Yowza, y'all

I can't believe it's been a whole weeks since I blogged. Tis the way of deadline. A friend said to me at church today, "You're always on deadline."

Um, yeah, pretty much and happily so.

Here's how I define deadline. Three months before the book is due to my editor. Before that three month marker, I say, "I have a book due." Or, "I'm working on my next book."

But at the three month mark, I have to buckle down and get 'er done. By then, I should have most if not all of a first draft done. First draft meaning I have an idea where I'm going but half if not more could change or be severely tweaked.

Two months out, I start rewriting. I need at least two weeks before the deadline for someone, anyone, hello? to read the manuscript for sanity. Did I miss closing a plot thread? Does my story logic and sequence make sense? Are the typos too funny for words. Do my characters ring true.

Then, I need a few days to go over it and send it in.

The last month, which is about where I am now, I call it Deep Dark Mode. That means "Girl, put your head down and get this book done, don't you dare look up for the light of day until the final, this is it The End."

Speaking of Deep Dark Mode...

Fast blog

No, no, not a blog about fasting. A quick blog.

How are you all this week? I'm good, rewriting. Need to get a lot done. Surprise house guests this weekend.

Sweet Caroline is coming along.

Garage Cleaning Means Garage Memories

Tony and I are doing a little house cleaning, prepping for a garage sale in a few weeks. We started in... the garage.

When we moved into this "fasting house" nine years ago, most of my worldly treasures were stored along one wall. (Note to self: Don't store stuff you want to keep in garage.) Most of it is brown, bug eaten and dirty, but I'm sifting through.

What I love about going through my old college note books and grade school papers, is connecting in some way with a part of myself that's long gone, but still a major part of who I am today.

I'm not much into reminiscing, but I do like to walk down memory lane now and then. Well, I found some of my "early" writings. By my hand writing, I must be in sixth grade, maybe seventh.

What I read amazed me.

Here's an excerpt from a story called, "They Called It Freedom."

Chapter One - Away From It All

Christy, Candy and Susie were three best friends. They lived in New York City and it was very crowded and dirty. (This is 1972ish, pre Julianie) Christy, Candy and Susie were brouth up in the country and they didn't like the city, so they decided to go where it was clean and plenty of room. End excerpt.

I laughed as I read the story to Tony. "I was a chick lit writer in '73!"

Here's another excerpt:

One of the girls hobbies is singing and writing. They have performed a lot and made a few albums and 45s.

I even wrote about girls involved in music!

In another story, Land Of My Own, I wrote in first person.

Land of My Own

It was spring and like mosst people in spring, I got wild crazy ideas. The sense of the wild and freedom. But nevertheless, I was trapped in the jungle of walls better knows as New York City.

More chick! I'd never even been to NYC.

It was fun looking over old stuff, mostly the writing. Even my college papers, yellow and torn, reminded me I'd studied the craft for quite awhile.

I also found all my old 45s. What to do with those, I don't know.

Found a bunch of grade school and junior high knick knacks. Not sure what to do with those, either. I should toss them, but...

Tomorrow, back to the garage and more boxes.

Diva NashVegas is in the house

My author copy of Diva NashVegas arrived today!

Woo hooo!

I've been waiting for it. Thank you Ami and Thomas Nelson.

If you don't love Aubrey James, I'll eat my hat. Well, first I'll buy a hat, then eat it. ;)

May 8 is coming

May 8th is a great day. My Grandmother turns 93. Happy birthday, Gran!

My childhood friend, Jana, turns 46. I haven't seen or talk to her in years, but I always remember her birthday.

DIVA NASHVEGAS is officially released.

I was thinking we should all go on Amazon on May 8th and buy a copy of Diva NashVegas and see if we can't impact the sales rank! What do you think? Are there enough of us?

Sometimes you wanna go where everyone knows your name

Some of the longest running and most popular television shows in the last thirty years have revolved around... Friends!

M*A*S*H. Even though this show is about an Army medical hospital during the Korean War, it was about friends. Men and woman bonded together by hardship and war as well as laughter. The show ran 11 years. And we loved the characters.

Cheers. Another 11 year show. Friends gathering at a Boston bar. The same people every day. Same time. Same place. Bonded by life's conflict. Romance. Friendship.

Friends. The show's title says it all. After a ten year run, Friends is still quoted in many conversations I hear. Even the other day Tony was talking to some teens and he said, "Didn't Joey say..." And we all knew what he meant. No one said, "Who's Joey?" LOL. Now, there are a lot of things about Friends I disagree with. They were a tad too casual about sex. Okay, a lot too casual. What we liked about the show is their comraderie. Their devotion. The sense of family. Or how Chandler and Joey could just walk into Monica and Rachel's apartment. Unrealistic that the door wouldn't be locked, but because it wasn't showed us there was free travel between the apartments across the hall.

I had something like this in sorority life. While at Ohio State, I was a member of Phi Mu. There was a deep sense of belonging and acceptance. We shared lives and stuff. Walked into each other's rooms and plopped down for a long conversation. Laughed. A lot. It's an amazing experience, but one that doesn't endure through life.

We grow up. Move on. Get married. Have families. Careers. I have to say for me, I had a strong sense of belonging with my natural family too. Home was always, always a great place to be.

Well, recently I've had some friends Stand By Me and I want to give a shout out to them. This is not by any means an exhaustive list. Just a few who have left a footprint on my heart in the last three months.

Chris Lynxwiler. Have to start with this dear friend. In December we started "writing together." Or was it January. We'd IM, set daily word count goals and cheer each other one and off we'd go. If one got frustrated or stuck, we'd IM the other. There were a few times I don't know what I wouldn't have done if she wasn't on the other end of an Instant Message. We had our writing ups and downs over the past three months, but it's been so fun to "hang out" with her.

Susan Warren. Always a phone call away. Always ready to listen and encourage. Susie became critical when the story just wasn't working and she took time from her own schedule to help me in a tremendous way. More than once. Prayed for me. Suze! Thank you.

Colleen Coble. Mentor and friend. Another one who's a phone call away, ready and willing to answer my questions. Her footprint is all over my writing life. Colleen was here. ;) I'm honored.

My Mom who prays and encourages. My sister, Beka. Everyone who posts a nice comment on my blog, thank you.

Of course, Tony. Who hears all my joys and sorrows. Over and over and over. He is truly my rock beside Jesus.

But there are many others who always encourage me in some way. Kristin, Tracey, Allison, Jeane, Elizabeth, Kasey. Recent friends such as Katie and Deena. Blessings upon you.

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I've had opportunity to help new writers lately. I really enjoy it. I'm not as clinical as some, but I can read something and see what it needs at multiple levels. I hope I can be as objective about my own work. Actually, I think I am. That's why I'm so hard on myself. :)

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It's a gorgeous day here. I'm off to ride my bike.