Brain plasticity and how it affects us
I have written and spoken about the tremendous potential for changing one’s life in a positive way through brain plasticity. All of us have and use brain plasticity to some degree. It’s a natural part of life. We rewire our brains every time we learn a new skill, make a new friend, take a new job, or do anything at all that requires new ways of thinking and doing.Brain plasticity is what ...
The Demonator Returns
It happens about twice a year. And when it does, Katie bar the door. SNOW. Just watch how loudly you utter that devilish word here in Oklahoma. I've heard many a Sooner decry it as a four letter word. Okay, it does have four letters, but you get the point. I don't share the agony many down here experience when it snows. I chalk it up to the fact that grew up in Indiana. Snow country. As kids, ...
The woman who lives in my brain
Someone once asked me why I refer to my muse as a person, as in "My muse informed me she did not wish to work today, and that I could just tough it out without her," or "In order to make my muse happy, I am feeding her daily dollops of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. She has such a crush on him..."The answer is simple--I think of my muse as a prima donna, an ...
The Future of Publishing
Here's a brilliant article my friend Gord sent me that, I think, presents an interesting view of what's going to happen with publishing in the next 3-5 years. Some portions of this lengthy piece are sobering and depressing but, personally, I eagerly look forward to the demise of corporate publishing, which has done more damage to high quality literature than TV, video games and the internet ...
NEAREST BOOK MEME
'At the same time she knew that the freedom now permitted made it easy for a man to turn a girl's head, and knew how lightly men regarded an offense of that kind.'Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina -- Oxford University Pressvia Evie Shockley It goes like this: Grab the book nearest you. Right now.Turn to page 45.Find the fifth sentence.Post that sentence (with attribution) along with these ...
At Knife Point
Just fed all of the five stray cats that come for breakfast this morning, the deer were running through our back yard down to the lake behind the house. Something spooked them and off they went, guess I'll work on my book today. I want to get this chapter finished I was stuck on it yesterday so will see how the day goes.I'm still stuck on this chapter, The Night Ripper is headed up ...
Famous For Fiction Tip 1 of 10
1. A Book is Judged by its Cover! Begin with a stunning and compelling cover. Search high and low for a cover that draws your reader to it. Photos of faces and/or people have natural drawing power. Check out the cover of my book. No, I don't know who the model is. But the fact that she is upside down and in some obvious peril tells a little about the story without even flipping it over to read ...
The Great Commission
Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, he commissioned us to do a great work. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" And this is where most people stop reading. But the Lord goes on to say,"Teaching them to ...
Said Before...
Quotes worth sharing:Chase after truth like hell and you'll free yourself, even though you never touch its coat-tails.-- Clarence DarrowIt is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all. If you are merely a skeptic, you must sooner or later ask yourself the ...
Marriage Disavowal
In the weddings pages of The New York Times Sunday Styles section, the following detail is sometimes included, along with parentage, bloodlines, colleges, occupations, the way they met, nicknames and such: “The bride will continue to use her maiden name for professional purposes.” I often wonder why.I kept my maiden name, but my husband and I have pretended that we are not married. Not for ...
