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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Tagged at Random

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.28.2009

Ane Mulligan tagged me, so here goes:

Rules: Once you've been tagged, write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.

At the end, choose 10 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I am currently exercising 6 days a week! Yay!

2. I’m walking/jogging to try to build up so that I can eventually run for 30 minutes straight.

3. I am currently wearing pink fingerless gloves I knit myself.

4. I am also currently wearing a spiral scarf I knit myself.

5. I’ll be teaching a mentoring group at the HeadStart program at Mount Hermon Writers Conference this spring.

6. Actually, I just realized I’m also wearing socks I knit myself.

7. I am really an introvert because large groups of people drain my energy, they don’t give me energy, but being an introvert doesn’t mean I can’t be friendly and outgoing—it just means that once I hit a certain point, I need to be alone to recharge.

8. I’m currently working on a proposal for a new romantic suspense. It’s hard trying to think up ways for the villain to try to kill the heroine. Where she escapes.

9. I’m almost done with the really really really late Christmas present for my parents, but I think they’ll like it. (And no, Mom, I will not tell you what it is.)

10. I drank 10 glasses of water yesterday.

11. I found one of my knitting row counters (finally!) but still haven’t found the other one. Grrrrr

12. I am avoiding making my yearly check up with my doctor because I’m afraid she’ll suggest a mammogram, since I’m getting into that age.

13. I belong to the Amazon vine program where I get free books (usually ARCs) and I have to post a review on them. I’ve read some really good books for them lately.

14. I’m also trying to read some historical romance novels I borrowed from my friend Danica, because I want to get them back to her ASAP. Between these and my Amazon vine books, I haven’t done as much reading for my writing as I’d like to.

15. Captain Caffeine suggested I write a book set in Hong Kong. I said I’d need to visit there to do that. I’d be willing to sacrifice.

16. I’m really getting into watching CSI: NY lately. The story premises have been really interesting.

17. Another favorite TV show is Leverage on TNT. Really clever plots. It’s like Ocean’s 11, which I loved.

18. I still haven’t mailed my thank you cards for Christmas gifts. (I’ll get to it this week, Mom!)

19. My favorite knitting store is KnitPicks.com. I love their Harmony wood needles and I love how they offer luxury yarns at very affordable prices.

20. I currently have some bulky weight mohair blend yarn and I’m not sure what to do with it. Any ideas?

21. I have been eating with chopsticks lately because it forces me to eat slower. And it feels kind of neat to eat with chopsticks again, which I used to do more when I was in school and living at home.

22. Lately I’ve been really happy that my sinus headaches are almost entirely gone, thanks to eating a tablespoon of local unfiltered honey every day and using a saline nasal rinse.

23. I love giving away Christian fiction on my blog and in my newsletter YahooGroup. I like promoting Christian fiction.

24. I think I’m going to introduce “You Are the Light” by Fee for our youth group worship.

25. Considering how much I like to talk about myself, it was really hard coming up with 25 things about me.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
#12.!!! I don't know why I was so afraid to do this. Yes I do, everyone made it seem soooo scary. I had myself so worked up about it that the actual process was almost a let down. Almost. But of course, I've given birth. Nothing about your body is sacred after that.
Wed Jan 28, 06:30:00 PM 2009
Linda Hargrove said…
One day I'm going to be just like you, Camy. I love it that you knit. Makes me feel normal. Do you have any ACFW patterns, btw?

Thanks for sharing.
Thu Jan 29, 04:39:00 AM 2009
Ladette said…
Camy, I'm so happy to find your website!! AWESOME. I want to enter to win your give-away. I love to read... and read... and read. I would love to be able to write, but it's not my gift. Thanks!!
Thu Jan 29, 09:31:00 AM 2009
Camy Tang said…
Angie, since I haven't given birth to anything except a few books, I still feel rather squeamish about my body. :)

Thanks, Linda! No, no ACFW patterns...yet. ;)

How great to see you here, Ladette! (For those of you who want to lose weight, join me and Ladette on SparkPeople.com!)

Camy
Thu Jan 29, 02:26:00 PM 2009
Anonymous said…
These are great. Thanks for playing along. I had a hard time writing my list.
Thu Jan 29, 06:20:00 PM 2009
Mindy Obenhaus said…
#'s 1 & 2 don't sound like fun at all. But I'm so impressed with your knitting skills! Good luck with the attempt on your heroine's life :-)
Fri Jan 30, 04:18:00 PM 2009
loriannelee said…
You weren't kidding you have a lot of knitting stuff on your list. That's okay, you're totally into it, so of course you would write about it. Your FB status updates and #1 sound like you are exercising more and more. I'm surprised you don't have any mention of food on here. #12-I had my first one when I hit 40-not actually that bad. When you are challenged in that area, there isn't as much to squeeze, push, and pinch. You should be fine too. hee hee. oh-regarding #21, I don't know why chopsticks would make eating any slower. Isn't it actually FASTER to shovel food into your mouth?
Sat Jan 31, 10:50:00 PM 2009
Unknown said…
Camy: I enjoyed reading your list and learn that you knit--something I don't do well at all. Also your slogan "romance with a kick of wasabi" is so great. Blessings,Janet
www.blybooks.com
Sun Feb 01, 08:37:00 PM 2009
NeedANap2 said…
I had #12 done last fall. In a sense, it is the same as seeing a gyn. Exposing part of your body that you'd prefer to keep private but they see lots every day so it isn't as big of a deal to them. I wanted to go though b/c of the history in my family. (I was still a few years late. I'm 33 but with the family history my dr suggested age 30.)

Hope it all goes well, you'll feel better after you get it over with!!!
Mon Feb 02, 09:47:00 AM 2009
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