What Are You Thankful For?

I know this is a bit of a cliche, but I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to share a few of the things that I am thankful for...First and foremost are my kids:

I had their pictures taken for the second thing I am thankful for, my husband Kel (the biggest OU fan around, if you hadn't guessed).

Right after having this taken, I took them to see Twilight. All three teenagers have read the book (another thing I am thankful about...they all WANTED to read something). I haven't taken them all to the movies in years. It was really great.

The next thing I am grateful for is my Mom. She is the best friend/Mom anyone could ask for. She taught me not to sweat the small stuff, and that everything always works out in the end.

My friends are right up there on the list. I don't have friends that come and go. A few of my friends have been a part of my life since we were eight years old, and a few have only been around for seven or eight years, but I love them all dearly (I'm not usually mushy, so don't expect this kind of post often).

I also wanted to add that I am thankful for my kid's health. A few months ago, my oldest, Tiffany (upper left), suffered a knee injury. We found out a few weeks ago that she has a genetic birth defect (maltracking patella) and now must wear a brace. Her femur never developed the groove for her knee cap, so her simple strained knee won't heal. I took Tessa (lower right) to the Orthopedist this morning, and she has the same problem in both knees, just like her big sister. The way I see it, this is such a small thing compared to so many Mother's out there. My son's teacher comes to mind. Her teenage daughter is battling cancer right now ( http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kayceeevans ) . My prayers go out to her and her family this Thanksgiving.

So when you think that things are bad, or you ask yourself "why me?", just stop and be thankful for the blessings that you do have, and just know that there will always be those out there that have far bigger worries and problems than you do.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and don't forget to be appreciate what you have!

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.....

A Must Have for Writers on the Elusive Agent Hunt!

Authoress, the anonymous champion of all aspiring writers, has done it again! Her latest endeavor is a no nonsense guide to starting that agent hunt and the tools to avoid pitfalls that so many of us fall into.

Many of you are familiar with her blog http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/ and her Hook the Agent contests. She also has many crit opportunities for her blog followers.

Over-all, she's just one of those really helpful people that try and make a difference by sharing her time, words of wisdom, and giving other's a chance to get a leg up in the elusive agent hunt. That being said, her new e-book release is now available:

This can be purchased for $9.99 on Authoress's blog (the link is above). It is an e-book, so talk about instant gratification!

The resources that she gives you are priceless. You could spend months and months researching these things on the web, read books on getting published (which are certainly not going to be cheaper), and would still be left wondering where to start.

Authoress has given you the tools, the lists (I so love lists), and the places to go so that you can too can find an agent, and then how to go about getting an agent that is right for you.

If you have written, are writing, or even thinking about writing something, this is a tool that you NEED. Go visit her blog, look around, and order her book. I promise you won't be sorry!

Oh yeah, and tell her Terri sent you...not that I get a kick-back, but I have a secret fantasy that maybe she's Nora Roberts, or JK Rowling, or Diana Gabaldon and I'd like to have brownie points!

Beware! Pirates!!!

Scary, aren't they? I mentioned in a previous post that my two youngest Tory (left) and Tessa (right) wanted to be pirates for Halloween. I couldn't resist posting a picture of them in all their pirate glory.

I also wanted to take a few minutes to direct you to some really great posts. Mrs. 4444, the Martha Stewart of blogging (no, she REALLY is), had a great post about raising kids, and it is GOLDEN advice. Instead of typing my own version, since I agree with her's 100%, you should all go read about it here: http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2008/11/respect.html .

Another place to check out is Rhea's blog, http://texaswordtangle.blogspot.com/ . She is having a SUPER giveaway, and even though she's a Texan (I'll overlook it Rhea), she's got a great blog!

Okay, now I'll move on to my latest gripe. I have read that so many people become addicted to blogging, or to facebook, or to twitter. NOT ME! I can not stay away from Craigslist. I read random ads, just for the heck of it. I click on the free stuff section ALL the time, just KNOWING I'm going to find some great treasure (I haven't). I need to find a support group for this. Anybody else out there have a site, game, or something on-line that they just can't seem to stay away from for more than an hour at a time? Enquiring minds wanna know!

Blog Chain Blatherskite

Some people argue that creative people need “angst” to produce good work. Do you? What emotions drive you as a writer?

Do I need angst to produce good work?

That seems a bit subjective to me, since most writers would like to think that every time they pen something that it will be considered good at the very least. I will say that had it not been for angst, I would not have started writing again (it was a very hard time in my life). Now whether what I wrote was good...let's just say it was, um, a start.

This question came at such an interesting time for me. October is my favorite month of the year. I get so excited, and by the end of the month, I was riding high http://terrirainer.blogspot.com/2008/10/happy-halloween.html . So many good things happened last week, that it was inevitable that once November started, it would be a supreme let down.

Enter my fall state of depression. So many people say that fall is their favorite time of the year. In Oklahoma fall comes late. The leaves are just now turning. November marks the beginning of a melancholy period for me. I wouldn't say that I journey into a downward spiral of depression that requires medication, I just tend to become far more subdued than normal.

That being said, it is about as close as I come to having a serious case of angst. And NO! I don't write anything well while in a mood that tends to lean towards gloomy. I get complacent, I have to use my energy to function at a normal level. It's as if some of my spirit drains along with the green in the leaves and the grass. I hardly feel creative.

What emotions drive you as a writer?

Hmmmm, this is a head scratcher for me. I never thought of any emotion driving me. The creative juices start flowing so fast I had to have an outlet. I controlled the emotion that I was pouring into my work by my song selections. As so many before me in the chain have admitted, listening to certain music often sets the tone of the written work. Whether it aids in the mood or makes those emotions stronger using auditory stimulation is anybody's guess. That is only one tool that a writer can use.

Drawing on a past experience, or an emotional scene from a movie, even feelings evoked from a favorite book, are all things that a creative mind can draw on. I do try and feel the same emotions that a character is feeling. It makes it easier to share that with a reader if you are putting yourself in the character's own mood.

This question has been my favorite so far. It came at such a great time. To be able to reflect on the swing of emotions that we all feel from time to time has been an eye-opener. It also forced me to write, which I haven't done at all this week.

Even though October is over, I still have ghost stories that I could share, and I will try and round up a few for my next post. Until then, you should really go to the beginning of this chain and follow it. The members of the blog chain are all far more talented at conveying their thoughts on this subject, and I must say that it really sucks to have to follow them!

The chain started with Archy http://archetypewriting.blogspot.com/ , Elana was before me in the chain http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/ , and Leah follows my post http://leahclifford.livejournal.com/ .

Happy Halloween!

It's finally arrived! The kids all have their costumes, candy has been purchased to hand out, and I have some exciting news to share before I head out for the evening.

First, I received an email today that my story came in first place for Kat Harris' ghost story contest. You can go here: http://ndnforum.com/blogs//index.php/2008/10/31/a-load-of-bull?blog=5#more700 to check it out. Very unexpected in a GOOD way!

My second bit of news is even MORE exciting, for me at least. I hadn't said anything, for fear of jinxing my chances, but I can't keep this to myself, at least today, of all days.

A while back, I submitted an application to join a local paranormal research group. It was a three page application, BTW. I don't think I've ever filled one out that was so detailed for a job, much less a volunteer position. They receive hundreds of applications, so my chances were slim at best. Then the email came...they wanted to interview me!

On Wednesday night, I donned my make-up (this is only done for VERY special occasions), my daughter straightened my hair...who knew it was so long??? I put on my best "casual" attire and drove to the meeting place. I was to be interviewed by six of the members. Nothing like walking into an inquisition!

Of course I talked WAY too much, not sure if it was nerves or just my lack of control over my own mouth. I thought it went well, but they explained that I was the first interview, and they had a few others scheduled. The position they needed to fill was for an investigator/researcher and someone to write articles for their monthly newsletter on urban legends and local folklore. HELLOOOOOOO, I write, it's what I do!!!!

I left the almost two hour long interview and tried NOT to get excited. It did go well, but it would be Friday before they would be letting me know anything, and even if they liked me, I would not be a member until I had gone on a few investigations. They want to see how potential members click with the group as a whole, and probably want to make sure that you wouldn't run screaming at the first sign of anything paranormal. After that, potential members are on a 90 day probationary period.

Let me interject something here. You may be thinking that this seems a bit extreme. It's not. This group has been on a national TV program (Ghost Hunters), they are regularly featured on a local news station here, host their own paranormal convention every summer, and have requests from homeowners and businesses to do research and investigations by the bucket load. It's a BIG deal.

Wednesday night, after I had been back home for about an hour, the call came...EARLY. They liked me!!!!! I will be going on two investigations, one in November and one in December, and I will find out by the end of the year whether I have earned a permanent position.

Told ya it was COOL stuff! Hope you all have a great Halloween, and I'm sure you haven't heard the last of my ghost stories!

Ghosts Screwin With Ya

How many of you have been on a REAL paranormal investigation? You know, one complete with EVP detectors, infrared cameras, digital voice recorders, LIVE web cams and last but not least, an old abandoned hospital with plenty of activity? Sounds fun, huh? IT WAS!

So many times, choices we make affect our lives. Often it has a negative impact, but other times, the far-reaching positive impact to our lives is phenomenal. I've had a few people that have come into my life that instigated changes that made me who and what I am today.

Joining a "New Age" type group after the beginning of my paranormal journey, which you can follow by starting here: http://terrirainer.blogspot.com/2008/10/and-paranormal-journey-continues.html , I met some GREAT people, just like I have blogging. Marlene had the biggest impact. I love her dearly. If not for her, I would have never started writing again. Our lives have taken different turns and we don't talk often, but I think of her a lot.

Another member of the group was MJ. He lives in Missouri with his wife and kids, and he LOVES ghosts. So much so, that he was a member of a paranormal group here in Oklahoma. This group is pretty cool. They have one of the longest, if not the longest, on-going investigations in a single location. They have a lease on an old hospital that has been vacant for decades. Web cams are set up, along with streaming audio, that you can see and listen to 24/7 on-line here: http://www.researchwebcam.net/ .

On Saturday nights, they have walk through investigations with their team. You have to be a member, or be approved to come. MJ made the trip down one weekend about four years ago and surprised me by getting me an invite too!!!

The drive was about an hour long, and I made it right before dark. It was late in the summer, so the weather was gorgeous. The building is large, imposing and CREEPY! The location is kept secret to try and avoid more trespassers than they already have. The police are diligent about patrolling, and they do arrest and prosecute, so you guys keep that in mind if there are any buildings like this in your own area.

I won't bore you with the play by play, but the place was amazing! There were four of us, MJ, his brother-in-law, myself, and a member of the group who walked through after we arrived. It is mostly dark, they do have a few lights and the web cams set up, but other wise we used flashlights. It has a basement, and five floors. We used the stairwells and even got to go up to the roof. The most active area is the old administration area. Active seems like an understatement.

While in the two adjoining rooms off of the lobby, we had a three inch wood screw going flying over our heads and hit the wall in front of us TWICE! We had glass (there is glass littering the floor from all the past vandalism) thrown and hit the member with us in the calf so hard that it left a red welt. I was standing in one room, with my back to the door watching the three men. Something tapped my arm and I'll admit it, a squeal escaped my lips, as I jerked, a piece of glass fell from my sleeve. Unfortunately, MJ was recording, and he let EVERYBODY listen to that later!!!! So much for being a fearless ghost hunter.

Later, we were assaulted with the strong smell of flowers in a room on the second floor. We stood in the room, and you could feel COLD air swirl around us. Cold like a freezer cold, and it was in the temperature was in the high 80's . The guys had me leave the room and stand in the dark hall, but the smell left them and followed me, along with the cold. They then made me come back and stand in the room ALONE, in the dark, and same thing. IT WAS SO COOL!

I had the best time, and would love to go back one day. I do have other stories that I will share, so check back often this month!