Sheila's Guests and Reviews

Helen Ginger who writes a really interesting blog at Straight from He l, awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award last weekend, but it’s been such a busy week I decided to wait a while before accepting it. There are a couple of major requirements to this award: 1. I have to pass it on to 7 other creative recipients, which requires choosing 7 from all the wonderful blogs out there, which requires making decisions, which requires time… And 2. I have to list 7 favorite mystery authors: Help! I always answer “too many to name” when people ask who my favorite authors are; and no, specifying mysteries and asking for 7 really doesn’t help. So what should I do? It’s a pretty award, and I’d really like to post it… The phone rings. The clock ticks. The dishwasher needs to be emptied and the next load of washing awaits. Meanwhile I search through my favorite blogs, and inspiration strikes. How about I just find seven really neat blogs that feature great mystery authors, and do both lists in one? So h...

The Wednesday Writing essentials prompt was a bit more complicated this time: • mention one of these six obstacles to achieving goals – procrastination; crisis management; switching and floundering; television, telephones, internet and friends; emotional blocks; and illness • use the word August • reference temperature in some way • freewrite for five minutes and include that freewrite at the beginning of your article. So here’s my effort, though I struggled to find five uninterrupted minutes: Freewriting... His most august majesty sits above us, cool in his shade while we broil in the heat down below. A lazy movement implies no procrastination, no prevarication now, don’t switch your point of view or flounder. We live to obey. We live to serve. But, since he’s a cat and he’s stuck in the tree, we also live to find a stepladder and climb and rescue him. And since the son is filling in his next online MFA application, with me as backup, I’m not sure I have five minutes for freewriting,...

I wanted my characters to talk to me. I wanted the end to be more than just six letters on a page. But perhaps I should be more careful what I wish for. There I was, imagining my book was almost done. But now the wedding seems as distant as it was at the beginning, and my characters keep talking, everyone at once. David wants me to know he's not giving up on Emily. But he has to have some time to think, so he can work out what's best for her. Emily wishes I'd tell her what's on David's mind, because Elsie's not really so bad, and he really shouldn't worry. Meanwhile, I know he's glad he gave her the ring. I know they'll get married in the end. But wasn't that meant to be soon... I guess it can't happen now until I get some more free time for writing. But never mind. I'm quite enjoying their conversation.

My textnovel 's up to 60,000 words, and the characters are ready to move on. They know what happened. I know what happened. "So just write it down for us," they say, "and let us get on with our lives." But it's not that simple. I've spent so much time on these characters now. David took me to work with him, introduced me to his mates in their cubicles. I really felt like I finally understood why he's so organized. Then there's Emily. It wasn't hard to see why David liked her, but she took quite a lot longer for me to get to know. She's wary, but nice. David's mother, Jessica, seemed happy to have me round. I've sat in her living room drinking coffee, nibbling on cookies - gluten free. She's had a really tough life. And the other one? The character that hides behind emails and word docs and all that. I simply quoted his stuff at first because I still didn't know him. And then I found out... They make me feel like a reporter...

Okay, I know it's Thursday, but here's another drabble written for Wednesday Writing Essentials on Gather. It's called "Turn." “Turn left,” says he. “How far is it now?” “Be less if you turned the right way.” His eyes start to frown. Her fingers tense round the steering wheel as she feels him rejecting her skills, the glorious sparkle of her diamond fading to dusk. Downhill and slow; musk-scented trees bow low to the engine’s murmur, darkening sky while heaven’s diamonds shine... up above the world so high... “Turn left,” says he. And, “How far is it now?” So he sighs. She stops the car. “Turn my way.” She turns. He plants a kiss. And rejection flies far far away. © Sheila Deeth, August 2009 Written for Wednesday Writing Essentials: • include at least five words of a song • type one word twice and see if your reader catches it • use onomatopoeia (language that imitates or suggests the sound to which it refers. Think: cuckoo, gurgle, swoosh) • use the word ...

Kristi at Books and Needlepoint just sent me this lovely picture and a Heartfelt Blogger Award. Here's what she says... Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt award is all about: feeling warm inside! Well, the cookies would have to be gluten-free, which probably means most of my family and friends wouldn't like them (though seriously, some gluten-free cookies are really and truly delicious, especially peanut butter... Mmmm). But yes, I do reach for the cocoa, tea or coffee while reading many blogs, and I guess I'm meant to pass on the award to some. (Up to nine it says, but I'm only a poor mathematician. I'm not sure I can count that high and read, both at the same time - especially not if I'm drinking coffee and eating deliciously sweet and crumbling pean...

Saturday's weather was rather gray. I set up my stall in the cool of the early morning, far side of the hall with a really great view of the door. It was all I could've asked for. Then I settled in to read. I'd brought a book but maybe I should've brought two. We decided that people must be staying indoors since the fair seemed so sparcely attended. Of course, if the day had been sunny we'd've said everyone was too busy enjoying the sunshine to browse our stalls. Still, I sold two books and lost one. (Someone had stopped to look at it, then turned to a neighbor, swinging the book in the air by a single page. Soon afterwards, the misused page fell out. I guess that's life.) And I gave away tons of promotional flyers and bookmarks and business cards. Maybe one day a flyer will land in the hands of someone interested - someone looking for an Advent devotional for church, or a Bible picture book for their after-school class... And maybe they'll contact me......