Thursday, July 26, 2007

Moaning Meme

Fellow writer and friend Marcia Mickelson tagged me for the "Moaning Meme" that's making the rounds. It originated over at freelancecynic.com, where the guy thinks our real selves are reflected through our moaning, not our thanks giving. I'm not entirely sure he's right, but let's give it a try.

5 people who will be annoyed you tagged them

Donna Hatch
Rebecca Nichols
Lisa Williams
Monti Knudsen
Greg Ward

4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth
4-inch heels
Car dealership ads on TV with screaming pitchmen
Campers who leave fires still alive when they go home
Drunk drivers

3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently
Shake children
Sexually abuse children
Smoke just outside the entrance to buildings so you have to walk through their putrid cloud

2 things you find yourself moaning about
The possibility that skunks might be living under my house
My own procrastination

1 thing the above answers tell you about yourself
I don't like thoughtlessness or skunks

Rules:
Link to the original meme at freelancecynic.com so people know what it's all about!
Be as honest as possible, This is about letting people get to know the real you!
Try not to insult anyone - unless they really deserve it or are very, very ugly!
Post these rules at the end of every meme!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Author Interview: Janette Rallison

Today it's my great privilege to present Janette Rallison as my first interviewee. Janette has published 11 novels, and her 12th, How to Take the Ex out of Ex-boyfriend was released last month.

Welcome, Janette!

1) What made you start writing?
A combination of an active imagination, boredom, and just the plain old need to express myself on paper.

2) How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
I've been writing since before I could write. My first book I dictated to willing and not so willing adults. I started to get serious about publishing something when I joined ANWA. (American Night Writers Association--That sounds like a motorcycle gang when you say it out loud but it's really made up of nice sweet church ladies.) Every one else seemed serious about submitting things and I suddenly realized I could too. My first book was published in 1996.

3) What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?
I always have some idea where the story is heading and how it will end. The more I've written, the more I rely on plotting out things ahead. It saves a lot of rewriting along the way. (When you get contracts suddenly time becomes a big issue. You have deadlines to meet and can't wait around for inspiration to develop the story for you.) That doesn't mean the story always goes the way I planned it though. A lot of times it doesn't, and that's okay too. As long as I think I know where it's going I can push ahead without fear.

4) How do you choose your characters' names?
For my heroine and hero I always choose names that I wanted to name my children but didn't, either because my husband wouldn't let me (What, you want a Sierra and a Savannah--will you call the next one Tundra?) or because I ran out of children. (Five is enough kids, but I had way more names that I liked.) I also let my children choose some of the minor characters names. All their friends have been in my novels at one point or another.

5) What type of writing schedule do you have?
I used to write during nap time. Then I moved onto the Dragon Tales/ Clifford hour, then I wrote while my kids were in preschool. My last child is going to kindergarten next year so I'll finally have more time to get things done. Wahoo!

6) How do you handle life interruptions?
Not very well. I can't write while the kids are around because they interupt me every two minutes and I can't keep my thoughts on track. Also, when big stressfull things happen in life, I also find it very hard to write. Years ago we had an adoption fall through and I couldn't write for about a year after that. That's one of the downsides to writing comedy. Sometimes you just don't feel like anything is funny.

7) Do you get blocked? Any hints on how to stave it off?
I lay Almond Joys out by my computer to lure my muse there.. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

8) What have you always dreamed of writing, but haven't yet?
Many things. My last mortgage check comes to mind. Also, I'd like to write some fantasy novels. One day I'll get to those.

9) What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
I love it when you're writing and things just come together, when the characters seem to act and talk of their own volition--and they're more clever and funny than you could ever hope to be. It's a feeling that you've somehow been involved in the magic we call creativity. My least favorite thing about writing is being blocked and feeling like nothing is working and everything I write is awful. Also, I'm not a big fan of self promotion. I would rather sit in front of the computer--actually I would rather go to the dentist-- than walk into book stores, introduce myself to employees, and ask them to please, please, please carry my books.

10) What is your next project?
I need to write a short story for a compilation book, (No clue what to write . . . and yes, right now there is an empty candy bar wrapper sitting beside my computer) I need to edit my last completed manuscript, tentively being called: Last Wish, and I need to figure out the plot for my next book and get busy on that.

11) What is your advice for other writers?
Read. Read. Read. (In fact, read my books and maybe I won't have such a hard time convincing local bookstores to carry them.) Read writing books, go to writing conferences, and look into joining a writers' critique group. Then write. Write. Write and don't stop.

12) Tell us about your new book, How to Take the Ex out of Ex-boyfriend.


I'm always horrible at summing up my own books. After eleven years you'd think I'd come up with some concise answers because I'm always getting asked this question, but no, when people ask me I usually stutter out something completely lame like: Uh . . . it's about this girl . . .

Here is the descriptions from a review at Bookloons.com:

"Giovanna's life is far from perfect, but she does have one thing going for her: her sweet, caring, and incredibly handsome boyfriend Jesse. The rest of her existence is filled with fighting with her step-mom and doing community service for a crime she did not commit, although the recovered evidence points to her. Things go from bad to worse, though, when her twin brother Dante challenges the most popular boy in school, Wilson, in the upcoming student president campaign and Jesse becomes Wilson's campaign manager. When she presses him for an explanation, all Jesse will tell her is that Wilson called in a favor. Furious at Jesse for being used by the opposing candidate, Giovanna breaks up with him and agrees to be Dante's campaign manager. After a few days, Giovanna begins to regret her rash decision as she realizes she still wants to be with Jesse. Now Giovanna and her friends must help get Dante elected while trying to get the opposing campaign managers back together."

Janette, I understand you're running a contest to celebrate the release of How to Take the Ex out of Ex-boyfriend.

Yes, in honor of my newest book, I'm starting a Dish-out-dirt-on-your-Ex contest. We'll call it "The Good, The Bad, and The Oh So Ugly." Write a paragraph or two or three on why your boyfriend was either 1) a total jerk or 2) a real cool guy, despite the fact that the two of you are no longer together.

Send your stories to: jrallisonfans@yahoo.com. (I may do some editing if they're too long.) Also let me know if you want your name used with the story. After I get a sufficient quantity of stories, I'll post the best ones on my website. Then I'll choose a winner who will receive a signed copy of Ex-boyfriend, which let me tell you right now is a very cool story, even if they didn't put the cover that I wanted on the book. (see Photo Shoot on my website for that story)

Thank you for the interview, Janette.

It was fun!

Please go visit Janette's website at JanetteRallison.com to find out about her other tremendously funny books. She also writes Janette Rallison's Blog.

Books by Janette Rallison:
Deep Blue Eyes and Other Lies
Dakota's Revenge
Trial of the Heart
Masquerade
Playing the Field
All's Fair in Love, War, and High School
What the Doctor Ordered
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Free Throws
Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List
It's a Mall World After All
How to Take the Ex out of Ex-boyfriend

Coming Fall 2007
Revenge of the Cheerleaders

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

About that second thing

A couple of weeks ago, I said that I had a project about ready to go. Life, as it always does, intervened.

Tomorrow I will begin a series of Author Interviews. My first guest will be Young Adult author Janette Rallison, whose latest book, How to Take the Ex out of Ex-boyfriend, hit the bookstores last month.

See you tomorrow!

Friday, July 13, 2007

The Whitney Awards

I finally got off my duff and donated to the Whitney Awards Academy, which funds not only the awards themselves, but publicity and handouts that will be, well, handed out, during the LDS Bookseller's convention in August.

What motivated me was a darling post on Six LDS Writers and a Frog, a blog I read every day. Kerry Blair is one of my favorite LDS writers, and a warm, witty, and smart person. She's one of the kindest people I know in all the world, and I love her dearly! Thanks for the reminder, Kerry!

By the way, the Whitney categories have changed slightly since the initial announcement. A YA/Children's lit category has been added. This, of course, makes the financial burden of funding an additional award heavier. Won't you donate to the Whitneys, too? Here's a handy link you can click on if you missed the last one:

DONATE TO THE WHITNEY AWARDS ACADEMY HERE

Thank you.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

A Good Review

Wow! I checked out the local newspaper website and found this review of the play I was in at the end of June. Photo included, with me front and center! With my trips out of town--Casa Grande and Mesa, I hadn't keep up with the paper. Bad me!

Thanks, Mikey!

Sleepin' Through the Heat

I went to Mesa yesterday to visit the doctor. That means today I'm wiped out by a reaction to the heat down there.

One of the things I mentioned to the doc is that I'd had some recent lethargy, but it was probably due to the 107.6 degrees F (!!!!) we had in my little mountain home on July 4th. He replied that he gets the most complaints of fatigue from his patients during the month of June, when the Valley has its hottest summer days. I told him I'd instituted siesta time during the hottest part of the day, and he thought that was a great idea.

Mostly I went in to get my medications renewed. but found out that the top number of my blood pressure is too high. I almost freaked when he told me what it is, as I feared a stroke. He said the bottom number is the one that indicates a danger of stroke. He's not prescribing medication, since the bottom number is right where it should be. He doesn't want to mess with that, as I'd face light-headedness if it went down too far.

Instead, he said the dreaded words "lose weight," along with "less salt." I admit, I've been craving potato chips lately, but I try to be aware and beware of salty foods. Anybody want my stash of Cup-o-Noodles?

Losing weight means eating less and exercising more. Oh boy! I'm trying to cut high-calorie stuff out of my food groups (good-bye, ice cream!) and substitute more veggies. Does anyone have any suggestions for recipes that don't pump up the heat in the kitchen?

My preferred exercise is walking and the doctor is fine with me doing that. However, it's too hot outside just now to walk--95.7 degrees F. I'll have to get up and get outside early in the morning to do that. Where are our monsoon rains?

Well, it's siesta time. See you later!

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Tag! I'm It!

Marcia Mickelson tagged me, so here's my contribution.

If I tagged you, remove the blog from the top, move all the blogs up one, and add yourself to the bottom. You have to copy and paste the whole thing into a Word document (or whatever) and use it as a template for your own version.

The Lyon's Tale
Sundial in the Shade
Not Entirely British
Marcia Mickelson
Writer in the Pines

Here are my responses.

What were you doing ten years ago?
We were preparing to attend a mega family reunion. Four of the siblings would caravan from the west to Missouri. There we took in the LDS sites, then met other members of my family in Ohio. In Greater Cleveland, over 100 cousins descending from a common ancestor couple saw sites with paternal side family history significance. Then we all went to western New York State to commemorate the maternal side of the couple. After attending the Hill Cumorah Pageant, we split up to go home. Our own family went to Pittsburgh to visit my husband’s side of the family. We swung down through Washington DC, then visited my sons’ mission fields on the way home. A couple of months after we got home, my husband was diagnosed with an aggressive terminal cancer. I was glad we had made the trip.

What were you doing one year ago?
I was recuperating from weeks of rehearsals for and four performances of the melodrama put on by my church. I played the ingénue, that is, the young female lead, at the age of sixty, complete with a hoop skirt and a bow in my blonde wig. What fun I had!

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Tropical fruit mix straight from the can
2. “Cowboy cookies” from a local grocery store
3. Mr. Goodbar candy bars
4. Fresh strawberries
5. Tortilla chips and salsa

Five songs you know all the lyrics to:
1. I Am a Child of God
2. Army of Helaman
3. I Stand All Amazed
4. Deep Water
5. Sweet Caroline

Things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Buy a house on my own land
2. Hire a personal trainer
3. Get liposuction, then skin reduction surgery(ies)
4. Travel, particularly to England
5. Establish trust funds for my grandkids

Five bad habits:
1. Eating after 8 p.m.
2. Staying up late
3. Not exercising
4. Reading blogs instead of writing
5. Spritzing whipped cream into my mouth right from the can

Five things you like to do:
1. Read
2. Write
3. Blog
4. Watch movies
5. Watch TV

Things you will never wear again:
1. Maternity dresses
2. Stiletto heels
3. Capri pants
4. Shorts
5. Too-tight earrings

Five favorite toys:
1. Computer
2. Microwave
3. Digital camera
4. Cool software
5. DVD player

Where will I be in ten years?
I hope I’m still living in my community, able to drive myself everywhere I want to go, able to write novels and blog. Maybe in that house on my own land?

People to tag:
Faith St. Clair
Loralee Evans
Liz Adair

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

This is Not a Patriotic Essay*

I've never before been with someone when they coded.

My sister had surgery on Monday the 2nd of July. The surgeon removed 2 1/2 organs and did a repair.

Yesterday was walking day--the first day post-op, when it's good for the patient to get out of bed, briefly, to keep the lungs clear and prevent blood clots from forming.

F, the handsome, shaved-headed Latino nurse, successfully got her onto her feet even though she said she couldn't do it, that she felt faint. She sat back down. He persisted, and she finally stabilized herself enough to get up, take a few steps to the window, then back again. She seemed to have her eyes shut a lot of the time.

When she got back to the bed, she sat, then her eyes rolled and she went limp.

F caught her and yelled out for the other nearby nurse. They called a code.

The rest is somewhat of a blur. I got myself and my stuff out of the room as fast as I could, knowing that a crash cart was coming. The room wasn't big enough for me, my computer roller, the bedside chair, and the 10 or 15 people who came to answer the alarms and quiet "Code Blue in ICU." Knowing the code is for your loved one is weird!

I had the most surreal feeling watching from the hall. I wasn't frightened--she'd been assured in a priesthood blessing that her trials would be as a small moment. That, of course, could go either way, but God is in the details.

I did pray. I reminded God of the blessings she had had. I told Him how much her disabled husband needed her, as well as her children and grandchildren. I reminded Him that her grandson was absolutely positive that she would be all right, since he had fasted and prayed for her. His young faith didn't need to be shaken, I told God, particularly since he's in a less-than-ideal home environment.

Someone asked me if I wanted to go sit in a waiting room instead of standing in the hall. I chose to do that, and she led me to the Consultation Room. I suppose that's where people sign consent forms for donating their loved ones' organs, but that's another story.

The kindness of the personnel brought me to tears, but I was remarkably calm throughout.

When order was restored, my sister was sent for a CT scan of her chest to check if she had "thrown" any pulmonary embolisms, that is, if any clots had moved into the blood vessels of her lungs.

F mentioned a possible cause of Sis passing out as something that on the fly sounded like "basil bagel." I think that's "basal," and there might be a "v" in there as well. I'll ask someone about the term later. I believe it has something to do with blood pressure.

I was asked to sign the consent to put dye into her blood system for good contrast on the CT scan. It might make her feel warm afterward.

F told me later that it was a questionable code but they had to call it--I suppose because that gets the personnel the patient needs together really really quickly, and that's good. He said she had a pulse throughout, but the problems were her not breathing, some tachycardia, and general lack of responsiveness.

My sister doesn't know why she got a code called on her. She wonders why all the excitement over a fainting episode. Because of her pre-op anxiety, I've downplayed the event to her. I won't be the one to tell her she was in the vicinity of passing over.

Sister's husband called me a guardian angel. I'm just glad I was there to keep her calm.

* Here's an excellent one.
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