Funny Foto Friday

This makes me snort~
Don't you love her expression??

"It's a doggy, mommy, and he's taller than me. And he just peed all over that little car!"



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Awesomesauce Friends

Dear awesomesauce readers/friends/writers/authors/buddies:

Taffy here
<-------

Thank you for visiting my blog throughout 2011! I appreciate your visits and comments more than you'll know. You have given me an amazing gift of friendships memories that I hope will last years if not a life time.

I've met many of you through writing conferences, blogs and author signings. It's been a fantastic ride and I've enjoyed my adventures this past year. All thanks to you, dearest readers.
And a huge shout out to my critique group, the Sharks & Pebbles! You. Are. The. Best.

Being in the reminiscing mode I glanced through my posts from the past. I found a few I'd forgotten about and I'd like to share them with you. This is one way I can show you my thanks, by giving back those posts many of you read and enjoyed:

(Thankyouthankyouthankyou.)

• Do you know the rules of a diamante poem? Me either. Until I wrote one. Diamante Poem
• I try and post on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On a rare occasion I post on another day. This post about what to expect after getting rejected, showed up on Saturday: What? A Saturday Post? 
• In The Abominable Snowman Way I compare writing to making a cake an Abominable Snowman cake. :) 

I hope all your wildest dreams come true in 2011!

Quote

'It is perfectly okay to write garbage--

as long as you edit brilliantly.' 

~C J Cherryh

A Gift to the World~Merry Christmas!

Foto Friday

Favorite Books of 2011

I'm copying Elana Johnson's post today. Pop over and say hi to her than come on back.
Reading her list made me wonder what my favorite books were this year so here it is, all nine (I'm saving the tenth spot just in case I read a favorite over Christmas break...).

FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick
Every morning the main characters memories resets at 4:33. She leaves notes for herself every night so she doesn't wear the same outfit or needs to study for a test. Loved the unique story.

THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson
Loved. This. Book. Full of what? Opposites? A fat princess, scared prince and an assassinating nurse maid. Everywhere Rae Carson sent the princess I FELT like I was there. In the hot desert or lush forest, I pictured everything without realizing I was there.

 FALLEN GRACE by Mary Hooper
I was tense from the very first page of this page and didn't relax until the very end.

GEEK GIRL by Cindy Bennett
Great, sweet, clean teen read. 

 THE IRON KNIGHT by Julie Kagawa
Another favorite read this year. I want to reread this whole series now that Iron Knight is out.

 








ENTWINED by Heather Dixon
Another retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale. Loved it.

THE HEALING SPELL by Kimberly Little
Beautiful story of faith, family and forgiveness. Set in the Bayou, I often wondered of an alligator was going to get me. :)

LOVE TWELVE MILES LONG by Glenda Armand
Beautiful picture book about Fredrick Douglas and his mother

CARVING ANGELS by Diane Tolley
Sweet Christmas story.







(I reviewed all of these books on The Book Addict if you're interested. I have a search box so it's easier to find the review.)

Christmas Break=No Writing

 It's Christmas break which I LOVE because:
my kids are home
we make lots of treats
we watch tons of Christmas movies
the routine is relaxed
neighbors visit
Christmas music plays all the time

The one draw back (other than gaining weight) is I won't have as much time on the computer. My writing time will be limited which stinks. I'm finding my groove with this YA Horror but it's still kicking my backside. I can't pantser this one like I have all the others. The story seriously will not let me just write and write and write. I have to be slow and methodical.
After reading through a little bit of one of my older stories, I had an epiphany why this latest story is so hard to write:

I think I'm getting better as a writer.

There it is.

I don't mean I'm the next NY Times Bestseller. I mean I'm understanding this craft better. Which is gratifying and hard. It's was kinda nice being obviously to my atrocious mistakes. Now that I know what they are, writing takes me longer.
I hope to get some writing done while the kids sleep in. That usually gives me a few hours (if I'm not sleeping in!). I'm not stressed though. Sometimes a break from writing recharges the old brain. I do plan on reading a ton though! Thus, my need for sleeping in. :)

What are your writing plans this holiday break?


HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS!

Funny Foto Friday

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CARVING ANGELS by Diane Tolley

Papa Adam, the North Pole's oldest elf and Santa's former chief carver, has given up. Blind, frail, and feeling useless, he counts the minutes in every day as he waits to die -- until his youngest granddaughter challenges him to carve again. Together they prove that the most beautiful creations can come from the most unlikely sources and with the right love and encouragement, anything is possible.

First line:
"The old elf sat on the porch of his cozy little cabin and gazed sightlessly out at the world, feeling at once worn out and useless."


Sweet, heartwarming and uplifting Christmas story. One I recommend buying for your Christmas book collection.
A story of love, family ties, elves and a little bit of Christmas magic. 
 Papa Adam has given up on himself until his little granddaughter visits, asking for a wood carving like her cousins received from him. At first he refuses but soon his love for carving is rekindled and a sweet relationship between grandpa and granddaughter is forged.
Papa Adam finds he is still needed, not only by his granddaughter but also by Santa Claus.


Loved: 
Papa Adam
Amy
Symbolism
Dasher


I would LOVE to see this as a picture book somehow.


Rated: G



25% test (p. 29):

"Sometime later, the little girl set her carving down and began to scrape up her shavings.
Her grandfather turned toward her. “Getting ready to go, angel?” he asked.
“Yeah. The day-end whistle went,” she told him.
“Huh. I didn’t even hear it,” Grandpa said wonderingly.
“And I promised Mama I’d be home for supper.”
Advance
“Better scoot!”
She giggled. “Grandpa, you say the funniest
things!” She threw her arms around him. “Mmmm, you smell nice,”she said,“like fresh wood and peppermint.”
He laughed. “That's what grandpas are made of," he said, hugging her back. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Oh, yes, Grandpa! I want to finish this bird for
Mama for Christmas!”
“But Christmas is still months away!” “That’s okay!” “Well, all right then.” Another hug. “I love you, Grandpa!” “I love you, too, dear . . . so much!” And she was gone.
Grandpa carefully tidied up the room and threw a cloth over the tools set in regimental order on the..."

Foto Friday~HP

 LOVE this pic!

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Wordage & Editing & Seriously?

See anything wrong with this sign?

If you saw this sign, wouldn't you take it down? Or maybe someone left it up wondering how many people would notice. Like my hubby who didn't notice.

Our brain knows what the word is suppose to be without the missing "h." My brain stopped thinking and conjured the image after I passed and I laughed and thought about pulling over to take a picture. I didn't. I was on a time schedule.

On the way home the sign faced me again so I did stop.

This is one good reason to have a second set of eyes on your story. We can edit and edit and think our story is awesome. But another person reading it will catch a missing "h."

Seen any good signs or quotes lately? Do Share!

Foto Friday

Where does this go?

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Foto Friday~Quote

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