My Recent Comments

I'm always playing catch up  (sigh)  I missed Kim's b.day, and Amy's exciting 3-book sale.  So I'll send late happy vibes to both.

I took Brenda Novak and Ken Casper and his wife to the airport yesterday after the weekend conference.  We saw Paula E. and her husband off on their few day vacation by car to some interesting places in Arizona.  While they were all here we toured the Titan Missile Museum, and the early European settlement at Tubac.  The conference was more about self-publishing than any of us would have liked.  But Paula gave 2 great workshops and Brenda one.  All in all with the romance writers who came down from Phoenix and a few from Tucson, we managed to have fun and show that romance writers support each other.

Ellen  sorry you missed jury duty.  I never want to be chosen when I get called.  And we have all too many courts in Tucson, so I've been called for state court, county court and superior court.  Yech.

Vieve  are you have lovely fall weather, or is your area turning cold already?

Holly  Have fun on your Disney break.  Disney folks probably know how to throw a good party.

Anna  Glad to see you back on the site.  We missed you.

And to everyone I didn't mention, I did read most of the emails.  You're all so good about touching base here.

Roz

Ellen---finding titles is a pain in the...   I have to start doing that for my next book.  Sometimes I think my working titles are great.  This time I just threw one on the manuscript page and knew I'd have to change it.  How do you brainstorm titles if other people haven't read the story?

Sam---So glad you had a good tutoring evening, and are getting back on track with writing.  I think as writers need some consistency in our lives---because we write emotional, chaotic events in our stories.  It's probably a matter of programming the tutoring into the balance you've had worked out in your life.  Ha---me being philosophical tonight.

Margot---Do you still live in Colorado?  If so, I'm sure that you get your share of cool weather and winter.  I had to give up winter weather when my joints decided they didn't like wet, rainy seasons.  I think humidity would be the same.  That's why I love the dry heat of the desert.  But, Jeannie---I have AC.  I often think about how tough the people who lived here so many years without AC had to be.

Caron--Dh is improving every day.  I am looking forward to this conference.  I feel like I haven't been out to even a book store in way too long.

Chelle---You will find your voice, and that comes with writing a variety of types of books until you get really comfortable with the stories your characters want to tell.  I still love reading in almost all genres, but like Ellen said, I couldn't write in many of them---for one, in the case of historial fiction.  I love to read it, but would bog down in research and I'd probably never write a word.

Holly---going back to the ban on burning.  I'm sure we have that here.  If not, we should.  I know our neighbor has a fire pit.  Sometimes my allergies are so bad I can't be out in our screened room because of what they're burning.

Oh, and who said they were suffering with migraines?  You have my heartfelt sympathy.  I'm in about my 5th phase of migraines according to my doctor.  Each phase is no better than the one before it. 

Hope everyone has a good remainder of the week and weekend.  I probably won't check back in until Monday or Tuesday.  By then there will be 100 posts to read.

Roz 

I think we're having our own chat.  I signed up for one on NT with my August release, but forgot about it, so forgot to invite anyone.  What good does that do?  So I skipped doing anything for my October book.  I think I'm in a rut.

Chelle--Weighing in here on your question.  The book is obviously garnering interest, but I believe you can tweak and change too much if you keep working on it.  I've had projects that editors were interested in, but went nowhere---then I returned to them after I'd written other things and they worked out and got published.  I think you cease to be objective with too much scrutiny.  But when you go back later, as Jeannie says, with fresh eyes, the sticking points fall into place.  I'd recommend moving on for the moment.

Sam---Is your pt job not making you happy?  I can't tell if you're just going through the angst of settling in, or not.

Jeannie---Your mosaic class sounds wonderful.  I took one with stained glass---where we made scenes in the bottom of the plates that go under flower pots.  I did southwesty scenes and they are nice wall decorations.  And it was fun.

Kay--Glad to see you popped back in. 

Susan---Sorry to hear your mil lost her battle.  But to gain an extra year must have been what she was meant to do.  When I worked for doctors, I recall one of them saying that some people who were ready to go physically, still had mental reasons to stay on earth until they felt it was time to let go.  Does that make sense?

Christyne and Marcie---You have hectic lives, but it's good you have writing as an outlet.

Deb---I'm still trying to pinpoint on the map where you live.  It sounds wilderness, but I swear I've driven one end of CA to the other so many times---I can't figure out where, even up north where there's that much open land. 

Well, I have a lot to do today.  We have a writing conference in Tucson this weekend.  Paula Eykelhof is a speaker, and so is Brenda Novak.  Ken Casper and his wife are coming, and are staying with dh and me.  I need to get a room ready.  I'm picking evyerone up at the airport tomorrow.  On Friday we're doing some fun sightseeing.  Then learning more about writing on Saturday and Sunday.  That's always fun.  This conference is multi genre.  I always get a lot out of listening to mystery, western, and mainstream writers.

Roz

It's felt like fall here for almost two weeks.  Especially in the mornings and the evenings are cooling down some, too.  Our fall flowers are blooming their little hearts out.  We don't have a lot of spring flowers, except for cacti. 

Holly---I miss the corn stalks and pumpkins that we grew when I lived in the Northwest.  And the smell of fires where people raked and burned autumn leaves.  Nostalgia moment here.

Sam---Do you keep the apples you picked whole and in a cool pantry?  Or do you make applesauce or jelly?

Elaine on the Superloop talked about muscadine grape jelly.  When I visited Baton Rouge our friends served a muscadine wine that was very nice.  I think the south is the only place those grapes grow if I recall hearing that.

Hope everyone has a good, productive Monday.  I need to hurry off and see what needs to be done.

Roz

Holly---I enjoyed your blog about the distribution center.  I'm glad the people like their job.  Working is hard enough, but if you don't like what you do it stinks.

Sam and Margot---I'm glad you are training your dogs, and that you worry about rescue and aggression.  In Tucson we have a huge rescue group for greyhounds.  We have a terrible amount of abuse to all animals here.  I'm not sure why.  They're always breaking up dog rings, cock fights, and some of the abuses to horses are awful. Also we had a woman recently where they removed over 200 small dogs from her home.  Some were so malnourished they had to be put down.  We had a massive call for temporary homes and adoption.  She even had a kennel license, but her breeding program got out of hand.

Shelley---Glad to hear you got your ms. shipped off.  And hooray for your husband being a big fan.  Too many spouses you hear about don't see value in writing women's fiction.  I've always felt blessed that my dh, my daughters and their husbands support what I do.

Chrissie---Reading in the line is the best way to figure out if your work fits.  But the great thing about the SuperR line is the broad range of stories and numerous secondary elements.  It's what keeps me happily reading all of the books that come out each month.  The variety.

About the hurricane damage in Texas---in some parts its too extensive to even get workers in.  There's no electricity or usable water in all of Galveston.  I love that city.  Set two books there, and met some fantastic residents.  I shed tears to see the toothpicks that once were the unique homes on stilts.  It's so sad.  And much of Houston along the bay is still without power, too.

Well, I should leave on a high note, not depressing.  It's the weekend. 

Carrie---Good to see you pop on.  How goes your day job?  Easier each week I hope.

Roz

Kim---Three?  Are you kidding?  Where have those years gone.  She's our special Superauthor baby growing up to be a girl.  (sigh)  With her years comes more for us.  eh?

Rae---You sound out of breath in your post.  Sending you calming thoughts.

Jodie--Glad you got your ms. out the door.  And Ellen, those International coupons---most times the post office says they've never heard of them.  Which was why I switched to Fed Ex and they've been my partner for the last number of years.  Also I had a manuscript disappear both in UPS and US Postal service.  Not a fun experience.  So Fed Ex is my buddy no matter how pricey they get---and they're going up even as we speak.

holly and Susan---Have fun if you're taking off tomorrow---or is that not until Friday.

Chrystine---good to see your smiling face back on the thread, loop or---just what are we?

Roz

On the Superloop we heard from Tara, Linda Barrett, Jean Brashear, Ken Casper, and Linda Warren.  The Texans are safe.  Tara in Ohio seemed to have had the longest power outage.

Sam--Glad tutoring went well.  I agree with Deb on packing snacks.

Susan---Sorry about your virus---that's different from Caron's real life cold virus.  Both are equally annoying.  At least you're in a position Susan to get your computer cleaned up fast.   You and Holly have a nice trip this weekend.

And Deb---Niagra sounds like a wonderful trip.  I've never seen the falls and it's on my one-day to do list.

Kim---Glad you had a night out, and that you've forgiven hubby.  Those doghouses are crowded sometimes.  Heh heh

I get to venture out in the real world today.  I think dh is okay to leave alone.  I'm not going for fun, but groceries and to the bank.  It's been a long time since I considered grocery shopping a getaway outing---but it sort of feels like that after being housebound a while.

Everyone who is off to work today---have a great Wednesday.

Deb---Yes, your character who was insecure and changed her hair color I'm sure spoke to a lot of readers who do quirky little things to lift up their lives.  I think we'll all be looking for these tips when we read now.

Roz

Caron---Hope you added something to that tea to kick the old cold germs.  I love fall, but hate that the germs start exploding.  Almost time here for flu shots.

Shelly B---I hope you get your ms soon and send it on its merry way.  It's always  a good feeling.  Wanted to say I don't have a laptop for that very reason that I've tried them and what I type looks like a foreign language.

Jeannie---Glad all is well with you and your horse.  He was very clever.

Sam---Your question about salting in the little things that make characters much more real is something I like to see in stories.  I hope we don't start to lose that aspect of our books with shorter word counts.  Readers like the little things, too.  Because a lot of them comment on those points in letters I receive.  I love when readers write and discuss the characters as if they're real people they've just met and have come to know.

Hope everyone has a good Tuesday.  Shelly--you asked about my dh.  He's doing better every day.  Cut out one pain med and cut back on another.  That's progress.

Roz

Ronda---Sorry you have to pack for dh.  It's hard watching them trot off to work away from home.  I spent a lot of my life that way.  Can't say I ever got used to it.

Caron and Deb---I agree about facebook and myspace sucking up the time. 

Holly---I'm out on facebook, but I can't figure out how people find me.  If I can find you I'll friend you.  More congrats on your books.  I loved House on Briar Hill.  I wish Everlasting had made it in the reading world.  It needed more time, I think.

Ami--Sending you good vibes.

Vieve---So sorry to hear your friend had to go to the hospital.  I've seen too much of the inside of those lately.  She's lucky to have a good friend like you.

Ellen---Bill Gates was on the board of the college where I worked.  He slept through our board meetings.  He upset our lives by making all of the staff switch to microsoft products.  But---we forgave him, because he also demanded good training, something college staff rarely get.

Kay---We would not ditch you.  Sorry you're so busy.  But even checking in once in a while keeps everyone updated on what's happening with you.

Jodie---Were you the one who sent in the partial?  If so, good for you.  That's progress.  Hooray.

Sam---Good wishes coming your way on your p.t. job.  It seems a good match for you.

Marcie--Glad to hear you're safe in spite of shipping water.  That's always a hard thing to deal with.

Jeannie---Sorry your dh went through the spinal fluid leak.  It's no fun for the patient or the caregiver.  In Denny's case it was a cyst, not a tumor, but similar I think.  Today was a better day, however. 

Thanks everyone for your continued good thoughts.  I know I have revisions coming soon.  I hope dh gets really mobile before they arrive.

Has anyone heard from Carrie W. lately.  I know she's busy on her new day job.  I hope it's not getting the best of her.

Roz

Holly--First things, congratulations on your book being in top ten.  That's fabulous.  Deserves cyber champagne from all of us.

Kim---Sorry I missed your TV appearance.  I'm sure you were great.  Everyone who saw it says so.

Ami---Get well

Ronda---Sorry on the hurricane widow bit, but bless your dh for doing a really necessary job.

Marcie---Prayers for your friend, and you.  When bad things happen to close friends, it's like family.

Jeannie---I'm sure your dh knows what mine is going through.  We've had a better day today.  I've been missing from the thread because it's been a battle to get the right pain cocktail.

Debra---Thanks for your continued good wishes for Denny.  Caron--- thank you, too.  I think the good vibes are beginning to work.  Margot & everyone who sent healing thoughts, thanks.

Sam---no lawsuit.  We were warned of the possibility of cutting or nicking the spinal cord and leaking fluid in this kind of operation.  We just hoped it wouldn't happen.  Denny ended up needing 48 hours flat.  Then they sent him home too soon.  I do have issues with that.  Had I known in advance what to expect I might have had some help.  But, we sure learn what we're made of in these situations.  The good thing is that now I'm getting a bit more rest, and so is he.  So we're good to go another 10,000 miles before another major overhaul I hope.  (knock on wood)  Does anyone still do that?  I should be able to get at some of my tbr stack.  Keeping fingers crossed.

Vieve---I hope you're making inroads into your mud.  Thinking about you and anyone dealing with the storms kicked up by Ike.

The weekend's almost over, but those into football, there's still games today.  Yesterday i think I saw parts of more games than I generally watch.

Roz