Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Woman Scares Off Burglar
A potential case of breaking and entering this week was thwarted by one woman's barking and pretending.
According to the Associated Press, a woman in Athens, Georgia reportedly scared away an intruder from her home late Saturday night with some canid improv. Her antics included "scratching at the door and acting like a large dog," the AP reported.
Whether or not the woman actually did arf-arf her way to safety is unknown; the police report of the incident didn't specify barking as one of her tactics.
I don't make up this stuff.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Doctors Are In The House On This Season's TV Lineup
Have you noticed the surplus of medical dramas this season? As a long time fan still mourning the demise of ER and an off and on Gray’s Anatomy fan, I had to check out the new ones.
I first watched NBC's disappointing contribution Mercy. The acting is dreadful, and the main character, Veronica, is a wench. Sonia is her antithesis looks-wise, but I’ve been to a lot of hospitals, and if I ever saw anyone dressed and made up like Sonia, I don’t think I’d want them working on me or my loved one. She belongs on America’s Next Top Model, not a medical drama.
Back to Veronica. She’s pathetic, and I don’t sympathize with her character. She’s been to Iraq or Afghanistan or somewhere, but so have a lot of other people and they don’t come back with attitudes toward the whole human race or a tendency to cheat on their husbands. She can’t make up her mind between her husband or the doctor she had a fling with overseas. Not admirable behavior. If she doesn’t want the husband, she needs to stop playing along with reconciliation. That’s just tacky.
Her parents are both drunks, so what do she and her brother do? Drink. Uh uh. Once was too many times for this chickie to view. Skip this one and watch So You Think You Can Dance, on at the same time.
Alex O'Loughlin stars as the lead transplant surgeon Andy Yablonski in CBS’s Three Rivers. Ryan Abbott has been hired as an assistant to the transplant organizer, only to learn on his first day that the organizer has quit, leaving him and everyone else in the lurch. This is a fun thread, with the likable newbie learning as he goes.
Miranda Foster is a surgical fellow, and whose father the hospital is named after, had unresolved issues with the man before his death. I like her voice a lot, one of those unusually low husky female voices.
The episode I watched this week was a triple thread, involving an organ donor and his family and the recipients of his organs. I especially liked that this wasn’t another hashing of the medical staff persuading a grieving family to donate their loved one’s organs. The donor was on record, and his mother was proud of him—a refreshing take. The conflicts were the waiting patients’ health, securing organs that the police deemed evidence in a murder investigation, and then a bomb threat that jammed traffic on the way from the airport to the hospital. Time pressure and emotional stress with the families raised the stakes.
I liked the unique approach to a worthy procedure and all of the people involved in transplants. Definitely worth watching and ends on a positive note. It’s nice to have a Sunday evening show for a change.
Trauma, another NBC show—what were they thinking, scheduling an exciting action series with likeable characters on the same network as the flat-lining Mercy? The show begins one year after a fatal two helicopter crash during a rooftop rescue, in which Reuben “Rabbit” Palchuk played by Cliff Curtis, is injured and spends time in a coma. He was a jerk previously, and now he’s worse—or so it seems. After rescuing people from a freeway pileup, Rabbit drives his car like a maniac, emulating Steve McQueen in Bullet. We don’t know whether to hate or love this guy, because the next minute he’s apologizing to Nancy and then comforting a child. I ended up liking him a lot. He’s the alpha male character.
Anastasia Griffith’s character, Nancy Carnahan loses her love interest in the crash and is having difficulty on the anniversary of the trauma. She has a medical degree, but doesn’t want to work in a hospital.
Aimee Garcia plays Marissa, the new helicopter pilot who’s back from Afghanistan—wait—they did the same thing on Mercy, only this character is likeable and believable and a good actress to boot. She flies Rabbit to rescue scenes. She’s not afraid to stand up to him, and she doesn’t come off like a rip. There’s good interaction between MTs, doctors and patients.
The one drawback is that viewers see predictable accidents coming, like a text-messaging driver and a marijuana-smoking wood chipper, but because I like this show, here’s a shout out to the writers: less clichéd situations and fewer stereotyped secondary characters, please! But this one’s a keeper and reminds me a little of the show that used to parallel paramedics with policeman. What was the name of that one? Trauma is on opposite Lie to Me on Mondays, so I record it or watch it online.
There are sirens and neck braces aplenty on medical dramas this season. And if you missed an episode you can catch full episodes on the network’s websites in some cases.
I first watched NBC's disappointing contribution Mercy. The acting is dreadful, and the main character, Veronica, is a wench. Sonia is her antithesis looks-wise, but I’ve been to a lot of hospitals, and if I ever saw anyone dressed and made up like Sonia, I don’t think I’d want them working on me or my loved one. She belongs on America’s Next Top Model, not a medical drama.
Back to Veronica. She’s pathetic, and I don’t sympathize with her character. She’s been to Iraq or Afghanistan or somewhere, but so have a lot of other people and they don’t come back with attitudes toward the whole human race or a tendency to cheat on their husbands. She can’t make up her mind between her husband or the doctor she had a fling with overseas. Not admirable behavior. If she doesn’t want the husband, she needs to stop playing along with reconciliation. That’s just tacky.
Her parents are both drunks, so what do she and her brother do? Drink. Uh uh. Once was too many times for this chickie to view. Skip this one and watch So You Think You Can Dance, on at the same time.
Alex O'Loughlin stars as the lead transplant surgeon Andy Yablonski in CBS’s Three Rivers. Ryan Abbott has been hired as an assistant to the transplant organizer, only to learn on his first day that the organizer has quit, leaving him and everyone else in the lurch. This is a fun thread, with the likable newbie learning as he goes.
Miranda Foster is a surgical fellow, and whose father the hospital is named after, had unresolved issues with the man before his death. I like her voice a lot, one of those unusually low husky female voices.
The episode I watched this week was a triple thread, involving an organ donor and his family and the recipients of his organs. I especially liked that this wasn’t another hashing of the medical staff persuading a grieving family to donate their loved one’s organs. The donor was on record, and his mother was proud of him—a refreshing take. The conflicts were the waiting patients’ health, securing organs that the police deemed evidence in a murder investigation, and then a bomb threat that jammed traffic on the way from the airport to the hospital. Time pressure and emotional stress with the families raised the stakes.
I liked the unique approach to a worthy procedure and all of the people involved in transplants. Definitely worth watching and ends on a positive note. It’s nice to have a Sunday evening show for a change.
Trauma, another NBC show—what were they thinking, scheduling an exciting action series with likeable characters on the same network as the flat-lining Mercy? The show begins one year after a fatal two helicopter crash during a rooftop rescue, in which Reuben “Rabbit” Palchuk played by Cliff Curtis, is injured and spends time in a coma. He was a jerk previously, and now he’s worse—or so it seems. After rescuing people from a freeway pileup, Rabbit drives his car like a maniac, emulating Steve McQueen in Bullet. We don’t know whether to hate or love this guy, because the next minute he’s apologizing to Nancy and then comforting a child. I ended up liking him a lot. He’s the alpha male character.
Anastasia Griffith’s character, Nancy Carnahan loses her love interest in the crash and is having difficulty on the anniversary of the trauma. She has a medical degree, but doesn’t want to work in a hospital.
Aimee Garcia plays Marissa, the new helicopter pilot who’s back from Afghanistan—wait—they did the same thing on Mercy, only this character is likeable and believable and a good actress to boot. She flies Rabbit to rescue scenes. She’s not afraid to stand up to him, and she doesn’t come off like a rip. There’s good interaction between MTs, doctors and patients.
The one drawback is that viewers see predictable accidents coming, like a text-messaging driver and a marijuana-smoking wood chipper, but because I like this show, here’s a shout out to the writers: less clichéd situations and fewer stereotyped secondary characters, please! But this one’s a keeper and reminds me a little of the show that used to parallel paramedics with policeman. What was the name of that one? Trauma is on opposite Lie to Me on Mondays, so I record it or watch it online.
There are sirens and neck braces aplenty on medical dramas this season. And if you missed an episode you can catch full episodes on the network’s websites in some cases.
Nearing NaNoWriMo Launch Time
NaNoWriMo is upon us. Hopeful writers are gearing up. One of the greatest stumbling blocks to new writers is an inability to commit to the work and finish.
Read Chuck Wendig's entire blog here.
Read Chuck Wendig's entire blog here.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Why Write a Good Synopsis?
In any job or career there are things we love and things we have to do. In publishing, hopefully writing is what you love; revisions, editing and queries are things we have to do. I’m sure most firefighters love fighting fires, but there’s probably also a long list of things they have to do, like rescue potential suicide attempts or pull cars from frozen rivers. Wouldn’t it be a shame if all firefighters simply decided they were only going to do the parts of their jobs they loved?
Read the entire blog at LLC Bookends Agent Blog
Read the entire blog at LLC Bookends Agent Blog
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Drawing for Autographed Books
I'm holding a drawing for advance copies of my December book, HER COLORADO MAN at Petticoats and Pistols. CLICK HERE to gallop on over!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
GETTING RID OF THE JUNK THAT HOLDS US BACK
GETTING RID OF THE JUNK THAT HOLDS US BACK
JANUARY ONLINE WORKSHOP
DATE: JANUARY 1 – 31, 2010
INSTRUCTOR: CHERYL ST.JOHN
COST: $25.
REGISTRATION VIA PAYPAL:
http://cheryl-stjohn-workshop.blogspot.com/
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW
Are you satisfied with your writing accomplishments during 2009?Can you see room for improvement?2010 will turn out just like the previous year unless you take steps to make better choices and initiate changes. If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got.January is the month in which we set goals for the coming year, but too often, those goals are a washout by February. We tend to shoot ourselves in the foot year after year, repeating the same bad habits and perpetuating the same poor attitudes toward situations and our abilities.
CLASS DESCRIPTION:In this workshop, Cheryl will ask you to take an honest, in-depth look at your behaviors, your thought processes and the things that are holding you back. Self-examination may be difficult, but it's always necessary for improvement and growth.If you've never had a handle on goal-setting, if you find yourself falling into negative thinking, are having trouble with time management or are always disorganized, this class may be just the motivation you need to start your year in a positive light. Maybe you don't even realize the negative behaviors you've been falling into year after year.Make this your year of change. You're worth it.
INSTUCTOR BIO:
Among her achievements, which include over thirty published books in both contemporary and historical genres, Cheryl St.John has received multiple Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and three RITA nominations. In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real life situations.” She has taught writing on local and national levels, and is in demand as a motivational speaker.
FORMAT:
The class will be conducted via subscription to a private yahoogroup, two lessons per week, followed by questions and answers. Archived class will be available for one week after the ending date.
ENDORSEMENT:
"Everyone has obvious junk that keeps us from achieving our goals. With Cheryl's encouragement, I discovered hidden and disguised junk and broke through for increased productivity. Excellent and thought provoking!"
~ author, *lizzie starr
JANUARY ONLINE WORKSHOP
DATE: JANUARY 1 – 31, 2010
INSTRUCTOR: CHERYL ST.JOHN
COST: $25.
REGISTRATION VIA PAYPAL:
http://cheryl-stjohn-workshop.blogspot.com/
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW
Are you satisfied with your writing accomplishments during 2009?Can you see room for improvement?2010 will turn out just like the previous year unless you take steps to make better choices and initiate changes. If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got.January is the month in which we set goals for the coming year, but too often, those goals are a washout by February. We tend to shoot ourselves in the foot year after year, repeating the same bad habits and perpetuating the same poor attitudes toward situations and our abilities.
CLASS DESCRIPTION:In this workshop, Cheryl will ask you to take an honest, in-depth look at your behaviors, your thought processes and the things that are holding you back. Self-examination may be difficult, but it's always necessary for improvement and growth.If you've never had a handle on goal-setting, if you find yourself falling into negative thinking, are having trouble with time management or are always disorganized, this class may be just the motivation you need to start your year in a positive light. Maybe you don't even realize the negative behaviors you've been falling into year after year.Make this your year of change. You're worth it.
INSTUCTOR BIO:
Among her achievements, which include over thirty published books in both contemporary and historical genres, Cheryl St.John has received multiple Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and three RITA nominations. In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real life situations.” She has taught writing on local and national levels, and is in demand as a motivational speaker.
FORMAT:
The class will be conducted via subscription to a private yahoogroup, two lessons per week, followed by questions and answers. Archived class will be available for one week after the ending date.
ENDORSEMENT:
"Everyone has obvious junk that keeps us from achieving our goals. With Cheryl's encouragement, I discovered hidden and disguised junk and broke through for increased productivity. Excellent and thought provoking!"
~ author, *lizzie starr
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Proposal
Have you seen The Proposal yet?
I asked Kristin to grab it for me while she was at ShopKo, and I watched it once on Sunday evening.
I'll review it after I've watched it again.
I wasn't disappointed, but it probably isn't one of my favorites ever.
I did laugh in several places.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Woman Reads a Book a Day for a Year
Ms. Sankovitch, who has a law degree from Harvard and reads fast but does not speed read, is no doubt smarter than the average bear.
Read the entire article here
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Kreativ Blogger Award
Stephanie gave me a Kreative Blogger award. Thanks, Stephanie!
The rules for the award are:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each.
Things you may not know:
1 My middle name is Lynn
2 I named one of my daughters Jennifer after a character in a book -
her middle naame is Lynn too
3 I still have paperdolls and Barbies
4 I drink at least 3 or 4 pots of tea a day
5 My son Jared and my granddughter Alexis has eyes exactly the same color as mine
6 I once won a pizza eating competition
7 My childhood friend from kindergarden on became my sister-in-law
The blogs I nominate are:
Rebecca Ryan
Real Life at Petticoat Ranch
Coolest Mommie's Coolest Thoughts
Wendy the Super Librarian
The Good the Bad and the Unread
Cookie Madness
Jennifer's Random Musings
I'm making tough decisions about online time and Shelfari is going. I'm spreading myself too thin and need to be writing! I'm staying at Goodreads, in fact just started a drawing for my December book.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24516.Cheryl_St_John
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24516.Cheryl_St_John
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley
Guess who's back writing western romances? I couldn't be more excited. Margaret Brownley has written some of my favorite books, like Windsong. Oh, how I loved that story. She took a hiatus from fiction writing, but is back in the swing--er the saddle. I can't wait for this newest one coming in December!
A Lady Like Sarah
Margaret Brownley
December 2009
Thomas Nelson Publisher
ISBN: 9781595548092
She’s an outlaw: he’s a preacher.
Both are in need of a miracle.
Preacher JUSTIN WELLS leaves Boston in disgrace, heading out alone on the dusty trail to Texas. But when the once-respected clergyman encounters a feisty redhead in handcuffs with a dying U.S. Marshal at her side, his journey takes a dramatic turn. When he promises the injured lawman to take his prisoner to Texas, Justin has no idea the trouble that lies ahead. The slightly-built prisoner turns out to be SARAH PRESCOTT—sister of the notorious Prescott brothers—and she’s determined to miss the hanging party waiting for her in Texas.
But escaping proves to be tougher than she thought. Justin doesn’t own a gun and hasn’t the foggiest idea how to survive the wilderness. How can she leave him alone with the injured marshal?
Nothing is more sacred to Justin than a promise made to a dying man, but how can he turn the blue-eyed beauty over to the hangmen? She’s tough as leather, but there’s something about her that is pure and good.
Justin can’t bear to lose her, but how can a simple preacher fight an entire town? And how can either one of them know that miracles come in many guises—including love?
A Lady Like SarahMargaret Brownley
December 2009
Thomas Nelson Publisher
ISBN: 9781595548092
She’s an outlaw: he’s a preacher.
Both are in need of a miracle.
Preacher JUSTIN WELLS leaves Boston in disgrace, heading out alone on the dusty trail to Texas. But when the once-respected clergyman encounters a feisty redhead in handcuffs with a dying U.S. Marshal at her side, his journey takes a dramatic turn. When he promises the injured lawman to take his prisoner to Texas, Justin has no idea the trouble that lies ahead. The slightly-built prisoner turns out to be SARAH PRESCOTT—sister of the notorious Prescott brothers—and she’s determined to miss the hanging party waiting for her in Texas.
But escaping proves to be tougher than she thought. Justin doesn’t own a gun and hasn’t the foggiest idea how to survive the wilderness. How can she leave him alone with the injured marshal?
Nothing is more sacred to Justin than a promise made to a dying man, but how can he turn the blue-eyed beauty over to the hangmen? She’s tough as leather, but there’s something about her that is pure and good.
Justin can’t bear to lose her, but how can a simple preacher fight an entire town? And how can either one of them know that miracles come in many guises—including love?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Guilty Pleasures
I'm blogging about guilty pleasures at Petticoats and Pistols today.
CLICK HERE to be automatically transported
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Cheryl St.John Dishes on Movie Kisses
What are your favorite movie kisses of all time? Stop by to see if I've listed any of yours and watch a video montage of heart-stopping smooches!
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/2009/10/08/cheryl-stjohn-those-marvelous-movie-kisses/
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/2009/10/08/cheryl-stjohn-those-marvelous-movie-kisses/
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Romance Novels Thrive During Bleak Economy
"Reading romance novels won't help pay your bills, or erase the worry of an impending foreclosure, or even cure an illness. But what it does do is allow you a short escape from those staggering realities - and ultimately leave you refreshed and refocused and more psychologically able to deal with them."
Read the entire article.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Mary Connealy: Sour Cream Chocolate Cake
My mother-in-law turned ninety this year and she had perfected this cake before any of you were even a gleam in your daddy’s eye. A lot of my book Calico Canyon was inspired by tales told me by my mother-in-law.
Grandma Connealy’s Sour Cream Chocolate Cake
2 C. sour cream
1 t. vanilla
4 eggs
Beat well and add:
2 ½ C. sifted flour
2 C. sugar
½ C. cocoa
2 t. soda
pinch salt
Beat well. Bake in 9 X 13 pan at 3500 about 45 minutes.
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Delicious but tricky. Easy to overcook.
1 C. sugar
1 heaping T. cocoa
1/3 C. milk
Boil nearly to soft ball stage. That means a candy thermometer which I don’t own. That might be why I always over cook it. Then it turns to a solid, unspreadable chunk of frosting.
Add:
1 t. vanilla
1 T. butter
Cool partially.
Add:
Powdered sugar to the right consistency.
I always add too much! The only reason I’m including this recipe is because it’s the one my husband’s mother always uses on her Sour Cream Chocolate Cake and, done correctly, it’s about the best in the world. Good luck.
Rising Popularity of Amish Novels
A new brand of romantic fiction set in America's Amish communities is proving one of the most surprising success stories in publishing.
Read the entire article.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Sunday Afternoon
Busy Sunday at the homestead. Jay and Jared are putting a storm door on the new door in our kitchen - eventually there will be a deck coming off that new door. Kristin is arranging furniture to fit in an armoire. Elijah and Little Jared were riding bikes, then they played instruments abnd now they're plaing a computer game behind me.
I made a big pot of chili and am waiting for Jess and Alexis to stop by after their trip to the nearby mall. I've been doing laundry and decluttering all weekend. It's a good thing. But now my side of the garage is full of trashbags and bins for the Goodwill.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Izzy is One Year Old
Brenda sent me pics of her darling granddaughter, whom she calls a dolly. We can sure see why. Isabel is one year old already!
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