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Humpty Dumpty on a Mountain of Socks
A fellow speech/language therapist, Jill Gertz, joined in my Kindness Challenge and today, 10-29-09, presented me with 157 pair of mens, womens, childrens socks! NOW ISN’T THAT WONDERFUL! She collected them at her private speech practice as well as from her Sunday School Class.
The socks will be gifted along with stocking hats, stuffed animals, and more at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving Dinner on Wed., November 25th. THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE. You know how to get in touch with me. Just DO IT!
The world is a generous place ~ and those who can, need to give.
Here is the latest in my Kindness Challenge of socks, etc. that will be gifted to the men, women, children, in our Las Vegas Valley after they enjoy their Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 25 at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. My husband, Tim, and I have been collecting socks over the past year and we have given many away through the Central Christian Church pantry as the need arises ~ however, we have many left to give and Thanksgiving is the time we have set as our Kindness Challenge for 2009 becomes a reality.
Many of the men who come to the Rescue Mission are Veterans who happen to be homeless. That seems like an oxymoron to me. It should NOT be so ~ but it is. Socks for these men and their families are important but even more critical is the message we send as we gift them with a simple pair of socks. Perhaps the ribbons and card placed on each and every pair of adult socks says it all: “You are part of God’s plan. Walk in His grace.”
To those of you who have contributed, thank you. To those of you who want to be a part of this Kindness Challenge there is still time. Get in touch with me ~ you know how.
Here are my latest stats: (everything is NEW)
Mens 246
Womens 82
Childrens 81
Boys (older) 12
Adult stocking hats 46
children’s stocking
hats 12
women’s caps 14
stuffed animals 20
bubbles 12 very large bottles
All of my friends love to give socks!
A
Kindness Challenge Update ~ my special speech therapy friend Jill and members of her Sunday School class have collected 150 pair of girls and boys socks for my Kindness Challenge. These, plus over 400 other pairs are being tied with ribbon and a prayer verse. They will be handed out at the LV Mission on Thanksgiving Day during their annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner. We have gathered men’s, women’s, children’s socks, stocking caps, stuffed animals, and sundries.
We’d love to have YOU be a part. Respond back on this site, through my E mail, on Facebook or by phone at 702-435-8748. Don’t wait ~ you’ll feel great!
I would like to write that I am done with my synopsis but I can’t. I can say, however, that I am comfortable with it after the fifth draft! I anticipate making some more changes in it but, hey, it’s on paper and I think it’s pretty good.
I’ve learned a lot about synopsis writing that I want to share with you. One of the hardest parts for me is to keep it in the PRESENT TENSE. I don’t know why, but it’s difficult. All synopsis Must be written in the present tense. It must also be written in THIRD PERSON. That shouldn’t be hard for anyone.
I’m going to list some of the important things that I’ve learned in my research about writing a synopsis so that you don’t have to spend all of that time looking them up again.
open with a hook
present tense
third person
introduce MAIN characters – secondary only if contribute a great deal to the story
give a clear idea of your ENTIRE BOOK – include the ending
keep it narrative – quotes should be used sparingly if at all
tell any character changes
tell your plot lines as you weave through the story
check for grammar/spelling/punctuation/flow
Agents and publishers want to see if the writer can PLOT a story and create interesting characters that a reader can identify with in real life. Are they sympathetic to the characters?
My plan is to have 6 people read my synopsis and get their feedback. I am going to select 3 who already know my story and 3 who do not know the story so that I can get a judgement on what they would know after having read it. The synopsis is always written in the same style as the book itself, so that gives the unknown reader a glimpse of the writing flavor.
I’ll get those “6 victims” selected and send my synopsis off to them while my book continues to be edited. I’m also working on my query letter and have a person who is guiding me along with that process.
Now my favorite part, I’ll leave you with something from Audrey and Stephen ~ I think a bit more steamy this time as the town of Iowa Falls, IA heats up. Enjoy.
Audrey tilted her head to the left as she exhaled with a deep, breathless sigh. Her heart was thundering as loudly and boldly as an Iowa thunderstorm and her fingers were flawless as they rapidly met Stephen’s halfway up the front blue plaid shirt. The air between them was heavy with the impatience of their longing. After 26 year of withholding passion’s fire, they were ready to explode and the time was now. Their lips locked in raw physical hunger.
Stephen unbuttoned one button of his shirt and with a powerful yank, the rest of the buttons burst at his command, flying in all directions like the fireflies of the night. Audrey swiftly unfastened his belt, snap and zipper of his shorts. She tugged his shorts and briefs forward, over his swollen penis, allowing them to fall to the floor. Stephen took one-step and kicked the other foot free with a fury. As he feverishly unfastened Audrey’s bra, she slid her panties down her legs. Their naked bodies, enfolded in the rapture of each other, left no room for air or night or fear to come between them. They connected as one in the desire of their love and longing.
Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa.
My essay, Thank You, Mr. Sathoff was selected by the Iowa Writing Project as a contribution for the National Day on Writing, October 20, 2009. This is hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English. Mr. Sathoff WAS the most influential educator in my life. You can read the entire essay by clicking on the Iowa Falls, Iowa slider at the top of Kathie’s World. Enjoy ~ and once again, Thank you, Mr. Sathoff for instilling in me a lifetime of knowing the joy of reading and writing.
OR you can also go to the following, Iowa Writing Project to view Thank You Mr. Sathoff directly from their site at: http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/348399
New picture of Doug who works full time at the Wynn Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip.
This is new as of today, October 5th, 2009, an released by the Autism Society of America”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services National Survey of Children’s Health, 1 out of every 91 children – 1% of American kids today – has an autism spectrum disorder.
That’s up from 1 child in every 150, jut a few years ago in 2007…
And if that’s not shocking enough, these statistics don’t even include adult prevalence or those children who remain undiagnosed — a still too common occurrence.
I was shocked when I read that on a fresh E mail this morning. We must all work together. We must all pray together. We will find a solution together.
Kathie and her To Dance with Fireflies manuscript
I am sorry for not keeping up with this blog better but I’m not sorry for the writing I’ve been doing on To Dance with Fireflies! Wow, I have finished it! AT least for now that is. On September 27th I handed “my baby,” (tied it up in pink/blue/yellow ribbon) over to my professional editor). Leslie will be doing line editiing and some content as she goes along. We have a 45 day contract so that means I will get it back around the middle of November.
What am I doing in the meantime ~ working on the dreaded synopsis. I have my first draft done so at lease I have something to change. I did a great deal of research about how to write a synopsis first and the time spent on the research is worth it. I would recommend it for all writers. One of the best tips that I read – too late – is to write the synopsis first – before writing the novel. I think that might have been easier and what I plan to do with novel #2. Another great suggestion is to have friends read the synopsis when you have it completed – friends who don’t know a great deal about the plot – and see if they can follow the plot lines.
I’m also working on my query letter. Here again this has to be tight and ready to go to agents and pulishers when the time is right ~ and that time will come.
So, again, I’m sorry that I’ve been lax on the blogging end but I’ve been busy on the writing end. If anyone is reading this, let me know.
Here’s your new quote for Fireflies: Audrey really did not know the man she was going to have dinner with tonight. She knew him as a boy on his way to manhood. A boy with a slight cleft, not a deep one — a shaven face without a mustache — a lanky build not as muscular or filled out — a gentle person who still seemed like he was — a boy who didn’t like to study American literature but whose house was now filled with classics. Could Stephen Grant be the same person she had loved so many, many years ago? Was she the same person who had loved Stephen Grant so long ago? So many rhetorical questions in search of answers Audrey could not begin to know.
