Names

I've started a new story so I'm going through my usual name quandary. Some characters seem to come along with their own names. I knew, for instance, that Sadie Novak was Sadie pretty much the minute I wrote the first line of The Remains of the Dead. However, the secondary characters often have me searching through the random name generator, or perusing my worn baby name books.

Of course the problem isn't whether or not I can find a great name but whether that name has family/friend connections or just too many negative memories associated with it. There is one male name that I'd never, ever use because my negative associations with that name are far too great. I don't even like to think it but I will say it stars with a 'B' and ends with an 'N' he he.

Are there any names you'd never, ever name a character because you just dislike the person so strongly?

signing

Thanks to everyone who was able to come to my siging in Surrey on Saturday. It's always such fun to sign in my own home town. Lots of friends come by to visit and they're always sure to ask which way to the closest bathroom just to keep me humble LOL!

In horrible news they're predicting a return of SNOW to our area tomorrow. If it's true, I'm calling in dead for the rest of the week until it's gone!!!

What kind of plans do you have for the next few days?

smile

A couple things that put a big smile on my face this morning:

Mysteryreader.com

and

Freshfiction.com

Odd, Strange, and Wonderful

Strange things happen to me all the time. Sometimes there are bizarre coincidences and other times I experience something totally weird.

ODD: This week I've received 3 separate emails from friends suggesting I read The Likeness by Tana French. The weird part is that I just started this book a few days ago and the suggestions came in afterward. As much as I'm enjoying the book, a suggestion from Fran at Seattle Mystery Bookshop, it's not the type of book I would normally snatch up so it feels odd everyone and their dog feels I should read it.

STRANGE:A few days ago I'm driving along minding my own business and * WHAM!! * a duck flies into my passenger window! I kid you not. And this was while driving down a major city street. Thank goodness the window wasn't rolled down! If my kids hadn't been in the vehicle to witness the incident I swear nobody would believe me. By the way, no ducks were injured in the making of this strange event...he bounced off my window and continued to fly away.

WONDERFUL: I finished revisions for Ghost Dusters book 3 *yay*!

Sooooo anything odd, strange or wonderful happen to you lately?

Bella the Brilliant

Bella has been living with me a month now. Hard to believe it hasn't been a lifetime. She's fit into our family very well and is slowly training all of us to do her bidding.

Things my dog has taught me just this morning alone:

1) If you stand by a bowl long enough someone will feed you.

2) There's something delightful about a nice sock.

3) Never underestimate the rejuvinating powers of a good nap.

4) If you give someone a very sad look you'll get a hug.

5) If at first you don't succeed at breaking down barriers, try, try again.

The last one was Bella's frequent attempts to knock down the baby gate. After repeated attempts she succeeded in knocking the gate askew and gaining access to the secret domain (aka rest of the house outside of kitchen and family room).

As I wrestle with a particularly stubborn scene while revising book 3, I'm determined to use Bella's brilliant # 5 tip and if that doesn't work, I'm going straight to # 3. How about you? Broken down any barriers lately? Or perhaps you've just discovered a favorite pair of socks :)

Changes and Illusions

I've had a change in my signing schedule. My signing at Chapters Strawberry Hill in Surrey has been changed from January 17th to January 24th. The bad weather of late has wreaked havoc on the delivery of books.

Often times when I'm writing a story I feel like I'm staring at an optical illusion. If I think long and hard about it I only see what's immediately evident.




However, if I allow my eyes to focus while my mind wanders then many times I get an entirely different perspective and I can come up with story twists that satisfy my muse.

Do you have any favorite optical illusions?

List Makers

Lately I've been busy with lists.
Lists with points about the revisions on book 3.
Lists that are my day-to-day To Do lists that seem to grow longer and longer.
Lists about the many ways I could accomplish losing 10 pounds in just a few days.

How about you? Are you a list maker? What's on your list today?

Let's make one thing perfectly clear...

I. HATE. SNOW. Hate it.

Oh sure it comes along and makes everything a pretty, sugary white. It promises a fluffy, coolness. It even makes my weed-choked garden look picturesque. But I despise it with a white hot hatred that should melt the crap on site.

Don't get me wrong, snow has it's place. I admire it on TV. I gaze with awww when I see it on the mountains that cozy up to my city. And, yes, I've even been known to take mini ski vacations where I attempt to go down the slippery sh*t on two skinny rods and keep my balance.
However, when I go to IT then it's okay. I don't like it when snow comes to ME.

Yes, I have snow issues. Perhaps it's the fact that I was raised in Winnipeg where temperatures easily dip to -25 for a few months.

Can you tell that we've had an unusual amount of snow this year? In the twenty-something years I've lived in the Vancouver area we've never had this much snow and it's never lasted this long. Even the kids don't wake up and say "yay!" when they see the white stuff outside like they did the first few days. As a matter of fact, they don't even want to go outside anymore. And the first day back to school after Christmas vacation is a snow day! Oh and just try housebreaking a puppy in snow that buries her. Fun. Lots of fun.

Rant over he he!

Tell me...how do you feel about the snow?

I resolve to ...

Happy 2009!

I remember Oprah once saying there are years of questions and years of answers. Well, 2008 brought a ton of questions and challenges my way. It seemed every aspect of my life was in turmoil at one point or another. It's true that challenges and difficulties can really teach you a lot about who you are and what you want out of life, however, I'm hoping for a less dramatic and more fulfilling 2009!

I usually make my new year resolutions around my birthday in March. Do you make resolutions?