Trigger-Happy Wombats -- CCCVII

Arriving early to this thread? Why, yes, I am. Just 'cause I wanted to.

Goodness... in my current book? zombies!

Dammit!

Double Dammit!

Wait a minute, what's going on here?

Pat
I do not have a book but good article :D

dammit! even cheating I don't come in first. ;o)

hee hee. Cheating Wombats. That should be another article.

There isn't enough space.

Hmmm, I think I could work on that one. LOL

In my book, there's evil, obsession, corruption and vampires. What more do you need?

Welcome, Janet.

My emotional trigger is I will cry if you don't like my book. It has test marketed well with my family.

Okay, I finished off Jill's thread so this is officially NOT cheating.

The emotional trigger? I'll ruminate while I grill salmon and steak.. yummy.

Uhhh....betrayal, and overcoming it?

I need a nap. Back when my brain starts working again.

Brain? what's this brain you speak of? lol!

Fear and betrayal, and overcoming it.

I've used a "guilty conscience" as an emotional trigger in two of my novels. Basically, I have good characters who made one whopping mistake. They know it was wrong, and as much as they try, they can't back pedal their way out of it. Because they are otherwise good people, I think readers can relate and sympathize.

Fear of betrayal.

Quite seriously, though I was playing off Lisa and Sia. Fear of being made to look the fool and being betrayed by those we hold as our closest friends/lovers. It can drive a lot of drama.

Today was runaround day with my sis. ye gads the woman pert near ran me into the ground. I even tried crying uncle...very dramatically so as to get her attention. Didn't work. She laughed. Laughed, I tell you. And said quit being a baby, you're a woman you're suppose to like shopping. (I missed out on the gene) Besides we only have two more stores to go to. *whimper

But along the way, I did get my hair cut and highlights put in. Whole new look. Yes, I did need that uplift. Also got my nails done. Wah hoo.

So I come home (finally, after leaving the house at 9 this morning and dragging my butt in the house at 5) and my darling son takes a look at my hair and goes, "Whoa, my mom has a rocker chick haircut." He said this to his guy friend on the phone. After he hung up he pulled me outside to look and said, "I like it. I like it alot. Reminds me of your guitar hero alter-ego."

My what? No way kid, she's a real wild child with her hair and mines sedate by comparison. Besides she has flaming red hair and I do mean flaming.

"Uh huh mom. I'd say yours is flaming too especially with these blonde streaks." And then he takes his hands and fluffs it up all messy and says, "yup, guitar hero rock chick." And he's LHAO!

I get no respect. Sheesh.

Hi all. On the article: selling based on an emotional trigger is an interesting concept. I'll have to think about it.

Pat B: The Crime contest had a lot of very strong entries in the top 10 to 15. Of the three contests, I would say that it had the highest percentage of strong entries doing well in the semifinals, though FCR had a lot of strong entries too, and I guess it's a matter of taste. The only one of the three where the top 10-15 were for the most part very weak was the first one. Most of the damage there happened in the first cut during the final rounds. Almost all of the ones I would have considered publishable got knocked out then. Don't get me started on that.

It's been a busy, or at least wild week so far. We've had two minor floods (overflowing toilet that sent water onto the entertainment center in the basement). I thought I had it fixed the first time, but found out I was wrong on Monday evening after we returned from a birthday zoo trip celebrating my step-granddaughter's 2nd birthday. Then the rest of the week I'm doing an evening class on top of my day job. I'll be doing that every other month for the next year or so. Good money, but it has cut into the writing time my last couple of weeks.

I wrote a long post and gather ate it, so a simple bookmark goes here.

Huh? Now both posts appear. Okay. That's interesting.

Dale, it's been doing that since the last update. If you refresh the post almost always shows up.

Can I squeeze in a mini-Dana here?

Hello? Any Wombats around?

Pat B: I've been meaning pick up a few Second Wind books. I remember liking your stuff and Laz's in the crime contest. It's been long enough that I can't match Deb's name to her entry, but I remember having a good impression of her.

I actually sort of wish that Gather would do another contest. They never got around to science fiction. On the other hand, I have no desire to put myself through that process again.

I'm here. Sort of.

I'm not sure my wife would put up with me going through another contest like that.

Dale, I find the idea of selling the emotional trigger an interesting one, but I'm not sure how to do it -- just stress the trigger whenever you mention the book?

Hi Pat. The one upside of another contest like that might be recruiting a few more good wombats. We've gotten a few keepers out of each of them so far.

Has anyone heard if the winner of the Crime contest actually got published and how he did?

Sorry Pat. X-posted. I don't know how to do the trigger thing. Marketing is still somewhat of a mystery to me.

I helped edit Staccato, so I got to read it prepub! Very good book. I also read Laz's -- both the crime contest one and the romance contest one. Liked both of them. Turns out that the only books I've read recently that I've liked recently are small press books, including Steel Waters (which I'm sure none of you have ever heard of) and Heart of Hythea, a romance/fantasy written by a blog friend. If you know me at all, you know that neither romance nor fantasy interest me, but I liked her book very much -- good emotional triggers! Though none of them are listed in my article above. What are the triggers for a book about a person who sacrifices themselves for the good of all (or the good of one)? Is that a common human need? To be heroic?

Supposedly the book is coming out this fall, but I don't know for sure.

Sia, a rocker chick haircut? This we have to see!

As for emotional triggers. Wait! It's my question! I shouldn't have to answer it. But I will. Sort of.

I think the one emotional trigger all my books have in common is to avoid bad things, like bioengineered diseases, mothers that die twice, hit men that hitch a ride. There is an element of heroics in all my books, a transformation. Is that something people want? To change? Or would they rather not change?

With Borders on the border of financial doom, I wonder if Prohibition will still be published? One of the mistakes gather or trutv or whoever picked the winner made was picking someone who posted their story and then did nothing to garner votes. If one of us had won, we would have spent the past two years telling everyone in the world about the progress of the book.

I wish I could say that after all I've done to promote or research promtion that I understand book marketing, but I can't. It's just as much of a mystery -- and a crap shoot -- as ever. Maybe it's time for me to take a break and go back to writing. I know I've said that before, but tonight I'm planning on shutting down at 10:00 and go off to commune with my poor WIP. I wonder if my hero will talk to me? Should be interesting to see.

Are long comments Danas or are Danas only short comments?

As for Dale's mention of a contest -- would I do another? Who knows. It could be a good promotion gimmick -- Jeffrey Siger once said that's why he entered, and it seemed to work for him.

My emotional trigger is Flesh ~

I did a Google search to try to figure out if Prohibition has been published or is about to be. No sign of it. It's not on Amazon or Borders under the author's name, and there is no sign of any current or impending publication. The author is on one Crime reader/writer site. (CrimeSpace), but with little activity and nothing about impending publication.

It would stink to win a contest and never get published.

Well, I've cleaned out two inboxes, took care of some correspondence, played a game--but no guitar hero, lol! Got my flight booked for later this month.

I saw him on Crimespace too Dale but haven't heard anything.

I'm thinking it's time for this kid named rocker chick to head to bed. I'll catch you all in the AM.

I see that the Heinlein Society finally announced the winners of their short story contest as of yesterday. Neither Jaimie or I were among the top 3. I think its the same one we both entered.

Contests are SHAM!

What's happening, Dale?

Recovering from the plumbing stuff mostly.

Thanks for the link, Dale. Took them long enough to announce the winners. Sheesh!

I think a more realistic contest would be for a read and critique of say the first 5000 words by a major editor or agent. That's sort of what Authonomy does on an ongoing basis.

Triggers? Hope and redemption. Empowerment and success. And my personal favorite ~ Not all men are full of it and there are good ones yet to be had. You can have HEA too. Does hot sex work? Yes, I do write romance. Your point? smile

This is off the cuff, but is this what you were thinking?
Cassie Sheridan is on a run for her life. If her former husband discovers her, there will be no second chance at escape. He will kill her. She doesn't trust men, but there is no choice. Making the trip to Northwest Territory is too difficult for her to do on her own. She needs a guide.

Cain Farrell has been searching for his scattered family since the end of the Civil War. His sister's five boys are all that's left to find. The woman who married Emma's husband has sent the boys away, to God knows where. He'd be her guide to hell if it meant getting his nephews.

Cain's size and gentle manner strike her from the beginning. It's a good thing she doesn't want a man in her life. Not even a wonderful man like Cain, who's smile made her heart pound. None of them could be trusted.

Cassidy Sheridan is too damned self-sufficient and not the simpering woman he expected. Cain needs her to find the boys; that's all. Even if she has skin the color of honey and green eyes that cut him to the core, he wasn't in this for a wife. Or is he?
---------
Pat, I am a Laz fan from back in FCR. My position still stands. His stuff is good.

Would I enter an other contest? Prolly not. I even avoided Amazon this year. I learned a lot about myself and my writing from those contests, but honestly I don't think I could do it again.

Sia, we simply must have a pic of this new do. Research. Yeah, that's the ticket. Research.
Dale I hope the end of your plumbing problems is in sight. Goodness.

Might I point out my Dana on the last thread was done as a public service... I didn't have hiccups, just a bad case of nerves from sending Escape to the publisher. I'm happy to report that is subsiding into a state of contented exhaustion.

Goodnight Neverland

I'm not sure about this trigger thing. But in my current WIP recalcitrant though it is, I think the emotional trigger is ... the worst can happen, everything fall through and you can still start over and find happiness again, if you let yourself do it. Now how to communicate that trigger to the prospective buyer and reader? Don't know. But I'd be willing to learn.

Hi wombats. I've got the pix for the wombat meet, but no time to post yet. I'll try to do it when I get back on Friday.

Dale, thanks for the link to the Heinlein contest, which I also entered. They took a very long time to decide on the winners.

It's late and I've got a busy day tomorrow, so that's it for now. Nite, 'bats.

Good morning all. I've apparently got swimmer's-ear-gone-wild, which means it's into a sore throat, which means only antibiotics will deal with it now, and I'm cranky as a baby with colic about it.

Sia, can't wait to see the rocker chick 'do. There will be no pictures of us taken together. My own hair hasn't been touched since May (sob--I miss you Mr. David!) and has taken on a trailer-trash-blonde aura, a lot like Tonya Harding. Perhaps I will dig out my many, many hats and become known as an ecentric (it worked for Truman Capote).

I woke up this morning with "What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor" as an ear-worm in my head (apparently only having one working ear causes weird ear-worms). Anne Bonny, that fickle witch, must be preying on my mind. Lisa, mostly though, it made me think of Pete the Spy. If you ever see that old fart, tell him to stop by. I always enjoyed his company.

I need more coffee before anything else.

ha! that's what you think. No way I'm coming all that way and not get pictures of us. Phffft!

I'm sure I have a big, floppy, face-covering hat around here someplace!

BTW, I will be arriving in Columbus about noonish on Friday. give me a call and I'll fill you in on the details.

"Early in the morning." Thanks Pat. Slap Anne for me would you.

Morning all. It's a lovely day in the neighborhood. 65 degrees bright sunshine. Stuff still piled in my yard and I'm supposed to cut the grass how? Day two with no crews but they'll be back. The property is 80% done. Yay. Just need the new window framed in and the insulation put around two outer walls of my office and new wall put up and painted. I have the fencing and one gate that needs to be done and one small holding barn that needs repairing and we're done. And can I say, I'm glad.

Now to do the inside which involves painting the livingroom--just a focal wall and the ceilings and hanging a new swag on the bay window--don't want full curtains. And the carpets cleaned, new lights and faucet for the bathroom and I'm all done.

I'd be glad to, Wendy! Yeah, try waking up with that in your brain! I need to find a good CD of sea chanties to lure the wench out. Then again, it was prolly just the Nyquil talking (the only way I could get to sleep with this stupid ear thing).

OK, on to Pat's question--or rather, one of your comments: There is an element of heroics in all my books, a transformation. Is that something people want? To change? Or would they rather not change?

I don't know about other genres, but in romance, there must, must, MUST be transformation by the end. That's the character arc and that's the emotional connection readers must have. Readers connect to characters to whom they can relate--a character with a flaw/weakness that might be just like theirs (fear of/about betrayal, bad choices, lack of courage, etc.) By the end, the reader sees the character evolve and grow and overcome and thinks "I can do that, too. If I can change, I can also have the happily-ever-after". And, at it's best, a reader can "adopt" your character as a talisman, a rallying point in their own troubles, and think "How would X handle this?" That's what triggers that emotional connection and makes a character memorable.

Of course, that emotional trigger can be a negative as well, and work just as effectively. I'm going to use Scarlett O'Hara as the prototype of this. Everyone remembers that overwrought "In God's name I'll never be hungry again" moment. But her motivations are all shallow--she never does the real work it takes to change her inner selfish, weak character flaws, and by failing to do so, she loses in the end, never realizing that it was not food for which she hungered, it was love and acceptance. Rhett, on the other hand, DOES grow and change, and for that we love him--that's what makes him a hero. He goes from gun-running-for-profit, to actually fighting for the south's cause and it's people, while also seeing the hopelessness of it--just as he eventually sees the hoplessness of trying to save Scarlett. Readers can see Scarlett, and say "she wasted her life pining for the wrong man and refused to change and lost everything because of that lack of change--and I'm not going to be like Scarlett".

So yeah, readers (at least of romance) want to see growth and transformation.

You may be 80% done, Sia, but it still sounds like a hella lot of work ahead! And why just paint a focal wall? Go ahead and immerse yourself in color!

OK, as for the emotional triggers in my own work. In the first one the issue is trust--neither trusts the other (or anyone else) and need to learn to at least trust each other. In the second one, I have a note to myself in my GMC doc that says "Sex is easy--love is hard". It has a theme similar to Wendy's Safe Harbor--it's about redemption, and overcoming past bad choices (see how the same theme can have a totally different treatment, and yet be recognizable?) That's the emotional trigger. Lots of folks make bad choices--the trick is to provide a character readers can connect with and latch onto and say "Yes, that could be me."

On the other hand, you can have a character who doesn't change at all, but becomes the pivot point for others to change. I'm reading a series of books now by Randy Wayne White. His recurring character is Doc Ford, former NSA, now marine biologist. The books are mysteries, all set in and around Sannibel/Captiva/Fort Myers (where the writer actually lives). Doc never changes--although he sometimes thinks about it, he never really does. However, he acts as the anchoring point for the emotional compass--the other characters swing in wild orbit around his calm, eye-of-the-hurricane center. His stillness in the midst of typical beach-crazy insanity is what makes him stand out. He is the catalyst for change in others, while staying true to his own core. Ken's Glen Wilson is the same kind of character. Glen is always himself--it's the others around him who change.

*crawls out of lab

*demands a picture of Sia's rocker chic hair

I was planning on getting highlights in my hair yesterday, too, but was too tired to drag myself off the couch and head to the salon. (It's the gray weather.) So I'll be getting mine done today after work.

This means I reached my first weightloss goal. 25 pounds down (as of yesterday and still holding today). Woot! I still have a long way to go, but it feels great to finally reach that first milestone.

Anyway, I'll be sporting lighter colored locks and should have a new icon soon. Maybe. We'll see how bad the photos come out first.

As for emotional triggers... Are we actually talking about internal character motivation here? Or am I totally off base.

Jamie, what an outstanding achievement! W00t! All the skinny wombats! (OK, who stole my willpower?)

Thank you, Pat.

But I'm faaaaaar from skinny...

Check back in six months.

Well, I do need to get a picture of the hair cut. I don't think it's all that much a rocker chick cut unless Jake fluffs it all wild, lol! I got it 'chipped' which what they call the cut. A bit jagged--which I've always liked. The highlights I love. Gives me a new look and makes me feel good especially as we're coming into the 'grey yucky weather'.

I've lost about 25 too and believe me, I'm far from skinny too, but it feels good!

Will you people all stop losing weight please?? It has to go somewhere and apparently thinks I'm running an orphanage for lost weight. Sigh. Do mashed potatoes seem like a reasonable breakfast to you? Must be the Nyquil hangover.

Fried maybe, but mashed? hmmmm

Pat, with swimmer's ear the likes of which you described, mashed potatoes are a perfectly wonderful breakfast. Grate some cheese over them before you heat them up for a little protein and different taste for lunch. Poor dear.

I can certainly see the similarities between Anne and Jenna. Though, somehow, I think you got the tougher transformation. Making a street addict sympathetic is difficult. A pirate? I'm sorry Pat. Her protective force field is much thicker and set harder than Jenna's. It takes guts to take that on. Sculpture comes to mind.. chip, chip, crack, cough, chip, pound... I know you're in there.

As for highlights? Grin. My hair would be salt and pepper if I were brave enough to let it grow out. The color I use makes the gray a couple of shades lighter. The almost grays, about a shade lighter. I don't need no stinkin' stylist for highlights.

My dear friend Verna told me what to use and how to use it, so I'm not entirely crazy. She's a stylist. I wonder if Mr. David might be willing to share with you his color combinations Pat. Just a thought.

Yeah to all of the not skinny wombats!
off with me

Here's sort of what I talked about in the "Future of Publishing" articles.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/diginovel-combines-book-movie-and-website-1780628.html

Pat, how nice that the poor discarded pounds have a nice home to go to, lol! Give 'em to Ed. lol!

You know Mr David misses you Pat. While it's nice to chat with you on the computer, I'm sure he'd much prefer seeing you. Of course he would give you fits and cluck and roll his eyes over everything.

Well, I need to finish up the clothes and figure out dinner. You know? I was so tired last night I slept 10 hours last night. I do mean solid sleep. So I'm feeling more energized today. I have to admit, I'm looking forward to my 'vacation'. The guys act like I'm deserting them and how dare I leave them behind. Doesn't phase me though, I'm still going, lolol! I'm so mean hearted.

First Dale's link then work. :-)

Hooray, Sia!!

I just paid $100 to have my hair colored the SAME color. At least it looks the same to me. Maybe a shade lighter. Maybe... If I squint. Close my eyes and imagine, it sorta looks lighter. She took my "I want a subtle difference that looks natural" a bit too literally. She also thought I was kidding when I said, "just blow dry it". And 'poof' it goes into its perfect style without any fuss. It's just a good hair cut that way.

But I bought a new pair of jeans, since I don't have a pair in my current size. I have both bigger and smaller sizes, but not any in the size I am now.

I told my tech I wanted it a cross between boldly dramatic and semi subtle. I've said subtle before and got the same results, so I was a bit more emphatic.

Hi. Back from pre-school running around (that would be "pre" as in before school starts, not preschool).

Sia sorry for not returning your call. See paragraph above. And since I see the flight info, I'm assuming you got it all worked out?

Saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince finally. Can I just say that if I were JK Rowling, I'd be crying all the way to the bank. All I can say is WTF were they thinking when making that movie? It's more about teenage romance than anything else. As for the explanation of who/why the Half Blood Prince... where was it? One line.

TruCrime contest - I believe in the rules it said "might be published" not a guarantee. That stands out in my mind. I didn't like that stipulation then and I don't like it now. What a sucky thing to win and not get a book out of it. But Pat B had the right of it re: pickign a winner that didn't market, though the winner of FCR has sold 3 books and is getting nice publicity from her publisher. So, who knows?

Jamie and Sia - YAY on the 25 pounds!!! Congatulations ladies!

We now need MORE pics - Sia's hunky workmen, Jamie's new do and the Wombat meet. Pics, people!

Judi I think they were thinking, let's stretch this out over two pictures and make waaaaay more money. lol The big fight comes in the next picture, at least we think it might be the last. Perhaps JK can figure out a way to make even more money out of dear Harry. Or maybe not. Perhaps she has enough money? heh

Yes, I need to be distracted by wombat photos. Please show us the new yous, lady guys.

Dale, what new class are you doing? Is is every night of the week one month and then off a month?

I heard Borders was doing well now, after selling off something. Can't remember all the details.

All right. Photo posted. In the photo, it looks darker than before I colored it. Gah!

Well, off for my walk. Those next 25 pounds aren't going to fall off magically.

After looking at the adorable cuteness that is Jamie, I'm thinking your students must be shocked each year to discover you're their teacher and not one of them.

I call bone-head move of the day. Blank stare.

My day is going along rather well. Things are getting done, the watering is close to complete. I need to make a quick trip to the doctors office for labs.

DH set old paint cans around the in ground sprinklers he's working on.

I go to leave and splat! Yes, the window was down. Adding insult to injury, my car is jet black.
If you ever wondered how far the paint would splatter, let me assure you it makes it ALL over the car. White latex on my black car.

I figured the doctor's office could wait, dammit. Got the hose and called for DS to grab a car wash towel (there is a difference and God help the member of my family that brings out a bath towel for the car.) What a f@%$#ing mess. It was everywhere. It was packed into my front left brake caliper. I thought the water would never run clear. On two of my tires.. and sprayed in spittle drops and spatter everywhere else. Even on me; in my hair. It took an hour and a half to get all that stupid paint off of my car ~ there are still hair fine drizzle here and there AAUGH~ my arms are toast pure and simple toast. If I can move tomorrow it will be a blankin' miracle. My car needed washed, but dang, this was a bit extreme.

Jamie, how is Sed's story coming? I need a major distraction.. going off to suck my thumb.

Oh no Wendy. On a Black car even, yikes. Sons think a towel is a towel, mom. Just sayin'
So there was no paint in the hose, right? So the sprinklers just came on and got mixed in with the water? Or were the old paint buckets on the sprinkler head? Poor you.

Poor Wendy. That just sucks. Glad you got it off before it dried. You did get it all off, didn't you? ((((hugs)))) Sed's story is at 58,000 words but the scenes are all over the place. Mid-October is my goal to have it finished.

Jill, you are sweeter than my grandma's iced tea.

Just got back from my walk. A mile from my house it starts to thunder, the wind picks up, it drops about 15 degrees and the streetlights come on from the darkness caused by the building thunderheads (it's 5:40 at the time). Boy do I start to walk fast. About half a mile from my house, the wind is blowing so hard that my ears and fingers start to tingle from the cold. Yeah it was 75 degrees when I left, I didn't think I'd need a hat and mittens. About 4 blocks from my house I see lightning overhead and it begins to sprinkle. I'm chanting, "Don't hail. Don't hail. Don't hail." I dash the rest of the way to my house like a speed walker possessed by Speedy Gonzolez. Less than two minutes after I'm safely inside, torrential down poor. Can't see across the street. The sidewalks are like rivers. Can I just say... Schweeewwww, that was close. And now, five minutes later... it's already stopped.

Ouch, Wendy!

And you don't get the bonehead move - Hubs does. LOL.

Off to a Girls Night In - potluck dinner with champagne prior to Survivor Season begins. Real Housewives of Atlanta is on tonight, though. That should be fun.

I hope I can stay awake long enough.

Are we "meeting" here for the Wombat 5001 challenge or Pat, are you doing a thread for it?

Oh, if anyone's interested, I have author JOanne Rendell on my blog.

Okay, I got a couple pictures, not the best but give you an idea. Not let me see how the new upgrade will effect the pic loading.

Judi, I'll stop by shortly. :-) And no problems on the phone call!

Wen-dy!!! How awful. That's the kind of event that makes your heart drop to your toes.

Jamie, looking good.

Jamie, I like your new photo! I also looked at the photos of your Colorado trip. How far west did you go?

As for the triggers -- I think it's about the readers' triggers. What emotions do your stories trigger in the reader?

We came in from Utah, up by dinosaur, then drove south to Grand Mesa, stayed in Cedaredge, then drove over to Salida, headed through Leadville to Steamboat Springs. Stayed in Steamboat for two days then went through the Rocky Mtn. National Park and stayed in Fort Collins for a night. We saw A LOT of the state in 4 days. :-)

You stayed in Cedaredge? I can't believe it -- that's only about twenty-five miles from where I live. You might even have driven by my house on your way to Salida.

We went to Salida by way of Gunnison. I didn't realize you lived in that area.

Yes, Jamie I got all that I could off. I'll be chipping little bits off with my fingernail for months.

Sia, those sprinklers were the last thing on my mind. I suppose I should go see if they are gummed up. sigh

Judi, I knew they were there and hit them because I wasn't paying attention. I'd like to blame DH, but I'm sore enough as it is without creating a reason to dig holes. smile

In my distressed state, I made homemade Almond Roca. I shouldn't have. I really shouldn't have..... but it is so good, and it soothes me.

Jamie, I'm so glad you made it home and there wasn't hail. There is nothing like the power of a prairie thunderstorm. 6 weeks for Sed? Even if it's not fully edited, right?

Hope you have a good time Judi. Project Runway will have my attention this evening.
Off to check the stoopid sprinkler head.

Comfort food is definitely in order. No guilt allowed.

No Whine, Just Champagne going on right now. Any particular topic about writing you'd like to discuss, we can discuss.

No Whine, Just Champagne Discussion #80

So...I just overdid the amount of butter in my cookie/brownies. At least doubled the amount called for. Think I'll have anything salvagable?

I really want to eat a couple of warm brownies while I read tonight.

Speaking of triggers, have I alone shot a character or two with an actual gun, not emotion? HaHa.

The book with my short story is now published! Not sure where one actually buys it LOL, but they (the publishers) are debuting it at the Decatur Bookfair in Atlanta on Saturday. Beth, do you know of it? They expect 100,000 people to attend. It's surreal to think strangers may read something I wrote *gulp* I should be getting my two copies (and my big check LOL) within the next couple weeks. Am really looking forward to reading the other stories in the anthology. Nineteen authors (nine of which are making their "debut", like me.)

And on an even brighter note, tomorrow is Friday and it's a three-day weekend! Amen to that.

Let us know where to find it, willya and oh yeah, Congrats again on this sale Jill.

Egads Wendy! What a terrible start to a day! I hope you got it all off and there's nothing left to chip away at.

Jamie, lovely hair! And a great picture of you too. You've got a lovely smile. Congrats on the two requests.... I have a feelin' we're gonna have another published Wombats in our ranks. The list is growing!

Sia, I agree with Judi, where's those pics of those hunky workmen??? hmmmm

And pics of Wombat meets. Yes, please. I so love putting a face to a name, it helps so much!

Well, must get back to getting the house ready for company again. I knoooow, how lucky am I? My brother and niece will be over for Labor Day weekend. She's 14 and so sweet. He's getting to look more like our father every day except he's much nicer.

Later 'bats.

I shot a character with a gun, an Astra Cadix .38 special snub nose revolver with a two inch barrel and a five-shot cylinder, to be exact. Made in Spain.

LOL, Pat, I just used a regular old gun.

Thanks for the comment on my photo of Jake and I Jill. We were having fun. I thought I'd use it for an icon for awhile. The setting sun did make my hair even more flaming than normal, lol!

Jill, that's a HUGE event. I've never been, mostly because of the number of people expected. Congratulations!

I need to check out Sia up close...

That is COOL, Jill. Many congrats! We'll need a picture of you holding your anthology when you get it. Since we're all picture happy lately. :-)

We sure are. Adding my congrats! How exciting for you Jill! So are you going to Atlanta?

No, I'm not going to Atlanta (now that I think of it...Hey! I wasn't invited HA), but three of the authors featured in the anthology will be there. The publisher is located in Georgia. Handy! I'm guessing the timing of the release was well planned.

Poppa John's Posse

Some family shots from my recent trip that I thought some of you would like to see.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977797947

Enjoy and have a great Labor Day Weekend.

John, I love your family photos and what a wonderful place to vacation.

Thanks, Sia and for all your comments on the photos.