Written by Sir Anthony Hopkins
This is a beautiful waltz.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Nano Kicks Off!
Do you Nano?
I do. Which means that very little outside of writing gets done in November unless it is *completely* necessary.
50,000 words in one month.
I’m cheating a bit and finishing up an open project. But I need to get it to my editor ASAP, so I better finish it.
Are you participating?
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New Year’s Planning
Generally, I don’t plan things. Not really. I have a general sense of the arch of things, the beginning, the end, the high points. I don’t outline. I don’t plan plots. I just go for it.
That’s not helpful in the real world though. I have deadlines. I have taxes. I have so much to do that I can’t even keep my to do list up to date. But I need to. I’ve started keeping a calendar and notebook with me at all times.
What that means is that I’m already planning my schedule for next year. NEXT YEAR people. This from a woman who generally can handle planning about a month in advance.
What does the next year look like? Counting from November?
November – NaNoWriMo
– DC Big Flea for the bakery & press
– Richmond Comicon for the press
– Star Wars Fandom Universe (writing/editing/soliciting art)
December – Boutique Baking for bakery customer
– Star Wars Days
January – Book 2 of Stars and Shadows Universe
– DC Big Flea for the bakery
March – DC Big Flea for the bakery
May – DC Big Flea for the bakery
– Book Expo America (?)
June – Awesome Con for the Press
July – The beginning of my 10-11 month serial
– DC Big Flea for the bakery
September – Three Day Novel Event
– DC Big Flea for the bakery
– Forage for black walnuts (they grow wild in VA)
October – Book Lover’s Bazaar (Charity event that I plan/run with JM as my partner)
– Colonial Days for the bakery
– DC Big Flea for the bakery
November – NaNoWriMo
– DC Big Flea for the bakery
Actually, doesn’t look that bad so far… Give it time, I think.
Somewhere inside of all of that, there’s writing stories and books, editing a new project from one of our authors, a whole bunch of deadlines for the press I’ve not written down yet, a breathing space of a week or so for daydreaming or doing nothing.
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Sunday Night Music: William Shakespeare Song
Do you know the Horrible Histories? You don’t? I am sad for you. Here, have one:
October 18, 2015 · 3:08 pm
A thin, thin, line
Cross-posted from Art of Procrastination
There is a line. A line we draw and say “thus far and no further.” That line is different for everyone.
Today, someone in my life drew that line and left an abusive relationship. I will not reveal more than that for their own safety.
So, for today’s post we are going to 1) signal boost where to get help. 2) discuss abusive behaviors. 3) rage, rage against abuse and give you ways to help.
Where to get help:
For Women:
US: call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).
UK: call Women’s Aid at 0808 2000 247.
Australia: call 1800RESPECT at 1800 737 732.
Worldwide: visit International Directory of Domestic Violence Agencies for a global list of helplines and crisis centers.
For Men:
U.S. and Canada: The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men & Women
UK: ManKind Initiative
Australia: One in Three Campaign
Abusive Behaviors:
Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence. And while physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one should have to endure this kind of pain—and your first step to breaking free is recognizing that your situation is abusive. Once you acknowledge the reality of the abusive situation, then you can get the help you need.
A quick checklist from the National Domestic Violence Hotline:
Look over the following questions. Think about how you are being treated and
how you treat your partner. Remember, when one person scares, hurts or
continually puts down the other person, it’s abuse.
Does your partner…
- Embarrass you with bad names and put-downs?
- Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
- Control what you do, who you see or talk to, or where you go?
- Stop you from seeing or talking to friends or family?
- Take your money or Social Security, make you ask for money or refuse to
give you money?
- Make all the decisions?
- Tell you you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
- Act like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even deny doing it?
- Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
- Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons?
- Shove you, slap you or hit you?
- Force you to drop charges?
- Threaten to commit suicide?
- Threaten to kill you?
If you checked even one of these, you may be in an abusive relationship. If you
need help, call the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services’ “Safeline” at 1-800-522-7233 or the National Domestic
Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
How you can help RIGHT NOW:
- Signal boost. Share the information in this post. Link to it. Copy it. Post it on your own blog. Facebook it. Tweet about it.
- Donate to your local women’s shelter.
- Volunteer at your local shelter.
- Donate to one of the organizations in the first section
- Send this post to someone who needs the checklist.
- Look around your home and consider if you have the ability to shelter a friend or a friend of a friend who’s escaping a situation. Think about what you would do. Make sure there’s a plan and maybe lay in an extra toothbrush and sundries, just in case.
It is my sincerest hope that you will never need this information. But if you do? Here is it. And here’s a virtual hug from me to you. You are heard. You are believed.
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A beautiful tribute to Mata Hari from the Helsinki Burlesque Festival.
Pepper Sparkles looks like an Erte statue. She’s perfect in a turn of the century way.
I don’t believe there’s anything particularly objectionable here. But if you think that string bikinis are too revealing, you will not like this. You have been warned. It *is* burlesque after all.
September 25, 2015 · 12:17 am
Schedule of appearances
Hey, wow! Cool! I get to have one of these because I’m going to be showing up at places as an artist. (And a business owner.)
That being said, you’ll be able to see me at:
Virginia Comicon at Richmond Raceway on August 29th. Click here for tickets. (Look for Golden Fleece Press)
First Fridays in front of Prospero’s Books in Old Town Manassas Sept. 4th. 6-9PM (Free) (Look for Golden Fleece Press.)
My books will be available at the above and also at:
The DC Big Flea at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA September 19-20.
Prospero’s Books Old Town Manassas.
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powell’s, Golden Fleece Press, and pretty much anywhere else you can think of that sells books. (Maybe as a special order as opposed to on the shelf, but your local bookseller should be able to order me.)
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Check out Romancing the Rainbow
So, Spacey Zimmerman has her first story out and you might want to check it out:
Red Tides the first story in the “Romancing the Rainbow” series. (Free stories from By Passion Shorn authors)
Adults only please! By clicking the above, you agree that you are over 18 and legal in your jurisdiction.
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Fear is …
Chuck Wendig has an excellent post on media & fear. You should go read it. (Language warning as always with Chuck W.)
Fear as a momentary response has value.
Fear as a long-term emotional strategy destroys you.
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