Welcome to the blog of Susan Kaye

2011-01-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

Colin Firth wins for The King's Speech

Colin firth won the golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama. Congratulations, Mr. Firth. Assuredly, his celebrations won't be complete until he hears from the Ladies of the Guild. ;-O

I didn't watch the show. I'm not much on shows that center around self-congratulation. That's why I stay away from most reality TV. Anyway, I see lots of buzz this morning that Ricky Gervais was harsh, insulting, rude, and not likely to be invited back to host. To the producers:

ARE YOU REALLY SURPRISED!?!

They can't really be that naive. They hired a guy whose claim to fame is writing and performing harsh, insulting and rude comedy. Did they believe a man known for being unpredictable and naughty was going to suddenly cross his legs at the knees and be all genteel for the TV? Talk about missing the mark!

Anyway, congratulations Mr. Firth. Your performance was outstanding and your award is well-deserved.

Take care--Susan Kaye

I Am Still Alive

2011-01-12T16:32:00.000-08:00

I've noticed a lot of bloggers have that as a heading or a line in their post these days. I think this holiday season wrung it out of most of us. And then there's the weather doing it's thing.

If you look to the side, you'll see that I am making progress on A Word, A Look. I am 32% finished with the first draft now. I am writing every day. My goal is to write 500 words every day this month. That will give me 15,500 words at the end of it. So far I'm only down 2000 words! Yes, that means I haven't been writing every day, but I'm hacking it out.

I'm still blogging at Austen Authors. If I haven't posted anything new, there is always fresh content over there. And much of it may be Austen related but a good portion of it is just fun-to-know stuff as well. Go over and give it a try.

I found a great site to waste time with. Pinterest is a visual catalog of things from across the Web. Lots of pretty knitting, babies, landscapes, food, tattoos, portraits, typography, and pets. Plus hair, clothing, and finger nail polish. Lots of stuff. There's not a lot of commentary so you can take it as you like it. Anyway, try Pinterest for some inspiration.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Anne Elliot Wentworth

2011-01-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

The painting is by Friedrich Caspar David and is entitled Woman At Dawn. (Available at Allposters.) It reminds me of Anne after marrying Frederick. The horizon is open to her as it has never been before.

I suppose I'm thinking about that as I'm writing the Captain and Anne into a corner. No fluffy bunnies for them. Maybe later.

Also, a fellow Austen Author is having a book launch today. Mary Simonsen is proud to present The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy. Isn't the cover great? Anyway, click on over to Austen Authors and read more about the genesis of this newest Austen novel.

Take care--Susan Kaye

I'm posting at Austen Authors Tuesday ...

2010-12-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

George Goodwin Kilburne, Will He Come?

I've done a short post on why authors choose the dates they do. This one is about Mary and Charles Musgrove's anniversary date.

Here's a highlight: "In one version of my next novel—I say “one” because there are getting to be a few of them—I give Captain Wentworth the birth date of Ciaran Hinds’s. Hinds played Wentworth in the second adaptation, made in 1995. His birthday is February 9th and I chose it because I thought it was about time he got something out of this deal as I’ve been using Mr. Hinds’s voice and face in writing Frederick all these years. I’m sure he’d prefer cash but that’s just out of the question."

More at Austen Authors!

Take care--Susan Kaye

See you Monday

2010-12-23T23:14:00.000-08:00

I could blather on and on about Christmas. I could rattle on about the true meaning of the day, how some people have a hard time with depression, how we spend too much trying to buy love, or why we should be thankful. All of these would be applicable, but I thought I would leave you with something simple and sweet:


From dailybunny.com

They are so sweet and simple. Enjoy.

Take care and Merry Christmas--Susan Kaye

Missed the eclipse UPDATE

2010-12-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

I missed the total lunar eclipse last night. We were under clouds all night. BUT, this IS the shortest day of the year, which means that the days will be getting LONGER!!

Second-by-second we will be coming out from under the winter doldrums!

UPDATE

I have a friend in New Jersey who braved the cold and took these pretty pictures of the eclipse. (Thanks, Jen)

Take care--Susan Kaye

Not much going on

2010-12-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

We are waiting for the car to be repaired. $1100 at Christmas is not much of a present, but the repair was doable and it will keep us on the road for a while longer.

We have a herd of 30 elk that graze on our property and they have been coming out in the mornings. (I will post ome pictures later. I'm on the wrong computer for those.) I noticed today that one has a bum leg. It is at the back of the herd and barely puts weight on its left rear leg. I'm praying that God heals that. The coyotes are thick around here this year. I know that it's all the circle-of-life, blah, blah.

I grew up with Buena Vista (Disney) nature shows where nothing got eaten or torn apart. There are plenty of smaller prey for the coyotes that I haven't watched and marvelled at.

Monday begins a new writing regime. LAURA HILE is done with school for the year so we will be writing like our lives depend on it. Well, they do in many senses.

I'll let you know how things go.

By-the-bye, head over to AUSTEN AUTHORS and check the results of several contests! Good luck!

Take care--Susan Kaye

GREAT little time waster

2010-12-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

http://Google Labs Ngram Viewer.

This app takes particular words and searches designated documents to find the number of occurrences. Naturally, I used Wentworth and another occasionally mentioned Austen hero to check out the features.

Larger view HERE.

Now how did it happen that Frederick Wentworth is mentioned more often than Fitzwilliam Darcy? I don't know and I suspect it has to do with higher math that I'm not allowed to know.

Anyway, another Web time waster for you to play with. Have fun mixing and matching heroes, heroines, and villains.

When you get done with Google's latest game, go on over to AUSTEN AUTHORS and check out this week's homage to Austen on her 235th birthday.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Happy mumble Birthday, Jane

2010-12-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas ...

2010-12-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

New from Pamela Aidan!

It is Christmas, 1797, and thirteen year-old Master Fitzwilliam Darcy is returning from his first term at Eton in full anticipation of the holidays. Soon, he and his family will leave their fashionable London home for Pemberley, their Derbyshire estate, to prepare for the arrival of his irrepressible cousin Richard and the rest of his Matlock relations. But when Darcy arrives in London, he learns that his mother is ill. Her doctor's prognosis is dire--Lady Anne cannot survive another year! As Christmas approaches, Darcy is torn between his parents' struggles to carry on and the attraction of an unusual company of players in Lambton for the holidays. With the arrival of Richard and his family, he must try to satisfy the expectations of all and, in doing so, learn what it means to be a Darcy.

Read Chapter One HERE. Order from Wytherngate Press HERE.

In Honour of Jane !!UPDATE!!

2010-12-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

There have been problems all around on this Sourcebooks offer. Sorry Jane! Here is the latest:

The offer is extended to December 17th as well as today
The offer is only good for U. S. computers.
iBooks and Google Books are currently showing the correct prices.
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Sony are currently working the problem and expect to have things cleared up shortly.

Sourcebooks will have their Austen adaptions and free free illustrated versions of the novel available within the hour. (9:30 PST)

Here is the link for Sourcebooks' page: Sourcebooks.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In honor of Jane Austen's birthday, on December 16th, Sourcebooks is offering a very good deal!

On December 16 only, the following bestselling ebooks will be available free through our retail partners (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc):

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One, by Sharon Lathan
Eliza’s Daughter, by Joan Aiken
The Darcy’s & the Bingley’s, by Marsha Altman
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, by Linda Berdoll
What Would Jane Austen Do?, by Laurie Brown
The Pemberley Chronicles, by Rebecca Collins
The Other Mr. Darcy, by Monica Fairview
Mr. Darcy’s Diary, by Amanda Grange
Lydia Bennet’s Story, by Jane Odiwe
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, by Abigail Reynolds

But the party doesn’t stop there, because also for one day only, we are offering free illustrated ebook editions of all 6 of Austen’s novels. These special editions include the full novels plus the legendary color illustrations of the Brock brothers, originally created to accompany the books in 1898.

So, set aside some time on Thursday to stop by your favorite online bookseller and take advantage of this truly great offer!

Take care--Susan Kaye

A Gfty for You -- UPDATE

2010-12-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

Laura Hile is REALLY in the holiday mood! she's giving away books so head over to the Crown Hill Writers' blog to read her giveaway short story, Gentle Anne and the Mill. AND leave a comment so you have a chance to win a book!

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"... broad in the shoulder and narrow in the hip ..."

2010-11-27T03:18:00.000-08:00

That's a line from an old Jimmy Dean--the Sausage King--song called, "Big John." Click on over to Austen Authors to read my post on Frederick Wentworth and what he carried on his shoulders.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Thankful for ... UPDATE

2010-11-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

UPDATE

An unexpected guest for Thanksgiving:

So, are there any traditions about hosting ladybugs for winter holidays?

There are times that living here at Tullie Acres is a pain in the neck. It's five miles from shopping--minimal, just-get-you-through shopping--the road is dusty, everything feels and is about twenty miles away, and the house is a push-into-a-hole sort rather than a fixer-upper. But, there are times when it's pretty cold to live here:

The elk were just across the street. They finally got to eat last night--the snow Tuesday kept them bedded down. If they come up to the house again, I'll try again to get pictures. Most of the time they are moving around in the dark and I'm not equipped with infrared. And, this was the view this morning:

It's not so-o bad at Tullie Acres.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

So, the day is almost here. Lots of cooking today. I hope your day is peaceful, happy, loving, and that kindness rules the day.

Thank you for your support through the year.

New from Pamela Aidan

2010-11-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

Pamela Aidan is proud to announce the release of "Young Master Darcy, A Lesson in Honour."

From the book:

What does it mean to be a Darcy?
It is Christmas, 1797, and thirteen year-old Master Fitzwilliam Darcy is returning from his first term at Eaton in full anticipation of the holidays. Soon, he and his family will leave their fashionable London home for Pemberley, their Derbyshire estate, to prepare for the arrival of his irrepressible cousin Richard and the rest of his Matlock relations. But when Darcy arrives in London, he learns that his mother is ill. Her doctor's prognosis is dire--Lady Anne cannot survive another year! As Christmas approaches, Darcy is torn between his parents' struggles to carry on and the attraction of an unusual company of players in Lambton for the holidays. With the arrival of Richard and his family, he must try to satisfy the expectations of all and, in doing so, learn what it means to be a Darcy.

Pamela Aidan has created a touching coming-of-age novella based on characters from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. A Lesson In Honour explores love, duty, and family honour--principles that a young Fitzwilliam Darcy learns from both of his parents as they confront a family crisis--as well as a lesson derived from youthful indiscretion and adolescent romance that helps defiine the man Elizabeth Bennet will encounter at the Meryton assembly many years later.

Read Chapter One HERE.

Order HERE.

Give yourself a little Christmas gift and order Pamela Aidan's latest addition to the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series.

Another day inside

2010-11-23T07:25:00.000-08:00

So, it's cold, snowy, icy and I think we're stuck for the day. Oh well, I have cooking to do and some coughing. (Something has creeped up on me overnight.)

Have a good Tuesday!

Take care--Susan Kaye

Snow with the bird

2010-11-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

allposters

I'm thinking we may have an uninvited guest for Thanksgiving--SNOW. My daughter tells me we've had it before, but I'm not sure. We got all the fixin' for the meal yesterday but I forgot some things and need to go out. My darling hubsband is on vacation this week and still sleeping. I'm not sure he'll want to slap on the chains and go winter wonderlanding this afternoon.

Oh well, I'm not sure we really need toilet cleaner right this minute, but I do want some COLA!! Even if I get stuck in the house for several days, it won't be unusual. Yesterday was my first foray out since the seventh. Perhaps Santa should bring me some drugs to stem the tide of this burgeoning agoraphobia. 8-) As I was trying to get around the horribly crowded store, and wrote that BIGBIGBIG check, I reminded myself that we are healthy, we have a home, we have money to buy our food, and we all actually like each other. These are the things I remind myself of all year round, but particularly when I'm worried about weather, heating oil, and the future.

And I'm also thankful for those of you who have migrated with me back to Blogger. I know I'm like one of those relatives who is always having to move and you never know where to send the Christmas card. I'm staying put for a while so the cards can safely come here.

Time to make my list of chores for the next few days. Not much to do today, but once Tuesday hits, things will start getting busier.

So, those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, what are your plans for the day? If you don't do the full blown turkey thing, what are you thankful for? Count your blessings is sometimes thought to be a trite saying. I think I need to do it on a regular basis.

If I don't show up before, have a Happy Thanksgiving.

WELCOME BACK!

2010-11-20T23:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, I do tend to jump around, moving blog house so to speak.

The reason we're back here is that I am now blogging on Austen Authors, and announcing news about my writing on A Quick Successions of Busy Nothings and it only makes sense to keep things in the same quadrant of the Web. So-o, back to Blogger for me. And you if you will be so kind as to follow along.

I'll be keeping track of my progress of A Word, A Look with a word count meter to the right. I'll be posting some excerpts as I go. I'm not sure about posting the entire story as I did with my two other novels. I'll let you know what I decide.

Please consider doing some of your Christmas shopping through the AustenEmporium--it helps to defray to Web costs.

Thanks for following in another move.

Take care--

A Hope and A Prayer

2009-08-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a few enquiries as to where I am, am I still alive, how is my granddaughter, are you writing, and when will you finish Pleasant Days. The answers, in order, are: at home, yes, great, yes, I don't know.

This summer has been harsh. It's been a bit of depression central around here. I'm not at liberty to tell details, but I'm going to have to acknowledge that I do not bounce back emotionally like I used to.

When I began writing years ago, I took refuge in it. Regardless of the real life stresses, I woke up early and stayed up late to work on stories that flowed from my imagination with little effort. Now, I'm wondering if writing AND alcohol might give a little relief. Nah, alcohol makes me sleepy and the depression is already providing me that outlet.

Anyway, here is an obligatory Selah picture. She's the one bright spot in all this. Okay, that's not fair, so are my husband, my kids, my mom, and brother. And writing friends. And those of you who keep doggedly checking up, in hopes that's I've gotten off the dime and done something.

To all of you wonderful readers, I am going to give you something I've been saving. I have been working hard on A Word, A Look. It's not coming along the way I had hoped—the afore mentioned junk—but I have some good stuff down. I'll be putting up the first chapter on the blog and on a dedicated web page when I get finished with jury duty next week. (Pray for an out-of-court settlement!)

As for those who are wondering about Pleasant Days, I'm not sure when I will get back to that. Soon I hope. Soon.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Pleasant Days, Part 6

2009-07-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

From the previous post:

She also saw no bed for him. "But you have noting to sleep on. Or any covering."

He lifted the arm of his great coat, spread on the bed. "You need it more. Besides, Tomas reasoned that were I too much at ease, I would neglect my task. He pointed out the cold will awaken me and I will not fail to do my duty." He laughed a little.

"Tomas is a very hard man."

"You do not know the half of it, Anne."

Part 6

There had been little else spoken between the two of them the previous night. They had wished one another sound sleep and pleasant dreams. Both had likely remained awake, thinking of the other, for some time after.

In the morning, Anne congratulated herself on waking before the rest of the household. When she opened her eyes, she found the day was much further along than she thought.

Frederick was gone from his post at the hearth, and Aine silently moved about clearing up after breakfast. What was more surprising was to be faced by the young girls.

Neither had been introduced to her by name the day before, and neither in the course of helping her to undress, or in getting into it had they offered one. In fact, Anne could not recall ever hearing either girl speak. However, she was now faced with them both, quietly gazing upon her. The darker of the two—having medium brown hair like herself, with blue eyes—was carefully holding her dress. The other—smaller, more frail, with reddish hair and green eyes—was holding a neatly folded pile of undergarments and a pair of blue kid slippers.

When Anne sat up, the smaller girl said Aine's name and she was instantly by the bed. "So, you are feeling better?" She helped her to stand, and said she would help her dress. She sent the older girl too keep watch of the door. "It won't do to have on of 'em blunderin' in here just now," Aine said with a smile.

Her dress was freshly laundered, though not pressed, as were the under things. She was astonished when the shoes fit perfectly, and that they were of such quality that even her sister could not object to them, despite their source.

"The gentlemen are at their work. Tomas is sure they can finish today, before supper I am hoping. And speaking of the supper, after you have had some porridge and beer, I shall need you to help me."

Sir Walter took pride in the fact that his daughters were completely ignorant of the domestic arts. Elizabeth had managed Kellynch Hall since she was sixteen-years-old, at the death of her mother. Anne had begun to learn when she returned from school, and was now even more knowledgeable in the overall than her sister. Though both understood the general management of a fine country estate, it was deemed more important that both knew how to direct those servants hired to do a particular task than to know themselves how to perform the task itself. This being the case, when Aine set a large bowl full of flour, a wooden spoon, and crocks of died fruits before her, Anne was completely baffled. Aine noticed the look and gave her instruction to, "mix all the fruits and the flour with the pitcher at hand." She then put before Anne a board with two glistening kidneys nestled in lumps of milky white fat. "They are fresh this morning. Cavan brought them when he brought the girls. When you finish with the flour and water, mix in the suet." She went off to see to the rest of the meal. A large knife was within reach, and Anne pondered how to attack the kidneys.

She picked up the spoon and began to mix the contents of the various crocks, bowls, pitchers, and pots together. It was a simple enough request, and Anne was willing but found her efforts awkward at best.

When she had mixed as much as she thought necessary, she watched Aine for a moment. With a practiced ease, the woman peeled and sliced several potatoes for a gratin she was putting together. Anne marvelled as her hands easily manoeuvred the foods and all the various tools of the kitchen.

When she returned her attention to her task, she was immediately disappointed with her, comparatively, clumsy results. All had gone well until she poured a small cup of beer into the flour and it became stiff and sticky. The mass was so unwieldy, as she endeavoured to mix, it pulled the spoon out of her hand several times. After adding the kidneys, it was worse than ever. At one point she was ready to admit defeat, but thought of Frederick.

For her sake, he was willing to paint and plaster, occupations which were foreign to him, and he did not retreat because of difficulty. He would be her example. She pushed on to thoroughly mix the pudding.

Aine was back and forth between the hearth and the worktable, making no comments and leaving Anne to her task for quite some time it seemed. When she finally did join her, Aine looked over bowl. A scowl barely touched her forehead.

"Is this the first meal you've helped to cook, Miss Anne?"

"Yes. My father forbade us to cook. He thought it more important that our time be spent in refined pursuits."

A smile touched Aine's lips. "Well, Miss Anne, I think that knowing how to feed oneself, and others, is important. And cooking can be quite a refined pursuit depending on the food and people you are feeding. I shall finish up my dish, and then help you further." She looked back to her gratin, leaving Anne to ponder this idea about cooking, and what about the pudding needed Aine's attention.

Stamping of feet and loud voices from the new room caused both women to look its way. Tomas grumbled as he took the one small step up into the main room, then shuffled outside. Wentworth stood in the doorway, watching the ladies and wiping his hands on a rag. "So what is it now?" Aine poured cream over the potatoes and pressed them to distribute the liquid throughout the ingredients. "By the sound of it, the two of you have been getting along so well."

Wentworth laughed and tossed the rag away. "Yes, if you call his swearing at me under his breath getting along. He is angry because I keep things too tidy. He thinks it a flaw somehow." He came to stand next to Anne. He took a pinch of currants from a bowl.

Aine raised a spoon. "Eh, stay out of the goods, Captain." She smiled and wiped her hands. "Tomas is put off by any sort of civilised behaviour, I think." She took the dish to the hearth and placed it to one side of the fire, and checked other dishes baking, roasting, and braising. "Miss Anne is making the Christmas pudding, sir. She is doing very well at it." A large joint of beef now had Aine's attention.

Wentworth looked in the bowl. "It looks very…" Anne did not think the pause boded well for her efforts. He must think her a simpleton without an ability to make the pudding tempting in some way.

Suddenly a mound of sugar and red powder were flung into the bowl.

They looked up. Aine was dusting off her hands. "Can't forget the sugar and spice. It is the spice that makes everything worth the while. Do you not agree, sir?" She looked particularly at Wentworth with an easy smile that made Anne pause for a moment. "Get that mixed in good then we'll wrap it." Aine was finishing up the meat and moving onto another course for the Christmas dinner.

Anne stared at the batter in the bowl. There were few times when she felt completely inferior. Put upon and overlooked, yes, but truly inferior to someone in her midst, rarely. Until now.

The harsh ringing of something metal against the bowl roused her out of her pitiable bout of self-absorption. Frederick held up a spoon. "May I have a taste?"

She took the wooden spoon and began to stir. "It is not yet mixed very well."

He took a huge dollop of batter and dipped it in the reddish sugar. "This will give me a fair idea of what it will taste like." He rolled it about in his mouth, held it for a long moment, and then swallowed. Looking into his eyes, she could see not only sympathy, but she could see his resolve to eat poison if need be to liven her mood. Before she could protest this antic as ridiculous, he made quite a show of licking the spoon clean. "Ah, a Christmas pudding to remember." Tomas's voice rose from the other room. "My Master calls." He put down the spoon, winked at her, and left them.

Aine gave a final, thorough stir to the pudding batter. While pouring it into a cloth-lined bowl, she said, "He is smitten. How long have you and the Captain been together?"

It was not so much the question that put Anne on her guard, but the tone with which Aine asked it. While Anne was somewhat sheltered, she easily guessed that Aine's meaning of 'together' was not in the most innocent sense. In this case, she thought, shading the truth was acceptable. "Together? Only for the last two days." It was an exceedingly awkward question and even answering it, Anne had to avert her eyes. However, she could not help a glance at Aine after a second or two. The woman was just looking away, but her expression was a mixture of amusement and scepticism.

Cue the music...

2009-07-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

to A Summer Place. Deal is, I messed up the template over at Xanga and haven't the brain cells to fix it right now. So, bookmark this site for the summer. Pleasant Days will be starting back up--it may be a page at a time but I will get it done! I'll be letting you know how I'm progressing with A Word, A Look. (I'm going to try for 2000 words a day. Should be interesting. And lots of other summery stuff that I can't even foresee!

Later, Susan Kaye

June was a wash for writing

2009-07-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

The first week went well until the first Friday and that began 10 days of enforced vacation for Bill. All the stress tests on his heart came back negative, but we had to wait several days for all the confabs to be accomplished and a release to be signed stating he could go back to work and it would be no one's fault but his if he died.

The next week I took a trip with Laura Hile to visit my mom for a day, and then to visit our publisher. Good visit. There is talk of an anthology for Christmas or Valentine's Day. Not sure of the details yet.

The following week was a family situation.

So, when a prearranged 2000 word-a-day challenge came on June 29, I was rusty to say the least. I made it though. There are now 10,000 brand new words in the first draft of A Word, A Look.

All of this happened around trying to write and not play with the baby. (At which I failed miserably!)

Here's how it looks for July: lots of writing on AWAL. Pleasant Days being fitted in where possible. (With the move, I will post here, but maintain the web pages for continuity. --Update needed.)

I'm going to begin editing/rewriting If I Dream, I Have You in view of putting it in book form.

So, drop by frequently and listen to me whine. Well, that's not very enticing, is it?

So, drop by and watch me get my act together and whip up a new book.

Happy 4th of July.

Take care--Susan Kaye

I Had Ideas

2008-12-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

I had ideas of posting pictures of the snow and our blizzard conditions. Blogger won't load the pics so you just have to take my word for it: snowy.

Take care--Susan Kaye

I've had to move ...

2007-11-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

back to my Xanga site. So, I've put up new wallpaper and such in hopes that readers will migrate over there with me.

Notices for "For You Alone ... " and "Charity Envieth Not" will go up there. Along with news about the edits for "Mercy's Embrace" and Pamela Aidan's new book deal with Simon and Schuster, and her indepentent novellas about you Darcy.

So, please bookmark "I Had to Laugh," and drop by often.

Take care--Susan Kaye

It's Rather Sad ...

2007-11-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

when I have posts to "For You Alone ... "up sooner than blog posts.

Oh well, that's how things are these days.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Monday, Monday

2007-10-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

There are lots of ways of being miserable, but there's only one way of being comfortable, and that is to stop running round after happiness. If you make up your mind not to be happy there's no reason why you shouldn't have a fairly good time. - Edith Wharton

I have a real genetic propensity to choose unhappiness. I often say that when it comes to silver linings, I possess a magnificent cloud detector. In the last few years I have found that in order to write well, I have to allow for the possibility of happiness. If not for myself, for my characters.

The last part of my novel is the fruition of the love story of Persuasion. Romance, wonder, hope, a wedding, the future, physical and emotional passion are all part of it. When you begin to weave all of that together, you see that God has allowed for a pretty amazing palette of joy for us to enjoy.

Time to work.

Take care--Susan Kaye

For You Alone Updated!

2007-10-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

The first part of Chapter 7 is up at Austenarium HERE.

Teaser: Frederick is in Bath.

Again with the dog food...

2007-10-25T09:05:00.001-07:00

First my book bag, now my printer.
Where next? The dog's dish?

Round 286,574

2007-10-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

I have 37 days until my deadline for "For You Alone" runs out. Now comes the panicked feeling that I have to rewrite the first third of the book. I'm not finished with the first draft, it still has to be edited and so now the fear of the Sophomore Slump barges in. *sigh*

Some days it don't pay to start moving around.

Take care--Susan Kaye

So, the new banner ... too much?

2007-10-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

Too big? Would Jane approve? Gaudy?

Thank You, Readers

2007-10-17T06:19:00.001-07:00

A few years ago, Laura Louise found a report in a Canadian newspaper that said the average book published in North America sells only 800 copies. At the time, we could only dream of publishing a book, and not even selling that many.

Thanks to my readers, I've beaten that statistic.

Thank you very much for reading and buying "None But You ... "

Take care--Susan Kaye

If You're Not Writing, At Least Be Creative

2007-10-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Words of Wisdon

2007-10-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

"When the shrivelled skin of the ordinary is stuffed with meaning, it satisfis the senses amazingly." Virginia Woolf, Orlando

2007-10-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

Too Much of a ~~Good~~ Thing

I was reading an article on how it may be the porn industry that determines the winner in the battle between HD-DVD (backed by Sony and Disney) and Blu-Ray (favored by Paramount). Evidently, pornographers had a lot to say about who won in the VHS vs. Beta showdown in the 70s.

This being the case, I enjoyed this observation by Gerald Korson, the author:

For those who believe that pornography is morally wrong, there is a tiny glimmer
of hope that the advent of high-definition may actually hurt the porn industry.
The New York Times reported earlier this year that the crispness of
high-definition images makes porn actors’ and actresses’ physical imperfections
— cellulite, pimples, birthmarks, razor burn, bulging breast implants — stand
out more. If additional make-up, plastic surgery and stage lighting don’t
compensate adequately for this concern, pornographic filmmakers might find that
the high-definition era involves a bit too much reality for such a
fantasy-driven industry.

I like the idea that reality could creep in and ruin this sort of "good" time.

Take care--Susan

The article, The Dirty Secret of the High Definition Format War can be read at Mercator.net.

!!NEW INSTALLMENTS!!

2007-10-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

I have been a sluggard this summer and now I pay the price. I've been cleaning up my web site, Austenarium, and am planning a new theme for the season. I also have gotten up Part 2 of Chapter 5 AND the whole of Chapter 6! Good things come to those who wait, and for you, my patient readers, this weekend is the time.

So, some just keep the "current" page bookmarked and check that from time to time, and on that page is a link to the previous post, in case you've forgotten, and a link to Chapter 6.

Happy reading, and have a great weekend.

Take care--Susan Kaye

And the world would be better for this

2007-10-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Barbara Nicolosi of Church of the Masses has a great post entitled "Heroes in Storytelling." Neat and concise. At the end of the post she includes the lyrics of "The Impossible Dream" from The Man of La Mancha.

I graduated from high school in 1976. Of course our class colors were red, white and blue. (The girls wore red which were a sort of glimpse into my political philosophical future. The homor students wore white and groused about "virgins to the slaughter." I doubt there was really much to worry about if virginity was a determining factor.)

Anyway, at graduation we were to sing a class song and "The Impossible Dream" was chosen. We were a few days into even rehearsing it when came a brilliant notion from one of the more popular people. "I think we should sing something more modern. More us. How about Jim Croce's 'Time In a Bottle?'" And so we shifted to the new song.

Here are the last two stanzas of each song:

"Time In A Bottle" (words and lyrics by Jim Croce)

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

"The Impossible Dream" lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh

This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into hell
For a heavenly cause

And the world would
be better for this
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

There seems to be a huge difference in the message of the last stanzas of these songs. They seem to reflect a difference in human vision.

Take care--Susan

And How Are Things Where You Live?

2007-10-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

BillDear and I went to Idaho over the weekend to visit Mum. About 50 miles out of Portland, I was looking through a bag in which I'd put some CDs I noticed an inordinate amount of dog food in the bottom.

For most people, ANY dog food in a book bag is an inordinate amount and that goes for me too. I figured out that some freeloading rodent has been stealing the dog's food and socking it away in the bag for later use. Thankfully there was no bedding so it hasn't moved in yet, and there was no rodent either.

We were driving through the Columbia River Gorge and I can just imagine having to pull over and fling a rodent out the window. (And since my life is a comedy, there would be the obligatory try that fails because the window isn't down!) Plus all the "eeewwwing" and shivering and bad dreams to follow.

Also, Mom got a new computer while we were there. WOW! Go HERE and know why I drooled.

So, today is get-back-to-it day. We've shopped and are now settled for the day. 1200 words on FYA and I really much get in and finish If I Dream. I've gotten e-mails about it recently. Time to get it finished.

Take care--Susan

Perfect Autumnal Passage

2007-09-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

From Chapter 10, Persuasion

"I wonder whereabouts they will upset today. Oh! it does happen very often, I assure you-but my sister makes nothing of it-she would as lieve be tossed out as not."

"Ah! You make the most of it, I know," cried Louisa, "but if it were really so, I should do just the same in her place. If I loved a man, as she loves the Admiral, I would be always with him, nothing should ever separate us, and I would rather be overturned by him, than driven safely by anyone else."

It was spoken with enthusiasm.

"Had you?" cried he, catching the same tone: "I honour you!" And there was silence between them for a little while.

I'm close to seeing AND believing!

2007-09-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

The started in a wash of self pitying tears. No reason other than the hormone wash that women experience now and then. But the day picked up after Hubby came home. And then I got an e-mail telling me None But You had climbed to the number 1 spot on the Regency romance list on Amazon. Still don't know why. THEN, I noticed that the fall catalog for Bas Bleu is out. They are an online books store with a mail order catalog which also distributes to independent bookstores. I'M IN THE CATALOG!

It makes me think of that scene in The Jerk when Steve Martin's character is running through the streets screaming, "I'm in the phone book! I'm in the phone book!"

Well, there will be no more tears before bedtime. That's where I'm headed now.

Take care--Susan Kaye

2007-09-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

You Are an Orange Crayon

Your world is colored with offbeat, confident, and stimulating colors. [I've always thought of myself as pretty middle-of-the-road.] You have a personality that's downright weird, [nail + head = direct hit.] - and you wouldn't change it for anything. Loud and expressive, [One of the reasons people take a step back.] you voice your opinions fearlessly and strongly. And while you have a strong personality, you can be friends with almost anyone. [Except those who loath me.]

Your color wheel opposite is blue. [My favorite color.] Your confidence is something blue people truly envy.

What Color Crayon Are You?

(HT to Tinkerty Tonk)

><><

This is a HUGE surprise to me. I always think of myself as a neutral, beige sort of person. Perhaps a rich brown, but not a color that represents the offbeat, the confident or the stimulating.

The weird personality I can understand completely.

So, what color are you?

Take care--Susan Kaye

Congratulations!

2007-09-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Laura Louise's Mercy's Embrace is finished!

It's been years in the making, and it is finally complete. (As complete as any work of art ever is!)

So, if you've followed the story, go here and be part of the end of an era. If you've never read ME, go here and see what all the celebrating is about.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Better Safe Than Sorry, I Suppose

2007-09-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

The NY Times and others have withheld another installment of the comic strip, Opus. I'm not a fan. I don't even crack the leaves of the funnies on Sundays anymore, but I do know that when the likes of the Times and other sophisticated papers exercise caution, it's because certain folks will be offended, and may protest, or take to the streets, setting fire to cars, bombing things.

The latter is what they are afraid of. They will allow foul and at times untrue things to be printed about various Christians or Christian organizations. That comes under the banner of freedom of speech. But, upsetting Islam is beyond the pale in their minds. For the millions of peace loving Muslims out that, I sympathise when truly hurtful things are published. I sympathise because I've been there as part of whatever group is in the spotlight at the time. Homeschoolers, Evangelicals, Republicans, Anti-abortion, Anti-gay, etc. They get to pick the labels and I get to be part of the crowd they vilify.

All that said to say, we live in a pluralistic society and freedom of speech is part of it. I endure it because I must. Also, I learn a lot about those who disagree with me by understanding their pov. Most of the time a thoughtful spokesperson could undo all the hand wringing, (but they never seem to look for those), and I also learn what gets them all stirred up and how I might change my tactic. (It has to be said, some of my fellow believers ARE embarrassing.)

But, just to show I'm not John Q. Milquetoast, if anyone has one of those petitions to put Oregon Family Fairness Act (House Bill 2007) and The Oregon Equality Act (Senate Bill 2) on the ballot, I would like to sign. To Know Thy Neighbors dot org, go ahead, bully me by threatening me. I have freedom of speech and the threat of "outing" is not that frightening.

For people so concerned that consenting adults have the right to do whatever they will in the privacy of their own bedrooms, they sure seem awfully interested in what I may do in the voting booth. (Okay, Oregonians have been deprived of the voting booth, but I had to make it work metaphorically.)

Take care--Susan Kaye

A Labor Day Salute

2007-09-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

My husband is the most dedicated worker I know. Not because he is especially fond of his job, or rabid about making his boss happy, but because doing a good job ensures his family a house, food and clothing. And, it ensures his wife can stay home and aspire to a writing career. For that, I thank him with all my heart.

When Bill and I were getting acquainted, he told me about his first job working for Banquet Frozen Foods. Yes, the ones who make TV dinners, pot pies and chicken nuggets. Anyway, when he first started working at Banquet, they butchered their own chickens and turkeys. Butchering is a messy business and one that could rightly be said to be at the bottom of the barrel. Or, in this case, blood pit.

It was his job to clean it after a days work. When handed a pair of chest-high waders, he asked, "What are the chances these things leak." The boss said, "Pretty good." They did. I won't even tell you about the guy who on his first day fell INTO the pit. Or having to weld one of the chains that carried the contents to a truck to be shipped off. No, I won't do that.

Anyway. the next time you're sure that YOUR job is the lousiest one on the planet, just remember Bill and his leaky waders.

Happy Labor Day!

Take care--Susan Kaye

If You've Come From CCWC ...

2007-09-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

welcome. Seems I made a tad bit of an error the other day.

I volunteer at my church's bookstore, and had also volunteered to work up blurbs for new books available. Having done that, I sent the list to Donna who oversees the business end of things. I sent it and forgot to remove my signature, which is this blog address.

So, if you came out of curiosity, or just to see what sort of person advertises her rambling on a church e-mail list, here I am. Mortified, but sure to remember to remove my e-mail signature when appropriate.

Look around, make yourself at home and read a few things.

Take care--Susan Kaye (Sue Blackwell)

Thank you, Readers!

2007-08-31T18:44:00.001-07:00

I just got word that we sold 141 copies of NBY last month--however they measure such things--and 44 copies already this month, (refer to previous aside).

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Take care--Susan Kaye.

What was on her mind!?!

2007-08-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

Frederick and I are almost there!

2007-08-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

"Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public." Winston Churchill (Quote courtesy of MyWritingMentor. Pic courtesy of Sony Pictures.)

I've been writing Frederick Wentworth for ages now. I may not kill the monster--I have a real fear of burning bridges--but the flinging him out to the public sounds like a great idea today!!

Take care--Susan Kaye

It is a woman's prerogative...

2007-08-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

but this is ridiculous! Several weeks ago I was writing along like a good little troop when a reader let me know that there was a glaring continuity error in For You Alone. I had set up a particular premise about Frederick and Edward's relationship in None But You and then blew it out of the water in FYA. *sigh*

So, I began a reread to see what I had to do. In rereading I became embarrassed about a particular plot line. It seemed too schmaltzy and melodramatic. I decided to remove it while correcting the continuity problem. That has been in the works for several weeks now, but also seems to have lost steam. Now I've gone back and read the offending, melodramatic stuff and it doesn't seem so bad. Time and distance from emotional writing can help I suppose.

Now I have to decide how to fix the continuity problem if I keep the original, more emotional elements. Pick up the action in the rewrite if I choose to go that way. And I still have to write the rest of the book! Bah.

I'm tired to the bone working on all these fictional machinations, how do people who are drama-driven in real life manage?!?

Take care--Susan Kaye

August Persuasion Birthdays

2007-08-23T09:58:00.001-07:00

Actually, there are none. None that I can find at least. There are four cast memebers whose birthdates I can't find so I will put them up in the barren months.

Our first up to bat is Phoebe Nicholls who played the Ice Princess herself, Elizabeth Elliot. This isn't a very good shot. Ms Nicholls may be camera shy. Most of the pics I found were candid shots of her in public or leaving the set. Anyways, she is first up on the list alphabetically and she was born in 1958, same year as me. All good reasons to be our Persuasion cast member for August.

And they wonder why we snicker ...

2007-08-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

behind their backs.

From a press release on Ali Larter on StarPluse dot com:

"I am going to go out on a limb by doing my own hair for the Emmys without any stylists. I am going to use Dove Hair Care products for five days, get my hair in great shape and I am going to rock the red carpet. I am doing all of this to help women realize the potential of their own hair and feel more confident every day."

I realise little things mean a lot and a woman's hair style can influence her
confidence. Unfortunately, I think the trend is worsening and I'm not sure this
sort of morale booster is the answer. She's not helping to air drop supplies
into Darfur, she's going to wash, dry and style her own hair for an evening that
when costs are tallied will come close to the GNP of some thrid world nations.
The preening gasbagism of Hollywood is alive and well in this sort of self
serving pulicity.

This is a blatant commercial for Heroes, Ms Larter and Dove hair products. We can rest easy that since this is one big commercial, Dove isn't going to allow her free rein. She won't be frightening any babies. Besides, if the style in this pic is what passes for styled hair,
she would have to use her feet and a garden rake to do much worse.

Save me from those who are bent on making me to feel better about myself.

Take care--Susan

2007-08-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Monday, Monday ...

Beautiful post at Wittingshire entitled: Diversity and Junior High Girls.

Harry Potter is Dreadful and Vulgar

Over at Scriptorum is a new article by Paul Spencer. In particular it is about Harry Potter, but deals with popular fiction vs. literary art. Here's a sample:

What makes these works of both classic and popular literature of real worth is that they are grounded in a transcendent understanding of what is good.
So much of what is considered important and thought provoking in sophisticate literary circles is really just a veneer over truly despicable ideas. It is modern literature and its belief in its own sophistication and cutting edge ideas that has often truly gone astray.

Quotes by G. K. Chesterton remind me that this is an old argument that will probably never be resolved.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Phew! just made it ...

2007-07-31T09:10:00.000-07:00

July is a target rich environment for birthdays in the cast of SonyPictures, Persuasion. (Affectionately known amongst Persuasionites as P2.) I have now, officially, become a fan as I am posting pics of cast members.

Fiona Shaw, Sophia Croft, was born 10 July, 1958. She'll beat me to fifty by 13 days. She's best known now for her role in the Harry Potter films as the house proud Petunia Dursley. (This picture just doesn't do Petunia justice!)

Corin Redgrave, Sir Walter Elliot, was born 16 July, 1939, is part of a British acting dynasty that includes Michael, Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave. Looking at this picture, perhaps he is expanding his career to include Seat Filler during awards ceremonies.

John Woodvine, Admiral Croft, was born 21 July, 1929. There's always a look in his eye, regardless the role, that makes me think he'd be a real hoot on set. Or off.

July 17th would also have been Sir Walter and Lady Elliot's 223rd wedding anniversary, but I thought commenting on that would make me look just a bit too obsessive.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ms Shaw, Mr. Redgrave and Mr. Woodvine.

2007-07-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Readers!

My publisher just told me today that 123 copies of "None But You ... " were last month. AND, last week she let me know that it is going to be in the fall catalog of Bas Bleu. They will initially order 650 copies, hopefully more as the saga of Captain Frederick Wentworth touches the hearts of readers everywhere. (Gah, is that schmaltzy copy or what!?!)

Thank you again or buying and reading "None But You ... "

Take care--Susan Kaye

2007-07-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

I turned Pro Today

Yes, the title IS provocative. What I mean by this little eye-catcher is that I received my first check for royalties for None But You. I'm not sure if we're calling them royalties or profits or what. Anyhow, I have a check in the amount of *mumble, mumble, mumble* and it feels pretty good. Aside from birthday checks, I haven't gotten a check in exchange for services rendered since 1984. Yes, children they had money that long ago. I was working at a food processing plant in Marshall, Missouri. I worked there for 45 days and then quit when I realized they were serious about me having to join the union. (Joining a union WOULD amount to prostituting myself as far as I'm concerned. If you believe otherwise, good on you, and thank God we live in a nation where anyone can believe anything they want.)

I also got the Certificate of Registration, from the Copyright Office for None But You. So, it's official, if you find an old file of it somewhere, and then try and pass it off as your own, you are stealing. And, people will think you're really inept when it comes to punctuation. You have been duly warned.

Take care--Susan Kaye

2007-07-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

I REALLY had to laugh at this

I just got an e-mail, "For Captain Wentworth" trying to sell our dashing hero Viagra in more forms than you can imagine.

Now, to be fair, Frederick IS 229-years-old. Maybe a little help in that department is necessary. But, I think it would be best to wait for Anne and him to come to that decision privately.

Have a good weekend.

Take care--Susan Kaye

The Glorious 4th

2007-07-04T11:52:00.001-07:00

Janeday

2007-07-02T09:45:00.001-07:00

"The sea is no beautifier, certainly; sailors do grow old betimes; I have observed it; they soon lose the look of youth." Penelope Clay, Persuasion

So, who is it?

2007-06-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

This is an original painting by artist Kenney Mencher, displayed on line at the Klaudia Marr Gallery. It's entitled Austen's Persuasion. (Painted in 2005. Sold.)

Who is the guy? When we know who the gentleman be, we will know the identity of the lady.

I can't imagine it's Sir Walter. The ill-fitting, Hefneresque smoking jacket is not the baronet's style. (Not to mention the hair!) Now, the tight fitting blond has all the charms of Penelope Clay and might be the determining factor.

If this is supposed to be Frederick Wentworth, I think we have trouble. The jacket is STILL ugly and the man is NOT handsome. And while Louisa is silly and imprudent, I'm not sure she's the sort of girl who would plaster herself all over a man. Maybe in a modern rendering of the story, but not Austen's.

What's you best guess and why.

Take care--Sue

2007-06-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

Cultivating Readers or Going It Alone

There has been a string on DWG about writing, posting and then self publishing Austen-based fiction vs. the regular routes of completing a ms, getting an agent and then going with a brick-n-mortar publisher.

Someone commented that while they were working on a manuscript and not posting, they fondly remembered the encouragement and energy that comes from posting on a fan site. I've done it both ways. I'm in the midst of writing a second novel while posting it online. It's a tough call as to which way is best for me.

My early work was never going to be in book form so posting and receiving comments was great, and kept my enthusiasm for the stories high. It was as fun to push the post button as it was to go and see who had commented. Now, things are different.

As I write now I am working to finish the first draft and then will do one or two rewrites. But, since I am also posting, I have to do a certain amount of editing as I go along. This can be good or bad for readers, depending on how well they like the first draft. I can already tell that I will be changing some things in rewrites. The first draft is about getting the emotions on the page. The rewrite is about craft and clarifying the characters, the scenes and working to hone the raw material that came in the first draft. Things in the FD are jagged and rattle, but I have to try to make them presentable to the readers. It's a tough call when you have only so much energy to put towards a project.

Also, the sort of encouragement that comes with posting your work publicly is not necessarily the same sort of encouragement you need to write a novel. The readers of serialized fiction are looking for the next part of the story, and not really keeping in mind the story as a whole. Readers like to show themselves clever and some like publicly guessing where the story is going. If the writer isn't careful, they might take the bait and wind up creating a completely different story than the one the began. As I am writing Frederick's parallel to Anne's, I'm not in much danger of that. But, one of the reason's Love Suffers Long went so long is that very reason.

All-in-all, I think this will be my last foray into posting as I write. In future, I will probably do more short stories for online audiences, but I need to keep the novels covered up until they are strong enough to stand up to the scrutiny of readers.

Which will be a moot point if I don't get out the timer.

Take care--Sue

2007-06-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

Some People Will Do ANYTHING ...

to get out of writing. I chose to move the living room furniture, pull up the rug, mop, flip the rug and put it all back this morning. I've been at it since around 5:30 AM. It's now 9:00 AM. This is procrastination taken to an extreme.

Time for a shower, and then to the timer.

By-the-bye, I didn't make it back to the second hour of writing yesterday.

Take care--SK

2007-06-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

You've got to have friends ...

The buddy system is a standard on field trips, the swimming pool, moving--Bo Peep from Toy Story: "I've found my movin' buddy!" And the buddy system is great for writing as well.

The past two weeks I have been "meeting" daily online with Laura Louise, of Mercy's Embrace fame. (Which, by the bye, has been updated TWICE in the past two weeks. Thanks in no small part to out daily Buddy Write.)

Laura's day job is that of school teacher and she wanted to keep to that schedule. We meet on MSN Messenger at 8:30 AM PDST and do the cyber equivalent of morning coffee, and then we set out times for 60 minutes and write. Very simple. When the time is up, we may talk about what we wrote, but that's not mandatory. It's not even mandatory that we be writing the entire time. I do laundry, brew tea, check my e-mail and trundle to the ladies when necessary. We don't chain ourselves to the chair. Though at times that might not be a bad idea. In the past two weeks I have finished one chapter and written two others. And that's with losing 10 precious pages to a Windows XP goof. In this time I've written over thirty pages and that's outstanding for me.

Now comes the test. My writing buddy is out of town for two weeks.

I did 60 minutes today and hope to get in another hour this evening. Laura and I usually do three hours a day.

Will I stay faithful to the plan? This is going to be like a carb addict locked in the Hostess bakery for a fortnight.

Do you have any surefire ways of getting the story written? Care to share?

I'll let you know tomorrow if I'm off the wagon or if I'm staying the course.

Take care--Susan Kaye

2007-06-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

This may be just what the doctor ordered.

I'm testing Google's claim that I can write a post in Docs and Spreadsheets and then post to my blog on Blogger.

It worked posting to I Had To Laugh. So, it should work posting to Jane Started It!

*fingers crossed*

Take care--Susan Kaye

An interview with moi

2007-06-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

Over at Master's Artist I'm being interviewed. Part One, which I completely missed, is here, and Part Two is here.

While you're at it, read the Master's Artist blog. It's very stimulating.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Welcome

2007-06-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Some women have shoe collections. I tend to collect blogs. I'm not sure the number of cleverly-named blogs have have spread over cyberspace, but I think it's in the double digits by now. I'm not sure why I do this. Maybe it's simpler to create a new blog than to redecorate an old one when the wallpaper gets a bit fusty.

I'm going to let AustenariumBlog settle a bit. I've had some funny auto generated posts that make me wonder about the wonder of viruses. So, if you've come from that blog, don't worry, I will still be posting about updates to Laura Louise's "Mercy's Embrace", and Barbara Cornthwaite's "Charity Envieth Not". I am hoping to finish my own extracurricular story, "When I Dream, I Have You," very soon. If you're keeping track of these stories, bookmark this url for updates.

Anyway, "Jane Started It" is about writing. It tells how I got started and, in some ways, why I continue to write.

Writing the only thing I'm reasonably good at. Marriage takes two people working together, so my husband helps with that. The parent-child relationship has give-and-take to keep it going and my kids supply plenty. Writing is a solitary sport. The writer can be encouraged by others, but it is the writer alone who plants their cheeks in the chair on a regular basis and makes things happen.

At the moment, I'm starting Chapter 7 of "For You Alone ... " the second volume of the Frederick Wentworth, Captain series. After I'm finished with that book, it's anybody's guess what I'm going to do.

If you are a writer who has opinions--and what writer doesn't?--stop by frequently and let us have it. Okay, I'll rephrase that, let us know what's going on in your part of the writing world.

Take care--Susan Kaye

Welcome to the blog of Susan Kaye

I Am Still Alive

Anne Elliot Wentworth

I'm posting at Austen Authors Tuesday ...

See you Monday

Missed the eclipse UPDATE

Not much going on

GREAT little time waster

Happy *mumble* Birthday, Jane

Just in time for Christmas ...

In Honour of Jane !!UPDATE!!

A Gfty for You -- UPDATE

"... broad in the shoulder and narrow in the hip ..."

Thankful for ... UPDATE

Happy Thanksgiving

New from Pamela Aidan

Another day inside

Snow with the bird

WELCOME BACK!

A Hope and A Prayer

Pleasant Days, Part 6

Cue the music...

June was a wash for writing

I Had Ideas

I've had to move ...

It's Rather Sad ...

Monday, Monday

For You Alone Updated!

Again with the dog food...

Round 286,574

So, the new banner ... too much?

Thank You, Readers

If You're Not Writing, At Least Be Creative

Words of Wisdon

!!NEW INSTALLMENTS!!

And the world would be better for this

And How Are Things Where You Live?

Perfect Autumnal Passage

I'm close to seeing AND believing!

Congratulations!

Better Safe Than Sorry, I Suppose

A Labor Day Salute

If You've Come From CCWC ...

Thank you, Readers!

What was on her mind!?!

Frederick and I are almost there!

It is a woman's prerogative...

August Persuasion Birthdays

And they wonder why we snicker ...

Phew! just made it ...

The Glorious 4th

Janeday

So, who is it?

An interview with moi

Welcome

Happy mumble Birthday, Jane