Love Laughs

No Valentine's day is complete without the honest wisdom of a child. These are some of my all-time favorites.

"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." -- Glenn, age 7

"Love is like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." -- John, age 9

"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." -- Manuel, age 8

"On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date." -- Mike, 10

"My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and handsome." -- Carolyn, age 8

"It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." -- Kenny, age 7

"One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." -- Ava, age 8

"I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." -- Regina, age 10

"Most men are brainless, so you might have to try more than once to find a live one." -- Angie, age 10

"A man and a woman promise to go through sickness and illness and diseases together." -- Marlon, age 10

"Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." -- Dave, age 8

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Call For Submissions

Hey all you fantabulous writers out there, feel like trying your hand at a bit of Irish hotness? This call came through one of my publishers, so I thought I'd pass it along.

Lyrical Press is actively seeking submissions for our 2nd annual set of Irish-themed novels/novellas, to release March 2012. We want romantic, sexy stories either set in Ireland or including an Irish hero/heroine. Any subgenre of romance/erotica is welcome (we’d love to see what someone can do with an Irishman in a steampunk).

Books will benefit from group promotion—our authors in this year’s set have worked together and are doing some fantastic co-marketing.

Word counts can range between 15,000-90,000 words. Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2011.

Please include a 1-2 pages synopsis and your full manuscript, attached (in either .doc format, or .rtf). Enter “Irish 2012” in subject line and email directly to mary_murray@lyricalpress.com OR piper@lyricalpress.com

You've got time to plan. I'll look forward to reading what all of you have cooked up!

Pondering Weight Loss

Since February has rolled into town in a flurry of snowfall, I’ve heard from some friends who are working very hard at keeping up with their New Year’s resolutions to get in shape.

The four I checked in with today have each managed to lose weight since starting their programs. It’s a wonderful thing. Ladies, I’m so very proud of you.

But. You knew that was coming didn’t you. Down to the very last woman, they each said, “Oh, I’ve lost ____ pounds, but it’s only water weight.” Way to diss yourselves, girls.

Physically it may be true, and I'm not a health professional so I don't know for a fact. It just seems as if we are willing to blow off our hard work and success like it’s nothing. Like we don’t deserve it. Yeah, we lost weight, but we’re sure the scale was broken.

You’ve been to the doctor’s office or the hospital and stepped up on that scale. Even though sometimes you’d really like to just skip it. Especially if your appointment is after lunch. When you step off, have they ever said, ‘Oh, 140 (or whatever number), but we have to subtract ten pounds for water weight.’? I bet not.

Congratulate yourselves. You know who you are, and you rock!

Note: The author of this blog solved this issue for the moment by simply hiding the scale. In fact, since the topic of weight loss gives her a headache, she’s wandered off in search of a lovely bottle of wine to serve with dinner. We’re hoping she’ll be back next week.

One of the Best Ever

This is one of the best posts about dialogue I've read in a very long time.

Dialogue by Tony Noland

Enjoy! And maybe learn something, totally by accident. Or if you're driven, then totally on purpose.

If you're determined to succeed at this writing gig, then you might want to read some of Ziggy's other guest posts. They are really good. Actually, good enough, why don't you just follow The Feckless Goblin and see for yourself.