Do You Assume First-Person Writing is True?

As a writer, I've always enjoyed writing in the first-person more than third-person. (I bent over to tie my shoe, rather than she bent over to tie her shoe). I find that telling the story from the point of view of the protagonist allows me to use my "voice" to tell the story in a more entertaining way.

However, I've also noticed a trend: People tend to assume that everything written in the first person is true! Even professionals in the industry make comments, like the critique on a short story I recently submitted, "I'm not sure whether this is fiction or not, but it certainly is appropriate for our readers..."

Etc.

I laugh to myself, as this reminds me of a seminar I attended at last year's Backspace Writer's Conference. The author, who was speaking about techniques when writing erotica, was frank enough to point out that, "If it's going to bother you that everyone is going to assume you really do want to have an orgy with golden retrievers, then writing erotica, at least without using a pen name, is not for you."

Looking at my book shelf, I see that some of my favorites are written in the first-person. Did I spend the whole book thinking that in fact, the author must have truly experienced everything in the novel? That it is little more than a thinly-veiled memoir? Surely not. They are telling a story and just like my own life is not nearly as interesting as those I design in my craft, neither do I think that every author who writes in the first person must truly live in a sinister town with a sneaky sheriff, murderous politicians, and firsthand knowledge of a murder.

Do you?

Christmas is Here! (Gasp, gasp, pant, pant!)

Holiday hoopla... so very joyous. No, seriously!

Of course, before now there were all of the Christmas preparation setbacks along the way: One of my cats becoming terribly ill, thus requiring numerous expensive and traumatic vet visits and needing to be watched 24/7; One and a half "snow" days of the kids being off from school (involving not a flake of snow, of course, as is the custom here in Raleigh, NC); all of the chorus, gingerbread craft events and other school things being rescheduled so I can attend them even closer to Christmas. Etc.

I've ordered a roast. A big-girl roast. I've never made one of these before and although I'm a little nervous about cooking a piece of meat that is more expensive than the jewelry I'll be wearing while making it, I am going to cross my fingers and do my best.

My gifts are wrapped, my food shopping coupons clipped, alcoholic beverages have been stocked up on. I've accepted my husband's offer for us to dine out for dinner tonight (Christmas Eve) so I can conserve my energy for Christmas day--a significant indulgence in my book.

The tree is lit, the cat is no longer vomiting, the carpets have been cleaned, and the kids are off school. Cookies have been baked, cards have been sent, and the multitude of other tasks have been accomplished. Once again, I've somehow made it through the commercialized, expensive, ridiculous hoopla that epitomizes the holiday season, especially for us moms.

Now it's time to enjoy it. Merry Christmas!

Tell-It-Like-It-Is Thanks

I think it's safe to say that most of us are quite thankful for many things, and when our turn comes around at the Thanksgiving table, it is likely that we'll share them aloud: food, clothing, our homes, our family and friends, good health, and so forth. Truly, I am thankful for all of those things.

But the Thanksgiving holiday brings the additional opportunity to express thanks for other things; things that we don't particularly announce at the Thanksgiving table but that I am truly thankful for every day. So, in keeping with my tell-it-like-it-is style, I've decided to share some of those things with you, my readers.

I am also deeply thankful for:
*The girl scout moms, who do most of the work with my daughters' troops, enabling moms like me to help out in a volunteer capacity, yet without having to attend Leadership Training, which involves camping outdoors in winter.
*The dancing school people, who help impart good morals to my children, who for some reason listen to them but not to me. (www.studiofivedancecompany.com)
*The weather in NC, which allows me to write this blog on November 22, wearing a tee-shirt and jeans while having all of my windows wide open, with the heat turned off.
*My cat sitter, who cat-sits even when the cats are not home.
*My ex-husband, who is taking my children on vacation to visit family, thus enabling me to enjoy not only a five-day reprieve from the kids, but also facilitating the greater procrastination of my need to drive them fourteen hours to New York myself.
*My current husband, who is so helpful and supportive that I refrain from telling people because they become green and irritated.
*My next husband... just kidding! (Thanks Mark, for laughing at my jokes too.)
*My two children and two stepchildren, all of whom rarely have meltdowns (even when I do), and none of whom are criminals in any way, shape, or form.
*My fellow writers on the Backspace Writer's Forum, who are just about the only people in life I can count on to be brutally honest at all times, yet with good intentions. (www.bksp.org)
*The fact that there is not a gigantic lit-up tree full of cat choking hazards in my living room. Yet.
*Online Christmas shopping.
*And of course, my sincere thanks to all of you who follow my blog; I appreciate your support.

Okay, I'll stop now. Because really, this list could go on and on and on.
What about you? What are some of the less obvious things you're thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Five Things I Learned This Week

1. Clubbing, which begins no earlier than 11 pm, was a lot more fun when I didn’t get up at 6 am every day because my kids’ school days start so early. And when I had friends who wanted to do it with me.

2. If you join a gym, you can drive by and say “That’s my gym.” You can wear the t-shirt, carry the membership card, and pay the money. But if you don’t go there and work out, you won’t actually become any more fit.

3. There are some friends with whom there is no choice but to phone at a time you know is inconvenient for them; the only other option being to call at 3 am to shoot the breeze because really, there is no time during normal waking hours when you’d both be available.

4. When applying a fake cat nose to one’s face, do not use "Outlast" lipstick because you are too lazy to search for normal lipstick that would have washed off without practically having to apply a chemical solvent.

5. When waking a teenager, begin by finding the wire peeking out of the blankets. Follow it along, and if you come across an iPod, reverse directions. Eventually you will arrive at the earbuds, which are in the head of the near-comatose teen. (More waking a teen tips in this humorous article: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/-/user-post-how-to-awaken-a-teenager-on-shine-2402224/)

Momnesia Soundtrack!

Hey there music lovers! Exciting news! I've created a soundtrack for my novel, MOMNESIA, and it's up and ready for you to enjoy!

Whether you're a "Momnesia sufferer" or not, chances are you'll enjoy the songs on the soundtrack. Visit this page on my website --Momnesia Soundtrack!-- and you can listen to samples, buy individual songs, or choose to get the whole soundtrack!

Throughout the book, the main character finds inspiration in some of the most unforeseen places, including people, horses (ahem... a city girl catching a loose horse?), books, and especially music! Some of the songs that are so significant to her play a featured role throughout the story, eventually coming to have entirely different meanings by the time you get to The End. Others are mentioned more in passing, but are still great songs.

Hope you enjoy the music!

Can Married Life Be Exciting?

Married life. You live with the same person, day-in and day-out for years on end. You know how that person brushes their teeth, how many times they're going to sneeze, and the punch line to every joke they tell.

Married life with kids? You're worn out from the daily duties, a great percentage of your conversations are about the kids or logistics surrounding the kids (which one are you picking up from what activity, at what time?), and there's barely any energy left for... well, anything.

So, is there a way to have all the benefits of marriage (companionship, friendship, and ten thousand other great things that can be hard to think of at times), yet still have excitement, adventure, and romance?

I think there is, but it takes some work, creativity, and willingness on both people's parts. So, here is the question:

What do you do (or would like to do) to keep your marriage from becoming like a boring television program you've already seen a thousand times?

I'll start: Get ready separately, then go to a trendy bar or restaurant for a drink, like you did when you were dating.

Got any good ones? Comment below! And feel free to share this with your friends! (Click SHARE button to the right.) Looking forward to reading yours!

If Only All Ironies Were Funny

I'd really rather not visit my husband's family in Michigan during winter, I thought to myself. We'll catch pneumonia!

My wheels started spinning as I tried to figure a way to go and visit family, (who we'd like to see before their toddlers are all grown up), yet without having to take our spoiled, warm-weather-loving North Carolina selves Up North during winter.

And that's when I saw it... Nickelback! One of our favorite bands! Playing at the Joe Louis Arena! In Detroit! Twenty minutes away from my husband's family! In mid-September, when it is neither freezing nor blazing hot in Michigan! And immediately following both of our birthdays, thus justifying spending the money to visit family and see a concert!

We just got back from Michigan. Where we saw family (adorable toddlers, nice in-laws, great food), the weather was nice and autumn-like (65 degrees, crisp, and an opportunity to try on jeans I haven't worn since last March), and the Nickelback concert was excellent (great seats, very loud, and the band sounds just as good live as on their CD's).

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy these things nearly as much as I should have. Why? Because somehow, the mild head cold I had before leaving managed to turn into (literally!) full-fledged pneumonia along the way... Resulting in two trips to Urgent Care, several trips to the pharmacy, multiple shots (some in places I'll refrain from describing), and barely managing to get through it all without collapsing into a sniveling heap of a person-who-readily-admits-they're-barely-alive-instead-of-braving-it-out-until-the-end-like-an-idiot reality.

Thank goodness for my wonderful, loving, just-as-bad-as-I-am husband, who knew the whole time, helped me through it, and is making me tea even as I (completely inappropriately) type this.

Sigh... we may as well have just gone in January; at least the pneumonia wouldn't have been unexpected. Okay, I'm going back to bed now. Good night.