Hope

Hope is... never giving up on your dreams even if they are many moons away.
Keep stretching and growing and living your life in a way where your children are proud you're their parent.


This past week was a difficult one for me and my husband. Our son was in the hospital for 4 days with a severe case of pyelonephritis (kidney infection). He is doing much better now, but we still have check-ups and follow-up tests. But I am thankful! Sometimes you lose sight of what is really important. On the way to the ER he told me that he was going to die. I said, "You are absolutely not going to die. If you died, then I would have to die." He responded, "You can't die, what about S (his sister)." He, of course, was right. But still...

Last night, my daughter then told me she felt like we didn't love her anymore (she wasn't in the car when my son and I had the conversation). Which made me feel horrible! I had to reassure her that we loved her with everything we had and that would never, ever change. She was very worried about her brother but tried not to show it.

I honestly don't know who I would be without my children. They are the most honest people I know. They teach me humility. They show me bravery. They give me strength when I don't feel it and I thank God for them every day.

Book Reviews

I'm catching up on my book reviews. These are just a few of the ones I loved.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight-- she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.

She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace--or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

I don't know what I expected from this book but it outweighed my expectations. I'm always a sucker for a good romance and for a strong character who clearly knows who she is and what she wants. Don't get me wrong, she did change throughout and was even stronger at the end. This is a great read. Now, Santa can you bring me her next book...Fire?


Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

I picked this book up at the library having never heard of it. From the very beginning it intrigued me and pulled me in. It had secrets all throughout that kept me guessing. The ending was quite the cliffhanger which always makes me want to pull my hair out! But in a good way. There are 2 more books forthcoming to make this a trilogy set. I can't wait to read them.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

This book is written so beautifully. The way Gayle Forman intertwined back story throughout is absolutely amazing. I don't know if it's because I'm in the medical field, but this book made me boo-hoo through most of it and spoke to my heart. The characters were jumping out of the pages. This has been one of my favorite books...okay, yes I'll say it....Ever. Praise to Ms. Forman for writing this book. Loved this book!!!



Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

This is the second book in the Hunger Games triology and it did not disappoint. It was a page turner which kept me up all night reading. It made me talk out loud to the book as I read. "Gale. No wait, Peeta. Umm..okay, choose Gale." I was as confused as Katniss on who to love more. Sorry if that was a little spoiler. These books are so different and compelling. Of course I wished I'd thought of something like this. Can't wait for the last book to come out 2010!

Happy reading and writing.

A little goes a long way

Last weekend a friend of mine and I went to Quartz Mountain to do some much needed writing.




See all that I got done!!! (Yeah, okay 2 scenes are blank but still... at least it's colorful)



We had a wonderful time and did some sightseeing as well. It was nice to get away from the noise of the city (and of my children) ~smile...but mostly just to get better acquainted with my characters and their story.


It is quite beautiful there.














You didn't know we had such diversity of landscape in Oklahoma, did you?

This little guy posed and everything.

And she did, too.

This sunset was absolutely breathtaking.

Now back to writing! Cheers.

Something amazing, I guess

I love the movie, The Incredibles. Especially the little neighbor boy who rides his tricycle around blowing bubblegum bubbles.



It seems I have been waiting around for something amazing to happen with my writing without putting the effort in. I don't put BIC like I should. I write in spurts and always give myself big goals that are often unrealistic. Then I get downhearted when I can't live up to those goals and want to give up. And I have this little problem of wanting everything to be perfect --well at least in my writing.

Yet, with all of that, I do believe in myself--that someday I will be published. And maybe, just maybe, something amazing will happen if I lay out my heart and piece together all the ordinaries and make them extraordinary.

So...I have tucked away some time for this passion I have called writing. Booked in a place that will empty the cobwebs and wash away my worries. Yay!

And hopefully I'll come home with something amazing (or the start of something amazing after 12 revisions, of course). Or even better, when I get that phone call from an agent they will yell.....




What? A girl can dream, can't she? :)

Interviews

I am preparing to do an interview (as research) for a novel I started forever ago and finally dusted off. It's been one that is near to my heart, and I don't know why I strayed away from it. I'm a little nervous about doing an interview since I have never really done one for my writing life. I talk to people all day at my full-time job, but it's a little different talking about emotions and life-changing experiences with someone you hardly know.

So...do any of you have any advice for me on what to do or what not to do? I don't want her to feel like I'm grilling her. How do you do your interviews? How long do they last? Do you do them over the phone or in person? Just asking.

31 days of Halloween

My friend and author, Susan Meyers, is blogging about the 31 days of Halloween. She is going to have fun puzzles, spooky haikus and ghostabulous illustrations to get you in the Halloweeny mood. Go check it out here http://susanameyers.blogspot.com/2009/10/31-days-of-halloween.html

Happy Halloween!!

Research

I'm in the middle of digging up research for a YA novel. It just got me wondering how everyone else goes about this process and what resources you use. Any suggestions or recommendations?