Posted by Bethanne Strasser on Dec 31, 2008 in
Life 2008
Sometimes, looking back can be a bit depressing. The actual goal accomplishment could be considered lacking. I didn’t finish the ww2. I’m not even going to finish the catagory I started in November for Nano [although, i'm so close...i may just call it a win 
].
In the midst of another familial transition, aka moving to a cornfield, I can still attest to several satisfying moments.
12 months of not getting pregnant
8 weeks to finish a catagory-length romance
6 birthdays
4 seasons survived without gaining anymore weight
2 things I learned about my writing
1 couple, still happily married
I learned confidence this year. It took months of sometimes agonizing review and gads of solicited advice to realize…
I can write.
I learned that I can edit and with a few helpful readers and critiquers, I can succeed.
Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.
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Posted by Silke on Dec 18, 2008 in
Holidays We are currently in the middle of our 2nd Annual Critter Secret Santa.
What started last year as a lark, was so much fun, we just had to do it again.
Fluffy got so excited, he chewed the bobble off the Santa hat in anticipation. 
Now, the first presents are arriving, and it’s so great to hear the “I got one! I got one!” cries on the forum. Everyone likes presents and our critters are a thoughtful bunch.
Last year, I received a wonderful writers gift, with little sticks to pull out for inspiration and little papers with words to mix around and make a mess of. (Muahahaha. I took over the living room.)
It’s kinda hard to explain.
I actually don’t know what’s more fun. Getting the gift, or picking one for a fellow critter.
I had a lot of fun contemplating what would be “just right” for my critter. I had several ideas, but none was… it. And then… then I had it.
Now I can’t wait to see what happens when it gets there. (I’m so not telling!)
Of course, since we post those things to each other, we all find out who our secret Santa is. But then, it doesn’t really matter. 
Still, if you belong to a group of close friends — try it some time.
It’s not too late yet!
Aside from that, I just applied to review a Quo Vadis Diary, and I will post the review here, as well as on my own blog.
Organizers are a good thing to have handy, so if it’s a good one, I’ll say so. If it’s a bad one, I’ll say so too. After all, those deadlines need noting down. Blog engagements. Reviews. Release dates. Submission dates.
We’ll see.
Silke writes paranormal romance, and knows a thing or two about things going bump in the night. Although it is usually her, creeping to the kitchen at O' Dawn Thirty to score another cup of coffee.
She grew up in Germany, but her home of choice is in the UK, where she lives with her partner on the outskirts of London.
Her first book Smitten is now available from Decadent Publishing.
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Tags: Christmas, Secret Santa
Posted by Bethanne Strasser on Dec 14, 2008 in
Holidays,
Life,
Writing With ten days to Christmas, I keep asking myself, “When are you going to do the Christmas shopping, Bethanne? When are you going to get those cards in the mail? Remember those wonderful winter decorations of snowmen and sleighs? Don’t you think they should be up to replace the summer sprigs and autumn pumpkins?”
Okay.
Maybe.
Yeah, sure. That would be a good idea…
On the other hand, did you know that the Christmas Season actually starts on Christmas Day??? I’m blaming it on my faith. My excuse is that this is the waiting time. I’m waiting for the coming of Jesus…and doing so, I have time to finish this manuscript before I have to dive into the holiday spirit. 
hehe.
So…
Hurry, Quick! Write as much as you can from now until Christmas when the waiting period is over.
Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.
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Tags: christmas season, Writing
Posted by Bethanne Strasser on Dec 6, 2008 in
Writing ~Shake the Sugar Tree~
“I wouldn’t have recognized your mother here.” Thad picked up one of the loose photographs. Behind it was her most treasured possessions. If she could drag him bodily away, he might not see it.
She took the picture of her mother from his hand and turned away from the shelves to look at it, hoping he would turn away with her. “She’s lost a lot of weight. She smokes too much and drinks. She got sick right after this picture was taken.”
“You took care of her?” He stared at the picture on the shelf.
“Yes, of course.” She cleared her throat wishing she’d hidden that picture. “Wouldn’t you like to go down and get something to drink? Better yet, shouldn’t you go home?”
Ignoring her, he picked it up. Framed in cheap, dollar store plastic that she’d bought when she was fourteen, was a grainy picture of Thad and herself. A sunny, summer day when they’d gone fishing. He probably didn’t even remember her being there. The Mason boys and Jeannie[thad's sister], Bobby and his girlfriend had all marched down to the homestead creek.
Her second summer in Coopersville she’d been eleven. Big-eyed and mesmerized by the boy next door. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been so much a boy, but a grown man. In this one instant though, he’d leaned against the fence where she sat and asked her if she was having fun. Jeannie had called out and as one they’d both looked up with huge grins on their faces from laughing about how Thomas had fallen in the creek.
“This is great. I can’t believe you have it.”
She shrugged. She’d tossed aside her childhood crush, but hadn’t had the heart to get rid of it. Even when she’d decided to hate him, she hadn’t been typical. No burning session after a night of beer with her girlfriends, no Edward Scissorhands to mutilate it. “Seemed a shame to throw it away.”
Seriously, could he ignore her request to go downstairs any more blatantly?
He set it gently back on the shelf. “What are you so nervous about?”
“I’m not nervous.” Her house shoes were under the bed. She slipped them on. “It’s weird having you in my bedroom.”
He started wandering again and leaned onto the bed with his palms flat against the quilt. “Nice. Firm, yet soft.”
She lifted a brow.
Turning, he sat then bounced a couple of times. “Good bounce.”
She pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh. “Are you finished?”
“Wait,” Thad said pointing his finger. He leaned back against her pillows and headboard. “Good support. Comfy.”
“Thank—”
“So, who is this Roarke to you?” He patted the bed for her to come and sit beside him.
She snorted with a shake of her head. “You want to talk about my past lovers?” Heat rose on her neck at the implication. God. She had to get out of here. “Roarke wasn’t a lover. He was a good friend. His wife was in my nursing class. I babysat for them occasionally and he gave me guitar lessons.” She huffed. “Why am I explaining this to you? I’m going downstairs now.”
Thad watched her clear the doorway, heard her feet on the stairs before he blew out the huge breath he’d been holding. Holy moly, he was in serious trouble. “Get a grip.”
copyright Bethanne Strasser, 2008
Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.
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Tags: Fiction, Romance, Saturday Snippets
