Captain’s Log, Stardate 12.02.2005 This time it’s Robin ’s fault. Seven Things to Do Before I Die (Lord willing): 1. The salvation of my family and friends. 2. An eating tour of Europe—who cares about sight-seeing? I want to eat the food! 3. Visit the Holy Land 4. Become a successful author 5. Learn to write a book as fast as Robin or Cheryl 6. Learn to speed read 7. Read all the books in my office. Seven Things I Cannot Do: 1. Eat uni (sea urchin) sushi 2. I am human, so I’m capable of any sin thanks to our sinful nature, but I’d like to think I’d never cheat on my husband. 3. Stop eating potato chips 4. Pass up a free book 5. Stay off the internet 6. Stop coveting more purses 7. Think I have enough books Seven Things that Attract Me to My Spouse [romantic interest, best friend, whomever](not necessarily in this order!): 1. Oooh, he’s a cutie. 2. He plays volleyball! I love volleyball. Plus he’s athletic. 3...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 12.01.2005 Dineen Miller tagged me for this game: List 15 facts and personal preferences about books: 1. I love ’em, love ’em, love ’em. Give me a book anyday. 2. I like Chicklit and Suspense. I also love Regency romances. I will admit to a secret liking for Silhouette Romances—you know, the sweet ones with the teal covers that are often a bit paranormal now? I will also read a Harlequin Presents occasionally—I just finished “The Italian’s Stolen Bride” by Emma Darcy that was entertaining. Plus I got it at Fictionwise.com (ebook) at a discount. :) 3. I can’t list my favorite authors, I know I’m going to forget one. You can see my favorite books if you go to my Amazon.com page and look at my reviews and listmania list. http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/002-5419208-3024040 4. Okay, I can list this favorite author—I love anything by Betty Neels. Her books are so British. I like the quaint, old-fashioned air of them. I also like Gra...

Update: Out There Author Services is no longer in business. "Out There" Author Services Heather Tipton is a friend who is a virtual assistant for busy authors. She can take care of all the little administrative things to be done for publicity and marketing that a writer doesn’t have time to do! "Out There" Author Services Developing, Deploying and De-Stressing the Busy Author If you're new to the writing business and need help developing or honing your skills, we have classes, mentoring services and editing/critique options for you. If you're looking for a way to promote yourself or your books, we can assist you with press releases, promotional needs and speaking engagements. If you're well along your way and need a virtual assistant to help you with fan mail, calendar events or web logs, we would love to offer our services so you can be freed up to do what you were called to do . . . write! Heather Diane Tipton http:/...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 11.30.2005 Stem-cell funding still mired in courts I’m sad for the drain on California’s budget, but I’m also glad the judge didn’t just summarily dismiss the lawsuits challenging the stem cell institute. I don’t object to adult stem cells, but these days, most people think embryonic when they hear the term “stem cells.” Embryonic stem cells are made when scientists kill a baby—an embryo—in order to harvest their inner-most cells, called “pluripotent” cells. Business biology This disappoints me. Neaves doesn’t believe that a blastocyst is a human being. As a biologist and a Christian, I know that something amazing happens the second an egg receives a full complement of DNA, even though it’s just a single cell. Whether it’s made in a woman’s womb, in a Petri dish, or “cooked up” with a blanked egg cell and a skin cell, it forms life as soon as that egg cell has two chromosomes. When that cell divides, no matter if there’s...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 11.29.2005 Got this link from ValMarie , but I also skip over to Romancing the Blog every so often: Santa, Take Note by Shirley Jump Writing: Following Mary Connealy ’s suggestion, I started writing an article “What to expect from your ACL surgery” while the experience is still fresh. I wrote down all the little tips and tricks that made the experience easier. I don’t know if I want to be known as the ACL Girl, but I definitely want to write something that might help somebody else prepare better for their surgery. There’s so much to do, and there are so many little things that can make things go smoothly. I started “advertising” my critique service, The Story Sensei , today. It’s a little scaring jumping into the mysterious world of freelance. I’ll post a more official unveiling. Revisions? What are those?

Captain’s Log, Stardate 11.28.2005 Went to the doctor’s today and saw his assistant. My knee looks so much better than it did last year—no blistering, only a little swelling. After they removed the catheter for the pain pump, I started feeling an inner ache, but it’s still tolerable. I’m upping my pain med dosage a little. I’m now off the crutches and hobbling around with a stiff leg brace. Thanks to everyone who prayed! God is so good! I also have a new message box on my sidebar. I’m so proud of myself for doing that all by my lonesome, despite my html-deficiencies. Leave me a message! Writing: Hope to get more revisions done tonight!

Captain's log, Stardate 11.27.2005 Thanks so much to all my prayer warriors! I'm feeling great today. There's been very little pain and I think there's no blistering. At least, I don't feel the burning pain of blisters like I did last year. Thanks to Robin 's lack of sympathy, I got a lot done the past few days on my revisions. I'm taking a break from writing today to honor the Sabbath. Instead, I'm doing some reading, including a bit of research for my next book. I'm getting some great ideas for characters and conflict. I've noticed that my creativity blooms when I'm writing about something I'm passionate about. Paula wrote about passion yesterday in her blog. My passion may not be quite the same, but I feel it. The ideas fall in showers like cherry blossoms--thick like a fragrant blizzard. My hero has become solidified because I've discovered his inner struggle. He's dealing with an issue I personally care about, so the story is...