The Gratitude Post

I had something AMAZING happen to me on Friday. I will confess I had some hint it might be coming, as there was some 'just I case' paperwork involved, but it still really sent me into orbit. I've been on a high all weekend.

You see... Friday they announced the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semi-finalists.

People who have been around a few years know I made this list once before, but this stage is different from what it was then. In 2011 I was a semi-finalist with Kahlotus Disposal Site, and was one of 50 young adult novels to make my list (another 50 made the general fiction list—100 altogether).

Last year Amazon broke the contest into FIVE categories instead of two. Mostly it just meant a different split of people passed on—made it more competitive to keep going in YA, as they were 20% rather than 50... But the semi-finalist stage cut winners from 100 to 25—that means only 5 in each category.

Friday I learned A Shot in the Light was ONE of those FIVE for the Mystery/Thriller category—there are 25 total semi-finalists... 25 of 10,000. I am AMAZED, and proud and intimidated and all that good stuff...

(in celebration, the price stays 99 cents as long as I am in the contest)

But the real gratitude came after. On the ABNA boards I had a ton of congrats—me by name... I had a ton of support from my various Facebook groups and friends. It is one of those times you realize just the daily showing up and making friends has a HUGE impact. I have a dozen little groups I am a part of and it can feel a little schizophrenic. They all have their different quirks and personalities

When you get mad at yourself for screwing around online, be assured, screwing around online can pay off... erm... but seriously. I feel a commitment to playing much of the time when I'm online and I think it really does help people feel like they know me, so when good stuff happens, then I end up a teary, sniveling mess because everybody is so nice to me. But that's GOOD.

In Other News...

I was clearly distracted Friday, but managed to pass the halfway point on Mere Mortals this weekend, so I am on track with my WriMo.

I learned my friend Lisa Koosis landed an agent, so congrats to Lisa!

Game of Thrones Finale... as of this writing, I haven't seen it yet but it HAS TO have been AMAZING...

Watched season 2 of Orange is the New Black in three days because that is sort of how I roll...

And I hope all you dads out there had a GREAT Father's Day!


Finally, a QUESTION: On #NALitChat Thursday night people were talking about Wattpad. What is Wattpad?

In Praise of Beta Readers

Know what makes us better? FEEDBACK.

I've had and am getting some great help lately and I just want to express THANKS to some fabulous friends. They happen to all be women at the moment, but it can come from all kinds of people.

THANK YOU, Stacy and Leigh for developmental feedback on MEDIUM WRONG. It is about 40% through what will be final revisions for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest which opens January 14, and I KNOW will be better for the help.

THANK YOU Helena, for beta reading the excerpt with a microscope! The contest is such that the pitch is read first, then the excerpt, then the whole book, so that excerpt really needs to be highly polished. I trust the STORY when someone is reading the whole book, but if they only get three chapters, then any mistakes will hit harder.

THANK YOU Erica and Johanna for feedback on my STUPID BLOODY SYNOPSIS for KAHLOTUS DISPOSAL SITE. I am querying and some agents want a synopsis... and synopses are HARD to write!

SO THANK YOU!!! (if you have time, you should go visit them all, they are AMAZING!)


And I have a little excitement to share... apparently my next book cover is up! I didn't get the okay to share it, but since Amazon took liberties, I figure I am okay... So here is The Begonia Bribe! To be released May 7, 2013 (one day before Hurray Hurray the 8th of May!)

It has got me guessing what color the third will be... Maybe light blue? I love the begonias inlaid into the yellow here, though. And this version of Elmwood Park in Roanoke is fantastic! If you wanted to go like it on Amazon, that would be really amazing. 

Sea of Sickness

Last week I had two sick days in a row. It is the first time I've taken two sick days for my own illness since 2000, so you know it isn't the kind of thing I do. I am both healthy and am not the kind of person to skip work for small things.

But man, whatever this bug was knocked me on my butt. It was a lung thing. And an ache thing.

But Sunday, after four nights of more than ten hours of sleep, and after many many iterations of boiling water with lemon, ginger, honey... sometimes whiskey... Down time. Out of the weather time.... by Sunday I was feeling MUCH MUCH better.

I am still not 100%, but I finally feel like I have an ordinary cold rather than Satan's revenge.


So What Does a Girl Do When She Feels Like POO for four days?

She edits! DUH!

I managed to finish my run of BEGONIA BRIBE, send it to my super duper buddy Stacy, and get started on my first revision of CHRYSANTHEMUM CAMPAIGN.

Stacy is AMAZING and has gotten 100 pages back to me already—catching all sorts of the gaffes I didn't catch that were caused by the timeline change. I am so thankful to have a friend able to back me up last minute.


Honestly, it was sort of nice to have a weekend where I didn't feel up to doing much so I could just be still... read... mark... enter changes... I am not back on track with my editing, but I made some progress.

That said, that is sort of all the time I have for blogging at the moment.


Anybody else catch this nasty that is going around?
Anybody else geeked for good weather coming this week? (Michigan is supposed to hit 70)
Anybody else making good editing process?

I wish all of you a happy Monday! (even if that is an oxymoron)

Gratitude

Just so you know, I am going to take a few days off this week. Between company coming (and my need to clean) and NaNoWriMo (and my need to write) and my need to finish editing Azalea Assault, I just have enough to do that I thought taking a brief blog break would be a good idea. I will get one in next weekend (Friday or Saturday) and then be back to normal (meaning normal schedule, not actually BEING normal—as that would be abnormal) next Monday.

Today, though, I thought I'd reflect a little on some of the MANY MANY things I'm grateful for.

Health

I have some back pain and am overweight, but all in all, I am pretty darned healthy. I haven't been so sick I had to take off from work since maybe 2004 (only twice in the last decade). I don't get regular headaches or stomach trouble or heartburn. I take no prescriptions. I try to eat some good stuff most days (fresh fruits and veggies) and I get a lot of exercise, but mostly I just feel very fortunate, because a lot of people who work a lot harder have more health trouble than I do.

My Immediate Family

I know I grumble sometimes, but it really is more in humor than anything else. In reality, I have a thoughtful husband who is nurturing and handsome, and two gorgeous kids. My daughter is creative, sweet, beautiful and funny. She is also sensitive, particularly where her soft spot for animals is concerned. My son is smart, hysterical, and embraces my own need to be just a little odd. They are all healthy, they are usually fairly happy, and for the most part, we get along pretty well. I love them (animals included, of course).



My Extended Family

This one is a little bittersweet because they are just too far away. As most people do, I have two branches to my family, and they are pretty darned opposite. The one scattered a little when my grandma died, so they don't get together. At all. Thankfully, I have reconnected with parts of it. The other side was always close... geographically close enough when I was growing up that we got together for every birthday and holiday. The kind of family who walks in with just a 'yoohoo' instead of knocking, who pitch in to help clean up even when it isn't their house. I miss them badly. My generation has scattered a little, but these are still some of my favorite people.

My Job

I know I'd like to make enough writing to not have one, but considering I really NEED one, I am glad to have one I feel does important work, focused on bettering lives. It's interesting and my boss is FABULOUS.

The Chance to Write

I am very aware not everybody is in a place in their life where they have the time. I think people who have to work full time and have younger families have it especially rough. I know this because I was there for a while—a long time, in fact. I am very glad to have reached a place where stealing that time doesn't have drastic consequences, because honestly, the writing is how I most feel like me.


Facebook

Silly as this one sounds, I have reconnected with SO MANY people I thought I'd lost forever (including some of that family)—it is a powerful tool that way. I've also met a number of new friends... meeting friends of friends—engaging in conversations and finding like minds—it really is just a pretty great thing to do!


And Last But Not Least


Our Blogosphere!!!

I am grateful for ALL of you! For those of you who teach me. For those who entertain me. But most especially for the support system we've managed to create. We all have each others backs and lift each other up. We help each other feel less isolated, and help navigate waters we haven't been in before. We share the pain and the victory, the former made less by sharing, the latter made sweeter by lifting other peoples' hopes, that they will get there too.

Speaking of... my buddy Liz is giving away some books as she leads up to the release of Specific Gravity, so if you'd like some great books about sex and beer, head over to her place and enter! http://www.brewingpassion.com/

I know it is only Thanksgiving in the US this week, but I am thankful for all of you! Have an amazing week!

*Glomps* but Not forgotten

A definition.

Glomps: (noun, plural; verb, 3rd person singular) BIG, SQUISHY HUGS, the giving of big squishy hugs


Two things today... first...

I was the recipient of some LOVE yesterday, so I thought I'd show a little appreciation!

Authors Promoting Authors 

Tina Sue and Brandi have a mission of promoting new authors and do a terrific job of Paying it Forward... helping people get going, especially people who feel a little lost in this vast world of self-promotion.

From the beginning, I've bought into their ideas and have offered to have guests, but I sort of figured that was just what I ought to do, as I believe in what THEY do. Well yesterday, out of the blue, they sent me an Amazon Gift Card just because they are FABULOUS! I'm so excited. I've been so broke that even though I have WANTED to, I haven't bought books in ages. I'm going to go look at prices, but I know I will be buying at least ONE book of one of my blog friends... depending on prices, I will try for two.

Doomsday Love

And then I decided yesterday to make sure I was FOLLOWING everyone who was participating in the Delusional Doom Blogfest and found several SIDEBARS in addition to just participants. So thank you to EVERYONE who is participating (it's not too late, here are details) and a big shout out of thanks to the following!



N.R. Williams, Fantasy Author
Rosie at East for Green Eyes
Michael at In Time
Angela at Whimsy, Writing and Reading
Tizzy at Impossible Dreams
Colene at The Journey
Francine at Romancing the Blog
Laura at A Shift in Dimensions
Roland at Writing in the Crosshairs
Pamela Jo at There's Just Life
Tessa at Tessa's Blurb
Ellie Garratt


And thank you ALSO for the mention in a blog, to

Trisha at WORD + STUFF
Helena at Becoming Layla

I'm humbled, as I am not nearly as good about spreading the word... I will be better now...



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I would love love love it if you wanted to check out some of their blogs to help me thank them!!!


And second, Erinn at Something Else To Distract Me is holding the Gone but not Forgotten Blogfest  where I get to share my favorite five shows that I wish they were still making episodes for... (this could change, but at the moment...

Alias: Loved the puzzle, the action... staring at Michael Vaughn...

Firefly: I hope Nathan gets his wish and Fox sells him the rights to this. He wants it to be available to all and says it's the most fun he's ever had. He'd totally make more... hopefully on that planet where he got abandoned with no clothes...

Homicide, Life on the Streets: Oh, MAN I loved this show. So edgy and harsh on the one side, and such personal stories on the other... the funky cinematography... just fabulous.

Veronica Mars: I love this show as an example of how to write... each episode self contained, but with an ongoing underlying story. Lots of very different compelling relationships...

X-files: Do I NEED to explain this? BEST. SHOW. EVER.


So I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend! I am going under. I have requested edits from my editor and I want to concentrate on them without distractions, so I will be back Monday!

A Special Gift

For Valentine's Day, I went looking for things I love to share with you and got sucked deeply into a tangent that I thought was far more interesting than the planned list...

I started with OLD BOOKS. Jessica put up something about old books last week, and I told her I had a bunch from my grandpa. This is just a subset of them.

The taller red one that you can't read is a copy of Robin Hood, with the gift inscription in the front cover dated 1911. The giftee, someone called Hamilton Barrett (or Arthur Hamilton Barrett), had several books in my grandfather's collection—I wish I knew someone who could tell me the connection, but I am guessing this is perhaps a cousin or uncle who had no children of his own. The small book that is almost completely gilted is a beautifully illustrated Pinocchio that has both the name above and my grandfather's.

The one that really caught me, though, was this one. Poetical Works by Thomas Moore. The leather of the cover has the cut-out and had a leaf pattern stamped into it—the author and title in raised letters. The gilting is definitely wearing off in places and the pages are very brittle, but the treasures inside?

First, the book opened to this page by itself. Four leaf clovers are rare—I think I've found one or two, but not often... here though, is a gift from some long lost relative... It's VERY big, as clovers go

And then, more special still... the history of the book (and some history of my family) in the front cover. The post-it was written by my grandma, who you all know was the best person EVER.

The notes say:

“Christmas present to Heather from her father. Dec 25th 1881.”

and then

“Tami, Hattie was Grandma Baker's sister. Grandma Baker was Great Grandmother Boyd's mother. Hattie and G. Baker (America Thompson) were raised by their Grandfather, Dr. Ford, after their mother's death during the civil war.”


So there we have it... what a wonderful Valentine's gift—a little connection to my grandma and my history, courtesy of my love for old books.


Have you ever had an unexpected treasure pop up and touch your heart like that? I'd love it if you shared!

Warm Fuzzies

Oh Ye Fabulous Blogosphere

Ya know how I grumble about stuff... sometimes very specifically, sometimes more vaguely... I need to make a right here and throw out a really huge THANK YOU, but I need to keep it vague. One of you contacted me this week offering help for something I've grumbled about. It crashed into me like a huge warm vat of chocolate. I was overwhelmed, delighted and grateful to be part of a network where people don't just cheer, but actually tangibly help each other.

So THANK YOU to this fabulous individual, and THANK YOU to all of you for being a group that the others in the group can count on.

I think Talli Roland is feeling some of this this week, too. Did you hear her book ON ITS FIRST DAY hit #24 of the Amazon.UK list? We did that. As a group—I mean sure, she organized and asked, but after full participation and being part of this great community.

So I suggest a big group CYBERHUG because the BLOGOSPHERE ROCKS! [note:  Lemurs really do this with some regularity. I love lemurs]


And in Keeping with the Spirit

Kids and Charity

My boss every year has a talk with us... about how there are people in the world, in the country, even in the city, a lot more needy than we are. She encourages us to spend any money we'd spend on gifts in the work place on charity instead. We normally exchange cards and maybe cookies or candies and any other money goes to some organization that meets needs. Her own choice is typically a safe house, where she also volunteers time as a physician to help people who've gone there. I've discovered various local soup kitchens or family aid organizations, and it is definitely a time to help people, because people are definitely needy.

We aren't in a financial position to help this year, but we will still try to find a way to give some time, but in light of that, I thought maybe I'd share a couple that are international, and have the BONUS of being something kids can really learn from.

See Your Impact

My friend Natasha (who you know as Rayna) administers this charity. The reason I think it is so ideal for kids is that donors can actually choose who they donate to and then they get feedback about how their gift made a difference—it is reinforcing that the charitable money donated has made a real difference in someones life. It is also nice for the adults because the donation sizes can vary so much—there are huge needs and small (as little as $10 to contribute to a safe water system to larger gifts like $85 to buy somebody a wheelchair). See Your Impact is changing lives one at a time, and I think as a lesson in giving, that is the best way for children to really understand.


Heifer International

Another charity kids can really get behind is Heifer International. The organization buys animals for villages or families (depending on the size of donation). Some of them are small animals, raised and then used for meat (which my kids didn't like) but MANY are animals raised because they are food-producing (chickens, cows, goats) or wool producing (llamas, sheep) so they can either feed people or offer a livelihood. My kids LOVED this, and they offer options of... half a sheep, or a third of a goat if you can't afford a whole animal, and it looks like since we've been involved, they have also added seeds and training to their list of what they donate.

They have a ton of pics, but are rights protected, so if you want to go see some of the stuff, click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/heifer_media/sets/


So if you can... there are people who are needy out there. I may grumble about a low gift Christmas or juggling bills, but the truth is, we own a home and have never gone without food or heat. There are people out there with real needs. I think these charities offer a way to really show kids that giving can feel good and make a difference.