Cynthia Thomason's Blog, page 2

He likes the bed!

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He likes the bed!

He likes the bed!

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He likes the bed!

A romance author goes camping

Maybe this isn't your usual romance writer topic, but it's important to me, so I'm blogging about it. My husband and I recently purchased a very nice, used RV – a travel trailer that we are going to pull behind our large GMC van. Admittedly, my husband wasn't totally in favor of my idea to take up where we left off twenty years ago when we sold our motorhome and decided for the sake of our son's continuing education, we should abandon our wanderlust and plunk ourselves down at home and stay there. So while I was scouring Craigslist and other sale sites, my husband kept secretly hoping I wouldn't find anything to buy. But I did. I found the perfect camper for us – small, nice, light, easy to pull, good bed, and room for my computer and Sparky. And after our first trip this last weekend, my husband is coming around to the wild side.

But I've discovered that camping now isn't quite what it was twenty years ago. While I've been taking planes, trains, and automobiles, the world of RVing has changed.

Number one: The cost. Without careful attention to club memberships and passes, camping has become expensive. We are going to the Florida Keys next weekend and paying $60.00 a night for a site, and it's not even a premier one!

Number two: Amenities. Of course we need free wifi now. And free cable TV hookup. Also, we'd like to have a table, a grill, though I bought a new compact one to cart with us. We need a pool, shade, electric for A/C (we do live in Florida!) a sewer hookup and unending fresh water.

Number three: Our ages. Sleep on a narrow bunk bed? Not me. I need a walk-around queen bed with a super comfy memory foam pad. And a comfortable sofa for watching TV. And a refrigerator big enough to hold my boxes of wine

Bottom line: I'm asking you veteran campers to give me tips: Places to stay in Florida, ways to cut costs, what are the best places for sightseers. I need knowledge! Hope you will comment on your best, and worst! camping experiences.

Happy RVing!

Cynthia

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Not your mother’s romance book!

Nothing stays the same, and that includes romance books.

A week from Saturday, Feb. 12, several romance authors, myself  included, will converge on the Boca Raton library for a Valentine’s Day tribute to love stories. Since I write a lot of category romance, my subject for the presentation involves changes in what editors are looking for and readers are requesting in these shorter, emotionally satisfying reads. I hope you’ll consider coming to this event.

A few years ago, while I was still working at the auction company my husband and I owned, boxes and boxes of old Harlequin books came in from an estate. Some of these books were priced 35 cents, so that gives you an idea of their age. The covers showed heroines with occupations of the day – nurses, teachers, flight attendants (called stewardesses back then) and secretaries. Those images alone could make up a significant discussion of changes in category books. There are many others. I hope you’ll join us and bring your own ideas about what you, as a reader, look for in a romance.

That’s the Glades Road Branch, 20701 95 Ave. South, Boca. We start at 1 o’clock. Refreshments will be served and autographed books will be available.

Not your mother's romance book!

Nothing stays the same, and that includes romance books.

A week from Saturday, Feb. 12, several romance authors, myself  included, will converge on the Boca Raton library for a Valentine's Day tribute to love stories. Since I write a lot of category romance, my subject for the presentation involves changes in what editors are looking for and readers are requesting in these shorter, emotionally satisfying reads. I hope you'll consider coming to this event.

A few years ago, while I was still working at the auction company my husband and I owned, boxes and boxes of old Harlequin books came in from an estate. Some of these books were priced 35 cents, so that gives you an idea of their age. The covers showed heroines with occupations of the day – nurses, teachers, flight attendants (called stewardesses back then) and secretaries. Those images alone could make up a significant discussion of changes in category books. There are many others. I hope you'll join us and bring your own ideas about what you, as a reader, look for in a romance.

That's the Glades Road Branch, 20701 95 Ave. South, Boca. We start at 1 o'clock. Refreshments will be served and autographed books will be available.

What to do when you’re waiting…and waiting…

The week before last was a pretty good week for me, and the euphoria continued into this week. I heard that I had sold a manuscript to Harlequin’s Special Edition line. Of course this made me very happy, even happier since it had been a while since I’d sold. I don’t know the pub date for the book. I don’t even know its title yet, though now I’m calling it WINNING IT ALL, and I like that title. So I thought I’d blog about what to do while you’re waiting…and waiting… for a publisher to pick up your project.

Okay, #1. Keep writing. I have several projects that are in various stages of completion. It can be hard to keep writing in the face of rejection, but for me it is a necessity.

#2. Take time out for movies. I love movies. They inspire me. But when I’m in a funk, I try to only watch uplifting ones.

#3. Try new avenues of publishing. I now have two books up on Kindle and Book Nook. Learning to go through this process was kind of fun and made my mind less of a airless vacuum.

#4. Get a dog. I suppose I can’t advise everyone to do this, but Sparky raises my spirits every day.

#5. Think of a new business venture (if you don’t have a day job). I’m launching my free lance auction enterprise. Everyone has a talent or skill that might be turned into a paycheck. No paychecks yet for me, but I’m hopeful.

Oh. one last bit of advice. Don’t frequent too many casinos.

Happy writing everyone.

Cynthia

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What to do when you're waiting…and waiting…

The week before last was a pretty good week for me, and the euphoria continued into this week. I heard that I had sold a manuscript to Harlequin's Special Edition line. Of course this made me very happy, even happier since it had been a while since I'd sold. I don't know the pub date for the book. I don't even know its title yet, though now I'm calling it WINNING IT ALL, and I like that title. So I thought I'd blog about what to do while you're waiting…and waiting… for a publisher to pick up your project.

Okay, #1. Keep writing. I have several projects that are in various stages of completion. It can be hard to keep writing in the face of rejection, but for me it is a necessity.

#2. Take time out for movies. I love movies. They inspire me. But when I'm in a funk, I try to only watch uplifting ones.

#3. Try new avenues of publishing. I now have two books up on Kindle and Book Nook. Learning to go through this process was kind of fun and made my mind less of a airless vacuum.

#4. Get a dog. I suppose I can't advise everyone to do this, but Sparky raises my spirits every day.

#5. Think of a new business venture (if you don't have a day job). I'm launching my free lance auction enterprise. Everyone has a talent or skill that might be turned into a paycheck. No paychecks yet for me, but I'm hopeful.

Oh. one last bit of advice. Don't frequent too many casinos.

Happy writing everyone.

Cynthia

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My love/hate relationship with Facebook

I must admit, until two weeks ago, I was becoming a Facebook junkie. I went on the site several times a day, kept up with friends' news and words of wisdom, laughed at jokes and videos, and contributed my own gems of daily activities.  Harmless fun. I still feel that way about FB but now the startling reality of hackers has interrupted my free-flowing sharing of news and views. Two weeks ago a hacker chopped into my account, told friends that I, Cynthia-Cindy, was stuck in London and needed money. Though more money is always nice, the whole scenario was false. Someone reported the spamming to Facebook, and without warning, without contacting me, BAM! my account was "disabled." Not suspended. DISABLED. Gone, whammo. Outta here. I spent two weeks suffering from a cold aggravated by Facebook withdrawal, trying to get reinstated.  I wanted to wish all my FB buddies a Merry Christmas. I wanted to see their Christmas trees, their kids in Santa hats, their dancing penquins. All to no avail. Facebook "at this time" does not offer phone support, so you can't call them. All you can do is respond to emails, which I did, daily. But no response from them. So, ultimately I had to start all over with a new email address, password, etc. I have lost hundreds of "friends" and that's the worst part. I want you back. If you know of anyone who might want to be my friend, please tell them to "friend" me. I have a long mountain to climb.

And you can be sure I'll be more careful with my privacy settings.

Just wondering, has this happened to anyone else you know of?

Anyway, HAPPY HOLIDAYS and HAPPY NEW YEAR! At least I'm in time for that one!

Cindy

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Thanksgivings to remember

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Makes me reflect on past holidays, especially three from years ago.  My husband and I had a lovable miniature Schnauzer named Shaney. She was a wonderful dog. We loved her dearly. But she was prone to overeating (made worse by overindulgent parents). One Thanksgiving when Shaney was perhaps five, my husband fed her scraps from the table (I know!  don't do that!)  Three hours later, my family is crashed in front of the tv and the dog becomes horribly sick.  Trip to emergency vet, a strong lecture, and we bring Shaney home. The next year, I reminded my husband not to feed the dog from the table. He didn't, remembering the enormous bill from the vet. But someone else did.  Three hours later, back to the emergency vet. And, as if you couldn't guess, the next year, our young son made the same mistake and we were off to the vet's again. Yes, we sound like terrible puppy parents, but Shaney lived to the ripe old age of 16 despite our poor management of her diet once a year. And, somewhat amusing, the vet at the emergency clinic, the third year, remembered us from the year before. "Hey, I know you guys!" Certainly not a reputation to aspire to! So, moral to the story – turkey and Schnauzers don't mix.  Or maybe it's stuffing, or cranberries, or gravy. Anyway, NO TABLE SCRAPS no matter how convincingly the little darling begs.

I would love to hear your stories, amusing or otherwise. I'm sure we could all write a book – maybe we should!

Cynthia

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Scary writing comment on HBO's Bored to Death

I don't usually watch the show, Bored to Death, an HBO original series, but it was on last night and I was vegging out on the sofa and saw it.  It's a funny show, actually.  I may start watching on a regular basis.  Apparently it's about the publishing industry to some extent.  Ted Danson, who plays a major character, edits a magazine and he was giving a lecture to a writing class.  He said, among other things, "Books are dying, magazines are dying, newspapers are dying, print is dead."

Now, if you're in the writing biz like I am, I'm sure you've heard this before, though maybe not so blatantly uttered.  But still, it's depressing because many fear it is true.  Luckily the other major character in the series countered Danson's undeniably bleak comment by saying that nothing just merely dies.  It takes years for trends to take hold, and print will be around for a long time.

So, I'm just wondering…what are some of you doing to prepare?  Do you think techie devices are taking over?  I've heard that even ereaders will be a thing of the past as more and more people download books on more compact smart phones.  Here's a simple question:  Do you or does anyone in your family have an e-reader device on your Christmas list this year?

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