Monday, November 17, 2008

NaNoWriMo

I've done a diservice to you all and forgotten totally to exploit the fact that this is National Writer's Month. So for those of you who haven't jumped on the http://www.nanowrimo.org/ bandwagon yet, it's really not too late. Well, not too too late. Ok, it's probably too late unless you have a really good idea worked out and it's burning a hole in your brain or something you really truly did start at the beginning of the month. No cheating. Remember NANO is all about quantity not quality but you do no service to yourself by cheating and this is for you personally. But it would only be 3500 words a day or 10 pagesish from here out and that is doable if you really really really work hard. The beauty is you don't have to worry abot spelling errors or whatever else. No rewrites. Nothing. Just GO.

For those who do not know, NANO is a writing challenge that occurs this month each year. It begins Nov. 1 and goes through the end of the month. You are challenged to write 50,000 words (Appr. 170 pages) during the month. You must register and at the end of the month upload your pages to be counted and verified. It's free and it's hilarious. They aren't interested in whether you wrote a publishable novel. It could be a compilation of your blog or anything else that's your desire to write. It's 50,000 words done in one month starting from scratch. It forces you to be on the fly, take chances and really get those creative juices flowing. If you've always thought you might want to write a novel but you didn;t really have it in you and nno one really knew so no one expected anything sign up! If you don't complete the goal no one knows but you.

The Real Story of Interest

In all the New President hysteria it occurs ot me there's a much more interesting story here. Not that they haven't all for the most part been entertaining when reported by Rachel Maddow (every Republican's worst nightmare). I think the most interesting story is that there's a very elderly woman living in a small hut in Kenya in an impoverished little village who is now the grandmother of the President of the United States (Elect).

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Writing Contest from Amazon

I grabbed the following off of one of Sherrilyn Kenyon's My Space thingies. The address is http://amazon.com/abna for the contest.



Amazon and Penguin will sponsor a second annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. The competition will launch on February 2, 2009. Between then and February 8, writers with an unpublished English-language novel manuscript can submit their work at www.amazon.com/ abna. As they did last year, PWBill Loehfelm with the grand prize, from a pool of 5,000 entrants. This year, up to 10,000 submissions will be accepted. Putnam published Loehfelm's novel, Fresh Kills, in August 2008. reviewers will participate in the review process. Last year's competition awarded The winner of the contest will be announced on May 22, 2009, and will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $25,000 advance.MAN!!


What an advance. To give you an idea, for a first time author, the advance usually falls between $1500-5000. My first advance was $500 and no there isn't a zero missing. This is a fabulous opportunity for the winner.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Muddely Mush....

Okay, so I have this perfectly innocuous little manuscript I was sending in to the GH contest. The thing is to enter the book must be completely finished. Completely. As in they check it randomly because you have to send them a disk of the full ms. So I whip out mine and start reading and it turns out that instead of the finished but not polished script I thought I had? I have a bunch of scenes not really even tied together. I have a bunch of muddley mush as my daughter would put it. What to do? The money is due the 17th of this month but the finished work doesn't have to be there until 12/2. Should I enter it and just write my little heart out or let it slide this year and enter the same one I entered last year albeit with a major overhaul? Or maybe just pass it up all together? Decisions, decisions...It's the $50 question.

The Clothes

Does anyone actually believe the wardrobe is going back?

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Dirtiest Commerical on TV. Possibly ever.

NO, seriously. How did this slide by the sensors? If you haven't caught this on television you need to check it out. On the surface it doesn't appear that over the top but REALLY look at it and listen to the voice over.

Bob is Santa

Is this reverse racism?

I honestly can't tell. My husband is all about this website. I think it borders on ridiculous but here it is.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Red Alert-Deadline

Whatever you do DO NOT FORGET the RWA contest closes on November 17th. It's the big one, people. Polish up those scripts and let's get them in the mail.

GoldenHeart

Notes on YOUTUBE

Naturally they have everything and more. Wayyyy more than we really need. Anyway oen of the things they have IN FULL is a terrific made for TV movie called My Name Is Sarah. It's a romance about a woman who is so lonely she joins AA to make friends (by accident). Just stick it in the right order (I think there are 23 pieces) and let it roll. I swear it's worth it just for the soundtrack. So if you need something light to watch at work while pretending to process Bob Shumaker's tax records from 2003 or whatever give it a try.

Also, if you're a fan of the movie Garden State (which I AMAMAMAMAM) be sure to check out the extended scene in the bathtub. I have no idea why this was cut but it should not have been. I shake my fist at editing. Incidentally, does anyone know the song being playes when Natalie Portman is tap danicing in front of the fire? I know that seems like an odd statement if you haven't seen the movie. If so please mail me and let me know. I don't think it is on the soundtrack and I can't guess which one it is from the credits.

Wild Rose Press

Sent a manuscript off to www.wildrosepress.com the other day. We'll see what happens. It got turned down by HQ for (get this) having 'too much plot'. So there isn;t really anywhere else for the poor thing to go. I understand these people do a lot of business with libraries. Who knows anymore?

I also sent my BABY off to five agents. We'll see if any of them bite. If not it goes out to five more. I'm determined to keep it out to five agents at all times. Surely one of them will deal with it. I've also decided to widen my net. RWA recognized agents aren't the only ones in the world. So I'm looking beyond them and at places like Jabberwokky. Which publishes Charlaine Harris who we know got a mega deal at HBO. So five agents, working down the list it is. I can always send it to a certain agent who has a reputation for repping everything. Sort of a throw it on the wall and see what sticks attitude. I hate that idea but a girl has to do what she has to do and she/he actually did get one of my friends a three book deal once. Which may be the only deal she/he's ever gotten. Don't know. If you think about it, being an agent doesn't really cost them anything. You only stand to make money if it sales. It's sort of like literary real estate.

And the winner is...

My 4 yr old is now insisting ths if we say Obama that we now say 'President Obama". Hope she's correct.

PS Cindy McCain's wardrobe is really starting to bug. Chanel was Jackie O.s trademark. Get your own.

Monday Fun

Hidden Objects Game This one is fairly hard. Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Wolf=Zzzzz

We've found the ultimate speep aide for our daughter. CNN. Five minutes and she's out like a light. Try it with your own tot on those fussy, can't get to sleep nights.

The Best Temp Gig In History

I didn't write this but I felt it was worth sticking up here.
It is by a woman named by Kim Peterson.

Congress wants to crack down on CEO mega-salaries for banks participating in the bailout. And while the politicians argue how best to do that, Alan Fishman of Washington Mutual is headed for the doors with $19 million in his pocket.
If that wasn't outrageous enough, consider this: Fishman started the job three weeks ago. I never saw the employment ad Fishman answered, but it must have read something like this:

WANTED: Top executive for train-wreck bank about to be seized by federal regulators. Must be able to look busy while FDIC sells business from under you. Previous experience with angry shareholders sitting on worthless stock a plus. Perks: $7.5 million hiring bonus and $11.6 million cash severance.
Fishman got the best temp gig in history. He gets to keep the bonus and severance pay, though he must stay on the job while JPMorgan Chase completes its purchase of WaMu's banking assets.

To be fair, Fishman wasn't the one that took WaMu down a path lined with toxic mortgages and other bad assets. No, that role belonged to former CEO Kerry Killinger, who received $54 million over five years before leaving earlier this month. He's eligible for around $20 million in severance pay.
Other execs are also cashing in big. President Stephen Rotella gets $12.7 million in cash if he's terminated or quits with "good reason," according to the Portland Business Journal. And CFO Thomas Casey would get a cash severance of $6.3 million.

And WaMu shareholders got huge payments of...oh, wait. The stock is worthless. Shareholders got wiped out.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Take THAT, 'Publics

I received this little nugget of Republican bashing goodiness from the most unlikely of places today....my MOTHER. Yes, she has decided that McCain is too damn old to be President of anything but some antique car club. So enjoy this. Spread it around. Print it out and slap it on the fridge for all your Republican friends to see. Magnify it and make it into a really big bumper sticker.

FYI: It is not noted here but worth knowing that in the twon that Palin was Mayor of that rape victims were charged for their own rape kits and exams. We finally get a woman in a significant place and she's a freakin' nutjob. Why does this happen?


I'm a little confused.

Let me see if I have this straight...

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable. Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 3.5 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience. If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive, a heartbeat away from the top job.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian. If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the need for kids to alert someone if they experience inappropriate touching, you are eroding the fiber of society. If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's. If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Reflections on the Republican Convention: all the ding dang fabulousness

See I thought there would be nothing to watch last week. With the Olympics over and the Dem convention history I figured it was nothing but stories about absurdly large pumpkins from here until November but I was so very wrong. I got to watch my fair share of the Rep Convention on CNN. Not because I have any real interest but because my daughter was having trouble sleeping but I have found Wolf Blitzer puts her out like a light in minutes. Sorry about that Wolf. Anywho, I followed that up with Daily Show and Colbert which was a scream but candid more than CNN would be on its best day.

First let me tell you about the hootilicious sound bites they found. McCain saying he felt Roe V. Wade was a solid piece of legislation. A few years later he condemned it. Next he proclaimed that our presence in Iraq would be short lived, a few MONTHS later he said that those there in the beginning knew it would be extended. And my favorite? He would not support the Bush tax cut incentives but now? He wants to make them permanent. Hee! Fun stuff. I love it when a man with eight (maybe) houses tries to tell the middle class what they want.

Then how about Rudy. The three time winner of the wedding lottery, pro-choice, had his mistress right out in the open including living in the mayors mansion before he was divorced and told his wife they were getting a separation via press conference? Community organizer was the best he could come up with? What was he doing between the ages of 24 and 27? And does he get some sort of royalty check every time he mentions 9/11? And no, I'm not making light of 9/11 by any means so don't get your panties in a wad. But that was his big spur in the side, Obama didn't mention it in his speech specifically.

And let's talk Cindy for just a minute. She has managed in one of her shiny Chanel suits to deliver to me the funniest sound bite of the entire convention. Hey, let's not stop there, BOTH conventions. Regarding Palins complete lack of any military experience, her response? That we were forgetting that Alaska is the closest state to Russia. No, really. Even for her that's pretty sad. But funny people. All I have to do is think of it and I chuckle even in bad traffic. I forget the many, many times Siberia has threatened to invade Alaska. Hoooo. Did I need the laugh. and what is with those shiny suits? She looks like a road flare.

And now let's talk Palin. She's insane. Policy experience aside. I know that Obama told his camp that her personal life was off limits but I'm allowed to bring it up every five minutes like an egg timer. If you can't be Commander In Chief of your high schooler how can you be potential C.I.C. of the most powerful nation on Earth? Next, what's her plan here? She's going to leave knocked up daughter in Wasilla while she's in Washington, forced to marry some other 17 year old and having a baby? Or is she taking her with her? And either way what sort of mother puts her preggie 17 year old through the international wringer. Talk about throwing someone under the bus. Oh. and the new tidbits that have surfaced. The bridge to no where which she ended up withdrawing her request for but didn't give the money back. The book banning where she didn't actually ban anything but wanted censorship over everything in the library, then firing the librarian as a 'test of loyalty'. And now me fav, her minister is claiming that the attacks of Israel or punishment for the Jews. I can't wait to see how much crazier she gets in the next few weeks. I bet there is militia involved. Oh, and speculation is that she had an affair with one gentleman who for some reason had his divorce documents sealed the day after she announced her VPness. I'm loving it. I'm scared but I'm entertained.

And John McCain? People he's old.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

For ME? You really should.


Just in case anyone is looking for the ideal gift for ME...
everyone has the pajamas, no on has the robe. And I'm a robe person. When I am old I will wear nothing but robes so I am starting my collection now of odd and eccentric ones.
(This item can be found on my Amazon wish list along with a wide assortment of Cary Grant and foreign films and the soundtracks to Elizabethtown)
9/29/08 side note. Matching pajamas received as a birthday gift this month.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Raging Gorgeous

FINALLY got around to seeing the movie the other night. Which I paid REGULAR PRICE FOR. $9.00! For a movie. Atrocious. And people wonder why I carry in my own snacks. Incidentally Walgreens has movie size candy 3 for $3.

Anywho, during the bridal photo shoot couldn't help but fall in love with all the dresses but this one? I could die happy in. I know the old blue bird of happiness woven into her 'do is a bit much for some but I think it's Carrie Bradshaw all the way and it really worked once the veil was on. I also loved Charlotte's dress for the wedding. I've always considered Carrie a walking fashion faux pas as many do (Let's take a moment, sit down and remember the ripped t-shirt and trucker hat worn over the broom stick skirt. Now let's breathe and go to our happy place.) but for the majority of the movie, minus the leg warmer and bubble dress outfit, she was pretty much on the money. And this dress? Perfect. Vivienne Westwood really went above and beyond (especially considering her own malfunctioning wardrobe).

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Still funny...

Even though he's set to be a player in Dr. Drew's D-List and Below Celebrity Rehab I still love 'im. I now realize that there's a chance that this is so awesome because he was stoned but enjoy it anyway.

Hollaback Girl by Sebastian Bach

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

BSG Moment

At first I was most upset that BSG was taking a mid season break. I mean what is that anyway? Is that like Spring Break or we only get new episodes during sweeps? Then I saw the last two episodes. I need a break to digest all that is happening. They have my blessing.

Shame on Texas

Sick MFs. This is being SOLD at the Texas Republican convention. Regardless of political affiliation you MUST be ashamed of this.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Tiny URLs

Tired of URLs the size of War and Peace?

http://tinyurl.com/

Cute little URLs for free.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Best Lunch Ever


Beating the crap out of Emerils and every other fancy lumch place is the Seattle secret Farestart. Who and what? And why should I go there you ask. Glad you did.
FareStart is a job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. Over the past 15 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for over 2,000 people to transform their lives, while also serving nearly 3 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children.
On any given night, there are 8,000 homeless men, women, and children in the suburban cities, urban centers, and rural towns of King County, including over 2,500 individuals who meet the federal definition for chronically homeless.

This goal of ending – rather than managing – homelessness will be achieved by seeking long-term and sustainable solutions to the issue. Through the coordinative efforts of social service agencies, the 10-Year Plan aims to develop an enhanced community-based response throughout the county to the threat of homelessness before it happens.
As affordable housing options are increased significantly through this plan, FareStart will be dynamic in its outreach efforts to keep in line with the trends and needs of our Seattle-area community. As members of our community are placed in housing, the need for job-training will play a critical role in ensuring the self-sustainability of these individuals. FareStart’s culinary job training program will continue to reach out to those who lack the experience and on-the-job training, to help them achieve employment in the food service industry.
FareStart's 16-week comprehensive training program works to build a strong foundation and support system for every student who passes through our doors. The program works with students individually, moving them towards a successful reentry into the community and enabling them to create a new life for themselves and their families.
The FareStart adult program is an intensive training program combining hands-on food-service training with classroom instruction, individual case management and job placement services. This program prepares homeless and disadvantaged men and women for jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry and helps them to keep those jobs.
On any given night in Seattle close to 800 youth are homeless, without a safe and permanent place to stay. With the goal of meeting the complex and unique needs of at-risk youth, FareStart’s Youth Barista Training & Education Program (BTEP) was launched in 2003 through a collaborative effort with YouthCare. The program provides at-risk youth, ages 16-21, with the opportunity to build a better future for themselves by increasing their ability to change their situation and engage in a supportive community.

Similar to the core FareStart Adult Program, the eight-week Barista Training and Education Program provides job training and placement, life skills, employment counseling, classroom, and on-the-job training for the competitive espresso industry.
And if all of THAT doesn't warm the chambers of your big hearts knowing that eating their supports this program maybe this will...
So if you're headed in the Seattle direction, want the meal of a lifetime and to support a good cause to boot (of and do not miss the chocolate brownie with homemade ice cream), make a reservation.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Does it pay?

You tell me. These are the average earn out figures per first book per publisher. Don't ask where I got it.

Avon/HarperCollins
$26,000

Berkley/Jove
$6500

Ellora's Cave
$2900

Harlequin Lines

American
$10,000

Blaze
$12, 200

Historical
$13,300

Intrigue
$17,000

Superromance
$21,800

St. Martins Press
$25,600

Slhouette Lines

Bombshell
n/a

Desire
$20,000

Intimate Moments
$12,000

Romance
$10,300

Special Edition
$21, 500

All Writers Shold Be Mailed A Copy...


(sorry didn't go for shorter HTML but couldn't seperate it from pic)

This lingered on my self for years until I got it out the other day and dusted it off. Totally useful. A must have. Available used at Amazon.

BSG Moment

Starbuck is the dieing one who will lead the people to Earth, not Roslyn.

Dare me to be wrong.