Monday Mumblings…

Hudson Valley RWA is currently accepting entries for their Hook, Line and Sinker contest. This is an awesome contest in that it allows you to test the strength of your first three manuscript pages. If you don’t grab your reader right away…um, you never will!  Finalists get a read by Harlequin Senior Editor Brenda Chin! I entered this contest back in ’06 or ’07 and received really helpful feedback…and that story ended up getting a contract! 

http://www.hudsonvalleyrwa.com/contest 

 All Romance eBooks  is currently conducting a “28 Days of Heart” submissions call. They are taking submissions now through Halloween from any author who has a book listed for sale on their site. All proceeds from these stories will be donated to the American Heart Association (an organization near and dear to my heart).  Check out more details here:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/ 

I’m a Kindle junkie.  I know there are many out there who have not yet chugged the Kool Aid when it comes to e-readers, but this girl is hooked.  Completely.  Irrevocably.  That’s why I love Dear Author.  Jane has a great post on e-books that lack covers.  This is a huge pet peeve of mine and I applaud her for calling out the publishers that seem to overlook its importance to consumers: 

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/09/27/digital-consumers-like-pictures-too/ 

Something different!  Author Jaime Rush has come up with a cool way to thank her readers.  She’s adding names to a Thank You page in her third book.  If you’re interested in finding out more details check out her website.  Oh, if you do click over read through the entries to her last contest (Kick Butt First Lines).  Some of the submissions are pretty amusing! 

http://www.jaimerush.com/

 Off to get ready for the dentist!  Hard to believe, huh?  I practically live in his office and other than the television and reclining chair — it’s not so much fun!!!

Who’s the Boss?

Springsteen turns 60 today.  Great googly moogly!  I confess…I liked Bruce back in the day.  I was much younger and he was much cooler.  At least I thought so.  Something happened right around the time he released Nebraska.  Our friendship parted ways.  He became a little too political and I became a little ambivalent.

See I’m one of those individuals who really, really doesn’t want to read/listen to a diatribe when I’m seeking entertainment.  Performers, artists, writers, celebrity figures in general have every right to express their personal feelings about politics and the world around them.  It just makes me squirm….especially when it is presented in a preachy (I’m right just listen to me) kind of way. 

Now when I hear a classic Springsteen tune I have to tune out all the extra crapola that his name conjures up.  Although I have a lot of opinions (a real lot just ask my family) I try to keep them out of my writing.  Honestly, who cares what I think?  (Don’t answer that in the comment section   There are boundaries to being authentic.  A time and a place.

Oh, darn!  I think I’m preaching.  Off to find my beat up Darkness on the Edge of Town cd.  Those were the days….

I hope you dance….

It’s been a loooooong week!  Hope you have a great weekend!

Requiescat in pace…

When those we love go away they never truly leave us.  Five years ago today my father passed away.  Every detail of that day has stayed with me.  It has brought comfort and it has brought tears.  Together as a family we held on to my father that morning – touched his hand, prayed by his side, and reassured him that it was okay.  He would be okay and somehow we would, too. 

Some days it’s been a struggle. My heart still aches the same way it did on September 17, 2004.  Milestones in my life are different without his physical presence. He was a good man – a real good man.  And the world was a better one with him in it. 

But he is still here. He lives on in my heart and in my writing.  He lives on in my memories.  He lives on through his grandchildren – gestures, spontaneous puns, thick hair with bothersome cowlicks.  In countless ways he is with me every day.  

Today I remember my father’s death.  Every day I remember my father’s life.

What’s up with that?

Today is the one week mark since my children returned to school.  It also marks a seven day slide into junk food heaven for yours truly.  I used to enjoy alone time…but right now not so much.  From the moment I drop them off until the moment I pick them up, I’m inhaling snacks.  Super suction vacuum style.  It’s not good.  And it must stop.  TOMORROW!  (I’ve already attacked the cookie jar today

Speaking of snacks, if you happen to spy Town House Flip Sides Pretzel Crackers (Garlic Herb) at your local grocery store I strongly suggest you give them a try.  Frankly they don’t look or sound appetizing (my five year old picked them out initially) but they’re darn good.  I’ve granted them my official seal of approval.  Yum.  Yum.

Speaking of treats, if you have a minute click over to the Rochester Romance Examiner to read Deb Diez’s  recent Q&A.  You can learn tidbits about me that you never knew and probably never wanted to know

http://www.examiner.com/x-22455-Rochester-Romance-Novel-Examiner~y2009m9d14-Q-and-A-with-local-Author-Rita-Oberlies

As I’ve reported here in the past, summer is a difficult time for me personally when it comes to writing.  In fact it occurred to me recently that autumn is the season where I tend to accomplish the most.  Crisp weather.  Leaves changing color.  Football.  Spiced cider.  Hay rides.  For some reason my mind moves along at a faster clip.  Plotting comes easier and my focus is much more intense.  Of course, I hope this proves to be the case again this year.  Time to shut down the internet.  Catch you later!!!

We remember…

Check this out….

   I’m profiled in the Rochester Romance Novel Examiner this week.  Local writer Deb Diez is running a two-part piece that nicely coincides with the September print release of The Catcher and the Lie.  I’ve provided the link — so check it out! 

http://www.examiner.com/x-22455-Rochester-Romance-Novel-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Profile-of-Local-Romance-Writer-Rita-Oberlies?cid=examiner-email

Bookmark the Examiner site so you can stay on top of some of the great things going on in my neck of the woods.  Deb posts new pieces several times a week…so keep checking back!!!

Didn’t see that coming…

Back to school!  Well, I’m surprised and happy to report that my boys are adjusting well.  It’s really only their mother who has suffered heartburn.  So far the biggest complaint has been about the contents of their lunch boxes.  Son #2 pretty much skips everything (sandwich, fruit, crackers) in favor of Goldfish.  Each morning I’ve been changing his choices but we haven’t really scored a winner yet.  Of course my oldest eats whatever I pack for him, but provides detailed feedback at the end of the day. Somehow hearing my sandwich was too cold doesn’t move me as much as he thinks it will.  Since I’m not running a restaurant, I’m guessing they will need to learn how to survive when everything isn’t exactly the way they want it!!!  Tough love. LOL.

On a very different note, I must confess to being SHOCKED at the news that Quartet Press is closing their doors before they ever really opened.  After a great deal of positive buzz over the summer the key players have apparently decided that this venture was not financially viable at this time.  Hmm…a lot of people must be shaking their heads over this one.  Check out Dear Author or Smart Bitches if you are interested in hearing some reaction to yesterday’s bombshell announcement.

The end of the season is fast approaching and frankly things are not looking good for the gang from Fenway Park.  They boys lack magic this year and I simply can’t see them doing anything in October.  Although there is always a great deal of hype surrounding how savvy the suits behind the Sox are, I’m not gulping that glass of Kool Aid.  Maybe I’m wrong (heaven knows that would not be unusual).  Check back in a few weeks when post season play kicks off

Current Mood…Anxious!!!

Back to school blues are hitting hard today.  As I waffle between depression and anxiety over the start of a new school year tomorrow, my boys have expressed virtually no emotion.  Other than an occasional snort, they seem rather unmoved.  

Last week I found myself smiling and nodding my head as parents rejoiced that summer was coming to a close.  Hmmm…in reality I couldn’t muster up much enthusiasm.  Sure I want them to learn and grow, and spend time with their peers.  I just don’t love the time they’re away from me.  I worry way too much about the little things.  And the big things.  And the nonexistent things that exist only in the small cracks within my head. 

I’ll fake it tomorrow as we gather in the gym with my kindergartener and second grader.  Yes, I’ll smile and say all the expected niceties.  Then I’ll get back in my car and cry.  As surely as the sun rises, I’ll drive home with a blotchy red face.  

It’s all good, though.   Today I had the forethought to buy a large package of Snickers miniatures.  So now I’ll have puffy eyes and chocolate breath!  Lovely!!!!

You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby…

Just about one year ago my family expanded.  It wasn’t a planned event, but it was a welcome one.  An impromptu visit to our local Humane Society resulted in our adoption of a stray puppy.  Although my husband and I had felt comfortable with two dogs, we were hesitant to bring that number to three.  Logistics – feeding, vet care, entertaining – all weighed heavy in our minds.  After ten minutes of contemplation, emotion won out and we filled out paperwork asking to be considered adoptive parents of an adorable five month old Beagle/Walker mix.

Almost immediately I recognized that this dog would be different.  He didn’t actually seek out our attention and honestly, didn’t seem to want it.  He mixed with our dogs (who were subjected to a meet & greet to determine compatibility) but kept a distance from anything on two legs.  He’d been abused.  Scars along his neck and small bits of information, revealed that Bailey had been left in a choke collar, outdoors, in good weather and in bad weather.  There was a very good reason he shunned our affection.  

In the months following we discovered that Bailey wasn’t big on barking (almost never – which is hard to believe of a beagle).  Although not an angry dog, he clearly held his own with his step-siblings (a border collie and a bassett hound).  No one was going to bully him.  Been there, done that!!!

This summer I realized something changed.  Bailey, out of the blue, had blossomed into an affectionate dog.  The last one to go outside, because he wanted an extra hug.  The first one to jump up and kiss my cheek in the morning.  And today he actually barked at the dog next door.  It wasn’t a loud sound but it was darn sweet!!!  My little baby is turning into a fine young man!