Jordan Summers

Yep, folks, that’s all that is left on the Brenda Novak auction. It’s getting exciting now. I feel the old nerves jumping in the stomach. The sweat beginning to form on my palms. You just never know what’s going to happen, when it gets down to the wire. *g*

UPDATE: It’s over. Thank you to everyone who helped me earn $245.00 for Brenda.

Managed to get a decent amount done on edits yesterday. I was hoping to hit page one hundred, but I only made it to 67. I’ve been adding a lot of world-building items to the book. I swear world-building has taken the place of plotting for me lately. As you may remember, I had big issues with learning how to plot a year and change ago. I’m not saying that I’m now super duper at plotting, but I feel much more comfortable in my abilities these days. I wish I could say the same about world-building. Sigh. Much of my problem seems to be the fact that I keep so many details floating in my head and not on the paper. (wg) This is going to be a challenge, much like learning how to plot bigger stories. I know I will eventually get the hang of it. I always do. It just tends to take me longer.

I am discovering that churning information over a long period of time seems to be my learning style. I don’t like it, but it’s consistent. I study something and I study something, then one day it just clicks in my head and I’ve got it. I just can never tell how long it’s going to take.

I’ve realized that I have three more things that I need to get down before I feel somewhat comfortable with the whole writing process. They are description, world-building, and deeper characterization. For the writers out there, what do you think you need to work on most?

I chose to take the weekend off, so I have to make up for it this week. RED will not edit itself. Everyone in N.Y. seems to be at BEA. I really do hope to hit that within the next two years.

The Brenda Novak auction is winding down. There is one day left. I’m really curious (and nervous) to see who won my critiques. I’m sure it’ll be okay…I hope. *g* :-O

Went for a walk again last night. (Officially twelve pounds lighter as of this entry.:) Happy to say that the Monty Python cockroach was nowhere to be seen. Maybe a bird got him. (evil grin)

Still not over the ending to Pirates. It’s going to take a lot for me to forgive them. Seems like there are some new movies coming out within the next few weeks that I’d like to see, but I can’t remember what they are at present. Sigh. Well I’d better get to it.

Oh, I picked up a shifter book over the weekend that you guys might dig. It’s called Stray by Rachel Vincent. If you haven’t checked it out, do so.

Last night dh and I went out for our two mile walk. It was warm, but pleasant. We were nearing the spot that we turn around, when I spotted something move on the sidewalk. I wasn’t sure what it was until I got a little closer. Turned out to be cockroach. One of a few actually. We walked past it (and the others), trying to avoid stepping on them.

On the way back, we noticed one of the cockroaches was sitting in the middle of the sidewalk much like the knight in Monty Python. My dh walked up to it and stomped his foot, expecting it to scurry off. His mistake. Apparently, stomping ones foot is tantamount to a challenge. This cockroach advanced on my dh. My dh stomped again, this time closing the distance to mere inches. The cockroach proceded to take a couple of steps forward…and kept coming…and kept coming. I watched, thinking I was in some kind of horror movie, as the cockroach leapt between dh’s slightly parted legs, essentially winning the game of chicken, since dh jumped to get out of its way. (Yes, I know it’s a run-on sentence.;)

Now I don’t know much about bugs once you get out of the ‘fish bait’ category, but I don’t think they’re supposed to act like that. :-O

Final reminder…there are only two days left in the Brenda Novak auction. She’s exactly five thousand dollars away from meeting her goal. In other words, this is your last chance to bid.

Never forget the sacrifice they’ve made no matter where you stand on the subject of war.

We just got back from seeing Pirates 3. Normally when I return from seeing one of the Pirates’ movies I’m pretty upbeat and happy, still laughing at the antics. Not so with this movie. I DID like this film, but the romantic in me would’ve preferred a different ending. I agree with most of cuppacafe’s review. There is a lot of plot in the movie and several loose ends refuse to be tied. Sequel anyone? I did NOT find the plot/movie confusing. I also didn’t feel like I’d been sitting in the theater for almost three hours when it ended. I found the film entertaining and quite bittersweet. I can’t go into details without giving away a TON of spoilers. Let me just say that you MUST stay until the credits end for the final scene. Like cuppacafe, I’d recommend this movie, if you enjoyed Pirates 2. I will buy it, when it comes out on DVD, but you can bet I’ll be mentally rewriting some of the storylines. (wg)

I want to preface this opening by saying that I am in no way down or bummed out. How could I be? Pirates just came out. *g*

I read this entry at Crazy Aunt Purl’s blog and it brought tears to my eyes. I could relate to it SO much because like her, I can’t ’see’ myself. Thanks ‘Purl’ for putting into words what I could not.

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I truly want to thank the people who have bid on my critiques. There are only six days left on the auction, so if you haven’t bid yet, it’s a great cause. I hope whoever wins will still speak to me after I’m done. LOL! If you don’t want to hear the truth, you shouldn’t bid on me. (wg)

Tomorrow, dh, a friend and I are going to see Body World. I wish we didn’t have to go so early, but several of the showings were sold out. To show you how sick I (and my mom) are, we’ve already come up with a way for me to use the exhibit in a book. *ggg*

I hope to make it to Pirates tomorrow. If I do, you will get a full review. Note I didn’t say unbiased. *g* Have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Peace and warm brownies, J.

Sigh. Pirates is getting REALLY bad reviews…and I don’t care. I will still be in the theater this weekend with water in one hand and a Zone bar in the other, chomping away and smiling. (wg)

I finally managed to watch the end of Blood Ties. Other than the fact that characters aren’t acting like normal ‘people’ (ie dating, physical contact, etc.), my biggest peeve about this show is that Henry is forever getting his ass kicked. Now I could see this happening on occasion. After all, there’s always something bigger and badder out there. But this happens EVERY TIME he gets into a fight. He’s supposed to be an old vampire with super-human strength. He shouldn’t be picking himself up after being tossed around like a rag doll continuously. Attention writers of the show: Please give Henry his balls back. He misses them, almost as much as I do.

The urban fantasy is in the mail. WOO HOO!!! It is such a relief. I feel like I’ve been hit. I wish I had time to rest, but tomorrow I have to dive into the Tor edits. I’m actually looking forward to reading a different book. *ggg* Yeah, I’m that sick of the UF now.

Started reading an old Blaze book last night called, Whisper by Nancy Warren. I haven’t finished it yet, but boy is it scorching. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Blush.

I plan to take the rest of the night off, since I’ve spent the day preparing the UF for shipment. I think I’ll spend it reading and watching monster movies. How about you, have any plans for tonight?

I just got back from the grocery store and I think the checker was flirting with me. Now I’m sure a lot of you out there are thinking, ‘How could she not know if I guy is flirting?’. Let me just say for the record that not many people flirt with me anymore. Between the weight and the age, I’m not exactly flirting material. And no, I’m not saying that to garner sympathy. It’s the truth. I don’t think I scare dogs and small children with my appearance, but I don’t attract male attention. So when this checker told me that I looked lovely and asked why I had my sunglasses on (because he wanted to see my eyes), I honestly didn’t know what to say. I stood there gape-mouthed, then started giggling. Don’t let anyone tell you that I’m not poised. *ggg*

On a separate note, my dh read the urban fantasy last night and loved it. Here’s the thing about my dh, he enjoys my writing, thinks it’s entertaining enough, but it’s really NOT his thing. He’s more of a cyper-punk/sci-fi guy. So to have him walk out of the bedroom and tell me that in his opinion it’s the best thing I’ve ever written and that he actually forgot to edit because he got so caught up in the story IS the highest compliment that he could EVER give me. (And yes, I know that’s a run-on sentence.;) I almost cried because it made me so happy. I never thought I’d ever see the day where one of my stories genuinely entertained him. Sniffle.

Tonight he’s going to re-read the end again to make sure it works. Today, I’m going to add his editorial suggestions, and then tomorrow the book will be packaged and sent to Jenny. I know I’ve said that before, but I mean it this time. *wg*

Service announcement: There are only 9/8 days left on the Brenda Novak diabetes auction. If you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to get your bid in.

I didn’t think it was ever going to happen, but I received an email this morning to let me know that Atlantean’s Quest: Fall from Grace is now available at Ellora’s Cave. So if you’ve been waiting for the last Atlantean’s Quest books (ie Atlantean’s Quest 3: Redemption, Atlantean Heat, and Atlantean’s Quest 4: The Return) to be put into paperback, your wait is over. YAH!!! I haven’t ordered any yet, but I will. Once I do, I will hold a contest to give a few copies away, along with the EC card decks that I received.