Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Would YOU Like to Review Books?

(http://bookreviewersclub.webs.com) Is the newest site on the web for book reviews. If you are an author wanting a review, check them out. If you are a reviewer looking for books to review, check them out. If you are just plain curious, check them out. I have survived my celebratory dinner last night. I will not need to eat for days. Celebrating both my birthday and the release of my new book. The restaurant was very discreet in their congratulations. Making it a wonderful evening. I am still a bit stiff from the trolley adventure, but I am getting better. Do check out the book reviewer website. Happy reading. TTFN

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The book is available

Paperback at this link: https://www.createspace.com/3804882 This is the only place you can order the paperback right now. Kindle at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Case-Sleeping-McVannel-ebook/dp/B007DSZIB8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330447988&sr=8-2 NOOK at this link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cold-case-rebecka-vigus/1108581059?ean=2940014003063&itm=1&usri=rebecka+vigus If you missed the cover I've attached a photo
Be sure to leave a review. Enjoy. TTFN

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Week's End

I know I am supposed to have something profound to say. But alas, I am at a loss. It was an interesting week. I must admit the jarring from the trolley accident while it didn't seem like much, has caused me to think differently about aging. It goes along with the I don't bounce theory I tried out a couple years ago. My body doesn't easily realign itself either. The plans for my first book launch are coming together well. Now if the other library would cooperate, it would be wonderful. I have a cousin looking into a book launch at her library also. So, I am tentatively making plans for three. The book itself has gone to press. We are still looking at release on Tues. also on Kindle and Nook. Possibly on Kobo, but not sure on that. The resort is filling up. Some of the new tenants are better than others. Those that party in the parking lot knowing that all bedrooms face the parking lot need to be shot. I am not fans of them. Either they wised up or someone told them to move. See I am not cut out for living this close to people. I am ready to move into the next book. I did some editing on it last week. Hopefully I made it better. It has taken a twist I had not considered and I need to see where it is going and how it got there. Sometimes my characters do things unexpectedly. That makes my writing interesting. I need to get started on my mini mystery for the book launch. I have the item to locate. I need to write something that can be solved in less than 2 hours. In the meantime, I am calling it a day and taking a good book to bed. Happy reading all. TTFN

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Friday Writing Prompt, Late Again

Again we have a prompt from Hal Zina Bennett whose website is halzinabennett.com Here it is: During a long car trip, you stop at a yard sale in a strange town and find an interesting picture frame. It holds a photo of a familiar face--your fiance's! There's a passionate inscription to a stranger, dated three weeks ago. You must fine an explanation. The first clue comes from the person whose name is on the photo. Who is it? What happens next? Wow if that doesn't open an entire set of scenarios for you nothing will. Good luck with it. Be sure and post your results so we can see where your thinking led you. Happy writing. TTFN

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Only to Me

So who goes on a trolley tour and gets rear ended by a semi? Yep that would be me. Who then proceeds to get in her car to drive home and gets stung by an unidentified stinging insect. You got it...Me. Who then gets a text says that her granddaughter is in urgent care getting x-rays of both feet because they could be broken. Yes, me again. She had too much push while vaulting and missed the mat and landed both feet into the floor. At the moment, they are not broken, but the radiologist has not read them. Finally, who is sitting on the sofa minding their own business, uploading photos and watching idiot TV and has their neck start throbbing??? Why yes, that would be me. Possibly whiplash from being rear ended? Won't know until I make it to urgent care in the morning. Too tired to drive there tonight. It's been one of those days. Can it be over now? TTFN PS Safe evening to you all.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

I Hate Sleepless Nights

It's 3 am and I am wide awake. Ugh. I tried sleeping, reading, sleeping and I'm still awake. I believe there are probably two reasons for this.

First it is 68 degrees inside. I like it cool for sleeping. I do have ceiling fans going but they are not cooling things off. I cannot justify turning on air-conditioning when it is 48 degrees outside. So, there is one issue.

Second, I have not been feeling well for a couple of days. Not that it would have mattered as it's been cold and rainy since Sunday. What that has done has prevented me from walking the beach an hour or more each day. That means there has been a lack of exercise. I did go to the Registration desk and pick up my mail. I also drove to Freshfields Village where I mailed letters and did some grocery shopping, oh yes, and don't tell my daughter, but I bought a book from the bookstore.

The two combined with the fact that I have spent the better part of the past two days sleeping has caused me to be wide awake. Maybe I'll get a good sunrise photo today. Not what I had planned.

I'm beginning to think that sleep is overrated. I do know that I don't feel as sharp on the days I don't get sleep. I know that it's not what I'm eating that is keeping me awake. I've been eating more fresh vegetables since I arrived here. One would think that would help. I guess one might be wrong. Time for some tried and true bananas in milk. Knew I should have bought some today.

Well to those of you getting a good night's sleep, I envy you. To those of you still awake, here's some reading material.

TTFN

Friday, February 17, 2012

Writing Prompt

See I can be on time. This week's prompt comes from Midge Raymond author of Forgetting English. Here it is:

Open a door or window. Write for 10 minutes about the first thing you see.

Should be pretty easy. Should be pretty interesting. Be sure to post your writing. We do not copy from others...that's stealing. We post constructive criticism.

Happy Writing.
TTFN

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Just Checking

Wednesday...check
Sore throat...check
Stuffed nose...check
Galley proof done...check
Galley proof checked...check
Meds refilled...check
Bought cough syrup and cough drops...check
Pillow and blanket...check
Resting on sofa...check

Lazy day...check
Hoping Thursday is better...check

Happy Hump Day.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Today's Lesson: Ask the Price First

I have been her for just over a month now. I keep hearing raves about the Champagne Brunch at the Jasmine Porch. It is one of the restaurants here on the resort and is located at The Sanctuary. The premier hotel on the island. So I called on Saturday to make reservations for one.

The restaurant is elegant in that old world low-country style so popular here. Brunch is served buffet style. They put the menu in front of me and I almost fainted. Mind you I am not the fainting type. Adults $56 and children between 4-12 $20.50. I get that it is gourmet food...big deal. I hate that kind of stuff most of the time.

Breakfast portion: Bacon or sausage, Bourbon French toast...didn't taste any different than French toast made with Texas toast. Swiss cheese quiche. Not bad, not exceptional. Some fresh fruit.
There were three salads: the pasta salad had a good flavor, the potato salad was not bad. I did not try the water chestnuts, dried cherries and fig dressing salad as I could not identify the greens...we all know I have lettuce allergies.

The fish table had chilled oysters on the half-shell and shrimp for cocktails. I tried three of the shrimp. The third one not completely peeled just about gagged me.

Main dinners were a pork ( I prefer my pork done not pink in the center) with rice. The rice was good flavored.
The butternut squash and bitter chocolate ravioli was wonderful.
I skipped the shrimp and salmon...but then I don't eat fish.
I did have some rib eye steak, but it too was a bit rare for my tastes.

I missed the dessert table. Probably a good thing. There was some spaghetti and meatballs, more for the children....not that I saw any.

I did get one glass of mimosa...sorry but that champagne just ruined the orange juice. I am not fond of champagne to start out with.

It was edible, but I left hungry. It is not someplace I would ever go again or recommend to anyone. I'd like to upload the photos I took with my phone but I'm having issues with that.

All in all a disappointing outing that was way over priced. I have now learned to ask the price of things first.

TTFN

Whoa

I missed the Friday writing prompt. How did that happen???? Well guess what? You get it today. This one comes from Jill Dearman author of Bang the Keys: Four Steps to a Lifelong Writing Practice Here it is:

Write three pages of dialogue with two goals in mind: Make every word count, and don't bore the reader. Now, take one line from one character and give it to the other character. Use that line as a starting point for a new scene.


Have fun with that. Feel free to put any work in the comment section. The is a no stealing ideas website and is good for feedback.

TTFN

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Galley Proof ...

...has been read with my blue pen in hand. Monday my publisher and I go over needed changes. Yes!!!! We are on schedule for our release date.

We are still hashing out ideas for the book release parties. Tomorrow I will be checking into locations for the first one. I have a couple of possibilities. Once we nail down the location, we can set a date. I am going to be so busy with that I don't know when I'll be able to work on book two. I am hoping to have it done for a Christmas release. I'd better spend Saturday and Sunday writing.

I know we are adding an author photo to the author page of the book. That has been taken care of. I also know there will be a teaser from the next book in the back. It has yet to be added. There is really nothing major in the book that needs editing. That makes me feel good. It is the little things that make it perfect.

I am so keyed up that I am finding sleep elusive. When I do sleep I am out for the duration. That's pretty much it for the update.

TTFN

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Woo Hoo

Galley proof was delivered to my door about half an hour ago. I will be doing my final edits. You probably won't hear much from me for a day or two. I'm not lost, just lost in my work.

I am looking into the possibility of a book launch...with two possible sites. So possibly two launch parties. Much thought and planning are going into those.

I have been interviewed by the local paper in West Branch. They have offered to cover any book launch I do there. The other possibility is to do a book launch in my hometown and have that local paper cover it.

Right now I am working on finding sites to hold one or both of those. Lining up food and catering, and planning and organizing what we hope the party to accomplish. That means I could be writing a mini mystery for the guests to solve while at the party. Photo ops, autographs, book sales, giveaways. The list is endless. I'm not sure if we could be wired to do anything for those people on-line who are interested but we are checking into that. I'll keep you posted.

Happy reading.

TTFN

Friday, February 3, 2012

It's Friday

Time for your weekly writing prompt. This week the prompt is brought to you by Lori Ann Bloomfield author of The Last River Child. Here it is: Read today's horoscopes-all of them. What you have are 12 potential stories. Pick the one that most inspires you and write a short story.

Go for it. See what you come up with. Feel free to put your ideas in the comment section. No one is going to steal them. I encourage only positive feedback.

TTFN Happy writing

Thursday, February 2, 2012

WoW

Things are moving quickly. We have a tentative release date of Feb. 28, 2012 for my new book

We also have a final cover. I should have the galley proof in my hands in the next couple of days. Last chance to edit before we go to press. No pressure there.

So for my birthday an new book. Can't beat that.
TTFN

October Already

 I'm not sure where the time has flown. June was an exiting month. July was a mess. I had a change of medication which caused me to gain...