SOMETIMES A GREAT MOTION: EVERY-SINGLE-THING ABOUT CAT ACTIVITY

Sometimes… Cat Activity

I have 14 cats.

[pause]

I know. I know. I’m waiting for the screaming to die down.

[pause]

Okay. Now, that the information has crested and fallen, rolled from one side of your brain to the other, I’ll begin.

Today we discuss cat activities, three, to be exact—the Zoomers, Nummy-time-yowling, and Finding Interesting Places to Sleep. Let’s begin.

THE ZOOMERS… Sometimes cats hang out and sometimes they get the “zoomers”—the thing created by a spark in their heads that sends them racing through the house at warp speed for no apparent reason.

When will you see the zoomers? Most often, the zoomers occur around 2:30 in the morning when you’re in a trance-like sleep, the deepest sleep.

READ MORE OF THIS POSTING BY PRESSING HERE... IT'S HYSTERICAL AND THERE'S A BUNCH O' COOL PICS!

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CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Learn it from the Movie "City Island"

A couple of nights ago I decided to watch a movie and instead of going to Netflix and streaming one into my computer or TV, I decided to check out the Pay-Per-View channels. I was pleased to see that Dish had updated its listing and there were a few, new unwatched (by me, anyway) flicks to choose from. I chose “City Island” starring Andy Garcia as a down-trodden jailer and wannabe actor. Mr. Garcia’s co-stars included Julianna Margulies and Alan Arkin, to name three.

City Island tells a tale about the Rizzo family, a highly dysfunctional family—a father (Vince Rizzo), a mother, a daughter and a son—each who becomes so lost in their role about self, they forget about the love that binds them and any truth that might grow out of that love. Or! Any trust one might feel with family! In fact, at some point years before, trust had crumbled into oblivion with this family.

READ MORE AT: http://susanwingate.wordpress.com/muscle-up-the-gut-of-your-novel-writing-instruction/

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Wednesdays Will Remain Days Dedicated to Everything Kat!

But, it's Thursday?
I know. I’m obsessed. This, I believe, is common-knowledge to those in my circle, now, everyone who reads this posting will know as well. (Oh, for those of you who don't know, I have 2 dogs, 14 birds and 14 CATS!)

Oh… Goody. Goody for me.

Anywho. A dear colleague of mine, Dennis Moore, book reviewer for San Diego’s East County Magazine (www.eastcountymagazine.org) contacted me last week when I posted a notification that Wednesdays would no longer be slated for crosswords and instead the day would be dedicated to everything “cat.”

Dennis’ note went something like this…

“Hello Susan, as your email sent to me earlier today indicated that you have a blog on cats, I thought you might find he forwarded book review by me interesting. Regards, Dennis” http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/2459

Okay, it went exactly like that but when I popped over to the site, my heart went pitter, thump-diddy-bump with glee for what did I find (rhetorical, don’t answer, please), a buncha stuff ’bout the Kittay-Kat!

Dennis Moore had posted a review of “The Treasury for Cat Lovers."

Now, you may also notice within Mr. Moore’s same review posting another book entitled “A Treasury for Dog Lovers” we cat lovers apologize profusely for this mixing of species books and we dog lovers have already begun to bark, and LOUDLY!

Enjoy Dennis Moore’s review please. And, most definitely, have fun.

As my dear friend the cat lover Carl used to say, “Meow for now,” Susan

Dennis Moore’s review of “Easy as Pie at Bobby’s Diner” (May 2010, Blue Star Books) by Susan Wingate. http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/3120

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Professionalism in the Publishing Industry, A Writer's Guide

What kind of writer are you? This is a multiple choice question!

A- An amateur,
B- A professional,
C- A hobbyist,
D- The fabulously famous,
E- The 8-hour workday kind,
F- All of the above,
G- None of the above,
H- I'd like a write-in choice, please, or
I- A little of every single option

For me, option B & E seem truest.

Why do we care? I think we all should. Guess I'm just feeling a little introspective today.

Another good set of questions might be: "Where do you want your writing career to be in 5 years? In 10 years? In 20 years?" Of course, these three questions would require fill-in answers.

In my humblest of humble opinions, I think it's a good practice to quiz yourself about your writing career. I believe doing so shows how professionally you take what you're doing -- whatever industry you find yourself in. Still, here on this blog we're talking about the publishing industry.

Do you work at writing everyday or just sometimes? Do you understand the business of the publishing industry or do you just write and hope someone else will help you out with that sort of stuff? Do you go to writing conferences, workshops, and meetings? Do you regularly visit your local bookstore? Do you actively contribute in someway to your writing community? Do you continue to educate yourself about the industry by subscribing to trade journals, whether in print or online? Another blast of questions important to ask, for sure.

With an undergraduate degree in business from Arizona State University (accounting, actually), I find it very difficult to enter any income-producing quest without learning a great deal about it first. I tend to study it until I feel competent to speak intelligently with other professionals in the same field.

I remember in college, we had a business writing requisite, most of it dealt with constructing business letters. In publishing, we see the practice of writing business letters everywhere -- in the form of query letters, in proposals and in cover letters for manuscript submissions.

The publishing industry is a business and requires a certain level of professionalism from those who enter it whether you're the writer or the bookseller. A professional approach will suit you best at every level.

So, again, ask the questions at the beginning of this post. Ask yourself these types of questions regularly. Approach any discussion with anyone you meet in business (or anywhere, really) with respect and with the assumption they have done their homework.

It can prove to be a tipping point of sorts because, think about it, who would you rather deal with? A professional or an amateur?

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A Little Blatant Self-Promo... Ew!

Just got a fab review from the Midwest Book Review...

August 10, "Love can be a facade. "Easy as Pie at Bobby's Diner" is the story of widow Georgette, a diner owner who finds love once more in Hawthorne. But when Hawthorne turns out to not be as good as he seems, Georgette and her best friend Roberta find themselves tasked with stopping a mad man to not only save their beloved diner, but to save their town. "Easy as Pie at Bobby's Diner" is an intriguing read, and a very highly recommended pick."

Easy as Pie at Bobby's Diner
Susan Wingate
Blue Star Books
903 Pacific Avenue, Suite 207A, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
9780984400003, $12.95, www.book-hub.com

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Like that's not enough... now she has a radio show!

Susan Wingate, born in Phoenix, Arizona to James & Amie Ajamie (a writer and an artist, respectively), tried to fly, at age 5 off the roof of her family's home using newspaper, wire hangers and scotch tape. She’s been dreaming of flying ever since. Oh, she never jumped. Her mother ran out in the nick of time to stop her from take-off.

Wingate realized her dreams when she entered the world of writing. At first, she wrote songs and poetry but then her writing blossomed when she tried her hand at fiction. And, in 1997, she devoted her days to writing and in 2004, she began writing full-time. Since then, Susan has written several plays, one screenplay, one short story collection and 7 novels with two more scheduled to be written in 2010.

Wingate writes a monthly column for her local newspaper and posts a weekly blog for a regional Pacific Northwest online newspaper. For more information, go to: www.susanwingate.com.