Friends, neighbors, and random people I’ve never met…We are gathered here today to say goodbye to an old, dear, dear friend. Black Dishwasher Number One. Black Dishwasher Number One, or BDNO, to those who knew him best, was an overworked soul. He tried in all things, even when he didn’t feel like it. I have […]
READ MORESo I’m stressed. I have a lot going on and nothing getting done. Plus all my neighbors are outdoing me on the Halloween decor. Maybe cuz I have nothing up. But I think the cobwebs and dead plants near my porch add a nice touch. What do you do when you’re stressed? This week I’ve […]
READ MORESo last week I colored my hair. And due to reasons that would totally bore you, I can no longer use salon or drug store type of hair color. (It’s tragic really.) So now if I want my hair colored, I have to use henna. Henna is what gives people those fake, red looking tattoos. […]
READ MORESo I ask my students a “question of the day.” On Monday they might have to tell me their favorite TV show, Tuesday their least favorite band, etc. When you ask teenagers for their opinion, you better be ready for…well, their opinion. Here are some recent quotes. Me: “What animal would you want to be?”Ninth […]
READ MOREI’ve received a few common questions lately, so I thought I would address some of those. 1. How do you come up with the names for your characters? Well, the bad characters get the names of students and possibly distant family members who gave me grief or bad Christmas presents. Characters I like are sometimes […]
READ MOREThis chipmunk should enroll in Julliard. You only need about the first 50 seconds or so of this one. Watch the dude on the left. Clearly he trained with the chipmunk. I don’t know about you, but this answered a lot of questions for me. You know underneath it all, Weird Al really is a […]
READ MOREHere’s a little poem I made up. Stuff To Do Blues (A poem that does not rhyme, but is no less artistic) Supposed to be writing a book But I’m not Cause I’m lazy I’m lazy, lazy, lazy. Oprah should do a show on lazy. Instead of how to puree butternut squash. Facebook is evil. […]
READ MOREHope everyone had a fabulous weekend. Also hope it was restful because we have a big day of celebrating to do. It is Columbus Day. Here are the reasons I am grateful for Christopher Columbus: A. The date of your voyage is the only historical date I’ve ever been able to remember. Whenever I’m feeling […]
READ MORECongrats to “Deborah,” who won a copy of On the Loose just by leaving a comment on my blog last week. When Oprah and Steven Spielberg come calling, Deborah, that thing will be your meal ticket when you sell it on eBay. Just kidding. Unfortunately. Anyway, so as I mentioned days and days ago, I […]
READ MOREOkay, I need a few days to process my feelings on Brit losing custody. I probably need to go to a quiet place, drink chamomile, and write some poetry. I will turn my feelings into art. Brit and I will get through this. Congrats to EDGE, who won a free copy of Camy Tang’s book […]
READ MOREI’m in the process of revamping (totally demolishing and rebuilding) my website. And when I say “I,” I mean somebody else-someone who knows what they’re doing (which counts me out). During a meeting with the web designer, he jokingly mentioned having a tab on my site for recipes. But you know what? There are a […]
READ MOREFirst of all, don’t forget to leave a comment on Monday’s entry to get your name in the running for Camy Tang’s Sushi For One? You do not want to miss it. So last week I went to Dallas for a writer’s conference–the annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference. I went to this event two […]
READ MOREToday I’d like to welcome a special author and friend to the blog, Ms. Camy Tang. (And the crowd goes wild) Camy’s first book, Sushi For One? hit the shelves this past September. I was lucky enough to get a preview and snag an interview. You can be lucky, too, and WIN a copy yourself. […]
READ MOREI’m in the Big D for a writing conference. It’s been a lot of fun, I’ve met a lot of great people, but I’m ready to go home. I know my cats need me. Their little kitty hearts cry to me from Arkansas. Actually I know they haven’t even noticed I’m gone. I know I’ll […]
READ MOREI gave away a bunch of advanced copies of On the Loose on Facebook. Are you my friend? You totally should be! Even if you’re one of my former students and I gave you detention. Or interrupted your mid-class texting. Or gave you an F. Now for this week’s contest. It’s a very complicated two […]
READ MOREOn the Loose hits shelves this week. I know, I know there will be lines and people camping out at midnight Monday night, but please, no fights. And share those candy bars and “waiting-all-night” snacks. It stresses me and J.K. Rowling out when our mobs of eager readers get violent. But we do understand. So […]
READ MOREDid you know today is National Encouragement Day? This proclamation was signed by President Georgie Bush and originated by some kids in Arkansas. I learned that at school today. (And then celebrated my cerebral achievement with a Diet Coke) So in light of National Encouragement Day I will not pick on Britney Spears and her […]
READ MOREHad a great weekend watching back to back Tyler Perry movies of Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea’s Family Reunion. If you have not checked out the phenomenally talented writing, acting, and directing talents of Mr. Perry, you gotta get on it. The man is a genius. Tyler Perry’s new movie I , […]
READ MORESo I’m still trying to think up a tagline, a one word sentence that sums up me and my writing. I’ve made sooo much progress. Actually, like the pile of laundry I’ve been staring at, I’ve made zero progress. But my friend Sheila had some great ideas. Or maybe they’re just funny to me because […]
READ MOREI had business cards made recently for a conference I’ve got coming up. Or to pass out to total strangers who could benefit from my phone number–whatever. Anyway, the lovely Dineen Miller of Designer Girl Graphics created them, and they’re great. But when she asked me what my “tag line” was, I panicked. A tag […]
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