New computer, writing, cool story and Royal Wedding.

I have a new computer now. The family bought it for me as a Birthday/Mother's Day gift. My PC had been acting up for about 2 months. The battery just died and it was so hot even a cool pad didn't help it. Poor old thing got so hot it quit. So now I am getting used to this new one. Its nice I can read on it. The screen is bright so I hope to get loads of work done. Funny I have killed two computers in six years. I hope this one lasts!
I need to get a few things off the old computer. I did work on a ghost story today. I save my work on a flash so if anything goes wrong... I have a lot of work time to make up for.
I was going to do this earlier today but got lost in a short story by Stephen King in The Atlantic magazine. The story is Herman Woulk is Still Alive. Its a sad tale but you can see how it could be so real. You see these people daily no matter where you live. Some may feel its a stereotype, to me you see this in life. Check it out if you're a King fan.
Did you stay up or get up to see the Royal Wedding? I did. Yes I am a royalist. It was just beautiful with trees in Westminster Abbey. I have been there a few times, you walk on history as you tour the building. Below are some pictures I took the last time I was there. The poets, writers, Kings and Queens are there to see. If you get to London, go see it.
So what are you reading?

Bithdays, computers, writers block not, poems and critical people.

This is my Birthday week. I really don't feel any older, just smarter on some things. I think my family should shower me with presents and a trip! OK fantasy over, I guess I will be getting a new laptop. Mine has sadly died a quiet death. Do computers that die come back to haunt new ones or their owners? Now that is a story Stephen King wrote.
I have been reading wonderful blogs in the last week. One about writers block. I do not believe in it. I think you have times you need to kick start your imagination. Watching telly, YouTube and video games just wont cut it. You need fresh air, go for a walk, take a drive or exercise. Myself I do Pilates and walk my Princess. Also I have found that good writers are also good readers. Nothing like a good book to read. Books I have read that are boring seem as if the writer has never read many books. The writer seems to read just one genre and writer also they don't seem to comprehend what they read. I am no expert but that's how I see it.
Also try some poetry. I have been lucky to know a few poets. I am currently reading some poems by Jacqueline Dick. Check out her poems they are so good, to me. Good poems are really hard to write.   http://1emeraldcity.wordpress.com/ .
It seems the self proclaimed experts on writing are attacking blogs. So if they are experts what degrees do they hold? Where can I read their papers on the subject of writing? If you read every book you can get your hands on, on any subject, doesn't make you an expert. Blogs to me are written how you speak. Not perfect English and some times grammar goes out as well. Also the person who is writing it, where are they from? Do they have an accent? Is English a second language to them? Are you perfect? If not, why attack others? I think many do because they have a superiority complex. They even fear you're the competition and can't deal with it. I also noticed they are cowards and don't use their own names. It has happened to me. Sadly the person who did attack me, did it on Amazon. I know who it is, he wrote the same thing in an e-mail to me. Usually they are vague, use generalities and can't give you an exact example. If you can't say anything nice just don't say anything. I refuse to lower myself to their level, being petty and immature does you no good.
Well I need to get to work finding a computer that will last, work hard and be easy to use for me. I am also reading Full Dark No Stars. I love short stories. What short stories have you read that are good?

Holiday Weekend

I am wishing you all a lovely holiday weekend. To those who are celebrating Easter and Passover have a wonderful holiday filled with love and family. I will be making a roast and Yorkshire pudding.
The new Doctor Who premieres. I hear this is going to good fun the next 6 weeks. As a huge Doctor Who fan, I am looking forward to it, please don't ring me up while its on. I started watching  Doctor Who as a kid, I was so happy to be able to see it on Christmas day here in America.

I am working slowly on the short story book. Life gets in the way some times. Our eldest family member has been in hospital and is now back in her nursing home. Thank you to those who asked. Now for a cup of tea in my TARDIS mug. Cheers!
So what are reading? How is it? Let me know. 

Reading great books. My review of a great British book.

How is your week going? Mine not so bad. I had a fun mini road trip up to Phoenix. Its great to see friends and have a good lunch. The best part is a nice drive, makes your imagination go wild.
I finished reading A Proper Charlie by Louise Wise. OK don't walk, run to Amazon.com to buy this. I love horror and other works of good literature and this is great. It is very British but not the stiff upper lip, I am so posh kind. This is how real Brits speak and act.  As for the characters, you soon care about what happens to them and what they are going to do next. Its a bit of a mystery, romance, characters doing research and adventure in London you wouldn't see on a tourist trip. The story is about a newspaper in London, which has over 30 local papers. The characters are worried like so many about losing their jobs due to a takeover. Very current in today's world. This story is very believable. You will fall in love with the main character and worry over her as you turn each page until the end. I wish I could give it 10 stars on Amazon. This is for adults and well written, Louise has a great imagination. Yes, I guess I really loved it.
If you have a book you are reading and love, tell me about it. Oh I haven't forgot, I have been asked many times privately when is Draven Ames doing another short story or better yet a book. He told me today his book is out soon. I can't wait to read it either.
I have a bit of writing yet to do today. See you next week.

How long do you push your book?

Another week and yet so little feels done. Never enough time to do all one wants. I need 36 hour days, who do I talk to about that?
 I was asked how long I was going to talk about my book. I said about another month. No I didn't go on about it for three months before it came out just two weeks. I also didn't give it away to anyone who asked. Nope no contest to win it before its out. I also am not selling a years work for .99¢. I can't put out four books a year of quality. If you want quantity fine but how is it as a book. How is the research? I feel you get what you pay for. I read many reviews before pricing my book. The things that kept coming up was if its cheap its because it is crap. I saw many say it was a waste of money, worst book I ever read and one said I want my money and time back. All I could say was Yikes! I don't keep tweeting my book, if your getting 100 new followers a day cool do so but other wise your beating a dead book. If you do read a great book, tell the world about it.
So why am I putting another book out four months after the first? Well its a book of short stories I have written over the last two years. Most are ghost related. My novel was written three years ago. My next novel will not be ready for at least a year. I do write everyday.
Now I am almost done reading "A Proper Charlie" by Louise Wise. Its very British and I love it! Its for adults not a kids book so refreshing. Here are a few more writers you might need to check out: Elizabeth Parker, Tom Wagner, Adriana Kraft, Lesley Galsten, Andrew Mocete, J.B. Thomas, Rich Evans, Derek Haines and my friend Draven Ames. If I forgot anyone tell me.
Thank you for your support have a great week. Please tell what are you reading?

Book reviews, how to deal. Glamor of a writer's life.

What a long week. I read a few blogs, most are about books and eBooks and what the writers are doing. I was sent a blog to read "Big Al's Books and Pals". He did a review of a book. He said it was interesting, but need some work on spelling and grammar. Its not a bad review, but the writer hated it. She went into a public melt down that was embarrassing for herself. Many asked her to stop but sadly she didn't in fact she resorted to profanity. I don't know the lady, no idea whats going on in her life. It was so sad to see someone ruin a chance of a book deal. Many agents read blogs and blogs that review books. We have all had one time or another been on the end of someones meltdown. We have also all had meltdowns but most of don't go public. I feel bad for this lady up to a point, but be real not everyone is going to love your work. I had a bad review but sadly the reviewer couldn't be nice enough to say why he disliked my book. I wish this lady well and hope she gets her act together.
I read another blog saying as a writer we should teach others to write. I was a High School teacher. I taught art for a long time. The people who read my blog are adults and have read books on how to write and some have taken classes in college. Some read my blog because they want to know what is up with me and when my next book is out. I will not insult them by saying you need to read this book on how to or do what ever. If asked I can honestly say everyone write in his or her own way. Books on how to are a tool. You can read every book ever written on how to but you still need an imagination.
Many people think a writers life is all glamor. Not so, most are hard working people who hold down a full time job, family life and then write their books, blogs and do publicity work for them selves. Having four full time jobs is not easy. Its stressful and very hard work. Please be kind to them and support them and if you read a book that's good to you pass it on to others. Today I am  passing on a book that is very good to read.  "A Proper Charlie" by Louise Wise. You can get her book on Amazon.com.
As for me I have been working the on five shorts stories for my book. I wrote most of these stories over the last year. I write in a notebook I call my sloppy copy book. I then put on the computer for spelling and grammar then off to editor and then re-done, repeat. It is a slow process and I do have to do things like clean house, cook and walk Princess. Oh the glamor of it all.
So here are a few writers I would recommend to anyone. Stephen King is a great story teller, Jack Ketchum will scare you to bits, Dan Simmons can tell you a tale you wont put down and if you like historical fiction kind of girly go for Philippa Gregory. Here are few other cool writers you many not know.....Debbie Mack, Louise Wise, Greg Messel, Belinda Frisch, Debra Purdy Kong check them out on Twitter.
So what book would you recommend me to read?

Spring herb garden, working on book and ghost.

Well spring is here, so that means summer in two days. I have gotten my garden cleared of the dead stuff. I wont plant as much this year. I need to replace my herb garden. Princess loves it she eats the basil off the plant. Its very dry in southern Arizona so if you here visiting please be careful with any fire objects.
Yes I have been writing. I have one story done and have 4 others started. My next book will be all short stories and if my editor is well out by mid to late May. One story is a bit humorous in a macabre way. Then I have an odd look on life. Most of the stories are ghost ones, I do love ghost. I am not afraid of them. This seems odd to me so many fear ghost. I bet you walk by them daily and never know they are sitting or standing by you...
Let me hear from you, I love to hear a good ghost story. Got Ghost?