Brenda Bryce

Made it to Alabama

2006-11-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

We have made it to our new home town. Hotel living is going to be SWEET for the next ten days or so until the first. HEHE. I'd like to use my time wisely before the rental house is ready and the movers come. I'll have lots to do then. Maybe if I can get some things done NOW, I'll have less to think about later.

Anyway, Alabama is a beautiful state. The leaves are all turning red, gold, and yellow. In Southern California we had two seasons. Leaves and no leaves. LOL

I'ts chillier than we are used to, but we have jackets. LOL

Ok, we are going to do things now. I don't know what, but we'll think of something.

Brenda

Moving

2006-10-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

So it is going to be in late November to early December, but it's taking all my time to pack. A family of five in a house for eleven years accumulates a lot of stuff. Weeding and packing is taking time, but I think we are getting closer to being done.

I'm about to start the edits on Enforcing Justice, so maybe it won't be too long before YOU get it.

I hope. :)

I'll keep you posted.

Brenda

Contracted

2006-10-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

This morning, I sent off contracts for The Society 3: Enforcing Justice. Alexi's story will be published. WOOHOO!

Sure, I have to wait until the contracts come back signed, then edits, but heck, this is the biggest hurdle for me.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Brenda

Vote For Me

2006-10-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

All right, so vote for Tree Sprite.

Ann Vremont is runing a Big Beautiful Woman Book of the Month, and Tree Sprite has been added to the list.

To vote for Tree Sprite, Email Ann before Oct 14, 2006 at

vote_treesprite@annvremont.com

With a subject line of

BOTM Tree Sprite

And Tree Sprite might be the book of the month.

Please vote. Muah.

Brenda

Got me a Dell

2006-09-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back, hopefully.

I have new reviews, been posting some excerpts, and hopefully I'll know more about the upcoming move come nest week. I hope, I hope.

Now that things are starting to slow down on the boxing up the house front, until we have more info, I'm hoping to get some writing in. The last few weeks have been a bust.

Wish me luck

Oh, thanks to Darla for the wonderful, superb words on my story, and to Mechele who is always there (or here as it were).

O! Good luck with the new job.

JL Langley has books in PRINT!!! ok, one is in print - The Tin Star (M/M extrordinaire) and Howl an anthology, will go into print soon (at least I think that's the itinerary, I could be wrong).

Hm, I think that's it for the updates for now. I'll get to work.

Brenda

Dude! I'm geting a Dell

2006-09-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

I've decided, in an attempt to save some money, to turn in my rental laptop and purchase one outright.

It's a Dell. I ordered it today, so will let you know when it arrives. I'll save $200 a month!

Still not sure what's going on with the move, but it's progressing anyway. :) I'll keep you posted. Heck, maybe I'll move near to someone who reads this.

Um, if I do, please be nice to me.

:)

Brenda

Howling in the Moolight Review

2006-09-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

I've got a review for Howling in the Moonlight. Kind of confusing, but since I am a magnanimous writer, I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Two Lips Review of Howling In The Moonlight

Brenda

Tree Sprite Review

2006-09-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

Have to point out a review I got for Tree Sprite.

Coffee Time Romance Review of Tree Sprite

She gave it a three cups, but said some really wonderful things about it.

Brenda

Winners

2006-09-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

I had a chat at Loves Romance Cafe, and had several winners.

Becky from WI, won a bookmark and I'll send it out with her other winnings.

Dawn won a copy of Howling in the Moonlight, sure hope she likes it.

Amy from Ky won a bookmark

Jenny from Singapore won a bookmark.

Congratulations ladies. Hope you enjoy them.

Brenda

Congrats to a winner

2006-08-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

I had a chat at Novelspotters yesterday and ran a drawing for a nice little gift basket.

Several people responded with the correct names of my books and their names were put in the hat.

Becky from Wisconsin won and I want to congratulate her. YAY!

I had a great time at the chat, even though the emails were late, or nonexistent, but heck, that's Yahoo.

Well, I have to get back to moving.

Have a great day.

Brenda

Promo-ing

2006-08-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

Woohoo!

It looks like both MBaM and Loose Id are back up and running so I'm out there promoting my books. Or at least going in to groups and making my signature lines available. I call it Subliminal Promoting. I actively post in the groups and most of the time, that's all I need. I've changed out my sig lines to show that my books are available and the links (cause I know I'm lazy and if I have to work for it, then it might not happen). I mostly post in groups I at least monitor on a regular basis. I'm not a crasher... much. I try not to, anyway.

Writing's going well, sorta, and no matter what, I'm going to finish writing Auras before I go on to the next three books I have in the outline stages. :) Hey, I have to get one story out of my head before I start another or the characters drive me bonkers.

School starts on Tues the 5th of Sept... I suppose I'll be starting to pack then. We probably have until Oct in this house, but heck, why wait until the last minute? I want everything we don't use every day, packed neatly and in the garage. That way, all we have to do on move day, is move.

Okay, I'm going back to work. Have a great weekend.

Brenda

Sitting here, wasting time

2006-08-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Not really, Okay, yes really, but my e-mail has all been gone through enough to get on with my day, and I'm thinking of heading outside, where it's quiet, and write for a little while before the teens all wake up. The youngest is already awake because we had her orientation for school today. The orientation consisted of getting up and being at the school by 8 am, then her picking up her schedule, then getting her books. We left the school at 8:18 and she's watching tv in the living room. :)

There is still a lot going on at my house. We received official notice of intent to sell from the landlord, so... I guess we are definitely going to move. Wish me luck. :) But for today, or at least this morning, I'm going to try to write.

Brenda

JBuL Has A Blog

2006-08-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

All right.

You hear about my CP and the gang. This weekend, we started a blog. We call ourselves JBuL, which stands for Just Between us Ladies and include several great writers, some great writers who will be famous as soon as they get off their duffs and get published, and me.

LOL

Check it out...

JBul Blog

Not sure yet, what we are going to do there, but heck, it can't be anything but interresting. LOL

Brenda

Keep on trying

2006-08-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Not sure of the updates on either the MBaM (which is the company that Samhain sells through), or the credit card function of Loose Id.

I can only suggest, keep trying.

I know you want to read my story, and I REALLY want you to read it.:)

I'll redo my promo work once I know for a fact that the sites are up and running again.

I must complain about this month. It's been a doozy. LOL

I'd rather just get it over with and not have to repeat it.

Anyway, I have to write, so, good luck with the sites.

Brenda

Don't forget to buy!

2006-08-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know that MBaM where Tree Sprite is available is down. Darn it. They are changing servers, so I can't sell books.

Yes, I know that Loose-Id where Howling In The Moonlight is available is down. They have a credit card malfunction that they are working on, so I can't sell books.

Hopefully, these two servers will get back up and running before you forget my books are on sale and can purchase them.

Yes. I am pretty upset about this situation, since it's been going on for days. Can you tell?

Here I am out there, bothering the readers, promoting my toucas off, and I get readers saying they are unable to make the purchase. Sigh.

Well, I guess I'll just have to keep bugging the readers once the sellers are back up.

Brenda

Howling In The Moonlight Released

2006-08-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

Going Nowhere 1: Howling in the Moonlight

Brenda Bryce

Genre: Shifter Paranormal

Length: Novel

Price: $5.99

Purchase NOW!

Lannie Michaels has had enough. She leaves her home in the city for a nice, quiet stint of sculpting in a small town called Nowhere. When her mistrusting almost fiancé catches up with her trying to get her back, so does a killer of unfathomable evil, who wants to keep them apart.

Kyle Sylia is only in town to get his mate back after a catastrophic misunderstanding. He will do anything to make her his permanently. An upcoming showing, a crazed werewolf killer, a skeptical and angry sheriff, a hunter, and hyped up pheromones, are not the way he expected the reunion to progress.

During a showing of her artwork, Lannie discovers something new about herself, and Kyle is to blame. Who knew her boyfriend had kept so many life altering secrets from her? Oh well, the sex is phenomenal, but the tail will take some practice.

Now they just have to clear the area of terror, before Lannie loses her temper and bites someone.

To read an excerpt, visit: Excerpt

Oh man... I'm super jazzed about this release. HITM has a special dedication to my readers, and MUAH! Thank you for not letting me give up on it.

Brenda

Great Writing Site

2006-08-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

My critique partner musta been hinting at something, cause she sent me this great site.

The Cache is
Tracy Duckart's Instructional Website at Humboldt State University and has great information on things like Point of View, characterization, setting and all kinds of other writing information.

Check it out, I will be.

Now... Tree Sprite has gotten a great review. Check out my Tree Sprite Page and Check out the Two Lips Review. I'm quite happy with it, and MUAH to Frost.

Howling in The Moonlight will be out the 15th. Tuesday. It's a werewolf story, contemporary, and I sure hope you like it. This was my first completed manuscript and danged if it didn't get rejected MANY, MANY times.

Maybe I shouldn't have told you that so soon. LOL. Well, I still hope you like it.

I'm still working on Auras, but since it was *temporarily* rejected (I'll be doing rewrites until it's accepted, believe me), I have taken a little pouty break. I'll be cranking on it next week. Sure would love to finish it soon.

Hm, OH! I'm going to have to move. After 11 years, the landlord has decided to sell the house, so the teens, hubby and I are going to be looking for an interim place. I told hubby that internet is a must, otherwise, I don't care where I live. We are supposed to be looking at a state move soon, so this will only be a temporary stop. Sigh, if it isn't one thing, it's another. I'll keep you updated. My Flylady blog will be my "how does an author with three teens move?" diary, so if you're interrested... I'll be starting it today. We have about 60 days at least, to do this move, so, it should be interresting.

Well, that's it for now.

Brenda

Tree Sprite is OUT!!!

2006-07-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to announce that Tree Sprite is now available for purchase through Samhain Publishing

I love this story, not because of how easily it came to me or any other authorly reason, but because the characters took over and I had to fight them to quit having sex. Don't ask me why the horn-dogs were so needy, but they were.

Hopefully, you will like the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Tomorrow, I'm going to be hanging out everywhere, giving away stuff. Hope to see you around.

Brenda

Just Got Word

2006-07-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Tree Sprite is going to be released early.

August 1st.

Be prepared to purchase, I'm looking forward to your opinion on it.

One week to get my promotional stuff ready and I'd better get to work.

Brenda

Release Dates Getting Closer

2006-07-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here it is, the last full week of July. I've still got to get line edits (final edits) back from the publishers of both Howling in the Moonlight and Tree Sprite, and I'm looking forward to getting them. Release dates are getting closer and closer and I'm assembling my promotional items for each. I'm also trying my hand at the newsletter since Jeigh is litterally swamped with trying to finish up some stories.

I'm not very good at it. LOL
It's hard. I've grown a new respect for my Critique Partners artistic skills. I have none.

I've got to finish Chapter 7 of Auras today. All I have left to add is a S.E.X. scene and I can wrap the chapter up. It's just that it's so hot in So Cal. It's honestly too hot to write s.e.x. How sad is that? Very, very sad, if you ask me.

Everything else is going well, and I'm looking forward to doing hard core promo work with the readers for both stories. I do love interracting with the readers and giving stuff away.

Brenda

Extremely Bummed

2006-07-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

I had a chat scheduled at Novelspotters today, and I had planned for it all weekend. So, my time comes up, and nothing. I posted several emails, and here it is, hours later, and they still haven't shown up. Oh well, either they will or not. sigh. I do hope they EVENTUALLY do show up because I passed it off as a missed time and offered two of my handmade penis bookmarks to two people who email me first. Hope that one goes through.

It's frustrating to say the least.

I do hope everyone else had a great day, and maybe next time, I'll have more luck.

Brenda

Time flies

2006-07-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

This week has been very productive. I have been informed that Tree Sprite is going to Line Edits. Final edits for those that don't know. I had to ask last year, so don't feel bad if you didn't know. Oh, and Tree Sprite has a cover! Anne Cain hand drew me one. Dang she's talented. You can check it out on my webpage. Besides, I like the hits. LOL

Hm, Oh, I'm scheduled to do a chat come 4pm at Novelspotters on July 18th. I love to chat, and I think I'll make some bookmarks for a couple people. That's Tuesday for those of you, like myself, who don't look at calendars.

Hm, Other than that, I'm writing. Writing, writing, writing on Auras.

Brenda

Vacation is over

2006-06-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

I suppose you could call it a vacation, at least. Mom and grandmother have returned safely to their own abodes, my teens are about to start summerschool tomorrow, and I can get back to work.

We had a great time while mom and grandma was here. The teens, grandma's, and I visited the Getty museum, Santa Monica pier, the La Brea Tarpits, and Olevera street. We also shopped locally. We had a really good time and spent little money.

Although... I did catch a cold. What with the temperature changes, weather patterns, and everything conspired to wrap my lungs in congestion and a mean, nasty cough. Now, remember, I'm a hard core asthmatic. Whenever something even pretends to congest me, I have the worst asthma attacks and I have to fiht to breathe. My mommy took me to the hospital after watching me turn blue and I got some antibiotics and sterroids. Oh, goodie. Now I'm taking some meds or another every two hours, but I am showing improvement. I actually woke up this morning without an asthma attack. WOOHOO. I'm still moving slowly, sleeping in my comfy recliner, and my teens are calling me junkie, but I'm improving.

Tomorrow, I get back to work. Gotta catch up on my groups, work on my WIP, and talk to one of my editors about editing schedules. :) Other than that... driving back and forth to the school for the teens, wanting to clean the back yard and my office, and catching up on the housework. (of course, the physical work will be very carefully done so as not to land myself in the ICU like two years ago).

One last thing... Happy 39th birthday to ME!

How have you all been?

Getting closer

2006-06-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

The grandmas will be here Monday. I've been kicking butt. LOL

I'm writing now, and have done pretty good this week. Mostly because I probably won't get much time to write for the next two weeks.

I think my first werewolf story (Howling in the Moonlight) will be finished with edits soon, so that's one less thing to worry about. Although... Tree Sprite is ready to go INTO edits. LOL

Sorry that I've not been diligent with the blog, but life is definitely intruding.

Lot's of stuff going on.

Whew.

Brenda

It's not over yet

2006-06-01T22:16:00.000-07:00

Argh!

I don't think the 15th will ever get here. I'm behind in just about everything. Oh well, it will get done or not.

11 days till mom and grandma get here. Daughter is having a bit of a problem with a grade and may or may not do the graduation ceremony, I'm broke and being consumed by grey hair.

All right, enough whining. Tomorrow I write. Although, I have proofed some good stories for Loose Id and Changeling. One of them came out today from Changeling. Shifter's Station 3. It's a M/M and there are two stories before it, but this story actually happens before the other two. Have I confused you yet?

Nothing else I proofed recently is out yet, and the gag order... Well, you get the idea.

Okay, I'm going to sleep, so I can get up early, bright eyed, bushy tailed, (although why I would want a hairy butt is beyond me), and able to get right to work in the morning.

Brenda

Wiped out

2006-05-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

I must admit, I am writing, but my priority right now is getting my home ready for graduation. My oldest, as I've mentioned, is creeping up on her high school graduation. She will be the first of this generation in either family so the troops are a-massing. LOL I've been trying to get everything ready *clean*, for the family *my mom and grandma* to arrive for the graduation ceremony *if the teen passes all her classes*.

I tell you... I'm getting grayer by the minute. I'm going to need hair color by the time the ceremony comes around. Wish me luck.

I am, as I said, writing. I'm working on a vampire story that has nothing to do with the Society series. Yes, I'm working on the third one too, sheesh, bossie's.

Let's see... OH! I wanted to mention, comma's suck, but my buddy Livy put a whole schlew (spell check never heard of this word, so I appologise if it's misspelled) of comma rules on her blog. Sea of Red Ink she is such a doll baby. Ever so helpful to us weak minded writers. We have ideas, stories, characters who holler in our ears to get their story told, but the rules? Huh, we don't need no stinking rules. pshaw.

So, check it out, tell her you love her, and shake your head vigorously and hope the rules stick. That's what I'm hoping for.

All right. I'm out of here. I'm going to turn on Animal Planet (or one of the previously taped versions of Funny Animal Videos) stare at it bemusedly, then sleep.

Night all

Oh, and I'm pouting that I didn't get to attend RT this year. NEXT YEAR watch out. It's in Huston (I think, but don't quote me on it), and I'm darned well going to be there if I have to walk or knock off convenience stores on the way. *um, don't tell the cops, okay?*

Brenda

Writing, writing

2006-05-14T22:21:00.000-07:00

I need to give everyone an update on what I'm doing. I'm actually working very hard. Reading through Alexi's book, getting rid of plot dangles and holes. It's fun. LOL

The next thing I plan to do is, write synopsis' for a few stories before I lose them. Wrting the stories should go much quicker if I have them all plotted out. It worked for Tree Sprite.

All right, I'm going back to work. Sorry this is short and sweet, but I'm also dealing with Prom, which was last night, and graduation is coming fast which means relatives are coming. I'm trying to get the house organized for real this time. I even started a blog to keep myself motivated. LOL

Ok, I'm a blogging fool. They keep me working so I have something to say. :)

Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I did. I didn't do much of anything. :)

Brenda

Thesaurus

2006-05-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

As you know, I've been trying to expand my word usage in the stories. I found a great online reference that I wanted to share. You probably know about it, but I'm going to tell you about it anyway.

Thesaurus.com is the one I've been using almost exclusively. It has the most choices of alternate words that I've found yet. So far, any word I imput, spits out at least five different choices. I like choices.

Anyway, I'm pounding away on the keyboard, having a good old time. Daughter's surgery went very well, her eyes are healing slowly, the opthemologist says she's right on track, and she goes back to school Monday after having been out since the 28th of April. Yay. She's looking forward to it, and so am I. I've only got until June 11th to get any writing done before my mother and grandmother show up for my oldest's graduation. Holy Mackerel. Time's running out. LOL.

I'm putting the Thesaurus link in my reference bar, and I hope it can be of use to you. I still haven't gotten any helpful alternate words for the human sexual organs.

Brenda

Thedits Thursday

2006-04-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today, I only wrote a little. I am editing the first (pre) round of edits. A wonderful tool had been sent to me from my Samhain editor which tells me to ditch some of my commonly used words. HOOBOY! I found out I am an over user. Sheesh. Being a good girl, I'm working hard to take out as many of the no-no list as possible. Still have lots to do, and no, edits haven't formally started yet so... Well, it might be a while.

Also, I got HITM (The werewolf) back today to do "Just a few more things before line edits." So, I will do that too.

I'm sure I will have plenty of time. My youngest is getting her eye surgery in the morning, and she plans on spending a lot of time in my waterbed with me, moaning and groaning. I don't blame her, nor will I, but it makes for tough writing. Good thing I have edits to while away my time.

Updates following the surgery will come after I get home. Night all.

Getting close

2006-04-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

Getting close!

I figure, if the story will be about 68 thousand words or so, and I have 54.4 thousand words, that means I have only a few chapters left. Enforcing Justice is getting closer and closer to The End.

I’m excited, are You?

Update on writing

2006-04-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

I have been writing. Luckily. Even with my hectic schedule for this week, I am managing to get some wordage. Alexi's book is at 53k, just finished a sex scene, and if you check my craft blog you can see the items I have made.

My schedule this week, as I said, is hectic. Yesterday, Monday, I took my youngest to the opthemologist to get a final checkup. Today, Tuesday, through Thursday, the teens get out at noon due to district testing. And Friday is eye surgery day for my youngest. She is having her eyes straightened. Born with crossed eyes, she had an operation at nine months. It didn't fully correct it, and now she is ready to complete the process. It isn't a palatable process so I won't go into it as I just drank a huge glass of fat free milk. LOL.

I've been searching the online Thesaurus's (or however you pluralize it) for new descriptive words. I get sick of saying the same thing over and over. I found some good ones. BUT!!!, well, for the naughty bits, it's a bit harder to come by euphemisms that aren't so freaking flowery or outdated, that I cringe to read them. OH! and get this... I found out that when you say, "I'm supposed to believe that? My Aunt Mary!" you are referring to your vagina. LOL, Aunt Mary was a euphemism for vagina. I didn't know that, but say it all the time. Man, do I have a potty mouth. Just thought I would pass on that tidbit of research. But I don't think I shall ever write most of the things I found on two sites. Sure, there were tons of entries, but grief! Anyway, I'm still looking. If you have more than:

Cock
Penis
shaft
vagina
cunt
clitoris
cave
manroot
labia

and I'm sure I'm forgetting some, Let me know. I am not looking for "flaming balogna of luv" but things that won't make me cringe to write. LOL

And on that note...

I'm off to bed now, tired, and thank you all for joining me.

2006-04-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the Grand Canyon and I have to say, WOW! This is just ONE of the fabulous sights I saw. My camera took some pretty good pictures, I think. I have more to post, but I think I'll do it a little at a time. We had a great time, and I'm ready to get Enforcing Justice (Alexi's story) done. So, back to work for me.

Vacation!!!

2006-04-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

Vacation!!!

The family and I are going on a short vacation. We won’t be back till Friday or Saturday. Everyone have fun while I’m internet-less.

Brenda

Good news Saturday

2006-04-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

*Happy dancing*

Got my contracts for Tree Sprite in the mail today. Yeehaw!

Now I can update my webpage. I will have to make two pages. I don't mind. *snort, as if*.

I guess the hard work will start soon.

Looking forward to it, actually.

Anyway, give me till tomorrow night to update the webpage.

Brenda

Wow! Friday

2006-04-07T16:44:00.000-07:00

I’m alive

Honest. I am.

I’ve been filling out paperwork and writing on Enforcing Justice and started writing Auras. Not very far into Auras, just chapter 2, but Enforcing Justice is cooking along. I have over 48k.

Other than laundry, which had fallen behind due to the rain, I spend my days writing. Work, work, work.

Ok, so I did complete my son’s afghan, and started one for my daughter (which won’t be as mish mash). You can see my son’s afghan (if you are brave enough) at my Yarn Blog.

Sad to say, that’s it. Well, except for the stresses of trying to get a senior in high school graduated, and signed up for College, and planning a short family vacation to the Grand Canyon (which I hope it warms up and stops raining by then).

I guess I will let you get back to your regularly scheduled day.

Brenda

Have I mentioned?

2006-04-01T14:51:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness.

This has been some week.

First business. I had to go into my webpage and update the links to my books. Loose Id has made some changes, and I entered the new urls.

Second. School play. Tonight is the last night for the play WOOOHOOO. It's really good, the kids are doing great. The Little Shop of Horror and I put an ad in the program.

Oh, I kept it clean.

But the running around has been driving me nuts. My schedule is off, and that's just sleeping. sigh.

Writing... I have been, but not as much as I would like to have done. sigh. Maybe next week, I can try to knock some bigger numbers out. Enforcing Justice is going well, I am confident it isn't a sucky story, and I did have a 3500 word sex scene. LOL.

I think after I write Auras and Enforcing Justice, I might have a contest. Sort of a give me some words, and I will write a story.

One word who (male and female first names,would be two different choices)
One word where (small town, big city, dungeon)
One word what (Something specific that needs to be done)
One word When (time frame)

I can supply the why and how. I think I can do this, if I take one word from a handful of entries. It would be a blind choice. I won't read them through first.

Anyway, I thought this might be a good idea. But not until I finish the books I am working on.

Whaddya think?

Brenda

Updating

2006-03-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am, Sunday afternoon, haven't blogged for days. The last few days, I took a break and pleasure read. It was nice, but threw my sleeping schedule way off. :)

Here is the updates. I have a binding contract with Loose Id for Howling in the Moonlight now, so Kyle and Lannie are finally going to see the light of day. Thank goodness. HITM is the story that has been rejected several (oh about 5 times) times. But I didn't give up on it because I like it. It is the first of three werewolf stories set in a small town of Nowhere. Hopefully, I can knock the other two out for the readers in a rapid rate of time.

Still waiting on formal contracts for Tree Sprite from Samhain, but that's ok, it will happen.

Hm. Oh, Enforcing Justice (The Society 3) is coming along just fine and I am over two thirds done with it.

Started a new vampire story, Auras, that will be a more traditional vampire story. I'm on chapter 2. LOL. It will be a little while before it's completed. Be patient.

I think that's it on the writer front. Home front. Senior is costing me bank. LOL June is when she graduates and danged if everything isn't costing me now. Just ordered Senior pictures, the school play is next week, the yearbook will need to be purchased soon, PROM!!! ARGGHHH! And college exams and paperwork is driving me nuts. I sure hope the loans go through. sigh.

Otherwise, my life is peachy. LOL. Just busy. I need a vacation away and I don't think Calgon is going to cut it.

I wanna thank everyone for the comments, really. Thank you.

I'm going to go finish the cover art request for HITM. Maybe after that... I might write something. I left Alexi holding his cock and Chanda had this feather duster...

Brenda

Schedules. Bah

2006-03-19T20:44:00.000-08:00

As you know, I have a couple of contracts in the mail, so nothing is being done about those two stories, YET. But, I'm working on writing two others. Yes. Two. I've upped my daily wordage, and am doing that on both of the stories. I have put myself on a strict schedule, that the family will inevitably trash each and every day, and I will see if I can keep my writing up, while not letting my house fall down around my ears. LOL.

I will keep you updated. And when the contracts are received, I will rejoice and share it with you. :)

I completed my wordage on Enforcing Justice today, even nursing a very sore back, and now have a couple of hours to work on Auras (a new story), so had best get on it.

Thanks for the wonderful comments everyone, I'm glad you are actually out there, and that you care. Muah!

Brenda

Great News!

2006-03-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

This has been an interesting couple of days for me. Yesterday, the 14th of March, I received a contract for Tree Sprite from Samhain publishing. I'm very glad to be working with this new company and look forward to a long relationship.

Then today, the 15th, I received a contract for Howling in the Moonlight from Loose Id. That is fabulous news. I love working with Loose Id and it’s a great company. Glad we are continuing our relationship.

So, hopefully, in the next few months or so, I should have some offerings for the masses. Wish me luck.

With Howling in the Moonlight, I was stumped by the question: What’s the series name if there is one?

Oh bother. See, there are three books in this series. Howling in the Moonlight, Howling at twilight, Howling by dawn. My CP (critique partner) Jeigh Lynn suggested Howling for the series name. It might actually go that way, but the direction I want to take is…

Going Nowhere

The three books are based in the town of Nowhere, and thought it was apropos. Probably just call it the Howling Series though. Then in my messages or what-not, call THAT Going Nowhere. In the promotional stuff. How’s that sound.

I have had a great two days, which I needed after my stresses. I am a poor prima donna author and can’t handle the stresses of everyday authorness. Kind of like when a supermodel has a temper tantrum because she breaks a nail. I get all whiney when someone doesn’t like my book as is/ first try. However, with subtle changes here and there, wordage, and dialogue, and the axing of millions of dialogue tags, I did finally get the contracts.

As I said in that interview… Never give up. Keep plugging along.

Right now, I have to finish Chapter 8 rewrites of HitM. Night everyone.

St Patricks Day is coming

2006-03-08T19:32:00.000-08:00

And my family tries to avoid it.

A couple of years ago, on St. Pats Day, my SIL (sister in law) and 6 ½ yo niece was in a car accident in Belgium where my BIL was stationed (Army). My husbands brother. The SIL and niece were coming home from Kindergarten around noon and at a bad intersection, pulled out into oncoming traffic. My niece sustained massive damage and they had her on life support. My SIL was in a coma for 2 months and is still trying to recover from her injuries and head trauma. She doesn’t remember the accident or her daughter. Most of her marriage is gone as well as the memories of her older daughters. It’s been very traumatic for my BIL and two surviving nieces. BIL had to make the decision to disconnect his youngest daughters life support on the Spring Solstice. She helped several needy children, but her loss is still felt in the family.

Needless to say, we don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s day. Not that the day had anything to do with the accident, but they are easy days to remember and suffer the consequences.

To be perfectly honest, that is one holiday we never really celebrated anyway. We aren’t drinkers (other than the hubby’s beer), partiers, or hooligans, so the celebration doesn’t interest us. I’m sure there are lots of Irish Saint reasons the holiday started, but it, like all the other holidays, have regressed into ‘get drunk and spend a lot of money’. Again, it doesn’t pertain to me, because I’m allergic to alcohol, and am perpetually broke with three teenagers in the house.

Anyway, I sit here, wondering what other people do on this upcoming holiday, why they celebrate it, and if they care about the original meaning. Or if, like the Winter solstice, it has regressed into something else entirely, such as Christmas.

But, I won’t get into that, because my views on when and why the holidays started is not what one god followers are sure is the absolute, unvarnished truth, I will just leave it at that. I’m sure there are Irish people who see the revelry and shake their heads in dismay. Then pick up a green beer and toast the room.

Me, I will probably get in some extra writing.

Which is what I’m supposed to be doing now. Yall got me all introspective and junk and now I have to write humor… Thanks.

Sheesh

Brenda

Sons and near exhaustion

2006-03-05T01:45:00.000-08:00

Well, my son had his 16th birthday this Friday. Being the birthday boy, he got to choose what the family had for dinner. His choice? Sloppy joe's and Stove Top Stuffing. Interresting combination, but he had himself a craiving.

We also had cupcakes in two flavors, German Chocolate and Spice. With the daughter being unable to eat chocolate, and since she made them, we made both. Boxed cakes to be sure, but we ended up with 48 cupcakes.

You may ask, Why cupcakes and not layer cake? That's easy. We, as a family aren't terribly into sweets. Cakes, that we have to get a plate, fork and knife, cut, then eat, go bad and get tossed eventually. Cupcakes, though, are sitting right there on the counter near the cup cabinet. Whenever anyone goes to get a drink (and for some darned reason need a new cup each time), the cupcakes catch their eye. They grab a cake, get out a cup, figure the cake is tasty, get some milk and leave the kitchen. So, the cupcakes actually get eaten. As I said, we started with 48. As of Saturday night, we are down to about 16. LOL. There are only 5 members to the family, so we are racking up the calories. I counter that with the milk consumption. I have decided that milk takes off calories of the cupcake so it balances.

Writing... Not today. Gotta work on EJ. sigh. OH, I got a blah review for Midas' Treasure. I, being an intelligent individual, realized that they don't have a rating chart, so still posted the review (as I do, one line of it) on my site. They will never be able to say I only post the best reviews and who knows how many bad ones there are. LOL. Nope, the blecky one is there too, but if all you do is check out the reviews posted on MY page, you will not know it's bad. LOL. It does say (and it is verbatim) that I am essentially a witty writer. LOL I can deal with that.

FAR, though, gave me a fabulous, wonderful, stupendous review. 5 Angels. I'm totally jazzed. Check out the review in it's entirety by going to the website. I'm too tired to do it myself. LOL

Okay, I have a lot of stuff to do tomorrow. Hopefully, I will get some writing squeezed in there. The kids are going to hate me, but that's life.

Brenda

What a week

2006-03-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

I’ve been messing around. Yes, took a break from writing for a few days. I played with my yarn, did a very little bit of housework, and listened to audiobooks. My Palm, with a memory card, can hold all of Nora Robert’s Blue Smoke, which is what I’m currently in the middle of listening to. It’s wonderful to not have to read the story because I can hear it in the car, the store, waiting for the teens, while trying to go to sleep, and while I play with yarn. LOL

No writing was accomplished since the weekend, but today, I’m back on track. I have completed rewrites on the Prologue and Chapter 1 of uncontracted Howling in the Moonlight, as per my editor’s suggestions. I’m hoping that with the honking rewrites it will become contracted. LOL When she sends me more edits for HITM, I will get them done.

As for now, I’m going to work on Enforcing Justice.

I think that’s about it for now.

Brenda

Just a quick blog

2006-02-19T20:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick blog.

I have been sick, laying in bed, whining, and playing with yarn all weekend. I completed several projects, got farther along in several others, and even tried again to design my own square. Still suck at it. However, I did get a little writing on Enforcing Justice done last night.

Unfortunately, my desktop crashed hard. I had been getting a lot of the stuff I have on it, onto CD, but I decided to save the books on Tuesday when the kids went back to school. Sadly for me, it crashed hard today. Sigh. I’m tired of my desktop crashing all the time. It happens about every 5 or 6 months. I luckily have the laptop and the stories I write I save regularly and they are on my laptop, but I had just taken all the OTHER books off my laptop and put them on my desktop. ARRRGGGHHH! It’s very frustrating.

Oh well, it’s just one more thing that sucked about this week. Did I mention the rollercoaster thing going on with me?

I’m going to medicate and go nighty night. You take care, don’t get sick, and be happy.

Brenda

What a week so far

2006-02-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

If you read my Freaking Valentines post, you would know that my day went sort of weird. Happy, sad, pissed, and resolved. The week hasn't gotten any more controlled

Check out my Craft Blog to check out the promo items I am considering for the next two Society books. Tell me what you think.

Now, bad news. My mailbox outside my house has dissappeared. Someone has ripped it from the ground and walked off with it. I don't understand why anyone would want MY mailbox. It doesn't even have numbers on it. Actually, considering that it may be used as a tool in an illegal endeavor, I should be glad that it is annonymous.

Luckily, I have an old mailbox laying around (darned pack-rattedness), from when I put in the newer one. The one I have is warped, burned and generally in bad shape, but it will hold mail. It had been a victim of an M80 and has never been the same since. But it will do until I feel like buying a new one.

Also, bad news. I think I'm coming down with the family's cold. Dang it.

Great news. The Society 1: Regulating Archimedes has been chosen to receive the Ecataromance Reviewers Choice Award for the last half of 2005. I'm totally, completely flabbergasted and really excited about this. Thanks to everyone for this.

Please join me in the Cata Network Chatroom Thursday, February 16th at 9pm EST for a celebration chat. (I cut and pasted this last part. LOL)

That's my news. Good and bad. Oh more good news. I was at the grocery store yesterday and they had Valentines Hearts full of candy on a 50% off sale so bought myself two big hearts. I'm going to make myself ill eating all the chocolate, but I don't care. LOL

I purchased a Lotto ticket the other day, I should find out if it won. I figure with this weeks ups and downs, I have a 50/50 chance.

Brenda

Freaking Valentines

2006-02-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

Rant and Good news!

Here it is Valentines Day.

Whoopdidoo.

Hubby and oldest daughter is sick. Stayed home and whined the whole day.

I found out this morning that I have been nominated for a CAPA (Cupid and Psychi Award) from The Romance Studio. It's a great feat for me. The award is for New Author and it's great promotion for me. I started the day so happy. I shared my good will with the hubby. He basically ignored me, so I took the not sick teens to school and spent the rest of the day in my room. Okay, he's sick, but it isn't the first time. Enough of that.

I'm still jazzed I've been nominated. It's about the only good thing that happened today. I got nothing for Valentines day, except probably the future flu, and I had to make my dinner after everyone else's because after I cooked, someone ate my grilled cheese. I had to start over. sigh.

Did I mention I have been nominated...?

So, here I sit, having written nowhere near my quota for the day because I'm at a sex scene and would much rather be killing someone. It doesn't want to come. Sigh. Maybe by midnight I will have written my quota and the sex scene will be over. I can only hope.

So, how was YOUR day? LOL

Brenda

OOPS, I had forgotten one

2006-02-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

One stinking bill didn't get the bank card change notice. Which one is it you may ask? My webpage. LOL I received a notice and had to try to remember a key that I just couldn't pull out of my sieve of a brain. Eventually, and after many cuss words, I hit on the right one. Yay, I made the changes and paid my bill. LOL

Then I felt industrious and thought, "Hey, I can get my domain e-mail working." And I could have, if I hadn't blown it really bad. Now I have to wait 3 months to try again on that specific address. *sigh*

I thought, well I have received a wonderful review from Just Erotic Romance Reviews, so I posted that on my Midas' Treasure webpage. I decided since I was there, messing around, to update a few of the other pages. Consequently, my website is updated.

Oh, JL Langley got a great review on The Tin Star, so be sure to check it out. I'm feeling lazy. I only put up one link. LOL

What else. I didn't get a chance to work on Enforcing Justice yet today, but I will after I get the monsters... um, the teens into bed and out of my hair. Well, that isn't really an accurate assessment of my work day. I did do two pages of rewrites on EJ, but out of 13 in the chapter... you get the idea.

Oldest saw her Neurologist today. Nothing will change. Not meds, nothing. But that's okay, she's doing fine. She has been diagnosed with Gilles de Tourrettes for those of you who haven't heard. And no, the cursing disease in my daughter had nothing do do with cussing or a disease. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it difficult for her to control her extreme emotions. I had been told for years, that it was just temperamental hormones, but when she sat on her bed rocking, crying, scratching her arms and face, screaming, breaking doors... well you get the idea... we took her to the premier Pediatric neurologist in the state. Loma Linda is a fabulous hospital and it has kept my oldest sane, me alive, and my husband out of jail for killing someone. LOL (the last was an exaggeration).

Anyway, I have to work on EJ, take a shower (I know, I know, you are quite welcome) and eventually get some sleep.

I get to sleep late for the rest of the week... don't have to get up till 6am. Zero period has been moved to after school to facilitate an easier cram learning how to shoot for the newbies who just joined this week. I know it works for me. hehe.

Sleep tight, check out Livy's blog, she talks about me, and dream of sex.

I am in the very beginning processes of thinking up a whole new story. It's about a very lonely girl, a mischievous grinning entity, and a couple of forceful men who need someone to love them just the way they are. I can do that... just give me time.

Told you it was rudimentary. But it's a start.

I'm done... night all!

Brenda

changing bankcards

2006-02-06T22:54:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had a bit of an "I can't believe I did that." It was even something new for me.
I had gone to a store and when I got to the pharmacy, I didn't have my bank card or license. The oldest teen and I looked for, but didn't find the card holder I keep them in.

Damn.

I'm bummed, but not freaking out. I try not to freak out, it has become a habit with three teens. Wait till I am over the crisis, then freak out. Luckily, I'm a smart person and the first thing I did when I got home was tell the hubby I lost them and headed for the phone. I was dialing the bank as he was telling me I should call the bank. LOL
Great minds... Or maybe it's like that dog thing. Live with them long enough and they start to look (think) alike.

I told them what happened and that both cards are missing. They made a note, said no other charges had been on the card *which was quite a relief*, cancelled the card and ordered a new one.

Twenty minutes later, as I was dreading the DMV visit on Monday, there came a knock upon my front door. A wonderful gentleman and his family had found my cards and returned them. I was so surprised. We thanked the man profusly for driving all the way to the house and returning them, (because that isn't the kind of neighborhood we live in). Heck. I might have just mailed them since the address was on them.

I called the bank back and told them the great update, but to send the new cards anyway. Well, they told me that the cards (hubby ordered a new one too, we don't carry cash so the cards get a workout) and I said that was fine.

So, until Friday, I was without a bank card. You try to do any kind of transactions without a card or money. LOL Luckily, I didn't need much and hubby's worked long enough that we could get some cash out of the bank.

Finally, my card came, but most of my bills are paid online. I love the convenience and so far, I haven't been ripped off. LOL Today, I changed over all the accounts online, paid the bills I have to do by hand and went to the post office to mail off some bookmarks to the promo winners of the chats. WOOHOO.

Hubby and I went to a couple of places shopping, Ace Hardware and Kragen Auto parts. LOL He got half of what he wanted and wouldn't buy me a nail gun. He had me as a distraction apparently, and it caused him to completely forget most of the things he needed. HAHAHA. But, we did get a router. I love power tools. Hence wanting the nail gun.

I need to learn to use the router, and am looking forward to making a lap loom.

Thats how I talked him into the router. I said, I wanna make this. We set up a plan,and started it, but we didn't have a router. Hubby said he's been wanting one anyway and my excuse was as good as any.

I didn't get any writing done today, but I did get one of the (as of this evening) four proofs done. They always come in bunches. I don't know why.

My oldest has a nerologist appt tomorrow afternoon, but that won't cut into my writing time. Whew.

I need to buy milk. Again. LOL

I went to get some this evening and darned if there is a dearth of Fat Free milk. Argh. There is enough for my oldest to have ceral in the morning, and there is a half gallon of whole milk for the rest of them to have cereal. I and the oldest drink FF and the boy, youngest and hubby drink whole. I buy a lot of milk.

I think that's it for today.

I will tell you the trials and tribulations of this writer, tomorrow.

Night.

Brenda

Whatta day

2006-02-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone.

I notice blogger is playing around, having a good time. Please excuse any errors, I've had a hard day.

I have been working my nonexistent toucas off. I did the front yard work and started on the backyard work. Decided it was time to stop when I got the signal. The signal was when I stepped in some kind of animal poop. Ick. That told me I was done for the day.

I came inside, and with my timer ticking away, did one half hour of writing and half an hour of housework. Been doing that for hours. I did stop to go and get somethign to eat for the girls and I. Hubby is at his friends and will be bringing the boy home with him from his uncles.

I'm tired, sweatty, muddy, and really really tired. LOL

I think I will round this day off with a long hot bath and hm, probably work on Enforcing Justice some more. LOL

Tomorrow is the Superbowl, so may not get any work done. HOWEVER, I think I will put the two books I have to proof on my Palm and work on it while at the party. I'm not much on football, and most of the people I don't know, and there is only so much you can munch before exploding and I don't drink... so, I will maybe get some work done. LOL

Anyway, the timer is about to go off, and so am I. I am going to relax, exfoliate and get to smelling pretty agian.

Tomorrow we find out if my hubby wins or loses. I sure hope it's wins.

Brenda

Ebooklove Group Chat

2006-01-31T22:07:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful day today.

I was the author du jour at ebooklove and I gave a way several items and shared excerpts and chatted up anyone who would deign to talk with me. LOL

Cathie, Debbie E, Jenny, and Robyn won things from me. I got to be happy for them, because I love to give things away, and my final message was BUY NOW!! LOL. I'm such a good advertiser. Anyway...

I have been instructed to tell everyone about the chat/fun day Jeigh Lynn and I are having on Thursday, Feb 2, 2006 in our group Nightsweats and would enjoy your attendance.

Come and be merry. I will be posting again tomorrow about this. Looking forward to it, actually. Maybe get Nightsweats moving. It's kind of a quiet group, but as we acquire more readers, the poor overworked writers don't have to try to hold up the conversation. LOL.

Okay, business. I am still waiting for word on Tree Sprite. That's normal. I'm not expecting anything yet. Also, I sent in Howling In The Moonlight today to my editor for submission consideration. This is the first of three werewolf stories, and is a multi attempted story. LOL, that's my way of saying it's been rejected several times. Either it will be accepted this time, or I do rewrites and try again. I don't give up.

I call the three book werewolf series Howling, for no other reason that each of the titles start with the word Howling. I'm so darned creative.

Anyway, I have been so busy writing the last week, that I have let my housework slide. It's showing too. I get to spend the day cleaning. Lucky me. Fifteen minutes at a time, I guess. It will either get done or not. But I will give it my best shot. If I can get it done, or at least looking like I started, I will be working on Enforcing Justice. I can't wait to really get into it.

I'm tired, have to pick one more name in 20 minutes to win something and then I'm going to drink some fat free milk (it does a body good) and go nighty-night.

Hopefully, you had a great day, unlike my youngest who has just been informed that her extra curricular activities will be curtailed until her room is clean, even though she has a competition SATURDAY, and I get to enforce this punishment. This is last ditch effort to get her to clean her room. We have been trying to get her to do it since the cell phone bill incident. She has done nothing, around here since that day. No cleaning, no assisting, no nothing. AMENDMENT: She did help the day we cleaned the dining room, and I appreciate it. But all the special chores she acquired, nothing. She now has incentive to clean her room. I hope.

*Sigh.* I just have to keep telling myself, "It ain't nuthin' but a thing." Occasionally though, the things get to be a pain.

On a good note, and this is a fun one, my oldest is trying to make some money for Drama. The idea is that if she doesn't say anything out loud for 72 hours, whoever pledged money has to pay. I think I will pledge $10. I don't think she has ever made it 7 hours before. And since I'm a good mother, I won't even count sleeptalking. But now, she is sick. Don't know what brought it on, but she is tossing cookies. I think it was keeping her mouth closed for 8 hours that did it. She will be fine, and luckily she knows enough sign language, and so do I, to get by. LOL

My son... I don't understand boys. I probably never will. They are insane. I admit that he is only being a typical boy, but good grief! How many times do you have to fart before you DON'T laugh. Oh yes, ladies... He will be 16 in March, and soon he will be ready to marry and move in with some poor unknowing woman and fart in her vicinity and laugh. Good luck to you. I will purchase a good gasmask for your wedding gift.

Does anyone else deal with these life difficulties, or are mine unique?

Hubby says only a few more years, and I will be wishing for these days back. I said... yeah right. Too much to do, too much I want to do, too little time. And I don't work out of home. I don't know how people who do, manage.

Okay, wish me luck... housecleaning tomorrow. Have I mentioned I hate housecleaning?

LOL

Brenda

Point and click

2006-01-29T23:14:00.000-08:00

Boy, are my point and click fingers tired. I'm on a laptop, because the teens took the desktop. I redid my whole webpage with a finger pad. Gah. What a lot of work. However it's looking pretty good. Paint is a time consuming program to use, but at least I know how to use it. :)

Other than that... I am working on Howling in the Moonlight. I really, really want to get it published. I want to do Donovan's book. He's a hunter... Werewolf hunter.

Haven't heard about Tree Sprite yet, so don't ask. Had several great conversations with readers today. Makes the fight for the time to write worth it.

Lot's of new members in Nightsweats and Nightsweats news. Glad they are all there. Such a nice, although busy weekend. Didn't get any housework done, didn't even get out of my jammies (except to wash and change jammies), but I got a lot done that I never have time for.

Okay. Gotta try to get a little more work done on HITM, and get some sleep. Morning comes early around here.

Brenda

Website and submission

2006-01-27T23:00:00.000-08:00

No, I have not all of a sudden become an S&M afficianado, although a little kinkiness can occasionally hit the spot.

I have submitted to my editor, Tree Sprite. We will see if it's accepted. Sigh, the waiting is always the worst. Remember, it's only a short story, less than 20K, so don't blame me if you think you got gypped.

Also, I completely reworked my Web Page and implore you to go visit it and let me know what needs work, what you liked, and that I'm the hottest thing you've seen since microwaved cheese.

Currently, I'm working on Howling in the Moonlight, my first werewolf book, again. Hopefully, this go around, it will be accepted too. And, I have started 'fixing' Enforcing Justice, Alexi's book of the Society series, which I had written 26K of prior to getting published.

In between the seconds I have to write, my teens had mid terms, half days, after school activities, a college interview and campus tour, a thespian society indoctrination, and tomorrow, a drill meet.

But, on a good note. My mommy sent me a Kitchenaid mixer. It's used, but works great. Well, to be honest, I've cleaned it thuroughly, and turned it on, but haven't actually had time to make anything with it. This weekend, the editor and I have plans to go through Howling. Wish me luck that I'll have hair at the end of it. LOL It gets a little stressful to rewrite a book that's been rewritten 3 times. oh well, as long as it is made available to the reader, who am I to complain?

Okay, you have your mission. Check out the webpage. I have my missions. The timer is set... 3... 2... 1... Go!

Brenda

I was interviewed

2006-01-24T23:22:00.000-08:00

By a writer/reader site. Thought you might be interested in checking it out. I had a really good time answering these questions.

Romance Junkies Interview

Brenda

The last few days.

2006-01-24T22:11:00.000-08:00

Update.

I've been remiss. I haven't been blogging because I have been spending every spare minute I had to try to finish Tree Sprite. The job is done. The story written, and a synopsis, synopsised. Hopefully, it will be accepted and I can get a contract on it.

It's a cute little story about a tree sprite and the man who wandered into her glade. She isn't the typical tall, thin, beautiful tree sprite. Oh no, she is short and round and shunned for her differences.

When the man enters her glade, she is curious as all sprites are, and hopes he stays long enough to play with her before he moves on.

It isn't a long story, but it is a fast paced and hot one. Every time I told them there had to be a story, they laughed and got 'busy' again. So, if the story is too hot, it's their fault and not mine.

Also, Midas' Treasure is doing wonderfully. I have gotten great reviews and am hoping to add the newer ones to the webpage tonight.

Next endeavor is to rewrite Howling in the Moonlight AGAIN, and resubmit. I'm not giving up. LOL

Well, you are now updated. I'm going to go see what I can do about my webpage.

Brenda

Loose-id Community Author Day

2006-01-21T21:08:00.000-08:00

There was a Loose-id author day today on the community chat group. I had a great time, and gave away several items.

First on the list is Valerie who won a personalized book thong. As she lives in Germany, it’s going to take a little longer to get there. However, I already made it so it’s ready to go.

Second, Jenifer (Catt) won a book thong as well. She’s in Florida so it shouldn’t take long to get there. I’ll be making it tomorrow.

Shannon won a drawing for a download of one of my two available books. She chose The Society 1: Regulating Archimedes.

Terri won the second drawing and asked for The Society 1: Regulating Archimedes as well, due to having not read it, and thought starting at the beginning would be best. I concured.

Congratulations everyone. Not just the winners of my drawings, but for everyone at the Community that won something.

That is what I have been doing today. Gladly giving things away. Makes my day, lemme tell you. OH, and there are finally enough members in Nightsweats News to hold the drawing. Get to work Jeigh and send me a name.

I still have to reach my goal for the day, but I’m hoping it won’t be too hard.

One last thing. I stood on the scale today. After dinner, dressed in sweats, no shoes, and not containing any water weight. What did the scale say, you may ask while biting your nails and trembling excitedly? It said…

I lost five pounds!

Yay!

That’s about it for tonight.

Tomorrow, I will be hiding in my room writing. Monday is the FARchatters group chat that I get to give more items away, but for tomorrow, I write.

Go Seahawks! (that’s for the hubby’s team)

Brenda

Its Thursday again

2006-01-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

It’s Thursday again.

Good grief. These weeks keep flying by. You may think it’s only January, but I am thinking about June already.

I’m sure I’ve told you about my writing goals. It isn’t very many words a day right now, but it’s causing my story to get finished very soon. I only have about 3500 words left to go. That’s less than a couple of chapters. Then I will be able to get a plot line out for Enforcing Justice.

Yesterday, while I was at the thrift store, I found and purchased a couple of books I am going to use for research for Guardian’s Spell (book 4). I need to do a lot of research on witches (not wicca persay, but actual spell casting witches).

I need to tell you about a great reader’s review on Midas’ Treasure. I’m days late on this, and my only excuse is that I get busy and forget. So sad when the mind goes. But here it is.

Thank you very much for the wonderful review Maura! It’s really gratifying to know that another writer takes the time to read my story AND put out such a great review. I will be linking your blog onto mine, and if I ever figure out why my right hand bar is at the bottom of the page (at least that’s where I find it) everyone will be able to go there.

Jeigh Lynn and I are going to be doing a chat/excerpt/lots of goodies day on our loop and invite you all to join. This is a heads up, since I’m not exactly sure what day we are going to do it. Soon. Real soon.

I also have chats at FARchatters all day with other Loose-Id authors on the 23rd, and perhaps one with ebooklove on the 31st, although that hasn’t been confirmed. It could just be lost in the mail. SO, in conclusion, within the next week, I have three chats lined up (or at least two) where I’m going to be giving away bookmarks, bookthongs, books, and some great promotional items such as magnets and notepads with the covers of my book on them. Hey, if I don’t get the word out, who’s going to buy? I always feel like a peddler, but such is the trials and tribulations of a soon to be best seller. LOL

Okay. I love you all, but if I don’t get this Tree Sprite story finished, you are going to forget my name and I will never sell another book.

Later, gators.

Brenda

Working, working

2006-01-16T12:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have been working.

I am approximately two-thirds the way finished with the Tree Sprite story and with the writing goals I gave myself, it shouldn't take much longer to finish. I wrote 2500 words last night and nearly 500 already today. I'm not done yet, but I will have to run out to the Office supply store to get some magnets. Gotta see if I can make some fridge magnets for promo stuff.

It's sad, because as crafty as I am, I can't seem to make the spiral notebooks look right. grr. I will either figure it out, or ditch the idea.

Otherwise, the living room is essentially clean, the dining room has VHS tapes in boxes covering the floor (AUGH), and those will be gone this evening. So, I'm doing good. Writing is doing good. Exercise... Ok, so I did some last night and think I messed up my tennis elbow again. sigh. Oh well. LOL

Let's see, anything I must impart? Well, I'm trying to upload a picture of the messyghan to my craft blog. sigh. It's not going well -- the upload, that is. The afghan looks good. LOL

That's about it I guess.

Brenda

Lots to impart

2006-01-14T17:48:00.000-08:00

Wow.

Okay, here goes. I received a WONDERFUL review on Midas' Treasure, from Erotic Escapades. Did I mention it was wonderful? I wrote them a very nice email thanking them for the review. Cause I really do appreciate that they not only took the time to read it through, but WRITE a review... That takes creativity on it's own.

Also, I want to thank Renee from the yahoogroup ebooklove for a wonderful reader review. She won a copy of TS2:Midas' Treasure from that group. She also took the time to review it to the group. Thanks! Every little bit feels fabulous.

My webpage is updated to reflect the review site.

Livy has updated her blog from what I understand. I will be heading over there when I get done with this. Busy girl.

Now for some family big news. My youngest had a JROTC color guard competition today. She is the commander of the freshman four female team. Two flags (one American, one State) and two armed guards. This was their very first competition, and were up against all the 9th grade teams in the county.

Her team WON 1st PLACE!!! WOOHOO!!! She says it is because they yelled the loudest when they answered the questions. (there are two parts, question/answer and drill) She said they stunk at the drill part, but it can be worked on. She also said she felt badly for one of the other team commanders. He was whacked in the face with a weapon when they turned and he dropped the American flag. There is no bigger oops in the teams. None of the judges nor did the camera see the incident and he took the full blame. Didn't mention the accident at all. What a brave kid, and I commend him for his command.

Well, I still have to do my daily writing goal, so I'm going to cut out now.
Later all.

Brenda

Holy cow! Its Thursday.

2006-01-12T23:17:00.000-08:00

Holy cow! It’s Thursday.

My week flew by. What with several proofs, writing everyday, keeping the dining room and kitchen clean, laundry… Well, lets just say, I am full up on stuff, short on time.

Tonight, I fell asleep before six. Took myself a nap. I have a bit of a headache and sore throat, so am drinking lots of water, some tea, and taking Vitamin C. Hopefully, this will stave off what’s coming.

Tree Sprite is coming along fine. I think I’m half done with it now, and actually managed to force them to do something besides nookie.

Oh, I have to mention, and you must check out Livy’s blog -- check the blog links on the sidebar. Livy is attempting to teach me to write. Well, not really, but she is giving me access to pointers that I am finding in my writing. Very helpful. These are all ‘duh’ references to start with, but those are the ones that usually bite me in the butt. LOL

I had the privilege to proof an upcoming Loose-id story. Very emotional, funny, sexy, did I mention freaking hot? It is The Tin Star by J.L. Langly (and I will be adding the links tomorrow, but I’m pretty sure the link to the blog is on my sidebar). Admittedly, this is a male/male cowboy love story, but with these two characters, you feel their difficult journey into love and forever. I am highly recommending this story, and not just cause I know the author. LOL

What else? The teens are getting ready for semester finals and are stressing. The oldest got a minor part in the school play, and is disappointed as this is the last play for her in high school. The youngest has a competition Saturday for Color Guard. Easy description… you know the formation of four, two carrying flags, two carrying weapons in the front of a parade or military formation? That is what she is doing. She carries the American flag and is the commander. I’m wishing her good luck. The boy, and middle child, is kicking butt on his computer game, and is hinting that he really wants this other new game. LOL

Other than I have actually finished the messyghan, (check the craft blog tomorrow) and it looks really great, I have very little else to report.

I can’t tell you about the wonderful interview I did until it is posted. So, keep your eye out, and I will let you know when it’s available.

Night all, I’m going back to sleep.

Brenda

Just a quick update

2006-01-08T01:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update

I had a busy, busy day.

Got up late. Isn’t that always how it is? You have something important planned and you have a nightmare that you want to see the outcome of and sleep very late. And, I never did find out how the dream ended. Sheesh!

Then I made some coffee. Then I cleaned off the counter and made another batch of coffee. I don’t know why, but occasionally my coffeepot makes a huge mess on the counter. We call it counter coffee. And it’s undrinkable. Sad, I know. So, while the second pot is brewing, I rotate the dishes. That consists of emptying the dishwasher and putting the accumulated dirty ones in.

I drank coffee and checked my email. Lots going on today. I participated then got down to business.

First I rousted the teens and told them to put on shoes. They asked where we were going. I answered, “The dining room.”

That’s right. Today, we cleaned the dining room. Took all day, and my arms, back and the knee I crashed into the safe, HURT!

So, I get the dining room spick and span, but it got dark. Sigh. We had to drag everything back into the dining room. Couldn’t leave it outside you know. So, tomorrow is get rid of the crap day. We will go through everything that is in the dining room and either put it where it goes (which isn’t in the dining room), or toss it.

Then, I took the girls to eat. I was starving by this time. Oh, sure. I changed my clothes first, but I hadn’t noticed the black streaks on my arms, so didn’t look as clean as I could have. Blagh. You may ask where the males were. They went to a friends house. Don’t ask.

I have decided to set a completion date for Tree Sprite. My goal is five hundred words a day. I should have it done by Feb 3. Wish me luck. So far, I have completed yesterdays and today’s five hundred words and I am even ahead by about seventy. Woohoo! All right, the goal is low, but I figure I can work my way up. AND, if I do more words a day, then I’m ahead. Right? A goal I can manage, so the rewards are easy.

Then the girls and I watched The Cave. Good movie, not scary (to us anyway), a bit bloody, but the creatures were cool. The critics were cruel to it, but I love bad B movies. This is a good one. Then we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Call me a geek and a dork, but I liked it. I laughed my way through it.

Now it is after 1 am and I am tired, but can’t sleep. Thought an update would be nice.

Tree Sprite (which I am still not sure is the final title) is going along swimmingly. Jeigh read what I have of it and said she liked it. The heroine is naive without being stupid. That’s always a plus in my book. I hate stupid heroines. It will have sex in the first chapter. Do you believe it? Brenda Bryce writing sex before the middle of the book! Wow! That’s something. But these characters are like fruit flies. Going at it constantly. And they just MET. I mean, sheesh.

Anyway, I think I am going to try to get some sleep. Since there is so much to do tomorrow, (or is it today), that I should probably rest up for it. I am afraid though, that I won’t be able to move my muscles when I wake. I am kind of a non exerciser, so whenever I do strenuous tasks, I lock up and ache. Badly.

Okay, I’m really going now. Night

Brenda

I've been lax.

2006-01-05T21:25:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

How are you doing this fine Thursday night? Life has caught me by the tail feathers and yanked hard this week. Doctor visits for the teens – checkups – and running errands for everyone has kept me so busy, even promoting my own story has been impossible. GRR

Anyway, I took Anonymous up on their hmm and realized I have been too busy and should be deluging readers with the NEED to read my stories. So, here I am.

Surely, you would like to check out my books. The first has gotten good reviews, and I’m proud of it. The second book will hopefully do as well or better. Tomorrow, I have all day to promote, harass, bug, and all around be a pest. Watch out for me.

For now, I'm tired and getting ready to catch some shut-eye so I can be fresh for the promoting. 5 am comes around pretty early.

Night all.

Brenda

Midas' Treasure Released!

2006-01-03T23:53:00.000-08:00

New Release

The Society 2: Midas' Treasure

The long cold wait for book two is ending. Mykil's book is finally out. Let me tell you a little about him and his mate.

The Society 2: Midas' Treasure
ISBN: 1-59632-191-1

Author: Brenda Bryce
Cover Artist: Laura Givens
Price: $5.99

Mykil Votad, the Society's Midas goes out for a bite and ends up nearly killing his prey. Mykil isn't a killer, he is an investor of the Society's money, and takes the woman to his home to heal her.

To his immense shock, she has the Sumerian gene. He has found his mate!

Now to convince her of that.

Aileen Slipsworthy is a mild mannered children's book author. Okay, maybe not so mild mannered when it comes to her ex boyfriend or getting turned into a vampire by a complete stranger. So, the vampire is sexy as all get out, that doesn't give him the right to take her over completely.

Did she mention he was really, really sexy?

Maybe he can convince her to stick around if he gives her the right bribe.

Maybe.

Mykil was the first character I imagined when I considered writing vampires. He and Aileen nagged, cajoled, harangued, and were all around pests until their story was written. They (and I) would love for you to delve into their trials and tribulations, and most especially their love as a template for all beings to follow (their words, not mine).

I love to hear from you at brendabryce1@gmail.com and be sure to visit my many attempts at keeping the reader (and myself) updated.

Brenda Bryce

Coming Soon!

2006-01-02T22:56:00.000-08:00

The Society 2: Midas' Treasure

The long cold wait for book two is ending. Information has been leaked that Mykil's book will be out soon. Let me tell you a little about him and his mate.

The Society 2: Midas's Treasure
ISBN: 1-59632-191-1

Author: Brenda Bryce
Cover Artist: Laura Givens
Price: $5.99

TS2: Midas' Treasure Link

Mykil Votad, the Society's Midas goes out for a bite and ends up nearly killing his prey. Mykil isn't a killer, he is an investor of the Society's money, so naturally takes the woman to his home to heal her.

To his immense shock, she has the Sumerian gene. He has found his mate!

Now to convince her of that.

Aileen Slipsworthy is a mild mannered children's book author. Okay, maybe not so mild mannered when it comes to her ex boyfriend or getting turned into a vampire by a complete stranger. So, the vampire is sexy as all get out, that doesn't give him the right to take her over completely.

Did she mention he was really, really sexy?

Maybe he can convince her to stick around if he gives her the right bribe.

Maybe.

Mykil was the first character I imagined when I considered writing vampires. He and Aileen nagged, cajoled, harangued, and were all around pests until their story was written. They (and I) would love for you to delve into their trials and tribulations, and most especially their love (as a template for all beings to follow).

I love to hear from you at brendabryce1@gmail.com and be sure to visit my many attempts at keeping the reader (and myself) updated.
Writer's Blog
Website
Newsletter Group

Brenda Bryce

Happy Holidays

2005-12-22T16:21:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to pop in and say Hi.

I have been very busy playing with my yarn and baking. I made a whiskey cake that is very good, but since I am not a drinker at all, I think it is VERY strong. I will be making the cake again, but without the whiskey. LOL

If you check out my crafts blog, I am posting the items I have completed this week. Give it a little time as I am adding about 7 pictures and it may take awhile because all the teens are chewing up the bandwidth.

If I don't get back on before the 25th, may you have a wonderful holiday, and while I didn't pop on for the Solstice, I would like to wish you longer days, but shorter workdays.

Brenda

Edits, edits... gah!

2005-12-15T23:02:00.000-08:00

I have been doing edits all week. Three rounds in four days. Trying to knock it out. This evening I sent it back to her for the third time and hopefully, cross your fingers, it will go to line edits. That would be nice. Put us right back on track.

Now that the edits are mostly done, I have to clean the house. It is completely thrashed. How could this happen when I never left my bedroom???? Good grief. It's the other members of my family just haphazardly making messes to test me. See if I am actually doing anything. I need to grab the broom and WHACK them with it. Then hand it to them and make them work. Guess what??? The teens have half day tomorrow at school then will be home with me for 15 consecutive days. MUAHAAHAHAHAHHAAHAHA! Oh, slave child... Clean this!!!!

I also have to do my holdiay cards, make a grocery list of baking items and get ready for Bake-A-Thon 2005.

That's about it. Want to get back to Tree Sprite, but I have lots of pressies that need to be finished knitting. Might spend the weekend doing that.

Brenda

The Little Black Dress.

2005-12-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

This is the dress I wore to the hubsters company party. I know you wanted to see it. LOL

Midas is back to the Editor.

2005-12-13T23:01:00.000-08:00

Woohoo!

Well, she's going to shoot through it and send it back, I'm sure. Nothing is perfect. I'm just happy I'm not an editor. LOL. Writing is hard enough. I don't think I could tell a writer that what she wrote is extraneous and must be taken out to tighten. I don't have the guts.

Speaking of guts, mine wasn't feeling so hot today. I had to take a nap to get rid of the nausea and dizziness, but I am capable now, so all is good.

Tomorrow, if Editor emails me with updates and changes, I will tackle that. Otherwise, I am working on Tree Sprite. I'm sure O will be glad of that.

As my brain is now mud -- wet, soggy mud -- I am going to knit and watch a little Animal Planet and Mythbusters.

Yall have a wonderful evening, and I will catch you tomorrow.

PS. The following is an observation that came about due to a honking argument on one of my craft groups.

(To me, a Christmas tree is just a dead tree. Now, if it were live in a pot and you plant it after the holiday season, or use a fake one to celebrate, well, that's all right. Otherwise, you are just killing one of the Lady's creations.)

Night all.

Brenda

Book Sluts Unite! Or is it Untie?

2005-12-12T23:15:00.000-08:00

Whichever. Have a great time. LOL

Today, I have been editing Midas’ Treasure. So far, it has been mild, but I can forsee the future of massive POV changes. LOL I’m not up to chapter 8 yet. Tomorrow.

I proofed a really good book today. Can’t tell you about it, but it is the third of a series and if you remind me, I might be able to recommend it when it comes out. My memory sucks, so reminders are a must.

That is how I spent my whole day. I did make Turkey Enchiladas tonight, and gave myself a heck of a case of indigestion. Tum, tu tu tums… but I shall survive. They were good too. Everyone ate to popping.

What else? Oldest came home sick today at about 9 am. Nauseous. If it persists, I will have to take her to the docs later this week. Sigh. Well, she will have over two weeks off if she can manage to make it through this one.

Not much else going on. Just working on Edits (yes, it deserves a capital letter for all the angst it causes my family. They tend to hide from me when I do them. LOL). I still have to send out my Christmas cards. Sigh. Well, this weekend. I will tie the family down and we will get an assembly line going. Knock em all out (the card job, not the family) and mail them out Saturday. That is a good goal.

Back to work for me. I have a little while before I need to sleep and want to get through to chapter 8 completed. I will work on ch 8-end tomorrow.

Night all

Brenda

A financial aid form filling out rant

2005-12-08T23:57:00.000-08:00

Let me think…

Oh yes, I did write today. On Tree Sprite. They actually found food. LOL

Tonight, I attended a FASFA seminar on how to fill out the forms for financial aid for my Senior. GRR. I mentioned it in my group, I mentioned it on my craft blog and I am mentioning it HERE. If your student isn’t a Senior, you need to know… 3.0 is the gpa that they need if they are going to get the good money. Sure could have used this info when she was a freshman. But NO! They wait till they have half a year till graduation and impart this ever so important news. Well, my Freshman and Sophomore know. After my oldest, the other two should be cake.

Anyway, I thank Mechele for wishing me luck with my perpetual wait on my edits. Thanks. It will or won’t happen. I can do nothing about it. So, remember this if it happens to you.

O and I chit chatted on AIM for a while today. She is freezing… poor baby. Jeigh is warming up, Laura too. Les set a soda on the deck and it froze and Lori is moving—Norther… LOL Ok, I made that word up, but how north can one go before one needs an ending?

Me? Well, my weather has been beautiful. 74ish. Sunny skies. Just perfect.

What happens tonight while I am listening to people ask questions about the (what do they call it now?) The draft. There is a box on the form that asks if the male applicant has signed up for the draft, if they have reached eighteen by the time of the filling out of the form. If not, and the applicant is eighteen, do you want FASFA to sign you up?

One mom freaked. “I don’t want my son to go to war!!!”
I looked at her as if she had grown a second head. Or if I had. Good grief. Okay, the draft has taken our boys to war, Vietnam, and they did a hell of a job, but nowdays, it is more of a ‘just in case there is a world war three’ type thing. Enough young people actually VOLUNTEER for the military that the draft is mostly for militias sake.

Yes, I am pro military. We need it, we need to support it, I commend the soldiers for doing what they feel they must. I always will. I may not agree with the Commander in Chief, but the soldier is doing his job.

It was as bad as the year the mom totally shrieked at her daughter that there was no way in hell that any daughter of hers was going to join JROTC because she wouldn’t have her daughter in the military. Again, I gave them the two head look. I told them that while in College ROTC you may need to do a couple years as an officer in the military, JROTC is (are there any JROTC students around? Goodness I hope not) playing military. You don’t have to go in the military if you join High School ROTC, but if you decide to, you can go in with a higher rank and MO MONEY!

Ok, I am off my Military Rant…

How about one that the parents thought that the reason there was a box that asked what state you have residency and if you plan on attending a school in another state, is because Swartzenegger doesn’t want anyone out of the state.

Good Grief. Okay, I never was able to attend college, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid or don’t plan on attending when I have an empty nest. But doesn’t anyone learn anything anymore?

Well, it’s mostly off my chest now. Maybe I can sleep without the horrified outbursts of Jeepers Creepers! (make it R rated and you would have what I am saying…), but good golly.

Well, it’s late and Animals Funny Videos are about to start. I’m going to enjoy them. You enjoy your rest.

I will be posting pictures of crafts tomorrow on my craft blog.
Night all…

Brenda

Busy Wednesday

2005-12-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

I had a busy one.

Proofed two books, didn't write anything (I didn't even open the Manuscripts), went out and bought a little black dress so I can attend the hubby's company party Friday, and Saturday, an old friends of his party. Two parties, two days. I will probably be driving. I can't drink, so I get to be the sober driver. :)

Everyone in the US has cold weather. We, in Cali, are dealing with 74 degree temperatures. We turned on the heater last night and put it on the timer, but tonight, instead of maintaining a 75 degree temp during shower time, it shot up to 86 and didn't look like it was going to stop there. Hubby was at work, so I turned off the gas and pilot light on the heater. It stopped, and the house finally cooled down a little. Hubby is going to have to figure out what the problem was. I kept the house from burning down, he has to keep it warm. Man plays with fire, woman nags him. LOL

I will have to write tomorrow. And on another note, I emailed my editor tonight (about 10 minutes ago) and mentioned that we won't have Midas done in time for the prospected release date if I am still waiting for Round 2 edits. I have now mentioned my worry, and it is in their ball court now.

So there.

Sigh.

Well, I guess it's just a thing.

Will keep you updated.

Brenda

Tuesday Dec 6, 2005

2005-12-06T22:59:00.000-08:00

Busy Day Today.

I worked on Tree Sprite, but didn't get as much done as I wanted to. But the sex is temporarily over and I am going to try to get them to do something other than bouncy bouncy.

Proofed a short story today and am working on another. Pretty tired though, so am probably going to hit the sack.

This getting up at 5 am stuff is probably going to kill me. LOL I did however take a long nap today, and cooked a turkey with stuffing. It was ok. Getting sick of the bird though. LOL I think I am going to make turkey encheladas tomorrow. It is a good, tasteful way to dispose of unwanted turkey and it doesn't taste like turkey.
I will let you know how it comes out.

Bad news for the teen though. She was told that since the other flag unit is higher ranking (even though they have only been practicing since Friday of last week), THEY are going to get to do the parade. Her team just has to grin and bear it. Sigh. All that overtime and practice and they didn't even get a chance to fight for it.

Oldest made something called fried cookies and burned the crud out of her arm. Gonna have to keep an eye on that. And then, a friend was going to give her a hug, she moved the wrong way and got a sock in the eye. She might end up with a black eye. Did I mention that this is my whiney kid? Sigh. She will live, but not happily.

My son, well, he is grumpy cause he has to get up early. Poor thing.

Hubster turned on the heater tonight. Well, we put it on the timer. It isn't on now. It's 77 in the house. But if it DOES get cold, we are ready.

I guess that's it for the day. I'm going to sleep.

Brenda

Monday Dec 5, 05

2005-12-05T22:23:00.000-08:00

Is it over yet?

LOL. No really, I had a pretty good day. I worked on Tree Sprite for a while, but before I could get my 2K done, I got an email. I am trying for a position as a proofer for a soon to be epublisher. It would be cool to get, I think. Wish me luck. So, what took my time today, was a proof test. Had to proof out 20 pages of a story. I can't wait till the whole story comes out because what I did read of it was really good.

So, then it was time to get teens, eat and HEY! I did the dishes tonight instead of waiting. That is an improvement. Tomorrow, I have to cook a turkey so it doesn't go bad and so that I can have the refrigerator space back.

I have a proof for an established company to do, but I think I will stare at my Tree Sprite for a while before I go to bed, then do the proof in the morning.

Oh, get this. I have to get up even earlier starting tomorrow. Apparently, the Major (JROTC) has gotten the idea that my youngest is perpetually late to Zero period (a class before the rest of the classes start) and wants her there at 6 instead of 6:30. Sigh. Fine. But I may be spending time in the parking lot until a decent hour for the other two. They can snooze in the van till a reasonable time. Thank goodness for my knitting and my Palm.

Just one more thing to deal with. Grr.

Still waiting on Second edits of Midas' Treasure. (this is going to be a mini-rant, so if you are my editor, skip this section)

I have a feeling that things are going slower than expected. It isn't me that is going slowly, but I can see how I can easily be blamed for the lag. If I read horoscopes, which I don't because that is just ASKING for trouble, I would worry that it would say something to the effect that poo rolls downhill and at this point, I am in the foothills. It is possible that I could be buried in it. And that's life.

Okay, ranting is temporarily over.

Well, I had best get back to Tree Sprite or that one will be falling behind. Then I am going to sleep.

You sleep well and have a wonderful Tuesday. Hubby's team won the football game and their stats are great, so they may have a shot at the playoffs. Can't win the Superbowl if you don't get to the playoffs.

Good luck to the Seattle Seahawks.

Brenda

Sunday Dec 4, 2005

2005-12-04T23:48:00.000-08:00

Day late, dollar short.

For some reason, all day today, I have thought it was the third. Sigh. Oh well, I will get over it.

Oh, I have to tell my hubby his brother's birthday is tomorrow. I just remembered.

Anyway, today I didn't write, but I do feel refreshed and my mind is clearer of the cobwebs I had last week. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can hop right on Tree Sprite and add lots of sex.

Sure am glad O is back in action. Stinking weather. Heck, even our weather in So Cal was sucky. Windy and cold all day. Okay, so it is above freezing, but shoot, we are desert rats and the cold is a bad thing. My kids were walking around in jackets, thick slippers, blankets (that I crocheted last year, they are really thick and toasty) and moaning about the cold. Yes, we are wusses, but can you handle 110 degree F temps without air-conditioning? We do.

So, I need to go to sleep so I can get plenty of rest for tomorrow's writing.

Congrats to Jeigh for getting a Recommended read for Howl. I think I mentioned it yesterday, but heck, it deserves a second mention.

I have to get back into my webpage and fix a few things, such as a misspell that O caught and moving around where I have the blog buttons. I also have to add craft blog buttons on the other pages. LOL. So much to do, so little time. That's okay, I will get by.

Gotta remember to buy milk tomorrow. Down to the dregs. One thing my family whines loudly about running out of is milk. Number two is TP. LOL

Okay, okay. I am going to sleep now so I can get a fresh start tomorrow.

Night and have a great Monday. I know you can. Just forget that it's a Monday. Think of it as a Friday all week. The teens have two more weeks of school till they are on break and as I will probably accomplish very little while they are home... And I am still waiting for second round edits on Midas' Treasure from my editor. Tick tick tick... time's passing fast, nuthin's gettin' done... Well, not on my side at least. Maybe they are doing wonders on their side.

Catch you all tomorrow, or the day after depending on how busy I get.

Brenda

Saturday, Dec 3, 2005

2005-12-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

I have made a decision.

Separating the writers blog and the crafters blog made sense to me. Sure, I will have to do TWO separate blogs, but I can put more details into EACH of the blogs and not have to worry about offending anyone. The crafters aren't interested in knowing about the sex I write and the readers aren't terribly interested in my crafts. SO, they are now separate but equal.

Today, I didn't write diddly. I need to, and I might get to it yet. It's only 5:30 pm right now. Who knows what can happen before I go to sleep.

A little reference material: I think this would be an interresting addition to my blog. I know I need all the help I can get.
This link has 1000 Verbs to write by, by Deanna Carlyle, that you can use instead of the same old same old. A wide variety of exchangeable words. I have put it on my Palm so I can vary my writing.

Congratulations to Jeigh for another review for Howl. I'm so proud of her.

O is still MIA. I sure hope she is having a great time on her vacation.

My youngest is doing her guarding of the parking lot at the football game with JROTC gig. She won't be back till late. The oldest is going to have company soon. A young man who is now in the military and on vacation is going to visit. Oldest daughter is actually dating another boy, but this one is persistent. He used to date a friend of Oldest Daughter and is supposedly interested in OD. OD is NOT interested in this young man, but is too nice to say bug off. He is doing his serving of the country thing and she doesn't want him to lose his momentum in his schooling.

Well, that's teenage angsty stuff for you. Glad I don't have to date. I just control the lives of characters in stories.

Enjoy your weekend, I'm going back to work.

Brenda

Friday Dec 2, 2005

2005-12-02T23:57:00.000-08:00

Hit and Run blog

This is going to be a quickie. Please excuse any misspells.

Today, in the very exciting life of Author Brenda Bryce, I proofed 5 short stories, worked on Tree Sprite, Knitted on the messyghan and wrassled the boy (he stole my chocolate stash and I had to retrieve it). My youngest turned into a woman last night and today she got a promotion to Staff Sgt in JROTC. Very proud day for her.

It rained on my hanging laundry, darn it. And I heard that Midas Edits will be coming back to me soon. Gotta fix the pov's in ch 8 still, and whatever else they found that I just can't see anymore.

Jeigh is writing up a storm trying to meet her deadline and at the same time is remodeling her house. Boy, she's a wonder.
OH, I looked on Google maps today and saw that they have some great shots. I looked up Jeigh's area and danged if her town isn't right next door to a major airport. Hubster said I should jump on a plane (from the International airport right up the street from my house) and bother her, I mean visit her for a weekend sometime. LOL Well, it won't be while her and her hubby are remodeling. I am not up for the work. Whew! Too much exercise for me.

O is MIA. I think she is off enjoying her vacation. How dare she??? I mean REALLY. The nerve of some people. :) She is missing all the good stuff. Snicker. Hope she's having a great time.

I am bed bound. Hm, that could be interesting if the hubby weren't already zonked. SIGH. Maybe I will keep the idea in mind for another time.

Another OH!!! I don't know what's up with the tv networks but NOWHERE could I find a listing of A Christmas Story. Do you believe that happy crappy? I am still looking but I may have to go buy it. What's Christmas without the Leg lamp and the recalcitrant heating system that dad has to cuss out regularly????

Okay, Nighty night time for BB. Sleep well, Good dreams, I am going to try to dream up more stories. :)

Brenda

Late Wednesday Nov 30-Early Thurs Dec 1 2005

2005-12-01T00:40:00.000-08:00

Now that's a heck of a title.

As I sit here, I had a few random thoughts. Zennish thoughts even. Ok, really bad ones, but it IS late. LOL

They may or may not have been thought of before. I apologize to anyone if I am hopping a copyright. :)

I knit, therefore I am... Warm. (this has probably been done, it's that simple)

I Write, therefore I read. (freaking edits)
I read, therefore I think. (If the book is well written and interesting)
I think, therefore I hear voices. (sigh)
I hear voices, therefore I write. (and the circle closes)

I play with the yarn, my arms are a sight. Got flabby thighs, but arm muscles are tight.

Aren't these great? Snort. This is what flits through my mind late at night when I should be asleep. Do you have any good ones?

Share, please do. Let's get creative, but please use euphemisms for things that would destroy my PG-ish rating.

Brenda

2005-11-30T21:51:00.000-08:00

Hi All. This is a picture of the messyghan. Actually, I have added a couple of more colors since I took the picture, but this is the beginning.

Monday Nov 28 2005

2005-11-28T21:43:00.000-08:00

Good grief, tried 6 times to get the date right tonight.

Ok, In today's Brenda Bryce news.......

I folded several loads of clothes and can see my loveseat once again.

I did many loads of dishes and can see my sink again.

I worked on the messyghan, of which I will be taking a picture and posting tomorrow so you can watch it grow, cause I know you are interested.

I completed the second chapter of the tree sprite story and started on the third.

Made a nice roast and potatoes for dinner, and um, that's about it.

I started reading Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison and am all the way to chapter 3. I may go to sleep soon, which has no bearing on the interest I have on the story I am reading, but the fact that the long weekend messed up my sleeping schedule and getting up at 5:30ish am is murder on a body when they didn't get to sleep till after 2 am.

It was a productive day for others as well apparently. Jeigh finished a couple of chapters (is working on a deadline unlike myself who just wants to see if she can get it done in two weeks). She is doing fine and I have every confidence she can manage it. It helps that the story is totally in her head. She just has to get it to the computer.

O, well, I am very proud of O today. She bought a whole gallon of 2% milk for her mother. Backstory. O doesn't drink or look at milk. My family however, makes me go to the grocery store to buy milk by the two gallon packs every other day. And we are talking two grades of milk. Whole milk and Fat free. We go through about 10-12 gallons a week between the five of us. But O, well, O don't got milk, not normally. She does tonight. Rejoice America! We are proud.

I think that's about it for the day. Thank you for joining us and enjoy your regularly scheduled evening.

Brenda

Sunday Nov 27 2005

2005-11-28T00:16:00.000-08:00

Hit and Run.

More like a Talk fast and go nighty night.

It is after midnight so I guess technically, it is Monday. But that's ok.

Today, I read a couple of Elizabeth Lapthorne's Rutlige Wolves from Ellorascave. Good stories, but now I have to get the last two. Sigh. Always something.

Worked on the messyghan for the nephew. I am on the third color now. The teens are looking at it funny. I just smile.

I finished up two proofs. They were short ones. One 15 pages, the other 38. Not allowed to tell you about them, so don't ask. :)

Um, My mom called and I talked to her for almost two hours about nothing much, but since she is across the country, we do it almost weekly. :) It's good.

I did a couple loads of laundry and dishes, but other than that, I stayed in my heated waterbed in my jammies. It was one of those days. Kind of chilly and not much else to do.

Hope your Weekend went well. Sigh, Monday in the morning and high school awaits.

Plans for tomorrow. Work on the tree sprite story. O wants her sex scene. LOL. She always wants a sex scene. So it will have lots of sex. Snort.

Saw Mechele's post on my Thanksgiving one. LOL. I think we carnivorous Americans all know about the bloated feeling before we HAVE to take a nap. :)

Jeigh has been busy with her hubby doing renovation on their house. gonna have to get O to whip out her paper flogger so she puts more time into her writing than not. I mean REALLY, the girl gets to a good spot in her WIP and skidmarks. Darned hubbies and their once a year gusto. Blagh. Get to writing, I want MORE.

That's about it. Not much else happened in the Exciting world of author Brenda Bryce.

Saturday November 26, 2005

2005-11-26T23:02:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday night...

Well, it is.
We didn't go camping. Various reasons, but it is probably a good thing we didn't. I'ts cold and windy out now. Bleck. Hubby and I have been discussing whether we would like to go camping in the mountains during his vacation. Now, his vacation is the week between Christmas and New Years, and the Mountains are Big Bear. LOL. I think we might. However, the teens and the two of us will be getting new arctic weather sleeping bags if we do. LOL. We are desert rats and don't handle cold well. But the teens have been saying that we never take them to the snow.

As of yesterday, I am working on a new project for the nephew. He is six. Sigh. I found a pattern online that isn't really a pattern. It's called, The Mindless Knitting, TV Watching, Scrap User-Upper Afghan and I am on my second color. Started with dark variegated blues and now am on a deep brown. Since it has such a long name I am simply calling it the Messyghan. So if I say I have worked on the Messyghan, you will know what I'm talking about. LOL

Sad news. Howling in the Moonlight, my werewolf story, sort of got rejected today. My editor said since we are doing Midas Edits, that we will FIX Howling once we are done. After it gets fixed then she will consider sending it to the higherups.
Hence, sort of.

Grr.

Anyway, I am NOT going to give up on it. I will get that story published and it will make lots and lots of best seller lists and I can tell everyone, "See, I told you I liked it..." and everyone will rejoice.

Be prepared for that day.

That's it for today. Everyone is doing fine. Everyone is in their rooms doing their favorite things, and I am reading Lora Leigh stories. The breeds. Gotta catch up on them.

Brenda

Thursday November 24, 2005

2005-11-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving USA.

It's Thanksgiving in my country, and we celebrate most food related holdiays at my in-laws. Since my mom is in Florida and is just a bit of a drive from Southern California, we don't generally go there for food.

However, my mother in law puts out a fabulous spread. Food galore. I am in charge of the breads. I take whole wheat cloverleaf rolls, white dinner rolls and Hawaiian bread muffins. All made from scratch in the breadmaker. Love the dough setting.

So, we ate and are now home again, moaning. I think one of my kids are taking a nap. LOL I am trying to think if there is anything I really want to do, and I'm not coming up with much. Maybe take a nap that will last till tomorrow, when I have to get up early just to make sure the trashcans are by the street. Hubster has to work tomorrow :( but Saturday we are going to the desert to camp out overnight with family friends. Hopefully, the wind won't be up. It's been beautiful here. 80's at least. So, it should be perfect if the weather holds.

I write tomorrow. Well, write, do laundry, do dishes (where do they all come from?) and make sure the camping gear is located. Oh and the minivan has to be washed. sigh. The teens can do that.

For now, You enjoy your weekend. I may not survive mine. :)

Brenda

Tuesday, Nov 22, 2005

2005-11-22T17:55:00.000-08:00

I am wiped out.

Yesterday was spent editing Midas' Treasure. That's it, that's all. Nothing else.

Today, Youngest had a doctors appointment. Just a checkup to make sure she is taking her meds correctly. She was. But since the arm that she had fallen on while in the park on Sunday, swelled up during the night, I instructed her to mention it during the appointment. She did and they thought it might be broken. We went down the elevator for Xrays. It isn't a broken arm, but it is pretty strained. So, she has a soft cast... Kind of a hardened cast on the bottom with an ace bandage holding it on to her arm.

Oh and huge crap! I lost her opal ring. ARRRRGGGHHHH! She gave it to me when she went to take Xrays. Now it is missing. I doubt we will find it. I probably lost it in the parking lot of the hospital.

I sent Midas' Treasure back to the editor.

I think I will go be mad for a while.

Brenda

Sunday, Nov 20,2005

2005-11-20T21:14:00.000-08:00

O won't Leave!!!

LOL, well she says since she got 666 she isn't leaving it until the number changes. She wants me to do up my blog so she can do other things. LOL

So, here's the blog.

What did Brenda Bryce do today?

I took, my oldest to the mall to meet up with her date. It was a 'we will see' date. If they think they are compatible they will see each other again. If not, they will stay friends. She is 17.

Hm, I came home and installed my Palm software on my laptop and a burn software so I don't lose my stories while working on them. Then I finished reading a book I have been flipping through all week, and um, added a few rows to my SIL's shrug.

I should be working on Midas Treasure edits, I'm not.

I should be working on Enforcing Justice, I'm not.

I should be writing on Tree Sprite so O will leave me alone, I'm not.

I should be doing dishes, I'm not.

I'm not doing much of anything. Just sitting here thinking about what I could be doing. LOL

Ever have one of those days?

This is mine.

Well, back to work tomorrow. This week will be a busy one for me.

Will keep you updated.

Ok, O, you may change the page.

Brenda

Saturday, Nov 19, 2005

2005-11-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

*Sung to the tune of Elmo's World...*

La La La La
La La La La
Edit's suck.

Actually, they aren't so bad. Been working on them seemingly nonstop since I got the book back though. My editor and I are practically rewriting chapter 8 because of POV shifts. I know I have mentioned my writing and pov shifts before so we won't go there.

I was deeply into the rewrites, AIMing with my editor, going over each line, when hubby decided to mess with the internet connection. Shut me down hard. Finally he gets me back up and she's gone. Probably thought I had abandoned her. Darn it. Without her input, I'm stymied. I've read it so many times already, I don't see the shifts anymore. I need the fresh eyes. Grr.

O ditched me as well. We were talking about a show in NY that will feature cadavers. Shiver. She was also showing me these little sex fairy dolls on EBay. LOL. They are very cute. Gonna have to see if she posted the url on her blog.

For the last two days, all I have really done is edit Midas' Treasure. I'm hoping this round is so hard because the rest will be a cakewalk. Hush, leave me to my delusions while they last.

Edits are going to make me fat, too. I sit in my office - so the family isn't disrupted by my outbursts and mumbling - drinking coffee and eating cookies. Found these really good cookies, too. They are Chips Ahoy Creamwiches. Yummy! Little Chips Ahoy cookies with a cream filling. Yes, I will be amped and fat by the time this round of edits goes back to the editor. LOL

I need to finish it up, though, so I can work on the Tree Sprite story. O keeps bugging me for more sex. Sigh. I only have two hands and the project that will be published first has to be the priority. TS will have plenty of working time as soon as I send MT back. It will take the editors a while to figure out what I did to it so they can - as O says - weild the red pen on it.

Does anyone know of a munchie that WON'T make me blow up like a balloon during edits, but still keep my mind working? Could sure use the info.

I guess I'm done with everything tonight. Nobody to talk to. So I'm going to drink my water and turn on the tv. Probably fall asleep so I can start fresh tomorrow. LOL

Night all.

Brenda

Thursday Nov 1, 2005

2005-11-17T22:49:00.000-08:00

@$@&%#(*#&$_)@# Internet connection.

Man oh Man... The winds around here are warm but good grief! For some reason it keeps making my CABLE internet connection intermittent. Well, I'm on now, so am going to get this blog written before I fritz out again.

I received an inquiry into whether I would like to do an obscure holiday story. Short. Such as All Hallows or Arbor Day. I got a picture of a short, round tree sprite perched in a short, round tree, in the center of an empty glade right then and decided, Sure, I can do that story. Told my editor to give me a little while to write up a basic plotline for her to look over. I mean, why write a specialty story if nobody is going to want it? Especially when my laptop is already full of half written, plotted out, or idea in writing, stories already?

An hour and a half later, I shot her the plotline, warned her it was VERY BASIC and that it can be fleshed out while writing. The hero had a name, but I had some facts that needed to be fleshed out about him. The tree sprite didn't have a name, but since she is a tree sprite, I figured it had to be very tree-ish.

I was sitting here at the laptop, working on a proof, watching Mythbusters, and BAM! A name jumped out at me and I laughed for ten minutes. It was perfect!!!

Oleafia.

Isn't it the best name for a tree sprite? If you don't think so, well, don't tell me. I like it even though my teens groan.

The story got the go-ahead by my editor and it is going to be shorttttt. Don't expect epic. Beddy beddy short.

I have the first chapter done and sent it to the editor. She said it is going along great, keep up the good work. WHEW! That's always nice to hear.

P.S. this is O's story. SHE is the tree sprite and Daniel is HER MAN, so don't try to take him and maybe she will quit trying to hog all the heroes. YEAH RIGHT!

Worked on it for a while today after 3 proofs, running errands, picking up teens from school, and doing a tiny (inky dinky amount) of housework. Also, worked on Enforcing Justice as well for a while today. It isn't getting forgotten in the enthusiasm of a whole new world.

And *whistles blowing, banners waving, cannons firing* I got Midas' Treasure back to begin editing... GROAN! I'se got's my work cut out for me. Blech. But you won't see any of that. Just the final copy that is FABULOUS!!! The editors guarantee it. LOL

I have crocheted or knitted nothing today. HOWEVER, I did update my crafts page on my website. Just check out the Updates section on front page. If you click on the pictures, a link will take you to the exact pattern I used to make that specific item. The penis bookmark does NOT have a link, as I have not written the pattern down yet. :)

Other than trying to continue breathing, (this wind is heck on asthmatics) not moving around too much, writing, proofing, and watching Mythbusters, I have done nothing... LOL

It's starting to pile up... gonna have to get off the tush and do something about it.

Hm, I have an extra fifty cents, anyone volunteer to take the household chores off this poor, beleaguered writers shoulders? Sigh, thought not. Freaking inflation.

Catch you tomorrow if the wind gods leave my internet connection alone.

Brenda

Monday Nov 14, 2005

2005-11-14T20:59:00.000-08:00

Oh Woe Is ME!!

There is a yarn sale at Joannes.com. Sniff. I have been cut off from my yarn purchases until I use some of it. Hubby had gotten fed up with the piles when he stepped too hard near a basket of yarn balls and they toppled out and rolled around the room singing "Born Free" and eventually one lept directly into his path causing a stumble. Needless to say, I am using the yarn I have as quickly as possible, but there is only so much my arm can take. I gave myself tennis elbow while hoe-ing the front yard a couple of years ago and if I over work it, it HURTS!!!

So, the sale at Joannes?? Not for MOI. Sigh.

However, I did finish reading Christine Feehan's Night Game and I have to say it is now my New Favorite Feehan story. It was great. Action packed, Kick ass heroine, and a hero that is a goofy perv (you have to read the book to GET it). Definitely my new fav.

On another note, I was updated by my editor that I should be getting the first round of edits on Midas' Treasure PDQ. She did however say that there would be a lot of comments (that is NEVER good) Oh well. Gotta do what I gotta do.

Still working on Enforcing Justice. It's going slow, but it IS going.

I have a bit of a headache tonight so I think I am outie for the nonce. :) Ain't I just the hippest?

Brenda

Sunday Nov 13, 2005

2005-11-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

This was a nice, relaxing day.

I read.

That's it.

Christine Feehan books.

I finished off Oceans of Fire (and I can't wait till the next Drake sister story).

I have been finishing out the day delving into Night Game. This has got to be her funniest one yet. It is one of the GhostWalker stories and Gator is such a crackup. I have laughed more during this story than any other Christine Feehan book. I am just past half way through it and there is SO much going on. Whew! I don't know what in the world is happening. I love it.

Ok, it's late, and I am going to read a little longer.

I hope your weekend was wonderful. Mine wasn't bad. Tomorrow, back to work on Enforcing Justice. Perhaps I will get Midas' Treasure back for first edits. That would be nice to start on.

Brenda

Saturday, Nov 12, 05

2005-11-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

Baking Saturday

Since I have been baking, in my own modified way, I thought I would share a breadmaker recipe with you.

But first, my exciting, BrendaBryce day. Um, well, I made split pea soup (first time) in the crockpot, worked for a while on the SIL's shrug, talked with O all day, watched tv, found out I am a fashion disaster, and that's about it. Oh, I will have to pick up my youngest at school MUCH later because she went to peddle churros and sodas at the Rose Bowl.

Aren't you overwhelmed at this writers exciting life? LOL

Anyway, here is the recipe. I developed it myself through trial and error. Several errors that my kids and hubby had to eat and think of a nice way to say it sucked. This is the final effort.

I don't know what the calorie content is, and don't really care. Cholesterol, who knows. Points? does it really matter?

BRENDA'S HAWAIIAN BREAD

For the breadmaker.

Makes a 1lb loaf.

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Pineapple Juice
1 egg
1/4 Cup Lowfat, or Fat Free Milk *you can use dry, but will have to figure out the measurement yourself*
2 TBS butter chopped (real is best, low salt is good, margarine sucks)
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 Cup Splenda Baking (I use the baking because it is SUPER SWEET. Half sugar and half Splenda)
1/4 Cup Instant Mashed Potato Flakes
2 Cups Bread Flour
1 tsp bread machine yeast.

Put all ingredients into the breadmaker pan. Set on Light Crust. Push Start and walk away.

That's it.

My teens like to take it to school and everyone knows what it is. LOL

It is very sweet, but with the lower calorie ingredients, it isn't as unhealthy as it could be. That's my rational anyway.

Enjoy the recipe and tell me if you and your family enjoy it.

Brenda

Friday, Nov 11, 2005

2005-11-12T00:50:00.000-08:00

Remember the Veterans.

My grandfather and my husbands grandfather were both in World War II. One fought on the continent, (my grandfather mentioned the French ladies... Ohh, La, La. Which is how I know he was there). My husbands grandfather was in the Pacific. A glider pilot. We don't know much about what they did other than what is mentioned here, because they didn't talk about it to us. They are both gone now, but they left a plethora of medals that speaks loudly of the horrors they saw. It's sad. I know what those medals signify because I spent time in the US Army myself and we are taught what a soldier would have to have gone through to receive one of the honors. It isn't pretty, and it isn't something a soldier remembers fondly. It's usually hell. A hell that causes the soldier to wake from nightmares, half a century later.

And so, I honor the veterans of all the battles our soldiers have been sent to in the past, to those who are there now, and to the ones that are packing to leave, and thank them for keeping freedom possible. The saying, Freedom isn't Free, is very apt. To the families of the soldiers that are overseas now, stay strong. Thank you for letting your soldier do what they feel they must. That takes a strong being to let them go.

Now I have made myself cry.

Today, I made a large turkey meal. Mostly because it was there, and defrosted. Everyone ate like pigs and went to bed early with sore tummies.

I worked on my SIL's shrug, and watched shows about veterans.

It is late, actually after midnight, but I wanted to thank the soldiers and veterans before I went to sleep.

Again, thank you.

Brenda

Thursday Oct 10, 2005

2005-11-10T21:04:00.000-08:00

Last night was Mythbusters night.

Naturally, I watched it, laughing the whole way.

I have been working on the 3.5 inch squares for my son's afghan. I am up to about a hundred. That makes me about a third of the way through as I need almost 300. LOL. That's ok. They are easier.

Today, I did the normal housework. Tried to clean out my mail, and chatted with O. Talked to my editor. She was asking for Howling in the Moonlight again, because her email was turning it into mim format. Go figure. Eventually we got that straightened around and I asked after Midas' Treasure. In two days it will have been a month since I sent it to her for first edits. Sigh. Apparently, the second editor has it. Yes, I have two editors because I was having communication problems with my first one. I still have the same one, but now I have to contend with a second one. So, the communication has gotten better, right??? Absolutely not. Matter of fact, until today, I haven't heard hide nor hair from my editor since I sent her MT.

Grr. I want to rant and rave, but it isn't going to change anything. Have you ever hated the way things are and no matter how much you piss and moan, nothing changes? I tried, and it seems to have gotten worse. Blagh.

On a different note, tonight is funny animal videos. The youngest is with JROTC working over the parking lot at the football game, and the Senior is at the game too, making a nuisance of herself. She is good at it. The boy... Well, the boy is playing video games on the computer... Surprise, surprise! I told him he had to be a computer expert and make lots of money, otherwise he won't meet any girls.

I have to wait about another half hour till I can start getting the girls. I DO love driving around at night. Late at night. And there is no school tomorrow. I think I will hide out in the office all day.

I have been working on Enforcing Justice. (Alexi's book). Reading it through, because I had written half of it while putting Regulating Archimedes around to the publishing companies. Now I have to read it over to see what I have written, and what needs to be written still. I just hope that Enforcing Justice isn't done before I get Midas' Treasure back for first edits. LOL

Ok, I am going to try not to fall asleep. YAWN!!! Wait for phone calls and then hop into the minivan and do drive by's of two separate high schools (on opposite sides of town). The job of a mom is never done.

At least my sink is shiny.

Brenda

Tuesday, Nov 8, 2005

2005-11-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

Got a lot done today.

Well, on everything else but my story.

Today, I tossed a load of laundry in the washer, but it is still there because the sky was overcast. Will have to do something about them tomorrow.

I listened to last Thursday's episode of Flyladies on World Talk Radio and cleaned off my desk while I did. It is soooo clean. I didn't realize I had half the stuff I found on it, buried. It was a treasure trove of interesting finds.

So, I had to shower after that, because my lungs were hollering at me about all the dust. Shiny again, I went to pick up teens. I had forgotten that the youngest was going to a friends house after school, but the son remembered. Luckily, or we would have still been there waiting. She forgot to call me when she got to her destination. I had no number, no address, no clue. Darned kid. I have decided the gray hair she has given me are not gray, they are either blond or tinsel. I am not old, I am decorated for the holidays.

Eventually (7pm and darker than dirt) she calls and gives me an address. Thank the internet for Mapquest. I was able to get door to almost door directions. Naturally, she called while dinner was in the oven.

Gotta tell you about that. I decided on a nice quiche for our evening meal. Grr. I didn't have half the ingredients that the recipe called for, and I know it WAS there at one time. Instead, I improvised with things I DID have. As an American wife of an American male, I had to call it something else. Real men don't eat Quiche, don't you know? So, I took a refrigerated pizza crust, scrambled egg mixture, chopped onions, chopped ham, and American cheese slices (the one cheese the whole family likes) and tossed it into the oven.

Here are some interesting facts. Eggs don't like to stay in a pie pan. I have burnt egg on the bottom of my clean oven. I had it in a pie pan, on a pizza pan, and once I smelled the burning, a cookie sheet under that. Grr. I have burnt dried out egg on all three pans. I didn't, however, have any egg in the pie. Hmm, I still don't see how that happened. I figure next time to use a bigger pan, and cook the eggs first. The family loved the 'omelet pie' even though there were no eggs in it. The ham, onions and cheese made it taste like a Hot Pocket or something. LOL. Well, even in disaster, some things go right.

Crocheted some squares for the Boy's afghan today. He has been coming round asking if it's done yet. He really wants his softy afghan. Did I mention he is 15? LOL

That's it for today, I think. Except, the Loose-id authors are getting a scam email requesting autographed pictures, book cover plates, ect. The warnings are far and wide, because the culprit has evidently hit several musicians. The purpose? Identity theft.

Strangely enough, I haven't rated a scammers email. *sigh*. Guess I'm not a big enough name yet. :)

Ok. I'm working on Enforcing Justice now. gonna knock off at least the first chapter, I hope.

You all have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Brenda

Monday, Oct 7, 2005

2005-11-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

I only have a few seconds.

Today, I did laundry, dishes, ironing, um, worked on the new shrug for the SIL. But this evening... Well, lets just say, I have gotten absolutely nothing accomplished.

Someone in one of my craft groups sent me a website with funny videos and I have been laughing at those all evening. There is one with Richard Simmons and the cast of Who's Line... OMG!!! I almost died.

The website is Crapville.com. Be sure to go there when you have nothing better to do. LOL.

Ok, back to the giggles.

Brenda

LEGWARMERS

2005-11-06T22:54:00.000-08:00

Here is my daughters legwarmers. Go figure, she had to wear them with sweats. Hm, well, they actually look better than this. LOL

Sunday Nov 6, 05

2005-11-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

Sigh!!!

Had a Woe is me day. Poor me.

Oh well, since it isn't going to change, I will just go back to work.

Finished the legwarmers for the senior. She is wearing them. LOL. She put them on to get a picture taken of them, I am sure you saw it when you logged on, and she only took them off to take her shower. She runs out afterward, grabbing the legwarmers up from where she had tossed them and yanked them back on. As I sat looking at her with raised eyebrows, she looks up and shrugs. "My legs are cold."

I started a new shrug for the SIL for Christmas. Hopefully, it will come out right. LOL. This one is knitted. Not too difficult at this beginning stage. Already have nearly a foot done of it. Gotta do 48 inches then start on the more difficult parts. I also want to make a knitting needle and accessory holder. Haven't started that yet.

Nothing on the book fronts. It's all quiet. So, tomorrow, I get to really get into Alexi's book (Enforcing Justice).

I am tired, tired, tired. And I have a mild headache. The bummers tend to take a lot out of a person. :)

Brenda

Saturday Nov. 05, 05

2005-11-05T22:44:00.000-08:00

Saturday.

I slept till 11. Do you believe it? Everyone slept late. Today was the last day of my oldest daughters play. I attended. After I got a large cuppaccino from am/pm... :)

The play was great. The teens did a wonderful job. One kid actually got popped in the face during a acted fight scene but he was all right. I took lots of pictures. Must have about 50 of them. LOL.

She is attending an after show cast party. Since it's almost 11 pm, I will have to stay up until it's time to go get her so am working on Enforcing Justice. I really like this story. It is going to be the darkest of the Society books. The heroine has been through the crap in her short life and Alexi, has been a very staid, unemotional vampire until he meets his mate. She considers him ruled by his emotions. It's about half written, but with my memory, I am reading it through from the beginning. I will know what was written and what needs to be written from there, hopefully.

I have one more cuff on the legwarmer, then I will have both done. YAY. Should have it finished tomorrow.

What else... Discovery channel had a great day of programming. Walking with... I love those... Prehistoric animals, dinosaurs, early man... Need ot get all the shows on dvd. I have one series, Walking with Dinosaurs on vhs. Watch it when I am really bored. Cartoons can't use up all my empty viewing time you know.

So, here I sit, waiting for a phone call. Coffeeless.

Sigh. Anyway, I guess I will get back to work. Oh! I got another great review today. Check out my webpage if'n you wanna see it. I don't remember if I mentioned that I sent my editor Howling In the Moonlight. But I did. Synopsis and chapters for consideration. Wish me luck. I have gotten rejections on it twice. LOL. Hopefully the rewrites will work.

Well, I just remembered that I need to take my meds. Have a great day tomorrow!

Brenda

Nearly 500

2005-11-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! The counter is getting closer and closer to 500!

Thanks. Ok, so it is probalby mostly me checking the settings, but still... cool.

Brenda

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2005

2005-11-03T23:04:00.000-08:00

Thursday... Trash day.

Appropo of nothing.

How was your day? Mine was quiet. I put together my new carpet cleaner and did a section of the hallway. Works pretty good. The carpet is cleaner in that section, but since it took an hour to do that 3x4 foot area, well, my cleaning time was up. Had to do something new and ended up taking a nap. Grr. It really was unintentional, but felt really good.

After my nice, refreshing, three hour nap, I read and worked on the second leg warmer. It is about half done and I think they are coming out cool. If the Senior doesn't want them, I may keep them for myself.

I need to iron, but don't feel like it. :) Will have to do it anyway. *sigh*

Right now, I am taking a break from actually working on Howling. I have thirty-six more pages to go through. And they are the best parts of the story, I think. So, I am hoping to get the rewrites done tomorrow, so I can work on the synopsis this weekend. Mostly, it will be revising the synopsis to better reflect the updated story.

Hubby went to see the Senior's play tonight. I will be going Saturday. I had the pleasure of picking up and taking home the other two. So Saturday is a better day for me. The scheduling doesn't clash that day.

Senior is complaining about a case of hives. She has very delicate skin and whatever they washed her costume in is rashing her up. I wash our clothes in very little soap or double rinse them. Harsh soaps are out. Hubby and Senior rash up wherever clothing touch them if I use even a little too much soap or softener.

What else... Youngest is grumpy tonight. She is having trouble with an upper classgirl in her ROTC. The girl won't stay out of my daughters business, and is perpetually making her do pushups for no particular reason. I asked the daughter if she wanted me to get a contract put out on her, and she declined. Said she is going to have to deal with buttheads in the adult world when she graduates, so has to learn how to deal with it now, when it doesn't affect her livelihood.

Sigh, too bad. Sad that she is growing up so fast.

On another note, the teens and I were wondering how Church's Chicken can have such big chicken parts for so cheap. Their chicken is VERY good and we do love it, but think about it... twenty very large pieces of chicken for $11. Great price for me, who has to feed a virtual army, what with the boy eating every two hours like an infant, but how do they meet their overhead? Well, just a point to ponder.

Also, I think I have become addicted to the cuppaccinos at am/pm stores. For those of you not in the know, they are a minimarket attached to Arco gas stations out here. 24 oz. cuppaccino flavored coffees cost very little and the amperage is very high. LOL. Yesterday it was double mocha toffee and today French vanilla. Yummy.

Well, I need to shower and work on Howling for a while longer so I don't feel guilty. I hate feeling guilty about not working.

Catch yall tomorrow.

Oh, and I think O is cheating. Yesterday I had the same amount of posts as she. Today, I am four behind. Hm, makes me wonder.

Brenda

Wednesday Nov 2, 2005

2005-11-02T22:15:00.000-08:00

How are yall?

I'm great.
It's evening now, but just after 8 in the morning and already I had done some grocery shopping and fixed an unnecessary expenditure of the hubbies. Get this. He went to the optometrist yesterday. He is one of those, "I can see it if I hold it out to here" People. No biggie. So, they say, Progressive lenses (bifocals) he says no prob. so almost $400 later, he comes home and figures out that the bottom is +150 (magnafying glasses like you can get at the drug store) and the top.... clear plastic. sigh. So, he tells me that he can get perscription safety glasses from work for FREE!!!

Did I mention SIGH? So, he's pissed he paid so much money for clear lenses... I am the calm in the storm. I say, "So cancel the order." He froze... "I can do that?" I say, "Sure, there isn't any way they started them already. Shouldn't be a problem." So, he says, "Ok, you can call them first thing in the morning and take care of that." LOLOLOL. Men. I told him I was going to use the "Men are dumb" excuse. He said "OK."

LOL

So, now I get to do a couple loads of laundry and thought about working on Howling. The senior is doing the school play and the younger two are going to watch the dress rehersal for free tonight. So, I am good (with one stop at the drug store to pick up white tennies for the play)until 7 pm.

What I did with my time, is finish one Leg Warmer for the Senior and started on the second. Went and bought a carpet cleaner for very cheap and got some other things. Oh! I decided the frumpy writer look had to go. I have been wearing sweat pants and shorts all summer and now I look in my drawers (the dresser drawers) and closet and there is nothing for winter. I went down and purchased Two pair of jeans, two coveralls (one with Sylvester cat on it) and ten shirts of assorted color. $32
I am a very frugal shopper. LOL

Everything is in great shape even though they came from a second hand store. They are being washed now. The chemicals they use in the cleaning, mess with my asthma.

So, that was my day.

How was yours?

This conclueds this episode of:

The exciting adventures of Brenda Bryce.

October 31, 2005

2005-10-31T20:35:00.000-08:00

I sit here, in front of my house. It is dark and a little windy. The temperature is perfect, about 80 degrees F, and I am in my shorts. I have my laptop, and am reading a book. Hubby commented from the house that I have a nice wallpaper. I told him, "Thanks, the boys are yummy, aren't they?" He stated that he had no interrest in them, so they were not yummy to him. I told him if he could have a mostly nekkid girl on his cell phone, I could have mostly nekkid, buff guys on my laptop. He concured and went back to what he was doing.

As I sit here, waiting for ghoulies, beasties, and plain old riff-raff, I drink water so as not to dehydrate, and munch on the candy I am supposed to be using as bribes to the dead. I feel slightly nauseous. LOL. Today was spent purchasing candy. Candy to go, candy to stay. The teens have stayed home tonight and the boy has a hard core sweet tooth. He says he is starting to feel nauseous as well, but who cares, keep on going! The girls are watching shows. One on the tv, one on the internet. Anime... I hope. I think hubby is playing Bejeweled on my Palm.

The Darth Vaders, Snow Whites, Bumble bees and horrible monsters are starting to trickle off. It IS a school night and this is a family oriented neighborhood, if you don't look at the gang symbols too closely, and I think I will be wrapping up my laptop cord, folding my folding chair, grabbing my water cup and bowl of candy (of which there is going to be a LOT around the house for a while) and moving the whole lot of it (minus the chair) to the bedroom to read in comfort.

Hope all have had a spooky All Hallows and OH!!! Jeigh kicked butt and got the newsletter out tonight! *wicked sidelong glance* You can always join the Newsletter group and check it out. There is an unedited excerpt of Midas' Treasure... The Society 2...

Muahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Brenda

Sunday Oct, 30, 2005

2005-10-30T22:48:00.000-08:00

Sunday again.

Seems to come every week.

Today was an interresting one. Last night was the Homecoming dance for the high school. The senior attended. Looked very pretty even. I got to pick her up at 1 am so I was pretty tired. I am kind of a wuss. I like to be laying in bed going to sleep by 11pm. It was WAY past my bedtime. Not only that, but I hate to drive at night. Between the windshield and my glasses, the glare is horrid. But, like I said, she's a senior. I'll do what I have to to make it her best.

I spent the time between dropping her off and picking her up, working on Howling. I did pretty good. However, when I went to come back in the house, the garage door was locked and the lights out. LOL. My son didn't know I was out in the office and had locked up. Very concientious, but I told him next time to use the walkie talkie I bought for just such occasions. He sleeps with his window open so I was able to tell him to open up for me.

So, it's morning... ish. I get up late. Hubby is laying on me asking why I am still asleep. I tell him that I was out partying till 2 am, the second 2 am and danged if I'm not still tired. Darned men anyway. He told me it was time to get up. He even had coffee. Lucky man. He was allowed to live. He also handed me a toasted English muffin with too much butter (I don't use the stuff, or even eat muffins first thing. More of a Slimfast morning person with my coffee but he doesn't pay attention to these things) So I dab off most of the butter and chow down. Eventually, I am up and dressed. He shoots off to his friends house, leaving me with the teens. I force them to help clean up a little, then the oldest wants me to take her to a friends for a movie party. Halloween style. Cool. I drop her off, come home and work on her leg warmer (since only one is nearing completoin). During this crochet time, I check out a past radio show of the Flylady on World Talk Radio and got some motivation to restart my baby steps. I know it will work, I just have to do it. Tomorrow, I begin, wish me luck. I start over regularly, but this time, I want to succeed. I must remember that I can do anything 15 minutes at a time.

So, after the radio show, I get to wondering if there is an online radio station that plays the oldies shows. I love those old radio shows, and am always on the lookout for them. They are fun entertainment. I found a good collection of them at Radio Lovers. I spent quite a while there today. Had a great time.

Then it was time to go pick up the oldest from her party. Hubby didn't even know she was gone. LOL. He had come back while I was making dinner.

A clean kitchen and a shower later, I figured it was getting late and I need to share with YOU the reader, my exciting day. LOL. Hey, one day these journals will be read in the higher learning schools as a reference guide.

A guide to what? Well, I haven't figured that out yet.

Brenda

Saturday, Oct 29, 2005

2005-10-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Homecomming dance.

I get to drive the Senior to another town and drop her off. I could probably drive home again and wait for her call, but I'm not going to. I will wait. I have plenty to do and the quiet will be nice.

Flu shots suck. I have mild flu symptoms and don't feel like doin much. I am working on a pair of leg warmers for the Senior because they are back in. Otherwise, I have been playing with my email, finishing up a proof job (of which I will be sure to promote,) and spilling my coffee on me. I smell yummy. Sticky, but yummy.

I have been reading Christine Feehan's Drake Sisters books this week. Have to finish up Ocean's Of Fire still, then I will go on and read something else. I also have to finish doing the rewrites on Howling. It has been some week. What with the 7 trips to the high school yesterday, and doctor visits, well, I haven't gotten a whole lot done on my story. That's ok, I am not on a deadline. LOL.

Still waiting for the first round of edits to come from my editor. Tick, tick, tick. Well, I can be somewhat patient. LOL

Otherwise, I think that's it. Somewhere, I have lost my mom ring. I went to sleep with it on, and woke up with it gone. Still looking for it. Not in the bed, so I am looking through the yarn piles beside the bed. Hopefully I can find it.

Ok, I am done for today. Catch yall tomrrow.

Brenda