Some of you know I am going to take the plunge and submit my latest romance novella to a publisher. Perhaps several, since the chances it will be accepted immediately by the first place I sub to are slim. I've written since I was in junior high, purely for my own enjoyment. This latest piece started out as a not serious bit of entertainment for friends at work. They said, as friends often do, "This is really good! You should get published!" as if there was no real work involved in trying to get a book published. And frankly, friends are not to be believed when they say you are a good writer. I don't think I'm a bad writer, and I'll go so far as to say portions of my stories are good, but to be a good writer means work. Lots of hard work, persistence and giving up other activities to sit in front of the computer.  And a backbone that won't wilt under rejections. I'm not sure if I have that. I guess we'll find out.  

I have selected three epublishers who allow simultaneous submissions. I had originally planned to enter it in a writing contest, but  iwas told the sex wasn't hot enough to qualify. So...  I plan to have the story submitted by May 31.  If they reject my story, I have three more lined up. I hope one of them will accept it. If not, I have other stories I could polish up and submit. I am giving my so called writing career 7 months. If nothing sells or at least gets some sort of positive comment by December 31 then I can honorably retire and continue to write for fun. Meanwile, I'm doing what I can to put myself into a good position to be published. I've joined a couple online romance writers groups, sent in my registration to Romance Writers of America (holy cow! don't complain about the SCA memberships dues!) and set up a blog under my pen name at www.maddybarone.blogspot.com

What do you think about that name for a writer of hot-almost-erotic romances?* Maddy Barone is a bit ordinary, but names like Midnyte Diamond and Crymson Heart make me think about porn stars. And I answer pretty easily to Maddy, and Barone is Italian. like me, and I'm a baroness, so I figured it fit.


By the way, I posted one of my love scenes in the new writing roup and it was unanimous that the heat level wasn't anywhere close to erotic. Really? It seemed pretty darned hot to me! So much so that I would NEVER let any of my church friends read it for fear they would ban me. Or pray for me. Yikes!

I'm a bit nervous about this whole thing. Ideas? Any comforting/encouraging/chiding words you'd like to share?

Well, the kirtle is finished except for the hemming which I'm going to do last. I'm generally happy with it. That %$&W#! dress form is not my size, so don't judge by that. The waist seam seems a bit wonky, but the gown will cover that. And if I wear it without the overgown I'll use a belt to disguise it.  Also, the boning pokes out too far at the top center. If I have time I may rip a few inches, trim the boning and re-sew. Next I'm going to cut out the three layers for the sleeves (gold silk for the center layer, and blue silk and red silk for the two changeable outer layers), sew together one of the seams and cut the pinking in with a handy dandy little tool that Ia and Fina bought me for my birthday many years ago at Pennsic.

 

mood: happy music: susan boyle

Ugh! I'm just NOT in the mood to sew! I did manage to get the kirtle mostly put together. Just need to tack down the bodice lining and hem the skirt. It's very nice. Wondering if I get the over gown done tho...

If I get my butt in gear I am planning to make a new gown for Nordskogen's 12th Nite in a couple weeks. I am using an actual pattern from www.reconstructinghistory.com called the Flemish Gown. I scored a bunch of silk drapery panels in ruby red, buff gold and sapphire blue. for only $4.99 for a 40x60 panel. The kirtle will be made of the red silk, lined with light weight dull green linen. The gown will be a very light weight wool in a navy so dark that it looks black. I plan to use the gold silk to line that. The sleeves will be reversible, the blue silk on one side and the gold silk on the other, both pinked and/or slashed to show the red silk interlining. I have some gold braid and some black velvet ribbon for trim, and I'll wear my linen chemise with the upstanding collar. It has only a small frill, but I don't think I'll havetime to make a full ruff. This is an ambitious project, especially since I'll be out of town on New Years weekend. So I may end up wearing my faithful old steel blue velvet. Here's the fabric I'm using.

I am wishing all my Christian friends a Merry Christmas! To those who do not celebrate the birth of Christ I wish a Happy Holiday season. Here's hoping all my friends are safe and warm at home, with friends family and good food.

I am busily working on a new set of garb for Nordskogen's 12th Night. It's slow going as I would rather be reading, knitting or spinning. But I will persevere and try to get the kirtle bodice done today at least. On to putting the lining, interlining and bodice silk together.

mood: happy music: Anne Murrey Christmas

And that's why I've neglected LiveJournal shamefully.

So this weekend I was mentioning to my brother that althoug my company has been weathering a lot of criticism in the media we are still a good place to work. We are a strong company who cares about the employees. We have good benefits. The executives' pay and benefits were pretty high (although not out of line with execs at other companies), but the company was going to be making some changes to address exec pay and bonuses and satisfy the public's complaints.

This morning there was an announcement that the executives salaries would be frozen,  but their travel allowances increased, and everyone's benefits cut. Starting in December my paycheck will be about $35.00 less.  That adds up to aout $925 a year. Also, the Extended Illness Bank would be frozen and none of the 800 or so hours I have banked can be used. Ever. If I am sick I have to use PTO. It used to be that I could use PTO for the first 3 days and after that the paid time off would come from my EIB.  And Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) can not be used to take time off to care of a sick family member.  That makes the "Family" in the FMLA kinda off, huh?

I'm pretty bummed out.

mood: grumpy

So back in mid August I was having daily headaches, so I made an appointment to see my doctor. The soonest they could see me was Sept 21. So I made the appointment. Then on Sept 21 the doctor's office called to say Dr. Nelson was out.  &^$%&! They would call me and re-schedule. But they didn't. So I called them just now and have an appointment for Friday afternoon.  The headache is gone, but I can ask about the Kenalog shot. Allergy season is wicked bad right now.

I've had a headache for over four weeks, now, and it's tiring. I got home from work yesterday and laid down around 4:30 for a nap. I woke up at about 7:15, hungry and still headachy. I took some Tylenol and started to make supper. I turned on the TV and Good Morning America came on. Strange...

OMG!!!! I slept around the clock! I'm late for work! No wonder I'm hungry!