She Who Rambles with No Purpose

Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Last time I complained about waiting for a word back from my book submissions, I think I got two responses that week, so I'm going to complain again in the hopes history will repeat itself. Honestly, I really do love being pampered in the digital age, an era where a 77-day response wait feels like FOREVER (yeah, yeah, I keep track of the days!).

Though all this technology does sometimes have its downfalls. I told you about my adventures in electronically entering a manuscript contest last week. After about thirteen emails and one very patient contest coordinator, I finally got my entry turned in. Whew. But then, a few days later, I tried to submit one of my stories to a publisher, and I didn't get back my automatic response email. Thinking it didn't go through, I submitted it again, then again, and again. Poor lady ended up with four of my query letters. Sigh. I think I know just enough about digital technology to be dangerous.

If you can't tell, this is my ramble post, where I meander from topic to topic without purpose because basically....I got nothing. My life is pretty well off comparatively speaking. I haven't been struck with any of the huge natural disasters that seem to have hit record proportions this year. I still have my job. My family is safe and healthy. There's really nothing to complain about. It's really all quite boring in my little nook of the world...and that's okay with me.

Okay, topic change. My kid (nineteen-months-old now) is beginning to say words. She actually calls me Mama now. She uses this sweet, little high-pitch voice that sounds totally adorable. And even after she says it fifty times in a row, it still sounds almost cute.

One of my husband's bosses (one husband, multiple supervisors) gave us his kid's old swing set, so Kiddo's been swinging like crazy. She'll bring me my shoes and dance around insisting, "owie, owie." I think "owie" is her word for outside. Either that or she's hurt herself. Who knows.

Cookie is her all time favorite term these days. We adults have started to spell it out when we mention that word. Other cute phrases and words she says latey: chicken, thirsty (though it sounds more like tir-tee), right back, I got, I (I'm thinking that means Ice tea), puppy, moo (she refuses to say cow), and uh-oh.

The phase of screaming fits have started. I'll be happen when that's over (please tell me it passes) because honestly, I don't know how to deal with them. I really don't like watching my kid hyperventilate just because I punished her by putting her in her crib for time out.


Okay, new topic. I received my first review for my latest release, Kiss it Better. Here's what Stacey over at SIZZLING HOT BOOK REVIEWS had to say:
Sophia has dated a lot of men with heavy baggage and keeps getting burned. Reed has some very heavy baggage he hasn’t shared but he wants Sophia. Can Sophia Kiss it Better and make things work with Reed despite his baggage?

Sophia is a professional who is attracted to Reed, a man she works with. He seems stable enough and a normal guy, so she starts dropping hints. But, when a family crisis affects Reed, Sophia becomes more interested. She is the type of person who wants to fix it and make it better. I could easily relate to Sophia and her desire to make Reed smile.

Reed is a successful business person who loves his job and his family. When family trouble strikes, he has to deal with the crisis, only he isn’t prepared to deal with his feelings or those of his sister. Reed is a likable character, very realistic. As Sophia begins to become more and more a part of his life, he knows he can’t keep his secrets for very long.

Kiss it Better is a quickly read contemporary romance. For a novel length book, Kiss it Better went quickly and I still wanted more. While Kiss it Better had a conclusive ending, I didn’t feel like it was really finished.

With strong characters and a sweet romance, Kiss it Better is a great story to curl up with and enjoy. I would recommend picking it up if you are looking for some down to earth people in real situations that make the best of who they are and what they are faced with.

It received a 4-star rating.

And with that, I think I'm out of things to ramble. Happy Wednesday!

11 comments:

  1. Hi Linda,
    I think I've been your follower since the A-Z but never communicated before. I just read "Kiss It Better" and mentioned it on my blog.
    Yay that your wee one is saying Mama. You'll be hearing that word a lot. :)
    Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

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  2. Uh-oh on the tantrums! lol They'll pass unless the child gets what they want, then they become an effective tool. lol
    Congrats on the review! And my life is similar to yours, very good and stable. :-)

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  3. Congrats on the great review.

    I did the same thing about a year ago. I was horrified when the editor emailed a rejection and mentioned my four submissions. I didn't realize it didn't go through. *gulp*

    Amber

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  4. Thank you, Mananita. I love what you said. Sorry if the story was too hot for you, yikes.

    Jessica: Yes, I've definitley noticed the trantums are worse after she's been spoiled and gottena bunch of stuff she wants. But it's just so easy to give her want she wants. Sigh. This parent stuff is not easy. Glad your life is good and stable too. Best way to be, I say!

    Hey, Amber: At least I'm not the only one who who's done that, but seriously, it just makes you want to crawl under a rock and cringe, doesn't it. Thanks.

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  5. If she's holding a body part or her jacket/pointing to the door or window, there's your sign:)

    My oldest latched onto the word 'giggle' at this age. It was 'giggle giggle giggle' all the time!

    And as for tantrums, leave the room and turn up your music if you can't take the screaming. But just for 10 minutes, then return. Remember, YOU'RE in charge, not her anymore. And this is AFTER you've checked to make sure she's not hurt/wet/hungry/thirsty etc. Put her in her bed and walk away for ten mins. If she's still screaming, hold her tightly and rock her. But don't give into whatever she's wanting that you took away. There's my parenting advice for the day:)

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  6. I'll take any advice I can get, Molly, thanks so much!

    I think the biggest problem is communication. She's at the point she can't tell me what she wants and we both get too frustrated and impatient to be calm about figuring what "it" is.

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  7. I loved when my kids started talking. One of my favorite memories is the first time my oldest had a conversation with her same-aged cousin. OMG! It was so adorable.

    And best of luck with the new submissions, Linda!

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  8. Fantastic review, Linda!!!

    So cute about your daughter saying owie for outside. I miss those days...

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  9. You are not the only one. I made so many mistakes submitting to this one publisher, I think I'm too embarrassed to ever try them again. I can almost hear them saying, "Hey look! It's the idiot again!" (Of course, I do realize they won't ever remember me but...)

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  10. Nina - I love taking her to the store; whenever she sees another toddler, she gasps and points. "Baby!" she'll say before waving madly and adding, "Hi Hi!"

    Jennifer - Thanks! It is kind of cute...the first fifty times! :-)

    Marie - When I apologized to the editor about so many submissions, I said something to the effect that at least she'd remember my name now. She laughed an accused me of doing it purposely...all part of my evil plan!

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  11. Aw, Lydia sounds adorable - I love when they start to speak. But she's coming up to what we call 'the terrible twos' here! Asserting her independence, learning the word 'no' etc - don't worry it passes!

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