This weekend is once again time for that most fabulous of all conventions, FENCON!! Here's my panel schedule: Friday  6:00 pm  Addison Lecture Hall Love me, love my neck! Description: What is behind the Renaissance of the Vampire? From Novels, to TV & the Movies. Some said it was a fad, but it's still going...

___________________________ Saturday  12:00 noon  Trinity 1/2 Meat And Blood Description: From Zombies and Vampires, people's fascination with the taboo diet in film and print. You might think twice before bringing your lunch with you to this one...

___________________________ Saturday  2:00 pm  Gallery 2:00 pm - Description: Autographs

___________________________ Saturday  6:00 pm  Trinity 3 Zombies. Vs. Werewolves Vs. Vampires:The Cycle of Fads Description: Interest in these paranormal characters seems to wax and wane - not unlike the cycles that seem to rule the habits of these paranormal creatures. What's hot now? What's cooling off, and what's the next hot trend?

___________________________ Sunday  2:00 pm  Pecan Discussion: Adopting an International or Special Needs Child Description: Angeline Hawkes and Christopher Fulbright host a Q&A on the process, the challenges, and rewards of adoption.

I should have copies of Symphony for the Forgotten. [Waiting for them to arrive via the mail] If not, I still have some Advanced Readers Copies that will be $5. We'll also have a few copies of the out of print, Blood Coven, by myself [Angeline Hawkes] and Christopher Fulbright. Our author table will also have copies of Spicy Slipstream Stories, Frontier Cthulhu and a few other books.

I won't have trade paperback copies of Shades of Blood and Shadow yet, but hope to have those next year for ConDFW in Feb.

In writing news: I've been busy querying agents and publishers for 2 novels. I have a 3rd ready to go out too, but I may wait awhile before sending that out as the other 2 are tying up all of the available parties that would also be interested in the 3rd. I'm also soon to be back at writing another novel that's about 1/4 of the way finished.

In adoption news: We're currently waiting on a September update on our kiddo. We're still hoping he'll be home in December. The cogs of the machine move very slowly and the wait is excruciating. Chris and I will have dvds, vhs, books, bunnies and lambs for sale at our author table as part of our fundraising this weekend too!

Some days all it seems like I do is wait...writing and adoption wise. lol.

In sewing news: I listed 2 holiday ensembles on ebay for Bleuette. And don't forget the adoption fundraisers of hearts, bunnies and lambs! I've got a Bambino gown set to list and am nearly finished with a dress from a 1930s McCalls pattern also for Bambino or 10 inch baby doll equivalent.

Yesterday I broke out the Halloween decor and decorated the inside of the house. Last year I was sick and we only really had decorations up for a couple of weeks, so since we got ripped in 08, I decided to start early in 09! lol. That and the end of this month is crazy busy with school and other commitments, so now was the best time!

Kiddo#3's bedroom is now mostly done. We have to do the closet rod/shelf, but for the most part the drawers are full, the toy box is getting filled up, the bookcase is getting stocked, and we can't wait to actually have the kiddo that the room is for!

So, that's my scoop. Come out and see us in Addison this weekend!

 



Bunnies, and Hearts, and Lambs...OH MY!

They say to do what you know to raise money for your adoption expenses. I know 2 things: writing and sewing. I'm writing up a storm. AND I sewed one too...Check out my fundraising auctions!

Created from vintage/antique quilt squares, quilts, and embroidered doilies, runners and such. This is a fun way to reclaim/recycle lovely pieces that some woman spent countless hours working on in ages past! 

All proceeds go into our adoption fund to help bring our baby boy, Daniel Harding Gyeong-bin, home from South Korea!

Just listed 51 lots on ebay.

Tons of nonfiction books. History. Excellent resources for writers. Ghosts. Paranormal. Antique/collectible books. Celtic. Druid. Gypsy. Tudors. Various historical periods. I'm still listing books. I ran out of boxes, so today we may go on a box hunt so I can list the rest of the pile. Most of the books are in lots of 3 or more, grouped according to time period, topic, etc.

Also listed are tons of children's clothing. Girls sizes 6-8. TONS of girls shoes sizes 2 - 2.5 youth. Boy's clothing sizes 10-16. And my Bleuette and Bambino ensembles.

Chris is listing DVDS, CDs, VHS, and more collectible/rare horror, sci fi, fantasy, etc books. Check his auctions out here. He has huge lots of thrash, metal, rare metal, christian metal, death metal....keep him bookmarked if you're looking for these types of items because he has a HUGE pile of items he's listing as we get the boxes to pack them in. Seriously, folks....like a whole room full of good stuff.

We're serious about raising funds to bring our baby home from South Korea. If you know anyone who is interested in books and the other...please feel free to share the links!

Bleuette ensemble ebay auctions closing today...all have been marked down to $20 or less with free shipping.

Auctions closing.  Dolls, doll clothes [Bleuette/Bambino], girls shoes, action figures, sewing.




My story, "The Ananias Syndrome", has been published in Sam's Dot Publishing's Cover of Darkness, May 09. It's a sci-fi/medical/end of the world kind of yarn.

I've been busy doing my annual scrapbook/photo album marathon of photos from May 08 to May 09. I'm on January now. Woot! After the albums are finished, it'll be on to painting the nursery and sewing all the nursery items. Busy! We're waiting to hear back from Korea now to verify approval of our home study. Keep praying that the right baby girl comes our way!

School is winding down and the kids have been busy with programs, etc. 5 more days!



That's the scoop for right now. The manuscript for Inferno: Tales of Hell and Horror has been turned in, and I expect to receive signature sheets for Shades of Blood and Shadow shortly.

New Ebay auctions listed here.

New interview of me by Gabrielle Faust for the Austin Literary Examiner here.

Thank you to Gabrielle for the interview opportunity. :)

In writing news: Inferno: Tales of Hell and Horror is finished and sent to Joe at Dark Regions Press.  Robert Weinberg will be writing the foreword for the collection. I'm happy with the manuscript...here's hoping Joe is too!

In adoption news: We received word that our homestudy is finished and being sent on to our agency. We hope to be declared "Official" by the end of next week. We're now gearing up for the next big payment [hence the ebay auctions and more to come...Chris will be listing books, dvds and vhs soon] to the Immigrations services for our petition to adopt a foreign orphan.

In sewing news: finished several Bleuette or Bambino ensembles. Will get them up on ebay soonish.

In other news: Teh Hotness is finished with school for the semester. Yay! I get him for the whole summer! The kids are itching to be out of school too...they still have a few weeks however.

We purchased the boxed set of Full Moon Picture's SUBSPECIES series at Texas Frightmare Weekend a couple weekends past...and we had a full week of Subspecies! I LOVE this series. However, we're at odds with the director for his offing of Radu. The poor guy got the short end of the stick in every way imaginable. I mean...he was simply a product of his parents and environment...all he wanted was LOVE! I really think the director should bring him back in Subspecies V and get Michelle to fall in love with him.  Maybe his puddle of goo around his flaming body can grow him a new head...maybe a little younger looking...who knows what the shallow broad might need to make her see that Radu truly loves and adores her! Anyway....Radu would have had me at the awesome castle and the poufy black dresses and the jewels...but women these days! There's no pleasing them! Anyway, Ted! Contact me...I've got some great ideas for a spin-off Radu novel series!

I'm gearing up for my beginning of the summer, annual, scrapbooking/photo album marathon. I save all our photos from June to June and spend a couple of weeks doing the photo albums. I found it easier to do a marathon scrapbooking feat every year then hauling all the supplies out every so often throughout the year. And, it's fun to spend time with the year's photos!

This summer the plans are: photo albums, paint baby's room, sew baby's bedding/curtains, etc, sew a few dresses for the girl child, sew fundraising sachets and misc, sew quilts, and horror dresses projects...much sewing!

That's about it. Our anniversary is on Tuesday, May 19th, so we're going out to eat tonight to celebrate. Easier than doing it on Tuesday when we'd need a baby sitter. I feel like I've been in love with Teh Hotness all of my life...I fall in love with him all over again every day. God has blessed me so much with Christopher and his love. I can't imagine my life without him. I love you, bebe!

Well, Ebay had a 15 cent list day yesterday so all the stuff [w/exception of 10 lots of 10x10 quilt blocks] got listed. This was the clean out of the sewing shelves which had to be moved from the baby room area. So, Quilt Blocks, Fat Quarters, pre-wound bobbins and the usual Bleuette ensembles listed on ebay now.

Yesterday we had our conference call which is part of the committee review that is happening on Thursday. Not sure how it went as we're not sure what they were looking for. Our home study social worker called a little while after the conference call to make sure we wanted this baby so she could give her okay on the baby to the adoption agency. She said she was calling them back when she finished with me. There are 4 families total trying for the baby. Which is better than the 11 we started out with, but still just as nail-biting as we don't know what kind of "competition" we're up against. In the end, we just want the best family for the baby. Of course, we hope it's OURS, but we know that if this little one isn't ours, there IS a baby waiting for us out there. We just have to have patience and in the meantime get everything ready for her coming.

I sold 2 Bleuette ensembles last week and with the money I bought a battery-operated, music and jungle sound playing baby swing off ebay. So far we have a crib [sans mattress], stroller, pack and play, toddler car seat [we have to wait to see how much she weighs upon arrival to determine if we need a smaller seat], and the swing on the way. My mother-in-law hit a great consignment sale and I've won 3 big lots of clothes off ebay, so I think we have clothes covered too. Waiting on shoes.

I laid out 2 crib quilts and plan to start quilting those this weekend. So, everything is coming together slowly, but surely!

In the meantime, I'm writing my little fingers off. Actually editing and rewriting still on Inferno: Tales of Hell and Horror.

Which, actually, is what I should be doing right now, so I better get back to work!

Awesome! My little article about our adoption is up at http://neighborsgo.com/stories/33707

Today...day o'cutting of vintage quilt hearts, lambs, and bunnies...and asian kimono sachets....reward for finishing my first draft of Inferno. Editing and rewrites begin tomorrow.



Ode to The Keyboard
I've rescued this from the trash a few times. Fought to keep it. Demanded to keep it. I love my keyboard and have sworn to use it until it dies. So far, it's kept on groovin'. There are holes in the S and N key. I guess I must use them the most. lol. There are almost holes on the M and comma key. There are grooves from my fingernails/rings hitting the key surface on several keys. The plastic has faded to some strange greenish color. There are a few paperclips beneath the keys that I dare not attempt to extract. Most of the letters are gone or in process of being gone. I don't care. I learned to type by NOT looking at the keys...the teacher would get most unpleasant if she saw you looking down at your typewriter keys. lol. Just something I thought I'd share....some people have that worn out comfortable t-shirt they won't part with, or houseslippers or jeans....I have my keyboard.

Auctions closing on ebay.


Working on Christopher and my Robert E Howard United Press Association zine today...and the HWA Internet Mailer.  Also doing laundry, ebay auctions closing, planning a cajun dinner for Teh Man [yum], and figuring out Easter basket item for the kiddos. This year I'm just doing one $25 item and chocolate bunnies. They hardly eat candy, so any candy I get them I end up eating months later when I run into it in a box or on their dressers while cleaning/making beds, lol.  So, the boy child I can't mention what I got him here as he sometimes reads my journal...it's Dallas Cowboys related though. The girl child wanted a new American Girl outfit but when I put it in the basket on the website and they added shipping and handling and tax to it...it came to $40 friggin bucks...so, uhm, no. So I called her into Teh Hole under the Stairs and explained how the $40 doll dress wasn't gonna happen, and then we went to ebay [through OneCause!!!!] and found her an ensemble for $20 that I bid on. We shall see. She wanted a nightgown for one of her dolls, but I have a pattern that I can make her a gown from so will try to work on that this weekend to include in the basket.

Sooooo, Easter taken care of, I moved onto writing and printing of the REHupa zine. Gotta get that out by April 1. Running behind.

Writing tonight. Yay! Inferno collection is at 41k and some odd words...60k is my word goal. So, almost there. Have 5 stories left to write. Ended up doing rewrites and picky edits the last couple of nights...and during the night, one of my dreams cooked up a new plot twist for an existing story so I went back and wrote  in the gem of the night. So, work is steadily coming along.

Congratulations to Bob Weinberg for his new position as Editor at Arkham House!

Spring break starts today...hence the kiddos home...Chris is looking forward to a break from Algebra class as well. I remember the huge breather that spring break always was...I was never one of those party kids who took off and wasted a whole week of my life...I usually spent spring break writing term papers or studying ahead in order to give myself some breathing room when school resumed. I took 18-21 hours every semester in order to get out in time for my scholarship expiration...so no time for playing for me then!

Had to decline a baby girl this morning. Always sad. She had a medical condition that we were awaiting another MRI about, but the MRI wouldn't be in until July, and another family wanted her now. So we had to decline so the other family could have her. Sad. But we have faith that God will bring us the baby for us. Our homestudy should be wrapped up and official by the end of next month.

Okay...so I'm off to work some more...that is all for today :)

I'm tired...it always takes our family unit about a week to adjust to the daylight savings time change...I once read something when I was a kid, well, okay, I read LOTS of stuff when I was a kid, but this particular gem said something like this: Daylight savings time is like cutting the end off of a blanket and sewing it onto the other end of the blanket to make it longer. I always found that amusing.

Listed a ton of stuff on ebay today. For some reason it says 47, when there's actually 54 items listed...none of the jeans/pants have shown up yet. Weird. Anyway...the start of the sell everything that's not nailed down fund-raising efforts to fund the adoption. This is just the tip of the iceberg...there is yet another pile awaiting my descriptive talents and photographic genius under my formal dining room table...and then there will be an All-House Clean-out following the petering out of this latest round of auctions. We haven't even begun to write up descriptions for the book, magazine, dvd and vhs pile near Chris's Man Room yet....the nightmare makes me shudder.

Tonight is writing night...looking forward to it. I'm so near the end of Inferno: Tales of Hell and Horror that I can almost taste it. Want to wrap up the writing so I can move onto the editing and re-writing. I'm happy so far.

Managed to get quite a bit of sewing on Bleuette ensembles done during our Movie Madness Weekend. We watched quite a few movies, some really good, one real stinker [Zombie Honeymoon]. Of course, I listed them on ebay already...except one, need to take photo and write up description yet. It'll go in with the other pile waiting for me. Guess what I'm doing tomorrow? lol.

Well, it's bedtime for kiddo#2. I've prodded and declared it Jammie Time...I hear the water running while she brushes teeth and the refrain from "Never let the water run" from Barney is now singing in my head...Damn Barney...even 4 years after his popularity waned and faded into history in our household, the haunting refrains of his chilling voice still rings in my head! Out, out damned spot!

Okay...off to tuck in and read. Hey, help me save a baby....go buy a copy of Symphony for the Forgotten. It's like Save the Children...only you KNOW the money is actually going to the baby in this case....and I won't play any heart-wrenching videos that make you cry.

Ton of Bleuette [or other similar 10-12 inch doll] ensembles listed on ebay now.

I've kicked up the sewing as we're desperately raising funds now for the rest of the apprx $23,000 we need for the adoption program fees, travel for the infant and escort, Immigration services, and legal adoption bills here in Texas. I've been sewing since early winter but just now listing. We also have a ton of books, DVDs, VHS, other doll both antique and Barbie items, toys, outgrown children's clothing, and more books! lol....Will be getting those up over the next weeks.

The Home study visit went very well last night, and barring any complications with any of the other forms that we had to have mailed in from a gazillion sources, our social worker said we're approved. Yay! I didn't anticipate any complications or denials, but it's very nerve-racking all the same. Now we have a final payment to send them and we wait for the paperwork to be completed. As far as we know the only forms they're waiting on that we have yet to send our our 2008 taxes from our accountant. So, now we begin to raise money in earnest.

Tonight's a writing night. I'm finally in the 9th level of Hell in my Inferno:Tales of Hell and Horror collection [due out in Fall/Winter from Dark Regions Press].

Okay...off to do laundry! Windows open, it's a beautiful 75 outside!

Fearzone has Symphony for the Forgotten listed as an editor's pick for 2008. Go read the list! Woot!

There has been a delay and Symphony for the Forgotten won't be released until 2009. I have requested the work be removed from the Bram Stoker Recommended work List, the book will be eligible for Stoker consideration in 2009 now. Thank you to those who have recommended the collection. I really appreciate your support. To all those who have emailed asking where to find it or when it will be available...it's coming. I promise!

Meanwhile, work continues on my other collection due out Fall 2009 from Dark Regions Press. This one is not to be confused with Shades of Blood and Shadow, also coming out from Dark Regions Press in Spring 2009. SoBaS has been turned into the publisher and is being illustrated by Tom Moran. I'm VERY excited about these collections, stay tuned for more news with this publisher!

Sewing news: I've been sewing like a crazy person and hope to get the ensembles I've finished over the holidays listed on ebay soon. Right now there are a handful of items listed, and I've removed all of the Christmas/holiday ensembles. If you're a member of ForBleuette, the 3 remaining holiday ensembles have been marked down in my album there, otherwise they'll be held for holiday listing next year.

UGH! I have to go do sales taxes...ugh ugh ugh...fortunately, I'm a meticulous record keeper so the process is always uneventful, but tedious all the same. After that, we have to do the big whammy...Income taxes....[making the very 80s gag me hand to mouth gesture].

No big New Year's Eve/Day plans. Teh Hotness will probably be studying for his Biology test and I'll be writing...I told the kidlets they can attempt to stay up and watch the ball drop on TV if they so desire, but they have to do it in the family room because us old ones will be working downstairs. I'll be surprised if they make it past 9 pm. lol.

Okay...off to do taxes. Coffee...need coffee....

Ha! Now everyone will have that evil song stuck in their heads! lol...

Thank you to everyone who commented on my depressive journal entry yesterday. Today is much improved.

Chapter 4 begins tonight on the horror novel...yay!

Many Bleuette ensembles and some other assorted stuff listed on ebay: in the continuing Buy the Boy Child A Computer For Christmas Campaign. This is the last of the house clean-out stuff with the exception of books and DVDs/VHS that we're still going through...and of course the doll stuff which goes up year round.

Been re-editing 3 other novels to send out to agents/publishers again. Took a break while I was writing the other Fantasy novel[collaboration with Christopher Fulbright]...now writing new horror novel [also a collaboration but not with Christopher]...need to send out some queries checking on "stuff" that's been out for a while now.

Last night I sewed Scootles aka Snoodles [my Christmas doll that I'm allowed to repair and dress, then must go into Chris's closet til Christmas] combination undergarments in a flocked white dotted pink voile...so cute! Also got a few minutes of sewing in on another Christmas Bleuette ensemble, while waiting for the kiddos at school.

TOMORROW:

I'll be signing books at the grand opening of Eerie Books in Wylie, Texas [205 N. Ballard Street ]  this Saturday, October 18th, from 2 -4 pm. Eerie Books has the distinction of being the only ALL HORROR bookstore in Texas. I will have proofs of my new collection SYMPHONY FOR THE FORGOTTEN which is due out SOON.

The Wylie square has several wonderful cafes and restaurants, as well as an awesome coffee house/antique store...so come on out for lunch and then pop by the bookstore and say hello!

Eerie Books celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, October 18, 2008 by giving away free horror movies and free horror books to the first 100 visitors to the store that day. In addition to horror books, Eerie Books also carries horror movies on DVD (both new and used) and other horror collectibles, like comic books, games, and artwork.

Okay, off to make Halloween ghost cookies for the kidlets...

The last demon baby doll is closing soon....Halloween wouldn't be complete without a bitty baby demon in the house!

I save all our photos throughout the year until the summer, and then I do a week to 2 week long scrapbook journal photo album run and put all the photos into albums. I love the fancy papers and stuff but my thrifty nature rebels against the expensive price tags found in scrapbooking stores. So, I pick up the big tablets of background papers on sale throughout the year at Walmart, and save all the colored one-sided notices and what not sent home from the school [in duplicate due to 2 kids] all year long. I love Mary Engelbert's scrapbook accessories, but again, not going to pay the moolah it requires to stock up on her papers and art and stickers and stuff....

So,  I look for Mary Engelbert books to go on sale for a buck at the half price bookstore then dismantle them and cut out all the illustrations and end papers, and such to use in the photo albums.

This weekend I had 3 books that have been waiting destruction, so I cut through all the books. I don't just throw away the rest of the books...no, I prize books...so I want to squeeze every thing I can out of them before they go into the trash. Most of them are home decorating books with beautiful glossy full color photographs. So, I cut all those out and took my pinking shears to them to use as thank you "cards" to go in my ebay packages.

One book was full of sayings that are meant to jar one's brain. As I was happily snipping along, I ran into:

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are." -- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Hmmm. That got me to thinking. Not about carrots and onions and radishes and tomaters...but about life's garden. You see I'm a gardener. I nurture and grow lots of things. Some of them more amazing than others. God has blessed me with many talents. So, many that at times in my life I've been conflicted with what to do, what do I want to do, what do I do best? Throughout the years I've sang publically, I've been an award winning debator and persuasive speaker, I've been a published poet and prose writer, I can sew, quilt, embroidery, needlepoint, paint half way decently, decorate...there are very few garments, curtains, home items that I can't look at and examine and then copy both in pattern and production....I've been a teacher. I've been a leader and a follower. So many talents god has blessed me with.

My garden is full. My most prized garden produce has been my children. I would have had half a dozen of them had God saw fit to allow that. But, I am happy with the two I have. That doesn't mean I won't rule out more...I'm always open to another challenge. But, if Alfred, Lord Tennyson came a knockin' and asked to see my garden, I'd take him upstairs and show  him my children.

Every day they fill my life with blossoms. Each new discovery and new fascination is a bloom. Each question and subsequent research and answer is a new bud. They are not mature. They have a long way to grow before they are full grown. I tend them daily and cultivate them with love and patience. I water them with strength, hope and inspiration. I show them how to establish goals and how to step toward the fulfillment of those plans. Sometimes I don't have all the skills or knowledge I need to fertilize them with. So, I must learn as well, and in the doing so, I find that I continue to grow too.

My garden is full of love and encouragement. They are the best of me, and sometimes I can see the worst of me. lol.

My garden is full of friends. Only a few have been here for a long time, but the ones that have been planted, I am extremely loyal to. Even when I don't hear from them or see them for months on end due to busy lives and schedules, my love for them remains unchanged. They are the old, weathered rose bushes that grow unruly at times, creeping over the aging fence, but always there, always fragrant, always a reminder of good times and smiles.

So, what is in my garden? My children, my husband, my family and friends. My creativity and talents. My loyalty and love.

Life is so much more than jobs and busy schedules, and car repairs, and house repairs, and bills, and places to be, and places not to be, and deadlines and phone calls, and...and...and...

Life is about new growth. Nurturing. Blooming where one is planted. Hope springing from deep roots.

I got a lot of mileage out of 3 - $1 books from the clearance rack.

In other news:
Got our zine done for REHupa and mailed off last week in time for the October 1 deadline. Yay!
Almost done with Chapter 1 on the horror novel. Yay.  Wrote about 2700 words last night, 1400 of which I kept.

Spicy Slipstream Stories was released last week.
No news on Twilight Temptations or Terrible Beauty: Fearful Symmetry

Symphony for the Forgotten is just about ready to be released.

Listed 25 more lots of items on ebay...whew....almost done with the fall clean out...hit the sewing room this time...many vintage items listed, lots of clothes, all of the Red demon baby dolls are now sold and gone to new homes...have one flesh tone demon baby, 1 satyr and 2 alien baby dolls left to sell....all that's left to hit are the linen closet, a small sewing stash in the garage, my armoire, and a buffet in the formal dining room. It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate over the years...am sad to see the leather pants go...but hey, buying new leather pants! lol.

New October appearance: Thursday, October 9, 7-8:30 pm, Christopher and I will be part of a panel of writers at the Mesquite Public Library as part of The Big Read campaign. We'll be selling/signing books before and after the event.

Ebay auctions

Okay...the house clean out for my goal of a totally "free" Christmas is underway. I've listed a TON of clothes...AWESOME LEATHER PANTS...jeans, kids clothes, BOOKS, doll stuff [of course]....

I'm trying to recycle clutter into Christmas money. The Girl Child's Christmas is now completely purchased and paid for. Now, I'm working on the Boy Child's list. Which contains 1 item. A new computer package. His current one is about 10 years old I think.

If anyone knows a teen or woman that wears a size 4 to 6 there are some really awesome clothes listed. I had to part with 2 pairs of Awesome Gap leather pants too....middle age is catching up with me at last. Sigh.

Novel almost finished. Sewing continues, nearly finished with a Bedtime for Bleuette ensemble with robe, nightgown, slippers, quilt, teddy bear and book. Listed 2 new fall ensembles today.

Other writing progresses. I hope you're all on pins and needles waiting for SYMPHONY FOR THE FORGOTTEN!! I'll forgive you if it's just pins and no needles. hee hee.

Gotta go write more words. Words are good.

Got word from the publisher that SYMPHONY FOR THE FORGOTTEN is sooooonnnn to be released. Yay. Got the info up on our MySpace page, and it's posted over at HWA now. I'll wait til closer to the release date to do a net sweep, lol. I'm also thinking up some sort of Give Away...can't have a book come out without some sort of fun contest! Some sort of book package maybe. I also have an awesome mini coffin to give away!

Auctions closing soon. So far I've been using the auction money to pay for Christmas gifts. Would be awesome if I could pay for Christmas entirely out of "recycled" money. If you or anyone you know wears a 4 to a 6, I've listed like my whole closet...because, unfortunately, 40 happens. Also still lots of little girl clothes listed. And doll stuff! Don't you need a demon baby for Halloween? Oh, you know you do!!

The sewing of new fall/winter dresses for Kiddo#2 progresses. Had a rough couple of weeks, so slower than anticipated, but it's coming along. Also work on the fantasy novel. I've got 3 chapters to go. Woot!

Okay...I'm off to do laundry and such.

Writing news:
I'm about 20k away from finishing my part of Christopher and my fantasy novel. The next up is a horror novel co-written with a different collaborator. The outline is basically finished for it, the title is being chewed upon. As soon as I finish the fantasy novel, I have some research to delve into then will start the horror.

Symphony for the Forgotten is closer to it's big release date! Here's what others are saying about the collection of 14 horror/cross genre stories:

Symphony for the Forgotten is a greatly entertaining foray into religious and spiritual horror, nicely balancing both sacred and profane in its quest for those universal truths we know are tinted in shades of dark. In this rousing collection, Angeline Hawkes travels time and history to tell sometime ambiguous but always exhilarating tales of sinners and occasional redemption. -- W.D. Gagliani, Author of Wolf's Trap

An entertaining, sweeping set of tales that radiate Angeline's pulse in every story. Be they far away places & times, her grasp of what lurks in the heart is clear...and quite dark at times. Truly, a fine read. -- Steven L. Shrewsbury, author of Hawg and Godforsaken

In Symphony for the Forgotten, Angeline Hawkes conducts an orchestra of creatures that are both bloody and sexy. You won’t forget this tour through historical horror; it’s a sumptuous smorgasbord for beasts craving variety. --Gregory Lamberson, author of Johnny Gruesome and Personal Demons

From the biblical age to the cyber age, Angeline Hawkes is offering up a sometimes creepy, sometimes thoughtful, but always action-packed symphony that will not soon be forgotten. This is definitely a book you want on your shelf! -- Steven E. Wedel, author of Ulrik and Seven Days in Benevolence

Angeline Hawkes’ Symphony for the Forgotten conjures dark and dangerous experiences, satisfyingly horrorific stories seasoned with sly humor, historical epics slipstreaming into alternate realities mixed with tales modern as an internet killer, hellishly inspiring, fantastically inventive, a collection of dark fiction impossible to forget! -- C. Dean Andersson, Bram Stoker Finalist, author of I Am Dracula, Raw Pain Max, and the Bloodsong Saga

Symphony for the Forgotten is one of those rare collections where every story is unique, and every story works. Angeline Hawkes' writing is sharp, elegant and satisfying in the most deliciously dark way. -- Jonathan Maberry, Bram Stoker Award winning author of Zombie CSU and Patient Zero

A wonderful collection. Most interesting are the unusual combinations of genres and story devices, such as historical literature combined with comedic splatter, the battle against Satan waged as a military operation, and a gore-drenched version of the David & Goliath tale. There's humor, sorrow, magic, and even a one-eyed Chihuahua. Very highly recommended. --Jeff Strand, author of Pressure and The Sinister Mr. Corpse

From a modern chatroom dangerous liaison with a snakewoman to a ghastly scene of bewitched decay in revolutionary France; from a Civil War run-in with a hellhound to a retelling of the biblical David and Goliath story with a zombie chaser, in Symphony for the Forgotten, Angeline Hawkes takes her readers on a tour of commingled history and horror, usually wrapped in one neatly coiffed, if bloody package. Time travelers beware! -- John Everson, Bram Stoker Award winning author of Needles & Sins and Covenant

In other writing news, I have submitted a novel-length collection with awesome cover art by Stacy Crum [Cemetery Dance, etc]entitled, Out of the Garden and Other Tales of the Barbarian Kabar of El Hazzar to a publisher.

I've taken a break from short stories while I finish the novels I have lined up.

Sewing News:
Working on jumpers/pinafores and dresses, and some rumba jeans for Kiddo#2. Her birthday is coming up on September 2 too, so have finished buying her bday gifts. Now I'm working on her Christmas. She's made it so much easier now! She wanted the Felicity American Girl stuff for birthday, and the Samantha American Girl stuff for Christmas! Ebay is a godsend!

Other Stuff:
Not feeling good today. Lots of pain. We've had a storm system or two hanging over us for an entire week now and sometimes the pain seems unbearable. I muddle through as best as I can. Keeping busy helps. Once in a while, being busy gets undermined by excruciating pain and I'm forced to lay down and read or hand sew. Always seems to strike when I have a lot to get finished elsewhere that doesn't involve lying flat. Grumble, grumble.

School starts on Monday. Christopher and the kiddos will be heading back to the grindstone. My taxi service will be pressed into service once again. This year it's 2nd grade and 6th grade. Kiddo #1's last year in elementary school. Where does time go?

Well, time to fix lunch and auctions are closing on ebay...if you have a girl child sizes 4 through 7...there are a TON of awesome clothes lots closing within the hour.

Angie's Easy Salsa

1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 TBS chopped fresh Cilantro [y'all above the mason dixon might call this Chinese Parsley]
1 TBS sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp Cayene pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2-3 TBS chopped jalopenos [I use fresh that I've pickled in vinegar & salt, but you can use jarred or canned]
2-3 cloves chopped fresh garlic [can be frozen or thawed]
1 squirt lime juice [optional]
1 qt Mason jar or other recycled jar [glass keeps the strong odor out of your fridge]
* optional - 1/4 cup chopped green pepper

Drain both cans of tomatoes. Add the tomatoes w/green chilies to the jar. Add all chopped products and spices. Add the other can of diced tomatoes. Screw on lid. Shake until well blended. Chill for at least 2 hours. Keeps up to 2 wks in fridge [maybe longer but in our house it only lasts tops 4-5 days til it's all eaten] The salsa's hotness will get stronger the longer it is in the jar/refrigerated.

Writing News:
30k from finishing fantasy novel. Next up: horror novel.

Sewing News:
Finished another Bleuette ensemble and need to list on ebay. Will be listing another Alien baby doll as the other one got himself adopted. Yay. Currently the red demon baby in the vintage black velvet christening gown has been bid on and will be going to his/her new home in a few days! Currently working on beautiful and darling pink felt, embroidered baby booties [for real or loved like they're real babies]. Will be sewing for Kiddo#2 shortly. Have fabric, buttons, patterns, etc. Most auctions closing in next 24 hrs, go here to bid:

Doll News: I'm so excited. I have a new Bambino who is going to be a Bambina for me [Bleuette's little sister] doll coming home to me soon. She's been on layaway. I also have on layaway a Daisyette [the American version of Bleuette] and a reproduction of an antique Japanese doll. Yay! Also, I won an AMAZING auction on ebay this past week. A Patsy doll [circa 1930s] and her travel trunk and matching smaller trunk! Got an amazing deal on it. Nearly was outbid in the last seconds of the auction, but I managed to snipe it back and my computer didn't freeze up as it normally does when I don't want it to! lol. So, sewing up a storm! Expecting some repro patterns for the Patsy doll so I can sew for her too!

Summer News: The last weeks of summer are winding down. It was 108 here yesterday. School clothes are in the final stages of being purchased. We have new backpacks and shoes and clothes and excitement is building. Class rosters get posted in 2 wks. The kids are already talking about who they might or might not get for a teacher. Christopher heads back to class the same time the kiddos do. Kiddo#2's birthday [Sept 2] gifts have been purchased. She waived the party in favor of more gifts. She wanted the Elizabeth and Felicity American Girl dolls and many ensembles. We've divided the list among the family. She won't be disappointed!

I'm nearly finished with the year's worth of photos in my scrapbooking album.  Whew. Still easier to haul all the stuff and all the photos out every summer and live with the mess for 2 wks then it is to break out the stuff every few months.

Because everyone else is doing it:
First, the rules:

1. You must answer yes or no.
2. You may not explain unless someone asks you to.

Have you ever....

Taken a picture naked? Yes
Made money illegally? No
Had a one-night stand? No
Been in a fistfight? Yes
Slept with your best friend? Yes
Had sex in a public place? Yes
Ditched work to have sex? Yes
Slept with a member of the same sex? No
Seen someone die? No
Run from the police? No
Woke up somewhere and not remember how you got there? Yes
Worn your partner's unmentionables? No
Fallen asleep at work? Yes
Used toys in the bedroom? Yes
Run a red light? Yes
Been fired? No
Been in a car accident? Yes
Pole danced or done a striptease? Yes
Loved someone you shouldn't? No
Sung karaoke? No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
Laughed so hard you peed your pants? Yes
Caught someone having sex? Yes
Kissed a perfect stranger? No
Shaved your partner? Yes
Given your private parts a nickname? Yes
Gone in public without underwear? Yes
Had sex on a rooftop? No
Played chicken? No
Mooned/flashed someone? Yes
Slept naked? Yes
Blacked out from drinking? Yes
Felt like killing someone? Yes
Had sex more than 5 times in one day? Yes
Been with someone because they were in a band? No
Taken 10 shots of liquor in a day? No
Shot a gun? Yes
Gone outside naked? Yes

And that's all folks...lol.