Where's Lenny Lee Birthday Bash!

 Guess who is turning 15 today? Can you believe it? It's hard to believe we've been here with Lenny since March of 2010. If you want to check out his first ever blog post you can go here!  I met Lenny in May when I was very sad. My beautiful cat Stripes passed away. I stayed in bed for almost two weeks, just looking for moral support in blogland.  I found some at Brian's Home and that's where I met Lenny. He was such an amazing support to me in a hard time. Our friendship grew and now he is one of my most trusted critique partners and friends. My silver lining to Stripes passing away was finding Lenny.

I talk to Lenny about once a month. Did you know he's gotten taller? And his voice has even changed? His writing style remains the same, but the quality of his posts are better. But I've noticed something, he's kind of been missing from blogland and I don't know about you, but I miss his words of wisdom and his sunshine in people's comments.

Several people have said the same thing, "Where's Lenny Lee?" So I invited them to help me celebrate Lenny's birthday and to let him know how much we miss him in blogland. I know school is harder and some days are worse than others for you, Lenny, but I think if you would spend a little time back on line with your friends you might feeling better. Plus, you would make us all feel better because you seem to say the exact right thing at the exact right time to so many of us.

We love you Lenny and we miss seeing your smiling face in blogland. So maybe, for your fifteenth birthday, you could give us a gift and come back to see us. WE MISS YOU!

Love and hugs from blom


Here are a few blog friends that are missing you and would like you to visit their blogs so they can tell you how special you are to them and so they can wish you a Happy Birthday.

Robyn Campbell
SA Larsen
Shannon Odonnell
Dianne Salerni
Susanne Drazic
StinaLindenblatt
Martha Ramirez
Kelly Polark
Munir
Sherrie Petersen
Melissa Sarno
Jemi Fraser
Lydia Kang
Jessica Bell
Candace Ganger
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Joanne Fritz
Brian Frum
Jenny Matlcok
Natalie Arguirre
Laura Diamond
Connie Arnold
Lola Sharp
Janet Johnson
Len Lambert
Leigh Moore
Sally Odgers
Matt Rush

Happy Birthday to my dear Blon! (PS: red is a birthday hint)




Matt r

A Giveaway and A Working Break

Last week, I asked you if you had a plan and I told you mine.  Saturday, I began on my health plan.  By going six days a week at an extreme fitness gym and following their nutrition plan, I can already see a visible difference in me. (I'm not talking about the fact that I'm limping today, LOL.)  I am being really focused.  (Everyone claps...)  

I realized I need to be like this with my writing too. 

Lenny and I working on a picture book.  We chatted about it for quite a while today.  I'm not sure if this is how you partner up to write a book, but this is how we are doing it.  He's writing the first draft and I'm consulting.  Then he'll send it to me.  Then I'll send it back to him and we'll chat.  We'll keep doing that until it is perfect and then we'll send it to some of our great bloggy friends for a critique and more revisions until it's polished and ready to submit.

I read YELLOW STAR by Jennifer Roy.  If you get my Goodreads updates or my tweets you'll know I was blown over by the story and the writing.  It made me waver a bit about the importance of my hf story compared to something so compelling, but thanks to some supportive friends (waves Theresa and Len) I'm back on track and want to finish my hf mg novel, NOT A HOLIDAY.  Lenny has promised to be (on my case) super supportive over the next month so I can get close to having the first draft done.

Soooooo, I'm going to take a working break from blog posting until Valentine's Day.  Then I will give you a full report (accountability is so important) on my progress.  Until then I am giving away three books.  All you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment.

 (Published by Guardian Angel a small press based in St. Louis.)

(a personal favorite )

(a writing craft book)

I hope you are having an amazing month!

Hugs to all... (Be safe if you are driving on icy roads.)

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY BLOG FRIENDS…

I’d like to give a “shout out” to ten of my special blog friends and the marvelous Mark McVeigh.

Thursday night Agent Mark McVeigh announced a contest on Twitter. If you joined his (new) blog and convinced ten friends to become followers he would grant you a fifteen minute Skype chat or a phone call. After the first seven commenters (which included five of my blog friends and me), Mark granted eight of us fifteen minutes with him. I would like to thank: Kelly, Shelley, Susan, Just Joany, Old Kitty, DL Hammons, Amy, Suzette, Jackee and Judith. I’d also like to thank Mark for this opportunity. He was pushing Skype (pretty hard), so I did it…I got a webcam and joined the 21st Century.

Skype is actually pretty fun. Tonight, after I ironed out the kinks, I chatted via Skype with writing buddy Susan Fields. Thanks to Mark, I know of six new Skype customers. Skype is FREE and EASY to use! If you don’t have a webcam, I just bought a middle-of-the-line one at an unnamed large electronics store for about $35.

If you missed Mark’s contest, never fear…He will be holding another one during the first week of April. So go, follow him, read his wise and often humorous words and wait for the next opportunity to visit with him.

TIP FOR THE DAY: Try new social networks and technology…You never know when they might lead YOU to something marvelous.

QUESTION FOR THE DAY: What social networks do you use and which ones do you use the most?

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

I often wonder if I make a difference. When I taught elementary school, I knew I was making a difference. But do I make a difference now? I’m not talking about donating money or stuff to an organization. How can I make the world a happier place? My WAD mate and 2007 Highlights Magazine Annual Contest Winner, Rhonda Roberts sent the WAD a great reminder about how we can make a difference in someone’s life. Here’s what Rhonda said:

“Make a decision that once a day you will practice a random act of compliment. It has to be to someone you don't know. Maybe a lady walking down the street who has on pretty shoes, or a nice dress. As you walk by, say "That coat really looks nice on you", or "I love your shoes!", or "that outfit looks really good on you". Just try it. I've been doing this for a while now. You'll be surprised how good it will make the recipient feel, and how good it will make YOU feel. I like doing this at Wal-Mart. Especially if I see some poor lady that has the "I'm worn slap out" look on her face. I find something I truly like about her - I don't lie about it. Everybody likes to be complimented. It just takes a second, and it means a lot to someone when the compliment comes from someone they don't know. I've seen people shine like a new penny when they get an unexpected compliment. Just try it. “

Are you willing to join us in our quest to make someone feel good every day? I hope you’ll join in.

Fellow blogger, Mary Anne Gruen, honored me with The Circle of Friendship Award. I’m giving you two links to Mary Anne, so you can meet her and see some of her work. Thank you, Mary Anne. I’m honored that you read my blog.

I’d like to The Circle of Friendship Award to:

Elana has a great blog with a new look. Elana  has a wealth of knowlede and is more than willing to answer questions about the writing industry.  Thanks so much!

Sharon at Bookish Blonde. Sharon has a wonderful blog. I’m still not sure if her posts are fact or fiction, but they are highly amusing. Sharon also is great at giving advice on writing. Thanks, Sharon!

Terri Tiffany is an inspirational writer. I hope you’ll visit her blog. I appreciate that Terri reads my words regularly and writes great comments. Thanks, Terri!

Heidi Willis has a lovely blog. Her debut novel Some Kind of Normal came out in December. Heidi writes lovely thoughtful posts.

Hilary Wagner has been so helpful answering questions on her blog and through email. Her debut novel NIGHTSHADE CITY comes out later this year.

Crystal at Crystal’s Bookmark has become one of my critiquing buddies. I appreciate her spending energy trading manuscripts with me. 

There are so many wonderful blogs out there for us to read. I could have given this award to twenty other blogs that I enjoy reading. I apologize for not being able to list everyone. I hope you will check out these blogs and join the 2010 COMMENT CHALLENGE, so you can link up with lots of potential new e-friends.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE TO A STRANGER EACH DAY;  A VIRTUAL STRANGER OR A REAL STRANGER. If you don’t get a chance to say something nice to a stranger, you can always try it out on a regular friend or acquaintance…

TRAVEL TOES AND ANKLES...an untraditional New Year's Day discussion

Everyone in the blog world seems to be talking about resolutions and goals. I thought I'd give you a link to an awesome post on QueryTracker.  I'll be discussing writing goals next week.

I have a couple blog-friend updates: Karen and Falen winners of my Three Wishes Contest have good things going on. Karen is hosting a great New Year's Resolution contest.  Falen, who is super funny, started her own blog. I hope you'll hop over to their blogs and check them out.  Later this week, another WAD member will be joining the blogging world. Diana Calio, artist and writer, will be launching her website soon.



Planes, trains, or automobiles...No matter how much luxury I travel in, I end up with swollen ankles. After only six hours in our new Tahoe, my ankles began to swell to the size of grapefruits. Is this a normal reaction to traveling for a relatively fit forty-something woman? I drink water, limit caffeine and salt. I stretch my legs, do ankle and toe circles...and yet, I end up with cantaloupe sized ankles (after twelve hours in the Tahoe). I realize this isn't the most lady-like discussion, but it's a real concern for me. (I can't write or read with swollen ankles.)



Does this happen to you? Do you know anyone who has swollen toes and ankles? Any suggestions?