B.K. Birch - Writer's Blog

Moved again

2011-11-27T10:28:00.000-08:00

Please visit www.bkbirch.com for my new blog.

I've Moved!!!

2007-07-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

I've moved. Please visit my new and improved blog at: http://bkbirch.wordpress.com/ .
Please take a moment and update your links.

It's a Statistical Anomaly

2007-06-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

I am home all by myself. It certainly wasn't planned, but here I am all alone.Now being alone might bother some people, yet I'm loving it. We had plans to spend the day with some friends at the lake, but B4 was invited by a friend to go to the beach for a week and I had to wait until he got picked up. Hubby took B1, B2 and B3 to the lake without me.

I suppose I could drive out there now, but to be honest, I hate boats and I loathe lake water. It scares me because it seems bottomless and a little "hungry" for someone like me who is not a good swimmer. I much prefer a pool and the breaking waves of the ocean. I think I might have drowned in a past life.

I just got my hair done and I'm getting ready to polish my toes. Sure I could go get a pedicure, but I really don't mind doing it myself (when I have time) and I'm saving twenty-five bucks to boot! Of course I've got the usual laundry and little things to do, but I still have plenty of time to kick back and goof off!

I've got all of the short stories, articles, author interviews and poetry ready to be formatted and uploaded to The Scruffy Dog Review. I'll probably get some of that done later this afternoon.

Ta Ta!

Bad Bad Day

2007-06-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

Our beloved Maggie, a thirteen-year old German Shepard died this evening. She was so old and weak. I feel like I've lost a child and I'm beyond grief. I'll miss you old girl.

B1 wants another dog. I don't think now is a good time. And if we do decide to get another dog, it will be a mutt, preferably a rescue dog.

On top of that my desktop computer crashed last night during one of those damn horrendous thunderstorms that passed through. I took it to the shop to see if it can be repaired. Most of my files are safely backed up, but I did have alot of music that wasn't backed up. The big problem is that it acted as the server for our home network. Right now I have the laptop hooked up, but it is a sorry replacement. Why can't we ever have gentle rains around here? We get torrential rains, hail and high winds every time it rains. Could it be global warming?

I haven't written a darn thing since the last edit of my novel. I mailed it out to the requesting publisher last Thursday, so now I wait.

MEAN PEOPLE SUCK!

2007-06-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

To the f*cking b*stard to hit the beautiful dog and left it for dead in Northeast Charlotte this morning, I HOPE SOMEONE RUNS OVER YOU AND LEAVES YOU FOR DEAD YOU STUPID *SS! THANKS A LOT FOR MAKING ME WATCH AS THIS POOR ANIMAL HOWLED IN AGONIZING PAIN BEFORE IT FINALLY DIED RIGHT WHEN THE POLICE PULLED UP TO HELP IT.

Many, many thanks to the wonderful police officer to tried to help the dog. I was at the red light and I certainly was prepared to pull over, storm out into traffic and rescue the poor animal as soon as I could get on the other side of the intersection. I think several other commuters were preparing to go the same and if the culprit would have been there, we might have seriously injured him or her.

Well, thanks to human indifference and utter cruelty, I haven’t had a good day. I can’t get the image of that poor creature out of my head. On top of that, my own dog also had a horrific night. We had tremendous storms last night, and unbeknownst to me, Maggie had tangled herself up so she couldn’t get inside her house when the rain came. My husband found her this morning still tangled up. Poor thing didn’t even bark. I’m so in tune to her bark, I certainly would have heard her because I was awake for hours last night.

She’s thirteen-years-old with arthritis in her hips and she no longer has control over where she goes to the bathroom. I can’t let her inside the house anymore and it breaks my heart. Unfortunately, we have to keep her tied up. She’s on about three meds to help with the pain and usually is pretty mobile. But, like old people, she has her good days and bad days. I suppose when the bad days outnumber the good days it will be her time. Sometimes I wonder if having a pet is worth it. Losing them is like losing a member of the family and it hurts.

All in all, it is not a good day!

Where have all the blogs gone? Miss Snark - gone. Nadia Cornier - finito. Ramblings of a Suburban Soccer Mom - on haitus. Even my own blog has become more and more sporadic. Has blogging lost it's appeal? Have we said everything that needs to be said? Nah, probably not. Perhaps it's time to search from some new ones to get addicted to.

And Done! . . . AGAIN!

2007-06-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

My eyeballs are bleeding, my brain has been reduced to mush and my fingers are fried, but the novel is DONE! I'm printing on my trusty old Canon Bubbjet printer while I'm typing up this blog post. I've back it all up and sent a copy to my email server. Tomorrow I'll place my baby in the mail and hope for the best.

The rest of the week will be spent on the Summer Issue of The Scruffy Dog Review and then it's back to the YA Fantasy. I can't wait to get back on the new WIP. Sometimes it's better to create than edit.

Uneventful but busy day at work. There were a couple of quality issues that were urgent, but it's all been taken care of. Yay me!

I can't type anymore today. Heck, I can't think anymore. Just 200 more pages on the printer and I'm calling it a night.

A Glaring Defect

2007-06-19T18:44:00.001-07:00

I thought I was almost finished with the edits/polishing of the novel. I was thirty-tw0 pages away from the end. MY ENDING IS TOO RUSHED! I can't believe I didn't see it before. It is full of suspense and the writing is good, but it's almost like "and then they did some stuff and blah, blah, blah" THE END.

I worked on some ideas to fill in the holes and draw it out more without putting the reader to sleep. For those of you who've read my ending, it won't change -- much. It certainly won't be pristine with all the loose ends tied up. It will still make some people mad, but it'll also keep them thinking. I'll sleep on them tonight and get busy tomorrow.

The day job is going okay. The "busy" season planning is behind me and now all I have to do is tweak a few parts here and there and I should be okay. Now that I've said that, the bottom will probably fall out first thing tomorrow morning.

Have you ever thought everything was going okay and then something happens that makes you question your sanity? It happened today at work and I swear the culprit did it just to shake me out of my comfort zone. It wasn't necessary. I was just beginning to come out of my shell and talk to a few folks, but now I'm crawling back into my "happy place" and just doing my job. I can't elaborate more, but it kind of ticked me off. I'll get over it, I suppose.

Well, off to write in my sleep.

Soul Searching and Kitty Problems

2007-06-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

On the writing front, I’m still in the middle of my last and final read through of my novel and then it is off to the Publisher who requested a full. Then it’s back to the YA fantasy.

I received some great feedback from my writers group on a short story, so I polished it up and submitted it. Now we wait.

I received the interview answers back from the author to the Summer Issue of The Scruffy Dog Review. I’ll work on that later this week, but not until I finish the novel.

I haven’t been writing too much lately and I just haven’t missed it as much as I would have liked. Instead, the break got me thinking a lot about what I’ve been missed and/or neglected since I was “bitten” by the writing bug.

Since I’ve been serious about writing, which I’ve estimated the time to be around mid-2004, I’ve had a few successes (which seemed worth it at the time), but I’ve probably wasted more time and money on this “dream” than I’ll ever get back. I have to be honest with myself and come to terms that the effort I’m putting forth just isn’t paying off. Even when I’m not writing, there’s always a plot twisting churning in my head or nonstop character chatter. Let’s face it, I’m not going to be a best-seller and that’s if I get published at all. The odds are against me in this business in that there are many writers who are just as talented (if not more), better connected in the business and hungrier to succeed.

I haven’t completely thrown in the towel, but I’m certainly moving more towards my writing being a hobby and not an all-consuming force that everyone around me must reckon with. Who knows, I’ll probably come to my senses in a week or two.

There’s been a lot going on outside of writing since I last posted. I spent yet another weekend at the softball field where B3’s team won the WFC State Championship. It was a long hot weekend. B2’s team placed second in a tournament the prior weekend. I got sunburned because the rest of us hung out at the pool while B2 and hubby traveled to the games.

I fell at the bottom of the basement steps last week and twisted my ankle. It’s not broken, but it is a bit tender. The kids are not allowed upstairs with their cleats on and so there’s a spot in the basement by the steps where they take them off. Well, every shoe they own is now in that pile and one of them managed to trip me up. I think it was B3’s shoe. When I fell, I also messed up my shoulder when I landed.

About two weeks ago my little black kitty named Puma went missing. I didn’t think too much about it because he is pretty much an outside cat. I normally find him sitting in the kitchen window, waiting for me to let him in to eat every morning, but he hadn’t been there for awhile.

I’ve been walking around the neighborhood in the evening, and ran across him once by a small creek. He followed me, B4 and B3 half way home, but fell back. I assumed he’d come home when he was ready, but he never did.

Last night, I and B2 went walking again, and we called out for him where I saw him last. He never showed. We walked up a hill and around the block and back by the area again. We called and called. Nothing. I called out and waited some more. At last, Puma came out of the bushes towards me, stretching his back like he had just woke up. I was so happy! I scooped him up and gave him a hug. He’s not an affectionate animal, so I put him down to follow us home.

He kept wandering off, so I told B2 to stay with him while I walked home and get the truck. I started back to the house.

“Mom, come back!” B2 called.

“What!” I was already about 50 yards away from them, so if I had to walk back, it better be important.

“Just come back!”

I walked back to where she and Puma was.

“That boy over there is calling ‘here kitty, kitty, kitty’ to Puma.”

I looked through the trees and sure enough, there was a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy calling my kitty.

I called out to the boy, politely saying, “He’s my cat. He’s been missing for a few weeks now and I’m taking him home.” I scooped him up and carried him home. I suppose karma got me, because I fell in a hole in someone’s yard (I couldn’t walk in the street because the passing cars were making Puma skittish) and twisted my ankle again. That’s okay though because I got my kitty back.

I think some dogs got between him and the walk home, because there were a few locations on the way home where he got really scared. I know dogs live there and usually they’re very friendly and the owners have invisible fencing, but how is a cat supposed to know that.

So now, Puma is strictly an indoor cat and I broke out the litter box after I got him settled. I detest litter boxes, but I’m not going lose my cat again.

I got B4 signed up for football and B1 signed up for Drivers Education, which just happens to be the same week as the NSA World Series and sometime in there, I have to go to work. Busy, busy, busy.

Trying to Get My Act Together

2007-06-04T19:26:00.000-07:00

Geez, it's already June! I'm still trying to figure out how I spent April. The day job is getting a little hectic, hence the MIA, but tonight I put together a little plan in an attempt to balance work, family and writing.

We finally bit the bullet and joined the local country club. We're not really the "country club" type, but they were offering a great deal on the golf membership and we just couldn't pass it up. Everyone in the family owns golf clubs except for me and B3, so I hope we can get our money out of it. It is a bit fancy and I'll certainly have to get used to behaving myself. But hey, I am what I am and for the most part, what you see is what you get. The board had to vote to allow us to join, but they approved. The best thing about it all is that it is right behind our house, so the kids can walk to the pool while I'm at work.

Two weeks ago I asked my manager if I could be put on full-time employment. My numbers were good and the company has benefited from my work so I figured now was as good a time as any. I'm working full-time but with my kids in a school where I have to provide the transportation, I'm not in the office full-time. But, the way I see it, if I'm working full-time, I should be allowed the benefits other full-time employees get. My manager agreed (much to my surprise and delight) and now we're just waiting on signatures.

I did edit a few more pages of my novel that a publisher requested. It's slow going but I want the work to be thorough. It's tighter now and definitely has a better flow. Let's hope they like it.

Another publisher has had my YA Historical for almost a year now. I've contacted them and they're still very interested. I just wish they'd make a decision already.

I plan to finish at least anothe 100 pages of the novel and get it out to the publisher within the next few weeks. So I best get busy.

Happy Monday

2007-05-21T03:44:00.000-07:00

Before I forget, my younger sister turns 32 today! Happy Birthday Lori! Also big congratulations to my writer friends Lara and Kris who both just had babies! I'd post Kris's link, but she sort of kept her pregnancy quiet, so I need to respect that! My nephew turns 18 on Wednesday. Ugh, I remember when he was such a cute little guy. Now he's all grown up and will be heading off to college soon.

I'm up early so I thought I'd clear some cobwebs before I get the kids up. This weekend is now a blur. I spent most of Saturday with B2 which usually never happens and she had a friend spend the night. Hubby and I tried to get together with friends for a few drinks, but their daughter also plays travel softball and they were on the ballfield. So, after dinner I took B1 shopping which again, usually never happens. Hubby made me suffer through the movie, Forty-year-old Virgin - definitely written by men for men. 'Nuff said.

Sunday, B4 had two baseball games and B3 went to a friend's house which again, usually never happens because she's always playing softball. So other than B4's two games on Sunday, we had a typical weekend.

I've got to get a bit more creative about finding writing time. Tonight, I need to walk the track while B2 has softball practice, but I can probably squeeze in an hour after that. I don't watch television as I removed that little pleasure a long time ago. I haven't even watched LOST since it stopped for a break back in February. I do surf the net alot though - MUST . . . STOP . . . !I've tried to get up at 5 am and write but by 3 pm the same day, I'm so wiped out that I'm useless. I think I'll give it another shot though.

I did something to my jaw. I have TMJ, but two-and-a-half-years of braces really helped. Now my jaw feels funny, like it's not put together right at the joint. I might have slept on it wrong.

Well, I better go get the kiddos up for school.

No, I didn't fall off . . .

2007-05-18T16:30:00.001-07:00

. . . the face of the earth. It probably seems like it though. I have tonight off . . . well, correct that. B4 had a baseball game, but I declined to go. I felt bad, but good golly, I haven't had a night off all week. Monday, B3 and B2 had ballet and B2 had softball practice, Tuesay, B3 had ballet and B3 had softball practice, Wednesday, B4 had a baseball game and B3 had softball practice and Thursday B3 had a school function that she was required to attend and B2 had softball practice. Hubby was out of town until yesterday and I'm pooped!

I’ve been tagged by Michelle to give eight random facts/habits about themselves. Since everyone I *know* in the blogging world has been tagged already, I don't have anyone else to tag. So, here goes my eight.

1. I really don't like kids as much as one would think. I know I have four of them. I adore babies but when they get older . . . well . . . eh. I can take them or leave them.

2. I talk to myself all the time. I mean ALL THE TIME. I'm really bad when I'm alone in the truck. I'm talking so much, one would think I'm singing.

3. I love being by myself. Of course I'm never by myself so that's probably why.

4. I drive a Red Ford F150 Full Cab Truck with custom rims, chrome package and DVD players in the headrests. Odd for a middle-aged mother of four.

5. My gray hair is growing in resembling a skunk pattern. You know, one big stripe in the center and two thinner stripes on the side. It's a genetic thing. Thank goodness I have an awesome hairdresser!

6. I can sleep anytime and anywhere. Just give me a blanket and a pillow and I'm gone.

7. I'm nuts for those boring T. V. channels like The History Channel and The Discovery Channel.

8. I haven't written one word since Monday.

B3's softball tournament was cancelled this weekend(which set off an ugly chain of events in which I'm only an observer and not an active participant), B1 has basketball practice on Saturday, B2 has a party with her softball team (like she doesn't spend enough time with them already), B3 has nothing to do and B4 has a baseball game on Sunday. A pretty light weekend despite my Mount Everest laundry pile in the basement.

Have a great weekend all!

A little progress . . .

2007-05-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

I've red-inked 18 pages of the novel. Changed a bit here, removed something over there and added a few things. It reads much better.

Sorry, I really don't have much else to say right now. Toodles!

Brenda

A New Week!

2007-05-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Hopefully I'll have a more productive week. Both B2's and B3's team placed third in a one-day softball tournament yesterday and got home very late. I hung out with B1 and B4 (the boys) and went out for a nice dinner after B4's baseball game yesterday. They lost but B4 had a good game.

Yesterday I received a request for a full of my manuscript from an Independent Publisher. This week I'll be re-reading the entire manuscript one more time before I sent it off.

It seems like every time I get a bit of good news, the "put down" choir rears its ugly head. The choir consists of mostly those doubting voices in my head but there is a part of the choir that is flesh and bone. The one who rolls his eyes when I discuss anything writing related or quickly changes the subject after saying something ugly about my dream. The one who insists I'll never make it and the one who says, "You can keep all the money you make writing. It will never add up to what you've spent." Well, I may not get my novel published this year, next year or even the year after that, but I'll never stop trying. I won't stop trying because I know it pisses you off that I have a dream and the talent to achieve it. So FUCK YOU! Whew, I feel better now.

I'd best get editing!

Sometimes I wonder . . .

2007-05-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

. . . why we run the girls all over the state to play softball. And then I see this and it becomes clear. Here is B3 during her last tournament.

Where have I been?

2007-05-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

At the Ballfield!

Last night, B4's Challenge Team won the CCBL 4A Tournament! They are an awesome team and B4's lucky to be with such a great group of coaches and kids! B4 is in the top row, second on the right with the really, really bad hat-head.

Last weekend, B2's team placed 3rd the the "Sweet Sixteen" tournament. They played really well. B2's team came in 2nd in the same tournament in the 10U age group. They should have won, but had a meltdown in the Championship game. Oh well, there's always going to be another tournament.

I'll blog more later, but I wanted to get this pic posted!

It's all in the voice . . .

2007-04-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the MIA. It's busy season at the day job - I work in the lawn care equipment biz and it's trimmer / blower season - and I've been travelling on the weekends with the kids. I spent last weekend in "loverly" Greensboro while hubby got the pleasure of spending time in Rocky Mount.

The team reserved rooms in a really poorly managed hotel. I won't give names, but I'll never stay in that chain again. I drove past it in the morning before B3's first game and I had a bad feeling. I should have acted on it, but since I didn't choose the place, I didn't want to look like a snob and change hotels. Next time I'll be a snob.

Anyhow, it all ended well with B3's team taking the tournament in four games. B2's team played in Rocky Mount and and took third place. Of course I had both B1 and B4 with me.

I've been reading agent blogs about what's tired and boring in YA Fantasy, took this quiz and thankfully only answered yes to two of the questions and I've fretted and fretted that I'm writing something that's already been done to death.

I browsed the YA section of both Borders and Barnes and Noble and what did I discover on the New Releases Table? Books about quests, ancient prophecies, dwarfs, elves, magic and my gosh, some of them even contained illustrated maps of beautifully built worlds. They were brilliant and I was immediately sucked in by many of them.

The lesson I have learned from this is (I believe) is that it's all about style and voice. That's what sets the Tolkiens, Rowlings and Lewis' apart from the pack. I've been told my "voice" is almost lyrical in style. I don't think I can do much to change that and I'm not even going to try. I am what I am and I'm going to write the book I want and if it sells fine, if it doesn't then I tried.

"Speaking" of the YA Fantasy, I hit a bit of a snafu last week and I've had to stop and think how I'm going to proceed. I am a panser, meaning that I have a general idea about the plot of the book, but there is no concrete direction, no outline and certainly no synopsis. I start writing with a broad view and let the story take me to where ever. It sounds more creative and "artsy" than outlining each chapter and writing a detailed synopsis of the entire book before even one word it written, but successful authors are those who are doing the legwork before they start writing the book.

Author Michelle Miles sums it up pretty good here. I did have the first 2/3 of the book outlined by chapter and the writing flowed so smoothly it seemed effortless. Well, now that I'm on the home stretch with no chapter outline, I've become scatterbrained.

I have the outline flow in my head, but I've been to lazy to put it on paper. There are times when I could have have written it down, but just didn't. I just didn't feel like it. I suppose I just don't feel like being published either. Sometimes I just truly become so disgusted with myself I can't take it. But no matter how bad my opinion of myself, the outline has to get done!

Rain, Rain and More Rain

2007-04-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

It started yesterday. Booming thunder, brilliant lightening and then the rain poured from dark heavy clouds. This morning, the sun teased me with a few moments of light and then the clouds were back, dumping more water on my already soaked lawn. The temperature, a once balmy seventy degrees has dropped to forty-one degrees with the darkness. Where the ef is spring?

One would think that with all outside activities cancelled -- including the last day of B2's softball tournament and B4's baseball game -- that I'd get some writing in. I would have thought so too, but after washing all of the bed sheets and five other loads of laundry, grocery shopping, making breakfast and dinner, and cleaning the basement it's now around eight- thirty and these are the only words I've written in over seven days. I feel like such a failure. But heck, I've always go this week right?

One lesson I've learned is that I'm more productive with the pencil and paper. It's not that I can't "create" at the keyboard, rather pencil and paper is just always there. I don't have to worry about hauling my laptop to all the places I go. Pencil and paper is a much simpler way for me to achieve.

I read the blogs of many literary agents and they pretty much all say the same thing -- query them with something new. Well, here's a taste of what is listed as sales in the latest PLD -- you tell me if these are fresh ideas. I'm certainly not dissing the author. Their writing must have been utterly brilliant.

. . . a young girl fights for survival against crippling poverty, sexual abuse and abandonment . . .

. . . a young woman struggling to break free of a turbulent past and find love . . .

Oh yeah, I haven't heard this before.

Now, this one I just might pick up -- the heartwarming and humorous story of a young LA personal shopper who dies before her time -- run over by a Mini-Cooper -- that's a fresh idea!

This week I need to get back to work on the YA Fantasy despite work, softball practice, baseball practice, piano lessons, ballet and all that "being mom" stuff that comes along.

Wish me luck!

Selfish Immature Rant

2007-04-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to thank Ryan Bruner for his awesome feedback on my YA Fantasy. He took alot of time with my book and gave me a bunch of great suggestions. THANKS RYAN! I'm still waiting for one more reader to get back with me and then it's back to some revisions.

I got a rejection today from an agent -- an agent that I desperately wanted a "yes" from. I don't think I'll be querying the adult literary piece to agents anymore. It's just not in the cards for me right now. I don't know if it will ever be because my work is not mainstream. But it is what I love. I still have one query, three fulls and three partials out to independent publishers so there is still hope, albeit a slim one as the indy publishers I selected are more selective than larger publishing houses (this is my opinion).

Why am I so quick to tell other writers not to take rejection personally and any time I get my hopes up that it could really happen, fate brings me back down to earth. This is after all, business and should not be taken personally. But ater seven years and five books, I can't help it. REJECTION is painful dammit!

I think I'll take a break from the business and just write. I'm taking one of my YA characters into another part of my world and I'm not sure what the "world" is to look like. All I know is that she and her new friend have to cross a snowy mountain peak before they get there. But what does "where" look like? It's time to pull out the many picture books of ancient lands and get some ideas.

Today is the last day of spring break. Thank goodness! Tomorrow everyone will be up bright and early -- well, at least by seven o'clock am, to get dressed and ready for school. I even have all the lunches packed. Can you tell I'm ready for this to be over.

I'd better get writing.

2007-04-08T16:17:00.001-07:00

Geez, between softball, baseball and spring break there has been no time to write. B2 is downstairs right now whining to her dad about how she never gets to have any friends over. The rule is, no one is allowed at our house unless there is a parent present. Well, guess what! Both her dad and I have to work tomorrow and it's the last day of break. This friend lives in the neighborhood for cryin' out loud and it was in the low eighties last week. Did she walk or ride her bike over there then? I don't think so. Geesh!

The Scruffy Dog Review is almost ready to publish. It's going to be a good one!

I still haven't heard from any of the publications regarding my submissions and it's going on the three month mark. Oh well, no new is good news. I did hear that my YA Historical is still be considered by an independent press (they've had it for over ten months) and one agent still has my Adult literary piece and has had it for over three months. Patience!

This week it is back to the YA Fantasy.

Lots of Softball

2007-04-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

Proud Parent Moments!

B3's team won their tournament this past weekend. B3 is in the bottom row, second from the left.

B2's team came in second. B2 is on the bottom right. If you look real close, you can see B4 in his baseball uniform on the left behind the fence. What a ham!

Here's B3's team when they won their tournament last weekend. B3 is second from the right middle row.

B4's baseball team also won their tournament. I'll post a picture when I get one. Heaven forbid I carry a darn camera.

With all of this softball, comes little writing time. The kids are on spring break this week and we'll be driving to the mountains tomorrow. We can't stay long because the kids have . . . . ball practice this weekend.

If feels like we're having a "family reunion" on one of the writers forums I visit. It's kind of nice catching up with what everyone has been up to.

Next week it's back to business! NO MORE FOOLIN' AROUND!

Have a great Easter Weekend everyone!

VAROOOMMMM Another Week Flew By

2007-03-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

What happened to last week? I seemed to have lost it somewhere. Between work, ballet, softball practice, baseball practice and piano lessons, it slipped away. I can't believe my last blog entry was last Sunday.

B2 and B3 are in a local softball tournament this weekend. B3 is in 10U and B2 is in 12U and both of their teams are undefeated so far. I'm blogging before I jump into the shower to go see B2's second game of the day. B3's team has a championship game at 3 pm today. Yep, the laundry hampers are overflowing (see previous paragraph), but I'm still going to the ballfield.

B4 had his first baseball game of the season yesterday. The other team had to forfeit because they didn't have enough players but we let them borrow two of our players each inning and they promptly handed our team a thorough butt whippin'. I'm talking 15-3 butt whippin'. B4 is supposed to have baseball practice today, but I can't get him there because of the girls' tournament.

I got about 420 words on the YA Fantasy last week. I'm not stuck; I just don't have any time. I have to work a little late all this week to complete a project on the day job so this week will probably mirror last week.

I heard some encouraging news from a publisher. Nothing final yet, but I'm hopeful. Have a great week everyone!

Weekend Wrap Up

2007-03-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

I hate being sick. I hate having this annoying cough that at times, makes me feel like I'm having an asthma attack. I've never been diagnosed with asthma, but if coughing to the point of weezing, the feeling of trying to suck a lungful of air through the eye of a needle and gasping as if I'm about to die is asthma, then I have experienced it. And it's scary. Yesterday I felt so crappy that I went back to bed for a few hours. I considered going to the doctor, but it didn't do any good the first time. I think time is the only thing that is going to make me well again.

With my creativity blown, I decided to send off a few submissions on one of my projects. I have seven ready to mail and after printing at least a ream and a half of paper, my poor Canon printer needs a break. I'd love to purchase a new laser printer, but my Canon keeps going and going. Gotta love quality!

I'm so behind on the YA Fantasy I don't think I'll ever catch up. But I'm sure as hell going to try!

Here's to a great week!

Discombobulated

2007-03-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

There are pieces of me everywhere. Well, not physically but my mind is going a million different directions and I can't stop it. On top of it all, I have spring fever. It's been in the mid-eighties for two days now. The bradford pears and dogwoods are blooming and soon the azeleas will be showing off their magnificent colors. I LOVE SPRING and I love that daylight savings time began earlier than usual.

I need to turn on the a/c because the third floor of the house (where my bedroom and office is) is brutally hot -- the thermometer says it is 81 degrees in here. But I'm holding off for now. I can't open any windows because hubby has allergies and his eyes are already crusty. I can only open the windows November through mid-February if the weather is warm enough. And then he still bitches.

B2's school softball team easily won their first game last night. It was painful to watch. They have another game tomorrow in another county.

B4 has a baseball scrimmage game this evening. I was going to go, but this is the only night off from softball for the girls and they have a tournament this weekend, so I thought they might like to spend the afternoon at home. It's 7:30 pm and they're still outside playing. B1 thought it would be funny to push B3 in the mud. Well, it was kind of but her clothes are probably trashed.

I got a whopping 239 words written yesterday. It is disappointing but I least I wrote something. I haven't heard anything from any of my submissions either.

I'm caught up on the submissions inbox for The Scruffy Dog Review. There are two poetry submissions but those are not more than two days old and I have enough beautiful poetry for the Spring 2007 Issue.

I really need to focus.

Oh, For The Love of Pete!

2007-03-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

Who is "Pete" anyway? I don't know, but I do know that this week was a bust as far as the YA Fantasy. I only wrote 587 words and most of those was editing the crappy sections. I need to sit and down and plot a bit more detail before I move on. My main characters have gotten separated (intentionally) but I have to map out their individual paths.

Good news! B4 made the travel baseball team. I'm really proud of him. He didn't forget about the tryout, reminded his dad to take him, walked out on that field where no one knew him and did his best. He got picked not because of who he was or wasn't, but because he deserved to get selected. I'm more proud because he earned it. He wanted it and went out there and got it. Pretty good for an eight-year-old who has to be constantly reminded to clean up his room and do his homework. Yes, proud-parent-moment indeed.

I got two more requests for manuscripts of my Adult novel from wonderful agents and another great agent has had a full for over two months. A small publisher still has my YA Historical trilogy and there is still hope there.

Well, I'd better get my notebook and get busy.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Time to Regroup . . .

2007-03-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

I’ve been at a low point in the YA Fantasy. I question why I’m writing this and constantly wonder if I’ve picked a genre that’s “been done to death”. I’ve struggled with my new Chapter 1 since Saturday and finally got it to where it’s flowing and reasonably sound. My filters have kicked in. William Brohaugh is screaming at me to “Write Tight” and Rebecca McClannahan is insisting that indulge in a bit of “Word Painting”. Guys (and gals!) I love ya, but I’m writing the book I would have loved to read as a kid. There will be no questioning whether or not a word is necessary or not, nor will there be any more writing “the way it should be done”. There! I feel much better now.

I’ve almost got my word count back to where it was with the old Chapter 1 and should be back on track by the end of the week.

That's it for now.

A Couple of Steps Back . . .

2007-03-03T04:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, after getting some great feedback from two authors on the first three chapters of my YA, I've scrapped Chapter 1. Devon first suggested this last oh . . . whenever I first wrote it, but I dearly loved that chapter and it was staying dammit! Hindsight being 20/20, I should have listened to her and scrapped it earlier, but I clung to it. Next time I'm listening. I suppose I can sprinkle chunks of it elsewhere in the story, but I loved the "dark stormy night" feel I captured. Oh well. At least I managed to write enough this week to only lose ~700 words of the whole story.

B1 is home from Washington DC and B2 headed to the mountains for skiing yesterday. B3 and her father are on their way to another town for a softball tournament and B4 has baseball assessments today. I have a mountain of laundry to do. I'm talkin' Everest here!

I better get moving.

Chuggin' Along

2007-03-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

I had a good writing day despite myself. So far this week I’ve written 2692 words. I need another 1400 words to make up for last weeks failure. I stumbled a bit on Chapter 16. I couldn’t think where the story was to go next. I knew in general what needed to happen but couldn’t get it down on paper. Uggghhhh! That is so frustrating. After staring the monitor for about fifteen minutes the words started flowing. Thank goodness it was only fifteen minutes. I had bouts of block that have lasted for days.

I had two great people volunteer to read my book. A fourteen-year-old read the first 40 pages or so and said I was a bit too descriptive. I’ve been accused of being to “dialoguish” (I know that’s not a word) in the past, so I need a few more opinions before I go back and cut some of it out. I seem to be going from one extreme to the other.

I still haven’t heard back from three publications regarding a short story I subbed, I’m still waiting for one small publisher to respond on my YA Civil War trilogy. They’ve had my manuscript for over nine months, but hey, they haven’t sent a rejection yet! I still have one agent who has a full of my Adult Commercial Fiction. She’s had it for over two months, so again, no news is good news! I probably need to send out some more queries for this one, but I’m so wrapped up in my YA Fantasy I can’t focus on anything else.

B1 comes home tonight! The buses should arrive back at the school around 8 pm. There has really been emptiness in the house since he’s been gone. I’ll be happy to get him home. A friend invited B2 to go skiing this weekend. There’s another couple of hundred dollars down the crapper.

B3 has a tournament this weekend and B4 has baseball tryouts Friday and Sunday and assessments on Saturday. Busy, busy, busy.

What Do I Need When I Write?

2007-02-27T17:02:00.000-08:00

First of all, let me say ZOKUTOU is back! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Okay, I'm kind of back from the "coughing dead". It ain't pretty, but I'm breathing. Nights of constant hacking have left me exhausted and my lungs heavy. My sallow skin and dark circles make me look like a heroin junkie. I can't believe I haven't blogged for a week.

I didn't write much last week either. A measly 857 words. I should be grateful that I wrote that much, considering how bad I felt, but now I have to write 4000 words this week and 3500 next week to keep me on target. I think I'll be okay though, because the story has taken another unplanned turn and I'm loving it!

B1 left Monday morning for a school trip to Washington D.C. I haven't heard from him, but I'm sure if something was wrong, someone would call. He has his cell phone and he knows the home telephone number. Oh well, I'll see him Thursday night when the bus rolls back into town. It's actually quite peaceful here without him. There's no one fighting, no one yelling and no one farting on my head as they pass by. Yep . . . only 4 1/2 more years until he leaves for college.

Lara tagged me with "What do I need when I write?"

Well, if I'm in a pinch then a pencil (I cannot write with a pen!I can only edit.) and my notebook. But what I like to have is something a bit more cozy. Here's a list:

1. Candles - more than five.
2. Inspirational Music
3. Soft light - I hate overhead lighting when I write.
4. The door closed and no interruptions!

I'm not that demanding!

This Cold is Still Kickin' My Butt

2007-02-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

I'm past the throbbing sinuses and the fever. I still have a little cough and a stuffy nose. But I'm so tired. I've only written ~450 words this week. Only ~2650 more to go to make my goal. It's going to be a struggle.

I don't know what happened to Zokutou wordmeter. I've tried to update it but it says "This Account has been suspended." I hope it gets fixed soon.

I've printed off Chapters 1, 14 and 15. Why Chapter 1? I always struggle with the first few pages. It's a curse of mine.

Anyhow, I'm babbling and my eyes are burning. Oh yeah, it's warming up here so here's to Spring allergies!

And . . . GOAL!

2007-02-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

Today, I passed the 50% completion mark of the YA Fantasy! And I wrote more than the 3000 words I had set for a goal this week.

I got two rejections. One was a form for a short story, but there was another that was very nice -- or at least they didn't scream "YOU SUCK!"

"It's an important and compelling story, but ultimately we did not feel that it was quite right for the BIG PUBLISHER list." Now, they didn't have to say that just to be nice.

This weekend there are only two basketball games. Only two. So, there will plenty of time to work on Scruffy Dog submissions and catching up on the laundry.

Have a great weekened everyone!

Still Sick . . .

2007-02-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

. . . and a bit woozy. I head feels like a cinderblock and I can't get rid of the headache. And then there's the nausea and everything that comes with it. I'm a mess. I sucked it up and went to work yesterday (before the nausea) but it was a no go today. I hate getting sick in a public bathroom, no matter how clean it appears to be. B3 is also home sick today.

So far, everyone in the house has been sick except for B1. He holds up in his room, emerging only long enough to eat and then returns to his "den of health". If I didn't love him, I'd go sneeze on him just to stop his taunting.

I was too sick to fix dinner both Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday, hubby ordered takeout pizza and wings and last night we went out to eat. I pity the poor busboy who had to clean up our germ-infested plates and cups.

Hubby is in Atlanta today so tonight's agenda falls on me. B1 and B2 have school baseball and softball tryouts until 5:30 pm and then both B2 and B3 have softball practice from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. I hope the last two practices get cancelled due to low temps. If they don't, I'm dropping them off and going to Barnes and Noble. If I have to stand out in the cold for two hours, I'll most certainly drop dead.

I got no writing done Tuesday or Wednesday and all I did was fret about it. I am doing so good with my 3000 word per week goal and I felt sure it was all going down the crapper this week. As all writers know, if one loses their momentum, it can take days or even weeks to regroup. Today I did get 1868 words so far but I'm sleepy. Hopefully after I get a nap, I'll write another 1000.

Brenda

Why Bother!

2007-02-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

I spent yesterday de-funking the house. Thirteen loads of laundry, every bed changed, every towel washed, vacuumed, dusted, replaced air filters, mopped, cleaned counters with Mr. Clean, used Oxyclean in EVERY load load of laundry and two cans Lysol spent. So, why the ef am I sick today?

Dammitol!

192 measly words. ICK!

Yay Saturday!

2007-02-10T05:13:00.000-08:00

This is proof that we actually got snow in Charlotte. Sure it was gone by 2 pm the same day, but just after daybreak, it was snowing like crazy.

I found some old pics and just thought I'd share a few. Below is B4's self portrait. Funny how his face looks all bulbous and cheeky. The bedhead is a nice touch too!

Below is a picture of B3 and B2 in their Nutcracker costumes. B3 is a Gingerchild and B2 is a Chinese Attendant.

Today's schedule includes two basketball games, two softball practices and a baseball scrimmage. Then it will be editing Chapter 13 - I hope!

B2's Team Tournament Results

2007-02-10T05:07:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to B2's team for Runner Up in the Souther Piedmont Athletic Association Tournament. They also placed Second in the Conference!

Bless their hearts, it just wasn't their night to win. None of them could buy a basket and the other team just outplayed them.

B1 is bottom row, third on the right and holding a trophy. All of the girls are wonderful and everyone had a great game!

B1's Team Tournament Results

2007-02-10T04:53:00.000-08:00

They did it! B1's team won the SPAA (Southern Piedmont Athletic Association) Tournament. Not only where they tournament champions, they were also Conference Champions, going undefeated all season. B1 is in the middle row, fourth from the right if you count the two coaches and he's hold the trophy. Yep, I teared up a bit, but no one saw.

I have to recognize Mr. Bottom Row Right, Mr. Back Row Left beside the Coach, Mr. Center Row Right (to the right of B1) and Mr. Tall Kid in the Very Back. What an awesome game guys. These are all the eight grade starters and they're wonderfull ball players! BIG CONGRATS!

And . . . GOAL!

2007-02-09T11:14:00.001-08:00

Before I forget, hop on over to THE DOG BLOG and I'll tell you what book (other than Harry Potter of course) I'm really excited about!

As luck would have it, B3 called from school with a cough, snuffy nose and tummy ache. I'm not sure how lucky it was for her though. After settling her in, I manage to complete my 3000 words for the week. I actually went over by 701 words. This overage along with last weeks overage puts me a week ahead in finishing. And it's not a first draft either dang it!

Today is a bit sad for me as B1 will play in his final Middle School basketball game tonight after B2's game. Gaw, I hate to see him grow up, but I'm so proud of what he's grown into. At the end of the month, he'll turn fourteen. In August he can take Driver's Ed. In four years, he'll be off to college! Oh nooooooo! This whole situation would be devastating if it wasn't for little B4 following in his brother's footsteps.

Thank goodness I have him and have all of them really. Sure, they run me to death and spend every dime I make, but I couldn't imagine how my life would be without them. Well, I might have a few less gray hairs and crowsfeet.

Tomorrow I'll spend most of the day running kids to their stuff, but at least there won't be any more 8 am basketball practices! I haven't really looked at the calendar to see what exactly is going on tomorrow. Perhaps I better go take a peek. Have a good weekend all!

Falling Short . . .

2007-02-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

I lack 600 words of reaching my 3000 words for the week. Last night was a bust because I found out at the last minute that B2 had softball practice - which meant I had to arrange B1 a ride home from basketball practice and run B3 to basketball practice with B4 in tow.

Tonight was the first night of the school basketball tournament, so another down night. B1 and B2's teams play in the championship game tomorrow night. Then basketball will be over!

Goodnight.

SUNNY!

2007-02-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

I went out for lunch and I swear it was hard to come back to the office. It is sunny, about 61 degrees and absolutely gorgeous! The weather people are predicting more ice and snow next week, but today is wonderful.

I spoke to my mom last night and she has about eight inches of snow and subzero temperatures. Of course she lives on top of “Mount Snow” in West Virginia so it is expected there. I didn’t get a chance to call my sis to wish her Happy Birthday but I’ll get to that this weekend when I have more than five minutes to chat.

I managed about 350 words of edits on Chapters 11 and 12 of the YA Fantasy. I’ll print those off and do one more red ink run though and then turn my attention to Chapter 13.

Last night was school basketball, and even though B2’s team didn’t win, she had the game of her life. They could have won if three of the starters hadn’t fouled out in the third quarter. She told me her coach was really mad after the game, kicked some things and said a few choice words. My first reaction was to call the Athletic Director and complain about his inappropriate behavior, but the more I thought about it, it is a life lesson for her. She’s going to have to deal with belligerent people, angry people and people who hate for the rest of her life, so she might as well get used to it and learn how to cope in these types of situations. I think she’ll do well.

Of course B1’s team won and he too, had an awesome game. He had four points, six or more rebounds and hustled very well. He’s nearing the end of his middle school basketball career and I can’t help but feel sad. Sad that he soon will pass another milestone in his young life and move on to bigger things. Sad that in less than five years, he’ll be off to college.

During B2’s game I was holding B3’s sweet tea. She has the crooping, coughing, snot-nose crud virus. Well, in the midst of all the excitement I got a little thirsty and before I knew it, the cup was empty and I was now infected with crooping, coughing, snot-nose crud virus. What was I thinking? I woke up this morning and my head felt like cement and I was coughing like crazy. I chugged the Yellow Triaminic and now I'm just hoping for the best.

Tonight, B2 and B3 have piano lessons, B1 and B2 have school basketball practice to prepare for the upcoming tournament, B2 and B3 have rec basketball practice.

Hubby’s in town so I won’t be running my ass of and maybe I can get some writing in!

Still Friggin' Cold

2007-02-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

The temperature ws 39 degrees when I went out for lunch today. BRRRR! I was craving sweet tea so I drove to the closest Chik-Fil-A and got a small size. I should have got the large because I was finished with it before I got back to the office.

I added another 1235 words to the YA Fantasy. This is really fun to write. I hope someone else gets to read it besides myself!

B2 had another rough night. I think the "nighttime" cold medicine I gave her had the opposite effect. She tossed and turned (and cried) until about 12:30 pm. What a mess! This morning, she woke up fine and acted as if she got plenty of sleep . Anyway, she had to go to school today or else she couldn't dress for the final home basketball game of the season. YES! School basketball is almost over! School baseball and softball has just begun though.

I haven't had much time to "steal" today, but hopefully tonight, I can get through Chapter 11 and 12 edits and write the rest of Chapter 13. It's a little optimistic but I'll give it a shot.

COLD!

2007-02-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

Okay, It's freezing here. I know it's nowhere near the sub-zero temps that those unfortunate souls north of the Mason-Dixon Line are experiencing, but still - it's damn cold here. The morning temp was 21 degrees and it probably won't reach 40 degrees all day. IT's COLD!

Since I didn't really care to watch the Superbowl, I sat in the living room and pretended to be interested while I wrote another 700 words on the YA Fantasy. Today I've written another 200 or so, so I'm still on track to make 3000 this week. Could I hit 4000? Possibly, but there's no reason to go all crazy, now is there?

B2 has the crooping, coughing, snot-nose crud virus that has tortured our family for about four weeks now. B1 and I are the only ones still unaffected. She stayed home from school today and she'll probably be out tomorrow as well. Poor B2! She doesn't tolerate discomfort very well.

One good thing about the cold is that there will not be any baseball or softball practice. I think a night off is calling my name!

Short Post

2007-02-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

I've got a few minutes until the muffins come out of the oven (sorry it's the mix kind) so I thought I'd stop in here.

I scribbled some more ideas for the last two chapters of the YA last night which I hope to get typed in today. I also plan to do all the red ink edits today and start fresh on the next section tomorrow.

Last night we found out that B1 doesn't have baseball practice today because the fields are too wet. I'm so disappointed - NOT! He's now at basketball practice, B2's softball day begins around 11 am and ends at 4:45 pm with an hour break for lunch - how kind of them! B3 has to be at her practice at 12:00 pm and she'll stay there until B2 is done at 4:45. B4 has a basketball game at 1:30 and B1 has a basketball game at 2:30, but Heaven forbid that they're at the same gym.

On top of all this going on today, either hubby has developed a bi-polar disorder or I'm truly married to Satan. 'nuff said about that.

Have a great day everyone.

And Done!

2007-02-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

I set a goal this week to write 3000 words on the YA Fantasy. I just finished. Again, this story took me to a place that until yesterday didn’t exist. I had my main characters trapped and fretted all night about how to get them un-trapped. It came to me today. I printed off the last two chapters so they can face the red pen of death this weekend.

Oh, and I’ve only checked my email twice today, which is a dramatic decrease from the past two weeks.

Tonight there is a basketball game at the school that was rescheduled from yesterday and B1 has a birthday party to go to.

Tomorrow the girls have softball practice all day (it seems) and the boys both have basketball games. I’m pretty caught up with laundry and barring any abrupt clothes explosions I should stay caught up. The house is clean and I’ll cook if I want to.

Otherwise, my time will be spent working on the YA Fantasy. Have a great weekend.

A SNOW DAY!

2007-02-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

I think I'm the last holdout with old Blogger. They pushed me kicking and screaming to sign up for Google and go to the new version today. Bypassing the message to go to the dashboard was no longer an option. I figured I might as well to this to The Dog Blog too. So we're upgraded - now what?

We got about four inches of snow this morning! It started around five a.m., schools were closed by six a.m and the kiddos were out playing it by nine a.m. By eleven a.m. it was raining and most of the snow had turned to slush. So much for snow in the south. Now the rain has stopped and the fog is rolling in. We have a short break and then some freezing rain will fall tonight, making the drive into work tomorrow a nightmare.

Today was a milestone for me. I actually put down the pencil and paper and created on the computer - over 1,000 words today. Now I know this won't mean much to many, but for me it was a breakthrough. I'm quite proud of myself.

I've been fighting a migraine all day. I think I need my eyes examined. I used to wear contacts and glasses but my prescription was more for crispness when working on the computer than poor vision. My doctor gave me Acuvue contact lenses but they didn't fit on my eye correctly. They'd fall out, get stuck behind my eyeball and break into pieces right in my eye. So I started wearing my glasses but I lost them about two and a half years ago. I just hate going to the doctor.

Tonight I think I'll create some more after the kids go to bed. I hope school officials make the right decision for school tomorrow.

And Another Wasted Day

2007-01-31T18:56:00.000-08:00

I've got to QUIT obsessing about my submissions! I check email continuously. It's a sickness, I tell you! I'm great at shoveling advice to others -- work on your next project, take a walk, blah, blah, blah but I'm horrible at taking it. Somebody help me!

I finally found Lorena McKennitt's AN ANCIENT MUSE at Borders. Love it! I only wish there were more than nine tracks. I also picked up a copy of HELL'S BELLES by Jackie Kessler. I stood there in the aisle and read the entire first chapter. Damn, that girl can write! One of the clerks who knows me walked by a few times before finally asking, "You gonna buy that?"

"Yes," I said. "And you'll need to order a few more copies."

Well, I've been toying with the idea of joining The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. So today I did. I had to use the credit card (bleh!) but I'm now a member. Too bad I'm so busy checking and re-checking my friggin' email that I can't find time to check out all they have to offer.

I did manage about 300 words on the YA Fantasy. I'm really enjoying the story probably because I'm writing with no "filters". By this I mean if an adverb works I use it, if the writing is flabby, then so be it, etc. I'm just creating and it is a bit liberating. Sure William Brohaugh's WRITE TIGHT will be referenced during the edits but right now, it's just me and my story (and my friggin' email).

The crooping, coughing, snot-nose crud virus has hit our family pretty hard. Even as I type, B3 is coughing her head off. All of the over-the-counter cough meds are useless against this evil. Hubby caught it three weeks ago, coughed so much his chest had to have been raw and bleeding and by a week into it, he lost his voice (well . . . that's not really such a bad thing). At three weeks he finally went to the doctor and $100.00 worth of presciptions later, he's still coughing and sick.

I have been a raving tyrant about washing hands and "don't touch your father!" but B3 and B4 both caught it anyway. B1, B2 and I are still uninfected but it's only a matter of time.

It's supposed to snow tonight. Here in Charlotte! I am sooo excited. We haven't had a good snow in years and even though it's only supposed to snow for a few hours before turning to sleet (which is such a joy to drive in), but it is snow and I'm taking it!

While picking up B3 Saturday, I ran over a wire and busted a tire on my truck. I managed to get it home before it went totally flat by not taking the wire out of the tire. It eventually fell out on the ride home though. A new tire is normally not a big deal, except for this was a new tire already and it's one of those 20" deals (yes, I drive a pimped truck) and the new tire will set me back $180.00. Yikes! Hubby never yelled at me though, probably due to the crooping, coughing, snot-nose crud virus. The tire had to be ordered and won't be in until the weekend. Thank goodness I haven't sold my old truck yet so I have some wheels.

It's late and I have to check my emails. See ya

Another RANT

2007-01-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

I managed 1,207 words on the YA. I'm not happy with all of them, but that's what editing is for. B1 and B2 both have a school basketball game tonight, but the ours from 9 pm to 11 pm are all mine baby!

I was in the grocery store earlier this week and I saw one of those tabloids that said something about Oprah being blasted for some schools for girls that she plans to build in Africa. I couldn't flippin' believe it! Here's one of the most generous celebrities ever, being criticized for giving away her wealth. The smaller print goes on to say that some (who?) were angry because Oprah wasn't spending the money in the United States. I was shocked! Obviously, her critics don't know of the oppression and lack of liberties women in third world countries endure.

I have two daughters who I constantly remind, "You don't know how lucky you are to be a girl in this country." They're to the point of rolling their eyes every time I get on my soapbox, but I still tell them. Here, a girl can get an education to whatever degree she choses to pay for, marry the man of her choice (or not marry at all), is free to pursue her career without oppression and intimidation, not endure female circumcision and not have to beg for food because she is a widow.

There are governments and cultures in this world who do not allow women to have this right, and Oprah needs to be commended for seeing the inequality in it all and doing something to fix it. Education is the foundation which will empower future generations of strong women to stand up for themselves and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Yet there are those who still continue to criticize. Well, I don't read about them doing anything charitable domestically or in a foreign country. Shame on them!

And another thing, can President Bush spit the freakin' State of the Union address out before his critics pounce? I don't like the war in Iraq any more than the next person, but it is there but the best thing that can be done is to stay the course and get the job done properly, I guess anyway. Gaw, I hate politicians about as much as I hate liars, cheats and thieves. It makes me sick just to watch the news lately.

Okay I'm down off my soapbox now.

Crossroads . . .

2007-01-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

I’ve given up trying to exercise. It may not mean much to you, but I’ve been trying like hell to find the time in between the day job, running kids all over town, laundry and writing. Thank goodness I have these two awesome ladies come once a week to clean or it would be even worse.

I want to run again like I did in high school and college. I despise running, but I love the feeling I get after a good five mile dash. I have a treadmill, but right now B1 and B2 are using it to keep in shape. It’s in my office and calls out to me as I’m writing . . . “Brenda . . . Brenda,” it whispers. “Get your big butt over here and get fit . . .” I walked and even jogged a bit at the track last summer while the girls practiced softball. I think that is my only hope.

I tried to do it at night after everything winds down, but by then I too, am wound down. It ain’t happening. I’ve tried setting the alarm for 5 am, but geez, a gal my age has got to get her rest. So, the snooze alarm gets smacked and I catch a few more winks before the hell that is my day commences.

I’ll chock it up to one of those things I will accomplish in my life along with art lessons and traveling to Europe. Ah well, I gave it a shot!

Hop on over to The DOG BLOG and see what I think makes a great short story. I’m certainly no expert, but I read enough of them to know what I like.

The latest issue of The Scruffy Dog Review is now out and Sandra King, one of my most favorite authors is the lead interview. She is a brilliant writer and just an awesome person.

The latest chapter in my YA Fantasy is long -- too long when I compared it to all of the other chapters. It’s been bothering me all week. But then brain-fart! I thought of a way to break it up and keep the momentum. I am a genius!

Yesterday, the weather was awful. A wintry mix of rain and sleet made everything above the ground an enchanted icy kingdom. It was beautiful. I felt a little sorry for all of those crazy drivers in the median of the interstate facing the opposite direction, but hey, some of them are probably the same jackasses that cut me off earlier this week. Serves them right! Perhaps Karma is not dead after all!

Of course, there was no school. My poor kiddos, who never get a “snow day” had to settle for ice. They tried to pretend it was snow, but the only thing they got was wet (I got an additional two loads of laundry but that’s another story!). I got home from work about 12:20 and rushed B1 and B2 to their orthodontist appointments. Again, B1 never complains when he gets his braces adjusted, but delicate B2 was bawling like a baby at bedtime because of the pain.

This weekend will again be basketball heavy. B2 starts back with softball practice so she’ll miss her game on Saturday. But, she has a game on Sunday so there! In fact, everyone has a game on Saturday and Sunday. Me thinks the basketball gods are working against me!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Rant . . .

2007-01-17T11:27:00.000-08:00

What started out as an okay day shortly went down the crapper as soon as I hit the interstate. First rant – if you’re not going at least 80 mph in the left lane, GET THE HELL OUT OF IT! If you do realize you’re holding up people who need TO GET SOMEWHERE and get into the slow lane, don’t decide to go 80 mph at that point and weave in an out of traffic just to prove a point. YOU’RE A JERK.

Now for the second rant. My truck is RED, not invisible and no it cannot stop on a dime. I don’t care what the Ford commercial says! QUIT CUTTING ME OFF! That two car-length space between me and the vehicle in front of me is for MY SAFETY and NOT YOUR EFFING CAR!

Can you tell that I had a few issues driving to work this morning? By the time I got to work, I’d been able to root cause every bad thing that has happened to me over my entire lifetime to mean, rude and evil people. I was a wreck.

Gone are the seventy degree days. Tonight, we are supposed to get an ice storm. I have to take off early tomorrow to get the kids to the orthodontist so I might not go in at all.

I typed in some handwritten pages and added another 254 words to the YA Fantasy. I haven’t heard any news from the awesome agent who requested a full, but based on my lot in life (please re-read first three paragraphs) the odds are against me. But I can dream a bit. I haven't heard anything back from the inquiry at the small publisher regarding my YA historical, but no news is good news.

A friend once asked me why I fret so much. “It’s like you’re just waiting for the bottom to fall out,” she commented.

My reply: “It usually does.”

Remind me again . . .

2007-01-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

. . . as to why I wanted children? A group of four boys (B1 included) thought it would be funny to pretend to beat up the smallest kid along the side of the road just to get a reaction from passing drivers. Well, they got it, complete with blue lights when a concerned citizen (and rightfully so!) called the police. I just got done talking to two officers who quite honestly were laughing (thank goodness) about the whole situation. I'm not laughing and while B1 is getting his basketball picture taken, I'll be plotting the punishment. It's probably punishment enough that his father took him for the photo.

I'm not sure what I'm more angry about -- the fact he did something so stupid, that he ran off and let one of his friends talk to the police alone or I had to be seen in public with no make up, a ponytail and wearing my husband's paint-stained sweatpants. Oh the humanity!

The weather here in the Carolinas is absolutely beautiful! The temperature is in the low seventies, there is an almost tropical breeze and the sun is bright and cheery. Sorry Michelle! I have every window open, ridding the house of stale air. And it's January! Of course I'll be bitching about all the mosquitoes next July because the winter wasn't cold enough to kill their larvae, but right now I'm loving it!

Okay, I've worked, worked and worked on The Scruffy Dog Review website. I think I have it almost ready. I'm waiting for one piece and then voila! It's game time!

Yesterday was another day of basketball and everybody's team lost. B2 and B3 were playing a team of GIANT 7th graders (they are 6th and 4th grade respectively) and B1 couldn't make a lay-up to save his life (although he rebounded very well and made his free-throws). I didn't make it to B4's game because of the schedule but his team lost too.

I haven't had a chance to write any on the YA Fantasy but I did get a great idea for a short story. Perhaps I'll go and write it. Have a great week everyone!

Brenda

Lost a Week . . .

2007-01-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

My gosh! Where did the time go? My last blog entry was a week ago. A week and weekend full of basketball kept me pretty busy but we’re on the home stretch as the season is half-over. But then it will be baseball and softball season. It never ends.

Well, I may not have been blogging, but I did write another 1200 words on the YA Fantasy. I’ll need to introduce my “Red Pen of Death” to the last eight pages, but it is moving and my characters keep surprising me.

My company held their quarterly employee meeting which usually lasts an hour and a half. For the last two meetings, I’ve taken my notebook and have written while still paying a little attention to the presentations. Hell, I can’t wait until the next one.

I need some new music to write to. I currently listen to Enya, Loreena McKennitt, movie soundtracks such as LOTR (all 3), Master and Commander and The Chronicles of Narnia and some other Celtic CDs. If anyone has any suggestions, please leave a comment. I really need some new stuff.

Tonight both B1 and B2 have a school basketball game in another town. I wasn’t planning to go, but B2 also has a birthday / slumber party tonight as there is no school tomorrow and I’ll need to leave B1’s game early to get her there on time (well, maybe not on time, but not extremely late). B4 is going home with a friend whose mom just moved to another county and I have no friggin’ clue where, so getting him tomorrow should be an adventure.

It will be more basketball this weekend and there is no school again on Monday. I’m sure I’ll be able to steal a few minutes here and there.

A Little More Progress

2007-01-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

I did another 489 words on the YA Fantasy. It's not blazing speed, but I know this piece won't need as much rewriting as novels past. I'm kind of rewriting it as I go. My characters got into a fight last night. I didn't plan to write it that way and it sure wasn't in the outline, but by gosh they just duked it out. It was awesome.

Tonight I have to do some research on some more characters. I know the region they need to be from, but I need to define who they are and what they look like. Of course I picked up the perfect book at the bookstore not too long ago.

Today, I was approached with the dreaded Girl Scout Cookie order form. I don't think their timing is all that great, what with most everyone I know on a diet after the holidays. But they're doing something new this year. You can buy the cookies and ask to have them shipped to the soldiers overseas. I bought one box today (after the first of the year, I'm a pay cash girl only!) because I only had four bucks on me. I'll purchase another box later this week. This way, I help the Girl Scouts, improve soldier morale with that box of Tag-a-longs and I won't be tempted to eat the whole freakin' box at one time! It's a win-win situation for everyone.

Well, gotta go to some research.

Taking Baby Steps

2007-01-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

Okay I managed to pass the 17k mark on my YA Fantasy. I wrote 184 words on Monday and 384 words on Tuesday. Tonight I'll write some more. The story is taking some twists that I didn't count on. I'm just hanging on and letting the characters guide me. I think this stealing time idea is working!

And how about this little piece just now hitting bookshelves. Congrats Jackie! HELLS BELLES is certainly on my list of next books to purchase! I'm only a little miffed that it wasn't out last week when I drove my happy ass to Barnes and Noble armed with a gift card and found nothing!

I got a request for a full from an agent in my top five list! I swore I'd never blog about my agent search because of the Laws of Karma. Well . . um . . . that worked well now didn't it? I remember when a dear writer by the name of Heather Brewer wrote all about her search. Well, take a look at her blog and see if the Laws of Karma worked against her. I think not!

I also finally inquired to a small press about my YA historical that over 20 agents requested fulls or partials before ultimately being rejected by all of them. They've had it for over 8 months and even though I know no news is good news, I can't stand it anymore.

Hubby is in town this week and it's been nice letting him run the kids to all of their activities while I stay home and get all the things done that I'm usually still doing at midnight when he's not home. This week I've started writing about 9 pm.

I hope this momentum doesn't dry up as the year progresses. I redid my website a little and noticed my publishing credits are getting old. Could it be time to pen some short stories?

2007-01-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy celebration! I didn't have a party to go to this year. That's okay though because everyone I knew just stayed at home and it's no fun going out to celebrate with strangers. I might be getting old, but the number of drunk driving accidents after New Years Eve is alarming. To me, it is one of the most dangerous nights to be driving.

I usually spend the days leading up to the New Year cleaning like a mad-woman. This year was no exception. Saturday was spent consolidating a years worth of mindless clutter and setting it aside to go to the landfill. And then there is the stack to go to Goodwill. This year's haul was quite large.

I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets, dining room (aka the room for items without a home) and my office. I moved some books to the shelves on my work station just to free up some space on the shelves. I have about a half a shelf open. I threw away most of what I've collected in my file drawer -- even the contract from my previous agent that I kept just to know someone somewhere at sometime believed in me. I kept all of my clips, an outline and synopses of two unwritten books (one I completely forgot about but after reading the plot, it isn't half bad!) and some of my day-job related crap.

Sunday was spent finishing up the laundry that I've had to neglect for other obligations. It is done and now I can get back to my two loads per days schedule. I also had the mani-pedi, exfoliation, mud mask and all the other personal touches a woman needs to face the new year. I'd love to get my hair trimmed but trying to catch up my hairdresser is next to impossible. As I get older, beauty is getting harder and more expensive. What's up with that? Perhaps I just need to go au naturale.

For some reason, the New Year gives me a fresh start. I can throw out what didn't work in the previous year and move on. It is the opportunity to expand what does work and make it better. It is a chance to try something new. Why I can't do this at any time is beyond me. It's obviously a mental block.

Today I went to Barnes and Noble with the intentions of spending my gift cards and store credits on some books. But could I find anything that I just couldn't live without? NOPE! I was so disappointed. I came home and edited the last pages of my YA Fantasy that I've written. Tomorrow I'll begin writing fresh stuff! Tonight I think I'll work on my website.

I refuse to make any resolutions this year. I've never achieved anything because I resolved at the beginning of the year to do so. Best of luck to those who do.

BK

2006 In Reflection Part II

2006-12-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

I found my notebook. One of my beloved family members put in safely in nightstand drawer and didn’t tell me. I don’t know if I’ll get anything on paper this week, but I have been churning the YA Fantasy plot in my head. I need to go back and make a few changes to the story that I’ve written so far, but it is minor and the plot will flow much smoother.

Looking back over the past year, another thing I’ve developed is TENACITY. This is not to be confused with COURAGE mind you, as courage is usually positive. It’s more along the thought of, “What do you mean I can’t to this? Well, I’ll show you dammit!” or STUBBORNESS.

There have been a few situations where this has come back to bite me. Like, the time I should have called a plumber but didn’t because . . . well . . . I could fix it myself! Or, yes I can cut the entire lawn in thirty minutes!

My tenacity surfaced many times while I was querying my YA Historical and my Adult Literary piece. The following is meant with humor and if any bitterness seeps forth, well sorry about that.

With the YA, I had over twenty requests from agents who all said they liked the book but just didn’t fall in love with it, or historicals are aren’t selling, or it’s a beautiful story and the historical authenticity is inspiring, but alas (I hate ‘alas’ and if you’re not Headmaster Dumbledore, do not use it!) is isn’t something we’re adding to our list right now, or blah, blah, blah.

With the Adult piece, my dialogue was forced (was NOT!), it’s been done before (I don’t believe the agent even read it) or it seems more situated to a local market (well, sorry if Charlotte North Carolina is too backwoods for you. I’ll be sure to tell Patricia Cornwell the next time I see her!).

I suppose I need to channel this lovely trait into something I can use for 2007!

2006 in Reflection Part I

2006-12-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

I’ve lost my notebook! It is around the house somewhere. I thought I might have left it at work, but it isn’t there. Most of the handwritten pages had already been typed, but it did have some much needed notes, an outline and a handwritten draft of a query letter. Ugghhh! It had better show up and soon!

Day work has been pretty quiet, so I thought it an opportune time to research some more agents. I zeroed in on ten and found that seven of them accepted equeries! So, I emailed them. Yes, I realize that most agents are away for the holidays, but I did it anyway. What, will they write me back, tell me that my timing stinks and reject me based on that alone? I don’t think so. Yeah, I probably need to get a life but so what.

Looking back over the past year, I can see many things I’ve done right and many more things I could have done better. Yet the year has not passed me by without branding me with a few life lessons.

One character trait I have cultivated this year is PATIENCE. I never had much patience and still my threshold is much lower than it should be. Up until now, I’ve pretty much been a student of instant gratification. I’ve never been one to save for something or wait in general for anything. If I wanted something, I purchased it (within reason of course) or if I had to wait in line, say in a restaurant, bank or check out line, I’d go elsewhere. If I had to wait, then 20 minutes is my limit. Then I start to huff and puff and basically cause a scene if I wait much beyond that. It is a shame really and not very mature on my part.

As I entered the business end of writing, I was forced to practice patience. I was patient with beta-reader feedback, patient in my agent research, patient in crafting my submission materials and patient with the feedback. As 2006 comes to a close, I’m no closer to my dream than I was at the end of 2005. I’m just more patient about it.

Hopefully 2007 will bring my one step closer!

Happy Christmas!

2006-12-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

Where to begin? For starters, I changed my blogger template on December 21st for a fresh start, but never got around to posting. Bad, bad blogger!

I perused back to my last post on December 5th, and immediately wondered what happened to December. It flew by! B2 did get her braces and boy did she whine. B1 never complained once, although one time I could see he was in pain, so I took it upon myself to stop by the orthodontist office to pick up some more wax. B2 has made up for the both of them. Geesh, what a big baby!

I started Christmas shopping on December 22nd, and in one day, hubby and I completely finished it. Christmas was lovely as was Christmas Eve Mass. There is usually standing-room-only on Christmas Eve, but this year there were plenty of seats.

Something happened at our church and even though our primary priest left under mysterious circumstances, many of the members left also. I don't know what happened and I don't want to know really, but I've heard rumors of alcoholism and skimming money from the offering plate. I'd hate to be the one spreading the rumors and I wonder how much penance one would have to pay for spreading lies and/or half truths about a priest?

Anyhow, the new priest is conducting a "town meeting" at the church this week. He seems like a very nice fellow but I'm not going. I don't want to know what was said or what really happened. It isn't necessary information for me nor will the truth (or the lies for that matter) affect how I live.

Christmas morning started later than I had anticipated. I told the kids not to wake me up before 7 am and by gosh, they listened. I could hear them running around downstairs but they never once opened my bedroom door until 7 am.

B1 won for the biggest box - the Dell Computer. The printer I got him has to have a USB cable that is sold separately. Dang it! He also got a few video games, a Michael Jordan jersey, some UNC Chapel Hill stuff and the usual socks, underwear and t-shirts.

B2 didn't get the computer she wanted, but she did get an awesome Pentax digital camera, a new stereo, earrings, a CD and DVD, and a butt-load of new and very expensive clothes.

B3 got a PSP and a few games, a massaging pillow (that mom will be borrowing), earrings, a DVD, and a few new and very expensive clothes.

B4 got a PSP and a few games, a PS2 game, heelys, an electronic drum set, and the usual socks, underwear and t-shirts.

My bonehead move was to purchase Womens Small Rainbow Flip-Flops for the girls. They're 9 and 11, but they have huge feet. It will be back to the stinkin' mall on Wednesday to exchange them. Ughhh!

All in all, it was a very fun and relaxing day.

Taking time off from writing, writers forums and anything related to the business of writing was a welcome break. I purchased a 2007 planner and I've written some goals in it already.

Most of all I've been re-reading some of my old books and came up with a simple mantra to begin each today. I took it from one of my Reiki reference books I own.

Today I will be kind . . .
Today I will be true . . .
Today I will respect all life . . .
Today will be better than yesterday . . .

Some dedicated writers are developing their 2007 GDRs which I applaud them. Unfortunately, I'm just not that diciplined. I certainly wish I was!

I'm currently re-reading the FOUR COMPLETE BOOKS OF EDGAR CAYCE, MODERN PROPHET. Good stuff.

Well, I s'ppose I'd better get. I have to work tomorrow. Happy Christmas!

Chuggin' Along

2006-12-05T19:41:00.000-08:00

No writing progess, just some reading and formatting for the next issue of The Scruffy Dog Review. We have two great short stories and some wonderful poetry so far. We still need four more short stories but I'm behind in reading so if you've submitted something, please bear with me.

B1 and B2 had school basketball games tonight. The opposing teams were a bit rough. B2 pretty much got the crap knocked out of her (she's about 5' even and weighs 80 lbs) because she's playing girls have have at least three inches and 20 lbs on her. B1 is about 5'9" and weighs 160 lbs - he held his own!

Like a dumbass, I didn't get the lunch order in for school, so now I'm stuck packing four lunches every day until January. I certainly won't make that mistake again. B2 usually helps me, but after her game tonight, she got a migraine and ended up throwing up in the bathroom while I watched B1's game. So tonight I packed solo. She felt good enough later to eat some chicken soup and a few Jolly Ranchers.

Tomorrow, there's piano lessons and both B2 and B3 have basketball practice. There will certainly be minutes to steal!

Take care everyone!

Friday!

2006-12-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Well, today I managed another 475 words and printed pages 50 through 61 for edits. Hopefully I’ll get to work on them tonight. But if I don’t then I don’t. I’ve reserved Sunday for working on the Scruffy Dog Review.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous this week with the temperatures in the mid-seventies. It is raining today and it feels balmy and tropical. Too bad the whole winter can’t be like this. It is supposed to get cold again next week though.

B1’s team won their basketball game as did B2’s. B1 is starting, but the scores have gotten so out of balance that the 2nd and 3rd string gets to play a bunch. Last night’s score was at last 40 to 6. B2 got to play almost two quarters of the game. That’s pretty good for a 6th grader. B1 and B4’s rec basketball starts this weekend. At least the gym is climate controlled for the most part. The softball field certainly isn’t.

I haven’t done a lick of Christmas shopping. I hope to at least get the tree this weekend.

B2 gets her braces next week. With braces for each kid running about $5,300, I’ll be out of $21,200 after it is all said and done. OUCH! B1 should have his braces off by the time B3 gets hers on and B2 should have hers off by the time B4 gets his on. It’s a vicious cycle I tell ya! Oh, and both B2 and B4 will need implants at $2,000 per tooth.

Have a great weekend all!

Unconventional

2006-11-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

I did manage another 600 words on QUEST FOR BASHKIM and queried another agent on STRANGE FRUIT. I still have one agent and one publisher reading the YA historical, so things are still happening.

I finally realized that I cannot plan to write. I cannot maintain a schedule (even a flexible one) and I cannot make time to write. The reason – there is no time to make. I’m going strong from 6 am to 8 pm and by the time I get everything done, I’m exhausted.

All I’m doing is worrying myself to death. Sure, I can quit the day job, scrape by on one salary and make the kids drop out of all of their activities. I can ignore everything else in my life and you betcha, I’d be one prolific writer. I’d also be the most hated mom and wife on the planet and one of the most boring people I know. All of these things make me who I am and consequently make me what I write. I will no longer resent not having the time to realize a dream. It is a dream and unfortunately, real life is more important.

What I can do is – steal minutes. Five minutes here, thirty there and ten somewhere else. It sounds crazy, but it’s actually working better than I ever imagined. There are no set times to write (the pressure of a blank page would just bring on a bout of writer’s block anyway), no word count goals, no self imposed deadlines. Just me, my pencil and paper.

The plan is not perfect, nor am I spilling volumes of words on the page, but it is the best I can do right now.

What Happened to the Weekend?

2006-11-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

I did manage a bit of writing over the weekend. About five-hundred words or so. I still have about four pages of handwritten work that I'll get typed up tomorrow. My goal this week is to write about 4000 words.

There are those who question whether or not I'm a writer. I say am even though my writing is not my main daily priority, it is a priority. Sometimes I just have to get creative that's all.

It's late and I have to get up early and get the rest of what I've handwritten typed.

A Little Update

2006-11-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, I’ve finally worked out a way to keep up with the blog from you-know-where. Much has been going on lately so I’ll recap a bit:

I’ve got four handwritten pages on QFB written and I plan to type those up tonight and update the Word Meter.

I still read my favorite blogs (listed on the right) and I took a piece of advice from one of the NANOWRIMO participants to write first thing in the morning. It worked really well, but I think 4 am is a bit too early. This week I’ll shoot for 5 am.

I got three rejections for two different manuscripts this week. Oh well.

I’m done with watching LOST. If the network can’t get their shit together enough to give me a season full of new episodes then screw them!

I finally drove my new truck to work. The sound system is state-of-the-art and the seat warming function is great for lower back pain! I think I’ll just sit in my truck in the evenings. I still need to figure out how exactly, the CD player works but she’s definitely a keeper. I’ll post a picture as soon as I can.

B2 made the school basketball team. She was the only sixth-grader to make it (as far as I know). Now she’s on two teams. Of course B1 made the school basketball team and he’s also on two teams. B3 and B4 are only on one team and thankfully football season ended before basketball season started.

B2 and B3 are both in the local Nutcracker production, B3 has one more softball tournament in Myrtle Beach next weekend and of course there are still weekly dance classes and piano lessons for both of them.

B1 was home sick yesterday. He feels much better now.

Some of this weekend will be spent working the SDR submissions. I can’t wait to read the new stuff!

Kerfluffle!

2006-10-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well, one of my nightmares has come to pass. As a kid, I used to have dreams that I wore my pajamas to school. As an adult, I still have dreams that I've ripped my pants (I usually purchase pants a size bigger than what I actually wear just to avoid this) or that I've worn two different color shoes to work. Well, guess what! Today, while rushing to dress in a dark closet, I threw on one black shoe and one dark drown shoe. I failed to notice my foobar until I was getting out of the truck at work.

Well, the twentysomething priss in me told me to rush back home and change, but the more practical fortysomething crone rationalized that I had a ton of work to do and I'd suck a half a tank of gas going all the way back home just to change one freakin' shoe. So I walked into work as if I'd meant to do this, and . . . NO ONE EVEN NOTICED!

I finally showed everyone at the end of the day and we all had a good laugh.

I've had to stop writing the YA Fantasy because I have to create the "Dark Land". It must be unique with a touch of goodness. I'll get to that later this evening.

I dropped of B2 for softball practice and drove to Barnes and Noble for a bit of book grazing. There were a ton of books on ghosts, hauntings and such at the bargain book rack, but I refrained. I did purchase a pocket thesaurus because the full-sized one I've been lugging around in my writing bag is hurting my shoulder. Getting old just sucks!

I sent out five more equeries for my novel last night and I already got one request for a full. Five years ago, I'd be toasting myself with a glass of wine, but now I'm just like eh, okay.

Rainy Day

2006-10-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

It has rained steady all day long and I'm loving it. All practice tonight got cancelled! So after I started another load of laundry, made a small dinner for everyone, cleaned up and packed lunches for tomorrow, I DID NOT sit down in front of the television. Instead, I marched my happy ass upstairs and did some business work for my novel.

I've finished typing the rest of Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 and I've just printed it all out to go back downstairs to grab my tea, turn on the classical music and edit until around 11:30.

I'm still here . . .

2006-10-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

I've been plugging away at my YA Fantasy. Check out the Word Meter to the right. I sat in my truck tonight and wrote about three pages. It's not alot, but it is three more pages than I had.

The day job and the kids have been keeping me hopping. B2 has her last softball tournament (thank goodness) for the year and B3's season is winding down. But, then it's on to BASKETBALL! Oh yippee! Oh and there's still B2's two dance classes per week, B3 still has one class per week, Nutcracker (now affectionately called BUTTCRACKER) rehearsal every Saturday and both girls still have piano lessons on Wednesday.

Last Thursday, B4 had football practice and since hubby was home to take him to practice, I got suckered into driving the kids and their friends to skate night. Oh what joy! It was almost time to go leave but B3 insisted that we stay so she could run the foot race the length of the rink. Well, she was off and had a good five-foot lead until . . . she tripped on the step that encloses the rink. She fell, got up and hauled ass back to the finish line - with blood pouring out of her nose. Like any good mom I stood at the finish line with a handful of napkins. Hey, she still came in second and her prize was a big bag of ice to put on her swollen and bloodied nose. She didn't have black eyes the next morning so off to school she went. She doesn't want to go to skate night next month. One down, three to go!

I bought another truck. It's a 2005 Ford F150 Lariat FULL CAB, 4WD, Chrome Package, 6CD Changer Stereo, Heated Seats and all the bells and whistles. It's used, but it only has 15,000 miles on it. I've qualified for the loan today (I really hate to have a car payment) and I'll get to pick it up later on this week. I'll post a picture when I get it. I'm a little excited (hubby is ALOT excited) but I'm awfully attached to the truck I have. Sure it has 137,500 miles on it, the transmission needs replaced and the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on every time I fill up with gasoline, BUT I LOVE THAT TRUCK and it is paid for. I know I'll cry when I sell it.

Well, it's late and I'd better get moving.

It's FRIDAY!

2006-09-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

Why is it that fate puts someone in your life with one purpose - to test your threshold of intolerable bullshit? I cannot stand someone who cannot make it in life without their rich daddy using his contacts and money to get him ahead. To persuade a company to give this person a job and they are not qualified to perform and for this person to consequently piss everyone off by trying to make a name for himself. Shame on his daddy. Shame on this company for perpetuating the lie and torturing its skilled, educated and knowledgeable employees with the stupidity of this Village Idiot.

Well, I let it be known today that my threshold is unusually low. I love the job, but it is getting harder and harder to work with the incompetence. Everyone else avoids this person, but I cannot. The work I do will either get him hired full time or get him released from his contract. So here's my dilemma - do I do a horrible job and get us both fired or do I do a good job and he stays? I must find a tactful way to resolve this situation without coming across as a cold-hearted bitch. I'll keep you posted.

Well, they only thing I have to do tonight is drive B1 to the store to get his new IPOD. Then it is home and to writing. I can't wait!

Another Day of Progress

2006-09-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

I typed all the edits for both the adult novel and the YA fantasy. My word meter increased by about a hundred words. Oh and I found this cool HP OOTP counter at the LC website. I really hate to wish my life away, but I can't wait to see this movie.

It's late and I'm exhausted. Sorry for the short post.

No one can do this but me!

2006-09-25T19:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight I actually wrote . . . well I edited four chapters of the YA Fantasy. I've got the outline pretty much complete except for an escape scene. I'm not sure how three of my characters escape the clutches of evil, but they have to. With so many good versus evil themes out there, I must also do something fresh and exciting. Hopefully I'll be up to the challenge.

Tonight again, was softball practice. B2 was at one field in the south part of the city, while B3 was north in another county. Thank goodness I have other parents I can depend upon to get the girls to where they need to be. It takes a village I tell ya! B1 has been a tremendous help staying home with B4 while I'm gone. For the first time since he was five, he has no fall sports and I believe he's loving the break.

I might have come across as anti-social but I pulled my notebook out of my writing bag, stared at the exquisite Carolina sunset and wrote. It was pure bliss. I'll do the same tomorrow night at B4's football practice (after I drive back and pick B2 up from Pointe Class) and so on. Unlike many other sports parents, I have a life outside the activities of my children and I don't need to live vicariously through them. Perhaps one day I can hold a train of thought and a conversation at the same time without coming across as a space cadet.

A New Week, A New Outlook!

2006-09-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

First of all, Angela posted a link set up to send cards to service men and women serving our country overseas. Regardless of how you feel about Iraq, Afghanistan, GWB or any other politcal hot button, these folks are just doing their job. Take a moment and send well wishes their way.
http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html

I'm sure the cards will be monitored so this is not the venue to voice everything you hate about America. Save that for the BBC Have Your Say Section. Speaking of which, every time I submit a comment, it never gets published. Could it be that I'm just not "whacked out enough" with my opinions.? That I see more gray in the world than black and white? That there is good and bad in all people and no one is perfect? That people should take a good look at themselves before blaming others for their misfortune? Geez, I hope so.

Tonight I finished the new section of Strange Fruit. I'll give it another read-though tomorrow then stick a fork in it! I did it and I also fixed breakfast, did at least seven loads of laundry, watched the kids in the neighbors pool for an hour, sew elastic straps on B2's Point Shoes and took a little snooze on the couch during the Panthers / Falcons game. Good thing I did because the post-game highlights were pathetic. Come on Steve Smith - we need you! I have to give props to Michael Vick - he had a heck of a game!

Well, I got to go pack lunches for school.

Procrastination Therapy

2006-09-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've barely written one word since May and it's time for me to get back into the groove. What better way than to set myself a few goals for the week. Nothing lofty (I'm certainly not about to get all crazy), but a few small goals to get me back into the routine and rhythm of writing.

1. Finish the revisions of STRANGE FRUIT. This includes the new section to give the story a bit better flow and another look at the ending.

2. Outline the rest of QUEST FOR BASHKIM and how it will tie into BATTLE FOR BASHKIM.

Okay, nothing I can't handle right?

Being a alternative theory geek, I recently picked up FORBIDDEN HISTORY edited by J. Douglas Kenyon, a collection of ATLANTIS RISING articles regarding the history of civilization. Let me just say, I cannot put this book down. I've read it once and I'm reading it again. I also requested a complementary copy of ATLANTIS RISING and I'll probably be subscribing.

It mirrors another book I checked out of the library back in the spring titled FINGERPRINTS OF THE GODS by Graham Hancock. Another great read.

Speaking of reading, I need to get some done!

Wow, Is It September Already?

2006-09-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of The Scruffy Dog Review is now available for your reading pleasure! Thanks so much to all of the contributors and to all of those (and you know who you are) who heard my last minute call for help and came through in your usual classy fashion.

What happened to August? Really.

Well, the day job has been kicking my butt since the first of August, but I think I have it under control now. I spent this evening cleaning out my office and rearranging all of my books. I updated my links on this blog and now . . . here I am!

I've been making a little progress on some rewrites and it's not the day job or the kid's activities that are holding me back, it's my lack of self-discipline. When I look back to when I was working full-time and writing the serial, I used what little time I had to my advantage. Now I'm just a lazy bum and that's got to change.

Tonight I'll need to create a new scene to give the novel a better flow and tie up a loose end.

I haven't heard anything from either the agents or the publisher but no news is good news as I always say.

Tomorrow B1 has basketball practice at 8 am, B4 has to be at the football field at 9:30 for an 11 am game, B3 has softball practice at 1 pm and B2 has Nutcracker auditions at 1:15 and softball practice at 3pm. I think I can squeeze in a few hundred words in between all of this and about ten loads of laundry. See ya!

Excuses . . . excuses

2006-08-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

I'm full of them! Saying the past month was hectic is an understatement. First there was the part-time job, which I absolutely love. I'm still on a 90-day probation so hopefully, they'll want to keep me.

Then it was back to school last week - carpools and traffic!

On top of that was softball practice, softball tournaments, basketball conditioning, football practice, dance classes started tonight and then there's piano lessons. Gee if I was doing all of this myself, I could play Mozart and have an ass like a twenty-year-old. But alas, forty-year-old my ass is sitting in the drivers seat chauffering everyone to everything.

B4 has a severe case of swimmers ear. ICK!

The rest of the week will be spent working on the September Issue of The Scruffy Dog Review. It's going to be a good one.

On the submission front, I have one partial and one full out to agents for the YA Historical Trilogy and two partials out for the Adult novel. I travel a rocky road to publication I tell ya! Here's hoping for the good news soon.

My First Payday!

2006-08-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, it feels great to get up in the morning and have a purpose other than to procastinate on writing and be a maid, chauffeur and referee! I got my first paycheck today. Of course it's going towards the bills but it is so much better (and a few more digits) than my unemployment check.

The job is becoming a bit more hectic and I did spend a good five hours this evening working from home. The job has been neglected due to short staffing and there is loads of cleanup involved. But once I get it cleaned up, it won't be so bad.

I'm flustered about which project to start on. I need to revise the ending of my novel and I'd like to get back on the YA Fantasy. Decisions, decisions!

This weekend will be a bit hectic because B2 has a softball tournament in another town, B3 has softball practice and B4 has football practice. I have a hair appointment on Saturday, B1 still needs to get his school supplies, both B1 and B4 need a haircut, there is a ton of dirty laundry and of course, the house is a friggin' disaster.

I called and begged the lady who cleans my house to pleeeeaaaassseeee come back! Well, she can but not for a few weeks as her twin boys are heading off to college. I suppose I can clean my house for a few more weeks.

My office is a disaster, so I need to get busy on that! Hubby brought home a box of books that someone left in an apartment after they skipped out on the rent. The manager said he could have them. See, he does love me!

Moving Along

2006-08-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

All of the submissions for The Scruffy Dog Review have been accepted, rejected or sent out to
Associate Editors for review. Geez what a relief. I love the stories and I really love the poetry but I cannot stand to get backed up on submissions! Okay off my soapbox.

Tonight, I think I'll print Chapter 19 of Hope River and give it an edit. If I take a chapter an evening, I should have it ready to submit the first of September.

I need to get something out there. I remember the elation I felt when I got the serial accepted at KIC. I want that feeling again. This agent search has left me numb.

Ta ta!

Ready for a new week!

2006-08-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

The synopsis is polished, the chapter by chapter outline is complete and the package is ready to be mailed to Big NY Agent! .

This week will be focused on the September 2006 issue of The Scruffy Dog Review and reworking an old novel to possibly submit to an e-publisher. I said possibly because this novel does need some work. Also, I'll need to do alot of research to make sure I don't get scammed. Sometimes I go off half-cocked and make bad decisions. Go figure.

Have a great week all!

Outline Hell!

2006-08-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

I got an agent request for a chapter by chapter outline of my novel. It is a reputable agency that has a plethora of sales listed on PM. Right now I've drafted up through Chapter 12. I'll finish the draft hopefully tomorrow while I sit on the ballfield and then tweak it with with "my voice" by Wednesay. I hope to get the package in the mail by Thursday. My wonderful writers group practically wrote my synopsis, so I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to Marlys Pearson, Terri Molina, Lara, Devon Ellington, Pamela K. Taylor, Lyd, Joan, Michelle Miles and Ann Zobrowsky. I owe all of you soooo much!

The day job is coming along nicely, but I find myself living in filth! My house is so damn dirty I can't stand it. The kids leave their crap all over and I'm going to have to crack some heads if I don't get cooperation soon. 'Nuff said about that.

I need to get passed the editing and rewriting and create. Perhaps in a few weeks I'll get it done and get back to my YA Fantasy.

Lara tagged me so here goes:

One Book:

One book that changed my life: THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND by Elizabeth George Speare. It was after reading this book again and again that I knew that one day I would write.

One Book that I have read more than once: Believe it or not, it was GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell. There wasn't much else to do in those mountains.

One Book I would want on a deserted Island: I can't think of any one book, but I'd love to have the entire Harry Potter series. Also, I want a crate of notebooks and pencils. I might as well use the time wisely.

One book that made me laugh: The most recent one is CARRY ME HOME by Sandra Kring. That Earwig character is a hoot!

One book that made me cry: A CHILD CALLED ITby David Pelzer. I could barely finish it.

One book I wish I'd written: LORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. Tolkien. Also, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by Roald Dahl.

One Book that I am Currently Reading: MURDER ON THE VINE by Robert Kellogg, but I have been for quite some time now . I tend to use reading as a reward for writing. I'm a little behind at the moment!

One Book I've been meaning to read: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen. It's getting rave reviews.

I've been getting headaches lately. Perhaps an eye exam is in order.

Synopsis Hell

2006-08-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

Why does writing a synopsis have to be so hard? For me, writing the novel is the easy part. It's the query letter, synopsis and all the other bits and pieces required by agents and publishers that is difficult. But anyway, the third draft of the synopsis is complete and posted on a writers message board for feedback. I can't look at it anymore tonight. I'll go mad!

Work is getting better and better. I did look like some obsessive compulsive ninny as I pulled out my own cleaner and roll of paper towels to clean my cube, but I don't care. It was so dusty that I spent alot of time sneezing and wiping my nose. Perhaps they'll catch a clue and clean their own desks.

The people are very friendly there, but a bit more professional than I'm used to. Not that there's anything wrong with being a professional, I'm just used to a more relaxed work environment.

I took the kids to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean this evening. It was really good, but B4 got a little scared when the Davy Jones characters came on the screen. They were a bit frightening.

This will have to be a short post. It's late and I'm a working gal now!

The World of the Employed

2006-07-31T16:13:00.000-07:00

Well . . . I lived and I actually enjoyed it. The adult conversation was a bit new to me but I soon adjusted. Unlike the other companies where I've worked, I had a PC the first day. At other places I've had to wait a week or more. There was a ton of HR paperwork which took all morning. The folks in the department were friendly enough and the department head took us all out to lunch. I think I'll like it here!

This evening I sent out some SDR submissions. Sooo, if you are an editor and you are reading this, please check your SDR email!

Tonight I need to draft a synopsis of Strange Fruit. I'd rather throw myself onto a bed of nails but it is a necessary evil.

My husband swears "we" (as in B1 and me) lost his van keys. I'm confused because both sets are where they are suppose to be, but the van key is missing off the key ring. It doesn't make sense. Anyhow, we searched and searched but no luck. I did however, find B1's cell phone wedged deep into the couch cushions. This is the same one that I paid $118.00 to replace! Dagummit!

Well, I best get busy on that synopsis!

Back to the Grind . . .

2006-07-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

My vacation is over. A week at the georgous Carolina coast and a week in the mountains is now behind me. Tomorrow, I'll be re-acquainting myself with rush hour traffic and the left brain world of a day job! To be honest, I'm looking forward to it and it's not just because of the money.

When I stopped working full-time and then altogether, I didn't spend as much time writing as I thought I would. I wasted more time than I ever did when I worked full-time. Back then, I understood how precious free time was and I planned every free minute. Lately I've been pissin' it away like cheap beer through a frat boy. Perhaps now I can focus.

Softball season is over for the most part. Both girls have tryouts next weekend and then there will be some practices. B4 will begin football practice and B1 has nothing. I hope he'll try out for the soccer team. He's not real big on soccer, but the school has no football team and there's no other boys sports in the fall.

This week I need to work on a synopsis for Strange Fruit and a chapter outline. I'm going to have to print the manuscript so it can be both revised (from the critique I blogged about earlier) and outlined at the same time. I got an agent request (two so far for partials!) and they require the outline and the synopsis. Silly me, I was hoping to avoid those. Hopefully I can get this done by mid-August. I also need to get crackin' on Scruffy Dog Submissions.

Away

2006-07-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

I need a break before I go back to work. All this sittin' on my ass is tiring. Seriously, I've been packing everything I need to stock a beach house and I'm exhausted. This doesn't include running the dog to the kennel and dropping the hamster off at the sitter.

I'll be back in town next Saturday. Monday I'll be driving to spend a week with my mom. Be back at the end of July! I hope by then the Hezbollah and Israel can find peace. Stay safe everyone!

Thanks to Heather . . .

2006-07-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

. . . for finding another way to waste my time! It's my Meez!

Where to begin?

2006-07-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

Loads has happened but I'm moving slowly on the writing front.

I was forced into an experiment which was: Could I give up writing? I put everything away -- the YA Fantasy WIP, the brilliant critique from my writing partner, the rewrite for Book 1 of the YA Civil War Trilogy, my sacred writing bag and I cleaned off my desk. I stopped sending out inquiries and I stopped searching for new markets. I didn't frequent the online writing groups and I didn't update my blog.

I spent time with the kids and cleaned my house. I had a bathroom remodeling crew in daily for the bathroom and I went to the YMCA everyday to work out for an hour. I lounged by the pool and rode every roller coaster at Carowinds. I cooked every meal and spent time with hubby. And there I was, the perfectly-tanned-stay-at-home-mom fixing my kids a hot breakfast every morning.

YIKES! It wasn't me at all! There was a large part of me missing and the nervous twitch I developed wasn't from too much caffeine. I knew then that I could not stop writing. I can't stop the character chatter, I can't stop watching people for potential character quirks I can use and I cannot stop waking up in the middle of the night with some solution to a trouble spot in my WIP or a "popping" sentence to a lackluster query. But most of all, I missed my cyber-friends!

So, back on the writing front, I still have two full manuscripts out to smaller publishers and one full out to an agent. I just received another request from an agent.

To make things a bit more hectic, I've been offered a very nice and flexible part-time job with a wonderful and stable company. It is manufacturing, but not electronics. This company has been around forever and I'm really excited. And the money is awesome for part-time!

So, I'll be gone for two weeks, beginning on Saturday and I start work on July 31st. Sometime in there I have to have the dreaded drug test. Thank goodness I gave up being a crack whore some time ago! KIDDING!!!!

Anyhow, I have my family, I have my income and now I have my writing again. It is good to be back!

This ain't working

2006-06-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Gaw, it feels like I'm back to square one. One would think that if one didn't have a day job, then one could write all day. I know I thought so. Lest I forget, raising kids is a full-time job that I used to pay someone else to do. Now that job is mine and it is way more than forty hours per week! I don't even want to talk about house or yardwork! Blech!

I've yet to create the daily routine to squeeze in some writing time. Lately, I've been more of a referee and I've just about had it. As I type, everyone has been sent to their rooms and if I see them anymore tonight, then they will spend tomorrow there too.

I'm almost finished with the July issue of The Scruffy Dog Review and then it's off to do a critique for a friend. As far as my edits . . . perhaps after the beach vacation!

Back to Edit and Rewrite Land

2006-06-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

I just received the most wonderful critique from a great friend. Four pages of great advice! Thank you, thank you (you know who you are!) .

This book is set during the turbulent times of Civil Right and its aftermath and having someone across the pond critique it without knowing the history was a great plus as there was no historical knowledge and no pre-conceived perceptions or opinions to cloud what the pages held.

Now, I'm back into edit land for the next few months. I'm really excited to get back into it and work on the parts that need help.

I've updated my calendar to reflect my new agenda and tomorrow it's back to work on the novel.

I've got to take my writing bag to the girls softball practice which is every friggin' night this week. And their tournament starts on Friday for heavens sake! I've also got to take the boys to get a haircut, go to the store and get a few things like bread, milk and stuff, I promised to take the kids to the pool tomorrow and somewhere along the line, I've lost two beach towels. I say I've lost them, but in all honesty one of those darn kids left them at someone's house when they were invited over to swim.

Busy, busy, busy!

Managed to steal a moment . . .

2006-06-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

. . . of my life back. I'll admit I haven't heard "I'm bored" as much as I thought I would and the kids are not needy as I thought they'd be either. B1 insists that I make him a sandwich for lunch (which I in turn insist that he can starve). He's thirteen for cryin' out loud. B2 and B3 are only two years apart and have hung out together most of the time, with only a few fights. B1 is bored to tears and has spent a lot of time with a good friend, either at our house or his friend's house.

The men finally arrived to remodel B1's bathroom. I have the "before" pictures taken and I'll post them with the after pictures when all is finished. Quite honestly, if I showed it now, everyone would think I was dirt poor and in need of Government Assistance or a visit from Habitat For Humanity. Realistically, the gaping hole of rotted wood was hidden beneath two layers of vinyl floor and a shower stall and the only reason we knew there was a problem was because I just happened to notice the "rain shower" in the garage when B1 was taking a shower earlier this spring. It is truly a wonder he didn't fall through the first floor into the garage.

As for the writing, I'm starting to get back into my groove. Today, I worked on The Scruffy Dog Review website to get it ready for the July 2006 issue, edited a short story by a contributor, read Devon's article and Ann's book review. The latter two needed no editing.

I also sent some followup emails to agents who have had my manuscripts long enough to have read them. Now I'll wait some more.

Tonight I might actually get back to the YA Fantasy!

B.K.

www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Save the Internet!

2006-06-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. If the public doesn't speak up now, our elected officials will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign. Some nerve!

Here's where you can help:

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Fill out the petition and send it to your representatives!

Summer Reads

2006-06-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

My Summer Reading Recommendations:

Bernardo and the Virgin by Silvio Sirias
The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
A Sundog Moment by Sharon Baldacci

Yep, it's only four but I have four kids so my reading time will be limited. I've already read Bernardo and the Virgin and The Book of Bright Ideas. Tremendous reads - both of them!

Water for Elephants is in transit from Amazon.com and I purchased A Sundog Moment back in February but haven't found the time to sit down with it.

In fact, I haven't had much time for anything this week, other than being a taxi. Tomorrow I have to drive to North Wilkesboro for B3's softball tournament. Hubby has already left for B2's softball tournament in Raleigh. B1 went with him and B4 will be traveling with me. I'm hoping next week will be a bit less chaotic!

We need a pool! We didn't join the public pool this year because we rarely used it. It would be sooo nice to have one in the back yard. But plunking down 40 grand for an in-ground pool is not in the budget. Perhaps an above ground pool with a deck in a year or two. We'll have to see. Maybe I could sell a book!

I'm running out of options for the YA Historical Trilogy. Every agent (and there have been plenty) who has read it, says the writing is great, but there is no market for it. I think I'm a victim of piss-poor timing. I still have a few inquiries out, but I think I'll just sit on it for awhile (perhaps a year or two) and try again. I still have my adult novel to query and I have the YA Fantasy to complete. That should keep me plenty busy.

Have a great weekend all!

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Last Day of School

2006-06-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

With a large softball tournament and two dance recitals behind us, I can now settle down a bit and concentrate on my writing.

I've identified some appropriate markets for some of my work and sent out some query letters. We'll see. I've set a few small goals this week. I need to get working on the July 2006 issue of the Scruffy Dog Review, get at least 3500 words on the YA Fantasy.

Today is the last day of school. Someone "toilet papered" the school. Parents were apalled. I was laughing so hard I almost peed my pants. I explained the fine art of tp-ing to a few shocked mothers and how much better it would have looked if they'd done the surrounding trees.

I swear if I hear "I'm bored" this summer, I'll choke the one who says it. We have Carowinds every Monday and two trips to the beach scheduled. I don't pretend to be the entertainment committee, because quite honestly, my kids are creative enough to entertain themselves. There is a plethora of kids in the neighborhood (even if I can't stand a few of them) so they'll just have to deal.

I hate saying this "back in my day" diatribe as I'm sure to be met with the oh so annoying eye-roll which will in turn, get the "eye-roller" sent to their room for the rest of the day, but dammit I made it through adolescence just fine without every minute of my summer vacation planned with summer camps and the oh so dreaded "playdates". Get a grip and use your imagination!

B1 skipped the last day of school and went with three of his friends to Carowinds. One of the moms was a bit concerned because I was just dropping the boys off. She thought I should stay. Well, I don't mind being a taxi but I sure as hell ain't babysitting a bunch of thirteen-year-old boys all day long! It was bad enough listening to "gotta lean with, roll it" repeated on my truck radio or my all time favorite " meet me in the club - it's going down, meet me in the hood - it's going down" and "Pimpin' all over the world". Geesh when will there be an alternative to Rap?

Today I have to complete the interview questions for the next author to be intereviewed by the SDR and edit some short stories. I best get busy!

BK

Week-end Wrapup

2006-05-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

Before I forget, B2's softball team won the Hampton Inn Invitational Softball Tournament last weekend in Gastonia NC. (B2 is in the bottom row, third on right holding the plaque). She even hit a home run!

It is sooo nice to have her play on a winning team in a great organization.

B2 and B3 play in the same tournament this weekend. God give me strength!

On the writing front, there is not much progress. I receive a heart-wretching rejection from a great agent today. I was destroyed for much of the day, but picked myself up and went to the library - where I did nothing but piddle. I'm in a funk I tell ya! Perhaps it will get better after the holiday!

Have a great weekend all!

Just Doing My Part

2006-05-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

When I first began writing, there was very little information out there about scam agents. Now's there's plenty and I hope all writers do their homework. I am a member of Absolutewrite but post infrequently, yet it is a comfort knowing AW and it's wonderful members were there for me and all writers. A most important resource for writers went missing today and no writer should stand for this.

Please spread the word about this and all scammer agents!

See these links:

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/007577.html#007577

http://www.ejknapp.com/OnlyOnSunday/2006/05/24/absolutewrite-writers-forum-shutdown-by-angry-agent/admin/

20 Worst Agents

* The Abacus Group Literary Agency
* Allred and Allred Literary Agents (refers clients to "book doctor" Victor West of Pacific Literary Services)
* Capital Literary Agency (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc.)
* Barbara Bauer Literary Agency
* Benedict & Associates (also d/b/a B.A. Literary Agency)
* Sherwood Broome, Inc.
* Desert Rose Literary Agency
* Arthur Fleming Associates
* Finesse Literary Agency (Karen Carr)
* Brock Gannon Literary Agency* Harris Literary Agency
* The Literary Agency Group, which includes the following:Children's Literary AgencyChristian Literary AgencyNew York Literary AgencyPoets Literary AgencyThe Screenplay AgencyStylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency)Writers Literary & Publishing Services Company (the editing arm of the above-mentioned agencies)
* Martin-McLean Literary Associates* Mocknick Productions Literary Agency, Inc.
* B.K. Nelson, Inc.
* The Robins Agency (Cris Robins)
* Michele Rooney Literary Agency (also d/b/a Creative Literary Agency and Simply Nonfiction)* Southeast Literary Agency
* Mark Sullivan Associates
* West Coast Literary Associates (also d/b/a California Literary Services)

Another perfect plan down the crapper!

2006-05-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

I got up at seven, got the kids up, fixed a bit of breakfast, packed four lunches, drove the kids to school, walked three miles, showered and dressed, and packed my stuff to spend at least three hours at the library. BUT NOOOOO! As I was heading out the door, the telephone rang.

"Mommy?" a small voice said.
"B3?"
"My tummy hurts."
"Okay, I'll be there in a minute."

Well, so much for the library!

I was productive however, as I did some admin work with the Scruffy Dog Review.

Onward and upward! I made peace with the fact that many "in the know (HA!)" tell me that if I don't have a graduate degree in Enlish literature (I've never even taken a creative writing course) that there's no way I could ever be respected as a serious author. Or that since I could barely finish reading Milton's Paradise Lost but I love Frank Herbert's Dune SF series, that my literary tastes aren't quite up to par.

My first response is to bluntly say, "fuck you" but I'll reserve that tastless phrase for my thoughts only. I need to remember that many individuals who attempt to degrade and defile others, have their own issues to deal with. Instead of finding a creative outlet or a good therapist, they prefer to hurl insults and ridicule. Perhaps they need to take that same scathing analytical eye they use to judge everyone else and take a good hard look at themselves. Tsk! Tsk!

This goes for internet forums too. I've learned a bit from lurking in the shadows:

1. People "post" out of both sides of their mouths.
2. Anyone can be anyone they want to from the comfort of their keyboards.
3. It is easy for even the smallest minded person to portray themselves as enlightened.
4. A coward hurls many more insults through cyberspace than they ever would standing face to face with their victim.

I shadowed more than one writers forum where a certain author of a certain best-selling book and in which the movie was #1 at the box office over the weekend, was excessively discussed, his prose made fun of and threads upon thread of how bad the movie was. Sour grapes indeed.

I guess what I'm saying here is that I'm tired of the pettiness of others and I don't have to deal with it really. It is up to me.

2006-05-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, B3 (left) and B2 (right) had their 1st of 3 ballet recitals last night. The sound system could have been better, but the weather was georgeous and the girls danced beautifully!

I had today all planned out - I really did. B2 had a tournament in another town, B4 had a baseball game at 10 am and B3 had a scrimmage game at 12 noon. Well, it rained last night and B4's game got pushed back to 12 noon, so I had to miss B3's scrimmage. Darn this weather. It turned out to be a nice day, but there is thunder rumbling as I type.

I find I'm spending way too much time online. I'm going to have to decide whether I want to be an internet junkie or a serious writer. Writers forums are the worst culprit as I can justify checking my email every hour. So, I'm backing off of two of them, only to check in once per day. ONLY ONCE!

Tonight I need to draft a book review and tomorrow I need to review a couple of chapters for a friend.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Brenda's Lost Her Groove

2006-05-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

. . . so if any of ya'll know where I left it, please let me know. I've also lost my watch and my wedding band. Ugh! I feel naked if I don't have them on!

I wanted to write today - really. I packed up my writing bag and drove to the park - but then drove home about ten minutes later. If I love writing so much, why can't I just do it? Perhaps I don't like it as much as I want to believe.

I had to go to a principal, teacher and mom conference today about B4's temper and outbursts in class. What a drag. They were very helpful and kind - God bless them!

I found something funny on my desk this morning. My oldest son had to write an obituary in Spanish. Here's the English version:

Here lies ::B1 Birch:: He died of a paper cut to the foot. But that is not what killed him. He died from 15 shots to the chest with a bullet proof vest on. But that is not what killed him. What killed him was eating some of his Grandma's cooking and ladies and gentlemen, that is how he died.

I guess he's more creative than I thought!

BK

Is May Over Yet?

2006-05-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm half-way through the month. 1st Communion is over, as is B1's baseball and B3's rec ball. Now, I need to get through three dance recitals and 3 weekend softball tournaments. I can do this!

On the writing front - nada! nadadamnthing! I did print off the first section of Quest for Bashkim for some editing of what I call "filler". Light descriptions to set the reader's visualization of The Chosen Land. Hopefully I can get this done today in between ballet class and a Middle School Meeting.

Me: "Do I have to go? I already went to a meeting when B1 started middle school." ::major whining::

B3 (age 11 and starting MS next fall): YES!

Okay, who's the parent here?

I did some admin work on the SDR submissions. There are some really talented writers submitting work. Yowsa!

Saturday was B4's first communion so after it was over, we headed to Outback for an early dinner.

Mother's Day was non-eventful. I cleaned, did laundry and took the kids out for ice cream. I'm trying to back off a bit, but I did cave and have a scoop of Butter Pecan.

Best get writing!

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Busy Weekend

2006-05-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

First of all, B4 made his first communion on Saturday May 13th.

Although I'm not Catholic, I have nothing but the utmost respect for this Sacrament.

He's worked so hard.

Congrats!

MIA No More!

2006-05-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the unanticipated absence, but my life kind of got in the way. May is normally a hectic month for me. School is winding down, ballet recitals, baseball and softball are in full swing and there's those pesky charities I volunteer for.

I have triplets! No, not children (thank heavens!) but kittens. Last Tuesday when I cut the grass, I found them hidden behind a bag of leaves. They have black fur and beautiful dark blue eyes. They are also too small to eat on their own so I've been feeding them with a small bottle up to five times a day. Wow! It's alot of work.

But they're growing and just adorable. One girl and two boys. Now either I have to find good homes or keep them here. I think I'm going to become an eccentric cat lady!

A member of my writers group had a great idea to write an anthology. I was a bit hesitant at first because I haven't written a short story in ages but I wanted to do this. I have an idea but now the challenge is to get in down on paper before the deadline.

Quick post as my oldest son just called and informed me that he has basketball practice after school. It wasn't listed on the Birch Calendar of events that hangs on the refrigerator gently reminding me that my time is no longer my own.

He instructed me to bring him his black short and his red shirt. Well, hell - they're dirty!

Gotta run!

Odds and Ends

2006-04-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday it rained which mean the lawn got a much needed soaking and all of the ball games were cancelled. I took advantage and cleaned my whole house and did all of the laundry. I am much more productive in a clean house- I find life is much more harmonious when the house is clean.

Unfortunately, a by-product of this cleaning frenzy is now I'm the clutter Nazi! Here's some of the ranting of an exhausted mom to her four bewildered children:

1. Does that belong there?
2. Get this outta here!
3. Elizabeth, clean up your desk!
4. Who got mud on the carpet?
5. Why are there crumbs on the counter?
6. If you can't take your plate back into the kitchen, then don't eat in your bedroom!
7. Am I the only person who knows how to open the dishwasher?
8. Elizabeth, this desk is still a disaster!
9. Jimmy, why are you wearing cleats upstairs? Is that where all of this mud is coming from?!
10. Jennifer, that hamster cage stinks! Clean it!
11. Elizabeth, get your a** in here and clean up this desk!
12. Joey, how many times have I told you, NO wet clothes in the clothes hamper!

I could go on, but every mother knows this routine.

On the writing front, I only managed 1000 words of a 2000 word goal last week on the YA Fantasy. I have to add that 1000 to the 5000 word goal for this week. Today I wrote 1265 breaking the 10k point. Wahoo!

On the agent search I have a partial and a full out for the YA Historical Trilogy and a full out of the adult commerical fiction. Geez, this is a tough business.

Some of my friends have had trouble posting to Blogger today. I hope this works!

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Living in a Money-Sucking Vacuum

2006-04-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

No, not the scientific space with no or very little gas pressure. I'm talking about the HOOVER that keeps sucking the money right out of the family budget. I always say good things happen to good people - I've been good - so what the heck is the problem?

First, B1 has his own bathroom which now has water damage (not his fault - the house was built in 1973 and it is just old!) and the whole room has to be remodeled. Total cost = $6,800.00! Second, the refrigerator blew and I had to purchase another one. Total cost = $970.00! Third, the A/C unit that cools the bottom two levels of the house went dead. Total cost = $4,200.00! Fourth, hubby's A/C in his truck is gone. Total cost = $200.00! The transmission in my truck is hanging on by a hair and I don't even want to think about how much it will cost to replace it. I have the title and no monthly payment so I'll have to fix it. Ughhh!

On the writing front, I submitted a piece to The Mom Writer's Literary Magazine. Thanks to Colin for the link. It is my first submission of the year. It is a short essay called The Antagonist - about B1!

I updated my online calendar to reflect my less than stellar writing volume over the past two weeks. Now it looks like the first draft of Quest For Bashkim won't be complete until the end of June.

I need to strike a balance between shopping the two complete projects I have and writing the new WIP. It seems like if I start working on the business end of my writing, then the creative part gets zapped. I've been in a funk for over a week now, but I stewed a bit of the plot last night. Now I just have to get it all on paper.

The house is a disaster and the laundry is piled up. I suppose I best get busy!

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

More Good News!

2006-04-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Penwomanship is ready to go to press and my poem, A Little Girl Within, will be published. I haven't submitted very much this year at all but it seems as though I'm getting published just as often.

I'm stalled on the YA Fantasy. Hubby is out of town, I'm trying to get kids to all of their functions, I'm querying agents on other projects and I'm just creatively zapped. For some reason, dealing with the business of writing just takes all the fun out of writing. Blech!

I rummaged through the members list of the private writer's forum and found that I miss all of those people. There are still the dear regulars who interact almost daily, but then there are others who have either quit writing or have moved on. Where has everybody gone?

This week I have to update my online calendar with my failures and establish new goals and completion date for the YA Fantasy. It just won't be today.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Uhmm . . . Is This Thing On?

2006-04-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

I have a plethora of announcements!

First of all, Solander - The Magazine for the Historical Novel Society will be publishing my short story, Caught In The Middle, in their May 2006 issue. This is not just another publisher folks. They only publish two new stories per year and out of the thousands of submissions, they chose mine! I am honored.

My dear friend, Colin Galbraith's wonderful book Fringe Fantastic had a great review in Scotland Magazine. If you haven't checked out this eclectic mix of poetry and photography, it is well worth your time to do so.

Another dear friend, Michelle Miles now has Ransom and Fortune available for purchase at Inara Press. If you like Action / Adventure, this is definitely for you. If you need a bit more convincing just read the latest review.

Congrats to Phil Mickelson for winning the Masters yesterday.

I haven't done much writing today. I went to the grocery store and thought about cutting the grass. The dryer has laundry in it from yesterday as does the washer, but oh well. Perhaps I'll get around to it this evening. Or . . . perhaps not!

B.K.
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Why do I Write?

2006-04-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder why I even bother. I love to write and will continue to, probably for the rest of my life. If I fail to get a publisher, I will probably self-publish when I'm in my seventies (provided I live that long) just so I can see my work bound before I die. I hope that is not my only option.

I get this way every time I begin to query. Today I sent out four snail mail queries and did five email / online submissions. This whole process, while vital, SUCKS!

J. A. Konrath write of TLD (The Lottery Dream) on his Friday, March 31st post and provides a little quiz. Go ahead on over and take it. By the way, I have my show with Oprah all planned out and I'll wow the world with my brilliance and wit.

The first question is how long will I continue, even if I don't succeed. Well, I've been writing for publication for over six years now and I can't see myself stopping anytime soon. Sometimes what I write is pure crap. But other times, what I write is really good and that is what keeps me going.

I've written two adult novels, three YA, countless short stories and poems. My first novel did snag an agent, but I think he had too many bigger names to worry about little ole' me. I don't believe my novel ever even went on submission. Oh well, now I'm smarter and the information and resources that are available now will hopefully help me in making better decisions.

The YA trilogy is still being considered by two agencies. I'm on the bubble, but honestly, I don't think I'll be offered resentation for it.

I'm now querying Strange Fruit, my labor of four years (off and on). I'm trying to keep myself in the mindset that it is no big deal if I don't get representation, as I've probably accumulated about 250 rejections over the past six years - talk about thick skin. But truthfully, I'll be crushed if I don't.

I didn't get much written last week on the YA Fantasy because of a nasty tradition called Spring Break. We were unable to travel out of town, but we did take in a movie and Carowinds. I wrote a total of 1,446 words. I've pushed the ending date out to 6/2. But at least I'll have it completed before summer.

Speaking of writing, I suppose I'd better go do some.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Where to begin?

2006-03-30T06:47:00.000-08:00

It's been a tough week. Lots of thinking, planning, plotting and world building and the kids are on Spring Break. We weren't able to travel but we did take in a movie yesterday and tomorrow we are to spend the day at Carowinds. The familiar whines of boredom are in full force but I refuse to listen.

I hate those "back in my day" stories, but lets be honest. I didn't have a Playstation II (we own three of them) in my own bedroom with countless games, I didn't have a television in my own bedroom (hell, I didn't even have cable growing up), I didn't my choice of four computers to play on - all with high-speed internet access, I didn't have a garage full of bikes and motorcycles, I didn't have a trampoline and I certainly didn't have a neighborhood full of friends to play with. So give me a freakin' break!

I've had little time to write and only have about 1000 words written this week.

One thing I've decided is to decrease my time messing around online. Writers Forums are a great resource but they can also be a time waster.

Angela Miller and I traveled to the Virginia Festival of the Book over the weekend. I was really alot of fun and she and I chatted like we were old friends instead of two writers who met in a Writers Forum.

I met Melanie Lynn Hauser, author of Confessions of Supermom and Sharon Baldacci, author of A Sundog Moment. They are such great ladies! Actually Melanie and I met on a Writers Forum years ago.

We met many great authors, purchased a few books and went to a few great panels. I'll certainly try to attend next year.

What I took away from the festival is that there are many writers out there, all with the same dream that I have. I realize the odds are against me and so my "product" must be better than the competition and networking is crucial.

Although I have to admit, I really didn't get much new information out of the Agents Panel. I felt more informed than the average attendee about the whole process, although it is still a bit overwhelming.

If I take anything away from the experience, it is that the odds are extremely stacked against me. So what's new? The odds have always been against me but I've always prevailed. It is no different with my writing.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com