Okay for fun here is Nobles birthday...

They definately got these mixed up. This is me and well, the other more NOBLE one is.....my MC.
Michelle ():)

Your Birthdate: June 20

You are a virtual roller coaster of emotions, and most people enjoy the ride. Your mood tends to set the tone of the room, and when you're happy, this is a good thing. When you get in a dark mood, watch out - it's very hard to get you out of it. It's sometimes hard for you to cheer up, and your gloom can be contagious. Your strength: Your warm heart Your weakness: Trouble controlling your emotions Your power color: Black Your power symbol: Musical note Your power month: February

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

You know, this is actually Noble....

I put my birthday in and out came Noble's profile. Although Noble is born in June too. I think they got us mixed up. Well, except maybe the stuborness.....(Halo?)

():) michelle

Your Birthdate: June 4

You have an extraordinary character - moral, responsible, and disciplined. Your sincerely and honesty shine through in almost every situation. Driven and focused, you rarely let your emotions get the better of you. You're level headed and rational. People count on your to look at things objectively. Your strength: Your unwavering loyalty and ethics Your weakness: Your rock solid stubbornness Your power color: Navy blue Your power symbol: Shield Your power month: April

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

I hate writing....

Not really but if I had to say anything today that would be it. With the exception of music and art there is no other occupation that comes to mind where you work and re work and re work etc. and have the possibility of geting paid peanuts. All for years of hard work. If you work a regular job you do the work and it goes away and you get paid. A writer however writes the story edits it sends it out edits it again and again and again....... then there is the synopsis and query. How am I supposed to tell a 500 pg. story in one page?! No offense to anyone that has helped me with my synopsis. There are some awesome ideas and I'm working on them.

Today, writing seems like a curse rather than a blessing.....

Michelle

Busy...

I have been so busy. I have put my book away and am now writing a synopsis and query. It actually looks like I will submit this thing some time before the end of the year which is my goal. I went and bought the extra bright paper and mailing envelopes.

Like Noble when he is ordained as a Patriarch; I should be shaking in my boots but I am not. Like Noble, he assumes that it is natural progression in his ascention in life, and that the spirit is pointing him in the right direction. Same here. There is an internal drive that pushes me forward; that makes me work on this book when I should be hiding. Noble is always ready to take control of the situation and fix things. He has an internal drive to make things right. I guess I have learned something from Noble ehe?

Michelle

energy...

So I went to Yoga today. i haven't been in a long time and boy, am i out of shape. But as soon as i stood in mountain pose with my palms facing each other i felt my energy start to flow. I kept my hands extended for most of the time because it felt so good. I didnt do some of the things b/c i am out of shape but what i did do i could feel it. so now I feel more centered and my Chi thanks me...

now if i can just remember or have the energy to do Tai Chi/Quigong tomorrow.
Michelle

Here we go....

Okay, Spellcheck is done. Grammar check is done. Line edit is applied. Chapter 15, 26,27,28 are revised. I'm putting it away until after my readers have read it, then it is on to submission. Breathe deeply. think distraction. think new book AARRGGHHH!! Dominion Day is one step closer to submitting.
Michelle

Da Da Dum....

Well it is back, my 319 page ms came back from the line editor. It wasnt as bloody as I thought it would be. So now comes the hard part, applying the edit. Wish me luck as I begin to ready my baby for the real trial... submitting.

I have allready cut 19 pgs and I'm sure more cuting and revising is to follow.

I'll keep you updated as I go. I had to cut my dream house chapter *sigh* but it really was over the top cant a girl dream a little?

Michelle

Inspiration....

My MC lives in my shower. No kidding. I have an adult male taking up residence in my one and only bathroom. I get in the shower and come out at the end with a huge idea, revelation, or character development. This morning was no diferent; I know how to end book #7 now. My best friend thought I was crazy. She would tease me relentlessly. If I said I took a shower, she'd ask what Noble and I talked about. Regardless of the teasing, I appreciate the few minuets alone to think about my books.

The teasing changed one day. My friend was visiting my home and used my bathroom. She came out looking pale and confused.
"What" I asked.
"I belive you." she said.
"Belive me?" I asked thoroughly confused.
"Noble lives in your shower," she said.
I laughed, "You belive me now?"
"Yeah and my MC was sitting on the back of the toilet talking to him."

We had a good laugh that day. But I have learned something; don't take things for granted. Like inspiration, even if it is from a guy in your shower.

Michelle

The where and how of inspiration.....

I was thinking about a type of book that I had read recently. Still feeling a buzz from reading The Promise. (Good book, some language and scenes; definately an adult book, but excellent for world building.) When I started to play the what if game. What if.... What if.... was rolling through my head. When I started to get answers, I began to get exited, then it was, okay... if this happens then why? and so on... I sat in the nursing room at church and the book ideas began to roll forth and I wrote them down on a tiny piece of paper as my baby fell asleep. I was so exited, after missing my inspiration and creativity for so long, it has come rushing back. And I am so exited at the change. To be a writer and have no ideas was torture.....

Now armed with a whole new book to distract me from my rewrites which is good (I need to put them down for a while.) I am outlining and developing characters for an awesome book, and all I can say is YES!

Michelle

Sunday thoughts...

A few weeks ago my brother, his wife, two sons, and a tiny newborn daughter flew from Lawrence Kansas to Sandy Utah to visit family. While they were here, they decided to bless the baby in my parents ward. So we gathered together in my parents church and they blessed the baby. It was an awesome blessing; that little girl is going to be special BTW. But what made me think was what happened after. My 4 yo son was sittng with grandma at the opposite end of the bench. In between the talks the primary children got up and sang the "Primary children sang as they walked" song. My 4 yo son and his cousin both stood up on the stand and grinned through out the song. Had they heard the song before? Probably. Did it matter if they stood up there and grinned. Nope. Was it cute? Yes. And the most confirming of all.... Is the church the same everywhere? Yes.

Michelle

Editing....

So... Editing, the dreaded writing word. The be all and end all of writing before the query and publishing phaze of being an author.

I am thinking about it alot. Especially since I have just given a hard copy, all 319 pages of my "baby", to a friend and reader that is going to be doing a line edit of my book.

But as a writer in a home of eight where my lap top is within reach of the entire family inspite of the threats. It is not the line edits or plot comments that I worry about. It is the comments from my family that they leave when I have my back turned that get my current attention.

I came home from a church function last year to find that my husband wanted to "help" me with my story line. He took my main character in DD2's wife and "Killed" her. He had her fall off a cliff in a gunfight and get eaten by coyotes. My daughter highlighted all of the times Noble says "absolutely," in pink. Which is joked about as being Noble's favorite color. When I was done with the rewrite I exitedly printed off three copies for my readers. I had one reader call and laughing asked if the "I love you Michelle" comment in the middle of a dialogue was going to stay in the final text. My DH had again "Edited," my work. As I described earlier, just started to write book # 7. My daughter hates where it is going. I came in my writing room to find that she had, in the spirit of MY DH, killed off a main character she didnt like.

Infact... I think the 319 pg hard copy I just sent to the "Editor" still has the I love you Michelle comment in it. I hope she laughs too.

Michelle

Thoughts on writing...(Eclipse)

I took my teenage daughter to wally world and two small LDS book stores in search of Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. None of them had it. (We live in a SMALL town.) The first little store said that they had turned thier order in late and it would be in tomorrow. He shook his head and asked what the appeal was. My daughter told him how much she and her friends loved it. He said that if he had them yesterday he would have sold a case by now. He also mentioned that he needed to carry the other two books. They were obviously popular.

The other store owner mentioned that he had had eight requests for it today. and didnt even know about it. My daughter gave the same speal that she had given the other owner. Then he asked what was so diferent about the series compared to Leven Thumps. I thought about it for a second and then told him that the main reason to me was that Twilight was more interesting. But more specifically the fact that it seems that Obert Sky forced the middle of the book and that made it hard to read. Obert isnt a bad writer, in fact his first few chapters made me want to throw away my own manuscripts. But it seems he got bored and/or rushed to finish the book. Why didnt he polish the rest of the book like he did the first chapters?

It has made me think since I got home. What makes a good book? What appeals to one reader over another? And even more puzzling, why didnt two LDS book store owners know enough about the Twilight madness to stock the book when the author is LDS and the other two books spent more than 50 weeks on the bestseller lists.

Just thinking....

Michelle

Hands....

What Your Hands Say About You

You are artistic, intuitive, and inspired. You have good people skills. Bold and daring, you're not afraid to change your life if you think it needs an overhaul. Consistent and reliable, you like to count on structure and routine in your life. Your emotions tend to be nervous and potent. Your energy - both positive and negative - deeply impacts your life.

What Do Your Hands Say About You?

Shoping preferences.

I was talking to my SIL last night. She doesnt shop at the big major super store and prefers little localy owned stores. I personally agree with her. I have a friend who's husband was seriously used by the local big store. I dont like thier employee policys. However it is the only major store in the valley. The next closest stores are at least 30 minutes away. I have to buy things there. With six kids and a Surburban I cant go into the next valley for a package of underwear.

That being said, I have found that my local DI is a great place to shop. I have found some awesome deals there. Home decorations and kitchen items galore. Books, dont get me started on the books. I should stay out of that section all together. I have gotten a living room table, curtains, a candle holder, a few centerpieces amongst other things. (My living room looks better all the time.) There are the local yard sales and garage sales too and they are tax free, an added bonus.

So I prefer to shop tax free at the DI or yard sales. But sometimes they just don't have what I need; so I reluctantly go to the big store and shop there too. Maybe if I had more conviction...... or gas was cheaper.... or I didn't have kids to leave at home or take with me.....

Maybe.

Michelle

My one bathroom....

When we were looking for a home. We didnt see the home we live in now, because it has only one bathroom. Yes you heard me right ONE bathroom. And I have six kids. (At least they are mostly boys.) When we were looking at the house I was so impressed with the cleanliness of the home. We liked it immediately with one exception. It's one bathroom. Not only the number of bathrooms vs. the number of family members. But what the previous owners had done in regards to decorating. The bathroom was done in a southwest kokopelli theme. The walls were a sandy ORANGE with a brick RED sponged over it. Then the door frame and the towell holder were PURPLE! The vanity was painted a TEAL GREEN. There was a matching shower curtain wall paper border and tooth brush holder.

All I can say is EWWWWWWWWWW! walking into the bathroom at three o clock in the morning and turning on the light jarred your senses. I hated it and for two years I wished that we could do something about the decor. With relish I threw the shower curtain and tooth brush holder away as soon as I could. Just last year my dear husband painted the bathroom. It took two coats of primer and 2 coats of white. It lookes so much better. However it was still sense jarring at three o clock in the morning LOL. Now it was just PLAIN. so just a few weeks ago I was at a yard sale and found a beautiful floral shower curtain for 50 cents. and two floral pictures at the DI for $2.00 a piece. It looks much better now. It is still so white, but it isnt red orange purple and green.

Michelle

Um yeah something like that....

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Spiderman

"I have always been standing in your doorway. Isn't it about time somebody saved your life?"

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You?

Did I write?

The answer is yes I wrote. I rewrote the ending of chapter 10 (was 9) and am pleased with it. Shanna you'd be happy. I realized that I had come to a wall and hadn't finished it so what you said was rushed looked rushed but it really was just unfinished. Well it is finished now so the only chapter that is unfinished is 26 (now 27). I am begining to think that I'll just trash the Chapter and start over.

We'll see...
Michelle

What is in a Name?

I was chatting with my writer BFF, and I mentioned that my MC's origional name was Jason. She laughed, of course, it is such a common name. His love interest was named Jennifer. LOL But it had signifigance for me at the time that I named my knight in shining armor that name. Not that the laugh offended me it didnt, I have since chosen a much more apropriate name for him. What it did was start was a chain of thought.

What is in a name? Why do we as writers choose the names for our characters that we do? Do we scour baby name book and credits on TV and movies for ideas like me? Do the names of our characters have meaning? Does it have to look good in print? Or do the names naturally come to us? Do our characters name themselves? Do the characters like thier names? Even during this last rewrite I had written two chapters with my MC's love interest before changing her name again this time to a final and very loved name. The MC's best friend's name I changed halfway through the book and still found at least two times that I missed changing it untill this last rewrite.

Why do parents name their children what they do? Do we allways like the names we are given and if not would our parents dislike the thought that we don't like our names. If we don't like our names would we change them? Or not, rather than offend our parents? Do we as parents like the names we give our children? Do we years in the future regret naming them what we did? Would we be offended if our children changed thier names?

If we are writers would this lead us to seek out a pseudoname and use it. Would that name have signifigant meaning or just sound cool. I wonder. So do the aforementioned Jennifer and Jason.

Thoughtfully, Michelle

Today is Friday...

My writing day... so what am I doing blogging? Well I was checking my email and then my blog. I decided that I had time to work on my blog. I added the updates of my own books, and changed some elements. I hope you like it.

A little about my works:

Noble my co-author is actually the main character in my Dominion Day series. (and my youngest sons name so you dont get confused) He has been the character in this book wether by a diferent name or looks for 20 years. I wrote the origional first first draft in high school; I was SO proud of the 189 pg hand written story. I origionally had plans for a book and a sequel a ONE BOOK sequel. But partway through the first book my MC got religion... then it became a five book series and then I added one more #6 the last one because the story wouldn't leave me alone. (Geez who let these people into my head anyways.) last March I restructured #2-4 and added one more book so now it is seven books.

I hope to keep you at least updated on the progress of my books. Without spoiling them for those that are anxiously awaiting the releasal of them in published form. (chuckle) I am sure my progress will increase now that I am feeling better and I have the most TOTALLY ROCKING WRITING GROUP EVER. (love you guys.... really.) Well that is a little about me; now to the real reason I have vowed never to work on Fridays I am going to write.

Michelle

World Breastfeeding Month

August is World Breastfeeding Month. More specificaly the first through the seventh. This is the month that we, as lactation support people, focus on Breastfeeding and have an excuse to promote it in public. I am planning a celebration baby shower for the breastfeeding women in the community on the last Saturday of the month. So if you were breastfed, or have breastfed, or have a spouse family member that breastfeeds thank them. And give the nursing mother in the store or mall that you pass this month a smile and know that they are giving thier children the "Gold Standard" of infant feeding.

Michelle

So.... what is your theme song?

Your Theme Song is Back in Black by AC/DC

"Back in black, I hit the sack, I've been too long, I'm glad to be back" Things sometimes get really crazy for you, and sometimes you have to get away from all the chaos. But each time you stage your comeback, it's even better than the last!

What's Your Theme Song?

LOL I say this is pretty perfect.

Who is your inner Muse?

Your Inner Muse is Urania

You are most like this muse of astronomy. Your head is in the stars, and you look to the future. You give off a heavenly, mysterious vibe. And you're not too bad at predicting the future.

What Muse Are You?

My trip...

MY DD and I along with my infant son flew in a plane to Phoenix Arizona. Our purpose was to see a natruopath for various ailments. The plane ride there was calm and uneventfull. Noble, my baby, was well mannered and slept most of the time. We got a tour of Phoenix and Glendale to my daughters delight. Glendale is the home of Stephenie Meyers the author of Twilight and New Moon and soon to be released Eclipse. She used all of my NEW batteries taking pictures of the area. When I down load them I'll post a few palm trees.

The real reason of our visit was to get me some help, after 6 pregnancies 3 miscarriages and an unwanted c-section I was feeling a little hormonally imbalanced and dealing with some baby blues. The doctor tested me and perscribed some suplements and within 40 minuets of the first dose I was allready feeling better. Like some one had lifted the fog that I had been looking through for a while.

The weather was agreeable it was nowhere near 122 like it had been the week before. Infact it rained on Saturday evening, causing us to leave the pool early at the doc's home. The following day it was only 105. I feel like it was my HF telling me I was in the right place doing the right thing. I want to publically thank my best friend for helping find out what was wrong with me, offering a solution, and arranging for help. And to her, and her husband for a wonderfull weekend in the land of the sun.

The flight home was another story. Noble wasnt feeling well and was grumpy. We survived it and I dont think everyone on the plane hated me by the end of the flight. I am happy to be feeling better, and my kids I am sure, are enjoying a non weepy mom.

Michelle