<span class="gmw_"><br />
</span> <span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">Story-wise, I felt the plot was sound. <span class="gm_ gm_c099cb0e-991f-4e8e-bb82-61bd5bd2ebb5 gm-spell">Rarely have I felt a Steven Moffatt script was off (although 7.2 felt off for most of the season. It mostly came together by the end of the season, but 7.2 was disjointed overall. I'm hoping season 8 is different.) The dinosaur being set ablaze, I've seen several people say that was gratuitous.</span><span class="gmw_"> However, after re-watching the episode last night, it played a role. It drew the Doctor and Clara into the main part of the story. <span class="gm_ gm_ce71b734-400d-9a7e-0d6a-1115a17b5e43 gm-spell">I did notice, as some others had noted, that the episode seemed like a bit of a mashup of three older episodes (which ones, I'm not certain of the names, and don't have the time to look them up.) For the most part, I'd agree, although this definitely had its own feel to it.</span> And I think Moffatt was aware of it, and probably had a plan for it to feel vaguely familiar because he was introducing a new Doctor.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_"> And let's get to the new doctor. As I said above, I was eagerly anticipating Capaldi. I knew he was a fan of the show (I've seen on the internet where he wrote a fan letter to the show at the age of 6! <span class="gm_ gm_eba57edb-1d32-0fbf-e98c-203d874f044d gm-spell">So you know he</span></span><span class="gm_ gm_eba57edb-1d32-0fbf-e98c-203d874f044d gm-spell">'s got</span><span class="gmw_"><span class="gm_ gm_eba57edb-1d32-0fbf-e98c-203d874f044d gm-spell"> the show's best interest at heart.) And while Matt Smith is my doctor, and David Tennant is just a sliver behind him, I have been curious how they'd take the story in a new direction, especially after "The Day of the Doctor," the show's 50th anniversary special which aired last November.</span> Keep in mind: I'm a writer. As a writer, I'm curious about these things. I watch TV as much for relaxation as I do for learning about my craft. </span><br />
<br />
As a fan of the show, I was simply delighted at the number of Easter eggs I caught in the episode. I'm sure it was meant to be like that, and there are probably more that I missed, but some of my more memorable ones were these:<br />
<ul><li><span class="gmw_">The <span class="gm_ gm_5933f3e7-633f-7d36-e62b-e5cfde2034a4 gm-spell">face/mirror</span> in the alley scene. Why this face? I've seen this face before. This is probably a reference to the Tennant-era episode "Fires of Pompeii", which Capaldi guested in (which, ironically, Karen Gillan, also was a guest in. If you don't know who Karen is, she was Amy Pond for the first 2.5 seasons of Matt Smith's Doctor, and is currently playing one of the bad guys in "Guardians of the Galaxy.")</span></li>
<li>The scarf question in the same scene as above. The line was something like, "Do you have a scarf? Maybe a long one? No, we're avoiding those." Obvious reference to, I believe, the 4th Doctor. (If I'm wrong, please don't hate me--just let me know in the comments and I'll fix.)</li>
<li>"Some days I wish you were Amy." If you're a Whovian, this one doesn't need any explanation. I miss the Ponds, too. </li>
<li>The eyebrows. They're angry eyebrows. They may cede and start their own state of Eyebrows. Not so much an Easter egg, as a something many Whovians have been going on about since Capaldi was announced as the new doctor last year. </li>
<li>Clara at the end, coming into the revamped TARDIS. "You've redecorated. I don't like it." Nearly shot me to tears because Tennant said the same thing to Smith in "The Day of the Doctor" and I think it's a tradition in some of the older episodes as well with multiple doctors. And she said it almost the exact same way that Tennant did! </li>
</ul>Now I need to gush about the MATT SMITH SCENE.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/doctor-who/photos/doctor-who-season-8-photos/wp-content/themes/bbca-child-theme/lib/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2014/08/dw-801-pack-6.jpg&h=506&w=898" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bbcamerica.com/doctor-who/photos/doctor-who-season-8-photos/wp-content/themes/bbca-child-theme/lib/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2014/08/dw-801-pack-6.jpg&h=506&w=898" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="gmw_">Peter Capaldi as the Doctor in the "Broom Scene"<br />
Photo from BBC America</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is the scene that pushed me over the edge, the one where, if I wasn't crying already, I was by about the mid-point in this scene. I've said it already in a couple places within my friends circles, but I think we as an audience needed the Matt Smith scene. We needed to have one last chance to say goodbye to the Raggedy Man, needed to hear his voice one last time, and know, along with Clara, that this was going to be okay. I almost wonder if this was thrown in for the Capaldi-skeptics, and even though it wasn't essential to the story, I think it helped get us over the hump of believability. Of course, Clara kind of needed to hear it, too. I think she was about ready to bolt on us. And even though I have not been a fan of Clara, she really shined in this episode, and held her own.<br />
<br />
Last thoughts, I promise. This is getting lengthy.<br />
<br />
I'm a fan of a good story. Give me solid writing, and, in TV, solid acting, and I'm pretty much hooked. That being said, 7.2 almost lost me because I felt it floundered around a bit. At the time, I needed it, though, because I was far from home, and my son was undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Keep in mind, I love Matt Smith's incarnation as the Doctor.<br />
<br />
But even though I was sad to see Matt go, I was eager to see what Capaldi would do. While I think not everyone is as sold as I am, I felt he was refreshing, and I'm looking forward to a darker side of the Doctor. <br />
<br />
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some <span class="gm_ gm_46168be2-3171-4c83-3847-2712ca74753a gm-spell">squeeeing</span> to go do. ;)<br />
<br />
Until next time... <br />
<br />
*********************<br />
<br />
Reminder! My debut novella, "Emergence" is out now! You can find it at <a href="http://amzn.to/Wx8x05" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1rDS5pp" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emergence-liberty-speidel/1119982852?ean=2940149684458&isbn=2940149684458" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, and <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/469209" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> for the low-low price of $2.99US. If you like mysteries, suspense, or superhero stories, you will enjoy "Emergence"! Go download your copy today.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-43330609758617668082014-08-05T08:18:00.000-05:002014-08-05T10:14:20.953-05:00New Feature and Longmire: Ashes to AshesGood morning!<br />
<br />
I'm trying out a new idea this morning here on the blog which some of you may enjoy, and others of you may not. Here's the skinny: I've been in a blogging rut, and have been racking my brain trying to come up with some brilliant idea for months. Writing about writing is boring sometimes, and writing about my family...that can get a little too personal sometimes.<br />
<br />
But here's the thing: I love stories. Always have. And I love stories in the short form, especially as TV shows. I'm pretty selective on the shows I watch. Most are mysteries or crime shows, a couple, sci-fi. I also like to occasionally flex my muscles learned in my Film Theory class in college.<br />
<br />
So here's what I'm going to try for the next several months: doing posts on some of the shows I watch--what works, what doesn't, and some of the things I notice in the show. They may not always be the day after a show airs--I am a busy mom. Heck, I still have the last 3 or 4 episodes from the last season of Bones on my DVR! But I'll try for a couple posts a week on shows I watch. Nothing long, something you can read easily on your coffee break, other than this introductory post. I'll try also not to post too many spoilers. I know some of you watch the same shows I do--but on Netflix or some other service, and are a season or two behind!<br />
<br />
Up first, the season finale on my summer favorite: Longmire.<br />
<br />
My background with the show: I've been a fan since about midway through the 1st season, and I've read almost all of the books the show is based on. Craig Johnson, the author of the books, is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. The fact that the books are set in Wyoming where I have some family is a bonus. I feel like I can picture them better in my head.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://aetvcdn.aetndigital.com/picture/aetn-default-mpx-series/picture_gallery_965x664/19-longmire_ep310_lj_0420.jpg?itok=F97e45ws" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://aetvcdn.aetndigital.com/picture/aetn-default-mpx-series/picture_gallery_965x664/19-longmire_ep310_lj_0420.jpg?itok=F97e45ws" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="gmw_">Walt Longmire after spreading his wife's ashes where</span><br />
<span class="gmw_">they said their wedding vows.</span><br />
Photo from AETV.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Last night's episode was the season finale, entitled "Ashes to Ashes". And as far as season finales go, it was amazing. It ran a little long, ending about 10 after the hour, but that was okay. I loved every minute of it.<br />
<br />
For the past three seasons, Sheriff Walt Longmire has been trying to figure out who was behind the murder of his wife (which happened before the show started.) At the end of Season 2, his best friend, Henry Standing Bear, was accused and arrested for killing the man who killed Walt's wife. We all know Henry didn't do it, but who did? With a mystery like that, I've been engaged. This is something not in the books, so I had no answers. There have been clues all along the way, and something in last night's episode sparked a revelation that I won't divulge for those of you who haven't watched. I will just say I was on the edge of my seat. I was writing in the commercial breaks, but my own fictional world was no competition for Longmire. They'd better come back for a Season Four. How they left things and not knowing if one of the characters has been shot--or even which character--was nearly heart-stopping!<br />
<br />
If you don't watch Longmire for ANYTHING else, you should watch it sheerly for the cinematography. Nearly every episode is absolutely beautifully shot. Granted, they have a great place to shoot the show, somewhere in New Mexico. But I'm constantly amazed at what they can do with camera angles, lighting, and just a bit of music--plus a great cast. This show, if it hasn't already, NEEDS to be winning some awards for cinematography. If you can watch last night's episode, even for just five or ten minutes, take the time. I'm especially struck by the opening scenes. The actors playing Walt Longmire and his now-former deputy Branch Connally don't speak, but it tells a wonderful story. Another scene where the actor doesn't speak, and yet his character speaks volumes, involves Henry Standing Bear. But that would possibly give some spoilers, as it comes near the end. <br />
<br />
As for the whole story, there are a lot of holes left open. Several are closed, but new ones open. I can't wait for Season Four, and desperately wish that A&E would take this show out of just being a summer show and bring it full-time.<br />
<br />
________<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">I don't know precisely when I'll be doing another of these posts, or for which show. My shows are typically: Bones, NCIS, NCIS: LA, Elementary, Castle, and Agents of Shield. I adored Almost Human last year, and keep hoping FOX will bring it back. (Please, FOX, please bring it back!!) Any of these </span><span class="gmw_"><span class="gm_ gm_e97d5e4b-b618-f7a4-1425-0743e754afd5 gm-spell">are</span></span><span class="gmw_"> fair game for a post, although Castle already has a good post mortem done on it, but from the police procedure aspect, over at LeeLofland.com. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
Liberty <br />
<br />
P.S. If you haven't picked up your copy of "Emergence", be sure to do so! $2.99US at <a href="http://amzn.to/Wx8x05" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1rDS5pp" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, and <a href="http://bit.ly/1jTtn44" target="_blank"><span class="gmw_">Barnes <span class="gmw_"><span class="gm_ gm_452e2cc8-05f0-78e8-c605-68c0dc4b63e4 gm-spell">&amp</span>;amp</span>; Noble</span></a>! If you haven't signed up for my mailing list, you can do so <a href="http://on.fb.me/Xrn6To" target="_blank">here,</a> or in the form on the side under my picture.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-30213460891533133292014-06-24T01:00:00.000-05:002014-06-24T01:00:01.918-05:00Adventures in the Great Outdoors, IIf you took the way that my husband (The Man Of The House, or TMOTH) and I grew up and compared them, you would see the reason why the two of us are vastly different. Unless we were at my grandparents' farm, we didn't do much outdoorsy stuff--camping, hiking, fishing, etc. My husband? was outside ALL THE TIME.<br />
<br />
Ironically, my husband and I met on a camping trip--the weekend was the first time I'd ever stayed overnight in a tent.<br />
<br />
While I'm still not an "outdoorsy" girl--I'd still rather be at home with my books and laptop--I've been getting better about being outside. Or at least I'm trying to be.<br />
<br />
Frequently on the weekends, my husband says for me to pack a cooler and grab some diapers for our three-year-old, and off we go. Sometimes I grumble, if not to him, to myself. I'm not a spontaneous person, I like to have some time to plan things when possible. An hour to pack everything we'll need for the rest of the day and it's 11 AM? Yeah, doesn't thrill me too much.<br />
<br />
But, I like what it's teaching my kids--to be flexible, roll with the punches, and most importantly, enjoy the outdoors (although, much of the time, all they're enjoying at this age are movies in the car and an excessively long car ride.)<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">Father's Day was one of these days. On the way to church, TMOTH made noises that he wanted to go fishing. So, I had about a two hour warning before we got home that this was on the plate. Get<span class="gm_ gm_8b975048-ca08-2c75-dbe0-3ac8bf3c51d5 gm-spell gm_tiny"> </span>home,</span><span class="gm_ gm_36c0ff38-0bbf-bf7c-ad93-c68ddb8f108b gm-spell gm_tiny"> </span>pack lunch, grab the diapers, head out. </span><br />
<br />
Then, what inevitably happens with us, "Where are we going?"<br />
<br />
"I don't know. You tell me."<br />
<br />
"It's Father's Day. You pick."<br />
<br />
"I don't know where to go!"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/r270/10352286_10203372147478009_232623161804902079_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/r270/10352286_10203372147478009_232623161804902079_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bluegill our daughter caught on Father's Day</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I sigh, make a few half-hearted suggestions. We stop and he retrieves the Gazeteer from the trunk. I start telling him directions. The kids watch "How to Train Your Dragon" for the 17th time in the last few weeks. The younger one naps. The dog is cramped, on the floor between the front and back seats of our mid-sized sedan.<br />
<br />
We're all wishing we had a Suburban, especially the dog.<br />
<br />
Eventually, we find a spot we've been to before, a long, long time ago--maybe before the kids came around. TMOTH and our daughter fish.<br />
<br />
Our daughter catches two small bluegill, TMOTH catches a small catfish and a small bluegill.<br />
<br />
I keep our son from falling into the water, take pictures of dragonflies when I can get close enough to them without our son getting too close and scaring them off. We huddle down together after retrieving our hats from the car as light showers come across the lake and hit us head on. By the time we leave, my T-shirt is soaked from the rain.<br />
<br />
I'm cold, haven't had dinner, and am tired, but other than gently reminding my husband he neglected to get me something to eat when I couldn't eat at Subway (I started a gluten-free diet last fall, so Subway is NOT on my menu,) I don't say too much. I do adjust the thermostat in the car to something a little warmer, then help my husband figure out where the heck to go. We take a wrong turn or two (I've gotten turned around on where we are,) and I mark the Gazeteer in ink on where to go again, and scratch off roads shown on the map that aren't roads.<br />
<br />
It's been a successful day overall. We made it home in one piece. The kids got to run around and fish. I took several pictures, none I'm thrilled with, but they're okay. And more importantly, my husband got me out of the house. I've become quite a homebody the last couple years. Having your life center around the health and wellness of your immune-compromised son will do that to you.<br />
<br />
Next up on our list of challenges--a possible weekend trip to a cabin, or maybe even in a tent.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure I'm ready yet.<br />
<br />
<br />
Until next time...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-32847822507829382242014-06-12T12:59:00.000-05:002014-06-12T12:59:00.279-05:00Murder Down the StreetThis week has been an INSANELY busy week for me. I've been exhausted because of it. Even so, on Monday afternoon, as I was heading home from an appointment, my curiosity was piqued by a site: a police car sitting in the driveway of a house about a half mile from my own.<br />
<br />
My first thought: why would they be running radar from there, and did they get permission from the homeowner?<br />
<br />
See, it's across the street from a parking lot where I FREQUENTLY see cops running radar. No big deal to me--I'm always turning onto the road a block away, and there's no way I've even come close to reaching the 35 MPH speed limit by the time I pass the radar-gun carrying officer.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VKwSOC1NWQc/T9j6tPnHFiI/AAAAAAAAMgQ/OlOJ5uzo1-U/s1600/wall_of_crime_scene_tape_1600_clr_8537.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VKwSOC1NWQc/T9j6tPnHFiI/AAAAAAAAMgQ/OlOJ5uzo1-U/s1600/wall_of_crime_scene_tape_1600_clr_8537.png" height="180" width="320" /></a>But this Monday was different. As I was watching the evening news, I learned there'd been a murder in my town which had been discovered after a welfare check. The neighborhood looked like mine--I hadn't caught the address.<br />
<br />
Sure enough, it was the house I'd observed earlier in the day.<br />
<br />
I didn't know the victim, may not have ever seen him. And I'm not in fear for my life. Sure, the area of town I live in is slightly more likely than other areas to have violence of this sort, but this is only the 5th murder in my city this year--and three others made the national news because they were a mass shooting at the Jewish Community Center.<br />
<br />
But, that's not what I'm writing about, and I most certainly am not trying to insert myself into this tragedy.<br />
<br />
As a mystery writer, I've been fascinated to watch the happenings at the house this week. Because of appointments and vacation Bible school for my daughter, I've had reason to go past there every day. I've also been very perplexed in my drive-by observations.<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_">For instance, I've observed crime scene vans on sight for three days (Monday on the news, and Tuesday and Wednesday in person.) I've also spotted up to six vehicles on<span class="gm_ gm_a011d153-ce15-78a4-3722-5ca226034f8e gm-spell gm_tiny"> </span>scene--some from the local PD, but others from the Sheriff's office. </span>More interesting, there's always a police car parked in the driveway of the house, I presume protecting the scene.<br />
<br />
This all has been making my little writer's brain click away the last few days. I hope the police find the killer, and he or she is punished appropriately. But I can't help but be a little grateful for this chance to observe from a distance.<br />
<br />
_________________________<br />
<br />
Did you know I've redone my mailing list? In an effort to get ready for the release of my first novella, I'm doing some cleaning up and tweaking. As such, I've started a new mailing list through MailChimp. If you would, please look to the right and enter your info for my mailing list. (As you've scrolled down this far, you'll need to scroll up in all likelihood.) I'll be using the mailing list for keeping you updated on new releases, specials, and giveaways. Also, when the time comes, guest appearances at other venues. I'll only be sending out an e-mail every month or so, so no worries about getting a bunch of junk! <br />
<br />Sign up for the mailing list, and you'll be the first to know about new titles, specials, and appearances. <br /><br />Until next time...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-76898956851874288212014-03-25T14:23:00.000-05:002014-03-25T14:23:09.407-05:00Major Announcement!It's truly funny how things work out sometimes.<br />
<br />
For the past year, since about the time my son began pre-treatment for his bone marrow transplant, my thoughts where publishing were concerned have turned dramatically towards self-publishing. I've seen countless friends self-publish in the past 5 - 8 years, some who even surprised me because of their vehemence towards NOT self-publishing in the same time frame.<br />
<br />
I've spent numerous hours in the last year reading popular self-publishing blogs, listening to podcasts, and questioning key friends who have both self-published and been traditionally published. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that self-publishing was for me because of the certainty of having my words and stories in print, and because of the level of control I'd be able to have.<br />
<br />
And then, a random post about a month ago turned things on its head.<br />
<br />
On my personal Facebook page, I made a comment one weekend about the priciness of ISBNs--those 10 or 13-digit numbers that uniquely identify your book and its edition. I knew I'd need several in the next year or two, considering my plans. But, yikes! Were they expensive!! I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I can't ask my husband for $500 for 20 ISBNs (or whatever the rate is.) We just don't have it in the budget, and I haven't shown him the evidence that I could earn it back yet.<br />
<br />
So, back to the comment. I was surprised at how many people responded to my post--all authors, of course (because who else knows what an ISBN is??) It was an interesting conversation, especially because I commented that I almost wished we lived in Canada, where ISBNs are free to authors.<br />
<br />
What I didn't know is that they're free in other countries, too. Like New Zealand.<br />
<br />
One of my friends happens to live in New Zealand.<br />
<br />
She also happens to have her own press.<br />
<br />
She also has read my work, and was my mentor when I did the Team PYP challenge about two to three years ago.<br />
<br />
And, late last year, I'd asked her advice on a short story I had wanted to develop into a longer piece of work, and she gladly gave me some advice which was key into developing it into a novella rather than a short story.<br />
<a href="http://chicagofree.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/fireworks4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://chicagofree.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/fireworks4.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a><br />
She also invited me to send her the completed novella to possibly publish it through her press.<br />
<br />
My brain turned on its head. Traditionally publish? But... but... but... I've been planning to <i>self</i>-publish for the past nine months!<br />
<br />
Still, this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. One thing I've struggled with was the idea that my stories were worth it. Another was what I'd do about editing because I knew I'd need at least a good polish, if not much more. If she was interested in the stories, maybe they do have worth, maybe they <i>are</i> good enough. If not, well, maybe she'd have some input on what I could improve.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to prattle on much longer in my story, but long story short is: I sent the novella. She loved them. We talked. We agreed it would be mutually beneficial for us to work together.<br />
<br />
A contract was sent. A contract has been signed.<br />
<br />
As of March 25, 2014, I'm contracted with Splashdown Books. My editor is the fabulous Grace Bridges. I'm completely over the moon, especially since this is my birthday week. What better present could an author ask for but a contract?? Of course this year, I'm just thrilled to be home on my birthday, with my husband, daughter, son, and dog. But a CONTRACT! Probably one of the best presents ever!<br />
<br />
We're still working out all of the details, such as titles and time frame. That information will be forthcoming as it's available. Check here, the <a href="http://www.splashdownbooks.com/" target="_blank">Splashdown Books website</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/LibertySpeidel" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, my <a href="http://facebook.com/LibertySpeidel" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/splashdownbooks" target="_blank">the Splashdown Books Facebook page</a> for updates. <br />
<br />
So, that's my major announcement! I'm so, so happy to share this with the rest of you!<br />
<br />
Until next time...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-29337904392407031592014-02-12T08:50:00.001-06:002014-02-12T08:50:07.797-06:00A Time to Say GoodbyeYesterday, February 11, was a difficult day for me. I awoke earlier than normal, scarfed down some breakfast, badgered my kids out of bed before the sun was up, and hit the road before dawn.<br />
<br />
Anyone who knows me knows this is abnormal. Heck, I'm writing this at 8:30 AM, and I'm still in my pajamas.<br />
<br />
But, I had a very important reason to hit the road.<br />
<br />
On Friday of last week, I learned that a friend from my grade school days had died. Killed in a murder/suicide, actually. Very hard words to absorb.<br />
<br />
I hadn't seen her in well over a decade, but she'd been on my mind for a few days leading up to this news. See, I'd had some personal turmoil last week, and in the midst of it, I remembered what a good friend she'd been to me all those years ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
I first met her when I began taking piano lessons from her mother. Despite the fact I'd be taken out of the public school we both attended a few years later, I continued taking lessons from her mother until I was about 16.<br />
<br />
We were in a combination class together the final year I was in public school, she in the lower grade, me in the upper. I've always been a little odd, and was not "in" with the other five girls in my grade level. Throughout the school year, I was constantly teased, but for the most part, ignored it. But my friend didn't. She and a couple other girls in her class eventually came to me and said if I didn't do something about what was going on, they would--and they did go to the teacher.<br />
<br />
My grade-level classmates were called on the carpet for bullying me. But it wouldn't have happened without Erin intervening.<br />
<br />
This story was in my head a lot last week before she had even died, and I'd been about to ask a mutual friend of hers and mine about where she was and to try to get in touch with her when I learned the news.<br />
<br />
So yesterday, instead of talking to her, I got to hug her mother as I said goodbye to a woman I wish I'd stayed in touch with. I was so glad to be reassured of how much she loved her family, her friends, and God.<br />
<br />
Life can be full of regrets. This is one that I'll definitely regret the rest of my life, that I didn't stay in touch, or get in touch sooner.<br />
<br />
Rest in peace, Erin. I know you are already missed, but those who loved you and appreciated you will see you again, one day, in Heaven.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-50791870470359019662014-01-21T07:19:00.000-06:002014-01-21T07:19:00.124-06:00Culturally Different<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347956508l/11910983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347956508l/11910983.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
In the last couple of weeks, I read <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005I4JG80/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005I4JG80&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20">Bringing Up Bébé</a></i> by Pamela Druckerman. For those of you not in the know, this is a memoir of sorts that Ms. Druckerman wrote about her experiences as an American mother raising children in France. I found myself laughing and learning frequently in this book. I rarely read memoirs, in fact, this may be the first I've ever sat through, but the subject matter was intriguing to me: how the French raise their children. Culturally, it's quite different than we Americans raise our kids, and I found myself wishing that even for a few years, my kids could have the influence of the French.<br />
<br />
One thing I found intriguing was the idea of expectations. In one chapter, Ms. Druckerman describes how the expectations of life are much different in France than in America, and it filters into their literature, especially for kids. Where in our children's books, we have a story that gets resolved in most cases, and things become "perfect" (or as close to perfect as the author can make them so they're left with a feel-good effect), the French stories published on the other side of the pond are more true to life. She describes one story in a very popular French children's series where one character is mean to another (don't remember the context now, and I had to return the book to my library!) They work on the problem through the book, and I believe the mean child eventually apologizes to the other character... In an American book, that'd be the end of it, but the French book finishes with a final scene where the mean child repeats the same type of offense as originally started at the beginning of the book.<br />
<br />
While I thoroughly enjoyed all of the rest of the book, and have learned several things that I'm going to try to implement with my own children, that story about French literature really stuck out to me, probably because I'm a storyteller. I love the art of storytelling, love learning about the so-called "rules," love digging in to my own stories to figure out what's working and what's not.<br />
<br />
And I can't help but think I've approached it in a fully American way.<br />
<br />
In adult fiction, it's a bit easier to have an ambiguous ending to a story. Fine. We're adults, we can handle it. But, I can't think of any stories I've read to my kids where there's not a happy ending. And, as Ms. Druckerman pointed out, that's not really all that true to life. It leaves kids with a false sense of what should happen in life, that our problems can be solved easily, when often, things are much more complex.<br />
<br />
I love a happy ending just as much as anyone. I always get a bit teary-eyed at the end of <i>Return of the Jedi</i> when Han and Leia come to terms, and it's obvious they'll be getting together. Same goes for the end of <i>Pride & Prejudice</i>, and a whole host of other books and movies. <br />
<br />
But, should we always let our kids watch shows or read books where problems are easily, and fully, resolved? Wouldn't it be better to expose them to life, and give them a sense that life isn't going to always be full of lollipops, roses, and puppies? As in the French book referenced in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005I4JG80/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005I4JG80&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20">Bringing Up Bébé</a></i>, wouldn't be better to let our kids know that friends won't always repent, and are just as likely to repeat the same offenses over and over?<br />
<br />
I, for one, think that would be a benefit to kids.<br />
<br />
What are your thoughts? Do you remember reading any books with ambiguous endings as a child, or were all your book choices ended in a happy way?<br />
<br />
Until next time...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-88931590759483844752014-01-17T07:12:00.000-06:002014-01-17T07:12:03.258-06:00It's a New Year!Anyone who regularly reads this blog knows just how crazy my last 12 - 18 months have been. Being told my son needed a bone marrow transplant pretty much threw everything askance since August of 2012. However, now the light is starting to show at the end of the tunnel. As of January 1, he was 8 months post transplant, and doing AMAZINGLY well. All of his doctors seem very pleased with his progress, and while we have a follow-up planned in Seattle, when we return from that, he should return to treatment with his regular hematologist for Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome.<br />
<br />
Even though clinic appointments are far too regular still, with no end in sight until mid-late spring, that light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine a glimmer on the future.<br />
<br />
While I'm not going to guarantee I'll be posting here regularly--even pre-transplant, it was beginning to be a gamble--I'll post as much as I'm able to. But, this is what my goals are for this year where my writing is concerned:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Write five days a week for at least an hour.</b></span> To accomplish this, I'm going to try institutiting an early-morning writing time. Between appointments, and the fact I'm a stay-at-home mom (and my daughter will be starting homeschool Kindergarten sometime this year), early mornings are about the only time I can guarantee I'll have uninterrupted time, five days a week. I instituted this early morning time on the 30th of December, and so far, I've gotten up four of the five days, and wrote/edited for three of the four. </li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Publish.</b></span> This one should go without saying, but I have a very aggressive goal to publish several short stories/novellas/novels this year. I'm not going to specify my exact number (partially because I'm not 100% certain of the exact number, but also because I don't want to have life happen and not be able to follow through), but when I say it's aggressive, it is. A body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion. I'm trying to put myself into motion so that it becomes just part of it that I'm constantly writing, editing, and publishing. Listening to the Self-Publishing Podcast since May of 2013, and reading "Write. Publish. Repeat." (by the same guys behind SPP) in December really motivated me. I can do this. It just takes momentum to get started.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Set a production schedule.</span></b> The only way I can stay on track is to know what I expect myself to do. Listening to Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn podcast (also started around the same time as I started listening to SPP--I think I learned of one from the other) has helped me see that a production schedule will help me stay on track and on purpose. I'm apt to take rabbit trails, and distractions are very easy, so knowing I've GOT to work on this project rather than that one <span style="color: #741b47;"><b><i>may </i></b></span>help keep me on track. I say may because who knows. ;)</li>
</ol>
I have other goals, like getting my feet in order where I can begin exercising again (I was told I had a very bad case of plantar fasciitis in my arches in December, so I haven't been walking the dog at all) and sticking to a gluten-free diet (I've lost about 5 pounds since Thanksgiving just by going gluten-free, and 99% dairy free!) But, I'm really mostly focused the writing goals. Hopefully, on January 1, 2015, I'll be able to look back at 2014 with a smile.<br />
<br />
How about you? Do you have any new goals you want to accomplish in 2014, writing-related or not?<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
Liberty<br />
<br />
P.S., if you haven't done so already, be sure to pick up a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H2WDUVK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H2WDUVK&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20"><i>CSI Effect</i></a>! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-60742558243246075292013-12-10T12:00:00.000-06:002013-12-10T15:16:59.976-06:00Pet Peeves: Words Mean Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/incon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/incon.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IEJZRY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003IEJZRY&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20"><i>The Princess Bride</i></a>, Inigo Montoya famously tells Vizzini, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."<br />
<br />
A lot of people have pet words. Groups of people have pet words, too. If you follow the news, you'll see it. As one commentator repeatedly has noted through the years, the media will pick a word, and every broadcaster will use it in every broadcast about the story. The word "gravitas" comes to mind from the 2000 election, used to describe George W. Bush's selection of Richard Cheney as his running mate. <br />
<br />
One word that I've seen thrown around a lot lately is derivitives of the suffix "-phobic". According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of phobic is:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://badbooksgoodtimes.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/princess-bride-you-keep-using-that-word.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://badbooksgoodtimes.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/princess-bride-you-keep-using-that-word.gif" width="320" /></a><i>of, relating to, or having an extremely strong fear or dislike of someone or something</i></blockquote>
Dictionary.com further defines phobia as:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it. </i></blockquote>
The key word in that definition I'd like to glom onto is "irrational". Just because you don't like something doesn't mean you have an irrational fear of it.<br />
<br />
There are many things I don't like.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I don't like shopping (except for yarn, books, and fabric.) </li>
<li>I don't like crowds (ironically, ochlophobia, the fear of crowds, is today's Dictionary.com word of the day.)</li>
<li>I don't like murderers, people who abuse their power, people who abuse children or animals, or people who cheat on their spouses. </li>
<li>I REALLY don't like the TSA. This one came forth when I was in Seattle with my son for his bone marrow transplant. I refused to fly back from Seattle with my son because it sent me into a tizzy, nearly to a nervous breakdown every time I thought about having to go through security, alone with my son, and all of his medicines and medical gear. </li>
</ul>
<br />
Okay, I may be a bit TSA-phobic.<br />
<br />
But, I'm not ochlophobic or phobic of shopping. I will go out in crowds. I don't enjoy it, and with having a post-BMT child, I'm reaching for my hand sanitizer often and keeping a lookout for people coughing or sneezing. <br />
<br />
Being a writer, I understand the difference. So, I'm beginning to get offended by how often people throw around phobias willy-nilly. If I don't agree with you on something, I must be phobic of it. Nope. Not irrationally afraid of it, I just don't agree.<br />
<br />
Yet, certain groups of people want to accuse other groups of people of phobias just because we disagree!<br />
<br />
<b>THIS</b> is how we have the breakdown of our language, when we allow words meanings to be weakened by improper usage. We as writers and speakers of the English language (and I'm sure this happens in other languages, too) need to stand up and protest this. When you're in a conversation with your friend and they laugh and say, "I'm <i>so</i> agoraphobic. I can barely bring myself to drink water!", drill down with them, and get them to see that they don't have an irrational fear of water, they just prefer to drink something else. (Especially use this if you know they love to swim and get a shower every day.)<br />
<br />
We as writers should take the time to educate those around us. Otherwise, they'll still be stumbling around in the dark, repeating the same drivel they've improperly learned. Only by proper education (and maybe a few bashings over the head with an unabridged dictionary) can we retake our unique language. <br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>If you haven't had an opportunity yet, please go pick up a copy of my short story, </i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H2WDUVK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H2WDUVK&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20">CSI Effect</a><i>, over at Amazon. Please take 30 minutes to read it, and if you can, take the time to post a review! Thanks so much!</i></span> -- LSAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-11815624799924002172013-12-04T23:59:00.000-06:002013-12-04T23:59:00.706-06:00Amazon Drones OnSo, the big news in the last week, among other things, was that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H2WDUVK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H2WDUVK&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20">Amazon.com</a> was researching <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25180906" target="_blank">the idea of using drones to deliver packages</a> near their repositories. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71470000/jpg/_71470971_image-gallery-01._v367570019_.jpg%27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71470000/jpg/_71470971_image-gallery-01._v367570019_.jpg'.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: BBC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is an interesting idea, but I have mixed feelings about it.<br />
<br />
First, my pro-side says that this could really speed up deliveries. Don't have to worry too much about UPS trucks catching fire and burning your package to tho dust. For those outside the distance that would be served, it would free up delivery space so you'd probably see improved response, too. And, it would probably be something that would allow Amazon Fresh to expand into other markets, too. (While I haven't used the service, I saw the delivery vans while in Seattle for 5 1/2 months with my son earlier this year.)<br />
<br />
So, yea! Speedier deliveries!<br />
<br />
However, another story from a few months ago niggled in my brain when I heard about this.<br />
<br />
I believe it was in Colorado (and probably other jurisdicitons as well) where certain towns and counties were considering offering a bounty for drones being shot down.<br />
<br />
Now, I'm a conservative, bordering on libertarian. I try to keep that part off this blog for a reason (mostly because I don't want a lot of fighting and hate on my blog, but also because there's an international audience to this blog who really couldn't give a rat's behind about my occasional opinions on politics.) Where my philosophy comes in is that I honestly don't see a problem with shooting down <b><u>government</u></b> drones because they've overstepped their bounds of privacy on the individual. But, what if some nincompoop shoots down the Amazon drone bringing me a new battery for my laptop or a box filled with my books for a book signing, thinking it's a government drone? What happens then?<br />
<br />
I haven't seen a drone in person, just pictures on the internet, and on the news. However, I think they're rather small, especially the ones demoed on the evening news for Amazon the other night. Unless your average Joe with his high-powered rifle has a very exceptional scope, he's probably not going to be able to tell the difference between a drone launched by the EPA surveying cattle emissions and one launched from the Amazon hub nearby making deliveries.<br />
<br />
While I think the idea of having a drone make deliveries for companies is an applaudable, I do think these companies would be remiss if they didn't investigate the legalities of what happens if their drone gets shot down. I'm sure they've got teams of lawyers looking at these laws already--at least, I hope they do!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cdn3.whatculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/star-trek-transporter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://cdn3.whatculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/star-trek-transporter.jpg" width="320" /></a>Legislatures will need to stay current with this as these new technologies come into commonality as well. Unfortunately, our legislative process does move quite slowly in most instances--and for good reason. But this will be a topic that our legislatures and city councils across our country will need to stay on top of, and work to find ways to protect our free economy.<br />
<br />
There's a lot to think about as these new technologies become commonplace. (I, personally, am waiting for my transporter, food replicator, and lightsaber!) It would behoove us to be thoughtful as we decide how to integrate them into our lives.<br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
Oh, P.S.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to make a huge deal out of it because it's ONE story, but I did <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H2WDUVK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H2WDUVK&linkCode=as2&tag=libertyspcom-20">post my first self-published short story on Amazon yesterday for $0.99</a>. If you feel so inclined, go take a peek. It won an honorable mention in the Team PYP short story project in 2011/2012. This is the first time it's been seen outside of the Team PYP group. Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-12854835282084694212013-11-12T08:00:00.000-06:002013-11-12T08:00:02.896-06:00Goals Make the World Go 'RoundI disappeared again.<br />
<br />
Sorry about that.<br />
<br />
But, it was for a good cause. About the time I did my last post, I had started in on a short story--and I blew through 21,000 words in about 3 weeks, including having two days straight where I wrote 4,500+ words (one of those cleared more than 6,000!) I've been working very hard on the project, hence the absence. My focus was just really intense there for a couple weeks.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2771/4504860888_8277247c34_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2771/4504860888_8277247c34_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaushiknarasimhan/" target="_blank"><span class="name" id="yui_3_11_0_3_1384205585084_1358"><span class="photo-name-line-2" id="yui_3_11_0_3_1384205585084_1367">Kazarelth</span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I've been moving forward in these writing goals, I'm really finding how much I'm solidifying my long-term goals. I'm pretty sure I mentioned when I got back that I'd shifted my goal towards self-publishing in the next 18 months. It's hit home that that number has now dwindled to 15 months!!! That means I have a lot of work ahead of me.<br />
<br />
So, I've also been getting some critique partners reading, thinking about others I'd want to ask to read some of my projects, and building up the nerve to ask them. (I do have that problem--I lack the nerve a lot of the time to simply ask for help!)<br />
<br />
And, I've also been thinking about how to handle certain aspects like cover design. I do not have any formal training as a designer, but I love to play around with programs. (Several years ago, I asked my husband for a home design program for my birthday. I love opening it up now and then and playing around with it, even though I'll probably never be able to design a house that we'd actually live in!) So, I did spend a significant amount of time playing around with GIMP to design some mock-ups. That's been a lot of fun, and I'm improving my skills. Not sure if I'll ever be able to do a full-blown cover without Photoshop and a couple of classes at my local junior college (which I am contemplating for writing and non-writing reasons, like being able to get student-priced tickets to the opera!) But, I can at least make mock-ups and point someone else in the right direction!<br />
<br />
A lot of this has been pushed by the fact that one of my acquaintances locally who works in the hematology office where my son goes is a self-published author... and he has his next book releasing in a couple of weeks. That, and all of the self-publishing podcasts I've been listening to lately. All of this has really motivated me, and I'm practically chomping at the bit to get something, <i><b>anything</b></i> up on Amazon.<br />
<br />
Even though I'm eager to do so, I know I need to wait. My stories are not ready yet. They need to be polished. I'll get there, and maybe sooner than the 15 months I'm targeting now (maybe as soon as next spring!)<br />
<br />
In the meantime, keep watching this space for updates. <br />
<br />
Until next time... well, you know. ;) Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-52229658968517747752013-10-22T07:00:00.000-05:002013-10-22T07:00:09.695-05:00Math Problems Run Amok<a href="http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/Starkilla_10/Facebook/True%20Story/546556_440387476012124_1721696058_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/Starkilla_10/Facebook/True%20Story/546556_440387476012124_1721696058_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Being a writer, I'm not much of a math person. Sure, I can do basic stuff. But, algebra stumped me, and don't even try to talk calculus to me. My eyes will glaze over.<br />
<br />
Still, every time I fold socks in my house, and I don't have anything going on so my mind wanders, I think of a math problem. A specific math problem. One from grade school.<br />
<br />
I don't remember exactly how old I was, or even the exact wording of the problem. I was probably in third or fourth grade. And the problem went something like this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The power has gone out at Mike's house and he has to get ready for school. He has no flashlight. He knows he has 10 red socks and 6 blue socks in his dresser drawer. What's the likelihood he will choose two matching socks?</blockquote>
Even as a third or fourth grader, I remember thinking Mike was an idiot. Why would you not fold your socks so they were mated? Then you wouldn't have problems like that if the power went out! Today, 20-odd years later, I think the writers for that textbook needed to get their heads screwed on straight.<br />
<br />
Though, I do sometimes wonder if Mike made it to school with matching socks. ;)<br />
<br />
How about you? Do you have something from your school days that sticks out in your head, that just won't leave you alone years or even decades later?<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85756/righter1/aa936a7a8ac961636e8d4b15f5ecf932.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-9131324802172345492013-10-15T06:00:00.000-05:002013-10-16T17:03:14.250-05:00Poaching is a CrimeUgh! Behind again! I did so well in September, and then the last two to three weeks fell apart for me--including one ER trip for my son--and I'm back to having the weird blogging schedule again. Oh well. ;) I'm now the mother a five-year-old--how the heck did that happen? Overall, things are going well with my son, so that's about as much can be hoped for at the moment.<br />
<br />
_______________________________<br />
<br />
Today's post is something that's been driving me nuts lately: Poaching.<br />
<br />
I'm not talking about boiling meats, either, or illegal hunting of wild game.<br />
<br />
The type of poaching I'm talking about is cyber-poaching. This is where Friend A from one circle you move in decides to befriend on Facebook or Google+ Friend B of yours from a completely different circle of your friends. They otherwise would have no other reason to be friends with each other besides the fact they both know you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://clipartist.info/openclipart.org/2011/June/20-Monday/crosshairs-555px.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://clipartist.info/openclipart.org/2011/June/20-Monday/crosshairs-555px.png" width="314" /></a>Some people may not see why this is harmful, but it is, especially if the person in the middle has no idea it's going on until it's too late. You say something to Friend B that Friend A misconstrues, and then you get a snide note from Friend A. Or they jump into the conversation which was supposedly otherwise "private." (Although, let's be realistic: just how much privacy do you really have on the Internet these days?)<br />
<br />
Honestly, I find poaching rather creepy, especially when it's done from friends to family or vice-versa. My friend, Chila Woychik, has also agreed with this in the past on her own Facebook page, and actually labeled it what I'm calling it. Why does, say, Friend B need to befriend my cousin? Or, why does my uncle need to be friends with an author friend of mine? (These are examples--they are not real, just so you know.) Pre-Facebook, there would have been no way for most people's different circles they move in to come in contact with other circles, except, perhaps, at very specific instances--birthday parties, weddings, funerals.<br />
<br />
But, just because the way to connect with others has gotten easier doesn't mean we shouldn't show some restraint. And, I'm not talking about honest-to-goodness networking--where you're a business-owner and reach out to another person who is doing what you're doing to learn from them and their experiences. However, next time you're tempted to make a friend request to someone because you have <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><u>a</u></b></span> friend in common, stop and ask yourself why you'd want to be friends with that person. If it's only because of that other friend, maybe you'd be better off not pressing that friend request button.<br />
<br />
That being said, here are my general rules for how I handle my social networking.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Do I know the person in real life? This can be through a menagerie of ways: church, family, writers, politics, old school chums, etc.</li>
<li>Do I have a legitimate reason to know this person besides our friend of a friend? For instance, is this person another writer? A politician whom I would like to keep track of? A pastor or support staff at my church?</li>
<li>If I do not know this person, do we have a lot of mutual friends where I can easily identify which group of friends they belong to? For instance, if they're friends with K.M. Weiland, Linda Yezak, and 216 other friends who are writers, the likelihood is this person is a reader or a writer, and probably okay to befriend.</li>
</ul>
I use these guidelines when I send a friend request, and I also use it when I'm sent a friend request. If someone is new to Facebook, it is quite often the case that when I receive a request, I do not see many, if any, common friends, so I will sit on the request for a while and wait for more friends to be added. If none come to light, I ignore the request permanently. Another option, being that I manage four pages (including my Author <a href="http://facebook.com/LibertySpeidel" target="_blank">Facebook </a>and <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/100064632247213146334/100064632247213146334/posts" target="_blank">Google+</a> pages), I'll direct that person to whichever seems the best fit.<br />
<br />
How about you? Do you find "poaching" a problem in your cyber-life? Do you have guidelines on how you handle networking and mutual friends? If so, share below!<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.kristinaseleshanko.com/LibertySig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.kristinaseleshanko.com/LibertySig.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-46956050630324591742013-09-24T07:00:00.000-05:002013-09-24T07:00:12.985-05:00Structuring Your Novel: A ReviewAs a "pantser" writer, me and structure/outlining don't necessarily go together naturally. Oil and water, we are.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/comingsoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/comingsoon.png" /></a>However, every writer should continue to learn about her craft, and that's where <a href="http://www.kmweiland.com/" target="_blank">K.M. Weiland</a>'s new book, <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=libertyspcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00EJX08QA" target="_blank"><i>Structuring Your Novel</i></a>, comes into play. I was absolutely delighted, I must say, when K.M. asked me to be an early reader, as I was for her last nonfiction book, <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=libertyspcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B005NAUKAC" target="_blank"><i>Outlining Your Novel</i></a>. Even so, being in a bit of a hectic time of life, I'm getting to the actual reviewing a bit late. But, that old adage is true: better late than never.<br />
<br />
Being a pantser means I don't usually pay attention to structure, whether it's outlining or otherwise. I've only actually ever used an outline with success once, and that was for NaNoWriMo back in 2009. Yet, K.M.'s previous non-fiction book left me thinking, and while I'm still not an outliner, I can honestly say I recognize the merits of outlining, and when I'm stuck, will sit down and outline the next few chapters to get me going again.<br />
<br />
I approached <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=libertyspcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00EJX08QA" target="_blank"><i>Structuring</i> </a>in much the same way. I'm a pantser: what can this book do for me?<br />
<br />
Well, a lot, I'll say that. Not so much a "how to" book, more a "these are the qualities of a strong book" book, <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=libertyspcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00EJX08QA" target="_blank"><i>Structuring Your Novel</i></a> uses examples from familiar books and movies to describe fundamentally how all successful stories are arranged, what readers and viewers expect. Surprisingly enough, if you've read enough quality books or watched solid movies, you probably intuitively know a lot about story structure. But, K.M. lays it out perfunctorily so you can understand why you need to do XYZ by a set point in the story, for instance, having all your major characters introduced by the first plot point, around the 25% mark in your story.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><b><i>What I learned most</i></b>:</span> I don't have to outline my novels, but I should sit down and at least figure out if my drafts are in line with what typically happens in a book. Is my first plot point too early? Too late? What can I do to adjust its timing? <br />
<br />
Additionally, I really enjoyed the second and third parts: Part Two is on Scene Structure, and Part Three is a short piece on Sentence Structure. Some of "Scene Structure" will be familiar if you've been following K.M.'s blog, <a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/" target="_blank"><i>Helping Writers Become Authors</i></a>, but it's nice to have the refresher in an easy-to-snag spot on my Kindle. Sentence Structure really is a crash course in many do's and don't's common in early novels: repetitiveness, ambiguity, pompous words, etc.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><b><i>Who needs this book</i></b>:</span> Every fiction writer who wants to get a better handle on the elements of storytelling, outliner and pantser alike. While newbies especially would benefit, those of us who are old-hands at story (whether published or not) can use the refresher, and gain new insights into how to tell a superb story. Maybe we will realize we need to move some bodies around in our stories because of <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=libertyspcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00EJX08QA" target="_blank"><i>Structuring</i></a>. (That's a little murder mystery writer humor!) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=libertyspcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00EJX08QA" target="_blank"><b><i>Structuring Your Novel</i></b></a> is available through Amazon.com (and other booksellers) for $2.99 for Kindle presently, however, the list price is $12.75. Paperbacks cost $10.42, also at the same list price. Whichever version you pick up, it is well worth the cost. Getting a solid grasp on structure--even if you're a pantser like me--will help make you a better writer, and in the end, isn't that what all of us writers want? <br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85756/righter1/b33e55020533bdcb77f20af88e026775.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2Kansas City, MO, USA39.0997265 -94.5785667000000138.310999 -95.8694602 39.888454 -93.287673200000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-78723005079014644972013-09-17T07:00:00.000-05:002013-09-17T07:00:03.011-05:00A Face-Palm MomentYou know, when I picked up writing again on this blog a couple weeks ago, I joked I may be sharing my cooking disasters here.<br />
<br />
It really was meant to be a joke. Truly, it was.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, barely a week had passed when I did it.<br />
<br />
Normally, I don't have full-out disasters in the kitchen. I'm really a pretty good cook. I will, occasionally, choose recipes that don't go over well. I will experiment, and things won't be as flavorful as they could be. Or, I'll be absent an ingredient and will substitute something that really shouldn't be in there. Like... cilantro instead of basil.<br />
<br />
My husband has decided I should not be grilling any longer. Unfortunately, his hours require me to grill if we're going to be grilling on a weeknight or it could be 9 PM before we eat dinner.<br />
<br />
Enter a bad combination of events last week.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>I was grilling.</b></li>
<li><b>I was grilling mule deer ribs.</b></li>
<li><b>I wanted to watch the season finale of A&E's "Longmire" before it expired on my iPhone app.</b></li>
<li><b><span class="gmw_">I decided doing all of these at the same time was a good idea.</span></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
iPhone in hand, I began grilling our mule deer ribs after having properly thawed them for 2 days in my fridge. I'd seasoned them lightly, and as I watched Walt Longmire's TV portrayal, went inside to get my side dishes going, and wash and set the table. My kids were being a little needy... I probably should have sent them to their rooms.<br />
<br />
I get a little engrossed in the show, but go out to flip the ribs. They're looking pretty good, and I turn down the heat, mostly because I'd gotten a text from my adorable husband that he would be a little late. No big deal, I do this all the time with the grill.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i><b>Mistake #1:</b></i></span></span> Pushing the ribs to the back of the grill.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i><b>Mistake #2:</b></i></span></span> Not turning off a burner.<br />
<br />
I come back out 10 - 15 minutes later... and the thermometer on the top of the grill immediately tells me something is definitely wrong. 600°?!?! How the heck is it 600°!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aetv.com/longmire/pictures/bad-medicine/16-angry-walt-longmire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.aetv.com/longmire/pictures/bad-medicine/16-angry-walt-longmire.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Taylor on A&E's "Longmire"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Opening the lid, I find my ribs a charred mess, and mostly ablaze. It had gotten so hot, some of the rib bones had turned to ash, I discover once the fire is mostly out.<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_">Needless to say, none of us were thrilled. We couldn't find much edible meat, though enough for a few bites a piece. Hubby and I were still hungry after we put the kids to bed (late) and had to share a bowl of popcorn.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
On the plus side, the "Longmire" season finale made me wish it wasn't a summer show. Thirteen episodes a year are not nearly enough. I can't wait to find out what happens next!<br />
<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85756/righter1/63b017280615d85e14d0642c474302a4.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-10182166807704868632013-09-10T06:00:00.000-05:002013-09-10T06:00:04.513-05:00On Meeting "Strangers"While I was in Seattle, and even on the way there, I was able to meet some "strangers". All of them were WRITERS!<br />
<br />
Honestly, one of the highlights of my five-and-a-half months in Seattle was being able to meet some pretty cool people I've known online, some for upwards of seven years, a few of which are familiar commenters around these parts!<br />
<br />
Today's post is more of a "travelogue" as I'm just going to share some pictures of yours truly with those I was finally able to meet in person.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/625573_10200230255332669_64660261_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/625573_10200230255332669_64660261_n.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">Author K.M. Weiland <span class="gmw_">&</span> Liberty Speidel</span></span></i><br />
It was a very brisk March night when we<br />
met over cheesecake.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/521359_10200365061022727_560828137_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://sphotos-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/521359_10200365061022727_560828137_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five Christian writers gathered at Starbucks<br />
Left side, front to rear: Lynnette Bonner, DeWayne<br />
Ruggles, Steve Mathisen<br />
<span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">Right side, front to rear: </span></span><span class="gmw_"><span class="gm_ gm_944e5609-e340-6206-366d-a18745b9c02f gm-spell">Janalyn</span></span><span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_"> Voigt, Liberty Speidel</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/483721_10200345861742757_411080392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/483721_10200345861742757_411080392_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">Liberty Speidel </span><span class="gmw_">&</span> Kristina Seleshanko</span></i><br />
<span class="gmw_"><span class="gmw_">I was so grateful that she </span><span class="gmw_">&</span> her family opened their</span><br />
home up to my son and me for a day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span class="gmw_">In addition to the writers, we also met a bunch of fellow <span class="gm_ gm_cee594b8-04ca-3b93-18b2-847d2b619f26 gm-spell">Shwachman</span> Diamond parents and patients... too bad I didn't get any pictures that I can post to here! </span><br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kristinaseleshanko.com/LibertySig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.kristinaseleshanko.com/LibertySig.jpg" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-84566701193425693822013-09-03T06:00:00.000-05:002013-09-03T06:00:10.225-05:00Welcome Back! -- an Update and a Re-Evaluation<i>Tap, tap, tap!</i> Does this thing still work??<br />
<br />
Ahem.<br />
<br />
Yes, I'm back after a much extended break. So, let me catch you up on what's happened in since I did a serious post back in January.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1239537_219614788196255_210277081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1239537_219614788196255_210277081_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little man +121 after transplant, feeling great!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In early February, we were told that we were ready for transplant, and March 1 found my husband and I driving from Kansas City to Seattle, WA, where we proceeded with my son's bone marrow transplant. It was slated to happen the last week in March, but he got a virus (which he wasn't symptomatic for!) and forced a delay until May 1. From May 1 until July 23, we were outpatient for only 2 weeks, 14 hours! My little boy kept getting sick for various reasons, so we never got more than a week and a few hours out the two times we were outpatient. <br /><br />However.<br />
<br />
He has done AMAZINGLY well, and we were able to leave on his day +101 to come home!! We arrived home on August 12, which ended up being a bit of a whirlwind for us. We got home at 12:45 AM, rushed to make an appointment with our KC BMT doctor, then went to see my grandmother who was dying... and who passed away while we were with her.<br />
<br />
I am so glad I got to come home and see her one last time.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
___________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span class="gmw_">So, whirlwind 5 1/2 months <span class="gm_ gm_c249bfe4-731d-2bd0-14ad-d3ba059b2076 gm-spell">means</span> no writing, right? </span><br />
<br />
Nope. <br />
<br />
While I didn't do near as much writing as I'd hoped to do in those five and a half months, I did more than I think many people expected I would. I finished the third draft on my suspense-in-the-future book, <i>Reprisal</i>, and moved further along with the first draft of my police procedural with a Sci<span class="gmw_">-Fi-y twist, <i>Dead Before Arrival</i>. I also began drafting a short story that will be a prequel to <i>Beyond Dead</i> and <i>Dead Before Arrival</i>--and am actively brainstorming ideas for a series of shorts that could very well lead up to the publication of both books, plus the third book in the trilogy, which I've yet to name or do more with than have a few ideas for scenes that could or should happen in them. </span><br />
<br />
Which brings me to the re-evaluation phase of this post.<br />
<br />
Something in me snapped last fall where publishing is concerned. Most of you who regularly read this blog will remember I've said repeatedly that I'm only interested in getting an agent and going the traditional route. I'm not sure what changed, but something has. Maybe it's watching so many of my friends succeed in self-publishing, maybe it's the further success of e-books, or the fact they're now outselling physical books, but I've been re-evaluating what my desires are for publishing.<br />
<br />
Over the last several months, I've been listening to podcasts like <a href="http://selfpublishingpodcast.com/" target="_blank"><i>Self-Publishing Podcast</i></a> and Joanna Penn's <a href="http://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/" target="_blank"><i>The Creative Penn</i></a><span class="gmw_"> with regularity--maybe even being on the brink of being a bit obsessive about it. In the many hours of listening while driving or doing house chores, the things the hosts and their guests have said struck a chord with me, and I'm beginning to see how it's possible for <span class="gm_ gm_fb364614-1cbd-b289-3ef2-a6bdb94e7575 gm-spell">lil</span><span class="gmw_">' <span class="gm_ gm_ed2d5c18-9a74-9956-01d5-75d94e8dc398 gm-spell">ol</span>' me to be successful in self-publishing. I've got a few hang-ups I'm working through, but thankfully, I've got friends whom I can pick the brains of. </span></span><br />
<br />
Currently, I'm formulating a plan to begin publishing in the next 18 months--maybe even sooner. We'll have to see how that goes. I'm starting to chomp at the bit in order to make this happen, so if I can keep up that level of enthusiasm and have things come together, you may be seeing my name in print very soon!<br />
<br />
As for this blog, I'm going to keep trying to plug away at it, though as I think I've said in the past, it's going to encompass more of what interests me besides writing, so you may hear about kitchen disasters, anecdotes about my kids, or whatever else floats my boat. I'm also considering doing a non-fiction book about my experiences during transplant, although I'm not really sure about the direction of the project yet.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85756/righter1/c6cf021ab2cca583ef68f3b1f3482898.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-45059242297781837882013-03-01T13:45:00.000-06:002013-06-20T13:49:57.889-05:00<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Page update:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Due to the fact of my son's bone marrow transplant, this page is in hiatus until further notice. Hopefully, come August or September, things will have calmed down, I'll be home, and I will be able to give the time and energy necessary for regular or semi-regular page updates. Don't think I'm not writing--I am--but my energy levels are such that I'm afraid of spreading myself too thin.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Please follow me at my author page: <a href="http://facebook.com/LibertySpeidel">Facebook.com/LibertySpeidel</a> to stay up to date with any writing I do during this time, and please visit my son's page: <a href="http://facebook.com/AlexanderSpeidelTransplant">Facebook.com/AlexanderSpeidelTransplant</a> where we'll have updates on how he's doing.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">See you in the autumn!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">--Liberty </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-3245150887803277892013-01-21T07:00:00.000-06:002013-01-21T07:00:14.269-06:00Hypno-what?I ran across a word in the Dictionary.com app on my phone last week that intrigued me, not so much because it was a new concept, but because I'd never knew there was an actual definition to something I experience frequently. <br />
<br />
The word? <br />
<br />
<b>Hypnopompic.</b><br />
<br />
Definition: Pertaining to the semiconscious state prior to complete wakefulness.<br />
<br />
I, by nature, am not a morning person. About once or twice a year before kids was how often I was out of bed on a weekend before my husband. And, truth be told, I love to linger in bed whenever possible--even with a preschooler and toddler in the house. So, I have a pretty lengthy <i>hypnopompic</i> period almost daily. <br />
<br />
An interesting thing happens, however, when that period intersects with the alarm going off on a weekday. <br />
<br />
I am also a self-admitted news junkie. Despite multiple efforts by TMOTH to dissuade me, my bedside radio is tuned not to music, but to a news-talk station--the one I typically listen to for several hours a day before switching to a different one to catch a different program. And what do you hear on a news-talk station at 6:30 in the morning? News, of course! <br />
<br />
Now, usually, this doesn't cause too many problems. I learn about what's gone on in the world before I get out of bed, what the traffic's like (for my husband, since I'm a stay-at-home-mom), and what the weather is supposed to be like... provided I'm awake enough, of course.<br />
<br />
When I am in a deeper hypnopompic state, however, there's no telling what could happen. Sometimes, my dreams are just a bit crazier than normal and I dream of people I know--all of which are usually vivid and just crazy enough for me to remember for hours, sometimes days or weeks later. Or, they can take the course that happened this past week.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3158/3090392251_911be4dfaf_z.jpg?zz=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3158/3090392251_911be4dfaf_z.jpg?zz=1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/webhostingreview/with/3090392251/#photo_3090392251" target="_blank">DavidsonScott15</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Crime is, living in a big city, not unheard of. Heck, being a mystery writer, I thrive on hearing about crazy crime scenarios on a daily basis. Last week had an interesting incident, however. A police chase on the opposite side of town from me, which resulted in a cop shooting and killing someone who was wanted on an arrest warrant. But, just imagine what hearing about this happening--repeatedly, because it was happening near-realtime to my alarm going off--would do to a brain not quite awake? <br />
<br />
All of a sudden, I'm in the MIDST of a standoff and shooting, complete with car chases, lots of cops, and seedy areas of town. (Although, the incident didn't happen in a horrible part of Kansas City, it's still not the best.) <br />
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How's that a way to wake up again? To me, it's a little startling. But, things like this, and even more far-fetched incidents are regular play in my brain during the hypnopompic state.<br />
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Two questions this week:<br />
First, are there any new words you've learned which have special meaning once you learn them?<br />
Second, have you ever had anything bizarre happen during your own hypnopompic states? Please share here (for both questions) or blog about them and post links. :)<br />
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And, yes, for the record, since I disclosed my own alarm time, I will acknowledge that I wrote this blog post a few days in advance for publication today. While I love all of my readers, I'm barely coherent before about 9 AM, so I usually save you from that lack of coherency. Usually, but not always. ;)<br />
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Until next time,</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-28499064901681244892013-01-14T07:30:00.000-06:002013-01-14T07:30:03.138-06:00On HospitalsLife sure does take the craziest paths sometimes.<br />
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For instance, I've only been admitted to the hospital twice--and both were avoidable occurrences (the births of my children.) I actually hate hospitals. When I was having my son, I remember vividly telling my doctor that I just wanted to go home--that's how much I hate hospitals. My words were met with a laugh by all in the room, but I was dead serious.<br />
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So, you can imagine my consternation with the amount of time I've had to spend IN hospitals in the last two years. Yes, I understand they're necessary. Yes, I understand that it's been for the best that my son is there periodically, and that most of his doctors are based at hospitals.<br />
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Doesn't stop my slight germaphobia.<br />
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I'm pondering this aspect of my personality more as the day gets closer that we'll be taking our son out to Seattle for a bone marrow transplant. While we won't be inpatient for 4 - 6 months, he and I will be in hospitals several times a week. How will that work, especially since I get a bit of anxiety when I'm in the hospital for a long time (i.e. more than two days)?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington</td></tr>
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I have decided that there are a few things I'm going to do while I'm in Seattle. Right now, since I'm mostly writer blocked (hence no blog posts for the last two months!) all of these are reading and crafty. I figure I'll have a lot of downtime. Currently, my list of things includes: learning to knit socks, learning Tunisian-style crochet, possibly learning to hand quilt, reading all of the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming, and reading all of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (there was a freebie on Amazon.com a while back and I've already started it.) I'm hoping these activities, possibly coupled with writing some short or novel-length stories, will keep some of my anxiety at bay... and keep me from going bananas while being surrounded by doctors, nurses, and germs.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85756/righter1/86577f52777e8a44637deaf5557833e8.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072706769675479529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635254887060965792.post-73424900752868423572012-11-12T09:33:00.001-06:002012-11-12T09:33:42.553-06:00A-C-C-O-U-N-T-A-B-I-L-I-T-YI'm having one of those mornings where I really don't know what to write about. After having a six-week lapse in blog posts in September & October, I'm hesitant to just let myself have a week off. Having a self-made deadline is both good and bad... I can give myself a pass--oh, you've had so much going on, take the week off!--or I can hold myself accountable, which is, admittedly, much more difficult.<br />
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I find I give myself a pass a lot... and with so much going on, it's no wonder. But, I need to stop doing it. I made a commitment to write a blog post once a week, by Monday, a few years ago. Most of that time, I've done pretty well... Lately, not so much. <br />
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Sure, a lot of my brain power right now is being taken up with debating the merits of a non-malignant bone marrow transplant with my son. What's left has been shifted into writing a project that really shouldn't be getting written right now. Out of all that time, I have 30 minutes or 45 to write a blog post, but when I'm sapped, who wants that?<br />
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Despite what's going on, though, I made a commitment. If I were to have a book deal, I'm sure my editor wouldn't say something like, "Oh, Liberty, we know you've got a lot going on right now. Just get us your manuscript anytime you wish. We'll still be here."<br />
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Yeah, fat chance of that one happening. <br />
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I'd be out of a contract and have a bad name in the industry faster than you could whistle Dixie. <br />
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And, on the publishing front, if you follow my Facebook page, you know I did hear back from the agent who asked for my partial. "Too dark for a cozy" is about what it amounts to. So, in addition to writing this novel which really shouldn't be getting on the page right now and weighing the benefits of a BMT on my son with the negatives, I've got to make sense of what to do next. <br />
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One of my critters thinks my novel's not ready... which I can sort of see... but what to do with it? Still, I have this agent, a fairly well-respected agent as near as I can tell, who expressed that I have some good writing. What do I do with that?<br />
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I'm not sure I'm willing to let things calm down enough to give myself breathing room to contemplate it. I need to keep moving forward, even if it's millimeter by millimeter, rather than by leaps and bounds. I'm not willing to come to a standstill (which I sort of feel I'm at now), or, worse, move backwards. <br />
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Which is why I do feel like I need to keep blogging--to keep my brain active, and not let myself fall behind. <br />
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Maybe it won't make a lick of difference, but for now, I need that accountability. <br />
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And, it may not hurt to have a place to vent.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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