Visit Sistahfaith

Fellow author friend and sistah Marilynn Griffith developed a new social networking site named for her upcoming book Sistahfaith-- Believing Beyond Boundaries.

As she says, "SistahFaith is a multi-ethnic network of believers. We believe in God and in each other. We're holding hands and believing beyond boundaries. Join us!"

Take a look: Sistahfaith

Cheryl Wyatt

STORYBOARDING ON SEEKERVILLE

Heads up!!! the Pikes Peak Romance Writers and Pam McCutcheon are going
to be in Seekerville with their Portable Plotting Board.

Here is the blurb to share on your loops and blogs.

Friday, September 26th we are thrilled to welcome

Pam McCutcheon, and the Pikes Peak Romance Writers

to Seekerville to discuss their Portable Plotting Board-- as seen in
the RWR.

Don't miss it and a chance to win your own Portable Plotting Board!

Check it out at http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/


If you're a writer...this will be of interest to you because you can use the board at any stage of the plotting game. Before you write a word or after you've written The End.

If you're a reader...this will give you insight into how MUCH WORK some of your favorite authors actually put into a book so you can enjoy it. My favorite authors make it look so seamless and that amazes me.

Cheryl

Single Sashimi Blog Tour

I'm THRILLED beyond belief to welcome back my good friend and stellar writer...CAMY TANG!

I have SO looked forward to the release of this book and hope you have two. Her first two books, Sushi for One and Only Uni are still available whereever books are sold.


If ya haven't read these....go get 'em! :-)

And especially get this book...Camy named a character after me and Pammer!

Look for Pamela Wyatt....

How kewl is that? Pammer sez we're kinda flirty. How FUN! I did NOT know Camy was gonna do that.

Without further hoopla on my part...here's Camy:



Interview with Camy Tang


1. If your heroine for Single Sashimi could take you on a trip, where would you go and what would you do?


She’d probably take me to Comicon. Seriously. I mean, she’s involved in the video game industry—where else would she go to have fun?


2. If your hero was there, how would he strike up a conversation with your heroine?


He’d probably grab her and kiss her. :) Don’t you like him already???


3. What was the funnest scene for you to write in this book?


The first kiss. :) :) :) :) :)


4. Did you know the plot or the characters in this book first? Can you share a bit of this process?


I am very anal retentive about my plotting. I try to know absolutely everything ahead of time.


When I first start out, I use Post It notes that I stick all over my closet doors. This is my brainstorming time, and eventually I cull the ideas I don’t use.


Then I write a sketchy plot outline on an Excel spreadsheet.


Then I plot out each individual scene so I know what I’m trying to accomplish in each scene. (Did I mention I’m anal?)


Then I write the story.


5. Do you plot all your books the same? If so, how so?


Pretty much the same method. This current book I’m writing, Deadly Intent, is a little different. I’m in the writing phase, but I keep finding plot inconsistencies that I didn’t see when I was plotting, so I have to do some restructuring while I’m writing.


6. Who was the hardest character to flesh out in Single Sashimi and why?


Drake was hardest, I think. He ended up being a bit different than what I’d pictured him to be. In the book, he’s a lot stronger and yet more quiet than I had originally planned him. I like him better this way, but it was still surprising and difficult to write him.


7. What's in the works next for you? When can readers expect your next book?


My next book is Deadly Intent, a romantic suspense coming out from Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line. I’m loving the storyline and the setting. Here’s a blurb, although I don’t think this will be the back cover blurb for the book:


Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself.


With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients.


And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room.


Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen?


Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and it’s discovered that her necklace—his family’s necklace—has been stolen, he’s the prime suspect.


Naomi and her family’s calm faith in this situation baffles him, but he’s more than willing to pair with the vivacious massage therapist to try to prove they’re both innocent.


However, the real murderer is still in Sonoma ... and their work isn’t done yet.


Thanks for having me on your blog, Cheryl!


Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely, hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her own...), the writing journey, Asiana, and anything else that comes to mind.


Visit her website at http://www.camytang.com/ (or click header link above) for a huge website contest going on right now, giving away ten boxes of books and 30 copies of her latest release, SINGLE SASHIMI.

Thanks for being here Camy!

Hugs all

Cheryl

Funny Typo Day

Okay so it's not an official holiday...except in Seekerville.

But, humor me okay? LOL!

I'm guestblogging in Seekerville today.

Zip on over to hear (and contribute to) a list of funny typos I've done and read lately. Come on y'all...don't let me be embarrassed alone.


Thanks all!

Cheryl Wyatt

Miscellaneous Mondays--Kewl Pararescue Stuff

As you may know, my Wings of Refuge Series, being released by Steeple Hill, features a team of U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumpers...PJs for short.

Did you know that in addition to doing military-sanctioned rescues such as jumping behind enemy lines to rescue downed pilots, PJs also participate in humanitarian civilian rescues?

In fact, many PJs are converging on flooded coastal areas flooded by hurricane Ike to help rescue people.

Here are some articles you might enjoy:

Pararescue Article 1

Pararescue Article 2

Pararescue Article 3

Pararescue Article 4


My prayers are with all hurricane victims. I'm thanking God today that things weren't as bad as expected.

For more information on where to purchase my PJ series, visit my Website

Warmly,

Cheryl Wyatt

ACFW Conference and Booksigning PRESS RELEASE

I'll be MIA next week at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. I'm also participating in this mega booksigning. There will also be author panels (info below). Hope to see some of you there! I'm teaching a late night chat on Thursday with Editor Emily Rodmell and fellow Steeple Hill author Dana Mentink on how to rise from the slush pile at Steeple Hill. I'm sitting at table 66 at the signing in the mall rotunda. Hope you will come out and meet some of your favorite authors. They'd love to meet you.

What: Booksigning and Author Panels at Mall of America (Bloomington, MN)
Who: 130-ish Christian novelists
Where: Bloomingdale's court, 1st floor
When: 1-3 p.m., Saturday, September 20, 2008
Why: To meet your favorite Christian authors and because we love our readers

Authors participating:

Tamera Alexander
Jennifer AlLee
A.K. Arenz
Diane Ashley
Karen Ball
Janet Lee Barton
James Scott Bell
Joseph Bentz
Terri Blackstock
Robin Caroll
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Jeanie Smith Cash
Eleanor Clark
Debra Clopton
Gloria Clover
Brandilyn Collins
Mary Connealy
Lyn Cote
Kathryn Cushman
Margaret Daley
KM Daughters
Susan Page Davis
Mary Davis
Janet Dean
Megan DiMaria
Brandt Dodson
Lena Nelson Dooley
Cecelia Dowdy
Sharon Dunn
Wanda Dyson
Lynette Eason
Meredith Efken
Leanna Ellis
Sharon Ewell Foster
Miralee Ferrell
Tina Ann Forkner
Darlene Franklin
Jonathan Friesen
Rhonda Gibson
Terri Gillespie
Debby Giusti
Beth Goddard
Cathy Gohlke
Rene Gutteridge
Cathy Marie Hake
Rachel Hauck
Roxanne Henke
Cynthia Hickey
Patti Hill
Sharon Hinck
Joan Hochstetler
Steven Hunt
Angela Hunt
Denise Hunter
Annette Irby
Jennifer Johnson
Jenny B. Jones
Golden Keyes Parsons
Deb Kinnard
Julie Klassen
Kathleen Kovach
Harry Kraus
Patti Lacy Maureen Lang
Jeanne Marie Leach
Tosca Lee
Julie Lessman
Michelle Levigne
Sherri L. Lewis
Elizabeth Ludwig
Christine Lynxwiler
Richard L. Mabry
Sharlene MacLaren
Gail Martin
Debby Mayne
Vickie McDonough
Andrew McGuire
Susan Meissner
Becky Melby
Dana Mentink
Amber Miller
Judith Miller
Sara Mills
Siri Mitchell
Nancy Moser
Janelle Mowery
Elizabeth Musser
Mark Mynheir
Jill Nelson
Mae Nunn
John Olson
Donita K. Paul
Trish Perry
Marta Perry
Allie Pleiter
Cara Putman
Deborah Raney
Sandra Robbins
Paul Robertson
John Robinson
Martha Rogers
Cynthia Ruchti
Gail Sattler
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Shelley Shephard Gray
Virginia Smith
Lynette Sowell
Candice Speare
Kathryn Springer
Denice Stewart
Sarah Anne Sumpolec
Michelle Sutton
Camy Tang
Donn Taylor
Janice Thompson
Cindy Thomson
Missy Tippens
Carrie Turansky
ML Tyndall
Amy Wallace
Susan May Warren
Linda Wichman
Beth Wiseman
Cheryl Wyatt
Kathleen Y'Barbo

Many authors will have contests and giveaways and lots of good freebies. I'm hosting a drawing myself for an Amazon Kindle and will have the sign up sheet there.

Here's more info...an official press release:

-----------------------------------------------

Glass Road Public Relations, LLC
fax (615) 986-9517
www.GlassRoadPR.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2008
Contact: Rebeca Seitz
(615) 986-9516; rebeca@glassroadpr.com
HUNDREDS OF NOVELISTS COMING TO MINNEAPOLIS
Booksigning by 100+ novelists at Mall of America September 20
(MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.) Hundreds of authors and aspiring authors will attend the annual
American Christian Fiction Writers conference at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel September
18-21, 2008. They'll study the craft of writing from a Christian worldview, get the word out
about their books, and meet with editors from nearly every major publishing house in their in-
dustry.
They're also coming to get signed books. On Saturday, September 20, 1:00-3:00pm in the Best
Buy® Rotunda and Bloomingdale's Court of the Mall of America, over 100 bestselling and
award-winning authors such as Angela Hunt, James Scott Bell, Rene Gutteridge, Deborah Ra-
ney, Tamera Alexander, Judith Miller, Nancy Moser, and Brandt Dodson will sign copies of
their books for conference attendees and the public.
"ACFW is very excited to partner with the Mall of America in hosting a booksigning of such
magnitude," said ACFW President Robin Miller. "As a reader myself, I'm thrilled at the oppor-
tunity to meet so many authors and have my books autographed. I intend to do much of my
Christmas shopping at the booksigning."
For more information regarding the signing or conference, please contact Cara Putman at pr@acfw.com. To learn more about ACFW, visit www.acfw.com.

Wacky Wednesdays--Theft Problem--IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

I'm sorry but, as a woman heading into middle age, this was too funny not to pass along.

Cheryl


Theft Problem - IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

You've heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans. And then the thieves struck again.

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my new butt was attached at least three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to give up my jeans in favor of long skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary - my body was being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world, wake up and smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts -stolen from you and me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted', look again - was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere every night.

WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P. S. Last year I thought some one had stolen my Boobs. I was lying in bed and they were gone! But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.

Thought this was too 'important' not to pass on.

P.S.
These same thieves come in my closet and shrink my clothes! How do they do it????

MISCELLANEOUS MONDAYS-APHORISMS AND ADAGES

THIS CAME FROM SOMEONE IN MY LOCAL WRITERS' GROUP. NO IDEA WHO THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR IS OR I'D CREDIT THEM.

ENJOY!

Cheryl Wyatt


APHORISM: A SHORT, POINTED SENTENCE EXPRESSING A WISE, CLEVER OBSERVATION; A GENERAL TRUTH OR ADAGE
1. The nicest thing about the future is it always starts tomorrow.
2. Money will buy a fine dog but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.
4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.
6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?
7. Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
8. Why is it that, at class reunions, you feel younger than everyone else looks?
9. Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job.
10. No one has more driving ambition than the boy who anxiously awaits his 16th birthday.
11. There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.
12. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4AM: It could be a right number.
13. No one ever says "It's only a game" when their team's winning.
14. I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap.
15. Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it.
16. The trouble with bucket seats is not everybody has the same size bucket.
17. Do you realize in about 40 years we'll have millions of old ladies running around with tattoos? (And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!)
18. Money can't buy happiness - but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than in a Kia..
19. After 70 if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead .
20. Adage - byword (a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people)

Wacky Wednesdays-The Difference Between Men and Women

I'm doing amusing (at least to me!) stuff on Wednesdays on my blog. Wacky Wednesdays will also include Funeez, Fru-Fru Forwards, and my Famous (Ha-ha!) Blush & Cringe.

THIS CAME TO ME IN AN E-MAIL. NOT SURE WHO THE AUTHOR IS OR I WOULD ACKNOWLEGE THEM.

ENJOY...IF YOU DARE. LOL!

Warmly,

Cheryl Wyatt



MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE

NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other
Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately
refer to each
other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw
in $20, even
though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have
anything smaller and
none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket
calculators.

MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need
but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and
toothpaste, shaving
cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .
The average number of items in the typical woman's
bathroom is 337. A man
would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new
argument.

FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife
can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he
doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change,
but she does.

DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants,
empty the trash,
answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her chil dren. She
knows about
dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite
foods, secret
fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the
house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no
use in two people
remembering the same thing!

SO, send this to the women who have a sense of humor and
who can handle it
... and to the men who will enjoy reading it.

September 2008 Prompt

September Prompt Contest

RULES:
• Write a 500 word scene using all ten Prompt Words.
• Begin each scene using one of three Scene Starter Sentences.
• Mail your scenes in the body of an e-mail to Cheryl @ CherylWyatt . com (close spaces before and after “@” and “.”) If the e-mail bounces back to you, please let me know in the comment of this post.
• Put “September Prompt Contest” in the subject line.
• Entry deadline is the last day of the month.
• Winners will be notified the first week of the next month.
• Winners will receive a free Steeple Hill book, mailed the month winners are notified.
• All monthly entrants (not just winners) will be entered into the annual contest for one of several chances to win a six month subscription to any Steeple Hill line of their choice.
• Entries will not be posted or published anywhere and entrants retain all rights to their work.
• New prompts will be posted on the first of the month.
• Most of all, have fun!

September Prompt Words
1. Hear
2. Here
3. Higher
4. Hire
5. Heir
6. Air
7. Pear
8. Pare
9. Pair
10. Meeting

Happy writing!

Cheryl Wyatt

September Scene Starter Sentences:
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“I never met that uncle.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Southern Friends

I'm still unable to drive following a motor vehicle accident and resulting surgeries, but once I'm able to make it to the Post Office regularly (we don't have courier pick up here) I will begin the Free Book Fridays where I'll give away a free Steeple Hill book EVERY FRIDAY to one lucky blog commentator.

In the meantime...thought I'd share this.

One of my best Southern friends sent it to me (waving to Robin Miller w/a Robin Caroll). I appreciated it since I moved from the West to the Southern tip of a mid-western state.


FRIENDS" VS. "SOUTHERN" FRIENDS

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Always bring the
food. And lots of it.

FRIENDS: Will say "hello".
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will give you a big
hug and a kiss. More than one.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. And Mrs.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Call your parents
Mom and Dad, and often.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Cry with you. And for you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will spend hours
there, talking, laughing, and just being together.
Then do the dishes before leaving

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Could write a book
with direct quotes from you. And most of the
time know you better than you do yourself.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's
what the crowd is doing.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will kick the whole
crowd's back-ends that left you, then walk
beside you in the front of the crowd.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Walk right in and
say, "Are you home?" If you are not home, they will wait.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Are for life. And then some.
I have been Blessed with SOUTHERN FRIENDS

As Robin says so well....LOVE Y'all!

Cheryl Wyatt

Miscellaneous Mondays--Dandy Definitions

Since I'm reformatting the way I do my blog posts, I'll only be posting three days or so a week. Miscellaneous Mondays will be just what it says. Random stupid stuff and personal updates.

Speaking of...I've had two more minor surgeries since my recent wreck in April. And though I'm still on crutches trying to progress to a cane, I'm healing well. Still not full weight bearing or able to drive, but much improved from a month or two ago. Thanks for all of your private words of kindness and prayers. I know He hears.

Now, presenting the first Miscellaneous Monday post:


THIS CAME FROM SOMEONE IN MY LOCAL WRITER'S GROUP. NOT SURE IF I HAVE POSTED IT BEFORE. IF SO, IT'S FUNNY AND BEARS REPEATING.

ENJOY!

CHERYL WYATT



ADULT
A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.

BEAUTY PARLOR
A place where women curl up and dye.

CANNIBAL
Someone who is fed up with people.

CHICKENS
The only animals you eat before they are born and after they die.

COMMITTEE
A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

DUST
Mud with the juice squeezed out.

EGOTIST
Someone who is me-deep in conversation.

HANDKERCHIEF
Cold storage.

INFLATION
Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

MOSQUITO
An insect that makes you like flies better.

RAISIN
Grape with a sunburn.

SECRET
Something you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON
A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

TOOTHACHE
The pain that drives you to extraction.

TOMORROW
One of the greatest labor-saving devices of today.

YAWN
An honest opinion openly expressed.

WRINKLES
Something other people have, similar to my character lines.

Announcing July's Prompt Winner--Anita Draper

Huge congrats going out to Anita Draper...my July Prompt Contest winner.

All of the stories this month were riveting and I found it very hard to choose a winner. But Anita's story and characters stuck with me. I hope she will stretch the scene out into a full length short story or even a book length novel.

Visit Anita's blog and tell her "Congrats!"

Anita's Blog

Or click the header link above to get to Anita's blog.

There's one more week to get August's prompt in! Wow..the months are flying by!

Warmly,

Cheryl

Wednesday-Borrowed Prayers

I'm reformatting my blog posts and dropping down to three to four a week rather than seven a week. That way I don't lose readership for the folks who are subscribed by Feedblitz and also so I can continue to consistently blog even while under deadline. Blogger has this awesome new feature that allows you to schedule previously written blog posts. I love it. Cutting back will also enable me to be able to comment on your comments more.

I do appreciate each of you and am thankful for your readership. For that reason, I'm devoting my Borrowed Prayers (previously on Sunday...now on Wednesdays) to you...my faithful blog and book readers.

Father, thank you SO much for the privilege of being able to write. Thank you SO much for these people who take time out of their day to read my books and or blog posts. I lift each of them up to you today and ask you to bless them. I pray you would let them know how much they are appreciated by me, Lord. I know this writing gift is from you. I pray you would bless them with the desires of their hearts that are your perfect will for them. Many are still waiting for promises that you've made them to come to pass. Help them to believe. Help them to hope. Help them to persevere through the hard seasons and cling to you like a warm coat in harsh, winter wind. Help them to enjoy the seasons where struggle is light and life is as bright as summer's sun. Bless their families. Give them a strong sense of your presence as you draw near to them today. Let them know how real you are and how much they are loved. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Reasons for a Scene & Building up Scenes-in Seekerville today

I'm guestblogging in Seekerville today.

Zip on over to hear (and contribute to) a list of Reasons for a Scene

Thanks all!

Cheryl Wyatt

Great Industry Blog-CJ Darlington

CJ Darlington has a great blog that has a lot of great advice from industry professionals, including authors, editors, agents and publishers.

Here is the link:

CJ Darlington's Blog

Cheryl Wyatt

BLUSH & CRINGE--Batteries and Band-Aids

I had surgery Tuesday to remove the pins from my right foot. I had general anesthesia during and pain meds afterward. I also had to have Benadryl and Narcan because of an allergic reaction. So between all those drugs, I was pretty groggy and loopy when I came out of surgery.

On the way home, I was still groggy since it was a same-day surgery.

My poor husband had to listen to me ARGUE all the way home over something so stupid. I basically kept insisting that he had to run through the pharmacy drive through and pick up the batteries for my foot.

The convo (which went on for around twelve miles) went something like this...only longer as I argued the point.

"Don't forget the batteries when you fill my subscription."
"You mean prescription?"
"Yes, yes. My pain med prescription and the batteries."
"Batteries?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"The doctor said I need them for my foot."
"Huh?"
"So don't forget them. The big ones."
"Big what?"
"Batteries. For my foot. I need the batteries for my foot."
"You're not making sense."
"Yes, I'm telling you he said I need batteries for my foot."
Husband gives a strange look. "Why batteries?"
"Because!"
"Batteries? Like, what size?"
"Yes. Big ones. The big kind with no Latex."
"Batteries? Go back to sleep."
"No. You'll forget the batteries."
"You don't need batteries. I never heard him mention batteries and you're not making sense."
"Yes! Yes, the doctor said I have to have batteries in my foot after five days."
Husband laughs. "No. He said you have to have Band-aids after five days."

Oh....the joy of anesthesia.

Cheryl Wyatt-embarrassed but laughing

POPCORN BLUSH AND CRINGE

My hubby and I went on a date a few Saturday nights prior to my wreck in April. We normally go out to eat first then watch a movie, but we were running behind so we decided to hit the movies first.

I was so immersed in polishing my ms in prep to send it off that I forgot to eat that day. I'm serious...not until I got low-bloodsugar-shaky did I realize I hadn't eaten and here it was 4:30pm. So I munched on a raw turnip and had a few nibbles of a Pecan Spinwheel with a cup of coffee. Bad move. Not used to the sugar, eating the sweet roll WITH A TURNIP on a virtually empty stomach made me nauseaus...so I didn't eat anything else.

By the time we got to the theatre, it was nearly seven-thirty and I was HUNGRY. I saw the daughter of a couple we're friends with and went across the lobby to chat with her.

Then I rejoined my husband at the concession stand. He was at the register, so I assumed the tub of popcorn and soda sitting there was ours.

He. He. He.

I reach over, scoop a handful and toss it in my mouth then reach for the soda.

"Nuh-uh."

I turn around...and a woman with her two children (who are giving me REALLY disgusted looks) snatch the sodas....and yes...the tub of popcorn and walk off.

Whoops. They'd just come up to get a refill. And I'd taken liberty to just plow my hands into their popcorn and eat it like it's completely normal for people to eat other people's food without their permission.

Ya know...I'm REALLY glad I didn't reach for that soda first. Yuck.

Did my husband comfort me in my scorn?

Nope. He stood there, dying laughing. And so did the register clerk.

But then dear hubby bought me my very own tub of popcorn...so it's all good.

Cheryl "Popcorn-thief" Wyatt

Christian the Lion-A Must-See Vid!

I thought you might find the following article from snopes.com interesting: Christian the Lion

I think this is awesome!

Bawled my eyes out.

Click the link and play the video. You won't be sorry.

Let me know what you think.

Cheryl Wyatt

KOD Classes

I will post interviews from these September instructors soon!

In the meantime, if you are a mystery/suspense writer...you may be interested in these September online classes:

Murder One Online Course for September 2008

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RWA's Mystery/Suspense Chapter is pleased to announce our COFFIN, College of Felony and Intrigue, MURDER ONE online workshop for the month of SEPTEMBER 2008.

WORKSHOP: A Cop's Life A - Z

Have you ever wondered what it's like to go in pursuit of a fleeing vehicle or be in an officer-involved shooting? Do you know the difference between burglary and robbery?
What does ego have to do with being a police officer? These questions and more will be answered in the Kiss of Death COFFIN online workshop in September 2008. The instructor, Los Angeles Police Officer Kathy Bennett, will present twenty-six "lectures" on A Cop's Life A - Z and answer any resulting questions. Don't miss out on this opportunity to go behind the badge and find out what it's really like to be a cop.

Instructor: Kathy Bennett

Kathy Bennett has been a Los Angeles Police Officer for eighteen years currently assigned as a Senior Lead Officer with approximately seven square miles of the City of Los Angeles assigned to her. She is responsible for crime and quality of life issues within those seven square miles and if things aren't going well, the Chief of Police will want to talk to her and find out why.

Kathy's career with the LAPD began in 1973 as a civilian employee of the department and in 1990 she fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a sworn police officer. Most of Kathy's career has been spent on patrol in a black and white police car, but she's also been a Firearms Instructor at the LAPD Police Academy, a crime analyst in the "War Room", a Field Training Officer, worked undercover in various assignments and is a certified DARE instructor. She's been named Officer of the Quarter twice, and Officer of the Year once.

MURDER ONE workshops encompass the technical aspects of murder and mayhem.

**PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 27TH day of the month PRIOR to the start of the COFFIN class. Cost of each workshop is $15.00 US for KOD members, $30.00 US for non-KOD members (RWA membership NOT required to take the course).

For more information check out our website at http://www.rwamyste rysuspense. org

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RWA's Mystery/Suspense Chapter is pleased to announce our COFFIN, College of Felony and Intrigue, KILLER INSTINCT online workshop for the month of SEPTEMBER 2008.

WORKSHOP: A Method for Plotting Madness
Wondering whether your book is as fast-paced as it can be? Troubled by the intricacies of balancing suspense and romance? Confused over whether your scenes are indeed building to a breakneck, satisfying conclusion, or whether they're simply making your reader wish she'd picked up a washing machine maintenance manual instead? This course can help!

Blending several tried-and-true fiction-writing sources with her own peculiar methods, Tracy Montoya shows you how to start your book with a bang, keep the pacing tight and the romance and suspense plots focused, and how to stage a final confrontation that's satisfying and suspenseful. You'll receive plenty of instructor feedback and--whether you're a "plotter" or a "pantser"--you' ll walk away with a grid you can use to plot or revise all of your future stories.
INSTRUCTOR: Tracy Montoya
Tracy Montoya has been writing for Harlequin Intrigue since 2000. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier award, the Beacon Award, and the Golden Quill award for romantic suspense A member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Society of Environmental Journalists, Tracy has written about everything from Booker Prize-winning poet Martín Espada to socially responsible mutual funds to soap opera summits. Her articles have appeared in a variety of publications, including Hope, Utne, Satya, YES!, Audubon, and the National Green Pages, and she writes a syndicated column called "The Spirit of Money" for Martha Stewart's Body + Soul. Prior to launching her journalism career, she taught in an under-resourced school in Louisiana through the AmeriCorps Teach for America program.
Tracy holds a Master's degree in English literature from Boston College and a B.A. in the same from St. Mary's University. When she's not writing, she likes to scuba dive, forget to go to kickboxing class, wallow in bed with a good book, or get out her guitar with a group of friends and pretend she's Suzanne Vega.
KILLERINSTINCT workshops encompass writing and craft topics.

**PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 27TH day of the month PRIOR to the start of the COFFIN class. Cost of each workshop is $15.00 US for KOD members, $30.00 US for non-KOD members. (RWA membership NOT required to take the course).

For more information check out our website at http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org

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