Day One- We unloaded, yawned, and set up ready to meet the ApolloCon 2010 folks!
We had the best time. I shared a table with D. Nathan Hilliard, who writes Horror and Fantasy.
Met so many people and must say, the atmosphere was incredible! Upbeat, alive, and some wearing costumes to die for.
To everyone in Dealer's Room, I wish you continued success!
As for me? I went to have a good time--and I did! Thanks Kris and the ApolloCon staff for making it such a great hit this year. You did good.
Now, it's time to hunker down and get back to writing.
I bid everyone ado-----
Happy Trails, and Happy Writing!
Cherri
Friday at ApolloCon, time swept like a second hand on the clock. Met so many people, had the best time EVER, and saw more gorgeous costumes than I've ever seen -- being worn by some pretty enticing characters!
It rained on the drive there, well--actually poured, but the sun peeked out right as we pulled into the parking lot. Great turnout!
Today's going to be even better and I can't wait to get back out there. And if you didn't get a chance to make it out last night, I'll be there all day today and again tomorrow. Soooo, come on by the Dealer's Room, D. Nathan Hilliard and I are at table SIX!
Happy Trails,
Cherri
This morning as I placed the last of my books in boxes packed for the conference, I felt a giddiness that always hits my tummy just before greeting crowds. I love to meet people!
Whether I sell one book or not, for me, it's all about the FUN--fun in knowing that in today's times when so much bleakness surrounds us, I'll be in a place filled with enthusiasm, positive thinking, enlightening folks. My kind of place!
ApolloCon 2010
Come see us--bring the kids -- I understand there will many dressed in costume for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy conference and Filk music to explore!!!
Hope to see you there and will bring an update tonight after the opening extravaganza.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
This coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I'll be at ApolloCon 2010 in Houston, Texas. (June 25th-27th) D. Nathan Hilliard and I are sharing a table in the Dealer's Room to sign our lovely books. I'm excited, thrilled, and am ready to have a good time. It's a couple or more years since I last attended a conference...and no matter what genre, I love them all.
Would love for everyone who reads my blog to come join us. I give out doggie kerchiefs with every book and can't tell you how much I enjoy meeting new people. So, if you're in the area, anywhere near Intercontinental Airport, stop in and introduce yourself.
We'll be at TABLE 6 signing our books!!!!!
Happy Trails,
Cherri
It's HOT! I'm already dreaming about Winter and wishing for snow.
This weekend was dedicated to my husband. Steve and I cooked, laughed, held hands, and spent quality time together. Funny how when old married couples grow used to the other and forget -- we actually sat down and remembered our dreams, our goals from when we first married. We've accomplished quite a few! And are still adding to that list of goals. We live simple lives...we like it that way. It takes only a second in time to complicate and we've chosen the harder route by striving to keep it simple. It works for us.
However, in between the meals and chats, I wrote non-stop in my mind. I've got a great plot running around and can't wait to get started plotting that rascal out. My goal to begin this project is July 1st of this year. And I'm looking forward to see what I can do to with it on my own. (I hear rumblings from the pubbed groups out there-Don't! Wait! Are you out of your mind?????) To all the nay-sayers, it's gonna be okay. By the time this novel is finished, I'll have a strong plan for promoting and am anxious to see how it does--on my own! What have I got to lose? Heck, I'm a newbie writer, so not much. Living by words of wisdon--"if you don't try something new once in a while, the outcome will never happen."
Happy Trails, keep smiling with your chin up--
Cherri
Have been in touch with all my friends over this past week and have to say--they're doing good!
Helen will celebrate her 55th birthday next week. Pearl celebrated the retirement of her husband. Lisa is geared to move to her ideal paradise up in wooded country. Debi started a new job and is now living in Lufkin. Debbie is shuffling her Kleinen Zwinger Kennel in Victoria this summer, booked for the duration. Lessie is watching her birds and blooming plants grow in abundance. Vicki has a mess full of grandkids and is loving every one of them. Susan is putting in tons of hours at work and relaxes to come home to chickens, dogs, and grandkids! (Susan also took a mouth full of golf club--when her 7 yr. old grandson did a backswing...OUCH!) She's okay and has no broken teeth! Diana is working on her fantasy novel.
As for me? I'm working on edits and continuing on a work in progress which is turning out to be loaded with fun.
Tomorrow is Father's Day. To my husband, Steve--Happy Father's Day! To my Father-in-law, Bill--Happy Father's Day! Our prayers are constant to you. We love you with all our hearts. To my brother, Gene--Happy Father's Day! My most heart-felt thanks for the guidance you led me through in a tough world.
To all my family, friends, and relatives who are the men in our lives--
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!!
Cherri
Went to Denny's tonight with Nate (D. Nathan Hilliard). We really don't live there--it's just close by and gives us a chance to talk all about writing. I gulped coffee loaded with cream like it was the best stuff on earth...and now I'm pumped like the lead dog on the Iditarod. Sheesh!
Nate and I compared books, sales of our books, prices of books, and goodness knows what else we could dip into on Amazon. I love that place! Before we left, I had him open at least a dozen different tabs on his laptop. But, the best part tonight for me was learning a bit more about the image editor programs. See, I'm no artist. The lingo and do-dad buttons used in this stuff is foreign to me. Soooo, Nate helped me out...by telling me to just pull up a picture and play with it. I have and when I finished (after 3 frustrating hours), it looked like I had taken a blow torch to a rose bush!!
Tomorrow, I'll "practice" and "play" with Picture Imaging alterations some more; after I finish working on the edits for Impact For Murder. (Yes, I'm still struggling) :) Over half-way through--YAY!
Lots to do tomorrow, so I'm signing off--
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Recently I encountered someone who informed me they had never met a dog with a lick of sense. At first, I thought about it and then realized I would just have to talk about it.
If you took an average four-story office building and put all the people together and squeezed out their 'common sense,' you wouldn't have enough to fill a thimble.
Yet, every dog I've met could overflow a barrel with good old fashioned 'common sense'. Why? It's simple. Dogs act and react using Mother Nature. They don't analyze everything to death--they act upon the situation, using Nature's instinct. Still, dogs hold compassion and honesty, never swaying in their decision.
In every book I write, in every short story, I include dogs. Why? Because a sense of pride fills my heart to share some of our dog's antics. As I've said before, I'm partial to the German shepherd breed and can not give you a reason why I'm drawn to that particular breed, anymore than I can explain why my favorite color is red. They just are and it just is.
To write with my pack of dogs surrounding me is the perfect zen for my environment. They touch the softest, most tender part of my soul--my spirit.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Had an impromptu night out at Denny's with D. Nathan Hilliard. (Nate) We discussed art, book covers, writing formats, Kindle
, and ideas for promoting our books. As well as the funnier parts of our lives--my dogs and his kids.
Writing really is pretty seclusive, so getting out and over-caffeinating myself once in awhile keeps me focused and allows social contact that for days on end I crave but am buried too deep to get out on a regular basis. Since coffee doesn't keep me awake, I'm going to have to cut it short for tonight and go slip on my gown.
Tomorrow when things are fresher and I have a clearer mind, I'll put out a better blog--for tonight--I'm done. lol
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Yesterday, we experienced yet another minor storm--so the weather service says. Trees were snapped in half in our neighborhood like un-cooked spaghetti. While thunder boomers roared, vibrating the windows, our power blinked once and then that was she wrote, folks. An old oak tree across the street, driven by heavy winds, fell into the power lines and popped them off the poles. We were without electricity till late evening.
The funny side about this? Every male who lives on our street seemed driven to come out and "help." They pointed at the professional tree cutters, impressed by the hydraulic chain saws used. (Note to my husband, Steve--the answer is NO, you can't have one!) But, the best part of the evening turned out to be how all the "men" deemed themselves traffic cops! All trying to throw hand/arm signals at the drivers as they reversed their huge vehicles to maneuver and get turned around to leave. This process took over an hour. The scene from my front window left two of our lady neighbors, watching with me, in fits of laughter. I swear one of the electricity trucks took aim at our husbands, threw his vehicle in Reverse, and gunned it! Our husbands scattered like ants!!!
All in all, it was a pretty decent day. I sat under a window for light and wrote the old fashioned way... with pencil and paper.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
Spent the afternoon with a friend, Diana L. Driver. She is the author of Ninth Lord of the Night
and The Maya, People of the Maize
. Both books are two of my favorites. For anyone who is interested in the Mayan calendar 2012 and where its understanding rooted, buy the book. To understand things that are beyond this world and yet proof of its existance before the common era, this guide book will broaden your horizons.
Diana captivated my attention on her set of RUNES. They are most fascinating. Each symbol going back in history to a place and time that crosses reality with elements of fantasy. Except the RUNES are real--so are their history. Stories have evolved over the centuries that expands on a secret world that our generation, especially our Western culture, could never fathom. Most interesting.
Tonight, my husband made chicken enchiladas. He's the best cook in the world and really does spoil me!
Lately, I've been on a "new" digital camera
kick, and found the one I'm wanting--and have put it on my wish list. As a writer, sometimes being able to snap a quick pic is just what I need to recall a certain detail to help with visualization...especially when writing a novel or a short story and I'm trying to fill it with senses that the reader can share.
This past Wednesday was my birthday and yes I celebrated--although quite subdued with a quiet dinner with Steve and our kids. Nice. Really nice. The years are blinking by. (not so nice-lol)
Time for me now to put away the internet for the night and get busy doing what I love...write!
Happy Trails,
Cherri
In my world of midnight darkness, quiet, serenity...I run like a gazelle through the forest. Ahhh, nighttime is my time. It's like all the firing pins in my brain come to life in the wee hours of the morning. I'm a nocturn trying to keep up with daytime. And for next month or so, I'll get to have my wish and play in the moonlight, the dew, and the freshness behind the cloak of sweet nightness. This is the life for me!
Nate accomplished his dream of seeing his first short story, THE BARROW WOLF come live on Kindle--he's thrilled. I've already downloaded it, and have read it twice. Good story with an ending that'll knock your socks off. The kind of ending that will stay with you for a very long time to come. A man's strength isn't in the definition of his muscles...his true strength is in his logic, his honor, his life.
Here's another little picture of one of our fur-kids--the one who seems to know every single solitary button on me to push before I've had my first cup of coffee every single day...our HANNAH! Yep, she's a hugger and loves her Dad quite a bit too!
For tonight, after this post, it's back to the edits (where I've now pulled the phone closer w/ my dentist on speed dial-lol).
Happy Trails to all,
Cherri
The Scent of Money
is in ebook, also!
Tonight, I watched Nate upload his short story to Kindle. Wow! Super easy. He tweaked his document side-by-side while working the outcome on the Kindle format...I was truly amazed. Then voila! and it was done.
Kindle, yep, I'm a Kindle user. Love it. Didn't think I'd ever see the day where books (and great golly we've tons of 'em) in our house would be pushed to wayside in preference for a little contraption that holds a thousand novels in the comfort of my hands. The day came and both my husband and myself have embraced this ereader generation.
Pretty soon I'll join Nate with the uploading of a short story straight to Kindle...I'm getting excited about it because I'm thinking that the fun is just beginning. It's a whole new world out there folks; and sometimes you just have to go with it!
Happy Trails,
Cherri
This is not my first stroll on this beach. But it is the first time I can compare it to something. Like the time I knocked out my front tooth. It hurt like crazy and left me snaggle-toothed for all the world to see. (that is, until I could get into the dentist's office)
I'm learning. Learning to believe in my own judgement and at the same time respect another's point of view. It's a long way from completed--we've only just begun and I know the outcome will put the fizz right back in its sparkle!
The good part is that my editor and I are working together on this novel, this sweat-drenched piece of work I poured over for about a year of my life...to shine, put a pretty bow on her wrapping, and send her out into the world for all to read. IMPACT FOR MURDER will make her debut in September!
In the meantime, I'm keeping my dentist's number close by.
Happy Trails,
Cherri
-Print Amazon, short stories
-Ebook Amazon, short stories 
-Print Amazon, short stories
-Ebook Amazon, short stories 
- Amazon Print, short stories 
- Amazon Ebook, short stories