Sparkling Today

I'm Sparkling today at SPARKLE THIS!

Come over for a visit on An Unlikely Hero.

Until next time,
~Sandra

13 Things You Don't Want to Hear your Kid Say

After mothering for almost a score of years, I've decided there are a number of things that no matter which of your kids (daughters or sons) say, it normally means disaster. At least a little one . . .

1) I don’t know what happened to the dog/cat/bird/hamster/guinea pig – honest.

2) But I only added a little soap. I don’t know where all those bubbles came from.

3) Sure I closed the fridge door. Oh, you meant all the way!

4) Little Johnny said there isn’t any stork. So where do babies really come from?

5) Did I get the keys? You mean, like before I closed the car door?

6) Little Johnny’s mom said he could spend the night – forever.

7) There’s something wrong with the car.

8) The puppy loved my bowl of chili.

9) Mom, something in the microwave just exploded.

10) Hey, look, mom, I can flick the lighter. See On. Off. On. Off. Nope, I don’t smell anything burning.

11) But Little Johnny swallowed one, too.

12) The teacher needs to see you. Again.

And my personal favorite . . . 13) Mom, we have a problem.

SOLD-OUT . . . next signing, Thursday, September 6th, 2007

All righty, then, my weekend at my HARM'S WAY book-signing was fabulous.

I sold out, yep, that's right, I sold out of HARM'S WAY in 45 minutes.

Lots of wonderful family, friends, and co-workers all turned out for the event at Barnes & Noble in N. Richland Hills. It was unbelievably to walk in to the store and see so many familiar faces.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming out to share this once-in-a-lifetime moment with me.

To all who took pictures, please feel free to send copies to my email: sandraferguson@sbcglobal.net

Here are a few pictures from my dear friend and Romance Writer's of America, Golden Heart finalist: LA Mitchell. If you were at the book-signing, she was the lovely lady seated to my left. Delores Shaffer, another special critque partner made sure you all received your 'autographed copy' stickers.

MY BROTHER

THE FOLKS

LOVELY, HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY AUTHOR (AND AGGIE), GERALYN DAWSON, ARRIVED A FEW MOMENTS AFTER I SOLD OUT. THANKS SO MUCH GERALYN FOR COMING, AND PLEASE DO COME BACK. ALSO PICTURED, DEAR KELLEY WITH CK2SKwipsandKritiques. THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING OUT.

BECAUSE I SOLD OUT . . . Barnes & Noble placed an emergency order with the book distributor and I will be signing books again.

So next book-signing:
Barnes & Noble
8525 Airport Freeway, NRH (near NE Mall)
Thursday, September 6th, 2007 @ 7:30pm

I'm Sparkling Today!

Good news about my book-signing event and an excerpt.Pop over and see me at SPARKLE THIS!

Oh, and BTW, you're all welcome at my book-signing this Saturday, August 25th, 2:00 until 4:00pm, Barnes & Noble, 8525 Airport Freeway, N. Richland Hills, TX 76180

~Happy Reading
Sandra

Thirteen Thursday

What I learned since signing my publishing contact . . . in no specific order!

1) Take time writing your book blurb.
2) Share your good news with everyone you know.
3) Order business cards -- flashy and have them ready to pass out.
4) Start a blog or journal on your website. Keep people posted on what’s ahead.
5) Don’t be afraid of re-writes -- tightening with the help of your editor is priceless.
6) Join Yahoo groups.
7) Ask questions of fellow authors, where do you get the gold ‘Autograph Copy’ stickers, did you host a book-signing? What worked? What would you do differently?
8) Order some of your books in print when they become available.
9) Ask your CP and friends to post reviews on your website, Amazon.com, the publisher’s website.
10) Keep writing. Some editors do want the next book.
11) When you set up a book-signing, mail your own reminder cards for the event.
12) Determine your author brand and develop a slogan that captures the essence of your writing style. In a few words ONLY, what sets your writing apart from all others.
13) Post excerpts of your book everywhere on the Internet! Okay, maybe not everywhere, but research which sites allow excerpt posting then surf the site for a few days and see if excerpts along the lines of your book are posted there. Yeah, they are? Then post away.

Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

All right, all right, it's hot outside, but not unbearable. Right now, temps are hovering in the mid-90s and for Texas in August, that's almost sweater weather.

Okay, maybe it's not that cool. Fact is we, Fort Worth-inites are enjoying breezy afternoons, occasional cloud cover and the end of summer is almost upon us. Before the dog days of summer slip away, check out the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.


Isn't that beautiful?

No, I'm not being paid by the Botanical society, although maybe I should send them a bill -- just a small one.

This is actually a message to my fellow Texans. If you're heading through Fort Worth, stop for a visit at the Botanic Gardens -- 109 acres of pretty spectacular stuff.

Address: 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. It's off IH-30 (of course, what isn't off 30 when you're talking Fort Worth)



This year, my kids and I discovered a different aspect of the gardens -- the 10,000 square foot Conservatory. For a mere buck, we strolled through a proverbial rainforest -- a little humid, but then so is most of Texas. Nothing we couldn't handle. We saw extraordinary plants and bushes. No, don't ask me what they are. I wouldn't remember. Besides you'll see them for yourself when you visit.




Do you have a favorite garden spot? Share, please

Character Name

What’s in a character’s name?
How does a writer select the perfect name?

Is it the symbolism behind a name? Some personal preference? Just what comes to mind?

I recently watched I, Robot. Great film, heavy symbolism, terrific imagery – well worth the invested time to watch. However, it was one character’s name that stopped traffic for me, one name that held center stage, the robot: Sonny

The meanings behind such a simple name captured my attention. Was the robot so named because . . .

1) The doctor considered himself to be the figurative father of all these robots, but specifically this one that existed only because of his creative powers. He made Sonny personally – rather like fathering a son.
2) Or did the original creator of I, Robot, author Isaac Asimov, mean to enact a more literal link: Sonny as the actual son of God. Certainly, the imagery exists for viewers of the movie, I, Robot to make this connection. Watch the closing seconds of the film. Sonny stands atop a hill in front of a destroyed bridge (that closely resembles a cross) as thousands mass beneath the hill and turn expectantly toward him and the insight he can provide. What will these gathered masses learn? Sonny has the secret. All are created with the ability to choose – the ultimate freedom. It does smack of Christianity, does it not?

Whether you're a writer, a reader, a TV/Movie buff, you have an opinion on a favorite character’s name. Share and tell why. Are you a parent? How did you pick your children's names? Family tradition? Favorite name? What you'd like to be named? Come on -- do share!

Color, color, everywhere

Want to expand the color in your writing? Then visit me today at SPARKLE THIS! and learn some insider's secrets to highlight color.

Oh, are you just looking for a new shade to paint a room? Then click on the link and see what color surprises are in the bucket (sorry for the pun) for you.

Thirteen Thursday

Things that make me smile!


RELAXING


GIFT GIVING AND BEING GREEN


KIDS AT PLAY


CHRISTMAS


MY DOG, AUTUMN



VACATIONS TO NYC



MY SON (YES, WE LOOK REALLY SERIOUS -- THE SUN WAS IN OUR EYES!)


MY OLDEST


MY YOUNGEST


FAMILY

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BEACH TIME


FRIENDS


GREAT BOOKS

Made me laugh

A recent article brought this blog to mind: 'If women ruled the world. . .'

All right, all right, I'm not insinuating that women can't drive. Far from it. I tool around in a full-sized van, 6600 pounds, thank you very much and I can park the puppy in a rat hole. Do remember, I'm from Texas and things are bigger here than in other parts of the world -- rat holes included. But gals are normally handling a number of things while trying to park and I think it's only fair we should get a bigger parking spot.

There would be a little 'bill' equality . . .

Tools would be simpler.

Now, you're talking my talk.

Don't ask, 'where's the beef?'. More importantly, where's the duct tape? No woman's purse is actually complete without duct tape. Want to know how to hold a fence in place? Duct Tape. Keep air from leaking out of a tire? Duct Tape. Prevent anything from flapping in the wind? Duct Tape. Okay, I rest my case.


And for traditional tools . . . I say, 'Who needs 'em' I have hung many a picture with a shoe, and no, I don't measure before I put it on the wall. Hang and bang--that's my philosophy. And I can screw anything in place with a butter knife or better yet a metal nail file.

Make sure to get a heel with serious heft to it, however. If you're going to bang away, you want it to be effective.





Oh, and not the good butter knife, for crying out loud. That's like your kids buffing the dog clean with your good kitchen towels. Keep an old - we don't have the rest of the silverware set anymore - butter knife in your special tool drawer. Don't have one. Hit any Saturday morning garage sale. A .25C max.

Hiking boots would actually LOOK good.

Toilet seats would stay in their proper position.

And guys would have the right toolbox. Guys, if you're going to help 'make em', then you get to roll up your sleeves and wade in.