Parchment Paths

Another rejection letter came for me today and while I dreaded reading the all too familiar line, "... we regret that we cannot use your submission" the letter was still encouraging. Why? Because the editor of the magazine liked my story. She said, I created a strong plot and mood that carried throughout. She mentioned that the ending seemed a but rushed to her, which I'm not completely sure I agree with, but I'm re reading it to check for possible improvements. Of course, I'm still disappointed about my story not being published, but it was wonderful to hear praise and constructive advice from a professional, as well as an invitation to submit again.  I'm still terribly fond of my scary little story, it was about a haunted house, and would love to see it find a home somewhere.  I'll polish it up and search magazines, contests, and other venues and see what unfolds. I still have one non fiction piece submitted for a contest,  a novella, at a publishers...

Fatal Abduction is the third in the IFCS series and follows Kaitlyn and the others as they tackle two problems close to home. First, a traitor in the group that led to the mission from the last book nearly failing. Two, a serial killer operating in the area where Katlyn's teen age friend lives. After very quickly, too quickly, I feel, solving the first problem, the team moves on to the second. Kaitlyn goes undercover to find the killer and hopefully save his latest victim. Overall, the plot was very good, but I've only granted it two stars due to pacing issues; it seemed rushed. We were given insights into the killer's motives and background, but they were wedged in between Kaitlyn, and the victim's chapters. Also, I feel that the character development was, once again, rushed over. I don't feel as though I really know any of them and while I enjoy their sto...

It's been awhile since I've posted, but rest assured I have been writing in my absence. I've entered a good many writing contests and am working on three entries to other contests now as well as a post for Blog Mutt. I will post a review of the third book in the IFCS series shortly, hold me that please. It's good to be writing so much and it will be even better if it yields some results! Though , just writing is good fun and good practice. 

Last Sunday I took my nephew and niece to HillSide Farms to see the farm animals and to get some of their wonderful ice cream.  We were a bit disappointed that the food dispensaries were empty and some were even broken, but another family gave us some of the animal food they had bought and let us use the rest. The other people there were very friendly and we even met some fellow Shaun the Sheep fans!  While my niece and I were talking to said fans, by nephew found himself with a fan of his own. This duck kept following and quacking at him even though he was out of food.  I was sure he'd follow us to the peacocks but he didn't. After that, we wondered about some of the lovely shops on the grounds and then over to the greenhouse and to the stream. My dad took the kids into the greenhouse while I explored the one greenhouse that has seen better days but is still intriguing. I'm not sure what the plans are for the building but I hope...

The second book finds the cyborg Katelyn and the IFICS on their first mission to use her abilities and the company's resources to help solve society's nasty issues. The first case is taking down a man who deals in human trafficking. The book switches to one of the man's victims, a teen aged girl who is raped by the man before he plans to sell her along with the other children. The scenes are disturbing but help the reader understand a very real problem in our world. While the story was compelling, I felt the first switch from Katelyn's point of view to the girls was a bit choppy. I also felt that the transition from the last book to this one was sudden. The plot is so intense that we don't really get to see her growing as a new person, rather we are told about her growth in between her and the team preparing for the mission to take the criminal down and rescue the children. As a whole, it's a great book. There is plenty of action, storming the...

A few months ago in December my grandmother passed away. Amid all the planning that went into the funeral, my aunt discovered that grandma's  wedding ring had been lost at the nursing home. No one had turned it in or seemed to have any idea where it could have gone. My aunt and cousin tried putting some of her other rings on her, since she always wore her wedding band, but none fit.  So, while it was not a disaster, it was still a bit distressing that a symbol of a large portion of her life was not with her as we said goodbye. Time went on and the family began the confused mourning and healing process. to be honest, I forgot all about her missing wedding ring until last night when I called my aunt just to say hello. She told me that on a visit to the nursing home one of the nurses asked her if she was still missing the ring. When she told him, yes she was. He took her to the lost and and found and showed her three wedding bands. Two had notes attached, explaining where they ...

Today I braved the icy sidewalks and even icier wind to visit my favorite ice cream shop, Ballyhoo.   Because why go to McDonald's for a mint shake when you can support a local business and listen to 1950's music at the same time? Plus, the owner is incredibly nice and the mint, Paddy Shakes have real leprechaun bits! (though I cannot verify the validity of that claim, I just know the shake was lovely!) The place was also decked out for the upcoming Saint Patrick's Day, which I loved!  It cheered up the freezing winter day considerably.