Signs
Sep 03, 2010 
I so wanted a picture for this blog, but alas, you’ll have to deal with my crappy artwork.
On vacation, we planned to meet up with my brother to do some rock climbing. We were supposed to connect in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Off we drive, until we see this sign.
So if you saw this sign, which direction would you go to get to Big Cottonwood Canyon? If you guessed straight, you’d be wrong.
I know, right? So we spent about an hour on a wild goose chase, dodging bikers in the middle of a race, pulling over so our kids could go to the bathroom find a bush. Not so fun.
We debated just abandoning the plan and skipping out on the rock climbing, but gritting our teeth, we finally made our way to the right place. And I have to say, it was totally worth it. The kids LOVED it. Even my 3 year old loved it, and he never got much higher than my head.
Point? You want a point? *Deep breath* Sometimes writing is like this. We do our best to follow the signs (blogs, interviews, publishing books, whatever), but still, things don’t turn out the way we think they should. But giving up? Definitely not the best option.
So when’s the last time you had to take a deep breath, and just force yourself to keep going?
I’m Back!
Wow, so I feel like I’ve been gone an eternity or so. Blogging? What’s that? Now I have to re-learn all this stuff.
But the trip was good, minus the not good stuff. And I definitely have some ranting fun stories to share. I’ll save those for other blogs. Just wanted to pop back in, after my long absence, and say “HEY YA’LL! I’VE MISSED YOU!!”
So what is the funnest thing you did in August?
Sympathetic Listener
So my husband got home from work yesterday and told me this story:
“I was almost to my car when I felt something itching my neck. I reached up to scratch, and this BIG, FAT cockroach zoomed around my head and landed on the ground in front of me. So disgusting!”
And he shivered with the grossness of it all.
Being the loving and concerned wife that I am, I immediately began wondering how I could use his experience in a book. (Of course, I shiver with the grossness of it, too.)
Do you do this? Hear or see something yicky that happens, and start thinking books instead of sympathy?
So before I end, I have to tell you I’ll be succumbing to summer vacation. I might pop in from time to time, but I’ll be on vacation most of August. I can already feel myself going into withdrawals, . . . but it’ll make it that much more exciting come September. See you all in a month!
Timeless Debates
So I have to follow up on the chocolate/peanut butter debate. Here are the results:
Total votes: 33
Peanut Butter: 3 votes; 9%
Chocolate: 23 votes; 70%
Both (which wasn’t even a choice, people!): 7 votes; 21%
Technically, another 7 grudgingly chose chocolate, but would have preferred both. In that case, chocolate got 16 votes, being 48%; and both got 14 votes, being 42%.
Still, chocolate won. Alas, I was on the peanut butter side. I feel so alone!
This time, we need a harder question. Got it . . . Ice cream or cake? (Any flavor)
A Little Perspective
My first visit downtown with the kids, I had a very limited knowledge and understanding of the layout of the District. I carried a map, and consulted it constantly. When we decided to visit the White House, it felt like we had to walk a LONG TIME to get there.
Walking on the streets, the trees and the slope of the ground hide the White House really well. You could be walking right next to it, and not realize it. But with a little perspective, you have a much clearer picture.
This was taken from the top of the Washington Monument. The street you see is Constitution Ave. You might call it the main drag. That LONG WALK turned out to only be 2 blocks.
The publication process . . . whatever stage you may be in (writing, querying, on submission, waiting for publication date) . . . can sometimes feel like it takes a LONG TIME. And sometimes it does. But someday, when you have a little perspective on your experiences, you might realize that it didn’t take as long as it felt like it did.
Does that make waiting any easier? Probably not. But I do try to keep it all in perspective. 😉
What has your experience been? Is the wait worth it?
Winner!
Thanks to everyone for entering my giveaway!
With 31 entries, random.org has chosen:
Congratulations! I’ve e-mailed you and you have 48 hours to send me your snail mail address.
Quick Giveaway!
I was fortunate to win a copy of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. All kinds of buzz has been swirling around this book which is released by Philomel in Oct. 2010.
From Ms. Cremer’s web page, here is the description:
While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack’s world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches’ War that surrounds them all.
Instead of being greedy and keeping it for myself, I am going to give away my copy (paperback, read once by me). All you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment with your e-mail address on this post. And I’m sorry, but because of costs, I can only ship to a U.S. or Canadian address (if you’re international, but have someone in the US or Canada I can send it to, I’m totally fine with that).
The last day to enter is Sunday, July 25 at midnight EDT. I’ll post a winner Monday.
So, recap:
- I’m giving away a gently used ARC of Nightshade.
- To enter, be a follower, leave a comment with e-mail on this post.
- Ends Sunday, July 25th at midnight.
- U.S. & Canada only.
- Good luck!
Candyland’s Awesome Contest
If you haven’t heard about Candace’s contest over at The Misadventures In Candyland, you should go there now. This isn’t just any old contest. This is Operation I Heart Joy Like BR8o.
What does that mean you ask? Well click here for her explanation. This contest is to help raise money for a charity called Joy 2 the World which generates micro-credit loans to women in Ghana to help them become independent.
I.E. They loan her money to buy a sewing machine and then they can start their own business.
It seems like such a small thing, but this can really make a big difference in their lives. Even if you can’t give money, please help spread the word. This is an awesome cause that is about more than giving someone a meal or even feeding them for a month. This is about changing their lives.
Oh, and did I mention that there are some awesome prizes? So many generous people donating to the cause!
Chocolate or Peanut Butter?
Vicki Rocho (at Rambles and Randomness) and I had an e-mail exchange on this general topic last week, so I wanted to throw this question out there . . .
Chocolate or peanut butter?
Sunsets
I took this picture from my back porch last March. I’d been working away on the computer when my son slipped next to me and said, “Mama, we haven’t watched a sunset together in a long time!” My little heart melted, and I had to grab the camera to remember the moment.
In movies and literature, sunsets are rather iconic. Often, the hero rides off into it. It’s a time of change, transition (think Fiona in Shrek). It’s the ending of one phase and the start of another.
We all face countless sunsets in our lives: graduation from high school and college; marriage; children. And the same can be said for us as writers: completing that first novel; attending that first conference; receiving that first critique; facing that first rejection; attaining an agent; signing a book deal.
Some of these sunsets we pray for. We eagerly await those moments when we can finally close that chapter in our lives. Move forward. Sometimes we’re there in our minds long before reality catches up. I totally do this when I think about finding an agent.
But too often, we’re so anxious for the sunset, we forget to appreciate the beauty of the day. Having recently finished my 2nd book, I can tell you that while it felt good, it didn’t even rival how I felt after completing my first one. And it was an unpublishable mess. Yet, I don’t think I appreciated that joy at the time.
No matter what sunset you’re waiting on, what are you appreciating about your “day”?
Me? I’m appreciating that I have no tight deadlines. 😉