Out With The Old, In With The New...and a Book Giveaway

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot...

This time of the year,folks are remembering events that occurred, places they went, people they met and thinking about things they'd like to do in the new year.

But a weekly newsletter I receive asked a different kind of question: What do you need to forget in 2008?

What bad habits, mistakes, mental weights, etc. do I need to leave behind?

With regard to my writing, for sure, it is the twin demons of perfectionism and procrastination.

I also would like to leave behind the excuses that I give myself when life gets in the way. Life will always get in the way. That's life!

I would also like to leave behind the mental fog that engulfs me periodically when life does get in the way, and weeks go by, in a very automated fashion, before I feel as though I can look up, take a deep breath, and move forward. Not sure if this is middle age kicking in--because I didn't use to spazz like that, no matter what was going on--or if it's a new coping mechanism. Either way, it doesn't serve my goals well.

So here's to a new year. Out with the old and in with the new.

What do you plan to leave behind in 2008?

And, today, I have four copies of one of the last books I read this year to giveaway, MURDER ON THE DOWN LOW by Pamela Samuels-Young.

A high-profile lawsuit erupts into chaos, revealing its place in a larger spree of violence in this scandalous tale of lust, lies, and vengeance. A brazen gunman is targeting prominent African American men on the streets of Los Angeles, and police are completely baffled. At the same time, savvy big-firm attorney Vernetta Henderson and her outrageous sidekick, Special, lead the charge for revenge against a man whose deceit caused his fianceé's death. For Special, hauling the man into court and suing him for wrongful death just isn’t good enough. While she exacts her own brand of justice, a shocking revelation connects the contentious lawsuit and the puzzling murders.

If you'd like a copy, leave a comment. Remember, four winners! You have until January 5th.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Wrapping Up 2008: Favorite Reads

Despite my goal to read fewer books this year, I read about the same amount as in past years, 129 books and 21 novellas. I read so much my children began groaning whenever they saw me with a book. Which was pretty much all the time.

In past years, because I read so many books and it's so harrrrdd to whittle the list of good ones down to just a few, I've given you my favorite reads by category.

Not this year.

This year, I'm giving you my top 10 reads for the year, and a few honorable mentions. My criteria was simple. Which books did I rave about after reading them? Which ones stuck with me, both plot and theme, months later? Which ones will I remember years from now?

My favorite reads for 2008, not necessarily published this year and in no particular order, were:

Bad Blood by LA Banks

It's All About Us by Shelley Adina

Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney

Sound of Language by Amulya Malladi

Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins

My Soul Cries Out by Sherri Lewis

Riven by Jerry Jenkins

Single Sashimi by Camy Tang

A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

Up Pops The Devil by Angela Benson

Then, my "Honorable Mentions" because there were just so many good books:

A Soldier's Promise by Cheryl Wyatt
Sweet Georgia Brown by Cheryl Robinson
Once Upon A Project by Bettye Griffin
Can I Get A Witness? by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips by Stephen Baldwin
Not Even If You Begged by Francis Ray
No Girl Needs A Husband Seven Days A Week by Nina Foxx
One Little Secret by Allison Bottke
A Treausure Worth Keeping by Kathryn Springer
Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline
Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas by Sandra D. Bricker
Trouble In My Way by Michelle Stimpson
Never As Good As The First Time by Mari Walker
Coming Unglued by Rebeca Seitz
The Wave by Todd Strasser
Protect and Serve by Gwyneth Bolton
Holy Ghost Corner by Michele Andrea Bowen
Too Little, Too Late by Victoria Christopher Murray
Confessions of A Preacher's Wife by Mikasenoja
The Last Street Novel by Omar Tyree
The Widow by Carla Neggers
The Shack by Wm. P. Young
Cutting Loose by Nadine Dajani

And finally, because I chose my top 10 over a week ago, before I read my last four books for the year and rethinking it was just too much work, I have to mention them. All could easily have easily been in my top 10:

Farther Than I Meant to Go, Longer Than I Meant To Stay by Tiffany Warren
The Things We Do For Love by Xavier Knight
The Law of Desire by Gwyneth Bolton
Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels-Young

What about you? Did you share any of my favorites? What's on your list that's not on mine?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Wrapping Up 2008: Goals

Another year has come and gone. At the beginning of the year, I had lofty writing goals and realy expected to accomplish a lot this year.

My sense of accomplishment is in the toilet. Here's why:

Here's how I'm stacking up against the lofty ideals of early January:

1. Invest at least $25 monthly in my writing career.
   
   Complete. I learned that I spend a very reasonable amount of money per month on books, about $25 per month on average.
   
   
2. Complete at least one book, from idea to completion by July 2008.
   
   Incomplete. I even revised this goal to give myself more time. Still didn't happen, hence the disappointment I feel.
   
   
3. Submit completed book to at least three RWA chapter contests for feedback by October 2008.
   
   Incomplete. When I revised my writing goal, I deferred this one to 2009.
   
   
4. Write and submit one short story monthly to confessions magazines.
   
   Incomplete. When my novel writing got off track, I abandoned this goal to remain focused.
   
   
5. Attend BWRC 2008 conference in July.
   
   Sorta. I didn't get to BWRC but I did get to the Faith & Fiction Retreat, which I plan to attend again next year, along with the local ACFW FL region meetings.
   
   
6. Join ACFW and RWA by March 2008. Attend at least half of the meetings thru December.
   
   Sorta. I did join ACFW and I get a lot out of that membership, even without attending the annual conference. Monthly on-line writing classes. An email loop where you can ask just about anything related to writing. Heads up on new releases and other writing-related info. Definitely worth the money. And there are quarterly meetings for Florida members and possibly a new chapter jumping off in Tampa. This was a good investment.
   
   
7. Cut reading in half to devote more time to writing.
   
   Sad. What can I say? My effort was probably half-hearted at best. I still read over 150 books and novellas. I realize, however, that I'll never get more writing done without wrestling this one under control, especially since I don't write full-time. Hence, I'll have fewer book features in '09, reducing my obligations and freeing up my time to write.

Overall, I give myself a C-. That's probably high, which is troubling because I'm not a gal who takes well to marginal grades.

But I've already got a plan for 2009. Share more with you about that soon.

How'd you stack up this year against your goals?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Mortimer Literary Agency Mentor Contest Winner Announced

Nooooo, I didn't win.

Remember, I told you about this contest, in which agent Kelly Mortimer offered a year of her time to work with an aspiring author, possibly leading to representation and who knows what?

I didn't tell you but I entered the contest.

I didn't win.

But I did place among the 12 finalists!!!

What a jolt to the writing confidence!

The funny thing is that the finalists were selected based on their personal essays, as to why they were entering the contest, not their submissions.

Ms. Mortimer particularly liked this line in my essay: "I suspect you might be a professional popcorn maker."

You had to read it in context. Something to do with kernels of stories popping but my popping going awry...

Anyway...

I wrote the essay in about fifteen minutes. Took another fifteen to polish it.

I suspect I do my best work when I just get it out and don't spend too much time dwelling on whether it's perfect. (I'm really getting a handle on this perfectionism thing.) When I wrote short stories, it was the same thing. I just wrote, then edited only to clean them up, not to "perfect" the story.

Those stories published.

But I'm getting off track...

Congratulations to the winner of the Mortimer Literary Agency's Mentorship Award is Steve Sherman, for an inspirational speculative fiction entitled "The Adventures of Morgan Lefay".

Hats off to you, Steve!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- December 26, 2008

My last tidbits for the year.

I don't know how I missed this one, for almost a year and a half, but I'm glad I found it now. You know I'm always on a hunt for good books for my children, especially for my now-teen son. Well, I finally stumbled upon The Brown Bookshelf, a cooperative by several African-American children's/YA authors. Check out their Twenty Eight Days initiative. Can't wait until the 2009 selections are posted in February.

Then I stumbled in cyberspace some more and found two more YA resources, one for YA book reviews and one for teenage writers:

Novel Teen, aka Novel Teen Book Review Blog, "where clean fiction abounds"

Writing for Teenage Authors

ECPA's Christian Manuscript Submissions service can still get your work in front of a publisher. But now, you may also get your work in front of an ECPA-member agent. Read here for more details.

And just so we don't end the year on a sour note...
Romance sales are up!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Celebrating Christmas

Today is Christmas Eve and the most special night of the year.

I pray a happy, healthy, peaceful and blessed Christmas for all.

Let me leave you with a clip from one of my all-time favorite Christmas shows, The Little Drummer Boy. It gave me goosebumps when I was little and still does today.

M E R R Y     C H R I S T M A S

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Christmas Meme

Borrowed this one from Camy Tang. Because I haven't done any fun stuff in a while.

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
   Wrapping paper. I worked in a department store gift wrap department as a teen for a short stint so I do it well.
   
   
2. Real tree or Artificial?
   Real. Nothing like the smell of pine. But gotta keep it watered...
   
   
3. When do you put up the tree?
   Somewhere between the 20th and 24th. Just never seems to happen sooner.
   
   
4. When do you take the tree down?
   About a week or so after New Year's, on a weekend. But since New Year's is on a Thursday, maybe we'll leave it up a little longer.
   
   
5. Do you like eggnog?
   Love it. But don't drink it. Too much fat and sugar (probably why I love it).
   
   
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
   Doll with pull string to change the eye colors. Can't remember the name now. Something like Blythe.
   
   
7. Hardest person to buy for?
   My husband. Never have a clue, within my budget, but usually come up with something.
   
   
8. Do you have a nativity scene?
   No but I'd love to get a multiracial one.
   
   
9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
   Mail. Love receiving cards although I'm horrible about sending them. Trying to get better.
   
   
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
    Can't say. From a sibling with the biggest heart.
    
    
11. Favorite Christmas Movie?
    Used to be toss up between Holiday Inn and White Christmas. But I love Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey.
    
    
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
    December, usually a couple of weeks before.
    
    
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
    No but, I recycled lots of wedding presents. I mean what're folks to do with four toasters?
    
    
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
    Daddy's fruit cake. He's gone now but my sister makes and ships some from time to time. Maybe I'll take a turn myself.
    
    
15. Lights on the tree?
    Absolutely, the more, the better. Love the "lights-out" twinkle effect.
    
    
16. Favorite Christmas song?
    O Holy Night
    
    
17. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
    Who doesn't know Rudolph's buddies (or at least the song)?
    
    
18. Angel on the tree top or a star?
    Woman garbed in gold and glitter of African descent
    
    
19. Open the presents Christmas eve or Christmas day?
    Christmas Day. Time depends on how early the boys wake us up. Usually very early (after a marathon night of wrapping presents).
    
    
20. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
    That the retail industry has all but merged everything from Halloween to New Year's into a single season.
    
    
21. Favorite ornament theme or color?
    Shiny, multicolored balls mixed with specialty ornaments
    
    
22. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
    Roast duck
    
    
23. What do you want for Christmas this year?
    Peace of mind and a laptop
    
    
24. Who is most likely to respond to this?
    Any one up for the challenge? Put your link below. Or, maybe pick one of the questions and give your response in the comments.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Thoughts on Perfectionism: Ways to Overcome

Today, I'm posting the second of the two posts I wrote back in May. This one was about signs of perfectionism and ways to overcome it, and my last post of this topic.

Maybe I should have posted it back then, printed it out, and carried it with me for reference. I am now.

---------------------------------------------

Perfectionism rises out of a fear of failure or a fear of rejection. Some say it also has to do with fear of success but, I personally don't believe in a fear of success. I mean if you don't want to be successful, why would you engage at all? Not something I undertand.

But I do understand not wanting to fail or be rejected. And some of the signs you struggle with this as a writer might include:

• You start but never finish anything. You always convince yourself you're on the wrong track so the best remedy is to start something new.
  
  
• You finish manuscripts but perpetually edit them, never feeling they're good enough to see the light of day by an agent, an editor, a critique group, even your pet iguana.
  
  
• You shy away from joining a critique group, and if you do, you remain active by critiquing more than you submit.
  
  
• You write only for "your own pleasure". Of course, some people really do but not people who say they want to be published authors.
  
  
• You take every available class, attend every possible conference, read every new craft book to help you improve your writing. You work hard to incorporate all you learn. Still, you never feel your writing is quite good enough.

I don't suffer from all of these symptoms and the ones I do, not to extreme degrees. But I recognize the problem.

Five Things A Writer Can Do To Counter Perfectionism

1. Write. Anything. Daily.
   The more you write, the more you want to write. Keep track in whatever makes the most sense for you: words per day, pages per day, minutes, etc. You'll gain confidence from your increasing production.
   
   
2. Blog.
   Another way to accomplish #1. It will help to boost your confidence as you discover that people might be interested in what you have to say. But don't hide behind your blog. (She waves sheepishly.) And don't allow your growing network to worsen the problem by magnifiying your perceived expectations.
   
   
3. Take baby steps.
   If you want to write novels, try writing shorts first, for the Internet or the short story markets. If you want to write non-fiction, try writing magazine or newspaper articles, or for non-fiction Internet sites on the Internet. (This really works!)
   
   
4. Find an accountability partner.
   Identify someone who believes in your dreams and will help you by encouraging you but will also give you appropriate nudges/kicks to keep you going. This might be a member of your critique group, or it might be someone else altogether but it needs to be a person that you are comfortable being transparent with, not someone you are trying to impress.
   
   
5. Get a deadline.
   One of the things perfectionists do is procrastinate. Procrastinators have to ward against waiting until the last minute and then turning out less than their best product. Deadlines can help the professional perfectionist/procrastinator, if utilized correctly.
   
   Open-ended tasks might never happen, and soft, self-imposed deadlines with no consequences simply get pushed again and again. (Trust me. I'm a master.) A hard deadline, like a submission date, or one that is self-imposed but monitored by your accountability partner, can go a long way to helping you get past paralysis and keeping you on track. Writing contests are great for this too. Select a couple to target, highlight the dates, and get to writing, with a focus on submitting.

Be careful of getting busy about writing as opposed to busy writing. It's easy to fill one's time blogging, networking via phone/email, critiquing, reading for research or craft, taking online courses, attending conferences, etc. Those things easily fill hours, days, weeks... Months will go by before you realize you haven't written two words on your project.

Work to develop a writing discipline through writing whenever you can. And don't beat yourself up when you can't. Just grab that next opportunity and type or scribble away!

---------------------------------------------

I was definitely talking to myself when I wrote this post. I really am going to carry this one with me. Along with a notebook and the Alphie I'm getting.

Less struggle, more writing in 2009.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Struggling with Perfectionism

Last week I talked a little bit about being a perfectionist. Here's some of my thoughts on the subject from six months ago...

-------------------------------------------

Perfection.

What a noble--and near impossible--goal.

I never thought of myself as a perfectionist until sometime after I turned 40.

First, let me say I was happy to turn 40. Unlike my gal pals, who dreaded it back when we were in our teens and early 20's and 40 was waaaay down the road, I always thought it would be fun to be 40. I even had a motto: Fine, fly, fit, and fabulous at 40. (I was very into alliteration back then.)

No scorecard required. Batting .000.

See, fine is in the eye of the beholder. I think I'm cute, and Hubby does too. But fine? I'm no raving beauty, as they say, and not into cosmetic surgery.

I was young. It was a silly goal.

Fly is easy. Has to do with fashion, a word that fell out of my vocabulary following four pregnancies, beginning about 14 years ago. Not blaming it on the kiddies but I truly pretty much stopped shopping for me once I started shopping for them. Now I just pick up needed items when I can no longer ignore the need. Pitiful? I know.

Fit is self-explanatory...and I definitely what I am not. Not at 5'2" and let's just say...my weight, or the force of gravity upon my body (just helped Oldest One study for a science final), is more than it should be. I'm working on it. I made great strides last year...then gave them all back! It's a daily, constant struggle but I won't give up on.

Fabulous... Well, in my mind, this was to be the summary statement of my life, obvious to all who came within my brightly shining aura. Stellar in my profession, beloved by all, a saint in the community... (I was a bit heady in my youth.) I'm no slouch, to be sure but my definition has matured over the years.

What I've discovered along the way is that perfectionism is all about control. It's about controlling all the fine details so that the end result is perfect. Not a good trait for a writer to have, especially one who is learning. I'm not even sure there's such a thing as the perfect book. There are good books and maybe great ones but perfect?

Not long ago, I blogged about writing one's best story and about the need for dedication as much as inspiration. If you think about it, my struggle has been pretty obvious.

I spend a lot of time studying writing craft by networking with other writers. I'm a great encourager of others, truly happy to see them employ their creativity with success.

I view myself as a pretty tolerant person, able to allow for imperfection in others. But in myself? Apparently I'm not quite as forgiving or I'm less willing to put my weaknesses on display.

-------------------------------------------

The cool thing about this is that when I wrestle like this with a problem, I usually don't let go until I resolve it. Kind of like Jacob. Too bad I didn't wrestle with this particular thing much before now but now's as good a time as any.

When I sense myself procrastinating about writing, I'll be conscious now of what's really going on. Being conscious means I can take action. I'll push myself to write something just like I push myself to exercise, even when I don't feel like it or want to tell myself it doesn't make a difference.

I know everyone's in a festive, holiday mood but I gotta get this stuff out when it rises to the surface. Then I can really move forward in 2009.

What's the biggest struggle you have in your writing?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- December 19, 2008

Just a couple of quick tidbits I picked up this week:

Quick opportunity to get your first chapter in front of a literary agency. Firebrand is having a contest with they are accepting first chapter submissions between December 15th and January 15th. Get more details here.

Publisher's Weekly's list of African-American books published between Sept 2008 and Mar 2009 here.

CJ Darlington began a series on her blog back in January called "Advice for Novelists". It consists of industry professionals (published authors, editors, and agents) offering up the one piece of advice they'd each most like to give aspiring writers. The year's almost over but you can go back to the archives and read forward. Last check there were 84 of these posts. Really good stuff.

Enjoy the weekend!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Featured Book: Where Do I Go? The Yada Yada House of Hope by Neta Jackson

I received this book too late to read it before today. But I'm definitely reading this one, my first Yada Yada book, a Christian fiction phenomenon that author Neta Jackson began back in 2003 about what happens when an unlikely group of women get together and pray.

The description on Amazon describes that first book this way:
What do an ex-con, a former addict, a real estate broker, a college student, and a married mother of two have in common?

Nothing, or so I thought. Who would have imagined that God would make a group as mismatched as ours the closet of friends?

I almost didn’t even go to the Chicago Women’s Conference – after all, being thrown together with five hundred strangers wasn’t exactly my "comfort zone." But I would be rooming with my boss, Avis, and I hoped that maybe I might make a friend or two.

When Avis and I were assigned to a prayer group of twelve women at the conference, I wasn’t sure what to think. There was Flo, an outspoken ex-drug addict; Ruth, a Messianic Jew who could smother-mother you to death; and Yo-Yo, an ex-con who wasn’t even a Christian! Not to mention women from Jamaica, Honduras, South Africa – practically a mini-United Nations. We certainly didn’t have much in common.

But something happened that weekend to make us realize we had to hang together. So "the Yada Yada Prayer Group" decided to keep praying for each other via e-mail. That worked for a while, but our personal struggles and requests soon got too intense for cyberspace, so we decided to meet together every other Sunday night.

Talk about a rock tumbler!–knocking off each other’s rough edges, learning to laugh and cry along the way. But when I faced the biggest crisis of my life, God used my newfound girlfriends to help teach me – Jodi Baxter, longtime Christian "good girl" – what it means to be just a sinner saved by grace.

Doesn't that sound interesting? So it's taken me a while but I'm finally going to read a Yada Yada book. Something tells me I'll be searching for the backlist in 2009.

But on to the new book, which is actually the beginning of a new series for the Yada Yada group, and involves a parallel book written by Neta's husband, Dave. Find out more below.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Where Do I Go?
Thomas Nelson (December 9, 2008)
by
Neta Jackson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books. In addition to writing several books about Christian community, the Jacksons have coauthored numerous books with expert resource people on a variety of topics from racial reconciliation to medical ethics to ministry to kids in gangs.

Dave and Neta live in Evanston, Illinois, where for twenty-seven years they were part of Reba Place Church, a Christian church community. They are now members of a multi-racial congregation in the Chicago area.

They're trying something new! Not just new for them, but something completely new in Christian fiction: “Parallel novels,” two stories taking place in the same time frame, same neighborhood, involving some of the same characters living through their own dramas and crises but interacting with and affecting one another … just the way it happens in real life.

It’s something that only a husband and wife writing team could pull off. While Neta has Where Do I Go?, her husband Dave has written Harry Bentley's Second Chance.



ABOUT THE BOOK

A story of seeking-and finding-God's will in unlikely places.

Gabrielle Fairbanks has nearly lost touch with the carefree, spirited young woman she was when she married her husband fifteen years ago. But when the couple moves to Chicago to accommodate Philip's business ambitions, Gabby finds the chance to make herself useful. It's there she meets the women of Manna House Women's Shelter; they need a Program Director-and she has a degree in social work. She's in her element, feeling God's call on her life at last, even though Philip doesn't like the changes he sees in her. But things get rough when Philip gives Gabby an ultimatum: quit her job at the shelter or risk divorce and losing custody of their sons. Gabby must take refuge, as in the song they sing at Sunday night worship: "Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to? . . . I go to the Rock I know that's able, I go to the Rock."

Romantic Times Book Reviews says, “Exquisite characters coupled with God's mercy and love emanate from each page.”

Publisher's Weekly adds, “Jackson's Yada Yada series has sold half a million copies, and this new offshoot series ... promises the same.... The book's dramatic ending ... leav[es] readers eager for the next installment in the series.”

To read the Prologue and first Chapter of Where Do I Go?, go HERE

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

My Writing Christmas (or any other time) Wish List

With the holidays upon us, folks are making lists. Christmas card lists. House-cleaning lists. Guest lists. To-do lists.

Wish lists.

I helped my two youngest sons write their wish lists for Santa Claus over the weekend. Then my oldest, watching from the other side of the room, jumped into action, likely for fear of being left out and finding nothing to open on Christmas morning.

For most retailers, today's the last day you can purchase and still receive your merchandise before Christmas. So for the folks who have me on their list--maybe a few friends and family occasionally read my blog--here are a few ideas you might consider:

Patricia's Writing Wish List:

1. A super deluxe laptop and accessories all my own
   Enough sharing with the family, although I love seeing them inspired to learn and play online as much as outside. It's a big world and the Internet puts it all at one's fingertips.
   
   
2. An Alphasmart Neo
   For when the laptop is inconvenient but I want (make that, need) to keep writing.
   
   
3. An space all my own
   For getting away from the normal hubbub, away from the television, away from whatever is keeping me from writing. For having a space that breathes "Patricia", in it's decor and atmosphere, when I walk in the door (i.e. no toys to trip over). Something like...
   
   Soft yellow on the walls. A beautiful writing desk with comfortable yet ergnomic chair and footstool. A daybed with oversized, fluffy pillowsfor when I want to lie down and think my way through my latest writing puzzle. Framed inspirational quotes and pictures that evoke smiles, laughter, and happy thoughts on the walls. Fresh flowers, just not the pungent kind. A CD player/radio. A small flat-screen monitor on one wall. (I promise not to watch most of the time but even when I'm not writing, it will be cool not to have to watch ESPN or Cartoon Network). A calendar and corkboard on another. Organized filing cabinets. A water cooler and a big, playful drinking cup (at least 32 oz.) And big windows that allow the sun to stream in and inspire during the day and allow me to stare at the moon and stars at night.
   
   
4. Every craft book on my TBR list
   I'd love to reach up and pull just the right off a bookshelf, uncovering whatever pearls of wisdom will help me at the point where I'm stuck or have a question.
   
   
5. A set of hand weights and a workout mat
   For exercising my body. When I do, I find that I'm more motivated in all other areas of my life, including my writing. Actually, I purchased one set of weights two weeks ago and I've been using them. Another, 5-lb set, would be nice.
   
   
6. A dedicated block of time each week to do nothing but write.
   This feels near impossible in my hectic, working-mother-to-three-active-boys life. But hey, I found a way to knock on doors for President-elect Obama for 5-10 hours every weekend. I guess I just have to make the same commitment to myself...and get away to my office (see #3) or leave the house to make it work.
   
   So cross this one off. It's really my gift to me.
   
   
7. Paid memberships for RWA and ACFW
   
   
8. An all-expenses paid writing conference trip
   An opportunity to get away and immerse myself in the world of writers, agents, and editors. Win-win!
   
   
9. Paid subscriptions to The Writer's Digest, Romantic Times, Poet & Pen, and The Writer's Market
   
   
10. Paid professional editing for the manuscript I'm going to write in 2009
    
    
11. A $500, or any other denomination, Amazon gift certificate for book purchases

Off the top of my head, those are the things I want most. After the first three, they're in no particular order.

What would you like this year?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Wrapping Up The Year's Reading

The past few weeks have been a major push for me to catch up on all the books I had still waiting to be reviewed. I'm just about done, and I feel relieved. Over the next couple of weeks, as usual, I'll highlight my favorite reads for this year.

Book reviewing is a commitment and not one I take lightly. In exchange for receiving all these great books to read, I commit to write reviews. Which means I must first read the books. Then, I must carve out time to write the reviews, preferably so that their posting will coincide with the book's release month. Most of the time that happens but not always, and when it doesn't, given all that I've learned about how important the first week or month of book sales is for an author, I feel badly. Sometimes keeping up isn't easy.

In fact, as much as I love reading, writing book reviews was starting to feel like work. Getting books from various review sites and keeping track of which one sent which book and in what month. Trying to read the books in order to post reviews on time. Figuring out what to say when I wasn't in love--and maybe not even "in like"--with a book. (Slamming other people's work is not my thing.) Checking the post office box regularly to keep up with the shipments and plan the next month's reading.

Reading just wasn't as much fun.

In fact, I was convinced that I was spending 85% of my reading time on review books and not books I'd selected for pleasure. I began a love-hate relationship with my review books. I loved receiving them, each package like getting Christmas presents, never knowing what surprises lay in store. But I began hating the review process.

I'd all but decided to stop reviewing books next year. When I reflected on the books I've read this year (I started keeping a book log long before I began reviewing books), I discovered 45% of the books I read were review books. About half and this felt like too much.

But then I looked at what books I'd reviewed. 65% of my review books were authors I'd never read before, a trend that holds true for the past three years. Some of those books definitely will be among my favorites for the year. No question in my mind, I would have passed most of these books up in a bookstore. Instead, because I had the chance to read them for review, many of these authors I will read again. That's the biggest thing I get out of reviewing books, meeting new authors.

So I just can't do it. I won't give up book reviews entirely but I am cutting back. I've already scaled back the blog book features to no more than one per week in 2009. Along with that, I can no longer commit to reading every featured book but since the process changed and I now get to select which books I wish to feature, I'll only feature ones I would read if I had time. (I'll let you know when I actually do read the book by way of a mini-review.)

I'm also reducing the number of books I review for other sites, the bulk of my review books, slicing that number in half. One site is only a few times a year, which works out fine. The other is a monthly package which is where I'll be cutting back.

My plan is to reallocate all that reading time to writing, which will be like a 1000% increase. (Ok, an exaggeration, sure, but it certainly will feel that way.)

Less reading, more writing in 2009.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

More on Perfectionism in (My) Writing

There was an interesting discussion going on earlier this week in The Writer's View loop, a support group for writers where discussions about all things writing take place. This week's topic was deadlines. Almost everyone said they meet deadlines imposed by others. And they miss deadlines imposed by themselves.

This would describe me too. Which means that my need to please and not disappoint people outweighs my need to be perfect. Until it comes to myself. Then, my need to be perfect looms large, gets in my way, and I wind up disappointing myself.

Apparently, I have given this some thought before. I crafted two posts about perfectionism back in May. I never posted them. Maybe they weren't perfect?

I dunno. But I said some good stuff that I'm mulling over and will post now.

But first, how about you? Do you meet your external deadlines? What about the one's you impose on yourself? What goes through your mind when you face not meeting a self-imposed deadline?

BTW, I wrote about 5500 words in a short story the last two days. Don't think I'll do anything with it but writing anything helps me to move forward. Quickies like this one are great for clearing my mind.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Featured Book: Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas by Sandie Bricker

There can never be too many books for me. Because every book I read brings something different to enjoy, to learn from, to wrinkle my nose at, to get hot and bothered about...to experience.

After all that discussion on "real" Christian fiction, it was time for something not quite so edgy but no less real.

Sandra D. Bricker's latest, Love Finds You In Snowball, Arkansas, is just that book.

A gentle, soothing yet funny romance, Love Finds You In Snowball, Arkansas is the story of two friends, best friends, who are perfect for each other in every way. Except they don't know it yet.

Lucy Binoche is just weeks away from thirty and very much wants to be in a relationship with someone. When her church young adult group decides to go on a outdoorsy retreat, she almost stays home. After all, this hotel guest services manager is more comfortable in high heels and retail outlets than boots and wilderness.

That is, until she discovers that the hot, new guy, Justin, is planning to go. Maybe the retreat is just the opportunity she needs to get to know Justin better, and more importantly, for him to get to know her. Or, at least the version of her that she presents in an attempt to wow him.

Matt Frazier, Lucy's best friend, has known her since childhood. He thinks she's great as is. He only wishes she'd realize it so she wouldn't be inclined to try to reinvent herself. As her BFF, though, he'll support her and do whatever is necessary to help her find Mr. Right.

But when Lucy snags the man of her dreams and Matt finds a possible relationship of his own, her dreams begin to change. Is it too late?

Lucy's madcap adventures suggest that she is aptly named, because she brought to mind another very funny and very lovable Lucy, Lucille Ball. She even has a few streaks of red highlights in her brunette hair.

Matt is Mr. Steady-and-Dependable to Lucy's comedic Woman-On-A-Mission, kind of like Desi Arnaz was to Ms. Ball. (Of course, I'm talking the I Love Lucy tv show here, here, not the real life couple.)

Lucy journals and in her writing, she pours out the honest, yearning heart of a single, young woman, one to which many young women of faith will relate, whether Lucy's revealing her uncertainties about whether Justin is the man God intends for her, examining her personal insecurities, or seeking God's forgiveness for pursuing her own plans rather than waiting on Him.

Reading stories this one, lighthearted tales featuring people with everyday faith, is like slathering on rich, thick body lotion. Smooth, comforting, and a bit indulgent, which we all need to be with ourselves from time to time. Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas is a balm for the reading soul, even as it keeps the reader in stitches.

Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas was one of two books chosen to launch the new Christian publisher, Summerside Press, and to launch their first series, Love Finds You.

Learn more about Sandra D. Bricker at her website: http://www.sandradbricker.com/.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

The Paralysis of Perfectionism

Just a couple more reader/writer tidbits I missed over the weekend...

New Love Stories Magazine, a paying market, is seeking submission of romantic short stories. Pay upon publication is $300. More info available here.

This week the RAWSISTAZ Literary Group is hosting the 2008 R.A.W. Affair Readers & Writers Conference. This year's conference is online and open to all. The agenda includes workshops, panel discussions, blog discussions, author spotlights, and more. You can find the agenda here. Come on over and jump in!

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This week's writing revelation?

I have spent the last six months getting in my own way.

Worrying about the plot, where to start the story, what's the best writing process, how to keep the middle from sagging, whether my characters are strong enough, motivated enough, interesting enough...

The list is long.

So I'm going to try getting out of my way. This will be hard.

I'm going back to the synopsis I started with six months ago. I'll make a few minor changes, because in all that worrying, I did figure out a few motivations and plot points, that I'd simply left blank spaces, "xxxx", or "something happens" in the synopsis.

Then I will write this story.

Confession time: It won't be perfect.

And that's what I really needed to wrap my mind around.

I've really never seen myself as having perfectionist tendencies but I do, especially when it comes to writing. But it's the end of 2008 and I don't have a completed story, which sucks.

So I'm going to write the story from the original synopsis and see what happens.

Once I have it, I can change it. Of course, I've always known that but knowing is sometimes not enough.

I came to this revelation when trying to help my child overcome the same tendencies, tendencies that can cause paralysis or walking in circles, never accomplishing anything. Then, it hit me. I was talking to myself as much as I was talking to him.

Thanks, son!

Are you a perfectionist? Do you procrastinate (a close cousin)? As a writer, what do you do to overcome these tendencies?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- December 6, 2008

My dad passed away 22 years ago today. He's been gone half of my life, and I miss him dearly.

On a lighter note, this week, my son's basketball season got underway. The season he almost missed because he ruptured a tendon in his left pinkie a month into the school year.

But he's healed now and he's playing. And we get to travel all across the Greater Tampa Bay area and a few "far flung" places like Gainesville to watch him play. (Not really, it's only about 150 miles up the road.)

Thank God the Pony baseball season ended two weeks ago!

On to reading and writing matters...

Let's start with one of the more brilliant things I've seen in the blogosphere of late. Author Carleen Brice has begun a new website, White Readers Meet Black Authors, and declared December, National Buy A Book By A Black Person and Give It To Someone Who's Not Black Month. This is all about encouraging people to read outside of the box. It's also great promotion for Ms. Brice, whose Orange Mint and Honey is languishing on my TBR list. (I really need more reading hours in a day... Hey, maybe I'll buy a copy of Ms. Brice's book and give it away!)

The best industry updates always come from Chip MacGregor's blog. Is publishing really recession proof? What's a good digital editor need to know? Read about these questions and more here.

If you're thinking about getting an agent, and wondering whether said agent needs to be NY-based, Tom Bentley offers a thoughtful, if humourous, take on the subject.

Over on Seekerville, there was a two-day workshop on query letter writing, including the posting of several real query letters that worked. (The names are blocked to protect the innocent but see if you can guess the books and the authors. I got all but one.) Part one is here. Part two, here.

The writing community can be a wonderfully supportive place. There's an auction underway with gifts from agents, editors, and authors to raise funds for author Jo Leigh who recently lost her husband to cancer and is struggling with unpaid medical bills. Help support Jo Leigh here.

Google Reader has changed it's skin. Different look. More light and bright. Still easy to read and monitor a host of blogs. The only thing I haven't figured out is how to organized my starred posts (the ones I want to get back to at some point). Anyone know?

As far as my writing, I'm taking an online class, Revisions Made Easy with April Kihlstrom, which is helping me look at my manuscript in a different way. More big picture, working my way down to the details.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Featured Book: Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins

We've been talking about "nontraditional", i.e. realistic, maybe edgy but not necessarily, Christian fiction. Today's book definitely qualifies.

This suspense story was written by a red-haired author who looks like she enjoys having fun and would be a fun person to get to know. Never mind that her choice of fun involves scaring people out of their wits! She calls her brand "Seatbelt Suspense". In fact, there's a whole club of devotees who are too afraid to read her books called the Big Honkin' Chickens Club. (They even have T-shirts!)

Brandilyn has one of the best blogs, Forensics & Faith, for writers of all genres but particularly for authors of Christian fiction, as she frequently provides insight into things like the Christian fiction bestseller lists, industry organizations, like IRCR, sales tracking metods, etc. And she has a craft book, Getting Into Character that is frequently recommended to aspiring writers.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dark Pursuit
Zondervan (December 1, 2008)
by
Brandilyn Collins


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Brandilyn Collins is known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. She is currently working on her 20th book. For chances to win free copies of her work, join her Fan Club on Facebook. Here’s what Brandilyn has to say about why she wrote Dark Pursuit:

In John Milton’s Paradise Lost Satan’s followers, kicked out of heaven, boast about storming the gates and reclaiming their territory. Beelzebub scoffs at their boasting as merely “hatching vain empires” and suggests a different revengeful scheme: seduce mankind away from God. So Satan visits the Garden of Eden to teach humans the very thing he and his cohorts have learned to be futile—the dark pursuit of hatching their own vain empires instead of following God. He presented man with this “gift” of death, disguised as life. And man fell for it.

Upon this theme of man’s fall and spiritual blindness, I created the characters and events in Dark Pursuit. The story clips along at a fast pace, with much symbolism running underneath.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dark Pursuit—A twisting story of murder, betrayal, and eternal choices

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she’s rebuilding her life. But in Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered, and she’s about to discover a third. She’s even more shocked to realize the culprit—her boyfriend, Craig, the police chief’s son.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the elusive plot he seeks...

Read the first chapter of Dark Pursuit, HERE.

My Review:
Dark Pursuit is suspense right up there with the best of them: King, Koontz, Grisham, Patterson, and anyone else you might name.

The first thing that struck me about Dark Pursuit was how quickly and easily I was draw into the story. A reader does indeed need a seatbelt for Ms. Collins' brand of suspense because the action gets going on page one, in swift-moving, brief chapters, and doesn't let up until the very end.

The second thing that struck me was that this was a Christian fiction book where God sneaks up on you. On page 82 or thereabouts, I noted the first mention of God or faith. 80+ pages into the book and this is Christian fiction? Now I was intrigued beyond the story.

Finally, I could barely put it down, wanting to know what happened next. I was late getting breakfast started yesterday, determined to finish this book I'd started reading only the day before. And I was not disappointed. There are plot twists you will never imagine (and I won't give away). This was one book where it was important to read every word, narrative and dialogue. Every. Single. Word.

I shy away from really rocking suspense. Since I read for relaxation and escape, I don't like to be creeped out. (Thank a bad experience with a Stephen King book in the late '80s.) So I considered myself a peripheral member of Brandilyn's Big Honkin' Chickens Club.

Not anymore.

When's the next release, Brandilyn?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

"Real" Christian Fiction

My last post on Christian Fiction in the Mainstream got a lot of attention. Folks are still commenting.

In the midst of responding to comments yesterday, I read a blog with a link to the new David C. Cook 2009 catalogue.

And I gotta tell you, there's a lot of nontraditional Christian fiction being published by these guys, based on the blurbs anyway.

You can see the entire catalogue here but I've listed a few of the featured fiction titles below (and added them to my TBR list):

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke -- about a disco dancer turned Las Vegas hair stylist

Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove -- about a young widow whose dead husband keeps talking to her so she consults a spiritual counselor, shrink, and even an exorcist

Scared by Tom Davis -- a photojournalist in debt and depressed with a broken marriage meets an AIDS orphan in the Congo

Crossing The Lines by Richard Doster -- about an Atlanta Constitution reporter in the 1950's sent to investigate reports of a possible bus boycott whose writing is affected by encounters Martin Luther King Jr. and other notables

These were the featured books. There are others like Wounded by a writer I very much admire, Claudia Mair Burney.

Does this strike you as unrealistic, dishonest, or Pollyanna-type fiction?

This got me to thinking. Maybe we can put whatever remaining but obsolete beliefs about Christian fiction that are out there in the marketplace to bed.

Can you name Christian fiction books (title, author) that you would consider "nontradtional", published by either a CBA or ABA publisher in the last five years? (By "nontraditional", I mean more realistic, more honest, more edgy than your average Christian fiction book. And apologies upfront because all of those words are subjective qualifiers. One person's "realistic" is another's "outer space".)

Wait. Five years might be too much because I believe the list is longer than folks realize. Let's make it in the last three years.

Okay. Please name Christian fiction books published 2006 thru 2008 that struck you as either very realistic or very edgy in subject matter, tone, characters, or some other noticeable way, released by either an ABA or a CBA publisher. Give me the title, author, and if you can, the publisher.

Believe me. It's going to be a long list, folks.

Jump in, please!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Christian Fiction in the Mainstream

I started my post on this yesterday but from a few emails and loops that I've seen, I can tell this one's going to get a lot of discussion in the blogosphere. (Warning: this one's kinda long.) Publisher's Weekly has an article about mainstream publishers who are releasing books with "Christian undertones". Read the article here.

Personally, I don't care who publishes the book as long as it's entertaining and, because it's Christian fiction, the material included is Biblically supported.

That's not to say Christian fiction shouldn't have controversy or deal with difficult subject matter. After all, the Bible does, doesn't it?

I've read Christian fiction books that have touched on divorce, abortion, infidelity, homosexuality, mental illness, war, AIDS, and a host of issues, behaviors or attitudes that some might find questionable, if not offensive.

I don't. Because Christians, at least the ones I know, struggle with the same problems that non-believers do. The dividing line is first and foremost that we believe in the saving power of Christ's resurrection. Beyond that the differences between Christians and others lie in how we handle our problems, both in behavior and attitude, and where we go for our answers. We're in no way exempt from dealing with, facing, or finding ourselves in the midst of controversial or sensitive issues.

In this regard, I find Christian fiction from mainstream publishers tends to be a bit more honest or realistic. One way this has been true has been to publish books with a more multicultural cast of characters.

In fairness, I believe the long-held belief about what constitutes Christian fiction has changed quite a bit in recent years and continues to evolve for the Christian publishers. Christian publishers definitely are extending the boundaries beyond the traditional fare. One that comes to mind is Revell, home to Julie Lessman's sensual A Passion Most Pure (from the Daughters of Boston series) and to Marilynn Griffith's Rhythm of Grace and her previous multicultural Shades of Style series.

Then there's Multnomah which published Francine River's Redeeming Love, a book widely regarded as the best ever in Christian fiction but includes prostitution, rape, and other touchy subjects. Zondervan published Camy Tang's Sushi series about a family of Asian single cousins and James Scott Bell's legal thrillers. Harvest House publishes Brandt Dodson's Colton Parker mystery series, which has a very atypical lead character. (I believe he smokes.) B&H Publishing Group publishes Rebeca Seitz' multicultural Scrapbooking series. Tyndale House's Riven by Jerry Jenkins focused on the death penalty.

It's also true, however, that a good number of the single-title books I've read and enjoyed over the last three years were from mainstream publishers.

All of Victoria Christopher Murray's books, published by Simon & Schuster. ReShonda Tate Billingsley's books, which are published by Pocket Books. Angela Benson's latest release from Avon, Up Pops the Devil. Michele Andrea Bowen's books and the new multicultural YA series by Shelley Adina, from Hachette. Rachel Hauck's Georgia on My Mind and Allie Pleiter's Bad Heiress Day, both from Steeple Hill Cafe. I could go on.

So far, I've only talked about single-titles. When it comes to category romance, Harlequin is king. I read a lot of books in their Steeple Hill Love Inspired line. (The Cafe line mentioned above publishes both single-title and series books.) Steeple Hill is very clear about what's acceptable behavior and what is not for their books, and it tends to be a pretty strict list. Things like no smoking, no divorce, no dancing, no card-playing, no drinking... The list goes on.

I'm okay with this because when I pick up a Love Inspired title, I know exactly what to expect. In fact, I'm looking for that clearly defined, wholesome Christian story. I'm never disappointed. If I want edgier fiction, I know to go elsewhere.

But even at Harlequin, stories are beginning to touch on more complex subject matter and to include a diversity of characters.

So I guess my position is that there's a place for it all. For "Pollyanna" type stories. For stories that take on difficult subjects but in a very "behind closed doors, off the page" kind of way. For stories that push the boundaries a bit but, in a way that is neither salacious nor gratuitous and focuses more on the overall story impact than the minute details of an act or event. For stories based in a single community or that spread across racial and ethnic lines. Just as Christianity is broad and diverse in practice so is Christian fiction in content.

Let me be clear. A novel that has main characters who profess Christianity but don't in anyway appear to live, think, or act as such nor grow over the course of the story to do so is not, in my opinion, Christian fiction. Neither is a novel that may simply have a scene or two set in a church. Might be a good story but it's not Christian fiction because Christian fiction is about the faith journey, a journey that is different for every character in every story.

Mainstream publishers releasing Christian fiction titles is a good thing. More publishing opportunities for aspirants like me. Authors are able to reach a broader audience due to distribution, bookstore shelf placement, and possibly bigger promotional budgets.

I just would hate to see Christian publishers go the way of small, Christian bookstores, which have begun to disappear faster than the blink of an eye due to competition from bigger, secular stores, like Wal-mart and Costco. I don't think they will because, combined with the mainstream publishers, the Christian publishers provide a rich breadth of story that is needed and wanted.

Had you noticed this trend? Does it matter to you who publishes the work? Do you see differences in the Christian fiction you read when published by a mainstream publisher vs. a Christian publisher?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Catching Up and Book Giveaway

Today is a catching up kind of day.

Thanksgiving is over and it was wonderful. I cooked a magnificent dinner, one of my best holiday spreads. (Just ask Hubby and The Boys. They will concur.)

It was a very peaceful, restful weekend. It began with dinner on Thursday (for which I did all the shopping Wednesday after work). On Friday, I got my hair cut (very short), ran a few errands, and went to the park with the boys. On Saturday, I went to an end-of-baseball-season luncheon for Middle Son's team at Beef O'Bradys, then went to a different Beef O'Bradys for a county democratic club meeting. On Sunday, we visited a church in Orlando that we always enjoy, and after dinner, Hubby and I went grocery shopping. Along the way, we watched a couple of movies: HANCOCK, which I thought was great, and FIRST SUNDAY, which, aside from Katt Williams as the choir director, I could have passed on.

No Black Friday shopping for me, which is probably why I'm so rested and still sane. Got up this morning and resumed the exercise regimen necessary to get the five lbs off that I gained since I stopped exercising about six weeks ago, not to mention the other, much larger poundage that we won't talk about here.

My sister pushed hard and surpassed the 50k words required for NaNoWriMo recognition. Congratulations, Maria!

I did not write. And I'm okay with that. But, along with my exercise, I'm back to writing today.

I usually post a book feature on the 1st of every month for the Fiction.In.Rather.Short.Takes. (FIRST) blog alliance. But I've already featured today's book, Leave It To Chance by Sherri Sands. You can read my June feature post here and you can see today's first chapter excerpt here.

Since the copy I offered back in June still hasn't found a home, if you would like to win a copy of Sherri's book, please leave a comment on this post.

Finally, there are two holiday-themed blog tours going on that I didn't know about for last week's Reader/Writer tidbits. The first is the Santa Baby 2008 Virtual Book Tour. Go to All The Buzz Reviews or The GRITS Virtual Book Tour. Two of my favorite authors and fellow bloggers, Gwyneth Bolton and Bettye Griffin, are involved.

The second is A Christmas Blog Ride, begins here. This ride travels to a different blog every day and includes a Christmas song contest.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.