My first short story is still available on Amazon.com

I'm Grateful to be able to walk.

It's been so long since I last visited this blog site, I forgot it was still around. There has been so many changes in my life. Five surgeries in the last six years, rotator cup surgery, and 2 knee scopes in both legs, and finally both knees replaced.  I'm hoping that I am done with surgeries for a ver very long time.  I found that I am an extremely slow healer.  Three years after knee replacement and I still limp, swell, with pain.  When my orthopedic doctor suggested going in and trimming and tightening my knees, I said no thanks!  There is no guarantee it would fix the problem. Four years ago I was using a wheelchair if I wanted to go anywhere like the mall or long walks.  Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband who took good care of me.  So with all these minor issues, I am grateful to be able to walk again.
SA

Gratitude

This year's Thanksgiving is now just a memory. Reflecting on this holiday, I realized how grateful that I am to be blessed with a wonderful supportive husband. He is always encouraging me to write by giving me time, a beautiful office with special handmade furniture, and many gifts to make my writing easier like new computers when he thinks they are getting too old and other tools of a writers trade. In real life, he is my tall handsome hero. Also, I am grateful for my family. They too are supportive and give me lots of praise and kudos. This past weekend during a visit to our family in Arizona, my 13 year old granddaughter told me she followed my "Mary's Christmas Wish" when it first came out for the first couple of months as it hit the #1 spot for weeks on end. I was amazed she would be interested and track the story's progress. She told me how proud she was that she had an "author for a grandmother". The best compliment of all was when she told me she liked that I wrote stories that had good morals (and ethics). I overheard my 9 year old grandson tell someone that his grandma was an author! Guess I better get busy and live up to their high expectations of being an author by writing the best story I can. Thank you to all of my family members and great friends who support my writing, by giving me kudos, or purchasing my Christmas story. I am grateful to be truly blessed.

Where do I start after suffering from Writer's block?

Ok, it's been long enough having writer's block. Time for me to get back to what I enjoy doing.... Creating fun to read stories. Decided I'm probably going to rejoin my old critique group, if they'll have me. Since they were the ones I hung out with at HOW Conference, I'm guessing they'll have me! :) I'm not sure where to start - a new book, or work on the last book that is half finished or finally do my edits on the two books that are finished. Guess I need to look at my goals. I really wanted to get my pro-status this year, and the only way to do that is to send in to the Publishing houses. That's pretty scary. Not that I would get a rejection, but what if they want it? Then I'd have to perform.

FEAR - The thought is running around in my brain - 'What if I don't know how to write/edit anymore?' This is really what is holding me back. If I don't know where to start - then just sit down and do something. Everything needs to be done, pick something and do it. :)

Heart of the West Conference 2010

This October I was fortunate to attend the annual Heart of the West Conference held at the Canyons in Park City, UT. The conference was held close to our rooms and were perfect for our needs. The food, networking and companionship was excellent. The setting outside was spectacular with fall colors at peak season. Saturday morning, I was looking out my hotel room window, and I saw three moose; two adults and one baby. They were just meandering along a path like they had all the time in the world. What a great day to start out the day. Our time was filled with workshops, HOW award luncheon, and hearty Scottsmen wearing kilts and playing their instruments for our entertainment. Those handsome Scottsmen were so appropriate for our Romance Writers group. Our guest author and speaker, New York Times bestseller Christine Feehan spoke in a down to earth way about her writing career. A couple tips she gave were - know your character's so well from the time they were born to present. - Know who you are as a writer. Know your shortcomings as well as your strengths and put tools in place to accomodate them. Example, If you are always rewriting where you can't finish the book, then make a point of not doing any rewriting until the book is finished. If you think of something to add to your story, instead of going back to put in, jot down notes and save them until the book is done. (I for one will try that method) She managed to give us encouragment to keep writing even in these tough financial times with publishing houses not buying as many books. Bottom line. Keep writing and improving our craft. * Our guest agent Laurie Mcclean from Larsen Pomada Literary Agency advised us when we contact an agent to mention something personal, like - we met at URWA Conference, and to make our query brief, powerful and personal. I loved how fun and approachable she was too! The marketing gals, Buzzbuster.com Nash and Shahar were very informative also. They told us how easy it is to market our books through the internet, facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

August 2010

July 2nd had shoulder surgery - it kicked me in the behind for way too long. It's already mid-August and I'm still sporting the chick black sling. I've heard black goes with everything! I don't think so in this case. Went to doctor yesterday and was told I no longer have to sleep with it on! Yeah!! Got behind the wheel of my car to see if I'd be able to drive, no go! Darn it! :(

Summer has been a wash, not able to do too much around house or yard. Although did get my kitchen updated. It looks soo good, I'm glad it's done. Now have to get the painting done in my kitchen, greatroom and hallway. Also plan to tile up the fireplace. Garden has been slim-pickin's, a few tomatoes although small, some sweet peas, 1 turnip, guess I better fertilize soon.

As far as writing goes, I have started editing Just Rewards. Had a few requests from editors but it's been so long, don't know if they will still want them. Oh well, updating and editing and hope to send it in soon. Would like to get my Pro status with RWA this year.

Thanksgiving 2009 - Opening of Christmas in Goodyear 2009

Christmas is almost upon us. The year has flown by so quickly. As I get ready to make preparations for decorating the house, Christmas gift shopping and preparing for our upcoming trip to the Mexican Carribean, I reflect over this year. It has been one of my least productive years in the past 20+ years. I found myself backing away from living life to the fullest, sitting on the sidelines. I think sometime a person needs a bit of time, to look at the direction of the path they are following and decide if one is ready to follow a new and exciting path. I hit that time in my life and decided that I had to make a change. I regularly make resolutions Jan 1st - rarely to follow thru with the intended goal. This next year, I will succeed. especially with my writing goals and weight loss.