Z is for Zen....

Zen, as in my state of being now that the A-Z Challenge is over~~

source

Close your eyes and say it with me, friends....   "Oooohhhhhmmmmm."  :)

It's been a great challenge!  Thanks to the A-Z blog challenge creator - Arlee Bird.  And a big thanks to all his awesome moderators, challenge goers and everyone else who stuck with me through April.  Have a zen-tabulous weekend!

Y is for "YUCK..." Sammy Caption Contest - part 5!!

Today is the last day to enter The QoP's Caption Contest - featuring my adorable dog, Sammy!!  For the rules of this contest, you can view my original post HERE.  :)

Now, if you've been around here awhile, you may recognize this pic of Sammy.  But, it totally warrants a second look...even though it's not Christmas.  This is one of my favorite pics of him:

HA, HA, HA - Oh, I just LOVE it!!   So, give me your best captions, people!!  $50 Amazon gc up for grabs!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

X is for Xylophone...

Hi, there.  :)  I'm likely on the road somewhere between home and Colorado Springs, today.  Headed to the Pike's Peak Writer's Conference and SOO "X"-cited about it!!  I'll be sure to report all the writerly goodness I learn about in a post in May.

But, today... food for thought:

I wrote a passage in one of my stories where I compared something else to the sound of a wonky xylophone.  I didn't think anything about it at the time.  But, reading over the passage later...I started to think;  Am I sure I know what a wonky out-of-tune xylophone really sounds like?  Am I sure I'm even thinking about the right instrument?  Does this comparison really work?

Do you ever do this in your writing?  Something to think about, for sure.

Have an X-tra happy Thursday!!  :) 

W is for Writing Tips from a Pulitzer Prize winner!

Happy Wednesday, all!!   Lucky me ~ "W" falls on Wednesday, which is typically the day I dispense all sorts of writerly goodness, outside of the A-Z.  So, of course, today you get writing tips!

Actually, it's more a look into the writing process of 2011 Pulitzer Prize  for Fiction Writing winner - Jennifer Egan.  I haven't had a chance to read her book - A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD - which won her this prestigious writing award, but I'll definitely have to add that to my TBR list.

Here's a copied recap of some of her tips from the Writer's Digest article.  For the entire recapped interview and links to the full interview (and pic source), please go HERE.

Inspiration:

I don’t really know where my ideas come from. I start with a time and a place. That’s what I need to get started, and an intellectual question2.

Process:
-Start with a time and a place.
-Be excited/surprised by the process
-Avoid going backward instead of forward (so simple, and yet, so unyieldingly difficult).
-Start with as little as possible

Fiction-writing I only do by hand. Only.

Output:
I usually try to write five to seven original pages a day.

First drafts:
A first draft takes about 10% of the total writing time, but in terms of importance it’s probably 50%.

Outlining:
I don’t outline initially. I outline everything in revision. Some of my revision outlines are 50 pages long.

Revision:
Usually my books go through three or four big drafts, with each big draft reflecting 20 rewrites of each individual part. When I get to a full new draft, it means I’ve made enough changes to all the parts that I’m willing to look at it as a whole.


Interesting, Interesting!  I wonder if I should invest in some yellow notepads...hmm.  :)  Tell me, do you see any of your writing habits here?

V is for Veritaserum....

I've been dosed!!

In Harry Potter's world - Veritaserum is a potion used to make people tell the truth.  It's root, the Latin word "veritas", means truth.  One small drop of the stuff and you'll spill ALL your secrets!!

And here's my truth for the day:  I am a procrastinator.  :)   What's that?  You already knew this about me?  It's in my blog title?!?  *stops*  *looks up*  Oh, yeah.  Right, right.  I'm the Queen....

Anyhow, my fine friends, I just wanted to tell you all that I'll be pre-planning/scheduling my posts for the rest of the A-Z and that I probably won't be around much until next Monday.  I've got my Pike's Peak conference coming up at the end of the week and the truth is...  I'm miserably unprepared!!  Sometimes I have to sit myself down and say, "Donea!  Focus!"

I'll lurk when I can, but I've just got to focus on my preparation for this weekend.  You'll forgive me, right?  Just this once?  Just know that I'll miss you, you ROCK, and I'll be back soon!!

Happy A-Z'ing, writing, reading, living!

U is for Utah!!

Happy Monday, Everyone!!  Well, I've gotta give it up for the home state today.  So, U is for UTAH!

We're known for a few things:

Snow

(source)
Is it sad I've lived here ALL my life and never gone skiing??  It seems very wrong, somehow...

 National Parks



Gorgeous, no?  :)  (source)

 A certain religion:

(pic source)    (LDS religion resource)


It's FANTASTIC for me to know that Utah is also home to some very talented writers!!  Perhaps you've heard of them?


Brandon Mull!!

Shannon Hale!!!!! 

James Dashner!!!!



Elana Johnson!!!!



Jessica Day George!!!

Pretty Awesome, right??  I stalk run into them from time to time...(ok, so I've seen a few of them from afar once or twice...)  But, I'm quite excited to get my copy of Possession SIGNED in June!!!  Woot Woot!!  And who knows...maybe I'll pick up a signed copy for one of you, too....  :)  

Happy Reading out there today!!

T is for Talent!

tal·ent   /ˈtælənt/    [tal-uhnt] 
–noun

1. a special natural ability or aptitude: a talent for drawing (or WRITING!)  
2. a capacity for achievement or success; ability: young men (PEOPLE) of talent.

There were several other definitions for this word, but these two seemed more apt for this post.  :)

Because, face it.  YOU are one TALENTED person!!  Keep at it.  You're going in the write right direction!!  And I'm happy to be among such KICK-A** company!!

Have an excellent weekend and a very Happy Easter!

S stands for Sammy!! Caption Contest part four...

Happy Friday, all!  I'm sneaking in a few things today.  Friday's are generally my Find the Story Friday segment.  But, for the A-Z challenge I've been holding a Caption Contest every Friday, featuring pics of my dog, Sammy.  And since today is "S" day - Sammy it is!

Hit me with your best captions ~ I dare ya!  :)  And in case you didn't notice - I'm over the 300 follower hump!!  Woo Hoo!!!!  You know what that means, right?  $50 Amazon gc up for grabs!!  You can read the details of the contest HERE.

It's also the final challenge for Rachael Harrie's Second Crusade Platform.  The Crusade has been awesome!  And she's got another one coming up, if you missed out on this one.  You can read all about it AND the guidelines of today's challenge by clicking HERE.  Show don't Tell flash fic is the game today - here's mine:

Sammy was a simple pup.  A belly scratch, good food and a soft bed were about all he needed.  He did have a nagging fetish for fresh robin meat, though...  He loved the shimmer of the birds' wings as they flitted down to green grassy patches and pecked the ground for juicy worms.  He loved the smells of their feathers, that caught the scent of everything on the wind.  But, what he probably loved most was the saccadic movement of a bird's body when clenched in his sharp puppy teeth.  Their incessant chirping made him bite a little harder until it all stopped.  Substance.  That's what he liked about robins with their crested, russet breasts.  So much heartier than the bluejays... if only he could get his paws on a little salt, the meal would be perfection! 

Today, however, Sammy hid behind the big black bbq machine in the back yard.  Puppy drool leaked from his maw and his tummy rumbled.  A fat, particularly smelly robin hopped around in the grass a few feet away from him.  But, the bird was flanked on either side by four more robins.  Sammy couldn't be sure, but were they birdy bodyguards?  Their black pebble eyes darted in every direction and the fat one was the only one pecking around for worms.  A chill ran along Sammy's flank and his fur raised high on his back.  Did he dare it?

Hmmm.  Perhaps I'll tell you another time.  Hope you enjoyed.  Have a great weekend!!  And don't forget to add your best caption in the comments!  (for the record, the robin fetish is completely fictional.  My dog really is a sweet as he looks!  Mostly...)

R is for the Retro Rat...

For anyone who was a teenager during the late '80's and early '90's - I'd like to re-introduce you to an old friend...

Ok, now I know what you're thinking... Pick starts with a "P"!!  And "P" day was Tuesday, hellllllll-o!  But, it's not the name of this styling torture device I want to discuss.  I want to discuss its purpose:

The Ratting of the Hair 

The high bangs, the wings...ahhhh.  You remember them well, don't you?  If not, here's a few reminders (and please forgive the quality of the pics, but I think you'll get the drift):

Aimee, Hill and Rach - each with a version of the Yearbook Photo Retro Rat

LeighAnne, Nic and Shae with the more stylized Senior photo version

Oh, yeah!!  I'm totally workin' those wings, baby!

But, my bestest friend Jen takes the prize for the Retro Rat with, what I like to call, her "GREAT WALL OF BANG":

AND

Oh, yes.  I totally used to bounce quarters off of it ~ :) 

Tell me, please?  Were you ever a victim of the Retro Rat??  Pics as evidence appreciated...you know how to reach me... :)  Happy Thursday!!

Q is for Queen of Procrastination...Greatest Hits Edition!!

Hey there!!  How's it going?  I hope you're all having a WONDERFUL Wednesday!  And if you haven't been here before, WELCOME!  (ok, is this starting to look a little like "W" day?  My bad...)

Actually, I thought "Q" day might be a nice time to introduce new/recently new followers to my blog.  And to all my lovely long-time followers - maybe there will be something here you missed and might like to read again?

I'm a self-proclaimed Queen of Procrastination.  I'm famous for last-minute, well...everything!  The only thing I ever seem to plan ahead for is vacation ~ :)  But, this whole blogging thing seems to be putting me on the right track.  And everyone's friendly, encouraging comments have been integral to my journey to publication.  You guys rock!  Truly ~ :)

Late to the photo shoot!!  But, my dog Sammy graciously sat in for my profile pic ~

So, without further ado, here's a few of my favorite posts that might help you learn a little bit more about The Queen of Procrastination (aka - ME!):

Vacations!!!  I LOVE them!!  Check this one out:
Beautiful MA

Some of my better Flash Fic:
A Hand of Poker with the Weasley Twins
SPD at the QoP

Writing Tips:
In the Role of Chapter One?  The Devil...
Writerly Wednesday!  For When Your Plot Seriously Bites...

Me looking out for You:
F is for Fitness...

A Stab at Poetry:
Ode to Grandpa...
Writerly Wednesday - A Useful Limerick or Two...

Besides Writing?
Homage to Other Great Artists I Know

FOOD!!!!!
Balls!!  Of the Popcorn Persuasion...
Need a Writing Snack?  J.K. Suggest Potato Crisps..

Blogfests - LOVE them!
My HOT Mug!!
My Top Ten Horror/Sci-Fi Quotes - blogfest!

*Also - the very Awesome Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh featured me as one of his "Q" bloggers today!!  Woo Hoo!!  Please go check it out and tell Alex I sent you his way ~ :)

Just a little sampling from The QoP.  Hope you enjoy and thanks, so much, for stopping by!!  Happy Wednesday! :)

P is for Pike's Peak Writing Conference....

I hope everyone is having just a FABULOUS Tuesday out there today!!  :)

So for "P" day ~ my choice was pretty obvious.  At the end of the month I'll be attending the Pike's Peak Writer's Conference in Colorado Springs!!  Woo Hoo!!  (sort of)

I'm excited to go.  Really, I am.  The list of workshops available is pretty amazing.  Here's just a few:

The Second Logline

Learn how to develop and use "the second logline" to give your book extra pizzazz when talking
to agents and editors.

Speed Pitching

Practice your pitch and get feedback with our team of experienced “catchers.”

How to Fail as a Writer and Keep Going

Learn how to submit your work, survive rejection, and increase your chances of success.

Titillate Me, But Do It Fast!

High Concept for novelists, nonfiction writers, and screenwriters. Learn how to make your hook excite & invite.

YA vs MG

Discover the crucial differences between young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) fiction.
Totally FRAWESOME, right??  Yes, no doubt here that this conference will be an amazing resource and learning opportunity for an aspiring writer!

What I'm not looking forward to as much is the networking aspect.  Which, is kind of what these conferences are all about.  The more connections you have in the writing world the better, right?  Ok - but, here's the problem....  when I am faced with a bunch of people I don't know...I kind of go into a state of cryogenic stupor.  It might resemble this a little:

You know, except female.  I guess that's why I find writing so liberating!!  I almost never say what I really mean to say out loud, but I can get it down perfectly on paper/screen.

I'm going alone and I won't know a single person there and I'm a little terrified about that.  My best friend and my dad are the type of people who can talk to anyone.  It's a quality I highly ADMIRE!  BUT - I'll still go.  I'll do my best.  I'll dust off my meager chit-chat skills and calm my nerves and take and deep breath and pray for miracles, because when I boil it down... speaking your ideas/stories out loud and networking is as much a part of a writer's career as the actual writing.

And I'll get by.  :)  But, if you want to wish me luck - I'm good with that.  Happy Writing!

O is for Open...

A theory:

If you OPEN and read a few of these:

And then open one of these:

or this:

and always keep this Open:

and write, write, write, edit, polish, query, land an agent, book contract, sell!!  ...someday, you might OPEN an envelope to one of these:

One can wish...  :)  Happy Monday, all!

(*just a little extra:  Please check out this pitch contest on Yatopia - OPEN now through 4/21!!)

N is for Nebula...

I'm a Trekkie.  In another lifetime/dream/alternate universe- I had a fling with Commander Riker, I exchanged recipes with Neelix, Quark tried to swindle a bar of latinum from me once, I was Watson to Data's Sherlock on the holodeck, I'm one of the few people that can get away with calling Capt. Picard "Jean Luc", Worf tried to teach me Klingon, but apparently - I have no head for foreign languages...Captain Janeway and I are tight!

Now, I've never actually dressed up or gone to a convention...although - hmm.  Could be fun.  :)  But, my (long-ish) point is that I adore the series, I think space exploration would be absolutely FASCINATING, and I'm sometimes sad when I realize our civilization won't advance to that state of technology in my lifetime...

Anyhow - as I was trekking through "N" words today, I settled on NEBULA: 

NOUN



1. space dust: a region or cloud of interstellar dust and gas appearing variously as a hazy bright or dark patch

And as I'm not lucky enough to see these wonders in space up close like the Star Trek crews, I can at least appreciate these awesome pictures.  I hope you enjoy them, too:

Silk Nebula (source)

Eagle Nebula (source)

Flaming Star nebula (source)

Orion and the nebula of creation (source)

 

LIVE LONG AND HAVE A HAPPY SATURDAY!!

M is for Mustache...Caption Contest Part 3!!

Happy Friday!!  Welcome to Find the Story Friday at The QoP ~ so happy you found your way here!  :)  Typically, I post a picture I've taken of a person, place or thing and ask you to imagine a story connected to it.  However, for the A-Z challenge I'm having a caption contest instead.  All pictures are of my cute little dachshund, Sammy.  And the best captions win entries for a $30 Amazon gift card!!  However, should I top 300+ followers before the end of the month, I'll bump that up to $50!  Bonus entries for submitting a caption to all Friday photos in April, so if you missed any you can find them HERE and HERE.

Today's photo just cracks me up.  Look closely and you'll see why:

Now put on those thinking caps, tickle that funny bone and CAPTION away!!

L is for Libraries...

Happy Thursday!!  Another short and sweet post here ~ as much as I would LOVE to buy every book I enjoy and adore, sometimes the budget just doesn't allow...

There's an alternative.  Maybe you've heard of it?  :)

If you don't already have a Library card - GO GET ONE TODAY!!  Pretty, please?  They're free!  Happy Reading out there today!

K is for Kiss... ;x

I don't know about you, but I find that first inevitable kiss in anything I read or watch to be a BIG lovely pay-off!  I'm that girl that, on occasion, could be seen with my nose inches from page/screen, eyes wide, breath held and at some point screaming, "Oh my gosh!  Will you KISS already???!"

OK, well maybe that's an exaggeration (nope, it's not...) but I do love me a good kissing scene.  I wanted to add an excerpt or two of my favorite kissing scenes from books - but, for anyone who hasn't read these books, well - I decided I just couldn't spoil it for you.  So, I thought I'd add a few pics of some of my favorite screen kisses.  If you don't know about these ones, well...

#1:  Buffy and Spike

source

*Sorry Angel/Buffy fans, but it wasn't her kiss that turned Angel evil...just sayin'.  And Buffy & Spike's hotty-tot kisses have been known to bring down the house - literally!

#2:  Disney's Beauty and the Beast

source

*I want a kiss like this!  I love how it starts slow, tender...and then the light and the wind swirl around them, whipping their hair, sucking them in deeper...  *sigh*  and, umm...fireworks!  Score!!

How do you feel about kissing scenes?  Love them?  Hate them?  Favorites?  Do tell.   And hope you have a very Happy Wednesday!  And maybe a good kiss or two... ;)

J is for Journal...an excerpt from my 16-year-old self...

Ok - so there's a few hours left in my Tuesday, so I'm getting my "J" word in under the gun.  That counts, right?  :)

My word of the day is Journal.  I was given my first one when I was 8.  Number of entries during my 8th year?  One.  I haven't always been the most faithful journaler.  (that's a word, right?)  Even now, I still write in my journal, but the entries are few and far between.  But, I treasure the entries I do/did write.  I'm even going to share one with you (DON'T judge!) from when I was sixteen.  It's deep and profound - I'm warning you now.  It will BLOW your mind!!  Ready?

excerpt from the journal of Donea Lee circa 1990:

"Dear Diary,

Tomorrow I register for my Junior year.  I am so excited - It will be so much fun - I am hoping - Jen's back and we're having some fun times - saw Brian Moore at the college - his friend is good lookin'.  Met Mike Anderson - he's a cutie and wants to date me but he's 20 - met Jenny's ex-boyfriend's brother Jade - he wants to take me out cause he thinks I'm hot - but - he's 20 - met a guy named Bob from Layton on the 'vard last night but - he's 20.  Is this weird or what - if only they were 19 - then my mom wouldn't cow!  Haven't heard from John P. forever - Jill blew it with John D. but he forgave her - DARN!!  Well not much else to say - will write later.  Luv ya L.A.S.,  Done"  (imagine a line over the "o" in my name...it was a nickname, like "done" in "condone"...)


*shakes head and laughs*   Well, on the bright side - for you YA writers out there with a 16-year-old female protag... this might be valuable research!  :)  Happy A-Z'ing out there!

I is for Imagine....

Happy Monday, all!  Here's my hand at acrostic poetry ~


If the world were a book
Made of words
Always changing
Given life and light by
Imagination
Never a dull day had
Ever the adventure


May your imaginings today take you everywhere you've always wanted to go ~ :)

H is for....

source

&

Hope you all Have a Happy Weekend!  :)

G is for Gorgeous Dog!! Caption Contest Part deux...

Happy Friday, everyone!!  How's the A-Z treating you?  Me?  Fabulous, of course.  I'm finding some great new bloggers out there, some old experienced and some just starting out.  And for everyone out there not participating, I hope the blogosphere is treating you right ~ :)

If you missed this last week, Fridays at The QoP are my "Find the Story Friday" segment.  I post a picture I've taken of a person, place or thing and then encourage my readers to create a story and run wild with it.  It's one of my favorite days of the week!  For the A-Z challenge, I'm posting pics of my dog, Sammy, and asking readers to make up a caption for the picture.  There's prize $$$ involved!!  For more deets, check out my original post HERE.

Now, for "G" day...I give you my Gorgeous little pup:

Isn't he handsome?

Ok, peeps.  Give me your best!  There's moola on the line... :)

F is for Fitness!! (and no more French Fries...) :(

Happy Thursday!!  So, the company I work for just rolled out a massive Fit Challenge to all employees. I guess they don’t want us to die on the job, or something like that… well, ok. That’s good. Thank you Company X for looking out for me! :D

We’re on teams of 3-5 and can I just say…I find it a little daunting that I’ll have to carry the weight loss on my team. I’m stuck working on it with a bunch of skinny minis co-workers who will lose weight on the scale only if they strip naked! What’s a pair of slacks and a shirt – like 2 lbs? And that trick will only work for week 1 (it’s progressive) so…basically, I’m it. Which means no more French fries… *waves goodbye to an old friend* No more baked goods… *feels tears forming* No more pasta… *looks around for a Kleenex* Ok, I better quit. I don’t like to weep in public!

*whimpers*  Yes, I'm whimpering...

But, I’m in. Really! I hear exercising helps with blood flow, which helps your brain. And as that’s where most of my ideas come from, as a writer, it’s essential to have a good working brain. So, I thought I’d give you two quick lists of fitness tips. The 1st for everyone and the 2nd especially for writers:

Fitness for Everyone:
1 – Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day – so EAT UP in the A.M.! *make sure you work a good protein in...

2 – Cardio is the only thing that will work for actual fat loss – dance, run, walk, hike – just get moving EVERY day

3 – But, strength training is essential, too. Alternate days – give your muscles a rest...

4 – Chewing copious amounts of gum does wonders for a would-be double chin...

5 – If fish/chicken and fruits/veggies aren’t really your thang? Count calories on the foods you do like. You can still eat it, just eat less of it. (But, try to work an apple, some spinach, or a little salmon in when you can..)

Fitness for Writers:
1 – Ok, guess I have to add cardio here as I mentioned the whole brain-flow thing above…

2 – The Hand-Splay: to do this, put your hands in front of you and stretch out those fingers as far as you can, hold, count to ten, relax. We need those hands and fingers in good typing form, right?

3 – Eat copious amounts of your favorite guilty-pleasure goody. You just can’t write if you’re cranky.  (the fitness for everyone plan might call this "cheating"...I call it "the occasional reward for being good!")

4 – Do a cross-word puzzle, brain teaser, a few math equations, SOMETHING to work the other side of your brain for a minute. The creative side needs a breather.

5 – Can you say “READ-A-THON”!

Now, go forth and BE FIT!

E is For Evoking Emotion through Experience

Welcome to Writerly Wednesday at The QoP!! *smiles and waves to my fans and visitors*

I usually do a segment on writing tips on Wednesdays, and honestly, the topic I've picked for today deserves a lot more attention than the brevity the A-Z challenge suggests. So, this will be an appetizer to a longer post I'll do in May.

Please look at this chart of emotions:

source

Think about the books you've read or the movies you've seen that have evoked one of these emotions in you.  Why can the death of a loved one in one book make you bawl your eyes out, while another leaves you dry-eyed?  Could it have something to do with the author's personal experience? 

Think of a time when you felt particularly loved, angry, embarrassed, surprised, or sad.  Go through the whole range of senses to help with this:  Your first kiss?  What did it taste like?  How did the other person's hands feel?  What was the look on his/her face?  Was their music in the background?  Could you smell anything?  Cologne, flowers, food, perfume, their minty breath?  And why did all these things make you feel the way you felt about it?

Now, write about it...  :)

D is for Donea, Pronounced!

"So, ummm...how do you say that?"  Do you think about name pronunciation when you're creating your characters?  Do you shy away from hard-to-pronounce names?  Or do you find a way for the name to be explained within the words of your story?  I remember pronouncing Hermione as Her-me-own, all through the first couple of Harry Potter novels.  I don't think it was until the first movie came out that I had a clue.  And I should know better.  I have this issue with my own name, ALL the time!  So, I thought since today is 'D' day...and in case you were interested at all?  :)  Here's how you pronounce my name:

DOE

+

KNEE

+

"UH"

*Emphasis on the "ee".  All together now!  Doe-knee-uh = Donea.   Easy, peasy - right?  :)  Short and sweet today.  Have a great day of writing out there!!

C is for Chicken Pasta Grape Salad

Happy Monday to my already-followers, new followers, crusaders and A-Z challengers!! Welcome to Mood Munchies Monday at The QoP ~ :)

And sticking with the A-Z challenge letter "C", my recipe today is for a great, springy, picnic pasta salad that in my humble opinion, is DE-LISH!

Here you go:

Chicken Pasta Grape Salad

Ingredients:
1 box bow tie pasta
chicken breast, cut up bite-size
red-seedless grapes
2 bunches green onions
small can cashew pieces
1 bottle Hidden Valley ranch coleslaw dressing
1 bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
sugar

Cook the pasta as instructed.  While pasta is cooking, combine the 2 bottles of coleslaw dressing, the mayo and a sprinkle of sugar and mix well.  Add the cooked chicken pieces (I'd say about 2 cups), the sliced up green onions, the sliced up grapes (as many as looks good to you - 1-2 cups), and 1/2 to full can of cashew pieces.  Drain pasta, cool with cold water, drain well.  Add to dressing mix.  Let sit in refrigerator for at least an hour.  Mix and serve!!

So, what does this recipe have to do with writing?  Well...not much.  Except that it's so yummy that after eating it, you'll likely feel so euphoric that pure genius will flow right from your fingertips!  Worth a try, right?  :)

B is for BIRTHDAY!! MINE!! :)

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah ~ You Say It's Your Birthday!  Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah ~ It's My Birthday, Too!  :)  *tips hat to Farmer Ted*

source

How cool is it that day "B" of the A-Z coincides with my Birthday?  I don't mean to shamelessly plug myself (or, do I?) but...OK, I'm shamelessly plugging myself.  :)  With that in mind ~  I forgot I needed to post a log line for my current WiP, as part of Shelly Watter's Blogfest "Win a Critique from Agent Suzie Townsend" contest!  Here's my 140 character twitter pitch:

When The Glass Prince claims 17-year-old Clara to the family curse, she must work with Snow White’s immortal son to break it, or die trying.

What do you think?  Any good?  There's still time to sign up for the contest.  Pitches need to be in by tomorrow, April 3rd.

And, as I also promised to be (B)rief today, I'll end it here with a final...

To me, to me!!!  :)  Have a great day of writing/reading/whatnot out there, everyone!

A is for ANNOUNCEMENTS!! 100TH Post, A-Z, Caption Contest & More ~ :)

Wow!  This is a HUGE day!  It's the start of the infamous A-Z challenge.  850+ bloggy participants in this event, conceived by Arlee Bird of Tossing It Out.  I'm sure he wouldn't mind another entrant or two or three...(would he?) - so feel free to check it out HERE.

ALSO - it's my 100th post today!!  I officially started this blog in 2007.  Number of blog posts in 2007?  I think 1...  It wasn't until last August that I really got serious and BOOM!  Now I'm typing away post # 1-0-0.  Pretty Amazing.  It's been a great ride so far.  Here's to the next 100!

Plus, I've topped 250+ followers and tomorrow just happens to be my birthday.  :)

So - to celebrate April, I'm going to hold a Caption Contest.  Friday's are typically my Find the Story Friday segment, so I decided to incorporate this into the A-Z and into a contest.  And since my little puppy Sammy will also be turning 1 this month (Apr. 3rd), ALL pictures to caption will be of him.  *BONUS points for offering up a caption every Friday!  Winner will be picked on Apr. 30th and announced on May 2nd. 

The prize?  A $30 Amazon gift card!  *pauses for applause*  Yeah, I know.  I'm awesome like that.  Even better - if I top 300+ followers by month's end, I'll bump that up to $50!!  (feel free to spread the word, thx!)

So - here's the first pic:

Have fun!  Caption away, and I promise tomorrow's post will be (B) for Brief.  Happy Friday!