Need a Little Help

He who gives when he is asked has waited too long. ~Sunshine Magazine

Hey all... a new year starts in just a couple of weeks (isn't that amazing?) and I need a new format for my guest blogs. I'm looking for input.

1. Do you even enjoy getting to know other authors?

2. If yes, do you have any questions you'd like me to ask them (and don't worry about being too silly or intrusive -- I've asked about hobbies, food, and even underwear before!). Please, please send me your questions -- you can leave them in comments or email me at authormariannearkins AT gmail DOT com.

3. Would you prefer an actual guest blog from an author instead of an interview (like this one)?

4. Would you prefer having a longer blog on just one topic (i.e. "Where did you get your idea for your book?" or "Tell us about your hobbies") and have the author expand on it?

5. With the exception of Nora Roberts and Jennifer Crusie, are there any authors in particular you'd like to hear from? I'm not shy about emailing anyone and asking for an interview (which is how the LASR site kicked off with an interview from Lori Foster when we started in 2007). They don't even necessarily have to be romance authors.

6. Anything else you'd like to add?

I really am desperate for input, so please, please -- even all you lurkers... yes YOU, you know who you are.... please let me know. THANKS!

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DD went to my SIL's for a little while yesterday to do Christmas stuff: make paper snowflakes (this is a tradition in my in-law's family, and my FIL is truly amazing at it), bake and whatnot.

While she was gone, I pulled out the FOUR boxes of stuff my mom has mailed over the past few weeks and wrapped presents. I'm not really excited about this part of Christmas, but it has to be done (I owe an enormous debt to whomever made gift bags so popular). I left all the gifts for the cat, the dog and my DH for DD to wrap (because SHE enjoys it tremendously) and then popped all her gifts under the tree.

Understand, for the past two weeks we've had two lonely little gifts under the tree and nothing else. When she came home and saw about ten more (and a couple are quite large), her eyes nearly bugged out of her head! It was awesome :-)

Now I just need to wait for the gifts I bought her online to show up. I really love to shop for other people. I remember, many years ago, I was involved in a five-car accident. I was stopped, last in line, at a stoplight and a teenaged girl was too busy ogling a cute guy to brake -- she slammed into me and I hit the car in front and so on.

I was fine with letting our insurance companies hash it out... until the lady in front of me sued me for hitting her. Uh, no. I don't think so. So I had to sue the girl who hit me (GAH, I hate even saying that -- the whole sue-happy legal system makes me crazy).

In any case, at the end of the day, I ended up with a couple thousand dollars ... a fortune to me as I was only 19 y.o. You know what I did with it? I WENT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. It was the first time in my life that I didn't have to wince at price tags ... I could pretty much buy what I wanted for people, and it was the best time I think I've ever had.

Ah... the good old days when I was young, foolish and had few responsibilities...

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You Are Laundry

You are efficient, speedy, and on top of things. You aren't a very hands on person, and you prefer to delegate as much as possible. You believe the quickest way to get things done is to just do them. You don't procrastinate much. You prevent getting overwhelmed by not taking on more than you can handle. And you're not afraid to do something quickly to get it out of the way. Technology is your friend, and you love gadgets. You'd like a lot more of your life to be automated!

What Household Chore Are You?

Hmmmm 50/50 -- though I'd sure love a robot maid like the one on The Jetsons!

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The S Word

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
~Author Unknown

The weatherman uttered the "S" word last night. Yes... it's going to SNOW today. Blech. Worse news, though, is that they're predicting ICE on Wednesday night. I'll take snow over ice every day of the week, and worse, Weds is agility night, so I'll be possibly driving in it (okay, to be honest, I won't drive in ice but it will make me VERY sad to miss agility if they don't cancel).

DD worked on more jewelry last night. I'll be taking pictures today of about 20 pairs of earrings (she made the CUTEST snowman ones that I'm going to nab if no one buys them in the next week or so) and then putting them up on DistinctivelyDD. We had some friends drop by last night while DD had everything out, and the wife ended up doing some Christmas shopping, lol. She bought several book thongs and a couple pairs of earrings. She asked for a couple things custom made, as well, so DD made a repeat customer.

We started burning for earnest in our stove last night (in the winter, we burn 24/7 -- the fire never goes out). It honestly hasn't been THAT cold (considering it's December in the Northeast), but the idea of snow made me really crave a fire. Still, I'm very, very nervous about burning, even though I know that, at this point, we're probably far safer than we were the past nine years. I had a terrible time sleeping last night and finally ended up coming downstairs and sleeping on the couch where I could keep an eye on the stove.

Maria Zannini emailed me a few days ago with this awesome bargain on the Food Saver vacuum sealer since she'd read that mine was giving up the ghost. It really WAS A great deal and the new sealer arrived yesterday. It does everything but go grocery shopping for you. I'm SO EXCITED. Now I just need something to seal!! LOL...

This is the sealer I got for $65 and free shipping:



It even has a "marinate" mode where you put the marinade in a dish with a hose thingie and it marinates your meat before sealing! :::happy dancing::::

It was my Christmas present. For my birthday, I'm buying myself the Shark steam mop.

Yes, I really do like to get practical gifts (well.. not always -- for our first Christmas together after only three months of dating, DH bought me seat covers for my new truck ... yes, he's a crazy romantic).

What about you? Do you like practical gifts? My wish list right now includes the Shark steam mop, a sewing machine and a treadmill. I have a friend who only wants jewelry (and only the real stuff), which mystifies me. I'm just not a bauble fiend (which is probably why "Sex and the City" did nothing for me).

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You Are Emotional

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Blogthings: We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

Waving the freak flag? LOL... *snort*...

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Monday Morning Meme and more

A hearty laugh gives one a dry cleaning, while a good cry is a wet wash. ~Puzant Kevork Thomajan



1. What book is on your nightstand right now? What was the last book you read? How many books do you think you read in 2008?

Um... "Seduction in Death" is what I'm reading that is fiction, and "Total Money Makeover" is my non-fiction (I usually have at least one of each going). The last book I read was "Betrayal in Death" and I probably read somewhere between 50-100 books last year -- I don't keep track. I mean to. I even set up an excel spreadsheet for it... I have about three books in there. *sigh*

2. Name three blogfriends that have inspired you. Now please tell us how these blogfriends have inspired you.

Dru, for her upbeat attitude, her pictures, her quilts (!) and so much more.

Groovy, for her ability to put a humorous spin on even the most un-funny things.

Suzanne McMinn for her photo-stories, recipes and tips on country living. I seldom comment, but I read her blog every day!

3. How far do you live from the place where you grew up as a kid? Tell us about the place you grew up - would you choose to go back there and raise your own family (if you have one)? Why or why not?

According to MapQuest.com I live 3054.48 miles from where I lived when I was in high school. Where I "grew up" is tough because we moved so much (though, all in the same 60-90 mile radius).

I went to school in Rancho Cordova, CA and no, I wouldn't go back and raise my kids there. When the air force bases there and near there were closed in the 90s, it really destroyed the town. It's a little "ghetto-y" and run down, but also tremendously populated and overcrowded. I miss California something fierce, but it's been a while since I've been there, so really I'm missing the California of my childhood, not how it is now. Whenever I go back to visit, I'm reminded why I left.

Still, I WOULD and HOPE to move back out west, somewhere a little more rural (Wenatchee, WA for example) but still close enough to my family and friends to visit more easily (a 15 hour drive as opposed to a 50 hour one).

4. Finish this line: Absence makes the heart……
(please do not say “grow fonder”.) How long do you think is ‘too long’ to be away from your loved ones?

Depends on who you're talking about! LOL... Absence, IMHO, makes the heart grow distant. My DH and I both lived through that -- being engaged (not to each other) and being separated from our respective intendeds for long periods of time. By the time we were in the same time zone again, his fiancee was married and mine was living with someone.

And any time away from loved ones that has a day and a night is too long (**MOM**)... just saying.

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I had a nice birthday, yesterday. DD got me two dark chocolate Dove candy bars (can I just say "YUM") and gave me a coupon that said the following:

This is for you. You may use it as often as you like. When it expires you can get another one. I don't think it will expire soon. I hope you like it and use it wisely and also when you're sad.

COUPON: Free hugs for the next 500,000,000,000,000,000 years.

And then, after I opened and read it, she said, "You could use it right now."

I'm not sure if that coupon was really for me or for her...

I also got a couple Amazon.com gift certificates! WOOT! I am so using part to preorder "A Geek Girls Guide to Cheerleading".

We had lunch at Shorty's -- a Mexican food place. DD had a taco and shared my portabella mushroom fajitas with me. DH had Polla con Espinaca -- and, oh MAN did it look good. It may just have been the spinach and cheese sauce over the top but I was drooling.

And, we were all so stuffed from lunch that no dinner was necessary!

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I really hate Google reader. Really. It locks up my computer every-freaking-time. I'm trying to move everyone into bookmarks, but since it locks up every time I try to retrieve your URLs it's time-consuming, and time is one thing I am extremely short on. I don't know WHY it does this. No on else seems to be having trouble. But, I am.

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I'm not terrifically enthused with either of my stories for JaNoWriMo. Wait, that's not entirely true. I LOVE the idea of them, and the fantasy especially excites me. But... writing them isn't exciting me right now and I don't know why. I'm desperate to write, but I can't seem to find the words.

I may try to do another short for Woman's World (as an aside, I had a dream the other night that they sent me a check for $885 to publish my story -- it's supposed to be $1000, but they took out taxes, lol) or another short for somewhere else. Maybe that will get me excited? I don't know. Color me frustrated.

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You Are a Hooded Sweater

You are active, casual, and laid-back. There's not a pretentious bone in your body. You are very humble. You have a very giving spirit. Whether you're dealing with friends or strangers, you tend to ask very little of people. You are honest and open. You believe that if you are truthful with people, they will be straight with you.

What Kind of Sweater Are You?

Um... some is right, some isn't. I'll let you guess which is which! LOL...

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Follow The Bouncing Ball..

... Inside my head.

Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again? ~Winnie the Pooh

This morning, when I woke at 4:14 a.m., I gave myself permission to go back to sleep. Sundays are the one day I don't have to upload pages to LASR, so are really the only day I CAN sleep in. Ever. That's why I'm running late today.

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For some reason, I recalled how my friend's mom used to get her stubborn dog to take pills. I think I was thinking about Amy's dog, Indy, being on anti-anxiety meds (and I have no idea why THAT popped into my brain -- my brain is a scary place). My friend's mom, Joan, couldn't stuff a pill into the dog's mouth. It would NOT take them no matter what. But, it did tend to gobble anything she dropped on the floor. So, while she was chopping something for a meal, she'd "accidentally" push the pill (and a bit of whatever food) onto the floor. "WHOOPS!" and the dog scarfed them all down before Joan could pick them up. Ha.

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My niece is engaged to marry a boy who is very unlovely on the outside (IMHO). But he showed her the only unconditional love she's ever known. The entire family is against their marriage, and I'm not certain it's the best relationship in the world (he's quite irresponsible), but maybe he'll grow up. In the meantime, the adore each other. He would lay down in front of a moving train to save her. There's something to be said for that. Still, it got me to thinking about the beautiful people we populate our romance novels with. Hmmm...

And that thought impelled me to click through on an article at the top of my gmail page entitled: Who Are The 50 Most Gorgeous Singers Of Our Time?. I have to say that I disagree with 90% of their choices, and am horrified that more country artists weren't chosen. They did select Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift ... But what about Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Faith Hill??

Clearly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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One more day until my DH goes back to work. Praise God and all that's holy, even if it is only for three days.

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Yesterday, I was so overwhelmed with everything, I almost decided to quit it all. Judy will be relieved that Chris talked me down off the edge... and probably didn't even realize she did so.

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I miss my mom. There ought to be a law that moms can only live a certain number of minutes away from their kids. Though, considering my mom's kids live all over the country, that could be tricky.

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My NaNo book feels like a glorious waste of time. It's kind of fun to write, but I can't imagine anyone, anywhere publishing ever.

::shrugs::

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I'm still steamed that "One Love for Liv" comes out in print four days after Christmas. Y'all could wrap up an I.O.U. for your friends, and then get the book after! That's what I'm doing. **sigh**

It's like they thought, "How can we make marketing this novel even harder?"

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My DH went to the Tractor Supply Store and bought me pink and gray snow boots yesterday! They're so cute and soft and nice... my Sorels that I've been using I got my first year in Colorado (1994), so they're a little worn out. Sometimes, he's very sweet. That doesn't mean I don't want him to go back to work, though.

*G*

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Only got about 400 words on my NaNo book yesterday. Still haven't broken 10,000. Maybe today. Of course, the bathroom still needs cleaning.

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The Castle Personality Test

You are scared of new experiences. It's hard for you to break outside of your comfort zone. You like to think that people are impressed by you. You know that you have a lot to offer. You are a very realistic person. You see the world as it is, flaws and all. Right now, you feel very trapped in your life. You often feel like there is no way out of your rut. Overall, your life is very peaceful - if not a little solitary. Much of what goes on goes on in your head. You feel like the fate of the future partially rests in your hands. You believe you need to help make the world a better place.

The Castle Personality Test

So...are y'all impressed with me? Apparently, I like to think so. The rest, though? Mostly true...

I forgot!

Two things....

One: Dru emailed me last night and said she wanted to gift me with her latest quilt, entitled "Blue Notes".



Isn't it LOVELY?

I really love blue and yellow together. My spare bedroom is done is blue and yellow, and my new office is yellow. I'm going to hang it in my office... It's going to look amazing.

I told her that I felt like I should graciously decline such a generous gift, but that I wasn't gracious! LOL...

So, thanks again, Dru!

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Two: "Don't Fence Me In" was reviewed at Dear Author. I nearly peed my pants. Actually, I nearly threw up when I saw the link on my Google alerts. I didn't want to press the mouse button.

It was a good news, bad news kind of review. The good news? It seemed that she liked my writing style and might be interested in reading something else I've written. The bad news? She didn't feel the love... And, actually I was rather glad she mentioned that because I'm wondering if that's the reason for the "meh" reviews on Fictionwise.

In any case, I made it through without vomiting. And I wonder if I should send them something else to review. For those of you who have read my stuff, what would you suggest I send? What is your fave of my stories?

Tagged!

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. ~ Ruth Ann Schabacker

Diana tagged me yesterday for a seven things post ... sneaky wench.

I think I've done this before, but it's been a LONG time, so I decided to do it again. First off, let's get this part out of the way:

The rules:

Link to the person who tagged you;
Leave a comment on their blog so that their readers can visit yours;
Post the rules on your blog;
Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog;
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post;
Include links to their blogs;
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Now, on to the really important stuff...

1. I have NO fear of spiders. In fact, one fell off the bit of firewood I carried inside today and I picked him up and put him on the unfinished side of my basement. I didn't want to put him outside, cuz he would die. He might still... I don't know how much food he'll find in the basement, but at least he has a chance. Truthfully, I prefer that the creatures with more than four legs live outside (and will scoop and relocate), but in the winter--what's a girl to do?

2. If I could have any pet, I would choose a rat. I love rats. Rats are one of the best pets EVAH. They bond to you. They come when you call. You can potty train them. They're wicked smart. They're cute. No, really... stop laughing. I loved my rats: Pouncequick and Roofshadow. Good boys. The only bad part is that they don't live very long.

3. I find weeding cathartic. Really. I'm a compulsive weeder. My neighbors love me. If I'm visiting someone, I can't just talk. I have to weed. I can't NOT weed. if you want to torture me, forget the rubber hose. Just put me in a garden full of weeds and tie my hands.

4. I get up, without an alarm, sometime between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. every day. Sometimes, I make myself "sleep in" (aka stay in bed) until 4:30 or 5 a.m. on the weekends. Of course, this means that I'm ready for bed by 8 p.m. Sometimes, I can manage to stay awake until 9, but by then I'm so low on brain juice I'm all but incoherent.

5. I chew on the ragged skin around my fingernails, and have for as long as I can remember. I took a two-year vacation from it when I had braces, because I couldn't get to the skin with my teeth, but started right back up with the braces came off. I've tried to break the habit, but I can't. It's the only thing I've ever done that I can't stop doing. Except, yanno, breathing. And eating.

6. I collected and showed plastic model horses for several years. Breyers mostly, but I also showed other brands as well. I did quite well at it, but stopped when the cost became prohibitive. I still have most of my horses, photos, tack and other supplies.

7. I had the lead role in my senior high school drama production. The play was "Get Bill Shakespeare Off The Stage" and included some great lines like, "TB or not TB, that is the congestion. Consumption be done about it? Of cough, of cough, but not for lung." or "Out, out, damn Spot! Out, out I say. The living room's not where a dog should play!"

I also messed up a line in a way I'll never forget. I played a teacher, and was counseling a student who was having boy problems with a kid named Roy. I was supposed to say, "I had A Roy once myself." instead, it came out, "I had Roy once myself."

Best memory of doing the play? Getting to say "Bastard" on stage when I told Roy off, and getting a standing ovation on opening night for that scene. Ah... the good old days.

I'm not tagging anyone, but if you'd like to play, please do -- and then leave me a comment so I can come see.

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I got BOOKS in the mail yesterday!! And presents! Life is good.

One of the coolest parts about having a reviews site is getting books before they are released. I have THREE!! I'm doing a happy dance because they are books I've been dying to read (and I shamelessly begged very professionally requested them from their respective authors, who then took pity on me sent them to me for a review.

I also spent most of my B&N gift cards on ALL of Lyndsay Sands Argeneau series because I read "The Accidental Vampire" and fell in love with her writing and the entire premise. **sigh**

For PRESENTS, my very, very good friend Kathy out in Minnesota sent me stuff from Ninth Moon! I've died and gone to heaven.

So, despite the twelve feet inches of snow we got yesterday, all-in-all I can't complain.

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Your Daily Dakota:

Since she loves to play with my bunny slippers AND DD's fuzzy red pillow, we decided to get her a big hunking fuzzy toy of her very own. She loves it! See? Death to the giant blue bug!! (Sorry it's blurry... action shots, you know):






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Another random quiz (I have to put that disclaimer because I SO did not choose this one!!):

Your Drag Queen Name Is:

Sugar Snatch

Drag Queen Name Generator

Um... oh... well...

I'm not touching that one.

Available: Your Very Own Pillar Place

We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers. ~Seneca

Ironic, isn't it: when it rains, it pours. I got the release date for my story, "Magic". It's AUGUST 15TH! Not that I'm not excited, but that means I have TWO stories being released the same day.

I wonder if that is better or worse for me?

In any case... mark your calendars! August 15th will be a crazy day. Especially since on August 13th I'm going to ... well... I can't tell you YET or it would take all the fun out of it.

But don't forget to check back.

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Pillar Place is quiet still. I'm beginning to grow worried that my last swallowtail pupa, Jill, is planning to overwinter that way. This doesn't make me a happy person. I've done that once, I don't want to do it again, and swore I wouldn't this year. Ha. Jill is snickering inside her skin, isn't she. *sigh* It's not as though I could just throw her away. Botheration.

I have an idea, however. My milkweed plants, and the ones down the road where I've been harvesting leaves, are PACKED with seed pods. I certainly don't need any more milkweed in my small butterfly garden, and the existing plants will spread without seeds anyway, so I wanted to offer to send them to people.

Anyone want to start their own Pillar Place? If so, I'll send you milkweed seed pods and directions on how to cultivate it. It will need A LOT of space, so I don't recommend planting it unless you have a bit of room.

I may also throw in some seeds for flowers that butterflies love: coneflower, zinnia, etc., if I have enough. And some parsley, rue and dill seeds for swallowtails.

If you're interested, email me at marianne (AT) mariannearkins.com with your address.

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Time for day nine of:



I'm happy my friend, Allie Boniface had two books accepted for publication this year! And, to celebrate my happiness, I'll share her book trailer with you. It's as classy and well created as her books are.