I thought I would recap a few of my favorite posts from the past two years I've been blogging. Posts include short stories, miniatures and writing. Enjoy!
2007
Suspense short story, featuring Dachshund Sophie by Tim Wohlforth, Part 1
Suspense short story, Sophie by Tim Wohlforth, Part 2
2008
Miniature of Van Gogh's Starry Night, inspired by my mystery, Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery
Vincent Van Gogh in miniature
Miniature of the Month: The Vet's Office
August Daily Writing blog: The 7 Deadly (Writing) Sins
Art come to Life in Miniature
Halloween witches in Miniature
Writing tips and markets for kids and teens
12 Days of Christmas in Miniature, An Illustrated Christmas story: The Thief of Christmas Present, by Robert W. Walker, Part 1.
January 07, 2009
January 06, 2009
Writing Tip 10: Make a Timeline, says LJ Sellers
Every author has their own way of working.
Some outline; some don't.
Some prefer note or index cards. I like to make a grid on a sheet with 5 boxes across and 4 down, where I can see major points per chapter at a glance.
LJ Sellers, author of the Detective Jackson mystery series, THE SEX CLUB (Spellbinder Press) and the upcoming SECRETS TO DIE FOR, says she likes to create a timeline to keep her work in progress in order
Writing Tip 10: Make a Timeline
Sellers says, "for every mystery/suspense story, I create a timeline of significant events, including day and hour.
"I draft it when I write the outline, then update it and fill it in as I write the novel.
"The timeline:
* helps me pace the story;
* helps me coordinate simultaneous events;
* keeps me from writing too many events into one day;
* saves me the embarrassment of having characters refer to events that
haven't happened yet."
--- THE SEX CLUB by LJ Sellers: When a bomb explodes at a birth control clinic and a young client turns up dead, Detective Jackson is assigned both cases. Could they be connected?
Kera, the nurse who discovers the girl’s Bible group is really a sexual free-for-all, thinks they are. But can Jackson uncover the killer’s identity in time to stop the slaughter?
Some outline; some don't.
Some prefer note or index cards. I like to make a grid on a sheet with 5 boxes across and 4 down, where I can see major points per chapter at a glance.
LJ Sellers, author of the Detective Jackson mystery series, THE SEX CLUB (Spellbinder Press) and the upcoming SECRETS TO DIE FOR, says she likes to create a timeline to keep her work in progress in order
Writing Tip 10: Make a Timeline
Sellers says, "for every mystery/suspense story, I create a timeline of significant events, including day and hour.
"I draft it when I write the outline, then update it and fill it in as I write the novel.
"The timeline:
* helps me pace the story;
* helps me coordinate simultaneous events;
* keeps me from writing too many events into one day;
* saves me the embarrassment of having characters refer to events that
haven't happened yet."
--- THE SEX CLUB by LJ Sellers: When a bomb explodes at a birth control clinic and a young client turns up dead, Detective Jackson is assigned both cases. Could they be connected?Kera, the nurse who discovers the girl’s Bible group is really a sexual free-for-all, thinks they are. But can Jackson uncover the killer’s identity in time to stop the slaughter?
January 05, 2009
Eye Candy: Miniature Chocolates Part 2
Chocolate Dreams
My friend Kitty has been busy as a little bee making more chocolates.
This is one of those projects you can't help but look at again and again. One way to cure chocolate cravings?
She made all the chocolates and cakes from polymer clay. Look good enough to eat!
(See part 1 of the Chocolate Shoppe here.)
The fantastic furniture kits are from Lisa's Little Things, an addiction for sure!
January 04, 2009
New Blog Award!
-- Thanks to my publisher Karen Syed for giving me this new Premios Dardo Best Blog Award. Gee, ain't it pretty?The rules:
1) Accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and a link to his/her blog.
2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgement, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.
I would like to present this award to the following sites in appreciation for all the effort, knowledge, and encouragement they offer to their readers.
The blogs I named were picked because they are informative, inspiring, funny, fun, or just plain enjoyable. Not all are writers, but I think others will enjoy the artists I've chosen who happen to work in miniature, or who inspire readers with their ideas. Here's what I picked:
Blogs (and their writers) of Note:
* Terrie Farley Moran, Women of Mystery
* Camille Minichino, Killer Hobbies
* Katie, Katie's Clay corner
* Kim, It's a Miniature Life
* Gayle Trent, Fatal Foodies
* Marsha Mees, Sassy Mini Dolls
* Dani, Blog Book Tours
* Daisy, Daisy Pink Cupcake
* Rachel, Miniature Cakes
January 02, 2009
Dachshunds on Parade, Dogs having Fun
I couldn't resist dressing up Petey the Dachshund from Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery, for New Year's. (Looks like he had more fun than I did. All I've done is cough for two weeks).Dogs like to have fun. You can tell. Take a look at these Dachshunds at a parade in Florida and tell me they're not having fun!
Now imagine gathering more than 100 Dachshunds in one place. See Dachshund pic 2.
Of course, the real news in the past week was the dog thief!
No, not someone stealing dogs. If you didn't see this video on TV, then take a look. It's not every day that you see a German Shepherd come in to a store and help himself!
Maybe no one got him what he wanted for Christmas so he took matters into his own paws!
It makes you wonder, though... did he live nearby? He must've been in the store before as he knew just where to go. Was he coached? Did someone drop him off and pick him up outside? This might be the best (and funniest!) mystery of 2008!
** What do you think? How did the canine crook get away with it?
January 01, 2009
Happy New Year 2009!!
I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Thanks to the generous friends I've made in the past year. I want to thank all the great people who have shared their author tips and miniatures and allowed me to share them with you on this blog. I look forward to sharing even more fun topics with you in the coming year.
Wishing everyone health, happiness, success and God's blessings despite the tough economy and in the midst of all the doom and gloom.
December 31, 2008
Writing Tip 9: Write it Down Says Terrie Moran
Author Terrie Farley Moran offers some sage advice she learned from another author.
"My writing tip comes from author Gillian Roberts (ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS). Her advice is: DON'T WRITE IT RIGHT, WRITE IT DOWN.
"I have that phrase stuck to my monitor on what is probably the tenth or twelfth grungy looking 3x3 sticky. This one is written in blue ink. The predecessors have been in black, brown, green, red, and even pencil. Some were written in script, but I find block letters work best for me."
Writing Tip 9: DON'T WRITE IT RIGHT, WRITE IT DOWN
Moran says the phrase stops her from interrupting her work.
"It stops me leaving my work in progress to check the thesaurus, or the dictionary, or to 'search' some exotic point. Side trips are distractions that interrupt my flow, and can lead to a less than stellar story all because I stopped to research at exactly the wrong moment."
** Good idea! How many times do we get up to check the fridge or just wander around to avoid - writing?
** What are your "side trips" that keep you from getting your story down on paper?
-- Terrie Farley Moran is author of numerous short stories. Her latest, "Just Call Me Nick," is in the Wolfmont Press anthology of holiday crime stories, DYING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND. All proceeds are being donated to the USMC Toys for Tots.
"My writing tip comes from author Gillian Roberts (ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS). Her advice is: DON'T WRITE IT RIGHT, WRITE IT DOWN.
"I have that phrase stuck to my monitor on what is probably the tenth or twelfth grungy looking 3x3 sticky. This one is written in blue ink. The predecessors have been in black, brown, green, red, and even pencil. Some were written in script, but I find block letters work best for me."
Writing Tip 9: DON'T WRITE IT RIGHT, WRITE IT DOWN
Moran says the phrase stops her from interrupting her work.
"It stops me leaving my work in progress to check the thesaurus, or the dictionary, or to 'search' some exotic point. Side trips are distractions that interrupt my flow, and can lead to a less than stellar story all because I stopped to research at exactly the wrong moment."
** Good idea! How many times do we get up to check the fridge or just wander around to avoid - writing?
** What are your "side trips" that keep you from getting your story down on paper?
-- Terrie Farley Moran is author of numerous short stories. Her latest, "Just Call Me Nick," is in the Wolfmont Press anthology of holiday crime stories, DYING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND. All proceeds are being donated to the USMC Toys for Tots.
December 30, 2008
Eye Candy: Miniature Chocolate Shoppe
Nothing beats chocolate. It's been called the food of the gods and better than... well, better than anything.
Agreed. I love chocolate!
Besides eating chocolate, the fun is seeing it interpreted in miniature.
My friend Kitty has been working on making a fancy Chocolate Shoppe sure to make any chocoholic drool. The chocolate box kits and furniture kits are from Lisa's Little Things, (a real addiction in itself!)
Kitty makes her own chocolate and cakes from FIMO polymer clay. She also is making some of her own chocolate boxes from vintage labels. Convincing, huh?You can see other pix of her food and more of her chocolate shop items at her blog.
From the supreme Godiva Chocolates, to Hershey's chocolate, there's something for every taste. (Check out the tiny Hershey's logos on the front page.)
For miniaturists, the fascination is in making a scene look real. Dollhouse printies are always fun to make - and see.
* Check out these modern chocolate candy wrappers (full size). (The Belgian chocolate link below also has small labels.)
* Or how about the perfect 1900's era Hershey bar wrapper. (full size).
** What's your favorite chocolate? I'll take Belgian chocolate anytime.
* See Part 2
December 29, 2008
Writing Tip 8: Plan says Roberta Isleib
Back to the Writing Tips today. Hope everyone had a nice holiday!
Writing is something that you have to plan. It doesn't always come naturally. It seems that if you don't make yourself sit and write, you'll find that there is always a reason NOT to do it. Procrastination is not a writer's friend.
Roberta Isleib, author of ASKING FOR MURDER, (Berkley) the latest in her new advice columnist series, has some simple, direct advice for writers.
Writing Tip 8: Set up a regular schedule and stick to it--do not wait for the muse to strike!
** More advice on novel writing
** Other basic writing tips, the things that are often overlooked
** Your Turn: What's your writing schedule?
-- In ASKING FOR MURDER, Rebecca's good friend, a social worker who does sand play therapy, is found beaten and left for dead. Rebecca searches for clues in her patients' sand trays to track a would-be killer.
She can only hope the clues are buried within easy reach.
Writing is something that you have to plan. It doesn't always come naturally. It seems that if you don't make yourself sit and write, you'll find that there is always a reason NOT to do it. Procrastination is not a writer's friend.
Roberta Isleib, author of ASKING FOR MURDER, (Berkley) the latest in her new advice columnist series, has some simple, direct advice for writers.
Writing Tip 8: Set up a regular schedule and stick to it--do not wait for the muse to strike!
** More advice on novel writing
** Other basic writing tips, the things that are often overlooked
** Your Turn: What's your writing schedule?
-- In ASKING FOR MURDER, Rebecca's good friend, a social worker who does sand play therapy, is found beaten and left for dead. Rebecca searches for clues in her patients' sand trays to track a would-be killer.She can only hope the clues are buried within easy reach.
December 25, 2008
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