So I decided that I needed a new blog that would be linked to my name in case there is someday an adoring reader who googles me and wants to write me happy e-mails. (Yes, there is more than a little unfounded optimism in this idea which is why I write fiction.)
Anyway, the new blog (which is really the old blog but with less pink which I'm not sure if I like or not), can be found at www.meganruff.blogspot.com . Please click on over and read future posts there.
The only other difference is that the new blog will not have book reviews or lists. (Not that I really did much reviewing.) But, if you are interested in knowing what I'm reading, you can join me on goodreads. Here is the link. They have professional summaries of all the books and I love it. (If your memory is spotty-like you draw a map of where you hide your Easter eggs like me-it can be a lifesaver. It helps me remember what I have read and whether I liked it so I don't read a book I didn't enjoy more than once.)
Your one stop spot for unsolicited opinions on random items of no importance whatsoever.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Some Pretty Awesome People
Yesterday I was reminded that I know some wonderful people. Since I should take more time to be thankful this month, I will tell you about them.
I walked over to vote yesterday morning. I filled out my ballot and walked into the hallway to leave. My neighbor was there. I know that she has completely opposite political views but we cheerfully greeted each other, I admired her granddaughter's "I Voted" sticker, and we chatted for awhile. It didn't matter that our votes pretty much cancelled each other out. That's what democracy should look like.
My husband had the honor of conducting a funeral yesterday for an incredible 89 year old woman. He took the day off so he could make sure that everything went smoothly. It is always humbling to see those who step up to play the organ, bring food, set up, clean up, and do lots of little things that caused the family the chance to focus on remembering her life. One of the women, who works nights but agreed to miss some hours of sleep to play the organ, brought me some lunch at home because "my husband was so busy on a day that he technically had off."
Finally, my future writer friend (1) brought me a treat for getting an agent. She has been great through the whole process. She read through the first draft of my book and offered encouragement along the way.
Doesn't that look yummy? It was. It was an individual cake from a French bakery. The inside was creamy like mousse. And, just in case you aren't sure if the is the most wonderful person in the world- she waited to bring it until a time when she knew my boys wouldn't be home so I wouldn't feel obligated to share.
(1) She has a YA book all plotted out and I can't wait to return all the favors when she reaches a point in her life that allows her time to get it written.
I walked over to vote yesterday morning. I filled out my ballot and walked into the hallway to leave. My neighbor was there. I know that she has completely opposite political views but we cheerfully greeted each other, I admired her granddaughter's "I Voted" sticker, and we chatted for awhile. It didn't matter that our votes pretty much cancelled each other out. That's what democracy should look like.
My husband had the honor of conducting a funeral yesterday for an incredible 89 year old woman. He took the day off so he could make sure that everything went smoothly. It is always humbling to see those who step up to play the organ, bring food, set up, clean up, and do lots of little things that caused the family the chance to focus on remembering her life. One of the women, who works nights but agreed to miss some hours of sleep to play the organ, brought me some lunch at home because "my husband was so busy on a day that he technically had off."
Finally, my future writer friend (1) brought me a treat for getting an agent. She has been great through the whole process. She read through the first draft of my book and offered encouragement along the way.
(1) She has a YA book all plotted out and I can't wait to return all the favors when she reaches a point in her life that allows her time to get it written.
Monday, November 5, 2012
The Year of Rejection Comes to an Early End
We have affectionately referred to 2012 as the Year of Rejection at our house. I have been querying literary agents and we were hoping to adopt. Both processes involve LOTS of rejection. My sister in law said we could hang out with her three year old if we wanted more. He likes to ask questions like, "Mom, what should I wear?" and then say no to whatever she decides.
Rejection is not fun. Today we'll talk about the writing part of it. I have always wanted to be a writer. I won a writing contest in first grade for a story about a lion who came to town. Of course he growled at me and I growled back. Then he ran away in fear. (I have a pretty fierce growl.) I won a stuffed Mickey Mouse. The second place child only got a pencil. Writing was great.
Fast forward to high school. I had room in my schedule senior year for independant study. I got an English teacher to agree to let me write a novel-I picked the easiest teacher because I wanted it to be fun, not work. I would sit on the floor in his office and scribble in my notebook. It ended up being 40 pages typed and pretty melodramatic. It has since been recycled. I was going to type a summary for you but after the first sentence I remembered why it was recycled.
On to college where my affinity for math and chemistry led me to engineering. The most exciting thing I wrote was a lab report with sentences shorter than 5 words. (The professor had complained about sentence length on the previous one and I am sort of a brat. There is nothing wrong with grammatically correct long sentences.)
Now, I have returned to the world of writing. I love it, but have a hard time telling people what I do. I have spent lots of time this last year wrting, editing, writing, editing, sending letters, and logging rejections. Appropriate or not, it seemed like I wasn't a "real" author unless someone other my mom liked my books and that meant I needed an agent to agree.
So, lots of query letters later, I am happy to announce that I have a fabulous agent. Now, on to the great publisher search but it's kind of like a relay and I can pass the baton to someone much more capable. Hopefully, sometime in the not too distant future, you will see my name in print at your nearest bookstore.
Rejection is not fun. Today we'll talk about the writing part of it. I have always wanted to be a writer. I won a writing contest in first grade for a story about a lion who came to town. Of course he growled at me and I growled back. Then he ran away in fear. (I have a pretty fierce growl.) I won a stuffed Mickey Mouse. The second place child only got a pencil. Writing was great.
Fast forward to high school. I had room in my schedule senior year for independant study. I got an English teacher to agree to let me write a novel-I picked the easiest teacher because I wanted it to be fun, not work. I would sit on the floor in his office and scribble in my notebook. It ended up being 40 pages typed and pretty melodramatic. It has since been recycled. I was going to type a summary for you but after the first sentence I remembered why it was recycled.
On to college where my affinity for math and chemistry led me to engineering. The most exciting thing I wrote was a lab report with sentences shorter than 5 words. (The professor had complained about sentence length on the previous one and I am sort of a brat. There is nothing wrong with grammatically correct long sentences.)
Now, I have returned to the world of writing. I love it, but have a hard time telling people what I do. I have spent lots of time this last year wrting, editing, writing, editing, sending letters, and logging rejections. Appropriate or not, it seemed like I wasn't a "real" author unless someone other my mom liked my books and that meant I needed an agent to agree.
So, lots of query letters later, I am happy to announce that I have a fabulous agent. Now, on to the great publisher search but it's kind of like a relay and I can pass the baton to someone much more capable. Hopefully, sometime in the not too distant future, you will see my name in print at your nearest bookstore.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I Suspect a Vampire is Sucking the Halloween Spirit From My Home
There has been minimal Halloween excitement around the house this year. No decorations have been pulled out of the box. I tried to get the kid in the spirit by having him watch The Worst Witch-you know the movie that inspired Harry Potter. All I got were rolled eyes and comments like "mom if all you like is the song, why do we have to watch more than the first three minutes." He must not have been paying attention or he would have noticed that they sing my theme song at the end too.
There was a Halloween party at church on Friday night. I didn't worry about the kid's costume because he has several in the closet that will fit and he hadn't said anything. Imagine my surprise when Thursday night he replies to my query about costume choice with the information that he isn't planning on wearing one.
This shouldn't be a big deal. He is in 7th grade but it shocked and saddened me. I remembered his first Halloween. He was 6 months old. We had moved to Minnesota from Wyoming and I obsessed over what he should wear. Being from Wyoming, I bought a big fuzzy costume to go over long underwear. He was ready for an arctic expedition. It was 70 degrees. Poor baby. How was I to know? I really thought that was the whole reason they did costume parades at school and the town Halloween party (1) -there was never a year you could see your costume under your coat, boots, hat, gloves, and other accessories while trick or treating.
Anyway, when he came home from school the next day I was prepared with a list of two minute costumes for him to consider. He decided he was willing to be a nerd. The kid knows 150 digits of pi thanks to our shower curtain. I kept my mouth shut and was just grateful that he was willing to do anything. The hubbie even agreed to one of the other costumes on the list-he carried a leaf around and blew on it when anyone asked what he was (a leaf blower.) He has decided that next year he will carry a weed and hit anyone who asks (weed whacker.) Not sure what he will do after that. Please feel free to leave suggestions.
At the party they put the 12 year old boys in charge of the "fun house" which was a happy name for a maze made out of sheets. I asked him how it went and heard stories about how they scared people to death. He gave a graphic description of how three of them worked together to make one person scream. I questioned if he had the kid's right name. He said yes. I told him that he was only 4 years old. That information didn't seem to cause remorse. Apparently, the little boy went through 4 times but I am still a little horrified.
Finally, you get a Halloween recipe. I first made these delicious things in first grade. I have eaten them every Halloween since. I seem to be the only one in the family who actually likes them, but they are pretty much the best Halloween food in the world if you don't count all the little chocolate bars.
The cheese faces tend to melt away when they cook but at least the kids will be entertained making them and not ask you how much longer until they can trick or treat for a few minutes. Bonus-they get to carve lots of faces without a million pumpkins. Anyone else grow up in a family of one pumpkin/5 kids and have to vote on the face every year? It was more heated than the election.
Have a happy Halloween!
(1) I grew up in a small (500 person) town. The whole town stopped trick or treating at 7 to go the party. There was also a town Easter egg hunt. I loved those activities but wouldn't trade Minnesota for not having to drive two hours to get to a mall, or wear 15 layers by the end of October.
There was a Halloween party at church on Friday night. I didn't worry about the kid's costume because he has several in the closet that will fit and he hadn't said anything. Imagine my surprise when Thursday night he replies to my query about costume choice with the information that he isn't planning on wearing one.
This shouldn't be a big deal. He is in 7th grade but it shocked and saddened me. I remembered his first Halloween. He was 6 months old. We had moved to Minnesota from Wyoming and I obsessed over what he should wear. Being from Wyoming, I bought a big fuzzy costume to go over long underwear. He was ready for an arctic expedition. It was 70 degrees. Poor baby. How was I to know? I really thought that was the whole reason they did costume parades at school and the town Halloween party (1) -there was never a year you could see your costume under your coat, boots, hat, gloves, and other accessories while trick or treating.
 |
| My Halloween socks. They were pretty much the extent of my costume, but aren't they great! |
Finally, you get a Halloween recipe. I first made these delicious things in first grade. I have eaten them every Halloween since. I seem to be the only one in the family who actually likes them, but they are pretty much the best Halloween food in the world if you don't count all the little chocolate bars.
Jack O Lantern Pizzas:
Cut English muffins in half
spread with pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce
Let the kids cut pumpkin faces in sliced processed cheese (I have found that toothpicks work best for carving out details.)
Put the cheese slice on top of the sauce and bake until melted.
YUM.
Seriously, they are easy and delicious. Sometimes I allow my family to add pepperoni or other meats under the cheese. My husband who is a cheese snob only eats "ghosts" made with real mozzarella cheese. The cheese faces tend to melt away when they cook but at least the kids will be entertained making them and not ask you how much longer until they can trick or treat for a few minutes. Bonus-they get to carve lots of faces without a million pumpkins. Anyone else grow up in a family of one pumpkin/5 kids and have to vote on the face every year? It was more heated than the election.
Have a happy Halloween!
(1) I grew up in a small (500 person) town. The whole town stopped trick or treating at 7 to go the party. There was also a town Easter egg hunt. I loved those activities but wouldn't trade Minnesota for not having to drive two hours to get to a mall, or wear 15 layers by the end of October.
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