Sunday, August 26, 2012

New Book

I have been working on my new book.  I am very happy with how it is progressing.  It is so easy for me to write when I feel strongly about something.  This one is going to be a short story, and I am going to enter it into a contest next month.  I am still not ready to give away the plot, but I really feel people will like it because it is a happy theme.

When I get close to finishing it I will give a summary of the story line.  I am very excited about this one because I have wanted to complete it for a while.  I just needed the right opportunity to get me started on it.  This contest is the perfect venue for my story. 

I am still working on my other venture and will be completing my paperwork for the November contest soon.  I have been gradually getting the paperwork done, but I wanted to wait for certain milestones with my newspaper before filling out some of the forms.  I feel really good about this project. 

In closing, I just want to say- if you have a dream or a goal, go for it.  Don’t let blockades, or what seem like obstacles, to trip you up.  Keep trudging on and work past them.  You will find little rewards and happy moments along the way, and the end result will be worth it- however it turns out.  It may not be exactly how you envisioned it- but it will be great!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Never A Dull Moment

It’s been a busy few days.

I’ve been keeping the Sheriff’s Department on their toes spittin’ out press releases for me.  They still don’t have them all done yet, but that all comes with time.  An attempted suicide at the jail, a stabbing in a neighborhood close to me, and a person found dead at a local hotel- all happening on three consecutive days.

I have been working on finding other writing gigs too.  It’s been an interesting week so far.  Starting to think- “what will tomorrow bring?”

As long as I can keep busy writing….
This is one of my paintings

Sunray Poster 12x18 inch

Sunray Poster 12x18 inch

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Writing Adventures and Fires

It has been a slow news weekend.  Not much exciting has gone on.  There were some minor happenings but nothing real significant. 

The slow weekend gave me some time to work on my new book.  I also sent a query letter to a magazine.  I am hoping to write an article about Oroville for the magazine.  I will let you know if anything comes of it.

The numerous fires not far from here have produced massive amounts of smoke.  I hope everyone is being careful not to get too much exposure.  Be sure to check on friends and family who have respiratory problems to be sure they are doing okay with all of the smoke.

Many of you may not be aware that I am a Respiratory Therapist.  If you have respiratory problems and use a hand held nebulizer and you feel your treatments are not helping you enough, please contact me.  I would like to talk with you about your treatments and how you may be able to get better results.  This will not involve changing any of your medications, only the manner in which you take your treatments.

Don’t worry- I do not want to be paid for this.  I just want to help people stay as healthy as possible.  I have asthma myself, and I know how horrible it can be to be unable to breathe.  I have tried some different things when taking my treatments, and I want to see if the practices will help others as well.

This is a picture I took for my newspaper- these poor people had only had this car 3 months.

Friday, August 17, 2012

I'm Not Lazy- And You Shouldn't Be Either

I had something very frustrating happen today.

A week and a half ago I learned that a local business had changed ownership.  I called both local locations of the business the day the change in ownership occurred and was unable to reach a spokesperson who could talk with me.

I went on my Facebook page and sent one of the owners a message letting him know I wanted to do an article about his new ownership of the business.  I detailed some of the information I wanted to ask him and waited to hear from him.

This afternoon I got a message from him.  He typed "Hello Cookie..The Article just hit the Mercury register today.."- as if he expected me to copy the other newspaper.  Um, last time I checked that's called plagerism- besides, I don't work that way.

I let him know if he wanted to be included in my newspaper in the future to contact me directly because I don't copy other people's work.-

Butte County's Most Wanted- August 17, 2012

Butte County's Most Wanted- August 17, 2012

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cookie's Comments: Stories

Cookie's Comments: Stories: I have been working on my next book.   I think many people will find it very interesting.   I am not ready to reveal details yet, as it...

Stories

I have been working on my next book. 

I think many people will find it very interesting.  I am not ready to reveal details yet, as it is in the very early stages.  However, as it develops I will let you know what the plot is and some of the details.

Today I read a story to my husband that I used to read when I was very young.  It is called Inside, Outside, Upside Down.  He asked me where I got the book.  When I told him I checked it out from the library, he told me I had lost my mind.  A couple of months ago, I checked out a book called Wacky Wednesday and read it to him. 

I have another one I requested available now at the library.  I will pick it up tomorrow.  I have to keep his life interesting- lol.

Today was the first day of school for most of the schools here.  I am anxious to see how the newspaper will develop once the students find out about it.  I will keep you posted about this as well.

Have a great Wacky Wednesday! J
This is a picture of a local fire I took a couple of months ago.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Hopes, Dreams, and Goals

School starts this week, and I am very excited.

I have emailed all of the teachers at the local high schools regarding staff and students writing and submitting events for the paper.  I have had a very good response so far.

I also made some contacts with the community college and have already received some activity announcements from them.

I will be contacting the junior high schools as well in hopes of some participation from them.

I really feel the paper is about to explode.  I have been gaining more readers and subscribers each day.  It is very encouraging.  I am very happy with the way this venture has progressed.

I have applied for some part time writing jobs as well.  I hope to be able to completely transition over to my dream of being a full time writer.  I enjoy it so much. 

I do miss my patients, but maybe in time I can fill that void in another way.  Right now I am going to focus on my writing because it brings me so much joy.

We must always have goals, and one of my primary goals is to blog regularly.  I have put a note on my computer to blog on Sundays and Wednesdays.  Hopefully, I will be able to do a little more than that- but at least the note will remind me to keep my readers in the loop.

Have a great day- and I'll see you online.