It's That Time Again!!

IT’S NANOWRIMO

IT’S NANOWRIMO!! For those of you who don’t know what this is it’s National Novel Writing Month in November. Yep, it’s that time again for all you writers and those just thinking about writing to get your crazy on. The challenge is to write 50,000 words in one month. You can participate however you want. I don’t do the normal nano writing. I don’t log my book in to try and “win” if I get the 50000 words. You’re supposed to start from scratch and not use something you’ve already written on. Typically, I’m already working on a book and I need the impetus to get it done. This is how Nanowrimo helps me. For Nano, writers get together and write. I definitely need some accountability right now. It’s no secret I AM STRUGGLING with the third book in my werewolf series. I stare at the computer screen. (something I don’t usually do because I know IT IS THE KISS OF DEATH TO STARE AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN.) Just write something already, anything!! That’s what I tell myself, but it’s just not working. Even at 4am, which everyone who knows me knows is my most productive time, I CAN’T MAKE MYSELF GET SOMETHING DONE. I’m now trying to write thoughts of where to go with this book in a notebook, but I tend to doodle, tap my pen and just give up. I have to start writing my dissertation the first of December so I really must get this book roughed in before then. Of course there will be massive amounts of editing to do, but I’ve got to get words on the page. I’m overwhelmed by the idea that between work, schoolwork and dissertation I won’t get this book finished. So, I must do it NOW!!! Therefore, I’ll be “nano-ing” this month. If you’d like to join in I’ve included a link to the nanowrimo home page below the picture. There are get togethers in different areas and sometimes you just need some extra help in setting aside the time to make yourself get it done. I should have finished a rough copy of this book months ago. NO MORE SLACKING!! That means you too!! If you’re trying to get a book done or just thinking about writing your first book, go hang out with some writers and spend a month in sheer writing insanity. 

Great Book!!

I don't read a lot of Stephen King's books. I've read some, but I'm not "hooked" on his stuff. However, my local library had this audiobook and I'm always looking for new ones there since I'm to cheap to subscribe to audible. Also because my husband and I go through more audiobooks than I could afford on audible and the library has them for FREE!! Did I mention I love the library. If you haven't been you must go there. I got this audiobook and immediately passed it on to my husband and told my co-workers who use audiobooks about it. This book is really great. You are hooked immediately!! You must go get it now!! It's a sequel to The Shining, which I also read. I think this book is ten times better than The Shining!!

Interesting Series

And long too. I ran across this Emberverse series by S.M. Sterling at the library while trying to find an audiobook I hadn't listened to already. The first three books I truly loved. The next three occasionally got a little slow. By now I'm about eight books in and well, you just have to finish the series at this point, though sometimes the heavy details drag the story down a bit. Overall, it's a very good series and I got my husband hooked on it too. By the end of the third book I was looking for information on how to make my own recurve bow. But then I do love a good apocalyptic tale. You have to buy into the reason there was this apocalypse, but once you do, you're hooked. Book one is Dies the Fire and if you're looking for a good book/audiobook give it a try. It would make a great series for HBO. ARE YOU LISTENING HBO!! There are so many books it could go on for YEARS!!!

Not Again!!

There's something officially wrong with me. Last summer I decided to go back to school to get my PhD in nursing. I know, right! Like I haven't been to school enough already. However, I wanted some different opportunities for the future and writing books, while I love it, does not pay my bills. A year into this with two years to go (I'm going part time), I'm sometimes wondering what I was thinking. Hopefully, it will pay off in the way of a new and interesting job down the road. In November I'll start my dissertation, but I've been working on it some. I've been away from this blog and not writing books for this past year, but I'm trying to juggle my schedule and finish my third werewolf book as soon as possible. I need a few more hours in my day right now, or maybe I just need to use the ones I have more efficiently. Anyway, I'm going to try and not chew on my computer in frustration when I can't seem to get enough done. Hope everyone has a happy Sunday.      

True Blood- the MS house

If you’re a fan of True Blood you probably recognize this house as the Mississippi home of Russell Edgington. (who has now met the true death) While it appeared as an elaborate multi-roomed mansion, that’s not really the case, as many of you may know. The house is actually the historic Longwood Plantation in Natchez, MS. Longwood Plantation, also known as Nutt’s Folly, began construction in the 1860s. It is a very different looking plantation building when compared to other plantation homes in the area. Rather than the usual Greek Revival style that was so popular in the South during that era, the builder chose to create a multistory, octagonal, Oriental Revival style home. The house is six stories tall, 30,000 square feet, and has a large byzantine styled dome. Dr. Haller Nutt began the building of the home and a Philadelphia architect named Samuel Sloan designed it. Before the house could be completed the Civil War broke out and construction halted. The workers were needed at home, so they left the house in an unfinished state. The exterior of the house was complete but the inside was never finished. The house has 32 rooms, but only 9 were completed. In 1864, Dr. Nutt died. His wife continued to live in the first floor of the house. The first floor still has many of the original furnishings and belongings. Even through years of neglect and abandonment, the house survived. It is well known as one of the most beautiful, as well as the largest, of the octagonal houses. If you’re ever in the area Longwood is open for tours as are many historic homes in Natchez.

And then there were three!

Zoe 4 months after adoption. 

So, recently we added to our min pin posse by adopting a new female min pin estimated to be six years old. Here’s a bit of her story. Zoe (previously known as Sondra when rescued) was pulled by the Mobile SPCA from dreadful conditions. (Thanks SPCA!!) She was living (if you call it that) with fifty other dogs in a house trailer. I’m fairly certain she’d never been outside. So guess where fifty dogs use the bathroom if they don’t go outside. The yard is a strange place to her and she prefers using the bathroom on the concrete patio rather than the grass, or inside the house. We're working on housebreaking, but it's slow. You don't break a six year habit overnight. The first time I put her down in the grass she didn’t seem to know what it was and she still doesn’t really want to walk in it. She’s apparently lived in her own filth for quite some time. I was amazed when she urinated in her own bed and continued to sleep in it, but I guess that’s all she’d known. I'd never known a dog that would soil it’s own bed. So every day we washed beds, blankets and dog hoping to teach her the difference between clean and dirty. 4 weeks later she finally learned to quit soiling her bed. She looks like she recently had a litter of puppies. She’s spade now so no more worries with that again. Zoe’s a challenge, but hopefully she’ll learn how to be part of our family like our other dogs are. Just a few weeks ago, when we were sure she had learned not to pee on a whim at night, she made the move from her bed to ours, where the other two dogs are.  (I know, I keep saying we're going to get them out of our bed but we just never do.) And that’s Zoe’s story. Just a note, spay and neuter your pets!! Adopt whenever possible and please don’t buy your dog at a pet store or in a parking lot or street corner, or from a puppy mill. If you don’t know what a puppy mill is it’s a place where dogs are kept in cages and used for nothing but breeding. They don’t live with their owner. Often the owner of the mill breeds several different varieties of dogs. If you’re buying a dog GO VISIT where the owner has them. Dogs in puppy mills spend all or almost all of their time in a cage. PLEASE don’t support this. If you have a heart of any kind you know this is no way for an animal to live. Yet, I see people who are touted by local media as businessmen or women and their business is a puppy mill. REALLY!!!  When you buy and don’t SEE where the dog lives you’re probably supporting and encouraging people like the one who had Zoe.  Check out a breed rescue. They often have puppies and young dogs too. If you’re looking for a specific breed you can get one there and not support bad situations. (Whew! Stepping off soapbox now.) This is a picture of Zoe and her sister Sassy who we adopted in 2008. Sassy was also rescued from an abusive situation by the Louisiana SPCA. Toby, our male min pin didn't want to have pictures made. Mr. Grumpy! 

Zoe and Sassy

  

Wicked

So we had a fun day Sat. May 25th.  We rode down to New Orleans (in the Jeep with the top down because the weather was soooo nice!!)  We had brunch at Court of Two Sisters on Royal Street then went to see Wicked at Mahalia Jackson Theater. We enjoyed the musical. But for me the second half was better than the first. Now I have to admit, I was drooping during the first half and a little sleepy, maybe it was that huge brunch. Or maybe I just liked the second half because to me it was much darker than the first half and well... we all know I like the dark stuff. But either way we had a great day. Recommend it to anyone.