How Many Books Do You Read a Month?

Friday, August 28, 2009

Youngest Kid Starts High School

I'm depressed. My youngest kid just started high school. He's become so distant lately and I no longer know how to relate to him. Intellectually, I know this is part of the growing up process; growing up is growing away. I also know intellectualy that it's going to take awhile for both of us to land on a soft cushion with a new lining. But right now, in my gut, I feel as if I'm turning summersaults above the clouds with no view of the ocean below. Can anyone identify??

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Cabaret Was Amazing!

Was I wrong about Cabaret! Drury Lane did an amazing job!! Nothing like the movie. Too bad I had two extra tickets that went unused, though! We and our friends started off at Maggianos where we ordered from the Light Fare family style menu. The Linguini with Clam Sauce was delicious.Brushetta (spelling?) was a little heavy for my taste buds. But the salads had just the right amount of spices. A wonderful time!!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Free Tickets to Cabaret!

I'm a Saint. Not religious or morality-wise, although I do try. We're talking here about The Saints; people who usher for plays, concerts, operas, etc. I pay $45.00 a year to register. That entitles me to usher for as many or few gigs as I desire to see throughout the year. sometimes I get free tickets, which happened for today! Six free tickets to see Cabaret at the Drury Lane in Oak Brook. While Cabaret is not one of my favorite musicals, it will still be fun. Best of all, the price is right! So I'm getting a little group of folks together and heading on out for a good time!
If you're interested in joining the Saints, let me know!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Publishing my First Suspense Novel

I've written two other suspense novels besides Deadly Choices, but it's been hell getting them published. I think that's because I wrote Deadly before starting my ADHD meds. Thus, my first novel was one mad dash to the finish line in only 211 pages! The premise was simple: A female paramedic kidnaps the baby she just delivered, then gives it to her best friend, a Born-Again Christian foster care mom, to raise as her own. Friendship, trust, betrayal. It was fascinating to explore how easily a person can tiptoe over the line of legality to reach their heart's desire.
Deadly Choices won Third Place for Mystery Fiction at the Police Writers Association Conference (currently the Public Safety Writers Association) in Las Vegas, 2006.

Fatal Reaction and Window of Guilt have been more complicated sells. Although previously represented by a Florida literary agent, I pulled both manuscripts after a handful of months because I felt they needed re-editing. We're talking 300 pages per book, here. Ideas need to be clear, concise, and there needs to be lots of red herrings -- fake leads -- in the plot line progression.

Now I'm ready to start again. Looking for an ambitious agent to get me there. I do lots of my own marketing and speak throughout the country so it shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully! And I am on my ADHD meds now!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Author Jennie's First Blog

This is my first blog ever. I want to devote it to Julia and Julie. This is the new movie in which Julie, a bored government worker, resolves to teach herself to cook by preparing each of Julia Child's 524 French cooking recipes in just 365 days, then blogging about the experience. Fascinating to contemplate whether this yummy movie will inspire us to toss our frozen pizzas in the trash and begin cooking healthy meals from scratch.

When it comes to this Movie, the word "healthy" is really an oxymoron. "Butter" is the Numero Uno word in this movie, as in "Everything tastes better when it's cooked in butter." That cooking theme doesn't do much for food lovers with clogged arteries or three-hundred pound thighs. But it sure causes one to reflect on how these French dishes would taste with low fat ingredients sauteed in butter-substitute.

I should tell you that before becoming a published suspense author, I was a freelance journalist for newspapers and magazines. I'm used to asking questions. Thus, each of my blogs will pose a question for you to think about or discuss with me or a friend. My first question is: Are you the type of person who would feel comfortable messing with the printed instructions of a recipe in order to change the nutritional value of that recipe? Or maybe you popped open a cookbook, found a tantalizing recipe, but realized that your pantry was missing one or two ingredients. Would you prepare the recipe anyway? Why or why not?