Over the past few weeks, I've received three rejections. Two said my book 'wasn't for them', but, as usual, wished me luck in finding an agent who felt differently. And the third said that it sounded too 'fantasy' for her.
*Sigh*
I know I must persevere. Pretty much all succesful authors have found themselves in my shoes. I've read that bestselling novelist Jodi Picoult was rejected some 100 times! And JK Rowling received 12 apparently. Stephen King received dozens. So far, I've had about 10 (for Raven).
In this business, you need to have a certain amount of thick skin but above all you must believe in yourself... and I do, of course. Otherwise I wouldn't write at all. But it can be disheartening, especially if you're feeling a bit down (hormonal, more like!!). I'm sure in a few days I'll feel better.
Are you still waiting for that elusive agent that falls in love with your book? How are you feeling? Have you had many rejections? I'd love to hear from you.
Dreaming of North America
25.11.10
New York. Don't you just love it?
I feel all warm and fuzzy inside after looking through a load of photos my husband and I took whilst there a couple of years ago. It was our first ever visit and I got such a buzz just being there. That city has got such an amazing feeling to it and I'd love to return.
In fact I was recently invited to a 40th birthday bash over there by a friend who went to the same school as me. The party just happens to be while I'm holidaying in Canada though, so I can't make it. Shame... it would have been an awful lot of fun!
Canada, however, is another passion of mine. Even though I've only been once, I am totally and utterly in love with the country. I am so excited about my next visit, I can barely talk about it! It's gonna be very cold, but that's something else my husband and I are looking forward to experiencing. We've already bought new warm coats, boots, gloves etc so we hope we're well prepared.
On our last visit, we took in Banff, Jasper, Whistler, Victoria, Vancouver (and a few smaller places in between) and it was just AMAZING. So beautiful. This time though, we're headed not quite so far over. Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Mont Tremblant and again, a few smaller places in between. We might pop across to Quebec city but it depends on the distance and how bad the weather is, I suppose.
In the meantime, I just have my photos from Canada, New York and Las Vegas to tide me over. Ahhhh... North America, how I miss you.
The girl and the dove
23.11.10
I've just read the sweetest story about a young girl in England who was walking home from school when she was befriended by a white dove.
Apparently, the bird watched her from afar and then flew in and sat on her shoulder and wouldn't leave her alone!
It has now become a permanent pet at home... it's very cute. Check it out here...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1331967/Lovey-dovey-The-bird-bonded-teenage-girl-following-home-school.html
Last night I dreamt about pets... the most adorable tiny puppies and kittens were hidden all over our garden. I wonder what that means? They were so cute though, I didn't want to wake up!
Apparently, the bird watched her from afar and then flew in and sat on her shoulder and wouldn't leave her alone!
It has now become a permanent pet at home... it's very cute. Check it out here...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1331967/Lovey-dovey-The-bird-bonded-teenage-girl-following-home-school.html
Last night I dreamt about pets... the most adorable tiny puppies and kittens were hidden all over our garden. I wonder what that means? They were so cute though, I didn't want to wake up!
Curious...
19.11.10
I just received this email from a friend, listing a number of unusual facts, so I thought I'd share it with my lovely followers and visitors...
'Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand.
And "lollipop" is the longest word typed with your right hand.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
Our eyes always the same size from birth. But our nose and ears never stop growing.
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
The words 'racecar,''kayak', and 'level'are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious.
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.(I know some people like that also)
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
There are more chickens than people in the world.
'Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand.
And "lollipop" is the longest word typed with your right hand.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
Our eyes always the same size from birth. But our nose and ears never stop growing.
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
The words 'racecar,''kayak', and 'level'are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious.
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.(I know some people like that also)
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
There are more chickens than people in the world.
Celebalike?? Really??
17.11.10
I'm having a bit of a giggle at the moment...
I just downloaded the free iphone app, Celebalike, after reading about it online somwhere (was it Glamour Magazine or a similar site?).
Basically you either take a photo or you upload one of yourself, choose your gender and then the app scans through lots of picture of celebrities and comes up with the one most like you.
However... it doesn't seem to work too well. I started off with this photo...
...and it came up with Sharon Stone!
Then, I tried this one...
...and it came up with Anna Kendrick!
This one...
...says I look like Mischa Barton!! Come on... it can't get much further from what I look like!
OK, one more...
ERRRRRR..... Megan Fox?????? I WISH!!!
Oh dear... I don't think this is a particularly genuine lookalike app, is it? Clearly NOT!!
I just downloaded the free iphone app, Celebalike, after reading about it online somwhere (was it Glamour Magazine or a similar site?).
Basically you either take a photo or you upload one of yourself, choose your gender and then the app scans through lots of picture of celebrities and comes up with the one most like you.
However... it doesn't seem to work too well. I started off with this photo...
...and it came up with Sharon Stone!
Then, I tried this one...
...and it came up with Anna Kendrick!
This one...
...says I look like Mischa Barton!! Come on... it can't get much further from what I look like!
OK, one more...
ERRRRRR..... Megan Fox?????? I WISH!!!
Oh dear... I don't think this is a particularly genuine lookalike app, is it? Clearly NOT!!
Tell me about your Thanksgiving
16.11.10
Having grown up in Europe, I have little knowledge of Thanksgiving... other than what I have seen in American movies, of course.
Last year, some friends, my husband and I happened to be in Canada during their Thanksgiving celebration. We had no clue at the time. We just happened to be in the supermarket one day when it was mentioned by a passer by. "Thanksgiving", we said to each other. "When is it Thanksgiving?" Our answer was given by a guy behind the deli counter. Imagine our surprise when he told us it was just a couple of days away. He was a bit busy to stand and answer too many more of our questions, so we left along with our dinner... and a few bags of fresh cranberries!
Having enjoyed the remainder of our holiday, we were still none the wiser about the Thanksgiving holiday, other than the fact that it took place in October in Canada and November in the US.
Can you enlighten me? Why is it on different dates? Are you celebrating different things? I'd love to hear what you get up to during this holiday! It always looks so lovely on TV!!
I apologise for my ignorance, I must brush up on my knowledge of such things if I am to move to Canada in the future.
Last year, some friends, my husband and I happened to be in Canada during their Thanksgiving celebration. We had no clue at the time. We just happened to be in the supermarket one day when it was mentioned by a passer by. "Thanksgiving", we said to each other. "When is it Thanksgiving?" Our answer was given by a guy behind the deli counter. Imagine our surprise when he told us it was just a couple of days away. He was a bit busy to stand and answer too many more of our questions, so we left along with our dinner... and a few bags of fresh cranberries!
Having enjoyed the remainder of our holiday, we were still none the wiser about the Thanksgiving holiday, other than the fact that it took place in October in Canada and November in the US.
Can you enlighten me? Why is it on different dates? Are you celebrating different things? I'd love to hear what you get up to during this holiday! It always looks so lovely on TV!!
I apologise for my ignorance, I must brush up on my knowledge of such things if I am to move to Canada in the future.
A poorly girl
15.11.10
I feel very guilty.... it's been nearly two whole weeks with me barely being able to touch my laptop. The reason? I've been a poorly girl. Sob sob.
It all started a week ago when my stomach started feeling decidedly dodgy... several hours in the bathroom later, I felt a little better.
Then the following evening.... BOOM. I literally had to sleep on the floor of my bathroom, vomiting and, well... I don't need to give any more details! I felt like I was going to die. The next day I had never felt aches and pains like it. And it wasn't until that evening that we realised I had a fever. Once we had managed to cool myself down a little, I started feeling a little better. Since then, there's been lots of aches and pains and I've felt incredibly weak. Now though... I am almost back to my normal self. Hurray!
I've no idea where I picked up such a nasty bug but I have heard of a few other people suffering the same symptoms. I feel for anyone that has to go through that hell. Me? I am finally strong enough to pick up my computer and check in with all my online pals. So hello!! It's good to be back, I can tell you!
It all started a week ago when my stomach started feeling decidedly dodgy... several hours in the bathroom later, I felt a little better.
Then the following evening.... BOOM. I literally had to sleep on the floor of my bathroom, vomiting and, well... I don't need to give any more details! I felt like I was going to die. The next day I had never felt aches and pains like it. And it wasn't until that evening that we realised I had a fever. Once we had managed to cool myself down a little, I started feeling a little better. Since then, there's been lots of aches and pains and I've felt incredibly weak. Now though... I am almost back to my normal self. Hurray!
I've no idea where I picked up such a nasty bug but I have heard of a few other people suffering the same symptoms. I feel for anyone that has to go through that hell. Me? I am finally strong enough to pick up my computer and check in with all my online pals. So hello!! It's good to be back, I can tell you!
The Apprentice: cringeworthy television
3.11.10
As I write, my husband sits downstairs in the lounge watching TV. It's the same every Wednesday night at the moment. At 9pm sharp, I grab my laptop and head upstairs to type from the comfort of my lovely comfy bed. The reason why I unceremoniously leave him behind to his TV?
The Apprentice (British version).
I simply can't stand watching it. It literally makes me cringe. I think the contestants (do we call them that?) come across as mind bogglingly immature and stupid. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure they're all very intelligent away from the bright lights, but as soon as the cameras roll, all common sense seems to ditch them.
I can't bear to watch them do that to themselves. And the bitching that goes on between them? Huh? What IS that all about? It's like kindergarten all over again. If I have to watch it, then the best part of the show is when Sir Allan announces "you're fired"... not because it's good TV but because I know it's almost over.
The Apprentice just makes me shudder. What effect does it have on you?
(Don't forget to check out my wordpress blog.... http://suzyturner.wordpress.com/)
The Apprentice (British version).
I simply can't stand watching it. It literally makes me cringe. I think the contestants (do we call them that?) come across as mind bogglingly immature and stupid. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm sure they're all very intelligent away from the bright lights, but as soon as the cameras roll, all common sense seems to ditch them.
I can't bear to watch them do that to themselves. And the bitching that goes on between them? Huh? What IS that all about? It's like kindergarten all over again. If I have to watch it, then the best part of the show is when Sir Allan announces "you're fired"... not because it's good TV but because I know it's almost over.
The Apprentice just makes me shudder. What effect does it have on you?
(Don't forget to check out my wordpress blog.... http://suzyturner.wordpress.com/)
Shed a tear
2.11.10
Shed a tear
Hold those thoughts
She's gone
22 years and still the memory as avid as ever
Shed a tear
Remember her smile
And hugs like warm milk and honey
Shed a tear
Hold out your hand
A mother's touch
Remembered forever
Hold those thoughts
She's gone
22 years and still the memory as avid as ever
Shed a tear
Remember her smile
And hugs like warm milk and honey
Shed a tear
Hold out your hand
A mother's touch
Remembered forever
A special day to remember
1.11.10
Today is a very special day in the Portuguese calender. 1st November is Dia todos os santos, all saints day. It's the one day of the year for us to remember all those saints and martyres but particularly to remember the loved ones we have lost over the years.
Many of the cemeteries throughout the country are the focus of many folks' attention... visitors wanting to spend some time with the 'spirits' and memories of family members and friends who have passed away.
I have lost so many close loved ones in my life time... many of whom were cremated, their ashes scattered in places close to their hearts - the ocean, at the roots of special trees and so on. It is for this reason that I have no need to visit the cemeteries... I just remember my beloved family members and friends wherever I am in the world. The memory of them all will stay with me forever, regardless of where I am, and wherever they are.
Mum, Grandad, Lillian, Bill, Carol, Fred, Pippa, Malcolm, Emi, Matthew, Yoda, Megan... I will never forget you xx
Many of the cemeteries throughout the country are the focus of many folks' attention... visitors wanting to spend some time with the 'spirits' and memories of family members and friends who have passed away.
I have lost so many close loved ones in my life time... many of whom were cremated, their ashes scattered in places close to their hearts - the ocean, at the roots of special trees and so on. It is for this reason that I have no need to visit the cemeteries... I just remember my beloved family members and friends wherever I am in the world. The memory of them all will stay with me forever, regardless of where I am, and wherever they are.
Mum, Grandad, Lillian, Bill, Carol, Fred, Pippa, Malcolm, Emi, Matthew, Yoda, Megan... I will never forget you xx
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