"Tag, You're It!"

Angie over at "Notes From the Writing Chair" posted this little game and I thought it looked like fun, so I thought I'd try it. I've never done one of these before and it looks like a lot of fun. All you have to do is fill in your likes/loves/hates after the bolded words. Have fun!

Here goes:

• I like everything to do with "writing". I like the writing itself, brand new pens, new notebooks, and everything new.


• I like having "Date Night with my husband, every Friday night. It makes me feel special and even though we usually stay home and watch a movie, it still feels just like it did when we were dating before we got married. (He still gives me goosebumps!)


• I like Orville Redenbacher's kettlecorn popcorn. It has a sweet and natural taste that doesn't make me feel all thirsty when I'm done eating it.


• I like the smell and sound of rain, especially when it builds up and causes a torrent to flow through the gully behind our house. When it rains really hard, it sounds like a train is in the gully, and believe it or not, my husband and I both think it is a very soothing sound.


• I like the Holly Lisle's "How To Think Sideways Career Survival Course For Writers" that I'm taking right now. I'm learning a lot and it's so interesting.


• I like to rest my cheek on the cool side of my pillow; it is such a refreshing feeling, no matter what time of year it is.


• I like watching kittens and puppies sleep. Sometimes they run in their sleep or whimper like babies and it's the cutest thing to observe.


• I like blogging, even though I really don't have enough time to keep up with it like I should.


• I like riding on the back of my husband's 1973 Honda CB750 motorcycle, with my arms wrapped around him, watching the scenery whip by us, feeling young, free and very much in ♥love♥.








• I ♥love♥ the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Saviour, in Him shall I trust.


• Today was the day that the Lord hath made; "I will rejoice and be glad in it, for this is the day that the Lord hath made." (Psalm 118:24)








• I hate satan and all of his minions.


• I hate it when people are mean to one another.


• I hate it when people suffer needlessly.


• I hate being disabled; it makes me feel useless!


• I hate it when people display "road rage"; they act like they just got out of kindergarten.


• I hate it when politicians think they know what we need for ourselves more than we do, and they refuse to even listen to us!


• I hate it when I get behind on anything, such as reading/answering emails, etc.








• I (secretly) like paying the bills every month. It's not that I like having bills...no, of course not!...it's just that I like making sure that all the bills are paid on time.


• I ♥love♥ my husband, Dion, with all my heart. He's my soul-mate and I praise the Lord every day for sending him to me. Before he came into my life, I was miserable and lonely. Now I am so happy and have so much joy! (Can you tell I'm very much in love?)

At this point, I'm supposed to "tag" three of my friends and list them below, but I'm not going to do that. I'll just let you all decide yourself (like I did) if you want to participate. If you leave a comment and want to play the game, just let me know and I'll post your link below, OK?






Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

Check Out These "Fantabulous Followers Giveaway" Contests!"

I came across some "Fantabulous Followers Giveaway" contests this week, so I thought I'd pass along the information to you so you won't miss out on them.

First, there's the one at "Elana Johnson's" blog where Elana Johnson is giving away seven amazing books, all but one are personalized! Go here for more contest details.



Next, there is one at "Shooting Stars", where sisters Suzette Saxton and Bethany Wiggins are giving away five fantastic prizes.

They are as follows:

• Suzie Townsend, literary agent extraordinaire with FinePrintLit, has consented to give to the grand prize winner a 40-page partial submission plus a critique of those pages!


• Kimberly Derting, author of "THE BODY FINDER" (release date 3-16) has donated an awesome "BODY FINDER" black totebag (perfect size for a whole stack of library books), a signed-in-silver poster, autographed bookmark, and sticker for one lucky winner!


• The book "THE HOST", by Stephenie Meyer.


• "WRITING THE GREAT AMERICAN ROMANCE" by Catherine Lanigan makes writing almost easy! This step-by-step guide can easily be applied to writing fiction of any genre.


• one- 4 ounce box of Enstrom's toffee

Go here for more contest details.



Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "New-Story-Idea" Folder!"

Last night, I was thinking about a couple of the little things that I do to organize myself and keep track of all the story ideas that I have floating around in my head, so I thought: "Hmmm...why not share the ideas with my friends? They might be able to use them!"

So...here goes:

1. First of all, I never go anywhere without a notebook! You never know when a great idea is going to "pop!" into your head...and as quickly as it came, it can disappear. If you have your handy-dandy notebook with you, all you have to do is "jot" a rough draft of your idea down, and then you won't forget it.





2. Secondly, I alway carry my digital camera with me. The reasoning behind this is pretty much the same as my first idea, but with some extra zip. You never know when you might come across the most amazing photo opportunity, which in turn could lead to a great publishable "story idea".
   
   (Tip: It is at this point that you would normally edit you work, but this is when you actually have some decisions to make:
   
   Do you want to work on coming up with a story that you might be able to publish? (That is entirely feasible. If the story is very good/great and the photo to go along with it is also great, then go for it!)
   ~OR~
   Should you file the picture along with the "free-written" story, and wait for an opportunity when you can write a tailor-made story that will fit the request? (I have two folders: one on my computer & one in my desk, for just those type of stories. If they're in there too long, I pluck them out & work on them. Hopefully someday, I'll get lucky!)





3. Next, when I get ready to go to sleep at night, I always make sure I have my notebook, a pen, and my mini-cassette recorder on the shelf next to my bed. That way, if I wake up from dreaming—because everybody knows that all the "great ideas" come to you in the middle of the night—I'll have a way to "record" them before they totally escape my mind.
   
   (Tip: At times like these, I have found that using the mini-cassette recorder saves a lot of time and aggravation because it takes a while for my eyes to focus properly after I've been asleep. So, if I whisper the idea into the recorder, I don't have to worry about turning the lights on and waking up my husband.)





4. I have always loved going through photos and pictures, whether they be from magazines, the Internet, antique stores or even someone's photo albums. After selecting the ones I think are the best, I save them for "writing prompts". I study the photos and get the story pretty much worked out the way I want it in my mind, then set my trusty little timer for ten minutes. Then I "free write", which means I keep writing, non-stop, not worrying about punctuation or anything. Just words, and the story—whatever comes to mind—simply easy, free-flowing words.
   
   (Tip: The same "tips" that were used for my second idea, above, would apply here.)





5. I have several other ideas, but I think I'll close with this last one, which I think is my favorite because it's fun (for me, anyway). Go to the mall, a restaurant, the library, or wherever there are people and it won't appear too strange if you're sitting around, watching and writing. I'm sure you've probably heard of this, or even done this before— my husband calls it "people watching" or "eye-balling". Pick out some people that you think are interesting or "catch your eye", then write a story about them. Write a whole background for each person, trying to pay particular attention to detail, as if you were a reporter. (It will help you in the future when you need to write decriptions.)
   
   (Tip: If I have found someone really interesting, I have gone up to them and asked them if I could take their photo and explained why. The only thing I have not done yet is found out where I can get one of those "release forms" that people are supposed to sign for that purpose.
   Does anyone know where I can get one of those "release forms"?

I hope you enjoyed my article today. If you have some ideas that you would like to share, please
"comment". Thank you so much for stopping by & please come back & visit again soon!






Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's Kindle!"

I am so excited! My husband, Dion, just bought me the newest generation of the "Kindle2", plus a bunch of the accessories that go with it.







Here's a list of some of the accessories that he got for me:

• the USB cable


• the leather cover


• the two-year extended warranty


• LCD screen protectors


• AC and auto chargers


• the "Kandle" (an led book light--cool name for it, isn't it?)


• a "SkinIt" that covers it with a beautiful "Tinker Bell" design.

♥Dion♥ is so good to me. I ♥lurve♥ him! He's the best husband in the entire world.






Now I can use the "Kindle2" (at night when my husband is asleep) for doing my lessons from the Holly Lisle's "How To Think Sideways Career Survival Course For Writers" that I'm taking, instead of using my computer. I can send the pdf version of the lessons from my computer to my "Kindle2". Then I won't have to worry about going blind from eyestrain (reading from my computer), and I also won't have to be concerned about waking Dion up from a sound sleep, because the "Kindle2" is as quiet as a mouse: <<<<(Ooops! Wrong kind of mouse!)





Here is the front view of the Kindle:










And here is the back view:




I don't know about you, but I think my "Kindle2" is absolutely adorable!







So far, I've only been able to read a few books that I bought from the Kindle Store, but it was great. In addition to that, I have some books that I was sent in pdf form that I need to review, so I'm going to transfer them to my "Kindle2", as well. I find it very difficult to read pdf books on my computer (as I mentioned earlier)--it strains my eyes--and the "Kindle2" is the perfect solution!

After I have had/used the "Kindle2" for around 30 days, I'll review it here on my blog so you'll know what I thought of it. By then I'll know a little bit more about it and maybe I'll have some tips I can share. (Maybe I'll even be able to add some video footage, too--wouldn't that be cool?)



Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's "Terrific-Tuesday" Book Review!"

"Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion" is the second in a four book "Cynthia's Attic Series", written by Mary Cunningham, that I am going to review for you here on my blog today.

The first book in the series, entitled "Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket"was already reviewed for you on my blog here.
Before I go any further, let me say that you could read each of the books without reading the others, and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. However, I highly recommend that you read all four of the books in this series! If you don't, you would be missing out on loads of fun and adventure, plus I think you would really regret it.



The Synopsis:

"Sinister clowns, stalkers on horseback, mystical forests, and the creepy, crawling curse.

A magic trunk sweeps Cynthia, and best friend, Augusta Lee (Gus), back to 1914 where an ill-fated trip to the circus leads to Blackie, a sinister hobo clown. Before they can be forced by Blackie to become permanent clown troupe performers, the girls are rescued by Gabriella, a Gypsy fortune-teller, and are entangled in the theft of her family's treasure. Much to their dismay, Cynthia and Gus appear to be the family's only hope of recovering a precious magic medallion.

Traveling unexpectedly forward to 1934, they meet a 'very familiar-looking' cave guide, and are stalked by a stranger on a black horse. Dangers escalate, as they're swept into an underground river, and later, barely avoid becoming 'campfire marshmallows' in a raging forest fire.

Friendship, loyalty, and an undeniable sense of adventure keep this twosome on a never-ending path of danger, suspense, and merriment."



My Review:

This is the second book in a series of four (so far) exciting books in the "Cynthia's Attic Series". Needless to say, Gus (Augusta Lee), the tomboyish half of the dual 12-year-old lead protagonists, and her best friend and sidekick, a girlie-girl character named Cynthia (the series' namesake), are reunited in this adventure and they are whisked back in time to 1914 where they end up in the circus at the mercy of a mean, hobo-type clown named Blackie who is forcing them to perform as clowns.

When they are rescued by the Gypsy fortune-teller, Gabriella, there is a catch: they need to travel in time to find a lost medallion or they may never be able to return to the present time where they belong. Of course they have to accept, and when they do, they meet some really interesting people along the way.

With each new adventure, Ms. Cunningham packs loads more excitement and action into each one of the episodes! The adventures that arise from the trunk that was found in Cynthia's attic are centered around Cynthia's ancestors and it's fun to meet them and see how everything ties so neatly into the present. Ms. Cunningham has done a masterful job of spinning these tales and I think I like this one even better than the first!



My Rating: (poor, fair, good, great, or excellent)



This book was fast-paced, the action was non-stop, the characters were engaging and interesting, plus the story was intriguing. I would recommend this book for anyone between the ages of 9 to 13, plus anyone older who wants to read a fun book that is full of joy and adventure. I'm 50+ and I enjoyed it immensely! Excellent job, Mary!

I can't wait to read book three in the series, which is entitled "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou".

Anyone wishing to learn more about the author, Mary Cunningham, please visit her website by clicking here.

Also, don't forget: as soon as I have completed reviewing the entire "Cynthia's Attic Series" here on my blog, Mary Cunningham will be coming here for a "Guest Author Interview!" So...keep watching!




Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may the Lord bless you all.

Cynde


Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!