Thursday, July 29, 2010
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In the meantime, I've run across a couple of great deals in the last few days. Last night, I picked up two Adirondack chairs and a matching Adirondack side table from World Market for all of $125. World Market has a major summer clearance sale going on right now, so if you're looking for outdoor furniture, now's the time! We're lucky enough to have two stores in the Nashville area, but you can also order online.
The other deal I came across comes from a blog I read an acquaintance of mine writes. If you're like me and always searching for something new to cook or just don't have a lot of time to cook, Mindy at Beyond Blessed posted a deal she discovered at The Deal Scoop. Get a full 52-week subscription to Mable's Meals by entering the coupon code lake100 when you check out. I don't know what the menus are like, but the deal ends today, and "free" is always a welcome word in my vocabulary. I signed up this morning, so we'll see what this whole thing is like when I get the menu in my inbox. It is a $24 value, but it ends today, so sign up!
Friday, July 23, 2010
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Once you're beyond college, opportunities to move to Europe for several months are, well, limited. Life gets in the way. We have this funny thing to tend to called a job, spouses, maybe children, or even pets. As a result, I've never even remotely considered going overseas for longer than a couple of weeks at a time. But last night, Will and I had an interesting conversation.
What if I could take two or three months off, lease a house or apartment somewhere in Europe--Tuscany or Provence, anyone?--and just be inspired? Write, read, travel, study--all of the things I love to do...alone. Instead of traveling with me, Will would take his own dream vacation, probably a week at Bondurant Racing School in Arizona. It would give us both an opportunity to do the things we love so much on our own since those two interests don't collide. We would return refreshed and ready to take on the world. And as we discussed the costs of such a venture, we realized it wouldn't be nearly as expensive as you might imagine.
So now we're toying with this idea, and I think we're going to make it a real goal to accomplish within the next few years. It would mean some shuffling of our lives, but it would give us the ability to follow our dreams and strengthen our relationship.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
My love for writing is often equaled by my passion for reading. As the Stephen King quote goes, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write." So I guess it's a natural fit that bookworms are often drawn to creating their own stories since our voracious appetite for the written word is often insatiable.
But what I most love about books is their ability to transport me to other times and places--places that I may want to visit or revisit over and over again in my head. I'm currently reading a novel set in the Tuscany region of Italy, and I find myself longing for those golden fields, olive groves, and winding roads to nowhere. Sure, a movie can do the same thing, but there's nothing like being able to touch and feel and smell with your imagination. A movie does all of that for you--and more. A movie is the easy way. I think that's why I often find myself disappointed in movies after I've read the book. I've learned to see the movie first, and then I'm blown away by the book.
If you really want to give your imagination a workout, pick up a colorful book. You might find yourself surprised to discover you like it more than movies.
But what I most love about books is their ability to transport me to other times and places--places that I may want to visit or revisit over and over again in my head. I'm currently reading a novel set in the Tuscany region of Italy, and I find myself longing for those golden fields, olive groves, and winding roads to nowhere. Sure, a movie can do the same thing, but there's nothing like being able to touch and feel and smell with your imagination. A movie does all of that for you--and more. A movie is the easy way. I think that's why I often find myself disappointed in movies after I've read the book. I've learned to see the movie first, and then I'm blown away by the book.
If you really want to give your imagination a workout, pick up a colorful book. You might find yourself surprised to discover you like it more than movies.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
I don't have a clever title for this one, so we'll celebrate by calling it what it is: post #310! Can you believe there are more than 300 posts on this blog? Wow.
While I'm thinking about it, I'll go ahead and share this week's playlist since I learned a nifty little thing this week. Apparently, libraries around the country are collaborating with something called Freegal Music to provide library patrons with a limited number of free downloads each week. And believe it or not, they aren't just artists we've never heard of. Last night, I discovered downloads from John Mayer, Carrie Underwood, and David Archuleta among others. They include both current hits and older ones. How fun is that? In honor of that, these are the songs I chose to download:
While I'm thinking about it, I'll go ahead and share this week's playlist since I learned a nifty little thing this week. Apparently, libraries around the country are collaborating with something called Freegal Music to provide library patrons with a limited number of free downloads each week. And believe it or not, they aren't just artists we've never heard of. Last night, I discovered downloads from John Mayer, Carrie Underwood, and David Archuleta among others. They include both current hits and older ones. How fun is that? In honor of that, these are the songs I chose to download:
- John Mayer - "Your Body is a Wonderland"
- Carrie Underwood - "Undo It"
- David Archuleta - "A Little Not Over You"
- John Mayer - "Heartbreak Warfare"
- John Mayer - "Half of My Heart"
Monday, July 19, 2010
It's easy to let life get in the way of writing. I'm certainly guilty of it. And if you've done any writing, you know that getting your derrière in the chair is the most difficult part of writing. If you look around, you can certainly find enough distractions to keep you busy for a while: grocery shopping, kids, pets, a day job, another good book.
The truth is if you want to get published, you have to put in the work. It sounds simple enough, but if you're feeling some writer's block or just not having an inspiring day, it can be tough to stare at the computer screen while nothing shows up. Still, if you sit there long enough, something will appear.
At the moment, my own life has been busy enough to keep me away from revisions. I'm trying to overcome it, and I'll continue. After all, I manage to make it to work every day, and if you're a true writer, you should view it as a job--something that needs to be done every day if you're going to maintain quality.
The truth is if you want to get published, you have to put in the work. It sounds simple enough, but if you're feeling some writer's block or just not having an inspiring day, it can be tough to stare at the computer screen while nothing shows up. Still, if you sit there long enough, something will appear.
At the moment, my own life has been busy enough to keep me away from revisions. I'm trying to overcome it, and I'll continue. After all, I manage to make it to work every day, and if you're a true writer, you should view it as a job--something that needs to be done every day if you're going to maintain quality.
Friday, July 16, 2010
We've been hard at work on a project at my day job, and we're very proud to announce its release this week. It's the "Ask Dave Ramsey" iPhone app available in the iTunes store now. I am directly involved in this project since the calls and transcriptions you see on the app are a part of my job duties. I am honored to be a part of the team that developed the app, and all of Dave Ramsey's team deserves a round of applause for pulling this one off. Good job, gang!
To learn more, take a look at the video below.
To learn more, take a look at the video below.
Monday, July 12, 2010
I'm afraid.
I'm afraid to query my book to literary agents. I'm afraid to send it to publishers. I'm even afraid to finish it to completion because that will mean I have to face every other fear. In a way, I think it boils down to a fear of success.
What if I can't write the next book or the next one or the next after that? What if the ideas stop flowing and the pen stops moving? Writing is as essential to my life as breathing. What a cliché, right? Still, it's true. When I picked up the pen 15 years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But it's my form of expression, my outlet when life gets tough. In those darkest days after my dad walked out, I wrote stormy poetry. My junior and senior years of high school, I started writing short stories. And by the time I graduated high school, short stories had turned into novels.
The one thing I truly have going for me is my inability to take no for an answer. I am tenacious to a fault. I would not be where I am in my life right now if I had taken no for an answer at any point down that road. Everything--my job, my marriage, my dog, my independence--boils down to the fact that I am inexplicably stubborn about almost everything. At times, it's gotten me into trouble. At others, it's saved me from myself.
I'm stuck at chapter six on my edits of The Stolen Lady. I am well aware there are only 24 chapters in my novel. Edits are moving quickly, and I know when they are finished, I have to start querying, creating a synopsis, and preparing myself for possible rejection. Publishing is a tough business. Competition is fierce. And while I am afraid to face all of it, I've never doubted I'll get published someday. I guess the question comes down to when.
Note: Thanks to Lindsey Edwards for the Write On Award mention on her blog. I'm honored and flattered!
I'm afraid to query my book to literary agents. I'm afraid to send it to publishers. I'm even afraid to finish it to completion because that will mean I have to face every other fear. In a way, I think it boils down to a fear of success.
What if I can't write the next book or the next one or the next after that? What if the ideas stop flowing and the pen stops moving? Writing is as essential to my life as breathing. What a cliché, right? Still, it's true. When I picked up the pen 15 years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But it's my form of expression, my outlet when life gets tough. In those darkest days after my dad walked out, I wrote stormy poetry. My junior and senior years of high school, I started writing short stories. And by the time I graduated high school, short stories had turned into novels.
The one thing I truly have going for me is my inability to take no for an answer. I am tenacious to a fault. I would not be where I am in my life right now if I had taken no for an answer at any point down that road. Everything--my job, my marriage, my dog, my independence--boils down to the fact that I am inexplicably stubborn about almost everything. At times, it's gotten me into trouble. At others, it's saved me from myself.
I'm stuck at chapter six on my edits of The Stolen Lady. I am well aware there are only 24 chapters in my novel. Edits are moving quickly, and I know when they are finished, I have to start querying, creating a synopsis, and preparing myself for possible rejection. Publishing is a tough business. Competition is fierce. And while I am afraid to face all of it, I've never doubted I'll get published someday. I guess the question comes down to when.
Note: Thanks to Lindsey Edwards for the Write On Award mention on her blog. I'm honored and flattered!
Friday, July 9, 2010
As you may know, music is a huge inspiration to my writing life. And since this blog is mainly all about my writing pursuits, I've decided to share some of my favorite writing songs for this week's inspiration. Every week, I'll share a couple of songs that make me want to write--that put me in a mood to tap into the darkest parts of my soul or just make me a little bit contemplative. Without further ado, here's this week's top five:
- "Secret" - Maroon 5
- "Name" - The Goo Goo Dolls
- "I Can't Make You Love Me" - Bonnie Raitt
- "Breathe" - Michelle Branch
- "Bad Things" - Jace Everett
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Do you keep a journal?
When I was a girl of about nine or 10, I began keeping a diary. I've kept one off and on over the years since then, and these days, my journaling more closely resembles blogging. I still keep a journal beside my bed in the nightstand to jot down dreams I remember or book ideas that come to me while I'm lying awake late at night. But gone are the days when I try to remember to write down each day's thoughts and events.
I used to dream of keeping a diary like Anne Frank, how someone would one day find it and want to read about me and my life. But as I've gotten older, I've realized that some thoughts are better left unwritten or unrecorded. Or perhaps they're just better for conversation with friends or family. Even still, I find it cathartic to put some ideas or thoughts out there for the world, which is why I keep this blog. It also helps me hone my writing skills. But as a writer and as an introspective individual, I can't imagine not putting my thoughts down somewhere. It's as much a part of me as breathing.
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When I was a girl of about nine or 10, I began keeping a diary. I've kept one off and on over the years since then, and these days, my journaling more closely resembles blogging. I still keep a journal beside my bed in the nightstand to jot down dreams I remember or book ideas that come to me while I'm lying awake late at night. But gone are the days when I try to remember to write down each day's thoughts and events.
I used to dream of keeping a diary like Anne Frank, how someone would one day find it and want to read about me and my life. But as I've gotten older, I've realized that some thoughts are better left unwritten or unrecorded. Or perhaps they're just better for conversation with friends or family. Even still, I find it cathartic to put some ideas or thoughts out there for the world, which is why I keep this blog. It also helps me hone my writing skills. But as a writer and as an introspective individual, I can't imagine not putting my thoughts down somewhere. It's as much a part of me as breathing.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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Occasionally, I'll get a wild hair about something or other. The last couple of weeks, I've caught a wild hair about watching episodes of The Highlander I enjoyed as a teenager. Despite the sometimes cheesy storylines and early '90s hairstyles and clothing, I find myself drawn into the drama and fantasy--the sword fights, the romance, and the fascination of a man who's lived 400 years. Another thing I loved about the show was the flashbacks to Duncan MacLeod's past. They gave the viewers insight into how he became who he is. Above all, I loved Duncan's sense of integrity and honor.
While I will probably never write anything related to the paranormal or fantasy subgenres of romance, I do love where they can take my mind. I've only recently found myself drawn to these types of books and TV shows as an adult. True Blood is one example of that as is The Vampire Diaries. I don't think my imagination is quite wild enough to play in these subgenres, and yet, I wonder if I could do it. I wonder if I could write characters as memorable as Sookie Stackhouse or Duncan MacLeod or even Stefan Salvatore. Maybe I could. Still, it's a lot of fun to watch these characters come alive on the small screen. Their stories seem never ending, and like with books, I often wonder what could have happened next...what adventure awaits.
I guess that's the benefit of writing a series.
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