Tales in the schoolyard

Think back...for some of you...way back. We're young, carefree and playing in the school yard with the neighborhood kids.
There's you-just out to have some good clean fun.
There's Joe-the kid you can count on, kind of quiet, brave and smart. He's the kid who will climb down the sewer after your ball just because he's a can-do kind of guy.
See Nancy over there? A bit outspoken but nice and really smart.
Barack-more mature but still seems to have all the right answers.
And then there's Johnny-the whiner who is always blaming everyone else in the yard and is the first to tattletale when something doesn't go his way.
We see Sarah standing off to the side, a sweet kid, kinda dumb but the one who is always trying to play with the big kids even though she's not old enough.

Return to 2008.
Johnny is blaming Nancy because his party voted the bailout down. Whining again that Barack must be at fault somehow. Out of what? 500 senators? It must come down to this one vote because it couldn't possibly be that maybe Johnny's joyride of political grandstanding to bring us the bailout failed, could it?
What does the wiser Barack do? He simply moves forward looking for solutions and doesn't waste his time whining like little Johnny.
Story over.

Debates over and...

Some call it a draw, some say Obama faired slightly better and, of course, Republican channel Fox news think McCain was sparkling. But lets go to the facts! Stretching of the truth sprinkled with a few white lies....Check out the facts here. Personally, I thought John was a bit long winded and it seemed strange that he never looked Obama in the eye. He kept staring straight ahead even after the moderator wanted them the talk to each other.
Now I can't wait for Saturday Night Live and the Daily Show's uptake on this one.
:)

Sad note; Paul Newman passed away this morning. One love of my life...gone. :(

McCain scared of a debate???

Why else would he back out? With all the congress peoples and senators we have in America why does he (someone who admitted to having very little experience with economic issues) have to rush back to Washington?
Buc, buc, buc, bugaawkk!
9 Houses, 13 Cars---Why would he worry about the economy?

What would you do for your art?

Everyone knows that writers and artists are flaky. What they don't know is that its a skill just like anything else. When they think we're not paying attention we're actually creating things in our mind. Whole worlds can begin and end as I day dream at work. When they see that small smile on my face they think I'm encouraging them to keep talking but really I just had a break through on my WIP and as soon as they go away I'm breaking out the note pad to get it down. Hell, half the time I don't wait for them to leave.

Emperor Sutoku (Japan-12th Century) was exiled for three years. He spent this time copying the Lankauarn Sutra (Buddist religious work) in red ink. This was a special red ink. He made it himself---his own blood! He wrote the 135 pages, 10,500 words in hopes that he would be rewarded by Buddha. (I wonder if he was a little dizzy when it was finished.)
It may have worked. Sutoku was returned to power and ruled for two decades!

So? What would you do? How far would you go for your work?
Thoughts?

Mr. Flip Flop

My Theory on World Peace

My theory:
I believe world peace will come to the earth when all races of the world are blended. When all the children can grow up and say they are part of every race then I believe all the fear and anger will subside and everyone will live in peace (at last).
Its like our little world has some growing to do. And with age comes knowledge and acceptance. When we are all truly blended- what's to fight about?
Forty years ago interracial marriage (meaning every race) was nearly unheard of or at least hidden.
Thirty years ago is was shocking.
Twenty years ago it was merely a curiosity.
Ten years ago? Nothing special. (Okay, I'm in the northeast and I know some of the more southern states haven't made it quiet so far yet.)
Today? No one cares as long as they are good neighbors.
So when we are all blended....Acceptance.

Query letter fear!

Query letters strike fear in my heart. So let's rip apart one of my query letters just for fun. My comments are in ( )'s and not part of the real letter. Please no laughing. Just join in and point out any useless crap you see or let us know your own Query mistakes.

Yes, this is a letter that has received a few rejections.

Dear Ms, Mr, or Mrs. (Gotta get this right but how do we find out if a woman agent prefers Miss, Ms. or Mrs.???)

I’m an avid reader of your blog. Thank you for all the great information and insight you post there. (Too much sucking up? Not enough?) I would like to submit my manuscript for your consideration.

Eyes of My Killer:

Thriller-Suspense, approximately 70,000 words.

Misty reads eyes. She needs only to glance deep within your eyes to see your soul, your world, and all your secrets. But her gift has gotten her into trouble before as it doesn’t always give a clear picture. Not everything she “sees” makes sense. Random thoughts, images, and emotions come through haphazardly. When she comes eye to eye with a serial killer Misty goes to the police for help. In shock, she can describe the brutality and horror she saw in his eyes, but not the man himself. She knows the police think she’s a kook, but she has to make them listen.

Max Jennings is a by the book cop and he’s on the trail of the nastiest serial killer in Angel Fall’s history. When Misty McAllister walks into his squad room and declares she knows who the Angel Fall’s Strangler is because she met him at the mall, Max labels her a whacko. When the strangler leaves a message on Misty’s doorstep in the form of a dead body Max labels her a suspect, but Misty insists it’s a warning. Now she’s in a race for her life and only man can help her, the one who doesn’t believe her.

Full manuscript is available upon request. Thank you for your consideration. (I know the bio goes here but I don't have one. Does blogging count?)

Ciao baby,

One Aimlesswriter

Thoughts? Issues? Your query?

I've been SLAUGHTERED!

This book was so good I stayed up nights reading it. First thing in the morning while the dogs whined for their morning walk I'd have to finish just one more chapter.
And then the ending.....OMG! I sprang up out of bed at 2 a.m. shouting "NOOooooOOoooo!"

Have you ever read a book and get to one line that stands out as amazing. Like you have the wow, I wish I wrote that feeling.
There were many great lines in this book but my favorite was:

It had rained all night, a hard, heavy rain that tapped on their window like a witch trying to get in.

Love Karen Slaughter! Find her here.