January 23, 2008

Yesterday I worked on a last minute project that kept me at my desk "on call" which cramped by gym trip and pretty much everything else.

We went to the Carolina Hurricanes hockey game last night. It was fun, but we got our butts kicked. We decided to grab some dinner there. One area sells BBQ pork and smoked/fried turkey legs. Who decided that the odor (notice I didn't say aroma?) of smoked, greasy, turkey legs was a good idea? I was so sickened by the smell that all I ate was a soft pretzel and a Blue Moon (beer).

I managed to make the gym today and took a Pilates class...it will hurt when I sneeze tomorrow. Hey, no pain, no again, right? I'd love to meet the genius who came up with that saying.

I got a call today from Tom in England and we caught up on our January activities. He was my producer for the Lost Worlds show, but we have become good friends. We are in the process of master-minding a new project. Stay tuned!

November 20, 2007

I got the spring catalog from the University of New Mexico Press yesterday and the re-release of Taste of Tombstone is in it. Here's the link: http://www.unmpress.com/Book.php?id=11811637242152

I still can't believe that book came out almost 10 years ago. I've only got another week and a half to finish the final edits and create the indexes...

I received a nice email from a man in Florida who said he watched the Lost Worlds show and truly enjoyed it. He wanted to know when my next show would be...hmm, I want to know that as well! :)

November 8, 2007

Hmm. I missed yesterday. I'm not sure how that happened. Anyway, I started yesterday with a 3-mile walk - it was 36 degrees. Brr.

We had a conference call yesterday and agreed to a new plan that would help us work normal hours again. Yeah!

I made a Mexican dish for dinner last night called, Posole. It was spicy, but good.

The University Press who published my last book, and who is doing my Taste of Tombstone reprint asked me to do a manuscript review. This is for a book they are considering for publication. What I say can mean a book contract for the author, or non-publication. I said I would do it, because I have until the end of the year to complete the review.

I am still getting good comments about the Lost Worlds show. It's funny, people who really don't care about the west, like my cousin, and people who live the west, like renowned artist, Thom Ross, both said they learned something and really enjoyed the show. Of course, both were impartial - not doubt! ;)

We watched Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares last night. This time he was in Burbank, CA. This show was pitiful - just like the first one. Some owner/chef throwing temper tantrums and whining. Totally turns me off. I still like the BBC version so much better, which is on tonight.

October 25, 2007

I made great progress with all my projects for Interamark yesterday. It poured rain off and on all day, plus some nasty thunderstorms. Luckily, the power only dipped once and I didn't lose anything I was working on.

Forgot to mention that I have been inundated with all things British ever since filming the Lost Worlds show with the London crew. It's really weird; I discovered Gordon Ramsay, I've run into hotel staff, neighbors, and countless others I can't remember just know...I meet more and more people from England no matter where I am. Is there an invasion? Even on my plane ride home this week...my seat mate was from England! I wonder if this is a sign for something?? It happens so frequently that I laughed out loud when I heard the guy on the plane talking - he no doubt thought I was touched. I later explained my outburst. We had a good chat about all the words that Tom, Peter & Oli taught me! ;)

It's raining again today, which is good because we are in such a drought. I walked/jogged today for three miles - part of it in the rain at 66 degrees.

I may try to tackle that blasted pioneer women's book tonight...

October 3 & 4, 2007

Yesterday was a total bust as far as doing anything non-work related. I had to skip my walk because I had a tight deadline, canceled an appointment, and still scrambled to get it right, and done. Last night was the same, another project with a tight deadline and I worked until 7:00 p.m. E.T. Had some wine last night to unwind, and watched Gordon Ramsay in his Kitchen Nightmares. The show is getting better, and they even went back 2 months later to see what happened.

I walked today. Have to do some finishing touches for the project. Tomorrow I plan to walk, and hit the gym.

I got an email from a teacher who saw me on the Lost Worlds, Deadwood show, asking me how he could get his students interested in History. Now there's a question. I'll have to work on something for him. I wonder where his school is?

Back to the job...

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 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.