Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Blog Chain Blatherskite

Yes, it's time for another blog chain post, and this go around was started with Michelle http://www.michellemclean.blogspot.com/ . Elana was before me: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/ , and Leah comes next in the chain:
http://leahclifford.livejournal.com/ .

When I met Michelle, we were instantly awed by the similarities to our historical romance novels...thank God they were both completed BEFORE we met, or there could have been questions about how those similarities took place.

I really liked her....until now! I have been procrastinating for days about writing this post. In fact, in an attempt to avoid this post, I have outlined and started rewrites on the ghost/paranormal romance, and even started trying to decide how to start my next historical romance (which has been outlined for a while). All this has taken place in the last three days.

What could be so bad about this post? Well, according to Michelle, who is in the process of unpacking from a move, this would be a "fun post"... fun like a root canal?
Let's just move onto the dreaded question:



Share a favorite poem, quote, joke, anecdote, or anything of the sort that deals with writing, writers, the publishing industry, or the other strange and unusual tidbits that belong to our little world.

I don't do poems, and I usually only quote myself, my kids, or my grandmother (she told me the day before she died "Be good...if you can't be good, then be good at it!"). Jokes seem to lose the finer nuances when you read them, opposed to hearing them, so I guess anecdote is what you guys are going to get.

I mentioned in a previous post that I got to meet my favorite author, Diana Gabaldon, at a sci-fi convention this summer ( http://terrirainer.blogspot.com/2008/07/diana-gabaldon-and-time-displacement.html ).

What I didn't mention, was my reaction when I saw her! Um, I came across as the crazy fan from hell. I ran up to her, and said,

"I'm here! I told you on your blog I'd be here, and here I am!" To which she smiled that tolerant, oh dear God it's a stalker, get me out of here, smile. My friend Lisa was mortified. I just chalked it up to me and my big mouth and shrugged it off.

Now moving on to my next "I don't care what you think about me" story. This just happened today. I pulled up to get gas at the local station. As I got out, a motorcycle police officer pulls up at the pump next to me. I instantly see this as a research opportunity, since the hero in my paranormal romance is a police officer. Here's how that went:

"Excuse me, but can I ask you a question?" I said, while peeking around the gas pump.

The man looked up suspiciously, and answered warily, "Sure".

"How long would it take an officer to become a Lieutenant?"
He just looked at me, so I went on, "I'm writing a book, and I made my main character a Lieutenant, but I'm worried he's too young for it to be believable."

"Oh, okay." He responded, like he was asked questions like that every day.

"About fifteen years, depending on whether there is an opening."

Well, that doesn't work for my book...."What if it's a small town? Is it the same?"

"Oh, that's a whole different story. It could take a whole lot less time, if officers move or retire, could be as little as eight years."

"Cool! Thanks, that's perfect. Small town it is!"

So there you have it, not only do I have a thick skin, I'm not afraid to look like an idiot. In fact, I think I look like an idiot on a regular basis! It's how I roll.....

15 comments:

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

I applaud you for seizing that opportunity with the police offier. I'm way too shy to attempt something like that.

H. L. Dyer said...

You are a riot! And I love the tags on this post. *snort*

Kate Karyus Quinn said...

OMG - you are too funny! I think that those are two awesome writing related stories!

Michelle McLean said...

Ahhh, you know you still love me :D And awesome stories!! Well, I am still green with envy over you meeting the fabulous Ms. Gabaldon, but I'll let that go for now. And I am in awe at you asking that cop questions. I am pretty brave in emails...not so much in person! Excellent post, loved it :D (and see, it wasn't that bad AND you got a bunch of writing stuff done...so it was a good topic for you after all) :D

Anne Spollen said...

It's all in the name of research, right?

Great anecdotes -- you should send those to a writing magazine --

Mary Duncan said...

I don't think you looked like an idiot. I mean, how else would we authors, who can always conjure, plan and scheme about anything and everything, come up with these factual tidbits? Can't just make them up. Too many people know these things.

Beside, the cop probably thought you were just another hot-looking chick with a police fetish...

It happens more than you think!

Mary

Anonymous said...

You remind me of someone else who has no fear about talking to strangers. I wish it were me. Great job! :)

Shauna said...

I am new here. What a great blog :)

Vodka Mom said...

and that's how you roll...........I love it.

Mrs4444 said...

Acceptance is the first step, Terri. Good job. :) Miss you...hope you are busy writing genius works!

Carolyn Kaufman | @CMKaufman said...

Great stories!

If it helps, I was tasked with interviewing Ms. Gabaldon when I did production for CD-ROM products (before the inet went broadband). I got through the interview fine (though was a little embarrassed that she'd obviously answered all the questions many times before), and then at the end I wanted to tell her I was a fan. And I started gushing. ON TAPE. And she did that tolerant thing. And I have been embarrassed about it ever since. :-D So I can totally relate.

Anonymous said...

haha love your research with the cop! I totally would have done the same thing, grilling him on details to make them fit.

Anna Claire said...

I love this post! I'm new, just came over from Miss Snark's First Victim. I think we're critiquing the F2S simultaneously. Every time I clicked to comment on one, I read your comment and had to restrain myself from just typing "what she said," so I thought I'd click on over and say hi!

Jessica Verday said...

HAHAHAHA. Love.it. GREAT post!

Anonymous said...

It was certainly interesting for me to read this blog. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon.

Best wishes
Jeph Normic