Happy Friday, Everyone!
I thought I'd put a couple of video's on the site today for you. The first one is from Britain's Got Talent and the second is from America's Got Talent. Two totally different types of talent, even though they both sing. Both of these men are amazing in their talents.
I hope you enjoy them! The first, Paul Potts is...well, I sat there stunned as I watched him. Now, I have his CD and I love playing it while I'm writing. :) It still brings tears when I watch it. This is someone who didn't give up on his talent and what within him. He sings, we write, and we don't give up either.
This is Terry from America's Got Talent. Again, if you didn't see this when it was on air I think you'll be quite surprised. I know I was. I totally agreed with the judges when he walked out on stage. My thoughts were, not another one. Then he began and I was wowed by his talent as well.
So, what did you think? I hope you enjoyed them and also came away with a little bit more I can do this attitude for your own talent as well.
Don't forget to check back on Sunday for this week's winner.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams for all of us,
Vicki
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
My Life From A to Z - in lieu of T13 This Week
I read this over at Pat’s blog, who found it on Gwyneth Bolton’s, who found it on…well, you’ll have to link back to all of them because I’m sure it continues on much like the “Song that will not end”.
Thought it was pretty cool, so instead of the normal T13 this week I’m doing this one. Feel free to use it on your own blog. If you do, link to it in the comments so we’ll know to go check it out.
My Life From A to Z
A - Age: Yeah, right. I’m older that 38 and younger than 60…you’ll have to guess on your own, unless you already know. Hee hee
B - Best Friend: Laurie K. and Willis (aka Dorothy)
C - Choice of Meat: Love a really great Steak but also love, love Fish, and of course chicken. Okay, so I like most meat.
D - Dream Date: Science Guy and I having a nice dinner and then walking on the beach watching the sunset. Really, I love that.
E - Exciting Adventure: Hmmmm…I had to think about this one. Of course I agree with Pat the journey to publication is amazing but one of the things I really want to do is go see the Whales. As far as an EA that I actually done, one of them would be going to New York and Canada. I loved everything about the snow and all the fun I had playing in it. :)
F - Favorite Food: Pizza – nuff said on that one. :)
G - Greatest Accomplishment: My kids would be first and coming back to writing after so many years. There are others but I’ll leave it at that.
H - Happiest Day of Your Life: There are several, of course the birth of my children. What mother wouldn’t say that, unless she’s not right. But seriously, meeting SG was a big one.
I - Interests: Writing, Reading, Painting, Singing, Acting, and hanging out with friends who usually like to talk about Writing. :)
J - Joke: Not on this one. I mean do you want me to tell you a joke or tell you about a joke played on someone?
K - Kool-Aid: Lime or purplesuresrex (I think that one was grape and lemonade mixed together actually) and neither are easy to find.
L - Love: giving of yourself to others. Putting their feelings before you own, being able to be quiet with each other and still know that it’s all good.
M - Most Valued Possession: My grandmothers sweater and homemade quilt, my fathers flag (although I don’t actually have that anymore), Cards my family and friends have given me. Things like that are valued. The rest is stuff. Don’t get me wrong I have stuff that I really like, maybe even love but it’s stuff nonetheless.
N - Name: Vicki, V once in a while from Laurie, Vic from several people, Leon from Willis
O - Outfit You Love: Black dress and the strappy sandals that go with it.
P - Pizza Toppings: Mushrooms, black olives, onions, maybe bacon or pepperoni, but I like the first three the most.
Q - Question Asked To You the Most: Is your book finished? Or how soon will it be on the shelves to buy? I love the thought of the second one, but have to explain to them the process of first being contracted and then how long it can actually take to hit the shelves once that happens.
R - Radio Station: 94.9, which doesn’t really tell you much, but they play a little bit of everything on there.
S - Sport: Nascar! Basketball and baseball. I watch football and hockey with SG sometimes but they’re not my favorite.
T - Television Show: Hero’s and in January 24. I like several others but those are my fav's. The writers on Hero's are amazing!!! So many plots, so many important characters.
U - Umbrella in the rain?: Yes, my hair has natural curl to it when I don’t blow it dry, so I try not to get it wet once I've blown and straightened it.
V - Video: We really don’t watch a lot of video’s so I’m not sure what to put here.
W - Winter: My winter consist of sometimes a chilly and sometimes pull out the shorts days. I would love to have actual seasons; I loved the snow when I was in New York a couple of years ago.
X - X-rays recently?: No
Y - Year Born: Ummm…hello, I may be blonde but this kinda goes back to the letter A and age thing.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Your turn, any of these you'd like to tell us or are you going to do this on your blog? Link back to me so we can check it out.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Thought it was pretty cool, so instead of the normal T13 this week I’m doing this one. Feel free to use it on your own blog. If you do, link to it in the comments so we’ll know to go check it out.
My Life From A to Z
A - Age: Yeah, right. I’m older that 38 and younger than 60…you’ll have to guess on your own, unless you already know. Hee hee
B - Best Friend: Laurie K. and Willis (aka Dorothy)
C - Choice of Meat: Love a really great Steak but also love, love Fish, and of course chicken. Okay, so I like most meat.
D - Dream Date: Science Guy and I having a nice dinner and then walking on the beach watching the sunset. Really, I love that.
E - Exciting Adventure: Hmmmm…I had to think about this one. Of course I agree with Pat the journey to publication is amazing but one of the things I really want to do is go see the Whales. As far as an EA that I actually done, one of them would be going to New York and Canada. I loved everything about the snow and all the fun I had playing in it. :)
F - Favorite Food: Pizza – nuff said on that one. :)
G - Greatest Accomplishment: My kids would be first and coming back to writing after so many years. There are others but I’ll leave it at that.
H - Happiest Day of Your Life: There are several, of course the birth of my children. What mother wouldn’t say that, unless she’s not right. But seriously, meeting SG was a big one.
I - Interests: Writing, Reading, Painting, Singing, Acting, and hanging out with friends who usually like to talk about Writing. :)
J - Joke: Not on this one. I mean do you want me to tell you a joke or tell you about a joke played on someone?
K - Kool-Aid: Lime or purplesuresrex (I think that one was grape and lemonade mixed together actually) and neither are easy to find.
L - Love: giving of yourself to others. Putting their feelings before you own, being able to be quiet with each other and still know that it’s all good.
M - Most Valued Possession: My grandmothers sweater and homemade quilt, my fathers flag (although I don’t actually have that anymore), Cards my family and friends have given me. Things like that are valued. The rest is stuff. Don’t get me wrong I have stuff that I really like, maybe even love but it’s stuff nonetheless.
N - Name: Vicki, V once in a while from Laurie, Vic from several people, Leon from Willis
O - Outfit You Love: Black dress and the strappy sandals that go with it.
P - Pizza Toppings: Mushrooms, black olives, onions, maybe bacon or pepperoni, but I like the first three the most.
Q - Question Asked To You the Most: Is your book finished? Or how soon will it be on the shelves to buy? I love the thought of the second one, but have to explain to them the process of first being contracted and then how long it can actually take to hit the shelves once that happens.
R - Radio Station: 94.9, which doesn’t really tell you much, but they play a little bit of everything on there.
S - Sport: Nascar! Basketball and baseball. I watch football and hockey with SG sometimes but they’re not my favorite.
T - Television Show: Hero’s and in January 24. I like several others but those are my fav's. The writers on Hero's are amazing!!! So many plots, so many important characters.
U - Umbrella in the rain?: Yes, my hair has natural curl to it when I don’t blow it dry, so I try not to get it wet once I've blown and straightened it.
V - Video: We really don’t watch a lot of video’s so I’m not sure what to put here.
W - Winter: My winter consist of sometimes a chilly and sometimes pull out the shorts days. I would love to have actual seasons; I loved the snow when I was in New York a couple of years ago.
X - X-rays recently?: No
Y - Year Born: Ummm…hello, I may be blonde but this kinda goes back to the letter A and age thing.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Your turn, any of these you'd like to tell us or are you going to do this on your blog? Link back to me so we can check it out.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Wednesday Fun
Okay, so this won't apply to everyone but I thought it was funny nonetheless. Sit back and enjoy. Oh and if you're not a baby boomer just yet then watch what you have to look forward too. :)
This is one of Walt Handelsman's cartoons. I tried to put the video on the site but it wouldn't let me, so click the link, watch it and then come back to comment. :)
Baby Boomers
Since I'm on major deadline to finish the first draft of my book by December 6th, the posts will be shorter than normal. When I get home from the day job I'm on the computer writing the word count needed to complete the book. I don't open the Internet at all until I've made that word count happen. Talk about control...not so much. It's killing me. I love to spend time on the blogs and so forth. Which is the reason I'm in deadline now. I had too many nights of playing instead of writing.
Looking back at all the nights I put a zero for my daily word count I now realize I would have been done weeks ago. Oh well, such is life and playing in the blog world. :)
So, do blogs, email, and general browsing the net stop you from making your deadlines? What do you do to avoid it?
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
This is one of Walt Handelsman's cartoons. I tried to put the video on the site but it wouldn't let me, so click the link, watch it and then come back to comment. :)
Baby Boomers
Since I'm on major deadline to finish the first draft of my book by December 6th, the posts will be shorter than normal. When I get home from the day job I'm on the computer writing the word count needed to complete the book. I don't open the Internet at all until I've made that word count happen. Talk about control...not so much. It's killing me. I love to spend time on the blogs and so forth. Which is the reason I'm in deadline now. I had too many nights of playing instead of writing.
Looking back at all the nights I put a zero for my daily word count I now realize I would have been done weeks ago. Oh well, such is life and playing in the blog world. :)
So, do blogs, email, and general browsing the net stop you from making your deadlines? What do you do to avoid it?
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Monday, November 26, 2007
Monday Check In and Contest and Winner (last weeks), Oh My...
Monday, and not only is it the beginning of the week, it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving. Food, maybe buying holiday gifts, and oh yes, eating more food. So what do we do today? We diet, of course. I mean hello, Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanza (please excuse me if I missed one) is right around the corner and then it’s more food. Which means for the next few weeks, Science Guy and I will be dieting, or at least trying too. :)
Truly, I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends, counting the blessing we have be they small or large.
Last week’s contest winner is Erica!!! Congrats Miss E. I’ve got your info.
My word count for this week is 2142. Which doesn’t sound too bad for a holiday week and since I went out of town for basically five days (including travel). Trust me; this is not a good word count for me. I have to have a little over a 1000 words each day to meet my goal of December 6th.
This week’s contest is a continuation in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by
JR Ward. Lover Revealed is a marvelous book. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I say this about each of her books. And it’s true, I do. The thing here is by now I’m hoping you see the pattern. She is an amazing writer.
Here’s the back cover blurb:
Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...
Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...
If you’d like to read the excerpt: Lover Revealed Excerpt
So, how about you, are you meeting your goals? Do you have any deadlines before the end of 2007? How was your Thanksgiving? Did you stay home or travel? Leave your comments through out the week to be entered into this weeks contest.
Oh, I’m trying to get the sidebar slideshow working and then I’ll have pictures, not just flowers. :)
It's working, it's working!!! Whoo Hoo!!
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Truly, I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends, counting the blessing we have be they small or large.
Last week’s contest winner is Erica!!! Congrats Miss E. I’ve got your info.
My word count for this week is 2142. Which doesn’t sound too bad for a holiday week and since I went out of town for basically five days (including travel). Trust me; this is not a good word count for me. I have to have a little over a 1000 words each day to meet my goal of December 6th.
This week’s contest is a continuation in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by
JR Ward. Lover Revealed is a marvelous book. Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I say this about each of her books. And it’s true, I do. The thing here is by now I’m hoping you see the pattern. She is an amazing writer.
Here’s the back cover blurb:
Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...
Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...
If you’d like to read the excerpt: Lover Revealed Excerpt
So, how about you, are you meeting your goals? Do you have any deadlines before the end of 2007? How was your Thanksgiving? Did you stay home or travel? Leave your comments through out the week to be entered into this weeks contest.
Oh, I’m trying to get the sidebar slideshow working and then I’ll have pictures, not just flowers. :)
It's working, it's working!!! Whoo Hoo!!
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Travel Day
Just a quick note to let you know I'll be traveling today so not much on the blog or visiting my online families. :)
Oh, and the plane I'm flying on...it only seats 19!!! I don't like the small planes but in order to not travel all day long and still be in Florida this is the only way to go. My family lives in Destin, Florida and I'm so excited to be going to see them.
In case I don't make it on tomorrow, I hope everyone has a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving. Take a moment to remember the little things you're thankful. Sometimes it those small things in our lives we forget about when they mean the world to us.
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Oh, and the plane I'm flying on...it only seats 19!!! I don't like the small planes but in order to not travel all day long and still be in Florida this is the only way to go. My family lives in Destin, Florida and I'm so excited to be going to see them.
In case I don't make it on tomorrow, I hope everyone has a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving. Take a moment to remember the little things you're thankful. Sometimes it those small things in our lives we forget about when they mean the world to us.
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Monday, November 19, 2007
Frogs and Miracles
Willis sent this to me and I thought I'd share it with you.
Frogs
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs…who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!" "They will NEVER make it to the top."
or: "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher..
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be
negative or pessimistic... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have. (There's life and death in the power of the tongue - Proverbs 18:21.)
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be....
POSITIVE!
And above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
If you fall down 10 times,
Stand up 11 times.
In other words if you’re rejected 10 times you may need to submit something new but submit again you must. A great friend once told me never give up today because tomorrow might be your miracle. I realize that the miracle comes from hard work but you can achieve your dreams if you never, ever give up on them.
Funny thing, my Flavia calendar today said: What we've worked and hoped for doesn't show until one morning we wake to se a field of miracles.
One of the major key words there is worked. This writing journey takes work. It's not easy, but if this is your hearts desire never give up and never listen to those who say you can't do it. Be the frog, the deaf frog too them. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Frogs
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs…who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!" "They will NEVER make it to the top."
or: "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher..
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be
negative or pessimistic... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have. (There's life and death in the power of the tongue - Proverbs 18:21.)
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be....
POSITIVE!
And above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
If you fall down 10 times,
Stand up 11 times.
In other words if you’re rejected 10 times you may need to submit something new but submit again you must. A great friend once told me never give up today because tomorrow might be your miracle. I realize that the miracle comes from hard work but you can achieve your dreams if you never, ever give up on them.
Funny thing, my Flavia calendar today said: What we've worked and hoped for doesn't show until one morning we wake to se a field of miracles.
One of the major key words there is worked. This writing journey takes work. It's not easy, but if this is your hearts desire never give up and never listen to those who say you can't do it. Be the frog, the deaf frog too them. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Monday Checking In and Contest - WhooHoo, It's good to be back in the swing of things :)
Ah Monday, time to check in with last weeks count and give the goal for this week. Can anyone say, thank god for Sunday? If I hadn’t written on Sunday the word count would have been very low. It’s not what I know I need to finish the book before the TARA Christmas party, but they’re new words add all the same.
Here you go: word count added – 1773. Sounds like a good year or something. :) Goal for this week is to write everyday even with the holiday. I’m going to Destin to see my family and I’m so excited but I will write.
The contest is back in full swing this week with the third JR Ward book. This weeks it’s Lover Awakened. That link will take you to the excerpt page.
And here’s the back cover blurb:
A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.
Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…
My thoughts on one of the brothers:
Zsadist is a vamp/man who you will love and feel the fear at the same time. His past dictates who he is and why he’s become that person. Still as you read the books you know there is a man inside who cares deeply for the BDB. There is one thing though – if you’re out at night and see the scared man be careful. Unless he knows you he’ll not want to carry on a conversation or go have drinks. He’ll more than likely scare the crap out of you.
Take some time and visit the site. Get to know him and then jump into his world. I promise once you do you’d fight to the death with any Lesser for him.
So, you all know that I love this series and word up it’s not like any series I’ve ever read before. I know these guys and somehow even though they’re supposed to be characters in a book, coming from JR’s mind I think they know me. They’ll know you too once you begin.
Now it’s your turn. How was your week? Did you write? Meet your goals? What’s your goals for next week? Have you got your own personal deadline for finishing your book? And last, but certainly not least, have you read any of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books? I’d love to hear what you think about them.
Leave your comments to be entered into the contest each day this week.
As always, Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Here you go: word count added – 1773. Sounds like a good year or something. :) Goal for this week is to write everyday even with the holiday. I’m going to Destin to see my family and I’m so excited but I will write.
The contest is back in full swing this week with the third JR Ward book. This weeks it’s Lover Awakened. That link will take you to the excerpt page.
And here’s the back cover blurb:
A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.
Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…
My thoughts on one of the brothers:
Zsadist is a vamp/man who you will love and feel the fear at the same time. His past dictates who he is and why he’s become that person. Still as you read the books you know there is a man inside who cares deeply for the BDB. There is one thing though – if you’re out at night and see the scared man be careful. Unless he knows you he’ll not want to carry on a conversation or go have drinks. He’ll more than likely scare the crap out of you.
Take some time and visit the site. Get to know him and then jump into his world. I promise once you do you’d fight to the death with any Lesser for him.
So, you all know that I love this series and word up it’s not like any series I’ve ever read before. I know these guys and somehow even though they’re supposed to be characters in a book, coming from JR’s mind I think they know me. They’ll know you too once you begin.
Now it’s your turn. How was your week? Did you write? Meet your goals? What’s your goals for next week? Have you got your own personal deadline for finishing your book? And last, but certainly not least, have you read any of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books? I’d love to hear what you think about them.
Leave your comments to be entered into the contest each day this week.
As always, Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)