Thursday Thoughts: Universal Doubts

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Silver James

It’s Thursday again. I shouldn’t be but I am always slightly amazed that the days roll by so swiftly. As a kid, time stretched endlessly. Summer was long and lazy, school a hazy conundrum on the far horizon. And then it was the end of August and I was back in school and each vacation break seemed a far distant hope. The end of the year and any hope of the freedom of summer was a millenium away. Now I’m old and I look over my shoulder and think, Wait. What? It was just Saturday. Or Sunday. I forget which. How can it be Thursday all of a sudden? Which has nothing to do with today’s message from the Universe, except it sort of does, in a weird, roly-poly way. The older I get, the more self-doubts I have, especially when it comes to my writing. Am I too old to be in touch with the new batch of readers coming up? Are my storys/characters/etc. worth reading? This is especially true when it comes to editing and revisions. Which is why I probably shouldn’t go back and look at a manuscript once I finally say, “Enough!” so I can get it formatted and uploaded, or emailed to my editor. Due to some technically issues (like losing the whole damn document after revisions!), I knew I had to go back through RESCUE MOON. I did not anticipate real life being such a witch so that it’s taken way longer than it should. Which just gives more time to doubt.

Always listen to your doubts, Silver.

Not just because they might teach you of your fears, but because, sometimes, they might teach you of your wisdom.

Lovin’ it all,
The Universe
©www.tut.com

Deeper than most will get, huh, Silver?

The Big U is right. Sometimes, the doubt teaches us wisdom. I’m learning that there’s a reason I’m going back through RESCUE MOON. I’ve added over 4K words and I still (as of the composing and scheduling of this post on Wednesday) have six chapters and the epilogue to go. In rereading it, I’ve discovered that, with this book at least, more is better. I’m reaching deeper into the emotions and thoughts of the hero and heroine. I’m stretching the action with a bit more description to better set the scene. I’m choosing my words more carefully. That’s all good. Even so, once I get it uploaded and I’m waiting for it to go live, for that first sale, and that first review, I will doubt myself. I will wonder if I chose the right words, if tinkering with it made it better or worse. Such is the nature of the beast. If writing was easy, everyone would do it, right? 😉 Truth time. How many of you have ever wanted to write a book? I don’t care if you did or not. That’s not the question. I’m just curious about how many thought about it.

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Wednesday Words: No Bones About It

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Silver James

Ah ha! I didn’t lose track of days or time or forget that I thought I’d posted when I hadn’t. Progress! Once again, we’ve reached midweek and it is time for new words. Today’s #1lineWed theme is **HOWEVER** and the #ThursdayThreads prompt is: “No bones broken.” As always, I took the original 250-word flashfiction and added to it to make a more complete scene. On the timeline, this is getting toward the end of our intrepid heroes’ trek through the Carpathian Mountains.
****
Snow melted into rain and the trail turned hazardous with rivulets of of water turning dirt to mud and rock slick. A steep slope loomed on one side and a cliff that dropped down toward the river snaked along beside them. Dalton, in the lead, paused to glance up at the summit. They had to get over this pass and then it would be all downhill to the border. Will luck, a rescue party would be waiting for them. He turned partially and lifted his chin to Duke, who walked in the middle of their group.

“Not too far now. There’s a tight bend ahead. Single file.”

Duke nodded and passed the word while Petrov translated for the children. Dalton set off again. The kids were starting to flag and he was on the lookout for a wide spot where there was maybe someplace dry to sit and rest. Somebody cried out behind him. He had just enough time to turn and watch as Maxim, who had slipped and fallen, slid over the edge of the cliff. Galyna flopped forward and scrabbled to grab the teen’s arm. She hung on with both hands but Maxim’s weight was pulling her toward the edge. Dalton and Petrov valiantly scrambled to reach her but Duke got there first. He snatched the back of her coat and hauled. The girl cried out, her hands losing their grip on Maxim as Duke leveraged her back onto the trail.

All the adults slowly navigated around the kids, bunching them into a tight group as they passed. A hurried discussion and then ropes appeared from packs. Kin and Loch created Swiss Seats from the ropes and carabiners. Strapped in, they worked their way over the edge and down the cliff to the small ledge where Maxim had managed to find a handhold and wedge himself in. It didn’t take the two Wolves long to get him packaged.

Duke watched Kin and Loch carefully maneuver the makeshift sling up the rocky cliff. Tank, Dalton, and Uri handled the ropes belay. The kid kept insisting he was okay and could climb up on his own. He wanted to kick himself—again—for sending both of their medics back in the helo with all the sick, injured, and younger kids. Then again, he hadn’t anticipated the weather—and the Russians—turning on them before the helo could return..

With infinite care, Maxim was lifted over the edge, followed quickly by the two Wolves scrambling up after him. Meg knelt beside the boy, her hands hovering just above him. She glanced up at Duke.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Dalton, still curling one of the ropes, appeared and squatted next to her. “Where does it hurt, Max?”

“I am fine,” the boy insisted.

“Yeah, right. And I’m Tina Karol.”

Meg stared at Dalton. “Well, your hair is the same color and you’re almost as pretty. You could be her brother maybe.”

Max grimaced but tried vainly to grin through it. “She is much nicer. She came to the hospital once. Maryska and I met her. She is my sisters favorite singer.” His eyes widened. “I have now met two big stars. Tina and Vadim.”

While Max talked, Dalton did a quick hands-on examination and pronounced, “No bones broken.” The boy started to push up, then gasped and laid back on the ground. “You have, however, probably cracked some ribs.”

Duke wondered which the hell god they’d pissed off.
****
And there you have it. I truly feel Duke’s pain. We’ve all been in the spot where even when we’re trying to do good, nothing goes right. Writers, feel free to be inspired and share. Readers, let’s not be negative today–especially since my computer froze in the middle of this but it managed to save most of this post so yay! That’s my good thing. What’s good that’s happened to you today?

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Tueday Treats and Titles: Oops

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Silver James

You know when you think you remember doing something because you were thinking about doing it and then got distracted and stuff happened and then more stuff happened and then real life says “Pay attention to me!” and you sorta have to and time passes and then all those restless nights that intterrupted a solid night’s sleep sort of avalanche and your brain craters and you’re asleep before 10 p.m.? Yeah. That.

Today is all about the coffee because I’m gonna need every drop I can consume. It rained yesterday. Good, old-fashioned thunderstorms. The storm dragons were having a ball and we desperately needed the rain. Normally, a day like that puts me in a writing mood but for some reason, yesterday put me into a listening -to-a-book mood. Listening to someone else’s words while editing personal words is a dangerous proposition. No apologies. I finished Ilona Andrews’s RUBY FEVER and loved every freaking minute of it. It’s one of those books that I want to write–you know the kind that when you finish it, you feel like this…

I should add here that the joy of audio books means that yoour hands are free for snacks, dinner, breakfast, lunch…did I mention snacks? Oh, and ice cream! That was my treat, after I finished off the leftover chicken pasta salad (easy peasy with packaged grilled chicken, Ronzoni veggie pasta, jullienne carrots, chopped onions, celery, sliced black olives, fresh grated Parmesan cheese and Skinny Girl Balsamic Vigneratte dressing) followed by two scoops of Blue Bell Moo-llinium Ice Cream. So that’s my late post today. Since I’m wallowing in my book depression, I won’t be opening another book for awhile and I fully intend to get my own damn book ready to publish, hence the need for copious amounts of caffeine. What about y’all…do you occasionally suffer from book depression?

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Fifth Monday

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Silver James

Ya know, it really sucks when the calendar saddles us with 5 Mondays. FIVE!!!! It’s not fair, I tell you! Not fair at all. 😮 *exaggerated sigh*

Okay, move along. Nothing to see here. Which, sadly, is true. We didn’t win either of the lotteries. I didn’t suddenly lose a bunch of weight. None of my books hit a best seller list. I stalled out on edits and revisions for a variety of reasons, none of which actually fly but there’s no way to turn back the clock for do-overs.

There was baseball. This is always a highlight of my life, especially when my Cards win.They’re six games ahead in the NL Central. College football started this past weekend. My OSU (the REAL OSU) plays Central Michigan this Thursday night. Luckily, that’s a travel day for my Cards so no conflict. I need to figure out some sort of football-game appropriate dinner. I might just have to break down and go for outside BBQ because ribs sound pretty tasty. Or maybe a brisket because I have one in the freezer but I’m sort of holding it for Labor Day. Or not. Anyway…

I need more coffee but today is Wallyworld day. That means I restrict myself to one cup because…reasons. Still, coffee is my BFF and I will have made a Starbucks stop on the way home.

I’ve finished my marathon relisten to Ilona Andrews’s Hidden Legacy series and have started RUBY FEVER, that should be the final book in Catalina’s thrilogy. I’m really looking forward to what happens. This husband and wife team are amazing worldbuilders, purveyors of action-packed storylines and interesting characters.

Pete came in for a bit last night. No hissing or barking. Jake is all “whatever.” Boone just wanted to get a good sniff. Loki was MIA. Pete retreated under the bed. Eventually, the dogs wandered off and Pete emerged. He jumped on the bed, did a bit of exploratory sniffing then ducked back under the bed. Several minutes later, he checked out the bed, the rope wrapped headboard that Loki uses as a claw sharpener, then back under the bed. Eventually, I called him out and he came. I then gave him the option of returning to the garage, which he happily took. I don’t think he will ever be a true indoor cat but I’d like him to be comfortable enough to come in and stay during the coldest days.

The Ring Doorbell still insists the skunk is a person. The big stray dogs? Not a peep and a late activation on motion. Early this morning, Smudge kitty and the skunk were eating together from opposite ends of the same dish. I have it on video so it happened. Crazysauce, right?

And on that note, that’s pretty much the sum total of last week and this weekend. Oh, there was a long nap in there Saturday afternoon. It was nice. We’ll see what this week brings. What about y’all? Anything happening in your worlds?

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Friday Sinema: Southern Drivers

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Silver James

Sadly, It’s a Southern Thing evidently does not consider Oklahoma to be a southern state. Or, they flunked geography and think that we’re just part of Texas. Also sadly, almost all of these scenarios culd apply to folks ’round here. While we poke fun at ourselves, I shudder to think about all the nothern states I’ve driven in. This would be gospel for them. 😉 Have a great weekend! And be careful out there….

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Ball

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Silver James

This has been a week where my head hasn’t truly been in the ball game. Which sort of makes this missive from the Universe fit. A little background. I was a high school and college athlete. So was Lawyer Guy. There was little doubt that Only (our daughter for those of you who are new around here) would follow. She settled of softball. And she got really, really good at it. She was a catcher and played 18-U gold level tournament ball at 14 and 16. We taught her to be pretty much fearless when it comes to working for what she wants. I also remember spending hours with her on hitting drills and dear lord, yes, I used that horrible old chestnut: See the ball. Be the ball. Hit the ball.

Don’t be afraid to go where you’ve never gone and do what you’ve never done, Silver, because both are necessary to have what you’ve never had and be who you’ve never been.

Be the ball,
The Universe
© www.tut.com ®

“Hut,” “hut,” Silver, go, do.

When the time came for me to decide whether to be a hobby writer or to work to become a published author, I wish I’d had this advice. Because yeah. I was totally afraid. Fear of rejection. Fear of being good enough. Fear of people hating what I wrote. I probably spent way too many years giving into the fear before I finally sucked it up and decided to go for it. For like the tenth time. Rejection letters hurt, y’all, no matter how prepared you think you are. Fifit books later, I can admit that I’m still afraid every time I release a book. And every time, it feels like I going somewhere and doing something I’ve never done. It’s time for me to take my own advice–and that of the Big U. Today, I’m gonna be the ball. I’m going to see it, be it, hit it. What are you gonna be today?

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Wednesday Words: Satisfaction

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Silver James

Wednesday. Words. New words. But only one prompt today. Not #ThursdayThreads last week so I only had the #1lineWed theme of **SATISFY** to play with. As a result, I went back through my notes and found a very short conversation that consisted of three lines and an action. Sometimes, as I’m working on something else–and not necessarily concerning writing–a quick idea will hit me. I always write it down because I darn sure won’t remember it later. This idea is so old, it was noted before I actually figured out any of the backstory. Even under current character circumstances, it makes me giggle a little and I’m glad I found a way to evolve it into a scene yesterday as I was getting this post ready. FYI, this scene happend very early in the story.
****
Her feet hurt. Her back hurt. But Meg would not complain. The kids weren’t. When she’d watched the helicopter depart with the smallest and sickest, she’d figured they’d just wait around there at the barn until it came back. Except it wasn’t coming back. A combination of weather and air strikes precluded any chance of rescue for now. And while these soldiers were extremely reticent, she’d caught portions of their conversation. Then there was Petrov. The man was jumping at shadows. Even after they’d walked for two days.

She glanced over her shoulder. She was slowly making sense of the Americans who’d come to their rescue. Except they weren’t all Americans. And that pointed to some multinational BlackOps group. Maybe she should have paid more attention to her father when he’d expounded on the topic. Given his position with NATO, he would know.

The soldier following her wasn’t classically handsome. He had thick, dark hair and after their time on the trail, his scruff pasted shadows along his jaw line. His pale green eyes were arresting against his tanned skin. There’d been times when she’d caught him looking at her, and his expression made her want to smooth out the creases between his eyebrows. He looked almost…perplexed but there was also an intensity that burned deep in his gaze.

Meg slowed down and Kin was forced to either walk beside her or run her over. “Ya need t’keep up.”

“I know. I wanted to talk.”

He gave her that look again and she realized that he rather reminded her of that English actor who played Lucifer Morningstar on the TV show.

“T’me?”

“Yes to you,” she answered, her tone adding an inferred Silly on the end.

“About what?”

Refraining from rolling her eyes, she decided to see how much she could tweak him. “I like your accent.” Ah yes, that look again. She was getting almost fond of it. He didn’t respond though. “So, are you guys mercenaries or something?” She almost giggled at his current expression, a combination of disgust topped with an implied, Seriously? as the cherry on top.

“No. We’re not mercenaries.” Not exactly. Kin wasn’t sure who paid their salaries and who they actually worked for beyond Mother. He also didn’t care because Mother Goose had never asked him to come down on the wrong side of his ethical line in the sand.

“So Delta Force or SEALs or something?”

“Or something.”

She flashed him a wide-eyed look that held a bit of mischief. What was the girl up to? For the moment, Kin would play along.

“So…are you like James Bond?”

“No, lassie. He was MI6. I was SAS.”

She looked perfeculy serious when she asked, “Is that like British for May Day?”

If he’d been sitting at a desk, he would have banged his head against it. That’s when he caught the twinkle in her eyes and the slight crinkling at their corners. “You know exactly what SAS stands for, considering who your father is.”

This time she did roll her eyes and felt satisfied by this whole interaction. He wasn’t the dour Scotsman he pretended to be. He could play. She liked this side of him.
****
There you have it. Not bad for the grain of an idea and dashing off some words. Writers, feel free to grab today’s theme as a prompt for your own work and should you feel inclined to share, YAY! Readers, what have you found satisfying today?

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Tuesday Treats & Titles: Life…and Death

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Silver James

Life. It is what it is. I had every intention of getting RESCUE MOON released today. Or tomorrow. I’m never sure what day I should release a book. More about that in a minute. I’m writing this because RM isn’t ready yet. It’s still baking, so to speak and to keep to today’s usual food-based theme. Stuff happened this weekend. Nothing bad, jsut…stuff. And as a result, I found myself rewriting the same page like ten different times. That means that my head is not in the write space, (Word misues intentional.) And then yesterday happened.

As most of you know, I’ve been involved with the fire service and law enforcement in a variety of ways in previous career incarnations. And when we lose a first responder, it messes with my emotions. In the past few weeks, we’ve lost a local on-duty motorcycle officer in a traffic accident. Drunk/drugged driver. Then we lost a volunteer firefighter in a traffic accident. He was off duty. Then an Osage County dep;uty died in a third traffic accident as he was on his way to report for duty. And then yesterdday, two Oklahoma County deputies were shot as they were serving a lock-out notice. One was standing at the back door of the residence when he was shot. The second deputy was shot as he tried to resuce the first. One died. One has been stablilized as of the writing of this. And yes, I stayed glued to the continuing coverage. Our county sheriff broke down during one of the press conferences. And yeah, my heart hurts.

The shooter jumped in a pickup truck that had a boat hitched to it and took off. There were sporadic shots fired by the suspect during the chase along a busy interstate. And then the idiot got off on an exit that put him into what was basically a dead end–the main gate of Tinker Air Force Base. Uhm, yeah. 

So no work done and I almost didn’t want to post at all but hey, prayers and healing thoughts are appreciated for those involved. Nanes haven’t been released (again, as of this typing) so I don’t know if I know them or not.  Doesn’t matter. They are part of the family.

I’m not going to get into politics beyond this–BLUE LIVES DO EFFING MATTER.

Not to be totally macabre but it’s truly a southern thinig to provide food in times like this. My mother-in-law actually gave me a casserole recipe that the the family funeral stand-by. No. Really. And it was easy and tasty and not just for times of grief. She whipped it up when people were sick too. That’s the way it used to be. People cared. People looked after each other. I don’t know what’s wrong with the world today. I have my theories but this is not the time or the place. 

So, no actually treat today. I will mention that I’m totally happy with the Hamilton Beach elelctric grill I bought on a whim. Homemade hamburgers are considered comfort food in my house and that’s what I fixed for dinner last night. It takes about 10 minutes to preheat, sear the bugers (which seals in the jucy part but not the greasy part), and then grill the meat.

I’ll be back at it today but I’ll carry the worry and the hurt in my heart. And yeah, the emotion that builds up does get released into my writing because that’s what makes the words real. Anyway…

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Thoughts on Monday

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Silver James

Hello, Monday! May I ask you a question? Why are you always back so quickly? Don’t you have something better to do? Yay, Monday!” Said no one… Ever. Monday should be optional. And because I’m a writer–some days–a bit of poety to sum it all up: Roses are red, Mondays are hard. I’m not good at poetry. COFFEE.

So yeah, it’s Monday again. And no, RESCUE MOON will not be available tomorrow. Due to circumstances and on account of because, I failed my mission. I’m close but I found too many oopses and have added more stuff and…and…and… Yes, excuses, excuses but I promise it–at all the others–will be better books for the delays.

There was a weekend. I worked. Stuff happened. I fell asleep before the 9th inning in both Cardinals games. Luckily, they won anyway. I woke up enough to switch over to the repeat of “On Patrol Live” and promptly fell back to sleep. True story. Y’all know I have frequent bouts of insomnia. I’ll wake up for whatever reason and then it’s hours before I go back to sleep. Well, “OP Live” works to get me back to sleep. I have no clue why but I can start the DVR version and by about the second set of commercials, I’m down for the count. Which doesn’t happen when I’m watching it live. Weird, huh? Anyway, I’ve watched a week-ago-Friday’s edition like four times now and I still have no clue about everything that happened. I totally need to like watch it when I’m awake.

Awesome new book that I listened to over the weekend when doing stuff that didn’t require my full attention. Nalini Singh’s new release STORM ECHO, which is the latest in her Psy-Changeling Trinity series. LOVE IT! Love the series but sometime, the books are only 4 or 4.5 stars. This one is 5 all the way. Lots of twists and turns and I sort of suspected the ending, was pleased when it happened, and the whole thing was entirely satisfying. Currently doing a marathon relisten to the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews. New release in that one tomorrow.

Monday means Wallyworld and Starbucks. Our temps are down a little and we got a smidge of rain but I still plan to hit the place early so I can get on with the rest of my day. Stuff to do, don’cha know… Like get the damn book finished!

Wow. I’ve discussed Monday, sports, weather, reading and writing. What’s left? Nuttin’ honey. Short post today. You’re welcome. 😉 How’s your Monday going? Good weekend?

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Friday Sinema: Forever Love

Posted on August 19, 2022 by Silver James

I’ve long been a Lindsey Stirling fan. And I’m secure enough to admit that my then teen-aged daughter introduced me to Evanescence. And yes, I’ve gained inspiration from both artists. Imagine my delight when I discovered today’s video involved them both. And yes, you’ll likely encounter this video/song again because I’m thinking there’s a spot in Ariel’s book for a scene inspired by this video. Have a great weekend, all. Enjoy!

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