Being Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I’m thankful that Thanksgiving is only once a year — I hate turkey.  I’m thankful the dinner is at my sister-in-law’s house so I don’t have to cook the turkey I don’t like.

I’m thankful for my family. We were all just at Disneyland and it was amazing to be with everyone!!!

I’m thankful for my friends. They are the best and believe in me so much that I start to believe in myself.

I’m thankful this year for all the blessings I have received. Our daughter is once again out on her own. Our grandson is happy and healthy and soooo smart. Our son is maturing and finding his way.  My husband is the best man in the world and I am so thankful for every day I get to spend with him.

Jill James —– Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Disneyland

Just got back from Disneyland with grandson and nephew. I love seeing some place through a child’s eyes, but nowhere better than the magic kingdom. This was my first time to see it with the Christmas decorations. No words can describe the magic and sense of awe of being there at this very special time of the year.

 

 

 

Hoping everyone has very Happy Holidays.

Jill James

Disaster Rubbernecking

You know the people, you might even be an unwilling participant. The ones who slow down at an accident scene, drive as slow as possible, and crane their necks until you just know they will need a chiropractor tomorrow, to gaze at the scene.

The past few days have been like that for RWA members. I won’t go into details on my own blog because their is more than enough all over the blogosphere. Just Google RWA and Harlequin Horizons and BLAM! it will hit you upside the head.

This post is more about the fascination we seem to have about watching the disaster unfold. Unlike a real accident scene the blood and gore of this fiasco is only of the ‘word’ kind. Never forget though, that real people are behind the scenes of this Titanic. For all the ‘unrecognizing’ and ‘rescinding’ involved, those words represent real people, authors who are confused right now about ‘what it all means’.

I have spent the last two  days ‘rubbernecking’ the whole RWA/Harlequin Horizons event in the mistaken belief that I need to be informed about these things. I do need to know, but I also need to write, which is something I haven’t done for two days as this all unfolded.

So, I’m pulling my head back into the car, staring straight ahead, knowing my organization will let me know what is being decided while I do what I’m supposed to be doing — writing.

Jill James

At the Speed of Light

This year seems to be whooshing by at the speed of light. It was just summer and we were melting here in Northern California. Whoosh!! It is almost Thanksgiving.

In our household the Christmas tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving so we usually are all done Christmas shopping by now and the presents are all wrapped and ready to go under the tree. We were so behind we had one Christmas present purchased. So Saturday we went Christmas shopping and now we are 90% there. The only thing left is a trip to the toy store for the children in our family.

You have not been Christmas shopping until you’ve gone with my husband.  We spent one hour in Penney’s and had almost everyone’s present.  He’ll grab a shirt, looks like Uncle Tom, grab pants, looks like Tim, grab a sweater, looks like Grandma…..done here. LOL

He has no patience to spend a day out shopping, looking in windows, maybe stop for some lunch. He just wants it done and over. But, if I went by myself it would probably take weeks so we compromise. Ahh, the joys of marriage.

Jill James

Nanowrimo Day 9

My nano seems to have puttered to a stop. But, my editing is going like a rocket ship. So perhaps there is a reason for everything. The whole door/window analogy.

I’ve edited all 183 pages of my contemporary so it is ready to be submitted to an e-publisher.  I’m going to start editing my Golden Heart entry today so I can have a critique partner look it over and send it in before Thanksgiving.

I still have plans for Nano. If I don’t hit 50,000 words I’m not going to beat myself up, because I’ve done more writing-related stuff this month than I’ve done in months.

Just keep in mind the whole door/window thing.

Jill James

Nanowrimo

Otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month.  The brainchild of Chris Baty, Nano as it is called is a shoutout to writers everywhere to sit down for the month of November and write a book. 50,000 words by November 30.

I’ve done it for three previous years. This year has been kind of a funk and I need Nano to get the creative juices flowing again. My story for Nano this year is a haunting/Ghost Hunters kind of story. A romance of course.

You can buddy me on Nanowrimo — I’m there as mrsgodiva

Day 1 total – 1900 words.

Jill James

What are you afraid of?

Everyone has fears. Some things made us so afraid they are phobias and have clinical names for them. Pediaphobia – fear of dolls.  Claustrophobia – fear of closed places.  Or my personal fear – Gephyrophobia – fear of crossing bridges.

As writers we need to give our characters fears too.  How they deal with them is what shows what they are made of – do they let their fears dictate their lives, do they get help, or do they use immersion therapy to deal with them.  Immersion therapy is when you face your fears head on, surrounding yourself with dolls, locking yourself in the closet, or going over a dozen bridges in one day to get over your fear.

If you are a reader, do you like your characters in your books to have some fear to make them human?

If you are a writer, do you add fear to your character’s make-up to make them three-dimensional and real?

Jill James

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

 

**spoiler alert** Mary, Queen of Scots dies in the book. She is beheaded at the order of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England

 

I thought I knew the story of Mary, Queen of Scots. A foolish woman who ruled with her heart instead of her head. Taking husbands and lovers right and left. Philippa Gregory’s book puts a different spin on a famous tale of Elizabethan history.

The Mary in this book believes with her heart and soul she is safe from being killed because she is annointed by God to rule her lands. Until the bitter end she believes in her cousin’s beliefs that an annointed Queen can not be killed.

The book shows a different side of Mary, a Queen who might have done great things if she had had advisors who wanted her to succeed. If she had had loyal countrymen willing to free her from England. If she had had a loyal half-brother who didn’t seize her throne the moment she was stuck in England.

The story is told from Mary’s, George Talbot’s – her jailer/host, and his wife’s Bess POV. It has a clear view of the times and what was at stake for Mary and Queen Elizabeth I at every choice they made.

**disclaimer** – book reviewed was purchased by reviewer at book store.

Jill James

Evil Editor

Evil Editor - Why you don’t get published.

This blog is not for the faint of heart, anyway, if you are faint of heart trying to publish a book is NOT where you want to be.

He tells it like it is and is a great insight into the editor’s heart and mind.

Jill James

Psychic Readings

At a recent RWA chapter meeting we had a psychic come and talk to us.  I was a skeptic but wanted to believe.  Edward Carrion is an amazing man and an amazing psychic.  His tales of his childhood were sad and inspiring at the same time.  He explained a lot about his belief system and what he believes to be true about the other side.

He also talked about spotting frauds and fakes and scam artists just after your money and that was great information to receive.

After the talk and lunch I got to have a reading.  I figured ‘what the hell’.  I thought it would be fun and informative for my writing.  I was blown away.  I can’t go into details because some of the secrets he spilled are not mine to tell, but he told me things that only selected people in our family know.

The one thing I can tell is: I was a devilish child. In my father’s eyes I could do no wrong. So, I would do bad things, let my brother take the blame, and enjoy that he was the one in trouble.  No one but my brother and I know that.

If you get a chance, find a reputable psychic and get a reading. You might be surprised.

Do you believe in psychics and mediums?

Check out Edward Carrion at www.readingbyedward.com  

Jill James