Let's Deal With IT and Move ON

    Just when most of us are closing the door on the year that has finished, it seems some of us aren't quite ready to do so. The old debate of authors reviewing the books of other authors has reared it's ugly head again.

    Now as we are all perfectly aware, this all came about because of a small number of authors who thought they would manipulate reviews, by asking those on their friends and family call list to write a false review of their book.

    Naively, I could never have dreamt that this sort of thing could have gone on. But I have since discovered that although I definitely wasn't born yesterday, that I was rather gullible. That was until I joined the social networking world.

    Within a matter of days of joining the online community, I was contacted by several authors who asked that I write a review of their book. Innocently, I replied that I couldn't comply because I didn't have the time to read it. Explaining, that I wouldn't be able to give an accurate evaluation of their work. I quickly realised by some of the replies I received, that I wasn't suppose to read their novel, I was just to write a review.

    I am a reader of books and yes, if I read a book I really enjoy I am inclined to write a review. As I would if I stayed in a great hotel. But, I won't be pushed into writing a an opinion on a book I have not read. This minority who thought they would give themselves a helping hand up the ratings ladder, have unfortunately wasted it for all the rest of us.

    Are Amazon right, or wrong to go ahead with the ban? Personally I think their damned if they do and damned if they don't. The company belongs to them, they call the shots and they make the final decisions. In this life there are lots of things that we don't agree with, but someone somewhere has to have the final say and it's impossible to please everyone. So, can we deal with it and move on now.

The Missing Piece

   I dropped by my elderly neighbour on New Year's day to wish her all the best and found her putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Although in her late seventies she likes to keep active. But due to the bad weather conditions just now it's not possible for her to get out and about, so she decided it was time to give her brain a good work out.

    When I commented that it was years since I had sat down and tackled one, she offered to lend me one of her vast collection of puzzles. An offer I quickly declined, my excuse being that I didn't have the patience. But excuses don't wash with her, probably because she was once a school teacher and she asked me to justify my statement. When I started to struggle with my explanation, she laughed heartily and told me that I had myself all wrong.

    She told me to look at what I do day in and day out, the thing I would do 24/7 if I could. Of course, it's writing, and she is right, you do need to be patient when writing. Because the whole process from start to the actual publication of your work takes a long time. If you think about the time it takes to plot, write the first, second or third draft. Then there's the edits, the line edits, so on, so on.

    Although I still didn't take up the offer of taking away a jigsaw, I did come away knowing something about myself that I wasn't aware of. So the next time I hear the phrase, 'Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can, seldom found in woman, never found in man. 'I'll be reminded of my neighbours wise words, that demonstrated we writers definitely do need to possess the virtue of patience.

    

   

   

Auld Lang Syne

   
    Well, the year 2012 is nearly over. At this time of year the question that Scottish poet, Robert Burns, posed 'Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?' flashes into my head.
   
    His words make me think about the new friends I've made over the past year, the love I have for my family and long term friends that surround me. Not excluding those who are in far off places and definitely not forgetting those who are no longer on this earth.

    I also look ahead to the new year that's about to dawn, with mixed emotions. If my emotions were a cocktail it would be excitement based, with a good shot of apprehension mixed in, as a safety net. But whatever is in store for you may it be happy, prosperous and may you fulfil your dreams. Have a wonderful 2013.



   

After Pudding

    I've crash landed back down to earth, after an adrenalin pumped Christmas Day. The excess food that could be saved is now in airtight containers and in the freezer. The floors have been mopped and the displaced furniture has been pushed back into it's rightful place.

   While it's wonderful to have my family and friends around me, I find that the whole day can be rather overwhelming and I know that at some point I will crave for some solitude. Therefore, by hosting the party I found that I could escape some of the crazy events of the day. Although having spent most of the day in the kitchen, I have to admit that I feel that I missed out on a great party.

   After pudding, it was time for me to mingle with my guests. The party was now in full flow and the guest's interactions were now at their peak. So as an author it was probably the best time to be part of the proceedings, because it's a great time to observe human nature at its best. I love taking in the facial expressions, the eye contact and the body language in general of those around me.

    Unfortunately for me, someone else has volunteered already to host next years get together, therefore I'll just have to find some little corner in their home to chill out for ten minutes. 

    Do you try to escape the chaos of the day, or do you enjoy being in the thick of it?

   

   

   

Happy Holidays

    Well the festive season is upon us, I've wrapped the gifts and they're under the tree. All I have to do now is prepare the food for my family and friends. I've checked the larder and freezer, I've got more provisions than I will ever need. In fact I think I bought enough just in case there was an apocalypse.

    I'm a bit worried because for some reason or another I seem to be pretty organised. Therefore I hope that I'm not in for some kind of last minute panic. 

    I'm not going to go on for the sake of getting words down onto the page, so I just want to say have a Merry Christmas. May your day be wondrous, filled with joy and laughter, because memories are made of this.

    I thought I'd share a picture of the wonderful cheesecake my friend made for me last year and I'm hoping that she's going to surprise me with one this year. God bless.

   

Sumptious Cheesecake

The Book Of Life

    Every year at this time I invest in a new diary. Without seeming ungrateful of the ones I receive as gifts at Christmas time, they just never seem to quite fit the  bill. They're always either too small, or too large. I think because of the intimate recordings it's something I have to choose for myself.

    Now I love to sit down, as I did yesterday afternoon and go through my old one. Firstly I transfer any dates that I daren't forget, such as birthdays of family and friends. But more importantly I love to read through my goals and ambitions that I had written down at the end of the previous year. If I failed on any of those I set out, I try and work out why. Of course sometimes this isn't possible as some may have been slightly over ambitious.

    Each day has a different story to tell. There may have been family, or work concerns and as the year progresses your life unfolds in front of you. Sometimes I find myself so embroiled in situations that I don't even remember as to how it all panned out and the diary serves as a great reminder.

    So as today is suppose to be the day that the world ends I'm wondering to myself as to whether I wasted my time transferring dates, and setting goals for 2013. The big question though, is will there be a book of my life to review next year?

    Hope I see you guys on Monday, when I'll be posting my next blog, and if not it was nice knowing you.

 

To Know Them Is To Be Blessed

    Following the passing of a loved one, there will be occasions that will trigger our memories of them. Stirring emotions that we thought we had managed to put to rest.

    Whether it be a holiday time, a social gathering, a piece of music on the radio, or just a word we overhear someone else say, the departed will be back to the forefront of our mind.

    Death leaves a void in the lives it leaves behind, a void that  will never be filled again. But, however briefly we have known our family member, or good friend, our lives have been touched and blessed by just knowing them. God bless.