WHAT DO I DO TO GET MENTALLY RELAXED

Thanks for coming over to my blog from Billie's. I love being part of this great Round Robin blog.
I found this an interesting topic. I looked at it as short term. If you're stressed for any reason: long day at work, writing, fight with the boss or family member, whatever. What do you do to relax and get rid of all that stress? Personally I listen to classic music or something from a spa tape, or do few yoga stretches to music, or take my dogs for a walk as long as the weather is good.
I asked a few friends what they did and and they said they did crossword puzzles, sodoku, petted their cat, cloud watched and one cooked. She finds it relaxing.
So what do you do to mentally relax? I'd love to hear from you.
The next stop on the tour is http://wwwrhobinleecourtright.com/

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

I know I’m late blogging, I thought I’d talk about Calgary and the surrounding cities today, but especially Calgary.

Over the last few week Alberta, and particularly Calgary, High River and Canmore have had torrential downpours resulting in flooding. Calgary has had the worst flood ever. The downtown area flooded, the Stampede grounds flooded and the Saddledome had water up to 10 rows of seats.  So there’s a good chance hockey may not be played there this year. And the zoo flooded. Two hippopotamus’ almost escaped into the river but a retaining wall stopped their escape. They placed the animals in empty jail cells and Calgarians volunteered to help watch the cells. The animals are doing okay, except for the giraffes. The cold temperatures, the water and the stress are taking their toll. The giraffe’s are not doing well. We send up our prayers for them.

With all the disaster the Calgary Stampede will go ahead. The big acts like Tim McGraw and the Dixie Chicks who were booked in the Saddledome have been cancelled. The Coca Cola tent is still under water. The chuck wagon race track has been shortened. And since the start of the Stampede there have been two more heavy rainstorms with some more local flooding. Its Calgary’s 101st Stampede and it’s never been cancelled in all that time. They are going to hold it this year – COME HELL OR HIGH WATER. It’s their slogan and you can get a t-shirt with it on.

I’m traveling and then heading to Atlanta, but this is the one year I think I’d head to Calgary if I wasn’t.   If the Calgarians are working so darn hard to hold the event this year I’d like to be there to support them. I respect community and positive spirit. I also know that I’ve heard it’s going to take 5 billion dollars and five years to repair the damage.

I know the weather is hitting many other areas. And I’m not discussing climate change, but I know there are floods in Wisconsin and many other states. I hope all the communities are pulling together to help those affected by the weather. I’m sure it’s going to take money and time for all those areas. I’m holding positive thoughts for everyone.

Where do you live? Has the weather been affecting you? Would you attend the Stampede to support the Calgary spirit?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

 

 

I'm excited to be part of this Round robin Blog. You're probably here because you found the link on Ginger Simpson's Blog. Thank you for following to mine.

What I love to read and why - ghosts, murders and suspicious people. While I love to read a lot of different genres, my first love was mystery/suspense. Good old Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys started it all. People bought me Nancy Drew but I used to read the Hardy Boys books that my mother bought as gifts for her friends sons (before my mother wrapped them). Mystery and suspense continues to grab my interest. I love a book with a plot that twists and turns, keeping me  up most of the night trying to solve the crime or catch a killer. I like contemporary stories. I don't relate as well to historical or futuristic. These days I like a little romance thrown in. Yes, I know, I can see a few people’s eyes rolling. Why romance? What could it add? It takes away from the plot.

Well, let me tell you. Yes, a good mystery, suspense or thriller can grab you with the plot and pull you along to the end, keeping you turning pages and waiting for the capture or villain revealed.  But add a little romance and the plot not only grabs you and keeps you turning pages, but now you’re involved with the character. You get to know them, their likes and dislikes, their strengths and their weaknesses. You care what happens to them on their journey to solve the crime or capture the villain. You hold your breath because you know they're terrified of the dark but have to go into the cave because someone they care for is there. You want to make it to the end of the story and find the villain or stop him, but you also want to make sure the hero/heroine survive and resolve some of their own issues. Their weaknesses before fighting the villain has been challenged and maybe  overcome during the struggle to solve the crime. I don’t necessarily need a happily ever after ending, but I want a satisfying ending.

So many books - so little time. I'd love to hear what other people love to read.
The next stop to check out on the Tour is with  Joel Jurrens at http://thewritingdeputy.wordpress.com 

I'm back and this time I think I'l stay for awhile

Well, here we go again. After a very long period of time I'm about to start blogging again. As I begin my journey through the world of self-publising I decided I would also start to blog. Some posts will be about my journey from requesting my rights to my four previously published books back, through covers, editing and publishing. Hopefully some of it will prove interesting and if you've gone through the process, or are going through it, or even thinking about it, I hope you'll share some of your thoughts and experiences.
I'm also going to publish articles on good books, movies and hopefully interesting tidbits from the day. Like being Canadian - did you know we have plastic money? Maybe more about that another day.
I'm also going to do a group blog monthly, so watch for that. The first one will be June 22nd and it's on the genres we like best. So check back for that.
 

I''m new to blogging so I've been a little slow getting started, but hopefully I can post three times a week.
On Mondays I'm going to post on agents; new agents, who's looking, what they're looking for.
Wednesdays I plan on posting information regarding writing; Amazon's contest, writing tips; online classes; news items.
Fridays I hope to have guest bloggers or a political comment on writing.
Hopefully you'll check back to post your thoughts and comments on these topics.

Beverley

Laura Bush's contract with S&S

I see that Laura Bush has signed a contract for 1.6 million dollars from Simon and Schuster to write her memoirs about life in the White House with George Bush.
Apparently eight publishers were looking at publishing her book, although several others apparently said after talking to her they felt there would be little interest in her story as it held no conflict. It's going to be a positive story in which she completely supports her husband throughout the book.
We know that's it's likely that Laura Bush won't even write the book but will dictate it to a ghost writer.
Apparently Hilary Clinton got about 8 million dollars for her memoirs when she left the White House and Barack Obama got about 4 million for his book.
I guess I'm wondering if people think publishers should be spending these amounts on famous people while so many great writers who write more one or more book a year still have to work a day job. Other writers can't get contracts, assuming they really have written a great book.
The economy is getting tighter and publishing houses are cutting back on staff.
What do people think about these big contracts? Are they deserved?
I know these are usually non-fiction and most of us are writing fiction in one genre or another.
Why does non-fiction make more money?
Can anyone help me out with these questions?
What do you think about these huge contracts?

Beverley

Happy New Year!

After several years of procrastinating I am finally going to try blogging.
One of my goals for 2008 was to set up a site and start blogging - so with a day anad a half to go here goes.
I'm busy working on my goals for 2009, which is why I'm doing this, so I don't have to carry it over to 2009.
I usually break mine down into sections; personal, health, writing and maybe promotion - entering contests, etc.
I'm just working my way through but number one writing goal is to polish and send off four completed manuscripts. the last one I did with NaNo.
I'm also updating my website.

Anyone else working on their goals for 2009?
Want to share any of them?

Anyone got any tips on blogging?

Beverley