tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-267536932024-03-13T17:15:32.058-04:00Kimberly Nee <center><b><i>Writing romance, dealing with life, and forever in search of the perfect cup of coffee...</i></b></center>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481162819559141780noreply@blogger.comBlogger760125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-29887908098513398202020-04-22T13:28:00.000-04:002020-04-22T13:28:47.489-04:00It's Been a While...Hi there. Remember me? No? That's okay. Pull up a seat and maybe it'll all come back.<br />
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I haven't been around at all. Life's been... busy. I went back to school to (finally) finish my bachelor's degree. I'm majoring in History, minoring in English, at Rutgers University. It's been awesome. At least, my first semester was, last fall. I carried 15 credits and made Dean's List, thankyouverymuch.<br />
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This semester, however, has been different, to say the least. I'm carrying 15 credits again and I <i>think </i>I'm doing pretty well. But then COVID-19 swept through the land and now I'm remote schooling, which mostly sucks because I really do miss the classroom aspect of it. I miss the discussions and interactions mostly. My professors have done a great job of navigating such untested, uncharted waters, and all in all, I think my grades will be just fine. One more year and I'm done.<br />
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My family has been through some changes as well. Thing One graduated high school last year and is a freshman at college. Remote schooling as well, but also doing fantastic. Thing Two is finishing up 8th grade and will be a high school freshman next year, which is still a little unsettling to think about, now that I think about it.<br />
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We adopted this guy here in January. His name is Salem and he is a slinky boi... He's still really skittish, but settling in. I don't know his history, but my guess is he was an alley cat. He moves without a sound and is <i>really </i>good at hugging the walls and is fast as mercury...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salem. He is always plotting.</td></tr>
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He and Oreo play (at least, I <i>hope</i> it's playing) tag every night. Down the stairs. Up the stairs. They sound like the brothers in <i>A Christmas Story</i> when they're racing to get up the stairs to go to bed on Christmas Eve. But Salem is a lover as well, and will wrap all around your legs. Usually when you're trying to walk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oreo. I swear, she's not broken. She doesn't quite get how to cat...</td></tr>
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We've also had a loss. A huge loss. On March 19, 2020, we said goodbye to our pupper Roxy. On Earth Day, 2009, she joined our family and coincidentally, it fell exactly the same as it did this year. She'd been diagnosed with two different types of cancer in 2017 and finally, it won. Words cannot possibly describe how much I miss her. This photo was one of the last ones I took of her. :( My house still seems freakishly quiet without her.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Roxy-doo. I miss her beyond belief<br />8/1/2007 ~ 3/19/20</td></tr>
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So, that's that. Here we are, under quarantine, waiting for the world to right itself. And it will. And hopefully we'll have learned something from it.<br />
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I don't know if I'll update again any time soon. It's been a rough couple of years, both personally and professionally. But never say never, right?Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-21579553296676206942018-08-26T13:45:00.000-04:002018-08-26T13:45:22.429-04:00John S. McCain III 1936-2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By now, you know Arizona Senator John S. McCain III lost his battle with cancer yesterday afternoon. He wasn't my senator and I am the last person anyone would even think of when the word <i>Republican</i> is mentioned, but his death hit me very hard. Harder than I thought it would.<br />
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We've all known for some time he was fighting an uphill battle and yet, when word came down Friday that he'd stopped treatment, it was still a shock when my husband told me last night, "John McCain died."<br />
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Politically speaking, I was McCain's polar opposite--a proud liberal who despises war and tax cuts for corporations, who hated seeing Obamacare gutted instead of seeing the parts that didn't work fixed. And yet, I respected McCain. He was a true patriot--a POW during Vietnam who lived with the reminders of his captivity and torture for the remainder of his life. Unlike the disgrace who currently occupies the White House, McCain didn't ask for deferments. He served his country for almost sixty years.<br />
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In 2008, when he ran for president, I was thisclose to voting for him, and I have never cast a vote for a Republican presidential candidate. But then, he chose the Talking Turnip from Alaska and I couldn't, in good conscience, vote for him after that. The thought of someone as stupid as Sarah Palin occupying the Oval Office chilled my blood. So, I voted for the man I felt was too young and too inexperienced. I don't regret that vote. Not one bit. But I do think McCain would have made a good president.<br />
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This one moment of the 2008 campaign is forever embedded in my mind:<br />
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In these days, when the occupant of the Oval Office seems to have difficulty with acting like an adult, never mind acting presidential, McCain reminds me of a time when civility still existed. He is the last of a dying breed--an honorable Republican--and our country is worse off for that.<br />
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Godspeed, Senator McCain, and thank you for your service. This country will miss you more than you could ever know. <br />
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-90275078112661665682018-07-23T20:16:00.001-04:002018-07-23T20:16:56.382-04:00It's Here!!<i>The Earl's Perfect Match </i>is finally here! Woot!<br />
<br />
<i>Bennett Markham, Earl of Dunning, needs an heir, which means he needs to
find a wife first. His only requirements are that his bride not be a
fortune-hunter and absolutely cannot love him, now or ever. <br />
<br />
Love is not in the cards for Markham men. <br />
<br />
Elena Sebastiano is more than a little surprised when the Earl asks her
to play matchmaker for him. They barely know each other, so how is she
supposed to choose the perfect bride? Nonetheless, the challenge
intrigues her. <br />
<br />
But what's a woman to do when she wants the man for herself? Convince him no one will do but her...</i> <br />
<br />
Here are few reviews in case you were curious...<br />
<i><br /></i>
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<i>Editorial Reviews for THE EARL’S PERFECT MATCH by Kimberly
Nee</i></div>
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<i>
</i><pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The Earl's Perfect Match by Kimberly Nee is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a fantastic historical romance</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Nee has provided us with an amazing, well-written book and loaded it with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">outstanding, lovable characters</b>.” –Deb D., Goodreads</span></i></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“This was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a fun, well-written Regency romance</b>. Elena was lively and down to earth. She and Bennett had chemistry and I enjoyed reading their story. The secondary characters were entertaining also. I would recommend this book to others and would read more books by this author.” –Robin D., Goodreads</span></i></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This book has the perfect HEA</b>!” –Erika C., NetGalley</span></i></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>“This was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a beautiful romance</b> that I could not put down! I even burned my dinner!” –Sheila R., NetGalley</i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i> </i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, what better way to celebrate than a contest, right?</span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i> </i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Glad you agree, so here we go...</span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i> </i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i> </i>It's really simple, since I like simple. :D </span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When? July 23, 2018 – September 1, 2018</span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How? </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like my FB author page and be entered to win an ebook copy
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Earl’s Perfect Match</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other specifics: Three winners will be chosen at random, and one winner will be chosen at random to
receive the entire set of Sebastiano novels (4 books, total) in ebook format.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, I like giving stuff away, so what are you waiting for? Go! You won't regret it. :D</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can find it at <a href="https://entangledpublishing.com/the-earl-s-perfect-match.html" target="_blank">Entangled Publishing </a> and on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Earls-Perfect-Match-Sebastiano/dp/1722480904/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1532391307&sr=8-4&keywords=kimberly+nee" target="_blank">Amazon</a>!</span></div>
</span></pre>
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-75266166749828537712018-07-02T19:59:00.002-04:002018-07-02T19:59:39.651-04:00The Countdown Has BegunOkay, well technically it began on July 1, but who's counting?<br />
<br />
I'm looking so forward to this book's release, because when Samhain folded, there was no guarantee this (or any of my Samhain titles, really) would be given new life. I'd gotten the rights reverted to <i>The Earl's Perfect Match</i> waaaay back when Samhain made the "We're closing our doors" announcement the <i>first </i>time. It had already gone through first edits, but not final ones (although it did have a cover already and I loved working with my editor, Laura. I miss her, :() so it met the criteria for outright reversions. The other books were up in the air, with a lot of breath-holding for me, as well as other authors, I'm sure, as to whether or not those rights would come back to me. Fortunately, my titles came back to me free and clear when Samhain shut their doors permanently. It was relatively painless, even if it did hurt to see Samhain go. I had a great experience writing for them, so, I left with relief that my books were mine once more, and on good terms. I've been through a few publisher implosions. This one wasn't bad. No fighting. No threats. Just reversion of rights and when they came back, I already had the offer from Entangled to rehome the first three books.<br />
<br />
But this story... Elena and Bennett are two of my favorite characters. I wrote the first draft during a rough time. My mother had been sick and passed in June of 2013, I was worn down from dealing with her--cancer is a bitch, it really is, and when it spreads to your brain, it changes you. My brother and I were the ones dealing with her funeral, and her estate and the one bank who STILL refuses to close her checking account. WTF is THAT about? Anyway, there was a lot of stress in my life and watching Elena and Bennett's story unfold helped me deal with it. I think you can tell I enjoyed writing it. It shows through in some of the more humorous scenes.<br />
<br />
So, anyway, only three weeks until it releases and I'm thinking about a giveway. I'm not sure really what I'm doing yet, so when I decide, it'll probably run through august as well, since I'm getting a late jump on this. Time flew by on me and the release date kind of snuck up on me, so here we are.<br />
<br />
I'll post more on my Facebook page when I have the details worked out, so hop on over there and give it a like, if you're so inclined. See you there!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-23923569752294797412018-05-31T17:51:00.000-04:002018-05-31T17:51:23.034-04:00So Much AdultingDamn... I go away for a while (okay, a <i>loooong </i>while) and when I come back, my blog needs yooooge renovations. So, here I am, adulting like a boss as I move things around, sweep up and toss broken links, delete blogs that haven't been updated in literally years, fiddle with fonts and colors, and even rename the whole place. Whew. I need a nap. Or a drink. Yes, a drink will do nicely.<br />
<br />
So, here we are, a nice, freshly cleaned and polished blog, I feel quite accomplished, even if it's really kinda my own fault the place went to ruin. I had pages up to books that aren't even available any longer. There were links that led to dead ends. And I discovered that, while I was gone, Blogger added some really cool things as well, so I can probably use this in place of my website. At least, for now anyway.<br />
<br />
I really didn't mean to spend an entire afternoon doing this. I had no idea it was this out of whack. But at the same time, I don't really mind it. It's fun to play around with layout and font and colors and all that stuff. I just don't want to have to do it again for a long time.<br />
<br />
So, if you're so moved, let me know what you think. What works, what doesn't work? What you like, what you don't like? Things like that.<br />
<br />
In the meanwhile, here is the newest member of our family. Meet Oreo, the tuxedo we adopted last month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQOSkw2buyenlcvkfaMGGvmI8-i2-LlEK6CbmLYm4X_W-VQHmawa-yVoztrq2nZFYi4aLkOzbDTFRZmTBWZd_fl5tIKHaUSSB7IzbbJaIWr_n4XMoLtVLlICJbcyYMjsZ1x_MtQ/s1600/IMG_2718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQOSkw2buyenlcvkfaMGGvmI8-i2-LlEK6CbmLYm4X_W-VQHmawa-yVoztrq2nZFYi4aLkOzbDTFRZmTBWZd_fl5tIKHaUSSB7IzbbJaIWr_n4XMoLtVLlICJbcyYMjsZ1x_MtQ/s320/IMG_2718.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The mustache! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8gAKvxFw1wSnSvonO4VfuY5hp27XLo7osHCrZlAmybpq92gePDqws7jjOtr70lH0xVPcyT1QVqyQbLWVuvyHk6auRMrUhPcDZcEBvdpMHTX2entTReUgApNTsg5BqDQza50o0g/s1600/IMG_2786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8gAKvxFw1wSnSvonO4VfuY5hp27XLo7osHCrZlAmybpq92gePDqws7jjOtr70lH0xVPcyT1QVqyQbLWVuvyHk6auRMrUhPcDZcEBvdpMHTX2entTReUgApNTsg5BqDQza50o0g/s320/IMG_2786.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do not be fooled, human. I could kill you if I wish...</div>
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-44578827884845094902018-05-30T20:01:00.002-04:002018-05-30T20:01:49.056-04:00Getting Back into the SwingYes... I'm back (again) and yes, I've been a bad blogger (again) and once more, I'm going to promise to be better about it (again.) So, keep your fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here I am, trying to get back into the swing of everything. I've been a busy little bee, working on edits for my upcoming release, <i>The Earl's Perfect Match</i>, which is Elena Sebastiano's story and is coming from Entangled Publishing on July 23rd. Look! New cover art!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRSaUJWaKsXCs7W_XwpdSK73ia3zxXXWPfgN34vZO0AWDSas3-MZUQ6liSKugk3TruQ8LWX-eDqlA6x45dQ5I8fTp7Q9ZsEzilix7OOYwDPG5-zvF0SXVC5mfhQ4J2-LU2awNiA/s1600/EarlsPerfectMatch_300x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRSaUJWaKsXCs7W_XwpdSK73ia3zxXXWPfgN34vZO0AWDSas3-MZUQ6liSKugk3TruQ8LWX-eDqlA6x45dQ5I8fTp7Q9ZsEzilix7OOYwDPG5-zvF0SXVC5mfhQ4J2-LU2awNiA/s320/EarlsPerfectMatch_300x450.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Lovely, isn't it? My cover artist rocks!</div>
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Anyway, I just turned in copyedits for this, and now I'm sorta starting to get excited about the release. Yay!</div>
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I've been working on a sooper seekrit project as well. I'll have news on that <i>very </i>soon, or so I hope. :D</div>
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I have a<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kimberly-Nee-286021656802/" target="_blank"> Facebook</a> page, if you're at all interested. Pop by and check it out and like me. Otherwise, I'll cry. :(</div>
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I'm working on other books as well, in several different genres. Changes is good for the soul, right? Anyway, it's been interesting, forcing myself out of my comfort zone. Interesting and challenging.</div>
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And, let's see... Thing 1 goes for her license next week. I'm not the least bit nervous about her driving at all, Nope, not me. Not one little bit.</div>
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Yeah, totally lying on that. I'm trying REAL hard not to think about it. I sleep better that way.</div>
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If you're not following the Faleena Hopkins debacle, you really should. It's fascinating in a train-wreck kind of way. </div>
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Okay, so that's a quick update. And another promise to try to be better at this. Bear with me. Change is good for the soul, but hard and lazy is soooo much easier! </div>
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-81583383339182481872018-02-17T20:14:00.001-05:002018-02-17T20:14:32.213-05:00It's Been a WhileBut so what else is new? Anyway, I'm back again and some things have changed. My Sebastiano series was picked up by Entangled Publishing, which is good. My Musa books remain homeless, but that's okay as well. I'm doing massive rewrites, and basically turning them into new books. A new family. New location. Who knows what will happen then?<br />
<br />
I took down my website. The provider's fee was astronomical, especially for what they provided, so I'm looking around for a new host. It might take some time, but when I've got it up and running again, I'll let you know.<br />
<br />
I'm still alive. Still writing. That sort of thing. I do have a new title coming out this summer, from Entangled. It's the fourth book of my Sebastiano series--<i>Where There is Desire</i>. It's Elena Sebastiano's story, set in England, on the country estate of an earl who also just happens to be in search of a wife. I should have new cover art coming soon, so that's something to look forward to, right?<br />
<br />
And that's about it. So, until next time... <br />
<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-4343930143921788542017-05-06T17:40:00.000-04:002017-05-06T17:40:56.468-04:00Guess Who...Whoa... it's been a long time! But maybe it's time to brush the dust off and tidy up a little around here. A lot has changed since my last post. A. Lot.<br />
<br />
To begin with, Musa Publishing is gone. Two years now. :(<br />
<br />
Samhain Publishing is also gone. They held on for a year following my last post, but as of February 28, 2017 (Yikes, it's too hard to believe it;s 2017 already!!!) they closed their doors for good as well.<br />
<br />
But, as they say, when one door closes, another one opens and in my case, I'm happy to announce that Entangled Publishing offered contracts on <i>Tiger Eyes </i>and <i>When I'm With You</i>. <i>Eden's Pass</i>, however is out of print and likely to remain so for now. I have hopes of one day having it out there again, but it needs some updating and I've got several projects going on right now as well, so we'll have to see what happens with it.<br />
<br />
I don't have any of the details yet on the other two - but when I do, I'll share. And hopefully, I'll be able to get back into blogging. I hesitate to promise, because life really does get in the way sometimes and let's face it, sometimes there's just nothing really exciting to blog about.<br />
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I wrote my very first post on April 22, 2006. Eleven years ago. Damn... So much has happened between now and then. My kidlets were 5 and 6 months old at the time. Now, they are sixteen and eleven. My first Samhain book (<i>Eden's Pass</i>) wouldn't come out for another almost two years. Now? I've had almost a dozen books published and many more written, hopefully to be published at a later day. I've lost forty pounds and became a gym rat. It's been an incredible and interesting journey since that first blog post and I can see I have a bit of housekeeping to do here. Some of it's rather sad - like the publishers that are no more- but what's to come makes up for it. I'm looking so forward to all of it.<br />
<br />
So, I can't promise I won't ever slack on this, but I'll try to get back to it on a regular basis. I've actually kind of missed blogging (does anyone even do this anymore? I don't know, I've gotten lazy on the blogs I follow as well. **shrug**) so maybe that will change.<br />
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We shall see.<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-1071855231668260332015-02-24T15:32:00.000-05:002015-02-24T15:32:26.610-05:00Bad NewsWell, here I am, finally updating. I wonder if anyone even remembers me these days? I'm such a terrible blogger, it isn't even funny. But I've been busy with real life stuff - both writing and non-writing related, so unfortunately, something had to give. And since it seemed like I'd blogged about everything I could think of, guess what got sacrificed?<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm back for now and unfortunately, I'm the bearer of bad news. Last Friday, I woke to an email from Musa Publishing. It seems they are closing their doors as of February 28, 2015. And just like that, I've got orphaned books.<br />
<br />
Six orphaned books, to be exactly.<br />
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The four books in my McKenzie Brothers series and the two in my Mordainia series are now homeless. Damn it.<br />
<br />
Now, I'll admit, they didn't earn me a fortune, but the royalties were a nice little bonus every month. But more importantly, it just makes me sad that they will no longer be out there. I've received quite a few good reviews on them, and frankly, I'm very proud of them. They are--in my humble opinion, of course--good stories. And I've grown quite fond of both the McKenzie family and the Mordianian royal family.<br />
<br />
So, I don't really know what my next step will be. I will have the rights returned to me free and clear as of the end of the month. I'm considering self-publishing them, since they've been edited and the only changes I want to make to them are very small. But I don't know yet. We'll see. One day at a time and all that and I have a ton of research to do before I make a decision.<br />
<br />
But, considering I believe that every time a door shuts, another one opens, I"m trying to look at this as a positive thing. Trying. I was lucky when this happened with Aspen Mountain Press. Musa scooped up my three orphaned McKenzie Brothers books (<i>The Pursuit, Playing With Fire, </i>and <i>A Perfect Lady</i>) and gave them a home. This time around, I don't know what will happen. We'll see.<br />
<br />
There is quite a long thread over on the Absolute Write Water Cooler forums regarding Musa--both the good and the bad--and I have to admit, I've had my ups and down with Musa, I was always paid on time, but there were issues with what seemed to be a long list of revolving editors. But over all, mine was a good experience and I don't regret it. What I <i>do </i>regret is that it's ending this way. And I wish they'd given more than a week's notice. But what's done is done. All I can do is look to the future now.<br />
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We'll see what happens.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-33828908617584374792014-09-11T21:41:00.001-04:002014-09-11T21:41:31.995-04:00** <i>note: this post originally appeared September 11, 2006**</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xMjE_LS5v2gTL9_0Nv5iL94Venswqcfm-ufOuBzJgi98JwRLWhDYm3h8Sg5Rle6744rgW94KYpjQgWcuspBFyMVKMhsSwZIBqebnBTmHEimwIA8T3FwNbxZdwpZR_R0cOu7PuA/s1600/9_11_pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xMjE_LS5v2gTL9_0Nv5iL94Venswqcfm-ufOuBzJgi98JwRLWhDYm3h8Sg5Rle6744rgW94KYpjQgWcuspBFyMVKMhsSwZIBqebnBTmHEimwIA8T3FwNbxZdwpZR_R0cOu7PuA/s320/9_11_pic.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Five years have passed.<br />
<br />
Already?<br />
<br />
No - that isn't possible.<br />
<br />
How
could five years go by in the blink of an eye? It seems as though it
was only yesterday that those horrible events took place in New York, in
Washington, DC, and in Pennsylvania. I still remember EXACTLY what I
was doing five years ago on this day.<br />
<br />
I came downstairs
with my daughter - who was only a baby at the time - to make her
breakfast. There was a talk show on - Ananda Lewis, if anyone cares to
know - and though I can't recall the topic, I knew I wanted to watch it.
So, on went the TV.<br />
<br />
The news was on and I was aggravated. How could a pilot be so clueless as to <b>HIT</b> the World Trade Center? Everyone in the world knows it's there - and it's 110 stories tall. How on earth could you <b>NOT</b> see it?<br />
<br />
I was saying this to an eight month old infant, who simply smiled as if to say, 'I hear ya, Mom.'.<br />
<br />
Mind you, no one knew yet.<br />
<br />
We were about to learn.<br />
<br />
I
can still remember the horror, the revulsion, the disbelief at seeing
that second plane hit. To this day I can recall how my stomach kinked
and how I wanted to throw up.<br />
<br />
When the first tower
fell, I could only stare. That feeling of wanting to throw up was even
more prevalent. All I could think was - 'All of those people <b><i>IN</i></b> those buildings...' How could any of them have gotten out? It'd be a miracle.<br />
<br />
By
then, I knew all of my family members were present and accounted for
and I thank God for that. And all I wanted to do was throw my arms
around my husband and hug him. I kept thinking about how many families
would have an empty chair at their dinner table that night and I was
never so grateful as I was the moment my husband walked through the door
at the end of the day.<br />
<br />
From our home, I could see the
smoke, the haze in the distance. You could smell the odor of burning
whatever that was thick in the air. But the oddest thing to me?<br />
<br />
<b><i>Absolute silence</i></b>.<br />
<br />
We live between Newark, Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia airports. There are <i>ALWAYS</i>
planes overhead. Our walls don't shake or anything, but you can look up
at any given moment and see two or three planes - way high up -
crossing over.<br />
<br />
Not that night five years ago.<br />
<br />
That
night - when we both desperately needed a break from the news - DH and I
went out onto the deck, we sat there, just looking up at the peaceful
night sky that so belied what had happened earlier that day. I've never
heard such thick silence before. Then, the silence was shattered by the
scream of the military jets that were doing hourly fly-overs. Then
silence would reign once more. It was peaceful, but eerie, and it's
something I'd never seen before, or experienced since.<br />
<br />
Five years have gone by since I cried for people I'd never met, for families I didn't know.<br />
<br />
As I watched the ceremony at Ground Zero, I felt that same pain for those families with that empty chair.<br />
<br />
We can never forget what happened that day. Not the sacrifices, not the loss, not the devastation.<br />
<br />
We can never forget.<br />
<br />
Ever.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-65199922332298300452014-04-30T12:35:00.003-04:002014-04-30T12:35:59.143-04:00A Quick Hello!Just popping in to say hello, if anyone even pops in here themselves any longer these days. I know I've neglected this blog horribly, but I've been writing and knitting and doing some vacationing (we spent Spring Break in Florida, doing Disney and spending some time with family.)<br />
<br />
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Our Easter was spent in airports in both Florida and NJ (and it was the first time I've ever been to the AC airport. Small and quiet, not the zoo Newark can be) and then we had a 3 hour car trip up from AC to home. But it was worth it. I love DisneyWorld. I could go there every year on vacation, and I would, if my bank account would let me. :) I'm trying to talk my other half into doing my birthday in Disney - maybe next year. We'll see.<br />
<br />
Other than that, I've got a few subs out that I'm waiting on responses for, and I've got some new cover art that I'll be showing eventually. My release date for <i>Don't Tempt Me</i> has been changed, so it won't be out until mid-summer. Not really happy about it, but it's out of my hands.<br />
<br />
The school year is winding down and I'm thinking I really don't want to be a class parent any more. There are too many stupid rules to follow when it comes to class parties (no junk food. Really???? I can't bring cupcakes for a Christmas - sorry, <i>Holiday</i>--party because they're "unhealthy" and yet, my 2nd grader can buy all the cookies and ice cream he wants in the cafeteria. Hypocrite much, school principal who makes the rules?)<br />
<br />
Ahem.<br />
<br />
So, I think this year is my one and only foray into classroom parenthood. Or it will be until common sense returns to the district (yeah, right. Same district that built one lousy snow day into their calendar. A snow day that was used up in December. Then came storm after storm, and closing after closing... real brilliance at work here, sometimes.)<br />
<br />
Ahem.<br />
<br />
So, there you are. I'm still here. I still don't know when (or even if) I'll return to regular blogging. But rest assured, I'm alive and well and writing and living. Yanno, enjoying life.<br />
<br />
Hugs.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-68250933521104115072014-02-25T19:34:00.002-05:002014-02-25T19:34:28.841-05:00Harold Ramis 11/21/44 - 2/24/14In the summer of 1984, I was twelve years old. We didn't have cable television and my favorite thing to do was play Barbies with my best friend, Kris. The way our town was laid out, our neighborhood (one of the older ones) was on the northern border of the township, while the schools and most of the other neighborhoods were on the other end of town. As a result, when school let out for the summer, the other kids pretty much forgot we existed. And that was fine. I grew up in a tight-knit neighborhood - everyone knew everyone, and we knew when it was time to go home for dinner because Mrs. Tesoriero would stand on her front porch and bellow for her son Michael to come home. That was our cue. Summer afternoons meant Barbies with Kris, swimming at the local pool, and hanging out - listening to music or whatever (usually done in the house with the best AC, since none of us had central air yet.) When I look back, it's fondly, because it was a great time to be a kid.<br />
<br />
But, it did get boring at times and one of the things we did was go to the movies. A lot. One mom would drive, another would pick up (and we saw some howlers - <i>Xanadu </i>and <i>Love at First Bite </i>are two that come to mind. :D) but it was fun. Back then, when you were old enough to go to the movies at night, sans parents, meant you were finally no longer a little kid.<br />
<br />
I remember the first time I saw <i>Ghostbusters</i>. I don't think I'd ever laughed so hard as I did at that movie. To this day, if I flip on the tv, and that movie is on, I'll stop and watch. Every. Time. It's still in my top ten lists of favorites, and in the top five of favorite comedies. And this movie was where I learned something very important about writing.<br />
<br />
Writing<i> </i>comedy isn't as easy as it looks.<br />
<br />
In that movie, the laughs come so naturally. To this day, the special effects might look dated ( it was the early 80s, after all) but the movie itself is still funny. It holds up. It's just a great movie and one I always thought should have been recognized by the Academy Awards. It's a shame it wasn't because good comedy is a gift.<br />
<br />
After we saw it that first time, we talked about it for days after, reciting line after line, and cracking up over this scene or that scene. And Dr. Egon Spengler was my favorite Ghosbuster. He was smart. He was tall, dark, and handsome. And he was funny (maybe unintentionally funny, but funny nonetheless.) What wasn't there to love? Or to crush on?<br />
<br />
I've seen pretty much every movie Harold Ramis either wrote, directed, and/or starred in - and to this day, I still will admit to having a bit of a crush on him. He wrote comedy brilliantly, sometimes so deftly that it took me a few viewings to get it - <i>Groundhog Day </i>was a movie I hated the first time I saw it. I thought it was boring and redundant. But then, I happened upon it on cable about a year or so after I originally sat through it, and for some reason I decided to watch it again. And again. And again. I fell in love with it, and now it's also on my list of great comedies.<br />
<br />
The world has lost a brilliant writer, one of the few with the true gift of writing genuinely funny funny. And it makes me sad that there will be no more Harold Ramis movies released unto an unsuspecting world.<br />
<br />
Rest in peace, Dr. Spengler.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-33582489164352969002014-02-18T20:00:00.000-05:002014-02-18T20:00:43.341-05:00How're YOU doin'?I'm going crazy from all of this snow. It's been the worst winter I can remember in a long time. Snow. Snow. SNOW! It just. won't. stop. I honestly don't remember the last time it's snowed this much. My kids are going to be going to school until July to make up for all the lost time. For reasons known only to them, our district's BOE built a grand total of ONE snow day into the school calendar.<br />
<br />
Yes, you read that right.<br />
<br />
One.<br />
<br />
Day.<br />
<br />
Now, this is NJ. We don't always get a LOT of snow, but it does snow. Blizzards are rare, but not unheard of. I can't remember there ever being less than three days built into the calendar. But not this year.<br />
<br />
One.<br />
<br />
Day.<br />
<br />
And they burned that day off back before Christmas.<br />
<br />
So far, my kids lost President's Day. They lost the Friday before Memorial Day (don't know why that was a day off, but it was) and now, their spring break will consist of two days. Two lousy days. And that's only if there is no more snow this winter.<br />
<br />
Excuse me while I go laugh over that one.<br />
<br />
There are twenty-nine days until spring and with any luck, I'll still have some semblance of sanity left. And who knows, I may even see my front lawn again by June. <br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-36512538585802239762013-12-14T11:35:00.001-05:002013-12-14T11:35:32.084-05:00Still AroundWhew - is it really December 14th already? It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, as you can see, I'm still here, just not as here as I used to be.<br />
<br />
November was a busy month for me, between Thanksgiving and NaNo - I didn't see much in the way of sunlight, so to speak. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday - mine was bittersweet this year. Before we bought our house, my husband and the kids and I spent Thanksgiving at my mom's house. But after we bought the house, my mom very gladly handed off the holiday to me and up until she got sick, we did Thanksgiving together. And although she'd been too sick to do Thanksgiving since 2010, this was the first one without her entirely. Since her death, I'd gone back and forth over whether or not I even wanted to host Thanksgiving - my mother in law and sister in law both offered in my place.<br />
<br />
But in the end, I decided that I wanted a houseful of people and I wanted to be able to drink as much wine as I wanted without having to worry about driving home - so I did Thanksgiving. And as the day drew nearer, I have to admit, it left me feeling a little blue - as much as I looked forward to having my husband's family there, I was dreading the empty chair.<br />
<br />
When my brother and I cleaned out my mom's house three years ago, I inherited my mother's china and crystal, which had been my grandparents' wedding gifts. I boxed it up and stored in my attic. This year, I decided that I wanted to use it - with some hesitation because it's 80 years old and what if something got broken??? - so I went into the attic and brought everything down, washed it (by hand. Can't put 80 year old china in the dishwasher) and as I dried and stacked everything, I felt better. And when I set the table on Thanksgiving, seeing all that beautiful china and delicate crystal made me feel like my mom and grandparents were with me, which made me smile.<br />
<br />
The firsts are the worst - and I'm looking toward Christmas with the same mixed feelings. I don't know if it will get better, but at least it can't really get any worse.<br />
<br />
As for NaNo, I banged out over 100k words in about sixteen days - so it was a success. At one point, I was averaging 12k words a day. It was another Sebastiano book and it just sort of wrote itself. Now, I'm in the process of revising it (along with Rafe's story, which should be done and ready for subbing around the beginning of the year.) I decided to do NaNo this year because since my mom died, I hadn't really felt much like writing anything, and I didn't care if I ever wrote another word. I thought NaNo might be just what I needed to reignite that spark and it worked. I have the basic plot for another Sebastiano book, one I plan on writing sometime over the winter. It felt wonderful to not only be writing again, but to actually be excited about the story I was telling, so I won on several different levels where NaNo is concerned.<br />
<br />
I haven't decided when (or even if, which I probably shouldn't be admitting) I'll get back to regular blogging. I know it won't be before the new year - I'm concentrating on family and current projects right now - but I will pop in from time to time.<br />
<br />
Until then, I'd like to wish everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas (or a happy holiday, whichever holiday that might be) and Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-76151059883859134102013-10-18T19:46:00.000-04:002013-10-18T19:46:17.988-04:00Number 14I don't get political on this blog. My views are mine and I don't see any need (for the most part) to get up on a soapbox and preach. I'm not registered with any party, but I do tend to vote Democrat. I am liberal for the most part. I'm pro-choice. I'm pro-gun control. I'm pro-same-sex marriage.<br />
<br />
Today, New Jersey became the 14th state to legalize gay marriage. Actually, the ruling came down a few weeks ago, but our governor, who I like for the most part, is appealing the ruling. While the appeal is underway, our State Supreme Court ruled, same-sex marriage is legal, with the first licenses being issued as of Monday.<br />
<br />
I cannot even begin to tell you how happy this makes me. I am a heterosexual woman, happily married to the same man for almost seventeen (egads!!) years and I support same-sex marriage. I won't do the whole bs about claiming some of my best friends are gay, but I know plenty of gays and lesbians and I can honestly say that I don't give a damn who you go to bed with. I just. don't. care. Love is love and as corny as it sounds, there is no such thing as the wrong way to love someone.<br />
<br />
To me, the whole idea of being against equal rights is baffling. Anyone who knows me knows I have no use for organized religion (I was raised Catholic, but the Church and I went our separate ways a long time ago and I don't see me ever going back, but that's another post for another time,) but I respect those who have deeply religious beliefs. But I think those who claim religion as a reason for being anti-same-sex marriage are wrong. They are entitled to believe as they do, just as I'm entitled to think they are wrong. If you're against it, don't do it, but you don't get the right to tell another couple they are wrong for loving each other and wanting to commit to each other. Sorry.<br />
<br />
And for that reason, it should <i>not </i>be left up to the general population to decide. Civil rights are not a majority-rules situation. They are <i>rights</i>. We don't get to vote on who gets rights and who doesn't. If we'd left segregation up to the people, what are the odds there would still be separate fountains? Interracial marriages would be illegal.<br />
<br />
For those who believe that procreation is the main reason for marriage, I ask you - what about couples who choose not to have children? Or those who can't have them? Are they no longer married in your eyes? If I apply that silly logic, then that must be the case. But wait, their marital status doesn't change, does it?<br />
<br />
Your argument is invalid. Move on.<br />
<br />
And for those who honestly think that same-sex marriage will lead to people marrying their dogs, or cows, or chickens, I really have nothing for you but an eyeroll and a slap upside your head. You are a moron and should probably not be allowed out by yourself.<br />
<br />
Your argument is invalid, not to mention utterly stupid. Move on.<br />
<br />
What is the big deal? Your hetero marriage is under no threat. Hell, straight people take care of screwing up their marriages all on their own. Same-sex marriage is legal here now and yet, I'm just as hetero-married (hey, a new phrase!) as I was this time last year. Nothing about my marriage has changed, but now, gay and lesbian couples can share in the same wonderful chaos that marriage brings. And for that, I say, bravo to NJ. You did the right thing. Now all I can do is hope that Governor Christie loses the appeal and our State Supreme Court upholds the decision. Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-21771814419111238622013-10-17T19:37:00.001-04:002013-10-17T19:37:53.151-04:00NaNoWriMoEvery year, about this time, I have the same debate with myself. Do I want to participate in National Novel Writing Month - fondly known as NaNoWriMo, or just NaNo for short. Basically, the entire point of NaNo is to write 50k words in thirty days. 50k is the minimum end of a novel for most publishers, and it sounds like complete madness, doesn't it? Trying to write an entire book in thirty days?<br />
<br />
But it's not quite as crazy as it sounds. I once wrote 117,000 words in two weeks. True, they weren't very <i>good </i>words, but they were words nonetheless. I eventually pared the book down to less than 100k and sold it to my first publisher way back in 2004. It was rereleased by Musa Publishing in 2011 as <i>Playing with Fire</i>.<br />
<br />
So, in reality, 50k in a month isn't so crazy. It breaks down to 1667 words per day. That's not really a lot of words. On a good day, I can spit out 5k words (relatively good words, too, for the most part. I've come a long way in eleven years.) And it's fun, in a way. You get to join in a very nice, pretty supportive community and there's a bit of bonding as you all race to finish and collect the goodies, which consist of a banner to put on your website, a certificate you can print out, and the bragging rights to say, "I wrote an entire book in less than thirty-one days."<br />
<br />
I've done NaNo every year since 2008. I've won every year. One time I had the book finished in something like 19 days. One year, I wrote the 50k in addition to doing edits (with very tight deadlines) on several other projects at the same time. That was not one of my wiser decisions. I burned out after that and didn't write any new words for months when it was over. It's not something I'll be doing again any time soon.<br />
<br />
Every year, at this time, I debate whether or not to do it. This year's decision was probably the most difficult. Since my mother's death last June, I just haven't felt much like writing at all. I'd just finished a book literally a day or two before she died, so I've been working on revising it (and edits for <i>Stolen Promise</i>) but that's it. I just haven't felt that urge to write anything new. So I figured NaNo would be a NoGo for me this year.<br />
<br />
But then earlier this week, an idea began rolling around in my mind. A few characters popped up. A storyline began niggling its way through my brain. And little by little, all the pieces are falling into place. So, I decided earlier this week to give NaNo a shot again. For the first time, I'll go into it knowing pretty much everything about the story. It'll just be a matter of getting the words down on the screen. It's nice to feel that urge to write again. I'm looking forward to it, actually.<br />
<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-62529274982464812362013-10-16T08:44:00.001-04:002013-10-16T08:44:16.737-04:00IrelandTwenty years ago today, I was supposed to be married to my high school sweetheart. I say <i>supposed to</i>, because it never happened. Long story short, instead of getting married on October 16, 1993, I boarded a plane bound for Ireland. This trip was my mother's way of keeping me from thinking of What Might Have Been.<br />
<br />
Those two weeks were amazing. Ireland was so beautiful (if quite cold. Apparently, there are two types of weather, according to the Irish I met - warm and rainy, or cold and sunny) and the people there were some of the nicest people I've ever met anywhere. And they truly seemed to like Americans. They asked us about why we'd chosen Ireland and when we explained our Irish roots, people treated us like long-lost relatives. Honestly, if there is a more beautiful people in the world, I've yet to meet them.<br />
<br />
We landed at Shannon Airport at the ungodly hour of six AM. It was still dark and cold enough that the windows of our rental car had frosted over. Mom and I were traveling with my aunt and uncle (her sister and brother-in-law), and we all hunted in vain for the ice scraper. None to be found. So, while the car heated up, my uncle attempted to clear the windshield using his glove. It didn't work,<br />
<br />
But finally, the windows cleared and we were off - navigating the madness that is the Irish highway system. They love roundabouts. In New Jersey, we call them traffic circles and there isn't a Jersey driver alive who isn't a master of these (the ones who can't drive them are usually from out of state. Mostly, Pennsylvania,) so we handled those without any trouble. Driving on the wrong side of the road presented a bit of a challenge, but even that took only a day or two of adjusting.<br />
<br />
From Shannon, we went down into the Ring of Kerry, to Kinsale and Blarney, up to Kilkenny and Dublin, and finally to Galway. I got sick three days into the trip (it started in Kinsale. In all the pictures, I look miserable and trust me, I felt worse than I looked. It was bad.) By the time we reached Blarney, I just wanted to die. My aunt and uncle went on the hunt for a pharmacy and throat lozenges because my throat felt like I'd swallowed broken glass and then gargled with salt water. It felt shredded. I was running a fever. It. Was. Horrible.<br />
<br />
I remember that our hotel room at Christy's (in Blarney) had a window seat. And I remember sitting on it, leaning my head against the window pane. Then, I realized there was condensation on the glass. <i>Then </i>I realized that, using the side of my hand, I could make footprints (the toes? I just touched my fingertip to the glass to make toeprints.) So, while my mom, my aunt, and my uncle were at dinner, I made a trail of footprints all the way to the top of the window. This is what happens when I'm left alone and feverish.<br />
<br />
Sometime during that night, my fever broke and when I woke the next day, I felt a thousand times better (aside from the stuffed up nose. Blech.) I felt well enough to kiss the Blarney Stone (which was a scary experience, since you hang upside down and backward from the top of the tower. The only thing between me and certain death was this little old man who was about five minutes younger than the tower itself.)<br />
<br />
I sniffled my way through the rest of the country and the flight home was pretty uncomfortable (I found out when I returned home that I had bronchitis, so ended up on antibiotics afterwards.) But it was the only trip my mom and I would ever take, just the two of us. It was the only time she ever traveled outside of the United States. She often talked about going back, but it just never happened. Money. Circumstances. There was always something else that would come up and keep her firmly rooted in the US. It really was a great two weeks (despite the sick) and I've always been so grateful to have had that time with my mom. We spent one night tracing our family history back to Kilkenny, in the 1860s. Someday, I'll see how far back it actually goes<br />
<br />
Every October 16th, I think about that trip, but this year is different, since the 16th also marks four months since my mom died. Some days are good ones, but every so often, I'll see or hear something and think, "Oh, I have to call Mom and tell her that!"<br />
<br />
And then I remember.<br />
<br />
It's still so hard to believe that I will never hear her voice again. I dream about her sometimes.<br />
<br />
And now, when my mother's words come out of my mouth (usually said in exasperation to my daughter,) I don't cringe the way I used to. They almost make me smile now.<br />
<br />
I still miss her, though. I always will.<br />
<br />
Twenty years ago today, I was supposed to be married to my high school sweetheart. I say <i>supposed to</i>,
because it never happened. Long story short, instead of getting married
on October 16, 1993, I boarded a plane bound for Ireland. This trip was
my mother's way of keeping me from thinking of What Might Have Been.<br />
<br />
It's now one of my favorite memories. Thank you, Mom. I'm thinking of you today.<br />
<br />
I miss you. <br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-12559808528707328962013-10-04T17:25:00.002-04:002013-10-04T17:25:33.370-04:00Next Adventure in BakingFour years ago, the Boy was obsessed with the Disney movie <i>Cars</i>. I'm not the world's greatest baker, but for the kids' birthdays, I ask them what sort of cake they'd like and then, I do my darnedest to make the cake they'd like. I used to do bakery cakes, but it's kind of fun to see just what I can do, when I try.<br />
<br />
So, for the Boy's fourth birthday, the year he was all about <i>Cars</i>, he asked for a cake in the shape of Lightning McQueen. I agreed, wondered where the hell I was going to do this, since I'm not the most artistic tool in the shed, and promptly hit Google for advice. Lo and behold, I happened upon a wonderful blog that actually gave me a step by step how-to on making a Lightning McQueen cake. I made the cake, it was a hit, and posted about it <a href="http://kimberlynee.blogspot.com/2009/10/cake.html" target="_blank">right here</a>. A few weeks later, still reeling from the success of McQueen (who I though really looked more like Doc Hudson, but that's neither here nor there) I did a <a href="http://kimberlynee.blogspot.com/2010/01/cake-part-deux.html" target="_blank">panda bea</a>r for the Girl. Panda came out well, but the black icing gave us all funny smiles.<br />
<br />
Well now, the Boy's obsession is everything Titanic. He watches You Tube videos about Titanic. He takes books from the library about Titanic. He builds Titanics from his endless supply of Legos. He's even asked for a Lego Titanic set for his birthday (sadly, I don't think we're going to be able to find this. I haven't been able to so far and his birthday is only a little over a week away.)<br />
<br />
And now? I'm going to be attempting a Titanic birthday cake. Go. Me.<br />
<br />
Now, I will confess, I have a pretty twisted sense of humor, so I immediately envisioned a Titanic on a sea of blue fondant (I know, but no one will eat it and it's only for a base) with the heads from his Lego people bobbing on the blue surface. Like I said, twisted sense of humor.<br />
<br />
So now I'm scouring Pinterest and all things Google to find a decent looking Titanic cake. I'm actually pretty amazed at the amount of stuff I've found. Who knew there were so many eight year olds so into Titanic?<br />
<br />
I'm getting together my supply list now. Next, I'll be trying my hand at it. It should be interesting.<br />
<br />
I'll post pictures.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-43103533859290627852013-09-11T08:46:00.000-04:002013-09-11T14:41:23.212-04:00September 11, 2001** <i>note: this post originally appeared September 11, 2006**</i><br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Five years have passed.<br />
<br />
Already?<br />
<br />
No - that isn't possible.<br />
<br />
How
could five years go by in the blink of an eye? It seems as though it
was only yesterday that those horrible events took place in New York, in
Washington, DC, and in Pennsylvania. I still remember EXACTLY what I
was doing five years ago on this day.<br />
<br />
I came downstairs
with my daughter - who was only a baby at the time - to make her
breakfast. There was a talk show on - Ananda Lewis, if anyone cares to
know - and though I can't recall the topic, I knew I wanted to watch it.
So, on went the TV.<br />
<br />
The news was on and I was aggravated. How could a pilot be so clueless as to <b>HIT</b> the World Trade Center? Everyone in the world knows it's there - and it's 110 stories tall. How on earth could you <b>NOT</b> see it?<br />
<br />
I was saying this to an eight month old infant, who simply smiled as if to say, 'I hear ya, Mom.'.<br />
<br />
Mind you, no one knew yet.<br />
<br />
We were about to learn.<br />
<br />
I
can still remember the horror, the revulsion, the disbelief at seeing
that second plane hit. To this day I can recall how my stomach kinked
and how I wanted to throw up.<br />
<br />
When the first tower
fell, I could only stare. That feeling of wanting to throw up was even
more prevalent. All I could think was - 'All of those people <b><i>IN</i></b> those buildings...' How could any of them have gotten out? It'd be a miracle.<br />
<br />
By
then, I knew all of my family members were present and accounted for
and I thank God for that. And all I wanted to do was throw my arms
around my husband and hug him. I kept thinking about how many families
would have an empty chair at their dinner table that night and I was
never so grateful as I was the moment my husband walked through the door
at the end of the day.<br />
<br />
From our home, I could see the
smoke, the haze in the distance. You could smell the odor of burning
whatever that was thick in the air. But the oddest thing to me?<br />
<br />
<b><i>Absolute silence</i></b>.<br />
<br />
We live between Newark, Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia airports. There are <i>ALWAYS</i>
planes overhead. Our walls don't shake or anything, but you can look up
at any given moment and see two or three planes - way high up -
crossing over.<br />
<br />
Not that night five years ago.<br />
<br />
That
night - when we both desperately needed a break from the news - DH and I
went out onto the deck, we sat there, just looking up at the peaceful
night sky that so belied what had happened earlier that day. I've never
heard such thick silence before. Then, the silence was shattered by the
scream of the military jets that were doing hourly fly-overs. Then
silence would reign once more. It was peaceful, but eerie, and it's
something I'd never seen before, or experienced since.<br />
<br />
Five years have gone by since I cried for people I'd never met, for families I didn't know.<br />
<br />
As I watched the ceremony at Ground Zero, I felt that same pain for those families with that empty chair.<br />
<br />
We can never forget what happened that day. Not the sacrifices, not the loss, not the devastation.<br />
<br />
We can never forget.<br />
<br />
Ever.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-51742683961829227762013-09-06T16:45:00.001-04:002013-09-06T16:45:12.070-04:00PinterestI'll be the first person to admit that I'm the last person to elbow in on any sort of trend. I had a flip phone when everyone else was getting a BlackBerry. When I finally got around to a BlackBerry, everyone was on their iPhone 4. By the time I discovered MySpace, Facebook was the place to be and by the time I got there... well... you get the picture.<br />
<br />
I manage to keep up a personal FB page and an author one. I handle this blog (for better or for worse.) I tweet (semi) regularly. I sometimes even update my website. But other than that, I'm pretty lost when it comes to social media. What is Linkedin? Tumblr? Cripes, there are probably twenty other things like these out there that I'm equally clueless about.<br />
<br />
And that brings me to Pinterest. I once had a Pinterest account (it was opened by someone else, using my gmail address and according to Pinterest, that was just a mistake caused by an email address error. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. The fact of the matter remains that I closed the account down because it wasn't mine to begin with.)<br />
<br />
But, I see a LOT of people seem to love Pinterest. A. Lot. Of people. So I thought maybe it's time to slither out from under my rock and see what it's about. I looked at the site, but you can't really see anything without logging in, so I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and create an account with them. I'm curious to see what it's about. So, if anyone out there has any hints, tips, suggestions, etc., let me know. Maybe I'll see you there. :D<br />
<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-61768369447608721612013-08-30T12:32:00.000-04:002013-08-30T12:34:17.585-04:00Just Popping InHey there, remember me?<br />
<br />
It's been a while, hasn't it? Almost three months. I think that might be the longest I've been away from blogging since I started way back so many moons ago. Part of me has missed it, but I have to admit, part of me hasn't. To be honest, it's been nice, not having to worry about it, not having to think of topics to blog about (and especially trying to come up with ones I've never blogged about before. I've been here since 2006, so that's a long time.)<br />
<br />
I've kept busy this summer. After my mother's funeral, we went down the shore for several long weekends. One of my husband's cousins was married at the beginning of August, so it was nice to get together for a happy reason. My brother and I have been dealing with Mom's estate and getting those matters settled, which is a lot of fun, let me tell you. And the rest of the time? I've just been hanging with the kidlets and trying to get lost in their world. The weather has been weird this summer. A lot of rain. A massive heat wave back in July. And then it actually got cold. I mean, open the windows and pull up the blankets at night kind of cold. Perfect for me. If every summer was cool like this one, it'd become my favorite season.<br />
<br />
A few days after my mother's funeral, I got a tattoo on my right wrist. It's my third one (both ankles are done as well) and I'm planning on getting another one sometime in the next few weeks. It's simple but awesome, as far as I'm concerned.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
I've also been working. I'd finished a first draft of my next Sebastiano book just days before my mother died. I let everything go for a few weeks, just because it was too much to deal with, but about a month after the funeral, I started thinking about it. So that's how I knew it was time to dive back in. Since then, I've revised that as well as another book that had just been gathering dust in my office. I've got a new project forming in my mind, so when these are done and out the door, I'll be working on new words.<br />
<br />
I should have some cover art to share soon - just waiting for the final ok. <i>Stolen Promise </i>will be out sometime in October (I have to double check.) I'll post the cover as soon as I can, along with the release date.<br />
<br />
And that's been that. It's been a long three months and I'm glad the summer is just about over. Hopefully, I'll be back on a regular basis soon,and for everyone who commented on my mom (both here, and on my FB page(s)) thank you. It meant a lot to read your kind words.<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-31201312215171627612013-06-19T06:44:00.002-04:002013-06-24T08:45:10.284-04:00Taking a BreakSome of you already know that my mom was sick for a long time. In July, 2010, she was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. On Father's Day, she passed away. She was 67 years old.<br />
<br />
I'm going to be taking a break from this blog for a while. Right now, I just don't have the energy to deal with it. I don't know when I will be back, but I <i>will </i>be back eventually.<br />
<br />
For now, I'd like to share one of my most favorite memories of my mother - she was my mom, my best friend, and awesome grandmother and a kickass lady and I can't even begin to express how much I'll miss her, or how great a void her death leaves in all of our lives...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">One Saturday morning, a few years ago, my mom just showed up at my house and decided I needed a day off. We left the kids with Tom and spent the day touring wineries in Hunterdon County. We tried a LOT of wine. Some was good. Some was not. We argued over who paid for what bottle of wine at each place. She usually won, but I managed to buy at least one bottle for her. When we got home, I realized</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Tom had gone out and I didn't have my keys. so I spent the rest of that afternoon at her house (actually right around the corner from where we live,) drinking tea and talking about everything. That is one of my favorite memories.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />I love you, Mom. I miss you. You fought long and hard and you will always be missed.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Diane C. Holk</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">April 27, 1946 - June 16, 2013 </span></span></span></span></div>
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-36419058965541173912013-06-14T08:00:00.000-04:002013-06-14T08:00:11.852-04:00Six MonthsSix months ago today, my husband went out to buy our Christmas tree. It was late for us, we usually have the tree the first weekend in December. For some strange reason, I began decorating the house the day after Thanksgiving, which is something I never do. Decorations rarely go up in my house before December 1st. It just doesn't seem right. Maybe my change of heart had to do with the impact of Sandy and getting life back to normal, but the decorations went up early. And we were getting the tree late.<br />
<br />
I was upstairs, revising a manuscript, I think, when I picked up my phone and scrolled through Facebook. There were a bunch of posts about a school shooting. Then I saw it was an elementary school.<br />
<br />
I put on the news - MSNBC, I think, and there is was - the elementary school had a name.<br />
<br />
Sandy Hook.<br />
<br />
I can honestly say the only news story that ever impacted me to this great a degree was September 11, 2001. To this day, I still cry over news stories regarding Sandy Hook. I look at those innocent little (and not so little faces) and my heart breaks all over again. I am the mother of a seven year old first grader. I try to put myself into Jackie Barden's shoes, or Nicole Hockley's shoes, or Veronique Pozner's shoes and I cannot hug my son enough when I do. I can't imagine that the pain of losing a child <i>ever </i>gets better. I don't understand how it ever even gets bearable. These families are far stronger than I think I could ever be. I cannot imagine losing my son, never mind losing him to violence because of some deranged nobody who was such a coward that he shot his mother while she slept and chose <i>children </i>as his targets.<br />
<br />
And what's just as sad? Our country has done nothing - repeat after me, <b><i>done nothing</i></b> to prevent another Sandy Hook, another Aurora, another Columbine, from happening. Our weak-willed Congress does not have the balls to stand up to the NRA and say, "Gun control is NOT gun confiscation." It doesn't impede upon the 2nd Amendment. That amendment promises the rights to bear arms will not be infringed. It doesn't say that right is a free-for-all. It doesn't say there cannot be regulations on ammunition, or weapon size, or whether or not a person should have to submit to a universal background check.<br />
<br />
Six months ago, twenty children and six adults lost their lives. It took that nameless, faceless coward less than five minutes to fire off 154 bullets and take those lives.<br />
<br />
Think about that -<br />
<br />
Less than five minutes.<br />
<br />
154 rounds.<br />
<br />
26 dead.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Charlotte Bacon, age 6 Daniel Barden, age 7 Olivia Engel, age 6</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Josephine Gay, age 7 Ana Marquez-Greene, age 6 Dylan Hockley, age 6</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Madeleine Hsu, age 6 Catherine Hubbard, age 6 Chase Kowalski, age 7</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jesse Lewis, age 6 James Mattioli, age 6 Grace McDonnell, age 7</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Emilie Parker, age 6 Jack Pinto, age 6 Noah Pozner, age 6</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Caroline Previdi, age 6 Jessica Rekos, age 6 Avielle Richman, age 6</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Benjamin Wheeler, age 6 Allison Wyatt, age 6</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rachel Davino, age 29</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dawn Hochsprung, age 47 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anne Marie Murphy, age 52</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lauren Rousseau, age 30</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mary Sherlach, age 56</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Victoria Soto, age 27 </div>
<br />
Remember them.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-68175398363971652652013-06-12T08:00:00.000-04:002013-06-24T08:46:42.168-04:00The Cardinal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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At the end of March, we took a family vacation to visit my inlaws in Florida. The weather was beautiful, the flights there and back were relatively uneventful, all was wonderful.<br />
<br />
The Tuesday after we returned, my husband and I were sitting in the kitchen, savoring the peace and quiet (the kids had gone back to school,) when there came this tapping at the kitchen window. <i>taptaptap.</i><br />
<br />
Just like that. Not really loud, but not exactly quiet. Then it came again,<br />
<br />
<i>taptaptap.</i><br />
<br />
I got up and looked, and saw a cardinal on the bird feeder that straddles our property with the one next door. Now, mind you, in the nearly six years we've lived here, that bird feeder has not been filled. I just never really thought about filling it. I like to watch the birds - cardinals have always been one of my favorite birds. But I just paid very little attention to the feeder. Until...<br />
<br />
<i>taptaptap.</i><br />
<br />
The bird started getting persistent. So I thought I'd be nice and go out and get birdseed and the cardinal would stop <i>taptaptap</i>-ing on the window. I fill the hopper (didn't even know it was a hopper until I looked at the back of the birdseed bag) and thought, "Okay. No more tapping."<br />
<br />
Dear God, was I wrong.<br />
<br />
I don't know if the bird thought my plants (that had been there for a while) were a nest and I was a rival bird, or what, but that crazy bird kept tapping, almost nonstop, for <i>days.</i><br />
<br />
<i><i>taptaptap.</i></i><i><i><i>taptaptap.</i></i></i><i>taptaptap.</i><i>taptaptap.</i><i>taptaptap.</i><i>taptaptap.</i><i>taptaptap.</i><i>taptaptap.</i><i>taptaptap.</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH40m5hMOvdR17BJlecAZd0ENVQVVxoc5b4hkK5bEGCSDtnO_AkfUuxwmrxdFAqqR_zyHJ-y3inv4TGpaSit81H2BmJGbYoNsebCeKB79MWf1b-rCfCMs6eVQKLdQDKYZynzQhOA/s1600/908741_10201049573428631_920094005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH40m5hMOvdR17BJlecAZd0ENVQVVxoc5b4hkK5bEGCSDtnO_AkfUuxwmrxdFAqqR_zyHJ-y3inv4TGpaSit81H2BmJGbYoNsebCeKB79MWf1b-rCfCMs6eVQKLdQDKYZynzQhOA/s320/908741_10201049573428631_920094005_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My badass cardinal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
AUGH!<br />
<i> </i><br />
I was afraid the damn thing would kill itself on the glass. A Facebook friend suggested taping pictures of owls to the windows, so I went tearing through the Girl's collection of <i>Ranger Rick</i> magazines, searching in vain for pictures of owls.<br />
<br />
No owls. But apparently cardinals are <i>terrified </i>of walruses. Yes, I taped a picture of a walrus to the outside of the window.<br />
<br />
Problem solved.<br />
<br />
She still taps on the window once every morning and I refill the bird feeder every week, so I like to think she's just saying good morning, or thank you. (She and her husband are at this feeder all the time and I've been trying to get a picture of them together, because they feed each other.)<br />
<br />
Since I've been filling the feeder, we've had all sorts of birds hanging around it. Some I've managed to get pictures of, like the rose-breasted woodpecker...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9NlyMxRTd7NwtPvFjfD3MTZ_HRApHLDaMmj_-hnnzQ6X0oLqYqnslynPyxBW_P5U12Bio3rRefa17JVgw5o9WNamPy5lDSRnX4S5Q1BH8L8TyZmsHDxQ33xjONyeGe_EeZKdYw/s1600/squirrel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaDXD_bU_8V2prAoYx07TyXIF_fqBo8jRQLeSXCbsa77IyV7SbEoBc21j2yCxPAAMaIUUbZ6925BFlvg-G5-5sDcz_ulFDF1EEKLtMdvGlO4AJA9kEyC7xWKC27V87GaSpcWs4Q/s1600/woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaDXD_bU_8V2prAoYx07TyXIF_fqBo8jRQLeSXCbsa77IyV7SbEoBc21j2yCxPAAMaIUUbZ6925BFlvg-G5-5sDcz_ulFDF1EEKLtMdvGlO4AJA9kEyC7xWKC27V87GaSpcWs4Q/s400/woodpecker.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends tell me this is a rose-breasted woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgWXS9Ehyira_gkp2rQoYNsPUrOsBVqF_xYOj2zNA6zLUZQyyHhymBKXQ-ShhmscxAbn8WbL8iwpMmiKvnrm8v3PGLx4F1J_UZkKfxqL2Tqr3MGSL3IxomdNV9-D3WnIRBbE76w/s1600/woodpecker2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgWXS9Ehyira_gkp2rQoYNsPUrOsBVqF_xYOj2zNA6zLUZQyyHhymBKXQ-ShhmscxAbn8WbL8iwpMmiKvnrm8v3PGLx4F1J_UZkKfxqL2Tqr3MGSL3IxomdNV9-D3WnIRBbE76w/s400/woodpecker2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He had a buddy, but we haven't seen her in a while</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i> </i>And a gorgeous red-winged blackbird that I haven't been able to catch on film. We also get various sparrows, blackbirds, blue jays.<br />
<br />
Oh, and one very industrious squirrel (we call him Stan) who is determined to figure out how to get to the food without shutting the hopper or falling off the feeder. He hasn't gotten it yet, and he's almost as much fun to watch as the birds...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiD1KmoA0e4093rCXLKwE7kvlTnk_zGC5mVahQETj1h5OOWBZJPl7bKEl1twakXRvGegLQ_Laawu6K-IUKyIfgvtV9MKsqgwqNI4N_E5Fxlf0wzm_CHclolUf3hu4ypE597XJYw/s1600/squirrel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiD1KmoA0e4093rCXLKwE7kvlTnk_zGC5mVahQETj1h5OOWBZJPl7bKEl1twakXRvGegLQ_Laawu6K-IUKyIfgvtV9MKsqgwqNI4N_E5Fxlf0wzm_CHclolUf3hu4ypE597XJYw/s320/squirrel2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resting. And plotting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60aR7PQxVijYgWkQ8GKFmMnZbNoXthzuVfbjcbFzjW-UeflbQf1uswvxASip6M3l9rZK_s6XQwmSAhslUPHlsFOnZMEkS2tGtvWPXCBxTUlZuhPXD_c9YXD4bYLxTalC4jXz1zw/s1600/squirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60aR7PQxVijYgWkQ8GKFmMnZbNoXthzuVfbjcbFzjW-UeflbQf1uswvxASip6M3l9rZK_s6XQwmSAhslUPHlsFOnZMEkS2tGtvWPXCBxTUlZuhPXD_c9YXD4bYLxTalC4jXz1zw/s320/squirrel.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More resting. More plotting.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHhtPoM_YbFPm9miKuSJabahGMetGo2BUpv4XDXeBg0XgwRVupJd6uM49H1WH-H_3yZdLJt1XF-y0xz1rbxYxqMF5MaNnVFncjS2XGpXvHPer_dWseflT3J72dmegq7JRq48l4Q/s1600/plotting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHhtPoM_YbFPm9miKuSJabahGMetGo2BUpv4XDXeBg0XgwRVupJd6uM49H1WH-H_3yZdLJt1XF-y0xz1rbxYxqMF5MaNnVFncjS2XGpXvHPer_dWseflT3J72dmegq7JRq48l4Q/s320/plotting.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maybe this will work</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoiqh13IKtgGsCK8s6DtM8S3mCLuDZBM8F6IKHYTjp4z2ZMmydjMp_zoZNMmJFE2NI5opMe0u9fOsCZLnX5Uzg-lTe-rmbzmEAqPEnCnKDgaBqGcG3nSWtl8hgCgDcCSodMHyUQ/s1600/itchy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoiqh13IKtgGsCK8s6DtM8S3mCLuDZBM8F6IKHYTjp4z2ZMmydjMp_zoZNMmJFE2NI5opMe0u9fOsCZLnX5Uzg-lTe-rmbzmEAqPEnCnKDgaBqGcG3nSWtl8hgCgDcCSodMHyUQ/s320/itchy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>ITCHY! </i>(sorry<i> </i>about the pink. It's the reflection of my iPhone case)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM3Ej7Z-Ws38am8sQMjexM_1UZ7xTl399f5NF9S93snOBtI7c7r89Puz1dP9q51EIu7aOpRCa3ZPmVtHiiXboa8WMNLEpzZVjnRhYLeh5QBcjReSrU6b1ZdYV1wzKn_TCQgHuHA/s1600/determined.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM3Ej7Z-Ws38am8sQMjexM_1UZ7xTl399f5NF9S93snOBtI7c7r89Puz1dP9q51EIu7aOpRCa3ZPmVtHiiXboa8WMNLEpzZVjnRhYLeh5QBcjReSrU6b1ZdYV1wzKn_TCQgHuHA/s320/determined.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's nothing if not determined.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So now I have plenty of entertainment outside as well. When writer's block hits, you know where I'll be...Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26753693.post-36043969705986754202013-06-11T10:31:00.000-04:002013-06-11T10:31:18.201-04:00Happy Tuesday!I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging - both writing my own posts and reading others. I have a blog list, but a lot of the people on it no longer seem to blog as often as they used to (gee, who does <i>that </i>sound like???) So, if anyone has any suggestions for interesting blogs (and they don't have to be writing-related, either,) let me know? Kthnxbai.<br />
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It's been a hectic few weeks in my house - since I got back into writing. I took quite a bit of time off, just to revise projects that had been sitting on my desk for months. I got tired of looking at the stacks of manuscripts, and the mess in general, and so I decided to tackle those. And, to be honest, I really just didn't have anything to write about. No plot bunnies appealed to me. For a while, I thought I might be done writing in general. I don't know if every writer hits that wall at one time or another, but when I hit it, and I thought I might be finished, I really didn't care very much, either. And that kind of surprised me, because I can't really remember any time when I <i>didn't </i>want to write.<br />
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That's when I figured taking some time off might be the best thing. No pressure. No stress. No deadlines.<br />
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Of course, it meant no new books and no new sales, either. But even that didn't really bother me.<br />
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Well, in that time, I redid my kids' bathroom, took care of some other things in my personal life that needed dealing with, heard back on some outstanding submissions (good news and bad news) and then, wouldn't you know it? Last week, I actually had the urge to write. The story that was nagging me was one I'd begun in February - the next Sebastiano book. The story had stalled about halfway through, so I'd put it aside to work on something else.<br />
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I picked it up last week, edited what I'd written and you know what? I <i>knew </i>how the story needed to go. Since last Wednesday, I've written nearly 40k words. Woot! I'm hoping to finish this book up sometime later this week (or if real life sees otherwise, early next week.) And from there? I plan on diving into my next project (just not sure if it'll be my long-dreamed-of-writing cowboy book or something else.) With any luck, creativity will breed creativity. :DKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714582235440356692noreply@blogger.com3