Knitting Through
Howdy! How are you today?Me. I’m chilling. Thanks for askin’. At least as I’m writing this I am. See I’ve picked up my knitting again which has been even more stalled than my NaNo writing. I’ve been working on the same sweater for what feels like forever (knit 1 purl 1, uh, rest) , but finally, I have started the last sleeve. Now there’s an odd sentence. I said it like there was 3 or 4 sleeves. Yeah, I know there are only 2, but the first took way too long and the cap took too much thinking. Felt like long division. Ugh.
Alas, I see light at the end of the tunnel. I have started the last sleeve then it’s the collar and a sew up. Yay. I’m moving now! This T-neck should be ready for the summer. Woot!
Have a good one.
Best,
KwanaWanna Snuggle?
Happy Friday! And I do hope it’s happy.
I’m going for a new outlook today. Enough of the writerly doom and gloom. Obviously wheels are going to keep turning no matter what I say here and we’ll just have to see how it all plays out. In the meantime I’m ever hopeful.
My NaNowrimo writing has suffered terribly this week. It’s been a tough week life-wise. just plain nutty and the writing time has just flown by. Now I’m in panic mode. Oh well. I shall do my best to be where I will be. Wish me luck.
On a Friday up note I have a Snuggie!! Well, a Snuggie-esque from The Christmas Tree shops. Yesterday Nana and I did our annual Thanksgiving shopping and ran across some very cool Snuggie-esque garments that were called The Hug Throws for a great price in all sorts of colors and Nana could not resist buying them for the whole family. I have a cool lime green one! Love my Nana.
The only family member that didn’t get one was Jack. I specifically warned Nana not to order Jack this. You know she wants to. Sorry he’ll just have to cuddle next to me with mine. It’s bad enough I’m looking a hot Snuggie-esuqe mess don’t need to subject Jack to it too.
Best,
KwanaUnsettled
What’s Jack up to? Jack is doing good. Feeling a lot like his old self and getting back into trouble again. I’ve had to shoo him away from the trash one too many time lately so I’d say he’s on the mend.
As for me I’m feeling unsettled. It’s a word I tweeted yesterday about the uproar over folk’s responses and RWA’s response to Harlequin Horizons. Yes, I still see both sides of the argument but RWA taking away Harlequin’s status does leave me just that, unsettled. Don’t throw tomatoes please. I know the bylaws and the rules. I do get it both sides and the whole protection thing (ish).
But it also brings to my mind the many fine writers that write for Harlequin and how they must feel and the legitimacy of the RITA’s if Harlequin writers are not included (hmm). I mean it is called Romance Writers of America, a pretty broad name, and am I correct in saying that Harlquin is the largest romance publisher?
Now I could go on and on bringing up how it would be nice for fine e-pubs to be included too and let’s level the writing playing field but the whole thing is a slippery argument slope and I got Mammogram 40 or 50 confusion to be pissed about too today. So there is plenty of unsettled to go around don’t cha think?
Much love and keep breathing y’all. Remember dialogue is good and I hope there is a solution to this soon where this off feeling stops and the love flows.
Best,
KwanaMonday Music
What’s Jack up to? The Jackster is doing well. His rash is getting better and his ears are too, though he’s not enjoying taking his meds for both. I know he’s on the mend because his appetite is back and a person can’t make it near the kitchen and his treats without him fast on their heels. Go Jack.
I’m still busy with NaNo writing. The words are drip, drip, dripping through slowly and it’s tough to find the time I’d like. At the end of the day I find myself wishing I had 3 or 4 more hours where I was feeling alert and creative to just sit write and be. But, um, no. Not gonna happen unless I say buh-bye to the few hours sleep I do get and if I did that who knows what hot messery I’d wake up too. Probably a page full of zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz’s. Hmm would they count towards my word count? Probably not.
That said no long post from me today. Or any day for the rest of this month. Will you be back? While I’m in NaNo land please enjoy a little surprising Monday music from Michael Buble and the DD (so not her usual taste). Thanks DD.Best,
KwanaP.S. Have you check out Booksquawk yet? Why not? All the cool kids are doing it.
Restless
I’m feeling restless right now. My story is filling my head and interrupting my sleep, but the words are hard to come by. Hanging out on the ledge just out of my reach. And for NaNo you need words and lots of them. A bit of a problem there. I’m at that point in the story where the initial shot has been fired and now I’ve got to get into the flow and really find the story. Get crafty. Have conversations, make events happen and for a reason too. It puts the mind on pause (at least my mind).So, I’m restless. But, hopefully not for long.
Brooding Woman by PicassoHow are you today? Did you get enough rest?Best,KwanaAnd Writing
What’s Jack up to? As I type this in the basement he’s being such a loyal dog and has come downstairs to keep me company. Though I know it’s much warmer upstairs. But he’s laying by my side on the couch being a quiet sweetheart. Thanks Jack.I’m up and writing and that is pretty much my plans for the weekend besides bowling badly and running around with the teen twins. The NaNoWrimo words are adding up which makes me happy. I’m not sure if they make all that much sense right now, but hey, they’re adding up and that’s the point. December is for revisions.I hope you have a wonderful weekend.Best,KwanaYou Nanu-I NaNo
Today starts NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month where you are challenged to write 50,000 words in 1 month and for the first time I’m in. Eek!! Time to buckle down with some serious kamikaze writing.
Wish me luck coming out on the other side sane and alive.If you are feeling up to the challenge you can sign yourself up here or if you are already in be my buddy my name is kwanawrites.
Nanu-Nanu or NaNo-NaNo!
Best,
KwanaMojo Monday
What’s Jack up to? Jack had a very happy 3rd birthday yesterday. Filled with fun and new toys. I even let up on his special diet and got him a birthday cupcake which though his was happy to eat, didn’t stay down. Oh, well at least he enjoyed himself.
Jack, says thanks for all the well wishes yesterday!
I’m back from the NJ romance writer’s conference and happy to report that I had just THE BEST time. It’s such a well run conference full of friendly people with top speakers and presenters. The only downside? The 4 and 5 am fire alarm. That stunk. Here is some of the NY crew at dinner lunch. Notice the wine on the table. The hotel thought it would make up for lack of sleep. It did not. That cute little sweetie there did not partake.
But as you can see I think the rest did.
(Carolyn, Isobo (holding other the cutie Jack) Leanna, Stacy)Upside. Rooming with my PIC Megan and Liz M. too for a hot minute. Sorry I don’t have a picture of Liz. Hi Liz! Here are Megan and I in the hotel’s faux Soho lounge. It’s pretty. The only pic I have of Liz was taken during the fire alarm. I think it’s nice. I’m afraid she may not.
Some of the great workshops I attended were:
One on digital publishing with super smart Icantalkdigitalinmysleep and, yes, I think she can, Angela James.
Darn, how did I let her leave without telling me what format was best for my Sony.
A dialogue workshop with Bestselling author Karen Rose. Here is Karen with friends and fans Louise and Danielle.
Also a super workshop on Collages with Jennifer Crusie that blew my artist mind. I already do story boarding but this will have me taking it to the next level. I knew Jennifer was Ms. New York Times Best Seller but now that I know she was an art teacher and is quite an artist I think I’m more in love. Notice it says behind her “creativity is play” something to keep in mind.
Finally I spent many an hour hanging around Bestseller (I was doing that a lot trying to get some mojo to rub off) Madeline Hunter. She had 2 workshops1. Surviving Almost There (a place where I seem to have been hanging out for quite a long time)
2. Alaso a double session on conflict that rocked my world. I learned so much. She really got the gears working.
Now I just about thought I’d swoon when I went to the book signing later and gave Madeline my card and she said that she had been to ye little old blog before. Oh happy, swoony day! Thanks for that moment Ms. Hunter.
And now for your viewing pleasure a few more pics from the signing:
Golden Leaf Winner YAY!!! Anna DePalo. Congrats Anna.
Leanna Renee Hieber
Isabo Kelly
Janet Mullany. Lucky me getting her last copy of: A Most Lamentable Comedy.
So as you can see I’ve had quite a weekend. Now time to put all that inspiration and fun into practice. Gotta hit the writing cave. Will be popping out for brief sips of air.
Bye!Best,
Kwana
Writerly Weekend
Happy Friday! I’m off to New Jersey! Hmm… is that usually followed by an exclamation point? Oh stop, Kwana that’s such a New Yorker joke! Who are you, Conan?But, really, I’m thrilled to be off to NJ for a writerly weekend at the Annual New Jersey Romance Writers Put Your Heart In A Book Conference.It’s sure to be jam packed with fun and inspiration. I’ll get to see many old friends and go all fan girl on writers that I admire at the Literacy book fair and signing which is open to the public on Saturday. You can check out the list of authors here.I can’t wait to attend workshops like: Painting Colorful Characters, The Magic of Words, Writing with Passion and My Writing May be Art…But My Kids Need Braces.
Here’s hoping I wake up my lazy muse this weekend and you have a wonderful weekend.Best,KwanaIf I Had a Million Dollars
Tackle it Tuesday? Ha I wish.Today I find myself thinking if I had a million dollars (well, 2 or 3. A million just ain’t what it used to be) I’d hire that cleaning fairy and hunky Top Chef to make my life just a smidge (read: whole boatload) more manageable. Life is very different now than from when this still life was done by Pop Artist Tom Wesselmann in 1963.It’s another postcard I have from a visit to the MoMa. I think I was drawn to the color and calming simplicity of this kitchen. I’m sure the Rice Krispies and the Dole Pineapples helped pull me in too.What practical thing would you purchase if you had a million or two?
Tom Wesselmann 1963, Still Life #30Off to tackle some edits today.
Best,
Kwana
