EVER NOTICE...

How you always seem to get your best ideas when you're in the tub or driving down the road? Sometime when you couldn't possibly write them down or take action? I do my best thinking at the most inopportune times. What's up with that? Whole paragraphs come into my head. Brilliant stuff! Really! Tape recorder? No, the ideas don't travel that path. They go straight to my fingers. We went to the fair last night. My daughter and I walked up to one of those huge medical booths. I was dressed very casual in jogging shoes, black knee pants, a white open cotton shirt over a black shell, and my hair in a ponytail. One of the nurses who lookedto be about 40 something told me they had a prenatal table I should look at if I was thinking of starting a family. LOLOLOL Amanda and I walked over to the table in shock. :) I said: "I wonder how young she thought I was." My daughter said: "Medical biology research must have gotten a lot further than I thought." Hahaha! Leave it to my daughter to put everything into perspective. The presidental debates wiped out CSI and Missing Without a Trace. What the... Tell me it ain't so. Did I watch??? I got the highlights from The Daily Show. Hey--if it won't fit in an email--don't even bother! Tomorrow, we take my mother out to eat for her Birthday. A tea room!!! Yum! But first, I'm getting my nails done. What? You didn't think I was that type of gal? Oh, contraire! I may write about blood and guts, but I do it with sculptured nails. Thank you! Well, time to dress and close the post that wouldn't end. Onward and Upward.

PECAN GROVE 

Almost done.

Today has been full of editing and British mysteries. Of course, I think all things go better with British mysteries. :) The subtlety maybe. The complexity of the plots. Maybe it's the lack of pretense. My killer envys his British counterarts their clever intrigues. However the killer in Pocket has several surprises up his sleeve. Mallory will have to work overtime to catch him. Now for Blonde Logic. I need one more chapter before I call it a day. Price is about to discover an important clue. Read it next week's paper to discover what it is. Onward and Upward.

Lovely tree 

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET 

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Well, I've taken some time off after the book was finished to edit. Not been completely idle, but not writing 6,000 a day either. :) I am planning a writing workshop and came up with an idea which I think will be really good for the new writers. I have helped design a creative writing course I used in several schools and feel good about using some of the same ideas now. "Cold Fire" is still doing well. It recently got a great "heads up" from one of the top noir writers, Charlie Stella. Tuesday, I gave an book presentation for a ladies club in my area and introduced the members to the world of BLACK ICE. They were very nice and receptive. Tonight I worked on Timeless Fire. I'm going to do several more chapters in that before going back to Blonde Logic. The edit for POCKET FULL OF DiE is almost finished. Onward and Upward.

Rock Garden 

Editing

Editing is the word of the day. Even though today is Detective Monday and article deadline day. :) I have a week and a half left. All is going well. Many social occasions rearing their ugly heads. I have a book appearance tomorrow at noon along with a luncheon. That will be a nice change of pace. My books are selling well in the stores and the short got another good review. So, all is well. Did I mention today was house-cleaning day? Yes, that too. LOL Got to do it sometime. Oh well. A housekeeper is next on my list. :) Onward and Upward!

Enchanting Garden 

Finished!!!

Pocket in the Die is finished!!! I typed the last word yesterday morning. Yea. Today, I finished the first proof. Tomorrow I begin the line edit. (and any re-writing) I have two weeks to polish! My short story is up at the Hardluck Story Site. Warning: if you decide to take a peek. It is NOIR. (the characters are dark and perverse) http://www.hardluckstories.com/sum2004-CMyers.htm Monday night, I was the guest speaker at the East Texas Writer's Guild on planning and plotting. The writers were very welcoming. A great group.

New Word Count Record

Yesterday, I broke my old record for word count in one day. I wrote over 6,000 wds on Pocket Full of Die. Yipee! I needed it too. I am getting close to the deadline and want to finish early to have more editing time. The book is going well with the killer continuing to up the ante. More and more clues are coming out though. I'm getting close to the wrap-up. Right at 50,000 wds. :D Didn't do my articles yesterday, so today is the day. Have to do those as well as my word count. :D Bought a huge watermelon--end of the season this month. It was wonderful!!! They have been so sweet this year. Well, I'm off and running. Onward and Upward.

More flowers 

Labor Day

Doing the Labor Day thing. Worked on plotting today. Got a lot accomplished. Then went to a friends lakehouse and learned how to play Texas Slow-Hand (Poker) Randy won the pot!!! Took Weston to B-day party earlier. The entire yard was made like a carnival. The kids loved it. Then, babysat Duncan for the afternoon. Then were out of town to friend's lakehouse Just got in and it is about 1:30am. Hope to get more done tomorrow. Onward and Upward.

Keeping the count

Well, got it going on. I was the reader for Children's Hour at the Library this morning. I read Nursery Rhymes. Had a good day of writing. Am well past 3,000 wds for the day. I did my regular post on Timeless Fire and spent the rest of the time on Pocket Full of Die. Timeless Fire is heating up with Niki cooking up a plan to save Michael and destroy him at the same time. What a gal! In Pocket, our killer is meeting new people and wrapping them in body bags. He is enjoying the nightlife the local clubs have to offer with a tiny sidetrip to Indiana. :D I am going to write more on this story before bed. Tomorrow is garage sale with Amanda. Our girls day out. :D My writing for the paper is going well. The owner called me yesterday. Offered me a higher position (with more money) and let me know about some possible Writing Awards coming my way. Keep fingers crossed. :D Want to get 500 to 1,000 more. Onward and Upward.

A corner of my garden