LeBlog--The Blog about life…writing, raising kids, chasing dogs, handling life and all its bit parts.

January 31, 2008

 

Same Old Story

Go check out this youtube video by Irving Brecher. It's very short but very good.

January 30, 2008

 

Hello? Hello? Testing ... 1, 2, 3

I received the coolest email last night. It was from the actress who had just finished recording Elvis Takes a Back Seat! She made some really nice comments about the book and said she even cried during the epilogue. I love hearing the book moved readers and touched them. This email got me all excited about the audio version coming out in March! I can't wait!

Also, I was featured on another blog and thought I'd post that address if you want to go read that article. YOu might have to scroll down a bit to find it as it was posted a few days ago.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

January 28, 2008

 

Where've I been?

My daughter had strep throat over the weekend. So in the midst of our busy weekend plans, I had to drop everything and get her to the doctor. We survived the stick-a-stick-down-throat test without any screaming, resisting, crawling under the table or chairs this time. Yea! Maybe my daughter is growing up.

My sister was at my house all weekend filming a documentary. So that kept us both busy and the house as quiet as we could get it despite all the clicking of dog nails on the floors, kids doing what kids do and fixing meals in between it all. It was a lot of fun looking at footage of our trip a year and a half ago to Hawaii. My sister went with us. We really enjoy traveling with her.
She took the kids Friday night to a movie (maybe I'll blog about that tomorrow) so my hubby and I could have a date. Yea! It was very nice indeed.

Starting this week, I'm pooped. I think I have a touch of some little virus. Ugh. Want to just stay in bed, but of course can't. So am off to get the day started, fixing breakfast, preparing lunch boxes, driving the kids to school, then hopefully getting some writing done.

Stay well, stay warm.

January 24, 2008

 

Juno

Academy Award nominations were announced earlier this week. As usual, I haven't seen many of the movies because with two kids I'm often too busy to go see anything other than Ratatouille or The Water Horse. Not that I didn't enjoy Enchanted but that type of movie usually isn't up for Best Picture. My son doesn't yet understand why Star Wars didn't win Best Picture and why National Treasure 2 wasn't nominated. But I digress. I will say that Ratatouille is up for best animated picture and for screenplay. Gotta love those writers!

Most of the pictures nominated this year are ... how should I put it ... bloody. I do want to see Atonement, although I've heard it's a bit like The English Patient which was ... how should I say this kindly ... not my favorite ... snooze. Anyway, I will probably get around to seeing it one day, if not at the cinema then on dvd. If the time had worked out I might have gone to see it yesterday while my kids were in school. But all of the showings were set later in the day. I don't think that would be a good excuse for being an hour late picking up my kids. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Principal, I was munching on popcorn and watching Atonement at the Cineplex."

Thankfully, the cinema had scheduled Juno early enough in the day that I could work, then reward myself with a trip to the movies, then race from there to my kids' school. More cinemas should offer earlier showings for moms with kids in school. Anyway, I digress. Again.

So I saw Juno which has gotten some fabulous reviews and has done fairly well for a little film. I must say I really enjoyed it. I cried. (and I won't tell you when, so I don't give away the plot) I laughed. It's a quirky little film about quirky characters. Right up my alley. It also has a good message. Can't beat that! It's not wrapped up in a nice little neat package as we're often required in the CBA, but the film was better for it. If you have an afternoon, then I highly recommend you go see this film.

January 22, 2008

 

A Blizzard?

In Texas? Think again. So when my daughter came into the house the other day, her cheeks ice-cold from the chilly weather we've been having, and said, "Mommy, it's blizzard conditions out there," I glanced out the kitchen window. Sure enough, blue skies. A beautifully clear day. On the chilly side, but it is January. In Texas. Did I mention where we live?

I asked her if she knew what a blizzard is. She blamed it immediately on my son, her 9 year old brother, who had told her it 'sounded' like a blizzard. Obviously, my children are ignorant in this area. My children desperately need to get to Colorado and see some real snow. They thought hearing some ice (which had formed when the sprinklers went off in the night) cracking was blizzard conditions. Sigh. My children are so deprived.

But then they cheerfully brought in a dead lizard for me to look at. Lovely.

January 21, 2008

 

Barriers of fear

Do you have a barrier of fear? I've had plenty this past year. Here's what I've learned. God wants me out of my comfort zone, so that I walk and talk with Him, cling to Him, and know that everything comes from Him. He's brought several situations to me this past year that are way, way, way out of my comfort zone. Yet I've learned when I'm afraid, it's the direction I need to go because the Evil One is trying desperately to turn me back so I'll run the other way. Fear does not come from God. So when I'm facing something that causes my heart to pound, my hands to sweat, my mind to race, I take comfort knowing God is in control and that I'm going in the direction He wants. And I cling to Him to get me through the situation.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. "hilippians 1:6

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. II Thessalonians 3:3

The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

So what are you afraid of?

January 19, 2008

 

A Cheese head?


Last week, all Dallas Cowboys fans watched as the offensive line for the Cowboys fell apart and they lost their playoff bid. I was cheering for the Cowboys, as I used to cheer for them as a child. I remember racing home after church, my folks buying a bucket of Colonel Sanders' chicken, and watching the game all Sunday afternoon. The one good thing about the Cowboys losing last week is that I didn't have to feel guilty this weekend if they had been scheduled to play the Green Bay Packers. I'm a Brett Farve fan. So tomorrow, my son and I, guilt-free, will be cheering on the Packers. Not sure what we'll do if the Packers end up in the Super Bowl against the Patriots. But that's another week, another blog.

My husband mentioned to a client at work that his wife and son are Packers fans. Well, this client lives in Wisconsin. She sent him all sorts of Green Bay cheering equipment. I cannot believe I'm putting this picture on my blog.

So who are you cheering for this week?

January 18, 2008

 

On the radio...

Remember that song? The lyrics are running through my head but I can't remember who sang it. Not important really. Tomorrow I'll be on the radio, 89.1 KSQX, at 10am. It's a show called Books and Authors hosted by Linda Bagwell. Then I'll be having a signing afterwards. If you're in the Weatherford area, I hope you'll tune in and come by the signing. If you're not, then I'd appreciate the prayers.

January 16, 2008

 

It starts...

It starts as a trickle,
a murmur.
Words burble and bubble in my brain.
Half sentences
Incoherent phrases.
Then a character leaps out of the stream,
arcing in the sunlight.
The meandering story begins to flow,
gaining strength
rushing forward over the rocky plot.
Setting and motivation,
dialog and point of view
all come together, splashing into a waterfall,
pulling me down further and further,
until I'm twirling and turning and sucked
into the whirlpool of the story.

January 15, 2008

 

Busted!


My publisher found a company in Ohio several months ago which makes Elvis busts. They had it painted the way they wanted and shipped to Nashville. When I went for the sales conference, they showed it to me. When we had the book signing in Memphis a couple of weeks ago, they drove it to Memphis (in the back seat). Along the back of the bust, folks from B&H had signed their names -- David Webb, Karen Ball, Julie Gwinn, etc... Then they were going to ship it to me so I could have it for my signing in Southlake. It arrived on Friday. Carefully I dragged the big box into my house. My husband cut through the tape. We all stood around anxiously awaiting Elvis. But when the last bit of bubble wrap was pulled away, we saw the total demolition of Elvis. It was a sad moment. Think we should give him a burial?

January 14, 2008

 

Class

I'm teaching a class online starting today. It's free if you want to join. A friend of mine, Candy Havens, maintains this yahoogroup. She has interesting teachers from time to time. She also conducts her fastdraft of writing a novel periodically. If you want to join, then send an email to: write_workshop-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

January 13, 2008

 

Nothin' but a Hound Dog

Last night I had a fabulous signing at my local Barnes and Noble. So many friends came! So many new readers bought books too. It was such fun! But Elvis did not show. A friend told me she thought Elvis was next door pigging out at the Cheesecake Factory. Might have been. But today, he is in the doghouse singing, "I aint' nothin' but a hound dog."

Thank you to all my friends who came to the signing and bought so many books! And thanks to my new readers out there! What a joy to meet new folks!

January 12, 2008

 

Cheryl Wyatt


Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance.
Prior to publication, Cheryl took courses through Christian Writers Guild. An active member of RWA, FHL and ACFW, she won numerous awards with multiple manuscripts. Visit her on the Web at www.CherylWyatt.com. Sign up for her newsletter for news and chances to enter contests with great prizes. Hang with her on the web at www.Scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com. You can also find her skittering around Steeple Hill's message boards as "Squirl" at www.SteepleHill.com.

"My name's Bradley. I'm eight and have cancer. I want to meet a Special Forces soldier more than anything. Well, almost anything. Having a family would be nice."
U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Joel Montgomery promised to make a sick child's wish come true. Well, not the family part—not with Joel's past. And so despite vowing never to set foot back in Refuge, Illinois, Joel parachuted onto the boy's school lawn to a huge smile. But another smile unexpectedly stole Joel's heart: that of Bradley's beautiful teacher, Amber Stanton, who was trying to adopt the boy. And trying to show Joel it was time for new vows.

RT REVIEW QUOTE
TOP PICK!
"Cheryl Wyatt infuses A Soldier's Promise (4.5) with kindness, compassion and love. Plus, each character in this strong story is multilayered. When young Bradley, a boy dying of cancer, writes to the Air Force Pararescue team, he gets to meet jumper Joel Montgomery, who connects with Bradley and feels an instant and shared attraction to the boy's teacher, Amber Stanton. This absolutely fantastic debut novel proves that while challenges and boundaries are not always easily resolved, they're definitely worth the work."

---Robin Taylor-Romantic Times Reviewer

January 11, 2008

 

Another signing, another Elvis

Saturday, January 12th, which is tomorrow, I'll be signing copies of Elvis Takes a Back Seat at Barnes and Noble in Southlake, TX from 5-7pm. This is the store I frequent the most, so I'm excited about it. B&H Publishing booked another Elvis to sing, so I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of an impersonator he'll end up being. I will take a picture, so be sure and check back on Monday! Should prove interesting! If you're in the area, I'd love to see you there! Should be a lot of fun.

January 10, 2008

 

Do you have someone you admire?


These are my buddies, Paula and Pat.

I met Paula 10 years ago when I began teaching a writing class at a senior center near my house. She messed up my class. You see, I'd planned a short talk for each one, then wanted the students to spend the rest of the hour writing. Paula walked in using her cane and my plans flew out the window. I laugh now because I am so grateful I met her.

Paula told me once that she lost her sight and her husband on the same day. She had not realized how much she depended on her husband until he died. She had a degenerative disease which stole her sight. But that did not stop this woman that I so admire.

When I met her she was 72. She was taking aerobics classes weekly. She lived alone. She was happy and joyful. Nothing got her down. She is the epitome of 'if there is a will, there is a way.' She even tackled learning how to work a computer and began writing books.

I'm not sure how much I taught them, probably not much, but these women taught me much about life. They shared their lives, their hopes and dreams, their failures and difficulties. I am so glad they are my friends.

Who do you admire?

January 9, 2008

 

Off to the races...

The kids go back to school today. They had 3 weeks off. Now back to the daily grind. My prayer is that they can stay healthy, learn lots and also have some fun! Their school is very intense so that fun factor is needed. My son was sick all last semester with cold after cold. Since this is his first time in a school setting, he's exposed to more germs than what his system is used to. We battled asthma and another sinus infection over Christmas. I sure would like to see him stay well for a while.

My editor sent me samples of my next book cover yesterday. But I couldn't open the file! I'm dying! And I'm going to be away from my computer ALL day. So I'll have to wait till this evening to see if he's able to send me it in a different form. Can't wait to see the concept. I'm sure whatever it is, there will be changes, just little tinkering over the next few months until the book goes to press.

Hope all of you have a blessed day! On your mark, get set.... Go!

January 8, 2008

 

Around the web

Here are a few places I've been on blogs in the last week or so:

Jennifer AlLee
Stormi
Novel Journey

January 7, 2008

 

A Picture is worth a thousand words


The trip to Memphis went very well. I had a fabulous time at the Lifeway Christian Store in Southaven, Mississippi. Thanks to Sherry Parnell for her store's hospitality and putting up with all the music and chaos. Thanks to Julie Gwinn, Chelsea Sanchez and Mary Anna Brown for making it a successful event. Thanks to my editor and his fabulous daughter, Michelle, for making the journey to Memphis and hanging out with me for the day.

I have to tell you that B&H Publishing has spoiled me rotten. I am so blessed to have them as my publisher. And oh so grateful to them for all the promotion and support they've given my book and me. They are truly a gift from God.

I'll put up a few more pictures of the event over the next few days.

January 4, 2008

 

Memphis or bust

Tomorrow morning, dark and early, I'm off to Memphis for my first signing for Elvis Takes a Back Seat. I'm excited that a few folks from B&H Publishing will be there. 'Elvis' will be there singing gospel. And hopefully readers will show up wanting my book. :)

If you're in the area, please stop by Lifeway Christian Stores in Southaven, MS Jan. 5th from 2-4pm. I would love to meet you. It should be a rockin' good time.

January 3, 2008

 

A Novel Day


Check out http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/ as I'm featured on their blog today.

Read any good books lately? I recently finished A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was very hard for me to get into. Seemed to move very slowly, then when it was picking up, it switched to a different character's point of view. About half way through the book, it really took off for me. Like the Kite Runner, it's not a 'fun' read but it is gripping and doesn't let you go after you've finished. I am very glad I read it. It gave me new perspective on the women in Afghanistan and all they have gone through and are going through. I think I liked The Kite Runner better, but still I recommend this book.

I'm reading Good Grief by Lolly Winston right now. It's very good so far. I recently read Happiness Sold Separately by the same author. The writing was top notch. It wasn't my favorite story but it was well told. But so far Good Grief is even better.

What are you reading? What books have you loved?

January 2, 2008

 

A new year ...

A new page or chapter in our lives... a new verse. Last year a verse jumped out at me the week before New Years and I felt it was my verse for the year. The same thing happened this year. Here's my verse for the new year:

Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God and How unsearable his judments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!
Romans 11:33-36

Okay, it's three verses, not one. Do you have a verse (or verses) for the year?

God bless you,

Leanna

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