Guest Blogger Cindy Green

Please help me welcome today's special guest blogger, Cindy Green. Cindy is an author who writes in several genres, so she definitely has something for everyone. I've asked Cindy a few questions and I think you'll enjoy reading her answers. Take it away, Cindy!

Q: Welcome to The World According to Liz. First, can you tell us a little about you and your books?

Hi Liz! Well, I was born in California and moved almost four years ago to North Carolina. I’ve been married for 14 years and have two boys. Previous to my writing career, I was a middle school teacher. I taught just about every subject with degrees in both history and education. I am now a stay at home mom and a homeschooler. I write in several genres: Contemporary, Inspirational, Romantic Suspense, Fantasy and Historical. I love to read them—love to write them. To date I have ten book titles of varying lengths from three different publishers. In my spare time, (ha) I love reading, photography, scrapbooking, Period Dramas, and spending time with family.

My most recent releases have been historicals. I have a steamy little historical western called The Heart Never Lies from Champagne Books. I’m new to this genre and I just had so much fun with it. Long and Short Reviews called it, "An Exceptional Read." And You Gotta Read Reviews gave it a "Need to Read" rating: Cindy K. Green was able to give us human emotion, love, lust, and adventure in a very well written novella. It's hard to imagine that in 28 very short pages The Heart Never Lies had it all.

Here is the blurb: When ranch hand Beau Tucker announces his intent to leave the Double C for California, Kit McCauley tells herself, "Good riddance." Unfortunately her heart isn’t quite in agreement with her head. Perhaps she’ll just have one more talk with the handsome cowboy before he disappears out of her life forever.

Temperatures rise as their interlude is interrupted by an injured horse thief who shoots at Beau and kidnaps Kit. Will Beau be in time to save her or did the ruffian’s bullet ring true, bringing his young life to an end and forever keeping their revelations unsaid?

You can get a copy at Champagne Books and Fictionwise for just $1.00. Read an excerpt on my website: Cindy Green.

Dilemma of the Heart was my second release this year and it is also a historical. This time it’s a sweet historical taking place in post-Civil War Philadelphia. I loved writing this story. I have a degree in history and have done special research on this time period, so I’d always wanted to write a historical set at this time. Dilemma is the story of loss and making a decision that could affect the rest of your life. It is poignant, moving and yes, I threw in some sass as well. There is a full-length sequel in the works.

Here is the blurb:

Cassandra Huddleston has a dilemma. Her heart still resides with her sweetheart, Frederick Adair, reported as killed in action at the close of the Civil War. Now she has a new suitor, Emerson Bryce, powerful, attractive, and dominant; he usually gets what he wants. Cassandra must decide if she can forget the man of her heart and learn to love the man offering her a future.

As she struggles with her feelings, Cassandra is faced with the possibility that Frederick’s death might have been greatly exaggerated. If that is true, will Emerson be willing to let her go?

It’s available now at The Wild Rose Press. Read an excerpt on my website.


Q: When did you first start writing, and what inspired you?

I feel as if I’ve always been writing ever since I was a young girl. In fact, I used to write fun little stories for my younger brothers and sisters. (I’m the oldest of five.) I have a folder full of great stories I started throughout my junior high and teen years. In college, I was a history major and so my focus shifted to my non-fiction writing. In fact, I actually won some awards for my historical scholarship. Then I started teaching and there was no time for writing. When we moved to NC and I became a stay at home mom with a baby and a 2nd grader, I decided I needed something more. I started to write again and within the first year, I had a book contract.


Q: Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. I have a loud and busy household, so I have to work through the noise. I have to take whatever moments of time I have to write a little. In a perfect world, I sit at my desk with some inspiring music playing and write for several hours straight. But that doesn’t happen often.


Q: What's your writing schedule like?

When I’m on schedule, I write 2 nights a week without interruption (thanks to my hubby), a few hours on the weekend and whenever I can throughout the day. My mornings are busy with the boys, schooling, and household chores. In the afternoons, I try to get them set up with a project, reading, or a movie and I get a little writing done.


Q: What books are you reading right now for pleasure?

North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell (classic) This is favorite of mine. I try to read several classics a year.

Wizard of EarthSea (fantasy) by Ursula K. Le Guin

Masked by Moonlight (Historical Inspirational romance) by Allie Pleiter


Q: Who's your favorite author and why?

Without a doubt—Jane Austen. She’s been a favorite since I first read Pride and Prejudice as a twelve year old girl. Through the years I’ve come to appreciate and love her writing. Miss Austen had a special gift, a talent if you will, not just in writing but in knowing people. Think about it. Here is this prim and proper (though some would argue this point) Regency-era woman, unmarried, and coming from the middle of the social pool—and she has this uncanny ability to write the most terrific characters. She wrote characters to hate, laugh at, and fall in love with. Some of the other greats of classic literature also had this remarkable ability—Dickens, for instance, and Shakespeare. Think of their casts of characters that once read, will never be forgotten.

My favorite book from Austen is actually Persuasion. This is a second-chance love story, which is my very favorite kind. Throughout the entire book, these two characters are still in love with each other and the tension continues to build and build that they should be together. It is so romantic when the hero, Captain Wentworth, writes a letter to his lady love, Anne Elliot. “I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever.” It just gives me chills every time.


Q: What historical figure is your hero or heroine?

I love John and Abigail Adams. First of all, they were just a terrific couple. Both smart and caring for each other and the nation. Their letters to each other over the years are just heartwarming. They truly were in love, and they sacrificed so much for their country. They suffered great separations from each other, but always remained faithful. They were great patriots. Abigail should have been in Congress. Seriously! They were perfectly matched for each other. Abigail was John’s helpmate in so many ways at a time when he (and this nation) really needed one. A great pair and an inspiration to us all.


Q: What's your idea of a perfect man?

Oh Lord! Does one exist?? LOL! I love a Gamma man. Forget those overbearing Alphas and give me a Gamma. I love a man who can laugh and make me laugh. I love a smart, intelligent man, too. Put those two together and I’m lost. The great thing about a Gamma is that he can be sensitive and strong. He can exhibit the good characteristics of the Alpha and the Beta. I love a thoughtful man. One who surprises me on my birthday. Who brings me flowers for no other reason than "just because." A man who knows I need a break from the kids and sends me off on a girl’s night with my sisters. And honestly, that really is my husband. You gotta love him.


Q: What's your image of an ideal date with your perfect man?

Dinner at an expensive, dark and quiet restaurant. I love to dress up once in awhile. Then, off to the theater to see a show. Musical theater is my favorite, but I like the ballet, too. Afterward, some dessert and a walk outside with lots of time to talk and relax. Then, back to a bed and breakfast for the night.


Q: Can you give us a hint of what story you're working on next?

I am working on the sequel to Dilemma of the Heart. It’s called Emancipation of the Heart. I took the antagonist from Dilemma and made him the hero in the sequel. He was more the misunderstood type more than the dastardly villain. Though, he is all Alpha male for sure. This one is set entirely in Philadelphia in 1865 and I had to recreate the whole social set of that era. It really does feel like a Victorian-era novel.


Q: And finally, is there anything else you'd like to tell my blog readers?

Come by my website: Cindy Green to read more about me and my books. I also blog at Cindy's Musings. Join my newsletter. Not only will you get my news and an opportunity to join into subscriber-only contests, but I send out book recommendations and I have a quarterly Free Read serial story called "Valentine’s Challenge." In fact, if you send me an e-mail right now at newsletters@cindykgreen.com, I will send you all three parts of the story, along with the most recent newsletter.

Thanks for having me today!

Cindy

It's Tax Time!

Important free info available from my friend Julian Block. I hope you'll take advantage of sending for his free PDF file of tax info! There's tons of material in there to benefit writers and small business owners.

Liz

Does dealing with taxes strike terror into your heart--like being faced with calculus, which you never understood, or being asked to run in a marathon? Free help for taxophobes is available from Julian Block, a nationally recognized attorney and member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. He wrote the chapter on "Taxes and Deductions" for "The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing" and has been cited as “a leading tax professional” (New York Times), "an accomplished writer on taxes," (Wall Street Journal) and “an authority on tax planning” (Financial Planning Magazine).

E-mail julianblock@yahoo.com to request a complimentary PDF file. The file contains newspaper and magazine articles that offer clear, concise, uncomplicated and immediately useful advice on tax strategies. Learn what to do now to sidestep pitfalls and take advantage of frequently missed, perfectly legal opportunities that can save many thousands of dollars.

Julian Block is an attorney and syndicated columnist based in Larchmont, NY. He is a member of the New York Financial Writers Association and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. His books include “The Home Seller’s Guide To Tax Savings”; “Year Round Tax Savings”; “Travel And Moving Expenses;” “Tax Tips For Small Businesses: Savvy Ways For Writers, Photographers, Artists And Other Freelancers To Trim Taxes To The Legal Minimum;” and “Marriage And Divorce: Savvy Ways For Persons Marrying, Married Or Divorcing To Trim Their Taxes To The Legal Minimum.” For information about his books, visit www.julianblocktaxexpert.com.

Finding Jesus

I just couldn't resist sharing this:


more animals

It gave me such a huge laugh! Who knew? ;-)

Guest Blogger Emily Bryan

Please help me welcome my guest blogger today, Emily Bryan, author of "Vexing the Viscount." If you want to learn a little about the historical background to her story, read on...you'll love it. And one lucky commenter will win a copy of "Vexing the Viscount"...so be sure to check it out below.

Liz

The South Sea Stock Swindle


VEXING THE VISCOUNT by Emily Bryan


Move over, Madoff! Long before that Wall Street hustler took his customers for a “ponzi” ride, there was the South Sea Stock Swindle. I like to use real historical events in my back stories, so that total economic collapse in Georgian England is part of the back story for my upcoming VEXING THE VISCOUNT.

When I ran across the South Sea debacle in my research, I knew I could use it to set up some basic conflicts in my story. Money is one of the most divisive things on earth. All I had to do was put my hero and heroine on opposite sides of the stock crash.

I wanted to use Daisy Drake, one of the orphans from PLEASURING THE PIRATE as my heroine. And because we know her as a child, I decided it would be fun if she also knew the hero as a child. Turns out Lucian Beaumont and his father visited Daisy’s family in the summer of 1720. Lord Montford tried to convince Daisy’s uncle to invest his newly discovered pirate’s gold in the South Sea Company. Daisy’s uncle refuses. Loudly. The South Sea Company intended to trade in slaves to the emerging South American nations and Gabriel Drake will not invest a cent in a slaver. Lucian’s father storms out and Daisy isn’t even able to say goodbye to the dark eyed boy who stole her heart.

When the South Sea Company crumbles and Lucian’s father is ruined, he holds a deep-seated grudge against all things Drake. Fast forward to 1731. Lucian is trying to restore his family’s fortune. He has discovered some Roman ruins on his father’s estate and hopes to follow the clues to an ancient Roman payroll that went astray. Daisy is a Latin whiz and would love to help him, but his father’s resentment makes it hard for Lucian to accept her. So by night, she masquerades as the French courtesan, Blanche La Tour, with an offer to help in the excavation. By day, Daisy plays the bespectacled Rowena Clavenhook to keep Lucian’s father from realizing he has a Drake on his property.

Playing at being a courtesan is playing with fire and Daisy is in real danger of being burned. Lucian is attracted to both Daisy and Blanche and suspicious of the similarities between them. How far will she go to prove that she’s a “woman of pleasure”? And if he gets involved with Daisy, how will he explain to his father that he’s smitten by Gabriel Drake’s niece?

So many of the nobility were caught by the South Sea scheme. Even Sir Isaac Newton lost 20,000 pounds! If you’d like to learn more about the South Sea Stock Swindle, please visit my blog here. When our market was circling the bowl, I shared about this Georgian financial disaster. It helps to keep in mind that everything is cyclical and besides, as Daisy and Lucian learn, love is much more important than money.

I’ll be awarding a signed copy of VEXING THE VISCOUNT to one lucky commenter. Just post a comment or question today or tomorrow (Jan. 10 or 11) and first thing Monday morning, I’ll pick the winner! I look forward to hearing from YOU! Be sure to check back to see if your name is drawn.

Emily

Writing Workshop

The "How to Be Your Own Editor" Workshop is coming up on Monday, January 12.

WRDF's Online Workshop, The Tipping Point, Presents:

Bungee Jumping for Writers, or How to Be Your Own Editor

Editing for most writers is like diving off a bridge head-first with a large rubber band attached to their ankles…not a pretty sight.. Join Elizabeth Delisi as she shows you a less hazardous approach to self-editing.

In this three-day workshop, Elizabeth will cover seven areas that plague most writers.

Dialogue Dos and Don'ts
Flashbacks: How and When to Use Them
Jean's Jeans: The Difference between Possessives and Plurals
Which or That?
Do Your Chapter Endings Keep the Reader Reading?
Should the Author be a Know-It-All: Choosing Your POV
Trim (the Excess Words From) Your Prose

Join us for this terrific workshop:

Date: January 12-14

Price: WRDF Members $5.00

Non-Members $12.00

(Psst! Hint: WRDF membership is free. Go here to sign up: http://romancewriterandreader.ning.com/ )

There are still a few spots left, but they're going fast, so reserve your spot now!

Paypal Available

To register or for more info, contact Lynda at thetippingpoint@lyndacoker.com

Be there or be square!

Liz

Writing Resolution of 2009

It's that time of year again, when everyone makes resolutions for the New Year. I used to always vow to eat right, exercise, and lose weight. But it never seemed to happen, and I'd only end up depressed. So I've given up on those resolutions. ;-) Actually, if I'd just do the darn exercise, the other two would be fine as I eat fairly healthily. But I've yet to find an exercise I like...other than knitting, which I'm not sure counts. I tried to talk my husband into getting one of those Wii game systems, along with a "Dancing With The Stars" game, figuring that would be wonderful exercise that I'd actually enjoy. But so far, it hasn't materialized and I think Santa's not bringing it. Bummer.

So I've decided that at least I can make a writing resolution. I didn't get much writing done this year, thanks to a heavy teaching schedule, moderate editing schedule, and the aforementioned aversion to exercise. (Did I mention that making myself write is hard work? And if it's hard work, it must be exercise? See paragraph one for why this resolution doesn't work.) However, I think a writing resolution might work if it's done the right way.

This year, I went to several "write-ins" for NaNoWriMo. While I didn't reach the goal of 50,000 words, still, most of the writing I got done during the year was at those write-ins. A couple of women I met at write-ins and I have gotten together several times since to do our own version of write-ins, and it's been fun and inspirational. So my new resolution for 2009 is that I'll try to stick with a schedule of at least one or two write-ins per month where I'll actually get some writing done!

And to further that end, I'm branching out into not just one, but two new pen names, to write stories for Ellora's Cave and Amber Quill Press's Heat line. So if you see something by Lila Duprés at Ellora's Cave, or something by Liselle Divine at Amber Quill...hey, that's me! Just writing away, trying to keep my resolution.

What are your resolutions for the new year? Here's hoping you keep them!

Is Your Cat Plotting to Kill You?

Couldn't resist sharing this:

Advanced Novel, Romance Writing Workshops--save 10%

I have a couple of courses coming up that I'll be teaching for Writers Online Workshops, the online teaching division of Writer's Digest. Here are the details:

Advanced Novel Writing Workshop: Students who have completed a novel workshop now have the opportunity to continue working on their novel manuscripts with help from a published novelist and the encouragement and feedback of their peers. When you’ve completed this workshop, you will have written—and received feedback on—200 pages of your novel manuscript.

Throughout the workshop you’ll be able to participate in discussion with the instructor and the class in the Lecture Hall, and group critique sessions with other workshop members in the Critics’ Corner.

My section of this course starts December 4. For more info or to sign up, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=advanced-novel-Writing-workshop

Essentials of Romance Writing Workshop: Do you yearn to write a romantic story? If so, you need to know what sets romance writing apart from other types of fiction. This course explores why romance is the same, yet different. Some essential components of romance are unique to the genre, while some romance requirements are identical to those of any good fiction story. Neither Stephen King nor Tom Clancy could sit down and write a romance unless he first familiarized himself with the specific factors that create a successful romance. This workshop will help you to understand those specific factors that make up the specialized world of romantic fiction. Weekly lessons will address critical ingredients of romance writing so that you may create a new romantic story or—if you prefer—work with a story-in-progress.

Above all, a story of romance should whisk the reader away to a different place, a different life, a different reality. This workshop will show how a romance is put together to do just that—to allow the reader to escape from mundane cares. You'll learn how the hero of an action novel differs from the hero of a romantic novel. You'll learn the tricky business of putting your hero and heroine together and keeping them together-yet-apart until the story's close. You'll learn how to create the sexual tension that will have your readers turning the pages late into the night. What conventions must be followed and what rules can be broken for readers to embrace your work? You may be surprised!

The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises.

My section of this course starts December 4. For more info or to sign up, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=essentials-of-romance-writing

And, just because you read it here on my blog, you can save 10% on either workshop by using this code: ED9A

Hope to see you there!

Bungee Jumping for Writers, or How to Be Your Own Editor Workshop

Workshop Announcement from Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction, WRDF

WRDF's Online Workshop, The Tipping Point, Presents:

Bungee Jumping for Writers, or How to Be Your Own Editor

Editing for most writers is like diving off a bridge head-first with a large rubber band attached to their ankles…not a pretty sight. Join Elizabeth Delisi as she shows you a less hazardous approach to self-editing.

In this three-day workshop, Elizabeth will cover seven areas that plague most writers.

Dialogue Dos and Don'ts

Flashbacks: How and When to Use Them

Jean's Jeans: The Difference between Possessives and Plurals

Which or That?

Do Your Chapter Endings Keep the Reader Reading?

Should the Author be a Know-It-All: Choosing Your POV

Trim (the Excess Words From) Your Prose


Join us for this terrific workshop:

Date: January 12-14

Price: WRDF Members $5.00

Non-Members $12.00

(Psst! Hint: WRDF membership is free. Go here to sign up: http://romancewriterandreader.ning.com/)

Payment must be received ten days prior to workshop. Limited registration, so reserve your spot early)

Paypal Available

To register or for more info, contact Lynda at thetippingpoint@lyndacoker.com

Be there or be square!

A New Day Has Dawned

Couldn't resist this:



I do believe a new day has dawned for us and for the world.

Liz

How Many Have You Read?

Saw this on another blog. I'm not sure where this list of the top 100 books of all time came from, so I can't tell you what the criteria was. But I figured it was fun anyway! So feel free to post to YOUR blog and run with it.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien -- Loved it, loved the movies.
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling -- No interest, despite all the hoopla.
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible - Well, I've read large sections, but not all.
7 Wuthering Heights
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell -- Still gives me the creeps.
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens -- Dickens is a great writer of the human condition.
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy -- A sad book.
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare - Have read maybe half a dozen of his plays but not all.
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien -- Tried to talk a high school class into reading this for our chosen novel of the year, but no dice. I read it anyway.
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger -- Interesting spin on time travel.
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell And also loved Scarlett.
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy - Started. Not finished. Yet.
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky -- Hated it in high school. May try it again someday, but most Russian authors seem incredibly gloomy.
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown Hey, what can I say? I loved it.
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood -- One of my all time favorite books.
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert -- Interesting book, well done.
53 Cold Comfort Farm
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley -- So sad. Hope it doesn't come to pass.
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas -- Great book! And a lovely movie version with Richard Chamberlain.
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker -- Terrific story, definitely creepy.
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens -- Read it to the kids one year during December.
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -- Always fun. Loved the PBS version with Jeremy Brett.
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas -- Loves this too, as well as the movies with Michael York, Charleton Heston, Richard Chamberlain and Faye Dunaway.
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

So let's see...I've read 38 of them. I think. Naturally, I think there are many fine classics missing, and some on this list I'm not sure should be here. But hey, I didn't make up the list. I can always make up one of my own. ;-) What's your score?

Upcoming Writing Classes

I have two new courses starting at Writing Online Workshops, that I’d like to share with you. Maybe you’ll find one to your liking and decide to sign up!

Advanced Novel Writing Workshop, starting 9/11: The focus of this workshop is on writing and critiquing. The workshop consists of five three-week sessions. At the beginning of each session, you’ll submit 10,000 words (approximately 40 manuscript pages) to the instructor for review and for group critique. There will be no lectures, reading assignments or exercises for this workshop, but we’ll give you plenty of tips and reminders along the way. Plus, you’ll have full access to the Library and the Brain Spa for all the supplemental materials and creative exercises you want to take advantage of. Because you’ll be expected to submit your work at the beginning of each session, you should have your first 10,000-word submission AND a short synopsis of your novel (500 to 750 words maximum) prepared prior to the class start date. For more information or to register, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=advanced-novel-Writing-workshop

Writing the Novel Proposal, starting 9/18: Congratulations! For months, maybe years, you've worked diligently to craft well-rounded characters, map out every plot point and intricate sub-plot. You've researched your setting and made sure every detail is accurate. You've written and revised and revised some more and now—finally—your novel is finished. After you've taken a well-deserved break and toasted your accomplishment, it's time to find a home for your masterpiece. But just how, exactly, do you go about finding an agent or editor, and—even more important—getting one of them to say "yes"? If your goal is commercial publication, you need to know how to approach the market the way successful novelists do—with a professionally presented novel proposal.

At the conclusion of this workshop, you’ll have developed a proposal package to submit to agents or editors—including query/cover letter and synopsis. You’ll also revise and polish the opening chapters of your novel (up to 12,000 words) with your instructor's feedback. In addition, you'll identify appropriate potential editors and agents to send your proposal when you're finished.

This workshop consists of seven two-week sessions. Each session includes online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment specifically related to your novel, which will be submitted to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week of each session, work will be posted for group critique. Throughout the workshop, you can participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and group critique sessions, and you’re encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing exercises.

Please note: This workshop is ONLY for students with completed novel manuscripts; it is specifically intended to help you market your finished novel with the goal of commercial publication. For more information or to register, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=writing-the-novel-proposal

Hope to see you in one or both workshops!

Liz

Learn to Write a Mystery

Do you love reading a good mystery? Have you always wanted to write one? Writers Online Workshops offers an online workshop, "Essentials of Mystery Writing," starting August 14--and I'm teaching it! So I thought I'd pass along the info to you.

This workshop helps you construct a compelling mystery plot, develop fascinating characters, plant clues, and keep your readers turning the pages, eager to find out what will happen next. During the Essentials of Mystery Writing workshop, you’ll have the choice of creating a brand new mystery story from scratch, or working with a story you already have in progress.

The workshop consists of six one-week sessions. Each session includes online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, your work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop, you'll be able to participate in lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises.

To learn more or to sign up for the course, visit Writers Online Workshops.

Another upcoming workshop I'm teaching is "Fundamentals of Fiction Writing," starting August 28. Writing fiction can be an exciting and enjoyable creative outlet, giving voice to the characters who fill your imagination. Putting your fantasies on paper can be a satisfying exercise in and of itself. But at some point, if you're really serious about your fiction, you'll need to acquaint yourself with the techniques generations of fiction writers have used to bring their characters and stories to life. The goal of this workshop is to provide you with an understanding of these fundamental techniques and to encourage—-through the use of creativity exercises, hands-on writing assignments and constructive critical feedback—-the development of your individual style and creative expression.

You don't have to decide yet whether your ultimate goal is a collection of short stories or The Great American Novel, because the focus in this workshop will be on the development of effective creative writing techniques that can be applied to any long or short fiction form. You'll learn how to develop believable characters and let them speak—-and act-—for themselves. You'll learn how to set the stage, and make readers feel as if they're right there with your characters. You'll learn the basics of plot—-enough to prepare you to tackle any kind of fiction project.

This workshop consists of six two-week sessions. Each session includes online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with writing assignments incorporating the techniques learned in the session, which you'll submit to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week of each session, your work will be posted for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop, you'll be able to participate in lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises.

To learn more or to sign up for the course, visit Writers Online Workshops.

Hope to see you at one or the other--or both!

Book Meme

Found something I thought would be fun to try, with a bit of modification to make it more interesting. Ready? Set? Here we go!

Book Meme:

1. Pick up your favorite book if you're a reader; if you're an author, grab your favorite book of all those you've written.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth complete sentence on that page. (Don't count sentences that began on the previous page.)
4. Starting with that fifth sentence, post the next five sentences on your blog, along with the book info, these instructions, and link back to where you saw it.

That's all there is to it. Simple, eh?

So here's my try at this. It's from my time-travel romance set in ancient Egypt, LADY OF THE TWO LANDS (available here: http://www.amberquill.com/LadyTwoLands.html):

"What is a circus, Majesty?" Senemut asked, frowning.

"It is held in a tent...there are many strange animals and performers...food is sold and parents bring their children to see..." She waved her arms helplessly. "I cannot describe it better. It is like a festival, I suppose."

~~~~~~~~

Hope you have fun with this!

Liz

Check out my Slide Show!

Upcoming Chats

I have a couple of chats scheduled...and somehow, they're both scheduled for April 22! Sheesh. My brain sometimes goes on strike without warning. ;-)

Luckily, they're both all-day chats, so I won't have any trouble being a presence on both. Here's the info:

Chat #1: Join me at the Loves Romances Café Yahoo loop: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveromancescafe for a day of fun chatting about my books, a contest or two, questions and answers, blurbs and excerpts, and lots of gossip. Be there or be square!

Chat #2: Come talk to the authors of the ONE TOUCH BEYOND paranormal anthology. Elizabeth Delisi, also the author of "Since All Is Passing" and "Lady of The Two Lands"; Chris Grover, also the author of "Where's Michelle" and "Without A Clue"; Kim Cox, also the author of "Suspicious Minds"; Maureen McMahon, also the author of "Shadows in the Mist" and "Return of the Gulls"; Sheryl Hames Torres, also the author of "Enigma." Where: Latte Lounge at Coffee Time Romance Forums, http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=435 When: All day. Five authors, contests, and lots of fun! Hope to see you there.

Liz

New Reviews for ONE TOUCH BEYOND

Two new reviews have come in recently for the paranormal anthology I have a story in, ONE TOUCH BEYOND. My story is called "Restless Spirit." Here are snippets from the two reviews, with links to the entire thing if you want to read it all:

Restless Spirit by Elizabeth Delisi
Laura St. Clair has lost everything that matters. Her husband died a couple of years ago, she lost her son six months ago and she is at a loss on what to do now. While packing up her son’s belongings she discovers an Ouija board and plays with it just for fun. She is shocked when it starts moving on its own, apparently someone named Rafe wants her to contact his brother and she is hoping he can contact her son, Brian. Unfortunately, neither Laura nor Rafe are spirits. What does it mean?

This is a wonderful story. Laura is a courageous woman looking for anything to bring her peace and contentment after the loss of her family. This story has a enjoyable twist and I don’t want to give anything away so trust me when I say it is good.


This anthology was great and one of my favorites. Each of the stories is unique, interesting and entertaining. I was only familiar with two of these authors but I enjoyed all of the stories so I would definitely read other works by all of the authors featured in this anthology. This book is a keeper in my opinion. -- 4.5 stars

Read the whole review here: http://manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=reviews&bookid=673

~~~~~~~~~~

This anthology has five stories to keep you up late at night. Of the five, my favorite was Restless Spirit by Elizabeth Delisi. At the end of this story, I had goose bumps on my arms. It was a reality skewer, and very well done...All in all, I really enjoyed myself “One Touch Beyond.” -- 3.75 hearts

Read the whole review here: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1500


~~~~~~~~~~

To buy your own copy of ONE TOUCH BEYOND, visit Cerridwen Press here:

http://cerridwenpress.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419914812

Enjoy!

Liz

Developing Your Story With Tarot Workshop

***Permission to Forward Granted***

Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Academy is proud to announce an upcoming online workshop for March.

Workshop Title: I Predict A New Story In Your Future: Developing Your Story With The Tarot

Presenter: Elizabeth Delisi

Date: March 17 - 31

Description: Are you looking for new ways to breathe life into your outlining process, your plots, your characters? If so, have we got the course for you! Elizabeth Delisi, a.k.a. Madame Liz, will teach you how to use the ancient art of the Tarot to develop stories, plots and subplots, heroes, heroines and villains, and more. You'll learn the history of the Tarot, how to choose a deck, how to read the cards, and how to use those readings to develop and improve your writing.

There will be four lectures, four assignments to be posted to the list for all to comment on, and naturally all questions will be answered.

Outline: Lecture One: History of the Tarot, and Choosing a Deck;
Lecture Two: How to Read Tarot;
Lecture Three: Using Tarot to Develop A Plot;
Lecture Four: Creating Characters With Tarot

About the Presenter: Elizabeth Delisi has wanted to be a writer since she was in first grade, and probably would have written in the womb if she could have convinced her mother to swallow a pencil. But life hasn't always gone the way she planned, and on her road to publication she worked as a motel maid, waitress, secretary, administrative aide, substitute teacher, and newspaper reporter.

Elizabeth's novels include a FATAL FORTUNE, first in the Lottie Baldwin paranormal mystery series; LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, a time-travel romance; and SINCE ALL IS PASSING, a suspense. She's written contemporary and paranormal romance novellas for ONE TOUCH BEYOND; ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS; HOLIDAY HEARTS; HOLIDAY HEARTS 2; and CUPID'S CAPERS, and has also published two short story collections, MIRROR IMAGES and PENUMBRA. In addition to her writing, Elizabeth edits for several small publishers and individuals, and teaches online writing courses for Writer's Digest.

Elizabeth lives in New Hampshire with her husband, dog and cat. She enjoys hearing from her readers at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.com and invites everyone to visit her website at www.elizabethdelisi.com.


Deadline to sign up for this workshop: March 14


Fee: $10 CHRW members; $15 non-members. RWA Membership isn't required; anyone can take our courses. Celtic Hearts members receive 2 free workshops a year.

Where to sign up: http://www.celtichearts.org/chwksp.html Please fill out the online form.



Liz

One Touch Beyond available now

Just a quick note to let you all know ONE TOUCH BEYOND is now available! I hope you'll all check it out at Cerridwen Press and let me know how you like it!
Liz



One Touch Beyond is now on sale!




One Touch Beyond
Elizabeth Delisi, Maureen McMahon, Kim Cox, Sheryl Hames Torres, Chris Grover

Restless Spirit By Elizabeth Delisi
Laura St. Clair lost her eight-year-old son to a rare disease and lost her desire to live along with him. When she tries to reach the spirit of her son with a Ouija board, she makes contact with something--but what? Can the mysterious entity she's tapped into bring her news of her son, and if so, what will he expect from her in return?

Believing in Dreams By Chris Grover
Nicole James has always believed in dreams. So after her mom dies and she dreams about a house she's seen in an old photo and an elderly woman who beckons to her and says "Nicole! Finally! I was so worried you wouldn't get here in time," she has to check it out.

Enigma By Sheryl Hames Torres
When Brace Adams stumbles upon a grisly murder scene, he never expects to doubt the guilt of the prime suspect, nor does he expect her to capture his heart. Blind Amy Cassidy has been waking up beside brutally
murdered men since she was five years old, with no memory of how she got there or what has happened. Can Brace protect Amy from the force that is controlling her life or will he become the next victim?

Get Out or Die! By Kim Cox
Lana Malloy's Private Investigating-Mediator business is booming. Lana helps a widow communicate with her late husband and learns of a frightening ability she wasn't aware she possessed an ability that could give the spirit the upper hand if she's not careful. Knowing this next case will be more difficult than anything she's ever faced, Lana
struggles for control when she encounters an angry ghost who doesn't want to leave and who doesn't want the occupants of the house to stay. Does she have other abilities she can rely on to save her?

'Neath Hallowed Halls and Ivied Walls By Maureen McMahon
Stacey Christian and Peter Mansfield come together again to attend the funeral of their beloved Harvard history professor, Bertram Donelson. Stacey's emotional stint as a reporter in Afghanistan and Peter's exhausting high-profile business takeover make them even more vulnerable to the romantic chemistry that's always been between them. Little do they know their old alma mater holds an evil and deadly secret that will propel them into a whirlwind of ghostly, shocking and even deadly experiences. Will this adventure be enough to finally bring their love to fruition?


Genre : Romance - Paranormal
Book Length: 5 Person Anthology

http://www.cerridwenpress.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419914812

Guest Blogger Elaine Hopper

Please help me welcome today's guest blogger, romance author Elaine Hopper!

Below you'll find an interview with Elaine, and more info about her many fabulous books. Do check them out.

Liz

Q: Elaine, thanks so much for being my guest today. Can you tell us a little about you and your books?

A: Thank you, Liz. I'd be delighted to. I write primarily comedy romance, but also some suspense and a paranormal. Over The Moon/My Baby Too (anthology) and Double Dare are available at Awe Struck. My story "Curse of Osiris" is part of the Enchanted Holidays anthology available at Cerridwen Press.


Q: When did you first start writing, and what inspired you?

A: I think I was a born writer. I began writing short stories when I was six, so almost as long as I can remember. I used to write stories for my Dad. There was one about a flying Sphinx. I wish I'd saved it.

Q: If only you'd known then what you know now! Tell me, do you have any writing rituals?

A: I keep a steno pad and pen with me at all times in case an idea comes to me when I'm away from the computer, or in case I get a few extra minutes to write (long traffic lights, kids' softball games, waiting in doctors' offices, when my husband is driving). My primary writing is at Borders and Barnes & Noble, however. I have to have a large diet cola and often a toasted bagel with cream cheese on which to nibble. I hunker down in a comfortable chair, put my MP3 player in my ears to drown out all the other noise, and I write - usually for hours at a time.

Q: That sounds fabulous! What's your writing schedule like?

A: Since I work a full time day job and two of my children are still in school, I'm pretty busy. My schedule revolves around them - LOTS of softball games, practice, and pitching lessons, etc. So I write a lot late at night before bed. If it's not too late, I'll go to Borders or Barnes & Noble. On weekends, I go to the bookstores a lot to write, too. Sometimes I'll go to the local library instead.

Q: What books are you reading right now for pleasure?

A: I still haven't finished the most recent Harry Potter, so that. I'm also reading a vampire romance by Patrice Michelle, and a Harlequin Next by Hank Phillipi Ryan.

Q: Sounds like you have lots of varied reading interests. Who's your favorite author and why?

A: Stephen King and Sherryl Woods. I love their characters, their plots, and their prose.

Q: What historical figure is your hero or heroine?

A: Does he have to be real or fictional? Can I say Superman? Clark Kent? I adore him in all his permutations.

Q: Of course! Who doesn't? So getting more down to earth, what's your idea of a perfect real man?

A: One who makes me laugh, who is responsible but doesn't take himself too seriously, one I can have fun with. One who lights my fire.

Q: Definitely, we want that fire lit! What's your image of an ideal date with your perfect man?

A: I love to slow dance, swim, be near water. I love music and moonlight. So any combination of those and I'll be in Heaven.

Q: Sounds great! Can you give us a hint of what story you're working on next?

A: Harlequin Next-type books. One is almost completely edited, and two more are in the earlier stages.

Q: Sounds wonderful. And finally, is there anything else you'd like to tell my blog readers?

A: My website is at Elaine Hopper and I'd like to invite you to visit me there. I love to get email from my readers. If you're also a writer, never stop writing, never stop submitting, and work with a critique group.

Thanks Liz, for having me as your guest today!

~~Elaine

Plotting With Tarot Cards

I hope some of you will join me for this course! It's a lot of fun.

Liz

(Permission to forward granted)


The Online Campus of Hearts through History Romance Writers Present:

Class: Plotting with Tarot Cards
Instructor: Elizabeth Delisi
Dates: January 7, 2008-January 21, 2008

Registration Deadline: January 7, 2008 can be extended to Wednesday January 9, 2009
Fee: $10/HHRW Members, $20/others
Registration: www.heartsthroughhistory.com click on HHRW Mall, then Campus
FMI: classes@heartsthroughhistory.com


Class Description: Are you looking for new ways to breathe life into your outlining process, your plots, your characters? If so, have we got the course for you! Elizabeth Delisi, a.k.a. Madame Liz, will teach you how to use the ancient art of the Tarot to develop stories, plots and subplots, heroes, heroines and villians, and more.

You'll learn the history of the Tarot, how to choose a deck, how to read the cards, and how to use those readings to develop and improve your writing.

There will be four lectures, four assignments to be posted to the list for all to comment on, and naturally all questions will be answered.

Lecture One: History of the Tarot, and Choosing a Deck; Lecture Two: How to read Tarot; Lecture Three: Using Tarot to Develop a Plot; Lecture Four: Creating
Characters with Tarot.

BIO: Elizabeth Delisi has wanted to be a writer since she was in first grade, and probably would have written in the womb if she could have convinced her mother to swallow a pencil. But life hasn't always gone the way she planned, and on her road to publication she worked as a motel maid, waitress, secretary, administrative aide, substitute teacher, and newspaper reporter.

Elizabeth's novels include a FATAL FORTUNE, first in the Lottie Baldwin paranormal mystery series; LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, a time-travel romance; and SINCE ALL IS PASSING, a suspense. She's written contemporary and paranormal romance novellas for ONE TOUCH BEYOND; ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS: HOLIDAY HEARTS; HOLIDAY HEARTS 2; and CUPID'S CAPERS, and has also published two short story collections, MIRROR IMAGES and FENUMBRA. In addition to her writing, Elizabeth edits for several small publishers and individuals, and teaches online writing courses for Writer's Digest.

Elizabeth lives in New Hampshire with her husband, dog and cat. She enjoys hearing from her readers at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.com and invites everyone to
visit her website at www.elizabethdelisi.com.

Format: Course is conducted via Yahoo Groups email with lessons and Q & A.

FMI: classes@heartsthroughhistory.com

Which Lunatic Am I?

I came across this fun quiz on someone else's blog:


Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

Naturally, being the...um...eccentric person I am, I couldn't resist trying it out and getting the above result. I have to say, I definitely think that's who I was in another life. ;-) Here's the full description from their web page:

You are Joshua Abraham Norton, first and only Emperor of the United States of America!

Born in England sometime in the second decade of the nineteenth century, you carved a notable business career, in South Africa and later San Francisco, until an entry into the rice market wiped out your fortune in 1854. After this, you became quite different. The first sign of this came on September 17, 1859, when you expressed your dissatisfaction with the political situation in America by declaring yourself Norton I, Emperor of the USA. You remained as such, unchallenged, for twenty-one years.

Within a month you had decreed the dissolution of Congress. When this was largely ignored, you summoned all interested parties to discuss the matter in a music hall, and then summoned the army to quell the rebellious leaders in Washington. This did not work. Magnanimously, you decreed (eventually) that Congress could remain for the time being. However, you disbanded both major political parties in 1869, as well as instituting a fine of $25 for using the abominable nickname "Frisco" for your home city.

Your days consisted of parading around your domain - the San Francisco streets - in a uniform of royal blue with gold epaulettes. This was set off by a beaver hat and umbrella. You dispensed philosophy and inspected the state of sidewalks and the police with equal aplomb. You were a great ally of the maligned Chinese of the city, and once dispersed a riot by standing between the Chinese and their would-be assailants and reciting the Lord's Prayer quietly, head bowed.

Once arrested, you were swiftly pardoned by the Police Chief with all apologies, after which all policemen were ordered to salute you on the street. Your renown grew. Proprietors of respectable establishments fixed brass plaques to their walls proclaiming your patronage; musical and theatrical performances invariably reserved seats for you and your two dogs. (As an aside, you were a good friend of Mark Twain, who wrote an epitaph for one of your faithful hounds, Bummer.) The Census of 1870 listed your occupation as "Emperor."

The Board of Supervisors of San Francisco, upon noticing the slightly dilapidated state of your attire, replaced it at their own expense. You responded graciously by granting a patent of nobility to each member. Your death, collapsing on the street on January 8, 1880, made front page news under the headline "Le Roi est Mort". Aside from what you had on your person, your possessions amounted to a single sovereign, a collection of walking sticks, an old sabre, your correspondence with Queen Victoria and 1,098,235 shares of stock in a worthless gold mine. Your funeral cortège was of 30,000 people and over two miles long.

The burial was marked by a total eclipse of the sun.

~~~~~~~~~~

I noticed right away the day he proclaimed himself Emperor--September 17--is my birthday. So this is most definitely me. The only thing they forgot is, of course, I need an obelisk on my grave. We rulers of the world generally expect something spectacular!

Liz, Queen of the Universe

New Cover, and Release Date

First, I want to share the lovely new cover art with you for my upcoming release, ONE TOUCH BEYOND:



Perhaps "lovely" isn't the right word. Maybe spooky? I think it's amazing, and I'm only slightly prejudiced. ;-)

Second, I have the release date and ISBN for ONE TOUCH BEYOND:

Release Date: February 21, 2008

ISBN: 978 1419914812

Check here for the latest updates!

Now, on an unrelated topic: how many of you have websites? Of those who do, how many of you do your own website development?

Of those who do...what program do you use, and why would you recommend it?

I've been doing my own HTML coding for my website for forever, and since I've never learned a lot about HTML, that means my website rarely changes, and then only a bit at a time. I'd like to change that...I'd like it to be more dynamic and easier for me to do wonderful things with. So I suspect I'm going to have to go to some type of website development software. But it needs to be easy to figure out, and did I mention it needs to be cheap or free? ;-)

Any suggestions welcome!

Liz

My Brush With Fame

Recently, I met and had my picture taken with someone famous. Someone who has girls swooning at his feet and has had for years. I'm thinking of saying, I'll never wash that cheek again (where he leaned against it for the picture). Or at the very least, I should have swooned. But what was I doing while we were having the picture snapped? Fainting? Giggling? Flirting? No. I was patting his back. Sheesh. I've been a mom too long, it was on auto-pilot.

Anyway, here's the photo and I'll give you a paragraph or two to see if you recognize him:



Any guesses?

Think 1960s...rock music...British Invasion.

Another clue: think Patrick Swayze in "Ghost" when he's trying to get Whoopie Goldberg to help him.

Yes!

It's Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits!

Feel free to swoon now. :-)

My two daughters bought me tickets to see him in concert for my birthday. They came with me of course, and we had a lovely time. We had great seats, second row right in front of the stage.

Early in the concert, he noticed my younger daughter Helen singing along to one of the songs. He said to her, "You're not old enough to be here. How old are you?"

She responded, "I'm twenty-one."

He said, "Did your mum drag you here?"

She laughed and said, "No, I brought her."

Then he turned to his band and said, "People are crazy here in New Hampshire!" :-)

A couple of minutes later, he said, "Where's that twenty-one year old girl? I want to throw her a CD." So he did. Then he asked her if she had a CD player...yes. Did she have a computer?...yes. "So," he said, "make copies of this for all your friends."

He did throw CDs and t-shirts to others in the audience, but Helen definitely got the lion's share of the attention.

After the concert, he signed autographs in the lobby, and that's when Helen took my picture with him. What a great guy! Helen will definitely remember that concert all her life, as will my other daughter Heather, and me too!

Am I too old to become a groupie? ;-)

Liz

Fun Way to Waste Time

I saw a fun game on a friend’s blog and thought I’d try it.

The game is SCATTERGORIES … and it’s harder than it looks! Here are the rules:

*Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the questions.
* They MUST be real places, names, things … NOTHING made up!
* If you can’t think of anything, skip it.
* You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.
* If your name happens to start with the same letter as mine, sorry, but you can’t use my answers!

My name: Liz

1. Famous Singer/Band: Led Zeppelin
2. Four letter word: leaf
3. Street: Lincoln
4. Color: Lilac
5. Gifts/Presents: Lamp
6. Vehicle: Lincoln Continental
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Lapel Pins
8. Boy Name: Leo
9. Girl Name: Leslie
10. Movie Title: Lost in Space
11. Drink: Lemonade
12. Occupation: Librarian
13. Celebrity: Lisa Marie Presley
14. Magazine: Life
15. U.S. City: Los Angeles
16. Pro Sports Teams: Lions
17. Fruit: Lemon
18. Reason for Being Late for Work: Left home without shoes
19. Something You Throw Away: Leftovers
20. Things You Shout: Leaping Lizards!
21. Cartoon Character: Linus the Lionhearted

Try it yourself and have fun!

Liz

Liz Needs...

I've gotten pulled into a "meme," whatever that is. Basically, you type "(your name) needs" into Google and then list the top ten things that come up. Minus, of course, all the other people listing THEIR top ten things. So I typed in "Liz needs" and hit the "go" button and here's what I got:

1) Liz needs a man!

2) Liz needs one more taste of her oozing pastry

3) Elizabeth (Smart) needs protection

4) Liz needs help

5) Agent Liz needs catchy slogan

6) Liz needs a hip display name

7) Liz needs to devise a budget and stick to it

8) Liz needs her voice back

9) Liz needs to just SPILL the truth

10) Liz needs to cry more


Hmm. They all seem kind of depressing. I think this Liz needs a psychiatrist! I like the "hip display name" one, though. ;-)

So, try it out yourself and see what you come up with. Who knows...it might inspire you to try something new, just because!

Liz

Tarot Workshop

Only a few days left to register!

Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Academy is proud to announce an upcoming online workshop for June.

Workshop Title: I Predict A New Story In Your Future: Developing Your Story With The Tarot

Presenter: Elizabeth Delisi

Date: June 15 - 30

Description: Are you looking for new ways to breathe life into your outlining process, your plots, your characters? If so, have we got the course for you! Elizabeth Delisi, a.k.a. Madame Liz, will teach you how to use the ancient art of the Tarot to develop stories, plots and subplots, heroes, heroines and villains, and more. You'll learn the history of the Tarot, how to choose a deck, how to read the cards, and how to use those readings to develop and improve your writing. There will be four lectures, four assignments to be posted to the list for all to comment on, and naturally all questions will be answered.

Outline: Lecture One: History of the Tarot, and Choosing a Deck; Lecture Two: How to Read Tarot; Lecture Three: Using Tarot to Develop A Plot; Lecture Four: Creating Characters With Tarot

About the Presenter: Elizabeth Delisi has wanted to be a writer since she was in first grade, and probably would have written in the womb if she could have convinced her mother to swallow a pencil. But life hasn't always gone the way she planned, and on her road to publication she worked as a motel maid, waitress, secretary, administrative aide, substitute teacher, and newspaper reporter.

Elizabeth's novels include a FATAL FORTUNE, first in the Lottie Baldwin paranormal mystery series; LADY OF THE TWO LANDS, a time-travel romance; and SINCE ALL IS PASSING, a suspense. She's written contemporary and paranormal romance novellas for SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS; ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS; HOLIDAY HEARTS; HOLIDAY HEARTS 2; and CUPID'S CAPERS, and has also published two short story collections, MIRROR IMAGES and PENUMBRA. In addition to her writing, Elizabeth edits for several small publishers and individuals, and teaches online writing courses for Writer's Digest. Elizabeth lives in New Hampshire with her husband, dog and cat. She enjoys hearing from her readers at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.com and invites everyone to visit her website at www.elizabethdelisi.com.

Fee: $10 CHRW members; $15 non-members. RWA Membership isn't required; anyone can take the courses. Celtic Hearts members receive 2 free workshops a year.

Where to sign up: http://www.celtichearts.org/chwksp.html
Please fill out the online form.

Deadline to sign up for this workshop: June 12

Liz

Oh, The Benefits!

Whenever someone asks me what I do for a living and I say, "I'm a writer," they get all starry-eyed and excited. "Oh, I've never met a writer before!" they say as they crush my hand in theirs, and I try to keep my eyes from watering.

I guess being a writer sounds like a glamorous occupation, second only to being a rock star or Oscar-winning Hollywood actress, and I have to admit, there are bits of it that are really fun. Like oh, for instance, getting to say, "I'm a writer."

:-)

But like any other career, writing is hard work and primarily involves the less-than-glamorous application of your behind to the chair, your fingers to the keyboard, and your brain in gear for many hours a day in order to get anything done.

Writing involves creativity, which is the fun part of it, but also many hours of research, constant education and learning, a good business sense, and many other less-fun things.

"Ah, but the royalties!" you say. "What about those big royalty checks? Surely THAT at least is glamorous."

Let's just say, most royalty checks are closer to allowing me to live in the fabled garret of nineteenth century fame than in a crystal palace with a yacht moored in the private lake in the back yard.

Case in point. I received a royalty check today for...anyone wanna guess?

Time's up.

Sixty-two cents.

Yup. Sixty-two cents.

Now, admittedly that's for a six-author anthology, so the royalties have to be split six ways. And also admittedly, it's for a HOLIDAY anthology and we're at the start of summer, so sales at this point aren't expected to be high for this book.

But still...anyone see me retiring to the Riviera on sixty-two cents? ;-)

"Okay," you persist, "so why do you write for a living, then?"

Good question.

Like most things in life that are worth anything, writing grabs you by the throat and won't let you go. It sucks you in with siren promises of wealth, fame, changing the world through your immortal prose. And once you get in deep enough to realize the unlikeliness of those things occurring...well, you've seen your name on that book cover and you're hooked. You're committed. You're addicted.

So, you keep struggling away at your day job, and in your "free" time you keep putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), writing in the eternal hope that THIS book will be the one to crack the bestseller list and put your name on everyone's lips.

Off I go to cash my sixty-two cent check and get...um...one sixth a cup of coffee, one fifth a gallon of milk, or maybe an entire candy bar. Woo hoo! And then, it's back to work and back to writing. Because after all of the above, there's still no career I'd rather be in. And maybe THAT'S the glamour of writing, eh?

Liz

New Reviews

Just thought I'd share a couple of recent reviews with you all.

First, a new review on SINCE ALL IS PASSING:

"Author Elizabeth Delisi takes you on an unbelievable journey fraught with danger and mystery in Since All is Passing...The emotional side of this story was very heartfelt and had me feeling Marie's pain as she relived her tumultuous past and tried to come to grips with her future. I give Since All is Passing 4 Angels."
~~Tammy for Fallen Angels Reviews

To read an excerpt for SINCE ALL IS PASSING or to buy your own copy, go here: http://www.amberquill.com/SincePassing.html


And second, a new review for SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS:

"Each of the stories in the Shivers and Screams, Visions and Dreams anthology were based on a paranormal thread. The book is a showcase of the vivid imaginations of its authors, making this anthology a delightfully stimulating read. If you are the least bit interested in Science Fiction or the Paranormal, this is a must read...I highly recommend Shiver and Screams, Visions and Dreams. Four and a half hearts."
~~Karen H. for The Romance Studio

To snap up your own copy of SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS, go here: http://www.diskuspublishing.com/shiversandscreams.html

Hope you enjoy them both!

Liz

Deadlines

I haven't posted recently...I've been busy writing, reading, editing, teaching, not to mention my "other" job, taking care of family and household. Heck, I have a deadline (tomorrow, and the story is not nearly done) breathing down my neck.

So why am I writing here?

I dunno. Procrastination, I guess. I've reached the point in the story where I don't want to write the next scene. It just makes me uneasy...too personal. And that begs the question, Do writers work out their personal issues in their writing?

I suppose writing can be very therapeutic. But if you write too closely to what you experience in your life, you're inviting lawsuits. ;-) So you skirt the issue, beat around the bush, changes names and places and a few of the salient details. And what comes out ends up being fiction...which, of course, is what you set out to write in the first place. And it all works out in the end, so that solves the emotional issue.

But that still leaves me with the deadline looming over me.

I think what I need to do is change my image of a deadline. Just say it to yourself: deadline. DEADLINE. DEAD...line. "Dead" does not provide a warm and fuzzy feeling, does it? It sort of hints, "You miss this date and you're dead, buster." Not exactly inspirational, especially when you're struggling to write, fast.

There's a similar word from a different area of my life. In knitting, when working on a complex lace pattern, it's easy to make a mistake, and very difficult to rip out a few rows back to the mistake without losing dozens of those tiny, precise stitches. So when knitting a complicated lace pattern, many expert knitters recommend weaving in a "lifeline" every few rows. This is a separate piece of yarn you weave through the stitches of one row, so if you have to rip it back, you know when you reach that point you can easily put the stitches back on the needle from said lifeline. Thus, you're never completely and totally "dead."

I think we writers need to think of "deadlines" as "lifelines" instead. Something to grab onto, something to shore us up, to help us keep writing. Something to help us keep track and not lose any stitches, and come out with that beautiful lace romance or mystery at the end of it all.

So I'm heading back to my writing, after giving one last tug on my "lifeline" to make sure it's secure. See you on the other side!

Liz

More Commonplace Book Quotes

I've added two more quotes to my Commonplace Book. They're just things that struck me as funny or endearing, not particularly deep, just fun. Here they are:

"It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from there."
~~Robin Williams

Okay, just about anything Robin Williams says is funny. But this just struck me as hilarious.

And quote number two:

"This was a delicious day."
~~My granddaughter on her fifth birthday

What can I say? She's clearly an amazing child. ;-) And as my husband responded to her, "All birthdays should be delicious days."

So, how about you? Have any of you started Commonplace Books of your own? If so, do you have any great quotes you can share with us? I'd love to hear them!

Liz

A Commonplace Book

For years now, I've been listening to "The Thomas Jefferson Hour" on public radio. Have you ever heard it? Check here for more info: The Thomas Jefferson Hour. As the website says, "Humanities scholar and author, Clay S. Jenkinson, adopts the persona of Jefferson each week to comment on current events and answer questions you may have about Jefferson's thoughts on any and all topics."

If you don't get The Thomas Jefferson Hour on your local public radio station, first thing you should do is write or call them and say, Why the heck not? :-) Then second, go here: High Plains Public Radio on Sunday afternoon at 6 p.m. eastern time to listen to it online. Jenkinson is terrific as Jefferson, and the hour is always intriguing, thought-provoking, and just plain fascinating. Trust me, you'll love it.

One of the things that's really stuck with me from listening to The Thomas Jefferson Hour is the mention of Jefferson's "commonplace books." Thomas Jefferson was a scholarly man, a renaissance man, always reading and always learning. In those days, of course, there was no Internet, and no easy way to track down information you'd once heard or read. For this reason, Jefferson and others of his day kept what they called "commonplace books," where they could write down interesting quotes from books they'd read, thought-provoking statements from speeches, etc. As MetaFilter.com says: "With the availability of relatively cheap paper beginning as early as the 14th century, people began to collect knowledge in commonplace books. Bits of quotes, reference materials, summaries of arguments, all contained in a handy bound volume."

Here's a more detailed description: The Lyceum.

I'd really like to start a commonplace book of my own. These days, it's old fashioned to hand-write anything when you could e-mail, but there's something to be said for the pleasure of opening a book, smoothing the blank page, choosing a favorite pen that gives sensual pleasure, and writing. So next time I'm out and about, I'll stop into the local bookstore, find a blank journal and begin.

I already have my first quote:

"I worry that the person who thought up Muzak may be thinking up something else."
~~Lily Tomlin

It's hilarious, but not terribly profound on first read. Yet, when you think about it...it hits you. How many "Muzak Inventers" are there for every "Rock and Roll Inventer"? Is it easier to come up with an amazing, unique idea, or easier to sanitize and ruin that original idea? I think we all know the answer, and it's scary!

So, go out there, get yourself a blank journal or book, and start commonplacing. And when you have time, on a Sunday afternoon, listen to Thomas Jefferson. A very wise man.

Contest: Any HTML Experts Out There?

You may have noticed I've changed the background on my blog. I like the new background, except...somehow it seems to have squashed the message area and the links area over to the left, with just empty space on the right. I followed the instructions exactly for installing it, so I'm at a loss for how to fix it.

Thus, I've decided to hold a contest! The first person who can tell me how to fix this problem...that actually results in me being able to fix it...will win a free download of one of my books, whichever one the winner chooses. You can read about my books at www.elizabethdelisi.com.

Sure hope someone comes up with an answer! Thanks!

Liz

Happy Holidays, Time For Taxes...

I hope you all enjoyed your winter holiday, whichever one you celebrate. We had a lovely and low-key holiday here--well, low-key except for watching the grandchildren tear into their presents. ;-)


Since I've told you about my new books out, the only other writing-related news is that I'm still finishing up PERILOUS PREDICTION, the novella-length sequel to FATAL FORTUNE. Will keep you posted!

In the meantime, January brings the new year and with it, thoughts of...taxes. Ugghhh. But Julian Block, tax expert extraordinaire, can help you get everything that's coming to you! Here's some info you might find useful:

From "Mauled Again," Prof. James Edward Maule's more than occasional commentary on tax law, legal education, the First Amendment, religion, and law generally, with sporadic attempts to connect all of this to genealogy, theology, music, model trains, and chocolate chip cookies. Copyright 2004-2006 James Edward Maule.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

A Tax Advice Book for People Who Write and Illustrate Books

Julian Block has a tax book hat trick for 2006. Earlier this year, in Tax and Relationships: A Book to Read and Give, I described his "MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE: Savvy Ways For Persons Marrying, Married Or Divorcing To Trim Their Taxes - And They’re Legal." Several months ago, in A New Book on Taxation of Residence Sales: Don't Leave Home Without It, I reviewed Julian's "THE HOME SELLER’S GUIDE TO TAX SAVINGS: Simple Ways For Any Seller To Lower Taxes To The Legal Minimum." Now he brings us "TAX TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: Savvy Ways For Writers, Photographers, Artists And Other Freelancers To Trim Taxes To The Legal Minimum."

As I mentioned in the two previous reviews, Julian's titles suggest that he is collecting gimmicks, tricks, and ploys with respect to the tax treatment of the selected subject, but the actuality is quite the opposite. What Julian does is to put the spotlight on tax provisions that easily can be overlooked by someone not expertised in taxation. In addition to reminding taxpayers of deductions and credits of which they should be aware, he also spells out in careful detail the common mistakes that taxpayers often make, and why trying for more than the tax law allows is counterproductive. Thus, in his latest effort, Julian begins with an explanation of how difficult it is to demonstrate that activities such as writing, photography, and art constitute trades, businesses, or for-profit activities rather than hobbies.

In this new book, Julian devotes chapters to small business depreciation, health insurance and vehicle deductions for the self-employed, home office deductions, self-employment taxes, net operating losses, and section 1244 stock. He describes the narrow circumstances under which travel expenses for an entrepreneur's spouse can be deducted. He explores the circumstances under which employed of children in a parent's business can be advantageous, and those in which it is not. Practical tips about making payments at the end of the year, keeping records, sending checks to the IRS, extensions of time to file, and making refund claims are covered in five chapters. Julian warns self-employed individuals who hire employees about the risks of failing to withhold and remit employment taxes, a problem that seems to afflict far more people than one would expect.

As with his earlier works, Julian's most recent effort is more suited for the person not schooled in tax law. The many people who start doing business without getting any tax advice, and who for whatever reason do not seek that advice at the outset, would be well advised to buy this book and become acquainted with the tax law parameters affecting writers, photographers, and artists. Doing so would reduce the likelihood of making decisions that generate adverse tax consequences that could have been avoided.

To order a copy, contact Julian Block at 3 Washington Sq., #1-G, Larchmont, NY 10538 or go his website, julianblocktaxexpert.com. Or, as was the case with the previous books, email Julian at julianblock@yahoo.com.

~~~~~~~~~


So while doing our taxes is never fun, at least Julian's books help us find every deduction we're entitled to. Best of luck!

Liz

New Books Out!

I haven't written in a while. Too many crises going on in my life to even name. Sheesh. I do have news, though: I have two new books out, and two more coming soon!

SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS is available now from DiskUs Publishing here: Shivers and Screams, Visions and Dreams. It's a paranormal anthology with six novellas by six authors, and includes my story "Restless Spirit."

HOLIDAY MIXER is available from Haypenny Press here: Holiday Mixer. It's a fabulous collection of holiday stories of every type--funny, emotional, and scary, including my short story, "Step On a Crack."

FATAL FORTUNE and PERILOUS PREDICTION, the first two stories in my Lottie Baldwin Mystery Series, will be released soon from Haypenny Press. To get a gander at the fabulous cover art, go here: Fatal Fortune and Perilous Prediction and scroll down to the "New" section.

And finally, ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS will be released on December 21 from Cerridwen Press. It includes six paranormal romance novellas themed around the holidays, including my story "Mistletoe Medium," which is a prequel to FATAL FORTUNE and features Lottie Baldwin. Check out the cover art here: Enchanted Holidays.

How's that for a lot of news?

So, what are YOU up to?

Liz

It Lives!

Okay, I know I haven't posted in a while. It's been a combination of nothing to say, and mostly the fact that I've been out of state four times in the last four weeks. I've spent more time packing and unpacking than just about anything else. Whew! I'm sure glad to be home for a while now.

I do have new release book news to share. I have a new novella out in the paranormal anthology SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS from DiskUs Publishing, and you can check it out here: http://www.diskuspublishing.com/shiversandscreams.html Just in time for Halloween, a sextet of scary stories. Make sure you keep the nightlight on after reading these...

And, coming soon from Cerridwen Press is the anthology ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS. It will be released on December 21, just in time for the holidays, and includes six paranormal romance novellas, including one of mine. It's not listed yet, but will be soon, and when it is, there will be a link here: http://www.cerridwenpress.com/AuthorsBio.asp?AuthorCode=EDel

Someday soon I'll update my website so you can see the cover art for both. ;-) In the meantime, I'm working on the sequel to FATAL FORTUNE, called PERILOUS PREDICTION, which will come out from Haypenny Press sometime in the next six months, I hope. Don't have an exact release date yet.

So what's going on in your life? I hope you're enjoying the gorgeous fall colors--at least if you're in a place that has them. I'm soaking them up, just wish I could keep them around forever.

Meeting A Far-Away Reader

Last month I had the opportunity to visit with a reader who had come from farther away than anyone else I'd met: Israel. Now, I can't claim Amy S. came all the way to New Hampshire just to visit me. ;-) But while she was here on vacation with her family, we did have the opportunity to meet and have a great visit at a local spot over a cup of coffee and a sweet treat. She had purchased copies of a couple of my books, which I was glad to sign for her. We also talked about another interest we have in common, knitting. Here's a picture of the two of us:


I've done booksignings, but it's usually locals at those events. I've met readers at conferences and other events, where it's me who's from out of town. But this is my very first opportunity to meet a reader from outside the U.S., and it was great!

A few times in my life, I've had the opportunity to meet someone important to me in one way or another. Probably the most memorable time was when I met Mary Higgins Clark at a writer's conference in Florida. I love her books, and it was such an honor and so exciting to get to shake her hand. I'm sure I stammered and stuttered and in general was less than coherent. ;-)

Do you have stories of meeting a favorite writer, or maybe an actor, singer, artist, or someone else whose work you're familiar with, but not the person? Who did you meet? What was it like? How far did you travel? Share your stories with me!

In A Funk

I've been in a writing funk lately. Just can't seem to get inspired. Now I know I should just write anyway and bust through it, or maybe try writing on a different project. But so far neither thing is working. Any other suggestions from anyone who's experienced this and worked through it?

In the meantime, FATAL FORTUNE is now available exclusively at Fictionwise, with a new cover designed by my good friend and fellow author Maureen McMahon (www.maureenmcmahon.com). Check it out here: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook36900.htm?r=3a20

Don't know if I've posted about the good news yet...the authors of ENCHANTED HOLIDAYS (of which I am one!) have a publisher lined up for our new anthology entitled, SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS. It's DiskUs Publishing, and we're looking forward to the release of the book this fall. More news here when it becomes available.

Spring has sprung here and beautiful flowers are bursting out everywhere. This spring is a real adventure for us, as we moved into this house last September, so we have no idea what's planted. Each new bud and blossom is a lovely surprise. I don't know what many of the plants are, but they're sure pretty! The previous owners did a terrific job of landscaping.

So, how come I can write a blog entry, but not a book? (sigh, eye-roll) Well, I'll keep trying, and if any of you have any tips, I'd love to hear them!

Wedding Picture

Just thought I'd post a quick little photo of my son Mike, his bride Amy, and our granddaughter, Isabel, who was the flower girl. Are they not all gorgeous (or adorable, as the case may be?


The 3,200-mile car trip with Isabel in tow was, frankly, exhausting. But looking at these pictures makes me realize it was all worth it. We finally got to meet our new daughter-in-law, and her family, and it was a chance to be back in Kansas for a bit. Thank goodness the weather behaved nicely while we were there!

So, do you have any family events planned for this spring? Spring is definitely a great time for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, births, any kind of new beginning. The crocuses are coming up in our garden and it's so lovely and warm today, nearly 70 degrees. Deep breath! Breathe in spring and renewal.

Back To Writing

I finally decided it wasn't right to spend so much time on this, my writing blog, talking about knitting. :-) So, I started a separate knitting blog. If you're a knitter and want to read about my latest projects, visit my new blog at http://liz-knits.blogspot.com .

I really am anxious to get moving on writing again. Lately I've been tied up with physical therapy to recover from my shoulder surgery, odds and ends still left to do from our move to New Hampshire last fall, helping our daughter and her family move here to New Hampshire and get a job, heading back to Kansas on a 3,200-mile odyssey car trip with our four year old granddaughter to my son Mike's wedding, teaching four online courses with a fifth to start next week...well, you get the idea, I've been busy.

But!

As of today, I'm starting work again on my novella. It's for a paranormal anthology tentatively titled SHIVERS AND SCREAMS, VISIONS AND DREAMS, and the other authors in the anthology include Kim Cox, Chris Grover, Elaine Hopper, Maureen McMahon, and Sheryl Hames Torres. We do have a publisher for the anthology, DiskUs Publishing, but don't have a release date yet. Check back here regularly for the latest updates.

My story for the anthology is titled "Restless Spirit" and involves a woman who's lost her husband and son, a Ouija board, and contact with a mysterious man from the past...

Hope this tantalizes you a bit!

So, what are YOU working on as a spring project?

Still Knitting

I'm still knitting like crazy, whenever I get time. Here's a picture of my latest completed project, a felted purse, for me this time (yes, it's drying on a radiator--we live in an old house):















I added a snap closure and a gaudy rhinestone pin, and I think it looks pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Now I'm working on a multidirectional scarf, to learn the technique. (Multidirectional knitting allows you to knit in different directions, like triangles or diamonds coming together at different angles, without cutting the yarn or sewing the shapes together. Check out a group on multidirectional knitting here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/multidirectional/)

I'm also knitting a scarf out of some really interesting yarn (Eros Glitz, check it out here: javascript:popupWindow ('http://www.knittingzone.com/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=2916'). I'm making the shawl on large needles and just using the garter stitch, so the focus is on the unique yarn itself, not the pattern. I've heard this yarn has been out for years. But coming from a place where the local Walmart was my only yarn store, to a place with a wonderful REAL yarn store (The Woolery, http://www.nhwoolery.com/) has made me realize how much I've been missing!

And, I'm waiting for a pattern I ordered for another felted purse. Hey, this felting stuff is fun! Here's the pattern: http://www.carodanfarm.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product504.html This is a pattern by "Designs by Shelley," and I really like her other designs as well. You can check them out here: http://saboardman.tripod.com/ I especially like the Jester Bag, and the Flapper Bag and the Fancy Bag here: http://saboardman.tripod.com/id15.html

What are you working on? What are your hobbies? Do you have a new one you're enthusiastic about, or an old one you still love? Share, share!

Returning To An Old Hobby

In the last month or so, I've returned to a favorite old hobby: knitting.

I first learned to knit when I was five years old. A little young, maybe. But my dad, who worked for the Boy Scouts at that point, had brought us all to Boy Scout Camp for the summer. As you may imagine, there wasn't much for a little girl to do at Boy Scout Camp! My mom was kept busy taking care of my two year old sister, and I think she taught me to knit in self-defense.

I've been knitting ever since. Sometimes with great enthusiasm, and sometimes I put it aside for a while. In recent years I haven't knitted a lot, because the only "yarn store" nearby was the local mass merchandiser, who didn't offer a great deal of variety. I ordered yarn and supplies via the Internet sometimes, but it was tough to choose a yarn you couldn't see and feel before you bought it.

Then, we moved to New Hampshire...and my knitting life changed. Wonder of wonders, there's a yarn store just a few miles away! The first time I walked in there, I was mesmerized by all the different brands of yarn, the colors, the pattern books. I was in heaven.

I bought some wool yarns and made a felted purse for my daughter for Christmas. It's the first time I ever used wool--I was limited to acrylic before. And the first time I've tried felting. It came out great. That's the picture of it above. It was fun to learn something new, and to have wonderful yarns to work with.

Now I'm working on a shawl using the most amazing yarn. It's called Eros Glitz, and you can check it out here: http://www.plymouthyarn.com/index.php?nav=
cYarn.viewYarnImage&yarn_id=000088 (You'll have to cut and paste.)

Hard to tell, but the "yarn" looks like a ladder, with the two long sides made of black and silver thread. The cross bars are very fine, and inbetween them are bands of different shades of purple and blue. At least they are in the color I chose. ;-) The shawl is knitted on size 15 needles, so it's very open and lacy. I'm having a great time with it!

I'm also working on a scarf done in multidirectional knitting. Again, this is something new to me and I'm having fun with it. You can learn more about multidirectional knitting in this book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1579906494/sr=8-1/
qid=1139690659/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7664966-4802449?%5
Fencoding=UTF8 (again, you'll have to cut and paste) and by joining the associated yahoogroups list. I think this should get you there: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/multidirectional/?yguid=236374673

And, I just ordered a great book of "vintage" sock patterns, revised for today's yarns and needles. I've never made socks either, and I think it'll be a fun project. It will be nice to have warm, soft wool socks in cold, wintry New Hampshire!

I also have a sweater I'm working on, but have put it aside for the moment, not only because of the excitement of the new projects, but because it's a bit too heavy to work on while I'm still recovering from my shoulder surgery.

So...are there any knitters out there? What are you working on? Do you have a local yarn store? How about a local knitting group? Let's talk knitting!