Linda Lael Miller's Blog, page 13
September 14, 2011
It's All Good
I got Chapter 16 drafted yesterday, and today I plan to polish it and draft 17. Since there are 19 or 20 chapters in my books, I'm nearly finished! It doesn't seem possible, what with all that's been going on.
Jen is under the weather this morning, so I took Yorkie Bernice out for her walk. There is no way I could disappoint that little dog--from the time she sees me put on my shoes, she's ready to go out the door. So off we went. We checked the culverts, of course, and the bushes along the driveway. We went around by the barn and had a look at the horses, who were enjoying their breakfast. Finally, we patrolled the perimeters to make sure no wild turkey invasion was imminent. Bernice doesn't trust those birds any further than she can throw them. :) Which, of course, she can't do at all.
The weather is cooling down, headed in the general direction of fall, but we're still getting lots of sunshine, which is fine by me.
Work awaits, so I'm out of here.
See you tomorrow.
Jen is under the weather this morning, so I took Yorkie Bernice out for her walk. There is no way I could disappoint that little dog--from the time she sees me put on my shoes, she's ready to go out the door. So off we went. We checked the culverts, of course, and the bushes along the driveway. We went around by the barn and had a look at the horses, who were enjoying their breakfast. Finally, we patrolled the perimeters to make sure no wild turkey invasion was imminent. Bernice doesn't trust those birds any further than she can throw them. :) Which, of course, she can't do at all.
The weather is cooling down, headed in the general direction of fall, but we're still getting lots of sunshine, which is fine by me.
Work awaits, so I'm out of here.
See you tomorrow.
September 13, 2011
Tuesday
Have I ever mentioned that I love Tuesdays? Why? Because they are so deliciously ordinary, for one thing.
And because new books and movies come out on Tuesdays, for another. Even as I write these words, I'm downloading new audiobooks to listen to on my indispensible iPod.
I'm writing Chapter 16 of "Big Sky Country" today and, even though I'm off to a slow start, I can barely wait to get back to Parable, Montana, where the situation is red-zone between Slade and Joslyn. :)
I did my five-minute stint on the new Treadclimber today--and it nearly killed me. I had to lower the "climber" part to its flattest position, but hey, I am undaunted. I'll work up to the climbing part once I've worked up to the time goal. (30 minutes, 5 days a week.) Exercise, of course, helps with the D.I.E.T., but that isn't my main reason for finally biting the bullet and getting it done. I'm hoping to stave off the winter blues, at least partly, and have more energy.
Bernice and I took walks on Saturday and Sunday, since Jen was off duty, and that was pleasant. She has to check out every culvert, in case there's a turkey in there, trying to hide from the fiercest Yorkie on the ranch. :)
Although time won't allow me to address all your comments, I'll be picking out the ones that seem to appear most often and commenting in response. Right now, the question of the day seems to be, "Will there be more Mojo books?" The answer: yes, but not right away. I'm up to my eyeballs in hunky cowboys (it's a tough job but somebody has to do it) and I will remain so for the foreseeable future.
What I'm reading on my Nook: "The Butterfly Cabinet", by Bernie McCall. Creepy. But I'm in the mood for that right now. :) Must be the rapid approach of Halloween.
That's the news for today, my friends.
And because new books and movies come out on Tuesdays, for another. Even as I write these words, I'm downloading new audiobooks to listen to on my indispensible iPod.
I'm writing Chapter 16 of "Big Sky Country" today and, even though I'm off to a slow start, I can barely wait to get back to Parable, Montana, where the situation is red-zone between Slade and Joslyn. :)
I did my five-minute stint on the new Treadclimber today--and it nearly killed me. I had to lower the "climber" part to its flattest position, but hey, I am undaunted. I'll work up to the climbing part once I've worked up to the time goal. (30 minutes, 5 days a week.) Exercise, of course, helps with the D.I.E.T., but that isn't my main reason for finally biting the bullet and getting it done. I'm hoping to stave off the winter blues, at least partly, and have more energy.
Bernice and I took walks on Saturday and Sunday, since Jen was off duty, and that was pleasant. She has to check out every culvert, in case there's a turkey in there, trying to hide from the fiercest Yorkie on the ranch. :)
Although time won't allow me to address all your comments, I'll be picking out the ones that seem to appear most often and commenting in response. Right now, the question of the day seems to be, "Will there be more Mojo books?" The answer: yes, but not right away. I'm up to my eyeballs in hunky cowboys (it's a tough job but somebody has to do it) and I will remain so for the foreseeable future.
What I'm reading on my Nook: "The Butterfly Cabinet", by Bernie McCall. Creepy. But I'm in the mood for that right now. :) Must be the rapid approach of Halloween.
That's the news for today, my friends.
September 12, 2011
Monday Blog
Since I usually don't blog on Sundays, there was no entry yesterday. Still, September 11 is too important not to mention. Truly, none of us will ever forget that otherwise beautiful early-autumn morning, and we shouldn't. Many innocents and courageous rescuers were lost, all of them loved by someone, or by many someones. All of them missed. Just the same, it lifts my heart to think of the new towers rising proudly, bravely, against the sky.
We, the people, will always pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and keep on keeping on. We differ, sometimes loudly, in our political opinions and religious views, but when trouble comes, we stand side by side. That's who we are.
Plans for today--mainly, writing. I'm on the homestretch with "Big Sky Country" and already looking forward to diving into the next book in the series. It's been a long pull, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. (Okay, I might have made it go a little faster.)
The D.I.E.T. continues to work well. This morning I had pancakes, made of sweet potatoes. I overcooked them in the microwave, so they were a bit chewy, but they'll definitely stick to my ribs. :) My treadclimber arrived and it's up and running. I started yesterday,with five minutes--at the moment, my plan is to increase the session by five minutes a week until I'm doing thirty minutes, five days a week.
Someone asked in the comment section about my CPAP machine, the one I use to treat sleep apnea. I rest a hundred times better because of it, though it did take some getting used to in the beginning, like most things.
And that's the news.
We, the people, will always pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and keep on keeping on. We differ, sometimes loudly, in our political opinions and religious views, but when trouble comes, we stand side by side. That's who we are.
Plans for today--mainly, writing. I'm on the homestretch with "Big Sky Country" and already looking forward to diving into the next book in the series. It's been a long pull, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. (Okay, I might have made it go a little faster.)
The D.I.E.T. continues to work well. This morning I had pancakes, made of sweet potatoes. I overcooked them in the microwave, so they were a bit chewy, but they'll definitely stick to my ribs. :) My treadclimber arrived and it's up and running. I started yesterday,with five minutes--at the moment, my plan is to increase the session by five minutes a week until I'm doing thirty minutes, five days a week.
Someone asked in the comment section about my CPAP machine, the one I use to treat sleep apnea. I rest a hundred times better because of it, though it did take some getting used to in the beginning, like most things.
And that's the news.
September 9, 2011
Greetings from a (slightly) skinnier woman!
10 pounds gone! Yeehaw! And I expect the pace to pick up a little when I get my Treadclimber--it's on the way.
I was thinking you'd all be bored silly by my latest diet--it isn't as if we haven't been through this before, after all--but looking at the comments, I see that some of you are curious. So, here it goes. (Bored people, skip to the next paragraph. No guarantee you'll like it better, though.) I'm on one of those admittedly expensive prepared diet plans, called BistroMD. The food is good and very innovative, though I drew the line at Tofu Curry Stew. (Need I say more?) The portions are ample and filling and, most important, I feel good, because my blood sugar never gets a chance to dip. When that happens, I'll eat anything that doesn't fight back. :) Although costly, the diet is around the same amount I would spend at the grocery store, and you can't beat it for convenience. Why didn't I want to give the details here? Because I get the occasional snarky email from somebody who thinks I'm bragging.
I had another good writing day yesterday--I am within four chapters of being finished. (I'm sure my beloved editor, Joanie, who is the soul of patience, will be happy to hear that.)
I'll be at the Wellesley Safeway this afternoon, right here in Spokane, from 4 to 6, signing books. My good friend Sam Smith will be there, too, and he's a fun guy, so it's worth it to come just so you can meet him! Hope you can stop by for a howdy.
Either way, have a great weekend, and keep putting one foot in from of the other. No matter how the talking heads on TV may paint it, we're going to be okay. All of us.
Because we're pardners.
I was thinking you'd all be bored silly by my latest diet--it isn't as if we haven't been through this before, after all--but looking at the comments, I see that some of you are curious. So, here it goes. (Bored people, skip to the next paragraph. No guarantee you'll like it better, though.) I'm on one of those admittedly expensive prepared diet plans, called BistroMD. The food is good and very innovative, though I drew the line at Tofu Curry Stew. (Need I say more?) The portions are ample and filling and, most important, I feel good, because my blood sugar never gets a chance to dip. When that happens, I'll eat anything that doesn't fight back. :) Although costly, the diet is around the same amount I would spend at the grocery store, and you can't beat it for convenience. Why didn't I want to give the details here? Because I get the occasional snarky email from somebody who thinks I'm bragging.
I had another good writing day yesterday--I am within four chapters of being finished. (I'm sure my beloved editor, Joanie, who is the soul of patience, will be happy to hear that.)
I'll be at the Wellesley Safeway this afternoon, right here in Spokane, from 4 to 6, signing books. My good friend Sam Smith will be there, too, and he's a fun guy, so it's worth it to come just so you can meet him! Hope you can stop by for a howdy.
Either way, have a great weekend, and keep putting one foot in from of the other. No matter how the talking heads on TV may paint it, we're going to be okay. All of us.
Because we're pardners.
September 8, 2011
More Miscellaneous Chatter
Maybe that should be the new name for the blog. :)
I'm feeling better every day, though of course I still miss my Sadie-bean something fierce. I'm so grateful for every moment we got to share, that beagle and I. She was a joy to me the whole time she was here, and I treasure every memory.
Bernice had a big adventure this morning on her walk with Jenni. They met up with a family of wild turkeys and suddenly this Yorkie was a mighty hunter. :) Of course she couldn't catch them, but she sure tried. And then there's the question, "What would she have done if she had
caught one? Most of them are three or four times her size.
I'm reading a memoir called "Breaking Night" on my Nook. *The author's name escapes me, but it's absolutely riveting, though sad. If you like memoirs, as I do, I highly recommend this one. My all-time favorite of the genre is still Jeanette Walls' fabulous, "The Glass Castle", though, with Lisa See's "On Gold Mountain" running a close second. And then there's John Grogan's wonderful "Marley and Me"--well, I could go on all day.
I'm off to write a new chapter--Slade was on a roof, shirtless, when I left him. :) Mama mia.
He looks mighty good from any angle.
And that's the news.
*Liz Murray
I'm feeling better every day, though of course I still miss my Sadie-bean something fierce. I'm so grateful for every moment we got to share, that beagle and I. She was a joy to me the whole time she was here, and I treasure every memory.
Bernice had a big adventure this morning on her walk with Jenni. They met up with a family of wild turkeys and suddenly this Yorkie was a mighty hunter. :) Of course she couldn't catch them, but she sure tried. And then there's the question, "What would she have done if she had
caught one? Most of them are three or four times her size.
I'm reading a memoir called "Breaking Night" on my Nook. *The author's name escapes me, but it's absolutely riveting, though sad. If you like memoirs, as I do, I highly recommend this one. My all-time favorite of the genre is still Jeanette Walls' fabulous, "The Glass Castle", though, with Lisa See's "On Gold Mountain" running a close second. And then there's John Grogan's wonderful "Marley and Me"--well, I could go on all day.
I'm off to write a new chapter--Slade was on a roof, shirtless, when I left him. :) Mama mia.
He looks mighty good from any angle.
And that's the news.
*Liz Murray
September 7, 2011
Miscellaneous Chatter
I wrote yesterday, and was I ever into the story (Big Sky Country)--this is the part of a book I most love to write, the last third. By then, things are really rolling, and there are lots of loose ends to tie up, and the work is usually fast and furious (in the energetic sense), the words tumbling out of my brain.
My good friend Debbie Macomber and I are planning a girls-only get together for November--neither of us have a free weekend before then. I'm looking forward to the long talks and the laughter and even the tears.
I'm also looking forward to the big rodeo in Las Vegas this December! WOW. It's going to be more fun than ever and, thanks to the D.I.E.T. and the Treadclimber I just ordered, I might even be into some (fairly) skinny jeans. :) My fabulous, wonderful, amazing publishers--Harlequin--have all sorts of great stuff lined up for me to do while there, and I'm already chomping at the bit to get started. Also, I'll be seeing my buddy, Steve Miller, "the buckle guy", and his lovely lady, Sammi, the inimitable Flint Rasmussen, and hitting Cowboy Christmas at LEAST twice. All I've got to say is, BRING IT ON!
And that's the news.
September 6, 2011
Welcome, Tuesday
The holiday weekend is over and, even though I enjoyed it, I'm glad it's time to get back to Real Life--which, for me, includes writing. :)
I finished listening to "The Language of Flowers", and enjoyed it, though for some reason I thought it was set in Victorian times, and it was modern instead. Good story, well told, though. Now I've started, "Becoming Marie", a novel about Marie Antoinette, ill-fated queen of France. She's very big in the mixed media art world at the moment--lots of artist trading card swaps feature her, for instance.
My new book, "A Lawman's Christmas", will be released the last Tuesday of this month, and I'm excited to tell you that my friend, Josanne, is pitching it to Hallmark for a holiday movie, next year. Cross your fingers!
The D.I.E.T. continues to go well.
I continue to miss my Sadie-girl, but the other critters certainly keep us all busy.
This Friday, I'll be signing books at the Safeway store on Wellsley, here in Spokane, from 4 to 6 pm. If you live in the area, stop by and say howdy.
That's the news from my kitchen table.
I finished listening to "The Language of Flowers", and enjoyed it, though for some reason I thought it was set in Victorian times, and it was modern instead. Good story, well told, though. Now I've started, "Becoming Marie", a novel about Marie Antoinette, ill-fated queen of France. She's very big in the mixed media art world at the moment--lots of artist trading card swaps feature her, for instance.
My new book, "A Lawman's Christmas", will be released the last Tuesday of this month, and I'm excited to tell you that my friend, Josanne, is pitching it to Hallmark for a holiday movie, next year. Cross your fingers!
The D.I.E.T. continues to go well.
I continue to miss my Sadie-girl, but the other critters certainly keep us all busy.
This Friday, I'll be signing books at the Safeway store on Wellsley, here in Spokane, from 4 to 6 pm. If you live in the area, stop by and say howdy.
That's the news from my kitchen table.
September 2, 2011
I'm Just Sayin'...
6 pounds. That's all I'll say about the D.I.E.T. (Picture me doing the happy dance.)
Or not. :)
It's Friday, the beginning of a long weekend. I'm going to be working, except for a probable dash to Hobby Lobby--like I need more art supplies, see yesterday's blog--but there you go. I love all that visual stimulation.
Anyway, I'm thrilled to be working--August was a tough month, but September is off to a promising start.
Our weather is beautiful, sunny and warm, but with that faint crisp snap of fall in the air. Fall is my favorite season--sometimes I wish it was year-around.
I just finished listening to, "The Kitchen House", by Kathleen Grissom, and was it EVER good. One of those books that make you want to flip right back to the first page and start all over again. LOVED it. Next up for a listen is, "The Language of Flowers", by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
Books. What would we do without them?
Have a good weekend, and be safe. I'll be blogging Monday morning, though of course I can't promise I'll have anything sensible to say. :)
Or not. :)
It's Friday, the beginning of a long weekend. I'm going to be working, except for a probable dash to Hobby Lobby--like I need more art supplies, see yesterday's blog--but there you go. I love all that visual stimulation.
Anyway, I'm thrilled to be working--August was a tough month, but September is off to a promising start.
Our weather is beautiful, sunny and warm, but with that faint crisp snap of fall in the air. Fall is my favorite season--sometimes I wish it was year-around.
I just finished listening to, "The Kitchen House", by Kathleen Grissom, and was it EVER good. One of those books that make you want to flip right back to the first page and start all over again. LOVED it. Next up for a listen is, "The Language of Flowers", by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
Books. What would we do without them?
Have a good weekend, and be safe. I'll be blogging Monday morning, though of course I can't promise I'll have anything sensible to say. :)
