Feeling Parched

What's Jack up to? Jack is gearing up for a long holiday weekend filled with family and the dear twins. No more lounging about it's about to be wild up in here.

Me, I'm hoping to get my NaNo writing done in the midst of all the holiday running around. Don't ask me how. It's a mystery. Yikes.

The DD had been dying to show me this nutty YouTube video. Yes, these are the things that occupy the teen's minds nowadays. I have to say I saw it and thought how silly, but still funny and I also thought of one person. So this goes out to you, Kristen. It made me think of your post here.





Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. Hug all those you love and be thankful for them.
I'm so thankful to all of you for stopping by and hanging with me. Smooches.

Best,
Kwana

P.S. What did you all think of the results of Dancing with the Stars? Did you watch? I was not surprised but also not happy.

Knitting Through

Howdy! How are you today?


Me. I'm chilling. Thanks for askin'. At least as I'm writing this I am. See I've picked up my knitting again which has been even more stalled than my NaNo writing. I've been working on the same sweater for what feels like forever (knit 1 purl 1, uh, rest) , but finally, I have started the last sleeve. Now there's an odd sentence. I said it like there was 3 or 4 sleeves. Yeah, I know there are only 2, but the first took way too long and the cap took too much thinking. Felt like long division. Ugh.


Alas, I see light at the end of the tunnel. I have started the last sleeve then it's the collar and a sew up. Yay. I'm moving now! This T-neck should be ready for the summer. Woot!


Have a good one.


Best,
Kwana

Sparkle Love

What's Jack up to? Jack is cool. He had a good Jack weekend. I'd say it wasn't Jacked up at all. Full of food, walks and lots of chilling out. He's a happy dog.

So like every other teenage girl and their sad mom the DD and I saw New Moon this weekend. We sent the poor DH to get tickets for us early, in another town no less, at an obscure theater in hopes that it wouldn’t be too crowded. It was. But all was good anyway after the 25 minute popcorn wait.

The DH went with us. The DS (dear son and other teen twin) wanted no parts of it. I guess he wanted to be able to go back to school and say to his friends he resisted the pull of Edward and Jacob. Little did he know a Twilight screening was the place to be for a tall 16 year old boy, he will live and learn.

I had loads of fun and thought this movie was of much better quality than the first. Maybe because I wasn’t smack up against so much vamp powder make-up all the time. Hey, the wolf pack can hang in the sun all they like.

I thought this was a sullen narcissistic teen girl's dream. Pout, whine, and I still have all the boys giving you attention. What is not there to make this box office gold? The formula was suddenly clear to me.

The best part of the whole night though was my DH’s reaction to all the squealing girls whenever Jacob would come on screen (and don’t let him not have a shirt on). I think I counted no less than 12 “Ohmygods” from the DD and at least the same amount of groaning “Oh H-E double LL’s” from the DH. A crack up.

Good times.

Best,
Kwana

Tainted

Feeling a little tainted today. Maybe it's the week or maybe it's the work in progress (it is a love story so that's good) either way I woke up nostalgic and singing this. Enjoy.



Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Uploaded by damned78. - See the latest featured music videos.


Oh and please check out my To Desire a Devil review on Booksquawk today!

Best,
Kwana

Wanna Snuggle?

Happy Friday! And I do hope it's happy.

I'm going for a new outlook today. Enough of the writerly doom and gloom. Obviously wheels are going to keep turning no matter what I say here and we'll just have to see how it all plays out. In the meantime I'm ever hopeful.

My NaNowrimo writing has suffered terribly this week. It's been a tough week life-wise. just plain nutty and the writing time has just flown by. Now I'm in panic mode. Oh well. I shall do my best to be where I will be. Wish me luck.

On a Friday up note I have a Snuggie!! Well, a Snuggie-esque from The Christmas Tree shops. Yesterday Nana and I did our annual Thanksgiving shopping and ran across some very cool Snuggie-esque garments that were called The Hug Throws for a great price in all sorts of colors and Nana could not resist buying them for the whole family. I have a cool lime green one! Love my Nana.

The only family member that didn't get one was Jack. I specifically warned Nana not to order Jack this. You know she wants to. Sorry he'll just have to cuddle next to me with mine. It's bad enough I'm looking a hot Snuggie-esuqe mess don't need to subject Jack to it too.



Best,
Kwana

Unsettled

What's Jack up to? Jack is doing good. Feeling a lot like his old self and getting back into trouble again. I've had to shoo him away from the trash one too many time lately so I'd say he's on the mend.


As for me I'm feeling unsettled. It's a word I tweeted yesterday about the uproar over folk's responses and RWA's response to Harlequin Horizons. Yes, I still see both sides of the argument but RWA taking away Harlequin's status does leave me just that, unsettled. Don't throw tomatoes please. I know the bylaws and the rules. I do get it both sides and the whole protection thing (ish).

But it also brings to my mind the many fine writers that write for Harlequin and how they must feel and the legitimacy of the RITA's if Harlequin writers are not included (hmm). I mean it is called Romance Writers of America, a pretty broad name, and am I correct in saying that Harlquin is the largest romance publisher?

Now I could go on and on bringing up how it would be nice for fine e-pubs to be included too and let's level the writing playing field but the whole thing is a slippery argument slope and I got Mammogram 40 or 50 confusion to be pissed about too today. So there is plenty of unsettled to go around don't cha think?

Much love and keep breathing y'all. Remember dialogue is good and I hope there is a solution to this soon where this off feeling stops and the love flows.

Best,
Kwana

On The Horizon

Yesterday the romance publishing world (or at least my little tweet corner of it) went into a bit of a tailspin with the announcement of Harlequin going into the self-publishing business with the launch of Harlequin Horizons (see site here). There were arguments a plenty and plenty more over if this was a good decision for Harlequin and if self publishing is a respected option at all for writers (Check out Smart Bitches post and comments here). Interesting on both sides but the initial anger is upsetting to me.

Now I’m not going to give an opinion, ok I’ll give something (I can’t resist). I’d like to be traditionally published. It’s a dream of mine. I’d love to be published by a house like Harlequin or Avon or Berkley I could go on and on here and I’m not ready to give up on that dream (some dark days maybe) despite many years of work, numerous manuscripts and countless rejections.

But let's play What If for a moment here. What if you’ve been this close for so long and the playing field keeps getting smaller and smaller? Or what if what you write doesn’t fit into any box that said dream publisher is looking for? Or what if they already have your box ticked off? Maybe the slot is already filled for that African America romance or interracial romance or they don’t publish any of what you write. Then what? Do you keep submitting? Change what you write or take a chance on self publishing to get your work out there? Notice I’m not saying have fame or fortune here.

Now I know the argument of the good stories will someday get published and it’s just a matter of time. Or the one about the reason that most manuscripts get rejected is because they are not up to snuff and I do think that’s true for the most part. But I also think there are those few gems that may never get a chance because they don’t fit into any open box on that special given day when the stars align for subjective publishing dreams to come true.

Honestly, I don't know my final thoughts on this. It makes my dreamy writer head spin but all that said. Here is my question for you:

Do you have an opinion on self/vanity published fiction books? Have you read any lately?

Please all you non-writers speak up. I want to hear from you too.

Best,
Kwana

P.S. Update please go to Smart Bitches blog to read comment from Harlequin's Malle on the subject here. I do think there are many sides to a story and breathing through is key.

There Be A Party Going On

Not many blog words today. Gotta save em up so I thought I'd share this cool video that came at me on twitter from @GalleyCat . And you just wanted a paper.




Party on!

Best,
Kwana

Monday Music

What's Jack up to? The Jackster is doing well. His rash is getting better and his ears are too, though he's not enjoying taking his meds for both. I know he's on the mend because his appetite is back and a person can't make it near the kitchen and his treats without him fast on their heels. Go Jack.

I'm still busy with NaNo writing. The words are drip, drip, dripping through slowly and it's tough to find the time I'd like. At the end of the day I find myself wishing I had 3 or 4 more hours where I was feeling alert and creative to just sit write and be. But, um, no. Not gonna happen unless I say buh-bye to the few hours sleep I do get and if I did that who knows what hot messery I'd wake up too. Probably a page full of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's. Hmm would they count towards my word count? Probably not.
That said no long post from me today. Or any day for the rest of this month. Will you be back? While I'm in NaNo land please enjoy a little surprising Monday music from Michael Buble and the DD (so not her usual taste). Thanks DD.



Best,
Kwana

P.S. Have you check out Booksquawk yet? Why not? All the cool kids are doing it.

Reality Round Up

Happy Friday! So another week bites the dust. I hope you all had a good one. I've fallen behind with my writing so I'm really frustrated. Cut to me growling over here. I fear I'm not fit company for man or beast. Poor Jack and the rest of the family will just have to put up with me though. That or move.

Oh well.

I believe I haven't done any reality talk in such a long time. What are ya'll watching? Top Chef and the dueling brothers? Do we miss the Hot Mess Atl Housewives? Is anybody wearing SHE by Sheree. No? I didn't think so. Man that woman bugged me to no end.

Do you know who else bugs me? Russell on Survivor. What a good villain he is!

Also how sad to see hot mess Aaron go on DWTS. Big messy hugs to him. He and Mya are my only favorites. Sorry to all the Donny lovers but gags there. Ugh!

This is for you Aaron.









best,
Kwana -falling into the NaNo insanity

Ear Worm

What's Jack up to? Poor Jackie boy. Well, Jack's feeling down and that's got me down. See he's gone and gotten himself an ear infection. So he's mopey and a bit whiny. I should have known something was up when he wasn't getting into his usual trouble. I did know there was a big problem when I package showed up on my door and there was no wild barking.

So it's the big ear drop fight for us. Wish me luck. Poos Jack had to understand it's for the best.

A dog really is in a way like having another child. This takes me back to my twin toddler days and dueling ear infections. Wow. And I thought those days were done. I guess never.

Best,

Kwana

In Honor

To those who serve and give so much.

Thanks is not enough.

Happy Veteran's Day and thoughts and prayers to all who have lost so much.

Best,

Kwana

photographs from the Fort Hood memorial

Restless

I'm feeling restless right now. My story is filling my head and interrupting my sleep, but the words are hard to come by. Hanging out on the ledge just out of my reach. And for NaNo you need words and lots of them. A bit of a problem there. I'm at that point in the story where the initial shot has been fired and now I've got to get into the flow and really find the story. Get crafty. Have conversations, make events happen and for a reason too. It puts the mind on pause (at least my mind).

So, I'm restless. But, hopefully not for long.

Brooding Woman by Picasso

How are you today? Did you get enough rest?

Best,

Kwana

Book Squawking

What's Jack up to? Jack had a calm and, I think for a dog, pleasant weekend this weekend. Knowing Jack he thought it was a bore. The weather was nice, so decent walks and the nights were cool, so good sleep. That plus food and treats what more could he want? With Jack-trouble.

Today I'm happy to introduce you to a new blog called Booksquawk. It's a writer's book review blog and I'm honored to be one of the contributors. The tagline for the blog is: really good book reviews by professional writers.

Now that for me is humbling. Really good? Hmm... I'm not so sure. Now I'm new to this review game, but, um, let's just see how it goes. Shall we?

And as for the professional writer part... I don't think I've been a professional since my fashionista days and I sometimes had to wear heels and even then it was kinda loosey goosey. But hey, I am writing and I do want it to be my profession so, well, I guess that counts. Hey, they called me. I don't know who did their background checks.

Either way the cool thing about Booksquawk is that all different genres will be represented since the contributing writers have such varied tastes (yeah, expect some romance from me, yay!).

So there is lots to look forward to and you may find a new favorite author.

Please stop by Booksquawk here and stop by often because new reviews are popping up all the time. Heck, if you're feeling fancy become a follower and get a big cyber type smooch from me! Thanks.

Oh and scroll down on Booksquawk to read my review of ACCORDING TO JANE by Marilyn Brant. Thanks again!

Best,

Kwana