More Pics

We finally got Daisy out from under the desk for another picture. Blue was not to be outdone, however, and got downright silly in his effort to swing the attention back his way.

A new career?

My husband has pretty much worn out his joints pouring concrete for the last 35 years and is hoping to make a new career out of photography. There's a pretty steep learning curve involved as he tries to figure out his new Nikon D70 digital SLR, but I'm taking advantage of his practice shots to get some new pics for my blog. So here are a few of his first efforts. The first one is Blue, my Blue Heeler. The second is Paddy, the calf we thought we were going to lose. The third is Daisy, hiding from the camera. She's my writing buddy. The last is a view of the back of the house, from behind the barbed wire fence.

Golden Heart and Rita Finalists

Yesterday was a big day in the world of RWA. Calls went out to notify finalists in the Golden Heart and Rita contests--kind of like the Academy award nominations of television. There is nothing quite like getting that phone call. The members of the Wet Noodle Posse (www.wetnoodleposse.com) made a pretty impressive showing, with 8 members getting a total of 11 finals in the Rita and Golden Heart. The WNP is made up of member of the 2003 Golden Heart finalist group who banded together and formed lasting friendships. Many of our members have gone on to sell, others are on the verge. Hopefully these latest finals will push a few more over the top. I couldn't be happier for my Noodler sisters.

I didn't final, but it didn't bother me as much this year. Agents and editors have responded positively to my characters, but other writers take issue with my heroine, at least in the beginning. For some reason, as writers we think our heroine has to be immediately likeable, but I tend to think a story needs to leave room for characters to grow and change. My heroine is initially spoiled and at loose ends, but she ultimately finds her calling and learns that there's a lot more to life than money.

Okay, so it didn't final. That's the last GH attempt for this particular heroine. If she doesn't sell this year, I'll put the book aside until after I sell another, then maybe revisit the ms and see if I can change it in some way to make it better. But I don't think these particular characters will ever leave me alone completely. I still love them all. But now it's time to get back to the work in progress--and it's time to FTDB. (Finish the d**n book)

March Madness

Well, I got a rejection from Kim on the full ms. Yeah, it hurt. I cried. But I got over it. She said some nice things about my writing and characters, but ultimately she didn't fall in love with it. I wish someway, somehow, I could figure out what this book needs to push it over the edge. It's one of those books that just won't let me go. The first two, I was able to move on after the rejections, even though they came so close to selling. But this one just won't let go. Oh well. It's entered in the Golden Heart. If it finals, I'll submit it a few more places, if it doesn't, I might try going the e-pub route.

Had a little bit of excitement around here with the birth of a new calf. He somehow never figured out how to nurse or something, and we almost lost him. But with the help of penicillin for his cold and fresh cow's milk from the local dairy, we got him back on his feet and he's nursing from his mama. I got a bath (licking) from his mama for saving him. You could tell she was saying thank you. Too cool.

Youngest son went to California for Spring Break because he didn't want to just sit at home. So for $200, he got to sit at his brother's apartment. Everyone was too busy or too involved in other things to take him anywhere or do anything with him. That's just sad. I'll have to find a way to make it up to him, I guess.

I've been so busy pouring concrete that I haven't had the time or energy to write much this month, other than to start another story I don't have time to finish. But I'm determined to put my office in order and get back to it ASAP! Just as soon as the DARA conference is over. :)