Hello everyone,
It's been a while since I've made it back to the blog. My apologies for being a blog bum. :-(
Life, as is so often the case, is busy in the Prisakiss household. Many good things going on, many life changing events occuring, several time-draining dramas popping up.
On a good note, I'm getting writing done. Well, editing. But progress is progress.
On another good note, I attended my first Chicago Cubs game of the season on Friday! Yes, I'm a Cubs fan, so that means I'm an optimist. Most of the time.
If there's one thing you should know about this writer, it's that she's a consumate baseball fan, more specifically, a diehard Cubs fan. I live about 5 hours away from Chicago, so it's not an everyday occurence for me to get to Wrigley. I try to make it there two to three times a season. And when I do, it's always a memorable experience. Last Friday was Derrek Lee bobblehead doll day!!! And yes, the Derrek Lee now proudly graces my dresser top. :-D
In a perfect world, I'd have a house in Wrigleyville where I could write in the mornings, and head to the Cubs game during baseball season. Then, I'd head to the warm Florida sunshine during the winter where I'd write in a house near the beach.
That's not too much to ask, is it? :-)
I have a lot going on in my life right now...a reunion cruise with some high school buddies this week, college orientation for my oldest the following week, end of the school year activities for all my kids followed by my oldest's graduation.
Nestled in the rush of all this is the necessity and desire to keep on plugging away with my writing. Finding those pockets of time, or better yet, creating those pockets of time to devote to my writing.
I'm a big planner, or to-do list maker. By writing everything down, and scheduling my day, I have a better chance of staying on track. Usually. :-)
What about you? Any tricks you'd care to pass along for staying on task/keeping your eye on the prize/however you like to think of it in the race of everyday life?
I'd love to hear your suggestions, or what works for you.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
My Busy Life
I haven't posted for a few days for a couple reasons.
1. I LOVED Miss Pettigrew and the subtitle message, so I wanted to give folks time to come to the blog and read about it.
and
2. If I haven't already told you, my life is freakin' hectic! :-)
Monday, I worked a half day, then the family and I headed into St Louis for Opening Day at Bush Stadium. Let me make this clear, I am NOT a Cardinals fan. This chick bleeds Chicago Cubs blue!!! But being the baseball fanatic that I am (along with the rest of my family), if I can't be at my beloved Wrigley Field on Opening Day, then being at any ballpark is better than sitting in the office at work. :-)
Unfortunately we got rained out middle of the third inning. Bummer weather, but on the plus side, baseball season has begun!!!
Tuesday, I worked another half day, then hit the road to make the five hour drive to the Chicago area where I dropped off my oldest for the Illinois State level America Junior Miss Scholarship Program. I did some editing in my hotel room, then hit the sack.
Today, I made the drive back home and late this afternoon I took in my first lacrosse game/match, cheering on our local high school in their inaugural season. Now it's home for dinner, homework check, and quality time with the husband, followed by writing time, then bed.
Not quite the glamorous lifestyle. But it works for me.
My time will come on Sunday. This weekend my neighbor has graciously volunteered to be my photographer for my press photo. With my daughters' help I'll try to gussy myself up and see what kind of pictures we wind up with.
If all goes well, you guys will be the first ones to see my official photo when I post it on the blog.
Until my "America's Next Top Model" moment on Sunday, it's back to the daily grind of balancing family, work, writing and everything else, which of course includes catching a Cubs baseball game on the tv. :-)
So on that note, are there any baseball fans out there? If so, what's your favorite team?
1. I LOVED Miss Pettigrew and the subtitle message, so I wanted to give folks time to come to the blog and read about it.
and
2. If I haven't already told you, my life is freakin' hectic! :-)
Monday, I worked a half day, then the family and I headed into St Louis for Opening Day at Bush Stadium. Let me make this clear, I am NOT a Cardinals fan. This chick bleeds Chicago Cubs blue!!! But being the baseball fanatic that I am (along with the rest of my family), if I can't be at my beloved Wrigley Field on Opening Day, then being at any ballpark is better than sitting in the office at work. :-)
Unfortunately we got rained out middle of the third inning. Bummer weather, but on the plus side, baseball season has begun!!!
Tuesday, I worked another half day, then hit the road to make the five hour drive to the Chicago area where I dropped off my oldest for the Illinois State level America Junior Miss Scholarship Program. I did some editing in my hotel room, then hit the sack.
Today, I made the drive back home and late this afternoon I took in my first lacrosse game/match, cheering on our local high school in their inaugural season. Now it's home for dinner, homework check, and quality time with the husband, followed by writing time, then bed.
Not quite the glamorous lifestyle. But it works for me.
My time will come on Sunday. This weekend my neighbor has graciously volunteered to be my photographer for my press photo. With my daughters' help I'll try to gussy myself up and see what kind of pictures we wind up with.
If all goes well, you guys will be the first ones to see my official photo when I post it on the blog.
Until my "America's Next Top Model" moment on Sunday, it's back to the daily grind of balancing family, work, writing and everything else, which of course includes catching a Cubs baseball game on the tv. :-)
So on that note, are there any baseball fans out there? If so, what's your favorite team?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Every Woman Will Have Her Day
Hola! How's everyone's weekend going? I know, it could be too early to tell for some.
For me, it's another hectic one, filled with kids' activities and committments.
Sayonara GH giddiness. I am headed out the door in a few minutes and will spend the rest of the day running from hair appointments to choir shoe shopping to senior portrait taking to church. I'm tired already.
Later this evening, it's time to sit down with my latest manuscript and get to work. Can't let that GH buzz die down. Now's the perfect time to keep plugging away, using the GH final as motivating fuel.
So, no GH excitement for the weekend, though next week I'll be trying to come up with a press photo to send. Hmm, not looking forward to scanning a bunch of bad pictures of myself, hoping to find a decent one to send. :-/
On a fun note, I did want to mention one thing. If you're in the mood for a good movie at the theater, I'd recommend Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/
http://www.filminfocus.com/focus-movies/miss-pettigrew/movie-splash.php
My daughters and I saw it on Monday (our last day of spring break). It's moving, funny, whimsical and more. A nice treat for a cold winter day. Another keeper if you ask me.
And, did you notice the subtitle: Every Woman Will Have Her Day
Little did I know that mine would come the next day (calls went out Tuesday). Hopefully, it'll come again on August 2nd when they announce the winners. Or sooner, when an editor calls wanting to buy my manuscript!!!
Reading that subtitle is a reminder for me, and hopefully for you, too.
Keep striving, keep working towards your goal, keep being the best person you can be. Good will come your way.
Like Miss Pettigrew, Every Woman Will Have Her Day
May yours come soon!
For me, it's another hectic one, filled with kids' activities and committments.
Sayonara GH giddiness. I am headed out the door in a few minutes and will spend the rest of the day running from hair appointments to choir shoe shopping to senior portrait taking to church. I'm tired already.
Later this evening, it's time to sit down with my latest manuscript and get to work. Can't let that GH buzz die down. Now's the perfect time to keep plugging away, using the GH final as motivating fuel.
So, no GH excitement for the weekend, though next week I'll be trying to come up with a press photo to send. Hmm, not looking forward to scanning a bunch of bad pictures of myself, hoping to find a decent one to send. :-/
On a fun note, I did want to mention one thing. If you're in the mood for a good movie at the theater, I'd recommend Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/
http://www.filminfocus.com/focus-movies/miss-pettigrew/movie-splash.php
My daughters and I saw it on Monday (our last day of spring break). It's moving, funny, whimsical and more. A nice treat for a cold winter day. Another keeper if you ask me.
And, did you notice the subtitle: Every Woman Will Have Her Day
Little did I know that mine would come the next day (calls went out Tuesday). Hopefully, it'll come again on August 2nd when they announce the winners. Or sooner, when an editor calls wanting to buy my manuscript!!!
Reading that subtitle is a reminder for me, and hopefully for you, too.
Keep striving, keep working towards your goal, keep being the best person you can be. Good will come your way.
Like Miss Pettigrew, Every Woman Will Have Her Day
May yours come soon!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Day Two: How I Arrived Here
Wow, what an incredible response from everyone! Day Two of my blog and it's nice to stop by and find notes from family and good friends.
Thanks to Trish, Diane, Kieran, Mary, Esri, Janet, Theresa and Lee for posting. And thanks to my hubby, Brian, for getting me started!
Esri, I'll try to figure out how to put your tip to good use (changing my blog title). Muchas gracias!
Kieran, dōmo arigatō (thank you in Japanese) for the post suggestion. Hence the title:
Day Two: How I Arrived Here
For those of you who already know this, please indulge me. I’m still giddy over how it all went down. :-)
Every year around March 25, Golden Heart calls go out around the world. Yes, the world. There are finalists from England, Canada and Australia this year! Usually, I do my best to try and forget that calls are being made. Some years I have better luck than others.
You see, as a wife, mother of three, volunteer for a radio station for the blind and other organizations, part-time Success Specialist at a local community college, and semi-clean house keeper, my life is busy and stressed. I try to focus on the things I can change. One of them not being writing contests. Once my entry is in the mail, there’s nothing else I can do about. They’ll either love it or hate it.
Stressing won’t get me a GH call. Well, it certainly hasn’t in the past.
So this year I avoided email loops, partly ‘cuz I’m busy (did I mention that already?), partly to avoid that terrible sense of impending doom I usually feel all day on GH call day. Knowing calls are being made, and no one’s trying to get in touch with me.
This past Tuesday, I actually succeeded in forgetting about it. I took one child to the doctor in the morning, then headed into work. I left work early to take another child to the allergist, hit Wal-mart for a few necessities, and arrived home around 5:30 pm. Loooong day.
When the phone rang shortly after, I frowned at the strange number on the caller id, but answered anyway. Nosy person that I am, I’m not good at screening calls. I wanna know who it is. Before the machine picks up.
My initial reaction to Maggie Landry’s announcement that I was a finalist? “Um, you’re not kidding me, are you?” Not the most eloquent of reactions.
She’d been trying to reach me all day, but hadn’t wanted to leave a message. (Not to self, list cell phone number on future contest entries or submissions to editors.)
My older two daughters came running when they heard my yelp of surprise. Then it was a rush of getting info from Maggie while trying to calm the shaking that started from deep inside and wouldn’t stop. Next thing I’m hanging up and being engulfed in hugs from my girls as I cried tears of relief and disbelief. (maybe I can write a good book after all—boy, self-doubt is a killer!!).
We ate dinner quickly and headed out to Chevy’s Mexican Restaurant with one of my girlfriends for a celebratory drink (dessert for my underage daughters). If you haven’t tried Chevy’s strawberry and watermelon margarita, may I recommend it to you? :-)
Of course, I still had the dinner dishes to wash, and laundry to fold, and homework to check. But, my step was a little bit lighter along the way.
That’s pretty much how I arrived at being a GH finalist, or how I found out about being a finalist anyway. There was definitely a lot of writing and sweat put into my manuscript before I sent that puppy in. But that’s another story.
For now, I’d like to say thanks for joining me on my journey. The next three months will be packed with conference preparations, striving to finish my latest manuscript and trying to keep on top of my regular schedule. I’d love for you to chime in when you wanna comment on any post.
Enough about me, though… have you had any good news lately? I’d love to hear about it.
Or, maybe you’d just like to let us know: How You Arrived Here.
Thanks to Trish, Diane, Kieran, Mary, Esri, Janet, Theresa and Lee for posting. And thanks to my hubby, Brian, for getting me started!
Esri, I'll try to figure out how to put your tip to good use (changing my blog title). Muchas gracias!
Kieran, dōmo arigatō (thank you in Japanese) for the post suggestion. Hence the title:
Day Two: How I Arrived Here
For those of you who already know this, please indulge me. I’m still giddy over how it all went down. :-)
Every year around March 25, Golden Heart calls go out around the world. Yes, the world. There are finalists from England, Canada and Australia this year! Usually, I do my best to try and forget that calls are being made. Some years I have better luck than others.
You see, as a wife, mother of three, volunteer for a radio station for the blind and other organizations, part-time Success Specialist at a local community college, and semi-clean house keeper, my life is busy and stressed. I try to focus on the things I can change. One of them not being writing contests. Once my entry is in the mail, there’s nothing else I can do about. They’ll either love it or hate it.
Stressing won’t get me a GH call. Well, it certainly hasn’t in the past.
So this year I avoided email loops, partly ‘cuz I’m busy (did I mention that already?), partly to avoid that terrible sense of impending doom I usually feel all day on GH call day. Knowing calls are being made, and no one’s trying to get in touch with me.
This past Tuesday, I actually succeeded in forgetting about it. I took one child to the doctor in the morning, then headed into work. I left work early to take another child to the allergist, hit Wal-mart for a few necessities, and arrived home around 5:30 pm. Loooong day.
When the phone rang shortly after, I frowned at the strange number on the caller id, but answered anyway. Nosy person that I am, I’m not good at screening calls. I wanna know who it is. Before the machine picks up.
My initial reaction to Maggie Landry’s announcement that I was a finalist? “Um, you’re not kidding me, are you?” Not the most eloquent of reactions.
She’d been trying to reach me all day, but hadn’t wanted to leave a message. (Not to self, list cell phone number on future contest entries or submissions to editors.)
My older two daughters came running when they heard my yelp of surprise. Then it was a rush of getting info from Maggie while trying to calm the shaking that started from deep inside and wouldn’t stop. Next thing I’m hanging up and being engulfed in hugs from my girls as I cried tears of relief and disbelief. (maybe I can write a good book after all—boy, self-doubt is a killer!!).
We ate dinner quickly and headed out to Chevy’s Mexican Restaurant with one of my girlfriends for a celebratory drink (dessert for my underage daughters
Of course, I still had the dinner dishes to wash, and laundry to fold, and homework to check. But, my step was a little bit lighter along the way.
That’s pretty much how I arrived at being a GH finalist, or how I found out about being a finalist anyway. There was definitely a lot of writing and sweat put into my manuscript before I sent that puppy in. But that’s another story.
For now, I’d like to say thanks for joining me on my journey. The next three months will be packed with conference preparations, striving to finish my latest manuscript and trying to keep on top of my regular schedule. I’d love for you to chime in when you wanna comment on any post.
Enough about me, though… have you had any good news lately? I’d love to hear about it.
Or, maybe you’d just like to let us know: How You Arrived Here.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Come join the fun!
Well, this is my first official blog posting. It's taken me two days to work up the nerve to give it a shot. But I owe a thank you to my husband Brian for getting the ball rolling for me. (thanks, hon)
Here's a shout out to my Wet Noodle Posse sister at www.wetnoodleposse.com
If you're interested in learning to the ins and outs of writing a novel, head to our blog. All of the Posse members are sharing their knowledge.
Why, do you ask, have I started this blog?
First of all, as a means of spreading the word that I have been chosen as a Golden Heart finalist in the 2008 Romance Writers of America (www.rwanational.org) annual contest. It is a true honor to be selected. And I am freakin' thrilled!!!!!
Check out my name on the RWA website at : http://www.rwanational.org/cs/2008_golden_heart_finalists
Secondly, a writer writes, and longs for her words to connect with others. What better way to connect than via the internet. So, here I am. :-)
I'll be here as often as I can, sharing what's going in on my writing life, maybe a bit of what's happening in my family life. Hoping to meet some interesting folks who will be as excited as I am when I finally sell my first manuscript and it finds its way to a book store near you. :-)
Come join my crazy world. I hope to see you back here again soon.
Pris
Here's a shout out to my Wet Noodle Posse sister at www.wetnoodleposse.com
If you're interested in learning to the ins and outs of writing a novel, head to our blog. All of the Posse members are sharing their knowledge.
Why, do you ask, have I started this blog?
First of all, as a means of spreading the word that I have been chosen as a Golden Heart finalist in the 2008 Romance Writers of America (www.rwanational.org) annual contest. It is a true honor to be selected. And I am freakin' thrilled!!!!!
Check out my name on the RWA website at : http://www.rwanational.org/cs/2008_golden_heart_finalists
Secondly, a writer writes, and longs for her words to connect with others. What better way to connect than via the internet. So, here I am. :-)
I'll be here as often as I can, sharing what's going in on my writing life, maybe a bit of what's happening in my family life. Hoping to meet some interesting folks who will be as excited as I am when I finally sell my first manuscript and it finds its way to a book store near you. :-)
Come join my crazy world. I hope to see you back here again soon.
Pris
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