Reasons I am Happy Today

1. First-pass edits on Behind the Scenes have been turned in to my editor.

2. It was sunny today.

3. I leave for retreat in 12 days.

4. Magnum ice cream bars are awesome, even if they're not dark chocolate.

5. New Doctor Who tonight.

6. Supernatural is living up to my expectations all season, and coming together incredibly.

7. I have a whole week before my crazy work schedule kicks in.

8. The lawn is mowed, and I didn't have to do it.

9. Our concession stand coworker today was Number One's fifth-grade teacher, so the two and a half hours passed far more pleasantly than they would have otherwise.

10. I'm not starting Under the Moon's edit analysis until tomorrow.

Why are YOU happy today? And you're not allowed to say you're not.

All things books: Interview with author Natalie J. Damschroder

I did an interview at All Things Books today. Come check it out and see what else they've got going on over there!

In the Awards I Don't Deserve Department...

Wayyyyy back on April 13th, MJ Fredrick gave me this award. Thanks, MJ! I have no idea what "stylish" means in this context. Not that it matters. No one can call me stylish in any context. :)

Anyway, the rules for accepting this award are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award on.

So, 7 things about myself that I haven't already said... Probably impossible. But I'll give it a go.

1. When I was growing up in Massachusetts, we spent a lot of time during the summer in Misquamicut, Rhode Island. Day trips to the beach, occasional one-week vacations, usually sharing a house with my cousins or a friend of my mother. So to me, THAT is what a beach is supposed to be like. High rise hotels? *scoffs with derision*

2. My preferred college was Syracuse University, but I didn't get enough financial aid to go there, so I went to Ohio Wesleyan, where my stepmother worked so I got free tuition. I was planning to transfer, but it turned out a smaller school was much better for me, and I met Jim there the first week of classes.

3. I was never an athlete, laboring under the belief that I sucked at sports and my brother got all those good genes. I played one season of U-16 coed soccer as a forward. Never scored, but I don't remember being horrible. :) I loved roller skating most of my youth, and my senior year of high school, I was in the ski club. LOVED it. Major passion.

4. I paid my weekly rental fees in the ski club by cleaning a house in the town where I lived. It was awful. I earned, like, $4.25 an hour, and the couple were horrendous slobs. They never rinsed the toothpaste they spit into the sink, so I had to clean a week's worth every time.

5. When we first moved to that tiny little town (North Chatham, NY, population less than 300), we volunteered at a festival the church held in the summer. Everyone did, even if they didn't attend that church. I was serving sodas, and they were so foamy, I had to secretly stick my finger into it to dissipate the foam or it would be half an hour before I could hand it over. (This was before the sloppy and wasteful habit of pouring the "foam" off the top of the cup.)

6. When I was a kid, and I was alone, I often found myself narrating my life. Like, walking along the edge of a lake and keeping up a running commentary as if I was reading it in a book. I thought it was a sign I read too much. Obviously, it was my writer's soul.

7. The job I most regret not getting was a summer position at Glacier National Park.

Okay, who shall I give this to?

You know what? Number Two is yelling at me to get in the shower because we have to leave soon. Since it's her birthday, I'd better do as she says. So I give this award to everyone who reads this blog, should you choose to accept it! :)

Frontierland

I know, I know, I never posted the post I was going to post. *sigh* Just...way too busy. Longer hours at day job, more freelance work, Number Two's birthday tomorrow, and I'm on deadline! You DO want a new book from me, right? And you want it to be good?

I'll pretend you all shouted "yes" instead of shrugging. :)

Anyway, I did post my thoughts on tonight's episode of Supernatural over at Supernatural Sisters. Head over and see if you agree with me!

Interview at Word Wranglers

I plan a real post later tonight, but in the meantime, I did an interview with Word Wranglers today!

Random Catch-Up and Some Big News

Phew! That Month of the Hero thing takes a lot out of you. All week, I meant to post all kinds of stuff I'd been "collecting," but time just kept slipping...slipping...slipping...

Anyway, MJ and I had a lot of fun with all of you, and we appreciate the visits and the comments and the great suggestions of additional heroes. I hope you all had fun, too!

Wow, so much to talk about. Let's break it down into sections:

The Most Important Part of the Book (or, Immunity to Iocane Powder)

I'm blogging at Magical Musings today!

The Most Important Part of the Book (or, Immunity to Iocane Powder)

And the Winner Is...

First, thank you so much to everyone who came and voted and had fun with this. I had a great week and adore you all!

Next, the runner up, losing by only 4 votes, is...

Raylan Givens!

Here's a consolation gift for you:

And the winner is...