Just pass the tissues, will ya? I sent three short stories out into the world today. Brave little soldiers. As much as I love them, I hope they don't come back; time for them to find a new home, find their place in this world. I'm kicking everybody out of the nest. (Using up my stamps, too.)
In other news, I found the lizard that had been living in my computer room. I was cleaning Aaagh! Don't freak out! and organizing, and I dragged out a box and there he was. After the prerequisite scream, I realized the lizard wasn't moving.
When he first moved in last year, I couldn't stick my feet under my desk for fear he might leap on my toes. I grew used to tucking my feet up under my chair and to hearing the sound of him, rustling about in my day lilies.
Here's for you Mr. Lizard. You weren't bad, as far as roommates go.
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By: Danette Haworth,
on 2/14/2008
Blog: Summer Friend (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: short stories, lizards, lizards, Add a tag
By: Danette Haworth,
on 1/7/2008
Blog: Summer Friend (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: copyedit, snowman, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, lizards, lizards, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, copyedit, Add a tag
Back to your routine? I am. The snowman is in, the bells are down; no matter these things are standing in my living room, the neighbors can't see them, so they think I'm all packed up like they are.
I had a bit of a problem bringing the snowman in--I didn't know it, but a lizard had stowed away and clung to the snowman until we got into the house. He waited until I closed the door before he jumped off. Screaming comes naturally to me. Some reactions people verbalize only when others are around, such as laughing at a TV show, but for me, screaming works with or without an audience.
Part of getting back into the routine includes organizing and cleaning. I've done the easy part. I've bought stuff to organize and clean with. That counts, right?
I finished the copyedit for Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning, and FedEx is taking it up to New York today. This being my first novel, it was also my first copyedit. I knew it wouldn't involve the broad suggestions of the editorial letter or the turning of phrases in the line edit, but I wasn't really sure what to expect. Here's what the copyedit addressed: a few word changes, a few tense changes, mechanical issues (punctuation, italics/Roman, compound or hyphenated words), and some queries to confirm the material. The copyeditor did a great job; I learned a few things and I might have to pass my Danette-the-Dictionary crown (acquired in sixth grade) to her. She also left smiley faces on the manuscript here and there--you can't beat that!
By: Danette Haworth,
on 12/18/2007
Blog: Summer Friend (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: published, Fandangle, Christmas, writing, lizards, Add a tag
In writing news, Fandangle Magazine published my poem, "Home is Not Too Far," which was inspired by my windshield wipers. Click here and scroll to page nine to read it. Also, the copyedited manuscript for Violet Raines is scheduled to arrive on my doorstep by Friday! I cannot believe how fast this process is going--it's like dog years.
In other news, I'm on my way to a big box shopping center. I only hope I don't have Ello's experience. She's doing well; the bruises have almost faded.
While decorating, we opened one of our boxes to discover tiny black bugs creeping among my favorite decorations. This is the box that holds most of my snowmen, the Christmas plaque (which is made of fabric), and the silk poinsettia topiary I like to put by the stairs. My husband thinks we should spray a bunch of paper towels with bug spray, put it in the box, and seal it tightly.
It's a good idea, but we've got natural solutions right here in the house--a lizard (a gecko like on those Geico commercials but not cute and not Australian) lives in my computer room, and a different one was last seen Tuesday under the Christmas tree at 11 a.m. I tried to catch them, but they were too smart for my paper cup trap. I say we open the bug box of decorations and let the lizards do their job.
By: Mayra Calvani,
on 10/22/2007
Blog: Mayra's Secret Bookcase (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: picture books, animals, janet halfmann, skinks, sylvian dell publishing, lizards, tails, Add a tag
By Janet Halfmann
Illustrated by Laurie Allen Klein
Sylvian Dell Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9768823-8-1
Copyright 2007
Hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95
Ages 4-8
One day Little Skink, a blue-tailed young lizard, is basking on a big rock in the morning sun. Leaping to the floor, she begins to gobble up her breakfast, which consists of yummy-smelling ants, when suddenly a big crow appears and attacks. Luckily, Little Skink manages to escape. There’s only one problem: her tail is gone! Where did her bright blue tail go? Did the crow snap it off? What will Little Skink do now, without her wiggling, waggling tail?
She’s happy to be alive, but sad at having lost her tail. She can’t get her lost tail off her mind, so she begins to imagine how she would look with other animals’ tails. How would she look with a rabbit’s tail?
No, too ‘puffy-fluffy’. What about with a porcupine’s? No, too ‘sticky-prickly.’ And so on and so forth with the different forest creatures. Will Little Skink’s tail ever grow back?
This is a colorful, engaging, beautifully illustrated book that teaches children about animals and their tails. At the end of the book there are activities for ‘Creative Minds’—a footprint map and a game for matching different types of tails with their corresponding animals.
Aww.
RIP Mr. Lizard.
And good luck on the subs!!
RIP? Did he die?
Let me read this instead of skimming...
Oh man.
You know, I actually love lizards! I used to catch them as a child, and squeeze their little bellies until they opened up their mouths. Then, I could stick them on my ears or my nose. Ahhhh! To be a child of the tropics. Now, up here in PA, we don't have the little critters. And, I miss them.
RIP Mr. Lizard... RIP. "SIGH"
XOXO CJ
Aw, poor little lizard. :(
You know, I just glanced at the title and thought it said you found a lizard who wrote three short stories. I was going to ask if you were planning to hire out your literate lizard, but then I focused both eyes on the screen(one eye is usually looking to the side to see what the cats have knocked down). Rest well, Mr. Lizard. And here's hoping your stories find a wonderful home, too!
Yes, poor Mr. Lizard. How unfortunate for him that he eluded my efforts at capture-and-release only to experience domicile demise.
CJ, I used to let daddy-long-legs crawl on my arms (and caterpillars, too). Eew!!
Thanks for wishing me luck, Courtney!
PlaidEarthworm, I did try to get the lizard you're talking about, but he's still under contract with Geico. (Plus, he wanted expenses and a giftcard to Starbucks.)
Oh, I love lizards! Poor little guy! Weren't there enough bugs for him to eat, I wonder, or did you have the airconditioning on non-stop?
I knew a couple in New York who kept some sort of lizard to kill all their cockroaches. Scout's honor: they really did that. Or at least that's what they told me...
It appears that lizard sympathizers abound! If only there had been more bugs in this house . . .
Ah, poor Mr. Lizard.
Good luck with your submissions, Danette.
Oh, poor guy. The picture's adorable, though. As for your stories, best of luck with them. I'm sure they'll do very well.
I guess it's true. He was more scared of you than you were of him.
Ha! Charles!
Thanks, booklady. I use most of my own photos on this blog, but Mr. Lizard is actually from clip art archives!
Poor lizard!
I had one in my house earlier this year. I saw him sitting on a top of the folded laundry and I thought he was a toy. Not all that far-fetched--my kids do have a very realistic toy lizard!
Anyway, I put out my hand to grab some clothes and he moved. That was a surprise.
In my case, I was able to coax my little friend down the stairs and out the front door.
I'm so sorry for your lizardy loss.