A Halloween Treat!

Okay, even though this has absolutely nothing to do with writing, I just had to share this.

Ready to die laughing? Seriously, you will have tears rolling down your cheeks after watching the video link below. As a joke, the people who created this video gave a group of kids "healthy" Halloween candy and cupcakes that taste horrible. The result could not be more hilarious. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnzbZ2RA4qQ&noredirect=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnzbZ2RA4qQ&noredirect=1

The Great Hermit Crab Catastrophe

I have only recently became the proud owner of a pair of hermit crabs. I thought it would be fun to occasionally bring them into work so the library kids could see and learn about them. I have owned many pets in the past, but this was my first time with hermit crabs. I had to do a lot of study on what they eat and how to take care of them and keep them healthy. I've been like a little mother hen, watching carefully over my little chicks, making sure they have enough moisture, warmth, food, and clean water (both salty and clear) to keep them happy.

So imagine my horror this morning, when, while transporting them to work, I accidentally took a turn too fast and their cage went flying across the back seat and crashed into the car  door on the far side. (I swear I wasn't going that fast at the time. It was a total freak accident) I'm imagining all sorts of horrid scenes of little mangled hermit crab bodies strewn across the bottom of the cage. After a few minutes of mentally freaking out, I glanced fearfully over my shoulder at the cage and discovered that one of the crabs (who had been sleeping peacefully inside his shell when I left the house) was now perched on top of one of his overturned climbing branches, completely unharmed and waving his little legs and feelers madly in the air like, "What the HECK was that?" This is my abnormally shy crab who almost never comes out of his shell. He was wide awake now--and trying to figure out why his world had suddenly been upended. When I got to work, I discovered that the other hermit crab had been burrowed deep down into his dirt and was completely fine. I'm not sure he even realized anything had happened. The shy crab eventually calmed down and went straight back to sleep.

It would seem that I was the one most traumatized by the whole incident.

How It All Works

 

People often ask me for an update on how my writing is going. If they only knew how difficult the answer to this seemingly simple question can be. The truth is, I'm not always sure how my writing is going. Just to give you an idea, I'll give you a quick run down on what I've been working on for the past year.

I work on six pitches and send them off to a publishing house to be considered. While waiting for them to get back to me on those pitches, I start working on four other books. One that was very nearly done and ready to be sent off to my agent. One that was part way through the first rough draft, and two more that are coming up the pipeline for when I finished the one almost ready to be sent off to my agent.

A couple months later, the publisher gets back to me and wants proposals for two of the pitches I sent them. Lots of work quickly follows as I put aside the other stories I'm working on and start writing the two proposals. (About 50 pages long each. 100 pages total.) A couple of months later, proposals are done and sent off and I go back and finish the manuscript that was close and send it off. I start working on the other three stories again. Months later, the publisher gets back to me and is especially interested in one of the proposals. They love it. A back and forth begins as they ask me if I'd be willing to make changes. I agree. Book is under consideration for another month or so and then out of the blue they decide they don't want it after all. Much weeping and wailing follows, before I pick myself up and march off to work once more.

Back to the drawing board for me. My agent and I regroup and decide that since there was so much interest in the two stories I wrote proposals for, I should switch over and finish writing the full manuscripts for both of those before returning to the other three stories. I start from scratch once again and begin writing two new stories from the start, with an occasional return to the other stories when I need variety. In the mean time, I work on four NEW pitches for some story ideas that have been percolating in the back of my mind for a while. My agent sends off the new summaries to a publisher and . . . on it goes.

Currently, I have two completed manuscripts making the rounds with my agent, I have one manuscript that is half way written, and one story in which I've got the first four chapters already completed.

Of course, if that publisher comes back and asks for a proposal for a couple of those pitches--well--I'd rather not think about that just yet. : )

It's Time for Some Good News

I'm tired of bad news. There is just so much of it everywhere you look. You turn on your TV or get online and you're immediately flooded with all the horrible and dark things that mankind is capable of. Well today I choose to focus only on the great and noble acts that people do every day. Without being asked, or expecting anything in return. Random acts of kindness. Today I'm passing on the good news. Here are some articles that will restore your faith in human kind. When you are finished reading these, go out into the world and do something nice for someone. Just because you can. Pass along the good news. : )

With the Boston Marathon bombing reminding us of what a dark place this world can be sometimes it is nice to also see the goodness in people rising up as well. Here is a link to an article about the out pouring of kindness that always seems to come in the face of tragic events.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/16/us/boston-marathon-support/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

A man gives up his college career to help a complete stranger

http://gma.yahoo.com/shot-putter-shortens-career-donate-marrow-183740964--abc-news-topstories.html

Here is a news story about a thief who returned the items they stole many years later. People really can change and become better, if only we will let them forget the past. So touching.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/thief-returns-stolen-ring_n_2473248.html

This is the story of a beautiful anonymous message that was left on a restroom wall. It touches me that this person could not read all those anonymous messages of pain that had been written on the bathroom wall without wanting to reach out and heal those who had left them. If only more of us had the courage to reach out.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/anonymous-encouraging-message-posted-university-restroom-172524530.html

Waiter refuses to serve customers after they complain about having to eat near a child with disabilities. Having the courage to stand up for what you know is right, is not a small thing. This waiter could have been fired for doing this. Maybe this story will help others to stand up next time they are faced with a difficult situation.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/waiter-refused-customer-becomes-hero-144638357--finance.html

A German solider shows mercy too his enemy during World War II 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

 Love letters finally find their way 70 years later.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=711&sid=22575587&fm=related_story&s_cid=article-related-1

Anonymous love letters. I am totally going to go out and do this right now!

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24031298&nid=1010&title=women-use-anonymous-letters-to-share-love&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-9

Loving support is shown to a girl who is in the middle of a life changing fight against cancer.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/boyfriends-bald-tribute-cancer-stricken-girlfriend-goes-viral-200353850--abc-news-health.html

If you know of any links to more good news, let me know in comments and I'll add it to the list.