This week's post picks...

Writers In The Storm shared a great post about writers' rules:
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/3-writers-commandments-and-the-dreaded-s-word/

They are also talking about Hosting Companies for Websites or blogs. I need to do this one.
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/writerstrong-why-is-a-hosting-company-important-for-authors/

Over at Happily Ever After, Sam Cheever talked about TSTL characters: Too Stupid Too Live. Between her post and the comments, all my personal dislikes were covered. :-)
http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/2013/03/guest-author-sam-cheever-with-giveaway.html

Melanie Atkins is offering her short story Heads You Win, Tails You Lose free this week at Amazon. Free short reads are a great way to try a new author.
http://www.amazon.com/Heads-You-Tails-Lose-ebook/dp/B00BTKNEKI/ref=sr_1_19?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1364230247&sr=1-19&keywords=melanie+atkins

For those into Spring Cleaning, according to Celia Yeary "It's fun!" She has some great suggestions. I tend to do my cleaning year round, a bit at a time.
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/2013/03/spring-cleaning-its-fun.html

 Marcy Dyer explains the difference between a clip and a magazine.
http://marcydyer.com/clips-versus-magazines/

Interestingly enough, this tied in with Diane Gaston's post over at Risky Regencies about the importance of Real Research:
http://www.riskyregencies.com/2013/03/25/real-research/

The Balanced Writer shared an Easter recipe:
http://thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com/2013/03/candied-bacon-for-easter.html

Steph Burkhart shares a few Easter traditions and more. Her book A Polish Heart introduced me to the traditional Blessing Basket, which I've made a part of my Easter traditions.
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com/2013/03/easter-traditions-2013-giveaway.html

Hunted on FB, last Friday...

James: He's gone.
Richard: Who is gone?
James: My brother.
Eric: Are you talking about the guy I saw walking out yesterday?
James: The same.
Eric: I don't know why you're acting so depressed. The way he was looking at the girl on his arm, I think he's pretty happy about it.
Richard: You gudgeon. Matthew isn't gone. He's published. They are not even remotely the same thing.
James: I'm alone now.
Richard: What about your younger brother, Benjamin?
James: I haven't see him in months.
Eric: Our lady's been a bit busy. I'm sure she'll bring him along soon enough.
James: Perhaps.
Richard: Of course, she will. If nothing else, she's tenacious. Never leaves anything undone, though she does take rather long to make her way around to some things.
Eric: Speaking of which, where's Jack?
Richard: He's here. Over there, in the corner.
Eric: What is he doing there?
James: She started outlining his story this morning.
Eric: He should be ecstatic.
James: I'm not sure he's entirely happy with how things are starting.
Richard: It's his own fault for being so complicated.
James: I think we can spare him a little pity.
Eric: Maybe, maybe not.
Richard: Buck up, Jack. She'll work it out in the end.
Jack: So says a man who doesn't have a storyline yet.
Eric: Ouch. Low blow.
Richard: It matters not. Do you trust her or not?
Jack: In this moment, I know not.
Richard: Fair enough.
James: A step in the right direction, anyway.
Jack: How so?
James: You are honest.
Jack: You don't know me.
James: No, but she does.
Richard: And she made you a hero.
Eric: So there must be enough redeeming qualities to save your sorry--
James: Enough.
Eric: No skin off my nose.
James: Not liking your own state of affairs?
Eric: I have to admit I understand Jack's misgivings.
Richard: And then we watch one of our own walk out with a lovely woman on his arm, and maybe it will be worth it…
Jack: Maybe it will at that.
James: Mark has been quiet.
Mark: I'm in a holding pattern, so to speak.
Richard: A what?
Mark: Editing is mostly done. Formatting still needs to be done. I've seen the cover, and it made our lady cry.
Eric: Do we need to take someone out?
Mark: No, she liked it.
Jack: Exceedingly.
Richard: I suppose we ought to celebrate Matthew's success in making it through.
Jack: Cheers, Matthew.
Eric: Go for it, Matthew.
Richard: Godspeed, Matthew.
Mark: Good luck, Matthew.
James: God bless, brother.

March 25 is Tolkien Reading Day...

I've lived in Arizona all my life, with a few odd trips here and there. This past weekend, my California friends celebrated Tolkien Reading Day. They gathered together and read passages from various Tolkien works. The Hobbit was the main focus, of course, what with the release of the DVD, last Friday.

This was the third year I missed.

For eight years, I went to L.A. once or twice a year, only for a weekend. I stayed with a couple of dear friends. Most of our activities were Lord of the Rings related. We talked. We laughed. I relaxed.

The first few years, there were no trips to the ocean. I didn't want to go. My memories of the ocean were of the northern California coast where the waves crashed so loud I couldn't hear myself think. I wanted to turn down the volume. It drove me crazy I couldn't make it stop.

Finally, one of my dearest friends talked me into eating at the Belmont Brewery, right there on Belmont Beach. We walked in the sand afterward, listening to the soft whoosh, whoosh of the tide. I was enchanted. Every time I visited thereafter, it was arranged for me to spend at least a little time at Belmont Beach, walking in the sand. I discovered the pleasure of walking close enough to the ocean for the tide to wash over my feet.

I've missed my friends in L.A., and I've missed walking along the beach. I've also missed the Reading Day event. There were two passages I particularly enjoyed sharing, the crossing of the ford and the destruction of the Ring. I was honored to be asked to do the latter several years in a row.

I miss the laughter. I miss the friendship, the camaraderie, the sense of belonging. I miss the sense of peace that always encompassed me.

Now, whenever I see L.A. on some television show, like NCIS Los Angeles, the first thought to race through my mind is "When are you going home?" I can't explain it. I only know that every time I fly there, there might as well be a giant magnetic force. As we fly over the mountains into the Los Angeles Valley, my heart sings, "Home. We're home."

Blog post picks...

Hobbit Sneak Peek, tomorrow:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-sneak-peek-next-hobbit-133000477.html
Alas, the above link is no longer a freebie. Pity. Rumor as it an extended version will be coming out later this year. I'll be looking for it.

Patty Froese's book Perfect on Paper won the 2013 Epic Ebook Award in the Spiritual/Metaphysical category. I know I enjoyed it.
http://pattyfroese.com/2013/03/17/epic-ebook-award-winner/

Diane Gaston, over at Risky Regencies http://www.riskyregencies.com/2013/03/18/where-to-begin/ shared the following link (Posting here so I have easy reference):
http://prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com/2009/08/twenty-classic-romance-plots-part-two.html

Interesting post on the writer's perspective by J. Morgan about the anatomy of a WIP:
http://jennmorgan69.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/anatomy-of-a-wip/

For Sci-Fi lovers, A.R. Norris shares a tease for her upcoming book:
http://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/2013/03/yes-im-little-tease.html

And for those who like YA, Danielle Thorne is a guest over at Alana Lorens' blog:
http://alanalorens.com/2013/03/22/danielle-thorne-shares-story-of-a-divine-gift-and-a-young-woman-who-stands-strong-against-evil/

Alana Lorens also shares a sneak peek to her book:
http://alanalorens.com/2013/03/17/by-any-other-name-is-just-out-see-its-first-excerpt-at-sneak-peek-sunday/

So much to read, so little time.

Wordless

Latest conversation posted yesterday on FB...

James: Do you see what I see?
Jack: We've a new resident.
James: Regency or Contemporary, sir?
Eric: Name's Eric and definitely contemporary.
Jack: You appear a bit dazed, Eric.
Eric: I'm a blip of a character.
James: Do tell.
Eric: Next thing I know, she's dragging my backstory from Mark's Grace.
Jack: You were a secondary character?
Eric: Hardly. I made an appearance in two chapters, then BAM! My world is turned upside down, and it's a whole lot more complicated.
Jack: She does have a way of doing that.
James: That she does.
Jack: Welcome to the madness.
Eric: Why do I have the impression you're maybe a little too pleased.
Jack: Do not delude yourself.
James: Jack...
Jack: Yes, James?
James: You know how our lady feels about honesty.
Jack: Look, James, here comes another.
James: What?
Eric: From the look on your face, you know him.
James: Richard! What are you doing here?
Richard: A foolish question, I think?
Jack: Indubitably. James, I take it you know this gentleman?
James: Indeed, but I can't imagine why he is here.
Jack: It is obvious. Our lady found a story for him.
Eric: Or the story found him.
Jack: You're catching on.

Post picks for the week...

This first one is a link to an article about the possible finding of a Black Death graveyard in London. I don't write books in that time period, but my friend Kris Tualla has.
http://news.yahoo.com/rail-dig-may-found-londons-lost-black-death-094056561.html

Writers in the Storm... http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/how-to-use-your-logline-tagline-and-pitch/

Jude Urbanski, on her Wordsmith Woman, shared an interview with author Christine Lindsay:
http://judeurbanski.blogspot.com/2013/03/historical-writer-uses-spiritual-twist.html

Naomi Musch is a guest over at Casondra Poulsen's blog, sharing the language of flowers, something I've found fascinating.
http://casondrapoulsen.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/guest-blogger-naomi-musch-romance-friendship-vengeance/

J. Morgan shares an amusing perspective on maturity:
http://jennmorgan69.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/old-hippie/

A.R. Norris explores exoskeletons, for those who are interested in the science side:
http://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/2013/03/see-insect-be-insect.html

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

One more week...

Hidden Possibilities, book 2 in the Endless Possibilities series, will be released in one week.

Yes, I'm having a difficult time wrapping my mind around the idea.

I'm also in the midst of my usual rewrite of Unexpected Possibilities, book 3 in the Endless Possibilities series.

I'm sharing a snippet of Hidden Possibilities over at my author page on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/LaurelHawkes

Progress report...

I'm preparing Unexpected Possibilities, book 2 of the Endless Possibilities series, for sending to the publisher in another few months. I've been stuck on chapters 7 and 8.

Note to self: If it simply doesn't work with little changes and tweaks, then step back and re-write. Start by breaking up the paragraph you're stuck on into single sentences and figure out if they are related or if they're several thoughts, needing their own paragraph, crammed together.

Sometimes, my brain hurries ahead of my fingers, and I group several concepts together in an effort to cover everything, however briefly. In truth, they need to be expanded and developed. I'll figure it out and get the hang of this, eventually. :-)

Wordless

Post picks this week...

Writers In The Storm shares a blog on writing a synopsis. Not my favorite thing to do. Don't let the title unsettle you. The advice is sound, and there are some great comments.
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/a-sexy-synopsis/

Author Leigh Covington shares a little about the recently released anthology Overcoming Adversity:
http://leigh-covington.blogspot.com/2013/03/overcoming-adversity-anthology-release_4.html

A Woman Like Me shares a bit of inspiration:
http://awomanlikemeblog.com/2013/03/04/be-a-light-march-4/#more-261

Patricia Johns shares a wonderful idea for a Bible gift:
http://patriciajohnsromance.com/2013/03/04/a-family-bible/

Kris Tualla gives an inside peek to her hero Brander Hansen (a fascinating character):
http://romancingthegenres.blogspot.com/2013/03/death-and-taxes-well-death-anyway.html

May your day be blessed.

Interesting grammar article...

...posted over on Yahoo. I thought it worth reading.

http://news.yahoo.com/7-bogus-grammar-errors-dont-worry-060000215.html

Thank you, Ben Yagoda.

Ebook week...

I try to keep my link post to Saturdays. However, this is "Read an Ebook Week," and I didn't want you to miss out. Stephanie Burkhart shared a bit of history on ebooks.

http://sgcardin.blogspot.com/2013/03/read-ebook-week-3-9-march-2013.html

I own an ereader, Kindle. I love it for trying new authors. Ebooks are generally less expensive than paperbacks. If I don't like the book, it's easy to delete. If I do like the author, I buy paperback.

The ereader is great for traveling. No longer do I need to figure out where to pack the books I want to read.

My preference is paperback.

Why?

Easy answer:

I have never had a paperback freeze, refusing to allow me to turn the page, or tell me I have to shut down and recharge the battery.

The link picks for the week...

Patty Froese shares how she bet her husband, over at Dora Hiers' blog (made me smile, definitely worth the short read):
http://dorahiers.blogspot.ca/2013/02/my-first-christian-guy-by-patty-froese.html

Barri Bryan shares a memory from the 30's:
http://barribryan.com/blog/who-steals-my-purse-a-30s-memory/

There were more, but editing means my time is curtailed.

God bless.

Wordless