Emma Keigh

Trip to California

2009-05-20T15:08:00.006-05:00

Our Trip to California

California was wonderful. I'm tempted to move back. Getting there, however, was quite a trial.

We arrived at Little Rock airport about 5:45 am for our 6:55 am flight to Dallas/Ft. Worth. There had been severe storms all night long, but it seemed to have cleared by the time we got to the airport. However, it seems that there were still storms between Little Rock and Dallas, and we had to wait for our captain to reroute us around them. Then they found a mechanical problem in our plane. By this time the passengers for the second flight to Dallas had begun to arrive. When it became apparent we wouldn't make our connection in Dallas for San Jose, we called the airline and rebooked a later flight to San Jose. They started boarding the 8:30 flight, but brought them back when we were told that DFW was closed. So we rebooked again. We couldn't get a flight to San Jose until Friday morning, so we instead booked ourselves on a flight to San Francisco. (SFO had been our first choice when we were originally booking our flights; that itinerary would have been several hundred dollars more for the three of us.) Finally, at 12:05 pm we boarded our flight to DFW. They promised our luggage would also be rerouted to SFO (yeah, right).

The flight to DFW was fine. We had a nice lunch in the airport and waited for our flight to SFO. That flight was delayed about an hour and a half, but no big deal, we thought. The flight was fully booked (more than 70 passengers on the stand-by list by the time we boarded), and we were seated separately. I slept most of the way to SFO.

Our luggage did not make it to San Francisco. It was in San Jose. Our pre-paid rental car was in San Jose.

The luggage office at San Jose would close at 11 pm. The next Airporter bus to San Jose left at 10 pm. It was a 45 minute trip.

We got to San Jose just in time to rescue our luggage. The rental car office would be open until midnight, and we managed to get there just before they closed.

When we left San Jose for Santa Rosa it was a good 12 hours after we were originally scheduled to arrive in San Jose.

The weekend was wonderful. The wine tasting, rehersal dinner and the wedding all were phenomenal, and we had a chance to get to know Ken's family better. We visited Jack London State Park (which encompasses his ranch and the home where he and his wife lived) and Coit Tower. We drove around San Francisco before a superb dinner at Alioto's (thank you, Natalie!) and heading back to San Jose. Our flights home were on time and uneventful. The photo on the left is the Golden Gate from Land's End; the one on the right is the Bay Bridge and Ferry Building from Coit Tower.

What I'm Reading
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (#3 Dresden Files)

What I'm Knitting
Prototype stole with Red Heart Super Saver.
Skirt with Takhi Torino (for Mom).

Where I'm Going
Arkansas Writers Conference, first weekend in June, in Little Rock.

Vacation's over; back to work tonight.

A Little of This, a Little of That

2009-05-12T12:22:00.004-05:00

We're off to California this week to see my nephew Casey married. We'll have four days in the California Wine Country/Russian River area.

Now for a writing concern...

There seems to be some confusion among writing conference presenters (not singling out anyone specific) regarding active/passive voice and transitive/intransitive verbs. The opposite of an active (action?) verb is not a passive verb.

Voice has to do with where the action of the verb is directed. An active sentence is John hit the ball. A passive sentence is The ball was hit by John.

Verbs are either transitive or intransitive. Transitive means action. Both the sentences above use transitive verbs. Intransitive refers to verbs of being. Mary enjoyed the ball game. This sentence is in active voice, but uses an intransitive verb.

I just grit my teeth at conferences when presenters say, "Use action verbs, not passive ones." That's like saying "Eat Granny Smith apples, not Valencia oranges."

There's my ranting for the day/week/month...

Apologies for the dearth of posts. I've been very busy with Spinetinglers work, and working nights still gets everything topsy-turvey. Of course, if I were working full time days, I'd have just as little time and energy for other activities.

Interesting news

2009-01-12T13:53:00.003-06:00

One of the books I edited for Spinetingler's last summer, The Second Tour, has been chosen as a text for Sociology classes at the United States Air Force Academy this coming semester. Wow!

I'm gimping around these days -- a severe (worst I've ever had) leg cramp (doctor called it a muscle spasm) resulted in a torn muscle in my calf. I spent all weekend on muscle relaxants, but it'll be a while before the tear heals. I love it -- 8 years in martial arts with no major injuries, but a leg cramp while watching TV puts me on a cane for the foreseeable future. So much for my plans to add a new exercise routine to my weight loss program.

Speaking of weight loss, I didn't gain nearly as much as I expected to over the holidays. That's no excuse, I know, but still, not gaining is still a good thing. I intend to get back onto my Weight Watchers program, hoping to lose another 50 or so pounds this year. Then again, not regaining the weight would be ok. (I don't want to sabotage myself by setting unreachable goals.)

The brochure for the Arkansas Writers Conference came last week, with the prompts for their contests. Once my head is clear (muscle relaxants do that) I'll see about entering one or some of them. I will be attending, needless to say.

Another New Year

2009-01-03T12:10:00.003-06:00

Well, so much for blogging more frequently last year. I sort of dropped off the face of the internet it seems since June.

But now it's a new year and a good time to start things afresh. Encouragement about regular (at least weekly) blogging wouldn't hurt, if only to know someone out there is reading.

For now, let me send best wishes for a joyous holiday season (no matter which group of winter holidays you observe) and a healthy and prosperous 2009.

Hope to hear from you (I know you're out there, though I can't hear you breathing).

Thanks for your comment, Heather!

2008-06-21T12:03:00.003-05:00

Yes, some time ago I joined a writers group based in Conway. I enjoyed the meetings and the members, but they weren't comfortable with the explicit nature of some (most) of my work -- and I read them one of the tamer stories, skipping the really explicit parts. Since I didn't have anything much less explicit, I quite going to meetings. I didn't have the heart to tell them that one member's weekly Sunday school lesson (which she read as her work of the week) offended me about as much as my steamy romance offended them. Oh well.

Not being a morning person by nature, I haven't made the attempt to join the FWCA (Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas for non-Arkansan readers). Now, with gas prices so high, I'm not likely to. I do, however, attend both the Arkansas Writers Conference in June and the White County Creative Writers Conference on Labor Day weekend.

The Little Rock Science Fiction Society (LRSFS) is putting together a writers group that will meet sometimes in person and sometimes on-line. If your work is at all speculative, this might be the group for you. LRSFS meets the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at Barnes & Noble -- on Chenal the 1st, McCain (North Little Rock) the 3rd. The website is www.lrsfs.org.

I'm a member of several on-line writers groups, most very specific as to topic, and to Writing.com. I've made some wonderful friends on those lists, some of whom I've actually met!

Yes, I'm still here

2008-06-05T12:56:00.005-05:00

I know I haven't been posting regularly -- or at all for the past few months. Working nights and sleeping days works well for me, but since I share an internet connection with everyone else in the house (up to 5 of us, depending on who's home), my time on line isn't necessarily my creative time.

To catch y'all up (I presume someone's reading this from time to time):

When I went to work at Wal-Mart last October, I weighed 267 pounds. That's not something I'd admit to anyone besides my doctor, but in just getting off my butt and working 32 hours a week I started losing weight. By the beginning of March I was down to 244, and had stopped losing spontaneously. Inspired by a story on NBC's Today Show -- one of their Joy Fit Club stories -- I logged onto WeightWatchers.com and signed up. I had successfully lost weight (many years ago, before baby #3) with Weight Watchers, and I knew I could do it.

This week I weighed in at 218.

I've lost nearly 50 pounds (total) and have only 80 more to go!

More news:

Jeanie has graduated from NYU and come home for a while; James has finished his freshman year at Subiaco Academy. His quiz bowl team won their regional title, and was featured on our PBS station (AETN) for the state finals in their division. Though James (the only freshman on the team) didn't play, they were all introduced. They took second place -- a very good finish for such a small school. (In Arkansas, private schools "play up" a division in all competitons, so they were playing public schools a level larger than they.)

I just started a new position with Wal-Mart -- I now work in the accounting office 2 days of my 4 day-a-week schedule. It's a raise of 4 pay grades, and I love the work. maybe eventually I'll be able to work more in the office and less on the sales floor.

This weekend is the Arkansas Writers Conference, and I'll be there both days (though I don't know how long I'll be able to stay awake on Friday, coming off working all night). It's also the weekend for the Texas Scottish Festival at UT-Arlington, and Mom and Jeanie are off to spend three days with Men in Kilts.

I recently edited an anthology of horror stories for Spinetinglers. The book will be available 6 June 2008 from http://www.spinetinglers.co.uk/. I hope to edit more stories and books for them as they ramp up their fledgling publishing company.

That's about all for now -- I'll try to post more frequently -- at least keep y'all up on my weight loss. Coming up is my mother's 80th birthday, hubby's birthday, and our anniversary. June is such a busy month!

(Belated) Happy New Year!

2008-01-12T11:42:00.000-06:00

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, but the holidays (and working in retail, the holidays start in October) took all my time and energy.

Family

We had a wonderful Yuletide -- not quite all the family (niece Natalie, her husband and son couldn't join us) got together at my sister's home for a couple days of celebrating and way too much food. Now everyone has gone home, back to school, or off to see in-laws, leaving Hubbie and me alone. Don't get any romantic notions -- remember, I work nights and tax season has started, so Hubbie's working a second job until mid-April.

Music Question

While listening to "Music of the Night" (from Phantom of the Opera) on my new MP3 player (thank you, Santa), it occured to me that if one didn't know the story of Phantom, one just might think the song was sung by a Vampire. Any comments?

Paul Potts

I was listening to the CD from the British talent show winner (like American Idol), Paul Potts. He's totally untrained, but a superb tenor -- the first time I heard him sing "Nessum Dorma" I was in tears. He outdoes Michael Crawford on "Music of the Night" with a stronger low register and clearer high notes. I hope to see/hear many more recordings from Potts.

New Years Resolutions

I have two main resolutions this year (no, one of them is not losing weight; that's a given): One, to get my house in shape (clean is the operative word), including remodeling the kitchen; and Two, to get back to writing. Having my own computer again will help that (sharing computers in this family is a lose-lose situation). Now I just have to figure out how to get my old files off a dead computer (power supply input is damaged, and the battery is run down, but the hard drive should be OK). Part of the writing resolution includes blogging more frequently. It would be nice, too, to have some comments from time to time (hint, hint).

Observation

2007-10-25T22:44:00.000-05:00

Imagine my excitement when I saw this week's People Magazine. The cover proclaims:

SEXY MEN IN LOVE!

Now imagine my disappointment when it turned out to be about sexy men in love with women.

Publishing Woes

2007-10-20T16:17:00.000-05:00

I just got word that Sybaritic Press has canceled Slash & Burn. Evidently, anthologies are not marketable right now.

So much for turning Slash into salable fiction. I have been working on a couple of original stories, though, and I am hopeful they will eventually see publication. Meanwhile, there's always self-publishing for some of my converted fan-fiction. Keep an eye out right here for announcements about availability.

New Job

2007-10-07T00:34:00.000-05:00

Boy, it's been a long time since I posted -- sorry, folks!

After two and a half years of unemployment except for freelance editing and substitute teaching, I have gone back to work full time. I've started working overnights (perfect solution for my insomnia), checking in and setting up new merchandise in the apparel departments (a lot like picking up after 3 kids) at our local Wal-Mart (I know, I've made a pact with the devil,).

I'll still be writing and editing, so keep coming back from time to time. I'll try to post more frequently. If you'd like to check out my editorial services, go to Emkay Graphics. I'll post news about my writing at EmmaKeigh.com

Empty Nest

2007-08-22T16:11:00.000-05:00

It's official. I'm an empty-nester. This last Saturday we took our youngest child to Subiaco Academy for 9th grade. With my mom at my sister's, and being between cats, this house is WAY too quiet.

On the other hand, now we can go back to eating some OUR favorite foods that James didn't care for. There's always a silver lining.

Home again

2007-08-15T19:53:00.001-05:00

It's been 13 days, 2 mothers-in-law, 5 Days Inns, and 4,000 miles, but we're home!

Not much energy right now; I'll post photos and tales soon.

Disneyland

2007-08-07T23:04:00.000-05:00

Disneyland was great! All the old standbys and some new rides too!

A flat tire in the parking lot.

A lug nut that wouldn't budge.

An unexpected night in an Anaheim motel (no luggage, no clean clothes, not even a comb).

A new tire and back to mother-in-law's home only 12 hours late.

Vacations are TOO much fun.

My feet still hurt.

Traveling

2007-08-05T01:33:00.000-05:00

Wheeeew!

I just drove from home (Central Arkansas) Lake San Marcos (near San Diego), California, with a side trip to the Grand Canyon. Next week is my husband's step-mother's 90th birthday, so we're here to celebrate. Driving all that way by myself (younger son is not old enough to drive yet) was challenging.

I'll have internet access (duh) from time to time, but may not post much until after I get home in mid-August (just in time for school to start in Arkansas).

We plan to do Disneyland on Monday, and later in the week we'll shift our base of operations to Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area), then home the 13th. Of course, it's loads of fun to drive across the desert in August! Not.

No Spoilers Here

2007-07-25T11:45:00.000-05:00

Yep, finished it.

No, I won't tell you anything about it.

Busy busy busy

2007-07-23T00:03:00.000-05:00

Reading Harry Potter.

'nuff said?

Computers

2007-07-19T18:35:00.000-05:00

Can't live with them; can't live without them.

You don't really want to get me started about computers.

It was bad enough that I was using Jeanie's cast-off laptop (screen no longer worked) with my monitor, mouse, and keyboard attached. Then the mouse quit, so I went back to using the laptop keyboard (which I HATE). Then the power supply to the laptop broke, and unless I can get the battery recharged, it's dead, Jim.

So now Stuart and I are sharing a computer. Not only is it a logistics nightmare, I'm having to deal with his choice of virus protection and browser (for some reason Internet Explorer won't work on this computer). Also, though it has a clock speed of something over a gigahertz, programs load like it was an old 386 running DOS 5.1 and Doublespace (been there; done that).

So... what else could go wrong? Now the screen on this computer has lapsed into a coma (though it occasionally wakes up) so we're back to plugging in my monitor.

Fun? Not.

But we deal with it... we couldn't get along without a computer and internet access...

So if I seem lax in posting, or updating my websites, there's my excuse.

If it ain't Barroque...

2007-07-10T17:07:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful weekend in Rogers with my sister and her family, and my older son. We bar-be-qued on Saturday, and on Sunday attended a concert of my brother-in-law Ken's group, the LakeWood Trio at a church in Bella Vista (this group usually performs in churches since the third member of the trio is an organist). This was Ken's last performance with the group, and it was wonderful. He's retiring as of this week, and he and Laurie are headed for California, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska.

Keziah, my niece, was home from her summer internship in Washington DC with the Budget Office (she's a graduate student in Economics), and Willis, my older (married) son, was able to visit with us, too. We missed seeing Leia (my daughter-in-law).

Laurie & Ken live on the shore of Beaver Lake outside Rogers, and it's beautiful this time of year. It was nice to get away for a couple of days, but now it's home to laundry and getting James ready for Boy Scout camp next week.

I've only got 2 weeks now until the deadline to submit stories for the White County Creative Writers Conference. So far I've got nothing appropriate.... I'll have to see what I can come up with.

Sad times

2007-07-02T10:15:00.000-05:00

Early this morning my cat, Spooky, died. He'd not been eating for a few days, and Sunday afternoon would not drink water either. He spent the evening curled up on my lap, getting weaker and weaker. About 2:30 he had a seizure and stopped breathing.

We adopted Spooky just over a year ago, and the shelter said he was about 3 years old. I suspect that it was something kidney oriented (his last urine was very dark), either failure or cancer. We carefully checked the cat food recall (the toxin caused kidney failure), but his food wasn't listed. He started losing weight a couple weeks ago, and his fur thinned out, but I thought that was because of the hotter weather. Last week I started thinking I should take him to the vet. I doubt anything could have been done for him.

We'll bury him in the backyard.

It's June!

2007-06-03T17:46:00.000-05:00

The 2007 Arkansas Writers Conference is history. I had a great time, didn't win any contests, sold a couple copies of "Handfast," and won a door prize. More than that, saw old friends and met new ones. Copies of the chapbook (pamphlet format) can be ordered from me and paid for via PayPal [to emma@ emmakeigh.com]. It's $5 (US), shipping included. Just e-mail me with your mailing address and I'll send it out as soon as PayPal tells me you've paid.

I have to congratulate Jennifer DiCamillo (aka Carys Weldon) on placing in several of the contests. It was great to meet her husband, Tony, too.

Spent the remainder of Saturday night with the Little Rock Science Fiction group (LRSFS) celebrating the 30th anniversary of Star Wars with a viewing of the original version of the movie. We also watched a great short, Revenge of the Brick, all done with animated Lego parts.

The Spring issue of Shadow Sacrament is live, and my story, "Ephanie's Story" (I know, I'm terrible at titles), is featured. I've also had news from Sybaritic Press that Slash & Burn will be coming out sometime this summer (crossing fingers and toes).

Be sure to keep up with Valerie Mingus Beck's blog on her fight against breast cancer. If you haven't been reading it, start at the beginning and read the entire story. It's one of the most inspiring stories I've ever been priviledged to read.

Sold a story

2007-05-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-18T00:30:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-15T19:39:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-14T18:37:00.000-05:00

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

2007-05-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

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?

2007-05-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

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.

Contest Entries on Their Way

2007-04-28T01:02:00.000-05:00

My entries for the Arkansas Writers Conference contests are on their way. I ended up entering 3 of the 36 catagories (though one is only for students). That's several fewer than I had hoped, but I didn't expect to be hit with another bout of bronchitis last month. There's something about cough medicine with codeine that seems to limit my writing....

I've been going back over some of the fan fiction I wrote in the past 10 years or so, wondering if I can salvage any of it as original stories. What's really been surprising is that I still like what I wrote all those years ago. I don't think I'd feel the same way if I could find some of the stuff I wrote 30 years ago (when I started writing fan fiction), so I guess it's a good thing that those stories are among the missing (I'm sure they're in a box somewhere in the garage, with everything else that won't fit in the house).

Is there ever enough room?

Men In Kilts

2007-04-22T18:54:00.000-05:00

I'm back from a weekend at the (28th Annual) Arkansas Scottish Festival and Games. Three days among men in kilts. (Pause. Deep breath. Go on.) The Festival was held (as usual) at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas.

The find of the weekend was a musical group from Dallas, Texas, called Need Fire. They are terrific! They play rock adaptations of traditional Celtic music, original songs and instrumentals, and bagpipe blues. The last has got to be heard to be believed. With John Cleghorn playing a fairly traditional blues guitar (and remember, I'm a big fan of Jim Byrnes), Brad Madison plays (what traditionally would be a harmonica part) the bagpipes. Also phenomenal is fiddler/digeridoo player Dylan Cleghorn (John's son!). I've never seen a bass player have more fun (and play better) than Ed Walewski, and Gabriel Martinez may not sound Celtic but drums up a storm. They have two CDs currently available and are working on a third. Don't miss them! I've posted photos (the look red because of the red tent) in an album – look to the right sidebars for the links.

Also at the festival was the preeminent Scottish folk singer, Alex Beaton. He's in fine voice these days, and has moved from California to Tennessee.

It was a beautiful weekend (I'm a bit sunburned from standing in the sun most of Saturday) and we had a wonderful time.

Another week until I have to have the Arkansas Writers Conference contest entries in... I'll just have to see what I an wrench out of the various muses. Carys Weldon has been writing in her blog about her entries to the same conference contests – so far it doesn't seem like we're entering the same contests, but we may be in competition with each other... Good luck, Carys!

Publishing Delay

2007-04-19T00:51:00.000-05:00

Sorry to say, there's going to be a delay in the publication of Slash & Burn by Sybaritic Press. Lack of cover art is one of the reasons. It's looking like Fall — I'll keep you posted.

I heard from Changeling Press — they're not buying mythology based stories right now. More market research....

This weekend is the Arkansas Scottish Festival at Lyon College in Batesville, AR, so I'll be away and unreachable for a few days. (Ah... men in kilts....)

Writers Group vs Erotica

2007-04-17T01:25:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess the Writers Group was more than embarrassed with my reading of steamy part 3 of "Handfast." The self-proclaimed "facilitator" of the group called me this morning and let me know several members had phoned her about being uncomfortable with my subject matter. They don't want me to leave, just don't read anything dealing with sexuality. I don't suppose I could ask for the same considertion when it comes to the Sunday School-lesson type work some of them read. I'll have to think about whether or not to go back and not read, or not go back. I've enjoyed the meetings beyond reading – it's not like they give critiques, or even comments, but I enjoy hearing their stories as well. I guess if I write more like "Leave Taking" and more of the Darik story, I could read those, but that's not what I'm looking to write for sale. Any comments?

I did query Changeling Press about "Immortal Memories" (aka "Wingéd Dreams"). They have quite a list of e-books available, many right up my alley, and I'm thinking of Ellora's Cave for "Seasons of the Heart."

Seasons of the Heart

2007-04-13T23:51:00.000-05:00

I finally got all the way through Seasons of the Heart/A Season Apart to adapt it to be an original story – gone are all the Tokienisms, Sindarin words, and geography of Middle Earth. Well, not entirely -- some of the names I made up for original secondary characters can be traced to Sindarin, and the distances and general directions of the geography are about the same (the sanctuary is in a valley; the errant prince is from a forest on the other side of the mountains). But I think it'll pass as original (fingers crossed). I'm entering the first chapter and synopsis in one of the Arkansas Writers Conference contests, so we'll see if it passes muster there. I've got a couple of markets in mind for submitting it, so we'll see if it sells. I've restructured it a bit, calling the entire novel "Seasons of the Heart" with a Prologue, Part I (Seasons Together), and Interlude, Part II (A Season Apart) and an Epilogue. I don't know if I'll change the LOTR version to match that structure, I'll have to think about how much work it would be to change all the web pages (since each chapter is a separate page).

Two more weeks until the deadline for the Writers Conference contests, but I don't know how many of the contests I'll end up entering – three for sure, maybe as many as nine, if I can get the muses in dictation mode.

Today I thoroughly embarrassed most of the other members of the Conway Creative Writers Group as I read part 3 of "Handfast," where Gordon and Sarah (originally Duncan and Sarah when it was a Highlander story) finally consummate their relationship. Even though I skipped several paragraphs, there were blushes all around. I'm afraid I may have offended one lady who usually shares very devout inspirational writing with us when I explained that "Handfast" is one of the few heterosexual stories I've written, but she did comment that though she found that distasteful, she thought I should write what I chose to. One of the other ladies was very quick to remind the others that there is quite a market for gay romance, and it's the writing, not the subject that we're there to share. I also assured them that I wouldn't be reading any explicit gay stories. The men in the group seemed to be the most embarrassed by the steamy scene I read part of... but I got the idea that they would enjoy reading it silently...

Now for a more serious note...

I received word this week that a delightful young woman my family knows, a brilliant cellist named Natalie, has been diagnosed with Type 1 (juvenile or insulin-dependent) Diabetes. As many of you know, my daughter-in-law Leia has been insulin-dependent since the age of 8. If any of you are disposed to make any charitable contributions, please consider the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is trying to find a cure for this terrible disease. Please also remember when you vote next that stem cell research has been very promising for diabetes, as well as many other devastating diseases and conditions.

Laura Castoro

2007-04-09T19:14:00.000-05:00

I just read an article in the May issue of The Writer by Laura Castoro entitled "Chick lit grows up." I met Laura last year at the Arkansas Writers Conference and look forward to seeing her there again this year. The article made several interesting points about the current wave of "chick lit," but the one that reached me was that the heroines no longer have to be 20-something, or even 30-something. As a 50-something woman I can appreciate a mature heroine (or even a secondary character). The world is not all 28-year-olds with perfect bodies and unlimited resources, as so many popular novels/stories would have you think.

Kudos, Laura, for telling it like it is!

Easter ramblings

2007-04-08T19:17:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I actually won Carys Weldon's March blog contest. Thanks, Carys! Hey, y'all reading this, visit Carys too!

It's Easter, and as I boiled eggs last week to make devilled eggs for the SF group party, I didn't feel up to coloring eggs this weekend (a bit of bronchitis). But the Bunny of Spring (we're not exactly Christians) brought everyone a bag of treats -- mostly dark chocolate (I only buy what I like for any candy holiday).

I'm working this weekend on de-fanning my long LOTR romance (Seasons of the Heart/A Season Apart) so I can try to market it. It's 70,000 words or so, and it would be a shame to waste a good plot and all....

Still waiting on the galleys for Slash & Burn. Deborah says it doesn't take long once they're back until she gets hard copies, but we're running out of April. Then again, when was a book ever published on time? Speaking of April, I've only got until the end of the month to come up with more entries for the Arkansas Writers Conference contests.

We've had a cold snap (down into the 20s at nights these last few days) and my azaleas have all died in full bloom. Yuk yuk yuk. It'll be months before any other flowers bloom around here (the roses have budded, but they're still little and tightly closed). Even the violets in the bathroom window are wilting and fading. Some spring!

New Photo

2007-04-02T23:36:00.000-05:00

I finally got a photo of myself with short hair (since my 8th grade school photo, that is...). My sister took it last summer, just a few days after I had it cut. I look a little flushed, but this was taken after an afternoon ride on the lake, and you know how fast I burn.

Spring has sprung, and the front of my house is awash in pink azaleas, the dogwood is all in bloom, and we've had thunderstorms four of the past 6 days. Now if I can just get the pollen off my car....

Top Dog Press submission

2007-03-31T16:37:00.000-05:00

I answered a call for submissions to a e-publisher, Top Dog Press, which publishes (on line only) The Shadow Sacrament. It's not for everyone, but I have a new story that fits their needs rather well, I think. It's the Ephanie story, where I give the details of David Smith's heritage (his father is the Greek god, Hephaestus). I actually wrote it as part of David's back story, thinking that it might end up as part of the David/Mark story I'm working on, not thinking it would find a market on its own. It'll be a while before I hear from Top Dog, but I've got my fingers crossed.

Conway Creative Writers

2007-03-30T17:13:00.000-05:00

I'm so glad I joined the Conway Creative Writers group. The group is made up of a variety of writers, and they all are so supportive, even though we each write very different genres/styles. I read the first part of my (longish) short story, "Handfast" today, and will continue with it over the next 3 weeks. [The complete story, in its original (Highlander) version, is on Chez Emma.] We now have a website, though it's still under construction, and I look forward to watching it grow.

Upcoming contests

2007-03-28T19:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I've got two entries ready for the Arkansas Writers Conference contests. There are still several I want to enter, and I've got until the end of April (though that will be here before I know it!) What's strange is that these stories are nothing like my usual -- G-rated, even mainstream-ish. Where they came from I have no idea, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth (or a channelled story in the verbs....).

Not much of an entry today — I haven't been doing much this week (James is home for Spring Break). I'll have to get busy and either write something new or find something suitable to read at the Writers Group this Friday.

Weekend at a Monastery

2007-03-26T00:32:00.000-05:00

Subiaco Abbey and Academy is located in west-central Arkansas, just south of the Arkansas River, near Mount Magazine. It's a Benedictine monastery, and the monks produce peanut brittle to die for and an excellent hot sauce ("Monk Sauce"). The Academy is all boys, college prep, grades 9-12. There's also a retreat facility.

James and I arrived just before sunset, but missed dinner. He joined the other boys watching a movie while I drove to the nearest town (5 miles away) for Taco Bell for us both. While he ate and watched the movie I got settled in the Coury House (the retreat facility). My room was much like many hotel/motel rooms I've stayed in: twin beds, a sofa and easy chair, a built-in desk/vanity, a small bathroom (stall shower only), and wire coat hangers in a small open wardrobe. A lovely view of the athletic fields and the valley beyond, towards the Arkansas River. No telephone. No television. No clock. No radio. A Bible.

I met James as the movie let out and turned him over to one of the Blue Arrow boys, the students who were acting as hosts and guides for us. He took James to the dorm entrance and informed me I could not accompany them to the 4th floor. So I said good night and returned to the Coury House.

There I met another mother there on her own (her husband and daughter were to come on Saturday, as was my husband). We shared a cup of coffee and discovered that we both teach in public schools, and that we had much more in common. Helene teaches art at Hall High in Little Rock, and lives near the Governor's mansion.

Helene returned to her room (to work on her taxes, as she was seeing her accountant on Monday), and I went back to my room, washed my hair, and knit for a while. It was VERY QUIET.

Since I'm accustomed to sleeping 4 am to noon, it was difficult to sleep more regular hours, but I managed to doze on and off from about 2 until 7. Breakfast was simple, cereal, juice and coffee, then we met for a brief welcome and broke into groups for our tours. There were about 8 families there, some just one parent and son, some with both parents and siblings (one only 2 months old).

We toured the campus, including the athletic center we skipped on our brief visit in February, had mock classes in biology, literature, and geography before lunch. Then it was touring dorm rooms (dorms are all the same, no matter which school) and the Abbey museum before a wonderful concert from the Jazz Ensemble and an informal performance-cum-rehersal of the school chorus.

The boys were taken off on an excursion to see some of the outlying features -- some of the places they go for camping and hikes while the parents got some time off. I took my knitting to the Coury lounge and met another of the parents, Steve from Katy, Texas, a metalurgical engineer. Soon it was time for the parents' Q&A with the Dean of Men and the Academic Services Advisor (who was also the geography teacher we had met earlier). Having been through sending a son away to school, not much was new for me, though Subiaco seems to be much more proactive about keeping the boys on task academically. Stuart arrived just before the end of the session and we went right to dinner.

Delicious pork chops with mashed potatoes, broccoli and a salad bar, a slice of cheese pizza (an appetizer?) and yeast rolls to die for -- I threw away the too dry chocolate cake and had an extra roll for desert.

We talked with Ellen, a pharmacist from outside Tulsa, and Steve for about an hour in the lobby, then returned to our room. Stuart tried to access the wireless internet (not ok in the rooms, it seems, he would have to go back to the lounge), but he had music on the computer, so it wasn't so quiet as I knit before taking a shower and going to bed.

I slept a bit better Saturday night, but Stuart's alarm woke me up earlier than I would have liked. After breakfast the boys were taken off for the exam (more of a placement exam than an entrance exam; average or better grades are expected) and we had a formal interview with Mrs. Kiefer, the Academic Services Advisor/geography teacher.

It's been a long time since I attended a Catholic Mass, and I was welcomed by the first hymn -- "Amazing Grace." The school doesn not require that the students be Catholic, and quite a few of the boys didn't go up for communion, so I presume that's the non-RC contingent. As there is a fair number of international students (most of them Asian) there are non-Christian students as well. Though the boys all take religion class, it's presented more as a history/anthropology course than a catechism. After lunch (they do feed the boys well) we packed up, checked out, and drove home (Stuart did stick around for a while to take pictures, to no one's surprise).

James seems pretty positive about the school, and though he's not ready to make a commitment, he does want us to proceed with the application paperwork and all. I think it would be a good environment for him, and a better education than he could get at Vilonia (they offer a wider range of AP courses, if nothing else).

Now I need a couple days to recover after 2 days of walking and stair climbing... more time on my feet than I've spent in a long time.

Away for the weekend

2007-03-23T13:18:00.000-05:00

I'm off to nearby Subiaco for the weekend. It's time for son James to decide if he wants to stay in public school or go away to school as his older brother did. Subiaco is a Benedictine monastery and school that is highly rated as a college prep academy. It should do James worlds of good, as it's been hard to motivate him.

Before leaving for Subiaco though, I'm off to my second meeting of the Conway Creative Writers group. I've got a possible entry for the AWC contest to read; we'll see how they like it.

Daffodils and old friends

2007-03-17T19:00:00.000-05:00

Today was the day to visit the largest daffodil field (anywhere, I think) at Wye Mountain, Arkansas. It's about 7 acres, all planted in daffodils -- and they're all blooming this time of year.

The SF group from Little Rock tries to have an away mission to the daffodils each year, and today I met Margaret, Robert, and Mary there. To our surprise, we ran into the former chairs of Roc*Kon, Ann & Leonard Wilson, along with Ann's sister and mom. It was a beautiful day, and we sat at a picnic table and chatted until it started clouding up about 5ish.

The drive back to Conway (going the opposite direction as those from Little Rock) was lovely, too. The view off Wye Mountain across to Toad Suck (yes, there really is a Toad Suck, AR) was beautiful -- the dogwood is starting to bloom and the Bradford pear trees look like white cotton candy on a stick. I passed the St. Boniface Catholic Church (Margaret couldn't remember the name) which was built about 120 years ago and is the epitome of the classic country church, though being RC instead of Baptist, it does have some gothic elements the other churches in the area seem to lack.

I seem to be getting the hang of this blogger thing -- with any luck I may even post every day or so...

Joined a new group

2007-03-16T21:33:00.000-05:00

Today I joined a new writing group, the Conway Creative Writers. It's a small group, some published, some not, but from what I heard today, all talented. I don't think they're the right audience for most of my stories, but I do have some that aren't too explicit.

I've also been busy re-doing my conventions website. It used to be on free sites, but I decided that since I'm paying for web space, I should use it. Most of the photos are a couple years old, but the site describes conventions and conferences I've attended since 2000. I apologize if any of the links don't work; I had to work from downloads from the old site, as I can't get to my old computer's files. The new site is www.cons.emkaygraphics.biz.

My friend Carys Weldon is holding a contest on her blog this month -- you have to find where she's been and posted (with extra points if you post there yourself). She hasn't been here yet, but I'm expecting her any day now! Check out her website and blog at www.carysweldon.com.

Today is my daughter's 20th birthday -- I'm down to one teenager for the first time in 6 years... and only 6 more years to go until he's out of his teens as well. Yeah, I know, having 3 kids spread over nearly 12 years makes for a long haul as a mommy... most women my age are grandmothers and emptynesters already. That's what I get for having a baby at (almost) 40.

I've got the weekend to myself -- my mom is at my sister's, and hubby & son are off Boy Scout Camp-o-ree-ing -- so it's me and the cat until Sunday. Somehow, I don't think I'll mind....

Things to do instead of writing

2007-03-04T02:49:00.000-06:00

I've been playing around with my new website (otherwise known as NOT writing), changing colors and layouts. All feedback will be greatly appreciated!

I've decided which of the AR Writers Conference contests to enter; now I just have to WRITE. I was glad to hear from Jennifer DeCamillo (aka Carys Weldon) that she'll be coming to Little Rock in June.

I'm still waiting for the galleys for Slash & Burn. It'll be my first chance to read the other stories in the book. It should come soon, as Deborah (the editor) wants to be able to release it in April, which is next month now.

Cutting my hair

2007-02-24T00:58:00.000-06:00

Well, I found a photo for the heading of this page, but I have to warn you, it's an old one -- last summer I cut my hair (first time in 40 years) to donate to Locks of Love.

I'd been thinking about cutting my hair for a couple of years, but when my good friend, Valerie Mingus Beck, was diagnosed with breast cancer, my mind was made up. Valerie is only 35 years old, and is the younger sister of the girl who was the flower girl in my wedding in 1974. I lit the candles at their mother and father's wedding in 1963, so it's a long-standing family relationship. It actually goes back even farther, as Valerie's grandmother looked after me when I was a baby, and had been my grandmother's close friend. My grandmother died from breast cancer before I was born, so Opal was as close as I got to a grandma.

I've participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure several times and it's one of my personal causes.

Anyway, I'll be putting up a new photo as soon as I can get my husband to take one (he still hasn't told me what he thinks of my short hair).

Welcome!

2007-02-22T03:58:00.000-06:00

Thanks for viewing my new website and blog. I'll keep you updated on what I'm working on, and where you can find my stories.

I've been working on the revisions necessary for my stories that will appear in Slash & Burn from Sybaritic Press and on submissions to the Arkansas Writers Conference contests. I'll be attending the conference in Little Rock on June 1-2, 2007. Hope to see you there!