April 3, 2023 · 7:00 am

Books

Welcome to day 2 of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Today is the letter B and it is all about Books.

To say that I read a lot is a bit of an understatement. I read a LOT. I consume books like they are the next best thing to chocolate. Wait…I think they are the next best thing to chocolate. Last year I read 99 books. One short of my annual goal of 100 books. I thought I had hit 100, but after reviewing the titles it was only 99. Well, crap. That’s the way the pages fall (yes, I said that). (If you are interested in my 2022 reading list I will be writing about it this month with the letter R for Reading.)

My favorite books usually have witchcraft, fairies, or magic, and I love a book series of at least 3 books, but no more than 12. If they are a long series (Wicked Witches of the Midwest is a good example) they better be short(ish) and fun. Speaking of the Wicked Witches of the Midwest…have your read them? What a great series. It hit my funny bone just right and I’ll tell ya, Aunt Tilly is a hoot.

Do I have an all time favorite book? Sorry to disappoint you, but there are just too many great books (and some stinkers too) out there to be able to pin just one down. I can only say that, right at the moment, I’m reading Threadneedle by Cari Thomas.

What about writing a book? I have written several books – to an extent. One of the books actually had “The End” written on it. It needs a lot of work. Like having about 35,000 words added, at least 6 edits, and then a hope and a prayer it might find a publisher. Will they get finished? Who knows. To those of you who have finished writing your book. I bow to your very existence. To write a book is a labor that can only be understood by the truly dedicated writer. I am in awe of the passion you have for the craft of writing.

There are three books out there that I did have the privilege to oversee through to publication. I felt strongly that the writing organization I volunteer for (Pikes Peak Writers) desperately needed to publish an anthology. They just needed someone to spearhead the project. Yes, you guessed it, I raised my hand. Five years later there are now three fantastic anthologies added to the world of books.

Now it’s your turn.
Have you written a book?
Are you reading a book?
Do you edit books?
Please leave a comment about how you and books live together. Do you have links you want to share? I’m always open to reading suggestions.

Come back on Tuesday and we’ll venture into the letter C for Cactus.

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April 1, 2023 · 7:00 am

Arbitrary

ar·bi·trar·y

Arbitrary – adjective – defined as:

  1. based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.”his mealtimes were entirely arbitrary”Similar:capriciouswhimsicalrandomchanceerraticunpredictableinconsistentwildhit-or-misshaphazardcasualunmotivatedmotivelessunreasonedunreasonableunsupportedirrationalillogicalgroundlessunjustifiableunjustifiedwantondiscretionarypersonalsubjectivediscretionalOpposite:rationalreasoned
  2. (of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority.”arbitrary rule by King and bishops has been made impossible”Similar:despotictyrannicaltyrannousperemptorysummaryautocraticdictatorialauthoritariandraconianautarchicantidemocraticoppressiverepressiveundemocraticilliberalimperiousdomineeringhigh-handedabsoluteuncontrolledunlimitedunrestrainedOpposite:democraticaccountable
  3. Mathematics-(of a constant or other quantity) of unspecified value.
  4. ART
© KJ Scrimgeour

Today is the first day of A to Z Blogging Challenge. For the letter A I have chosen the word Arbitrary (happens to be the month’s theme as well). Tomorrow…the letter B. I think we need some bubbles or baubles, maybe some blunders or bungles. I’ll let your know tomorrow.

Until then, I hope your day is filled with wonderful arbitrary happenings.

HAPPY ARBITRARY DAY!

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March 31, 2023 · 7:00 am

A to Z Blogging Challenge

It has been a few years since I joined in on this challenge and I’m looking forward to entertaining you with a month of Arbitrary things. We’re going to have fun!

So…what’s the deal with this A to Z thing you might ask? Well, it is an opportunity for a bunch of bloggers to gather through the month of April and are each challenged to publish one post per day through the month of April (skipping Sundays). In some way, each post is to be relevant to the letter of the day; April 1 = A, April 2 = B, April 3 = C, and so on all the way to the last day of April which = Z. A to Z.

Are you ready?? Enjoy the posts that will come to you in April. Like I said, my theme is Arbitrary, meaning I could post just about anything: a short story, hiking adventures, some tips for your garden, and so forth. We recently moved to Tucson so I have tons to share about life in the Sonoran desert.

Stay tuned. The fun starts on Saturday!

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November 1, 2022 · 2:22 pm

Cancer Free for Seven Years

Last week I went in for my annual mammogram and much to my delight it came back free and clear. After going through breast cancer treatment, I get in for my annual test and I do monthly breast checks as well without fail. After plowing through cancer treatment I never want to do it again. EVER! So what, you may ask, is going on now? It has been a number of years since I posted a cancer update for you all so it’s about time I caught up with you and tell you what I’m experiencing now. Some unexpected things happened during cancer treatment, and a few things are still going on that I personally would have thought would be long past.

Hair loss. Unless you are a recluse, most people know that hair loss is a normal side effect of cancer treatment. There are different degrees of hair loss, but a majority of people do go completely bald. As in no hair anywhere. Think of all those places – head, arms, arm pits, legs, ears, sinuses, and feet. Oh, and let’s not forget all those places between the navel and the knees. What I didn’t realize is that sometimes all that hair doesn’t come back.

Seven years later I still don’t have to shave my legs, although I have been forced to shave my armpits about once every two months. I save a lot on shaving supplies (ha-ha). The only part of all this, that I am actually bummed about, is that not all the hair on my head came back and I lost half an eyebrow. Mind you, the hair on my head is fewer strands rather than patchy bald spots. The patchiness does happen to some people and my heart goes out to anyone who has patches.

Chemo-brain. My doctor said this would go away pretty quickly post-treatment, but mine took quite awhile. I am happy to say that I’m back to my normal crazy self, so there’s that. It did take about five years though.

Breast pain. This one is still chasing me and may never be completely gone. What does it feel like? At times it is a discomfort as if the tissue in my breast has been over stretched. Other times I will get a shooting pain from the lumpectomy site across my breast and up my nipple. All in all these pains are not horrible, but just enough to be uncomfortable. I am told that these strange pains will probably be with me forever. Personally, I hope they will be gone once I pass on to the next phase after death. If not, I’ll be back to haunt my doctor.

The anxiety that cancer will return is always there. Most of the time it sits quietly in the furthest places of my mind, but every time I do a self exam, or have an upcoming appointment, I get little panic attacks. These are not the full blown, debilitating attacks that some people face, but more of a moment of fear. It is just enough to make my heart bump a little harder, and my emotions to regress back to when I was diagnosed.

All in all my health is good. Even though I never had any life changing epiphanies (I think that’s more myth anyway), I am thankful to wake up every day. I am grateful to be able to hike and enjoy nature. Most of all I am thankful to all of the doctors and nurses who were there for me (and still are) especially to those who held my hand whenever I needed strength to get through treatments.

Going through treatment for any kind of cancer just plain sucks, and for anyone who is in the midst of it, all I can say is, HANG IN THERE!! You can do it. Put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. When you reach the other side you’ll be thankful that the pain and agony are behind you. Lean on your loved ones. They want to help and support you. If you don’t have anyone to help support you, then join a cancer recovery group. You can find information about these types of groups online (Google is good for this). The American Cancer Society or the National Cancer Institute are both good resources.

Make a difference by donating to your charity of choice. Support the fight against Breast Cancer!

breast-cancer-ribbon

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November 1, 2022 · 1:06 pm

NaNoWriMo – Why I Stopped

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is here once again. To be in awe of those who manage the requisite 50,000 words in a month is an understatement. It has been a couple of years since I made a brave attempt at this, and this year will fall by the wayside as well. This writing challenge is taken up by thousands of writers who do crank out fifty thousand words (plus some) during the month of November.

After the last attempt I declared myself NaNo Dropout and I am okay with that.

If my memory banks are correct, I started NaNo about three or four times and each time I got about twenty thousand words in then bagged it. Why would I quite when I was nearly half-way done?

Stress.

My personality and stressful situations do not blend well. To spend an entire month at the keyboard, like a deer in headlights, is just more than I want to do. I did attempt the variations on the NaNo theme (Camp NaNo, Rebel NaNo, and others that you can look up) which were fantastic ways to set a goal that fit me.

Alas, I didn’t finish those either.

So, you may wonder why I even care about NaNoWriMo. You might even think I don’t like NaNoWriMo. But I do! Following those who participate and cheering them on is my favorite part of NaNoWriMo. Their ability to sit at their writing desks (chairs, cafes, parks, etc) leaves me in awe. For a person to produce that many words in such a short time is like watching an eight year old do El Capitan (yes, an eight year old just did it – read about it here).

It takes my breath away.

If you are participating this year please leave your NaNo handle in a comment so I can follow along and cheer you on. For those writers who are sitting it out or are done all together fear not, you are in good company.

Rock and roll all you NaNoWriMo crazies!! Now, get back to writing!!

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July 12, 2022 · 3:42 pm

Plot Generator

I have done this before and I will continue to do it because it is so darn funny.

I have been in a writing slump for almost a year now. I feel I have a good reason because of moving twice (one interstate and one local), plus I did help Pikes Peak Writers publish a book (check it out here).

Now that we have settled in our permanent home, I have realized I have basically not written much through all of it. Besides, I’ve also tried hitting the keyboard with little success. Now, you may ask, “How do you get over your slump?” Good question. I’ve been asking myself that for days now.

I have browsed through my usual haunts (social media, solitaire, news feeds), and find them to be less than inspiring. Today, I came across a site I haven’t visited for awhile, The Masterpiece Generator. It isn’t the most ideal place to find writing inspiration, but it certainly gave me a giggle. It’s a little like Mad Libs, but no one sees the results until you’re done. There are a few ways this can trip you up, but hey, it’s free and fun.

As you read this lovely masterpiece, keep in mind that this is somewhat unedited (I had to fix a couple of things because my OCD could not handle the grammar). So, I filled in the blanks and the program spit this out. Please don’t judge me…I really only provided a few of the words and the program slapped the rest out like a damp egg. (If you care to, here is the previous wonderous short story that Masterpiece Generator spit out.) Here are the results brought to you by, The Masterpiece Generator, The Short Story:

Two Optimistic Uncles Hiking to the Beat

A Short Story
by KJ Scrim (but more like…I only plugged in arbitrary words)

Karen Smitts looked at the heavy shoe in her hands and felt sad.

She walked over to the window and reflected on her dusty surroundings. She had always hated hot Catalina with its cooing, curly cactus. It was a place that encouraged her tendency to feel sad.

Then she saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the figure of Michelle Victor. Michelle was a perky witch with an athletic nose and rotund toes.

Karen gulped. She glanced at her own reflection. She was a brute, quiet, tea drinker with a slender nose and dirty blond toes. Her friends saw her as a silly, corned toad. Once, she had even rescued a damp egg from a burning building.

But not even a brute person who had once rescued a damp egg from a burning building, was prepared for what Michelle had in store today.

The dust storm teased like coiling scorpions, making Karen lonely.

As Karen stepped outside and Michelle came closer, she could see the pretty smile on her face.

“Look Karen,” growled Michelle, with a lying glare that reminded Karen of perky cougars. “I hate you and I want money. You owe me 2,796 dollars.”

Karen looked back, even more lonely and still fingering the heavy shoe. “Michelle, I know what you did,” she replied.

They looked at each other with frustrated feelings, like two frantic, famous frogs laughing at a very pessimist birthday, which had new age music playing in the background and two optimistic uncles hiking to the beat.

Karen regarded Michelle’s athletic nose and rotund toes. “I don’t have the funds …” she lied.

Michelle glared. “Do you want me to shove that heavy shoe where the sun don’t shine?”

Karen promptly remembered her brute and quiet values. “Actually, I do have the funds,” she admitted. She reached into her pockets. “Here’s what I owe you.”

Michelle looked bored, her wallet blushing like a breezy, brief ball.

Then Michelle came inside for a nice cup of tea.

THE END – OR IS IT?

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April 11, 2022 · 2:07 pm

DREAM Just Published!

Dream, Pikes Peak Writers second anthology, has hit the shelves. I am so proud of this issue for so many reasons. First, a little pat on my own back because, as Project Manager, I had the honor of designing the interior of the book. It was a first for me and an uphill battle all the way. Affinity Publisher* is a complex program to learn yet, once I got the hang of it it seemed almost easy.

The stories in this edition are amazing. The talent that came to us for this second edition was beyond compare. The authors hale from across the globe giving the stories and poems a flare from worldwide imaginations. Do I have a favorite story? It would be too hard to try and choose a favorite. So, I’ll say that they are all fantastic.

Graphic designer, Joshua Clark did a fantastic job of creating a cover that speaks to the entire book. Because the stories are eclectic, the cover had to encompass a wide rainbow of subjects. He captured this book perfectly. don’t you agree?

The editors, Edward Raetz and Deborah Brewer, plowed through over 150 submissions to widdle it down to the final 27. They worked with each author making their stories shine. I am so happy they are staying on for anthology #3. More information on that soon.

Cover of Dream; Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers.

About Dream

            Your climate control is broken, the engine is overheating again, and the traffic has come to a dead stop amidst a swarm of horns. To top it off you’re late for work. In a heartbeat, you find yourself in another place, another time. Just for a moment, your mind takes a break. Your subconscious decides to get out of the traffic and set sail along a coast of white sandy beaches and palm trees. Later that night, you wake with a jolt but don’t remember what startled you. Your thoughts are racing as sweat beads on your forehead. What was it? Is someone there? Are you afraid to go back to sleep?
           Whether you are awake or asleep, dreams take your mind and open it to a kaleidoscope of dreamscapes you never knew could exist. In a blink, the dream can transform from a bloody war to a little boy escaping his troubled childhood with his action figures.
          In this second anthology from the Pikes Peak Writers, you will take a journey through the creative minds of the twenty-seven writers who penned the following works based on a simple one-word prompt – Dream. Let yourself experience worlds in a spirit-filled house, on a pirate ship, or teeter on the precipice of Hell. Then, with the turn of a page, walk through the beauty of far-off lands, watch purple ducks on a yellow pond, or run with terror through a town filled with monsters. Enjoy this stroll down a crooked path that could hold your worst nightmare or your most beloved wish. Be careful what you wish for, a genie may be lurking in the labyrinth of your mind waiting to be set free.

~Kathie Scrimgeour

PRAISE FOR DREAM
“Story after story this anthology keeps the pages turning. What will the next chapter hold? Will it be a cozy mystery, perhaps a ghost story, or something unexpected? No worries, there is something for every reader in this collection. Well done!”

*A note on Affinity Publisher…it is an excellent program for print publishing, but be aware that it does not produce any output for electronic publishing such as for Kindle or Apple books.

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December 16, 2021 · 11:20 am

A Great Year!

Another year has almost come to a close, thank goodness. I usually have a positive outlook on life but the past couple of years have made it more difficult. 2021 has proven to be much better than ’20 though! With that in mind, I am going to close 2021 out with a listing of the positive things that happened through the year. These are not in chronological order, but in the order that they pop into my head.

Here goes…
  • Comet Leonard will pass by earth for the first time in 80,000 years. You will be able to see this distant comet in the low western sky at sunset this weekend (December 18-21, 2021) . It is just a little bit of fuzz, but the astronomer who discovered it just found it early in January of this year. Way to go Mr. Leonard!
  • I moved! After 21 years in our house in Colorado, my husband and I sold our house and headed to the Arizona desert. So far? We love it. I won’t miss the cold and snow. The heat in the summer here? It is HOT!
  • My daughter got engaged. She has found an incredible guy and they will be married in 2022. Yikes! I have a wedding to help plan!!
  • I built an awesome snowman with my 23 year old son in the backyard. We both felt like kids again. I recommend snowman building to cheer up any day.
  • Since moving to Arizona we have visited Biosphere 2, Mt Lemmon Observatory, Reid Park Zoo, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens (they have an amazing brunch!), hiked many trails in Catalina State Park, and so much more!! There is so much to explore here and we plan to see and do everything.
  • We are having a house built so it is fun watching that slowly become a home.
  • I’ve picked up sketching again. I’ll post a few of my drawings when I have something I’m not too embarrassed by. haha. I’m no Rembrandt, but I can make a bird look like a bird.
You may be wondering at this point, “What about writing??”

The writing scene has been fantastic! I found Fresh Starts (Pikes Peak Writers first anthology) in our local bookstore, The Tattered Cover. Thank you for carrying it!! In about 3 months the second anthology, Dream, will come out. Myself and the editors spent the last few months furiously reading over 150 submissions that have now been trimmed to the final 27 authors. We will announce who they are right after the first of the year. We are expecting to publish sometime in March.

My personal writing has also been amazing this year. I am working on the edits for my first book, Murder in Sulpher Gulch, and I have several short stories in submission. I’m anxiously waiting for a reply. I’ll tell you, writing is not for the faint of heart. Well, the writing part isn’t so bad, but the waiting is tough. 🙂

Now that I am at the close of this post, I see that 2021 was a pretty wonderful year! With that in mind, I predict that 2022 will be be another great year for my family and I.

I hope life in your circle of family and friends shines brightly throughout 2022 as well!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

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April 29, 2021 · 5:00 am

It’s HERE!

Fresh Starts, Cover Image

After nearly three years in the making, FRESH STARTS, Tales from Pikes Peak Writers, has finally hit the shelves. What a privilege it has been working with all of the authors and editors. It has been a long road to see this come to fruition and what a journey it was!

Publishing this anthology was a first for PPW so the editorial team had to create everything from submission forms and layouts, to cover design and contracts. Life derailed a couple of editors and a couple of new faces joined us. All in all, every bump was worth it.

This is a beautiful book. The cover design intriguing. The stories amazing. I hope you dive into it, and if you do please leave a review so everyone will know how fantastic this book is.

Until then, here is a little more about FRESH STARTS…

After the fires are out, the smoke has cleared, the divorce is over, the widow has stopped wearing black, the sun has risen, the monsters are dead, the world is saved (or destroyed!), the storm has calmed, and the trouble is over…
…what do you do next?
We can’t promise only happy endings. Just that moment when you pick yourself up out of the wreckage and find the strength to begin anew.

Praise for FRESH STARTS:

“One powerhouse of an anthology! From Josh Clark’s delightful NOLAN’S BUCKET LIST: SNOW DAYS to C.E. Barnes’ hilarious SIR GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, these tales are sorely needed lights in the darkness. The mix of stories and poems is a refreshing twist on traditional anthologies. Congratulations, Pikes Peak Writers, on your first anthology. Looking forward to many more.“ ~Darby Karchut, Award Winning Author of the Del Toro Moon series.

“FRESH STARTS bursts with wonderful stories that showcase exciting new literary voices! Very highly recommended!” –Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of V-WARS and INK

Who are we?

Thirty authors from all over the United States, plus India and Germany, had their work published in this first ever anthology from Pikes Peak Writers. Their stories, poems, and essays will move your soul, make you smile, or set your thoughts reeling.

Morgen Leigh, Terry Odell, Michael Chandos, Marilyn K. Moody, Harper Barrow, Gwynne Stanker, Lily Lapin, T. R. Kerby, Bill May, Laura Mahal, CS Simpson, Bowen Gillings, Kendra Griffin, Nikia Hunt, Tushar Jain, Josh Clark, C.E. Barnes, Sarah Reilly Pancoast, Lizz Bogaard, Denise Talamantez, Tami Veldura, Katie Day, Stephanie Amedeo, Shelley Kitchura Nelson, Karen Albright Lin, David Stier, Ian Neligh, Megan E. Freeman, Jere Ellison, Debbie Maxwell Allen, Kathie Scrimgeour (Project Manager), Jamie Ferguson (Editor & Layout Design), Lou J Berger (editor), Jenny Kate (Marketing director & Editor), Josh Clark (Cover).

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April 20, 2021 · 10:47 am

Orange Tree Update

My orange tree is still alive and this year is a hopeful one. If you are just tuning in, the saga of my orange tree has been going on for three years now. In year one it grew one, lovely orange. Last crop there was hope for at least 10 oranges, but it nearly died because of spider mites. 2021 is a hopeful year for my dear orange tree.

I have raised the pot up out of the water catch tray in an attempt to ward off the mites. I am also restraining myself from overwatering. I think that was the trouble last crop…too much H2O. So far, so good.

Today, there is a mix of buds, blooms, and small berries. Because of this mix, I am hoping this crop will be more successful. My potted orange tree has been a learning experience so we’ll see how it goes.

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