Month: July 2014

Media Monday: The Good Wife

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous

After sharing the slime last week, I wanted to focus on something slightly more uplifting.

But only slightly.

gwThe Good Wife.

Again, we’re late to the party. We’re bingewatching via DVD and we’re only partway through Season One. I know what happened this season, but hubby doesn’t, so remember, SHHHH!

Alicia’s husband was caught up in one of those sex and drugs scandals, was disgraced, expelled from his elected office, and sent to prison. Alicia stood by him (sort of – he’s still in the maid’s quarters) and went back to work.

In some ways, TGW is a typical television crime/legal drama. Each week tends to focus on a case-of-the-week, but there is also the bigger story arc of what happened to Alicia’s husband, who turned him in, who even maybe, sort of, fabricated additional evidence.

Over all, we like it. This shows us that the people behind the headlines are real people. They work, they have families, in-laws. Sometimes life is good. Sometimes it’s hard. It’s often both, even at the same time.

I like the reminder.

Woe! It’s Wednesday: Mid-month Check-in

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous

This is the month I’ve been anticipating and dreading since March. hair

Anticipating because of several birthday celebrations and a trip to San Antonio for the Romance Writers of America national conference. And the announcement of the Golden Heart® winners.

You may have heard, I’m a finalist in the Inspirational category?

Dreading because I tend to obsess over details and brood and double triple check all my lists. I get so wrapped up in what’s coming that I forget to enjoy what’s happening now.

But I’ve made it halfway through the month with my sanity still in place and my hair mostly on my head.

I was (mostly) fully present for the first birthday celebration. The next one is this coming weekend, and then we leave for San Antonio. I’ve got the house sitter and dog sitter lined up. My dress is almost done being altered. My business cards arrived, albeit they could be a bit more distinctive with my books’ blurbs on the back, but I’m not going to stress over what’s not.

I’m going to focus on what is.

If it kills me.

What stresses you out?

Book Talk Tuesday: The Lawyer’s Luck

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous

The Lawyer’s Luck is a historical novella, a prequel to Piper Huguley’s new series, Home to Milford College.

llRealie is on the run from the slave catchers. She meets up with freeman Lawrence, a circuit lawyer, studying for his exams. Actually, she tries to steal Lawrence’s horse and gets herself shot.

While she heals, she and Lawrence discover things about the other that they never expected.

I’m thrilled to be a Golden Heart® finalist in the Inspirational category along with Piper. She knows her market and her characters and I’m excited for this new series. The Lawyer’s Luck is a lovely introduction.

Media Monday: Ducks and Cards

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous

We’re fans of Duck Dynasty, the show that people love or hate or love to hate.

They are a family of gleeful gun-toting, conservative, Bible-believing, hunting and fishing, rednecks.

dd

The patriarch is Phil Robertson and he started a duck call empire.

His son Willie took over the business and they’ve launched from a reality television show to all kinds of cross-marketed products. I’ve seen wine, books, calendars, chia pets, and of course, duck calls.

They’re (in my not-so-humble opinion) dangerously close to over-saturation.

Sometimes the humor is a bit gross and I know one episode in particular (with lingering shots of a buck’s rear anatomy) drew some ire from fans. But overall, the show is family-safe and fun.

Not so with House of Cards. hc

As a “good” Christian (what is that anyway? I’m not good, I’m bad and I need a Savior which is the whole point of being a Christian – but I digress), I’m a little uneasy just admitting to watching the thing.

Francis Underwood is evil personified who will stop at nothing (and I do mean nothing) to achieve his goals. His wife is just as bad, if not worse.

We’d heard from a few sources, “Oh, it’s great. He’s horrible, you hate him, but I can’t wait to see what he does next.”

So we plunged in.

All I can say is, if even 25% of what is depicted on the show is actually going on in Washington D.C., we are in trouble. Big trouble. As a nation. As a culture. As people governed by the notion of right and wrong.

We finished season two and I felt slimed and went and showered immediately. And yes, when season three is released, I’ll likely watch. But I’ll have the water running. And I won’t like myself.

Woe! It’s Wednesday: Paralysis

Published on by Live Vi-Carrie-ous3 Comments

I’ve been writing all my life.

I’ve been writing with purpose for sixteen years.

tumblr_llcf39VU4I1qdj0hbo1_500signI’ve been working at learning and perfecting my writing for twelve years.

In those years, I’ve seen other, more talented writers, give up and move on to something else.

I’ve known other writers who have gone on to publish and I’ve celebrated with them and bought and read and reviewed their books.

I’ve submitted, queried, entered contests, joined critique groups, attended conferences, and had online critique partners.

I self-published a collection of short stories.

For all that I’ve done, I also feel stuck.

I recently attended a live Beth Moore event and she spoke about the, “paralysis of perpetual preparation.” That resonated with me.

Then I ran into this quote:

Violin_bridge

 

I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung. –R. Tagore

 

 

 

I don’t wanna be a wanna be or a gonna be.

I am a writer.

Writers write.

Writers submit.

Writers publish.

I’m a writer. Time to get to work.