Sold a story

I just heard from Skian at Top Dog Press — they're going to use "Ephanie's Story" in an upcoming issue of Shadow Sacrament, an on-line journal. It doesn't pay much, but is is a paying gig!

The funny part is, the story was written only as part of the back story for another character. It fit the submission request from Top Dog, so I sent it along. Never underestimate a story.

Change of Plans

Many of you know I've been planning a trip to Las Vegas this June to meet with friends from (originally) Highlander fandom — the 10th anniversary of Clan Denial (we didn't see it, it didn't happen). I've have to cancel my plans, since the events of this spring ate up what I'd budgeted for the trip.

I'll still be attending the Arkansas Writers Conference on 1-2 June (in fact, I just sent in my registration). I'll have a chapbook version of "Handfast" available for sale, though I had hoped to have copies of Slash & Burn, too. (Sybaritic Press has delayed publication until this fall.)

Surviving Breast Cancer

I just read through nearly a year's worth of blog entries from my friend, Valerie Mingus Beck, and her husband about Valerie's breast cancer fight. Valerie is 35 years old, and was the little sister of my flower girl (my 33rd anniversary is coming up), and she was the inspiration for my cutting my hair for the first time in 40 years last summer.

This is one of the most inspiring stories I've ever read (and so far has a happy ending!), and I encourage everyone to start at the beginning and read all the entries in order. It's all the more beautiful a story knowing that it's true and is happening to someone I love like a sister.

And last but not least, if you haven't had a mammogram, get one. Keep getting them. Breast cancer is not limited to older women (it's not even limited to women to be honest). Ask your doctor how frequently you should be screened. If you don't have insurance, there's probably a group that will provide cost-free screenings. DO IT.

Self exams every month are important too, but a mammogram can find tumors much sooner.

Next time we'll get back to our usual irreverent ramblings.....

My daughter the driver

Jeanie passed her driving test — she's a fully licensed driver now. She's on her way back to New York for summer school then her last semester. She'll graduate from NYU in December with a BA in Politics, just in time for all the primary campaigns.

Mother's Day

I hope all of you who are mothers had a wonderful day. I got a phone call from my absent son, and to my total surprise, my husband actually gave me a beautiful yellow rose. I've known the man for nearly 40 years (married almost 33) and he's never given me flowers (except for required corsages). The closest he came was Valentine's 1981 (I was pregnant with our first) and he gave me a glass rose, saying it would have to do for a while. There was also chocolate and cards.

We had a very nice visit with my sister and her husband while also letting Jeanie learn how to drive on interstates for the first time. It was a long 3 hours (190 miles) and I was in as close to fetal position as I could get in the front seat of the car. I drove home. Duh. Actually, she's done very well learning to drive in the last 10 days. Crossing fingers for her road test tomorrow. Unfortunately, I haven't done any writing since she came home. She goes back to New York tomorrow afternoon; I'm hoping I can get back to the Darik stories I've outlined and have a couple of chapters written.

Who is Darik? His mother died after giving birth, and he's been brought up by monks. At the beginning of the story he has just come of age and leaves the monastery, at first serving as a constable in the nearby village. I plan to have him make his way to larger and larger towns and cities, until he finds his destiny. (I know what his destiny is, but I'm not telling yet.) He will have various experiences as the story goes on, some of which will be romantic. The world I've made for him is pre-industrial, but not medieval, with the posibility that there are actual dragons. It's definitely a work-in-progress. I'll keep you posted as it develops.

Romance Cover Models?

My friend Carys Weldon blogged today about the cover models she saw and met at the Romatic Times convention. I thought I'd post a couple photos from last year's Fan Odyssey (unfortunately, the last Fan Odyssey) where I met a couple of hunks.... See the photo album called "Cover Models & Me." Sorry to say, I can't remember their names after all this time (with the amount of tequila that flowed at that convention, it's surprising I remember I was there!).

Check Carys's blog for photos from RT.