Sunshine Award!

Meika of Waiting on the Muse was kind enough to give me the Sunshine Award!  The award is given to bloggers whose "contagious positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging universe."  I feel so honored to get this award!  I write more for myself than anything else sometimes, so I'm glad people are getting something out of it.  Thanks so much, Meika!

Here are the rules of this award.

1. Put the logo on the blog within your post.
2. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let the nominees know they have received the award by commenting on their blogs.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So here are 12 people whose blogs I read that are positive and creative and make me happy:

1. Lerin of Beautiful Chaos
2. CMerie of Catholic Wife and Mother
3. Diane of At Least Three
4. Janice of After the Artist's Way
5. Kell of Welcome to Earth
6. Abi Ruth of Little Pockets of Joy
7. Angie of For The Rest. Of Our. Lives.
8. Jen of Harried Mom of Four
9. Shannon B. Chenoweth
10. Natalie of Between Fact and Fiction
11. ViolinMama of A Rosey Outlook on Life
12. Cam of A Woman's Place...

Congratulations, bloggers, and thanks for being my sunshine!

Industry news: Agents and Editors' Blogs

Getting information from people in the industry is a good way to keep up with publishing information.  That's why blogs by agents and editors can be an excellent resource for writers.


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Introducing: Guest Bloggers!

In preparation for the birth of my first baby, I asked my readers if they'd be willing to step up and post for me during August and September. Thankfully, several people offered to post during my time away from the blog, so you'll be able to continue to enjoy original content over the next six weeks.

Each guest post will go up on a Wednesday, beginning next week and running until the end of September. I'm excited about the selection of posts to share with you, and I think the authors are excited, too.

On August 26 you can read the musings of Mike of The Big Stick, who will be sharing his take on ministers in rural areas in response to an essay by Darryl Hart. Mike will examine what plays a role in the high turnover often seen in rural pulpits, and make a case that it may not be what Hart suggests.

Chris will share his thoughts on September 2, with a post about how he came to writing through an AOL-sponsored chatroom for poets, and offer advice for beginning writers who want to engage their readers and draw them into their experiences.

Jen, author of Divinest Sense, has the special honor of posting on September 9 (09/09/09), and her post will explore the idea of seeing yourself as a writer, even if you're not making a living from it, drawing on her own experiences as a writer with a day job.

Kell of Welcome to Earth and author of the Prophecy series will be next up on September 16. In her post, Kelly gets us geared up for NaNoWriMo a little early by offering a little advice she learned the hard way last year.

September 23 goes to Abi of Hollywood Back Roads. Her post, "Something Worth Writing" will explore how she came to balance the often hermitous lifestyle of writers with her own adventurous spirit, and explain why that balance is important for all writers.

Finishing out the series will be Dana of En Tequila Es Verdad on September 30. Dana is a co-blogger here, and occasionally drops in to ponder writing and reading. You have to watch out, though, as Dana may get a little antsy and post more frequently than just the once during the series!

It promises to be an interesting six weeks of posting, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I will! The dear readers who volunteered to post for me are wonderful people who will bring a fresh perspective to my blog.

Of course, if you like the guest posts, be sure to stop over at the authors' blogs or sites to let them know! We writers love to hear compliments, after all!

What's Going On in Publishing?

Be sure to hop over to Nathan Bransford's blog today for an update on the publishing industry.  Lots of great information today, including e-readers, Twilight, and a dancing parrot!

Even if you only want to read this entry for the info on publishing this week, make sure you read it!

I stumbled upon Nathan's blog a while ago, and have found it a very valuable resource for my writing life.  He gives readers info about publishing (like today), as well as advice for how to find a home for books, and he even encourages readers to (gasp!) query him!  If you're a writer, or someone who's interested in the publishing industry, you would do well to bookmark his blog.

Remember Goldilocks?

Be sure you stop over to the cantina for a great Neil Gaiman poem posted by Dana!

It's a good one.  You'll be glad you visited.

(And while you're there, check out her other posts--poetry's not all she can serve up with appropriate style and snark!)

More Poetry, You Say?

If you can't seem to get enough coffee-stained poetry, be sure to head over for some tequila-laced poetry.

Dana of En Tequila Es Verdad will be posting a poem a day in her own NPM celebration.  Enjoy!

The Future of Publishing, with an Optimistic Twist

Nathan Bransford is continuing Positivity Week today with a post about the future of the publishing industry: the digital age.

When I began reading it, I couldn't help but thinking, "Digital books?  As if there isn't enough schlock on the shelves, let's make it easier to get 'published'!"  I wondered how Bransford could possibly twist this post to fit Positivity Week.

But I'm encouraged.  Bransford says:

[...H]ere's what's going to happen in the digital era: anyone will be able to publish their book, and there will be no distribution barrier. The same eBook stores that stock Stephenie Meyer and Dan Brown will stock, well, you. Readers will be the ones who decide what becomes popular. There will be no intermediary. It will be just as easy to buy a book by you as it will be to buy the HARRY POTTER of the future. Your book will be just a few keystrokes away from everyone with an internet connection (and their tablet/eReader/iPhone/gizmo/whatchamacallit of the future).

Just think about it: no wondering how in the world your book is going to find its way past a publisher into a bookstore. No more print runs! No one will be doomed by a publisher and bookstores underbetting on their success. No more bottleneck. No more que......... well, there will always be queries. Sorry!

Books will finally be able to live and die by, well, themselves, not by the best guesses of the publishing industry.

If you're concerned about the future of books, or just curious what people in the industry are saying about it, go read the rest of Bransford's post.  It would be a big change, but ultimately, it could be a really great thing.

Hooray for Positivity Week!

Mmm....Lemonade.

I have many blogs I read on a regular basis.  And thanks to the Google Following tool, I can scroll through and link to them instead of typing individual web addresses and hoping I remember everyone, or finding that so-and-so hasn't updated all week.

Well, I was reading my "subscriptions" today, and hopped over to my very dear friend Frazzoo's foodie blog, which I read for her great recipes and because I love her.  And what do I find?

The darling has given me a "Lemonade/You Make My Day" Award!  First of all, it cracks me up.  And second, I'm touched that I make her day.  And to pass on the love to other bloggers, I get to give the award out to bloggers that make my day!  What fun!

Though she's already received one, I'm giving Frazzoo of Adventures in Home Cooking yet another award.  You may see it as cheating, but I love her blog to pieces, so she deserves it.  If you want a fun recipe to try, just wander through her archives.  Not only will there be something to tempt you, but she even gives tips to make the cooking easier, or suggests changes to make it even yummier!

I'm also bestowing an adorable virtual award to Dana of En Tequila Es Verdad.  As a writerly friend, she's always been a great support to me, and when I need a good dose of political snark, she's really the only place to go.

The next award clearly goes to Jen of Cake Wrecks.  Come on.  A blog about awful cakes?  Embarrassing frosting misspellings?  Babies riding carrots?  Pregnant belly cakes with creepy vampire-looking hands on them?  Idiocy for the sweet tooth?  Come on.

As a writer, I'm always looking for good info in the publishing industry.  That's why I'm proud to announce the next award goes to Nathan of Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent.  He gives advice, keeps us updated on what's going on in the world of publishing, and makes me feel like I really have a shot at being published someday.  Keep up the excellent work, Mr. Bransford.  You may be getting a query from me sometime, and with all the great advice you give, it'll be a good one!

My final award goes to the Bull Moose Conservative himself, Mike of The Big Stick.  We may differ politically, but he presents his political views intelligently, without disrespect for the other side, and is always open to a great discussion.  Not only that, I love reading his blog when he's posting on the same person or event as Dana.  Great reading, really.

For those who have just been given this prestigious award, please don't let it go to your head.  It is truly an honor, and while you have earned it, I hope you will not shirk your responsibilities and rest on what you have done.  Keep up the great blogging.  

You keep me addicted to the Interwebz.

Planning Your Menu?

A very dear friend of mine has a great foodie blog that uses her own weekly menus to share great recipes, her changes to them, and how they went over with her hubby.

So if you're looking for a new recipe to try at home, or something to take to a potluck dinner, be sure to check out

Adventures in Home Cooking

Looking for a cruise?

I appreciate my loyal readers, and I hope you enjoy Dana's lovely post. If you're looking for lots of great ideas by great people, please stop over at Dana's home and check out the Carnival of Elitist Bastards. I have a post there, and Dana's got an itinerary to take you across blogs to pique your interest, enrage you, make you laugh, and generally keep you reading.

Enjoy!