About Author Visits Blog Books Events Contact Press Kit

Uncategorized

Do-It-Yourself: Building a Luck Pool

After multiple requests that I share my luck, I feel that Christopher at Notes From the Underground has the right idea about sharing the secret of building your own ‘Luck Pool.’

It’s the whole teach-a-man-to-fish idea. And since I won’t always be there to send my extra lucky vibes to everyone, you better build your own.

So here are the instructions.*

1. Identify a body part that you think is unique or the bees knees (and please don’t tell me where it is . . . I’m not sure I want to know). Ex: Double-jointed thumbs; A second toe that’s longer than the first; Those pointy-tipped ears; Whatever.
2. Dip that spot in green ink. Don’t wash it off. Just let it wear off on its own. (I still recommend that you shower and stuff like that, because otherwise, that’s just gross. Just don’t TRY to scrub it off)
3. Build up good karma. Ex: Hug a tree; Put coins into expired meters (just make sure there’s a car there . . . and I think you get bonus karma if you see a meter maid nearby); Refrain from yelling cuss words at the jerk who cuts you off; . . . you get the idea.
4. Find a four-leaf clover. I know, you’re scoffing at this, thinking ‘that’s just an old wives tale,’ but I found one when I was a kid. And look at my luck. Just sayin’.
5. Wait for the bounties to shower down upon you. They typically come in threes, so don’t greedily be expecting more once you get them. You have to let the luck build back up.

And voila, you are the proud owner of your very own ‘Luck Pool.’ Go and use it wisely.

*The writer of this blog makes no promises for the effectiveness of each individual ‘Luck Pool’ that is created and cannot be held accountable in the case that the ‘Luck Pool’ is defective or in rare, unfortunate cases actually decreases a person’s luck. Should you choose to follow the instructions, you do so at your own risk, and shall be solely responsible for any undesirable effects that may be produced.

Speak up:

14 comments

| TAGS:

fish, karma, luck, Luck Pool, Notes From the Underground

License Plate Fun

Last Sunday I saw this license plate:

Now if I adjust it just a touch . . .

. . . isn’t that perfect?

Speak up:

11 comments

| TAGS:

personalized licence plates

Luck and Personal Postulates

So I have this theory on luck. At least how my luck works.

I believe I have this pool of luck inside me somewhere. Your guess is as good as mine as to where it actually resides. Maybe it’s in my lucky double-jointed thumbs, who knows?

But see, this pool can only hold so much. So when it hits a breaking point, I’m showered down upon with all kinds of winnings. Of course, once it’s gone, it’s gone so I have no more luck until the pool fills back up. Maybe that’s a karma thing, but I’ll have to think further before I postulate on that one.

Usually it’ll be a string of winnings. Sometimes it’s blown in one big-shot offering, but I never know when it will strike. It’s like waiting for Christmas, but not knowing what day it’s on.

Going back ten years, here are some of the prizes I’ve won in random order:

-A trip to New York (flight, hotel, Michael Jackson concert tickets)
-Lunch for two at my favorite restaurant
-$100
-A year membership to SCBWI
-$5000
-Free airport parking
-Books (several, and diverse)
-Gourmet chocolate-caramel apples (came in a freezer-package in the mail, very cool)
-Handmade bracelet
-Gift cards
-Full fixings for French dip sandwiches

Many of these came in quick succession, very few came as a single shot (just the $5000 in fact—that wiped my luck out for a good 2 years).

I know luck can often be looked down on in plot-lines. We’re generally told that events in our novels have to be established, planned for, and have a good reason. But still, luck has its place. So where does it fit in in your work? Does it?

Speak up:

17 comments

| TAGS:

luck, Michael Jackson, New York, postulate

Results! White Meat vs. Dark Meat

Now that Thanksgiving is well past, I suppose it’s time to tally up the votes for the White meat vs. Dark meat competition. So here we go:

Total votes: 19

White meat: 11 votes; 58%
Dark meat: 6 votes; 32%
Both + veggies: 1 vote; 5%

Tofu: 1 vote; 5%

Now that’s better—a few exceptions to add a little spice. And I admit, I wasn’t sure how to figure in the votes that were contingent upon specific conditions, so I used the “eeny-meeny method.” I’m sure that didn’t affect the numbers at all. 😉

I have to say, I’m rather surprised that white meat won. I totally went for dark. None of this flip-flopping just because I grew up . . . wait, or did I? I can’t remember. Definitely doesn’t seem like it.

So now that this is becoming a semi-regular feature on my blog, maybe I should name it or something. We shall see. But I am especially excited for this next little competition. Are you ready?

Speak up:

20 comments

| TAGS:

Christmas trees, dark meat, vote, white meat

The Hating Game WebSplash!

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she’s confident she’ll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she’s perfected from years of her love ’em and leave ’em dating strategy. 

After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £2000,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it’s revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. 

Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

Speak up:

18 comments

| TAGS:

Amazon, Talli Roland, The Hating Game, Web Splash

Happy Thanksgiving!

Life has been good to me, and I have much to be thankful for:

• Parents, in-laws, and siblings who love and support me. 
• A husband who encourages my writing and believes in me. 
• Children who still give hugs and kisses, and who still want mine. 
• Friends who worry about me and love me despite my perpetual absentmindedness. 
• Blogger friends who give amazing advice and who read my rantings.

Thank you to all of you! You know who you are and what you do. My life would be meaningless without you.

A quick P.S. . . . I’ll be out the next two weeks (minus Talli Roland’s Web Splash on Dec. 1!) working on revisions, but happy holidays to all of you! See you soon. 🙂

Speak up:

18 comments

| TAGS:

bloggers, family, friends, Thanksgiving

Character Writer or Plot Writer

A few years back I went to a conference, and Shannon Hale asked this question of us: Are you a character writer or a plot writer? Do you come up with characters and then discover their story? Or do you think of a fascinating plot or situation and build from there?

At the time, I wasn’t sure. I debated the finer points of my writing style, but couldn’t decide. Now I laugh at myself for that.

I am a character writer all the way. I discover a character, and then I learn their story through painstaking effort. Painstaking, I tell you. I have to work hard for that plot.

So what are you?

Speak up:

24 comments

| TAGS:

character writer, plot writer, poll, Shannon Hale, vote

What Do You Do Well?

I was just thinking about how sometimes we don’t let ourselves admit when we do something very well. The world tells us we’re supposed to be humble about our talents or we’ll be hated like all those other conceited jerks out there.

So today I’m giving you a free pass: I want to hear what you think you do really well, and I promise not hate you and think you’re a conceited jerk. It can be anything! Maybe you are an exceptional teeth-brusher . . . you’ve never had a cavity (I wish!). Or maybe you have a talent for spinning a basketball on your finger. I don’t know, but I’d love to hear!

Okay, so me? I have a talent for making gravy. No lumps, perfect consistency, always yummy. 🙂

Speak up:

17 comments

| TAGS:

basketball, cavities, conceited jerks, talents

Ms. Bestower-of-Confidence

Have you ever been around someone who makes you feel like a million bucks? It doesn’t seem to matter the time or the place or the occasion, there’s just something about them . . . and it’s not just you. Everyone else feels the same way about them, too.

I so wish this was me. But alas, not to worry, I think most things in this world can be learned. So here are my 5 easy rules for being Mr./Ms. Bestower-of-Confidence (based on observation, of course):

1. Smile. But not just with your mouth, and even beyond your eyes. Find your happy place and keep it at the front of your thoughts.
2. Give compliments. The catch is they have to be sincere. None of that “I love your hair” crap, when you’re really thinking “What were they thinking?”
3. Don’t give too many compliments. Then you just sound fake.
4. Ask questions. About them. There’s a catch to this one, too. You have to listen to the answer. Not just with your ears, but with your whole body. Then ask follow-up questions. And yup, you guessed it, just keep listening.
5. Enjoy life. Have fun. And I don’t mean the go-out-and-get-drunk variety. Look at kids, they recklessly dance to the music at the end of a movie without fear of looking silly. They get excited because they see two school buses in the same place. They laugh at the sheer pleasure of running as fast as they can. They don’t worry about getting chocolate on their noses, they just enjoy.

 People who do this have a contagious happiness. These are the people I like to be around. So what rules did I miss?

Speak up:

10 comments

| TAGS:

bestower-of-confidence, compliments, happy place, million bucks, questions, smile

The Votes are in

Yes, yes, November 2nd came and went, but this is a much more important vote than that. Fall vs. Spring. I know you’re all dying to know which one won . . . so on to the results!

Total votes: 20

Spring: 8 votes; 40%
Fall: 12 votes; 60%

There are two remarkable things about this vote. First it’s very close (unlike the Hawaii vs. Cruise vote). Second, this is the only time that no one added their own personal option. No one asked, “not winter?” And even though some claimed it was an excruciating choice, they were all eventually able to make it. . . . unlike times past. Very interesting, Holmes. So in case you wondered, I voted Fall. Something about the smell . . . mmmm, I get dreamy just thinking about it.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, here’s a thanksgiving-y question (yet one that all of you non-U.S.A. people can still answer . . . I know, I think of everything.) 😉

Dark Meat

vs.

White Meat

Speak up:

18 comments