Author Ann Dennis

Almost Here......

2011-12-19T10:24:00.004-05:00

We're down to 6 days! I have gotten all my shopping done except for a few little things here and there. I've planned my Christmas dinner meal and all I have to do is shop on Thursday for all the fresh vegetables and meat. So - knock on wood - I'm all ready for Christmas!

This is a perfect time of year to give your loved ones the gift of the written word. There is nothing more fulfilling then receiving a book for the holidays! Whether it is for an ebook or the tried and true printed book, it makes a wonderful gift!

The Holidays!

2011-12-13T15:06:00.004-05:00

Where does the time go? I just realized that Christmas is in less than two weeks and I haven't done any shopping yet! How did this happen? I'm happy to report, however, that I have finished my latest manuscript. It has been seven years in the making and I'm so glad to have it finally completed. It was very hard to complete as my reading partner passed away a year and a half ago and it has been so difficult to pick the project back up again. She was not just my reading partner, she was also my best friend and her death has left a huge hole in my heart. It was emotionally too hard to even open the file on my computer, knowing Shell wouldn't be there to read my latest updates. After about 14 months, I realized that I needed to finish the manuscript FOR Shell and that helped tremendously. I'm hoping to shop it out within the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted!

I wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year!

The meaning of love

2011-10-21T22:03:00.005-04:00

Meet Monty. Monty is a rescue Newfoundland that entered our lives and our hearts in April. He is a runt, but he's so full of love and personality that he seems so much bigger than he is. It took a while for him to trust that we wouldn't abandon him or hurt him. But all that hard work on our parts was well worth the effort. This wonderful animal is so very special and so full of love that I just can't help but smile every time I see him. His tongue is so big that when he sleeps it just hangs out of his mouth. It is so endearing. He is going to be a new character in my new series of books! I can't wait to start them and each time he does something new, I think to myself: write that down, write that down...... I think you get the message.

See his tongue? Isn't he adorable?????

Happy Birthday Uncial Press!

2011-09-27T12:35:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday to you.....

Happy Birthday to you....

Happy Birthday dear Uncial Press....

Happy 5th Birthday to you!!!

Time Sure Flies.....

2011-09-26T06:44:00.003-04:00

This summer has flown by and now that fall is here, I'm back inside and getting ready to finish a few more manuscripts. This summer we traveled to a number of areas in New York State and I took a lot of pictures! We decided to spend the summer on the road, gathering information for future books and I was able to plot some of them out while hubby was driving. I'm looking forward to finishing up my works in progress and start on the new stories. Stay tuned......

Holy moly, it's hot out there!

2011-07-26T11:22:00.002-04:00

Here in Upstate NY we're experiencing a bit of a heatwave. We've been breaking records left and right. But there is one good thing about this heat. With my breathing problems, I was a prisoner in my home from Thursday until Sunday. During that time, I stayed home, basking in the A/C and writing. It allowed me to just sit and write and it was wonderful! I got so much done and worked on the edits for another book too! So, when life gives you lemons turn them into lemonade!!!

Stay cool!!

Heat of the Day

2011-07-12T14:12:00.003-04:00

Happy Summer! We've had some pretty brutal heat lately, making it tough to do the things that need to be done. Especially sitting at my computer trying to finish the edits to my new book. We have no air conditioning and it makes it very difficult to concentrate as well as stay awake! I've been trying to do a lot of the computer work at night, which helps. Ugh! I never thought I would be wishing the end of summer to get here. Before we know it, we'll have snow on the ground again and I'll be complaining about the cold. :-)

I hope you have done some fun things during your summer vacations. We've travelled to some state parks and took some amazing pictures. I never realized what beautiful areas there are just 2 hours from my home. It really pays to go off the beaten path once in a while! I'll share pictures later on in the summer. I haven't gotten them off my camera yet!

Time in a Bottle

2011-06-09T10:40:00.004-04:00

My first full length romance project is now done! It holds very special emotions for me. Not only did I finish it, but it was also a labor of love. My dearest friend, Shelley, was my critique partner. I would email her chapters and she would send back her suggestions and corrections. This had gone on for a while, until Shelley became very ill. You see, Shelley and I met in a chat forum for Lupus patients back in 1991. At the time, she was living in California and I was in NY. For almost 20 years we carried on a very close friendship but had never met in person. We would support each other emotionally when our diseases ran rampant through our bodies. My dearest friend passed away from complications of Lupus in June of 2010. I put aside my manuscript because I just couldn't make myself work on it without Shel. It took me almost a year to get up the courage to try and finish it, and I finally did. I'll be sending it out to Uncial Press and hopefully I'll get a contract. Stay tuned for any announcements!

And....they're gone......

2011-06-07T14:48:00.002-04:00

Funny thing happened today. Let me give you a little of the back story first to really put this in perspective. Over the winter, my husband began feeding a flock of crows. He would whistle for them and they would fly to an old, half-dead "Dr. Seuss-like" tree in our side yard. They would wait until he would leave the food in the yard and go back into the house before they would swoop down and scoop up the food to cache it somewhere. This went on all winter up until we rescued a year old Newfie in April. So, back to the funny thing that happened today. Because it is so hot here in Syracuse today, our Newfie was in the house. My husband had put on a pot of salt potatoes to cook before the heat of the day came upon us and then went outside to water the gardens. He forgot about the potatoes. When he came back in, they were burned to the bottom of the pan and he put them outside on the step to cool and to also get the smell out of the house. A few hours later he went out to empty the pot and found that all the potatoes were gone! He looked around and found some potatoes cached in the apple tree in the yard and some potato skins in the yard. The crows helped themselves to the burned potatoes! I just laughed when he called to tell me this. Bless their little hearts.

It's Here!!!!!

2011-01-27T06:33:00.002-05:00

Yes, "Braving The New World" is finally here! You can download it at the very reasonable price of $2.99. It's at all the usual sites for purchase or you can go directly to the Uncial Press website and download it from there. After all that hard work, it is so amazing to see the final process.

I'm always interested in hearing from my readers. Please drop me a line and let me know what you thought of my story.

Best wishes and stay warm!!

Ann

Being Buried!

2010-12-13T13:57:00.003-05:00

It's not even winter yet and we're getting buried under many feet of snow! We had a storm last week that dropped 5.5 feet of snow and we have another storm rolling on through tonight and tomorrow promising to drop another 2-3 feet. I really don't think we'll have any trouble with having a white Christmas!

Braving the New World is set to release in January and I am so excited to finally have it available to you wonderful ereaders! It's being shopped around right now for reviews and as soon as they become available I'll post them on my website.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Ann

Final Edits are Done!

2010-08-13T18:54:00.003-04:00

The final edits for BTNW are done and sent into Uncial Press!! Very exciting. Now I wait for the final processes to be completed and then I will let you know the release date. There is something magical when you complete a project. All those months of agonizing over words, grammar and plot finally coming together. Yes, it's magical. Fortunately I have an outstanding editor at Uncial Press and she makes this whole process, believe it or not, enjoyable.

As soon as I get more information on the release date, I will post it here, so stop back often!

Edits - tidbits and more!

2010-05-26T06:37:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning listening to the catbird squawking through my open window. Since it doesn't have a snooze button I was looking for something to throw at the window to make it fly away. No luck there, so I got up and did some writing. I'm on a deadline for edits with my new novelette and it actually was wonderful to get up this early to write. I need to go and find that catbird and thank her for shagging my butt out of bed. Once I'm done with these edits I can go to work on finishing my full length novel. It's a wonderful story that has been writing itself for the last 100 pages. It's such a joy to write it and I'll be bummed when it finishes. More news on that after it gets shopped out. Enjoy the sunshine today!!!

Braving The New World

2010-03-07T14:14:00.002-05:00

I have just sold another short story to Uncial Press, Inc. They are a wonderful e-publishing house that I have worked with in the past and they are terrific to work with.

Braving The New World will be out in the fall of 2010. It is a story that takes place in 1918, during the Influenza Pandemic, in Dedham, Massachusetts. Doctor Eric Kipp and Clara Schmidt combine their efforts to bring Clara's mother back from death's door. The time they have spent together kindles a love that no force of nature could ever destroy. It's a beautiful short story and will be available on all e-readers for download.

I'll keep you posted on the release date as it becomes available.

Wow - where has the time gone?

2010-02-05T12:36:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's been a while, and I apologize for that, but life has a way of getting in the way of things. Reminds me of that John Lennon quote: Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. Yup, that pretty much sums things up.

I've been writing, not as much as I would like, but with still working full time and also launching a jewelry business, time has not been on my side. I'm able to steal an hour here and there to put the words down on paper, but I feel like it's as segmented as my life has become. I think it's time for one of those segments to be discarded, but which one? That is the question that remains unanswered and probably will until I either:

a) win the lottery

b) retire from my day job

c) win the lottery

Whatever happens, I know that things will work out. They always do, so I try not to stress over it. I hope to be posting more, so please stop back often. I know this is a little late in coming, but Happy New Year!!

Spring is exploding in color!

2009-05-23T19:11:00.007-04:00

Spring is finally here in Central New York and the colors are just amazing!! This is an upshot of our weeping cherry tree. We thought we were going to lose this tree because our winter was so harsh and it split the trunk. The thought of that happening nearly broke my heart as we planted that tree when my daughter started kindergarten. She just graduated with her bachelor's degree last weekend, so this beautiful tree holds some very dear memories for us. Below are the bleeding hearts next to our house. They are truly brilliant this year!

We have been busily working on our gardens to try to get them ready for summer. Weeding, feeding and watering. It truly is a labor of love.

I've been writing on and off, between bouts of bronchitis and my constant battle with Lupus. The will is always there, but the connection from my brain to my hands is intermittent at best. The frustrating thing is that I have so many wonderful stories roaming around in my brain that they get glommed together when I try to put them on paper. On the days that my brain is actually clear and working, the words flow like water. It's a wonderful feeling when that happens, I just wish it would happen more often.

In the mean time I will enjoy my gardens and try to work when I can. Here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy.

Virus Protection

2009-03-22T11:33:00.004-04:00

I read about a free home computer download available from AVAST. If you go to their website at: http://www.avast.com/ it will offer you a free download for their most up to date virus protection software. From the computer analyst column in the paper today, he recommends this highly, even over Norton and especially over McAfee. I currently have McAfee and have nothing but trouble with it. I uninstalled McAfee and downloaded the Avast with no problem. I also liked the idea of it being free.

Back up, Back up, Back up!!!

2009-02-02T14:21:00.003-05:00

I had the unthinkable happen two weeks ago. A water line in the sprinkler system at work burst and destroyed my office. Everything was ruined and if it weren't for the fact that I backed up most of my material, it could have been devastating. There are many ways to back up your work: jump drives, exterior hard drives, emailing your work to a separate account, etc. This is a very important thing for writers to do - Disasters happen all around us, all the time. Don't take the chance on losing all your hard work to Mother Nature! Remember: BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP!!

When sending your Christmas cards.....

2008-12-01T14:14:00.003-05:00

Tis the season for giving and sharing and one of the greatest gifts you can give this year is the gift of your time. There is a movement to bring joy to hospitalized soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital. It only takes a moment of your time, but will bring so much to the recipient. It's easy to do and if you are interested, please send your Christmas cards to the following address:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

They ask nothing from us, yet give us their all. Bless them all for who they are and for standing strong.

Out of the Blue

2008-11-28T18:12:00.003-05:00

It's been a little while since I posted to the blog. It's been a little bit crazy here and I just don't have the time I used to have. Where it went, I have no idea. I received a phone call from History Press wanting to know if I was interested in writing another novel for my home town. I was in a quandry because I was interested, but it couldn't have come at a worse time. When I write, I always put everything I have into the research and writing. My last book took over 300 hours of research to complete it. I had to let the editor know that I couldn't do it at this time, but I would be interested in doing one soon. I hated to do that, but I know that I wouldn't have been able to give it my all and if I can't do that, then I won't do the project.

So, I'll keep you posted as to whether or not I take this up in the near future.

He's Gone

2008-10-13T15:45:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been almost two weeks since "Cool Hand Luke" died. No, not Paul Newman, but our Golden Retriever. It's ironic that both our beloved dog and his namesake died on the same day. They both had cancer and they were both loved dearly. Luke had always been an amazing dog. From the time he was little, he had a very strong personality. It showed in everything he did. His actions, he facial expressions, the way he would ignore us when he was mad..... so many things. I think what is the hardest thing to overcome right now, is the huge void that it has left in our lives. I keep waiting for him to come around the corner while I'm making my lunch in the morning. He'd be all sleepy eyed and half asleep, but he would sit at attention in case anything fell off the counter or he'd silently beg for a handout. I miss him coming to sit next to me on the couch and lean into me as if he didn't weigh over 100 pounds. He thought he was a lap dog and couldn't understand why after a while we would shew him off our laps. It wasn't because we didn't want him there, it was because our legs would fall asleep! Or he'd wait until I got into bed and then come in and sit right next to me to say goodnight. He did this every night for as long as I can remember. I would pet him for a while and then when I put my CPAP mask on and turned out the light, I would hear him wait a moment and then turn and go out into the living room where he would go to sleep. It was routine and one I cherished. He had a kind and loving spirit and he was so very loved.

How to write a great query letter

2008-10-07T14:20:00.002-04:00

Noah Lukeman, a top NY agent, and the author of The First Five Pages, A Writers Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile, is offering -- for FREE -- his book on how to write the great query letter as a download on Amazon. I've heard only super things about this, so I'd definitely advise everyone to take advantage of this freebie.http://tinyurl.com/49zk8a

LRWA Workshops

2008-08-29T09:22:00.003-04:00

I just recently completed a workshop through the Lowcountry Romance Writers of America. It was taught by author Lois Winston and it was well worth the money I paid for it. I learned a great deal and also reinforced things I already knew. If you are thinking of becoming a writer, I would suggest that you invest in some workshops to help you get started. Here is the email to subscribe to the LRWA loop, they will keep you updated on their workshops.

LRWAonlinecourses-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

No matter how long you've been writing, it's always nice to revisit the basics. Think of it as taking defensive driving classes. You've been driving for years, but these little refresher courses not only remind you of what is important, but also gives you a break on your car insurance. That's what writing workshops can do for you. It's easy to fall into bad habits while writing and with going back to basics, it can help you overcome these bad habits.

Enjoy!!

Our soldiers - our Heroes

2008-08-13T09:01:00.002-04:00

I came across this Youtube today and I just had to share it with you. Our soldiers are always near and dear to my heart because I have family members who have recently been over in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are the most amazing men I have ever known and they are my heroes. What our soldiers do each and every day is a testament to who they are. They protect us and all that we stand for. Our great nation was founded on democracy and without our soldiers, those amazing men, we would not be the most powerful nation in the world. So please remember our soldiers and those who have fallen to protect us. Keep them in your hearts and in your prayers and never hesitate to say Thank You when you meet them.

Here is the link for the Youtube:

http: //www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

It is beautiful and well worth the time to view it. Don't forget to turn on your speakers.

Writer's Blog

2008-08-11T08:37:00.001-04:00

Good Morning!!

I came across this blog article and thought I would pass it along. It is a wonderful article about writer's who blog and what their content should be. It's worth a peek.

http://quickest.blogbooktourguide.ever.com/?skip_login=1

Leave me a comment on what you think of this article.

Ciao!!

Twin moose playing in sprinkler

2008-08-07T11:12:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to pass along this youtube. It was sent to me from a friend and it is the most adorable thing I've seen in a long time. Here is the url:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yNy9jTeolUk

Turn your speakers on too because it is set to music and it is lovely.

Happy Tuesday

2008-08-05T13:29:00.004-04:00

What a beautiful day it is today. The sun is shining and there is not a cloud in the sky - which is totally amazing because we've had nothing but rain for the last two weeks. My joints feel like they are finally drying out and for that I'm eternally grateful.

ISBN-10: 0451224183

During all the rain, I picked up the Catherine Anderson paperback, Comanche Moon. It was a beautifully written story of a Comanche warrior and a young white woman. Their meeting was prophesied and throughout the entire story, Ms. Anderson shares with us Comanche vocabulary and customs. It is a wonderful book and I would highly recommend it. I'm now looking for Comanche Heart - the next book in the series.

Christine Feehan's new release

2008-07-29T09:16:00.002-04:00

For all you Christine Feehan fans, her new release is finally out! Turbulant Sea is on shelves now and if you're interested, click the link below to view the trailer. Turbulant Sea is book number 6 of the Drake Sisters series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECqNxdDWliY

Here is the product information from Amazon.com:

"Bewitching rock superstar Joley Drake can have any lover she wants. But when her life is threatened, her dangerously sexy bodyguard is the only man she needs. There’s just one problem: his shadowy reputation as a secret Russian hit man may put Joley in even greater peril… "

Our Little Gold Finch

2008-07-21T08:51:00.002-04:00

This little guy, perched outside my window, has been a constant companion for the last month. He flits from window to window to see if anyone is in the room. If we are, he'll tap on the window with his beak and just keep watching us. He'll fly to every side of the house in search of us and this will go on all day. What makes this especially bizarre is the back story behind all this. After my niece died, a little gold finch began tapping on the windows at my sister and brother-in-law's house. It was persistent and would follow them from room to room. It appeared everyday and it was almost comforting to them for they believed that it was a sign from their daughter. The day after they left on their week long trip, a gold finch appeared at my window. Now, we live about 35 miles from them and the fact that this finch appeared at our window the day after they left was an amazing coincidence. I was so amazed, I took this picture and sent it by email to them. We had a good laugh about it and when they returned home from their trip, their gold finch greeted them. Ours is still hanging around and to top it all off, my other sister-in-law that lives about 20 miles from us going in the other direction also has a gold finch knocking at her windows and following them around their house. Is this a coincidence, absolutely. Is this a sign from my niece, possibly. Is it good to feel laughter again, oh yeah.

Workshop information

2008-07-17T12:01:00.001-04:00

I came across this listing for a writer's workshop and I thought I would pass it along. Here is the information and please feel free to pass it along:

ONLINE WORKSHOP: Preparing Your Manuscript for The Agent or Editor of Your Dreams
(cross-posted)>>PERMISSION GRANTED TO FORWARD>ONLINE WORKSHOP>Sponsored by Lowcountry RWA>Preparing Your Manuscript for The Agent or Editor of Your Dreams>Presented by Lois Winston>Dates:Aug 4-29>Cost: $16.00>Registration Deadline: July 25th>FMI and to register: http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/>>Course Description:>Even though there are people who will tell you there are no "rules" to>writing romance, the truth is, there are rules. Not the kind of rules that>say a hero and heroine must meet by a certain page but rules to good>writing. In this workshop award-winning author and agency associate Lois>Winston will cover these rules, touching on all the basics. The workshop>gives a broad overview of everything from how to format a manuscript to>self-editing tips. From understanding passive voice vs. passive verbs to>showing vs. telling. From hooks to synopsis. From point of view to common>grammar and punctuation errors. Knowing, understanding, and using these>rules can work to a writer's advantage.>>Instructor Bio::>Award-winning author and agency associate Lois Winston writes humorous,>cross-genre, contemporary novels and romantic suspense. She often draws>upon her extensive experience as an artist and crafts designer for much of>her source material. Her first book, TALK GERTIE TO ME, was released in>2006 and was the recipient of the Readers and Bookbuyers Best Award, took>second place in both the Beacon Awards and Laurel Wreath Awards, and was>nominated for a Reviewers' Choice Award and a Golden Leaf Award. Her>second novel, LOVE, LIES & A DOUBLE SHOT OF DECEPTION, was a 2007 release>and so far has won the Winter Rose Award for Excellence in Romantic Fiction>and the More Than Magic Award. The book has also garnered Golden Leaf,>Golden Quill, Beacon, and Published Laurie nominations. Lois also>contributed to several anthologies: DREAMS & DESIRES, VOL. 1, 2 and the>upcoming 3, plus HOUSE UNAUTHORIZED. When not writing or designing, you can>find Lois trudging through stacks of manuscripts as she hunts for diamonds>in the slush piles for the Ashley Grayson Literary Agency. Visit Lois at>www.loiswinston.com.>>http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/>

Sensible Driving

2008-07-14T14:07:00.002-04:00

Maybe I'm a little bit more sensitive to all the lousy drivers out there since my niece's death, but I just can't believe some of the absolutely stupid things I've been seeing lately. I was driving on a highway, going about 65 miles an hour, and this car was swerving in the lane next to me. He nearly side swiped me one of those times. I finally was able to glance over at him to see what the problem was and I couldn't believe what I saw. The little turd was text messaging while he was driving! Now I ask you - how stupid do you have to be to try to text message while driving almost 70 miles an hour? I think kids today just don't get it. First of all, they don't understand that the 8 thousand pound vehicle that they are driving could also be lethal machines. Now, I'm not a physics major, but I do know that going almost 70 miles per hour can reek havoc with the internal organs and the skeletal system of the human body when that 8 thousand pound vehicle hits another object, whether or not it is stationary or moving, it's still going to be a spectacular accident. It's not just their lives they are risking, but all the other people out on the road as well. I wish they would outlaw the darn cell phones from cars, or rig the interior of the car so that the cell phone won't get a signal unless it is in a hands free type set up. Anything to save these imbeciles from themselves and from us. If you have teenagers, please stress to them that they are not immortal and that stupid stunts like this can cause death either to themselves or others. Please stress to them to be responsible when driving - it could save you a lot of heart ache down the road.

The most adorable UTube

2008-07-07T09:38:00.002-04:00

I'm not one to watch UTube, but this link was sent to me from my friend and I found it to be the most adorable thing I've ever seen. If you get a chance, click on the link and enjoy the 2 minutes it takes to watch. The child is so sweet and innocent - something we unfortunately lost a long time ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vNM5jyuD4&feature=bz301

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July celebration!!

Deciding when to say goodbye.....

2008-07-03T13:37:00.003-04:00

As we walk that final pier in life, we must ask ourselves when is it a good time to say goodbye? We just found out that our nine year old Golden Retriever, Luke, has stage IV Mast Cell Carcinoma. It started in his mouth and then again in his abdomen. The vet has told us that he has maybe a couple of months left to live. We have to constantly clean the tumor site on his belly and give him 13 pills a day to help him live a little while longer. He is still eating and drinking and he's getting around ok, but you can see the decline beginning. Luke doesn't seem as if he is in any pain, he is still happy to see us, wags his tail and seems to still enjoy living. So, I ask again, when is it time to say goodbye? The thought of having to decide when his last breath will be absolutely frightens me. I don't want him to suffer, but having to make that decision seems wrong. But is that me wanting him to stay alive for me or for him? He is such a major part of all our lives that the thought of not having him in our home and in our lives is almost too much to bear. He will always be in our hearts, but his loss will be felt for a very long time. I will keep you posted on how he is doing, as often as I can. Poor little guy.

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-22T13:19:00.002-04:00

I came across this wonderful website dedicated to our veterans. It is from Dr. Sam, Music With a Message. Here is a link you can go to watch and listen to his song, "Before You Go."

http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGIndex.php?page=playBYGVN

I have always been cognizant of our Veterans, as my father was in the Navy, my Uncles were in the Army and now my cousins are in Special Forces, Drones and Navy Sniper Training. Without their constant sacrifice for our freedom, we would be no better off than all the communist countries still remaining. Our freedom and our democracy is secure because our Veterans gave life and limb to make it so. So, this Memorial Day, please say Thank You to your local Veterans. They deserve much more, but at least we can start with a simple Thank You.

When your faith is tested.....

2008-04-30T12:42:00.002-04:00

My family has recently had to endure an excruciating and tragic loss. We view the subject of mortality on almost a different plane and always push the thought of death to the back burner because we never feel it will happen to us. Be that blind faith, or just naivete, I don't know. None of us like to think about our own demise and very few of us, especially young people, plan for that occurrence ahead of time. Such was not the case of my newly departed niece. She was only 24 years old and had the world in her pocket. She was an amazing musician with a brilliant future and simply a beautiful person both outwardly and within. From the time she was small, she had visions that she would die in a car accident at a young age. Her premonition played out two weeks ago when she was hit almost head on while driving to a college where she taught private lessons to students. She was a victim of gross negligence, personal errors in judgement and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her death was an unnecessary one due to the limitations that a company put on their technicians while test driving cars after repairs were done. If this company had the foresight to put two technicians in a car while test driving the vehicle so that one could observe the computer while the other technician could focus on driving, this accident would never have happened. It's a sad case of greed over safety. But getting back to what I was saying about her premonitions. Since these premonitions came to her over and over, she chose to talk to her parents about her final wishes. She wanted to be cremated not buried. She did not want a wake nor a funeral. Instead she wanted to have her ashes spread over the body of water that her family vacationed to each summer. Her parents followed her wishes implicitly to the condemnation of a few. My niece was also a donor to the musculoskeletal foundation as well as the eye bank. She was cremated but in her honor, her parents had a memorial walk at a local nature preserve that my niece volunteered at. We had a slide show dedicated to my niece following her through the years she graced the earth. It was beautiful and peaceful. It was an amazing way to say goodbye to someone who meant the world to all of us. It allowed us to visit with all those who came to partake in the walk to exchange stories about her and how she touched so many people's lives. It also allowed us to celebrate her life instead of her death. After going through the whole process, I began to re-think my own mortality and how I wanted my death to be handled. I talked with my husband and we both let each other know what our wishes were. Our kids also talked about it so we now know what their wishes are. I never realized how important that conversation truly is, and I'm glad that we were able to come to understandings about each other. It's not a conversation that anyone wants to have, but it is so SO very important.

Almost Spring

2008-03-31T09:54:00.003-04:00

Here in upstate New York, we live by a few mottos: 1) If you don't like the weather, wait a minute and it will change and 2) Keep your winter coat handy even when April rolls around because you never know if you'll need it again.

We had a beautifully warm and sunny day last Thursday. It was a sneak peak to what is just around the corner. Jackets were off and people's faces were turned up towards the sun, bathing in it's warm rays. Some of us even dared to open our windows to allow for some much needed fresh air in. Then not 10 hours later, temperatures dropped and we had half a foot of snow. Then two days later, it warmed up again and we were once more without our coats. This transition time is very difficult as many people get sick from the roller coaster temperatures. I, myself, have been ill since the beginning of February and it just doesn't want to stop. I'm hoping that once the warm weather is here to stay, things will change for the better.

Chin up and remember that spring is just around the corner.

Randy Pausch video

2008-03-17T09:59:00.003-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to see the Randy Pausch "Last Lecture" video. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. Here is the link from when he was on Oprah http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw . The man has remarkable presence and for those of you who don't know his story, he's a married man with three young children, who is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also dying of pancreatic cancer. What is absolutely amazing is that he's not bitter about dying, but rather he wants to share his outlook on life. He had a wonderful childhood with two wonderful parents. He followed his passion and went as far as getting his PhD. It truly is a wonderful video. It lasts 12 minutes, so turn your speakers on and sit back and learn something worthwhile.

Four Generations

2008-02-15T12:45:00.003-05:00

When I look at this picture I get very nostalgic. You see, my Grandmother passed away a few years ago and I still miss her terribly. My father took this picture of my Grandmother, my mother, myself and my daughter. It was taken while we were at the skating rink to watch my sister, Lisa, who is a professional figure skater. She teaches and also still competes. One of her duties is to put on an ice show each April highlighting the accomplishments of all the children and adults who take lessons at the rink. Lisa will also skate a solo performance and that is why we all like to go. She is an amazing skater and simply a joy to watch. My grandmother would always make the trip from Massachusetts to come and be at the show. I loved those visits because being with my grandmother was a huge joy in my life. She married my grandfather at a young age and raised four children. My mother, who is sitting next to my grandmother, is the oldest. Gram told the greatest stories, especially of when she was growing up. She was a feisty woman who could out-walk all of us even though she was our senior by at least 40 years. Each summer, when she and my grandfather would visit, we would all walk to Skan-Ellus, an ice cream stand about six miles from our house. Gram would be in the lead while the rest of us tried to keep up with her. We would all enjoy our ice cream cones and then have to make the trek back home again. She was a formidable woman, that's for sure. She worked in the meat department of a grocery store for many years. Whenever we would visit her in Massachusetts, she would always have a leg of lamb dinner. That was always a special day because you could smell the meat cooking all day and by the time it was ready we were all drooling in anticipation. She also was known for her baking. She always had bake goods stored in the cupboard in her tupperware. Whether it was her signature chocolate cake or her Toll House cookies, we always knew where to look for them. My aunt and I used to eat the chocolate cake for breakfast! I have tried to duplicate the recipe, but it never turns out like Grams. The sad thing about Gram is that she suffered a slow and painful death due to medical mistakes. She went in to the hospital for a procedure and developed spinal meningitis while there. This disease severely impacted her brain and she was never the same afterwards. She suffered from dementia and her health declined gradually until her death a few years ago. My Aunt Judi lived with my grandmother and took care of her until her death. It was an arduous journey but my Aunt never waivered from wanting her home and taking care of her herself. Gram was blessed by her love and care and I will be forever grateful to her for taking such wonderful care of Gram. I miss Gram, but I am forever blessed by her love. I am fortunate to have a lot of pictures of her and I have also written down some of the stories she shared with me. So, she will never be far from my heart.

Flash back........

2008-02-05T14:00:00.001-05:00

The below link is a blog created by Joni Rodgers and Colleen Thompson. Joni wrote her blog about Fat Nude writing. It's a wonderul blog and a must read. Here is the link:

http://boxingoctopus.blogspot.com/2008/02/fat-nude-writing-or-lord-never-gives-us.html

While I was reading it, I began to remember all the things I passed up as a kid because I was so self-conscious about my appearance. I remember standing in front of a full length mirror and tracing along my body where I "thought" the fat should disappear from, thereby leaving me thin and beautiful. I did this for years. (I think it would be a great plot for a Judy Blume book personally) Anyway, I finally got a break when I had a growth spurt of about 6 inches one summer. I shot right up and stretched right out and it was a miracle. I was thin and tall and just looking at myself I felt like all those years of turmoil and self imposed exile was worth it. How sad is that? Now that I'm in my forties and no longer have that svelt built, I don't really care. I wish I had adopted that attitude way back when because it would have been an entirely different way of growing up for me. Now I simply go by the saying, "Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid of not living it while you can."

Tragic loss......

2008-01-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

I know that this has been all over the news, but I just wanted to say how terribly sad it is that Heath Ledger is dead at such a young age. I had read a newsletter through the Romantic Times BOOK Reviews that said:

"Heath and his then fiancée Michelle Williams lived in our area just a few blocks from our offices in Brooklyn. Regular sightings of the Hollywood couple not only added cachet to our trendy Boerum Hill neighborhood, but when their townhouse went on the market for $3.4 million, it raised property values through the roof! Neighbors are stunned by the news and everyone is remembering what a loving dad he was and also what a nice guy he was to the people he came in contact with. No one in this neighborhood believed for one minute that Heath intentionally took his own life no matter how the media portrayed this tragedy when the news broke. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ms. Williams, his family and friends and especially to his young daughter, Matilda."

What I think we all need to realize is that there is a lot we don't know about medications, both prescription and over-the-counter and when they are mixed in the wrong combinations - they can be deadly. Many physicians also don't know that much about the workings of prescription medicines. At a recent doctor's visit to my husband's gastroenterologist, he wanted to prescribe a medicine for my husband to take and when my husband asked the doctor what was in the medicine (because he has severe allergies to certain meds) . The doctor's reply was "I have no idea." Now doesn't that just give you the warm and fuzzies. Needless to say, my husband didn't even bother to fill the prescription. As the patient, you must be a strong advocate for yourself. Ask the doctor, pharmacist or other health provider what the medication is, what it's used for and what side effects it will have. Being pro-active does not make you a pain in the ass. Know what your medicine does and how it interacts with other meds. And, especially with the sleeping aides such as Ambien. There is so much that we DON'T know about how the brain works and how it reacts to these sleep aides and also the anxiety meds like Xanax. So, be pro-active when it comes to your health and medications. Ask questions and be informed, it will save your life!

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-04T09:42:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday and that your New Year proves to be a healthy and happy one.

My family and I had a wonderful Holiday. New Year's was quiet, we stayed home and watched movies. But it was fun and relaxing and I even managed to stay up long enough to watch the ball drop at Times Square!

Stay warm and be happy!

And then it hit......

2007-12-18T12:30:00.000-05:00

Do you remember the Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer TV special when the narrator was talking about the storm coming in and Christmas might be cancelled and he said, "And then it hit." Well, it sure "hit" this past weekend. The Nor'easter hit Saturday night and into Sunday and we received 15 inches of snow. I wanted to take pictures, but I never opened my door, let alone went outside to take pictures. I do have to say, that in upstate NY, we have some of the greatest snow plowers in the world. Even though we got over a foot of snow, they made sure that the roads were cleared Monday morning and throughout the day. We are so used to snow up here that 15 inches isn't really that big of a deal, but that's only because we have clear roads to utilize.

With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to wish everyone a save and healthy Holiday season. Best wishes to you and your families!

Is it Christmas time already?

2007-11-09T13:25:00.000-05:00

We haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet and already all the stores have their Christmas decorations up. I don't know about you, but this to me is just crazy. Because we have made this holiday so commercial, the stress and toil it takes on each and every one of us is just escalating. Each year it is expected that we "out do" what we did the previous year or you end up feeling guilty if you don't. We have become a society of "quantity" instead of "meaning". Have we totally lost the true meaning of Christmas somewhere along the way?

When I was growing up, my parents had very little money. There were four kids in our family and we always got little things that we needed (like socks, underwear, etc.) and then one present of something we asked for. Then we had stockings filled with an orange, candy and maybe a puzzle game and pencil. It may not sound like much, but it was wonderful to us. The presents took a back seat to the whole experience of our tradition. Our paternal grandmother always made the trip from Rhode Island to spend Christmas with us. Our grandfather died in 1963 and my father is an only child, so it was wonderful to have her spend the holiday with us. When we woke up, we were not allowed to go all the way downstairs before my parents and grandmother were ready to get up. That meant we huddled together on the stairs in our pajamas with the Christmas tree directly in front of us, simply waiting for them to wake. As soon as they emerged from their bedrooms, we made a mad dash to the tree and went to our "spot" where our presents were clearly labeled. We took our time opening our gifts because there weren't that many and we wanted to savor the process. When we were teenagers, our grandmother would put a money envelope on the tree for us to use on ourselves after Christmas during all the sales. I remember thinking that was so great. We would each have $20 dollars to spend and we would make lists of everything we wanted to get with it. It was wonderful. After we opened up our presents we would have a big breakfast that my father and grandmother would make. We had scrambled eggs, sausage, English muffins, orange juice and whatever type of pastry my grandmother had purchased. After breakfast we would play with whatever gift we received until our formal dinner was ready, which was usually mid-afternoon. Mom would do all the cooking for dinner and my grandmother would make her traditional steamed pudding for dessert. We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, squash and gravy. It was always the same menu and we always ate in the dining room. It was so much fun setting the formal table. We usually had a holiday table cloth covering the dining room table and on it we would use Mom's china with all the side dishes and platters as well. One of us would get the wooden box from under our hutch so that we could put out the good silver. Once the table was set and the food was ready, we would help Mom put all the food into the serving dishes or platters and bring them out to the table. Dad was always the first to get served and then we would pass the dishes around the table. Once everyone was served, we would say grace and then dig in. We would always make a point to see how much my older sister would eat. She was so tiny, yet she would heap her dinner plate with mounds of food. Bets would be placed on whether or not she would be able to finish all of it. I remember one year my father actually took a picture of her plate because he couldn't believe she would be able to eat the whole thing. She persevered and managed to eat it all, but she was looking a bit green by the end. Besides the food, our table conversations were always my favorite. We would talk about everything and everyone would be engaged in the conversation. Even after dessert was served, we would all linger at the table and talk. I think that was my favorite part of the whole day to be honest. Once the dishes were cleared, washed and put away, we would sit and watch TV until we couldn't keep our eyes open any longer. It was always such a wonderful day, none of us wanted it to end. We shared the day as a family and that is what made it so special. It was not about what we received, it was about the love that we shared.

Fall Colors in Central New York

2007-10-23T13:43:00.001-04:00

The fall folliage in Central New York is just amazing this year. We took a drive along NYS Rte. 20 this past weekend and I couldn't help but take pictures. The colors were so vibrant and vast, that it was just breathtaking. It was just miles and miles of yellows, reds, oranges and greens. Mother Nature truly is an amazing artist. In some locations it was if she had laid down a tapestry for all of us to enjoy. These pictures just don't do it justice, but I hope you enjoy them none-the-less.

Living Sculptures

2007-10-05T12:59:00.000-04:00

On our way to the Southern Tier, we passed a library and out on its front lawn was this wonderful sculpture. It's hard to see with this image, but to the left, there is a log lying sideways to begin the sculpture. It then begins to morph into rough sawn lumber and then into shelves with primative books on it. It then evolves to what we have today. It was truly wonderful, thought provoking and quite imaginative. When you think about the evolution of books we simply can't grasp the value that was once placed on them. Hundreds of years ago, if you owned a book, you were thought to be wealthy, because only those who were wealthy could afford to purchase them. They were a symbol of status. Today we take for granted the ability to purchase books and we discard them just as easily. We should all be cognizant of their value - and I don't just mean monitarily. Books are the gateway to the world and make wonderful gifts. Or, you can give them to your local library when you are finished with them or donate them to the Salvation Army or the Red Cross. This way everyone gets to enjoy the printed word and it truly is a gift that keeps on giving.

Trip to the Southern Tier

2007-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

We just recently brought our daughter back to school after a 5 day religious break. It is such a beautiful ride. Her school is nestled in the hills of the Southern Tier and the leaves were already starting to change. The pumpkins are even out now too! Part of our ride brought us through the amazing apple orchards of New York State. There is nothing like a crisp NYS apple. I couldn't help but take pictures, and I'm going to upload a few of them for you. Hope you enjoy!!

MY NEW RELEASE IS OUT!!!

2007-09-17T13:17:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to tell you that my new short story, "And Then There Was Light" is now out and available for purchase. You can go to either www.Uncialpress.com or http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/BookDetails.asp?BookID=61307 to purchase your ebook copy. ATTWL was given great reviews, and for the price of $2.99, it's a bargain!!

Writing Prompts

2007-08-15T10:42:00.000-04:00

When I'm stuck (I don't like the term "writer's block") for something to write, be it a short story or a chapter for one of my novels, I turn on the radio. There is something about music that clears my brain and allows the words to flow out of me. It's a great writing prompt and it puts me in a wonderful frame of mind. I find it relaxes me enough to dig down deep for story lines that are trying to stay hidden. If I'm writing a serious piece, I'll play classical music. If I'm writing something humorous, I'll put on rock and if the story is emotional, I'll play either soft rock or country.

It's an easy way of releasing your demons while writing. If you find you're having trouble, turn on your radio or put in a CD and allow the music to pass over your soul.

Finding time to write

2007-08-07T15:39:00.000-04:00

I've been so frustrated lately with having no free time to write. I try to set aside an hour or so a day to work on my novel-in-progress, but lately that hour is more like 5-10 minutes. I just get in the groove and then I have to stop to take care of other business. I go back later and read what I was able to write and it's all disjointed and you can tell I was not really paying attention or I've made some really stupid GLARING mistakes. I would dearly love to give up my day job and just write full time, because that is really what you need to do if you want to write seriously. But right now, that day job is paying the bills, so it isn't feasible to quit. Plus I still have one in college, so that money is pretty necessary. Don't you just hate "waiting" for the day to come that you can write for as long as you need to with no distractions? I keep saying to myself, "Maybe next year you'll be able to do this....." only next year flows into the following year, and so on. I think what I need to be doing is getting up earlier in the day and write until I have to get ready to go to my day job. I'll let you know how that works.....

Read another great book!

2007-08-06T10:58:00.001-04:00

I just finished reading, "The Switch" by Sandra Brown. I just love her and I can never put her books down once I start them. I love the way she develops her characters and she builds her scenes so well that you feel as if you are in each scene as an invisible observer. The Switch had a lot of twists and turns in the plot and it wasn't until the final three chapters that you realized that what you had believed throughout the whole book was not what it appeared. Truly a wonderful book. I have read all of Sandra Brown's new books, but am catching up on all her older books too. Truly a great read.

Another project completed

2007-08-02T11:47:00.000-04:00

I recently completed and published my mother's genealogy. It took three years of research and countless numbers of hours to combine and organize the information. I had primary source documents and photographs that had to be laid out to match the written text. All together, the book was 318 pages. I was able to trace back her German ancestors to 1835. They were from Leipzig and unfortunately, Leipzig was demolished during WWII. No records survived the bombings. I had hoped to connect with other families in that area with the same surname, but that did not pan out. I was luckier with her Italian ancestors as there was a researcher in Italy that had traced the family back to the 1700's. We shared information, as he did not have any information on his family members who emigrated to the United States. It was a wonderful trade and I was able to include much of his research into my database, thanks to his wonderful primary source documentation. I had the book bound for my mother and had the type set embossed with gold on the black cover and spine. It was beautiful. I was very happy with the way it turned out, even more so when I saw the look on my mother's face when she opened the box that I had wrapped it in. It was well worth all my time and effort.

2007-07-07T10:02:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm a proud parent and I just have to brag. My oldest child just graduated with his bachelor's degree Magna Cum Laude!! He received his degree in Environmental Biology. He's looking for a full time job right now but will most likely attend grad school in the spring. My youngest child also just graduated with her associates degree and was awarded "Distinguished Academic All-American." She played on the tennis team and graduated with over a 3.8 GPA. I'm so glad that they got their brains from their father!!

I just read the most wonderful book

2007-03-24T19:45:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading, "Keep Going - The Art of Perserverance" by Joseph M. Marshall III. It is truly a fascinating book that I think all juniors and seniors in high school should read. It is a story about a man named Jeremy who was raised by his Lakota grandparents. Jeremy often sought advice from his grandfather and the wisedom that only the aged know. It was insightful, and very thought provoking. We are always searching for answers to questions that have no answers. The Lakota have amazing insight to those unanswerable questions. Joseph Marshall is a wonderful writer and his style is enchanting. It is a must read for everyone. I highly recommend it.

advertising

2007-03-21T09:37:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed that every third commercial on TV is a direct advertisement for prescription drugs? What is wrong with that picture?

Our society as a whole are misinformed, mislead and horribly ignorant about the effects of prescription drugs. Think about it. We go to the doctor now more than ever, for whatever ailment we have. We go in and explain to the doctor what's happening and then we expect the doctor to prescribe a drug to make us "feel better". But, did you ever stop to think what you are really doing to yourself? All drugs, prescription or not, have side effects. Sometimes those side effects are worse than the original ailment. Yet, we do not stop to think about it. We just pop the pills because our doctor prescribed them for us. Prescription drugs are a big business here in the U.S. They have lobbyists that have a great deal of pull in our governments, both state and federal. The drug companies also rely on their barbie doll salespeople to schmooze the doctors to use their brand of drugs, often times "buying" their loyalty. They will bring in breakfast for the whole office, or lunch or offer other incentives for the doctors to prescribe their drug. It is a horrible cycle. The drug companies shell out a great deal of money in "marketing" their drugs. This goes under the heading of "research and development." Due to the high costs of "research and development" they must charge a great deal for their product. You know the old adage: Shit slides downhill - well, we the consumers are the ones that take the brunt of the "research and development" costs every time we fill a prescription. We pay for the breakfasts, lunches and trips that are used to entice the physicians.

I recently spent a week in the hospital with C.Diff. It is a bacterial infection and it nearly killed me. When I asked how I got it, the said that it is normally seen in people that have been on antibiotics. They explained that the antibiotics kill off the good bacteria in our guts and allow the bad bacteria to grow exponentially, thereby allowing the bad bacteria to release its toxins throughout the intestinal tract. Well, I hadn't been on antibiotics so they looked further into my medical history. I have Lupus and am on a great many drugs to combat it. Two of the drugs I am on could also have caused this to happen. One of them being Nexium. I had no idea that this could happen. The other drug was cyclosporine. When I got home, I researched the 18 different drugs I take everyday. I found that Nexium is only supposed to be used for about 6 weeks. I've been on it continuously for 5 years. (first Prilosec then Nexium) no one ever questioned me being on it for that long. I don't really think anyone was keeping tract that should have been. Another drug I found was Advair. There have been no studies done on long term use of Advair. Advair is a disk inhalant used for asthma. I've been on that for six years. Makes me wonder what I'm doing to myself if nobody is really keeping an eye on my laundry list. They all know what I'm taking, but yet none of my doctors have ever questioned why I've been on them for so long. My husband has always said that most of my problem is that all the drugs I have to take are doing more damage then good. I now think he is right. But what to do? Well, when I go in next for my check up with my GP, you can be sure that we are going to have a long chat about just that.

Before you willingly accept the prescription from your doctor, ask him/her if it is really necessary. It could save your life.

Welcome!

2007-03-20T15:10:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my blog.

There are a number of things I wish to share and will enjoy hearing from you with your thoughts on issues I write about.