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Monthly archive February 2008

It's DONE!!

Submitted by jlpowers on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 1:00am

The office is done!!

Desk before:

 

Desk after:

 

Stained Glass area before:

 

Stained Glass area after:

  (Read more)

Office Almost Done

Submitted by jlpowers on Sun, 02/24/2008 - 1:00am

Yesterday was pretty much a wasted day. I had so few functioning brain cells that it took me all day to re-engineer and put together one cabinet, and after all that time, it still wasn’t right. *sigh* I went over to my usual Saturday-thing because I couldn’t work up the energy to make my own dinner, then came home and crashed.

Today I slept in a long time. Well, it was really a cross between sleeping in and planning a new short-story/novella. It’s going to be really cool. :-) (Read more)

York: Beyond Fearless

Submitted by jlpowers on Thu, 02/21/2008 - 3:00am

Rebecca York: “Beyond Fearless": 2007: 2nd in the series: Paranormal Romance

My Rating: 7

Nothing really bad about this book, just missing something. I may go back and read the first book in the series, then read this one again and I may change my mind.

Still Sick

Submitted by jlpowers on Thu, 02/21/2008 - 2:00am

And I’m feeling very sorry for myself. I don’t get sick very often, so when I do I feel like a baby. And it doesn’t help that my stupid tooth is still hurting, so I get to go back to the dentist-specialist today to see what’s going on with that, but my brain feels so fuzzy that I’m really not sure I should be driving, but I don’t have anybody else to drive, so I guess I do it. Not fun all the way around.

Kenyon: Dream Chaser

Submitted by jlpowers on Wed, 02/20/2008 - 1:00am

Sherrilyn Kenyon: “Dream Chaser": 2008: 14th book in the Dark Hunter series: Paranormal Romance

My Rating: 9

I was really leery about reading this book because Ms. Kenyon’s last several books haven’t been up to her previous standard, and “The Dream-Hunter” was just plain bad. But this book was excellent. A good romance, and not the tons of extraneous story. It was a refreshing change, and I hope that she keeps it up with the next book.

Waters: Destiny's Warrior

Submitted by jlpowers on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 4:00am

Heather Waters: “Destiny’s Warrior": 2007: Paranormal Romance

My Rating: 7

Not as good as her first book, but still a good book. The ending was kind of weird… not led up to very well, but other than that, I liked it.

O'Day-Flannery: Old Friends

Submitted by jlpowers on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 3:00am

Constance O’Day-Flannery: “Old Friends": 2007: 3rd in series: Paranormal Romance

My Rating: 7

As with the other two books, I was bored through most of it. I’m not sure if it’s because Ms. O’Day-Flannery is preaching to the choir, or if it’s a case of sloppy editing… but the hero e.n.d.l.e.s.s.l.y… lectures the heroine. As I writer, I keep thinking that Ms. O’Day-Flannery could have found some way to convey her message without all the lecturing. I keep wondering if her other readers feel the same way, or if it’s just me. The only saving grace is that the ending was excellent.

Krentz: White Lies

Submitted by jlpowers on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 2:00am

Jayne Ann Krentz: “White Lies": 2007: Parnormal Romance

My Rating: 8

This is a take off from one of her Amanda Quicks books about some descendents of the Arcane Society. It was good, but it didn’t come up to par with some of her stuff. One of those books that’s missing the extra step. I’d have liked to see Ms. Krentz do more with the heroine and her psychic ability, explore it more, or use it more, or something. But as always, Ms. Krentz tells a good story.

Vaughn: Kitty and the Silver Bullet

Submitted by jlpowers on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 5:00am

Carrie Vaughn: “Kitty and the Silver Bullet": 2008: 4th book in the Kitty series: Science Fiction

My rating: 9

I’m going to have to go back and read the series again because I know I’ve forgotten some of the details, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Neat Comments

Submitted by jlpowers on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 4:00am

I went to my RWA group on Wednesday to give a copy of my manuscript to another author to read for me. While I was there I got two really neat comments from two other gals that are reading it.

One, an aspiring writer, said: “I keep saying to my husband ‘Boy, I wish I could write like this.’”

So that was really neat to hear. :)

And the other gal is a managing editor for a publishing house and she said that she’d begun it and while I might want to add a little more emotion: “You can definitely write!”

Wow! :D (Read more)

Office, Teeth & Allergies

Submitted by jlpowers on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 3:00am

My folks left around noon, about the same time I left for the dentist to have my root canal re-done. I’d rather have taken them to the airport, but it’d be nice to be able to sleep soundly again, so root-canal was my priority, and my Ex’s new wife took my folks to the airport.

Office status: All the cabinets are up around my desk, my desk moved back into place and my computer set up. But, nothing has been unboxed and the other half of the office is yet to have all the cabinets put together. So more to do, but already it’s a VAST improvement over what it was like before. So, many thanks to my folks for coming up: my father for helping, and my mother for cooking and holding down the fort while I worked on the remodel. I couldn’t have done it without them. (Read more)

Briggs: Iron Kissed

Submitted by jlpowers on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 2:00am

Patricia Briggs: “Iron Kissed": 2008: 3rd in the “Mercy Thompson” series: Science Fiction

My Rating: 9

I broke my 3-month fiction fast with this book, and enjoyed every minute of it. On par with the others in the series.

Office Still Underway

Submitted by jlpowers on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 1:00am

I’m so tired that I’m about to fall over, but we’re slowly getting there on the office. Wallpaper is off the walls and ceiling. Wallpaper paste is off. Plaster is fixed. Primer applied. Two coats of paint applied, white on the ceiling, creamy off-white on the walls. We still have one corner, behind the door, that needs major plaster repair done to it, but I think that will wait until later. I bought the first of the cabinets today, and one is laid out on the floor waiting for morning to be put together, but the good news is that it will work the way I want it to, with only minor modifications. Only five trips to the hardware store today, plus errands galore. I figure tomorrow will be about the same, but (fingers crossed) I’ll have the cabinets behind the desk done before tomorrow night. Already it looks so much better that it’s worth all the work, but I’m past the point of being able to see straight. I hope I sleep tonight.

Some Wallpaper Off

Submitted by jlpowers on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 1:00am

I didn’t get nearly as much done today as I wanted to get done, but such is life. Most of the day was spent running errands or napping. I must admit that I feel a lot better after the extra sleep.

The kids did help with the wallpaper steaming, and the house isn’t nearly as dry (I’m not electrocuting the cats when I pet them) but I have much further to go than I’d hoped. Oh well.

And I’m really not fond of days where the high for the day is 3-degrees F. *sigh* I’m glad I have storm-windows, and I try to not think about what my heating bill is going to look like this month. (Read more)

Office is Empty

Submitted by jlpowers on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 3:00am

After a very long day, the office is empty. Now I need to sweep out all the dust, go buy some tarps and get started on steaming off the wallpaper.

But that’s all going to wait until tomorrow. I’m exhausted.

Empty Office Day

Submitted by jlpowers on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 2:00am

Today is the day I empty my office so I can begin the remodel. Thank god for chosen-family, who are going to come over this afternoon to box and move stuff. I’m buying pizza for the crowd, but they are doing the work that I couldn’t do by myself with only my boys. And college kid is coming home to help, too.

I took “before” pictures yesterday. I’ll post them beside “after” pictures when I’m done. I may even post some in-between pictures, we’ll see.

As I looked at the pictures and the room, I realized I’ve lived this way for almost six years. I’m trying to stuff three businesses, and a bunch of family stuff, into a 10′x14.5′ room. No wonder it’s full. (Read more)

My First Real Query

Submitted by jlpowers on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 1:00am

Today I sent my first real query for a manuscript, and it was to somebody I never dreamed of quering. :D

The gal who’s been reading my book asked a author-friend of hers to write a quote for my book. The author-friend said she doesn’t do that any more, having been burned one too many times, but author-friend wished me the best. Then… author-friend spoke to her New York agent that afternoon, and told her agent about my book. The agent was intriqued and asked me to send a query ASAP.

EEEK! I wasn’t ready to send anybody a query. I hadn’t even considered how to write a blurb for this book and I figured I wouldn’t have to worry about it for at least a couple more months. (Read more)

Overwhelmed!!

Submitted by jlpowers on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 1:00am

So much has been going on that I’m not sure where to begin and I’m totally completely overwhelmed, which isn’t a fun state of mind to be in.

Lots of potential good news on the book-front, but nothing solid, so nothing really to share, yet.

Three new web domains to add to my list of things to keep updated:

  • PowersWebDesigns.com
  • LaadanLanguage.org
  • LaadanLanguage.com

Although the last one is forwarded to the second, so it doesn’t really count. (Read more)

6 Hours on Finances

Submitted by jlpowers on Sun, 02/03/2008 - 1:00am

I spent 6 hours yesterday straightening out my finances and getting it all entered into Quicken, and I’m still not done. *sigh*

But I’m much further along than I was, I found all the checks that need to be deposited, and the remainder is sorted and ready for entry.

Then comes the huge taske of filing it all. Life is such fun some days