Anny Cook's Blog, page 116

Blue People

"His mouth hung open. His startled green eyes met hers and he saw they were a deep, clear shade of turquoise that danced with amusement at his reaction. Without comment, she dropped the sandals she carried in one hand onto the grass at her feet, shook out the pale rose meerlim she carried over one arm and casually slipped it on. Self-consciously, she smoothed the tendrils at her neck and patted the intricate knotted arrangement of her lustrous black hair. Three slender jeweled picks anchored ...

Dog Under the Desk

I have a dog that lives under my desk. I haven't quite figured out why as it's cramped, cold, and I occasionally forget she's there so she ends up with my foot in her mouth. But every day she keeps me company, faithful as, er, a hound. Ahhhh, that must be where that expression originated.

I'm not quite sure why she's attached herself to me. I don't feed her, water her, or walk her as those are responsibilities attached to other people. I don't even talk to her as I mostly forget she's warming ...

So you want to be a mutant ninja...

Sometimes...you have to settle for second choice. I wanted to be a princess. My parents had the poor taste to not be royalty and my other options were extremely limited as princes were few and very far between.

My second choice wasn't quite attainable, either. I wanted to be an astronaut. However, I'm darned close to blind and have a chronic kidney problem. It seems that the federal astronaut programs want people in close to perfect health. Considering how hazardous it is to be an astronaut, i...

New Years Resolutions?

Traditionally at this time of year people take time to reflect on the accomplishments, good decisions and bad for the past year, and set some goals for the coming year. I think it's a natural human trait to stop and assess where we are in our lives. The closing of a year is a good time to think about what we want to accomplish in the coming year.
When I was a much younger woman, New Year's resolutions were a popular tradition. I've noticed that it's a tradition that seems to be passing away...

Goodbye, 2009...

In my lifetime, there have been few years I've been as happy to see over as this year. However, I have much to be thankful for. My children are all well and employed. My spouse and I are both reasonably healthy. My parents are, too.

In many respects, I have learned new things about myself this year. Some were good, some were not so good, but as that is the way of life, perhaps those things can be improved. I certainly hope so.

I look forward to the new year with hope and anticipation. I pray we...

Writing Styles

One of the standard questions interviewers ask writers is about their writing process. Everyone has a different process. Everyone.

One writer may totally outline their book in excruciating detail (I know of at least one author who professes to do this) with pages and pages of notes. By the time they finish outlining the the outline is longer than most e-books.

Another author might sit down at the computer and write by the seat of their pants as the story unfolds in their mind. They never know e...

The Almost-Christmas Child

Christmas 2003. It was a busy, busy year. In June we moved from New York to Maryland because the house hunk was transferred. Moving is always stressful, but this time it was particularly so because we lived in our last home for nineteen years. So much stuff. So much stuff to sort and get rid of or throw out! Then in mid-September Hurricane Isabel roared into Maryland. Fortunately, we were not near the flooding, though one of the trees behind our building ended up on our balcony.

Our youngest...

Expressions of Romance

Over the years I must have read thousands of books and watched thousands of movies with romantic elements in them--note that I say romantic elements. In more recent times, many movie makers and authors have substituted sex for romance.

I've struggled with the problem of demonstrating the difference, especially as my older granddaughter has reached the stage where boys are interesting. Unfortunately, even much of what passes for romance on television is both too mature for her understanding an...