September 28, 2007

Last night mom and I had dinner at an Italian restaurant (my fav) and it went real well - no tears, just good conversation.

I did make it to the gym yesterday and had a good work out. This morning I went walking, and planned to go to the gym, but I got assigned to a conference call with a client, and I've got to get back to it in an hour. That leaves time for a shower and lunch.

I now have two projects with tight deadlines.

We're home this weekend, which will be nice.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I gave Kitchen Nightmares another chance on Weds. night. It was better than last week's, but it's just not the same. I want Gordon to go back to the U.K. where he was a riot.

I'm a judge this year for the Western Writers of America Spur awards in the mass market paperback. I've already gotten 11 books and the deadline isn't until the end of the year. My Tombstone's Treasure is being entered in the non-fiction category. Wish me luck!

September 27, 2007

I don't think I will ever see today's date and be happy. It's been nine years since my father passed away today. I'm taking my mom out to dinner so she won't be alone.

Today started with a power walk for about three miles with my neighbor. It's always better to go with someone else; it really pushes you to your limits. I hope to make the gym later as well.

I still can't get over that Tom called me yesterday - very special! ;)

I worked way too late last night, but a fellow writer was sick and she needed help. It doesn't happen often, and I do have the coolest job ever!

I have lots of editing to do today, and two conference calls.

Still waiting to hear back from the publisher about the Victorian Women in the Wild West book I sent him. I just sent it this week, and those things take time. Patience is a virtue, right?

September 26, 2007

I made it to the gym yesterday to lift weights, and even went walking in the morning. I am truly committed to being in better shape. I'm still getting nice comments about the show, which makes me very happy. The director, Oli, and I have been emailing back and forth. I don't think he's seen the show yet, but I told him it was awesome. Okay, I am a little prejudice, but what can I say? LOL

I just spoke with the association producer, Tom, and we chatted about the show and all the filming we did. It was so nice of him to call and see how I felt about the show. (Thanks, Tom!)

Today started with a walk, but I won't make the gym because of calls and appointments today.

That branding project I mentioned earlier is moving along nicely, and the client is thrilled. That's an awesome feeling.

September 25, 2007

This weekend was pretty normal. We left for D.C. on Sunday morning to make it to the Redskins game at 4:15. What a heartbreaker - three times on the 1 yard line and we can't punch it in to tie the game up. Instead, we ended up losers!

After the game we drove 2 1/2 hours south and stayed in a hotel overnight. We got back yesterday about 1:00.

I'm still getting good comments about the Lost Worlds show. So many people, who aren't fans of the old west, said they really enjoyed the show and learned a lot. That's pretty good.

I have to get cracking at my writing - personally and profesionally.

September 21, 2007

I got so many nice emails from friends, family, and colleagues for the Lost Worlds show. A lot of people commented on how much they enjoyed me jumping around at the train station, and some liked my "Custer" comment.

I watched the new Kitchen Nightmares (notice Ramsay's name was taken out of the title) show we taped and can't believe how awful it was. This USED to be my favorite show, but now that it's on Fox, it's almost like the nightmarish reality shows I detest. Gordon hardly played a role at all. It was more of this bully brother throwing spoiled brat temper tantrums. I will give it another shot next week, but if it's like this week's show, it will be my last. Just my luck - I find a show that I love and they screw it up!

I booked my trip to Denver/Colorado Springs for next month for the Women Writing the West conference. I am giving a talk on how to market yourself and your books.

September 20, 2007 - The Day After

Okay, it was really weird seeing myself on TV for the entire show. It was almost like watching a home vacation video, except millions of other people watched it too!

I can't believe how many of my scenes they kept, not to mention all the little intros with me as well. The director, Oli, did a wonderful job! Peter, the cameraman, got some great shots, and well, Tom, what an associate producer!

I flubbed the first line in the scene with Arlette when I talked about the Thoen Stone...but I think the rest was pretty good. I'm not being too hard on myself since that was the first day, first hour of shooting the whole thing. I would love to hear comments about what you thought.

Now I want to do more shows - that was so much fun. I posted this photo from the shoot, so you can get a feel for what it looked like during the filming. This is a photo from Ft. Meade with Chuck Rambou (I think that's how he spells his name).

September 19, 2007 - It's Show Time!

It's finally here - the day my show airs!!! I am very excited, and a little nervous. My director emailed me and said I was going to look great...let's hope he's right.

I just worry about having said something, well, blonde, or historically inaccurate. I just want it to be perfect, so I have a chance at doing something like this again, on a regular basis.

I have some family coming over to watch it with me, so that should be fun.

Tomorrow's post should be interesting...

September 18, 2007

Well, I actually made the local paper! Funny though, during the interview I said I had been on other History Channel shows - Wild West Tech and Investigating History. Some how that got translated into me hosting other episodes of Lost Worlds - I wish! LOL

The story is pretty nice - http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/707492-p2.html

My day job - It seems the client is really sold on my brand name and tag line, so I am moving forward with a plan. This is soooo exciting!

Oh yeah, I got an email from a publisher who I sent a query to back in January. He's interested in my Victorian Women's book! Being an author can make you change gears faster than a trucker going down hill!

September 16, 2007

Well, I don't believe it! The local newspaper, News & Observer, actually called me back about my History Channel appearance. This is the first time in my ten year history of being an author that they are going to acknolwedge me. Granted the interview lasted five minutes, but hey, after then years of no-existsnce with them - I'll take it! I think they are even posting a shoot photo with the story. If it truly runs on Tuesday, I'll post a link (if it's makes their links) here.

Remember the cool project of coming up with a name brand for a client? Well, I got feedback, and he thinks one of my names is really awesome! I'm totally on cloud nine. I should hear more this week about it.

It's football Sunday, and then my team plays on Monday night!

I just discovered that my favorite show, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, is beginning its new season. Yeah!! However, its premiere airs opposite my show this Wednesday. Sorry, Gordon, I'll have to DVD you this week!

September 14, 2007

I didn't realize until just now that I haven't posted since Monday. Where does the time go?

Being a western writer has always been fun for me, but trying to get attention to your books has always been difficult. All the big main stream publishers said the western was dying, and it was somewhat true. However, I keep plugging along because it's what I love.

I wonder what they are saying now, that the western movie is back. With movies like 3:10 to Yuma, the western genre actually has a chance. How timely that my Lost Worlds, Deadwood show is airing next week!

I just wish I could get more press about it and my books. I have one of my publishers working on it, but nothing so far. I am going to contact my local newspaper today (I have never gotten any press from them in 10 years) now that 3:10 to Yuma is so hot. Not to mention the Jesse James movie with Brad Pitt. Ah, what a time to be a western writer!

I am working on a cool project for my regular job. A new company wants us to come with a brand name and tag line for them. I can't go into more right now, but maybe later. I'm learning all kinds of new stuff with this job!

Going for a walk.

September 11, 2007

I don't suppose there will ever come a day when we see or type September 11, that we don't think of the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, and the plane in PA.

I was kept pretty busy today with my work project. It was something new I had to write and took me longer than I would have liked.

My friend, Bob Boze Bell, wrote about my TV show in his blog yesterday, which is excellent press since so many people read his blog. Here it is in case you want to check it out - http://www.truewestmagazine.com/weblog/blogger1.htm

It's still 100 degrees with no rain. However, we are supposed to dip into the 70s by the end of the week and be rainy. That ought to feel really cold.

I'm planning my trip to Denver/Colorado Springs for the Women Writing the West conference. I am staying with my friend, Mary, and will drive down to the conference in Colorado Springs. I'm looking forward to both - the visit and the conference.

September 10, 2007

Whew! What a weekend. Drove to Washington, D.C. Saturday for the first Redskins game. We played the Miami Dolphins and thankfully won - in overtime! We drove up on Saturday afternoon, stayed in Maryland overnight and headed to the game on Sunday. We found an awesome Italian deli and butcher shop - our new favorite stop during football season.

The game was yesterday at 1:00 p.m. and it was probably 100 degrees in the seats. The sun was blazing down on us and it's a wonder we didn't pass out from the heat. As usual, I got doused with someones soda while walking about. Seems a man and a woman, both drunk, got into an altercation and she was pushed into me and then the soda flew all over my white capris!

I'm reading an Agatha Christie novel - I have always loved her books and it has been a while since I read one. The title of this one caught my eye - They Came to Baghdad. I thought, hmm, what's in this book?

It's really quite neat - I think it was written in the 40s and it is amazing to hear how she describes this currently, war-torn city. It seems like it was so Arabian back then, in the romantic kind of way with palm trees, flowing rivers, exotic scents and sounds, and proper English gents and ladies traveling about. Hardly what we think of Iraq today...Quite sad actually when you think about it. It sounds like a place I would have liked to visit - back then, not today.

Popping downstairs for a cup of tea. That sounds terribly British - too much Agatha I guess. I also have a project deadline and conference all today.

Oh, I read the Washington Post yesterday and there was a story in there about the new Jesse James movie with Brad Pitt and my friend, Bob Boze Bell of True West magazine was interviewed for it!

September 7, 2007

Darn it! I missed yesterday - posting that is. I was busy though, between my job and acupuncture and physical therapy. I even managed a 3 mile walk with my neighbor. I was exhausted last night. Caught Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares last night - what a funny show!

I got a really nice email from the editor of the Tombstone Times. A lady in town, Mrs. King, who has a reputation of being tough on historical facts, and the writers who pen them called the paper. She said that my newest book, Tombstone's Treasures, was excellent and she was impressed and wants to visit with me when I go there next time. How cool is that?

Walked 3 miles today with the neighbor, and am tackling my job projects.

September 5, 2007

I almost missed posting today! Let's see, last night was a crash and burn evening. One of my guests broke a glass candle holder at the Labor Day party, which I thought I cleaned up well. However, I got a piece of glass wedged in my heel last night. Larry had to perform surgery to get it out - ouch!

Went walking with the neighbor this morning, which felt really great. I had a physical therapy appt at what I thought was 9:30, but when I got there, they told me I was late by 30 mins. Had to reschedule for tomorrow.

Progress on the reprint of Taste of Tombstone is coming along nicely - they sent me a draft of the Spring 2008 catalog write up. It's always so cool to see your name in it!

All for now.

September 4, 2007

All I can say is thank goodness the long weekend is over! Saturday we went to a little antique shopping area called Selma. We had a tasty lunch at the German restaurant in town. I found some really neat stuff and didn't break the bank. We then headed over to the outlet shops in Smithfield, where we got some awesome deals. We went to dinner at a local restaurant called Becky's Country Log Cabin - I will not go back.

Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest, but we ended up shopping for a last minute party we opted to have for Labor Day.

Yesterday, Labor Day, we had 15 people here. I grilled chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Everyone else made something, so I didn't have too much prep work. It was really hot on the deck, but we all moved to the shady part of the yard by the fountain and all was good. We went through lots of bottled water, beer, and wine. We played a little badminton, and a rather crazy game called, Water Balloon Roulette.

Water Balloon Roulette is a game my sister came up with - you use a large sling shot and water balloons. Everyone picks a place in the yard and you can't move from it. Two people hold the sling shot, while another loads a water balloon and launches it straight up in the air. No one got a direct hit, but with the lack of rain, when a balloon hit the ground, mud splattered anyone within a foot of where it landed. Needless to say, most of us looked like we were at a mud track. Everyone finally went home - can't remember the time...

Oh, I saved the best for last - my History Channel show will air on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 9:00 p.m. E.S.T. The show is Lost Worlds: Sin City of the West.