It’s February 29 - Leap Day!
Why am I excited? Well, for one thing, I now have an additional day to meet my upcoming writing deadlines. I’m currently proofreading my July Harlequin Romantic Suspense story, UNDERCOVER SOLDIER, and also have a Pet Rescue Mystery manuscript due in a few weeks. An extra day is a good thing.
I used to worry about the reason for leap year. Apparently it takes our beloved planet Earth 365 days and approximately 6 hours to rotate around the sun, which means that a year is actually slightly more than 365 days. The extra day in a leap year is the compilation of those 6-hour increments over 4 years. Sounds easy and rather ingenious. Otherwise, how would we ever keep track of where we were in a year that included the extra few hours? Boggles my mind.
More important to me these days are the traditions of leap day. No, I didn’t propose to my husband on leap day. I suppose it’s still traditional for a man to propose to a woman except on leap day, but I suspect that today’s savvy and outgoing women do a lot of proposing themselves, even in years that don’t even contain a leap day.
At times, I wish I’d been born on leap day. Just imagine what it would be like to be only a quarter of your age. Okay, I realize it doesn’t work that way. Those who have February 29 as a birthday probably choose early on whether to celebrate it on February 28 or March 1. Apparently most states choose March 1 as the date when drivers’ licenses are issued to leap babies who turn driving age.
Yes, I’ve done a little research here. The chances of being a leap baby are apparently 1 in 1500. There are close to 190,000 people in the U.S. who were born on leap day, and around 4 million in the whole world.
By the way, not all years divisible by four are leap years. The years a new century begins are only leap years if the number of years is divisible by 400. That’s because the rotation is 365 days and approximately 6 hours. The additional quirk is to compensate for that “approximately.”
There has to be a story here somewhere. A mystery that can be solved only on leap day. Or someone gets murdered on leap day. Or--well, I’m still thinking about that.
What’s your opinion of leap day? Anything exciting, like a marriage proposal, planned?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Weather Forecast
Advance notice: Saturday, March 24, from one to five: Bloomington Book Fair, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. I’ll be sitting at a table with Carl Brookins, senior member of my writer’s group, and we’ll both have books for sale.
And Then You Dye came in at about 63,000 words. Most novels are that long or longer. But there is a story that has as much mystery, pathos, anger, humor and disappointed love told as a piece of graffiti just eight words long: "Come back, Ralph, it was just a rash."
It’s snowing lightly outside right now, the precursor of something much worse – or more exciting – to come. We in the Twin Cities have had an exceptionally mild and dry winter. This will be our first significant snow storm of the winter, an amazing statement, considering the norm for us. One reward for living this far north has always been the respect, even awe, of people living farther south, for managing to survive our harsh winters. Not this year; when Chicago got eight inches of snow recently, we got a “trace.” Truck owners with big blades attached to the front of their vehicles have had to take a serious cut in extra earnings this winter. We’ve actually been in a drought, but today and tomorrow will mark a change in our weather. They're predicting something in the neighborhood of a foot of snow. We're practicing looking up and saying loftily, "We've had worse." And indeed we have, only just not this winter.
I would like to be inside, warm and cozy, with occasional glances out the window to see how deep it’s gotten, how nearly horizontal the snowflakes are flying in the fierce wind. Unfortunately, I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so I’ll get to break out my somewhat rusty winter driving skills for a refresher lesson. Wish me luck!
And Then You Dye came in at about 63,000 words. Most novels are that long or longer. But there is a story that has as much mystery, pathos, anger, humor and disappointed love told as a piece of graffiti just eight words long: "Come back, Ralph, it was just a rash."
It’s snowing lightly outside right now, the precursor of something much worse – or more exciting – to come. We in the Twin Cities have had an exceptionally mild and dry winter. This will be our first significant snow storm of the winter, an amazing statement, considering the norm for us. One reward for living this far north has always been the respect, even awe, of people living farther south, for managing to survive our harsh winters. Not this year; when Chicago got eight inches of snow recently, we got a “trace.” Truck owners with big blades attached to the front of their vehicles have had to take a serious cut in extra earnings this winter. We’ve actually been in a drought, but today and tomorrow will mark a change in our weather. They're predicting something in the neighborhood of a foot of snow. We're practicing looking up and saying loftily, "We've had worse." And indeed we have, only just not this winter.
I would like to be inside, warm and cozy, with occasional glances out the window to see how deep it’s gotten, how nearly horizontal the snowflakes are flying in the fierce wind. Unfortunately, I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so I’ll get to break out my somewhat rusty winter driving skills for a refresher lesson. Wish me luck!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
The Joy of Tangling
Ultimately what you offer the market is derived from how you live your life.
--Alasdhair Willis, Stella McCartney's husband, NYT Magazine, Feb. 26, 2012
Odd, isn't it? How the Universe works in synchronicity. Something or someone is called to your attention, and suddenly you hear/see that thing or person over and over. For example, I'd never heard of Max Planck, but last week I had a blow out on Highway 95. The only way I could describe my position to the nice lady at AAA was that I was on 95 near the Max Planck Florida Institute sign. Yesterday, while listening to "Says You," a public radio program, they mentioned Max Planck.
This week I joined 77 other people in Providence, Rhode Island, to attend a Zentangle® certification workshop. On the surface, we had little in common other than being a crowd mostly of women of a certain age. Over the next three days, we learned a lot about each other.
It started with a display table. People brought wonderful examples of their work to share. One lady tangled on gourds!
But the real magic happened when Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas assigned us homework: Come back tomorrow with your own new design and teach it to the group.
Oh, my! Above is a tangle--Kurtinz--and its phases (different looks) by Kate La Montagne.
Here is a grouping by Sampada Agarwal. As you can see, she used a notepad from our hotel to capture a variety of ideas. The one she presented is in the upper right corner, and she named it "Fandangle." Isn't it lovely?
Once our fellow tanglers shared their work, the connections between people began. "Teach me that!" we asked each other. From that point on, you would walk into the room and see a cluster of tanglers sharing ideas.
All this caused my head to kick into overdrive. You see, we're all "universes" unto ourselves. Until we share our cosmos with others, that world is hidden from view. But art allows us to be vulnerable. We capture the way we see the world and present it to others, who respond by saying, "Ah! Yes! Now I see the world that way, too!"
As authors, we incorporate this in our books as we create little worlds. As visual or fiber artists, we do the same. As Spock once said on Star Trek, it's a marvel how alone we humans are. But art builds bridges and that loneliness is vanquished. We meet each other in a new space. And of course, like the quotation above, we attract each other. Art allows our personalities to shine through--and who we are, how we live and see the world becomes clear to others. Then, if you sell your work, what people buy is that vision of the world, that reflection of how you live your life.
What was the last experience that set your brain on fire?
PS I'll be teaching Zentangle at Bouchercon 2012. I hope you'll come join me!
--Alasdhair Willis, Stella McCartney's husband, NYT Magazine, Feb. 26, 2012
Odd, isn't it? How the Universe works in synchronicity. Something or someone is called to your attention, and suddenly you hear/see that thing or person over and over. For example, I'd never heard of Max Planck, but last week I had a blow out on Highway 95. The only way I could describe my position to the nice lady at AAA was that I was on 95 near the Max Planck Florida Institute sign. Yesterday, while listening to "Says You," a public radio program, they mentioned Max Planck.
This week I joined 77 other people in Providence, Rhode Island, to attend a Zentangle® certification workshop. On the surface, we had little in common other than being a crowd mostly of women of a certain age. Over the next three days, we learned a lot about each other.
But the real magic happened when Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas assigned us homework: Come back tomorrow with your own new design and teach it to the group.
Here is a grouping by Sampada Agarwal. As you can see, she used a notepad from our hotel to capture a variety of ideas. The one she presented is in the upper right corner, and she named it "Fandangle." Isn't it lovely?
Once our fellow tanglers shared their work, the connections between people began. "Teach me that!" we asked each other. From that point on, you would walk into the room and see a cluster of tanglers sharing ideas.
All this caused my head to kick into overdrive. You see, we're all "universes" unto ourselves. Until we share our cosmos with others, that world is hidden from view. But art allows us to be vulnerable. We capture the way we see the world and present it to others, who respond by saying, "Ah! Yes! Now I see the world that way, too!"
As authors, we incorporate this in our books as we create little worlds. As visual or fiber artists, we do the same. As Spock once said on Star Trek, it's a marvel how alone we humans are. But art builds bridges and that loneliness is vanquished. We meet each other in a new space. And of course, like the quotation above, we attract each other. Art allows our personalities to shine through--and who we are, how we live and see the world becomes clear to others. Then, if you sell your work, what people buy is that vision of the world, that reflection of how you live your life.
What was the last experience that set your brain on fire?
PS I'll be teaching Zentangle at Bouchercon 2012. I hope you'll come join me!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
8 Natural Ways to Beat Allergies
People have often asked me about natural remedies for allergies so I decided to post about them here. I was once tested and found out that I was allergic to everything from mold to shrimp! If you have allergies, your immune system, the body’s defense against bacteria and viruses is on overdrive. It reacts to substances by secreting a chemical called histamine, which causes symptoms including sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and even, asthma as your body tries to get rid of the allergens. These natural remedies can help you breathe easy:
Dr. Willow McQuade, N.D., a twenty-eight-year-old naturopathic doctor specializing in natural remedies, has decided to take sabbatical and visit her Aunt Claire, the owner of Nature’s Way Market and Cafe in idyllic Greenport, Long Island. But the idea of rest and relaxation is quickly forgotten when Willow arrives from a morning meditative walk to discover her Aunt Claire dead in the store, a strange almond-like smell emanating from her mouth and a bottle of flower essences by her side.
Despite her Zen nature and penchant for yoga, Aunt Claire had a knack for getting into confrontations with folks. An activist, she held weekly meetings for different causes every week in the store. The police want to believe the death is accidental—but Willow thinks she may have been poisoned.
Things get worse when Aunt Claire’s valuable recipe for a new natural age-defying formula, Fresh Face, is stolen during a store break-in, and an attempt is made on Willow’s life. Desperate for a way out of the mess, she turns to a handsome young cop Jackson Spade. Together the two set about solving the case the natural way—through a combination of hard work, common sense, and a dose of luck.
For more information please viisit www.chrystlefiedler.com.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
What's New
I left 80 degrees and sunshine in Southern California to come to Chicago and the prospect of snow. Of course, it’s not just snow these days. Now, the weather man first called it a winter storm warning, which was later downgraded to a winter storm advisory. He didn’t explain what either term meant, but the best I could tell was he were saying it was going to snow.
I know there is some weather that is threatening, but lately it seems like every weather forecast sounds like disaster is about to strike. But then news reporting in general has become like one big tabloid. Every night, one of the news station plays dramatic music and flashes a big sign on the screen that says Breaking News. Not exactly. Most of the time, whatever the story is, has long since ended.
Don’t even get me started on how they send reporters out to do a remote from a location where something happened in the past. How newsworthy is it to have a reporter standing on a street where hours or even days earlier a bank was robbed, and the cops and everyone else has left?
But back to my trip to Chicago. As I was unpacking my laptop, netbook and smart phone, I started thinking about my parents and what they would think about these devices. My father died in 1970, so he missed all of it. My mother died in 1996, and knew that I had some kind of phone in my purse and heard a neighbor talking about sending messages to her daughter on a computer. But nothing compared to now.
I held up my BlackBerry and tried to imagine explaining it to my father. Not so easy to understand for someone who last used a phone that weighted a ton and was wired into the wall.
As I turned on my laptop, I imagined my father looking at it. It is so far from what he was used to, how could I even explain it. I know when I got my first laptop, I thought it was so neat, like taking the world with me, but I was already used to a computer.
While these thoughts danced around in my head, I started working on Yarn2Go and a scene the involved a lighthouse. While it takes place in the fictitious town of Cadbury by the Sea, it bears more than a little resemblance to Pacific Grove where there happens to be a famous lighthouse. I couldn’t remember the exact details and wanted to check them.
I could just imagine if my father was watching how amazed he’d be as I with a few keystrokes, went online and got the whole history of the Los Pinos lighthouse. In case you’re interested - it dates from 1885 and is the longest continuous lighthouse on the west coast. Not only did I get facts, but photographs and a map that showed just where it sits. And then with a few more keystrokes, I was back in the middle of my manuscript, adding the details to my work in progress.
My father would have loved to be able to follow his curiosity without leaving the house.
Sometimes I think about what it was like before we had all this information for the asking. My curiosity likes now better.
What is your favorite thing you’ve found out on the Internet?
I know there is some weather that is threatening, but lately it seems like every weather forecast sounds like disaster is about to strike. But then news reporting in general has become like one big tabloid. Every night, one of the news station plays dramatic music and flashes a big sign on the screen that says Breaking News. Not exactly. Most of the time, whatever the story is, has long since ended.
Don’t even get me started on how they send reporters out to do a remote from a location where something happened in the past. How newsworthy is it to have a reporter standing on a street where hours or even days earlier a bank was robbed, and the cops and everyone else has left?
But back to my trip to Chicago. As I was unpacking my laptop, netbook and smart phone, I started thinking about my parents and what they would think about these devices. My father died in 1970, so he missed all of it. My mother died in 1996, and knew that I had some kind of phone in my purse and heard a neighbor talking about sending messages to her daughter on a computer. But nothing compared to now.
I held up my BlackBerry and tried to imagine explaining it to my father. Not so easy to understand for someone who last used a phone that weighted a ton and was wired into the wall.
As I turned on my laptop, I imagined my father looking at it. It is so far from what he was used to, how could I even explain it. I know when I got my first laptop, I thought it was so neat, like taking the world with me, but I was already used to a computer.
While these thoughts danced around in my head, I started working on Yarn2Go and a scene the involved a lighthouse. While it takes place in the fictitious town of Cadbury by the Sea, it bears more than a little resemblance to Pacific Grove where there happens to be a famous lighthouse. I couldn’t remember the exact details and wanted to check them.
I could just imagine if my father was watching how amazed he’d be as I with a few keystrokes, went online and got the whole history of the Los Pinos lighthouse. In case you’re interested - it dates from 1885 and is the longest continuous lighthouse on the west coast. Not only did I get facts, but photographs and a map that showed just where it sits. And then with a few more keystrokes, I was back in the middle of my manuscript, adding the details to my work in progress.
My father would have loved to be able to follow his curiosity without leaving the house.
Sometimes I think about what it was like before we had all this information for the asking. My curiosity likes now better.
What is your favorite thing you’ve found out on the Internet?
My Red Shoe Story
Full Disclaimer: I ran a version of this post on my own blog last week. But I thought you might find this story interesting—and might have missed it.
I wanted to wear red shoes with my new dress for the SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS launch party. I thought the shoes would add just the right pizzazz, with a little intrigue. Good for a mystery author, right?
Thus began my search. The online store where I found my favorites didn’t have my size, so I thought I’d look around here. No luck in my town of Waynesboro—the only red shoes I could find were very high. (I wanted to look good, not kill myself in them!) I sent my husband to a neighboring town’s shoe store. He works in Staunton and could pop over there at lunch time—just to see if they had red heels that he thought I’d like. He called me back later that afternoon. “They don’t have red shoes. The sales clerk said they never have red shoes because Staunton is labeled an agricultural district by the headquarters.”
Um, WHAT?
Who are these people that think because women live in a rural area they wouldn’t wear red shoes? I despise them in the same way I despise people who think all New Yorkers are rude, all Southerners are sweet, or people that think all women should be tall and thin to be considered beautiful, or that smart people aren’t sexy, or well, you get the point.
But really—red shoes? Why red and not pink, or yellow, or purple? What is it about red that has some buyer in New York say “No, I don’t think farm girls will buy red shoes.” What is this 1959? Are we really in the United States of America? Shouldn’t I at least have a choice about this at my local shoe store?
Well, in actuality I do. We all do. The choice is take our business elsewhere. I found my shoes at another on-line store. This is one of the best things about the Internet—it’s evened the score a bit for those of us that don’t live in the big cities and are at the mercy of some man behind the desk in New York City that doesn’t know the first thing about us. We don't fit into your little mind's preconceived notions for us. We are smart, we are strong, short, tall, round and thin and yes, country girls and women want red shoes, too.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The New and the Old
First of all, I’d like to mention that I’ll be at Passion & Prose this Saturday, in Long Beach, California. Should be a fun event.
Some relatives who live out of town have just bought a second residence here in LA to be able to spend more time with family. My husband has been helping them get things together before they return next time, and I went with him earlier this week to see their new condo.
The condo is located in the area of Los Angeles called The Miracle Mile. Why? Well, Wikipedia says that it was a very prominent and wealthy area at one time. It’s less of a miracle now but still quite nice. One of its amenities is its museums.
The day we visited was Presidents’ Day, so we were able to visit LACMA--the Los Angeles County Museum of Art--for free. It consists of about eight buildings and pavilions, each filled with amazing artwork.
Of course I have to say that my idea of what constitutes art may be like my idea of what constitutes comedy, which tends to be different from most people. Even so, the few buildings we walked through impressed me. We saw exhibits that included décor from the 1930s through the 1960s, plus some stuff that was a lot more modern and new, including a kinetic art display of moving vehicles on Los Angeles freeways in traffic jams! Art? Well, maybe, but it was definitely amusing.
I do have to admit, though, that I was much more impressed by the La Brea Tar Pits next door, which I’ve visited a lot more often. Partly it’s to see the model mammoths lifting their trunks as they mire down in the very real tar, including a pond with boiling asphalt pits that bubble in concentric circles on the surface. Well, actually it’s methane gas escaping that causes the bubbling, but that’s a little less exciting.
One reason I go there more is also that a number of very special pet adoption events have been held on the Tar Pit grounds over the past few years. Dogs are always allowed on the grounds, too, as long as they’re leashed. I hope their owners keep them far from the water, though.
Yesterday, Monica blogged about a number of things including an inspiration for a murder to write about thanks to a venue for water aerobics that she visits in her real life. Lots of creatures have died in the Tar Pits and fossils are still being found. I’m not sure I’d want to befoul the area by having a murder committed here, even a fictional one, but maybe someday....
What places in your area, museums or historical sites or otherwise, do you like to visit most? Why?
Some relatives who live out of town have just bought a second residence here in LA to be able to spend more time with family. My husband has been helping them get things together before they return next time, and I went with him earlier this week to see their new condo.
The condo is located in the area of Los Angeles called The Miracle Mile. Why? Well, Wikipedia says that it was a very prominent and wealthy area at one time. It’s less of a miracle now but still quite nice. One of its amenities is its museums.
The day we visited was Presidents’ Day, so we were able to visit LACMA--the Los Angeles County Museum of Art--for free. It consists of about eight buildings and pavilions, each filled with amazing artwork.
Of course I have to say that my idea of what constitutes art may be like my idea of what constitutes comedy, which tends to be different from most people. Even so, the few buildings we walked through impressed me. We saw exhibits that included décor from the 1930s through the 1960s, plus some stuff that was a lot more modern and new, including a kinetic art display of moving vehicles on Los Angeles freeways in traffic jams! Art? Well, maybe, but it was definitely amusing.
I do have to admit, though, that I was much more impressed by the La Brea Tar Pits next door, which I’ve visited a lot more often. Partly it’s to see the model mammoths lifting their trunks as they mire down in the very real tar, including a pond with boiling asphalt pits that bubble in concentric circles on the surface. Well, actually it’s methane gas escaping that causes the bubbling, but that’s a little less exciting.
One reason I go there more is also that a number of very special pet adoption events have been held on the Tar Pit grounds over the past few years. Dogs are always allowed on the grounds, too, as long as they’re leashed. I hope their owners keep them far from the water, though.
Yesterday, Monica blogged about a number of things including an inspiration for a murder to write about thanks to a venue for water aerobics that she visits in her real life. Lots of creatures have died in the Tar Pits and fossils are still being found. I’m not sure I’d want to befoul the area by having a murder committed here, even a fictional one, but maybe someday....
What places in your area, museums or historical sites or otherwise, do you like to visit most? Why?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Mardi Gras, Watered Silk
Advance notice: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2 pm, I will be at the Rum River Public Library in Anoka, MN, to give a talk and sell books.
Another: Saturday, March 24, from one to five: Bloomington Book Fair, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. I’ll be sitting at a table with Carl Brookins, senior member of my writer’s group, and we’ll both have books for sale.
Today is Mardi Gras, AKA Shrove Tuesday, AKA Fat Tuesday. Lent Eve. In medieval times Lent was serious business. People gave up meat (and meat products like fat) altogether between Ash Wednesday and Easter, and did other penitential things, so today was the last day to have a blow out, and use up things you couldn't have for forty days. Lent is a season of reflection and regret but with a glorious promise at the end. Kind of sad, but typical, that we as a culture have kept the party but forgotten the reason for it. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Look for people with black smudges on their foreheads. I only found out recently that the ashes are made from last year’s palm branches. “Remember, Man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return,” a reminder of one's mortality. Serious business. End of sermon.
I’m starting to look at my next book, Watered Silk. Three mornings a week – early mornings, 6:30 am – I go to a place called Courage Center for water aerobics. They specialize in rehabilitating people with physical problems, whether from genetic problems, accident or illness. I have psoriatic arthritis and their heated Olympic-size pool is a Godsend. Standing shoulder-deep in the water I can do vigorous movements impossible on dry land. But I also write murder mysteries, and for some while I have nurtured an image of an instructor coming in very early in the morning, when all is still dark, turning on the high overhead lights, and finding a young woman's body floating in the deep end. Cool, right? Well, Courage Center doesn’t think so. They think a book about a murder set in a place where vulnerable people gather is a very bad idea. But the heroine of my series is well established as going to the Courage Center. So I’m going to invent a place not unlike the Courage Center and say the Courage Center has to close its pool for a couple of weeks to drain it and make repairs, and so the Early Birders have to find a temporary new location for aerobics. And it’s that fictional place that will startle an instructor turning on the lights. I have a friend who lives in Canada, who has a friend who likes to design buildings, and this friend of a friend and I are going to come up with a building that has a door with a broken lock . . .
I love my job.
Another: Saturday, March 24, from one to five: Bloomington Book Fair, at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. I’ll be sitting at a table with Carl Brookins, senior member of my writer’s group, and we’ll both have books for sale.
Today is Mardi Gras, AKA Shrove Tuesday, AKA Fat Tuesday. Lent Eve. In medieval times Lent was serious business. People gave up meat (and meat products like fat) altogether between Ash Wednesday and Easter, and did other penitential things, so today was the last day to have a blow out, and use up things you couldn't have for forty days. Lent is a season of reflection and regret but with a glorious promise at the end. Kind of sad, but typical, that we as a culture have kept the party but forgotten the reason for it. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Look for people with black smudges on their foreheads. I only found out recently that the ashes are made from last year’s palm branches. “Remember, Man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return,” a reminder of one's mortality. Serious business. End of sermon.
I’m starting to look at my next book, Watered Silk. Three mornings a week – early mornings, 6:30 am – I go to a place called Courage Center for water aerobics. They specialize in rehabilitating people with physical problems, whether from genetic problems, accident or illness. I have psoriatic arthritis and their heated Olympic-size pool is a Godsend. Standing shoulder-deep in the water I can do vigorous movements impossible on dry land. But I also write murder mysteries, and for some while I have nurtured an image of an instructor coming in very early in the morning, when all is still dark, turning on the high overhead lights, and finding a young woman's body floating in the deep end. Cool, right? Well, Courage Center doesn’t think so. They think a book about a murder set in a place where vulnerable people gather is a very bad idea. But the heroine of my series is well established as going to the Courage Center. So I’m going to invent a place not unlike the Courage Center and say the Courage Center has to close its pool for a couple of weeks to drain it and make repairs, and so the Early Birders have to find a temporary new location for aerobics. And it’s that fictional place that will startle an instructor turning on the lights. I have a friend who lives in Canada, who has a friend who likes to design buildings, and this friend of a friend and I are going to come up with a building that has a door with a broken lock . . .
I love my job.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
How to Turn Junk into Treasure
Once in a while, for reasons beyond my understanding, I have this urge to craft, to do a project, despite the fact that "now is not a good time." I mean, it's an almost physical compulsion to dive headfirst into a project even when the timing is COMPLETELY off.
Such an urge consumed me this weekend. I had remnants of Valentine's Day candy and cards, and before you could say, "Roses are red..." I was knee-deep making this "Love Box." (Partially inspired by Betty's awesome post about turning nothing into something.)
I started with an empty Truvia box. I love the slant of the lid. After I covered the box with paper, I glued ribbon around the top and on the inside lip. Finally, I gathered a piece of tulle from a bouquet of Valentine's Day roses, stuck a sparkly brad in the center and ta-da! I had my "Love Box." Only one problem: It was empty.
I decided to do a variation on a map-album, so called because it folds up like a road map. Using waste cardboard from packing, I cut out ten rectangles that would fit inside the box. Then I started working on "covers" or decorated rectangles that would fit over the brown, yucky side of the cardboard.
Such an urge consumed me this weekend. I had remnants of Valentine's Day candy and cards, and before you could say, "Roses are red..." I was knee-deep making this "Love Box." (Partially inspired by Betty's awesome post about turning nothing into something.)
I started with an empty Truvia box. I love the slant of the lid. After I covered the box with paper, I glued ribbon around the top and on the inside lip. Finally, I gathered a piece of tulle from a bouquet of Valentine's Day roses, stuck a sparkly brad in the center and ta-da! I had my "Love Box." Only one problem: It was empty.
I decided to do a variation on a map-album, so called because it folds up like a road map. Using waste cardboard from packing, I cut out ten rectangles that would fit inside the box. Then I started working on "covers" or decorated rectangles that would fit over the brown, yucky side of the cardboard.
 |
| This pattern is called "Zin." To it, I added a simple blue heart, a sparkling foam flower, and a brad. |
 |
| The plastic square was cut from packaging. I painted on a heart-shape with pink nail polish. Then I added sparkle/glitter and 3-dimensional clear glue to make the heart. A pink brad (bar shaped) attaches the heart to the "page." |
 |
This is the plastic covering for a bunch of flowers. At least, the rose portion was printed on plastic. Beneath the rose, which is transparent, is a Zentangle pattern called "Hurakan."  |
 |
| Once all the "covers" were finished, I sandwiched a long piece of blue ribbon (leftover from a gift, part of the packaging) between the "covers" and the cardstock to make "pages." When I finished, I had ten rectangles strung together. But you could flip these over and then you had ten rectangles on the REVERSE side, for a total of 20 "pages." I'll go back and add small photos and journaling to these "pages." |
 |
| When "folded" up, the pages look like this. They all fit neatly inside the box. |
 |
| See? It took me the better part of two days, but I also did some writing, cleaned house, and spent time with my husband. I'm pretty pleased with the final result. How about you? Ever get the urge to create? Do you give in? Or lie down until it passes? |
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Did you breathe today? Of course you did! But did you take a deep breath today? Maybe not. Deep breathing is one of the most effective natural remedies and it’s free! Deep breathing is important because on average we’re only using 60% of our lung capacity. This cuts our optimum oxygen intake by 40% and means we aren’t as relaxed as we could be.
Energy breathing from the ancient Chinese practice of Qigong (I named the dog in Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery after this practice) can change all that. The benefits of energy breathing include increased oxygenation of the blood, tissues, muscles, and organs, enhanced mental focus and stress reduction.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Smile to relax your mind and body.
2.Place the tip of your tongue gently against the roof of your mouth and breathe through your nose in slow, gentle, deep breaths. Imagine you are using your entire body to breathe. Feel the air flowing into every part of your body.
3. As you breathe out, visualize any tiredness or stress, pain or sickness, any doubt or worries changing into smoke. Do this for as long as you like.
4. To end your energy breathing session, take one final, slow, gentle, deep breath. Slowly open your eyes.
Feel better?
You can find many more natural remedies in my new novel, Death Drops: A Natural Remedy Mystery (see what it's about below!) on sale Feb. 21st. You can pre-order if you like on Amazon. Visit www.chrystlefiedler.com for more information. Thanks!
Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery
Dr. Willow McQuade, N.D., a twenty-eight-year-old naturopathic doctor specializing in natural remedies, has decided to take sabbatical and visit her Aunt Claire, the owner of Nature’s Way Market and Cafe in idyllic Greenport, Long Island. But the idea of rest and relaxation is quickly forgotten when Willow arrives from a morning meditative walk to discover her Aunt Claire dead in the store, a strange almond-like smell emanating from her mouth and a bottle of flower essences by her side.
Despite her Zen nature and penchant for yoga, Aunt Claire had a knack for getting into confrontations with folks. An activist, she held weekly meetings for different causes every week in the store. The police want to believe the death is accidental—but Willow thinks she may have been poisoned.
Things get worse when Aunt Claire’s valuable recipe for a new natural age-defying formula, Fresh Face, is stolen during a store break-in, and an attempt is made on Willow’s life. Desperate for a way out of the mess, she turns to a handsome young cop Jackson Spade. Together the two set about solving the case the natural way—through a combination of hard work, common sense, and a dose of luck.
Praise for Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery:
“With a terrific premise and an interesting topic, Fiedler’s debut shows promise.” – Library Journal
Death Drops is a gem! Entertaining, informative, and with a mystery that had me completely baffled! – Gayle Trent, author of Killer Sweet Tooth
“Fiedler’s absorbing mystery is an entertaining debut, featuring a likeable menagerie of characters, filled with natural remedies, with all of it unfolding on Long Island’s idyllic East End.” Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, author of the national bestseller Liberating Paris.
“An engaging investigative thriller…an enjoyable whodunit.” The Mystery Gazette
Friday, February 17, 2012
Viva Las Vegas
This is going to be a short blog. We went on a last minute business trip to Las Vegas and I haven’t been online much for the past couple of days. My emails are piling up, but the people watching has been great.
Apparently a lot of people think desert means hot year round, so I have seen a lot of woman wearing sandals and capri pants. The temperature is in the 50s and dry which to me makes it feel colder. I was glad to have on long pants and warm socks.
I have also watched a lot of women going by in murderous looking shoes. Murderous on their feet. If there was any doubt about the discomfort of their skyscraper high heels, all you had to do was watch how they walked as they went by. Their gait was awkward and about as far from graceful as you could get.
I won’t even go into what seems to be passing for dresses now.
Lots of couple were fun to watch. They were the ones who’d obviously been together for a long time, but passed by, hand in hand.
There were lots of foreign tourists. I always like to imagine what Las Vegas must be like through their eyes.
I don’t gamble. It doesn’t even occur to me anymore. I used to like to play video poker for a quarter, but ever since the machines started dispensing vouchers if you won instead of coins, I lost interest.
The hotels on the Strip are great for people trying to get in those 10,000 or whatever the number is of steps you’re supposed to take in a day. Everything is a long walk. You want a cup of coffee - walk down the cavernous hallway to the elevator. When you get to the lobby walk a convoluted route to get through the casino to find the coffee place. The hotel across the street only appears to be across the street. By the time you walk there, you’ve probably logged in a half a mile of steps.
In our usual zigging when other zag, we will be heading home as people flood the highway in the opposite direction on their way to Vegas for the long weekend.
It is always nice to go away, but I will be glad to get home where I only have to take a few steps in a direct route across my house to get my morning coffee.
Apparently a lot of people think desert means hot year round, so I have seen a lot of woman wearing sandals and capri pants. The temperature is in the 50s and dry which to me makes it feel colder. I was glad to have on long pants and warm socks.
I have also watched a lot of women going by in murderous looking shoes. Murderous on their feet. If there was any doubt about the discomfort of their skyscraper high heels, all you had to do was watch how they walked as they went by. Their gait was awkward and about as far from graceful as you could get.
I won’t even go into what seems to be passing for dresses now.
Lots of couple were fun to watch. They were the ones who’d obviously been together for a long time, but passed by, hand in hand.
There were lots of foreign tourists. I always like to imagine what Las Vegas must be like through their eyes.
I don’t gamble. It doesn’t even occur to me anymore. I used to like to play video poker for a quarter, but ever since the machines started dispensing vouchers if you won instead of coins, I lost interest.
The hotels on the Strip are great for people trying to get in those 10,000 or whatever the number is of steps you’re supposed to take in a day. Everything is a long walk. You want a cup of coffee - walk down the cavernous hallway to the elevator. When you get to the lobby walk a convoluted route to get through the casino to find the coffee place. The hotel across the street only appears to be across the street. By the time you walk there, you’ve probably logged in a half a mile of steps.
In our usual zigging when other zag, we will be heading home as people flood the highway in the opposite direction on their way to Vegas for the long weekend.
It is always nice to go away, but I will be glad to get home where I only have to take a few steps in a direct route across my house to get my morning coffee.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Five Famous Men Writers....
Last week, I wrote about five famous women authors I’d like to scrapbook with. I should have mentioned that these women are all still alive. I had a hard enough time picking from all the women writers who are alive—if I added in the deceased ones, I couldn’t possibly keep it to five. I had just the opposite experience with the men writers. Most of the male writes I love happen to be long gone— D.H. Lawrence, Somerset Maugham, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and, of course, William Shakespeare.
Here’s the list of men writers I’d like to sit down and crop with:
1. Stephen King. Can you imagine? Just what would he come up with for a scrapbook? It might just scare me half to death—but in a very fun way.
2. Garrison Keillor. On the opposite end of the spectrum, of course, Garrison would, perhaps calm us down, make us laugh, and engage us with stories of folks from Lake Wobegone.
3. Nick Bantock, I’ve always been obsessed by his books. Remember Griffin and Sabine? They are artistically rendered books—very much like sophisticated scrapbooking. He would elevate our gathering.
4. Dave Barry. By this point we need some deep belly laughs.
5. TC Boyle. Yeah. He paints such fascinating worlds with his prose. Can you imagine what his scrapbooking would be like? A dark, brooding type would spice things up a bit.
Now that I’ve had my fun, how about you? What famous male writers would you like to scrap with?
Here’s the list of men writers I’d like to sit down and crop with:
1. Stephen King. Can you imagine? Just what would he come up with for a scrapbook? It might just scare me half to death—but in a very fun way.
2. Garrison Keillor. On the opposite end of the spectrum, of course, Garrison would, perhaps calm us down, make us laugh, and engage us with stories of folks from Lake Wobegone.
3. Nick Bantock, I’ve always been obsessed by his books. Remember Griffin and Sabine? They are artistically rendered books—very much like sophisticated scrapbooking. He would elevate our gathering.
4. Dave Barry. By this point we need some deep belly laughs.
5. TC Boyle. Yeah. He paints such fascinating worlds with his prose. Can you imagine what his scrapbooking would be like? A dark, brooding type would spice things up a bit.
Now that I’ve had my fun, how about you? What famous male writers would you like to scrap with?
My Class Started
You’re probably getting tired of my blogging about my online class, so I’ll keep this short--but it has started!
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s called Kiss Me or Kill Me: Cozy Mystery Writing 101 for Romance Writers.
So far, I’ve posted only my introduction and the first lesson, which is about what a cozy mystery is and how it compares with other fiction genres. My first assignment was for class members to introduce themselves--their backgrounds and what, if anything, they’ve already written.
Some class members are already prolific writers and have sold. Others are hoping to learn enough from the class to organize their ideas and start, or continue, writing.
Quite a few, to my surprise and delight, are from Australia! It turns out that another class member who’s a friend of mine from one of the local Romance Writers of America chapters just returned from an extended visit to the Land Down Under, and she’d joined the RWA chapter there. She passed along the information about classes to her new friends, and some were interested enough to sign up.
I started out by individually answering everyone’s response to the assignment, then realized that I was probably clogging up a lot of email boxes. But there are so many interesting backgrounds that I wanted to get to know everyone! I’ll reserve that now to giving input to the next class assignments.
Have you ever taken an online class? What did you like, or dislike, about it? Even though I’ve written most of my classes, there’s still time to edit them!
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s called Kiss Me or Kill Me: Cozy Mystery Writing 101 for Romance Writers.
So far, I’ve posted only my introduction and the first lesson, which is about what a cozy mystery is and how it compares with other fiction genres. My first assignment was for class members to introduce themselves--their backgrounds and what, if anything, they’ve already written.
Some class members are already prolific writers and have sold. Others are hoping to learn enough from the class to organize their ideas and start, or continue, writing.
Quite a few, to my surprise and delight, are from Australia! It turns out that another class member who’s a friend of mine from one of the local Romance Writers of America chapters just returned from an extended visit to the Land Down Under, and she’d joined the RWA chapter there. She passed along the information about classes to her new friends, and some were interested enough to sign up.
I started out by individually answering everyone’s response to the assignment, then realized that I was probably clogging up a lot of email boxes. But there are so many interesting backgrounds that I wanted to get to know everyone! I’ll reserve that now to giving input to the next class assignments.
Have you ever taken an online class? What did you like, or dislike, about it? Even though I’ve written most of my classes, there’s still time to edit them!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Valentine's Day
Advance notice: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2 pm, I will be at the Rum River Public Library in Anoka, MN, to give a talk and sell books.
I was planning on boasting in this entry about the marvelous, perhaps exotic, chocolates I had purchased at Truffle Hill in Excelsior to give away at the Valentine’s Day Party at Joanna Campbell Slan’s site this evening from 9 p.m. EST to Midnight EST. But, wanting the freshest candy, I was going to go out on Monday – and discovered the shop is closed on Mondays. So as soon as it opens at ten this morning I will be at their door. On their web site they offered as their Truffle of the Month one flavored with hot chili peppers. I may buy one of those for the little collection. What do you think?
My husband and I went out to dinner last Friday in an early Valentine’s Day celebration. The older I get, the less I feel I must celebrate a particular holiday exactly on the day. Still, I have a bar of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds, my favorite, on hand to mark the Fourteenth.
I’m beginning to think of And Then You Dye as the novel that will not die. There’s a letter that a character needs to write to Betsy I have discovered, and I will create it today. My editor hasn’t read the manuscript yet, and so says I should go ahead and do it.
Meanwhile, I am already thinking about the next book. I wanted to take some time off – my sister in Florida has invited me down for a visit – but Watered Silk is nudging at me, and I’m getting intrigued at its possibilities. Maybe it’s the vitamin B-12 I’ve been taking.
On the other hand: Florida. Sunshine. Fresh local fruit and vegetables. Gathering seashells on the Gulf. Heaven! What’s your idea of an ideal winter getaway?
I was planning on boasting in this entry about the marvelous, perhaps exotic, chocolates I had purchased at Truffle Hill in Excelsior to give away at the Valentine’s Day Party at Joanna Campbell Slan’s site this evening from 9 p.m. EST to Midnight EST. But, wanting the freshest candy, I was going to go out on Monday – and discovered the shop is closed on Mondays. So as soon as it opens at ten this morning I will be at their door. On their web site they offered as their Truffle of the Month one flavored with hot chili peppers. I may buy one of those for the little collection. What do you think?
My husband and I went out to dinner last Friday in an early Valentine’s Day celebration. The older I get, the less I feel I must celebrate a particular holiday exactly on the day. Still, I have a bar of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds, my favorite, on hand to mark the Fourteenth.
I’m beginning to think of And Then You Dye as the novel that will not die. There’s a letter that a character needs to write to Betsy I have discovered, and I will create it today. My editor hasn’t read the manuscript yet, and so says I should go ahead and do it.
Meanwhile, I am already thinking about the next book. I wanted to take some time off – my sister in Florida has invited me down for a visit – but Watered Silk is nudging at me, and I’m getting intrigued at its possibilities. Maybe it’s the vitamin B-12 I’ve been taking.
On the other hand: Florida. Sunshine. Fresh local fruit and vegetables. Gathering seashells on the Gulf. Heaven! What’s your idea of an ideal winter getaway?
Sunday, February 12, 2012
It's Addictive: An Interview with Linda Farmer--and Your Chance to Win!
Note: As many of you know, I love Zentangle! So I asked an expert to explain some of the appeal. The tangle above was done by Linda Farmer. One lucky commenter will win a copy of AlphaTangle: A Truly Tangled Alphabet by Sandy Steen Bartholomew--so please, don't be shy!
1. How did you get involved with Zentangle®? What about it is so appealing to you?
I’m not quite sure how I became involved with Zentangle® because it was a few years ago and I wasn’t “into it” at the time. However, I suspect it was my interest in teaching myself calligraphy that led me to Zentangle through Maria Thomas’ website (http://mariathomasonline.com). Maria is probably the top lettering artist in the world - her work is unique, elegant and simply exquisite. She has set many trends in the lettering arts and together with her partner, Rick Roberts, created the Zentangle art form and method (http://zentangle.com/).
One of my favorite art forms is Persian miniatures so the size and beauty of Zentangle instantly appealed to me. I subscribed to Rick and Maria’s occasional newsletters and loved what I saw. For a couple of years Zentangle remained interesting eye candy for me through the newsletters as I pursued calligraphy and varied interests in art. I collected all kinds of art “how to” books and also taught myself about things like color theory and watercolor in my spare time. That was my outlet from my daily life as a business writer and computer geek in our public relations and marketing business.
For Christmas in 2009 my Mom sent me some money and I debated for some time what art supplies I wanted to get with her gift, finally deciding to order an Official Zentangle Kit.
I received my Official Kit and its instructional DVD with Maria demonstrating the Zentangle process and showing how to draw several of the official tangles. That has turned out to be an amazing life-long gift from my Mom.
I’d never really drawn a lot before, but just as they say, anyone can do this “one stroke at a time”. I was astonished and thrilled at what I was able to create and that was it. I was hooked. As everyone who has tried it will tell you, it’s addictive.
2. On your blog, you have compiled the largest “glossary” of tangles that I’ve ever seen. What inspired you to do that?
I began collecting more tangle patterns and links to the instructions for all the ones I could find online. I’ve always been obsessed with organizing information – must have been a librarian in a former life. After a short while my database index had grown to quite a size so I figured it might be useful for others too. That was when I decided to share it by starting TanglePatterns.com and I launched the site at the beginning of May in 2010.
It’s interesting for me to see my development from my early drawings when I hadn’t had much experience. You definitely get better with practice as your fine motor skills become more honed.
I wasn’t a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT®) then, however it was my mission for my site to remain as true to the founders’ intentions as possible because I didn’t want to dilute this beautiful art form. I had seen very misleading videos on YouTube purporting to demonstrate Zentangle, and from studying the Kit and the Zentangle site I knew the videos were wrong. I didn’t want to make that mistake on TanglePatterns.
When I attended the certification seminar last October, I was relieved to learn I wasn’t mistaken about the YouTube videos. When you’re only going on what you find on the internet, it can be dicey to be sure you’re publishing accurate information.
3. How is "tangling" different from "doodling"? How do tangles get names? How do people submit tangles to you? What form does that take? (I’m trying to get at the process here.)
People submit patterns to me by email following the instructions on my “Submit Your Pattern” page where I also provide a form for them to use if they choose. However, the majority of the tangles on TanglePatterns are a result of my time sleuthing and tracking down patterns to add to the site. I look at every pattern I can find online to see if they qualify for the site. Tangles have pretty specific criteria related to the meditative aspects of Zentangle.
The idea behind Zentangle and its method is that it is specifically designed to eliminate left brain decision-making and shift one’s consciousness to the right brain, intuitive side. The shift to the meditative state happens as you become totally focused on each deliberate stroke of the pattern-making. For want of a better way to describe it, the Zentangle method short-circuits your monkey-mind. The outcome “unfolds one stroke at a time”.
One of the main characteristics of tangles is they are abstract designs. Generally speaking, if a pattern is an attempt to recreate “some thing” then it is a doodle not a tangle. There are many doodles mistakenly labeled as tangles online. Drawing something recognizable engages the thinking part of your brain and that’s not Zentangle. It’s easy to confuse the outcome of Zentangle with doodling, but they are quite different processes.
As far as names go, the person who creates the pattern names it and names can be based on anything, or no-thing. There are no “rules”. When I created my first tangles, I named them after wine varietals because I was enjoying a nice Zinfandel when my first one, Zin, “appeared”. Rick and Maria are very playful about naming their tangles. For example, Cadent is a combination of canine and dental, because the tangle reminded them of houndstooth. Hurry is named after a rush-woven chair.
5. When you aren’t working on your blog or tangling, what do you enjoy doing?
My husband Robert and I have lived in Florida for almost 30 years, most of that in South Florida but more recently in Northeast Florida (St. Augustine). We’re big Miami Heat basketball fans and we also love college football and the Miami Hurricanes. We enjoy dining at home, listening to music (mostly jazz), watching movies and sports, and reading.
When I was a very young teenager, my family lived in the Middle East and I spent two delightful years with my nose buried in mystery books – Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, Marjorie Allingham, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Rex Stout … I’m what they call a vertical reader – I like to start at the beginning of an author’s bibliography and read chronologically. I remain an avid mystery reader to this day and right now I’m working my way through Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series.
One of my favorite websites is http://stopyourekillingme.com – the cataloging they do with mystery books, I do on a much more modest scale with tangles on TanglePatterns.com.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to be a guest on your delightful blog! You have a new subscriber.
**
Linda, we're delighted to have you! Thanks for the many hours of tangling fun you've provided us!
**The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.
**
Linda, we're delighted to have you! Thanks for the many hours of tangling fun you've provided us!
**The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Planting a Seed of Hope
Gardening is my favorite natural remedy. I can hardly wait for Spring so I can get back out into my garden and put my hands in the dirt! Research shows that being around green plants, and even the soil they grow in, can help relieve stress and boost mood.
Today I got a little taste of Spring when I received an Inspiration Bean (iBean) kit from the Daily Om (www.dailyom.com) . Inside was a little pot, planting mix and two seeds that read "namaste."
To perform Namaste, you place your hands together at the heart chakra, close your eyes and bow your head to another. The gesture means that you salute the divine spark in each person. It is often used in yoga and fosters understanding and connection.
Each iBean represents a goal, a dream or a desire, in this case recognizing the divine in others. In addition, as part of the exercise of planting my iBean, I was asked to write down an affirmation, meaning what I most want to bloom in my own life. I chose a peaceful heart. This way no matter what happens I will be calm (or try to be!). I'll let you know how it grows! In the meantime you can get your own iBean at www.ibeaninspired.com. Namaste.
About Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery:
Dr. Willow McQuade, N.D., a twenty-eight-year-old naturopathic doctor specializing in natural remedies, has decided to take sabbatical and visit her Aunt Claire, the owner of Nature’s Way Market and Cafe in idyllic Greenport, Long Island. But the idea of rest and relaxation is quickly forgotten when Willow arrives from a morning meditative walk to discover her Aunt Claire dead in the store, a strange almond-like smell emanating from her mouth and a bottle of flower essences by her side.
Despite her Zen nature and penchant for yoga, Aunt Claire had a knack for getting into confrontations with folks. An activist, she held weekly meetings for different causes every week in the store. The police want to believe the death is accidental—but Willow thinks she may have been poisoned.
Things get worse when Aunt Claire’s valuable recipe for a new natural age-defying formula, Fresh Face, is stolen during a store break-in, and an attempt is made on Willow’s life. Desperate for a way out of the mess, she turns to a handsome young cop Jackson Spade. Together the two set about solving the case the natural way—through a combination of hard work, common sense, and a dose of luck.
Praise for Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery:
“With a terrific premise and an interesting topic, Fiedler’s debut shows promise.” - Library Journal
Death Drops is a gem! Entertaining, informative, and with a mystery that had me completely baffled! – Gayle Trent, author of Killer Sweet Tooth
“An engaging investigative thriller…an enjoyable whodunit.” The Mystery Gazette
Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery is available for pre-order on www.amazon.com etc. and for sale on February 21st
To win a free copy of Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery between now and 2/17 please visit my author page on GoodReads.com and click on giveaway.
The 5 winners of a free copy of Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery on Killer Hobbies are:
2. llK10 Retired
3. Nancy
4. Holy Basil
5. Hope Chastain
Thank you all! Please e-mail chrystle@chrystlefiedler.com with your address.
Visit www.chrystlefiedler.com to learn more about Death Drops and natural remedies!
Friday, February 10, 2012
How to Cure a Bad Mood
It rained here on Tuesday. Well, it was more of a spritz really. I judge how rainy it is by the orange trees in my backyard. When it really rains, they get darker and shiny. Tuesday there was no change in the tree bark.
Wednesday it was back to sunshine and Thursday and it was sunshine and warmth. It's is hard to believe this is February. While I love the weather, it still seems strange and by the end of the day, I felt uneasy and in a crummy mood.
I knew it was time for my cure all. It's my own personal version of recue remedy. Whenever I feel stuck in a punk mood, the best way out of it is by laughing, preferably a lot. So, I turned on the TV and took out my knitting. Yes, knitting. I'm writing the first book in my new series and it has knitting in it instead of crochet. So, to feel closer to my characters, I'm using needles instead of a hook.
First I watched the Big Bang Theory, which is about a bunch of brainacs who go to Cal Tech. It doesn't sound like a funny concept, but it is. I also should explain that even when I'm all by myself, I laugh out loud, which is what I did all during that show. Luckily, I'v gotten good enough at simple knitting that I can knit and laugh at the same time.
Rob came on after and was only worthy of a couple of outloud laughs, but the knitting continued. I switched to the Office after that and Up All Night. Both of those shows were very funny and by the time they were over, my off mood was gone and I'd added a nice number of rows to my shawl. A double bonus.
In a pinch, if there aren't any sitcoms available when I need some laughs, I have a few movies on DVD that fit the bill. The Steve Martin movie Bowfinger is one of them. Just thinking of certain scenes gets me chuckling. And there is always the totally stupid slap stick Weekend at Bernie.
Personally, I find laughter the best medicine - and there are no side effects.
Does laughter work for you? Do you have a go to movie to watch
Wednesday it was back to sunshine and Thursday and it was sunshine and warmth. It's is hard to believe this is February. While I love the weather, it still seems strange and by the end of the day, I felt uneasy and in a crummy mood.
I knew it was time for my cure all. It's my own personal version of recue remedy. Whenever I feel stuck in a punk mood, the best way out of it is by laughing, preferably a lot. So, I turned on the TV and took out my knitting. Yes, knitting. I'm writing the first book in my new series and it has knitting in it instead of crochet. So, to feel closer to my characters, I'm using needles instead of a hook.
First I watched the Big Bang Theory, which is about a bunch of brainacs who go to Cal Tech. It doesn't sound like a funny concept, but it is. I also should explain that even when I'm all by myself, I laugh out loud, which is what I did all during that show. Luckily, I'v gotten good enough at simple knitting that I can knit and laugh at the same time.
Rob came on after and was only worthy of a couple of outloud laughs, but the knitting continued. I switched to the Office after that and Up All Night. Both of those shows were very funny and by the time they were over, my off mood was gone and I'd added a nice number of rows to my shawl. A double bonus.
In a pinch, if there aren't any sitcoms available when I need some laughs, I have a few movies on DVD that fit the bill. The Steve Martin movie Bowfinger is one of them. Just thinking of certain scenes gets me chuckling. And there is always the totally stupid slap stick Weekend at Bernie.
Personally, I find laughter the best medicine - and there are no side effects.
Does laughter work for you? Do you have a go to movie to watch
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Five Famous Writers I'd Like to Scrapbook With
1. JK Rowling. She has a child and she may already have a scrapbook or two. But it would be so cool to get creative with her. You just have to wonder what kind of scrapbooks would she make? Would they open on their own? Sprinkle fairy dust? Heh.
2. Charlaine Harris. I think she’d be a hoot to hang out with. Have you read her books? Some of the funniest vampire fiction I’ve ever read. Oh wait. It’s the ONLY funny vampire fiction I’ve ever read.
3. Rita Mae Brown. She loves her animals and I love mine. Maybe we could scrapbook about our cats. I’d hope that she’d regale us with stories of Sneaky Pie while we were placing photos into our scrapbooks.
4. Toni Morrison. Because she’s my favorite writer and all crops need a poet or two.
5. Erica Jong. ‘Nuff said.
What famous women writers would you like to scrapbook with? (Next week, the men writers, I promise! Men scrapbook, too!)
In the mean time, Killer Hobbies friends, visit my website http://www.molliecoxbryan.com to see where I'm guest blogging this week to get a chance to win my new book.
2. Charlaine Harris. I think she’d be a hoot to hang out with. Have you read her books? Some of the funniest vampire fiction I’ve ever read. Oh wait. It’s the ONLY funny vampire fiction I’ve ever read.
3. Rita Mae Brown. She loves her animals and I love mine. Maybe we could scrapbook about our cats. I’d hope that she’d regale us with stories of Sneaky Pie while we were placing photos into our scrapbooks.
4. Toni Morrison. Because she’s my favorite writer and all crops need a poet or two.
5. Erica Jong. ‘Nuff said.
What famous women writers would you like to scrapbook with? (Next week, the men writers, I promise! Men scrapbook, too!)
In the mean time, Killer Hobbies friends, visit my website http://www.molliecoxbryan.com to see where I'm guest blogging this week to get a chance to win my new book.
February Stuff
Last week, I wished everyone a Happy February. The more I considered it, the more fun I thought this month would be. So far, I’m right!
First, there was Groundhog Day. Since I grew up in Pittsburgh, I was always a fan of Punxsutawney Phil. Even though Punxsutawney is not extremely close to the ‘Burgh, it’s still in the same state and, besides, any day devoted to an animal intrigues me. I’d imagine that Phil got confused about seeing his shadow this year. Will there be a prolonged winter? Some places have had hardly any winter at all so far.
Anyway, on Sunday, February 12, I’ll be participating in the Valentine Soiree at Writerspace. I’ll probably be there from around 10:30-11:00 PM Eastern Time.
Also this month, my online class starts--next Monday, February 13. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s called Kiss Me or Kill Me: Cozy Mystery Writing 101 for Romance Writers, and it’s actually for anyone, romance writer or not, who’s interested in writing cozy mysteries.
Then, there’s Valentine’s Day, on Tuesday, February 14. Valentine’s Day is always special to me, first, because I’m a romantic as well as a romance writer. Even more important, it’s the day my DH and I got engaged. This year is a milestone, but I’m not mentioning which one!
Additionally, on this Valentine’s Day I’ll be attending Joanna Campbell Slan’s Facebook party, for at least a short while. I’ve picked up a small box of candy to send to a winner who attends, too. It’s Russell Stover, good stuff but not the most gourmet kind of treat--except that, what attracted me to this particular box is my obsession with animals, especially dogs. Why? Because the picture on the box is of CHOCOLATE Lab puppies!
On February 25, I’ll be at Passion and Prose, a very special one-day event at the Westin Long Beach that will feature Meg Cabot, Christina Dodd, and Gail Carriger. I’m one of the 50 other, really special romance writers who’ll be there to schmooze with attendees. There are still openings, so if you’re in the area, consider coming!
Finally, since this is a Leap Year, this February runs a day longer than the Februaries of the last three years. February 29 is a Wednesday, which means--yes, you’ve got it!--I’ll be blogging here on Killer Hobbies on that day, too!
What’s special about your February?
First, there was Groundhog Day. Since I grew up in Pittsburgh, I was always a fan of Punxsutawney Phil. Even though Punxsutawney is not extremely close to the ‘Burgh, it’s still in the same state and, besides, any day devoted to an animal intrigues me. I’d imagine that Phil got confused about seeing his shadow this year. Will there be a prolonged winter? Some places have had hardly any winter at all so far.
Anyway, on Sunday, February 12, I’ll be participating in the Valentine Soiree at Writerspace. I’ll probably be there from around 10:30-11:00 PM Eastern Time.
Also this month, my online class starts--next Monday, February 13. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s called Kiss Me or Kill Me: Cozy Mystery Writing 101 for Romance Writers, and it’s actually for anyone, romance writer or not, who’s interested in writing cozy mysteries.
Then, there’s Valentine’s Day, on Tuesday, February 14. Valentine’s Day is always special to me, first, because I’m a romantic as well as a romance writer. Even more important, it’s the day my DH and I got engaged. This year is a milestone, but I’m not mentioning which one!
Additionally, on this Valentine’s Day I’ll be attending Joanna Campbell Slan’s Facebook party, for at least a short while. I’ve picked up a small box of candy to send to a winner who attends, too. It’s Russell Stover, good stuff but not the most gourmet kind of treat--except that, what attracted me to this particular box is my obsession with animals, especially dogs. Why? Because the picture on the box is of CHOCOLATE Lab puppies!
On February 25, I’ll be at Passion and Prose, a very special one-day event at the Westin Long Beach that will feature Meg Cabot, Christina Dodd, and Gail Carriger. I’m one of the 50 other, really special romance writers who’ll be there to schmooze with attendees. There are still openings, so if you’re in the area, consider coming!
Finally, since this is a Leap Year, this February runs a day longer than the Februaries of the last three years. February 29 is a Wednesday, which means--yes, you’ve got it!--I’ll be blogging here on Killer Hobbies on that day, too!
What’s special about your February?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
IF
I FINISHED IT!! And Then You Dye is in the hands of Jackie, my very capable editor at Berkley, and my wonderful agent, Nancy. I know they’ll have ideas for improving it, and I’m looking forward to hearing from them about it.
Joanna Campbell Slan is going to hold an Internet Valentine’s Day party on February 14. Instead of us Killer Hobbies bloggers offering a book to someone who tunes in, we’re each going to offer a box of chocolates. I was going to buy a Whitman Sampler, and actually had the box in my hand yesterday, when I got a better idea. In Excelsior, where my books are set, there is a chocolate shop called Truffle Hill. They make their own chocolate candy up there, and it is wonderful. So I am going to offer a small box (their stuff is costly) of assorted chocolates to a person to be named during the party. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
A good friend of mine and I – and our households – have established a custom of going to one another’s home on alternate years to watch the Super Bowl. Neither of us is particularly a big football fan, but it’s a good excuse to get together, talk, play Scrabble pre-game, eat, and comment on the commercials. Actually, it was a good game this year, too, not decided until the last few seconds.
My mother was a sports fan, a bigger one than my father. Living in Wisconsin, she was a Packer booster, big time. The sound of a football game playing on television was so much a part of my growing up that to this day I’ll turn one on when preparing Thanksgiving dinner just to “complete” the ambiance.
I remember one half time entertainment in particular, from back in the late fifties. It featured a man’s smooth, professional voice reciting Rudyard Kipling’s “If,” accompanied by swift takes of various football games to illustrate it. The poem begins, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . .” and there was a series of swift cuts of tackles so hard that helmets went flying. For the line, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you . . .” there was a referee standing firm, arms folded, while players and coaches screamed at him from all sides. “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run” showed two teams engaged in a fierce battle to cross or defend the goal line while the clock was running down. And the final line, “And, which is more, you’ll be a man, my son!” Showed a triumphant player on the frozen sidelines at night, backlit by lights, while someone throws one of those heavy, warming cloaks around his shoulders.
I have never forgotten that film. It set off a lifelong admiration of Kipling’s mighty meter. I wish I could find a copy of that film somewhere. When I was in Green Bay a few years ago, I spoke to the keeper of the archives at Lambeau Field about it, and he was sure it wasn’t a Packer presentation. Does anyone else out there remember it? Who put it together? Does a copy of it exist somewhere?
Joanna Campbell Slan is going to hold an Internet Valentine’s Day party on February 14. Instead of us Killer Hobbies bloggers offering a book to someone who tunes in, we’re each going to offer a box of chocolates. I was going to buy a Whitman Sampler, and actually had the box in my hand yesterday, when I got a better idea. In Excelsior, where my books are set, there is a chocolate shop called Truffle Hill. They make their own chocolate candy up there, and it is wonderful. So I am going to offer a small box (their stuff is costly) of assorted chocolates to a person to be named during the party. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
A good friend of mine and I – and our households – have established a custom of going to one another’s home on alternate years to watch the Super Bowl. Neither of us is particularly a big football fan, but it’s a good excuse to get together, talk, play Scrabble pre-game, eat, and comment on the commercials. Actually, it was a good game this year, too, not decided until the last few seconds.
My mother was a sports fan, a bigger one than my father. Living in Wisconsin, she was a Packer booster, big time. The sound of a football game playing on television was so much a part of my growing up that to this day I’ll turn one on when preparing Thanksgiving dinner just to “complete” the ambiance.
I remember one half time entertainment in particular, from back in the late fifties. It featured a man’s smooth, professional voice reciting Rudyard Kipling’s “If,” accompanied by swift takes of various football games to illustrate it. The poem begins, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . .” and there was a series of swift cuts of tackles so hard that helmets went flying. For the line, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you . . .” there was a referee standing firm, arms folded, while players and coaches screamed at him from all sides. “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run” showed two teams engaged in a fierce battle to cross or defend the goal line while the clock was running down. And the final line, “And, which is more, you’ll be a man, my son!” Showed a triumphant player on the frozen sidelines at night, backlit by lights, while someone throws one of those heavy, warming cloaks around his shoulders.
I have never forgotten that film. It set off a lifelong admiration of Kipling’s mighty meter. I wish I could find a copy of that film somewhere. When I was in Green Bay a few years ago, I spoke to the keeper of the archives at Lambeau Field about it, and he was sure it wasn’t a Packer presentation. Does anyone else out there remember it? Who put it together? Does a copy of it exist somewhere?
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Mark Your Calendars for These Special Events!
I did not have three thousand shoes. I had one thousand and sixty. -- Imelda Marcos
She was onto something. We all know that Monica loves hats, but (buckle your seatbelts), time for a confession: I love shoes. Yep. And in advance of Valentine's Day I bought a pair tonight that I've been lusting after for a long time: red, patent-leather heels.
I plan to wear them on Valentine's Day when we celebrate our 5th birthday of the Killer Hobbies blog.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR PARTY!
Oh, and did I mention there will be CHOCOLATE? Yes, all the KH Blog Sisters are going out and buying chocolate so we can give it away as prizes. Personally, I plan to drink some champagne while we party. The party will be held from 9 p.m. EST to midnight EST on February 14 on my Facebook page http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbellSlan
CHANGES? HAVE YOU NOTICED?
We've been busily making changes to our blog in prep and as sort of a KH spruce up. Have you noticed? We've added Author Pages so you can learn a bit more about each of us. We've also added a sign up for a newsletter (that's a project for the future). We had an old sign up but it had reached its limit and it was a hassle, so please if you would...re-sign up for our newsletter. We'll be using it to announce new releases and give-aways.
SHORT STORIES
At the start of this year, I pledged to write one Kiki Lowenstein short story every month at least until April when the new book--Ready, Scrap, Shoot--is released. This month the title is "Kiki Lowenstein and the Empty Heart." It's a story I've been thinking about for a long time because it's based in a true happening. Kiki agrees to help her rabbi with a good deed. They discover a congregant's secret, the way she coped with an empty heart, and it changes everything!
All of my short story covers feature Zentangle designs,
and more tangles are included inside. This one that I just love is an example...
There are also two cool recipes included in that short story.
TANGLE PATTERNS GUEST HOST
Next Monday my special guest will be Linda Farmer, creator of the Tangle Patterns blog. In honor of her visit, I'll be giving away a copy of AlphaTangle: A Totally Tangled Alphabet by Sandy Steen Bartholomew. If you've been curious about Zentangle, you won't want to miss Linda'a visit or the chance to get this wonderful "how to" book.
YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO US
Last month I was at the mid-winter ALA meeting in Dallas where I was privileged to sign books. A woman stood in line for quite a while. When it was her turn, she said, "I just LOVE Kiki Lowenstein!" and she threw her arms around me.
You know what? I'm the luckiest girl on the planet. Every day I look for new ways to tell each of you how special you are to me! Happy Valentine's Day in advance!
She was onto something. We all know that Monica loves hats, but (buckle your seatbelts), time for a confession: I love shoes. Yep. And in advance of Valentine's Day I bought a pair tonight that I've been lusting after for a long time: red, patent-leather heels.
I plan to wear them on Valentine's Day when we celebrate our 5th birthday of the Killer Hobbies blog.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR PARTY!
Oh, and did I mention there will be CHOCOLATE? Yes, all the KH Blog Sisters are going out and buying chocolate so we can give it away as prizes. Personally, I plan to drink some champagne while we party. The party will be held from 9 p.m. EST to midnight EST on February 14 on my Facebook page http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbellSlan
CHANGES? HAVE YOU NOTICED?
We've been busily making changes to our blog in prep and as sort of a KH spruce up. Have you noticed? We've added Author Pages so you can learn a bit more about each of us. We've also added a sign up for a newsletter (that's a project for the future). We had an old sign up but it had reached its limit and it was a hassle, so please if you would...re-sign up for our newsletter. We'll be using it to announce new releases and give-aways.
SHORT STORIES
At the start of this year, I pledged to write one Kiki Lowenstein short story every month at least until April when the new book--Ready, Scrap, Shoot--is released. This month the title is "Kiki Lowenstein and the Empty Heart." It's a story I've been thinking about for a long time because it's based in a true happening. Kiki agrees to help her rabbi with a good deed. They discover a congregant's secret, the way she coped with an empty heart, and it changes everything!
All of my short story covers feature Zentangle designs,
and more tangles are included inside. This one that I just love is an example...
There are also two cool recipes included in that short story.
TANGLE PATTERNS GUEST HOST
Next Monday my special guest will be Linda Farmer, creator of the Tangle Patterns blog. In honor of her visit, I'll be giving away a copy of AlphaTangle: A Totally Tangled Alphabet by Sandy Steen Bartholomew. If you've been curious about Zentangle, you won't want to miss Linda'a visit or the chance to get this wonderful "how to" book.
YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO US
Last month I was at the mid-winter ALA meeting in Dallas where I was privileged to sign books. A woman stood in line for quite a while. When it was her turn, she said, "I just LOVE Kiki Lowenstein!" and she threw her arms around me.
You know what? I'm the luckiest girl on the planet. Every day I look for new ways to tell each of you how special you are to me! Happy Valentine's Day in advance!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
DeStress with This Natural Remedy
In my new book Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery Willow McQuade, ND, a naturopathic doctor specializes in natural cures. When her aunt Claire is murdered, Willow takes over her health food store Nature’s Way Market & Cafe and sets out to solve the crime with a hunky ex-cop.
Death Drops also features over two dozen natural remedies you can try at home. The remedy from chapter 1, below, is helpful when it comes to the stresses and strains of writing and everyday life:
Chapter 1:
Dear Dr. McQuade,
Help! I’ve been feeling anxious and stressed to the max ever since I started my new job. Is there anything natural I can take to help me chill out?
Signed,
Stressed Out
Dear Stressed Out,
Have no fear. One of the best natural remedies for stress is flower essences, which help to correct emotional imbalances. There are thirty-eight flower essences, developed by Dr. Edward Bach in 1934. Just put a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy—a combination of rockrose for terror and panic, impatiens for irritation and impatience, clematis for inattentiveness, star-of-Bethlehem for shock, and cherry plum for irrational thoughts—under your tongue and you’ll begin to chill big-time. You’ll find it at your local health-food store.
Signed,
Willow McQuade, ND
I know from my own experience that Rescue Remedy lives up to its name (and no, I'm not a paid spokesperson - don't worry!). If I'm feeling stressed or a little anxious about say, a deadline, it really helps. You can take Rescue Remedy as drops, spray, cream, pastilles, and gum. You can even use it or kids and animals to calm them down! It's all natural and safe. Best of all you can take it with you wherever you go! I like to tuck a bottle of the drops in my pocketbook so it's there when I need it. You can buy it in your local health food store.
You can pre-order Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery on Amazon. It will be published on Feb. 21st by Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster. For more information about the book and natural remedies please visit www.chrystlefiedler.com. Thanks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
