The Best List For Writers

Patricia Preston’s Best List for Writers.

Best motto for writers:

It’s only a book.   Your life doesn’t depend on it.  I read this in a writing book ages ago.  When you find yourself getting caught up in all the stress and insecurity that goes with writing, take a step back and know that, if nothing else, you can always write another one.  Don’t take yourself too seriously.  Perfection is not possible.  It’s only a book.  Tape that on your monitor.

Best overall advice for writers:

Write about something you love and something that you are passionate about.  Write a story you would want to read.  Your passion will come through in your work.  Don’t be afraid to take chances.  See motto above.  It’s only a book.  Start it and finish it.

Best Books about Writing:

I love On Writing by Stephen King simply because I related so much to his journey as a writer.   For technique, no one tops Dwight Swain’s Techniques of the Selling Writer.

Best writing tip:

Keep the story moving and the characters in action. If nothing is happening on the page, you need to hit delete and start over.

Best remark about getting published that I ever heard:

It came from Michael Garrett at one of his workshops.  Luck is a major factor in selling.  Being lucky enough to have the right manuscript ready at the right time for the right publisher who is buying. Sounds jaded, I know. But there is truth in it.

Best way to enjoy being a writer:

Besides writing a story you love, make friends with other writers.  My dearest friends are all writers and I don’t know what I would do without them. They are the people who understand and support me. Much more so than non-writing friends or family. So, seek out your local writing groups where you can attend meetings and find new friends who can appreciate your angst. :)

Best ergonomic tools for writers:

Imak wrist pads.  They are made from ergo beads and provide very comfortable support for the wrists.  I bought mine at Staples.

Anti-Glare filters.  They will save your eyes.  Need I say more?

Adjustable Foot Rest.   Another must have.

Mesh Back Rest by Safeco.   Added comfort and support. 

Logitech Soft-Grip Mouse.  Love the design.  Fits the hand perfectly.

Best Music Service for Writers

If you write to music like me, Pandora offers music streaming and personalized stations online. Rhapsody Music Service includes the ability to create play lists so you can make your own soundtracks, which I love.

Best Paper and Pen:

I only use Dr. Grip pens when I’m making notes or outlining.  It is easy on the hand and fingers.  A long time ago, I read that writing on plain paper was much better that lined paper in regard to saving your hands and also lends itself more freely to creativity.  So, I stock on sketch pads when they are on sale.

Best way to get to The End:

Develop a writing schedule that works for you and stick to it.  1 page a day, 7 days a week.   10 pages,  2 days a week.  2 hours every night.  Doesn’t matter how much or how often. All that matters is you maintain it until you reached The End. 

And, now, I have reached The End.  Thank you for stopping by!

Patricia Preston is the author of Almost An Outlaw, published by Carina Press.  Visit her blog at http://www.patricia-preston.blogspot.com/

Cajun Country Field Trip - Day Three

Another beautiful day. We really could not have asked for more perfect weather for our trip. That is something I never even thought about, that it could have been pouring down rain!  Though it got warm, it was never overly hot or humid.

6:00 a.m. - Woke up to the sound of my neighbors talking.  It might not have been so bad, if they'd been having sex....at least that would have been interesting. Instead, they were packing and checking out.  Not their fault, as they weren't making a lot of noise. This was just the noisiest, thinnest walls hotel I've been in for a long while. But, other than that, the hotel was very nice and they serve a great breakfast.  I didn't really know what time we were supposed to meet, so I finally got up at 7:00 and got ready, planning to go to breakfast at 8. Ran into Cheri and Jane in the hallway, so we went down to break the fast together.  As we finished up, Stacey popped in and said the others were going to "Clinton's", I think that's the name....it's a restaurant mentioned in books by a local author.  As the three of us had eaten, we opted to stay at the hotel.  I checked my email, then took a short nap (I did get woken up at 6, remember).

Jefferson's House

11:00 a.m. - Met up with everyone in the lobby, checked out of the hotel and we all drove to Jefferson Island and Rip Van Winkle Gardens.  We took a tour of the home, built in the 1860's by famous actor Joseph Jefferson, who wrote the play Rip Van Winkle (but not the story).  We also walked in the gardens, planted by John Lyle Bayless, Jr, the son of the second owner of the island, John Lyle Bayless, Sr.  They are beautiful and very peaceful...with wild peacocks roaming around (see picture).

Anna Kathryn

1:30 - Lunch at the Jefferson Cafe, outside, under the 100+ year old Oaks, with Loretta, Cheri, Elizabeth, Jane, Patti, Stacey and Stacey's father, JC, Aunt Pookie and family friend, Betty. I had the seafood bisque...OMG....to DIE for, and a quarter Italian Muffuletta (you'd understand the 1/4th sandwich if you ever had a Muffuletta).  Spent over an hour talking, enjoying the view and the food.

3:00 p.m. - Visited the gift shop...did I mention I've bought about 6 cookbooks on this trip?  Then, headed for home.

This was a wonderful trip.  I want to thank Stacey for thinking up this idea and for inviting us to join her.  I lived in Ascension Parish, Louisiana (about 2 hours away from New Iberia) for 8 years, and never made it to Iberia Parish for a visit.  I was missing out!  I recommend a trip to everyone, but really, don't plan to go in July or August. The heat and humidity will be unbearable.  March or April would be a great time to visit.

Cajun Country Field Trip - Day 2

What a wonderful day!  And the weather could not have been nicer.

7:00 - Up, then got ready for the day....checked emails and other important stuff on the internet.

8:00 - Met up with others at the breakfast bar in the hotel lounge area. 

8:40 - Left for  Shadows on Teche Bayou Plantation tour. Author Lynn Shurr acted as guide and gave us an in depth tour, along with with a couple of Wisconsin who had no idea what they were getting into by joining a group of Romance Writers on tour.

I will do a blog on The Shadows later, either here or on one Hearts Through History's Seduced by History

10:30 - Chere Dastugue Coen, co-author of Magic's in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags & Sachets , lectured us on gris gris (gree-gree) bags.  Chere is also a co-author of Cooking in Cajun Country, which I purchased and will post recipes from on Wednesday's Chow in the future.

Spell for Love: put as many of the following items you wish into a pink colored bag. Also, for better luck, make the bag on Friday. NOTE: you do NOT have to use all the items listed below, use as many or as few as you wish, just use an odd number (3, 5, 7, 9, etc.).

Herbs: acorn, anise, apple, basil, block cohosh, bloodroot, caraway seeds, catnip, cedar, cinnamon, cinquefoil, cloves, dandelion, fig, ginger, genseng, ivy, jasmine, lavender, lemon verbena, linden, lovage, mandrake, marigold, majoram, misteloe, myrtle, nutmeg, olive, orange (can inscribe the person's name on the peel), pine, pimrose, rosemary, roses, rowan, rue, saffron, St. John's Wort, valerian, vervain, willow, yarrow

Stones: Copper, emerald, lodestone, magnetic sand, malachite, pink  corral, pink tourmaline, rose quartz, selenite

Candle: Pink

You make one for your own use or give away. If you give away, encourage the person to put something of their own in the bag...thus making the magic work for them.

12:30ish -Lunch at Bon Cerole. (Cheri ate her VERY FIRST Shirmp Po' Boy.)

2:00 or so - Teche Bayou Museum. (above)

(Below) At Evangeline's Tree: Harriet, Jane, Anna Kathryn, Cheri and Linda

3:30 - The group split, with some going to the hotel to rest up and Cheri, Jane, Harriet, Linda and I going to St. Martinville.  Visited the Evangeline Tree, museum and statue. (story to follow in a future blog).

4:30 - Back to the hotel to freshen up and rest.

7:00 - Dinner with Cheri and Jane at Ruby Tuesday's.  Everyone else went to Clemetine Dining and Spirits.  Had a nice time, conversation and meal.  It's prom night here, so saw several happy, looking good, young couples enjoying dinner and the excitement of the night.

Evangeline's Tree:

Evangeline's statue at the Catholic Church (one of the oldest church's in Louisiana):

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions

Not Dreaming Of You

by Nina Cordoba

Kiki Villanueva holds a master’s degree from UCLA, is the best second grade teacher ever, and believes she had a psychic dream when she was thirteen in which she was given a list of her future husband’s attributes. Children are her life, and Kiki has good reason to think she may not have any if she doesn’t marry soon. Since typical dating methods haven’t been working out, she decides that when she goes back to L.A. for the summer, she’ll start using the list to sort through potential candidates.

When jaded political journalist Mark Bennett confesses to his doctor he no longer finds women—or anything else—exciting, Dr. Chuck is worried he’s depressed and suggests a change of pace. Mark agrees to write a fluff piece for a magazine about people who join high-priced dating services. (His premise is "Losers or Lunatics?") The dating service introduces him to Kiki, and he’s charmed by her open, passionate nature—not to mention her big, brown “do me” eyes—though she definitely belongs in the "lunatic" category with that psychic stuff. Mark is a confirmed bachelor from a family where no one says the L-word. However, while accompanying warm, sexy Kiki on her match-making service dates for his story, he soon wonders why he’s literally driving her to the arms of other men. If he could only get her to forget her list, and everything he said when they first met—oh, and the fact that he’s been a complete jackass… But Kiki’s not about to waste time on an emotionally challenged cynic who only wants to “play” and is definitely not on her list, even if he is handsome, and funny, and sexy—uh-oh!

BUY IT NOW!  Kindle or Nook


Visit Nina Cordoba at her website and on Facebook.

Field Trip to Cajun Country

This weekend I'm joining my local RWA chapter, Northwest Houston, on a field trip to Cajun Country--New Iberia, Louisiana and surrounding area. 

9:00 - Left home to run to pharmacy, cause when I left my mom's house last night, I left all my makeup, toothbrush and toothpaste, and as she lived 20 miles in the OPPOSITE direction, I just went and bought some new stuff. 

9:30 - Hit the road, and almost immediately hit traffic, when a truck moving a box the size of my living room and kitchen combined, lumbered up the Fred Hartman bridge.  What should have taken 30 seconds, took 10 minutes.

(NWH Members at Avery Island)

10:00 - stopped for breakfast, remembered it's a Friday in Lent, so got the Egg McMuffin without the meat...yea me!  Merged onto I-10 and called the others who were travelling....note: I live an hour south of where NWH meets and where the group was meeting to hit the road.  We made plans to meet at the Texas/Louisiana border.  In the phone calls, I learned three of the five cars were within 2 miles of each other.

11:30 - Four of the five cars met up at the border and caravaned.

12:30 - Stopped in Iowa for lunch at McDonald's (I had the fish sandwich).

2:00ish - made it to the hotel, checked in, freshened up.

3:00 - Caravaned to the Tabasco Factory on Avery Island, toured factory and the Jungle Gardens (got lots of nature pictures...not sure what I'll do with them, but some really cool pics!).

(Anna Kathryn, Jane Carver and Cheri Jetton)

6:20 - Arrived back at the hotel, freshened up.

7:00 - Met up to caravan to dinner at The Seafood Connection in New Iberia.  Enjoyed conversation and shrimp and oysters for supper.

9:00 - head back to the hotel, got lost, but with some friendly directions and the GPS on my phone (which I finally remembered I had on the phone), we got back to the hotel.

So, that's the first day of the field trip!  On Saturday, we're headed to Shadows on The Teche plantation, St. Martinvill and Evangeline's Tree (can't wait for that), Beaux Bridge (Crawfish Capital of the World) and dinner at the world famous Mulates restaurant (more great seafood!).

Sunday will be just as busy.....stop by and see what we do then!

(More pictures coming when the internet is playing nicer)

Anna Kathryn

http://www.aklanier.com/

Wednesday's Chow - Hot Baked Fruit

Alas, we are still in Lent, so I'm not posting any recipes with meat in them or any dessert recipes. Though I guess this really could be a dessert recipe, it's not on the same vein as chocolate cake and could be used as a side dish.

Hot Baked Fruit


Ingredients:

Boiled water
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 (29 oz) can pear halves, undrained
1 (29 oz) peach halves, undrained
1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks, undrained
1 (17 oz) apricot halves, undrained
1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges, undrained
1/4 cup sugar
3 Tbsp flour
1/2 cup white wine or orange juice
1/2 tsp curry powder

Directions:

 Boil enough water to pour over raisins.  Soak for 10 minutes.  Drain and set aside. Drain fruit, reserving liquids. Mix reserve liquids together and measure out 3/4 cup of sauce. Set aside.

Combine the fruit and raisins in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.  Gradually stir in wine and curry powder.  Fold reserved sauce into fruit, mixing well. Cover and let stand 3 hours.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Serve warm

HELP - For Free

There's a lot of online ways to help the less fortunate.  I am really familiar with two sites, though until today, I'd ignored one of them for quite a while.

FreeRice.com has been around for several years and even schools encourage students to visit the site.  If you're not familiar with this site, basically, it's a word definition test.  You are given a word and four answers, you pick the word that defines the word.  Example:

milliner means: 

• animal
• breath-freshener
• rum and water
• hatmaker

For each answer you get right, the site will donate 10 grains of rice. Warning:  This site is addictive, but a it's also a good place to go when you need a break from your writing.

The other site I go to is Click to Give.  This site sponsers several organizations, but the premise is the same: Go to each organizations page (there are tabs at the top of the page, so just click to get to each page) and then click the "Click Here to Give-It's Free" box on each page.  By doing so you can help feed the hungry, help provide a mammogram to an uninsured woman, help homeless veterans, help stray animals, help fund books for kids, save the rain forest and help fund child health care.  Click to Give also has stores where you can buy all sorts of items from clothing to jewelry to household items and more.  Many of the items come from cooperatives in third world countries...a way to help those in poverty provide for their families.

Do you know of an online organization that helps the less fortunate? 

RWA RITA and Golden Heart Finalists

Romance Writers of America® (RWA) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2011 RITA® and Golden Heart® Awards. The 2011 RITA honors romance fiction published in 2010. More than 1,100 novels and novellas were judged in 12 categories. The 2011 Golden Heart Award honors unpublished romance manuscripts in 2010.

Winners of the awards will be announced July 1, 2011 at the RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony to be held at RWA’s 31st Annual National Conference in New York, New York.

Check out the list of Finalists here. 


And to help the finalists along, Barnes and Noble has posted a display of the Best First Books finalists.


Congratulations and best of luck to all the finalists.

March Winner

Congratulations to Linda L. for winning my March drawing.  She wins 6 romance books, plus one of mine...okay, that makes 7 romance books!

TAKEN AND SEDUCED by Julia Latham
RUNNING ON HOT by Jayne Ann Krentz
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND DESIRE by Lorranine Health
KILLING ME SOFTLY by Maggie Shayne
AMAZON INK by Lori Devoi
A NORTORIOUS PROPOSITION by Adele Ashworth

Stay tuned for my April prize....I have to figure it out!

Satruday's Salacious Suggestions

Under the 5th Street Bridge

by Carla Rossi

Last Easter, Trey Lawson returned from war with a combat injury and a long road to recovery. A year later, his life appears to be back on track, but he’s not exactly where God wants him. He couldn’t be. He’s miserable.


Joy Cavanaugh has waited a year for Trey to snap out of it. Their once-serious relationship has all but disappeared since his return. She’s convinced he still loves her, but why has he shut her out? He’s made it clear he’d rather spend his time ministering to the homeless men under the 5th Street bridge than to allow her back into his life.


As they herald the holiest of all Christian celebrations, can Trey let God resurrect his life, or will Joy have to give him up forever?

Buy the book now from White Rose Publishing, Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Visit Carla Rossi at her website.