No Country for Old Men

Movie Review No Country for Old Men

Movie Score = B-

Recommended Age = 18 and up

From ignorance and greed there spring impure desires for things that are, in fact, unobtainable, but for which men restlessly and blindly search.
-The Buddha

It is interesting that “A History of Violence” was tagged as overly violent when this movie is much more so. I also found the story line of Cronenberg’s movie much more engaging and straightforward.

Javier Bardem plays the cold-blooded killer with perfect understated creepiness. Tommy Lee Jones is faultless as the aging sheriff. Josh Brolin plays the stubborn overly confidence Llewellyn Moss beautifully. The characterization is excellent. I found the plot like a shot gun blast, too much happening and too gory.

I have to disagree with the Academy and most of the critics on this one.

Dawn's End video

Check out this two minute video and leave a comment please.

Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Or8GHBuea8

Switch Manuscript

I was getting rather anxious that Trade Winds Books had not responded to my historical novel outline. In April, the publisher called me and we discussed a novel manuscript based on a short story entitled Switch I had sent. It is set in the second half of the 1500s so it requires a great deal of research. I spent the next four and a half months researching enough to compose an outline and emailed it away.

Tick, tick, tick.

No answer.

Weeks past.

By the time I had finished writing the third chapter, I realized he may no longer be interested. If so, then I was probably going to change the focus of the YA novel to romance and submit it to Noble Romance (who are publishing Dawn's End for me).

So, I sent another email to Trade Winds Books and asked if they were still interested or should I look elsewhere. The response was . . . . he didn't receive my outline. Ah, technology.

So, resubmitted the outline with the first chapter (I should have proofed that better I later realized). He is going to get back to me in two or three weeks.

Since I don't know if I'll be writing this as a historical YA or a history romance YA, I've set it aside for a while.

Last night, after a writer's workshop given by NOWW, my brain kicked in and I've started brainstorming for a brand new YA romance, with a bit of controversy. We'll see where that one goes.

I think I've found my niche! :-)

Dawn's End - cover

The cover for Dawn's End is finished. C.H. Scarlett did a fabulous job, better than I imagined. The cool thing is, she added in the birds and the lights on her own, not having read the book, but they fit the story perfectly. I love the heroine. I love that Casey respected my wish not to illustrate the hero. I love it all! :-)

Release date is March 7, 2011.


Noble Gateway Romance is going to be an awesome series.

Dawn's End contract

I signed my first book contract today. Dawn's End will be released as an ebook by Noble Romance Publishing. My husband taught me how to do an adobe digital signature. (I feel so high tech.) I'm so excited. Can't wait to see the cover illustration.

I've completed a second draft of the sequel. I've also written an adult modern romance. This could be the start of something great.

I don't think I could have written these happily ever after books ten years ago. Living with my sweet husband, Fred, has given me a new outlook on life.

It's all good.

Compost and Geraniums

What a wonderful weekend. We worked on repair/refinish jobs that have been waiting for months. It was great to have three days doing things together, even with Fred's school work. Every couple needs a long weekend to sleep in, play Scrabble, enjoy the good weather, and help each other with projects.

When we bought this house, there was no trim on the back door. Part of the agreement was that she would finish that before we moved in. It soon became obvious that it was painted without primer. Fred sanded what was left of the paint and now I need a couple more days of above ten degrees to prime and paint it. It was just one more thing the previous owner deceived us about. Someday her karma will catch up and a crucial deception will blow up in her face. That's what I keep telling myself anyway.



About six days ago I cut back my four geraniums in pots, replanted them into smaller pots and brought them in the house. They are doing beautifully after a pretty harsh summer. It was crazy hot and I kept forgetting to water them (under the eaves = no rain water). However, the geraniums that are recovering the most spectacularly are the pieces I threw into the compost heap! There's a message there. :-)

Kiki Sale

Kiki Magazine for girls is sending a contract for a piece I wrote called "Terror Free Tests." I'm half way through an online course by WOW on writing for children and I've already made a sale. Woohoo!

Kiki Magazine is "For girls with style and substance." It's a gorgeous glossy magazine WITH NO ADVERTISEMENTS. It treats the reader as intelligent, curious, and ethical. There's no gossip, celebrity chasing, trend or label pushing, or articles on boys and dating. It's refreshing to see a quality magazine that respects tweens and early teens. I'm proud they accepted me.

http://www.kikimag.com/

The deadline is December. I've already written it. so I assume it will be printed in 2011. (My goodness, another year gone by so fast.)