Wreader Fun

I've been immersed in writing this past weekend and I loved it. But, it wasn't all while sitting in my corner in the house. Sat was the monthly mtg of the Sask Rom Writers (SRW) up in Saskatoon. Last time, I picked up a fellow member of our group blog Prairie Chicks Write Romance , and spent the trip talking about writing. This time, however, Karen couldn't make it so I was on my own. It's a 4 hr trip without stops, 4.5 to 5 with. One of my recent purchases had been an FM receiver so I could listen to my iPod in my vehicle. S ome cars/vans have a plug-in as part of the stereo system where you can plug your iPod in and the sound will come out through your vehicle's speakers, but my van isn't equipped with it. I needed to plug the FM receiver into the cigarette lighter which is normally just under the stereo system, around the air temperature controls. Not in the Chevy Uplander. For whatever reason, the cigarette lighter is an inch above the floor, under the pull-...

This week, instead of getting more spring-like, the weather reverted back to winter. As I watched the snow fall, I thought back to last summer. In particular, my treasure hunt to the Rock Pit in Souris, Manitoba last July. The pit is a working gravel pit. After paying a daily fee, I drove the short distance to the pit and parked in a designated area. With a squirt bottle of water, a bucket and a digging tool, I scrounged the pit. Click on any photo for a wonderful close-up showing the waxy texture that makes an agate easy to spot amongst all the other rocky material. Pictured in this main photo are 4 agates I found while exploring the pit. Some were lying at the bottom of rock slides, and others I dug for in the soft walls surrounding the pit. Agate is a microcrystalline impure form of quartz (silica), chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. The following photos are close-ups of the above agate Top left in the main photo, this chunky agate ...

I'm blogging about Floating Body Parts over at http://prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com/ today. Floating body parts is one aspect of writing that I have a problem following the rules because I don't get them. I believe in this case, the rules interfere with creative license. Here's a small portion of my post: Have we come so far from the old literary masters in our drive for perfection that we’re robbing our writing of it’s voice? Draining it of all those delightful phrases that immediately bring an image to mind? Peeling back the layers until a child could grasp the concept while the rest of us tire from boredom? Stripping the beauty of our words for the sake of a new set of rules? What do you think? Do you use FBP’s or other metaphors? Should they be banned or glorified? (btw - I know, I said I was going to work on a movie set today but the roads were so dangerous last night when hubby drove back from the city that he adivsed against it. Car, trucks and semi's l...

I'm hyped! I've been called up to work as an extra on a new movie that's being shot in the city. This is my work other than writing, and since I haven't worked since last summer, I have to haul out my work bag and ensure all my clothes are clean and packed. And not just any clothes: - solid colors (no prints or patterns) - tops can't be black, white, red or yellow - no logos or other identifiable markings including footwear Then of course, it's the 3rd week of March. I need to be prepared for all types of weather. Oh, I sure hope we're not doing a summer scene. Brrr. Tomorrow night (Wed) I'll receive a phone call and someone will tell me: - my call time (start time) - the location (I believe this one's in Regina) - the season (I wore a parka in hot Aug weather once) - the 3 changes of clothing minimum I'm expected to bring (business clothes, casual, jammies or swimwear) :) Now this sounds like fun and sometimes it is, but usually, it's 3 hrs ...

With one week left before the deadline of the big Genesis contest of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), I should have my entries out. I don't. But, for a good reason - one of the lovely ladies who support my writing as a Critique Partner (CP) challenged me to improve my ms, An Outlaw for the Lady . While critting it, she saw where I could put the heroine in a position to make the hero more redeemable in the eyes of the reader. Obviously, it hadn't occurred to me but now that it has, I'm wondering how to do it for the best advantage in the small amount of space available. The Genesis contest is only 15 pages long. An additional scene at the beginning would mean re-adjusting the last pages entered so it ends on a hook. Yes, we want the judges to read the 15th page and say, 'Wow! I want to read the rest of this.' Yet, I'm already on page 15 so now the question is this - once I've added my 'hero' scene, do I backup and find a new hook? Or do ...

So there I was answering my email and I heard these noises outside as if someone or thing was running through the bushes on the other side of the wall. Last fall the neighbor's pigs escaped and were running amok in the same spot. I grabbed my camera, slipped into my boots and charged outside, still in my fleecy jammies. (yes, again) And I stood there in awe. In a white world, a fog bank caused the world outside the yard to just disappear. No wind. The temp is sitting at -2C/28F causing the fluffy coating of overnight snow to melt and drop from the trees in small patches. As the snow dropped, the branches snapped back into place. Snap. Crackle . All over the yard like an orchestra. And every once in awhile, the crack of a rifle shot. As usual, I headed to my favorite viewing area along the driveway. As I stood near our farm sign and looked up to take a photo, the clouds slipped off the sun. Oh, the warm sun, gorgeous after our long, cold winter. While I trudged back to the house, t...

Welcome to Draper's Acres - our official farm name. You can see our farm in the middle of this photo - behind the shack. Yes, right in the middle of that copse of trees. I took this photo yesterday - March 19th because it proves that there is grass beneath all that snow - can you see the grass in the foreground of the photo? It might be brownish colored at this time, but trust me, it is definitely grass. During winters of heavy snow cover like this one, many farmers feed the wild deer population. You can see them in herds up to 40 strong just standing in the pastures munching. But as soon as the van stops, they take off running. This is Chapters, a book store in Regina. I took this photo to show efriend Stephanie Newton where her new Love Inspired Suspense book - Perfect Target - was located. If you look close - real close - in the middle of the pic, you can see my daughter pointing to it. :) Here's my daughter, Jessica pointing to Perfect Target among the rest of the Harlequ...

It's Thurs so that means I'm blogging over at Prairie Chicks Write Romance . Today's post is based on the Randy Ingermanson workshop I attended at the ACFW conference last fall where he delved into an explanation of his blog post, 'Those Pesky MRU's' . MRU's stand for Motivation - Reaction Units and it's all about how every thing we do has a reaction. However, every reaction has 3 distinct parts and they all happen in sequence. When you're writing, you need to relay the sequence in the correct order or you'll lose points with the reader on the believability scale. So, if you have time, head over to http://prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com and join our discussion on Randy's MRU's. Read more on Randy's blog at: http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/index.php . Randy also has a free Advanced Fiction Writing e-zine which you can sign up for on his blog. My questions for today are: Do you write action scenes? Have you ever thou...

If you don't see me out and about on the blogs, it's because I'm working on a deadline for the end of March. More specifically, I'm: - critting my critique partner's work - revising work that my critique partners crit for me, or - writing. And what have you been doing, lately?

I have 2 applications downloaded onto my iPod Touch for reading eBooks. This is not a technical review - just my findings so far: Stanza – This was the first ereader I downloaded. Once I figured out I needed to add a Stanza application to my desktop, it was easy to transfer eBooks to my Touch using WiFi which we have in our house. - The text can be adjusted to your comfort level regarding size, font and line spacing. It was very bright when I brought it to bed and read in a dark room, but it was better than putting on a bigger light and waking hubby. - I also didn’t realize until today that instead of having a bright white background, I could have changed it to black and changed the text color to white. That takes away the brightness. However, I found the letters give off a slight blur although I’m not sure why. - To counteract this, I changed the background to dark green and the text to grey. I can now read it in daylight or in the night without it ‘glaring at me’. - However, if I do...

I had such positive response to my 'fog photos' and the other scenic ones I've posted that I'm thinking of using one day a week as a Photo Day and just posting some pics of what's happening here around the farm. I noticed that Cheryl St John does the same thing over on her blog at http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/ and I don't want to look like I'm copying her, but I don't know exactly where the idea came from either. And, I am visiting her blog quite often. Cheryl is a fantastic photographer and some of her pics simply amaze me with her talent. If you go look at hers, don't think you'll find the same calibre here, but at least my pics will give everyone an idea if I'm snowed under or flooded over, you know? What do you think? Would you mind looking at pics while I write in the background?

It's Thursday so I'm blogging over at Prairie Chicks Write Romance . I thought I'd have a bit of fun today and show you what I learned at a writing workshop about how to write from a male's point of view (POV). In that vein, I've got all the do's and don'ts and think-abouts when it comes to being a male. At least as it was passsed on to me by a female under the direct tutelage of a male. I've also included a list of books written by male romance writers who hid behind female pen names. So, head on over and check it out. These are the questions I'm asking this time around: Are there any names on the list that surprised you? Are there any character traits here that you don’t agree with? When was the last time you just sat there and watched a man – for research purposes, of coourse...

Most evenings, we all gather in the living room to watch a TV show together. I say most because if I’m on a deadline, I take my laptop down to my bedroom and write. Usually, though, I’ll just sit in my recliner with my laptop. Since I live in a house filled with musicians, tonight’s TV show of choice was American Idol. So, while hubby and teen daughter critiqued the contestants, I settled down to do research, book reviews, etc. Tonight while I sat there watching Idol, I was surfing the net looking for ‘To Do List’ gadgets. Or widgets. Or whatever they’re called. Right in the blogger layout, they listed 49 different kinds of ‘To Do Lists’. You’d think I’d be able to find one. Nope. All I want is a simple To Do List that I can adjust as the day or week goes on. You’d think it would be easy but it’s not. Every one I find is flawed in some way. But, I’ll keep looking. For now, Idol is over so I’ll post this then get back to work as everyone else heads to bed. Have you found a nifty ‘To Do...

Holiday Ilusion by Lynette Eason Love Inspired Suspense Nov 08 Another excellent book for my Top 10 list. What I really liked about this well written story was that the author pulled me in. Of course, I knew who the bad guy was but it still held my interest. Did I really know anything, though? A surprise twist hit me broadside. It was all so clear once I knew the complete picture. The author ensured not a single loose end from even the tiniest thread was left hanging. I also loved the way the author weaved the salvation story, prayer and scripture into the story. A part of their lives, but never obtrusive. Years ago, Anna Freeman ran for her life from her hometown but when she's asked to go back, she realizes she wants to stop running. She doesn’t have to, but a sick little boy needs someone to accompany him and Anna feels it’s time to face her fears. She’s accompanying Dr. Lucas and wonders if their 'just friends' relationship will change back on American soil. Not that sh...

I know I did some writing in Feb, but it was mixed in with all this fun stuff: I won 2 free books! It’s been a couple months since I won anything so this was a thrill: 1 – I won a copy of Perfect Target after leaving a comment on new Love Inspired Suspense author Stephanie Newton’s blog at http://stephanienewton.blogspot.com/ . Since I already had the book in question (and my teen daughter is raving about it), Steph graciously decided to send me a free copy of her next release, Moving Target due out this summer. 2 – I rec’d an email from Becky Germany over at Barbour Books saying I’d won a copy of Desert Roses with the new cover designed Heartsong Presents repack collections. Apparently, I’d missed the announcement about me winning in all the Dec/Christmas stuff which included my 30th anniversary. I really appreciate Becky hanging onto the book for me and finally tracking me down to claim it. Look for the gorgeous new design here: http://editcafe.blogspot.com/2008/12/act-fast-and-wi...

Okay, for those of you who haven't heard my good news by now (hey Bon-nie...) I am blessed. Not only has God blessed me with the ability to entertain with my writing and my photos, but now I've received an honor that even after a week, still boggles my mind. I've actually been chosen as eHarlequin's Member of the Month! Yup. Me. Wow. Everytime I go over to http://community.eharlequin.com/ I see my own mugshot. It's weird in a good kind of way. And it'll be there until the end of March. Writing-wise, the only thing better than receiving this blessing would be for my favorite Harlequin editor to phone me up saying she'd like to buy my manuscript. This sure beats the rejection I rec'd at the end of Feb from an editor not wanting to buy my manuscript. Like I said, I am so blessed.

Sweet Surrender by Michelle Monkou Kimani Romance Sep 06 This my first Kimani Romance and as such, I’m having a hard time writing this review. Normally, I try to concentrate on the entertainment value of the story itself and ignore small writing problems. But this time I can’t do it. I found this story to be filled with inconsistencies I’m going to call plot holes. At least if I had critiqued this prior to publication, I would have thrown up numerous red flags so the author could have changed things. At the end of each chapter, the author wrote a hook about a pivotal part of the story to get me to eagerly turn the page. And, I did. But the new chapter started somewhere else. Usually, no mention was even made of how much time had passed between the chapter ending and the new scene. I’d read on, still eager to find out where the chapter ending hook story led. But the closest I came to closure was a mere paragraph or sentence of explantion. Yet a couple of these chapter endings should hav...

It's Thursday, so I'm blogging over at Prairie Chicks Write Romance today. Last Thurs, I showed how Google Earth can help you research locations you can’t physically check out yourself. Today, I wanted to show you how I researched the location for my Prairie Junction series . I went on a recce (reconnaissance mission) down to North Dakota, visited with the locals and took a few pics. I even walked into the Divide Country Sheriff's office and spent some time chatting with him. Yes, I have proof. :) So, come on over and tell us your adventures. Again, thats: http://prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com/ How do you chose your locations? Do you pick somewhere familiar and close? Do you throw a dart at a map? Do you think an author should have enough creative license to chose a known location then add a bunch of fictional elements?

I’m supposed to be working on a newsletter right now but when I went to get my breakfast, I looked out my kitchen window and my writing faded into the fog I saw outside at the edge of the yard. Now you have to understand that although most people see fog as this dense impenetrable mist, I see it as another photographic opportunity. So, I grabbed my camera, slid my bare feet into my boots, my arms into my ‘walking coat’, and my hands into my gloves. A smile was already on my face as I clasped the door knob and twisted. Just before I pulled it open, I glanced at the clock. Did I have time before the bus came? It wouldn’t do to be caught outside in my navy, pink and white striped velour jammies because well... you know... kids talk. And the bus driver ‘s our male neighbor. But, the school bus wouldn’t be rumbling up the driveway for another half hour. Good. I stepped outside and stopped smiling. Now I can’t tell you the exact sequence of events, but I realized two things immediately. The ...

Just before 8 yesterday morning, I left home and drove to Regina to pick up Karen - another Prairie Chick . It was cold with the temps hovering at -30C/-20F. With Karen for company and a cappuccino for comfort, I settled in for the 2.5 hr drive north to the city of Saskatoon where our writing group, the Saskatchewan Romance Writers was holding its monthly meeting. I’m afraid poor Karen had to sit there and list to me go on and on as if I was starved for adult company. Well, it wasn’t the adult company I had craved but the interaction with another writer. And once she got in my van, I had a captive audience and wasn’t about to miss out on the opportunity. So far, the only negative part of the day had been rushing out the door without checking http://www.prairiechickswriteromance.com/ and greeting Renee Ryan, our guest blogger. But when I arrived at the site for the SRW mtg, our hostess Myrene, booted up her computer and I was able to ensure the blog was fine without me. Renee was respo...