Things are progressing with the book publishing, and I am again looking for some input. I have two photos that I am considering for the front cover of the book. Though I have already pretty much made up my mind which I want to use, I would like to know which you would pick up first. Keep in mind the title No Time to Quit with the subtitle Life in a Broken Package. Let me know which you would pick up first, the child or the plant. ?Use the comment section below this post. Thanks! … [Read more...]
Immigration
May 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
With the Minnesota Senate passing a bill that gives financial aid to illegal immigrants for college educations, I sit back and wonder where their minds are. Don't get me wrong. I understand the logic of helping these kids who have grown up here grow and learn. And since many have been here most of their lives, in many ways they are U.S. citizens. But, become citizens before we pay for their education. In order to get a job they are supposed to prove they have the ability to work here. Evidently, the parents have worked here for a long time, whether legally or illegally, in order to support the family. Are illegal immigrants paying taxes toward the financial aid? Do they file income taxes? If they want to live here, why not go through the process of becoming a citizen? I agree with one senator who voiced concerns about paying for the education and then the student not being able to work. With the current economic climate, and the fact that our country is in such debt, it ticks me off that I may be paying for illegal immigrants to get a college education. In essence I will be paying for people of other countries to gain an education while our country continues to go into … [Read more...]
Senseless Act
April 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
As I hunched over the StarTribune, attempting to give my tired body a rest, a co-worker looked at the big-screen TV in horror and asked if that was a bomb. I turned to see "Terror at the Boston Marathon" above a photo as the news reporter was talking about the incident. The break room was noisy - someone speaking loudly on his cell phone, people punching in, others punching out, lots of greetings and conversations. I couldn't hear anything the news reporter was saying, so I stood next to the TV until the room cleared out as people went on their way. I was mortified and in shock. Two bombs had exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, injuring and killing spectators and runners. I hurt for those who were injured or killed, and for those who love them. I hurt for those who witnessed the carnage and will have those images imprinted on their minds forever. I hurt for our nation and the impact this will have on other events. It doesn't matter who did this, whether it was a locally born psychopath or a foreign terrorist, the fallout will be the same. Our way of life will continue to change. We stand and say we will be strong and will not let these acts of terror change … [Read more...]
One Door Away From Heaven
April 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
By Dean Koontz One Door Away From Heaven is an unexpected book that follows three primary groups of people who finally converge in the last few chapters of the book. Writing styles change a bit from chapter to chapter depending on which group is being described, which dumbfounded me the first time I read it. The styles evolve into one style as the characters get closer together, which is an amazing feat! It takes a great writer to do that well. The book starts out in a dusty trailer park in California where Michelina Bellsong has moved in with her aunt, searching for a way to change the direction of her troubled life. Along comes Leilani Klonk, a precocious handicapped girl with a strong spirit who cuts through the crap and says it how it is. Thrown off guard, Micky isn't sure how to react but sees a quiet desperation underneath the strength Leilani portrays. Leilani's mother is absorbed in her world of drugs, and her stepfather, Preston Maddoc, is not who he appears to be. He has moved the family from place to place searching for UFO sightings, striving to make contact. The story he tells is that the aliens will heal Leilani by her 10th birthday or take her to live with … [Read more...]
I’m off and running!
April 12, 2013 by 5 Comments
I am finally publishing my book, which has kept me very busy over the last few weeks! Though I never thought I would work with self publishing, that is the direction I am going. I had never wanted my work associated with self publishing, except in the book arts arena. I worked at a small press for a while and some of the self published garbage that came through gave me no respect for the industry. Anyone can publish anything, no matter how bad it is. I felt that self publishing would not lend any respect to my work. But the publishing industry is changing, and I guess I am changing with it. Print on demand is more popular, even with the large publishing houses, and working with authors who self publish also appears to add another dimension to their business. It started with me submitting the manuscript to a Women of Faith writing contest. I was hoping to win a publishing package, but I didn't, so I dismissed the whole thing. Then I got a call from WestBow Press, the company working with Women of Faith on the contest. I said, "Thank you but I'm not interested." A few weeks later, I got a another call while I was sitting in the hospital room with my mother. For some … [Read more...]
Seven more words!
April 12, 2013 by 2 Comments
Here are seven new words to get those writing juices flowing for a paragraph-long story. You can still write a story using the words from the last couple of posts. Just go to past projects, click on the writing project you want to submit for and submit the story through the comment section below the instructions. Submit a story for as many as you would like! The new words: Poster, egg, donkey, barrel, slither, jump, brown. … [Read more...]
Get those writing juices flowing!
April 1, 2013 by 1 Comment
Here are seven new words to get those writing juices flowing for a paragraph-long story. You can still write a story using the words from the last couple of posts. Just go to past projects, click on the writing project you want to submit for and submit the story through the comment section below the instructions. Submit a story for as many as you would like! The new words: Snow, spring, crocodile, orange, teal, fluid, inconsistence. … [Read more...]
What does Easter mean to you?
March 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Tell me what Easter means to you. … [Read more...]
More words!
March 15, 2013 by 1 Comment
Let's try this again!! I will post seven more words today and let's see if you can come up with a paragraph-sized story using all seven words. You can still write a story using the words from the last project. Just go to past projects, click on the writing project you want to submit for and submit the story through the comment section below the instructions. Submit a story for as many as you would like! The seven words for today are: Fairy, yellow, green, flighty, toilet, leaf, amble. … [Read more...]
Words, words, words
February 26, 2013 by 1 Comment
With all the enthusiasm lost on the last writing exercise, I decided to go back to something simple and fun. I am starting with seven words to be included in a single-paragraph story. Please check it out and submit your paragraph stories through the comment box below. Here goes... The first seven words are: Ice, white, purple, mice, barrel, yogurt and malicious. … [Read more...]
