Today I was browsing trying to avoid folding the laundry and I stumbled upon something that made me think, why is writing important to me? I have always secretly written stories, it's been a guilty pleasure of mine that nobody knows of. Only my husband, daughters, and one of my best friends know. Even if I never got published I would still write because I just need to do it. In fact I would have never been even consider to pursue publishing if my husband and friend wouldn't have relentlessly suggest I at least try. However, I'm a hundred percent in peace with the idea that if I never get published, I at least will keep on writing for myself and my daughters. They are two great cheerleaders and an awesome audience.

Last week a friend pointed me towards this blog entry and a question: "Why are parents dead or missing in children's books? You seem to be headed that way with your book."   I meant to comment on the blog but it turned into such a long answer that instead decided to write it here instead. I can't say what others authors think when they decide to kill or disappear parents. I can only say what I believe to be true, for me, and what I perceive when I read, so here goes:

1. Its tradition – Pick up a book of fairy tales by Anderson or the brothers Grimm and read a few stories.  The vast majorities have missing or dead parents, and with good reason too.  With life expectancy shorter and medical care not as advanced as now a days, many children were orphan at an early age. Parents were not as closely bonded or as attach to their children back then as now days we are. The idea of an absent parent wasn’t far off the mark sometimes. Furthermore if you look closely in this day and age there are many households were one parent is missing.  The idea that a child may not have both parents is not really that disconnected from the truth.
2. Parents care – No parent that really loves and care for their children would allow them to do what the story demands.  Have you ever lost a child in the grocery store?  Did those minutes seem like hours?  Did all sort of horrible thoughts come to your mind?  A Parent’s worst nightmare is too loose a child, or even to have some harm done to them. No parent, that really cares, would willing let their child go into an experience that could kill or cause serious injure, although I’m sure there could be someone out there.  Take for example the Harry Potter books (spoiler alert) Lily already suspected something about Dumbledore and his plans.  Do you think that if Harry’s parents would have been alive they would have allowed Dumbledore to put Harry thru such hoops?  For starters I have my serious doubts they would have picked Petunia as the guardian for Harry. Regardless of the reason for plot purposes that Dumbledore pick them, I can’t imagine a caring parent picking them. In Twilight(*) the blog, and some of my friends, mention that the mother is more interested in the new husband that in the child.  Although it seems hard to believe, I know a few girls, and boys, that can give testament of this happening more often that we would like to think. Parent’s aren’t perfect and some are not only clueless but absolutely disconnected with their children.
3. Parents are the catapult to the story – in other words it could be their actions, some secrets or anything that gets the story going. Ultimately parents are either responsible or involved in the story.  Take for example Willow by Julia Hoban (spoilers), in that story when Willow’s parents are killed in a car accident, all of her troubles begin.  Before that time Willow had no troubles and therefore no need for the story.  Another example Wicked Lovely Aislin mother is involved in the backstory.  In I, Coriander by Sally Gardner the protagonist parents actions and death are why the story turns the way it does.  In my own WIP if the main character’s parents would have been alive, the story would have gone a different direction or most probably not existed at all.

There is teen literature out there were parents are present and involved in their children’s live, but the story requires and demands that they be.  Take for example Meg Cabot’s books.  Allie Finkle, Avalon High, How to be popular, and Princess Diaries (**) all have parents in them that are not neglectful or dead. But in most of those stories the presence of parents is not only needed but, I dare say, part of the plot.  Another example is the Katie Kazoo books by Nancy Krulik and Forever by Judy Blume.  Both stories have parents that are not dead, but the story don’t seem the need for them to be.  In other words for me it seems that authors only kill parent’s when the story demands that they do. 

However, if I’m honest I rather have a missing, or dead, parent than a neglectful parent.  Neglectful parents seem so out of this world that is hard to believe in their actions.  Perhaps is the fact that it touches too close to reality (for me), because sadly they exist more than we want to believe. But I have no patience for them, and sometimes the neglect can walk a fine line between not sounding realistic enough for readers, or the parents being absolute morons.  I guess that this issue is a matter of reader's preference.    

 

*I have not read Twilight, opinions are based on what I have heard from friends.

**I have not finish reading this series so this is an assumption.

here in Florida on Leesburg county we have a library caving in and moving the books to the adult section. 

Warning: I'm not a very patient person with the whole let's banned this book idea. In person I will be rather rude if you to talk to me about doing that sort of thing.

The books in question are Gossip Girl and it would really upset me to hear that "it's just Gossip Girl" (I heard another mom say that).  Any book regardless if it's the best composition or the worst, does not deserve that kind of treatment.  If you allowed that to happen to them, be aware that you could be next. I give parents the right to regulate what their child reads.  I do not give them the right to judge, pick or regulate what my child reads.  Why do banned book week doesn’t get more promotion in news outlets?  Why does every time that a book is moved out of a library or is challenge it becomes news. Yet the week that we are making awareness against that sort of thing no news outlet (that I know) covers the story.  For crying out loud I've seen news stories on Strawberry celebrations, dog fairs and heck even restaurants.  Why does banned book week gets nothing?! 

I’m proud to say that I have that entire series and they are on my daughter’s rather wide reading pile.

In WIP news I’m only four chapters shy of finishing the current work in progress and start with an idea that has been buzzing in my head for a while.  However with my work schedule going crazy and my family coming soon I’m afraid it will take me longer to finish.  I’m so excited about finishing because I really, really love this story and can't wait to share it.

So how is your week going?

Edit: I just realized I don't have a banned book icon :( Where do I get one? Google is not delivering for me. >:-(

1. I had a stressful and caotic week.  Children sick, bomb threat at my daughter school were some of the highlights.  I don't want to have another week like this.

2. Tell me if I'm getting this wrong.  Situation:  A student is talking while a principal, or teacher, is giving a speech.  He/She stops and screams in front of 500+ students.  "You with the Blue shirt, SHUT UP your conversation is not important." Everyone burst out laughing, causing more noise than it already was.  Yes, I'm totally aware that the girl IS being rude, but he wasn't any better, IMO.  How in the world do you expect to gain respect (this teacher is new) if you don't show respect towards others.  Teenagers are known to be impulsive and talkative especially if you are making announcements.  So I'm I being incorrect in thinking it was rude of him/her?  My daughter thought it was hilarious, and I really know where she's coming from.  However, from an adult perspective I find so many things wrong with that.

3. Only four chapters of my WIP and I'm done.  I have a great idea for a YA book but I don't want to start it until I'm done my current WIP.

4. Has anyone tasted Skinny Cow fudge bars?  How can anything that healthy be that delicious? They are simply amazing, Kudos to ever invented them.

5. I hate working nights.... Even if it's only for a few hours.

Happy Birthday to robinellen

I wish I could say that I would let them suffer but knowing me unless they are mayor jerks I would probably tell them.

Friday Five:

1. I was reading the ALA most censor books and I'm happy to say that I bought almost half the list without even knowing it.  The only part I'm kicking myself is that I order the books of Lauren Myracle thru Paperbackswap because the girls wanted a hardcover edition, and Amazon didn't seem to have any.  For the last two books I'll order them thru Amazon so the author gets the proper royalites.

2. Someone in the blueboards posted a link to the site of Judy Blume where she talks about Censorship.  I was left thinking why doesn't she publish the original scene of the book her publisher insisted she edited.  Maybe she doesn't have it anymore, but gosh I would love to read it.  

3.  I was seeing on TV a news report about teenagers and driving and there is something that irritates me.  Us grownups insist on always putting the blame on the younger generations without putting a single shed of guilt on us.  I see daily lots of non-teenagers texting or talking in their cell phone.  Yet, according to the news report apparently only teens are in danger of having an accident.  Apparently teens that drive sleep deprived are in risk of an accident.  Really? What about the thousands of grown ups who do the same?  I tell you what I have less trouble with teens than with adults, and most of the times I have trouble with the teens it is because they got it from the parents. 

4. I saw someone on a picture slurping a big smoothie and now I want one. :/

5. Hope you all have a good weekend. 

I have been terrible keeping with life lately. I probably have about a week or more to read in LJ.  Thankfully I'm catching up to life and I don't want to forget birthday greetings for some who are having, or had, a special day.

Happy Birthday to macaronipants
Happy belated birthday wishes also to saputnam

I hope you had a wonderful day.

1. Ugh, I'm I the only one upset about the woman who was found eighteen years after her abduction? Seriously I know that most cases have some family or person known kidnap them.  However, this proves that this is not always the case.  Obviously they are not doing exactly the best work in finding this people. Stop concentrating on polygraph tests and start looking for clues and finding people.  Now they accept that in 2006 there was a 911 call about them but they fail to investigate.  Really, I mean really?

2. I'm in a funk lately.  How to shake it I don't know. 

3. I need chocolate or ice cream chocolate.

4. I can't seem to find suitable or nice looking curtains for my living room. Any ideas that don't contain blinds?

5. I'm exited for my Jan home visit. I can't wait to eat so many stuff I better start dieting so I be able to eat lots.   

I meant to do this yesterday and with all that I had to do I forgot. 

Happy Birthday to:

christinenorris  lisamullarkey  pamm 

Yesterday, in a moment of insanity I decided to organize (again) my bookcases.  Deciding what could stay and what I could keep I found a book that gave me a lot of frustration.  The book is The murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. I found this book on a Borders special and bought it as my initiation into Agatha Christie novels.  Let me just say that I wasn't a stranger to murder mysteries.  Mysteries are about the only books that I have trainned myself not to read the end, just because I want to make sure I guess correctly. 

I don't want to go into details about the plot, because I don't want to ruin it for everyone.  But let me just say that when I finished I felt cheated.  It wasn't the fact that I hadn't guessed it right, it was the fact that from the beginning I suspected someone and the author didn't give you enough details to make your own conclusions.  However, it was hard not to suspect that person. After I was done with the book I went online to find out how others felt. To my surprise that book caused a mayor problem for the author.  I was at least glad to know that I wasn't the only feeling cheated.  This got me thinking into a few other books that I also felt cheated, including one that I read with my daughter. 

I know you can't control readers reaction and I'm not expecting it.  However, what is the point where you shrug at the critic and keep on going, and where is the point where you stop and listen to their complaints?  Does a reader have a right to feel cheated? Tell me what  you think.    

I was going thru my weekly blog reading and decided to steal the idea from Dear Author to address some interesting things in the past week.

Dear managers and big people in the bookstores...

I know Twilight and Harry Potter are huge in the industry.  I'm not contesting their validity, content or that you even sell them.  I am contesting the, not two, but four displays of twilight, and the three for Harry Potter.  We already have those books and while my daughter enjoyed both Twilight and Harry Potter she has no intentions of reading them again.  We like to purchase three other books that unfortunately you did not have in the store.  Would it be possible to consolidate the displays and have less of each of those, giving the space to other authors, or maybe space for more books from the other authors.  Seriously you apparently brought only three books for that title? Why?!?!  That doesn't even supply my daughter's friends circle.  Also, this is a big bookstore.  I like it, but the isles for either Young adult or Children are so congested that they look worse than the I-4 on a Monday morning with a reported accident.  You need to walk in the tip of your toes and squeeze yourself in between people to get what you want.  Would it kill anyone to add another isle?  Maybe make this space a little bigger.  Why are the isles of young adult and children so horribly congested?

Dear Ross Store...

The deal on the backpacks was SICK! From the bottom of my broken wallet Thank You.

Dear roses in my garden...

Why are you doing this to me?! You had a guarantee of a year according to Home Depot and you died! I did everything the store said I needed to do and you still die on me.  Now my garden looks abandon and sad. :( I think I'll cry now...

Dear desk...

I like you, I swear I do.  I'm sorry if I'm not showing any love towards you, but I'm busy and you have no more space to hold all my stuff.  I promise I will clean you up at some point this week.  If it makes you feel any better my husband wants you, bad; and I think I may give  you to him and get myself one with a bigger table. 

Dear Person who needs to vent, trash or be mean...

At the receiving end of your words there is a real person.  Does it kill you to have some consideration towards them?  I'm not claiming to be perfect, and I know sometimes I have been guilty of being mean to someone. We are all human and sometimes we loose our cool. However, I would never be as mean as you have been.  This is someone's work, be careful on what you say.  It hurts and you never know when your words can come back to haunt you.  I try to remember that always, although I'm not claiming to be successful every time. 

Dear Sony Reader...

I'm sorry that these days the only thing you get to see is my WIP.  But seriously it's so awesome, I no longer need my laptop to carry all the files.  Now I take a notebook and happily write, consulting to you when in doubt. No longer can people browse at my screen while I'm consulting my files.  Which is not only rude, but makes me feel uncomfortable also.  I promise to buy something else when I'm done writing this project.

Thanks for reading, and if you feel like sharing your Dear... experiences this week feel free to do so.

1. This week I bought Skinny cow fudge bars.  Something that low on fat and calories should not be that good.
2.  I need a physical. Today I had terrible chest pain, not exactly normal...  I haven't felt that way before, and this year I'm turning 40.  I think it's time to take care of myself.
3. I can't seem to find a book to get hooked into.  It's not the books, it' s me.  I think I'm going to try and read Nonfiction books or reference.  What kind of books do you read when you are writing? 
4. m_stiefvater  and now Meg Cabot commented the effects of social networking sites on our lives.  I think there is a point there, it's very easy to get sucked into those sites.  BTW Mediator series *sights* I love that series. 
5. It has rain every day here in Florida.  Not just rain but thunder and lighting too.  Sometimes the whole thing is scary.  I mean I have come to appreciate it, but only when I'm home.  

Wow, interesting week.  I'm looking forward for a relaxing weekend.

1. We bought plain tickets for January to visit my family.  Yipee! It's going to be great to be able to party and eat with old friends.
2. Do any of you like to be spoiled for a book before they read it? I can't help myself.  I like knowing what is going to happen and believe me it only serves to increase my anticipation for the book. 
3. What would you consider it has been the best thing you have done for your writing? I know keep on writing is one good thing, but I’m curious about other ideas. 
4. My cat has become my shadow. What is going with him?  Not only does he sleeps with me but follows me around everywhere I go.  I can't even go to the bathroom alone!
5. I love reading historical novels.  Something about reading all the different ideas and traditions fascinates me.  Recently, my daughter confessed to a similar thing.  *Grins*.  

Boy ain't that the truth! I had a horrible day.  Truly bad and full with lots of despair and bad examples for humanity.  I swear I think I have lost a little bit of faith in humanity. I don't even know how to feel better....

However, one thing is positive.  My WIP is going very well.  I'm soooo excited to finally getting towards the last part of the book!

Since I worked very late last night, I decided to post Friday five on Saturday.

1. Driving keeps on being my source of inspiration for whenever I feel stuck in writing.  Get on the car, drive, and turn the radio off and inspiration flows.  I'm seriously considering buying one of those mini recorders.  I have ridiculous amount of voice notes on my phone.

2. Have you ever read a book where there's a character (maybe the MC or another character) that brings out the worst in you?  I have, and is one from a very popular novel.  One only has to mention her name and I gag on the spot.  I know it maybe weird and pathetic, but I see her character traits in real people and I can't comprehend why anyone would think it's okay to act that way.

3. I found someone to critique my WIP and send her the first nine chapters.  There is few things that I need to fix and develop.  The input was the best thing ever. I know many people say don't use friends but I had to go with what my heart was saying I should do.  She is a good friend and I rather get the criticism from her than from somebody else.  She reads a LOT and shread the whole thing apart pointing out every minuscule mistake.  A few things I would have totally missed if she wouldn't have pointed out. 

4. I have to start buying uniforms for the back to school... Boooo, my kids are not happy.   

5. I'm not thrilled with my desk.  It has become uncomfortable and everything spills everywhere.  I'm wondering, is it me or is it the desk?  I have tons of books, papers and book writing material that I can't find space to put them.  Everything is cramped on that little place in front of the monitor.  However, I'm afraid that if I buy a new desk I can manage to make a bigger mess.  What is your writing desk like?



  

I have been meaning to post about teen issues for a while. I figure this would be a good idea to start with. 

If you don't know MTV is doing a series on teen pregnancy called sixteen and pregnant.  Today I was watching and episode and it really reaffirmed some of my previous thoughts on the issue. Your teen years are a wonderful time and I firmly believe that you own it to yourself to enjoy every minute of it.  Having a baby at that time forces you to grow up at an extremely advanced rate., Which is probably not healthy or fair. 

When Jamie Lynn Spears had her baby a group of people criticized the way she praised motherhood and how happy she was with her baby.  Everyone claimed she was encouraging pregnancy and so forth.  However, I think many forgot that motherhood is indeed a wonderful experience.  What they also don't remember is that an ugly truth of motherhood is that it can be extremely stressing, if you are not ready for it and your resources are minimal. 

Children deserve the attention, love and care that you can give them, and at fourteen, or sixteen, many people are not ready.  Nor you should be.  Every age has it's beauty and your adolescent years should be full of beauty magazines, sports, extra curricular activities, boring family reunions, gossip, beauty magazines, books, latest fashion trends, video games and movies among many other things. I've heard of many people insisting that girls, or boys, should stay away from the opposite sex just because 'there is time for that later', to me that's not very realistic.  A good part of being a teenager is also about dating meeting boys and falling in love for the first time.  And you know what? I think it's okay to say go ahead date and have fun.  Just be careful and above it all think before you act. 

Sex, whether we like it or not, is part of a relationship, even one involving teens.  It's a natural curiosity. However sex requires maturity and emotional development.  Sex will not magically solved your problems and in many cases it can only complicate your problems if you are not emotionally ready to deal with the aftermath. Which is why I always tell teens, including my own, be firm of what you want and don't allow yourself to be pressured into something you don't feel ready for.  If someone wants to mock you, or leave you, because of your position on any issue, then the sad truth is that they never truly appreciated you.  I think parents should teach their children to love themselves more, and less what others think about them.

One thing I noticed of several documentaries on the issue is how many of the teens were forced out of the school either by the gossip, the pressure, or the school problems.  Pardon me for saying this but in any case that kind of situation well... simply put, it sucks big time.  Instead to be able to finish High School they ended up in a totally different school or place.  No prom, no picking a pretty dress, no visits to the beauty parlor or any of that cool stuff.  As someone who didn't get a prom (my high school was religious and didn't believe in dances) that totally depresses me.  Girls don't let anything jeopardize that wonderful time, believe me you'll regret it years down the road.  You don't want to look back in twenty years and look at other people's picture proms and wish you would have been there.  It may not seem like a big deal at that time but it may be someday. 

Another thing is the whole career issue and economical issue.  When I started working I did not blink when I spent seventy dollars for a pair of shoes.  Heck it was fun! I As a teen mother you can't spent fifty bucks on a pair of stilettos, heck you don't even have where to wear them.  Instead you need the money for food for the baby and you have to worry about stuff you really shouldn't have to but now you are forced too.  When I started working, I still lived at home (in my country the whole moving out works out a little different) and so all the money I made I could spend it on myself.  My mom was horrified that her presents were usually outrageously expensive, but I didn't care. I was working I could afford them, and so I bought what I wanted.  I was free (for the first time) to buy what I wanted (and I did not own a credit card).  I strongly recommend anyone to work towards that feeling.  I don't think a teen mother would have that chance. 

These days, I no longer buy stilettos.  I buy mostly snickers and flat shoes and usually I don't spend more than forty dollars on them.  My money is reserved for my kids needs; they are the reason I go to work and you know I wouldn't change that for the world.  But I experienced being free and I had fun until the idea grew old and my priorities changed.  I have a feeling that not having done that would have made me look back and regret it. 

I got married when I knew I was ready; I planned my children and enjoyed every minute of their lives. But I think we own it ourselves, and your future children, to wait for the right time to have babies.  In the mean time pick up a beauty magazine practice make up and hair styles, plan a pajama party, enjoy a dance, and start saving for that new phone or the ipod you wanted.  I know it's hard to hear, but good things come to those who wait.  Have patience, have a goal, and keep your focus your time will come. 

I meant to write this yesterday but I got home late and was so tired that I figure it could wait until today.

1. I buy some of my make up in ULTA.  When the store open they offer me a subscription to the In Style magazine for free.  I figure why not...  I'm starting to regret it.  Who can afford the fashion that is model in that magazine?  Seriously, almost $200.00 for jeans is not my idea of a deal.

2. Meg Cabot's wrote a blog entry that reminded me why she is one of my favorite authors.  You see, like Cabot I love romance, and I'm unabashed about it.  I understand and respect those authors that write about 'teen issues' or "trauma porn" (as she claimed some call it and she hates it). For me reading has always been a way to escape reality and made me forget about the real world.  For my dose of reality I choose to read the newspaper, and that is quite enough.  

3. In that line I was also thinking of 'literary snobs' the people that look down upon on certain books.  Why does everything need to be a fabulous prose and composition?  I'm no Stephanie Meyer fan, and I have never read her books but I think it's rude to dish and belittle someone else's work.  

4. Do any of you have trouble reading fiction while writing your fiction? I found it's easier to read non-fiction than fiction at the moment.  I'm working on several stories right now so I find it... distracting, perhaps? I know one author that mention having that issue so I wonder if anyone else has experience a similar situation.

5. I have been transfering my written notes to the computer, and I didn't know it was that much.  My husband has offer to transfer the files onto PDF so I can put them into my ebook reader, something it had not occur to me.  As usual he has the good tech ideas.

I'm writing this from bed with a huge stomache ache.  I ate some Guacamole and it did not agree with me... I hope you all have a better luck than me.  

I see a lot of you doing this and decided to give it a try.  I've had a very wet, weird and exhausting day.

1. I'm loving all the post about BEA.  I'm so jealous! Next year, I will have to make plans to attend. It looks too fun to miss.   

2. I don't like thunderstorms. I especially don't like it, when I'm under one getting soaked.  Note to self, get better poncho or be faster on seeking shelter.  Not fun to walk around with very soak shoes and socks.  

3. Have you ever done a chapter of your WIP and suddenly have a brilliant idea for it.  That happens this week while trying to find information for something else. I stumbled on something that would be awesome for the WIP.  However, it will not affect one chapter, it will affect several chapters. 

4. Classes are over and summer has begun.  Yay, for sleeping late and going to the pool! 

5. I find these quotes from the fabulous Madeleine L'Engle and thought I share them:

*You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.

*We tend to defend vigorously things that in our deepest hearts we are not quite certain about. If we are certain of something we know, it doesn't need defending.

*I do not think that I will ever reach a stage when I will say, "This is what I believe. Finished." What I believe is alive ... and open to growth.

A week before Christmas my husband and I were at Home Depot and we saw this little poinsettias.  I love them, so I took one home thinking, and hoping, that it would last until Christmas.  When I got home I tried several spots before finally deciding that the window above the sink was perfect for it.  Everyone who was washing the dishes knew that they had to water my little poinsettia.  Christmas passed, January passed and St. Valentines arrived and still the poinsettia was there.  A few weeks ago I was washing the dishes and notice that I no longer could look out the window. 

I had to shove the leafs out of the way, the green pot was loosing it's color and long ago the poinsettia had lost the red on her leaves.  My husband thought it was better if we put the plant on a more colorful and bigger pot, so we did.  I had it in the corner of my kitchen, it's my only plant at home and my cat is not very fond of it, only because it has his previous spot.  Today I realized that I can't walk in that corner of the kitchen without getting hit by leaves.  My little poinsettia is not so little anymore, in fact it's huge.  I've never seen a poinsettia grow that big.  How tall do they go?  I'm confused with this plant.  I've never had any plant/flower last this much inside.  Now, I'm left wondering what to do next with my poinsettia.  The thing is almost a tree, but I don't want to put it outside.  Heck I don't even know if I can.  I think next time I go to home depot I'm going to ask the girl there what should you do with poinsettias and why wasn't there a warning that the plant would not die.  I'm telling you we forgot sometimes to put water, there was no fertilizer and still the plant would keep on growing. 

One thing is a given, next year I sure the heck ain't buying a poinsettia!

I got sick on Thursday and still today I'm not up to my standards.  However, I still manage to have a great weekend. 

* Yesterday, we went to Jim Henson's fantastic world exhibitions that open in Orlando and I had a blast.  I was like a five year old loose in a toy store.  Sesame Street used to one of my favorite shows when I was growing up.  They had Kermit!  I saw the Mahna, Mahna puppets and it took a Herculean effort not to squee my eyeballs out. So cute!  You can see part of the exhibition here. 

* I'm usually an organized person but lately my desk was a disaster zone.  This week I put an end to that.  I feel accomplished.

* Since I was sick this weekend I didn't have a right frame of mind to write.  Instead I brought my laptop to the bed and sat to read and browse the internet. I was reading Nathan Bransford blog (love that blog) and his agent for a day contest and I thought it was an extremely nice exercise.  I didn't respond because I was far too incoherent for it. However, the whole thing really did emphasize how subjective this business really is.  Most of the queries I was interested (which I had a few), not many people pick them out.  Although, as it turned out, I would have asked for more information on one of the soon to be published.  I was actually surprised how rude some people were when rejecting and even Nathan himself mention it.  This goes to show that we should be a little kinder towards others.  We need to remind ourselves that we need to treat others the way we would like to be treated. 

* The whole exercise had me questioning a few things.  As a writer I read constantly about how your story needs to be unique.  However how exactly unique do people want it?  Seriously, how many of us go to a book store or the library and say "I want to read something that has never been written before."  I'm sorry but that's not even remotely what most of my friends do.  We usually go for trend; I'm in the mood for some romance, mystery or fantasy.  I'm I explaining this well?  To be honest it wasn't only that exercise what made me thought of this.  It was also the queryday thing on twitter.  Which I know I didn't watch last time, so, why would I follow this time?  In my defense I was sick in bed, was bored, and I got sucked in.  So what exactly is unique or maybe a better question is: How unique should a manuscript be? 

I hope you all had a good weekend and have an even better week.  My icon today is from toocuteicons  and is to show each and every one of you that you are all special.