Warning: Do not watch this video while enjoying a delicious beverage. Yep, it’s that funny.

It’s my turn to stir things up at Publishing Renaissance. We’ve been on fire lately.

Check us out.

Edited to add:

I want to STRESS that the message of my PubRen post was not aimed at any of my writing friends who visit me here.

From Claire at Goodreads:

“To begin with my expectations were low of this book but I am glad I persisted as the author surprised me by producing a work that, although quite unlike anything I’ve read in the past, produced deep characters and a plot that kept me read till the end. I enjoyed the style of writing; the way Tess experienced and viewed the world and people around her. Another aspect which I favoured was how each item mentioned turned out later to have a significance and meaning beyond it’s initial appearance.

The minor qualms I had on my journey through this book were: at times it felt like life centred far too much on sex!, and I also had a nagging feeling that Tess never really fitted into her ‘new world’ at New Mills…she was too middle class, whereas the place she moved was more working, however, the conclusion resolved my unease about her character and I ended up feeling she was living in just the right place.

There was one serve in this plot which I never expected or saw coming and I felt it was very much out of Tess’s character, but it added a bit of spice to the story and the author had clearly researched the topic well as her knowledge came through in her writing – essential for it to have been believable.

All in all, a good book. I usually avoid romances as I find them dull, but although this book centred around love it was anything but dull…there was enough going on throughout the story emotionally to touch the reader and get you thinking, plus there was a certain one-liner contained within which I found particulary moving. It hadn’t been something I had been expecting but at times I felt the pain and almost laughed aloud at the humour which peppered the plot despite the hard times experienced by the characters…for a book to do that is a sign of a good writer as I am certainly not the sentimental type to cry at movies!”

(Reprinted with permission…Thanks Claire!)

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of tourist season. I bagged my first one Monday afternoon at work. Behold the following true life conversation …

Guy from Massachusetts: Your gas prices are high.

Me: I know, but they’re the lowest in the area. [It’s true … $2.379 for regular unleaded.]

Guy from Massachusetts: I’ll bet your coffee is cold.

Me: You’d lose. I just made it 10 minutes ago.

Guy from Massachusetts: It’s really windy up here today. And cold.

Me: You’re blaming me for the weather?

Masshole: No. Look … the cashier at the last store we stopped at was a real bitch and I’m taking it out on you.

Me: The last guy who was in here tried to look down my shirt. You want me to slap you for it?

Masshole: No.

Me: Then shut up.

It’s recently been brought to my attention that a guy my husband works with sent an email with the link for Waiting For Spring at Amazon.com to everyone in their office. Since it’s possible that some of those co-workers may find their way here to the blog as a result, I wanted to take some time to say a public thank you for your support. 🙂

Also, in case The Boss himself makes his way here, I want to make it very clear that Dan LOVES his job!!!! He has nothing but VERY POSITIVE things to say about the company and the way it’s being run!!!! He wakes up each day, happy as a clam, filled with wonder and excitement at what marvels his workday will bring.

Oh … and he wouldn’t dream of using the company van for personal errands. Nope! Not Dan. 100% True Blue. Yep. That’s him.

😀

</asskissing>

I’ve been to see the doctor today. Turns out I’ve got a sinus infection and bronchitis. I was kinda hoping it was swine flu. This is the conversation I imagined having with my boss.

ME: So…I won’t be into work for a week or so.

BOSS: Why?

ME: Swine flu.

BOSS: Really. Swine flu. In that case, take a month off. With pay.

Instead it went more like this:

BOSS: Sinus infection and bronchitis. That’s not contagious, right?

ME: Nope.

BOSS: And they gave you antibiotics for it, right?

ME: Yep.

BOSS: Good. See ya bright and early in the morning.

Someone labeled Waiting For Spring as “vulgar” at amazon.com. I think that means I’ve arrived.

Speaking of vulgar, this is me suffering from the worst head cold of my life. (Hey, if Robin was brave enough to post her “Look,” and make up words like “kumquat,” then who am I to hide my puffy eyes, bright red nose, and hideously neglected eyebrows?)

I know I’ve been rather spotty here again, but you know what that means. That’s right, I’ve been channeling my blog writing energy into novel writing again. Still banging away at poor ole Rick LaChance’s story, and I’m having a great time doing it. That’s right. I get my kicks by tormenting fictional people.

It’s so much more humane than tormenting my friends and family.

I’ll try to come up for air again soon. I promise.

In the meantime, if you’re on Facebook, you can join the new Waiting For Spring fanpage. It’s in its beginning stages, but we’re hoping to get some discussions going soon.

Anyone who’s a writer who’s even thinking about self-publishing will want to take a look at JM Reep’s Publishing Renaissance article, “IndieReader.com: It’s Everything That’s Wrong With Publishing Wrapped Up In A Pretty Indie Bow.”

Yep. You really will.

Spring is here, and with it warm-ish weather. I can almost taste summer, which is wonderful. Sunshine and hot days, working in the garden, playing baseball with the kids. Swimming in the lake.

But with that comes shorts and bathing suits and sandals. That means I’ll have to start shaving my legs every day again. And painting my toenails.

Ugh.

Hurry up, Autumn…