November Challenge - Daron Fraley

             Minnie pushed the faucet handle, her skin taut and papery from age, but still didn't have enough strength to stop the dripping. Each drop struck the side of a copper kettle which lay in the sink, echoing like a child's toy drum. She let out a grunt, steadied herself, and shuffled across faded linoleum. Her left hand on the counter, Minnie clutched two tarnished napkin rings in the other. At the doorway she paused, gripped the avocado-green door jamb, then entered the dining room.

            Now at the antique table—an heirloom from her maternal great-great-grandmother—she picked up embroidered cloth napkins which matched the gold tablecloth and proceeded to fold them into an accordion pattern. Minnie completed the first napkin with a great deal of effort and slipped it into one of the silver rings. Setting it aside, she took up the second napkin. Her hands trembled as she concentrated, causing her folds to be uneven. She flattened the cloth and folded again. When she finally pushed the stubborn napkin through the second ring, she paused, listening.

            “Minnie, that sink is dripping.”

            She circled to the other side of the table and set the napkin in its place. As she did so, she noticed a silver hair which rested across the forks, touching the china plate.

            “Oh, dear.” Minnie tried several times to grab the strand without any luck. She adjusted her finger-print smeared glasses, then reached with a finger and thumb. Satisfied that she had the offending hair in her grasp, she moved as if to go to the kitchen. But then something caught her eye. In the middle of the table, her magnificent lace doily had a bubble on one side. She bent forward and smoothed it out.

            “There. It wouldn't do for George to eat at a messy table.”

            She returned to the kitchen in the same manner she had left it—holding onto the door frame as she went. At the stove, she glanced at the digital clock. “Minnie, you need to hurry. He'll be here any moment.”

            The drawer where her towels were stored was still open. “Ah!” she said.

            Minnie rummaged through the drawer, from front to back, and then to the front again. “Now where in the blazes did I put those napkin rings?” She spent another five minutes looking, but found nothing. Frustrated, she shut the drawer.

            Drip. Drip. Drip.

            Drawn to the sound at the sink, she turned on the water. She turned it off again, pushing hard on the handle.

            “There.”

            Minnie returned to the stove and took up two hot-pads. She lifted the small crock by the handles taking care not to move the clear lid from its place. She could see the steaming chunk of turkey breast inside next to the stuffing she'd spent the entire morning on. This wasn't the recipe which had made her famous with friends and neighbors as a young woman, but rather the kind of stuffing which comes in a box. And she'd had a devil of a time trying to decipher the instructions on the side panel. She hoped she had gotten it right.

            Once back at the table, she placed a hot-pad, then used the other hot-pad to maneuver the crock into position. She surveyed her work. A silver hair lay on the tablecloth near the doily. “Oh, dear!” she said once again. Minnie used a butter knife from her own place setting and scooted the hair to the floor.

            Drip. Drip. Drip.

            By the time she went to the kitchen, turned on the water, shut it off, checked the towel drawer for napkin rings, then returned to her seat, Minnie was near exhaustion. She collapsed into her chair and pulled out her napkin. She dabbed at her upper lip.

            “Oh, there it is.” Minnie slipped the napkin into its ring and sat back.

            Her gaze fell on the artwork above the fireplace mantle. It was a winter scene. As always, her eyes were drawn to the breath from the horse, not too far from the kneeling man's head. She shivered. The snow reminded her of the weather outside. She continued to study the painting of the handsome man in prayer.

            “The trim on the saddle blanket is almost the same color as the table cloth,” Minnie declared, smiling.

            Certainly George would appreciate that. She'd have to point it out to him.

            “I wonder if he'll wear his tricorn hat?”

              

           

November Challenge - Cathy Witbeck

Ruby Red

By Cathy Witbeck 

Black widows weave their webs in the shadows. Under logs, porches, and even stairs. Ruby’s fear of spiders took second place to the wrath of her mom who had company coming over in 20 minutes.

“Freakin’ cranberries,” she muttered, as she hesitantly descended to storage room. The old wood creaked and complained with each step. The light melted away first to grey, then darkness from the single bare bulb hanging at the bottom. Ruby wrinkled her nose at the musty odor pervading the space. Stepping cautiously forward, she reached for the light switch. A touch soft as a whisper just brushed her fingers as she flicked the switch. Holding back a scream with her heart pounding in her ears, she saw the source of her attacker. An old hat covered in feathers hung on the wall above the light panel.

“Holy Hannah, does Mom have to bring home every antique relic she finds,” Ruby thought.

“Green beans, corn, applesauce . . . cranberries.” The can seemed to jump off the shelf as Ruby reached for it. With a tinny rattle, it flew across the cement floor and stopped at a pile of old books. “This is ridiculous,” Ruby thought, reaching again for the container. Without warning, the books toppled over as if someone had shoved them. A small book, covered in worn red velvet opened wide and the pages fanned from front to back. A curious insignia inside the back cover lit up and pulsed with light. Ruby gasped.

“Ruby, I need those cranberries!” her mother yelled.

The book snapped shut.

Hesitating for only a moment, Ruby grabbed the cranberries and the book, and ran upstairs.


“My daughter Ruby is fifteen,” her father droned on, “and Gavin will be eight next week. Grandma Parker, would you like to make introductions?”

Ruby grinned. “Grandma Parker always reminds me of Grandma Claus. All that white hair, rosy red cheeks and a smile that could light the North Pole.” Ruby’s smile faltered. “ I don’t know who that lady she brought with her is, but she looks really familiar. There’s something about her, she makes me feel lost. Like I don’t belong here. I don’t like it.”

“I’m Rose Parker, well Grandma to you lot. And this lovely lady is my Cousin Virginia Townsend. I know you’ve never met Virginia. We just found each other. Isn’t it wonderful.”

Everyone smiled. Ruby felt Virginia looking her way. The woman’s eyes were dark brown. Not a warm brown, more like the sediment at the bottom of a well. If you looked into that well too long, you’d fall in and drown. To Ruby, the smile on those thin painted lips seemed contrived.

Ruby shivered. “Where have I seen you before and what do you want?”


With her first bite of pumpkin pie it came to her. Years ago, she had gone trick or treating with some kids up to the old Bishop place at the top of the hill on a dare. It was a dare, because no one ever saw Mrs. Bishop and kids said she was a witch. When they’d gone to the door, hers was the face she’d seen and Mrs. Bishop had said, “Away with ye, imps. I’ll give ye a trick!” The wind had suddenly kicked up, leaves had blown in their faces as if reaching for them and they had run for home, trick or treating forgotten.

Ruby swallowed hard, the pie felt like a ball of play dough in her throat. She pushed her plate away.

“Mom, I don’t feel so good,” she said, avoiding Mrs. Bishop’s eyes.

“Now it’s time to do dishes she gets all ‘Ooo my stomach’,” Gavin said, narrowing his eyes.

“That’s enough, Gavin,” his father warned.

Ruby’s mom rubbed her back, “You do look pale, honey. Why don’t you go lie down for a minute?”

“Thanks mom,” Ruby said.


In her room, Ruby looked out the window at the bare branches of the willow tree. “Why is she here?”
A hand more like the claw of a vulture gripped Ruby’s shoulder, paralyzing her. “You have something I need,” a foul smell issued from cracked lips.

In a wave of revelation, Ruby saw the red velvet book hidden in her hoodie. At the same time, she knew she had to keep it away from the witch. Grabbing a bowl of scented bath salts, she turned and threw them in the witch’s eyes. The witch howled in agony as Ruby pushed past and ran.

November Challenge - Debbie Davis

Unbelievable  By Debbie Davis “Hey babe!”   A sultry voice rang from the entrance of the kitchen. “Oh no, please let it not be him,” Jennifer mumbled.  Her back stiffened as dread poured through her. She closed her eyes, and braced her arms on the counter. I’ll just pretend he’s not here. “I’ve missed you,” the warmth of his breath on her ear sent shivers down her body, his strong arms snaked with confidence around her waist, pulling her up against his strong chest. “Say you missed me too.” Unwanted feelings stirred to life within her. “Go away” Jennifer grumbled. So much for pretending he’s not here. Anger boiled just beneath the surface ready to explode, but she kept it in check. She would stay in control, even if it killed her. “Aw, honey, don’t be like that. It’s Thanksgiving. You know – a time for expressing gratitude.” Each word a torment reminding her she’d loved him fiercely . . . once. “Who invited you anyway?” She refused to turn around. It would be her undoing. Besides she was busy plotting the murder of the person who let him in the door in the first place. “It was your mom; she has a soft spot for me you know.” She felt him smile against her cheek. “Figures.” Murdering Mom wasn’t an option, but she’d definitely get an earful later. She took a deep steadying breath. That was a mistake. The smell of his citrus and sandalwood aftershave made her knees and her resolve weaken. “What do you want Matt?” She asked under her breath, her emotions going haywire. “What I’ve always wanted . . . you!” He turned her to face him, but she kept her eyes closed. She’d be in big trouble if she let herself look into his gorgeous baby blues. She wouldn’t do it. “Jeni, it’s been three months since you refused to see me, but I know you love me.” He pulled her into a hug. “Say you’ll forgive me and we can start over. It’s been pure torture and I need you in my life. Don’t shut me out anymore sweetheart, please.” All the hurt and anger that iced over her heart began melting away at the surety of his words and she opened her eyes. She was lost. Lost in the raw love she saw in his eyes, lost in the hope that sparked to life in them. “But you were leaving me, going to New York, and I saw you with that other girl. You were kissing her.” Tears sprang to her eyes. No, she had to stop them, he couldn’t see them. “It wasn’t what you thought. I would’ve explained it but you would never let me. So I talked to your mom and she told me to come.” He lowered his forehead to hers. “Well, explain then.” Hurt pulsing through her again. “I was saying good-bye to my cousin and the kiss was on the cheek.  I came back from New York to get you.” “Oh.” She felt relief wash through her. What a dummy I was. “I’m in love with you Jeni.” He said. “You’re all I ever think about. It’s affecting my job . . . my thoughts . . . everything.” “I can’t believe . . .” She started. She saw the truth of it all as emotion played havoc with his features. “Umm . . .” she hesitated.  “Well . . .” She was giving in. Her heart let go of the strangle hold she encased it in that day three months ago. “Please, Jeni,” Matt’s handsome face moved closer to hers. “I need you, I can’t live without you . . . I love you!” His deep laughter vibrated through her. “See, I’m begging.” Freed, her heart surged with love as her stomach dropped. “I love you too.” She said in a whisper. “You do?” Matt asked as surprise, then relief washed across his face. “Really?”  “Really,” she gave in. Smiling, he lowered his head and gave her a kiss that sent electricity zinging through her. It was heaven, and she surrendered to him. “Ah, hem . . .” Her mom coughed from the doorway as they jumped apart. “The turkey is ready, we are waiting for you.” Giving them a knowing smile she turned and left. Matt’s boyish grin filled her heart with warmth as he grabbed her hand. “Let’s go and celebrate Thanksgiving, Babe.” He said drawing her close to him and out the kitchen to join the festivities

November Challenge - Jenn Wilks

The air in the room is filled with the mingling smells of pumpkin pie, turkey and gravy. That’s the last thought I have before the world slows down, my hands ceasing in the middle of kneading the dough for the rolls.

My sister-in-law has just entered the room with her boyfriend—the one she’s been dating for six months, the one she hopes will ask for her hand in marriage. She hadn’t told us his name; hadn’t really told us much about him except that he’s “gorgeous” and “funny” and “wonderful.”

She hadn’t told us he was the jerk who’d tried to date-rape me in high school; that he spread vicious rumors about me after I clobbered him with my purse, the metal buckle striking a lucky blow on his mouth that chipped a tooth and distracted him long enough for me to get the passenger-side door open and make a run for it.

It feels like an eternity passing as our eyes meet, though the chatter in the room is constant around us, no one else seeming to notice our mini time capsule.

“As I live and breathe. It’s Jason Roberts,” I finally say, the words cutting my tongue as I bite them off and spit them out at him.

“You two know each other?” Beth asks, her voice hopelessly optimistic. She tightens her hands around his arm, looking back and forth between the two of us.

I don’t answer; the question feels too rhetorical to honor with a response.

“You could say that,” Jason says, giving me a polite nod. “How are you, Eve?”

“Me? Other than right this minute, I’m doing quite well, actually.” Just as I say this, Steve—Beth’s older brother and my soul mate—slides his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him.

“Jason, is it?” Steve asks, his voice carrying an edge he usually reserves for criminals and politicians. “How do you and Eve know each other?”

“Well, we dated a little bit in High School,” Jason says, his gaze resting on everything but Steve and me.

“It was just half a date, really,” I say, unable to hold my tongue. “How’s your tooth, by the way?”

Beth looks confused, but doesn’t say anything. She tightens her grip on Jason’s arm. Even from here, I can see his skin around her fingers turning white. Good.

The tension in the room escalates to the breaking point.

“Well, Jason, we’re really glad you could join us for dinner today,” Mrs. Thompson says, jumping in to save her family’s Thanksgiving dinner. “We’ve been dying to meet the man Beth has talked so much about. Would you and Beth like to help me set the table?”

“I’d be glad to,” Jason says, turning his charm back on and following her out of the room, Beth still clinging to him.

When Steve and I are alone in the kitchen, I feel myself breaking down. I attack the rolls again, punching the dough a few too many times.

“What really happened?” Steve asks, taking my hands in his and gently pulling them away from the innocent bread dough. He ignores the sticky mush that presses between our fingers.

“He tried to . . . rape me.” The word scratches the back of my throat and causes tears to slip out of the corners of my eyes.

Steve slips his arms around me, resting his chin on the top of my head and fitting me against him in the way that he does, our bodies a perfect match. “I’m sorry,” he whispers.

After long moments of breathing in his strength, I find my voice. “I don’t know if I can eat with him here.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” Steve says, kissing my forehead before turning toward the kitchen doors. “I’m going to tell him he has to leave. Right now”

Just before he pushes through into the dining room, I rush over and stop him. “No.”  My stomach seizes up in knots as I think of confronting Jason in front of everyone. I picture Steve’s mom, her eyes turning to ice as I ruin her Thanksgiving. I know my accusation will wilt the smile right off of sweet Beth’s face.

I take a deep breath, shaking off my fears. “No,” I say again, squeezing his hand. “I will.”

November Newsletter

This Month's Theme:

"Attitude of Gratitude"
We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.
(Pres. Thomas S. Monson)

 

FROM THE MODERATOR

- Nichole Giles begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting(aka Queen of Awesome) 

Sweet and Sour

In this month of bountiful blessings, I find myself reflecting on all the many things for which I am thankful in not just my personal life, but also my writing life as well. My fellow writers, there is so much.

I am thankful for my friends, my support system here, my family members who are finally coming to understand what writing is for me and what that means. I’m thankful for the words in my heart, the voices in my head, and the drive in my spirit to string them all together.

Believe it or not, I’m thankful for the many rejections I have received. This year, I’ve accumulated more than I care to admit. But because I have, I’m forced to reevaluate the quality of my submissions, the freshness of my ideas, and the need to rewrite or start over. Through all this, I learn and grow. And believe it or not, I gain a greater confidence in myself and my ability to succeed.

When I think in these terms, the idea of rejection isn’t as daunting, nor is the sting as deep. I am thankful for the sour difficulties in my journey, so that I will someday know the sweetness of true success.

What are you thankful for?  

  

IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to the Christensen family!
Rachelle and Steve Christensen are the proud parents of a new baby boy: 

Austin Steven Christensen was born October 13th and weighed 8 lbs.

Congratulations to the Buckner family!

Kelly Buckner had her baby as well.  

Lincoln Roy Buckner weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz., and is 21 inches long

Mike Knudsen's novel, The Rogue Shop, will be released by Cedar Fort on December 8. 

Launch party on Monday, December 13th from 6pm to 9pm at 

500 E. 8680 S. in Sandy, Utah (all AI members invited). 

 Watch the December newsletter for blog tour and contest information.

 michaelknudsenauthor.com.

Congratulations toTed Finch

  who switched from his job teaching 5th grade to working as an instructional designer.

* * *


NEW BOOKS BEING RELEASED 

November 16th, Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner

Available in ebook and paperback.
(Check the contest section for an opportunity to win a signed copy or a Kindle!) 

 December 1st, The Peasant Queen by Cheri Chesley.

Pre-order your copy on Amazon.

PLEA FOR WHITNEY NOMINATIONS

from Josi Kilpack

We would love to get some more official nominees for the Whitney awards so
as to overwhelm our judges with books to read--if you have an eligible book,
or love someone who does, feel free to drum up some votes! If you've read
some great books by LDS authors, don't be stingy--tell us about it!

Nominations can be sent via the website http://www.whitneyawards.com/
or to
whitneyawards@gmail.com

Thanks much,
Josi Kilpack

MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

Karlene Browning learned to read at the age of three and has been an avid reader ever since, frequently reading100–200 books a year. When she was 10, she realized that PEOPLE wrote books, and that meant that she could do it too. She immediately started writing about a mermaid who was stuck on land and could only move when the wind blows. From there, she moved on to Nancy Drew-inspired mysteries, stories about giant green ants taking over the world, and angsty teenage dramas. 

As an adult, Karlene has written lifestyle newspaper articles, user manuals, pattern instructions, greeting cards, and everything in between—including blogs and other online content, for herself and others—but she always comes back to fantasy and mystery/suspense. 

Karlene is the owner of Rosehaven Publishing, which is currently under reconstruction, and LibrisPro (www.librispro.com), which provides pre-press and other support services to authors and publishers. 

Visit her blog at www.inksplasher.blogspot.com. 

Lisa Asanuma has always been a bookworm and a writer.  She was accused early on of being born two weeks overdue because she was finishing reading a book and couldn’t be bothered being born.  The first story she remembers writing was in the second grade and involved a ride on the back of a whale to the underwater home of mermaids and mermen.  By the fifth grade, she was reading Judy Blume, and her love for the Young Adult genre was born.  She started her first serious endeavor at a novel when she was twelve years old.  Her first real writing achievement was when she was thirteen and won the California Playwrights Project, having her script performed at the Cassius Carter Center Stage in Balboa Park, San Diego (but she’d hesitate to show that piece of work to anyone today).

Lisa finished school with a Creative-Writing-bent Literature degree from the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara, a college for students who are “curiously focused” on their concentration.  While there she had a two-fold education: she read “from the best books” in the classroom, but continued to dabble in Young Adult in her own time, and turned to internet critique groups to fuel her passion.

Lisa is now working as an editor for a small online publishing house, and also as a freelance writer.  She is working on two YA fantasy novels, still keeping her eye on her goal of getting published in the national market.  Lisa is a California girl born and raised, but she is currently living in Bountiful, Utah.  She’s getting married on November 9th, and is looking forward to starting a whole new chapter of her life!

You can find out more about Lisa by visiting her blog: http://creatingthehive.com/cinderlisa/blog

Embrace Your Season
By Wendy Swore

I am not a scriptorian, but as a farmer, one verse frequently comes to mind; “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” 

My life changes dramatically with the seasons, and this verse is a standard for me to both push myself and be kind to myself. This gave rise to one of my favorite sayings: It’s not my season.

Let me explain, I love winter because when snow is high in the fields, I snuggle in my cozy home by my laptop, typing away. This is the one season of the year that I don’t have to share my passion for writing with the farm. Careful to not waste these precious few months, I push myself to write and edit as much as I can. It is my season to write. 

Once spring comes, my writing time dwindles as I spend more and more time outside until during harvest and corn maze time, I spend 12 hours a day outside working the farm and leading tours. I still write, but my time is far more limited. During the hard months when autumn feels so very far away, I comfort myself with the thought that this season too will pass. 

This same idea applies to other areas of my life. My house is not perfect, my ability to go to conferences is limited, and I have a multitude of unfulfilled goals and dreams…but that’s okay because it’s not my season for those things. My children are small and this, this is my season to hold them on my knee, to show them how to cook the perfect marshmallow, to snuggle, to kiss, to love them. I remember that this season also will pass—far too quickly. One day I’ll have a clean floor, a tidy yard, no mountains of laundry to fold, and uninterrupted time to write (no little urchkins crawling over the back of my chair), but this—thank heavens—is not that season yet. 

My point is this, never lose your chance to enjoy one season of your life because you are too busy focusing on what the next might bring. Be kind to yourself! 

We are moving into NaNoWriMo, the season of writing! If this is your goal, then the Law of the Harvest applies to you. 

Imagine if I let planting season pass by with no effort on my part; without a harvest, my farm would be in ruins. As writers, the principle is the same. 

Prepare fertile ground for your muse by reading mountains of books. Sow seeds of story ideas by brainstorming and writing notes. Once seeds take root, cultivate them by outlining. Some people skip this part and that’s okay, though they may have a bit more weeding (editing) to do. During the growing season, write and watch your little story become a novel. At harvest time, begin sorting the good fruit from the bad, picking out any typos and problem areas. When the season ends, the writer who has used their season wisely will send out queries and prepare to plant again. (Ground that is left idle for too long doesn’t produce well)

It is my hope that each of you will make the most of the season you are in and that you’ll have a bountiful (writing) harvest this year. 

You can find out more about Wendy by visiting her blog: www.wendyswore.blogspot.com

UPCOMING CONFERENCES and WRITING CLASSES

The First EVER official Authors Incognito Writers Retreat
Held in conjunction with NaNoWriMo
Nov 4, 11:00 am-Nov 6th, 4:00 pm
We're renting a beautiful cabin in Heber, UT and will host classes, contests, and write-ins.
Email Danyelle or Nichole for registration information.

If you're dying to join us, email Danyelle or Nichole to see if we can squeeze you in.
 

SCWBI Utah/Idaho

November 13-14, 2010

City Library

210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Speakers include several editors, agents and authors.

Cost: $105 for members, $125 for non-members

Critiques and Portfolio reviews will be an additional $45

American Fork Arts Council

Autumn Conference for Writers
  Historic American Fork City Hall, 31 North Church Street (50 East), American Fork
  Saturday, October 9, 2010; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

TO REGISTER, CALL 801-763-3081 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              801-763-3081 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              801-763-3081      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              801-763-3081      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email lori@afcity.net

For more information click here.

Tristi Pinkston is now offering personal writing instruction.  

Classes offered in dialogue, narrative description, punctuation, realistic characters, and many others.

In addition to lesson material, you will receive a full edit of your a 2-3 page segment.

$15.00 per class with a 20% discount available to those who sign up for three or more classes.  

Visit http://www.tristipinkstonwi.blogspot.com/ for more information.

David Wolverton is hosting another Professional Writer's Workshop
June 6-11, Ramada Inn, St. George, Utah.
$500.00, 18 students max.
Reserve your seat at www.davidfarland.net/writingworkshops.


From the LDStorymakers

Submitted by Jamie Theler

Just the facts, Ma'am. Just the facts.

Who: You

What: LDStorymakers 8th annual conference

When: May 5-7, 2011

Where: Sheraton Hotel, downtown Salt Lake City

Why: Because it's more fun than a poke in the eye with a woolly mammoth.

We're excited to have local and national agents, editors, and authors join us for a fun-filled weekend packed with all things writing. Scheduled guests include:
Irene Kraas – of Kraas Literary Agent. http://www.kraasliteraryagency.com/
Marcia Markland – Senior editor with Thomas Dunne Books specializing in suspense fiction. http://us.macmillan.com/ThomasDunne.aspx
Larry Brooks – Author of five published novels, including Story Engineering: Understanding the Six Core Competencies of Writing. http://storyfix.com/
Sara Crowe – agent with Harvey Klinger, Inc. http://www.saracrowe.com/
Other activities include bootcamp, first chapter contest, pitch session, master classes, and more.
 http://www.ldstorymakers.com/conference_2011.php

CONTESTS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS

Enter to win a Kindle or a copy of Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner. Multiple opportunities available. Find out more by visiting her website or blog. 

November is Follower Appreciation Month on Nichole Giles's blog. Don't forget to check back weekly and enter to win some awesome prizes.

Don't forget to keep checking the forums over at Write On Con.

Not only do they have monthly chats, but they're constantly giving away prizes.

Check them out!

Keep an eye on the Querytracker blog.
They have agent / editor judged writing contests sometimes once a month. This is a great resource for researching agents and publishers and what they're looking for in a client.

Writing and Torture are Synonymous

By L.T. Elliot

          One of my favorite things to do is to strap myself to the bare springs of an electrified mattress and crank up the juice. Nothing beats the rush of raw power skittering down my veins, muscles involuntarily contracting, and wondering if this next surge is my last. I also love the dentist. Wait. You mean, no one likes that? Don’t people willingly submit heinous torture on a regular basis? Sure they do. We writers do it all the time!

For a writer, the very act of creation is a method of self-torture. We put our time, talents, and soul into our work. We fight back the demons of self-doubt and put ink to paper. We don’t even stop there. We take it up a notch, bow beneath the stinging lash of other writers, and tell them not to spare the rod. And that’s before you lock yourself in the stocks to be pelted by the rotten veggies of querying! In essence, writers are a bunch of masochists.

Okay, so maybe writing and critiquing isn’t as bad as pulled teeth, crispified skin, or a good flaying but sometimes, it can feel that way. New or old to the game, fresh or scarred, how do we smile in the face all that pain and keep at it? I’m not an expert, by any means, but here’s a few things I do to stave off the blues.

Embrace Your Calluses:  It takes a lot of practice to become better at something—sometimes painful practice. I ride horses but when I first started out, my legs got sore. Over time, I developed a thin callus and it didn’t hurt anymore. Violinists develop a callus beneath their chin, many sportsmen get rough palms, and artists often get that pretty little “writer’s bump” on their finger. Most of them will tell you that it hurt at first but that pain turned into a great skill that ended up benefitting more than themselves.

A Moving Buddy: If you don’t have one, get one! No matter how long I’ve been at this writing thing, I get down in the dumps on occasion. When that happens, I have a few go-to buddies who remind me that I’m not a total hack. Everyone needs someone that believes in them. When I’m at my worst, it helps me to be this person for someone else. Nothing gives me a better perspective.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize: This is a great way to refocus my energies because as much as I love writing, it’s not enough for me. I don’t just want to write—I want to be read. I want that shared experience of creating something that didn’t exist and then seeing it bloom in the mind and heart of a reader.

Those are a few things that help me keep me going but I’m sure you can come up with better. In fact, care to critique this essay for me? I feel a hankering for a good beating. ;)

             L.T. Elliot writes Fantasy and Steampunk and reads anything she can get her hands on. She’s lucky enough to have a phenomenal husband and twin sons that support her self-inflicted insanity. You can find her toiling away at Dreams of Quill and Ink.

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS 
 ~submitted by Elizabeth Mueller
Happy Birthday to all the Author's Incognito members who were born in November.
If we missed you, please let one of us know.


6 - Cindy Williams
7 - Karen Hoover
15 - Danyelle Ferguson
19 - Shanna Blythe
21 - Randy Hoese

21 - Canda Mortensen

QUOTE ON WRITING

~ by Debbie Davis
"Writing is like a  strong gust of wind on a storm filled day that whips around you and takes your breath away, freeing you to  in turn breathe life into the creation of any world or character you desire; knowing they exist only because you allow them to, as you engage in a relationship  of  sizzling lightening and rumbling thunder. . . fierce and unrepentant as  you embark on the most incredible tumultuous adventures of your life -- unrepentant in their will to never allow you to forget what you brought to life."

WRITING TIP
by David West

Write What You Don’t Know

We have all heard the classic advice “Write What You Know” and that’s great, I milk a lot of personal experience and knowledge into my writing, and we should always have those truths in our writing regardless of genre…BUT…I am also a firm believer in writing what we don’t know, of opening that Pandora’s box and letting a story take us somewhere we have never been. Meeting characters and having experiences we might never want in real life.

I argue this point for the sake of not forever covering ground we have already trod, the idea of taking us somewhere new and uncharted. A multitude of our favorite works wouldn’t have been written IF they had stuck with only writing what you know.

As Saints we are open (and grateful) to the possibility of spiritual inspiration helping awake something in us, helping us chart these things we don’t yet know. Be open.

I am sure a lot of you are preparing for the NaNoWriMo and I urge you to jump right in and TELL THE STORY, don’t get hung up on what you don’t know, what you haven’t researched yet or whatever else holds you up.

Daylight is burning.

To find out more about David, visit his blog: http://david-j-west.blogspot.com/

 

Tech Corner
by James Blevins

Malicious Websites

By now, it should be no secret that the internet is an extremely dangerous and hostile environment. What you may or may not know is that the simple act of visiting a hostile web page can be enough to give the bad guys complete control over your computer. All it takes is a stray click or a misspelled URL and that's all she wrote. Actually, it's even worse than that. Hackers compromise legitimate websites and turn them into attack sites on a regular basis. Truth is, unless you take steps to counter these attacks, it's not a matter of if your computer will be compromised. It's a matter of when.

The good news is that you can do a few things that are relatively painless to you, but create major hassles for the bad guys who are trying to take over your computer. Creating a layered defense is the key. Space limitations mean step-by-step instructions for each of these layers will not be included in this article. That's what Google is for ;-)

First and foremost, you should not be using an account with administrator privileges to surf the internet. While Linux and Mac users are not administrators by default, Windows users are. Unless you specifically set your account up so that it is a limited user (power users are still vulnerable), you are running an admin account. If you fall into this category, stop reading right now. Change any and all accounts on your computer that are used for normal activities to limited users. Only use administrator accounts for administrative tasks. No exceptions. Do it 

yesterday. It's that important.

Equally as important is to make sure all user accounts require strong passwords. No exceptions. I realize that not having a password or a simple one makes it quick and convenient to log in to your computer. Guess what—it also makes it dead easy for the bad guys to crack into your computer. Do that yesterday as well.

I assume that no matter what operating system you use, your computer is sitting behind some sort of firewall—preferably of both the software and hardware variety. If you are a Windows user, I also assume you have an up-to-date subscription to a decent antivirus package. There are several free antivirus and firewall programs out there, so there is really no excuse for not having these protections in place. Also, there is no excuse for not updating your computer with critical security updates as they become available.

The next layer of defense is you. Don't visit websites that have names that look like gibberish. Don't click on strange links you get in e-mails. Don't visit websites that host illegal, immoral, or other content that we as Latter-day Saints should not be visiting. These are the ones most likely to have malicious content. If you're unsure, you can always copy and paste the URL into Google and search for it without actually clicking on the link. Google will prevent you from clicking through to links to web sites they know host malicious content. Never click a suspicious link in order to investigate its safety. That's like putting your hand into a snake's den to find out if there are any in there. O be wise; what can I say more?

Sometimes it's not easy to tell whether a link goes to an attack website or not, and Google doesn't always know if a website is shady. Enter software that integrates with your browser and checks your search results, giving each result a safety rating for you. Both McAfee SiteAdvisor and AVG LinkScanner are free programs that will do this for you. There are versions available for both Mac and Windows.

Another tactic I highly recommend is to use a third-party DNS service that checks for and blocks malicious websites. These services prevent you from even deliberately visiting websites known to be dangerous and can help catch what Google, SiteAdvisor, and LinkScanner miss. Besides being totally free, you don't have to install anything. See http://www.comodo.com/secure-dns/index.html for more details.

Another way bad guys try to take over your computer is by hacking advertising websites. When a “safe” website pulls a hacked ad from one of their partner advertisers, guess what—you just got infected even though you didn't do anything wrong! The good news is that all major browsers have the ability to block ads either natively or through plugins. Besides keeping bad guys out of your computer, using an ad blocker means you also won't have to put up with annoying advertisements as you surf the internet. Double win!

Finally, all good security plans have a last line of defense. For Alcatraz, that was the San Francisco Bay. For your computer, it's the Google Chrome browser. Allow me to elaborate.

The object of the 2010 Pwn2Own contest was to see which operating systems (Mac or Windows) could be taken over by successfully exploiting a vulnerability in various web browsers. The first to fall was Safari on Mac. Then Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3 on Windows followed shortly thereafter. Chrome was the only browser that did not let the security experts take over the computer via a malicious web page. That's because Chrome uses a security model called “sandboxing”. Basically, this means that even if someone finds a way to exploit a bug in Chrome, they have to do the electronic equivalent of swimming against the cold waters and strong undertow of the San Francisco Bay in order to make it to the shore of the operating system. Is it possible? If it is, it's ridiculously difficult. Is it worth the trouble when IE, Firefox, and Safari are much easier targets to attack? Absolutely not.

So there you have it. I realize it's a lot to take in. Keep in mind that the bad guys are looking to pick all the low-hanging fruit they can get their hands on. These simple, free steps I have shared with you will J-B Weld your pomegranate to the top of a giant redwood.

You can visit James on his blog here: http://syncopatedmusings.blogspot.com/

RECIPE

~submitted by Vickie Smith

What To Do with the Leftover Turkey

    Turkey leftovers are my favorite leftovers. Even before that golden bird is pulled from the oven, I’m thinking of all the yummy meals to come from all the leftover turkey. The second turkey meal is usually a lot like the first. We warm up the yams and stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy and a generous amount of turkey for another turkey feast that can’t be beat. Then the next several meals we get creative. Turkey enchiladas are a Smith family favorite and generally the most requested leftover entrée.
I clear the kitchen of all children and/or spouses (or spouse as in my case—one is plenty). I need a lot of room when I do my culinary thing so I also clear some counter space as well. His and her napkin holders from Yellowstone Park and a Julia Child bobble head doll have no place on a man’s counter when there is work to be done. Next, I break out all the ingredients needed, including the tools necessary for the job. Once everything is in place, I start chopping and ripping and boiling and sautéing and rolling and saucing and grating and spreading until the enchiladas are ready for the oven. They are truly scrumptious.
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John’s Very Own Turkey Enchiladas

2-3 lbs. leftover turkey meat
2-3 cups leftover turkey gravy and/or cream of chicken soup
1 large chopped onion
1 cup chopped canned green chilies (optional)
1-2 lbs. grated cheddar cheese
1-2 15-ounce cans enchilada sauce
10-20 flour or corn tortillas
salt and pepper to taste

I know the recipe sounds a little vague.  That’s because I don’t measure. Here’s what you do. Take the leftover turkey and cut it up into about 1-inch chunks. Add just enough leftover gravy and/or cream of chicken soup straight from the can to the turkey to make it goopy. Add salt and pepper to taste and warm up mixture, stirring gently. Do not over stir, or the turkey will shred. Sauté onions and add them and the chopped green chilies and 1 to 2 cups grated cheddar cheese. Next, spoon the goop into flour tortillas, roll ’em up,  and fill up a large pan with them. It’s OK to cram them in tight. If using corn tortillas, you will need to warm them in the fry pan to make them flexible. Next, take some more of the gravy and/or cream of chicken soup and add the enchilada sauce to it (about 50/50).  Warm up mixture until it is thoroughly blended. Pour this mixture over enchiladas, smothering them all with a light but thorough covering. Add grated cheese over the top and bake for 45 minutes at 325°F. Serve on a bed of lettuce garnished with slices of avocado, sour cream, and your favorite salsa with some nice Spanish rice and refried beans on the side and (slobber, drool, swallow) you’re gonna be in pig heaven.


Turkey Pot Pie “Bachelor Style”

You know I wasn’t always a member of the blissfully wed crowd. Oh no, many moons ago I was a strapping young single lad with places to go and fillies to see. I didn’t have time to burn up in the kitchen. So if I wanted a hot home-cooked meal, I either had to go to  Mom’s, which wasn’t a bad idea; or have one of my many female friends fix me one, which was a bad idea; or cook one myself. So I learned to make do and with time being a factor I learned to take short cuts. I would take this packet of that and that can of this and next thing you know I had discovered some very tasty quick meals. Turkey pot pie “bachelor style” is one of the better ones.

2 cups leftover turkey cut into one-inch chunks
3 15-ounce cans mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, potatoes, etc.)
1 small chopped onion
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
2 frozen pie shells
Sauté chopped onion and mix with turkey chunks and cream of chicken soup and milk until it is the right consistency. Warm mixture in pan on top of stove, stirring gently so as not to shred turkey. Drain vegetables and add to mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour mixture into pie shell and top with other pie shell. You may want to thaw out the top shell some so it is flexible. Crimp down the sides, fork holes in the top, and bake in a 350°F oven for about 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Good enough for married folks, let alone desperate bachelors.