Monday, September 1, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
I'm at it again posted on my joint blog. A confession and some tips for slow readers. Game of Thrones and Other Challenges for Slow Readers.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Sunday, July 10, 2011
57 Stations and nothings on...
When I was around fifteen my family FINALLY got cable. I remember this quite vividly as all of my friends had it well before I did and I listened to them in rapt attention as they extoled the virtues of movies without commercial breaks and Madonna’s brand new video. While I would stay up until two a.m. waiting for my weekly half hour video countdown show or watch movies like Smoky and the Bandit cut for T.V.
So that magical day my parents gave in and got cable was sort of magical.
The sheer number of stations overwhelmed me, I believe we had twenty at the time. I admired the fact you could watch multiple recently released movies at the flick of a switch, or spend days watching Headbanger’s Ball on Mtv or a Prince marathon.
Time marched on and the stations multiplied and I had a family of my own. Cartoon Network and the History Channel joined the ranks of most watched, and became the backdrop of my late twenties and early thirties. Now my kids are getting older, things like Netflix and internet streaming make cable somewhat redundant.
When I opened my bill this month my cable company had raised the rate yet another five dollars. Not a lot, but it’s becoming more and more common. This is the third hike in a year. I’m seriously considering cancelling my once most prized entertainment. It still offers a few treats like a DVR that allows me to tape all my favorite shows and fast forward through commercials but other than that (and the Food Network) I find I spend little time watching it.
But I do still have two teens and I feel guilt in taking something from them that I, at one time, would have sold blood in order to have. Am I taking away their cultural touch point? Will the world end if they don’t know who won American Idol or who the special guest was on Dancing with the Stars? Will it encourage them to read more, create more, or am I sentencing them to a summer of the doldrums? What do you think?
So that magical day my parents gave in and got cable was sort of magical.
The sheer number of stations overwhelmed me, I believe we had twenty at the time. I admired the fact you could watch multiple recently released movies at the flick of a switch, or spend days watching Headbanger’s Ball on Mtv or a Prince marathon.
Time marched on and the stations multiplied and I had a family of my own. Cartoon Network and the History Channel joined the ranks of most watched, and became the backdrop of my late twenties and early thirties. Now my kids are getting older, things like Netflix and internet streaming make cable somewhat redundant.
When I opened my bill this month my cable company had raised the rate yet another five dollars. Not a lot, but it’s becoming more and more common. This is the third hike in a year. I’m seriously considering cancelling my once most prized entertainment. It still offers a few treats like a DVR that allows me to tape all my favorite shows and fast forward through commercials but other than that (and the Food Network) I find I spend little time watching it.
But I do still have two teens and I feel guilt in taking something from them that I, at one time, would have sold blood in order to have. Am I taking away their cultural touch point? Will the world end if they don’t know who won American Idol or who the special guest was on Dancing with the Stars? Will it encourage them to read more, create more, or am I sentencing them to a summer of the doldrums? What do you think?
Friday, May 20, 2011
Joining the Club but Keeping the Faith
Well I’ve joined the club. So many illustrious authors have counted themselves a member of this club. Anne Rice, Stephen King, JK Rowlings all are members. So I should feel honored to be among their number. Yes, I’ve joined the BIG leagues..
A thin envelope lay in my hand with my own typewritten return address. A sudden rush of excitement, someone actually opened my query and took the time to read it and perhaps... The editor’s reply took only a single sheet. A form letter telling me ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ (I think she even signed it herself).
Today I received my first rejection
I’ll keep this letter and cherish it. For I understand it for what symbolizes, one-step closer to the letter that will say, ‘Please forward the manuscript.’
For now, I’m waiting for my membership card to the ‘been rejected’ club-maybe I’ll get it laminated.
A thin envelope lay in my hand with my own typewritten return address. A sudden rush of excitement, someone actually opened my query and took the time to read it and perhaps... The editor’s reply took only a single sheet. A form letter telling me ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ (I think she even signed it herself).
Today I received my first rejection
I’ll keep this letter and cherish it. For I understand it for what symbolizes, one-step closer to the letter that will say, ‘Please forward the manuscript.’
For now, I’m waiting for my membership card to the ‘been rejected’ club-maybe I’ll get it laminated.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The First Time
The title of this post is slightly misleading. As is the blog's name. I am a writer. A writer of a book named Crazy, Sexy Genie. So here I am blogging, for the not really the first time.
You see, I've tried a personal blog, but nothing that happened to me seemed all that interesting, so it lay untouched for years. Now that my book is finally done, I feel like 'hey, things are going to start happening.' So I will keep this blog updated and abreast of the journey to being published.
First off, exciting news! I am going to NYC for the Romance Writers of America's annual conference in June. Stars were definitely in alignment for me to even conceive of going (very limited income, single mom) But like the proverb says, if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain.
That's a lot for the first time. As most first it was quick and slightly painful, but now that that's done hopefully I can have some fun!
You see, I've tried a personal blog, but nothing that happened to me seemed all that interesting, so it lay untouched for years. Now that my book is finally done, I feel like 'hey, things are going to start happening.' So I will keep this blog updated and abreast of the journey to being published.
First off, exciting news! I am going to NYC for the Romance Writers of America's annual conference in June. Stars were definitely in alignment for me to even conceive of going (very limited income, single mom) But like the proverb says, if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain.
That's a lot for the first time. As most first it was quick and slightly painful, but now that that's done hopefully I can have some fun!
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