A Piece of History

1. Yesterday was Kelly's birthday (Paul's wife, one of my best friends).

2. I was going to say "one of my bffs" but I just cannot bring myself to use that particular piece of lingo.

3. Anyway, my hubby made a cake for her. A pink flip-flop (the girl doesn't like stilettos...I still don't understand it). Here's a video of the cake, start to finish:



4. Today, an original copy of the Declaration of Independence is at the Nashville Public Library until 2 pm.

5. I'm taking the kids out of school early so we can all go see it.

6. This week I have another author interview, a fun creative writing post, and whatever else happens to run through my busy little brain while I'm blogging. =D

7. I'm still working out, showing that sassy little Wii Fit who's boss.

8. I finally wrote my way past a really difficult chapter. I don't know why it was so difficult except that I wasn't sure how I wanted to handle the subject matter, and I wasn't confident I nailed the pacing.

9. A CP assures me it isn't nearly as butchered as I feared so that's good news.

10. I would sincerely love to have just a pinch of Mary Poppins's power.

11. If I had a dollar for every time I've wished I could just snap my fingers and watch my house clean itself, I'd have replaced the 9-4 years ago.

12. I'd love to find a pair of cammoflauge stilettos.

13. Preferably for less than $100.

14. Otherwise, my only option is to drool from afar.

15. I've been thinking about how we as artists avoid becoming a caricature of ourselves.

16. I may head over to Swords and Stilettos and put up a post.

17. We have a new manager on loan to our store for the next month.

18. She and I are not going to be friends.

19. This is because A) she thinks managing people means ordering others around while she refuses to lift a finger and B) she looks down on those doing the work she refuses to do.

20. I don't respond well to either one.

21. She knows that now.

22. =D

23. Reader Question: What's the most interesting job you've ever held?

Good morning, Starshine!

Starshine has had a busy weekend. He made a youtube video with his friend in which the two fight a light saber duel to the death. They titled it "You Shall Die."

No, I don't worry about my kids.

Also, Starshine and my hubby were playing a game of catch with a football when Starshine grabbed the ball, ran for a touchdown, and tackled himself.

Yes, you read that right.

He seemed to forget we were even there, grabbed the ball, began a sport's announcer's running commentary, hiked the ball to himself, called the play, tackled himself, got up, ran, tackled himself again, and managed to get up and make it across the goal line before being tackled by the entire opposing team, who mercilessly threw him onto the ground several times and pummeled him until he lay still.

We just watched in awe. It's not every child who can play every member of both football teams plus the announcer without assistance.

Today, Starshine received a bandanna at church and was allowed to write his name on it in blue puffy paint.

That was fine.

He then decided to wear it. On his head. When I picked him up, I complimented his accessory (even though Paul thought it made him look like a mini-Aunt Jemima) and approved the spelling of his first name across the top of his head only to be informed that he'd written his last name too.

When I inquired as to the location of the additional seven letters of blue puffy paint, I was told they were on the flip side of the bandanna.

The one currently pressed against his hair.

Yes, the paint was still wet.

Yes, it stuck to his hair.

Yes, I've cut a large swath of hair off the back of his head and he still has blue paint on his scalp.

I've assured him that warriors of old named Picts would paint themselves that very shade of blue before heading off to battle so he looks like a scary soldier from the Middle Ages.

Starshine the Pict. God help us.

Holy Mutinous Muscles, Batman!

Playing on my iPod now: Sounds Like War by P.O.D.

1. The weather's changing here. We actually need a light sweatshirt at nights, even though the days are warm enough for t-shirts. The leaves are changing and we're gearing up for fall. Tennessee autumns are the most beautiful autumns I've ever seen.

2. The results of last week's poll are interesting. 12 voters said Dragons used to exist. 9 felt they are nothing but myth.

3. Naturally, I voted that they used to exist. =D

4. I've worked out five times in the last three days.

5. Today, I rolled out of bed and realize my muscles had staged a mutiny.

6. Something along the lines of "What are you, freakin' CRAZY?"

7. Also, they questioned the wisdom of having our bedroom UPstairs.

8. I'm going to finish this post and do another workout just to show them who's boss.

9. As you know, I rarely watch tv. Fringe is the only show I'm watching at the moment. I like to keep it to one show so my time is free for other things.

10. Plus, I have very little free time, so the show has to really dazzle me or I can't stand to sit still.

11. I'm considering, however, adding House to the list. It comes on before Fringe (which I tivo so I can watch it during my lunch break the next day) so my tivo gives me the last few minutes of House and the preview of next week's episode.

12. I've noticed that House's humor seems an awful lot like mine. The preview for next week's episode confirmed it. House finagles his "former" friend to drive him to his father's funeral and while they're driving (and arguing), they get pulled over. As the officer approaches the car, House's cell rings. He answers with the following:

13. "Make it quick. I don't want to miss the anal cavity search."

14. Some girls, you get at "hello". Me, I can't resist a deliciously sarcastic line delivered in its place.

15. I think I have the job thing figured out now. It's not firm yet, but I think I'll be picking up day hours at my current job at a guaranteed rate of pay (which means NOT relying on humanity to tip decently for excellent service).

16. This is a win-win situation because I don't have to learn a group of new people and this is a place that understands I'm a mother first so if I need to come in a couple hours late because I have a sick kid at home and am waiting for my hubby, it won't be a problem.

17. I need to go through the kids' clothes and pull out all the stuff that no longer fits.

18. I'm hoping that little exercise will still leave them enough clothes to get through the winter without a shopping expedition.

19. Those of you who love reading paranormal, will want to check out fellow Pixie Kerry Allen's blog where she's posting a chapter a week from a novella (or loooong short story...something like that) for free. She's posted the first two and I am so hooked! Scroll down to the Beyond The Darkening posts.

20. READER QUESTION: What makes a blog worth returning to every day?

Alexa's On The Map

Someone recently found this blog by Googling Alexa Tate. That has to be a benchmark of some sort. =D

Debut Author: Beth Trissel

When I finaled in the 2008 Golden Heart, I joined a loop with the other finalists and met a group of amazingly talented, supportive, FUN women. We began sharing our milestones on the journey to publication--agent requests, finaling in other contests, finishing our WIP, and, of course, sales.

Right out of the gate, fellow-Pixie Beth Trissel announced a sale to The Wild Rose Press (a really cool e-publisher that has EVERY genre you'd ever want to read in an instant-gratification format!). We congratulated her. Then she announced another sale. And another. And another. Four sales in the space of a few weeks, all to The Wild Rose Press.

You don't get to that level of accomplishment without discipline, talent, and years of hard work. Beth's first novel, Somewhere My Love, hit the digital bookshelves last Friday. I couldn't wait to get her on my blog to talk about writing, her beloved Virginia mountains, and the all important Stiletto Vs. Flip-Flops question.

When did you start writing novels, and what made you choose to pursue publication?

12+ (I don’t like the number 13) years ago, I ventured beyond the short vignettes of country life I’d penned, into the vast realm of historical romance. This came about as a result of my intense absorption with the past and research into my early American English/Scots-Irish roots. And my being a hopeless romantic. The long time pursuit of publication came about as a natural urge to share my stories with the world.

You are one of the most prolific authors I know. How do you manage writing so much (and across different genres too!)?

Once I’m into a story, both the research and the writing, I get obsessed. Some friends and family might call it ‘possessed’ but I stick with it like a tenacious sled dog until journey’s end.

One of your greatest strengths as an author (in my opinion) is your ability to write breath-taking descriptions. What do you use as inspiration for these?

From the very first RWA chapter contest I entered, where the bemused judge told me I broke every rule, I’ve been complimented on my descriptions. I think this ability flows from my knowing so well the places and people I’m describing. So far, my settings have been Virginia and the Carolinas, particularly my beloved mountains. In Somewhere My Love, the setting is an old Virginia plantation home. Not only have I visited a number of these, but I grew up making frequent treks to our old family home, called Chapel Hill (circa 1816). Also, I have a natural feel for early America, in addition to having done copious research, and in Virginia we are steeped in history, so it’s second nature to me.

The Wild Rose Press recently released your first novel. How does it feel to be a published author?

Mind-numbing. But exciting.

Can you describe your novel for us?

Somewhere My Love is a murder mystery/ghost story romance with flashbacks to early nineteenth century Virginia and Hamlet parallels. I like to think it’s unique.

Your work is available in digital download, the technology that is currently taking the publishing world by storm. What formats are available?

Initially the Wild Rose Press reserves its new releases for sale exclusively at TWRP site for the first month or two as digital downloads. These are available in Adobe (pdf) MS Reader (lit) and Web (HTML). To download Somewhere My Love on a laptop or pc, go with the pdf format. After its debut at TWRP, ‘Somewhere’ will journey on to all the major online booksellers, including Sony with whom TRWP has recently signed a deal and will also wind up as Kindles at Amazon.


Having played with a friend’s Kindle, I can tell you it’s as easy to use as a paperback, with the added benefit of being able to enlarge the text, highlight or do searches for passages, and instantly download more books without ever leaving your couch! What are some benefits you see to digital downloads?

Many. They are usually cheaper than print and can be downloaded anywhere in the world, saving on prohibitive shipping costs. They are ‘green’ and save on paper. Because traditional New York publishers are so particular as to perceived market trends, many talented authors who don’t fit their notion of marketability are going to companies like The Wild Rose Press. This allows for a refreshing diversity of romance genres that NY would balk at. If you hunger for a time period, oh say, like Colonial America, and wonder where all those romance books have gone, come on over to TWRP. Their motto is if it’s a good romance, then it fits, and they find a niche among their many lines for well-written stories of all lengths and heat levels (or the lack there of.)

Can die-hard paperback fans get a copy of your book that way too?

As of 2009, print books will be available in three months after the digital download comes out. Right now, the wait is six months. I have this wild and crazy notion that my fans should buy both. :)

I know you signed a contract for four books (wow!). What comes next?

I’m not sure if my Revolutionary War Romance novel Enemy of the King comes next or if my light paranormal romance novel, Daughter of the Wind, with a strong Native American element, will follow. They are both in final galleys. Through the Fire, my Golden Heart final, set in the colonial frontier at the height of the French and Indian War, is just heading into galleys. Let me just say that signing for four novels fairly close together and all the resulting editing, and, and, and, is a lot of work. Whew.

Okay, now for some random fun stuff:

Coke or Pepsi? Ginger ale is my soda of choice.

Secret (or not so secret) vice (mine is hot tamales!): Dark chocolate in any way, shape, or form.

If you could live in any time period, which would you choose? Colonial America. Big surprise there. I’m also taken with the Edwardian era.

The one piece of technology you couldn’t live without: My laptop and I are attached at the hip.

Stilettos or flip-flops? Fuzzy pink slippers and I love cozy socks. For out of doors, I’m a fan of various types of clogs.

Music or art? Music lover, particularly of stirring soundtracks from historical films or Celtic/New Age stuff that takes me from here to ‘there.’

Would you ever get a tattoo? What would it be? Never, I crave no unnecessary pain.

What historical event would you go back in time to witness? The angels filling the heavens and singing at the birth of Christ. I love angels.

Surprise me with something unexpected about you: I love random wit and am a huge fan of The Office.

Please leave questions or comments for Beth. She'll be checking in throughout the day. =) To learn more about Beth's writing, visit her site. To purchase Somewhere My Love (which is on a 10% off SALE right now!!), go here.

Mid-Week Madness

Random facts you don't yet know about me (unless you're one of the few who read my thoughts on a regular basis):

1. C.J. is not the name on my birth certificate but over the last few years, it's become the name almost everyone uses for me.

2. I get asked often what C.J. stands for and, of course, I tell the truth: Calamity Jane.

3. One of my friends started calling me Cieje (pronounced "siege") because apparently the last "ay" sound is just too much to get out.

4. The other day, someone at work called me the Ciejinator and that is taking Ridiculous to previously unexplored heights.

5. I read The Lord of the Rings trilogy when I was in fourth grade and loved it.

6. I wrote my first story in second grade.

7. I was the last kid in the first grade to learn how to read.

8. While I've never run with scissors, I have, on several occasions, nearly put out an eye.

9. Usually someone else's.

10. I like pepper more than salt.

11. I think white chocolate is one step above green beans. Nasty.

12. I almost always have a candle burning in my kitchen.

13. I played clarinet in junior high and high school band and was once invited to play in the state band.

14. I once played the part of a Holocaust prisoner in a theatrical rendition of The Hiding Place.

15. I was also one of the "Pick-A-Little" ladies in The Music Man.

16. I've seen Phantom of the Opera twice (in L.A.) and would love to see it again in NYC.

17. I don't understand the motivation to bungee jump.

18. When I write poetry or song lyrics, the entire thing either flows out within five or ten minutes or it never happens at all.

19. I love eating pomegranates.

20. I once tried out for Wheel of Fortune and failed...but that's a post for another day.

Which Crayola Crayon Are You?

Today is Creative Writing Wednesday at Swords & Stilettos. We're using color to describe ourselves. :) Come play.