Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Be Careful What You Pray For

It has been so dry and hot here that I have prayed fervently for rain. Well, today we have it. As I said in the title, "Be Careful What You Pray For." From 4:30 a.m. we have had storm warnings and my little radio went off constantly until the electricity went off.

There have been tornado warnings, storm watches and strong winds. It is still raining hard, but not much wind. I don't like wind or tornado watches/warnings.

Before the electricity went off, I decided I needed to get out of the lift chair. I didn't want to get stuck in it. I did it just in the nick of time.

It has been a good day to write and read. I love the quiet of the rain. The temperature is dropping, so we may finally have fall.

On November 1, I will be interviewing Sandi Rog and give away a signed copy of her book, The Master's Wall. All you have to do is make a comment until the fifteenth of the month. I will draw for the winner then.

I'm back to writing. Have a good day.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Still Around

This past week has been busy. I've been rewriting my novel and trying to get it looking better. There is so much to learn in writing.

Saturday I went to Murray, KY. My friend and author, Susan Page Davis, did a book signing there. I went to support her and visit with her between signings. She was sick so I stayed until she felt better. It was a most enjoyable day.

When I got home, I rested and then we went to a Chili Supper. It was so much fun and I got to know more people at church. It is hard for me to get names straight, but I'm doing better now. Seems each time we are at church we learn another name. It will be a while before we know everyone.

Last week was a week of excitement. Sandi Rog's book, The Master's Wall, releases November 1. She and I talked several times last week and I am so excited for her. She is a very good author and a good friend.

In addition, my great-nephew sings with a group from his school, Mars Hill Bible School, in Florence, AL and their group was one of the top four selected by the Today Show to be in a contest for the Best Show Choir. I tried to get everyone I knew to vote for him, but they didn't win. I thought they were the best, but that is an aunt talking.

My knee is doing better. It is still swollen, but I expected that. I had a little bow leg and the doctor straightened that during surgery. My left foot hurts at the ankle and arch, but I think that is from the different angle I am walking now. No limp and no cane or walker. I go back to the doctor this week and we will talk about the right knee. It is giving way on me and I'm so scared I'll fall and mess up the left knee, or a hip.

I have plenty to do today and it's trying to rain. Good day to write. Have a wonderful day.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Love Me Tender

Love Me Tender by Janice Hanna, brings back memories of Elvis and the 50's. It was a slower, easier time when we wished for our true love. Growing up in the 50's was different than it is today and Janice brought back so many memories to me.

Debbie Carmichael determines to change her family's restaurant, Sweet Sal's Soda Shoppe, from financial ruin when her father's health fails. Help is in sight when teen heartthrob Bobby Conrad agrees to perform at a fund-raiser concert. But just two weeks before the highly publicized even, plans fall through and Bobby can't come. Enter Johnny Hartman, a young unknown singer.

Debbie soon realizes the twists and turns leading up to the concert have been divinely orchestrated. But is it the dreamy Bobby Conrad who ultimately steals her heart...or the tender Johnny Hartman?

This is a very good book and if you love the 50's, you'll love this book.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Good Morning

It's been a while since I have written. One reason is the fact that I have not felt very well. My knee is doing great, but my oxygen levels have dropped. I can do pretty good during the day, but at night they drop into the 60's. Not good.

When I get up in the mornings, I am so tired I can hardly move. I sleep most of the day and then go to bed early at night. I know that is because of the oxygen levels.

I have had two tests to check the levels during the night and I should hear from the last one today or tomorrow. My doctor has said I should have oxygen if they do not increase.

I am walking without a cane and keeping my balance. Tuesday I walked to the mailbox and got caught in a rain shower. The rain felt so good and I didn't mind getting wet at all.

Writing is slow right now and I think I am a little depressed. When I get that way, I usually don't want to do anything. Today does feel better. I hope I can get a lot accomplished today.

Over the week-end we had company, which I enjoyed so much. My daughter, granddaughter and niece came to help us make apple butter. We make it the old way, over an open fire. It turned out very well. My youngest grandson had the job of wiping off the tops of the jars. They all sealed, so he did a good job. It was a fun day.

Now, I need to get busy.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

A Story

How do you start a new book? There are several ways to get a story going. First, you must know what you are going to write about. Do you have a special interest or something you are passionate about? That is the best place to start.

You want your story to be fresh and not something everyone else is writing. So many subjects have been over written and they do eventually become boring. Have a fresh outlook on the subject you are writing.

Make it interesting. Sally meets Joey and falls head over heels in love with him. Joey is more interested in Mary Ann, who is the bad girl. What can Sally do to make Joey notice her? Does she decide to be a bad girl or does she remain her sweet self? Maybe she can ignore him, but Joey's best friend, Mike, notices her. He may say something to Joey and then Joey wants to date her, but she ignores him.

So far, it's like every other story. How would you change it? How would you jazz it up? Can you find a way where Joey will fall for her, or does someone else come into the picture?

Think of all the books you have written lately, isn't that the premise for all of them? How are they different from the others? What makes them more interesting to read? Think about your book. Are you writing something different? Maybe a different time era, a different setting, different characters or maybe a whole new story about something little known to people today. You have to make your story different to make it stand out to an agent or publisher. Stretch your mind and see how you can do that.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Back to Writing

It has been so good to get back to writing. Between the busy summer and pain in my knees, it was hard to sit long enough to write. My mind did not work either.

I'm excited to start on my new book and give another character a chance to be a feisty lady. It seems like the world is against her right now. How many times do we feel the same way? Everything is happening to her at one time and she is going to have to make a decision. Will she rebel or will she tighten her belt and get on with the program? I haven't decided which way she will go.

Fall has finally arrived. We had frost this morning and it was 33 degrees at our house. I have not ventured out of the house yet and probably won't until later today.

It will be good when the swelling goes down more in my leg. I know it takes time, but I am impatient. It's good not to have the walker and I am looking forward to giving up the cane.


Friday, October 1, 2010

Good Doctor's Visit

Yesterday was my first doctor visit after surgery. Two very strange things have happened since the surgery. The home health service lost me. They were supposed to show up on Monday and did not. I called and the person who was supposed to see me, did not and did not report that they had not seen me. I expect a head rolled.

At the doctor's office yesterday, they thought they had already called me in and they hadn't. I think now I am invisible. After almost an hour wait in the waiting room, I was called back.

Now, I find out I need to slow down. At six weeks, I should be able to bend my knee 95% and I am doing it now at less than two weeks. Everything is healing nicely and I have feet the same size.

Now, I am slowing down more, that means doing almost nothing, and trying to keep from doing too much. I can damage my knee if I do too much. My range of motion is good. I can stand and sit with both feet equal. I bend my knee when I walk and today is the last day with the walker. I can use the cane from now on.

Today, I also start writing again. The pain before was too much to think about anything much. I'm trying to get back in the habit of writing some each day. My goal is 500 words to start out with. I hope I can increase it to what I was doing before, which was around 1,500 words. It's getting back in the habit and I am ready.