WRITING FOR A CAUSE


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Dad's Weekly Update

Okay, so, what happened this week. Phil took his final qualifying exam for his doctorate program on Monday and found out Friday that he passed. He was really nervous, but he did it. He's having a party tonight to celebrate.

The kids went to school and their gymnastics. Lady Jane went to the eye doctor to make sure she wasn't having headaches because she needed glasses. Not quite yet for glasses. She's having a sleepover with a couple of friends tonight. Her first.

Me? I finished revisions and sent it off to an agent who requested the whole thing. She won't get back to me anytime soon, so exhale (I already have). Oh and you might have noticed the whole both Lady Jane and Phil have company tonight. So this morning I printed out a list of everything that needed to be cleaned and the kids, Phil and I got busy.

The downstairs is now presentable to company and Phil and Lady Jane are off getting supplies for tonight. I've started research for the next idea I'm going to work on. I spent yesterday on Wikipedia and going through 7 of the books I brought back from Ireland and Scotland. I found out that Groundhogs day was also a Celtic holiday February 2nd, Imbolc. It ties into the groundhog story as well, but supposed if it's sunny, the old woman (I forget her name) is gathering wood for a longer winter, but if its gloomy, she doesn't need to gather more wood so winter will be shorter. I thought that was cool. I also found a cauldron that brings back warriors from death, but they can't speak. If it looks like a zombie and moans like a zombie..... That's from the 11th century. Will I use any of this knowledge? Not likely, but the other stuff I found, I'm mulling around in my head.

Hey Dad!

So my dad chastised me for not posting more frequently. I tend to have lengthy phone conversations with my mom, but not so much with dad. So here I am (ETA: why does I am work in this sentence, but not I'm, hmph) to say I'll try to post more frequently.

Life in general runs on a fairly straightforward schedule which is why I don't write on the blog more often. The kids are back in school during the day, so I get to write and revise to my heart's content without someone coming up to ask if they can play on the computer, watch TV, do handstands in the living room, or a snack. I made one of those up. But still it's constant.

When I realized the kids were occupied for a while, I'd quickly open my work in progress and not two minutes later, they'd appear wanting something. School is a very good thing. Both children are adjusting to the schedule. We're slowly getting back into after school activities. This week started gymnastics. Next week starts Cub Scouts. And in September, the kids both are taking a dance class. Ballet for Lady Jane and Hip Hop for Little Man. And Lady Jane will resume swim lessons. Little Man doesn't want to take swim classes so it will be up to Daddy to convince him otherwise.

Lady Jane learned to ride a bike after she got home from Grandma's. Which made Daddy super proud. Phil is working on his qualifying exams for his doctoral program.

I'm frantically (*cough, cough*) trying to avoid procrastination while revising to send out my full manuscript to an agent who has requested it. I have two publishers who would like to see it as well, but I'm waiting until the agents have a look see on the advise of another agent. So my writing career is picking up steam. Unfortunately when I don't allow myself to write (ie. need revisions done first), my brain starts spewing forth ideas and scenes for other books. So right now I have 4 books waiting to be written and about 90 other ideas waiting.

It should be a busy school year for all of us. Everyone has classes (except me :-) ). I do have another conference I'm going to this fall in Georgia. This one will be spent in workshops and more networking. So I guess I kind of have classes. I'll try to write more often on here. :)

July Was Busy

I went to RWA National Conference in Washington, DC. It was a wonderful experience that I hope to repeat. Phil rode with me and took the car to Shanandoa National Park to go backpacking with 2 friends while I was at conference. The children.

Little Man started with Boy Scout camp and then joined Lady Jane at their grandparents' vacation home community camp. Swimming, horseback riding, crafts. Very fun. Then Phil and I saw the kids for less than 24 hours before my mom took them up to her house while we were out east.

When we finally all returned home, we were worn out. Now we are patiently (ha!) awaiting the start of school. We've bought all but one thing for their school supplies. Who knew it would take a scavenger hunt to find 35mm rolls of film. I have to try Walgreens, I guess.

Phil is busy studying for his qualifying exams. I'm busy working on revisions for requests (woot). And the kids are milking the last of their summer vacation. So that's where we are.