Happy 2013!

This has been a very busy week. After wrapping up Christmas, relatives, and way too much food, I was excited for some relaxation time. My editor had other plans, which I'm happy to report included my first round of edits! Being a first time published author, I had no idea what to expect, and she did not disappoint. My editor is spectacular! 

Within the span of two days, I've learned all about Track Changes, (thank you You Tube), and I've learned that "towards" really should not be used. And "toward" should really be limited as well.  Surprisingly, I'm not as grammatically correct as I've always thought myself to be, but thankfully my talented editor is.

On top of all this excitement, I am excited to also report that the title of my book will officially be called Cycle 13: Hunted.  Overall, it's been a pretty good New Year's Eve. If this is any sign of what 2013 is going to be like then I say, "Bring it on!"

Happy New Year everyone!  As we head toward 2013 and you're making a resolution, consider this one: Read more in the year 2013.  I can suggest some excellent titles by my friends at Inkspell Publishing! 

(See what I did there?)  LOL  Have fun!

My Christmas Wish List

Being a teacher, it seems selfish to think of the holidays in a happy way in light of what happened in Connecticut this past week. My heart goes out to the families of those who will not be celebrating this year. Instead of buying presents, these families will be burying loved ones that were taken from them much too soon. My heart breaks for them. 

This year, I wish that the world would open their hearts to love and friendship. Just today, I was in a store shopping and a woman nearly ran me over with her cart. I apologized for being in her way, even though technically I wasn't. Instead of a smile or a nod, she gave me a dirty look. Tis not the season to be jolly?

I get that we have list upon list of things to do this time of year, but is it too much to ask to spread a little kindness? Patience, tolerance, and a friendly smile go a long way and you never know whose day you might brighten. So this Christmas, smile at a stranger and make eye contact. Yield the right of way to the next person. Thank the cashier and wish them a Merry Christmas. Be kind. Be thoughtful. And most of all, think of others.

Happy Holidays!

Twitter Obsession

I know I usually blog on Sunday nights, but I feel the urge to write today. Mainly it's due to my recent overwhelming obsession with twitter. It's really gotten out of hand...
 
I created my account a while back, but maybe had ten followers at the time. I rarely went to the site itself, considered it more of my daughter's thing. She was constantly on twitter and frankly I didn't see the attraction. Facebook, with all its quotes, likes, and games was more of a draw for me. Until a few months ago, when I realized that I could reach more people through twitter, did I decide to update my profile on there and figure out how it all worked.
 
Now I'm still no expert on when to #hashtag and when not to. And I would really like to know how to do an automated message when someone follows me so I can thank them, like many people have done for me. I continue to read other people's posts to try and gain new knowledge on how the whole thing works.  But my obsession occurs with the ME tab. My poor teenage daughter has had to endure daily updates on how many followers have agreed to watch me mindlessly amble my way through the tweeting world. I remember clearly the night I reached 500. I was checking my phone every half hour to watch it reach that milestone. When it finally did, from my bed, I texted my daughter to tell her I had made it to my goal. She kindly texted back,  "You're so cute, Mommy." 

It's time I admit I have a problem.
 
As of this morning, I have 679 followers. To some of you out there, you're probably scoffing at this blog right now. But to me, that's a pretty large number considering I started with just ten. My goal is to reach 1,000 followers by Christmas.  So if you are reading this blog, and you are a tweeter, by all means feel free to tweet the link...with your help, I know my Christmas wish can be fulfilled.  Happy tweeting! 


www.twitter.com

Thanksgiving and more...

Thanksgiving is this week.  It's probably my most favorite holiday of the year.  Not only is it an excuse to eat whatever you want, however much you can hold until the button on your pants feels like a dagger, it's the kick-off to the Christmas season. 

Now I know what you're thinking...Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for everything you have.  And that's completely true, I totally am.  But let's talk about another event that I'm thankful for, that excites me almost as much as all you can eat turkey...Black Friday shopping!

In our family, Black Friday shopping is a tradition. I can remember being a kid, waking up at 5 a.m. and chasing the freebies.  Back then, Black Friday shopping was all about what the stores were giving away.  We'd get breakfast at the Pic-N-Save for 99 cents and then hit up the stores that were giving away prizes and Christmas cheer. I've continued the tradition into my adult life and can't remember ever skipping a year.  It starts on Thanksgiving morning. We watch the parade and plan our route of attack by looking through the ads from the paper.

Now I have to say that the past couple of years have been a little disappointing.  Stores are opening the night before.  Where's the fun in that?  The whole point of Black Friday shopping is that it happens on Friday. The fun is getting up in the middle of the night and standing in immense lines that wrap around sides of the buildings you didn't even know existed until 4 a.m. with hot chocolate in hand.

But I won't let that stop me. Tradition is tradition. I'll still be out there, seeking out the perfect gifts for my special someones, no matter what time of day (or night) it starts.  So Happy Thanksgiving everyone and happy shopping! Hope to see you out there. 

Props to Stephenie

I feel it's necessary to give props to Stephenie Meyer on this weekend prior to her final installment of the motion pictures for her Twilight Saga.  It's no secret that I am probably one of the greatest Twilight fans ever.  My daughter and I have been to countless conventions, met 27 of the stars from the movies---with autographs---and have read all of the books and watched the movies more than I can count on fingers and toes.  To say I'm obsessed is an understatement. 

Standing in line one day at the movie theater, to see something other than Twilight, a little girl from our school walked by and said hello to me.  She was probably in first or second grade and I have always taught fourth grade.  As she passed, holding hands with her mom and dad, I overheard her mom ask who I was.  She boldly stated that I was the Twilight teacher.  If that doesn't make it clear, then perhaps the framed movie posters hanging in my living room would paint a more vivid picture. 

I can't speak for all fans of the series, but I believe the draw for me isn't simply the good looking men. I love the idea of Bella's fantasy life and find myself lost in the world that Stephenie Meyer created. Even the music draws me in...from Carter Burwell to Florence and the Machine. 

So thanks Stephenie Meyer!  You've inspired me to read more and write more. Thanks to you, and a little creativity on my part, I am looking forward to the day I can call myself a published author. 

Thankful

On my facebook page, people are posting daily thoughts about what they're thankful for.  And while I enjoy seeing everyone's pictures and messages, I decided not to conform and participate. But today, I truly feel the urge to thank my friends.  Let me back up a bit. 

This past weekend my daughter was dancing at a convention in Orlando, The Beat.  It was a fantastic weekend full of laughter, entertainment, and dance education.  After two days of fun, the finale event was set to begin where all of the dancers would perform what they had learned.  I was so excited to see my daughter dance with the choreography from the professionals she'd been working with over the two day stretch, but the "stage" was on the carpet and there were people standing in front of me.  Being in the back, against a wall, I saw some chairs and thought to myself, "Self, you should stand on those chairs, then you can get great pictures and see everything." 

Do you ever have one of those times where you wish you could go back and make a different decision?  Well, this was mine.  As soon as I got up on the chairs, one of them tilted forward and I landed on my foot and rolled my ankle to try and balance myself so I wouldn't hit the floor.  The first thing I'm thankful for is that only one other person saw me fall. 

Needless to say, I can't walk very well today.  I took off work and went to get an x-ray, sure that something in my foot had broken due to all the pain. No. I have a heel spur that is now inflamed due to the fall and extremely painful.  I'm still waiting for the instructions from the doctor as to what to do next, but in the meantime I am very thankful for my friends.

Tonight, a dear friend brought dinner for my daughter and I and another friend, and parent of one of my tutoring students, made us dinner for tomorrow night.  All the love and kind thoughts from my friends has been so sweet.  I truly feel loved. 

So tonight, I am thankful for good friends.  When times are rough, I know I can count on them.  Thank you! 

Fellow Authors

With all the progress being made on my book, I have to admit it's an odd feeling thinking of myself as a published author, but I'm getting used to it more now.  It's like I've been invited to join this secret world that I knew existed, but like the cool kids at lunch, I never felt I'd fit in.  Now that my foot's in the door, I love talking about my book, making friends with fellow authors on twitter and facebook, and reading up on their adventures as they make their way through the publishing world. 

Before, when I would tell people I was writing a book I'd get the look.  You know, the one that says, "Yeah, right.  Good luck with that."  After getting that a few times too many, I stopped telling people.  If I'm being totally honest, it almost drove me to prove that I could finish.  So I suppose I owe them for "the look." 

Now, after signing my contract with Inkspell, it's amazing the response I get.  People actually want to know what the book is about. My favorite question is, "How long did it take you to write it?"  When I answer three years, I get the "whoas" and "wows". Much better than "the look." 

So to my fellow authors out there, thanks for welcoming me in with open arms.  I hope to meet each and every one of you one day and read all of your books!  Thank you for your support and enthusiasm as my journey begins. 

Jill