Nancy LaRonda Johnson's Blog, page 24

Exercise No. 2: Let's Write!

Write 200 words (yes, I've doubled it. I think 100 might be too few for many) in the format of fiction, poetry or memoir and post it as a comment. One weekly piece will be selected to highlight. You may include a link to your website, blog, or book for sale. Please read qualifiers and intent in the post "Writing Prompts to Build a Community". Just click the "Daily Writer's Prompt" label to the left and it's the bottom one.
Prompt # 2:
Lazy Saturday morning and you are sleeping in, until you realize that the most important thing is supposed to happen today.

For the First Daily Writing Prompt

Again, write 200 words (yes, I've doubled it. I think 100 might be too few for many) in the format of fiction, poetry or memoir and post it as a comment. One weekly piece will be selected to highly. You may include a link to your website, blog, or book for sale. Please read qualifiers and intent in the post "Writing Prompts to Build a Community".

The Prompt:

You're staring at a completely set Thanksgiving table loaded with the most amazing feast in a room that's decked out in fine celebration style, but you are the only one there.

Writing Prompts to Build a Community

Complete a story, poem or part of a memoir of no more than 100 words using daily prompts to share on this blog or elsewhere. Just post it as a comment. Writing prompts are a good way to keep your creative juices flowing and to practice writing skills – such as descriptions, dialogue, scene, monologues, etc.
The way writing prompts work is the prompt sentence, phrase or word must be either used in the piece or be a theme of the piece and is completed in one sitting. It should be completed in no more than five minutes. Editing can be done after the initial write. A new prompt will be posted daily starting November 23, 2012.
The criteria:
1.     No more than 100 words2.     Fiction, poetry or memoir3.     No explicit sex4.     No constant profanity5.     Must be the original work of the person posting6.     Be open to honest critique
Anything not following the above criteria will not be posted or will be deleted.
The intent for this:
1.     To practice writing with short and continual exercises2.     To meet other writers3.     Possibly get critiqued4.     You may include a link to your blog, webpage or book for sale5.     100 words is enough to keep you fresh without bogging you down6.     Building a gracious writing community is a beautiful thing
Although you don't have to join this blog to post your piece, once a week or every other week, depending on how busy things are, I will choose a winning piece of someone who has joined this blog to highlight. If the winner has a webpage, blog or book, and if they so desire, a write-up will be posted along with the winning piece.
Let's keep writing and sharing to build this community!

The Week of Favor and Lesson Learned

What a week! It’s great to have the peace of God when it seems the world is zooming around you in every direction and you end up not being as attentive as you should in areas that you definitely should.
Being the off-duty probation officer this past week meant I was on call after business hours from 5 pmto 8 am and 24 hours on the weekend. It was a great week, only a few calls, and none after midnight…until Sunday.
Maybe I had convinced myself that I wouldn’t get any calls when I settled down to fall asleep at 12:30 am. But just before 2 am, I did receive four of five calls from dispatch, but did not hear them! That’s never happened before. Then at about 2:30 am one of my directors called and I did not hear that. Finally, at 4 am I was awake, was about to grab my phone about something when it rang. It was my other director telling me I had missed calls! I must have been dead to the world – you know, my spirit roaming around, hopefully spending quality time with my Lord. Fortunately, the director who reached me is the sweetest person and she was totally okay as long as the situation was handled, which it was.
Normally after making such a mistake, I am so hard on myself. But God has been with me and has kept me calm. He reminds me that I have to accept that I am not perfect, and he keeps reminding of that this week! Luckily it’s a short week.
The next day, yesterday, my postcards and business cards arrived from Vista Print, and they’re beautiful. Last night I noticed one mistake. When putting on the postcard where the book can be purchased, believe it or not, I said “Smashmouth.com” instead of “Smashwords.com.” Maybe the rock band will get some extra online traffic? Again, normally I would be chastising myself for that, but God said, "Remember, only I am perfect." 
I’d already distributed them to my coworkers and was thinking my handwriting isn’t good enough to make the correction to the remaining hundreds of postcards. “Smashmouth,” however, is in a location where I can just white it out. Quick fix. Amazon.com and Createspace.com are still nicely printed. Tell me what you think. These are photos of the front and back, otherwise they'd be straighter and clearer.




Today, my book order came. It’s so great to see your own book in print, and I’ve sold three copies so far. Other coworkers want to buy some and will get them later today or tomorrow. I wont forget to keep 10 copies aside for the winners of the Book Giveaway on my blog and on Goodreads.com.
Another good thing that came my way is that I won a “Blog Makeover” by Genesis Creations. I did like the look of my blog before, but felt it was too convoluted and I didn’t know how to best place the information I wanted. I have experienced before when people offer free or discounted services or products they treat you like an ungrateful stepchild. But I have to say that Richetta Blackmon was very professional, attentive to my desires for the blog, and responded quickly to questions, suggestions, and issues that arose, and now I love the new blog look. If you think she did well on my blog, please check out her web page at http://www.designsbygenesis.com.
You all have a blessed Thanksgiving Day! And enter to win a paperback copy of Anticipation of the Penitent or feel invited to purchase a copy.

My First Author Interview! Thoughts on blog interviews

http://4horsemenseriesbr.blogspot.com/2012/11/introducing-nancy-laronda-johnson.html

According to Julie Luek of the blog A Thought Grows, you should "let your light shine" by acknowledging and spreading the news of even small accomplishes. Author interviews, even on new blogs, are a good way to get your name, book and voice out there, and voicing those accomplishments is a way of celebrating them.

The above link takes you to my first published author interview from someone I met on Authonomy.com. I'm so thankful that Pam Funke of The Four Horseman Series Book blog is among the new breed out there trying to expand not only her own books but the works of other Indie writers.

Yes "Indie" is a term that comes up a lot. Indie has such a diverse meaning, and is now used to describe the growing population of self-published authors who are working exceedingly hard to promote their works, usually with the hope of reaching that dream of becoming a full-time writer.

Don't be discouraged if an interview never gets released. This past summer, I conducted an interview with a local valley radio station and was told it would be aired, placed on her website, Facebooked and Tweeted, and I told almost everyone I knew. The phone interview I thought was very good, but it never went out. Emails to the interviewer were never answered. It left me thinking maybe she didn't want to promote a Christian book, even a speculative one like mine. 

That sputtered out interview, nonetheless, was a good starting point for me and I'm now happy to have my first real interview flowing through the web. I'm scheduled to conduct a podcast interview on December 7th, and I'm looking forward to that. 

Let's get all of our lights shining in many magnificent ways!

Identity

This is an excerpt of the sequel to Anticipation of the Penitent, Michtam's Hubris. I've still got a long way to go, but I am making progress. This is the beginning chapter. I have decided on a new name for the book, but will not change it here yet.~  ~  ~Identity
“I’m not running away. I am not running away,” Gent repeated to himself while he scurried around his room gathering last minute items that he thought he would need. His edgy nerves caused sweat to bead on his forehead, making his thin, dark hair paste to it in the pattern of wavering sunbeams. A glance at his mirror confirmed that he looked as pasty and pale as he felt.Gentwas not so worried that his parents would wake up, nor was he insecure about his decision or how he was carrying it out. He knew this, yet he could not help feeling like a thief and coward. Two small suitcases stood at his bedroom door, waiting patiently, like they knew he had to spend time running around like a small boy who got separated from his parents.After tucking a pair of gloves and a scarf into the outer pocket of his backpack, Gentloaded on the backpack, gathered his other two pieces of luggage and quietly made his way out of his room and the house. It was still dark, but the sun would make its way above the tips of the trees soon enough. He hoped no one would see him because he could not imagine coming up with an excuse for why he was leaving while it was still dark. Again, he said to himself, “I’m not running away. And I’m not doing anything wrong.”He did feel somewhat like a coward for not having the courage to speak with his parents about why he needed to leave. Michtam knew everything, but he would not tell them unless he felt Gent was in danger. It was hard enough telling Michtam, whom Gent believed would always be in his life no matter what happened.  
When Genttalked to Michtam the previous night, he expected Michtam to be concerned and provide a million reasons why Gent should not leave. Instead, Michtam peered into the trees of the small park area behind the pool where they sat to talk. He had a distant look in his dark brown eyes that Gentcould not read, and no arguments. The dimming light of the evening gave Michtam’s skin a darker tint than his usual caramel color. Michtam said, “I’ll cover you at work if you need me to.” He still did not look at him, and Gent questioned even more what Michtam was thinking. “No. I called the café to say I couldn’t make it for the rest of the week. They’ve already covered that, and Harry’s been looking for extra work, so he’ll kick in after that.” Michtam was paying attention, but barely. “The library’s slow enough right now that I didn’t have too many hours anyway. I won’t be missed.”A small smile crossed Michtam’s face, and he said, “You will always be missed, Gent.”Wanting to pinpoint where Michtam’s standoffishness was coming from, Gentasked, “You understand why I have to leave, don’t you?”Finally Michtam looked at him and said slowly, “I understand enough.” Then looking more normal, and with a big smile, Michtam chuckled, “Gent, you know I really don’t understand anything about you. Prayer surely hasn’t helped there either.” He paused, then added, “If you wanted understanding, you should have gone to Pastor David a long time ago.”Gentwent along with their usual line of teasing and said, “Mick, you know you couldn’t understand a rock rolling down a hill, a child crying when you kicked his sandcastle down or why you got fired after making out with Chuck the dry cleaner’s daughter, giving her mono.”They both laughed and for a moment they felt to be in middle school again, chiding each other about being duffuses or committing acts deviants might, far beyond anything they ever contemplated.Gentfollowed Michtam after he stood up. They stared at each other, not saying anything more. Then Michtam walked over to Gent and they hugged, not knowing when they would see each other again. Neither of them cried that night, but Gent was sure that Michtam would, just as he knew he would after the reality hit him that he was leaving their home. Their identity. The real reason why he had to leave was that Gent could not have his full identity in Gabriel. Since he began to understand his difference, he knew while he remained here, he would not be complete. Gent could not live his life in Gabriel, like he truly yearned to do, with a partial identity.Still without tears and loaded up with the only possessions he could afford to take with him, Gent made his way down the main road and down the mountain to the small town below. From there, he would take a Greyhound bus to God knew where.



Gentwalked the pavement with no destination in mind, and his mind wandered. The last thing Michtam told him when they spoke near the pool was for Gentto call him for anything. That was something he did not need to be told. It seemed Michtam had no idea what else to say. What Gentneeded to hear from Michtam did not come. Even without that verbal confirmation he had to hope that Michtam would be that tether for Gentto return to Gabriel should he stray too far and not be able to find his way back. Although their relationship was not exactly the same after Gent’s coming out to him years ago, Gent knew he could always count on Michtam should he need help. Everyone was close in Gabriel, but having been raised as brothers, born only months apart and their mothers being best friends, Michtam’s and Gent’s relationship was much stronger than best friends. After Michtam learned about his father, it did not bother Gent that it took Michtam nearly a month before he spoke to him about him. Gentcould not imagine how finding out that your father was a killer of little girls would affect anyone. After being fed only good stories about his father, when Michtam learned the truth, he was nearly shattered with confusion. It was only months afterward that Gent informed Michtam about his own dilemma. Although Michtam asked a few questions of Gent’s conviction, his queries into Gent’s life after that became less in depth and personal. Their bond, however, never changed.Gentknew in his heart he was not leaving God. Rather he felt that he left Gabriel in order to know how to become more truthful to himself. Then he could give his full to God and not feel like a hypocrite. He was sure he could not be the only person ever in Gabriel to be like him. It was more likely that he was the first one who wanted to remain in Gabriel, to make his career there and, against all hope, find his mate, marry and be completely accepted for who he was. Gent did not think this was a total impossibility. As things were now, it pretty much was, however. God’s intent, as he had always heard in sermons, was for there to be a husband and a wife. To not stir up his anger, Gent focused on his moving feet, which were getting distracting because of their pain. He had to think of what he was going to do. His only thought, after making his trek down the mountain to the bus station, was to get to as big a city and as far away as he could with his eighty-dollar traveling budget. He was pleased that he spent only fifty-eight dollars to go just under five hundred miles, and treated himself to his first chain store pizza at one of the stops on the way. When he arrived, he stayed overnight in the station, hoping he would not to be accosted or even questioned by anyone. He woke up at 5:30 a.m., right before dawn, gathered his belongings and walked. Two and a half hours later, he was still considering what his next move would be. He could start by trying to find a job. Just about anything would do. At home, he worked in the café that opened up a year ago, and in the library. He had also bagged part-time at the grocery. He liked staying busy and, although he had no experience outside of Gabriel, he was confident in himself enough that he believed finding a job would not be too difficult. The first thing he needed to consider was finding where he would sleep tonight and then to find more long-term living arrangements.Yet, he had no idea where to go or how long his eight hundred and fifty dollars that he had remaining after the bus ride and pizza would last. Even so, he could not go looking for a job while lugging around all of his property, and he knew he must look ragged and dirty. Looking up from his shoes, Gent saw a Visitor’s Information office that would open in an hour and a half. It was two doors from a café that was opened. He shifted his two pieces of luggage and backpack, and entered the café. He would wait there until the office opened and hopefully learn if there was a youth hostel or other inexpensive lodging nearby. Choosing a table close to the barista, Gent stacked his belongings against the wall next to his table. There was a line of people and Gentthought to wait until it was empty before ordering. The line continued to flow between three and seven people. He eventually decided to join in behind a fourth person, while keeping an eye on his baggage. Not knowing what he was getting, he ordered a small chai tea latte. After a shock that the price of tea could be over three dollars, he waited in a pocket of the café that was close to his table for his order to be ready. After a couple of minutes, his name was called. He took it with a sleeve and returned to his table.Cautiously, he drank through the oblong sipping hole of the lid and was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness and spice. He let himself disregard the expense, but would remind himself to always check prices before he made any purchases, and promised himself no more indulgences while his situation was so precarious.Gentslowly sipped his tea and tried not to stare at anyone in particular. He had never experienced a commute hour as such. At home, there were busy times in the morning and evening when people would go from their chores, classes and jobs, but nothing like this. Everyone here appeared rushed and distant. No one looked at anyone else much, maybe a quick glance or, even more rare, an even quicker smile or nod. Not surprising to him, Gent was feeling foreign and out of place. While looking out toward the street and the growing number of people walking along the sidewalk, Gentnoticed that someone was watching him. It was not the quick glance that everyone else seemed to give. He looked back toward the gaze that grabbed his attention and saw a Black man in a business suit looking at him curiously. He appeared to be in his late twenties and was sitting by himself in between one chatty group that looked to be college students and another two-party group of apparent coworkers who were reading newspapers. When the man stood up, still looking toward him, Gent began to get nervous. He had no idea why a stranger would seek him out. He stayed put, watching the man, who was average in build and height, with short natural hair, and wearing an average dark gray suit and tie. Gent quickly looked around him to see if there was someone else who the man might be walking toward. There was no one.By the time he turned back to the man, he was at Gent’s table, his hand reaching out to shake Gent’s. “Hi. My name is James. Please, don’t be concerned. It seems to me that you look a bit scared and new here.” He paused and seemed to think of how to continue. “I just dropped my wife off at work. A lot of times I come in here when I’m early for my job. I wanted to make sure you’re okay. Is everything fine with you?”Gentstayed silent, not knowing whether he should respond. The man seemed honestly concerned. Despite that Gent had limited personal experience in the world outside of Gabriel, he was not completely ignorant about the deviancy of people. Being alone in this city, Gentwas automatically cautious, but he also did not want to ignore the man as if he had not heard him and did not see him standing right in front of him. Gentfinally reached out his hand to James who quickly shook it. “I’m fine.”“You seem to have just arrived here. Do you have people meeting you? You have somewhere to stay?”Baffled by James’ show of worry, Gent still did not know whether to trust him. He was in a public place, however, and felt that answering his initial questions should pose no problem. “I will look for a place to stay in a little while.” He stopped there, not sure he should give any more information.“You have work here or are you going to school?”“I’m looking for work.”James sat down at the table without asking whether he could and with heightened concern in his eyes, he said, “I don’t want to be too prying, but I want to make sure you are okay. You look quite young and I want to make sure you get safely to where you want to be. Look, my wife and I live about a mile down from here, and I work about a half an hour away during normal traffic conditions. I’m a legal assistant at a small law firm. How do you plan to find somewhere to stay? In this city, there are predators who look for newly arrived young guys like you to take advantage of in one way or another. Do you need any help, or have you got everything under control?”Apprehension wanted to take control of Gent that maybe this James was someone who wanted to take advantage of him. Gent felt, however, that he could trust his man, at least a little. After a moment, Gentsaid, “I’m waiting for the Visitor’s Information office to open to ask them where there’s a youth hostel.”“Okay, good.” James relaxed back in the seat, looking relieved, and Gentwas glad that James seemed to think his plan was satisfactory. “When does the office open?”“It should be open in another twenty minutes.”“Fine. Let me give you my card. I do need to get to work now, but please call me if you need some help. What’s your name?”After taking James’ business card and looking it over, Gent told him his name.“Where are you from?”“A small town called Gabriel. It took almost a full day to get here by bus.”“Alright Gent. I do need to go. Call me if you need to. I’d hate to hear of another young man that got caught up with the wrong people and ended up either in jail, strung up on drugs, or in the morgue. I don’t mean to scare you, but it does happen, too often. Be careful who you get involved with. And get only legitimate jobs.”They shook hands again, and afterward James said, “Good luck, Gent. Don’t be too shy or fear you’re bothering me if you need to call me. If I can help you out or get you to someone who can, I will.”Gentlooked again to James, scanning his features. He had a gentle presence about him that put him at ease. He realized that when he first arrived to the café, he felt like a small rat trying to hide in the open, while anything he could encounter might be a trap or otherwise try and exterminate him. After meeting James, he felt more at peace. It was good for him to go to the information office, and now he had a contact with someone who could possibly help him in this unknown place. Gent never realized how stressed he had been because of his insecurity at being on his own and in a large city for the first time.

The Print Book & Useful Sites for Writers

After several late nights of researching, reading, reformatting and signing up, the print version of Anticipation of the Penitent is finally able to be ordered through CreateSpace. I have ordered some copies and they are expected to be delivered on November 27th. I did the regular shipping, but you can always select express shipping. When I get them, I will be contacting my followers!
Here are all the places, so far, that you can purchase Anticipation of the Penitent now: CreateSpace.com, the print bookhttps://www.createspace.com/3985176. Amazon.com, the Kindle versionhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZQCEEASmashwords.com, various ebook versionshttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/251556For Smashwords, here’s the coupon code to get a free copy: PS23Y
This is why this process is so much more difficult than it seems it would be: Because when you start from scratch and have no idea what you're doing, you have to learn all the jargon, figure out what each distribution site wants, try and find out what's not worth the time and/or money. 
Her are some sites that are very useful for writers, even if there is always a learning curve in figuring what you can do and how to do it:1.    CreateSpace.com·      Free self-publishing, including creating your own book cover and designing the interior of the book·      Can order your own print book at reduced author’s cost·      Free distribution of the Kindle version on Amazon.com, book saleable at whatever price you want.·      Low-cost expanded distribution to bookstores, universities and libraries for $25·      You have some leeway at the price you want to sell your print book, but they set a minimum price to make sure the manufacturing costs are covered. CreateSpace gets a percentage of your sales, as with all distribution services.
2.    Smashwords.com·      Free self-publish and distribution in these various ebook formats: §  Kindle, epub, Sony Reader, Palm Doc, PDF, RTF, and Plain Text§  If you are able to format your book in the way that is acceptable to other distributers (for me that took until 5 am to figure it all out and get it right. They’ll do it for you for a small cost if you can’t do it or don’t have the patience for it.) they will distribute for free to these companies:o  Sonyo  Barnes & Nobleso  Koboo  Amazono  Appleo  Dieselo  Page Foundryo  Baker-Taylor’s Blioo  Library Directo  Baker-Taylor’s Axis360§  You are able to opt out of any distributor you want. For example, I opted out of Amazon.com, since my book is already being distributed there through CreateSpace.·      You can sell your book at whatever price you want, including for free, or having coupon codes for your people to receive a free or discounted copy.
3.    Goodreads.com·      This is a good site to promote your book and get some of the great number of people that visit the site to take a look at it. §  You can have your own “Author’s Blog Page,” which isn’t as technical as it seems. I’m still learning how much can be done there, but here are some tips:o  Upload all or a portion of your ebook and book cover, and link where it can be purchasedo  People can comment on your book in the Goodreads’ book list.o  Your personal blog posts can be linked to your Goodreads Author Page.o  You can start discussions about topics that your book brings up, and your book will appear as an icon.o  You can include your book in the many “Favorites Lists” in the site.
I hope this has provided you with some resources for you to get your book out for everyone to read and enjoy!
Again, I invite you to follow this blog by clicking the “Join this site” button, and to get your copy of Anticipation of the Penitent.

Speculations

His eyes bulged wide like in those greeting cards where the eyes of dogs are exaggeratedly large. I stared horrified as his eyes continued to inflate until they popped like overfilled balloons, exploding with red liquids and strands of membranes.As soon as I thought my heart couldn’t take the stimulation anymore and would arrest itself, he ended his bulbous gaze. His mouth opened wide in slow motion and his head began to rapidly shake. In the split second that my eyes blinked, his whole head burst open like in the movie Scanners.Then exactly like delayed sounding in a movie, a soft whine eked out of his gaping mouth. When his lips moved closer together, the sound got louder and grew into a comical guffaw.  Before I could inspect his exploded head, the infection flowed to me, and I fell backward unfeelingly, but hard to the floor while laughter pumped out of me like heaving vomit.I couldn’t tell if the snorts were coming from him or me. When I finally sat up and glanced his way through tears in my eyes, his head was not there and my heart nearly stopped again. But he was leaning backwards, his hands propping himself up. He lifted his head from behind his shoulders, as his snort shot a sizeable blob of snot from his nose. He stared at it as it landed on my bare knee, and he fell forward, slapping the hardwood floor with both hands while he choked with laughter.It was pulsating and quivering on my knee, and I knew that would not do.“I think it’s time for another hit.” I grabbed a napkin lying to the side of the spoons, pills and powders to clean off my knee. “What did we do last?”

Debt

My mind focused on the multiplying beads of sweat running down my forehead, each one trying to reach to my chin first. Sal was going to come any minute, too soon to conjure up some excuse as to why I had to leave without making a payment toward what I already owed him, a measly $500.This was his fault. Why the hell would he have me come here! He knew I would not be able to resist a touch and pull of the arm, or the sounds and flashing of lights. He knew that would lead me to the tables, where even he had banished me from going near! Not really banished, but he urged me with that all-knowing and mockery-driven sneer that made his sagging jowls and baggy eyes jiggle to the point where they looked to be laughing at me. Nothing about him would be laughing once he heard about the $50,000 I lost tonight.This time I did too much. Sal would kill me. I had to use my silver tongue like I’d never done before. I’d have to talk with a golden voice. I would convince Sal that this was his fault, and it won’t seem like I was shirking my responsibility.As Sal walked up, I drew my soaking napkin across my forehead one more time, and I did it. My tongue was smooth, with just the right amount of silkiness and whine. The words I spoke were like they came directly from God, and I saw Sal’s eyes soften. Instead of the two pistols pointing at me from his beady eyes like before my eloquent monologue, his eyes looked milky and glossed over with emotion. When I finished, I swore he was silent for nearly an hour. Then he grumbled out, not in anger, not with mockery, but with an air of mercy, “I see what you’re saying. You’re right, I shouldn’t have had you come here. To tell you the truth, I don’t know why I did. Guess I was busy, not thinking.”He placed his hands over his paunch, which wasn’t that big, but had a suitable ledge for him to rest his hands when he didn’t want them hanging to his sides uselessly. “I’m thinking now,” he said. “This is what I’ll do for you, and you’ve got exactly one minute to decide. My youngest daughter is looking to marry. She’s got the perfect guy picked out and can’t wait. But I’m from the old school and will not marry her off until her older sister is married first.”I felt my legs wobble and saw my body begin to sink toward the ground. Sal looked to his stooges, who lifted me straight. Everyone knew Sal’s oldest daughter. Notorious Natalie was what most called her. Notorious Natalie was supposed to have been married five years ago, but when the unlucky bastard talked too long to one of the beautiful patronages at the roulette table, Natalie beat him to unconsciousness with her hefty size eleven spiked shoes. Sal waited until he woke up, before tossing his no longer conscious body into a ditch. That was the first. There had been two others since then.“Marry her tomorrow and all is forgiven. Otherwise you have to pay me by midnight tonight.” Seeing the fear and near delirium in my eyes, he added, “The wedding will happen, and you will be safe.”Maybe the wedding would happen, but I’d never be safe again. I began to list in my head the names of towns and banks outside of Sal’s domain. I knew I could do a bank job and pay Sal my $50,500 debt well before midnight. Or I’d die trying. 

Career Day

“Everyone welcome Debbie’s mother, Mrs. Redwood. She has a magnificent job that I am sure each of you will be thrilled to hear about. This will be a big surprise, since Debbie is new here and I doubt anyone knows what her mother does for a living. I will give you one hint: Every night when you fall asleep, Mrs. Redwood could tell each of you exactly what you are dreaming of! Now listen closely.”Raina Stinson scuttled eagerly to her desk to hear Margaret Redwood’s presentation. After listening through the tedious lives of office managers, construction workers, and a book editor, she could not wait to hear this.~ A Reader's Digest prompt entry of 500 words or less: You've agreed to give a talk at your child's school for Career Day. Not only do you hate public speaking, you found out yesterday that you've been fired from your job—and you haven't told your kid yet. Write what happens when you go to the school to present.
I’ve added a few words here for clarification.