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Includes Free Pre-Exposure Rabies Vaccination...Apply Now

8/31/2014

When researching the English Rogues and Grecian Goddesses books, I happened upon an application for a crew position on the replicas of two of Columbus' ships, the Nina and Pinta. The information included isn't shy about letting you know you may be standing on deck, at night, in inclement weather, holding a light for a three hour shift. If you are interested in a job which asks that you bring your own knife and sleeping bag, look no further. I admit, it sounded intriguing.
http://www.thenina.com/employment.html

And then there was the day I wondered about Buckingham Palace. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2546708/Fancy-working-Buckingham-Palace-Job-opening-household-assistant-14k-salary-wont-living-like-royal.html
For more up-to-date job openings, visit the Buckingham Palace website and do a search on employment. I don't happen to have work clearance to work there, however.

While shopping for a new printer, the sales clerk told me about his experience with a job application. When they mentioned venomous snakes, he knew the job wasn't quite for him. Here's where you can apply for a job dealing with Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes, and get that free pre-exposure vaccination for rabies. But--how often can you have a chance to work with raptors?

https://www.aza.org/Jobs/detail.aspx?id=35120

Peaceful Tarantula

8/27/2014

Don't be surprised if a tarantula ends up in one of my books. This one lives in my yard and we usually keep our distance from each other. The leg joints cause him to have a lot more "knees" than people have and move in a unique way. It's like having something live from a science fiction novel in the back yard..

Ready, Set, Delete

8/20/2014

The editor asked for revisions. I had limited time to do them. Very limited. Less than weeks. Days. I worked almost every waking moment. I finished—and saved my changes. Then, before attaching the file to the email, I pushed the delete button.

Luckily, I knew how to go to the recycle bin. And luckily I was able to remember it existed, and how to quickly retrieve the document.

But what makes a person work really hard, and then press delete? I don't know, but I have enough of it to spare.

My husband calls me the Lucille Ball of electronics.

Reading Again and Again...

8/16/2014

When my novel went on Amazon, I put a mini-bio on their website. I'd rather write ten thousand words of fiction than 75 words of bio.

I went back to the bio page recently to check it--which put me back on my book's Amazon page. And then I discovered I could buy a used copy of Safe In The Earl's Arms.

They say what goes around...you know, haunts you. I've bought my share of used books. I think twenty was the most I ever bought at once, and it was a terrible mistake. The lady had more books than that and I didn't get all of them. I started reading the novels, and I realized this was her "keeper" books. Each book was a tremendous story. Among others, I read Flowers in the Storm by Laura Kinsale and Once a Knight by Christina Dodd. Dodd's knight has sobriety issues--and the Kinsale book, well, after reading it four times, I don't know if I'll read it again. I'm not going to tell you what the hero's problem is. And the back of the book blurb doesn't mention it. It's one you have to read to understand in my opinion, and Laura Kinsale did an amazing job.

Once though—before Kindle—after reading a few free books by an author, I had to go to the bookstore (which had new books) and try to find another book by her. While in the bookstore, I noticed she had three more books on the shelves, but I only purchased one.

After I finished the new book, I had to go back for one more. I came out of the store with both her other books--not even discounted. I enjoyed the Bridgerton series. Historical Romance fans will probably know exactly which author wrote that one.

ALSO:
The bio I struggled with is at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=liz+tyner
NOTE: The yarn hanging from the books below is planned. I have two skeins and a pair of scissors handy. When a piece of the fuzzy brown yarn is put in a book I've finished--it's the same as a five star rating and I know I might need to read that book again.

The Bird Seed Thief

8/13/2014

Watching the animals outside is not helping my writing, but it's enjoyable.
I really don't know what the squirrel was looking at. He probably just didn't want to pose. But he'd been staring at me until I took his photo.

A Mississippi Kite, a hawk, once nested near the backyard and decided she didn't like me. It's not fun stepping out of your backdoor and looking up to see a bird sitting in a tree, watching for you to get away from the door so she can dive at you. She did chase me back in the house once, and another time I turned around to see her coming straight at me from behind and the look on her face and the clench in her claws concerned me. She won that round too. I started wearing a hat when I went outside and that helped. I was relieved when she left.

But this weekend, indoors or out, I will be spending time with my manuscript.

Writing to Keep From Writing

8/10/2014

My computer has a half written story that is not going away until it's finished.

But tonight, that half written story is sitting there with a deadline lurking in the shadows. Imagine a jack-o-lantern smile on a dark hooded shape, and that's what the deadline is in my imagination. I have to keep on top of the story so that little grinning face is tiny enough it won't overpower me.

So, I checked to see if I have any emails, and started a blog post. I like to write. So, often my form of procrastination is to sit at the keyboard and write--something--anything--other than my next book.

The photo to the left is what I see when I am in my room and raise my eyes from the keyboard and look straight ahead. I might need to replace it with a poster that says Think Deadline.

So I sit here imagining how I'd make a poster that says Think Deadline. Or maybe I should make one that says Procrastination Expert. But perhaps I should put that off for a bit.

"Hummingbird"

8/7/2014

Someone asked me my favorite romance novel, and I have a lot of them. But I realized I have three copies of one book, Hummingbird. The first copy I bought new after a recommendation. The copy got tattered, so I needed a replacement. And then I saw another one at a used bookstore.

I have two copies another book that I enjoyed. After I'd read the story, I met the author at a book signing. and asked her to sign a new copy for me. I told her I would give my first copy away--(I haven't yet), and then I told her I had read the story twice. She looked shocked. "It's a good book," I told her.

It is a good book, and I'm watching for her at conferences. If I meet her again, I hope I have a chance to explain to her how well the author did.

Glass Slippers or Red Socks

8/2/2014

The Romance Writer's Association has approximately ten thousand members, and an annual conference. Sometimes at the annual event, it's easy to feel like Cinderella, and the clock doesn't strike midnight until you get on the plane to go home.

At a lot of conferences, a business pays the attendee's conference fee, travel and hotel expense. At RWA, the writers pay their own costs. That's how much they want to be there.

Attendees take the workshops seriously. After all, income depends on improving job performance. Plus there's a certain amount of pride involved. You want to write a story people enjoy.

RWA is a serious conference, with infectious enthusiasm and lots of books. Books. The other chocolate. If they haven't done a study on how reading a good book changes serotonin levels in the brain, then perhaps they should.

And at the end of one conference event, my party favor was a pair of red socks. Bright red socks. I put them on before I left the party. They matched perfectly with my silvery shirt, black pants and black shoes. Red socks. I prefer them over glass slippers. Much more practical.

My San Antonio Experience

8/2/2014

At the RWA writing conference, I enjoyed the workshops, talking with the ladies, and every event I attended. But while I was outside, this little family was one of my favorite parts of the actual Riverwalk.

Another favorite moment was when I was walking along and heard a man playing Amazing Grace on the flute. A picture could never have done that justice.

Venus de Milo Business Cards

8/1/2014

If you were to scroll down on this blog, and find the picture of the blurred Venus de Milo with the white background, you'd see the picture I intended to use on my business cards. I wanted to use that with my info written on it. Simple enough.

After working on the proof for hours over the timeframe of a month, I uploaded the completed card to the website where I was going to order. The site warned me the image was too pixilated. I could have used it, but I balked.

I bought another picture. I worked hours on it. But when I keyed the info into the new template from the business card site, I again received the message about excess pixilation. I had to use the entire picture, which kept putting my name at the bottom of the card, across her attire. I decided I didn't want my name in that precise spot.

I had to change the card again, and then I used the full image which was quite clear. At this point, I'd worked almost five hours that morning on the design. I pushed the buy button.

When I received my much anticipated cards, I was happy--until I opened the box. If at first you don't succeed, sometimes it's best to give up.

At first glance it's a naked upper torso, and then when you look closer, past the nakedness, you see my name. Oh, that's so me. I should have stuck with the blurred pixilated image.

My husband looked at it and said, "You're writing for women, you should have used a picture of Michelangelo's David."

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