September 13th Challenge

Hi it’s Christina –

Good morning! I received my confirmation for the Collingswood Book Festival in the mail yesterday. I was assigned slot 208. 208! There are going to be over 200 book related vendors at this show! I knew it was going to be big, but this isn’t big, it’s HUGE! So hey, if you don’t have plans for Saturday, October 11^th, and you love books, you should consider a trip to Collingswood, NJ. The street fair starts at 9:00, and I think it runs until 4:00.

Between Milford Alive on Saturday, September 27^th, and Collingswood, I knew I needed certain supplies – a folding table, a cart, and a tent – so I ordered them, but then I got to thinking that a simple white tent was too plain and I should jazz it up a little. So yesterday, I played around on VistaPrint and designed a banner. I thought I could hang it in the tent. What do you think?

I convinced my hubby to come and help me that day, and I think Dani will be coming too, so I thought we should all have matching t-shirts for the day. Yeah, I know, I’m a dork. Here’s what they look like. Again, what do you think?

I know I’m spending a little more than I should, and I’m going to have to sell a bunch of books to hit the break even, but all of the things I’m ordering can be used at future events. When I have smaller shows, I can attach the banner to the front of my table. Now that I have a tent and my own table, I can look into other street fairs; and the cart and my t-shirt can be used at every event I do. Logical or am I just justifying?

If you know “the real me”, then chances are you are friends with me on Facebook, so you know this story already. However, if you’re not, I’ll fill you in. We have a bit of a mystery going on right now in my town. On the 8^th, there was a big hullabaloo a few miles from my house. I’m talking the emergency vehicles blocking off the streets for several hours. Accounts from local residents confirmed a body was removed from the residence, the county prosecutor’s office was represented, and there was at least one FBI officer on scene, but in what capacity, it is not clear.

Here’s the mystery. There is not one shred of news about what happened. Please keep in mind, in our town if a car with a flat tire snarls traffic, it is news worthy and gets a mention. Some folks suggested that perhaps they were waiting to notify the next of kin or that perhaps the family did not want details revealed, especially if it was a suicide. I disagree.

If a person is murdered, it doesn't really make a difference what the family wants (not saying this is right, but it is a fact). Even during an "on-going investigation", details still slip out. It is the complete lack of details which is throwing up the red flags for me,and I'm sure others too. If the poor soul who passed away was just some joe-schmo, by either natural or nefarious reasons, there would have been no hesitation by the authorities to make some sort of statement, even if it was "we cannot comment at this time", but we don't even have that.

It's like the press has been issued with a gag order. There is no mention of the incident anywhere. Like MIB were called in, and everyone's memory was erased. Who was the person? What were they doing there? Did they belong there? What happened? Did someone do this TO them? Who was that person? What was their connection? Where either parties involved someone of importance? (Don't misinterpret that please, everyone is important - you know what I mean.) Maybe it's the writer's brain kicking in, but I think something fishy is going on.

I agree that IF it was a suicide, then it's no one's business, however, more times than not, those details do leak out as well - which IMO is sad. Regardless, even in those cases, a mention of "police activity at such-and-such address" does make the paper, even if there are no details. If they had done that, my imagination would not be working overtime.

All sorts of scenarios are playing through my brain - politician - clandestine meeting - homeland security - sleeper cell - the possibilities are endless. And IF this somehow did involve homeland security, we will never know. (Supposedly there were folks in plain clothes there that no one could guess their affiliation, and it all adds up to way too much activity for a suicide.)

What do you think? Does this add up for you? Perhaps a future foray for me can be a true mystery novel. Yes my novels now contain mystery and suspense, but…

I hope you have a fantastic day, and happy writing!

Your Next Challenge is:

You are not allowed to read that…

You have ten minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count, and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

December 31st 2013

Hi, it’s Christina –

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE! It’s hard to believe this is the last day of the year. Time just seems to spin by so quickly any more. This obviously will be the last post of the year, and considering this is the 240^th blog entry and I started in April (and this was supposed to be a two week exercise), I don’t think I did half bad.

Today is going to be REALLY short and sweet. I have spent the past three hours on a marketing event, and I need to return to it. Then I have to run to the grocery store (I’m making cream of broccoli soup for tonight), the bank (surprise, surprise, I actually sold several books and need to deposit the money so it shows up in the right year), and I have to run to Staples because the printer is out of ink.

I hope you have a fantastic day, a safe evening, a blessed New Year, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

Another New Year’s Eve without Dick Clark…

“A one-a and a two-a…” The first New Year’s Eves I recall were with Lawrence Welk and his orchestra; the music, the dancing, and of course, my favorite, the bubbles. The show was considered dorky and uncool by everyone else my age, but I secretly loved it.

At some point, I can’t remember exactly when, this new guy named Dick Clark started appearing on my New Year’s Eve celebration; but it was cool, because I enjoyed watching him on American Bandstand. He played music kids my generation liked listening to and he had guest who didn’t look like they needed to be dusted off in order to appear on the show. So the tradition began and it just didn’t feel like New Year’s without Times Square and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.

Several years ago, Dick was nice enough to let another new guy in on his coveted show, Ryan Seacrest. It was nice of Dick to give this newbie some air time, but make no mistake, it was all Dick’s show with him in the booth “high above Times Square” and Ryan down amongst the crowd.

Then the unspeakable happened and our now beloved Dick Clark had a massive stroke and was unable to appear. Ryan took over in his place, but it just wasn’t the same. Miracle of miracles, news came out that Dick Clark would be well enough to co-host the celebration the following year. Our hopes were high. The anticipation grew. Then our hearts were momentarily broken when we saw what a devastating effect the stroke had on our much loved New Year’s Eve staple.

 (Ran out of time.)

Your Next Challenge is:

Go spend some quality time with your family and friends, and give someone you love a kiss at midnight.

You have all night. There is no right or wrong, just be honest. Love and friendship count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize or be mean for just this one night. Start your new year off on the right foot. Be safe and God bless. Go.

December 7th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

First I want to take a moment to remember all those lives lost over seventy years ago today. Most of you are not old enough to remember Pearl Harbor, but you are, I’m pretty sure, old enough to remember 9-11. Remember the horror you felt when our country came under attack? Well, I’m sure, our country was feeling the same way back in 1941. Over 2,400 people lost their lives that infamous day in Hawaii, and they should be remembered.

So, yesterday was kind of exciting. I realized some of you are not on Facebook, so I will share what I posted there yesterday afternoon:

 

“So I just got off the phone with the publisher from NYC, and I am doing my happy dance. 

He told me he was "proud" to have presented Corporate Blues to his team this morning. He thought it was a published book already, because not only did I send him the fully formatted, ebook ready, manuscript, I sent him the artwork for the cover. He immediately wanted to know who did the cover and if those beautiful blues were mine, and I told him no, they were a friend of mine's daughter's and Riverbench Publishing made the cover. (He raved about the cover, so, Linda Rawlins, there very well may be a phone call in Matt's future as well.) 

I reminded him what I sent was an unedited first draft, and he told me to "Stop it! You should see some of the s**t that comes across my desk." He also said he was having his secretary print out a copy so he could take it home this weekend to read it, and his team would have an answer back to him by the end of next week, because he was "pushing hard for this one".

I know I shouldn't get my hopes up, and I know I shouldn't take a chance in jinxing it by telling you, but he was so excited on the phone, it was contagious. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!”

I also posted this on my personal Facebook page as well. I usually try to keep my personal and my professional identities separate, but I was really excited, so I wanted to share the news in both places. I don’t want to get my hopes up too high because of my last experience with a traditional publisher, but I will admit, it was a big ego boost to have a publisher truly excited about my work.

Now, all I have to do is wait a week to see if his team is just as excited as he was about the book. Piece of cake…NOT. I’m nervous about sending them an unedited version, but that’s what he asked for, so that’s what I sent. I’m also wondering if they will approve of how I ended the story or if they will want more. That is, if they even like what I sent to start with, or if Corporate Blues simply ends up in the circular file.

If it does, I’ll simply polish it myself and release it through CreateSpace as I did the others. I don’t need a mainstream publisher to pick me up, but it would sure be nice. If I did, that would mean someone else was dealing with the business end and I could concentrate on writing instead of having to split my time. Which at the moment is roughly 65% marketing and 35% writing, and that does not sit well with me.

I still have to finish Faerie Tale Queen and Simply by Chance, and I have two more stories rattling around in my brain that are getting impatient and want to be told. Plus, I think a publishing contract would validate my career choice in my husband’s eyes and I’d get a little more support on the home front. But again, I’m putting the horse before the cart. There are no guarantees, and until there are, I just have to sit patiently and wait.

I think I will take a break from writing today and start decorating my house for Christmas, because other than the tree being up, I really haven’t done anything yet. I also have to make a batch of potato pancakes (requested by the hostess) to bring to our first holiday party of the season.

So, I am off to start all of that. I hope you have a fabulous day, and happy writing!

 

Your Last Challenge was:

 

With Nelson Mandela’s passing yesterday, it made me think, what is it that makes someone great, makes someone stand out over the rest? Write about who you think should be remembered as “great” and why.

 

I honestly cannot think of one person to single out, because of what I consider “great”, can be achieved by anyone who truly wants it. You do not need to be Nelson Mandela or Mother Teresa, to be great. You do not need to have won the Nobel Prize or have found a cure for some horrible disease to be great. You do not need to be featured on the cover of Time to be great.

In my eyes, greatness is a gift within each and every one of us, for I believe if you have the ability to change just one person’s life for the better, then you are a great person. Let’s face it, the Nelson Mandela’s of the world are few and far between. Not many of us are called to fight for justice the way he was, and our small acts of kindness will probably never get worldwide acclaim, but notoriety shouldn’t be a driving factor anyway.

If you start by just trying to make the immediate circle around you a better place, then before you know it, the circle will grow. You do not need to be rich or powerful to make someone else’s life better, something as simple as a friendly smile or a kind word could mean the world to someone.

 

The ten minutes are up, but I think you can figure out where I was going with this.

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

Write a story containing: an animal, a magical being, and snow

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.