Cathy Perkins's Blog, page 167

Meet Kimberly Brock, Writer of Mystical Southern Tales.

One of the things I enjoy the most being a reader and writer is I get to meet some of the most interesting people. I met Kimberly Brock at my first ever writer’s conference. Sheis an intuitive, gracious woman, who is generous with her time and knowledge (and I ask her many, many questions).Her first book is out, The River Witch and I had to bring Kim here to tell us more aboutthe bookand to find out more about her writing.

Tell us about your book (blurb):The River Witchis a mystical southe...

Isn’t it obvious?

What would we do without the cautionary messages manufacturers bless us with on every product in our home.

For instance, you might notbe aware of this important warning on your pet’s medication.

When was the last time you purchased something thatdidn’tcome with a warning label?

The American consumer is bombarded with these cautionary instructions to the point where we ignore them. And why not? Here’s a sample of some of my favorites.

Ilaughed so hard when I saw this. I actually went to my com...

Summer Reading Basket

The Musers are giving away a basket filled with summer fun and lots and lots of books. Just leave a comment between June 6 and June 20 — the first day of summer — for a chance to win.

Guest blogger, Casey Gleason

Hey Musers–I’m very excited to welcome my guest, Casey Gleason, to the blog today. Casey is a former commercial crab fisherman, police officer, detective and was part of the International Police Program missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. But now he’s pursuing a much safer pursuit as author. He just released his first book, A Warrant for Yourself, a collection of true short stories series that offer a “light-hearted glimpse into the daily life of this particularly peculiar policeman.” (hi...

Books from my teen years

When I went to college, I had a modest collection of books that I loved. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Once and Future King. The President’s Daughter (by Ellen Emerson White). And then there were the friends I had to leave behind due to lack of space in a dorm room. (Little did I know there’s no such thing as reading for pleasure at a university!) Jessica and Elizabeth were foremost on that list. Sweet Valley High was a must read throughout my own high school years.

Oh, and I read my first ro...

Cowboy Inspiration

The hero of my next book is a cowboy.

Well, sort of. I mean he grew up in Texas, is trying to breed American Paints, and he often wears a cowboy hat. But he isn’t a bull rider, and never participated in a rodeo. More important, my story doesn’t take out West. My hero is, actually, more of an ex-baseball-player . . . with a Stetson.

But he’s still a cowboy.

Did you hear the insistent whine in my fingers as I typed those words. Because I’ve been having some doubts about the whole cowboy thing....

Guest blogger: Avon author Candis Terry

I am SO thrilled to have my long-time BFF to our blog today. Candis is the queen of perseverance. After 22 years of writing, winning contests and getting “so close,” she finally sold to Avon Impulse last year. And just recently, she signed a 3-book mass-market contract with them. She has finally arrived! If anyone deserves this success, it’s Candis. Okay, I’ll shut up now. This is her day, not mine.

Here’s Candis:

WORKING HARD TO SUCCEED IN A NEW WORLD

There is a very different publishing...

Hiking Training for Idiots – Saga #3

Welcome to the last pre-flight blog about how to prepare for a hiking vacation to England. For Idiots, (Because I’m still not convinced I know what the heck I’m doing). I’m not going to review my walk training or my aches and sore feet. That’s old news. Besides, after some more walks and a couple of therapeutic massages the foot is behaving so—boring topic.

What I would like to whine, er, talk about this time is the cost of being unprepared—equipment-wise. I mean, who knew I’d end up with...

Have you had Your Laugh Today?

Have your ever laughed at nothing for 10 minutes? I don’t mean a quiet, private chuckle, but a deep, out loud belly laugh! Ever heard of Laught Yoga?

Neither had I until attending a conference in April. Now, I’m a fairly optimistic person and have enjoyed private jokes that made me smile when no one else did, but I was having difficulty wrapping my head around “Laugh Yoga.”

I envisioned laugh yoga as simply adding laughter to any hatha yoga movement. It’s not. Developed in March, 1995 by Dr...

My Muse Goes To The Movies

It’s Tuesday so it must be the Muse’s day to pop into the movies. A good day to do it, at least in Maryland where it’s been hovering in mid-July temperatures all weekend, and a nice dark air-conditioned theatre rates as heaven. But summer temps also bring summer blockbusters, and the crop is thick this year with big budget must-sees and a few smaller films that might warrant the price of a ticket. I’ve rated them by popcorn.

One: not really my thing, but might change my mind. Convince me!

T...