Borders and Me

Well, I went on my shopping trip to Borders, and what did I buy?

1. Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell. YEH I'd been looking for this one for ages.

2. Being Elizabeth Bennet, Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by Emma Campbell Webster. One of the girls from one of my groups recommended this and as I love Jane Austen I thought I'd give it a go.

3. Oxford A Century of New Words. I have a weakness for dictionaries for some reason anyway this tells you when a word was first used. From the 1900's to 2000's.

4. Whitaker's Almanack Pocket Reference 2008. Another little quirk of mine, I love knowing different facts, fun facts, silly facts, any sort of fact.

5. Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction. Do not ask me why. I saw it and some little voice said "Go on get it. You're going to need it soon." Who am I to argue with the voices, maybe I'll write a fantasy romance.

6. Roget's International Thesaurus. This is the big one. It is great, I LOVE it. There are more than 330,000 words and phrases, how cool is that? Thesaurus' are another weakness I have.

So there you have it, my day at Borders. If there was ever a shop I'd want to be locked into for the night Borders would be the place. My little slice of heaven on earth.

As you can see I'm feeling so much better, between Borders and my good friend Annie Doyle
I'm feeling on top of the world. Annie helped me to have a light bulb moment the other night.

I have come to realise that with my writing, that once I do a character profile I'm on track. Character profiles are about all the planning I do, I explained it like 'Field of Dreams' you know "Build it and they will come.", mine is do, character profile and they will come. Once I know who they are they come a runnin'.

Well that's it. I'm off to my daughters for dinner tonight. YEH no cooking for me. I'd also like to think all my blogging friends for your words of encouragement these past couple of weeks, your support means a lot. Thanks guys.

Hugs
Sandie

HELP!!!!!!

Okay! I am now well and truly sick of myself. I've done no writing since before Christmas. Done very little editing and I'm NOT HAPPY!!!!! Does anyone know of someone with a size twenty foot? You know someone who could give me a boot where the sun don't shine. "I need something" she says looking to the heavens for answers. No, that's not working. I waited a good fifteen seconds. Got nothing. OH well, sigh, scratches forehead. Better watch out for splinters. I haven't used it for so long it's probably turned to wood. Sigh, again.
Head in hands looking at my new flat screen. (Well it was before I wrote that sentence.) Did I tell you I got a new flat screen Monitor? Yep. My step-mother-in-law gave us some money for Chrissy, so we put some to it and got this great screen. I love it!!
I'm going to Borders tomorrow to look for some more books. I plan to spend at least two hours in there. I looooove Borders. I have a few novels I'm chasing up by some of my online friends. Oh and of course some more reference books. Love my books. I joined a online book club thingy, it's called Goodreads. There's a link just to the left. I've started to put in all the books I've read, books TBR. This has made me realise just how much reading I have to do, and how much I've already done.
Well that's me for awhile. If you come across anyone who could give me a good boot, let me know. Have a good week, or at least a good few days until I get back to write some more dribble.

Hugs
Sandie

My Dad

It's four years today since my dad passed away. I'm feeling it really hard this year, maybe because I haven't been well. You know there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about dad or my father-in-law (He's anniversary is on the 11th Feb, he'll be gone two years.)

So I chat to them ask them what they think of my latest writing, play some of their favourite CD's, you know; Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Slim Dusty just as well as I like them too. My dad was a pretty special man and he was my hero. He use to tell me he taught superman to fly and Tarzan how to swing through trees, and of course I believed him. Even got into a fight over that one.

Then the year the Signa ran ashore on Stockton beach, Dad was afternoon shift. The winds howled, banging the electricity box open and shut. The TV aerial broke and feel down on our roof, with a loud bang and my older sister and I lay in our beds scared stiff. But you know the moment Dad walked in the back door and we knew he was home everything just seemed to be okay. I mean as if he could hold the house up or something. But that was the trust we had in our Dad. He was and still is my hero. I love him and I miss him, but I know he is up there somewhere looking down on us.
Hugs
Sandie

Friday Night and Feeling ??????

What was my day like today? I went to the doctors, he now thinks I might have an ulcer. An ulcer what good is that to ME!! Blood pressure was not bad, not good, but better then last time. YEH. Kidney fiction is down again. BOOHOO. I got into trouble from my hubby and daughter because I didn't tell my doctor everything, but I get in there and my mind goes blank, (okay my mind is blank a lot of the time) it's like I don't know, I just forget half the things I should be telling him. Anyway I have to have more blood test, yuck another needle. Then I have to have a gastroscopy, needles AGAIN!! Have I told you I HATE needles? Yeah I'm sure I did. I had hubby home with me today, he has my flu, (poor baby) nothing like sharing.



On the writing front, I looked over a couple of my WIP. My plan is to get back into it all again next week. I have spend waaaay too long letting Miss P run my life, so she is out the door. It's a pity it's not winter here here I could have kicked her out in the cold to freeze her buns off. Anyway she is going to be out of here.



I also joined Anne Whitfield's Historical Fiction Book site. It's a place where authors, publishers and readers of historical fiction can chat and swap information. It's something like Bebo and MySpace on a smaller scale at the moment. But they are all so friendly. So click on my badge on the side or here http://historicalfictionbooks.ning.com/profile/SandieHudson and and it will take you to my Site. I also joined Novel Sisterhood it's a Yahoo group of romance authors and readers. It's run by Mary Martinez, Cindy Spencer Pape, Rita Karnopp, Judith Rochelle and Elyssa Lynne. Mary is going to have Workshops on I think it's the 3rd Sunday of each month. You have to be a member to participate so go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/novelsisterhood/?yguid=327075132 to join. Both groups are growing fast.

What else have I been doing with Miss P to waste time? Well I re-designed my MySpace site and Made my own Bebo skin (which I was quite pleased with myself). I've done some more to my web page, but I think I might have to much on there, I think I'll take my photo page off. Oh and I've been playing on Facebook, Miss P is very happy with that site. She has lots of fun there. Oh and I've been sleeping, well laying around really and watching my Grey's Anatomy DVD's because I'm missing McDreamy. So that is me for today, catch ya again soon.

Hugs
Sandie

Oh Dear Haven't Done A Thing

Yes that's right I haven't looked at or done anything to any of my WIP since before Christmas. That is so bad. I do have a good excuse, well for after Christmas I do, I've been sick. Never felt so bad for a long time. I have no idea what is wrong with me, Christmas Day was lovely, went over to our daughters in the morning to watch our grandson open his presents. Yes I went crazy again and bought him too much. But hey he is my only grandchild, the only one I'm likely to have for a while by the look of things. Anyway I had a great morning with my family. Which is nothing unusual we always have a great Christmas morning.

Then Boxing Day woke up so sick. I put it down to too much rich food, but I'm no better really and it is almost a week later. Oh well I'm off to the doctors on Friday so maybe he'll have some answers for me. The worst thing is the light head, I know there's not much up there but I'm tied of walking around hanging onto walls and things so I don't fall over. So I've been laying on the lounge watching my Grey's Anatomy DVDs. Today is the first day I've felt like spending time in front of the computer, well for more then just checking emails and posting the odd comment here and there.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and wish you all a very Happy New Year and hope you achieve all your goals. Be chatting again in 2008.

Hugs
Sandie

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL

WISHING YOU ALL

A VERY

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope you all have a very Happy and Safe Christmas. Enjoy your families give thanks for the time you have with them and don't forget to tell each and every one of them that you love them.

Best wishes for the New Year and may the Word Fairy visit with you regularly and help you find the inspiration you need to get that next novel finished.

Hugs

Sandie

Christmas Questionaire

I received this in an email but thought I'd post it here.

Okay, here's what you're suppose to do and try not to be a "SCROOGE"!!!
Just copy this entire email and paste into a new blank e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so they apply to you. Then, send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. Tis the season to be cheerful!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both. It depends on the person and the gift.


2. Real or artificial tree?
Artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree?
December 1,

4. When do you take the tree down?
Between December 26 and January 1.


5. Do you like eggnog?
NO

6. Favourite gift you received as a child?
A life size doll with long brown hair.


7 Do you have a nativity scene?
No.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
My Mothers because they have everything.


9. Easiest person to buy for?
My husband and Grandson.

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
A dress my husband bought me. It was aqua with a big black flower on it. Very, very ugly
LOL


11. Christmas cards?
No. I ring everyone to wish them a Merry Christmas

12. Favourite Christmas movie?
Miracle on 34th Street with Natalie Wood.


13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
As soon as I can. This year I was finished by February. LOL

14. Have you ever 'recycled' a Christmas present?
No.


15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
Seafood.

16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree?
Multi-coloured.


17. Favourite Christmas song?
I'll Be Home for Christmas, Silent Night,

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home. We go to our daughter’s first thing to see our grandson open his presents.


19. Can you name Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.
I ready don’t know. This was someone else’s answer.

20. Do you have an Angel or a Star on the top of your tree?
This year a star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning.


22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Being rushed.

23. Shopping…….Mall or Online?
Mall.

24. Do you decorate outside for Christmas or just inside (or at all)?
Just inside.

25. Favourite Christmas cookie?
Shortbread

26. Do you own Christmassie clothing or jewellery?
No.

27. Do you believe in Santa?
Of course, why wouldn’t I?

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

Hugs
Sandie