Thankful

It's Thanksgiving again, and I have much to be grateful for this year. In no particular order:

• My eye condition seems to be improving a bit after months of eye injections.


• While my mom still isn't healthy, her condition is stable. Four years ago, she was sick enough that we weren't sure if she would be with us today.


• I've been in my job just over a year now, and I am thankful to be in a position I love and the ability to provide hope to people each and every day. God knew what he was doing when He led me in the direction of Lampo.


• My tiny little family consisting of me, Will, and Frasier. I love them with all of my heart. Frasier is a blessing every day with his unconditional love. Will is...well, a man who stole my heart when I was too young to know what that meant. He still has it.


• Good friends. I freely admit I'm a bit of a hermit. Writers are often solitary creatures, sometimes because of our personalities and sometimes because it's a lonely profession. But during our time in Nashville, we've been blessed with people who wrapped their arms around us and became part of our extended family. As a result, I've come out of my shell a bit more.


• God. He leads me in the right direction whether I know it or not. And when my hope is lost, my faith is ever present.


• My creative talent. My dream has always been to be published by a major New York publisher. Even if that doesn't happen, I'm content that my way with words allows me to express myself on paper.


• My nieces and nephews. They all have such bright futures ahead of them. I pray they are able to succeed in whatever they pursue in life.

What are you thankful for this year?

Christmas Music

As you can tell from my previous post, I am not in favor of beginning Christmas music early. However, my favorite local radio station--normally playing light adult contemporary such as Faith Hill and Michael Bublé--has begun playing all Christmas music all the time for the remainder of the season. As a result, I've had to resort to other means of entertainment in my car. I've begun listening to the local AC Top 40 station, which usually features artists like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga--neither of whom I would ever listen to voluntarily these days. So what's my other option? The local talk radio station.

I used to listen to talk radio a lot. A LOT. But I had to stop when I realized the negativity of the constant news feed was getting to me, particularly in the mornings when I'm trying to start my day on a positive note. The only talk radio I can listen to and enjoy is my own employer's show, "The Dave Ramsey Show." It's about life and money and normally doesn't cross over much with news programs. But as for the others? I can live blissfully without it.

Anyway, all of this is to say I don't have a radio station to listen to between now and Christmas. Well, I don't until I'm in the mood for Christmas music. And I can't think of anyone I know who wants to listen to Christmas music 24/7 no matter how much they might love it. After all, if you hear something over and over and over again, it starts to lose its charm.

So what's a girl to do?

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Bah humbug!

Image via Wikipedia

Every year, I see the Christmas decorations coming out in the stores just the teensiest bit earlier. And every year, I cringe when I see Christmas trees mixed with Labor Day--okay, Halloween--decorations.

Bah humbug!

I'm not a Scrooge. Really, I'm not. I like Christmas. I like what it represents, I love the celebration of Christ, and I love the spirit of giving. But what I really, absolutely hate is this attitude of "Gimme, gimme, gimme!" that starts right after Labor Day and continues until Christmas Day has passed. I decided a long time ago that my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. It still is. There are no expectations other than the entire family showing up to share a beautiful meal and giving thanks for the blessings in our lives. To me, that concept should carry over into Christmas.

Unfortunately, I think many Americans have lost that attitude by the time Black Friday rolls around the day after Thanksgiving. Last year, a Wal-Mart employee was even trampled to death opening the doors for early morning bargain hunters. What sort of world is it we live in when a man is trampled to death and people are still racing through the store to get their deals on stuff?

No wonder I sound like a Scrooge this time of year.

And another thing: can we hold off on the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving is over? I'd really like to enjoy the music for the season instead of being ready to turn it off by the middle of December.

Thanks.

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The death of Venice

Image by sminky_pinky100 (Busy In & Out) via Flickr

I've been to Venice, Italy. It's a lovely place with its island cemetery, St. Mark's Square, and its quiet, hidden canals. Or maybe it's the buildings, which Venice vehemently protects with stringent city codes. The charm of such an old--and once powerful--city casts a sort of magic spell around those who visit it on a quiet evening.

But if you ask the Venetians, they want the tourists to go away.

Once boasting of a population of more than 200,000 people on this tiny, waterlogged island, the population has now dwindled to just below 60,000 residents...and it continues to fall. To mark this sad occasion, this Saturday, Venice will host a funeral for its own city. Plagued by daytrippers, Venice is having a difficult time attracting visitors who want to stay longer than a few hours. And that means the hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that thrive on tourism are struggling.

Wealthy people are also plaguing Venice. It sounds like an awesome problem to have, right? Not when they buy up all of the property in the city, causing the prices of homes to skyrocket--making it nearly impossible for everyday citizens to buy a home. And even worse? Venice's wealthy occupants are usually only part-time residents, staying for no more than a few months out of the year.

Honestly, I think it's unfair for Venice to blame its current problems on the wealthy or on daytrippers. Venice has always been--and always will be--a tourist city. Venetians are a hearty bunch, and they need to figure out another way to thrive. Their rich history of mercantilism and ingenuity is proof of that. Increasing prices solely for tourists is not the way to win friends and influence people. Add to this Venice's slow descent beneath the sea, and you have a city with some serious problems on its hands.

Do I know what the solution is? Of course not. But do I think this is a city worth saving? Absolutely. While I don't see myself visiting again in the future, I feel blessed to have spent four magical days in this city...getting to know its secrets and its allure.

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Moments

I have what I like to call "moments" on a frequent basis. They're snippets of time where I have a particularly strong feeling about something--when God is trying to tell me if I only I listen harder or more carefully. Writing is one area of my life where I try to pay more attention. Sometimes, when I'm especially doubtful of my capabilities, my story, or my dream, it's as if God whispers in my ear, "You can do this. Don't give up. This is your gift."

So it's encouraging when I read about another author getting THE CALL from an agent. You know. THE CALL. The one offering representation!

I follow many literary agents, editors, and writers on Twitter. It's one reason I use Twitter; I can use it strategically to network and learn from others in the industry. This week, one of the agents I follow, Rachelle Gardner, discussed the importance of making sure your query or submission ALWAYS has a phone number on it. She wanted to make a call to an author offering representation...but she couldn't find a phone number. Today, Rachelle revealed who the author was, and I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear as I read her blog post.

Katie Ganshert's excitement, relief, wonder, exhilaration, and acceptance is completely palpable in her post. And there isn't a writer alive who hasn't experienced that. All of her doubts were crushed in one fell swoop.

We all dream of this particular moment. Congratulations, Katie. I hope to follow in your footsteps soon.

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NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is in full swing, and I am not participating.

While I feel it's a perfectly worthwhile cause and a great way to jump start the writing of people who wouldn't normally devote any time to it, I'm not a binge and purge sort of writer. You see, the goal of NaNoWriMo is for writers to complete a novel of 50,000 words in one month. It begins on November 1st and ends on November 30th.

I operate much better when I'm writing an hour or two at a time and--on rare occasions--several hours at a time on a weekend. It gives me time to reflect upon what I intend to say, and I don't feel pressured. I feel enough pressure as it is trying to adhere to a personal deadline.

So, readers, there you have it. That's why you won't see word counts from me when it comes to NaNoWriMo. I've been asked several times why I am not participating, and there you have it.

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Daydreamers

Daydreamers are often ridiculed for their tendency to "check out" of conversations or just life in general. I'm guilty of this. I'm convinced it has to do with my ability to imagine and create new worlds on paper. And the single most effective way to send me into one of these trances? An awesomely reflective song.

Because I'm knee-deep in writing a romance set in Regency England, it doesn't take much other than the sweet lyrics of David Archuleta's "Crush" or Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher" to send me into my own private fantasy world, where the people I've created become so real that I can hear their voices ringing in my head...a full-blown conversation taking place. These characters want me to know them--want me to tell their story. And nothing inspires me more than a romantic, soulful song with a sweet voice behind the lyrics.

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The Stolen Lady: Update

Cover via Amazon

I'm at a little over 61,000 words on my novel, The Stolen Lady. I'm reading a book called Good in a Room. How do these two things relate to one another?

I intend to pitch the novel next summer at RWA's national conference here in Nashville. Good in a Room is intended to help me learn how to make a sales pitch. Written by Stephanie Palmer--the woman who pitched Legally Blonde--Good in a Room's purpose is to teach those who aren't necessarily good at selling how to sell even when it still isn't comfortable.

As a writer, I tend to be an introvert. As such, the idea of walking into an elevator or room with an editor or agent is a daunting prospect. But according to Ms. Palmer, with some coaching, it doesn't have to be hard. My overall goal? Building confidence. It's something I lack when it comes to telling others about the story. And if I can't convey confidence in my own idea, why would someone else buy it even if I know it to be a good idea?

I would highly recommend picking up the book even if you only need to sell an idea in a meeting at work. I'm only a couple of chapters in, and I can tell this is a worthy read. And it isn't boring!

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The secret to beating jet lag

Image via Wikipedia

Because Will and I are usually over jet lag within about a day, I'm often asked how we do it. The answer really isn't complicated, and it's a tip travel expert Rick Steves often gives people.

Instead of arriving and taking a nap when you're tired, keep moving. Your body needs that first day to be a completely normal one...even if you're exhausted. If you go to bed at a relatively normal bedtime (without throwing a nap in there because that just won't help!), you'll wake up refreshed on the local time's schedule the next morning. Go to bed by late afternoon and you'll be suffering because you'll be wide awake at 2:00 A.M. or 3:00 A.M. local time.

I've been overseas twice now, and both times, this trick worked. I expect it may get harder as I get older, but the concept will always remain the same. Your body has to have a chance to get on an eating-sleeping-activity schedule on the local time. And once it's adjusted, your trip will be a lot more fun.

Just plan to be cranky that first day.

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She's back!

Will and I are back from the United Kingdom, and what a trip! The first leg of our journey was spent in London's posh Kensington neighborhood right near High Street. We had access to a French patisserie, tons of shopping, great pubs, and the Tube. Our favorite pub in London was--ironically--called The Greyhound. Despite some minor mishaps along the way, we managed to see several of the more famous sites: Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, St. James' Park, Buckingham Palace (but we didn't go in), and more. The ages of buildings and businesses in Europe never ceases to amaze me. We went to a pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. It's been a pub in one form or another since the 1600s.

After London, we rented a car and were off toward Wales. Wales is often overlooked in favor of London and other parts of England. But I would say it was my favorite part of the trip. Wales is full of pastoral beauty, charming landscapes, and quaint farms. Medieval castles dot the countryside, and you never know when you may come upon one. Both of our nights spent in Wales were in 16th century manor homes, one an Elizabethan mansion and the other a working farm.

It is also the type of place where you'll find road signs in two languages: English and Welsh. The Welsh are quite proud of their history and language, and we learned from the locals that Welsh is also being taught once again in the schools. At one time, the British attempted to stamp out the language. I have no idea why since it's beautiful both written and spoken.

I came away from this trip with a new appreciation for the British culture as a whole. I discovered that while we are much alike as countries, we are also quite different. London--like Paris--is trendy, cosmopolitan, fashionable, and cutting edge. You could compare it to New York City. I loved it, but rural Wales or even Cardiff was much more my speed. I'd love to have more time to spend exploring the tiny English and Welsh villages.

Here are a few pictures of our trip.

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