The Velvet Zebra

here’s a thought

Why don’t they just kill John Conner? Okay, I’m not a fan – I don’t watch the show – but last night I was too busy to do anything about it, and that Terminator show about Sarah Connor came on the TV, so while I was busy, I watched some of it. I hate itContinue reading “here’s a thought”

was that ‘yes’ on #1, or ‘no’ to destroy the russians?

I just love this business. The other day I was looking over my database, checking to see how many agents I’d queried for Ether, how many had responded and how many I had left to try. I’m running at about fifty percent – queried vs responded, and had four left to try. So I doubleContinue reading “was that ‘yes’ on #1, or ‘no’ to destroy the russians?”

Greed.

I saw on the Nightly news the other day how people are finding ways to “walk away” from one house while buying a new one. It’s called Buy and Bail, and here’s how it works: You own a house that you borrowed $365,000 to buy, but in today’s market, the house is worth only $219,000Continue reading “Greed.”

if you need me next week

I’ll be here for a few days, at Kalaloch Beach, probably NOT writing as I walk the beach and gaze at the sunsets. Then I’ll be here, in the Hoh Rainforest for a couple of days, most likely NOT writing as I wander through forests of moss and gaze at wild herds of elk (andContinue reading “if you need me next week”

don’t you hate it when

You hear one of your cats making play-noises in the kitchen, then a little while later you happen to go into the kitchen and find said cat sitting and staring intently at that little space between your counter and your stove? I know we don’t have mice, although one could have fit in that space,Continue reading “don’t you hate it when”

people say the strangest things

In case you’ve been wondering if I’ve fallen off the world or anything, for a little while, I did! Actually, August is my busy month, because for one long, 3-day weekend in August, my sister and I “take our act on the road.” In that, we sell our lapidary work at an art show, inContinue reading “people say the strangest things”

feel the burn!

I’ve discovered something about myself — When pushed, or rather “egged on” – I’m capable of writing 5,000 words a day. No kidding. I’ve been averaging somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 a day, but actually pushed close to 6k one day. It’s exhausting, because they have to be not just good words, but great words.Continue reading “feel the burn!”

whoa, dude, srsly?

Have you ever been so wrapped up in some project or other and then suddenly look up and realized just how much time had passed without you so much as realizing? When you find yourself concentrating very deeply on a project at work and the time just flies – or you’re out somewhere having aContinue reading “whoa, dude, srsly?”

tuff enuff

While I’m sitting here, eating lunch, contemplating an interesting revelation, Tuff Enuff comes on the radio and it dawns on me what the issue is. Lemme ‘splain. I’ve been writing for years, and I’m grateful for that because writers improve with each novel they pen. As much as I adore Keeper and the sequels, it’sContinue reading “tuff enuff”

I don’t do summer

As much as I enjoy being outdoors — and I do, very much so — as much as I love my big yard, all the flowers, the chance to be outside with short sleeved shirts and in bare feet . . . I don’t do Summer. Can’t take the heat, you see. I’m a happyContinue reading “I don’t do summer”