Waste Not, Want Not.

I hate waste. 

I have a hard time looking at something that is still good and throwing it away. Not because I need it but because it will be wasted.  I've been trying to clean and organize for our move and all my drawers and closets are filled with miscellaneous things I don't need and don't remember having. 

I've had to become hard core. It doesn't matter if it's still in good condition. If I haven't seen or used it in years, and can't imagine ever needing it, I'm getting rid of it. Most of the stuff is going to salvation army so it will get a good home. Maybe. It just won’t be cluttering up my closets. 

If I can’t stand to let some plastic piece of junk go, how much more does it hurt to let my own life go to waste? I’m going to clean, de-clutter, find time to write and live to the fullest. Because I can throw away clutter, but I won’t throw away myself.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has had a great holiday season!  I only made it to 10:30 last night but plan to celebrate the new year up right this morning.

I'm not going to lie, last year was a very difficult year for us. By November not only had I lost the desire to write, I lost the desire to read. I was pretty stressed and overwhelmed but a little bit of time taking a step back has really helped. I'm feeling that itchy twitchy need to curl my fingers around a pencil or pound them into the keyboard. I can't wait for everyone to go back to school and work so I can get writing again. 

The year went out with a bang. Despite the fact that each of us had had a flu shot four of the five of us got the flu over Christmas. Not our most festive holiday ever but we're well on our way to recovery.

Also, right at the end of the year The Engineer recieved a job offer and we decided to accept. Which means

WE'RE MOVING!

We're heading out to the Denver Colorado area as soon as we can sell the house.  We're simultaneously excited and terrified. But it also means that there will be time in the future when everything is packed up that I'll be unplugged. I'm sure I'll keep you posted.

Yep, life will continue to be busy, but I'm sticking around for a bit. I'd love to hear how everyone is doing. Drop a comment and let me know what's up with you!

Checking in

I hope everyone that celebrates it had a wonderful thanksgiving and that rest of you had a great time doing whatever it was you did. We had fantastic but busy holidays. It might take a day or two to recover.

I'm still on a blogging hiatus until after the new year but had to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and share some of these links. 




Why it's so hard to catch your own typos.

50 ways to be a woman (no this isn't writing related but I thought it was interesting, even if I didn't agree with everything)

10 things never to say to a writer.

Why trusting your inspiration will make you a better writer


Hope you are all dong well, I'd love to hear what you've been up to in the comments!

Just saying hi!

Thought this was funny 18 weird things that authors do.    Hope everyone is having a fabulous November.

All About Time

You have to go see this GIF for 19 book dilemmas every reader has faced. I know I've been there.



I know a lot of people are gearing up for NaNo. In November the blogs really die down as people focus on reaching whatever goals they've set for themselves. Because of a really busy schedule and a hope of getting a few queries out I'll be taking time off from blogging for the next little bit.

I'll still be here, lurking, and I'll probably pop up every now and again. Just in case our paths don't cross, hope your November is a good one.

Do you Re?

How many of you reread books?  I know people who do and people who don't.

I do. Sometimes.I used to reread more. Now, it seems my list is too long and my time too short.

I have often had people ask why I reread books. The question used to bother me. Now, I just ask them if they've ever watched a movie or TV show more than once. I've never had anyone answer no. So I ask why they re-watch movies. The answer is usually one I can apply to books too.

The truth of it is, some books are just good friends. Friends you want to visit from time to time. Friends you can learn things from, about life, or about writing.

I don't have specific requirements for comforting rereads. They just have to be books I connect with. There is a wide variety, depending on my mood and why I'm rereading. I have books that are easy reads for when I'm sick and my head feels stuffed with corn husks. At that time want something entertaining but something I don't have to think too hard about. There are times I'm worried or depressed, then I might pull out something with hope, something that helps me see the good in myself. I might be bored or dissatisfied with life and something will just stick in my head until I read it.

I have a degree in comparative literature so I've read a lot of classics. I have a weak spot for Russian authors such as Tolstoy, Valentine Rasputin, and Chekhov.  I've enjoyed Harry Potter several times and many books by authors Thomas Costain, Diana Gabaldon, Robin McKinley, Megan Whalen Turner, Juliet Marillier, Deanna Raybourne Jane Austen, and Anne Tyler. JANE EYRE, ANNA KARENINA, THE FAMILY NOBODY WANTED, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, PAVILION OF WOMEN, KETURAH AND LORD DEATH, and Terry Pratchet's THE WEE FREE MEN series. (I'm finishing my first reread of them now. Actually I'm listening on audio book and that may make the difference.)

Not all of these are the best written books in the world. Many of them are books from my youth or college years and maybe that's why I go back to them. To remember a bit of the past, a bit of me that I've lost. Or to remember how I felt and dreamed back then. I don't know. I just know that sometimes I need something comforting and that means visiting an old friend.

Do you reread? Why? What books?

Recent Reading

Back in August I won a contest over at The Blabbermouth Blog. As a prize I won two books.

Seriously, nothing is better than winning books.



The first book is SKINK-- NO SURRENDER BY Carl Hiaasen.




I have to admit, the cover and title didn't do much for me.



I know we're not supposed to judge books by their cover, or title for that matter, but we all do. It's the first impression we get. I'm glad I didn't listen to my first impression though. I found this book to be engaging, fun, and well written. One of the things I liked most about this book is that while there are serious situations, and while people do get hurt, the author didn't feel the need to turn the characters into violent teenage action heroes. He could easily have made this book much more violent, we've all seen the trend, but he didn't feel the need to. I love that this book while it puts ordinary teenagers into an extraordinary situation, still keeps the characters as themselves, in a way that many teenagers would act.  Congrats to you, Carl Hiaasen. 



The other book I won is  SECOND SIGHT: AN EDITOR'S THOUGHTS ON WRITING, REVISING, AND PUBLISHING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.

I'm only half way through this book but so far I'm finding a lot of useful information.  The highlighter has made an appearance. The blue one, which of course is only used for the best highlighting. 


What have you been reading lately?