I was born in the year of the Rabbit, which means I am usually very flightly. Quick on my feet and apt to run away from conflict. Yep, that's me to a T. But this year, the Water Dragon is providing protection to give everything I got in chasing my dreams! Wow! How appropriate that the Water Dragon offers his protection to a nautical author who also happens to be an Aquarius.
The stars are in line for some magic! :-)
And why not magic ? Afterall, the sun rises and set without any strings!
~ Ancient Mariners, Water Guardians, King Neptune and the Wicked Banshee of the Bay ~
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
!Celebration!
I have some joyous news to announce. This week I just passed the $100 mark earned from my books on Amazon :-P
It has been a slow process for me. I've been at this since late Oct. 2011. I hope that in this new year my books will be fruitful.
May all your dreams come true!
It has been a slow process for me. I've been at this since late Oct. 2011. I hope that in this new year my books will be fruitful.
May all your dreams come true!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Delivery
My husband and I delivered the pictures of all the semi~finalists to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, today. The area had the same small town charm that we enjoy near our rural home. Unfortunately, the brutal cold and drizzly rain prevented us from spending as much time as we'd have liked. We will definitely have to go back to view all the wonderful interactive exhibits on the museum grounds.
I'm happy to report that the pictures are in good hands.
I'm happy to report that the pictures are in good hands.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Snowball Effect
I am a big believer in the snowball effect. Both in good situations and in bad. One thing leads to another and builds until a tiny snowflake is a force to be reckoned with.
A couple of years ago, I was listening to a report on Warren Buffett on NPR (national public radio). It was incredibly fascinating. I was amazed at how an impoverished young boy grew up to be one of America's wealthiest men. His is an interesting story of entrepreneurialism at its best.
Have you started your snowball?
A couple of years ago, I was listening to a report on Warren Buffett on NPR (national public radio). It was incredibly fascinating. I was amazed at how an impoverished young boy grew up to be one of America's wealthiest men. His is an interesting story of entrepreneurialism at its best.
Have you started your snowball?
Monday, January 16, 2012
Update
My website has been updated with the information on the semi ~ finalists for the Chesapeake Bay Revival Coloring Contest. I'll be taking the pictures to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum next weekend, Jan. 21st, for display.
I have also updated my book covers and book content ... again. I've updated every page of my website. And have even started the process of creating my own publishing company, nothing big, just something for me to use while publishing my own work.
Where's that gigantic cup of coffee I've been dreaming of ?
I have also updated my book covers and book content ... again. I've updated every page of my website. And have even started the process of creating my own publishing company, nothing big, just something for me to use while publishing my own work.
Where's that gigantic cup of coffee I've been dreaming of ?
Contest Deadline ~ Chesapeake Bay Revival
The Chesapeake Bay Revival Coloring Contest deadline was January 15th. The contest is officially closed to any further submissions. Now comes the really tough part of selecting the winners.
I will be selecting the semi ~ finalists and then passing the pictures along to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for display. Museum staff, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Chesapeake Conservation Corp will be determining the 1 final winner.
Each semi ~ finalist will receive a copy of my first book, Salty Summer, along with a No Fail Sail Wear t-shirt, and a goodie bag from the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
The 1 final winner will win a $500 gift card to Toys R Us and their present school will win $1,000 towards conservation education.
I will be selecting the semi ~ finalists and then passing the pictures along to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for display. Museum staff, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Chesapeake Conservation Corp will be determining the 1 final winner.
Each semi ~ finalist will receive a copy of my first book, Salty Summer, along with a No Fail Sail Wear t-shirt, and a goodie bag from the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
The 1 final winner will win a $500 gift card to Toys R Us and their present school will win $1,000 towards conservation education.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Idea Factory
Believe it or not my old tattered dictionary is an idea factory. When I am looking for something fresh and new that's where I go ... to my dictionary. With just about everything having already been done before ~ it's tough to come up with something new and original. So instead of looking at what everyone else is writing, I just peruse my dictionary for unique words and then think about them. Can I use it? Is it too played? Wow, I never knew that! These are all thoughts I had the last time I took a stroll through the land of forgotten words.
Dagon, the name of Neptune's son came from the dictionary, so did gribbles {okay they are wood boring crustaceans that become carnivorous crustaceans in my story}, Neptunium, my version of the royal blood line ... I know that ichor is supposed to be the blood of the gods, but if I were to ask my kids which word means being related to King Neptune ... hands down it would be Neptunium Blood not ichor, unicorn narwals {so I embellished a little by adding unicorn to creature's name} but narwals are real sea animals that are a cross between a whale and a seal, with a spotted pelt and a spiral tusk ... the boys and Mystisette will be riding these in book 2 of Aquatica, Beneath the Blade.
I could actually see J.K. Rowlings flipping through the dictionary to create the Quiddich games when I was looking through the B section with bludgers, beaters and such ... I wonder if that's how she came up with the idea. Don't know really, just thought I'd share.
Dictionary + Imagination = Idea Factory ;-P
Dagon, the name of Neptune's son came from the dictionary, so did gribbles {okay they are wood boring crustaceans that become carnivorous crustaceans in my story}, Neptunium, my version of the royal blood line ... I know that ichor is supposed to be the blood of the gods, but if I were to ask my kids which word means being related to King Neptune ... hands down it would be Neptunium Blood not ichor, unicorn narwals {so I embellished a little by adding unicorn to creature's name} but narwals are real sea animals that are a cross between a whale and a seal, with a spotted pelt and a spiral tusk ... the boys and Mystisette will be riding these in book 2 of Aquatica, Beneath the Blade.
I could actually see J.K. Rowlings flipping through the dictionary to create the Quiddich games when I was looking through the B section with bludgers, beaters and such ... I wonder if that's how she came up with the idea. Don't know really, just thought I'd share.
Dictionary + Imagination = Idea Factory ;-P
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Perfectionism, OCD, and the Obsessed Author
I wonder how most perfectionists cope in an imperfect world, with an imperfect self. Is OCD just another name for perfectionists? I don't really know the answer to these questions. I am an imperfect perfectionist. There was a time before I had children that I had a place for everything and everything in its place. 4 kids, 6 cats, 2 dogs and 1 husband later, I have had to let go of the idea of a neat and tidy anything and just focus on how NOT to go crazy.
But now that I am writing again, I have a compulsive routine. Get up, check kindle stats, check my 3 email accounts {yes, I have 3 accounts...long story}, check website...is it still up and running or did the internet fairy snatch it in the middle of the night, check blog stats ... and so on. Re-read what I wrote the night before, is it good enough, is it complete, does it need tweeking? All of these things I do BEFORE I ever move forward. And I do all of them BEFORE I do anything else. Sometimes I even annoy myself!
With all the extra care I take, you'd be surprised at all the mistakes I make. Oodles and oodles of them, which of course feeds the need to be compulsive and starts the cycle all over again! Alas, maybe one day it will have all been worth it.
But now that I am writing again, I have a compulsive routine. Get up, check kindle stats, check my 3 email accounts {yes, I have 3 accounts...long story}, check website...is it still up and running or did the internet fairy snatch it in the middle of the night, check blog stats ... and so on. Re-read what I wrote the night before, is it good enough, is it complete, does it need tweeking? All of these things I do BEFORE I ever move forward. And I do all of them BEFORE I do anything else. Sometimes I even annoy myself!
With all the extra care I take, you'd be surprised at all the mistakes I make. Oodles and oodles of them, which of course feeds the need to be compulsive and starts the cycle all over again! Alas, maybe one day it will have all been worth it.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Marinating
Marinating? Yes, marinating. My story of Aquatica has been marinating on my brain. It takes a while to get all the kinks worked out. I pulled my story off of promotion early so I could have extra time to refine different aspects of the storyline. It will go back on promotion this weekend, Jan. 13, 14 & 16, to coincide with school being closed for the holiday. I have added a Dear Reader letter and a P.S. at the end of the book asking for reader feedback.
Since I am not the Mozart author type, I was wondering "just exactly what type of author am I?" I think I am the 90% hard work and 10% talent, LOVABLE kind of author. But I could bias ...
Since I am not the Mozart author type, I was wondering "just exactly what type of author am I?" I think I am the 90% hard work and 10% talent, LOVABLE kind of author. But I could bias ...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Chesapeake Bay Revival Coloring Contest
I am working on the Chesapeake Bay Revival Coloring Contest. As the deadline nears, I find myself increasingly busier with each passing day. I am so excited reviewing all the wonderful pictures submitted by talented young artists from several states.
After I select the semi-finalists, I will pass the torch to the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Chesapeake Conservation Corp and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum ... they will have the incredibly difficult job of selecting the 1 WINNER. One lucky child will win a $500 gift certificate to Toys R Us AND their school will win $1,000 towards conservation education!
After I select the semi-finalists, I will pass the torch to the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Chesapeake Conservation Corp and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum ... they will have the incredibly difficult job of selecting the 1 WINNER. One lucky child will win a $500 gift certificate to Toys R Us AND their school will win $1,000 towards conservation education!
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