Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 168
January 10, 2011
A Mama Moment
Was at the store and ran into the monster's teacher from last year. We said hi, I mentioned monster was doing well this year, liked his new teacher, blah blah blah… then I also told him that monster had tested into the accelerated program. The teacher wasn't surprised, said that was where monster needed to be.
I kind of laughed and mentioned that I'd be so worried because monster's current teacher had kept sending home notes about parent/teacher conferences-previously, I'd never had to go. They'd always been optional and I never messed with them because I kept up with the teachers through volunteering. But this time, it was very clear it wasn't optional and I worried monster had been talking too much, playing too much, causing trouble, not turning work in-SOMETHING.
I even had monster worked up because he knew he'd be in major trouble if he'd been acting out in school. Once the conference had rolled around, we get there, sit down. Teacher smiles and says…'The main reason you're here is because I'd like your permission to have him tested for the accelerated program…'
The previous year teacher laughed as I told him how worried I'd been that monster had been talking too much/playing/etc, etc. And… here's the proud mama moment. He smiled and told me, "He's that last one I'd worry about that sort of thing with. He's one of the best students I've ever had."
Sniffle. Good little monster. Although he's not really so little anymore…
January 9, 2011
Familiar with North Carolina? Asheville?
Looking for a romance friendly bookstore in the Asheville, NC area..Know any?
If so, can you leave the name in comments? Again, has to be in Asheville, folks.
I've checked the web for the bookstores, but I can't get the info about which ones are romance friendly unless people who actually shop the stores give me feedback…
January 8, 2011
Senseless tragedies
Today, a wife was shot in the head and whether or not Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will survive is still in question.
Today a father, a husband was lost…U.S. District Judge John Roll had three children, was married.
And most heartbreaking for me…today, a nine year old girl was lost. She'd recently been elected to the student council-she'd been interested in government.
People are going to try to blame this on politics. Folks… it's not politics. Not at it's core, not for me. In real life (AKA away from the internet, because I don't discuss politics much online), I can argue politics with plenty of people and none of them have ever shown any desire to shoot me in the head and I've never had any desire to shoot them, no matter which side of the political line we walk.
But this isn't about politics at it's core. People may say that was to blame, that was a catalyst. Whatever. According to the article I read on MSNBN, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik was quoted to say:
"The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous."
Forget the politics and focus on that…focus on the blind hatred, because too often, people don't realize the damage blind hatred does. Blind hatred leads to shattered lives.
Now a wife is struggling to life-forget her job. A father & husband. And a young girl will never grow up at all. So many lives irrevocably changed. At least two lives lost, one was a child. And one of those killed…he was a father, a husband.
The articles I've read keep changing, and I've seen reports that maybe six people were killed… six?
Forget the damn politics…and think about the people. A husband, a father. A wife. And a child.
This is what hatred leads to-hatred leads to shattered lives.
And because I'm pissed off about this…I'm closing comments, nor do I plan on discussing this via twitter or other outlets. I just needed to get this off my chest. I'm not going to have anybody come in and direct my post away from what I feel is important here-the politics aren't important. The lives are. If anybody thinks I'm petty for not wanting to discuss it…well, it's my blog, you can discuss all you want on your own forum. I just tend to think human life is more important than things like politics-yeah, politics don't tend to impress me much at all.
Saturday Snippets…from The Departed
Dez & Taylor's book, follow up to The Missing. This book, thank God, is almost DONE…
Sighing, she looked down at the key and the map, and then back up just in time to see him slip back into the hospital. Just in time to see him look back at her. Their gazes connected and time fell away. Her heart seemed to hitch inside her chest and she could hear the echo of it in her ears, hear the roar of blood.
Swallowing, she found herself wanting to drop the key, the map…everything. And just go to him.
But she'd tried that before. And even though it had been amazing, in the end, he'd pushed her away, pushed her so far, in the end, he'd pushed her completely out. There was still a hole inside her over that.
Sighing, she tore her eyes from him and started for her car.
Why in the hell had she gone and fallen for somebody like him anyway?
January 7, 2011
Last to Die… the Friday 56
Last to Die by Kate Brady
Too many people-people bending over the body and the face to the side, away from Mitch.
About the Friday 56
Grab the book nearest you. Right now
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
January 6, 2011
Twitloss
Dear Cardio, you are evil and I hate you.
(also, I'm checking something out on settings…)
From my friend Kelley… some soldiers who don't get mail
Sounds like they don't get mail at all. :O/
Got this small list from a captain who says these soldiers do not get mail. I told him I would help spread the word.
Kelley
SGT Rick Bakeman
SPC Leshaunda Finch
SPC Steven Lathrop
SPC Janet Martinez
PFC Charles Polk
PFC Adam Ramos
1LT Nicholas Tipton
S&T RSS 3D ACR
APO,AE 09312
I would send cards or letters, add your email address, if these soldiers email or write back then invest in follow up box or package. (unless you don't mind if they don't write back)
As always THANK YOU!
Kelley
Please note… at this time, this is all the info I have, and all the info Kelley has. If you do hear back and want to send packages, please refer to this page which includes info on what to send and what can't be sent.
And because I've been asked before, please note that the information I get comes from Kelley who works directly either through an SOS unit or, in many cases, gets the info straight from Marines or soldiers who are currently stationed out of the country. The info is about as up to date as in can get…coming straight from the…um… Marine/soldier's mouth, so to speak.
January 5, 2011
Frustration, thy name is…
So anybody who follows me on twitter knows that the above pic has probably described me for the past few weeks. Edits. On Nessa. Ebil.
The ebil ended at 11:48 12/31/2010. I finished the edits, sent them back to the editor and YES… I am done. Naturally, I tweeted. I've had a few people ask why this book was driving me so crazy.
Well. It's Nessa, for one.
Another reason, I found a timeline thing-I might have been overthinking it, but it wouldn't get out of my brain until I fixed it (and even after) and then I worried I'd missed something, so I've been over the fricking book about five times.
Also… it's Nessa. You see, Nessa is a fricking pain in the butt. I don't know if I'd told anybody that. She couldn't have an easy story. Nooooo…
Sigh.
But… yay! It's done.
And off my lap, off my desktop, back into the hands of my editor. Until the next round…O.O
January 4, 2011
Winner of the Christmas Contest…
Winner of the Christmas Contest ($30 GC to Borders) is…
Chelsea B, email starting with missyprissy_
Chelsea, I need you to get in touch with me-shilohwalker@gmail.com.
Thanks to everybody who entered-I had a lot of fun reading your Christmas wishes… 
January 3, 2011
About Romantic Times in 2011/LA
I keep getting asked if I'm going to RT in LA…and then I keep getting told I'm on a list.
Um… I'm not going. Never signed up. I can't go. Not unless I hit some publishing lotto (or the powerball LOL). LA is outside my personal traveling range-I only go places now that I can get to & from within a day's drive (The drive thing is because I want/need to be close to my family.) If I can't make to wherever within a day's drive, then the family comes with me and they go do fun stuff while I work. Since LA is rather far from the Louisville KY area, that means…well. I can't go. If I go, I'd be taking my family. Which is one heck of a pricey trip. One I can't afford right now.
About traveling & booksignings and places beyond in general…(There's a more in-depth post here, BTW)
Once my kids are older, I will do a bit more traveling. I already do travel a little more than I used to. Once they are out of the house? Not a problem. But while they are with me, I'm going to enjoy them. Hopefully, the writing will always be there, but I know for a fact, my kids aren't always going to right here. Bratlet is already in middle school. Monster isn't far behind. Baby bratlet starts school next year. Time is flying quicker than I can keep up and while they are still young enough to enjoy having me around, I'm going to be-and once they aren't young enough…well, that's a pretty crucial time for me to be around. They are my priority.
As much as I enjoy getting out and meeting readers and stuff, you all don't need me. My kids, however, do. I've only got them for a finite period of time and once that's gone…it's gone and I can't get it back. I'm not going to be one of the parents who look back and wish I'd spent more time as a parent. Hopefully people can understand that.
And I know most of you already do…thank you.
