Being a Mom

       Early this week I'm going to be working on a "mom" story *. It's going to be early this week because I have a writing critique meeting on Wednesday, and I don't have a single word written that I can share. (Only rarely do I come empty-handed because when I have nothing to share, it's a waste of the great critique I get. As I sit there on pins and needles--will they declare my piece a pile of poop?--I have to listen to Linda's pen scratch across an entire page as she deftly rearranges my story. I have to hear Lynn's pen roll across the margin as she writes a whole letter's worth of suggestions and encouragement. I have to see Beth and Tammy's faces scrunch up, and I wonder if it's a good scrunch or a bad scrunch...) I haven't decided if I'm going to write a story about my mom or whether I'm going to write a story about myself as a mom but I...wait, as I was typing this, I made a decision.
     That's the interesting thing about writing. Sometimes just the physical act of typing something helps us sort things out in our head.
      I recently got some great news. (And no, I'm not going to "tease" and make you come back to my next post for the news.) My story "Elmo's Lesson" is going to be published in the upcoming Publishing Syndicate's Not Your Mother's Book...On Cats. And, my story, "A Risky Jump" has made it through to the final phase of Chicken Soup's Reboot Your Life. (Thank you WWWPs.) I know it can be yanked up to a month before publication but even though that's not happened to me yet, I won't say it too loudly. (I used to brag that I had been stopped by police officers many times--for speeding--but had never gotten a ticket, until I got my first and only one, so now I only whisper boasts like that.)
      I am giving away a copy of the recently published Not Your Mother's Book...On Being a Mom. Many of my friends and writing friends have stories in this collection--Terri Elders, Donna Volkenannt, Renee Hughes, Debra Mayhew, Pat Wahler, Mary Horner, Pat Nelson, Linda O'Connell, Marcia Gaye, Alice Muschany, Ellie Grossman, Diana Graveman and Tammy Goodsell. (My husband judges how good my story is by where it is in the book. He is positive that the editors put the good stories in the front, and they get progressively worse. My story, "So Little Wine," is on page 200 which makes it a "dud" in my spouse's eyes. You'll have to read it to see if you concur with him.)


         On July 1st I will post who won the book...
      My story that's being considered by Chicken Soup is about me wanting to do something that some of my family considered stupid/dangerous. Is there something you've done/considered in the past that made your friends or family look at you like you're crazy? 


* Chicken Soup is looking for mom stories--tales of you and your kids as well as stories about your mom. Two different anthologies doubles your chances of getting published...


    

The Canine Channel

         We don't usually get satellite/cable channels, but now, we do...courtesy of our dog Foley.

         We now have our own furry, four-legged satellite dish. Point him in one direction, and you get HBO. You want Showtime? Shift him into another direction. Oh, you're in the mood for a little wife-murdering-her-no-good-husband? Turn Foley this way for the Lifetime Movie Network...

         Foley has two hot spots--places he's licked raw--so he now has to wear the  Cone of Shame until those spots heal.

     And in case you're thinking that the cone of shame has sucked up some of his precious brain cells (and you've jumped to the conclusion he's not the smartest dog, which would make you correct), if you're concerned that he's depressed because of this new accessory he's sporting, forgeddabowdit. This is Foley's normal facial expression...

     As Foley travels from spot to spot in our house, trying to find a place where he can lessen his embarrassment, some local St. Louis writers will be spotted as they sign the Not Your Mother's Book...On Travel. When? Sunday, June 2 from 1-3. Where? Main Street Books in St. Charles, Missouri. Who? Terri Elders (the co-creator), Linda O'Connell, Sheree Nielsen, Greg Lamping, me and of course...You.

    Wouldn't you like to support an independent book store and get the chance to rub shoulders with some local writers? (Linda O'Connell is nearing the "20" mark when it comes Chicken Soup stories, she's just finished her "Listen to Your Mother" international whirlwind tour, and she's waist-deep in her work as co-creator of one of Publishing Syndicate's anthologies. If you need to increase your luck in getting publishing, buying one of the books and getting it signed on Sunday will guarantee you greater writing success.)

     So stop by on Sunday. And if your cable is acting up, come over to my house. Foley will be glad to help you tune into the channel of your choice... 

Travel to St. Charles

        Several local Not Your Mother's Book writers--Linda O'Connell, Sheree Nielsen, Gregory Lamping and me--along with the co-creator Terri Elders--will be at Main Street Books on June 2 from 1-3.

photo by gserafini


Please stop by. Terri is coming from Washington (the state, not as in D.C. nor the township around Union, Missouri) for this book signing, and it would be great if we could show her a warm Midwest welcome.

The book being signed? None other than Not Your Mother's Book...On Travel. Only brave souls should consider buying this book. My story, entitled "Half Right" is about moi going topless on the beaches in France...along with a Speedo that almost caused permanent scarring to my son's psyche.

So, stop by. Buy a book (or two) to support an independent, local bookstore and local writers. This anthology would make a wonderful gift...