Some resources you may want to know about

You may know about some of these but I thought it couldn't hurt to post them. :)

Kidlitosphere - They do an annual conference on social networking and blogging. This year's is in Washington DC in Oct.

Muse Conference Online - In oct they offer a free lineline conference for writers. All you have to do is register for the yahoo group. YOu must register before August 1st.

Three great online forums for writers:

• Absolute Write - You don't have to be a member to read, but if you want to participate in the conversations you'll have to register. You can register here: . It's free!
  
• Editors Unleashed - they have a great blog and forum
• VerlaKay
  

QueryTracker - not only a great resource to track your queries but also has a great blog and forum

AgentQuery - great information on agents. Very through. Also has some great articles on what to ask agents when you get an offer.

Publisher's Marketplace - pay 20$ a month and get an email with the daily deals - listing editor, agent, author, genre and summary. best 20$ I spend. Publisher's lunch newsletter is free but does not list the deals.

SCBWI - society of children's bookwriters and illustrators

Shaw Guides for Writers - lists all national conferences, workshops and events by state for writers

Guide to literary agents blog - all the information you need to know about agents

Nanowrimo - write 50,000 words in a month. Has great information on other topics as well.

6 Things on a Saturday

1. Whooooo knows about Owl Medicine?
I woke up - once again - to an owl hooting. Of course my hubby did not hear it. But as soon as I looked out the window, the owl stopped. WTF is up with owls!!! Are they trying to tell me something? Read this if you want to know more about what Native Americans thought. (With this health stuff going on, I have to admit I'm freaked out a bit by them)

Owls come in all sizes, from a tiny miniature that actually lives inside the cactus in the desert, to the great horned owl, which is the only bird that can out fly the golden eagle. A fully grown great horned is an awe inspiring creature. Its talons are furry, and closely resemble the paws of a baby mountain lion with claws extended. It is a meat eater, which means it can be a fierce warrior if challenged, or if something dear to it is threatened. It is often referred to as Night Eagle. Owl is at home in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition: it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. Owl's medicine includes seeing behind masks, silent and swift movement, keen sight, messenger of secrets and omens, shape-shifting, link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light, comfort with shadow self, moon power, freedom.

2. The Sleep Gods have Answered.
My hubby let me sleep until 10:30. AH! I have not done this in years. he even took the kids out of the house so it was quiet. Wasn't that nice. Of course after the owl incident, I had nightmares but at least I am a bit refreshed. Isn't he GREAT! Thx honey

3. Time for a trip to the Salon.

Going to get my hair done today. haven't had it done in a while. I was kind of thinking of going red. Don' t know why? I think its because I watched America' top Model this week. One of the girls (the plus size model and I use plus size term lightly because she is what a size 6??) had brown hair and blueish green eyes like me changed to red hair in her makeover. I thought she looked good. But is red really me? maybe we should ask the owls?

4. A 5 year old's Brilliance

• Mommy - How to policeman stop you when you are speeding? I bet they just shoot you.
• Mommy - Ms. Cheryl told me unicorns were not real. I told her that I can believe what I want to. She just can't see them like I can.
• Don't worry Mommy, you have to keep trying. I know you can get published just don't be a giver upper!
• What does instinct mean? that something stinks??

5. A man of few words (from a 20-month old)

Me: Did you poo poo?

Him: No! (he did!)

Me: Do you want to take a nap?

Him: No!

Me: Do you want to play trains?

Him: No!

Me: Give me a kiss.

Him: No!

*sigh*

6. Boy I could use me some of this!

NPR had an article today listed: Can fearful memories be erased? What I found funny is that one way was drugs! No S$%# Sherlock. Drugs can erase anything (not that I would know) Check out the article, it is interesting.)

Have a nice saturday!

A web of terror - I'm going in!

Comment Your Butt Off Weekly Update
Thanks to everyone who is participating in my contest.
After all, the prize for chit chatting with me is a customized
5 page web site design valued at over $1,000.

March 1 - 7th (thru today at 2):
Unique Visitors: 797
Repeat Visitors: 552
Total Comments: 370
# of people commenting: 41

Remember the contest runs ALL OF MARCH. There a several people neck-and-neckbut it is NOT too late to start - you have 3 weeks and some people may slack off :)

A web of terror - I'm going in!

This week - I sent off a partial of my new WIP a couple of agents that requested it. My plan? Distract agents with my new WIP so I can be sure I am not forgotten while I am diving into book suggestions. (PS This will be about as painful as diving into an empty pool - twice!)

My first thought when I sat down today?

How in the F#$@ am I going to edit this book?

Part of me is excited, part of me is scared, part of me is pissed, part of me is overwhelmed.

For those of you who write YA (especially suspense/thriller/mysteries) will empathize with me on how hard this process is going to be. I basically have to come up with an alternate ending for the last 4th of the book. I think I have the WHAT, WHERE and WHO? After all it's something I've been chewing on for several weeks - even before I got any feedback.

It's the HOW that puzzles me

But to find all those little clues woven intricately through the pages and chapters (the subtle hints) and change them? ugh! Because you see the original plot will have to change in a way where every little hidden clue that I carefully hid along the way will have to be yanked out and either replanted or reinvented.

My books (like many of yours) are like a spider's web. Each little thread is carefully chosen and woven in a way that creates a pretty picture in the end. Where everything neatly comes together yet a few loose strands - that you may not notice - sway in the light breeeze, leaving me options for another book if I want to down the road.

So why the web analogy?

This morning - as I drank my delish coffee listening to Elmo singing in the background - I happen to glance out the window. I noticed a spider was weaving a web in the morning light. As I watched him slide across the thin strings, I appreciated how much time and effort was put into each link, each thread.

He (or she - how would I know? wait don't tell me. was probably full of glee, loving his work and hoping for a catch.

This made me think about my book.

When I started writing this book, I loved weaving the intricate web on the pages. And I too was hoping for a catch.

Well I did get a small one recently. And even though the catch didn't quick stick around, I think if I reweave my web and make it better, prettier, and a little different. Maybe, I will get lucky and attract that either that same great fly or possibly even a different one.

Maybe this time, I'll catch something for good.

So, now I am diving into this intricate web I have and hoping I that can somehow recreate another one. But what if I mess it up? What if it is not as good and I spend hours doing it? What if the fly doesn't like it? I'm kinda feelin' like Charlotte. Thinking about and hoping for the right way to help Wilbur make it.

I went to the bookstore for storytime and browsed through the aisles, getting psyched for revision process to begin. The rows of neatly placed books stretched along side the wall calling to me, begging me to join their club. I came home inspired, ready to work. My hubby took the dog to the vet (don't ask why he spent 400$!) and I put the kids down for a nap/quiet time (AKA my sanity time). After miraculously doing another load of laundry, the dishes, cleaning up toys, finally getting a chance to pee, and shoving down lunch - I sat down to write. (of course after I blog - it stretches out my brain - like yoga for the brain.)

I decide to dive in.

Grace - here I come again to shake up your world. hang on - it's going to be a wild ride! Who knows where we will end up! But at least, we'll get there together.

Then, I looked out the window and noticed the beutiful, delicate web had been destroyed by a fly or leaf or something. The silky pieces floated in the wind and the spider was off to one size as if accessing the damage and making a plan.

Poor spider.

I know how it feels.

Sensational Saturday Thoughts over Coffee

Marketing Muse

Define your Author Brand vs your Book Brand. Remember they are different things even though they link together. If you are pre-published start thinking about your author brand now!

Sensational Saturday

1. I love book writing conferences - I am at SCBWI Southern Breeze Conference. I spoke last night - glad it is over to I can enjoy the day. I love being in a room with writers. I soak up the energy.

2. Psssst _ I hear there is a great contest going on called Comment Your Butt Off and you win a free web site. Come back tomorrow and start talking to me. Since when can you enter a contest when all you have to do is talk.

3. I love my boots. I just woke up for the conference and realized I do not have my fav boots with me. Ok people,. I love my boots and the great thing is I have had them for about 3 years and got them at Target for 14.99$. What? I wear them everywhere - if you ever winder if you see me out and if you should say hi. look for my boots :) They are a dead give away.

4) I love my friends - having a blast with jessica, katie and betsy. We are having a spend the night party at Jessica. She gave us these cute pillow cases caled Bee Well Wishes. I post the link later - they are cute pillow cases for people who are sick.

5) Coffee is my lifeline. Short and simple!

Gotta go - battery low. more later

Things I love to Hate

Everything is so mushy out there today. I realized that as much as I love some things, I really despise others. And I'm not ashamed to say I love to hate those things. Just to be different, here's a list:

• peas (any kind)


• cooked carrots (I like raw ones)


• broccoli on my pizza


• pineapple


• boogers


• war


• dirty diapers


• western movies


• racism


• cockroaches


• indifference


• conformity


• the smell of gasoline


• the word - moist (yuk even writing it makes me cringe)


• snorts


• liver (not the organ, just the food)


• puddles (of anything)


• touching bathroom stall doors


• commercials (unless it the SuperBowl)


• drama (unless its YA of course)


• people in character suits


• humidity (mostly b/c of my hair)


• smell of trash


• hearing someone gag


• waking up to a dirty kitchen


• touching old food


• fighting


• driving a stick shift on hills


• seeing blood (as long as its in my body its ok)


• mold in the shower (not that I have any!)


• old soggy soap with a hair on it


• scratchy towels


• combs (its a danger to my natural curly hair)


• bad coffee (Yes, I am a coffee snob)


• touching other people's feet (Sorry honey!)


• getting up early (before 8)


• when I'm out of creamer


• talking to utility companies on the phone


• junk mail


• negativity


• people who take themselves WAY TO SERIOUSLY


• greedy companies


• alligators (they freak me out!)


• bread crust


• the water that first comes out of ketchup bottles (YUK!)


• crust on a milk jug


• people who carry on a really long inappropriate convo on their cell phone in Starbucks. I'm talking like non-stop


• cracked heels


• cellulite (not that I have any!)


• ear hair


• people who pick up the phone to sat they are busy


• stepping in dog poo or gum


• finding tissues in the dryer (means someone blew their nose and my clothes were washed in it)


• littering


• smell of cooked beef, fish or eggs


• wilted lettuce


• slow computers


• chain letters


• running up hills


• poppyseeds


• blackheads


• lists


• a long bad joke


• people who talk about themselves


• politicial rhetoric


• when it rains hard while I'm driving on the highway


• airport or hospital food


• reading about tragedies (unless its Shakespeare)


• traffic (unless its blog traffic! Then I say, Jam on!)


• long toenails
• round-abouts (who goes first?!)

How about you? What grosses you out?