I is for Incentive

Sometimes in life you need the right incentive to get things moving. In my case, I have now have it. I've spent the winter in the South Carolina low-country. I've fallen in love with the charm of the place. I've met some wonderful people. I've been more productive with my writing than I have in a long time.

However, it is now time to head home. I don't want to leave. So, my incentive to be able to make this my permanent home...I have it. I will head home via the long way. Put my house up for sale and do everything in my power to get it sold.

If you are in the market for an old farmhouse one almost three acres in northern Michigan, drop me a note in the comment section. I know have one for sale.

I have my incentive, do you have yours?

TTFN

H is for Hurrah

Hurrah because I have so many exciting things going on with my writing. My hubpages are starting to make some money. I have a new 99 cent Ebook out today.

http://www.amazon.com/Passage-of-Time-ebook/dp/B007SISY32/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1333980031&sr=8-4

My book that was released in February is starting to sell. I have two book signings coming up in May and June.  I am working on the second book in the Macy McVannel series.

Hurrah, that the Lord allowed me to awaken this morning to a glorious day.

TTFN

G is for Gratitude

Sometimes in our busy lives we forget to be grateful for the things we have. Gratitude reminds us that  we have much to be grateful for.

I have a beautiful daughter who makes me proud of her. Who has gone back to college while working full-time,  raising a family, and keeping her marriage alive. Many of us would quit faced with the daily challenges of life. But she has persevered and will graduate in May.

I have three wonderful grandchildren who amaze me daily. The are constantly coming up with new and clever things. I love them dearly.

I have parents who are still active. And a brother and sister who love me. I have been surrounded by nieces and nephews. As well as my extended family of cousins and friends who have become like family.

I was blessed with the ability to tell stories and be able to write them so that others may read them. I also have relatively good health.

Then there is my winter haven. I am so grateful that I was able to find it. Nestled on an island on the Atlantic sea coast it has been an extraordinary place where I've found many friends.

Today I am grateful just to be alive.

TTFN

F is for Frustration

Frustration, probably the worst word in the writing world. It is frustrating to me as a writer to have put my best effort into a novel or short story and see it go no where. I learned the hard way about vanity publishers. They cost an arm and a leg, do nothing at all to promote you, and you can only hope that you might make your investment back. I am close but I'm not there...frustrating.

Today's frustration came out of Createspace, the self-publishing baby of Amazon. They told me that for $25 I can get expanded distribution into bookstores, libraries, and schools. My royalties on a $15 book will be $0.01. Yes, that is correct one cent. I'm saving my $25 and they can keep that program. This is the first book that is within four sales of actually paying for itself.

Frustration is knowing I write as well or better than what some of the "Big" publishing houses are selling, and being unable to get a foot in the door.

As frustrating as all that is, I keep writing. For me writing is a must. I live and breathe writing. I lose sleep over writing. I can talk about writing for as long as you want. I even know something about it. Imagine that. I will not let the frustration stop me. It's just one more obstacle to overcome.

TTFN

E is for Effort

You can have all the dream and determination you want if you put forth no effort they go nowhere. Effort is what it takes to get the job done. Whether it's writing or something else you have to make an effort.

The great American novel will not be written if you don't pick up a pen, pencil, computer and  make an effort to put words on paper. This is a stumbling block for many. They want to do something. They dream of the success they want to have, but they do nothing to get there.

I wrote. I still write. I studies writing and wrote some more. I taught writing. I wrote. I self-published. I wrote. I attended conferences. I wrote. I came away energized. I wrote more. I took writing courses. I wrote. I joined an on-line critique group. I rewrote. I still write. That's effort.

I found a small publisher. I have their support. I'm still writing. I'm expanding my horizons as a writer. I still attend conferences. I write.

What effort do you put behind your dreams? You need to work to make them happen.

TTFN

D is for Determination

Having the determination to follow your dreams is hard. Dreams are what you hope to achieve. But many give up along the way. Life gets in the way of creativity. The dream seems unattainable. There are thousands of reasons for giving up.

There are also thousands of reasons for sticking it out. Edgar Allen Poe did not reap millions from his work, however he is high among American writers. That fame never reached him. It may elude most writers. Did it stop him from writing? No. Will it stop me from writing? No.

I have been writing since the age of twelve. For those of you doing the math that is forty-two years. It is what I do. When my daughter was little, I told her stories, I only wish I'd recorded or written down. I can tell you I started with poetry. I enjoyed the rhymes. I have evolved into more than just a poet. Now I pen mysteries.

I have written on the back of place mats in restaurants. I have some of those but not all of them. Any scrap of paper will do until I can get to my computer or a journal.

None of  this has been an easy road. It has taken years and years of determination to make my dream come close to coming true. I think I am almost there.

TTFN

C is for Critcism

Criticism is probably the hardest word to deal with. As a writer, I know I have to be thick skinned. Not everyone is going to like what I write. Some of my best friends look for things they can find wrong even if they like my books and stories.

Knowing that it is given in hopes you will use it and make your next piece better is good rationale. My books are like my children. I have worked with the newest one since 2010. I know my characters, the plot, the twists and turns. I put it through a writing workshop, to help make it better. I've been compared to Agatha Christi and   Patricia Cornwell. To Christi without the pomp and circumstance and to Cornwell without the blood and gore.
Those are high honors, however I find I sometimes forget to give my readers enough to make my writing superior. I'm getting better and I'm working with people who help me. None of which makes criticism any better to hear.

So, when I think of criticism, I think how can I make my next book better. What do I have to do to make my story worth buying? I've grown a thicker skin and no longer take it as a person assault on my work.  Hopefully you will be able to get there too.

TTFN

A-Z Challenge today is B

B is for believe. Believe in yourself. I was twelve when a teacher told me I had a talent for words and someday he'd see me in print. That was a long time ago, but I believed. I wrote poetry first. It was a way to express myself when I couldn't find my voice to do it. It was not deep, it was just me. I took as many writing classes as were offered in high school, with little encouragement from the teachers.

I went to college and majored in English, language and literature. I also took the journalism and broadcast writing classes. While the instructors told me I had talent, they could not help me develop it. So, I bought books on writing. I filled hundreds and hundreds of notebooks with my writing.

I went on to become a teacher, but not the English teacher I'd expected to be. I became a special education teacher where I learned more about writing in my Masters classes than any undergrad class had ever taught me. I practiced and practiced. I became better at the craft.

I shared my love of writing with my students. I even shared some of my writing with them. It was 2004 before I would see my work actually published. I was self-published, but I was published. From that book of poetry, I have gone on to publish a book for tweens and teens and three mystery novels. My fourth mystery was picked up by a small press. By small I mean fledgling, but someone else thought my writing was worthwhile.

If you believe, others will eventually believe, too. So keep believing in yourself.

TTFN

A is for April

For most people today is the first day of April. A day for practical jokes. For me it's March 32nd and it's been that way for 36 years. The cruelest joke of all was getting a phone call, telling me that the second most important man in my life had died. That would be my grandfather.

Let me tell you about him. Grandpa was born in Newquay, Cornwall, England on June 1, 1907. He and his family came to the US by way of Canada in 1921. There he met and married my grandmother. He was a brick mason and carpenter so his hands were always rough and dry. He was small in stature but it didn't matter. He played the mouth organ and concertina...(squeeze box). He also sang. It's probably where my love of music comes from. He was also a talented artist.

During my childhood he had lots of pets. Yes, the normal dog and lots of tropical fish. But he also had a raccoon, South American fruit squirrel, and an ocelot.  I grew up around these animals and his vegetable garden. It was nothing to spend the day with a cup of sugar and a stalk of rhubarb.

Grandpa talked about his family still in England, but he became a naturalized citizen of the US. My father is his eldest child. There were three others two girls and another boy. Grandpa loved them all and he loved his grandchildren. He wrote long letters to me when I went to Girl Scout camp. He later two finger typed letters to me when he moved to Florida.

I regret that he only saw pictures of my daughter and that she missed knowing him at all. This year seems to be the worst in a long time for missing him. I'm not sure why.

So, while A is for April my April begins on the second and that's tomorrow.

TTFN

A to Z Challenge starts tomorrow

I will be starting the A to Z blogging challenge tomorrow be sure to follow along and comment on my blog.

Why I Can't Live here

These are the different places on the Island where I could enjoy Easter Sunday Dinner. Are you laughing yet????

Ballroom at The Sanctuary
Reservation Times:
Seatings at 11am and 2pm
Buffet $70++ adults, $28++ children 4-12 yrs.
Reservations: 843.768.6253
Join us for a memorable Easter Sunday with
close family, good friends, a tantalizing variety
of food and drink, and the Easter Bunny in the
Grand Oaks Ballroom at The Sanctuary. Listen
to a live ensemble and browse the internationally
influenced culinary displays, celebrating all that
Spring has to offer. The menu features chilled
seafood, elegant ice sculptures, numerous chefattended
cooking stations, and the debut of the
Spring Pastry & Confectionery Presentation.
This festive dining event includes a Children’s
Easter Buffet for children Ages 4-12. Your children
will always remember this special event that will
feature arts and crafts along with a visit from the
Easter Bunny.

Easter Sunday Brunch
at the Jasmine Porch
Breakfast, 6:30am - 10:30am
Buffet Brunch, 12pm - 8pm, Live Music
$62++ adults, $22++ children 4-12 yrs.
Reservations: 843.768.6253 or 843.768.6330
Enjoy a memorable traditional Lowcountry
brunch featuring Shrimp & Stone Ground
Grits, Sugar Basket Smoked Ham and a Chilled
Appetizer Bar. The spectacular ocean view amidst
the relaxing atmosphere of the Jasmine Porch
restaurant awaits you.


Easter Sunday Buffet at The Ocean Course
11am - 3pm,
$75++ adults, $35++ children 4-12 yrs.
Reservations: 843.766.4085
Celebrate the bounty of spring with Chef
Jonathan Banta’s lavish buffet complemented by a
Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar while enjoying the
East Coast most dramatic views of the Atlantic
Ocean.


Easter at Tomasso
at Turtle Point Club House
Reservations: 843.266.4070 or Ext. 64070
Easter Brunch: Italian Inspired Brunch Menu, 11am - 3pm
Regular Dinner Menu: A la carte, 5pm - Close
Join us for Chef Nick Hunter’s Spring Italian
inspired brunch menu. Children’s menu items
always available. Reservations appreciated
but walk ins are welcome. To-go orders always
welcome.


Please note there is no price for this one.



Easter Mingo Point Oyster Roast & BBQ
6pm - 9:30pm,
Thursday, April 5 & Monday, April 9,
$38.95 adults; $22.95 children 4 - 12 yrs.;
3 & under free
Reservations: 843.768.2121 Ext. 81829
A Lowcountry Tradition. Whether you’re a
returning guest or a first-timer you’ll love the
Resort’s most popular longest running family
outing. Enjoy fresh roasted oysters while watching
the sunset on the Kiawah River, or dance under
the moonlight to the sounds of The Island Trio.
In addition to oysters, guests can enjoy a number
of Southern BBQ specialties; Ribs, pulled pork,
smoked chicken, along with a bounty of side
dishes. New for 2012 check out our “Steak and
Skins” buffet. We are featuring steak hot off our
wood fired grills, and loaded potato skins out off
our wood fired oven.



Seriously????? I am thinking I'll be eating at home. Who has this kind of money for a meal you will walk away from hungry.

You mull this one over. I'm off to run errands and head to the beach.

TTFN