I’m sure there are many blog entries across the net with the above title.  But I was in a mood, so here it is.  You know you’re a writer if:

1)  In the middle of listening to a new country song while driving down the road, you think, EUREKA!  That’s the perfect line.  There’s my NEXT book.

2)  Somebody is mean to you or someone you care about, so the antagonist psychotic witch in your book gets a name change.

3) Your spouse finds a bookmark on your computer for a site that reads, “How to bury a body without getting caught,” and doesn’t get frightened.

4) You’re now thinking about all the weird bookmarks you have on your comptuter.

5) The misspelled word in the above sentence is killing you.

6) You proof-check a text message three times, then delete it and start over with better verbs.

7)  Texting acronyms in emails make you want to throw your computer at the sender.

8)  You’re in the middle of a conversation with someone and you rewrite their dialogue in your head.

9) You’ve asked someone to lock you in the trunk of a car just so you can get your scene right.

10) More than once you’ve answered the door in your pajamas – and it was mid-afternoon.

So, I figured I try making a holiday video.  And what better way than to put Tony, Debbie, Stephanie and Brandie in it?  I mean, you should always put the people who know where to find you in silly videos on the internet!    Happy Holidays, everyone.  🙂

I had a funny conversation with a very nice lady the other night.  Thought I’d share.

Nice Lady:  So, you’re the gal who wrote the book on vampires.

Me:  Yes.

NL:  I like vampires.  I saw your cover.  You did a good job on that.

Me:  I really like the cover, too.  But I didn’t do the cover.  Kensington did the cover.

NL:  Oh.  Well, it’s pretty.  And I really liked the back cover – it makes your book sound fun.

Me:  Thanks.  But I didn’t write the back cover.  The marketing department at Kensington did.

NL:  Oh.  But aren’t you the writer?

Me:  I think so.  But I don’t know much about marketing.

NL:  Well, at least you got to choose the name.  FATED is a really creative name.

Me:  Ah………

NL:  You didn’t choose the name?

Me:  Um, not exactly.

NL:  Are you sure you’re the writer, dear?

Me:  Pretty sure.  (Though I was feeling a bit confused at this time.)

NL:  Okay.  (Sounding just a bit doubtful.)  So, I have a Kindle.  Will FATED be on Kindle?

Me:  (On all that is holy.)  I have no idea.  Sure, probably, but I’m not sure when.

NL:  Well, this is just your first book.  I’m sure you’ll get better at this, dear.

Me:  Thank you, I’ll sure try.   🙂

It occured to me that I may have an entire Saturday to write.  Big Tone took our son to get the camper all set up for Memorial weekend, so they should be gone all day.  Our daughter is asleep but has a play date later today.  So…what to do.

I wrote a blog and published it.  Then I spent some time trying to figure out how to advertise the blog on my FF&P Loop which has new rules that you can’t advertise your blog except on Wednesday.  By Wed., my blog will be old news.  Finally gave up and didn’t advertise.

Then I emailed back and forth with writing buddies mentioned in the blog.  Now I’m looking through cool quotes about writing.  Here’s a good one:

If you start with a bang, you won’t end with a whimper.
T. S. Eliot

Isn’t that good?  And timely for me because I’m reworking the initial scene in DEMI.  Too slow.  And as my crit partner pointed out – “You’re trying to hard.  Remember that the books you sold were ones you wrote for fun.  For you.”   Note to self…crit partners remember stuff.  And nail you with it.  🙂  But as I’ve now learned that ‘Roll Tide, Baby’ refers to Alabama, Jenn is once again happy with me. 

So, now I should take advantage of this quiet Saturday and start writing.  Well, as soon as I check out NeimanMarcus.com.  Rumor has it shoes are on sale…

It occurred to me earlier today that I was a clutz.  Well, I kind of knew it, but sometimes we deny certain things about ourselves.  When I dropped my computer mouse in my coffee an hour ago – there was no more denial.  I liked that mouse.

For some reason I flashed back to childhood when my mom taught me to read.  Well, she taught me to love reading and getting lost in a good story.  Being the wise woman she still is, she might’ve been trying to save my limbs from disaster.  I still remember the first Nancy Drew book she put in my hands while I sat safely on the sofa surrounded by nice, soft pillows.  If I fell, no harm done. 

As I grew up, I used to sneak into her romance pile and read those wonderful love stories.  Sometimes I still feel like I’m getting away with something when I find myself lost in a steamy romance.  Then the day came when I was old enough we could pass books back and forth.  She gave me one of Nora Robert’s MacGregor stories – and I was hooked for life.  Remember those?

And now, my mom has read my book.  I asked her if she thought it was too steamy and she said that it was wonderful.  Then she said, “Oh my.”  🙂  So here’s to our moms:  When they ensured we survive childhood, they may also have given us the key to a happy adulthood.  Thanks, mom.

So question: Who taught you to read and what book do you most remember?