Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- F

I'm glad that the letter F landed on today. Today is a day that comes only once every year. I endlessly smile on this particular day. Why? Because...

 

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!

 

Yup, I'm one year older and wiser too. I hit the big 31 today! By golly, I love birthdays! So, now you can wish me a Happy Birthday and send me lots of presents and a hot handsome hunk of a hubs. haha No, really.

 

Anyway, Happy and Birthday obviously don't start with the letter F and don't even have that letter gracing the words. Well, how does the letter F and my birthday relate.

 

Because the things that start with the letter F always make me smile, especially on my birthday. They are my FAMILY and FRIENDS.

 

I appreciate them all for their love, support, and putting up with me in all my random, quirky, often times loud, and silly ways. They listen. They love. They are my favorite.

 

So, my presents haven't appeared out of thin air yet. Come on guys, get with it! haha

 

I love my dear Dad, Mom, sister, brother-in-law, brother, sister-in-law, three nephews (one on the way), and my princess of a cute niece.

 

Seriously, guys, where are my presents. *stomps foot*

 

Well, it's on to you. Starting with the letter F, what makes you smile?

 

Writing Jewels

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!

Writing: When the Stars Align

I started writing my first book, FÉLICITÉ FOUND, in December 2009. Yes, forever ago, right? At that time, I had absolutely no clue how to write fiction. Creative writing was never second-nature to me. All I knew was research papers that I had to write during college. Bluh... more like slaved over. So not fun.

Over the last two and a half years, I've learned A LOT about fiction!

I wish that I'd have started out with the knowledge I have now. It would have made the process simpler. I've gone through FÉLICITÉ FOUND countless times, probably more times than can be counted on my fingers and toes. Ugh! There have been times that I've despised it. Then the love of my beautiful, cherished lovely swells in my chest again.

Like right now, I'm doing some extensive revisions on her. And after every paragraph, I fall all the more deeply in love with it that I squeal. Yes, literally squee out loud. My roommates probably wonder what the devil is wrong with me.

Any who, I think I'm finally getting it. It seems like something has clicked in this brain of mine. The elements that are so crucial to writing a super great book are clear. And I adore writing more than ever since I typed out Félicité’s first word. But, I know I will continue to get better.

Precious, huh?

Anyway, when did you have the clicking moment where the stars aligned and you felt like you understood how to really write a story? Have you ever fallen out of love with your story? When did you start to adore it again? What triggered that fantastic moment of love?

Writing. Jewels.

PS: I want to shout out a SUPER HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Mama Mia. I love you soooooo much, Mommy. You're an angel.

Birthdays: I Love Them

Attention: You must read the bottom paragraph of this post and do as asked! :D

So I'm turning 30 today. 30, really? Man, I feel old. Not really.

My day's party plans: Sleeping in a bit. Going into work late. Dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, my favorite restaurant. And Laser U2. Totally awesome laser light show set to U2 music.

So, I've done so much over these many years. These things have made me super happy. Let me count them.... (Bragging moment--humor me)

Traveled To: 30 U.S. States, Canada twice, England twice, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. And more to come.....

Accomplishments: high school and university graduate, served a mission in Taiwan for the church I'm a member of (learned Mandarin Chinese for it), written two books, and bought a car (I own about 3/4 of it now. Woot!).

Fun Things I've Done: Lived abroad a couple times. Have had many employment opportunities. Backpacked the Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, and Zions National Park. Been to 30+ concerts. Seen U2 four times in concert. Seen Bono's house in Ireland (Ok, I'm obsessed with U2). Eaten a lot of weird food. Eaten a lot of great food.

Things I've Learned: To love books and words. To never give up. To take a risk. To smell the flowers. Love, Love, and Love some more (people, places, food, animals, especially dogs, etc).

There are many things I could add to this list, but I can't think of them right now....

*Swiss cheese mind attacks again*

I'm happy with where my life has led me.

Well, I'm going to be super on the give me, give me, give me side. I want to get tons and tons of birthday happy wishes on this post. So, start posting and tweeting my blog post, FB it, Blog it. Just get me those Happy Birthday comments! I want to feel loved on this my 30th Birthday! :D Not that I don't feel loved already. :)
XOXO

Writing. Jewels.

I've Been Tagged: Lucky 7 Meme

I was tagged by the lovely Shannon Duffy to post 7 lines from my WIP.

Here are the rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines-sentences or paragraphs--and post them as they're written. No cheating
4. Tag 7 authors
5. Let them know

It sort of doesn't make much sense being taken out of context but cute none-the-less. Anyway, here you have it...
______________________________________

          Before any of us could say anything, Megs ran back into the room, holding a large silver box.

          “I have to show you something, Gen!” She pushed my plate away from me. The box was plopped down in front of me with a heavy thud. “Oh, sorry, are you done with your dinner?”
          “Yes, I’m done. It was delicious, Erin.” I gazed at the beautiful mother across from me and smiled.
          “My pleasure,” she replied.
          “Back to me, now.” Megs pulled something out of the box. I was sort of scared it was gonna be a huge hairy spider or, uh, a pet turtle or something. Finally, after all the suspense and dramatics, the cute fourteen-year-old placed a bunch of DVD’s in front of me. She giggled the whole time, muttering to herself incoherently.
______________________________________
I hope you enjoyed it, friends.
And now for the tagging. I've chosen the following people to share their own lines from their WIP.

1. Kristin Lynn Thetford
2. Yelena C
3. S.B. Bowers
4. Julie Glover
5. Elise Fallson
6. Nick Wilford
7. Daniel Noyes

Happy posting!
Writing. Jewels.
PS: Here's a Happy Birthday shout out to my big brother, Jim Bob Bubba Gump (not his real name, I promise). :D

Random Time

Today's post doesn't have to do with anything in particular. I'm just winging it. But, hey, sometimes a little winging is AOK. Occasionally, (well, more often that not) that's how my writing goes. Wahoo! I added something about writing. I'm cool!

*Does an I'm-a-cool-person dance*

Don't you wish you could've seen it. Well, you didn't miss much. I'm a terrible dancer. I assure you that.

So, something cute I want to share: It was my nephews birthday last week. We had a family celebration for the blessed event. While my cute-alicious little buddy opened his presents, my niece (his little sister of 19 mos) jibber-jabbered out "Happy Birthday to ..." The three dots represent his name (sorry, not telling the world his name). It was quite possible the cutest thing ever. :)

Here's something ridiculously expensive: There's this dress company called Shabby Apple. For a few years now, I've wanted to buy one of their dresses. Last week, I gave in and bought not just one but two of their cute, yet semi-expensive dresses. Below are some pics. They have yet to arrive. I eagerly await in anticipation.

What else is there: I'm eating raisins as I type and am listening to a New Age mix on Pandora.

I guess that's about it for my randomness of a blog post. I'll be back here on Tuesday.

What are some random things going on in your neck of the woods?

Writing. Jewels.