Operation Help the Elf

 Operation Help the Elf (Pete) is the brainchild of Angela and Becca.. What a wonderful way to end 2012!  We're supposed to let Pete know someone who been especially good this year....Now I know a lot of you have been really good, so it was really hard to chose one person to tell Pete about, in fact I couldn't chose one person.  I settled on telling him about two people.

Robyn Campbell and Theresa Milstein

 Robyn is an amazing woman and a great writer and critique partner.  She is one of the most positive people I "know."  She has lifted my spirits so many times over the past twelve months.  I don't usually talk about my religious beliefs, but let me tell you...Robyn is an amazing prayer.  She has prayed for someone I love daily.  In return I do the same for her family.  This year her family has been through a lot of things and even through everything, Robyn, kept a positive outlook on life and continues to work on her writing goals.

I am so proud to call her my friend....Robyn, be watching your mail for a little something from me.  (wink)  Be sure and hop over to Robyn's blog and meet her.

I "met" Theresa a couple years ago.  She was a struggling substitute teacher.  A position I had been in many times.  I tried to comfort her and encourage her not even thinking about the writing side of her life.  Her blog was just one of those blogs I had to visit to see is she was okay.  Over the past year we've become closer, trading manuscripts (OMGoodness she is SO helpful), emails and even a phone call.  I know my mg novel will be better because of her.  Not only has she ripped my manuscript to bits (LOL), she gave me suggestions on how to improve it, and she has encouraged me so much this year.

I am grateful to consider her one of my friends and a critique partner.  If you haven't met Theresa (or T, as I call her) please hop over to Theresa's blog and check her out.  T, keep an on your mail a little something should arriving in a couple days from me.

Our writing community is full of selfless people and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

If you didn't join in on Operation Help the Elf and you'd like to give props to one of the people who have influenced, helped you or made a difference in your life...feel free to do so in the comments.  (It will make you feel good, whether they see it or not.)

Have a wonderful holiday and I'll be back on schedule after the new year.
(((HUGS))) to everyone!

Birthday Fun and An AWESOME Announcement...

 Everyone knows I'm a bit obsessed with CAKE...But I can't remember the last time I had a birthday CAKE.  It may have been when I was 18!  (YIKES!)  This year I've been a bit focused on CAKE...So I really wanted some for my birthday.  Doesn't it look delicious?

I also wanted fresh baked bread from Great Harvest Bread, but it's two hours away.  Have you had their bread?  It's all natural, no preservatives, and they grind the grain themselves.  My dear hubby drove twenty miles out of his way to make sure I got plenty of their awesome bread for my birthday (and beyond).

Normally, I'm not very good at my birthday, but this year I embraced it.  I celebrated!  Thanks to a lot of people.  I was overwhelmed by the emails and facebook birthday wishes I got on Monday.  I think I got close to 100!  It was something very special to me.  Thank you all soooo much!  It made me feel like you  wrapped a great big snuggly blanket around me right after you had taken it out of the dryer.  (((Hugs for everyone!)))

One of my cps, Lenny Lee was quite sneaky...He read a comment I left on Susan Fields' blog about the book HOOKED by Les Edgerton.  He even managed to get a personal signature to me in the front of the book!

   Isn't this the coolest cake, I mean card you've ever seen! 

This week, Lenny interviewed me about what makes a good cp.  If you have any additions to my responses to Lenny's questions we'd both appreciate your input.  Check out the cool Snoopy cupcake music box that Lenny sent me too...

The YUMMY carrot cake came from Village Inn.  We had never eaten at one before we moved to Iowa.  Do you have them in your state?

Now on to the announcement.............................................................

My daughter, Katherine, found out today that two of her Haikus are going to be published in Berry Blue Haiku Magazine!  This was the first time she EVER submitted anything.  We are so excited!  It should come out in the December issue.  (Thanks to everyone who congratulated her on my FB page today.  I forwarded all your comments to her email account.)

Which do you like best cake or frosting?  Have a great rest of the week!

Quirkiness In Your Characters

I'm a good dog.  I only sit on Dad's chair when invited (or no one is home).  I know how to lay down, how to go to sleep, how to beg, how to roll over, how to get my belly rubbed, and how to sit on my pillow.  I even know what toy to get when Mom says, "Where's rope? or "Where's ball?"  I always bring the right toy...even if I have to look for it all over the house.  I don't go upstairs...EVER!  Ginger lives up there and she doesn't really like me.  Sometimes she will let me lick her if Mom's holding her in the family room, but she doesn't like it.

I have a confession...I have a problem and I don't know how to stop doing it.

You probably can't tell by looking at me that I even have this habit, but it drives everyone in my house crazy.  I don't think it's such a bad habit.  I've seen some of the things people do.  Throw litter on the ground, spit in public, not cover their mouth's when they cough and worse...much worse.  Mom's writing about a girl who cuts herself.  Why would anyone do that?

  I'll bet you can't even tell what my quirky habit is?

I don't really care if my right ear is shorter than my left ear...I'm not looking for a husband...

Your characters must have real flaws in them...They must have highs...They must have lows...or they're going to be boring..

I'd like to thank everyone for stopping in and reading my post about my new critique partner.  You put a smile on his face...If you haven't checked out Lenny's blog hop over and I'm sure you'll leave with a smile and a friend...

Surprises Come In All Shapes, Sizes and Ages...

I can’t tell you the exact date that I met Lenny, but I can tell you it was around the time Stripes died. I stayed in bed with my computer and my remote for about two weeks. Sounds silly, but I was sad…really sad.

I think it went something like this: I was on Susan’s blog and I saw Old Kitty’s picture and name, click… saw Brian’s picture, click…saw Lenny’s comment and click I had a new friend.

About a month later I got an email from Lenny…He had gone out of his way to find out what S.M.A.R.T. goals were because of a comment I had left somewhere in blog land. AND then he had taken the time to figure out my email address (which wasn’t so easy because I didn’t have it showing on Blogger) and sent me an email.

Lenny is a writer. Lenny makes me smile. I know when I see his name in my comment section I’m going to have one of those feel good moments. I know when I see his name on your blog you’re going to have one of those moments too.

Lenny is almost ELEVEN and likes cake a lot. I like cake a lot. In fact, I like it so much I wrote a picture book (manuscript) about baking a cake. I DVR three cake baking shows! Back in June, I joined the Next Top Title Blogfest and lots of you guys (including Lenny) liked my title A CAKE I WILL BAKE. Lenny mentioned my title in a comment recently…it made me think. He remembered my title! I was super surprised! I asked him if he would like to critique my picture book and he said yes. I was thrilled!

Lenny did a great job critiquing A CAKE I WILL BAKE! He wrote almost a whole page of comments for me.

He told me things he likes:

-i like the title cause its real catchy

-its real easy to read and that riming makes it fun

-its got cool fun words. i love the word dump. ha ha. and i like the word yummy

-its a happy story and could have lots of happy pictures with it

-being an i poem is cool for when a kid reads it cause it makes him feel like its about him

-its got a good message for sharing with someone and with dad.

And things he thought I could do better:

-i read it out loud and some parts of it got a little slower or got me stopped for a minute cause it lost its beat.

-i didnt like sticking that teddy bear on the top. i could like it better if it was a chocolate teddy bear and not the favorite for real one. yikes it could get all sticky and messy and maybe get ate up.

And then his brother Sebi threw in his ten cents too. I have to say with their help A CAKE I WILL BAKE made some big improvements and I can’t wait to present it at an agent lead critique group at SCBWI –KC in a couple weeks….

If that weren’t enough…I came home from running errands (yesterday) and found a package on my front porch. I was a bit confused because I wasn’t expecting anything. When I opened the package this is what I found.

TWO HUGE VOTES OF CONFIDENCE!!!

Thank you so much, Lenny and Sebi! I’m so glad we're friends…Your encouragement means so much. (You two will be the first people I email when I sell A CAKE I WILL BAKE!)

I truly hope every one of you has someone in your life that surprises you with encouragement…Please feel free to share!

PS...Have a safe and Happy Labor Day Weekend!