Happy Thanksgiving....

Today we give thanks for all that is good in our lives.
So I thought it fitting to add mine.

I am thankful for a loving family who is happy and healthy.

I am thankful that I am still able to make ends meet in this economic crisis.

I am thankful for great friends, near and far.

I am thankful for everyday I'm able to open my eyes to a new day.

I am thankful for my pets.

I am thankful to everyone who has encouraged me in this writing career.

I am thankful for the love I have in my life.

I am just....thankful. Humbled by the life I've been given.

What is it you give thanks for?

One more...I'm thankful to all of you who stop by to read what I have to say, now I want to hear from you.

Hugs,
xoxox
LKap

Time off Work....

So I am officially on vacation until the 30th, and right now I'm late posting. But what's so new about that...HA!

It's not because I slept in or played too hard the night before--I have been up since 6:30 and had 2 Dr. appt's and have finally gotten to sit down.

I will apologize now for any typo's because I'm writing this with dialated eyes and still can't see very well, but it seems I'm obcessed with being on the computer so here I am.

Now even though I have time off I have more doctor appointments within the next week and then there is Thanksgiving...whew. Guess that means the holiday season is now really in full swing.

My plans? Writing and really that's it.

Except tonight - I am a full geek and will be going to see Twilight and New Moon with Princess and her friends. I really am excited too!!!!
Okay well Princess is now home and we are going on a candy run. I'll let you know how awesome that is later.

Ciao for now Dolls
LKap

Wild Wild West - X-Posted From Group Blog

When I think about the Wild West my first thoughts are cowboys and Indians. Cowboys out on the range, gathering cattle, mending fences, and coming back home to the sound of the dinner bell ringing. Cute cowboys. Sexy cowboys. Cowboys with muscles and a strong face yet gentle hands when they were with their wives and children.

Then there are the Indians. The ones who trusted no white man and the ones who learned to trust the white man and live in peace. They lived on the land and believed we owe much to mother earth. Which is something I still believe in as well and probably we could learn a lot from their ways to increase our going green lives.

I remember visiting the Smokey Mountains and seeing the saloon, taking pictures with real live Indians, seeing a gun fight in the middle of the street, one complete with fake bullets, but as a kid they seemed real to me. I loved it and as a young girl wanted to live like a cowgirl.

The movies made me believe this was an amazing life. Times were simpler and people often came to one another’s aide to mend what needed to be mended to insure the Wild West life continued.

Ah, such a wonderful thought. That is until I think about the items they didn’t have. No indoor plumbing. That’s a big one for me (who remembers her grandmother’s farm having an outside shower and oh yes, an outhouse).

Traveling to visit a friend could take days or even a week. Rough terrain complete with robbers, Indians who wanted scalps, and oh my god, snakes. I so don’t do snakes (sorry, different post). Washing your clothes wasn’t the easiest thing in the world either. After they made the soap (most often lye soap), they had to beat them against a rock or if they were lucky they had a board to beat them against, and then hang them in the sun to dry, all nice and…stiff.

So for me, yes, I still love the movies and the books that make it seem so romantic, but in reality I’ll take my internet, air condition/heating, and buying soap any ole day.

Now writing about them? That’s, as they say, a horse of a different color. Nothing seems impossible and the heroine is more than happy to cook over an open flame, scrub the floors, and still manage to float down the stairs in a beautiful dress to greet her man. The hero never seems to smell bad regardless of how much labor he’s done without the help of Arrid extra dry, and even if he does, she doesn’t notice. Nope she’s running to meet him and the kiss as the sun is setting behind them heats the night to beyond belief.

Of course the stars lighting the night sky like a hundred thousand LED lights, while lightning bugs flitter around would make it beautiful. And really the scene in my head is so perfectly romantic.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the country, the wide open space, and seeing the sky without the aid of street lights. Traveling to town to buy groceries would be fine as long as I could get there within an hour or two and in an air conditioned truck. I would honestly trade my city life with that of more country if I could, but I’d still have the items we’ve come to love today.

What about you? Do you wish for the days of the cowboys or are you more of a citified person?
xoxoxo,
Vicki

Maya Angelou - An Amazing Person

Don't break the elastic!In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.And, there on television, she said it was 'exciting...'

Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day.....like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:
I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back...

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back..

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

What about you? Are there things you'v learned along this journey we call life? Share with us, or simply tell us which one of Maya Angelou's made the biggest impression on you.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Hugs,
Vicki

Editor's Don't Kill Your Dreams and Royalty Statement From and NY Best Seller

Hey guys, I had a fabulous time at our TARA retreat this past weekend with Amy Pierpont, Christina Dodd, and Connie Brockway. The spa where we held the retreat was amazing, the food, oh-my-god yummy, and spending time with everyone...priceless. I'll post more about it this week.

Today I want to leave you with a couple of links that I think every writer and reader should read. A very brave (and fabulous) author is sharing her royalty statement on a NY best selling book. Check it out
here and an editor talks about not being the one to crush your dreams here.

Check them out and come back and let us know your thoughts.

And my two winners from the box-o-books...yeah, so sorry, but I will get them in the mail this week.

xoxoxo,
Vicki

To Whom It May Concern…

Hi, my name is Fiona. Yes, just Fiona, you know like Cher. Except there is one big difference: I’m a Princess of the Underworld of Light. I am also a secondary character in Reincarnate the Night, which is the book about Selena and Drakar’s love story, that my human friend is writing. Yes, the human friend I’ve made write this letter. I love my powers. ;-)

Anywhooo—my sister, Miranda, who BTW is also a Princess in the UoL, (and waaaay older than I am), is really busy fighting off the Red Greek Vampires in St. Petersburg, FL., with her uber sexy Guardians of the UoL, and trying to get Selena and Drakar back together, after keeping them apart for oh…I don’t know, like fifteen hundred years or something. Crazy, I know, but that’s the Gods for you. (Please don’t tell my parents I just said that, I’ll be in deep doo-doo)

So I’ve got some time on my hands, since I’m only eighteen hundred years old, and mum and dad don’t think I’m old enough to kill those nasty Reds, that like to paint the town in blood. But I’m ready, they just won’t listen. Plus, we have to get this whole Selena and Drakar thing figured out. And let me tell you, it’s a mess. If I had anything to do with it, this would all be over with by now.

You see Selena is a human…well, was human. Now she’s a fairy Guardian of the UoL with wings and fangs, the first ever. It’s so cool, I really want wings. But before that, when she really did have a human soul, my parents made a deal with Drakar, who was turned into a vampire by the Reds, then saved by my mum, who felt his pain while he was stuck in the UoD dying. Oh sorry, the Underworld of Darkness.

So back to that bargain Drakar made. Since he was going to live forever, my mum agreed to have his soul mate reincarnated seven times (she was dying anyway of a rare blood disorder) so he could try to convince her to be with him forever.

Yeah you know there was an ulterior motive right? Mum wasn’t so honest in why she was doing this deal. But he agreed, and now guess what? Yep, this is life seven (for him anyway). The end. Finato. And to top it all off, now that Selena can live forever she doesn’t so much like Drakar because he smells like rats to her. It's the Red blood in him from his change. I don't smell it anymore, but whatever.

It’s a mess I tell you, but I promise, it will all work out in the end. It will if I have anything to do about it, that is.

Why am I telling you all this. Well my human author friend says we have to find an agent or editor, and she “is looking at prospects”. So I thought, what the heck (can’t say the H. E. double tooth pick word, dad makes me put money in his swear jar. It is where we live after all). So I’m writing this letter because I hear these people are supposed to work with the human authors. And we have to start somewhere, right? I say, "let the interviewing of prospects begin," Than maybe I’ll get a life in the process and finally be listened to.


Tootles
Fiona



F: What? There is nothing wrong with this form of communication.
L: No, no Fiona it's fine.
F: Can I have wings now?
L: No you still can't have wings.
F: Can I at least change my family crest tattoo?
L: Fine change your tattoo, your mum will make you change it back anyway.......
L: Do you see what it's like in my head!!!

PMAM Winner.....

Amy -
You are the winner of PMAM

CONGRATS!!!!!

Please send your snail mail address to me @ lauriekap at yahoo dot com

Information must reach me by Nov 6th to claim prize.

XOXO
LKap