キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 01.06.2009
I don’t know why people don’t like making New Year’s Resolutions. I love it! I don’t always keep them, but I like making them.
Camy’s Resolutions for 2009:
1. Lose weight. I say this every year, but somehow this year it’s been sticking more. I want to lose 15 pounds by May 1st.
I started exercising 30 minutes everyday starting December 5th and only skipped 3 days so far (for Christmas). It’s mostly been walking the dog, but I’m pretty happy I’ve kept it up. I think this is the longest I’ve consistently exercised.
This month, I started tracking what I ate and I’m appalled at the calorie count each day. The sad thing is, when I try to eat less, I’m still hungry, so I guess I need to reduce my portions more slowly so I don’t feel so deprived. Eventually I’ll get used to the portions and not feel hungry.
I also want to exercise 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, even if it’s only walking the dog.
2. Read more. I’m woefully behind on reading my Love Inspired Suspense novels (I get them as ebooks on Fictionwise.com) and there are tons of books I want to read but haven’t made time to do it. So I want to try to read a book every week.
3. Stick to some solid writing goals. Pam Hillman did some great, specific goals separated by quarter, so I’m going to do the same:
1st Quarter:
1. Finish line edits for Deadly Intent, due January 7th (yes, that’s tomorrow).
2. Write proposal for next romantic suspense novel.
3. Complete Marketing Info Sheet for The Year of the Dog by March 1st.
4. Coordinate the American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Genesis contest for unpublished writers.
5. Prepare for my HeadStart mentoring group for Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. (If you’re a beginning writer, and if you can swing the cost of the conference, the HeadStart program is a great way for new writers to get all the information they need to jump start their writing career. Learn from my mistakes!)
2nd Quarter:
1. Finish writing The Year of the Dog by May 1st.
2. Write my next romantic suspense novel (assuming the proposal is contracted—crossing my fingers).
3. Work on “The Lone Rice Ball,” the fourth book (novella) in my Sushi series (it’ll be available as a free ebook download to members of my newsletter YahooGroup).
3rd Quarter:
1. Launch a website contest to celebrate the release of Deadly Intent.
2. Work on a third novel for the year, whether the next book in my Zondervan contract or a newly contracted novel (again, fingers crossed).
3. Work on a third romantic suspense proposal.
4. Prepare for the 2009 ACFW conference inDallas, TX (I don't know what I was thinking. It's in Denver, CO this year).
4th Quarter:
1. Write a third romantic suspense novel, assuming the proposal is accepted (see 3rd Quarter).
2. Continue working on third novel (see 3rd Quarter).
3. Brainstorm a new story or novella to offer free to my newsletter YahooGroup subscribers.
Whew! Just looking at that makes me tired.
How about you? What are your goals/resolutions for 2009?
I don’t know why people don’t like making New Year’s Resolutions. I love it! I don’t always keep them, but I like making them.
Camy’s Resolutions for 2009:
1. Lose weight. I say this every year, but somehow this year it’s been sticking more. I want to lose 15 pounds by May 1st.
I started exercising 30 minutes everyday starting December 5th and only skipped 3 days so far (for Christmas). It’s mostly been walking the dog, but I’m pretty happy I’ve kept it up. I think this is the longest I’ve consistently exercised.
This month, I started tracking what I ate and I’m appalled at the calorie count each day. The sad thing is, when I try to eat less, I’m still hungry, so I guess I need to reduce my portions more slowly so I don’t feel so deprived. Eventually I’ll get used to the portions and not feel hungry.
I also want to exercise 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, even if it’s only walking the dog.
2. Read more. I’m woefully behind on reading my Love Inspired Suspense novels (I get them as ebooks on Fictionwise.com) and there are tons of books I want to read but haven’t made time to do it. So I want to try to read a book every week.
3. Stick to some solid writing goals. Pam Hillman did some great, specific goals separated by quarter, so I’m going to do the same:
1st Quarter:
1. Finish line edits for Deadly Intent, due January 7th (yes, that’s tomorrow).
2. Write proposal for next romantic suspense novel.
3. Complete Marketing Info Sheet for The Year of the Dog by March 1st.
4. Coordinate the American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Genesis contest for unpublished writers.
5. Prepare for my HeadStart mentoring group for Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. (If you’re a beginning writer, and if you can swing the cost of the conference, the HeadStart program is a great way for new writers to get all the information they need to jump start their writing career. Learn from my mistakes!)
2nd Quarter:
1. Finish writing The Year of the Dog by May 1st.
2. Write my next romantic suspense novel (assuming the proposal is contracted—crossing my fingers).
3. Work on “The Lone Rice Ball,” the fourth book (novella) in my Sushi series (it’ll be available as a free ebook download to members of my newsletter YahooGroup).
3rd Quarter:
1. Launch a website contest to celebrate the release of Deadly Intent.
2. Work on a third novel for the year, whether the next book in my Zondervan contract or a newly contracted novel (again, fingers crossed).
3. Work on a third romantic suspense proposal.
4. Prepare for the 2009 ACFW conference in
4th Quarter:
1. Write a third romantic suspense novel, assuming the proposal is accepted (see 3rd Quarter).
2. Continue working on third novel (see 3rd Quarter).
3. Brainstorm a new story or novella to offer free to my newsletter YahooGroup subscribers.
Whew! Just looking at that makes me tired.
How about you? What are your goals/resolutions for 2009?
Comments
God willing, a few of mine are:
1. Do a daily devotional DAILY **smile**
2. Buy website domains and then launch the website (by the 2nd quarter).
3. Obtain representation for my novels (any time in 2009)
4. Run a ten mile race (by 4th quarter.)
5. Attend ACFW conference in Denver.
6. Go on a short term mission trip (by 3rd quarter)
Well, that's enough space hogging in your comments section. I'll be praying you meet your goals.
1. Lose 20 lbs(I lost 17 last year) by August 1st for my family reunion.
2. No dishes in the sink when I go to bed.
3. Scrub my kitchen and bathroom floors once a week.
4. Be gracious to the people who work for me.
5. Read the Bible through at least once.
6. Finish a book on chaos theory by November 10th(my birthday).
7. Start ballroom dancing by Easter.