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Official Call for Debut Authors for the 2011 CWIM...

Did you all miss me? I sure missed you (and my blog). But now I'm back from my little vacation and a fab WD conference in New York, my deadline-o-rama is almost over, and it's time for me to start thinking about the 2011 CWIM.

And do you know what that means? FIRST BOOKS! I'm looking for debut author and illustrators who'd like to be interviewed for my "First Books" feature in 2011 CWIM.

If you are interested in being featured in First Books, here are the rules and guidelines:

1. Email me at [email protected], subject line "First Books."
2. Tell me about your debut book including the title, publisher, genre and approximate publication date.
3. The book must be available in some form by November (so it can be read before you're interviewed).
4. A cover image must be available by January 2009 (because I don't want to feature a book without showing the cover).
5. Please include links to your website or blog if you have one.
   
6. No self-published books please.
7. Tell me something fun/interesting/exciting/unusual/inspiring about you/your book/your path to publication.
8. E-mails must be received by October 8th.
   
9. I'll be in touch with those I've chosen by the October 30th; otherwise you likely will not hear from me--I simply don't have time to contact everyone, although I wish I could. (I may acknowledge receipt of emails, however, depending on how busy I am and/or how much I do or do not feel like doing other work.)
   
10. Debut authors not chosen to be featured in First Books could be chosen as Debut Authors of the Month which will be resurrected on this blog starting January 2010!

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First Books Update...

I'm still going through all my emails from debut authors. I'll be in touch with some of you soon, hopefully next week.

Thanks to everyone who gave me info on their first books--and thanks for being patient. There are a lot of you, which is awesome, but it makes my job harder. (And I'm busy busy busy.)

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Alice Pope, editor of CWIM, is looking for debut authors of children's books to feature in the 2010 CWIM. Click here for the details on her blog. Get those emails rolling, people--the deadline is August 8th!

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Okay so, today I got to flipping the channels since that "ultra-special and oober reliable" cable company of mine (Comcast..*gag*) informed me by way of an annoying error message, that my "On-Demand" was out....AGAIN!

See, I've been so busy (like that ever changes), going through the tedious ritual all writers face when they're on the brink of being published.....EDITING. Yup, it's a necessary evil, my dear and cherished friends. So I push on. And on. And on.

And when I need a break, I flip through the TV channels in the hopes that some great big surprise awaits me in the form of something to ACTUALLY WATCH. And this is what I did today when the editing proved to call for break-time. I was so happy to find that one of my favorite all-time movies was playing.

"GREASE."

The instant I saw it was on, I stopped surfing the cable waves and sat back...smile on my face, warmth in my heart, memories rushing at me like a tidal wave. You see, this movie holds such a place in my soul. I remember like it was yesterday.

Wait, wasn't it just yesterday?

I'll never forget it, as long as I live. I was six when that movie came out. My parents bought the soundtrack (the record album...2 LPs).....HEY, I'm NOT that old, okay! Anywho, I don't remember the first time I saw the movie, but what I do remember, is listening to that album over and over. I remember dancing to it with my friends, lip syncing to the songs for my family (me standing on a chair...them, watching...).

BTW, that doesn't leave this blog! I'd hate to have to hunt you down and assault you with waffles...the overly toasted variety that riddled with hard little nipits like...oh, I don't know...something sharp and sticky…..you get the point.....or you will if you tell anyone I danced on chairs when I was six, while singing and/or lip syncing to the GREASE soundtrack!

The point is, that movie has always held such a deep and cozy place in my heart. I mean, even today, every time I see it or I hear the music from it (yeah, I have the CD and have it on my computer), I still sing to it (no, not on chairs anymore....I've grown a bit and realized heights are not my friend).

And then there was me at ten years old. Hm! The same age as David Thorne....cool! Anywho, I went to Puerto Rico alone for a month to visit my grandparents. I swear, every time I went there, I was just terrified of their living room. It was nestled deep within the house...the walls a deep Spanish tan, the sofas and chairs blood red suede. And with the candle sconces and the feel of centuries-old stories hidden behind the facade of modern day living, it just felt creepy and haunted, and so not a place I ever wanted to be in.

Needless to say, every time I visited them, I walked right past the living room. Now that I think back though, it was pretty cool! Anywho, when I was ten, I remember there was this neighbor lady who lived across the street. She always liked me and when she saw me get out of the car the day I arrived, she ran over and gave me a big hug. Somehow, she found out I liked the movie GREASE, and told me that she had it on tape. Said, that anytime I wanted to come over and watch it, I could.

And so I did....everyday I was there that month...over and over and over again. I would just sit in her room by myself and watch the movie. I still remember what it felt like to sit on the edge of the bed, eyes glued to the screen. I was just mesmerized by the music, the dancing, the STORY! God, if only I had known back then that writing was so much a part of me. It's funny you know, how we can go through life wondering who we are, what makes us "US", what makes us tick and what makes us love what we love. Until one day we wake up and look back upon our lives and "JUST KNOW". Like someone just turned on a light.

So today, as I watched the movie, I actually got tears in my eyes, remembering how it felt to be ten years old…no worries, no stress…just having fun watching this amazing movie with its great music and great dancing, and just wanting to BE like them. It's a feeling I get all over again every time I see or think of that movie...even today.

I guess it's not so bad growing up, is it? I mean, yeah growing up does come with its pitfalls...but truly, in the end, aren't we better for realizing who are, regardless the age we are when we do see that light come on?

So I say to those days when I was ten, and to that little girl, that dreamer who knew in her heart and still knows today what it means to feel passion for something, "Thanks for the memories, Kid. And for making me who I am today."

GINORMOUS HUGS to the little ones inside all of us:)
Cindy

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Okay so, Just wanted to let you all that tomorrow, Thursday, July 10th at 10pm EST, I will be interviewed on a different radio show. The host's name is Yolanda Renee...the newest cat on the block.

You guys have to catch THIS show. I'm going to talk "in depth" about DAVID THORNE: The Golithian Orbs. I'll be talking about the characters, the world, their life, magic, the newest Myspace page to pop up in Elderon, and Elder City.....OMG!!!!!!!!! THIS is the show that will reveal things that will never be revealed again outside the pages of DAVID THORNE.

Wait til you hear the show! I can't wait! YAY!

Now, don't forget, you can call in (347) 215-9536...or just hang in the chatroom. Tell everyone...bring everyone....this is gonna be a blast!!!!!!!!!!

Here's an excerpt of what Renee posted on her blog and around the web.....

"As author of "Murder, Madness & Love", a suspenseful who-done-it, I began a Blog Talk Radio Show called "Renee's Book Talk", in an effort to give other authors a voice in the world of radio.

On July 10, 2008, at 10:00 PM EDT, CA – C. L. Freire, along with President and CEO of TRIAD Publishing Group, Vern Firestone, will join us for a discussion about C. L.'s journey into the publishing world. As C. L. Freire has discovered, her MySpace Site and interviews on Blog Talk Radio have turned her debut novel into a marketing phenomena. PRE-ORDERS for DAVID THORNE: The Golithian Orbs launched on the night of June 30th, during her latest LIVE broadcast on Blog Talk Radio. The book will officially be released on October 1st.

As a tween fantasy author C. L. has been writing since the age of thirteen, and now, before her first novel hits the market, some have already called her the next J. K. Rowling. C. L. says that writing is a mind bending obsession and as all writers, dreams of being on the NY Times Best Sellers List, and with her pre-orders selling at record breaking speeds, it seems she may be on her way before the book even comes out.

She has been quoted on Myspace as saying, "Give me the atmosphere of a dark city street, where the subtle noises that hang in the air remind me that I'm part of the world."

______

So remember, my dear and very-much-beloved friends.....Thursday night, 10PM EST Blogtalk with Yolanda Renee.
blogtalkradio with Yolanda Renee
Yolanda Renee
Yolanda Renee on Myspace

Be there or be hunted down and poked in all the tickly spots with a ginormous feather-lined stick

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The Snevil Author, The Winner in the City, and The Show that Broke the Seal (blog I posted on my page on July 2, 2008)
Okay so.......

cue magical music that lingers in the air with mysterious bravado.....

On June 30th (sorry it's taken me so long to post a blog about this. What can I say? It was a taxing day:) So on June 30th, I appeared on Blog Talk Radio with LESA, to finally reveal the title of my upcoming debut Tween fantasy.

OMG! It feels so AMAZING to FINALLY be able to talk about the book without having to worry if those feet of mine are going to dance their way into my mouth! Yeah, I know. I have that problem, and it almost surfaced a few times on the air the other night. Even Vern Firestone, President and CEO of TRIAD Publishing Group, my publisher and dear friend, caught my near-flub.

That was a good and hearty laugh we all shared, let me tell you:)

So, the show was really amazing. Tons and tons of dear friends were there to support me and to finally find out the secret behind the puzzles that many were haunted by for the last month. No, I'm serious. I had friends contacting me constantly, telling me they were being followed around by the image of the puzzles. Some were dreaming about them, and one person even spent the entire past weekend obsessing over the puzzles and the title that was so snevily masked by the clues....hehe

Right out of the gate, the calls began pouring in from some of my dear friends (thank you all for your support...I love you!), and some other dear friends lingered with an endearingly voyeuristic ear:)

The first call in was Vern, who sat back and waited patiently for me to prance my way into THE BIG REVEAL:) And then....one by one, my friends called in.
and everyone else who called in (I can't remember who else called in, but I promise to update this list when I do

The big surprise of the night for me was when, fresh from the grave, my good and dear friend, Joni Shanburn, Vice President of TRIAD, called in. I wasn't expecting her because she was having some computer issues:) And shortly after she called in, so did another dear friend, the snevil sinister sister of Joni, Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc came strolling in with her shovel, fresh from digging Joni up:)

And so I spoke about the contest and the world the series is set in....sorry, you have to go listen to the show to get THAT out of me...hehe


I answered questions from callers, laughed a lot, YAYed and OMGded my way through the show...shocker, I know. And then.....

drumroll please.....

Vern proceeded to talk about how there were about a hundred entries in the Crack the Code contest, and how there were eleven people who had conquered the puzzles. After asking me to select a number from one to eleven, I chose 8 (my hubby's favorite number), and BOOM!
THE WINNER OF THE WORLD'S FIRST COPY OF MY BOOK was.......more music please......SHERRI SCHWEDOCK of Write in the City



It's a replica of the dragon statue that sits in the center of ElderSquare, which is the heart of Elder City, the oldest city in the magical world I set my series in. For those of you who never got the chance to read the first three chapters of DAVID THORNE: The Golithian Orbs, Elder City is a towering metropolis built entirely by magic.

Yup, being the city girl I am, I couldn't think of a more "ME" choice to base this series in, can you?

And finally, as promised, the instant I FINALLY ANNOUNCED the title, DAVID THORNE: The Golithian Orbs (god that feels so freeing), Vern Firestone OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THE PRE ORDERS.

Yes, my dear and cherished friends, because of the OVERWHELMING response to the date of the opening of pre orders, Vern decided to open them up during the show, instead of waiting til midnight. And so, the chatroom began filling up with people announcing
"I just placed my order!"
"GO! CINDY! I just ordered the book!"
"Got my copy!"

OMG! YAY!

I can't believe my little book, the one I've put everything I have into, is finally AVAILABLE FOR PRE ORDER! And, people are ordering it in droves! That's right, by midnight, the pre orders were already in the dozens. OMG! OMG! OMG!

Some people even left comments on my page here about how they had already ordered the book and couldn't wait to read it! A lot of you emailed me about it.

OMG! OMG! OMG! Is THIS really happening?

And the last time I checked, the PRE ORDERS were STILL POURING IN.



Now, remember, PRE ORDERS will be open until September 1. AND....everyone who pre orders DAVID THORNE: The Golithian Orbs, will be able to have it autographed by me personally. Not to mention, those who do pre order it, will also save nearly ten dollars off the price it will be once it hits the open market on October 1.

So take a jaunty little stroll over to TRIAD Publishing Group's website and click on the black banner on the right side of the homepage. You'll know it when you see it. It's got four orbs (two blue, one red, one green), and then click on the "BUY THIS" on the next screen.

ENJOY it, my dear and cherished friends. As I said, I've put everything I have into this book, and nothing would make me happier than to know that DAVID THORNE: The Golithian Orbs is a book you WILL NEVER FORGET:)

And so, there it is:) The show was amazing! YOU are all AMAZING! And if I dare confess, everyone who HAS read the book so far has admitted not being able to put it down. So get your copy now and save yourself nearly ten dollars off the price the book will be once it hits the open market:)

Here is the show, for those who missed it. So grab your favorite comfy beverage and kick back. Enjoy, and feel free to leave your thoughts in your wake:) Like you, they are always welcome:)

GINORMOUS HUGS and SECRETS REVEALED:)
Cindy
author of:
DAVID THORNE: The Golithian Orbs
(Still feels so great to be able to say it publicly...YAY!)

______________________________________@@@@@@@@______________________________________

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Okay so, in honor of the PRE ORDERS opening on JULY 1 (OMG! Only 6 days to go!), I decided to give you all a little taste of an important chapter of the book. Now, I know that I've posted the first three in the past, and they have all been amazingly well-received (THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH). Well, now I wanted you to get a glimpse at part of the book you've never read before. It's from one of my favorite chapters.

Enjoy! I'm dying to see what you all think of it.

______________________________@@@@@@@@______________________________

Even though the morning was bright, it seemed to grow darker in the neighborhood they soon found themselves in, where the buildings rose higher and were more closely situated. The shadows that fell over the streets spoke volumes about the daylight’s inability to penetrate the brick maze.

David could not help but wonder if this was a part of the city his friends had warned him about. Now he understood, and was glad Charlie and Raven hadn’t let him come alone.

When they turned a corner a while later, Raven leaned forward. “I think that’s it.” She pointed towards a black Gothic building, its towers and spires piercing the sky. The street was a mishmash of seedy shops, filthy-looking restaurants, condemned apartment buildings, and dishonest-looking street vendors. People moved along as if the black building was nothing to them, but David caught several pairs of eyes glancing at the building and turning away quickly.
Scanning the structure, David couldn’t help but hope Raven was wrong about it being the one they were looking for. He felt small and unsure at seeing how alive and watchful the building appeared. His heart awoke with a thud, and took on a bothersome beat.

______________________________@@@@@@@@______________________________


You know, when I sit and think about how much my life has changed just in the last six months, I have to stand back and wonder if it IS actually my life I'm walking through these days.

Six months ago, I was just a writer who was desperately trying to get my work out there. And ever since that day that TRIAD Publishing Group found and contacted me here on Myspace, my life has been an absolute whirlwind roller coaster ride that has been on a consistent upward climb.

I've been on the radio several times. I've been contacted by numerous magazines who want to interview me. I've made even MORE amazing friends as the days have passed by. Honestly, I have the MOST INCREDIBLE FRIENDS EVER, AND I LOVE YOU ALL!

AND.....OMG......Now, gauging from the response I've gotten here about the book, and the response my publishing house has gotten through their website, PRE ORDERS are expected to EXPLODE OFF THE CHARTS LIKE NEVER BEFORE FROM A DEBUT AUTHOR.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is this for real? Is THIS really happening to ME? I feel like I'm walking on a cloud I just want to pitch a tent on!

It's just so hard to believe! I mean....I....I...I just...I'm speechless!

Thankfully, I'm not blogless.

I truly, from the bottom of my heart, want to thank you all for always being here to support me. Thank you all for the amazing friendships you and I now share. I can't begin to tell you all what you mean to me. I mean, seriously!

Now, don't forget, June 30, I'm going to be on BlogTalk Radio with the Fantabulous LESA at 8pm EST. I'm going to OFFICIALLY and FINALLY ANNOUNCE THE TITLE OF MY BOOK, and the WINNER of the CRACK THE CODE CONTEST. Plus, I'm finally going to actually TALK about the book and the series. TRUST ME, you DO NOT want to MISS THIS SHOW!

From what Lesa's told me, MY MAY APPEARANCE ON HER SHOW was the highest rated for the entire month. OMG! She told me I even rated well over a NY Times Best Selling Author!

WAIT? ME?
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! YAY!

So don't miss the show June 30. PRE ORDERS OPEN 2 1/2 hours after the show ends. So,And if you could spread the word, I would be FOREVER grateful, and WOULD NEVER FORGET IT:)

OH, btw, here's the banner about the PRE ORDERS of MY BOOK. If you could copy and post it on your page, oh god, what that would mean to me! I mean, HONESTLY, I can not begin to find the words to thank you all the way you DESERVE to be thanked and honored for the amazing friends you truly are:)
And come July 1, 2008, you can place your pre orders for THE BOOK (hehe...what, did you think I'd let the title slip?) through TRIAD Publishing Group's Website. By July 1, there WILL be info on how and where to place those orders.


<a href="http://http://www.triadpublishinggroup.com"><img src="http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/spooky-gal/TRIADBannerExchange.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />



GINORMOUS HUGS and HUMBLING YAYs:)
Cindy





<a href="http://www.triadpublishinggroup.com"><img src="http://a56.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/33/l_7f86629382c2742f054b93e330ee3897.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />

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Okay so, get this.......

Do you guys remember my short story, The Newcomers? The one I posted here a long time ago?

Well......IT'S GETTING PUBLISHED IN THE JUNE / JULY ISSUE OF NEXGEN PULP MAGAZINE!

OMG OMG OMG OMG

YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!

I have to say, this particular story holds a special place in my heart. It really does. I wrote it a couple of years ago for a short story contest that was being held by Writers Digest.

It's about a woman who's desperate to get published, who goes to great lengths to "find" a story for a short story writing contest that promises publication of the winning piece. And what she finds is so much more.

Yes folks, it was a moral imperative that I write about that....

The woman in my story won the contest, but needless to say I didn't. But PISHAW to WD!

If I had won, who knows where it would have led me and to what hell-hole publisher too. I LOVE TRIAD....not that I've said that a few times or anything. And TRIAD is where I belong, so I'm glad I didn't win that contest.

So yeah, the story is getting published.......FINALLY! I was really heartbroken in thinking that this story would never get out. It's something every aspiring writer can really relate to.....well, at least up until the MURDER takes place....LOL

Hopefully not many can relate to that part of it. Unless it ended up like the story does, cuz that would be kinda cool actually...once the anger subsided, that is.....

So there it is, folks. Another dream realized. This is why I'm always telling everyone NEVER GIVE UP. Never let anyone EVER tell you you can't do it. NEVER let anyone tell you YOU ARE NOT good enough! AND NEVER LET ANYONE HOLD YOU DOWN! YOU CAN DO IT! You CAN! But if you don't try, all those ignorant nay-sayers win! And that's a slice of pie I don't ever intend to indulge in. And neither should you:)

It may take some time, but oh, when it happens, it happens BIG!Who knows what may come of it, and you won't until you try:)
I really want to thank NexGen Pulp Magazine for this AMAZING opportunity.

HUGS and Happy Writing:)
Cindy

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Okay so, before I go any further, I must officially introduce you all to my "snevil" (Thanks Joni) alter-ego, whom I call TYPOGIRL.

Funny thing about Typogirl, she tends to come out at the most inappropriate moments in my life, and she's even worked her way into my mouth, using me like a puppet in her red-cheek-inducing game of "Let's embarass Cindy...YAY YAY!"

Needless to say, it's not a game I enjoy, simply because she frustrates me to bloody hell! But last night, I must admit, Typogirl was at her finest. It was her shining moment in the proverbial sun. And for that I will try not to condemn her to hell as much or as often. She did after all, provide me with an historic moment in my publishing career.

So there I am last night, going about my Myspace business. You know, checking emails, comments, and blogs posted by my dear and cherished friends:)

So I click over to the SHADOW OF PARADOX blog to read Ravenn's post about TRIAD PUBLISHING GROUP'S one year anniversary, which was May 1.

You see, Ravenn posted a blog aptly titled: Happy Anniversary to TRIAD Publishing!

It was such a touching blog post. Really summoned up the warm and fuzzies. Now, realize, other people had already commented on the blog. So, naturally, I had to comment on this too, because, well, you DO know me, right?

Now, here's what I wrote: "And Ravenn:) Oh god, come on, it's RAVENN!!!!!!!! She's another VERN....Vern in a black gothic dress...:)"

At least that's what I thought I had written. And then I moved on to my business as usual....

So, later I find I have comments when I log back onto my page here, and what do I see? None other than Ravenn commenting back to me on my comment to her blog:

Her comment to me was, and I quote, and if you don't believe me, check my comments on my page and you'll see for yourself:

"ROFL!!! OMG, my friend, you have NEVER made me laugh so hard! I almost spit out my coffee! "And Ravenn:) Oh god, come on, it's RAVENN!!!!!!!! She's another VERN....Vern is a black gothic dress... :) I had no idea Vern was a piece of clothing!"

….

My initial reaction was

"WHAT??????? NO! I DID NOT CALL HIM A BLACK GOTHIC DRESS! NO! NO! NO! OMG! OMG! HAHAHAHAHA OMG! OMG! breathe, breathe, desperately gasping for air, OMG! OMG! OMG! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OMG!

And when I finally caught my breath, I went back to her page and checked for myself, thinking surely Ravenn had read it wrong because I, who vehemently try to beat Typogirl to the punch, tend to go the extra mile to make sure I don't make mistakes in my blogs.

And sure enough….THERE IT WAS…THE COMMENT TO END ALL COMMENTS.

Yes, folks, I had made the most hilarious mistake in publishing history.

Clearly, what I MEANT to say was that "Ravenn was another Vern…Vern IN a black gothic dress." But Typogirl, it turns out, had been lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce. And fortunately she won this round.

yeah, yeah, applause, applause…whoohoo (insert minor finger twirl here and a roll of the eyes)….bla bla bla…

Now some of you may say, "Hm, funny," and go on with your day. But, come on really try to put yourselves in my shoes for a minute or two and picture YOUR publisher. And try to imagine calling YOUR publisher a black gothic dress in an open forum for all the blogging world to see, when what you're actually doing is praising them.

Think long and hard about it and I think you might find the humor in this situation.

Needless to say, when I spoke with Vern today, he and I laughed so hard. And he went on to tell me that when Ravenn called him and asked him if he'd seen the comment I left, they cracked up to hell too!

So in honor of my near-fatal fashion Faupax, I leave you with this...

"DON'T ALWAYS WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT TYPOS....BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE FUNNIER THAN ANYTHING YOU COULD HAVE STRUGGLED TO PUT OUT FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING OTHERS RACE TO THE NEAREST TOILET!" --C. L. Freire

VERN

Sorry Vern. But I had to do it. It was a moral imperative!

fingers crossed that you again laugh...and not growl at this blog....

HUGS, Black Gothic Dresses, and Bravos to Typogirls everywhere:)

Cindy

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Okay, so there I am, strolling through my blog subscriptions over on my Myspace page at C. L. FREIRE, and I see this blog post called, Looking for the next J. K. Rowling?. So out of curiosity I clicked on it. Needless to say I started screaming when I saw the blog post, which was posted by such an amazing page here called, Write in The City.


. So I just had to share it with everyone if for no other reason than the fact that the people on WRITE IN THE CITY are so incredible! Plus I was flipping out I just had to show everyone what they had to say.

So read it, and enjoy:)

Hugs and Undying Honor
Cindy


Here's the link to the blog. I gotta say people, you have got to add this page to your friends. I know first hand it is an incredible page, run by incredible people. And have I ever steered you wrong?




Looking for the next J. K. Rowling?

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At long last I have a new finished piece of art to post:

I suppose I'm reasonably satisfied with this piece. It seemed like it went a little smoother than usual and I managed to keep the paint fairly thin on the background which helps to cut down on time spent on the piece. What bothers me a bit is this isolated pool of red-orange that is the squirrel/boat. The warm yellow of the dragonflies was intended to balance out the orange of the squirrel, but I think they are too small to be as effective as I'd like. I did push some orange-ish color around in the background, but maybe not enough... All the same I think it came out okay.
Prints are in my Shop.

Not only have I finally gotten back to painting, but we've also gotten back to our frequent weekend hiking. We had a good long walk at nearby Bull Creek this past weekend. This trail was about three miles one way meandering back and forth across the wide creek. Where in LA we could clearly see the extremely parched condition of the land in the form of dry creek-beds and trickling waterfalls, here we could see the opposite - an abundance of water. We've heard the reason for this is that the soil's quite thin and underneath lies a layer of rock, so the water can't really soak into the ground and therefore channels into the many waterways that wind around the hills here. You can see how rocky the land is around the water in these pictures:

The trail came to an end in a small dog park. I have never seen so many happy dogs together in one place at the same time. It was fun to watch them splashing around in the water so exuberantly. I think they had the right idea too - it was surprisingly warm that day and the water looked so inviting!

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So it's official - we're moving to Texas. My husband accepted a job in Austin and just put in his two weeks this past Monday. It's such a strange feeling. We had a few weeks of anticipation and mild uncertainty and now, suddenly we're in the thick of preparations. We're out of LA in exactly two weeks, so it's going to be quite a whirlwind. I'm really excited to be moving - trying out a new city in a different part of the country, but the moving itself can be such a dreaded experience. We had a pretty horrid experience six years ago when we relocated from NY to LA and I'm not at all eager to repeat it. Fortunately, I have a bit more time to do better research on moving companies and the like this time around, so hopefully it will be a somewhat better situation. We shall see...

I've never been to Austin myself, but every one we've spoken to seems to really like it, so I have high hopes that we will too. The cost of living is very attractive and I hear it's quite green and boasts spectacular thunderstorms. I so miss thunderstorms...

Here's a sketch a did last week:
I've had a thumbnail of this idea waiting around in my sketchbook for years, so I'm glad to finally have a chance to tackle it. I'm not sure where the idea for it came from - instruments as boats just seems like a neat idea to me. I've got a color study finished for it, but I have a feeling I'm not going to get to touch it again for a while, since my current job is now 'moving coordinator.'

So as we're preparing to move, going through our possessions and trying to figure out what we can do without, we managed to gather up a few stacks of books that we were willing to part with - a lot of them duplicates that we both had before we got married. I remembered a small used bookstore right around the corner from us, that I'd walked past many times, but never really ventured into before. So I headed over there, arms full of books. It's one of these places I wish I'd discovered sooner - a really nice store with good selection and the owner's just nice as can be. They even had a copy of Castles by Alan Lee - quite a find! I love the big bookstores, Borders, B&N as much as anybody, but there's something to be said for the charm of the smaller independent bookstore. So, if you happen to be passing through Canoga Park, stop in and see what you can find - address is on their website: www.nextchapterbooks.com.

Also, I mentioned sculptor Vicki Banks' beautiful animal sculptures in a previous post - seems she does indeed have a website: http://www.vulturesculpture.com/

It's time for me to dive back into the madness of moving - many phone calls to make. Anybody know a good pet-friendly hotel in Austin by chance?

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