Furry Friends

 Macy loved Christmas....

 Macy loved Halloween...

Macy loved feeling fancy....

The heart on Macy's fur showed she loved everyone. She never met a stranger. She was a good puppy and at eleven, she was still a puppy.

Sadly, on February 2, 2017 we had to make the hard decision to put her to sleep. Her seizures were out of control. You could see she was in physical pain. Her eyes were red where they should be white, She laid on the cold tile more than she laid with us. She went from being able to walk a couple miles a year ago to barely being able to walk a fourth of a mile on the rare occasion she felt up to it. We miss her so much.

I sat on the sofa at the doctor's office with Macy snuggled up to me on a fuzzy blue blanket. She laid her head on my arm and I told her how much I loved her and the vet told her she was loved and Macy went to sleep in my arms. She didn't hesitate or flinch she just went to sleep. It was so peaceful.

We miss her so much.Our house feels empty...

Sorry for such a sad post, but I needed to share.

To Write Adventures...You Must Have Adventures

 Every holiday should involve some kind of excitement!

 It should also involve figuring out why the box turtle is chasing you...

She was VERY thirsty.

 It should involve appreciating nature...

 Every adventure should have a beautiful sunset to enjoy.

And every adventure should wear out your puppy so you can take silly pictures of her.  

Really and truly, when you go on holiday, do you think about the setting? The characters you meet? The potential for adventure?  Holidays are another way to collect experiences so that they can show up in your writing in the future.  You may not know when or even if you can use the experience....but if you don't take notice of it, you won't have the chance to use it?

What adventures are you having this summer???

Are you taking notes of 509 photos (like I took)?

Happy Summer Holidays My Dear Blog Friends!!!!

Pets, Picture Books and Pals...

Can I hear an "Ohhhhh?"  

Macy has spent her whole life trying to make a special (furry) friend. 

 Now she has one.

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November is a busy month for lots of writers.  Some participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month--50,000 words in one month) and others participate in PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month--30 new picture book ideas in one month).  I've been dabbling a little in both.  I'm thinking I'm going to have to commit to one or the other, as my brain seems to be skipping around.  

Last weekend I went to the SCBWI-MO conference and had the honor of being critiqued by Quinlan Lee from the Adams Literary Agency.  I submitted my picture book manuscript; Operation Pied Piper to her (you can read the blurb for it on my completed manuscripts page).  As always, I like to share a little of what I learned.  

• At 659 words, it is the perfect length for a picture book.  (big smile)
• Has great details and voice.  (huge smile)
• Interesting time in history.  (big smile)
• A historical fiction is a hard sale for a debut author.  (hmmmm)  Try writing something more commercial, quirky, fun first.
• Story leaves you hanging...not enough action.  (yep, I knew that)
• Would the story be better if it was told through a different character's eyes.  (OMGoodness...I was just thinking that!)
• Consider making it into a middle grade novel.  (Yay!  I've already started writing it and am on chapter 7.)

I have to say Quinlan was lovely and very supportive.  Her presentation to the whole group was outstanding. If you have the opportunity to interact with her at a conference, go for it.  She is super friendly and a delightful speaker.  She even took some extra time to visit with my dear friend Susan.

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This is the Pals part of my post...

My wonderful bloggy friend Sheri Larsen has been working furiously on picture books this month!  If you don't know Sheri you should hop over and check her out.  She has a great site full of useful information for writers of all genres, plus she's wicked cool!

If you haven't entered my giveaway for Susan Kaye Quinn's new book OPEN MINDS hop over and leave a comment.  I'll announce who the winner is on my November 17th post.

Everybody's pal (and picture book writer) Robyn Campbell has been sick all week...so if you get a chance to hop over and give her a virtual hug I'm sure she'd appreciate it.  

Are you participating in NaNo or PiBo this year?  

Do you have a pet that you love more than chocolate?

Thanks for stopping in and hugs to all!!!

Ahhh, Ohhh and a Contest

It's official.  I am Macy's hero.  I feed her.  I give her water.  I take her for walks.  I play fetch with her...but what makes me a hero?  I brought Peaches home and Macy (after almost 5 years of life) finally has a very best friend.

 There is an apple tree about 3/4th of a mile from our house.  Guess what kind of a hunter Macy is?  An apple hunter.   She carried this apple all the way home.  Her tongue hung out one side of her mouth.  She stopped to rest about fifty times.  She took a dip, with her apple, in a waterfall (man made).  She did not want any help.  (She growled when I offered.)

 After a brief cooling off period on the floor vents, Macy carried her prized apple to the living room and ate it.

I'm heading to England to visit family for the next two weeks.  I'm planning on taking my Macy notes and working on a new manuscript.  Memoirs of Macy the Mutt....

While I'm gone I thought I'd leave you with some Random questions and prizes from my last vacation.  There will be two prize packages and four consolation prizes.  The consolation prizes are a beautiful bookmark from Terry Lynn Johnson and a piece of amethyst that I found in Canada.  One prize pack will have a signed copy of the thriller   A Reason For Dying by my dear friend Will Bereswill.    The other prize pack will have a copy of Three Wolves and The Big Bad Pig.

All you have to do is be a follower and answer the questions in the comments.  Good Luck, Everyone!
1. Which do you prefer to read, kid's books or grown up books?
2. Do you keep a journal?
3. Are you sweet or sour?
4. Do you ask for directions when you get lost?

Hugs to all...I'll miss you. I'll be back on October 7th and random.org will pick wiunners on October 10th.

A Full Report...(From Macy)

 Mom bought me a HUGE outside bowl for the cabin. 

It gets hot at Bull Shoals Lake in Missouri and Arkansas, but I seriously don't think I can drink it!  I'm for sure am not drinking it after she plopped me in it???

 I happened again!  I saw a rock with a head!!!

 I for sure didn't like it when that rock started moving...

 I finally got to go on the boat when Dad got to the lake. 

I was a bit embarrassed because my swimsuit didn't fit anymore. 

 But instead of feeling sorry for myself I taught my people how to play catch.

I stayed on the boat this time. 

I threw the ball to Katherine and she caught it.

Then she threw it back to me and I caught it. 

The lake was really high!  Trees, cliffs and islands were under water!!! 

Everyone got up before sunrise one morning.

 I alerted them that there was something in my yard! 

Three deer were eating my grass!!! 

 There were lots of birds at the cabin. 

Mom kept feeding them this yummy nutty smelling stuff. 

She wouldn't give me any???

I didn't like it when squirrels got on the deck and sat by our rock pile... 

 So I chased them off. 

This silly squirrel thinks I can't see him hiding in my tree.

Mom really liked these little yellow birds. 

I thought they were okay. 

The only birds I don't like are the giant black ones that made LOTS of noise.

 I never like it when Dad gets out of the boat by himself and Mom pulls him on a string.  It seems kind of dangerous to me.

 Check out my new swimsuit!  I got it just in time for going to the Buffalo National River for a float trip....I loved my new suit!  It fit perfectly.

 These were our boats.  I rode in the back of the big one.

Mom, Dad and Katherine saw a deer on the bank. 

I wasn't too impressed. It was much smaller than the ones I saw in my yard. 

 I made sure everyone knew about the raccoon walking down the bank. 

 The water was really clear and warm.  We had to go to deep spots to cool off.

 Ick!  Slimy things creep me out...

This was one hungry squirrel! 

The sun finally set on our month at the cabin.  Mom and Katherine read lots of books.  Mom revised 5 picture book manuscripts and worked on one chapter book manuscript.  We all did lots of eating, sleeping and swimming. 

It was a great time! 

I hope everyone has a great summer!

Are you doing anything special this summer???

Do You Like To Dress Up?

I'm a bit worried this year...Mom took me to the hair dresser on Friday.  I got a new scarf.  I'm thinkin' this might be my Halloween costume.  Last year I was a cowgirl, but I've put on a few pounds....I'm not a puppy anymore.

Mom put MY cowgirl costume on Ginger.  Ginger didn't like it.  The funny thing was she stayed in the living room on the chair watching me for the longest time EVER.  Maybe cats can't move if you put them in costumes, which is pretty cool, 'cause then you can lick them. 

Thankfully, Mom whipped out an wicked cool costume for me...I am a bumble bee.   I even have a stinger!  I love Halloween!  You can guarantee I'll have my costume on all day!  I'll greet every one of those kids who comes to our house looking for candy treats...

I hope Mom and K take me for a walk in my costume so everyone in the neighborhood can see me...I hope all of you have a happy and safe Halloween!  If you are a grown up, make sure you check your kid's candy when they bring it home and kids, don't eat any of it until your parents or guardians or big brothers have checked it and make sure you carry a flashlight when you are walking in the dark!

WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL PURPOSE?

I've discovered my special purpose in life...

My job is to protect the people who live around me...

To patrol the streets...

To search out danger...

To stop future disasters from happening to my neighbors and friends...

How you ask? 

I pick up nails when I take Macy for a walk.  I'm picking up (on average) two a day.  Almost every house in our subdivision is getting a new roof, so roofing nails are blowing, rolling and falling into the streets daily...

Do you have a special purpose?  A secret talent?  (G-rated, please)

Please share...

and

Have a wonderful, safe weekend!

Feeling Down???

Do you ever feel like you're never going to get what you want? 

 Sometimes it feels that way.  No matter how cute you are, or how talented you are nobody notices...

(It's enough to bring a peppy puppy down to her knobby knees.)

I know what I want...

 And I'm willing to do anything to get it...

 even beg, if I have too...

Because the payoff...is delicious!

Will you know what to do, if you get what you want?  (I'm talking about marketing strategies here people...)

Happy Writing, Friends!  I hope all of you get a big jar of happiness this week. 

Thanks for stopping in  everyone and a special thanks to Elana for hosting the Compelling Character's Experiment this weekend....

P.S. Amy's having a contest in honor of banned books week...so hop over and join in on the fun!