Blogging at All Day / All Night

I'm at All Day All Night Writing Divas today talking about three things that will make me buy a new-to-me author's book.

Come by and keep me company.

The Weekend in Review

We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend -- sunny, warm, beautiful. Hard to believe it's October in New Hampshire! We're having a late 'leaf peeping' season, though, because it hasn't been cold enough to turn the leaves until this past week. The color is starting, finally, and it's breathtaking. I'm consistently surprised at the vivid reds and florescent oranges that the maple leaves turn.

I didn't pull up my garden yet. Friday was busy with errands. Saturday, my friend from Massachusetts, Michele, came up to spend the day (YAY! Sadly, the last time I'll see her until late spring) and Sunday was filled with wood-stacking fun.

Unfortunately, by late last night, one of my wood piles fell over. Wood stacking: so much fun, you'll want to do it TWICE!

Today, I promised DD some fun, so we'll be seeing a movie (complete with popcorn) and a few other things. She also needs (wants) a few more school supplies (including a three hole punch she can keep in her binder).

My plans this week include trying to conquer Word Press (it can't be that hard, even if my brain doesn't want to wrap itself around the instructions) and cutting down my dead perennials so they can sleep the winter away. If I'm feeling really ambitious, I may put in some bulbs or a mum. I have some frog's tongue seedum that I hate and want to dig up, too.

Next year, I WILL find the time to enjoy my garden.

Anyone do anything fun this weekend?

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You Are Handy

You are a generalist who does everything well. You find every subject and skill to be interesting. You are practical and productive. You continually figure out a way to get things done. You take on huge projects and see them through. You lead the way when it comes to success. You like to have a little excitement in your life, but you don't go overboard. You stay grounded.

The Wood Test

Pretty much right.

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Dog Dish with David M. Brown

Please welcome to the dog dish today, epic fantasy author, David M. Brown visiting on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. He and his wife, Donna, are owned by several cats who have deigned to join Dakota at the water bowl and chat.

David is the author of "Fezariu's Epiphany", a fantasy novel that I have and am thoroughly enjoying. The world-building is wonderful and the storyline interesting and unique. If you're a fan of fantasy, you should give it a try! Even better, the eBook is only $0.99 at Smashwords, so what do you have to lose?

But now, please give a warm welcome to the Cats Brown, visiting from over the pond:

So, your human writes books. Does this mean she is home all day and easy to access? Elaborate if necessary.

Charlie: He’s out all day on weekdays. Does some sort of office job, so he claims anyway, but in the evenings he’s busy writing.

Razz: He feeds us first thing then again when he gets back. He never pops home to feed us though, which I think is selfish. I know it takes him an hour to get to work, but still!

What are your techniques for distracting your human during crucial writing moments, just because it's fun? Whose primary job is it? What do the rest of you do to support the one doing the main distracting?

Bilbo: That’s usually down to me and Charlie. It is amusing when he’s typing away on that laptop contraption and I just jump onto his knee. How he reacts depends how involved he is in his work.

Charlie: That’s right. You don’t want to jump on him when he’s in serious writing mode. You may as well try tickling an angry bull behind the ears. It would be a lot less painful!

What indignities and neglect have you suffered because of your human's writing career?

Charlie: I have to say the food bowl is not full every second of the day and it’s just not acceptable.

Frodo: I am free to sing very loudly though when he’s writing.

Buggles: And I can climb on the curtains without being told off.

Bilbo: His lap is seldom free though, which will not do at all. It’s one of the comfiest beds in the house. He actually has a use on those occasions.

Tell me about the animals in your human's fiction. How often do they appear and how big a part do they play?

Charlie: Kain can tell you about his books. We’re too busy napping to bother reading them. I bet they’re rubbish.

Kain: He has talking animals in his history as well as anthropomorphic races such as valkayans and tolderes. Let’s not forget the elamorgias. They’re a race of feline headed men and though he won’t admit, I reckon we’re the inspiration for those guys.

On the off-chance your human has yet to incorporate animals into a story, what are your plans for making sure she rectifies this egregious error and demonstration of poor writing skills?

Charlie: He’s always had animals in mind for his books and, don’t you worry, we always keep a close eye on him. I’ve even organized the six of us to take shifts and spy on him from a distance. He thinks we’re clueless but we’re actually pretty smart and organized. I haven’t given up hope on him writing a biography about my life. It’s quite extraordinary.

What movies involving animals does your human enjoy sharing with you? Books with animals?

Buggles: He wouldn’t let us watch that Cats Vs Dogs film, would he? I cried for days.

Bilbo: He loves Watership Down. That’s the one with lots of rabbits and one cat, albeit a stupid one.

Charlie: Agreed. If I’d been that farm cat those rabbits wouldn’t have dared to cross me.

Kain (looks at Charlie): You do realize it’s not real, that film?

If you could make one change to your human, what would it be?

Frodo: I’d just like the food bowl to always be full.

Bilbo: I’d like him never to pick up that laptop again.

Kain: I’d like him to leave the front door open. It would save me having to jump on the door handle every time I want to come in.

Charlie: I’d just like him to be a mindless slave to us, giving into us at all times and making our lives easy while his is difficult. Hang on! He’s does all those things already!

Are you happy with your human? If you could tell your human one thing, what would it be?

Charlie: I’d say stop complaining and get that food in those bowls a lot faster than you are doing.

Razz: I don’t ask for much but I would like cat litter that is constantly clean, bowls that are always full, water that is fresh and a thousand or so different beds to nap in. As I say, I don’t ask for much.

What things do your human do that would mortify him if known? What does your human do that most annoys?

Frodo: When he’s asleep he does some bizarre things, such as mumbling random thoughts and for some reason he turns over in the night and elbows his wife, Donna. It’s a pain for her but imagine how we feel when we’re trying to get some quality sleep.

Charlie: His most annoying trait is how he guards the kitchen like it’s a gold mine. You can’t even breathe near it without him rushing over and ushering you out of the way. If any of us make it onto the kitchen side it’s like Armageddon.

Has your human named a character for you? Are you pleased? If not, why?

Buggles: He hasn’t named one after any of us yet. He insists Bilbo and Frodo have been used already though I can’t imagine where. My name is the same as a music group who sang a catchy tune so that’s no good. Kain and Razz may have a chance but I don’t think a fantasy character called Charlie would work.

Charlie: Charlie is a name for all occasions. He’ll realize that soon enough. Watch this space.

And did your human name you for a fictional character? Hate it or love it? If you could rename yourself, what would your name be?

Charlie: I have the dubious honour of being the only one of our group named by the owners. We’re all rescue cats, you see, but when they adopted me my previous name was John which they didn’t favour. Charlie certainly suits though I’m nothing like Charlie Brown from the Peanuts comics.

Buggles: Our owners like the Beatles, we should have been Paul, John, George and Ringo.

Kain: There are six of us, Buggles.

Razz: We should probably end the interview there. It’s been great fun, thank you.

Frodo & Bilbo: Thanks a lot.

Charie: Keep an eye out for that Charlie biography. It will happen. I promise you.

Suffering a betrayal as a young boy, Fezariu turns his back on his family. Convinced their way of life will help him leave his past behind, he joins the Merelax Mercenaries. In a quest to prove himself and survive his dangerous assignments in the Colonies, he's forced to forge new alliances but works hard to distance himself emotionally. Despite his determined focus to move on his thoughts are drawn back to Clarendon where the White Oak, an infamous brothel, holds the secret to his past and the childhood friend he abandoned still remains.

Author Bio: David M. Brown was born in Barnsley in 1982 and first conceived the idea of Elenchera in college. His love of history and English led him to read these subjects at Huddersfield University. David is inspired by medieval history, Norse mythology and Japanese role-playing video games and anime films. He lives in Huddersfield with his wife Donna and their six rescue cats.

The Elencheran Chronicles: http://elenchera.com
The World According to Dave: http://blog.elenchera.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elenchera http://www.facebook.com/fezariu
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/elenchera
Book Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPgcNNLMBvY

Things I Want to Learn

How to create a website using Word Press.

I got "Head First Word Press" at my DH's recommendation (he loves the Head First series and pretty much anything by O'Reilly press) but it's like reading Hebrew or Russian. I didn't get past the first chapter about downloading a zip file, FTP protocols and how to upload to your host.

Just writing that last makes my head hurt.

How to create a custom fan page with a vanity URL and make sure the landing page is pretty and not just the wall.

I'm sure there are tutorials out there, but I spent all my "learning" time yesterday beating my head against the Word Press wall. Maybe I'll try the Facebook thing today. It can't be any more frustrating.

How to self-publish a book.

Just because I'd like to know how. I was considering this just for fun with a series I have planned by not written (the first story is done). It's one of those things on my "learning" bucket list. Again, I'm sure there are tutorials out there, it's just finding the time.

Those are the big three for me now. I could add:

How to add a CNAME for my blogger blog at my webhost.

Yeah ... spent a good hour trying to figure this out yesterday. Sometimes I feel like I have the IQ of a gnat.

What are some things you want to learn?

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Ideas Light Up Your Life

Others wish they had the guts to be as original as you are. Your confidence in yourself is unmatched. You think it's interesting to imagine how the world could be. You are a daydreamer. You tend fly solo. You have a few good deep friendships, and that's all you need. You are a friendly and honest person. You're willing to give anyone a shot, no matter who they are.

What Lights Up Your Life?

That's mostly right. Not sure how original I am, but otherwise pretty spot on.

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Invasion of the Germs

DH is getting sick. He came home last night all stuffed up and miserable. I don't know if he'll stay home today or not, but I'm betting he might. I hope he keeps his germs to himself.

The weather site says we might actually be getting our first frost here this week. It's late, but I'm not complaining. At first I was dying for a freeze so Dakota would be less itchy, but her allergies have cleared up (both goldenrod and ragweed are pretty much past, and those are my two suspects for her allergies) so, I'd really just love no frost every please. Yeah, I know, I'm practically in Canada, but I can dream.

On the other hand, they predict temps in the 80s for the weekend. :::scratches head:::

Weird New England weather.

It's been a month since I submitted "Now and Forever" to Samhain Publishing. They said twelve weeks ... so I'm not surprised I haven't heard. Just antsy.

It's only three weeks until NaNoWriMo. I keep waffling on whether I should even try to participate. I love NaNoWriMo, but my life is already insane. *sigh* At least DH isn't off the entire month like usual to mess with my routine. He's only taking off two weeks.

Can you believe there are stations out here (well, in Boston) already starting to play CHRISTMAS MUSIC? I miss the days when Christmas didn't start until after Thanksgiving. Anymore, I'm sick of the holiday by the time it comes, and that makes me a little sad.

Have a great day!

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You Are Openly Ambitious and Secretly Brainy

You are driven and determined. You'll figure out a way to realize your dreams. You are energetic to the point of being impatient. You can't wait for life to happen. You are a dynamic and interesting person. You are constantly changing, growing, and improving. You are a total brainiac who enjoys learning new things. You think studying is just plain fun.

The Lip Gloss Test

That's pretty much right...

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Lexie Update

Sarita and Brandy asked about Lexie. She's doing okay, though is still "basement cat" about 90% of the time.

She still loves my husband best of all which both amuses and annoys him. I'm next in line and then DD (which upsets DD terribly -- Lexie was supposed to be "her" cat. But who tells a cat what to do?). Dakota doesn't rank.

She's still jumpy when she's upstairs ... any noise or quick moment will send her running for the basement. But she does come up on her own more than she used to, even if she doesn't stay. She has yet to make it to the second floor.

Dakota is still doing everything right in order to make friends. She's calm, steady, she doesn't make any quick moves or get too close. Lexie still doesn't like her, but she sometimes tolerates having her on the same floor of the house.

She's a sweet, loving kitty. She loves to crawl up on your shoulder and rub her head on your face (hard!) and purrs up a storm. She just isn't very confident. But I imagine that will happen. She's still pretty young (we're guessing she's five) so we have plenty of time for her to settle in. Mostly we just make sure she has what she needs and let her do her thing on her own schedule.

I had a bad moment yesterday missing my Breeann something awful -- I'd just read Angelina Rain's blog where she lost her own sweet furbaby, and my heart just broke all over again. DD even mentioned how much she missed Breeann yesterday, out of the blue.

In other news, en route to the library yesterday we saw this:



That's a dump truck, upended. Don't worry, the driver was fine. But nothing like a little excitement in a podunk town.

DD still loves school. I think I could probably just put that up daily.

Speaking of which, I need to roust her out of bed and get the day moving.

Have a great one!

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You Are A Nightgown

You are a bit old fashioned and elegant. You aren't very casual. You are well mannered and modest. You don't make a fool of yourself. You tend to be a bit reserved, and it's hard for strangers to get to know you. You are likely to not let anyone outside your bedroom see you in your pajamas.

What Kind of Pajamas Are You?

Yep. Mostly. I have been known to make a fool of myself...

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Rainy Days

Had a rainy weekend. DD was distraught at not going to the fair. We have one more fair in the state this year and I told her I'd look into going. It's the Sandwich Fair (anyone know anything about that one?). Of course, my friend Michele is in town on Saturday so that day would be out ... but maybe Sunday or Monday (yay for Columbus Day!).

I posted at Healthful & Homemade last night -- the first time in months (shame on me).

Otherwise, it was just a quiet weekend for us. DD is thrilled to be going back to school today ("Yay! Tomorrow's Monday!").

Hope you all had a great, peaceful weekend.

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You Are Strong yet Colorful

You sometimes seem like you're all business, but you have a playful side to you as well. You tend to formulate ideas and make decisions alone. Once you're done, you're ready to talk to others. You are a quiet and peaceful person. You have deep inner strength. You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy, and you are very self sufficient.

The Autumn Test

That's mostly true...

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