New Year, New Day

My writing is going pretty much on hold for this year.  I will be working on my artwork.  So ta ta for now...maybe I'll write by blogging about my artwork...hmmm...kill two birds...

Quick Book Review

Our book group is reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The main character, Juliet, can't help falling in love with the people on Guernsey Island, and the authors help their readers fall in love with them, as well.  Writing the book through letters enables the author to let the reader get into the heads of many different characters.  Even though they are quirky and have some strange things to say, the characters are endearing, and the reader develops a true empathy 

for the perilous situation they faced being occupied by the Germans during WWII. If you love book groups and understand the difficulty of writing, you will love this book.

As a side note, I was reading a blog chain where the authors talk about who started their dream of writing.  I love the concept.  I began thinking about this and realized that there were many authors that I loved reading, and I'm sure they had some influence.  However, it wasn't until taking an AP English class that I got the bug.  We wrote an essay a week, and I found that I enjoyed analyzing people and writing about their varied character traits.  I had always kept a journal (probably one sign that I enjoyed writing), but had never really used writing as a craft.  I wrote quite a few short stories after high school, and during college wrote something that I planned on developing into a novel.  However, life took me in many directions, and I didn't start seriously writing again until after my children were all in school for the full day.  Since then, I've been writing off and on.  I've finished one book, and am working on its sequel, as well as another book.  I intended for them to be YA realistic fiction, but because I don't really involve the characters in "adult" activities, they are more for middle grade.

Anyway, so I can't really say that one author influenced me over another--but realistic fiction was definitely my favorite.  I loved Nancy Drew (not so realistic), the Little House series, the Betsy series, Anne of Green Gables, and any and all of the classics (which I didn't really get into until my first year out of high school).

Quick update

I noticed on Day 4 that I said I'd review the movie, "Babies."  

I didn't follow through with that, so here goes:

Babies was funny, cute, and worth the effort.  

However, if you feel tired or bored before watching it, 

you may not find it as enjoyable as it could be.  

Certain parts were hilarious, while others were touching.  

The interactions between the parents and their new babies 

in countries other than my own were enlightening, 

to say the least.  

Don't see the movie expecting great dialogue....

after all, the main characters are, well, babies.  

I recommend the movie to all--except for those viewers 

who have absolutely no interest in 

the most basic human interactions.

Bye!

A New Start

I'm not doing so well with this blogging thing.  

It has been an entire school year since I last wrote.  

Now that's unforgivable...

I thought I had gotten back into the swing of things and would 

begin writing again--it didn't happen.  

However, I'm happy to say that I've begun once again.  

I am on my second middle grade novel and am five chapters into it.  

It took some doing to sit in front of the computer screen and focus, 

but once the story got going, I couldn't stop writing....well, until all the 

end of the year foofaraw (fuss, in case you don't know that word :) ) started up.

Maybe the excitement over my sister's book spurred me back into it all.  

Publishing a book actually seems like an achievable goal 

after seeing what she has done.  

Her book is called Watched by Cindy M. Hogan.  

It is a young adult book that I recommend to those who like 

to read adventurous, thrilling books tinged with romance.  

Her first book signing is on June 8, 2011 at the 

Barnes & Noble in Layton, Utah from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.  

She will have other authors there, as well, including James Dashner.

I find it difficult to both write a book and 

write blogs and other things at the same time.  

I get too involved in what I am doing 

to make a side-trip to something else.  

We'll see what I can do in regards to that as the summer progresses.

Have fun reading!

Day Five

Three months have gone by without any new blogs....
Hopefully, I will be more diligent this school year.


I saw How to Train Your Dragon and was very impressed.  It is the best animated film I have seen in ages.  I didn't fall asleep during any of it---and that's saying a lot nowadays for me.  I fall asleep during plenty of shows.  I would recommend it for all ages, except those who may have nightmares after seeing, well, dragons :)


The new school year has begun, and my kids are all entrenched in their classes once more.  I have time to myself again to write and write and write.....


Time flies...

Day Four

Okay, so I haven't been too diligent on keeping up my blog.

I am editing a book I wrote a few years ago, so I haven't found much time to write anything else.

It's the end of the school year again, and my writing will again be put on hold a bit---well, maybe this summer I will set aside just a little of each day to write something.

I plan on seeing the movie, "Babies."  It sounds cute and interesting.  One reviewer gave it a thumbs down, but everyone else I've heard has said it was wonderful.  I'll see it and let you know what I think of it.


I'm spending most of my time going to kids' concerts, driving the kids to and fro, and trying to rest....


Life.

Day Three

Mother's Day is rapidly approaching.  How does a person let a mother know how much she is loved?  Presents seem to be the first thought.  Then there's the veritable Hallmark Card that says it all.  Or there's a phone call or a visit.  What is it that would matter most to a mother?

I remember when I was a child, we would get together with my mother's side of the family and spend a few hours having dinner, playing with the cousins, and relating life experiences with each other.  I don't actually remember anything I gave my mom, or anything the adults gave my grandmother.  Truly, the thing that has stayed with me is the relationships we built as cousins.  Of course, I was not a mother at the time.

Now that I am a mother, I find that I cherish the well thought out notes/letters/cards that my children have given me.  One in particular that my son made in second grade shocked me.  It listed the likes/dislikes, hobbies, personality traits, etc. that the children thought their mothers possessed.  When I read it, I saw that he had picked up on things that I had never voiced out loud.  He understood me much more than I could have ever dreamed.  I couldn't say the same thing for me understanding my own mother in such a way.

So I guess the written word maybe says it all to a mom--or does it?  All mothers are different.  Maybe one sees that the thought was in the gift that was given.  Perhaps another would much rather talk over the phone for awhile to feel special.  Many would enjoy the company of brothers or sisters, cousins and relatives.  In the end, all that can be done by the giver is a heartfelt show of love.  Whether it be done on the telephone, in person, with a gift, or words on paper, all love is a welcome gift.

Day Two

So day two has arrived and I am working at finding something to review or talk about.

For all of you cat lovers out there, I've decided to insert a picture of our family cat, Candy, when she was a kitten. We got her from the Humane Society almost a year ago and have loved having her.

For all who love cats but haven't gotten one because of allergies, I have a tip. Two of my children are very allergic (itchy eyes, etc.) whenever they pet neighborhood cats that are running around outdoors, but they are fine around our cat. She isn't long-haired, and we NEVER let her outside. Those two things seem to be the key to avoiding problems.