Friday Field Trip - To The Basement

First - this is the last day to take advantage of the 25% off sale from Backlist Ebook authors at Smashwords. Link is in the sidebar. Don't miss out.

Since nobody else sent me pictures (hint, hint), today we're going down to the basement. We're traveling in time a bit as well--these are a few of the pictures I've taken to document the work downstairs. Not the usual fare, but maybe there will be a few more exotic locales for 2011. Remember--was might be 'routine' for you is exotic for someone else, so PLEASE share your pictures.

Now, let's go downstairs.

Resolutions, Dreams, and Goals

It's hard to believe that not only is another year coming to a close, it's actually the end of a decade. People all over are going to be taking stock of what they've accomplished, what they didn't accomplish, and what they're going to try to do in 2011.

And, usually, by the end of January, all those good intentions have gone by the wayside. I gave up making resolutions long ago (although I occasionally make them for the Hubster—less chance of me breaking them that way). What I've learned, is that if you want to see success, you have to narrow your focus.

These don't work: I resolve to be a best-selling author. I resolve to make $100,000 selling my e-books.

Or what about some less lofty ones? I resolve to have 5000 friends on Facebook. I resolve to have 350 followers to my blog. I resolve to have 500 people 'like' this blog. I resolve to be part of the blogroll of 100 other bloggers. I resolve to increase the number of hits on my website by 10% a month.

Dreams are wonderful. But that's what most resolutions are. Dreams. Dreams are things you'd love to have, but they're also things over which you have no control.

The first group is made up of dreams – there's nothing much I can do about them because they depend on other people.

The second group is more goal-oriented. There are things I CAN do to help me achieve them—if they were actually my goals.

What's With Those Names?

What I'm reading: Chasing Shadows, by C.J. Lyons.


Since the rights to my second published novel, What's in a Name? revert to me on Dec. 31st, I've been working on preparing it for digital release.

Of course, I wanted to read it for typos—no matter what, a few always sneak by. And I also wanted to update the technology. When I wrote it, pagers were the norm, and the basic backup for computer files was via CD ROMs. What I didn't realize was that when I wrote this book, I hadn't started using my name-tracking system. Considering the title, I decided to 'retro-fit' one, and made my basic spreadsheet using Excel. It takes no special skill – I just list every letter of the alphabet in two columns, one for first names, and one for last. I space them a number of columns apart, and then simply fill in the names as I create them. Note: This page of the spreadsheet doesn't keep first and last names together; it's simply a way to track the names appearing in the story.

Imagine my shock to find that not only was I terribly uncreative with names, but that my editors didn't seem to notice—not even when I had three characters named Henry! Some larger publishers have editors who actually write down every named character, and on what page they first appear, but I've never had that "luxury."

I think if you click on the images, they'll open in an enlarged format. If not, you can email me or leave your email in a comment, and I'll send them to you.

The Right Place

Today my guest is Becky Martinez , a former broadcast journalist who writes romance and romantic suspense under the name Rebecca Grace. Her latest from The Wild Rose Press is Deadly Messages. She’s working on the second part of the series, and that sent her to the Northwest to research and “soak in the ambience” in finding just the right place.

While I’m a big believer in having the right characters for a story and work like crazy to make them real and believable, I also have a big weakness for getting the right setting in my work. To me a genuine setting can make all the difference in whether a story comes across as real or false and I’m always on the look out to find a great setting. It can be anywhere—a great house, a majestic sunrise.

I always love mystery novels where setting is part of the plot, whether the hero or heroine is either hanging out in seedy bars or visiting the realms of the rich and famous. I also enjoy romances where I visit palatial dwellings or sinister mansions on the edge of a cliff. I look for stories to not only keep me entertained but to take me away on a fanciful journey.

That idea comes into play as I write. I’ve always felt that writers have a special set of senses that allows them (or makes them) see things in a different way. It goes beyond the visceral. It is like drinking in the feel for any place or situation and thinking about how you might write about it in a story. It involves using all the senses, hearing the tempo of conversations around you, smelling the various scents, looking for different views.

Being a Good Blogger

I've filled all my guest blog spots through April, but I thought I'd repeat this post from a year ago, with my take on being both a good guest and a good host. I can't say I've been a perfect host, but these reminders will help me be a better one for 2011.

And don't forget the big sale from the Backlist Ebook authors!

Suggestions for being a good guest

1. Know what you're getting into. Spend a little time reading the blog where you've requested a guest slot so you know if it's going to serve whatever purpose you have in mind.

2. Does the host provide guidelines? Read them! Follow them! Are there things you shouldn't say? Don't say them. Are there questions to answer? Answer them. Is there a minimum or maximum length? Stick within it.

3. Make a note of the date you're going to be a guest. Set up your own reminders; don't rely on the host. Get your post in early if possible to allow your host time to format in advance.

4. Communicate with the host. Problems arise, especially if you're scheduled months in advance. Give as much warning as possible if there will be problems.

25% off Sale - Backlist Ebooks

Did you get an e-reader for Christmas? Do you already have one? Take advantage of a special 25% off sale on previously published, out of print books, now available from Smashwords. Check out the Backlist Ebooks store and save on books from more than 20 authors. Hurry, sale ends January 1st.

Holiday Greetings

A Merry Christmas to those celebrating the holiday today.

As for us, this sums up our usual holiday celebration. However, this year, living out in the back of beyond, I don't think we'll find a Chinese restaurant open. At least not without driving 35 miles or more, and I don't think we're going to do that. So, it'll be Netflix, and dinner is likely to be the rest of the crock pot ribs I made yesterday.

And if you haven't done so, please take a minute to go over to Kitchen Daily -- they've published an article I wrote about creating new holiday traditions. (And if you'd click the "like" button at the bottom of that post, I'd be ecstatic!)



Tomorrow, Backlist Ebooks is having a sale--25% off selected titles. If you got an e-reader for Christmas (or already have one), go stock up on some great books.

And scroll down for Patricia Stoltey's virtual trip to Cinque Terre.

Friday Field Trip - Cinque Terre

Today, thanks go to fellow author Patricia Stoltey for sharing her adventure to Cinque Terre, both pictures AND commentary.

But first, please take a minute to go over to Kitchen Daily -- they've published an article I wrote about creating new holiday traditions. (And if you'd click the "like" button at the bottom of that post, I'd be ecstatic!)

Patricia Stoltey's Trip to Cinque Terre

My husband and I visited Italy's Cinque Terre in 2000 and bravely attempted one leg of the hiking trail that connects the coastal villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Luckily, we only planned to do the section from Monterosso to Vernazza because it took a lot longer that we expected (mostly my fault since I was seriously out of shape for the climbing part of the trip).

A few of these photos were taken by my husband. You can tell which ones because he always manages to get me in the photo, usually from the rear.

#1: The path looked so easy when we first left Monterosso. Should we continue? "Sure," I said. "Piece of cake."


#2: Soon the trail began to climb and the wide pathway disappeared. In some places, stone steps made it easier to navigate, but there were no more handrails.



#3: Many sections of narrow dirt path circled the hills and wandered past hillside vineyards.

This Social Networking Thing - Twitter 2

Continuing yesterday's post on things I've learned about Twitter. (Again, this is purely ONE person's observations; what I get out if it might not be the same for you.)

Following someone means you'll see their tweets. However, if follower A is chatting with Follower B, and they 'reply' to one another, unless you're following both, you'll only see one side of the conversation. There's a little icon in TweetDeck that will let you see what follower A is responding to, if you're really intrigued.

What I don't understand is the people who tweet, "I've just unfollowed everyone who isn't following me." Or "If you don't follow back, I won't follow you." I don't get that. Do I really care who follows me? Unlike Facebook, which has a ceiling for friends, Twitter doesn't. My take: anyone who wants to follow me can follow me. If you require I reciprocate, well…then don't follow me. You won't hurt my feelings.

Pet peeve: people I follow who spend most of their time in what should be private conversations between the same 2 or 3 people. I have a separate list for these; they're worth keeping because they also provide good content.

This Social Networking Thing - Twitter

Thanks, Joselyn. I didn't accumulate many bridesmaid dresses, but I never wore them again. When I got married, since I had only 1 attendant, I let her 'recycle' any of the dresses she'd already paid for. Couldn't see making her pay for another one, since she didn't have to coordinate with anyone else. As for reusing--both my daughters wore my wedding dress, with minor modifications.

And, to continue my Social Networking impressions. Today it's Twitter – and tomorrow as well, because this got too long. Kind of ironic considering Twitter is designed for short! I'm much more of a Twitter newbie than I am on Facebook, although I consider myself a novice at both places.

I recall meeting an aspiring writer at a conference, telling me how fantastic Twitter was. He'd accumulated 17,000 followers, he said, and he'd tweet, and they'd retweet, until he was sure tens of thousands of people were hanging on his every word. He was convinced that each and every one of these followers was anxiously awaiting the publications of his book, so that if he did sell, he had a huge audience ready to buy.

resisted Twitter a lot longer than Facebook. I'd observed people seemingly obsessed with reporting their every move, and frankly, I found it a head-scratcher. Who could possibly care if I was going grocery shopping, or if I had oatmeal for breakfast.

But, when I found my kids, and even the Hubster, had set up Twitter accounts, I figured I'd give it a try.