Cows!

At first, I thought the DH was having a bad morning. Then I realized there were cows - a bushel of 'em - right out front. They seemed to be interested in our car. Although none of them seemed motivated to buy.

One of the fun things about living up here is that the land is managed by the BLM, and every year there's a whole mess o' cows wandering about. They rarely visit, despite my frequent invitations, so this morning was a treat.

Did you know they're loud? I'm talking LOUD loud. But that's okay. I especially like the little ones. So cute, and boy do they stick with mom.

I would have taken a picture, but I was too, um enchanted (yeah, that's it - enchanted) to remember the camera. Trust me though, totally neato to have cows come by.

Also, drove to town yesterday for supplies and was knocked on my ass by the beauty of the mountain. We're going to take pics today, so I'll share some. It's like the whole top of the mountain is a patchwork quilt of blazing colors. Stunning.

Oh, almost forgot. Saw a bunny last night, also right out front. A BIG bunny. Hare? Jack Rabbit? Definitely not a cottontail, because, as I mentioned, BIG. Cute as hell, especially when hopping around.

It seems that finally the woodland creatures are getting the word out to come by. Sit a spell. I swear, with advance notice, I'll serve cookies.

UPDATE:

They went to the backyard. Picture of backyard:

Here are cows:

Here's one to go Ahhhh...

09.30.05 @ 12:00 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Book Stuff

My new hero is a pain in the ass.

Usually I know who I'm writing when I start, and then the character gets more specific the more I write. Especially dialogue. But this new hero… He's a man on the run, who's had his life dreams destroyed, whose major goal in life is revenge. So cool, but you know what? He's quiet. Self contained. And he's not sharing.

So today I'm doing some character diving. The problem is I can't hear him. If I can't hear him, I can't write him.

First line of attack - first person letter to his worst enemy.
Second go - first person interview

I've never had to do a third thing, so I'm hoping this will turn out just peachy. I'll let you know.

Also, I'm facing what could be a great deal of high-tech and armed forces research. I'm getting a book on the Delta Force, which is going to be great, and I have a lot of websites on surveillance equipment, but I'm trying (honest!) not to get obsessed by the research and just get on with the book. This is very difficult for me. I am compulsive about this kind of stuff, and if I had the time, it would be no problem. I don't have the time, but I live in fear of not getting this stuff right. The answer? I have no clue.

It would help a great deal if someone could turn me on to: a) a Delta Force soldier guy who would talk to me, and b) a spy who would talk to me. Really, I'd appreciate it so much.
Okay, to the day!


09.29.05 @ 01:02 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Brrr and other stuff

Woke up this morning to find the car covered in ice. And so it begins. I'm not ready for winter. There should be a law about no snow in September. I mean, come on.

In other news, the book is moving along, although my procrastination is turning into an art form. What the hell is my problem? Don't answer that.

Also, I'm one of those writers who has the TV or music on in the background all the time. I prefer, during the day, to watch reruns, because then I don't pay any attention to the screen. So when the stupid TV programmers come in and change the schedule, it's very upsetting. I simply don't understand why they don't ask me first. It's a simple thing. One phone call. But no, they blithely step in and take off my daily showing of Buffy and Angel. The bastards. Yes, I've seen every episode a gazillion times, what's your point? There are still a few airings of Buffy, I'll give them that, but they seem to come on randomly and I hate that. Yesterday, though, the episode had one of my favorite lines of all time: Spike to Giles: "Did your life flash before your eyes? Cup o' tea, cup o' tea, almost got shagged, cup o' tea?" God, I love that.

Back to the procrastination. I got this catalogue in the mail several weeks ago called Ginny's. I've never seen it before. It has all kinds of crap in it, some nice, some, well, crap. But there's this one thing: it's a blender/food processor/juicer and mini chopper all in one. Since I have the most inefficient kitchen ever, I want this thingee. It's $90. I keep thinking I'll just get it, but what if it's like a Barbie blender/food processor/etc? On the other hand, I have no blender, my food processor is huge and I hardly ever take it out because of that, and I have no juicer (not that I'd use that function, but it would be fun to have, or a mini chopper. The dilemma is vast and deep.

Have a good one, and do me a favor. Comment. About anything, I'm not picky. I just need to have more things to procrastinate over.


09.28.05 @ 11:23 AM MST [Link to Entry]

Inventive Procrastination

I think all wonderful foods that aren't liquid should be packaged like sunflower seeds. Not the bag, the seeds themselves. So you have to work for it, and you only get this tiny little taste burst in your mouth at a time. Think about it - chocolate encased in a shell you have to crack. Each time. It would take you a long time to eat a Hershey Bar's worth, right? I even think it might be nice to have a slightly salty seed, although I admit I prefer sunflower seeds that haven't been salted and roasted. I think it's a genius idea, and if anybody actually makes Chocflower Seeds™, I get half the money.

I also invented Flat Pot Lids™, which would be made of a really neat material, squash flat to store, and pop up to fit all your pot-lidding needs. Again, they exist only in my head, but, based on the power of their sheer brilliance, I should be collecting royalties anyway.

Yes, if you must know, I should be writing. And your point would be?


09.27.05 @ 11:47 AM MST [Link to Entry]

Announcement and Pretty Colors

Okay, so my book pack isn't going to be auctioned at the AAR auction. There was a mix-up. Sorry, wish I could have participated. I'll bid on something, so at least I'll play a part.

Now, here's the pretty picture I promised. It's the mountain, of course, in glorious color:

09.26.05 @ 02:16 AM MST [Link to Entry]

No Reservations

Anybody else watch Anthony Bourdain? He's a chef (he wrote Kitchen Confidential, upon which the sitcom with the same name is loosely based) who's got this show on the Travel Channel where he travels to weird places all over the world and talks about food. He smokes like a chimney, cusses all the time, and he's fearless in tasting things that would make me barf. The Iceland episode, for example, had him eating this shark that had been marinated in urine for months. Yum. The latest episode has him in Viet Nam, where, among other things he ate porcupine, and drank whiskey fermented with rat stomach. Again, I say Yum. ::cough::

I find him totally entertaining and the show makes me want to travel with my own jar of peanut butter safely in my suitcase. He says, "Be a traveler, not a tourist." I'm a total tourist. I want adventure-light, where there's little to no danger, and mostly hygienic conditions. I've traveled a lot, but all in the US, and mostly I've stayed in nice hotels or motels where all the food was identifiable. I occasionally fantasize about doing something wild and wooly, but naw, that's not me.

My adventures have been about people, not places. In that respect, I have been a traveler, not a tourist. I've been lucky that way. It's certainly shaped my writing.

So, the question here - are you a tourist or a traveler?


09.25.05 @ 03:18 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Quote This!

Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?
Henry Ward Beecher

A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.
Richard Bach

The writer comes up against the misconception that he's needed only for his manual ability to translate other people's experience into words. The non-writer's illusion is, "I am just as good, I have just as much to say, more to say, but I'm missing a few technical details."
Ernest Van Der Haag

HOWEVER GREAT A MAN'S NATURAL TALENT MAY BE, THE ART OF WRITING CANNOT BE LEARNED ALL AT ONCE.
Jean Jacques Rousseau

Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own joke.
F. Scott Fitzgerald

I try to leave out the parts that people skip.
Elmore Leonard

I write what I would like to read--what I think other women would like to read. If what I write makes a woman in the Canadian mountains cry and she writes and tells me about it, especially if she says "I read it to Tom when he came in from work and he cried too," I feel I have succeeded.
Kathleen Norris

People want to know why I do this, why I write such gross stuff. I like to tell them I have the heart of a small boy -- and I keep it in a jar on my desk.
Stephen King


Okay, let me have it. Your fave writing quotes. I adore them and need more. More!


09.23.05 @ 11:52 AM MST [Link to Entry]

And We're Back

Finally back from plotting trip to Vegas. It was excellent, and I got a lot of great stuff for the new series, so yay. We saw a couple of movies - Lord of War and Brothers Grimm. Neither were very high on my personal hit parade. On the other hand, popcorn!

The leaves were starting to change when we left on Monday. When we came back yesterday, they had gone crazy! Amazing yellows and reds and oranges. I'll take some pics on Friday when I go to town. It's astonishing. I'd love it more if it didn't signal the snow gods to start producing.

One thing that totally sucked - all the shows I'd programmed to tape while gone didn't. I'm so very cranky. I missed all kinds of premieres I wanted to see. But I did tune into Invasion last night because it was written and produced by Shawn Cassidy, who did one of my fave series - American Gothic - so if he's there, I'm there. It was interesting and I'll keep watching. So far, I've liked Threshold a lot. I tried to tape Bones and House, but we all know how that ended. Dammit. I'm thinking about getting the TiVo equivalent for Dish Network, which is the only thing we can get on the mountain.

I missed the blog and man, it's clear I'm addicted to the blogosphere. I hated missing even these few days. I have so much to catch up on. But I also must work.

PS - I heard from Danica about her prize scarf, but I haven't heard from Barbara. So if you're reading - email me!


09.22.05 @ 01:09 PM MST [Link to Entry]

H5N1

I've read a lot of books about the flu, starting with FLU by Gina Kolata, which was about the flu pandemic of 1918. It was a terrifying study of the biggest killer in history, and it made me a flu shot advocate. It also spurred me to check the CDC Flu Watch regularly. In the last few years, a new avian flu has shown up in Asia. It's called H5N1, and it's a very big deal.

Flu usually starts with birds, then mutate to pigs, then humans. They typically start in Asia and spread. Even though the 1918 pandemic was called the Spanish Flu, it is thought to have begun in Asia. Because of WWI, the virus spread throughout the world very quickly. There was no vaccine, no cure, and surprisingly, it hit healthy young people most severely, whereas most flues hit children and the elderly most heavily.

What's happening now is that H5N1 has already killed a number of people in Asia. Those who have died have caught the virus from birds. Millions of chickens in Asia have been killed to try and stop the spread, but it's not nearly enough. The WHO has estimated that tens of millions could die if the virus mutates and becomes transmittable from human to human. Right now, WHO is looking at the ducks in Vietnam, because new cases of the flu are being reported. This is happening right now.

At the moment, there's only one thing that can help. It's a medication called Tamiflu. It's not guaranteed, and if the virus mutates too severely, it might not help at all, but it's something. Because the US doesn't have a vaccine, it won't have a vaccine for a long, long time. And the US is only now trying to buy Tamiflu, but it's a first-come, first-serve situation and other countries were a lot more on the ball. France has ordered protective masks and Tamiflu for the entire country.

The whole reason I'm writing about this is to let you know that you can get Tamiflu now. Do a check on the internet. It's expensive. From last week to this, on one site, it's gone from $68 for 10 pills to $98. But it's going to cost a hell of a lot more if H5NI spreads. With worldwide travel being what it is, the flu will hit hard and hit fast.

I'm getting Tamiflu. Please check it out, and check out the specifics about this threat. It's very real.


09.18.05 @ 03:37 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Winners!!

Okay - we plucked two names from the bowl, and here they are...the winners of the hand made scarves!

Barbara! and
Danica!

Okay winners, send me an email (Jo_Leigh14@hotmail.com) with your snail mail address, and one of the following choices:

Pale blue
Pale green
Dark blue/purple
Bright yellow

And you'll receive your scarf very soon.

Thanks, everyone, for playing.


09.17.05 @ 08:33 PM MST [Link to Entry]

More on Bidding and Auctions

Okay, for those who have bid or are will be bidding on either the critique at Romaid and/or the book set at AAR Auction, here's an added incentive:

Tell me who you are in the comments. All names will go into a hat and one winner will get to select a character name in my next Blaze. It can be your name or a name you choose. The second winner will get a synopsis critique. The contests will end when both auctions are officially over.

PS - I don't believe my books are available yet at the ARR auction, but I'll let you know when they are.

Thanks to everyone who's participating!

09.16.05 @ 07:48 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Oh crap

I somehow deleted the last entry and comments. Sorry! I wish I could remember what I wrote, but I can't, so I'll just say that I'd love to hear about weird, wonderful, unique blogs y'all go to. I'm looking to expand my horizons.

Again, if I deleted you, I'm very sorry!

09.16.05 @ 12:05 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Bid for Critique

Okay, my critique is up for auction at Romaid.
30 pages! (The first 30) and a synopsis! Whoo Hoo!

Go. Bid. Check out all the incredible generosity of both those giving and those bidding. We romance chicks are awesome!

09.15.05 @ 01:18 AM MST [Link to Entry]

X-Files revelations, Book revelations and Scarves

It occurred to me last night that if they'd had good photo cell phones in the late 90's, X-Files would have been a mini series. I love the show way more than I should, but jeez, didn't anyone ever think of bringing cameras?

Made some changes in the book yesterday, pulling the prologue completely. It gave too much away, and can be used later in the book much more effectively. The rule I got from Bob McKee is one I think is crucial: Use exposition as ammunition. Especially in a suspense story, anything that can be used as a twist, a sock in the gut, a gasp, should be held until the moment it will have the most impact.

Just in case those who know me think I've become delusional what with all the knitting talk, I've decided to show proof:

Oooh, pretty.

I'm still not sure when my contributions will appear at either AAR Katrina relief or Romaid. But I'll let you know when they pop up.


09.14.05 @ 12:16 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Hush?

So I went to check up on my numbers on Amazon and Barnes and Noble because I'm a masochist and found out that HUSH is sold out. No more new books coming. This is upsetting because HUSH is part of a series and some people who come upon the series later want to go back to the beginning and read the whole thing. But there are no more books. You can buy them from other sellers by clicking the infamous blue button, but I'm still perplexed because the book came out in April. This April. Hmm. Of course there's no way to know how many were shipped, so I can't do the happy dance thinking, "Wow, they sold out all those gazillion copies!"

On the work front, I got the first chapter of the new book written yesterday, which is kind of unsettling, because, well, it's when I was supposed to write the first chapter. I'm not used to this. At all. The plotting, using the wondrous Power Structure, is mostly done, but waiting until I have plot group next week to figure some stuff out. So I'm actually on task. EEEK! What's a Panic Writer to think?

Also got a lot of knitting done. It's so relaxing and good for me. However, I'd really appreciate someone who really knows how to knit (for example sweaters) coming to my house and teaching me. I've got a DVD on knitting, three books on knitting, and I still don't get it. So it's scarves, scarves and more scarves!



09.13.05 @ 01:59 PM MST [Link to Entry]

A Weird Contest and Stuff

Serious nesting going on here. Not only am I cooking up a storm (after the chicken and dumplings came lemon cake and now meatloaf, and I'm pretty sure something with leeks is on the horizon) but I'm also knitting like I'm going to the guillotine. Uh, to watch. Like Madame Defarge. You know, from A Tale of Two…never mind.

Anyway, the only thing I know how to knit is scarves. I have four now. Five if you count the one that I wear when it's freezing. And I'm in the middle of another. I have a great deal of yarn. Most of it given to me by a friend. I don't know how many scarves I will be making, but probably more than I and all my friends can use. I could hand them out to strangers, but that seems, I don't know, cult-like. So I was thinking (always scary) that maybe some of my online friends might like a scarf. They're not fancy. But they're pretty! I have no clue whether this is just the worst idea ever or if people are out there thinking, "Hey. Winter's gonna get here eventually. A scarf might keep my neck warm." Or, "Hey, I've been trying to think of a way to line my hamster cage that didn't involve torn paper."

So here it is. Your opportunity to win a scarf. Made by me. I'm thinking two. Two scarves will go out to the lucky winners of this new and thrilling contest.

On a more work related note, I had a busy day yesterday. Doing a lot of research into stalking, and man, is it terrifying. I think we've talked about it before on the blog, but every time I read about it, I realize again how vulnerable people are. I've unfortunately had experience with being stalked, but luckily, it didn't turn life-threatening. Just creepy beyond words. It was a woman, too, which was odd as hell.

I also watched the Discovery movie THE FLIGHT THAT FOUGHT BACK. Wept like a child. I need to work on filling up with joyful things, while not forgetting those who have no escape. It's not easy being people at the moment.


09.12.05 @ 12:29 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Contributions, Cooking and Clooney

First off, check my sidebar and click on the AAR graphic to find out how to participate in the fundraiser. Also, check out Romaid, which is the benefit auction to help Larissa Ione. My contributions will show up both places at some point, but there are so many wonderful people giving, that I'm sure we'll raise oodles of money.

Got all domestic last night as the weather changes here on Mount Doom. I made chicken and dumplings from scratch. Yes, even the chicken broth. The whole process felt very good. While I was cooking, I was watching the news. God I'm such a sap when it comes to the pets. I want to take them all in. Of course, I want to hide all the deer come hunting season, which, frankly, isn't very practical. We don't have a very big house, and there's the whole issue of the carpet. But that's what I want. I'm one of those people who can watch a movie wherein a gazillion people get blown to bits and I don't blink, but show me a puppy in harm's way and I'm a wreck. Why is this? Because the puppy can't talk? Can't do anything to help themselves? Yeah, probably. I'm also of the belief that the cows that wander over our mountain are completely unrelated to the hamburger in the grocery store. Selective disassociation.

Just saw a segment on the Today show advertising Men's Vogue. The first issue has George Clooney on the cover, and he just gets better looking. Jeez. I'll have to pick it up. Research, you know. Actually, I desperately need help in the whole describing my character's wardrobes, because I'm clueless. Ask my old critique partners. They all laughed at me because I didn't know what a Berber carpet was. Or what chenille was. (Still don't). I'm missing the fabric gene. So I look at magazines and use their descriptions. I'm this way with flowers and trees, too. Not a clue. It's more, "Oh, red flower! Pretty!" But I'd have to illustrate the books heavily if I left it at that. So I have my little cheating books and magazines. It works.


09.09.05 @ 11:46 AM MST [Link to Entry]

Cold and Crying

I want to get out and about today, because the weather, she is going to get cold very soon. Like tomorrow. The low is going to be 36, the high 65. Yikes. So today, while the sun can still warm, I want to be out in it.

Oh, wait. The DH just looked outside. Totally cloudy and not quite 55. So, um, maybe this afternoon? Although it's already 10:30. Damn.

The free HBO is no more. It is not a big loss. Besides, all I seem to be watching is news. I've come to really like Anderson Cooper. And, as always, I need my shot of The Daily Show. I truly adore those whackos.

I was watching Oprah the day before yesterday, where this guy wouldn't leave without his dog. He was 24 and the dog was 14. I totally understood. And then one of the reporters told him he'd take the dog, and get it to him, and the guy just hugged the crap out of the reporter, and I cried like a baby. I'm really trying to focus on the good stuff, on the heroic measures, on the people who are making a difference. I'm also really pleased to be able to donate some critiques, both at Romaid and at AAR. Keep lighting the candles.

Okay, research ahoy. Lots of it.


09.08.05 @ 01:46 PM MST [Link to Entry]

It's All About Character

My guest column is up at Romancing the Blog. Go. Read. Discuss. J

We didn't go fishing. I started my Christmas knitting. It was good.

As for today - it's back to work. Starting with the characters. Doing bios, giving them lives. I love that part. My little way of playing God. I can make them anything! Ha ha! But mostly, I need to fall in love with them. I have a pretty interesting villain, too, and the tricky part here is that I need to fall in love with him, too.

For the writers - what's your process in creating characters? Do you do something specific each time you're starting a book? Do you use a program to help? What's worked, what doesn't work for you? I love hearing about this stuff.

For the readers, tell me about some characters that you've found etched into your brain. Did they have flaws and foibles that made you love them more? When you think of your favorite character, what sticks out to you - the one thing that made you love them?


09.07.05 @ 02:00 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Diana's Google Game

Check out Diana's Blog to learn how to play - go to Google Images and type in your book title. Take the first image.

Here's Hush:

Here's Do Not Disturb:

Fun, huh?

09.06.05 @ 11:43 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Bla de bla bla

Sorry I'm late with the posting thing. I had an icky night, got up really early, said the hell with it, went back to bed and just got up a bit ago. So I'm groggy-writing, which is always entertaining. Sent the novella in yesterday. Yay! But now I've got a bunch of other books to write, which I'm looking forward to. These are going to be Blaze romantic suspense. Fun, fun, fun.

I'm getting into heavy research mode, also much fun. I just wish I could spend all I want to on research books. I keep thinking that it would help so much to be rich. I know, I'm a radical thinker, but no, really. It would be great.

I'm also debating the pros and cons of fishing. I might be too lethargic. Although fishing isn't exactly an action sport, it does mean getting my act together and actually leaving the house. So maybe not.

Also, we still seem to have the free HBO thing. There's nothing, not anything, that I want to see tonight. How is that possible? That's why we don't have the premium channels. I don't know who does the programming, but gee whiz.

I suppose the wise thing to do would be clean my desk. hahahahahahahahahah. Oh, man, I needed that. Yeah.

Oh, I'll have a guest column at Romancing the Blog either tomorrow or some other day. I'll let ya know.


09.06.05 @ 04:51 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Day to Day

The novella is almost there - just revisions today. I'll send it off this afternoon. Then it's right into the new book. No rest for the wicked. It's a good problem to have. I get to do a lot of research about electronic surveillance, which is cool. I love that kind of stuff. I wish I could do a little traveling so I could go to one of those spy stores. But I have a bunch of books that should help a lot.

Also get free HBO this weekend, which has been fun. Saw The Terminal, which I liked. And Spiderman 2, which I've seen before, and liked both times. The Aviator is playing tonight, so I'll catch that. Then it's back to basic cable.

It felt weird not watching the news every minute. I kept checking in throughout the day, and I felt relieved and somewhat guilty that I can go back to my normal life, where there are so many that won't have a normal life for a long time to come. I just wish I had more to give.

Okay, give me a shout out - I'd like to hear how everyone's doing.



09.05.05 @ 01:28 PM MST [Link to Entry]

Lighting a candle

I've been having a terrible time writing. I can't not watch the news coverage and I've cried so much. I was able to type a little, then I'd stop. I told my editor that I'd have the novella in by Monday, and I will. But at about 10 last night about I was thinking about my helplessness, and I saw Wynton Marsalis give an interview, where he said he and Harry Connick were talking about what they could do. He said, we're musicians, and what we can do is play music. They're giving a benefit concert tonight. He said that he isn't a doctor, or in the National Guard, but he can do the music to help. And although my writing my romance novella can't help those people in the convention center or the Superdome, maybe it'll make someone who's lost everything feel a little hopeful, get a little relief, somewhere down the road. Along with my donations, what I can do is write. I know our books make a difference. I've heard it from too many people who've written to me personally, and I've heard it from other authors. Heartfelt notes like one I received where a lovely woman said she'd been in the hospital for weeks and was so depressed she could barely keep on going, but she read one of my books, and it made her laugh, and she was so grateful to have that little light shine on her darkness.

There was a line in the movie The Year of Living Dangerously, where the atmosphere was oppressive and there was nothing but pain, poverty, and despair among the people of Jakarta, and one of the characters, when asked, what, then, can we do? replied, "Add our light to the collective light." So I'm committed to adding my light to the collective light. It may be a candle instead of a beacon, but it's something.


09.02.05 @ 01:44 PM MST [Link to Entry]

heartache

I've been trying to come up with something writer-related, or upbeat, but I can't. I've been watching the tragedy in the gulf coast, and I can't stop aching for these people. I love that the romance community is banding together to help. I've also seen movements by the fanfic community, and so many others. It's amazing to me, the kindness and generosity of people. I just wish it was easier to get what's needed from the hearts of those who care into the hands of those who need so desperately.

Here are just a few links that offer opportunities to help:

All About Romance Katrina Relief
Red Cross
Fandom Charity
Truth Laid Bear Blog Charity
Romaid (Larrisa Ione)
Salvation Army

09.01.05 @ 01:05 PM MST [Link to Entry]